Month: April 2014

‘Anjaan’ shoot not disrupted by protesters: Producer

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Producer N. Subhash Chandra Bose says that the shoot of Suriya-starrer Tamil actioner “Anjaan” was halted, but was not disrupted as rumoured. He says everything is under control and the shoot is progressing smoothly.

On Sunday, members of the Tamil fringe groups came to meet N. Linguswamy, director of “Anjaan”, and requested him to stop the screening of his recently distributed Tamil film “Inam” which revolves around a group of orphans during the Sri Lankan civil war.

Anand should add strategist to core team: Susan Polgar

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Four-time women’s World chess champion Susan Polgar of Hungary feels that India’s Viswanathan Anand can perhaps add another strategist rather than making wholesome changes to his A-team – his seconds – for his World Chess Championship match against defending champion Magnus Carlsen later this year.

Susan, also a winner of five Chess Olympiads, told IANS in an email interview that Anand need not change his entire team of seconds, who help champion players to prepare for the World title, who had worked with him when he lost the World championship last year here against Carlsen.

Singing their way to voters’ hearts in West Bengal

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Musicians-turned-politicians in West Bengal, who have been crooning their way to glory and entertaining people, are now using their creations to drum up support for their election campaigns.

Campaigning in the state is getting a new dimension with as many as four singers/musicians in the fray for the Lok Sabha polls.

Ukraine insists on right to issue Crimean visa

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The Ukrainian foreign ministry Tuesday said that only Ukrainian diplomatic missions abroad are authorised to issue visas for entry into Crimea.

“The foreigners from the countries with visa regime with Ukraine should contact the embassy or consular offices of Ukraine abroad for obtaining a visa to Crimea,” Xinhua reported citing a ministry statement.

The foreign citizens from the states which have visa-free regime with Ukraine can travel without visas to Crimea, the statement said.

BSF recovers 27 kg heroin in Punjab

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Border Security Force (BSF) troopers recovered 27 kg of heroin following an encounter with Pakistani smugglers in Abohar in Punjab, a BSF official said Tuesday.

The seizure was made near border outpost Khanpur in Abohar, 300 km from here, the spokesman said.

The heroin is believed to be valued at Rs.135 crore in the international market. The BSF also seized ammunition, SIM cards and mobiles from the place.

Attacked by Trinamool activists, say poll officials

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Members of a election Model Code of Conduct (MCC) team Tuesday alleged they were roughed up by Trinamool Congress activists after posters and festoons of the ruling party were removed in West Bengal’s Howrah district.

The incident which happened in Howrah Vivekananda Road comes days after a block development officer in North 24 Parganas district lodged a police complaint alleging he was assaulted by Trinamool activists for removing party banners and posters.

Excited about ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’: Sonam Kapoor

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Actress Sonam Kapoor says she gave the nod to Salman Khan starrer ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’ instantly and is quite excited about the movie.

Salman will be seen in a double role in Sooraj Barjatya’s ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’. Sonam will be paired opposite the actor for the second time after ‘Saawariya’.

“I am not nervous, I am very much excited about it. I am looking forward to work with Salman. I have got an amazing role in the film. It was like the easiest decision that I took in my career. I wanted to work with Sooraj Barjatya, I have seen all his films several times,” Sonam told PTI.

Groove your top to charm girls on dance floor!

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When on the dance floor, make sure to shake top half of your body well in order to woo the lady dancing next to you!

A study has found women prefer men who can move top half of body fluently while women who dance using the bottom half are most appealing to men.

People who waved their arms around, or kept them still next to their bodies, were considered ‘odd’ by both sexes, revealed scientists from University of Northumbria at Newcastle in the UK.

No previous studies have identified specific movement components that may influence perceived dance quality.

Malaysia plane transcript ‘normal’, lengthy search ahead

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There was “nothing abnormal” in the final communication between the pilots of crashed Malaysian jet and air traffic control, authorities said today as Australia warned the search for wreckage of the ill-fated plane could be long and frustrating.

The full transcript of Flight MH370 released by Malaysian authorities confirmed that the final sign off was “Good Night Malaysian Three Seven Zero” not the casual “All Right Good Night” as earlier reported.

This door handle sanitises hands with a touch!

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Tired of using hand sanitiser every time you eat, drink or touch any object? Here comes a door handle that dispenses a dab of hand sanitiser when pushed.

Developed by the British firm Altitude Medical, the sanitising door handles can be used from homes to hospitals where the risk of developing infection is high.

Called PullClean, it a simple column that can be fitted on any pull door.

A blue paddle on bottom dispenses hand sanitiser everytime someone uses it.

“The aim is to make it so simple that sanitising becomes habitual every time you open the door,” the firm said.

CPI-M announces second list for Telangana

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The CPI-M Tuesday announced candidates for 12 assembly seats in Telangana.

The second list announced by the party includes four Muslims.

With this, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has announced candidates for 17 assembly seats in Telangana, where the simultaneous elections to assembly and Lok Sabha are scheduled on April 30.

The party last week announced candidates for three Lok Sabha and five assembly seats. It has fielded candidates for Khammam, Nalgonda and Bhongir Lok Sabha seats.

Powell resignation not related to any tension: US

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The US has denied that the sudden resignation of US Ambassador to India Nancy Powell was in any way “related to any tension, any recent situations” between India and the US.

“There’s no big behind-the-scenes story here,” US State Department spokesperson Marie Harf told reporters Monday. She also said Powell’s resignation does not indicate any realignment in India-US ties.

Harf said Powell “has submitted her resignation to President (Barack) Obama, as has been planned for some time, and she will retire to her home in Delaware before the end of May”.

Sip cold drink, munch momos at select Lucknow polling booths! (Election Special)

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In the land of nawabs, this election would mean comfort of a different kind — with kiosks selling cold drinks, wafers and momos at select polling centres.

The Election Commission has zeroed in on select polling booths of the total 1,400 in the state capital which will be plush with facilities like cold drink, chilled water and even kiosks selling eatables like momos, wafers and other snacks.

Popular teenagers at schools face greater bullying risk

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Becoming more popular among classmates increases the risk of getting bullied and worsens the negative consequences of being victimised, research shows.

“Adolescents who are relatively popular are at high risk of harassment, the invisible victims of school-based aggression,” said Robert Faris, an associate professor of sociology at University of California, Davis.

Females and physically or socially vulnerable youth are also victimised at particularly high rates, according to the study, but most striking was the prevalence of relatively popular youth among the ranks of the victims.

SP pits Banarasi ‘paanwala’ candidate against ‘chaiwala’ Modi

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Pitted against Narendra Modi here, Samajwadi Party candidate Kailash Chaurasia is invoking his ‘paanwala’ family history to take on the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate’s ‘chaiwala’ background.

Modi has been very vocal in talking about the days when he used to work at a tea stall, as part of efforts to show his ‘humble’ background, with his party also hosting ‘chai pe charcha’ events to garner support for Modi and other party candidates.

Media communicating message of just one person: Kapil Sibal (Interview)

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The media is taking forward the message of BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi but not the achievements of the Congress, Law Minister Kapil Sibal has said, noting that people will decide why the “reality” was being hidden.

Sibal, 65, termed the BJP the “biggest party of corruption” and said it had a lot to answer for.

Sibal said that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had some unprecedented achievements to its credit in its 10-year-rule.

Rajiv assassination: SC rejects plea against relief to convicts

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The Supreme Court Tuesday dismissed a central government plea seeking recall of the court’s verdict by which it had commuted the death sentence of three convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case to life imprisonment.

The bench of Chief Justice P. Sathasivam, Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Shiva Kirti Singh rejected the centre’s plea after considering it in their chamber.

The bench by its Feb 18 order commuted the death sentence of three conspirators in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case to life imprisonment, citing its Jan 21 judgment.

ppoint Powell successor soon, Indian American body urges Obama

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An organization representing Indian Americans Tuesday hoped the next US envoy to India will be a senior person and that the appointment will be made soon.

The US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC), which claims to be the political voice of 2.7 million Indian-Americans, in a statement also thanked US Ambassador Nancy Powell for her service and urged US President Barack Obama to “appoint her successor at the earliest”.

Andhra municipal elections counting on April 9

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The counting of votes polled in Sunday’s municipal elections in Andhra Pradesh will be taken up on April 9 as the state high court Tuesday rejected a petition seeking postponement of the process till the general elections.

The court did not agree with the argument of the petitioner that counting of votes polled in municipal elections may influence the voting in assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

As per the schedule announced by the state election commission, the counting of votes was to be taken up on April 2 but the high court has now postponed it till April 9.

Most Indians rooting for change, Modi: US survey

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The Indian mood is “sour” as 70 percent of the people are dissatisfied and are rooting for a change in political leadership, a prominent US-based research group said Tuesday.

The study also found that 78 percent of its respondents favoured BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi as compared to the 50 percent who were supportive of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.

Mercedes Benz reports 27% jump in Q1 sales in India

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German luxury car maker Mercedes Benz today reported 27.12 per cent increase in its sales in India in the first quarter of 2014 at 2,554 units.

The company’s wholly-owned arm Mercedes Benz India had sold 2,009 units in the same period last year.

Commenting on the sales performance, Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director and CEO Eberhard Kern said: “Our success and robust growth of 27 per cent in the first quarter of 2014 amidst challenging market dynamics is a clear indicator that our customers have appreciated our ‘Year of Excellence’ strategy,”

Indian wins USD 272,2570 as compensation after mishap in Dubai

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A 47-year-old Indian has been awarded one million dirhams (USD 272,2570) as compensation by a Dubai court after a car accident left him paralysed.

A K, identified only by his initials, had lost his ability to eat or drink and needed 24-hour assistance following the 2012 accident.

The Dubai Appeals Court ordered the insurance company to pay one million dirhams in civil compensation to A K, Gulf News reported.

Moon Moon Sen hits campaign trail

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Former Bollywood actress Moon Moon Sen Tuesday launched her campaign as the Trinamool Congress candidate from the Bankura Lok Sabha constituency.

The daughter of Bengali screen icon Suchitra Sen, who passed away early this year, the Oxford educated Sen sought blessings at a mosque as well as a temple in Metia Narayanpur village in Bankura district.

Known as “Suchitra Sen er meye (Suchitra’s daughter)” in the interiors, her calm demeanour was in sharp contrast to the aggressive body language of battle-hardened politicos as she interacted with residents in her constituency.