Month: July 2009

It’s a great victory: Celina Jaitley

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Mumbai, July 03: The Delhi High Court ruling decriminalising consensual sex between members of the same sex is being loudly cheered by those who have been advocating the repeal of section 377 for years now.

Goa-based fashion designer Wendell Rodricks was one of the first to welcome the development saying, “It’s very good news. We have proven that we no longer live in a backward society. This is a victory for both the gay community and the lawyers who have fought for their rights. From now on, no one will be persecuted for their preferences.”

India Inc presses ctrl+alt+delete on servers

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Bangalore, July 03: India Inc has cut down spending on computer servers drastically. The cut is so steep that investments in the first quarter of 2009 have come down to Q2, 2006 levels, sounding off alarm bells for overall IT spends. And analysts warn the trend could continue.

India’s overall server market in Q1 declined 29.6% year-on-year to $154 million, the same figure as in Q2 of 2006. This is the second consecutive quarter of revenue declines, latest available data from industry tracker IDC India Ltd show.

British regiment commander killed in ‘huge’ bomb attack in Afghanistan

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London, July 03: The commander of a British regiment has been killed in Afghanistan, the first to have died in active service since the Falklands war 27 years ago.

Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, was killed on Wednesday by what defence officials described last night as a “huge bomb” that shattered the armoured Viking tracked vehicle he was travelling in.

WHO warns swine flu ‘unstoppable’

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Mexico, July 03: The UN’s top health official has opened a forum in Mexico on combating swine flu by saying that the spread of the virus worldwide is now unstoppable.

World Health Organization head Margaret Chan added that the holding of the meeting in Cancun showed confidence in Mexico, which has been hard hit.

The WHO says most H1N1 cases are mild, with many people recovering unaided.

As the summit opened, the UK alone was projecting more than 100,000 new cases of H1N1 a day by the end of the summer.

Homosexuality is unnatural, inhuman, immoral act: Gen. Secretary Jamiat Ahle Hadees

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New Delhi, July 03: Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadees has expressed grave concern on the legalization of homosexuality by a Delhi High Court verdict today, and said the judgment is against Indian culture, religious traditions and human values.

Maulana Asghar Ali Imam Mehdi, General Secretary, Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadees, said homosexuality is unnatural, inhuman, immoral act considered unpleasant in every civilized society. To legalize this act will dishonor the sanctity of family relations, affect public health and will gave way to various sexual and physical diseases.

Salman’s wedding bells have not rung: Salim Khan

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Mumbai, July 03: Salman Khan’s father, the acclaimed writer Salim Khan, has bought the distribution rights of a small budget film titled Kissan which is being co-produced by his other son Sohail and is extremely gung-ho about the project.

However, when probed whether Salman and Katrina Kaif, who have been quite an item for a long time now, were knocking on the doors of marriage, Salim said he does not know whether his son’s eyes have seen Kat as his ideal wife.

UN chief set for mission in Burma

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Burma, July 03: UN chief Ban Ki Moon will arrive in Burma shortly to seek the release of political prisoners including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Mr Ban will hold talks with Burma’s military leader General Than Shwe.

Ms Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace laureate, has spent much of the past two decades in prison or under house arrest.

Her trial on charges of breaking the terms of her house arrest is about to resume after an interruption of more than a month.

Airlines griped of bilateral blow. They’ve a point

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New Delhi, July 03: The frequent grouse of some Indian carriers that a liberal bilateral regime has hurt their load factors on international routes is borne out by statistics.

According to figures provided in the Economic Survey 2008-09, as many as 1,05,298 additional seats per week were made available in 2008 to foreign carriers through fresh bilateral agreements.

Obama to tell Putin: Time to move past Cold War

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Washington, July 03: Days from his first Moscow summit, President Barack Obama declared Thursday that former Russian President Vladimir Putin “still has a lot of sway” in his nation and needs an in-person reminder the Cold War is over.

Sonia Gandhi summons Andhra MP

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Hyderabad, July 02: Nagarkurnool Congress Lok Sabha member Manda Jaggandham is stewing in his own juice after slapping the manager of a Grameena Vikas Bank, Ravinder Reddy, in Uppununthala village, Mahaboobnagar district, a couple of days ago. With the media beaming images of his highhanded behaviour across the country, Congress president Sonia Gandhi sought an explanation from him as did Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy on Wednesday.

Top Naxal Leader Killed In Encounter

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Warrangal, July 02: In a major blow to the CPI-ML Praja Pratighatana, its State secretary Sudhakar alias Ashok was killed in an alleged encounter in the Eturunagaram forests, Warangal district, on Wednesday. Another Naxalite was also gunned down but his identity is yet to be established.

Police recovered one SLR and a 0.8 mm rifle from the scene of action.

District Superintendent of Police V C Sajjanar said the exchange of fire took place in the forests near Bhupathipur village in Eturunagaram mandal.

Bank official held for fraudulent withdrawal from APSFC

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Hyderabad, July 02: A senior official of Andhra Bank was arrested Wednesday in connection with the fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 5.4 crore from the account of AP State Finance Corporation (APSFC) nearly a month back. The multi-crore fraud came to light a few days back after the APSFC authorities noticed that Rs 5.1 crore was withdrawn from their account by a private firm. The APSFC holds an account in Andhra Bank.

Panel on public safety giving opposition the jitters

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Hyderabad, July 02: The constitution of an Advisory Committee on Public Safety and Security with Chief Minister’s YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s Man Friday, KVP Ramachandra Rao, as its Chairman has raised many eyebrows.

Those critical of the decision wonder where is the need for such a committee when there is a full-fledged home department. Ironically, Home Minister Sabita Reddy has been left out of the committee which, critics say, indicates that all is not well with the committee.

AP likely to get Rs 800 cr for crop loss

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Anantapur, July 02: Andhra Pradesh is likely to get Rs 800 crore compensation for the crop loss incurred by farmers last kharif season, under the crop insurance scheme, Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy has said.

Talking to newsmen at the municipal guest house here Wednesday, he said Andhra Pradesh was the only State in the country, which is implementing the crop insurance scheme by taking village as a unit. As many as 17.45 lakh farmers had taken the crop insurance policy in the State and of them 4.61 lakh are in Anantapur.

Bevy of scientists to descend on City

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Hyderabad, July 02: The city is all set to witness a galaxy of eminent scientists and research scholars discussing the latest developments in the field of science and technology for the next three days. About 350 renowned scientists and teachers from India and abroad are participating in the platinum jubilee meeting of the prestigious Indian Academy of Sciences to be held at the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology from July 2 to 4.

Radio City on the hunt for ‘Navulla Don’

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Hyderabad, July 02: After the fabulous success of Navulla Don last year, Radio City 91.1 FM brings the fun and humour back in 2009 for Season 2. Navulla Don is a first-of-its-kind reality hunt, is on the prowl again – hunting for the city’s best Fun Jockey, who can tickle the funny bone and make the entire city laugh with his or her wit and humour.

PC promises NSG centre for city

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Hyderabad, July 02: The State capital will have a full-fledged National Security Guard (NSG) Regional Centre, next only to the elite force’s headquarters at Manesar in Gurgaon, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram announced here on Wednesday.

‘‘The regional centre is a major project and will take a few years to materialise,’’ he said, adding that the proposed centre would come up at Ibrahimpatnam and would have 5,150 commandos. Though he did not set a time-frame for the centre, he said land for the same had already been identified.

Maytas to offload stake in metro rail

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Hyderabad, July 02: With the State Government signalling that it intends to cancel the metro rail contract awarded to Maytas Infra Ltd-led consortium and invite fresh bids, the company is reportedly planning to divest its stake, fully or partially.

Gay sex legality: Court slam government

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New Delhi, July 02: Decriminalising gay sex in India, the Delhi High Court Thursday also pulled up the government for its stand that judiciary should refrain from interfering on the issue that is under the ambit of parliament.

Michael Jackson’s funeral set for July 7: reports

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London, July 02: After plans for a grand public memorial at ‘Neverland’ fizzled out, the funeral of ‘King of Pop’ Michael Jackon may be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles next Tuesday.

British tabloid ‘Sun’ which had published the leaked autopsy report of the pop star claimed that the service will start at 10am at the arena which is home to the LA Lakers basketball team, quoting sources in the US.

The venue which is owned by AEG Live, the organisers of Jackson’s comeback gigs at London’s O2 arena, has a seating capacity of 20,000 and is expected to be packed to the full.

Gambhir, Bhajji top Indian players in ICC rankings

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Dubai, July 02: Gautam Gambhir is India’s highest ranked Test batsman at number three and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, at sixth, is the highest placed Indian bowler in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings issued Thursday.

Gambhir, the Delhi left-hander with 847 rating points, is the only Indian to figure in the top 10 batsmen’s chart, followed by Sachin Tendulkar (13th), VVS Laxman (15th) and Virender Sehwag (20th).

In the bowlers’ chart, Harbhajan is the lone Indian in top 10, followed by Zaheer Khan (11th) and Ishant Sharma (20th).

T A Sekhar to conduct camp for Mumbai fast bowlers

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Mumbai, July 02: Former India and Tamil Nadu pacer T A Sekhar will conduct a ten-day camp for the fast bowlers of the city between July 3 and 12 at the Mumbai Cricket Association’s indoor academy at the Bandra-Kurla Complex here.

The camp intends to help around 45 pacers from various age groups in improving their technique and learn skills about the various aspects of fast bowling, according to the director of the MCA’s Cricket Academy, Chandrakant Pandit.

Seven arrested in connection with seizure of bombs

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Tirunelveli, July 02: Seven persons, including a policeman, have been arrested in connection with the seizure of 11 ‘tiffin box bombs’ in the city outskirts on June 15, top police officials said today.

IG (South Zone) Sanjeev Kumar, DIG Tirunelveli, Kannappan, and DIG (Madurai) P Balasubramanian, who formed a special team led by Tirunelveli SP Asra Garg to investigate the case, told newsmen here tonight that the arrested include S Venkatesh, an armed police personnel.

The gang had planned to use the bombs to avenge a triple murder in the district on January 11 last.

Bomb hoax at Jaipur cinema hall; caller arrested

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Jaipur, July 02: A youth was arrested today for allegedly making a hoax call stating that a bomb was planted at a cinema hall here, police said.

A phone call was received at the city police control-room at 1605 hrs and the caller said a bomb was planted at Rajmandir theatre, police said, adding that bomb disposal and dog squads searched the premises after evacuating it, but no explosive was recovered.

Police later traced the call to Kanota town here and arrested the caller identified as Arvind Jatav, 23, a senior police official said and added that the youth is being interrogated.

Maya says economic survey based on fake data

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Lucknow, July 02: Terming the economic survey report tabled in Parliament by the UPA government as “false” and “based on fake data”, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today appealed to the Centre not to implement its suggestions in the budget.

“The Economic survey report is based on false data. The Centre should not incorporate its suggestions in its budget so that poor people could be benefited,” Mayawati told reporters here.