Month: September 2012

Deadly mice-borne virus spreads in US national park

by

A deadly virus carried by mice – that causes an incurable lung disease known as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome – has been spreading from California’s Yosemite National Park, a British media report said Sunday.

Two men have died from the disease, and four have survived, the Daily Express reported citing the US’ Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

Although four million people visit Yosemite every year, the area of contagion is believed to be confined to a popular camping spot known as “Curry Village”.

Priety Zinta’s ‘Ishkq In Paris’ wraps up

by

Actress Priety Zinta is happy that her debut production “Ishkq In Paris” is wrapped up and she thanked the cast and crew for their support.

“Finally we wrap ‘Ishkq In Paris’ shooting! Movie is finally over. Cannot believe it! Thank you everyone,” tweeted the 37-year-old.

Directed by Prem Soni, who earlier worked with Preity Zinta in the Salman Khan-starrer “Main Aur Mrs. Khanna”, “Ishkq In Paris” also features Arjun Rampal and French actress Isabelle Adjani.

The movie will also see TV actor Gaurav Chanana in a pivotal role.

The film releases Oct 5.

——IANS

Not length, strength of role matters: Jackie Shroff

by

After working for over 30 years in filmdom and giving some of the greatest blockbusters like “Hero”, “Ram Lakhan” and “Gardish”, Jackie Shroff doesn’t worry about length of a role anymore.

“It’s not the length but the strength of the role that matters. Even if there are two scenes in a movie, if the scene has strength, I would do it,” Jackie told IANS.

Jackie will seen as a journalist in Dutch director Laurens Postma’s “Cover Story”, being produced by Glorious Entertainment.

European arrest warrant issued for paedophile priest

by

Police in London have obtained a European arrest warrant for a Catholic priest accused of child sex offences, the Telegraph reported Sunday.

Father Laurence Soper is wanted over allegations of child abuse dating back to when he taught at St. Benedict’s School, a private Catholic school part of Ealing Abbey in London.

Soper, who was abbot of the abbey from 1991 to 2000, was believed to be in a monastery in Rome, and was due to return to London to answer bail in March last year.

He failed to show up, which sparked a police hunt.

BJP leaders to sit on fast to press demand for Telangana

by

Pressing for a separate Telangana, BJP leaders from Andhra Pradesh will sit on a three-day fast demanding that the central government introduce a bill in Parliament to carve out a separate state.

Andhra Pradesh BJP unit Chief G Kishan Reddy told reporters in Delhi that he along with several of his supporters will sit on a three-day fast at Jantar Mantar from Monday.

Senior BJP leaders LK Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley among others are expected to address the gathering at the fast venue over the three-day period.

PM can’t resign just because opposition creates ruckus: Digvijay Singh

by

Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh on Sunday said BJP was misleading the people over the coal allocation issue, and it should have a debate in the Parliament instead of seeking Prime Minister’s resignation.

“If the prime minister or a chief minister is changed merely because of the ruckus created by the opposition, would the democracy be able to function? I appeal the BJP to stop pressing for PM’s resignation and discuss the issue in the House as per the Parliamentary traditions,” Digvijay said, speaking at the Indore Press Club.

Baby in pram falls into Thames

by

A five-month-old baby boy suffered head injuries when his pram plunged into the Thames, the Daily Mail reported.

The baby’s father was taking him and another child for a walk along the river near Laleham in Surrey when the incident took place Friday.

Witnesses saw the pram go over the edge of the river and rushed to help the father save the child.

Paramedics were called to the scene and the child taken to hospital. It was unclear how the baby ended up in the water. The father was questioned by police but not arrested.

Sex before marriage hampers healthy relationship

by

Couples who have sex before marriage are less likely to have long and happy relationships, a study has found.

Researchers from New York’s Cornell University say it is better to abstain early on in a courtship or build up a gradual sexual relationship, according to the Daily Mail.

The study looked at the effects of sex before marriage, and found that early sexual satisfaction stunts the development of key ingredients of a healthy relationship, including caring and understanding.

One more terror suspect held in Bangalore, total now 13

by

Karnataka Police have arrested one more person with alleged links to Pakistan-based terror outfits LeT and HuJI, taking the number of people detained in the state in the last five days to 13, a police officer said Sunday.

Mohammed Akram, 22, was arrested late Saturday in Bangalore city centre when he was trying to leave the state, Bangalore Police Commissioner B. G. Jyothiprakash Mirji told reporters here.

A foreign-made 7.65 mm pistol and 16 cartridges were seized from Akram who hails from Nanded in Maharashtra, Mirji said.

BJP’s Deeksha on Telangana from Monday in New Delhi

by

The leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party will sit on a three-day Deeksha (fast) from Monday demanding that the Centre introduce a Bill in Parliament for formation of Telangana State.

Talking to reporters here, BJP State president G Kishan Reddy said that the several senior leaders would participate in the Deeksha to be held at Jantar Mantar. Senior BJP leaders LK Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley among others are expected to address the gathering at the fast venue over the three-day period.

Telangana announcement in a month, says Palwai

by

Rajya Sabha member Palwai Govardhan Reddy on Saturday stated that the Centre would announce formation of Telangana state within a month.

Talking to media persons , he said that the Congress party would stand by its stand on formation of Telangana state and honour its promise within a month. Once the coalgate scam issue is subsided, the Centre would focus its attention on Telangana statehood, he said.

Weak demand dampens business confidence: FICCI

by

Weak demand and slow economic growth has dampened business confidence in India, according to a survey conducted by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

Nearly 73 percent of the companies that participated in the survey reported weak demand to be a constraining factor during the first quarter of the current financial year, FICCI’s quarterly Business Confidence Survey for April-June 2012 revealed.

India’s economic growth may 6% : CII

by

A majority of CEOs are pessimistic about the Indian economy and feel that the gross domestic product (GDP) growth would fall below six percent in the current fiscal and will be in the range of 6 to 6.5 percent in 2013-14.

According to a snap poll conducted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) among the members of its National Council shows that a majority of chief executive officers (CEOs) remain pessimistic about the outlook for the economy in the current year and expect only a moderate recovery in the forthcoming year.

Ashwin strikes, Test poised for close finish

by

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin picked up his third five-wicket haul in four innings here Sunday to push the second Test against New Zealand on a knife edge.

Ashwin (5-69), who had a 12-wicket haul in the Hyderabad Test that India won by an innings and 115 runs, bowled quite beautifully to fox the Kiwi batsmen into errors as the visitors ended the day at 232 for nine, just 244 runs in front with two more days left in the Test.

Former internal security czar Arun Nehru faces graft charge

by

He was at one time the powerful boss of India’s internal security establishment, close to prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. Today Arun Nehru, who has been in political exile for nearly two decades, faces a 24-year-old Rs.25 lakh graft charge for wrongfully permitting the import of 9mm pistols for police forces.

The case dates to 1988. A special court here has rejected the closure report of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and initiated fresh proceedings against Nehru, who was minister of state for internal security in Gandhi’s government.

Raj Thackeray publicity-hungry: Nitish Kumar

by

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Sunday said that Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray is publicity-hungry and has nothing to do with democracy.

Reacting to Thackeray’s remarks last week that Biharis in Maharashtra were “infiltrators”, Nitish Kumar told reporters here: “Raj Thackeray has been doing all this for publicity and has nothing to do with democracy.”

Innocent children employed in Gudamba trade

by

Illicit liquor trade is thriving in Hyderabad. Gudamba mafia, to throw dust into the eyes of law, is employing innocent Muslim children in the Gudamba business. This has been revealed during a meeting with an official of department of excise and prohibition. It was also revealed that such gangs of gudamba sellers are active in the city which earns lakhs daily.

Minority Welfare minister conducts review meet, directs speedy completion of new Hajj House

by

A review meet was conducted under the chairmanship of Minister for Minority Welfare and Urdu Academy, Mohammed Ahmedullah, in which the minister directed, chairman Waqf Board Mr. Ghulam Afzal Biabani, chairman state Hajj Committee, secretary Minority Welfare Department, chief Executive Officer Waqf Board and other officials to expedite construction of new Hajj house near Shamsabad airport and provide basic facilities to the Hajj aspirants.

Siasat news

Eid Milap need of the hour, for communal harmony

by

At times when brothers are becoming each other’s enemies, it is being tried to disrupt country’s harmony in the name of religion and caste, communal forces are trying to get political mileage by polluting the peaceful atmosphere of the country, conducting this type of Eid Milap programmes is the need of the hour. These views were expressed by Mr. Ilyas Razvi managing director Andhra Pradesh Minority Finance Corporation while addressing a gathering at the Eid Milap programme hosted by Urdu Journalists Association at Dr. Khaja Moinuddin Hall Madina Education Centre, Nampally.

BJP agrees to debate if allocated coal blocks are cancelled

by

The BJP on Sunday said it could agree for a debate on the CAG report in Parliament if 142 coal block allocations, allegedly done in violation of the norms, were cancelled and a high level probe was instituted into the issue.

Talking to reporters here, BJP general secretary Vijay Goel said that the party could consider participating in a Parliamentary debate only if the two demands are immediately acceded to.

Sonia’s message to Congress workers: Fight BJP’s propaganda

by

Congress president Sonia Gandhi is unhappy over the way the lower rung party leadership has responded to the coal block allocation charges by the BJP and wants the party to brace for the larger political battle ahead and to fight BJP’s propaganda.