Month: June 2010

US-led Afghan war toll 100 in June

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Washington, June 29: The death toll of US-led forces during the war in Afghanistan has reached the unprecedented number of 100 for the month of June, an AFP tally shows.

The death toll was updated after the US Department of Defense announced Monday the death of an American soldier on June 24 in Afghanistan’s western province of Farah, taking the toll so far this year to 320.

The statement by the US Defense Department said a 20-year-old private had died on June 24 of “injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.”

My partner has a right to live his life: Australian PM

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Melbourne, June 29: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard says that her partner, who works as a real estate salesman for a property group owned by a pro-Israel lobbyist, has “a right to live his life too”.

Gillard’s partner Tim Mathieson is employed at a firm by Melbourne developer Albert Dadon, a pro-Israel lobbyist.

She said her public condemnation of recent Hamas rocket attacks on Israeli territory during the Gaza intervention was well before there had been any suggestion of Mathieson working for Dadon, The Age reported Tuesday.

Government not to interfere in Tirumala ‘Archaka’ issue: CM

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Tirumala, June 29: Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh K Rosaiah said his government would not interfere in the Tirumala ‘Archaka’ issue and the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) officials would look into it.

Mr Rosaiah, who arrived here yesterday for darshan of lord Venkateswara Swamy, talking to the media said the controversy between Tirumala archakas would be solved by the TTD and the government would not involve in it.

Earlier, on arrival he was received with temple tradition by the temple officials.

Space cooperation with India vitally important, says US

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Washington, June 29: Recognising the emergence of new spacefaring nations like India, President Barack Obama focuses on international cooperation on issues ranging from controlling space junk to national-security projects in his new national space policy.

In a marked departure from his predecessor George Bush’s unilateral approach, the new policy seeks to significantly expand space cooperation with other countries “to the greatest extent practicable” in designing, executing and sharing data from future programmes.

George joins McGrath production line

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Melbourne, June 29: Glenn McGrath has been able to achieve something with fast bowlers that Shane Warne couldn’t with legspinners, by inspiring a production line of next-generation quicks. Steven Smith, who is currently showing promise, is the closest to a successful Warne clone despite every young cricketer wanting to bowl like him when he was playing. But there are fast men dotted around the world who carry McGrath’s characteristics.

Saif wearing the shoes of a politician

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Mumbai, June 29: Saif Ali Khan reprising the role of a suave politician in Madhur Bhandarkar’s new movie Heroine, which, it is rumoured, is based on the life of an American actress? Well, that’s the speculation in the industry. “I wish to clarify that Heroine is not based on the life and times of Marilyn Monroe or any actress. It’s a contemporary film.

Afzalgunj E Seva Centre gutted

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Hyderabad, June 29: In a major fire accident, the E-Seva centre located beside the Salarjung Musuem was gutted on Monday morning.

According to police, Satyanarayana watchman of E-Seva centre was asleep on the first floor of the building which houses a APDCL office, when he noticed smoke rising from the closed shutters of the E-Seva Centre.

Satyanarayana tried to put out the fire by first shutting down the power supply to the E-Seva Centre and then throwing sand on the flames but to no avail.

He finally informed the fire services department.

Goalscorers at World Cup

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Johannesburg, June 29: List of goalscorers at the 2010 World Cup after matches June 28 (54 of 64 matches):

4 Goals: Gonzalo Higuain (Argentina)

Robert Vittek (Slovakia)

3 Goals: Thomas Mueller (Germany)

Asamoah Gyan (Ghana)

David Villa (Spain)

Luis Suarez (Uruguay)

Landon Donovan (US)

Luis Fabiano (Brazil)

2 Goals: Carlos Tevez (Argentina)

Brett Holman (Australia)

Elano (Brazil)

Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)

Miroslav Klose (Germany)

Lukas Podolski (Germany)

Keisuke Honda (Japan)

Javier Hernandez (Mexico)

Kalu Uche (Nigeria)

Dipika loses to Nour

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Cologne, June 29: Dipika Pallikal was once again not able to go past a determined Nour El Tayeb of Egypt who won 15-13, 11-9, 11-9 in the semi-finals at the World Junior Individual Squash Championship here.

Every game was close with both players Monday night using the front of the court more often than required. Dipika seemed in control of all three games but Nour won the ‘big points’ and moved a step closer to winning the title.

In the final, the fourth seeded Nour will play No.3 Amanda Sobhy, who upset the reigning World champion Nour El Sherbini 12-10, 14-12, 11-9.

A discovery of India, with suggestions on Facebook

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New Delhi, June 29: They have taken a break from their routine lives and embarked on a journey to discover the ‘real’ India with a budget of Rs.500 a day. And guess what is ‘guiding’ this Delhi-based couple in their excursion – tips on social networking site Facebook.

Saurav Jha, 28, a consultant at Energy India Solutions, and Devapriya Roy, 26, doing research at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), left their work and began their journey through the country May 1. They will return by the end of July after a period of nearly 100 days.

Five mn Argentines look for love on web

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Buenos Aires, June 29: About five million Argentines look for a girlfriend or boyfriend through online dating services, with about 50,000 users a day, a media report said.

Argentina has 22 percent more singles than people who are married or in a relationship, and, after Brazil, is the Latin American country with the greatest acceptance of dating over the internet, according to websites consulted by the daily Perfil.

Gujarat lecturer rape case: Third accused arrested

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Mehsana (Guj), June 29: The third accused in the alleged gangrape of a lecturer, who later attempted suicide, today surrendered before the police and was later arrested.

Mukesh Patel surrendered six days after a complaint was lodged against him and two others, Ketan Thakar and Dinesh Patel, in a police station at Kadi taluka, police said.

Dinesh and Thakar were apprehended on June 22 after the 25-year-old lecturer’s father lodged a complaint against the trio.

Brazil ease past Chile, set-up Dutch showdown

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Johannesburg, June 29: Brazil set up a mouth-watering World Cup quarter-final clash against the Netherlands with a convincing 3-0 win over Chile on Monday at Ellis Park.

First-half goals by centre-back Juan and striker Luis Fabiano gave Dunga-coached Brazil a 2-0 lead before Robinho made sure of their quarter-final berth with the third goal after an hour.

Brazil will face the Netherlands, who earlier saw off Slovakia 2-1, in Port Elizabeth on Friday.

This was Brazil’s 47th win in 66 matches against Chile, who have only seven wins.

Pressure mounts on Iran as oil firms pull out

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Tehran, June 29: Iran faced growing economic pressure yesterday after two Western oil firms halted business with it, and a Gulf Arab country seen as a trade lifeline for Tehran moved to freeze some Iranian-linked bank accounts.

France’s Total joined an expanding list of companies that have stopped gasoline sales to Iran, and Spain’s Repsol said it had pulled out of a contract to develop part of the country’s huge South Pars gas field in the Gulf.

One-day training programme for Ward Committee members

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Hyderabad, June 29: Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Deputy Mayor Jaffar Hussain on Monday inaugurated the one-day training programme for all Chairpersons, Members and Secretaries of Ward Committees of Circle No 7 & 10 at Modern Function Hall, Khairatabad.

Addressing the members, Mr Jaffar Hussain said that the programme was envisaged to help the help Ward Committee members understand all important activities of GHMC like sanitation, drinking water supply, property tax, street lights etc..

Telugu Yuvata warns of reprisal attacks

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Hyderabad, June 29: The Telugu Yuvata on Monday warned of reprisals over the ‘attack’ by Congress activist on residence of Telugu Desam Party leader Gali Mudukrishnama Naidu.

In a statement, Telugu Yuvata state president B Ravichandra Yadav warned the Congress that it should be prepared for counterattacks if it chooses to opt for target senior leaders.

Woman claims harassment by Task Force sleuths

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Hyderabad, June 29: Strange are the ways of our men in uniform. Sometimes they deserve wholesome praise and other times they are derided by all and sundry but they are feared all the time.

They are feared because they know that their misdemeanours rarely, if ever, are punished.

On Monday, a woman, Shahjahan Begum and her 17-year-old son Mohammed Amir appeared before the State Human Rights Commission seeking relief from harassment by Task Force officials.

Submit report on headway into RRB scam probe: Court

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Hyderabad, June 29: The CBI Special Court, hearing the multi-crore Railway Recruitment Board question paper leakage scam on Monday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to file a report by Tuesday on the progress of investigations.

The order came after the CBI filed a petition and asked for a ten-day custody of suspended RRB Mumbai chairman SM Sharma and Raipur Senior Divisional Personnel Officer G Sethi.

The CBI, in its petition said that it needed the additional time to elicit more information from the two accused. The judicial remand of these two accused ends on July 1.

Mannavaram likely to be rechristened as YSR Puram

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Chittoor, June 29: Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Monday said that the state government is contemplating to change the name of Mannavaram to YSR Puram.

If the state government does go ahead and opts implements Mr Rosaiah’s words, it would be the second time this month that an area would be named after former chief minister late YS Rajasekhara Reddy.

Earlier on June 18, the state Cabinet had unanimously agreed to change the name of Kadapa district as YSR district.

Congress scoffs at Kishen Reddy’s ‘student friendly’ fast

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Hyderabad, June 29: The Congress on Monday scoffed at the ‘student friendly’ posture adopted by the Bharatiya Janata Party state unit president G Kishen Reddy and questioned the party’s commitment to student welfare.

The party said that Mr Kishen Reddy has taken up the fast with an eye on the forthcoming by-polls.

Talking to media persons, Technical Education Minister Mopidevi Venkatramana Rao and Higher Education Minister D Sridhar Babu questioned what had the BJP-led NDA government done for the sake of students during its reign.

Congress reacts harshly against Gali’s words against Sonia, YSR, CM

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Hyderabad, June 29: The reaction by the state Congress leaders and activists over the utterances by Telugu Desam Party leader Gali Muddukrishnama Naidu against AICC president Sonia Gandhi, former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy and Chief Minister K Rosaiah was on expected lines.

The party activists took to the streets and staged a dharna before the TDP leader’s residence while the senior Congress leaders used the media to voice their protest and issue warnings to Mr Muddukrishnama Naidu.

Sandra Bullock’s divorce finalized

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Los Angeles – Actress Sandra Bullock’s divorce from cheating husband Jesse James was finalized, only two months after the Oscar winner filed for divorce.

The pair filed for divorce last week in Texas citing “discord or conflict of personalities,” .

A representative of the actress confirmed the divorce was final.

Bullock, 45, and James, 41, a motorcycle mechanic and reality television personality, had been married for five years. Their marriage crumbled following reports of James’ infidelities.

Kat Arranges Special Screening Of Raajneeti For Salman’s Family

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Mumbai, June 29: For those who think that Katrina has severed all relations with Salman Khan and his family, there is news. Recently she arranged a show of her latest hit “Raajneeti’ for Salman’s dad, the renowned scriptwriter Salim Khan and the entire family…minus Salman, who maintains his clean slate vis-à-vis Katrina’s work.

He has not seen a single film of hers.

Yesteryears actresses were gold, today’s are just bold: Jackie

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New Delhi, June 29: For Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff, old is gold! The actor believes that today’s actresses pale in comparison and “lack the elegance, beauty and sensuality” of yesteryears stars.

“The new brigade of actresses lack elegance, beauty and sensuality that was instilled in yesteryears stars like Nanda or Sadhana. There is a lot of skin show happening,” Jackie, 50, told IANS on the phone from Mumbai.

General McChrystal to leave US Army

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Washington, June 29: General Stanley McChrystal, who was fired last week by President Barack Obama as the top US commander in Afghanistan, is to retire from the US Army.

“McChrystal informed the army today that he intends to retire,” US Army spokesman Col Tom Collins told the Associated Press on Monday.

He added that the general has not submitted the formal paperwork yet, so it is unclear when his retirement will take effect.