Enter Tejas, first made-in-India combat jet

Bangalore:  Twenty seven years after it was first conceived, Tejas has been declared fit for use. This is India's first fighter jet to be built largely at home. The actual work on this Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) began exactly a decade ago.  Rs. 14, 500 crore have been spent on developing the Tejas; obstacles included skepticism at home and foreign countries that refused to share technology. That's what makes the Tejas so special for the DRDO's Aeronautical Development Agency. Defence Minister A K Antony handed over the Initial Operational Clearance certificate to Air Chief Marshal P V Naik at the HAL airport in Bangalore. For the immediate future, the Indian Air Force plans to use 20 Tejas planes, with the number...

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Posted in: SPECIAL NEWS

Swami Aseemanand: A bomb for a bomb

New Delhi, Jan 7: The saffron terror has showed its nasty face again and the proof is out in the open. The main accused in the Samjhauta blast case, Swami Aseemanand has been vindicated. Aseemanand has reportedly confessed to the crime that led to the death of 68 people with the majority being Pakistanis. The confession was made to the CBI and confirmed that Hindu terrorists were behind the blast. In an irresponsible statement that reveals the dark side of terror the Swami has been quoted as saying, "I told everyone that bomb must be responded with a bomb."Swami Aseemanand has made the statement under section 164 before a magistrate that will be considered as key evidence. He also revealed the part played by RSS leader Indresh Kumar, Pragya...

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Posted in: SPECIAL NEWS

2G scam: No loss to the country, says Sibal

The government on Friday rejected the estimates of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the losses of  Rs 1.76 lakh crore (Rs 1.76 trillion) on account of allocation of 2G spectrum to telecom operators saying it "had no basis and was utterly erroneous".Asserting that there were actually no losses to the exchequer, Sibal said "CAG has done injustice to itself and the Opposition is doing injustice to aam aadmi.""We are extremely pained at methodology adopted by CAG for arriving at 2G spectrum (allocation loss) figures that have no basis," Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters in New Del...

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Posted in: CRIME

2G scam: No loss to the country, says Sibal

The government on Friday rejected the estimates of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the losses of  Rs 1.76 lakh crore (Rs 1.76 trillion) on account of allocation of 2G spectrum to telecom operators saying it "had no basis and was utterly erroneous".Asserting that there were actually no losses to the exchequer, Sibal said "CAG has done injustice to itself and the Opposition is doing injustice to aam aadmi.""We are extremely pained at methodology adopted by CAG for arriving at 2G spectrum (allocation loss) figures that have no basis," Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters in New Del...

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Posted in: CRIME

Punjab Advocate Gen’s mother-in-law murdered

Chandigarh: In a shocking case, the mother-in-law of Punjab's acting Advocate General Rupinder Khosla was Thursday found murdered in her bungalow in a busy residential area here. According to police, the lady Ajinder Kaur Mann was living alone in Sector 21. Although, police have begun investigations into the shocking murder, it suspects that the victim had been sexually assaulted before she was murdered. Police have come to this conclusion since some of the victim’s garments had been removed. The family came to know about the murder when Mann did not answer telephone calls for the last two days. No arrest has been made in the case so far and more details are await...

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Posted in: SPECIAL NEWS

Punjab Advocate Gen’s mother-in-law murdered

Chandigarh: In a shocking case, the mother-in-law of Punjab's acting Advocate General Rupinder Khosla was Thursday found murdered in her bungalow in a busy residential area here. According to police, the lady Ajinder Kaur Mann was living alone in Sector 21. Although, police have begun investigations into the shocking murder, it suspects that the victim had been sexually assaulted before she was murdered. Police have come to this conclusion since some of the victim’s garments had been removed. The family came to know about the murder when Mann did not answer telephone calls for the last two days. No arrest has been made in the case so far and more details are await...

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Posted in: SPECIAL NEWS

Srikrishna panel favours united Andhra option

While terming the demand for a separate state of Telangana as only the “second best option’’, Justice Srikrishna Committee report on the situation in Andhra Pradesh has favoured the united Andhra option for continuing the development momentum of the three regions of the State. The panel found the united Andhra to be the “most workable’’ option in the given circumstances and in the best interest of the social and economic welfare of the people. “In this option it is proposed to keep the State united and provide Constitutional / Statutory measures to address the core socio-economic concerns about the development of the Telangana region,’’ the report that was made public on Thursday, a week after it was submitted to Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram,...

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Posted in: TELENGANA

Srikrishna panel favours united Andhra option

While terming the demand for a separate state of Telangana as only the “second best option’’, Justice Srikrishna Committee report on the situation in Andhra Pradesh has favoured the united Andhra option for continuing the development momentum of the three regions of the State. The panel found the united Andhra to be the “most workable’’ option in the given circumstances and in the best interest of the social and economic welfare of the people. “In this option it is proposed to keep the State united and provide Constitutional / Statutory measures to address the core socio-economic concerns about the development of the Telangana region,’’ the report that was made public on Thursday, a week after it was submitted to Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram,...

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Posted in: TELENGANA

Governor of Pakistan's Punjab gunned down

The outspoken Governor of Pakistan's Punjab province, Salman Taseer, was gunned down, allegedly by one of his own security guards, here on Tuesday afternoon. The guard, who surrendered to the police soon after, is said to have been upset with Taseer for his support to a Christian woman charged with blasphemy. The police said assailant Malik Mumtaz Husain Qadri from the elite force of the Punjab Police, shot Taseer several times from close range as the Governor was getting into his car on a side lane of Kohsar Market, which is a favourite with foreigners based here. The Governor was rushed to a nearby polyclinic, but eyewitnesses said he was already dead. Doctors said he suffered nine bullet wounds. His body was later removed to the Pakistan...

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Posted in: International

Governor of Pakistan's Punjab gunned down

The outspoken Governor of Pakistan's Punjab province, Salman Taseer, was gunned down, allegedly by one of his own security guards, here on Tuesday afternoon. The guard, who surrendered to the police soon after, is said to have been upset with Taseer for his support to a Christian woman charged with blasphemy. The police said assailant Malik Mumtaz Husain Qadri from the elite force of the Punjab Police, shot Taseer several times from close range as the Governor was getting into his car on a side lane of Kohsar Market, which is a favourite with foreigners based here. The Governor was rushed to a nearby polyclinic, but eyewitnesses said he was already dead. Doctors said he suffered nine bullet wounds. His body was later removed to the Pakistan...

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Posted in: International

Telangana report leans towards united Andhra

The Justice BN Srikrishna Committee report on the issue for a separate state of Telangana leans towards united Andhra Pradesh. The report, which was released by the Centre in New Delhi on Thursday, says that status quo be maintained for the sake of internal security and economic well being.Listing six options, the Srikrishna Committee says that out of the chief minister and deputy chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, one of them should be from Telangana."For reasons of internal security and economic development this is a good option," the Committee reports. Supporting its recommendation for a united Andhra Pradesh, the Committee says that it found no reason to believe that the development of any...

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Posted in: TELENGANA

Telangana report leans towards united Andhra

The Justice BN Srikrishna Committee report on the issue for a separate state of Telangana leans towards united Andhra Pradesh. The report, which was released by the Centre in New Delhi on Thursday, says that status quo be maintained for the sake of internal security and economic well being.Listing six options, the Srikrishna Committee says that out of the chief minister and deputy chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, one of them should be from Telangana."For reasons of internal security and economic development this is a good option," the Committee reports. Supporting its recommendation for a united Andhra Pradesh, the Committee says that it found no reason to believe that the development of any...

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Posted in: TELENGANA

Government to introduce Ordinance against corruption

New Delhi:  In a bid to fend off Opposition attack over several scams, the government has decided to bring out an Ordinance to put in place a mechanism to deal with corruption involving public personalities, including the Prime Minister.    The government wants to bring the Ordinance before January 25 so that it could become part of the President's Address to the Nation, sources said, adding it could be done even as early as Thursday when Cabinet meets.     The Ordinance will "draw heavily" from the Lokpal Bill that is being vetted by the Law Ministry and provides for filing of complaints of allegations of corruption against the Prime Minister, Ministers and MPs with the Lokpal, the sources said.     According to the Bill, the Lokpal...

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Posted in: SPECIAL NEWS

Government to introduce Ordinance against corruption

New Delhi:  In a bid to fend off Opposition attack over several scams, the government has decided to bring out an Ordinance to put in place a mechanism to deal with corruption involving public personalities, including the Prime Minister.    The government wants to bring the Ordinance before January 25 so that it could become part of the President's Address to the Nation, sources said, adding it could be done even as early as Thursday when Cabinet meets.     The Ordinance will "draw heavily" from the Lokpal Bill that is being vetted by the Law Ministry and provides for filing of complaints of allegations of corruption against the Prime Minister, Ministers and MPs with the Lokpal, the sources said.     According to the Bill, the Lokpal...

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Posted in: SPECIAL NEWS

Jagan to seek re-election from Kadapa Lok Sabha seat

Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, who has revolted against the Congress leadership, intends to seek re-election from Kadapa Lok Sabha seat and says he is not keen on destabilising the Congress Government in Andhra Pradesh.The son of late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy says he has fast-tracked the process to register and launch his new political party before the by-elections for Kadapa and Pulivendula assembly constituencies are announced.Both seats were vacated by him and his mother Vijayalaxmi after they quit Congress on November 29 last year alleging ?humiliation? by the party high command.Mr. Jagan claimed that he has no intention to destabilise the Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy Government in Andhra Pradesh as he is preparing to face the Assembly...

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Posted in: JAGAN,YSR

Jagan to seek re-election from Kadapa Lok Sabha seat

Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, who has revolted against the Congress leadership, intends to seek re-election from Kadapa Lok Sabha seat and says he is not keen on destabilising the Congress Government in Andhra Pradesh.The son of late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy says he has fast-tracked the process to register and launch his new political party before the by-elections for Kadapa and Pulivendula assembly constituencies are announced.Both seats were vacated by him and his mother Vijayalaxmi after they quit Congress on November 29 last year alleging ?humiliation? by the party high command.Mr. Jagan claimed that he has no intention to destabilise the Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy Government in Andhra Pradesh as he is preparing to face the Assembly...

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Posted in: JAGAN,YSR

Gangster-politician Suri shot in Hyderabad, dies

Gangster-politician Suryanarayana Reddy alias Maddelachervu Suri, a key accused in former Andhra Pradesh minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Paritala Ravi's murder, died in a hospital after being shot at by unidentified assailants shot him in Hyderabad on Monday. The shooting took place at Road No.13 in the posh Jubilee Hills area on Monday evening, police said. Suri, a Congress leader involved in several criminal cases in the faction-ridden Anantapur district, was taken to Apollo Hospital, where his condition is stated to be critical.Also an accused in the 1997 Jubliee Hills bomb blast case, he was released from jail a year ago.Paritala Ravi, a former minister and leader of the state's main opposition TDP, was gunned down in Anantapur town Jan 24, 2005, allegedly...

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Posted in: SPECIAL NEWS

Gangster-politician Suri shot in Hyderabad, dies

Gangster-politician Suryanarayana Reddy alias Maddelachervu Suri, a key accused in former Andhra Pradesh minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Paritala Ravi's murder, died in a hospital after being shot at by unidentified assailants shot him in Hyderabad on Monday. The shooting took place at Road No.13 in the posh Jubilee Hills area on Monday evening, police said. Suri, a Congress leader involved in several criminal cases in the faction-ridden Anantapur district, was taken to Apollo Hospital, where his condition is stated to be critical.Also an accused in the 1997 Jubliee Hills bomb blast case, he was released from jail a year ago.Paritala Ravi, a former minister and leader of the state's main opposition TDP, was gunned down in Anantapur town Jan 24, 2005, allegedly...

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Posted in: SPECIAL NEWS

'Tendulkar defied the advancing years'

Chappell described Sehwag as the most dangerous batsman in the world right now."A dashing opener who can win a game in the opening session of a Test. The most dangerous batsman in world cricket," he said.Chappell lavished praise on Tendulkar, saying the 37-year-old, who recently became the first batsman to notch up 50 Test hundreds, seems to be getting better with age."Unlike Ponting, Tendulkar defied the advancing years and enjoyed a tremendous resurgence. He even rediscovered the art of dominating bowlers," Chappell said.Explaining the reasons for picking Dhoni and Zaheer, Chappell said both have been consistent in their respective roles. "Dhoni has batted consistently, scoring runs when India need them and doing an adequate job with the...

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Posted in: CricketNext,SPORTS

'Tendulkar defied the advancing years'

Chappell described Sehwag as the most dangerous batsman in the world right now."A dashing opener who can win a game in the opening session of a Test. The most dangerous batsman in world cricket," he said.Chappell lavished praise on Tendulkar, saying the 37-year-old, who recently became the first batsman to notch up 50 Test hundreds, seems to be getting better with age."Unlike Ponting, Tendulkar defied the advancing years and enjoyed a tremendous resurgence. He even rediscovered the art of dominating bowlers," Chappell said.Explaining the reasons for picking Dhoni and Zaheer, Chappell said both have been consistent in their respective roles. "Dhoni has batted consistently, scoring runs when India need them and doing an adequate job with the...

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Posted in: CricketNext,SPORTS

'It's been a slippery dip for Australia'

Batting icon Sachin Tendulkar and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni were among the four Indian cricketers who found a place in former Australia captain Ian Chappell's '2010 World XI', which did not feature a single Aussie.Dashing opener Virender Sehwag and pace spearhead Zaheer Khan were the other two Indians in the XI, which features five South Africans."Four years ago the Australian cricket team was cock-a-hoop. They'd regained the Ashes and had accentuated their superiority by smashing England at the MCG on the way to an eventual 5-0 series victory. Now the team is in tatters and it's best illustrated by a comparison of World XIs chosen at the end of the calendar year," Chappell wrote in his column for 'The Daily Telegraph'."In 2006, Australia...

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Posted in: CricketNext,SPORTS

'It's been a slippery dip for Australia'

Batting icon Sachin Tendulkar and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni were among the four Indian cricketers who found a place in former Australia captain Ian Chappell's '2010 World XI', which did not feature a single Aussie.Dashing opener Virender Sehwag and pace spearhead Zaheer Khan were the other two Indians in the XI, which features five South Africans."Four years ago the Australian cricket team was cock-a-hoop. They'd regained the Ashes and had accentuated their superiority by smashing England at the MCG on the way to an eventual 5-0 series victory. Now the team is in tatters and it's best illustrated by a comparison of World XIs chosen at the end of the calendar year," Chappell wrote in his column for 'The Daily Telegraph'."In 2006, Australia...

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Posted in: CricketNext,SPORTS

Citibank fraud: Puri and family had 18 bank a/cs

After two days of investigations in the multi-crore financial fraud at Citibank, the Gurgaon police have found that the main accused, Shivraj Puri, who was working as the relationship manager, had opened 18 bank accounts in his and his family members' name.Police said they had managed to get all the documents related to the transactions of the 18 accounts and were studying them before taking any actions against Puri's family members."Most of the family members are very old and Shivraj Puri was the one who was handling their bank accounts, so we can't say what was their extent of involvement in the fraud," Gurgaon Police Commissioner S S Deswal said.Deswal further said the cops had not yet found any evidence to suggest that some other members...

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Posted in: Moneycontrol

Citibank fraud: Puri and family had 18 bank a/cs

After two days of investigations in the multi-crore financial fraud at Citibank, the Gurgaon police have found that the main accused, Shivraj Puri, who was working as the relationship manager, had opened 18 bank accounts in his and his family members' name.Police said they had managed to get all the documents related to the transactions of the 18 accounts and were studying them before taking any actions against Puri's family members."Most of the family members are very old and Shivraj Puri was the one who was handling their bank accounts, so we can't say what was their extent of involvement in the fraud," Gurgaon Police Commissioner S S Deswal said.Deswal further said the cops had not yet found any evidence to suggest that some other members...

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Posted in: Moneycontrol

Aarushi case: Court registers CBI's closure report

The CBI special court in Ghaziabad registered on Monday the investigating agency's closure report in the sensational murder case of teenager Aarushi Talwar. Hearing the case, Special Judicial Magistrate (CBI) Preeti Singh gave time to the investigating officer to submit the annexures to the closure report. The court is now expected to decide whether the case should be re-investigated. The teenager’s father Rajesh Talwar, named as the prime suspect, has said he will challenge the agency’s findings. “We are now going to move the court. I have to talk to my lawyers and we hope the court gives us justice,” Rajesh said when asked about the closure report. The report was filed on December 29 after two-and-a-half years of investigation. Rajesh and...

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Posted in: National News

Aarushi case: Court registers CBI's closure report

The CBI special court in Ghaziabad registered on Monday the investigating agency's closure report in the sensational murder case of teenager Aarushi Talwar. Hearing the case, Special Judicial Magistrate (CBI) Preeti Singh gave time to the investigating officer to submit the annexures to the closure report. The court is now expected to decide whether the case should be re-investigated. The teenager’s father Rajesh Talwar, named as the prime suspect, has said he will challenge the agency’s findings. “We are now going to move the court. I have to talk to my lawyers and we hope the court gives us justice,” Rajesh said when asked about the closure report. The report was filed on December 29 after two-and-a-half years of investigation. Rajesh and...

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Posted in: National News

ULFA chief Rajkhowa released for peace talk

Guwahati, Jan 1: To facilitate the peace talk between Assam government and ULFA cadres, United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) chief Arabinda Rajkhowa was freed from jail on Friday, Dec 31."We are ready for talks with the Government. There are no ideological differences within the ULFA," stated Rajkhowa, who was detained one year back from Dhaka."I hope that the people are not affected by any decision that we take. We aim for the welfare of the people. Today, we declare that we are ready to take the talks forward," he added.A special TADA court released Arabinda Rajkhowa after the Assam government did not oppose his bail application and Rajkhowa was granted bail on Thursday, Dec ...

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Posted in: INDIA news,National News

ULFA chief Rajkhowa released for peace talk

Guwahati, Jan 1: To facilitate the peace talk between Assam government and ULFA cadres, United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) chief Arabinda Rajkhowa was freed from jail on Friday, Dec 31."We are ready for talks with the Government. There are no ideological differences within the ULFA," stated Rajkhowa, who was detained one year back from Dhaka."I hope that the people are not affected by any decision that we take. We aim for the welfare of the people. Today, we declare that we are ready to take the talks forward," he added.A special TADA court released Arabinda Rajkhowa after the Assam government did not oppose his bail application and Rajkhowa was granted bail on Thursday, Dec ...

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Posted in: INDIA news,National News