Month: November 2009

Koda arrested, sent to judicial remand

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Ranchi/New Delhi, November 30: Former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, who is at the centre of a Rs.2,500-crore money laundering scam, and a former state minister accused in the case were arrested Monday by the vigilance bureau. Koda has been sent to 14 days judicial remand, an official said.

“Madhu Koda and Kamlesh Singh have been arrested for possessing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income. We had procured their arrest warrant from the concerned court,” M.V. Rao, inspector general of police of the vigilance bureau, told IANS.

RJD, Cong for law to take its course on Koda issue

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New Delhi, November 30: Reacting to Koda”s arrest, the Congress and RJD today said the law will take its own course while opposition BJP termed it as a “delayed action”. “Law is at work as we are committed to law.

Last chance for Murali to make his mark on Indian soil

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Mumbai, November 30: Muttiah Muralitharan is the highest Test wicket taker of all time and it is highly unlikely that anyone in contemporary cricket or in the near future can even approach the world mark the champion Sri Lanka bowler would set before retiring.

The ace off-spinner, who has grabbed a whopping 789 wickets to date from 131 Tests, is frustrated that he has been unable to make an impact in the ongoing three-Test series against India in which the visitors are trailing 0-1 going into the third and final match from December 2.

India eye top spot in final Sri Lanka Test

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Mumbai, November 30: India will reach the top of the ICC Test rankings for the first time if they win the third and final Test against Sri Lanka starting on Wednesday. India lead the series 1-0 after thumping Sri Lanka by an innings and 144 runs in last week’s second Test in Kanpur and have been given an added incentive to make it 2-0.

India are currently third on the world rankings behind South Africa (first) and Sri Lanka (second) but are close enough to leapfrog them both with a victory in Mumbai.

Car accident ‘my fault’, says Tiger Woods

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Miami, November 30: Golf superstar Tiger Woods broke his silence two days after crashing his car on Sunday, saying the “embarrassing” accident was his fault and hitting out at “unfounded and malicious rumors.” In a statement posted on his website, Woods said he was solely responsible for the accident, which attracted worldwide attention and sparked speculation about his private life.

“This situation is my fault, and it’s obviously embarrassing to my family and me,” Woods said. “I’m human and I’m not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

No resemblance between Sonia & Katrina in Raajneeti!

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Mumbai, November 30: A lot has been said about Katrina Kaif’s character in Prakash Jha’s Raajneeti. Many are of the opinion that it is based on Congress chief Sonia Gandhi’s character.

According to our sources, Katrina plays leader of JSP (Jan Shakti Party) and her name is Indu Behna, who goes on to become a Chief Minister. Katrina’s role in Rajneeti demands that she sheds her glamorous image, so, for the first time the actress will be seen without make-up.

Federer tops ATP end-of-year rankings

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Paris, November 30: Roger Federer has topped the ATP end-of-year world rankings for the fifth time during his career having ceded the position last year to Rafael Nadal.

The 28-year-old Swiss star, who won the French Open and Wimbledon during the summer, was world No.1 previously from 2004 to 2007 and he is now level with Jimmy Connors and one behind the all-time best set by Pete Sampras from 1993 to 1998.

Federer has also topped the rankings for 259 weeks and is closing in on the record of 286 weeks held by Sampras.

—Agencies

Three killed as car falls into river in Madhya Pradesh

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Bhopal, November 30: Three killed as car falls into river in Madhya Pradesh Bhopal, Nov 30 : At least three people were killed when the car in which they were travelling fell into a river in Madhya Pradesh’s Satna district, police said Monday.

“The driver lost control while negotiating a turn on the culvert in Jaitwara locality late Sunday and the vehicle fell into Lagna river. It is not yet known how many people were in the vehicle. Three bodies have been fished out so far,” Jaitwara police station incharge R. P. Mishra told IANS.

Priyanka hurt on location

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Mumbai, November 30: Priyanka Chopra, it seems, is quite accident prone. Shooting for a scene in the ocean in Bangkok, the delicate actress has reportedly hurt her foot and sustained a minor injury. Priyanka was shooting for Sajid Nadiadwala’s Anjaana Anjaani.

A source from the unit revealed, “It was a minor accident and thankfully, with no major injuries to Priyanka. In Bangkok, Priyanka was required to do a scene in the ocean, where she unknowingly stepped on a pointed rock. As a result, she lost her grip and ended up getting bruised on her foot.”

Hyderabad Diary

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Hyderabad, November 30: The Telangana agitation repeats itself after 40 years. The same scenes which the state witnessed way back in 1969, when the then maverick, little known local leader Marri Chenna Reddy instigated a Telangana agitation, calling for a separate state of Telangana, raising a hue and cry that the natives of Telangana were getting a raw deal with the influx from Andhra and Rayalseema usurping all their jobs and lollies leaving the natives bereft and at the receiving end.

‘Paa’ to release in 20 countries with 700 prints

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Mumbai, Nov 30 (IANS) Amitabh Bachchan’s much-awaited “Paa”, in which Big B plays a 13-year-old boy suffering from progeria that accelerates the ageing process, will release Friday in 20 countries with 700 prints, including digital.

“Paa” is an AB Corp Ltd. presentation in association with Reliance BIG Pictures, which will release it simultaneously in India as well as other countries like Britain, Canada, US, UAE, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.

Beware! You may damage knees if you’re an exercise freak

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Washington, Nov 30 (IANS) If you are a middle-aged man or woman and tend to over- exercise, then you may unwittingly damage your knees, increasing chances of osteoarthritis, a new study says.

“Our data suggest that people with higher physical activity levels may be at greater risk for developing knee abnormalities and, thus, at higher risk for developing osteoarthritis,” said Christoph Stehling.

Stehling is a research fellow in radiology and biomedical imaging at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

TRS chief continues fast, life paralysed in Telangana region

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Hyderabad, November 30:Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao continued his ‘fast unto death’ in jail for the second consecutive day Monday as the day-long shutdown called by TRS to protest his arrest paralysed normal life in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh.

Chandrasekhara Rao, who was arrested near Karimnagar town Sunday before he could launch his ‘fast unto death’ protest demanding a separate state of Telangana, continued his fast in Khammam sub-jail.

Tata says plans Nano hybrid cars – paper

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Mumbai, November 30: Tata Group is planning to produce hybrid versions of its Nano, billed as the world’s cheapest car, to join in the environment-friendly trend, its chairman said in an interview with a South Korean newspaper.

The Maeil Business Newspaper on Monday quoted Ratan Tata, chairman of the Tata Group, as saying in Mumbai that low-priced goods would create stronger demand than high-end products in India, and the so-called low-price revolution would continue across the world.

President to inaugurate time capsule in IIT

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Kanpur, November 30: To preserve the 50 glorious years of its history in time, IIT Kanpur has decided to build a ”time capsule” which will be inaugurated by President Pratibha Patil this February here. The time capsule would store the details of all the research activities, academic tie-ups and other achievements of the premier institute.

Two NGOs appeal Parliament to take up cause of Bhopal Gas Tragedy victims on 25th Anniversary

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Bhopal, November 30 :(Pervez Bari): Two Non-Government Organizations, (NGOs), working for the welfare of survivors of Bhopal Gas Tragedy, the world’s worst industrial disaster, have urged the Lok Sabha (Lower House) Speaker Meira Kumar and chairman of Rajya Sabha (Upper House) and Vice President of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari to take the initiative in ensuring that the Members of the respective houses paid homage to the gas victims of the chemical disaster on this occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Bhopal gas leak disaster which falls on 3rd December this year.

Pranab Mukherjee hopeful of 7 pct growth in FY10

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New Delhi, November 30: Finance minister said on Monday he expects the economy to grow around 7 percent in the fiscal year ending March 2010. “I am quite hopeful that if this trend continues, we will have higher GDP growth than anticipated. I hope it will be around 7 percent,” Pranab Mukherjee told reporters.

Government data showed on Monday the economy grew by 7.9 percent in the quarter through September from a year earlier, shattering market forecasts as stimulus measures boosted demand and manufacturing activity surged.

—Agencies

No scope for president’s rule, home minister assures Bengal

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New Delhi, November 30: A proposed visit to West Bengal by a fact finding team of the union home ministry is intended to assist the state government maintain law and order and not to invoke Article 356, Home Minister P. Chidambaram assured MPs here Monday. Article 356 is invoked to impose president’s rule in a state.

SC stays further proceedings in Gujarat HC in “fake encounter”

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New Delhi, November 30: The Supreme Court on Monday stayed all further proceedings in the Ishrat Jahan case in the Gujarat High Court relating to the “fake encounter killing” of the alleged teenage extremist by the state anti-terror squad.

While staying the proceedings, a Bench of Justices B Sudershan Reddy and Deepak Verma posted the matter for further hearing to December 7.

Iran says UN criticism prompted new nuclear plans

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Tehran, November 30: Iran had no intention of building 10 new nuclear facilities until it was strongly rebuked by the U.N. nuclear watchdog over its nuclear activities, the country’s nuclear chief said Monday.

Vice President Ali Akbar Salehi told state radio that Iran needed to give a strong response to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s resolution Friday demanding that Iran halt to construction of its newly revealed uranium enrichment facility and end all other enrichment activities.

Australia’s carbon laws face delay, poll possible

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Canberra, November 30: Australia’s key policy to fight global warming limped closer to defeat on Monday with parliament set to delay or reject the government’s carbon emissions trade scheme, raising the chances of an early election.

Defeat or further delays to the carbon-trade laws will be a major embarrassment to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who is in the United States to discuss climate policy with President Barack Obama ahead of December 7-18 U.N. climate summit in Copenhagen.

TRS shutdown paralyses life in Telangana

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Hyderabad, November 30: Normal life came to a grinding halt in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh as Monday’s day-long shutdown called by Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) to protest the arrest of its chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao evoked total response.

Schools, universities, colleges, shops, business establishments and petrol pumps remained closed in all the 10 districts of the region while state-owned Road Transport Corporation (RTC) suspended all its bus services.

Malaysian Indian minister asked to resign by party

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Kuala Lumpur, November 30: A Malaysian Indian minister has been asked to resign from his post within two weeks by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), which had sacked him as its youth chief for rebelling against the party president.

T. Murugiah, deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, has been issued a two-week notice to resign by the PPP, party president M. Kayveas was quoted as saying by The Star newspaper Monday.

After Murugiah was sacked as PPP Youth chief in May, his faction ousted Kayveas at a meeting, but lost in the final vote count among the party delegates.

Protesting TRS supporters set fire to bus

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Hyderabad, November 30: Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) supporters on Sunday night set fire to a bus at Kothapet on the city suburbs.

The bus was parked in an open place when the supporters poured kerosene on tyres and set fire.

A fire tender from Moula Ali was rushed to the spot and put-off the flames.

–Agencies

Protesting TRS supporters set fire to bus

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Hyderabad, November 30: Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) supporters on Sunday night set fire to a bus at Kothapet on the city suburbs.

The bus was parked in an open place when the supporters poured kerosene on tyres and set fire.

A fire tender from Moula Ali was rushed to the spot and put-off the flames.

–Agencies