IPL’s two-day franchise workshop moves to Mumbai January 07, 2016 15:13
Two-day franchise workshop of the Indian Premier League to be held on 13 and 14 January was shifted from Srinagar and Gulmarg to Mumbai, due to the death of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla tweeted that, “IPL franchise workshop & meet shifted to Mumbai on13&14 jan from Srinagar & gulmarg because of mufti saheb’s demise.” Sayeed passed away on Thursday at AIIMS after his platelets dropped dangerously. Sayeed, 79, rose to become the first Muslim Home Minister of India. On 1 March 2015, Sayeed took charge of the state heading a PDP-BJP alliance. He remained on ventilator for last few days and breathed his last on 7 January 2015 morning. Sayeed was flown in a special plane from Srinagar on December 24 and got admitted to the AIIMS. He was then diagnosed with sepsis (life threatening complication of an infection) and pneumonia. Doctors said that his platelets had dropped dangerously during hospitalization. Mufti Mohammad Sayeed became the second J and K Chief Minister to die in office. Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was the first CM to die in office on 8 September 1982. Also read: Jammu and Kashmir CM Mufti Mohammad Sayeed passes away Sumana
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Pathankot attack: United Jihad Council claims responsibility January 04, 2016 17:56
United Jihad Council (UJC), a Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) based militant conglomerate, has claimed the responsibility of ongoing Pathankot Airbase attack. So far seven security personnel as well as five militants are dead in the attack. CNS, as wire service based in Srinagar, claimed that Syed Sadaqat Hussain- UJC spokesman told to it that the Kashmiri militants associated with the ‘Highway Squad’ have attacked the airbase. The spokesperson said, “Indian government and its media have been suffering from Pakistan phobia. By accusing Pakistan for every attack, India neither succeeded in past to malign the Kashmir freedom struggle nor will it get anything in future through malicious propaganda." It was clarified by the UJC spokesperson that Kashmir militants have been fighting from last 27 years with Indian Forces. All available means were adopted by India since then to crush the Kashmir “movement”. According to the spokesman, “The attack on Pathankot Air Base from Kashmiri Mujhadeen carries a message to India that no security establishment and garrison are out of reach from militants.” “Instead of accusing Pakistan, India should read the writing on the wall and without wasting any time should provide an opportunity to the people of Kashmir to decided their future,” the statement read. UJC is a conglomerate of around 13 militant outfits, including the Lashkar-e-Toiba. -Sumana
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Suicide bomber strikes in car near Kabul airport January 04, 2016 17:46
A police spokesman said that a suicide bomber stroked in a car near Kabul airport. The suicide bomber blew himself up in a car on Monday close to a police checkpoint near Kabul airport. Police spotted the bomber as the car approached the checkpoint. This could have prompted the suicide bomber to detonate his explosives. No report on immediate claim of responsibility is available. The blast comes after a series of attacks over recent days in the Afghan capital. The attacks also include a suicide attack on a popular restaurant for foreigners as well as wealthy Afghans. The attack killed a security guard and a 12-year old boy. The attacks also coincide with a new effort to restart peace talks with the Taliban. Earlier in July 2015, the meetings on peace talks broke off. Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish told AFP that, “The bomber detonated his suicide vest... near Kabul airport. There is no immediate information on casualties.” According to Danish, the target was a foreign forces convoy passing through the area. -Sumaan
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Pulwama encounter in Jammu and Kashmir, two militants killed December 31, 2015 15:03
A gunfight was happening between security forces and holed up militants in Pulwama district in South Kashmir. The overnight gunfight killed two separatist guerrillas. According to a senior police officer, who spoke to IANS in Srinagar, “Two militants including Manzoor Ahmad Dar of Samboora (Pulwama) and a Pakistani national have been killed in Gusoo village encounter.” After reports came out that two to three militants were hiding inside a house late Wednesday, security forces surrounded Gusoo village in Pulwama district. The security forces include troops of 183 battalion of CRPF, 53 Rashtriya Rifles as well as special operations group (SOG) of state police. When security forces approached the suspected house, the militants began to fire upon the security forces. Thus a gunfight broke out. It was ended around 1.30 a.m. The police officer added that, “Searches are still going on in the area. The exact identity of the slain Pakistani militant is being established.” -Sumana
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J&K CM is ‘presently sick, requiring oxygen therapy’ December 30, 2015 15:04
According to a statement released from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister is “presently sick, requiring oxygen therapy.” A team of experts are closely monitoring his condition, the statement added. The statement from AIIMS authorities said, “Mr. Sayeed, who is admitted in AB 8 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) since December 24, is sick, requiring oxygen therapy but hemodynamically stable,” “He is conscious, alert and is taking orally. He continues to be on antibiotics, antifungal drugs and supportive therapy and is being closely monitored by a team of experts,” the statement added. The condition of Mr. Sayeed is being closely monitored by an experts team including Dr. Rita Sood (Professor of Medicines), Dr. Tulika Seth (Hematology), Prof. Mohammad Ashraf Ganaie (Endocrinologist) and Prof. PN Dogra (Urology) among others. On December 24, Mr. Sayeed (79) was flown to Delhi to get him admitted in a private ward in AIIMS with fever and chest pain complaints. On Tuesday, Home Minister Rajnath Singh made a visit to enquire about the CM’s health and wished him speedy recovery. -Sumana
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“Financial inclusion is at the core of our focus,” PM Modi says December 29, 2015 17:53
On Tuesday in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the core of the focus of the government is on financial inclusion, and the center is focusing on the empowerment, particular on those who belong to backward classes. Inaugurating a national conference of entrepreneurs from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe, Modi said, “Our government is aap ki sarkar (your government). We are working for your empowerment.” “Financial inclusion is at the core of our focus. We want to create job-creators, not job-seekers,” Mr. Modi said. The PM said that B.R. Ambedkar, Dalit icon, was the architect of the Constitution, but most of them may not know that Ambedkar was even an accomplished economist. Mr. Modi said, “Babasaheb rightly said that industrialisation will give maximum benefit to our dalit sisters and brothers.” A venture capital fund was set up by the government for the help of people belonging to backward classes. -Sumana
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Crorepathi constable accused of gathering huge wealth December 29, 2015 09:52
Simultaneous raids were carried on Monday by Lakayukta police on residences in Indore, Rewa and Satna towns of a head constable named Arun Singh to find properties worth crores of rupees, including six plots, five plush houses, three cars and one SUV. More over this bank locker had a revolver, cartridges, ornaments made up of gold weighed 132gm, silver weighed 2kg. Arun Singh is accused of gathering huge wealth that is not in lines with his income. He was posted in regional transport office in Jabalpur. Raids followed a complaint against him. As search operations began, policed got into three-storied house of Singh in Annapurna locality of Indore. They recovered papers related to incriminating property documents, two 6000 sq ft plots in Talawalichanda area. Along with a farmhouse on Mhow Road, a plot was on the name of his wife, while two flats were on his son’s name. A house in Rewa was found in his name at Boghbal besides two plots in Anantpuri and one in Narendra Nagar. The police found house in Nibuha, 30-acre land, along with documents pertaining to land located in Hardikhurd. Still evaluations of the ornaments seized from different places are being evaluated. Singh was transferred three months back to Jabalpur. Since then he has not reported to work, and hence a complaint on his absence was lodged by RTO officials. Earlier, Singh was posted at Sendhwa border barrier and he faced many complaints regarding corruption during the tenure. An estimated salary of Singh was nearly Rs 50 lakh in his 32 years of service, while his assets are found in corers. -Sumana
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Huge embarrassment on Congress foundation day! December 28, 2015 17:33
Congress mouthpiece criticized Jawaharlal Nehru's policy on Kashmir in its articles on Monday, i.e. the Congress Foundation Day. It called Sonia Gandhi's father a 'fascist soldier'. The comments left the party squirming. Congress Darshan included an unsigned article in which Sonia Gandhi's father Stephano Maino was referred to the allegation as a member of the Italian fascists, lost in the World War to the Russians. It alleged that, "Sonia Gandhi's father Stephano Maino was a former fascist soldier." The write-up described the way in which Sonia rose to party President’s place, besides describing her early life in detail. It included her "ambition to become an airhostess". The article said, "Sonia Gandhi registered as a primary member of the Congress in 1997 and became the party's president in 62 days. She also made an unsuccessful attempt to form a government.” As a coincidence with the 131st Foundation Day of the party, Nehru was blamed in one more unsigned write-up in the Mumbai unit's journal for "the state of affairs in Kashmir, China and Tibet". According to the article, Nehru should have considered the views of Patel on international affairs and that would have helped maintained good relationship between both the leaders. The article said, "Despite Patel getting the post of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, the relations between the two leaders remained strained, and both had threatened to resign time and again." -Sumana
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Few exemptions from odd-even traffic restriction plan in Delhi December 25, 2015 09:35
The vehicles exempted from the odd-even traffic restriction plan that is scheduled to be rolled out from 1 January 2016, till 15 January 2016, include cars driven by women without the company of male more than 12 years of age, VIP vehicles and even two-wheelers. Also read: VIPs except Delhi CM are exempted from odd-even car plan Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has unveiled the final implementation plan. He said that they will held periodic reviews so as to assess the list of those exempted needs to be changed. According to few officials, two-wheeler exemptions are applicable only for first week. Delhi Police were granted special powers by the government under the Motor Vehicles Act for the imposition of Rs 2,000 fine on violators. On Monday, a formal notification on the plan is expected to be issued. According to the CM, the odd-even formula would help and succeed in the improvement of the air quality of Delhi only if Delhiites cooperate. He however added that, in case of large scale violations, the government would have to suspend the plan. The Chief Minister said, "Most countries have such plans when the pollution levels go alarmingly high. We will do an assessment at the end of 15 days. If the people accept this plan and execute it on large scale, we will think about having a permanent measure." -Sumana
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Etihad Airways bars 20 Indian students from heading to US December 24, 2015 17:42
Tuesday night, Etihad Airways prevented boarding of 20 Indian students with F-1 visas specifically to two universities in the US. Just a couple of days back, 19 students were barred from boarding an Air India flight as they were heading to ‘blacklisted universities’ in California. Also, few students were deported from the Abu Dhabi airport, which is an immigration clearance point for those who are heading to the US. An official statement from Etihad Airways stated that, "Students travelling from India to the United States with Etihad Airways have not been accepted for travel due to visa irregularities identified during checks carried out by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Abu Dhabi International Airport. This involves students of Indian nationality travelling on F-1 visas specifically to two universities in the US." Group of students belonging to the two universities of Silicon Valley University (SVU) and the Northwestern Polytechnic University (NPU) congregated at Etihad Airways premises. They were seen questioning the officials, showing their valid tickets. Several students were made to wait for hous together to get a response from officials. An SVU student Imraan Uz Zaman, who was not allowed to board was forced to wait for three long hours. Imraan said, "I argued with the airport authorities for three hours on Tuesday to seek a written clarification. And today (Wednesday), I was again made to wait for three hours at the Etihad office only to get clarity on the refund of my ticket fare." Spandan Reddy, a SVU student, said, "The airline has asked us to book fresh tickets. Though they said they would refund the entire fare on our earlier ticket, the additional cost of the fresh booking will have to be borne by us." -Sumana
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Maharashtra government to approach SC on Salman’s case December 23, 2015 17:07
Maharashtra government has decided to approach Supreme Court to appeal against Salman Khan's acquittal in hit-and-run case in the 2002. The government told Bombay High Court that it will challenge the verdict with the SC. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had told reporters that, "Government is studying the verdict and the state will take a decision." He did not indicate a time-frame within which the state will reach its conclusion on the matter. The Bombay high court acquitted Salman Khan of all charges on 10 December 2015, citing the prosecution’s failure to prove that the 49-year-old star drove the vehicle after consuming alcohol. Charges on Salman was ramming his car into a shop located in suburban Bandra, killing a person and injuring four others sleeping outside on 28 September 2002. The judgment from the high court followed an appeal by Salman. The star appealed seven months after the trial court pronounced him guilty of running over five people sleeping on a pavement with his Toyota Land Cruiser. Later the state prosecutors said the case could be appealed in a higher court. -Sumana
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Holiday time in Tamil Nadu this week end December 22, 2015 17:51
Thanks to Milad-un-Nabi, Christmas, fourth Saturday and Sunday. For four days from 24 December 2015 to 27 December 2015, schools, colleges, offices of state and central government, and commercial banks in Tamil Nadu will be closed due to holidays.The Milad-un-Nabi holiday was changed from 23 December 2015 to 24 December 2015 by the Central Government Employees Welfare Coordination Committee, in the wake of the state government changing changing the holiday on the suggestion from the Tamil Nadu chief kazi. Thus, the banks, government offices in Tamil Nadu will remain closed for four days starting December 24.-Sumana
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