Month: March 2015

Indian-American mother seeks return of her abducted children

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Recounting her heartrending tale of woe, an Indian-American mother turned to US lawmakers for help to get back her two children allegedly abducted to India by her ex-husband six years ago.

“Help me to make my voice heard in a way that shall be meaningful and allow me to be reunited with my children who need the love and nurturing of their mother,” said Bindu Philips testifying before a House panel with a few other parents of abducted children.

RoomsTonite mobile app offers 24×7 assistance

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Last-minute hotel booking mobile application RoomsTonite has unveiled a 24×7 assistance service to help travellers with enquiries and meet their needs at pre-stay, during stay and post-stay.

“Our new service ‘RoomsTonite Assist’ application has been designed to help our customers have a hassle-free travel anytime day or night,” RoomsTonite chief executive Suresh John told IANS here on Sunday.

Promoted by the city-based RoomTonite eBooking Ltd, the mobile application has real-time connectivity with hotels across the country for offering its users rooms at affordable prices.

Flash floods damage houses, roads in Kashmir

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Flash floods triggered by incessant rain have damaged scores of houses, school buildings and other structures besides snapping road connectivity in the Kashmir Valley, an official said on Sunday.

“Over 80 structures, including residential homes, school buildings and other structures, have suffered damage due to flash floods since Saturday,” an administrative officer told IANS here.

The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was closed following landslides at a number of places on Sunday.

Thousands participate in anti-terror march in Tunisia

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Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Tunisia’s capital on Sunday to participate in an anti-terror march denouncing the deadly attack on a city museum that claimed 22 lives earlier this month, a media report said.

Chanting “Tunisia is free! Terrorism out!”, the marchers reached the Bardo Museum in Tunis, where the terrorist attack took place on March 18. French President Francois Hollande, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and other world leaders were present at the museum to attend a ceremony, BBC reported.

Exhibition raises concerns over gender inequality

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A girl in class 10 writes “it feels really sad to know you all feel that women are inferior and not capable of doing anything”. Another girl writes “… but this world seems to suppress girls and dominate us, which is stupid”. Letters like these are part of an exhibition that aims to introduce visitors to what concerns these young girls.

The title of the exhibition comes from American author and poet Maya Angelou’s collection of poems “And Still I Rise” as it goes with its central theme: raising awareness of gender discrimination and its impact on limiting opportunities for women

Blast in Andhra firecrackers unit

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A major blast was reported on Sunday in a firecrackers unit in Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam district when 10 to 15 people were working there, police said.

The number of casualties were not immediately known, police said.

The accident occurred in Gokulapadu village of S. Rayavaram mandal, about 100 km from coastal city of Visakhapatnam.

Police said loud explosions were heard and fire engulfed the building. Fire tenders from nearby villages rushed to the scene.

Two people booked under Maharashtra Animals Preservation Act

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Two people including an officer of the Thane police commissionerate has been booked for alleged illegal transport of beef, police sources said here today.

The Thane police stated in a daily report that on October 30, 2014, Upendra Dhake had complained to the police
that something was leaking from a passing truck.

From documents found on the truck driver, it was revealed that the truck was supposed to be transporting beef
to the Goregaon-based Mayur Cold Storage for export.

Girl gangraped, boyfriend beaten up in Telangana

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A 20-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped on the outskirts of the city by four persons in front of her boyfriend, police said today.

The incident occurred last night when the victim, a college student who hails from Enumamula village, was returning from Balaji Nagar area of Enumamula agricultural market along with her boyfriend, they said.

Police said the accused waylaid the duo and thrashed the boy before taking turns to sexually assault her.

A police official said on the condition of anonymity that a complaint was lodged in Intezargunj police station in this regard today.

Clarke bows out of ODIs with a legacy

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A responsible match-winning knock of 74 runs off 72 balls in the World Cup final on Sunday, guiding his team to a record-stretching fifth title triumph in cricket’s showpiece event, marked Australian skipper Michael Clarke’s farewell from One-Day Internationals (ODIs).

Clarke on Saturday announced that his decision to bow out of ODIs after Sunday’s final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), which was his 245th 50-over match.

Saina clinches maiden India Open crown

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Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal won her maiden $275,000 India Open Superseries crown here on Sunday defeating former World Champion Ratchanok Intanon in straight games in the women’s singles final.

Playing at the Siri Fort Sports Complex, the No.1 seed came out on top to win 21-16, 21-14 in 49 minutes to take a 6-3 lead in career meetings over the third seeded Thai, who won here in 2013.

US’ war on terror kills over 80,000 people in Pak: report

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More than 80,000 Pakistanis, including over 48,000 civilians, have been killed in the decade-long US-led war against terror in the country, according to a new report.

The report titled “Body Count: Casualty Figures after 10 Years of the War on Terror” was released by the Nobel
Prize-winning International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War along with Physicians for Social Responsibility
and Physicians for Global Survival, The Express Tribune reported today.

Bhushan, Yadav worked against AAP for one year: Kejriwal

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Dissident leaders Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav had been conspiring against the AAP for the past one year, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said.

In a 44-minute, partly emotional speech at Saturday’s National Executive meeting here, the video of which was released on Sunday, Kejriwal made several accusations against the other two co-founders of the party.

He alleged that the two men had made every leadership meeting of the Aam Aadmi Party a cantankerous affair. He had bowed to many of their demands but they never appeared to relent.

US jail inmates forced to engage in ‘gladiator-style’ fights

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Inmates in a San Francisco jail have alleged that they were forced by prison officials to engage in “gladiator-style” fights for sadistic pleasure and betting, prompting a probe.

Investigations are underway into allegations by three inmates in the San Francisco County Jail who are accusing
sheriff’s deputies of forcing them to fight other prisoners.

The county’s public defender’s office received help from a private investigator after learning about the incidents.

According to the San Francisco’s public defender Jeff Adachi, the deputy said to be the main instigator was accused

Muzaffarnagar riots: SIT completes probe in 503 of 510 cases

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The SIT probing the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots has completed its investigation in all cases except in seven, including one against BJP MLA Sangit Som.

The Special Investigation Team has completed its investigation in 503 cases out of 510, Additional Superintendent SIT, Manoj Jha said. The investigation in the remaining seven cases has not yet been completed as the SIT has not received technical reports sought from a laboratory, regarding those cases.

India to become 3rd largest auto manufacturer by 2020: Ford

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India’s automotive industry is expected to reach 7 million vehicles milestone by 2020, making the country the third-largest auto manufacturer in the world, behind the US and China, a top official at Ford Motor has said.

The automotive sector has a direct bearing on the economy with a near 7 per cent contribution to the GDP, playing an important role in the development of other crucial sectors as well, David Dubensky, President and Managing Director, Ford Motor Private Ltd, said.

AAP holds cycle rally from Ludhiana to Chandigarh to protest VIP culture

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The Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday organised a cycle rally from Ludhiana to Chandigarh to lodge a protest against the money being spent on VIPs.

“We are going to take this rally till Chandigarh. A lot of government`s money is being wasted on VIP,” said senior lawyer and AAP member HS Phoolka.

“On the other hand they don`t have money to pay their staff, teachers and college professors have not been paid since the past one year,” he added.

Phoolka asserted that the money being spent on VIPs should be reduced to one fourth and the lowest employee should get paid first.

Foreign fund inflows hit $13 billion

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With overseas investors pumping in over $3 billion in the Indian capital markets this month, total foreign inflows have touched $13 billion since the beginning of the year.

Analysts expect the inflows to accelerate further in view of Parliament clearing bills related to insurance, coal allocation and mining as well as assurances in the Budget to revisit controversial issues like General Anti-Avoidance Rule.

Five killed, 18 injured in building collapse in Tamil Nadu

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Five persons were killed and 18 injured when an under construction staff quarters of the Central University collapsed here on Sunday, police said.

The toll could increase as several of the injured were in a serious condition, they said.

Police and fire service personnel were searching whether more persons were trapped in the debris. A team of doctors had been rushed to the spot to give treatment and first aid, police said.

Some of the seriously injured have been rushed to Thanjavur government hospital.

–PTI

Ramdas Athawale invites AAP dissidents Yadav, Bhushan to join his party RPI

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Terming the ouster of Aam Aadmi Party’s founding members Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav from AAP’s national executive as “unjust”, RPI(A) chief Ramdas Athawale on Sunday invited the duo to join his party.

“Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav had a key role to play in the magnificent victory of Aam Aadmi Party in the Delhi Assembly polls. Removing them from the party’s national executive is an injustice to them. I invite them to come and be a part of the RPI,” Athawale said.

PM Narendra Modi meets Aussie PM, Clinton in Singapore

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott and former US president Bill Clinton here on Sunday.

Modi also exchanged greetings with Governor General of Canada David Johnston, the Prime Minister’s Office said. The meetings took place on the sidelines of former Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew’s funeral.

—IANS

Madras HC acquits man who ‘criticised’ wife for being dark

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A man cannot be convicted on charges of instigating his wife to commit suicide just because he criticised her for being dark, ruled the Madras High Court in Madurai on Sunday.

Justice M Sathyanarayanan of Madurai, allowing a petition filed by Paramasivam against a lower court order, said “criticising the wife for being dark in colour does not amount to harassment or torture, and it cannot be said that the husband instigated the wife to commit suicide”.

Lesbians handle booze better than straight women

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A new study has revealed that lesbians drink far better than straight women even after having a hazardous relationship with alcohol.

The study conducted by Britain’s leading LGBT mental health charity, PACE found that 31.9 percent of straight women engaged in problematic drinking as compared to 37.1 percent of lesbian and bisexual women, but almost have same levels of addiction, the Daily Star reported.

PM Modi congratulates Australia for fifth WC haul

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated the Australian cricket team on being crowned the winners of the 2015 World Cup.

“I congratulate the Australian cricket team for yet another World Cup victory. A very good performance,” tweeted Prime Minister Modi.

Australia grabbed a seven-wicket win over the first-time World Cup finalists, New Zealand, thanks to an impressive unbeaten 56 by young batsman Steven Smith and skipper Michael Clarke’s brilliant 74 after their bowlers produced a fiery display to reduce Brendon McCullum’s men to a paltry 183 in 45 overs.

McCullum proud of ‘aggressive’ brand of cricket despite WC defeat to Oz

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New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum has expressed that he was proud of the aggressive brand of cricket his team displayed throughout the tournament despite losing to co-hosts Australia in the World Cup final by seven wickets in Melbourne.

Speaking during post-match presentation, McCullum, who led New Zealand to their first World Cup final, said that it has been one hell of a ride for them and played some outstanding cricket throughout the tournament.

Tripura CM urges people to donate eyes and body after death

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Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has urged the people of the state to donate body and eyes after death for helping the students engaged in studying medical science.

Sarkar said this while speaking at a blood donation camp organised by the Agartala Press Club .

Sarkar, who was present as the chief guest on the occasion, said that the journalists should also come forward to donate their eyes and body after death to overcome the taboo associated with it and asked the people to come forward for the same.