Headlines from today's papers.
Indians have not been kidnapped, will return after fighting ceases
The brother of a Punjab resident who is among the 40 Indians said to have been taken hostage in the Iraqi city of Mosul by the ISIS militant group told The Hindu that the workers are safe. They have been told that they can leave when the fighting in the area dies down, said Charanjit Singh, from Fatehgarh Churian. Meanwhile, after asking the Indian authorities to help them return home safely, 46 nurses from Kerala now working in the northern Iraq city of Tikrit said on Wednesday that they had agreed to remain in the hospital after ISIS militants promised that they would be paid their salaries and dues.
Some UPA-appointed governors show no sign that they will quit
Even though seven state governors appointed by the United Progressive Alliance are said to have been urged to resign by the new administration, several of these officials gave no indication that they would step down voluntarily. Kerala Governor Sheila Dikshit evaded questions about quitting while West Bengal governor MK Narayanan said that resigning was not on his mind. Meanwhile, the Congress on Wednesday attacked the BJP-led central government for waging a "political vendetta" against UPA appointees.
BJP minister refuses to resign over rape charge
Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Nihalchand Meghwal, who was summoned by a court in Rajasthan in connection with a rape incident, on Wednesday, told reporters that would not quit. Nihalchand and 16 others were named in an FIR filed in 2011 by a 24-year-old married woman from Jaipur. She alleged that Meghwal and the others had sexually exploited her.
Wadia family claim underworld threats regarding Zinta
Industrialist Nusli Wadia told the Mumbai police that he had received threatening calls from a person identifying himself as the notorious gangster Ravi Pujari, warning his family to stop harassing actress Preity Zinta. Last Friday, the actress complained to the police that her ex-boyfriend Ness, who is Nusli Wadia’s son, had abused her in public. In addition to receiving calls, a member of Nusli Wadia’s staff allegedly received a text message saying, "Don't get involved in Preity Zinta's matter... it will affect your business."
Reigning champions Spain knocked out of World Cup
Spain's reign as the world's pre-eminent team ended on Wednesday as Chile knocked them out of the World Cup with a 2-0 win in Rio de Janeiro. The Spanish became only the fifth defending champions – after Italy in 1950 and 2010, Brazil in 1966 and France in 2002 – to go out in the World Cup's first round.
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Indians have not been kidnapped, will return after fighting ceases
The brother of a Punjab resident who is among the 40 Indians said to have been taken hostage in the Iraqi city of Mosul by the ISIS militant group told The Hindu that the workers are safe. They have been told that they can leave when the fighting in the area dies down, said Charanjit Singh, from Fatehgarh Churian. Meanwhile, after asking the Indian authorities to help them return home safely, 46 nurses from Kerala now working in the northern Iraq city of Tikrit said on Wednesday that they had agreed to remain in the hospital after ISIS militants promised that they would be paid their salaries and dues.
Some UPA-appointed governors show no sign that they will quit
Even though seven state governors appointed by the United Progressive Alliance are said to have been urged to resign by the new administration, several of these officials gave no indication that they would step down voluntarily. Kerala Governor Sheila Dikshit evaded questions about quitting while West Bengal governor MK Narayanan said that resigning was not on his mind. Meanwhile, the Congress on Wednesday attacked the BJP-led central government for waging a "political vendetta" against UPA appointees.
BJP minister refuses to resign over rape charge
Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Nihalchand Meghwal, who was summoned by a court in Rajasthan in connection with a rape incident, on Wednesday, told reporters that would not quit. Nihalchand and 16 others were named in an FIR filed in 2011 by a 24-year-old married woman from Jaipur. She alleged that Meghwal and the others had sexually exploited her.
Wadia family claim underworld threats regarding Zinta
Industrialist Nusli Wadia told the Mumbai police that he had received threatening calls from a person identifying himself as the notorious gangster Ravi Pujari, warning his family to stop harassing actress Preity Zinta. Last Friday, the actress complained to the police that her ex-boyfriend Ness, who is Nusli Wadia’s son, had abused her in public. In addition to receiving calls, a member of Nusli Wadia’s staff allegedly received a text message saying, "Don't get involved in Preity Zinta's matter... it will affect your business."
Reigning champions Spain knocked out of World Cup
Spain's reign as the world's pre-eminent team ended on Wednesday as Chile knocked them out of the World Cup with a 2-0 win in Rio de Janeiro. The Spanish became only the fifth defending champions – after Italy in 1950 and 2010, Brazil in 1966 and France in 2002 – to go out in the World Cup's first round.
