Month: April 2015

Russia committed to new height in BRICS partnership: Putin

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Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that his country is committed to bringing the BRICS partnership to a new level.

In a statement ahead of a BRICS summit in Ufa, Putin urged all BRICS members to coordinate more closely on major international issues, and to play an active part in shaping a multi-polar world order, Xinhua reported.

Noting that 2015 marks the 70th anniversary of the victory of World War II, Putin called for respect to history and peaceful solutions to conflicts.

Israel’s new missile defence system to be operational by 2016

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A new Israeli missile defence system may enter service as early as next year, the defence ministry announced on Wednesday.

“David’s Sling” or “Magic Wand” was successfully tested and could become operational as early as 2016, Xinhua cited the ministry as saying in a statement.

The new system will undergo a final test in the near future, the ministry added.

It said the new system will provide protection against medium to long-range missiles ranging from 40 to 300 km away.

Centre using smokescreen of deception: Jairam

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Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has targeted the central government for using “smokescreen of deception” reflected in the land acquisition bill, and said that in contrast, the UPA regime was “second to none” in promoting rural development.

Ramesh also said the Congress “never objected to a debate or shied away from a public discourse” as alleged by union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari in his March 30 letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Amaravati to be Andhra Pradesh’s new capital

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The Andhra Pradesh cabinet on Wednesday approved Amaravati is to be the new capital of the state.

“In today’s cabinet meet we decided to name Amravati as the new capital of Andhra Pradesh,” said chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu .

The Cabinet has also given a nod to the first phase of the master plan of the capital city prepared by Singapore Government agencies.

The capital is likely to have three rings-the core capital region, capital area and a larger capital region. (ANI)

Human resources can become dividend if utilised properly: President

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With India set to have over half of the world’s working population, this human resource can become a dividend if it is utilised properly, President Pranab Mukherjee said here on Wednesday.

“While the population of Europe and China are ageing, India will have more than half of the working population of the world. This human resource can become a dividend if it is utilised properly,” the president said after inaugurating the Centenary Building of Asutosh College.

‘Saffronisation’ imperative to rectify distorted Indian history: RSS chief

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Condemning the calling of Indian revolutionaries as terrorists, RSS chief Mohan Bhagawat on Wednesday said “saffronisation” was imperative to rectify the country’s “distorted history”.

“There are many with cunning mindsets who are trying to mislead the society by distorting history. Is calling Bhagat Singh a revolutionary instead of a terrorist, saffronisation? If stating what is fact is saffronisation, then so be it,” Bhagwat said.

Friendly ties with Bangladesh not at cost of troopers’ lives: Rajnath

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Calling the BSF’s non-lethal strategy a “myth”, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said friendly relationship with Bangladesh cannot be at the cost of lives of Indian troopers.

“There is nothing like a non-lethal strategy. What is paramount that our borders need to be protected? I cannot allow that the jawans are attacked and they cannot fire in self-defence,” said Rajnath Singh, who is on a two-day visit to West Bengal.

ONGC sells 23 percent stake in Tripura power firm for Rs.426 crore

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India Infrastructure Fund II will acquire 23.5 percent stake worth about Rs.426 crore in ONGC Tripura Power Company (OTPC), jointly promoted by ONGC, IL&FS Energy Development Company (IEDCL) and the government of Tripura, state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corp said on Wednesday.

ONGC said in a statement here that after the transaction, the shareholding in OTPC will be: ONGC 50 percent, IEDCL 26 percent, the Tripura government 0.5 percent and India Infrastructure Fund II 23.5 percent.

“This consummates the equity structure as was envisaged at the time of setting up the project,” ONGC said.

Flydubai airline expands services to Chennai

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Dubai-based airline Flydubai on Wednesday expanded its network with the launch of services to Chennai, keeping in view the growing travel market between India and the UAE.

The launch of the Chennai route will be served with three flights a week, which will see flydubai operate 29 weekly flights between Dubai and India, said a company release.

Flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said: “Addition of Chennai to our network will provide the opportunity to travellers to visit Dubai more often and explore the Flydubai network which we are already seeing from our other points in India.”

Giriraj Singh must question his ‘parochial’ belief: Kiran Bedi

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Former IPS officer and BJP leader Kiran Bedi on Wednesday said that Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Giriraj Singh needs to question his parochial belief.

“He has to question his parochial belief. Even if he has regretted, he knows the statement will go public, is he not afraid? This is not about the man. This is about the mind; it could be a women’s mind or a man’s,” Bedi said while commenting on Giriraj Singh’s ‘white skinned’ remark on Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

Rays Power to make 7 MW solar rooftop project for Delhi Metro

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Solar power solutions provider Rays Power Experts on Wednesday said it has won a contract from Delhi Metro for setting up a 7 MW solar rooftop photovoltaic project on selected stations and sites.

“Rays Power has bagged the tender for the construction and commissioning of a 7 MW solar roof-top voltaic power plant for selected stations and sites of Delhi Metro Rail Co-corporation (DMRC),” the company said in a release here.

Rays Power said it is a tariff-based project at a consistent tariff of Rs.6.248 per unit for a duration of 25 years.

Jaswant Singh hospitalised again

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Former union minister Jaswant Singh was on Wednesday readmitted to a hospital here with fever and difficulty in breathing, an official said.

“Jaswant Singh was brought to the hospital this afternoon by his family with fever and difficulty in breathing,” a spokesman with the Army Hospital Research and Referral told IANS.

The 76-year-old former Bharatiya Janata Party leader had been admitted to the hospital on August 8, 2014 in a critical condition after his family found him lying on the floor of his house in an unconscious state. Since then he is in coma.

(IANS)

Girl shot dead in Bengaluru school hostel, suspect held

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A teenage girl was shot dead at a residential school hostel here allegedly by an office attendant. The suspect has been arrested, police said on Wednesday.

“The shootout occurred around 10 p.m. Tuesday, when the 41-year-old accused, Mahesh, barged into the hostel room of 17-year-old Gauthami and fired at her from close range with a sophisticated pistol and fled the spot,” Bengaluru Commissioner of Police M.N. Reddi told reporters later.

The girl’s roommate, Shirisha, who received a bullet injury in her ear, is recovering at a private hospital here.

Modi lauds secretaries for their good work

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday appreciated the good work done by the central government secretaries in the past 10 months, an official statement said.

Interacting with the secretaries informally at his official residence here, Modi described the assembled officers as “one team”.

The statement said the prime minister especially lauded them for the success of coal block auctions and the ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana’.

He also urged all them to consult each other regularly to eliminate silos, if any, and speed-up the process of decision-making.

Will release funds for EDMC workers’ salaries: Sisodia

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The Delhi government has decided to release funds for payment of salaries of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) sanitation workers, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Wednesday.

“We have decided to release the money for the salaries of sanitation workers of east Delhi. Soon they will get their salaries,” Sisodia said at a press briefing in the Delhi secretariat.

The sanitation workers of the EDMC had recently staged protests against the delay in their salaries since February.

Togadia banned from entering Bengal, opposition smells electoral compulsion

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The Mamata Banerjee government on Wednesday issued prohibitory orders banning the entry of VHP international vice president Praveen Togadia in West Bengal, arguing that his presence could lead to “communal tension” and disturb public tranquillity.

The Vishva Hindu Parishad leader, known for his controversial speeches, was slated to take part in a programme in North Dinajpur district on April 5.

The opposition parties, however, related the decision to the civic polls in the state later this month, saying it was an effort to garner votes of the minority communities.

Giriraj does it again: Remark on Sonia’s ‘white skin’ triggers outrage

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Union Minister Giriraj Singh caused embarrassment to the government and triggered outrage on Wednesday with a racist remark about Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s skin colour. The Congress demanded his dismissal, while Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra said he was “appalled” at the remark which was a reflection of the BJP leader’s lack of respect for women.

Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah is said to have called up Giriraj Singh, the minister of state for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), and rebuked him for the remark on Sonia Gandhi.

DD documentary on Mrinal Sen handed over to filmmaker

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As part of its tribute to India’s living legends, Doordarshan has made a documentary on legendary film maker Mrinal Sen, the DVD of which was handed to the nonagenarian movie maker here on Wednesday.

Titled “Celebrating Mrinal Sen”, the four-episode documentary is primarily based on conversations between the maestro and renowned film critic and analyst Sameek Bandyopadhyay.

Prasar Bharati chief executive officer Jawhar Sircar handed over the DVD to Sen and his wife Gita at their south Kolkata residence, an official release said.

ED attaches Rs.742.58 crore property of Maran brothers

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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday announced the attachment of properties worth Rs.742.58 crore held by Dayanidhi Maran, Kalanithi Maran and the latter’s wife Kaveri Kalanithi.

In a statement, the ED said the attachment was in respect of the offence of money laundering relating to illegal gratification amounting to Rs.742.58 crore received by Dayanidhi Maran.

2,000 evacuated after underground fire in central London

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Over 2,000 people were evacuated from buildings in central London on Wednesday after underground fire was reported at Holborn.

Six fire engines and 35 fire fighters have been deployed to douse the flames.

200 people were evacuated from the London School of Economics, after it was cleared by the emergency services. The university also urged students to avoid the area.

Many workers, and students at the LSE library, are trapped in their buildings due to the thick smoke. (ANI)

Jupally visits Oasis Silicon City in Dubai

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Minister for Industries, Handlooms & Textile and Sugar, Jupally Krishna Rao, who is in Dubai in connection with Annual Investors’ Meet, on Wednesday visited the Oasis Silicon city, Dubai Internet City and Dubai Media City.
The minister held wide-ranging discussions with the officials and business community on the issues concerning establishment of smart cities in the State of Telangana as well as initiatives for growth of the State. (NSS)

Transco ADE in ACB net; huge properties detected

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Sleuths of Anti-Corruption Bureau on Wednesday conducted simultaneous raids on the house of Transco ADE Syamsudar Reddy at Saidabad and his office at Mint compound.
The ACB sleuths plunged into action following allegations that the Syamsundar Reddy had amassed huge assets than his known sources of income. So far, the ACB officials have identified assets worth around Rs 2 crore and still the raids are going on.

Top officials discuss plans to ease traffic congestion

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The High Level Coordination Committee on Wednesday discussed measures to be adopted to ease out traffic congestion and ensure free flow of traffic from Mythrivanam to Nirankari Bhavan at Lakdika Pul.

The officials, who attended the meeting at GHMC Headquarters, were of the view that all hurdles on the road from Mythrivanam to Lakdikapul should be removed.

Man attempts self immolation at CP’s office

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In a bizarre incident, one Raj Kumar on Wednesday attempted to set himself ablaze in front of the Hyderabad City Police Commissioner’s Office at Basheerbagh here.

However, the alert sentries at the CP’s office rushed to Raj Kumar when he poured petrol on self and tried to set himself ablaze. When interrogated, Raj Kumar said he was being harassed by the ACP Rambhoopal of Goshamahal police Station. He alleged that the ACP was threatening him to vacate his open place beside the PS, otherwise, false cases would be foisted against him.