Month: July 2009

Toyota Motor to pull out as host of Formula One race to cut costs

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Tokyo, July 07:Toyota Motor Corporation’s Fuji International Speedway Co has decided not to host the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix race from 2010 onwards to save on costs, the company announced Tuesday.

“We decided it would be extremely difficult to continue holding the F1 Japanese Grand Prix … in view of sharply deteriorating business conditions and few signs of a rapid economic recovery,” Fuji International Speedway said in a statement.

Nepal’s former king “concerned” over state of nation

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Kathmandu, July 07: Nepal’s former king Gyanendra Tuesday expressed concern over recent events in the country in his first public comments since he was deposed nearly a year ago.

His statement coincided with his 63rd birthday, and just over a year after Nepalese politicians voted overwhelmingly to abolish the monarchy in the Himalayan nation and declared it a republic.

In his statement, Gyanendra said he had left the royal palace with the hope and expectation that peace and law and order would improve, but he had been disappointed.

Tata Steel sales up 19 pct on year in June

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Mumbai, July 07: Tata Steel Ltd, the world’s sixth-largest steel maker, said on Tuesday that June steel sales from its Indian operations rose 19 percent from a year earlier to 497,000 tonnes.

The Indian operations account for about a quarter of the group’s total annual global capacity of 30 million tonnes, which includes its Anglo-Dutch unit Corus.

Sales of long products, used in construction, jumped 30 percent in June from a year earlier, while flat products, used in automobiles and consumer durables industries, grew 12 percent, the company said in statement.

Maoist commander commits suicide in Chhattisgarh

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Raipur, July 07: A commander of the banned Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) committed suicide in Chhattisgarh’s Surguja district, police said Tuesday.

Rajdev alias Chattan Singh consumed poison in his house at his native village Manpur in Surguja, 350 km from state capital Raipur, Monday.

‘His body was recovered in his house Monday when the locals alerted the police,’ a police officer said.

Over 25 cases of murders and extortion were pending against Rajdev. He was spreading terror in Chhattisgarh’s forested belt of Joba, the officer added.

—IANS–

Tusshar’s remake fundas

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Mumbai, July 07: Tusshar Kapoor has recently signed the remake of the Amol Palekar-starrer Golmaal. And while the actor is hoping that he will be able to do justice to the classic comedy, there’s another film that Tusshar’s hoping to act in, if it’s ever remade. And no points for guessing that it comes from papa Jeetendra’s own coterie of films. “Caravan and Farz are the two movies, I have loved immensely. They are absolute entertainers. I’d love to do them if they’re ever remade,” reveals Tusshar excitedly.

—Agencies

Sohail & team have fun in the capital

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Mumbai, July 07: When the star cast of Sohail Khan’s film Kisaan came down to the city, they had more fun than they have in Mumbai. Said Sohail, “Yaar, I have too much fun. And all of us had loads of fun on the sets of the film too. Delhi mein, it is different because Delhi is a bhai sort of a place, whereas Mumbai is thoda sister like.” Sporting a Tom and Jerry tee, Sohail said that his style guru is his eight-year-old son Nirvaan. “Woh jo bhi kapde leta hai, main uska ek copy apne liye leta hoon. I like to dress up the way he does ’coz he’s so innocent.

Sonam finds Imran beautiful

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Mumbai, July 07: Sonam Kapoor is busy showering praise on Luck co- star Imran Khan for his new rugged look.

The actress says Imran is looking ‘beautiful’ in the new look.

So impressed is Sonam with Imran that when asked whom she finds hotter — Imran or Ranbir Kapoor — she replies both.

“Imran is one of the most beautiful men I have met while Ranbir is extremely charming,” she says.

The actress has worked with both the actors. Plus, she was apparently dating Ranbir, before he got smitten by Deepika Padukone.

–Agencies

Six dead, 40 wounded in Philippines bomb attacks

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Manila, July 07: At least six people were killed and more than 40 others wounded by twin bomb blasts in the southern Philippines Tuesday, in what officials described as coordinated attacks by Al Qaeda-linked militants.

The first bomb exploded in a commercial area on Jolo island, killing six people and wounding around 30 others, police said. It was followed around two hours later by a blast next to a parked military patrol jeep in Iligan city.

The second blast wounded at least 10 people, including three soldiers, the military said.

Aamir-Popat beat Padukones!

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Mumbai, July 07: The shuttler-turned-model-turned-actor, Deepika Padukone, has been swapping her opponents.

First it was dad – the Indian badminton legend Prakash Padukone; then it was her mentor Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om; then came beau Ranbir Kapoor; and now her latest threat comes from none other than family friend Aamir Khan.

Deepika, who was quite used to winning (going by her past), had to bite the dust at the hands of Mr Perfectionist Khan.

insurgents proud to be on US terror list

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Baghdad, July 07: An Iraq-based Shi’ite insurgent group rejoiced at the U.S. government’s decision to designate it a foreign terror organisation, calling it a point of pride, a U.S. militant monitor said on Monday.

Just days after Kata’ib Hizballah was designated a foreign terror group by U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration, the group posted a triumphant message on a Shi’ite jihadist forum praising the move, according to SITE Intelligence.

Taiwan rejects China air route request

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Taiwan, July 07: Taiwan rejected on Tuesday a Chinese request to allow commercial planes to fly over the Taiwan Strait dividing the island and China to help ease commercial air congestion between the two sides.

The Defense Ministry said commercial planes should continue to fly either north or south of the 100-mile (160-kilometer) wide strait, reserving the area to the east of the median line for Taiwanese warplane training.

US denies giving Israel ‘green light’ to attack Iran

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Washington, July 07: US President Barack Obama’s administration denied Monday that it is giving Israel the green light to attack Iran or that it is reconsidering plans to engage diplomatically with the Islamic Republic.

Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani, formerly the country’s top nuclear negotiator, warned Tehran would hold Washington responsible for any such strike after Vice President Joe Biden said Washington would not dictate how Israel deals with Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Water supply hit across Mumbai

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Mumbai, July 07: Monsoon might have drenched Mumbai, the Mithi river maybe breaching its banks, but the city’s taps are just trickling.

There’s a fear, it may just run dry soon. With the BMC enforcing 30 per cent water cut from Monday midnight, Mumbaikars are filling up buckets to tide over the crisis.

It’s just the beginning. The worst is yet to come.

The BMC had already enforced a 20 per cent water cut last week across Mumbai. But with the situation not easing, the corporation had to enforce another 10 per cent cut.

Health Insurance for Orphans and Prisoners

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Abu dhabi, July 07: The Health Authority-Abu Dhabi (HAAD) issued on Monday two new health insurance cards for free medical treatment for people with special needs, orphans and prisoners following a generous gesture from the Abu Dhabi leadership.

According to a press statement 
issued by HAAD, the first card ‘Aonak, is for people with special needs, orphans and their foster mothers, while the second card ‘Riaaya’ is for prisoners, detainees and inmates at correctional institutions.

Obama, Medvedev agree to deal to cut nuke weapons

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Moscow, July 07: Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev confidently committed to a year-end deal to slash nuclear stockpiles by about a third on Monday, but the U.S. leader failed to crack stubborn Kremlin objections to America’s missile defense plans.

Both men renewed pledges to pull U.S.-Russian relations out of the dismal state into which they had descended during the eight years of the Bush administration.

Bal Thackeray undergoes angiography

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Mumbai, July 07 : Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray underwent an angiography Tuesday morning and is likely to operated upon, a party insider said.

Thackeray, 83, was admitted to the Lilavati Hospital here Monday following breathing problems.

After the angiography and the medical panel’s expert advice, Thackeray may undergo a surgery later Tuesday, a party insider said, requesting anonymity.

Slain SC serial killing suspect had long rap sheet

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South Carolina, July 07: The serial killer who terrorized a South Carolina community by shooting five people to death before police killed him Monday was a career criminal paroled just two months ago, authorities said.

Patrick Burris, 41, was shot to death by officers investigating a burglary complaint at a home in Gastonia, N.C., 30 miles from where the killing spree started June 27. Ballistics tests showed his gun matched the one used to kill residents in and around Gaffney over six days last week, said State Law Enforcement Division Chief Reggie Lloyd.

HC to decide on ownership of Ramjanmabhumi

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Lucknow, July 07: The Babri Masjid demolition has come to haunt the BJP yet again. The matter will be taken up in the Allahabad High Court on Tuesday.

The court had earlier ordered the Uttar Pradesh government to submit the title deed relating to the disputed land.

The state chief secretary and the principal secretary (Home) will also depose in court on Tuesday. The court hearing comes in the wake of Justice Liberhan submitting his report after a 17-year-long probe.

Trust factor: Easier for corporates to fund political parties

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New Delhi, July 07: Donations from business houses to political parties through “electoral trusts” would be cent per cent exempt from tax, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in his Budget Speech on Monday.

Donations to parties are already tax-free. The trust route will provide an alternative to corporate houses that wish to finance polls, but don’t want to be identified with a party.

“It is a positive move to ensure transparency in funding political parties,” said former Reserve Bank of India governor Bimal Jalan.

Software engineer from AP shot at in South Africa

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Hyderabad, July 07: An Indian software engineer from Andhra Pradesh was shot at by unidentified assailants in South Africa.

B Kiran, a native of Arepalli village near Warangal, was attacked in Johannesburg last Thursday while returning from work, his father B Shankaraiah said on Tuesday.

Two bullets hit Kiran, who was admitted to a hospital and is out of danger now, he said.

Kiran, who has been working in South Africa for the past two years, stayed with his parents last month and left for Johannesburg on June 27, he said.

Croatia’s first woman Prime Minister takes office

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Zagreb, July 07: Jadranka Kosor became Croatia’s first woman Prime Minister vowing to revive the country’s bid to join the European Union and tackle the economic crisis.

The journalist-turned-politician and her Centre-Right Cabinet were approved by 83 deputies in a late night vote in the 153-member Parliament. Forty-five voted against, no one abstained while the remaining were not present.

UN fact finding mission on Gaza begins hearing

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Washington, July 07: A fact-finding mission tasked by the UN Human Rights Council with probing rights violations committed during the recent Gaza conflict began its Geneva round of public hearings following a similar exercise held in the Gaza Strip last week.

“The purpose of today’s interviews was to hear from victims, witnesses and experts from southern Israel and the West Bank,” United Nations spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters at the world body’s headquarters in New York.

Obama, Putin meet at last, exchange pleasantries

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Moscow, july 07: President Barack Obama and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin have shaken hands, commencing a first-time meeting that each said he hoped could ease relations between Washington and Moscow.

Obama showed up at Putin’s home on a clear, sunny day Tuesday morning, thanking his host for arranging the more pleasant weather after several days of cool, rainy conditions in Moscow. He told Putin he “appreciated you taking the time to meet with me,” and said he believes the two countries can deal with each other “with mutual respect and consultation.”

Security Council slams N Korean missile launches

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Mumbai, July 07: With water levels in lakes supplying water to the city depleting fast, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has imposed a 30 per cent water cut uniformly across the metropolis beginning Tuesday.

“Because of the delay in the arrival of monsoon and with reservoirs and lakes drying up, we had to impose a 30 per cent water cut,” said Additional Municipal Commissioner Anil Diggikar.