Month: July 2010

BJP seeks support for bandh

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Patna, July 04: The BJP today made an appeal to make tomorrow’s ‘bharat bandh’ a success, claiming that the country was passing through worst economic and inflationary phase during the UPA government’s second term headed by an economist Prime Minister.

“India has been facing its worst economic and inflationary trends since the UPA government returned to power last year with the latest hike in petroleum prices further aggravating inflation and hardships of the common man, BJP national spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters here.

Arms dealer held for illegal sale of weapons

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Jaisalmer (Raj), July 04: An inter-state arms dealer was today arrested here for illegal sale of arms and ammunition, police said.

Mahendra Singh, a resident of Dhonpur in Madhya Pradesh’s Mehuna district, used to visit the border district and sell weapons illegally, they said.

He was held following a raid at a hotel here and police allegedly recovered three pistols and 18 cartridges from him.

During interrogation, the accused reportedly told police that he used to sell a pistol for anywhere between Rs 25,000 and Rs 50,000, and so far he had sold six pistols.

Pranab rules out rolling back fuel price hike

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Kolkata, July 04: The government today ruled out rolling back increase in fuel prices, even as Opposition NDA called for an all-India bandh on Monday to protest the price hike and rising inflation.

“No question of roll-back,” Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters on the sidelines of an Assocham function here, when asked whether the government could review its June 25 decision of raising prices of petroleum products.

IOC pipeline leaks, no threat to tribals

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Jaipur, July 04: Crude oil leaked from an IOC pipeline in the forested area of Rajasthan’s Sirohi district but there was no immediate threat to tribals living in nearby areas, police said today.

The leakage of crude oil from Kandla-Sirohi pipeline in Rohira village occurred last night and continued since then, they said adding efforts were on to plug it.

IOC officials and security personnel were trying hard to locate the exact place of leakage, SP (Sirohi) Singlaj Dan told PTI here by telephone.

12 cops injured in clash during eviction drive

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Cuttack (Orissa), July 04: At least 12 policemen were injured in a clash with slum dwellers during an eviction drive near S C B Medical College and Hospital here today.

An equal number of protesters, including CPI(M) leader and state ‘Basti Unnayan Maha Sangha’ President Subash Singh, were also hurt in the clash during which police lobbed teargas shells and resort to cane charge to quell the stone-pelting mob, police said.

Protestors hurled bricks at the police and attacked the government officials who had come to supervise the drive, they said.

Caller threatens to blow up metro stations

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New Delhi, July 04: An anonymous caller threatening to blow up two Metro stations, including at the busy Rajiv Chowk in the heart of Delhi, today triggered a scare in the National Capital Region, prompting authorities to step up security at these installations.

Security personnel, including dog squads and bomb disposal squads conducted checks for about 90 minutes after the call was received at the Noida Police Control Room at around 1:25 pm, a senior police official said, adding it turned out to be a hoax.

However, Metro services were not affected by the bomb scare.

Vijayasanthi submits reply to EC notice

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Hyderabad, July 04: TRS MP Vijayasanthi, who was arrested yesterday for allegedly making inflammatory statements on the Telangana issue and later released on bail, today submitted her reply to the Election Commission on its notice over her remarks.

“She has sent her reply to the Election Commission before the time given to her by this morning,” state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) I V Subba Rao told reporters here.

14 World Cups and counting for journalist David Miller!

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Cape Town, July 04: When a young football writer named David Miller made his World Cup debut alongside 17-year-old Brazilian wonder kid Pele, little did he know it was just the beginning of a long and eventful journey.

The year was 1958 when the world saw the emergence of Pele and Brazil lifted their maiden world title in Sweden.

Miller went on to see the rise of Pele and other football greats in his long career which is still to see its twilight and, at 77, is covering is 14th World Cup with an enviable zeal.

Bomb threat at Delhi metro station

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New Delhi, July 04: An anonymous caller Sunday telephoned the police and threatened to blow up the Uttar Nagar Metro station in west Delhi, prompting the authorities to beef up security in the capital, an official said.

“The call was made to Noida Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar Singh at 2.08 p.m. The caller said a bomb was planted at the Uttam Nagar metro station. The CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) guards at the station was alerted immediately,” a CISF spokesperson told IANS.

For Abhishek, Bipasha is his ‘sautan’

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New Delhi, July 04: Abhishek Bachchan, who pretended to play John Abraham’s lover in the hit comedy “Dostana”, not only calls Bipasha Basu his “sautan”, but also had a debate with the actress over the same topic on Twitter.

Bipasha joined the microblogging site Sunday and Abhishek welcomed her saying “@bipsluvurself please welcome my ‘sautan’ bipasha…. fyi John still likes me more! Haha.”

To which Bipasha replied, “Thank you for a warm welcome my dear sautan, and the cutest and the naughtiest co-star of mine.”

Foundation for YSR Memorial in September

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Hyderabad, July 04: The foundation stone for the YS Rajasekhara Reddy Memorial will be laid by chief minister K Rosaiah on September 2.

This was decided here today by the cabinet subcommittee appointed to oversee the construction of the memorial. Subcommittee members — municipal administration and urban development minister A Ramanarayana Reddy, information and public relations minister J Geetha Reddy, home minister Sabitha Reddy and health minister D Nagendar held discussions on Saturday.

Dengue arrives in Delhi

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New Delhi, July 04: Dengue has arrived in the capital, and well before its time. With two cases confirmed and some others being reported, the dengue virus-carrying mosquitoe’s bite is giving the administration worrying moments.

Officials say the heavy digging work around the city for the Commonwealth Games and accumulation of water at homes may be responsible for breeding of the Aedes mosquito earlier this year. Dengue usually hits the capital after the monsoon season, when the mosquitoes breed in stagnant water after the rains.

Two cases were reported in the last week of June.

HC stays criminal cases against KE Prabhakar

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Hyderabad, July 04: Justice Tamada Gopala Krishna of the High Court stayed two criminal cases initiated against Telugu Desam MLA KE Prabhakar.

The MLA from Papikonda in Kurnool questioned the action based on a complaint lodged by the divisional co-operative officer.

Reality shows kept me away from soaps: Apurva Agnihotri

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New Delhi, July 04: After staying away from soaps for a long time, popular TV actor Apurva Agnihotri, whose ultimate desire is to be a writer, makes a comeback with Star Plus’ “Sapna Babul Ka…Bidaai” and says reality show kept him away from serials.

“I think reality shows have spoilt the TV actors. They (reality shows) offer quick and easy money. So if you are popular on TV and want to earn good money, go for reality shows – that’s what most of the people are doing these days. And reality shows kept me away from soaps,” Apurva told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

Vijayashanti arrested amid high drama

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Hyderabad, July 04: Amid high drama, the police on Saturday arrested Telangana Rastha Samithi (TRS) MP from Medak Vijayashanti but within hours she was out on bail, of course after a brief stay in the Chanchalguda jail.

Congress MLA from Sangareddy T Jayaprakash Reddy too was arrested in connection with cases pertaining to violation of the model code of conduct and making inflammatory speeches as the Election Commission and the police started cracking the whip.

After making a vain effort to arrest the former actress yesterday, the city police arrested her in a filmi style today.

‘Lawyers, consultants must pay taxes on time’

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Hyderabad, July 04: Underlining the importance of paying taxes to the government on time to make the nation financially strong, Justice Anil Ramesh Dave of the Supreme Court has called upon all lawyers and tax practitioners to help the government by making their clients pay taxes and other dues.

Jaswant’s book is a closed issue: Gadkari

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New Delhi, July 04: BJP President Nitin Gadkari has termed as “closed” the issue of Jaswant Singh’s book praising Pakistan founder M A Jinnah and said return of leaders like him will strengthen the party.

“To add people to the party is going to strengthen it…

It is a good thing for the party,” Gadkari said when asked about return of leaders like Jaswant Singh and Ram Jethmalani to BJP.

On the former defence minister not apologising for writing the book praising Jinnah which had led to his expulsion ten months ago, Gadkari said, “These are old issues.

BJP leaders fan out to make bandh a success

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New Delhi, July 04: In an attempt to make tomorrow’s nation-wide strike against fuel price hike a success, BJP today decided to send its senior leaders out to various state capitals to lead demonstrations and protest marches.

According to the decision, party president Nitin Gadkari and Rajnath Singh will lead the protest in New Delhi.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj will lead a protest in Bhopal while Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley and vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi will do so in Lucknow.

Now, jam made from Diana’s hair

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London, July 04: A jam made from Princess Diana’s hair was sold out within days for five pounds (about $7) a pot.

Makers Bompas and Parr created the preserve for a surrealist exhibition at London’s Barbican.

The controversial conserve uses a “speck” of her hair purchased from a US dealer on eBay, the Daily Express reported on its website Sunday.

The jam could soon hit supermarket shelves after top retailers showed an interest in stocking it.

Heavy rain in T likely

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Hyderabad, July 04: Heavy rain has been forecast over many parts of Telangana, while Coastal Andhra Pradesh is likely to receive isolated rain in the next 24 hours.

Hyderabad Meteorological Department officials said a low pressure area had formed over the northwest Bay of Bengal near Orissa and under its influence moderate to heavy rain and thundershowers may occur at many places in Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal and Khammam in the Telangana region and Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam in Coastal Andhra.

Hyderabad police for bimonthly Lok Adalat

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Hyderabad, July 04: Hyderabad police would conduct Lok Adalat in the city once in two months to settle all pending cases, commissioner AK Khan told reporters here today after visiting the Lok Adalat organised jointly by the Hyderabad city police and the AP Legal Authority at Nampally court.

Be prepared for cyber war: Infosys

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Hyderabad, July 04: Is it time India braced itself for a cyber war? Well, looking at the potential threat posed by outside forces to invade the Indian cyber space time and again, experts say it definitely is.

“The safety and security of the country is at stake and it is time we remained vigilant” this was opined by none other than the CEO and MD of Infosys, S.Gopalkrishnan, referring to the increasing cyber attacks on the nation. He was delivering a lecture on ‘Future of IT in Modern Warfare in Context of Cyber Security’ at the College of Defence Management (CDM) here today.

Vodafone holds ‘Goal for Goal’

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Hyderbad, July 04: With the football fever griping the town, Vodafone has organised a special event, ‘Goal for Goal’, for the lovers of the game in the special football zones set up at GVK One and Prasad’s here.

The event attracted a good number of visitors, and youth and children were seen scoring a goal or two. Participants were given five penalty kicks and those who scored the maximum number of goals were given exciting goodies from Vodafone. The event will be on till July 11.

Petraeus takes command, vows victory in Afghan war

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Kabul, July 04: US General David Petraeus vowed victory over Taliban militants Sunday as he formally took command of NATO-led forces in a ceremony in Kabul.

“We must demonstrate to the people and to the Taliban that Afghan and ISAF forces are here to safeguard the Afghan people,” Petraeus said at the International Security Assistance Force headquarters.

“We are in this to win, that is our clear objective,” the new commander of 150,000 US and NATO forces said.