Daily Latest News

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• Deadly Honeymoon Premier, Mysterious Story of a Newly-Married Couple
• Mumbai leads in 3G auction, pan-India licence now Rs.8,382 cr
• Dikshit seeks practical tips on medical crises in schools
• India looking for FDI in sectors attracting technology
• Maoist strike call draws partial response in West Bengal
• Key Taliban commander captured in Pakistan
• No JPC on phone tapping, IPL: PM
• Jilted lover kills girlfriend
• Kolkata shutdown Tuesday – Kingfisher cancels 31 flights
• US biggest ‘threat’ to China, says top Chinese military expert
• Sex workers open school for their children, slum dwellers
• IPL clean bowled at multiplexes
• Russia, Italy plan for nuclear plant
• Jamia Millia starts new distant learning course
• Radio 1 Big Weekend 2010 Show on floor on 22nd & 23rd May, Performances of Several Stars
• Official mourning for Rau in Maharashtra Tuesday
• IPL betting racket busted in Madhya Pradesh
• Kashmir solution imperative: Pakistani PM
• India adds 20.3 million telephone subscribers in March
• I am still the IPL chairman, asserts Modi

Deadly Honeymoon Premier, Mysterious Story of a Newly-Married Couple Posted: 26 Apr 2010 05:01 AM PDT Deadly Honeymoon There held the premier of Deadly Honeymoon on Sunday on the Lifetime Movie Network. As the title suggests, the hero and heroine in Deadly Honeymoon goes on a passionate honeymoon mutually in Hawaii. The film story consists of a youth recent married pair Chris Carmack (Trevor Forrest) & Summer Glau (Lindsey) from Denver. The movie was assumed with full of miraculous observance for both pair. Their 1st night on the small-boat consists of passionate parties, sexual involvement and faces so many experiences. You can judge yourself by viewing the film itself. The story of Deadly Honeymoon gets interesting when Trevors body misplaces after the 1st morning and it is assumed that he was so drunk he overboard, and results in his death. When FBI team reaches at the incident place, Investigation Incharge Zoe McLellan doubts that Trevor's death may not have been a misfortune. The show came at 8pm Eastern time & 5pm pacific time. Enter your email address:

Mumbai leads in 3G auction, pan-India licence now Rs.8,382 cr Posted: 26 Apr 2010 09:38 AM PDT New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) India Monday concluded 82 rounds of spectrum auction for third generation telecom services in the country, with Mumbai attracting the highest bid and the provisional winning price for a nationwide licence reaching Rs.8,382.48 crore. The provisional winning price for a nationwide licence was 139.5 percent higher than Rs.3,500 crore reserve price fixed by the government. At the end of the 14th day of the auction, which began April 9, the provisional winning price for Mumbai stood at Rs.1,252.32 crore, but only two players were in the fray against the three available slots, according to data available on the Department of Telecommunications’ (DoT) website. Delhi, which had remained the favourite amongst bidders for long, received a bid at Rs.1,209.66 crore, followed by Maharashtra whose bid value stood at Rs.823.77 crore. ~ Rest Continues Below ~ Uttar Pradesh (East) and Madhya Pradesh could not attract even a single player, the data showed. Slots for three-four players are available in each of the 22 circles into which the country has been geographically divided for the 3G services, which will facilitate much faster connectivity than what is available now and enable applications such as Internet TV, video-on-demand, audio-video calls and high-speed data exchange. The government has already given Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) spectrum for 3G services on the condition that they will pay the same licence fee as would be levied on private players after the auction. Along with the fee that will be eventually paid by the two state-run enterprises for the licences, the government will provisionally get at least Rs.33,894.62 crore from the auction. This is on the presumption that every available slot gets filled at the provisionally approved price. The government hopes to rake in Rs.50,000 crore from the ongoing auction to award radio frequency spectrum for 3G telecom services and for rolling out broadband wireless internet services. Nine telecom companies — Bharti Airtel, Reliance Communications, Vodafone Essar, Idea Cellular, Tata Teleservices, Aircel, Etisalat, S Tel and Videocon Telecommunications — are participating in the online auction. This is a simultaneous auction for 22 circles over a secure website. At each round, the price is hiked from between 10-1 percent based on demand. The auction is being held from 9 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. on all days, except Sundays and national holidays. The process will end only when the demand is equal to the number of slots available in each circle. According to a senior DoT official, it may take another two-three weeks for the auction to be completed. The bid data, including the winning companies’ names, will be made public after the auction’s completion and approval by the government. The winning firms will have to deposit the money within 10 days after the auction. The successful bidders would be allowed to offer 3G services on a commercial basis from Sep 1. New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) India Monday concluded 82 rounds of spectrum auction for third generation telecom services in the country, with Mumbai attracting the highest bid and the provisional winning price for a nationwide licence reaching Rs.8,382.48 crore.

Dikshit seeks practical tips on medical crises in schools Posted: 26 Apr 2010 09:36 AM PDT New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Monday said the various categories of schools in the city need a detailed and practical set of guidelines to handle medical crises. The chief minister made the observation while releasing a report on psycho-physical requirement and medical crisis management mechanism in schools and the guidelines for medical crisis management in schools prepared by a committee of the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR). ‘Although the report has in-depth analysis and case studies, the guidelines indicated are less practical,’ Dikshit said. ‘Moreover, this report alone will not solve medical crisis management in schools, particularly in Delhi as there are different categories of schools like government, private and primary schools,’ Dikshit said. The report deals with common medical emergencies in schools, their symptoms and how to deal with these. It also talks about development of a protocol on medical crisis management in schools. The guidelines require all schools to have a suitable dispensary, provision for disabled-friendly medical care, creation of a school health committee consisting a doctor, posting of a nurse and an emergency response team in each school. The report also suggests mock drills on crisis management should to be organised in all schools. ‘The state’s health and education sector should join the expert committee of DCPCR and analyse the report to make it more feasible,’ Dikshit added. The DCPCR was constituted in 2008 under the Commissions for Protection of child Rights Act, 2005, to enquire and examine violations of child rights and to safeguard the interest of children residing in Delhi. New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Monday said the various categories of schools in the city need a detailed and practical set of guidelines to handle medical crises.

India looking for FDI in sectors attracting technology Posted: 26 Apr 2010 09:36 AM PDT New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma Monday said that the government will prefer foreign direct investment (FDI) in and subsidies to those sectors which would attract technology and investment. ‘We are looking at those sectors which will attract technology and investment,’ the minister said on sidelines of the Annual Intellectual Property Awards 2010 ceremony, organised by his ministry in association with industry lobby, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Sharma said the government is also keen on extending concessions to those sectors which continue to be in the red, following the economic downturn in 2008. ‘But we are not looking at FDI in multi-brand retail as of now,’ he said. The minster hoped that the exports in 4th quarter of the last fiscal will help to overcome losses in the sector – which continued for 13 months till November last year. He hoped they would touch $167-170 billion in the last fiscal. India’s merchandise exports grew 34.8 percent to $16.09 billion (Rs.72,400 crore) for the fourth consecutive month in February. The minister expressed concern over fall in rate of patents by Indian applicants. ‘While the number of patents by Indian firms fell by 29 percent last year, in China, it went up by 30 percent. Why is there less investment for innovation? Why aren’t the MNCs coming up with innovations?’ he asked. New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma Monday said that the government will prefer foreign direct investment (FDI) in and subsidies to those sectors which would attract technology and investment.

Maoist strike call draws partial response in West Bengal Posted: 26 Apr 2010 09:34 AM PDT Kolkata, April 26 (IANS) A two-day shutdown called by the Maoists, to press the government to bring their arrested comrades before courts speedily, evoked a partial response on day one in the three ultra-hit districts of West Bengal. Shops and markets remained closed while vehicular traffic was sparse on the roads in some areas of the three western districts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia, police sources said. ‘Normal life was affected in the jungle areas of Bankura due to the shutdown,’ said district Superintendent of Police Vishal Garg. ‘But the district headquarters Bankura town and in most parts of the district there was completely no effect of the shutdown,’ he added. Maoists have also called the shutdown in Jharkhand, West Bengal and Orissa. ‘In West Midnapore, the Maoist-infested belts of Lalgarh, Binpur and a few areas of Belpharai were partially hit. But in other areas of West Midnapore, life was normal,’ Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma said. In Purulia, a few areas saw some effect of the shutdown call, though the district was largely unaffected. Maoists are active in several police station areas of the three districts. Kolkata, April 26 (IANS) A two-day shutdown called by the Maoists, to press the government to bring their arrested comrades before courts speedily, evoked a partial response on day one in the three ultra-hit districts of West Bengal.

Key Taliban commander captured in Pakistan Posted: 26 Apr 2010 09:34 AM PDT Islamabad, April 26 (IANS) An important commander of the Taliban was captured Monday in a military operation in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi, officials said. Hakim Waliullah Swati was captured from his house in Karachi’s Orangi town locality, Xinhua reported, citing officials. He was shifted to an undisclosed location for enquiry. Swati was involved in several attacks on the security forces in the Swat region. Since February, several top Afghan Taliban leaders, including second-in-command of the terror group Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, were nabbed in Karachi. Four other Taliban militants were killed in an operation in northwest Pakistan. Officials said the militants were killed in Kanju area of Swat. A curfew was clamped in different parts of Swat after the fighting. Swat is one of the strongholds of the Taliban. Islamabad, April 26 (IANS) An important commander of the Taliban was captured Monday in a military operation in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi, officials said.

No JPC on phone tapping, IPL: PM Posted: 26 Apr 2010 09:06 AM PDT New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday rejected opposition demands for a parliamentary probe on the alleged tapping of phones of prominent politicians and the row involving the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL), issues that have stalled parliament’s functioning. ‘I don’t think there is need for a JPC (joint parliamentary committee). This is not a fit case for JPC,’ the prime minister told reporters on the sidelines of a defence investiture ceremony. ‘A JPC is a very serious issue. We can’t rush to such a conclusion in haste,’ Manmohan Singh added. He also noted that Home Minister P. Chidambaram had already stated the government position on the phone tapping issue. ‘I was also ready to come before parliament but there was restlessness,’ Manmohan Singh added. The prime minister was to have made a statement in the Lok Sabha at 3.30 p.m. but this fell through after a restless opposition forced the adjournment of the house for the day on its demand for a JPC. This was the third adjournment of the house Monday. Similar scenes were also witnessed in the Rajya Sabha, forcing three adjournments, the final one for the day. Earlier, in identical statements in both houses, Chidambaram said that the government had investigated but found ‘nothing to substantiate’ the phone tapping allegations reported in Outlook news magazine. ‘I wish to state categorically that no telephone tapping or eavesdropping of political leaders was authorised by the previous UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government. Nor has the present UPA government authorised any such activity,’ Chidambaram maintained. He said the allegations in the story were ‘thoroughly’ inquired into after the magazine hit the stands late Friday. ‘Nothing has been found in the records to substantiate the allegations.’ Outlook had said the government was tapping the telephones of Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Prakash Karat and Congress leader Digvijay Singh. Parliament’s functioning was stalled Friday with the opposition demanding a JPC on the functioning of the IPL and allegations of corruption in the auction of the Kochi franchise, an issue that cost junior foreign minister Shashi Tharoor his job. New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday rejected opposition demands for a parliamentary probe on the alleged tapping of phones of prominent politicians and the row involving the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL), issues that have stalled parliament’s functioning.

Jilted lover kills girlfriend Posted: 26 Apr 2010 09:06 AM PDT New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) A man stabbed his former girlfriend to death after she started seeing another man, police said Monday. A search has been launched for the atacker. Varun Mehta allegedly stabbed Deepshikha, 24, in east Delhi Sunday evening. ‘He brutally attacked her with a knife 10 to 12 times,’ a police officer said, adding her body was found in his car near Karkardooma court complex. Mehta and Deepshikha, both residents of Vivek Vihar in east Delhi, studied in the same college. ‘They were having an affair but lately Deepshikha started seeing someone else,’ the police officer, saying all this was mentioned in a letter written by Mehta to her and later thrown near her body. In the letter, Mehta said he tried to make her understand, but she would not budge. ‘He also wrote that he could not see her going with her new boyfriend on a motorbike,’ the officer said. Another police officer said the letter describes Mehta’s mental condition. ‘He himself wrote that he was not able to bear the pain and was getting insane. He wanted to punish her by killing her,’ the officer said, quoting the letter. Mehta is son of a lawyer and works in a private finance company, police said. New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) A man stabbed his former girlfriend to death after she started seeing another man, police said Monday. A search has been launched for the atacker.

Kolkata shutdown Tuesday – Kingfisher cancels 31 flights Posted: 26 Apr 2010 09:04 AM PDT Mumbai, April 26 (IANS) In view of the Kolkata shutdown call from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Kingfisher Airlines Monday announced a series of changes in the schedules of its domestic and international flights to ensure passengers are not inconvenienced. These include cancellation of 31 flights, changes in the timings of some flights and clubbing together of some services. The departure time of flight IT 3434 from Kolkata to Hyderabad stands advanced to 5.50 a.m. The following flights have been cancelled for April 27, 2010: * IT 511 Mumbai – Kolkata * IT 512 Kolkata – Mumbai * IT 607 Delhi – Kolkata * IT 608 Kolkata – Delhi * IT 3431 Hyderabad – Kolkata * IT 3432 Kolkata – Hyderabad * IT 021 Kolkata – Bangkok * IT 022 BKK – Kolkata * IT 073 Kolkata – Dhaka * IT 074 DAC – Kolkata * IT 2501 Kolkata – Bhubaneswar * IT 2502 Bhubaneswar – Kolkata * IT 2502 Kolkata – Guwahati * IT 2812 Guwahati – Kolkata * IT 2531 Kolkata – Bagdogra * IT 2532 Bagdogra – Kolkata * IT 4805 Kolkata – Imphal * IT 4805 Imphal – Silchar * IT 4805 Silchar – Kolkata * IT 4541 Kolkata – Agartala * IT 4542 Agartala – Kolkata * IT 4573 Kolkata – Ranchi * IT 4574 Ranchi – Kolkata * IT 4581 Kolkata – Patna * IT 4582 Patna – Kolkata * IT 2803 Kolkata – Aizwal * IT 2804 Aizwal – Kolkata * IT 2803 Raipur – Kolkata * IT 2804 Kolkata – Raipur * IT4541 Kolkata – Agartala * IT 4542 Agartala – Kolkata The following flights will operate on schedule: * IT 2551 Kolkata – Raipur – Indore – Ahmedabad: Departure 5.30 a.m. * IT4577 Kolkata – Ranchi combined with flight IT 4579. * Kolkata – Patna and will operate as Kolkata – Ranchi – Patna: Departure 6.25 p.m. * IT2503 Kolkata – Bhubaneswar: Departure 6.40 p.m. * IT514 Kolkata – Mumbai: Departure 8.25 p.m. * IT604 Kolkata – Delhi: Departure 8.55 p.m. Mumbai, April 26 (IANS) In view of the Kolkata shutdown call from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Kingfisher Airlines Monday announced a series of changes in the schedules of its domestic and international flights to ensure passengers are not inconvenienced.

US biggest ‘threat’ to China, says top Chinese military expert Posted: 26 Apr 2010 09:04 AM PDT Beijing, April 26 (IANS) The US is the greatest ‘perceived threat’ to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and cross-Straits relationship was the most likely subject to provoke a China-US war, a top Chinese military strategist has said. ‘The US is the only country capable of threatening China’s national security interests in an all-round way,’ Rear Admiral Yang Yi, former head of strategic studies at the PLA’s National Defence University, said last week to a group of visiting senior US officials. ‘Japan has no such ability, while Russia has no such motivation and India is more worried about China,’ Yang said while addressing delegates at the weeklong US-China Government Executive Global Leadership Course that concluded last Friday. Yang said Beijing was hoping to maintain and develop a stable and healthy relationship with Washington but it also needed to make necessary preparations for any possible threat. ‘Fortunately, the risk of a Sino-US confrontation is decreasing due to the relaxation of the Taiwan question,’ China Daily reported Sunday quoting Yang. He said the Taiwan question would be solved politically rather than militarily, adding the cross-Straits relationship would become even more stable and secure if it continued to develop positively over the next five to 10 years. Talking about US arms sales to Taiwan, Yang said: ‘Those weapons will be ours sooner or later.’ The 17-member US group included directors of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Defence Department and Nuclear Regulatory Commission. This is the first time that Washington has sent senior government officials to Beijing to engage their Chinese counterparts in a comparative educational dialogue. Sun Zhe, director of Tsinghua University’s Centre for US-China Relations who planned the course two years ago, said Yang had answered the questions in a frank manner. ‘A US navy official in charge of intelligence asked the question and he quickly responded that it was the same case for China about the US,’ Sun said, adding it is very unique for naval officials from the two sides to exchange thoughts so honestly. According to Sun, the frank communication was not intended as a threat, but that it would help the two powers to avoid strategically misjudging the other. Beijing, April 26 (IANS) The US is the greatest ‘perceived threat’ to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and cross-Straits relationship was the most likely subject to provoke a China-US war, a top Chinese military strategist has said.

Sex workers open school for their children, slum dwellers Posted: 26 Apr 2010 09:02 AM PDT Kolkata, April 26 (IANS) Sex workers in West Bengal have pooled their resources to set up a primary school for their children as well as those of slum dwellers. Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, an organisation working for the uplift of sex workers and their families in West Bengal, has built the school at Titagarh in North 24-Parganas district, 30 km away from Kolkata. ‘Earlier, the students would have to study in a makeshift structure. But now we have a concrete building. We pooled our resources and also got help from Titagarh municipality,’ said Bharati, an office-bearer of the committee. ‘The school will provide education to the children of not only the sex workers but also those from the slums,’ she added. The committee represents 65,000 sex workers (males, females and transgenders). Kolkata, April 26 (IANS) Sex workers in West Bengal have pooled their resources to set up a primary school for their children as well as those of slum dwellers.

IPL clean bowled at multiplexes Posted: 26 Apr 2010 09:02 AM PDT New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) The high profile third season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) proved to be a dud at the theatres, with few turning up at multiplexes except for the semi-finals and the final, industry sources said. Around 800 screens around India, including close to 65 in Delhi and surrounding areas, participated in the high definition live event that offered uninterrupted advertisement-free viewing from March 12 to April 25. With ticket prices equivalent to movie ticket prices, cinema halls across the country decided to create a stadium-like atmosphere by screening live the matches — also because not many big budget films were released during the period, largely due to Classes 10 and 12 exams. But all in vain, as per experts. ‘The response for the total tournament across our property has been average. The overall average occupancy has been only 20 percent. It was only during the semi-finals and the final that it picked up momentum and went housefull,’ Amit Awasthi, manager (programming and operations) of Spice Cinemas, told IANS. ‘When we started at movie prices, there was no footfall but we slashed ticket prices to Rs.50 and Rs.70, then too the occupancy suffered and was only around 25 percent. From next time, we’ll have to think twice about screening it and that too at reconsidered prices,’ he added. Yogesh Raizada, corporate head (cinemas) of Wave Cinemas, also echoed the same view. ‘Overall the expectations that we had with the IPL weren’t fulfilled. It started with just 10 percent occupancy and there was no buzz. It was only during the final that it picked up and went housefull but still the average occupancy was only around 10-12 percent,’ said Raizada. Added Amit Shah, chief manager (programming) of DLF DT cinemas: ‘The initial response to IPL wasn’t great, but the semi-finals and the final were almost housefull across all our properties. The last eight matches picked up buzz and were almost packed.’ The league also tied up with UFO Moviez for 3-D screening of the the last four matches – two semi-finals, third play and the fourth play matches on April 21, 22, 24 and 25 respectively that went jam packed. ‘It did not meet our expectations. The average occupancy was only 30 percent at the max. However, the finals were very good with close to 80 percent occupancy,’ said a source from PVR cinemas. ‘Moreover, the 3-D response was very good that fetched us almost 100 percent occupancy even in properties across cities like Ludhiana and Allahabad,’ the source added. New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) The high profile third season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) proved to be a dud at the theatres, with few turning up at multiplexes except for the semi-finals and the final, industry sources said.

Russia, Italy plan for nuclear plant Posted: 26 Apr 2010 09:00 AM PDT Lesmo (Italy), April 26 (IANS/AKI) Visiting Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi Monday met here to discuss a range of bilateral issues, including plans to build a nuclear plant jointly in Kaliningrad in Russia. Representatives of Russian energy company Inter RAO and Italian power giant Enel signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate on future projects, including nuclear energy. At a joint press conference with Putin after talks at Villa Gernetto in northern Monza province, Berlusconi said he renewed his ‘esteem, affection and friendship’ for the Russian prime minister. Berlusconi said bilateral trade had fallen by 30 percent because of the economic crisis. ‘Prime Minister Putin and I want that to return to levels of 2008,’ Berlusconi said. ‘We are working towards that.’ Russia will donate 7.2 million euros (about $9 million) for the reconstruction of Palazzo Ardinghelli and the church of San Gregorio Magno that were badly damaged in last year’s earthquake in the central Italian city of L’Aquila. –IANS/AKI snb/vt Lesmo (Italy), April 26 (IANS/AKI) Visiting Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi Monday met here to discuss a range of bilateral issues, including plans to build a nuclear plant jointly in Kaliningrad in Russia.

Jamia Millia starts new distant learning course Posted: 26 Apr 2010 09:00 AM PDT New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) After suspending the bachelor of arts (BA) regular course this year, the Jamia Millia Islamia Monday announced the launch of a similar programme through the distant-learning mode. ‘The Centre for Distance and Open Learning, announces the launch of BA (General) course from the session starting 2010-11,’ the university said. ‘The course has been launched to meet the requirements of class 12 students for whom formal education at university may not be easily accessible. The BA (General) course would include all possible components which the withdrawn BA (Pass) regular course had,’ it added. A Jamia spokesperson said that the BA regular course has been suspended for the year as it is being revamped. New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) After suspending the bachelor of arts (BA) regular course this year, the Jamia Millia Islamia Monday announced the launch of a similar programme through the distant-learning mode.

Radio 1 Big Weekend 2010 Show on floor on 22nd & 23rd May, Performances of Several Stars Posted: 26 Apr 2010 03:22 AM PDT For the Radio 1 in upcoming month, Singer Cheryl Cole is the recent star to have in the schedule. The show is commencing on 22nd & 23rd May at Bangor's Raenol Park in Wales. The admirers can access free tickets for the show from the official website of Radio One. Radio One through this show is celebrating its 10th Anniversary & performances that are commencing this year mentions Cheryl Cole, Rihanna, JLS, Florence, the Machine, Alicia Keys and Justin Bieber. Some other performances consist of Dizzee Rascal, Paramore & Australian pair Pendulum who performed in the show in Kent in 2008. Pendulum’s bass Guitar player told Newsbeat "That particular show was almost like a milestone for us last time we did it. It was a big turning point for us as a band. To be asked back is a pleasure." Radio 1 on 22nd and 23rd May will charm the audience with the big weekend show 2010.

Official mourning for Rau in Maharashtra Tuesday Posted: 26 Apr 2010 08:34 AM PDT Mumbai, April 26 (IANS) The Maharashtra government Monday announced a day’s state mourning Tuesday as a mark of respect to senior Congress leader and Rajasthan Governor Prabha Rau, who died in New Delhi. Rau will be accorded a state funeral Tuesday morning at her native village, Kolhapur-Rohini, in Wardha district of Vidarbha in eastern Maharashtra. Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, other cabinet ministers, and senior officials will attend the funeral. On account of the official mourning, the state government has cancelled all official functions, engagements and other programmes, an official announcement said here. Rau was a six-time legislator and one-time parliamentarian from Maharashtra. She also served as a cabinet minister with various chief ministers for over a decade and was the state Congress president for two separate terms. Mumbai, April 26 (IANS) The Maharashtra government Monday announced a day’s state mourning Tuesday as a mark of respect to senior Congress leader and Rajasthan Governor Prabha Rau, who died in New Delhi.

IPL betting racket busted in Madhya Pradesh Posted: 26 Apr 2010 08:32 AM PDT Bhopal, April 26 (IANS) Five people were arrested in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore city for running a betting racket on the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket final, police said Monday. ‘Five people have been nabbed for betting on the IPL final during a raid Sunday night at a flat in Venkatesh Dham Colony in Indore,’ a police official said. Cash, cellular phones, television sets and documents relating to betting running into lakhs of rupees have been seized from the accused. Bhopal, April 26 (IANS) Five people were arrested in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore city for running a betting racket on the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket final, police said Monday.

Kashmir solution imperative: Pakistani PM Posted: 26 Apr 2010 08:32 AM PDT Kathmandu, April 26 (IANS) Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Monday reiterated that a solution of the Kashmir dispute was imperative, adding that until it is resolved amicably, peace cannot be restored in South Asia. Speaking to reporters on board his special aircraft on his way to Thimpu for the SAARC summit, he said the need of the hour was for the leaders of Pakistan and India to resume the sub-continental dialogue process ‘as due to the Mumbai terror attacks, talks were not possible in an harmonious manner but now things have changed’. Gilani also noted that both countries were in regular touch through their interior ministries on the investigations into the Nov 26-29, 2008 Mumbai mayhem. On his arrival here, Gilani was accorded a warm and cordial welcome. During his short visit, Gilani will meet his Nepalese counterpart Madhav Kumar Nepal before proceeding to Thimpu for the April 28-29 SAARC summit Kathmandu, April 26 (IANS) Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Monday reiterated that a solution of the Kashmir dispute was imperative, adding that until it is resolved amicably, peace cannot be restored in South Asia.

India adds 20.3 million telephone subscribers in March Posted: 26 Apr 2010 08:30 AM PDT New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) India’s telecom density rose to 52.74 percent in March this year as the country added 20.3 million subscribers during the month, the telecom regulator said here Monday. ‘The number of telephone subscribers in India increased to 621.28 million at the end of March 2010 from 600.98 Million in February 2010, thereby registering a growth rate of 3.38 percent. With this, the overall teledensity in India reaches 52.74 percent,’ the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said in a statement. In February, the teledensity stood at 51.05 percent. While the subscriber base in wireless segment increased from 564.02 million in February to 584.32 million in March, the number of users in wireline segment remained unchanged at 36.96 million, the statement added. The broadband subscriber base increased from 8.59 million in February to 8.75 million in March 2010, a growth of around two percent. In the wireless segment, Vodafone added 3,628,484 subscribers in March, taking its total number of users to 10,085,835. Bharti Airtel added 3,000,109 users to reach 127,619,314 subscriber base, data showed. In the wireline segment, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd remained the biggest player, holding a 75.31 percent market share as on March 31, 2010. New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) India’s telecom density rose to 52.74 percent in March this year as the country added 20.3 million subscribers during the month, the telecom regulator said here Monday.

I am still the IPL chairman, asserts Modi Posted: 26 Apr 2010 08:30 AM PDT New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) Suspended Indian Premier League chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi Monday said he is still the chief, and by tweeting ‘we have just begun’ hinted at a long drawn battle ahead. Modi, who was suspended in the wee hours of Monday after the IPL final in Navi Mumbai, said he appreciates the overwhelming support he received from his fans. ‘Thank you all for your message of support. It is really appreciated. I am still chairman of IPL. Just suspended. Wait – we have just begun,’ Modi wrote on his twitter page. Modi didn’t sound perturbed by the charges levelled against him. ‘Had a restful day. Been in the spa all day. Much needed rest.’ A board source said Modi can go in for an appeal to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to lift his suspension. There is an intense speculation that Modi might take legal recourse to challenge the way he was removed. A battery of legal experts is going through the small print in the chargesheet to make a case for him. New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) Suspended Indian Premier League chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi Monday said he is still the chief, and by tweeting ‘we have just begun’ hinted at a long drawn battle ahead.

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