Riteish has designs on school

Mumbai, March 26: Riteish Deshmukh believes in multi-tasking. Though currently, he’s busy promoting his next release Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai he’s also in the process of setting up a state-of-the art educational institution in his hometown Latur in Maharashtra.

His architecture firm Evolutions in partnership with another firm is designing the place.

Pregnancy safe for breast cancer survivors

Barcelona, March 26: Women who survive breast cancer and have children afterwards don’t appear to be at any higher risk of dying from cancer, a new study says.

Doctors have long worried pregnancy might spark hormonal changes in breast cancer survivors that could spur the disease’s return, and many breast cancer patients are counselled against getting pregnant after they recover.

Malaysia’s Anwar sodomy trial postponed until May

Kuala Lumpur, March 26: The sodomy trial of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been postponed to May, prolonging tension over what the opposition says is a politically motivated case.

Judge Zabidin Mohd Diah Thursday ordered the deferral after the defense asked for dates that would allow Anwar to attend parliament.

The trial was due to have resumed Thursday with a defense cross examination of his 23 year-old male accuser.

Can’t direct probe against politicians: SC

New Delhi, March 26: Refusing to order an investigation against Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling in an alleged disproportionate assets case, the Supreme Court on Thursday said it cannot direct probe against politicians facing corruption charges.

A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan said that if the court directs for prosecution it would cause “serious prejudice” to the accused.

“This court cannot sit in judgment over whether investigations should be launched against politicians for alleged acts of corruption,” the bench ruled.

I want to broaden my horizons, says Arshad Warsi

Mumbai, March 26: Flying high on the success of his recent film ‘Ishqiya’, Arshad Warsi isn’t willing to slow down. The actor, who is an established name in the comic genre of films, extended his reach towards serious cinema with his last rustic role. However, Arshad still feels that comedy is his first love and he will once again be seen romancing the genre in his spooky comedy ‘Hum Tum Aur Ghost’.

Dino’s folks show up to support Nandita Mahtani at her show

Mumbai, March 26: It does seem to be pretty official on the Dino Morea and Nandita Mahtani front. On Monday at her fashion showing, his entire family (except brother Santino) was in attendance to cheer her and applaud her designs.

Says a source present at the event, “Everything seemed very cosy and intimate as Dino’s parents (who live in Bangalore) and his brother Nicolo along with Dino arrived. Dino’s dad particularly appeared to be very happy and was seen cheering every outfit on the ramp. He would get up and clap loudly each time a model stepped on the ramp in a new design.”

Bipasha sacks video fitness team for the next video

Mumbai, March 26: Bipasha Basu is done working with friends for her fitness videos. The second video will be out in May and will be done by an entirely new team.Apparently, the people whom she trusted with the first video, have let her down. The actress has sacked almost the whole team from her first video.

On the same page, please!

Car bomb blast rises to 9

Bogota, March 26: The death toll in the car bombing in Colombia’s port city of Buenaventura has risen to nine, while 59 people were injured in the incident, authorities said.

‘The most recent toll that the health department just confirmed is 59 people injured. We have nine people confirmed dead and we have material damage to nearby buildings,’ municipal government secretary Henry Moreno told the press Thursday on Wednesday’s attack.

Several of the injured have been treated and released, but a few others remain hospitalised due to the severity of their injuries, he said.

US presses Israel for Mideast goodwill steps

Jerusalem, March 26: President Barack Obama was seeking goodwill gestures from Israel to persuade Palestinians to return to peace talks even as new settlement expansion plans on disputed land in Jerusalem threatened further strains between Washington and its close ally.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was poised to end a troubled US visit with little sign he had settled a dispute with the White House over Jewish housing construction in East Jerusalem.

Neil replaces Imran in Sanjay Gadhvi’s 7 Days In Paris

Mumbai, March 26: Sanjay Gadhvi’s 7 Days In Paris starring Imran Khan and Katrina Kaif which had all but been shelved is all set to be revived this time with Neil Nitin Mukesh replacing Imran.

Gadhvi and Neil have been in talks for a few months over a film. Says Neil, “We were supposed to do another movie together. And we had almost locked in the script. But then Sanjay gave me the script for 7 Days In Paris to read. And I said, ‘My God! What a fabulous piece of writing!’ Believe me; it’s the most intensely romantic script I had ever read. I had to do it.”

Neil wants Kat

Harman Baweja’s Kundra connection

Mumbai, March 26: Harman Baweja has been seen at two Rajasthan Royals matches. Since he has not acted with team co-owner Shilpa Shetty, it was a bit of a mystery what he was doing cheering for her team.

It was largely believed that he supported the team as he played for Rajasthan in his cricket film Victory. But the actor reveals his reason for supporting RR, “I know Shilpa and she’s a good friend. But I have known Raj (Kundra) longer and we have the Punjabi connection. So it was quite natural for me to cheer for the Royals. I really like their team and think they have a great side.”

Diplomacy best way to solve Iran nuke deadlock: China

Beijing, March 26: China on Thursday underlined the need for diplomacy and negotiation to solve the row over Iran’s nuclear programme as it was ready to play its role to end the deadlock.

“To achieve a comprehensive long-term solution, China is willing to stay in communication and consultation with all parties and play our due role in promoting peaceful talks,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told at a media briefing.

Hairdresser killed as bleach bottle catches fire

London, March 26: A 19-year-old British hairstylist was killed in an accident after her car burst into flames when she lit a cigarette that ignited fumes from a bleach bottle in her bag, a media report said Friday.

Jennie Mitchell was burnt to death in her car when gas coming from a bottle of hydrogen peroxide in her salon bag went up in flames. Her car caught fire and careered off a country road,reported.

Mitchell was on her way to colour her mother’s hair when the accident took place.

Two Pakistani intruders killed on border, fake notes seized

Amritsar, March 26: Two Pakistani intruders were shot dead by BSF troops at a village near the border in Punjab and fake Indian currency with a face value of Rs65 lakh was seized, officials said today.

The duo infiltrated into Indian territory in the border village of Naushera Dhalla and reached near the barbed wire fencing at around midnight last night, they said.

The troops asked them to surrender but they tried to flee, following which they were shot dead.

N.Korea vows nuclear strike against US

Seoul, March 26: North Korea has accused the US and South Korea of seeking a regime change in the country, threatening to launch nuclear strikes to counter any provocations by the two.

“Those who seek to bring down the system in the DPRK (North Korea)… will fall victim to the unprecedented nuclear strikes of the invincible army,” a North Korean General Staff spokesman told the official Korean Central News Agency on Friday.

The spokesman cited a South Korean newspaper report as evidence of desperate moves of the US imperialists on the Korean Peninsula.

SC dismisses plea for withdrawal of cases against Husain

New Delhi, March 26: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a Public interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a direction to the Centre for withdrawal of all criminal cases lodged against 95-year-old artist MF Husain and ensuring his return to the country.

Husain has over 95 cases registered against him in different parts of the country for his alleged blasphemous paintings of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Husain, in self-imposed exile outside India since 2006, was recently conferred citizenship by Qatar.

Despite ‘row,’ US seals military deal with Israel

Washington, March 26The US gives written consent to generously boost the Israeli military despite Washington’s alleged dissatisfaction with Israeli settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Upon agreeing on a relevant deal, the United States agreed to hand over roughly 250-million-dollars worth of Hercules C-130J aircraft to the Israeli army, the Israeli Haaretz newspaper said on Thursday.

Later in the day, the US Defense Department is to issue a formal announcement on the deal, which is to be financed by the American foreign assistance funds.

67,000 children skip school in Britain everyday

London, March 26: As many as 67,000 children skip school in Britain as truancy levels continue to rise, official data has revealed.

Pupils missing school due to ‘unauthorised absences’ is now 44 percent higher than what it was in 1996-97, Daily Express reported.

About 67,000 pupils of all ages missed schools through truancy, family holidays and illness, shows data from the Department of Children, Schools and Families.

The data also show that hundreds of thousands of ‘persistent absentees’ miss a whole term every year.

Lashkar’s Yuni spotted in J&K

Srinagar, March 26: Top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Abdullah Yuni is back in Jammu and Kashmir, according to security forces.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police has confirmed spotting Yuni in the Kashmir Valley. He was recently seen in Sopore but managed to evade the security forces.

Yuni is said to be the chief of suicide missions in the Valley. Police said his movements were being monitored.

Netanyahu aide: accord with U.S. on Jerusalem settlements

Washington, March 26: U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have agreed Israel can continue building in occupied East Jerusalem, a spokesman for Netanyahu said in a radio interview on Friday.

The spokesman, Nir Hefez, said Israel and Washington were “in disagreement” after their talks on Wednesday on some points pertaining to how to renew peace talks with the Palestinians, but had agreed Israeli “construction policy in Jerusalem doesn’t change.”

—-Agencies

Anybody who drinks alcohol, we lash them

Kahartoum, March 26: Sudan’s president warned people caught selling, drinking or brewing alcohol would be lashed, despite complaints from rights groups, as he addressed an election rally outside Khartoum on Thursday.

“Anybody who drinks alcohol, we lash them. Anybody who makes alcohol, we lash them. Anybody who sells alcohol, we lash them. I don’t care about the U.N. or human rights organisations,” Omar Hassan al-Bashir said in a speech broadcast on Sudan’s Blue Nile television.

Pakistan nuclear ambitions give US leverage

Washington, March 26: Pakistan’s hopes for civil nuclear cooperation have been a non-starter in Washington, but experts say the United States can use it as a dangling carrot as it seeks influence in Islamabad.

The two nations Thursday wrapped up a first-of-a-kind “strategic dialogue,” which the United States hopes will show Pakistan’s widely anti-American public that it cares about the country beyond seeking help against Islamic extremists.

US efforts in Pak vital to success in Afghan: Clinton

Washington, March 26: Underlining that the Obama administration has made a “strategic priority” to strengthen its partnership with Pakistan, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said the US efforts in that country were vital for America’s success in Afghanistan.

“In Pakistan, our efforts are vital to success in Afghanistan, but also to our own American security. We’ve made it a strategic priority to strengthen our partnership with the Pakistani people,” Clinton said before Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programmes.

Bihar students told to mention caste in answer scripts

Patna, March 26: First, it was the Bihar Congress which drew flak for releasing a list of its office-bearers with their castes against their names.

Now, a circular issued by education department officials in Muzaffarpur asking examinees to mention their castes in their answer-sheets has kicked up yet another storm in Bihar.

The circular was issued by the Bihar Education Project (BEP) programme coordinator-cum-district education superintendent Arun Kumar and primary informal education coordinator Shankar Kumar on Thursday.