Month: May 2011

‘Persuade’ pilots to resume negotiations: AI to staff

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New Delhi, May 02: Air India CMD Arvind Jadhav on Sunday sent SMS to employees of the national carrier to “persuade” striking pilots to return to the negotiating table and work to “save our airline.”

Jadhav said the Indian Commercial Pilots Association struck “work illegally for pay increase and parity, thus threatening our survival.”

“This when a Supreme Court judge is studying this issue. Risking our airline’s survival at this time is criminal. We all condemn corruption in public life, and culprits must be punished,” he said.

Aerial search resumes for AP CM’s missing chopper

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Itanagar, May 02: Braving inclement weather, two Mi-17 helicopters early Monday launched a massive search and rescue mission to trace the chopper carrying Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu that went missing some 48 hours ago along the India-Bhutan border, officials said.

“Two Mi-17 helicopters took off from Tawang at 6.15 a.m. for search and rescue mission despite very bad weather,” Ranjeeb Sahoo, spokesperson of the Eastern Air Command of the Indian Air Force, told IANS.

BSF guns down Pak intruder in Punjab

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Chandigarh, May 02: The Border Security Force (BSF) shot dead a Pakistani trying to sneak into India, an official said here Sunday.

“Two Pakistani intruders were trying to sneak into the India territory from near the Pakistan border at gate number 131, Khalra sector Saturday night. We challenged them and told them to surrender but they did not stop,” said a BSF official.

Muslim waiter at US hotel told not to reveal name

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Washington, May 02: A Muslim waiter at a New York hotel has said he was told to work under a fake name so that guests would not be scared over his Islamic identity, a media report said.

Moroccan-born Mohamed Kotbi, who works at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, said he was forced to wear a name badge with “Edgar” written on it, the Daily Mail reported.

Kotbi, who has worked for the hotel since December 1984, is now suing it for religious and racial discrimination. The hotel has declined to comment.

12-year-old suicide bomber kills four in Afghanistan

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Kabul, May 02: A 12-year-old suicide bomber blew himself up at a crowded market in eastern Afghanistan, killing four people, a day after the Taliban announced an offensive, BBC reported.

Many people were injured when the boy struck at the market in Paktika province. A local official, a woman and two men died.

The suicide bomber was a 12-year-old boy, said a statement from the governor’s office.

In Ghazni city, a man opened fire at a police checkpoint, killing two policemen and two civilians.

A bicycle bomb blast near the city’s main police station injured 13 people.

Osama Bin Laden dead: reports

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Washington, May 02: Osama bin Laden is dead and his body has been recovered by US authorities, US officials said on Monday morning.

President Barack Obama was to make the announcement shortly that after searching in vain for bin Laden since he disappeared in Afghanistan in late 2001, the Saudi-born extremist is dead.

It is a major accomplishment for Obama and his national security team, having fulfilled the goal once voiced by Obama’s predecessor, George W Bush, to bring to justice the mastermind of the September 11, 2001, attacks.

“I will miss my ole friend, Henry Cooper”: Muhummad Ali

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London, May 02: Muhammad Ali last night paid tribute to “my friend, Henry Cooper.” The British sporting legend, Sir Henry, passed away aged 76, on Sunday.

A statement was released by Ali, here in the United States, which read: “I am at a loss for words over the death of my friend, Henry Cooper,” Ali said in a statement Sunday night. “I was not aware he was ill. I visited with him two summers ago during a brief visit to Windsor as part of the Equestrian Games being held there. He was in good humour and looked quite fit.”

No alliance with YSR Congress: BJP

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Warangal, May 02: BJP state president G Kishan Reddy on Sunday reiterated that there was no question of any alliance with YSR Congress as was being speculated in political circles. He said the Congress and TDP leaders were propagating this for political gains at the byelections in Kadapa and Pulivendula.

Commerce graduates now eligible for teaching job

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New Delhi, May 02: Giving a big boost to Commerce graduates aspiring to pursue a career in teaching, the government has decided to allow them to appear for the mandatory test for appointment as teachers from standard six to eight.

As per qualification norms for teachers issued last year under the Right to Education Act, Bachelore of Arts and Bachelor of Science graduates were only eligible for appointment of teachers.

Akbar still battles for life

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Hyderabad, May 02: Even as police hunted for more suspects in connection with the assassination bid on Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader and MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi, the condition of the young legislator continued to be critical for second day on Sunday.

Akbaruddin Owaisi, younger brother of MIM President and Lok Sabha member Asauddin Owaisi, received four bullet injuries and multiple dagger injuries when a gorup of his political opponents attacked him in Barkas area under his Chandrayangutta constituency in Hyderabad.

Islamic banking ideal for economic growth

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Bhopal, May 02: The interest-free Islamic banking system will provide the ideal thrust to India’s economic development, an expert said here Sunday.

Islamic banking, which propagates zero-interest lending, can solve not only farmers’ crisis but will also fill the gap between the financially-excluded and financially-included classes in India, Irfan Shahid, an economist and expert on Islamic banking, told a seminar here Sunday.

The programme was organised by the Muslim Educational Social and Cultural Organisation and the Arabic Language and English Education Foundation.

Traffic management plan to be prepared: Metro Rail

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Hyderabad, May 02: In the context of Metro Rail works to be grounded in the next few weeks, a meeting of the Traffic Coordination Committee was held by Hyderabad Metro Rail MD NVS Reddy and Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) CV Anand on Saturday.

Abu Dhabi to have separate paths for cycling

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Abu Dhabi, May 02: Abu Dhabi will develop pathways for pedestrians and bicycles in a bid to improve transport options as well as the quality of life, officials said.

The transport department has announced a Pedestrian Bikeway Master Plan to be completed by early 2012.

The Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 states that walking and cycling are critical components of a modern, liveable and sustainable word-class city.

AP CM Chopper still untraced

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Itanagar, May 02: The helicopter carrying Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu remained untraced for the second day Sunday even as search operations on the ground by army and paramilitary personnel in both India and Bhutan continued without much success.

“So far there are no clues or reports of the missing helicopter although we are leaving no stone unturned in our effort in locating the chopper,” central minister V. Narayanasamy told journalists after a meeting of the crisis management team with the entire state cabinet and top civil and police officials.

Armed men rob Rs.7.4 lakh in Gurgaon

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Gurgaon, May 02: Three armed robbers barged into a finance company in this suburb, held two guards hostage and fled with Rs.7.4 lakh in cash, police said Sunday.

“Robbers struck at around 11 a.m. at Manappuram Gold Loan at Civil Lines,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police Maheshwar Dayal.

The robbers took all the mobiles phones and threatened to kill assistant manager Sandeep and other customers.

“At gun point they forced Sandeep to open the locker and took away Rs.7 lakh and cash from the counters,” the officer added.

Third accused held for murder of five-year-old

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Chandigarh, May 02: A third person has been arrested for the kidnapping and murder here of a five-year-old boy in December last year, police said Sunday.

Nand Kishore, 26, was arrested by Chandigarh Police in Launor village in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh.

Khushpreet Singh, son of a dairy owner, was kidnapped Dec 21 from near his house. The body was recovered Jan 5. The boy was strangulated to death and had his face smashed to prevent identification.

The family had paid a ransom of Rs.400,000 to the kidnappers, but the child was not released.

86 arrested for Orissa killings

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Bhubaneswar, May 02: At least 86 people were arrested Sunday for their alleged involvement in the burning alive of eight people, including a woman, in Orissa’s Ganjam district, police said.

“We have arrested 86 people. Further investigation is on,” local police officer Debendra Dora told IANS.

A mob Friday night burnt to death the owner, partners and employees of a stone crusher unit near Badagada village, about 250 km from Bhubaneswar.

Lopez doesn’t prefer facial treatments

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London, May 02: Singer Jennifer Lopez doesn’t go for facial treatments as she thinks that relaxing, getting plenty of sleep and drinking a lot of water is key to good skin.

“I try to get enough good sleep, about seven or eight hours and I drink a lot of water. If I have a red-carpet event, I’ll do a face mask in the morning. And I’ll take a nice bath to relax myself because I think the better you feel, the better you look. Then I’ll have a coffee and take the day slow. I don’t like to rush,” femalefirst.co.uk quoted Lopez as saying.

Chavez vows to eradicate unemployment

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Venenzuela, May 02: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has vowed to eradicate unemployment in the next eight years, as he addressed thousands of workers at a May Day march in the capital Caracas.

Speaking to one of the largest crowds seen on the streets of Venezuela in recent years, Chavez promised that he will create more than three million jobs if elected to another term in office, Reuters reported on Sunday.

Akshay Kumar follows Salman footsteps

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Mumbai, May 02: It seems Salman Khan’s mool mantra has caught Bollywood bigwigs since Bhai’s Id release, ‘Wanted’ in 2009. And post the super success of ‘Dabangg’, Salman has become the undisputed idol for his contemporaries. Be it copying his moustache or the South Indian remakes of films that he dabbles into, the industry is certainly walking his way!

Attack on Owaisi indicator of govt failure: BJP

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Hyderabad, May 02: Condemning the attack on Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) Legislator from Chandrayngutta Akbaruddin Owaisi on Saturday, Bharatiya Janata Party official spokesman N Ramachandra Rao on Sunday expressed serious concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

Talking to media persons at BJP office in Nampally, Mr Ramachandra Rao demanded that the government immediately arrest Mr Akbaruddin Owaisi’s attackers and initiate serious action against the guilty.

Babu urges EC to ensure fair voting

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Kadapa, May 02: Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday appealed to the Election Commission to take all measures for conducting the by-elections in Kadapa and Pulivendula constituencies in a free and fair manner.

In a letter addressing to the Election Commission, which was released to the media, the TDP president urged Election Commission to conduct byelections in a peaceful manner, which was known for election malpractices.

He also appealed to the Commission to appoint Central observers in all the constituencies in Kadapa to prevent rigging and unfair practices.

NASA delays Endeavour launch again

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Washington, May 02: The launch of US space shuttle Endeavour on its 25th and final flight has been delayed again due to technical problems, NASA announced Sunday.

A new date for Endeavour’s launch, which was originally scheduled last Friday, has not yet been set, Xinhua reported. It will deliver the $2-billion Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) particle detector to the International Space Station.

Foster shares strong friendship with Mel Gibson

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London, May 02: Actress Jodie Foster shares a strong friendship with actor Mel Gibson because they can have “deep” conversations.

“We’re talkers, both of us. We have that touch with each other where it doesn’t matter how many years go by or what time of the morning it is, we can talk to each other. He’s a really loyal and trustworthy person, just a really good friend and not full of s**t. He’s not a star, he’s not a celebrity. He’s a complicated person,” contactmusic.com quoted Foster as saying.