Monday, June 28, 2010
Singapore, June 28 (PTI) India has become the second largest tourist market for Singapore, with the arrival of a record 116,000 Indian visitors in the city state in May. The Singapore Tourism Board data released today showed that 28 per cent more Indians travelled to Singapore in May than a year ago. Comparatively, Indonesia was the top tourist generating market with 186,000 visitors (up 43 per cent), Malaysia was third with 82,000(up 49 per cent), followed by China 72,000 visitors (up 38 per cent), and Australia with 64,000 visitors (up 7 per cent). Total May tourist arrivals in Singapore increased by 30.3 per cent to 946,000, said the board. Average hotel occupancy rate was 85 per cent, an increase of 17. 1 per cent from a year ago.
Monday, June 28, 2010
UDF approves merger of Kerala Congress factions
June 29, 2010
Thiruvananthapuram: The opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala today approved in principle the merger of the two Kerala Congress factions led by K M Mani and former minister in the LDF Government P J Joseph.
"The merger is a reality now. Though the Congress wanted KC-M to have the issue discussed in the Front, they went ahead and merged with KC-J which was till recently with LDF. Joseph is now part of KC-M which is in the UDF," Front convenor P P Thankachan said after a UDF state-committee meeting here.
Congress and other UDF partners, who had been demanding that the merger be discussed in the Front, have apparently decided to play down the issue as the local body elections are round the corner. Thankachan also welcomed the support extended to the UDF by Indian National League for the local body polls, but said the Front had not made any poll arrangements with the party.
He described as "politically motivated" the LDF Government’s decision to hold a crime branch inquiry into the charge that Socialist Janata (Democratic) leader M P Veerendrakumar had encroached land in Wayanad District. "This is nothing but political vendetta.
They (LDF) are trying to tarnish the image of a leader who had been with them for the last 32 years. The allegations have suddenly come up when he left the Front and joined the UDF," Thankachan alleged.
The UDF meeting discussed the preparations for the local body polls slated for September and authorised leaders of its constituents for overseeing the campaign in various parts. The liaison committees of the Front in all districts would meet on July 1 and Assembly-level meetings would be held on July 2, he said.
Thiruvananthapuram: The opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala today approved in principle the merger of the two Kerala Congress factions led by K M Mani and former minister in the LDF Government P J Joseph.
"The merger is a reality now. Though the Congress wanted KC-M to have the issue discussed in the Front, they went ahead and merged with KC-J which was till recently with LDF. Joseph is now part of KC-M which is in the UDF," Front convenor P P Thankachan said after a UDF state-committee meeting here.
Congress and other UDF partners, who had been demanding that the merger be discussed in the Front, have apparently decided to play down the issue as the local body elections are round the corner. Thankachan also welcomed the support extended to the UDF by Indian National League for the local body polls, but said the Front had not made any poll arrangements with the party.
He described as "politically motivated" the LDF Government’s decision to hold a crime branch inquiry into the charge that Socialist Janata (Democratic) leader M P Veerendrakumar had encroached land in Wayanad District. "This is nothing but political vendetta.
They (LDF) are trying to tarnish the image of a leader who had been with them for the last 32 years. The allegations have suddenly come up when he left the Front and joined the UDF," Thankachan alleged.
The UDF meeting discussed the preparations for the local body polls slated for September and authorised leaders of its constituents for overseeing the campaign in various parts. The liaison committees of the Front in all districts would meet on July 1 and Assembly-level meetings would be held on July 2, he said.
Smart City Dubai not to withdraw from the project
June 28, 2010
Kochi: A board of directors meeting of the proposed Rs.1,500 crore Smart City Kochi concluded here Monday without taking any decision on the fate of the IT project.
At the same time, the developer Smart City Dubai said it has no plans to pull out from the project.
Speaking to reporters here after the meeting, Smart City Dubai chief executive Fareed Abdul Rehman said: "Some more discussions have to take place because certain issues have to be resolved. We are not asking for anything new but just want those things that have been already written in the agreement and we have not asked anything new."
He also invited the Chief Secretary of the state to visit their office in Dubai and to see what they are doing there.
Smart City Dubai is sticking to the agreement where it has been mentioned that they would get 12 per cent freehold rights (around 30 acres from the 246 acres). The Kerala government is adamant that it will not allow any real estate dealing and it is on this that the project is hanging fire.
Interestingly, State Fisheries Minister and Smart City Kochi Chairman S. Sarma did not attend the meeting.
And for the first time there were protests at the venue of the meeting. Members of the youth organisation of the ruling Left Democratic Front and the Revolutionary Socialist Party shouted slogans asking the state government to impelement the project.
Kochi: A board of directors meeting of the proposed Rs.1,500 crore Smart City Kochi concluded here Monday without taking any decision on the fate of the IT project.
At the same time, the developer Smart City Dubai said it has no plans to pull out from the project.
Speaking to reporters here after the meeting, Smart City Dubai chief executive Fareed Abdul Rehman said: "Some more discussions have to take place because certain issues have to be resolved. We are not asking for anything new but just want those things that have been already written in the agreement and we have not asked anything new."
He also invited the Chief Secretary of the state to visit their office in Dubai and to see what they are doing there.
Smart City Dubai is sticking to the agreement where it has been mentioned that they would get 12 per cent freehold rights (around 30 acres from the 246 acres). The Kerala government is adamant that it will not allow any real estate dealing and it is on this that the project is hanging fire.
Interestingly, State Fisheries Minister and Smart City Kochi Chairman S. Sarma did not attend the meeting.
And for the first time there were protests at the venue of the meeting. Members of the youth organisation of the ruling Left Democratic Front and the Revolutionary Socialist Party shouted slogans asking the state government to impelement the project.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Jayarajan flays HC verdict banning road side meetings
Kannur: CPM leader M V Jayarajan came out in open against the Kerala High Court verdict banning public meetings in road side. Jayarajan termed that the judges who banned public meetings and protests in public roads as idiots.He said those who do not have an understanding of the greatness of judiciary are making such verdicts sitting in the glass palaces. They are imposing such verdicts which would never be approved by the people. Jayarajan opined that such sort of judges should relinquish their post rather than making anti-people judgments.
Take action against Tomin: Union home ministry
Thiruvananthapuram : The union home ministry has written to the Kerala chief secretary to initiate action against Tomin J. Thachenkery, inspector general of police, currently under suspension for going on a foreign trip without official clearance and reportedly meeting people there who have cases registered against them.
Thachenkery was suspended in April after Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan was told that the police officer did not take permission for his trip to the Middle East including his visit to Doha.
The fresh round of controversy surfaced Wednesday when a section of the media reported that the senior Kerala cop had met a few people in Qatar who have cases registered against them here.
When this issue was put to Achuthanandan, he said the chief secretary would take necessary action on the reported letter from the union home ministry.
'I do not intend to share details of this with you,' Achuthanandan said.
But, Thursday a TV channel aired the letter written by the home ministry to the chief secretary highlighting the lapses and the serious violations committed by Thachenkery.
The letter has asked the chief secretary to initiate action against Thachenkery.
The letter says that Thachenkery had asked officials of the Indian embassy in Qatar about details of four people who have links with now arrested south Indian commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) T. Nasir.
Incidentally, Thachenkery as IG Kannur range prior to his suspension had questioned Nasir at Bangalore.
The letter also says that Thachenkery while in Qatar met people who have cases registered against them in the state.
'He is just a tool of Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and CPI-M state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan. You wait and see more skeletons will tumble out,' Vice chairman of Kerala Congress (M) P.C. George said.
This is the second suspension that Thachenkery has got under the Achuthanandan government. The first came in July 2007 when he was suspended in the wake of a first information report (FIR) filed in a vigilance court, accusing him of amassing assets worth Rs.95 lakh between Jan 1, 2003, and March 31, 2005, when he was managing director of the state-owned Books and Publication Society.
Thachenkery, considered close to Vijayan, was in the Middle East the same time Vijayan and other senior party members were on tour there as part of a fund collection drive.
Thachenkery was suspended in April after Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan was told that the police officer did not take permission for his trip to the Middle East including his visit to Doha.
The fresh round of controversy surfaced Wednesday when a section of the media reported that the senior Kerala cop had met a few people in Qatar who have cases registered against them here.
When this issue was put to Achuthanandan, he said the chief secretary would take necessary action on the reported letter from the union home ministry.
'I do not intend to share details of this with you,' Achuthanandan said.
But, Thursday a TV channel aired the letter written by the home ministry to the chief secretary highlighting the lapses and the serious violations committed by Thachenkery.
The letter has asked the chief secretary to initiate action against Thachenkery.
The letter says that Thachenkery had asked officials of the Indian embassy in Qatar about details of four people who have links with now arrested south Indian commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) T. Nasir.
Incidentally, Thachenkery as IG Kannur range prior to his suspension had questioned Nasir at Bangalore.
The letter also says that Thachenkery while in Qatar met people who have cases registered against them in the state.
'He is just a tool of Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and CPI-M state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan. You wait and see more skeletons will tumble out,' Vice chairman of Kerala Congress (M) P.C. George said.
This is the second suspension that Thachenkery has got under the Achuthanandan government. The first came in July 2007 when he was suspended in the wake of a first information report (FIR) filed in a vigilance court, accusing him of amassing assets worth Rs.95 lakh between Jan 1, 2003, and March 31, 2005, when he was managing director of the state-owned Books and Publication Society.
Thachenkery, considered close to Vijayan, was in the Middle East the same time Vijayan and other senior party members were on tour there as part of a fund collection drive.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Hearing on Madani's bail petition to continue on June 29
Bangalore: The Bangalore sessions court will continue the hearing on the anticipatory bail application submitted by PDP chairman Abdul Naser Madani in Bangalore serial blast cases, on June 29. Meanwhile the prosecution today submitted the return statement against bail application in the court . The prosecution informed the court their objection on granting anticipatory bail to Madani . The prosecution argued that anticipatory bail for Madani shouldn't be granted on grounds of the charges against him. A copy of the statement by prosecution has been given to Madani's lawyer too.
The application was considered by the Bangalore fast track court which is a part of Bangalore district sessions court. The application for anticipatory bail was submitted as the Bangalore Chief Metropolitan court issued a non-bailable warrant against him . As per the court order Madani should present before the court within June 23. Madani is listed as the 31st accused in the case. In the charge sheet submitted by Karnataka police, Madani has been charged with treason, terrorism and attempt to murder in the Bangalore serial blast case. They alleged that Madani was part of the planning of the blast and he also helped terrorists for Jihad. It is alleged that Madani has instigated others to take extremist path .He is charged under IPC 219, 102, and 302. Madani was charge sheeted along with 31 others for being involved in the 2008 serial blasts in Bangalore that left a woman dead and 20 others injured. Police had earlier charge sheeted 26 people.
Among the 32 charge sheeted, 12 are absconding. Of the six named as accused, five belonged to Kerala and one from Karnataka, he said. Nine low-intensity crude bombs exploded in east and south Bangalore on July 25, 2008 within 45 minutes. One woman, waiting at a bus stop, was killed on the spot in east Bangalore.
The application was considered by the Bangalore fast track court which is a part of Bangalore district sessions court. The application for anticipatory bail was submitted as the Bangalore Chief Metropolitan court issued a non-bailable warrant against him . As per the court order Madani should present before the court within June 23. Madani is listed as the 31st accused in the case. In the charge sheet submitted by Karnataka police, Madani has been charged with treason, terrorism and attempt to murder in the Bangalore serial blast case. They alleged that Madani was part of the planning of the blast and he also helped terrorists for Jihad. It is alleged that Madani has instigated others to take extremist path .He is charged under IPC 219, 102, and 302. Madani was charge sheeted along with 31 others for being involved in the 2008 serial blasts in Bangalore that left a woman dead and 20 others injured. Police had earlier charge sheeted 26 people.
Among the 32 charge sheeted, 12 are absconding. Of the six named as accused, five belonged to Kerala and one from Karnataka, he said. Nine low-intensity crude bombs exploded in east and south Bangalore on July 25, 2008 within 45 minutes. One woman, waiting at a bus stop, was killed on the spot in east Bangalore.
Court rejects Soofiya's plea seeking relaxation of bail terms
Kochi: The special court on Tuesday rejected the petition filed by Soofiya Madani seeking to allot relaxations in her bail conditions in Kalamassery bus burning case. The court declined her demand to move out of Ernakulum district. Court observed that the petitioner has not cited sufficient reason for relaxation and earlier when she sought relaxations , she filed needed reasons for the same. The order was issued by special court considering the cases related to National Investigation Agency (NIA) .
Earlier the NIA has asked the special court for not to relax the bail condition of Soofiya Madani The investigation is in the last phase and relaxation of bail condition will pave ways for destroying evidence and to influence witnesses. Agency said that it will furnish the charge sheet within one month. Soofiya's lawyer stated that she sought for relaxation as her husband and relatives are in another district.
Police framed conspiracy charges against Soofiya after finding that the accused in the case masterminded
Earlier the NIA has asked the special court for not to relax the bail condition of Soofiya Madani The investigation is in the last phase and relaxation of bail condition will pave ways for destroying evidence and to influence witnesses. Agency said that it will furnish the charge sheet within one month. Soofiya's lawyer stated that she sought for relaxation as her husband and relatives are in another district.
Police framed conspiracy charges against Soofiya after finding that the accused in the case masterminded
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