Techies held for attempting to rape jobseeker

Hyderabad, June 25: The Hyderabad Police on Thursday arrested two software engineers for attempting to rape a 25-year-old woman who was looking for a job.

The two techies, identified as 32-year-old Madhu Babu alias Teja and 26-year-old Praveen, took the woman out for drinks to a restaurant and allegedly spiked her soft drink.

Police said the incident took place on June 20, on the victim’s birthday. The accused took her, an MCA graduate, to their flat instead of dropping her off at her hostel and tried to rape her.

Pak players ask IPL for a hike in pay

Karachi, June 25: Pakistani cricketers are planning to encash their Twenty20 World Cup triumph and ask for a hike in the existing contracts with their respective Indian Premier League franchisees next season.

After IPL organisers announced that Pakistani players would be welcome to play next season subject to clearance from both governments, sources in the sports management company representing players like Misbah-ul-Haq, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul or Kamran Akmal said they are unlikely to play on their old contractual terms of USD 100,000 each.

Reasons behind Iran absence in G8 meeting

Tehran, June 25: Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hassan Qashqavi has explained why Iran will not take part in a meeting of the eight industrialized nations (G8) on Afghanistan.

According to Qashqavi, based on earlier preliminary agreements between Iran and host Italy, certain preparations had to be made including expert talks between delegates from both sides to ensure the optimum level of achievement in the conference. The groundwork, however, was not laid forth, Qashqavi explained.

My Name is Khan almost robbed

Mumbai, June 25: This year, the date 14th June seemed to be jinxed for Bollywood. On one hand, while Shiney Ahuja got accused of raping his maid, there was yet another crime that took place, but didn’t quite make it to the newspapers’ headlines.

This was about a robbery that took place at the ultra-tech studios of the musical trio Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy.

Reliance offers call to US, Canada at Rs 1.99/minute in AP

Hyderabad, June 24: Reliance Communications has launched a unique international calling card for the US and Canada ‘ICC 799’ which brings down calling rates to these countries to as low as Rs 1.99 per minute.

The card is available for both CDMA and GSM subscribers. On an e-recharge of Rs 799, the card offers a talk time of more than 350 minutes for calls to the US and Canada with a validity of 30 days.

This card adds an exciting variety to the wide bouquet of offerings in the International Calling Card portfolio, a press release here today said.

—–Agencies

Formula One is the winner as Mosley agrees to quit

Hamburg, June 25: Formula One racing was the winner when Max Mosley caved in to a group of rebel teams to ensure the future of the sport, insiders and the international media said on Thursday.

A deal struck on Wednesday between eight teams organized in the umbrella body FOTA and the world governing body FIA run by Mosley ended a bitter two-month standoff in which the teams had threatened to form a breakaway deal.

Naidu urges CM to lead all-party delegation to Delhi

Hyderabad, June 25: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu today urged Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy to lead an all-party delegation to New Delhi to exert pressure on the Centre to find a political solution to the row over Babli and 11 other projects with Maharashtra.

Speaking after inaugurating a three-day party review meeting here, he said with the Congress in power at the Centre and also in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, an amicable political solution could be found on the issue.

TDP for Parliamentary delegation to Australia

Hyderabad, June 25: Concerned over continuing ”racial attacks” on Indian students in Australia, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu today urged the Centre to send a Parliamentary delegation to that country to stop such attacks.

The Centre and the State Government remained a ”mute spectator” to the continuing attacks on Indian students, including those from Andhra Pradesh, the former Chief Minister contended while addressing a party review meeting at the ”NTR Bhavan”, the party headquarters here.

Coming Soon: 35 New Live Streaming Channels On Reliance GSM Network

New Delhi, June 25: In a first of its kind effort, Anil Ambani-led Reliance Communications (RCom), is all set to come up with 35 new live streaming channels to its GSM subscribers.

The private sector telecom company is already offering 13 news and other TV channels to its CDMA network.

For this purpose, RCom has tied-up with Hyderabad-based Apalya Technologies.

The services are branded as MimobiTV.

Confirming the development, Krishna Durbha, Head (VAS) RCom said, “We are in advanced talks with Apalya. The tie-up would help us increase the width of the usage.”

Now, Monica Bedi takes to devotional singing

Chandigarh, June 25: Having seen the glamour of the tinsel town, the harsh existence behind prison walls and the ‘make-believe’ world of reality shows, former starlet Monica Bedi is all set to don a new role – that of a devotional singer.

Bedi, whose family originally hails from Chhabewal village near Hoshiarpur town in Punjab, 130 km from here, chose this place Wednesday to announce the release of her first album of Sikh devotional music.

The music album has been launched by Universal Music.

Indian dancer locked up for not performing at Dubai bar

Abu Dhabi, June 25: An Indian woman dancer, who declined to perform at a Dubai bar, was allegedly locked up in a flat here for four days by another Indian and a Bangladeshi, a local court was told.

The Indian supervisor, 32, and the Bangladeshi cleaner, 30, however, pleaded not guilty in the Criminal Court of First Instance to the charge of holding the woman in captivity.

The Dubai Police on a tip-off raided the apartment on April 29 and found the woman locked in a two-bedroom flat.

Jennifer Lopez to stop clothing line

London, June 25: Hollywood actress-singer Jennifer Lopez will stop producing her clothing line once the spring collection hits the stores.

The “Jenny From The Block” hitmaker has banked millions from merchandising and brand deals, launching the Sweetface range in 2005 as a streetwear spin-off of her original JLO clothing collection.

But, despite the line’s popularity with fans, Lopez has confirmed work on future designs will come to a halt while the future of the brand is reviewed, reported contactmusic.com

India seek redemption in WI one day series

New Delhi, June 25: India start their campaign on Friday to put the bad memory of their failure in the World Twenty20 behind them, when they face West Indies in the first One-day International of the four match series.

India and their opponents settle back down to the bump and grind of 50 overs-a-side matches, following a heavy diet of Twenty20 cricket for several of the players in the form of the second edition of the Indian Premier League in South Africa, and the World Twenty20 in England.

But it’s the World Twenty20 which is still fresh on the minds of the Indians.

Shahrukh to star with Barack Obama

Mumbai, June 25: Bollywood Baadshah Shahrukh Khan is all set to star with US President Barack Obama. Not quite really but Shahrukh will be seen starring with a lookalike of the US President in the in his upcoming movie My Name Is Khan.

The casting crew is in search for an African American who can resemble Obama. The exact nature of the character is not known but sources claim Obama’s character play a significant part in the story.

8 die of sunstroke in AP

Visakhapatnam, June 25: The severe heatwave conditions has led to the death of eight people from sunstroke in the last two days in this district of Andhra Pradesh.

According to reports reaching here this morning, eight people died of sunstroke in Ravikamatham and Makavaraipalem Mandals even as heavy rainfall in Hiramandalam Chvthivari Vedhi of Srikakulam District claimed three of a family this morning after they came into contact with a live wire.

Husband’s relatives gangrape woman

New Delhi, June 25: A mother of two was allegedly gangraped by three men at her East Delhi residence on Tuesday night. The police said all three accused are distant relatives of the victim’s husband.

The incident was reported from Bholanath Nagar area in Farsh Bazar. A case of rape and criminal intimidation has been registered and the police is looking for the accused.

The 22-year-old victim identified the three to the police as Rakesh, Mukesh and Subhash . Rakesh even stayed with the victim and her husband about two years ago.

1 dead, 15 hurt as bus falls off NH-24 flyover

New Delhi, June 25: At least one person died and 15 others were injured when a chartered bus carrying over 40 passengers fell off a flyover near Mother Dairy on NH-24 on Wednesday evening.

While the police said only the bus driver had died, Deputy Medical Superintendent of Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital Dr Amita Saxena said two persons were declared dead on arrival at the hospital. Three of the victims, admitted in another private hospital in Patparganj, are said to be critical.

The police officers suspect a brake failure caused the 15-foot plunge.

Meiyang Chang in Yash Raj film

Mumbai, June 24: Indian Idol Meiyang Chang is in the fastest pace of his life. He will be seen soon in Yash Raj’s next untitled film. This film is directorial debut of Parmeet Sethi. Along with Chang there are Shahid Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Veer Das in the film. Music is by Pritam and its shooting is scheduled to commence in July.

Twenty20 will be future of cricket, believes Gilchrist

London, June 24: Asserting that Twenty20 will be the future of cricket, former Australian wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist reckons that the game must face up to the reality that some of the world’s best players may put the shortest version before their commitment to Test cricket.

”We’ve very much got to be prepared for that,” Gilchrist said. ”I don’t think it should be a shock when it does happen or if it does happen. In an administrative sense we’ve got to get the planning and scheduling right. The players are crying out to say they want a window for the IPL.

Not so Shubh Kadam for Nazneen

Mumbai, June 24: Not so Shubh Kadam for Nazneen Nazeen Patel who was seen playing lead in “Main Aisi Kyun Hoon” has been now doing “Shubh Kadam”, after her show went off air. She is playing a character role in SK but is not too happy with the way its taking shape.

“It’s been two months and my character is not taking shape as per I was said it would be. This is making me bit gloomy but I want to give the producers little time to set me up. Also I had played lead role in my shows so playing character is bit difficult,” says Nazneen.

Younis quitted at wrong time : Manjrekar

New Delhi, June 24: The former Indian batsman Sanjay Manjrekar said that Pakistan captain Younis Khan’s decision to quit Twenty20 came at wrong time as this will affect the performance of his country’s team in this quick format of cricket.

Manjrekar termed Younis’s decision to quit T20 cricket as ill-timed as according to him, Pakistan team is at the stage of rising in the cricket world and they need good leadership to continue their winning strike.

Desi girl gets videshi recognition

Mumbai, June 24: Bollywood’s desi girl Priyanka Chopra made her country proud in videshi land. For a change, the good news has not originated from the Hollywood or any other western movie world, but from the land of the dragons – China.

Piggy chops was invited to Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) for their closing ceremony on June 21, where she was presented with the festival’s top honour – Jin Jue Award.

Denise Richards enjoyed locking lips with Akshay

Mumbai, June 24: Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi may top the lists in kissing his co-stars passionately but another actor has made a mark in this field.

He is none other than Bollywood famous stunt hero Akshay Kumar. His style of kissing impressed Hollywood star Denise Richards so much that she could not stop herself from praising him. “Akshay was so down to earth and very genuine.

He made me feel very comfortable, plus he’s a good kisser! I can see why he’s India’s sexiest actor!” Richards said.

Aishwarya in land deal row

New Delhi, June 24: The Bachchan family and land acquisition don’t seem to go along well. First it was Amitabh Bachchan and the land in Barabanki and now it is daughter-in-law Aishwarya who is in a land muddle in Nasik.

The police in Nandurbar in Nasik have received a farmer’s complaint who has alleged that his land was taken over in an illegal fashion and sold to actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

The farmer said that his land was procured by Suzlon Energy Ltd in 2003-2004 for a paltry amount of Rs 20,000. And then the same land was sold to Aishwarya for Rs 20 lakh.

Madhavan isn’t worried about Aamir

Mumbai, June 24: Madhavan is excited about his upcoming movie 3 Idiots directed by Raj Kumar Hirani.

This will be the second time Madhavan will be starring with perfectionist actor Aamir Khan after playing a significant part in Rang De Basanti.

Ask him if he is worried being overshadowed by Aamir Khan the actor says he is not worried about such issues. He adds Aamir is an immensely talented actor and a role model to him.