Month: March 2011

2 killed in Israeli plane crash

by

Israel, March 03: At least two people have been killed in a plane crash in northwestern part of the occupied Palestinian territories.

The plane burnt in fire in an open field near the Mahanayim Airport in the Upper Galilee region on Thursday morning.

The dead bodies of the pilot and the passenger have been recovered, local Ynet news website reported.

Investigators say the crash might have been caused by a malfunction in the plane’s engine.

The pilot had reported the fault a few moments before the crash.

—–Agencies

Hema Malini elected to Rajya Sabha

by

Bangalore, March 03: Veteran Bollywood actor and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominee Hema Malini was Thursday elected to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka.

She defeated noted Kannada writer K. Marulasiddappa who contested as an independent with the support of the opposition Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S). The actor won by 106 votes to 94.

The ruling BJP has 106 members, including speaker, in the assembly while Congress-JD-S together have 97.

The poll was held to fill the vacancy created following the death of M. Rajashekara Murthy of the JD-S last December.

No plans for offensive action against Somali pirates: Antony

by

New Delhi, March 03: Defence Minister A K Antony today ruled out any plans for offensive action against Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden despite an increase in piracy- related incidents.

Expressing concerns over the rise in such incidents, Antony termed the piracy threat as a “serious problem” and said, “Everyday we are getting alerts and threats. Families of the people who are abducted are in agony.”

Suicide bombing at Iraqi bank kills 10

by

Baghdad, March 03: At least ten people were killed and 26 injured Thursday in a suicide bombing at a bank in the Iraqi city of al-Haditha, security sources said.

The bombing took place as Iraqi soldiers gathered to collect their salaries at the state-owned bank in al-Haditha, some 120 km west of Baghdad.

At least six of the people killed were soldiers.

——IANS

Maoists kill MGNREGA activist in Latehar

by

Ranchi, March 03: An activist working for the implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme was killed after being mercilessly beaten by a group of 12 Maoists at Jerua village in Latehar district.

The activist, Niyamat Ansari, who was stated to be a close aide of noted economist Jean Dreze, died last night after the Maoists beat him up with lathis, police sources said.

The rebels dragged him out of his residence at 7 pm and started beating him up mercilessly. He was admitted to a local hospital where he died at 10 pm, the sources said.

Five Jharkhand MLAs suspended

by

Ranchi, March 03: Five opposition MLAs were on Thursday suspended for the remaining period of the ongoing Budget session after they disrupted the Jharkhand Assembly proceedings for an hour during which they held mock-sessions in the well of the House.

The suspended legislators are Pradip Yadav (Jharkhand Vikas Morcha – Prajatantric), KN Tripathi, Chandrasekhar Dubey, Sawana Lakra and Yogendra Sao (all Congress).

Blasts kill 16 people in Pakistan

by

Islamabad, March 03: At least 16 people have been killed and dozens others injured in three separate terrorist attacks in northwestern Pakistan.

On Thursday, an assailant blasted his explosive-laden car in Hangu town in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing 9 people and injuring 30 others, including women and children, a Press TV correspondent reported.

In two other separate incidents in Dogra area and Yakka Toot area, militants opened fire at the police vehicles, killing 7 officers.

Big B expresses surprise over Ireland’s shock win

by

Mumbai, March 03: Amitabh Bachchan has expressed surprise at the performance of cricket minnows Ireland, that pulled off the biggest upset, beating England by 3 wickets in a World Cup encounter and congratulated the team.

“WHAT !!!!???? Ireland beat England !!! Goodness me at Ireland being 111 for 5, shut the TV, knowing it was all over ..but, the Irish,” Bachchan said on micro-blogging site Twitter.

“The Irish dogged.. never give up – historically ! Today proved it on cricket field ! Well done ! What a World Cup its turning out to be,” the 68-year-old actor said.

Two persons sentenced to 10 years jail in rape case

by

Mainpuri, March 03: A local court today awarded 10 years rigorous imprisonment to two persons for raping a dalit minor girl in a village in Kishni area here in 2006.

Special Judge SC/ST Act Mahesh Prasad Srivastava awarded the imprisonment to Lal Bihari and Ramautar for raping a 12-year-old girl with a fine of Rs 10,000 on each of them.

The incident took place on Dec 20, 2006 when the girl had gone to a shop and the shopkeeper Lalbihari

and his aide Ramautar raped her.

———PTI

PM is run by proxy: CPI-M

by

Kolkata, March 03: The apex court judgement striking down the appointment of Central Vigilance Commissioner P.J. Thomas shows how “honest” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is being “victimised for the wrongdoings” of coalition partners, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) central committee member Md. Salim said here Thursday.

Speaking after the Supreme Court struck down Thomas’ appointment for his alleged involvement in a corruption scandal, Salim alleged that Manmohan Singh was “run by proxy”.

It’s true, I will direct ‘Dabangg’ sequel: Arbaaz

by

New Delhi, March 03: Bollywood actor-producer Arbaaz Khan, who has been on a high ever since his debut production “Dabangg” turned out to be a blockbuster, will now take the reigns as the director for the sequel of the masala action movie.

Director Abhinav Kashyap, who helmed “Dabangg”, has decided against directing the sequel, for reasons unknown.

“Hey guys it true, I will be directing the sequel of ‘Dabangg’. Abhinav for some personal n professional reasons opted out (sic),” Arbaaz posted on his Twitter page Thursday.

Actor Goga Kapoor dead

by

Mumbai, March 03: Bollywood character actor Ravinder Kapoor, who was popularly known as Goga Kapoor, has died after a prolonged illness.

The actor, who is survived by his wife and three daughters, breathed his last Wednesday at his Jankalyan Nagar (Malad) residence. He was 70.

“He was ailing for two years,” a source close to the actor told IANS.

Kapoor had worked in more than 500 films including “Kayamat”, “Patthar ke Phool”, “Qayamat se Qayamat Tak” and “Agneepath” among many others.

——-IANS

Berlusconi trial will bring out the truth: Ruby

by

Rome, March 03: Karima el-Mahroug, now infamous as ‘Ruby Heartstealer’, is hopeful that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s upcoming trial will bring the truth to light.

Berlusconi was indicted last month on charges he paid for sex with Karima el-Mahroug, whose nickname is Ruby, when she was under age, then used his influence to cover it up.

Ruby was in Vienna to attend the Austrian capital’s Opera Ball on Thursday night as the date of a limelight-loving 78-year-old, Richard Lugner, who every year books a different celebrity as his date for the bash.

6,000 killed in Libyan unrest

by

Tripoli, March 03: Some 6,000 people have died since the anti-government protests erupted in Libya, the Libyan Human Rights League has said.

The UN International Criminal Court prosecutor said Wednesday that he was opening a probe into crimes against humanity in Libya amid allegations that forces loyal to Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi have used excessive force against protesters to quell the two-week long rebellion.

Gaddafi said in a televised speech Wednesday that over 150 people had been killed in the unrest which he blamed on Al-Qaeda militants.

We will win 100 seats: Oommen Chandy

by

Thiruvananthapuram, March 03: With the Kerala assembly polls around the corner, former chief minister and Congress leader Oommen Chandy exuded confidence, saying his party-led combine will win at least 100 of the 140 assembly seats.

“We will win a minimum of 100 seats. If we are able to hit the campaign trail at the earliest and do not have much issues in the seat sharing with the allies. If this happens, then our number will be even higher,” Chandy, who is widely expected to lead the campaign of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), told IANS in a brief chat.

IGNOU launches portal for students, partner institutions

by

New Delhi, March 03: The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Thursday launched a web portal for students and partner institutions (PIs). It would play a vital role in providing guidelines, publishing information and enhancing interaction, an official said.

The portal has been designed and developed jointly by the Advanced Centre for Informatics and Innovative Learning and the International Division of the university in the Electronic and Media Production Centre, added the official.

A Pakistani law that felled a minister and a governor

by

Islamabad, March 03: Pakistan’s blasphemy law, which carries a death sentence for the person who insults the Prophet, has caused the killing of a minister who was a Christian and an outspoken governor, bringing into focus a law that was first codified 150-years back.

Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti was assassinated Wednesday in Islamabad while Punjab governor Salman Taseer was killed by his own bodyguard Jan 4.

Congress walkout over Vajpayee

by

Shimla, March 03: Congress members Thursday walked out of the Himachal Pradesh assembly over the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government decision to name an ambulance service after former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Raising the issue, Congress legislator G.S. Bali said the government had diverted National Rural Health Mission (NHRM) funds for the new scheme and was trying to gain cheap popularity by publicising it.

Health Minister Rajeev Bindal said the ambulance scheme was launched after inviting open bids. He denied any irregularity.

Gaddafi troops bomb oil town

by

Tripoli, March 03: Troops loyal to Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi Thursday bombed the eastern oil-producing town of Brega, a day after it was claimed by opposition fighters.

Gaddafi has lost control of much of the eastern part of the country since fighting erupted between troops loyal to him and the regime’s opponents two weeks ago.

According to media reports, the bombs were dropped on an airport near an oil terminal.

The rebels said that Gaddafi’s forces were also in the Ras Lanuf area where another oil terminal is located.

Members of Gaddafi’s forces held by protesters

by

Cairo, March0 03: Protesters Thursday detained members of Muammar Gaddafi’s forces who had been attempting to retake control of the eastern city of al-Burayqa, broadcaster Al Arabiya reported.

It was not known how many people had been detained in the city where clashes between Gaddafi’s forces and protesters have continued for two days.

Gaddafi has also used air strikes in an attempt to regain control of al-Burayqa, which remains in the hands of protesters.

–IANS

Darul Uloom Panel to Probe Charges Against Vastanvi

by

Muzaffarnagar, March 03: Acting Vice Chancellor of Darul Uloom Deoband, Mufti Abul Qasim Naomani Benarasi, has said that a three-member committee of the seminary will look into the allegations against incumbent V C Ghulam Mohammad Vastanvi from next week.

The three-member committee would look into all the allegations against Vastanvi once the examinations of the students are over on March 8, Benarasi, who yesterday took charge as the acting Vice Chancellor of the seminary, said.

Presently both students and teachers are busy in the ongoing examinations, he said.

2G: PAC May Summon Radia, Prominent Journalists

by

New Delhi, March 03: Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee may summon corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and some prominent journalists who figure in the taped conversations with her relating to portfolio allocation in the UPA-II cabinet and the 2G spectrum controversy.

Sources said Radia and at least two journalists are likely to be asked to appear before the PAC at its next meeting. However, the date has not been fixed for the meeting and the PAC has not yet intimated the persons to be called.

Battle over ‘Bhojpal’ goes to internet, Big B joins in

by

Bhopal, March 03: The move to rename this city as Bhojpal has made it to the blog of mega star Amitabh Bachchan, who says Raja Bhoj was a great king. But more than a dozen pages on Facebook have come up from residents protesting the move to change Bhopal’s name.

Bachchan, who has been shooting here for Bollywood movie “Aarakshan”, writes in his blog: “There is a move here in this city to christen it as Bhojpal, instead of its present Bhopal. Bhojpal was apparently its original name, a name it got from the great warrior king, Raja Bhoj.

Nine held for possession of tiger, panther skins

by

Tamilnadu, March 03: Nine persons, including a woman, were arrested in Pollachi in nearby Coimbatore district for possessing tiger and panther skins, Erode District Forest Conservator said.

According to Erode District Conservator of Forests Arun, a team of Forest Department personnel in plainclothes traveled to Dharapuram in nearby Tirupur district yesterday following a tip-off. One of the officers, posing as a civilian, met Jailani, one of the accused, to purchase tiger skin, he said.

Court gives life to Blueline buses

by

New Delhi, March 03: The Delhi High Court Thursday allowed privately-owned Blueline buses whose permits have not expired to keep plying. But these buses will go off the roads gradually as their permits expire.

Rejecting the Blueline operators’ plea seeking a stay on the Delhi government’s decision to phase out the vehicles, Justice Suresh Kait and Justice A.K. Sikri said that the last batch of 328 Blueline buses will be permitted to ply till their permits are valid.

The court said the Delhi government should introduce vehicles to substitute the Blueline buses as soon as possible.