Tributes paid to Indira Gandhi

Hyderabad, November 01: Rich tributes were paid to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on the occasion of her 25th death anniversary on Saturday.

Chief Minister K. Rosaiah led the State in paying tributes to the late leader when he garlanded the statue of Indira Gandhi at Necklace road. Participating in a condolence meeting at Gandhi Bhavan later, he recalled the sacrifices made by the former Prime Minister and her family for the country.

Abdullah to call for Afghan poll boycott

Kabul, November 01: The elections in Afghanistan, meant to showcase the progress made towards democracy, are in fresh disarray, sowing fear and uncertainty about the country’s future.

The campaign manager of Abdullah Abdullah, the challenger to President Hamid Karzai, said last night that his man intends to call today for a boycott of next Saturday’s election run-off. This was organised after the first round of polls became mired in corruption and controversy. Dr Abdullah will now call for a spring poll.

Jagan loyalists change tune?

Hyderabad, November 01: Loyalists of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in the K Rosaiah ministry seem to have changed their tune today in the presence of AP Congress Affairs in-charge Veerappa Moily and sought to impress on him that neither they nor their leader had any role in the dramatic exit of Women and Child Welfare Minister Konda Surekha from the State Cabinet.

As soon as Surekha left the Cabinet day before yesterday, the impression had gained ground that it was yet another tactic by the Jagan Mohan Reddy camp to pressure the party leadership in Delhi to instal their leader as chief minister.

Nagarjuna construction hopes to register 18% growth this fiscal

Hyderabad, November 01: Infrastructure firm Nagarjuna Construction Company hopes to achieve an annual growth of 18% and end the fiscal with a turnover of Rs 5,500 crore.

The robust growth in the next two quarters will come on the back of a strong order-book and execution capabilities Y D Murthy, Executive VP-Finance, NCC told ET Now. The company expects turnover to top Rs 1,400 crore each in the next two quarters, he said

‘Terror in Pakistan may spill over to India’

Udhampur, November 01: The spate of terror strikes and the resultant turmoil in Pakistan may spill over to India, top central government and army officials said.

“I think we can expect some of the terror strikes in Pakistan to spill over to India. As Pakistan is in turmoil, we have to be vigilant and fully prepared to thwart any attack on us,” union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai said in Banglaore during an interaction with the alumni of Bishop Cotton Boys School, where he was a student in the early 1960s.

Love Jihad: Muslim leaders making clean image for the culprits – BJP

Kochi, November 01: The joint statement issued by the Muslim leaders regarding the love jihad is whitewashing the culprits, accused PK Krishnadas, BJP state president. Tensions are created in the society by those who work behind the ‘Love Jihad’.

The Muslim leaders are challenging the victims instead of expressing solidarity with them, he accused while speaking at the press club in Alappuzha.

Man delivers 25-hour-long speech on marriage

Mumbai, November 01: Homeopath and psychologist from Hyderabad, Dr Kishore Reddy, sure can talk. On Saturday, he claimed to have set a world record for the longest-ever speech by delivering one for 25 hours, six minutes and 28 seconds. The subject, some would argue, lends itself to such ‘speechathons’. It was about ‘How to build a happy marriage.’

GHMC faces financial crisis

Hyderabad, November 01: With the elections just three weeks away, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has plunged into a deep financial crisis.

The corporation, which is supposed to deposit salaries for its employees on Saturday, failed to do so due to financial problems.

Salaries are generally credited into the accounts of the employees on the first of every month. With November 1 being a Sunday, salaries are credited a day before.

Tour guide assaults British girl in capital

New Delhi, November 01: Police have arrested a tourist guide for allegedly trying to sexually assault a 14-year-old British national in the capital.

“The girl was a minor and part of a group visiting India. She was staying in Kapasheda in Delhi with 29 British nationals,” said a police official, adding that the accused was arrested on Friday after the victim gave her statement in front of the metropolitan magistrate.

US clinic denies Muslim doctor right to wear hijab

Washington, November 01: A medical clinic in Dallas, Texas has sparked controversy after saying a Muslim doctor applying for a job cannot wear her headscarf if hired.

Dr. Hena Zaki of Plano, Texas said Friday that she was shocked to find a no-hat policy at the CareNow clinic extended to her hijab.

“He interrupted the interview and said he didn’t want me ‘to take this the wrong way,'” Zaki said. “Like an FYI.”

The 29-year-old doctor has called for an apology and a change in CareNow’s policy.

Israeli Attack on Lebanon ‘Imminent’

Jerusalem, November 01: Lebanon’s envoy to the United Nations has warned of an imminent Israeli attack on his country, condemning the regime’s recent artillery attack on the southern village of Houla.

Ambassador Noaf Salaam relayed a message to the United Nations secretary general and to the Security Council on Friday, warning that Israel’s repeated threats against Lebanon indicated the regime’s plan for an attack on the country, Lebanese daily Al-Hayyat reported.

Olympics is degrading to women: Zakir Naik

Mumbai, November 01: “Women’s rights are protected in Islam. Our Prophet has talked about women being major beneficiaries for social, political, spiritual and legal rights,” said Zakir Naik, president, Islamic Research Foundation (IRF).

He was speaking at the Somaiya grounds in Sion (E) on Saturday, dispelling myths about the rights of Muslim women in Islam. Naik blamed the media for painting a distorted picture of the Islamic laws for women.

I’m not going to Tawang to find heir: Dalai Lama

New Delhi, November 01: In far away Japan, the Dalai Lama, who has by and large not made any political statements on Arunachal in the last few weeks,batted for India, claiming that the ‘disputed’ state is a part of the union. The claim on India’s behalf has not amused the government, though there has been no official response to his statement.

Katrina is inspiring, India’s biggest actress: Ranbir

Mumbai, November 01: Bollywood’s latest heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor can go on and on about his “Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani” co-star Katrina Kaif. He finds her drive and passion for work inspiring and says she is “the nicest person in the industry”.

“The drive that Katrina has is inspiring. She is there and she just doesn’t stop. She has come a long way from where she started and where she is today,” Ranbir told IANS in an interview here.

AMU students continue hunger strike

Aligarh, November 01: A day after the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) was temporarily closed following prolonged student unrest over a murder, some students on a hunger strike Saturday refused to withdraw their agitation till the vice chancellor is removed.

Meanwhile, the administration Saturday claimed that students were leaving the campus for their home towns.

But there was simmering discontent among a section of students, many of whom said the closure was “a clear sign of helplessness and lack of will to arrest the rot in the academia”.

Over 2,000 Punjab students to see Mohali match

Chandigarh, November 01: Over 2,000 students from different schools in Punjab will come to the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) stadium here to witness the day-night match between India and Australia Monday, an official said Saturday.

“Over 2,000 students from various towns and villages of Punjab will come here Monday to see the match,” PCA president I.S. Bindra told reporters.

India and Australia will play the fourth match of the seven-match series under floodlights Monday.

‘Death of negotiations only benefits Hamas’

Ramallah, November 01: Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak called Saturday on the US and Palestinians to “make an effort to start negotiations” and added that an impasse in the dialogue would only benefit Hamas.

Ahead of the arrival of US Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barak said that a “a dead end in the diplomatic process will only serve Hamas and the other extremist elements in the region.”

1,500 devotees leave for Pakistan for Gurpurab

Amritsar, November 01: Despite the recent advice by the union home ministry asking Indian nationals to avoid travelling to Pakistan in view of the security situation there, a contingent of nearly 1,500 devotees Saturday crossed over into Pakistan to be part of Gurpurab – birth anniversary celebrations of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev.

The contingent, comprising Sikhs and Hindus, including a number of women, left for Pakistan by a special train from the Attari border railway station, 25 km from here.

Ash plays dutiful bahu in a different way

Mumbai, November 01: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is now taking interest in resurrecting ABCL (AB Corp) and helping out with the marketing and promotion of Amitabh Bachchan’s forthcoming film, Paa.

She wants Paa to do really well as it stars Amitabh and her hubby Abhishek. She is taking all the marketing decisions related to the film and she also has a say on how to promote the film. Her ideas are appreciated by the Bachchan men.

Kareena & Abhishek comming again

Mumbai, November 01: Looks like Abhishek Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor are finally putting their differences aside. The two who haven’t worked together since Abhishek’s marriage to Karisma Kapoor was called off, may star in Abbas Mustan’s next, which is a remake of the Hollywood film, Italian Job. Katrina Kaif and Neil Nitin Mukesh are also expected to be part of the project.

Dhoni and Yuvraj see India through to 2-1 series

New Delhi, November 01: Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh made light of a top-order slump to pace India to a comfortable six-wicket victory in the third one-dayer against Australia at the dew-drenched Ferozeshah Kotla here Saturday.

Chasing a competitive 230-run target on a difficult slow and low pitch, India lost three quick wickets before Yuvraj (78 off 96 balls) and Dhoni (71 not out off 95 balls) put on a match-winning 148-run partnership to see the hosts home with ten balls to spare.

We played smart cricket, says Yuvraj

New Delhi, November 01: Yuvraj Singh, whose 148-run stand with Mahendra Singh Dhoni guided India to a six-wicket victory in the third ODI against Australia, said that they played “smart cricket” on a slow wicket to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

Yuvraj (78) and Dhoni (71 not out) curbed their attacking instinct to forge a match-winning fourth wicket partnership as India reached the target of 230 runs with 10 balls remaining.

Clinton arrives in Israel to revive peace talks

Jerusalem, November 01: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Israel Saturday to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in efforts to revive peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians.

Clinton arrived in Jerusalem on Saturday night and met with Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman, before meeting with Netanyahu.

In a joint press conference in Jerusalem with Netanyahu, Clinton played down conditions for the talks, and instead emphasized along with Netanyahu the need to “get on the path” to talks.

Israel settlement offer ‘unprecedented’: Clinton

Jerusalem, November 01: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Saturday called Israeli concessions on construction of settlements in the West Bank “unprecedented”.

The remarks came after the top US diplomat held meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. Clinton also insisted that a total freeze on settlement was not a precondition for peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.