Soren to attempt cobble up majority; BJP favours polls

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Ranchi, June 03: JMM president Shibu Soren today said he would make an attempt to form an alternative government in Jharkhand, even as his estranged ally BJP demanded mid-term polls if any alliance failed to stake claim within next few weeks.

“I will try to form a government as I am in favour of a popular government and not president’s rule,” Soren told newsmen in Giridih.

Asked whether JMM was prepared for mid-term polls as favoured by BJP and other parties, Soren shot back saying “I am talking of formation of government and you (media) are talking about elections.”

ACC surprised by BCCI’s pull-out from Asian Games

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London, June 03: The Asian Cricket Council (ACC), the body that lobbied to get cricket included in the Asian Games, was caught off guard by the BCCI’s decision to not send its teams to the event in China in November.

“It has come as a surprise for us,” Ijaz Butt, the ACC president, told Dawn. “To pull out at the eleventh hour without any notice or information is surprising to say the least. Everyone had agreed in principle to send teams for the event.”

1,000 fans a day sign up for World Cup TV service

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Hong Kong, June 03: One thousand football fans a day are taking out subscriptions for a pay-TV service in Hong Kong that holds exclusive rights to screen the World Cup, a news report said Thursday.

The rights to screen all games from the South Africa tournament were bought by iCable, which at the beginning of this year had one million subscribers in the city of seven million.

Tens of thousands of new subscribers have since signed up for the service ahead of the tournament, iCable chief executive Stephen Ng told the Standard newspaper, and 1,000 more a day are signing up.

Niall O’Brien postpones finger surgery

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Dublin, June 03: Ireland wicketkeeper Niall O’Brien has decided to postpone surgery on a fractured finger and as a result will be available to play the ODI against Australia in Dublin on June 17.

X-rays revealed that O’Brien, who was suffering from pain and inflammation in his left index finger, had sustained a break and would need an operation. However, after advice from his doctors at his county Northamptonshire, he had a cortisone injection so that he would be able to play Australia.

Bus overturns, one passenger killed, 30 injured

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Bijnor (UP), June 03: One person was killed and 30 others, six seriously, were injured when a tourist bus, on its way to Ayodhya from Haridwar, overturned near Nagina in the district, police said here today. The mishap occurred yesterday when the bus was carrying 70 tourists from Maharashtra.

One of the bus passenger died on the spot, while 30 others injured were admitted to the Nagina Primary Health Centre, they said, adding six of the seriously injured were referred to the District Hospital. The deceased has been identified as Vilas Dada Rao Solanki (30) from Kotlaj of Maharashtra.

IPL: Former CEO Tim Wright sues Deccan Chargers

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London, June 03: More than a year after parting ways with the Deccan Chargers, the IPL franchise’s former CEO Tim Wright has filed a 10 million pound lawsuit against it, alleging breach of contract.

According to a report in ‘The Daily Telegraph’, the lawsuit also “accuses Deccan of illegal payments to an unnamed player which broke the IPL’s salary cap rules.”

Newly married woman burnt

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Muzaffarnagar, June 03: A newly married woman was allegedly burnt to death by her in-laws for bringing inadequate dowry, police said today.

Shabnam was set afire by her in-laws at Miranpur town in the district here yesterday, they said.

The woman was recently married to Gulfam and was being tortured by her in-laws for bringing inadequate dowry, they said.

Police said that the victim”s father Irfan has lodged a complaint against five members of the family, including her husband, in this regard.

—-PTI

Eyes on Rajya Sabha ticket

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Bangalore, June 03: Vijay Mallya is again at the gateway of good times. If all goes well, the liquor baron will get a ticket to the Rajya Sabha (RS) for a second term, thanks to the divisions in the Congress-JD(S) alliance.

By-elections will be held on June 17 to fill the four vacant RS seats from Karnataka. The broken alliance has revived the hopes of Mallya to get elected as the fourth candidate from Karnataka to the RS.

Direct Haj flight from Bhopal

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Bhopal, June 03: Haj pilgrims would now be able to avail a direct Air India flight from Raja Bhoj Airport here to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

This was stated by Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel in a letter to Madhya Pradesh Congress President Suresh Pachouri yesterday.

The possibility of operating international flights from the Raja Bhoj Airport here has increased as the length of the runway strip has been increased to 9,000 feet.

Pachouri had earlier written to Patel, seeking introduction of direct air-link to Jeddah for Haj pilgrims.
–PTI

Cyclone ‘Phet’ weakens, Guj receives light rainfallc

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Ahmedabad, June 03: Tropical cyclone ‘Phet’ in the Arabian Sea is about 1100 km from Nalia in Kutch and is weakening as coastal areas of Gujarat received light to medium rainfall under its influence, Indian Meteorological Department officials said today.

The cyclone has moved slightly towards the coast of Oman and “due to proximity to the land surface (near Oman), the system is showing sign of weakening,” they said.

Karunanidhi, veteran of Indian politics, turns 87

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Chennai, June 03: DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, one of India’s most senior politicians, turned 87 Thursday.

A key prop of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Karunanidhi began the day by cutting a birthday cake at his residence in Gopalapuram area here as close aides and family members cheered him.

A day earlier, he had formally handed over his house to a trust with a request that the property should be converted into a hospital after he and his wife Dayalu Ammal die.

Admission in Hyderabad University

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Hyderabad, June 03: Entrance examinations for aspiring students to study in Hyderabad University would be held from June 1 to 7 at 25 centres all over the country including Hyderabad Centre.

According to a press note, the examinations at Hyderabad centre would be held at University campus, Gachibowli Hyderabad and the hall tickets for the candidates have been sent in advance.

Ntini will be considered for selection – Hudson

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Johanesburg, June 03: Andrew Hudson, South Africa’s convener of selectors, has said Makhaya Ntini’s form for Kent in the County Championship was encouraging and that he would be considered for selection along with everyone else when the squads for upcoming series are chosen.

Hudson’s comments came closely after Ntini expressed his disappointment at the lack of communication from the selectors since he was dropped from the South African team following a poor home series against England in 2009-10.

Smith could play Tests this year – Ponting

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Melbourne, June 03: Ricky Ponting believes Steven Smith could be thrown into Test cricket in India later this year, if he is not given a chance even sooner in the games against Pakistan in England. Cricket Australia is considering a BCCI proposal to change the scheduled seven ODI series in October to two Tests and three one-dayers.

P Chidambaram would offer worship

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Tirupati, June 03: Union home minister P.Chidambaram would offer worship at the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala near here tomorrow.

The home minister would offer prayers after taking part in the sacred Suprabatham (hymns chanted by priests to wake up the Lord) in the wee hours on Thursday.

Tight security arrangement have been put in place at Tirumala and Tirupati in view of his visit to the temple town.

Temple sources told PTI that it was an unscheduled visit by the Home Minister to the hill temple late this evening.

Ian Butler signs with Gloucestershire

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Wellington, June 03: Ian Butler, the New Zealand fast bowler, has signed up with Gloucestershire as their second overseas player for the Friends Provident Twenty20 tournament. Butler, who previously played for Gloucestershire in 2003, joins New Zealand team-mate allrounder James Franklin in the squad.

Owaisi supporting Jagan

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Hyderabad, June 03: A beleaguered Congress MP from Kadapa Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy received support from unexpected quarter when MIM president and Hyderabad MP Assaduddin Owaisi met him and extended solidarity.

Amitabh-Jaya ring in 37th wedding anniversary

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New Delhi, June 03: Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan and his wife, veteran actress Jaya Bachchan, rang in their 37th wedding anniversary Thursday and have been receiving greetings galore for their special day.

“37 years! That’s how long my parents have been married. Their wedding anniversary today!,” Abhishek announced on micro-blogging Twitter Thursday morning.

Ever since, posts to congratulate the duo have kept pouring in.

Madhur Bhandarkar, Preity Zinta, Sikandar Kher, Genelia D’Souza, Atul Kasbekar and others extended their wishes to the couple.

Tattoo’s the word for Sushmita Sen

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Mumbai, June 03: Getting inked has become something of a passion with Sushmita Sen. The actress’ tat count now stands at four, in the span of a year.

In an earlier interview, Sush has said, “I love tattoos. I have three on the arms but the fourth one I cannot show you. They are all permanent and I think I will add more to them.”

A source close the actress reveals, “Her first tattoo ‘Temptation’ on her right arm has the ‘T’ shaped like a dagger. Then came the ‘soli deo glory’ inking on her left wrist, which means ‘Glory to God alone’ in Latin.”

Man kept girlfriend’s corpse on sofa for 10 months

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London, June 03: A Briton sprayed room fresheners to hide the stench of his girlfriend’s rotting body that lay on a sofa for 10 months.

Gabriel Brown, who hid the stench of 37-year-old Lynn Warman’s body from neighbours, told the police that he was too grief stricken to report her death at their home in Worthing, West Sussex, The Metro reported Thursday.

Brown, who was arrested in December last year, admitted that his girlfriend had died in February.

Horsham Magistrates’ Court coroner was told that Brown was himself found dead in January this year while on police bail.

Sanjay Dutt cooks to woo Manyata

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Mumbai, June 03: Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt donned the chef’s hat to woo his wife Manyata, who was upset with him for speeding his car on the Mumbai-Pune Express highway.

“Tonight I am the chef at home. Cooking some mutton for my wife. Making up for morning, ” Sanjay posted on his Twitter page Monday.

After cooking the dinner, he posted: “Mission accomplished. Dinner served.”

The actor was driving around his Audi A8 at a high speed.

-Agencies

Topless Bipasha is a rage on internet

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Mumbai, June 03: Bipasha Basu is creating waves on the internet. As soon as she announced her plans to join Twitter, videos of her posing topless in an old advertisement surfaced on the site YouTube.

The ad, which also features Vivek Oberoi, was reportedly shot in India 11 years ago when Bipasha was bound in a contract with the New York-based Ford modelling agency.

It was a television commercial for the New York Lotto but was shot in India. The ad is directed by Ken Nahoum. The video is posted online by Tommy Kane, who was the art illustrator for this ad.

Srk is unhappy with his bad acting

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Mumbai, June 03: Like most A-list actors in tinsel town, superstar Shah Rukh Khan too likes perfection and was irritated with himself when he couldn’t deliver his best during a shooting schedule for his home production “Ra.One”.

“Awful day at shoot…acted badly…did awful action…and gave suggestions without understanding them myself. Delayed the shoot,” Shah Rukh posted on social networking site Twitter.

“Everybody believes tomorrow will be better… I hope everybody is right. I think I should just forget it…move on..shower…feed my face, watch a film…,” he added.

Hrithik finally finds a ‘Kites’ fan

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Mumbai, June 03: Bollywood actress Preity Zinta pleasantly surprised friend Hrithik Roshan when she complimented him for his performance in “Kites”, which has got a drubbing at the box office.

“Hey Duggu! You looked like a god in ‘Kites’! Sigh! Saw it today! You did a great job in the movie,” Preity posted on Hrithik’s Twitter page.

Hrithik replied saying: “Hey Pree! Courageous of you complimenting me for ‘Kites’! But don’t say it too loud, somebody might hear you.”

The two have been great friends and even worked together in films like “Mission Kashmir” and “Koi… Mil Gaya”.

Kangna has a great body which does not look vulgar

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Mumbai, June 03: Kangana Ranaut has worked hard on her look for Once Upon A Time In Mumbai. Dekho!

Sensually dramatic

The actress, who is known to reinvent herself for her roles, combines sensuality with drama for her styling for this set-in-seventies flick directed by Milan Luthria and produced by Ekta Kapoor.

“There is a lot of her in the character, ” says Luthria. “She lends herself because she has a great body which does not look vulgar and her face is chameleon-like she can change into different looks everyday!”