Month: September 2012

Two Pakistani Taliban leaders killed

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Two key commanders of the Pakistani Taliban have been killed in clashes with security forces in northwest Pakistan, the Dawn newspaper reported Sunday.

The clashes took place in Salarzai in Bajaur region. The Tehrik-i-Taliban commanders killed Saturday night were identified as Shahid Omar and Huzaifa.

Witnesses told Dawn about fierce fighting in Lakian, Batwar and Tendo Dak areas.

Two civilians were also killed when mortar shells reportedly fired from Afghanistan fell on a house in Nawagai region.

Child hurt in Pakistan quake

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A child was injured when the roof of a house collapsed after a magnitude 5.3 earthquake in Pakistan Sunday, Xinhua reported.

The earthquake was felt in Sibi city in Balochistan province, officials said.

—IANS

16 killed in Afghan terror attack

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Armed men opened indiscriminate fire and killed 16 civilians Sunday in northern Afghanistan to avenge a Taliban attack, Xinhua reports.

The attack took place in Kanam area of Kunduz city.

A witness said a group led by a man named Qadir carried out the attack in retaliation as Taliban militants killed one of his men late Saturday. Police said several people went missing after the attack.

—-IANS

US Open 2012: Roger Federer defeats Verdasco to enter 4th round

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Top-seeded Federer faced only a single break point in his 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory over No. 25 Fernando Verdasco on Saturday and won it with the longest point of the match – a 20-stroke rally he captured by moving Verdasco back and forth on the baseline until the Spaniard finally sprayed a forehand wide.

The rest of the time, Verdasco found Federer doing an unusual amount of damage at the net, closing out 26 of 27 points from the front court. Federer added that effort to the 32 points he won in 47 trips to the net two nights earlier in a second-round win over Bjorn Phau.

Bhojpuri films needs encouragement: Big B

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Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who is working free of cost in Bhojpuri film “Ganga Devi”, says regional films need support and that is why he never chargeas for such movies.

Big B’s make-up man Deepak Sawant has produced “Ganga Devi”.

The 69-year-old, who previously acted in Sawant’s “Ganga” and “Gangotri”, plays a key role in “Ganga Devi”, which is about reservation for women in elected bodies.

Saha Institute to take up boson naming case with CERN

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The Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP) would take up with European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) chief Rolf-Dieter Heuer the case of sub-atomic particle boson, derived from an Indian scientist’s name, being rendered in lower case.

Heuer, director-general of the Geneva-based institute, would be on a two-day visit here from Sep 3 to address an international science conference organised by the Centre for Natural Sciences and Philosophy and the Critical Issues Forum. On Sep 4, he would also deliver a lecture at the SINP.

Andhra pays tributes to YSR on death anniversary

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Rich tributes were paid to late Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on his third death anniversary Sunday.

His wife and YSR Congress party honorary president Vijayalakshmi, daughter Sharmila, son-in-law Anil Kumar, daughter-in-law Bharati, brother Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy and other family members paid tributes and offered special prayers at his grave in Idupulapaya in Kadapa district.

People from different parts of the state also reached Idupulapaya to pay homage to Rajasekhara Reddy, one of the most popular leaders in the state’s history.

Bengal dengue toll goes up to 3, confirmed cases 638

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With the death of an 11-year-old boy in Kolkata, the dengue epidemic has claimed its third victim in the state, the health department said Saturday. The number of confirmed cases has gone up to 638.

“An 11-year-old boy has died of dengue in B.C. Roy Child hospital Saturday. The total toll of dengue deaths in the state is three. The number of confirmed dengue cases in West Bengal has gone up to 638,” said a health department statement.

Nine-year old Sreeja Das was the first dengue victim in the state.

The epidemic first struck in the second week of August.

2 patients may have got HIV after taking blood: Odisha govt

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Odisha government today did not rule out possibility of two persons being infected with the HIV after taking blood from state run blood banks.

“The state government is aware of the allegation of two persons being infected with HIV after taking blood from blood banks. One cannot rule out the possibility of infection due to use of contaminated needle at private hospital also,” Health Minister Damodar Rout said in the assembly.

Every actor has his own place, says Amitabh Bachchan

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Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who was voted best actor in a recent poll, doesn`t agree with the results as he feels every actor has his own place in Bollywood and it would be unfair to rank them.
“I want to know who does these polls. They have no truth in them. All actors have their own places in the industry. To choose one over the other is not fair,” Amitabh told reporters at an event of Parikrama Humanity Foundation here Saturday.

The 69-year-old says he wouldn`t want people to follow him, but if that`s still the case, he would like them to follow him in his punctuality.

Confident, not over-confident of `Heroine`, says Kareena Kapoor

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Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor, whose film ‘Heroine’ is set for a September release, Saturday said she was confident but not over-confident about it.
“I am not over-confident but quite confident and excited about the film,” she said at a promotional event, marking the film`s tie-up with clothing brand, Jealous 21, here.

Asked about she is jealous of in life, she said: “I am jealous of people who get to go on holidays, even though I go on many on my own. I love travelling. I am also jealous of people who get to eat whatever they want.”

Saif to team up with ‘The Dirty Picture’ director

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Filmmaker Milan Luthria, set to reunite with actor Saif Ali Khan 13 years after they worked together in 1999 film ‘Kachche Dhaage’, will start shooting his new film from April 2013.

The movie will be produced by Bhushan Kumar of T-Series banner.

“The film will go on floors by April 2013. Milan is busy with `Once Upon A Time In Mumbai 2`, so as soon as he finishes shooting for that film, our film will go on floors,” Kumar told IANS.

The movie will be basically shot in Mumbai, but the shooting of some songs will take the crew to “some European countries”, he added.

New Zealand 29/0 in second innings at lunch

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New Zealand were 29/0 in the second innings against India as they went into lunch on the third day of the second cricket Test match here at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium Sunday.

Earlier, India started the day at 293/5 before being bowled out for 353, giving the visitors a lead of 12 runs.

India’s Virat Kohli scored 103 while Kiwi pacer Tim Southee clinched seven wickets.

—-IANS

Geetika killed self, says Kanda’s aide Aruna Chaddha

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Aruna Chaddha, an aide of former Haryana minister Gopal Kanda and co-accused in Geetika Sharma suicide case, Saturday denied her involvement in it and claimed the former airhostesses took the extreme step because she was upset with her parents.

Pleading for bail before District Judge and Additional Sessions Judge SK Sarvaria, Chaddah said she be allowed bail as she has a seven-year-old daughter to look after.

Now, a case filed against Raj Thackeray in Bihar

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A case has been filed against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray in a court in Bihar, a report said on Saturday.

On Thursday, Thackeray had threatened to brand Biharis in Maharashtra as “infiltrators”, fuelling a controversy with leaders from various political parties slamming the MNS chief over the issue.

Meanwhile, a report said that an advocate has filed a case against Thackeray in a court in Muzaffarpur district.

`Chain smoking triples the risk of brain haemorrhage`

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Smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day almost triples the chances of suffering a potentially fatal brain haemorrhage, a new study has warned.

The study found that quitting reduces the danger but heavy smokers who give up tobacco are still twice as much at risk as people who have never smoked.

Korean researchers investigated 426 cases of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) between 2002 and 2004, the `Daily Mail` reported.

Patients were compared with a group of 426 people and matched for age and sex who had never experienced a brain bleed.

Vipul Mehta wins as the best singer in `Indian Idol 6`

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It was a tough call – three boys, all from Punjab, all excellent singers with a great audience connect. But it is Vipul Mehta from Amritsar, who bagged the ‘Indian Idol 6’ title here Saturday night at a glittering grand finale.

The 21-year-old pipped Devendra Pal Singh, 17, and Amit Kumar, 20, for the winner`s trophy, a cash prize of Rs.50 lakh from Sony channel, a Nissan Micra car, a Suzuki Hayate bike, Rs. 3 lakh from Max Life Insurance and a contract to record his own music album.

Rajasthan’s textiles push with nine dedicated parks

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The central government has approved nine textile parks worth Rs.1,500 crore in Rajasthan, and an additional grant of Rs.400 crore to promote this industry in the state, a senior official here said.

An assurance has also been given that Vastra 2012, the international textile fair to be held here from Nov 22-25 would be a grand success, the official said, referring to a meeting with Union Textiles Secretary Kiran Dhingra.

Corporation posts to be filled up soon-Mukesh Goud

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Minister for Marketing and Warehousing, Mr.Mukesh Goud told that appointments to the vacant posts in various corporations would be filled up soon.Taking into consideration the services of the Congressmen, suitable posts would be offered to them.

While felicitating Mr.G.Rajinder (Nayi Basthi)and Mr.Mohammed Ismail(Seetharamper,Aghapura) on their nominations as General Secretaries of Greater Hyderabad Congress Committee, Mr.Mukesh Goud told that Congress is the only party which utilizes the services of its workers and assigns them suitable positions.

Complaint cell for illegal occupation of Govt lands

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A complaints cell has been established in Ranga Reddy District Collectorate for registering complaints of illegal occupations of Govt lands in R.R District. Its phnoe number is 18004250817.

It is a toll free phone which will function from 10-30 a.m to 5-30 p.m. it will start functioning with affect from 3rd September 2012.

it will accept all the complaints of illegal occupations which will be transmitted to Special Deputy Collector (Land Acquisition and Protection) and the concerned Tahsildars for taking immediate action.

Notarized plots will regularized-CM

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Land plots and houses bought and notarized will be regularized at a nominal registration fee. Govt will issue orders very soon. Minister of Labour, Mr.D.Nagender told it while responding to the questions raised by the people’s representative in the District Review Committee meeting held yesterday. He told that C.M has taken this matter seriously and promised to issue orders very soon.

Blinded by light, this family sees no hope

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Darkness has become a life-long curse for two generations of a family in a Rajasthan village. This family has 15 members, including eight children, who are blinded by daylight.

Eighty-year-old Elayachi Devi of Chandawa village near Alsisar town in Jhunjhunu district, some 150 km from state capital Jaipur, has six sons and a daughter. Three of the sons, Jeetaram, Jagdish and Palaram, and the daughter, Sursi Devi, were born with the disease where they can’t see in the day but can after dusk.

Jeetaram’s wife Sharda, their six daughters and a son have day blindness too.

Fire in oil well in Assam

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A fire broke out in an oil well of Oil India Ltd in upper Assam’s Tinsukia district early this morning.

No injury or casualty has been been reported so far.

OIL spokesman Jishnu Sarma said the fire in a cruse oil well at Chandmari village was reported around 1 AM. OIL’s fire tenders doused the blaze around 5 AM and the well was sealed.

Investigations said that the fire broke out due to an attempt to steal oil from the well.

India, China to resume army exercises from next year

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India and China are expected to resume their bilateral military exercises from next year and a decision in this regard is likely to be taken during the five-day visit of Chinese Defence Minister Gen Liang Guanglie.

During Gen Liang’s visit starting Monday next week, the two sides will discuss about having more Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and ways of strengthening their military ties, a senior official of the Defence Ministry said here.

Poor show in parliament again – but it was not like this earlier

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As another parliament session nears its end marred by continuous holdups and with little work done, the 15th Lok Sabha will go down as one that has lost over a quarter of its time to disruptions.

With around 100 bills pending before parliament, including some over 20 years old, there is very little chance of the 15th Lok Sabha, whose term ends in less than two years, getting much work done.