Month: January 2010

West Bengal: 16 missing after boat capsizes

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Kolkata, January 04: Around 16 people, including 8 children, were missing after a boat carrying a picnic party capsized in Rupnarayan river in West Bengal’s East Midnapore district Sunday, police said.

According to the latest information with the police control room, 20 had been rescued and 16 – 8 minors and 8 adults – were still missing.

Earlier, East Midnapore district Superintendent of Police Bastab Baidya told a news agency that 15 people, a majority of them children, were are still to be traced.

Solar eclipse observation sessions for schoolkid

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Hyderabad, January 04: Planetary Society-India, which works for promot i o n o f space sciences in the State, is org a n i s i n g mass observation sessions at various schools for students to witness the annular solar eclipse to occur on January 15.

The eclipse, which will be partially visible in major parts of India, will be the best until 2019.

On the occasion, the Planetary Society-India is launching the Annular Solar Eclipse Campaign to impart training in `Student Space Simulators’.

Tougher US screening for travellers from Pakistan, 13 other

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Washington, January 04: All travellers flying into the US from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and nine other countries considered high risk will be patted down and have carry-on luggage searched under new security procedures starting Monday.

In addition, all international passengers will see enhanced random screening, which may include pat-downs, explosive detection testing (swabbing of luggage) or body scans, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)announced Sunday.

Australia condemns Indian student’s death

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Sydney, January 04: Australia condemned on Monday the killing of an Indian student in Melbourne, as India called for an end to the spate of attacks against Indian students which has damaged Australia’s multi-million dollar foreign student sector.

Accounting graduate Nitin Garg, 21, originally from the state of Punjab in northern India, was stabbed to death on Saturday night on his way to a job at a fast food outlet in Melbourne.

Police said the motive for the attack, which they described as vicious, was not known.

Stricter US screening for people from ‘countries of interest’

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Washington, January 04: Passengers flying into the United States from Nigeria, Yemen and other “countries of interest” will be subject to enhanced screening techniques, such as body scans and pat-downs, the Transportation Security Administration said on Sunday.

Starting on Monday, all passengers on US-bound international flights will be subject to random screening. Airports are also directed to increase “threat-based” screening of passengers who may be acting in a suspicious manner.

Australia condemns murder of Indian student

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Melbourne, January 04: Australia on Monday “unreservedly” condemned the murder of an Indian national as New Delhi angrily slammed the attack and warned it could hurt bilateral ties.

Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard stressed that Australia welcomed foreign students after accounting graduate Nitin Garg, 21, was stabbed by unknown attackers Saturday night before collapsing in the Melbourne burger restaurant where he worked.

Parties’ true colours will come out on Jan 5: KC

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Hyderabad, January 04: Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president K Chandrasekhar Rao has urged Congress led UPA government to take steps in right earnest for formation of Telangana state as announced by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on December 9.

Bosch to invest Rs. 2,000 cr. in Indian operations

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New Delhi, January 04: German auto components maker Bosch on Monday said it will invest Rs. 2,000 crore in its Indian operations by 2012.

Nearly a quarter of these investments will go towards the company’s research and development activities in India, Bosch said in a statement.

The company has already invested Rs. 2,100 crore in 2005-2009 for various expansion activities.

Bosch operates through six subsidiaries in India.

—PTI

Pakistan airport security increased

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Islamabad, January 04: Pakistan’s airline is increasing security screening for passengers heading to the United States, after the U.S. Transportation Security Administration said those arriving from certain countries would be subject to enhanced screening techniques.

A spokesman for Pakistan International Airline said on Monday the company began applying new security standards from Jan. 1 on U.S.-bound passengers.

Cold wave claims 30 lives in Uttar Pradesh

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Lucknow, January 04: The cold wave has claimed at least 30 lives in Uttar Pradesh since Saturday, an official said on Monday. The met office has predicted no change in the weather for the next two-three days.

“Of the 30 deaths, the maximum have taken place in the eastern regions, including Mirzapur district, Ballia district, where five deaths each were reported on Sunday,” an official of the disaster management department told.

“The deaths have also been reported from others districts, including Banda, Fatehpur, Sonbhadra, Chanduali, Kanpur rural (Dehat) and Unnao,” he added.

Encephalitis virus a challenge to us: ICMR chief

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New Delhi, January 04: Identification of encephalitis virus which continues to kill hundreds of children every year and maim thousands in eastern Uttar Pradesh still remains a challenge for scientists, the ICMR has said.

“We know that in about 15 per cent cases Japanese Encephalitis is the cause of death, but for the remaining 85 per cent the reason (virus) is yet to be ascertained. It still remains a challenge,” Director General, Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) V M Katoch told.

Reality TV star, 11, commits suicide

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Manpada, January 04: In a horrifying case, a child of 11 years took her own life by hanging herself in her house. While cops have confirmed suicide they are still Neha Sawant investigating the trigger.

The shocking incident came to light on Saturday noon, when residents of Sai Darshan Apartment in Dombivli east called up Manpada police to inform them that Std VI student Neha Sawant had been found hanging by a dupatta inside her house.

Dubai unveils world’s tallest building today

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Abu Dubai, January 04: Dubai is set to open the world’s tallest building amid tight security on Monday, celebrating the tower as a bold feat on the world stage despite the city state’s shaky financial footing.

But the final height of the Burj Dubai — Arabic for Dubai Tower — remained a closely guarded secret on the eve of its opening. At more than 2,625 feet (800 meters), it long ago vanquished its nearest rival, the Taipei 101 in Taiwan. Architects who have worked on the building have hinted that Burj Dubai could break the 2,700-ft mark.

Earlier bedtime protects youngsters against depression

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New York January 04: Do you have teenaged child who sleeps late? If yes, its time to worry as a new study claims that adolescents who stay awake late at night are at a greater risk of suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts.

According to the study published in the journal Sleep, youngsters who go to bed early are significantly less likely to suffer from depression and think about committing suicide.

All the facts you need to know about body scanners

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New York, January 04: Their beams can penetrate the thickest clothing, and with a price tag of up to GBP 1,00,000 a go they are not cheap. But, security experts warn that full-body scanners can only ever be one of many weapons in the aviation industry’s ever-evolving battle against terrorists.

Such machines have been tested at Heathrow and Manchester airports but never routinely used in the U.K. Now, on the say-so of Gordon Brown, airports operator BAA says it will install the devices as quickly as it can.

Scanners come in two types

Cold wave continues in Delhi

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New Delhi, January 04: Delhiites continued to shiver on Monday due to icy winds blowing from the snow-capped northern mountains even as the temperature rose slightly.

The Met department attributed the cold conditions to the icy winds blowing from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

The minimum temperature was recorded at 9.6 degree Celsius against yesterday’s minimum of 9.5 degrees.

Yesterday’s maximum temperature was 15.3 degrees, which is seven degrees below normal.

Bandh hits normal life in non-Telangana regions

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Hyderabad, January 04: The APSRTC suspended its services across Telangana and Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions as a precautionary measure. In Chittoor district, except buses going to the temple town of Tirupati, all other services remained cancelled.

Normal life was disrupted in non-Telangana regions of Andhra Pradesh on Monday due to a bandh called by the All party Joint Action Committee (JAC) in support of United Andhra Pradesh.

High blood sugar ‘raises cancer risk’

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London, January 04: To much glucose in the blood is unhealthy, doctors have said for long. Now, a new study has found that high blood sugar can raise the risk of developing cancer, with women sufferers being the most vulnerable.

Scientists in Sweden have carried out the study and found people, particularly the women, with high blood sugar levels face a greater danger of developing cancer and die from the disease as well.

Ntini to bid adieu to international cricket

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Durban, January 04: South African Pacer Makhaya Ntini is planning to bid adieu to his international career after being dropped for the third Test against England.

Ntini has reportedly signed an agreement with English county side Middlesex that will keep him from being available for national duty.

Ntini celebrated his 100th Test in the second Test against England last month but was left out of the team for the third Test due to his consistently declining performance in the past two years.

‘Congress has no objection to a ‘T’ State’

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Hyderabad, January 04: All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday said her party had no objection to carving out a separate State of Telangana.

Addressing two public meetings as part of the party’s campaign in the backward Telangana region, she said the Congress would take up the issue on top priority.

Markets start 2010 on firm note

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Mumbai, January 04: The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex today rose by 72 points, or 0.41 per cent, in early

trade with markets opening at 0900 hrs on the first trading session in the New Year.

The Sensex moved up by 72.51 points to 17,537.32 points in choppy opening trade on buying in heavyweight stocks by foreign funds and retail investors tracking firm global cues.

The broader National Stock Exchange Nifty gained 23 points, or 0.44 per cent to 5,224.05 points.

Vivek bumps into ex-ladylove

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Mumbai, January 04: Yuvraj Singh is apparently dating actor Vivek Oberoi’s ex-girlfriend Grace. And last week, the actor even bumped into them in Goa. Grace is from South Africa.

She’s a professional surfing trainer and brand ambassador for sportswear manufacturer, Billabong. She met Vivek last year when he had gone surfing while shooting in SA for Prince of Thieves. She has even met the actor’s family.

Katrina didn’t meet Ranbir on New Year

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Mumbai, January 04: Katrina Kaif is one angry woman right now. Ever since the media carried the story that she was in New York to meet Ranbir Kapoor even though she was in London with her family, the actress is seeing red. According to her publicist, she was furious with the news.

And more so because they had called her in London to hear her point of view of the news. Katrina was already going through a rough patch in her relationship with Salman; this story may only have added fuel to the fire. Will Katrina take some action against the media? Only time will tell…

——Agencies

Karan Johar gets a ‘kissing letter’

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Mumbai, January 04: Karan Johar gets a letter filled with a proposal and a love poem on smooches . Karan Johar might write reams and reams on romance and love (including showing an intense romance between Shahrukh Khan and Kajol in My Name Is Khan) but in real life, when it comes to proposals, he gets all tongue-tied.

A source close to Karan says, “Though KJo has been getting marriage proposals for a long time now, this is the first time someone has sent such a cute love poem with the proposal and a love note. The letter has eight pages.

Kareena Kapoor sizzles on the cover of GQ

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Mumbai, January 04: The new Year starts with a sizzle for Kareena Kapoor who after gracing the covers of many glitzy magazines will now be seen on the cover of the January issue of GQ.

This is yet another first in the long list of achievements for the glamourous actress as this is the first time a Bollywood actress will be seen on the cover of GQ.

Reveals a source, “Kareena will feature on the front page of the January issue of GQ India, where she will be seen wearing a red satin gown and sporting a trendy short bob.”