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Five killed, three injured in explosion in Meerut
Meerut (UP), Nov 8 (PTI) Five persons were killed and three others injured today when a mortar shell exploded in a waste dump in Bengali Basti area here, police said ruling it out as a terrorist act.
"Some ragpickers found an army mortar shell in the scrap and were fiddling with it when it exploded," Senior Superintendent of Police Raghuveer Lal said.
The five killed have been have been identified Omar Dutt, 10, Nizamul Hasan, 12, Sudhiyan, 18, Razakh Ali, 16, and 17-year-old Musharraf.
Three other injured were admitted to hospital, he said.
Police have seized other shells from the site located in a slum where mostly Bangladeshi immigrants are residing.
Lal said it was an "accident" and not related to any terror activities.
Police will, however, investigate as to how the mortar shells landed in a garbage heap, officials said. PTI
Chandrayaan-I placed in lunar orbit
Bangalore, Nov.8 (PTI) India's maiden moon mission --Chandrayaan-I--today entered the tricky lunar orbit after scientists successfully carried out a most critical manaoeuvre, 18 days after it was fired into outer space.
Space scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) carried out the lunar orbit insertion by firing the liquid engines on board the spacecraft for 817 seconds.
"The lunar orbit insertion (LOI) began at 4:50 p.M. And lasted for 817 seconds (14 minutes)," ISRO spokesperson S Satish told PTI. The satellite has been placed in a 7,502 km X 500 km elliptical orbit around the moon, he said.
Heaving a sigh of relief, ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair said today's operation was the "most critical moment" in the mission.
"We have done it," a visbly happy Nair declared.
"For the last 20 minutes, almost all our hearts were at a standStill," Nair said from a ground centre near Bangalore.
The spacecraft, launched on October 22, had been placed in the Lunar Transfer Trajectory on November four.
The mission, orbiting the earth at a distance of 3,86,000 km, was commandeered from ISRO's Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) at Peenya on the outskirts of the city with aid from the Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN) at Byalalu.
Chandrayaan-I would now be lowered gradually and placed in a circular orbit at a distance of 100 km from the lunar surface. PTI
India gain slight upper hand in final Test
S S Ramaswamy
Nagpur, Nov 8 (PTI) India eked out a vital 86-run first innings lead to gain a slight upper hand in the fourth and final cricket Test against an unsually subdued Australia who scored at an agonisingly slow pace here today.
Responding to India's first innings total of 441, the Australians squandered the advantange of a solid start to lose wickets at periodic intervals after the lunch break and fold up for 355 just a few minutes before stumps on an absorbing third day.
Opener Simon Katich (102) scored his third century since returning to the national team and his fifth overall to lay the foundation for his team alongwith Michael Hussey (90) but their dismissals in quick succession opened up the floodgates.
The visitors, who were placed at a comfortable 255 for three at one stage, slipped to a precarious 266 for six before recovering to some extent mainly due to the efforts of Brad Haddin (28) and Cameron White (46).
India were yet to open their account in the second innings with Virender Sehwag safely negotiating Mitchell Johnson's only over before close of play.
The Aussies were inexplicably defensive in their approach and allowed the hosts to create pressure by drying up the run flow on a track which has shown gradual signs of deterioration.
The tourists could add just 166 runs to their overnight tally, an uncharacteristically slow run rate of less than 2.5 runs from the champion team which is desperate to win the Test and level the series 1-1. PTI
Lee suffering from dehydration, given drips
Nagpur, Nov 8 (PTI) Depleted Australian bowling attack found itself in a spot of bother after pace spearhead Brett Lee was put on drips due to dehydration forcing him to bat at number eleven instead of his normal position in their first innings on the third day of the fourth and final Test against India here today.
The Australian team management informed that Lee did not come out to bat in his normal position as he was on drips following dehydration.
"As you all know Brett Lee suffered a virus infection two days before the commencement of the match. He was off the field during India's first innings as he was ill. At the start of the Australian innings, he was dehydrated and was put on drips," said media manager Philip Pope.
Lee, who bowled only 16 overs in three spells when India made 441 in the first innings, batted at number eleven today and remained not out on 1.
However, the visitors are hoping that Lee, who turned 32 today and needs four wickets to join the elite 300-wicket club, would be able to bowl tomorrow when India resume their second innings at 0 for no loss after taking a lead of 86 runs in the first essay.
"Hopefully he will bowl tomorrow. He had the day off pretty much today. He is looking a bit brighter today than he was yesterday when he came off the field. He wasn't feeling very good at all. He is rested up and we reckon he will be ready," said Australia's century-maker in the first innings Simon Katich after the day's play. PTI
Flintoff counting on past experience to do well in India
Mumbai, Nov 8 (PTI) Fit and raring to go after missing nearly a year of international cricket due to injuries, England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff today said he is counting on his past experience of playing in India to help his team upstage Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side in the seven-match ODI series starting November 14.
"I will be trying to pass on whatever I know and help other people in the team with my experience. The important thing is for everyone to enjoy the Indian culture while they are here," Flintoff said.
The lanky all-rounder, who was out for about a year due to a nagging ankle injury before returning to international cricket this year, said the big test for the English team would be the Indian conditions and adapting to them.
"I have been trying to get lighter on my feet while batting," Flintoff said.
Denying there would be any extra pressure on him to perform during the seven ODI series and two Tests, he said, "When I go out to bat I just want to score runs." "Playing in India was always an interesting as people were more passionate about the game and the stadiums were packed with spectators," Flintoff said.
"I still remember walking out at Eden Gardens with a crowd of about 70,000 spectators cheering," he said.
Flintoff said it was regrettable that Sachin Tendulkar would be absent for the first three ODIs and only a few of the senior players like Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble would be there in the upcoming tour.
"I enjoy playing against Sachin Tendulkar and have had the privilege of playing against him on a few occasions. However this time there are some new faces like (Gautam) Gambhir who are doing well," he said. PTI
Obama speaks to allies over phone
Chicago, Nov 8 (PTI) US President-elect Barack Obama spoke to leaders of six US allies, including Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Saudi King Abdullah, a day after he discussed the pressing issues of economy and climate change with nine world leaders while returning their congratulatory calls.
The 47-year-old Democrat briefly spoke to Zardari, King Abdullah, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi and Poland's President Lech Kaczynski and its Prime Minister Donald Tusk yesterday over telephone, thanking them for their congratulatory messages.
The calls generally lasted from five to ten minutes and were mainly introductory in nature, an Obama aide was quoted as saying by 'The Washington Post'.
In Islamabad, Pakistan's official news agency APP reported that Obama pledged his full support to democracy in the country during his telephonic talks with Zardari and hoped the two countries would work together to expand their ties.
During his campaign for the White House, the President-elect had adopted a tough line on Pakistan and made it clear that he would launch military operations against terrorists in that country if the Pakistan government did not do so. PTI
Obama speaks to Zardari, vows support for democracy in Pak
Islamabad, Nov 8 (PTI) US President-elect Barack Obama has pledged his full support to democracy in Pakistan and hoped the two countries would continue to work together to further enhance the bilateral ties.
Obama, the first Afro-American to be elected to the top post in the US, spoke to Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari over telephone last night, the official APP news agency reported.
During the conversation, he hoped the two countries would continue to work together to expand their bilateral relations.
He said the incoming US administration favoured friendly relations with Pakistan and wanted to see the democratic leadership strengthen the country.
Zardari congratulated Obama on his success in the November 4 election and said Pakistan and the US are allies and would maintain their close relationship.
Zardari also expressed the hope that bilateral ties would be long-term and broad-based. PTI
Patil concludes four-day Bhutan visit
Subhashis Mittra
Paro (Bhutan), Nov 8 (PTI) President Pratibha Patil today wrapped up on a positive note her four-day visit to Bhutan, where she attended the coronation of the world's youngest monarch Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wanchuck, giving a fresh momentum to close bilateral ties.
Patil, who left for New Delhi, said the Indo-Bhutan relations have reached a "new high" this year and hoped the ties between the world's largest and newest democracies would become "deeper and more fruitful" in future.
In a special gesture, Bhutan's 4th King Jigme Singye Wangchuck escorted the President to the VVIP aircraft at the airport here and had a brief chat with her inside the plane.
The King, the new monarch's father, told the President that he found her to be "such a wonderful person".
President Patil appreciated his concept of Gross National Happiness for the Himalayan state and greeted him for his birthday on November 11.
During her stay in Bhutan, Patil along with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi attended the coronation ceremony of the Himalayan nation's fifth King, 28-year old Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, sister Priyanka and her husband Robert Vadra were also present on the occasion.
President Patil was seen off at her Thimpu hotel by the Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigme Y Thinley when she left for Paro airport, 60 kms from the capital of the Himalayan nation.
The last high-level visit to Bhutan was made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in May after Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) party leader Thinley was elected to head the first democratically elected government. PTI
Obama promises to act swiftly on economic crisis
Chicago, Nov 8 (PTI) Elected in the midst of the biggest economic crisis confronting the US in decades, Barack Obama today vowed to act swiftly to ease it by focusing on a stimulus package involving job creation and giving tax reliefs.
Two days after his landslide win in the elections, President-elect Obama addressed his first press conference that was largely confined to the immediate economic crisis that has global impact and domestic issues barring a reference to the controversial nuclear programme of Iran.
The 47-year-old Democrat from Illinois, the first Afro-American to be voted to the White House, said his first priority would be to pass "a stimulus package" if it is not adopted before his inauguration on January 20.
"We are facing the greatest economic challenge of our lifetime and we're going to have to act swiftly to resolve it," he said.
"Immediately after I become President, I will confront this economic crisis head on by taking all necessary steps to ease the credit crisis, help hard-working families and restore growth and prosperity."PTI
Two more banks shutdown by regulators in US
New York, Nov 8 (PTI) Regulators have closed two more US banks, taking the total number of bank failure this year to 19.
Texas based Prosperity Bank agreed to assume the USD 3.7 billion in deposit held by the failed Houston based Franklin Bank and purchase USD 850 million in assets, leaving the Federal Deposit Insurance Crop to dispose off remaining USD 4.25 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The other bank, Los Angeles based Security Pacific Bank' USD 450 million deposits were assumed by Los Angeles based Pacific Western Bank. The cost to insurance fund is estimated at USD 210 million, the paper said. PTI
India, Pak to mount joint defence on basmati rice
Islamabad, Nov 8 (PTI) India and Pakistan today decided to mount a joint defence to prevent the unauthorised use of basmati rice, a common heritage of the two countries.
At the conclusion of two-day talks here on registering the "Geographical Indication" (GI) of basmati rice in the US and Europe to prevent the product from being copied by other countries, the two sides said they had ironed out a "number of differences".
"The talks were aimed at arriving at an agreed definition of basmati rice, which is a common heritage. Both sides shared information on standards and on delimitation of basmati growing areas," said an official statement issued by the Pakistan government.
"It was also agreed to share information on third party infringement and to mount a joint defence to (prevent) the unauthorised use of basmati," it said.
The two sides "hoped to achieve further uniformity of views" in the next round of talks of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on registering basmati rice, which will be held in New Delhi in the first quarter of next year.
Dinesh Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce, headed the Indian team while the Pakistani delegation was led by Joint Secretary (Exports) Azhar Ali Chaudhri of the commerce ministry.
This was the second meeting of the JWG. The group first met in New Delhi in April. PTI
Diwali releases brings cheer at box office
Mumbai, Nov 7 (PTI) There were Diwali cheers for Bollywood this year with 'Golmaal Returns' and 'Fashion' raking in the moolah at the box office.
Though the excitement and curiosity was much less compared to last year, when big-budgeted movies 'Om Shanti Om' and 'Saawariya' were released, the successes brought respite to the industry which was going through a dull phase following poor box office response to big budgeted movies like 'Drona' , 'Karzzz' and 'Roadside Romeo' just before the festive season, trade sources said.
Sources said that 'Golmaal Returns' earned Rs 72 crore gross in the opening week worldwide, while 'Fashion' generated more than Rs 33 crore worldwide.
Both films were released on Wednesday, unlike the customary Fridays, last week to cash in on the Diwali-mania.
'Golmaal Returns', produced by Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd and directed by Rohit Shetty, is a sequel to 'Golmaal' which was one of the biggest grosser of 2006.
Talking about the film, Shetty said that the the box office response to "Golmaal Returns" had been bigger than the original film.
'Golmaal Returns' ran to packed houses for three days, he said. "'Chitra' theatre in central Mumbai beat all records for the past nine years for the opening week and was booked houseful in advance for the second week as well," Shetty said.
Exhibitors and distributors are thrilled with the film's response not just in the Mumbai circuit but all over India too, he added. PTI
With treaty, more films to be shot in London:Indian filmmakers
New Delhi, Nov 7 (PTI) With easy access to tax breaks, fresh funding sources and logistical support, thanks to a new co-production treaty with the British government, more and more Bollywood films will now be made in London, feel Indian filmmakers.
Films made under the UK-Indian co-production treaty will benefit from possible funding from the UK Film Council, support to help them sell their films at international festivals and increased access to EU markets and TV sales.
"This treaty will surely motivate many Indian producers to shoot in London. In the last six months many filmmakers have gone there. Under the pact, we have to take the star cast only with us and rest of the support will be provided by the UK government. Its a great idea to build a long-term relationship between two great countries," says legendary filmmaker K C Bokadia.
Indian and British filmmakers are expected to co- produce 10 new movies over the next two years as a bilateral film treaty providing jobs, entertainment and cultural benefits to two of the world's largest cinema-going nations.
Vipul Shah, whose film 'London Dreams' is the first one such film made under the treaty, says now more films will be made in London for the Indian market.
"There is already huge interest in Indian films in the UK and it is growing. Record numbers of Bollywood films have been released in the UK over the last few years. Working with crews in their own cities is a great thing. They know the systems, how the shoots function in that particular city, how to get permissions, how to move things. It's always very important," says Shah, whose last film 'Namaste London' was shot in UK. PTI
One year later, baby born with 8 limbs in TV film
New Delhi, Nov 6 (PTI) Lakshmi Tatma, born exactly a year ago as a medical anomaly with four hands and feet in a remote town of Bihar, now stands, talks, runs and giggles like any other toddler her age.
The story of Lakshmi's birth, her parent's dilemma, the reactions of global media and local villagers who regarded her as the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi because she was born on Diwali day, and the complicated surgery she underwent to remove the extra pair of limbs is scheduled to be telecast on Discovery Channel tomorrow, October 8.
Lakshmi was born a parasitic twin with two bodies united at the pelvis. Only one of the twins had a head. Two pairs of arms and legs had formed at either end of the two adjoining torsos, creating a child with eight limbs.
After exactly one year Sharan Patil the doctor who led the operating team says, "Everything is fine now. It has been a mathematically perfect operation.
There has been no setbacks yet and Lakshmi has begun to walk independently. All investigations and from all points of view she has been found to be functioning normally." A team from Discovery accompanied Patil right from the beginning when the doctor, who is Chief Orthopedic surgeon at Sparsh Hospital, Bangalore heard about the case and offered his services for free. It filmed almost everything including the 27-hour long operation that was attempted for the first time in India.
"Cases like Lakshmi are extremely rare. Medical literature point out that there have been 3 or 4 cases like her, two in the US and one in Europe which were successfully operated and one case in London over 20 years ago where the lady survived and went on to live a near normal life. Of course there are many attempts that do not get published," says Patil. PTI
Book: Of Gandhi, spirituality and sexuality
New Delhi, Nov 6 (PTI) To Mahatma Gandhi the greatest obstacle in his spiritual striving was the promptings of his sexuality, says psychoanalyst Sudhir Kakar.
"The manner in which he conceived the struggle and the weapons he chose to employ in a lifelong conflict with the god of desire have earned him the derision of many, especially in the West, who have discerned crankishness, if not worse, in his ideas that relate to sexuality," writes Kakar in "Mad And Divine: Spirit And Psyche In The Modern World".
"For an explanation of his failure to influence people and the course of events, Gandhi would characteristically probe for shortcomings in his sexual abstinence, seeking to determine whether Kama, the god of desire, has perhaps triumphed in some obscure recess of his mind, depriving him of his spiritual powers," the book, published by Penguin, says.
According to the author, in the midst of widespread political turmoil and religious frenzy, Gandhi wrote a series of five articles on celibacy in his weekly newspaper.
"But more striking than his public evidence of his preoccupation were his private experiments wherein the aged Mahatma sought to reassure himself on the strength of his celibacy by having close women associates (his 19-year-old granddaughter among them) share his bed and try to ascertain in the morning whether any trace of sexual feeling had been evoked, either in himself or in his companions.
"In spite of criticism by his co-workers, Gandhi stubbornly defended these experiments which he regarded as exercises in self-purification and tests of his celibacy and insisted that they be public even if they met general condemnation from his close associates." Besides the contemplative and ecstatic spiritual traditions, Gandhi was a pioneer of a new spirituality, Kakar writes. PTI
Daniel Craig - Bond actor and now Executive Producer
New Delhi, Nov 6 (PTI) Actor Daniel Craig is keeping his fingers crossed as two major releases starring him in lead roles are scheduled for simultaneous release tomorrow.
Apart from playing 007, the legendary spy in Bond movie 'Quantum of Solace,' Craig also stars as an actor in British drama 'Flashbacks of a Fool (FOF),' which has been written for him and is also Craig's debut as an Executive Producer. Both films have entirely different themes.
Ahead of the film's release here Craig says, "Yes this is my first foray into producing. It's a gentle way in and I've been very closely connected to the project, which is the way I like to work. My heart has to be in my work, or it doesn't make a great deal of sense to me." Flashbacks... Marks also the feature debut of writer- director Baillie Walsh who says he wrote the script only for Craig. Says Walsh, "Actually, I wrote the script for Daniel Craig, who is my friend. We have gone on a creative adventure together and it has been so exciting".
The plot is about a 40 plus Hollywood actor whose hedonistic lifestyle of sex and drugs leads him to a direction less life. Only when confronted by tragedy is he forced to face up to the ghosts of his past. Various events in the flashback, set in 1970's England lay the foundations for the Hollywood dream he goes on to experience including his budding sexuality, his boyhood camaraderie, the untoward advances of a voluptuous older woman, and his teenage actions which lead to unforeseen, tragic consequences.
"The essence of the film has to do with getting yourself together, realising the value of what you've got, understanding who you are, where you've come from and learning to accept yourself and your past," explains Daniel Craig in a statement. PTI
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