Month: July 2013

Qatari girls’ sports rights activist wins IOC trophy

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has honoured six women for their outstanding contributions to the development of women’s participation in sport and its administration.

Qatari Ahlam Salem Mubarak Al Mana, a pioneer for women’s and girls’ sports rights in her country, was presented with the World Trophy during a ceremony here Monday.

The five continental trophies were awarded to Djènè Saran Camara (Guniea, Africa); Marlene Bjornsrud (US, Americas); Boossaba Yodbangtoey (Thailand, Asia); Ona Baboniene (Lithuania, Europe); Catherine Alice Wong (Fiji, Oceania).

Hyderabad blasts case: AP Police get breakthrough

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The Andhra Pradesh Police on Tuesday claimed a “breakthrough” in the February 21 Dilsukhnagar twin bomb blasts case here and said they were close to nabbing the accused with the help of NIA.

“We know the persons who had done that (blast)…We are on the job of apprehending them. The NIA knows it. We are keeping it as a closely-guarded secret to give a surprise to the accused so that it facilitates us in apprehending them,” state Director General of Police V Dinesh Reddy told reporters here.

Robbers kill bank official, loot cash van in Bihar

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Armed robbers on Tuesday shot dead a bank official, injured two security guards and looted over Rs 25 lakh from a cash van of a nationalised bank in Bihar’s Sitamarhi district, police said.

A district police official said six motorcycle-borne robbers stopped the cash van at gun point at a village under the Riga police station, shooting at and injuring the branch manager and two security guards of local Punjab National Bank branch, before fleeing with the money.

“The branch manager was taken to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him dead,” a police official said.

India plays down reports of US snooping at diplomatic missions

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India Tuesday sought to play down reports of the US cyber snooping at diplomatic missions, including at the Indian embassy in Washington, saying it was merely a “computer study of patterns” and the issue was discussed during the visit of US Secretary of State John Kerry here last week.

“I don’t think we should be raising it to such a high level…that it becomes a matter of serious question. It is only a computer study of patterns – meaning destination. It is not snooping,” Khurshid said in Brunei where he has gone to attend meetings with the ASEAN countries.

Australian Reserve Bank keeps cash rate on hold

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The board of the Reserve Bank of Australia left the cash rate unchanged at its meeting Tuesday, holding steady at 2.75 percent as expected.

Glenn Stevens, governor of the Monetary Policy Decision, said global growth was running a bit below average this year, but with reasonable prospects of a pick-up in 2014, reported Xinhua.

Commodity prices have further declined, yet remain at relatively high levels, and inflation has moderated in recent months in a number of countries.

Inzamam says not offered Pak batting coach role yet

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Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq has denied reports that he is in contention to take over as the national team”s batting coach following the team”s poor show in the recent concluded ICC Champions Trophy in England. According to the Daily Times, although Inzamam was approached by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to work as a batting consultant with the national team and even worked with the players before they went to India for a one-day series last December, a source however, said that he had declined citing prior commitments.

Older couples change topic to avoid arguements

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A new study suggests that as you age, you may find yourself handling disagreements more often by changing the subject.

The study by Sarah Holley, San Francisco State University assistant professor of psychology who directs the University’s Relationships, Emotion and Health Lab, followed 127 middle-aged and older long-term married couples across 13 years, checking in to see how they communicated about conflicts from housework to finances.

Tips to save a marriage from falling apart

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When the marriage is on the rocks, couples typically seek advice from friends, family and marriage counselors.

However, according to relationship expert Mort Fertel, that’s precisely the wrong thing to do.

Fertel said in an e-mail to Huffington Post that much of the advice people get about their marriage problems is wrong, even though it sounds good and made sense.

What he suggests instead are six unconventional steps that run counter to traditional relationship advice.

Successful satellite launch a milestone: PM

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday said the successful launch of India’s first navigation satellite is an important milestone in the development of country’s space programme.

He congratulated the department of space and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the successful launch of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).

“The IRNSS-1A satellite is the first in a series which will give India its own space-based navigation system,” he said.

Mom never interferes in my work: Sonakshi Sinha

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Sonakshi Sinha has refuted reports that her mother Poonam Sinha was skeptical about her intimate scenes with her co-star Ranveer Singh in “Lootera”.

“All these reports are quite rubbish. Mom knows what kind of work I am doing and she knows what is in the loop,” the 25-year-old said here Monday at a Cafe Coffee Day outlet where she was present to promote “Lootera”.

“So she would not interfere in my work and I won’t do anything that they would be embarrassed about,” she added.

Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, “Lootera” is a period romance and hits the theatres Friday.

—IANS

55 travellers in UP found unconscious in bus

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Fifty-five people travelling in a chartered bus, including the driver and conductor, were found unconscious in a Uttar Pradesh town early Tuesday, police said.

A passerby raised an alarm after spotting the bus with unconscious passengers near a check post in Saharanpur, some 575 km from here. The bus was coming from Bijnor and headed to Gangoh, a police official said.

The passengers were rushed to a nearby medical facility. The condition of 35 people is stated to be serious.

New target for therapy found in brain tumours

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Researchers have found a potential target for therapy in a kind of adult brain tumour that promises to pave the way for treatment of other type of cancers as well, says a study.

Glioblastomas are the most common form of brain tumour in adults — and the most aggressive. Because of the way the tumours invasively infiltrate the brain, spreading like ivy, they cannot be removed fully by surgery. There is no cure, and few patients survive more than two to three years even with aggressive treatment.

IGNOU extends admission date for July session

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The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has extended the last date for admission to its various academic programmes till July 8, a statement said Tuesday.

“The revised dates for the July session are July 8 without late fee and July 31 with late fee for various academic programmes,” the statement said.

Earlier, the last date to submit applications at the varsity’s regional centres was July 1.

ISRO helped during Uttarakhand floods

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The Indian space agency extended a helping hand during rescue operations in calamity-hit Uttarakhand by taking photographs and transmitting them to the central and state governments, a top official said.

“During disaster management, ISRO (Indian Space Research Orgnisation) has responsibilities like providing communication systems, imageries, equipments and others,” ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan told reporters here Tuesday.

Replying to a query, he said the agency has been taking pictures from June 17 onwards and transmitting them to the central and the state governments.

Crime In Hyderabad (2.7.2013)

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Murdered woman identified
(Siasat News):Narsingi police has identified the dead body of a woman who was murdered. According to reliable sources, police not only identified the dead body but also caught the killer and the motive behind the murder is also disclosed.

The dead body was of one Ushabai, 30, who was involved in hooch business. She was the resident of Mangalhaat and did not marry till date as she was deceived by a man earlier.

ICC sets up committee to consider Pak paceman Aamer’s spot-fixing ban

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has constituted a five-member committee to consider a request for the relaxation of the conditions for the spot-fixing ban on Pakistani paceman Mohammad Aamer.

The paceman was banned in 2011 for five years for spot-fixing along with team-mates Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, after they were found guilty of bowling deliberate no-balls in return for money in the Lord’s Test against England in 2010, Sport24 reports.

Man who filmed assault on immigrant convicted of murder

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A 19-year-old man in US who recorded on video the attack and robbery that led to the death of a Mexican immigrant was found guilty of murder and robbery Monday by a judge.

Judge Joseph M. Claps ruled that Anthony Malcolm was an accomplice in the 2012 killing of Delfino Mora, 62, as the father of 12 was collecting cans in an alley in the West Rogers Park neighbourhood.

In a video that later was posted on Facebook, one can see Mora being surrounded by three young men who went through his pockets and then being slugged on the chin by one of them.

Pakistan needs national policy on security: Daily

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Pakistan needs a national policy on security, a daily said Tuesday, stressing that “there has to be ownership of that policy right from the president of Pakistan down to the individual police constable”.

“There is no doubt that there is a national crisis of security, with some parts of the country experiencing an almost daily degradation in terms of the quality of security for the ordinary person,” said an editorial in the News International, two days after a carnage in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in which around 50 people were killed in bomb blasts.

Sightless and poor, but visionary in deed

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Notwithstanding their daily grim battle for survival, a group of visually challenged people – the majority of them beggars – have come together to contribute their lot in improving the lives of others.

Forty sightless people have formed the Paschimbanga Agragami Andha Samity (West Bengal Forward Association for the Visually Challenged) to give shape to their dreams that include training the needy to earn their daily bread.

Murray dressed like ‘idol’ Agassi during childhood, says brother Jamie

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The older brother of British tennis ace Andy Murray has revealed that Murray used to dress up like his idol Andre Agassi during his childhood.

According to British tennis player Jamie Murray, his younger sibling used to wear denim shorts, with pink cycling shorts underneath, in the style of Agassi, and completed the ensemble with a blonde wig bought by their parents, The Sun reports.

Flintoff’s kids only know Ashes hero works in supermarket!

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Former England captain Andrew Flintoff has said that his children have no idea that he is an Ashes legend and instead think that he works in a supermarket.

According to the Daily Star, Flintoff’s children, eight-year-old Holly, seven-year-old Corey and five-year-old Rocky know him better for his advertisements for UK supermarket chain Morrisons.

According to Flintoff, his children think that he works for Morrisons, instead of playing cricket.

Family of five ‘jump’ to death into Yamuna

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A 35-year-old school teacher allegedly jumped into the Yamuna River along with his wife and three minor daughters, but their bodies are yet to be found, even as the reason behind the family taking the extreme step is still unknown, police said Tuesday.

“Amar Singh (35) along with his wife Meena (30), daughters Ekta (8), Anupma (5) and Aditi (3) allegedly jumped into the Yamuna river from Shergadh bridge here yesterday,” police said, adding that the reasons behind the victims taking the step is yet to be ascertained.

11 die as Taliban attack NATO base in Kabul

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At least 11 people were killed Tuesday morning when the Taliban launched an attack on a NATO supply base in the eastern part of the Afghan capital, the seventh massive attack in Kabul within two months, police said.

Two civilian drivers, four Nepalese guards, one Afghan guard and four militants were killed, reported Xinhua.

Advani praises Patel for integrating Hyderabad with India

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After seeking abrogation of special status for Jammu and Kashmir, BJP leader L K Advani today praised India’s first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel for integrating Hyderabad into the Indian Union through the use of force despite Jawaharlal Nehru’s opposition.

In his latest blog posting, Advani refers to a book by V P Menon, who worked under Patel during the integration of 564 princely states into the Union, and says the Home Minister sent in the army despite Nehru’s opposition.

India downplays US snooping, calls it cyber scrutiny

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Days after a report claimed that the Indian embassy in the US was one of the 38 diplomatic missions which the American intelligence agency NSA was spying on, Indian Minister for External Affairs Salman Khurshid on Tuesday attempted to water down the whole issue.

According to a report in the British newspaper The Guardian, the US intelligence service National Security Agency (NSA) bugged EU embassies in Washington and in New York as well as its offices in Brussels and infiltrated their internal computer networks.