Month: May 2012

Not cooking cannot be a ground for divorce: Bombay HC

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The Bombay High Court has held that refusal by a wife to conceive a child because of family’s financial instability could not be used as a ground for divorce by her husband.

“Also, not knowing how to cook, not being religious, not parting with salary and not folding clothes properly,” could not be treated as grounds for divorce, ruled Justice PB Majmudar and Justice Anoop Mohta.
The bench was, on Thursday, hearing an appeal filed by a 30-year-old person against a family court order which dismissed his divorce plea.

Woman mauled by cheetahs in South African game park

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A woman tourist from Britain in a South African game park was mauled by two cheetahs in a horrific attack.

Violet D’Mello was petting the “tame” cats in the petting area of Kragga Kamma Game Park with other tourists when they began attacking an eight-year-old girl. The woman watched in horror as they clawed and bit her leg, The Sun reported.

Suddenly, the cheetahs left the girl and began eyeing the little girl’s seven-year-old brother who was trying to flee. Just as D’Mello tried to intervene, the two animals turned their attention to her.

Suri murder accused owns lands worth Rs.140 crore

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The prime accused in the murder of gangster Gangula Suryanarayana Reddy alias Suri owns lands worth over Rs.140 crore and was involved in many settlements including the one relating to Handri-Neeva irrigation project, police said Friday.

The Crime Investigation Department (CID) of Andhra Pradesh Police revealed that Bhanu, who was arrested last month, and his associates threatened the contractors not to submit their tenders for the Handri-Neeva project and got the works worth Rs.178 crore allotted to JK Constructions, GVR Constructions and Coastal Constructions.

BSP fears for Mayawati’s safety, slams UPA and UP government

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Alleging a serious threat to the life of party supremo Mayawati, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Friday trained its guns on the Congress-led UPA government and said that if something wrong happened to their leader, the union government would be responsible for it.

Addressing a press conference here, the BSP’s state president and leader of opposition Swamy Prasad Maurya said the state and union governments had ganged up against their leader and were downsizing her security.

Osama dumped 320 km off Indian coast

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A US treasure hunter claims to have found the exact spot where Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden’s body was dumped — about 320 km off the Indian coast of Gujarat.

Bill Warren, 60, claims to have identified the place in the Arabian Sea where the body was dumped by US forces after killing him at his hideout in Abbottabad in Pakistan a year ago.

He said Osama’s body was flung into the water about 200 miles (320 km) west of Surat in Gujarat.

He said he could pinpoint the location after studying satellite images given to him by a source at the Pentagon, the Daily Mail reported Friday.

Singhvi seeks leave for rest of budget session

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Allegedly caught on CD with a woman, former Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi has taken leave for the entire second half of parliament’s budget session citing ill health.

Singhvi, a Rajya Sabha member, sought leave claiming “illness and family commitment” from April 24 to May 22. The leave has been granted.

Another Rajya Sabha member, T. Subbarami Reddy, also sought permission to remain absent from April 25 to May 22.

Singhvi has not attended the upper house in this budget session except for a brief appearance when parliament opened April 24.

N-armed Pakistan, Iran threat to Russia

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A nuclear-armed Pakistan, Iran and North Korea could potentially trigger regional chain reaction that may threaten Russian security, a former Russian intelligence official has said.

“Even if Iran, Pakistan and North Korea are not Russian adversaries, their current and projected nuclear potential could destabilise the regional situation,” Vyacheslav Trubnikov, former director of the Foreign Intelligence Service, stated in an article.

TDP to abide by Centre’s decision on Telangana

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The Telugu Desam Party has reiterated that it was not against Telangana and would abide by whatever decision the Central government took on the issue.

Briefing reporters after the party’s politburo meeting chaired by president N Chandrababu Naidu here today, former union minister K Yerran Naidu said there was no change in the TDP’s stand on Telangana.

“The TDP is not against Telangana. It is for the Government of India to take a decision on the statehood issue and we will abide by it,” Yerran Naidu said.

Shilpa, Malaika’s figure impressed Jacqueline

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Sri Lankan actress Jacqueline Fernandez, known for her fitness regime, claims she was impressed by Malaika Arora Khan and Shilpa Shetty’s figure.

“When I first came to this industry, two people who impressed were Malaika and Shilpa. They have been able to maintain themselves. They both are healthy and fit. Malaika is also a mother. These two people impressed me a lot,” Jacqueline told reporters Friday at the unveiling of Women Health magazine.

The actress says she enjoys yoga more than gymming.

Bhanu’s judicial remand extended till May 18

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A criminal court in Nampally on Friday extended the judicial remand of Malishetty Bhanu Kiran, the prime accused in the murder of factionist Gangula Suryanarayana Reddy alias Suri, till May 18.

The court took this decision when the CID officials produced Bhanu Kiran in the court following expiry of his police custody. Following the directions of court, the officials shifted Bhanu Kiran to Cherlapally jail.

Girl gang raped in basement of Ghaziabad mall

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A girl was lured to a shopping mall in Ghaziabad, dragged inside a Scorpio SUV by three youths, driven to the basement of the mall and gang raped inside the car, police said Friday.

Although the incident occurred Thursday, it came to light only Friday after police registered the case.

Police said the girl was invited to a breakfast meeting by a friend, a girl, to EDM Mall situated on the Delhi-Ghaziabad border. When the girl went to the mall, she was joined by her friend and three youths. The five had breakfast at a food joint.

Botsa confident of Congress victory in by-polls

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Expressing confidence over winning the ensuing by-elections with a huge majority, Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana on Friday stated that the High Command would announce the final list of aspirants in a day or two.

Talking to media persons at Gandhi Bhavan, Botsa Satyanarayana said that Congress president Sonia Gandhi has to give her approval for the aspirants list. “After Sonia Gandhi’s approval, the list will be announced,” he stated while adding that there might be some changes in candidates, if Sonia Gandhi suggests the same.

Low testosterone raises risk of diabetes

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Men with low levels of testosterone could be at greater risk of developing diabetes, a study has said.

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh found low testosterone levels are linked to a resistance to insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar levels.

Testosterone is present throughout the body and low levels are associated with increased obesity, a known risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes, Daily Mail reported.

But scientists said the study provides evidence of increased risk “even when body mass is not affected”.

BJP to contest from all 18 seats in by-polls

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Bharatiya Janata Party state president G Kishan Reddy announced that the party has decided to contest from all 18 Assembly constituencies in the ensuing by-elections.

Talking to media persons at party office at Nampally, he said that the party would take a decision on fielding its candidates from 18 constituencies after discussing the issue in the Core Committee meeting. He said that the list of aspirants would also be finalized in the same meeting.

Man kills puppy with hammer

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A man in Britain, furious after finding his eight-year-old daughter bitten by his pet dog, battered it to death with a hammer.

Gary Wills, 47, waited seven hours before deciding to kill his puppy — a Jack Russell — himself rather than going to a vet. The dog died in agony from a broken skull after being clubbed “several times”, the court heard.

A father of four, Wills admitted before the court that he failed to ensure an animal’s welfare and told investigators he “lost it” when the pet left his eight-year-old daughter “covered in blood”, The Sun reported.

SC order in Yeddyurappa case next week

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The Supreme Court will pass an order next week on the recommendation of a green panel seeking a CBI probe into donations by mining firms to an NGO owned by relatives of former Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa.

The apex court forest bench of Chief Justice S.H. Kapadia, Justice Aftab Alam and Justice Swatanter Kumar gave time till Saturday evening to Yeddyurappa’s senior counsel V. Giri to submit documents on court proceedings on cases recommended by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) on environmental matters for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe.

Clinton’s visit: India, US to discuss Afghanistan, Iran, n-deal

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India and the US are set to discuss a host of global issues, including Afghanistan and Iran, and the progress in implementing their bilateral civil nuclear deal when US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton holds talks with Indian leaders here Tuesday.

Clinton begins her three-day visit to India, perhaps her farewell visit to the country as the US’s top diplomat, from Kolkata Sunday after a trip to Dhaka and Beijing.

15 die in Pakistan suicide bombing

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Fifteen people were killed and 40 wounded when a suicide bomber walked into a market and triggered a massive explosion in Pakistan’s northwest, a media report said.

The attacker targeted security forces conducting checks at Khar Bazaar in Bajaur Agency, part of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Geo News reported.

Panic spread in the area after the deafening blast led to the collapse of several shops.

A senior official said it was a suicide attack and four policemen were among the dead.

India will grow at 8-10 percent in coming years: Mukherjee

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Dismissing all talk of policy inertia, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Friday asserted that the government is focussed on recovering the growth momentum in the economy and India will grow at a sustained 8-10 percent in coming years on the back of strong fundamentals.

“I am confident that the strong fundamentals of our economy will help us return to a sustained growth path of 8 to 10 per cent per annum in the coming years,” Mukherjee said at the annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) here.

Court refuses to stay honorarium to Imams

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The Calcutta High Court Friday, while hearing a public interest litigation filed by the BJP, refused to stay the payment of honorarium by the West Bengal government to Imams till the suit is pending in the court.

The PIL challenges the honorarium on the ground of a Supreme Court directive which states that salary to an Imam can be paid only from the state Wakf board fund.

Gay bar bans straight couples from kissing

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A gay bar in Denmark has caused an uproar by banning heterosexual couples from kissing while visiting the premises, Daily Mail reported Friday.

Gay news service Pink News reports that the Never Mind bar in Copenhagen has confirmed that it does not allow heterosexual displays of public affection, and will ask offending “straights” to leave the bar if they pucker up.

The owner of the bar, Christian Carlsen, said the ruling was not aimed at discriminating against straight people – but protecting the gay clients.

‘Personal reasons may have driven Dana to suicide’

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Denying any evidence of racial bias against MBA student Dana Sangma, officials at the Amity University Friday said personal reasons could have driven the 21-year-old to commit suicide.

“There is a feedback that Dana Sangma was using her phone continuously for a few days, sometimes throughout the night before the incident. She was also seen crying in the hallway,” said Savita Mehta, vice-president (communications), Amity Group.

“There may be some personal reasons that led to big mental pressure on Dana. These reasons may emerge further in the course of the investigation,” Mehta added.

Job interview in hotel ends in rape

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A security guard pleaded not guilty to charges that he raped a 29-year-old maid whom he promised to find a job with a higher salary.

The 26-year-old defendant, identified as M.H., was also charged with illegal consumption of alcohol after he allegedly induced the victim, identified as S.A., to drink liquor.

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Angelina Jolie wants to gain weight before wedding

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Angelina Jolie reportedly wants to gain 10 pounds before her wedding.

The svelte actress is set to tie the knot with her partner of seven years Brad Pitt this summer and is keen to put on a bit of weight as she wants some curves to fill out her dress.

So she and Brad – who raise six children together – have reportedly asked British chef Jamie Oliver to give her recipes for hearty yet healthy meals.