Month: June 2010

Trinamool reacts guardedly to Congress’ change of guard

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Kolkata, June 27: In a guarded reaction to the change of guard in the Bengal Congress, Trinamool Congress today said the choice of CLP leader Manas Bhuniya as the WBPCC president was entirely the party’s own decision.

“It is the decision of the Congress to appoint Bhuniya as the president of the state party. Bhuniya is the vice- president of the state Congress as also the Leader of the Congress Legislature Party,” Trinamool Congress leader Partha Chatterjee told PTI.

Sania, Bhupathi lose on disappointing day for Indians

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London, June 27: On a disappointing day for India, Sania Mirza crashed out of the women’s doubles competition, while Mahesh Bhupathi exited the mixed doubles event with second-round defeats at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships here.

Already out of contention in the singles event, Sania and her Dane partner Caroline Wozniacki lost 6-7 (0) 3-6 to the 11th seeded Zimbabwean-Slovak pairing of Cara Black and Daniela Hantuchova.

Man in fear of honour killing seeks protection for wife

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Ghaziabad, June 27: With honour killings on the rise, a newly married man has moved the Allahabad High Court seeking protection for his wife who was kidnapped from his house allegedly by her family members just a few days after she married him against their wishes.

In his plea to the court, Ajit Kumar of village Siblu Gari under Loni police station accused his wife’s family members of kidnapping her from his house and expressed fears that she could be killed as they were opposed to the marriage.

No politics over meeting with Raj: Chavan

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Mumbai, June 27: Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan today downplayed his meeting with MNS president Raj Thackeray, saying that no politics was involved in the talks he had with the latter.

“Many political parties have their views on how to go about legally on the Best-Five scheme which has been struck down by the High Court. I have decided to hear out everybody.

There is no politics involved. He gave some suggestions and we have decided to examine those issues,” Chavan told reporters here.

PM congrats Saina for Indonesia Open Super Series win

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New Delhi, June 27: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today congratulated badminton sensation Saina Nehwal for winning the Indonesian Open Super Series at Jakarta, her third international title on a row.

“Saina has shown spirit, determination and skill in winning the championship, her third major international title in three weeks,” Singh said.

The Prime Minister also said that Saina has done the country proud and is a role model for the youth.

Canada issues visa to former IB officer

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New Delhi, June 27: The Canadian High Commission has finally issued visa to a former Intelligence Bureau officer after its denial to grant him the travel document evoked an outrage here.

Former IB Deputy Director S S Sidhu, whose visa application was turned down by the High Commission on March 26, has now got a multiple visa for three days to visit the country.

Pranab Mukherjee quits as West Bengal state unit chief

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New Delhi/Kolkata, June 27: Senior Congress leader and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today resigned as chief of party’s West Bengal unit citing “heavy government responsibilities” and CLP leader Manas Ranjan Bhunia was appointed to the post by Sonia Gandhi.

The appointment of Bhunia, a close associate of Mukherjee, comes after Congress’ poor performance in the recent local body elections where ally Trinamool Congress emerged as the biggest gainer after contesting on its own.

Woman, daughter set ablaze for dowry

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Mainpuri, June 27: A woman and her one-year-old daughter were allegedly set ablaze by her husband and in-laws after she could not meet their demands for dowry in Bewar area of the district, police sources said here today.

Neelam (25) and her one-year-old daughter Khusboo were set afire by her husband Dharmvir and his family members in Garia village late last night after she failed to meet their demands for dowry, they said.

The mother-daughter duo died on the spot, they said.

Two ULFA militants surrender

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Lakhmipur, June 27: Two ULFA militants today surrendered with arms to the police in Assam’s Lakhimpur district today.

Ramen Bhuyan alias Rakesh Sharma and Puspa Dolei alias Poonam Dolei of the ULFA’s 28th battalion surrendered before Lakhmipur SP P S Sangamari, police said.

The duo deposited one AK-22 rifle, 2 magazines, 83 rounds of bullets, 16 detonators and one Chinese grenade, they added.

–Agencies

Mecca Masjid: Parade to identify accused held

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Hyderabad, July 27: Two persons who had sold a mobile phone to one of the accused in the 2007 Mecca Masjid blasts, which is believed to have been used in the explosions, today went to Chanchalguda jail for the test identification parade (TIP) of the suspected Lokesh Sharma.

Though the CBI officials are tightlipped over TIP, unconfirmed reports suggested that the duo, natives of Indore, had identified Lokesh Sharma as the man to whom they had sold the cell phone.

Salman coaxes Manjrekar out of no-acting vow

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Mumbai, June 27: Mahesh Manjrekar has vowed to give up acting, but Salman Khan keeps coaxing him back to the camera.

First Salman convinced Manjrekar to play debutante Sonakshi Sinha’s father in his home production “Dabangg”. That was meant to be his swan song as an actor.

But now Manjrekar has again been persuaded to face the camera with Salman for Anees Bazmi’s “Ready”. The funniest part of the director’s enforced career as an actor is that he doesn’t know what his role in “Ready” is.

Superstars are super-flops at World Cup

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Port Elizabeth, June 27: They came into the World Cup as superstars, the hopes of millions resting on their shoulders, or more accurately, their feet.

But with more than half of the tournament over, the supposedly five greatest footballers in the world have failed spectacularly to live up to their billing.

Superstars? You’ve got to be kidding. More like super-flops.

Lionel Messi? The Argentinian wonderboy with the feet of silver and a football brain that Einstein would kill for, has scored exactly zero goals.

Ten tourists from Maha killed in road mishap in AP

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Sangareddy , June 27: Ten tourists from Maharashtra, including five women, were today killed on the spot when a lorry rammed into a sport utility vehicle (SUV) in Medak district.

The accident occurred on National Highway-9 at Pochavam Cross around 2 am, police said.

“The over-speeding SUV, suddenly turned right and the lorry coming from opposite direction rammed into it, resulting in the death of all the passengers instantly,” police said.

Kangana Ranaut turns to comedy

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Mumbai, June 27: Shedding her intense on-screen image, Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut is trying her hands at comedy and this time wants to tickle the funny bone of her fans.

The actress is excited about the change and will have two-comedy films releasing this year, Anees Bazmee’s ‘No Problem’ and Anand Rai’s ‘Tanu Weds Manu’.

“It’s really fun doing comedy films, everything around you is amusing. But it is not easy to make people laugh. The true test of comedy is when you don’t have funny dialogues, just looking at you should make people laugh,” Kangana told PTI here.

Falling branch kills six-month-old baby

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Washington, June 27: A six-month-old baby was killed yesterday and her mother injured by a falling tree branch at New York’s Central Park Zoo.

Police said the 33-year-old New Jersey woman was posing with her baby in front of the sea lion exhibit and her husband was taking their picture when the branch fell.

The woman and infant were taken to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Centre, where the baby was pronounced dead. The mother was listed in stable condition.

Police identified the baby as Gianna Ricciutti of Union City, New Jersey.

Players suspended for their next World Cup match

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Johannesburg, June 27: Players suspended for their next match:

Round of 16

Zdeno Strba (Slovakia) – Second yellow card

Victor Cáceres (Paraguay) – Second yellow card

Waldo Ponce (Chile) – Second yellow card

Gary Medel (Chile) – Second yellow card

Marco Estrada (Chile) – Yellow/Red card

Quarter-finals

Jonathan Mensah (Ghana) – Second yellow card

Andre Ayew (Ghana) – Second yellow card
–IANS

Aishwarya-Abhishek on Vogue July Coverpage

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Mumbai, June 27: Check out the sizzling couple, Aish and Abhi as they get passionate on Vogue. They appeared together on Vogue for the first time.

Abhi dons a jackets teamed with tees while Ash’s wears a short and classy dress.

While shooting for Vogue, the lovely lady said it was a ‘wonderful’ experience as Vogue always comes up with classy covers.
–Agencies

Very proud of Saina’s victory, say parents

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Hyderabad, June 27: “We are very proud of her. Her victory proves that women are doing well in sports in India,” the elated parents of Saina Nehwal said Sunday after she won the Indonesian Open Super Series, her third win in three weeks.

“In India women are coming up, and she has shown to the entire world that yes, I can come up to those countries which are known as the hub of badminton,” Saina’s father Harvir Singh said, his voice choked with emotion.

Saina defeated Japan’s Sayaki Sato 21-19, 13-21, 21-11 in the final held at Jakarta Sunday.

Nepal Terai tense after Hindu leader’s murder

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Kathmandu, June 27: Nepal’s main hub for trade with India, Birgunj, simmered with tension Sunday as traders and Hindu groups erupted in protests following the murder of the chief of a newly-formed militant Hindu organisation that had become involved in anti-Maoist vigilante activities.

Kashinath Adhikari, the 45-year-old chief of Hindu Yuva Sangh, was attacked Saturday evening while he was visiting a Hindu monastery to inspect the construction of a dharamshala on its premises.

Saina creates history

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New Delhi, June 27: Indian badminton ace Saina Nehwal created history on Sunday as she beat Japan’s Sayaka Sato 21-19 13-21 21-11 to win the Indonesian Open Super series title.

This is Saina’s third straight win in three weeks. She was the defending champion at this event which she won last year as well.

Saina who recently jumped to her career best ranking of World No 3, came into this event on the back of successive wins in the India Open Grand Prix and the Singapore Open Super series title.

As prices shoot up, MPs want a hike

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New Delhi, June 27: With prices rising, lawmakers of the world’s largest democracy are seeking a better pay package.

A Parliamentary committee has recommended that the monthly salary of MPs be hiked from Rs 16,000 to Rs 80,001, a rupee more than a Secretary to the Union Government.

The matter is under the consideration of the Government.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal said the extent of hike in salary and allowances of MPs has not been decided.

Caught in caste tangle, lovers commit suicide

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Chandigarh, June 27: Faced with stiff resistance to their affair from their families, two lovers belonging to separate castes today allegedly committed suicide by jumping before a running train near Samalkha in Haryana, railway police said.

Eighteen-year-old Tina and her lover Deepak (25), who hailed from village Dhera, ended their lives in the morning, a GRP official said.

He said the two had started off from their village separately and met at some spot from where they headed for the railway tracks near Samalkha, about 160 km from here and 80 km from Delhi.

‘Now I’m one of the most watched scandal on YouTube:Nityananda

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Bangalore, June 27: Freed from the confines of prison, where he spent 53 days on charges of rape, self-styled godman Nithyananda says the purported video footage of him with an actress has not affected him spiritually, but socially – “from being one of the most watched gurus on YouTube to one of the most watched scandals.

“Spiritually nothing changes, because the truth is always the same. But socially I can say many things have changed. I used to be the one of the most watched guru on youtube – now I am one of the most watched scandal on youtube!” the 32-year-old swami told PTI.

Iraqi policeman killed in Mosul bombing

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Mosul, June 27: A roadside bomb explosion in Iraq has left at least one police officer dead and five other policemen wounded in the northern city of Mosul.

Police Major Fathi al-Juburi told AFP that the officers died after a police patrol was targeted on Saturday.

In another incident on Saturday, three jewelers were killed while another one was injured in armed robberies at their shops in the central Iraqi city of Falluja, police officials said.

The attacks followed a series of explosions in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul over the past few days.