Month: July 2013

England hope Taylor measures up against Australia

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England’s selectors were paying particular interest to Australia’s tour match against Sussex ahead of naming their squad on Sunday for next week’s third Test at Old Trafford.

Holders England may be on the brink of retaining the Ashes after a crushing 347-run win in the second Test at Lord’s left them 2-0 up in the series with three to play but that match saw Kevin Pietersen suffer a calf injury that has left him doubtful for the Manchester clash.

Pune varsity to offer postgraduate course in aviation

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University of Pune (UOP) has signed a memorandum of understanding with a Germany-based pilot training and flight institute to offer a two-year postgraduate course in aviation starting September 1.

The course, which will award M.Tech (Aviation) degree for students with eligibility of BE or B.Tech, envisages on site aviation training at the institute’s facility in Germany for three semesters in addition to a six month study at the UOP’s department of technology.

Wife’s unsubstantiated allegation of infidelity against hubby

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Unsubstantiated allegations made by wife in a court of law during divorce proceedings about her husband’s extramarital relations amounts to cruelty, the Bombay High Court has ruled, while allowing dissolution of marriage on these grounds.

The ruling was delivered recently by a bench which quashed a Pune family court order of July 11 dismissing a divorce petition filed by a man on the grounds of cruelty.

Hearing an appeal of husband against the impugned order, justices G S Patel and O S Oka allowed dissolution of marriage between Mahesh and Mohini Paigude.

Would wear Indian dress for my wedding: Nargis Fakhri

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American-origin actress Nargis Fakhri, who turned a royal bride for designer duo Ashima and Leena on the day four of India Bridal Fashion Week, expressed her desire to dress up like an Indian bride for her wedding.

The 33-year-old ‘Rockstar’ actress dazzled the runway in a golden lehenga teamed with meenakri choli.

She kept her wavy hair on one side of the shoulder, showed off her huge maang-tika.

Rahul Gandhi fit to be PM, says Lalu Yadav

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Former Bihar chief minister and RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav has endorsed Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi as the next prime minister.

Lalu Yadav said in Mirzapur Friday that Gandhi was “fit to be the prime minister and had all qualities of a bright leader”.

“Rahul Gandhi has nothing negative about him. If given a chance by the people of India, he would prove to be a good prime minister,” he said.

19 killed in rival protests in Egypt, tensions mounting

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Clashes between supporters and opponents of ousted President Mohammad Morsi has killed at least 19 people and injured over 700 across the country, with violence continuing into the early hours of Saturday, Xinhua reported.

Police arrested 53 Morsi-supporters who were carrying guns, Molotov cocktails and other weapons, according to official news agency MENA.

Six killed in Philippine bombing

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At least six people were killed and dozens injured in a bomb explosion inside a shopping centre in southern Philippines late Friday night, authorities said Saturday.

The dead included a provincial council member and five civilians, Xinhua reported. Twenty-eight others were wounded as an alleged improvised explosive went off at the Limketkai Mall in downtown Cagayan de Oro city in Mindanao’s Misamis Oriental province, according to Lieutenant Colonel Leo Bongosia, spokesperson for the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division.

Khalifa foundation to build mosque in China

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The Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation has announced its support for building the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in the China’s Wuzhong city.

The Sheikh Zayed mosque will house 1,000 worshippers, ablution areas and toilets, with separate facilities for men and women. The project will also provide a residence for the incumbent Imam within its structure, along with a reception area, store, and other necessary amenities.

99-year-old woman from Iran becomes US citizen

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In nearly a century since her Iranian birth, Khatoun Khoykani has lived through revolutions and world wars.

Now, 15 years after moving to the United States, the 99-year-old can add to the list the unlikely experience of becoming a U.S. Citizen.

Khoykani joined about 3,700 other people on Friday for a naturalization ceremony at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

“I’m so excited, I can’t even think,” Khoykani said in Farsi.

Will not label Morsi ouster as coup in national interest: US

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The US has said that it will not declare the ouster of the democratically elected president of Egypt, Mohamed Morsi, as a coup in its own national interest, allowing it to continue providing USD 1.5 billion in annual military and economic aid.

“We believe that the continued provision of assistance to Egypt, consistent with our law, is important to our goal of advancing a responsible transition to democratic governance, and is consistent with our national security interests,” State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said yesterday.

Yukta Mookhey’s husband, in-laws’ interim relief extended

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The court also directed Mookhey’s husband Prince Tuli and his parents to go to police station daily till July 31 and later twice a week till the next date of hearing.

A sessions court extended the interim relief granted to husband and the in-laws of former Miss World Yukta Mookhey observing that the investigation was still at a very preliminary stage.

“The investigation is still at a very preliminary stage,” observed judge D A Dholakiya while adjourning the case till August 20.

John Barrowman gets flak for gay marriage

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Actor John Barrowman was bombarded with online abuse after he shared the news of his gay marriage earlier this month.

The 46-year-old actor, who married his long-term partner Scott Gill in the US July 2 after the lawmakers at the country’s Supreme Court paved way for same-sex unions, received a lot of congratulatory messages from fans initially. But he has now revealed that he also became a target for homophobic abuse, reports contactmusic.com.

Two killed in communal clashes in Meerut

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Two people, including a woman, were killed and over a dozen injured in clashes between two communities in a village in Meerut, police said Saturday.

The clashes erupted after a community objected to the playing of hymns at a temple, switched off the loudspeaker and beat up some men.

Police resorted to a baton charge to control the mob. A police officer has been suspended and a hunt is on to nab the rioters.

Nitty gritty for implementing food scheme finalised: Sheila Dikshit

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Sources said UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi is likely to launch the scheme in Delhi, which will be the first state to roll it out.

With assembly elections just four months away, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has fine tuned her administrative machinery to ensure effective implementation of food security scheme which is expected to help Congress retain power in Delhi for the fourth consecutive term.

After parents died of AIDS, 5 kids forced to live in graveyard as relatives refuse to give them shelter

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The siblings, four boys and a girl, were deserted by relatives who feared the children too may be infected with HIV.

Five children, siblings orphaned by AIDS, have been forced to live in a village graveyard in Pratapgarh district in Uttar Pradesh after villagers threw them out of their house.

The matter was first reported by local newspapers. Pratapgarh is about 160 km from state capital Lucknow.

France to pay tributes to Indian troops killed in World War I

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France is planning to pay tributes on the centenary of World War I to Indian soldiers who were killed in action, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Friday.

Jean-Yves Le Drian, who is on a three day visit to India, held talks with Defence Minister AK Antony here.

The two ministers issued a joint statement that conveyed France’s desire to honour Indian soldiers who fell during the World War I.

Missing Modi photos on BJP posters not an issue: Sushma Swaraj

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Photographs of Modi, who is the BJP’s National Poll Campaign Committee Chairman were missing from posters and banners.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj said here today that there is no point in raising the issue of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s missing photographs from BJP posters all along Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s Janashirwad Yatra route. “It is not at all an issue and the media is unnecessarily airing it,” Swaraj told reporters after chairing the District Vigilence and Valuation Committee meeting at the Circuit House.

General perception that Muslims don’t believe IM exists: Rahman Khan,

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After his reported controversial remark on Indian Mujahideen, Union Minority Affairs Minister K Rahman Khan today said it was not his view that the Muslim community did not believe in the existence of IM, but it was a general perception.

“I have no opinion. I have not said that, who said that. There is a perception (among Muslims that IM does not exist),” he told reporters at his residence here.

I shy away from talking something wrong: SRK

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A ‘self aware’ actor will never do a film that is not an extension of his personality, believes superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who refrains from saying or doing certain things.

“I do believe that an actor, who is self aware, will never do a film that is not an extension of his personality,” Shah Rukh, who has acted in more than 75 films, including romantic, action thrillers and dramas, said.

He shared his views while in conversation with lyricist Prasoon Joshi at an event where he was honoured with an award.

Rupert Grint to make West End debut

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Actor Rupert Grint will make his debut on the West End theatre scene with a crime drama-based play “Mojo”.

“Mojo”, inspired by real life events, is being directed by Ian Rickson, who was impressed with the 24-year-old actor’s work in the “Harry Potter” franchise.

“I’d seen the Potter films with my daughter and always thought Rupert was truthful as Ron Weasley,” dailymail.co.uk quoted director Rickson as saying.

“There’s something ordinary and centred about him, and in this world of Mojo you want that grittiness,” Rickson added.

Will.i.am wants to open creative factory

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Singer Will.i.am is keen to create a platform for creative people. He hopes it will give them the freedom to produce whatever they like.

The 38-year-old is inspired by Johnny Depp’s movie “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, where the actor’s character Willy Wonka has a magical factory that produces the best chocolate in town, reports dailystar.co.uk.

“I want a Willy Wonka factory one day, just a creative campus of creative indi-viduals coming up with things,” Will.i.am said

“One day I’m going to have 10,000 people working in this business. I am rethinking the Segway,” he added.

Greece to get $5.3 bn loan by Monday: EU

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Greece will get a 4-billion-euro (about $5.3 billion) bailout loan from international lenders by Monday, the European Commission (EC) has said.

According to EC spokesperson Simon O’Connor, deputy finance ministers of the 17-country eurozone approved the unlocking of aid funds to Greece in a meeting, reported Xinhua Friday.

“With the provision that national approval procedures are completed, which we expect to happen by Monday, the disbursement can take place,” he said during a news conference.

Chinese firm to build coal power plant in Morocco

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A Chinese firm is all set to build a 318-megawatt coal-fired plant in the African nation of Morocco.

According to Morocco’s state power utility ONEE, the plant, for which a deal has been signed by Chinese firm — Sepco III, is to be built in Jerada city, near the Algerian border, a former coal mines hub closed in 2001. Its operation will start by 2016-end, Xinhua reported.

The new plant is part of the master plan to cope with the rapid growth in electricity demand in this African nation which is around 10 per cent annually.

4 police officers suspended for ‘dishonouring’ national flag

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Four police officers were suspended today for dishonouring national flag at Kolkata Police headquarters here, a senior police officer said.

Four assistant sub-inspectors of Kolkata’s police armed battalion were suspended for dishonouring the national flag, he said.

The national flag got torn due to some reason and the officers who were on duty didn’t notice that and hoisted the flag, he said.

Headmaster suspended for sexually torturing woman teacher

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The headmaster of a panchayat school in Tukkachi village has been suspended for allegedly sexually torturing a woman teacher, who later tried to commit suicide by consuming poison, police said.

They said the man refused to receive the suspension order today, forcing education department officials to paste it on the door of his house.

The woman teacher, in hospital since July 18 after she tried to commit suicide, told officials she had tried to take the extreme step as she was unable to bear the humiliation and torture any longer.