There’s no shortcut to success, Sunny Deol tells son

While grooming his son for filmdom, Sunny Deol teaches the 21-year-old Karan to carve a niche for himself on the basis of hard work and honesty.

“I tell Karan to be a good person, to work hard. I tell him there’s no shortcut to success. He has to work hard if he wants to acheive his goals,” said Sunny in an interview.

Karan worked as an assistant director on “Yamla Pagla Deewana (YPD)-2”. Directed by Sangeeth Sivan. The comedy-drama will see the three Deols – Dharmednra with is two sons Sunny and Bobby – in action. It is slated for a June 7 release.

SRK’s Red Chillies aims at 25 percent growth

The Shah Rukh Khan owned Red Chillies Entertainment (RCE) which broke even last year is hoping for a 25 percent growth year on year, a top company official said here Monday.

“We have achieved break even in March last year and as a company we are hoping to grow by 25 percent year on year,” company chief executive officer Venky Mysore told media persons on the sidelines of an event here.

Mysore, however, refused to comment about the revenue of the company.

Jagan’s judicial remand extended.

The remand of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and others has been extended till April 8.

The remand of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Nimmagadda Prasad, Mopidevi Venkata Ramana, Brahmananda Reddy and Sunil Reddy was extended by the CBI Special court in the YS Jagan DA case and Emaar Properties cases. (INN)

NTR’s brother joins Sharmila padayatra

NTR’s brother Venkateswarlu today joined the padayatra of Sharmila at his native Nimmakuru in Krishna district.

As the Maro Praja Prasthanam progressed, he joined her at Nimmakuru, birth place of NTR, and walked with her for some distance.

The padayatra will touch Nidumolu and Tarakaturu on the 108th day. (INN)

10 killed in Iraq suicide bombing

A suicide bomber Monday blew up an explosives-laden tanker truck near the police headquarters in Iraq’s central city of Tikrit, killing at least 10 people and wounding 30 others, police said.

The bomber blew up the tanker truck near the police office and a fuel facility in Tikrit, 170 km from Baghdad, a police source told Xinhua.

Seven of those killed and most of the wounded were policemen.

Police said the guards did not suspect the tanker truck because fuel tankers usually enter the nearby fuel facility to deliver gas and oil used by provincial government offices.

Pirates kill 16 Bangladeshi fishermen

Pirates have killed 16 Bangladeshi fishermen in the Bay of Bengal, police said Monday.

The killings took place in Kutubdia, an island off the coastal town of Cox’s Bazaar in southeastern Bangladesh, Xinhua reported. The bodies were dumped in the Bay of Bengal.

“We’ve come to know that 16 fishermen’s bodies were found floating in the bay of Bengal,” Mohammad Azad Mia, police chief in Cox’s Bazaar, told Xinhua.

He said 23 fishermen, who about a week ago sailed from Kutubdia island, some 400 km southeast of Dhaka, have been missing.

Hero MotoCorp’s March sales down 11.35 percent

Two-wheeler major Hero MotoCorp Monday reported a decline of 11.35 percent in its sales for March, which stood at 468,283 units from 528,290 units sold in the corresponding month of 2012.

According to the company, it sold a total of 6,075,583 units in 2012-13, from 6.2 million units off-take in 2011-12.

“Indian auto industry faced acute slowdown in FY-13. It continues to reel under the adversities of persistent inflation, firm interest rates, rising fuel prices and negative consumer sentiment,” Anil Dua, senior vice-president, marketing and sales, Hero MotoCorp, said in a statement.

Pakistan foreign secretary to visit Sri Lanka

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani will visit Sri Lanka April 4-5 to take part in the third round of bilateral political consultations, it was announced Monday.

During his stay, the foreign secretary will call on Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Minister of External Affairs G.L. Peiris and Minister for Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa, reports Xinhua.

He will hold in-depth discussions on a variety of bilateral issues of mutual interest with his counterpart Karunatilaka Amunugama and Secretary Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

‘Himmatwala’ mints Rs.31.14 crore on opening weekend

“Himmatwala” has earned Rs.31.14 crore in the opening weekend and with the film’s success director Sajid Khan’s prediction has come true.

Before the release of the film, he had said: “I don’t read reviews. I do not want any stars. Whenever critics pan my film, it does well at the box office.”

His previous box-office hits like “Heyy Babby”, “Housefull” and “Housefull 2” didn’t appeal to the critics, but they did roaring business at the ticket window.

Saudi religious police lift ban on women on bikes

A Saudi newspaper says the kingdom’s religious police are now allowing women to ride motorbikes and
bicycles but only in restricted, recreational areas.

The Al-Yawm daily today cited an unnamed official from the powerful religious police as saying women can ride bikes in parks and recreational areas but they have to be accompanied by a male relative and dressed in the full Islamic head-to-toe abaya.

Saudi Arabia follows an ultraconservative interpretation of Islam and bans women from driving. Women are also banned from riding motorcycles or bicycles in public places.

MIRACLE OF THE PROPHET (S.A.W.S.).

Anas bin Malik (RadiyAllahu Anhu) reported: Once the time for As-Salat (the prayer) approached. Those whose houses were near, went to their houses to perform Wudu’ while some of the people remained with Messenger of Allah (Sallellahu Alayhi Wa Sallam). A stone (containing some water) bowl was brought for him. It was too small for him to spread his hand over it. He performed his Wudu’ and it (the water) sufficed for all the others also. Anas was asked: “How many of you were present there?” He said: “Eighty or more.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Tourism Mega Circuit sanctioned for Vizag

Union Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi has approved Central Finance Assistance (CFA) to the tune of Rs 45.88 crore for the development of Visakhapatnam Bheemunipatnam Beach Corridor Mega Circuit in Andhra Pradesh.

Shabbir Ali takes oath as MLC

Former minister Mohammad Ali Shabbir on Monday took oath as the member of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council.

Council chairman Dr A Chakrapani administered the oath in the presence of PCC President Botsa Satyanarayana, Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha and other senior leaders.

Ishant, Steyn will be crucial: says Sangakkara

Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Kumar Sangakkara believes Ishant Sharma and Dale Steyn spearheading the team’s bowling attack would be crucial for the team in the sixth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPl).

The Sri Lankan is confident that the team has the potential to perform well and the pace duo would deliver.

“We missed Ishant last year and I think having him and Dale Steyn spearheading new ball attack is going to be crucial,” he told reporters here Monday

Will review power tariff, says CM

Under pressure from the opposition and Congress leaders as well, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said that the hike in power charges will be reconsidered.

Speaking at the Indiramma Bata programme here on Monday, the Chief Minister said that the government will review the tariff suggested by ERC.

Cabinet minister K Jana Reddy and C Ramachadnraiah and senior leader JC Diwakar Reddy had expressed serious concern at the hike in power charges.

The chief minister, who is on a three-day tour to the district, had earlier laid foundation stone for the Somasila High level canal. (INN)

Saudi Arabia threatens to block Skype, Viber, WhatsApp, other Internet services

Saudi Arabian authorities have warned that they will block access to popular Internet messaging applications like Skype, Viber and WhatsApp if telecommunication providers there don”t comply with rules and regulatory conditions.

A statement from Saudi Arabia’s Communications and Information Technology Commission released via the country’s state-run media said ‘the Commission emphasizes that it will take appropriate action regarding these applications and services in the event of failure to meet those conditions.’

Disabled girl raped by relative in Thane

A 17-year-old disabled girl was allegedly raped several times since last year by her distant relative, police said.

The victim yesterday filed a complaint against her paternal uncle Sajayi V Adal (22), working in a hotel, alleging that taking advantage of her disability, the accused raped her on many occasions, Assistant Police Inspector Laxman M Sariputra said.

The girl faces disability in walking properly and needs help for all activities.

Kejriwal’s supporters halted on way to Sheila Dikshit’s house

The Aam Admi Party activists were on Monday halted by police on their way to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit’s house to deliver lakhs of letters protesting against “inflated” electricity and water bills.

A total of slow-moving 272 autorickshaws were carrying AAP volunteers, with Arvind Kejriwal supporters walking alongside. Many of them carried Indian national flags and shouted anti-government slogans.

The volunteers, who have been halted at Pragati Maidan, have reportedly been asked by police to send just a small convoy to the Delhi CM.

Congress leader invites JD-U to join UPA

A senior leader of the Congress in Bihar Monday invited the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) to join hands with the UPA “to strengthen secular and democratic forces” in the country ahead of the next general elections.

“The JD-U is a secular party and it is time for it to leave the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA (National Democratic Alliance) and join the Congress-led UPA (United Progressive Alliance) to strengthen secular and democratic forces,” Sadanand Singh, former chief of the Congress’s Bihar unit, told reporters here.

Minister flays govt on power charges hike

After Union Minister K Chiranjeevi writing a letter to AICC general secretary on the power charges hike in the State it is now the turn of minister C Ramachandraiah to express his disappointment on the issue.

“Power charges hike should have been discussed in the party before taking any decision. Such unilateral decisions are not in the interest of the party,’ he said. Earlier TDP also took similar decision and lost the faith of people, he said.

C Ramachandriah belonged to Praja Rajaym Party, formed by K Chiranjeevi, who later merged the party with Congress. (INN)

Job generation drops by over 14.1 per cent: ASSOCHAM

Along with the sluggish economic growth rate, the new job generation has declined by 14.1 per cent during the second half of financial year 2012-13 as against the corresponding period last year across India.

“India’s slowing economy and policy unpredictability had significantly slowed down the fresh investments and hurt job creation across the country”, according to the just concluded study undertaken by ASSOCHAM.

Cong MLCs demands withdrawal of hike in power tariff

Describing the hike in power tariff as a huge burden on common people, Congress MLC K Yadav Reddy demanded that the State Government immediately withdraw the hike.

Addressing a press conference at the Congress Legislature Party Office here on Monday, Congress MLC K Yadav Reddy said that the hike would badly affect the image of the ruling party while giving an opportunity to the opposition parties to exploit the situation. He said although several states in the country were facing power crisis, the hike in tariff in Andhra Pradesh was huge.

CM telling lies on power: Left parties

The Left Parties on Monday accused Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy of telling lies on power position.

The Left Parties held a massive dharna at the Collector office protesting against the hike in power charges. Speaking on the occasion, CPM secretary BV Raghavulu said that Chief Minister is telling lies on the power position and charges.

Raghavulu said that Congress leaders should convince the Chief Minister and roll back the prices.

K Narayaana (CPI) and other leaders also participated in the dharna. (INN)

Naidu slams Congress on power crisis

TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu said that the power crisis arose due to the inefficiency of the Congress government.

While the power shortage is nine per cent nationwide, it is 19 % in the state and he accused the Chief Minister of kickbacks in allotting power plants to private parties.

Speaking at dharna in the course of his padayatra at the JNTU here, he said, while the power is surplus in the North India our state is reeling under acute power crisis.

Akbar Demands, Withdraw power tariff hike

Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi condemned the latest power tariff hike in the State.

Terming the power tariff hike as totally unwarranted and unacceptable, Akbar Owaisi demanded that the State Government immediately withdraw the tariff hike by doubling the subsidy for the power sector in the State.