31 July, 2013

Narendra Modi eyes Obama in battle for cyber world

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi seems out to prove he is more popular than US President Barack Obama — at least on social networking sites.

Having faced a defeat at the hand of the US president in November 2011 when Modi lost following a last-minute spurt in negative votes in the fifth annual Mashable awards in the category of 'Must-Follow Politician On Social Media', the Gujarat CM now wants to get back.

Suspense over BCCI chief's reinstatement intensifies

The tension surrounding N Srinivasan's return as the president of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) increased on Wednesday with conflicting reports indicating that Srinivasan might already be back in the seat.

NDTV, a news channel, said Srinivasan had taken charge of the Indian Cricket Board at 8 pm on Tuesday. However, according to Times Now, top BCCI officials have denied that Srinivasan has returned as the chief of the BCCI.

Earlier in June, Srinivasan had said that he would step aside as BCCI president till the probe panel gave its findings into match-fixing and betting allegations against his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan and India Cements-owned franchise Chennai Super Kings. Now that the panel has submitted its report, and given them a clean chit, it is being suggested that he can return to the chair.

India to restore LPG, kerosene subsidy to Bhutan by early August

India has assured Thimphu that the subsidy on LPG and kerosene it supplies to Bhutan will be restored by the first week of August. New Delhi had earlier this month decided to put an end to the subsidy causing much heartburn in the strategically important country at a time when it was in the middle of its parliamentary polls.

Many said India was trying to influence the outcome of the polls — ruffled as it was with then PM Jigme Thinley's policies — but South Block steadfastly maintained its decision was apolitical. Government sources here said all "administrative, technical and financial arrangements" are in place for resumption of subsidy on cooking gas and kerosene.

India has self-belief to retain 2015 World Cup title: Kapil Dev

India's 1983 World Cup winning skipper Kapil Dev feels the growing self belief of the Indian cricket team that they can win regularly outside their own borders could hold them in good stead to defend the 2015 World Cup title in Australia and New Zealand.

Indian sides have notoriously played like champs at home and chumps overseas, but Kapil thinks the country's triumph at this year's Champions Trophy in the United Kingdom could prove to be a pivotal moment on the road to the game's showpiece event in early 2015.