Month: January 2010

Man arrested for daughter rape

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Mumbai, January 29: Shivaji Nagar police, on Wednesday, arrested a 42-year-old lab technician, for allegedly confining his 14-year-old daughter in the family’s Shivaji Nagar (Govandi) residence for five days and repeatedly raping her.

According to the police, the accused, Mohammed Chaudhary—who has a diploma in medical laboratory technology and runs a testing centre in Bainganwadi—first attacked his daughter on Thursday, January 21, when his wife was at work managing the clinic, and his two sons, aged 10 and 15, were at school.

RTI activist’s murder: judicial custody for three

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Pune, January 29: Three persons in police custody in connection with the murder of Right to Information (RTI) activist Satish Shetty were on Thursday remanded to judicial custody under a new crime.

The police custody of Vijay Dabhade, a lawyer, and his associates Parshuram Telugu and Pramod Waghmore ended on Thursday.

As the police were unable to produce evidence that proved their involvement in the murder, the Wadgaon Maval Judicial Magistrate First Class refused to extend their police custody and instead sent them to judicial custody for plotting a conspiracy to murder Shetty.

Give us proof to nail Hafiz Saeed: Gilani

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Islamabad, January 29: Pakistan prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani denied Indian accusations that his government was dragging its feet on booking the prime accused of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, saying the alleged chief architect Hafiz Saeed was very much on trial and the court had to decide when to order his arrest.

But Gilani also reiterated what Islamabad has long used as a shield for inaction, even in the face of credible information on terror groups being supplied by Washington that India was not giving it enough information to act against Saeed.

Bachchans wish Vidya all the best for ‘Ishqiya’

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Mumbai, January 29: Actress Vidya Balan couldn’t have asked for more. No other than the Bachchan family wished her “all the best” for her latest outing “Ishqiya” that is releasing alongside the Amitabh starrer “Rann” Friday.

Vidya starred with Amitabh and Abhishek in the critically-acclaimed and commercial hit “Paa”. She played Amitabh’s mother in the movie.

“All the best to her (Vidya),” said Amitabh here at the red carpet premiere of “Rann” in the capital Thursday evening.

Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek who were also present at the do, echoed the same.

US company launches online talent hunt in India

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Mumbai, January 29: US based media and entertainment player TalentTrove has launched an online singing talent hunt contest for the budding singers in India.

Titled “TalentTrove Bollywood Singer-2010″, it is open to all amateur individuals Feb 1 onwards for 60 days of entry submission.

With a cash prize of Rs.500,000, contestants can register with TalentTrove.com to submit their audio or video on any Bollywood song.

Security at Delhi airport beefed up

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New Delhi, January 29: Following a fresh alert, security at the Delhi airport was increased Thursday evening and all flights checked, an official said.

Senior officials of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) were informed that terrorists could target the airport in the evening.

According to sources, two terrorists arrested recently had revealed in their interrogation about a possible attack. “We had to check all the flights departing from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.,” said a CISF official posted at Delhi airport.

UAE, Arab aviation body sign pact to boost skill pool

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Dubai, January 29: The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Arab Civil Aviation Commission (ACAC) have signed a pact to build capacity of its staff, WAM news agency reported.

As part of the agreement, training grants will be offered to ACAC member-states during 2010-2012.

Training will include aviation safety measures, accident probes, security and management, among others. Training will be imparted in the UAE and abroad.

‘Gulf offers excellent investment opportunity in energy sector’

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Sharjah, January 29: The energy sector in the Gulf region is well placed to develop clean and affordable energy sources, as the world focuses on developing new technologies to deal with the effects of global warming, WAM news agency reported citing an energy expert.

“The sector is excellently placed to engage with emerging opportunities that will ensure growth and prosperity,” Badr Jafar, CEO of Crescent Investments, an investment company with interests in the energy sector, said in an interview Thursday.

Execution of Iranian dissidents was murder: US

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Washington, January 29: The US strongly condemned Iran’s execution of two dissidents Thursday, saying the murderous act was a “low point” in the Islamic state’s repression of political speech.

“The US strongly condemns these unjust executions,” White House deputy spokesman Bill Burton said. “We see it as a low point in the Islamic Republic’s unjust and ruthless crackdown of peaceful dissent.”

Windows 7 sends Microsoft to record revenue

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Seattle, January 29: The successful launch of new operating system Windows 7 propelled Microsoft to record revenue in the fourth quarter of 2009, the software giant reported Thursday.

Microsoft reported net income of $6.7 billion, a 60 percent increase on the year prior, while revenue rose 18 percent to $19 billion.

“This is a record quarter for Windows units,” Kevin Turner, Microsoft’s chief operating officer, said in a news release. “We are thrilled by the consumer reception to Windows 7 and by business enthusiasm to adopt Windows 7.”

Krishna meets Stephen Smith again

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London, January 29: External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, on Thursday, again conveyed to his Australian counterpart Stephen Smith, New Delhi’s deep concern at the continuing attacks on Indians in Australia despite repeated assurances by Canberra.

He raised the issue with Mr. Smith on the sidelines of the conference on Afghanistan here, as fresh attacks were reported. This was his second meeting with Mr. Smith in less than 24 hours.

On Wednesday, Mr. Smith had assured him that his government was taking steps to protect Indians in Australia.

Amazon reports jump in sales and profit

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Seattle, January 29: Web retail giant Amazon saw fourth quarter earning surge 71 percent thanks to a strong holiday season and heavy demand for its electronic book reader the Kindle, the company said Thursday.

Amazon said sales jumped 42 percent to $9.52 billion, helping push profits up from $225 million a year ago to $284 million.

Amazon said sales of electronics and general merchandise were particularly strong, rising 60 percent to $4.6 billion. Media sales grew 29 percent to $4.68 billion.

Colombians reject plans to enlist students as army informers

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Bogota, January 29: Colombian President Alvaro Uribe’s decision to turn college students into army informants to tackle crimes in northwestern Medellin city has been criticised by people from across the political spectrum.

The presidential candidate of the opposition Liberal Party, Rafael Pardo, told reporters Thursday Uribe’s decision was an act of desperation and a sign the violence in Medellin, was out of control.

A former defence minister said it will put the students at risk and attract retaliation from banned groups.

Australians mourning pin-up canine

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Sydney, January 29: He made the cover of countless magazines, penned a bestseller and was mobbed wherever he went during a 14-year career in radio and television.

“It was a combination of his unusual chocolate-brown markings and his extroverted nature that made him The One,” celebrity vet Katrina Warren said Friday when announcing the death of A-lister Toby the Wonderdog.

The border collie, who died peacefully at home at age 14, posed for his first magazine spread at only 10 weeks old. Broadcast to the nation were his first bath, first vaccination and first worming treatment.

Spain takes charge of UN mission in Lebanon

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Lebanon, January 29: Spain has taken charge of the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. Currently, more than 2,300 UN soldiers are deployed in the country.

Gen. Alberto Asarta, who replaces Italian Claudio Graziano, became the first Spanish to command a UN peacekeeping operation.

Spanish Defence Minister Carme Chacon, Lebanese Defence Chief Elias Murr and Italian Deputy Defence Minister Giusepe Cossiga, among other officials, attended the change of guard ceremony.

UN peacekeepers were deployed in Lebanon in the wake of Israel’s 2006 war with Hezbollah.

New Zealand double murderer gets 23-year prison term

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Wellington, January 29: A New Zealand man who admitted murdering his wife and a neighbour and burying their bodies under his house was sent to prison for at least 23 years Friday.

Jason Somerville, 33, killed neighbour Tisha Lowry, 28, in September 2008. Her body was not found until nearly a year later, after he admitted to killing his wife, Rebecca, 35.

Both women were strangled, and Somerville told police he had sexual intercourse with both after killing them, an act Judge Lester Chisholm described when sentencing him in the Christchurch High Court as “bizarre and disgusting”.

‘Pakistan shielding 26/11 masterminds’

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New Delhi, January 29: Even as Pakistan insists they need more information to take action against the alleged perpetrators of 26/11, Home Minister P. Chidambaram reiterated that India has provided adequate evidence, accusing Islamabad of dragging its feet.

Pakistan was shielding masterminds of the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, including Lashkar-e-Taiba founder and Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said here on Thursday.

Fellow Indians held in Australia over gruesome slaying

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Sydney, January 29: An Indian couple was scheduled to appear Friday in a Sydney court over the death of fellow fruit-picker Ranjodh Singh in a case that has helped stoke tension between Delhi and Canberra over the safety of Indians in Australia.

Police allege Singh, 25, was still alive when he was set alight and left to die last month in the New South Wales farming town of Griffith.

On the night of his death, he attended a party with fellow Indian fruit-pickers.

Two army soldiers killed in Jammu and Kashmir

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Srinagar, January 29: Two Indian Army soldiers were killed early Friday in an ambush by terrorists in Tandar village in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, an official here said.

The militants attacked an army patrol that was on its way to a suspected militant hideout in Tandar in the Dachhan area, about 240 km northeast of Jammu, the official said requesting anonymity.

The army have sent reinforcements and launched massive search operations in the forested area, where they were attacked.

The identity of the soldiers was not immediately known.

–IANS–

Committee on Telangana next week

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New Delhi,January 29: The much-talked about Committee to examine the demand for separate Telangana will be announced next week, home minister P Chidamabaram.

The Home Minister said the government would have more or less finalised the names and will do by the the end of this week. “Perhaps by the next week, the committee will be announced,” he said.

“We are almost at the end of concluding that exercise. If all goes well, we should have a committee by the end of this week. We will announce the committee by next week,” he told reporters declining to give out the names.

Shahrukh gets married again

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Mumbai, January 28: Yes, you heard it right. Bollywood Baadshah, Shahrukh Khan has got married again. The only difference this time being that the said marriage was just a mock affair.

Shahrukh inaugurates India’s First MINIPLEX

Who’s the special woman in Himesh’s life?

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Mumbai, January 28: After his last film RADIO gave an average performance at the box-office, reportedly Himesh Reshammiya is re-drawing his whole strategy. Now, reports are that in order to tide over the current bad phase, the singer turned actor has some well wishers who are constantly giving him company and expressing their full support.

Vivek’s PRINCE – IT’S SHOWTIME becomes PRINCE

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Mumbai, January 28: Kumar Taurani’s upcoming film, the action thriller PRINCE – IT’S SHOWTIME will now be called Kumar Taurani’s PRINCE.

Mr. Taurani said- “We were always very keen on naming the movie PRINCE.”

An action thriller PRINCE is one of the most awaited movies of 2010. The movie is directed by Kookie Gulati and stars Vivek Oberoi, Nandana Sen, Neeru Singh and Aruna Shields. The movie is in its post production stages and is slated to release on 26th March 2010, meanwhile Tips is preparing itself to release the music of PRINCE on 6th February 2010.

—Agencies

Zarine Khan: I used to weight 100 kgs in school

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Mumbai, January 28: Zarine Khan is the latest entrant in the B-town. However, unlike many other newbie debutants who are ever so happy to rent a quote or make holier than thou statements when it comes to skin show, Zarine chooses to walk a different path. Instead of out rightly rejecting any tempting offers that may require her to wear a bikini, she acknowledges her limitations. She admits that given the kind of body structure that she has, she would never be able to don a bikini on screen.

Al Dhafra Festival ready to kick off

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Abu Dhabi, January 28: Over 1200 camel owners will gather in Abu Dhabi next Saturday to participate in the biggest camel beauty contest. Official said.

The contest known locally as “Camel Mazayen” is one of the core activities of Al Dhafra Festival organized annually by Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) at Zayed City in Al Gharbia (the Western Region).