Month: February 2010

Iran parliament head defends nuclear policy

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Tokyo, February 25: Iran was within its international obligations when it enriched some of its uranium stockpile earlier this month and should not be subjected to U.N. sanctions over its nuclear program, its parliament speaker said Thursday.

Ali Larijani, speaking in Tokyo, said Iran has been unfairly singled out for pressure and threats by the United States over its development of nuclear technology, which he said was peaceful and intended solely to provide a source of energy.

Probes: US soldiers not target in Pakistan attack

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Islamabad, February 25: Three U.S. soldiers killed in a bombing in northwest Pakistan this month were not the intended targets of the attack, a top general said Thursday.

The militants who blew up a car bomb as a security convoy passed aimed for the “most prominent” vehicle in the apparent belief that a local paramilitary commander would be inside, Maj. Gen. Tariq Khan told The Associated Press in a brief telephone conversation.

Indo- Pak Foreign Secretary level talks begin

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Feb 25

The talks between the Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan are now on at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. Before going to the talks the Pakistan Foreign Secretary Mr. Salman Bashir said that he was looking forward to a good and constructive engagement with India.

Woman kills 2 daughters

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Mumbai, February 25: Three months after a moneylender slashed his own throat and died – reportedly disturbed by his wife’s alleged extra-marital affair – his widow, on Tuesday, allegedly fed her two daughters poison, then consumed it herself.

The victims have been identified as Aarushi (3) and Vriddhi (1.5). Their mother, Shilpa Joshi (33) is critical in the Intensive Care unit at Sion hospital.

“Aarushi and Vriddhi were declared dead at 12.20 am and 12.30 am respectively. Shilpa had been booked on charges of murder and attempted suicide.

Pawar smiles as Sushma slams government on prices

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New Delhi, February 25: The new leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, Thursday launched a scathing attack on the government for its failure to curb food inflation but Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar seemed unperturbed, smiling throughout the speech.

“Let him (Pawar) smile. Don’t look at his smile. Just look at the tears of the poor who are suffering due to the government’s wrong policies. Let him smile,” an angry Sushma Swaraj said after she opened the debate on rising food prices.

Man killed 100yr old mother

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London, February 25: A man has been arrested in Britain for killing his 100-year-old frail, blind mother, a media report said Thursday.

Hannah Fitzgibbon, who had recently celebrated her 100th birthday with a party and telegram from the Queen, was found dead Wednesday at the home she shared with her 61-year-old son Michael.

Michael had been caring for his elderly mother. He was led away after the police were called to the bungalow in Whitechapel, east London.

Obama, Dems look beyond health summit

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Washington, February 25: President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats, holding out little hope for Thursday’s televised bipartisan summit on health care, are prepared to try for a far-reaching bill in the coming weeks without a single Republican vote.

Barring an unexpected two-party breakthrough at the summit, Democratic leaders feel they can’t afford to fail, leaving them empty-handed on a huge priority in an already difficult election year. It’s far from clear they can gather the votes, however, and it will take a major effort to unite fractious Democrats.

Governor showers praise on Modi govt

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Ahmedabad, February 25: Governor kamla Beniwal on Wednesday eulogised the Narendra Modi government by describing it as the “best model of governance and development” in the country. She showered the praise while addressing the State Legislative Assembly on the first day of the month-long Budget Session.

She said that a financial assistance of Rs 2,700 crore to over 20 lakh beneficiaries in the rural and poor pockets of urban centres through the Garib Kalyan Melas was one of the best models of “good governmence”.

Speaker happy at consensus discussion

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New Delhi, February 25: Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar Thursday said she was very happy that political parties had reached a consensus on holding a discussion on rising prices.

At a meeting of all political parties convened by the speaker Wednesday, it was agreed that the discussion would be held under rule 193, under which voting is not required and which the government is insisting on. The opposition’s demand was that there should be an adjournment motion on price rise.

TDP stages walkout over free power scheme

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Hyderabad, February 25: Not satisfied with the State Government’s reply on implementation of free power scheme and Tatkal connections under the agricultural category, the main Opposition Telugu Desam Party today staged a walkout from the Assembly.

Minister for Major and Medium Irrigation Ponnala Lakshmaiah (on behalf of the Chief Minister), in reply to a question relating to Tatkal connections for agriculture sector raised by TDP member P Srinivas Reddy and others during Question Hour proceedings, has given contradictory statements on the free power scheme.

PCI panel to probe police attacks on scribes

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Hyderabad, February 25: Press Council of India (PCI) has appointed a four-member committee to probe the `police attacks’ on media persons in Osmania University on February 14 and 15. The Council at its meeting on Feb 22 took a suo motu cognizance of the reports that the police targeted the media persons, who went to the university to cover the students’ agitation on Telangana.

Why don’t we have Holi songs nowadays?

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New Delhi, February 25 “Holi ke rang mein”, “Rang barse bheege chunar wali” and “Holi khele Raghuveera” are some popular Hindi movie songs that captured the spirit of the festival of colours on the big screen. But recent years have witnessed a dearth of songs revolving round the festival, leaving audiences with no choice but to stick to the old ones.

Juhi Chawla turning into a big singing star

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Mumbai, February 25: After charming Bollywood and its fans for years, pretty actress Juhi Chawla has headed north and is spreading her charm in the land of farmers – Punjab. Juhi’s Punjabi film Sukhmani- Hope For Life has hit the theatres not just in Punjab but Haryana, Mumbai, Delhi and few cities abroad too.

Shahrukh Khan promises not to kiss

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Mumbai, February 25: Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan created quite a stir at the very outset of his career with an explicit sex scene in Maya Memsaab. It was way back in early 1990s. Interestingly, this very actor has now promised not to kiss his co-stars in films.

Actors from Hrithik Roshan to Akshay Kumar to Abhay Deol to Emraan Hashmi have kissed on the screen but Shahrukh is not in the mood to do so. He said that he doesn’t kiss his heroines on screen because he feels shy.

Well, it’s a big surprise that Shahrukh, who has a romantic image, refuses to kiss his co-stars.

Iran’s missile program nothing to do with IAEA

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Tehran, February 25: A senior Iranian lawmaker said Wednesday that Iran’s missile program is not within the jurisdiction of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

“Iran’s missile capability is none of the agency’s business,” Alaeddin Boroujerdi, the Chairman of National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Iran’s Parliament was quoted as saying.

The lawmaker was referring to the IAEA’s latest report that accuses Iran of trying to develop “nuclear payload for a missile,” according to Press TV.

Cold wave intensifies in JK

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Srinagar, February 25: Cold wave tightened its grip over Jammu and Kashmir this morning as mercury fell by a few notches in various parts the state due to dry weather and clear skies overnight, the Met office said. The night temperature in Srinagar fell to 1.6 degrees Celsius today against 2.6 deg C yesterday.

Teacher found dead after nude pictures on Facebook

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London, February 25: A British teacher, who was working in the Middle East, was found dead after her former boyfriend posted naked pictures of her on social networking site Facebook, a relative said Thursday.

Emma Jones, 24, feared for her safety in Abu Dhabi where she was working in an international school, Daily Express reported.

She drank cleaning fluid as she prepared to return to Britain.

Louise Rowlands, her mother, said that Jones was distressed after former boyfriend Jamie Brayley posted pictures of her on Facebook.

Whale kills trainer

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Orlando, February 25: SeaWorld killer whale seized a trainer in its jaws and thrashed the woman around underwater, killing her in front of a horrified audience. It marked the third time the animal had been involved in a human death.

Distraught audience members were hustled out of the stadium immediately, and the park was closed yesterday.

Trainer Dawn Brancheau, 40, was one of the park’s most experienced. It was not clear if she drowned or died from the thrashing.

A former contractor with SeaWorld told the Orlando

India, Pakistan Foreign Secretaries meet

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New Delhi, February 25 After a 14-month hiatus, Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan met here today for structured talks with an aim of ending the chill in the relations caused by Mumbai attacks.

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao headed the Indian delegation while the Pakistani delegation was led by her counterpart Salman Bashir.

Before getting into the talks at Hyderbad House, Rao said, “I welcome Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Salman Bashir…I look forward to our talks”.

19 hurt in a violent clash

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Chittagong, February 25: Nineteen people were injured in a violent clash after thousands converged in this Bangladesh port town under the banner of a little-known Islamist group to protest the Sheikh Hasina government’s policy against religion-based politics.

Six policemen were injured, one of them critically, as the group called Hefazate Islam Bangladesh, Wednesday insisted on holding a rally that the police said was without prior permission. The group was formed a month ago.

UN Commission on assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto calls on PM

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Islamabad, February 25: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday said the tragic death of Mahtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed in the attack after public meeting in Rawalpindi was a colossal loss to the country, the people and the Pakistan People’s Party. Leaders of her caliber and stature are seldom born who have the abilities, the experience and vision for the betterment of the people of a developing country like Pakistan, he added.

The Prime Minister was talking to the UN Commission led by Mr. Heraldo Munoz which met him here at the PM House on Wednesday evening.

Wishing a very happy birthday!

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Mumbai, February 25: He is someone, who has, in his own sweet and boyish ways, redefined the term ‘acting’.

He preferred to wear off his jeans by slogging it out in the sun and make a name for himself! Did he succeed? Well, he not just succeeded but also set unprecedented records… for he is none other than Birthday Boy Shahid Kapoor.

Rishi Kapoor Takes Panga With Dimple

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Mumbai, February 25: Look what all is happening at the Patiala House. Dimple Kapadia and Rishi Kapoor, yes the same stars who rocked the 70s with their debut film Bobby, play fight on the sets of Nikhil Advani’s film all the time. Dimple has all the stars in the house amused when she jokingly tells Rishi, “Aye Kapoor mere se panga mat le.”

And Rishi of course, is his usual self, very strict and a no-nonsense person. He even shouts at the other actors.

Shah Rukh wants to overtake Tharoor on Twitter

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New Delhi, February 25: ‘King of Bollywood’, Shah Rukh Khan’s latest wish is to overtake politician Shashi Tharoor on micro-blogging website Twitter.

The actor, who became a member of the social networking site at the behest of his friend, filmmaker Karan Johar, has managed to scoop some 169,565 followers in just forty days.

But Tharoor, Minister of State for External Affairs, is way ahead of Khan with his 661,456 followers.

Terrorism high on agenda of Indo-Pak talks: Krishna

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New Delhi, February 25: The Foreign Secretary level talks between India and Pakistan will be held in New Delhi today. External Affairs Minister SM Krishna has said that the talks will essentially focus on India’s core concern of terrorism.

In a reply to a question in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Mr Krishna said India has consistently maintained that it is necessary to have an environment free of terror or threat of terror if relations between the two countries are to move forward in concrete and meaningful manner.