United Nations, July 03: With an Indian woman minister presiding, the UN General Assembly has unanimously approved the establishment of a single UN entity to promote equality for women.
The resolution adopted by consensus by the 192-member world body will put four existing UN bodies dealing with the advancement of women under a single umbrella that will be known as “UN Women.”
Los Angeles, July 03: American scientists have created HIV-resistant cells that could one day pave the way for controlling the virus without using harsh anti-retroviral drugs.
Scientists at the Keck School of Medicine, at the University of Southern California, used mice to test the cells that target one of the two “gateway” molecules that the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) uses to enter human cells, Meghan Lewit, spokeswoman for the team of researchers, said.
Mumbai, July 03: Mohammed Javed Shaikh, the 19 year old arrested for raping and killing nine-year-old Nusrat Shaikh, and are yet to be released. After four youth from Kasaiwada in Nehru Nagar were picked up for questioning by the police in the last two days in connection with the rape-murders in the area, residents fear one of their kin will be next.
The families of these youth claim that they have been detained on the flimsy grounds of being friends of Mohammed Javed Shaikh.
New Delhi, July 03: A 24-year-old man was arrested Friday for making a hoax call to police claiming bombs had been placed in the historic Jama Masjid here.
Vishal was arrested from Muzaffarnagar district in Uttar Pradesh, a police officer said.
“He called the police control room today at 8.57 p.m. claiming a bomb was planted in Jama Masjid and it will explode by 11. The call created a panic like situation but we concluded it a hoax,” the official said.
Vishal, a post-graudate in Sanskrit, later told his interrogators that he made the call because he wanted to enjoy some fun.
Belgrade, July 03: Suspected Kosovo Albanian hackers attacked the website of Serbia’s state-run Radio Television Serbia (RTS) and uploaded headlines and bylines related to Kosovo, a media report said.
The hackers gained access to the website thrice Friday evening, twice during news reports pertaining to Kosovo and a third time when the recent diplomatic activities of Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic were reported, Serbian news agency Tanjug said in a statement.
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Hyderabad, July 03 (Zahed Farooqui): Islamic apologist and writer Zakir Abdul Karim Naik is a public speaker on the subject of Islam and other comparative religion. His lectures directed towards removing misconceptions about Islam.
A medical doctor by profession, Naik has done Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) from the University of Mumbai.
London, July 03:Scientists have discovered new genes that can indicate with incredible accuracy who is most likely to live beyond the age of 100.
The team from Boston University, US, identified a group of genetic variants that can predict exceptional longevity in humans with 77 percent accuracy. They claim to have identified 150 bits of DNA common to people who have lived to a very old age.
The scientists believe the information could be used in younger people to customise treatment and prevent life-threatening diseases.
London, July 02: Hollywood star Angelina Jolie is training her eldest daughter Shiloh to be a pilot and recently took her along on a flight lesson.
The Academy Award winning actress, who has six children with partner Brad Pitt, sat in the pilot’s seat, while the four-year-old was strapped into a safety seat in the back of the tiny plane, reported Daily Mail online.
The 35-year-old actress who received her pilot’s licence in 2005, has already promised Shiloh lessons of her own.
Srinagar, July 02: Accusing main opposition PDP of being involved in instigating stone-pelting, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today warned “perpetuators, instigators and facilitators” of violence that they would be sternly dealt with.
Terming this as one of the testing times of his Chief Ministership, 40-year-old Omar said he had his fingers crossed and was making every attempt administratively and politically to prevent any further loss of life.
New Delhi, July 02: With the Group of Ministers starting work on the issue of inclusion of caste in the census process, Congress today preferred to reserve its comments till the high-powered panel seeks the party’s views on the matter.
“The matter is being discussed by the GoM. They have apparently decided to elicit the opinion of political parties.
When the GoM approaches us for our opinion, we will articulate it,” party spokesman Manish Tewari said.
Mumbai, July 02: Actor-filmmaker Aamir Khan is so impressed with first-time director Anusha Rizvi, who wielded the megaphone for his forthcoming production “Peepli Live”, that he claims she will give complex to many established directors.
“Not only she has written a great script, I was shocked to see how beautifully she has made the film. It’s a very complicated story with many layers and bringing it to the celluloid was a very difficult job,” said Aamir.
Mumbai, July 02: Ranbir Kapoor, who was seen as a scheming politician in “Raajneeti”, brought Prakash Jha and Nana Patekar together after their public fallout.
Apparently Ranbir, who got along like a house on fire with Nana during the shooting of “Raajneeti” in Bhopal, didn’t relish the uneasy silence between the two veterans. He decided to end the cold war between them when on an impulse, he dialed Nana’s number from Kong Kong where he had gone with Jha for a “Raajneeti” event.
When Nana answered the phone, Ranbir quickly handed it over to Jha.
New Delhi, July 02: India Friday strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Lahore that killed 42 people in a Sufi shrine.
“The government strongly condemns the terrorist attacks on Data Darbar in Lahore and expresses sympathies to the families of the bereaved,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash said here.
At least 42 people were killed and 175 injured as synchronised suicide bombings ripped through the Data Ganj Baksh shrine when it was packed with worshippers gathered for the traditional Thursday prayers.
–Agencies
New Delhi, July 02: The Delhi High Court Friday dismissed the plea of a retired Director of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) seeking a direction to the agency to disclose information under the RTI Act.
Justice S. Muralidhar dismissed the plea of Brig (Retd) Ujjal Dasgupta, a former official of the intelligence agency, who was arrested for allegedly leaking sensitive information to a CIA agent.
Toronto, July 02: Actress Olivia Wilde has been declared the World’s Sexiest Vegetarian by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
The “House” star beat singer Leona Lewis, who took the slot in 2008 and 2009. Wilde says she’s delighted.
In a post on her blog, she wrote: “I am really honoured, and very inspired to continue living the vegan lifestyle that has been so good to my body, my animal friends, and the world we live in.”
–Agencies
Meerut, Jul 02: Two brothers allegedly strangulated to death their mother and sister, whom they suspected to be involved in an illicit relationship, police said today.
Rizwan, a relative, lodged a complaint with the police last month that the two women members of the family were missing, police said.
According to police, the two accused, Shadab and Meraz, strangulated to death their mother and married sister Gulnaz and dumped their bodies in a canal.
New Delhi, July 02: The issue of fuel price hike has brought almost the entire opposition together with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance and Left parties giving a call for a nation-wide strike on July 5 demanding a rollback.
All essential services like supply of water, milk, electricity, hospital and emergency services will be exempt from the ‘hartal’.
Mumbai, July 02: The Indian rupee dipped by 18 paise to 46.76/77 against the US dollar today amid weak domestic equity markets and late dollar demand from banks and corporates.
At the Interbank Foreign Exchange market, the domestic unit opened slightly better at 46.53/54 from its previous close of 46.58/59 and improved further to 46.50 on the back of initial dollar selling by exporters.
The rupee had resumed higher on dollar selling by banks on the back of an overnight fall in New York market after data showed that US jobless claims rose and pending home sales plunged.
New Delhi, July 02: Congress today downplayed suggestions that Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar should reduce his responsibilities in the wake of his taking over as the International Cricket Council (ICC) President.
“If you have the passion, you can always find time,” said party spokesperson Manish Tewari in reply to a number of questions on the issue.
69-year-old Pawar will now have to shoulder twin responsibilities of being a minister and ICC President.
The veteran politician maintained that he would be able to handle them with a little help from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Lucknow, July 02:Opposition parties today accused UP Chief Minister Mayawati of trying to push her political agenda by naming after dalit icon Shahuji Maharaj the new district carved out of Rahul Gandhi’s Lok Sabha constituency Amethi.
Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi said that it would have been better had the district been named Amethi as the area is identified by this name the world over.
Chandigarh, July 02: Haryana government has made an offer to the ace badminton player Saina Nehwal, who recently won a hat-trick of international titles, the job of deputy superintendent of police (DSP).
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has made this offer in a letter written to Saina.
Hooda had written that Haryana had been rewarding outstanding sportspersons who had made a mark at national and international level and had appointed them directly at the level of DSP.
Raipur, July 02: Top CRPF and Chhattisgarh police officers today visited the ambush site in Narayanpur district where 27 personnel of the central force were killed by Naxals.
CRPF chief Vikram Srivastava along with senior officials of the state police and the Union Home Ministry also talked to the villagers near the Daurai road area to understand the sequence of events that led to the deadly ambush.
The officials met the troops of the 39th Battalion that had come under the Maoist attack in the afternoon of June 29 and had alerted their base camp about the incident.
New Delhi, July 02: If you relish eating mango then this is one festival you should not miss.
The annual Mango Festival showcasing over 400 varieties of the fruit was today inaugurated by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit at the Pitampura Dilli Haat here.
Mango cultivators from across the country, particularly from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Punjab are participating in the three-day festival.
“The Mango festival is popular all across the world.
Raipur, July 02: Top CRPF and Chhattisgarh police officers today visited the ambush site in Narayanpur district where 27 personnel of the central force were killed by Naxals.
CRPF chief Vikram Srivastava along with senior officials of the state police and the Union Home Ministry also talked to the villagers near the Daurai road area to understand the sequence of events that led to the deadly ambush.
The officials met the troops of the 39th Battalion that had come under the Maoist attack in the afternoon of June 29 and had alerted their base camp about the incident.