Month: April 2010

Kashmiri migrants to get enhanced relief

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Jammu, April 03: Kashmiri migrants living in Jammu and its adjoining areas will get enhanced relief from the government from this month. The amount has been increased to Rs.5,000 from the existing Rs.4,000.

A communication to this effect from the central government was received by the Jammu and Kashmir government last month, Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Raman Bhalla told IANS Saturday.

He said this was a part of the government’s efforts to provide better facilities to the Kashmiri migrants, who have been living outside the Valley for the past 20 years.

India ‘instigating’ Dhaka war crimes trials, says Jamaat

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Dhaka, April 03: Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), Bangladesh’s largest Islamist party, has blamed “India’s instigation” for the war crimes trial the government has initiated to bring to book those who killed unarmed civilians during the 1971 freedom movement.

The Jamaat secretary general and one of the principal accused, Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mojaheed said at a rally in Bogra in northern Bangladesh: “India apprehends that only the military and the Jamaat could prevent Bangladesh from becoming a proxy for India.”

Mayawati to raise special force to protect memorials

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Lucknow, April 03: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati decided to raise an exclusive force of former servicemen for the protection of monuments dedicated to the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party’s (BSP) Dalit icons.

The chief minister decided to go ahead with her plans even without Governor B.L. Joshi’s assent to a bill and ordinance for creation of such a security force.

Mayawati convened a meeting of the state cabinet Friday afternoon and took an administrative decision to proceed with raising the new force.

The force would be headed by a retired army officer of the rank of colonel.

Roddick stuns Nadal to book final against Berdych

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Miami, April 03: Andy Roddick’s decision to take some risks paid off as the American rallied to beat Spain’s Rafael Nadal and book a clash with giant-killing Tomas Berdych in the final of the Miami ATP Masters 1000.

Roddick engineered a turnaround to triumph 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 over world number four Nadal, who was the highest seed left in the draw yesterday.

Berdych, who saved a match point en route to a stunning upset of world number one Roger Federer in the fourth round, dismantled fifth-seeded Swede Robin Soderling 6-2, 6-2.

Peru mudslide kills 20, leaves 25 missing

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Lima, April 03: A massive avalanche of mud and rock has buried a small village in northeastern Peru, killing at least 20 people and leaving 25 others missing, authorities have said.

“As of 12:00 pm (1700 GMT)… the death toll stands at 20 people,” Civil Defence chief of the Huanuco region, Hipolito Cruchaga, told reporters.

He said 50 people were injured in the mudslide, but he was cautious as to the number of people missing, putting it at around 25.

Some reports put the number of missing in the village of Ambo in the hundreds.

British Army may send imams to Afghanistan

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Kabul, April 03: Muslim clerics in the British Army may be deployed to Afghanistan in a “hearts and minds” mission to highlight the part played by Islam in UK society.

The scheme is believed to have the support of the head of the Army, General Sir David Richards, and was proposed by a delegation of Muslim scholars from Afghanistan during a visit to Britain, The Independent has learnt.

WWE superstar Shawn Michaels Retire

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Newyork, April 03: Shawn Hickenbottom, who is best known as “Shawn Michaels,” or “The Heartbreak Kid” tearfully said goodbye to his 26 year wrestling career on Raw Monday night. In a very touching speech the 44 year old thanked his fans with the words, “For years, you guys were the only ones in the world that made me like me.” The Showstopper first began wrestling when he was just 19.

‘Prince’ is high-voltage action: Director

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Mumbai, April 3 (IANS) Kookie Gulati says high voltage action scenes performed by Vivek Oberoi in his big-budget directorial debut “Prince” are the film’s USP. He is confident the movie will surprise audiences with its implausible action sequences shot with cutting-edge previz technology in South Africa, Thailand and India.

Scuffle between scribes and bouncer after IPL match

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Mohali, April 03: Royal Challenger Bangalore’s six-wicket victory over Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League today was marred by a scuffle between some electronic journalists and a private securityman after the match at the PCA Stadium here.

The incident occurred after the match while RCB owner Vijay Mallya was talking to reporters at the entrance of the stadium reception with his son Siddharth and RCB senior players Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid nearby.

Israel bombards Gaza – and threatens worse

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Jerusalem, April 03: Israel yesterday threatened to launch a second military offensive in Gaza, just hours after its jets and helicopters pounded the coastal enclave in response to the firing of a Qassam rocket by militants in the strip.

The Israeli military said it had successfully hit four targets across Gaza in the early hours of yesterday morning – two weapons-manufacturing plants and two arms caches.

Cherry juice could aid marathon recovery

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London, April 03: Runners in the London marathon should drink cherry juice to recover after the race, scientists have suggested.

In a study, runners who drank tart cherry juice before and after the race recovered better than those taking a dummy drink.

It is thought the antioxidant vitamins, called anthocyanins, in the juice helps the body to resist damage and repair itself, reported telegraph.co.uk

Jaadu ki Jhappi and Pappi for Maya: Sanjay

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Pratapgarh, April 03: A charge sheet was filed here on Friday against Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt for his allegedly disparaging remarks against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, an official said.

The charge sheet was filed in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate AK Tiwari in Pratapgarh district where Dutt, former Samajwadi Party general secretary, made “unpleasant remarks” against Mayawati, the official said.

Abuse critique like anti-Semitism: Pope’s preacher

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Vatican City, April 03: Pope Benedict XVI’s personal preacher on Friday likened accusations against the pope and the Catholic church in the sex abuse scandal to “collective violence” suffered by the Jews.

The Rev. Raniero Cantalamessa said in a Good Friday homily with the pope listening in St. Peter’s Basilica that a Jewish friend wrote to him to say the accusations remind him of the “more shameful aspects of anti-Semitism.”

The Kandahar warlord who has presidential protection

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Kabul, April 03: To the inhabitants of Kandahar City, Ahmed Wali Karzai is a symbol of everything wrong with their home, an emblem of the murky nexus of warlords and criminal syndicates controlling southern Afghanistan’s largest city.

In the words of some residents, the half-brother of Afghanistan’s president is accused of being a “warlord, a terrorist”, a narcotics trafficker, and a contract monopolist. Others won’t even mention his name. “I can’t tell you anything about this. I’m too scared. Someone might kill me,” one resident said.

Now Sonam Kapoor to do a Sania Mirza

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Mumbai, April 03: Tennis star Sania Mirza is one of the most-talked about names at present, with news about her engagement and impending marriage to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik doing the rounds.

This has led to a film based on her life. Anees Bazmee’s film Thank You will have Sonam Kapoor playing a character who is very similar to Sania. Thank You will start rolling in Canada in mid-April.

Our semifinal hopes are almost over: Sangakkara

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Mohali, April 03: Kings XI Punjab skipper Kumar Sangakkara conceded that his side’s semifinal hopes in the Indian Premier League were virtually ended after today’s six-wicket defeat at the hands of Royal Challengers Bangalore here.

“Our semifinal hopes are almost over. But we would like to win as many remaining matches,” he said after his side’s six-wicket defeat, their seventh in eight matches, at the hands of RCB.

Sangakkara, however, refused to blame fast bowler Brett Lee who leaked 25 runs in the 17th over for his side’s loss.

Revealed: The secret of Dimple’s ageless beauty

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Mumbai, April 03: “If you insist on knowing why I look younger than my age then I’ll tell you. It’s poker, ” says Dimple poker-faced.

As usual Dimple starts off by grumbling she has nothing to say. And if you must know the reason why she does so little work it is because she isn’t offered anything substantial.

“Do you really think I am good? Please write that in your column.There aren’t enough good scripts. It’s not as if I’m flooded with offers. Whoever approaches me I do their film. Besides…I am lazy!

Truth will come out about my link-up with Barbara

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Mumbai, April 03: Hrithik Roshan, who will be seen sporting a new look in his forthcoming release “Kites”, has never hesitated from experimenting in his 10 years in the industry. He says leaving the safety zone and trying something different is the need of the hour.

” ‘Kites’ is a very honest film. That was the brief that my father and Anurag Basu gave to the entire team while making ‘Kites’. We do not want to be within the safety zone influenced by manipulative commercial thinking, ” Hrithik, looking his best in a red and white check shirt and blue jeans, told in an interview.

Jiah Khan pulls Kareena’s dad’s ears?

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Mumbai, April 03: Sajid Nadiadwala and Sajid Khan’s Housefull starring Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, Lara Dutta, Randhir Kapoor, Ritesh Deshmukh, Arjun Rampal, Boman Irani and Jiah Khan seems to have one funny incident after another happening on the sets.

This time round Jiah Khan ended up holding veteran actor Randhir Kapoor’s ear and got the entire set into splits.

Pratik’s got one of the best body in the business

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Mumbai, April 03: The dark horse Pratik who stole our hearts with his endearing performance in the award winning ‘Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na’ has gone from understated to chiseled hot.

Pratik now flaunts a super fit toned body that stands a proof to his grueling fitness regime and keeping true to his unconventional image, Pratik has opted for unique ways of working towards a great body.

Teenaged Everest challenger knocks on doors for funds

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Kathmandu, April 03: She had been frantically trying to meet Bollywood’s reigning badshahs Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar, though Bhagyashree Sawant is no star-struck autograph hunter. The 18-year-old from Maharashtra has been knocking on the door of the megabuck Indian film industry hoping they would financially support her plan to summit Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world.

But to no avail.

I don’t care for anyone be it SRK, Aamir or Abhishek

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Mumbai, April 03: Bollywood item girl Rakhi Sawant will contest against her ex-boyfriend Abhishek Avasthi in an upcoming celebrity dance reality show “Zara Nachke Dikha”, to be aired on STAR Plus soon.

Rakhi, however, declined to comment on the issue.

“I am a performer. Whoever comes and performs, be it Abhishek (Avasthi), Shah Rukh or Aamir Khan, I am going to fight equally. I don’t care for anyone. I am not scared of any one. The girls team will win for sure, ” Rakhi told reporters at a press conference Thursday.

All accused nabbed in Pune gangrape case

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Pune, April 03: The main accused in the gangrape of a 25-year-old married woman was arrested as he tried to flee Pune early Saturday, police said.

Two of the three accused were nabbed early Friday. The police cracked the case within two hours by moving swiftly and using mobile tracking methods

The third accused Subhash Bhosale was nabbed Saturday as he was trying to flee Pune on the old Mumbai-Pune Highway around 2 a.m., Crime Branch Inspector of Hinjewadi police station N.S. Bhosale-Patil told IANS.

Nothing wrong with Yuvraj’s performance: Modi

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New Delhi, April 03: The Indian Premier League today came out in strong support of Yuvraj Singh who is in the middle of a controversy over his performance in the cash-awash Twenty20 League, saying there is nothing wrong with the icon player of Kings XI Punjab.

“There is nothing wrong with Yuvraj’s performance,” IPL commissioner and chairman Lalit Modi told PTI, debunking reports about Yuvraj’s wilful underperformance on account of his purported difference with co-owner Ness Wadia and captain Kumar Sangakkara.

“We are monitoring performance of every player on regular basis,” Modi added.

Me and My family know the truth: Sania

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New Delhi, April 03: Her prospective groom is facing allegations of marrying and dumping a woman, but Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza backed Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik on the matter, saying that she and her family have known the truth all along.

Although she did not mention Shoaib directly, Sania’s latest twitter feed clearly supported her husband-to-be, who has been accused of cheating a Hyderabadi girl Ayesha Siddiqui after a telephonic nikah.

“Me and my family know what the truth is, we’ve known it all along and we have confidence in god’s justice,” Sania said.