Monday 3 September 2012

News at Glance - 03rd April 2012


September 03, 2012








19:38  That's a picture of suburban Thane at 7 pm. 
19:37   If you're driving to Andheri or beyond, here's a pointer. "If you can get past Santacruz police station and drive through the deeps in front of Lions' Garden, Juhu Tara Road is almost empty, tweets Priya Coulagi Bakshi.

19:35  Folks in Mumbai, roll down your car windows and make sure you do not get drowned inside your cars ! Please RT .Safety Advice.
During the July 26, 2005 floods, many people locked inside their flooded cars, died.

19:32  1 dead; trains, traffic crawl as Mumbai floods:  Police has issued an alert, asking people to avoid unnecessary travel. A 70-year-old man dies after being electrocuted in eastern suburbs. While trains on the harbour, central and western lines are running late, no trains have been cancelled.
19:29  Rain updates from the Disaster Management Cell: 07:20 pm: Traffic at Sion Road No. 24 Sadana Vidyalaya has been diverted via Road No. 3.
19:25  Autos in Mumbai charging double. SMS all auto complaints to 08898881919 wrt auto charging more. Spread the word RT @suryakantpandey
19:13  Torrential lashes Mumbai, roads, tracks flooded:  Water logging was reported from parts of Borivli, Kandivli, Jogeshwari, Andheri, Santacruz, Bhandup, Sion, Byculla, Dadar, Worli, Goregaon and Kurla. Suburban train services are running late on the Western Railway, Central Railway and Harbour Line. Expect between 50 and 30 minute delays.  
19:05  Trains running late. @kunalbarot Spoke too soon, took the 6.19 pm Borivali local from Lower Parel & it has just reached S'cruz. Running behind by 25 mins approx.

Central railway running late by 30 minutes.

18:59  Sion, andheri, bandra flooded...get home safe ppl, says @shellymangat
18:58  @cityofdreamz Gotta hand it to traffic police of mumbai who are on the job in pouring rain. 
18:56  Disaster control room helpline numbers here 
18:51   Heavy rainfall in Mumbai in next six hours please stay indoors: Mumbai Traffic Police.
18:37  @kunalbarot Ok, raining pretty heavily around Lower Parel at the moment but trains towards Borivali running on time.

18:35  Mumbai Traffic update: Very heavy rainfall, extremely poor visibility on both Western Express and Eastern Express Highway. Drive safe and slowly!
18:19  Mum rains: Trains late, water-logging in suburbs:   Mumbai rain update: Reports of water logging across suburban Mumbai. Trains on Western, Central and Harbour are running across approximately 20 minutes to half an hour late. Andheri subway and Milan subway are waterlogged as are the low-lying areas of Parel, Sion, Hindmata, Dadar, Kurla.

18:09  Mum rains: Trains late, tracks flooded at Ghatkopar:   Tulsidas V. Bhoite @tulsidasbhoite: Avoid Andheri subway. Heavy water logging. Don't take risk to cross from water.

Update on local trains: Harbour line: 15 to 20 minutes late, Western: 15- 20 minutes late. Central: Tracks flooded in Ghatkopar, trains running slow.


17:38  India ignores the P-word in dealings with Afghanistan:  It says something about the immutable realities of the India-Afghanistan-Pakistan triangle that a 62-year-old speech by India's first prime minister remains just as valid today. "Because of the great tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan over various matters, we are continually being charged with having secret intrigues with Afghanistan and bringing pressure upon her to adopt a policy in regard to Pakistan," Jawaharlal Nehru complained in 1950.

Senior journalist Rashmee Roshan Lall's column in the National. Read
17:35  Hearing on Prajapati fake encounter case tomorrow:   The CBI today informed the Supreme Court that it will file charge sheet in the Tulsiram Prajapati fake encounter case in a Gujarat court tomorrow.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Prajapati's mother Narmada Bai, who alleged that her son was killed in a fake encounter by Gujarat Police as he was a key eyewitness to the Sohrabuddin Shaikh encounter.

The apex court had on April 8, 2011 transferred the probe in the case to the CBI. Shaikh was also killed in an alleged fake encounter by Gujarat Police and probe of that case was also carried out by the CBI.

Prajapati, a close aide of Shaikh, was killed in an encounter near Chhapri village in Banaskantha on December 28, 2006.
17:25  Mumbai massacre perpetrator's sentence affirmed:  Even as the death sentence of the Mumbai massacre's lone living perpetrator was affirmed last week, murderous politicians show how medieval justice in India remains. By Dilip D'Souza. Read
17:20  Coal minister: Takes a year to review coal blocks:  Coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal speaking to CNN IBN says that it takes a whole year to review coal block allocations. Environmental clearances are taking time, he points out and promises that action will be taken against coal companies not using licenses, but says it takes at least five years for companies to start mining.
Fifty-eight coal blocks have been issued a notice, while 148 coal blocks are under scrutiny. 
17:13  Govt gets 6 weeks to state stand on Sethusamudram project:  The Supreme Court today granted six weeks more to the government to apprise it of its stand on the controversial Sethusamudram project about which a high level committee has said that an alternative alignment, other than the one through mythological Ram Sethu, is not economically and ecologically feasible. 
17:11  Details of the National Highways Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2011 that an admirably adamant Meira Kumar passed today despite the pandemonium in the Lok Sabha. Read
17:08  Margin of error:  Since it's been raining heavily in Mumbai, a timely read. How safe are you when you take a monsoon flight? Read the story on Open
17:04  Will not, cannot cancel coal block allocations: PC:  Chidambaram adds that coal block allocations can't be cancelled through a dictat or arbitrary order, says the Finance Minister.

16:59  Demand for cancellation of 142 coal blocks illogical:   Chidambaram says the demand for cancellation of all 142 coal blocks is illogical and said a debate on the allocation has to take place in Parliament. "The government is ready for debate even tomorrow," said Chidambaram adding that demand for an enquiry is a bit delayed since the CBI is conducting an enquiry anyway. He said if the policy is flawed, then it is flawed since 1993. "Why take 2004 as a cutoff period," asked the finance minister. So, net net, the government rules out immediate cancellation of coal block allocations.
16:45  Demands for PM's resignation outrageous: PC:  Addressing a press conference right now, finance minister P Chidambaram slammed the opposition for their insistence that the PM submit his resignation over the coalgate scam. 
16:40  Coal scam is blackening country's face: Modi:  Attacking the Centre on the coal allocation controversy, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today said the scam was "blackening the country's face".

"On the lines of Gujarat, Centre had decided to distribute soil health cards to farmers. I don't know when they are going to do this. They are stuck in coal (scam)," Modi said, addressing a national convention on agri-business.

"The scam is blackening the country's face, as Delhi has got mired in coal." The Chief Minister also claimed that Gujarat was the only state where industrial and agricultural development were taking place simultaneously. "National average of agriculture growth is 2-3 per cent, but Gujarat has grown at 10 per cent in the last decade," Modi said.
16:38  Shahnaz Husain on why understatement is not her thing:  When it comes to appearances, Shahnaz Husain falls under the "more is more' school. Read
16:25  China's one percent:  Portraits of the lucky ones, living large in the People's Republic. Read
16:21  Injured Isha Sharvani drops out of Jhalak this week:   For all of you who watch Jhalak Dikhla Jaa for Isha Sharvani and Salman's magical performances, sit up. In a press release today, Isha says that she will not be performing on September 8 and 9 due to an injury. 

In her words: "While rehearsing for my forthcoming act with international dancers from Las Vegas at the Jhalak House, I met with an unfortunate accident wherein I hurt my right hand very badly and have a dislocation of my elbow bones, post the initial tests, doctors have advised a strict 3-4 weeks rest. It's really unfortunate that after all the love and affection I received from my fans from all over India and all the hard work I and Salman put in, we will be unable to perform on September 8th & 9th, 2012.

"In the entire history of JDJ, not ever has any contestant got a 30 on 30 for a record 10 times. However, I will not let an injury affect my chances of winning the JDJ title and not disappoint my fans who have voted for me and Salman so generously. I take this opportunity to thank all of you and promise that WE WILL BE BACK WITH A BANG."


16:14  Would Jinnah have lived as a Shia?:  Many Shias in Pakistan are hounded because their outward appearance, ethnicity and whereabouts are inevitable clues to the discriminating killers who identify and murder them ruthlessly. Read

See:A beautiful slideshow on Pakistan in the seventies

16:05  Ex-K'taka Lokayukta slams govt for CAG attack:  Former Karnataka Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde today slammed Congress for attacking Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) for its report on the coal allocation issue, wondering if the judiciary would be the next target.

"Today, they are using all sorts of phraseology against the CAG; tomorrow they may do it against the judiciary also...very unfortunate," Hegde said Hegde noted that under the Constitution, CAG is obligated to find fault of the Government, if any, and make it known to Parliament. "He (the CAG) has done his duty".
16:04  1 dead in protests outside Ranchi assembly:  One person was killed and several persons were injured when police used batons and burst tear gas shells to disperse agitators belonging to Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantric- JVM) at the Birsa Chowk in Ranchi.

The activists and leaders of the JVM were agitating at Birsa Chowk, a short distance from the state Assembly, in support of a charter of demands.

The agitation was announced recently by JVM president and Lok Sabha MP Babulal Marandi to put pressure on the Arjun Munda government on a charter of demands, including addressing the long-standing displacement issue.
15:59  Contract worker regularisation to be completed by Oct: Maruti:  Maruti Suzuki India expects to complete the regularisation of contract workers at its troubled Manesar plant by September-end or early October.

"The first written tests for regularisation of contract workers at the shop floor was conducted on Sunday. Further process such as interviews will be held in due course of time and the exercise is expected to be completed by September-end or early October," a senior company official said.

Following the July 18 violence, in which a senior company official was killed and 100 others injured, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) had decided to do away with contract workers at its production line.
15:09  Morgan Stanley cuts India's growth forecast:   Morgan Stanley today slashed its growth forecast for India to 5.1% from 5.8% for this fiscal year through March 2013, and warned that there is a high risk of an even deeper growth shock if the government fails to get its act together and take steps to revive investment. It also lowered its forecast for next fiscal year to 6.1% from 6.6%. More
15:05  Sahara reassures 'Hon'ble depositors':  Sahara India Pariwar has responded with typical bluster to the Supreme Court rulingFriday ordering it to return over $3 billion to depositors with 15% interest.The group Monday took out full-page advertisements in major Indian newspapers. The ads, written in bizarre English, are a strange way of approaching corporate communications, to say the least.The advertisement, titled 'Emotionally Speaking', has a picture of the goddess Bharat Mata, or Mother India, at the top.
Read

14:57  Anna to draw up anti-graft strategy by month end:   Anna Hazare plans to convene a meeting of like-minded people by this month-end to put together a team and draw up a road-map for anti-graft crusade, former Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde said here today.

Hegde, part of erstwhile Team Anna which was disbanded by the social activist recently, said Hazare told him about the plan when he met him during his week-long stay for naturopathy treatment.

"The plan will draw up a road-map for the future," Hegde said and added. "I think he will include more people (compared to erstwhile Team Anna)." Asked if members of the erstwhile team would be part of the new one, Hegde said: "Must be, why would he (Hazare) exclude (them). That's what he told me," and added: "the new team may have different outlook."

On whether the new team's movement would be apolitical, he said, "That will be decided (at the meeting). That's an issue that's already there with people having different opinions about that."
14:46  NAM: Proof of life:  Usually dismissed by the West as a Cold War relic, the Non-Aligned Movement attracted more interest than before with its 16th summit in Tehran last week. Read the editorial on the Hindu.

Also read: How to organise a summit, the Iranian way

14:40  In Mumbai, open spaces are rare, and rarely open:  With over 13 million residents, Mumbai has earned its reputation for being a  congested city, one where being jostled in crowded spaces is part of daily life.Other densely populated cities like Hong Kong or New York have large public spaces to compensate for the lack of personal space, but in Mumbai open space is rare. Read
14:34  A breakthrough in Indo-US relations?:  The Indian military is close to purchasing a major American combat-weapon system for the first time in decades. Despite a history that might suggest otherwise, India is betting on American reliability as an arms supplier. Read 
14:31  Kejriwal, Bhushan accuse police of harassing supporters:  Activist Arvind Kejriwal today recorded his statement before police in connection with the August 26 protest, saying he is ready to face punishment if the government thinks that he provoked rioting.

Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan, Manish Sisodia, Gopal Rai, Kumar Vishwas and Sanjay Singh went to Parliament Street Police Station here accusing police of harassing their supporters who participated in the August 26 protest against coal block allocation.

The activists asked police to arrest them and not harass their supporters by sending them summons. However, police did not arrest them and instead recorded their statement under Section 161 of CrPC.
14:23  I pray Bedi returns to our movement: Kejriwal:   Anti-corruption crusader Arvind Kejriwal today expressed the hope that former IPS officer Kiran Bedi would join him in his movement.

Kejriwal, however, said that he was unaware of Bedi's latest tweet in which she has mentioned that she was not going to be a part of his agitation. "I don't know what Kiran Bedi  has said. I have not seen it. I just pray to go god that she returns to our movement because she is an important part of our movement. We have tried to convince her a lot," he said.

Bedi has in her latest tweet said that she was not going to be a part of Kejriwal's latest agitation. In her tweet, she said that she was apolitical but ''will stay with the cause''.  

Recent media reports indicate that she may be aspiring for the post of Chief Ministership of  Delhi state.
14:14  China's new Himalayan thrust:  Recent views of some Indian experts studying China are persuading the strategic community that China is very likely to attack India in 2012. This view has apparently begun to influence some in the government, too. The underlined some is to emphasize that this is not the dominant view. But the importance of the view is to keep those in charge alert and awake. Read
14:04  A finishing school for politicians:  There are schools, colleges, institutes and even universities grooming candidates for different careers, but none for politics. Time is opportune for India to think of establishing Schools of Politics at all levels. Read
14:01  Kiran Bedi willing to work with ''less corrupt'':  Former IPS officer Kiran Bedi on Monday indicated her priorities by stating that the need of the hour is to get the more corrupt out, work with the less corrupt and then think of a third force, which could be Arvind Kejriwal's 'anti-corruption movement'.
Kiran Bedi was trying her best to justify why she was distancing herself from Kejriwal.  While she ''respected'' Kejriwal's decision, she said that she was not a part of the political outfit.
"It's exactly like Anna. Anna is not a part of the political outfit," she added. 
Bedi said the country desperately needs the Jan Lokpal Bill and the Right to Reject.
"The movement started with the focus of getting the Jan Lokpal Bill, then Anna added the Right to Reject. The country desperately needs an independent Jan Lokpal Bill, which sets the CBI free of any political management. 
"And this country needs the Right to Reject, the most, because between two political parties who may be both perceived to be corrupt, whom you elect, you need to reject candidates. Unless you reject, there will be no space for a third component," said Bedi.

13:45  Choose new profession if you get offended: Obama :  US President Barack Obama has said he is a great fan of the Hollywood icon Clint Eastwood who criticised him in an odd Republican National Convention speech in which he used an empty chair as a stand-in for Obama.

Obama said that the Academy Award-winning Eastwood is "a great actor, and an even better director."

But Obama was coy when asked if he was offended by the performance. "I am a huge Clint Eastwood fan," Obama told USA Today. "I think the last few movies that he's made have been terrific," he said. When asked if he was offended by Eastwood's interview, Obama said, "One thing about being president or running for president '" if you're easily offended, you should probably choose another profession."

He said there would be no effort to counter with a similar stunt at the Democratic National Convention, which opens in Charlotte tomorrow, the daily said. "I think we'll be playing this pretty straight," Obama said.
13:16  Police raid publisher for selling book critical of Didi:   West Bengal Police have raided the office of a leading publisher and instructed him not to sell a book critical of chief minister Mamata Banerjee and the state government. Incidentally, the book has been written by Nazrul Islam, additional director general (training) of WB police.

The IPS officer's book titled Musalmander Koronio (What Muslims Should Do) was released by Mitra and Ghosh Publishers about a week ago and discusses the state of the Muslim community in Bengal and how to improve their lot.

Islam has argued that promising reservation for Muslims and announcing allowances for Imams would not help the community progress. He has advocated modern education for Muslims. More on the Hindustan Times.

13:10  MLA rips off shirt, Jharkhand assembly adjourned:  If coalgate has adjourned Parliament repeatedly, here's why the Jharkhand assembly was adjourned twice today.

An opposition MLA ripped off his shirt inside the house to press for demands. As soon as the house convened at 11 am, opposition members trooped into the well of the house raising a din over a plethora of demands. Jharkhand Vikas Morcha(Prajatantric) MLA Samresh Singh ripped his shirt, prompting Speaker C P Singh to first adjourn the house for an hour.

When the house assembled again, the opposition continued with the din leading to the adjournment till 12.30 pm.

12:45  And here's what the PM's been upto post Iran. @PMOIndia Happening now: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and President of Tajikistan Mr Emomali Rahmon holding talks on trade and investment.
12:40  LS passes 3 bills without debate amid pandemonium:  Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar prevails over the pandemonium in the House and gets three bills passed, before the house adjourns for the day over the coal block allocation.
12:35  B'lore cops arrest doctor/recruiter in terror plots:   Nayeem Siddiqui, the 18th person to be arrested in the case, is a doctor. The Bangalore police have recovered a cell phone, a laptop and Rs 10,000 in cash.
Rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa reports that Siddiqui, who is a native of Davangere in Karnataka, was in touch with 13 other accused in the case and was providing help with logistics and finances, says the police. His name cropped up during the interrogation of the other accused persons. 
12:26  Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 2 pm, but in the Lok Sabha the third bill on National Highway Authority of India Amendment Bill.

12:20  Recuriter for HuJI, LeT held in Bangalore :  The Bangalore police have arrested one more person in the crackdown on terror modules operating in the state. Nayueem Siddique, a recruiter was arrested today and laptops, mobile phones and cash have been seized. This takes the total arrests to 18. All the men have links to Lashkar-e-Taiba and HuJI.

The central crime branch wing of Bangalore police arrested 22-year-old Mohammed Akram on Saturday night, while he was allegedly trying to flee the city. According to the police, the youths were planning to target vital installations and assassinate several political leaders.

12:13  Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm. 
11:55  Holding out hope for Preity Zinta:  Will the trailer for Preity Zinta's new film Ishkq in Paris do its job and get us into the cinema during the opening week. Read
11:54  A neighbourhood newspaper in Delhi is making big bucks talking about dog poo, murder, graffiti... Read
11:45  Paralympics 2012: Angry Pistorius misses 200m gold :  World record holder Oscar Pistorius criticised the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) after he was beaten by Brazil's Alan Oliveira in the final of the Paralympic T44 200m.

"You saw how far he came back. We aren't racing a fair race. I gave it my best. The IPC have their regulations," Pistorius said. Oliveira's artificial legs - known as blades - are too long, he said. .The South African was overhauled by the 20-year-old in the final 20 metres as Oliveira won in 21.45 seconds, with Pistorius second in 21.52.

"We are not running in a fair race here," Pistorius told Channel 4. "I'm not taking away from Alan's performance but I can't compete with Alan's stride length.

"The International Paralympic Committee have their regulations and their regulations mean that some athletes can make themselves unbelievably high. His knee heights are four inches higher than they should be."
11:42  'Moonies' founder dies at 92:  Self-styled messiah Sun Myung Moon, whose Unification Church became famous for marrying thousands of people in a single ceremony, has died, aged 92.Moon set up the Church, whose members are often called Moonies, in the 1950s in the South Korean capital, Seoul.He claimed to have millions of members, many in the US, but was accused of brainwashing and profiteering. Read more 

11:36  Kerjiwal and co surrender :  volunteers of India Against Corruption (IAC), Arvind Kejriwal and others  surrendered after staging a protest outside Parliament Street police station in New Delhi. The 'jail bharo' agitation by Kejriwal comes just over a week after his August 26 protest against the government over the CAG report on alleged irregularities in coal blocks allocations.

He was detained twice and many of his supproters were arrested during the coalgate protest - for which Kejriwal has criticised the police. Kejriwal and other leaders of the IAC will arrive at the police station in morning and demand that the volunteers detained during August 26 protest should not be harassed in the name of collecting evidence.
11:21  One killed in Manipur bomb blast:  An another bomb blast: A boy was killed in a blast in Manipur's interior Thoubal district early this morning. The bomb allegedly planted by militants to attack security personnel went off at Nongpok Keithelmanbi area, killing a boy who was passing through the area. Militants also hurled grenades at the houses of some panchayat candidates in the area, but luckily they failed to explode.
11:19  Pak: Explosives-laden car rams into vehicle, kills 3:  In Pakistan, an explosives-laden car rammed into a vehicle while it was leaving the US Consulate in Peshawar, killing at least three persons and injuring over a dozen others, including foreigners.

The incident occurred a short distance from the US Consulate and an office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at Aabdara Road in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

Police said the vehicle leaving the US Consulate was rammed by the explosives-laden car. Three persons were killed and about 12 injured, including several foreigners, were taken to nearby hospitals
11:11  Parliament adjourned till noon after uproar over coal block allocation.
11:01  Rioting in east Delhi: 20 picked up for questioning:  In Delhi, police have picked up over 20 people for questioning in connection with rioting in the eastern part of the city in which one person was killed following rumours that a youth died after an accident at a vehicle checking picket.

A senior police official said the situation is peaceful in Mayur Vihar Phase III where the incident took place last night and a large number of police personnel have been deployed.

Investigators said they have detained at least 22 locals in connection with the incident. One person was killed and around 20 people, including over a dozen policemen, were injured when the mob and police clashed after police tried to stop them for vehicle checking.
10:51  Last week of monsoon session may be washed out:  Senior BJP leaders meet over the Parliament logjam before today's session begins. Sushma Swaraj, LK Advani, Rajnath Singh, RS Prasad, Yashwant Sinha attended the meet.

The Parliament has been paralysed for the last two weeks after the storm over the coalgate broke. The issue is expected to wipe out even this last week of the monsoon session of Parliament with no apparent signs of resolution of the deadlock.
10:40  Just in: The Supreme Court has lifted the ban on iron ore mining operations by private companies in Karnataka. Details awaited. 
10:34  PM briefs Prez on Parl logjam, BJP wants PM's head :  Just 30 minutes to go for the Parliament session to open. Earlier in the day, the PM briefed President Pranab Mukherjee about the logjam. The BJP, as of now, is still adamant that the PM has to resign over the coal block allocations, if Parliament is to function. 
09:05  No end to Syria violence:  Syria is witnessing one of its bloodiest phases. According to media reports, over 2,000 people have been killed in violence in the last one week.   

Nearly 26,000 people are feared killed in Syria since a rebellion broke out in March 2011.   

A plan laid down by a United Nations team, led by former secretary general Kofi Annan, has failed to end the violence.

08:59  State govt assures Hindi news channels protection from MNS:  The Maharashtra government has assured protection to Hindi news channels from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena after party chief Raj Thackeray threatened that he knew how to "deal with them".   

Alleging that Hindi news channels were distorting his statements, Thackeray on Sunday said they should not air news without understanding these issues.   

Speaking at a party meeting in Mumbai, he said, "I want to tell the Hindi news channel to first understand the issue before it is broadcast ...otherwise we know how to deal with it."

08:56  Parliament logjam may continue:  Good morning!

The stalemate in the Monsoon Session of Parliament may continue today after both the Congress and the BJP refused to budge from their stance over the coal-gate scam.

Upping its ante, the BJP has accused Congress of trying to hide the truth about the issue and said it will lodge a complaint with the Rajya Sabha Chairman.

"The Congress party is now trying to hide the truth about the coal scam and has removed all questions related to the coal department from Parliament website, this shows their mindset," party's national spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.

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