Mumbai, July 12 (ANI): Having already given many hit movies, Bollywood actor Katrina Kaif is ecstatic over the success of her latest movie ‘New York’.

The film is based on the 9/11 Twin Towers attacks and it stars well-known actors like John Abraham, Katrina Kaif, and Irrfan Khan in the lead.
“New York was really one of the most special films for me. It is an amazing story and for me it was such a connected film. I really wanted to do the film to do well. I am so happy that it did. Also for director Mr. Kabir Khan; he is really one of the nicest people I know and I really wanted to work for him and I think we all are really happy that it worked….,” said Kaif on the occasion of launch of a jewellery range on Saturday.

Directed by Kabir Khan, ‘New York’ is made on a budget 4.6 million dollars and it revolves round the saga of three friends who live in the city before, during and after the 9/11 attacks.

“New York” puts the spotlight on that aspect of prejudice through the story of Samir (one of the three friends), an American of Indian origin who turns to terrorism after he is picked up by the FBI and brutally tortured for months only because he took some photographs of the twin towers for a school project.

Khan said that while researching for the film he discovered ‘a huge volume of prejudice’ and how at least 1,200 people of different nationalities were detained on the ‘basis of suspicion alone’ after the attack. (ANI)

By admin on July 1st, 2009 31 views

New Delhi, July 1 (ANI): The Government on Wednesday said it would award six shipping projects worth 3,319.14 crore rupees in next 100 days.

These would be developed on the public-private-partnership (PPP) mode.

Minister for Shipping G K Vasan, unveiling agenda of his Ministry in the national capital, said that these projects were expected to add capacity of 31.23 million tones.

The proposed projects include plans for development of a deep draught iron ore berth and a coal berth of capacity 10 million tones. (ANI)

Srinagar, May 9 (ANI): At least three militants have been killed in two separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.

In Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district, a top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander and his local militant associate have been killed in a fierce gun-battle with security forces early on Saturday.

LeT’s self-styled divisional commander Abu Sumama, resident of Pakistan, and his local aide Barkat Ali alias Yasir were killed by the counter-insurgency forces in Dhar Dashnan hills near Doda town early this morning.

A combing and search operation was launched by security forces in the area following specific information about the presence of militants, an official spokesman said.

”Contact with the militants, who were holed up in an isolated dhoke (cattle shed), was established at about 0100 hrs,” he added.

One AK rifle and a pistol were recovered from the site of operation.

Encounter of Sumama, who was active in the area for the past four to five years, is said to be a big blow to the LeT in Doda.

According to the spokesman, one army jawan also sustained wounds in the gun-battle.

In Ganderbal district, a militant has been killed in an encounter with security forces on Saturday, army sources said.

On Saturday morning security forces sealed Kangan area that is 40 kilometers from Srinagar.

As the troops zeroed in at a particular house, where the militants were hiding, the ultras opened fire at the forces and in the ensuing gunbattle a militant was killed.

The operation was still in progress when reports last came in, the sources said. (ANI)

New Delhi, May 9 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday alleged and criticised Congress party for influencing the Election Commission office to send a team to Bihar to discuss the prospects of re-polls in six constituencies of the State.

The Election Commission on Friday decided to send teams to Bihar to look into complaints of poll irregularities received during the Lok Sabha elections.

After meeting the Chief Election Commission in the national capital today, Senior BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra told media that in the history of independent India no re-poll had ever taken place after 25 days of Polls. If it happens, it would actually hamper the fairness of Indian democratic elections.

Malhotra termed such a consideration of re-polling as an instance of the Election Commission being influenced by the ruling party. He alleged that Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad and member of the UPA combine was feeling insecure about his political position in Bihar and hence the team has been sent to Bihar.

“The team was sent because of Lalu Prasad pressurising the Congress, as he feels he would be losing on two seats. Lalu did not attend the Cabinet meeting yesterday also. We said that if re-poll is to take place, it should have been two to three days later after polling but it hasn’t even happened after 25 days. No such committee (team to visit the state) was made in the past. If re-poll happens, then in future there wouldn’t be fair elections and it is of serious concern to us,” Malhotra said.

Lalu Prasad had recently alleged electoral malpractices in Bihar by his rival Rajiv Pratap Rudy of the BJP and the Nitish Kumar-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) state government of Bihar.

The Election Commission teams would visit Saran Lok Sabha constituency,from where Lalu Prasad contested and Jehanabad, Aurangabad, Jamui, Maharajganj, Munger and Gaya. (ANI)

Melbourne, May 9 (ANI): When an Aussie jury found a man not guilty of rape after “sex sleep” was used as defence, the Northern Territory has decided to pass new laws.

Leonard Andrew Spencer was acquitted last May of having gotten into his 21-year-old guest’s bed at his home at Nhulunbuy, northeast Arnhem Land, in the early morning of June 2007.

Spencer, who claimed he had no recollection of the event, was accused of gross indecency and sexual intercourse without consent.

However, his lawyer argued that he was asleep at the time and depressed over his marriage break-up.

Towards the end of the trial, the defence called on psychiatrist Lester Walton who told the jury that Spencer might have suffered from the condition “sex sleep”.

The incident has prompted NT Parliament to pass laws that prohibit lawyers from calling expert witnesses without prior notice, and NT Attorney-General Delia Lawrie has said that the legislation would make Supreme Court trials “fairer and more efficient”.

“During the so-called “sexsomnia” case the defence called on an expert witness late in the trial and it can be argued that the prosecution was unable to prove its case,” the Courier Mail quoted Lawrie as saying.

“(They) didn’t have enough time to adequately challenge the expert’s testimony…,” she said.

“The Henderson government wants Supreme Court jury trials to be as fair as possible to allparties concerned, and that’s why we have introduced this legislation,” she added.

Lawrie said that the NT’s Criminal Code Amendment (Expert Evidence) Bill brought the NT into line with Victoria, South Australian, Western Australia and Queensland.

“While most defence lawyers do provide adequate notice, public prosecutors have certainly had experiences where they are told at the 11th hour the defence expert’s name but have had no real opportunity of challenging their expertise due to time or cost constraints,” she stated.

“The bill provides certainty and consistency,” she added.

Lawrie said that the bill amended the Criminal Code to make the trial process fairer, reduce trauma to witnesses and cut court time and costs. (ANI)