Month: December 2014

Danni Minogue joins skin cancer campaign for Melanoma awareness

by

Dannie Minogue has joined Invisible Zinc to spread the word about Melanoma prevention.

The singer, who is fronting “”Some Spots Can Be Dangerous” campaign, said that people are too complacent when it comes to looking after our skin, the Daily Telegraph reported.

She was painted with leopard spots for the campaign video with the slogan: A leopard can’t change its spots but your spots can change.

Minogue added that she had the full check recently, and even though she was really nervous, she has learnt that she is all healthy and people should get checked too. (ANI)

Govt to construct Rs 4,700 cr ring road in Delhi: Gadkari

by

To decongest roads in the national capital, Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari today said the Centre was going to construct a ring road at an estimated cost of Rs 4,700 crore.

“The problem of traffic in Delhi is very serious. Our government has decided to spent Rs 4,700 crore and we will construct a cement concrete ring road.

“The tender has been invited for the project. December 11 is the last date to submit the tenders. We will start giving work order after a foundation-laying ceremony by the Prime Minister,” Gadkari told reporters outside Parliament.

Naidu wants AP to shine with help from ‘land of rising sun’

by

Andhra Pradesh will have Japan’s imprint on development in various spheres, particularly in building the state’s new capital, if plans drawn out by the TDP-led Government fructify.

Not only Japan’s top companies and organisations but also the its government has agreed to “work with us” and aid in development of the “sunrise state”, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said today and expressed satisfaction over his five-day successful trip to Asian economic powerhouse last week.

Naidu is promoting Andhra Pradesh as a “sunrise state” given its location in the east-coast zone.

North East should focus on second green revolution, says PM Modi

by

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said states in North East India should focus on a second green revolution through organic farming, adding that the region can become a leader in such products across the world.

“The North-East should focus on a second green revolution through organic farming. It can share products all over the world. There is also great scope here for the milk revolution and revolution in animal husbandry,” he said during the inauguration of Palatana Thermal power plant here.

Riteish dedicates ‘Lai Bhaari’ awards to father, ‘lil one’

by

Actor-filmmaker Riteish Deshmukh, who bagged awards for his debut Marathi movie “Lai Bhaari”, dedicated them to his late father Vilasrao Deshmukh and his first child with wife Genelia D’Souza.

While he turned producer with Marathi film “Balak-Palak” in 2013, “Lai Bhaari” is his first Marathi film as an actor.

“Won 2 awards today (Sunday) ZeeTalkies Maharashtracha Favourite Actor & Favourite Style Icon-One 4 my father & One 4 my lil one,” Riteish tweeted Monday.

The actor, who recently became father to a boy, also thanked his fans.

‘Desperate’ TMC stands exposed today: BJP

by

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday hit back at the Trinamool Congress for targetting party chief Amit Shah , saying it’s a call of despair by a desperate party that stands exposed today.

“The Trinamool Congress is desperate because of the fact that it stands exposed today because of the Saradha scam. Mamata Banerjee has been cornered. Under such a scenario, they are trying their best to save their own skin,” BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told ANI here.

Australia to face India in first 2015 World Cup warm-up

by

Co-host and four-time World champion Australia will take on reigning champions India in the first warm-up match, scheduled prior to the start of the 2015 World Cup in February-March.

A total of 14 non-ODI warm-up matches will be played across Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Christchurch from February 8 to 13, according to an ICC media release today.

The Men in Blue will have another practice game on February 10 against Afghanistan. Both their matches will be day-night encounters in Adelaide and will start at 2 pm local time.

Singapore to plan, Japan to build Andhra capital: Naidu

by

Japan is ready to join hands in building the new capital of Andhra Pradesh, the designing of which will be done by Singapore, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said Monday.

Terming his five-day visit to Japan a success, Naidu told reporters here that several Japanese companies and government organizations expressed their willingness to be partners in building the state capital.

Naidu, who went to Singapore last month, said Singapore will prepare the master plan for the capital. He hopes to finalize this when Singapore’s Trade and Commerce Minister S. Iswaran visits India this month.

Terror strikes Nigeria again, Boko Haram suspected

by

Terror struck Nigeria again when suspected Boko Haram militants targeted policemen in the northern city of Damaturu Monday.

A source confirmed to Al Jazeera that gunmen believed to be Boko Haram fighters attacked the Yobe State University in Damaturu.

The country’s military was reported to have engaged the terrorists and chased them away.

The insurgents were shooting sporadically and triggering off explosives, the Nation online reported.

Some students and university staff were reported to be holed up in a bush, where the country’s military had engaged the militants.

Japanese auto makers report healthy sales in November

by

Japanese auto makers report healthy sales in November
(17:30)
Mumbai, Dec 1 (IANS) Japanese automobile manufacturer Monday reported healthy sales for last month.

According to sales figures, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), Honda Cars and Suzuki Motorcycle India all closed November 2014 with healthy sales numbers.

Bangalore-based TKM reported an increase of 11 percent in sales last month, which stood at 14,134 units, including exports from 12,748 units in the corresponding month last year.

Three Egyptian women die of bird flu

by

Three Egyptian women have died of the H5N1 bird flu after coming into contact with infected birds, the country’s health ministry said Monday.

A 29-year-old woman from Minya province, south of Cairo, died Monday after having breathing difficulties and pneumonia, Xinhua reported citing a ministry statement.

Two other women, aged 25 and 40, died in the Upper Egyptian province of Assiut. One of them worked in a bird farm.

The health ministry has confirmed a total of 11 cases this year, including six deaths.

Chris Brown bags three Soul Train Awards

by

Singer Chris Brown won three prizes at the 2014 Soul Train Awards Sunday.

The singer won the Best Hip-Hop song of the year, best dance performance and best collaboration for his track with Lil Wayne and Tyga, reports contactmusic.com.

Brown kicked off the night with a medley of his hits including “Yo (Excuse me Miss)”, “Poppin’ take you down”, “New flame” and award-winning “Loyal”.

Beyonce Knowles and Pharrell Williams bagged two awards each at the gala.

MRF becomes ICC partner for World Cup 2015

by

MRF Limited has become one of the leading global partners for the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup 2015, it was announced here Monday.

As a global partner, MRF will now have access to multiple branding opportunities at all game venues during the World Cup Feb 14-March 29 and at other promotional events held by the ICC across the world.

Speaking at a press conference, MRF Limited chairman and managing director K.M. Mammen said: “This is a historic moment for MRF and this association is a testimony to our commitment to cricket and its spirit.”

Army plane crashes in Pakistan

by

A small plane of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) crashed in the country’s central Jhang district Monday, a PAF spokesperson said.

The plane carrying a pilot was on a routine training mission when it crashed in Athara Hazari area, Xinhua reported. Jhang district is located in Punjab province.

The pilot managed to bail out and was unhurt. The aircraft caught fire after hitting the ground.

IANS

New Zealand may send troops to Iraq for training: PM

by

The New Zealand government is likely to send defence personnel to Iraq for a training role early next year, Radio New Zealand reported Monday.

The government was considering a possible contribution to the fight against the Islamic State (IS) Sunni radical group in Iraq, involving defence force personnel, Prime Minister John Key said.

Key insisted that any joint training team would not participate in combat activities.

Nine killed in Afghanistan suicide attack

by

At least nine people died, among them two police officers, and 22 were wounded, mostly civilians, in a suicide attack Monday at the funeral of a tribal leader in Baghlan in northern Afghanistan, officials said.

The attack occurred when the suicide bomber detonated explosives he was carrying during the funeral ceremony in Burka district in the northern part of the province, said Mahmood Haqmal, a spokesperson for the provincial governor.

Ferguson shooting: Wilson resigns five days after grand jury pardons him

by

The Ferguson police officer who was pardoned by a Missouri grand jury in the killing of an unarmed black teenager has resigned five days after the jury opted not to indict him.

Darren Wilson’s, the 28-year-old Ferguson, MO police officer who shot and killed unarmed 18-year old Michael Brown, decision set off protests and demonstrations around the globe.

Even after a quiet Thanksgiving , protesters returned Friday night to clash with the National Guard and the Ferguson police officers. Wilson stepped down as the police department was receiving a number of threats, Deadline reported.

IS fighters big fans of Pringles, Red Bull despite hatred towards West

by

Despite their hatred towards the West, Islamic State fighters reportedly enjoy binging on Western snacks like Pringles and Red Bull.

According to New York Daily News and as reported by the Financial Times, foreign fighters who have flocked to Syria and Iraq are still desperate to get hold of the Western snacks in spite of their war against everything the West stands for.

Local shopkeepers reportedly revealed that Western jihadists who had left their countries to join the Islamic State were mainly the ones demanding the snacks.

Ghani resumes backdoor diplomacy with Afghan Taliban to revive peace process

by

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has reportedly resumed backdoor diplomacy with the Taliban in order to revive the peace process that had crumbled towards the end of former President Hamid Karzai’s regime.

Sources familiar with the development said that the dialogue, aimed at assimilating the militant group into Afghanistan’s political system, has begun under the supervision of the United Nations. Officials in Islamabad confirmed that it had assured the Afghan government and the Taliban that it would help to revive the peace process, reported The Express Tribune.

Pak opposition leader Shah says country will not be paralyzed by Imran Khan’s call

by

Pakistani leader of opposition Syed Khurshid Shah has said in the National Assembly that the country will not be paralyzed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s call.

According to Dawn News, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Shah commented on Information Minister Pervez Rashid’s statement, that the government would not hold talks with PTI, saying that it was disappointing.

He said that it was necessary for the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz ( PML-N) government to hold talks with PTI and that the government was weakening its own standing.

Singapore to plan, Japan to build Andhra capital

by

Companies from Japan are ready to join hands in building the new capital of Andhra Pradesh, the designing of which will be done by Singapore, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said Monday.

Claiming his five-day visit to Japan was a success, Naidu told reporters here that several Japanese companies expressed their willingness to be partners in building the state capital.
Naidu, who went to Singapore last month, said Singapore will prepare the master plan for the capital. He hopes to finalize this when Singapore’s Trade and Commerce Minister S. Iswaran visits India this month.

LPG rate cut by Rs 113, jet fuel prices by 4.1 per cent

by

Price of non-subsidised cooking gas (LPG) was today cut by a steep Rs 113 per cylinder and that of jet fuel (ATF) by 4.1 per cent as international oil rates slumped to multi-year lows.

A 14.2-kg cylinder of non-subsidised LPG will now cost Rs 752, down from Rs 865 previously, in Delhi, oil companies announced today.

This is the fifth straight reduction in rates of non-subsidised or market priced LPG, which the customers buy after exhausting their quota of 12 cylinders at subsidised rates, since August.