Month: March 2010

AP Assembly rocked over petro price, adjourned

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Hyderabad, March 02: The Andhra Pradesh Assembly today adjourned briefly as the opposition created a ruckus over the issue of rise in petrol and diesel prices.

As soon as the House met for the day, members belonging to TDP, CPI, CPI-M, BJP and Praja Rajyam Party demanded that the issue be discussed through an adjournment motion.

As their demand was rejected, the opposition members stalled the proceedings and Speaker N Kiran Kumar adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

Out of White House, Obama aide denies role in gatecrash

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Washington, March 02: Days after quitting, White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers has claimed her office followed protocol the night an uninvited couple gatecrashed President Barack Obama’s state dinner for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Rogers also denied reports that her staff wasn’t present at the main gate when the wannabe reality TV stars Tareq and Michaele Salahi got through layers of security to enter the White House and shake hands with both Obama and Manmohan Singh at the Nov 24 event.

Bomb blast hits military convoy in Pakistan

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Islamabad, March 02: Several army personnel were injured on Tuesday when a powerful bomb blast hit a military convoy in northwest Pakistan’s tribal area, a media report said.

An improvised explosive device (IED) exploded close to the convoy in Miranshah, the capital of North Waziristan, leaving several people injured, news agency reported.

Pakistani security forces are conducting operations against Taliban guerrillas in the northwest tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.

—–IANS

ANTI-COED Saudi cleric’s website shut down

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Dubai, March 02: The website of a top Saudi cleric who issued an edict calling for those who support co-educational environments to be put to death has been shut down on Sunday.

Shaikh Abdul-Rahman al-Barrak’s website was shut down following a barrage of criticism from religious scholars in Saudi Arabia and Egypt condemning his fatwa (religious ruling) as a call for violence.

No to playing Holi with women? Then set their homes afire

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Patna, March 02: The inequalities in Bihar society came to the fore again on Holi with a group of rich, armed men setting ablaze the homes of the poor in a village for not being allowed to play with their women, police said Tuesday.

About a dozen thatched homes belonging to the poorest in Rajespur village in Patna district, about 80 km from here, were set on fire late Monday by the powerful mafia, locally known as ‘dabang’.

Four people have been arrested but tension continues with hundreds demanding action against accused. Security forces have been deployed to avoid further trouble.

Samosas, sandwiches, Shane Warne at Indian picnic in Australia

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Melbourne, March 02: Spin bowler Shane Warne was mobbed by members of the Indian community Tuesday during an informal interaction at parliament house in the backdrop of the violence against Indian students here.

The food included samosas, sandwiches and curries. And the Indians were happy to interact with Shane Warne by taking his autograph, talking to him about the Indian Premier League (IPL) and getting a few tips on bowling.

Warne told the crowd: “It’s important for me as a Victorian … to keep building the relationship with India and Australia, and in particular Victoria.”

Seven killed in road mishap

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Palakkad, March 02: Seven persons, including two children, were killed when a van in which they were travelling collided with a truck at Pudussery village near here in the wee hours today, police said.

The passengers were on their way to the Lord Krishna temple in Guruvayur when the mishap occurred, they said.

The driver of the van was among those killed, police said.

—–PTI

Toyota repairing leaky oil hoses in US, Japan

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Tokyo, march 02: Toyota is repairing nearly 1 million vehicles in the U.S. and Japan for potentially leaky oil hoses –the latest in a spate of quality problems battering the world’s biggest automaker.

The fix, which has already been rolled out in Japan since late last year, is not considered a recall in Japan, but is categorized as a “service campaign,” with owners receiving notices through dealers about the needed repair, Toyota spokesman Paul Nolasco said Tuesday.

RS to have time clock to ensure maximum business

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New Delhi, March 02: A “time clock” will be put into operation for the first time in the Rajya Sabha from tomorrow to ensure maximum business in the minimum possible time.

The electronic board is the latest innovative practice being adopted by the Upper House for better time management, Rajya Sabha Secretary General V K Agnihotri said.

The new device would be operational when the House takes up discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address to the joint sitting tomorrow, he said.

Hillary in Latin-America

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Washington, March 02: Hillary Clinton is midway through a week-long tour of Latin America, as she seeks to rescue the United States’ flagging image in the region. The Secretary of State will wrestle with a host of thorny issues during her trip, most of which offer but a slim chance of success.

Starting out in Uruguay, where Ms. Clinton attended the inauguration of President José Mujica, she may well have bumped into co-attendee and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, one of the most vocal critics of U.S. foreign policy in all of the Southern Cone.

Hindustan belongs to all

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Pune, March 02: Noted singer Asha Bhosle has distanced herself from parochial sentiments involving Mumbai and Maharashtra saying “Hindustan belongs to all.”

Speaking at a cultural evening organised by a Marathi television channel here, Ms. Asha responded to a question by interviewer and compere Sudhir Gadgil who asked her whether Mumbai was turning ugly with exodus from outside. Among the audience was MNS president Raj Thackeray.

Assembly adjourned amidst protests

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Hyderabad, March 02: The Andhra Pradesh Assembly on Tuesday adjourned briefly as the opposition created a ruckus over the issue of rise in petrol and diesel prices.

As soon as the House met for the day, members belonging to TDP, CPI, CPI(M), BJP and Praja Rajyam Party demanded that the issue be discussed through an adjournment motion.

As their demand was rejected, the opposition members stalled the proceedings and Speaker N. Kiran Kumar adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

Howard nominated for ICC presidency

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Melbourne, March 02: Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard has been jointly nominated by Australia and New Zealand to serve as International Cricket Council president from 2012.

Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket announced Howard’s nomination for the ICC vice-presidency Tuesday, ending months of division in which the organizations supported rival candidates.

Situation in Shimoga, Hassan peaceful

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Bangalore, March 02: The situation is peaceful on Tuesday in Shimoga and Hassan in Karnataka, which saw violence over publication of an article by controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen in a leading Kannada daily.

“The situation is peaceful. Security has been tightened to prevent any untoward incident. Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) personnel are keeping a close watch,” Shimoga Superintendent of Police S. Murugan said.

Underwater silk adhesive might close wounds

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Washington, March 02: Like silkworm moths, butterflies and spiders, caddisfly larvae spin silk, but they do so underwater. Now scientists are trying to make a wet adhesive out of it to close wounds.

University of Utah (U-U) researchers have discovered why the fly’s silk is sticky when wet and how that may make it valuable as an adhesive tape during surgery.

Medvedev moves Russia closer to Iran sanctions

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Paris, March 02: President Dmitry Medvedev gave his clearest signal that Russia is ready to back sanctions against Tehran’s nuclear programme, but warned they must not hurt the Iranian population.

“Our appeals (for Iran) to work on a peaceful nuclear programme under the control of the international community have not borne any fruit so far,” Medvedev said yesterday, at a news conference with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Cricket: Akmal and Afridi to face disciplinary action

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Lahore, March 02: Pakistan senior players Kamran Akmal and Shahid Afridi are likely to face some disciplinary action on the recommendations of the five-member inquiry committee that was formed by the cricket board to look into the team’s poor performances in Australia.

Sources in the board told PTI that the committee which met on Saturday had completed its proceedings and the legal advisor of the board, Tafazzul Rizvi had been given the task of preparing the final report and recommendations of the committee.

Obama is rethinking the US nuclear policy

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New York, March 02: President Barack Obama is rethinking the US nuclear policy and is considering reducing the nation’s arsenal by thousands of weapons, according to senior aides in the White House.

The New York Times reported that Obama would set out his new policy in a document the Nuclear Posture Review.

The new strategy entails that the US develop no further nuclear weapons. Aides told the daily that Obama would be resolving these questions in the coming week.

PIL seeks uniform protocol for forensic med exam

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Nagpur, March 02: The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has issued notices to the Centre as well as the Maharashtra government over a PIL seeking uniform protocol for forensic medical examination in cases of sexual assault and special training to doctors in collection and recording of medical evidence in such cases.

The petitioners — Child Welfare Committee chairperson Ranjana Pardhi and advocate Vijay Patait — have contended that very often culprits in sexual assault cases are acquitted because of faulty collection of medical evidence and incorrect reports.

Take care with ‘energy shot’ drinks

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Berlin, March 02: Overindulging in “energy shot” drinks can have consequences, warn consumer safety organisations. The shots are more concentrated per litre than standard energy drinks, warns the consumer centre of Saxony-Anhalt in Germany.

That increases the risks of consuming large portions of caffeine in a short time, which can damage the heart and circulatory system.

Combining large quantities of those drinks with alcohol and physical exertion, like sport or long stretches of dancing, could be even more dangerous.

Obama reports to Cong on US engagement with Iran

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Washington, March 02: US President Barack Obama has informed the Congress about his administration’s engagement with Iran and gave details of moving with other allies to impose additional sanctions on the Tehran regime.

“Consistent with section 1241 of the National Defense Authorisation Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111-84), I am providing a classified report prepared by my Administration on US engagement with Iran,” Obama said in a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.

Another Indian American chosen by Obama Admin

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Washington, March 02: In yet another appointment of Indian Americans in the Obama Administration, an eminent attorney from the community has been chosen for the US President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts.

Obama has appointed eminent Indian American attorney, Amy K Singh, as President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts for the prestigious John F Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, the White House has said.

Calcium, vitamin D pills don’t help heart

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New York, March 02: Don’t expect your calcium and vitamin D supplements to improve your heart health or prevent a stroke, according to a systematic review of published studies.

While vitamin D and calcium are clearly important for bone health, write the authors of the review, evidence on whether they help heart health is conflicting.

In the US, the recommended daily intake of calcium is 1000 milligrams, and 400 international units for vitamin D. Skin produces vitamin D when directly exposed to the sun, but this is usually not enough.

NASA radar on Chandrayaan-I detects ice deposits on moon

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Washington, March 02: Scientists have detected more than 40 ice-filled craters in the moon’s North Pole using data from a NASA radar that flew aboard India’s Chandrayaan-I.

NASA’s Mini-SAR instrument, lightweight, synthetic aperture radar, found more than 40 small craters with water ice. The craters range in size from 2 to 15 km in diameter.

The finding would give future missions a new target to further explore and exploit, a NASA statement said, adding it is estimated that there could be at least 600 million metric tons of water ice in the craters.

Fog hits flight operations in Kolkata

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Kolkata, March 02: Operations of at least 23 planes from Kolkata airport were disrupted for three hours in the wee hours today due to dense fog and poor visibility, airport officials said.

At least 13 outgoing domestic flights could not take off and 10 other domestic flights could not land at the airport due to visibility going below 300 metre, they said.

Flight operations were suspended at 5.50 am as the visibility went too low for CAT-2 Instrumental Landing System to work at NSC Bose International airport, officials said.