Month: September 2009

Tata Motors may return Singur land if compensated

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Kolkata, September 01: Tata Motors group chairman Ratan Tata Tuesday said the company was prepared to return the land it was given at Singur for its Nano car factory to the West Bengal government provided it was repaid the money it had spent to develop the plot.

“If they compensate the total investment we put into the land, we may return it,” Tata told newspersons when asked about the group’s plans around the plot, now abandoned after the Nano project was shifted out of the state following protests from villagers and the Trinamool Congress party.

Males experience loss of libido during hepatitis-C therapy

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Washington, September 01: Loss of libido and impaired sex is common among those undergoing antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C, according to a new study.

This is the first time a study evaluating the combination therapy, peginterferon and ribavirin, has identified sexual dysfunction (inability to fully enjoy sexual intercourse) as a side effect.

The therapy has the potential to affect all three components of sexual health: desire, function and satisfaction.

Alcohol disrupts circadian rhythm in humans

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Washington, September 01: Chronic alcohol consumption blunts the biological clock’s ability to synchronise daily activities with light, even days after the drinking ends, according to a new study.

The study describes the changes that drinking can produce on the body’s masterclock and how it affects behaviour. The research provides a way to study human alcoholism using an animal model, said researcher Christina L. Ruby of the University of Tennessee (UTE).

India’s merchandise exports slip for 10th straight month

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New Delhi, September 01: India’s merchandise exports fell for the 10th straight month in July and were valued 28.4 percent lower at $13.62 billion against $19.04 billion during the corresponding month last year, latest trade data showed Tuesday.

Cumulative value of exports for the first four months of this fiscal (April-July) was $49.65 billion – 34.1 percent lower than the $75.29 billion that was logged during the year-ago period, as per the data released by the commerce ministry.

Iran parliament endorses controversial general as defence minister

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Tehran, September 01: The Iranian parliament on Tuesday deliberately provoked Israel by endorsing a controversial general as defence minister despite foreign objections to his nomination.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s designation of General Ahmad Vahidi spurred protests in Argentina, where justice officials have accused him of taking part in the 1994 bombing of the Jewish community centre AMIA, which killed 85 people.

Iran’s arch-foe Israel also condemned the move, saying the nomination of Vahidi revealed the real nature of the Iranian regime.

Musharraf visits Saudi Arabia to meet King Abdullah

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Islamabad, September 01: Pakistan’s former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf, who has been living outside the country for over four months, has travelled
from Britain to Saudi Arabia to meet Saudi King Abdullah.

Gen (retd) Musharraf’s legal adviser Chaudhary Fawad Hussian said the former president had travelled to Saudi Arabia in a special aircraft sent by King Abdullah.

Musharraf will stay in the kingdom as a special guest of the Saudi royal family, he said, adding King Abdullah will host an ‘Iftar’ dinner for him.

BJP internal war won’t affect Maharashtra prospects: Shiv Sena

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Mumbai, September 01: The Shiv Sena today said the factionalism in the Bharatiya Janata Party, its alliance partner, would not effect the performance of the coalition in the Maharashtra assembly elections.

“The factionalism in the BJP would have no impact on our prospects in Maharashtra,” Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut told media.

Raut said since “Shiv Sena is the bigger party in the coalition (in that state), the BJP’s internal politics would not hamper our prospects.”

He said the seat sharing formula with the BJP for the 288 assembly seats in the state has been finalised.

Bhai, my name is Khan: Salman

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Mumbai, September 01: If you’re not close to Salman Khan, do not call him Salman bhai … And if you do, be ready to face his wrath. In a radio interview recently, the RJ made the mistake and had to face a stern Salman who coldly ordered, “Call me Salman Khan.” Explaining why Salman was against the ‘bhai’, Siddharth Kannan said, “Salman doesn’t like the fact that people unknown to him also called him Salman bhai.

Salman, Himesh patch up

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Mumbai, September 01: Salman Khan and Himesh Reshammiya, who had fallen out in 2006, decided to not let their egos get in the way of their reconciliation… Salman Khan and Himesh Reshammiya were good buddies once, but in Bollywood ego usually plays the villain. But like friendships, enmities in the fickle world of films don’t last long either. Yesterday morning, they kissed and patched up on the sets of Dus Ka Dum at RK Studios, Chembur, indicating a thawing-out for the first time since their problems peaked in 2006.

Suniel is a cool daddy

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Mumbai, September 01: Actor-producer Suniel Shetty whose film “Daddy Cool” recently hit the screens, claims he is a very cool father and is just like a friend to his children.

“I think I am a very cool daddy because my kids are more like my friends. I was always aware of the fact that I didn’t want to get stuck with the problem of any generation gap so I rather grow up with them,” Suniel told IANS.

Katrina Kaif romancing Salman’s enemy Shahrukh?

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Mumbai, September 01: The grapevine is abuzz with the news that Katrina Kaif is romancing Shahrukh Khan in a new film to be directed by the ever elusive Aditya Chopra. Katrina is miffed at the news, not because Shahrukh is her boyfriend Salman Khan’s enemy but because there is no truth in it.

Buzz up!Katrina said that she might be doing films under Aditya Chopra’s production house Yash Raj Films but the news of Aditya directing them is just another rumour. She is close to Shahrukh in spite of the fight between Salman and him on her last birthday.

Rishi debuted 25 girls!

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Mumbai, September 01: From his first film “Bobby” (1973) till now – Rishi Kapoor had a smooth journey in Hindi films and admits that he has been a blessed actor as compared to many others.

“I’m very satisfied with my career graph. I have been a blessed actor. My first film as a hero, itself was a hit and then I went on to play the leading man for 27 years. More than 25 heroines have made their debut opposite me,” Rishi told reporters here.
The actor was in the capital to promote his forthcoming film “Chintuji”, releasing Sep 4.

—Agencies

Iran’s Ahmadinejad plans U.N. visit: aide

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Tehran, September 01: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad plans to address this month’s U.N. General Assembly meeting, an aide said on Tuesday, in what would be his first trip to the West since his disputed re-election in June.

Ahmadinejad’s attendance of the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations headquarters in New York would take place in the same month that Western powers have set as a deadline for Tehran to agree to talks on its nuclear program.

Politics too complex for Big B

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Mumbai, September 01: Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who was an MP for a brief period in the 1980s, says he discontinued his association with politics because he felt he was “inadequate for the job”.

“Many ask me why I joined politics and then why I left it. I joined it because I was asked to and left because I was inadequate for the job,” Bachchan posted on his blog.

How Sush got sexy again!

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Mumbai, September 01: For the first time, Sushmita talks about how she went from flab to fab in forty-five days

Sushmita Sen’s sudden weight gain earned her enough flak to last a lifetime but her recent appearance at the inauguration of a spa left everyone speechless. In a matter of months, she went from rotund to fabulously sexy and svelte. While everybody has been keen to know what she did to again look every inch the glamorous star in a really short time, for the very first time she tells Mumbai Mirror why she gained weight and how she fought off her weight issues.

Recovery, US troops priority for new Japan leader

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Tokyo, September 01: Japan’s likely next prime minister will create a new Cabinet post to oversee national strategy and the economy, officials said Tuesday, and quickly turn his attentions to proving himself on the diplomatic front — an area in which he is virtually untested.

One of Yukio Hatoyama’s first challenges will be with key ally Washington over a plan to move 8,000 U.S. Marines off the southern Japan island of Okinawa, a plan that could cost Japan as much as $10 billion. Some members of his Democratic Party of Japan have balked at that pricetag.

Have no regret for joining ICL: Rohan Gavaskar

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Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh), September 01: Back in the BCCI’s fold after resigning from the ‘rebel’ Indian Cricket League, Rohan Gavaskar is now eyeing a comeback into Bengal Ranji team, which he captained once.

The left-hand batsman, who joined ICL in its inaugural year in 2007, however, was not ready to regret the decision to play for Subhash Chandra owned Twenty20 league that resulted in virtual closing of Team India’s doors two years ago.

Akshay wants some romance!

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Mumbai, September 01: He has done loads of action films and made audiences laugh in rib-tickling comedies, but Bollywood star Akshay Kumar now says he’s bored and wants .

“I want to do more romance. I’ve actually gotten bored of comedy and action. Yes, I just want to do some romantic films. And that’s what my next thing is going to be,” Akshay told Myleen Klass in an interview for CNN’s “The Screening Room Xtra” programme.

Yemeni government rejects rebels’ truce offer

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Sanaa, September 01: The Yemeni government rejected a truce offer by Shi’ite rebels in the north of the Arabian Peninsula country late on Monday, after accusing Iranian media of stoking the conflict.

“We announce an initiative to stop the war so that roads are opened, the presence of armed mobilisation ends and the situation returns to how it was before,” a statement issued by rebel leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi’s media office said.

The government rejected the offer, which follows a government ceasefire offered last month.

Maruti Suzuki sales up 41.6 pc to 84,808 units

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New Delhi, September 01: Riding on the back of the highest ever monthly export in the company’s history, country’s leading four wheeler manufacturer Maruti Suzuki India Ltd today said its sales for the month of August-09 increased to 84,808 units as compared to 59,908 units sold in the corresponding period last year.

This also includes exports of 14,847 units, the auto manufacturer said in a statement.

Lost? Try saying SRK!

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Mumbai, September 01: When lost in a foreign country, Bollywood always comes to your rescue. Especially Shah Rukh Khan. That King Khan has a crazy fan following from Ambarnath to Amsterdam is stale news.

BJP is paying for ‘sins’ of its leaders: Lalu

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Patna, September 01: RJD supremo Lalu Prasad told yesterday the present crisis in the BJP reflected that the party was paying “for the sins committed by its leaders”.

“The demolition of Babri mosque, Gujarat riots and riots in other places by the BJP had taken a heavy toll of innocent lives,” Prasad told.

BJP is disintegrating because of the “curse” of people, he said, adding that the party “will vanish and its leaders will have to face the consequences of their sins”.

BJP launches membership drive in UP to regain moorings

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Lucknow, September 01: After its debacle in the Lok Sabha polls and recently concluded by-elections to four assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP has launched an aggressive membership drive to regain its moorings in the state. “BJP has launched an aggressive membership campaign in the state which is being supervised by senior leaders who are visiting different districts and motivating people to join the party,” a senior BJP leader said.

Army jawan killed in J&K

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Srinagar, September 01: A Non-Commissoned Officer was kiled in a hostile fire from Pakistan side in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir early today, offical sources said.

Jang Bahadur of 2/5 Gorkha Rifles was killed when a burst of small arms was fired near Tiba border outpost in Balnoi area in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district at 0200 hrs, official sources told UNI.

There was no confirmation from the authorities.

The jawans hails from Assam.

—Agencies

North Korea sends delegation to China – KCNA

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Pyongyang, September 01: North Korea, facing tougher U.N. sanctions for its nuclear test in May and a series of missile launches, said on Tuesday it had sent a Foreign Ministry delegation to China, its biggest benefactor and only major ally.

In a short dispatch, the North’s KCNA news agency said the group was led by Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Kim Yong-il, but gave no other details.

The reclusive North has in the past month made a series of conciliatory gestures that analysts see as an attempt to reengage with the outside world.