Finally, monsoon hits city

Hyderabad, June 08: Finally, the southwest monsoon hit the city on Sunday, providing the much-needed relief from the sweltering heat. Though the monsoon entered the state on June 1, it took six days to reach the twin cities, missing the normal set date by two days, according to data posted on Indian Meteorological Department’s website. Also, cyclone Aila played its bit in slowing down the weather system.

Two spells of rain – one at around 4 pm and another at around 7.30 pm – sent mercury levels plummeting. By 8.30 pm, the city recorded 1.7 cms of rainfall.

17 more bodies recovered from crashed French plane

SoPaulo, June 08:Search teams Sunday recovered the bodies of 17 people from the Air France plane that plunged into the Atlantic Ocean with 228 people on board June 1, a Brazilian Air Force spokesman said.

While Brazilian teams retrieved nine bodies, French teams recovered eight, Brazilian Air Force spokesman Henry Munhoz said in the northeastern city of Recife.

He said four of the bodies were male and four female, but didn’t identify the sex of the remaining nine victims.

Woman arrested for murdering husband

New Delhi, June 08: A 30-year-old woman was arrested here for allegedly murdering her “alcoholic and abusive” husband after her father reported the matter to police, investigators said today.

Neha alias Sunita was arrested yesterday from her Rohini residence by police after her father reported the murder of his son-in-law Naveen (32) on Friday night, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) Atul Katiyar said.

Man killed, body parts in 3 places

Chennai, June 08: The city woke up on Sunday to the macabre tale of a man’s body parts being recovered from three different parts of the city and his head still missing. With the help of a receipt found in his trouser pocket, the police identified the man as G Suresh Kumar, a 42-year-old man from Kodungaiyur who worked as an intermediary for gold sales. The motive behind the murder is yet to be established, though the police suspect business-related rivalry.

90-year-old US woman gets high school diploma

Chicago, June 08: A 90-year-old suburban Chicago woman who dropped out of school to help her family during the Great Depression now has her high school diploma.

Eleanor Benz left Chicago Public Schools’ Lake View High in 1936 during her senior year to take a job. Over the following decades she moved to the suburb of Gurnee and had 15 children, 54 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren.

Govt. orders probe into beating of 06’ Malegaon blast accused’s kin

Mumbai, June 08: Taking apparently tough notice to the case of Malegaon 06’ blast accused Abrar Ahmed’s nephew Aftab Ahmad who was beaten by allegedly some plain-clothed officials of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad outside Byculla Central Jail, state Home Minister Arif Naseem Khan has ordered ATS to probe into the incident.

According to media reports, the Home Minister called acting ATS chief Pramvir Singh at his office and ordered him to conduct a probe into the matter. Khan has promised that tough action will be taken against the culprits.

Gujarat riots forced allies to desert BJP

New Delhi, June 08 : The Bharatiya Janata Party lost the Lok Sabha elections due to absence of key allies who deserted the National Democratic Alliance feeling that the 2002 communal violence in Gujarat could cost them Muslim votes and the party did nothing about it, says a key BJP strategist.

In an article in the latest issue of the Tehelka newsmagazine, Sudheendra Kulkarni, a close aide to the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani, writes: “In the aftermath of the 2004 defeat, many of our allies left the NDA.

“BJP leadership in disarray”, says Advani’s

New Delhi, June 08: The BJP was “enfeebled” by so much “disarray” at the top never before witnessed in its history and its prime ministerial candidate L K Advani himself “failed” to assert his leadership at “crucial points”, says a key party strategist while analyzing its poll debacle.

Sudheendra Kulkarni, who is also a close aide of Advani, while giving an insight into the factors behind BJP’s defeat in the Lok Sabha elections cited confusion about Hindutva, failure to overcome the party’s limited social base, negativism in its campaign and a leadership in disarray.

England beat Pakistan by 48 runs

London, June 08: England booked their place in the second round Super Eights of the ICC World Twenty20 with a 48-run win over Pakistan at the Oval on Sunday.

The hosts, 48 hours after their shock four-wicket loss to the Netherlands, bounced back to record a win which, because their net run-rate was now superior to that of the Dutch, ensured their progress in the tournament.

Blogs: We don’t need you Aussies | Dhoni’s Men in Blue are not in pink of health

Colleges become ‘deemed univs’ even before 1st batch passes out

Chennai, June 08: Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, one of the two Chennai-based institutions found charging illegal donations by a TOI-Times Now investigation, began offering the MBBS course in 2002, the same year that it received `deemed university’ status. Using the autonomy, the college designed its own courses, syllabus and teaching methodologies. Five years later, it awarded degrees to doctors under its own name.

Forensic report confirms two Kashmiri women were raped

Srinagar, June 08: In a major embarrassment to the Jammu and Kashmir government that had so far maintained that the two south Kashmir women found dead last Police fire tear gas, during a protest against the deaths of two young women Kashmiri locals claim were raped and killed in Srinagar. Week had drowned, the police on Sunday registered an FIR in the case after a forensic report confirmed that they were raped and murdered.

Kajol goes on all-girls holiday

Mumbai, June 07: When everyone seems to be returning to Mumbai from their holidays, Kajol is all set to go on hers.

She is going to Switzerland and France with daughter Nysa, sister Tanishaa and mom Tanuja.

Kajol decided to go on the holiday on her own as husband Ajay Devgan will be busy for next one month shooting in Goa and then in Singapore.

Tanuja is said to have been a bit reluctant to accompany Kajol, but the persuasive Kajol managed to convice her.

——Agencies

Soha gets mom and beau to bond

Mumbai, June 07: Soha Ali Khan has taken her boyfriend Kunal Khemu to meet mom Sharmila Tagore, as she wants to ensure that the two bond well.

In fact, when Sharmila was in Mumbai recently to meet her, Soha took Kunal along.

As expected, Kunal wasn’t very comfortable during the first meeting. So Soha decided to bring the two together in a lighter atmosphere.

Kareena apprehensive about kissing Akshay

Mumbai, June 07: While Kareena is not the one who does not kiss on screen, wonder why she initially refused to kiss Akshay Kumar in “Kambakkht Ishq” (pictured above)?

Kareena has earlier had lip-locking scenes with Fardeen in “Dev”, and Shahid Kapur in “Jab We Met”. But when she was given a kissing scene with Akshay, she initially refused to do it. She agreed only after much convincing.

Might be she was trying to keep beau Saif happy because we can’t think of anything else that has changed from the times she kissed to now.

——Agencies

Gracy Singh to start shooting for Malayalam film Wednesday

Chennai, June 07: Bollywood actress Gracy Singh will begin shooting Wednesday for a Malayalam film opposite superstar Mammooty, director Jayaraj said Sunday.

“Gracy loved the subject when it was narrated to her and gave her dates immediately for ‘Loud Speaker’, an offbeat venture. The first schedule will begin in Thrissur Wednesday. It is Gracy’s first non-Bollywood movie,” award winning director Jayaraj told IANS.

Man accused of threatening to kill Obama, arrested

Washington, June 07: A man accused of making threatening statements about killing US President Barack Obama has been arrested in Nevada, the Secret Service said.

Daniel James Murray was arrested on Friday night in the parking lot of the Riverside Resort Hotel and Casino in Laughlin, Nevada, said Secret Service spokesman Malcolm Wiley.

Shiv Sena praises CBI for cracking Nimbalkar case

Mumbai, June 07: Shiv Sena on Sunday showered praise on the CBI for cracking the murder case of Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar, and accused the state police of working under pressure from ruling Congress-NCP government.

“The Nimbalkar case was earlier probed by the state police. But it was unable make any headway in the case. Later, the case was transferred to CBI which has done a good job and results are here,” Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said.

Kollywood calling for scriptwriter Karuna

Chennai, June 07: One would have thought that after leading his party to a landslide victory in the general elections, M. Karunanidhi would put up his feet and take a break. But the DMK patriarch apparently has no holiday plans. Instead, he is ready with the script for a Tamil film — his third while in office.

What is surprising is that producers are still queuing up to turn his scripts into film, despite the fact that his last few films have been box office duds.

Deepika Padukone first Indian face of Latin American Vogue

Mumbai, June 07: Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone has become the first Indian beauty to be on the cover of Latin America’s Vogue, Femalefirst reported.

The actress who is also a supermodel visited Lima Peru, last month for a photo shoot for Vogue and Cosas Magazine.

During her visit, the Om Shanti Om actress stayed at the presidential suite at the Miraflores Park Hotel, Lima.

NCP MP Padamsinh Patil Ccharged With Murder

Mumbai, June 07: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Padamsinh Patil, who was nabbed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) early Sunday, has been charged with the murder of his cousin and Congress leader Pavan Raje Nimbalkar in 2006, a law official said.

Senior Public Prosecutor Ejaz Pathan said that Patil has been charged under the Indian Penal Code Section 302 and 120-B, dealing with murder and conspiracy to murder, respectively.

Kangna, Adhyayan break-up no more a raaz

Mumbai, June 07: Kangna Ranaut and Adhyayan Suman are headed for splitsville. The break-up is especially bad for Kangna because she says she didn’t want a separation now.

“It is true that Adhyayan and I have decided to part ways. The decision to move on after a year’s relationship was Adhyayan’s, and I was shocked by it. But we’ve parted ways amicably,” writes Kangna in her blog.

Is Katrina Kaif Hot?

Mumbai, June 07: What does Katrina Kaif have that Kareena Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra and Bipasha Basu do not… and, please, don’t say Salman This is not about her personal life that’s been splashed about in the media enough already. We are talking about sex quotient… the oomph factor, that sizzle and ability to turn on men and drive them into mad slaves over you. Don’t know — right, because Kareena & Co have it all in abundance as well.

TNSM’s Naib Leader Maulana Alam and Izzat Khan Killed: ISPR

Islamabad ( RAWALPINDI), June 07: The naib ameer of Tahreek-e-Nifaz Shariat Muhammadi(TNSM) and spokesman Ameer Izzat Khan have been killed during trade of fire between security forces and militants in Sakhakot, ISPR said. An army personnel has been martyred and five injured in the clashes.
–Agencies

Sonam Kapoor Excited With Imran Khan

Mumbai, June 07: Sonam and Imran are just new in the Bollywood. And Sonam’s first film flopped(Saawariya) and Imran experienced the success(Janne Tu ya Janne Na). But both of them are young in the glamour world.

These two talented couple will come together for Dharma production’s a young romantic-comedy film.

But even before the film shooting, Sonam seems to be quite excited working with Imran Khan as co-star. And she kept on praising him and saying “Imran is gorgeous and one of the most beautiful men she has seen so far”