Month: June 2011

Guntur, June 28: A special court will be set up in the district on July 1 to a try a criminal gang involved in several offences. The state government has issued an order for setting up of the special court.

Hyderabad, June 28: Amid growing criticism against Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, the State government, which was treading cautiously on the matter, has finally decided to take control of the situation. It sent a letter to trust secretary Chakravarthy seeking a comprehensive report on the trust’s activities and its members within 10 days.

London, June 28: Creative artists from across the world are welcome to come and perform in the UK, the Home Office said on Monday, responding to concerns by several writers and artists that the new points-based immigration system was ‘intrusive’.

A spokesman said: “Creative artists from across the world are welcome to come and perform in the UK. As part of our commitment to the industry, we work with organisers of international events to ensure they are aware of the application process and are able to help facilitate urgent cases.

Hyderabad, June 28: Suspended TDP MLA Nagam Janardhan Reddy has refuted the allegation that he is acting on behalf of YSR Congress leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Speaking at a meet-the-press organised by the Telangana Journalists Forum here on Monday, Reddy said Jagan would not be able to tour Telangana if he stood for the united state.
Asked if he was working on behalf of Jagan on caste consideration, he quipped: “My caste and religion are Telangana. You may call me Telangana Janardhan Reddy.” He asserted that he had no other agenda than achieving a Telangana state.

Kolkata, June 28: The Maoists on Tuesday alleged that the Orissa government and the Centre had violated norms of the Union Environment ministry for the Posco project and expressed solidarity with those agitating against it.

“Fact finding by the Saxena committee and the Meena Gupta committee has proved the existence of forest rights. But the FRA (Forest Rights Act) is not implemented by the state government in the area,” a press release by Maoists national spokesperson Abhay, on behalf of it central committee said.

Hyderabad, June 28: The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Assurances Committee has found that the state official machinery has failed to implement the assurances given in the House by the chief minister and other ministers.
The committee, headed by Adala Prabhakar Reddy, has a strength of 32 members including nine special invitees. Reddy is continuing as its chairman for the third consecutive term.

New York, June 28: Mahatma Gandhi-led Salt Satyagraha during India’s independence movement has been named among the 10 most influential protests in the world by America’s prestigious Time magazine.

In March 1930, Gandhi embarked on a 24-day march from Sabarmati Ashram near Ahmedabad to the small seaside town of Dandi, attracting followers along the way.

The assembled throngs watched as he and dozens of others dipped into the sea to produce salt.

New Delhi, June 28: Under attack from civil society activists, the media and some of his own party members, over perceived communication gap over critical issues, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has decided on a media outreach plan that kicks off with a meeting with some senior editors Wednesday.
The prime minister will meet a group of editors of regional and national dailies Wednesday, government sources told IANS.

Islamabad, June 28: Slain al-Qaeda-linked militant commander Ilyas Kashmiri “may also have been part” of the Mumbai attacks but India’s claim that he may have been supported by Pakistan is misplaced, Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said.

Malik claimed he had confirmation that Kashmiri had been killed in a US drone attack on June 3.

Malik said the Mumbai attacks were carried out by non-state actors and “used against Pakistan”.

New Delhi, June 28: More than a month after DMK leader MK Stalin had met his half-sister and party MP Kanimozhi, he paid her a visit in the women’s jail for about half an hour on Monday afternoon.

He was accompanied by DMK Parliamentary Party Leader TR Baalu and MP AKS Vijayan. Stalin had last met Kanimozhi at the Special CBI court on May 24, four days after she was arrested in connection with the 2G scam. Stalin also met ex-telecom minister A Raja and Managing Director of Kalaignar TV Sharad Kumar. He flew into the city from Chennai on Monday morning.

New Delhi, June 28: A gym manager was arrested for twice raping his 24-year-old woman colleague, police said Tuesday. Another employee of the gym was held for molesting her.

“The two accused — Ajay Kumar, 32, manager of the gym, and head trainer Rakesh, 27, — were held Monday from Fitness Centre, a gym located inside Delhi Development Authority (DDA) Sports Complex in Sector-11 in Dwarka,” said a senior police officer.

Washington, June 28: The US military spends nearly 20 billion dollars a year just for air-conditioning its bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, a retired senior officer has claimed.

Brigadier General Steve Anderson, who served as chief logistician to General David Petraeus in Iraq, said that the American Department of Defense (DOD) was shockingly inefficient in its energy use.

“In essence what we’re doing is we’re air conditioning the desert over there in Afghanistan, Iraq and other places,” the Telegraph quoted Anderson, as saying.

Riyadh, June 28: Saudi Arabia’s religious police arrested two Filipina women for selling pork, which is prohibited in Islam, a newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Acting as a customer, a member of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice bought 10 kg of pork from the two women, which were selling the meat in King Fahd neighbourhood in Riyadh.

“After they were paid, other Commission members jumped on the two and arrested them… they will be investigated to know the source of the meat before they are referred to court,” Sabq Arabic language daily said.

Mumbai, June 28: When it’s an accusation involving high-profile celebs and millions are at stake, very few are ever willing to come on record to spill the truth.

Such seemed to be the case of the very pregnant Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s and director Madhur Bandharkar’s “Heroine” saga, which has seen the rumour mills work over time these last few days, regarding the fate of this very expensive UTV Motion Pictures production.

New Delhi, June 28: Blaming Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the hike in diesel, kerosene and cooking gas prices, the main opposition Bhartiya Janata Party Tuesday said he had led the country to severe inflation despite being an able economist.

Bangalore, June 28: The BJP Government in Karnataka will release a ‘charge sheet’ against former Prime Minister and JD(S) National President H D Deve Gowda and his family members, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said today.

Greek, June 28: Greek unions and protesters are planning another 48-hour general strike against new austerity measures imposed by the debt-ridden government.

As the Greek parliament is to vote on implementing harsh austerity measures to receive further International Monetary Fund and European Union funds, unions are planning a two-day general strike beginning on Tuesday, AFP reported.

New Delhi, June 28: Against the backdrop of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) tightening regulations for the export of sensitive technologies, India has underlined its “impeccable non-proliferation record” and hopes to join the elite nuclear clubs that control the global flow of atomic material and equipment.

Tehran, June 28: The missiles fired on Tuesday morning included Zelzal (Earthquake), Shahab-1, Shahab-2 and Shahab-3, a Press TV reporter said.

Five Shahab missiles, including four medium-range and one long-range, as well as 9 Zelzal missiles were launched.

The Islamic Republic began the Great Prophet 6 drills on Monday.

On the first day of the exercises, Iran unveiled underground missile silos and fired Fateh (Conquerer)-110 missile.

Patna, June 28: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister S K Modi today praised the existing Public Distribution System in Chhattisgarh and announced the government”s decision to implement a similar model in the state.

“The system of procurement of paddy and PDS are very good in Chhattisgarh… even the planning commission has praised it. We have also decided to implement similar arrangements in Bihar,” he told reporters here.

Mumbai, June 28: Now that we know Vidya Balan is not playing the lead in Ishqiya sequel, it is a big question as to who will replace her.

However, from what we have heard Arshad Warsi, who starred in the prequel alongside Vidya and Naseeruddin Shah, has already made his choice.

He is keen on having his Double Dhamaal co-star Kangna Ranaut in it and is pushing filmmakers to cast her.

Open suggestions

Riyadh, June 28: A Saudi bride donned a hat similar to that worn by Lady Kate when she married Prince William and swayed to the same music that was played at the British royal wedding as she wanted her marriage to be the talk of the town. But she had not apparently thought her innovative idea would backfire.

New Delhi, June 28: While making a fresh demand of CBI probe in UP CMO murder case, senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh today said that his party will ‘expose’ Mayawati.

“We will expose the Mayawati government. This corruption trail is also reaching her door…Mayawati should order a CBI inquiry into the case (CMO murder case).

New Delhi, June 28: Arjun Rampal won the best supporting actor award for his role in “Rajneeti” at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards ceremony. That has not gone down too well with Maria Goretti, wife of actor Arshad Warsi who was also nominated in the same category.

“Arjun won over Arshad … For best supporting actor, unbelievably stupid I say, if Manoj Bajpai won would not feel so bad… filmy politics,” Maria posted on Twitter after the award was announced Saturday in Toronto.

Mumbai, June 28: Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma was allowed to go home early today after she was questioned for over ten hours by custom officials regarding her undeclared belongings.

She was on board an Air India flight, that was operated specially to ferry participants from the recently concluded IIFA awards at Toronto, and was detained yesterday at the International airport here for carrying unaccounted gold, diamond jewellery and other belongings worth Rs 35 lakh.