Gujarat,Andhra Pradesh top list of child marriages

New Delhi, March 30: Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh have earned the dubious distinction of being at the top two spots in the list of child marriages in the country accounting for 40 per cent of such incidents in a single year.

Even the national capital has recorded one such incident in the year 2008, according to the latest government data prepared by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

This is only the second case reported from Delhi in this decade. It had recorded one such incident in 2003.

Karuna hails Sonia’s appointment as NAC chief

Chennai, March 30: DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today congratulated UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on being appointed as the head of the National Advisory Council (NAC), saying the poor of the country would benefit from her services.

“The country, especially the poor and the downtrodden, will stand benefited to a very great extent by your excellent service as Chairperson of the Council,” Karunanidhi, whose party is a key ally of the UPA, said in a message to Gandhi.

AMU to start religious counselling for students

Lucknow, March 30: The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) will offer religious counselling and spiritual teaching programmes to help students overcome psychological stress, an official said.

“Within two-three days we will launch such programmes,” AMU’s official spokesperson Rahat Abrar told the media on telephone from Aligarh, some 300 km from Lucknow.

“On the directions of Vice Chancellor P.K. Abdul Azis, we have roped in religious leaders to help students overcome their anxieties and mental stress,” he added.

Nityananda quits as head of his ashram

Bangalore, March 30: Nityananda, who was purportedly caught in a sleazy video footage, today announced his decision to resign as head of his Dhyanapeetam ashram and from all trusts associated with it, living a life of “spiritual seclusion” for an indefinite time.

“I have decided to live a life of spiritual seclusion, for some indefinite time….and to enable the Dhyanapeetam to function with such amended agenda as may be necessary, I am resigning as the head of the Dhyanapeetam and from all the trusts associated with it,” he said addressing his followers on his official website.

Woman gangraped by three men

Muzaffarnagar, March 30: A 27-year-old woman was allegedly gangraped by three youths at pistol point in Morkuka village of the district, police said here.

Three youths identified as Rohit, Mangal and Rajnish gangraped the woman last night and threatened her with dire consequences if she disclosed the matter to anyone, they said, adding a case has been registered in this regard.
–PTI

Sex, drug parties of professor who led double life

London, March 30: An eminent British professor, who blew up money on drug-fuelled sex parties, was jailed for three years for fraudulently claiming almost 150,000 pounds from the National Health Service (NHS).

Charles Butler, 64, was living a secret life in a flat where he held bondage sex parties financed by money stolen from the NHS, Daily Mail reported Tuesday.

The professor had been awarded the MBE in 2006.

He was jailed for three years for fraudulently claiming almost 150,000 pounds on expenses as a pharmaceutical expert to the Department of Health.

Be alert, says Hasina after tip-off on threat to her life

Dhaka, March 30: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ordered security agencies to be on high alert after a tip-off by Indian and other foreign intelligence agencies on a possible threat to her life and to sensitive installations in the country.

She told her colleagues at the cabinet meeting Monday evening that besides a possible attack on her, government buildings, radio and television centres as well as power, gas and water supply plants could also face sabotage.

V-P Ansari’s wife has a ‘problem’ with women’s bill

Agra, March 30: Vice President Hamid Ansari’s wife Salma says she has a “problem” with the Women’s Reservation Bill and feels that it will not be of much help unless awareness is created among women at the grassroot level.

“I have a problem with this bill. The government comes up with a lot of schemes and many projects but how many women are able to take advantage of these,” she told reporters on the sidelines of a function here yesterday.

Unless awareness is created among women at the grassroots and they are educated, such legislations will not be of much help, Salma said.

Akshay Kumar should get national award: Dimple Kapadia

Mumbai, March 30: Veteran actress Dimple Kapadia is certain that her son-in-law, actor Akshay Kumar, who has already been conferred a Padma Shri award, deserves a national award too because she believes that he is a great entertainer.

“I think he (Akshay Kumar) deserves a national award. Nor for any movie as such but he has really grown as an actor and he is excellent in comedy beside that he is an allrounder, and most importantly he is a great entertainer,” she told reporters at a cafe where she came to promote her upcoming film “Tum Milo Toh Sahi” here on Monday.

Waqar asks Yousuf to reconsider retirement decision

Lahore, March 30: Newly-appointed Pakistan coach Waqar Younis has asked Mohammad Yousuf to reconsider his decision of quiting international cricket and said the former captain still has plenty to offer to the country.

“Yousuf still had lot of cricket left in him and he should review his decision for the sake of Pakistan cricket,” Waqar said after the senior batsman announced his retirement today.

Bike-riding Kangana fractures her foot

Mumbai, March 30: Riding the hefty bike Bullet takes a lot of muscles and sinews. The lissom and delicate Kangana Ranuat isn’t exactly the kind of person you’ll let.

It ride and that too with a person sitting pillion. But there she was riding the mean machine while shooting.

A scene in Kapurthala, not far from Jalandhar in Punjab, for director Anand Rai’s film Tanu Weds Manu during the weekend.

However, much to the director’s shock, Kangana lost her balance. The bike skidded and fell down, landing on the actress’s foot.

Oregon Governor poised to end Sikh teacher ban

Washington, March 30: Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski is all set to sign a legislation into a law that will end the US state’s 87-year-old ban on religious dress for public school teachers, ending discriminatory ban on various communities like Sikhs.

This would enable observant Sikhs, Jews, and Muslims to posses their articles of faith while working in public schools.

Sikh Coalition, an advocacy group that had campaigned for the legislation supporters, sent almost 10,000 messages to Oregon legislators urging them to end the discriminatory ban on the community teachers.

As ‘maharajin buas’, these women perform last rites

Allahabad, March 30: They are called ‘maharajin buas’. Hindu women from several families have defied tradition in Maniaya village of Uttar Pradesh to take up the profession of priests who perform the last rites.

The women priests of Maniaya village in Allahabad can be seen lighting pyres and performing other Vedic rites along the banks of the river Ganga.

“If men can become priests and carry out cremations, why can’t women? I don’t see anything wrong with it,” Kaushalya Rani, 25, a woman priest, told IANS.

Live audience scare Vidya Balan

Mumbai, March 30: With her enchanting beauty, captivating smile and seductive ways, Vidya Balan became the fantasy woman for many with her very first Bollywood film, ‘Parineeta’.

Vidya went on an award winning spree when she started her career and there was no looking back since then for this Indian beauty.

With amazing performances like ‘Paa’, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ and ‘Ishqiya’, in 7 years, Vidya has succeeded in achieving superstardom.

But there is something that sends jitters down her spine. Recently at an event Vidya divulged that.

IPL killing Bollywood?

Mumbai, March 30: Aaah, now these are indeed terrible times for Bollywood. One can’t pin point on one thing in particular because at the end of it all, this is a vicious circle indeed. Due to IPL, big films are staying away from release.

Ricky Martin says, he is gay

San Juan, March 30: Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin has revealed that he is a homosexual and feels “blessed” to be himself.

“Every word that I write in this letter is born out of love, acceptance, detachment and real contentment. Writing this is a solid step towards my inner peace and vital part of my evolution. I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am,” the singer wrote in a statement posted on his website Monday.

Kandahar offensive to begin in June

Washington, March 30: NATO forces in June will make a long-planned assault on the Taliban’s spiritual home in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, a senior military official said.

The goal is to rid the city of Taliban forces before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins in August, according to the official.

U.S. officials have previously disclosed plans for a NATO-led offensive in the area this year, but have not said when it might happen. The two-month offensive will be a major test of President Barack Obama’s new strategy in Afghanistan and a bellwether of the war in general.

Govt instructs mission in UAE to help Indians on death row

New Delhi, March 30: The government instructed its mission in the UAE to help the 17 Indians file an appeal against the death sentences handed to them by a Shariah court for killing a Pakistani man and injuring three others.

“The Indian Mission in UAE has been asked to provide all legal assistance to the 17 Indians so that they can file an appeal,” a senior official of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs said.

He said Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi has also asked the mission to file a detailed report to the government about the case.

123 Agreement reflects deepening Indo-US ties

Washington, March 30: Noting that the 123 Agreement between India and the US reflected deepening relationship between the two countries, top Obama Administration officials have said that it would have broader impact in the Indo-US ties.

“I think it’s a reflection of the deepening of our relationship. We think that the 123 Agreement is in the interest of both the United States, India, and has broader impact as well,” Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs P J Crowley told reporters at his daily news briefing.

I have never taken my career seriously: Moushumi Chatterjee

Mumbai, March 30: The charming Moushumi Chatterjee returns to celluloid after several years in “The Japanese Wife” and is as self-effacing as ever, calling herself a “very lazy actor” who never took her career seriously and doesn’t want to work hard.

Moushumi, 61, says of her role as Rahul Boses’s “funny” Mashi in the Aparna Sen-directed film, based on a book by Kunal Basu: “I play Snehamoy’s Mashi. My character is very funny in the film. I have a special look in it. I had to put on weight — almost double of what you see now.”

US police foil Christian militia’s dangerous terror plot

Detroit, March 30: Nine alleged members of a Christian militia group that was girding for battle with the Antichrist were charged Monday with plotting to kill a police officer and slaughter scores more by bombing the funeral — all in hopes of touching off an uprising against the U.S. government.

Seven men and one woman believed to be part of the Michigan-based Hutaree were arrested over the weekend in raids in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. The ninth suspect was arrested Monday night after a search in rural southern Michigan.

First alert on Canadian subway networks

Toronto, March 30: For the first time in recent years, Canada put its subway networks on “extra alert” Monday after twin terrorist attacks in Moscow that killed 38 people.

In the country’s biggest city here, policemen could be seen patrolling subway stations of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).

“We haven’t officially heightened the security level in the subway system, but our special constables are extra alert on their patrols,” said TTC spokesman Danny Nicholson told the Canadian Press.

Genelia wins the heart of Aussie minister

Mumbai, March 30: External affairs minister SM Krishna might have hard times dealing with Australian racism attacks, but now he has got a new ambassador in Genelia D’Souza.

Charming Genelia, recently had a great time in Australia, shooting over her latest Telugu film Orange. Genelia, who has a huge fan following in the south.

As well as north, was invited for a lunch in the parliament by The Australian Minister for Education. But unfortunately.

No info on top Maoist leader Kishenji: W Bengal govt

Kolkata, March 30: Amid reports of top Maoist leader Kishenji being injured during anti-Maoist operations, West Bengal government Tuesday said there was no information regarding the elusive leader.

“We do not have any information regarding Kishenji,” State’s Chief Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty told reporters at Writers’ Buildings here.

He said Director General of Police Bhupinder Singh has gone to West Midnapore district where Lalgarh is situated and joint forces have been conducting anti-Maoist operations.

Pakistani intruder held in Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer, March 30: A Pakistani intruder was Tuesday arrested by the Border Security Force from Kishangarh locality of this Rajasthan district.

According to a BSF spokesman, the Pakistani national has been identified as Javad Ashraf. He is under interrogation.

However, no incriminating document was recovered from him, the spokesman added.

The BSF personnel had yesterday shot dead a Pakistani intruder near the Indo-Pak border in Samba district.

-PTI