Month: June 2010

Aishwarya, Shah Rukh Khan not in YRF next

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Mumbai, June 01: Yash Raj Films has killed all speculations that Bollywood superstars Aishwarya Rai and Shah Rukh Khan will be seen in a film produced by them.

The production house released a statement following a tabloid report that a film with Aishwarya and Shah Rukh Khan was on the cards.

“Despite our categorical denial of this baseless rumour, the tabloid continued to publish this with an ambiguous quote from a person at YRF.

It is totally baseless and not true,” said the official statement from YRF, “The least that should have been done was to have quoted us correctly.

India-US strategic talks to focus on defence, counter-terrorism

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Washington, June 01: India and the United States begin their first strategic dialogue Wednesday with both sides keen to move beyond symbolism to concretise cooperation in areas ranging from energy, agriculture, science and technology and education to defence and counter-terrorism.

External Affairs Minister SM Krishna, who would lead the inaugural ministerial level dialogue with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, would outline his vision of India-US relationship transformed by the landmark India-US civil nuclear deal in an address at the India Business Council (USIBC) Wednesday.

German President Horst Koehler resigns

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Berlin, June 01: Germany’s President Horst Koehler said on Monday he was stepping down with immediate effect, in a surprise move after criticism of recent comments he made about the country’s mission in Afghanistan.

“I am resigning my post as federal President with immediate effect,” Mr. Koehler (67), whose job is largely ceremonial, said in Berlin.

“It was an honour for me to serve Germany as President,” a visibly emotional Mr. Koehler told reporters with his wife at his side.

He said he had already informed Chancellor Angela Merkel of his decision.

Man kills brother for assaulting wife

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Mumbai, June 01: Laxman Vishwakarma (22), a resident of Nepal Galli in Mulund, was arrested for reportedly killing his elder brother, Ram. On Monday, Ram, who was allegedly drunk, was assaulting his wife and mother over a domestic dispute.

The family said Ram often indulged in fights. He picked up fights with members in the neighbourhood without any reason, the neighbours said.

When Ram was assaulting his wife on Monday, Laxman, intervened after which, Ram allegedly punched him, said the police. “This led to a fight between them.

Iran has at least 5.7 kg of high-enriched uranium

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Vienna, June 01: Iran had produced at least 5.7 kilogrammes (12.5 pounds) of highly-enriched uranium, which it says it is producing for a research reactor, as of early April, according to a restricted UN report seen by AFP on Monday.

“On April 7 2010, Iran withdrew 5.7 kilogrammes of UF6 (uranium hexafluoride) from the first cascade” at its pilot fuel enrichment plant in Natanz, the International Atomic Energy Agency report said.

“According to Iran, this UF6 was enriched to 19.7 percent.”

Verdict in case of boy’s rape and murder on June 7

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Dubai, June 01: The Court of Cassation presided by Judge Mohammed Nabil Riad will give its verdict on June 7 in the rape and murder case of a four-year-old boy in the washroom of a mosque.

The case involves a fisherman, a 31-year-old Emirati man, who was sentenced to death by two courts in January and April as he was convicted of raping and killing the Pakistani boy last year.

The accused was also given a six-month jail sentence for consumption of alcohol.

Rescuers dig after Central America storm kills 132

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Guatemala city, June 01: Stunned victims of tropical storm Agatha wept by destroyed homes and rescue crews dug bodies out of mud in Guatemala on Monday after torrential rain killed at least 132 people across Central America.

People caked in dirt searched for their loved ones as the stench of mud and sewage from flooded drains filled the air of towns outside Guatemala City and emergency workers urged survivors to leave ruined houses and go to shelters.

Saudi fund fuelling terror in Afghanistan: Afghan intelligence

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Kabul, June 01: Millions of dollars from Saudi donors routed to Afghanistan through Pakistan’s tribal areas, have fuelled terrorism in the country during the last four years, Afghan financial intelligence unit has claimed.

The funds, totalling more than 920 million pounds, entered from Pakistan where they are converted into rupees or dollars, the favoured currency for terrorist operations, the Afghan financial intelligence unit FinTraca has claimed.

Asin promises no sweat with Sure

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Mumbai, June 01: Sure, a leading anti-perspirant has been launched in India by Hindustan Unilever Limited, with Asin Thottumkal being signed as the brand ambassador for the brand in India.

Talking about the brand, Asin states, “Sure promises ‘No Sweat’, which is exactly what an anti-perspirant is supposed to do. I use Sure and am happy with the results. I truly recommend consumers to include Sure in their daily hygiene regime. Sure is absolutely safe to use and does not have any side effects.”

Pakistan restores access to Facebook

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Lahore, June 01: Pakistani authorities today restored access to Facebook on the orders of a court that had blocked the popular social networking website nearly two weeks ago for hosting a page with blasphemous caricatures of Prophet Mohammed.

Justice Ijaz Chaudhry of Lahore High Court adjourned proceedings in the case related to the blocking of Facebook till June 15 and said he would review his decision on that date.

“I am not closing this case,” he said.

Ranbir can’t see his mom play his reel mom

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Mumbai, June 01: Ranbir Kapoor is very picky about his screen mothers and that’s because he has very high standards at home. Hence, he had said some time ago, “My mom was and is a fabulous actress. But the person that I see on screen is not my mother. I see them as two different entities. I can’t see my mom playing my mother.”

At the same time, Ranbir is extremely particular about who plays his mom on screen. In Raajneeti, the choice was narrowed down even further since Prakash Jha wanted the actress playing Ranbir’s mother to resemble him physically.

Wife, ‘lover’ held for husband’s kidnap

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Ghaziabad, June 01: A 34-year-old woman and her 36-year-old lover were arrested for allegedly abducting the woman’s husband for more than 12 days. The “lovers” had even threatened to kill him for opposing the extra-marital affair, police said.

Sanjay Valmiki (36) went missing from Modi Nagar in Ghaziabad on May 18. His wife, Rekha Valmiki, lodged a missing complaint.

NRIs face ‘obstacle course’ in travelling to India

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New York, June 01: Thousands of non-resident Indians (NRIs) are beginning to feel like ‘Not Required Indians’ as they endure a bureaucratic ordeal with their old Indian passports. They say New Delhi’s hard-as-nails visa rules are forcing them to navigate an “obstacle course” in travelling home to India.

AP appoints inquiry commitee on Rajatopuram collapse

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Hyderabad, June 01: The Andhra Pradesh government has constituted a four-member committee to go into the collapse of five hundred year old Rajagopuram temple at Lord Srikalahastheeswaraswamy and goddess Gnanaprasoonambika on May 26.

The Panel Consists of Mr R Jagan Mohan, CE, Endowments, Member-Convenor, Mr S Narasimha Rao, Professor (retd) IIT, Chennai, member, Mr A Meher Prasad, Professor, IIT, Chennai, Member and C V R Murthy, Professor, IIT, Hyderabad, member.

The panel has been asked to submit the report by end of June 30, 2010, according to a statement.

——–Agencies

Monsoon reaches Kerala, likely in Mumbai on June 10

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Mumbai, June 01: The southwest monsoon hit Kerala on Monday as scheduled and is expected to hit parts of Karnataka and Goa in 48 hours, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The IMD added the monsoon is likely to hit the Konkan region on June 7 and will arrive in Mumbai on June 10.

Pune witnessed pre-monsoon showers for an hour on Monday.

—Agencies

Hrithik to kick the butt

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Mumbai, June 01: In bid to end smoking habit he picked up during Guzaarish, Roshan Jr will be using nicotine patches

Hrithik Roshan wants to quit smoking. The actor picked up the habit last year, got addicted to nicotine high during the making of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Guzaarish, as his character in the film smokes.

First time

Ajay or Irrfan may play lead in Lalit Modi biopic

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Mumbai, June 01: Ajay Devgn has been approached to play Lalit Modi in a biopic being produced by Percept Ltd and directed by Shamim Desai. However, the actor has reservations about the controversial nature of the character. Irrfan Khan is the other choice for the multi-dimensional part.

Kaun banega…
Right now, it’s a toss-up between Ajay Devgn and Irrfan Khan for the part of the former IPL commissioner.

Karan Johar’s inputs were implemented in Ra1

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Mumbai, June 01: Karan Johar may not be associated with Shah Rukh Khan’s Ra.1, but the filmmaker believes in lending a helping hand to his buddy’s project.

While visualising SRK in the role of a superhero, KJo provided several inputs that were incorporated in the project. Says an insider, “Shah Rukh gave a draft of the script to Karan for his opinions. He read it thoroughly and suggested changes that were implemented.”

Apparently, Ra.1 director Anubhav Sinha is aware of Karan’s involvement and inputs in the story and had no issues. For him, the project is hugely challenging.

Was Sri Sri Ravi Shankar indeed target of attack?

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Bangalore, June 01: A day after the alleged assassination attempt on Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, questions revolve around if it was indeed a bid on his life.

Union home minister P Chidambaram said on Monday the 54-year-old spiritual leader might not have been the target of the attack. “Our reports say the incident took place after Sri Sri left the place in his car and, therefore, it may not be correct, I underline, may not be correct, to say the firing was aimed at him,” he said.

Priyanka Chopra new toy

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Mumbai, June 01: Priyanka Chopra shows off her newest gizmo an iPad. The actress who recently purchased the device has been hooked on to it.

Even while shooting for Saat Khoon Maaf, PC was seen busy downloading new applications and getting a hang of the technology.

Apart from PC, Deepika and Neil Nitin Mukesh were also gifted iPads by their Lafangey Parindey director Pradeep Sarkar.

——-Agencies

Indian investigators in US to question Headley

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Chicago, June 01: A team of Indian investigators arrived in the US today to interrogate for the first time David Coleman Headley, accused of helping Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists carry out the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

The team comprises officers of the National Investigation Agency and a law officer. This will be for the first time that 49-year-old Pakistani-American Headley will be facing direct questions from Indian investigators since his arrest in October last year.

42 pro-Taliban militants killed in Orakzai

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Kabul, June 01: A militant commander and 42 suspected pro-Taliban militants have been killed in airstrikes in Pakistan’s Upper Orakzai Agency.

In a series of assaults in the country’s northwest, Pakistani jets and helicopter gunships attacked seven militant strongholds where the troops have intensified their attacks in recent weeks.

Government official Nauman Khan said 42 militants were killed and over 60 others wounded during night-time air assaults on Monday.

Nol silver cards back on sale

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Dubai, June 01: The popular Nol silver cards, used to travel on Metro, public buses and water buses, are back in the market after a gap of around four weeks, Khaleej Times has learnt.

However, the specially designed blue-silver cards, which replaced the silver cards when the latter ran out of stock at the end of April, will continue to be sold till the stock lasts.

“The silver cards are back on sale, but the blue-sliver cards will still be sold till its distributed stock finishes,” said Mohammed