Month: April 2010

Tata, two Indian Americans amongst Academy Fellows

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Houston, April 30: One of India’s leading industrialist and two Indian American researchers have been elected as members of the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Ratan Tata noted philanthropist and chairman of major Tata companies is among 18 foreign honorary members joining the academy.

One of two Indian Americans honorees Dr Deepak Srivastava is the director of the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease and Wilma and Adeline Pirag Distinguished Professor in Pediatric Developmental Cardiology at the University of California at San Francisco.

Violence erupts in J&K, Syed Geelani detained

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Srinagar, April 30: Separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, under house arrest since yesterday, was detained today when he tried to defy restrictions to lead a march to the United Nations Military Observers group office.

“Geelani was detained and lodged in police station Humhama on the airport road when he tried to come out of his house at Hyderpora to lead a march to UNMOGIP,” a police spokesman told PTI.

The 80-year-old hardline Hurriyat leader was placed under house arrest yesterday as a precautionary measure as authorities feared that his planned march may turn violent.

Voting could be made compulsory: Moily

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New Delhi, April 30: Law Minister M Veerappa Moily today said the India needs to graduate to a level where everyone casts vote and nurture democracy.

“In an ideal situation voting could be made compulsory,” he said replying to a debate on a Private Member’s Bill on Compulsory Voting moved by Congress member Jai Prakash Agarwal.

“Everyone should contribute and nurture the largest democracy” he said in his reply which remained inconclusive.

Earlier participating in debate members from all sides supported the idea of compulsory voting.

Man killed in J&K as protesters stone bus

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Srinagar, April 30: Violent protests during a separatist sponsored march claimed the life of a government employee in Jammu and Kashmir today as agitators hurled stones at a bus, making it the second such incident in the past two months.

Clashes rocked various parts of the valley after police restrained agitators from marching to the local office of United Nations Military Observers Group (UNMOG) for India and Pakistan at Sonawar here. Separate incidents of violence have left over 20 injured, official sources said.

SC notice to Centre, Punjab on Ravi projects management

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New Delhi, April 30: The Supreme Court today refused to pass any order on a petition filed by Haryana seeking transfer of execution and management work of several projects on the river Ravi to Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).

“We are not inclined to pass any order,” a Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices Deepak Verma and H L Gokhle said.

The Bench issued notices to the Centre and Punjab government and sought their responses on the plea of Haryana that central funds should be stopped for projects on river Ravi to the state government.

Lalu, Mulayam have shocked Cong: Jaiswal

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Allahabad, April 30: Expressing strong displeasure over Lalu Prasad and Mulayam Singh Yadav having termed the UPA government as “anti-Muslim”, Congress today said it was “shocked” by their behaviour more than it was surprised by Mayawati voting in its favour during the cut motion.

Cong organisational polls: KPCC puts gag on leaders

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Thiruvananthapuram, April 30: Congress in Kerala has put a gag on its leaders from making public statements on matters connected with coming organisational polls in view of the fresh factional tendencies in the party.

“Participation of leaders in television channel discussions also would be seen as part of groupism. So, they have been told not to take part in such talks,” Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President Ramesh Chennithala told reporters after a meeting of the state unit.

The polls would be held as per schedule from May 14 to 29 and arrangements had been completed, he said.

Hopeful of getting access to Headley: Pillai

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New Delhi, April 30: India today hoped that it will get direct access to Lashkar-e-Taiba operative David Headley, arrested by American authorities in connection with the Mumbai terror attacks.

“We have been assured that Indian investigators would be given direct access to David Headley. This is a significant achievement and should put an end to the doubts expressed in certain quarters,” Home Secretary G K Pillai told reporters here while presenting the monthly report of the ministry.

Dalai Lama calls himself ‘son of Indian soil’

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Dharamsala (HP), April 30: Describing himself as the ‘son of Indian soil’, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama today thanked the country saying he had spent 50 years of his life here in a peaceful and cordial atmosphere.

“The Tibetan community is highly grateful to India in particular and all those states in general who are sheltering Tibetans in-exile”, the 74-year-old spiritual leader said speaking at a function here to mark the 50th anniversary of his arrival in the hill state.

Justice Kapadia appointed CJI

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New Delhi, April 30: Justice Sarosh Homi Kapadia, the senior most judge of the Supreme Court and one who wants all judges to keep themselves abreast with commercial laws, was today appointed as the 38th Chief Justice of India.

The 62-year-old judge will take over from incumbent Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan on May 12 and would remain at the helm of Indian Judiciary till September 29, 2012.

Justice Kapadia was associated with an historical judgement in which a five-judge Constitutional Bench had held that the law put in the Ninth Schedule was open for judicial review.

Azam demands probe into alleged selling of Waqf land

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Rampur, April 26: Accusing a BSP MLA of illegally selling UP Waqf Board land, former SP leader Azam Khan today demanded that Chief Minister Mayawati order a probe into the issue.

Khan told reporters that Waqf Board’s land worth about Rs 100 to 200 crore was sold recently.

The land situated in Hussani Sarai, Calcutta Mohalla, Bariyan and Himayatullah Ka Bagh was a gift from late Nawab of Rampur to the poor people, he said and demanded a thorough probe to ensure probity in politics and administration.

Dikshit asks concerned agencies to tackle water-logging

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New Delhi, April 30: Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today directed various government agencies to take necessary steps to ensure that the perennial problem of water-logging does not haunt the city in the ensuing monsoon season.

At a high-level meeting to take stock of the city’s preparedness for the monsoon season, she particularly told PWD and MCD — involved in street scapping projects — to take special care to counter water-logging as it damages the roads.

Stop praising the Nizam Mr. KCR: Arun Kumar

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Hyderabad, April 30 (Siasat News): The Congress member of Parliament and member of parliament working committee Mr. Arun Kumar has strongly objected the TRS President Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao of praising the former ruler of Hyderabad, The Nizam and asked him to clarify weather he supported the Indian government or the sate government. He also wanted him to explain either he wants strife and war with the people of Andhra.

Clash of the Titans: Aamir Khan vs. Ranbir Kapoor!

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mumbai, April 30: Two filmmakers making a film on the same subject is not uncommon in Bollywood. Ajay Devgan’s A Legend of Bhagat Singh, and Bobby Deol’s Shaheed, both on the life of slain hero Bhagat Singh were released around the same time. Once more, two filmmakers have chosen the same premise for their movies; the life of legendary artist Kishore Kumar.

Directors Anurag Basu, and Shashanka of Quick Gun Murugan fame, will be making a biopic on his life. Kishore Kumar was a man of many talents – singer, actor, composer and filmmaker.

Akki ready to romance Priyanka again, Is she raedy?

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Mumbai, April 30: Once and for all Akshay Kumar sets the record straight on his pairing with Priyanka Chopra by saying he’s all for the pair coming together again.

“But will she do a film with me? The ball is in her court. I do mostly comedies. I think Priyanka hardly ever acts in comedies, ” reasons Akshay.

Clearing all doubts about his ability/inability to work with Priyanka Chopra Akshay says, “Excuse me, we’re all professionals here. And the two of us have done very successful films in the past.

Zeenat Aman is still a style icon: Designer Archana Kochhar

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Mumbai, April 30: Fashion designer Archana Kochhar, who designed clothes for yesteryear actress Zeenat Aman for an event, says the actress is still a style icon and comes without any baggage and prejudice.

“It was a pleasant experience and great privilege to dress up the diva herself – Zeenatji. She came without any baggage and prejudice and looked like a dream in what we have designed for her,” Kochhar told IANS in an interview.

“She is in true sense a style icon. She looks gorgeous and has the sensual panache even today. It was almost surreal to design for a legend,” she added.

I’m not Mallika Sherawat who kisses every one

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Mumbai, April 30: On the eve of the release of her latest film Chase, Udita Goswami tells Jyothi Venkatesh that her minus point as an actress is that she is not offered a lot of typical roles which only a Vidya Balan or a Rani Mukerjee can do, because she does not look like the coy girl next door.

Why did you agree to do Chase though Tarina Patel is playing the romantic lead opposite Anuuj Saxena and not you?

Asin dating Mahendra Singh Dhoni?

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Mumbai, April 30: Bollywood belles and sportsmen have been a great combination since the days of Tiger Pataudi and Sharmila Tagore. Since then we have seen several liasions, some for keeps, others for a shorter duration.

Azharuddin-Sangeeta Bijlani, or the more recent Deepika Padukone and Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Geeta Basra!

But apparently the latest duo on celluloid is Southern beauty, Asin, and Indian cricket captain, MS Dhoni. Dhoni was spotted at Asin’s apartment to watch the first IPL semi-final between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians.

Emotional Atyachaar: Dimpy tests Rahul’s love!

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Mumbai, April 30: Just two months after her marriage to Rahul Mahajan on national television, Dimpy Ganguly is bringing their private life back on the small screen. She tests her husband on a TV show to prove to the world that he is loyal.

Rahul and Dimpy episode is the grand finale of UTV Bindass’ “Emotional Atyachaar” a show about infidelity. And Rahul has emerged clean.

Low calorie diet checks weight, boosts immunity

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New Delhi, April 30: A low-calorie diet not only checks weight but also boosts immunity, according to a recent study. Photo: Hindu Archives
A low-calorie diet not only checks weight but also boosts immunity, according to a recent study.

The study led by Simin Nikbin Meydani, director of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University in Boston, demonstrates the interaction between calorie restriction and immune markers among humans.

Supreme Court appoints woman judge after 4 years

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New Delhi, April 30: After four years, the Supreme Court had a woman judge with Justice Gyan Sudha Mishra, Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court, being sworn in today.

61-year-old Justice Mishra was sworn in along with two other judges by Chief Justice of India K. G. Balakrishnan.

Ms. Mishra, who will have a four-year tenure, will be the fourth woman judge in the history of the apex court since its inception in 1959.

With the three new judges assuming office, the total strength of the apex court goes up to 30 as against a sanctioned strength of 31.

US stocks get corporates, jobs boost

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Washington, April 30: With many more major corporates reporting good earnings, which is backed up by lesser number of unemployed people, US stocks got some much-needed support.

Stocks have surged higher after another series of upbeat earnings reports and a reading on unemployment provided more evidence of an improving economy.

Rupee appreciates to 44.44 against dollar

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Mumbai, April 30: The Indian rupee strengthened on Friday as early gains in domestic shares and firm regional peers cheered sentiment, but a further upside was capped by month-end dollar demand from refiners and importers.

New inflation series to be introduced from June-July

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New Delhi, April 30: The government today said that it plans to come out with the new inflation series, which will give a better reflection of price movements in the country, by July. “We plan to bring out the new WPI series in June or July.

It will have over 600 items from the current 435 items,” R P Singh, Secretary with the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), told reporters on the sidelines of a function here. He said the whole basket of items would be adjusted, depending on the turnover of commodities and “the trial is on.

Oil surges to USD 85 per barrel

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New Delhi, April 30: Oil rose on Friday, heading for a third straight monthly gain as optimism about the global economy outweighed high inventories, Greece’s fiscal troubles, Iceland’s volcanic eruption and a lawsuit against Goldman Sachs.

Global markets staged a relief rally on Thursday as Greece moved to enact severe austerity measures to secure an aid package, easing fears that the debt crisis will spread across Europe. That boosted the euro and fueled the biggest jump in equities since early March.