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Month: February 2010
Eid Milad celebrations at peak
Hyderabad, February 27 (Zahed Farooqui): The celebrations of the birth anniversary of Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) have reached at their peak as people came on road and have decorated homes, mosques, streets and bazaars with bunting, flags and lightings to express their reverence for the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
Several religious leaders took out Milad processions from different localities which reached Makkah Masjid roam around Charminar to Nayapul.
Saudi visit will build strategic ties: PM
New Delhi, February 27: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hoped his three-day visit to Saudi Arabia beginning Saturday will open up “new frontiers of cooperation” and impart a “strategic character” to the bilateral relationship.
In his departure statement, the prime minister said he will hold talks with the Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on ways to promote greater stability and security in the region, and “impart a strategic character to our relations beyond the traditional areas of our cooperation”.
78 dead as Massive quake strikes Chile
Santiago, February 27: At least 78 people have died and large parts of South America have been put on tsunami alert after one of the biggest earthquakes in modern times struck southern Chile.
The earthquake struck at around 3.34am local time. Its epicentre was just 75 miles from the coastal city of Concepcion, south of Santiago
The quake, registered at magnitude 8.8 on the Richter scale, caused buildings and bridges to collapse and led to power-black outs in parts of the Chilean capital, Santiago, 200 miles from the epicentre.
India-Pakistan World Cup clash will be a battle of nerves
New Delhi, February 27: The World Cup clash between India and Pakistan Sunday is as good as the final for hockey buffs in the subcontinent.
A clash between sporting teams of the two countries is not just a test of skill. It is a war of nerves and it will not be any different when they fight it out under the hi-tech floodlights at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium here Sunday with tens of millions of their countrymen watching them in the subcontinent and around the world.
Old man marries 12 year old girl in Haryana
Sonepat, February 27: Haryana is famous for various issues violating human rights. In another shocking incident, a 70 year old man, Balram has allegedly bought a 12 year old girl from Chapra region in Bihar. The girl Arti,is living with him as his wife.
According to the sources, the man says that the girl is his wife and he got married to 12 year old Arti in Bihar.
Balram’s first wife passed away few years back. Balram has a daughter from his first wife.
The village Panchayat is maintaining silence on this matter. Even the police doesn’t want to comment .
—Agencies
President sends Holi greetings to nation
New Delhi, February 27: President Pratibha Patil Saturday conveyed her best wishes to the nation on Holi, the festival of colours, which will be celebrated on March 1.
In her message, Patil said: “On the auspicious occasion of Holi, I extend my greetings and good wishes to all fellow citizens.”
“Holi is a festival of joy, hope and fulfilment in our life. May this festival strengthen fraternal bonds amongst our people and bring peace and prosperity to our nation.”
—Agencies
Govt to earn Rs 40,000 cr from excise hike, petro duties
New Delhi, February 27: The government today said it will earn an additional Rs 40,000 crore from the hike in excise and restoration of duties on petroleum products, while it will lose Rs 21,000 crore due to income tax sops.
Of the Rs 40,000 crore, Rs 14,000 crore would come from excise duty hike and Rs 26,000 crore from petro duties, Revenue Secretary Sunil Mitra told reporters on the sidelines of a FICCI AGM.
The government in the Budget yesterday raised excise duty, which was lowered to 8 per cent during the slowdown, to 10 per cent and also restored duties on petroleum products.
US refuses nuclear power plant to Pakistan
Washington, February 28: A major blow to Pakistan demand of nuclear power , US has categorically refused Pakistan that it would not get any atomic power plant or civilian nuclear deal on the lines of the one signed with
India.
“The United States is working closely with Pakistan to help meet its growing needs. Nuclear power is not currently part of our discussions,” a senior Administration officialLeaders of Pakistan, who have been pitching hard for a nuclear power plant, have been told .
Curfew continues in Pattan
Srinagar, February 27: Curfew continued for the second day today in two villages of North Kashmir’s Pattan town which witnessed clashes between two sects of Muslims leaving 20
people injured.
Curfew was imposed in Hagarpora and Kangandora villages of Pattan when clashes broke out over erection of a hoarding of a spiritual leader in the town on Thursday in which 20 people were injured and scores of houses and shops damaged.
“The situation is under control as curfew continues in two villages as a precautionary measure,” Senior Superintendent of Police, Baramulla, Shakeel Ahmad Beg said.
Paes-Dlouhy storm into final of Dubai ATP event
Dubai, February 27: Leander Paes and Lukas Dlouhy stormed into the final of the Duabi Tennis Championships after registering a come from behind win over Christopher Kas and Dick Norman here.
The second seed Indo-Czech pair prevailed 2-6 7-6(6) 10-7 over the German-Belgian combination in the semifinals of the USD 1,619,500 hard court event.
Paes and Dlouhy will clash with unseeded Simon Aspelin of Sweden and Paul Hanley of Australia in the summit clash.
Aspelin and Hanley overcame the challenge of Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Tommy Robredo 6-2 3-6 14-12 in their semifinals.
Shilpa Shetty joins twitter
Mumbai, February 27: Actress Shilpa Shetty is the latest celebrity to join the micro-bloggin website twitter, which is fast becoming a favourting haunt for for Bollywood stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan.
The 34-year-old, who has her own blog, joined the networking site yesterday.
Shetty, who is also the co-owner of IPL team Rajasthan Royals, used the opportunity to promote her team.
“Hello Hello i am the newest inclusion to twitterdom! In London now..IPL Jitters kicking in.Launched the new mascot ‘Moochu Singh’ too cute!! (sic),” the actress wrote.
Sensex breaks free after budget, gains 237 points in week
Mumbai, February 27: Indian stock markets, which were in stasis for much of this week, reacted positively to the budget, with a benchmark index breaking free to close 237 points higher than its previous weekly close.
The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) moved up 237.92 points or 1.47 percent to end Friday at 16,429.55 points, 237 points above its previous weekly close at 16,191.63 points.
The broader S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) too posted gains to end the week at 4,922.3 points, up 77.4 points or 1.57 percent.
PepsiCo finishes USD 7.8 billion buyout of 2 bottlers
Washington, February 27: PepsiCo has closed the deal to buy its two biggest bottlers, a move that’s expected to shake up the beverage industry.
The USD 7.8 billion buyout of Pepsi Bottling Group and PepsiAmericas yesterday will allow the second-largest US drink maker to try out more new products and get them to market more quickly.
That will let the maker of Pepsi soft drinks and Tropicana juices better respond to a changing market and keep up with shoppers who are switching to juices and teas or buying fewer drinks altogether.
8.3-magnitude quake hits Chile, tsunami warning issued
Santiago, February 27: The US Geological Survey reports that an 8.3-magnitude earthquake has struck southern Chile.
The quake hit 197 miles (317 kilometres) southwest of the capital, Santiago, and at a depth of 36.9 miles (59.4 kilometres) at 3:34 am (0634 GMT; 1:34 am EST).
A tsunami warning was issued early on Saturday for Chile and Peru and a tsunami watch was issued for Ecuador, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre reported, after the massive earthquake in Chile.
9.25 Lakh students to appear in CBSE Class X exams
New Delhi, February 27: As many as 9.25 lakh candidates will be appearing in CBSE class X examination beginning March 3 across the country under the new grading system.
More than 6.99 lakh candidates will also take their class XII examination which start on the same day.
According to CBSE, the number of students appearing for the class X examination is 8.65 per cent more than last year. Among the candidates, 5,33,715 are boys and 3,68,802 are girls.
The examination will be held in 12,303 schools and centres across the country, the Board said in a release.
US sees Pakistan ‘strategic shift’ in war on Taliban
Washington, February 27: The United States has seen a “strategic shift” by Pakistan in the past months during its fight against Taliban militants, a senior US official said on Friday.
Under US pressure, Pakistan is waging multiple military offensives against Islamist militant havens. Washington brands the country’s northwest tribal belt as the most dangerous place in the world and the chief sanctuary of al Qaeda.
“In the last nine months we’ve seen a significant strategic shift in Pakistan,” a senior administration official said.
‘Pak most threatening place in world’
Washington, February 27: Describing Pakistan as “the most threatening place,” an influential US lawmaker has said that the Taliban and al Qaeda-infested Af-Pak region poses greater danger to the world than Yemen, another hotbed of terrorists.
“The greater threat is still, I think, in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The destabilisation of that whole region, the fact that Pakistan is a nuclear state. That (Pakistan) still is, I think, the most threatening place,” Adam Schiff, a member of a Congressional committee on intelligence, told MSNBC.
JD(U) MLA kills wife, daughter, himself
Patna, February 27: Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) legislator Abhay Singh was found dead along with his wife and daughter at his official residence here, police said Friday.
They said that Singh, legislator from Jamui and son of Bihar Minister for Food and Consumer Narendra Singh, committed suicide after killing his wife and daughter late Thursday night.
Singh first shot dead his wife and daughter and later killed himself, the police said, adding that the daughter was less than a year old.
Thank you for surprising me on my surprise birthday party: Shahid Kapoor
Mumbai, February 27: Bollywood star Shahid Kapoor, who turned 29 Thursday, was given a surprise birthday party by his family and friends.
“I was given a surprise birthday party and I sure was surprised. Even dad and family were in on it. Wow! It’s actually my first surprise birthday party,” Shahid posted on micro-blogging site Twitter.
The actor was wished by a number of celebrities, including Karan Johar and Farah Ali Khan.
He has thanked everyone for their wishes.
“Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all the birthday wishes. Love you all,” he added.
My Pa giving young actors run for their money: Abhi
Mumbai, February 27: Abhishek Bachchan, who was eagerly looking forward to see his father Amitabh’s performance in “Teen Patti”, says the veteran actor just keeps getting better with every film even at the age of 68.
“‘Teen Patti’ releases today. Can’t wait to see what Big B has in store for us this time round. (I am) still getting over his performance in ‘Rann’. He’s just this force that has become unstoppable! Shocks you with every new performance…full power to you Pa, ” Abhishek posted on Twitter.
Rahul buys 2.5 carat heart-shaped solitaire for his bride
Mumbai, February 27: As Rahul Mahajan’s search for his perfect bride on television nears its end, he’s leaving no stone unturned to make the occasion special. Apart from designer jewellery and outfits, Rahul has bought a heart-shaped, 2.5 carat solitaire for his would-be-bride.
Rahul, along with close friend and “Bigg Boss” housemate Sambhavna Seth, spent hours hunting for the perfect ring.
“This ring signifies Rahul’s love and commitment to his future wife! I am so happy that I was there to help him make this important decision, ” said Sambhavna.
Jails housing Maoists to have mobile phone jammers
Raipur, February 27: In a bid to suffocate plots of possible jail breaks by arrested Maoists, mobile phone jammers will be installed at seven jails in Chhattisgarh.
“There will be 25 cell phone jammers to be installed at seven jails, at a cost of Rs 6 crore. The trial process is on and we plan to make the system operational within the next few weeks. This will help us to prevent cellular phones from receiving signals from or transmitting signals to base stations,” an official of the jail department said here on Saturday.
Delicate darling Shazahn Padamsee earning big bucks
Mumbai, February 27: Just one-movie old, Shazahn Padamsee has nevertheless joined the bandwagon of Bollywood celebrities, who have entered the world of endorsements. The pretty lady has become the brand ambassador of an award-winning global leader in the industry of lifestyle footwear, ‘Skechers’.