Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday raised the issue of “distressing rise in incidence of atrocities against Dalits” with Prime Minster Narendra Modi and called upon the government to bring a bill in the monsoon session to tighten the law on atrocities against scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.
At least 400 people, mostly elderly, are missing after a ship capsized on the Yangtze river in southern China due to a cyclone as strong winds and heavy rains hindered the rescue efforts.
458 people were on board Dongfangzhixing or “Eastern Star” which was headed from the eastern city of Nanjing to the southwestern city of Chongqing when it sank in the Jianli section of the river, in Hubei province, at around 9:28 pm yesterday, the river navigation administration said.
Most of the passengers had retired for the night when the incident happened.
Nurses at KEM hospital today remembered their colleague Aruna Shanbaug, who passed away three weeks ago, on her birth anniversary with the hospital administration deciding to name Room No 4, where she stayed for 42 years, after her.
“We have decided to name Room No 4 after Aruna,” KEM hospital dean Dr Avinash Supe told PTI.
“The room will also be used for the public and staff,” he added.
The observers believe that Congress is trying to win back Dalit votes in India; BJP also has been on the same track recently with Modi govt offering a series of schemes on BR Ambedkar’s year-long 125th birth anniversary celebrations.
Continuing his campaign of reaching out to less privileged sections, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi will be visiting Mhow on Monday, the birthplace of Dr B R Ambedkar around whose work and ideology struggles of the suppressed classes are centred.
Parents of Kargil martyr Saurabh Kalia on Monday thanked the Centre for indicating that it could approach the International Court of Justice against his brutal torture by Pakistan but said they will believe its assurances only if these are backed by concrete action.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi today wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagging the “distressing rise” in incidents of Dalit atrocities and demanded that a bill to prevent such crimes is brought in the monsoon session of Parliament next month.
Referring to the incidents of Dalit atrocities in two-BJP ruled states Rajasthan and Maharashtra, the Congress President also alleged that the NDA government had “allowed” an ordinance, brought by UPA, to lapse and slammed it for not bringing a bill to replace it in the last budget session of parliament.
Japan’s pension service said today it suffered a hack attack that led to 1.25 million cases of personal data being leaked.
An employee opened an e-mail with a virus, triggering the release of client names, pension account numbers, birth dates and addresses, it said, adding that the breach was discovered last week.
“We have contacted police to investigate the matter,” Toichiro Mizushima, president of Japan Pension Service, told a press briefing in Tokyo.
India’s preparatory camp ahead of seventh Junior Women’s Asia Cup started today at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here.
A total of 48 core probables will take part in the camp under the watchful eyes of coach NS Saini for a week after which the list will trimmed down to 33 on June 5.
The Junior Women’s Asia Cup will be held in China from September 5 to 13.
Six months after the rape of a financial consultant by an Uber cab driver, the App based cab service provider ran into fresh controversy after a driver was accused of molesting a 21-year-old student in Gurgaon.
The woman, who resides in Delhi’s Rohini with her family and studies in DanceWorx academy, alleged that Uber cab driver Vinod molested her on Saturday night around 10 p.m. in Gurgaon’s Suncity area, when she disembarked from the car to go to a friend’s house.
Defending champion Maria Sharapova was sent packing from the French Open at the fourth-round stage today, losing in straight sets to Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic.
Safarova, the 13th seed, won 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 to progress to a first ever quarter-final at Roland Garros, where she will face Garbine Muguruza after the Spaniard saw off Flavia Pennetta.
The newly appointed cricket advisory panel comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman will have its first meeting in Kolkata with president Jagmohan Dalmiya and secretary Anurag Thakur before the Indian team departs for Bangladesh.
“The meeting will be held on June 4th or 5th tentatively. The committee will meet the president and secretary to chalk out the blueprint for moving ahead,” a source told PTI today.
It is likely that the Dalmiya and Thakur would seek the trio’s opinion on the appointment of support staff for the national team.
MCET-AC-2015 is scheduled on June 3, from 10 am to 1 pm. Candidates will be allowed to enter test centres from 8:30 to 9:15 am. Late comers will not be allowed after 9:15 am. Test will begin at 10 am sharp. Students are not allowed to bring pen, pencil, paper, written material, printed material, electronic items and wrist watches. Convenor Dr. K Rajendra Babu told this in a press conference.
Siasat news
In connection with Telangana Foundation Day, National Integrity Committee is holding a function on June 2, at 11:30 am at Prakasham Hall, Gandhi Bhawan.
President committee S K Afzaluddin will preside over. President Pradesh Congress Telangana Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Mr. M Vikram, K Jana Reddy, Mohammed Ali Shabbir, D Nagendra, N Sharada, Dr. M A Ansari will address. On the occasion Mrs. Sonia Gandhi who fulfilled the promise of Telangana will be paid rich tributes.
Siasat news
Software giant Microsoft will unveil the latest version of its operating system, Windows 10, on July 29 across 190 countries globally.
“Beginning July 29, 2015, Windows 10 will be available in 190 markets globally as a free upgrade to customers running on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1,” Microsoft said in a statement.
Built with feedback and testing of over four million people around the world, Windows 10 marks the beginning of a new era of personal technology, designed to empower people to do great things, it added.
A new software that analyses facial expressions can accurately measure pain levels in kids, a new study has found.
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine used the software to analyse pain-related facial expressions from video taken of 50 youths, ages five to 18 years old, who had undergone laparoscopic appendectomies at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego.
Based on the analysis, along with clinical data input by the study team, the software provided pain level scores for each participant.
There are several ways to take a selfie nowadays but this new procedure will leave you astounded.
The new iOS camera app will help you take a selfie by screaming at your phone.
That is your shouting will activate the phone camera through sound inputs.
To get the best results just point your phone and scream at your camera, and the app will take care of snapping a shot for you.
Initially your selfie will look as a jumble of pixel blocks, then you have to make some noise to clear the screen and take a snap.
Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) today reported a 1.5 per cent increase in total sales at 52,515 units in May.
The company had sold 51,718 units in the same month last year, HMIL said in a statement.
In the domestic market, Hyundai sold 37,450 units last month compared with 36,205 units in May 2014, up 3.4 per cent. However, the company’s exports declined 2.9 per cent to 15,065 units as against 15,513 units in the same period last year.
German carmaker Volkswagen today reported 56.83 per cent increase in India sales last month at 4,167 units. The company had sold 2,657 units in May last year. The sales have been driven mainly by the new Jetta sedan and hatchback Polo.
“We remain confident of continuing to improve our sales figures further over the coming months,” Volkswagen Group
Sales India Director (Volkswagen Passenger Cars) Michael Mayer said in a statement.
PTI
Early reviews of Mahindra Gusto showcase it in good light. It is a good scooter, friendly and comfortable but fail on one aspect i.e. the wooden brake.
Meanwhile, the eager engine and plush suspension are the same. The engine runs smoothly at 85 kph without feeling any pressure. Brakes are in control always, its seat height is also adjustable.
Thus, making it the right choice for many. Hopefully it will bring boom to the otherwise losing Mahindra and Mahindra group.
The auto-maker on Monday reported 3 per cent decline in total sales at 36,706 vehicles in May.
Chipmaking giant Intel announced today it will acquire the much-smaller Altera for USD 16.7 billion, accelerating a wave of consolidation in the semiconductor industry.
Intel said the deal, the largest in its 47-year history, would boost its portfolio of chips for data centers and the ‘Internet of Things,’ an emerging area of transactions that do not require human-to-human or human-to-computer contacts.
The deal follows the May 28 announcement that Singapore-based Avago Technologies would buy rival Broadcom in a tech-sector record USD 37 billion deal aimed at mobile chipmaking.
The country’s largest lender State Bank of India today said it has reduced interest rates on car loans by 25 basis points for its women home loan borrowers.
The bank is offering the concession under the ‘Her Ghar Her Car’ loyalty scheme.
“Under this, ‘Her Ghar’ borrowers can go in for a ‘Her Car’ loan at reduced rate of 10 per cent per annum,” the bank said in a statement here today.
Car loans to non ‘Her Ghar’ borrowers would continue to be at 10.25 per cent per annum, it said.
Shares of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries plunged over 9 per cent today, wiping out Rs 20,864 crore from its market valuation, after the company’s fourth quarter earnings came below market expectations.
After falling 9.96 per cent to Rs 869.50 in intra-day trade at the BSE, shares of Sun Pharma finally ended at Rs 878.95, down 8.99 per cent.
At the NSE, it dipped 9.15 per cent to close at Rs 877.65.
“Sun Pharma corrected by almost 10 per cent today due to under-expected Q4 results,” said Rakesh Goyal, Senior Vice President, Bonanza Portfolio Ltd.
The benchmark BSE Sensex today edged up by 20.55 points in volatile trade to 27,848.99 as consumer goods gained on hopes that RBI would cut interest rates this week but a slump in Sun Pharma restricted index’s gains.
Sentiment remained upbeat after data showed Indian economy expanded 7.3 per cent in 2014-15 and manufacturing activity kicked up in May. RBI is scheduled to review its policy rates tomorrow.
Taking cue from global price trends, the government today reduced the import tariff value of gold to USD 385 per 10 grams.
The import tariff on silver has also been cut to USD 544 per kg.
During last fortnight, the tariff value on imported gold was USD 398 per 10 grams and on silver at USD 567 per kg.
The import tariff value is the base price at which customs duty is determined to prevent under-invoicing. It is revised on a fortnightly basis taking into account global prices.
Thanks to benign inflation and better fiscal numbers, bankers and industry leaders expect RBI to lower its key policy rate on Monday to support economic activity and boost investment.
The wholesale inflation hit a new low of (-)2.65 per cent in April, with deflationary pressure holding up for the sixth month. Even retail prices are on the downswing.
The industry and bankers also take comfort from the fact that the government has been able to rein in fiscal deficit within 4 per cent of GDP in 2014-15, providing headroom for RBI to soften up.