The General Motors logo is seen outside its headquarters at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan August 25, 2009.
Credit: Reuters/Jeff Kowalsky/Files
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Co (GM.N) on Monday widened the list of older models it is recalling for potentially deadly ignition switches, adding 8.23 million compact and midsize cars that it has linked to seven crashes and three fatalities.
GM this year has recalled 29 million vehicles, more than half of them - roughly 14.7 million - because of potentially defective ignition switches. GM last year sold 2.8 million vehicles in the United States and 9.7 million globally.
Earlier on Monday, GM provided details of a compensation fund set up to provide at least $1 million to victims of crashes tied to defective switches in older compact cars, including the Chevrolet Cobalt and Saturn Ion.
GM said victims of crashes in cars recalled on Monday will not be included in the fund administered by attorney Kenneth Feinberg, nor are there any plans to set up a separate fund for those victims.
"That was an exceptional response to a unique set of mistakes that were made over an extended period of time," GM spokesman Jim Cain said.
GM said on Monday it would increase by $500 million a second-quarter charge to cover the cost of the recalls. So far this year, the writedowns are expected to total $2.5 billion.
GM earlier this year recalled nearly 2.6 million Cobalts, Ions and other small cars with defective switches that it linked to 54 crashes and at least 13 deaths.
Earlier this month, it recalled more than 500,000 Chevrolet Camaro sports cars and another 3.4 million midsize and fullsize sedans, including Chevrolet Impalas and Cadillac DeVilles.
On Monday, GM issued two separate recalls, both related to ignition switches which it said could be turned off because of "inadvertent key rotation." In turn, that could shut off the engine and cut power to steering, brakes and air bags.
Affected are 7.61 million older sedans and coupes dating back to model year 1997, including 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impalas and 1997-2005 Chevrolet Malibus. Also recalled were 616,179 Cadillacs from model years 2003-2014, including the CTS coupe and sedan and the SRX crossover.
As it has done previously, GM urged owners to remove all items, including the fob, from key rings, leaving only the ignition key. It said it would provide dealers with an insert to change the key-head design from a slot to a hole to reduce the chance of the key ring and fob turning off the switch.
GM shares closed down 0.9 percent at $36.30 on Monday.
GOAAALL!! Yobo own goal means it's France 2-0 - 90 minutes
Valbuena and Benzema just want to run down the clock from the corner, but a low cross comes in anyway and Griezmann is running towards it and tries to divert it into goal, misses, and sees a deflection off Yobo go in. That's 2-0 then and France are into the last eight.
GOAAAAAAAAAALLL!! Pogba! 82 minutes
Corner for France and Pogba is there to head in a loose punch by Enyeama into the net. Expert finishing, the keeper was nowhere. Got to feel bad for the goalie.
Off the post, Cabaye! And another crazy Enyeama save - 80 minutes
The French are sending wave after wave of attack towards the Nigeria goal — Valbuena's cross is cleared a couple of yards from the goal-line and the clearance runs to Cabaye about 30 yards out, his stinging shot hitting the underside of the bar. Seconds later Benzema heads behind a long ball, but Enyeama is there to tip it over.
Victor Moses off the line!!! 70 minutes
Fantastic one-two between Benzema and Griezmann and the Real Madrid striker is through on goal. He tries to slide it under Enyeama's body but the keeper gets down just in time to hamper the ball's trajectory towards the goal where Victor Moses clears the bouncing ball. Goal-line technology is used and it's not a goal.
Oshaniwa with a cracking clearance - 66 minutes
France pressing more urgently now and a botched clearance allows them to ping in a cross from the left. It's bobbing and in Pogba's path with the Juventus player already in his stride to take a volley but Oshaniwa executes a quality karate-style clearance to put it away from danger.
Stretcher comes out second time for Onazi and this time he's off - 60 minutes
Matuidi makes probably one of the worst challenges of the World Cup so far - going studs up straight into Onazi's ankle which sickeningly twisted under the tackle. The stretcher comes out for him again, and this time he will be subbed for Gabriel. Meanwhile, Giroud is off for Griezmann which means Benzema shifts to striker with Griezmann on the left.
Moses tries too much trickery, Varane sees stars - 54 minutes
Victor Moses cuts in from the right and just when it's time to pull the trigger, he tries another silly trick and loses the ball. It ends up on the right where it's crossed in for Emenike but Varane is there to defend and takes a blow to the head for his team. He is up and running but looks a bit dazed.
And after that open but wasteful half, we're up and running again
No changes at HT as both teams sense an opening, the only thing missing is a proper finish or a slice of luck. Nigeria have given France an excellent game. For the Les Bleus, Benzema and Giroud need to be more involved in attacks -- the former has been invisible so far.
Nigeria trouble Lloris again - 44 minutes
Emenike from a tight angle - his zipping shot straight at Lloris who then needs to cope with a rebound with Musa bearing down on him. It's cleared but that quite a scare.
Oh my Debuchy! What a miss - 40 minutes
Matuidi gets forward and lays it off for Debuchy who's running towards the box -- his shot wide from an area where you would hit the target nine out of ten times. That is the miss of the match so far.
Odemwingie chance from outside box - 30 minutes
Emenike and Odemwingie with a quick exchange at the edge of the box but the latter's shot is blocked. That was goal-bound. Nigeria getting into danger areas, looking very confident.
Great save Enyeama! 23 minutes
Pogba drives forward and slips Valbuena through on the right before continuing his run. Valbuena finds him with the return ball and Pogba's acrobatic volley is brilliantly saved by Enyeama.
Musaaaaa -- but he's offside! 20 minutes
Emenike puts in a lovely ball for Musa who's roving around the near post and finishes first time. He is probably in line but it's been given offside. That was a FIFA 14 type of decision -- offside for half an inch.
Two freekicks for Nigeria - both wasted, 17 minutes
Odemwingie gets a freekick from a crossing area on the left and finds a teammate free at the far post, the impending header was woeful though. Another freekick follows from about 20 yards out from a shooting position but Emenike hits it high, wide and not so handsome.
Nigeria dominate opening exchanges - 8 minutes
Nigeria have tried to string a few more passes than they normally do. One of their crosses from the right finds its way to Odemwingie but an awkward bounce takes it away from him. France have been cautious at the back so far.
And we've kicked off!
France field probably their strongest starting XI and are up against a Nigerial squad boasting of huge talent in the form of Musa, Emenike, Odemwingie and Mikel. These are two counter-attacking teams which love playing open football. Here we go...
Fact: France have lost 2 of their last 3 World Cup matches against African nations.
7.00 pm: Foreign flags banned as France tightens security for Algeria match
The Riviera city of Nice banned the display of foreign flags Monday as French authorities tightened security ahead of a World Cup match between Germany and Algeria following riots after the last two Algerian fixtures.
Christian Estrosi, the right-wing mayor of Nice, issued a decree temporarily banning what he termed the "ostentatious display of foreign flags" in the centre of the Riviera city, which is home to many people of Algerian heritage.
"Since the start of the World Cup we have sadly seen intolerable behaviour that severely disrupts public peace," Estrosi added. He said the ban would remain in force until the end of the tournament.
Some celebrations of Algeria's historic qualification for the second round of the World Cup spilled over into violence on Thursday with more than 70 people arrested for rioting or looting across France.
That was more than double the 30-odd arrested on June 22 after Algeria's win over South Korea.
The incidents prompted far-right leader Marine Le Pen to call for dual nationality to be revoked on the ground that the fervent support for Algeria reflected a failure to integrate into French society.
Algerians make up France's largest immigrant group, with close to two million people able to trace their roots back to the former colony.
Many hold dual citizenship and attachment to Algeria appears as strong amongst the French-born younger generation as it is amongst older immigrants.
"We are asking everyone to stay calm while celebrating a victory," government minister Harlem Desir said Monday.
"We must not let unruliness spoil what should be a party," he told the LCI television channel, adding that adequate security measures had been put in place to pre-empt a repetition of last week's incidents.
AFP
6.25 pm Uruguay President Jose Mujica slams FIFA leaders as "sons of bitches"
Uruguay's President Jose Mujica has slammed FIFA leaders as "sons of bitches" for banning the country's star striker Luis Suarez over his infamous World Cup bite.
Mujica called the four month ban on all football activity imposed on Suarez for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini "fascist sanctions".
The president made the comments to a state-run TV sports show which asked Mujica his opinion of the World Cup as he welcomed the defeated Uruguayans on their return from Brazil late Sunday.
"Those at FIFA are a gang of old sons of bitches," Mujica said. He gasped and put his hand to his mouth in an I-can't-believe-that-I said-that manner, but smiled.
The journalist asked if he could publish the remark. "For my part, sure," Mujica shrugged.
"I support the president's remarks," added his wife, Senator Lucia Topolansky, who was stood next to him.
"They could have sanctioned him," said Mujica, a 79 year-old ex-guerrila, "but not with fascist sanctions."
AFP
5.45 pm: Greece refuses World Cup bonus
This story is almost too good to be true, but true is appears to be. After Cameroon refused to even head to Brazil without their bonus and Ghana's players forced their association to send $3 million dollars in cash by plane before they took the field for their final game against Portugal, comes some field good stuff from Greece.
Greece were knocked out on penalties by Costa Rica in the round of 16. Reuters
According to the Sport Bible, the team sent a letter to Greek prime minister Antonis Samaras saying they would rather the money be spent on better training facilities.
“We do not want as extra bonus, or money. We only play for Greece and its people," the team said in their letter. "All we want is for you to support our effort to find a land and create a sports centre that will house our National team.”
Given the state of the Greek economy and the hardships the people have suffered thanks to the financial crisis, the team might win over more fans for this move than for reaching the round of 16.
5.00 pm: Another day, another Suarez video
Hey Luis, Don't Bite Me won't be winning any Grammies but as a parody its well worth a watch and a listen.
Meanwhile in Uruguay, Suarez is being defended at the highest levels of power. The country's president, Jose Muigca, told reporters that "We should take sanctions [against Suarez], but not these [FIFA's] fascist sanctions".
He went went on to say that "FIFA are a bunch of old b******s!” and told the reporters they were free to broadcast his remarks.
Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress Monday sought an explanation from its parliamentarian Tapas Pal for threatening to shoot down CPI-M men and unleashing his 'boys' to rape women.
"Tapas Pal has been asked to provide a written explanation to the party in the next 48 hours (two days) about what is his point of view," the party's national spokesperson Derek O'Brien said.
Derek O'Brien. Image courtesy: Facebook
Telecast by vernacular news channels, a video showed Paul from Krishnanagar Lok Sabha constituency in Nadia district, warning Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) men to be aware of him as he won't spare them and "destroy their entire clan".
"If a CPI-M man dares to touch anybody, Tapas Pal will not spare him. I will take out my gun and shoot him. I always carry a gun... I will destroy his entire clan," Paul was heard telling his party workers in Choumaha village.
"I warn my opponents... If anything happens to my mothers or sisters, my party workers, I will not spare them, I will have the last word. I will make their family pay dearly. I will ask my boys to go there. They will rape them and leave," said Pal, as his supporters cheered his every word.
Pal is heard repeatedly warning his opponents and threatening them with dire consequences.
The comments have been widely slammed and the Congress, BJP and CPI-M have demanded stern action against him, including sacking him from parliament.
New Delhi: As the admission procedure is all set to begin in various Delhi University colleges here from tomorrow, Sri Ram College of Commerce, Ramjas College and Shaheed Bhagat Singh College on Monday released its first cut-off lists which will be deciding the fate of over two lakh DU aspirants.
As per the first cut-off list of Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) which was released today after four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) was scrapped last week, students seeking admissions for BCom (Hons) should have at least 97.5% to get the admission. For BA Economic (Hons), the cut-off is 98.25% for commerce students and 97.25% for science and Humanities students under General category. For SC and OBC students, the cut-off range was between 94.25 per cent and 96.50 per cent.
Additional eligibility criteria by colleges, which had been done away with before FYUP was rolled back, has been brought back. SRCC has imposed the rider that students should have studied mathematics in Class XII and have at least got 70 per cent in board exams, PTI reported.
Delhi University's Ramjas College also announced its first cut-off list for the 2014-15 academic session with percentage set for admission in B.Com (Pass) course under three-year undergraduate programme as high as 98 per cent for Commerce students. The cut-off for BA Economic (H) for commerce students is 97.50% and that for science students is 96.50%.
Whereas in Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, BCom (Hons) students will need 96.5% to get admission here.
St Stephen's College that had declared its cut-off lists on June 17, will now have to redo the lists.
Reportedly, some provisionally selected students in Economics will be dropped as seats have reduced in St Stephen's College.
As part of the return to the old structure, colleges may also issue additional admission criteria for some courses.
Cut-offs in other colleges are also likely to be high in honours programmes because of the reduction in the number of seats in these courses due to the switch back to the three-year structure. Moreover, as the Delhi University has allowed all students who make the cut-off to get admission irrespective of whether they had applied, colleges are playing safe with the first list.
The declaration of the cut-off lists of the above DU colleges came after the row between the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the DU over the controversial four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) finally came to an end.
A week behind schedule due to the row over controversial FYUP, admissions to DU's academic session 2014-15 will begin from tomorrow giving respite to over 2.7 lakh students who had earlier applied for admission to DU under the now scrapped FYUP to more than 54,000 seats in 64 colleges of the varsity. The admissions were earlier scheduled to take place on June 24.
As per reports, the cut-off percents are high in the first list due to number of honours seats being reduced compared to last year because of the switch back to 3-year courses and the other reason is since the colleges have little idea about demand for particular courses since candidates had applied for FYUP courses.
Who can apply: Even if a student didn't register by filling up the centralised DU form, but meets the cut-off list criteria for a particular course in a college, they can fill up the form and take admission.
New Delhi: Petrol price was on Monday hiked by a steep Rs 1.69 per litre and diesel by 50 paise a litre as the crisis in Iraq spooked international oil and currency markets.
The hike, effective July 1, excludes local sales tax or VAT and the actual increase will be higher, varying from city to city.
Petrol in Delhi will cost Rs 73.58 per litre, up Rs 2.02 from Rs 71.56 at present. Diesel rates will go up by 56 paise to Rs 57.84 per litre.
"Due to geo-political unrest in the Middle East, there has been significant increase in international oil prices during the past two weeks.
"The international prices of gasoline (petrol) have increased by more than USD 4 per barrel, and the rupee-US dollar exchange rate has also deteriorated. The combined impact of both these factors has warranted an increase in petrol prices by Rs 1.69 per litre, excluding state levies," Indian Oil Corp, the nation's largest oil firm, said.
Diesel rates were hiked in continuation with the previous UPA government's January 2013 policy of raising prices in small doses every month to eliminate subsidy.
IOC said despite the 17 hikes since then, oil firms are losing Rs 3.40 a litre on diesel. Losses have increased from Rs 2.80 a litre earlier this month due to firming up of international oil rates and the rupee depreciating against the US dollar.
Besides diesel, the state oil firms lose Rs 33.07 a litre on kerosene sold through the public distribution system (PDS) and Rs 449 per 14.2-kg domestic subsidised LPG (cooking gas) cylinder.
IOC said at current rate the industry (IOC plus Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum) are projected to end the fiscal with Rs 107,850 crore of revenue losses.
MUMBAI: There was no reprieve for toll operators who had challenged before the Bombay high court the state government's move to close down 44 of the 166 toll booths in Maharashtra.
A division bench of Justice Naresh Patil and Justice Ravindra Ghughe declined any interim injunction against the state's decision, but asked it not to pull down the toll booths.
The state said it would issue a notification under the general clauses law to cancel the earlier notification, which allowed for recovery of tax. Government pleader said the state was also planning to draw up a package of Rs 306 crore for compensating the affected contractors.
Of the 166 toll roads in the state, 73 are under the public works department purview, 53 under Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and 40 under the National Highways Authority of India. Earlier this month, the state declared that it was closing 34 booths belonging to PWD and 10 of MSRDC on June 30. These booths are located in Nashik, Amravati, Nagpur, Jalgaon, Dhule, Aurangabad, Pune, Sangli, Solapur, Satara, and Raigad.
Advocate Kamlesh Ghumre, counsel for the contractors, argued that the decision was arbitrary and discriminatory as there was no basis on which the booths to be closed were selected. The plea claimed the contractors had invested huge sums in the development of roads, which had resulted in large-scale industrial development of the areas and generated employment for engineers, labourers and booth attendants.
S Ramachandani, joint managing director, MSRDC said they were awaiting the government notification to discontinue nine tolls. "We are expecting it anytime. It might come into force either tonight (June 30) or July 1 midnight," he said. PWD sources said around 80% of the tolls would be discontinued on Monday night and remaining over the next few days. "This is to be done through a notification," said a source.
A Paul Pogba header and a Joseph Yobo own goal saw France edge a hard-fought contest with Nigeria 2-0 in Brasilia on Monday to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.
Pogba broke the deadlock in the 79th minute, heading into an empty net after Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who plays for French club Lille, failed to collect a corner.
It was a cruel moment for Enyeama, but rewarded a barrage of French pressure sparked by the introduction of Antoine Griezmann, who forced Yobo to put through his own goal in injury time.
Didier Deschamps's France will now await the winners of Monday's other last-16 tie between Germany and Algeria, who they will meet at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on July 4.
African champions Nigeria, meanwhile, must wait to sample the last eight at a World Cup, following defeat in their first knockout-phase match at the tournament since the 1998 competition in France.
Stephen Keshi's side nonetheless departed to the sound of warm applause from the fans crammed into the cavernous Mane Garrincha National Stadium, who allied themselves with Nigeria's cause from the kick-off.
While France, who showed six changes, started purposefully, their final ball frequently let them down, which handed Nigeria opportunities to use their pace on the counter-attack.
Emmanuel Emenike thought he had put Nigeria ahead in the 19th minute when he deftly prodded in an in-swinging cross from Ahmed Musa, but the offside flag allowed French heart rates to return to normal.
France looked more threatening when they were able to bring the recalled Mathieu Valbuena into the game.
When the Marseille midfielder teed up Pogba for a vicious volley mid-way through the first half, it took a stunning reflex save from Enyeama to keep the game scoreless.
Onazi stretchered off
Another intelligent pass from Valbuena then gave Mathieu Debuchy a sight of goal, but the Newcastle United right-back drilled wide.
Late in the first half Emenike took aim from range, but Hugo Lloris was able to parry.
Nigeria suffered a blow early in the second period when Lazio midfielder Ogenyi Onazi had to be stretchered off after an ugly, ankle-high challenge by Blaise Matuidi, who escaped with only a caution.
Faced with growing Nigeria pressure, Deschamps introduced Griezmann in place of Olivier Giroud with half an hour to play and the move quickly paid immediate dividends.
After Lloris had saved from Peter Odemwingie, a one-two between Karim Benzema and Griezmann set the Real Madrid man clear, but although he squeezed the ball past Enyeama, Victor Moses was on hand to hook clear.
It was to prove a temporary reprieve. Yohan Cabaye, back from suspension, saw a 20-yard half-volley crash back off the bar before Enyeama had to produce a finger-tip save to touch a Benzema header over the bar.
It was the second fine stop of the match from the 31-year-old, but seconds later his failure to claim Valbuena's left-wing corner allowed Juventus midfielder Pogba to head in at the back post.
Enyeama then palmed a shot from Griezmann over the bar, but France made it 2-0 at the death when Yobo, under pressure from Griezmann, inadvertently steered Valbuena's drilled cross into his own net.
Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress Monday sought an explanation from its parliamentarian Tapas Pal for threatening to shoot down CPI-M men and unleashing his 'boys' to rape women.
"Tapas Pal has been asked to provide a written explanation to the party in the next 48 hours (two days) about what is his point of view," the party's national spokesperson Derek O'Brien said.
Derek O'Brien. Image courtesy: Facebook
Telecast by vernacular news channels, a video showed Paul from Krishnanagar Lok Sabha constituency in Nadia district, warning Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) men to be aware of him as he won't spare them and "destroy their entire clan".
"If a CPI-M man dares to touch anybody, Tapas Pal will not spare him. I will take out my gun and shoot him. I always carry a gun... I will destroy his entire clan," Paul was heard telling his party workers in Choumaha village.
"I warn my opponents... If anything happens to my mothers or sisters, my party workers, I will not spare them, I will have the last word. I will make their family pay dearly. I will ask my boys to go there. They will rape them and leave," said Pal, as his supporters cheered his every word.
Pal is heard repeatedly warning his opponents and threatening them with dire consequences.
The comments have been widely slammed and the Congress, BJP and CPI-M have demanded stern action against him, including sacking him from parliament.
Laurent Fabius is the first foreign minister of a western country to visit India since the new government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office on 26 May. Photo: AP
New Delhi: French foreign minister Laurent Fabius on Monday said he was “pretty optimistic” that the $20 billion (around Rs.1.2 trillion) deal to supply India with 126 Rafale fighter jets would be clinched early—something he said would open the doors for further defence cooperation with India.
Fabius, the first foreign minister of a western country to visit India since the new government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office on 26 May, said he was carrying an invitation from President Francois Hollande for Modi to visit France in September. Fabius is scheduled to meet Modi on Tuesday.
“France has high ambition for this (India-France) partnership and this ambition is shared by the new Indian government,” the French foreign minister told reporters in New Delhi.
In talks with foreign minister Sushma Swaraj, Fabius discussed a wide range of bilateral and international issues including the promotion of tourism, boosting the number of Indian students studying in France, cooperation on space and climate change, ways to increase two-way trade and investment, and the situation in Iraq.
On the long-pending sale of Rafale fighter aircraft to India, Fabius said: “I am pretty optimistic, things are developing smoothly.”
He described the combat aircraft, built by Dassault Aviation as “the best that can be conceived from a technical viewpoint...It would be very important because, stemming from this contract, we can develop a large partnership in the domain of defence. Apart from Rafale, we have prospects in the domain of missiles, in the domain of submarines, in the domain of helicopters and it will make it possible to have really complete partnership between Indian industry and French industry,” Fabius said.
India has been looking for a fighter jet for its Air Force for more than a decade and, in 2012, chose the Rafale over three others, including the Eurofighter Typhoon manufactured by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., which was earlier this year rebranded as Airbus Group NV. The Rafale deal accommodates key Indian demands on transfer of technology, offsets under which Dassault Aviation will have to plough back 50% of the contract value into India and a partnership with the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for co-production.
Arun Jaitley, the finance minister, who also holds the defence portfolio, raised hopes of speedy defence procurement last week when he criticised the “slow pace of acquisition” and said there was a “good case for these processes to be expedited”.
Briefing reporters on the talks, Indian foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said the “comprehensive” discussions spread over three hours covered civil nuclear cooperation. France has been seeking clarifications on how India’s nuclear liability law would be implemented and the consequences of any possible nuclear accident. In 2010, state-run Nuclear Power Corp. of India Ltd signed a pact with France’s Areva SA to buy two European Pressurised Reactors (EPR), each with a capacity to produce 1,650MW of electricity, and uranium supply for a period of 25 years for the Jaitapur nuclear power plant in Maharashtra. These units are the first of six that will be constructed at Jaitapur for commissioning by 2018. The complex will have an overall capacity of 10,000MW. “Both sides reiterated their commitment to proceed with the Jaitapur nuclear power plant,” the spokesman added.
Kolkata: In a brazen, ludicrous and insensitive statement, Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Pal has been caught on camera openly threatening to send 'his boys' and get women of Opposition party raped. He is also heard saying that if need be he will not hesitate to use guns against his opponents.
“If anyone from the Opposition dares to touch any woman then I will send my boys and get women of CPI(M) raped,” Pal told a gathering reportedly in his constituency Krishnanagar.
He also says that he roams around with 'maal' (revolver) and will not hesitate to use it on his opponents.
Pal does not stop here. Without any shame he boasts that he is a 'goonda' (hooligan).
The speech shown in the video is apparently six to seven weeks old.
This is not the first time that the TMC MP has made such an audacious comment. Last year Pal, while addressing a rally at Tehatta, had asked party activists to beat up CPI(M) workers with shoes.
Though TMC has officially condemned the statement, no action has been taken as far as the MP is concerned.
Party spokesperson and MP Derek O'Brien said that TMC did not endorse what Tapas had said and that it was insensitive statement.
He posted on the micro-blogging site Twitter - “Sensitive use of language is an obligation for role models in culture, politics and society. If that code is breached, public trust is lost.”
He also said, “Whatever provocation or perceived provocation, people in public life have to be extra-careful in what they say. Can't shoot your mouth off.”
Meanwhile, even as West Bengal Chief Mamata Banerjee continues to look the other way, the Opposition, CPI(M) and the BJP, have demanded action against him.
CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat, while talking exclusively to Zee News said, “What action will the TMC take? The message that has gone to the people, what about it? If any MP says something like this then he is insulting womanhood. Action against him is must."
And BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain told a news agency that "TMC leader and state CM is a woman. Action must be taken against Tapas Pal for his comment."
Preposterous and outrageous statements by TMC leaders are nothing new. Infact some would say that it has become a norm.
Last year in July, West Bengal Transport Minister Madan Mitra had threatened to take on his rivals and give them a befitting reply by bullets, bombs and thrashing.
And before that Manirul Islam, TMC MLA from Labhpur, while addressing a party rally had said that if district Congress leader Sabyasachi Dutta did not mend his ways then his head would be cut off.
The list is long. Again last year, on July 17, TMC Birbhum district president Anubrata Mondal had supposedly asked partymen to attack policemen with bombs and burn houses of Independent candidates.
Laurent Fabius is the first foreign minister of a western country to visit India since the new government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office on 26 May. Photo: AP
New Delhi: French foreign minister Laurent Fabius on Monday said he was “pretty optimistic” that the $20 billion (around Rs.1.2 trillion) deal to supply India with 126 Rafale fighter jets would be clinched early—something he said would open the doors for further defence cooperation with India.
Fabius, the first foreign minister of a western country to visit India since the new government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office on 26 May, said he was carrying an invitation from President Francois Hollande for Modi to visit France in September. Fabius is scheduled to meet Modi on Tuesday.
“France has high ambition for this (India-France) partnership and this ambition is shared by the new Indian government,” the French foreign minister told reporters in New Delhi.
In talks with foreign minister Sushma Swaraj, Fabius discussed a wide range of bilateral and international issues including the promotion of tourism, boosting the number of Indian students studying in France, cooperation on space and climate change, ways to increase two-way trade and investment, and the situation in Iraq.
On the long-pending sale of Rafale fighter aircraft to India, Fabius said: “I am pretty optimistic, things are developing smoothly.”
He described the combat aircraft, built by Dassault Aviation as “the best that can be conceived from a technical viewpoint...It would be very important because, stemming from this contract, we can develop a large partnership in the domain of defence. Apart from Rafale, we have prospects in the domain of missiles, in the domain of submarines, in the domain of helicopters and it will make it possible to have really complete partnership between Indian industry and French industry,” Fabius said.
India has been looking for a fighter jet for its Air Force for more than a decade and, in 2012, chose the Rafale over three others, including the Eurofighter Typhoon manufactured by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., which was earlier this year rebranded as Airbus Group NV. The Rafale deal accommodates key Indian demands on transfer of technology, offsets under which Dassault Aviation will have to plough back 50% of the contract value into India and a partnership with the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for co-production.
Arun Jaitley, the finance minister, who also holds the defence portfolio, raised hopes of speedy defence procurement last week when he criticised the “slow pace of acquisition” and said there was a “good case for these processes to be expedited”.
Briefing reporters on the talks, Indian foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said the “comprehensive” discussions spread over three hours covered civil nuclear cooperation. France has been seeking clarifications on how India’s nuclear liability law would be implemented and the consequences of any possible nuclear accident. In 2010, state-run Nuclear Power Corp. of India Ltd signed a pact with France’s Areva SA to buy two European Pressurised Reactors (EPR), each with a capacity to produce 1,650MW of electricity, and uranium supply for a period of 25 years for the Jaitapur nuclear power plant in Maharashtra. These units are the first of six that will be constructed at Jaitapur for commissioning by 2018. The complex will have an overall capacity of 10,000MW. “Both sides reiterated their commitment to proceed with the Jaitapur nuclear power plant,” the spokesman added.
PTI | New Delhi | Published: Jun 30 2014, 21:36 IST
Jun 30 2014, 21:36 IST
SummaryThe University Grants Commission (UGC) today asked the Delhi University to continue the Bachelor in...
The University Grants Commission (UGC) today asked the Delhi University to continue the Bachelor in Management Studies (BMS) programme only for students enrolled to it during 2013-14 academic year, but under a three-year duration.
Even as students of BMS protested demanding that the course duration be kept four years, the Commission, after several rounds of discussion and after meeting the agitating students, asked the DU in the evening to convert BMS it into a three-year course.
It also asked the colleges under the varsity which have admitted students to the programme to obtain appropriate approval of the regulatory bodies such as UGC and AICTE.
"Students already admitted to the four year BMS programme 2013-14 only by various colleges under the University of Delhi may continue in this programme; however the duration of the programme shall be of three years," it told DU.
The students had earlier in the day met senior UGC officials and submitted a memorandum in which they have demanded that their interests be taken into consideration and had spoken against the reduction of duration of the non-technical professional course to three years.
"We have submitted a memorandum to UGC. It was being said yesterday that UGC will hold a meeting to discuss about the students of BMS course, but so far we have got no word on it. We intend to continue our protest till our demands are met," said Nida Saifi, a BMS student.
However, following the UGC directive, she said, "We are willing to compromise on the number of years, but want the BMS programme to continue not only for our batch, but for subsequent batches."
UGC had yesterday remained quiet on the fate of the 840 students who had enrolled in the BMS course after it directed DU to continue with the four-year B Tech programme for those admitted in academic year 2013-14.
The course was started last year under the now-scrapped Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) after combining three courses � Bachelor of Business Economics (BBE), Bachelor of Business Studies (BBS) and Bachelor of Financial and Investment Analysis (BFIA).
DU, which has decided to scrap BMS course along with B Tech courses, will hold admissions to BBS and BA (Hons) (Business Economics) on the basis of the criteria already announced for BMS admission 2014-15.
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday requested the Centre to review the hike in petrol and diesel prices.
The Centre on Monday raised petrol and diesel prices by Rs 1.69 and 50 paise respectively.
In a statement, the chief minister said, "People overthrew the Congress-led government for its wrong fuel policy and gave a mandate to the BJP to rule. But the latest hike will cause immense harm to the common man due to increase in the prices of essential commodities."
The oil companies have cited strife in Iraq and the depreciation of the rupee as reasons for the hike in oil prices. These are temporary in nature and the government should reconsider its decision to hike fuel prices, she said.
The chief minister demanded a new fuel pricing policy after taking into consideration the import cost of fuel, refining and other costs. "The Prime Minister should intervene and reduce the prices of diesel and petrol," Jayalalithaa said.
New Delhi: After missing its deadline, the monsoon is likely to hit the national capital and parts of north India by the end of the week, a private forecasting agency said on Monday.
"A slow monsoon progress delayed the arrival of southwest monsoon in Delhi and north India, making the month of June, one of the driest in a decade in the country. But July has some good news in store as monsoon is expected to reach Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and west Uttar Pradesh by the end of this week," Skymet, a private forecasting agency said.
Monsoon was to hit the national capital by June 29, but has been delayed by a week.
However, Delhi and parts of northern India might see rain spells and cloudy skies because of the trough extending along the foothills of Himalayas.
"Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar may continue to get rain during 24 hours. Rain in Delhi and Punjab could pick up from 5th July, which is when we are expecting monsoon to make an entry," the agency said.
The Indian Meteorological Department also said that heavy to very heavy rainfall would occur at isolated places over sub Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim and places over gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand and Assam and Meghalaya.
IMD added that conditions are becoming favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some more parts of Uttar Pradesh and some parts of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Haryana during next 34 days.
However, it cautioned that parts of north India may experience heat wave.
"Heat wave conditions would prevail at isolated places over Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and north Madhya Pradesh, but by tomorrow, such conditions could be seen in Rajasthan, giving some relief to other states," the Met department said.
Sparking widespread disbelief and disgust, actor-turned-TrinamoolCongress MP Tapas Paul - one of the biggest names in Bengali films for over three decades - was caught on a video threatening to gun down his Marxist rivals and "unleash his boys for raping" women.
As the hate speech drew flak from all and sundry and shamed even his partymen, Paul, who has used invective against political opponents earlier also, denied uttering the word "rape" , and argued he had spoken in the heat of the moment.
Bengali news channels Monday telecast Paul, Lok Sabha member from Nadia district's Krishnanagar constituency, warning Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) men to "beware" of him as he won't "spare them and destroy their entire clan".
"If a CPI-M man dares to touch anybody, Tapas Paul will not spare him. I will take out my gun and shoot him. I always carry a gun... I will destroy his entire clan," Paul is seen in the video telling his party workers in Choumaha village.
"I warn my opponents... If anything happens to my mothers or sisters, my party workers, I will not spare them, I will have the last word. I will make their family pay dearly. I will ask my boys to go there. They will rape them and leave," says Paul, with his supporters shockingly cheering the MP's every word.
"If I hear a single incident, I get a witness, I won't spare," he is heard saying.
Paul had made outrageous comments during last year's panchayat poll campaign as well. "The CPI-M is a party of criminals.. beat them up, and drive them out of the villages," he had said.
Joining the league of Trinamool leaders Anubrata Mandal and Manirul Islam - infamous for their hate speeches, Paul is seen in Monday's video grab repeatedly warning his opponents and threatening them with dire consequences, with his body language matching his words.
"They have beaten up a little child, a mother, a sister. All the villagers of Choumaha, who are now with the opposition, I again warn them. I will be in Krishnanagar, and return to Choumaha every month.
"If I hear a single incident, If I get a witness, I won't spare. I am not saying this as a MP but as Trinamool worker. Those in the opposition, I am showing them shoes. I am very angry. Better be careful, better be careful," says Paul in the video waving a shoe in his hand.
Paul later Monday offered a clarification.
"I might have said something in the heat of the moment. But the fact is I don't roam around with a revolver. And I did not say rape, rather it was 'raid'.
"I had said we will raid but because there was so much of noise, people thought I said rape," he said.
Trinamool spokesperson Derek O'Brien said termed Pal's remarks "insensitive" and said the party did not "in any way endorse what he said weeks ago, being played on TV today."
While speaking on similar lines, Trinamool secretary general Partha Chatterjee, however, said: "It has to be seen in what context he has said those words. It needs to be seen if any of the people or women were subjected to any attack."
Senior Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya demanded Paul's sacking as a member of parliament, while Marxist leader Malini Bhattacharya said her party will approach the women's commission.
Paul shot into the limelight in 1980 by playing the title role in the blockbuster comedy "Dadar Kirti (The exploits of Dada (or elder brother))". Since then he has acted in a large number of movies spread over nearly three and a half decades, playing the hero and lately settling for character roles. Some of his famous films are "Abodh" (Hindi) and Bengali hits "Pothbhola", "Bhalobasa Bhaloibasa" and "Saheb".
France Monday pushed for a larger defence partnership with India as its Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius Monday touched base with the new Indian government and voiced confidence that the $20 billion deal for the purchase of 126 Rafale combat jets would be inked soon.
Fabius, who held talks with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj and later Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, said he was "very confident" of the Rafale deal being sealed.
He said the status of negotiations on the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) deal to acquire 126 of the French fighter jets "were very positive" and he was "very confident of the final outcome".
The French minister said France shares the "notion of efficiency" of the new Narendra Modi government, which he said would help both sides in rapidly implementing the decisions taken.
"(The) notion of efficiency by the new government is completely shared by us," he said at a press conference after talks with Sushma Swaraj.
Fabius, the first European minister to reach out to the new Indian government, said France was also keen on a larger defence partnership with India, encompassing the areas of missiles, submarines and helicopters.
Fabius, who will be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday, said he would be extending an invite from President Francois Hollande to the Indian prime minister to visit France.
The prime minister's official visit to France could be in September, when Modi visits New York for the UN General Assembly, Fabius said.
Fabius said France has "high ambition of the partnership" from the new Indian government.
He said he also discussed the situation in violence-hit Iraq with Sushma Swaraj.
India had announced its choice of Rafale in January 2012, but negotiations had subsequently stalled over the offsets clause, the transfer of technology and the role of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), which will be manufacturing the jets.
Under the MMRCA project, the first 18 jets are to come in "fly-away condition" from manufacturer Dassault while HAL will manufacture 108 fighters in India over six years.
Fabius said France had "no particular concerns" about the Indian civil nuclear liability law.
External affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said at a press briefing that India and France had reiterated their commitment to proceed with the Jaitapur nuclear power plant project in Maharashtra.
He said France was keen to push trade with India to take it beyond the present $18 billion and also push bilateral investment.
"Trust and partnership" he said were two words signifying the bilateral relations between India and France.
To push tourism between the two countries, from Jan 3, 2015, France will be putting in place a new visa issuing procedure that will ensure visa in less than two days.
"This is an important step to strengthen tourism and exchanges between people," said Fabius, who also looks after the tourism and trade portfolio.
He said his visit has come at a time when India's PSLV rocket launched a French satellite into space from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C23) was carrying the 714-kg French Earth Observation Satellite 'SPOT-7' as the main payload besides satellites from Germany, Singapore and Canada.
Fabius said France, which is to host the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in December 2015, has pinned its hopes on Modi's commitment to fight climate change.
He said France will be providing one billion euros for sustainable infrastructure and urban development to India.
PTI | New Delhi | Published: Jun 30 2014, 21:36 IST
Jun 30 2014, 21:36 IST
SummaryThe University Grants Commission (UGC) today asked the Delhi University to continue the Bachelor in...
The University Grants Commission (UGC) today asked the Delhi University to continue the Bachelor in Management Studies (BMS) programme only for students enrolled to it during 2013-14 academic year, but under a three-year duration.
Even as students of BMS protested demanding that the course duration be kept four years, the Commission, after several rounds of discussion and after meeting the agitating students, asked the DU in the evening to convert BMS it into a three-year course.
It also asked the colleges under the varsity which have admitted students to the programme to obtain appropriate approval of the regulatory bodies such as UGC and AICTE.
"Students already admitted to the four year BMS programme 2013-14 only by various colleges under the University of Delhi may continue in this programme; however the duration of the programme shall be of three years," it told DU.
The students had earlier in the day met senior UGC officials and submitted a memorandum in which they have demanded that their interests be taken into consideration and had spoken against the reduction of duration of the non-technical professional course to three years.
"We have submitted a memorandum to UGC. It was being said yesterday that UGC will hold a meeting to discuss about the students of BMS course, but so far we have got no word on it. We intend to continue our protest till our demands are met," said Nida Saifi, a BMS student.
However, following the UGC directive, she said, "We are willing to compromise on the number of years, but want the BMS programme to continue not only for our batch, but for subsequent batches."
UGC had yesterday remained quiet on the fate of the 840 students who had enrolled in the BMS course after it directed DU to continue with the four-year B Tech programme for those admitted in academic year 2013-14.
The course was started last year under the now-scrapped Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) after combining three courses � Bachelor of Business Economics (BBE), Bachelor of Business Studies (BBS) and Bachelor of Financial and Investment Analysis (BFIA).
DU, which has decided to scrap BMS course along with B Tech courses, will hold admissions to BBS and BA (Hons) (Business Economics) on the basis of the criteria already announced for BMS admission 2014-15.
FRANCE vs NIGERIA: click here for Live Match Centre
Moses tries too much trickery, Varane sees stars - 54 minutes
Victor Moses cuts in from the right and just when it's time to pull the trigger, he tries another silly trick and loses the ball. It ends up on the right where it's crossed in for Emenike but Varane is there to defend and takes a blow to the head for his team. He is up and running but looks a bit dazed.
And after that open but wasteful half, we're up and running again
No changes at HT as both teams sense an opening, the only thing missing is a proper finish or a slice of luck. Nigeria have given France an excellent game. For the Les Bleus, Benzema and Giroud need to be more involved in attacks -- the former has been invisible so far.
Nigeria trouble Lloris again - 44 minutes
Emenike from a tight angle - his zipping shot straight at Lloris who then needs to cope with a rebound with Musa bearing down on him. It's cleared but that quite a scare.
Oh my Debuchy! What a miss - 40 minutes
Matuidi gets forward and lays it off for Debuchy who's running towards the box -- his shot wide from an area where you would hit the target nine out of ten times. That is the miss of the match so far.
Odemwingie chance from outside box - 30 minutes
Emenike and Odemwingie with a quick exchange at the edge of the box but the latter's shot is blocked. That was goal-bound. Nigeria getting into danger areas, looking very confident.
Great save Enyeama! 23 minutes
Pogba drives forward and slips Valbuena through on the right before continuing his run. Valbuena finds him with the return ball and Pogba's acrobatic volley is brilliantly saved by Enyeama.
Musaaaaa -- but he's offside! 20 minutes
Emenike puts in a lovely ball for Musa who's roving around the near post and finishes first time. He is probably in line but it's been given offside. That was a FIFA 14 type of decision -- offside for half an inch.
Two freekicks for Nigeria - both wasted, 17 minutes
Odemwingie gets a freekick from a crossing area on the left and finds a teammate free at the far post, the impending header was woeful though. Another freekick follows from about 20 yards out from a shooting position but Emenike hits it high, wide and not so handsome.
Nigeria dominate opening exchanges - 8 minutes
Nigeria have tried to string a few more passes than they normally do. One of their crosses from the right finds its way to Odemwingie but an awkward bounce takes it away from him. France have been cautious at the back so far.
And we've kicked off!
France field probably their strongest starting XI and are up against a Nigerial squad boasting of huge talent in the form of Musa, Emenike, Odemwingie and Mikel. These are two counter-attacking teams which love playing open football. Here we go...
Fact: France have lost 2 of their last 3 World Cup matches against African nations.
7.00 pm: Foreign flags banned as France tightens security for Algeria match
The Riviera city of Nice banned the display of foreign flags Monday as French authorities tightened security ahead of a World Cup match between Germany and Algeria following riots after the last two Algerian fixtures.
Christian Estrosi, the right-wing mayor of Nice, issued a decree temporarily banning what he termed the "ostentatious display of foreign flags" in the centre of the Riviera city, which is home to many people of Algerian heritage.
"Since the start of the World Cup we have sadly seen intolerable behaviour that severely disrupts public peace," Estrosi added. He said the ban would remain in force until the end of the tournament.
Some celebrations of Algeria's historic qualification for the second round of the World Cup spilled over into violence on Thursday with more than 70 people arrested for rioting or looting across France.
That was more than double the 30-odd arrested on June 22 after Algeria's win over South Korea.
The incidents prompted far-right leader Marine Le Pen to call for dual nationality to be revoked on the ground that the fervent support for Algeria reflected a failure to integrate into French society.
Algerians make up France's largest immigrant group, with close to two million people able to trace their roots back to the former colony.
Many hold dual citizenship and attachment to Algeria appears as strong amongst the French-born younger generation as it is amongst older immigrants.
"We are asking everyone to stay calm while celebrating a victory," government minister Harlem Desir said Monday.
"We must not let unruliness spoil what should be a party," he told the LCI television channel, adding that adequate security measures had been put in place to pre-empt a repetition of last week's incidents.
AFP
6.25 pm Uruguay President Jose Mujica slams FIFA leaders as "sons of bitches"
Uruguay's President Jose Mujica has slammed FIFA leaders as "sons of bitches" for banning the country's star striker Luis Suarez over his infamous World Cup bite.
Mujica called the four month ban on all football activity imposed on Suarez for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini "fascist sanctions".
The president made the comments to a state-run TV sports show which asked Mujica his opinion of the World Cup as he welcomed the defeated Uruguayans on their return from Brazil late Sunday.
"Those at FIFA are a gang of old sons of bitches," Mujica said. He gasped and put his hand to his mouth in an I-can't-believe-that-I said-that manner, but smiled.
The journalist asked if he could publish the remark. "For my part, sure," Mujica shrugged.
"I support the president's remarks," added his wife, Senator Lucia Topolansky, who was stood next to him.
"They could have sanctioned him," said Mujica, a 79 year-old ex-guerrila, "but not with fascist sanctions."
AFP
5.45 pm: Greece refuses World Cup bonus
This story is almost too good to be true, but true is appears to be. After Cameroon refused to even head to Brazil without their bonus and Ghana's players forced their association to send $3 million dollars in cash by plane before they took the field for their final game against Portugal, comes some field good stuff from Greece.
Greece were knocked out on penalties by Costa Rica in the round of 16. Reuters
According to the Sport Bible, the team sent a letter to Greek prime minister Antonis Samaras saying they would rather the money be spent on better training facilities.
“We do not want as extra bonus, or money. We only play for Greece and its people," the team said in their letter. "All we want is for you to support our effort to find a land and create a sports centre that will house our National team.”
Given the state of the Greek economy and the hardships the people have suffered thanks to the financial crisis, the team might win over more fans for this move than for reaching the round of 16.
5.00 pm: Another day, another Suarez video
Hey Luis, Don't Bite Me won't be winning any Grammies but as a parody its well worth a watch and a listen.
Meanwhile in Uruguay, Suarez is being defended at the highest levels of power. The country's president, Jose Muigca, told reporters that "We should take sanctions [against Suarez], but not these [FIFA's] fascist sanctions".
He went went on to say that "FIFA are a bunch of old b******s!” and told the reporters they were free to broadcast his remarks.
Almost two years after Mumbai lawyer Pallavi Purkayastha, 25, was killed in her Wadala flat by a security guard, the main accused, Sajjad Ahmed Moghul was convicted by a Mumbai court on Monday morning. Sajjad was convicted on charges of murder, molestation and breaking in.
A file photograph of Pallavi Purkayastha.
Here are 10 things you should know about the Pallavi Purkaystha murder case
1. Pallavi worked for as an advocate for Excel Entertainment Pvt Ltd. She lived at Himalayan Heights in Wadala along with her boyfriend Avik Sengupta.
2. The building's security guard, Sajjad Moghul (22) also known as Sajjad Pathan, deliberately tripped the power twice that night, and stole the keys from Pallavi’s apartment when the electrician came to fix the problem.
3. Sajjad was reported to have bought a knife 15 days prior to the crime and had told other building staff that he planned to scare Pallavi and rape her.
4. The intercom of the flat wasn’t working and the 4 CCTV cameras were deactivated on the morning of August 9, 2012. Sajjad is believed to have deactivated these components.
5. Sajjad confessed that his intent was not murder, but rather to rape the 25-year old. When Pallavi aggressively fought back, he used a knife to slash her throat. He was subsequently charged with muder, molestation and trespassing.
6. The Mumbai Police arrested Sajjad at the Mumbai Central railway terminus the evening after her body was found, before he could catch a train to Surat from where he had planned to flee to Jammu and Kashmir.
7. Pallavi’s boyfriend Avik Sengupta did not survive to see if justice was served. He died following an illness in November 2013. Police reported that following the murder, Sengupta had also suffered from depression.
8. Investigation by the police found that Sajjad Pathan's employers, Ahmed Hamid Enterprises, a private security firm, did not have his complete address. This has prompted the requirement for stringent documentation of security guards hired by private firms.
9. The sentencing of the guard is to be on the July 2. Both her family and the police are demanding the death sentence.
10. Pallavi’s murder inspired Farhan Akhtar, owner of Excel Entertainment, to start ‘Men Against Rape and Discrimination’ or MARD in 2013. The social campaign has since gained tremendous support from popular celebrities.
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday requested the Centre to review the hike in petrol and diesel prices.
The Centre on Monday raised petrol and diesel prices by Rs 1.69 and 50 paise respectively.
In a statement, the chief minister said, "People overthrew the Congress-led government for its wrong fuel policy and gave a mandate to the BJP to rule. But the latest hike will cause immense harm to the common man due to increase in the prices of essential commodities."
The oil companies have cited strife in Iraq and the depreciation of the rupee as reasons for the hike in oil prices. These are temporary in nature and the government should reconsider its decision to hike fuel prices, she said.
The chief minister demanded a new fuel pricing policy after taking into consideration the import cost of fuel, refining and other costs. "The Prime Minister should intervene and reduce the prices of diesel and petrol," Jayalalithaa said.
Kolkata: In a brazen, ludicrous and insensitive statement, Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Pal has been caught on camera openly threatening to send 'his boys' and get women of Opposition party raped. He is also heard saying that if need be he will not hesitate to use guns against his opponents.
“If anyone from the Opposition dares to touch any woman then I will send my boys and get women of CPI(M) raped,” Pal told a gathering reportedly in his constituency Krishnanagar.
He also says that he roams around with 'maal' (revolver) and will not hesitate to use it on his opponents.
Pal does not stop here. Without any shame he boasts that he is a 'goonda' (hooligan).
The speech shown in the video is apparently six to seven weeks old.
This is not the first time that the TMC MP has made such an audacious comment. Last year Pal, while addressing a rally at Tehatta, had asked party activists to beat up CPI(M) workers with shoes.
Though TMC has officially condemned the statement, no action has been taken as far as the MP is concerned.
Party spokesperson and MP Derek O'Brien said that TMC did not endorse what Tapas had said and that it was insensitive statement.
He posted on the micro-blogging site Twitter - “Sensitive use of language is an obligation for role models in culture, politics and society. If that code is breached, public trust is lost.”
He also said, “Whatever provocation or perceived provocation, people in public life have to be extra-careful in what they say. Can't shoot your mouth off.”
Meanwhile, even as West Bengal Chief Mamata Banerjee continues to look the other way, the Opposition, Congress and the BJP, have demanded action against him.
CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat, while talking exclusively to Zee News said, “What action will the TMC take? The message that has gone to the people, what about it? If any MP says something like this then he is insulting womanhood. Action against him is must."
Preposterous and outrageous statements by TMC leaders are nothing new. Infact some would say that it has become a norm.
Last year in July, West Bengal Transport Minister Madan Mitra had threatened to take on his rivals and give them a befitting reply by bullets, bombs and thrashing.
And before that Manirul Islam, TMC MLA from Labhpur, while addressing a party rally had said that if district Congress leader Sabyasachi Dutta did not mend his ways then his head would be cut off.
The list is long. Again last year, on July 17, TMC Birbhum district president Anubrata Mondal had supposedly asked partymen to attack policemen with bombs and burn houses of Independent candidates.
The gap in monsoon rains shrank for the week ended 25 June, recovering a little after a poor start. Photo: HT
New Delhi: India’s monsoon rainfall was 43% below average in June, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday, the weakest first month of the season in five years.
Rains were 34% above average a year earlier, as the monsoon arrived on the normal date of 1 June and covered half the country by mid-June, two days ahead of schedule.
“We expect the monsoon to recover in next three to four days as signs of revival are visible over the Bay of Bengal,” said B.P. Yadav, head of the National Weather Forecasting Centre at the IMD.
He said a deficiency in the first month does not mean that the four-month-long rainy season would be a failure.
In 1926, the monsoon recorded its worst first-month shortfall at 48% below average in June, but the season ended at 7% above average, due to a late revival.
This year, the monsoon covered half of the country four days behind schedule following a late onset over the southern Kerala coast.
The progress of the monsoon towards the grain bowl belt of northwest India is late by up to 10 days.
In 2009, the June-September monsoon season was the driest in 37 years with the first month posting a 47% below-average rainfall. Reuters
We are willing to compromise on the number of years, but want the BMS programme to continue not only for our batch, but for subsequent batches. (Source: Express photo by Ravi Kanojia)
Summary
Colleges under the varsity which have admitted students to BMS to obtain appropriate approval of UGC and AICTE.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Monday asked the Delhi University to continue the Bachelor in Management Studies (BMS) programme only for students enrolled to it during 2013-14 academic year, but under a three-year duration.
Even as students of BMS protested demanding that the course duration be kept four years, the Commission, after several rounds of discussion and after meeting the agitating students, asked the DU in the evening to convert BMS it into a three-year course.
It also asked the colleges under the varsity which have admitted students to the programme to obtain appropriate approval of the regulatory bodies such as UGC and AICTE.
“Students already admitted to the four year BMS programme 2013-14 only by various colleges under the University of Delhi may continue in this programme; however the duration of the programme shall be of three years,” it told DU.
The students had earlier in the day met senior UGC officials and submitted a memorandum in which they have demanded that their interests be taken into consideration and had spoken against the reduction of duration of the non-technical professional course to three years.
“We have submitted a memorandum to UGC. It was being said yesterday that UGC will hold a meeting to discuss about the students of BMS course, but so far we have got no word on it. We intend to continue our protest till our demands are met,” said Nida Saifi, a BMS student.
However, following the UGC directive, she said, “We are willing to compromise on the number of years, but want the BMS programme to continue not only for our batch, but for subsequent batches.”
UGC had on Sunday remained quiet on the fate of the 840 students who had enrolled in the BMS course after it directed DU to continue with the four-year B Tech programme for those admitted in academic year 2013-14.
The course was started last year under the now-scrapped Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) after combining three courses — Bachelor of Business Economics (BBE), Bachelor of Business Studies (BBS) and Bachelor of Financial and Investment Analysis (BFIA).
DU, which has decided to scrap BMS course along with BTech courses, will hold admissions to BBS and BA (Hons) (Business Economics) on the basis of the criteria already announced for BMS admission 2014-15.
A sessions court on Monday convicted a security guard in the murder of 25-year-old lawyer Pallavi Purkayastha after a failed rape attempt in her flat at suburban Wadala here in August, 2012.
A file photo of Pallavi Purkayastha.
The court will serve the quantum of punishment on convict Sajjad Ahmed Abdul Aziz Mogul, 22, on July 3.
The law graduate was also working as an advisor to filmmaker Farhan Akhtar's firm Excel Entertainment when she was murdered in the wee hours of August 9, 2012.
Mogul, who was employed as a watchman at the 'Himalayan Heights' building, was found guilty of murder, molestation and criminal trespass.
Convicting Mogul, sessions Judge Vrushali Joshi said, "A case of murder, molestation and criminal trespass has been proved against you." The accused, who stood in silence, nodded.
Pallavi's parents, who were also present in the court, said they are happy with the verdict.
"We are hoping for death penalty," said her father Atanu Purkayastha, an IAS officer who was the joint secretary in the agriculture ministry when the incident took place.
Initially, the needle of suspicion had pointed towards Pallavi's fiancé Avik Sengupta who shared the flat with her.
He had discovered her body lying in a pool of blood.
However, police investigators later zeroed in on Mogul – a native of Jammu and Kashmir -- after questioning many suspects including Sengupta and the convict.
Sengupta, who had deposed before the court, passed away due to illness on November 14 last year.
The Mumbai Police crime branch filed a 434-page chargesheet in the case in October, 2012, stating that Mogul -- who had an eye on Pallavi -- had tripped her flat's electricity meter deliberately.
Watch video: Pallavi Murder Case: Watchman found guilty, sentencing on 3rd July
When she later called an electrician, he accompanied the electrician to Pallavi's residence and stealthily took the house keys.
Later he entered her house using the keys and tried to force himself on her. When she resisted, Mogul stabbed her to death before fleeing.
According to the joint commissioner of police (crime) Himanshu Roy, "Mogul grievously harmed her in a manner from which she could not recover".
He was apprehended before he could escape to his home state.
Mogul had refuted the allegations and his lawyer Wahab Khan had argued that it was Avik Sengupta who killed her in their flat.
"For two years, my and Avik's family have gone through a lot of trauma. I have lost my daughter and would be son-in law," said Pallavi's mother Sumita, director general with the ministry of telecommunication.
It was just another morning at the ministry of information and broadcasting in Shastri Bhawan. Or so thought many of the ministry's officials – when they casually strolled into office fashionably late on Monday. But they were in for a shock.
Their new boss, I&B minister Prakash Javadekar, had taken a morning round of the ministry and the Press Information Bureau (PIB) at 9.15am. He later told reporters that he found that about 200 officials of the rank of section officer and below had not reported to work by then. The minister was not pleased, and when the officials walked in, they learnt they were in for a tough time.
"I took photographs of every room and left a message that I would like to meet them. When they came, I told them that they should take casual leave for the day as they did not report to work on time. As it the first day of my round, I decided not to take any action against anyone," Javadekar said.
Those who had to take casual leave did not go back home and worked like a normal working day. They also assured the minister that they would report to work on time from Tuesday onwards.
The minister also announced that biometric attendance system will be installed for the officials of the I&B ministry to ensure that officials report for work on time. Many other ministries such as home and planning have already installed biometric attendance system for officials.
After the minister's inspection, secretary, I&B, Bimal Jhulka also spoke to senior officials to emphasise on the need for punctuality among the staff. A circular was also issued to officials in this regard, the sources said.
Javadekar's surprise visit comes in the wake of a clear message from the PMO to the bureaucracy to step up its performance. Other ministers too have been known to take meetings at 9am as a way to generate pressure on staffers to be punctual. For the I&B officials who thought achhe din meant remaining slackers, Javadekar's visit would be a wake up call.
We are willing to compromise on the number of years, but want the BMS programme to continue not only for our batch, but for subsequent batches. (Source: Express photo by Ravi Kanojia)
