CURRENT AFFAIRS: 07/18/11

Monday, July 18, 2011

Sectarian killing spree kills 30 in Syria

BEIRUT — The discovery of three corpses with their eyes gouged out set off a sectarian killing spree that left 30 people dead in a chilling sign that the Syrian revolt against President Bashar Assad is enflaming long-simmering religious tensions.

(Reuters) - South Africa celebrated Nelson Mandela's 93rd birthday on Monday with songs by millions of children and calls for public service, but the nation he led out of apartheid is divided by poverty and his ANC movement seems to many to be losing its moral compass.

(CNN) -- Nelson Mandela is a symbol of the human struggle for justice and equality. In celebration of his 93rd birthday on Monday, you may be asking yourself how best to honor him.
His own Nelson Mandela Foundation is committed to the issue of social justice. Mandela once said, "To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity."

JERUSALEM — Israel has over the past five years arrested 835 Palestinian youths for stone-throwing, sentencing most of them to prison time, a rights organization said in a report on Monday.

The Israeli group B'Tselem said the military mistreated and violated the rights of the youths, most between the ages 16-17, but some as young as 12-13.

More than 60,000 Palestinians expected to visit Israel as tourists in 2011

More than 60,000 Palestinians are expected to visit Israel as tourists by the end of 2011, at least twice as many as last year, a defense official said.
Israel is planning to double the number of permits issued to Palestinians this year, due to the improved security in the West Bank, the source said. However, if the situation deteriorates in September following the Palestinians' UN bid for statehood, it will be harder to issue permits, he said.

	Israeli pro-Palestinian activists at Ben-Gurion International Airport on July 8, 2011.

URUMQI - Four people, including a police officer, and an unconfirmed number of rioters were killed on Monday after a police station was attacked and set on fire in Hotan, the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, local police said.

Clash in China's Xinjiang killed 20: exile group

BEIJING — Twenty protesters from China's minority Uighur community were killed in a clash with police in the ethnically tense northwestern region of Xinjiang, a Uighur exile group said Tuesday.
State media quoted an official in the region calling Monday's clash a "terrorist" attack and said four people including a police officer were killed when a crowd set upon a police station in the remote city of Hotan.

Britain’s spreading phone hacking and police bribery scandal forced two of London’s top police officers to resign in less than 24 hours and prompted Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday to call for an emergency session of parliament.

U.S. Gen. David Petraeus handed over command of international forces in Afghanistan to Marine Gen. John Allen on Monday.
Petraeus heads to his new job as director of the CIA, while Allen, known for helping turn Sunni insurgents against al-Qaeda in Iraq, takes over in Kabul. Allen will be tasked with the overseeing the start of the American troop withdrawal from the country after a decade-long war.

Maharashtra third most urbanised state

The latest figures from the Census 2011 shows that shows that at 5.08crore Maharashtra, is now home to the highest number of people living in urban areas.
With an urban population of 45.23%, Maharashtra is third most urbanised among major states, behind Tamil Nadu (48.45%) and Kerala (47.72%).It was second most urbanised in 2001.

AP refuses to budge on microfinance legislation

Mumbai: The battle over the regulation of India’s Rs. 20,000 crore microfinance industry is far from over, with Andhra Pradesh, the largest market for Indian microlenders, remaining firm on retaining its own law on the issue despite a proposed national legislation.

As the Telangana Congress leaders rejected Congress general secretary and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad's invitation for talks on the Telangana issue, the latter told a delegation of Seemandhra Congress leaders on Monday that he would shortly convene a meeting of party leaders of Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana regions on the issue.

Congress seesaw on Telangana continues

HYDERABAD/NEW DELHI: The seesaw battle in the State Congress over the Telangana issue continued on Monday with party leaders from the region rejecting Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s invitation to Delhi and the Seemandhra leaders making a forceful presentation against bifurcation of the State to the party top brass.

On its part, the Congress high command, caught in a cleft-stick, advocated “patience” and “further consultations” to break the impasse. The day began with the Telangana Congress leaders, who have been looking for a face-saver following their mass resignations, registering their “protest” against Azad’s recent remarks in Beijing that the Telangana issue cannot move an inch without a unanimous resolution in the State Assembly. Members of the Telangana Congress steering committee, headed by Minister K Jana Reddy and MP K Keshava Rao, met at the residence of Nagarkurnool MP Manda Jagannadham and discussed Azad’s invitation.At the end of it, however, they made it a point to stress that refusal did not mean “defiance” and said they would continue to hold talks with the party high command. It is learnt that some of the senior Telangana Congress leaders are planning a trip to Delhi — after the return of their Seemandhra counterparts — to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and others to extract a specific assurance. After the meeting, steering committee spokesman Gutta Sukhender Reddy hinted at their travel plans when he said “the steering committee will finalise the Delhi visit if there’s an invitation from Congress Central leaders other than Azad.” In Delhi, Seemandhra leaders led by MP Kavuri Sambasiva Rao met Azad, who is also incharge of party affairs in the State, and made a strong case for adopting the sixth option recommended by Justice Srikrishna Committee, which is to keep the State united. The delegation also explained in detail the current political situation in their regions.Azad, who gave them a patient hearing, suggested that consultations are the only solution to the issue. He said he had wanted to have consultations with limited number of delegations from all the three regions in the State to find a solution acceptable to all.The delegation is also likely to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other members of the party core group. Earlier in the day, Sambasiva Rao and Minister Sailajanath said leaders from Coastal and Rayalaseema regions came in large numbers to convey the message to the party high command and the government that dividing Andhra Pradesh would hurt the sentiments of millions of people in the State. Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari called for patience by all stakeholders on the sensitive issue. “You may be sensitive but keep patience,” he said. To a query whether the resolution of Gorkhaland can pave the way for a solution to the Telangana issue, he replied, “ It will be stretching it too much to think that any particular situation could be a template for other situations.”

Delhi Lokayukta asks President to censure Dikshit

The Delhi Lokayukta on Monday slammed Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for “misrepresenting” facts by announcing in the run up to 2008 Assembly polls that 60,000 low-cost flats were ready and recommended to the President to censure her.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) issued notices to 20 companies which invested in entities owned by YSR Congress chief and Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.

Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Monday dubbed the government's draft Lokpal bill as “weak and full of loopholes” and urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to bring in Parliament the Jan Lokpal Bill proposed by civil society members.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Sushil Kumar Modi was today elected the new chairman of the Empowered Committee of State FMs, which is spearheading the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The Madras High Court on Monday struck down an amendment to the Tamil Nadu Uniform System of School Education Act, introduced by the AIADMK government to defer implementation of the ‘samacheer system,' as unconstitutional and ultra vires Art.14 of the Constitution.

The Central Bureau of Investigation will interrogate the former Telecom Minister, A. Raja; the former Telecom Secretary, Siddhartha Behura, and Reliance ADA Group managing director Gautam Doshi on Monday in connection with further probe into the 2G spectrum case.

With Anna Hazare team questioning Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's honesty, Congress on Monday upped the ante against the Gandhian seeking explanations from him on Justice P B Sawant's report which had indicted the trust he was associated with in a graft case.

PINTAIL VILLAGE (SILIGURI) :A delirious Gorkha population danced and sang till late Monday night, long after a tripartite agreement was signed for the creation of a Gorkhaland Territorial Administration at Pintail Village, a resort on the outskirts of Siliguri.

HYDERABAD: Intelligence sleuths claim terror suspect Haroon, who was arrested by the Kolkata police for his role in the Mumbai blasts, had visited the city in June and spent some time with suspected Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative Danish Riyaz to discuss about recruitment of youth and carrying out strikes.

The latest buzz doing the rounds in the media is about the tattoo that Shah Rukh Khan sports in his upcoming movie Don2.

London, July 18 (IANS) A flying car which usually finds its mention in children books or animated cartoon movies, may soon become a reality in Britain.

Aviation experts are saying a flying car could be in regular use in Britain within five years after a model was formally approved by US authorities, Daily Mail reported Monday.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cisco Systems plans to cut its workforce by 11,500 employees as part of its plan to cut annual expenses by $1 billion and revive its business.
Cisco said on Monday that it would cut 6,500 employees. Of those, 2,100 employees will take early retirement.

India beat Qatar in international football friendly

Doha, July 18 (IANS) India held on to their early lead to beat a higher-ranked Qatar in an international football friendly at the Al Sadd Stadium in Doha Sunday night.

It was a different script at the same stadium, which looks similar to the Old Trafford, where 29 days go the under-23 India team failed to take advantage of their early lead and lost the away leg of the pre-Olympic qualifier against Qatar, 2006 Asian Games champions.

Islamabad, July 18(ANI): Pakistan has assured India of its cooperation in investigations to unearth militants involved in last Wednesday's triple bombings in Mumbai, which claimed the lives of 19 people and injured over 130 others.

New Delhi, July 18 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Monday was again questioning former communications minister Andimuthu Raja and two other accused who are in judicial custody in the second generation (2G) spectrum allocation scam.

Guwahati, July 19 (IANS) The Assam government Tuesday sounded an alert as 75,000 people were displaced following heavy overnight rains that triggered flash floods, breaching roads and embankments at several places.

New Delhi, July 19 (ANI): U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna will lead their respective delegations in the Second US-India Strategic Dialogue to be held here on Tuesday.

Congress communalising war against terror: BJP

New Delhi, July 18 (IANS) Reacting sharply to Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh's comment on the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), the Bhartiya Janata Party Monday blamed the ruling party for communalising the fight against terror.

BJP general secretary Ravi Shankar Prasad charged Digvijay Singh with being a mouthpiece for Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.
'There can not be a comment lower and more irresponsible than saying that 'Sangh' (RSS) is a factory for making bombs,' Prasad told reporters.

Fratricide, suicide rock IAF base

Chandigarh, July 18 (IANS) The Indian Air Force (IAF) base depot here was rocked by a gruesome fratricidal killing and a suicide, police said Monday.

An IAF sergeant was killed by his colleague in the wee hours Sunday.

Raids on house, offices of Matang Sinh

New Delhi, July 18 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Monday raided the residence and offices of former union minister Matang Sinh, who has just been re-admitted to the Congress, and his estranged wife Manoranjana Sinh, sources said.

Toronto, July 18 (IANS) In this Year of India in Canada, India is making news in the media here - not for the second highest growth rate in the world but for its 'absolute poverty'' and failure to 'feed its people.''

At least one person was injured after two planes collided on a taxiway at Boston's Logan Airport on Thursday night.

The actor is not keen to play the lead in 'Reluctant Fundamentalist' to be directed by Mira Nair

Not everyone has dreams to go international and our Kapoor lad is not one of them. The actor is apparently not keen to be a part of ‘Reluctant Fundamentalist’ to be directed by Mira Nair.

London, July 18 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari has supported the demand for a separate Telangana state and assured the protagonists of the cause that his party will fulfil the long-standing aspirations of the people of the region if it returns to power.

London, July 18, 2011 (AFP) - England selector Geoff Miller has warned India that Andrew Strauss's team are in the perfect form to take advantage if the tourists are below their best in the first Test at Lord's.

LONDON (Reuters) - "It was the kind of place you get out of and you never want to go back again." That's how one former reporter describes the News of the World newsroom under editor Rebekah Brooks, the ferociously ambitious titian-haired executive who ran Britain's top-selling Sunday tabloid from 2000 to 2003.

I sit in the fiction department of the production house I currently consult with. The fiction department isn’t a euphemism for the finance department - it means the department that works on conceptualizing and producing fiction shows for various entertainment channels.

The group of ministers (GoM) will meet on Monday to take stock of the financial liabilities and losses of debt-ridden national carrier Air India (AI) is expected to take a decision for a fresh equity infusion of Rs 1,200 crore, which would be sent to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) for its approval.

The eyewear market in India is largely unorganised with only a few players operating in the market.
Qualification: 10 +2 in science stream
Duration: Four years
Cost of course: Rs 23,800 p.a.
Starting salary: Rs 12,000-Rs 18,000 p.m.

Darjeeling, July 18 (ANI): The Centre, West Bengal government and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha on Monday signed the tripartite agreement paving way for creation of autonomous elected hill council, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).

Taunton, July 17 (IANS) India's Suresh Raina staked his claim for the first Test against England with a brilliant counter-attacking century against Somerset on the third day of the tour match here Sunday.
Raina raced to an unbeaten 103 on the third morning to save India from embarrassment. India were reeling at overnight 138/8, chasing Somerset's first innings score of 425, with Raina (30) and S.Sreesanth (0) at crease.

Panaji, July 18 (IANS) Two massive landslides within hours have completely disrupted train services on the Konkan Railway route, as heavy rains lashed Goa and nearby areas for the eighth day Monday.

Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) public relations officer (PRO) Baban Ghatge told IANS that the first landslide occurred at 8 p.m.

New Delhi, July 18 (AFP): The absence of hard-hitting Virender Sehwag could affect India's hopes of imposing themselves early in the Test series in England that starts on Thursday, former Australia captain Ian Chappell has warned.

Going wild in Ladakh

A friend of mine confessed that he had not seen a single monastery on his recent visit to Ladakh as he was busy chasing birds and beasts . I looked at him rather incredulously and pronounced that it was a sacrilege to have missed out on the gompas and chortens.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Professor Severus Snape -- the mysterious potions master at Hogwarts School -- was named the greatest "Harry Potter" character of all time on Thursday in a poll of fans run by MTV News.

London, July 16 (ANI): Mobile phone companies are coming up with more and more weird ideas to lure customers- with the latest being the development of 3G slippers and wireless nappies.
Rather than selling more phones, mobile firms are now looking to squeeze more revenue from the customers and networks they have already established.

Ford India has launched its global sedan, the All-New Fiesta. The globally evolved product brings to its segment a new meaning to passenger safety, delivers class-leading fuel efficiency and comes with first-in-segment smart features such as cruise control, electric power assisted steering (EPAS) and Advanced Bluetooth Voice Control.

Dubai, July 18 (IANS): Four Indians - Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev - have made it to the 'Alltime Greatest Test team' through an online poll across the world.
Fans voted on the International Cricket Council's official website, www.icc-cricket.com, to pick the leading 11 as part of the celebrations to commemorate the 2,000th Test match, which will be played between England and India at Lord's from Thursday.

New Delhi/Bangalore, July 18 (IANS) Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has sent a legal notice to Vijay Mallya-owned UB Group over an advertisement of McDowell's No. 1 Platinum featuring his team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Monday, July 18, 2011

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