Month: July 2009

UAE newspaper banned for 20 days over doping story

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Dubai, July 06: A UAE newspaper linked to the ruler of Dubai was off the stands today after a court ruling over a 2006 story alleging doping of racing horses.

Arabic daily newspaper Emarat Al Youm and its website will be suspended as of today for 20 days for a story that alleged that the Warsan Stables, owned by the ruling family of Abu Dhabi, gave steroids to horses during a race.

The ruling was issued by the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal and upheld by the Supreme Federal Court in a defamation case against the Arabic daily.

Pak turns down offer to tour Bangladesh in October

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Islamabad, July 06: Pakistan has turned down an offer from Bangladesh Cricket Board to play the postponed one-day series between the two countries in October.

Bangladesh were to host Pakistan for five one-dayers and a Twenty20 international in March but the series had to be postponed due to security concerns.

“Bangladesh could not host us in March due to non clearance from their government but now they invited us to schedule the series in October which is not possible for us,” a senior official of the Pakistan board said today.

Fake passport case: Witness refuses to identify Salem

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Bhopal, July 06: One more witness today refused to identify underworld don Abu Salem during the trial in a fake passport case in a lower court here.

Though three persons – Javed, Siraj and Khallelullah Khan – were to be examined, only the last witness turned up at the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Mohan Prakash Tiwari’s court.

Khan, a notary advocate, refused to identify Salem saying he does not know who had come to his office for attesting the papers necessary for acquiring passport as the case was “too old”.

Guards grilled over failure to stop gunman

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Makkah, July 06: Police have questioned security guards at King Abdul Aziz Hospital in Al-Zahir district of Makkah for failing to confront a gunman who killed a male nurse on duty three days ago.

The guards said they ran off when the gunman — later identified as Fahd Al-Ruhaily — haphazardly opened fire soon after entering the hospital. They said they lacked the means to stop an armed intruder.

Cong condems MBA student’s encounter, calls for action

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New Delhi, July 06: The Congress today condemned the killing of an MBA graduate Ranbir Singh at the hands of Uttarakhand police and called for concrete and robust action against those involved in the incident.

“It reflects brutalisation of democracy, something which is and should be an anathema to democracy. We call for an immediate short enquiry and robust action,” party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said.

“A full-fledged comprehensive enquiry is the starting point, bare minimum that has to begin…,” he added.

‘Human element in mosques counts’

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Riyadh, July 06: Minister of Islamic Affairs Saleh Al-Asheikh said during the second session of the Certified Trainers Forum for Promoting Dialogue that the mosque is just a place and that human element in this place is what counts.

Al-Asheikh said during Sunday’s session entitled “The Importance of Mosques in Promoting Dialogue” that training programs are available for preachers to equip them with necessary knowledge and tools. For example, one program urges one monthly Friday sermon on the evils of domestic violence.

Ronaldo set for hero’s welcome at Real Madrid

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Madrid, July 06: Cristiano Ronaldo was undergoing medical test on Monday at Real Madrid before being introduced later in the day as the club’s latest signing before thousands of fans, completing a deal that makes him the most expensive player in the world.

The 2008 FIFA world player of the year is expected to get a hero’s welcome when he dons Real’s jersey for the first time at a ceremony at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium which is scheduled to get underway at 9 pm (1900 GMT).

Historical burden: Pak still owes India Rs 300 cr

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New Delhi, July 06: Pakistan is yet to clear a pre- partition debt of Rs 300 crore to India, which has been carrying forward year after year in its Budget account as a “liability”.

The Budget books refer to this Rs 300 crore as “amount due from Pakistan on account of share of pre-partition debt.”

The amount was entered as a liability in the first Budget of independent India in 1950-51 and has been there ever since.

But this a measly amount compared to the union government’s total liabilities that total Rs 34,95,452 crore and accounts for just 0.008 per cent of the total liabilities.

Wanted criminal killed in encounter

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Lucknow, July 06: A wanted criminal allegedly involved in a case of murder and loot, was killed in an encounter in Azamgarh district, a senior police officer said. Srikant Pasi, carrying a reward of Rs 10,000 over his head, was killed in a shootout at Sindhari area in Azamgarh, about 300 kms from here early this morning, IG (Law and Order) A P Maheshwari told reporters.

Pasi was wanted in connection with a case of murder and loot. Two revolvers and a country-made pistol were recovered from his possession.

—-PTI—

Dikshit hails union budget

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New Delhi, July 06: Hailing the Union Budget as “development-oriented and pro-poor”, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today said the qunatum jump for urban infrastructure projects and social welfare schemes would take the country forward.

“It reflects commitment of the Union Government to fulfil promises made to the ‘Aam Aadmi’,” she said.

Dikshit said in a statement that the budget would result in inclusive growth as an adequate provision has been made for housing and road sectors.

Captain’s job ‘too much’ for Flintoff

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London, July 06: Andrew Flintoff admits he found being England captain a struggle.

The Lancashire all-rounder first skippered England in India in 2006 when he stepped into the breach because neither Michael Vaughan nor Marcus Trescothick were available.
–Agenices

Strauss appeals for Ashes calm

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London, July 06: Andrew Strauss will emphasise the need for England to remain calm amid the excitement and intensity of the Ashes as they prepare for the start of the first npower Test on Wednesday.

The England captain is eager for his side to hit the ground running with an aggressive brand of cricket which will lift the crowd in Cardiff and set them on course to emulate the 2005 triumph over Australia.
–Agencies

Pranab has “run out of ideas” : BJP

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New Delhi, July 06: Dubbing the general budget as “trepid” and “unimpressive”, the BJP today said Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has “run out of ideas” and shown no boldness in tackling huge fiscal deficit and promoting key areas like infrastructure.

The Left parties too described the budget as “inconsequential”, saying it “fails” to address the economic challenges facing the country.

“I do not see any great message in the budget. It is timid, trepid and unimpressive,” senior BJP leader and former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha said.

Bihar not provided tip-off about Madni: Vijendra

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Patna, July 06: The Bihar government today said it has not received any tip-off about LeT operative Omar Madni, a resident of the state, from the central intelligence agencies.

“No tip-off was provided by the central intelligence agencies about Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Madni, who was arrested by the Delhi Police recently,” state Home Minister Vijendra Prasad Yadav told the assembly.

Pak Army still considers India a threat: Mullen

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Washington, July 06: Despite President Asif Ali Zardari’s assertion that a Taliban insurgency, not India, was the biggest threat to Islamabad, the Pakistani Army still considers India a “threat,” US’ top Army official indicated.

In an interview to CBS “Face the Nation”, Chairman of America’s Joint Chief of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen said the Pakistan Army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is focused on both – the threat from India and that from internal insurgency.

Policeman, four others injured in Kashmir clash

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Srinagar, July 06: At least five persons, including a policeman, were injured here as police fired teargas shells and used batons to disperse a crowd protesting against the alleged failure of authorities to locate a student who went missing four days back. The clash took place at Badshah chowk and spread to adjoining Maisuma, Gawkadal, Red Cross road and Koker Bazar in the heart of the city.

Lone BJP MLA joins Congress in Meghalaya

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Shillong, July 06: BJP’s lone legislator in Meghalaya Assembly today joined the the ruling Congress.

“I, being the only legislator, represent 100 per cent of BJP’s legislature party. The BJP’s legislature party has merged with the Congress,” three-time legislator A L Hek, representing Pynthormukhrah constituency, said.

Hek joined the Congress in the presence of Chief Minister D D Lapang, AICC in-charge of Meghalaya Luizinho Faleiro and other senior Congress leaders.

BJP’s state Minority Morcha president S Ahmed was among 250 supporters who joined the Congress along with Hek.

Galle hundred most memorable of my career: Yousuf

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Karachi, July 06: Senior Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf has rated his comeback century against Sri Lanka in the first Test at Galle as the most memorable and important innings of his career.

Yousuf, who made a triumphant return to the Pakistan team with his 24th career century, said he rated his hundred very high as he was under lot of pressure to perform and prove himself.

Akram slams BCCI for not playing with Pakistan

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New Delhi, July 06: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has criticised the Indian cricket board for showing reluctance to schedule a bilateral series.

The Future Tours Programme draft does not include a single bilateral series between the archrivals, even though the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had promised earlier that the two nations would meet at least once a year.

This is the best Indian team since 1990s: Kirmani

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New Delhi, July 06: Syed Kirmani is not ready to call the current crop the best Indian team ever but the former stumper believes Mahendra Singh Dhoni leads the best national side since the 1990s.

Kirmani hailed Dhoni and his men, who beat the West Indies 2-1 to win their fifth ODI series on the trot. Asked if he would be tempted to call it the best Indian side ever, Kirmani refused to oblige.

“I won’t say this is the best India team ever,” said the stumper-batsman.

Jaya dismisses budget as ‘clerical exercise’

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Chennai, July 06: Dubbing the Union budget as “weak and tentative”, AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa today dismissed it as a “clerical exercise reflecting the continuity of a visionless government”.

“The budget proposals are not having the qualities that will take India out of the current economic morass on to the path of resurgence,” she said.

Yuvraj becomes No.2 ODI batsman after WI series

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Dubai, July 06: It was India one-two in the ICC ODI Rankings as dashing left-hander Yuvraj Singh zoomed to a career best second place, topped by his captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Despite winning the four-match series against the West Indies, there was, however, no such good news for India as Dhoni’s men missed a chance to reclaim the second spot in the ICC ODI Championship and remained third.

India needed to win all their matches against the West Indies but they went down in the second tie at Sabina Park even though it could not deny them a 2-1 series win in the Caribbeans.

I have taken risk to return to higher growth rates: Pranab

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New Delhi, July 06: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said that he has taken tremendous risk to return to higher growth rates by opting for higher deficit and hoped to achieve nine per cent growth next fiscal.

“I have taken the tremendous risk to create the fiscal space of having higher deficit. I could have gone for the more conservative way of reducing the deficit and spent myself with six or less than that percentage of growth,” he told Lok Sabha television soon after presenting the Union Budget in Parliament.

8-million-year-old elephant found in Abu Dhabi

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Abu Dhabi, July 06: Paleontologists on Sunday announced that they had discovered the 8-million-year-old fossilized remains of an elephant, a hippo and a giant ostrich in western Abu Dhabi.

Archaeologists from Yale University and Abu Dhabi’s Authority on Culture and Heritage (AUCH) have been studying fossilized remains from the Miocene Era, some 6-8 million years ago, the AUCH said in a statement.

Merkel backs nuclear power despite breakdown

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Berlin, July 06: German Chancellor Angela Merkel affirmed through a spokesman Monday her support for nuclear power, despite an electrical fault that shut down one of Germany’s 12 nuclear power stations two days earlier. A short-circuit knocked out the Kruemmel plant near Hamburg on Saturday. It had been under repair after its main transformer had caught fire two years ago.

With a general election less than 12 weeks away, Merkel, who was a physicist before entering politics, has been calling for existing nuclear plants to be kept in service for rather than be prematurely shut down.