Washington, Dec 03: Under pressure from Republicans and a restive public to fix the sputtering economic recovery, President Barack Obama is refocusing on this politically potent issue by talking job creation with business and labour leaders at the White House.
Vedaranyam, Dec 03: Nine persons – eight school children and a woman teacher were drowned when a van overturned in a temple pond at Panaiyadikuthagai village near here on Thursday morning.
The van picked up 21 children of a private school and one teacher from the surrounding villages and was heading towards the school when tragedy struck. Police and fire and rescue service personnel rushed to the spot and engaged about 10 motors to pump out water from the pond and have recovered nine bodies so far.
New Delhi, December 03: HIV/AIDS, an epidemic is swiftly spreading its redundant deadly wings in many parts of the country, engulfing many innocent young men and women in its fold.
For a country like India where discussing sex is considered as immoral curbing, its proliferation is a daunting task.
New Delhi, Dec 03: The former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh and TDP president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, has urged Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa to immediately drop Revenue Minister G. Karunakara Reddy and Tourism Minister G. Janardhana Reddy from his cabinet vis-À-vis “illegal mining” by the Obulapuram Mining Company Private Limited (OMC).
Though Mr. Janardhana Reddy should not hold any office of profit as he was a minister, still he was being paid Rs.18 crore per year from OMC, Mr. Naidu alleged.
New delhi, December 03: The Secretariat of the President should ensure fair selections of the Padma awardees for the year 2010, by directing the Union Home ministry to take a clue from the Public Cause Research Foundation (PCRF).
Washington, December 03: Shandi America s Next Top Model, America’s Next Top Model Cycle 2, which premiered on January 13, 2004, was the second season of America’s Next Top Model hosted by supermodel Tyra Banks, which aims to find the next top fashion model. The cycle’s catch-phrase was “They are all gorgeous, but only one has what it takes”.
Singapore, December 03: Oil prices lingered near $ 78 a barrel Wednesday in Asia after the U.S. crude supplies unexpectedly rose, suggesting demand in the world’s largest economy remains weak.
The benchmark crude for January delivery was flat at $ 78.37 at noon Singapore time in electronic commerce in the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose $ 1.09 to settle at $ 78.37 Monday.
Panaji, December 03: Actress Aishwarya Rai might be pitted against the wife of Ben Kingsley, Daniela Lavender in his dream project Mahal, a film about the emperor Shah Jahan and his attempt to build the Taj Mahal.
“Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will play Mumtaz in the film, if approved the script and loves. Daniela be playing Kandahari Begum, Shah Jahan’s first wife in the movie,” Kingsley told reporters in Panaji on Monday.
The actor, who is here as guest of honor at the 40th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), said he will play the Emperor in the film.
Mumbai, December 03: Bollywood director Rajkumar Hirani showed his funny side on his birthday and said, ‘idiots’ that means more “I do it my way’, talking about his highly anticipated movie” 3 Idiots “.
“Idiots think unconventionally and listen to your heart when making a decision. Idiotas means” I do it my way, “Hirani told reporters Friday at an FM radio station here.
Lucknow, Dec 03: Restrictions have been imposed on darshan at the makeshift temple at Ayodhya as part of security measures ahead of Babri Masjid demolition anniversary.
From Thursday, not more than two persons will be allowed to enter the Ram Janambhoomi campus at a time and they will be accompanied by two security personnel. Darshan will be allowed from a distance of 200 metres. The restriction will continue for a week.
Mumbai, December 03: The Indian born model Padma Lakshmi, posed nude for the cover of the latest issue of Page Six magazine. The model is currently six months pregnant.
Lakshmi gained a lot of popularity recently with the culinary reality show Top Chef. The 39 year old was also known for her short lived marriage with author Salman Rushdie.
In the photos that have become much talked about on the internet, Padma Lakshmi is seen in various poses, includind one in which she impersonates Disney star Miley Cyrus’s pose for the Vanity Fair magazine.
London, December 03: Gold hit record highs in the $ 1198.70 an ounce in Europe on Tuesday as the dollar weakened against a basket of currencies in the wake of comments from the Bank of Japan policy, adding to strong investment demand for metal.
Buyers have been encouraged by the strength of the recovery of gold, after a correction to less than $ 1140 an ounce last week, he was greeted by strong fund buying, traders said.
Gold was bid at $ 1194.80 an ounce by 0921 GMT, against $ 1179.10 on Monday night.
Mumbai, Dec 03: In reply to Sri Lanka’s 393 all out, India were 92 for no loss at lunch on the second day of their third and final cricket Test here today.
India 1st Innings: 92 for no loss for in 18 overs (Virender Sehwag 53 batting, Murali Vijay 38 batting).
–Agencies
Tokyo, December 03: Mizuho Fukushima, leader of the Social Democratic Party, has urged the government to relocate the US base on Okinawa Island.
Japan’s Social Democratic Party (SDP) says it will quit the ruling coalition if the government decides to keep a US military base in Okinawa.
SDP leader Mizuho Fukushima said on Thursday that “the Social Democratic Party and I will have to make an important decision” if the government decides to go ahead with the plan.
Baghdad, December 03: Members of Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) discuss the electoral laws in Baghdad on November 17, 2009.
The United Nations has called on the Iraqi politicians to put aside their differences and work together to set a final date for the country’s elections.
In a Wednesday statement, the world body said a new feasible election date was February 27, 2010.
The UN call follows doubts expressed by Iraq’s electoral officials who said it was unlikely the country could hold the crucial vote before the end of January, as stated in the constitution.
Mumbai, December 03: The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex today rose about 106 points in early morning trade on emergence of buying by funds and retail investors amid firming Asian markets.
The 30-share Sensex, which had lost 28.36 points in yesterday’s volatile trade, recovered by 105.99 points, or 0.62 per cent to 17,275.90 in early morning trade.
The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty also moved up by 37.35 points, or 0.72 per cent, to trade at 5,160.60 points.
Wellington, December 03: A thief who stole a flowerpot containing the ashes of an African witch doctor grandmother is risking an involuntary sex change, her grandson warned in a letter published Thursday in a New Zealand newspaper.
The pot was stolen from the home at Gulf Harbour, near Auckland, of At du Plooy, who wrote to the Rodney Times saying he was a medium and keeps in touch with spirit of his grandmother who died 16 years ago in Africa at age 93.
Washington, December 03: President Barack Obama’s administration said Wednesday that a July 2011 target date to begin withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan was not set in stone.
The US administration clearly says plans to start bringing soldiers back from Afghanistan in 18 months might slip and that no deadlines can be set.
“Quite frankly, I detest the phrase exit strategy,” US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said, promising “a narrow focus” on routing al-Qaeda with “observable progress on clear objectives.”
Bhopal, December 03: Gazala, living with her parents and a younger sister in Ginnauri neighbourhood – about three kilometres from the killer Union Carbide factory – was 12 years old when lethal gases leaked out on the night of Dec 2-3, 25 years ago.
Within two months, she turned blind.
Her father, Moinuddin, who had a wood cutting business, now works for someone instead as he had to sell off all his machinery to pay for Gazala’s treatment. But her eyesight could not be restored.
Saada, December 03: Saudi fighter jest have launched another round of aerial bombardment of Houthi positions in northwestern Yemeni province of Sa’ada.
The Houthi fighters said on Wednesday that the intensified-airstrikes same a day after Saudi troops suffered defeat during a Tuesday ground incursion.
Houthi fighters, meanwhile, released new footage of seized Saudi firearms and ammunition.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah has inspected southern Jizan province where the fighting between the Saudi army and the Houthis has taken place.
Moscow, December 03: After accounting for big guns like Vassily Ivanchuk and Gata Kamksy, Filipino super talent Wesley So found his nemesis in Russian Vladimir Malakhov, who defeated the teenager in the first set of rapid tie-breaker to win the match by a 4-1 margin.
Italian teenager Caruana Fabiano of Italy also went down in the rapid games against second seed Vugar Gashimov.
Seoul, December 03: A blast at a South Korean weapons research institute has killed at least one person and injured five others during an experiment.
The incident took place 45 kilometers (28 miles) northwest of Seoul on Thursday.
Kim Young-san, a spokesman for the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, which oversees the research institute, confirmed the casualties.
Officials say researchers were testing an experimental explosive when the accident happened, the Associated Press reported.
Hyderabad, December 03: Media must search for and find a balance between portrayal of negative and positive happenings in society. Its function as a social catalyst was so powerful that it imposed an obligation on it to profile issues of equity and empowerment of all, President Pratibha Patil said here on Tuesday.
Jerusalem, December 03: Israeli official figures reveal that the regime stripped a record number of Palestinians of their right to live in East Jerusalem Al-Quds last year.
Some 4,577 Palestinians had their residency rights removed in 2008, according to the Israeli Interior Ministry.
More than a third of the total number of Palestinians lost their residency since Israel occupied the city in 1967, based on the figures released on Wednesday.
Palestinians, living in East Jerusalem Al-Quds were offered Israeli citizenship after the regime occupied the holy city in 1967.
Chennai, December 03: Top seed IM Dronavalli Harika and two time National Champion IM Tania Sachdev began their campaign at the 36th National Women Premier Chess Championship on a positive note by scoring easy wins here today.
Harika defeated P Priya while Tania got the better of national sub-junior Champion R Bharathi.
Out of the eight decisive games played in this round, five players won with Black pieces.