News India24

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Pressure mounts on Libya's Gaddafi

Posted by NewsIndia24 , at 12:31 AM

Internal and international pressure is mounting on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to stand down from power as protests continue against his 42-year rule. Within the country, anti-government protesters said the demonstrations were gaining support, and footage believed to be filmed on Friday appeared to show soldiers in uniform joining the protesters. The footage showed soldiers being carried on the shoulders of demonstrators in the city of Az Zawiyah, after having reportedly turned against the government - a scene activists said is being repeated across the country. Al Jazeera, however, is unable to independently verify the content of the video, which was obtained via...

Libya unrest: India begins evacuation

Posted by NewsIndia24 , at 12:30 AM

India today started evacuation of its citizens from strife-torn Libya. India has been allowed by Libya to fly in special planes to Tripoli to collect Indian citizens, who want to return to their country. . Currently 18,000 Indians are in Libya. India is also sending ships to Bengazi to evacuate Indian citizens. From today till March 7, India can land two planes a day in Tripoli for its evacuation operations. Ministry of External Affairs personnel and a medical team will be on board to assist the evacuees. According to a statement issued on Thursday by the MEA "Evacuation is being arranged by sea and air." Ships are expected to reach Benghazi by the February 27 to evacuate Indian citizens...

Libya: AI begins evacuation of nationals

Posted by NewsIndia24 , at 12:28 AM

New Delhi: In a bid to evacuate Indians stranded in strife-torn Libya, an Air India plane arrived in the capital Tripoli on Saturday. India has mapped out elaborate plans to evacuate most of its 18,000 nationals from the North African nation on a war footing. The plane, expected to arrive back in India this evening, is one of the two such daily Air India flights that will operate till March 07. Officials of the Indian embassy in Tripoli are in touch with Indian community associations and will be at the airport to facilitate their departure. The move to send the planes came after Libyan authorities gave clearance for the flights to land in Triploi. Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao held...

NCP suspends legislator over rape charge

Posted by NewsIndia24 , at 12:28 AM

Mumbai, An embarrassed Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Saturday suspended party legislator Dilip Wagh, who is accused of raping a 22-year-old woman, an official said. An NCP spokesperson here confirmed Wagh's suspension but declined to comment on the issue further. Wagh, the legislator from Pachora in Jalgaon district, and his secretary Mahesh Mali have been booked for allegedly raping a woman at a government guest house in Nashik Feb 21. Wagh, son of Omkar Wagh -- a senior politician and a two-time legislator from the same constituency -- is now on the run, and this has prompted the party to initiate the disciplinary proceedings against him, NCP sources said. This is the...

RAIL BUDGET: NO HIKE IN PASSENGER FARES; FREIGHT RATES

Posted by NewsIndia24 , at 12:26 AM

New Delhi: In line with expectations, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday presented a populist Rail Budget 2011-12. Over 100 new trains have been announced while passenger fares as well as freight rates have been kept unchanged. Also, in a move to attract passengers from higher strata of the society, Mamata announced that the Railways will introduce new Super AC class of travel beginning this year. She further proposed a reduction in e-ticket booking rates by Rs 10 for AC class and Rs 5 for non-AC class. The Railway Minister told Lok Sabha, while presenting her third Rail Budget, that the age for concession under senior citizen category for women is being reduced from 60...

More licences with strict regime

Posted by NewsIndia24 , at 12:25 AM

MUMBAI: Corporate houses that were anticipating some new accelerated directions from the Government on the issue of allowing them to enter banking sector clearly had all the reasons to be happy about. The Economic Survey, tabled by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in parliament on Friday, has suggested that more banking licenses should be granted with a caveat that the regulatory frame work has to be tightened. Addressing the specific proposed move, the survey specified that industrial houses should be given banking licenses to promote the goal of financial inclusion, however very strict provision for avoiding conflict of interest should be put in place.Justifying the proposed...

U.N. rights body recommends suspension of LibyaU.N. rights body recommends suspension of Libya

Posted by NewsIndia24 , at 12:24 AM

The United Nations Human Rights Council has unanimously passed a resolution recommending suspension of Libya from the Geneva-based body and decided to conduct an independent probe into violations by the Qadhafi regime, which has launched a bloody crackdown on anti-government protesters.The 47-nation body’s recommendation to suspend Libya needs to be approved by a two-thirds majority at the 192-member United Nations General Assembly here.The U.N.’s top rights body also decided to “urgently dispatch an independent, international commission of inquiry... to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law in Libya.” “It (the move) must now go further,” Gerard Araud,...

Vidya Balan getting engaged to Siddharth Roy Kapoor?

Posted by NewsIndia24 , at 12:22 AM

Vidya Balan and her rumoured boyfriend Siddharth Roy Kapur are said to be thinking of getting engaged. The actress has been spotted with the head honcho of UTV Motion Pictures on more occasion than one, thereby sparking the rumours that something is indeed brewing between them. The latest was their outing together on the sandy beaches of Goa. The duo was clicked in casual beach wear while holidaying together. Apparently, Sid and Vid have been friends for some time since he stays in her neighbourhood. But the couple are wary of being linked together because Siddharth’s divorce from his wife is yet to come through. Naturally, they are likely to play down the reports of their engagement....

Apple to host event, iPad 2 in the wings

Posted by NewsIndia24 , at 12:17 AM

SAN FRANCISCO - Apple Inc (AAPL.O) is hosting a media event next week to show off the next-generation of the iPad, as it prepares to take on new rivals in the fast-growing tablet market. Apple, which sent an invitation to reporters on Wednesday via email, will host the March 2 gathering at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, the same venue where Apple unveiled the original iPad in January 2010. The characteristically succinct invitation featured an image of a calendar page with a giant "2" emblazoned in the center, peeled back just slightly to reveal the familiar form of an iPad. The invite teased, "Come see what 2011 will be the year of." Given the sheer crush of competing...

Indian-origin woman doctor jailed for healthcare fraud in US

Posted by NewsIndia24 , at 12:15 AM

An Indian-origin doctor has been sentenced to eight years in prison for committing healthcare fraud along with her husband by a US court, which also ordered the couple to forfeit over $43 million in cash and property they gained through their 10-year scam. Kiran Sharma, 56, had pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of healthcare fraud last year. Her husband, Arun Sharma, also a doctor, was sentenced to 15 years in prison earlier this month for fraudulently billing government insurance programme Medicare, Medicaid and various private healthcare providers for medical procedures that were not performed, US Attorney Jose Angel Moreno said in a statement. The...

Malinga fit to face Pakistan

Posted by NewsIndia24 , at 12:14 AM

Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga is improving from a back strain and is fit to face Pakistan in the World Cup but whether he will play or be rested for later matches is a different matter. The 1996 world champions left out strike bowler Malinga for their opening World Cup Group A match against unfancied Canada on Sunday, citing a sore back. "He is 100 per cent fit to be selected," Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara said in Colombo. "There are not any injury worries. Lasith is improving but we don't want to rush him." When asked, team manager Anura Tennekoon said a decision was yet to be taken. "The management and the selectors have to decide whether to...

Sri Lanka wary of "dangerous" Pakistan

Posted by NewsIndia24 , at 12:13 AM

Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka's captain and vice-captain respectively, have both warned that Pakistan are a dangerous side that other teams will be wary of in the World Cup. Not too many people have tipped Pakistan to win the tournament, after a tumultuous year for them in which they have been plagued by off-field issues, but Jayawardene said he was surprised by the lack of hype around them. "I find it surprising that their name is not bandied about in the mix of potential World Cup winners as they have brilliant match winners with both bat and ball," Jayawardene wrote on his blog. Sangakkara echoed that sentiment, saying Pakistan's batsmen were dangerous. "Any...

Didi's budget leaves state leaders fuming

Posted by NewsIndia24 , at 12:11 AM

BHUBANESWAR: Several MPs, cutting across partylines, slammed the railway budget presented by Mamata Banerjee on Friday. "Mamata did injustice to Orissa. Even the requests by us (Congress MPs) yielded little result," Congress MP from Kalahandi Bhakta Das said. "We had met her much before the presentation of the Budget and conveyed the state's wish list for overall development of railway sector. But the state's hopes were dashed," Das said. Equally vocal was BJD MP Baishnab Parida. "The Railway Budget indicates the step-motherly treatment of the Centre towards Orissa. It was purely a West Bengal-centric Budget," Parida remarked. Expressing concern over the tardy progress of the...

SHRC seeks report

Posted by NewsIndia24 , at 12:09 AM

Members of National Alliance of People's Movements, Andhra Pradesh chapter on Friday sought the intervention of the State Human Rights Commission to stop mass arrests of people for staging peaceful protests against the construction of a 2400-MW thermal power plant in Srikakulam district. The petition submitted by the joint convener of NAPM, Saraswati Kavula, stated that the police had resorted to illegal arrests. The farmers were staging a peaceful protest against the power plant when police, without any warning, opened fire, causing injuries to eight persons. The thermal power plant is an undertaking of East Coast Energy Private Limited in Naupada wetland at Kakrapalli village of...

Gaddafi blames al-Qaeda for revolt

Posted by NewsIndia24 , at 2:57 AM

Embattled Libyan leader says protesters being manipulated as pro- and anti-government forces clash across the country. Muammar Gaddafi, Libya's leader, has said that al-Qaeda is responsible for the uprising against him, amid attacks by pro-Gaddafi forces against anti-government protesters in several cities. In a speech made via telephone and aired on state television on Thursday, Gaddafi claimed that the protesters were young people who had been manipulated by Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda's leader, and were acting under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs. As he spoke, troops loyal to Gaddafi launched a counter-offensive on Thursday against anti-government protesters, striking at two cities...

Mouse heart 're-grows when cut', study shows

Posted by NewsIndia24 , at 2:48 AM

Scientists in the United States have found newborn mice can re-grow their own hearts. The mice had a large chunk of their heart removed a day after birth, only for the heart to restore itself within three weeks. Fish and amphibians are known to have the power to re-grow heart tissue, but the study in Science is the first time the process has been seen in mammals. British experts said understanding the process could help human heart care. Narrow window The researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center surgically removed what is known as the left ventricular apex of the heart (about 15% of the heart muscle) from mice just a day after birth. The heart was then quickly...

BCCI asks media to keep off Indian players

Posted by NewsIndia24 , at 2:43 AM

NEW DELHI: As if gagging the players is not enough, the Indian Cricket Board on Friday asked the media to "refrain" from contacting Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men for interviews as the team wants to "concentrate" on its World Cup campaign. "The members of the media are requested to refrain from constantly contacting the members of the Indian Cricket Team on phone/SMS for interviews/bytes as players would like to concentrate on the ongoing World Cup matches," Board Secretary N Srinivasan said in a statement. The Indian team won its opening match against Bangladesh and is currently training in Bangalore for the second Group B match against England on Sunday. Every move of the Indian cricket...

Railway Budget 2011: Mamata recites Lata's song

Posted by NewsIndia24 , at 2:41 AM

NEW DELHI: A gentle nudge from Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar made Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee recite the famous Hindi song sung by Lata Mangeshkar about the contribution of the defence forces that had made India's first prime minister shed tears. As Banerjee, wearing a white coloured sari with green border, announced sops for the defence personnel in her third rail budget, Meira Kumar gently reminded her: "Don't miss the beautiful couplets." Banerjee smiled and said: "I will first read the couplet." Then in her heavily accented Hindi, she started off: "Koi Sikh, koi Jaat, Maraatha, koi Gurakha, koi Madaraasi, sarahad pe maranevaala har veer tha Bhaaratavaasi. (Some Sikhs, Jaats, Marathis,...

Railway Budget 2011: Passengers spared hike in fares for third year

Posted by NewsIndia24 , at 2:40 AM

NEW DELHI: For the third successive year, the Railway Budget for 2011-12 spared the passengers of any increase in fares and proposed no hike in freight rates while introducing 56 new trains, including nine non-stop Duronto trains and three Shatabdis. Presenting her third budget in UPA-II in the Lok Sabha, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee announced a slew of concessions including reducing the eligibility age of senior women citizens from 60 to 58 years and the fare concession for men above 60 from 30 to 40 per cent. Apparently with an eye on the coming assembly polls in West Bengal, where she is projected as the Chief Minister candidate of Congress-Trinamool...

CBI questions Arun Shourie in 2G Spectrum scam

Posted by NewsIndia24 , at 2:02 AM

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today questioned former Telecom Minister Arun Shourie as part of its ongoing 2G Spectrum scam probe to find out possible criminal aspects and irregularities in the telecom policy since 2001. Shourie appeared before the CBI to explain his role in awarding licenses on the 'first come first serve' basis and other crucial policy decisions taken during his term. Shourie had held the telecom portfolio between January 2003 and May 2004 during the NDA regime. Earlier this month, Shourie had been approached by the CBI, asking him to appear before it in connection with the Preliminary Enquiry (PE) registered by the agency following the Supreme Court's direction....

Economic Survey: How do experts view it?

Posted by NewsIndia24 , at 2:01 AM

The Indian economy is expected to grow at 8.75-9.25% in financial year 2012 according to the Economic Survey for the year 2011-12 announced on Friday. Robust growth and steady fiscal consolidation have been the hallmark of the Indian economy in the year 2010-11 so far. The growth rate has been 8.6% in 2010-11 and is expected to be around 9% in the next fiscal year. The growth has been broad-based with a rebound in the agriculture sector which is expected to grow around 5.4%. Manufacturing and services sector have registered impressive gains. Savings and investment are looking up while exports are rising. However, food inflation, higher commodity prices and volatility in global commodity markets...

Mamata doesn't hike fares, announces new trains

Posted by NewsIndia24 , at 1:59 AM

New Delhi: Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee had her eyes firmly on West Bengal assembly election when she presented the Railway Budget 2011-12 in Parliament on Friday. For the third successive year, the Railway Minister refused to increase passenger fares and freight rates even as she announced many projects for her home state. Presenting her third budget in United Progressive Alliance-II in the Lok Sabha, Mamata also announced a slew of concessions including reducing the eligibility age of senior women citizens from 60 to 58 years and the fare concession for men above 60 from 30 to 40 per cent. She also announced the introduction 56 new trains, including nine non-stop Duronto trains and three...

Sensex dips 55 points; metal, realty drop

Posted by NewsIndia24 , at 1:56 AM

The Sensex post railway budget and economy survey dropped on the back of profit taking. Metal stocks fell the most followed by realty and IT, while FMCG gained.All railway stocks were hammered badly due to disappointing Railway Budget. Kalindee Rail Nirman (7.15%), Kernex Microsystems (3.11%), Texmaco (3.44%), BEML (2.25%), Titagarh Wagons (5.7%) and Stone India (5.59%).At 1.57 p.m., the Sensex was trading down 54.56 points or 0.31% at 17,577.85 with 23 components falling. Meanwhile, the Nifty was trading lower by 5.75 points or 0.11% at 5,256.95 with 34 components falling. The 30-share benchmark index, BSE Sensex opened with a gain of 142.67 points or 0.81% at 17,775.08,...

Foreigners flee Libya as world leaders seek resolution to crisis

Posted by NewsIndia24 , at 1:53 AM

Benghazi, Libya (CNN) -- World leaders will meet Friday to discuss sanctions against Libya as nations braved rough seas to whisk citizens away from the escalating violence in the north African nation. A British ship left Benghazi -- the second-largest city -- with 207 people on board. A United States ferry with at least 275 people safely onboard was expected to follow suit later Friday. The State Department said that the ferry's departure from Tripoli to Malta would be within the "next several hours" depending on the weather. Dena Drotar said her mother, who was on the U.S. ship, told her that passengers were being fed, but were anxious and having difficulty sleeping. "So they're also getting...

SRK dons new role with Mughal-E-Azam

Posted by NewsIndia24 , at 1:51 AM

It looked as if it was a Don 2 event. The sassy dialogues from the film stylishly mouthed, the sexy stubble combined with an unkempt pony-tailed look and his inimitable wit thrown in between, Shah Rukh Khan was literally coerced to give glimpses of what was coming in the forthcoming Don 2 ... But hang on. It wasn't Don 2 event. So SRK skillfully turned around the focus from him to the actual event, the documentary launch of K Asif's classic Mughal-E-Azam , this time by mouthing his favorite dialogue from the classic Salim tumhe marne nahin denge Anarkali, aur hum tumhe jeene nahin denge and there it was .....the evening rolled out and how! To commemorate the fifty years of the classic,...