Gali Nagaraja

Hillary enlists Indian chef in aid of diplomacy

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US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has added a culinary dimension to the exercise of “smart power” by enlisting 80 top chefs including an Indian-American in the aid of diplomacy.

Mumbai native Vikram Sunderam, executive chef at Rasika, a top end Indian restaurant in Washington, is part of the State Department’s new Diplomatic Culinary Partnership initiative.

It was he, who introduced local schoolchildren to “A Taste of India” at a cultural exchange at Blair House, the presidential guest house, during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s state visit in Nov 2009.

100 cases of swine flu in Lucknow

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Number of people affected with swine flu or H1N1 infection in the state capital has now touched 100.

Microbiology department at Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences said six people tested positive for H1N1 infection yesterday and the total number of swine flu patients has certainly crossed 100.

The number would surely swell further considering that three dozen samples were pending for testing with the authorities, it added.

Official sources here today said so far, the city has reported

Can’t verify authenticity of Afridi interview, says US

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The United States has said it can’t verify the authenticity of the interview given by the imprisoned Pakistani physician, who helped CIA trace Osama bin Laden, to an American news channel, but noted that the allegations if found correct are extremely “concerning”.

“We can’t at this point verify the authenticity of the interview.

—PTI

US praises Krishna’s visit to Pakistan

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The United States has praised the just concluded Pakistan visit of the Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, noting that it is pleased to see the progress made by the two countries on visa issues.

“We strongly support increasing contact at the high level between Pakistan and India. We think the trip was a good thing, and we were pleased to see the visa progress that they made, which supports progress that they had made in the past on economic issues,” the State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters at her daily news conference here yesterday.

Yemeni president sacks intelligence chiefs

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Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi Tuesday sacked heads of the national security agency and military intelligence, after two suicide car bombs targeted the country’s defence minister in the capital and killed at least 12 people, Xinhua reported.

President Hadi dismissed the head of the National Security Agency, Ali Mohammed al-Anisi, and the head of Military Intelligence, Mujahid Ali Ghuthaim. According to a presidential decree, the move was included in a partial cabinet reshuffle, reported the Saba news agency.

Cartoonist Aseem Trivedi to be released Wednesday

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Jailed cartoonist Aseem Trivedi will walk out of prison Wednesday afternoon, an India Against Corruption (IAC) spokesperson said.

An IAC team will be present to receive Trivedi outside the Arthur Road Central Jail, where he has been lodged since the past couple of days, said IAC activist Preeti Menon.

The development comes a day after the Bombay High Court granted bail of Rs.5,000 to Trivedi in a public interest litigation filed by a lawyer Sanskar Marathe.

Trivedi was arrested last Saturday and sent to police custody for seven days.

PM to address heads of India missions

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Around 120 Indian Ambassadors and High Commissioners from across the World are participating in the 4th Conference of Indian Heads of Missions to be held here from September 14 to 16.

The Conference will be addressed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister SM Krishna, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Finance Minister PC Chidambaram, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas Jaipal Reddy and Minister of Commerce & Industry and Textiles Ananad Sharma.

Libyan protesters storm US consulate, one personnel killed

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A US diplomatic personnel was killed Tuesday night after hundreds of protesters, agitated by an alleged US-made movie that insults the Prophet Mohammed, broke into the US consulate in Libya’s Benghazi city, an interior ministry official said.

According to Wanis Sharef, an assistant to Libya’s interior minister, the diplomats of the US mission have been evacuated to avoid clashes with the protesters. He also confirmed one diplomatic personnel was killed, Xinhua reported.

Meanwhile, local media said that another US official was injured.

UN Security Council condemns Iraq terror attacks

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“The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the wave of terrorist attacks across Iraq on Sept. 8 and 9 causing numerous deaths and injuries and damage to the French honorary Consulate premises in Nasiriyah,” Xinhua quoted the UNSC saying in a statement.

“They expressed their deep sympathy and sincere condolences to the victims of these heinous acts and to their families, and to the people and the government of Iraq,” said the statement.

14 killed in Russian factory fire

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At least 14 bodies of Vietnamese migrants were found in a plant near Moscow Tuesday after it was engulfed in a fire, according to the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry.

The ministry stated that four others were wounded in the fire, Xinhua reported.

“At least 14 people died and four others were wounded. One was hospitalised with serious injuries and three others were given first aid on the spot,” the ministry said, adding that all the victims were workers of a sewing workshop in Yegoryevsk, about 100 km from Moscow.

Bachchan-funded old age home looks to more Bollywood shows

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A decades-old home for orphans and the aged in South Africa which was adopted and hugely funded by Amitabh Bachchan in 1998 is looking to hosting Bollywood shows as fund raisers amid an increasing battle for survival.

The Aryan Benevolent Home (ABH), started almost a decade ago to cater to destitute Indian aged, today runs a wide range of activities besides caring for orphans, people with disabilities and the aged who are often abandoned by their families.

I fear for my life: Pak girl accused of blasphemy

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A teenage mentally-challenged Pakistani Christian girl, accused of blasphemy, today said she fears for her life.

“I’m scared…I’m afraid of anyone who might kill us,” 14-year-old Rimsha Masih was quoted as saying by CNN.

Rimsha spoke in short sentences over the phone — often answering “yes” or “no” in a shy and nervous voice. She wouldn’t reveal where she was because she was speaking from her hideout, the report said.

US observes 9/11 terrorsit attack attacks anniversary

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Hundreds of Americans, including victims’ families, gathered today at Ground Zero in New York, the Pentagon, Pennsylvania and here to remember nearly 3000 victims of the worst terrorist attacks in US history that devastated the country 11 years ago.

The low profile ceremonies across America was led by President Barack Obama who along with his wife Michelle and Presidential staff paused for a minute at the White House lawns in memory of the victims of the nightmarish events of September 11, 2001.

China warns Japan over purchase of disputed island

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China has again strongly criticized the purchase of three disputed islands in the East China Sea by Japan and threatened Tokyo with “serious consequences” caused by this “illegal unilateral decision”.

Japan formally announced Monday a decision to buy three of the five disputed Senkaku islands, called Diaoyu in China, from the Kurihara family for 2.05 billion yen ($26.1 million).

“The Chinese government solemnly announces that the attempt to purchase the islands is absolutely illegal and invalid,” the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement early Tuesday.

10 held for gang-raping woman in Bengal

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Ten people have been arrested for allegedly gang-raping a 32-year-old-woman and assaulting her husband in the industrial township of Durgapur in Burdwan district, police said Tuesday.

“We have arrested 10 people of which five have supposedly raped the woman. We are looking for five to six more suspects. They have been produced before a court and we have sought for their custody,” Commissioner of Police (Asansol-Durgapur) Ajay Kumar Nand said.

No personal information on Kareena in Shobha De’s book

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A book on Kareena Kapoor by author Shobha De will release soon and the actress reveals that it will not contain any personal information about her.

“It’s a style book, there would be no personal information but definitely there are lots of tips from clothes and style, it’s a fun book,” the 31-year-old said here Monday while promoting “Heroine” on the sets of TV reality show “Dance India Dance Superkids”.

Kareena confesses to be pretty excited about it.

SC says trial proceedings’ reporting can be postponed

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The Supreme Court today laid down a constitutional principle where aggrieved parties can seek from appropriate court the postponement of the publication of court hearings and a decision taken on a case-by-case basis.

The court, however, refrained from framing broad guidelines for reporting of sub-judice court matters, saying it cannot be done “across the board.” The bench observed that freedom of speech and expression is not an absolute right under the Constitution and the journalists should understand the ‘lakshman rekha’ so that they do not cross the line of contempt.

Yash Chopra names SRK-starrer ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’

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Filmmaker Yash Chopra has finally locked a name for his new directorial. The Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma-starrer love triangle is titled “Jab Tak Hai Jaan”.

The title seems to have been inspired from a song of the same name from the 1975 hit film “Sholay”.

The official announcement of the title was made Tuesday, following months of speculation that it would be called “London Ishq” or “Yaara Silli Silli”.

Heroine wins smoking battle in HC

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(Siasat News)Kareena Kapoor will be seen smoking in her upcoming film Heroine.

Censor board asked the maker to run anti-smoking ticker in each 35-37 frames.

Producers UTV Motion Pictures and Madhur Bhandarkar who was not happy with this, approached the Delhi High Court and yesterday evening emerged victorious.

They claim that such norms should be introduced for the films that are yet to begin.

The spokesperson of UTV Motion Pictures expresses his glad over the judgment.

Bihar leaders demand Bharat Ratna for Verghese Kurien

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Bihar’s politicians across the spectrum Tuesday demanded the country’s highest civilian honour – the Bharat Ratna – for the late Verghese Kurien, who brought about milk revolution in the country that also benefited the state.

Two days after Kurien, 91, died, Leader of Opposition in the Bihar assembly Abdul Bari Siddiqui demanded the top honour for Kurien, whom officials describe as “the man behind success of dairy industry in Bihar”.

“I have urged the central government to confer Bharat Ratna posthumously on Verghese Kurien,” Siddiqui said.

Kashmir minister’s guards held for assaulting traffic cop

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Two personal security guards of a Jammu and Kashmir minister have been arrested for assaulting a traffic policeman who had stopped the escort vehicle of the ministerial cavalcade for jumping a red light here.

The security guards of Public Health Engineering Minister Taj Mohiuddin were arrested late Monday. According to eyewitnesses, the cavalcade ignored the red signal at the TRC crossing in Srinagar city Monday evening as the minister was heading towards his residence in Gupkar Road.

Candyfloss romance fake, says Emraan

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Known as Bollywood’s serial kisser, actor Emraan Hashmi says he has never been able to understand the romantic genre, especially candyfloss one.

“I will never do candyfloss romance. I never understood that genre, I found it very fake. I never watch them. They do well at the box office, but I will never do it,” Emraan said.

He entered Bollywood with 2002 movie “Raaz” as Vikram Bhatt’s assistant director and a year later made his acting debut with 2003 “Footpath”, which did not do well.

Afghanistan win in Caribbean ahead of World T20

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Afghanistan were adjudged winners of the Asia versus the Caribbean Twenty20 tournament after three teams won the same number of matches.

The win is expected to boost the confidence of the Afghan players ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 tournament starting in Sri Lanka Sep 18.

Afghanistan edged host Trinidad and Tobago and Bangladesh on net run rate after all three teams finished the tournament on two victories each at the Queens Park Oval here, CMC reported Monday.

They posted a net run rate of 0.402 while Trinidad and Tobago and Bangladesh registered 0.105 and 0.33.

Woman in rickshaw shot dead in Delhi

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A 31-year-old woman was shot dead Tuesday by two men on a motorcycle while she was going to drop her child to school in a rickshaw, police said.

Meenakshi, a resident of Bawana, was murdered around 8.45 a.m. in west Delhi’s Rohini area.

“Two men on a bike shot four bullets at her. The woman died at the spot,” a police official told IANS.

Police did not disclose any more details.

—-IANS

300,000 tourists flock to terror-hit Swat valley

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A staggering 300,000 tourists from across the country have visited the picturesque yet terror-ravaged Swat valley in northwest Pakistan since the beginning of Eid, a media report said Tuesday.

Officials and residents said that during this period not a single act of violence took place in the valley, known for its archaeological sites of Gandhara civilisation and scenic hamlets, Dawn reported.

It was in 2008 that the Taliban gained control in the area and parts of Kohistan, Dir and Malakand which were main tourist spots. The areas had then presented a deserted look.