Month: March 2010

Bodies handed over to families, four remain disputed

by

Kolkata, March 24: The bodies of 20 of the 24 victims of the fire at the heritage building on Park Street were handed over tonight to their family members while a dispute arose over the rest, charred beyond recognition.

The badly charred bodies were handed over to their families by the police at the state-run SSKM Hospital after the completion of the post-mortem examination.

There were claims and counter claims over four bodies.

Experts of Forensic Science Laboratory would conduct DNA tests tomorrow on the four disputed bodies for their identification, a doctor at the morgue told.

Factory raided in Sonepat for violating Patent Act

by

Noida, March 24: On the orders of a court here, a team of city police and Haryana Police raided a Sonepat factory allegedly manufacturing zippers without a licence and violating the Patent Act.

The raid on PICCO Tech located at Shafiabad, Industrial Area in the Haryana town was conducted on the orders of Gautam Buddha Nagar Chief Judicial Magistrate.

The factory allegedy manufactured spurious slider zipper assembly with diaphragm flexible packaging and improved zipper slider with diaphragm for flexible packaging and pouches without any licence.

Qatar urged to coordinate gas trade with Russia

by

Moscow, March 24: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said Russia and Qatar, both major producers of natural gas, should coordinate their efforts as the two nations seek to invest in each other’s projects.

“It’s very important for us to coordinate joint work,” Putin told visiting Qatari counterpart Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr al-Thani.

Russia, holder of the world’s largest gas reserves, and the tiny Gulf nation, which has the third largest reserves, are members of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum that is set to meet in the Algerian city of Oran on April 19.

African telecoms sector to rival Middle East

by

London, March 24: Since 2001, Investment into the African telecommunications sector has hit $18bn, however Africa has missed many opportunities to deploy cable infrastructure to the same extent as its competitive continents such as the Middle East and Asia.

Nevertheless leading authorities understand that such an infrastructure is vital for the continents’ development and they are planning to announce future moves into 4G at NGT Africa summit hosted by GDS international.

DP World profits slide in 2009

by

Dubai, March 24: Dubai’s port operator DP World announced on Wednesday a 46.3-percent slide in 2009 profits compared with the previous year, saying however that the earnings were better than expected.

Net profits plunged to 333 million dollars last year compared with 621 million dollars posted the year before despite declining business in 2008, a company statement said.

Revenues also dropped, from 3.28 billion dollars in 2008 to 2.82 billion dollars last year.

WIFW first day shows cancelled over fire safety

by

New Delhi, March 24: The first day of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) Wednesday was cancelled after the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), the organiser, failed to get a permit from the fire safety department.

“All shows have been cancelled keeping the safety of everyone in mind. We have not been able to get the permission from the fire department. We are very sorry for the inconvenience caused to all of you,” Sunil Sethi, the FDCI president, told reporters here.

Sangakkara wins toss, asks Royals to bat first

by

Mohali, March 24: Kings XI Punjab captain Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and asked Rajasthan Royals to bat first in their Indian Premier League home match here today.

The home side effected just one change in the playing XI, bringing in pacer S Sreesanth for off-spinner Ramesh Powar, while the Royals, led by Shane Warne, retained the same XI that had beaten Kolkata Knight Riders in the previous match.

Teams:

18th India Expo kicked off in Delhi

by

New Delhi, March 24: The 18th edition of Convergence India 2010 Expo at Pragati Maidan was kicked off today. The India Expo 2010 will be held from March 23rd to March 25, 2010.

The Expo, South Asia’s largest ICT event, is expected to usher in the next level of growth in the Indian telecom scene.

World�s Largest Famil Sahara India Pariwar’s media group, Sahara India Media is the media partner of 18th India Expo.

On this occasion, Sahara India Media CEO and Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Sanjeev Srivatstava alongwith Prem Behl, Chairman, Exhibitions India Group and others were present.

IPL III: MI favourites against Chennai Super Kings

by

Mumbai, March 24: Having regained the winning momentum with a superb display against Kolkata Knight Riders two days ago, Sachin Tendulkar-inspired Mumbai Indians are holding all top cards in the deck going into their fifth Indian Premier League match against Chennai Super Kings here tomorrow.

With in-form Tendulkar leading from the front in batting and the home team’s bowling looking potent with two other top Indian stars Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh spearheading it, they appear to carry too many guns for the liking of the
struggling visitors.

New BJP office bearers to meet April 2

by

New Delhi, March 24: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari will meet his new office bearers on April 2 to chalk out the strategy for the party’s campaign against rising prices.

“The April 2 meeting of office-bearers will discuss BJP’s anti-price rise agitation and preparations for the April 21 rally in Delhi,” BJP headquarters in-charge Shyam Jaju told IANS.

This will be the first meeting of party office bearers after Gadkari announced his team March 16.

Omar Abdullah meets Sonia Gandhi

by

Jammu, March 24: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met Congress president Sonia Gandhi at her residence in New Delhi Wednesday and discussed matters relating to the state, especially the civic polls slated to be held in May.

He pledged full cooperation between his party, the National Conference (NC), and the Congress, who are allies in the current coalition government in the state.

Geeta Basra, Harbhajan move closer to wedding?

by

Mumbai, March 24: The latest buzz is that ace Indian offie Harbhajan Singh and actress Geeta Basra have been planning to enter into wedlock.

The Bollywood actress, who has been dating Turbanator for a while, is getting serious about her relationship with the cricketer.

It seems that duo has decided to move little further in their relationship. For this purpose, Geeta Basra recently met Harbhajan�s parents in Jalandhar.

Actually, Harbhajan Singh had invited Geeta in his sister Sandeep Kaur’s wedding.

Crane overturns in Metro site; one injured

by

New Delhi, March 24: A crane at a Delhi Metro construction site toppled and fell on an autorickshaw in south-east Delhi, injuring the auto-driver, police said today.

The incident was reported from Alimore in Sarita Vihar this afternoon.

The auto-driver was injured in the incident and has been rushed to a nearby hospital.

—Agencies

Mumbai sea link gets four new lanes

by

Mumbai, March 24: Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan today inaugurated new four lanes of the famous Bandra-Worli sea link. The ocassion was also graced by Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan graced the occasion.

With the addition of new four lanes, the prestigious sea link project was completed.

After eight lanes stretching up to 4 kilometres, the sea link will connect Bandra to Worli in seven minutes, with a speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour.

It is worth mentioning here that a portion of the sea link was opened late last year for the city.

LPG, CNG prices to be reduced: Sheila Dikshit

by

New Delhi, March 24: Reeling under tremendous pressure from Opposition and party colleagues over hike in LPG prices, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today said that the government will reduce the VAT on cooking gas.

The Chief Minister said that the LPG price would be reduced by Rs 12-Rs13. Earlier, the government has announced to withdraw Rs.40 subsidy on each LPG cylinder.

She informed Samay news channel in an exclusive tete-a-tete with Sahara Media Director and Editor Mr Upendra Rai.

Not involved in godman’s sex scandal: Yuvarani

by

Chennai, March 24: Tamil actress Yuvarani, whose name has been dragged into the Swami Nithyananda scandal, has denied any involvement with the godman.

On Tuesday, she met City Commissioner of Police T Rajendran and submitted a complaint alleging that a website had associated her name with the swami. She said the website had used an old photograph of hers and demanded that the police take steps to have it removed.

5 die, 10 hurt in mishaps

by

Hyderabad, March 24: Five persons were killed and 10 others injured in separate road accidents in the City and its outskirts late tonight.

In the city, three persons on a motorcycle rammed into a road divider on the Begumpet flyover late in the night. Two of them reportedly died on the spot while the another person is undergoing treatment for injuries.

Tantrik arrested for doctor’s murder

by

Ghaziabad, March 24: Relying on a tantrik to ‘ward off evil’ has seemingly proved costly for the family of a Sahibabad doctor. The 45-year-old doctor was allegedly murdered by the tantrik when he stopped him from making advances towards his wife and 17-year-old daughter. Dr Mukesh Sharma (name changed), a general physician who ran run a clinic in the Farukh Nagar area of Ghaziabad, was murdered by Jaipal Sharma and his two sons on March 10, police said on Tuesday.

Israel plans 100 more new homes for East Jerusalem

by

Israel, March 24: Israel plans to build more Jewish homes in occupied East Jerusalem, an Israeli official said on Wednesday, a day after talks between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Barack Obama.

Elisha Peleg, a Jerusalem city councillor and member of the municipal planning commission, said 20 units had been approved for a compound in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of East Jerusalem known as the Shepherd’s Hotel.

Peleg called it just “a technical step” adding that a total of 100 homes would be built, beginning with 20 cottages.

IPL is now a billion dollar business!

by

New Delhi, March 24: Indian Premier League would generate a revenue of USD one billion this season, thanks to huge fan following across the globe, attracting a large number of advertisers, its Commissioner Lalit Modi said today.

“The tournament is still on and we have not reached the final number… Yes, it will be more than a billion dollar (about Rs 4,700 crore) this season … last season we did USD 450 dollar.”

Headley questioning: US ground rules to apply, says lawyer

by

Chicago, March 24: Predetermined ground rules will govern any questioning of Mumbai terror plotter David Coleman Headley by Indian investigators, his lawyer has said.

“The way an actual interrogation or interview will take place the government will have to determine. But we will insist on being present during it,” Headley’s attorney John Theis told IANS.

Telangana turmoil on a ‘pause’

by

Hyderabad, March 24: There is a certain ‘lull’ on the political scene in Andhra Pradesh in the past few days as compared to the intense turmoil witnessed in the state since December over the separate statehood demand for Telangana.

It was the five-member Srikrishna Committee, appointed by the Centre to study the situation in Andhra Pradesh, that has brought about the turnaround in the situation, so to say.

Minissha Lamba: WELL DONE ABBA was an educative trip

by

Mumbai, March 24: Time and again one has heard actors make animated statements like – ‘Working in the film was like being in a picnic’. Thankfully, WELL DONE ABBA is turning out to be one film where actors are refraining from saying that.

Instead, people associated with this Shyam Benegal film have gone on record to state that being with the veteran director on sets meant a lot of learning and enhancement in one’s craft.

Bharti Airtel to sell Apple iPhone 3GS from Friday

by

Mumbai, March 24: Bharti Airtel will start selling Apple Inc’s iPhone 3GS from Friday, the Indian firm said in a statement.

The phone will be available from 35,500 rupees ($784) for the 16 GB model, and 41,500 rupees for the 32GB model, Bharti Airtel said. The company had earlier said it had agreed with Apple to sell the new iPhones in India.

Customers of iPhone 3GS will get 500 MB of free data every month for a year from the date of activation, the leading Indian mobile operator said.

—Agencies

Arshad Warsi teams up with Mani Ratnam’s assistant

by

Mumbai, March 24: After making a career out of doing comic and light hearted films ever since his 1996 debut with TERE MERE SAPNE, Arshad Warsi is now all set to take a serious route.

He is now doing a stark dramatic flick where he would be playing a cop. This yet untitled film would be the debut directorial venture for film maker Bejoy Nambiar who has been an assistant to Mani Ratnam for last many years. Incidentally, Arshad had played a cop in SEHER as well which is the only other dark film that he has done so far.