Month: November 2009

UP court orders personal appearance of policemen

by

Deoria, November 07: A local court has directed a station officer and seven other policemen to make personal appearance, finding them prima facie guilty in a dacoity case in this eastern district of Uttar Pradesh.

Goribazar area resident Ramvilas Yadav had filed a petition in the court, alleging that Diwakar Singh, Station officer, Chauri Chaura, Gorakhpur, along with seven other policemen, reached his home and looted his assests on May 8, 2008. When the family members of petitioner tried to stop them, the SO opened fire.

Palin goes rogue, bans cell phones, cameras, laptops from speech

by

Washington, November 07: Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is notoriously sensitive to media criticism. Even so, to many observers this move may seem drastic.

Hoping to keep a “low profile” on her upcoming trip to Wisconsin, the one-time GOP vice presidential candidate decided to ban all press from covering her speech. She further issued an edict against cell phones, cameras, laptops and recording devices of any kind, CNN noted.

During a radio interview, Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate called the restrictions “bizarre,” especially coming from a self-described “rogue.”

Tata Power to raise $300 mn through FCCBs

by

Mumbai, November 07: TATA Power is planning to plans to raise $250 million (Rs 1,170 crore) by issuing foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCBs) to be listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange. In a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), one of the exchanges in India where the company is listed and traded, it said that the $250 million FCCB issue has been launched. Tata Power said that the issue has a green-shoe option of raising a further $50 million.

Tawang ready to welcome Dalai Lama

by

Tawang, November 07: Nestled among the snow-capped mountains and perched at a height of 10,000 feet, picturesque Tawang is all set to welcome the Dalai Lama on his sixth visit to Arunachal Pradesh starting from Tamang. Colourful posters with pictures of the Tibetan spiritual leader and flags welcome visitors to the place, where the Dalai Lama had landed in 1959 after his escape from Tibet.

Iranians linked to banned drone videos in Darfur – U.N.

by

Tehran, November 07: Two Iranian businessmen working at a Dubai-based firm were linked to video surveillance devices sold to Sudan and used in unmanned drones in Darfur in violation of a U.N. arms embargo, a U.N. report said.

The 94-page report by the so-called U.N. “Panel of Experts,” published on Friday, details arms violations by all parties in the Darfur conflict, which began in 2003 when mostly non-Arab rebels revolted in 2003 after accusing Khartoum of neglecting Darfur.

Heavy rains continue to lash TN

by

Chennai, November 07: Heavy rains continued to lash most parts of Tamil Nadu with north east monsoon, which brings bulk of rainfall to the state, being active over the state. Red Hills near here recorded a maximum of 15 cm rain today, followed by Cuddalore at 11 cm, Met officials said.

Muslims say Islam no threat to military

by

Virginia, November 07: Ali Faruk grew up as a Muslim in an Indian-American military family in Northern Virginia.

Soldiers and police officers routinely showed up in uniform for Friday prayer services at Dar AlNoor Islamic Community Center in Woodbridge, sometimes carrying their service weapons.

“It really wasn’t a big deal,” said Faruk, who works as a policy analyst for the Virginia Interfaith Center in Richmond.

Thackeray spits venom against Muslims

by

Mumbai, November 07: The controversy over the singing of “Vande Mataram” and the fatwa issued by the Jamiat-E-Ulema Hind (JuH) two days ago in Deoband in the presence of Federal Home Minister P. Chidambaram stating that Muslims would not sing that song, has now taken a ugly turn with hardcore Hindu organizations like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Shiv Sena issuing threats to Muslims.

Nidal Malik Hasan ‘was not a terrorist’ Palestinian cousin says

by

West Bank, November 07: Maj Nidal Malik Hasan, who killed 13 people at a Texas military base, had become increasingly devoted to Islam following the death of his parents but was no terrorist, his cousins in the West Bank said on Friday.

Speaking from their home in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Hasan’s relatives painted a picture of a man cornered into an act of “lunacy” by the repeated discrimination of his peers and an attempt by the army to force him to serve in Afghanistan.

Major Hassan’s firing spree with Allah-Ho-Akbar

by

Washington, November 07: An Army psychiatrist, trained to treat soldiers dealing with anxiety and stress, opened fire Thursday in a crowed medical building at Fort Hood, Texas.

Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan is suspected of shouting “Allahu Akbar!” seconds before opening fire on a crowd of people near a Soldier Readiness Center at Fort Hood on Thursday. Hasan is suspected of shooting more than 40 people before he was shot four times by a civilian police officer.

Responsible Afridi wants to win more for Pakistan

by

Abu Dhabi, November 07: Swashbuckling all-rounder Shahid Afridi Friday hoped his more responsible approach to batting and effective bowling would help Pakistan defend the World Twenty20 title and win the 2011 World Cup.

“I am becoming more and more responsible with my batting,” Afridi told AFP. “I want to help my team win the World Twenty20 again next year and then the bigger prize in the World Cup in two years time.”

Last Taliban stronghold captured by Pakistan army

by

Islamabad, November 07: Pakistani troops pushing deeper into South Waziristan yesterday razed the house of the militant leader Baitullah Mehsud, killed by a US drone strike this summer, as they assaulted the last of three Taliban strongholds.

Troops struck the village of Makeen, a major militant base and home town of the former Taliban leader. Officials said his house was destroyed in symbolic revenge for the hundreds of people killed by the Taliban. The soldiers are said to have met little resistance.

Flintoff eyes trophies after new Lancashire deal

by

London, November 07: England all-rounder Flintoff, who is recovering from knee surgery, retired from Test cricket after helping his country regain the Ashes from Australia in August, saying his body could no longer stand the strain.

But the 31-year-old is continuing as a limited overs cricketer and wants to represent England at the 2011 World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Flintoff, who made his Lancashire debut in 1995, is equally keen to add to the two trophies he has already won with the Old Trafford-based county.

McCullum, Styris star as New Zealand level series

by

Abu Dhabi, November 07: Brendon McCullum hit a return-to-form hundred and Scott Styris took three wickets in two overs as New Zealand beat Pakistan by 64 runs in the second day-night international here on Friday.

McCullum notched 131 to help the Black Caps post a challenging 303-8 on a flat Abu Dhabi Stadium pitch before Styris (3-23) triggered a middle-order collapse which saw Pakistan bowled out for 239, leaving the three-match series level at 1-1.

Pakistan won the first match by 138 runs on Tuesday. The final match will be played here on Monday.

England start with crushing win

by

London, November 07: England started their tour of South Africa with a crushing 185-run over the Diamond Eagles franchise team in a 50-overs match in Bloemfontein on Friday.

Captain Andrew Strauss hit one of three half-centuries as England piled up 294 for seven, taking advantage of good batting conditions after being sent in to bat.

Stuart Broad struck with the second ball of the Eagles’ innings and the home team never recovered, crashing to 109 all out in 26.2 overs. Five England bowlers took two wickets each.

Henriques confident of playing soon

by

Melbourne, November 07: Moises Henriques honeymoon in international cricket lasted only two matches but the young all-rounder said he is determined to be back in the field within a week or two to claim for a spot in the Australian team for the summer series against West Indies and Pakistan.

One of the stars of New South Wales’ victorious Champions League campaign, Henriques, himself was a replacement for injured James Hopes in the ongoing seven-match ODI series against India.

18 Kg RDX, Firearms Recovered From West Bengal Forest

by

Kolkata, November 07: West Bengal Police have recovered a large weapons cache in Bankura state forests. The discovery of the weapons was made before bypolls to 10 seats in the assembly on Saturday.

Police sources said 18 kilos of RDX, three rocket launchers, pistols, and one of the landmines were recovered from the forest area.

The State has been on high alert after the discovery. So far, police have not made any arrests.

Police did not specify whether the arms were for Naxals.

–Agencies

Former players question Umar Akmal’s absence

by

Karachi, November 07: Former Pakistan captains have questioned the manner in which Umar Akmal was omitted from the second ODI against New Zealand, which Pakistan lost to leave the series tied at 1-1.

Akmal’s name was a surprising omission from the team sheet at the toss – Shoaib Malik took his place – and Younis Khan’s explanation for the change was not entirely clear.

Akmal, 19, has had an excellent start to his international career, scoring his maiden ODI century in just his third game and averages 49.83 in the format.

Haddin not feeling threatened by Paine

by

Melbourne, November 07: Brad Haddin is looking forward to the first Test against West Indies, confident that his position as Australia’s No. 1 wicketkeeper hasn’t been threatened. Haddin made his return to cricket during the week after having surgery on the finger that he broke during the Ashes tour.

Obama asks to delay Japan trip after massacre at military base

by

Tokyo, November 07: US President Barack Obama wants to begin a visit to Japan a day later than planned so he could take part in a memorial service for 13 people killed in a shooting rampage at a US military base, news reports said.

Obama requested that the start of his first visit to Japan be moved back from Thursday to Friday and the Japanese government was expected to grant the request, an official in Japan’s Foreign Ministry was quoted as saying.

Gulping coffee during night-shifts can affect your sleep quality

by

Hamburg, November 07: The recent study has shown that intake of coffee during night-shifts negatively affects quality of sleep during day, and this phenomenon goes on worsening with the age.

Caffeine can interfere with sleep.

Research team led by Julie Carrier, a Universite de Montreal psychology professor, analyzed data collected from twenty-four men and women. The study subjects were divided in two groups.

I want to follow Aishwarya, not Katrina: Jacqueline

by

Mumbai, November 07: Who would you choose between former beauty queen Aishwarya Bachchan and current Bollywood sensation Katrina Kaif if given a choice? You may say it’s a tough call but not so for Jacqueline Fernandez. She admires Aishwarya.

The Sri Lankan beauty queen, who made her Bollywood debut through Aladin, is fed up of comparisons with Katrina Kaif. The fact is that she wants to step into the footsteps of Aishwarya and not Katrina.

Shilpa Shetty to put on wedding costume by Tahiliani

by

Mumbai, November 07: Preparations are in full swing for wedding ceremony of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and her fiance Raj Kundra scheduled to be held on November 22 in Khandala.

All the rituals of marriage will be performed at bungalow of Kiran Bawa, who is Shilpa’s fast friend, said a source. Only close friends and kin have been invited to attend the ceremony.

Sangeet and mehendi rituals will be performed before the wedding at the same bungalow before. Shilpa will wear the wedding costume being designed by famous designer Tarun Tahiliani.

‘Abbas step-down will help Palestinian cause’

by

Gaza, November 07: Hamas says Mahmoud Abbas’ departure from his position, as acting Palestinian Authority Chief will help the Palestinian cause.

“There are many Palestinians who are ready to take on the responsibility of leading the Palestinians people,” senior Hamas official Mushir al-Masri said in an inclusive interview with Press TV on Friday, adding, “Those replacing Abbas may even elevate the Palestinian cause to the next level.”

Aamir Khan’s emergency

by

Mumbai, November 07: Aamir Khan had an embarrassing situation yesterday. He needed to use a bathroom urgently and had to rush past journalists who were waiting him at a press conference.

Aamir was stuck in the traffic for two and a half hours and was desperately looking for a bathroom. By the time he reached the five star hotel, he was almost pushing past the media and pleaded that he needed to use the bathroom.

We can’t help but feel a little bad for Aamir now.

—–Agencies