Month: March 2013

Star India signs as official partner of IPL 6

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Star India is the latest brand to come on board as an official partner of the sixth season of the Indian Premier League.

“We are happy to be associated with the IPL primarily to drive our flagship channel, Star Plus. We saw a great opportunity to use this platform to communicate our brand promise of `Rishta Wahi, Soch Nayi`. The power of Star`s platform is unique and we are keen to leverage this to support BCCI`s efforts to increase the reach and popularity of IPL,” Star India CEO Uday Shankar said.

The IPL already has Pepsi, Vodafone and Yes Bank as official partners.

Rupee falls 4 paise against dollar in late morning trade

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The rupee continued to rule easy against the American currency in the late morning trade by slipping 4 paise to 54.40 per dollar on month-end dollar demand from importers amidst higher dollar overseas.

The rupee resumed lower at 54.47 per dollar against Tuesday’s closing level of 54.36 per dollar at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) Market and hovered in a range of 54.36 per dollar and 54.48 per dollar before quoting at 54.40 per dollar at 1040 hrs.

Month-end dollar buying from importers mainly refinery companies affected the rupee value against the dollar, a forex dealer said.

China occupying parts of Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan: Kashmir leader

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A Kashmiri leader has revealed that China is in occupation of parts of Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Aksai Chin, despite not being a party to any of these land ownership disputes

In an interview given to ANI, Dr. Shabir Choudhry, Head of Diplomatic Committee and senior leader of the Kashmir National Party (KNP), said: “China also occupies part of Jammu and Kashmir state, some part of the Aksai Chin area and some areas of Gilgit Baltistan.”

Anna Hazare to address 8 rallies in Punjab

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Anti-corruption crusader and social activist Anna Hazare will address eight public rallies in Punjab during his five day ‘Janatantra Yatra’ beginning March 30 from Amritsar.

Gurdeep Singh, a spokesperson of the Janatantra Morcha said today that Anna Hazare would start first phase of his Yatra from Amritsar after paying obeisance at Durgiana Mandir, Harmandir Saheb and Ramtirath temple.

Barack Obama to travel to Mexico, Costa Rica

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US President Barack Obama will travel to Mexico and Costa Rica during the first week of May as part of his efforts to strengthen the already-deep ties Washington shares with Mexico and Central America, the White House announced on Wednesday.

Obama will visit Mexico and Costa Rica from May 2-4 on a tour that represents an “important opportunity to reinforce the deep cultural, familial, and economic ties that so many Americans share with Mexico and Central America”, said the White House in a communiqué.

Three found murdered at bus stand

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Three persons were found murdered at the bus stand in Karamadai, about 35 Kms from here, today.

All the bodies bore identical injuries inflicted by some sharp weapons on the face and throat, police said.

Police suspect it to be the handiwork of a psychopath and investigations were on.

–_PTI

Saudi Arabia beheads, crucifies Yemeni for murdering Pakistani

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Saudi Arabia has beheaded a Yemeni man and then crucified his body after he was convicted of murdering a Pakistani national.

The kingdom’s interior ministry said that the Yemeni citizen Mohammed Rashad Khairi Hussein killed a Pakistani, Pashteh Sayed Khan, after he committed sodomy with him.

A statement carried by state news agency SPA said on Wednesday that the Yemeni was also convicted of carrying out a series of attacks and robberies.

Urdu exams results announced

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According to Qari Mohammed Dastagir Khan Quadri correspondent Mahboobia Islami School, near Bangla Bini, results of Urdu Dani, Zaban Dani and Insha exams conducted by Abid Ali Khan Educational Trust (Siasat daily) and Idara-e-Adabiyat-e-Urdu, Panjagutta, in the month of January 2013 have been announced and certificates have been sent to the respective centres.

Egyptian women fighting back against skyrocketing sexual assaults

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Women in Egypt are fighting against sexual assaults that have skyrocketed and often committed by gangs of men during protests against President Mohammed Morsi at Tahrir Square.

Filmmaker and activist Aida El Kashef has made a video to show Egyptians what these mob attacks on women look like.

El Kashef said that 20 other women were assaulted at one night. Sexual harassment has always been a part of life in Egypt, but before the revolution, there were few demonstrations, and mass sexual assaults were virtually unheard of, CBS News reports.

20 jailed for terrorism, separatism in China

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Two courts in northwest China”s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have sentenced 20 people for taking part in terrorist activities and plotting to divide the country.

Nineteen of the suspects were given prison sentences ranging from five years to life in prison after a trial in the Kashagar Prefecture Intermediate People”s Court on Tuesday.

They were convicted of using cell phones and electronic storage mediums to organize, lead and take part in terrorist activities. They were also convicted of illegally crossing borders and affray, according to the court”s ruling.

US expresses concern over communal violence in Myanmar

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Expressing concern over the ongoing communal violence in Myanmar, the US has asked the Asian country to restore order and maintain peace.

“We do remain deeply concerned about the communal unrest in central Burma (Myanmar),” State Department spokesperson Patrick Ventrell told reporters.

There were reports overnight of another mosque and a number of homes that were burned in the town of Nattalin, approximately 90 miles north of Yangoon, he said.

‘We have no demands but insist for standard marriage and sumptuous dinner’

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‘We have no dowry demands but we want the marriage to be a memorable one so the marriage should be standard; it must be a vast and elegant function hall of the city and sumptuous dinner must be served. These types of conversations are common during marriage settlement. Bride’s parents are forced to concede to groom’s parents’ demands. Groom’s parents simply say that they are not asking for dowry, cash, motor cycle or car but just asking for a standard wedding. It must be noted that a good function hall, sumptuous dinner can easily cost up to 5 to 6 lakhs.

South African tour will help us in upcoming matches: Hafeez

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Pakistan`s T20 skipper Mohammad Hafeez believes that their just-concluded tour to South Africa will benefit the side in future assignments including the ICC Champions Trophy.

Hafeez said the learnings from facing South African bowlers in hostile conditions will be visible in his side`s performance in the upcoming matches.

Tension grips Bhiwandi over ‘provocative’ post

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Tension gripped the communally- sensitive powerloom town of Bhiwandi neighbouring Mumbai in the wee hours Thursday allegedly over a provocative post on a social networking site, police said.

A mob took to the streets in sensitive Rabodi area at around 1:30 AM and damaged some vehicles following reports of the alleged post, they said.

According to police, the situation continues to be tense but is under control.

Further details are awaited.

–PTI

14-year-old girl raped by labourer

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A daily wage labourer was arrested Thursday on the charge of raping a 14-year-old girl in the district, police said.

The man had allegedly lured the girl to an isolated place here and raped her on Monday night, police said.

Acting on a complaint by the girl’s parents, the 20-year-old man was arrested. He has been booked under various sections of IPC including 376 (rape), police said.

–PTI

Mulayam’s tirade: Congress taking people for a ride

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Amidst speculation that his party might withdraw outside support to UPA, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav today launched a tirade against Congress accusing it of being “cheat and clever” and taking the people for a ride.

Addressing SP workers at his native place Saifai, Yadav said Congress always does things keeping in mind elections. “First, the party waived farmers’ loan slightly and then the elections took place which saw Congress winning a convincing majority.

1993 Mumbai blast case: Sanjay Dutt breaks down, says will surrender in time

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Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who has been sentenced to five years in jail for illegal possession of weapons in a case linked to the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts, on Thursday said he will surrender before the authorities as per the Supreme Court”s direction, and added that he would not be seeking a pardon.

” I will surrender within the timeframe set by the Supreme Court. I have the highest respect for the SC and will abide by the law,” said an emotional Dutt while briefing media here.

SLC allows players in IPL, but says no to Chennai

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Sri Lankan cricket Board on Thursday decided top allow its cricketers to take part in the IPL but directed them not to play in Chennai after the governing council of the high-profile Twenty20 league decided to withdraw them from the games to be held there.

Sridevi became star because of ‘Himmatwala’: Sajid Khan

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Director Sajid Khan, who is looking forward to the Friday release of his film ‘Himmatwala’- the official remake of the 1983 blockbuster of the same name, says it was the original film that catapulted veteran actress Sridevi to stardom.

“Sridevi became a star because of ‘Himmatwala’. I think that ‘Himmatwala’ was no less than a ‘Mughal-E-Azam’ for her”, Sajid said in an interview.

The official remake of original ‘Himmatwala’, which had actors Jeetendra and Sridevi in the lead, casts Ajay Devgn against south actress Tamannah.

School watchman held for bid to ‘molest’ girl students

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A 35-year-old watchman of a government school here has been arrested on charges of attempting to molest two fourth standard girls.

Kaliappan was arrested last night.

He was produced before a local court today which remanded him in 15-day judicial custody, police said.

On Monday, Kaliappan had allegedly taken the two girls, who arrived little early in the morning, to the first floor of the school at Karaikalmedu and attempted to molest them.

However, some passersby caught and thrashed the watchman.

PM meets Chinese President; raises Brahmaputra issue

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In the first-high level contact after the new Chinese leadership took over, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met President Xi Jinping and raised the issue of Beijing’s proposal to construct three dams across the Brahmaputra river on its side.

Singh called on President Xi, who took over as President earlier this month as part of decadal change of power structure in China, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit which the two leaders attended in Durban.

This is the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders at the highest level after the recent change in power structure in China.

Minority scholarship and fee reimbursement: govt. to issue Rs. 88 cr before March 31

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Minority Welfare Minister Mr. Syed Mohammed Ahmedullah told that he has talked to finance minister and principal secretary finance with regard to issuance of Rs. 88 crore towards scholarship and fee reimbursement to minority students and it is likely that the amount will be released before March 31. Hence there will not be any inconvenience to minority students this year with respect to scholarship and fee reimbursement.

India committed to support Africa, says Manmohan Singh

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Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has said that India remained committed to support Africa with the entire spectrum of its expertise and capacity.

Addressing the BRICS Leaders – Africa Dialogue Forum here yesterday, Dr. Singh said: “India”s resolve to assist Africa with the entire spectrum of our expertise and capacity. The BRICS forum offers another avenue for our cooperation. Initiatives such as the BRICS bank could further leverage the collective capacity of the BRICS countries to assist the transformation of Africa. This is an objective that India remains committed to.”

Trainee cops held for kidnapping in Russia

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Four trainee police officers, suspected of having kidnapped a young man for a $5 million ransom, have been detained in the Moscow region, the interior ministry said.

On March 1, the suspects and their two accomplices abducted a young man from his car, after setting up a car accident.

The attackers beat him and took him to a private house. They later contacted his father and offered to free his son for a $5 million ransom.

Bangladesh plans to buy 24 Russian jet trainers

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Bangladesh is planning to buy 24 Yak-130 Mitten jet trainers on $1 billion credit from Russia, Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport said.

“Bangladesh has a whole list of arms it wants, but so far that is a state secret. I will reveal one little secret: The purchase of Yak-130 warplanes is a very significant subject of negotiations between Russia and Bangladesh,” Rosoboronexport deputy chief Viktor Komardin said at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition (LIMA-2013) in Malaysia.

He added that negotiations on Yak-130s are due to begin later this spring.