Month: March 2011

Gujarat bans controversial book on Gandhi

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Gandhinagar, March 30: A controversial book on Mahatma Gandhi was banned in his home state of Gujarat Wednesday.

A resolution to ban the book, “Great Soul”, was moved in the state assembly by Chief Minister Narendra Modi and passed unanimously.

The book, “Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle With India”, by Pulitzer winning writer Joseph Lelyveld created a controversy after reviewers said it suggested that the icon of non-violence was a bisexual.

-Agencies

Gujarat bans controversial book on Gandhi

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Gandhinagar, March 30 (IANS) A controversial book on Mahatma Gandhi was banned in his home state of Gujarat Wednesday.

A resolution to ban the book, “Great Soul”, was moved in the state assembly by Chief Minister Narendra Modi and passed unanimously.

The book, “Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle With India”, by Pulitzer winning writer Joseph Lelyveld created a controversy after reviewers said it suggested that the icon of non-violence was a bisexual.

Ex- Galleon employee admits giving tips to Rajaratnam

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New York, March 30: A former trusted colleague of Raj Rajaratnam told the jury that he dug up insider information to give “an edge” to his boss, the Galleon Group founder, who is the main accused in the largest insider trading case to hit the US in decades.

Adam Smith, the first Galleon employee to testify, said that he obtained confidential information like companies’ quarterly earning, which was like “cheating on a test” because it gave an unfair advantage in decisions related to buying and selling stock.

Pakistan PM Gilani in India for World Cup semifinal

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Chandigarh, March 30: Hoping to better ties between the two countries, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani arrived here Wednesday to watch the high-voltage World Cup cricket semifinal between India and Pakistan in nearby Mohali.

The Pakistan Air Force flight carrying Gilani and his delegation landed at the Chandigarh airport around 12.25 pm. Gilani, who is here at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, was received by union Minister of State for Communications Sachin Pilot.

It means a lot for us to play in final: Kumar Sangakkara

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Colombo, March 29: Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara was forthright in stating that it means a lot for him to play the final of the 2011 Cricket World Cup. Sri Lanka qualified for the grand final in Mumbai on 2nd April after they beat New Zealand in a tense semi-final clash at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, on Tuesday.

Set a target of 218, the hosts were cruising at 160 for one, but the loss of few quick wickets brought New Zealand back into the game and it needed an unbeaten 35 run sixth wicket partnership between Angelo Mathews and Thilan Samaraweera to steer the team home.

Reservation Issue: Haryana Govt to set up commission

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Chandigarh, March 29: Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh today said the state government is in the process of constituting a Commission for reservation where any community can put forward its case for quota.

Any community or individual has the right to express its views and ask for reservation in a democratic set up, Hooda said while replying to queries on the demand for reservation made by the Brahmin community and the demonstration at Panipat.

Nadal, Djokovic Federer race to Miami wins

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Miami, March 30: Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer wasted no time in racing to the quarter-finals of the Miami Masters with efficient wins on a long day marred by a two-hour rain interruption.

Number one Nadal was untroubled as he beat Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-1, 6-2 in 59 minutes Tuesday with the challenger playing his second match of the day after earlier defeating French 15th seed Jo- Wilfried Tsonga 6-7 (2-7), 6-4, 7-5.

Engineering students duped, convict held

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Hyderabad, March 30: Commissioner Task Force west zone team apprehended a youth resident of Mallepally who cheated lakhs of money from engineering students by promising them that he would help them clear their backlogs of their examinations.

Deputy Commissioner Police Task Force Mr. V V Kamlasan told that Basheer Khan (28) from New Mallepally was introduced to some of the engineering students of Deccan Engineering College, Darussalam by their college-mate Imran and one Firasat.

Acting world always enchanted me: Deepak Dobrial

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New Delhi, March 30: He debuted with a walking part in Vishal Bhardwaj’s ‘Maqbool’ and impressed as the side-kick to Saif Ali Khan’s evil Langda Tyagi in ‘Omkara’. And now, Deepak Dobrial is all set to debut as a lead in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s next ‘Teen They Bhai’.

Coming from a small village in Pauri Gadwal, acting was not a career choice for Deepak but a chance encounter with theatre in Delhi decided the way forward for the actor, who in his own words, was completely enchanted by what he saw on the stage.

We object nomination of any agency for any project: JVM

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Ranchi, March 30: Opposition Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantric) today demanded that the state government go for open tenders for laying transmission lines instead of ‘nominating’ the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) as a consultant to take up the important project.

“I admit that PGCIL specialises in laying transmission lines. But there are other specialists in the country too. It will be fair enough to float open bids to allot the work,” the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantric’s) Principal General Secretary, Pradip Yadav, told PTI here.

Focus on your body to appreciate it

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Washington, March 30: The more women are able to focus on how their bodies function and feel, rather than what others think, the more they will appreciate their own bodies.

And the more a woman appreciates her body, the more likely she is to eat intuitively – responding to physical feelings of hunger and fullness rather than being swayed by emotions in eating or the mere presence of food, reports the Journal of Counseling Psychology.

Viacom 18 to co-produce Kashyap’s ‘Project 18’

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Mumbai, March 30: Viacom 18 Motion Pictures will co-produce ‘Dabangg’ director Abhinav Kashyap’s forthcoming movie ‘Project 18’ and Australian filmmaker Bill Bennett’s venture, to be shot in India.

Kashyap’s second directorial outing, which is tentatively titled ‘Project 18’ will be produced by Viacom 18 Motion Pictures and Australian Production Company Temple Productions.

Plenty at stake as arch-rivals India and Pakistan clash

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Mohali, March 30: Billed as the ‘mother of all clashes’, bitter rivals India and Pakistan go into the high-voltage World Cup semifinal battle on Wednesday in what promises to be an epic tussle of nerves and skills between two teams desperately seeking to regain the coveted trophy.

When the two captains walk out for the toss, two estranged nations who have fought wars in the past but have a common passion for cricket, will virtually come to a standstill with millions glued to the television sets to watch the blockbuster unfold.

Pak bowlers must find a way to sort out Yuvraj, feels Akram

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New Delhi, March 30: ormer pace legend Wasim Akram feels Pakistan need to bowl intelligently to Yuvraj Singh and get rid off him as early as possible during their high-voltage World Cup semifinal in Mohali on Wednesday.

Yuvraj who has won four man of the match awards so far has scalped 11 wickets at 24.63 apiece and scored 341 runs at a staggering average of 113.66 in the World Cup so far and Akram feels Pakistan need to stop him if they hope to reach the finals.

Syria’s Assad expected to lift emergency law

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Damascus, March 30: Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad is expected to make a speech on Wednesday in which he could lift emergency law, a key demand of pro-democracy protests in which more than 60 people have been killed.

Emergency laws have been used since 1963, when his Baath Party took power in a coup, to stifle political opposition, justify arbitrary arrest and give free rein to a pervasive security apparatus in the country of 22 million.

Myanmar junta ‘dissolved’: State television

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Yangon, March 30: Myanmar’s junta has been “officially dissolved”, according to state media, after the country swore in a new president on Wednesday.

Referring to the junta’s State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), television news, quoting an order signed by Than Shwe, said “since the next cabinet was sworn in, the SPDC has been officially dissolved”.

The announcement came after an official said a new head of Myanmar’s army attended the inauguration of Thein Sein as president, apparently indicating that the junta strongman had been replaced.

AP Assembly passes Appropriation Bill sans debate

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Hyderabad, March 30: Andhra Pradesh Assembly today passed Appropriation Bill, 2011 without any debate amidst pandemonium over setting up of a House Committee to probe alleged irregularities in land allotments.

Earlier a deadlock ensued between the opposition TDP and the Congress as the former insisted upon continuation of the debate on land allotments while the government wanted the Appropriation Bill adopted first.

Cricket frenzy overflows in Mohali

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Mohali, March 30: Excited spectators, draped in tricolours and holding placards and posters, started queuing up at the gates of the PCA stadium since morning as the city geared up to host the high-voltage World Cup semifinal clash between India and Pakistan amid unprecedented security here.

After a heavy downpour and thunderstorm last night, Mohali woke up to a bright and sunny morning to provide the perfect setting for the clash which has generated tremendous media frenzy.

Re-exam for 24 inter students on April 9

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Hyderabad, March 30: The Board of Intermediate Education (BIE) has decided to conduct a re-examination for 24 students whose answer scripts were damaged in an accident at Jangaon in Warangal on March 20. The re-examination will be held on April 9.

According to the BIE officials, a postal van which was carrying the answer scripts met with an accident near Jangaon in Warangal in the wee hours of March 20.

Bright sunshine in Mohali ahead on Indo-Pak match

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Mohali, March 30: After a heavy downpour yesterday, bright sunshine greeted the city this morning ahead of today’s high-profile World Cup semi-final match between India and Pakistan at the PCA stadium here.

Heavy rains and thunderstorm lashed Mohali yesterday, which had cast a shadow of doubt over the blockbuster semifinal clash of the World Cup.

If that was not enough, the Meteorological Department had also forcasted a partly cloudy sky to prevail in this region today, but to the contrary people woke to clear and sunny skies this morning.

Few takers for pet insurance

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New Delhi, March 30: Despite a boom in pet care facilities in India, the concept of pet insurance has not become popular here due to unorganised nature of this sector, say experts.

While pet insurance is hugely popular in the western countries, it is still relatively unknown in India, as insurance companies do not advertise about it and a large number of people do not get their pets registered, they say.

Rupee gains six paise against US dollar in early trade

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Mumbai, March 30: The Indian rupee strengthened by 6 paise to Rs 44.72 per dollar at the Interbank Foreign Exchange today, supported by a higher opening in the stock market.

However, the dollar’s rise against other major currency rivals capped the rupee gains.

The rupee had appreciated by 5 paise to close at Rs 44.78/79 against the US currency in yesterday’s trade amid bullish local equity markets and easing crude oil prices.

Madras HC dismisses dyeing units’ plea; imposes cost

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Chennai, March 29: The Madras High Court today come down heavily on a body of Tirupur dyeing factories “for abusing the process of court” after they sought relief which in effect would nullify its judgement ordering closure of over 720 units for causing pollution and imposed a cost of Rs 15,000.

“Though at the first blush the relief sought for by the association appears to be innocuous, these petitions are a clear abuse and misuse of the process of court,” the court said dismissing the petitions filed by the Tirupur Dyeing Factories Owners Association.

Yuvraj urges fan to sing national anthem loudly

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Mohali, March 29: India’s star batsman Yuvraj Singh has requested the people in the PCA stadium to inspire the team by singing the national anthem loudly before the team meets Pakistan in a high-voltage semi-final of the Cricket World Cup here tomorrow.

“Request all people in the stadium to inspire us by singing national anthem loudly,” Yuvraj tweeted.

“Jai Hind, Good night,” Yuvraj said signing off.
–Agencies

Anup Mishra is new UP Chief Secretary

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Lucknow, March 29: UP Principal Secretary, Finance Anup Mishra was today named as the new Chief Secretary of the state.

An IAS officer of 1978 batch, Mishra will succeed Atul Kumar Gupta, who is due to retire on March 31, an official spokesman said here.

The government has also transferred 17 senior IAS officers.

Among them is chairman and managing director PICUP V K Sharma who has been shifted as chairman of Revenue Board to be replaced by agriculture production commissioner R K Sharma.