Month: February 2015

J&K Govt hands over 138 Kanals of forest land to Army in Jammu

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The state government today said it had handed Army over 138 kanals of forest land in the outskirts of Jammu in lieu of the defence land at Satwari for its use in expansion of Jammu airport.

Jammu and Kashmir government has already handed over 138 kanals 12 marlas of forest land at Sunjwan to the Army in lieu of the defence land at Satwari which the Army is required to hand over to facilitate the long-pending extension of the existing runway at Jammu Airport, from 6700 feet to 8000 feet towards the river Tawi end, a spokesman of Raj Bhawan said.

Freed Australian reporter Greste arrives in Brisbane

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Al-Jazeera journalist Peter Greste arrived home in Australia today after his release from Egypt where he was detained for more than 400 days, an AFP reporter at Brisbane airport said.

Greste, 49, was to have a private family reunion after disembarking from his flight before walking out to meet supporters and give a brief statement to the media, a family spokeswoman said.

The award-winning correspondent was on Sunday deported to Cyprus from Cairo, where he was being held for allegedly aiding the blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood.

UN warns of ‘systematic’ violence against children in Iraq

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Many children in Iraq remain at the mercy of ruthless armed groups that use them as fighters, suicide bombers and human shields and subject them to systematic abuse, a UN watchdog said today.

In a report on the plight of children in the strife-torn country, a UN committee voiced deep concern over “the large number of children recruited by non-state armed groups,” and especially the Islamic State jihadists.

“It is a huge, huge, huge problem,” Renate Winter, a member of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), told reporters in Geneva.

Realtors unhappy over RBI policy; seek interest cut in future

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Realtors’ apex body CREDAI on Tuesday expressed disappointment at the RBI’s decision to keep the key policy rates unchanged, saying the country cannot afford any more delay in pushing the economic growth.

Real estate developers sought reduction in interest rates in future to boost housing sales. Builders also expect some relief and tax reforms in the upcoming Budget.

ICC World Cup 2015: Michael Clarke swaps willow with baseball bat in nets

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Battling against time to prove his fitness ahead of the cricket World Cup, Michael Clarke took a baseball bat instead of the willow in an unconventional net session today as the Australian captain looked set to return after his hamstring injury.

In a draining net session at the Allan Border Field, Clarke belted the ball all around ahead of the practice match against Bangladesh tomorrow.

Australian coach Darren Lehmann, who is sick of answering question’s on Clarke’s fitness, believes that the 33-year-old is set to lead the side in the 50-over showpiece event.

New Zealand judge to head UK child sex abuse probe

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A New Zealand judge will lead a wide-ranging inquiry into alleged child sex abuse by powerful figures in British society, the UK government said today, an attempt to restart a troubled probe that has seen two previous chairwomen quit over perceived conflicts of interest.

HDFC Bank share sale hits markets to raise Rs 10,000 cr

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HDFC Bank on Wednesday hit markets to raise a whopping Rs 10,000 crore by issuing a mix of NYSE-listed American Depository Receipts (ADRs) and placement of India listed shares to institutional investors.

The bank aims to mop up around Rs 7,600 crore from foreign investors and Rs 2,400 crore from domestic investors, merchant bankers told PTI. This is largest follow-on offer by a private institution and comes within day of state-run Coal India mopping a record high of Rs 22,576 crore though an offer for sale.

Bharti Airtel Q3 profit jumps over 2-fold to Rs 1,436 cr

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Telecom major Bharti Airtel on Wednesday reported over two-fold jump in its consolidated net profit at Rs 1,436.50 crore for the three months ended December 2014 on the back of increased mobile data revenue.

Airtel had posted a net profit of Rs 610.2 crore in the same period a year ago.

The Rs 1,436.50-crore profit is the biggest for the third quarter in the last four years, the company said.

The total revenue grew by 5.8 percent to Rs 23,228.1 crore in the reported quarter compared to Rs 21,960.7 crore in the same period last fiscal.

NCERT to publish book on brave heroes, women achievers

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The Union Human Resource Development Ministry has said that it will ask the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to publish ‘Veergatha’, a book on brave heroes, in consultation with the Ministry of Defence.

Disclosing this, HRD Minister Smriti Irani said at the NCERT’s 52nd General Council Meeting in New Delhi, the book’s focus would be on women achievers and freedom fighters.

AAP has been ‘exposed’ through funding revelation: Bedi

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Cashing in on AAP’s funding controversy, BJP’s chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi today said AAP is a “misleading” party which has been “exposed”.

“They have been exposed. Those people can’t understand themselves where all this money is coming from, they are in no position to give answers now! These people are misleading, from now on tell these people our sister, mother, daughter is coming,” Bedi said at a rally in Narela.

The former IPS officer dawned her tough cop avatar at a rally in Bawana, and said she knew the area well which is thronging with problems.

Qaeda claim Saudi royals involvement in 9/11 attack

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New allegations have emerged from a convicted al Qaeda terrorist who claimed that the Saudi Arabia royal family was intimately involved in the 9/11 terror attacks in the United States.

French national, Zacarias Moussaoui, 43 in a testimony gave the detailed report of high-profile individuals, including several members of the Saudi Royal family involvement.

They include Prince Turki al-Faisal Al Saud, Ambassador to the United States and former director-general of Saudi Arabia’s foreign intelligence service, the CNN reported.

E-tickets for Lucknow’s heritage sites soon

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Online tickets will now be made available for historical monuments and buildings here to improve facilities for tourists in the Uttar Pradesh capital city, an official said Thursday.

The facility, which is being arranged for by the Hussainabad Trust, will begin February 14.

Historically important sites such as Satkhanda, Clock Tower, Bada Imambada, Chota Imambada, Picture Gallery, Shahi Talaab and Shahnazaf Imambada which are looked after the Trust will now have both online and onsite ticketing facilities, officials said.

AAP in ‘nexus’ with tax-evading companies: BJP

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In its latest batch of questions, BJP today alleged a “nexus” between tax-evading companies and AAP and accused the Arvind Kejriwal-led party of ignoring issues involving people from the Northeast living in Delhi in its manifesto.

Addressing a press conference, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attacked AAP saying that “falsehood and anarchy” have become Kejriwal’s “distinct identity”.

“What is the nexus between tax-evading companies and Kejriwal and is this a case of quid pro quo for benefits extended to them during Kejriwal’s tenure?” Sitharaman asked.

CBI to challenge Srinjoy Bose’s bail

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The CBI, which is probing the Saradha scam, would challenge the conditional bail granted by the Alipore District and Sessions judge to Trinamool Congress MP Srinjoy Bose once it gained certified order of the copy.

The CBI source told PTI tonight that charges against Bose, who had been granted bail earlier in the day under Section 420 of IPC, is not tenable since he had been slapped with charges under Sections 409 of IPC as well.

France knife attack sparks security questions

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French investigators were today interrogating a knife-wielding man who attacked three soldiers outside a Jewish centre in Nice, as questions resurfaced over security measures a month after the Paris attacks.

The attacker, identified as 30-year-old Moussa Coulibaly from the poor western suburbs of Paris, was already known to police who questioned him just days before the attack, when he was turned away from Turkey last week.

Modi likely to visit France in 2015

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit France some time this year, French official sources today said.

The sources said that French Foreign Affairs Minister Laurent Fabius’s meeting with his Indian counterpart during his official visit to India starting tomorrow will also contribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit.

Fabius is scheduled to arrive in India tomorrow to hold bilateral meetings with several union ministers and also call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He will also take part in Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS).

Noida approves Rs 8,887 cr budget; land rates hiked

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A budget of Rs 8,887 crore for the year 2015-16 was approved today by the Noida authority along with a hike of land allotment rates by 18.4 per cent.

“Noida land rates are hiked by 18.4 per cent and around 10 to 15 per cent in Greater Noida. For 2015-16 budget, Rs 8,887 crores have been approved for Noida and Rs 5,572 crores for Greater Noida,” Rama Raman, Chairman, Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna expressway authorities said after a board meeting here.

Magician draws applause at BJP rally

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A magician performing tricks at a BJP rally in South Delhi’s Jangpura drew a huge round applause before party president Amit Shah took to the stage.

While people eagerly waited for around three hours to listen to Shah, magician Akram, dressed in saffron robe having BJP symbol, demonstrated his tricks and urged the people to vote for BJP.

The show was divided into two segments — “BJP ka jadu” and “Kamal ka jadu”.

New civil aviation policy likely by next week

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Aviation Ministry is hopeful of coming out with a new policy next week with a focus to make the country an international hub for air transport.

“The new civil aviation policy is an intent of larger vision. The policy will be finalised by mid-February,” Civil Aviation Joint Secretary Anil Srivastava told reporters on the sidelines of the ongoing Capa summit here.

He said the new policy will focus on developing six metro airports as civil aviation hubs and also touch many other vexed issues.

VHP files petition seeking lifting of ban on Togadia’s entry into Bengaluru

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Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Wednesday said it has filed a petition in the Karnataka High Court seeking lifting of the ban on entry of its leader Praveen Togadia to attend a convention here from February five to 11.

“I have moved the High Court seeking lifting of the ban imposed by the city police on Togadia’s entry into the city for attending an event,” VHP Organising Secretary of Karnataka unit, Keshav Hegde said here.

He said the matter may come up for hearing tomorrow.

Togadia was scheduled to take part in the VHP convention ‘Hindu Viraat Samavesha’ on February 8.

Two Vatican officials denied visa for Bengaluru meet

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The Catholic church on Wednesday alleged that two key Vatican officials who were to address the 27th national assembly of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) here had been denied visa.

Cardinal Oswald Gracias, CCBI president, said the 140 bishops from across the world are attending the assembly that commenced yesterday.

Dept of Post, Mahindras, Videocon join banking race

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Department of Post, Tech Mahindra, Videocon Group and stock exchange NSE have joined big corporates like Ambanis and Birlas to seek entry into banking business through newly created niche category of Payments and Small Finance Banks.

NRI businessman M A Yusuff Ali’s Lulu Group and microfinance company Ujjivan Financial Services Private Ltd are also in the fray, as per the list of 113 applicants released by RBI this evening.

Oudh Bar Association to boycott work for indefinite period

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Members of Oudh Bar Association (OBA), who have been abstaining from work since January 8 in support of their demand for the enlargement of territorial jurisdiction of Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, today decided to boycott work for an indefinite period.

As per OBA’s resolution, it was resolved that boycott of work be extended for indefinite period.

“The decision to boycott work for indefinite period is being taken on basis of majority opinion of office bearers and members of executive committee,” said resolution.

Zimbabwe’s 90-year-old Mugabe falls down stairs

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Zimbabwe’s 90-year-old President Robert Mugabe fell down a staircase today as he walked off a podium after addressing supporters at Harare international airport.

He had just returned from Ethiopia where he took over the rotating chairmanship of the African Union.

Africa’s oldest leader, who turns 91 later this month, had concluded his homecoming speech when he tumbled to his knees on a short flight of stairs in an incident witnessed by journalists and hundreds of supporters.

He was quickly helped up by aides and walked to a waiting car.

Rajeev Kumar promoted as ADG CID, Shamim new CP at Bidhannagar

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In a second major reshuffle in IPS cadre this week, Commissioner of Police in the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate, Rajeev Kumar, has been transferred on promotion as Additional Director General, CID.

According to the state Home Department officials here, IGP (North Bengal) Jawed Shamim would now take over as the Commissioner of Police in Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate.

As a result, the present ADG, CID Ram Phal Pawar has been asked to take over as ADG, Anti-Corruption Branch in state police.