Month: February 2015

TRS MLC Faults Oppn on Secretariat Issue

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TRS MLC Karne Prabhakar today found fault with the opposition parties for raking up an unnecessary controversy over the Telangana Government’s move to shift the State Secretariat.
Speaking to the media at Telangana Bhavan here, Prabhakar said the people are aware of the prevailing situation in the present Secretariat and the ministers were functioning amidst inconveniences. Even now, one Minister has no chambers. He questioned why the TPCC chief Ponnala Lakshmiah should object for the Chief Minister’s proposal to build a good Secretariat.

OU to organise wide range of English training courses

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As a part of the Platinum Jubilee of the Arts College, Osmania University plans to organize a wide range of English training courses to cater to the needs of all.

The English Language Training Center, Arts College, OU will conduct these courses, informed the ELTC Director, Prof. Sumita Roy.

Being part of a premier University in the newly formed Telangana State, ELTC has decided to meet all the requirements of English—a language which has become the success-mantra for young and old, student or professional or homemaker, manager and employee.

16-year-old girl tortured, raped by clergyman; arrested

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A 16-year-old girl from Hooghly-based rehabilitation home for women was allegedly raped and tortured for a month by a clergyman, police said today.

According to a complaint filed by an NGO at the local police station, the clergyman, belonging to ‘Gurap Bhastara Christian Home’ had been allegedly torturing and raping the minor for a month. The victim had been living in the Home for about a year.

The accused was arrested last night under Section 376 of the IPC, charging him with rape and torture, police said.

AAP dares Jaitley to take action on funding issue

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In a strong counter attack, AAP today asked Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley why no action was initiated against it after he kept up his offensive against the party.

“He said that AAP has been caught red-handed. If Finance Minister believes so then he should initiate action against AAP. All the investigating agencies are under him. If he believes we were caught red handed then why has he not yet taken any action,” AAP leader Ashutosh asked.

Give us clear mandate: Rajnath appeals to Delhiites

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Just a day left for campaigning to end, BJP today made a fervent appeal to the electorate for a “clear mandate” to transform Delhi into a world class city.

In an election rally, senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said it was time for Delhiites to decide with which party they want to stand with them.

“You gave the highest number of seats to BJP last time, thus making it evident that you wanted BJP to rule the city. We did not get a clear majority, but we ensured that the second largest party then (AAP) run a stable government,” he said.

Vote for BJP for development: Swaraj to voters

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External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today urged people of Delhi to elect the BJP to power to carry forward its agenda of development, women safety and for addressing the issue of security in the national capital.

Addressing a poll rally at railway colony in Tuglakabad constituency, Swaraj said a lot needs to be done to control corruption, inflation and to ensure security of women and it can only be done by the BJP.

Modi trashes opinion polls, dubs them ”lies”

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today trashed opinion polls, which gave an edge to AAP in the Delhi assembly polls, saying these were “lies” and asked Delhiites not to get swayed by such surveys.

During his last election rally here, three days ahead of assembly elections, Modi also tried to woo voters by talking about central welfare schemes.

Modi becoming dictator: Cong after Home Secy removal

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Congress today accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of becoming a “dictator” and warned of “beginning of a calamity” after Home Secretary Anil Goswami was asked to step down by the government.

Congress spokesperson P C Chacko said “sacking” of senior officials has also led to the bureaucracy getting “restless.”

Weekly Ebola cases rise for time this year

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The weekly Ebola cases in the three most affected countries — Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone — rose for the first time this year, according to the latest tally released Wednesday by the World Health Organization(WHO).

Last week, 124 new cases of Ebola were registered in these three countries– 39 of them were in Guinea, five in Liberia and 80 in Sierra Leone.

“Weekly case incidence increased in all three countries for the first time this year,” the WHO said in its latest update.

Five killed in Yemen car bombing

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At least five soldiers were killed and several others injured when a car bomb exploded Wednesday evening at a military base in Yemen’s southern province of al-Bayda, a government official told Xinhua.

The booby-trapped car exploded at the main gate of the 26th Armored Brigade stationed in al-Swadia district of the province. Five soldiers were killed, while several others were wounded in the blast, a local government official said on condition of anonymity.

A medical official in the province said that “12 wounded troopers were transferred to a nearby medical center for treatment.”

200 militants killed by Cameroonian, Chadian armies

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At least 200 Boko Haram militants were killed Wednesday in a fighting with a joint army of Cameroon and Chad in Cameroon’s Far-North Region, military sources told Xinhua news agency over phone.

Around 7,000 militants attacked Fotokol, a town in Far-North Region, Wednesday morning with heavy equipment, including 30 armored trucks and sophisticated weapons, killing three Cameroonian soldiers and 14 Chadian soldiers, forcing the joint army to retreat, said the sources, who requested anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.

Response to pilot’s killing will be harsh, says Jordan king

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King Abdullah II of Jordan Wednesday said the country’s response to the killing of the pilot by the Islamic State (IS) group will be harsh, media reported.

At a meeting with top officers of the Jordan Armed Forces, the king said the IS terrorist organisation was fighting not only against Jordan but also Islam and its noble values. He stressed that Jordan was engaged in this war to protect Islam and its values, Xinhua reported citing the state-run Petra news agency.

54 rebels killed in Syria

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At least 54 rebels were killed Wednesday when Syrian troops targeted rebel positions in the eastern countryside of the capital Damascus, media reported.

Government forces targeted the positions of the Islam Army in the hotbed suburb of Douma, Xinhua reported citing the Syrian National TV.

Earlier in the day, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported violent clashes in eastern Damascus coupled with airstrikes on the rebel-held areas in Damascus.

Man kills three women, commits suicide in Pakistan

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A man shot dead three women before committing suicide by shooting himself in Lahore, capital city of the Pakistani province of Punjab, media reported Wednesday.

The bodies were found in a car outside the Gaddafi Stadium. Police said that the man was sitting in the back seat along with one of the women, while the other two sat in the front, Dawn online reported.

The man shot dead two of the women and wounded a third before killing himself.

The injured woman was rushed to a hospital but she died later.

11 Colombian troops dismissed for killing civilian

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The Colombian Inspector General’s Office dismissed and banned 11 marines, who “arbitrarily” executed a civilian whom they falsely claimed was a guerrilla, from military service for a decade.

The office in a communique said that the soldiers’ deeds were “very serious”, adding that it ruled as it did because the men could not prove that the murdered civilian was really a rebel, as they maintained, a situation that constitutes a “serious violation of international humanitarian law.”

Hasina dismisses possibility of imposing emergency

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Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday ruled out any chances of declaring a state of emergency though the BNP and its allies were continuing with the violent blockade for a month.

“Hoping for an emergency rule is daydreaming,” she told parliament Wednesday.

“Those who are dreaming, those who want to lead the country to destruction, we will never let them do this as long as blood runs through our veins,” bdnews24.com quoted her as saying.

“No one has been able to create a situation that calls for emergency,” the prime minister noted.

Akbar Owaisi thanks GHMC chief

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MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi on Wednesday thanked GHMC Commissioner and Special Officer Somesh Kumar for sanctioning Rs 5 crore worth of development works in Chandrayangutta Assembly constituency.

A delegation of MIM leaders comprising of ex-corporators Saleem Baig, Samad Bin Abdad, Dr. Yousuf Naksha Bandi, Mansoor Awalgi, Mumtaz Ali and active member Yasir Khan, called on the GHMC chief in his chambers and presented a bouqet on behalf of Akbaruddin Owaisi. (INN)

Gandhi killer Godse plaque found on flyover in Rajasthan

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A plaque naming a newly constructed flyover after Mahatma Gandhiji’s assassin Nathuram Godse was found in Alwar district, prompting authorities to immediately remove it and order an inquiry into it even as Congress expressed strong objection to the act.

The plaque of flex reading ‘Rashtrawadi Nathuram Godse Pul’ (Nationalist Nathuram Godse Bridge) was found pasted on the newly constructed flyover connecting Bhagat Singh Circle to Agrasen Circle in Alwar district yesterday.

The district administration immediately sprung into action and removed it from the flyover.

Irani to speak to parents of school girl who committed suicide

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Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani has taken note of the letter written by parents of a 17-year-old, who allegedly committed suicide last month after being upbraided by her school teachers, and will be speaking to them on the matter shortly.

“The minister will be speaking to the parents shortly,” Ministry officials said.
The Ministry has received the letter and has apprised the Minister, they said.

Accusing three teachers of Salt Lake’s Kendriya Vidyalaya II for abetting the suicide by his daughter Kamalika, Kishalay Das said the letter was sent to the minister on January 27.

Goswami steps down as home secretary, Goyal replaces him

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Home Secretary Anil Goswami resigned Wednesday after he was told by the government to put in his papers over his alleged role in trying to stall the arrest of former Congress minister Matang Sinh in the multi-crore-rupee Saradha scam. The government appointed L.C. Goyal as his replacement a few hours later.

Official sources said Goswami handed over his resignation to Home Minister Rajnath Singh. It was subsequently accepted by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).

Seven dead in New York train crash

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At least seven people were killed when a commuter train heading north from New York City slammed into a jeep that apparently stalled on the tracks in the Westchester county town of Valhalla, officials said Wednesday

Officials of the Metropolitan Transport Authority and the county where the accident occurred said seven to twelve other people were injured, some of them seriously.

The Cherokee jeep was astride the track when the accident happened.

The driver of that vehicle was killed, along with six passengers who were travelling in the train’s first coach.

L.C. Goyal is new home secretary

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The government Wednesday appointed rural development ministry Secretary L.C. Goyal as the new home secretary in place of Anil Goswami who resigned.

A home ministry release said Goyal’s term will be for two years.

“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of L.C. Goyal, IAS, secretary, department of rural development, ministry of rural development as home secretary, ministry of home affairs for a period of two years from the date of taking over charge as home secretary vice Anil Goswami,” the release said.

Ismail Darbar, son arrested for assault, granted bail

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Acclaimed music director Ismail Darbar was arrested in connection with an assault case and later secured bail from a local court, police said Wednesday. Darbar’s son Zaid was also arrested for allegedly assaulting an assistant director over a monetary dispute and is now out on bail.

Darbar’s arrest came a day after his son Zaid and two friends – Mohsin Khan and Nishant Singh – were arrested in the same case involving an assault on an assistant director, Prashant Choudhary, in suburban Oshiwara late Monday.

Odisha assembly session likely to be stormy

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The Budget session of the Odisha assembly is likely to be stormy with the opposition parties planning to raise a host of issues, including the chit fund scam, to corner the BJD government on the floor of the house.
However, the ruling party is quite confident of facing the attack by the Congress and the BJP as it has decided to use its most successful tested weapon — ‘central neglect’.