Month: May 2012

Ponguleti asks EC to ban leaders using foul language

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AICC Secretary and MLC Ponguleti Sudhakar on Tuesday took serious note on political leaders trading serious charges against each other during the campaign for the ensuing by-elections.

Talking to media persons at Gandhi Bhavan, Ponguleti Sudhakar said that the political leaders, in the name of election campaign, have been leveling baseless charges against each other and using the derogatory language damaging the party and personal image. “The leaders are leveling personal allegations against others in order to damage their image,” he stated.

Residents for statue of peace at the site of Osama’s compound

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Residents of Bilal town in the Pakistani garrison city of Abbottabad where Osama Bin Laden was killed last year have asked the government to build a “statue of peace” or a beautiful monument at the site of his compound to remind the world that there is no place for such a terrorist mastermind.
Ahead of the first anniversary of the death of the al-Qaeda chief on May 2, security forces have been put on high
alert across Pakistan to counter any possible terrorist attacks.

May 3 is last date for inter second year supplementary exam fee

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The Board of Intermediate Education on Tuesday informed that the last date for payment of examination fee for second year Advanced Supplementary Examinations will be May 3.

The Board told the Principals, students and parents that there would be no extension of date or payment with penalty and no Tatkal scheme will be available for supplementary examinations. (INN)

Vijaya Rao opposes Sumana’s candidature from Payakaraopeta

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All India Congress Committee member A Vijaya Rao on Tuesday expressed serious displeasure over the High Command’s decision to field Gantela Sumana from Payakaraopeta Assembly constituency in Visakhapatnam district.

In protest against the High Command’s decision, Vijaya Rao staged a sit-in dharna before the Gandhi Statue in Gandhi Bhavan premises.

Congress committed for workers’ welfare: DS

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Congress Coordination Committee member and MLC D Srinivas on Tuesday said that both the Centre and the State Governments were committed for the welfare of labour and have been implementing various schemes and programmes for their upliftment.

Congress finalises candidates for 15 assembly seats

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The Congress High Command on Tuesday finalized the list of 15 out of 18 candidates for the ensuing assembly by-elections in the State.

According to sources, the High Command is yet to take a decision on three Assembly constituencies of Polavaram, Parakala and Macherla.

BJP accuses govt of ‘failure’ to bring back black money

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Expressing concern over government’s “failure” to bring back Indian black money stashed abroad, BJP today wanted to know why the Centre was not taking up the matter with the Swiss authorities despite a change in laws there that allow sharing of such information.
“Earlier this year, Switzerland Government had passed RIA Act under which they will provide information about
Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs). Why is the UPA government not utilising this to get the required information? Is it intending to save any big political names?” BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy posed.

US students protest Israeli ambassador’s lecture

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A group of students from a university in the United States have shown their protest against Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Oren by leaving his lecture.

About 30 students at George Washington University, in Washington DC, raised signs and left the auditorium in silence on Monday night, Haaretz reported.

The ambassador was giving a lecture about “Ultimate Allies: Israel and the United States.”

IMF rejects call to cut ties with Iran

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The International Monetary Fund has rejected a call by a US-based anti-Iranian group to cut its ties with the Central Bank of Iran.

The IMF said on Tuesday that its relationship with the Central Bank of Iran is based on its constitution, noting that Iran’s membership does not contravene US or EU sanctions on Tehran, AFP reported.

Balakrishna To Campaign For TDP

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Noted actor Nandamuri Balakrishna, on Tuesday, said that he would campaign in the ensuing by-elections on behalf of the Telugu Desam Party.

Talking to media persons after participating in a program of nursing students at Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Institute, Balakrishna said that he would campaign for the Telugu Desam if the party directs him to do so.

Responding to a question on whether he would take the responsibility for the victory of the party’s candidates in the by-elections, he said that the electorate would decide candidates’ victory and defeat.

Sehwag smashes fifth consecutive 50 in Daredevils’ comprehensive win

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Virender Sehwag smashed a recording-breaking fifth consecutive fifty to help Delhi Daredevils breeze past Rajasthan Royals by six wickets in the Indian Premier League here Tuesday.

Daredevils captain Sehwag played a breathtaking knock of 73 off 38 balls, ensuring his team overcomes the 142-run target in 15.2 overs. With the scintillating knock, he also became the first batsman to score five consecutive half centuries in T20 cricket.

Charlie Sheen threatens to sue strip club

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Actor Charlie Sheen has threatened to sue bosses of a New York City strip club after they used his name to promote the venue without permission.

The executives at Cheetahs Gentlemen’s Club in Manhattan have named a VIP room in honour of Sheen, who is infamous for his wild ways. They have even decorated the booth with his pictures.

Sheen’s lawyer Marty Singer has sent a cease-and-desist letter demanding to have the actor’s name and image removed from the room.

I didn’t know I had another grandchild: Julio Iglesias

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Spanish Singer Julio Iglesias’s eldest daughter Chabeli gave birth to her second child, Sofia, but he knew nothing about the new addition in the family.

“I haven’t seen her yet. She’s in North Carolina. But I imagine that within a few days she’ll come to (my home in) Miami and we’ll all meet her. I think it was a surprise for everyone. I knew she was pregnant, but I must confess that I didn’t know of the birth until a month and a half later,” he told hellomagazine.com.

Sofia was born in January this year.

Obama signs cooperation pact with Afghanistan

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The US President Barack Obama signed a cooperation agreement with Afghanistan as he paid an unannounced visit to the war-torn country Tuesday on the first anniversary of the killing of Al Qaeda’s ex-chief Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.

“Afghanistan has a friend and a partner in the United States,” said Obama before he and Afghan President Hamid Karzai signed the Strategic Partnership Agreement outlining cooperation between their countries once the US-led international force withdraws in 2014, CNN reported.

Obama makes unannounced visit to Afghanistan

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US President Barack Obama arrived in Kabul late Tuesday on an unannounced visit to meet his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai, reported local media citing Afghan officials.

The US president is expected to sign a strategic partnership agreement with Afghanistan during this trip which coincides with the first anniversary of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden’s killing by US forces, Xinhua reported.

Osama was killed May 2, 2011 by US commandos who stormed his hideout in Pakistan’s Abbottabad city.

Bailable warrant issued against Bhatt

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A court in Jamkhambhalia on Tuesday issued bailable warrant against suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt for not appearing during the hearing of a case of alleged police atrocity, which had resulted in one death.

Sessions judge NT Solanki issued bailable warrants against Bhatt and four other police personnel who did not appear before the court which was to hear the case today.

Bhatt, who has filed an affidavit against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi alleging his role in 2002 riots, is fighting this case of custodial torture.

Bomb blast in Madurai ahead of Advani’s visit

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A low-intensity bomb rigged to a cycle exploded near an auditorium-cum-temple complex in Madurai in the wee hours on Tuesday, causing a security scare ahead of next week’s BJP state-level conference to be attended by senior leaders including LK Advani.

The explosion of the bomb placed in a box fitted to the cycle damaged the vehicle totally, police said, adding there was no casualty in the incident which occurred at around 3 am near the Gupta Auditorium housing a Ram temple.

Sena chief targets Anna, his key team members

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Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Tuesday said he will not meet social activist Anna Hazare as long as he is surrounded by key aides Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Kiran Bedi.
“Till Kejriwal, Sisodia and Kiran Bedi are part of Team Anna, I cannot think of meeting him (Hazare),” Thackeray told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Mumbai.

Woman gets 2 life terms for raping infant daughter

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A judge sentenced a Missouri woman to consecutive life prison terms for sexually assaulting her infant daughter along with a California man she met online.

Attorneys for 22-year-old Tessa Vanvlerah, of Ballwin, failed to persuade St Louis County Circuit Judge Colleen Dolan to sentence their client on Monday only to probation, because they argue that a psychological disorder is largely to blame for her crimes, the St Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Veena Malik and Rakhi in remakes of ‘The Dirty Picture’

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Drama queens Veena Malik and Rakhi Sawant are all set to storm the South and Bengal by starring in the Tollywood version of The Dirty Picture. The controversy’s favorite child, Veena Malik is seem to be slowly turning out to be a competitor for all Bollywood leading actresses .

Veena Malik is known for her sexy antics in the TV reality show, Bigg Boss, while Rakhi is known for her big mouth.

Rakhi says, Vidya has not done anything in The Dirty Picture. ” I will do better and hotter scenes in the Bengali remake”.

Assam ferry tragedy: 270 still missing, rescue operations on

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The toll in Monday’s Assam ferry tragedy, possibly India’s worst such accident, is estimated to be around 270, with the search and rescue parties failing to recover even a single missing person Tuesday, an official said.

Only 80 people could be rescued during the search and rescue operations, on since the accident in Dhubri district Monday evening, and most of the other estimated 350 passengers remained missing till Tuesday evening, the official said.

Jagga Reddy seeks Kondandaram, Ponnam’s apologies

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Government Whip Toorpu Jaya Prakash Reddy alias Jagga Reddy on Tuesday slammed pro-Telangana leaders for criticising Rajya Sabha MP Renuka Chowdhary.

Talking to reporters at the State Secretariat, Jagga Reddy condemned Telangana Political Joint Action Committee chairman Prof M Kondandaram for describing Renuka Chowdhary as a non-local. He said those not born in Telangana, too have a right to live in the region and Kondandaram was not empowered to question anyone’s credentials.