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Sun, 14 October 2012
Charges against Vadra politically motivated: Moily
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19:45 Charges against Vadra politically motivated: Moily
The charges levelled by activist Arvind Kejriwal against Congress President's son-in-law Robert Vadra over his business dealings with DLF were 'politically motivated', Union minister M Veerappa Moily today alleged.
The Union Corporate Affairs Minister also alleged that the IAC activist was trying to tarnish the Congress' image.
"Allegations against Vadra of getting favours from DLF are politically motivated and Kejriwal is trying to tarnish the Congress image," he told reporters.
On the Cauvery water sharing dispute, Moily rapped the BJP ruled Karnataka Government for 'failure' to present ground realities in the Cauvery basin before the Supreme Court which directed the state to release water to Tamil Nadu.
19:43 Slight tremor hits Karnataka
A slight intensity earthquake hit Dakshin Kannad region of Karnataka this afternoon, the Indian Meteorological Department said.
The quake, measuring 3.9 on the Richter Scale, hit the southern state at around 2.22 PM.
The tremor's epicentre lay at a depth of 5 kms, the IMD said in its preliminary report . There were no immediate reports of any injuries or damage.
18:54 Gummen kill 20 worshippers at Nigeria mosque
At least 20 people were killed as gunmen opened fire on Muslim worshippers coming out of a mosque in northern Nigeria's Kaduna state today.
The attack happened in a remote village called Dogo Dawa. A witness said the attack was most likely carried out by a local criminal gang.
"Recently, the local vigilante group had attacked some hoodlums in an area of the state killing some in the process. It is speculated that this could be a reprisal by the group, he said. Religiously divided Kaduna has seen waves of sectarian violence in recent months.
18:25 Marathi daily editor among 4 booked in murder case
Editor-in-Chief of Marathi daily 'Deshonnati' and three others have been booked in connection with the killing of an employee in the daily's printing press at Gondkhairi near Nagpur.
Rajendra Dupare, 50, a security supervisor at the printing press, was shot dead last evening when the daily's editor-in-chief Prakash Pohare along with a security guard, Ganesh D Fungud, had gone to the press where some employees of the paper were holding an agitation.
The security guard, accompanying Pohare, allegedly fired at Dupare from his rifle after they had a scuffle. Dupare was taken to Government Medical College Hospital where he was declared brought dead.
18:07 Eshwarappa hits back at Congress over Cauvery
Hitting back at Congress for attacking the government over Cauvery issue, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister K S Eshwarappa today accused it of politicising the matter and adopting double standards.
Defending the release of water to Tamil Nadu from September 12 to 19 as a goodwill gesture, he said the decision was taken after legal opinion.
He charged the Congress with politicising the issue by first welcoming the decision of Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar to release 9,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu.
17:50 Haryana saw 60 rape cases a month in 2011
They were meeting to discuss how to calibrate their demand for reservations in government jobs.
But the 100-odd old men, all clad in white, some turbaned, gathered in a dharamshala 40 kms from Delhi, as part of Sarv Jat Khap Panchayat, a community body of Haryana's Jats, spent the bulk of their time debating whether girls should be married young '" well below the officially permissible age of 18.
Read the full story here
17:41 Khap panchayats demand status of Lok Adalats
A Khap Mahapanchayat held here has appealed to the Centre and Haryana government to grant 'Khaps' the status of Lok Adalats as their decisions on various issues were 'unanimous'.
The meeting, attended by about 70 Khaps, said yesterday that they were open to government representatives taking part in such meetings and voicing their opinions in the debates.
They also demanded that marriage in the same gotra should be banned and suggested amendments to the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, a Khap member said.
This, they claimed, would keep a check on the growing number of crimes against women, which included rape and female foeticide cases in Haryana.
17:22 HRW condemns Syria use of cluster bombs
AFP reports: The Human Rights Watch today accused the Syrian air force of using cluster bombs against rebels and in populated areas across the country.
"Syria's disregard for its civilian population is all too evident in its air campaign, which now apparently includes dropping these deadly cluster bombs into populated areas," said Steve Goose, arms director at the New York-based group.
"Cluster bombs have been comprehensively banned by most nations, and Syria should immediately stop all use of these indiscriminate weapons that continue to kill and maim for years," he said in a statement.
16:47 Khurshid presents 'beneficiary' of his NGO camp
Denying charges by IAC member Arvind Kejrival at a press conference today, Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid said, "We have not embezzled any funds."
"I won't answer any person on the street who levels allegations," he said.
When an Aaj Tak journalist repeated some questions repeatedly,the law minister lost his cool!
"I have already answered that in English. Maybe, you didn't get it. I will translate it for you," he said. "Let there be inquiry by any authority, including CAG, into the issue," he said.
Khurshid also presented pictures to prove that camps for the disabled were held in Bulandshahar and Etawah and other cities.
He added that details of the money spent were with the ministry. "Can a law minister stoop to forgery?" he thundered.
Khurshid presented Rangee Mistri, a man with a hearing-aid on as proof of Aaj Taks 'deceit'. Khurshid got Mistri to tell the media that he indeed get a hearing aid from the trust.
IAC member Arvind Kejrival had accused that Khurshid's non-governmental organisation siphoned off money meant for disabled.
The minister's wife and director of the NGO, Louise Khurshid, had described them as 'baseless innuendos' and accused the activist of 'doing politics using the shoulders of the disabled'.
14:56 Madhubani situation returning to normal
The situation in violence-hit Madhubani district is limping back to normal with no report of any fresh clash from anywhere today.
District Superintendent of Police Ranjit Kumar Mishra said prohibitory orders under section 144 Cr PC clamped on Madhubani town and adjoining Jainagar would, however, remain in place as a precautionary measure.
The policemen are carrying out intensified patrolling to keep vigil on the law and order situation, he said. Madhubani witnessed violence for two consecutive days until yesterday as agitators pelted stones and set on fire Basopatti, Khajauli, Kaluwahi, Jainagar and Rajnagar police stations in the district to protest the murder of a school boy last month.
14:30 Hardcore Maoist nabbed in Bihar
A hardcore Maoist was today arrested from Chilmi village in Bihar's Aurangabad district, a police official said.
Acting on a tip off, the police raided the village and caught the ultra, identified as Mithilesh Yadav, Director General of police Abhayanand said.
Yadav was wanted in connection with cases lodged in connection with blowing up a school building in Judahi village twice in 2009 and 2010, he said.
14:12 'Barfi!' gets standing ovation at Busan
'Barfi!', India's official entry to the Oscars in the foreign language film category, won hearts at the Busan International Film Festival when it was screened on Thursday, evoking a standing ovation from the audience.
The jam packed auditorium also had the film's lead actors Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra in attendance.
"Produced by Disney UTV, the romantic-comedy film is directed by Anurag Basu and was screened at the festival in South Korea to a sold-out show," a statement said.
13:47 UAE to send air ambulance for girl shot by Taliban
TOI reports: Pakistan says the royal family of the United Arab Emirates plans to send an air ambulance for a 14-year-old Pakistani girl shot by the Taliban in case doctors decide to send her abroad for treatment.
Islamabad's ambassador to the UAE Jamil Ahmed Khan told Pakistan's Geo TV on Sunday that visas are being finalised for the crew and six doctors who will accompany the flight.
Read the full story here
13:08 Ramesh comes out in defence of Khurshid
Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh today came to the defence of his Cabinet colleague Salman Khurshid and expressed hope that the Law Minister will emerge from 'this wholly manufactured ordeal with honour and integrity intact'.
Ramesh's defence came after Arvind Kejriwal-led India Against Corruption strengthened their campaign for the Law Minister's resignation alleging that Khurshid and his wife Louise were involved in cases of financial misappropriation and forgery in the Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust owned by them.
12:48 Malala was named for a battlefield heroine
International Herald Tribune reports: News reports from Pakistan on Sunday said that Malala Yousafzai has about a 50-50 chance of survival, maybe a little better, according to her doctors.
She remains stable but unconscious in an army hospital in Rawalpindi.Military doctors have reportedly consulted with two civilian Pakistani neurosurgeons who have recommended that Ms.
Yousafzai be sent abroad for treatment. President Obama also has offered US medical assistance to the Pakistani government, including a military air ambulance.
read the full story here
12:37 Kejrival wants cheap popularity: Narayanasamy
Stepping up its attack against anti-graft activist Arvind Kejrival, Congress today charged him with trying to 'gain cheap popularity' by levelling charges against Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid in connection with an organisation being run by his family.
"This is cheap popularity. He does not know what is democracy, parliamentary procedures. He wants popularity and is using the media for this," Congress leader and Minister of state in the PMO, V Narayansamy said.
Speaking to reporters at the airport here, he said Kejrival would one day 'feel the heat and learn a lesson'.
12:11 US nuclear submarine collides with cruiser
A US Navy nuclear submarine today collided with a cruiser off the coast of northeastern Florida, but there were no injuries aboard the two vessels involved in the accident during an exercise.
The submarine USS Montpelier (SSN 765) and the Aegis cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56) collided while participating in a 'group sail' along with another vessel, ABC news reported quoting a Navy statement.
The statement adds that there were no injuries aboard either ship and that the submarine's nuclear powered reactor 'was unaffected by this collision.
12:09 Under-construction gurdwara destroyed in fire in US
An under-construction gurdwara, which was set to serve Portland metro area's largest Sikh community in the Washington state, was destroyed in a massive fire apparently caused by gas leak.
The former athletic-club-turned-Sikh-gurdwara, valued at $213,000, burned to the ground early Friday after the fire sparked just before 2:30 am local time at the 17,000 square-foot property in the east Vancouver Landover-Sharmel neighbourhood, 'The Columbian' reported.
The Guru Ramdass Sikh Community, the largest Sikh group in the Portland metro area with about 200 member families, had bought the building in 2008 and had nearly completed renovations.
11:54 Delhi HC blast: Trial to commence from Monday
The trial against Wasim Akram Malik, arrested by the National Investigation Agency for his alleged role in the Delhi high court attack last year, will commence in a court in New Delhi on Monday.
District judge H S Sharma, who had framed charges against Malik under the provisions of the stringent anti-terror law and the Indian Penal Code, will start recording the evidence in the case.
The court had paved the way for trial against Malik saying there was prima facie evidence against him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Explosive Substance Act and the IPC for the September 7, 2011 terror attack at the high court's reception in which 15 people were killed and 79 were injured.
11:53 Israeli airstrike targets terror operatives in Gaza
CNN reports: An Israeli airstrike Saturday killed two members of a Palestinian resistance committee in northern Gaza, according to Palestinian security sources.
Three others were wounded in the strike in Jabaliya, the sources said. One of those killed was Hisham Al-Saidni (also known as Abu Walid al-Masri), head of the Salafists in Gaza and Sinai, which is known as Majlis Shura Al-Mujahideen, the Hamas security media office said.
Read the full report here
11:13 Won't give in to blackmailers: Khurshid
NDTV reports: It's an all-out war between activist-politician Arvind Kejriwal and Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid.
In the face of unrelenting attack from Mr Kejriwal, who is demanding his ouster and arrest over an alleged scam in his NGO, Mr Khurshid has hit back, saying 'he has nothing to hide', and he will not 'give in to blackmailers'.
Read the full story here
10:58 Khurshid returns to city amid protests by Kejriwal
Amid protests by Arvind Kejriwal, Law Minister Salman Khurshid today returned to the capital from abroad and said he will fight back the allegations that his NGO siphoned off money meant for disabled with sufficient proof.
The Law Minister faced protests at IGI airport in New Delhi on Sunday morning where activists of Kejriwal-led India Against Corruption raised slogans against him and attempted to show black flags.
10:46 SC acquits 17 life convicts
Seventeen people sentenced to life imprisonment for a triple murder in Tamil Nadu more than two decades ago have been acquitted by the Supreme Court because of lack of evidence.
A bench of justices P Sathasivam and Ranjan Gogoi passed the order on an appeal filed by Murugesan and the 16 convicts sentenced to life imprisonment by the Madras high court which had reversed the acquittal order passed by the sessions court.
Veeraperumal, Karumpuli and Madaswamy had come to judicial magistrate Vilathikulam's court on September 22, 1991, for their bail application relating to an alleged murder case when they were attacked with lethal weapons allegedly by 23 people, most of whom had also come to the court in connection with certain other criminal cases.
10:39 Mauritania's president shot by his nation's troops
CNN reports: Troops opened fire and shot Mauritania's president on Saturday evening, leaving the West African nation's leader 'lightly injured', state news reported.
President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz's convoy 'mistakenly' came under fire as it was heading back toward the capital of Nouakchott, the official AMI news agency reported. The gunshots came from a military unit stationed alongside the road.
Read the full story here
10:25 IAF to procure 12 choppers for Siachen ops
Troops stationed at the Siachen Glacier can look forward to better resource mobilisation as the Indian Air Force is procuring 12 new light helicopters for deployment there.
A request for proposal has been sent by the IAF to defence aerospace PSU HAL for buying 12 Cheetal helicopters which will be used for carrying out operations in high altitude areas in the northern borders, IAF officials told PTI.
10:09 Syria bans Turkish airline overflights
BBC reports: Turkish civilian planes are no longer allowed to fly over Syria, Damascus has said, amid growing tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
The ban took effect at midnight on Saturday. This comes just days after Turkey intercepted a Syrian-bound plane, claiming it carried Russian-made munitions for the Syrian army.
Syria has described the claim as a lie, challenging Ankara to put the seized goods on public view.The Syrian foreign ministry said its ban on Turkish flights was in retaliation for a similar move from Ankara.
Turkey has not announced such a measure, although it has said it will continue to ground Syrian civilian planes it suspects are carrying military cargo.
00:13 Body found in CST: Lover arrested for murder
The Pune railway police on Saturday claimed to have solved the murder case, where a young woman's body had been found in an abandoned trolley-bag at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai on September 26, with the arrest of her paramour.
Pravin Thakre, 29, who was in a live-in relationship with the victim Roshni, was arrested in Pune, said the police.
"We arrested Pravin in the afternoon and he is being taken to Mumbai," said Suryakant Noukudkar, inspector, Pune Railway Police.
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