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...