Wave of Car Bombs Kills Dozens in Iraq

BAGHDAD — A deadly upsurge of violence in Iraq claimed more victims Monday when 15 car bombs killed at least 46 people and injured many more, according to security sources. 

Ten of the bombings took place in Baghdad, mainly in Shiite neighborhoods. Targets included a hospital, a restaurant and markets. At least 30 people were killed and more than 100 wounded, authorities said.

A charred car rests in Sadr City, a district in Baghdad. Ten car bombs exploded in Baghdad early Monday, mainly in Shiite neighborhoods.

Officials in the Iraqi capital tightened security in the aftermath of the latest blasts, fearing that more devices could yet be detonated. There were long lines at vehicle checkpoints in the capital as the security services searched cars for explosives. Since the start of Ramadan on July 10, coordinated bombings and other attacks have intensified. That has revived fears that Iraq could be returning to the levels of sectarian violence seen in the last decade when the country moved to the brink of civil war following the American-led invasion in 2003.

In Kut, southeast of Baghdad, two car bombs exploded near a bus station leaving 6 people dead and about 20 others injured, according to a medical source.

Two car bombs also detonated in Basra, in southern Iraq, killing at least 3 people near a market and wounding 14 others, a police source said. And in Muthanna Province, another car bomb exploded at a market in the city of Smawa, killing 6 people and injuring 19, according to a police source. Continue Reading...

Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom now up for pre-orders at Rs. 29,390

Samsung's official India online store has started taking pre-orders for the recently launched Galaxy S4 Zoom at Rs. 29,390.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom is a variant of company's flagship device, Galaxy S4, which puts the camera in focus. The device was launched earlier this month with another Galaxy S4 variant, the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini. Few days back the company started taking pre-orders for the Galaxy S4 mini through its online channel for Rs. 27,990.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom features a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED qHD display with a resolution of 540x960 pixels. It is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor coupled with 1.5GB of RAM. The highlight of the device is the 16-megapixel CMOS sensor with 10x optical zoom along with a Xenon Flash and Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS). There is a 1.9-megapixel front camera as well.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom includes a 2330mAh battery. It also packs in 8GB of internal storage which can be expanded up to 64GB via a microSD card. The device runs on the Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) with Samsung's TouchWiz UI on top. Connectivity options includes Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth and A-GPS.

Samsung's eStore is currently offering the device with introductory launch package that includes accessories like flip cover, lens or LCD replacement and entertainment pack among others.

The company is also giving EMI offers for 3months at Rs. 9,797 and 6 months at Rs. 4,898 for the Galaxy S4 Zoom. The site mentions that the expected availability of Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom is end of July.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom key specifications:

    4.3-inch Super AMOLED qHD touchscreen display.
    1.5GHz dual-core processor.
    1.5GB RAM.
    8GB internal storage expandable by up to 64GB via microSD card.
    16-megapixel rear camera with Xenon Flash, 10X Optical Zoom.
    1.9-megapixel front camera.
    Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth 4.0.
    2,330mAh battery.
    Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean).

BJP politics to blame for terror outfits like Indian Mujahideen: Congress

The Congress on Sunday blamed the Gujarat riots of 2002 for the creation of terror outfit Indian Mujahideen. The BJP slammed the remark as "reprehensible" and accused the Congress of playing the communal card for vote bank politics.

"Indian Mujahideen (IM) was formed after the Gujarat riots, says NIA in its chargesheet. Even now BJP and RSS will not desist from communal politics?" Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed said on Twitter.

The contents of the chargesheet, filed on July 17, were first reported by The Indian Express. It claimed that the IM was formed after the Babri Masjid demolition and the Gujarat riots. Continue Reading...

Mahendra Singh Dhoni Keeps His End Over Promise Against Sri Lanka

Cricket: Dhoni Blasts India to Tri-Nations Title

Port of Spain, Trinadad - This was not cricket; this was poker. MS Dhoni was too calm, too cool, too sly. He bluffed and bluffed. He raised the stakes even as wickets fell. He rode his luck, survived a close run-out chance, escaped two perilous mix-ups with Ishant Sharma, and closed it out.

Dhoni wasn't even supposed to play this match. And it was clear that he was struggling with injury through his innings. He declined some easy singles and didn't take some twos he would have normally harried through. He was up against the run rate. He was up against a sharp Rangana Herath, Lasith Malinga and Angelo Mathews. And he was up against pressure. He overcame them all.

There is plenty to say about Sri Lanka's batting, India's bowling, and India's top order. There is a lot to write about Rohit Sharma's innings. And there is much to talk about Herath. But let them be for now. Continue Reading...

Government approves construction of NCR transport corporation

NEW DELHI: To do development of three Regional Rapid Transit System passageways uniting Delhi with Panipat, Alwar and Meerut, the Union Cabinet on Thursday affirmed constitution of National Capital Region Transport Corporation Limited (NCRTC). The NCRTC might be structured under the Companies Act, 1956 with introductory seed capital of Rs 100 crore for outlining, advancing, actualizing, financing, working and keeping up Regional Rapid Transit framework (RRTS) in National Capital Region (NCR), an official proclamation discharged said. The passageways are being produced to furnish agreeable and quick travel to NCR towns and meet the high development in transport request, the articulation said. According to the proposal sanction by the bureau, the NCRTC may structure subsidiary associations for actualizing every hallway. The Centre and the state governments might commit similarly to the beginning seed capital of Rs 100. While the urban advancement and track services might give 22.5% of the measure, the National Capital Region Planning Board might give 5%.

Allahabad high court bans caste-based rallies in Uttar Pradesh

LUCKNOW: The Lucknow seat of Allahabad high court on Thursday stayed with instantaneous impact arouses dependent upon rank in Uttar Pradesh (UP). It likewise issued recognizes to focal and state governments, Election Commission and four major political gatherings -BJP, Congress, BSP and SP -in the state, wanting them to introduce their focus from perspective. The following date of listening to is on July 25. The request was passed by a division seat containing Justice Uma Nath Singh and Justice Mahendra Dayal on the general population investment case (PIL) of a neighborhood legal counselor Motilal Yadav, who has asked boycott on rank built revives with respect to grounds that they are against the spirit of the constitution which states that all station and groups are equivalent in the eyes of the law and there will be no segregation on rank and religious lines. The applicant additionally said that such standing based mobilizes make animosity around positions and advertise rank separation. The Centre, state government, ECI, Congress, BJP, SP and BSP have been made respondents in the PIL. In the interest of the state government, extra backer general Bulbul Godiyal showed up under the watchful eye of the court. The stay comes a day after Supreme Court in its milestone request decided that an open agent will stand disentitled when he is sentenced for two years or increasingly by a court. Essentially, the BSP as of late closed its first stage of Brahman assemblies in the state in which party arranged revitalizes to woo Brahmans in 38 Lok Sabha bodies electorate of the state. The rally in Lucknow was tended to by gathering head Mayawati. The BSP was likewise wanting to hold comparable revives for different stations and Muslims. The SP had additionally held meetings for Brahmans, Backward Classes and Dalits in most recent six months. The BJP and Congress are likewise holding rank and group based open gatherings and assembly.

Stardom brings pretense: Dia Mirza

She was a young person when she won the pined for Miss Asia Pacific title in 2000 and, since then, Dia Mirza has been grinning endlessly as a performer, social laborer and now, as a maker. However she is happy that she has had the capacity to sidestep the "affectation" which regularly accompanies stardom.

"Stardom now and again can carry a considerable measure of claim in your existence. I've perceived that a mess of individuals around you change, and that is frightening. I've tried to keep with it," Dia said in a meeting to IANS.

"It (stardom) has annoyed me. I will be unscrupulous in the event that I say it hasn't. Be that as it may it hasn't overpowered me or crushed me," included the 31-year-old, who fought relationship rumours, correlations and rivalry to contribute more than her fair share in the multi-billion dollar Indian film industry.

"I have given my shot to acting," she said, opening up about expanding her viewpoints inside filmdom through her motion picture generation flag Born Free Entertainment.

I gave a great 10 years to acting. Notwithstanding my viewpoints are unfolding and I'm investigating myself. I'm hopeful and content with my association.

"Film is my ardor, however I won't crush my self-regard by being a part of movies which I am not a part of," she included.

Dia made her Bollywood attack with "Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein". Her charming grin did considers for her, and she went onto emphasize in numerous movies like "Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge", "Tumsa Nahin Dekha -A Love Story", "Parineeta", "Dus" and "Lage Raho Munnabhai".

Be that as it may she can't match the prosperity of Lara Dutta and Priyanka Chopra, who stowed the Miss Universe and Miss World crowns individually in that year as Dia. She concurs, and says it is just her crowd's observation that has mattered to her.

"I've never been pulverized by the industry's discernment. I've dependably been propelled by the group of onlookers' recognition. Individuals cherish me, and nobody can change that. From where I came and how I began, I've got more than what I could have wanted. I have just appreciation."

"Be that as it may in the event that you contrast me and my counterparts, then possibly I didn't do numerous enormous movies, or I did enormous movies, and they didn't do well," said the performer.

Dia is just made a fuss over contending with herself.

"In the event that there's trepidation, you will never develop. At the time you are contending with other individuals, you have fear then after that you can never develop," she said.

She says film offers never quit going to her. Anyhow "nothing" was "electrifying" enough.

"There are such a variety of youthful young ladies who have come into the industry now who have been a part of auspicious movies. I suppose all the new and exceptional producers are looking to throws them. This could be greatly startling for a performing artist," she jested.

Anyhow she is courageous.

Dia accepts individuals will recollect that her for her diligent work, and says that she finds comfort in reveling in social work.

"The one thing which I have earned which neither man nor woman can take far from me is my diligent work. My social work gives me so much motivation. It is a great deal more than what my movies have given me," said Dia, who works with diverse organisations and foundations for social order's profit normally

Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan was today released from a suburban healing center where he experienced a mind surgery to evacuate a two-month-old lump.  

"I am fabulous," Hrithik said while posturing for the shutterbugs in the wake of being released from the Hinduja healing center this evening. The performer was worked upon final Sunday at care SurHinduja Healthgical in Khar for subdural hematoma (gathering of blood in the space between the external layer and center layers of the blanket of the cerebrum) as an aftereffect of head damage he had endured two months back while performing tricks for his upcoming film Bang". The shooting of Bang" was delayed accompanying the episode. The performer is said to have been prompted finish rest for no less than four weeks.

Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif holidaying in Ibiza

A few days back we reported that Karina Kaif is wanting to run for an occasion with lover Ranbir Kapoor. The couple were to join the 'yeh Jawani Hai Deewani' chief Ayan Mukerji, who is now on a long excursion. On the other hand, there were hypotheses if the performing artist might have the capacity to really make it. There were likewise reports from Katrina's quarters about her choc-o alliance work plan and individuals shut her dismissed the entire thing.

However as its been said, where there is a will, there is a way and the trio were spotted at a show in Ibiza. As of late, a fan has as of late tweeted a picture of Katrina with Ranbir and Ayan at a David Guetta demonstrate held on the Mediterranean Island. There were additionally reports that all was not well between the couple and they obviously had a battle at Arjun Kapoor's special day bash on June 26th. On the other hand, it appears the few has forgotten about the past.

A source told TOI, " Ranbir and Katrina had talked about their agendas and arranged it a week ahead of time."

Five days back, pictures had risen of the on-screen character entering the Mumbai airfield. In any case since it was a period when generally parts of the film business were setting cruises for a recompense capacity at Macau, it was assumed that Katrina was likewise an one of the guys. In any case, it raised a couple of eyebrows when she can't be spotted on celebrity central. It appears the performing artist bunked all the style and glitz to invest some quality time with Ranbir.

BlackBerry Chief Admits Release of New Phones in U.S. Was Flawed

OTTAWA — Thorsten Heins, the president and chief executive of BlackBerry, acknowledged on Tuesday that the company’s new line of phones, which he originally promoted as something that would revive its flagging brand, had a flawed release in the United States. 

But Mr. Heins, speaking at the company’s annual meeting, told investors BlackBerry just needed more time for a turnaround — and he again sought their patience.

Not everyone was biting. One shareholder, referring to one of the new phones, the BlackBerry Z10, told Mr. Heins: “My sense is that the rollout of the Z10 was a disaster.”

“Were we perfect at the launch?” Mr. Heins responded. “Probably not. Was it a disaster? I don’t think so.”

After more than two years of development, the new phones and their new operating system were supposed to give BlackBerry smartphones capabilities similar to those of phones made by Apple and Samsung, the dominant forces in the market.

But hopes have vanished that the new phones would swiftly increase market share in the United States — now just 0.9 percent, according to a survey from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech. Continue Reading...

Why India's 2013 Champions Trophy win is better than 2011 World Cup

The No 1-ranked One-Day International (ODI) team in the world, India, remained unbeaten throughout the ICC Champions Trophy 2013, thereby backing up their 2011 World Cup win with another ODI trophy. Jaideep Vaidya reasons as to why this win appears better and more satisfying than the one two years ago.

Like a student hopping mad after topping the class in an examination, the usually constrained India captain MS Dhoni could not resist the urge to bounce up and down in glee when James Tredwell failed to score a six off the final ball of the ICC Champions Trophy 2013. Two years ago in Mumbai, on a humid April evening, Dhoni had himself deposited the ball over wide long-on for half a dozen off what turned out to be the last ball of the match to win India their first ODI World Cup after 28 years. Even then, his emotions were in check and provided no comparison whatsoever to the ones seen recently at Edgbaston on an overcast June evening. The Champions Trophy is far from being the Holy Grail of cricket, even though this was the last edition of the tournament. So, what could have possibly delighted Indian cricket's 'Iceman' so much as to warrant such an extravagant, by his standards, celebration?

Perhaps it was the manner in which India won the final — overturning a sure-shot defeat, after leaving England with a meagre 130 to chase in 20 overs and then watching them coast along to 110 for four, only to spark an inconceivable collapse. India took four wickets in the space of seven balls, even as England fell short by five runs in the end to cap a spectacular choke. Comparatively, the World Cup final was a damp squib where India chased down 275 with 10 deliveries to spare, and were never really out of the game. There, Dhoni had scored an unbeaten 91 and had taken his team home. Here, he had a duck to his name after India batted first and had to rely on his bowlers and his acumen as a captain to mastermind a way through. Given how he reacted, perhaps this was more satisfying.

Perhaps it was also because of the troubles the Indian team had left home prior to the tournament. A vicious spot-fixing saga was usurping Indian cricket like a giant whirlpool just as Dhoni and his men prepared to set sail for England. The captain of the ship chose to keep his crew away from the eye of the storm and single-handedly steered the vessel through all the allegations with a serene look on his face, even as the spiteful, headline-hungry media sharks looked to dent and disfigure it. The clash of the eight best ODI teams in the world had taken a backseat. It seemed no one back home really cared how India would fare in the tournament; it seemed as if everyone was just waiting for the team to crash out at the earliest so that they could all jump on the team like a pack of hungry, ferocious wolves. Continue Reading...

Deadly Fire in China Poultry Plant as the BBC's Damien Grammaticas reports!!!

Footage from the scene shows the charred exterior of the poultry plant

China: A fire at a poultry processing plant in China has killed at least 119 people, officials say.

The fire broke out at a slaughterhouse in Dehui in Jilin province early on Monday.

Accounts speak of explosions prior to the fire, which caused panic and a crush of workers trying to escape. Some exits were said to be locked.

The fire is now said to have been mostly put out and bodies are being recovered.

Sources including the provincial fire department suggest there may have been an ammonia leak which either caused the fire or made fighting the blaze more hazardous.

Other reports speak of an electrical fault.

It is China's deadliest fire since 2000, when 309 people died in a blaze in a dance hall in Luoyang, in Henan province.

About 100 workers had managed to escape from the Baoyuan plant, Xinhua said, adding that the "complicated interior structure" of the building and narrow exits had made rescue work more difficult.

It said the plant's front gate was locked when the blaze began.

The number of workers trapped inside the plant has yet to be confirmed, the agency added, and it is not clear how many workers have been accounted for. An unnamed government official told AFP news agency he expected the death toll to rise.

Dozens of injured have been sent to hospital, but the severity of their injuries remains unclear.

Pictures from the scene showed the roof mostly burned away to reveal blackened, twisted girders.

The provincial government said it sent more than 500 firefighters and at least 270 doctors and nurses to the scene, evacuating an area nearby that is home to 3,000 people as a precaution, reported Reuters news agency. Continue Reading...

Palestinian youths shot to death as West Bank seethes

Palestine, April 04 - 2013 - Israeli troops have shot dead two Palestinian youths in the occupied West Bank, medical officials said on Thursday, as confrontations entered a third day following the death of a prisoner in an Israeli jail.

The Israeli army said troops fired on Palestinians who threw fire bombs after dark on Wednesday at a guard post near Tulkarm in the northern West Bank. One body was swiftly recovered and a second was found in the early hours of Thursday.

Palestinian officials named the dead men as Amer Nassar, 17, and Naji Belbisi, 18. The army said it was investigating the incident, which left at least one other Palestinian wounded.

Tensions have risen rapidly in the West Bank and Gaza Strip following the death from cancer on Tuesday of Maysara Abu Hamdeya, 64, who was serving a life sentence in an Israeli jail.

Palestinians accuse Israel of withholding care from the man and failing to release him after diagnosing that his illness was terminal. Israel says it followed normal procedures.

Abu Hamdeya, who was serving a life term for a planned attack on a Jerusalem cafe in 2002, is due to be buried in Hebron later on Thursday and the army is braced for fresh violence. The funerals of Nassar and Belbisi are also expected later in the day.

The upsurge in violence comes just days before U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is scheduled to visit Jerusalem and Ramallah in hope of seeing progress towards reviving peace negotiations that broke down in 2010. Continue Reading...

Nelson Mandela health: Second day in S Africa hospital

South African President Jacob Zuma: "We want Madiba (Mr Mandela) to be with us for a long time"

South Africa: Nelson Mandela is spending his second full day in hospital where he is said to be responding to treatment for a recurrent lung infection.

The 94-year-old, who spent 18 days in hospital in December, was admitted to hospital before midnight on Wednesday.

President Zuma told the BBC the former leader was doing "very well" so far and people "must not panic".

A spokesman for the South African president said on Friday that there was no official update on his condition.

Mac Maharaj had said on Thursday that the former president was "responding positively" to treatment.

US President Barack Obama said he was "deeply concerned with Nelson Mandela's health", adding that "we will be keeping him in our thoughts and prayers". Continue Reading...

INDIA Take 1-0 Lead with Eight-Wicket Score

India Clinch First Test by Eight Wickets
India clinched the first cricket Test against Australia with a comfortable eight-wicket victory to take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series in Chennai On Tuesday (February 26) with their spinners taking all the 20 wickets for only the third time in their Test history. The Indians took about 25 minutes in the morning to finally bring an end to the stubborn last wicket partnership between Moises Hendriques (81 not out) and Nathan Lyon (11) as Australia folded up for 241 in their second innings, leaving the hosts a small victory target of 50. 

The hosts lost both their openers Murali Vijay (6) and Virender Sehwag (19) before overhauling the target with more than two full sessions to spare. Cheteshwar Pujara brought about the winning run off Nathan Lyon to trigger off scenes of celebrations in the galleries and the Indian dressing room as the players congratulated and hugged each other. It was a commendable show by the Indians, who have been under pressure of late following a series of indifferent performances in recent times, as they dominated the game right through at the M A Chidambaram stadium where the conditions suited the home team. 

While captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni expectedly got the man-of-the-match award for his game-changing knock of 224, off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin scalped 12 wickets in the match to also play a stellar role. The margin of victory could have been bigger had the Indians managed to get rid of the last wicket pair yesterday itself and had they not lost both their openers despite chasing a small total. The two teams will now travel to Hyderabad for the second Test be played at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium from March 2 to 6. 

This was the third time that Indian spinners managed to take all the 20 wickets in a match. The first time that Indian spinners bagged all the 20 wickets was at this same venue against England in 1972-73 while the second such instance was against New Zealand in Auckland in 1975-76. Resuming at the overnight score of 232 for nine, Australia could add just nine runs to their tally much to the relief of the Indians who had a frustrating time trying to dismiss the last-wicket pair. 

It took the Indians just nine overs this morning to put an end to Australia's resistance when Ravindra Jadeja broke the agonisingly long last-wicket partnership between Henriques and Lyon. Lyon, who showed a lot of grit and temperament to hang on, was dismissed by left-arm spinner Jadeja, caught by Murali Vijay at short-leg. Henriques followed up his first innings half century with another gutsy unbeaten 81 and together with Lyon added 66 runs for the final wicket to take the match into the fifth and final day and prevent India from recording an innings victory. 

Chasing the paltry 50-run target, India suffered two early blows in the form of openers Sehwag and Vijay, whose flop show with the bat continued. The opening duo of Sehwag and Vijay put on 16 runs before the former was the first one to depart. Vijay started his innings with a bang, smacking Lyon straight over his head for a six, his only scoring shot of the innings. But that was all the local boy could manage in the innings as he was caught by Henriques at mid-off off James Patinson when he tried to go a big drive in the next over.