subhan

Hamas cell arrested in West Bank plotted to kill Abbas

by

Ramallah, July 03: Members of a Hamas cell arrested in the West Bank last month had been tracking the movements of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas with the “clear” intention to assassinate him, senior officials in Abbas’ Fatah party were quoted Friday as saying.

Palestinian Authority (PA) Secretary-General Tayeb Abdel Rahim had announced the arrest of some 10 Hamas members in a news conference Monday, saying the cell had been preparing to assassinate leading officials in Abbas’ West Bank-based administration.

Fatka and Jhatka in Love Aaj Kal

by

Mumbai, July 03: Fatka and Jhatka in Love Aaj Kal Love Aaj Kal is the dream project of Saif Ali Khan, being his home production film.

We heard they had lots of fun during the shoot but there were few incidents which created a bit panic situation.

Our sources reveal that, “The film had almost come to an end but suddenly an incident took place where we have to re shoot 4-5 scenes as the camera broke down.”

Not Just a Comic

by

Mumbai, July 03: A movie release always portends that reclusive Akshaye Khanna will emerge out of his cocoon. With Short Kut: The Con is On releasing next month, he is in a mood to chat but admits that he’s had to make that extra bit of effort.

“I’m not much of a public relations guy.

People often misconstrue this as attitude but I’m not comfortable reading about myself in the papers every morning. And partying is out of the question since a room full of people makes me nervous as hell,” he says candidly.

Warrant against Mona Singh in reality show case

by

Chandigarh, July 03: A local court on Thursday issued bailable warrants against actress Mona Singh and the CEO of Colors channel after they failed to appear in the court in a case of hurting religious sentiments.

Judicial Magistrate Dr Rajnish issued the bailable warrants. In April this year, the court had declined their application, seeking exemption from appearance in court.

Last year, Arvind Thakur, chairman of a local NGO, and VHP’s Punjab unit spokesperson Vijay Singh Bhardwaj had moved court against the them and cricketer Harbhajan Singh.

Sena in attack over Rajiv name, NCP rejects claim on Savarkar

by

Mumbai, July 03: The political battle over the Bandra-Worli Sea Link’s name continued on Thursday, with the Shiv Sena slamming NCP chief Sharad Pawar for suggesting Rajiv Gandhi’s name and the NCP disputing the Sena-BJP’s claim that any decision was ever made to name the landmark after Veer Savarkar.

The Sena-ruled BMC also demanded that no toll be levied on corporators using the link.

Palestinian woman carrying toy gun shot

by

Gaza, July 03: A Palestinian woman who was carrying a toy gun has been injured after being shot by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers near a Nablus-area checkpoint.

The Israeli soldiers claimed that they shot the woman at the Bekaot checkpoint on Friday morning because she ignored their request to stop.

According to the soldiers, they discovered that she was carrying a toy gun after shooting her.

The Palestinian woman was rushed to hospital for treatment as she sustained wounds to her legs.

World T20 is now in the past: Younis

by

Karachi, July 03: Younus Khan insists there will be no hangover from Pakistan’s ICC World T20 triumph when they resume battle against beaten finalists Sri Lanka, with the first Test in Galle starting on Saturday.

Pakistan’s eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the final at Lord’s on June 21 sparked massive celebrations at home, but captain Younis has urged his players to put such memories to the back of their minds and focus on the task at hand.

“We have won the World Twenty20, but that’s in the past,” Younus said.

Doctor kills twin daughters, attempts suicide

by

New Delhi, July 03: A practising doctor took her twin daughters to a three star hotel in Pitampura on Thursday, saying they were going to swim in the hotel pool. The bodies of the 4-year-olds are now awaiting postmortem.

She had administered lethal injections to them in the hotel room, before injecting herself with a double dose. Dr Rupa Ranjan (35), working with the Ambedkar Hospital, is recuperating in a critical state in Max hospital.

Leaders agree to empower African Union

by

Libya, July 03: African leaders have agreed to empower the African Union and give it a role in coordinating defense policy and trade negotiations, paving the way for the creation of “United States of Africa.”

The majority of African leaders present at an AU summit in Sirte, Libya sponsored Libyan President Moammar Gadhafi’s initiative for a restructured African Union in which 53 nations across the continent would opt for a centralized command in order to address member states’ defense, political and transnational trade affairs, Reuters reported.

Sampath makes ‘insane’ music for Aamir’s ‘Dhobi Ghaat’, ‘Delhi Belly’

by

New Delhi, July 03: Last year he was in the news for making filmmaker Rakesh Roshan pay Rs.20 million in a copyright infringement case. But right now composer Ram Sampath is upbeat about more creative things – he is composing “insane” music for two Aamir Khan Productions’ –
“Dhobi Ghaat” and “Delhi Belly”.

While “Delhi Belly” is being directed by ad filmmaker-turned-director Abhinay Deo, “Dhobi Ghaat” is the directorial debut of Aamir’s wife Kiran Rao.

Virgin Mobile India declares its ingress into data devices segment with ‘vLink’

by

New Delhi, July 03: The joint venture between Tata Teleservices and Richard Branson’s Virgin Group – Virgin Mobile India on Thursday declared its ingress into the data devices segment with launching of its USB modem ‘vLink’ in India.

Virgin Mobile India claimed that the svelte white colored device – ‘vLink’ – is the data segment’s first device, designed to function as a CDMA USB Modem and 1 GB data storage drive.

Katrina Kaif doesn’t feel secured

by

Mumbai, July 03: Her Bollywood career may be at its peak but Katrina Kaif doesn’t feel secured in life.

It has nothing got to do with her on and off beau Salman Khan either. Katrina who stays at Waterfield Road in Bandra is desperately looking for a new house. The reason, well her house isn’t safe anymore and off late there has been an increase in the number of intruders barging in.

Ponting in search of missing Ashes triumph

by

Melbourne, July 03: Australia captain Ricky Ponting heads into the upcoming Ashes series against England looking to erase the one blot on a CV filled with outstanding achievements.

Ponting, one of the most talented batsmen of his and many another generation, has yet to captain his country to Ashes glory in England.

He was in charge when Australia lost their first Ashes series in nearly 20 years when England won 2-1 on home soil four years ago.

Injured Murali out of first Test

by

Colombo, July 03: Muttiah Muralitharan has been ruled out of the first Test against Pakistan in Galle starting on Saturday due to a minor knee injury.

The offspinner hurt his patella tendon while training on the eve of the game and has been advised rest. The selectors have called up left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and offspinner Suraj Mohamed as replacements.

Scientists find new Australian dinosaurs

by

Melbourne, July 03: The fossils found in rocks known as the Winton Formation date back to 95 to 98 million years to the middle of the Cretaceous period.

Australian paleontologists have unveiled three newly discovered dinosaur skeletons after examining fossils dug up in Queensland.

In an article published in the journal PLOS One, the scientists described one of the dinosaurs as a terrifying meat-eating predator with three large slashing claws on each hand, similar to the Velociraptor seen in dinosaur blockbuster Jurassic Park.

Saddam interrogation tapes released

by

Washington, July 03: The United States has released the tapes recorded during interrogation sessions of the former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein.

The documents, released under the freedom of information act, are from interviews and informal conversations he had with the FBI in early 2004.

In one of the tapes, Saddam scoffs at reports that he had been using body doubles to confuse assassins.

The former Iraqi dictator was interviewed by Arabic-speaking FBI agent George Piro after his capture — nine months after the US-led invasion of Iraq.

Gilchrist tips Lee to bounce back in Ashes

by

Melbourne, July 02: Retired Test wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist has backed struggling paceman Brett Lee to turn around his woeful record in England in a predicted 2-1 Ashes victory for Australia.

Lee, 32, making a comeback after ankle surgery, has taken just 29 wickets at an average of 45.44 in 10 Tests in England.

With fast bowlers Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle considered certain starters for next week’s first Test in Cardiff, commentators believe it’s between Lee and Stuart Clark for the other pace bowling spot.

Pakistan fines Asif for Dubai drugs detention

by

Karachi, July 02: Pakistani cricket authorities on Thursday fined Mohammad Asif one million rupees (12,500 dollars) over the fast bowler’s 19-day detention at Dubai airport for alleged drug possession.

Asif, 26, was detained last June on his way back home after playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

A three-member Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) committee headed by former captain and PCB director Wasim Bari investigated the matter.

“On recommendation of the committee we have fined Asif one million rupees,” the PCB said in a press release.

German parliament set to beef up Afghan deployment

by

Berlin, July 02: Germany’s parliament met Thursday to approve the deployment of up to 300 troops to assist in airborne surveillance operations in Afghanistan.

The soldiers will crew and provide maintenance for NATO airborne warning and control system (AWACS) planes when they are deployed in the landlocked Asian nation.

The aircraft, with mushroom-shaped radar structures on their backs, will mainly supervise military air traffic.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cabinet sanctioned the deployment on June 17, but approval from the lower house is needed before it can go ahead.

Six killed in Rawalpindi suicide bombing

by

Rawalpindi, July 02: At least six people have been killed and two dozen others have been injured by a suicide bomber near a congested junction in Pakistan’s garrison city of Rawalpindi.

The blast happened Thursday on the main Peshawar road in Rawalpindi where the Pakistani military is headquartered.

Sources said the attack appeared to have been a suicide bombing and that the bomber’s body parts had been recovered by police.

Rescue teams rushed the injured to the nearby hospitals.

The death toll is expected to rise as some of the injured are said to be in critical condition.

China steps up efforts to revive North Korea nuclear talks

by

Beijing, July 02: China on Thursday sent its envoy for North Korea to four other nations in a bid to revive stalled talks on ending Pyongyang’s nuclear programme, the Foreign Ministry said.

Wu Dawei, the ministry’s top official for North Korean affairs, left Beijing for Russia, Japan, South Korea and the United States, ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters.

Qin said the aim of the trip was to promote the six-nation nuclear talks and “engage in a thorough exchange of views on the North Korean nuclear issue and developments in North-East Asia.”

CLP refutes Oppn allegations

by

Hyderabad, July 02: The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) today refuted the allegations of the Opposition parties, including those made by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), that the Advisory Committee on Public Security and Safety, headed by Rajya Sabha Member K V P Ramachandra Rao, was extra Constitutional.

Addressing a press conference here, Government Chief Whip M Bhatti Vikramarka and Council Members R Padmaraju and G Rudraraju alleged TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu was making allegations without awareness on public safety.

TDP SC Cell wants case on Legislator withdrawn

by

Vijayawada, July 02: Scheduled Castes Cell of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) today staged dharna infront of Sub-collector’s Office here to protest the filing ‘false cases’ against its Kovvur Legislator K V Rama Rao by the Congress Government.

Addressing the media, TDP Urban SC Cell Leaders K Devraj and E William criticised the government’s attitude towards TDP MLA who was facing CB-CID inquiry in a case of alleged rape and murder of a student in his college and described it is a false case.

Kaif hoping for a comeback

by

New Delhi, July 02: Out-of-favour middle order batsman Mohammad Kaif is quietly hopeful of returning to national colours, banking on his previous international record and impressive current domestic performance.

Kaif, more popular for his agile fielding skills, had a horrid run with the bat in 2005-6, but the Uttar Pradesh cricketer refuses to believe it was his form which put paid to his international aspirations.

Obama’s Russia visit to focus on Iran

by

Washington, July 02: Iran’s political situation and its nuclear program will be the focus of the US president’s visit to Russia and the G8 summit, says a White House official.

Barack Obama’s visit includes diplomatic talks on the Group of Eight foreign ministers’ recent statement on Iran, said top White House foreign policy aide Denis McDonough.

The G8 statement expressed full respect for Iran’s sovereignty but condemned post-election violence in the country.

The Iranian issue will be “front and center” of the US President’s visits to Moscow and the G8 summit in Italy next week.