CURRENT AFFAIRS: 08/28/11

Sunday, August 28, 2011

US: Hurricane Irene weakens, sweeps Northward

New York: As Tropical Storm Irene drenched New York and New England on Sunday, the states where the hurricane first made landfall faced a sun-drenched - yet often powerless - day to assess loss of life, property damage and widespread inconvenience that, while significant, fell short of the worst forecasts of catastrophe.

Libya: Life is slowly returning to normal in Tripoli, a week after anti-regime rebels took control of most of the Libyan capital.

Shops have reopened, there's brisk business at the market, and only the near-incessant blaring of car horns suggests that life has changed there for ever.

Moscow: Canadian airlines cancelled over 100 flights at Toronto's Pearson International Airport on Sunday as Hurricane Irene, after ravaging the US East Coast was approaching the country, the Toronto Star newspaper reported.

New York: The death toll in the United States from Hurricane Irene has risen to 18, with four new fatalities reported in the state of Pennsylvania, US officials have said.

Six deaths have been recorded in North Carolina, where Irene made landfall early Saturday morning with 85-mile (140-kilometre) per hour winds, before heading up the eastern seaboard and scoring a rare hit on New York.

PM's letter to Anna Hazare on Parliament accepting his conditions

New Delhi: As Anna Hazare's three conditions were unanimously accepted by Parliament, a letter signed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was delivered to the anti-corruption crusader on stage at Ramlila Maidan.

Here's the letter by the PM to Mr Hazare:

Congress welcomes ending of fast by Anna Hazare

New Delhi: Welcoming ending of fast by Anna Hazare, Congress today said it is a "win-win situation" for all stakeholders.

"It's a historic occasion because it is a win-win situation for Indian democracy and for all stakeholders," party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said.

New Delhi: After securing Parliament's nod on key elements of Jan Lokpal bill, Anna Hazare today ended his 12-day-old fast declaring that electoral reforms will be next on his agenda.

The 74-year-old Gandhian accepted a glass of tender coconut water mixed with honey from two little girls - Simran and Ikrah - at 10:20 am to the dais at the Ramlila Ground to break his fast that began on August 16.

Gurgaon: The Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway is blocked with Anna Hazare's supporters.

From Ramlila Maidan, Anna left for hospital and has reached the Medanta Medicity hospital in Gurgaon. Doctors expect him to be in hospital for a couple of days.

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New Delhi: After about 290 hours, Anna Hazare ended his hunger strike in Delhi this morning. Two little girls, Ikrah and Simran - the tricolour painted on their cheeks and wearing Anna caps - offered him coconut water and honey to bring up the moment.

New Delhi: At 10:30 this morning, with thousands surrounding him at his protest camp in Delhi, Anna Hazare ended his hunger strike against corruption. In his 12-day fast, he has lost more than seven kilos; his doctors say they are worried about the 74-year-old's health.

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today announced general amnesty scheme for youths involved in over 1,200 cases of stone-pelting in the Valley during last summer's unrest.

New Delhi: Anna Hazare's remarkable 13 day hunger-strike ended with a glass of coconut water and honey, and yet, the 74-year-old anti-corruption activist managed to address the crowds at Ramlila Maidan with huge gusto. "You don't become Anna by wearing the Anna topi...You become Anna by practicing my principles," Anna exhorted the thousands of supporters.

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New Delhi: Anna Hazare's 13 day fast has left the Indian medical community bewildered on how could he have survived on plain water and yet retained such gusto, even as his own body was literally surviving by eating on its own reserves. His body weight fell by 7.5 kilograms but not his energy. NDTV's Science Editor Pallava Bagla spoke exclusively to Dr. Naresh Trehan of Medanta Medicity and the physician who was monitoring Anna's health through these long 13 days and nights to get some answers.

CBI forms SIT to look into CAG report on CWG

New Delhi: The CBI has formed a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to study the Comptroller and Auditor General's (CAG) report on the Commonwealth Games and to see whether any fresh case could be registered.

Sikkim farmer loses 14 kg after fasting in support of Anna

Gangtok: Sikkim farmer Yong Tshering Lepcha, lost 14 kg while fasting for a week in support of Anna Hazare at the Fish Pond area, opposite Paljor Stadium, in Gangtok.

Lepcha ended his hunger strike on Sunday, after which he marched to MG Marg in the heart of the state capital and garlanded the bust of Mahatma Gandhi.

Hyderabad: Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare ruled Indian cyberspace during his 13-day fast demanding the introduction of Jan Lokpal Bill in Parliament.

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New Delhi: Varun Gandhi is the only MP who visited the Ramlila Maidan where Anna Hazare was on a hunger-strike for a strong anti-corruption bill. Talking to NDTV's Sonia Singh on Your Call, BJP's youngest MP talks about why the Lokpal Bill is so important.

New Delhi: After about 290 hours, Anna Hazare ended his hunger strike in Delhi on Sunday morning. Two little girls, Ikrah and Simran - the tricolour painted on their cheeks and wearing Anna caps - offered him coconut water and honey to bring up the moment.

Bangalore: BS Yeddyurappa's attempt to get anticipatory bail in a case of corruption has been rejected by the Karnataka High Court. He has been accused of illegally denotifying land that had been reserved for projects of public interest.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court is expected to take up the bail pleas of Sanjay Chandra, MD of Unitech Wireless and Swan Telecom's Director Vinod Goenka in connection with the 2G spectrum scam.

Kochi: It was a close shave for 137 passengers onboard a Gulf Air plane when their plane skidded off the runway at Kochi airport in Kerala. Seven passengers were injured in the incident.

Some passengers in panic, jumped down from the aircraft through the emergency door even before the ladder was brought to the flight, airport sources said.

Ahmedabad: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is on a collision course with the state Governor Kamla Beriwal after she appointed a retired High Court judge R A Mehta as the Lokayukta, bypassing the government.

New Delhi: Three convicts on death row for plotting the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, will file a petition in the Madras High Court today against the President's rejection of their mercy pleas.

New Delhi: The parliamentarians are angry with Om Puri after he called politicians "illiterate" and "incompetent" during Anna Hazare's campaign. The actor now faces privilege notices in Parliament.

Two Lok Sabha MPs and two Rajya Sabha members have submitted privilege notices against Om Puri.

Chennai: Jayalalithaa has said the three convicts sentenced to hang on September 9 for the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi should appeal to the Indian President again. The men are also appealing to the Madras High court against President Pratibha Patil's decision to reject their mercy pleas.

With the government all set to discuss the Jan Lokpal Bill in parliament today, we sent out a message into the Yahoo! Universe, to gauge the pulse of our readers. Do they support Anna, or are they against him? Do they believe Anna’s methods are democratic? Will the Lokpal bill change corruption at all, or will we just be creating another monster in the public sphere?
Reflecting the strength of the movement on the ground, our readers share their opinions, sharp and insightful, as they engage in conversation with the community.

Supporters throng Gurgaon hospital to see Anna

Gurgaon, Aug 28 (IANS) Supporters Sunday thronged Gurgaon's Medanta hospital where Anna Hazare was brought for medical supervision after he ended his fast on the 13th day.

Hundreds of people were gathered outside the multi-specialty hospital here to catch a glimpse of the activist.

The curious case of Freida Pinto

If I were to stop an average person on the street in most countries outside India and ask whether he or she has heard of Amitabh Bachchan or Shah Rukh Khan, the answer is likely to be no.

Indians, fueled by their shrill media, will no doubt take umbrage at this, but that’s a hard fact of life.

Our stars are not as important abroad as we think, barring a few pockets where Indian cinema is popular.

India’s most popular acting export today is 26-year-old Freida Pinto, like it or not.

A healthy immune system is an aggressive age fighter that helps keep us feeling good, looking good and bustling with energy. If the immune system functions properly, we can put our health-related worries to rest. But as we age, our immune system, like an ageing cricketer, loses some of its vigour.

BJP congratulates Anna, says will support anti-graft fight

BJP on Sunday congratulated Anna Hazare for his successful agitation and assured him that the party would continue to extend support to his fight to make India corruption-free.

“I am glad that Anna Hazare has ended his 12-day fast this morning. The entire nation has heaved a sigh of relief. Thank God Anna’s life has been saved. We pray for his long and healthy life so that he can accomplish his dream of a corruption free India,” BJP president Nitin Gadkari said in a statement.

Team Anna member N. Santosh Hegde on Sunday saluted the Parliament for rising to the occasion and giving its nod to key elements of Jan Lokpal bill, but cautioned the people not to expect a miracle as enacting the legislation will “take its own time”.

Swami Agnivesh said that 'these people (Mr Kejriwal, Ms Bedi and Mr Bhushans) think, the movement will fizzle out if Anna breaks his fast'.

However, in a startling revelation, a member of Team Anna, Swami Agnivesh told this newspaper, that while moving out from Tihar Jail, it was decided and Delhi police were also informed that 'Anna would neither fast unto death nor would do an indefinite fast'.

Supporters of social activist Anna Hazare shout slogans outside the residence of Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Friday — AP

The RSS has apparently issued a whip to the BJP to extend all possible support to social activist Anna Hazare. The signals from the Sangh headquarters at Nagpur came on Wednesday, when the BJP took an anti-line and criticised Mr Hazare’s call to picket outside homes of the MPs.

We made no mistakes: Salman Khurshid

NEW DELHI: Law Minister Salman Khurshid, a key negotiator with Team Anna, on Sunday said there may have been "errors of judgement" in handling Hazare's fast but there were no mistakes.

Washington: Hurricane Irene is not only huffing and puffing. She's also tweeting.

A Twitter account with the handle @irene is pouring out a stream of tips on how to stay safe in the storm along with occasional quips.

New York: Travelers across New York are facing days of grief as thousands of flights get cancelled because of Hurricane Irene. (Hurricane Irene takes to Twitter)

Airlines are scrapping more than 9,000 flights this weekend from North Carolina to Boston, grounding would-be travelers as Irene travels up the East Coast. There were more than 3,800 cancellations on Saturday alone.

Wellington: Fattened up on a diet of "fish milkshakes" and escorted by his own personal veterinary team, the world's most famous penguin, Happy Feet, sets sail on Monday for the icy waters he calls home.

The emperor penguin washed up on a beach just outside the New Zealand capital Wellington in mid-June -- weak, emaciated and more than 3,000 kilometres (1,900 miles) from the Antarctic colony where he hatched about three-and-a-half years ago.

This Aug 24 photo shows ruins of a building
after a bomb strike. (AP)

Baghdad: Bombs in Baghdad killed six people on Saturday night, capping a deadly day in which at least 33 people died across Iraq, officials said.

On late Saturday night, a bomb hidden in a bicycle outside a Sunni mosque killed three worshipers and wounded eight others leaving evening prayers at the Omer Bin Abdul Aziz mosque just north of Baghdad, police said.

A ferry for delivering food, water and medical
supplies. (AP)

Libya: Rebel fighters pushed increasingly leaderless regime gunmen to the outskirts of Tripoli on Saturday, as severe shortages of fuel, water and electricity paralyzed the battle-scarred capital and the stench of growing piles garbage filled the air.

After Bellary, the Supreme Court on Friday banned all mining activities in two more districts in Tumkur and Chitradurga in Karnataka.

Industry groups say that the ban on iron ore mining in Bellary has hit the entire value chain in a big way.

The fresh court orders will make it worse for the industry.

Market regulator SEBI today allowed infrastructure finance companies to raise funds overseas through long-term corporate bonds.

"It has been decided that Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) categorised as Infrastructure Finance Companies (IFCs) by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) shall now be considered eligible issuers for the purposes of FII Investment under the corporate debt long term infra category," SEBI said in a circular.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Swami Agnivesh said that 'these people (Mr Kejriwal, Ms Bedi and Mr Bhushans) think, the movement will fizzle out if Anna breaks his fast'.

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