Terrorist bid to kill Danish cartoonist foiled

COPENHAGEN, Jan 2 (AP) – A Somali man wielding an axe and a knife was shot by police as he attempted to kill an artist who drew a cartoon depicting Prophet Muhammad that sparked outrage in the Muslim world. Jakob Scharf, head of the PET intelligence agency, said the 28-year-old man with ties to the al-Qaida group al-Shabab broke a window and entered Kurt Westergaard’s home in Aarhus last night armed with an axe and a knife.

The man was charged at a court hearing in Aarhus, Denmark’s second largest city. He was wheeled into courtroom on a stretcher from the hospital where he was being treated for his wounds accompanied by a lawyer, authorities said.

AI to save Rs 900 cr through fuel efficiency programme

MUMBAI, Jan 2 (PTI): National air-carrier Air India today said it targets to save around Rs 800-900 crore annually after the implementation of the fuel efficiency programme that started in 2008. The airline is currently implementing various initiatives to enhance its fuel efficiency in association with global airlines body International Air Transport Association.

“We have saved Rs 146 crore on account of fuel savings programme, so far. By the time we get software (to facilitate better fuel management), we expect around Rs 800-900 crore in savings,” Air India Chairman and Managing Director Arvind Jadhav told reporters here.

The fuel efficiency programme envisages vital changes in AI’s operational techniques, equipment settings, use of fuel management, flight planning, engine maintenance and cabin weight management.

Jadhav said the airline is currently implementing certain fuel efficiency initiatives, which did not require much technology. Once the required software is in place, it will lead to better fuel efficiency management.

“There are several components of the fuel efficiency programme—those which we can do immediately and those which can be achieved by the procurement of the software,” Jadhav said. The national air-carrier was also looking at achieving savings from other segments such as hotel and transportation, he said.

Rathore gets interim relief, asked not to leave country

Chandigarh, Jan 1: A Haryana court on Friday gave interim relief to disgraced former police chief S P S Rathore and allowed him bail till January 7 if he is arrested for the two fresh cases registered against him in connection with the 1990 Ruchika molestation case.

The district and sessions court in Panchkula near here said Rathore would be allowed to avail interim bail on furnishing bail bonds of Rs 100,000 in each of the two cases if he is arrested by the Haryana police before January 7. The Haryana government has been asked to submit its reply to the court by January 6 for the next hearing of Rathore’s anticipatory bail plea to be held on January 7.

Sensex ends lacklustre day 57 points lower

Sensex ends lacklustre day 57 points lower

Mumbai, Dec 30: A key Indian equities index ended a lacklustre day of trading amid range-bound volatility on Wednesday 57 points lower than its previous close.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) opened at 17,402.24 points and shut shop at 17,343.82 points, down 57.74 points or 0.33 per cent from its previous close at 17,401.56 points. It had fallen to 17,322.8 points around noon. At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was at 5,169.45 points, against the previous close at 5,187.95 points, a loss of 0.36 per cent.