Why Katrina Kaif is Not Part Of Item Song in Housefull

Mumbai, February 25: The Katrina Kaif-Akshay Kumar pairing has proved successful time and again. And so, producer Sajid Nadiadwala and director Sajid Khan decided to get Kat on board for an item song in their film Laawaris song in Housefull.

But the other actresses of the film — Deepika Padukone and Lara Dutta — had a problem with the very mention of her inclusion and made their displeasure evident.Merry-go-round

Kareena Kapoor Recommends Soha’s Boyfriend

Mumbai, February 25: Bollywood News, Kareena Kapoor Thinks of Saif Ali Khan’s family as her own. Apparently, she has great regard for Saif’s sister Soha Ali Khan and her beau Kunal Khemu. A case in point is Kareena strongly recommending Kunal to Golmaal 3 director Rohit Shetty.

Hathway Cable lists with 2.5 pc premium on BSE

Mumbai, February 25: Shares of cable television and broadband service provider Hathway Cable & Datacom today hit the floor with a premium of 2.5 per cent at Rs 246 on the BSE over its issue price.

Shares of Hathway Cable & Datacom, after opening firm on the Bombay Stock Exchange, later plunged 11.66 per cent to a low Rs 212.40 over its issue price of Rs 240.

On the National Stock Exchange (NSE) too, the stock opened up 4.16 per cent at Rs 250. Later on it quoted at Rs 235, down 2.08 per cent.

US wants resumption of Indo-Pak talks: Hillary Clinton

Washington, February 25: As the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan are scheduled to meet in New Delhi today, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said the Obama Administration is favour of resumption of direct talks between the two neighbours.

She told a Congressional panel yesterday that the US has encouraged the resumption of the direct talks which were suspended when President Pervez Musharraf left office. Mrs Clinton said that the countries were going to hold talks, and the US was sensitive to the concerns that the both countries have and address to their issues.

Maria: Best of Arshad Warsi is yet to come!

Mumbai, February 25: If you thought that Vishal Bhardwaj’s runway success, ISHQIYA, where Arshad Warsi essayed the character of a lovable goon, or Circuit of the MUNNA BHAI series were the best roles of Arshad Warsi’s career, you are certainly mistaken.

His wife Maria is confident that the best of Arshad Warsi is yet to come. Says Maria, “You haven’t seen the best of Arshad yet”.

Kareena Kapoor casting for GOLMAAL 3

Mumbai, February 25: You heard it right. Kareena Kapoor is not only acting in the film GOLMAAL 3 but these days the actress is actively involved in the casting of the film too.

Now, latest reports suggest that Kareena Kapoor wants actor Kunal Khemu to be part of the film. To do this, Kareena has recommended Kunal’s name to the director of the film Rohit Shetty, who seems to be considering the suggestion seriously.

Rupee drops on import payment, firm dollar

Mumbai, February 25: The rupee weakened on Thursday, weighed down by import payments and a firmer dollar overseas. Activity was light ahead of the national budget on Friday and seesawing shares.

At 10:27 a.m. (0457 GMT), the partially convertible rupee was at 46.40/41 per dollar, after opening flat at 46.32/33.

“There is not much activity now as everyone is looking at the budget. If there is a large increase in excise duty and corporate tax, stocks may fall sharply which may push the rupee down to 46.80,” said a dealer at state-run Union Bank of India.

Saif gets nostalgic about his career fall and rise

Mumbai, February 25: Saif Ali Khan is one of the top actors today and with him also wearing the hat of a producer now, one does hope to see some good films coming from the actor in next few years. However, the actor admits that after a decent beginning, there was a time period in the middle of his innings when things weren’t going in the direction he had envisaged.

Court bans broadcast of CCTV footage of bombed German Bakery

Pune, February 25: Broadcast of CCTV footage of the bombed German Bakery here has been banned by a court to protect witnesses and ensure unhindered investigations in the case.

The court issued its directive on an application filed by the Maharashtra ATS, Pune Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh said.

The order also applies to the CCTV footage from the five star hotel adjacent to the site of the blast on February 13, he said. Sixteen people have died in the blast.

Pak FS hopeful of bridging differences with India

New Delhi, February 25: Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday for talks on Thursday affirming that he was hopeful of a “positive outcome” but it was clear that India was not expecting any breakthrough given the “trust-deficit” post Mumbai terror attacks.

“It is good to be back. I have come in New Delhi to bridge the differences. I am hopeful of a positive outcome,” said Bashir, who is heading a five-member delegation, on his arrival at Delhi international airport.

**Pakistani militant group easily evades ban

‘Brass polishers’ rob woman

New Delhi, February 25: Two unidentified assailants, posing as brass polishers, allegedly robbed a woman of jewellery worth Rs 75,000 by holding a knife against her daughter’s throat, at their house on Wednesday. Police said Archana Choudhary (32) was home with her two-year-old daughter Jiya and sister when two men came to the house.

“They just rang the bell and asked whether my wife wanted to get some brass utensils polished,” said Narendra Kumar Choudhary, the husband. The incident reportedly occurred at Kamal Vihar in West Sant Nagar around 12:45 pm on Wednesday.

Lohan used booze and drugs to mask troubles

London, February 25: Troubled star Lindsay Lohan has confessed that she took to alcohol and drugs to cope with the problems in life and almost killed herself with the addiction.

The Mean Girls star, who has been to rehab three times and was jailed after being caught with cocaine, blamed her father Michael for the troubles in her life, reported Sun online.

C.I.A. and Pakistan Work Together, but Do So Warily

Islamabad, February 25: Inside a secret detention center in an industrial pocket of the Pakistani capital called I/9, teams of Pakistani and American spies have kept a watchful eye on a senior Taliban leader captured last month. With the other eye, they watch each other.

The C.I.A. and its Pakistani counterpart, the Directorate of Inter-Services Intelligence, have a long and often tormented relationship. And even now, they are moving warily toward conflicting goals, with each maneuvering to protect its influence after the shooting stops in Afghanistan.

Warm morning for Delhiites

New Delhi, February 25: Winter is in its last phase in the national capital with the mornings getting warmer.

The minimum temperature was recorded at 14.6 degree Celsius, three degrees above normal, as against yesterday”s 16.5 degrees Celsius, the highest in the last three years for February.

The mercury has been rising above normal levels for the past few days. Forecasting clear sky for tomorrow, the Weatherman said, the minimum and maximum temperature will hover around 15 and 28 degrees Celsius respectively.

—–IANS

Venkatswamy exhorts Telanganites to continue stir in peaceful mann

Hyderabad, February 25: Reposing faith in Congress President Sonia Gandhi that she would concede to the demand of Telangana state sooner or later, Congress Working Committee member G Venkatswamy exhorted the ”Telanganites” to continue relentlessly with their struggle for realising their long-cherished goal in a ”peaceful manner”.

”I am still continuing in the CWC as I firmly believe that Ms Gandhi will deliver Telangana to us”, he said yesterday after receiving the award in memory of former Republican Party of India
President Eshwari Bai.

China firm on suspending US ties

Beijing, February 25: Amid strained China-US ties over Washington’s sale of arms to Taiwan, China has urged the US to be cautious to prevent more damage.

“China demands that the US speak and act cautiously to avoid causing further damage to relations between the two countries,” Huang Xueping, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Defense, said on Thursday.

He also noted that Beijing would not reverse its decision to suspend bilateral military plans with Washington.

“China’s decision to suspend planned China-US military visits has not changed.”

Truck driver’s assistant set ablaze by Maoists

Ranchi, February 25: Maoist rebels shot and set ablaze a truck driver’s assistant and set afire three trucks laden with bauxite in Gumla district of Jharkhand Thursday morning, police said.

‘The truck driver’s assistant was first shot and later burnt by the Maoists. The rebels also set on fire three trucks,’ said Superintendent of Police Narendra Kumar Singh.

The incident occurred near Amaradhalan village on Visunpur and Ghaghra national highway in Gumla district, around 145 km from Ranchi. The bauxite laden trucks were going to Hindalco factory.

IMF to provide US dollar 3.6 billion loan to Iraq

Washington, February 25: The International Monetary Fund has approved a USD 3.6 billion loan to Iraq to help the war-torn country meet pressing financial needs.

The IMF executive board approved the two-year so-called Stand-By Arrangement for Iraq “to cover the country’s balance of payments needs” after the economy was hit hard by falling oil prices in 2009, the Washington-based institution said yesterday.

About USD 455 million were made immediately available to the Iraqi authorities.

German wind-power firm InfraVest to quit Taiwan

Taipei, February 25: German wind-power firm InfraVest GmbH plans to quit Taiwan because as it is dissatisfied with Taipei’s policies regarding renewable energy, a newspaper reported Thursday. The United Daily New quoted Wang Yi-yun, vice manager of InfraVest (Taiwan), as saying that the company, which has about 60 staff in Taiwan, has dismissed 10 people and plans to lay off more staff within two months.

“Taiwan’s purchase price for electricity is lower than that of China and far lower than that of Europe,” she was quoted as saying.

Police officer, Maoist killed in encounter

Bankura (WB), February 25: A police officer and a Maoist were killed and two others injured in a gunfight between the security forces and the ultras at Sarenga in Bankura district, police said today. A group of armed Maoists shot at and injured local CPI-M leader Tarashankar Patra late last night.

On getting the information, police and joint forces rushed to the spot.Another team of joint forces from Lalgarh came and a gunbattle with the security forces ensued.

Hollywood appeals Australian pirate download court decision

Sydney, February 25: Hollywood studios said Thursday they would appeal a landmark ruling by an Australian court that internet service providers (ISPs) are not obliged to stop customers downloading pirated films and television programmes.

Last month a consortium of 34 film and television studios lost the case it brought against Perth-based iiNet, Australia’s second-largest ISP.

The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) said it was appealing the decision to protect the rights of copyright holders and ensure the survival of the creative community.

Clinton asks US to approve USD 3.2 bn aid to Pak

Washington, February 25: Identifying Pakistan as a frontline State along with Afghanistan and Iraq, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today asked American lawmakers to approve the Obama Administration’s proposal of USD 3.2 billion civil and military aid to Islamabad for the fiscal year 2011.

“In Pakistan, our request includes USD 3.2 billion to combat extremism, promote economic development, strengthen democratic institutions, and build a long-term relationship with the Pakistani people,” Clinton said in her testimony before a key Congressional panel.

Women take their revenge

New Delhi, February 25: As stories go, it’s as good as any, and it gives at least some women of India – many of whom endure lives of hard work and very often abuse – the chance to get their own back.

Just days before the spring festival of Holi, an event celebrated across the country with the raucous throwing of water and multi-coloured dyes, the residents of Barsana, a small town around 60 miles south of Delhi, indulge in their own unique version of the festival.

Australia warns Israel for forging passports

Melbourne, February 25: An angry Australia on Thursday warned Israel of a possible damage to its ties with the Jewish state if evidence was found that Tel Aviv was involved in forging Australian passports to murder a top Hamas commander in Dubai.

Australian Foreign Ministry Office today summoned Israeli ambassador and asked the envoy to explain how its three passports were used by suspected Mossad assassins to kill Hamas commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai last month.

‘You ruined my life’, Blair told

London, February 25: Gordon Brown told Tony Blair “you ruined my life” in a fierce showdown between the two men shortly before the former Prime Minister agreed to stand down, according to the latest allegations to emerge from a book about New Labour.