BREAKING NEWS: 09/19/13

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Report could have avoided slant: A.P IPS Association

Tamil NewsYesterday,

The State IPS Association on Thursday said that while The Hindu had a long and established tradition of practising highly responsible journalism, the alleged slant in the news report of DGP V. Dinesh Reddy's visit to 'godman' Habib Mustafa Idrus Baba had easily lent itself to interpretation as censure or ridicule for the visit.
In a press release, the Executive Committee of the association said the controversy could have been avoided had the report not said that Mr. Reddy carried some 'files' when he went to meet the 'godman'.

This, Association Secretary M. Malakondiah said, could have been avoided as it was neither vital in any respect nor did it serve public interest. Such reporting, he added, should be avoided so that respect for the senior-most police officer does not diminish in the eyes of police personnel or the public.

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Despite BJP protests, Ananthamurthy sticks to his stand on Modi

Tamil NewsYesterday,

Even as critical remarks against Narendra Modi by Kannada writer U.R. Ananthamurthy triggered a barrage of angry responses by the BJP, the Jnanpeeth-awardee reiterated his position that Gujarat Chief Minister and the party s prime ministerial candidate was "unfit" to lead the country.
At a book launch function earlier in the week, Prof. Ananthamurthy said that he could not think of living in a country led by Mr. Modi. This led to angry responses from BJP leaders in Karnataka. BJP spokesperson Ayanur Manjunath had gone to the extent of comparing him to Bollywood actor Poonam Pandey who declared that she would strip if the Indian team won the 2011 World Cup.

Speaking to The Hindu on Thursday, Prof. Ananthamurthy said that there were no surprises in the BJP's reaction. "It is as expected, given their insecurities," he said, adding that it added to his fears that there would no room for freedom of expression if the party voted to rule the county. He described Mr. Modi as a "bully" who created fear and inspired cowardice.

He told The Hindu: "The deaths in the 2002 Gujarat carnage have not touched Narendra Modi even today... The incident left no wounds on his soul and there is no sense of remorse. I do not believe such a man should lead the country."

In the meanwhile, several writers and intellectuals, including Baragur Ramachandrappa and K Marulasiddappa, have come out in support of Prof. Ananthamurthy.

Continuing its attack on Prof. Ananthamurthy for his remarks against Mr. Modi, the BJP on Thursday said his remarks showed that he would not respect the people's mandate, despite being in a democratic set up.

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Google USA offers Delhi Technological University student Rs 93 lakh per annum package

It was the best campus placement in the history of Delhi Technological University and comes at a time when the economy is in gloom. A computer engineering student, Himanshu Jindal, received an offer of an annual package of Rs 93 lakh (US$ 1,15,000) plus 125 stock units from Google, USA.

Another final-year software engineering student, Nilesh Aggarwal, received an annual package of Rs 70 lakh (US$ 1,05,000) from EPIC, a US-based software company.

The academic session of the university started on August 1 and over 40 companies have visited the campus so far. A total of 265 job offers were received in the first month. According to officials, Google, USA has offered the highest package so far to Jindal, a fourth-year student.

"I am happy that I've got such an excellent placement in a world-renowned company. This is due to my hard work, the blessings of my parents and the support of my friends," said Jindal.

Eleven students, including Aggarwal, bagged offers from EPIC. Navy Singla, Mohit Yadav, Ekaansh Goel, Ujjwal Arora and Ashutosh Mishra, all from the computer engineering branch, also received offers.

A student has been offered a pay package of Rs 28 lakh by Goldman Sachs and eight students a package of Rs 19 lakh from Amazon. The leading companies are also offering paid internship to third-year students.

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Woman gang raped at bus stand in A.P.

Woman gang raped at bus stand in A.P.
Tamil NewsToday,

A 35-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped by four persons, including a police constable and a homeguard, at Kothkota bus stand in Mahabubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh in the wee hours on Thursday, police said.
Four persons, including a police constable and a home guard, have been arrested in this connection, they said.

The incident occurred at the bus stand at around 1 a.m. when the woman was apparently waiting for a bus, Mahabubnagar SP D Nagendra Kumar said over phone.

He said the constable Seenu and homeguard Nagendran were apprehended along with two private employees identified as Ramesh and Rakesh based on information.

The victim was sent to a local hospital for medical examination and the four accused were booked under relevant provisions of recently-enacted Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill-2013 and section 376 (B) of Indian Penal Code, the SP said.

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Brazil says it can t handle World Cup drug testing

Tamil NewsToday, 05:30

The executive director of Brazil's anti-doping authority says the 2014 World Cup host won't be able to handle the drug-testing programme for FIFA's competition alone and is looking overseas for help.
Marco Aurelio Klein said a new Brazilian drug-testing lab won't be ready in time for football's showcase event from June 12-July 13.

Last month, the World Anti-Doping Agency revoked the accreditation of Brazil's existing lab in Rio de Janeiro, citing "repeated failures." WADA said the lab would no longer be authorized to test samples for WADA or any other testing authority.

In an interview, Klein called the decision a "disaster."

With that lab suspended and the new lab not finished, Klein said Brazil now is proposing that accredited labs elsewhere set up branches in the country to oversee the testing of World Cup blood and urine samples.

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SBI increases base rate to 9.80%, makes loans costlier

SBI increases base rate to 9.80%, makes loans costlier
Tamil NewsToday, 05:30

The country's largest lender, State Bank of India, on Thursday said it increased its base rate, or the minimum rate of lending, to 9.80 per cent, a day ahead of the RBI's policy review.
"State Bank of India has revised the base rate by 0.10 per cent from 9.70 per cent per annum to 9.80 per cent," it said in a statement. Retail term deposit rates have been revised upward, it said.

SBI is the first major state-run bank to hike lending rates after short-term rates rose as a result of the Reserve Bank of India's liquidity tightening moves announced in July.

The decision comes on the eve of the mid-quarter review of the monetary policy.

According to watchers, new RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan has been given some room to take an accommodative stance after the U.S. Federal Reserve surprisingly delayed the tapering of liquidity infusion.

SBI also increased the spreads on auto and home loans by as much as 0.20 per cent, which will affect new borrowers.

Home and auto loan borrowers typically pay a margin, or a spread, above the base rate, which is arrived at as per the risk and quantum of borrowing.

The bank has hiked rates for loans under the benchmark prime lending rate, an older system of computing interest rates, to 14.55 per cent from 14.45 per cent. The lending rate hikes are effective from Thursday, it added.

A senior bank official said the decision to increase rates was taken by the asset liability committee, which met late last evening.

"There has been an increase in our cost of funds and the pressure will only increase further as we enter the festive season, which increases the requirement for liquidity," the official told PTI.

New housing loans under Rs. 30 lakh will come at 10.10 per cent as against 9.95 per cent earlier, while interest rates on auto loans will go up to 10.75 per cent, the official said.

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