Month: April 2010

It’s not what politicians say but what we like to hear

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London, April 28: There is increasing evidence that individuals interpret the same election message in different ways, according to their personal political perceptions, say experts.

Martin McKee from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and David Stuckler from the University of Oxford argue that “it is possible for two well-informed groups of people faced with the same evidence to reach completely different conclusions about what should be done”.

Probe into politician-cops-drug mafia nexus hits dead end?

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Panaji, April 28: The much touted investigation into Goa’s police-politician-narcotics mafia nexus may have reached a dead end, a senior crime branch official has admitted.

The official also denied claims by Swedish model Lucky Farmhouse, former girlfriend of arrested Israeli drug dealer Yaniv Benaim alias Atala, that no efforts had been made by the Goa police to contact her for more information on the nexus.

Lucky’s spycam videos of Atala boasting of his links to the police and politicians resulted in the arrest of six policemen and Atala himself.

1,000 guests and a single dish at Sania-Shoaib reception

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Lahore, April 28: Over 1,000 guests at the wedding reception of Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza and Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik were served just one dish and the celebrations at a hotel in this Pakistani city came to an end sharp at 10 p.m.

Sania was wearing a white gown while Shoaib wore a black suit at the “walima” Tuesday attended by over 1,000 people including sportsmen, politicians, celebrities, businessmen and others, at the Pearl Continental Hotel here.

Cloudy sky in Delhi with chance of duststorm

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New Delhi, April 28: Holding out some respite from the unrelenting sun, the weather office said Wednesday that Delhiites were likely to witness a cloudy day with the possibility of duststorm and rain.

‘There is a possibility of dust and thunder storm. The national capital can expect partly cloudy sky,’ an official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The minimum temperature was recorded at 27.5 degrees Celsius, two degrees higher than Tuesday’s 25.3 degree Celsius.

Zimbabwe shock Australia in World T20 warm-up

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Bridgetown, April 28: Australia suffered a stunning one-run loss to outsiders Zimbabwe in their opening World Twenty20 warm-up match in St Lucia on Tuesday.

Zimbabwe made 173 for seven, featuring a dashing 76 from Elton Chigumbura, in their 20 overs before holding Australia to 172 for seven.

Opener David Warner top-scored for Australia with 72 and Twenty20 captain Michael Clarke made 49 but, even though left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson had earlier taken four wickets for 23 runs, Zimbabwe denied Australia victory.

Woman militant supporter held in Ramban

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Srinagar, April 28: Security forces have busted a militant hideout and apprehended a woman militant supporter in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said here today.

A joint column of Rashtriya Rifle and police during a search operation in Dachan area of Ramban district busted the militant hideout yesterday, he said.

The recoveries from the hideout included a pistol magazine, eight pistol rounds, a chinese grenade among other things.

Patil sworn in as Rajasthan Governor

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Jaipur, April 28: Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil, who has been given additional charge of Rajasthan following the demise of Prabha Rau, was today sworn in here.

Rajasthan High Court Chief Justice Jagdish Bhalla administered the oath of office to Patil at a simple function in Raj Bhawan.

Two minutes silence was observed as a mark of respect to late Governor Rau.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, cabinet ministers and other senior state bureaucrats.

Prabha Rau had died due to a heart attack in New Delhi on Monday.
–PTI

Police Nakabandi in old city creates panic

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Hyderabad, April 28 (Siasat News): In the wake of informations received through Central Intelligence Bureau for any possible terrorist attack, police department is going overboard in checking the citizens and taking extra vigilance causing great amount of panic among the people.

Once again this fear is seeped in that old city might be the target of terrorists and in the name of investigations, the arrest of the youths belonging to minorities would once again begin.

IPL will get bigger without Modi: Shetty

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New Delhi, April 28: The success of the IPL was not because of Lalit Modi alone, according to a top BCCI official, who reckons the Twenty20 league will continue to flourish without the suspended Commissioner as cricket sells itself in India.

The BCCI’s Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty said that the Board has enough competent people to take the event forward.

“The IPL will continue to flourish. The success is not only because of Modi. BCCI will put up a good team to make IPL even more successful,” Shetty told PTI in an e-mail interview today.

Shibu Soren is a secular leader: Congress

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New Delhi, April 28: Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren was a “secular” leader who may have been “uncomfortable” with the BJP in the state, the Congress said Wednesday, a day after the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader voted for the government on the cut motion moved by the opposition parties.

Congress general secretary and Jharkhand in-charge Keshav Rao also added that the party has not given thought to supporting Soren in Jharkhand in case the Bharatiya Janata Party pulls out of the state government.

We are all here with fresh minds: Afridi

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Castries, April 28: Following the disastrous tour of Australia last summer, skipper Shahid Afridi believes he has united the Pakistani team and intends to lead a reversal of fortunes in Sunday’s clash against the Michael Clarke’s men.

IPL Gate: Is Modi more sinned against than sinning?

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New Delhi, April 28: The biggest compliment Lalit Modi got is from the man he reduced from a king to a commoner in the Indian cricket board, Jagmohan Dalmiya.

Dalmiya may have hated Modi for the methods he has adopted to get rid of him, but after the first year of the Indian Premier League he called him to shower unabashed praise. “Honestly, I doubt if I could have conceptualised anything like this.” It has come from a man who himself is considered the marketing wizard before Modi’s arrival on the scene.

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 12 noon

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New Delhi, April 28: The Rajya Sabha was adjourned Wednesday over the alleged phone tapping of a public relations firm owner on the allocation of 2G telecom spectrum.

The trouble erupted as soon as the upper house assembled with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and AIADMK members raising the issue. The house adjourned till 12 noon.

No more night parties in IPL: Amin

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Bangalore, April 28: The new chairman of the Indian Premier League, Chirayu Amin, said his top priority was to reassure all stakeholders that the tournament would emerge stronger from the current crisis.

Amin was also confident of having a bigger and better IPL-4, though he did speak about some changes, including the fact that the IPL Night Parties would no longer be held.

“My first priority is to stabilise the ship, gain the confidence of the people who love cricket and people who are involved with it,” Amin told NDTV.

Brett Lee ruled out of World T20 with injury

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Bangalore, April 28: Brett Lee continues to be haunted by injuries, with his latest attempt at making a comeback to the national side aborted by a muscle strain in his right forearm, ruling him out of the World Twenty20 Cup in the Caribbean.

Lee suffered the injury during Australia’s shock one-run loss in their warm-up match against Zimbabwe. He is likely to be replaced by either Doug Bollinger or Ryan Harris, both of whom were in terrific form in the recently concluded Indian Premier League.

Modi’s downfall will not be mourned: British Media

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London, April 28: The British media acknowledged that suspended IPL chairman Lalit Modi realised Twenty20’s potential in a huge and growing Indian market but said his downfall will not be mourned in the United Kingdom.

“There is no doubt Mr. Modi’s vision and drive have changed the game profoundly. Australia are committed to a 20-over event featuring eight city franchises in 2011-12. The ECB tried and failed to establish an English Premier League for 2010,” ‘The Times’ newspaper said in a commentary.

IPL will get bigger without Modi

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New Delhi, April 28: The success of the IPL was not because of Lalit Modi alone, according to a top BCCI official, who reckons the Twenty20 league will continue to flourish without the suspended Commissioner as cricket sells itself in India.

The BCCI’s Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty said that the Board has enough competent people to take the event forward.

“The IPL will continue to flourish. The success is not only because of Modi. BCCI will put up a good team to make IPL even more successful,” Mr. Shetty told in an e—mail interview on Wednesday.

RR structure came in place after winning bid

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New Delhi, April 28: With doubts raised about who its owners were, IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals said its promoters put in place a corporate structure only after they won the Jaipur team in 2008.

The admission comes within days of the suspension of IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, who was charged with hiding his relationship with the owners of the Rajasthan Royals including his brother-in-law Suresh Chellaram, among other things.

Shibu Soren is a secular leader: Congress

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New Delhi, April 28: Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren was a “secular” leader who may have been “uncomfortable” with the BJP in the state, the Congress said Wednesday, a day after the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader voted for the government on the cut motion moved by the opposition parties.

Congress general secretary and Jharkhand in-charge Keshav Rao also added that the party has not given thought to supporting Mr. Soren in Jharkhand in case the Bharatiya Janata Party pulls out of the state government.

Arshad, Tusshar smoke in college campus, NGO complains

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Panaji, April 28: Tobacco watchdog National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE) has filed a police complaint against Bollywood actors Arshad Warsi and Tusshar Kapoor for smoking in a college campus in Goa.

In his complaint to the district Superintendent of Police Allen D’Sa and officials of the state tobacco control cell, NOTE general secretary Shekhar Salkar said the actors, who are shooting at the Chowgule College campus in Margao, about 35 km from here, were caught smoking in campus Tuesday.

Car bombing kills four policemen

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Islamabad, April 28: A suicide car bombing Wednesday at a police checkpoint killed four officers in Pakistan’s north-western city of Peshawar, security and health officials said.

City police chief Liaquat Ali Khan said the bomber targeted a checkpoint on the outskirts of Peshawar, the capital of the militancy-plagued Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province.

Bharti Airtel Q4 net dips 8%; revenue crosses Rs 10k cr

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New Delhi, April 28: The country’s top telecom company, Bharti Airtel, on Wednesday reported a decline of 8 percent in consolidated net income at Rs 2,055 crore for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2010.

The company had a net income of Rs 2,239 crore for the quarter ended March 2008-09, as per the US accounting standards, Bharti Airtel said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

During the quarter, the company’s total revenues crossed the Rs 10,000-crore mark for the first time, the filing added.

SC relief for Khushboo

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New Delhi, April 28: In a major relief to Tamil actress Khushboo, the Supreme Court today quashed all 22 criminal cases against her.

As many as 22 criminal cases were filed against Khushboo for making controversial statement pre-marital sex to a Tamil magazine in 2005.

The actress approached the apex court in 2008 when Madras High Court dismissed her plea.

In her interview, Khushboo said, “No educated people will insist that their bride’s virginity at the time of marriage.”

Summer’s first swine flu case in Andhra

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Hyderabad, April 28: A cab driver engaged in ferrying people to and from Hyderabad international airport was diagnosed with swine flu, making it the first such case in Andhra Pradesh this summer. “The patient is in his forties and was brought to our hospital in a critical condition.

What aggravated the situation was that he was obese and suffered from diabetes. He is on a ventilator and responding well to treatment,” said Dr K. Subhakar, who is in charge of swine flu cases at Government Chest Hospital in Hyderabad.

Aishwarya heading south for greener pasture!

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Mumbai, April 28: We have had South Indian stars doing Bollywood films and vice versa.

Bollywood beauty Aishwarya Bachchan is reportedly planning to do a couple of Kollywood films.

The stunner is no stranger to Tamil having debuted in Mani Ratnam’s Iruvar in 1997.

She was raw debutant then. Today, she is a sophisticated star and one of the Bollywood’s top heroines.

The actress has come full circle since those times. After almost a decade, two of.

Aishwarya’s upcoming projects will have Tamil versions. Raavan and Robot will be dubbed in Tamil.