Month: January 2010

Tribal man kills family, self

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Rourkela, January 05: A tribal man allegedly killed his wife, three children and critically injured his youngest daughter before committing suicide at Jatarakhamana village, 80 km from here, today.

The accused, Jala Tigga (45), stabbed to death his wife, two sons and a daughter and seriously wounded his 4-year-old daughter, police said.

Tigga, after committing the crime, ended his life by consuming poison. The child was admitted to Ispat General Hospital (IGH) here and her condition was stated to be critical.

Fund sanctioned for research on biodiesel production

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Coimbatore, January 05: The Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, has sanctioned Rs. 13.33 lakh to the Department of Botany, PSGR Krishnammal College for Women here, to undertake research on biodiesel production in a cost-effective method from karanja oil and jatropha oil using microbial enzyme as catalyst.

According to press note from N. Yesodha Devi, principal of the college, conversion of animal fat or vegetable oil into biodiesel by chemical process requires higher temperature and the processing of raw materials which contain impurities.

I love Aamir, says Chetan Bhagat

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New Delhi, January 05: After the war of words over the credit issue in blockbuster ‘3 Idiots’, author Chetan Bhagat has on Tuesday apologised to actor Aamir Khan and the filmmakers, saying he would like to put a lid on the controversy and “move on“.

The author, whose book ‘Five Point Someone’ became the basis for the film, had accused the producers of not giving him due credit in the movie.

Apple likely to launch ‘Tablet’ in March

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New York, January 05: Apple Inc is planning to launch its long-awaited tablet computer in March in a bid to increase its share of the market for handheld computers, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The tablet is to be presented in late January, the paper said, quoting sources briefed by Apple. The device with a 25 to 28-centimetre colour touch screen is a likely competitor for Kindle, the electronic book reader of Amazon.com Inc, as well as netbook computers.

T20, Tests need each other: Waugh

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Melbourne, January 05: Twenty20 might be a massive hit with the fans but former Australia captain Steve Waugh feels Tests will always remain a cricketer’s first priority and both the versions need each other’s support to survive and flourish.

“It doesn’t have to be one or the other. These guys out here now, they love playing Test cricket. It’s the ultimate test for them mentally, physically and technically. That’s why you train, and that’s why you take up the game.

DMIF demands All Indian Judicial Service on lines of IAS

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New Delhi, January 05: Lok Jan Shakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan led Delhi Minorities International Forum (DMIF) today demanded setting up of an All Indian Judicial Service on the lines of IAS and IPS.

”Considering extremely low representation of SC, ST, OBC and minorities in judiciary, necessary steps should be taken under article 312 of the Constitution to set up an All Indian Judicial Service on the lines of IAS and IPS,” LJP Secretary General and DMIF executive member Abdul Khaliq said here.

Policeman killed in Yemen shooting

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Sana’a, January 05: One policeman was killed and three were wounded following clashes at a demonstration in the city of Aden police said.

Brigadier General Abduallah Qairan, head of police forces in Aden, said that demonstrators at a sit-in at the banned al-Ayyam newspaper first opened fire on the police, who retaliated.

‘Armed supporters of the newspaper opened fire on the policemen, killing one instantly and wounding three others, including a senior officer,’ Qairan told dpa, adding that the protest was unauthorized.

BPO business suffers in Andhra as Telangana issue cripples life

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Hyderabad, January 05: Business in the IT/ITES industry suffered huge losses in the state as the Telangana issue cripples the life in the state. BPO industry is feeeling the heat as the major companies are shifting there business to another states and creating a job loss fear among the employees. Major BPO firms which are 20 in the state nd providing medical transcription BPO is going to suffer more.

Molester cop Rathore charged with abetting Ruchika’s suicide

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Panchkula, January 05: Six years after the CBI dropped abetment to suicide complaint against former DGP SPS Rathore in the Ruchika molestation case, Haryana Police on Tuesday slapped a fresh charge of abetment to suicide against him in the Ruchika molestation case.

The fresh first information report (FIR) charges the former director general of police under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code for abetting the suicide of Ruchika in 1993, three years after he had molested her, police officials told PTI.

George Clooney to tie the knot

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London, January 05: Rumours are doing the rounds that Hollywood star George Clooney is planning to tie the knot with his Italian girlfriend.

The 48-year-old would be getting into wedlock with actress Elisabetta Canalis, 31, after dating her for five months, reported.

‘He seems to be truly ready to walk down the aisle with Elisabetta,’ said a friend of Clooney.

—-Agencies

Aarushi Case: Rape parents Narco test

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Ghaziabad, January 05: Acting on the plea filed by CBI, a Ghaziabad court on Tuesday gave its approval for conducting narco test on Rajesh and Nupur Talwar, parents of 14-year-old Aarushi Talwar who was found murdered in her Noida house on May 16, 2008.

Special Judicial Magistrate Preeti Singh granted the permission on an application filed by CBI about two weeks back.

Indian love guru give blessing to Russell Brand and Katy Perry

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London, January 05: Lovebirds Russell Brand and Katy Perry warmed up for the New Year in full romance as the couple received blessings from a “love guru” in India just before midnight on New Year’s Eve. The duo, who donned traditional Indian dresses, were wished luck and divine happiness in a tent at the foot of a mountain.

“Russell wanted to do something special for Katy to show her how much she means to him,” the Sun quoted an insider as saying. The source added: “They wanted to take part in a traditional ceremony and thought there was no better time than on New Year’s Eve.

Muslim groups clash in Kashmir Valley

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Srinagar, January 05: Tension gripped villages in Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday following clashes between two Muslim groups over the naming of a market place, forcing police to deploy additional forces.

A police officer said people had been told not to gather in large groups in the villages of Hagarpora, Gom Ahmedpora and Kongamdora in Baramulla district and in Magam town in Badgam district to prevent further violence.

Tension enveloped Hagarpora village late Monday after the hoarding of a Shia religious leader was pulled down.

Taiwan scientist discovers new crab species, AS

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Taipei, January 05: A marine biologist says he has discovered a new crab species off the coast of southern Taiwan that looks like a strawberry with small white bumps on its red shell.

National Taiwan Ocean University professor Ho Ping-ho says the crab resembles the species living in the areas around Hawaii, Polynesia and Mauritius.

But it has a distinctive clam-shaped shell about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) wide, making it distinct. Taiwanese crab specialist Wang Chia-hsiang confirmed Ho’s finding.

Honda to launch small car in India by 2011

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New Delhi, January 05: Japanese auto major Honda Motor Tuesday said it would launch a small car, expected to be smaller than its Jazz model, in India next year.

The five-seater family car will be based on the Honda New Small Concept, a concept model for a new small-sized vehicle unveiled at the Auto Expo here Tuesday.

“Honda will strive to introduce a small car with a competitive price at the entry level of the hatchback segment,” said Honda’s executive vice president Koichi Kondo.

University student gangraped in Bhopal

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Bhopal, January 05: Three men including a junior doctor accused of raping a 27-year-old MPhil student of Barkatullah University here have been arrested, police said Tuesday.

The trio first got the victim inebriated and then took turns to rape her, police alleged.

The incident came to light when the victim sent an SMS to her dean Monday afternoon.

Shilpa to bring Bollywood glamour to beleagured British parliament

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London, January 05: The British parliament, down in the dumps over a long-running expenses scandal, is set to brighten up to a touch of Indian glamour Wednesday when it hosts a wedding dinner in honour of Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra.

The dinner at the House of Commons is to be hosted by Keith Vaz, Britain’s longest serving MP of Indian origin, and is expected to be attended by prominent British MPs and ministers led by the Leader of the House of Commons and Equality Minister Harriet Harman.

Next stop Bihar for peripatetic Rahul

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Patna, January 05: Hoping to revive the Congress in Bihar, general secretary Rahul Gandhi will next week launch a month-long membership drive to attract the youth in the state to the party.

Gandhi, who has been criss-crossing the country to strengthen the youth wings of the party, the Youth Congress and the National Students Union of India, will launch the membership drive with 40 young party MPs and central ministers on Jan 12.

PM fetes Indian scientist on getting German award

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New Delhi, January 05: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday congratulated eminent scientist C.N.R. Rao on his being awarded the August Wilhelm-von-Hoffimann Medal for his contribution to chemistry, saying it was a matter of great pride for India’s scientific community.

“It is a matter of great pride for India’s scientific community that one of our most outstanding and respected scientists has been honoured by this prestigious medal,” the prime minister said in his congratulatory message.

Telangana protests reach Delhi

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New Delhi, January 05: Dozens of pro- and anti-Telangana activists protested in the capital Tuesday when Home Minister P. Chidambaram was chairing a multi-party meeting to resolve the controversial issue of statehood to Telangana by hiving off a part of Andhra Pradesh.

The demonstrations were held outside the home ministry when leaders from Andhra Pradesh were deliberating on a mechanism to break the logjam on the issue.

Shouting slogans for and against a separate Telangana state, the protestors – about 50 – held banners that read ‘Jai Telangana’ and ‘United Andhra Pradesh’.

Five more exoplanets found in Milky Way

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Washington, January 05: NASA scientists said Monday they have identified another five planets orbiting stars in the Milky Way Galaxy.

But none of them appears to be the long sought after Earth-twin that could support life the way the home planet does, Kepler telescope specialists said at a news conference in Washington.

Indian security agencies unaware of third crasher in White House

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New Delhi, January 05: Agencies in charge of VIP security in India were in the dark about the presence of another uninvited guest at the Nov 24 White House state dinner and have sought details from the US Secret Service of the third crasher who reportedly got in with the official Indian delegation.

“We have no official information from the Secret Service about this incident and were unaware of this. But we have asked for information. Strictly this is not our domain,” said a top Special Protection Group official, who accompanied Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Washington.

Sri Lanka elect to field against India

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Dhaka, January 05: Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and elected to field against India in the tri-series cricket tournament here Tuesday.

Teams:
Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (captain and wicketkeeper), Upul Tharanga, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thilan Samaraweera, Thilina Kandamby, Thissara Perera, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, Suraj Randiv, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Kulasekara, Chanaka Welagedera

20th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Commonwealth States begins

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New Delhi, january 05: The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has called for sustained international cooperation for effectively dealing with the growth of extremist ideologies.

In his inaugural address to the conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth countries in New Delhi today, Dr. Singh asserted that this menace is threatening the civilized existence. He strongly advocated for devising ways and means to defeat proponents of such ideologies who resort to intimidation, terror and other manifestations and are challenging the vary basis of democratic traditions.

The beginning of truck wars?

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Mumbai, January 05: The biennial Auto Expo 2010 that opened here Tuesday could well signal the beginning of “truck wars” in a segment that was hitherto dominated by Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland, with Eicher just about getting a look-in.

Mahindra and Mahindra, till now known for its utility vehicles, SUVs and of late cars, has already unveiled its Navstar truck, a 25-tonne vehicle that will be manufactured in collaboration with the US company of the same name.

The Navstar launch is being seen as a move to take on the Prima heavy truck that Tata Motors has introduced in the market.