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2010-06-20T11:38:00.000+05:30

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ATTACK ON DIMPLE TV ARTIST

2010-06-09T13:21:00.000+05:30

Personal animosity was cited as the reason for the attack on TV artiste Dimple. She was ambushed by a woman at Manikonda today with an iron rod. The lady even smeared chilli powder on her face before leaving the scene. Dimple was immediately moved to the Apollo Hospital where her condition is said to be stable.

Dimple is currently working in a TV serial named Thurpu Padamara being aired on ETV and was on her way to the shooting spot when the incident occurred.

New R8 GT Launched

2010-05-12T22:11:00.001+05:30

The new R8 GT is launched which is a menace and a creation of rocket science. The Germans sent the car for a diet and it resulted lose of 100kgs. The new R8 GT has better features and is surely fast on those straights. Claiming a top whack of 320kmph the car throttles to three digit mark in 3.6seconds. All they have done is installed the same V10 FSI engine in the new R8 GT which is hyper tuned. Carbon fiber has played a major role in designing the new R8 GT.

Most of the components are fitted with use of carbon fiber. It has a rear spoiler which is stationery unlike the Lambo’s. If you need to buy it ensure there are no 332 men in the list. Only 333 Audi R8 GT will be manufactured so you need to be the lucky one. The cost of the R8 GT is 193,000 Euros. The car itself is a creation of destruction but if you wish to include a U-235 nuclear type arms the R8 GT has a additional race pack available which can be installed in the car.

Hero Honda Karizma ZMR Vs Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTSi

2010-05-12T22:09:00.003+05:30

A shot comparison will help your mind in selecting the best bike available in the Indian auto industry. The Bajaj Pulsar 220 is one of the cheapest bikes which have looks, power and economy. On the other hand there is the Hero Honda Karizma ZMR which has power and features. Well if compared top performance wise then both of them have equal powers which are top notch at the moment. The Pulsar does 145kmph and the ZMR does 135kmph or 140kmph if power shifting. But if cost is present in between then the situation goes out of control.

The ZMR is above 1 lakh rupees. On the other hand the Pulsar is just for 78,000 rupees. You can have all the features which match your style and looks. The Pulsar is economical for operation than the ZMR. What separates both of them is the name and feel. The Bajaj side is subtle but long lasting. The Honda is aggressive but less comforting. They have their merits and demerits which creates a border in their performance. It also ensures that they have limits for everything created in them.

Hero Honda Karizma ZMR		Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTSi
Engine
Type	4-stroke single cylinder OHC, Oil cooled, PGM-Fi	Air-cooled, 4-stroke Single Cylinder
Displacement	223 cc	220 cc DTSi
Max. Power	13.15 Kw (17.6 Bhp) @ 7000 rpm	21.04 @ 8500 rpm
Max. Torque	18.35 Nm @ 6000 rpm	19.12 Nm @ 7000 rpm
Suspension
Front Suspension	Telescopic Hydraulic Shock Absorbers	Telescopic, 130 mm stroke
Rear Suspension	5 Step Adjustable I GRS System	Nitro, with 90mm travel
Brake
Front	276 mm Dia Disc Brake	260 mm Disc
Rear	240 mm Dia Disc Brake	230 mm Drum
Tire
Front Tire	80/100 x18-47 P- Tubeless Tire	90/90 x 17 - Tubeless
Rear Tire	100/90 x 18 - 56 P- Tubeless Tire	120/80 x 17 - Tubeless
Dimensions
Length	NA	1165mm
Width	NA	750mm
Height	NA	2035 mm
Wheelbase	1350 mm	1350
Kerb Weight	159 kg	150
Electrical
Battery	12V - 6 Ah, MF Battery	12V, 9 Ah, Full DC
Head Lamp	35W / 35W - Halogen Bulb, DC - Multi Reflector Type	Low Projector Lamp, 55W
Fuel Capacity	16 liters	15 Liters
Reserve Fuel Capacity	NA	3.2 Liters (2.2 Liters Usable)

Speed, speed and more speed
The ZMR is easy to handle when it comes to straights and long distance traveling. The rider position on the bike is simply superb. In comparison the Pulsar 220 is best. Handling the ZMR is easy, red line gear change will take the bike all the way to 135kmph. The Pulsar on the other hand is fast. It delivers a top whack of 145kmph with ease. You might need perfect shifts to reach 145kmph. It has a tag line which says the fastest Indian is sure to make wonders. The ZMR is not that fast as it is loaded with features which are not required. Both of them have rear disc brakes which make it easy to maneuver in heavy traffic or stop immediately.

Balancing act
The Karizma is not that great but compared to the Pulsar it works perfect. The Pulsar has clip on handle bars which are located at the wrong place. If you are traveling for long distance you might not be comfortable. The rider’s position in the ZMR is superb. It’s not that great but works when used for long distance. The old handle bars are replaced with clips which ensure the rider to be in comfortable position all the time. One more twitch in the riding is the control of bikes in heavy traffic. In such situations the Pulsar works perfect and as desired.

The clutch and feel of the bike is exceptional and delivers comfort. You might not need to pull it and drag the bike all the time. The new engine of the Pulsar is quite refined and created with new specifications. The ZMR engine is also new but not that great when it comes to handling in heavy traffic. Cornering these bikes is superb. You might want to wear those knee guards which are choking with dust at home. The control and feel is simply superb on turns. They are fast in corners.

Mileage
The whole comparison tab is spoiled by intrusion of this section. These are race beauties and so checking for average is not in the list. Well the ZMR delvers an average of 25kmpl and the Pulsar delivers 30 to 35kmpl.

Time to go to the ATM
Well as said cost does play a major role in buying a bike with difference. The comparison is won by the Bajaj Pulsar which is affordable and perfect according to speed and performance. The ride quality is also superb when it comes to handing and cornering.

Chevrolet Beat VS Fiat Grande Punto

2010-05-12T22:09:00.001+05:30

You might think why is this comparison done, the Beat and the Punto are two opposites in terms of luxury and power. Well let’s put the paper aside and see the reality. Lots of them think it’s a Fiat and has more power and output. When you pin the accelerator pedal for power shifts the Beat boosts ahead of the Punto. The economy is superb with a hint of speed. The interiors are well garnished for luxury and power.

The Punto on the other hand is a hyped machine which can do wonders only if you are ready to listen to the car. It has superb handling and needs the hand of an expert to drive it around in style. The Beat on the other hand is easy to drive, free to abuse the accelerator anytime you wish. The need of a hatchback can arise when you need to take your family out or just push off the highway for a drive. Safety wise the Beat lacks behind but the top model is available which is at the cost of the basic Punto.

	Scooty Pep	Honda Activa
Engine Type	In-Line Engine	Petrol
Engine Description	1.2L 80bhp S-TEC II engine	1.2L, 1172cc, FIRE Petrol engine producing 68PS of max power with 96Nm of max torque
Engine Displacement (cc)	1199	1172
No. of Cylinders	4	4
Maximum Power	80 @ 6200 rpm	68PS @ 6000rpm
Maximum Torque	108 @ 4400 rpm	96Nm @ 2500rpm
Valves Per Cylinder	4	4
Valve Configuration	DOHC	NA
Fuel Supply System	MPFI	NA
Turbo Charger	No	No
Super Charger	No	No

Chevrolet Beat LS		Fiat Grande Punto 1.2 Dynamic
Transmission
Transmission Type	Manual	Manual
Gear box	5 Speed	Five Speed Manual Transmission Gearbox
Suspension System
Front Suspension	McPherson Strut-Type with Anti-Roll Bar	Independent Wheels Suspension with McPherson Struts, Helical Springs
Rear Suspension	Compound Link Type	Torsion Beam, Helical Springs, Double Acting Telescopic Dampers and Stabilizer Bar
Shock Absorbers Type	Gas Filled	NA
Steering
Steering Type	Power	Power
Steering Column	Tilt	Power assisted rack & pinion
Brake System
Front Brake Type	Disc	Ventilated Discs
Rear Brake Type	Drum	Drum
Fuel
Mileage-City (kmpl)	14.5	12.0
Mileage-Highway (kmpl)	18.6	16.2
Fuel Type	Petrol	Petrol
Fuel Tank Capacity (liters)	50	45
Tires
Tire Size	155/70 R14	165/80 R14
Tire Type	Tubeless Radial Tyro	Radial/Tubeless
Wheel Size	14 inches	NA
Other Specifications
Seating Capacity	5	5 Persons
No of Doors	5	5
General Car Details
Country of Assembly	India	India
Country of Manufacture	India	India
Discontinuation Date	2025-01-01	2025-01-01
Introduction Date	2010-01-04	2010-03-15
Warranty Time	3 years	NA
Warranty Distance	100000 km.	NA
Price ex-showroom
Mumbai	Rs 3, 80, 094	Rs 4, 72, 784
Delhi	Rs 3, 62,353	Rs 4, 57, 167

Interiors and looks
Both of them have the same interiors space. They have the capacity to accommodate 5 adults with ease. Interiors of the Beat are bit less in the basic model. You might not find all that jazzy stuff in it which is seen in the Punto. The Punto on the other hand has all that you need to make it a future car. Both interiors are spacious and provide access to 5 adults with ease.

Handling quality
In this section the Punto goes ahead as it is superb to handle. Cornering on the Punto is like gliding over butter with a hot spoon. It will melt in any direction you head out with your spoon. The Beat has grunt in handling over corners. The reason for this is the height of the vehicle. The Beat is superb in straights and bit wobbly in turns compared to Punto.

Engine and feel
The engine of Punto is designed for luxury. You might not feel to leave the car anytime of the day. The engine from Fiat is simply perfect. 5 speed gear box ensures you to have a remote control carexperience. The Beat engine is also superb, since both of them have 1.2 liter power house inside the bonnet they churn out lot of power.

Time to go to the ATM
This is a tough choice which can be solved with money and choice. Well if you have the moneyand think the name can pull off your profile the Punto is the best option. If you don’t wish to spend anything on the car for the next 3 years (Servicing cost included) then the Beat is the best option. It’s economical to run the Beat than spending all the time for Punto.

Hyundai i20 Vs Fiat Punto

2010-05-12T22:07:00.001+05:30

The i20 is famous for its power and comfort. On the other hand the Punto is all favored car for its red Ferrari color, power, looks and style. No one can pull out the look of a hatchback apart from the Punto. Well if you want some Both of them have the capacity to accommodate 5 adults.

What lacks behind is power, though they are hatchback, oversized weight has reduced power. Well if you are looking for a mid size car which can squeeze through traffic and deliver topnotch performance at affordable price, you are at the right place. Well this comparison will tell you all the details which you look in an investment which has wheels.

Hyundai i20		Fiat Punto
Engine Type	In-Line Engine	Petrol
Engine Description	1.2L 79bhp, Aluminum 4-cyl.	1.2L, 1172cc, FIRE Petrol engine producing 68PS of max power with 96Nm of max torque
Engine Displacement (cc)	1197	1172
No. of Cylinders	4	4
Maximum Power	80 Bhp @ 5200 rpm	68PS @ 6000rpm
Maximum Torque	11.4 @ 4,000 (kgm@rpm)	96Nm @ 2500rpm
Valves Per Cylinder	4	4
Valve Configuration	DOHC	NA
Fuel Supply System	MPFI	NA

Hyundai i20 Era Petrol		Fiat Grande Punto 1.2 Dynamic
Transmission
Transmission Type	Manual
Gear box	5 Speed	5 Speed
Suspension System
Front Suspension	McPherson struts with coil spring	Independent Wheels Suspension with McPherson Struts, Helical Springs
Rear Suspension	Coupled torsion beam axle with coil spring	Torsion Beam, Helical Springs, Double Acting Telescopic Dampers, Stabilizer Bar
Shock Absorbers Type	Gas Filled	NA
Steering
Steering Type	Power	Power
Steering	Column Tilt & Telescopic	Power assisted rack & pinion
Turning Radius (wheel base)	5.20 m	5.4m
Brake System
Front Brake Type	Disk	Ventilated Discs
Rear Brake Type	Drum	Drum
Fuel
Mileage-City (kmpl)	11.5	12.0
Mileage-Highway (kmpl)	15.0	16.2
Fuel Type	Petrol	Petrol
Fuel Tank Capacity (liters)	45	45
Tires
Tire Size	175/70 R14	165/80 R14
Tire Type	Tubeless Radial Tire	Radial/Tubeless
Wheel Size	14 in.	NA
Other Specifications
Seating Capacity	5	5
No of Doors	5	5

Interiors and looks
The Punto is spacious and has ample space. It has features and gadgets which are designed for human comfort. Too many gadgets surround the cabin which is really not required. It has increased the cost of the vehicle which is just a waste. On the other hand the interiors of the i20 are carved with perfection. You might feel at home while driving this wonderful machine. Gadgets are present in this car too but they are not going to divert your attention from driving.

Engine and feel
The Italians have installed a lot of power inside the Punto. Well driving the Punto is simply superb. You can feel the car being designed especially for you. The Hyundai i20 on the other side is subtle when it comes to speed. You might feel slow at first but then suddenly a lonely warrior steps in the picture when you are redlining the car. Both of them are simply superb and deliver top notch speed. The Punto has a sort of grunt in it which is unleashed when the car is doing red line gear change. The i20 on the other hand as said is subtle and has enough power for being laid back and turned into a power house.

Handling quality
The Punto is crystal clear and handles like butter. God knows what the Italians have done to the car. It handles perfect, you feel like having it more, more and more. You never feel like going home and resting as the Punto is your home. The i20 feels large and yes it is bigger than the Punto. Handling the heavier i20 is bit difficult on turns. Well if you are cornering the vehicle then the best option would be the Punto. It handles like a bike on turns.

Time to go to ATM
Well this is a tough question since both of them are perfect. If cost is in your mind and you need a car which can last longer than the usual machine, the best option is the i20. But wait a second, what about the Fiat. It is a superb piece of engineering. A little bit of more cash and you have an all-rounder. The Punto is the best option which is available in the market which can head on the i20. Cost of the Punto is bit high but it surely is worth the value.

Harley Davidson Starts Thumping

2010-05-12T21:58:00.001+05:30

The long awaited journey ends here as Harley Davidson starts its booking. Gurgaon is the official head quarters for Harley Davidson India operations. The showroom was inaugurated by U.S Ambassador to India operations Timothy J. Roemer.

The inauguration was done by revving the 2010 version of the Fatboy engine. MR Anoop Prakash, Managing Director of Harley Davidson India had invited various industry leaders and enthusiasts for the grand opening. Location of the head quarters is situated in the heart of Gurgaon, Time Tower, Main MG Road.

Interiors of the showroom are designed according to the tradition of Harley Davidson. Fully operational workshop is also present which will take care of those beauties which will be sold in India. Showrooms and workshops are present in other cities too. The List starts from Chandigarh, Mumbai, Bengaluru, New Delhi and Hyderabad. Buy your priced possessions from these places.

Guns in luggage, Egypt detains US man

2010-05-12T21:58:00.000+05:30

Airport officials in Cairo say police have detained an American-Egyptian man who arrived on a flight from New York with several weapons in his luggage. The officials say the man was taken into custody as he tried to pass through customs with a metal box containing two 9 mm handguns, 250 bullets, several swords, daggers and knives. They say customs officials had been alerted after the weapons were discovered when the box was examined upon arrival today on an Egypt Air flight from New York's JFK International Airport in Cairo. A police official confirmed the man was under investigation by prosecutors. The officials all spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to reporters.

Amitabh speaks out against caste

2010-05-12T21:57:00.000+05:30

Amidst the debate on the inclusion of caste in the national census, Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has said that he does not believe in caste and neither does his family.

The 67-year-old veteran said that if asked about his caste, he will answer that he is an Indian.

"My father never believed in caste and neither do any of us. He married a Sikh, I married a Bengali, my brother a Sindhi, my daughter a Punjabi, my son a Mangalorean, in his autobiography my father had expressed that future generations of his family should marry into different parts of the country. So far that tradition has been kept alive," wrote the actor on his blog.

Census enumerators came calling on the Bachchan household, prompting the actor to express his views on the issue.

"Officials from the BMC, the Bombay Municipal Corporation, troop into Prateeksha to detail in on information. All kinds of information is sought name, place, age, dependents, place of birth, house, residence years. I wait for them to come to the crucial controversial one... caste. They don't.

"Wary of the sensitivity that this has raised recently by politicians, they keep away from it. I tell them irrespective of what the system decides, my answer is ready, caste, Indian," wrote Bachchan.

Political parties including Samajwadi Party, which has Bachchan's wife Jaya amongst its members, are demanding that caste be included in the ongoing census.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said the government will soon take a decision on caste-based census in the country.

Deputy leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Janata Dal-United (JDU) president Sharad Yadav are amongst those demanding that caste be registered during the census exercise.

Ash affects flights

2010-05-12T21:51:00.001+05:30

Volcanic ash from Iceland wound its way south to North Africa and curled eastward, forcing authorities for the first time to shut down airports in Morocco, as well as in Spain and, briefly, in Turkey. Ten airports in Morocco, among them Casablanca, Rabat-Sale, Tangiers, Fez, Agadir and Essaouira, almost all major tourist stops, were closed until at least 7 am (0600 GMT) on Wednesday. A Transport Ministry statement said it wants "to guarantee a maximum level of security for passengers" as the ash cloud passes over the kingdom on the Atlantic Coast. Airports in Morocco, on the African continent and some 3,780 kilometres (2,350 miles) from Iceland, were not affected last month when the April 14 eruption of the Eyjafjallajokul (pronounced ay-yah-FYAH-lah-yer-kuhl) volcano forced at least a five-day suspension of air traffic in Europe. This time, the ash pushed south, forcing even the small airport in the Moroccan town of Tan-Tan, just north of the Western Sahara territory, to close. The ash also was causing havoc Tuesday in nearby Spain, forcing airports to shut down in the Canary islands of Tenerife, La Palma and La Gomera, affecting dozens of tourist flights. On the Spanish mainland, 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) from the Canary islands, airports at Seville and Jerez in the south and Badajoz in the east were closed. Spain also kept restrictions on planes flying between 20,000 feet and 35,000 feet (6,100 meters and 10,770 meters) above the ground, mainly affecting trans-Atlantic flights to and from other European countries.

2010 BMW 5-Series: First Drive

2010-05-12T21:49:00.001+05:30

Long, low, wide and bursting with techno, the latest 5-series might not be a style diva but it has enough under its skin to keep the adrenalin rush going. It is also quicker, cleaner, more efficient, stunningly stable and safe as we found out in our first drive

Let's not get muddled about the sixth Five here. In what has to be the second biggest sales earner for the Munich-based car maker (after the 3-series), the latest, sixth generation 5-series has come out fighting for BMW. Not that BMW had much to worry about given that the previous generation 5 had done itself loads of good in the executive saloon segment all over the world. The Chris Bangle effect might have made many sit up and take notice but once behind the wheel it was evident that the somewhat perceived visual shock wave translated into one of sheer dynamic pleasure.The latest 5-series, which I got to experience over a day driving across some great roads around the Portuguese seaside town of Cascais with a few fast laps thrown in for good measure at the Estoril race track, is different from the all-out 'handling over-all-else' dynamic approach which has made BMW the first word in affordable driving excitement in the automotive world.

As the very same baby boomers who adopted it in the first place now reckoning with the mid-life, the new 5-series has also evolved. It is very difficult to balance handling with ride quality, that quintessential waft-ability that many luxury sedans do, and have to, encompass but in the new 5-series this has happened, in a big way, without compromising on the fun-to-drive approach which has always been a BMW-hallmark.

Playboy readers 2 get 3-D on june edition

2010-05-12T21:46:00.000+05:30

Playboy readers who can only imagine what it would look like if a centerfold jumped right off the page are getting new specs to help them see into Hef's world.

The magazine's June edition hits newsstands Friday equipped with 3-D glasses. Now the toy that has kids dodging dragons, meatballs and tall blue aliens at the movies will help adults focus on what is, at first glance, a very blurry Playmate of the Year.

"What would people most like to see in 3-D?" asked Playboy founder Hugh Hefner. "Probably a naked lady."

Hefner makes no secret of hoping to capitalize on the popularity of 3-D movies such as "Avatar" and "How to Train Your Dragon," even as he makes no secret of not quite getting what all the fuss is about.

"I'm not a huge enthusiast of 3-D," he said in a telephone interview. "I leave real life to go to the movies and 2-D is fine with me."

If the thought of grown men sitting back in their recliners with a pair of 3-D glasses doesn't quite say "Playboy," it should be noted that a few months ago the magazine put Marge Simpson -- yes, the blue-haired animated mother of Bart -- on the cover and in a two-page centerfold.

"In today's print environment you have to create newsstand events," said the editorial director of the Chicago-based magazine, Jimmy Jellinek. "Marge Simpson was one of those."

Playboy certainly must do something to get more people, especially younger people, to buy a magazine that has seen circulation plummet from 3.15 million in 2006 to 1.5 million today.

Jellinek said he hopes the issue featuring centerfold Hope Dworaczyk in 3-D also reminds people that for all the infatuation with the Internet, there is nothing quite like having a magazine in your hands.

"People want things that last and have meaning," he said.

The thought hadn't occurred to Hefner. But, now that you mention it:

"This particular picture is one example of how books and magazines are different (than computer images)," he said. "You can hold it in your hands, save them, and as Dad used to, put them under the mattress."

Hefner notes there also are plenty of good old-fashioned 2-D pictures of Dworaczyk -- the 51st Playmate of the Year, for those counting at home.

3-D may be all the rage, but Hefner said he first thought of using it when he launched his magazine in the 1950s.

"I actually signed a photographer to shoot two nude women in 3-D in Chicago," he said. But he scrapped the idea when he discovered how expensive it would be to include the glasses.

This time around, HBO is helping out. HBO wanted a creative way to promote its show "True Blood," and having Playboy include 3-D glasses with the show's name on them seemed a good way to do it, said Playboy spokeswoman Theresa Hennessey.

So, do the glasses work? Well, it does kind of look like Dworaczyk is handing you the wine glass she's holding. And she says the photograph makes everything a little, well, bigger.

"It's kind of like it says on the rearview mirror," Dworaczyk joked. "Things may appear larger."

Over 100 dead in airport plane crash | 8-year-old sole survivor |

2010-05-12T21:44:00.002+05:30

TRIPOLI: A Libyan plane arriving from South Africa disintegrated on landing at Tripoli airport on Wednesday, killing 103 people but leaving an eight-year-old boy as the sole miracle survivor, officials said.

An official in The Hague said 61 Dutch citizens were killed while Libyan Transport Minister Mohammed Ali Zidan listed "Libyans, Africans and Europeans" among the dead.

Zidan told a media conference that an inquiry was under way to determine what caused the Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A330 to break up massively as it was landing, but he ruled out terrorism.

Libyan television showed teams of emergency workers sifting through the wreckage of the plane, which was scattered in a wide arc across the landing area.

"There were 104 people on board -- 93 passengers and 11 crew members," Zidan said, adding that the remains of 96 victims had already been recovered.

There was only one survivor, an eight-year-old Dutch boy, he said.

"His life is not in danger," Zidan said, adding that "the sole survivor" was in good shape in a Tripoli hospital.

Witnesses spoke of the plane inexplicably breaking up as it came down to land in clear weather at around 6:00 am (0400 GMT).

"It exploded on landing and totally disintegrated," one security official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. Another official said the plane had burst into flames just before landing.

Bongani Sithole, an official of Afriqiyah Airways at Johannesburg airport, said the crash happened "one metre (yard) away from the runway."

Minister Zidan said no terrorism was involved.

"We have definitely ruled out the theory that the crash was the result of an act of terrorism," he said, adding that the two black boxes of the aircraft had been recovered.

The plane was new and had only been acquired by the airline in September.

Afriqiyah Airways listed 93 passengers and 11 crew members on board its flight 8U771 from Johannesburg, which was reportedly due to fly on from Tripoli to London's Gatwick airport.

EU parliament president Jerzy Buzek hailed news of the boy's survival.

"I have also been informed that one eight-year-old child has survived, which given this tragic event, is truly a miracle," he said in Brussels.

Last June, a 12-year-old girl was the sole survivor of a Yemeni plane crash off the Comoros.

Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende told a media conference in The Hague that "several dozen" Dutch nationals were among the dead, although he did not have more precise information.

But the Dutch tourism federation ANWB gave a firm figure of 61 killed.

"Sixty-one Dutch people were killed in the accident," ANWB spokesman Ad Vonk told AFP.

Authorities in Pretoria said they were trying to determine if any South Africans were among the dead.

"We have established consular emergency response and request South Africans who had relatives aboard that plane to call us so that we able to assist with repatriation of the remains and helping them get visas to Tripoli as soon as possible," foreign ministry spokesman Saul Molobi said.

On April 21, Afriqiyah announced that its flights were back to normal after disruptions due to the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland that grounded flights in Europe last month.

Wednesday's crash was the deadliest air accident in Libya since December 22, 1992 when a Libyan Arab Airlines plane crashed near Tripoli airport killing 157 people.

Twenty-two people were killed in an oil company plane crash in January 2000.

In other major accidents, 79 people were killed when a Korean Air crashed in Tripoli in July 1989. And 59 people died in a Balkan Bulgarian Airlines crash near Benghazi in December 1977.

Afriqiyah said on its website it started operations with five leased planes and signed a contract with Airbus at an exhibition in Paris in 2007 for the purchase of 11 new planes.

It was founded in April 2001 and at first fully owned by the Libyan state. The company's capital was later divided into shares to be managed by the Libya-Africa Investment Portfolio.

Manmohan Singh congratulates David

2010-05-12T21:43:00.001+05:30

The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh has congratulated Mr David Cameron, the newly elected Prime Minister of United Kingdom. In a letter to Mr Cameron, the Prime Minster extended his warm wishes and hoped the two countries will further strengthen the bonds of friendship. Following is the text of the Prime Minister's letter:

Dear Mr Prime Minister,

Please accept my heartiest felicitations and congratulations on your assumption of the office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The elections in the United Kingdom and your stewardship of the Conservative Party reflect the best traditions of parliamentary democracy. I wish you the very best in your leadership of the United Kingdom in the years ahead.

I recall with great pleasure our meeting in New Delhi in September 2006. Over the years, our bilateral relations have diversified into a vibrant and multi-faceted strategic partnership encompassing almost all areas of human endeavour.

We are today well-placed to build upon this strong edifice not just for the welfare and benefit of our two peoples, but also to work together to address the pressing global challenges that we face today, and to harness the growing inter-dependence among nations for the good of humankind. I look forward to working with you to further advance and strengthen our bonds of friendship, to which India attaches the highest importance.

It gives me great pleasure to extend a most cordial invitation to you to visit India at your convenience.

Young bride dead, honour killing suspected

2010-05-12T21:38:00.000+05:30

Gurleen, her husband Amarpreet and her mother-in-law were a happy family just a month ago.

Today they are just another terrible statistic, the latest victims of an 'honour' killing.

Gurleen and her mother-in-law were hacked to death allegedly by a group that included Gurleen's own brothers.

Her neighbours woke up to the noise of gun shots early on Wednesday morning.

"We heard gunshots around 2 am in the morning, it was dark so could not see much but at dawn we saw Amarpreet lying in pool of blood and we informed the police," said Baljit Singh, neighbour.

Gurleen's husband Amarpreet was also shot but survived and was able to talk to the police. A case has been registered against Gurleen's father and two brothers.

"The girl had married against the wishes of her family and they attacked the house last night and killed the girl and her mother-in-law while the girl's husband has been injured and is in hospital. We have formed teams to nab the culprits," said Pritpal Singh, SSP Taran Taran.

This is third honour killing in Taran Taran in a year, and not surprisingly authorities are passing the buck.

When the issue was put before Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Mukul Wasnik, he said, "You are trying to make out as if these issues are connected to my ministry. These are law and order issues connected to Home Ministry, you should ask them."

With court orders and police protection proving to be of little use, now all hopes are being pinned on the Union Law Ministry's proposal to make honour killings a separate offence with appropriate punishment.

Radioactive substance spills at BARC lab

2010-05-12T21:36:00.001+05:30

A chemical spill at the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) in Mumbai left ten people vulnerable to minor radiation. On Tuesday evening, a radioactive chemical spilled out from a flask during an experiment. Ten people working in the lab were put through rigorous medical tests, and three who were suspected to have been affected were "decontaminated." One person, whose hand touched the radioactive chemical, is under observation for possible internal contamination. In an official statement, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre noted, "The incident involved minor contamination of the hands of a person who was involved in the transfer of samples in a sealed container from one laboratory to another for analysis. The incident is of a very minor nature with no safety consequences." In December, two scientists died in a fire at BARC. (Read: Fire at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, 2 killed) Delhi is still recovering from one of the country's worst radiation crises - a machine containing radioactive Cobalt-60 was dismantled in a scarp market without any precautions or protective gear by scrap dealers. One person died as a result, six others were hospitalized.

Explanation from party MP Jindal

2010-05-12T21:32:00.001+05:30

Congress has sought an explanation from party MP Naveen Jindal for his remarks favouring the khap panchayats in Haryana and the praise he had showered on the controversial extra constitutional bodies. "I have sought an explanation," AICC General Secretary in-charge of Haryana Prithviraj Chavan told reporters in new Delhi when asked what the party had done in the wake of the young leader heaping encomiums over the caste councils of Haryana. The explanation was sought after the Kurukshetra MP praised the works of these caste councils at a Khap mahapanchayat at Kaithal in Haryana and extended support to their demand to amend the Hindu Marriage Act to prohibit same sub-caste (gotra) marriages. Congress sources later said Jindal has given an explanation to the party. "He (Jindal) has given an explanation. He is not in support of them. The party has already made its stand clear and the matter is closed now," a senior party leader said.

Alcohol on fire in Ambala

2010-05-12T21:28:00.000+05:30

Two persons were charred to death and six received burn injuries when a fire broke out in a liquor factory in a village in Ambala district of Haryana on Wednesday. The army is helping to fight the fire. All the victims were employees of the factory located in Badholi village, some 30-km from Ambala, police said. Four huge tanks containing 6 lakhs of litres of spirit caught fire which engulfed the factory premises. Firefighters were still battling the leaping flames. Police said that two bodies, charred beyond recognition, had been recovered. The extent of damage suffered by the factory could run into crores of rupees, sources have said. The cause of the blaze was yet to be ascertained.

Shilpa-Raj stake is legitimate :RR

2010-04-28T09:37:00.001+05:30

After questions were raised about why they're not mentioned in ownership documents for the Rajasthan Royals, Shilpa Shetty and husband Raj, along with their co-owners, have said they're legitimate stakeholders in the Jaipur team of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

On Monday, Shashank Manohar, president of the Board of Control forCricket in India (BCCI), said that the parentage of the Royals seems uncertain. "We are asking Modi, how can he sign an agreement with A when the bid came from B. Modi made a statement that the entire world knows who the shareholders are but the fact is that not even the Governing Council members know about Rajasthan Royals. I did not find the names of Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra in the papers and they claim to be stakeholders."

An alarmed Shilpa Shetty tweeted on Monday "Woke up & heard on TV that we're not co-owners of RR! There's no doubt Raj is a stake holder & I'm the brand ambassador."

Forty per cent of the Royals franchise is owned by Suresh Chellaram, Modi's wife's brother-in-law. The board says that if shares were transferred to Shilpa and her husband after they invested in the Royals, no transfer fee has been paid.

Here's the full statement from Rajasthan Royals:

Rajasthan Royals would like to clarify certain misconceptions about the franchise, which have been raised through the media.

The Rajasthan Royals franchise bid was successful, with full compliance of BCCIguidelines, in a process conducted with the committee members of BCCI in January 2008. Full details of the consortium bid structure and the way the company would be set up were contained in the original submission to the BCCI in January 2008. The structure has been completely transparent and in accordance with regulatory guidelines ever since.

The corporate structure was established in accordance with the details provided in the bid submission shortly after the bid. It was not established prior to the bid, as we obviously did not know if the bid would be successful. Moreover, the time allotted between the Invitation to Tender (27 December 2007), and the bid submission date (23 January 2008), would not have allowed sufficient time to incorporate the intended structure with an Indian entity.

The investors agreed to submit the bid using a consortium, led by UK-based Emerging Media (IPL) Ltd. The other entities in the consortium were disclosed in the bid submission documents.

Subsequently, on 8 March 2008, an Indian company Jaipur IPL Cricket Pvt Ltd was incorporated, as detailed in the bid submission. We then executed the franchise agreement on 14 April 2008. The ownership of the consortium did not change between the award of the bid on 23 January 2008 and the signing of the franchise agreement on 14 April 2008.

As part of our strategy to broaden our shareholder base, in February 2009 Kuki Investments Ltd (Raj Kundra and Family) acquired an 11.7% stake in EM Sporting Holdings Limited, the parent company of Jaipur IPL Cricket Pvt Ltd, which was fully disclosed to the BCCI/IPL.

According to the BCCI/IPL rules, the IPL was entitled to 5% of the increase in the pro-rata value of the franchise. In February 2009 the Rajasthan Royals contacted the BCCI to agree the precise definition, to agree the amount that needed to be paid, and we are still awaiting a response. For absolute clarity the payment has been fully accrued for within our accounts.

The current shareholders of EM Sporting Holdings Limited, who all have multiple business interests and independent means, are as follows: Emerging Media (IPL) Ltd (Manoj Badale - 32.4%), Tresco International Ltd (Suresh Chellaram Family - 44.2%), Blue Water Estate Ltd (Lachlan Murdoch - 11.7%) and Kuki Investments Ltd (Raj Kundra & Family - 11.7%). There are no other shareholders.

In accordance with regulatory filings, we subsequently volunteered to make a full disclosure application (in July 2009) through the Government's FIPB (Foreign Investment Promotion Board) process. The relevant information submitted in that application, including details of the structure, now appears to be publicly available. Our application was not initially accepted due to a miscommunication of submission timings. Our subsequent application in January 2010 has not been rejected. We are well advanced towards fulfilling the procedural steps and additional information requests necessary to satisfy the FIPB.

Rajasthan Royals have always conducted themselves with integrity and look forward to co-operating with the BCCI to ensure continued public support for the IPL.

Nitya(Sex)ananda Swami allegedly smuggled gold from US

2010-04-28T09:34:00.001+05:30

CID sleuths have revealed that Swami Nithyananda would routinely smuggle 24 carat gold weighing several kilograms from the US.

According to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Swami Nithyananda visited the US quite often. During his visits, he used to carry objects that looked like gold.

"He usually got things made in form of rosaries and sandals that he used to wear while returning to India," reads a DRI letter that was sent to the Bangalore airport authorities, a copy of which is in possession of MiD DAY.

The letter also mentions that Swami Nithyananda misused his image of a spiritual guru to smuggle gold.

According to the officials, the swami believed that he'd be never caught, as the custom officials never bothered to check him when he used to go on spiritual trips.

DRI officials had also issued a look out circular to all the airports soon after sex swami went into hiding.

The DRI sleuths suspect that Nityananda could have used the same technique for smuggling precious stones as well.

Besides, the officials suspect that Ma Nithyananda Gopika, sex swami's personal assistant, helped him in the smuggling racket.

Indian-origin doctor killed by ex-colleague

2010-04-28T09:31:00.003+05:30

A doctor was charged Monday with fatally shooting a Yale University doctor and firing at the victim's pregnant wife after a history of confrontations with the victim and other colleagues that led to his dismissal from a New York hospital.

Branford police said 44-year-old Lishan Wang is charged with murder, attempted murder and firearms offenses in the fatal shooting of Vajinder Toor outside his home. Police say Wang, a Chinese citizen from Beijing who was last known to be living in Marietta, also fired at Toor's wife, but she was not struck.

Wang is being held on $2 million bond. A message was left with an attorney representing him in a civil lawsuit.

Toor worked at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Centre in New York before joining Yale. Police are investigating whether Toor and the gunman had a dispute on the job, using information provided by the victim's wife, said Lt. Geoffrey Morgan.

"We're following a hypothesis that the victim and the assailant had some sort of negative interaction at a previous employer," Morgan said, adding that police do not expect to make additional arrests.

Wang and Toor were involved in a confrontation a few years ago at Kingsbrook after Wang left his post at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and was not reachable for a few hours, according to a hospital employee who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing murder investigation. The employee said Toor reprimanded him and that Wang threatened Toor in front of other employees.

Wang filed a federal discrimination lawsuit last year against the hospital. He talks about a heated exchange with his supervisor in the hospital's residency program, "Dr Vajinder," in May, 2008 after Vajinder accused him of ignoring pages and calls from hospital staff.

"An hour after this heated discussion, Dr Vajinder then accused Dr Wang of threatening his safety by using hostile body language, although he did not summon security to assist him," Wang's lawsuit states.

It is one of several allegations of anger and behavioral problems that Wang acknowledges he was cited for while in the program. In the lawsuit, he said he was unfairly labeled excitable, emotional and unable to control his anger.

Wang was suspended with pay on May 22, 2008, and notified by letter that the hospital had decided to propose firing him. He was told by the union that the hospital would only allow him to remain employed if he sought disability leave for mental impairment. He was fired in July.

On Monday, Toor was walking in the parking lot toward his car at Meadows condominiums, miles from the Ivy League campus, shortly before 8 a.m. when he was shot multiple times.

Wang was taken into custody on a traffic stop nearby after residents provided police with details about the suspect and his vehicle, police said.

Toor was a postdoctoral fellow at the Yale School of Medicine who was working with the infectious disease section of Yale-New Haven Hospital.

Yale Police Chief James Perrotti sent an e-mail to the university community - which was shaken in recent months by the killing of a graduate student in her lab building - saying Branford police told him the crime was not a random act and was unrelated to Yale.

Hersh Arora, a neighbor and family friend, said Toor's wife, Parneeta, had just waved goodbye to her husband and closed the door when she heard gunshots and ran outside. She saw her husband lying on the ground, saw a man with a gun and asked what he was doing.

The man started firing at her, so she hid behind a car, Arora said. A neighbor tried to perform CPR on Toor, Arora said.

The couple have a three-year old-son, and Parneeta is five months pregnant, Arora said.

"She can't even cry in front of the kid," Arora said. "She's trying to be brave."

Wang's lawsuit claims injuries resulting from discrimination based on race, national origin and disability, and accuses the hospital of retaliation against him for investigating, disclosing and opposing the discrimination.

Wang disputes evaluations by human resources staff at Kingsbrook that he had behavioral problems and anger issues, saying he received favorable evaluations.

"Additionally, during the time period when some of his supervisors and KJMC Human Resources began to falsely characterize Dr. Wang as mentally impaired and suffering from 'anger' issues, Dr. Wang scored well on the "interpersonal skills sections of his evaluations with no mention of emotional or anger-related problems," the lawsuit states.

Another doctor, Dr. Gealda Xavier, claimed Wang had yelled at her during a phone call. Wang responded by accusing the hospital of racism.

"Dr Xavier is not Chinese and Dr Wang had previously complained to his supervisors that she had treated him in a rude and abusive manner. Nothing was done to address Dr Wang's complaint. However, the committee sided with Dr Xavier, who is not Chinese, and inappropriately attributed the perceived problems with Dr Wang's behavior to unspecified 'family problems," the lawsuit states.

Father's message to Lalit Modi

2010-04-28T09:25:00.002+05:30

He's been suspended, but Lalit Modi is in a defiant mood. And thoughrelationships have been strained, he has the backing of his family to take the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) head-on.

His father KK Modi, owner of the Rs 3,500-crore Godfrey Philips India, says his son will emerge a winner.

KK Modi spoke to NDTV about family members being stakeholders in teams and what Lalit Modi might reveal.

Q: Are you backing him at this point and do you believe he will come out clear?
A: The entire family is backing him.
Q: How do you react to accusations of kickbacks, money-laundering and family members as stakeholders in teams?
A: We knew that from before. He needed money to be invested and so what if family members came forward?
Q: He has said he will reveal all? What does he have?
A: Maybe names of some who received some money. There was so much money made...
Q: The IPL Governing Council (GC) said he took decisions without consulting them. Is he being singled out?
A: Of course. There are decisions which need ratification. He will come out clean.
Q: What do you advise him?
A: Don't give up, don't resign and fight to the end. Go to the Supreme Court.

Lalit Modi's father's message is clear: Lalit Modi will not go down without a fight.

Andhra govt wants schools to drop fancy tags

2010-04-28T09:21:00.002+05:30

If it was the "International" tag that made you pick your children's school in Andhra Pradesh, please begin looking for more reasons to keep them there.

For the Andhra Pradesh government wants schools to have simple names and drop misleading tags like "International", "World", "Global" or even "Techno," which hold out the promise of global standards in schooleducation, but may not provide it.

Armed with the Right to Education Act, that frowns upon such names, the state government now wants names of schools to only indicate the level at which the school offers an education. The government's argument is that such names are only a ploy to charge higher fees.

The Andhra School Education Minister, M.Varaprasad, says, "They have to follow many norms but we find even ordinary schools calling themselves international schools.''

Parents flock to these schools looking for that international edge, but as educationist Isidore Philips points out, "A fancy title would mean your marketability increases, but has it translated into the school becoming really world class? These terms of world class, global, international, techno, concept all need a definition and I think to that extent, the government saying please do not use that is a step in the right direction.''

Corporate schools do not agree. They say the government should not harass schools with genuine international affiliations.

According to B Gavish Reddy, Director, Niraj International School: "The schools which are genuine, which are affiliating with foreign bodies, foreign universities and education institutions definitely must be permitted to use the word International.''

Such corporate schools are likely to go to court if the government insists that they drop their fancy tags.

Tigers safe in Kaziranga?

2010-04-28T09:19:00.001+05:30

Kaziranga World Heritage site may be one of the successful rhinoconservation stories and has the highest density of tigers in the country today but there seems to be enough reason to raise an alarm with poachers residing just outside the Park and unabated mining activity blocking animal corridors.

Recently Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh spoke about tigerconservation.

"Kaziranga was never associated with tigers till December 2007 when it was declared it as a Project Tiger Area. The numbers that seem to come from camera trap seems to suggest tiger population of anywhere between 75-100 in a total area of about 860 sq kms which is probably the highest density per sq kms in the country," said Environment Minister, Jairam Ramesh.

Ramesh added: "Kaziranga now claims to have the highest density of tigers in the country which is good as well bad news. It makes the Park very vulnerable with an already existing poaching network."

Fourteen rhinos have been killed in this Park in the last one year.

"It's too simplistic to say that they will go for one particular animal and not touch tigers. Last year we lost 10 tigers and this year we have lost 2," said Dr Rajesh Gopal Member Secretary, NTCA.

Animals particularly the rhino often stray from the Kaziranga National Park cross these channels of the Brahmaputra and come on the embankment but what's worrying is the significant number of poachers and country made weapons that are present in these villages.

"In many areas there is a determined effort to finish off the tiger population. It is not coincidental, it's not an accident, there is a deliberate conspiracy, there is a conjoining of real estate mafia, mining mafia," said Jairam.

Such is the state of affairs, at the Panbari reserve forest adjoining the Kaziranga and an important animal corridor, there are 123 stone quarries on this fringe and some of them have been given license by the Kaziranga Park authorities.

Kaziranga has a unique eco system and the tiger may be much safer here but with the park situated right on the international smuggling route, the pressure on wildlife will always be there.

Direct access to Headley soon: Indian Embassy

2010-04-28T09:17:00.002+05:30

India will get direct access to 26/11 conspirator David Headley soon, that's what America's Attorney General Eric Holder has told India's Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam at a meeting they had in Washington.

A statement released by the Indian Embassy in the United States says:

"Gopal Subramaniam along with the Ambassador of India to the United States, Meera Shankar met with the Attorney General of the United States, Eric Holder and other Department of Justice representatives, followed by detailed discussions. The two partners agreed to take suitable steps to bring about direct access by Indian authorities to David Headley as soon as possible.

The partnership between India and the United States recognizes the high priority to be accorded to each country's national security. Both countries recognized the need for the investigations to reach a fruitful and successful outcome."