Vidya Balan is a rabbit’s foot

Mumbai, October 02: Jaya Bachchan who considers Vidya to be lucky for ABCL. According to source When the two recently met at Shabana Azmi’s party they greeted each other warmly while Jaya Bachchan was also praise for the southern beauty who she spent a considerable amount of time chatting with.

AP govt to organise Bathukamma festival in Telangana

Hyderabad, October 02: The Andhra Pradesh government decided to organise the ‘Bathukamma’, a major festival in Telangana region.

The government would provide Rs one lakh to each of the 10 districts in Telangana, State Information and Tourism Minister J Geetha Reddy announced in Warangal.

The decision of the state government came against the backdrop of TRS President K Chandrasekhar Rao’s daughter K Kavitha’s decision to organise the ‘Bathukamma’ festival by involving one crore women.

Kavitha runs ‘Telangana Jagruti’ a cultural outfit’.

Babri Masjid demolition remains a criminal act: Chidambaram

New Delhi, October 02: Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Friday expressed satisfaction with the peaceful law and order situation across the country in the wake of the Allahabad High Court’s verdict in the Ayodhya dispute, saying people’s response to it was “respectful and dignified.”

Ayodhya verdict has a message of coexistence: Jamia VC

New Delhi, October 02: The “underlying message” in the Ayodhya verdict is that of coexistence, because India’s Muslims and Hindus have to live together and it is time for them to start praying together, Jamia Millia University Vice Chancellor Najeeb Jung says.

UN chief condemns Nigeria bombings

United Nations, October 02: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Friday condemned the bombings in Nigeria that left at least 14 people dead and assured the West African country of “unflinching support” in addressing the challenges confronting the most populous country in Africa.

A statement issued here by Ban’s spokesman, said: “The secretary-general condemns the car bombing today (Friday) near the venue of the National Day parade in (the capital) Abuja, which reportedly resulted in a number of deaths and destruction.”

25 Russians charged in US banking fraud

New York, October 02: Twenty-five Russians have been charged in a banking fraud case in the US, the attorney’s office for the southern district of New York said Friday.The Russians are believed to have been involved in a global cyber crime scheme that resulted in over $3 million being stolen from US bank accounts. Charges brought against them include conspiracy to commit bank fraud, money laundering and passport fraud.

37 die in Mexico mudslides

Mexico City, October 02: Thirty-seven people have died in mudslides in southern Mexico, authorities said Friday.

The southern mountainous states of Oaxaca and Chiapas have been hit by massive mudslides, triggered by heavy rains over the last few days, burying people and destroying homes. Three people are missing.

Roads were damaged, and electricity and potable water supplies have been badly hit.

At least 3,000 people have been left homeless in towns near the Oaxaca city.

Kapil Sibal, make higher education stress-free too!

New Delhi, October 02: When it comes to taking any decisions on the hallowed portals of engineering and management education, even a visionary and an overzealous human resource development minister like Kapil Sibal has to contend with the slow and time-consuming process of decision-making.

The need for de-stressing the transition from secondary schools to graduate programmes in engineering is something everyone agrees on. But the way to reduce multiplicity of exams has eluded the Council of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

Using poisoned mice to get rid of snakes!

New York, October 02: US authorities are trying to get rid of venomous snakes in its territory of Guam in the Pacific Ocean by “bombing” the island with poisoned mice.

Using helicopters from its Naval Base in Guam, scientists from the US department of agriculture have dropped mice packed with acetaminophen into the jungles in a ploy to rid Guam of its population of brown tree snakes, Fox News reported citing military news outlet Stars and Stripes.

Guam’s snake problem began in the 1980s, when the creatures arrived on the island accidentally in military cargo.

Chinese school donates fund for Pak flood victims

Islamabad, October 02: An elementary school in China organised a fund-raiser for collecting donations for the flood-hit people of Pakistan.

The principal of the school in Gongyi city in Henan province sent a cheque of 1,506 yuan ($220) to the Pakistani ambassador to China, Masood Khan, the Online news agency reported.

In a letter, the school principal said he was moved by Pakistan’s support and contributions for relief during the Sichuan earthquake.

33 killed in Indonesia train collision

Jakarta, October 02: At least 33 people were killed and a dozen injured early Saturday when two trains collided in Indonesia’s central Java province, officials said.

According to rescuers, three coaches were derailed and several passengers trapped in a coach which was badly damaged in the accident, Xinhua reported.

The incident occurred around 3 a.m. when train Argo Bromo Anggrek violated the traffic rule and hit the Bisnis Senja Jaya train in Petarukan town of Pemalang district, said Rindang Krisnoputro, a rescue official.

Pak sets up plant to produce cheap bread

Islamabad, October 02: Pakistan has set up a bread factory in Punjab province that would provide bread at a most economical price of Rs.2, a media report said.

The Sasti Roti Plant, established in Gujar Khan city in Punjab province, would provide bread at a cost of Rs.2, and has a capacity to produce approximately 1,000 bread in an hour, the Online news agency reported.

The poor people of the region would also be provided meals free of cost every Thursday, according to an official.

–IANS—

China offers free HIV tests

Beijing, October 02: Health centres in a Chinese province are now offering tests for HIV/AIDS free of charge in a bid to control the spread of the disease.

People in the northwestern Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region are also being offered free counselling, Xinhua reported.

Xinjiang reportedly has the fastest spread of the disease in the country, and authorities are now encouraging intravenous drug users, sex workers and those who have suffered other sexually transmitted infections to seek counselling.

Shia outfit announces aid to build Ram temple

New Delhi, October 02: Hussaini Tigers, an organisation of Shia youths, on Friday urged the All India Muslim Personal Law Board not to approach the Supreme Court against the Allahabad high court verdict on Ayodhya title suits and instead let the matter end here for good.

It also announced a financial aid of Rs 15 lakh for construction of the temple at the site. Criticising Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav and Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari for their criticism of the verdict, Shamsi termed them as ‘most unfortunate.’

Justice Sharma retires after delivering landmark verdict

Lucknow, October 01: Justice Dharam Veer Sharma, one of the three judges who gave their verdict in the 60-year-old Ayodhya title dispute, demitted office today.

Justice Sharma, who arrived at the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court in the afternoon, was given a warm farewell by members of the Oudh Bar Association at a small function in the evening.

Earlier, judges led by Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court F I Rebello, wished him good luck for the future at a brief function at the Judges Club.

Zaheer summoned after heated exchange with Ponting

Mohali, October 01: Sparks flew on the opening day of the first India-Australia cricket Test with Ricky Ponting and Zaheer Khan having a on-field showdown which prompted the match referee to summon the Indian pacer after the end of day’s play.

The incident occurred in the 42nd over which was being bowled by Harbhajan Singh.

All-rounder Shane Watson pushed the fourth ball of that over towards mid-wicket and called Ponting who was batting on 71 for a quick single.

Before the Australian skipper could make his ground, Suresh Raina’s direct throw hit the stumps.

More youths to be absorbed in Govt sector: Omar

Srinagar, October 01: Describing unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir as the “biggest challenge”, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said efforts were on to engage maximum number of youths in the government sector.

“My government is endeavouring to engage more and more youths in the government sector besides working for expanding employment generation orbit as a whole,” Omar said while responding to a question in the Legislative Council.

He said unemployment in the state was a big challenge and the legislature and government were equally concerned about it.

US dollar ends sharply cheaper against Rupee

Mumbai, October 01: The US dollar ended sharply cheaper against the Rupee at Rs 44.47/48 per dollar and the Pound Sterling also finished lower at Rs 70.41/43 per pound at the close of the Interbank Foreign Exchange Market (FOREX) here today.

The Following are the Interbank Forex and RBI rates:

(In Rupees Per Unit) UNIT INTERBANK RBI REFERENCE US Dollar 44.47/48 US Dollar RS.44.68 Pound Sterling 70.41/43 Euro RS.60.96 Euro 61.02/04 Japanese Yen (100) 53.

–Agencies

India has never supported Pakistan cricket: Afridi

Karachi, October 01: The Pakistan Cricket Board should stop relying on India or any other Asian nation for support and become self reliant in solving its problems, says the national team’s ODI and Twenty20 skipper Shahid Afridi.

Asked about the continued absence of the Pakistani national Twenty20 champions from the lucrative Champions League, the second edition of which concluded last week in Johannesburg, Afridi said India has never been supportive of Pakistan cricket.

Follow path of non-violence: Patil

New Delhi, October 01: Greeting the nation on the eve of the birth anniversary of Mahatama Gandhi, President Pratibha Patil Friday asked people to follow the path of truth and non-violence as preached by the apostle of peace.

“On the occasion of the Gandhi Jayanti let us take a pledge to follow the path of truth and non-violence and dedicate ourselves towards promoting peace, tolerance and harmony and work for the progress of the nation,” she said in a statement issued here.

Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated Oct 2 every year.

Sensex jumps 375 points on first day of October series

Mumbai, October 01: A benchmark index of Indian equities Friday rallied 375 points on the first day of the October futures series with buying activity evenly spread across scrips of all sizes.

Realty, metal, consumer durable and IT stocks saw bulk of the buying. All 13 sectorals on the the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) were in the green.

The BSE’s 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) which opened at 20,094.1 points, closed at 20,445.04 points, up 375.92 points or 1.87 percent, from its previous close at 20,069.12 points.

Laden concerned by climate & Pak floods: audiotape

Dubai, October 01: Osama bin Laden has expressed concern about global climate change and flooding in Pakistan, in an audiotape aired on the Internet, his first public remarks since March, a monitoring group said today.

“The number of victims caused by climate change is very big… bigger than the victims of wars,” said the voice, whose authenticity could not be immediately verified and was made available by SITE Intelligence Group.

The tape would be the first time Bin Laden has spoken publicly since March 25.

Kanchi seer welcomes HC order, Jama Masjid Imam flays

New Delhi, October 01: Kanchi Seer Jayendra Saraswati today welcomed the Allahabad High Court judgement on Ayodhya title suits saying it would bring communal amity while the chief cleric of Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari today termed it as “unaccpetable”.

Jayendra Saraswati said the court ruling has paved the way for a negotiated settlement of the issue but the Shahi Imam said “we cannot accept a decision made in a closed room”.

Ayodhya judgement vindicated BJP’s stand: Naidu

Hyderabad, October 01: Welcoming the Allahabad High Court’s judgement on Ayodhya, senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu today asserted that the judgement “vindicated the party’s stand that Ayodhya was birthplace of lord Rama.”

“The party’s stand was vindicated and accepted by judicial authority and there was no need for further dispute on the issue,” the BJP leader told reporters here.

The people of the country received the verdict with maturity, Naidu said, adding the judgement was a permission to built Ram temple at Ayodhya.

Ansari to lead India at ASEM Summit in Brussels

New Delhi, October 01: Financial and economic governance, sustainable development and people-to-people contact would be the core themes in the two-day Asia-Europe summit meeting in Brussels to be attended by Vice President Md Hamid Ansari next week.

The Vice President would be accompanied by his wife Salma Ansari and senior officials from his office and the Ministry of External Affairs.