International Affairs
5 Killed, 18 Injured in Railway Station Blast in Balochistan
At least five persons were killed and 18 others injured when a powerful bomb went off at a railway station in the restive Balochistan province of southwest Pakistan today, officials said.
The bomb, hidden in a tea stall on the platform of Sibi railway station, was triggered by remote control late tonight while the Jaffar Express train was at the station.
“Five persons, including a railway policeman, were killed and 18 were injured. Eight of the injured are in a critical condition,” Deputy Commissioner Shahid Saleem Qureshi told the media.
Preliminary investigations had shown that the bomb was triggered by remote control, Qureshi said.
Security forces cordoned off the area after the blast. The Jaffar Express train was going from Rawalpindi to Quetta.
No group claimed responsibility for the blast though such attacks are usually blamed on Baloch nationalist groups.
National Affairs
Prez Poll: Pranab, Sangma file nominations
The UPA nominee and senior congress leader Mr Pranab Mukherjee today filed his nomination papers for the July 19th Presidential poll. After filing the documents, Mr Mukherjee thanked the leaders of those parties who have supported his nomination for the top Constitutional post in the country. Talking to media, he said parties like SP, BSP, JD(U), CPIM and Shiv Sena, supported his candidature for the country’s 14th President.
Sarabjit Singh’s family appeals to Pak for his release
Meanwhile the External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, said that Government of India has consistently urged the Government of Pakistan on several occasions to take a sympathetic and humanitarian view on the case of Sarabjit Singh. External Affairs Minister said that he was also appealed to the Government of Pakistan to release all Indian nationals who have completed their prison term.
Mr Krishna said India has been impressing upon Pakistan that Sarabjit had already spent many years in prison and it was time for it to take a lenient view on him.49-year-old Sarabjit was convicted and sentenced to death for alleged involvement in a string of bomb attacks that killed 14 people in Punjab in 1990.
Business -International
Eurozone crisis: Strings attached to Spain bank aid, says ECB chief economist Peter Praet
A bailout of Spain’s banks comes with strings attached and Madrid’s efforts to cut its deficit must be monitored closely, a top European Central Bank official said on Thursday.
“Spain will receive the money from the bailout fund in tranches, with payment depending on whether Spain meets the conditions,” the ECB’s chief economist Peter Praet told the Financial Times Deutschland.
“Spain has no classical aid programme. But given the interconnectedness between the situation in the banking sector and state finances, we must also keep an eye on the development in the Spanish state budget,” Praet said.
Asian corporates turn to bonds
Asian borrowers are tapping the bond market in record numbers as lending cuts from European banks force them to look closer to home for funding
Abu Dhabi wealth fund to continue hiring
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority is looking to expand its private equity team despite a slowdown in activity
Business -National
Rupee up by 19 paise against dollar
 The rupee appreciates by 19 paise to 56 rupees 96 paise against the dollar in early trade today . Selling of dollars by exporters and some banks coupled with a higher opening in the equity market supported the appreciation of rupee . The domestic currency had weakened by 13 paise to close at Rs… |
Sports Affairs -International
UEFA EURO Cup: Germany vs Italy in second semi-final, Spain enters final
Germany will lock horns with Italy in the second semi-final of the UEFA EURO Cup football tournament at Warsaw in Poland today. The match will be played at 12:15 AM Indian Standard Time.
Yesterday, Spain created by becoming the first team to find a EURO Cup finals berth for the second consecutive time. Spain defeated Portugal 4-2 in penalties. The score was 0-0 after extra time with neither of the sides doing enough to find th net. It was a nervy beginning of the penalty shootout as both keepers Iker Casillas of Spain and Rui Particio of Portugal denied Moutinho and Xabi Alonso respectively in the opening penalties. It was 2-2 in penalties when Spain’s Sergio Ramos scored the third penalty and Alves missed it for Portugal. It was left for Arsenal mid fielder Cesc Fabregas to take the fourth penalty to send Spain into the finals. Fabergas scored and gave Spain a shot at the third straight big title after EURO Cup in 2008 and the FIFA World Cup in 2010. Portugal’s hero Christiano Ronaldo could not take the penalty as he was next in line, if by any chance Fabergas missed. But, unluckily Ronaldo could just watch Portugal crash out in a tense and dramatic penalty round.
The final match of the competition is slated for 1st of July.
Sports Affairs -National
Tendulkar Greatest Batsman: Lillee
Australian fast-bowling great Dennis Lillee has described Sachin Tendulkar as the greatest batsman to have ever played cricket while admiring the iconic Indian’s hunger for the game despite achieving unparallelled success.
“Sachin is a very humble man. He is the greatest player and batsman to have ever played. He just amazes me on many counts, his eye for the game, hunger for the game and continued success,” said the 62-year-old Lillee, who bids adieu to the MRF Pace Foundation after 25 years of service.
Lillee felt a bit embarrassed now in the thought that he had rejected Tendukar’s ambition to become a fast bowler in the late 1980s but said he did the game of cricket a “big favour” by doing so.
“I actually feel very embarrassed because I rejected him as a fast bowler,” Lillee said recalling his first meeting with Tendulkar when the batsman came to the MRF Pace Foundation with an ambition to become a fast bowler.
“I think I did him and the game of cricket a favour. I am just joking, but I will never forget (the incident),” he said.
