Month: August 2009

World trade system starting to work again: Lamy

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Johannesburg, August 02: A $250 billion financial package to revive a global trading system crippled by the credit crisis is starting to bear fruit, especially in Asia, the head of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) said on Saturday.

“Oil is (returning) to the various mechanisms of world trade,” WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy said in South Africa.

“My sense — but it’s a qualitative feeling at this stage — is that notably in regions like Asia, because countries like China stepped in very vigorously, things are picking up,” he said.

Govt warns of action; IndiGo calls off strike

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New Delhi, August 02: Government on Saturday virtually ruled out any bail-out for the bleeding private airlines and warned them of “appropriate action” if flight schedules were disrupted. The pressure seems to be working with budget carrier IndiGo backing out of the strike and others saying they would reconsider their protest decision if their difficulties are addressed.

“The government understands the difficulties being faced by aviation sector. However, the government does not support any move that will inconvenience the traveling public of the country,” Patel said in a statement.

Manmohan reviews security situation

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New Delhi, August 02: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday held a meeting of the National Security Council and reviewed the security situation in the country and the region.

The meeting came in the backdrop of intelligence reports of possible threat via sea on the West Coast. The Indian Navy and the Coast Guard had on Friday reported that its ships had stepped up patrolling off the Konkan coast following intelligence inputs from the Goa police that a suspicious ship was sailing towards the State.

BCCI, ICC emergency meet on WADA impasse begins

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Mumbai, August 02: An emergency meeting between officials of the BCCI and the ICC started on Sunday morning to sort out issues regarding the signing of the WADA Anti-Doping Code.

The Indian cricket board’s all-powerful Working Committee, along with the skipper MS Dhoni, reached the BCCI headquarters here early this morning.

The ICC is being represented by their company lawyer Iain Higgins.

Flat controversy: FIR against Emraan Hashmi

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Mumbai, August 02: Just days after Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi claimed that his dream to buy a flat in Mumbai’s posh Pali Hill was turned down by Nibbana Cooperative Society on religious grounds, a fresh complaint has been lodged against the actor and his filmmaker uncle Mahesh Bhatt at the DB Road police station.

The complaint was filed by social worker Sanjay Bedia who has accused the actor and his uncle for dividing society on communal basis and playing a publicity gimmick.

Shiv Sena attacks BEST for power tariff hike

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Mumbai, August 02: The Shiv Sena on Saturday surprised everyone by coming out onto the streets to protest against the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), an agency the party has a stake in. The BEST comprises mostly members from the Shiv Sena and its ally, the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP). This protest this time — in which two buses were damaged — was against the recent power hike.

British PM Gordon Brown to write book on Gandhi

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London, August 02: Describing Mahatma Gandhi as “one of the great leaders” of the 20th century, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he wants to write about the apostle of peace’s contribution to the world civilisation.

Twenty20 not responsible for retirements: Yuvraj Singh

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New Delhi, August 02: The stylish left-handed batsman was replying to a question on whether or not the shortest version of the game had anything to do with the retirement announcements of England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff and Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

“I think it is not fair to say they are retiring because they want to play T20 at the expense of Test cricket,” Yuvraj said at a function organised by Reebok to introduce its new range of cricket shoes.

State will move SC on Malegaon blasts’ case

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Mumbai, August 02: Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has said that the state government will move the Supreme Court against the special court’s decision to drop charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the 11 accused in the Malegaon blast case.

“Whether the blast case is pertaining to Nanded or Malegaon, terrorists are terrorists. They do not represent any caste or religion,” he said, while addressing a rally at the Congress Bhavan in the city on Saturday.

A unique tribute to Gayatri Devi

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Mumbai, August 02: Of the many laurels that Gayatri Devi acquired, the most unlikely was the entry into the Guinness Book of World Records for her 1962 Parliamentary election win from Rajasthan for the then highest-ever victory margin.

Three killed in Tel Aviv gay centre shooting

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Tel Aviv, August 02: A masked man opened fire on a crowd in front of a gay community centre in Tel Aviv late on Saturday night, killing three people and wounding at least 10 others, Israeli emergency services said.

A young man and a young woman were killed on the spot while the third victim died in hospital and one of the wounded was in serious condition, they said.

The gunman, who was dressed in black, unloaded an automatic weapon on the young group of gays and lesbians at the entrance of the centre, located in the heart of Tel Aviv, and then ran away, witnesses said.

Gaza in 24 Hours

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As soon as I arrived home, I felt a great relief, if that is the right word. I had been unable to return home to Gaza since before the 23 days of bombing of Gaza earlier this year, because of the ongoing siege. I am not sure that the word relief summarizes my intense and conflicting emotions. Mixed feelings of relief, happiness, but also disorientation, continued to overwhelm me. Gaza my beautiful home, yes, my beautiful home, my beautiful people, who are trying so hard to live. To continue from one day to another. Despite the odds, the hardships, the deaf ears of the world.

‘After rape, teen victim was offered Rs2 lakh plus job’

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Srinagar, August 02: Testimony before the district and session judge of Gulshan alias Pepsi, a sexual abuse victim: “When I did not hear anything from state authorities about the release of my husband, I contacted Sabeena and sought her help. She told me there is one SSP (Senior Superintendent of Police) Ashkoor Wani who can help, and took me to a police control room (PCR). In the PCR, Sabeena told me that I should satisfy the SSP if I wanted my husband released. Given the circumstances, I agreed.

Love lost and found in court after 12 years

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New Delhi, August 02: Balvinder Singh and Bhinder Kaur may someday tell their children a story — about how an ugly court battle for divorce turned into courtship all over again.

After a 12-year-long legal fight and separation, Singh proposed once again. And the Supreme Court, eager to salvage a marriage in a day and age when divorces are becoming increasingly common, didn’t dispose.

The estranged couple experienced this ‘literal’ change of heart during a recent hearing in the apex court.

IIT Kanpur develops nanosatellite; to be launched by ISRO

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Kanpur, August 02: Taking a big leap in its technological quest, IIT Kanpur has developed a nanosatellite which is expected to provide real-time data on drought, flood, vegetation and forestation.

The satellite, designed and developed by a group of students of the institute, will be handed over to ISRO, which is expected to launch it by the end of the year.

Sad for Yahoo, gain for Microsoft

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New York, August 02: A sad day for Yahoo! That’s the consensus — a rare one — across both global technology and investor communities. Yahoo stock dropped 10 percent, Microsoft rose one percent. For once, the markets may have got it right. The decision to work together on their search engines is a big mistake for Yahoo, and a small gain for Microsoft.

But it was coming, even if we didn’t see exactly this 10-year deal in which Microsoft’s Bing will power Yahoo Search.

Love Aaj Kal beats Ghajini

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Mumbai, August 02: Love Aaj Kal, Imtiaz Ali’s latest, has opened to packed houses. In many places, the film, which has released in over 1800 screens, overtook last year’s record setter, Ghajini.

“The film has taken a superb initial,” says Komal Nahta, editor of The Film Street Journal. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh seconds that. “The opening’s on par with Ghajini. In the overseas, the film will be one of the biggest hits.” Devang Sampat of Cinemax confirms that the film has opened better than Ghajini in all its properties.

26/11 hurt: Pakistan’s Shahvar Ali brings out peace anthem

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Mumbai, August 02: Even as the governments of Pakistan and India still debate if they should talk to each other, Pakistani musician Shahvar Ali has come up with a peace album “No Saazish, No Jung” that features the voices of Mahatma Gandhi, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Benazir Bhutto and Barack Obama.

He hopes to release it by Aug 14 and 15 — when Pakistan and India respectively celebrate their Independence Day — and says the terror attacks on Mumbai hurt both the neighbouring countries.

Buta insists that his son Sarabjot is ‘innocent’

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New Delhi, August 02: “We have received two separate inputs from two Mumbai-based businessmen, who told us that Sarabjot had taken money to settle land deals for them. We are in the process of getting more details in these cases,” said a CBI source.

Meanwhile, CBI officers on Saturday conducted searches at two of the offices of one of the arrested persons, Dhaunk Singh, which included a jewellery shop and a computer shop in Khetwadi area. CBI officials had earlier raided Dhaunk Singh’s Dhanlaxmi Collections garment shop and caught him and his associate Madan Singh with the bribe money.

Iran detains US nationals at border

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Three US nationals who crossed into Iran via Iraq have been arrested, the state-owned Al-Alam television has reported.

“An informed Iranian source confirmed the arrest of three Americans after they infiltrated through the Iraqi border,” the Arabic-language television station said on Saturday.

The two men and a woman entered Iranian territory a day earlier from Iraqi Kurdistan despite repeated warnings not to do so, a Kurdish official said.

Police close in on ghost robbers

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Christchurch, August 02: Police are closing in on the remaining three “ghost robbers” behind an armed bank heist, following one arrest.

The masked ghost robbers had been on the run for more than a week after holding up a Katikati Kiwibank and a Te Puke jewellery store.

The crimes were part of a spate of armed holdups, including robberies at Westpac banks in Christchurch, Whakatane and Opotiki this week.