CURRENT AFFAIRS: 07/25/11

Monday, July 25, 2011

After singing Happy Birthday, he shot 5 dead

Dallas (Texas): Guests had just finished singing "Happy Birthday" to an 11-year-old boy when his father spoke to him briefly, then pulled out a gun and shot the child's mother, four of her relatives and himself, said a disc jockey who witnessed the shooting spree at a Texas roller rink.

Tan Do, 35, was "smooth, cool" as he shot his victims at close range, DJ Allen Tillotson said on Monday. He "knew exactly the people he wanted" to shoot and paused only to reload a weapon that had been hidden in his pants, Tillotson said.

Mumbai: For most of last fortnight, a 19-year-old girl who resides with her parents in Charkop, had been showered with anonymous gift parcels.

But it ceased to be an occasion for thrill right after she unwrapped the first present. For, every time she opened them, she invariably found vulgar items like lingerie and sex toys.

New Delhi: A Raja continued to whip up a storm today, claiming, "I did not seek to implicate the Prime Minister and the then Finance Minister in the 2G case." He also blamed the media for "putting words in my mouth."

Mr Raja has begun defending himself in court - he is accused of engineering India's largest scam by giving away telecom licenses for low prices to companies he favoured. Mr Raja was Telecom Minister till November when he resigned over charges of corruption and the 2G scam. He was arrested in February and has been in Tihar Jail since.

Basti, Uttar Pradesh: In another setback for the Mayawati government, and adding to the long list of rape cases, a Dalit woman was raped and stabbed barely 50 metres from the DIG's residence in the Basti area of Uttar Pradesh.

After raping her, the three men repeatedly stabbed her on the terrace of a government quarter in the district. One of the main accused Ajay Chaudhary is the driver of a senior government officer, who stays in one of the quarters.

IANS: Sri Lankan TV actors in prostitution ring

The Sri Lankan police said on Tuesday that they are on the hunt for more than 20 local television actresses who are believed to be part of a prostitution ring.

Over the past few weeks, police have arrested four actresses who were involved in prostitution at various locations in Colombo and areas most frequented by tourists, Xinhua reported.

Jalna, Maharashtra: There is tension in Maharashtra's Jalna district after at least 14 pilgrims died and 25 were injured after a speeding truck lost control and rammed into a religious procession.

A curfew has been imposed in the area after one person died in police firing. The cops had opened fire after angry protesters torched seven vehicles, including the abandoned truck. The driver of the truck is absconding.

Greater Noida: It was set up by the Uttar Pradesh government to promote industrial development in this region, but the last company to be set up under the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) was in 1998. Since then there have been more residential complexes coming up in what should have an industrial zone.

DMK leader and former Minister Veerapandi S.Arumugam arriving at Town Police Station to surrender before City Crime Branch Police in Salem on Monday. Photo: P.Goutham

DMK strongman and former State Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam on Monday surrendered before the City Crime Branch police here for an inquiry in connection with two cases of land grabbing. His surrender was in compliance with a Madras High Court order, which said he should present himself before the police for interrogation until July 27.

The President, Ms Pratibha Patil, during a meeting with the South Korean President, Mr Lee Myung-bak, at the presidential Blue House in Seoul on Monday. PHOTO: PTI

Seoul, July 25:

India today signed a civil nuclear cooperation deal with South Korea, allowing a framework for Korean companies to participate in atomic power plant projects in the country.

The agreement was signed after a meeting between the President, Ms Pratibha Patil, with her South Korean counterpart Mr Lee Myung-Bak.

South Korea has become the ninth country which had signed a nuclear agreement with India after it got the waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG) in 2008.

The others are the US, France, Russia, Canada, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Argentina and Namibia, an official said.

The Hindu Security forces keep up vigil in Dhubri district of Assam. File photo

In a blow to the anti-talk ULFA faction led by Paresh Baruah, security forces on Tuesday captured his right hand man and publicity secretary Arun Udoy Dehotia in Assam’s Sonitpur district.

On a tip off, a joint team of men from the 44 Assam Rifles unit and police men raided village Jinjia under Biswanath subdivision and apprehended hardcore Ritik Hazarika alias `Lieutenant’ Arun Udoy Dehotia, police sources said.

Pretty woman

ARPITA ON STAYING FIT, LOOKING GOOD AND STUMPING PROSENJIT WITH HER SHOPPING SPREE!

Flawless skin. Lustrous locks. Sunny smile. And a twinkle in the eyes.... With her dazzling looks, Arpita is the brand new brand ambassador for Anjali Jewellers. In between shooting for a jewellery ad set for the Pujas, the Tollywood actress took time out for an adda with t2...

What do you prefer — style or trend?

Ashmit Patel feels flirting is natural, even healthy. And why not? Riya Sen’s former boyfriend has been anointed Stud Guru and is preaching on the subject in UTV Bindass’s show Superstud which beams Sundays at 7pm. The show is all about a battle among 13 good-looking guys who are turning on the charm and taking on challenges with an eye on the title Superstud. A t2 chat.

How did you pick the contestants?

Passion play: Swastika Mukherjee and Samadarshi shoot for Saugata Roy Burman’s Tabe Tai Hok at NT1 Studios on Saturday afternoon. “Samadarshi plays a painter and Tilottama’s (Swastika) former lover. It’s her husband (Joy Sengupta) who brings him back into her life. And then Tilottama is torn between being the wife and the lover,” said Swastika.

ela and her two men: After canning a few solo shots for Bappaditya Bandopadhyay’s Elar Char Adhyay, Paoli as Ela finally had company in the form of “good friend” Vikram (left) and Indraneil Sengupta (below) on Saturday at Dawn Bari in Girish Park.

Vikram plays Ela’s love interest Atin and Indraneil plays freedom fighter Indranath. “I had my most difficult scenes with Indranath (Indraneil) on Saturday. It was a long conversation with him. After the shoot I am so exhausted that I just hit the bed and slept. Playing Ela is taking a toll on me!” laughs Paoli.

Though Indraneil is enjoying playing Indranath, he is finding the dialogues a tad difficult. “I don’t find the character difficult because with the costume, mood and location I feel like I am living in that era, but mouthing the dialogues is difficult. And I have long monologues!” smiled Indraneil.

Class act by Forlan

Buenos Aires: Diego Forlan scored twice after Luis Suarez’s opening goal as Uruguay beat Paraguay 3-0 to win the Copa America on Sunday and be crowned South American champions for a record 15th time.

Suarez, voted player of the tournament, put Uruguay ahead in the eighth minute of the final at the Monumental when his low, left-footed shot from the right beat the diving Justo Villar and went in off the far post.

Paul may face AFC sanction

New Delhi: The issue over goalkeeper Subrata Paul’s expulsion in the World Cup qualifier against United Arab Emirates (UAE) could turn into a bigger mess, the Indian team management feared on Monday.

According to sources in the Indian team, Paul, after being given marching orders in the 29th minute of the match at Al Ain on Saturday, allegedly conducted himself in a manner that might invite stricter punishment from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Paul, sources claimed, in a fit of rage broke windowpanes and damaged a refrigerator when he returned to the dressing room after the red card fiasco.

‘Snubbed’ Renubala returns CWG gold

New Delhi: Peeved at being ignored for the prestigious Arjuna Award, top woman weightlifter Renubala Chanu, on Monday, decided to return the gold medal she won in the Commonwealth Games last year to the sports minister, Ajay Maken.

Renubala, who won the gold in the 58kg category in the CWG, said she was hurt at not being named for the Arjuna Awards after 11 years at the top level and winning medals at the international level.

Shanghai: Raw emotion overflowed when Norway’s Alexander Dale Oen and Brazilian Cesar Cielo triumphed in the face of true adversity at the World Swimming Championships, on Monday.

Teenager Ye Shiwen, backed by a deafening roar from a passionate home crowd, also won China’s first swimming gold at this year’s event after producing a storming freestyle lap in the women’s 200 metres individual medley.

India were very ragged: Nasser

Calcutta: Former England captain Nasser Hussain has called India a “ragged” side, whose players are not well looked after due to the IPL, and insisted that this would precisely be the reason why the English would go past them in the ongoing Test series.

“India? Let’s face it, they were very ragged. It’s been noticeable that the guys who have done well for them in this Test — Ishant Sharma, Praveen Kumar, Rahul Dravid — were all out in the Caribbean recently,” Hussain wrote in the Daily Mail.

London: Graham Gooch, a former England captain and one of the great openers of all time, holds the record for the highest individual score at Lord’s — 333 in the 1990 Test against India, incidentally Sachin Tendulkar’s first in this country.

Now 57 and England’s batting coach, Gooch spoke to The Telegraph about Lord’s and, yes, that epic 333.

The following are excerpts

Q What did Lord’s mean to you when you were a young cricketer aspiring to make it big?

A For an Englishman, Lord’s is the greatest ground in the world... It’s where the game has been nurtured, there’s so much history... It’s all there in the Lord’s air... Come to the ground and you can breathe it.

Your first visit/game at Lord’s...

My father brought me for a Gillette Cup final in the early 60s... I was very young then... We sat on the grass, in an area without stands... I first played at Lord’s in 1972, I think, for the Young England Cricketers against the Oxford University.

How much did you score?

(Laughs) Can’t remember, you’re jogging my memory a long way.

What were your first impressions of Lord’s?

Awesome... It felt great to visit the spiritual home of cricket, felt greater when I played at Lord’s for the first time. Its character can’t be beaten, nor its location — in the heart of London, in such a wonderful area.

That 333 against India... Your best moment at Lord’s?

I’d think so... Of course, I’d got a hundred at Lord’s in the 1979 Benson & Hedges Cup final, against Surrey, and it was a historic win... That innings meant a lot... But, yes, the 333 remains the highpoint... I got a hundred (123) in the second innings as well and we won that Test. So, it was a personal and collective triumph.

Today, 21 years later, what are your thoughts on that innings?

The years have faded the memories somewhat... It’s rare to get the opportunity to score a triple in a Test, that’s because of the time factor. I batted for over 10 hours (628 minutes, 485 balls, 43x4, 3x6) and to do that at the spiritual home of cricket was, in itself, huge... I know Kiran More dropped me on 30-odd and he wouldn’t like to be reminded about it! But such things happen, you build on good fortune... The benchmark for most batsmen is a hundred at Lord’s... Well, I’ve got a 333... However, keeping the emotions aside, it was only a Test match.

Your worst moment?

Haven’t thought about it... Perhaps, losing the 1979 World Cup final to the West Indies. May not be the worst moment, but surely the most disappointing.

Is there a performance at Lord’s, either from a teammate or from the opposition, which wowed you?

So many, so many... The one which stands out, instantly, is the 138 not out by Viv Richards in the 1979 World Cup final... It was an innings of skill, power, stroke-making of such high quality... He dominated the bowling like nobody else.

Does it take something more to do well at an iconic ground such as Lord’s?

(Pauses) Don’t think so... But, yes, the slope is there at Lord’s and, if it’s overcast, then the ball does swing a lot... It’s best to soak in the atmosphere... Most players, I guess, raise the bar at Lord’s.

Do they get a tad more nervous?

Everyone is different... I wouldn’t be nervous, rather, I’d take in the atmosphere. Believe me, there’s nothing better than the first day of a Test at Lord’s... Over the years, you must have felt the buzz yourself.

The final one... Is there any other ground which comes close to Lord’s?

Newlands, the Adelaide Oval and Eden Gardens... All are different, yet very special venues for cricket.

Pietersen is enjoying the contest

London: Kevin Pietersen feels the England bowlers made the difference in the Lord’s Test.

“It’s a fantastic bowling unit. They stay so calm... Boys are right up there among the best,” the Man of the Match said on Monday.

Pietersen was also moved by the number of people who were present at the ground on the final day. “Potentially, the number of people who came over was great... For us as players it is magnificent to see so many people. On a Monday to see so many people was great…”

London: Had the David Cameron government’s Happiness Index survey been conducted at Lord’s, on Monday, the result probably wouldn’t have been encouraging. It was, after all, teeming with India supporters, many of whom had actually queued up from well before dawn.

Despite high expectations, that lot went home empty handed. Physically tired and emotionally bruised. Poorer in the pocket as well.

UBI upbeat on interest income

Calcutta, July 25: The United Bank of India (UBI) is likely to report a higher net interest margin (NIM) and healthy growth in both credit and deposits for the quarter ended June 30, the bank’s chairman and managing director Bhaskar Sen said today.

Net interest margin of a bank is the difference between the returns from funds deployed by the bank for lending and investments and the cost incurred on deposits and borrowings.

A higher net interest margin indicates higher profitability.

Daimler inks deal with Force

Mumbai, July 25: Daimler AG has signed an agreement with Force Motors under which it will license technology to produce a multipurpose vehicle (MPV).

The product technology will facilitate Force Motors’ entry into the passenger and goods vehicle segment. The company makes light commercial vehicles under the Traveller brand.

Daimler had earlier signed a technology licence agreement with Force Motors (the erstwhile Bajaj Tempo) for a modern 2.2-litre common rail engine, which is being used in the Traveller range of vehicles.

New Delhi, July 25: The auction of coal blocks will begin by the end of this year, bringing transparency in the allocation of a scarce resource, coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal said today.

At a meeting of stakeholders, the minister said the government had identified the blocks, and the guidelines would be finalised shortly.

Officials said some 51 mines had been identified for auction, which could hold between 8,000 million tonnes (mt) and 10,000mt of reserves. Coal mines have till now been allocated to Coal India and private and PSU captive users.

Suzlon exits Hansen

Mumbai, July 25: Wind turbine maker Suzlon Energy is selling its remaining 26 per cent stake in Belgium-based Hansen Transmissions International NV for $187 million (Rs 840 crore). The stake will be acquired by the German company — ZF Friedrichshafen AG.

Though the company was silent on how it intends to use the proceeds from the sale, Tulsi Tanti, founder chairman and managing director of the Suzlon group, said the sale was in line with its strategy to optimise and strengthen the balance sheet.

New Delhi, July 25: General Motors India is likely to increase the price of the diesel version of Chevrolet Beat after two months to offset the rise in input costs.

At Rs 4.29 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), the entry-level Beat diesel has been priced lower than its rivals to gain initial market share.

The 1.3-litre diesel Maruti Suzuki Swift — the best-selling car in the segment — is priced at Rs 4.99 lakh. Ford Figo’s 1.4-litre diesel version starts at Rs 4.60 lakh, while the 1.3-litre Fiat Punto diesel starts at Rs 5.18 lakh.

Mumbai, July 25: Telecom stocks led by Reliance Communications (R-Com) soared today as the market reacted to Bharti Airtel’s decision on Friday to raise voice tariffs, signalling an end to a bruising battle that badly crimped industry margins and left no winners.

R-Com leapt almost 15 per cent to close at Rs 107.50, while Bharti Airtel jumped 5.37 per cent, or Rs 22.05, to Rs 433 on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Mumbai, July 25: The professional forecasters — who have been polled by the Reserve Bank of India before every monetary policy review since September 2007 — have trimmed their GDP growth forecast for this fiscal to 7.9 per cent from 8.2 per cent in March, but the RBI is emphatic that it will stick to its tight monetary policy “till there is credible evidence of inflation trending close to a level” that is within its comfort zone.

Mumbai, July 25: Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) — the country’s largest private conglomerate — today reported a 16.7 per cent increase in first-quarter net profit at Rs 5,661 crore broadly in line with the market’s expectations.

The robust growth in profits was underpinned by the surge in the gross refining margin to $10.3 per barrel — significantly higher than the Singapore-Dubai benchmark margin of $9 in June.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn and Nafissatou Diallo. (AFP)

July 25: The housekeeper at the Sofitel hotel who accused Dominique Strauss-Kahn of sexual assault has given a long and tearful interview, with her full name and picture attached, that provides her detailed account of the May encounter — including that Strauss-Kahn told her “You’re beautiful” as he attacked her.

In the interview, with Newsweek magazine, the housekeeper, a 32-year-old immigrant from Guinea named Nafissatou Diallo, said she had apologised and turned to leave when she realised that Strauss-Kahn’s room was not empty.

Crash cover-up angers Chinese

Beijing, July 25 (Reuters): Government directives demanding journalists not question official accounts of a deadly high-speed train crash in eastern China are fuelling public anger.

Saturday night’s crash killed at least 38 people and was China’s deadliest rail disaster since 2008. The central propaganda department issued directives to media yesterday for coverage of the accident.

Unexplained end

July 25: Amy Winehouse had a medical examination the night before her death and was given the all clear, it has been reported.

The singer was said to have been visited at home by her doctor on Friday night, just 24 hours before she was found dead by her security guard, Andrew Morris. The 27-year-old’s body was discovered in the bedroom of her north London home at 4pm on Saturday.

Oslo, July 25 (Reuters): Anders Behring Breivik told a Norwegian judge today his bombing and shooting rampage that killed scores aimed to save Europe from a Muslim takeover, and said that “two more cells” existed in his organisation.

Breivik’s remarks at the closed-door custody hearing were relayed by the judge, Kim Heger, at a news conference.

The killer has previously said he acted alone and police had earlier said they were trying to confirm this.

Ramdev eviction caveat

New Delhi, July 25: The Supreme Court today warned the government against any repeat of the Ramdev eviction episode, in which Delhi police allegedly used force on thousands sleeping at the Ramlila ground on June 4 night.

The court, however, rejected a plea by Baba Ramdev’s trust to issue a notice to P. Chidambaram after the police said the Union home minister did not order the eviction.

Delhi caution on Maoists

New Delhi, July 25: The Centre will stick to the rules and keep its hands off Mamata Banerjee’s prisoner amnesty scheme but has been cautioning the state that the Maoists are regrouping in areas such as Jungle Mahal.

“We will not interfere in what the state government does,” the secretary (internal security) in the Union home ministry, U.K. Bansal, told The Telegraph, echoing what home minister P. Chidambaram recently said.

Bipasha Basu and John Abraham

Mumbai, July 25: Bipasha Basu and John Abraham seem to have fallen off the list of most-wanted brand endorsers following their public revelations after their split.

“Now media planners across the board are advising companies against using them, not just as a couple but even as individuals,” said an official from the media planning arm of a giant multinational advertising company. Ironically, John had begun his career with a media planning firm.

Mukherjee, Osborne

London, July 25: Rupert Murdoch’s shadow fell across a joint treasury news conference addressed today at the foreign office in London by George Osborne, the chancellor of the exchequer, and his visiting opposite number from India, Pranab Mukherjee, the finance minister.

If Mukherjee was gratified to see the big turnout by the British media, he was quickly disabused of the notion local journalists had come to hear him hold forth of the strengths of the Indian economy and the joys of the Indian GDP, that India was seeking investments worth a trillion dollars in infrastructure development over the next three years and that India was now the third largest investor in the UK, having held positions two and four in the previous two years.

CBSE results bank

New Delhi, July 25: An online CBSE result depository will be activated tomorrow for anyone wanting to check the authenticity of a candidate’s mark sheet and certificate.

Students and employers need to go to http://www.ndml.in. The user, who has to be registered with the board, then has to type the roll number of the CBSE student and the password to get access to the mark sheet and certificate.

Lady cop with ‘Ali Baba’ treasure

Chandigarh, July 25: Ali Baba’s cave of treasures remains unseen. But DSP Raka Ghira’s could come close.

The woman officer of Punjab police appointed on compassionate grounds after her husband’s death has been accused of showing far too much “compassion” for the good things of life and turning her palatial house here into what CBI sleuths described as Ali Baba’s cave.

CAT from October 22

New Delhi, July 25 (PTI): Candidates for the IIM Common Admission Test (CAT) this year will have 70 minutes to answer 30 questions in each of the two sections.

The test will be conducted online over 20 days from October 22 to November 18.

“Each section will have an on-screen countdown timer. Once the time ends for the first section, they will move to the second and will no longer be able to go back,” said Janakiraman Moorthy of IIM Calcutta, the convener of CAT 2011.

New Delhi, July 25: A. Raja today told a court that all the decisions on the award of spectrum licences were taken by the cabinet and that both the Prime Minister and then finance minister P. Chidambaram were in the know.

Raja’s counsel Sushil Kumar, though, later clarified to the judge that he was “not shifting blame” on Manmohan Singh or Chidambaram in the 2G case, and claimed that neither they nor former telecom minister Raja was guilty.

Raja brings fresh boil to spectrum crisis

New Delhi, July 25: The undertrial A. Raja summoned fresh tribulation on the UPA government ahead of Parliament’s monsoon session telling the 2G special court today that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the then finance minister P. Chidambaram were not only aware of spectrum equity sales by Swan and Unitech to foreign companies but also held the transactions legitimate.

Calcutta, July 25: Trinamul Congress leaders today said they were “happy” with the Centre’s proposal to leave land takeover for private industry to the discretion of states, as envisaged in the new draft for amending the acquisition law.

“We are happy that the Prime Minister has appreciated our concerns for farmers and given importance to our opinion. Now state governments would have the discretion whether to acquire land for the private sector or not,” party leader and junior Union minister for rural development Sisir Adhikari told The Telegraph.

Sister Jean with a family in Bangalore

Bangalore, July 25: A 63-year-old British nun who has been nursing unwanted and uncared-for leprosy patients in Bangalore for the past 29 years has just escaped a forced exit from the country.

Sister Jacqueline Jean McEwan, lovingly called Mother Teresa of Sumanahalli, was told exactly a week ago that she had just seven days to leave India, and so had booked a seat in today’s 6.30pm Emirates flight to London via Dubai.

Ranchi, July 25: Chief minister Arjun Munda today unveiled his government’s report card in its tenth month of existence, pinning the blame for the failures on the Centre’s alleged step-motherly treatment.

Highlighting the panchayat elections as one of the major achievements of his government, Munda said promoting self-governance and integrated growth of panchayats were important challenges. “This government has already delegated powers to supervise the execution of welfare and development schemes in villages to the panchayat bodies. More such steps will be taken in the coming days,” he declared.

Centre salve for power blow

Ranchi, July 25: A power-starved Jharkhand today earned an extra 100MW supply from the central pool for bailout as a roof collapse incapacitated its key power utility at Tenughat late last night.

The reprieve came after Jharkhand State Electricity Board (JSEB) chairman S.N. Verma met Union power ministry officials in New Delhi and demanded increased allocation to meet the crisis that had plunged parts of Ranchi, Gumla, Simdega, Khunti, Lohardaga, Seraikela-Kharsawan, West and East Singhbhum, Garhwa, Chatra, Latehar and Palamau into darkness.

Burdwan, July 25: Burdwan superintendent of police Humayun Kabir today rode a black Scorpio to work, switching from a white Innova provided by a sand dealer to cement his “good relations” with the law enforcers.

Writers’ Buildings has launched a probe to find out if any impropriety has been committed and how the senior-most officer in the district came to use a private car when two air-conditioned commercial vehicles had been earmarked for him.

Germany lifts bar on tourists to Kashmir

Srinagar, July 25: Germany today “revised” an advisory that had cautioned against trips to Kashmir, becoming the first European country since 1995 to allow its nationals to visit the Valley.

The new advisory gives an overview of security and says the situation has calmed down enough for foreigners not to be “direct targets of clashes”.

(From top) Singh, Raja and Chidambaram

July 25: Former telecom minister A. Raja today sought to defend himself by citing the names of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former finance minister P. Chidambaram.

The specific deposition by Raja related to equity allocation by two telecom licensees — Swan and Unitech — to foreign investors, which fuelled

charges that they had made a killing on the 2G licences.

“Then finance minister P. Chidambaram had told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that the issue of sale of equity by spectrum licensees Swan Telecom and Unitech to attract FDI did not amount to sale of licence as per corporate law. Let the PM deny it,” Sushil Kumar, Raja’s counsel, told a special court.

Kumar later said he was not shifting blame but defending his client. ( )

The issue is different from the questions dogging the allocation of spectrum to the two companies, such as charges of favouritism and an arbitrary change in the deadline to submit applications.

New Delhi, July 25: The army is likely to refuse to accept the Centre’s order to reconcile the records on the date of birth of its chief, General V.K. Singh.

But Gen. V.K. Singh is not seeking an extension of tenure even if the government accepts that he was born a year later than the date that the defence ministry believes is true.

RBI says high inflation warrants tight monetary policy

By Suvashree Dey Choudhury and Tony Munroe
MUMBAI (Reuters) - The Reserve bank of India (RBI) on Monday said high inflation warrants continued tight monetary policy, despite rising growth risks, reinforcing expectations that it will increase interest rates by a quarter point at its policy review on Tuesday.
The RBI has raised interest rates 10 times since March 2010, but headline inflation remains above 9 percent.

New Delhi, July 25 (IANS) Former telecom minister A. Raja Monday sought to drag Prime Minister Manmohan Singh into the 2G spectrum case, prompting the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to seek his and Home Minister P. Chidambaram's resignation and the Congress joining the war of words.
Appearing before the special court of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) presided over by Judge O.P Saini, Raja's lawyer said 2G spectrum transactions were approved by then finance minister P. Chidambaram in the presence of the prime minister.

London, (AFP): James Anderson took five wickets as England thrashed India by 196 runs to win the first Test at Lord's on Monday. Victory gave England a 1-0 lead in a four-match series which if they win it by two Tests will see them replace India at the top of the ICC's Test Championship table.
India, needing what would have been a Test record fourth innings victory total of 458, were bowled out for 261. Anderson took five for 65 in 28 overs during an innings where Suresh Raina top-scored with 78.

Sweet, troubled child of mine

It's uncanny, but it happened. I was on a Amy Winehouse overdose last week. Blame it on my state of mind, or just a premonition. I was listening to Back to Black and Rehab almost in a loop. And to think, I didn't even know this soulful singer existed till my music aficionado colleague Khristina Patra introduced me to her some time last year. Something just kept telling me her talent was going to be shortlived, so make the most of what she's given. Sure enough, I was proved right on Saturday.

amy-winehouse-250711-600

Live Blog: England vs India, Day 5, Lord's

Question for readers: How can India improve upon this performance?

Anderson gets Dhoni, signals the beginning of India's end.

9.54 pm - Ishant lbw b Broad, India 261 all out.A gripping, tiring Test finally ends. England's 196-run win is truly well-deserved.Hit by fitness problems, India could win just one session when Ishant was on fire. England have been the better side by far in this match.Lessons for India:1) Spruce up the pace department. Trent Bridge is a pace-friendly venue.2) Three-and-a-half bowlers won't win you a Test match against a top-class side.3) Work on your slip catching.4) Take a leaf out of Raina's book. Bat for the team.5) When you're on top, attack. Seize the game, take it forward.6) Blocking everything won't save you a Test. This should have been a no-brainer by now.7) Drop Harbhajan. Anyone but Harbhajan. Please.

New Delhi, July 25 (IANS) Transactions made in the allocation of 2G spectrum were known to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the then finance minister P. Chidambaram, former communications minister A. Raja alleged Monday.

Raja's counsel told Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Judge O.P. Saini that his client had not done anything wrong in his decision of not auctioning 2G spectrum and that he was merely following the policies pursued by his predecessors and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

The 90-year-old conman was arrested at 80, but was back to old ways on release
It is never too late to start again — especially in crime. A 90- year- old man, undeterred by a jail sentence, has churned out fake medical degrees in near industrial quantities becoming, arguably, the single biggest operator of his kind in the country.
Medical authorities and the government have put Balwant Rai Arora under the scanner for allegedly producing at least 50,000 fake doctors in Delhi and the NCR over the last 15 years — since 1995, when he began his racket.

London, July 26 (AFP): India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was facing up to the prospect of being without strike fast bowler Zaheer Khan in Friday's second Test against England at Trent Bridge.
The tourists will go into that match 1-0 down in a four-Test series following a convincing 196-run defeat in the opener at Lord's on Monday.
India played much of the first Test a bowler light, in what was only a specialist four-man attack to start with, after Zaheer broke down early on with a hamstring injury.

Once you are fat, chances are you will never get slim!

London, July 25 (ANI): Researchers claim that fat people, who lose weight either by dieting or exercising, will put it all back on again within a year.
Their study of 25,000 people provides further evidence of the prevalence of "yo-yo dieting" where slimmers get into a cycle of losing weight and regaining it, reports the Daily Mail.

60 ways to look young (and feel great)

Beauty is what health and happiness look like on the outside,' Good Housekeeping told readers in 1916.

Our advice has changed little since because we've always extolled the fundamentals: The right diet, exercise and spirit promote long life - and keep you looking and feeling young. (Of course, a fabulous haircut, lipstick, and the right pair of jeans can't hurt, either.)

Here's the ultimate clock-resetting guide - beauty how-to and health must-do.

Monday, July 25, 2011

LinkWithin

Feedjit