J&K News - Grenades recovered from Ali Mohammad Wani’s house in JK (News India, India News)

Police today recovered three grenades and ammunition rounds from a house and arrested its owner in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

Three grenades and AK ammunition was recovered during a search operation in the house of Ali Mohammad Wani in Natipora village, police said.

During questioning, Wani told police he was working for LeT group active around Sangam area.

Punjab News - Manpreet betrayed SAD: Badal (News India, India News)

 

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today accused former state minister and PPP chief Manpreet Singh Badal of joining Congress in a “clandestine” manner and “betraying” his parent party SAD. At public meetings near here, Badal said his nephew has “tarnished the image of the Badal family by joining hands with Congress in a covert manner”.

“Manpreet has betrayed his parent party (SAD),” he said. Badal was addressing people in villages falling under Lambi and Giddrebaha assembly segments.

Manpreet, who was ousted from SAD last year for anti-party activities after he criticised the economic policies of the ruling SAD-BJP alliance government in public, is posing a challenge to the Akalis on their home turf Malwa (western Punjab). He had launched People’s Party of Punjab. The PPP along with CPI, CPM and SAD(Longowal) has formed ‘Sanjha Morcha’ – a third front in the state ahead of the Assembly polls due early next year.

Chandigarh News - Chrysanthemum show inaugurated at Sec-33, Chandigarh (News India, India News)

 

It was the perfect morning, mellow, sunny and bathed in a riot of colours. There is something indescribably cheerful about rows and rows of chrysanthemum blossoms in full bloom. So that is what Friday morning looked like at the Terraced Garden in Sector 33, where the Chrysanthemum show was held.

With nearly 260 varieties of flowers on display, the event turned out to be quite a mood elevator. Adviser to the Administrator K.K. Sharma inaugurated the show. 24 categories have been added to the show this year and the number of pots on display has also exceeded that of last year’s.  A total of 815 entries were registered in the contest.

Varinder Sharma, a Panchkula resident, who turned up with 120 varieties of flowers, bagged the titles of King of the show, Queen of the show and Princess of the show.  The best flower title went to Panjab University.

There were prizes for imaginative artistic arrangements as well. Participants included MC Chandiagrh, private bodies, individuals and institutions. Among the institutions, PGI, CITCO and Sector 9, Chd won prizes. Prizes aside, right now the Terraced Garden is the place to visit if you are in the mood to experience the best of nature.

Chandigarh News - Anil Kumar is new Home Secretary of Chandigarh (News India, India News)

Chandigarh got its new Home Secretary with Anil Kumar, a 1988 batch IAS officer of Haryana cadre, taking charge of the coveted post today.

 

Apart from having held the post of Divisional Commissioner of Ambala, Anil Kumar was also Special Secretary Housing of Haryana. He has been crucial in drafting a housing policy for Haryana which aims at developing affordable projects.

Kumar said he would want to facilitate the same for Chandigarh if he got the charge of housing. When asked if he had a vision for the city, the new Home Secretary said, in the beginning, it was all about maintaining the continuity.

Chandigarh News - Fake currency used to hit out at poll rivals in Chandigarh (News India, India News)

Normal is definitely boring for some, including MC election candidates. Tired of the mundane means of attacking rivals, they have thought up novel ways.

If making weather-beaten statements before the media is not your idea of spewing venom at rivals, you could look emulate the resourcefulness shown by electoral candidates. Not interested in the conventional volley of allegations, some candidates are making a point by distributing fake currency notes which come with a list of scams affected during the last five years.

Pictures of Congress leaders complete the effect. One of the fake currency notes doing the rounds is a one thousand crore rupee note being distributed by Congress rivals. The note is embellished with pictures of Cabinet Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, Former Mayor Pardeep Chabra and Congress Councillor Devinder Singh Babla.  The former mayor did not find this amusing. Accusing the BJP of coming up with the idea he has promised a fitting reply.

You can read the unflattering words, Congress 420, printed in one corner of the note. The party symbol adorns two corners of the note and the Governor’s signature has been replaced with that of the common man. The Chandigarh Congress president described his reaction at the note as ‘surprised’ and resolved to make a complaint before the UT administration.

Meanwhile, Chandigarh BJP President Sanjay Tondon, denied his role as think tank for this particular campaign strategy.

The watermark of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi has not been missed. The message is the same old one, but the method is decidedly entertaining.

Delhi News - Bill on MCD split sent for Presidential assent (News India, India News)

Delhi Government today sent a bill providing for trifurcation of the MCD to the Union Home Ministry for Presidential assent following which the split of the civic agency will come into force. The Delhi Assembly had passed the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill on December one, which seeks to split the MCD — one of the largest civic bodies in the world — into three parts.

Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna sent the Bill to the Home Ministry to forward it to President Pratibha Patil for her assent, officials said. As per the bill, the MCD which came into existence on April 7, 1958 under an Act of Parliament, will be split into North, South and East Delhi municipal corporations and 50 per cent of the total 272 seats will be reserved for women as against current 33 per cent. The North and South Delhi bodies will have 104 wards each while the civic body in East Delhi will have 64 wards.

The Union Home Ministry had cleared the proposal in November, five months after receiving it from government. A directorate of municipal services, which will be controlled by Delhi Government, would be set up to coordinate functioning of the three new bodies. The municipal polls slated for April next year will be under the new set up. Officials said government would notify setting up of the directorate of municipal services after getting a nod from the Home Ministry. As per the bill, both North and South Delhi municipality will have 26 assembly constituencies each while the 16 assembly segments will fall under the East Delhi municipality.

Cricket News - If we play well, we can be competitive: Dravid (News India, India News)

Despite going through a transitional phase of late, Australia will be a tough nut to crack in their own den, feels India’s middle-order maestro Rahul Dravid ahead of the team’s tour Down Under.

“I don’t think so,” Dravid said when asked if it would be comparatively easy for India to win a series for the first time in Australia.

“There will two evenly-matched teams. They have definitely lost some of the big names, some of the great players, but we have seen there performance against New Zealand and South Africa,” he added.

Dravid, who has so far scored five centuries this year, felt India can be competitive.

“If we play well, we can be competitive,” he said.

The Indian also believed that the absence of new pace sensation, Pat Simmons, who has already been ruled out for a major part of the upcoming series, would not impact the Aussies much.

“It’s not just about Cummins, even (James) Pattison can be good. We are not focussed on any particular individual,” Dravid, who has a great record in Australia, told ‘NDTV’.

The modest batsman said he has not set any target as far as runs are concerned.

“There is no particular target in terms of runs. The only target is to win the series. Hopefully, we prepare well, and play well.

“Australia is a great place to play cricket. It’s a great challenge on and off,” he said.

Cricket News - Always believed Viru would score 200 on his day: Dhoni (News India, India News)

Always believed Viru would score 200 on his day: Dhoni

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was today fulsome in his praise for Virender Sehwag and said he always believed that the swashbuckling opener would go past 200 in a One-day International match.

Sehwag yesterday created history by becoming the highest scorer ever (219) in a one-day innings and the second cricketer after team-mate Sachin Tendulkar to score a double century, in the fourth one-dayer against the West Indies at Indore.

“I want to say that others may have said that are a few who could score double century in ODIs, but I always believed Viru could always score 200 on his day.

“With Viru, it’s not just about big shots, but calculative batting,” Dhoni said.

The India skipper was glad that both the double centurions in this form of the game were Indians, and hoped they achieve the incredible feat again.

“I am proud that both Viru and Sachin Paaji are Indians, and would not mind if they score double centuries again,” he told reporters.

Punjab News - One IPS and 15 PPS officers transferred in Punjab (News India, India News)

The Punjab Government has today issued the transfers and posting orders One IPS and 15 PPS Officers with immediate effect.
According to a spokesman of Punjab Government Mr. Rahul S, IPS has been posted as Assistant Commissioner of Police/Traffic Jalandhar,

The spokesman further said that Kehar Singh PPS has been posted as DSP Intelligence Punjab, Mr. Rattan Singh PPS has been posted as DSP/ Detective, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mr. Amarjit Singh PPS has been posted as DSP/SD Payal, Mr. Ram Singh PPS has been posted as DSP 7th Battalion PAP Jalandhar, Mr. Rajinder Singh PPS has been posted as DSP Intelligence Punjab, Ms. Kashmir Kaur PPS has been posted as DSP Headquarter Sri Mukatsar Sahib, Mr. Jaswinder Singh PPS has been posted as DSP Headquarter Faridkot, Mr. Bhagwant Singh PPS has been posted as ACP/Crime Jalandhar, Mr. Harpreet Singh PPS has been posted as DSP Kartarpur, Mr. Jaspreet Singh Sidhu PPS has been posted as Assistant IGP/Railway Police Punjab Chandigarh, Mr. Malwinder Singh PPS has been posted as SP/Crime Wing Punjab Chandigarh, Mr. Harbhajan Singh PPS has been posted as SP/ Local Fatehgarh Sahib, Mr. Naresh Kumar PPS has been posted as SP (D)/Sri Mukatsar Sahib, Mr. Raminder Singh PPS has been posted as SP/ Local Khanna and Mr. Gurmeet Singh PPS has been posted as Assistant Commandant 6th IRB Ladha Kothi Sangrur with immediate effect.

The spokesman further said that the orders in this regard has already been issued.

J&K News - Kashmir valley receives fresh snowfall (News India)

Several places in Kashmir valley, including tourist resorts of Gulmarg and Pahalgam, today received fresh snowfall even as other parts of the valley were lashed with rains since early morning. The Gulmarg resort in north Kashmir had received five inches of snow and 4.0 mm rainfall, an official at the Divisional Commissioner’s office here said.
 He said four inches of snowfall was received in north Kashmir’s remote Gurez area while six inches of snowfall was received at south Kashmir’s Sedow area and five inches at Hirpora area. The mountainous Sonmarg-Zojila-Gumri road along the Srinagar-Leh highway recorded around six to ten inches of snowfall, he said.

He said the vehicular traffic has been suspended on north Kashmir’s Bandipora-Gurez road, Kupwara-Tangdhar road and on south Kashmir’s Kokernag-Simthen road due to snowfall in the area. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Asgar Hassan Samoon reviewed the preparation in view of rain and snow forecast, he said. A Met official said the minimum night temperature in Gulmarg was a freezing minus four degrees Celsius. He said the tourist resort of Pahalgam in south Kashmir received one centimeter snowfall and 4.6 mm rainfall. More rainfall and snow is expected in the state in next 24 hours. In the summer capital Srinagar, the night temperature appreciated by 3.5 degrees as rainfall began in the wee hours today. Srinagar had received 2.7mm rainfall and the overnight minimum temperature had increased to 1.7 degrees Celsius, compared to minus 1.8 degrees Celsius yesterday.

Rainfall and snow has brought a respite from the dry weather conditions and the freezing temperature which had prevailed in the valley over the last fortnight. The gateway town of Qazigund in south Kashmir witnessed an increase of six degrees in minimum temperature, compared to yesterday, as the mercury there settled at a low of 3.2 degrees Celsius, the MeT official said. Qazigund received 4.6 mm rainfall, he said. However, the remote town of Leh in Ladakh region continues to witness freezing chill as the minimum temperature there plunged to minus 10.6 degrees Celsius and in the adjoining Kargil town the minimum over night temperature was recorded at minus 7.2 degrees Celsius.

Business News - Sensex touches 17k level, ends 72 pts up on firm global cues (News India)

After touching the 17k mark, the BSE Sensex saw fag-end profit-booking erode some gains and it closed just 72 points up on selective buying amid firm global markets on hopes that the euro-zone debt crisis may ease.

After climbing to three-week high, Sensex dipped on profit-booking in last 30-minutes of trade, closing with a gain of 71.73 points at 16,877.06. Intra-day, Sensex touched 17,003.71, level last seen on November 15.
The broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty climbed to 5,099.25, before closing 23.45 points up at 5,062.60.

Brokers said firm Asian markets and higher openings in Europe strengthened investor sentiment amid reports that EU leaders may successfully evolve a concrete plan to end the euro-zone debt crisis.

They said, however, that domestic indicators were mixed as the government put on hold its decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail, but it led to parliament proceedings which had been disrupted throughout the winter session thus far.

After being among the worst performers most of this year, the equity market witnessed steepest rally since July 2009 last week on expectations that RBI might pause interest-rate hike in its policy review meeting on December 16.

The surge was led by the second most heaviest on Sensex, Infosys Ltd which was up 1.95 per cent.
In the 30-BSE index kitty stocks, 21 advanced while nine closed with losses

Cricket News - Ashwin in top 20 of ODI bowling chart (News India)

Following his consistent performance in the recent past, India’s R Ashwin broke into the top 20 of the ICC ODI bowling charts for the time in his career, while batsman Virat Kohli moved one rung to be placed fourth in the latest ranking released here today.


Rohit Sharma, up 21 places to 35th, also improved thanks to his three half centuries in the ongoing series against the West Indies, but opener Gautam Gambhir lost seven places to be placed alongside South Africa’s JP Duminy at 19th position.

With 620 points, Ashwin was ranked 18th, a jump of three places.

The ever-improving Kohli has garnered 766 points and is placed alongside India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni who has lost a place.

South Africa’s Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers and Jonathan Trott continued to keep the top three spots.
There was also good progress for West Indies’ Ravi Rampaul in the bowling rankings who improved one place to 13th, while in batting those moving up included Lendl Simmons (up five spots to 25th), Darren Bravo (up 15 to 54th) and Andre Russell (up 34 to 76th).

After his strong showing in the recent three-match series in Bangladesh, Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez gained six places in the latest rankings and now sits just 19 ratings points behind team-mate Saeed Ajmal, who heads the bowlers’ list.

Despite losing the series 3-0, Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan was his usual self and his series figures of 4-90 earned him three places on the bowling rankings as he moved to seventh overall.

Cricket News - Happy to be leading Indian attack: Vinay Kumar (News India)

In the absence of Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma and Praveen Kumar, the burden of leading the Indian attack against the West Indies in the ongoing ODI series has fallen on R Vinay Kumar and the pacer said that he is relishing this new role.

“It feels great to be leading the Indian attack. (Bowling with) the new ball suits me very well because I am more a swing bowler and the new ball helps me a lot,” said the Bangalore-based bowler at the pre-match media conference ahead of the fourth and penultimate One-dayer here tomorrow.

Vinay Kumar has taken five wickets so far in the first three games of the five-match ODI series at an impressive average of 21.80, the best among the Indian bowlers. He has a career average of 34.18 from 14 ODIs.

Vinay Kumar feels that the new ICC rule from October 1 that different balls will be used from the two ends in the one-dayers, has helped swing bowlers like him to move the ball for longer periods.

“It (The rule) definitely helps the swing bowlers. Normally it used to stop swinging after a few overs. Now it keeps swinging till 15 overs. If there is no dew then the ball will reverse,” he said.

Sports News - IOA calls meeting to discuss Dow Olympic sponsorship row (News India)

With growing resentment in India over Dow Chemicals association with the London Olympics, the IOA has convened a meeting on Friday to discuss the issue following IOC chief Jacques Rogge’s suggestion that they should enter into a dialogue with the athletes.

Although the IOA has made it clear that there was no question of India boycotting the Games, the meeting of the top brass assumes importance in the light of Rogge’s statement as well as the public outrage.

“A meeting has been called on December 9 to discuss issues related to this problem. The IOA’s general body and the Executive Board will meet on December 15,” IOA Vice-President Tarlochan Singh told PTI here today.

Tarlochan said all the issues related to Dow Chemicals sponsorship and the resentment it has created will be taken into account by the members before taking a final decision.

“The matter has to be thoroughly discussed, we can’t take a decision on our own. The sentiments of the people of Bhopal are also important,” he said.

He said the IOA is aware of Rogge’s comments and would discuss his suggestion in the meeting.

News India - Punjab Congress month-long campaign ends (Punjab)

The Punjab Congress today concluded its month-long Punjab Bachao Yatra with a rally at Batala in Gurdaspur district with an announcement that the party would come up with its pre-election programme in a few days at the rally, state party chief Capt Amarinder Singh assured due attention to the Majha region and particularly the border belt.

Party’s incharge Gulchain Singh Charak warned that any dissension over party tickets would invite strict action.