News

Behind Durga Puja idols and decor, the Mamata hand!

by

Kolkata, September 15: She is a politician and a fiery orator, she also sings, paints and recites poetry. And now Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, who maintains a punishing schedule, has found the time to design the idols and decor of a Durga Puja marquee here.

The Trinamool Congress chief has chosen a community puja – the Bakul Bagan Sarbojanin Durga Utsav – close to her Kalighat home in south Kolkata to showcase her talent. She joins a long list of painters who have designed for the organisers in the past.

Indian Govt Should Legalize Cricket Betting: ICC Chief

by

London, September 15: Describing India as a ‘grey market’ of gambling in cricket, former International Cricket Council chief Ehsan Mani has urged ICC to ask Indian government to legalise betting.

Mani, who was ICC President from 2003-06, said as India has not legalised betting the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit cannot be effective in dealing with the bookmakers there.

Dhoni will surpass Ganguly’s all captaincy records: Sehwag

by

New Delhi, September 15: Though Virender Sehwag names former skipper Sourav Ganguly as his favourite captain but he believes present captain Mahender Singh Dhoni will surpass Dada’s all captaincy records.

”Saurav is my role model and I have learnt a lot from him,” Sehwag said at the launch function of a book ”Hamare kaptan: Naidu se Dhoni tak” by famous hindi cricket writer Suryaprakash Chaturvedi, here today.

”Dhoni is also doing good as a captain and the way he has been leading the Indian team he will soon break all the captaincy records of Ganguly,” he added.

Govt about to yield before Pak-aided separatists: Advani

by

New Delhi, September 15: A day ahead of the crucial all-party meeting to discuss the tense situation in Jammu and Kashmir, BJP leader L K Advani on Tuesday slammed both the Centre and the state government, saying that the ruling UPA coalition was totally “spineless” and “about to capitulate before Pakistan-supported secessionists”.

Jagan Mohan alleges conspiracy to defame his father YSR

by

Ongole (AP), September 15: Stepping up his attack on Telugu Desam Party, Congress MP Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy last night alleged that there was a “conspiracy” to defame his father and former Chief Minister late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

“Those who do not like him are making baseless allegations against him. There is a conspiracy to defame him, though 12 months have passed since his death,” he said.

Australian teen saved from marriage

by

Melbourne, September 15: An Australian family court has ordered the family of a 14-year-old Muslim girl not to send her overseas for marriage and surrender her passport.

The Melbourne girl told child protection officers that she was not attending school because her father did not approve. She said she was engaged to be married and was planning to travel overseas to meet her fiance, The Age reported Wednesday.

The teenager said that she had been engaged for a month to the 17-year-old man and that she had only seen a photograph of him.

Indo-Pak try to thaw chill

by

New Delhi, September 15: Two months after a bitter public spat collapsed the bilateral talks, India and Pakistan are picking up the straws to re-engage each other, once again. Conversation has begun between New Delhi and Islamabad for a possible meeting — at least a “pull-aside” one — between the two foreign ministers in New York, where both are expected to attend the 65th United Nations General Assembly meeting later this month.

Ahmedullah delaying tactics risk proper Hajj preparations

by

Hyderabad, September 15: Muslims in the state fear that the desire of Minority Welfare Minister Syed Mohammed Ahmedullah to get PCC secretary Jaber Patel on board the Haj Committee, even though Mr Patel was not named in the list of members notified by the government on August 16, 2010, will play havoc with the arrangements for the annual pilgrimage.

According to sources, Mr Ahmdullah’s keenness to have Mr Patel on board the Haj Committee is making him put off the first meeting of the Haj Committee which has been constituted by the government on August 16 through a notification.

Govt risking public health for power plants: Chiru

by

Srikakulam, September 15: Praja Rajyam Party president K Chiranjeevi on Tuesday criticized the state government for giving permits to power plants at the cost of people’s health.

Talking to media person after launching his three-day Praja Chaitanya Yatra at Ichapuram, the actor-turned-politician reiterated that the PRP would intensify its fight against power projects, which could wreck havoc on the environment and affect the people’s livelihood.

Indian American Reshma Saujani loses New York primary

by

New York, September 15: A former fundraiser for Hillary Clinton, Indian American Reshma Saujani, failed in her bid to challenge veteran Democrat Carolyn Maloney in a New York party primary.

But as a first-time candidate Saujani, 34, a former hedge fund lawyer, Tuesday posed a serious challenge to Maloney, 64, in her “Silk Stocking District”, which encompasses much of Manhattan’s East Side and a chunk of Western Queens.

State GDP rose despite T-agitations: KTR

by

Hyderabad, September 15: Sircilla MLA K Taraka Rama Rao (KTR) on Tuesday found fault with Chief Minister K Rosaiah for hurting the sentiments of all Telangana protagonists by saying that the growth of the state has been hampered due to the separate statehood agitations.

Talking to media persons at the Telangana Bhavan, the TRS leader said that Mr Rosaiah had hurt the feelings of the Telangana people by making statements contrary to the facts.

‘Andhra, Centre caused Azad’s death… he was carrying my letter’

by

New Delhi, September 15: Those who marched for peace and non-violence in Chhattisgarh are now bitterly divided themselves. In the eye of the storm is Arya Samaji social activist Swami Agnivesh, who faces accusations of betraying the ’cause’ and “hijacking” the peace process.

Twelve members of the march have, in an open letter, accused him of acting at the behest of the Home Ministry. Swami Agnivesh speaks to Seema Chishti on being ‘mediator’, and on the death of Maoist interlocutor Azad.

You claim you are the ‘mediator’; talking to the Maoists on behalf of the state…

Babri Masjid case hearing extended to Oct 5

by

Rae Bareli, September 15: The date of hearing of Ayodhya demolition case has been extended to October 5 owing to non-issuance of notification by the Allahabad High Court to name the judge to hear the case.

The case was initially posted for hearing on September 24.

The hearing in the case could not take place for the past three months after special judge Gulab Singh was promoted and transferred. The last hearing in the case took place on May 24. Till now, four dates of hearing have been extended.

Telangana TDP urges state to celebrate Sep17 as liberation day

by

Hyderabad, September 15: Telugu Desam Party legislators hailing from Telangana region have urged the state government to officially celebrate Hyderabad State Liberation Day (September 17).

A delegation of TDP MLAs led by Nagam Janardhana Reddy and K Hareeshwar Reddy met Chief Minister K Rosaiah at his residence late tonight and submitted a memorandum listing their demand.

“The Chief Ministers response has not been favourable.We will meet at our party office tomorrow and decide on the future course of action,” Nagam told newsmen at the end of their meeting with Rosaiah.

Andhra taking steps to supply fertilisers to farmers:Rosaiah

by

Hyderabad, September 15: The Chief Minister found fault with the Telugu Desam Party for starting an agitation on the fertiliser issue. “Our government is not one that will neglect the agriculture sector. It is not right for some political parties to organise protests by roping in the farmers. Keep the facts in mind and dont indulge in mud-slinging (on the government),” Rosaiah remarked, taking an indirect dig at the TDP.

Refugee camp dangers to children, UN warn

by

Sudan, September 15: Camps for displaced people are among the most dangerous places for children caught up in war, a UN special investigator says.

Radhika Coomaraswamy, who has produced a report on the camps for the UN human rights council, said there was a lack of protection for children.

She said they were vulnerable to sexual violence, and to forced recruitment by armed groups.

Many thousands in Sudan, Chad and DR Congo live in such camps.

CID wants to go slow on Sex Swami

by

Bangalore, September 15: They will appeal to apex court against an HC order, which had asked them to complete the Nityananda investigation in a stipulated time period

Still struggling to make a case against Swami Nityananda, the CID has moved the Supreme Court against the High Court’s order to speed up investigations.

The CID had to complete the investigation within four weeks from July 17, on a High Court directed time frame.

Nadal win US Open

by

Washington, September 15: Rafael Nadal sealed a career Grand Slam with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 win over Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in the final of the U.S. Open on Monday, making him the seventh player in tennis history to achieve this milestone.

This year had already been a vintage one for Spain and the nation’s sporting heroes. Rafael Nadal was in South Africa to see his countrymen win football’s World Cup for the first time, and it seems the Majorcan was truly inspired by their exploits.

Blast in Bahrain car park

by

Dubai, September 15: An explosion in a car park damaged at least four cars in a town south of Bahraini capital Manama, but there were no reports of any casualties, a media report said.

The explosive device was placed under a park car in a residential area, home to families of security personnel and interior ministry employees, in Hamad town, Xinhua reported citing Dubai-based Al Arabiya network.

The blast also shattered windows of nearby houses, the report said.

Police cordoned off the area and launched an investigation into the incident.

–IANS–

Miss Universe meets Mexican president

by

Mexico City, September 15: Miss Universe 2010 Jimena Navarrete of Mexico met with the president of her country, Felipe Calderon, at the presidential residence, officials said.

The 22-year-old chatted with the president and first lady Margarita Zavala during her visit Monday, the officials said Tuesday.

Navarrete’s victory provides “encouragement for the millions of Mexican women who have stood out as a result of their own efforts”, Calderon said.

The president congratulated the beauty queen for making Mexico look good in the eyes of the world.

UN announces new agency for women

by

United Nations, September 15: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Tuesday announced a new agency – UN Women – headed by former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, to oversee all programmes aimed at promoting equality for women.

“Ms. Bachelet brings to this critical position a history of dynamic global leadership, highly honed political skills and uncommon ability to create consensus and focus among UN agencies and many partners in both the public and private sector,” Ban said at the UN headquarters in New York.

British envoy attack suspects to be put on trial

by

Sana’a, September 15: Four Al Qaeda suspects, including a German and an Iraqi, will be put on trial over their alleged involvement in a failed suicide attack on the convoy of the British envoy to Yemen, the country’s defence ministry has said.

“A trial for the four Al Qaeda members will start next Monday by the Sanaa-based court specialised in terrorism cases,” Xinhua reported citing a ministry statement.

The statement said the state criminal prosecution has found evidences showing that the four accused were involved in planning terrorist attacks in the country.

Hitmen accused of 200 murders held in Spain

by

Madrid, September 15: Two hitmen from Colombia, accused in over 200 cases of murder, kidnapping and torture, have been arrested in Spain, the Spanish interior ministry said.

The arrested suspects – identified as Henry Norberto Valdes Marin, 36, and Mauricio Alberto Gonzalez Sepulveda, 44 – are the most dangerous Colombian nationals to be detained in Spain till date, Prensa Latina reported Tuesday.

The two hitmen had relocated to Spain to continue their criminal activities in the country. They were arrested in Valencia by the Spanish Civil Guard.