Mumbai, March 05: Credit it to the success of “Yamla Pagla Deewana”, actor Bobby Deol is the face of filmmaker Anees Bazmee’s upcoming film “Thank You” and not old favourite Akshay Kumar.
After giving two huge hits — “Singh is King” (2008) and “Welcome” (2007) — it was thought quite certain that Akshay would be the face of Bazmee’s film. But the director brought changes in the film’s promotion strategy after seeing the soaring success of “Yamla…”.
Mumbai, March 05: Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa will honour Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan for her contribution and achievement in the arts and culture segment March 11.
The 37-year-old actress will be honoured at the inaugural ceremony of the second Vishwa Kannada Sammelana at Belgaum in Karnataka.
The sammelan’s objective is to showcase the state’s developments in the field of agriculture, irrigation, information technology, bio technology, industry, arts and culture, etc.
New Delhi, March 05: A tweet welcoming the prime minister accepting responsibility for P.J. Thomas’ appointment as the chief vigilance commissioner (CVC) triggered speculation that Sushma Swaraj differed from her party but she sought to clear the air by blaming it on “constraints” of micro-blogging.
“The difference that newspapers have shown in my and Arun Jaitley’s statement is that he asked for a statement from the prime minister in parliament. The prime minister said himself that he will give a statement in parliament,” Sushma Swaraj told reporters.
Chandigarh, March 05: Haryana Excise and Taxation Minister Kiran Chaudhary Saturday denied harassing an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer in the state.
“I have not done anything wrong. Everybody knows that I have always stood against corruption. I am not ashamed of whatever I had done because I am totally clean,” Chaudhary told reporters here.
“You should not ask me anything about this issue because I am not handling the forest department. You should ask questions to the right person,” she added.
Chaudhary was Haryana forest minister from 2005 to 2009.
New Delhi, March 05: Leading spiritual artist Sohan Qadri, a proponent of the ‘dot’ in contemporary tantrik art, died in Canada after a prolonged kidney aliment, the Delhi Art Gallery said Saturday. He was 78.
Qadri leaves behind one of the largest and the most profound body of tantrik art since independence.
His demise Wednesday marks the end of a chapter in the merging of spirituality and art that interpreted ancient tantrik philosophy of meditation, renunciation and freedom and commune with the almighty into colours on papers.
Islamabad, March 05: Suspected Islamists Saturday blew up three schools in Pakistan’s northwest region, a media report said. There were no casualties.
Government officials said the militants detonated explosives in a school in Khyber region’s Bara area in the morning, Dawn News reported.
Three rooms of another school in Kohat region were demolished while a primary school was destroyed in Swabi area.
Over 500 schools have been destroyed in Pakistan’s northwest by the Pakistani Taliban who oppose education, especially girl education.
———IANS
Ghaziabad, March 05: Two smugglers were arrested and lion skin, worth Rs one crore in the international market, were recovered from their possession in Loni town of the district, police said here today.
Raju and Ompal came to Loni town yesterday for allegedly selling the skin. The two were arrested before they could strike a deal, Assistant Superintendent of Police Amit Verma said.
——PTI
Jeddah, March 05: More than 600,000 residents who have received loans of more than SR7 billion from the Saudi Credit Bank will benefit from a royal decree, manager of the bank said on Thursday. The bank had given soft loans of more than SR31 billion in the past.
Ibrahim Al-Hinaishil said the bank would allocate from Sunday 141,000 real estate loans, including 15,000 in Jeddah, 28,000 in Riyadh, 10,000 in Dammam, 9,000 in Buraidah, 6,000 in Jazan and 9,000 in Taif.
The Congress lead UPA government working at the centre can be termed as a unique record holder government though the record doesn’t have any positive aspect but is a negative record. UPA government has been facing criticism by the courts from time to time and even after silently listening to the criticisms and remarks, has not come into action nor has it tried to correct the mistakes on whose basis the courts are making the government the target of criticisms. The most recent example being the ruling by Supreme Court quashing the appointment of P.J.
Tripoli, March 05: Fresh clashes between anti-government protesters and forces loyal to Libyan ruler Moammar Gaddafi have left at least eight people dead and 21 injured.
The clashes took place on Saturday in the oil town of Raslanuf, Doctor Ahmad Burtima said.
“We have eight dead people after the fighting in Raslanuf and 21 injured. Two or three of them were moved to Benghazi hospital in a critical situation,” Doctor Burtima told media at a hospital in the town of Ajdabiya.
——–Agencies
Dammam, March 05: Saudi Arabia was yesterday drafting up to 10,000 security personnel into its north-eastern Shia Muslim provinces, clogging the highways into Dammam and other cities with busloads of troops in fear of next week’s “day of rage” by what is now called the “Hunayn Revolution”.
Kathmandu, March 05: Starting Saturday, Bollywood stars Priyanka Chopra and Kangana Ranaut will have to grapple with a deadly rival in Nepal. Seeking to beat the lack of new Bollywood releases, the owner of Nepal’s biggest and most expensive cinemas is trying a different game – the World Cup.
Kathmandu’s Kumari cinema that has two auditoriums Saturday started screening World Cup matches live till the finals.
The Sri Lanka vs Australia match premiered on the big screen in one of the auditoriums from 2.45 p.m. Nepal time — and will continue till 10 p.m.
New Delhi, March 05: The Supreme Court will hear on March 11 the bail plea of civil rights activist Binayak Sen, sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of sedition and links with Naxalites.
Sen (61) has challenged the order of the Chhattisgarh High Court which had rejected his bail plea on February 10.
A professional doctor and pass out of the prestigious Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, Sen has sought bail contending that the trial court has erred in convicting him when there was no substantial evidence.
Baghdad, March 05: The government crackdown on protests in the Iraqi Kurdistan region over the past few weeks has angered the people of Sulaymanieh.
The crackdown has also led many to reject the call from the region’s president Massoud Barzani for early elections in the near furture , reported media correspondent in Sulaymanieh.
Following the announcement, thousands flocked to the town square to continue their daily protests, showing little faith in Barzani’s promises.
Lakhimpur, March 05: An FIR has been lodged against a BSP MLA and some other persons for allegedly manhandling mediapersons during the coverage of an alleged eve-teasing case, police said here today.
A case has been lodged against Bala Prasad Awasthi, BSP MLA from Dhaurahara, his gunner, driver and some others for manhandling the mediapersons who had gone to Beltua village in connection with a case of eve-teasing with a Dalit woman, they said.
Bhopal, March 05: Is Big B the reincarnation of his grand father? The Bollywood superstar’s father and noted poet Harivanshrai Bachchan at least believed so.
“Did my father truly believe that I was the incarnation of his own father. A year after the passing away of my grandfather Pratap Narain, my father (Harivanshrai) dreamt of him one night. He felt his absence in his life, expressed it and was told by his father to wake up, for he was coming back to him.
Colombo, March 05: Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and elected to bat against Australia in a Group A cricket World Cup match at the R. Premadasa Stadium here Saturday.
Teams:
Sri Lanka:
Kumar Sangakkara (captain and wicket-keeper), Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis, Muttiah Muralitharan, Rangana Herath, Lasith Malinga, Chamara Silva.
Australia:
Jaipur, March 05: Noted social activist and Magsaysay awardee Aruna Roy has sought intervention from the UPA Supremo and National Advisory Council(NAC) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi in the killing of MGNREGA activist Niyamat Ansari in Jharkhand and demanded CBI probe in the killing.
Ms Roy also expressed serious concern over and brutal assault on another activist in Barmer district of Rajasthan who was working for the cause of NERGA and RTI.
Mumbai, March 05: At least 21 people were injured and over 2,000 people, including Slumdog Millionaire child actor Rubina Ali, rendered homeless in the big fire which was controlled in the wee hours today in suburban Bandra here.
“A total of 21 persons including 4 firemen were injured while fighting the flames which broke out last night. They have been admitted to the Bhabha hospital here,” a fire official said.
However, no death has been reported so far. But over 2,000 people have lost their homes as hundreds of shanties were destroyed in the blaze, he said.
Mumbai, March 05: One flick old newbie, Ranveer Singh, ever since Band Baaja Barat happend, is turning out to be quite a hot topic. And now, if buzz is to be believed, one flick old newbie Sonakshi Sinha has taken a liking towards the guy.
Sonakshi, while on the chat show with Karan Johar, made this confession candidly. When Karan asked the actress which actor in Bollywood she would like to date, Sonakshi instantly replied, “Ranveer Singh, if only he was single.”
However, Ranveer is not single and is reportedly dating Anushka Sharma.
Mumbai, March 05: Rab Ne girl Anushka Sharma states that she is not reclusive. Even after four films she decides to stay grounded.She stated “I have become more humble. My college friends tell me that I am much friendlier now than I was in college.”
Anushka said further, “Earlier, I was very confused about things like career and relationships, which is why I kept to myself, and came across as snobbish.”She said, “I have no filmy friends and it is difficult for me to go to a filmy gathering without feeling out of place. I have a normal set of friends and I am glad for that.
Mumbai, March 05: Sonakshi Sinha is all set to play Kamal Haasan’s wife in his next film, which is still untitled. The actress, who is currently riding high with Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan as her co-stars and films like Kick and Race 2 in her kitty, reportedly was confused about accepting a film opposite the 55-year-old South star, but has now made up her mind and accepted.
London, March 05: Singer Mariah Carey plans to donate the proceeds from her new song “Save the Day” to human rights issues but says she is embarrassed she performed for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2006.
Carey said Friday she gave a private performance for the family of Gaddafi – who has ruled Libya for 40 years and is now facing a revolt – at a party in the Caribbean.
She has promised to be careful about who she works for in future.
Kenya, March 05: Kenya’s Prime Minister Raila Odinga has arrived in the Iranian capital, Tehran, for a two-day official visit to discuss bilateral ties with Iranian officials.
Odinga was welcomed at Mehrabad International Airport by Iranian Deputy Agricultural Jihad Minister Jahangir Pour-Hemmat on Saturday morning,
The Kenya premier, heading a political-economic delegation, is scheduled to meet with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
He will also attend a ceremony to commence the construction of Iran’s largest grain terminal in the Iranian southern province of Khuzestan.
Lovers end life
Hyderabad, March 5 (Siasat News): Two minors, who feared that their love would not be accepted by their elders, ended their lives.
According to police, two youngsters from Nagarkunta village in Shabad Mandal, G Jyothi and P Srinivas, both aged 16 years, were in love since they were studying SSC.
Yesterday, the duo left their houses around 9 pm and did not return. When Srinivas parents contacted him late in the night, they were informed that both he and his lover consumed pesticide.