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Shiney denies raping maid, claims had ‘consensual’ sex

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Mumbai, July 03: Pleading for bail, Actor Shiney Ahuja arrested on charges of raping his maid today claimed in the local court that he had “consensual” sex but denied he had raped her.

The 36-year-old actor in his bail plea also claimed he he was victim of a “well-hatched conspiracy” to malign and extort money from him.

However, Police opposed the star’s release and the sessions court deferred hearing of his bail plea till July 7.

The actor did not come to the court but his counsel Srikant Shivade sought time to reply to prosecution’s arguments opposing Ahuja’s bail.

3rd ODI delayed due to rain

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Gros Islet (St Lucia), July 03: The third one-dayer between India and the West Indies has been delayed due to rain here today.

Visiting captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni had won the toss and elected to field.

The four-match series is tied 1-1.
–PTI

Counter-terror book is blocked

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London, July 03: The publication of a book by a former top counter-terrorism officer has been blocked by the Attorney General.

Baroness Scotland obtained an injunction preventing The Terrorist Hunters from hitting the shelves as planned today.

The book, by the retired Scotland Yard assistant commissioner Andy Hayman and the former BBC home affairs correspondent Margaret Gilmore, focused on the struggle against terrorism since the July 7 attacks. It also looked at the murder of the Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko and gave a glimpse of top-level political and intelligence work.

UP govt gives nod to filing chargesheet against Varun

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Lucknow, July 03: Uttar Pradesh government today gave the green signal for filing of chargesheet in a court against BJP MP Varun Gandhi for making allegedly inflammatory speeches in Pilibhit, moving a step closer to his trial in the case.

“The government has given a go-ahead to the District Magistrate of Pilibhit to file chargesheet against Gandhi accused of delivering inflammatory speeches during Lok Sabha polls”, Secretary (Home) Mahesh Gupta told PTI.

Jackson did not like being black: Quincy Jones

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London, July 03: Michael Jackson had attributed his changing skin colour to the rare disease of vitiligo but his close friend and ‘Thriller’ producer Quincy Jones has come out saying that the singer altered his appearance because he did not like being black.

Jones claims that Jackson, who died last week, lied about his skin condition as he just “didn’t want to be black”, Sun online reported.

Lalu: Mamata’s budget ‘impractical’

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New Delhi, July 03: Dismissing Mamata Banerjee’s Railway Budget as “impractical”, RJD chief Lalu Prasad today said it was based on his achievements when he was at the helm and questioned the need for issuing a white paper on the situation of the ministry during his tenure.

“Banerjee’s vision 2020 for railways is based on the achievements made during my five year’s stint as Railway Minister,” he said.

When asked if she read out a budget presented by him earlier, Prasad said, “She did not present the right budget of Lalu.”

Life with a control order: a wife’s story

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London, July 03: Mahmoud Abu Rideh has spent four years behind bars and another four years on a control order. A father of six, he is in a wheelchair and has never seen the evidence against him.

Today he goes to the High Court, backed by Amnesty International, in a plea to leave Britain. Here Dina Al Jnidi, his wife, describes the family’s descent into a nightmare.

India not a bully: ICC President David Morgan

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New Delhi, July 03: India is not a bully at the International Cricket Council (ICC), the cricket’s governing body said today.

“I have never regarded India as a bully at the ICC,” ICC President David Morgan said in response to criticism by some cricket commentators that India always had its way because of its financial muscle.

Morgan referred to his experience with India at the ICC under the leadership of Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar and Shashank Manohar and said he would never accept that India acts as a bully.

7,000 kg of artificially ripened mango, papaya seized

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Chennai, July 03: The Chennai Corporation today seized 7,000 kg of mangoes and papaya, artificially ripened by carbide stones, saying it could pose health hazards.

Fruit shops at various places in Chennai, including Koyambedu, Royapuram and Royapettah, were raided and 5,000 kg of mangoes and 2000 kg of papaya, ripened artificially, were seized, a release from the civic body said.

Mamata to bring out White Paper on railway finances

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New Delhi, July 03: The Railway Ministry will shortly come out with a White Paper on its current financial status.

“This will help us in formulating the Railways’ future plan,” Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee told reporters soon after presenting the 2009-10 rail budget in Parliament today.

The document will be based on Railways’ performance during the last five years, she said.

The Ministry was headed by RJD chief Lalu Prasad in this period, which was the first tenure of the UPA government.

Teenagers who mishear sex noises attack woman’s lover

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Washington, July 03: US police say a teenage girl overheard her mother’s screams during sex and thought she was being assaulted, so she rounded up some friends to attack the woman’s lover.

A 16-year-old girl misinterpreted the woman’s amorous screams, and she and four other teens went to the woman’s bedroom in the Torrington home, police Lt. Bruce Whiteley said.

One of the teens beat the 25-year-old man with a bat and others punched him, police said. He suffered a black eye and several bruises.

Syria’s Assad offers informal invitation to Obama

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Syria, July 03: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has issued an informal invitation to President Barack Obama to visit Damascus for talks, in a sign that relations between the two countries may gradually be thawing.
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We would like to welcome him to Syria, definitely,” Assad told Sky News in an interview broadcast today. “I am very clear about this.”

Asked whether a meeting could take place any time soon, Assad replied: “That depends on him.” Smiling, he added: “I will ask you to convey the invitation to him.”

BJP rubbishes Rail Budget, Lalu less than impressed

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New Delhi, July 03: Mamata Banerjee’s first Railway Budget was today rubbished by her predecessor and RJD chief Lalu Prasad as also BJP but Left parties and Samajwadi Party gave a mixed view on it.

Prasad, who is out in the cold despite supporting the government, said many proposals in the budget, including launch of double-decker train service and non-stop quick trains, were “impractical”.

Sensex closes 254 points higher

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Mumbai, July 03: A key index of the Indian equities markets ended trade today 254 points above its last closing figure, as banking and capital goods stocks picked up.

The benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the Sensex, which opened at 14,552.72 points, closed at 14,913.05 points – 254.56 points or 1.74 percent higher than Thursday’s close.

Similarly, the S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) ended the day 1.7 percent up at 4,422.75 points.

Major rivers in spate in Bihar

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Patna, July 03: Major rivers in north Bihar, especially the Kosi, Gandak, Budhi and Bagmati, are in spate following heavy rains in their catchment areas and are posing a threat of floods, officials said today.

With heavy rainfall recorded in the catchments areas in neighbouring Nepal, the water levels of these rivers have been rising to dangerous levels for the last two days.

“The Bagmati has crossed the danger mark at some points and the water level in Gandak also increased following water discharge into the river from Nepal,” said an official of the central water commission.

Aftab celebrates birthday with Aamna Sharif

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Mumbai, July 03: Aftab Shivdasani ushered in his 31st birthday with Aamna Sharif, who is rumoured to be his girlfriend, and is his co-star from the flop “Aloo Chaat”. He refused to comment about their relationship, but says he is looking forward to marriage.

“Yes, she was in the little party that I had for people close to me on my birthday. Aamna is a very dear friend. Beyond that I don’t want to say anything about the future of our relationship. But yes, I do look forward to marriage, like everyone else. But I still have time,” Aftab told media.

Two-hour strike by Air India staff, management unfazed

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New Delhi, July 03: Employees of national carrier Air India went on a two-hour strike at airports across the country today to protest the delay in salary payments, but it failed to move the airline management. “No flights were affected while our employees were on strike,” said Air india executive director for corporate communications Jitender Bhargava.

Maintaining that there was no need for any discussion with employees on the issue, Bhargava told media: “We will look into their demand.”

Target set by Lalu Prasad unrealistically high: Banerjee

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New Delhi, July 04: Taking a dig at her predecessor Lalu Prasad, Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday said the target set by him for the railways in the interim budget was ‘unrealistically high’.

‘Based on the reviews, it is very clear that the unrealistically high targets set in the interim budget are not sustainable and warrant a mid course correction,’ Banerjee said while presenting her ministry’s budget for the current fiscal in the Lok Sabha.

‘Ekta Choudhary perfect mix of Indian beauty and international style’

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New Delhi, July 03: Miss India Universe Ekta Choudhary is nearly set to take part in the Miss Universe pageant. Fashion diva Ritu Kumar, who is designing Choudhary’s outfits, says she is a perfect combination of Indian beauty and international style.

‘Every contestant is different and so is Ekta. She is tall, beautiful and confident enough to bring the (Miss Universe) crown back and make us proud,’ Kumar told IANS.

Standing at 5 feet 9 inches, Choudhary sports short hair and has got five tattoos but Kumar says that it goes very well with her look.

Sensex surges over 254 pts on soft Rail Budget

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Mumbai, July 03: Trading sentiment turned bullish on the Bombay Stock Exchange today as the benchmark Sensex surged over 254 points following a soft Rail Budget amid brokers covering short positions late in the day.

The Sensex, which remained range-bound in early trade, shot up by 254.56, or 1.74 per cent, to 14,913.05 as stocks of companies catering for the railways extended gains after the Railway Budget kept freight rates unchanged. The key index touched a high of 14,945.85 points.

Pakistan Cricket Board forgives Nazir for misconduct

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Karachi, July 03: Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ejaz Butt has forgiven opener Imran Nazir for his misconduct during a domestic Twenty20 championship final, paving the way for his return to the national team for the one-day series in Sri Lanka.

The PCB confirmed that Nazir submitted a written apology to Butt for his misconduct in the final at Gaddafi stadium when he showed strong dissent over an umpiring decision.

Nazir was later fined Rs 10,000 rupees and banned for three matches by the match referee.

Nearly 4000 houses ready for poor in capital

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New Delhi, July 03: Nearly 4000 houses are ready for allotment to economically weaker sections (EWS) here of the total 37,936 units proposed under the Rajiv Awas Yojna scheme, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

“Overall, six projects including five by the Delhi State Industrial Infrastructural Development Corporation (DSIIDC) and one by DDA are being implemented by the Delhi Government,” Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja said in a written reply.

No increase in passenger rail fares, slew of sops in budget

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New Delhi, July 03: In a thanks-giving budget, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee today proposed no increase in passenger fares or freight tariff while announcing a slew of measures including launch of 12 non-stop point-to-point long-distance trains and air-conditioned double-decker coaches for inter-city travel.

Presenting the Budget for 2009-10 in the Lok Sabha, the first after UPA’s return to power, she also announced concessions for unorganised sector by proposing monthly season ticket of Rs 25 for people with monthly income of up to Rs 1,500 for travel up to 100 kms.

Michael Jackson’s funeral set for July 7: reports

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London, July 02: After plans for a grand public memorial at ‘Neverland’ fizzled out, the funeral of ‘King of Pop’ Michael Jackon may be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles next Tuesday.

British tabloid ‘Sun’ which had published the leaked autopsy report of the pop star claimed that the service will start at 10am at the arena which is home to the LA Lakers basketball team, quoting sources in the US.

The venue which is owned by AEG Live, the organisers of Jackson’s comeback gigs at London’s O2 arena, has a seating capacity of 20,000 and is expected to be packed to the full.

Gambhir, Bhajji top Indian players in ICC rankings

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Dubai, July 02: Gautam Gambhir is India’s highest ranked Test batsman at number three and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, at sixth, is the highest placed Indian bowler in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings issued Thursday.

Gambhir, the Delhi left-hander with 847 rating points, is the only Indian to figure in the top 10 batsmen’s chart, followed by Sachin Tendulkar (13th), VVS Laxman (15th) and Virender Sehwag (20th).

In the bowlers’ chart, Harbhajan is the lone Indian in top 10, followed by Zaheer Khan (11th) and Ishant Sharma (20th).