Month: July 2010

Jagan embarks on a journey of consolation, defiance

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Hyderabad, July 07: Brushing aside the ‘advise’ given by Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Wednesday, Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy embarked on the Falaknuma Express on a trip which could possibly change the entire political scenario in the state.

Mr Jaganmohan Reddy will reach Ichapuram in Srikakulam district from where he will resume his Odarpu Yatra on Thursday.

Earlier in the day, Mr Rosaiah had suggested to his Cabinet colleagues and MLAs that joining Mr Jaganmohan Reddy in the Odarpu Yatra would be ‘indiscipline’ and defiance of the High Command.

Rupee nears 1-month low Vs dlr

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Mumbai, July 07: The Indian rupee dropped by 13 paise to near a one-month low at 47.03/04 against the dollar on persistent demand for the American currency from importers and banks amid weak equity markets.

At the Interbank Foreign Exchange, the domestic unit opened lower at 46.92/93 a dollar against yesterday’s close of 46.90/91. Later, it fell to 47.20 a dollar before closing the day at 47.03/04.

Dollar demand from importers and banks in view of a higher dollar overseas affected the rupee’s value against the US currency, a forex dealer said.

Amitabh to say ‘Lock kiya jaaye’ on ‘KBC’ again

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Mumbai, July 07: “Sure, confident, lock kiya jaaye?” These words in Amitabh Bachchan’s resounding voice will be heard on TV once again with the megastar all set to return with the fourth season of the popular game show “Kaun Banega Crorepati” (KBC).

“I am glad to be back with ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’. It is always a great pleasure to be associated with BIG Synergy,” Amitabh said at a press conference for the show’s official announcement Wednesday.

The show will air on Sony TV before the year ends.

Delhi can have its Open University: Sibal

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New Delhi, July 07: Delhi is free to set up its own Open University.

Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal stated this to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit at a meeting also attended by Delhi Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely.

Dikshit had expressed concern about the fate of children who scored less than 40 percent marks in their school-leaving examination as they are not allowed admission into Delhi University’s School of Correspondence.

EVMs are tamperproof, says official

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Kolkata, July 07: Election Commissioner S.Y. Qureshi Wednesday strongly defended the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), saying they were tamperproof and had passed all tests over the years.

“The EVM is tamperproof. That’s the way they have been designed. The secret of their success lies in simplicity. They use calculator technology. It does not use an operating system. We don’t use high technology here. Chances of going wrong is zero,” Qureshi told reporters here.

Opposition stages walkout on day 1 of AP monsoon session

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Hyderabad, July 07: The opening day of the monsoon session of Andhra Pradesh Assembly today saw a brief adjournment and a walkout by the Opposition which cornered the ruling Congress on a host of issues.

The Opposition parties staged a walkout in the Assembly to protest the government’s “lackadaisical” response to issues likes restoration of seats in the three Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) and construction of houses for people displaced by floods last year.

Three nabbed with leopard skin, bones

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New Delhi, July 07: Uttarakhand forest officials have arrested three persons following the seizure of three leopard skins and bones allegedly from their possession in Dehradun.

The accused have been identified as Ajab Singh, Jagat Singh and Mohan Singh, all residents of Vikas Nagar area in the state’s capital.

“They were arrested yesterday night by the anti-poaching cell of the forest department. Bullet holes were found on the skins and it is believed that the animals were killed in the nearby forest areas of Vikasnagar and Kalsi.

Congress to downsize staff strength at AICC HQs

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New Delhi, July 07: In a bid to cut its flab and reduce mounting expenses, the Congress headquarters here has offered a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) to its employees.

The scheme, which opened on July one, offers salary equivalent to two or three months for every year of service as an employee of the AICC headquarters. The benefits will also include normal retirement dues like Provident Fund, Gratuity, leave encashment etc.

“There were too many workers so VRS was offered. It is in the interest of the employees,” Motilal Vora, party treasurer, said.

Astra test-fired for 2nd consecutive day

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Balasore, July 07: India Wednesday test-fired ‘Astra’, the indigenously developed beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile at Chandipur near here, hours after carrying out the first night trial of the weapon.

The sophisticated missile was fired from a launcher at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) complex, about 15 kms from here, at about 2.07 pm, defence sources said.

Goa court rejects Pacheco’s bail plea

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Panaji, July 07: A local court Wednesday rejected the bail plea of former Goa tourism minister Fransisco Mickey Pacheco in connection with the death of his friend Nadia Torrado.

Additional Sessions judge Pramod Kamat denied bail to Pacheco, who surrendered before the court on Saturday last after his anticipatory bail petition was rejected by the Supreme Court.

Pacheco is currently undergoing treatment for hypertension, jaundice and urinary tract infection at the Hospicio hospital in Margao.

Attempt to create rift within NDA: Sharad Yadav

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Patna, July 07: JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav today said the alliance between his party and the BJP in Bihar would remain intact and charged that some elements were operating “from behind the scene” to create a rift between the allies.

“The JD(U)-BJP alliance is intact …. there are some elements who are operating from behind the scene to create a rift within NDA, but they will not not succeed,” Yadav told reporters here on his arrival from New Delhi.

Mandatory to sell helmets with two-wheelers: SC

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New Delhi, July 07: Two-wheeler makers will now have to sell a helmet along with their bikes and scooters after the Supreme Court today dismissed a plea by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers against such a step.

A bench comprising Justice G S Singhvi and Justice A K Ganguly dismissed the petition filed by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) challenging an earlier order of the Delhi High Court.

The apex court said the manufacturers would have to give BSI certified helmets as “original equipment”.

Maoist bandh: Trains cancelled in Naxal-hit areas

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Bhubaneswar, July 07: Trains passing through Maoist-hit areas were cancelled and short terminated on the East Coast Railways (ECoR) in view of the two-day Bharat Bandh called by the extremists from today.

Bhubaneswar-Koraput Hirakhand Express which left Bhubaneswar yesterday will go to Koraput, but would return as an empty rake to Rayagada. Similarly, Koraput-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express to leave Koraput today will run from Rayagada to Bhubaneswar and will be cancelled between Rayagada and Koraput, ECoR officials said.

Telangana panel to undertake field visits from next week

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Hyderabad, Jul 07: Justice B N Srikrishna, Chairman of the Committee appointed by the Centre to go into the Telangana issue, would undertake field visits in Andhra Pradesh from next week.

The retired Supreme Court Judge and other members would visit Krishna, Guntur and West Godavari districts in the first phase.

“From next week, I along with other members and Secretary will go around some of the districts, some of the villages to interact with people there,” Srikrishna told reporters here after winding up a three-day visit to the city.

‘Green buildings’ soon in UAE

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Dubai, July 07: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become the first region in the Middle East to begin work on environment-friendly government offices, dubbed “green buildings”.

The project will contribute towards energy conservation, water conservation, promoting public health, reducing harmful emissions, especially carbon dioxide, as well as contributing to the region’s environment in the long run, an official statement said.

The new buildings will be able to withstand environmental challenges and contribute to providing a sustainable environment-friendly workplace, it said.

Nitish’s love for Muslims damage control move: NCP

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Patna, July 07: The NCP today claimed that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s love for the Muslims was a “damage control” move after his pictures appeared in local dailies holding the hands of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Kumar had charged the Centre with being anti-Muslim in his bid to cover the lost ground among the minority voters after the advertisements, which showed him holding the hands of his Gujarat counterpart, were published, NCP General Secretary Tariq Anwar told reporters.

Afghans do not see return of Taliban: Hillary Clinton

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Washington, July 07: US secretary of state Hillary Clinton on Wednesday said that majority of the people in Afghanistan do not see return of the Taliban, and expressed her full faith in General David Petraeus, the new commander of US-led NATO forces in Afghanistan.

“In every survey that’s been done, the people of Afghanistan do not want to see the return of the Taliban. Yet, at the same time, they are constantly under attack by a relatively small, but nevertheless lethal suicidal band of extremists,” Clinton said in an interview.

Iranian planes not denied refueling

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Tehran, July 07: Iran has dismissed reports claiming that its passenger planes have been denied refueling rights at airports in Britain, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates.

“Based on the latest reports, airport officials from Britain, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates have denied this report, and Iran’s passenger planes continue to be refueled,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters at a weekly press briefing here yesterday.

Muslim leaders in India “rootless”: Khurshid

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New Delhi, July 07: Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has said most of the Muslim leaders in the country are “rootless” and many of them are handpicked by political parties for their capacity to garner Muslim votes.

Woman Centric role yet again!: Aish

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Mumbai, July 07: The lady, who is still much in demand in B town, is of course Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. All directors have a dream of including her in.

At least one of their projects, which was also the case with director Vishal Bharadwaj. Reportedly, the director.

Who is currently busy with the completion of his project ‘Saat Khoon Maaf’,has gone on to get Ash to sign.

On the coveted dotted line for his next project, and is quite on top of the world, as this had been like a dream come true for the ace director.

Congress MLAs meet Jagan ahead of his yatra

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Hyderabad, July 07: Several Congress MLAs today met MP Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, who has announced his decision to resume his controversial ‘Odarpu yatra’ from tomorrow despite reservations expressed by the party high command.

D Sudheer Reddy, B Raji Reddy and K Srisailam Goud, all legislators from Hyderabad, and a few others from Jagan’s native Kadapa district, met him at his residence here.

Katrina keeps Akshay waiting

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Mumbai, July 07: After the blockbuster of ‘Singh Is Kinng’, the makers of the film are keen to make its sequel. But wait is for Katrina Kaif.

The film will roll when Katrina Kaif will become free from her other assignments. Meanwhile, she is busy with other projects and not able to give dates to Akshay.

In stead of Anees Bazmee, the film will be directed by Vipul Shah as Anees is busy with other projects. The shooting will commence very soon and the sequel would start from Australia.

Lara Dutta to attend FIFA semi-finals

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Mumbai, July 07: Bollywood actress Lara Dutta is extremely excited about attending the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup in Cape Town. “Soooo excited! Touchdown in Cape Town tomorrow (Tuesday)! Apart from being one of my favourite cities, I am super thrilled to catch the first semi final there,” the actress posted on her Twitter page.

India-Iran Joint Commission begins tomorrow

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New Delhi, July 07: India and Iran will discuss a range of bilateral issues which are of direct benefit to their people during the Joint Commission meeting here tomorrow, with a focus on instilling fresh momentum in the ties, particularly in strategic areas including counter-terrorism.

Maoist shutdown evokes partial response in parts of Andhra

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Hyderabad, July 07: The 48-hour shutdown called by the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) to protest the killing of their spokesperson Azad evoked partial response in parts of Andhra Pradesh Wednesday.

The shutdown affected normal life in Maoist-infested tribal areas in the districts bordering Orissa and Chhattisgarh as authorities suspended bus services and cancelled few trains as a precautionary measure.