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Sun, 08 July 2012
Mursi upturns court ruling, reinstates Egypt parl
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21:39 Mursi upturns court ruling, reinstates Egypt parl
Egypt's new president Mohamed Mursi took the country's top court head on today, issuing a decree to reinstate the parliament that had been dissolved in an unpopular verdict days before his historic election.
In his first major act of assertiveness, the first democratically elected president recalled the lower house of the parliament to resume its legislative responsibilities that had been taken over by the military.
The presidential decree said new parliament elections will be held within 60 days of the ratification of the new constitution, and till that time the earlier elected representatives will continue as lawmakers.
The decree defies the June 14 ruling by the Supreme Constitutional Court to dissolve the parliament on grounds that its election had violated certain norms.
The court ruling that came days before the presidential run-off that elected Mursi, had been deeply unpopular in the country.
Following the ruling, the military took over the legislative functions of the parliament, further exacerbating unrest among Egyptians, who saw the moves as the army's attempt to hold on to power.
In his first major act of assertiveness, the first democratically elected president recalled the lower house of the parliament to resume its legislative responsibilities that had been taken over by the military.
The presidential decree said new parliament elections will be held within 60 days of the ratification of the new constitution, and till that time the earlier elected representatives will continue as lawmakers.
The decree defies the June 14 ruling by the Supreme Constitutional Court to dissolve the parliament on grounds that its election had violated certain norms.
The court ruling that came days before the presidential run-off that elected Mursi, had been deeply unpopular in the country.
Following the ruling, the military took over the legislative functions of the parliament, further exacerbating unrest among Egyptians, who saw the moves as the army's attempt to hold on to power.
21:12 New Qaeda video shows 'ninja' terrorists
A new Al Qaeda video posted on extremist websites linked to the terror outfit shows six masked assassins in 'ninja' outfits firing automatic pistols at a camp thought to be on the Pak-Afghan border.
The chilling footage shows terrorists going through a series of shooting drills, The Sun reported.
20:30 Russia floods: Putin orders inquiry over deaths
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered an inquiry into whether enough was done to prevent mass deaths in the southern flood-hit
Putin demanded to know how much warning people had been given about the impending disaster.
Activists blamed the ferocity of the flood on the opening of sluice gates at a local reservoir.
A separate criminal investigation is already under way into whether the 155 deaths were caused by negligence.
19:05 10 injured as gunman opens fire at French disco
An armed man today opened fire after being ordered out of a nightclub in northern France, injuring 10, a week after a similar incident in the area claimed two lives, officials said.
Special operations police arrested the suspect, who had fired several rounds with a hunting rifle after being asked to leave the discotheque in the town of Betry near the main northern city of Lille, where the deadly shooting took place last Sunday.
The man, in his thirties, fired at the door, a local official, Etienne Stock, told reporters, adding that he had had earlier brushes with the law.
The suspect was kicked out "after getting into a dispute with his brother-in-law over a bottle," and then got a gun and fired, said Herve Legrand, a bouncer at the discotheque Le Vamos, speaking in hospital.
Officials and medical sources said the 10 victims suffered light injuries.
Special operations police arrested the suspect, who had fired several rounds with a hunting rifle after being asked to leave the discotheque in the town of Betry near the main northern city of Lille, where the deadly shooting took place last Sunday.
The man, in his thirties, fired at the door, a local official, Etienne Stock, told reporters, adding that he had had earlier brushes with the law.
The suspect was kicked out "after getting into a dispute with his brother-in-law over a bottle," and then got a gun and fired, said Herve Legrand, a bouncer at the discotheque Le Vamos, speaking in hospital.
Officials and medical sources said the 10 victims suffered light injuries.
18:10 BJD leader shot dead by Maoists in Odisha
A local Biju Janata Dal leader and businessman was gunned down by suspected Maoists in Rangangpur area of Odisha's Sundargarh district, police said today.
The bullet-riddled body of Hardeep Singh, a resident of Kansbahal who had been taken away from his house by some people last night, was found near Bilegarh this morning, sub-divisional police officer S Panigrahi said.
"His body was found lying near Bilegarh with gunshot marks," he said.
Besides, a hand written poster was found from the spot which claimed that People's Liberation Front of India was responsible for the killing, Panigrahi said.
The bullet-riddled body of Hardeep Singh, a resident of Kansbahal who had been taken away from his house by some people last night, was found near Bilegarh this morning, sub-divisional police officer S Panigrahi said.
"His body was found lying near Bilegarh with gunshot marks," he said.
Besides, a hand written poster was found from the spot which claimed that People's Liberation Front of India was responsible for the killing, Panigrahi said.
17:28 RBI tries to simplify 'Paise Ki Boli'
With a tagline 'Pehchano Paise Ki Boli, Kyunki Paisa Bolta Hai', the RBI website gives visual presentation with pointers on currency notes of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 rupee denominations.
17:05 Spend existing funds first: Centre to Bengal
Centre has refused to release funds to the tune of Rs 168 crore to West Bengal government for drinking water projects, pointing out that the amount disbursed earlier had not been spent by the state.
The development comes amid strains in relations between Congress and Trinamool Congress over Presidential elections in which Mamata Banerjee has so far not committed her support to UPA Presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee.
Trinamool Congress leaders refused to comment on the development.
Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, who also holds the portfolio of drinking water and sanitation, has written to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asking her to expedite the spending of available funds and report it to the Centre.
"The first instalment of NRDWP funds for 2012/13 amounting Rs 168.47 crore could not be released so far to your state because the high unspent balance of Rs 253.29 crore with the state as on June 1, 2012," Ramesh said in his letter highlighting the delay in implementing the project.
He informed Banerjee that the Centre would be able to release funds only after it receives report from the state on the utilisation of money lying with the state.
Ministry sources said Ramesh has also written a similar letter to Banerjee on the high unspent balance of MNREGA fund.
The development comes amid strains in relations between Congress and Trinamool Congress over Presidential elections in which Mamata Banerjee has so far not committed her support to UPA Presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee.
Trinamool Congress leaders refused to comment on the development.
Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, who also holds the portfolio of drinking water and sanitation, has written to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asking her to expedite the spending of available funds and report it to the Centre.
"The first instalment of NRDWP funds for 2012/13 amounting Rs 168.47 crore could not be released so far to your state because the high unspent balance of Rs 253.29 crore with the state as on June 1, 2012," Ramesh said in his letter highlighting the delay in implementing the project.
He informed Banerjee that the Centre would be able to release funds only after it receives report from the state on the utilisation of money lying with the state.
Ministry sources said Ramesh has also written a similar letter to Banerjee on the high unspent balance of MNREGA fund.
16:06 Advani blogs on how Indo-Pak ties can be improved
In the wake of 26/11 handler Abu Jundal's extradition from Saudi Arabia, BJP leader L K Advani today said India's relations with Pakistan would improve considerably if it stopped providing a safe haven to terrorists like Dawood Ibrahim and handed them over to New Delhi.
In his latest blog posting, he said he had flagged cross-border terrorism and similar issues with the visiting Pakistan Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani last week when the latter called on him.
"An even more distressing aspect of continuing Indo-Pak tension on the issue of terrorism is the safe haven Pakistan still provides to declared terrorists and absconders like Dawood Ibrahim. If taking a cue from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan can hand over Dawood Ibrahim to India, it can overnight change public perception in India about Pakistan," Advani said.
He recalled that during this interaction with Jilani, he also expressed concern that Pakistan had not sincerely followed the Vajpayee-Musharraf accord.
"I said to him that for us the greatest regret has been that the joint statement issued by Gen (Pervez) Musharraf and A B Vajpayee at Islamabad after the SAARC Conference affirming that Pakistan would not allow any part of its country or any area under its control to be used for terrorist operations against India has not been sincerely followed up," Advani said.
In his latest blog posting, he said he had flagged cross-border terrorism and similar issues with the visiting Pakistan Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani last week when the latter called on him.
"An even more distressing aspect of continuing Indo-Pak tension on the issue of terrorism is the safe haven Pakistan still provides to declared terrorists and absconders like Dawood Ibrahim. If taking a cue from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan can hand over Dawood Ibrahim to India, it can overnight change public perception in India about Pakistan," Advani said.
He recalled that during this interaction with Jilani, he also expressed concern that Pakistan had not sincerely followed the Vajpayee-Musharraf accord.
"I said to him that for us the greatest regret has been that the joint statement issued by Gen (Pervez) Musharraf and A B Vajpayee at Islamabad after the SAARC Conference affirming that Pakistan would not allow any part of its country or any area under its control to be used for terrorist operations against India has not been sincerely followed up," Advani said.
15:02 Bihar: Girl killed, 4 injured in grenade explosion
A girl was killed and four others were injured today when an abandoned grenade exploded at Manphar forest in Naxalite-stronghold Gaya district of Bihar, the police said.
The grenade exploded soon after the girl lifted the unknown object from the ground out of curiosity, Superintendent of Police Baburam said.
While the 12-year-old girl was killed on the spot, four other girls were injured.
The injured were admitted to a local hospital from where the one of the seriously injured girl was referred to the Anugrah Narayan Medical College and Hospital in Gaya.
The explosive might have been left over by the Naxalites, Baburam said.
The grenade exploded soon after the girl lifted the unknown object from the ground out of curiosity, Superintendent of Police Baburam said.
While the 12-year-old girl was killed on the spot, four other girls were injured.
The injured were admitted to a local hospital from where the one of the seriously injured girl was referred to the Anugrah Narayan Medical College and Hospital in Gaya.
The explosive might have been left over by the Naxalites, Baburam said.
14:02 Roadside bombs kill 15 in Afghanistan
AP reports: Roadside bombs have killed 14 Afghan civilians and one member of the US-led international military coalition in southern Afghanistan, Afghan and NATO authorities said today.
A minivan ran over one bomb today in Arghistan district, along Afghanistan's border with Pakistan, said Ahmad Jawed Faisal, the spokesman for Kandahar province.
Other civilians, who were riding on a tractor, arrived to help the dead and wounded, but the tractor struck a second bomb in the road, he added.
Authorities were trying to determine how many people died in each blast. At least three other civilians were injured in the explosions.
14:01 Rajesh Khanna discharged from hospital
Yesteryear superstar Rajesh Khanna, who had been admitted to a private hospital in Mumbai over a fortnight ago, has been discharged on Saturday morning, hospital sources said.
Khanna was admitted to Lilavati hospital at suburban Bandra in Mumbai on June 23 due to exhaustion and weakness, his estranged wife Dimple Kapadia had said.
"He is fine now. He was discharged today early morning," a hospital source told PTI.
Even Dimple confirmed the news saying, "We brought him home early morning today. He is absolutely fine."
10:32 Landslide in Ladakh, Army rescues 400 people
The Indian Army on Saturday rescued around 400 civilians left stranded by a landslide on the Tangtse-Chang la road in Ladakh.
Sources informed that the army initiated a major rescue operation after a massive landslide blocked nearly 250 metres of the Tangtse-Chang la road in the Durbuk village.
Those rescued have now been evacuated to safer places, including the military camp in Tangtse.
The civilians have been provided shelter, food, warm clothing and medical aid by quick reaction medical teams.
Meanwhile, rescue operations are on and stranded tourists are being evacuated through alternate routes.
Sources informed that the army initiated a major rescue operation after a massive landslide blocked nearly 250 metres of the Tangtse-Chang la road in the Durbuk village.
Those rescued have now been evacuated to safer places, including the military camp in Tangtse.
The civilians have been provided shelter, food, warm clothing and medical aid by quick reaction medical teams.
Meanwhile, rescue operations are on and stranded tourists are being evacuated through alternate routes.
00:31 Jairam Ramesh in hospital after insect bite
Union Rural Development Minister Jairam
Ramesh has been admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in
Sources say that the minister was probably bit by an insect during his recent
visit to tribal areas in Odisha.
He is expected to remain in hospital for the next two or three days.
Ramesh is the only Union minister, who has been frequently travelling to
forests and tribal areas
00:22 Japan considers buying disputed islands: PM
Japan is considering buying a chain of islands at the centre of a bitter territorial dispute with China and Taiwan, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has said, sparking an angry response from Beijing.
The islands in the East China Sea are called Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese.
"There is no question that the Senkakus are an integral part of our country's territory in terms of history and international law," Noda told media persons.
"There exists no territorial issue or ownership issue as Japan is in effective control of the islands.
"From the viewpoint of how to maintain and manage the Senkakus in a calm and stable manner, we are making comprehensive studies on the matter by keeping in touch with the owner."
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said Japan had no right to purchase the islands.
"The Chinese government will continue to take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the sovereign rights of the Diaoyu Islands and adjacent islets," he said according to the Xinhua state news agency.
00:22 In new ad, Obama challenges Romney on China trade
President Barack Obama is challenging Mitt Romney's promises to crack down on China's trading practices, saying in an ad released that the Republican candidate profited by allowing China to strip away US jobs.
Obama's ad turns again to a recent Washington Post report that several businesses backed by Romney's former private equity firm moved American jobs to China and India to cut costs. In a parting shot, a narrator says Romney is "not the solution. He's the problem."
The ad follows Obama's two-day bus tour in Ohio and Pennsylvania, where the president announced plans to file a trade complaint against China at the World Trade Organization for unfairly imposing duties on US-produced automobiles. Ohio is home to several auto plants and tens of thousands of workers directly employed by the auto industry.
China remains a flashpoint in the presidential campaign.
Romney has accused Obama of failing to live up to promises to get tough on the economic powerhouse, saying he would label China a currency manipulator on his first day in office and fight the theft of intellectual property and job losses.
00:22 Fire in textile godown in WB's Burra Bazar
A major fire broke out on the second floor of a four-storey building housing a textile godown and some offices in Kolkata's Burrabazar area late Saturday night.
Fire brigade sources said that there was no report of any casualty so far.
Fifteen fire tenders were engaged to battle the blaze and the building was evacuated, said fire services minister Javed Khan who visited the site to supervise fire fighting operations.
Sources said that the fire fighting operations proved difficult as the building was located in a congested lane.
The cause of fire and the extent of damage was yet to be ascertained.
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