Samad

British passports to be given to a record 220,000 migrants this year

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London, June 22: The number of British passports given to migrants is set to hit a record 220,000 this year.

In the first three months of 2009, 54,615 citizenship applications were approved – up 57 per cent on the same period in 2008.

At that rate, the number receiving passports – and with them the right to full benefits – this year will smash the record of 164,540 set in 2007.

Last year the total was 129,310, and when Labour came to power in 1997, just 37,010 people were given citizenship.

It means approvals have rocketed by almost 500 per cent under the current Government.

Anti-ragging helpline launched ahead of new academic session

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New Delhi, June 22: Students facing ragging in any educational institution can now get immediate assistance by just giving a call on a dedicated helpline which was launched on Thursday ahead of the commencement of the new academic session.

Seeking to check the menace of ragging in campuses through use of technology, the government today made functional the helpline through which students can register complaints and get assistance from authorities and police within minutes.

More Than 30 Suspected Militants Killed in Pakistan

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Islamabad, June 22: Military jets and artillery pounded suspected militant hide-outs in two towns in Pakistan’s northwest on Sunday, killing 27 fighters, officials said. Elsewhere in the volatile region, a citizens’ militia killed seven suspected militants.

As the violence raged, President Asif Alil Zardari claimed the entire country backs the battle against the extremists.

The military has stepped up strikes in the past week on suspected militant bases in Bajur, where violence has spiked again almost five months after the military declared victory after a monthslong offensive.

Accused in Mumbai woman’s gang rape arrested

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Bhopal, June 22: A man who along with his friends allegedly raped a woman from Mumbai at gunpoint in a moving car here has been arrested, the Madhya Pradesh police said Sunday.

The 25-year-old woman was raped by four men in a moving SUV on the outskirts of Bhopal Wednesday night while her husband was held at gunpoint in the same vehicle.

The victim and her husband, residents of central Mumbai, had come to the city to get their two children admitted to the Asaram Bapu Ashram School here. The couple waiting for a public transport took lift in the SUV, police said.

Younis Khan retires from T20

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London, June 22: After leading Pakistan to World Twenty20 title Sunday, Younis Khan dropped a bombshell when he announced his retirement from the shortest version of the game.

“I am already 34 and probably too old for this kind of cricket,” said the senior batsman who was Pakistan’s most prolific run-getter in the tournament.

“Today I have decided to retire from Twenty20 cricket,” said the Pakistan captain, adding that he would like to focus on Test and ODI cricket.

Younis had said before the tournament that he might quit Twenty20 cricket.

Election Fraud admits by Iran’s Guardian Council

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Tehran, June 22: Iran’s powerful Guardian Council has said there were some irregularities in the June 12 presidential election, which has been widely disputed and triggered bloody street protests.
The Guardian Council admitted that the number of votes collected in 50 cities was more than the number of eligible voters, the council’s spokesman Abbas-Ali Kadkhodaei told the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) channel Sunday.

Relax FRBM norms for AP, YSR tells PM

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New Delhi, June 21: Chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy on Saturday urged the Union government to permit the state to mobilise financial resources from the market to tide over the recession impact by relaxing the norms of fiscal regulation and budget management (FRBM) act.

Student among 3 killed in mishaps

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New Delhi, June 21: Three people were killed in separate accidents in the city in the past 24 hours.
A 21-year-old MBA student died after being hit by an unidentified vehicle on Friday afternoon. According to police, Lal Mohammad was a resident of Sahibabad, UP. “He had gone to Jamia Millia University. Later, as he was going towards Sarai Kale Khan ISBT he was hit by an unknown vehicle near the Maharani Bagh crossing,” said an officer.

Pujari gang member killed

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Mumbai, June 21: The crime branch shot dead sharpshooter Anup Mishra of the Hemant Pujari gang in an encounter late on Saturday. Acting on a tip-off, the police laid a trap in Malad.

When Mishra turned up, cops asked him to surrender, but he tried to flee after firing a few rounds at them. In retaliation, the officials shot at him. Mishra was a suspect in the 2007 murder of informer Sukesh Shetty.

—Agencies

Spain beat South Africa for new world record

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Bloemfontein, June 21: David Villa and Fernando Llorente scored the goals that gave Spain a 2-0 win over South Africa on Saturday for a world record 15th straight victory.

Valencia’s Villa broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute and substitute Llorente sealed the game with 18 minutes left to ensure the European champions finished top of their group at the Confederations Cup.

It means they play the runner-up in Group B, likely Italy or Egypt, in the semi-finals next Wednesday.

My daddy wisest: Sonam

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Mumbai, June 21: Sonam Kapoor, has now turned to dad Anil Kapoor for suggestions and advice. After two non-performers at the box office — Saawariya and Delhi 6 — she has now decided to let daddy probe into the script before she signs on the dotted line. According to an insider, Anil enquires about important details (read: script, budget, promotional plan), analyses its box office prospects and only then does Sonu come into the ‘picture’. So let’s wait and watch if her next is a ‘picture perfect’ phenomenon.

—Agencies

A father has to be strict: Sunny

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Mumbai, June 21: As most fathers hope for, actor Sunny Deol has followed in his father Dharmendra’s footsteps, and made just as big a mark for himself as an action Dharmendra flanked by sons Sunny and Bobby
hero.

Sit with this famous father-son duo and you’ll feel they’re more friends than parent-child. But say this to Sunny and he quickly says, “It’s difficult to be friends with your child. Friendship takes away the element of parenthood. One cannot be too lenient with the child because then there will be no fear in them, they won’t value anything you give them.

Neil: Katrina is the cutest

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Mumbai, June 21: Everyone knows about the Neil-Salman confrontation… Neil Nitin Mukesh called Katrina Kaif ‘sweetheart’, and Sallu didn’t take too kindly to it.

David Dhawan wants to play safe

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Mumbai, June 20: David Dhawan is being careful about every little detail in his next film, Hook Ya Crook.To give the film’s soundtrack a realistic feel, he asked the film’s music director, Pritam, to do away with thumping beats and compose a song that doesn’t have any jazzy musical instruments playing in the background and instead use anything that could be found in a jail in which the film is set.

Kandivli contractor kills self

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Mumbai, June 20: A 42-year-old labour contractor from Iraniwadi in Kandivli (W) ended his life recently as he did not have enough work for the last few days and his family was facing a financial crunch.

The deceased, Jayesh Karelia, was staying with his wife and son in a joint family and used to take up labour contracts for repairs. However, the lack of work had upset him, the police said. Recently, when his wife had asked him for Rs 700 for their son’s school expenses, Karelia did not have the money.

Pamper Afridi to get best out of him: Waseem Akram

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Islamabad, June 20: Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram said to get the best out of star all-rounder Shahid Afridi, he needs to be pampered and constantly reminded that he is the main match-winner for the team.

“I have worked with Afridi as captain. The way to get the best our of him is to give him confidence and motivate hims. He needs to be acknowledged as a senior player. He has to be constantly told he is the main match-winner. He is somebody who needs a lot of attention and you need to give him that much of attention,” Akram wrote in his column for the .

Sindh stand on Sharif’s case embarrasses Centre

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Pakistan, June 20 :The federal government is apparently clueless about the stand taken by the top legal counsel of the Sindh administration against Nawaz Sharif in the Supreme Court, calling for upholding his conviction in the plane hijacking case. Neither Attorney General Latif Khosa nor the presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar has any idea why the Sindh government’s senior lawyers have gone against the federal stand, which seeks undoing of Nawaz Sharif’s sentence.

Dilshan, Mathews power Lanka to T20 World Cup final

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London, June 20: The Sri Lankan juggernaut crushed West Indies by 57 runs in Friday’s lop-sided semifinal to set up a summit clash with Pakistan in the final of the Twenty20 World Cup at Lord’s on Sunday. Scorecard I In pics I Profiles

Put into bat, run-machine Tillakaratne Dilshan hit a sublime unbeaten 96 to help the Lankans overcome a mid-innings collapse and post 158 for five. And when they returned to defend the total, Angelo Mathews sent down a sensational first over, claiming three crucial wickets, and West Indies could never really recover from the setbacks.

Krrish 2 takes a back seat

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Mumbai, June 20: The idea of making Krrish 2 has been canned because the Roshans have been unable to zero in on a suitable script. Also, Hrithik is no longer keen to work with Rakyesh Mehra, who was supposed to direct the film.

Kat shows John claws

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Mumbai, June 20: We got to know that John Abraham and Katrina Kaif were involved in some tu-tu-main-main while shooting the climax of their forthcoming film.

A unit member said, “It was a very difficult scene to co-ordinate. What irritated Katrina further were John’s remarks on the set.

They got into a major argument. That put her off! Katrina just stormed off the set.” Thankfully, the shoot had to be called off that day.

She finally found someone for ‘10 Ka Dum’

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Mumbai, June 20: Salman and Katrina on ‘10 Ka Dum’ during the show’s first season in 2008 Sometime back, Katrina Kaif was said to have been searching for a partner to appear on Salman Khan’s TV game show “10 Ka Dum”.

Katrina and Salman are said to be left with few friends in the industry, which made it difficult for Kat to find a partner. But now the search is over.

Her “New York” co-star Neil Nitin Mukesh finally agreed to be on show with Katrina. Together they will promote “New York’ on the show.

Priyanka, Bhandarkar Shocked By Gowariker’s Outburst

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Mumbai, June 20: Ashutosh Gowariker’s comments on Priyanka Chopra not deserving the Best Actress award at a recent awards function, has left the industry shell-shocked.

While the actress has withdrawn into a dignified silence she has told friends that Gowariker who’s currently directing her in What’s Your Raashee said what he felt and that she holds no grudges.

Too private and dignified a person to speak against anyone Priyanka has apparently made up her mind to finish her work on Raashee and move on quietly.

Sridevi ties the nuptial knot

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Mumbai, June 20: Sridevi ties the nuptial knot Sridevi, daughter of Manjula and Vijaykumar, who played heroine in films like “Eswar’, “Ninne Ishtapaddanu’ and “Adi Lakshmi’ had got the nuptial knot tied around her neck by Rahul, an MD of a software firm established in Hyderabad and a native of Nizamabad district.

Stents open era in heart surgery

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Washington, June 20: Clem Reeve likes the idea that the tiny scaffolding placed in his heart will melt away once its vital job is done.

He began suffering chest pains in December. But now he is feeling even better than before, after becoming one of the first patients in a new international trial of dissolving heart stents.

“It’s bloody brilliant. The best fact is that I’m getting a really good night’s sleep,” said 58-year-old Mr Reeve, a council roading assets manager, from Whangarata, south of Auckland.

‘Sporting’ guns now classified military

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Washington, June 20: Thousands of gun owners will be affected by a decision to reclassify many weapons as military-style semi-automatics.

The guns involved were previously defined as “sporting configuration” and owners did not need to notify police of the model of each gun they owned, as is required of owners of military-style semi-automatics.

The reclassification focuses on guns that have free-standing pistol grips, enabling the firearm to be used as an assault weapon.