Month: March 2015

Australia have advantage due to home conditions: Stephen Fleming

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Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming on Saturday said the Michael Clarke-led Australia side has a slight advantage because they know the conditions better than the Black Caps.

Four-time world champion Australia face New Zealand in the much awaited cricket World Cup final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday.

Co-hosts New Zealand entered the final of the World Cup for the first time with a victory over South Africa in the semi-finals.

Kejriwal has his way

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Finally, “dictator” Arvind Kejriwal has his way!

A day before a sting carried out on Kejriwal quoted him as saying : “The two ( Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav) would have been kicked out had they been in any party)”, the founding members along with two others were literally booted out by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) from the national executive.

A badly-scripted drama went horribly wrong. There was nothing constitutional about the meeting. Kejriwal came, addressed the meeting for 35 minutes, and then left. The message was clear.

Saina to become World No.1

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Come Thursday when the Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings are revised, Saina Nehwal will become the first Indian woman to be ranked No.1 in singles.

Following reigning World Champion Carolina Marin’s semi-final loss to Ratchanok Intanon at the India Open Superseries here on Saturday, Saina’s way became clear to notch the top spot ahead of her own semi-final, which she plays later in the day.

Spaniard Carolina and Saina were in the race to grab the coveted position in the absence of China’s top ranked Li Xuerui.

Yemeni president urges Arab states to keep attacking Houthis

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Yemeni President Abd Rabbou Mansour Hadi urged the Arab states on Saturday to continue their military operation against the Shia Houthi group until it is fully defeated.

Speaking at the 26th Arab League summit in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh city, Hadi urged the Saudi-led coalition forces which have been pounding the Iran-backed Houthi group to go on with their airstrikes until the rebels’ surrender and defeat, Xinhua news agency reported.

‘PSLV-C27 launch shows India’s increasing space capabilities’

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President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday congratulated Indian space agency ISRO for the successful launch of PSLV-C27 and said that it showed India’s increasing space capabilities.

In his message to Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar, the president said: “My heartiest congratulations to you and your entire team for the successful launch of PSLV-C27, carrying the IRNSS-1D.”

India close to having its own satellite navigation system

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India successfully put its fourth navigation satellite into orbit in copy book style on Saturday, bringing the country a step closer to having its own satellite navigation system.

Exactly at 5.19 p.m., the rocket – the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C27) standing around 44 metres tall and weighing around 320 tonnes – tore into the clear blue evening sky with fierce orange flames at its tail.

The expendable rocket had a single but important luggage, the 1,425 kg IRNSS-1D.

2150 lakh Indians have zero assets, excluded from economic progress

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In a country where “inclusion” is the emerging political mantra, an estimated 215 million Indians roughly the population of Pakistan and Canada combined lives below the poverty line.

According to official data revealed, these paupers, almost Forty three million households have “zero assets”, which means they do not own a television set, a mobile phone,a motorcycle, or any of seven items recognized by the government of India as being of economic value.

Russia to join China-proposed Asian bank

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Russia has decided to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the latest country to sign up as the application deadline draws close, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Shuvalov said on Saturday.

He made the announcement at the 2015 annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia in the coastal town of China’s southern island province of Hainan, Xinhua reported.

“I would like to inform you that Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a decision on Russia’s participation in the capital of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank,” Tass quoted Shuvalov as saying.

Union Ministers review development work in northeast

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In order to speed up the process of development and ensure proper implementation of various schemes, several Union Ministers are visiting the northeast region to review development work.

Many new projects are being inaugurated to uplift the socio-economic condition in the region.

In a bid to give boost to the textiles sector in Manipur, Union Textiles Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar inaugurated a number of mega projects during his visit to the state.

Kejriwal threatened to quit if Bhushan-Yadav were not removed

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AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal today threatened to resign and lashed out at its founder-members Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav, moments before they were sacked from the National Executive, accusing them of engaging in “anti-party” activities.

According to sources, the Delhi Chief Minister started his speech at the party’s National Council by recounting AAP’s journey last year, from the lows of the quitting the government followed by its Lok Sabha debacle to the high of a historic victory in the Delhi Assembly polls.

AAP crisis a ‘fight for power’, shows ‘opportunism’: BJP

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Terming the tussle within AAP a “struggle for power” that reflected “opportunism”, BJP today said Delhi will not see any progress in such a situation and those who were elected to form the government would have to answer to the public for letting them down.

The sole opposition party in Delhi Assembly also charged that AAP’s internal conflict was neither a fight of principles and nor did it involve values or have any element of democracy, principles which the ruling outfit likes to boast about.

AAP crisis: Congress asks Kejriwal not to look after ‘selfish ambitions’

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Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) chief Ajay Maken on Saturday appealed to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to look after the hopes and aspirations of the people of Delhi and not just their own selfish ambitions.

“This is a matter of great concern. We would like to appeal to Mr. Kejriwal and his party to look after the affairs of the people of Delhi, don’t just look after your own selfish ambitions and look after what the people of Delhi have chosen you for, look after the hope and aspirations of the people,” Maken told ANI here.

UP govt should file appeal in Hashimpura massacre case: Owaisi

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All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) today demanded Uttar Pradesh government to immediately file an appeal against a Delhi Court verdict in the Hashimpura massacre case in which all 16 accused policemen were acquitted.

The trial court last week acquitted all 16 Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel, a reserve police force of UP Government, accused of abducting and killing 42 members of a minority community in Hashimpura, Meerut district on May 22, 1987, “giving them benefit of doubt for want of evidence”.

‘Disappointed’ Medha Patkar resigns from AAP

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Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and social activist Medha Patkar on Saturday resigned from the party’s primary membership and said that she does not have any regrets.

“I don’t regret because it was a good experience,” Patkar said.

She also said that the happenings in the party must have affected the people, who had faith in it.

President Mukherjee, PM Modi condole demise of Brig. T. Sailo

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President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday condoled the passing away of former Mizoram chief minister Brig. T. Sailo.

“I am sad to learn about the passing away of your husband Brig. T. Sailo, former Chief Minister of Mizoram,” he said in his condolence message to Thansiami Sailo, the wife of Brig. T. Sailo .

President Mukherjee said Brig. Sailo was a visionary leader, who made immense contribution to the welfare of the people of Mizoram.

Ecclestone heaps praise on ‘best F1 champion’ Hamilton ahead of Malaysian GP

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Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone has lavished praise on reigning champion Lewis Hamilton , describing him as ‘the best world champion they have had’, ahead of the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday.

Ecclestone insisted that apart from the fact Hamilton is talented; he is a good guy; gets out on the street and promotes Formula One, the Mirror reported.

Hamilton leads the 2015 Drivers’ Championship with 25 points, seven points above second-placed teammate Nico Rosberg, and will be hoping to extend the advantage in the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday. (ANI)

‘Proud hubby’ Ben Affleck gushes about wife Jennifer Garner

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Ben Affleck seems to be smitten by his wife Jennifer Garner, as he said that he is very proud of his actress wife, during a Senate hearing.

The ‘Gone Girl’ actor gushed about his 42-year-old wife and her extraordinary work with early childhood education that she deeply cares about, Us Magazine reported.

The Oscar winning actor added that her ‘Alias’ actress wife was extremely concerned with her charity work and he and his children were very impressed and proud of her.

Why Elton John’s mum stopped talking to son for 7 yrs revealed

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Elton John’s mother Sheila has finally opened up that she didn’t talk to the singer for 7 year due to a catastrophic argument over the singer’s husband, David Furnish.

The ‘Your Song’ singer’s mother explained that her musician son hated her after she referred his husband as the fucking thing he married, because of him keeping Furnish over mother, the Mirror reported.

West Bengal Governor given additional charge of Mizoram

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President Pranab Mukherjee has appointed West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi to discharge additional duties as the Governor of Mizoram.

Tripathi will hold additional duties until regular arrangements are made for the office.

Earlier in the day, Mizoram Governor Aziz Qureshi was relieved of his duties following his ongoing feud with the Centre.

15 year school girl gangraped in West Bengal, 3 held

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A 15-year old class IX girl was allegedly gangraped at Uttarpara in Hooghly district, police said on Saturday.

Three of the accused were arrested in connection with the last night’s gangrape of the girl and police were trying to find out if anybody else was involved in the case, they said. The girl’s family had lodged an FIR against the three youths, all residents of her locality, following which they were arrested.

Illicit liquor sale on it peak as cops turn blind

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Sale of illicit liquor is on its peak as the State government approved 158 retail liquor shops and 22 bars across the district.

Excise officials are not bothered to take action on liquor shops which are selling spurious liquor as they have support of political leaders.

If at all the officials make an attempt to raid the shops, the political leaders will exert pressure and stop them from going ahead.Moreover, officials are keeping quiet as they are allegedly receiving monthly bribes from liquor shop owners.

Iran talks go into top gear in battle of wills

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Tortuous negotiations aimed at laying to rest fears Iran will get nuclear weapons moved into top gear today as both sides demanded the other give ground as a deadline loomed.

“We’re at that point in the negotiations where we really need to see decisions being made,” a senior US State Department official said late yesterday at the talks in Lausanne, Switzerland.

“The work is very complicated and difficult. The other side needs to choose between pressure and a political accord,” countered Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Mizoram Governor Aziz Qureshi sacked by Centre

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Mizoram Governor Aziz Qureshi, who has had a running feud with the Centre and even approached the Supreme Court against attempts to ease him out, was sacked on Saturday.

A brief statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan said that “Qureshi shall cease to hold the office of the Governor of Mizoram.”

JuH demands ban on RSS

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Jamiat Ulama-Hind, an organisation of Muslim Ulemas and scholars, today demanded ban on RSS, calling it a “fascist” group.

A resolution passed at the Ijlas-e-aam (general body meeting) of the Jamiat, accused the RSS of involvement in the demolition of Babri Masjid.

“India is a democratic country where every citizen has the right to practice the religion of his choice, but there is an effort to take the country away from the path of law and justice to the one of anarchy and fascism.

Indian-American scientist chosen for US presidential award

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An Indian-American biology professor is among 15 scientists who have been selected for a prestigious US presidential award for excellence in the field of science, mathematics and engineering mentoring. Murty S Kambhampati, a professor of biology at Southern University at New Orleans will receive the award at a White House ceremony later this year.