Month: November 2013

Modi will have to ‘unlearn’ before learning on economy: FM

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As Narendra Modi sharpened his attack on the government accusing it of failing to curb price rise, Finance Minister P Chidambaram today hit back saying the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate will have to “unlearn” a lot before he learns about Indian economy.

“I am glad that he is beginning to take interest in Indian economy. As he takes more interest, he will discover that there is much more to learn. First they have to unlearn a lot then learn,” Chidambaram said.

Geelani asks Kashmiris to boycott polls

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Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani Friday called for a boycott of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls that will be followed by the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections.

Geelani was addressing a gathering after Friday prayers in north Kashmir’s Sopore town, 54 km from summer capital Srinagar.

He said solutions like the self-rule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or the autonomy proposed by the ruling National Conference (NC) or any other option offered by other mainstream political parties would not be accepted by Kashmiris.

Cheryl Cole’s company earns 500,000 pounds profit

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Singer Cheryl Cole’s company – CC Couture – has reportedly made a profit of 500,000 pounds in the last one year.

The 30-year-old had set set up the company in 2011 to handle her music and creative projects. Being the only director, she has pocketed the entire profit, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Cheryl had taken the required actions to re-launch her pop singing career.

She recently hired the team behind One Direction band to help restart her career.

ODI win will boost confidence for WI Tests: Kohli

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India is looking for a win in the last One-Day International (ODI) against Australia here Saturday to boost its confidence for the Test series against the West Indies, vice captain Virat Kohli said Friday.

“Though the focus right now is on winning the last game, we should be going into the India-West Indies Test series with confidence high,” Kohli said.

Levelling the ODI series 2-2 at Nagpur Wednesday in style after two games were washed out in Ranchi (Oct 23) and Cuttack (Oct 26), the seventh and final game will be a cracker of a contest between the top two teams in the ICC rankings.

Aussies shrug off Johnson’s absence in last ODI

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Australia is undeterred by the absence of ace left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson for the seventh and final One-Day International (ODI) against India here Saturday, as it is betting on Nathan Coulter-Nile and Moises Henriques to fill the void.

“We have two more pacers Nathan and Moises to choose in place of Mitchell though they were on the sidelines for the entire tour. We have got enough to cover. I think Nathan is known in India with the success he had in the recent Champions League,” vice captain Brad Haddin told reporters ahead of the decider at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here.

CID, IAS officers to probe Andhra Pradesh bus blaze

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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy Friday announced that a committee of senior IAS officers, and also the Criminal Investigation Department of the state police, would probe Wednesday’s bus mishap in Mahabubnagar district.

The private bus, on its way to Hyderabad from Karnataka capital Bangalore, hit a culvert and burst into flames. Forty-five people died as the bus was reduced to cinders and a shell.

Silver banyan tree for Sachin at Eden

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Sachin Tendulkar would be presented a silver banyan tree by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) at the Eden Gardens during his 199th and final Test appearance at the hallowed venue, a top CAB official said here Friday.

An exhibition of the maestro’s 100 photos showcasing his mountainous achievements would be organised as part of the lavish celebrations to give a befitting adieu to the cricket legend, CAB treasurer Biswarup Dey told IANS.

The plans were finalised during the day.

NIA detains youth for Patna serial blasts

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The National Investigation Agency, probing into the Patna’s serial blasts, Friday detained a youth who helped one of the arrested terror suspects, a police official said.

The NIA has detained Saddam Hussain who was in touch with Arshad Alam and Mohammad Imtiaz Ansari, two of the four arrested terror suspects.

“NIA officials have interrogated Hussain who is a close relative of a Bihar government official,” the official said.

Karnataka to pay for Manna Dey’s medical bills

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The Karnataka government Friday decided to settle the pending medical bills of legendary playback singer Manna Dey, who passed away here Oct 24.

Announcing the decision, state Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the pending medical bills of Dey, amounting to Rs.25 lakh, would be settled by the state government.

“This is not just a gesture of our government, but a mark of respect to the great singer who had also sung a few songs for Kannada films,” he said at an award function on the occasion of the state’s 58th formation day (Rajyothsava) celebrations here.

Trinamool leader Somen Mitra to join Congress

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Alleging break down of law and order, dissident Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha member Somen Mitra Friday announced he would quit the party and return to the Congress.

However, the senior leader – a former state Congress president – said he would resign from the Lok Sabha before joining the Congress.

“Congress is my mother party. I made a mistake by joining the Trinamool. I have realised it. I want to undo the mistake by rejoining the Congress,” said Mitra, who represents the Diamond Harbour constituency in the Lok Sabha.

One killed, three injured in Los Angeles Airport shooting

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A gunman shot and killed a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) worker at Los Angeles International Airport Friday before himself being shot and taken into custody, media reports said.

At least three other people, including a second TSA employee, were wounded, NBC News reported citing federal authorities. But it was not clear whether the shooter was among the injured.

Harry Styles mobbed by female fans

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Singer Harry Styles was surrounded by a group of female teenager fans on the street here.

Styles, member of One Direction band, is currently on the Japanese leg of the group’s Take Me Home tour.

The schoolgirls got their pictures clicked and looked very excited to be around the teenage hearthrobe, reports dailystar.co.uk.

A lot of other fans also gathered around to take pictures of Styles, who is seen standing blushing in one of the pictures.

One Direction also comprises of Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan.

——–IANS

Hamilton worried about Scherzinger’s weight loss

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Lewis Hamilton is worried about singer and ex-girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger’s weight loss
and wants her to take care of her health.

The duo recently ended their seven-year-long relationship, but they are still in touch.

“Lewis has seen the recent photos of Nicole looking stick-thin and is really concerned,” dailystar.co.uk quoted a source as saying.

However, Scherzinger thinks differently.

“He told her ‘enough is enough now’. But Nicole actually likes her new, skinnier figure. She thinks it’s great,” said a source.

——-IANS

Rhys Meyers abstains from alcohol

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Actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers says he hasn’t touched alcohol ever since he returned from the rehabilitation centre.

The actor, who plays lead role in television series “Dracula”, checked into rehab three times between 2005 to 2009 for alcohol abuse, and he has remained teetotal ever since coming out of there the last time, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

“I have nothing at all. Once you make a decision that you’ve had enough of something, then the decision is made,” said Meyers.

———IANS

“Arrogant” Cong evades media, Modi counters Sibal

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Narendra Modi today hit back at Union Minister Kapil Sibal for saying that he does not address press conferences to avoid being questioned and said it is the “arrogant” Congress that does not answer media queries.

“You go through the speeches of Congress or UPA leaders in the past two months and you will see they are not talking about what they have done.

“The Congress is so arrogant, it does not answer even the media. The Prime Minister is Manmohan Singh and the government is theirs, yet they are seeking answers from Modi.

Fiery Friday in Tamil Nadu kills nine people

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Nine people died, four were injured and equipment worth crores of rupees was damaged in two fires in Tamil Nadu on Friday.

Nine people lost their lives and four were hurt in a blast at the Dhanalakshmi Fireworks in Olukacheri village near Kumbakonam of Thanjavur district, around 340 km from here.

In another incident, a fire damaged equipment at a government printing press.

‘Pak Taliban chief Mehsud killed in drone strike’

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Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud was among six militants killed in a US drone strike in the lawless North Waziristan tribal region, Pakistani media reported tonight.

Besides Mehsud, his uncle, bodyguard Tariq Mehsud and driver Abdullah Mehsud were killed when the CIA-operated spy plane targeted a compound in Danday Darpakhel area of North Waziristan Agency.

Intelligence sources were quoted by Dawn as saying that Mehsud was killed in the attack. Geo News too quoted security sources as confirming the Taliban chief’s death.

Onions leading to murders on UP roads

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The driver and cleaner of a truck transporting onions were murdered on a highway in Uttar Pradesh after a gang looted the consignment, police said Friday.

A 10-member gang has been robbing trucks carrying vegetables from neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, police say.

Jaunpur’s Superintendent of Police Happy Guptan said that three members of the gang were arrested Thursday evening.

They admitted to looting the truck, which was coming from Tamil Nadu, on the night of Oct 7-8 near Satarhia and killing its driver and cleaner.

Minor girl raped in Faridabad

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A 6-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her neighbour in Jeevan nagar area of the district, police said on Friday.

According to the police, the accused Sohanpal lured the minor, a resident of Gaunchi area in Jeevan nagar and allegedly raped her.

Further investigations are on to nab the accused, they said.

In another incident, a married woman has accused her husband and brother-in law of raping her and demanding dowry from her family.

Tamil Nadu cracker factory explosion kills nine people

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At least nine people died and up to five suffered burns on Friday after a fire broke out at a cracker factory in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu.

According to reports, the workers were inside the factory when the fire started after the crackers exploded suddenly. The fire has been doused now and those who were injured have been rushed to nearby hospital, police said.

It is yet to be ascertained what was the cause of the fire.

I want Narendra Modi to become PM: Lata Mangeshkar

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Singing legend Lata Mangeshkar on Friday confirmed that her vote for the upcoming 2014 General Elections will go for the Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

“I give my blessings to Narendra Modiji because he is like a brother to me. I used to send him Gujarati records. I pray to God that Narendra Modi becomes the Prime Minister of India. This is what everyone wants,” she said at the inauguration of Dinanath Mangeshkar super specialty hospital here today.

Dec 16 gang-rape: HC begins hearing arguments on death reference

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The Delhi High Court on Friday commenced hearing final arguments in the trial court’s reference to it for confirmation of death sentence awarded to four convicts in December 16 gang-rape case.

A bench of justices Reva Khetrapal and Pratibha Rani heard prosecution’s argument on the reference case as well as the appeals filed by all four convicts Mukesh, Pawan, Akshya and Vinay in the case.

The trial court on September 13 had awarded death penalty to all the accused for raping the 23-year-old girl in a moving bus in south Delhi on the night of December 16 last year.

Woman strangulates her 3-month-old daughter in Delhi

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In a bizarre incident, a woman who had given birth to twin daughters around three months ago, allegedly strangulated one of them and threw her in the gutter as she thought her financial condition was not good enough to raise both of them.

Gudiya Khatoon (23) has been arrested by the staff of Central Delhi police. She is a native of Bihar’s Madhubani district, who lives here in north-east Delhi along with her husband Sameer, police said on Friday.

Telangana supporters stage protest against Vijayamma

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Telangana supporters today staged protests against YSR Congress president Y S Vijayamma during her visit to the rain-hit Khammam and Nalgonda districts.

YSRCP is opposed to the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

Protesters tried to block her way and the police had to intervene.

Vijayamma, who was sent to Hyderabad by road, took exception to the police “preventing” her from meeting the people affected by the recent heavy rains.

Heritage building fire destroys government press

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A fire broke out in a heritage building here early Friday, destroying the British-built structure and the government printing press in it, the fire service said.

The fire, noticed around 2 a.m., rapidly enveloped the building spread over 15,000 sq feet as it was stacked with papers and printing equipment, a fire service official told IANS.

“It is a heritage building from the British period. Such buildings should have fire safety equipment like smoke detectors and water sprinklers,” the official added.