30 swine flu cases in India, government says suspend visits abroad

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New Delhi, June 16: Swine flu cases in India mounted to 30 Monday after seven more teenaged students who returned from an educational tour of the US tested positive for the virus. On its part, the government urged the people, especially students, to suspend their visits abroad.

According to health officials here, seven of a group of 31 students from the Guru Amar Das Public School in Jalandhar, who had gone to New York and Florida to visit National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) facilities, tested positive for swine flu.

‘Definitely’ is most commonly misspelt word

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London, June 16: It’s official. The 10-letter word ‘definitely’ is the most commonly misspelt word in English.

A new study by market research company www.OnePoll. com has found that most Britons struggle to spell ‘definitely’ correctly, mixing up the second ‘I’ with an ‘A’ on a regular basis.

According to the study, the second most commonly misspelt word is ‘sacrilegious’, which leaves people confused over whether it has an ‘E’ or ‘I’ in the middle, followed by ‘indict’, which is often misspelt as ‘indite’.

Surat gangrape: NCW demands speedy justice for victim

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Surat, June 16: Demanding speedy justice for the Surat rape case victim, the National Commission for Women (NCW) also asked the state government to ban early morning tution classes.

“The case should be tried in a fast-track court and the culprits should be convicted at the earliest, like it was done in the gangrape case in Rajasthan last year,” Manju Hembrom, who called on the 17-year-old victim today, said.

If the state government does not try the case in a fast-track court, the Commission may take suo motu cognizance in this matter,” Hembrom said.

Calvin Klein under fire for raunchy ‘threesome’

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New York, June 15: A raunchy Calvin Klein billboard depicting a teenage girl in a threesome has come under fire for being “borderline pornographic”.

Passers-by have expressed their fury at the massive, sexually suggestive ad on a building at Lafayette and Houston Sts in SoHo.

The endorsement shows a topless young woman on top of a bare chested lad, while engaged in a lip lock with a second shirtless male on a sofa.

A third male with unbuttoned pants and shirt can be seen lying on the floor below the pair, with suggestions of a foursome.

Sugary sweet Rani turns mentor for sexy Sherlyn

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Mumbai, June 16: Sexy siren Sherlyn Chopra has found a mentor in sweet-talker Rani Mukerji. The newfound ‘dostana’ of the actresses has become the talk of the town.

Latest news has it that the ladies hit it off immediately after they met each other. And on top of it all, Rani further cemented the bond saying that Sherlyn looks like Sophia Loren, which pleased Sherlyn immensely and she went gaga over Rani.

Salman softens stand on Shah Rukh; agrees to feature on his chat show

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Mumbai, June 16: In keeping with his unpredictable temperament and antics, Salman Khan didn’t disappoint when he agreed to feature on Farah Khan ‘s chat show – especially when she is archrival Shah Rukh’s best friend! Shocking as ever, Sallu, who is known for his warring ways and unforgiving disposition, left many gob-smacked as he agreed to Farah’s invitation.

We had sex, but it was consensual: Shiney’s confession

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Mumbai, June 16: All those women who admire Shiney Ahuja’s dove-eyed looks have never been this disgusted.

For it isn’t everyday that a Bollywood actor gets disgraced to this level.

Shiney, a rising star in Bollywood with much critical acclaim to boast about has unfortunately created news for all the wrong reasons. The actor, who was arrested here late Sunday night for allegedly raping his maid, has been sent to a three day police remand but looks the story has just begun.

Tribals take control of Lalgarh, 2 more bodies found

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Midnapore, June 16: Two more CPI(M) cadres were found dead as pro-Naxal tribals, agitating against alleged police atrocities, today torched three police camps and demolished house of a Marxist leader, virtually taking control of Lalgarh in West Midnapur district after forcing security forces to leave the area.

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Court asks Ambanis to frame new gas accord

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Mumbai, June 16: The Bombay High Court ordered that Reliance Industries honour a 2005 family agreement to supply 28 million cubic meters per day of gas from its Krishna-Godavari basin fields at USD 2.34 per mmBtu for 17 years to Reliance Natural Resources Ltd.

The final price would reduce the outgo for Anil’s group firm by about 11.8 billion dollars during the period of the contract. As per USD 2.34 mBtu, the outgo for 17 years would work out to 14.79 billion dollars compared to 26.55 billion dollars on the basis of government-approved USD 4.2 mmBtu.

Saif grabs Deepika’s butt now!

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Mumbai, June 16: For all the movie buffs, who are already looking forward to some hot kissing sequences in upcoming Bollywood flicks, there’s news.

According to the latest buzz, Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone are not just locking lips in ‘Love Aaj Kal’, but are doing much bolder scenes.

In the promo of their upcoming film, Saif can be seen almost grabbing co-star Deepika Padukone`s butt.

‘Kumkum’ a bomb trigger?

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Panaji, June 16: A Goan couple that went on a tour to Jordan, Egypt and Israel has returned with unpleasant memories of ‘humiliation’ by Israeli soldiers. They allege that the soldiers segregated the wife because they suspected the vermilion mark on her forehead to be ‘a trigger for a bomb’.

They suspected not only the ‘kumkum’ mark a symbol for married Hindu women but also her large hair bun, which she had tied in a typically Goan fashion. They made her untie it and remove the pins.

Shrirang Narvekar, a popular humour playwright, and his wife S.S. Narvekar had gone on the trip in May.

Kasab breaks down after watching 26/11 attack photos

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Mumbai, June 16: Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist involved the terror attacks in Mumbai on November 26, 2008, broke down in court after photographs of the crime were shown to him.

He, however, told the judge that he was feeling unwell.

Sebastian D’Souza, a photojournalist, on Monday identified Kasab in a special court hearing as one of the persons who had opened fire inside the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) on November 26 and provided photographs to support his evidence.

He placed 100 photographs that he had shot on the night of November 26 before the court.

Scoreboard: Pakistan vs Ireland, Super Eight, Group F, Twenty20

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London, June 15: Scoreboard of the World Twenty20 Group F Super Eights match between Pakistan and Ireland at The Kennington Oval here Monday.

Pakistan:

Kamran Akmal b Johnston 57 (51)

Shahzaib Hasan c McCallan b Cusack 23 (19)

Shahid Afridi c Mooney b McCallan 24 (13)

Younis Khan b West 10 (8)

Misbah-ul-Haq c Niall b McCallan 20 (14)

Abdul Razzaq not out 15 (9)

Shoaib Malik not out 4 (7)

Extras: (lb 3, w 2, nb 1) 6

Total: (for five wickets in 20 overs) 159

Nashik citizens agitate to bring back police chief, government relents

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Nashik (Maharashtra), June 15: The Maharashtra government Monday bowed before citizens’ protests and revoked the transfer orders of Nashik Police Commissioner V.D. Mishra.

Home Minister Jayant Patil announced in the state Legislative Council in Mumbai Monday evening that the popular city police chief would continue in his post.

Mishra was among the 17 high-ranking Indian Police Service (IPS) officers across the state, including former Mumbai police commissioner Hasan Gafoor, who were abruptly transferred on Saturday.

Iran’s Moussavi urged to resolve election issues through legal channels

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Tehran, June 15: Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has urged defeated presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Moussavi to follow up the alleged irregularities in the June 12 presidential elections through legal channels, IRNA reported Monday.

“Thank god almighty, the elections were held with high degree of reliability, soundness and tranquility. You too should follow up the relevant issues through legal channels,” Khamenei told Moussavi in a meeting here Sunday.

Khamenei has praised the high turnout in the June 12 presidential elections.

Manmohan meets Hu, boundary talks set for Aug 7-8

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Yekaterinburg (Russia), June 15: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh began his visit to Russia with bilateral talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao here Monday night. The meeting comes weeks before the special representatives of the two countries hold their next round of negotiations on their decades-old boundary dispute Aug 7-8 in New Delhi.

Jharkhand traders step up protest against VAT

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Ranchi, June 15: Around 600,000 traders in Jharkhand Monday protested in front of the governor’s house demanding an immediate roll-back of the 4 percent value-added tax (VAT) imposed on foodgrains from June 1.

The traders, who launched a phased agitation earlier this month, have also stopped buying foodgrains and vegetables as part of their effort to intensify the agitation.

World Twenty20: Akmal, Ajmal carry Pakistan into semifinals

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London, June 15: Inspiring performances from Kamran Akmal and Saeed Ajmal carried Pakistan into the semifinals of the World Twenty20 after they defeated Ireland by 39 runs in a Group F Super Eights match at The Oval here Monday.

Opening batsman and wicketkeeper Akmal hit a flamboyant 57 as Pakistan made 159 for five in 20 overs after skipper Younis Khan won the toss and elected to bat.

Seven Punjab students with swine flu under constant observation

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Jalandhar (Punjab), June 15: The seven students from Punjab who have tested positive for influenza A (H1N1) have been kept in isolation wards and are under constant observation while the test reports of two other students who had exhibited flu symptoms are awaited, officials said here Monday evening.

Deepak Bhatia, nodal officer to tackle swine flu, said four other people who had travelled on the same flight along with the students from the US have exhibited swine flu symptoms and are being monitored.

Netanyahu thinks he and Obama can find “common ground” on settlements

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Washington, June 15: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an interview on NBC “Today” on Monday, said he believes he and President Barack Obama can find “common ground” on the issue of Israeli settlement expansion.

In a speech on Sunday, Netanyahu said he made it clear that Israel would not build new settlements, “and that I would not expropriate land for additional building in existing settlements.” The prime minister said he has been discussing this issue with U.S. special Mideast envoy George Mitchell, and that he would continue those talks with Mitchell soon in Europe.

Speeding truck mows down mother, daughter

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New Delhi, June 15: A 24-year-old woman and her five-year-old daughter were crushed to death Monday when a speeding truck hit from behind the motorcycle they were riding pillion on, police said. The husband, who was driving the bike, escaped unhurt.

Hari Singh was taking his wife Rekha and their daughter Sapna to their relatives’ home when their motorcycle was hit by the truck in the Badarpur area in the afternoon.

Hari Singh, who runs a catering business, lost balance of the motorcycle and fell while his wife and daughter fell on the other side of the road, according to police.

Kareena walks out of ‘Kambakkht ..’ event after offending query

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New Delhi, June 15: Offended by a TV journalist’s query on whether she was prepared to go nude for a film, actress Kareena Kapoor walked out in a huff from the promotional event of her forthcoming film “Kambakkht Ishq” here Monday evening.

The incident occurred after the question-and-answer session with media persons at a city hotel.

Actor Sonali Kulkarni turns author

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New Delhi, June 15: Bollywood actor Sonali Kulkarni, whose roles in Mission Kashmir and Dil Chahta Hai were highly appreciated, has diverted her energies towards writing a book in her mother tongue Marathi.

“My book titled Sokool will be out next month. I wrote 101 articles for a newspaper for two years. I have re-worked those writeups, added certain things which are now relevant and have compiled them for the book,” Sonali said.

The actress made her debut with Amol Palekar’s Daayraa in 1995 and won the best actress award for the film at the France International Film Festival.

Maya slammed for calling Mahatma Gandhi ‘natakbaaz’

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Lucknow, June 15: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Maywati has come under severe criticism from opposition leaders for having made derogatory remarks about
Mahatma Gandhi.

While addressing a meeting of MPs and legislators of her Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) here Saturday, Mayawati called the Father of the Nation a “natakbaaz” (fake). She also distributed pamphlets condemning both Mahatma Gandhi and Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi for being insincere about the improvement in socio-economic status of Dalits.

Arnold Schwarzenegger to be next Austrian prez?

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London, June 15: Hollywood’s action legend Arnold Schwarzenegger could become the President of his home country Austria after his term as the Governor of California ends next year, a British newspaper has claimed.

Even Schwarzenegger has told his home country: “I’ll be back… as President.”

As he is prevented from running for American President because he wasn’t born in the US, senior Austrian politicians have asked him to stand in the 2010 presidential elections if incumbent Heinz Fischer stands down,the Daily Star reported.