The Week That Was - July 26 : Cronje`s father threatens legal action against Indian police

Meal for Rs 12, Rs 5 and Rs 1: The poverty debate

Adding to the poverty figure debate that has enraged the common man, two Congress leaders have claimed that they can have proper meal at unthinkable costs and that too in two metropolitan cities.

Congress spokesperson Raj Babbar had said it was possible to have "full meal at Rs 12 in Mumbai" even today. "No, no, not vada paav. So much of rice, daal saambhar and with that some vegetables are also mixed."

Even though his "laughable" remark drew sharp reaction from the BJP, another Congress leader claimed that Rs 5 in Delhi is sufficient for a hearty meal.

"You can eat a meal in Delhi in Rs 5, I don`t know about Mumbai. You can get a meal for Rs 5 near Jama Masjid," Rasheed Masood said.

The comments can be seen as part of the Congress` efforts to defend a report by the Planning Commission which said poverty has declined by 22 percent since the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

Can have full meal for Re 1: Farooq Abdullah

Asked to comment on the raging debate on poverty, Union Minister of New & Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah, of the National Conference, said that one can have a full meal for Re 1, if desired.

However, in an age where even a bus ticket costs a minimum Rs 5 in Delhi, food for Re 1 or 5 or 12 appears to be no less than a joke.

Bihar mid-day meal tragedy: More questions than answers

The toll due to consumption of spurious mid-day meal at a government primary school in Bihar`s Saran district rose to 23.

Investigations suggested the food had traces of an organophosphate used as an insecticide on rice and wheat crops.

Absconding school principal arrested

Eight days after the tragedy, police on Wednesday arrested the absconding school principal and began interrogating her.

"We arrested her from Chhapra town," Saran district superintendent of police and head of the special investigation team Sujeet Kumar said.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar confirmed the arrest of the principal, Meena Devi.

"The investigation is on. The principal of the school is in police custody.

We will probe the incident from all possible angles," Kumar told reporters in Patna.

"The quantity of pesticide was so much that it indicates something," he said further, hinting at a conspiracy destabilise his government.

"The conspiracy has been confirmed in the Forensic Science Laboratory report as well in the versions of natives of Mashrakh where the incident took place," Nitish said and informed that an SIT has already been formed to probe the case.

Acid categorized as poison: Step in the right direction

In a major step towards curbing acid attacks across the country, the Centre on Tuesday presented before the Supreme Court a report on the steps it intended to take to ban the sale of acid in open market.

Acid will now be categorised as poison, the Centre told the apex court, adding the seller will need a license and the buyer will have to submit a photo identity card and an address proof to purchase acid.

The Centre also submitted a draft on the rehabilitation of acid attack victims.

Next hearing in the case is after two days.

On July 09, the apex court had frowned at the central and the state governments for not doing anything to regulate the sale of acid in open market even though a number of cases involving acid attacks were taking place every day.

It had warned that it would impose a ban on sale of acid in the open market if the government did not indicate any action by next week (July 16).

The court said that in its April 16 order, it had expressed concern as the incidents of acid attacks were occurring across the country and one reason for this was easy availability of acid for sale in the country.

The court took the dim view of the inaction on the part of the central and state governments in the course of the hearing of a petition seeking treatment, after care and rehabilitation and compensation to the acid attack victims by the government and deterrent provision for the punishment of the accused.

The court had also regretted that the solution for the grievous problem was not forthcoming.

Giving another opportunity to the central government file an affidavit on the steps it intended to take to ban the sale of acid in open market, the court had said, "If an affidavit is not filed by the next week, the court will pass an appropriate order to ban retail sale of acid across the country."

The new royal: Prince George Alexander Louis

Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, delivered a baby boy on late night Monday at St Mary`s Hospital here.

"Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4.24pm (local time). The baby weighs 8lbs 6oz," the Kensington Palace said in a statement.

The baby was born in the private Lindo Wing of the hospital in central London.

Egypt: New government, new hope

Egypt’s interim president on Tuesday sworn in the first Cabinet with his deputies two weeks after the military toppled the first democratically elected president Mohammed Morsi.

Army chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi remains in his post of defence minister and also have taken the post of the of first deputy prime minister. The newly formed government is led by Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi. The cabinet includes three women.

The Morsi-appointed interior minister, Mohammed Ibrahim, remains in his post, in charge of the police. Nabil Fahmy, who was Egypt`s ambassador to the US from 1999-2008, becomes foreign minister.

Deadly speed: 80 killed in Spain train crash

Two days after Spain suffered its deadliest rail disaster in decades - which killed 80 people and maimed scores of others - one question surpassed all others — why was the train moving so fast?

The derailment sent pieces of the sleek train plowing across the ground in a ghastly jumble of smashed metal, dirt and smoke.

Investigators opened a probe on Thursday into possible failings by the 52-year-old driver and the train`s in-built speed-regulation systems.

Experts said one, or both, must be at fault for the disastrous Wednesday night crash of the train that was carrying 218 passengers and five crew members to Santiago de Compostela, a destination of Catholic pilgrimage preparing to celebrate its most revered saint.

2G: CBI relief for Anil Ambani till August 15

Hours after the Supreme Court refused to give an urgent hearing on Reliance Telecom Ltd`s (RTL) plea against the trial court order summoning Anil Ambani as a prosecution witness, the business tycoon rushed to the Special CBI court which exempted him from personal appearance in the 2G scam case.

Special CBI Judge O P Saini allowed the plea of Ambani, who was summoned for Friday, seeking exemption from personal appearance on the ground that he has pre-scheduled business engagements.

Ambani, who was directed to appear Friday, approached the CBI court after Supreme Court refused to give an urgent hearing on RTL`s plea against the trial court order and posted the case for hearing on Monday.

A bench headed by Justice G S Singhvi said the matter would be listed on Monday when senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for RTL, pleaded for an early hearing in view of the fact that Ambani has been summoned to appear Friday before the special CBI court.

Ambani submitted before the CBI court that he had received the summon on July 23 and "owing to extremely short notice of just two days", it would not be possible for him to appear before it.

RBI announces additional measures to check rupee slide

With the rupee still continuing to be weak, the Reserve Bank on Tuesday announced additional liquidity tightening measures to contain excessive speculation and volatility in the foreign exchange market.

RBI has reduced the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) for each bank from 1 percent of the total deposits to 0.5 percent, thus limiting the access to borrowed funds from the central bank. The limit will come into force with immediate effect and continue till further notice, the RBI added.

In another measure to suck out liquidity from the system, RBI has asked banks to maintain higher average CRR (cash reserve ratio) of 99 percent of the requirement on daily basis as against earlier 70 percent. CRR is portion of deposits that banks are required to keep with RBI.

According senior bankers, the measures could suck out Rs 4,000-Rs 5,000 crore from the system.

SEBI gets more powers; can seek old-case details from peers

In a major upgrade of powers given to SEBI, the government has allowed it to pass orders like search and seizure, attachment of properties, arrest and detention of defaulters and pass disgorgement directions to recover the wrongful gains made in contravention of laws.

At the same time, the government has also allowed SEBI to seek information from other regulators within India and abroad with retrospective effect, paving way for collection of details pertaining to cases pending for over 15 years now.

In another retrospective change, which forms part of the Securities Laws Amendment Ordinance promulgated by the President of India last week, the individuals and companies being probed by SEBI can settle their pending investigations. Such settlements can be undertaken in cases that are currently pending for more than six years.

To tackle the growing menace of ponzi schemes being floated as Collective Investment Schemes (CIS), the rules have also been amended to classify any money collection of Rs 100 crore or more as CIS operation. SEBI has been given powers to crack down on illegal investment schemes floated by individuals as well, as against companies only as of now.

Salman Khan-Shah Rukh Khan hug just a greeting, says Sohail

A lot have been said about Bollywood’s arch rivals Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘hug’. But the question is - are things really back to normal between the two? Many have assumed Shah Rukh Khan’s tweet about ‘turning the page’, as a hint to the end of their five year long hostility. But Salman’s brother Sohail Khan’s statement on the much publicised hug- has cleared such rumours.

According to a daily, sources close to Salman Khan, have asserted that the feud between the two superstars is not yet over.

"Bhai has said many times in the past that he would never again be friends with Shah Rukh Khan. Their differences are irreconcilable. And that`s how it remains. The hug at the Iftaar party just happened because of circumstances. Neither Bhai nor Shah Rukh could say no to their host when he led Salman Khan to Shah Rukh Khan. They`ve the highest regard for him. And that`s why they were both there at the same place at the same time. It was only because of the host that Bhai made that gesture. There is nothing more to it," the source said.

Sohail Khan, who was also present at politician Baba Siddiqui`s Iftaar party, where both the Khans hugged each other, said, ‘They just greeted each other. There is nothing more to it."

Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra friends again?

It seems to be season of ‘forgive and forget’ in Bollywood. After the much famous ‘Shah Rukh Khan-Salman Khan hug’, there are rumours that the cat fight between B-town starlets Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra is now a thing of past.

According to a tabloid, the two actresses, who took pot-shots at each other earlier, behaved like long lost friends as they met at a suburban studio. They even had a long chat!

While Kapoor was shooting for a commercial, PeeCee was filming for her Mary Kom bio pic, in the same studio.

“They were aware about each other’s presence in the vicinity. Unit hands were on tenterhooks on what would happen if their paths crossed considering the cold vibes Bebo and PC share,” a witness said.

Both the actresses were busy shooting throughout the day.

Late evening however when Kareena had wrapped up her shoot and was walking towards her car which was close to PC’s vanity van, the latter went up to her and greeted her. Bebo was cordial and they chatted for a while,” the source added.

Sooraj Pancholi breaks his silence on Jiah Khan

After days of silence, son of actors Aditya Pancholi and Zarina Wahab - Sooraj Pancholi has finally spoken about his relationship with Jiah Khan, who committed suicide on June 3.

The aspiring actor, who will be launched by Salman Khan in the remake of Subhash Ghai’s 1983 super-hit film ‘Hero’, also spoke about his days in the jail following his arrest for allegedly abetting Jiah’s death, while talking to a leading daily.

Sooraj had maintained a safe distance from the media after serving 23 days in jail. He probably needed time to settle his thoughts and start life afresh. While giving an interview to the daily, Sooraj said, “I don`t mind if my name is associated with her all my life as my heart is still connected with her`s. I still love her.”

Ashes 2013: England claim second win, lead 2-0

England thrashed Australia by 347 runs to win the second Ashes Test at Lord`s on Sunday with more than a day to spare.

Victory saw Ashes-holders England go 2-0 up in the five-match series.

Only once in Ashes history have a side come from 2-0 down to win a series when Australia, inspired by Don Bradman, cricket`s greatest batsman, triumphed 3-2 on home soil in 1936/37.

Saina, Chong Wei top draws at IBL auction

Shuttlers Saina Nehwal and P Kashyap along with international star such as world number one Lee Chong Wei will be up for grabs when the much-awaited players` auction of the USD one million Indian Badminton League is held here on Monday.

Six franchises from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune and Lucknow, will be bidding from a pool of more than 150 players, who will go under the hammer tomorrow during the auction, which has been postponed twice.

Five Indian players -- Nehwal, Jwala Gutta, Ashwini Ponnappa, PV Sindhu and Kashyap -- have been earmarked as icon players, while world number one Chong Wei is the sixth icon player -- all attracting highest base price of USD 50,000.

Cronje`s father threatens legal action against Indian police

Ewie Cronje, father of deceased former South African captain Hansie Cronje, has threatened legal action against the Indian police for filing a chargesheet which implicates his son in the 2000 match-fixing scandal.

The Indian authorities have brought charges against Cronje and five international bookmakers 13 years after the scandal that rocked the international cricket fraternity.

But a New Delhi court has ruled that charges against Cronje should be dropped because he died in a plane crash in 2002.