Month: May 2010

Apple sells million iPads

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Washington, May 04: The Apple iPad has hit another major milestone with the sale of the one millionth iPad after a little less than a month of retail availability.

The milestone was reached Friday the same day the company released its 3G version of the much-hyped device, as sales of the tablet continued to build, Apple said Monday.

“One million iPads in 28 days-that’s less than half of the 74 days it took to achieve this milestone with iPhone,” Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs said.

ACB raids residence of Joint Collector

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Hyderabad, May 04: Sleuths of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) today raided the residence of Joint Collector of Ranga Reddy District of Andhra Pradesh.

According to ACB Joint Director, Sampath Kumar, properties worth Rs four crore, including bank balance and cash of Rs 15 lakh were recovered during the raid from the residence of Joint Collector Jaganmohan here.

The Joint Collector owned six residential flats, an equal number of house plots, one-and-half kg gold jewellery and LIC premiums worth Rs 15 lakh.

Oil falls below $86 on firm dlr, high U.S stockpiles

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New York, May 04: Oil fell below $86 a barrel on Tuesday, dampened by the stronger dollar and an expected rise in U.S. crude and fuel stocks, after hitting a 19-month high on positive economic news the previous day.

The dollar hovered near 8-½ month highs against the yen and one-year peaks versus the euro, boosted by robust data that backed views the Federal Reserve will be ahead of its counterparts in Europe and Japan in raising interest rates later this year.

IPL snub to Pak cricketers was premeditated: Razzaq

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New Delhi, May 04: All-rounder Abdul Razzaq has claimed that the snub to Pakistani players from IPL III was a premeditated move and the franchises were directed by the Government to not to sign any players from across the border.

He revealed that he had already signed up for the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2009 but later he was asked to put his name for the player auction.

He claimed that it was a move that was designed to keep him out of the IPL as none of the franchises made a bid for him and he could not find a single buyer for himself.

Media watchdog names 40 ‘predators of the press’

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Paris, May 04: Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders on Monday named the world’s 40 worst “predators of the press” including politicians, religious leaders and militias to mark World Press Freedom Day.

“They are powerful, dangerous, violent and above the law”, the Paris-based watchdog RSF said. “These predators of press freedom have the power to censor, imprison, kidnap, torture and, in the worst cases, murder journalists”.

LeT supporter arrested in Doda

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Jammu, May 04: An alleged Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) supporter was today arrested by the security forces in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

Acting on intelligence inputs, security forces raided a hideout and arrested LeT supporter Mohmmad Hanief in Khatosu village in Thathri belt of Doda district, they said.

Hanief was a close associate of two LeT Pakistani Commanders Abu Ans and Abu Anz operating in Bhaderwah-Doda belt.

He worked as a courier, guide and supplier for the LeT ultras and had helped them in escaping during an encounter in Khatosu last month.
–PTI

Marilyn Monroe’s gown to go under hammer

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Los Angeles, May 04: A gown worn by Hollywood diva Marilyn Monroe in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” is set to be auctioned next month.

The gown is expected to fetch between $150,000 and $250,000, reports hollywood.com.

The sale will also feature Monroe’s test footprints and signature set in cement from outside Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and a hat from “The Wicked Witch of the West”.

Three injured in clash over water

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Muzaffarnagar, May 04: Three persons were seriously injured in a clash between two groups over collecting water from a public hand pump at Jaroda village in the distric, police said today. Three persons have been arrested in this connection.

The incident took place last evening when people belonging to two different groups attacked each other with batons after a row over collecting water from a hand pump.

—-PTI

Lara Dutta gets candid

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Mumbai, May 05: Welcome to a new week! Quite a week it has been!! Housefull has released and taken a pretty decent opening at the cinemas, I’ve braved a bad back and performed at the Miss India show, finished a long promotional tour with easily over 200 interviews! In all I
Let that not deter us though from the task at hand.

Last week, I had promised to regale you with tales from the past and this is the last installment of this series! I’ve shared with you my friends old and new (mostly pretty old though!) and today present the final three!

I would love to direct ‘Singh Is Kinng-2’: Anees Bazmee

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Mumbai, May 04: Anees Bazmee is currently busy with his upcoming project ‘Thank You’ starring Sonam Kapoor and Akshay Kumar, but the writer-director has not given up on his dream of directing the sequel to his blockbuster 2008 ‘Singh Is Kinng’.

“Would I love to direct the sequel? Oh, of course yes. After all these were the characters thought by me and I am very attached to them. There could be so many ways to take these characters forward,” said Anees for whom ‘Singh Is Kinng’ stays on to be one of his three biggest blockbusters after ‘Welcome’ and ‘No Entry’.

Govt ready for peace talks without Paresh Barua: Assam CM

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Guwahati, May 04: Ruling out discussion on the sovereignty demand of ULFA, the Assam government said it was ready for talks with the militant group even without its elusive ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Barua.

“Sovereignty is non-negotiable and at the same time we are trying to rope in more leaders of ULFA to start the peace process. We are not going to wait indefinitely for anyone,” Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told reporters in Guwahati on Monday in an indirect reference to Barua and his opposition to the talks.

Sri Lanka suspends Sarath Fonseka court martial

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Colombo, May 04: Sri Lanka’s court of appeal on Monday suspended a court martial against former army chief Sarath Fonseka, who tried to unseat the president in elections earlier this year.

The court ordered the military tribunal that began hearings against Fonseka in March to halt its work until a decision has been made on the validity of the military’s legal proceedings.

Fonseka, who was defeated at January presidential elections by the incumbent, Mahinda Rajapakse, was arrested soon after the polls and charged with engaging in politics before he quit the army in November.

Compensation for family of journos’ death hiked

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New Delhi, May 04: Government has included electronic media persons in the ambit of Journalist Welfare Fund (JWF) scheme meant for providing ex-gratia relief to journalists and increased the compensation amount to Rs five lakh in case of death.

The scheme was formulated in 2001-02 and provided for payment of ex-gratia relief of Rs one lakh to journalists or to their families in case of death, permanent disability or extreme hardship on account of the journalist’s death.

Poll reveals more Afghan anger at NATO

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Kabul, May 04: A survey reveals 61 percent of Afghans feel more negative about NATO forces after Operation Moshtarak, than they did before the February operation began in southern Afghanistan.

Additionally, 67 percent of Afghan respondents believe that NATO has little chance of winning the war against the Taliban, while 14 percent believe that NATO would “never” win.

Lakhs struggle to get home in Mumbai

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Mumbai, May 04: There was nationalistic fervour during the working hours of Monday as Ajmal Kasab was predictably judged guilty. By evening it was the bread-and-butter and characteristically Mumbai’s preoccupation — the 6.11 and 7.14 locals — that took over.

The suburban railways’ motormen’s hunger strike protesting hike salaries at par with Sixth Pay Commission recommendations caused enormous hardship to Mumbaikars, out of touch in recent times with bandhs and trade unionism.

Details of cancelled visit of CJI to US can’t be given: SC

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New Delhi, May 04: The Supreme Court has refused to disclose the details of the proposed foreign visits of the Chief Justice of India, which were later cancelled, saying it will be a breach of personal information.

Replying to an RTI application filed by S C Agrawal, the Supreme Court Registry said that information was exempted from disclosure under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act.

Akshay had to leave for Canada minus Twinkle

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Mumbai, May 04: Akshay Kumar was thrilled on Friday night after the bumper opening of his film Housefull. But by Saturday, it was a dejected Akki who left for Vancouver for a month long shooting schedule. At the last minute, his wife Twinkle had to stay back in the city for a work commitment.

The Kumars were to leave on Saturday night as their son Aarav is away at summer camp. They were looking forward to the break as the Khiladi has been shooting continuously and hasn’t been able to give his family quality time.

Kuch der se…

Centre blames states on failure to achieve sanitation target

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New Delhi, May 04: The Centre today blamed state governments for non-achievement of its target of providing sanitation facilities in all rural schools in the country by March this year.

“In case of rural sanitation, targets could not be achieved due to lack of priority given by the states to cover schools with sanitation facilities by March 2010,” Minister of State for Rural Development Agatha Sangma said in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.

Under Total Sanitation Campaign, Centre had set the goal to provide sanitation facilities in all rural schools by March, 2010, she said.

Shilpa awaits Raj Kundra’s return from work abroad

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Mumbai, May 04: Shilpa Shetty pines for her husband, Raj Kundra. Awaits his return from work abroad

When he returns, the couple will head for a de-stressing holiday to the Spa on Patong beach in Phuket.

Commitments
The couple were stressed with the allegations flying around ever since the IPL controversy broke out are looking forward to escape it all.

Proposal to bar tribunal members from working as arbitrators

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New Delhi, May 04: The Government is working on a proposal to stop chairmen and members of various tribunals from working as arbitrators while in office, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

“A proposal is under consideration wherein persons functioning as chairmen, presidents, vice-presidents and members (of tribunals) are stopped from giving such advice in arbitration work,” Law Minister M Veerappa Moily said in a written reply.

Mahesh Bhatt’s daughter co-penning Jism 2 along with him

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Mumbai, May 04: The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Writer-filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt’s second daughter (with Soni Razdan) now makes her foray into B-Town. She is co-writing the screenplay of Jism 2 with her father.

22-year-old Shaheen, an Arts graduate says she had always known that she wanted to write but her ultimate aim is to direct. “Jism 2 happened by chance. Dad was working on the script and I said I wanted to write too.

Govt mulling to set up Broadcasting Authority of India

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New Delhi, May 04: Even as the government is holding discussions with broadcasters for building consensus on content regulation on television, it is also mulling the formation of a Broadcasting Authority of India, which would address broadcast related issues.

Delhi journalist was a victim of honour killing

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Bangalore, May 04: When 22-year-old New Delhi-basedjournalist Nirupama Pathak fell in love with her batchmate from Delhi’s Indian Institute of Mass Communication, she never thought it would end like the stories she’d come across in her job.

On April 29, Nirupama was found dead at her home in Koderma, Jharkhand. Her family said she had committed suicide but the police believe it may have been a case of honour killing. On Monday, the police took Nirupama’s parents into custody for interrogation.

FIFA allows caps for Iranian girls at Youth Olympic

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Paris, May 04: The Iranian girls’ football team will be allowed to take part in the Youth Olympics if players wear caps for covering hair instead of headscarves.

World football governing body FIFA said that the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) had agreed to the decision, Press TV reported.

Motormen’s strike paralyses Mumbai, ESMA to be imposed

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Mumbai, May 04: The Maharashtra government on Tuesday invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) even as 20 motormen were dismissed by the Railways in view of their continuing indefinite hunger strike in Mumbai demanding hike in pay scales and allowances.

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan approved the move after Railway officials approached the state government for the same.