Advani cautions first-time MPs against temptations

New Delhi, June 09: Senior BJP leader L K Advani Tuesday cautioned the party’s newly-elected MPs against falling to any “temptation” and asked them to maintain “purity in conduct”.

Addressing the BJP parliamentary party meet here, Advani asked the 58 first-time MPs to maintain “purity in their conduct”.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha also cautioned them against falling to any kind of “temptation” offered to them.

Nadendla is deputy speaker of Andhra assembly

Hyderabad, June 09: Nadendla Manohar of the ruling Congress party was today unanimously elected as deputy speaker of Andhra Pradesh state legislative assembly.

Manohar, son of former chief minister Nadendla Bhaskar Rao, represents Tenali constituency in Guntur district.

Manohar, a two-time legislator, was among the panel speakers in the last assembly and was also chairman of the assembly library committee. He is an economics graduate and did his MBA in marketing.

Since he was the only one to file nomination for the post, the speaker announced his election unopposed.

Jammu & Kashmir: 15 wounded in firing, teargassing

Srinagar, June 09: At least 15 persons were injured, five of them seriously, in firing and tear smoke shelling by the police and paramilitary troopers in the south Kashmir district of Shopian Monday.

In Sofan Naman, CRPF troopers opened fire on a peaceful procession injuring four persons, one of them critically. One more protestor was injured critically at Rang Kadal when a tear gas shell hit him on his head.

Sri Lanka dump Australia from T20 Worlds

New Delhi, June 09: Sri Lanka dump Australia from T20 Worlds Skipper Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan hit robust half-centuries as Sri Lanka sent Australia packing from the World Twenty20 with a six-wicket win.

Australia, asked to bat by Sangakkara in his first match as captain, managed only 159-9 in good batting conditions as mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis and fast bowler Lasith Malinga claimed three wickets each.

Opener Dilshan then plundered 53 off 32 balls and left-handed Sangakkara made an unbeaten 55 to fire Sri Lanka home with six deliveries to spare.

Thousands take fish medicine amid swine flu scare

Hyderabad, June 09: With seven cases of the infectious swine flu being reported from this Andhra Pradesh capital, health authorities are worried about the congregation of thousands of asthma patients from around the country and even abroad who have gathered here to take a traditional fish medicine. The Bathini Goud family, which has been distributing the free fish medicine for over 160 years, on Monday started administering it at the sprawling Exhibition Grounds. The programme will continue today.

US pushes urgent Middle East talks

Washington, June 09: The US wants Israel and the Palestinians to hold “immediate talks” towards “a comprehensive peace and normalisation of relations”, Washington’s envoy to the Middle East, says.

George Mitchell is aiming to lay the groundwork for those negotiations as he makes his fourth visit to the region since taking the post.

Speaking to reporters at the start of a Palestinian donors’ conference in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, on Monday en route to the Middle East, Mitchell said such talks would also serve “the security interests of the United States”.

Several die in Thai mosque attack

Bangkok, June 09: At least 10 people were killed in the mosque attack in Narathiwat province on Monday.

At least 10 people have been killed and 19 injured after armed men opened fire on a mosque in southern Thailand.

Men armed with assault rifles entered the mosque in the Cho-ai-rong district of Narathiwat province during evening prayers on Monday and opened fire, the army and police said.

“They opened fire indiscriminately at about 50 worshippers inside the mosque,” a police official said on condition of anonymity. The dead included the local imam, he said.

Despite slowdown, Andhra eyes 8-9 percent growth

Hyderabad, June 09: Despite the economic slowdown, Andhra Pradesh has targeted eight to nine percent average annual growth for the next five years.

The Congress government, which was re-elected last month, has set 4 and 10 percent growth rates for the agricultural and industrial sectors respectively.

The targets were spelt out in Governor Narayan Dutt Tiwari’s address to the joint session of both houses of state legislature Monday.

Angry Advani aides rubbish RSS feed

New Delhi, June 09: As the RSS lumbers along examining the course for Sangh Parivar at its meet, it is facing attacks from those closely associated with prominent BJP leaders including LK Advani.
This is the latest in the acrimonious blame game in the BJP, sparked off by its defeat in the Lok Sabha election.

Israel’s Ehud Olmert convicted of USD 600,000 fraud

Jerusalem, June 09: A former Israeli finance minister and a close aide of ex-prime minister Ehud Olmert was today convicted of embezzling USD 600,000 of public funds from a workers union.

Avraham Hirschon, finance minister from May 2006 to April 2007, was found guilty of embezzling the money while heading a workers union between 1998 and 2005.

He was a close aide of Olmert, who had himself resigned from office following a series of corruption charges against him.

Angry Advani aides rubbish RSS feed

New Delhi, June 09: As the RSS lumbers along examining the course for Sangh Parivar at its meet, it is facing attacks from those closely associated with prominent BJP leaders including LK Advani. This is the latest in the acrimonious blame game in the BJP, sparked off by its defeat in the Lok Sabha election.

Saudi Arabians go to movies after 30 yrs

Riyadh, June 09: They only had a few hours’ notice, but a few hundred Saudis braved a small band of religious hardliners to take part in a historic event on Saturday night: the first public showing of a commercial film in decades in the Saudi capital.

With bags of salty popcorn and soft drinks in their laps, the men-only crowd of more than 300 in Riyadh’s huge King Fahd Cultural Centre cheered, whistled and clapped when the first scenes of the Saudi-made Menahi hit the screen and the film’s score erupted in surround sound.

India is very important to us: US

Washington, June 09: The Obama administration has said it would to “work really hard” to strengthen ties with New Delhi as part of a strategic set of priorities, saying India is very important to the United States as the world’s largest democracy.

“This region of the world is very important to us. India is very important to us, as the world’s largest democracy,” State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters Monday ahead of a visit by America’s top diplomat.

NSG centre in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, June 09: The National Security Guards hub will come up at the Airports Authority of India (AAI) land in Trimulgherry here. The NSG chief, Mr N.P.S. Aulakh, on Monday met the principal secretary (Home), Mr Ajoyendra Pyal, and discussed the issue.

A home department official said, “The CISF used to have barracks at the AAI land spread over 20 acres in Trimulgherry cantonment area. This was vacated by the CISF. There are helipads for operational use here. At least 250 NSG commandos will be staying here.”

Who will Sehwag replace?

Mumbai, June 09: Virender Sehwag isn’t fully fit yet, but it’ll be interesting to see how and where Mahendra Singh Dhoni accommodates the dashing batsman when he is available for selection. Dhoni will have a pleasant headache when Sehwag is declared match fit.

Rohit Sharma has blossomed in his new role as an opener making runs in all three games, including the two warm-up matches. Gautam Gambhir has found the sweet spot on his bat again. Sehwag should reclaim his opening spot and Sharma should bat down the order. But who will Dhoni leave out?

Visitor Jailed for Sex Out of Wedlock

Dubai, June 09: A 43-year old Italian visitor was on Monday sentenced to six months in jail for having sex out of wedlock with a Filipina. The Criminal Court of First Instance, however, acquitted him of the charge of illegally confining the woman in an apartment. He will be deported after completion of the jail term.

In the same case, a 54-year old businessman was cleared of the charge of criminal complicity. He was accused of forcing the Filipina to have sex with the Italian defendant by holding her up in the apartment.

Divorce Rate Among UAE Couples Drops

Abu Dhabi, June 09: The divorce rate among Emirati couples who benefited from Marriage Fund grants, dropped from six per cent to two per cent last year. This was stated by Dr. Maitha Salem Al Shamsi, Minister of State and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Marriage Fund, at a press conference on Monday.

Sehwag, Harbhajan, Rohit skip nets; cold war with media on

Nottingham, June 09: Three star cricketers, including vice captain Virender Sehwag, were conspicuous by their absence from the nets as Team India’s cold
war with the media continued for the fourth day.

No national cricketer came forward to speak to the huge press contingent at the Lady Bay Ground, after absence of Sehwag from the nets only added grist to the rumour mills.

Apart from Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Rohit Sharma could not be spotted at the nets.

Younis comment on T20 lands him in trouble

Karachi, June 09: Pakistan captain Younis Khan finds himself in trouble for his comment that Twenty20 is played just for fun and it would not be a
Younis Khan disaster even if his team fails to make the Super Eights stage of the ongoing World Cup in England.

After the team’s loss to England on Sunday night, Younis went on to say that failing to reaching Super Eights would not be a disaster.

“It would be sad if we don’t make it but I have never attached too much importance to Twenty20 cricket, as it is fun cricket,” Younis said.

24 bodies recovered from Air France crash

Sao Paulo, June 09: The number of bodies recovered from the Air France flight that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean last week rose to 24, Brazilian authorities said.

Another eight bodies from the flight that had been carrying 228 people were found Monday, the Brazilian Navy and Air Force said in the northeastern city of Recife.

The teams have also discovered hundreds of large and small pieces of the Airbus A330-200 that disappeared June 1 while on a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris as well as personal belongings of its passengers, they said.

ISI maintains link with militant commanders, says Musharraf

London, June 09: Former Pakistan President General Parvez Musharraf has conceded that his country’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) maintains link with militant commanders like Sirajuddin Haqqani, suspected of having masterminded the attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul.

Musharraf said that ISI had “used Haqqani’s influence” to get Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, who was abducted by Tehrik-e-Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, released.

Chinese passing off fake drugs as ‘Made in India’

New Delhi, June 09: Are fake drugs manufactured in China being pushed into various African countries with the `Made in India’ tag? The Indian government has long suspected this to be the case, but it now has definite evidence for the first time.

Last week, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) of Nigeria issued a press release stating that a large consignment of fake anti-malarial generic pharmaceuticals labelled `Made in India’ were, in fact, found to have been produced in China.

Sri Lanka send Australia out of T20 World Cup

Nothingham, June 09: Sangakkara and Dilshan hit a fifty each as Sri Lanka thrashed Australia by 6 wickets to end their T20 World Cup campaign at Trent Bridge.

Having lost to West Indies on Saturday, Australia are eliminated, while Sri Lanka booked a place in the Super 8 phase of the competition.

Tillakaratne Dilshan struck a brilliant 53 before he was bowled by Michael Clarke and Kumar Sangakkara then took over, making an unbeaten 55.

Injured Telugu Journalist dies in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, June 09: The injured journalist belonging to a Telugu Daily today died in Hyderabad while under going treatment. Rajsekhar who was injured during the attack on Sakshi Telugu Daily office at Tadipatri Anantapur was admitted into Apollo DRDO Hospital at Kanchanbagh. But today night he sucummbed to his injuries.

It may be remembered that followers of a former minister attacked the telugu daily office at Tadipatri and the police have already arrested three accused persons in this regard.

–Bureau Report Siasat News