Month: June 2010

NRI girl poisoned to death by step-father

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Amritsar, June 30: In a suspected honour killing case, a teenaged NRI girl was allegedly poisoned to death by her stepfather, who disapproved of her relationship with a Belgium-based boy belonging to another caste.

18-year-old Amritpal Kaur, a permanent resident of Belgium, fell in love with Lakhbir Singh.

The girl was brought to the country last week by her stepfather Mehtab Singh, who allegedly poisoned her to death, police said.

Amritpal was cremated clandestinely by her stepfather following which the matter was reported to the police by close family members.

Zardari to push China for nuclear deal

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Islamabad, June 30: Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari is likely to push China to take a final decision on the proposed sale of nuclear power reactors to his country.

Zardari is scheduled to visit China during a joint military exercise at Qingtongxia in northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region from July 1 to 11.

Pointing to international concerns over China’s plan to sell two nuclear reactors to Pakistan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Beijing’s civilian nuclear cooperation with Islamabad is not aimed at any third country.

Serena fires semi-final warning

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London, June 30: Serena Williams denies that this year’s Wimbledon title is hers to lose as she goes into Thursday’s semi-final with Petra Kvitova.

Defending champion Williams, who is chasing a fourth Wimbledon singles crown, is the only top 20 player in the last four and all eyes are on whether the in-form outsiders, can stop her.

As the pressure of expectation mounts on the American world number one’s shoulders, she played up Kvitova’s credentials and highlighted the dangers of underestimating a hungry new generation.

“It’s not mine to lose, it’s mine to win if I can get it.

Benigno Aquino III sworn in as Philippines’ president

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Manila, June 30: Benigno Aquino III was sworn in Wednesday as the Philippines’ 15th president before hundreds of thousands of cheering supporters.

Aquino, 50, took his oath of office shortly before noon (0400 GMT) at Rizal Park in central Manila after leading Filipinos in bidding farewell to his predecessor Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

He is to serve the Philippines as president for a term of six years during which he has vowed to fight corruption and poverty.
–IANS

Boy killed in celebratory firing

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New Delhi, June 30: A 12-year-old boy was killed in celebratory firing during a wedding ceremony in outer Delhi, police said today.

The incident was reported from Shahbad Dairy late last night and the victim has been identified as Amit.

Amit had gone to attend his cousin Sunita’s wedding where a relative of the groom opened fire in the air to celebrate the occasion.

“A bullet hit the boy’s head and he died on the spot,” a senior police official said.

Barsana, who is son of the groom’s uncle, was arrested and a case has been registered against him.
–PTI

Villa scores for Spain in 1-0 win over Portugal

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Cape Town, June 30: David Villa finished off a move of Spanish perfection to finally break down Portugal’s defensive wall and give the European champions a 1-0 win and spot in the World Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Villa scored his fourth goal of the tournament in the 63rd minute, while Cristiano Ronaldo again failed to inspire Portugal.

A trademark Spanish passing move found Andres Iniesta in the center. He flicked the ball through to Xavi Hernandez, who backheeled to Villa charging in on the left.

Busting of spy network will not affect US-Russia ties: US

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Washington, June 30: Busting of a Russian spy network that included “deep cover” agents, is unlikely to have any adverse impact on US-Russia relationship, which has improved significantly under the Obama Administration, White House has said.

“I do not believe that this will affect the reset of our relationship with Russia,” White House Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs told reporters.

He was flooded with questions about the arrest of 10 individuals by the FBI on Monday including eight “deep cover” agents, spying for the Russian spy network.

Flotilla probe head threatens to quit

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Jerusalem, June 30: Head of an Israeli commission which is probing the deadly attack on the Gaza-bound aid flotilla has threatened to resign unless the probe is given wider powers.

Yaakov Tirkel, a retired Supreme Court judge, has told Israel’s Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman that he would leave the post if his demands were not met, the Israeli private TV Channel Two reported on Tuesday.

Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu has apparently agreed to broaden the powers of the committee.

Jagan in New Delhi for Odarpu

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Hyderabad, June 30: Kadapa Member of Parliament YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Tuesday left for New Delhi to meet the AICC president Sonia Gandhi.

According to sources, Mr Jaganmohan Reddy will use the meeting to seek permission to restart his Odarpu Yatra from July 8 in Srikakulam district.

The Congress MP was accompanied by his mother and Congress MLA YS Vijayalakshmi and sister Sharmila on his trip to the National Capital.

According to sources, the Congress president will meet the Kadapa MP on Tuesday evening.

KCR hampering development in Telangana: Congress

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Hyderabad, June 30: Senior Congress leaders on Tuesday targeted Telangana Rashtra Samithi chief K Chandrasekhar Rao on his reported statement that Congress president Sonia Gandhi would open her eyes to the Telangana issue if Pradesh Congress Committee president D Srinivas loses the by-polls in Nizamabad.

Talking to media persons separately Congress leaders Mohan Reddy, Gandra Venkat Rama Reddy and Thulasi Reddy said that the reported statement made by KCR is childish. The leaders added that KCR is a political novice if compared to Mr Srinivas.

Pitched battle in Saudi over who can issue fatwas

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Riyadh, June 30: One cleric’s endorsement of breastfeeding for grown men and another’s saying music is not un-Islamic have opened up a pitched battle in Saudi Arabia over who can issue fatwas, or Islamic religious edicts.

Hardline and progressive religious scholars, judges and clerics have taken the fight public in what some describe as outright “chaos” in the once ivory-tower world of setting the rules that govern much of life in the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom.

Centre’s insensitive policies led to prise rise, says Modi

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Ahmedabad, June 30: Lashing out at the UPA government over price-rise, Gujarat Chief Minister today said that those ruling at the Centre had become “insensitive” to the needs of the common people.

“Due to wrong financial polices of the Central government, lives of common people of the country has become hell. The Centre is following insensitive policies,” Modi said addressing a gathering at a programme organised by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) here.

“People of the country will seek answers from the Centre on inflation,” Modi said.

48-hour bandh in five states

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Kolkata, June 30: A day after another daring and deadly attack, killing at least 26 CRPF men in an encounter following two ambushes in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district, Maoists on Wednesday have called for a 48-hour shutdown in five states – West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa, Bihar and Chhattisgarh.

Apart from the five states, the Maoists have also called a shutdown in three districts of Maharashtra and two districts of Madhya Pradesh.

Living in America and spying for Russia

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Washington, June 30: The endgame came last Saturday, on a sweltering early summer afternoon in downtown Washington. The year was 2010, but the Cold War might never have ended. The FBI undercover agent, purporting to be a Russian government official, and a suburban travel agency employee named Mikhail Semenko met on a street corner six blocks east of the White House, and exchanged pre-arranged code phrases. “Could we have met in Beijing in 2004? Yes, we might have, but I believe it was in Harbin.”

Lack of help for Iraqi police was ‘quite breathtaking’

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Wednesday, June 30: British and American efforts to rebuild Iraq’s police after the 2003 invasion were under-funded and unrealistic, the resumed Iraq war inquiry heard yesterday. The first UK chief police adviser in Baghdad said there was an assumption that an efficient Iraqi police force would simply “rise like a phoenix” within months.

Sonam wishes to be like her rival Deepika

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MUmbai, JUne 30: The gorgeous Sonam Kapoor is good looking and sexy sexy herself, but the actress wishes to have a body like Deepika Padukone’s.

“Deepika has a great body and I wish I could have a body like her,” Sonam told. She was at the DT Cinemas in DLF Promenade in Vasant Kunj, with her “I Hate Luv Storys” co-star Imran Khan and director Punit Malhotra, to promote her new film.

Sonam also wiped off all the rumours of any supposed cold war between her and Deepika.

“I don’t know Deepika. Then how would I have a cold war with her?” she asked.

Aishwarya Rai upset?

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Mumbai, June 30: All is not well with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, so to say. The actress, according to reports, is upset thanks to the response to her film.

Raavan and the controversy surrounding it ever since the Mani Ratnam movie hit the screens more than a week ago.

“It is to be noted that Ash has not made any public appearance after the film and her PR machinery has been asked to remain silent regarding her whereabouts.

This is to avoid any uncomfortable questions from the media,” a source reportedly said. “The former Miss World was extremely excited before.

FIFA Prez Blatter apologises for World Cup howlers

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Johannesburg, June 30: England and Mexico received a fulsome apology from FIFA President Sepp Blatter today over refereeing errors during their World Cup last 16 matches and announced FIFA would discuss the introduction of goal-line technology at a meeting next month in Cardiff.

The Swiss was reacting to two incidents on Sunday when England’s Frank Lampard had a goal disallowed even though it was clearly over the line in the clash with Germany which would have made it 2-2. The Germans went on to win 4-1.

SMS services blocked in Jammu and Kashmir

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Jammu, June 30: SMS services were blocked in entire Jammu and Kashmir Wednesday, a day after it was stopped in north Kashmir, an official said.

“We received a communique from the home department of the state government to block SMS services across Jammu and Kashmir. We have acted accordingly,” a service provider told IANS.

On Tuesday, the government blocked SMS services in north Kashmir.

Anti-nationals exploiting J-K situation: PC

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New Delhi, June 30: In the backdrop of the spiralling violence in J&K, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram extended his full support to J&K CM Omar Abdullah on Tuesday who said that anti-national elements were behind the incidents in the Valley.

“There are reliable reports that anti-national elements are trying to exploit the situation. Some militants may also have sneaked into the valley to trigger violence,” he said, adding that “parents should ensure that their children should stay indoors during curfew.”

Brazilian woman alleges rape by Delhi landlord

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New Delhi, June 30: A 27-year-old Brazilian woman, pursuing a Mass Communication course in Noida, has alleged that she was raped twice by her landlord here after mixing sedatives in her coffee, police said today.

The incident reported from CR Park came to light this morning after the woman lodged a complaint in which she claimed that her landlord raped her twice after giving her coffee laced with sedatives.

The woman, who is pursuing the course from a private institute in Noida, came to India in the first week of June.

UK investigates Muslim charity over links to Zakir Naik

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London, June 30: An investigation was launched yesterday into the activities of a Muslim charity in Britain that invited a controversial Indian preacher to address its conference.

The investigation by the government’s charities watchdog is the latest twist in a story that began to unfold last week when Theresa May, Britain’s home secretary, decided to bar Dr Zakir Naik from entering Britain for a lecture tour.

Women beat up Muslim clerics in Lucknow

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Lucknow, June 30: Three Muslim clerics in a seminary beaten up by three women for allegedly not conducting their “talaq” (divorce) proceedings in accordance with Shariat (Islamic) laws, police said.

Mumtaz alias Hina, Nishat Fatima and Arshi barged into the Madrassa Sultan-e-Madari in the Wazirganj area and assaulted the clerics – Mohd Afzar Zaidi, Sayed Musa Rizvi and Mohd Raza Sajid.

“The women alleged that the clerics conducted their divorce, keeping them in the dark. We have initiated an enquiry,” police spokesman Anand Srivastava told reporters here.

Togadia slams AP govt for appeasing Muslims

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Ambala, June 30: VHP General Secretary Pravin Togadia today accused Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal governments of appeasing Muslims by offering reservation to them in jobs.

“A large number of Hindus are also unemployed, they should also be given priority in jobs, but the governments of Andhra and West Bengal are appeasing the Muslims,” Togadia told reporters here.

Criticizing the J&K government, he alleged that a tax of Rs 2000 had been imposed on the vehicles going to Amarnath shrine while the union government had been providing subsidies to Muslims for Haj.