Month: September 2013

Mom still unhappy with what I’m doing: Soha Ali Khan

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Soha Ali Khan, a graduate of Oxford University, chose to become an actress like her mother Sharmila Tagore. But she says her star mom is not happy with her choice of profession and wants her daughter to be a lawyer.

Soha, who holds a masters degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science, made her Bollywood debut with “Dil Maange More!!!” in 2004. Most of her movies didn’t do well at the box-office, but she was appreciated for her performance in movies like “Rang De Basanti” and “Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster Returns”.

I have lost weight for media: Zareen Khan

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Zareen Khan wasn’t the conventional slim and trim Bollywood actress when she entered the film industry with “Veer” but she seems to have lost a lot of weight. She says it’s not for a film but for the media.

“No, it’s not for any film. I have lost the weight for you all (media)…there was a lot of criticism from you all,” Zareen told reporters at an event.

The actress had to go through a lot of criticism for her weight when she joined the film industry. However, she is said to have been switching between power yoga, cardio bootcamp and weight training to get into shape.

I am burdened by ‘the star son’ tag: Ranbir Kapoor

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Actor Ranbir Kapoor feels strained by the tag of `star son` and wants to carve out his own identity which would make his parents feel proud of him.

Born in a family of cine-stars, Ranbir, the grandson of legendary Raj Kapoor and son of veteran actors Neetu and Rishi Kapoor, wants to create his own identity.

Rahman’s Kolkata show to set the tone for India tour

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Months after superstars Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif enthralled the audience here at the Indian Premier League inauguration ceremony, the city is all geared up to witness yet another spectacle Tuesday – the opening show of musical genius A.R. Rahman’s month-long India tour titled “Rahmanishq”.

Clooney, I too similar to date each other: Bullock

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Actress Sandra Bullock says she cannot date good friend George Clooney because both of them are very similar to each other.

The duo has been friends since a long time and have a rock solid bond, but never got involved romantically, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

“We go way back, so far back that we’re now started to take years off how long it’s been. We’ve known each other for a while… I think we’re probably the only two that haven’t dated in the business,” said Bullock.

“I think it’s probably because we’re a little too similar, in all the disturbing ways,” she added.

Sharon demanded divorce from husband

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Singer Sharon Osbourne wanted to end marriage with husband Ozzy Osbourne after he revealed that he was back on drugs.

The couple’s 31-year-old marriage hit a rough patch earlier this year after the news of Ozzy’s drug use was revealed. However, they got back together later.

According to femalefirst.co.uk, Sharon shared the experience in her autobiography “Unbreakable”.

Tamara Ecclestone wants to have girl child

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British model Tamara Eccleston, who is expecting her first child, wants a daughter.

She wants her daughter to play with her elder sister Petra’s seven-month-old daughter Lavinia.

This will be Ecclestone’s and her husband Jay Rutland’s first child.

“I hope it’s a girl. I used to want a boy, but now Petra has a daughter. I feel that your girls could be sisters,” femalefirst.co.uk quoted Ecclestone as saying.

Ecclestone and Rutland got married in July 2013.

Petrol price cut by Rs 3.05 per litre; diesel hiked by 50 paise

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Petrol price was on Monday cut by Rs 3.05 per litre, the first reduction in rates in over five months and the steepest in over five years, while diesel prices were raised by 50 paise a litre.

The price changes announced by oil companies are excluding local sales tax or VAT and will be effective midnight tonight.

While petrol price cut has been made possible because of appreciation in rupee value against US dollar, diesel rates are being hiked as per the practice of increase in rates by small monthly doses to cover losses.

Honda limited edition hatchback Brio

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Japanese automobile manufacturer Honda’s Indian subsidiary Monday launched a limited edition of premium hatchback “Brio” for the festive season, priced at Rs.4.92 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

“It is our constant endeavour to provide freshness to our products and create excitement in the market,” said Jnaneswar Sen, senior vice president, marketing and sales, Honda Cars India.

“We are confident that this new sporty and youthful look of the car will appeal to our customers.”

The company has managed to sell 54,095 units in the last two years since its launch.

Sensex down nearly two percent, bank stocks plunge

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A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Monday closed 348 points, or nearly two percent, down in volatile trade on negative global cues and in anticipation of poor quarterly current account deficit figures later in the day.

Markets showed concern over a possible shutdown of the US Federal government services due to a political deadlock over so-called Obamacare plan in the budget and with Italy likely to face new elections.

India, Africa CEOs meet in Johannesburg

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) Steps to enhance trade, investment, technology transfer and capacity-building will be discussed in two India-Africa meetings in Johannesburg Tuesday, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) said here.

India’s Commerce Minister Anand Sharma will attend the third India-Africa Trade Ministers meeting and the India-Africa Business Council (IABC) meeting.

Sonia Gandhi backs PM, lashes out at BJP for making fun of him

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Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday lashed out out BJP for “making fun” of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and asserted that the “whole party stands behind him”.

“They make fun of our party, they make fun of our prime minister,” she told a huge Congress rally.

“The whole party stands behind the prime minister,” Gandhi declared at the rally held to thank people of Karnataka for electing the Congress to power in the state in the May 5 assembly elections.

Manoj Kumar gets lifetime achievement award

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Veteran actor Manoj Kumar received lifetime achievement award at the finale of the fourth edition of Jagran Film Festival, recently held here.

Other awards included best actress bagged by Sridevi while the best actor award was shared by Ranbir Kapoor for his film “Barfi!” and Farhan Akhtar for “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag”.

The award for best director was given to Abhishek Kapoor and the best film award was also presented to his movie “Kai Po Che”.

Intel to take over bankrupt Micron plant in Israel

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Intel will take over a plant in Israel’s Kiryat Gat city after it was shut down by the US microchip manufacturer Micron in a bid to save 800 jobs, it was announced Sunday.

Intel and Micron signed a deal according to which Intel would continue to manufacture the same flash memories which are currently manufactured at the plant, and will sell them to Micron, Xinhua reported.

Intel would also continue to employ 800 of about 1,000 workers who currently work at the factory, Intel said in a statement.

Zimbabwe to curb cheap imports

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In a bid to curb the influx of cheap imports, Zimbabwe is drafting policies as the country’s trade deficit continues to grow, the state media reported Sunday.

Policymakers are looking at ways to regulate imports to both curb the influx of cheap imports and help local industries operate viably, reported Xinhua citing Zimbabwean Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa telling The Sunday Mail.

Though details of the policies are not yet disclosed, observers say a hike of duties might be in the pipeline.

Chinese president’s Southeast Asia tour to boost ties

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Chinese president’s maiden visit to Southeast Asia in October will hold significance to deepen China-Indonesia, China-Malaysia relations as well as ties between China and the Asean, vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin said Sunday.

Liu made the remarks at a press briefing about Xi Jingpin’s state visits to Indonesia, Malaysia and his attendance of the 21st leaders’ meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Indonesia’s Bali from Oct 2 to 8.

US House votes on funding bill as Government shutdown looms

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The US House of Representatives has voted to fund the government through mid-December. But the bill passed with a Republican amendment defunding President Obama’s health care act, making a shutdown almost certain.
With an impending government shutdown fast approaching, members of the US legislature’s lower house voted early on Sunday to extend funding before the October 1 deadline.

However, last-minute additions to the bill by House Republicans – who outnumber House Democrats 234 – 201 – threaten to derail efforts to avoid a government shutdown by Tuesday.

Whole party behind Manmohan Singh, Sonia

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Three days after Rahul Gandhi’s blunt attack against the Ordinance on convicted lawmakers, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today declared that the “whole party” stands behind Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

“I want to tell them(BJP) that the whole party, the whole party stands behind our Prime Minister”, thundered Sonia at a public rally here, in a forceful defence of Manmohan Singh after she slammed BJP for ridiculing the Congress and the Prime Minister.

“They (BJP) ridicule our achievements; they make fun of our party and our Prime Minister,” Sonia said.

Iran media hails Obama-Rohani phone call as “the end of a 35-year taboo”

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US President Barack Obama and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rohani spoke by phone Friday in a historic and first direct contact between leaders of their estranged nations since the 1979.

The stunning 15-minute call was the fruit of a diplomatic opening forged by Rohani’s election in June on a mandate to ease confrontation with the West and lift nuclear sanctions that have pulverized the Iranian economy.

Jagan ‘appreciates’ Modi, but committed to secularism

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Just out after 16 months in jail, YSR Congress President Y S Jaganmohan Reddy today sent signals that he was keeping his options open post Lok Sabha elections today and had a word of appreciation for BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

“I said I am secular. what other secular parties like Communists, like Janata Dal (U), would do, I will also do the same. I have my options. I dont think I would be in a hurry. All these options are there for everybody,” he told reporters here.

Yuvraj makes a comeback for OZ series; Yadav dropped

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In-form senior batsman Yuvraj Singh was recalled but pacer Umesh Yadav was dropped from the 15-member Indian cricket team announced today for the first Twenty20 International and three ODIs against Australia starting October 10 in Rajkot.

Yuvraj, who last played for India against England in an ODI in Dharamsala last January, was recalled after a string of fantastic scores for India A against West Indies A and a solid display for India Blue in the recently-concluded NKP Salve Challenger Series.

Lalu faces disqualification as MP

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Former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad today suffered a major blow when a special CBI court convicted him in a 17-year-old fodder scam case of corruption that disqualifies him from Parliament and will keep him out of electoral arena for at least six years.

Also convicted was a sitting JD(U) MP from Jahanabad Jagadish Sharma, who becomes the third MP to be disqualified in the wake of a Supreme Court judgement striking down a provision in the electoral law that deferred immediate disqualification of lawmakers on conviction.

Indian Institute of Foreign Trade begins course for Ghanaians

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An executive development programme on international business organised jointly by the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) and the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), opened here Monday.

The programme will be held till Oct 4, a statement an Indian High Commission statement s said.

The programme, “will be conducted by the a three-member faculty consisting of professors Biswajit Nag, Nitin Seth and Pooja Lakhanpal from the IIFT”.

‘Boogie Woogie’ is back

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One of the oldest dance reality shows “Boogie Woogie” will be returning to the small screen soon.

The show is open for children in the age group of six to 14 years and will air on Sony Entertainment Television.

The auditions will begin in Bhopal and Ranchi Oct 7-8, according to the official Facebook page of the channel.

Launched in 1996, “Boogie Woogie” was the brainchild of TV personality Naved, his brother Javed Jaffrey and actor Ravi Behl. It was also one of the longest running dance reality show on Indian Tv.

——–IANS

Closure of Sheep & goat, Beef shops on Oct 2

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GHMC Commissioner, M T Krishna Babu has ordered for the closure of Sheep & Goat, Beef shops on Oct 2.

On account of “MAHATMA GANDHI JAYANTHI” on Oct 2, the Modern Abattoir at Chengicherla (Sheep & Goat, Beef Section) and the Retail Meat & Beef Shops within the limits of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation will have to be remained close, said GHMC Comissioner. (INN)