Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday expressed disappointment over former NDA minister Arun Shourie’s remark denouncing Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government over handling of economic affairs , urging the latter to give the Centre ‘reasonable time’ to show its performance.
Just over a month of fighting in Yemen has left nearly 1,250 people dead, in a conflict affecting 7.5 million people, the World Health Organization said today.
The UN health agency described a “deteriorating” humanitarian situation in the country, especially in Taez in the centre of the country where there have been heavy clashes.
Fighting and airstrikes by a Saudi-led coalition killed 1,244 people and injured 5,044 between March 19 and April 27, according to the latest WHO toll.
The number of people evacuated from Nepal by the Indian Air Force (IAF) reached 3,358 as another flight carrying the evacuees landed in India on Friday, the defence ministry said.
“One of the last sorties of C-17 from KTM (Kathmandu) to Palam. Total pax brought back by IAF fixed wing a/c 3,358,” Defence spokesperson Sitanshu Kar tweeted.
The Indian Air Force conducted 311 fixed wing aircraft sorties since the efforts started on last Saturday after Nepal was hit by a quake.
The Congress on Friday called upon the government to order an inquiry on the basis of CAG report concerning alleged “financial wrongdoing” by the Purti Sakhar Karkhana, promoted by union minister Nitin Gadkari, and demanded he step down.
In a statement, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that Gadkari was promoter of the Purti Sakhar Karkhana and had been “indicted” by the CAG in its report tabled in Parliament on Thursday.
Former union minister Arun Shourie on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policy on Pakistan lacked clarity and he is under the illusion of an out-of-box solution to the vexed issue.
In an interview with Karan Thapar for Headlines Today, Shourie, who was a minister in the first National Democratic Alliance government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, said: “Like all previous prime ministers Modi was prone to the belief he could change the relationship. The PM must free himself of the illusion of out of box thinking.”
Sanju Samson’s 46 ball 76 went in vain as Mumbai Indians picked up back-to-back wickets at the death to seal an eight-run victory over Rajasthan Royals in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2015 encounter at the Wankhede Stadium here on Friday.
Replying to Mumbai Indians’ 187 for five, the Royals came close, but fell short as they finished at 179/7 in 20 overs.
Mitchell McClenaghan was the most successful of Mumbai bowlers, with figures of three for 31.
The visitors got off to a flying start scoring 30 in the first three overs, before opener Ajinkya Rahane (16) departed.
At least 17 civilians were killed and over 40 others wounded on Friday in the airstrikes by the US-led anti-terror coalition on a village in northern Syria, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.
The warplanes of the anti-terror alliance struck the village of Beirmhali in the northwestern countryside of Aleppo province in northern Syria, Xinhua news agency reported.
The Observatory said the toll could rise because the large number of people were critically wounded.
Actress Shruti Haasan, daughter of legendary actors Kamal Haasan and Sarika, is fed up of comparisons with her parents and says it’s impossible for her to perform like them.
Asked how she reacts to comparisons with the separated duo, Shruti said: “It’s impossible for me to perform like my parents. You can’t compare — be it a father and daughter or anyone else. Everyone has their own quality.
Gold edged down towards key chart support on Friday after its biggest one-day loss in eight weeks, as disappointment at its failure to maintain a push this week above $1,200 an ounce undermined investor confidence.
Prices held above support at $1,180 an ounce and remained on track to end the week marginally firmer as the dollar remained under pressure against the euro, but it failed to attract fresh interest after Thursday’s 1.7 percent fall.
The Supreme Court on Friday stayed defamation proceedings against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on complaints filed by Congress leader Kapil Sibal’s son Amit Sibal and Sheila Dikshit’s ex-political secretary.
A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and P C Pant, which had earlier stayed proceedings in a criminal defamation case against him filed by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari, turned down the plea of Sibal not to restrain the trial court from hearing the case.
“We will not deviate from our own order,” the bench said while referring to its earlier order.
CPI(M) on Friday demanded prosecution of yoga guru Ramdev for allegedly branding of a medicine manufactured by his pharmacy as one which helps conceiving a male child under laws on sex determination and consumer protection.
Party’s Politburo member Brinda Karat, who had taken on Ramdev earlier too, said there was an online discussion on the ‘Putrajeevak Beej’ medicine suggesting that it helps produce a son, and this was “branding on part of Ramdev”.
This is one crisis that quake-devastated Nepal would want to avoid at any cost as a health scare stares at 1.26 lakh pregnant women in the country.
Around 21,000 women are expected to deliver in the next three months while over one lakh pregnant women are awaiting medical care in the Himalayan nation where 90 per cent of rural health infrastructure have been damaged and city hospitals are over-crowded.
Additionally, international agencies fear that another 40,000 women are at “immediate risk of sexual and gender-based violence”.
Sukhdev Singh, who lost his teenage daughter in the Moga bus incident, on Friday appealed for justice and strict punishment for the culprits.
“I just want justice. Whoever did that to my wife and daughter must be punished. I don’t want any money, I just want justice,” said Singh.
“If I don’t get justice, what will I do with Rs 20 lakh? They have offered me a job and Rs 20 lakh but I don’t want that. I just want justice,” he added.
The 13-year-old girl died after she and her mother were allegedly pushed off a moving bus after being molested on April 29.
Sukhdev Singh, who lost his teenage daughter in the Moga bus incident, on Friday appealed for justice and strict punishment for the culprits.
“I just want justice. Whoever did that to my wife and daughter must be punished. I don’t want any money, I just want justice,” said Singh.
“If I don’t get justice, what will I do with Rs 20 lakh? They have offered me a job and Rs 20 lakh but I don’t want that. I just want justice,” he added.
The 13-year-old girl died after she and her mother were allegedly pushed off a moving bus after being molested on April 29.
Under certain conditions coffee can act as an antioxidant, according to a new study that may lead to a deeper understanding of the brewing process, as well as its potential health benefits.
Melbourne based researchers in Monash University in collaboration with Italian coffee
roasting company Illycaffè, have conducted the most comprehensive study to date on how free radicals and antioxidants behave during every stage of the coffee brewing process, from intact bean to coffee brew.
Mumbai Indians scored a competitive 187 for five against Rajasthan Royals in an IPL cricket match here today.
For MI, Ambati Rayudu top-scored with 27-ball-53 while Lendl Simmons scored 38 while Dhawal Kulkarni was the most successful bowler with figures of 2/29.
Brief Scores: MI 187/5 in 20 overs (Ambati Rayudu 53, Lendl Simmons 38, Dhawal Kulkarni 2/29) vs RR.
In what is called a major ‘blow’ to Telangana Government, the High Court today directed it to cancel immediately the Parliamentary Secretaries’ posts appointed some time ago.
Perusing separate petitions filed by Congress MP Gutha Sukhender Reddy and Telugu Desam MLA Revanth Reddy against the appointment of Parliamentary Secretaries by the TRS government, the court observed that the appointment is totally against the norms. The Court asked the State Government to cancel these posts as they cannot be considered constitutional.
BJP Greater Hyderabad president B Venkat Reddy today demanded that the State government immediately stop collection of property tax by Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).
In a statement here on Friday, Venkat Reddy alleged that the GHMC, instead of providing basic amenities to the citizens was feverishly collecting property tax forcibly to increase its revenue. The GHMC, instead of collecting property tax from big fish, who became defaulters, was fleecing the poor by collecting property tax forcibly, he alleged.
TDP floor leader in Telangana assembly Errabelli Dayakar Rao today alleged that the TRS government has totally failed in mitigating the problems of farmers in the State.
Speaking to mediapersons here on Friday, Errabelli said said the TRS government failed to buy paddy damaged in recent unseasonal rains. He also alleged that KCR was deceiving people by his false promises. “We have been trying to get an appointment with the Chief Minister for the last two weeks to bring to his notice about the people’s problems, but we could not get an appointment, the TDP leader lamented.
A driver by name Prem Kumar attempted to commit suicide on Friday alleging that Rajendra Nagar RTC depot official Krishna Reddy was harassing him whenever ticket collection was less.
CPI national leader Dr K Narayana on Friday slammed Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for alleging that the CPI was against formation of separate Telangana State.
Speaking to the media here, Narayana reminded that the CPI was the first political party which took a decision in favor of separate Telangana State. He also reminded that as CPI State secretary he made it clear that he would not change the decision in favour of separate Telangana even if United Andhra activists burn not effigies but even him.
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today announced that all the five lakh drivers in the State will get accident insurance.
Alleging that the lands acquired by the APIIC during previous Congress government in the united AP were grossly misused, Telangana Downtrodden Sections Students JAC leaders took to the road on Friday demanding that the present TRS government take over those “misused” lands.
Union Minister of State for Labor and Employment Bandaru Dattatraya today warned that stringent action would be taken against the companies denying minimum wages to its workers and employees.
May Day celebrations were held at NTR Trust Bhavan here on Friday under the aegis of TNTUC. Several TDP leaders and party workers were present.