Rome, Feb. 13 (PTI): UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon has asked Italy to bilaterally resolve the marines’ row with India.
“Its better for the question to be addressed bilaterally, rather than with the involvement of the UN,” Ban was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA, sparking a fury in Italy. The comments came a day after Italy petitioned the UN over the marines’ trial under a strict anti-piracy law for the killing two Indian fishermen.
Melbourne (PTI): The National Gallery of Australia has filed a lawsuit against Indian-origin art dealer Subhash Kapoor over a $5 million deal for a 11th century Nataraja statue which was allegedly stolen. The gallery had bought the bronze statue in 2008.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has stayed all proceedings pending in Madhya Pradesh High Court against BJP leader Sushma Swaraj in an election petition filed by her rival Congress nominee Rajkumar Patel. He had filed the case in connection with the 2009 Lok Sabha elections to the Vidisha parliamentary constituency.
Dehradun (PTI): An IIT Roorkee student has allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from the ceiling fan inside his hostel, police said. A suicide note found says Udai Tanajirao Biradare, a second year MTech, took his life as he had let down his parents.
Melbourne, Feb. 13 (PTI): An Indian-origin couple have been arrested and charged with a visa scam in which clients paid for fake marriages to Australian women to enter the country.
Chetan Mohanlal Mashru and Divya Krishne Gowda were arrested two days ago in Brisbane. Mumbai-born Mashru and his Australia-born wife were yesterday produced before a court which granted them conditional bail. They face up to 10 years in jail if convicted.
Chennai: Director-cinematographer Balu Mahendra, who created Tamil masterpieces like Azhiyatha Kolangal, Moodu Pani, Moondraam Pirai and Veedu, died in Chennai on Thursday after a heart attack. He was 75 and is survived by his wife and son.
New Delhi (PTI): Major General Konsam Himalaya Singh, a specialist in Jammu and Kashmir operations who hails from Manipur, has become the first officer from the Northeast to be promoted as lieutenant general.
Mumbai: Medha Patkar has announced she would be contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Maharashtra as a representative of the National Alliance of People's Movements. The activist, however, added that a decision on whether to contest on an Aam Aadmi Party ticket or an as an Independent and the constituency was yet to be taken.
Hyderabad (PTI): A 16-member group from Pakistan will perform in Hyderabad and Delhi as part of the “India Pakistan Culture Connect: Joint Celebrations for Union of Hearts”, starting from Friday. The event will continue till February 19.
Kuala Lumpur (PTI): An IndiGo flight from Singapore to Chennai was on Thursday forced to make an emergency landing here after a package found in the toilet triggered a bomb scare. Upon landing, the flight was evacuated and officials found three gold bars inside the package. The plane resumed its journey later.
