Month: March 2010

US to give USD 51 mn to Pak to upgrade thermal plants

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Washington, March 26: The US has agreed to provide USD 51 million to Pakistan to upgrade its three thermal plants in an effort to help it overcome its acute power shortage, a day after Islamabad failed to secure a clear commitment from the Obama Administration for a civil nuclear deal.

The upgrading of the plants, commissioned by the Pakistani companies, will restore approximately 305 MW of lost power generation capacity and bring relief to the people of Pakistan over the course of the next one year.

The three thermal power plants are located at Jamshoro, Muzaffargarh and Guddu.

Clashes in valley over crackdown on stone-throwers

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Srinagar, March 26: At least five persons were injured as police fired teargas shells and used batons to disperse stone-hurling groups in Baramulla and Sopore townships of North Kashmir today.

The clashes in the two towns, 55 kms from here, erupted shortly after Friday prayers when groups of youth took to the streets demanding release of people arrested over the past couple of months on the charges of stone-throwing, official sources said.

Clashes broke out at Muslim Peer and Main Chowk in Sopore town and Farooqi Point, Main Chowk and Cement Bridge in Baramulla district town.

Muslim outfits take out march against question paper

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Idukki (Ker), March 26: A protest march by Muslim outfits against “adverse” references about their religion in a private college internal examination question paper turned violent leading to police lathicharge and clamping of prohibitory orders in Thodupuzha Town in Idukki District today.

Prohibitory orders were clamped in the town limits after the march to the college turned violent with protesters forcibly trying to down shutters of shops and pelting stones at police and media persons, police said.

Freelance journalist arrested for extortion

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New Delhi, March 25: A freelance journalist was arrested in the capital for allegedly extorting Rs eight lakh from a Faridabad-based businessman after secretly filming him in a compromising position with a woman, police said today.

The journalist, Sanjiv Sharma (34), was arrested yesterday from India Habitat Centre for allegedly conspiring with another businessman Neeraj Aggarwal, who owed Rs six lakh to Rajender Singh Khattana, the victim, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) H G S Dhaliwal said.

Aggarwal allegedly did not want to repay the debt.

Maoists’ bunker destroyed in Gaya

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Gaya, March 26: Police today demolished a bunker of Maoists and recovered a huge quantity of explosives, including detonators, at Dhakpahari village in Bihar’s Gaya district today, SP Sushil Khopade said.

Acting on a tip-off, police raided the area and unearthed the bunker of the Maoists, Khapade said.

67 detonators, 300 rounds of ammunition of self-loading rifles, timer devices and 700 uniforms of ultras were recovered during the operation, he said.

–Agencies

Why should Amitabh apologise, asks Jaya

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New Delhi, March 26: Jaya Bachchan today said there was no need for her husband Amitabh Bachchan to apologise for attending the inauguration of the Bandra-Worli sea-link which has triggered a controversy in Maharashtra politics.

“Why should he apologise?”, Bachchan asked during an interaction at the Indian Women’s Press Corps here.

On the controversy over the function, she said, “it is a democracy, everybody has a right to speak. There is no insult”.

Haryana Governor hospitalised

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Chandigarh, March 26: Haryana Governor Jagannath Pahadia was today admitted to PGIMER here for “routine” medical tests.

“The Governor was admitted for routine clinical tests,” a spokeswoman of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research said.

77-year-old Pahadia had been admitted to PGIMER in September last year after he felt uneasiness when he was attending a religious function at Manimajra here.

Pahadia took over as Haryana Governor on July 27.

–Agencies

17 Pakistani prisoners repatriated

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Amritsar, March 26: In a goodwill gesture, 17 Pakistani prisoners were today repatriated.

The prisoners, including 14 who had been lodged in Tihar Jail, crossed into Pakistan through Attari-Wagah border.

Praising Indian government for releasing them, Pakistani national M S Khan, who had spent nearly 13 years in jail, said prisoners who have completed their sentences should be repatriated “as this act of generosity would also force Pakistan to think about the fate of Indian prisoners lodged in jails there”.

Among those released, three had been lodged in different jails in Rajasthan.

Militant shot dead near LoC

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Srinagar, March 26: Army troops today shot dead an unidentified militant in a gunbattle near the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district, making it the second such incident in two days.

However, it was not clear whether the ultra was an infiltrator or part of the group which had tried to sneak into the valley from across the border on Wednesday, defence spokesman Lt Col J S Brar told PTI.

“An encounter took place near the LoC in Keran sector in which an unidentified militant was killed,” he said.

Mohun Bagan keen to bounce back

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Kolkata, March 26: Down after their shocking loss to last-placed Sporting Clube de Goa, Mohun Bagan will look to bounce back and improve their position when they face Shillong Lajong in their round 18 I-League encounter at Yuba Bharati Krirangan here tomorrow.

Mohun Bagan may miss the services of midfielder Rakesh Masih in the match, even as their coach Satyajit Chatterjee will get a full strength squad to pick from.

Masih has sustained a shoulder injury that might see him out of the match with Sheikh Azim taking his place.

Good coaches need of the hour: J&K DGP

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Jammu, March 26: Sports is an integral part of the department but specialised coaches is the need of the hour for the players to come up with more improved performance at the national and international levels, said state Director General of Police (DGP) Kuldeep Khoda.

Praising the players of the department who have won laurels in various national and international competitions, Khoda said Jammu and Kashmir Police has been organising sporting activities at regular junctures besides hosting several national events to promote sports in the state.

Advani must quit politics: Congress

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New Delhi, March 26: With the senior IPS officer testifying against L K Advani in Babri Masjid demolition case, the senior BJP leader came under fresh attack from political parties and Muslim groups, with the Congress saying he should retire from politics.

BJP, on the other hand, refused to comment on the testimony in which the IPS officer Anju Gupta said Advani was present during the demolition, citing legal process.

Hearing on Satyam plea adjourned

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Hyderabad, March 26: A special court Friday posted to March 31 the hearing of a petition filed by Satyam Computer Services (now Mahindra Satyam) seeking release of company’s records seized by the CBI.

The court also adjourned the hearing of other cases filed by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate against the fraud-hit software major to the same date.

Andrew Symonds cautions against IPL overkill

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Bangalore, March 26: Andrew Symonds, the Deccan Chargers allrounder, has said the increase in the sheer amount of cricket and tighter schedules may affect the quality of cricket in subsequent seasons of the IPL, and has called for better planning as the tournament grows in size.

“People always want more, they want to get bigger and faster. [What] worries me is that players are going to play more in the same period of time,” Symonds told Hindustan Times. “I don’t know if the quality of cricket will be as high because they will get tired. They will get injured and that’s a concern.”

We have picked the best team: Srikkanth

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Mumbai, March 26: Chairman of the selection panel Krishnamachari Srikkanth said that the “best team” has been picked for forthcoming Twenty20 World Cup and hoped India will put up good performance in the April 30-May 16 mega-event in the West Indies.

“We have selected the best team for the Twenty20 World Cup. We are happy with the performance of every member of the team. They have shown consistency,” Srikkanth said after the selection committee meeting.

“The Twenty20 World Cup is still one month away and we hope that this team will do well in the event,” Srikkanth added.

Hamas hails Mauritania’s decision over Israel

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Gaza, March 26: The Palestinian Hamas resistance movement has praised Mauritania’s decision to close the Israeli embassy in Nouakchott and sever its diplomatic ties completely with it, urging Arab states that have relations with Israel to follow.

“We in Hamas highly value and appreciate the decision taken by the Islamic republic of Mauritania to close the Zionist entity’s embassy in Nouakchott and break off its diplomatic relations with the state of occupation,”
Palestinain Information Center cited the Hamas statement on Thursday. .

Shweta Agarwal: Bollywood was never a ‘junoon’ for me

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Mumbai, March 26: Young Shweta Agarwal has just made her first step into Bollywood with SHAAPIT and is reasonably happy with the kind of feedback coming her way. She may not have been appreciated to the skies but her performance hasn’t been thrashed either. However, now that she has found a space for herself in the Hindi film industry, Shweta is serious about making the right moves in months to come.

Priyanka on working in diverse films – I am fortunate

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Mumbai, March 26: After spending 27 years on planet Earth out of which a good 7 years have been spent in the industry, Priyanka Chopra has already acted in 30 films, won a dozen odd awards and boasts of a Miss World crown no less.

Still, despite all the accolades, recognition and acclaim coming her way, she chooses to be quite rooted. No starry airs, no signs of being distracted by any external forces and above all, no letting out of any excessive emotional energy, whether positive or negative.

Neetu shocked on sets of APARTMENT

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Mumbai, March 26: While it is a known fact that APARTMENT is a contemporary psycho-thriller set amidst life in a metropolis, there is also another interesting tale around how director Jagmohan Mundhra aspired for some real shock to translate on screen as well.

Emraan Hashim’s latest muse

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Mumbai, March 26: Emraan Hashmi is dating a new girl these days. According to latest reports, the actor is developing some close bond with his South African co-star Shella Alan.

The two bonded over their film’s shoot in Cape Town recently and would often party together. It must be recalled that Emraan is currently shooting for Mohit Suri’s upcoming film CROOK.

For those, who are unaware about Shella Alan, let’s tell them that it’s the same girl who was briefly seen in Sanjay Gupta’s film ACID FACTORY. In the film CROOK, Shella will play Emraan’s love interest.

——–Agencies

Dev Anand upset with Bipasha

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Mumbai, March 26: Veteran actor Dev Anand is upset with Bipasha Basu. The reason: Dev Anand is not kicked about the fact that his old classic number DUM MARO DUM will be remixed in an upcoming film directed by Rohan Sippy and it will feature Bipasha Basu.

The veteran actor is thinking of taking legal course to stop this classic song to be remixed. Dev Anand thinks that Rohan Sippy might not be able to do full justice to the re-mix.

To ease his concerns, Rohan Sippy along with his actors might meet Dev Anand soon to convince him about the treatment meted out to the classic number.

Gujjars postpone march to Jaipur, to send delegation

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Jaipur, March 26: Gujjars led by their leader Kirori Singh Bainsla today postponed their proposed march to Jaipur to press for quota in government jobs and decided to send a delegation to hold talks with Rajasthan government on the issue.

The 11-member delegation of which Col Bainsla is not a part would hold talks with the government here. The decision to this effect was taken at a Mahapanchayat held at Gazipur in Dausa district.

Gold edges up on global cues

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New Delhi, March 26: Snapping a four-day downward march gold prices gained Rs 35 to Rs 16,485 per ten grams in the bullion market here today on buying support amid a firming global trend.

Standard gold and ornaments recovered by Rs 35 each to Rs 16,485 and Rs 16,335 per ten grams, respectively, while sovereign lost Rs 50 to trade at Rs 13,900 per eight-gram piece.

The trading sentiment improved after gold climbed in the overseas markets on dollar weakness, which boosted demand for the metal as an alternative investment.

Teacher cleared of having sex with special needs pupil

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London, March 26: A British teacher has been cleared of having secret sex sessions with a 16-year-old special needs student, a media report said.

Thirtynine-year-old Teresa McKenzie was sacked and her two young children put under the scrutiny of social services after she was accused of seducing the teenager.

She was also accused of having sex with him at the British Library, a luxury hotel and in the back of her car while sending him steamy love notes.

A jury, however, took barely 50 minutes to dismiss the allegations by the teenager.

Eurozone agrees on bailout plan for Greece

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Brussels, March 26: German Chancellor Angela Merkel praised a hard—won deal to rescue heavily indebted Greece from its financial woes, insisting on Friday that it will steady the wobbly euro and showed that Europe could cope with the crisis despite having asked the International Monetary Fund to join in on a bailout package.