Month: January 2015

Lethargy of officials is a hindrance in the implementation of Govt. schemes – Aziz Pasha

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A meeting was held under the auspices of Center for Peace Studies at Ashoka Hotel, Lakdikapul yesterday on the prospects of development and challenges faced by Telangana State. Mr. Syed Aziz Pasha, former Rajya Sabha MP of CPI, Mr. Abid Rasool Khan, Chairman of Minorities Commission, Mr. Meer Ayub Ali Khan, Senior Consultant of Maulana Azad Urdu University, Ms. Sarah Matthews and Mr. S.Q. Maqsood address the gathering. Ms. Naseem Chowdhri conducted the meeting. The speakers told that the biggest hindrance in the implementation of the welfare schemes of the Govt.

Land Acquisition for A.P. Capital starts today

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Mr. N. Srikanth, Special Commissioner, Capital Region Development Authority of A.P. informed that the process of Acquisition of lands for the construction of the new capital of A.P. starts today. He told that the authority under the stewardship of CM will monitor the process of providing basic amenities and the construction work of the new capital. He was addressing the Revenue Officers yesterday. These officers have been given special training for acquiring lands from the farmers. He further told that the farmers have consented to give their lands to the Govt.

Colombian police seize 3.6 tonnes of marijuana

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Drug enforcement agents seized 3.6 tonnes of marijuana hidden in a shipment of flour, spaghetti and cooking oil in southwestern Colombia, officials said Wednesday.

The drug seizure was made in Betania, a stop on the highway between Buga and Tulua in Valle del Cauca province.

Drug enforcement agents found the drugs when they stopped and inspected a truck heading for La Guajira, a province on Colombia’s border with Venezuela.

The truck driver’s papers were in order and he said he was hauling food products.

Dip in icy water, music welcome New Year in Meghalaya

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From a midnight dip into the icy water of a swimming pools to concerts, private parties and prayers marked the New Year celebrations in Meghalaya Thursday.

Revellers of all ages descended on Khyndai Lad here to greet the New Year with music, lights and food.

In order to attract tourists to explore Meghalaya, the government also organised the first-ever Shillong Midnight Festival which acted as a confluence of local music, dance and food in the heart of the city.

35 killed in China stampede

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At least 35 people were killed and 42 injured in east China’s Shanghai city during New Year celebrations late Wednesday.

The accident happened on the Chenyi Square of Shanghai’s bund area at around 11:35 p.m., Xinhua reported.

A witness said that some coupons that looked like “dollar bill” were being thrown from a building’s third-floor window and the people standing along the river bank started to scramble for these coupons.

The city has set up a working team for rescue operations and to deal with the aftermath.

Cause of the accident is under investigation.

–IANS

30 killed as mortar barrage hits village in Afghanistan

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About 30 civilians were killed and scores wounded after a mortar barrage hit a village in southern Afghan province of Helmand overnight, authorities said Thursday.

“At least 30 civilians, including several women and children were killed, and dozens others wounded after several rounds of mortar struck houses in Mayyan Dazu village (in Sangin district) Wednesday night,” Xinhua quoted a provincial official as saying.

Asaram leaves for Delhi for medical check-up

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Self-styled ‘godman’ Asaram Bapu left for Delhi tonight by train for a medical test at AIIMS, as directed by the Supreme Court, amid tight security.

A medical board of All India Institute Of Medical Science (AIIMS) in the national capital will examine Asaram on Thursday in connection with his bail application in the Jodhpur rape case.

“We have sent Asaram by train on Wednesday evening with a team of 17 policemen led by an officer of ACP-level,” DCP (West) Rahul Jain said.

Qureshi to accept transfer as Mizoram Governor

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Uttarakhand Governor Dr Aziz Qureshi was stated to have agreed to accept his appointment as the Governor of Mizoram, according to Raj Bhavan sources here today.

The Mizoram Governor’s Secretary today contacted Qureshi and the latter informed the former that he would accept his transfer to Mizoram, Raj Bhavan sources in Aizawl told PTI.

“Qureshi, however, said that he would take over his gubernatorial responsibility in Aizawl after availing leave for around two weeks,” the sources added. Qureshi was transferred from Uttarakhand to Mizoram yesterday for the remainder of his term.

Telangana, Andhra celebrate New Year with pomp

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Telugu states Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Thursday celebrated the New Year with pomp and enthusiasm.

At the stroke of midnight, wild celebrations broke out in Hyderabad and other towns of Telangana as also in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and other towns of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

Youngsters burst firecrackers and danced to the popular numbers to welcome the New Year. Despite police restrictions, they were seen roaming around on the bikes with many of them riding triple in violation of traffic rules.

Palestinian president requests to join ICC

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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Wednesday signed an official request to join the International Criminal Court, ICC, a day after the UN Security Council rejected a resolution on ending the Israeli occupation.

Abbas requested Palestinian accession to a total of 22 international organisations, including the ICC.

The Palestinian leadership hopes to take Israel to court and put its leaders on trial for war crimes allegedly committed in the Palestinian territories it has occupied since 1967.

Passenger fare hikes recommended by expert panel

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A hike in passenger train fares, particularly in suburban service, and increase in the minimum distance to be covered in passenger and express trains are among the recommendations made by an official committee in its report submitted to Railways.

The D K Mittal Committee, formed on December 4 this year to suggest ways and means to raise the revenue of Indian Railways, has made out a strong case for increasing the highly subsidised and loss-making suburban train fares.

Gold jewellery demand likely to rise 10 pc in 2015: ICRA

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Jewellery demand in the domestic market is expected to rise by 10 per cent to USD 32 billion in 2015 on the back of improving consumer sentiments, says a report by ICRA.

“We expect domestic demand for gold jewellery to rise 10 per cent in calender year 2015 to USD 32 billion on the back of subdued pick up during 2014,” the rating agency said in ‘Indian Gold Jewellery Retail Industry’ survey.
The demand has been stable since Q4 of CY13 and lower prices, easing regulations and improving consumer sentiment are likely to provide impetus in the coming months, it said.

Indian team arrives in Sydney but Dhoni speculation continues

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The Indian cricket team flew in here and largely spent the day indoors even as there was intense speculation over Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s decision to quit the Test format with immediate effect, which surprised the cricket fraternity.

A day after the BCCI announced Dhoni’s retirement from Test cricket, citing strains of playing in all three formats, the Indian team management chose to remain tight-lipped on the development.

‘Terrorists’ wear skullcap in mock drill, sparks war of words

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Surat Police courted controversy when it made dummy terrorists wear skullcaps during an anti-terror mock drill.

The incident came under criticism today with the Congress mounting attack on the government claiming it an “administrative failure” and a Gujarat BJP’s minority wing leader saying “terrorism should never be linked to a particular religion”, even as police defended the action.