Monday, November 26, 2012

No proof of UFOs flying over India-China border: Antony

New Delhi: There is no conclusive proof of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) flying over the India-China border, but government is monitoring all developments in the neighbourhood which could have a bearing on national security, Defence Minister A K Antony today said. 

He gave the information in a written reply in the Lok Sabha to a question as to whether Army's Leh-based 14 Corps had reported about mysterious UFOs flying over the India-China border during the last three years. 

Assuring the House of the measures taken by government, Antony said, "Required measures have been initiated through development of infrastructure and operational capabilities to achieve desired levels of defence preparedness to safeguard the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of India." 

To a separate question on situation in Jammu and Kashmir, he said it has stabilised due to persistent anti-terrorist operations carried out by the government.  "The situation in J&K has stabilised due to the persistent proactive counter terrorist operations carried out by the government," he said. 

For return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants to the Valley, he said, "A comprehensive package of Rs 1618.14 crore was announced by Prime Minister in 2008... Government acts as facilitator for making all facilities available to migrants for their permanent rehabilitation in the Valley." 


Antony also provided details of civilians and terrorists killed in J&K during last three years. While 13 civilians were killed between 2009 and October 2012, 58 terrorist were gunned down during the corresponding period last year. The highest number of 245 terrorists were killed in 2009. 

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Sonakshi tries Kathakali during 'Dabangg 2' shoot

Mumbai, Nov 24 (IANS) After matching tough dance steps with ace choreographer Prabhudheva in "Oh My God!", actress Sonakshi Sinha recently challenged herself with some Kathakali steps on the set of "Dabangg 2".

The 25−year−old tried some steps of the classical dance form while shooting for the song "Dagabaaz re" from the movie.

"There is a sequence in the song where there are Kathakali dancers and when Sonakshi came to know about this, she got really excited! She is an actor who loves learning new things and, in fact, has even learnt some Kathakali and requested the dancers to teach her a few more steps," said a source.

Arbaaz Khan is making his directorial debut with "Dabangg 2", which stars his big brother Salman in the lead role. Sonakshi plays his wife.

The film, also starring Prakash Raj, is slated to release Dec 21.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Mumbai terror attacks: Ajmal Kasab hanged, Pakistan reacts cautiously


New Delhi: Even as news of 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab's hanging sparked reactions across India, the reaction in Pakistan - the land of Kasab's birth - was muted. Indian government admitted it had had trouble getting a response from Pakistan.

Minister of External Affairs Salman Khurshid said, "We had trouble even giving the note to Pakistan and had to fax."

In the only official statement Pakistan's Foreign office, said it had received and acknowledged India's intimation of Kasab's impending execution on Tuesday, adding, Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestation and is willing to cooperate with all countries to eliminate the scourge.

Pakistan's stony silence on Kasab is nothing new. For the past four years Islamabad has rejected all Kasab's requests for consular visits and had refused to accept the bodies of the other nine Mumbai attackers and Kasab's family has mysteriously disappeared from their Faridkot village.

The larger impact of Kasab's execution may be felt on the 26/11 trial itself as pressure on Pakistan builds to complete 26/11 trial of six handlers and to track the masterminds. This also ends debate on access to Kasab by Pakistan investigators and Pakistan may toughen stand on India's please for clemency for terror convict Sarabjeet Singh.

For now India hopes the message that has gone out not just to Pakistan, but to the world that there is little tolerance for terrorism here while establishing that even the most ruthless terrorists are given due process of law.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Indian Bond Girl Deepika launches RACE 2 trailer digitally


Deepika has introduced a new trend by being the first actor to launch the assets of her upcoming film digitally. She has released all the key assets from this action-packed sequel of RACE on twitter, the latest one being the theatrical trailer.


With 2.5 million twitter followers, Deepika is well versed with the digital space and is very popular among the youth.

Deepika launched the trailer of the RACE 2 after a weeklong countdown that generated quite a steer in the digital platforms. Deepika has released the first look of all the actors featuring in the film including her own poster.

Deepika looks absolutely stunning in her RACE 2 poster as she poses against the sunlit backdrop of Istanbul. Deepika has also been tagged as the 'Indian Bond girl' after her look in RACE 2 was unveiled.

Sources reveal that the twists and turns and the style quotient of RACE 2 is a notch higher which is very well evident in the trailer itself. Deepika will be seen doing hi-octane stunts in the film without a body double. Her director from the film, Abbas also stated that, "Deepika will easily be one of the hottest action babes in Bollywood"

Produced by Tips, the action thriller RACE 2, starring Saif Ali Khan, John Abraham, Deepika Padukone, Jacqueline Fernandez, Anil Kapoor and Ameesha Patel is scheduled to release 25th January, 2013.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Phone romance goes sour as 'boyfriend' turns out 67-yr-old

Kannur (Kerala): This was one 'love affair' that did not have a happy ending.
After professing love over a year over mobile phone, a 23-year-old engineering post-graduate had the shock of her life on seeing at their first meeting that her 'sweetheart' was a 67-year-old man.

The woman from Thiruvanathapuram had come the other day in search of the man she adored but broke down and fainted when she met him for the first time at the Kuthuparamaba police station, near here, police said.

Police said the woman had waited at the bus-stand for the man for long but he did not turn up. On seeing her roaming about, some local people informed police and she was brought to the station, police said.
On questioning her, police came to know about her quest and obtained the mobile phone number of the person she had been looking for eagerly.

They contacted the 'lover' and asked him to come to the police station immediately. When the " boyfriend" finally turned up, she was shocked to find a grey-haired man, police said.

The man, however, told police that he was speaking to her just for fun and had no other intention.
Police later contacted her parents and sent her back home.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Champions Trophy 2013: India vs Pakistan match sold out


Dubai: The first lot of tickets for the Champions Trophy India vs Pakistan clash at Edgbaston, England, June 15 next year was sold out in just three hours after windows opened.

The tickets went on sale Monday, and the 15-match tournament's first match was a complete sell-out eight months in advance, said an International Cricket Council (ICC) press release.

The 2013 edition of the Champions Trophy will be the last, the previous having been held in 2009 in South Africa.