Month: January 2010

Philippine air force plane crash claims 8 lives

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Manila, January 28: In a shocking incident claimed eight lives on Thursday when an air force plane crashed in a residential area in the southern Philippines, officials said.

Lieutenant General Raymundo Ferrer, a regional military commander, said the Nomad plane had taken off from the airport in Cotabato City, 960 km south of Manila.

Cotabato City Mayor Muslimen Sema said that based on initial reports from the accident site, eight people were killed in the crash.
–Agencies

Sex is A Part Of Love: Vidya Balan

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Mumbai, January 28: Accolades are still pouring in for her ma act in Paa and Vidya Balan still hasn’t got over it. “I’m basking in it,” says Vidya, adding, “It’s always nice when your work is being spoken about, especially considering that I was sceptical about the role initially, but later took it up with conviction.”

Vidya’s now all set to lure two men —Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi — in her next film, Ishqiya, a far cry from her role in Paa. And one thing that everybody is talking about is her character Krishna, which is said to have negative undertones.

Apple unveils iPad, bets on new device class

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San Francisco, January 28: Apple Inc CEO Steve Jobs took the wraps off the highly anticipated “iPad” tablet and pitched it at a surprisingly low price, aiming to bridge the gap between smartphones and laptops.

Jobs, who returned to the helm last year after a much-scrutinized liver transplant, took the stage at a packed theatre on Wednesday and showed off a sleek, half-inch thick tablet computer with a 9.7-inch touchscreen.

France test-fires new ballistic missile

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Paris, January 28: France has successfully test-fired its new M51 ballistic missile from a nuclear submarine after three land-based firings, the Defense Ministry said.

“The firing was completed by the Arms General Management Office, Jan. 27, 2010 at 9:27 a.m. from the Bay of Audierne, Finisterre, from the submarine Le Terrible,” the ministry said in a statement.

The M51 strategic missile has a range of 8,000 kilometers and enjoys greater accuracy than the current M45 ballistic missile.

Afghanistan says 15 militants killed in north

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Kabul, January 28: An Afghan official says 15 militants were killed in a joint air and ground assault with NATO forces in northern Afghanistan.

“Fifteen Taliban militants were killed in joint operations conducted by NATO and Afghan forces Wednesday afternoon in Kuk Chenar district in central Baghlan,” said Kabir Andarabi, the provincial police chief, reported.

A militant commander was killed when the compound in the area was hit in the assault, he said.

However, Taliban claimed three Afghan forces were killed in the attack. Witnesses reported civilian casualties in the operation.

North Korea detains American for ‘trespassing’

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Seoul, January 28: North Korea said Thursday it detained an American citizen after he illegally entered the country from China, becoming the second such case in a month.

The North’s official news agency, KCNA, said the man was detained Monday and is being interrogated, without giving further details.

The US State Department has not commented on the incident as of yet.

The arrest comes after Pyongyang last month detained another US citizen, a missionary named Robert Park, for trespassing on its border with China.

Delivery boy’s bike kills senior citizen

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Mumbai, January 28: A 65-year-old man was killed when the speeding motorcycle of a McDonald’s delivery boy hit him at Cuffe Parade.

Identified as Kamlesh Gupta, 21, the boy was in a hurry to deliver an order, the police said.

The incident occurred around 10.30pm near Budhwar Park. The deceased, Tukaram Laxman Pawar who had shifted to the area recently, was walking towards home.

UK says no need to downgrade Iran ties

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London, January 28: As Iranian lawmakers push for a bill to downgrade ties with London, Britain’s envoy to Tehran said in an interview that his country is not happy with the proposal.

Iran has blamed the UK, amongst other Western countries, for the unrest that erupted after the June presidential election. It has also accused London of interfering in the country’s internal affairs.

A bill sponsored by at least 35 lawmakers, according to Fars News Agency, is gaining momentum in Parliament as Tehran studies the prospects of reducing its relations with London.

SSC student hangs herself in Mumbai

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Mumbai, January 28: A 15-year-old SSC student from Atomic Energy Central school in Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (Barc) premises committed suicide on Tuesday afternoon. Shaili Naik was found hanging from the ceiling fan by her parents. Her maternal cousin, also a class X student, had similarly ended her life last week in Byculla.

Short-changed Gaza traders use chewing gum, tissues

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Gaza, January 28: Taxi drivers and grocers are now forced to use packets of gum, tissues and chocolates as change as currency is running out in Gaza.

Israel has recently stopped transferring Israeli currency to Gaza in the latest attempt to strangle the tiny enclave. The Palestinian National Authority has no currency of its own prompting residents to use Israeli, Jordanian or US currency.

Bangladesh hangs Mujib’s assassins 35 years after his killing

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Dhaka, January 28: Bangladesh has hanged the five ex-army officers, convicted for assassinating the country’s founder Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, almost 35 years after he was killed in a military coup.

The five death-row convicts were hanged past midnight (local time), hours after the supreme court rejected their review plea, jail officials said.

Ex-Lieutenant Colonel Mohiuddin Ahmed (artillery) and ex-Major Bazlul Huda were hanged first, as the execution process started late last night, while ex-Lieutenant Colonel Syed Faruq Rahman was the third to be executed minutes later.

Shah Rukh’s $300,000 wax double to be uncovered in Hollywood

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London, January 28: Adding another honour to his name , Bollywood’s biggest star Shah Rukh Khan will be facilitated in Hollywood later Thursday when his wax likeness is unveiled at Los Angeles’ new Madame Tussauds museum.

The honour marks the 20th anniversary of his King of Bollywood title, which Shah Rukh was given at the beginning of his impressive film career, reports contactmusic.com.

Shah Rukh’s waxwork double cost $300,000 to make.
–Agencies

Haldiram owner found guilty of plotting murder

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Kolkata, January 28: Prabhu Shankar Agarwal, owner of Haldiram Prabhuji confectionary chain, was convicted by a fast track court here on Wednesday for attempting to murder Pramod Sharma, the nephew of a tea-stall owner way back in 2005.

Four others, including the two sharp-shooters Gopal Tiwari and Manoj Sharma —who were hired to murder —were also convicted.

Karisma Kapoor throws a bash for Saif’s Padmashri win

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Mumbai, January 28: Karisma Kapoor along with her husband Sanjay Kapur hosted a party at her Khar residence on January 25 to celebrate sister Kareena’s beau Saif Ali Khan’s Padmashri award.

Says a source, “In the afternoon, the news about Saif’s Padmashri win was made public. And as Lolo’s hubby was in town along with a few business associates, she decided to make it a joint celebration, as they had recently done up their place (Karisma has done the interior decoration herself).”

Defence varsity to start courses this year

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Gandhinagar, January 28: Chief minister Narendra Modi, who had announced the establishment of a defence (Raksha Shakti) university a few months back, is likely to sanction its start from the academic session of June 2010 with various diploma, under-graduate and post-graduate courses on offer.

Highly placed sources in the state government said, “The state government has planned to allocate Rs60 crore for the establishment of the Gujarat defence university and the academic year will start from June.

Shilpa Shetty signs on Nagesh Kukunoor

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Mumbai, January 28: Shilpa Shetty’s long-in-the-pipeline film production plans are finally rolling. The actress has inked a deal with Nagesh Kukunoor to direct a film for her production house. Kukunoor was among the B-Town folk who had attended Shilpa’s wedding reception in November.

Though the actress is busy with her Indian Premier League pursuits, she is also keen that S2 Global Productions gets going.

Charm of the web lost for the BJP?

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New Delhi, January 28: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had vowed to use cyberspace to reach out to the youth, with even octogenarian leader L.K. Advani taking to blogging last year. But after its poll debacle, internet enthusiasm in “the party with a difference” seems to have withered out.

Advani – who was the party’s prime ministerial candidate – has been virtually absent from blogosphere since the BJP’s rout in the Lok Sabha elections last year. The 82-year-old’s new post on Jan 25 came after several months.

Minimally invasive surgery helps chronic sinusitis patients get relief

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Washington, January 28: Minimally invasive endoscopic sinus surgery could significantly improve the quality of life in adults with chronic rhinosinusitis, according to a new study by Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU).

Chronic rhinosinusitis is a debilitating inflammation of the nasal passages that lasts for months and keeps coming back.

Pak bomber becomes millionaire

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Islamabad, January 28: A Pakistan youth took away Rs5 million from a bank branch after posing as a ‘suicide bomber’ while showing the bank officials a suicide jacket, detonator and wires wrapped around him.

A youngster in his early 20s entered the United Bank Limited’s Karor city branch in the Bhakkar Division of Punjab the other day and demanded Rs5 million from the cashier, showing him a threatening letter. “I would blow myself in a jiffy if you refuse the amount,” officials quoted him as saying.

Policy decision on IPL participation later: Butt

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Karachi, January 28: Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ejaz Butt says any policy decision on whether to allow its players to participate in the Indian Premier League in the future would be taken later.

“We are waiting and watching to see what happens. We have had a clear discussion with our government representatives on the IPL issue and on sporting ties with India,” Butt said.

RJD’s Bihar shutdown begins

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Patna, January 28: Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) began its state-wide shutdown in Bihar Thursday to protest rising prices of essential items.

The party’s dawn to dusk shutdown began on a peaceful note with no reports of violence, police officials here said.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad, party MPs and legislators were expected to lead protest march at different places in the state during the day.

The shutdown was supported by RJD’s ally Lok Janshakti Party and the CPI, CPI(M) and CPI-ML.

In view of the shutdown, most schools in Patna decided to suspend their classes.

India’s IPL re-think a welcome move: Pakistan

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Islamabad, January 28: Pakistan responded positively to indications that there might be a re-think on the IPL’s snub to its cricketers, saying the blame-game between the two countries should end, not only in the field of sports, but on other issues as well.

Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the statement of Indian authorities on the issue was “welcome”.

“I welcome this statement of the Indian authorities that they would consider it (including Pakistani players in the IPL).

Yeddyurappa says cut off arms of church vandals

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Bangalore, January 28: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who has been criticised for vandalisation of churches in the state, on Wednesday said hands of those who indulge in such acts should be “cut off”.

“I am telling you chop off the hands of these people if you catch them,” Yeddyurappa told a public meeting in Karwar in Uttara Kannada district.

“You may wonder why a Chief Minister is saying such things. But what can be done when people try to hit at the very basis of our society, that of peace and brotherhood?” he said.

And he repeated: “cut off those hands”.

KKR yet to clear my dues: Shoaib Akhtar

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Karachi, January 28: Controversial Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar said that he had payment disputes with the Indian Premier League team Kolkata Knight Riders, who are yet to clear his dues.

Responding to reports that the Shah Rukh Khan-owned KKR have still not cleared his dues, Akhtar said it was true.

“Yes, it is a fact they have not paid me my dues as yet despite reminders,” Akhtar told PTI.

The fast bowler played for KKR in the inaugural edition of the IPL, and was one of the six Pakistani players whose contracts were terminated after the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008.

Has David Headley cut a deal with the US Justice Department?

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Chicago, January 28: As Mumbai terror plot accused David Coleman Headley pleaded not-guilty during an arraignment here, he could become the centrepiece of a debate on how to treat terror suspects in the US.

Headley, who was presented before US Magistrate Judge Arlander Keys Wednesday morning, expectedly entered a plea of not guilty to all the 12 counts of indictment against him.