Radhika’s killer still at large; DU protests

New Delhi: Shocked over the day-light murder of a young college girl, students of the Delhi University organised a massive sit-in protest on Wednesday to highlight the police’s failure to nab her killer. 22-year-old Radhika Tanwar, a second-year student, was shot dead outside Ramlal Anand College in Dhaula Kuan's Shantiniketan area, Tuesday morning, by an unidentified man who is believed to be stalking her for some time; there are also suggestions that the murderer was her “jilted lover”. As per reports, her family has denied both the claims and has been demanding that the police investigate the case in its entirety. The family said she left home for college at around 9:15 am. Her...

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India look to cement QF seat as they take on Netherlands

Armed with an awe-inspiring batting order, India are looking to steam roller the Netherlands in Wednesday's World Cup Group B match at the Feroz Shah Kotla. India remain unbeaten after three outings so far but their inconsistent bowling remains their major worry, especially the spinners who seem to have completely forgotten the art of bamboozling batsmen. Apart from Zaheer Khan, their pacers have been wayward as well but the batsmen ensured that never cost them a match. The team under Mahendra Singh Dhoni, however, should win comfortably on Wednesday as the Netherlands on paper simply do not possess a batting line-up strong enough to exploit India's bowling weakness. Peter Borren and his...

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DMK, Congress formalise poll pact

A day after breaking the deadlock, the DMK and the Congress on Wednesday formalised their seat-sharing pact for the April 13 Assembly polls, under which the national party will contest 63 seats. DMK chief M. Karunanidhi and Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. V. Thangkabalu signed the agreement, hammered out after hard bargaining by both sides for about a fortnight. “Following discussions, it has been decided to share 63 seats with Congress,” the copy of the agreement released to the media said. Later, Mr. Thangkabalu described the DMK-Congress combine as a “winning alliance”. The seat-sharing talks had run into rough weather with DMK refusing to allot 63 seats and Congress...

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Oil Ministry consider to regulate petrol price; OMCs down

The Oil Ministry is considering to regulate petrol prices again, reports NewsWire18, quoting a source in the ministry. The ministry has also said that regular petrol price hike is 'untenable'. However, the oil ministry said there was no plan to regulate petrol prices "as of now". The recent crisis in West Asia has spiked oil prices which has been a major concern for countries like India. There was a growing worry that if the crisis continues, then any further hike in the crude oil prices will lead to an increase in petrol product prices. For 2011-12, the finance ministry has estimated Rs 23,640 crore in oil subsidy, lower than Rs 38,386 crore of current fiscal. Global crude oil prices...

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Meiyang Chang wins 'Jhalak Dikhla Jaa 4'

Adding another feather to his cap, dentist-singer-actor-TV host Meiyang Chang won the fourth season of popular dance reality TV show Jhalak Dikhla Jaa on Tuesday night. After winning a singing reality show, Indian Idol, the 28-year-old emerged as a dancer outperforming 'item girl' Yana Gupta and TV actor Sushant Singh Rajput of the Pavitra Rishta fame. After the win, while Chang took home a whopping Rs 25 lakh of prize money, his choreographer Marisha too got an equal cash prize. Sushant won Rs 5 lakh in prize money along with the title of "most consistent performer" on the show. Chang was improvising with every episode and the results were a visual delight, felt the judges on the show...

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Fans vent anger against Pakistan wicket-keeper

PALLEKELE:— Emotional cricket fans went berserk on Twitter and Facebook, venting their frustration against fumbling wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal and demanding he be dropped from the team. Kamran gave century-maker Ross Taylor two astonishing let-offs during Pakistan's 110-run defeat against New Zealand on Tuesday, missing two regulation chances when the batsman was on nought and eight. Taylor went on to hit an unbeaten career-best 131, lifting New Zealand to an imposing 302-7 in the World Cup Group A clash at Pallekele stadium before Pakistan were restricted to 192 all out. The defeat sparked a furious reaction from fans, who demanded Kamran be kicked out. "Has Kamran applied for political...

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Gas leak in Cuddalore factory: 120 fall sick

CUDDALORE: More than 120 people, including women and children, were hospitalised following a Bromine gas leakage from a chemical factory at SIPCOT Industrial Estate here late on Monday night.Residents of Kudikadu, Eechangadu and Nochikadu villages developed vomiting, irritation in eyes, skin and some even fainted as Bromine gas stored in the premises of the Shasun Chemicals and Drugs limited factory leaked after 9 pm. According to witnesses, people poured into the roads and started running in panic. Collector P Seetharaman, accompanied by officials and top police officials rushed to the area.Those affected were then rushed to the nearby Cuddalore Government Hospital. Three buses were...

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Couple shot at in Noida, wife critical

Noida: A couple travelling on a motorcycle was shot at here Wednesday morning following a dispute over property, police said. The wife is in a critical condition. Manuwah Hussain, 40, and his wife Meena Hussain, 38, were attacked around 9.15 a.m. by a man identified as Ladden, who was driving a Mahindra Scorpio. 'The wife was shot in her stomach while her husband was shot in the back at the intersection of Sector 25 and 35. Both were rushed to Kailash Hospital in Sector 27,' police in this suburban town adjacent to the national capital said. According to police, the couple had earlier registered a case against the assailant over a property dispute and this may be the reason behind...

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Japan issues tsunami warning after 7.2 earthquake

Japanese metrological agency has issued a tsunami warning, after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the nation today. According to the agency reports, tsunami waves of about 50 centimeters would hit the coast. The meteorological agency said that the epicenter of the quake was 300kilometres north of Tokyo at a depth of about 10 kilometers. There were no immediate reports of any damage or injury and the officials are still assessing the situation, The Star reports. There was a 6.3 magnitude aftershock shortly after the main earthquake. Japan is one of the world's most seismically active area and earthquakes are common there. The country accounts for nearly 20 per cent of the world's earthquakes...

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Amid volatile trading, key Indian stock index dips

Mumbai: Indian equities opened higher Wednesday after a patch up between two key allies in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government but fell sharply on little positive cues from the domestic and global economy. The sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) opened higher by 83.15 points at 18,522.80 points and shot up immediately to a high of 18,583.30 points, over the previous close at 18,439.65 points. The index was up 143.65 points then. But subsequent profit taking pulled the key index down and some two hours into trading, it was ruling at 18,342.70 points, with a loss of 96.95 points, or 0.53 percent, data available with the bourse showed. Only five...

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Celebrate the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day

Major Problems Facing by today's Women. Employment : 75% of all women cannot get bank loans because they have unpaid or insecure jobs and lack property ownership rights. Women are also 21% less likely than men even to own a mobile phone and therefore to have similar communication possibilities. Economic Security : Women perform two-thirds of the world’s work and produce half the world’s food, but earn just 10% of the income and own 1% of the property. Education: Women constitute two-thirds of the world’s ~800 million illiterate adults (aged 15 and over). Educate a girl in Africa and she’ll earn 25% more income, be 3 times less ...

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Egyptian Leaders to Swear in Candidates for New Cabinet

Bloomberg: Egyptian leaders agreed on candidates for a new Cabinet that is due to be sworn in today to help manage a transition to democracy after an uprising ousted President Hosni Mubarak last month. Finance Minist er Samir Radwan will retain his position, the state-run Middle East News Agency said today, without saying how it got the information. The new government is scheduled to be sworn in before the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which on March 3 asked the prime minister-designate, Essam Sharaf, to form a new Cabinet. Former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik resigned following calls by protesters that he leave along with other ministers appointed by Mubarak....

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Japan's PM hangs on but outlook grim

Japan's unpopular Prime Minister Naoto Kan refused on Monday to step down after the resignation of his foreign minister over a political funding scandal that has added to pressure on him to quit or call a snap election. But it is far from clear how Kan, if he does manage to cling to office, will be able to resolve the political stalemate that has left the government struggling to implement policies to cut into a huge public debt and win approval from a divided parliament to enact a new budget from April. "Carrying out the administration's duty for the four-year term and then letting the people decide at the ballot box is best for the people themselves," he told a parliamentary session. "I...

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Uppalapadu bird sanctuary set to take wings

GUNTUR: At a time when the protected bird sanctuaries like Kolleru in Krishna and Telineelapuram in Srikakulam districts are facing rough weather from powerful industrial lobbies, the forest wing has made the irrigation department cough up funds to protect a similar sanctuary located in Uppalapadu village in Guntur district. Owing to pressure from the forest officials, the irrigation authorities recently released Rs 2 crore for the Uppalapadu project under environment protection funds of Krishna delta modernisation works. The irrigation department has recently taken up Krishna delta modernisation works at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore. Taking a clause on reserving funds for environmental...

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Kerala Congress demands 22 seats

Kochi: Kerala Congress (M), a constituent of the United Democratic Front today staked claim for 22 seats in the April 13 state Assembly elections. The Congress today began talks with four of its front partners – Kerala Congress (Mani), Kerala Congress (Jacob), Socialist Janata (Democratic) of M P Veerandra Kumar and Communist Marxist Party (CMP) led by M V Raghavan. Kerala Congress (M) leader K M Mani told reporters that his party had demanded 22 seats after holding talks with Opposition leader Oommen Chandy, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President Ramesh Chennithala and UDF Convenor P P Thankachan. Mani said his party's demand was not 'unjust' besides the 18 seats that the party...

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Ken vs Can: Rao gets rid of Kamande

NEW DELHI: Balaji Rao had captain Jimmy Kamande caught behind by Ashish Bagai to reduce Kenya to 109/6 in 29.2 overs in their World Cup clash at the Ferozeshah Kotla in New Delhi. Kamande added 52 runs with Tanmay Mishra for the sixth wicket before Rao gave Canada the breakthrough. Rizwan Cheema trapped Steve Tikolo plumb in front of the wicket to reduce Kenya to 57/5 in 15 overs. This was after Harvir Baidwan clean bowled Collins Obuya to reduce Kenya to 41/4 in 11.3 overs. Canada produced a dominant bowling performance against Kenya as Henry Osinde struck thrice with the ball. Earlier, Kenyan captain Jimmy Kamande won the toss and elected to bat first against Canada. For...

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Lara Dutta shares her fitness secret!

Actress Lara Dutta has come out with her second fitness DVD, Heal With Lara. At the DVD’s launch she shared a few of her fitness secrets. Lara revealed that after she entered Bollywood, she realized that just doing regular workouts or following a strict diet regimen wasn’t enough to stay in fit shape. More was needed. “The constant pressure of work and the pressure of keeping the body in perfect shape made me realise that I needed something more than burning out calories. I needed something to restore fitness, rejuvenation of body and mind, which I found in yoga,” she is quoted as saying by a news agency. Talking about her DVD, Lara said her aim is to make workouts fun rather than...

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Ashima-Leena to help 'Slumdog Millionaire' star Rubina

NewDelhi : Designer duo Ashima and Leena Singh have come forward to help Slumdog Millionaire's child star Rubina Ali, who lost her home in the big blaze in Bandra, Mumbai. The designers have decided to give specially-designed outfits, pair of shoes and other accessories to support Rubina, who shot to global fame after her role as young Latika in Danny Boyle's multiple Oscar-winning movie in 2009. "Besides wardrobes, we will be giving her an album showcasing the star's talent in ramp shows for us. We will try to help her in rebuilding her house and career," said Leena. "We have also asked our friends and other artists in Mumbai to tender help to affected people," the designer said....

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Indian PM accepts 'error' for anti-graft appointment

NEW DELHI — India's Prime Minister on Monday accepted responsibility after the Supreme Court struck down his choice of a tainted civil servant to serve as the country's chief anti-corruption officer. Manmohan Singh's statement to lawmakers marked another setback for the 78-year-old leader, whose Congress-led government is reeling over a series of graft scandals, including a multi-billion-dollar telecoms licensing scam. Addressing the lower house of parliament, Singh admitted his "error of judgment" and said he respected the Supreme Court's decision to cancel the appointment of Central Vigilance Commissioner P.J. Thomas. Singh appointed Thomas in September, although the official had...

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Pranab speaks to Karuna, crisis may be over soon

New Delhi: The Congress and the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) are involved in hectic consultations to resolve the impasse over seat sharing in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on April 13. Congress sources have told CNN-IBN that final modalities are being worked out to resolve the crisis between the two parties. They add that the crisis expected to be resolved by Monday evening. Congress troubleshooter and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had a telephonic conversation with DMK chief and Tamil Nadu M Karunanidhi and requested him to reconsider his party's decision to withdraw its ministers from the Union Cabinet and extend only issue based support to the United Progressive Alliance...

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India joins nations that legalise euthanasia in some form

With the Supreme Court allowing "passive" euthanasia under "exceptional circumstances", India today joined a handful of countries which have legalised mercy killing in some form or other. "Passive euthanasia" is usually defined as withdrawing medical treatment with the deliberate intention of causing the patient's death. For example, if a patient requires kidney dialysis to survive, the doctors disconnect the dialysis machine, allowing the patient to die soon. This form of euthanasia is different from "active" euthanasia,...

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Markets end weak; Sensex slips 264pts

The markets today opened (Sensex down 122 points) on a weak note on the back of geo-political concerns, rising oil prices and domectic political turmoil. The marekts exhibited weakness for a major part of the trading day as selling was witnessed across-the-board. The BSE benchmark index plunged to a low of 18,059 in noon deals with capital goods and rate sensitives dragging the index. However, renewed buying interest in the last session of trades saw the markets recoup some of their losses. The Sensex recovered 164 points from the day's low,  but still ended with a loss of 264 points at 18,223. The NSE Nifty recovered from a low of 5408, to settle at 5,463, down 1.4%, or 76 points. With...

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'We wanted Dum Maaro Dum remix to look more exotic'

Deepika Padukone will take over from Zeenat Aman, and swing her hips to the remixed version of Dum Maaro Dum in Rohan Sippy's new film. The item number has been choreographed by Bosco-Ceasar, and the music has been composed by Pritam. Bosco tells Patcy N how the song was made, and how good a dancer Deepika really is. Do you think Deepika will do justice to what Zeenat Aman did? The dance in both the songs is different. Deepika will be doing hardcore dancing whereas Zeenat Aman was just chilling out and swaying. Zeenat had a completely different style. Deepika's dancing is aggressive. Where does the song appear in the movie? It's a jungle party. We have used hip-hop, and Bollywood dance....

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After Attacks, Google Vows to Fortify Android Market

Google will build new safeguards into Android Market, its application store for the Android mobile OS, following an attack that infected thousands of phones and forced the company to wipe the malware remotely from phones, it said late Saturday. More than 50 applications in the Android Market were found to contain a program called DroidDream, which is capable of stealing information about a mobile device and, more dangerously, downloading other malicious applications to the phone. Google was fairly silent about the problem until Saturday, when it confirmed in a blog post that it decided to use a command that remotely erases malicious applications. Android users that have downloaded a malicious...

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Andy Flower: England can cope without Kevin Pietersen at World Cup

Andy Flower believes England can cope with the absence of Kevin Pietersen after the batsman was ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup. Pietersen will fly home for surgery on a hernia problem but Flower said the potential return of Eoin Morgan would help England move on. Flower, the England team director, acknowledged the team was losing a major player in Pietersen, who was promoted to an unfamiliar opening position just before the start of the tournament. "He's a world-class player," Flower told Sky Sports News. "I thought he was forming an interesting opening partnership with Andrew Strauss. In three of the four games they've played together they have looked good up front...

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Black money case: Action will be taken against Hasan Ali Khan, says Pranab

New Delhi:  Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said the government has taken note of the Supreme Court's observations and action will be taken against Pune-based stud farm owner Hasan Ali Khan who is facing charges of stashing huge amounts of money in tax havens. "That is being taken care of. We have noted the observations of the Supreme Court. All appropriate action will be taken," he said on the sidelines of a CII meet when asked if the government was contemplating any action against Khan. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had yesterday issued a 'Look out Circular' at all airports against Khan to ensure that he did not flee the country.    ...

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Short Film Patnam Potugallu Trailer1 Released

A Short Film By Hyderabad Boys Named "Patnam Potugallu" Under Ideal Movies Production Banner 1st Trailer Has Released Few Days ago. It was the first Short Movie Which was released without completing its Total Shooting. Patnam Potugallu is Going to release in Year 2011 as Month and Date Not confirmed Yet. ...

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BHEL bags contract for 600 MW thermal power plant

Valued at Rs. 14,450mn, the contract envisages setting up a 1x600 MW thermal power generating unit for APGenco’s upcoming coal-based thermal power project, located at Rayalaseema in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. Reposing confidence in Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)’s proven technological excellence, Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGenco) has placed a major order on the company for supply and installation of the main plant package for a power project in Andhra Pradesh, involving one new rating thermal power generating unit of 600 MW. Valued at Rs. 14,450mn, the contract envisages setting up a 1x600 MW thermal power generating unit for APGenco’s...

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DMK puts 'self respect' before alliance, will not reconsider decision

New Delhi/Chennai The seven-year-old alliance between DMK and Congress appeared headed for a break with the regional party today ruling out reconsidering its decision to pull out of the Union Cabinet, notwithstanding Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's appeal. DMK's Parliamentary Party leader T R Baalu said Mukherjee called him last night and requested the DMK chief should reconsider the decision to pull out his six ministers from the UPA government . "As of now, there is no reconsideration by the DMK," Baalu told reporters here at the party headquarters Anna Arivalayam. Peeved over the Congress' demand for 63 seats as against the 60 agreed for the April 13 Assembly...

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SC rejects petition for mercy killing of Aruna Shanbaug

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has rejected Pinki Virani's plea for mercy killing of Aruna Shanbaug. The court rejected the case and laid guidelines for mercy killing in extreme cases of terminally ill patients. Aruna Shanbaug, is lying in a "persistent vegetative state" in Mumbai's KEM Hospital for over 37 years after a brutal sexual assault. Active euthanasia (mercy killing) is illegal, yet "passive euthanasia" can be permissible in exceptional circumstances, a bench of justices Markandey Katju and Gyan Sudha Mishra said dismissing the plea filed on behalf of KEM hospital nurse Aruna Ramachandra Shanbaug. The apex court said that as per the facts and circumstances of the case,...

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DB Realty slips after MD Shahid Balwa quits over telecom probe

MUMBAI: Shares in developer DB Realty hit a record low on Monday after its Managing Director Shahid Balwa , embroiled in a widening telecom corruption investigation, resigned from his position. The Mumbai-based company's shares opened 15 percent lower at 100 rupees, after DB said its board had accepted Balwa's resignation with effect from Feb. 9, in view of his preoccupations relating to certain investigations. The stock recovered partially, but was still trading 3 percent lower at 1:30 pm. Shares in the company, which went public in February 2010, are down 42 percent so far this year, and are less than a fourth of...

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Libya must stop indiscriminate attacks on civilians, says UN chief

The UN secretary general has called for an end to indiscriminate attacks on civilians in Libya and warned of "carnage" in the days ahead. Ban Ki-moon has also dispatched a team to Tripoli to assess the humanitarian situation in the wake of the Libyan regime's "disproportionate use of force". Ban's intervention on Sunday came as rebel forces continued to battle Gaddafi's troops for control of key towns and cities, and Britain assessed the embarrassing fallout from the botched SAS mission to establish contacts with rebel leaders. Seven people are reported to have died and 50 injured in the battle for Bin Jawad, 100 miles away from Gaddafi's home town of Sirte, but after fierce fighting...

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Nudged by Sushma, PM accepts responsibility

New Delhi:  In parliament today, the Prime Minister said that his decision to go with PJ Thomas as India's Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) was "an error of judgement" and that he accepts "full responsibility." Dr Manmohan Singh's statement was nudged by the BJP's Sushma Swaraj, who urged him to take the same tone as he did in Jammu last week, after the Supreme Court declared Mr Thomas' appointment was illegal. The PM's first statement at 12 pm recounted the events that led to a committee headed by him picking Mr Thomas as the country's most senior officer in charge of fighting corruption among bureaucrats and government officials.  The other two ...

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SC clears common medical entrance test for govt, pvt colleges

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday ordered that single entrance test would be held for MBBS and post graduate medical seats of government and private medical colleges. Earlier, a panel set up by the health ministry to run the Medical Council of India ( MCI) had suggested that a common entrance exam would lessen the stress of the student. Member of the panel Dr Devi Shetty had said that at present, a student wanting to study medicine has to appear for 10-15 examinations, which can be highly stressful to both the student and his family. A common entrance exam will allow a student to give his best shot at one go. President of the panel Dr S K Sarin had said that a common entrance...

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Kevin Pietersen 'devastated' by World Cup departure for hernia surgery

The England batsman Kevin Pietersen said he was "absolutely devastated" to be returning home from the World Cup, after finally succumbing to a hernia problem that was first discovered during the recent one-day series in Australia. News that Pietersen's World Cup was over emerged while the England squad were en route from India to Bangladesh for their next match on Friday. It had already been confirmed that Pietersen would undergo hernia surgery after the World Cup but he appeared laboured in the field during the six-run win against South Africa. England's management have now acted to avoid further aggravation of the problem that has also ruled Pietersen out of the Indian Premier League,...

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BJD not to support Congress-led UPA: Naveen

In the wake of the DMK's decision of pulling out of the UPA government, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supremo Naveen Patnaik today ruled out his party's support to the Congress led UPA government at the Centre. "The BJD will not certainly support Congress," Patnaik told reporters while replying to a question on his party's stand after DMK's decision of pulling out of the UPA government. The BJD supremo, who after severing a decade-long ties with the BJP led NDA, had been maintaining equi-distance from both the parties. "BJD being a regional party is working for the interest of Orissa and will not support either NDA or UPA at the Centre," Patnaik had told reporters immediately after the 2009...

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