Month: October 2013

Sharif has denied ‘dehati aurat’ remark: PM

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Tuesday that his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif had denied ever referring to him as a “dehati aurat” or village woman.

Asked how he took the unscheduled remark by the Pakistan prime minister and also the outburst by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on a controversial ordinance on tainted politicians, and whether it impacted his meeting with Sharif in New York on Sep 29, the prime minister said: “I have learnt to take all these things in my stride but Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has denied any such remarks.”

Another Indian school in UAE told to close

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The future of 570 students has been thrown into jeopardy after yet another Indian school in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was ordered to shut down at the end of the current academic year.

The Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) has ordered the closure of The Little Flower Private School in Abu Dhabi, effective from the 2014-15 academic year, the Gulf News reported.

This is part of its clampdown on villa schools or schools run on designated residential plots, the paper said.

The ADEC started the clampdown for avowed safety reasons in 2008 when there were 72 such schools.

Sikh man sues London bank for racism

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A Sikh man has sued his former employer in London for over 50,000 pounds for allegedly hurting his religious belief verbally, physically abusing him and sexually harassing him.

Harminder Dhanota, 42, claimed at the Central London Employment Tribunal Monday that he was verbally and physically abused by colleagues at the London office of Saudi Arabian bank Samba Financial Services and his workmates would dislodge his turban, the Daily Mail reported.

Dhanota told the tribunal that his boss Jack Tanna also insulted his religion by showing him porn on a mobile phone.

Six CBI aspirants held for cheating in exam

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Six candidates who appeared a Staff Selection Commission (SSC) exam held Sep 29 all across the country for recruitment in the CBI, income tax and excise departments were arrested for cheating, Delhi Police said Tuesday.

Hemant Maan, 24, Sunil Kumar, 25, Arvind Kumar, 24, Virender Singh, 24, Yogender, 31, and Shailender Pratap, 25, were arrested from four different examination centres in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, police said.

Delhi woman arrested for torturing maid

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A woman was arrested here for physically torturing her young maid servant.

Vandana Dheer, 50, was arrested Tuesday morning from her south Delhi residence in Vasant Kunj for torturing her servant, said a police official. Dheer lives with her 85-year-old mother Sheela.

Dheer was booked under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 342 (wrongful confinement) of the Indian Penal Code, and Section 16 of the Bonded Labour Act.

19 kg heroin seized in Punjab, BSF trooper held

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Busting a drugs racket involving smugglers from India and Pakistan, police Tuesday recovered 19 kg heroin and arrested four people, including a BSF trooper, from Punjab’s border Tarn Taran district.

Following the interrogation of three arrested smugglers, police also arrested a Border Security Force (BSF) trooper who used to help the smugglers in the drugs racket.

The heroin recovered is worth about Rs.95 crore in the international market, police officials said.

Shimla school girl raped by classmate

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A school girl was raped by a classmate and another man and, in a separate incident, a minor girl was raped by a cab driver in Shimla, police said Tuesday.

The 15-year-old school victim, who was missing from her house for three days, was found in a semi-conscious state near her house in Vikas Nagar neighbourhood Monday night, police said.

“The girl has been hospitalised,” a police officer said.

The rapist suspect, who studied with her in her class, has been detained and his accomplice Hemraj, an adult, was arrested, police said.

My father is my superhero: Hrithik Roshan

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Actor Hrithik Roshan, who will be seen as a superhero in his filmmaker father’s movie “Krrish 3”, says his dad is his superhero.

Hrithik also credited his father with popularising the superhero genre in Bollywood with the “Krrish” franchise, which started with “Koi Mil Gaya”.

SRK voted best celebrity in rugged look

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Superstar Shah Rukh Khan has topped a list of male celebrities who look best in a rugged look.

Shah Rukh received the maximum number of votes in the survey conducted by online matrimony service Shaadi.com.

When asked about the celebrities who look best in their rugged avatar, 26.3 percent voted for Shah Rukh, followed by Ranbir Kapoor (21.2 percent) and then Hrithik Roshan (11.03 percent). Others on the list included Virat Kohli, Arjun Rampal, John Abraham, Ranveer Singh and Ayushmann Khurrana.

The poll involved over 5,500 urban Indians in the age bracket of 24 to 30.

I can never compete with Khans: Ranbir

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Happy to experiment with his roles, actor Ranbir Kapoor Tuesday said he could never be in the same league as the three superstar Khans of the industry – Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir – as they are the “true superstars”.

“I can never compete with the Khans (Shah Rukh, Salman, Aamir)…they are the true superstars,” said Ranbir who was in the city to promote his movie “Besharam” releasing Wednesday.

RGV explores new underworld in ‘Satya 2’

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Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, who explored the Mumbai underworld as a subject for his 1998 crime thriller “Satya”, says its sequel explores a new kind of underworld which he believes can spring up anytime.

The trailer of “Satya 2” resonates his thought.

“Underworld is no longer the same as it was in the period of 1997-2004. But then something else comes… (when) you think that something is completely gone and will not happen again, that is when it comes back,” the 51-year-old said here Monday at the first look launch of the film.

Learn wildlife photography at Shutterbug 2013

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If wildlife photography intrigues you here’s your chance to learn the nuances of taking great shots, the ethics behind it, the timing and the techniques from ace photographer Sudhir Shivaram.

The Serai Resort and Canon have joined forces to conduct a three-day wildlife photography workshop, Shutterbug 2013, which will be supervised by Shivaram.

To be held at the Serai Kabini Resort, Mysore, Karanataka from Oct 23-25, Shutterbug 2013 is aimed at photography enthusiasts and budding amateurs who want to learn the nuances of wildlife photography.

US business concerns due to Indian economy’s slowdown: PM

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uS President Barack Obama has suggested a CEO’s forum meets to discuss concerns relating to business between the two countries, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Tuesday, noting that the concerns had largely arisen due to the slowdown of the Indian economy.

Replying to a query about relative deterioration in Indo-US business relationship and demands to investigate Indian trade practices, the prime minister said there have been US business concerns but these largely arise out of the slowdown of the Indian economy.

Mixed performance of automobile sector in September

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Automobile sales in September revealed a mixed response from customers, with healthy buying support for two-wheeler manufacturers and car makers struggling to touch last year’s levels.

Sales data released by auto companies Tuesday showed that consumer sentiment still remains bearish due to high interest rates, rising fuel prices and an overall slowdown in the economy.

Sales of the country’s largest passenger car manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki, grew by 11.7 percent at 104,964 units in last month, due to healthy export demand. The company had sold 93,988 units in September, 2012.

Rajasthan textile fair to see buyers from 66 countries

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Rajasthan’s rich and colourful traditional textiles, which have blended well with latest technology, would be on display here at a fair at which buyers from 66 countries are expected.

‘VASTRA – 2013’, the second edition of Rajasthan’s international textile and apparel fair, promises to be bigger and better than its first edition last year with overseas participation from over 66 countries having been confirmed.

Sensex gains 137 points; bank stocks rise

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A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Tuesday closed 137 points, or nearly one percent, up a day after the central bank said that it will buy bonds to provide liquidity.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Monday said it will infuse Rs.10,000 crore into the system by purchasing government securities through open-market operations (OMO) next week to ease liquidity constraints.

The bullish sentiment in the market was also supported by Economic Affairs Secretary Arvind Mayaram’s comments that steps would be taken to incentivise growth.

President urges citizens to follow Bapu’s teachings on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti

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On the eve of Gandhi Jayanti, President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday urged citizens of the country to imbibe wisdom from the valued teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and ensure that Bapu remains alive in our hearts and minds forever. In his message, he said that Gandhi Jayanti is an occasion for us to reflect on the life and contribution of the Father of our Nation. “This is a day to re-dedicate ourselves to ideals of the Mahatma who forged the instrument of Satyagraha based on truth, non-violence and power of self-suffering and helped India shed the yoke of colonialism,” he said.

Congress stages youth rally against ‘corrupt’ Gujarat governance

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The ruling Congress Party on Tuesday staged a youth rally here to protest against corruption in the Narendra Modi-led Gujarat Government, and demonstrated for a Lokayukta to be appointed in the state so that corruption is mitigated in the state, in order for the youth to be given a fair shot at employment opportunities. Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia said that corruption had spread to every government department due to the absence of a Lokayukta in the state. “Corruption has spread to every section. A Lokayukta has not been appointed. The entire money is being wasted in corruption.

Telangana high on my priority: PM Manmohan Singh

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the issue of forming Telangana is high on his priority and he will soon enquire about the status of its implementation.

Singh, who was speaking to media persons while returning from his US visit, said that after reaching Delhi he will enquire from Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde about the status of implementation of the decision to form the separate state out of Andhra Pradesh.

“It is getting recurring attention in the government. When I go back, I will ask the Home Minister what is the status. This is high on my mind,” he said.

–PTI

Katy Perry to ditch pop music for folk in next album

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Katie Perry has revealed that she would be moving away from pop music when she reaches her thirties and her follow-up to ‘Prism’ would be more of a acoustic guitar album.

The 28-year-old, whose latest single ‘Roar’ was a huge success, said that she looks forward to ditching her winning pop formula for a more mature sound, Metro.co.uk reported.

Perry said that she will probably turn into more of a Joni Mitchell.

Paris Hilton makes music comeback with Lil Wayne in `Good Time`

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Paris Hilton has revealed that she is ready to return to music after seven years, as she has collaborated with Lil Wayne on new single ‘Good Time’.

The 32-year-old socialite told MTV that she loves being in the studio and music has always been a huge passion for her, the Mirror reported.

Hilton added that it was huge honour for her to work with Wayne and she is very excited for the world to hear her upcoming track.

She said that she has been recording this album for about a year and a half now and she was really inspired with DJs she met in Ibiza.

Iglesias, Kournikova`s 12 year romance on the rocks?

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Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova’s love life is on the rocks after 12 years of being together, it has been revealed.

Sources have revealed to the New York Post that the relationship is in trouble as the ‘Addicted’ hitmaker is not rushing into marriage despite of being more than a decade with Kournikova.

A source insisted that the former pro court star is getting tired of waiting for him to decide if he wants to marry her or not, and since they have been together for so long, she feels like it’s never going to happen.

‘Awakening’ India will not let ‘abusive’ polity go ‘scot-free’: BJP

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Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday said the consecutive day arrests of Congress Rajya Sabha MP Rasheed Masood and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in connection to corruption cases stand proof to a changing India against corruption, and said that the time had come for increased accountability in polity. “Ultimately, law is catching up with those who are in politics and who have abused the system for their personal gains. We have to pay for it. …India’s democracy and the urge for probity in public life is rising,” Prasad said.

Secular forces should fight Modi’s onslaught: PM

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday for the first time came out strongly against BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, saying he hoped all secular forces would combine “to face the onslaught of people” like the Gujarat chief minister.

Answering a question on whether Modi’s emergence was a threat to the country’s secular polity, the prime minister said, without mincing words: “I sincerely hope that all secular forces would combine to face the onslaught of people like Mr. Narendra Modi.”

Medicines don’t cure male ‘hot flashes’ as they do in women

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The symptoms experienced by women, who are going through menopause, and men, who are receiving hormone therapy for prostate cancer, are the same- flushed face, a sudden rush of heat, sweating, etc.

But unlike in women, neither soy protein nor a common antidepressant provides relief for men, according to researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

Hot flashes occur in approximately 80 percent of men who are undergoing hormone manipulation as treatment for prostate cancer.