Month: March 2014

Have learnt things from blind cricket, says Tendulkar

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Retired cricket great Sachin Tendulkar today said he was fascinated by the way visually-impaired play the game he dominated for close to two-and-a-half decades, adding that has learnt a few things from them.

“I inaugurated the blind cricket tournament about 14-15 years ago in Mumbai and I was fascinated by the way they play cricket, because you just hear and react to that. And you score runs and get wickets and you feel all those kinds of things. They are unbelievable and I was fascinated to see all that,” Tendulkar told PTI here today.

Shiv Sena warns BJP against links with MNS, NCP

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The Shiv Sena Tuesday said its “grand alliance” with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) could collapse if the BJP continued to hobnob with the NCP or Raj Thackeray’s MNS.

“If any senior leader from the BJP supports either Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray or Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar, it can affect the ‘mahayuti’ (grand alliance),” Sena spokesperson and MP Sanjay Raut said.

Lok Sabha election dates likely Wednesday

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The Election Commission is likely to announce the dates for the Lok Sabha election Wednesday.

The term of the current Lok Sabha expires June 1. A new house has to be constituted by May 31.

An estimated 814 million voters will be eligible to vote, with 97.1 million new voters added since the 2009 election.

The “None of the Above” (NOTA) option will be given to voters — for the first time in a parliamentary contest.

About 800,000 polling stations will be set up across the country, according to Election Commission sources.

Karna cabinet authorises SOI to demarcate border with AP

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With the increase in illegal mining in the border areas of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the state cabinet has authorised the Survey of India (SOI) to demarcate the borders between the two states.

“Amidst an increase in illegal mining on the borders of the two states, the cabinet has authorised SOI to demarcate the borders,” Law and Parliamentary Minister T B Jayachandra told reporters here today.

27 children injured as school bus falls into dry river

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At least 27 school children were injured when a school bus skidded off a culvert and fell into a dry river this afternoon.

The accident occurred when the mini bus carrying about 30 students of Tillar Balaji School located at Banar on Jodhpur-Jaipur highway was returning from school to drop off students, all in the age group of 6 – 14 years, according to the DCP (East) Rahul Jain.

When the bus reached a culvert over the parched Jojari river, the driver lost balance apparently while overtaking other vehicle and the bus fell into the river, Jain said.

60 Kashmiri students expelled for raising pro-Pak slogans

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Around 60 Kashmiri students of a private university here were expelled for three days for celebrating Pakistan’s victory over India in a recent cricket match, the university vice-chancellor said today.

A clash broke out between 8-10 Kashmiri students and local students in the hostel premises of Swami Vivekanand Subharti University (SVSU) after they celebrated Pakistan’s victory over India in a cricket match held on Sunday and raised pro-Pakistan slogans, university Vice-Chancellor Dr Mazoor Ahmed said.

Tension intensified after other students joined the clash.

Oscars pizza delivery guy gets $1,000 tip

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The Big Mama’s & Papa’s Pizzeria employee who delivered pizza at the 86th Academy Awards got a tip of $1,000 on stand-up comedian and host Ellen DeGeneres’s popular chat show.

Edgar, the pizza delivery boy, came on DeGeneres’ show March 3 with the host calling him “the (Oscar) night’s biggest winner”, reports hollywoodreporter.com.

The restaurant told the website that the Oscar order was for 20 pizzas with cheese, pepperoni, mushroom and olives.

Trial of Egypt’s Morsi adjourned over request for new judges

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The murder trial of deposed Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi was adjourned to Thursday for the court to consider a defence request for new judges.

The trial is part of a relentless government crackdown against Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood movement since the military ended his turbulent year-long rule on July 3.

Morsi is accused of inciting the killing of opposition protesters outside the presidential palace in December 2012.

Mulayam publicly rebukes son Akhilesh

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was left red-faced Tuesday when his father and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav chose a public platform to reprimand him.

In a perform-or-perish style warning, the senior Yadav told his son at a function that it was high time he proved his worth.

“Ai Mukhyamantri suno! (Listen chief minister),” he told a visibly embarrassed Akhilesh Yadav, adding that he was surrounded by self-seeking bureaucrats and ‘chaploos’ (sycophants).

Ajay Devgn, a star with no attitude: Yaami Gautam

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“Vicky Donor” actress Yaami Gautam, who is sharing screen space with senior actor Ajay Devgn in “Action Jackson”, says he may be a star but he works without giving any attitude.

“The shooting for ‘Action Jackson’ is still going on and I had a great experience shooting with Ajay Devgn. He is a huge star, but at the same time he is also a great actor,” Yaami said.

“He works very quietly, he is very professional and humble. Despite being a star, he doesn’t have any attitude. He is very down to earth,” she added.

“Action Jackson” features Sonakshi Sinha as the lead with Ajay.

Indian-origin businessman loses appeal against extradition

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An Indian-origin businessman in Britain, accused of arranging the killing of his wife during a honeymoon trip to South Africa, has lost his appeal against extradition.

Shrien Dewani, 33, is now faced with extradition to South Africa within four weeks after he lost his last legal battle to block the move over the charges of killing his wife Anni in November 2010 in Cape Town, BBC reported Monday.

Dewani’s legal team wanted their appeal against extradition to be heard in the Supreme Court but a panel headed by the Chief Justice Lord Thomas refused to entertain the case.

Rehman barred after bowling three illegal full tosses

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In a curious turn of events, Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman was today barred from bowling after he delivered three consecutive beamers, leaving him with bizarre figures of 0-0-8-0 in the Asia Cup match against Bangladesh here.

Rehman failed to deliver a legal ball as he was taken off duty by umpire Johan Cloete after he bowled three full tosses above the waist.

The Pakistani spinner, who was included in place of pacer Junaid Khan, was brought on in the 11th over, but his first ball slipped out of hand and went wide. The batsman, Imrul Kayes, took a single off the no ball.

Mamata has lost faith in common people: Congress leader

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West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Tuesday hit out at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying the Trinamool Congress supremo was seeking endorsements from imams and social activists because she has lost faith in common people.

“She (Banerjee) is seeking endorsements from imams and social activists only because she has lost all faith in common people,” Chowdhury said on the sidelines of a programme here.

Meet Indian stunt woman who gets tiles smashed on head for a living

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An Indian woman from Prakashan, Andhra Pradesh , regularly allows her husband to smash tiles on her head with a sledgehammer.

Bhramaramba Budati makes an unusual living by performing daredevil stunts with her husband and two sons, Daily Star reported.

Budati is one of the country’s most impressive daredevils. Her stunts also include slicing coconuts on her body. (ANI)

Panel for Seemandhra capital this week: Jairam Ramesh

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The central government will appoint an experts’ committee this week to identify the capital for the residual state of Andhra Pradesh, union minister Jairam Ramesh said Tuesday.

The committee will submit its report in six months, he told reporters.

The panel will study various alternatives and pick up a location from among Kurnool, Nellore, Ongole, Guntur, Visakhapatnam and other towns as the capital of the successor state of Andhra Pradesh, comprising Rayalaseema and the coastal regions or Seemandhra.

NHRC issues notice to UP Govt over girl’s death

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Irked over the death of a four-year-old girl who was not provided first aid at the District Hospital in Hathras and was referred to Aligarh, the National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to Uttar Pradesh government to look into the matter and submit an Action Taken Report within four weeks.

The Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports that the girl was not provided the first aid at the District Hospital in Hathras and was referred to Aligarh, minutes after which, she lost her life.

Preity Zinta says not contesting elections

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Actress Preity Zinta has denied news reports that she may contest Lok Sabha elections against Congress MP Priya Dutt on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket.

According to media reports here, the BJP is keen to rope in Preity to fight against Priya Dutt from the North-Central Mumbai constituency.

When asked about the same by a follower on social networking platform Twitter, Preity responded: “Where did you read this? Please tear that paper because it’s 100 percent UNTRUE.”

Efforts on to forge alliance with RJD: Congress

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Congress leader Raj Babbar on Tuesday said all efforts were in progress to seal a possible alliance with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) for the upcoming general election due in May.

Babbar ruled out any issue with regional RJD over proposed alliance.

“See there is a process. The Bihar Congress committee chief is putting all his efforts to take the talks to the final stage. There is no issue as of now. Whatever the decision is made, you will come to know about it very soon. According to the will of people of Bihar both RJD and Congress will decide about the alliance formation”, he said.

NKorea fires rockets from multiple launchers in show of force

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North Korea fired a volley of rockets from multiple launchers into the sea today, in an apparent show of force to coincide with South Korea-US joint military exercises, South Korean officials said.

Three rockets were fired in the morning from a multiple launch rocket system, the South’s defence ministry said.

The projectiles were launched from the North’s eastern port of Wonsan and flew 55 kilometres into the Sea of Japan (East Sea), it said.

Amitabh Bachchan’s Facebook page crosses 10 million ‘likes’

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Amitabh Bachchan’s official page on Facebook has garnered 10 million likes.

The 71-year-old actor, who has an equally impressive fan following on Twitter as well, thanked everyone and tweeted, “It is 10 million on Facebook!! whoopee! Thank you all”.

Bachchan is followed by Sharukh Khan who has 7million likes on the social networking site.

(ANI)

GCC condemns China terrorist attack

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Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), has strongly condemned the terrorist attack at a train station in Kunming city of southwest China’s Yunnan province that claimed 29 lives and injured more than 130 others.

“It as a heinous crime, which is incompatible with human values and principles,” he was Tuesday quoted as saying in a statement.

Manmohan, Rajapaksa discuss fishermen issue; decide to stay in touch on UNHCR resolution

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Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh raised the issue of Indian fishermen with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa here today.

Both leaders met on the sidelines of BIMSTEC summit here. The meeting went on for 20 minutes.

Indian fishermen have repeatedly been arrested and harassed by Lankan authorities in the recent past. 25 Indian fishermen have reportedly been arrested today for allegedly entering the Lankan territory.

Dr. Singh told Lankan President that issue of fishermen is the matter of livelihood for them, and should be dealt in a ‘humanitarian’ manner.

SRK happy to be reigning Bollywood despite flop films

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Superstar Shah Rukh Khan is happy that he has survived in the industry and is still a star despite having several flops behind him.

“It has been an amazing journey till now. It is fantastic time to be here,” Shah Rukh said.

The actor said one should not get disturbed by a film’s failure.

“I have done 70-80 films out of which 50 per cent are flops, still I am star… but those films are close to me,” the 48-year-old actor said.