Month: January 2011

Slain Indian-origin woman’s husband faces murder charge

by

Wellington, January 29: The husband of an Indian-origin woman, who was burned to death in New Zealand last week, has been charged with killing his wife and was presented before a court Saturday, Radio New Zealand reported.Twentynine-year-old Diwesh Sharma, a postal worker from Manukau, is accused of killing his wife Ranjeeta, 28.

Diwesh’s wife was found dead on the side of the road Jan 20 in Huntly, a town in the Waikato region of the North Island in New Zealand.

You have to do roles that suit your age: Raveena

by

Mumbai, January 29: Raveena Tandon, who has been away from the big screen for nearly five years, promises to make a comeback soon but says she will only accept something that suits her age.”I am gradually going through scripts and you will soon see me back in movies. I am looking for something challenging and interesting. Not something that the actresses are doing today as it will not suit me,” Raveena, 36, told IANS on phone from Mumbai.

China’s ‘microblog queen’ has 5 mn fans

by

Beijing, January 29: Chinese television star Yao Chen has been named the “microblog queen” for having more than five million followers on the country’s popular Twitter-like online social microblogging website.Yao had five million fans on her microblog t.sina.com.cn/yaochen Friday afternoon, and the number grew by another 3,744 in the following one and a half hours, Xinhua reported.

The 32-year-old actress rocketed to fame in 2006 for her role in the popular sitcom “My Own Swordsman”. She also starred in a successful television series “Lurk screened” in 2008.

Kiran should quit as he admitted

by

to have helped Jagan from murder charge: Naidu
Hyderabad, January 29:The Telugu Desam party chief and former chief minister, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, has demanded that the Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, should step down as he had himself admitted that he strove to extricate Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy, former MP and son of the late chief minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy from a murder case.

Rachchabanda a police programme, says Dattatreya

by

Hyderabad, January 29: The State BJP has demanded that the Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, to prove his majority in the Assembly. The Chief Minister was trying to gain confidence of the people from the ongoing ‘Rachchabanda’ programme, he alleged.

Iran’s nuclear plant to begin production in April

by

Tehran, January 29:Iran’s first nuclear reactor built in the southern city of Bushehr will be connected to the country’s electricity generation network by April, Iranian nuclear authority has said.

The plant has already become operational and is set to move to the next phase, Press TV quoted the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation (AEOI), Ali Akbar Salehi, as having said in an interview to ISNA news agency.

“We have repeatedly announced that for us launching a safe Bushehr plant is more significant than launching it quickly,” Salehi said.

Aligarh Muslim University on Saffron terrorism Target

by

The twists and turns in the Malegaon blasts case should serve as a wake-up call for Indian authorities to think about how they deal with Hindu extremists.

The vice-chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University has written to the Indian government to provide protection to his campus. He was reacting to the news that a group of Hindu extremists have planned to target the university.

Digvijay Singh demands white paper on Hindu terror network

by

New Delhi,January 29:The Congress and Left parties in the capital on Friday backed demands by non-governmental organisations to release a “white paper” on the number of Muslim youth arrested and detained on charges of terrorism over the past few years. These demands were made as families of the victims gathered at a day-long national meet organised by NGO Anhad and related chilling stories of detention, arrests, torture, trial by media and the callous behaviour of the Indian judiciary.

Two killed, including toddler, in accidents

by

New Delhi, January 29:Two people, including a toddler, were crushed to death by speeding trucks in different incidents in the capital, police said Friday.

A 45-year-old motorcyclist was hit by a truck in Sarojini Nagar in south Delhi at around 10 a.m.

Rajesh was a resident of Kidwai Nagar. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead.

In another incident, a year old boy was killed by a truck in Narela area of north district Thursday.

Man killed over argument

by

New Delhi, January 29:In another case of murder over an argument, a man was beaten and strangulated to death by his friends while drinking inside a park in Pitampura here, police said Friday.

Shripal, 40, was a resident of Keshav Puram area who worked in a private company in Pitampura, north Delhi.

“The matter was reported Wednesday evening after a passerby saw Shripal lying inside a park. Police rushed him to Mahavir Hospital where he was pronounced dead,” an officer said.

Truck rams 10 vehicles, eight people killed

by

Hyderabad, January 29:In a ghastly accident, a truck spun out of control and hit 10 vehicles, crushing eight people to death at Nagole on the outskirts of Hyderabad Friday night, police said.

The truck hit a van, an auto-rickshaw and eight two-wheelers. Twenty people were injured in the accident.

The injured were admitted to various hospitals and the condition of 10 is stated to be critical.

Josh Duhamel, Ryan Seacrest in ‘New Year’s Eve’?

by

Los Angeles, January 29:Actor Josh Duhamel and TV host Ryan Seacrest are the latest celebrities to join the star-studded cast of upcoming film “New Year’s Eve”.

Duhamel is reportedly in talks to play “a hopeless romantic who spends the day trying to get to New York in the hope of getting to a party in order to re-meet a mystery girl from the previous year,” reports aceshowbiz.com.

On the other hand “American Idol” host Seacrest would only make a cameo appearance and portray himself. The “New Year’s Eve” is the sequel of hit film, “Valentine’s Day”.

South Korea beat Uzbekistan to come third at Asian Cup

by

Doha, January 29:South Korea finished third at the Asian Cup after beating Uzbekistan 3-2 in a play-off Friday.

The victory in front of 8,000 spectators in the Al-Sadd Stadium sees the South Koreans qualify directly for the 2015 edition in Australia.

The 2010 World Cup finalists opened up a three-goal lead within the first 40 minutes from Koo Ja Cheol and a brace by Ji Dong Won, but then had to endure some anxious moments after Alexander Geynrikh pulled two back shortly before and after the break.

Two held for duping girls via matrimonial ads

by

New Delhi, January 29:Two men were arrested in Delhi for duping money from girls on the pretext of marriage after contacting them through matrimonial advertisements, police said.

Ashish Shankar, 31, was arrested for taking Rs. 3.49 lakh from a girl for making arrangements for their marriage after both came in contact through a matrimonial advertisement published in a newspaper by girl’s family living in East Delhi’s Pandav Nagar area, said Ashok Chand, the Deputy Commissioner of Police.

Two allege beating by cop at police station

by

New Delhi, January 29 : Two youth who had gone to their local police station in north Delhi after a dispute alleged they were beaten up by the additional station house officer. Police dismissed the claim.

Deepak and his brother Karan have alleged that Kunwar Singh Yadav of Shalimar Bagh police station was under the influence of alcohol and did not like when they sorted out their dispute with the person concerned.

During questioning at the police station, Deepak claimed that Yadav beat up him and his brother Karan who was accompanying him.

Waste-pickers’ views will be reflected in policy: Ramesh

by

Ahmedabad, January 29: Waste-pickers’ views will be taken while drafting policy on waste disposal, union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh said Friday.

Inaugurating the first-ever national conference of waste pickers, organised under the aegis of Alliance of Indian Waste-Pickers (AIW), at Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), Ramesh said his department will take into consideration the representation by SEWA and AIW in drafting the four policies – municipal solid waste management policy, e-waste management policy, plastic waste management policy and Environment policy.

Dame Judi Dench to return as James Bond’s boss

by

London, January 29: Actress Dame Judi Dench is returning as British super spy James Bond’s boss in the 23rd film of the franchise.

The veteran star has played Bond’s boss in “Golden Eye”, “Tomorrow Never Dies”, “Die Another Day”, “Casino Royale” and “Quantum of Solace”.

“I’m looking forward hugely to working with Daniel (Craig) again and with (director) Sam Mendes, who I’ve only ever worked with in the theatre,” dailystar.co.uk quoted her as saying.

The new Bond film is expected to go into production later this year and will hit cinemas in November, 2012.

Cyclone Wilma lashes New Zealand, brings floods, landslides

by

Wellington, January 29:Tropical cyclone Wilma lashed the top of New Zealand early Saturday, bringing widespread flooding and landslides which cut highways and power blackouts.

The fire service in Auckland, the country’s largest city, reported more than 400 emergency calls in the 11 hours to dawn, including one after a cliffside house collapsed onto a beach on Waiheke Island.

Two people were reported stuck up trees for more than four hours as rescuers battled floodwaters to try to reach them.

Jackson’s hand, signature imprint up for grabs

by

London, January 29:A concrete slab with an imprint of late Michael Jackson’s hands, feet and signature is set to go under the hammer in Los Angeles next month.

The King of Pop made the impression back in 1984 for a Las Vegas Walk of Fame project which never came to fruition, reports dailystar.co.uk.

The 170-kg cement block, which has been dubbed the “Broken Heart Stone” because of a crack running through a heart shape on Jackson’s left palm print, was discovered in the basement of the Riviera Hotel in 2006.

The slab is expected to fetch over $106,095.

—-IANS

Watts to star in John Edgar Hoover’s biopic

by

Watts to star in John Edgar Hoover’s biopic

London, January 29:Actress Naomi Watts has been roped in to star alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in John Edgar Hoover biopic “J. Edgar”.

Hoover was the first Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the US and was an instrumental figure in forming the unit in 1935. He led the FBI investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Drunken video brought me closer to kids: Hasselhoff

by

London, January 29:Actor David Hasselhoff has revealed that his infamous drunken video tape has helped him come closer to his daughters.

The “Baywatch” star hit headlines in 2007 when a film of him trying to eat a burger on the floor of his Las Vegas hotel room leaked on the internet.

In the clip, his then-teenaged daughter Taylor-Ann, who shot the video, could be heard saying, “Tell me you are going to stop, tell me you are going to stop”.

Mubarak fires ministers, appeals for calm

by

Cairo, January 29: Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak in the early hours of Saturday ordered the existing government and ministers to step down and promised a new leadership.

Mubarak was making his first address to his nation since anti-government protests erupted this week, appealing for calm and promising reform. But protests continued in the country even as he made his address, with some calling for the president’s ouster.

Price, Reid communicating only via text messages

by

London, January 29:Former model Katie Price and her estranged husband Alex Reid are reportedly communicating only by text messages, despite living together.

“Kate and Alex really haven’t spoken for several weeks. They’re like total strangers,” femalefirst.co.uk quoted a source as saying.

“They are living in separate sections of the house although they are forced to share communal areas like the kitchen.

Cheryl Cole’s tattoo represents fresh start

by

London, January 29:Singer Cheryl Cole says her new tattoo marks a sign of “fresh start” in her life after her split from soccer player Ashley Cole.

She also revealed that the inking on her lower back which is a butterfly now, took 11 hours to complete.

“The tattoo is deeply personal. It took weeks to come up with the final design. It has a strong symbolic meaning and signifies a fresh start and my new independence,” femalefirst.co.uk quoted her as saying.

“The sitting itself was pretty painful but I was determined to get it done in one hit. I didn’t cry once!”

Demi Moore enjoyed shooting intimate scenes

by

London, January 29:Actress Demi Moore says she enjoyed the energy while shooting the intimate scenes for her new movie “Margin Call”.

“There was an incredible energy that was very unique to this film. We were shooting and existing all in one space. Almost more like what you would get in a theatre experience,” contactmusic.com quoted her as saying.