Month: October 2010

US travel alert on terrorist threat in Europe

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Washington, October 03: Authorities in the US Sunday warned its citizens of the potential threat of terrorist attacks in Europe.

There was information to suggest that Al Qaeda and affiliated organisations were planning such attacks, the US State Department said in the travel alert.

“Terrorists may elect to use a variety of means and weapons to target both official and private interests,” according to the alert.

The State Department also noted “the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems and other tourist infrastructure”.

Meira Kumar to attend Geneva meet

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New Delhi, October 03: An Indian parliamentary delegation led by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar will attend the 123rd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in Geneva from Monday, a statement said Sunday.

The delegation leaves for Switzerland Sunday night, said a parliament official.

The meeting will focus on preventing electoral violence and ensuring smooth transition of power, management of natural resources, agricultural production and demographic change and transparency and accountability in political party funding.

CWG gets off to breathtaking start

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New Delhi, October 03: Watched by millions across the globe, the 19th Commonwealth Games got off to a spectacular start here Sunday evening amid traditional Indian music and a burst of colour at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in the heart of the city.

Britain’s Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Indian President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh watched as 1,000 drummers stirred up a thumping beat.

After the national anthem was sung, the opening act, Rhythm of India, set the mood for the much awaited sports event with electrifying energy.

Bangladesh would not send troops to Afghanistan: Hasina

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Dhaka, October 03: Bangladesh has made it clear it will not send its troops to Afghanistan while refuting reports that the US had requested the country to contribute soldiers to the war-torn nation.

“Bangladesh will not send soldiers to Afghanistan,” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told a meeting of ruling Awami League’s advisory council late on Saturday, according to the ‘Samakal’ newspaper.

Google has 35 mn Indian SMEs on its radar

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Kolkata, October 03: Having already doubled its small and medium enterprise (SME) customer base in India within a year, global Internet search giant Google is now aggressively trying to reach out to the entire sector for online advertising.

India has an estimated 35 million SMEs, out of which only about 200,000 have an online presence through domains, sub-domains and blogs.

“We plan to reach out to all of them, as well as educate the ones who are not online, on the benefits of online advertising,” Google Asia-Pacific Head (Online Sales and Operations) Aliza Knox said.

Special assembly session November to discuss scams: Yeddyurappa

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Bangalore, October 03: A three-day special session of the Karnataka legislature will be held in the first week of November to discuss all issues, including a series of scams that have been rocking the state over the past 10 years, Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa said Sunday.

“I am requesting the legislative assembly speaker to convene a three-day special session of the house in the first week of November for a detailed discussion on various scandals, which are said to have happened in the past 10 years,” Yeddyurappa told reporters here.

AP CM asks media to exercise self-regulation

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Hyderabad, October 03: Observing that sensationalism has crept into the media, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Sunday underscored the need for the fourth estate to exercise self-regulation and maintain high standards of professionalism and ethics.

“News is sacred. News and interpretation should not be mixed. The news appearing in newspapers and TV channels have a profound impact on the society. These days, we often see sensational, inaccurate and biased news being carried. Media should exercise self-regulation,” he said.

Shabana Azmi lends support to ‘Ek Jodi Kapda’ campaign

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Mumbai, October 03: Veteran actress and social activist Shabana Azmi Sunday lent her support to the ‘Ek Jodi Kapda’ campaign by donating clothes here.

NGO Goonj joined hands with Whirlpool India for the campaign which highlights the basic need of clothing among the masses.

Azmi urged the people to support the cause and donate clothes. “When we talk of roti, kapda aur makaan (food, clothing and shelter) we often just mean food and shelter. Need for clothing takes a backseat,” she said.

Two PCPA members handed over to police

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Jhargram (WB), October 03: Two PCPA members were caught by villagers and handed over to the police in West Midnapore district, a senior police officer said today.

ASP (Jhargram) Mukesh Kumar said People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCPA) members went to Balidiha village to hold a meeting last night.

Villagers were told to attend the meeting but they attacked the PCPA members forcing them to flee, he said, adding Navin Soren and Karan Hembran were caught and kept confined in a village school.

TRS demands fresh bids for highway work

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Hyderabad, October 03: Alleging that the four-laning work being carried out on Rajiv Rahadari (road) were substandard, TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao today demanded that Andhra Pradesh government invite fresh bids for the projects.

“Accidents have been taking place frequently on Rajiv Rahadari. That’s why four-laning is being taken up. But people told us that the works are substandard. More over, there are no bypass roads or underpass roads. So, how is the four-laning going to help,” he told reporters.

VSIT offers b.tech/mba seats without fee

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Hyderabad, October 03: The Management of Vishnu Sree Institute of Technology ( affiliated to JNTU) has resolved to extend a Special Offer of granting admission in to B.Tech and MBA courses, free of cost without tuition fees, to the students falling under certain categories.

Though the students have expected fee reimbursement, the state government could not exercise their options during EAMCET counseling due to many technical and technical reasons.

Free coaching for muslim candidates

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Hyderabad, Oct.3: Hamdard Study Circle, New Delhi is offering free coaching for eligible Muslim students for Civil Services-2011.

An entrance test will be held for the applicants in November 2010. AP students can opt Hyderabad as test centre. The last date for submission of application is October 11. Candidates can have the application cum-prospectus by paying Rs. 75 at MESCO education & Career Guidance Centre, Darulshifa

Pomegranate juice helps get rid of paunch

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London, October 03: It can help prevent cancer, is good for your heart and can even boost your sex life. Now, scientists believe that pomegranate juice has the power to reduce the fat around the stomach – the ‘spare tyre’ in men or the ‘muffin top’ in women.

After just one month, volunteers who consumed a bottle of pomegranate juice daily were found to be less likely to develop fatty cells around their abdomen.

They also had much lower blood pressure, therefore reducing the risk of heart attacks, strokes and kidney disease, reports the Daily Mail.

Kalyan writes to PM on 67-acre land in Ayodhya

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Lucknow, October 03: Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh today demanded that the Centre give the 67-acre land acquired by it for construction of Ram Temple there.

“There is no dispute over 67 acre land acquired by the Centre in Ayodhya therefore it should be given for the construction of a grand temple of Ram,” Kalyan, who was the Chief Minister when Babar Masjid was demolished in 1992, told reporters here.

“I have written a letter to the Prime Minister today in this regard,” he said.

Iran arrests ‘nuclear spies’

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London, October 03: Iran has arrested several “spies” who were involved in an attempt to sabotage the country’s nuclear programme, said Iranian intelligence minister Heydar Moslehi.

The arrest followed an attack on Iran’s industrial computer network by a software bug Stuxnet that targeted Iranian nuclear facilities, including its main Bushehr power plant, British newspaper The Guardian reported Sunday.

No free entry to Taj for CWG visitors

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Agra, October 03: Commonwealth Games athletes and officials visiting the Taj Mahal here have not been exempted from buying entrance tickets, an official said.

“The railways catering corporation has made the arrangements. They will buy the tickets in advance and give these to the visitors. Visitors from SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) nations will have to pay Rs.550 while other foreign tourists will have to pay Rs.750,” Shamshuddin, president of the Agra Guides Association, told IANS.

Israeli police kill Palestinian in E. Jerusalem

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Gaza, October 03: Israeli paramilitary border police killed a Palestinian who violently resisted arrest on Sunday after entering East Jerusalem from the occupied West Bank without a permit, a police spokesman said.

The 37-year-old man, a resident of the West Bank city of Hebron, was shot while trying to grab a policeman’s pistol in the confrontation before dawn, the spokesman said.

An Israeli human rights group said the man appeared to have been killed after he first tried to flee.

Lalu favourite target in Bihar campaigning

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New Delhi, October 03: RJD chief Lalu Prasad is the favourite punching bag in the campaigning for Bihar assembly elections.

The man who changed the rules of the game in the state for 15 long years but failed in the last assembly elections is at the centre of attacks and counterattacks.

In the run-up to the polls, his detractors are reminding people against the return of the “jungle raj”.

BJP serves cyber fraud notice to Congress

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New Delhi, October 03: It is a minor political war in cyber space. An angry Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged that the Congress party “bought” a website mimicking the BJP’s own which re-directed all hits to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) site. The BJP has served a legal notice, an official said on Sunday.

“Yes, we have served a legal notice,” a BJP official said.

Maoist suspect in Lakhisarai gun-battle held

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Lakhisarai, October 03: A suspected Maoist, who was allegedly involved in an encounter with police here on August 29 in which seven policemen were killed has been arrested, police said today. Director General of Police, Neelmani today said the arrested Maoist, identified as Bechan Das, admitted his involvement in the encounter near Ramtalnagar village during interrogation.

The ultras had also abducted four policemen following the August 29 gunbattle. Later they released three personnel while killing one.

Lalu favourite target in Bihar campaigning

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New Delhi, October 03: RJD chief Lalu Prasad is the favourite punching bag in the campaigning for Bihar assembly elections.

The man who changed the rules of the game in the state for 15 long years but failed in the last assembly elections is at the centre of attacks and counterattacks.

In the run-up to the polls, his detractors are reminding people against the return of the “jungle raj”.

Where have the beggars in Delhi gone?

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New Delhi, October 03: Beggars in the national capital have done the vanishing act! Almost all roads and temples complexes are now looking beggar-free and hawkers selling balloons, magazines, pens and cheap accessories at traffic signals have also quietly disappeared overnight without explanation.

While human rights activists and NGOs have blamed the Delhi government for forcing hundreds of beggars to leave the city or remain invisible till the Commonwealth Games are over, state officials have denied such allegations.

Hindus chant to Muslim beats in Himachal temples

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Shimla, October 03: As the priest begins to chant the sacred mantras for the daily religious ritual, a group of Muslim musicians quietly joins in, playing the traditional drums, shehnai and trumpets.

This scene from a Himachal Pradesh temple, and common in many of the state’s prominent temples, is an effortless syncretic way of existence that has become part of the social fabric for generations.

Nawaz Sharif ‘brainless’, says Musharraf

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Islamabad, October 03: Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, who launched his own party in London Friday to contest the 2013 elections in Pakistan, says former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is “totally brainless” and had failed to deliver on the two occasions he was elected.

Musharraf, who seized power from Sharif in a bloodless coup in 1999, said at a rally in Britain Saturday, “I worked with him for an entire year and noticed that Nawaz Sharif is totally brainless.”