Maruti to shut Manesar plant for 2 days

Maruti Suzuki India on Saturday said it will shut its main plant at Gurgaon for two days starting Sunday due to component supply constraints from SPIL, where workers are on a stir in support of the striking colleagues at the country's largest car-maker's Manesar plant.
    
"Maruti Suzuki has decided to suspend production at the Gurgaon plant on October 14 and October 15. This is in view of the non-availability of components for cars," the company said in a statement.
    
Production at Gurgaon plant remained low on Saturday and rolled out only 600 vehicles as against the normal daily production of 2,800 vehicles, it said.
 
While models like M800, Omni, Eeco and Gypsy are not dependent on the component supply from Suzuki Powertrain India Limited (SPIL), it was considered that operating the plant only for these models will not be viable, it added.
 
"The production loss for these models can be recovered once the production resumes," it said.
    
Workers at SPIL and Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd (SMIPL) have gone on a simultaneous strike since October 7 in support of their colleagues at MSI Manesar plant.
    
SPIL supplies engines and transmission to MSI.
    
The strike by the workers entered the 7th day Saturday despite the Haryana government declaring it illegal yesterday for violating a settlement agreement signed on October 1 to end a 33-day-long standoff.
 
The Haryana Labour Department today filed a civil suit in a Gurgaon court alleging that that unions of SPIL and SMIPL and representatives of MSI' Manesar plant workers had violated agreement and action must be taken agains them.

iPhone 4S to launch on Nov 25

Rumours were already floating about the launch of iPhone 4S in November but now we have the confirmation and a date. Sources said that Airtel will launch iPhone 4S on November 25. The major stores across India would be open at the time of the launch and people would be able to buy iPhone 4S as soon as clock strikes 00:01 on November 25, sources said.

On Friday Aircel had announced on its Facebook page that it would launch iPhone 4S soon. Though no date was given, in this case too it is almost certain that the carrier would launch iPhone 4S on November 25.

Both the companies have so far, however, revealed any price for iPhone 4S. The unlocked version of the device sells for $649 in the US and India price for the cheapest iPhone (one with 16GB storage) could be between Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000. Just the way how it happened in the case of earlier iPhone, Aircel and Airtel are likely to offer reverse subsidy for iPhone 4S through discounted call and data plans.

Apple had started selling iPhone 4S on October 14 in the US. While it is similar to iPhone 4 in its design and screen size (3.5 inches), the hardware inside it has seen a significant upgrade.

iPhone 4S is powered by a dual-core processor, has a superior graphics chip and sports an 8 mega-pixel camera. It also has a unique feature called Siri, a virtual assistant, which allows users to carry out functions like setting an alarm through voice commands. ..

Railway bookings: Now, tatkal sewa only 24 hrs in advance

Railways on Friday decided to reduce the advance reservation period for Tatkal tickets from 48 hours to 24 hours in a move to prevent misuse of the scheme introduced to facilitate emergency travel.

Complaints of touts misusing the scheme were increasing day by day and this left Rail Bhawan mandarins worried. While there will be no refund on confirmed Tatkal tickets except in case of cancellation of trains and late running trains, the restriction for agents to book Tatkal ticket has been extended from one hour to two hours (8 am to 10 am).

Now, one has to produce identity proof to buy Tatkal tickets and there will be only four passengers per PNR for such tickets.

Tatkal reservation period was reduced from 48 hours to 24 hours to prevent misuse by unscrupulous elements who resort to speculative booking. According to the changed system, no duplicate Tatkal ticket shall be issued and it would be done only in exceptional cases on payment of full fare including Tatkal charges.

"There were many complaints regarding misuse of Tatkal tickets. The changes that will be effective within a week has been made to prevent its misuse," Vinay Mittal, chairman, Railway Board, said.

Kiran Bedi hits back at Kejriwal over inflated travel bills issue

Hitting out at Arvind Kejriwal for his remarks over the inflated travel bills issue involving her, Kiran Bedi today said he would not have made such a comment if he had comprehended the issue fully.

"The only problem is that he didn't understand the issue fully. If he had some more understanding of the same, his answer would have been different," Bedi said

Kejriwal had disapproved of his Team Anna colleague overcharging her hosts by inflating travel bills, saying she was wrong in doing so.

Asked about the controversy over Bedi's flying economy class and charging her host-organisers for business class tickets, Kejriwal had said that "she should not have done it. She has said it will not happen again. I would not have done what Kiran Bedi did".

Bhanwari Devi case: After explosive revelations, will Maderna finally be arrested?

Jodhpur: After Maderna admitted his links with the missing ANM Bhanwari Devi on Thursday, will CBI seek arrest warrant against the former Rajasthan minister? Sacked Rajasthan Minister Mahipal Maderna was on Friday being quizzed by the CBI once again, a day after he admitted his alleged links with missing nurse Bhanwari Devi. Maderna’s wife Lila Maderna and Congress MLA from Looni Malkhan Singh Vsihnoi are also being questioned by the CBI.

The CBI filed a status report in Rajasthan High Court on Friday naming Mahipal Maderna as one the accused in the Bhanwari Devi missing case.  The court was hearing a habeas corpus filed by Bhanwari’s husband Amarchand who has alleged that the nurse was abducted at the behest of Maderna.

On Thursday, Maderna admitted his links with the missing ANM (Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife) after CBI interrogated him for six hours. The controversial CD came to public eyes on Thursday and CBI claimed they had the CD in their possession. Sources said since the CD was already in public being run on most TV channels on Thursday, Maderna had little choice but to admit his links with the missing ANM.

CBI quizzed both the accused Maderna and Malkhan Singh together. Maderna alleged that Malkhan had introduced him to the minister but sources said Malkhan and Maderna argued with each other on the issue during the interrogation.

Meanwhile, the Jodhpur bench of Rajasthan High Court has ordered forensic tests on Maderna’s aides. The bench ruled while hearing a CBI petition filed seeking a search warranty for Malkhan Singh’s residence. The bench also consented to brain mapping being conducted on Sohanlal, another accused in the Bhanwari Devi case.

Bhanwari devi has been missing since September 1 and CBI have gathered several phone records and other evidences in the case. CBI, in a bid to ensure Bhanwari’s information, have announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh to any one who brings information on the whereabouts of the missing ANM. The ANM is believed to have been blackmailing ministers for the controversial CD. Bhanwari was posted as auxiliary nurse midwife at a sub-centre in Jaliwada village, around 120 km from Jodhpur.

CBI has seized a camcorder and a computer which may be holding vital clues about her disappearance and the agency has sought help of Central Forensic Science Laboratory as well as private experts to retrieve the data.

Officials suspect that the camera and computer might have been used to film and store some controversial footage which could hold vital clues about the reasons behind the disappearance of Bhanwari.

The CBI on November 7 had questioned the kin of a Rajasthan Congress MLA and a suspended policeman in connection with the missing of Bhanwari Devi. The agency had interrogated Indira Bishnoi, sister of Malkhan Singh Bishnoi, MLA from Luni.

A few audio clips of purported conversation of Bhanwari Devi with Sohanlal, one of the accused, and Indira Devi, had come to light, agency sources said. Indira had alleged that Bhanwari Devi wanted a "settlement" with Maderna and she had approached even Pali MP Badri Ram Jakhar. In New Delhi, the AICC today said the investigations into the case should be allowed to be completed and it will "not go by media trial" on the issue.

"Since there is an on-going investigation and the matter is being probed by CBI, it will be appropriate to allow the investigation to play itself out," Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said responding to questions on the issue....

Manmohan Singh becomes first foreign leader to address Maldives parliament

Extremism and religious fundamentalism are among the common challenges India and Maldives are faced with, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said today as the two countries agreed to adopt a multi-pronged approach to deal with these problems.

In a rare honour given to a visiting dignitary, Singh addressed the People's Majlis (Parliament) in which he said India's security, like that of the host country, was closely linked to what happens in the Indian Ocean.

Singh, who was given a standing ovation by Maldivian MPs, is the first visiting head of government to address the multi-party Majlis that was formed after the historic Parliamentary polls in 2009.

"The challenges we face are well known -- extremism and religious fundamentalism, piracy, smuggling and drug trafficking to name a few," he said in his address that was received well in the 75-member house in which President Mohammed Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party heads the ruling coalition.

"Our two countries have agreed upon a multi-pronged approach to deal with these problems. To build capacity within Maldives, India will support the construction of a National Police Academy," Singh said.

He told lawmakers India and Maldives have bilaterally entered into arrangements on combating terrorism, drug trafficking, disaster management and coastal security and transfer of sentenced persons. These will strengthen the framework of cooperation on law enforcement and consular matters.

Singh said at the regional level the two countries should enhance their cooperation to increase maritime domain awareness and surveillance...

Modi seeks Chinese tech for Kalpasar

Gandhinagar: Chief minister Narendra Modi held fruitful discussions over a wide range of issues with Yu Zhengsheng, a senior member of the political bureau of the Communist Party of China's (CPC) central committee, on the fourth day of his visit to China on Friday.

The CM informed Zhengsheng about the state government's ambitious Kalpasar project and sought his assistance for availing the latest technologies that had been successfully implemented in Shanghai.

The two leaders discussed development of world-class infrastructure, construction of environment-friendly new cities, housing for the urban poor, among other issues, during the meeting, and also explored possibilities of partnership between Gujarat and Shanghai.

Earlier, the CM and the delegation accompanying him were given a warm welcome by Zhengsheng. The CPC leader also told Modi that he was impressed with the steps taken by Gujarat government for urban development and economic progress. Modi, in turn, praised the infrastructure development in and around Shanghai and informed the CPC leader about Gujarat's plans to model development of Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) on Shanghai. He also informed him about various other initiatives taken by the state government such as GIFT City, twin city concept, new port city, among others.

Pointing out that the state was the largest producer of castor, Modi said that there was scope for partnership between Gujarat and China for value addition of agro products. Modi invited urban managers from China to visit the state, and also invited them to participate in the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in 2013.

During the day, Modi and the delegation also visited the manufacturing plant of Shanghai General Motors. Modi said that leading automobile companies were setting up plants in Gujarat and the state would produce 50 lakh cars a year in the near future.

Late on Friday evening, Modi also met Liu Quibao, secretary of CPC's Sichuan Province, in Chengdu, and discussed possibilities of enhanced ties between Gujarat and Sichuan. During the meeting, Liu Quibao thanked people of Gujarat for the help during the disastrous earthquake in Sichuan three years back.

The two leaders discussed possibility of partnership between governments of Gujarat and Sichuan in the field of disaster management research and development. Appreciating Chinese banks for the low-interest loan offerings, Modi invited them to Gujarat...

International court may probe Nato for war crimes

BRUSSELS: Some Nato members are worried that their organization may be investigated by the International Criminal Court after its prosecutor said allegations of crimes committed by Nato in Libya would be examined "impartially and independently," said diplomats accredited to Nato headquarters.

The diplomats said action to pre-empt a war crimes investigation would likely include an internal legal review of all incidents in which Nato actions caused civilian casualties . The alliance has always maintained that its operations in Libya were carried out strictly in keeping with a UNSC resolution that authorized member states "to take all necessary measures to protect civilian areas under threat of attack" .

Kingfisher asked to give details of plans to reconfigure fleet

NEW DELHI: Ailing Kingfisher Airlines, which cancelled more than 160 flights over the last six days, has been asked by aviation regulator DGCA to give details of their plan to reconfigure its fleet to prevent a large-scale flight disruption.

Maintaining that it has received some "interim replies" from liquor baron Vijay Mallya-owned carrier, sources in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said it was awaiting more details as it has been found that the airline was not operating flights as per the approved winter schedule.

Mallya, meanwhile, tweeted: "Every government has gone out of the way to support airlines and connectivity. In India airlines are overtaxed and overcharged. Wonder why?"