Month: March 2013

Laparoscopic surgery for diabetes control catching up

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Hyderabad, March 29 (IANS) Laparoscopic ileal interposition surgery or the small intestinal switch for the control of type 2 diabetes is catching up with more countries showing interest in adopting the advance technique, said laparoscopic surgeon Surendra Ugale.

Ugale of Kirloskar Hospital, who is the pioneer of this technique in India, hopes increasing awareness about an alternative available to control diabetes would make it popular around the world.

More snow, rain in Himachal

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Shimla, March 29 (IANS) The cold continued to retain its grip on Himachal Pradesh as higher reaches in the state received another spell of snow Friday, while low and mid hills witnessed widespread rainfall, an official said.

The weather office here has forecast dry weather Saturday onwards.

Shimla, which was cloudy, recorded a minimum temperature of 6.8 degrees Celsius Friday, a fall by 4.9 degrees from Thursday. It saw 7.5 mm of rain.

Woman set afire over trivial fight in Mumbai

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Mumbai, March 29 (IANS) In a trivial case of animosity, a 48-year-old woman was set afire by two of her neighbours in central Mumbai, police said Friday.

“The victim, Sitabai Alkunte, had a tiff with two women over a trivial matter in the same slum. The two accused – Moni and Suman – went to her hut Thursday, poured oil over her and set her on fire,” a police officer told IANS Friday.

The victim, who has suffered 90 percent burns, confirmed the same while giving her statement to police late Thursday night. She is under critical medical care.

Old ‘Chashme Buddoor’ never died down: Deepti Naval

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Mumbai, March 29 (IANS) Veteran actress Deepti Naval, who is all set to release the digitally restored version of the original “Chashme Buddoor”, has never felt that the film faded away from the viewers’ mind.

“I feel that the old ‘Chashme Buddoor’ never died down. People have gone on watching it as it’s repeatedly shown on TV. It never died out,” she said at the launch of the promo of the restored film here Friday.

Excited to see the fresh print, she said: “It is rare that a film gets restored. It has brought all of us together once again.”

Sikh Americans join Obama in calling for gun control

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Washington, March 29 (IANS) Members of the Sikh Community joined President Barack Obama as he sought to spur lawmakers into action against gun violence in the wake of tragedies like the Newtown massacre in December that killed 20 first-graders.

“We need everybody to remember how we felt 100 days ago and make sure that what we said at that time wasn’t just a bunch of platitudes, that we meant it,” Obama said at a White House event Thursday on a National Day of Action by supporters of tougher gun laws.

Kids ask mums nearly 300 questions a day

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London, March 29 (ANI): Mums are bombarded with around 300 questions from their children on a daily basis, a new study has revealed.

And girls aged four are the most curious, asking an incredible 390 questions per day, the study by online retailer Littlewoods.com found

From breakfast at 7.19am to tea time at 7.59pm, the average British mum faces a testing 12.5 hour day of questioning – working out at one question every two minutes 36 seconds, the Telegraph reported.

Most questions are asked during meal times, young children rattling off 11, it revealed.

Dow Jones and S&P close strong quarter at record highs

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Washington, Mar. 29 (ANI): U.S. stocks rose on Thursday, with the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones closed at record highs, as investors looked to get into equities as the first quarter came to a close.

The S&P 500 recorded a quarterly advance of 10 percent, its best performance in a year, with the bull market in March beginning a fifth year, supported by easy monetary policy by the Federal Reserve and other central banks.

According to Fox News, in mid-morning trade, the S&P 500 (SPX) surpassed its record close.

China’s First Lady Peng Liyuan sang for troops after Tiananmen Square massacre

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London, Mar. 29 (ANI): A picture of China’s First Lady Peng Liyuan in her younger days singing to troops following bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square in 1989 has appeared on Chinese Internet this week.

The photograph shows Peng in uniform with her windswept hair tied back in a ponytail as she sings to rifle-toting troops fresh from a crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

The picture is a stark contrast to the demure international image she has cultivated since her husband, President Xi Jinping, acceded the Chinese leadership at the end of last year.

Mitt Romney says feeling ‘good to live normal life again

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Washington, Mar. 29 (ANI): Failed Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is not missing the campaign trail, saying that ‘it’s good to live a normal life again’.

In a radio interview with Dennis Miller on Wednesday, Romney said that ‘the bubble is a different experience. Being in your own charter aircraft, having the Secret Service accompany you everywhere you go and outside your front door at night —, it’s really quite an unusual thing and kind of exciting’.

Indian-origin rookie fast bowler creates history by winning prestigious Steve Waugh meda

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Sydney, Mar 29 (ANI): Rookie fast bowler Gurinder Sandhu has made history by becoming the first Indian-origin player ever to win the prestigious Steve Waugh medal on Wednesday.

In what was a whirlwind six weeks to end the summer, Sandhu took 14 wickets in four Ryobi Cup games and 14 wickets in just two Sheffield Shield matches to clinch NSW”s top gong, News.com.au reports.

It was a remarkable effort by the giant right-arm quick, who only made his first-class debut at the start of this month, the paper said.

”Reluctant” Manmohan Singh has shown his true colours, alleges BJP

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New Delhi, Mar. 29 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday lashed out at Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, saying the ”reluctant” politician has shown his true political colours and that he was audaciously ambitious by not replying in a downbeat note on whether he would lead the nation for a third consecutive term.

“Dr. Manmohan Singh is a very reluctant politician. But what is surprising is few days after Holi, the reluctant politician has shown his true political colours and that too being audaciously ambitious,” said BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Condition of fasting TDP leaders deteriorating

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The condition of some of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders deteriorated Friday onn the fourth day of their indefinite fast demanding rollback of the hike in electricity tariff.

Out of 30 fasting legislators of TDP, half of them have taken ill and the condition of some of them is critical, said party sources.

Doctors attending on the fasting leaders at Old MLA Quarters said the leaders need immediate medical aid. Satyavati Rathod and a couple of other women legislators are said to be seriously ill.

Four car bombs hit Iraq Shiite mosques: officials

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Four car bombs struck Shiite mosques during prayers today in Baghdad and the disputed northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, killing at least four people and wounding more than 80, officials said.

The blasts all struck within an hour of each other in the Baghdad neighbourhoods of Jihad, Qahira and Zafraniyah, as well as in an area of south Kirkuk.

The attacks come amid a spike in violence nationwide as the country prepares for its first elections in three years — provincial polls that will be held in 12 of Iraq’s 18 provinces on April 20.

SP to keep UPA afloat, heat on Congress is on

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The Congress heaved a sigh of relief after Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Mulayam Singh Yadav said Friday that he won’t withdraw support to the Congress-led UPA government for now.

But the heat was on the Congress with estranged ally Trinamool Congress demanding the immediate resignation of the “minority” United Progressive Alliance government.

Even as he gave a fresh breather to the Congress, Mulayam Singh predicted an early Lok Sabha election — in November this year — and claimed that a Third Front government would then take office in New Delhi.

Prathap Reddy appears before CBI

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Prathap Reddy of Penna Cements on Friday appeared before the CBI in connection with the Disproportionate Assets (DA) case of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

He was questioned at the Dilkusha Guest House, the temporary headquarters of CBI, and gave his statement. During the past three days CBI has been questioning many people with regard to the Jagan’s DA case.

YSR’s Chief Security Officer, for advisor to the State Government KVP Ramachandra Rao, APIIC Zonal Manager Dasarathrami Reddy were among those who were summoned by the CBI. (INN)

TDP Foundation Day celebrated

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TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu participated in the Party Foundation Day celebrations here on Friday.
To mark the completion of 31 years of the party, he cut a 31-kg cake and hoisted the party flag and addressed the extended executive committee of the party. “He called upon the cadre to work hard to ensure victory for the party in the ensuing elections. TDP has the chance to play a vital role in the Centre as well,” he said.

CM sops to Suryapet meet

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Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has
showered sops on the district during his one-day visit.

The Chief Minister promised to get Krishna waters to Sruyapet and
provide Rs 71 crores for drinking water. He also announced the setting
up of a women’s college and an outdoor stadium. He was here to
inaugurate the market yard for agriculture produce.

“The credit of giving 50 per cent reservations for women in the local
bodies elections goes to Congress only,” Kiran Kumar Reddy said.

The government is taking all steps to overcome the power crisis and

Lokesh calls on MLAs

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Nara Lokesh expressed solidarity with the MLAs who are on indefinite strike in protest against the power charges at the old MLA quarters here on Friday.

Lokesh visited the dharna spot and enquired about the health of the MLAs. The condition of nine MLAs is cause of concern while Suman Rathod has been seriously ill.

The MLAs refused to yield to the doctors’ advice to give up fast. (INN)

Organisers of US group that met Modi sought $16,000 a seat

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Organisers of the US delegation to India that met Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had canvassed for participants in the trip at prices ranging from $3,000 to $16,000, said a media report here.

The business delegation includes four US members of the House of Representatives, all Republicans.

The organisers had canvassed in the Indian American community for participants in the trip, according to a report published in Hi India, a South Asian newspaper from Chicago.

I saved UPA govt in crisis but Cong put CBI after me: Mulayam

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Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav today claimed he had saved UPA government in its bad days and despite this Congress has put CBI after him.

“Congress used to take support by threatening. I supported the UPA government in bad times but Congress has put CBI after me”, he told reporters here.

In a fresh attack on union minister Beni Prasad Verma, Yadav said those talking about making Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister could not save the deposit of his son in assembly polls.

Steve Waugh wants women playing in Big Bash

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Former Australia captain Steve Waugh wants to see women playing in the country’s premier Twenty20 event, the Big Bash League.

Though Waugh feels the idea is a bit “out there”, one female player should be added to each team in the Big Bash.

“I think it’s about time where we could have one female player per Big Bash side. Going forward, I can’t see why the girls can’t have representation in the Big Bash. It’s a bit out there, that thought, but I think it might be time,” Waugh was quoted as saying by The Sydney Morning Herald.

Minority UPA government must resign now, demands Trinamool

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The Trinamool Congress Friday demanded immediate resignation of the “minority” UPA central government, saying it had no moral right to continue in office.

“For the past six months, Trinamool Congress has been clearly stating that the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) is a minority government and has no moral right to continue for a single moment,” Trinamool national general secretary Mukul Roy told media persons here.

Punjabi music beyond just bhangra: Bali Sagoo

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Singer Bali Sagoo, who reigned over the pop music scene in the 1990s, rues that Punjabi music has limited its identity to loud bhangra songs.

According to the 49-year-old, Punjabi music has a lot of potential — more than just churning out over-the-top dance numbers.

“Punjabi music does not always need to be bhangra, it can be of different style as well. It needs to change with different styles and genres. I wish that people don’t play only bhangra music when they want to listen to Punjabi music,” Sagoo told IANS.

Deepika takes time out to perform at IPL

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Despite a jam-packed shooting schedule, Deepika Padukone has taken time out to perform at the opening ceremony of the sixth season of Indian Premier League (IPL) in Kolkata. Deepika had performed at the IPL inaugural in 2010 also.

A source said: “Deepika has been practising every day after her pack-up. She agreed to perform only recently, as her schedule is choc-a-bloc. Having said that, she is looking forward to performing at the IPL opening ceremony.”