Month: October 2009

Ramsay to serve up $41,000 dinner

by

London, October 01: A Wealthy gastronome has forked out £23,000 ($41,602) to have British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay serve up a sumptuous dinner aboard the London Eye.

The mystery diner and nine of his or her friends will feast on a menu from Ramsay’s three Michelin-starred restaurant as they enjoy a birds-eye view of London from inside one of the giant ferris wheel’s enclosed capsules.

The Guardian newspaper reported that the three-course dinner was a prize in a charity auction for Starlight, which grants wishes for seriously and terminally ill children.

Teen Natalie Morton killed by tumour not cervical cancer vaccine

by

New York, October 01: The teenage girl who died shortly after being immunised against cervical cancer was killed by a malignant chest tumour and not by a reaction to the vaccine manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, an inquest has heard.

Natalie Morton, 14, fell ill on Monday after being vaccinated at her school under a national immunisation programme against the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus (HPV).

She died a few hours later after being admitted to hospital.

Congress comes up trumps in ZP bypolls

by

Hyderabad, October 01: The ruling Congress on Wednesday bagged five zilla parishads in the state by winning the chairperson posts in a
byelection.

With this the Congress now rules over 21 out of the 22 zilla parishads (ZP) in the state with the principal opposition Telugu Desam Party reduced to power in only Ranga Reddy ZP.

By engineering a split in the TDP which earlier had a majority, the Congress wrested the Adilabad zilla parishad where its candidate B Ganapathi was elected as the chairman.

Sweet-toothed kids ‘become violent adults’

by

England, October 01: Children who eat sweets every day are more likely to be violent as adults, possibly because they want instant gratification, a British psychological study has suggested.

The research, by researchers at Cardiff University in Wales, took about 17,000 babies born in 1970 and monitored them at age five, 10, and 34 years old to see if there was a correlation.

Prisoner flees after asking guard way out

by

New York, October 01: Forget the knotted bed sheets or tunnel. A New York prisoner has come up with a much easier way to break out of jail: ask the guards for the exit.

The inmate, who was wearing a suit for a court appearance on charges of multiple store robberies, simply wandered out of an open cell door and into a courtroom on Wednesday, the New York Post daily reported.

There, he calmly asked a court officer “which way is out?” and the guard – mistaking the escapee for a lawyer – directed him to the lobby.

Two arrested with ‘cocaine sandwiches’

by

Dutch, October 01: Dutch police have arrested two people at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport for allegedly having hidden three kilograms of cocaine in sandwiches, authorities said.

Inspectors found the drugs last week in 33 sandwiches in the luggage of the two, a 30-year-old man from Suriname and a Dutch woman, 56.

“With the unpacking of the sandwiches … it transpired that they were not fit for consumption,” said a military police statement.

“They were filled with about 100 grams of cocaine each.”

—Agencies

GHMC poll conduct notification only after Diwali

by

Hyderabad, October 01: The election notification outlining poll conduct for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) that was to be issued will be delayed by a few more weeks.

The State Election
Commission (SEC) was to issue the election notification after Ramzan and Dassera festivities. But during a GHMC meeting held here on Thursday with the district officials and police authorities, there was no mention of the election notification.

Doctors forced to let woman, 26, die

by

Britain, October 01: A 26-YEAR-OLD woman who drank poison was allowed to die in a British hospital after handing doctors a living will begging them not to save her life.

Kerrie Wooltorton, who was believed to be depressed about her inability to have children, drank antifreeze at her home before calling an ambulance to take her to the Norfolk and Norwich hospital.

However, when she arrived she handed over a letter, or living will, clearly stating she realised what she had done and did not want doctors to save her life.

Can the pandemic be controlled?

by

Hyderabad, October 01: THE spate of deaths related to swine flu in the city is an indication of the vice-like grip the virus has with no signs of letting up anytime soon. Hospitals are packed to capacity with suspected as well as confirmed patients of H1N1 virus housed here.

The approaching winter season is also a cause for concern as fall in temperatures could be conducive for the spread of the virus. Though the State Government and health officials assure that all necessary steps are being taken to control the virus, doubts are raised as to any plausible end to this epidemic.

Congress moves to checkmate Jagan Mohan

by

Hyderabad, October 01: The Congress high command remains unfazed despite the continuing demand from a section of partymen that Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy should be made the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and has put in place plans to ensure continuance of K Rosaiah at the helm at any cost.

Congress forms Siliguri civic board with Left support, Trinamool fumes

by

Kolkata, October 01: After a long-drawn political battle over the mayor’s seat in Siliguri Municipal Corporation, the Congress on Thursday formed the city civic board with support from West Bengal’s ruling Left Front (LF), leaving its national alliance partner Trinamool Congress in the lurch.

Trinamool Congress, which is an ally of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the centre, decided to part with its partner and chose to sit in the opposition in the municipal corporation.

APAC under CBI scanner

by

Hyderabad, October 01: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is awaiting transcripts of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) of the crashed Bell-430 chopper from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has now begun an inquiry into the allegations of massive corruption in the AP Aviation Corporation Limited (APAC).

A series of reports published in Express about the efforts made by the late Group Captain Sunil Kumar Bhatia to expose the alleged corruption in APAC would form the basis of the probe.

Show restraint, Jagan appeals to supporters

by

Hyderabad, October 01: Expressing shock over the threats issued by party MLAs and public representatives that they would resign their posts, Kadapa MP Jagan Mohan Reddy today appealed to them to maintain restraint and not to resort to such acts. “Actions that will affect the party’s interests will not give peace to my father,’’ he said.

In a press release here, Jagan stated that there was a need to show restraint and strengthen the hands of the Congress party leadership.

Congress makes clean sweep of all five posts

by

Hyderabad, October 01: The clean sweep of the byelection to the posts of all the five Zilla Parishad Chairpersons held in the State today has come as a shot in the arm for Congress leaders.

Anusha refuses plastic surgery

by

Rajhmundary, October 01: N Anusha (17), who suffered knife injuries on her neck in an attack by a stalker Mattadi Rajesh, refused plastic surgery and prefers to keep the scar in memory of her parents who sacrificed their lives for saving her life.

It may be noted that the Rajesh, who nurtured a grudge against Anusha for spurning his love, attacked her at her residence and stabbed her on her neck and knee on September 17. He stabbed her father Srinu and mother Satyavathi, when they came to her rescue.

Haj flights from October 23

by

Hyderabad, October 01: Minority Welfare Minister Mohd Ahmadulla Syed has said the Government has made all arrangements for Muslims who go on Haj pilgrimage this year. The Haj committee has taken all necessary measures to avoid inconvenience to the pilgrims, he said.

After having `Embarkment point’ meeting on Haj-2009 with officials of Saudi Airlines

Hyderabad Prayer Festival from October 2

by

Hyderabad, October 01: The three-day Hyderabad Prayer Festival-2009 will be held from October 2 to 4 at Parade Grounds, Secunderabad.

World renowned evangelist, Paul Dinakaran, Founder and Director of Jesus Calls Ministries, Chennai, will deliver the message on all the three days.

Addressing a press conference here today, Swaranjit Sen, IPS (Retd.) and Chairman, Hyderabad Prayer Festival-2009, said that APSRTC will run special buses to various destinations in the City for the convenience of the people who attend the festival.

Iran, powers end ‘constructive’ round of talks

by

Moscow, October 01: French and Russian officials on Thursday gave a guarded welcome to an Iranian idea to obtain enriched uranium from a third party, the first time Tehran has offered such a move in the dispute over its nuclear programme.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Iran would propose at talks in Geneva on Thursday that it could buy enriched uranium for a research reactor from another country.

“It’s for the research reactor and we have made a response that is fairly positive,” French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told reporters while in Moscow for talks.

Hariri still keen on national unity government

by

Beirut, October 01: Prime minister-designate Saad Hariri said on Thursday he is still keen to form a national unity government but does not rule out a different formula if he fails to reach a deal with his political rivals.

Hariri spoke following a week of talks with the various parliamentary blocs in his second bid to form a government since a June election that saw his coalition win against a Hezbollah-led alliance.

Discussions will continue amid hopes of an agreement soon, he said.

Darfur female refugees raped in Chad

by

Libreville, October 01: Tens of thousands of women who fled unrest in Darfur face the daily threat or rape and violence in refugee camps in neighbouring Chad, Amnesty International said Wednesday.

“Darfuri refugee women and girls face high levels of rape and other violence on a daily basis both inside and outside refugee camps in eastern Chad, despite the presence of UN security forces, said the Amnesty International report.

Israel threats to halt ‘peace steps’ over UN probe

by

Tel Aviv, October 01: Israel warned on Thursday that the UN Human Rights Council would strike a fatal blow to the stalled Middle East peace process if it passes its damning Gaza war report on to the Security Council.

“The adoption of what is called the Goldstone report would deal a fatal blow to the peace process,” hardline Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, repeating comments he made at the UN General Assembly last week.

“Israel will not be able to take further steps and further risks towards peace if the report is adopted,” Netanyahu said.

Iraqi PM forms new non-sectarian bloc

by

Baghdad, October 01: Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Thursday unveiled a broad-based political alliance to fight January’s general election, hailing a “historic” moment for a country often torn apart by sectarianism.

The State of Law Coalition, comprised of 40 political parties and groupings, will include candidates from Iraq’s ethnic majority Shiite community as well as Sunni tribal leaders and candidates from other minority groupings.

Hosni shares some of blame of UNESCO loss

by

Cairo, October 01: Some Egyptians are lashing out at the government over the case of Culture Minister Faruq Hosni and his failed bid for the top job at UNESCO, blaming the regime or Hosni himself for the defeat.

Egypt fought a tough diplomatic battle to get Hosni elected, and when the man lost out to Bulgaria’s Irina Bokova last week.

Hosni told an Egyptian weekly: “My fight was not against candidates but against states. The conspiracy was bigger than you can imagine.”

Many critics agree that Jewish groups and some pro-Israeli states had a big role in his defeat.

Yemeni troops press northern offensive

by

Sanaa, October 01: Yemeni troops pressed their seven-week-old offensive against Shiite rebels in the northern mountains on Thursday a day after fierce fighting left more than 30 people dead.

Heavy gunbattles erupted in Saada province on the Saudi border while artillery pounded rebel positions in Amran province further south, commanders said.

On Wednesday, 28 rebels were killed in clashes at Uqab, west of Saada town, while four soldiers and five rebels died in fighting in the Harf Sufyan district of Amran, security sources said.

Arabs on guard against swine flu ahead of hajj

by

Riyadh, October 01: Arab countries have stepped up efforts to combat swine flu ahead of the hajj, fearing the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca could provoke outbreaks despite reassurances from Saudi Arabia.

Some two million foreigners and possibly as many Saudis are expected to descend on Mecca and Medina for the hajj, which takes place in the middle of the northern hemisphere’s winter flu season in November.