Month: September 2010

Israel to have its own ‘Air Force One’

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Jerusalem, September 06: Israeli finance ministry has issued a tender asking commercial airlines to design an advanced airplane having features similar to the Air Force One, the Boeing aircraft used to ferry the US President.

The new plane could either be exclusively designated for VIP transport; or a commercial plane which can be made available for state use at a moment’s notice; or a long-term lease with an airline that will configure one of its aircraft for state use within 72 hours, Xinhua reported citing local daily Yediot Aharonoth.

Iran not to renounce its nuclear rights

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Tehran, September 06: Iran will not bow to pressure meant to discourage the country from pursuing its nuclear rights, Iranian foreign ministry has said.

The ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast, referring to the latest sanctions by the UN Security Council (UNSC) against the Islamic Republic over its nuclear programme, said Iran does not “welcome sanctions or resolutions”, Press TV reported.

“The sanctions and resolutions are an illegal approach (to the issue) as our nation is being tried for a crime it has not committed,” Mehmanparast said in an interview with the IRIB Sunday.

Israeli scientists find HIV cure: Report

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Jerusalem, September 06: In a major breakthrough, Israeli scientists have developed a method that can wipe out HIV infected cells without affecting the healthy ones but it will be a while before it is available to the public, a medical journal says.

Although the researchers have registered an Israeli patent, the treatment must still go through trials on animals and humans, the latest edition of the British journal AIDS Research and Therapy says.

Ash bans Abhi-Kat pairing

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Mumbai, September 06: Is Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan advising hubby Abhishek against working with Katrina Kaif? The buzz seems to suggest as much.

Katrina’s refusal to do a role opposite Abhishek in The Italian Job apparently rubbed Ash the wrong way.Rumours doing the rounds in B-town have it that Ash is discouraging Abhishek from working in Karan Johar’s Dostana 2 , which also stars Katrina.

The reason? Katrina’s walking out of Abbas-Mustan’s remake of The Italian Job hasn’t gone down well with the Bachchans.

Failed relationships leave men more emotionally vulnerable

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New Delhi, September 06: Depression, mood swings and irritability – these symptoms are more visible in men when they break up with their girlfriends. The findings of a recent British survey has cleared the myth that young men are not stronger when it comes to coping with failed relationships.

“It is a fact that men don’t share their feelings with others because their cultural upbringing is like that. They keep it to themselves,” Narendra Kinger, clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, told IANS from Mumbai over phone.

Pakistan’s youth giving up Islam?

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Islamabad, September 06: A handful of Pakistani Muslim youths are beginning to question the existence of God and in the process giving up Islam to become atheists.

Still a small number, the trend seems to be telling of pressures that the image of militant Islam has had on them. A Facebook group has been floated for Pakistan’s agnostics and atheists by Hazrat NaKhuda, a former Pakistani Muslim.

US honours Mother Teresa with a stamp

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Washington, September 06: The United States has issued a postal stamp honouring Mother Teresa “the diminutive Roman Catholic nun and honorary US citizen who served the sick and destitute of India for nearly 50 years.”

Designed by award-winning artist Thomas Blackshear II, the 44-cent stamp was released Sunday, the 13th anniversary of Mother Teresa’s death, at a special ceremony held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC.

Maoists release three abducted Bihar policemen

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Patna, September 06: Maoist guerrillas released three Bihar policemen Monday, seven days after they were abducted from Lakhisarai district, state police chief Neelmani said here.

“The three policemen have been freed by the Maoists. They are safe and healthy. They will be sent to their respective homes soon,” he told reporters.

The three policemen – Abhay Prasad Yadav, Rupesh Kumar Sinha and Ehsan Khan – were found early Monday in Lakho Chak area of Lakhisarai district. They are now in police custody.

Eight killed in Pakistan blast

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Islamabad, September 06: At least eight people were killed and over 50 injured Monday in a suicide blast targeting a police station in Lakki Marwat, a town in Pakistan’s northwestern province.

A suicide bomber reportedly rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the rear wall of the police station Monday morning. There were more than 45 police officials present inside the police station at the time of the blast.

2,000 more troops for Afghan

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Washington, September 06: As many as 2,000 additional troopsmedia including a number of U.S. forcesmedia may be headed to Afghanistan in the coming weeks under a plan being proposed by Gen. David Petraeus, media has learned.

Petraeus has not commented publicly on the need for more troops, but a U.S. defense official and a senior NATO official directly familiar with his thinking and the entire matter have confirmed details to media.

The Petraeus proposal for more troops has been briefed to NATO officials behind closed doors.

Video recording in McDonald’s Toilet in mumbai

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Mumbai, September 06: A 30-year-old woman filed a police complaint on Saturday evening after she discovered a mobile phone in video recording mode placed over an air vent in a toilet at McDonald’s Ghodbunder Road outlet in Thane, reports.

The Thane cops are now looking for an attendant of the restaurant who went missing after the incident. This employee, identified by cops as Sachin Waghmare, 20, had stopped the woman from entering the toilet, asking her to wait a couple of minutes so that he could mop it clean.

Why does Disney hate parents?

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London, September 06: Last week, as the rain lashed outside, my daughter and I settled down for an afternoon of family nostalgia. The type that Walt Disney films excel at.

The kind that has given Disney a special position in our house. To us, the brand suggests a world of family values and bygone traditions. A place where, no matter the adversity faced, good WILL triumph over evil.

Disney films speak to our heart and embroider the lives of our children with a sense of security in an uncertain world.

“Saffron Terror” remarks, Sangh slams Chidambaram

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New Delhi, September 06: The RSS has slammed Home Minister P Chidambaram for his “saffron terror” remarks saying it has exposed the Congress’ strategy of votebank politics.

“It is a political conspiracy for votebank politics to place saffron before Islamic jehad sponsored by Pakistan which has killed thousands of people so far,” Sangh mouthpiece Panchjanya said in its latest issue.

The editorial said that by making the remarks at a conference of police chiefs recently, Chidambaram has only exposed the mentality of Congress.

40 lakh illiterate women made literate in Bihar

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Patna, September 06: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday said 40 lakh illiterate women were made literate under the ‘Mukhyamantri Akshar Anchal Yojana’ by two lakh teachers across the state.

While addressing a government function here on the occasion of Teachers’ Day, Kumar said these two lakh teachers would be given Rs 1000 and citation letter for their services.

No Air India flights for Haj this year

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New Delhi, September 06: For the first time ever, Air India may not operate any flights for the Haj this year it will only be the nodal agency for flights.

While an MoU is yet to be signed between the ministries of Civil Aviation and External Affairs, three Saudi airlines, including Saudi Arabian Airlines and NAS Air, have been selected by a process of “competitive bidding”.

Almost every Pak match is fixed

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Islamabad, September 06: The crisis surrounding Pakistan cricket deepened on Saturday when a teammate of the three players suspended on corruption charges reportedly claimed that players on his team have been fixing “almost every match.”

The News of the World newspaper’s Sunday edition quoted opening batsman Yasir Hameed as saying Pakistan players are throwing matches.

“They were doing it in almost every match,” Yasir was quoted as saying. “God knows what they were up to. Scotland Yard was after them for ages.

We will win the war in Kashmir’

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Srinagar, September 06: A little-known Kashmiri separatist leader is spurring stone-throwing protests against India with tactics such as YouTube recruitment videos and protest calendars published in local media, fostering protracted violence that is bedeviling New Delhi.

In an interview, the leader, Masarat Alam Bhat, 39 years old, said these protests would intensify after the Muslim holiday of Eid-ul-Fitr, which this year falls around Sept. 10, unless India offers major concessions to appease protesters who want Kashmir to be its own nation or part of Pakistan.

Status quo on Kashmir is only option not available to us: Omar

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Srinagar/New Delhi, September 05: With the Centre and Jammu and Kashmir government working on various options to address concerns of Kashmiris, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah feels that a firm action on issues like amending or phased- withdrawal of AFSPA and resumption of political dialogue is an immediate need.

Tension at OU campus, Telangana activists barge into exam hall

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Hyderabad, August 5: Tension prevailed at the Osmania University campus here today after scores of pro-Telangana activists barged into an examination centre where Group-I services preliminary tests were being conducted and allegedly snatched answer-sheets and question papers from candidates.

Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Umar Khatab killed in J&K

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Poonch, September 05: Militant outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Umar Khatab was killed and an army jawan wounded in a fierce gunbattle in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district today.

Khatab was killed in the gunfight with security forces in Bhatti-Dar area at Mendhar early this morning, Brigadier General Staff (BGS), 16 Coprs, S Dua told PTI. Acting on a specific information that some militants were hiding in Bhatti-Dar area, Rashtriya Rifles troops and police launched a search-and-cordon operation.

BJP again takes Ayodhya issue to high pitch

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Lucknow, September 05: The Ayodhya temple issue that helped the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) come to power in the past appears to be taking a dominant position once again with a meeting of the party’s Uttar Pradesh executive concluding Sunday by taking it to a high pitch.

Spelling out the BJP’s priority vis-a-vis the Ayodhya issue, party’s former president Rajnath Singh said: “The Ayodhya temple is bound to be a reality – come what may.”

His announcement during the valedictory address came amidst reverberating cries of “Jai Shri Ram”.

Dhoni wants harsh punishment for those guilty of fixing

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New Delhi, September 05: Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni Sunday called for harsh punishment for the Pakistani players if found guilty in the spot-fixing scandal.

Three Pakistani players — Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif — have been named for their involvement in spot-fixing in the fourth and last Test against England at Lords’.

Dhoni said the fixing allegation has brought disrepute to the game.

“Definitely harsh decisions need to be taken, otherwise soon people will start blaming the entire cricketing fraternity,” Dhoni told NDTV.

Jennifer Lopez has no time for herself

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London, September 05: Hollywood actress Jennifer Lopez has confessed she rarely gets any time to herself because she is always worrying about her family.

The singer-and-actress, who has two-year-old twins Max and Emme with husband Marc Anthony admits she is constantly worrying about her family and rarely gets time to indulge her own interests, reports contactmusic.com.

“I don’t really believe mothers have time for themselves. It’s always on your mind, even when you are trying to relax and get away – it’s just one of the absolute facts of being a mother,” she said.

Three Maoists arrested in West Bengal

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Kolkata, September 05: Three suspected Maoists were arrested and a local Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) worker was shot at in two separate incidents in West Bengal’s Bankura and West Midnapore districts Sunday, police said.

Three suspected Maoists were arrested from Bankura district’s Barikul area early Sunday in a search operation conducted by joint forces in the area. They were arrested from Barikul’s 1 Baro mile jungle area.

They were produced in the Khatra additional chief judicial magistrate’s court and remanded to jail custody for 14 days.

Inter-state fake note racket busted

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Keonjhar (Orissa), September 05: Police today claimed to have unearthed an inter-state counterfeit currency racket with the arrest of five persons and seizure of fake notes with the face value of Rs 76,000 in Keonjhar district of Orissa.

Fake notes of Rs 500 denomination, two motorbikes and a mobile phone were seized from the arrested men during a raid near the Harichandanpur railway station, police said.