Month: September 2012

US Embassy announces new visa processing system

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Indians applying for US visa can now look forward to a hassle-free process with the US Embassy today announcing a new visa processing system that simplifies fee payment and appointment schedules for the travel document.

The new system that will come into effect from September 26 will allow applicants to pay the visa application fees through Electronic Fund Transfer or with their mobile phones and collect their documents from 33 document pick-up locations in the country.

Cancer once made Chavez consider leaving politics

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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez acknowledged Tuesday that he thought about abandoning public life after discovering he had cancer in June 2011, for which he had to be operated three times.

“At a certain moment I began to think that, yes, that I’d have to leave the political arena, but thank God here I am all recovered,” Chavez, 58, said in an interview on Caracas radio station Fiesta 106.5.

The Leftist head of state, who took office in 1999, said that he feels well and takes good care of himself, exercising, studying a lot and carrying out his duties as president.

Chidambaram undergoes successful operation

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Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram has undergone a successful ‘hernia repair laparoscopic procedure’ and is recovering well, a hospital bulletin said Wednesday.

The Minister underwent the procedure last evening, the bulletin issued by Apollo Hospital, where he was admitted yesterday, said.

“He is recovering well and will be discharged within a day,” it added.

–PTI

Japan to buy disputed islands

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The Japanese government is in talks to buy the disputed Diaoyu Islands from a family that claims to own them, media reports said Wednesday.

The central government has reached an agreement to pay 2.05 billion yen ($26.15 million) for the purchase of part of the chain of the islands in the East China Sea, reported Xinhua.

Kyodo reported that the government and the Kurihara family will exchange an official contract on the purchase possibly by the end of this month.

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Nagahama had secretly negotiated with a member of the Kurihara family Monday.

Pak realises it is time to befriend India: Amin Mughal

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Pakistan’s establishment has realised that it is now time for it to befriend India so that it may thrust forward in central Asia, a leading Pakistani intellectual and political activist has said.

“Pakistan establishment has realized that it is time now to befriend India so that they may thrust forward in Central Asia,” Professor Amin Mughal said at a function organised to launch Subhash Chopra’s book ‘Partition, South Asia after bin Laden, Jihad and Peace’ at the Nehru centre here.

12 shops, five houses gutted in fire

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Twelve shops and five houses were gutted in a fire at Thippirajapuram village Wednesday but there were no casualties, police said.

A cowshed was also destroyed in the fire.

Police suspect that spark from garbage that was being burnt might have triggered the fire.

Fire tenders from Valangaiman rushed to the spot and put off the fire which occurred at 2 am.

The estimated loss of articles and goods has been put at Rs 30 lakh, sources said, adding, reason for the fire is under investigation.

–PTI

No clear Pakistani policy on terror: Daily

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There is “no clear state policy in sight” on terrorism, said a leading Pakistani daily that called upon the media to form a narrative that is independent of the state’s and is based on factual reporting.

An editorial in the Dawn Wednesday said that the extent to which extremist groups have managed to proliferate in Pakistan and the impunity with which they operate pose challenges on many fronts.

Pak: Court notice to Zardari on dual office case

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Amid controversy over Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari’s dual office, the Lahore High Court Wednes issued a notice to him to explain by September 14 why he had not followed its direction to relinquish the political post of co-chairman of the ruling PPP.

A four-judge bench headed by the High Court Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandial issued the notice to the President through his Principal Secretary.

“We ask the President to tell the court as to why he did not follow the High Court’s direction of leaving political office of his party,” Bandial said.

Amir targeting 2015 return to international cricket

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Pakistan`s banned pacer Mohammad Amir is hoping to be allowed back in international cricket in 2015, when he would complete a minimum five-year ban for his role in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal that shook the game.

The 20-year old, appearing in his first television interview to a Pakistani channel on Tuesday, insisted he has learnt from his mistakes.

Religion, superstition very much part of Bollywood: Bipasha

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Defending Bollywood’s fondness for visiting shrines and temples ahead of film releases, actress Bipasha Basu says religion and superstition are very much part of the industry.

Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar along with lead actor Kareena Kapoor decided to launch the music of his forthcoming film “Heroine” at Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai, causing a stampede like situation.

Special dividend for Reliance Capital shareholders: Anil Ambani

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Reliance Capital Chairman Anil Ambani announced a special dividend for shareholders, and said the company is in talks to sell a 26 percent stake to strategic partners in its general insurance business.

The special dividend, to be considered by the company’s Board on September 10, is being given for completion of 25 years of his group’s financial services arm Reliance Capital.

In-laws torture woman over girl child

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A 28-year-old woman from Maharashtra’s Beed district, infamous for high incidence of female foeticide, has registered a case of harassment against her husband and in-laws after she was allegedly tortured for years and subsequently driven out of home for having a girl child, police said on Wednesday.

According to a complaint filed on September 1 by Parveen Shaikh, she was continuously harassed by her in-laws soon after her marriage to Matin Shaikh Sattar of Devdahiphal village in Dharur tehsil here in 2007.

Gold sets new record at Rs 31,980 per 10 gms

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Continuing its upward swing, gold on Wednesday surged to a new all-time high of Rs 31,980 per 10 grams in the national capital on sustained buying by stockists amid a firming global trend.

The precious metal, which has been setting new records for the last two weeks, spurted by Rs 130 to Rs 31,980 per 10 grams on brisk buying by stockists for the upcoming marriage season and some investors shifting their funds to bullion from melting equity markets.

New visa regime to top India-Pakistan talks

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India and Pakistan will discuss the roadmap of bilateral relations when their foreign ministers meet in Islamabad Saturday, with a new visa regime likely to top the agenda.

Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna arrives in Islamabad Friday for talks with his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar.

A high point of the three-day visit could be the signing of a visa pact, but the two sides have not given a final confirmation.

India’s services sector growth jumps to 6-month high in August

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India’s services sector growth improved in August – registering the fastest pace in six months – as the segment continued to show “resilience” amid sagging economic scenario, an HSBC survey said.

The HSBC’s Services Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for August inched upwards to 55, from 54.2 in July. The index has kept above the 50-mark below which it indicates contraction, since November 2011.

It is not about the money: Cristiano Ronaldo

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Cristiano Ronaldo has dismissed the notion that his post-match declaration of “sadness” on Sunday evening was related to a desire for a new and improved contract at Real Madrid.

The 27-year-old scored a double as Los Blancos beat Granada 3-0, but Ronaldo`s refusal to celebrate his 149th and 150th goals for the club stole the headlines.

In a statement on his personal Twitter account the 27-year-old added further mystery as to the source of his apparent dismay in the Spanish capital, while insisting he would continue to give his all for Madrid.

Fire at cracker factory in Sivakasi 33 killed, 70 injured

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A major fire broke out at a firecracker factory in Sivakasi killing at least 30 people and injuring 70 others with scores others trapped in the raging inferno.

The fire started after an explosion inside the Om Siva Sakthi Fireworks factory at around 12.30 pm today afternoon.

As per a report, nearly 40 of the 48 sheds in the sprawling warehouse had been destroyed in the blaze even as rescue workers are finding it difficult to carry out their operation due to the thick smoke that has engulfed the whole area.

Sachin Tendulkar not finished as yet: Manjrekar

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With age not on his side, Sachin Tendulkar has become vulnerable to full length deliveries but he is “not finished” as yet and is still good enough to score runs at the highest level, feels former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar.

Tendulkar, 40, was bowled thrice in four innings in the just concluded India-New Zealand Test series, prompting many to announce his end as a quality batsman.

Manjrekar felt that Tendulkar still adds value to Indian batting line-up and he must be a part of the Indian side which will tour South Africa in November.

US Open: Victoria Azarenka defeats defending champion Samantha Stosur

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Victoria Azarenka defeated defending champion Samantha Stosur 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (5) to move to the semi-final of the US Open on Tuesday.

Victoria Azarenka kept chiding herself: “Don`t be a chicken.”

So when she faced a break point against the defending US Open champion late in the final set, Azarenka didn`t care that she hadn`t hit an ace all day. She knocked a booming serve down the middle, the ball barely clipping the line out of Sam Stosur`s reach.

Pushed to the limit, the world`s top-ranked player hung tough in Tuesday`s quarterfinals for a victory in a third-set tiebreaker.

‘Malware spread fastest in last 4 years; 1.5mn more in Apr-Jun’

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Software security provider McAfee on Wednesday said spread of malware was the fastest in the last four years and there were 1.5 million more of such malicious software in the April-June quarter of this year.

“Unique malware samples in our ‘zoo’ collection number 1.5 million more this quarter than last. At this rate we will almost certainly see 100 million samples by next quarter and possibly the first 10-million-sample quarter,” McAfee threats report said.

Improve quality of education: Prez on Teachers Day

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Honouring meritorious teachers with the national award on Teachers Day, President Pranab Mukherjee Wednesday said it is important to improve the quality of education in the country.

“To build the India of our dreams, the first and foremost task before us is to improve the quality of education,” Mukherjee said in his speech at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The day is celebrated every year on Sep 5, marking the birthday of India’s first vice president and second president, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.

A single abortion can up risk of premature birth in future

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Aborting first-time pregnancies can increase the future risk of premature births by 37 per cent, a new study has claimed.

Researchers from the University of Aberdeen found that women who terminate their first pregnancy could be risking not only their own health but also that of their next baby, the Daily Mail reported.

The study carried out on 6,20,000 Scottish women between 1981 and 2007 found that women who had up to four abortions were no more at risk of premature births than those who had just one.

13 more die due to encephalitis; toll 238

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With encephalitis claiming 13 more lives, the death toll due to the disease in eastern Uttar Pradesh has mounted to 238 this year, health officials said here today.

Additional Director (Health) Diwakar Prasad said that two children each from Gorakhpur and Sant Kabir Nagar, and one each from Kushinagar, Deoria and Bihar died at Baba Raghav Das Medical College Hospital (BRD MCH) yesterday.

Six deaths occurred on Sunday, he said, adding that all 13 deaths occurred at the BRD MCH here.

Hadith (5-9-2012)

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Hadith 1:3 Narrated ‘Hazrat Aisha (the mother of the faithful believers): The commencement of the Divine Inspiration to Allah’s Apostle was in the form of good dreams which came true like bright day light, and then the love of seclusion was bestowed upon him. He used to go in seclusion in the cave of Hira where he used to worship (Allah alone) continuously for many days before his desire to see his family.

Kareena Kapoor set to reveal her fashion secrets in a new tell-all book

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Glamorous leading Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor, is set to reveal her fashion and beauty secrets in a new book releasing this December.

In “Style Diary of a Bollywood Diva,” scheduled to hit stands this year end, Kareena takes readers into her fabulous life giving insights into her style, fitness and beauty, Fondly known as Bebo, the actress writes about her journey from a chubby teenager who accompanied actress and elder sister Karisma on shoots into one of the hottest leading ladies in tinsel town, according to publishers Penguin Books India.