Month: June 2011

Saudi companies must fill up locals by September 7

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Riyadh, June 01: Saudi Arabia plans to limit the number of work permits given to foreigners to try to increase employment among Saudis, and larger firms will need to meet higher quotas, the labour minister said Tuesday.

Companies will have till September 7 to achieve a prescribed quota of Saudi employees, Labour Minister Adel Fakieh said. “The larger the company is, the higher rate of Saudisation is required from it … If companies exerted even the smallest of efforts the unemployment rate would fall significantly,” he said.

Street battles in Yemeni capital leave 41 dead

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Sanaa, June 01: Yemeni medical officials say at least 41 people have been killed in overnight shelling and street battles between government forces and rival tribal fighters in the capital.

Witnesses say that in addition to street fighting, Presidential Guard units shelled the headquarters of a brigade responsible for guarding sensitive government institutions. Army officers who have defected to the opposition say the government suspected the brigade commander was about to join the movement to oust President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Did Hasan really stole Nizam antiques from Salar Jung museum?

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Hyderabad, June 01: The police are still in the dark whether the alleged money launderer Hasan Ali’s claim of stashing the precious jewellery of the Nizam in the Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) is true or not. And the information provided by the Reserve Bank of India officials that the Nizam’s jewels are still intact with them only adds to the confusion.

Kerala CM reserves his comment on Lokpal Bill

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Thiruvananthapuram, June 01: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today reserved his comment on the structure of Lokpal Bill saying he will disclose it “when the Centre asks” for his suggestion.

“I have a definite suggestion about it. But I will disclose the same when the Centre seeks it,” Chandy said at a ”meet the press” programme held at the press club here, when asked about opposition demand to include Prime Minister under the purview of Lokpal Bill.

US-led soldier killed in Afghanistan

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Kabul, June 01: The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) announced in a statement on Wednesday that the soldier was killed on Tuesday.

ISAF did not, however, reveal the nationality of the dead soldier, the Associated Press reported.

According to the report, at least 56 foreign troops—mostly Americans— have been killed in Afghanistan in May.

The total foreign troop fatalities stand at over 215 so far this year, according to the Icasualties.org.

PCB responds to Afridi’s outburst by suspending contract

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Lahore, June 01: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has responded to skipper Shahid Afridi’s sudden decision to retire by suspending his central contract and putting together a showcause notice detailing several breaches of the code of conduct, which he will be expected to respond to within a week.

Announcing his retirement to a TV channel, the board said in a press release, was in itself a breach of Clause 2.1.4 of the Central Contract dealing with Covenants of the Cricketer.

3 Congress men injured in bomb attack at Koothuparamabap

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Kannur,June 01: Three Congress men were hurt in a bomb attack, allegedly by a group of CPI(M) activists at Kanalkara near Ambilat under the Koothuparamab police limits last night. According to police, they were identified as U N Sathyachandran, Pro-Congress School Teachers Union (KPSTU) district president and Congress Mandalam vice president and P Pradeepan, Booth secretary and his brother P Pratheekshan.

They were sitting on a bus shelter at Kanalkara near Ambilat, near the Indhira Bhavan of Koothupramaba when the attack took place.

Militants kill 7 policemen in Pakistan

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Islamabad, June 01: According to the local media, a passer-by was also killed during the militant attack in the Upper Dir district in northwestern Pakistan.

Meanwhile, two schools and one bridge have been blown up by militants in the same district, a Press TV correspondent reported.

No person or group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The militant attacks in Pakistan have climbed as the Taliban have vowed to avenge the death of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who the US claimed to have killed in an operation in Pakistan on May 1.

ND Tiwari refuses to give his blood sample for paternity test

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New Delhi, June 01: Veteran Congress leader ND Tiwari Wednesday refused to appear before the Delhi High Court and moved an application that he cannot be forced to give blood sample for DNA test in a paternity suit filed by a 31-year-old man who says Tiwari is his biological son.

John is single and ready to mingle!

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Mumbai, June 01: John Abraham is the new single in town! And the hunk is loving his new found status it seems.

The actor and his long time girlfriend Bipasha Basu broke up a few months ago and since then; both the actors seem to be painting the town red with different people. Contrary to popular belief, John isn`t brooding. He has been spotted hanging out with different girls recently. What more! The hunk has some of Bollywood’s beautiful actresses playing agony aunt for him whenever the situation arises.

TDP leaves Muslims on the margins

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Hyderabad, June 01: The near absence of Muslim leadership at the three-day Telugu Desam mahanadu that concluded on Sunday is indicative of party chief N Chandrababu Naidu’s failure to cut ice with the largest minority community in the state.

Rosaiah meets Sonia, draws blank

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Hyderabad, June 01: Even as former chief minister K Rosaiah landed in Delhi on Tuesday and apparently lobbied with Congress president Sonia Gandhi for a gubernatorial assignment, the ACB case that is pending against him might spoil his broth.

Rosaiah, when asked by the party high command to resign to pave the way Kiran Kumar Reddy, was promised governorship to make up for what he was losing.

I can’t be forced to give DNA test sample: N.D. Tiwari

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New Delhi, June 01: Veteran Congress leader N.D. Tiwari Wednesday refused to appear before the Delhi High Court and moved an application stating that he cannot be forced to give a blood sample for a DNA test in a paternity suit filed by a 31-year-old man who says Tiwari is his biological father.

Tiwari, 85, moved an application before court Joint Registrar Deepak Garg stating that no pressure could be applied on him to give a sample for the test.

Raj Kiran found in mental asylum

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Mumbai, June 01: Bollywood is a strange land with unpredictability written all over it a place where an actor’s fate is sealed every Friday.

Do you remember Raj Kiran? The actor, who essayed Rishi Kapoor’s pre-incarnation in 80’s super hit ‘Karz’ and was associated with hits like ‘Arth’, ‘Kaagaz Ki Nao’ and ‘Ghar Ho To Aisa’ and after a few flops faded into thin oblivion.

Raj Kiran, who hit a rough patch and was later assumed dead by friends, is very much alive, living in a mental asylum and fending for himself, with nobody by his side.

BJP wants CBI probe against Mayawati

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Lucknow, June 01: (BJP) leaders met Uttar Pradesh Governor B.L. Joshi here Wednesday to seek a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry against the Mayawati government in connection with what they called “a Rs.5,000 crore land scam” in Greater Noida.

“If the inquiry is conducted, the chief minister Mayawati would be unmasked, as the corrupt practices of her government will be exposed. We apprised the governor about the seriousness of the case and sought his intervention for a CBI enquiry,” BJP spokesperson Vijay Pathak told reporters here.

13-yr old tortured, killed by Syrian soldiers

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Damascus, June 01: Devotedly washed and sprinkled with rose petals, Hamza Ali al-Khateeb lies prepared for burial.

But the rituals of death cannot wipe away the horrific injuries that have mutilated his body almost beyond recognition.

Nor do they blot out that Hamza riddled with bullets, kneecapped and with neck broken and penis hacked off has the rounded cheeks and gentle face of a child.

At 13, he is one of the youngest known victims of Syria’s ruthless crackdown on protesters who have tried to overthrow the government of President Bashar al-Assad.

Mother of 2 married daughters scales Mt Everest

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New Delhi, June 01: Premlata Agarwal is not just another woman who climbed Mt Everest – she is the mother of two married daughters. At 45, she is also the oldest Indian woman to scale the highest mountain in the world.

What started off as an adventure in 2000 in the form of a hill climbing competition in Jamshedpur, ended at the altitude of more than 29000 feet.

Premlata said, “When I spoke to my daughters and husband for the first time fter creating the record, I told them that I have been able to fulfill their expectations.”

Sania crashes out of French Open

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Paris, June 01: An erratic Sania Mirza failed to seize the opportunities and lost 2-6, 4-6 to 12th-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland in the women’s singles second round at the French Open tennis here Thursday.

Though the 72-ranked Indian lost in straight sets it was an evenly fought match with a string of long rallies. It was a windy morning at Roland Garros and both players had difficulty in serving, more so for Sania whose nine double faults did not help her cause.

Rajinikanth fan attempts suicide to donate kidney

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Hyderabad, June 01: A Rajinikanth fan here attempted suicide in a bid to donate his kidney to the matinee idol who is undergoing dialysis in a Singapore hospital.

Rajniraja Arockiasamy (40) of Sundarapuram in Kurichi has been admitted to hospital after he reportedly consumed an overdose of sleeping pills. On seeing him lying unconscious, relatives and neighbours rushed him to hospital.

After recovery Rajniraja, who heads the fans association activities, told doctors that he wanted to end his life and donate the kidney to the actor.

Naidu is pro Andhra: Janardhan Reddy

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Hyderabad, June 1: The expelled TDP leader Nagam Janardhan Reddy alleged that TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu is 100 pro Andhra and he cannot favour separate Telangana. Talking to media persons here on Tuesday he criticized the dual policy of Chandrababu Naidu on Telangana issue.

Janardhan Reddy maintained that Chandababu Naidu declares Telangana and Seema-Andhra his two eyes but his two eyed policy failed as Telangana people have accepted him as anti Telangana leader.

Pak woman charged for adultery in UAE

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Abu Dhabi, June 01: A Pakistani woman convicted of adultery begged a criminal court in Abu Dhabi not to deport her to her home country, saying she could be killed by relatives, a newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The unnamed woman told court she is willing to spend any jail term in the UAE but appealed for the judge not to deport her.

“She told court that her family and relatives of her husband are waiting for her at home to avenge their honour after she committed adultery,” Alittihad said.

Why Jayalalithaa is back to her jewels!

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Chennai, June 01: Fourteen years ago, she stopped wearing jewels. But newly sworn in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa says she is back to wearing them again at the insistence of party cadres.

When a reporter asked about the ear rings she was wearing, Jayalalithaa Wednesday said: “Since 1997 I don’t wear any jewels. However, our party cadres didn’t like that. After the (election) results, they requested me to start wearing jewels.”

When some party members threatened self-immolation over the issue, she decided to wear jewels, Jayalalithaa said.

Janardhan Reddy on the move to damage TDP: Dayakar Rao

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Hyderabad, June 1: Brushing aside Dr. N Janrdhan Reddy’s criticism against TDP chief N Chandrabau Naidu, Convenor Telangana Telugu Desam forum Dr. N Janardhan Reddy said that Dr. N Janardhan Reddy’s tone indicates that he is being a part of efforts to damage TDP.

Couple elopes, girl’s brother shoots boy’s parents

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New Delhi, June 01: Angered over his sister running away with a neighbour, a 25-year-old man murdered the boy’s parents early Wednesday, police said.

Sharda Prasad Tiwari, 45, and wife Shobha Tiwari, 40, were killed by Sonu in their Harsh Vihar residence in east Delhi around 6 a.m.

“The elder son of the dead couple had eloped with Sonu’s sister a few months back, but returned after some days. This angered Sonu, who sought revenge from the family,” a police official said.

However, the young couple had not married and were living in their respective houses ever since they returned.