Month: May 2010

Most lenders agree to Dubai World’s debt plan

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Dubai, May 04: Most Dubai World creditors have agreed to the terms for restructuring the troubled conglomerate’s debts, a state-owned daily said Tuesday.

“Most of the banks have agreed on the offer after studying the size of the obligations remaining on the group and the amounts it will pay,” Al-Bayan said, citing an unidentified negotiator who represents the banks.

It is likely “that all the banks will sign the contract presented by the company,” the newspaper quoted him as saying. He said the banks would respond within two weeks, the report added.

Egypt unearths Ptolemaic statue

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Cairo, May 04: Archaeologists trying to locate Cleopatra’s tomb in Egypt have unearthed a huge black granite Ptolemaic statue, the country’s antiquities chief said on Tuesday.

The find near the Mediterranean city of Alexandria was “one of the finest Ptolemaic royal statues (to have been discovered), although without a head,” said Zahi Hawass, the head of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities.

“This huge statue is probably King Ptolemy IV, especially since it was he who built this temple” more than 2,000 years ago, Hawass added without specifying its exact proportions.

ULFA should decide on sovereignty: intellectual forum

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Guwahati, May 04: A day after Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi rejected ULFA’s sovereignty demand, a forum of intellectuals of Assam today said the matter should be decided by the group before coming to the negotiating table.

“ULFA should come to the negotiating table without any precondition but on its demand for sovereignty it is for the group to decide,” Citizens Forum convenor and litterateur Hiren Gohain told reporters here.

In its convention held last month, the forum had urged the government and ULFA to cross hurdles and talk on issues that have created problems in the peace process.

Bid for pan-India 3G spectrum rises to Rs 10,749 cr

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New Delhi, May 04: The bid price for 3G spectrum continues to rise as it touched Rs 10,749 crore for pan-India operations on the 21st day of auction, assuring the government of Rs 43,372 crore in terms of revenue.

According to sources in the Department of Telecom (DoT), the auction may go on for few more days indicating further hike in bid prices.

With all leading mobile operators like Bharti AIrtel, Vodafone Essar, Idea, RCom and Tatas, among others, in the fray for procuring spectrum, the bid has surpassed all estimates.

Park authorities nurse sick tiger

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Rishikesh, May 04: An old and sick tiger, found in Jim Corbett Park’s Bijrani range, was being looked after and provided necessary treatment by the authorities.

The sick tiger is afflicted with old-age problems like blurred vision and difficulty in walking, Park Director Ranjan Kumar Mishra said.

The wild cat, found in the jungles of Park’s Bijrani range, had lost teeth, he said.

The Park authorities would continue to take care of the tiger till the big cat is completely cured, Mishra said.

–Agencies

Nicole retains Asian C’ship title for seventh time

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Chennai, May 04: World number one women squash player Nicol David of Malaysia defeated Hong Kong’s Rebecca Chiu of 11-6 11-7 11-7 in the summit clash here today to retain her Asian Championship title for the seventh time.

It was double celebrations for Malaysia as Mohd Azlan Iskander defended the men’s title, after Amir Atlas Khan of Pakistan conceded the final match due to a leg pain while he trailing 11-8 11-4 3-0.

The title also saw Nicol retain her world number one status for the 46th month in succession.

Nicol dedicated the title to her family.

Fonseka skips court martial proceedings

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Colombo, May 04: Sri Lanka’s detained ex-army chief and opposition MP Sarath Fonseka today skipped proceedings of a court martial trying him on charges of indulging in illegal defence deals as he chose to attend the Parliament session, prompting the military court to seek an explanation from him.

Fonseka, 59, did not appear before the court martial panel as he was in Parliament which was debating the emergency regulations.

Judicial officers to get three-fold hike in pay scale

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New Delhi, May 04: The Supreme Court today directed the implementation of increased pay scales for judicial officers of subordinate courts across the country, which will enhance their salary almost three-fold.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices Deepak Verma and B S Chauhan said state governments would give salary as per the recommendations of the Justice Padmanabhan committee.

Man jailed over deadly karaoke fire in Hong Kong

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Beijing, May 04: A Hong Kong court jailed for life a man found guilty of masterminding a firebomb attack on a karaoke bar in 1997 that killed 17 people.

Choi Kam-fai, 34, was convicted of murder on Monday with the judge saying he had played a prominent role in the petrol bombing that triggered a deadly blaze in the four-storey club, local media reported.

Prosecutors said Choi had wanted to exact revenge after a fight with club security left him injured.

Dutch Court rules teenager Laura Dekker can’t sail around the world solo

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Netherlands, May 04: A Dutch court upheld the suspension until July 1 of a 14-year-old girl’s bid to sail around the world solo, citing fears for her safety and ordering her supervision by authorities.

Laura Dekker needs to complete the two-year trip before she turns 17 on September 20, 2012, to break the current record.

“The court is of the opinion that the two-year solo sailing trip as planned … holds great and unacceptable risks for the child,” the appeals court in the eastern city of Arnhem, said in a written judgment.

Naxalite killed in encounter in Chattisgarh

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Raipur, May 04: A naxalite was killed in an encounter with CRPF personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district today.

Superintendent of Police (Bijapur) Avinash Mohanty said about a dozen naxalites opened fire on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) team that was patrolling near Peddakodepal village in the district, to which the jawans retaliated.

While others managed to flee, one was killed. The CRPF team recovered a country-made revolver, cartridges and a bow and arrow from the spot.

World’s oldest person Kama Chinen dies in Japan

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Japan, May 04: The world’s oldest person, Japanese woman Kama Chinen, died a week short of her 115th birthday after a life spanning three centuries, the Guinness World Records has announced.

“Guinness World Records is saddened to learn the news of the death of the oldest living person, Kama Chinen from Japan, who died on May 2, 2010 aged 114 years 357 days,” it said tonight.

“Though confined to a wheelchair in her later years, Chinen enjoyed the wonders of nature and being outside.”

Spanish face transplant man goes public to thank surgeons

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Madrid, May 04: A Spaniard who had face transplant has publicly thanked the surgeons who operated on him.

The patient named only as Rafael said, “I am full of joy and happiness. I want to thank the family of the donor and the medical team.”

Rafael was the second person in Spain and the ninth in the world to receive a partial face transplant.

The operation was carried out after Rafael was left with a series of tumors on his face from a rare condition that caused cells to grow abnormally.

Dam built by Canadian beavers can be seen from space

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North America, May 04: Canadian beavers built the world’s longest dam – and it is so big it can be seen from space.

The incredible woodland construction is a staggering 850 metres in length according to The Sun.

It is twice the size of what was the world’s largest, the Hoover dam, which borders Arizona and Nevada in the U.S. and spans 379 metres.

The furry critters use trees, mud and stone to make a type of moat where they can use their swimming skills to evade any predators.

India allows travel to Iraq

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New Delhi, May 04: India Tuesday lifted the ban for Indians traveling to Iraq on grant of emigration clearance for Indians wishing to travel to Iraq.

While lifting this ban, India has added a cautionary advisory that they take care of their personal security while working or visiting the oil-rich Gulf country.

“The government of India has decided, in order to facilitate travel by Indian nationals to Iraq on work and/or for visits, not to extend the ban on the grant of emigration clearance, which had been issued under Section 31(1) of the Emigration Act, 1983,” the advisory said.

Prosecute Nirupama case in fast track court: NCW

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New Delhi, May 04: National Commision for Women (NCW) has today asked Jharkhand government to transfer the journalist Nirupama’s case to fast track court.

NCW also asked the government to take action against other accused than her mother in this murder mystery, which is suspected to be an honour killing.

“We have told them (Jharkhand officials) clearly that culprits should be arrested and I am glad that at least one has been arrested. I just talked to them and said other perpetrators should also be arrested,” NCW Chairperson Girija Vyas told reporters outside Parliament.

Pak wants to discuss kashmir with India: Qureshi

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Islamabad, May 04: Pakistan Tuesday said it seeks through dialogue with India to resolve pending issues including the core issue of Kashmir.

“We are trying to find a durable resolution of issues as well as cover the damage done to foreign policy during the previous regime,” Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said here Tuesday while briefing the National Assembly or lower house of parliament about the government’s policy on Kashmir.

QBR to reach India in June

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New Delhi, May 04: The Commonwealth Games slated for Oct 3-14 is the biggest event in India and the relay, which is similar to the Olympic Torch Relay,the Commonwealth Games’ Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) will reach India on 25th of June after traveling 71 countries

Yatra Vs Yatra in Bihar

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Patna, May 04: As the Elections in Bihar are scheduled for this Year the Yatra and Rath Yatra war seems to have hotten up.Every political party wanting to outdo each other

Court reserves order on Sajjan Kumar charges

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New Delhi, May 04: A city court Tuesday decided to pronounce on May 15 its order whether charges should be framed against Congress leader Sajjan Kumar and others for allegedly killing five people during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Additional Sessions Judge Sunita Gupta reserved her order for May 15 after both prosecution and defence concluded their arguments on whether the charges should be framed.

Arguing before Gupta, Central Bureau of Investigation counsel R.S. Cheema alleged that Kumar incited a mob which killed five people near Delhi Cantonment.

Soren not to give up easily

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Ranchi, May 03: Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren called a state cabinet meeting on Monday clearly indicating that he is in no hurry to quit.

With his fate still hanging in the balance, Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren chaired a cabinet meeting Monday signaling that he is in no hurry to relinquish power.

Previous instances show that Soren, who also heads the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), does not quit influential posts easily. He is known to hold on to office for as long as he can or till the time he is left with no other option but to quit.

Prosecution seeks death penalty for Kasab

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Mumbai, May 04: The prosecution in the Mumbai terror attack case Tuesday called Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab a satan and seeked death penalty for him.

Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab is “Satan, a devil, a snake in human form” and must get the death penalty for murder, the prosecution in the Mumbai terror attack case said Tuesday.

In his arguments a day after Kasab was pronounced guilty by Special Judge M.L. Tahaliyani, Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said Kasab had been convicted for mass murder and waging war against India.

Finland advocates third party mediation on Kashmir

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New Delhi, May 04: In remarks bound to embarrass India, Finland’s Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb today advocated third party mediation to resolve the Kashmir issue.

Stubb, who is on a two-day official visit here, said, “I think in an issue like Kashmir, its obviously quite clear that you have two parties, at least. And it thus takes two to tango. But if a bilateral solution has not been found in 60 years, then perhaps other avenues for a solution should be found.

Muslim girl given TC for wearing head scarf

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Alappuzha (Ker), May 04: Parents of a Muslim girl student have alleged she has been given Transfer Certificate (TC) by authorities of a local Christian school here for insisting on wearing head scarf, prompting the district administration to order an inquiry into it.

The 10th standard student Nabala was recently given TC by the English-medium school, run by Believers’ Church at Mannanchery on the town outskirts, stating that wearing head scarf amounted to violation of the school’s dress code, the complaint said.

CID begins probe into rape case against former minister

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Bangalore, May 04: The CID, probing the rape charge against former Karnataka Minister H Halappa, today said it would not desist from arresting him if there is a prima facie case.

Two days after Halappa’s exit as minister following the rape charge, CID said a team has been despatched to Shimoga, his home town, and was making inquiries.

“If a prima facie case is established, it is a cognizable case and arrest is imminent, then the arrest will be effected,” Charan Reddy, DIG, CID, told reporters here as the agency began its probe today.