Month: July 2012

‘Obama-Manmohan’s working relations fantastic’

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US President Barack Obama has developed a “fantastic working relationship” with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a senior administration official has said, asserting that the US recognises “importance” of India as a key regional and global power.

“President Obama developed a fantastic working relationship with Prime Minister Singh that you’re well aware of. We recognise importance of India as an important regional and global power, and this why we are keenly interested in continuing to grow that relationship,” Mike Hammer, Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, said on Thursday.

Arbaaz and my son keep me updated about technology: Malaika

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Actress Malaika Arora Khan says the two men in her life — husband Arbaaz Khan and son Arhaan — keep her well-informed about new technology.

“Arbaaz is very eager about any new product that’s in the market and I can definitely say that I go to him to find out and ask (about technology). But apart from that, about browsing and learning new things, I think my son,” the 38-year-old said here.

“Between the two men in my life, I think they keep me pretty abreast with everything there is to know in technology,” she added.

She spoke on the sidelines of the launch of a 3D tablet Swipe.

Over 1 mn guests stayed in Abu Dhabi hotels

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About 1.1 million guests stayed in hotels in the emirate of Abu Dhabi during the first six months of 2012, up by 14 percent, compared to the same period last year, it was announced Thursday.

Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA) data show that 1,189,995 guests checked into hotels across the emirate during the period.

“This is a very encouraging performance which leaves us well on track to attain our yearly target of 2.3 million guests,” said Mubarak Al Muhairi, director general of TCA.

‘Heroine’ not inspired by anyone’s life: Bhandarkar

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Director Madhur Bhandarkar, who is looking forward to the release of his ambitious project ‘Heroine’, says though the film is realistic, it is difficult to say whose life inspired it.

Kareena plays the role of superstar Mahi, who goes through various phases of an actress’ life.

“I am not saying it is not inspired by Bollywood or Hollywood. There is inspiration. But it is difficult to pinpoint one particular person,” Bhandarkar told reporters here at the first look of the film here this evening.

Suri Cruise named world’s most stylish child

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Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes six-year-old Suri has been named the world’s ‘Most Stylish Child’, beating the likes of Blue Ivy Carter, Harlow Madden and Harper Beckham.
Suri, whose parents are going through divorce, topped a poll by family-gifting site as organisers were impressed with her stunning wardrobe, which includes lots of dresses and mini high-heels, reported Sun online.

The six-year-old, whose wardrobe is rumoured to be worth USD 2 million, has beaten Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z’s baby daughter, Blue Ivy, into second place while Will and Jada Smith’s girl, Willow, came third.

Russia to get first Muslim TV channel in August

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(IANS/RIA Novosti) The first Muslim TV channel in Russia, Al-RTV, will go on air in August, an official said Wednesday.

Damir Mukhetdinov, first deputy chair of the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of European Russia, said the project will be financed through “personal savings of the Al-RTV project’s founders, and donations from individuals and businesses”.

“Possibly there will also be some state support,” he said.

The channel will be included in a bundle of satellite channels broadcast by Tricolor TV, Russia’s most popular satellite TV operator.

Pakistani mindset positive: Krishna‎

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There is a positive change in the mindset of Pakistani people vis-a-vis relations with India, External Affairs Minister SM Krishna said on Thursday, citing his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar.

Khar made the remark in a recent meeting, said Krishna, after electronically inaugurating the Jammu Passport Sewa Kendra (PSK) and laying the foundation-stone of the Passport Bhavan in Srinagar, along with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

16 Amarnath pilgrims killed as truck falls into gorge

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At least 16 people on their way back from the Amarnath pilgrimage were killed and 20 injured when the truck in which they were travelling rolled into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district early Friday. With this, the death toll during this year’s Amarnath Yatra has risen to more than 115.

The truck skidded off the road and fell into the gorge near Pappad Morh in Samba district, about 75 km from here, late Thursday.

The injured have been shifted to hospital for treatment, a police officer said.

Tiwari files appeal against order to open his DNA report in HC

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In his appeal, 87-year-old Tiwari has pleaded with the court to protect his “right to reputation,” contending that the single-judge bench has adopted a “shortcut” to decide the suit and it would cause “grave injustice” to him.

“The single judge failed to appreciate that in a civil dispute, where the undisputed position of the parties is that no criminality is involved, the appellant’s (Tiwari) right to reputation has to be protected,” said Tiwari citing the Supreme Court’s May 24 order.

President Pranab Mukherjee on Facebook

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The country’s new President Pranab Mukherjee will now be on social networking site Facebook.

The move to take the plunge into cyberspace came a day after Mukherjee was sworn-in as the 13th President of the country.

According to official sources today, the President’s Facebook account will provide a platform for people to air their grievances with an assurance that genuine issues would be addressed.

The President’s daily engagements will be on the popular networking site which will also carry photographs of important events.

Hina Rabbani Khar to visit Sri Lanka in Aug

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Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar will visit Sri Lanka during August 1-3 to review progress in bilateral ties and to identify areas for strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

Khar will visit Sri Lanka at the invitation of Foreign Minister GL Peiris.

“During the visit, the two sides will review progress in bilateral relations and identify areas for further strengthening bilateral cooperation in a comprehensive manner,” the Foreign Office said in a statement issued today.

19 killed as forces clash with militants

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Militants downed an Iraqi Army helicopter on Thursday in clashes that have killed at least 19 people including 11 policemen, a regional official said, in what appeared to be part of an al Qaeda surge to retake one of its former strongholds.

The fighting around the town of Hadid, about 10 kilometres north of the Diyala provincial capital of Baqouba, follows a warning last weekend from al-Qaida’s leader in Iraq to push back into areas the group was driven out of by the US military after sectarian fighting peaked in 2007.

Web portal launched to help victims of ragging

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Victims of ragging can now get early redress by registering their complaints on a web portal, inaugurated by Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal today.

The Minister assured early action on complaints of ragging and strict punishment to the guilty.

Once a complaint is registered, there would be an automatic reference to a helpline, and if the complaint is of very serious nature, it would be transferred to the district magistrate’s office.

Modi’s statement draws Congress ire

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(Siasat News)Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s Statement to the Urdu weekly Nai Duniya, edited by the Samajwadi Party’s Shahid Siddiqui on the riots in 2002, has drawn fire from the Congress.

Narendra Modi in his interview said that he should be hanged in public in such a way that it remains a lesson for the next 100 years so that nobody dares to do such crime if he found to be guilty.

He also said that if he is guilty why no FIR had been ever lodge against him since 10 years.

US has very important relationship with India

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“We have a very important relationship with India,” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters at his daily news conference responding to questions on recent cover story by the Time magazine in which Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was described as an “underachiever”.

“What President (Barack Obama) thinks of India’s Prime Minister Manmohan or his relationship with him?” Carney was asked.

“I haven’t had that conversation with him. I mean, we have a very important relationship with India, as you know, but I haven’t had that conversation with him lately,” Carney responded.

TN school girl death: Motor vehicle inspector arrested

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Tamil Nadu police have arrested a motor vehicle inspector for issuing fitness certificate for a defective school bus that resulted in the death of a six-year-old girl here a day ago.

In a statement issued late Thursday, the government said the police have arrested motor vehicle inspector, P. Rajasekaran, posted at Tambaram office in the city suburb for serious lapse in issuing fitness certificate without properly inspecting the vehicle.

The government has also ordered a detailed enquiry by Deputy Transport Commissioner P. Vijayaraj.

Rajasekaran is also suspended from his service.

Guwahati:Amar remanded to 5 days PC

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Amar Jyoti Kalita, prime accused in the molestation of a girl on July 9 outside a pub, was remanded to five days police custody on Thursday.

Kalita, who was arrested on July 23 in Varanasi and brought here yesterday on a transit remand, was today produced amidst tight security before the Kamrup Chief Judicial Magistrate SK Moitra.

Moitra after hearing the petition of both Kalita’s lawyer B D Konwar and Public Prosecutor Minoti Saikia, remanded the accused to five days police custody. Kalita will be produced next before the CJM on July 30.

Sonia says only education can develop India

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All India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi today said only education can take the country on the path of development. “It is only education that can bring advancement in the nation,” Ms Gandhi said after laying foundation stone for the strengthening and broadening of the two-phase Lucknow-Allahabad national highway during the first day of her two-day visit to her Parliamentary constituency Rai Bareli.

‘I was pushed from running train for refusing sex’: Victim

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‘They jostled me, dragged me and invited me for sex by offering Rs 300 and when I refused, they pushed me out of a moving train on July 24 night,’ 19-year-old Asha revealed today.

Narreting the incident to media in the Hospital where she is undergoing treatement, Asha said that she was proceeding to Mysore to visit her grandmother while the four accused, who boarded the bogie at Kengeri started, teased her to which she did not react.

The accused resorted to making suggesting gestures before finally offering Rs 300 for sex to which she repeatedly refused and scolded them.

CM should expel tainted ministers: CPI

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Communist Party of India (CPI) Andhra Pradesh Unit Secretary K Narayana today demanded that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy must expel all the tainted ministers in his cabinet immediately. Talking to newspersons here, he demanded resignation from Secondary Education Minister K Parthasarathi, who has been convicted by the Special Court for Economic Offences at Nampally for FERA violations yesterday. The court has awarded simple imprisonment for two months and a fine of Rs 5.25 lakh.

Don’t follow BCCI blindly: Mani urges PCB

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Welcoming the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB)move to resume bilateral cricketing ties with India, former International Cricket Council (ICC) chief Ehsan Mani today urged the board to refrain from blindly following the BCCI without putting forward their own point of view. “It is concerning to see that the BCCI solely took the decision. Their working committee discussed it and their board decided it on their own without consulting the PCB. They blindly followed what the BCCI conveyed to them.

Over 1 mn guests stayed in Abu Dhabi hotels

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About 1.1 million guests stayed in hotels in the emirate of Abu Dhabi during the first six months of 2012, up by 14 percent, compared to the same period last year, it was announced Thursday.

Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA) data show that 1,189,995 guests checked into hotels across the emirate during the period.

“This is a very encouraging performance which leaves us well on track to attain our yearly target of 2.3 million guests,” said Mubarak Al Muhairi, director general of TCA.

Faulty ATM starts paying “free money”

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A faulty ATM in the UK started dispensing double the amount requested as people squabbled with each other to avail the sudden windfall.

Police were called to calm crowds that had gathered after the cash machine at the Nacton Road Lloyds TSB in Ipswich started dispensing “free money”.

A spokesman for Lloyds TSB said it would be difficult to trace the customers affected and said it was unlikely they would try to reclaim the money.

Some 30 people are thought to have benefited from the glitch.

Speaker Assures To Get Rs 200 Crores To Tackle Fluoride Problem In Nalgonda

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Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar reportedly assured Nalgonda district Collector Mukthyeshwar Rao that he would talk to the Finance department for allocation of Rs 200 crores to solve the chronic fluoride problem in Nalgonda district.

It may be recalled that the members of House Committee on Wildlife and Environment, led by the Speaker visited the fluoride affected villages in the first half of this month.

Congress Won’t Strengthen By Changing CM: Damodar Reddy

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Congress senior leader and former minister Damodar Reddy has said that Congress could not be strengthened by simply changing the Chief Minister.

Talking to the media here on Thursday, Reddy said that changing or otherwise of the Chief Minister was in the hands of the party high command and not any one in the State.

Referring to the report of the Ministers’ Committee headed by Dharmana Prasada Rao on strengthening of the party, he questioned how the people, who could not ensure victory of the party in their own districts can give suggestions.