Month: June 2010

Holbrooke’s plane lands in Afghanistan despite small arms fire

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Washington, June 22: The US special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, landed in Afghanistan’s contested Marjah region despite small-arms fire on the ground, US officials said Monday.

P.J. Crowley, spokesman for the US State Department, dismissed reports that Holbrooke’s Osprey aircraft was fired on by insurgents. He said it belonged in the category of ‘first reports are usually wrong’.

Crowley said Holbrooke was airborne, and his plane was not affected or hit by enemy fire.

Andhra by-elections on July 27

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New Delhi, June 22: The Election Commission on Monday announced by-elections for 10 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh on July 27.

While the date of issue of notification is July 2, the last date of making nominations is July 9. The nominations will be scrutinised the next day, while the last date for withdrawal of candidature is July 12.

Polls to the 10 assembly constituencies will be held July 27 and will be held between 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Votes will be counted July 30, the poll panel said.

Obama, Netanyahu to meet July 6, Gaza on agenda

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Washington, June 22: The United States on Sunday hailed Israel’s easing of its land blockade of Gaza and said president Barack Obama and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu would discuss further steps when they meet in Washington on July 6.

The White House welcomed Israel’s new rules for its land embargo, which has drawn heightened international criticism since a deadly raid on an aid flotilla bound for the Hamas-run Palestinian territory.

20% of India’s child labourers from UP

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Lucknow, June 22: It is indeed a matter of grave concern that 20 per cent (1,927,997 to be exact) of India’s total (12,666,377) child labour force lives in Uttar Pradesh. It is a fact that there is no dearth of grants, aid, projects and schemes for creating a child-labour-free state and yet, instead of declining, the percentage of child labour is growing by leaps and bound in the state.

Sensex opens 90 points lower

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Mumbai, June 22: The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex today opened over 90 points lower on emergence of profit booking at higher levels amid weak Asian cues.

The 30-share index, which had gained 305.73 points in the previous sessions, fell by 90.47 points, or 0.50 per cent, to 17,786.08 points in the first five minutes of trading.

The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty also fell by 27.20 points, or 0.50 per cent, to 5,326.10 points.

Pose for photos wearing a burka

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London, June 22: Visitors to an art exhibition will be invited to pose for photos wearing a burka, it has been disclosed.

According to The Telegraph, the Heard and Not Seen show at Birmingham’s Museum and Art Gallery is keen to break down cultural barriers, and therefore, people will be asked to pose in the headscarves in creative ways to bring their own perspective to this culturally powerful piece of cloth.

The exhibition arrives as several European countries have either banned, or are debating whether to ban, the burka.

Katrina won’t be at Raajneeti success bash

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Mumbai, June 22: The Raajneeti team will celebrate the film’s success at a party tomorrow, minus Katrina Kaif.
The actress is in Spain shooting for Zoya Akhtar’s Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara with Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar and Abhay Deol.

She sulks…
Sources reveal that since Kat won’t be in town, she’s sending a video message to the rest of the cast, which will be played at the party. A source close to the actress says, “Kat is sulking that she won’t be able to celebrate the film’s success with the rest of the cast.

Rupee seen retreating from 1-month high

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Mumbai, June 22: The rupee is expected to ease on Tuesday, pulling away from a one-month peak reached in the previous session, following mostly weak regional stock markets and mild gains in the dollar versus majors.

* The partially convertible rupee ended at 45.745/755 per dollar on Monday, 0.9 percent stronger than Friday’s close of 46.16/17. It had climbed as high as 45.58 during trade, its strongest since May 18.

Srikrishna Committee tour of Old city

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Hyderabad, June 30: It was mission unaccomplished for the Srikrishna committee member, Rupinder Kaur, who was on a tour to an area in old city to gather opinions about Telangana issue.

Kaur visited Talabkatta area this evening to collect their views on seperate statehood to Telangana but was surprised when they poured out their woes on civic issues and basic amenities instead of speaking about bifurcation of the state.

The residents complained about bad roads, water problems, shortage of power and others.

One-year-old dies of swine flu, two test positive

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Mumbai, June 22:A one-year-old boy died of H1N1-related complications at Sion Hospital on Sunday and two others tested positive for the H1N1 virus on Monday. In Thane, a 55-year-old woman, Fatima Sheik, was diagnosed with swine flu.

Forty-nine Mumbaiites have tested positive for swine flu in the last 20 days. The death of the toddler was the third swine flu death in a city hospital this month. The boy, a Dharavi resident, had been suffering from fever since June 12 but was admitted to the hospital only on June 17 after he developed breathlessness, said a BMC official.

Ban on Zakir Naik welcome by Muslim group

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Mumbai, June 22: Britain’s ban on Zakir Naik, a controversial Islamic televangelist has been welcomed by the Muslim community in the city.

Raza Academy, a group of Muslims, presented a memorandum to the UK High commission “appreciating the initiatives of the British government to restrict entry of Dr Zakir Naik”.

Saeed Noorie, secretary of the academy, said “He may consider himself to be an Islamic scholar or preacher, but we don’t.”

Dhoni on top, India 2nd ODI side again

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Dubai, June 22: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni today regained the number one batting position while his team returned to the second spot in the ICC ODI Championship after back-to-back victories in the ongoing Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.

Dhoni, who had started the tournament in third place trailing number-one ranked Michael Hussey of Australia by eight ratings points, scored 38 not out against Bangladesh and 56 against Pakistan.

Aamir New Look As a Dhobhi

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Mumbai, June 22: Aamir Khan goes dehaati while shooting for an ad for a DTH service provider he endorses. The actor was spotted in a dhoti complete with an oiled-down look and twirling mouche, looking quite like a dhobhi.

Which begs the question: Is his upcoming production, Dhobhi Ghat — directed by wife Kiran Rao — tying in with the brand in a cross-promotion?

Davidar had consensual relationship with Rundle: Lawyer

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New Delhi, June 22: David Davidar, former chief of Penguin-Canada, who was forced to leave his job following charges of sexual harassment, reportedly had a “consensual flirtatious relationship” with his colleague Lisa Rundle, who in turn has accused him of harassing her with a flood of “inappropriate e-mails and text messages” and behaviour, they said in separate statements Monday.

Messi set to captain Argentina against Greece

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Polokwane, June 22: Lionel Messi will captain Argentina for the first time in Tuesday’s World Cup encounter with Greece, sources close to the team said.

Coach Diego Maradona has decided to give the skipper’s armband to the Barcelona striker two days before his 23rd birthday, Argentina’s La Nacion daily reported Monday, quoting the sources.

Messi takes over from midfielder Javier Mascherano, who is being rested by Maradona. The decision comes as a surprise to Argentinian football commentators, who had expected the captaincy to go to veteran Juan Sebastian Veron.

Coffee protects against mouth cancer

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London, June 22: Drinking four cups of coffee a day helps protect against oral cancer, but doctors are of the opinion that people should drink coffee in moderation because the caffeine present in it can increase heart rate and blood pressure.

Some of the 1,000 chemicals present in coffee – including antioxidants – can offer protection against many types of cancer, a new research has said.

6 killed in Turkey clash

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Istanbul, June 22: The latest skirmish Monday between the Turkish military and Kurdish rebels in southeastern Turkey left six people dead, the Turkish news agency Anadolu reported.

Fighters from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) reportedly attacked a military outpost in Silvan, killing one soldier. Five rebels died in the battle.

The incident follows similar rebel attacks that left 12 Turkish troops dead over the weekend in the restive Kurdish region along the Iraqi and Syrian borders. Twelve rebels reportedly died in the weekend fighting.

Eight killed in Uttar Pradesh accident

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Lucknow, June 22: Eight people of a marriage party were killed and six critically injured when their vehicle rammed into a roadside tree in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur district, police said Tuesday.

The accident took place at around midnight in Behlolpur area, about 250 km from Lucknow, when the jeep spun out of control.

“Six people died on the spot while two breathed their last on their way to hospital. Six people have suffered serious injuries. All of them are stated to be critical,” police inspector S.N. Gupta told reporters.

Planned mosque near Ground Zero sparks debate

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Washington, June 22: Plans to build a mosque near the site of the Sept 11 attacks have touched off a firestorm among New Yorkers nearly a decade after Muslim extremists linked to al-Qaeda slammed planes into the World Trade Centre.

The Cordoba House mosque, part of a Muslim centre to be built two blocks from what is now known as Ground Zero proposed as a conciliatory move, was overwhelmingly approved by a local community board in May.

But the plans are being resisted by some New Yorkers who say a mosque would be inappropriate so close to the place where nearly 3,000 people were killed.

Muslims protest Kosovo hijab ban

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Pristina, June 22: The Kosovo government imposed the ban despite the fact that approximately 90 percent of the country’s population is Muslim.

Thousands of Kosovo Muslims have taken to the streets in Pristina to protest a new ban, which forbids girls from wearing headscarves in public schools.

The protesters were carrying placards, which read “Stop Discrimination” and “Don’t use our state against us,” and urged the government to change its decision and allow pupils to wear religious symbols in schools.

Obama unveils fatherhood initiatives

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Washington, June 22: President Obama pledged a series of new initiatives to support responsible fatherhood on Monday, but called on fathers to recognize that government cannot do what they can best do in the home.

In his annual Father’s Day event, Obama urged fathers to mentor their own children and to reach out to those in the community who don’t have strong parental or guardian support.

‘Israel destroying peace talks’

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Jerusalem, June 22: Saeb Erekat says Israel is trying to sabotage indirect peace talks through the demolition of Silwan neighborhood homes in East al-Quds (Jerusalem.)

On Monday, the chief Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) negotiator called on the international community to “halt these dangerous steps” and said that the move “proves that Israel has decided to destroy the proximity talks with the Palestinians.”

German Man In Burqa Arrested In Pak

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Islamabad, June 22: The Pakistani police have arrested a German man wearing a burqa and carrying a gun who was leaving an area near Miranshah, North Waziristan, where many militants are active.

The police said the 30-year-old German, who was in a car with two other men and a six-year-old girl, was intercepted at a checkpoint in Bannu, some 140 kilometers southwest of Peshawar on Monday.

The other two men were wearing blue-colored Afghani burqas, local police station chief Farid Khan said, adding that they were handed over to an intelligence agency for further investigation.

Son-in-law of Imam Khomeini dies

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Tehran, June 22: Mohammad Hassan Arabi, the son-in-law of Imam Khomeini, the Founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has passed away in the holy city of Qom.

He died on Monday after leading a spiritual life, the office of the late Imam Khomeini said in a statement issued on June 21.

He was about 86 years old.

Born into a religious family in the city of Qom in Iranian calendar year 1303 (March 1924-March 1925), he married Farideh Mostafavi, one of Imam Khomeini’s two daughters, in Iranian calendar year 1332 (March 1953-March 1954).

Figth jointly for terror at Pak talks

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Islamabad, June 22: A proposal to make the joint anti-terror mechanism a part of India-Pakistan talks is likely to be taken up when foreign secretaries Nirupama Rao and Salman Bashir meet in Islamabad on Thursday. “The proposal to include the joint anti-terror mechanism as the ninth point of the composite dialogue will most likely be on the agenda of discussions between the foreign secretaries,” a senior Pakistani official told The Telegraph in Islamabad.