Dhaka, July 05: Torrential rains triggered landslides and flash floods killing six people and stranding half a million in their homes in Bangladesh, officials said on Saturday.
The landslides occurred near Habiganj district town, some 200 km (125 miles) northeast of the capital Dhaka on Saturday, burying all six members of a family.
Tehran, July 05: An Iranian newspaper has called for opposition leader Mir-Hossein Mousavi to face trial for inciting the wave of protests after last month’s presidential election.
It has accused him of treason.
The hardline Kayhan daily is considered to have close ties to Iran’s leadership.
Its weekend edition says Mr Mousavi should be tried for acting against national security.
Hossein Shariatmadari, the editor, says Mr Mousavi had acted on the instructions of the United States in protesting against the election result.
Dehradun, July 05: Controversy erupted over the gunning down of an MBA qualified youth by Uttarakhand police after he allegedly fled with a sub-inspector’s revolver while his family claimed that he was killed in a fake encounter.
The incident triggered protests from family and opposition Congress after which Chief Minister R P Nishank handed over the probe to CB-CID into the killing of 22-year-old Ranbir Singh from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh.
Jeddah, July 05: Road accidents in Saudi Arabia cost an estimated SR26 billion annually, which is equal to four per cent of the Kingdom’s gross domestic product, according to Dr Ali Al Ghamdi, former chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee and professor of traffic and transport engineering at King Saud University.
During a discussion on the increasing number of accidents and high cost in Riyadh on Thursday, he said about one-thirds of government hospital beds are occupied by accident victims.
“About 45 per cent of accidents are caused by speeding,” he added.
Mumbai, July 05: It has been proved that out-and-out entertainer created with conviction has always generated an unparalleled euphoria amongst the masses.
The advance booking for Sajid Nadiadwala’s KAMBAKKHT ISHQ which opened in advance on a Sunday instead of the customary Wednesday saw serpentine queues at all multiplexes.
It was as if this movie had taken Bollywood back in time, where hordes of fanatical film buffs would excitedly crowd around the ticket window waiting for the counter to open.
New Delhi, July 05: DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has asked his party colleague and IT and Communication Minister A. Raja to respond to allegations that he pressurised a judge to give bail to two men accused in a criminal case.
“Kalignar (as Karunanidhi is referred to) has sought a clarification from Raja. He (Raja) has given a reply. I don’t know what his reply was,” a top DMK functionary said.
Mumbai, July 05: Pooja Batra, who starred in films like Virasat, Haseena Maan Jayegi etc., maybe missing from the Bollywood scene after she tied the knot with hubby Dr. Ahluwalia; however she still continues to make her presence felt in Bollywood in a rather unique way.
At the previews of Kambakkht Ishq which took place yesterday, viewers were surprised to see Pooja’s name being featured in the opening credits of the film. Considering that Pooja has been missing from the Bollywood action for a while now, we decided to find out why she was being thanked by the makers.
Mumbai, July 05: If the original cast of “Short Kut – The Con Is On” would have remained intact, audiences would have seen Anil Kapoor playing the role that Akshaye Khanna now essays. Also, Arshad was a late entry into the project as he finally got the part written for Akshaye.
“Yes, the film did see some casting changes though all of it happened before it went on floors. Akshaye was always the first choice for the film and he was on board immediately. After ‘Gandhi My Father’, it was but natural that he acts in my next production as well, ” Anil told.
Mumbai, July 05: SaifLove 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.”
Karachi, July 05: Noted religious scholars of the country have issued edict (fatwa) calling for civil disobedience and stop paying electricity bills as long as the loadshedding remains.
This is the first time in city’s history that religious scholars of two sects, Sunni and Shia, agreed to issue an edict saying that it was ‘haram’ to send bills without providing electricity and increase power rates without any justification.
Islamabad, July 05: Chief of his faction of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Nawaz Sharif, has said he would feel it an honour if asked to serve the country as prime minister for the third time.
Talking to reporters in London, Sharif said military dictator Gen. Musharraf had mutilated the constitution and concentrated powers in the presidency turning the prime minister as an ineffectual figurehead. “He also imposed the ban on two-time prime ministers to seek a third term in order to keep me and late Benazir Bhutto out of the race,” he said.
Mumbai, July 05: Sarika and superstar Kamal Haasan’s light eyed, fiery natured daughter, is days away from debuting into bollywood. She is used to all the attention, having performed live with her own maiden band and her penchant for singing. However, it is Soham Shah’s high-octane action drama, Luck, which she has her hopes pinned on.
Islamabad, July 05: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has voiced Pakistani concern that the latest offensive by US forces in Helmand, south of Afghanistan, will destabilise the situation in Balochistan.
“We fear a spill-over effect on Balochistan of surge in the number of US troops and their latest massive offensive in Helmand that is likely to push Taleban to cross over to Pakistan,” the prime minister told reporters here.
He said he has conveyed his reservations to US officials and they had assured him that no extremist would be allowed to cross into Pakistan.
Mumbai, July 05: John, Katrina voted most eligible single celebsBollywood actors John Abraham and Katrina Kaif have been voted as the most eligible single celebrities in an online poll.
The poll conducted by matrimonial website shaadi.com saw responses from over 18, 000 netizens, a statement from the company said Friday.
Nearly 48 percent of males voted for Katrina as the most eligible single female and 43 percent females named John as their favoured eligible bachelor.
Mumbai, July 05: Kambakkht Ishq is touted as the movie that can help the Hindi film industry sail through difficult times. The film is very important for Akshay Kumar as it can either make or break his career.
After a string of duds, Akshay also hopes to rise above his peers in this extravagant blockbuster.
Rome, July 05: Sanctions against Iran triggered by Western fears over its nuclear drive would only inflame tensions, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview broadcast Saturday.
Medvedev told Italian Rai television, ahead of this week’s G8 summit of world leaders, that Moscow backs what he said was Washington’s policy of seeking rapprochement with Tehran after decades of suspicion.
Chennai, July 05: People who walk into Paprika restaurant at the five-star Courtyard Marriott here are surprised to see bang at the entrance a cart loaded with tender coconuts – the kind one sees on Indian streets. Cart man R. Palani is smartly turned out though in chef’s attire and shoes.
Foreigners who dine there are fascinated by the way Palani holds a huge nut in one hand and slices the unwanted portions fast with an aruval, or sharp sickle.
Islamabad, July 05: Pakistan will share with the international community the evidence of foreign elements supporting terrorists to destabilise the country, a foreign ministry official said.
”We have gathered proofs of some anti-Pakistan foreign elements supporting terrorists in our tribal areas to destabilise Pakistan and we would share it with the concerned countries at international level,? foreign office spokesman Abdul Basit was quoted as saying by the Online news agency.
Garmsir, July 05: Since 4,000 US Marines pushed into Taliban-controlled areas of southern Afghanistan on Thursday, one company has been in a constant firefight with the insurgents, the military said.
Troops from Echo company of the 2/8 infantry battalion flew in by helicopter to Mian Poshteh, a key canal and road junction in Helmand province, as part of President Barack Obama’s efforts to finally defeat the Islamist militants.
Peshawar, July 05: The Taleban claimed responsibility Saturday for a Pakistani helicopter crash that killed 26 security personnel, as helicopter gunships pounded suspected militant hideouts in the northwest.
“We shot down the helicopter,” a spokesman for Taleban insurgents based in the nearby Darra Adam Khel region told AFP.
The spokesman, identifying himself as Muhammad, said the helicopter had been targeted in retaliation for the Pakistani military operation in South Waziristan, a stronghold of the Taleban and Al-Qaeda.
Tehran, July 05: Iran’s ex-president Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani said on Saturday that there was no power struggle in Iran following the crisis triggered by alleged fraud in the June 12 presidential election, ISNA news agency reported.
“The election scene was a competition within the system and should not be considered by some as a power struggle or crack in the system,” Rafsanjani was quoted by ISNA as saying in his first reaction to the post-election turmoil.
Seoul, July 05: The U.S. pointman for sanctions on North Korea holds talks in Malaysia on Sunday, possibly on links banks have to the North’s finances, while a report said Pyongyang may have shot mid-range missiles in a series fired on Saturday.
North Korea launched seven ballistic missiles, South Korea’s defence ministry said, in an act of defiance towards the United States on its Independence Day, further stoking regional tensions already high due to Pyongyang’s nuclear test in May.
Boston, July 05: “It’s a wonderful monument,” said Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick in his taped remarks played at the opening of a new large mosque at Roxbury Crossing here last week. “I’m so proud to stand with all of you,” said Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino.
Riyadh, July 05: Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh said that cooperation and acceptance of other viewpoints and not forcing a singular point of view are necessary if society is to benefit.
“The ulema and Islamic scholars are willing to answer questions, listen to advice, and discuss and debate for the benefit of people. The idea is to cooperate by accepting other viewpoints and not enforcing one point of view for the sake of the unity of society,” he said at the opening of the largest Certified Trainers Forum for Promoting Dialogue.
Riyadh, July 05: Saudi petrochemicals producers said yesterday they would seek duties on imports from China after Beijing began a dumping probe on petrochemical products from Saudi Arabia and three other countries.
Abdul Rahman Al-Zamil, chairman of the executive council of Saudi Export Development Center (SEDC), said China had no grounds to pursue the dumping investigation on imports of methanol and butanediol (BDO) it launched in late June.