Month: March 2011

Unity is our strength: Afridi

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Colombo, March 03: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said unity in the team had resulted in their impressive wins against Kenya and co-hosts Sri Lanka in the World Cup.

“Unity is our secret recipe,” Shahid Afridi said. “The boys knew there is no other way we can win the World Cup. It was necessary to gel together and play as a unit. We’ve done that; now it’s our greatest strength.”

Until last month, very few were backing Pakistan to win the World Cup. They seemed down and out after a string of controversies.

World Cup spreads fragrance in Lucknow

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Lucknow, March 03: In an attempt to boost the morale of the Indian World Cup team, florists here have prepared an 11-ft-high replica of the trophy with around 50 kg of flowers!

The multi-coloured World Cup’s replica, made from around 5,000 flowers, is spreading its fragrance inside the Uttar Pradesh Badminton Academy, where it has been put on display.

BSF trooper shoots two colleagues dead

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Agartala, March 03: A “mentally unstable” Border Security Force (BSF) trooper shot dead two of his colleagues and injured a third in Tripura, police said Thursday. He was disarmed by others.

Dhananjoy Kumar suddenly grabbed the rifle from a sentry Wednesday night and opened indiscriminate fire at the Rajbari camp in Dhalai district, critically injuring three men.

Colleagues Sanjoy Kumar and Anil Kumar died on the spot while Mohammad Aslam Ali was shifted to a hospital in a serious condition, district police chief R. Gopal Krishna Rao told IANS.

Government in crisis over Thomas verdict

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New Delhi, March 03: The 21-month United Progressive Alliance (UPA) II government Thursday plunged into crisis again as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh came under opposition fire after the Supreme Court struck down the appointment of P.J. Thomas as head of India’s top corruption watchdog.

Opposition leaders, led by BJP’s L.K. Advani, lost no time in describing the verdict as a big blow to the government and putting the responsibility for Thomas’ appointment on Manmohan Singh and UPA chief Sonia Gandhi.

Sherry Rehman next on terror hit list?

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London, March 03: With two of three Pakistani politicians who opposed the blasphemy law assassinated, friends of the third, the glamorous Sherry Rehman, now fear for her life.

Gunmen have shot dead Punjab governor Salman Taseer and minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti, the only Christian in the Pakistani government.

Rehman, known for her outspoken views, led the efforts to reform the blasphemy law after Aasia Bibi, a Christian mother of four, was sentenced to death for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad.

Rehman was joined by Taseer and Bhatti.

Sonakshi Sinha has hots for Anushka’s boyfriend

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Mumbai, March 03: Sonakshi Sinha has set her eyes on Ranveer Singh.

The Dabangg girl seems to have the hots for the Band Baaja Baraat munda, which was quite obvious on Koffee With Karan.

She just couldn’t stop gushing about the B Town’s newbie and said how she would love to date him if he was ‘single’.

When KJo mentioned it to Ranveer’s current girlfriend Anushka Sharma who was with him in the hot seat in the following week she retorted, “He is all yours. Please go ahead.”

What say, Ranveer?

-Agencies

Kareena is Bollywood`s most sought after hottie

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Mumbai, March 03: Kareena Kapoor is Bollywood’s most sought after actress in the brand endorsement circuit according to the latest Television Audience Measurement (TAM) reports.

With 13 brands riding on her, Bebo remains unmoved with labels of being ‘the best’ or ‘the most sought after’.

Says Kareena, “I don’t put a value to my worth. I’m not a product you can pick off the shelf. I have always been selective about what I endorse and the work I do. And I have always been exclusive.”

-Agencies

Priyanka to visit brothel for Agneepath remake

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Mumbai, March 03: Guzaarish had a bearded Hrithik Roshan. For Agneepath, the star will be again sporting facial fuzz.

While Priyanka Chopra, his co-star in Agneepath, who essays a dark character, was keen to visit a brothel to get into the skin of the character, director Karan Malhotra said he had done enough research for the script and there was no need to!

Chalo, PC only needs to get into the script’s character.

-Agencies

Rajinikanth’s latest leading lady: Vidya Balan

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Mumbai, March 03: Rajnikanth’s next Rana has been the talk of the town for some time now as has the casting of the female leads.

Getting picky

Though several names were tossed around including Katrina Kaif and Asin, last we’ve heard is that only Rekha and Deepika Padukone were confirmed. We can now reveal the third name. It’s Vidya Balan.

Says a source working on the film, “The makers wanted a girl with a distinctly Indian look and who would click with the South audience well.

Has Salman taken a fancy to yoga?

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Mumbai, March 03: Salman Khan has taken a fancy to yoga.

The actor is a fitness freak and gyms like no tomorrow. But the Dabangg star has now realised the importance of the ancient technique.

Though Kareena Kapoor had introduced him to the virtues of doing the asanas, Khan has now realised the power of yoga. Mind over matter finally.

-Agencies

US lawmakers set March 10 date for Muslim hearings

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Washington, March 03: A key US congressional panel will hold a hearing March 10 into the radicalization of US Muslims, even as some lawmakers charge the goal is to tar an entire population as possible extremists.

The House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee hearing has drawn heavy fire since its chairman Republican Representative Peter King announced general plans to hold the event.

Bangladesh’s Bank For The Poor Chairman Sacked

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Dhaka, 03 March: Muhammad Yunus, the Bangladeshi Nobel laureate, has launched a legal battle against his removal from the post of managing director of the pioneering microlender Grameen Bank, which he founded, according to his lawyers.

The filing came a day after the central bank ordered him out of his post at the bank on the grounds that he had overstayed as head of operations in violation of the law.

Yunus petitioned Bangladesh’s high court to reverse the government order. Sara Hossain, a lawyer, said Yunus challenged the decision as illegal.

Bill approved to check sexual abuse of children

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New Delhi, March 03: A bill seeking to prevent sexual abuse of children with provisions for stringent punishment for such offences was on Thursday approved by the Union Cabinet.

The section seven of the bill provides for “no punishment” if the consent for sexual act has been obtained with a person aged between 16 to 18 years.

The proposed legislation aims at protecting children against offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment, pornography and provide for establishment of special courts for trial of such offences.

Egypt’s Prime Minister Ahmad Shafiq has resigned, says military council

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Cairo, March 03: Egypt’s ruling military council has accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Ahmad Shafiq, the council said in a statement Thursday.

He will be replaced by Essam Sharaf, a former minister, added the council, which has been in charge of the country since president Hosni Mubarak resigned on February 11 after nationwide protests.

“The Supreme Council of Military Forces announces that it has accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Ahmad Shafiq,” the statement said, without elaborating on the reasons for the move.

-Agencies

2G: SC asks CBI to probe S-Tel, Etisalat

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New Delhi, March 03: The Supreme Court today ordered the CBI to probe the restoration of 2G spectrum licence to Chennai-based telecom operator S-Tel after its cancellation earlier on grounds of threat to national security.

The apex court also asked the agency to investigate the antecedents of the UAE-based Etisalat against which the Home Ministry had expressed reservation earlier to the Department of Telecommunication and the Union Finance Ministry regarding the foreign direct investment made by it in the telecom sector.

Chavez’s Libya plan being considered, Moussa says

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Cairo, March 03: Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said on Thursday a peace plan proposed by Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez to end the crisis in Libya was “under consideration”.

Al Jazeera news network reported that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and Moussa had agreed to Chavez’s plan to send representatives from several countries to Libya. “No,” was Moussa’s response when asked if he had agreed to the plan proposed by Chavez, a friend of Gaddafi.

Panel on job plan for J&K youth submits report to CM

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Srinagar, March 03: An expert group, to develop a comprehensive job plan for Jammu and Kashmir youths, on Thursday released a report recommending a slew of measures involving a cost of Rs 2100 crore for improving employability of the youths in the state.

The group led by former RBI governor C Rangarajan, was constituted by the Prime Minister in August last year at the peak of the summer unrest in the state.

Rangarajan accompanied by several members of the panel handed over the report to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here.

Hundreds Of Protesters Camp In Muscat

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Musqat, Oman, 03 March: Hundreds of Omani anti-government protesters have camped outside the Consultative Council in the capital Muscat to demand political reform and better life conditions.

They were carrying placards reading, We want jobs and We want freedom of press.

The protesters also called for bringing to justice those responsible for the deaths of demonstrators in the northern town of Sohar.

At least six people were killed in Sohar on Sunday after police opened fire on the anti-government demonstrators.

Gadaffi accepts Chavez’s mediation offer

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Cairo, March 03: Embattled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has accepted an offer from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to mediate in the revolt against him, a media report said Thursday.

According to Al Jazeera, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro has discussed the mediation plan with Amr Moussa, the head of the Arab League. Details were expected to be announced at an Arab League meeting in Cairo.

Maoists kill MGNREGA activist in Latehar

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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.

Pakistan players under strict vigil: Alam

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Colombo, March 03: Pakistan has taken stringent steps to ensure that its players do not get embroiled in any controversy during the ongoing World Cup.

“We have implemented some really strict rules,” Pakistan team manager Intikhab Alam said. “The players have been asked to sign documents saying that they can’t meet or talk to strangers. We have a strict curfew at the team hotel.

Why has Hasan Ali not been arrested: SC

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New Delhi, March 03: The Supreme Court Thursday came down heavily on the Centre for failing to crack the whip on black money hoarders and ordered forthwith reinstatement of three key ED officials allegedly transferred midway into the probe in a case of foreign exchange law violation by Pune businessman Hasan Ali Khan.

A bench of justices B Sudershan Reddy and S S Nijjar also indicated that if the government fails to act, it would be compelled to appoint a special officer for supervising the probe against the offenders.

Sholay editor lives in slums

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Mumbai, March 03: After veteran character artist A.K. Hangal, comes news that 81-year-old M.S. Shinde, editor of the cult film ” Sholay”, is perishing in poverty in Asia’s biggest slum Dharavi. The Cine and TV Artists Association (CINTAA) has come to his aid.

Shinde, who edited over a hundred hit films including ” Shaan”, “Shakti” and “Seeta Aur Geeta”, had to move to the PMFP colony in Dharavi after the building in Parel where he lived for 48 years collapsed and the owner refused to help him. His wife died in 2006 and he lives with his daughter Achla.

Minister quits over Telangana issue

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Hyderabad, March 03: Unhappy over the delay in the formation of a separate Telangana state, a minister in Andhra Pradesh cabinet on Thursday sent his resignation to Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Other ministers and MPs from the region said they would decide on whether to quit after meeting the central leadership.

Congress MPs from Telangana, including Ponnam Prabhakar, G Sukhender Reddy, contemplated their resignation from Lok Sabha.