Month: November 2009

Israel warns of new Gaza offensive

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Jerusalem, November 04: Israeli Army Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi has threatened a new offensive against the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, suggesting attacks on civilian targets.

Ashkenazi repeated Tel Aviv’s allegations against Hamas, accusing the Islamic movement of hiding weaponry in public buildings and residential areas.

He said the Israeli army could be fighting in cities, mosques, hospitals, schools and even kindergartens, blaming the indiscriminate warfare and a likely targeting of civilians on Palestinian resistance fighters.

Leena Jumani becomes a victim

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Mumbai, November 04: Well don’t be surprised or shocked as we are talking about her stint in Balaji’s venture Bayttaab Dil Kee Tamanna Hai on Sony. The actress who got to fame as Khemi in Bandini, Leena Jumani is essaying the role of the maid which depicts the famous Shiney Ahuja rape case.

“Yes it’s a cameo of few days and last night only I finished my stint with the show. I essay the role of maid who is the victim as Aman Verma tries to rape her,” states Leena.

Lohan slams reports of link up with Butler

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London, November 04: American actress-singer Lindsay Lohan has dismissed reports that she is dating Scottish actor Gerard Butler.

The “Mean Girls” star is alleged to have enjoyed a number of flings since splitting from DJ girlfriend Samantha Ronson earlier this year. She was linked to “The Ugly Truth” star Butler after they were allegedly spotted kissing at the grand opening of a luxury beach resort in Morocco, reported dailystar.co.uk.

But she insists that the rumours were untrue and admits that the inaccurate media reports constantly keep her smiling.

Ministry asks PCB for review of players’ contracts

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Karachi, November 04: Pakistan’s Sports Ministry has asked the PCB to review the central contracts they have awarded to cricketers as it feels some players are drawing unfair financial benefits through the contracts.

According to the details available, the Sports Ministry has notified the Pakistan Cricket Board in writing that it had reservations over the way the board was spending money on cricketers.

PCB allows Misbah to play in Bangladesh

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Karachi, November 04:Pakistan senior batsman Misbah-ul-Haq has finally been given permission to take a two week break from the premier first class domestic competition to play in Bangladesh.

Misbah confirmed today that he had got permission from the board. The PCB was initially reluctant to release him due to the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match.

Misbah said he had got a good offer to play some five to six one-day matches for the Abhani Sports club in the premier league tournament of Bangladesh.

Karzai pledges to form national unity government

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Kabul, November 04: Newly ‘re-elected’ Afghan President Hamid Karzai pledged to form a national unity government one day after he was declared the winner in the fraud-tainted presidential election.

“My government will be for all Afghans, and all those who want to work with me are most welcome, regardless of whether they opposed me in the election or whether they supported me in the election,” Karzai told reporters at a press conference in Kabul on Tuesday in his first remarks since being declared the winner on Monday.

Zelaya’s fate to be decided soon

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Venenzuela, November 04: Rival sides are waiting for the Honduran Congress to finalize a deal to end four months of political crisis that may pave the way for ousted President Manuel Zelaya to be reinstated.

Reports say that at least 65 of the 128 deputies are expected to vote for Zelaya’s return to his post.

The Central American country’s unicameral Congress sent the deal to the Supreme Court on Tuesday for consultation. The Court’s non-binding opinion will be taken into account when Congress votes on the issue on Thursday.

‘West does not understand Iran’s logic’

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Tehran, November 04: Expediency Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei says the West does not understand the logic behind Iran’s foreign policy.

“The main obstacle in relations between Iran and the West is the fact that Western countries don’t understand the logic behind Iran’s foreign policy,” Rezaei said in a meeting with the Australian ambassador to Tehran, Marc Innes-Brown, on Tuesday.

Iran Rejects Talks If Result Fixed By US, Khamenei

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Tehran, November 04: Iran’s Supreme Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday that Tehran would reject any dialogue if the outcome is predetermined by Washington, raising the possibility that a mooted nuclear fuel deal could be derailed.

“We do not want any negotiations, whose outcome is predetermined by the United States,” Khamenei said in a speech to students on the eve of 30th anniversary on Wednesday of the U.S. embassy seizure by radical Islamic students in Teheran.

BJP does its paper work, field checks to weed out bogus members

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Lucknow, November 04: While the Congress is making photographs compulsory in their membership form, the BJP, which concluded its membership campaign on September 25, is still relying on the old method of making entries with details in registers to avoid bogus membership.

Since October first week, the party has sent out teams in different districts to cross-check the membership. In order to increase the communication with the members, the party, for the first time, has decided to call their members randomly and ask them to speak about party issues.

Hari Masjid: victim still an accused for state

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Mumbai, November 04: In spite of his acquittal in February after a 16-year-long legal battle, the victim in the Hari Masjid firing case — Farook Mapkar — continues to be branded as an accused by the state government.

National Defence College On Lashkar Target,FBI

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Washington, November 04: David Coleman Tahawwur Headley and Hussain Rana, arrested last month by the FBI, were part of a LeT plan a major terrorist attack in the the facilities of a Danish newspaper and the National Defense College of India, federal prosecutors have said.

Opposing the bail application of Rana Chicago court yesterday, lawyers for the U.S. Justice Department said Rana is a danger to the community and might flee the country if released.

Rana faces a maximum sentence of 30 years if proven guilty.

Preity Zinta is leaving Bollywood

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Mumbai, November 04: Preity Zinta is leaving Bollywood for B-school. “Yes, I’m going to the Harvard Business School to study a short executive course in negotiating and deal-making,” she says.

“I thought that since I spend so much time in the US, I might as well use the experience better. I applied to Harvard and got accepted, so I’m quite kicked about going there next month.”

So does this keen interest in business mean we won’t be seeing her much on the big screen? “Not at all,” she says, “I want to make sure that I can balance acting and business.

Andhra legislator’s arrest in suicide case stayed

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Hyderabad, November 04: The Andhra Pradesh High Court Tuesday stayed the arrest of a woman Telugu Desam Party (TDP) legislator who was allegedly responsible for the death of an agricultural officer.

The court directed the police not to arrest Sita Dayakar Reddy till further orders. The legislator from Devarkadra in Mahabubnagar district, also the president of the women’s unit of the TDP, faces charges of abetment to suicide in the case of B. Rajeswari, an agricultural officer. Two others were booked with her.

Elizabeth Hurley shuns London for son

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London: British actress-model Elizabeth Hurley has turned her back on London living for the sake of her young son Damian.

The “Austin Powers” star has lived in the British capital for years and bought a sprawling estate in Gloucestershire, England in 2003 so that she, husband Arun Nayar and her seven-year-old son could spend weekends and holidays in the countryside but now Hurley has made a permanent move to the property because Damian thrived away from city life.

Kareena will be Shahid’s well wisher

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Mumbai, November 04: Kareena Kapoor has said that she will always be Shahid Kapoor’s well wisher. Kareena who had called off her relationship with Shahid after their blockbuster Jab We Met said that she has no problems working with Shahid.

She said that she loved Kaminey and felt Shahid was superb in the movie. Kareena added that their personal equation should not define their professional life and both of them were matured enough to understand that.

I’m scared of doing comedies: Mahie Gill

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Mumbai, November 04: “Dev D” actress Mahie Gill, whose kitty is full, with five films for the coming year, says she feels incapable of doing a comedy.

“I am very scared of doing comedies. I always wonder: will I ever be able to do it or not. But I still want to try it some day. I want to come out of my comfort zone and try to do something I don’t find easy,” said Mahie.

The actress will be exploring various genres in upcoming films like “Paan Singh Tomar”, “Dabang”, “Bhaang”, “Surmai Shaam” and “Gulaab Gang” among others.

—–IANS

Katrina not reason behind Ranbir-Deepika split

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Mumbai, November 04: It is now official that Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor have called off their relationship.

Ranbir’s co-star in Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani Katrina Kaif is being assumed to be the reason behind the split, but this is far from true. The real behind the split has been Ranbir’s flirtatious attitude and Deepika’s over possessive nature which could not have co-existed.

Kuwait supports Iran’s nuclear program

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Kuwait, November 04: Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah says Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful and Tehran has the right to continue its nuclear program.

“All countries have the right to use peaceful nuclear technology, and we believe that Iran’s activities are in the area of peaceful nuclear energy, and we support such a program,” IRNA quoted al-Sabah as saying in a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki in Kuwait on Tuesday.

During the meeting, Mottaki and al-Sabah discussed the latest bilateral and regional issues.

‘World worried about Shalit but not Palestinians’

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Gaza, November 04: Hamas lawmaker Hatim Qufaisheh says the international community does not care about Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails but is very concerned about the fate of captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

Qufaisheh denounced all the countries in the world that are demanding that the Palestinian resistance release Shalit while they have no concern for thousands of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, the Palestinian Information Center reported.

Majlis to decide on subsidy bill withdrawal Sunday

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Tehran, November 04: Following a row between Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the parliament over a law to cut food and energy subsidies, the Majlis vice speaker says members of Parliament will decide on the issue next Sunday.

Earlier in October, the Iranian Parliament backed a proposal by the Ahmadinejad government to phase out subsidies on basic goods including gasoline, gas, electricity, wheat and rice.

The government planned to distribute a portion of the recovered revenue among lower income citizens, who form about half the population.

Hamas rejects Israel claims on rocket

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Gaza, November 04: Hamas says remarks about its possessing weapons is a mere ‘fabrication’ to mobilize world opinion against the movement ahead of the UN General Assembly’s vote on a Gaza war crimes report.

Israeli Military Intelligence chief Major-General Amos Yadlin claimed earlier Tuesday that the movement possesses in its arsenal a rocket capable of reaching targets in Tel Aviv.

“This is a pre-emptive step by the Zionist enemy to influence international opinion ahead of the General Assembly’s discussion of the Goldstone report,” said Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum on Tuesday.

First space hotel to open by 2012

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Barcelona, November 04: The Barcelona-based Galactic Suite Ltd. says it will be ready to serve space tourists in the first space hotel by the year 2012.

It would cost $4.4 million for a three-night stay at the Galactic Suite Space Resort, including an eight-week training course on a tropical island.

Guests would be able to see the sunrise 15 times a day and travel around the Earth every 80 minutes, Reuters reported.

It would take a day and a half for travelers to arrive at the pod where they would be able to move by using velcro suits and sticking to the walls.

Size Zero laptop for Size Zero Bebo

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Mumbai, November 04: Kareena Kapoor seems to have conquered all of recent and adding to her kitty is her latest brand endorsement deal with Sony Vaio.

Sony Vaio has previously had only International faces representing their brand. Kareena Kapoor will be the first Indian Brand Ambassador for Sony Vaio.

Sony Vaio launches the Size Zero range of laptops at the end of this month and who better than Kareena Kapoor to embody the brand. Adds a source, “Kareena Kapoor is the number one actress in the industry. Every big banner wants to work with her right now.”

Agarkar, Zaheer shine for Mumbai against Punjab

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Chandigarh, November 04: Ravi Inder Singh stood tall amid ruins with a gritty century as Ajit Agarkar and Zaheer Khan ripped apart the Punjab batting line up to help Mumbai reduce the hosts to 242 for nine on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Super League match here today.

India discard Agarkar (4/41) and Zaheer (3/45), who is returning to competitive cricket after a shoulder injury, shared seven wickets among them to give the reigning champions Mumbai an edge in the contest.

It was Zaheer who started the rot when he sent back Sunny Sohal (2), who edged one to stumper V Samant.