Month: February 2010

Matt Damon says waiting on Kennedy film script

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New York, February 27: Matt Damon has portrayed many people on film, from a math whiz to a murderer, but whether he plays Robert F. Kennedy in a new movie remains an open question despite his confidence it will happen, he said Friday.

Earlier this week, celebrity websites trumpeted headlines that Damon would soon portray the slain U.S. presidential candidate and member of the Kennedy clan, but had yet to see a screenplay. Friday, the actor confirmed those accounts.

US experts seek more oversight of medical radiation

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Chicago, February 27: The U.S. government needs to establish national guidelines for controlling the amount of radiation a patient gets from diagnostic exams and treatments and the level of training required by a medical technician who delivers it, experts told a congressional panel on Friday.

Radiation exposure from medical scans and treatments became a major concern for patients and lawmakers last fall after patients at hospitals in Los Angeles and Philadelphia were exposed to toxic levels of radiation.

US missionaries to stay in Haiti jail over weekend

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Port-Au-Prince, February 27: Two U.S. missionaries will remain in jail in Haiti through at least Tuesday, while a judge takes testimony that is expected to clear them of child kidnapping charges, the judge hearing the case said on Friday.

Investigative judge Bernard Sainvil said that before freeing Laura Silsby and Charisa Coulter he wanted witnesses that he had already examined in the Dominican Republic to give their testimony in Haiti.

Taliban attack in Kabul; insurgents not crippled

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Kabul, February 27: Insurgents struck at hotels in the heart of Kabul with suicide attackers and a car bomb, killing at least 16 people — half of them foreigners in an assault that showed the militants remain a potent force despite setbacks on the battlefield and the arrest of more than a dozen key leaders.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for Friday’s attacks, which President Hamid Karzai said targeted Indians working in Kabul.

19 killed in fireworks blast in southern China

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Beijing, February 27: An explosion triggered by residents setting off fireworks to celebrate the Lunar New Year tore through a village in southern China, killing 19 people and wounding more than 30 as the country neared the end of its biggest holiday.

The blast late Friday in the southern province of Guangdong was the deadliest of the 15-day Lunar New Year, which ends Sunday. Fireworks are a large part of the celebrations, especially at the beginning and end of the holiday, despite public safety campaigns.

US lawmakers get details of Pakistan aid plan

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Washington, February 27: The Obama administration sent lawmakers this week a plan for $1.45 billion in aid for Pakistan this year, funding water, energy and other projects as well as a media campaign to counter extremist views.

The 2010 spending plan, obtained by Reuters, was sent to lawmakers late on Thursday as part of the U.S. administration’s obligation to consult Congress over the civilian aid package.

Suicide car bomber kills three policemen Pakistan

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Islamabad, February 27: A suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a police station on Saturday in a northwestern Pakistani town, killing three policemen and wounding seven, police said.

The blast also damaged a nearby mosque in the town of Karak in the North West Frontier Province, which has borne the brunt of militant bomb attacks over the past year.

–Reuters

USGS reports 8.8-magnitude earthquake hits Chile

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Chile, February 27: A massive magnitude-8.8 earthquake struck near Concepcion, Chile early on Saturday, USGS reported, shaking buildings and causing blackouts in parts of the capital of Santiago.

A tsunami warning was issued for Chile and Peru by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and a tsunami watch was issued for Ecuador.

The earthquake struck 56 miles (90 km) northeast of Concepcion at a depth of 34 miles (55 km) at 3:34 a.m./1:34 EST/0643 GMT. It’s magnitude was reported at 8.3 and 8.5, then fixed by the USGS at 8.8.

China does not want trade conflict with US in 2010

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Beijing, February 27: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said on Saturday he did not want 2010 to be “an unpeaceful year” for trade and economic relations with the United States.

Wen made the comments during an online chat with Internet users shown live on the central government’s website gov.cn and the official Xinhua news agency website.

–AFP

US, Afghan forces clear last parts of Taliban area

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Marjah,February 27: Marines and Afghan troops who fought through the center of Marjah linked up Saturday with American soldiers on the northern edge of the former Taliban stronghold, clearing the town’s last major pocket of resistance.

The joint force encountered almost no hostile fire, indicating that the militants have either fled or blended in with the local population — perhaps to stage attacks later if the Afghan government fails to hold the town. Some Taliban operatives are believed to remain west of Marjah.

Huge earthquake in Chile kills 78 Alonso Soto

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Santiago,February 27: A massive magnitude-8.8 earthquake struck south-central Chile early on Saturday, killing at least 78 people, knocking down buildings and triggering a tsunami.

President Michelle Bachelet said there were 78 confirmed deaths and that more were possible. Telephone and power lines were down, making it difficult to make an early assessment of the damage, but serious damage was reported in two southern cities.

GO 723 violated rules: HC

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Hyderabad, February 27: A division bench of the AP High Court comprising Justice T Meena Kumari and Justice G Chandraiah on Friday allowed the writ petition filed by Obulapuram Mines and by Anantapur Mining Company. The bench declared that the order of the State Government suspending mining operations in the Obulapuram area was in violation of Principles of Natural Justice.

Speaker rejects resignations of Damodar, Muthyam

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Hyderabad, February 27: Assembly Speaker N Kirankumar Reddy has rejected the resignations of Congress legislators R Damodar Reddy, Ch Muthyam Reddy and Praja Rajyam legislator A Maheswar Reddy.

He took the decision today evening after the trio met him at his residence.

Informed sources said that Damodar Reddy, Muthyam Reddy and Maheswar Reddy have arrived from Delhi in the afternoon and went to the residence of the Speaker along with minister R Venkat Reddy, who was elder brother of Damodar Reddy.

Core sector gets Rs 1.73l cr

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Hyderabad, February 27: If there’s one industry, which received adequate emphasis in Budget 2010, it’s the infrastructure sector. The government has increased the allocation to 46 per cent of the total outlay to Rs 1.73 lakh crore. Besides, the finance minister also announced building of 20 km of national highways per day, apart from increasing the allocation for road construction by 13 per cent.

Marital Affair: MLA kills wife, kid and self

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Patna, February 27: A LEGISLATOR belonging to the ruling Janata Dal- United ( JD- U) in Bihar killed his wife and infant daughter before shooting himself in the early hours of Friday.

Abhay Singh ( 36) shot his wife Soni and six- month- old daughter Rashi from pointblank range with his licensed revolver in their Patna bedroom at around 3 in the morning.

His elder daughter, three- year old Khushi, who was sleeping with her grandmother in the adjoining room, survived.

Woman employee hurls slipper at Judge in court

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Kurnool, February 27: Taking a cue from the incident where footwear was hurled at the erstwhile US president George Bush, a government employee did the same in the court here today.

She threw a chappal on Judge M Shanmugam in the IVth Additional and Family Sessions court in the city today.

Surprisingly, the woman – Radha Rani – is a typist in the same court. The judge and the typist had an argument earlier in the day on a petty issue.

‘FM tune challenging but ‘hummable’

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Hyderabad, February 27: The Finance Minister is moving along the path to growth and sustainable development, is the verdict of most industry associations.

While the roll-back of stimulus packages introduced last year was widely anticipated, the additional thrust on sectors such as infrastructure, power, public health, deployment of IT and education has been welcomed by India Inc and the pegging of the current fiscal deficit to 5.5 per cent as compared to last year’s 6.9 per cent is being seen as a good sign.

Goldman fears jewel dreams may lose shine

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Hyderabad, February 27: Income tax breaks may have saved you some money but surely, it won’t be enough to buy gold! For, the Union Budget giveth and taketh as well. Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has hiked customs duty on precious metals by a whipping 50 per cent. The customs duty, which was around Rs 200 per 10 grams, will henceforth be Rs 300.

Similarly, the customs duty on silver has been increased from Rs 1,000 per kg to Rs 1,500.

Budget is good but…could have been better

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Hyderabad, February 27: The much-maligned software professionals, who are looking forward to regaining their lost glory as the new age maharajahs, reacted cautiously to Pranab Mukherjee’s budget.

Many expressed happiness at the revised tax slabs but several others struck a cautious note citing increased fuel prices and taxes on other fronts.

Foreign call girls in Jubilee Hills

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Hyderabad, February 27: A Moroccan was among six sex workers nabbed along with two middlemen during a raid on flesh trade in the posh Jubilee Hills locality. A car, five mobile phones and cash was seized from them.

Police said the sex racket was being run by Jocky alias Yakub, a native of Mangalore in Karnataka, and Md Baba alias Ravinder Reddy alias Rahul Reddy of Guntur with their henchmen, Jaffer and Sharath Shetty, both hailing from Mangalore.

Saudi visit: Counter-terrorism top priority

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Riyadh, February 27: Security and counter-terrorism measures will get top priority during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Saudi Arabia, says India’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Talmiz Ahmad.

“This visit, taking place four years after the visit of (Saudi Arabia’s) King Abdullah (Bin Abdul Aziz) to India will give both sides an opportunity to discuss important global and regional issues,” Ahmad told IANS.

Sudan national held in city

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Hyderabad, February 27: Task Force police arrested a 36-year-old Sudan national, Khaled Osman Ahmed for over-staying at Hakeempet, Tolichowki on Thursday. They also seized a mobile phone from him.

During the course of investigation, police found Ahmed came to India in May, 1994, on a tourist visa and stayed in Pune. He went back to his country in 1995. In November, 1997, he returned to India on a tourist visa and stayed at Rethibowli in the city. While studying here, he married an Indian, Tahseen Sultana, 29, of Hakeempet, and was blessed with a girl child.

Ticket-vending machines at Kacheguda

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Hyderabad, February 27: The South Central Railway (SCR) has commissioned Automatic Ticket-Vending Machines (ATVMs) at the Kacheguda railway station on Friday.

A total of six ATVMs were installed at the station. The facility is already available at Secunderabad, Begumpet, Hitech City, Hyderabad and Lingampalli.

Passengers can buy MMTS tickets and general second class tickets for travel by ordinary, mail and express trains besides platform tickets from these ATVMs using smart cards.

State Assembly congratulates Sachin

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Hyderabad, February 27: The State Assembly today passed a unanimous resolution congratulating batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar on becoming the first cricketer to score a double century in the history of one-day cricket.

Chief Minister K Rosaiah moved the resolution in the House which was seconded by leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu.

“The Andhra Pradesh Assembly congratulates on your stupendous achievement.

Youth sets himself ablaze in front of BHEL

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Hyderabad, February 27: A youngster set himself ablaze in front of the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) administrative building today night demanding vacancies in the Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) be filled only with locals. The youngster also favoured formation of a separate Telangana in a suicide note left behind.

Pro-Telangana activists have been fighting for the filling of vacancies in the PSU locals only since the past few days.