Month: October 2009

Cabinet Secretary, officials of 17 ministries arrive in J&K

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Srinagar, October 05: A 20-member central team led by Union Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrashekar on Monday reviewed various infrastructural projects in Jammu and Kashmir, ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to the state later this month.

The team, comprising secretaries from 17 ministries, went straight from the airport to the venue of the meeting and held discussions with various citizen groups in the state besides top officers on the Rs 30,000 crore Prime Minister’s reconstruction plan, officials said.

India, Pak should be more aggressive: Latif

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Both Pakistan and India should take a leaf out of Australia’s book and learn to come out with a more aggressive brand of cricket in big tournaments like the Champions Trophy, feels former skipper Rashid Latif.

Pakistan went down to New Zealand by five wickets in the semifinal yesterday, while Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men failed to enter the final-four stage of the eight-nation tournament in South Africa.

BSF arrest five Pak nationals from Creek area in Kutch

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Ahmedabad, October 05: Five Pakistani nationals have been arrested from the Creek area on west coast of Kutch district by the Border Security Force (BSF), police said on Monday.

The incident took place yesterday, they said adding that the boat in which the five persons were traveling has also been seized.

According to police, the boat carrying five persons on board had ventured into the creek area, following which they were arrested by the BSF.

They are being brought to the joint interrogation center in Bhuj where they would be questioned, they added.

No pressure on Deccan Chargers: Gilchrist

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Hyderabad, October 05: League-II earlier this year, is raring to emulate the feet in Champions League Twenty20, commencing from October 8.

Gilchrist, who expressed cautious optimism about their performance in the upcoming 12-team tournament, insisted that the Hyderabad-based team is not carrying any “extra burden” on the run-up to Champions League.

“I think there are expectations always at all times to do well,” Gilchrist said.

Kobad Ghandy sent to police custody till Oct 8

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New Delhi, October 05: A city court Monday sent arrested Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) leader Kobad Ghandy to three days’ police custody.

The Delhi Police contended before the court that they need to interrogate him to proceed further in the case. The court sent Ghandy to police custody until Oct 8.

The 63-year-old London-educated Ghandy was arrested here Sep 21 though his party says he was picked up by police four days earlier Sep 17. The top Maoist leader was in judicial custody till Oct 5.

–Agencies

Adrenalin will fuel us: Vettori

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Johanesburg, October 05: Adrenalin and desire will fuel tired New Zealand’s dreams of beating Australia in the Champions Trophy final on Monday, captain Daniel Vettori said.

“I wish we had another day before the final, to be honest,” Vettori told a news conference on Sunday.

“It was exhausting on Saturday to get through the late game but I think once Monday turns up the adrenalin will take over and everyone will be pretty excited about playing in a final.”

Scientists develop antidote for new class of drugs

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Chicago, October 05: A new compound can quickly counteract the action of an emerging class of drugs, offering a way to reverse the drugs’ actions if a patient develops serious side effects, US researchers have said.

They designed the compound to work with a new blood-thinner being developed for heart patients undergoing angioplasty to clear out blocked arteries.

Such patients need to take blood thinners to prevent blood clots during surgery, but bleeding is a common side effect.

Umar cleared of Champions Trophy dissent

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Johanesburg, October 05: Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal was found not guilty Sunday of dissent during the Champions Trophy semi-final loss to New Zealand, an International Cricket Council statement said.

The charge was brought by umpires Ian Gould and Simon Taufel, TV umpire Daryl Harper and reserve umpire Steve Davis after Umar reacted angrily to a leg-before decision against him.

Disciplinary hearing convenor Javagal Srinath said: “Umar’s reaction at being dismissed at such a crucial phase of the innings was more of disappointment than anything else.

City Union Bank to raise Rs 300 cr via QIP route

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Mumbai, October 05: City Union Bank will raise Rs 300 crore by way of private placement of shares with qualified institutional buyers.

Shareholders of the bank in August had approved a proposal to raise Rs 300 crore by allotting shares to potential buyers, City Union Bank said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange on Monday.

The proposed private placement would be completed within 12 months from the date of the resolution passed, the filing added.

Shares of City Union Bank were trading at Rs 29.65 on the BSE, down 1.50 per cent from previous close.

—PTI

Ahmadinejad was born a Jew?

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Tehran, October 05: In a stunning report on Saturday, a British newspaper claimed to have uncovered proof that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad — notorious among the international community for denying the holocaust — was actually born a Jew.

According to The Telegraph, a high resolution photograph of Ahmadinejad holding up his Iranian identity card, taken just before the 2008 election, reveals that his family changed its name shortly after he was born, renouncing their Jewish faith and adopting Islam.

Ranbir sprays insecticide on his underarms!

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Mumbai, October 05: Ranbir sprays insecticide on his underarms! Ranbir Kapoor had a disastrous experience recently when he used insecticide instead of his deodorant.

He was chatting with a crew member in his makeup room and he reached out for the can of insecticide kept on his table without looking at the bottle and sprayed it on his underarms. Only when his underarms had a burning sensation did he realize that he had used insecticide instead of deodorant.

Caught sleeping together

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Boy1:Meet my wife Tina
Boy2.Oh! I know her
Boy1:How?
Boy2:v were caught sleeping together
Boy1:What the hell?
Boy2.during lecture in maths class

Four day workshop on nano technology begins

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Chennai, October 05: A four-day workshop on nanotechnology began here today with a view to give ”exposure” to students about the sector”s concepts and potential. The workshop is being organised by Science City under Department of Higher Education, Tamil Nadu.

India to review energy coop with Iran; Deora to meet Rahimi

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New Delhi, October 05: After losing an oilfield to China, and Iran trimming by one-third the promised stake in a gas field, India would review its energy cooperation with the Persian Gulf nation when Petroleum Minister Murli Deora meets its leaders in Beijing next week.

Iran chose China over India’s ONGC-Hinduja Group joint venture for award of the giant South Azadegan oilfield, and has trimmed the combine’s promised 60 per cent stake in Phase-12 of the South Pars gas field in the Persian Gulf.

BMW gifted to Salman, Poor children to ride first

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Ahmedabad, October 05: Bollywood actor Salman Khan is famous for his generosity and largesse. He proved it again as the actor said that he would be travelling in the gifted BMW car only after poor children ride it.

Thus he has given a chance to poor children for riding the BMW car that has been gifted to him by a businessman.

Salman reached Ahmedabad to receive the car that is worth Rs 74 lakh. Setting an example, the actor said that he would sit in the car only after poor children ride it.

IAF to build capabilities along Indo-Pak border

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New Delhi, October 05: The IAF will provide more teeth to its fleet along the Indo-Pak border by ramping up its all-round capabilities in Punjab with induction of new fighter squadrons, including Sukhois, and air defence radars.

The IAF’s sword-arm Western Air Command (WAC) is preparing to host two squadrons with 4.5-generation Sukhois at the Halwara fighter base near Ludhiana within two years from now.

It will also base all three squadrons flying the fourth generation MiG-29 air superiority fighters in Punjab to improve its air strike capabilities.

Sonia undertakes aerial survey of flood-hit areas in AP

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Hyderabad, October 05: UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi undertook an aerial survey of Kurnool and Mahabubnagar districts which bore the brunt of torrential rains and devastating floods. Gandhi, who arrived here this morning by a special plane, was accompanied by Chief Minister K Rosaiah, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, Union Law Minister and in-charge of Congress Affairs in Andhra Pradesh M Veerappa Moily and state Congress chief D Srinivas.

Over 400,000 babies die within day of birth in India

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New Delhi, October 05: More than 400,000 children die within 24 hours of their birth in India every year – the highest anywhere in the world, a study by an international charity said.

While globally this figure stands at two million babies dying within a day of their birth, the shocking and tragic fact is that the reason for these deaths are diseases and infections that are easily treatable, and therefore the deaths are preventable.

UN closes offices in Pakistan after attack

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Islamabad, October 05: The United Nations says it has temporarily closed its offices in Pakistan following the attack on the World Food Program office in the capital of Islamabad.

UN spokesman Ishrat Rizvi said no specific threat had been received and the move was a precaution following Monday’s attack that killed three people.

—Agencies

Shahid Kapoor’s flat butt exposed

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Mumbai, October 05: Shahid Kapoor needs to wear bum bags to make his rear look in shape. Shahid, who has worked on achieving a good physique, was still not very confident about his butt. So, in order to make his hips look nice and round, he wears a bum bag, which is a small pouch like thing secured with a zipper and is worn at the waist.

Shahid has been wearing bum bags since his first film in 2003. While he doesn’t wear these at home, he needs to wear them during film shoots because he is afraid his near-flat butt will look bad.

Guess everyone has their own little quirks!

Preity Zinta says yes to Salman

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Mumbai, October 05: Preity Zinta has not charged a single penny from the Khans for the brief appearance she makes in Sohail Khan Productions Main Aur Mrs. Khanna.

A source said, “Preity and Salman (Khan) have been good friends. The two have done some of the most remarkable films together. Chori Chori Chupke Chupke was hit. Jaaneman was a hit too.” Preity feels that Salman is man with a heart of gold.

Rahul Gandhi to visit Tripura on Tuesday

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Agartala, October 05: AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi would pay a day’s visit to Tripura on Tuesday to attend two youth workshops in the State, party sources said on Monday.

Mr. Gandhi would fly in here from Itanagar and then go by helicopter to Manughat in North Tripura district to attend a party youth workshop.

He would fly back here to attend another workshop. He is likely to fly to Kolkata in the evening.

Police said arrangements for Mr. Gandhi’s security have been made with the Special Protection Group personnel having already arrived here.

–PTI

Thai train accident kills 8, injures scores

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Bangkok, October 05: At least eight people have been killed and 54 others injured in central Thailand after a train derailed, according to officials.

The incident happened near Hua Hin on the Gulf of Thailand early Monday, said Chatree Charoencheewakun, director of the Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand.

Some others have been trapped inside the derailed carriages of the 16-car train.

The train came from the southern city of Trang and its destination was the capital city of Bangkok.

All of the victims were Thais, Police Lt. Col. Udom Chainoom said.

Chidambaram asks States to abolish single-teacher schools

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Chennai, October 05: The Centre has decided to convert single-teacher schools into at least three-teacher schools, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said here.

Speaking after declaring open new buildings at Tamil Nadu College of Education at Karaikudi near here last night, he urged State governments to take steps to put an end to the single-teacher schools.

Though there were a large number of qualified teachers in the country without a job, nearly half of the about eight lakh schools were being run on the single teacher concept, he said.