US visa delay

Washington, June 12 (PTI): The US is experiencing a worldwide delay in processing of visa and passports at its overseas missions, including those in India, because of technical difficulties.

The glitch is affecting operations at the missions in Calcutta, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad. "We apologise for the inconvenience and are working urgently to correct the problem," a state department statement said. Passport applications accepted overseas on or after May 26 have been affected by the delay.

Green stick

New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi government has assured the National Green Tribunal that steps are being taken for closure of 14 steel-processing units operating without permission and not complying with mandatory pollution standards.

Salary nudge

New Delhi (PTI): Delhi High Court has directed the state government to ensure immediate release of funds to the East Delhi Municipal Corporation to pay dues to employees for May. The court said it should "call an emergency session" of the Assembly as it was a "serious" issue. The sanitation workers have gone on a strike demanding the salaries.

Bhullar shift

New Delhi (PTI): Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar, a convict in a 1993 Delhi blast, was on Friday shifted to Amritsar central jail from Delhi's Tihar prison by road amid tight security.

Mix-up rap

New Delhi (PTI): A Delhi sessions court has set aside a two-year jail term awarded to a chartered accountant by a magisterial court which mistook him as the driver of a bus instead of a car. A scooterist died after Subhash Kumar Bansal's car hit him.

'Rebels' held

Coimbatore (PTI): Three persons suspected to have connections with Maoists were taken into custody for questioning in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore district on Friday, police said. Their identities were not disclosed.

Medical entrance

New Delhi, June 12 (PTI): The Supreme Court today observed that even a single entry through "illegal" means would "vitiate" the "sanctity" of the All India Pre-Medical Test.

The vacation bench of Justices R.K. Agrawal and Amitava Roy reserved the verdict for June 15 on pleas seeking re-conduct of the test on the ground of large-scale irregularities. If the court rules in favour of the petitioners, nearly 6.30 lakh students may have to take the test again.

Pawar tax files

Mumbai (PTI): Activist Shailesh Gandhi said on Friday he would move the Supreme Court after Bombay High Court dismissed his plea seeking details of income tax returns of NCP leader Ajit Pawar under the Right to Information Act.

Lawyer jail

Mumbai (PTI): Corporate lawyer Janhvi Gadkar, who had rammed her car into a taxi killing two persons in Mumbai on June 9 allegedly under the influence of alcohol, was on Friday remanded in judicial custody till June 26.

Cop stick

Saharanpur (PTI): A policeman has been suspended for allegedly misbehaving with a woman near a civil court in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur. Head constable Rajkumar has lodged a counter-complaint accusing the woman of throwing away his bike keys. The police said though Rajkumar was off-duty, he was in uniform.

Flight scare

Chennai (PTI): A Dubai-bound Air India flight from Tiruchirappalli with 169 passengers on board made an unscheduled landing at Chennai airport on Friday following a "snag". The passengers were accommodated in different city hotels.

Death dole

Guwahati (PTI): The National Human Rights Commission has recommended that Manipur government pay Rs 5 lakh as monetary relief to the next of kin of Sorokhiabam Jibon Singh, a youth who was killed by police in Imphal West district in July 2009. A human rights release said the police "exceeded" the right of defence.

Trader shot

Srinagar, June 12: Suspected militants shot dead a shopkeeper in north Kashmir’s Sopore today, the fourth attack in the area since an alleged campaign against mobile phone operators. 
Khursheed Ahmad was shutting his shop when he was shot at. He died in a hospital. Suspected militant group Lashkar-e-Islam last month warned cellphone operators to wind up their business or face action, saying mobile phones had helped security forces hunt down militants.

Sculptor dead  

Chandigarh, June 12 (PTI): Nek Chand, the creator of the Rock Garden who amazed people for decades with his sculptures made from waste, died today at a hospital here following cardiac arrest. He was 90.
The Chandigarh administration declared a holiday in its offices today. The Rock Garden, which has mosaic sculptures made from glass bangles, bathroom tiles and wash basins, attracts over 2.4 lakh visitors annually.    

Hema Malini

Mumbai (PTI): Hema Malini and Dharmendra’s daughter Ahaana Deol Vohra gave birth to a boy on Thursday.