Delhi fire kills 14 at eunuchs' gathering

Local people helped put out the fire and the injured.

The site of the fire in Delhi on 20 November 2011 The fire was reportedly caused by an electrical short circuit
At least 14 people have been killed and more than 40 others injured in a fire at a gathering of eunuchs in the Indian capital, Delhi.
The fire broke out on Sunday evening when a three-day convention of eunuchs was about to end.
It is thought that a short circuit in the electricity line sparked off the fire which then spread to the makeshift tent under which people had gathered.
The gathering at Nand Nagri in east Delhi was being attended by hundreds of eunuchs from all over India and neighbouring Bangladesh and Nepal, reports said, at a convention held once every five years.
There are hundreds of thousands of eunuchs across South Asia. The term is used to refer to transvestites, transsexuals and people who see themselves as neither male or female.
Many make a living by dancing at weddings and other ceremonies, but they face significant discrimination and live on the margins of society.
"We were performing evening prayers and many of us were also having food when there was an electrical short circuit in a chandelier. The sparks triggered off a fire and in no time the tents were engulfed by the blaze," Komal, a participant, told The Hindu newspaper.
Fire brigade officials said they pulled out 12 charred bodies from the gutted tents. Two people succumbed to burn injuries later in hospital.
The Delhi government is investigating allegations that the organisers of the gathering had not sought permission from the fire department.
BBC NEWS
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Honda Brio launched in India at Rs 3.95 lakh

Honda Brio

Japanese car major Honda on Tuesday announced its foray into the highly competitive low-price compact car segment in India with the launch of its Brio model, priced between Rs 3.95 lakh and Rs 5.1 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The company, which is present in India through a joint venture with the Siel group, Honda Siel Cars India, said it is also targeting revenues of Rs 112 crore this fiscal from the export of auto components from India.
"With Brio, we will be entering a new segment for the first time in India. It has been designed and developed specially to meet the needs of customers here," HSCI president and CEO Takashi Nagai told reporters here.
He said the company had promised to price it less than Rs 5 lakh and has been able to do this through cost-efficiency measures and high localisation of components. However, the top-end variant of the vehicle will cost Rs 5.1 lakh.

Honda Brio side view

"The Brio is at present about 80 per cent localised and over the next few months, it will reach 90 per cent," he said, adding, "This has been key to the pricing strategy of the Brio."

The Brio will compete with the likes of the Hyundai i10, Maruti WagonR and General Motors Chevrolet Beat, which are priced in a similar range.
The Brio will be available in four variants. Nagai said the company expects a large chunk of the customers for the Brio to come from smaller cities, whereas demand in bigger cities is likely to be for existing models such as the City, Civic and Accord.
"The compact car segment will soon become the second pillar of business for Honda in India," Nagai said.
Commenting on the development of the car, which is powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine, he said HSCI's engineers have been involved in the project right from the drawing stage.
On exports of components, Nagai said HSCI has already started shipping components of the Brio to Thailand from its facility at Rajasthan.
"We will have export turnover of Rs 112 crore this fiscal," he said. The company also exports components for the City and Jazz to Malaysia and Indonesia.

PTI |

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iPhone 4S to sell for Rs 44,500 in India

 Apple's  iphone 4S

Apple iPhone 4S prices are out: Airtel will be selling the iPhone 4S base model (16 GB) at Rs 44,500 whereas the top-end 64 GB model will cost Rs 57,500. The 32 GB model will be sold for Rs 50,900.

Apple will be launching the three models of iPhone 4S in India on November 25. The prices of existing models of iPhone 4 and 3GS too have been revised upwards.
When contacted, an Apple spokesperson refused to comment upon the pricing.

The handsets to be sold in India are, however, the fully unlocked ones. Besides, Indian operators like Airtel and Aircel are not subsidizing the handset cost through bundled offers unlike in countries where iPhone is available with much cheaper price tags.
The new, revised price for iPhone 4 (8GB) is Rs 37,900 whereas iPhone 3GS (8GB) model will be sold at Rs 20,900.
Bharti Airtel has already started taking pre-orders for the 16 and 32 GB variants of the iPhone 4S on its online store at the above mentioned prices.
Apple iPhone 4S will be launched on November 25 in India. At midnight on November 24, 2011 (12am, Nov 25), select stores in major cities will reportedly be opened to sell the first units of the iPhone 4S to waiting customers.

Anticipating a rush, both Aircel and Airtel had earlier announced they will be offering a pre-order on their website from November 18. However, Aircel is yet to start taking pre-orders.

Apple started selling iPhone 4S in US on October 14. While the phone looks similar to iPhone 4 in design and screen size (3.5 inches), the hardware inside has seen a significant upgrade.
iPhone 4S is powered by a dual-core processor, has a superior graphics chip and sports an 8 mega-pixel camera. It also has a unique feature called Siri, a voice-enabled virtual assistant, which allows users to carry out a number of functions.

Source: TOI

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Stampede 'kills 16' at Haridwar festival in north India

LUCKNOW, India At least 16 people have been killed in a stampede in the northern Indian holy town of Haridwar, officials say.

About 50 others were injured as devotees gathered to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of the founder of a Hindu sect.

Thousands have been attending the ceremony for Sri Ram Sharma, who founded the Gayatri Parivar sect.

Reports said the number of casualties could rise. Television footage showed injured people being taken to hospital.

"More worshippers turned up than the place could accommodate and so the stampede occurred," a senior local official, D Santhel Pandiyan, told the AFP news agency.

Many women and children are reported to be among the dead and injured.

Hemant Sahu, who works for the event organisers, told AFP: "When the big ritual was going on, too many people rushed forward to make their offerings to the holy fire and the crowd got out of control."

Map

Reports said a number of people fell but other pilgrims continued to push.

Haridwar, 173km (107 miles) north of Delhi, is a temple-filled town where the Ganges emerges from the Himalayan mountains and is considered sacred by Hindus.

The huge numbers attending religious festivals in India make stampedes a frequent risk.

A stampede at a festival in the southern state of Kerala in January killed more than 100 people.

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World's First Diamond-Dispensing ATM Launches in India

Oct. 22, 2011: An ATM that dispenses gold medallions, coins, diamonds, jewellery and more was opened for business by Bollywood star Raima Sen and Sanjeev Agarwal, CEO of manufacturer Gitanjali Export Corp.
MUMBAI –  Gold ATM vending machines have been popping up all over the world this year, so instead of following the trend, Mumbai became the first city in the world to launch a diamond-dispensing machine.
The Gitanjali Group, which claims to be the world's biggest integrated manufacturer of branded jewelry, opened the machine in a luxury shopping mall in the city Sunday and said that it already served a "substantial number of customers."
It hopes to roll out 75 more of the ATMs -- which also sell gold and silver coins -- in shopping malls, airports and at Hindu temples.
With prices ranging from 1,000 rupees ($20.17) to 30,000 rupees, customers can pay by cash or credit card for products ranging from gold coins etched with an image of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, to diamond-studded pendants in the shape of a swastika, which in India is an ancient religious symbol of unity.
Jammy Gagrat, a 47-year-old businessman, said, "This machine is going to be a problem for the gents. Ladies are going to keep on buying more and more every time they come here."

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India: Darjeeling bridge collapse kills 32

Scene of the bridge collapse in Bijonbari, Darjeeling, West Bengal, on 23 October 2011 The bridge is thought to have been weakened by an earthquake that shook the region in September

At least 32 people have died and 132 injured after a bridge collapsed at a political event in India's tea-producing region of Darjeeling.
More than 150 villagers were standing on the bridge for talks by local separatist leaders on Saturday night when it collapsed.
Officials say the victims fell at least 70ft (21m) into the fast-flowing Rangeet Khola river.
The army, fire brigade and police helped residents in the rescue effort.
Up to 60 people were rescued on Saturday night, but the search on Sunday was mainly focused on areas down river, reports say.
Government help
People had gathered in the village of Bijonbari, 30km (20miles) from Darjeeling, to listen to speeches by leaders of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) party.
The GJM is fighting for a separate state for the tea-producing Darjeeling hills.
"A cultural programme was being held on one side of the bridge, while a meeting was being held on the other," GJM General Secretary Roshan Giri said.
"Too many people were standing on it when it collapsed and they fell into the river below."
Darjeeling District Magistrate Soumitra Mohan said on Sunday that the death toll had reached 32, with 132 wounded.
At least six children are among the casualties.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said her government would do "everything it can" to help the victims and their families.
The bridge was reportedly built in 1942, and is thought to have been weakened by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that shook north-eastern India, Nepal and Tibet in September.

Via BBC NEWS

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Dalai Lama to receive Mahatma Gandhi peace prize in South Africa

The Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Peace and Reconciliation will be conferred on the 76-year-old Dalai Lama at the annual Satyagraha Awards to be held at the Durban City Hall next Sunday.

(PTI | Oct 2, 2011) JOHANNESBURG: The Dalai Lama will receive the Mahatma Gandhi peace prize, the legendary Indian leader's granddaughter Ela Gandhi announced here today on Gandhi Jayanti and asked the South African government to grant a visa to the Tibetan spiritual leader to visit the country.
The Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Peace and Reconciliation will be conferred on the 76-year-old Dalai Lama at the annual Satyagraha Awards to be held at the Durban City Hall next Sunday.
The event is one of several public invitations that the Dalai Lama has accepted during a proposed South African visit this week, amid concern that the South African government may not grant him a visa under Chinese pressure.
The visit was prompted by an invitation from fellow Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu for the Dalai Lama to join him for his 80th birthday celebrations on Friday.
Denying that the visa was being delayed due to a visit to South Africa's biggest trading partner China by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe last week, South African authorities said the visa was still "under consideration" on Friday, less than a week before the start of his visit. The Dalai Lama had previously been refused a visa in 2009.
Expressing the hope that the visa would be issued in time, Ela Gandhi said the award would be given to a representative of the Dalai Lama in case of his absence.
"Since he is a spiritual head and not a political one, there should be no problem issuing the Dalai Lama with a visa," she said.

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India successfully test fires N-capable Agni II missile

IANS | Sep 30, 2011, 11.40AM IST | BHUBANESWAR: India on Friday successfully test fired the nuclear capable Agni II missile from a defence base in Orissa.

The surface-to-surface missile with a range of over over 2,000 km was test fired in Bhadrak district, said S.P. Dash, director of the Integrated Test Range at Wheeler's Island, about 200 km from here.
"It was a perfect launch," Dash told IANS. He added that the missile was tested at about 9.30 a.m.
The launch of the missile was postponed Aug 29 due to a technical snag.

The Agni II missile is part of India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.
India had on May 17, 2010 test fired intermediate range Agni II missile, with a range of over 2,000 km after two successive failures in 2009.

The failed tests did not meet the mission's desired objectives as on both the occasions the missile lost its speed and deviated from its flight path.
The Agni II version of the Agni series of missiles was first test fired in 1999.

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Tata Nano car worth Rs 22 crore!

          The Tata Group on Monday unveiled a Tata Nano car

- made with gold and silver, and studded with precious stones -

         worth an astronomical over Rs.22 crore. (AP Photo)

TOI/MUMBAI: The Tata Group on Monday unveiled a Nano car - made with gold and silver, and studded with precious stones - worth an astronomical over Rs 22 crore.

But, it's not for sale - the valuable and fully functional car is a unique branding and promotional initiative by Goldplus Jewellery, part of Titan Industries, a Tata Group company, an official said.

The mega-value Goldplus Nano Car was unveiled on Monday evening by Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata.

The Goldplus Nano Car pales the average Rs.1.40 lakh Nano, which started with a Rs.1 lakh price tag at its launch.

The Goldplus Nano Car is billed as the world's first ever gold jewellery car and celebrates the 5,000 years of jewellery making industry in India.

The car's body is made with 80 kg 22 carat solid gold, 15 kg silver, precious stones - including diamonds, rubies - and other expensive gemstones, the official said.

"As many as 14 techniques of jewellery making have gone behind the effort -- from the intricate filigree work to the delicate and colourful meenakari work, the stunning kundan to the traditional naqashi...marking the convergence of diverse and culturally distinct jewellery making techniques from around India," the official told IANS.

Titan Industries managing director Bhaskar Bhat said that since eternity, jewellery made with gold and precious stones has been an integral part of the Indian woman's life.

"Indian jewellery has been an epitome of innovation and creativity, and carved a niche worldwide for itself for the intricacy of the designs crafted out of the precious metals and stones," said C.K. Venkataraman, COO, jewellery division.

After its glittering launch in Mumbai on Monday evening, the Goldplus Nano Car will travel to all the Goldplus showrooms at 29 locations around the country.

The car incorporates beautiful designs, made with the precious stones of different colours, set on the gold and silver body of the car.

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Ban for India 'affair' actress Nikhita Thukral reversed

The ban on Indian actress Nikhita Thukral from Kannada language films, because of an alleged affair with another actor, has been overturned.

The Kannada Film Producers' Association imposed the three-year ban earlier this week, saying Ms Thukral had spoiled the "domestic harmony of a fellow actor".

But opposition within the film industry convinced producers to reverse the ban.

Ms Thukral denies having an affair with the actor, known as Darshan, a popular action hero in south India.

"Looking back it was a hasty decision. We have written to her expressing regret," the president of the Karnataka Film Producers' Association, Munirathnam, told reporters.

The association initially said the ban would be reconsidered only if she apologised but Ms Thukral refused, insisting she had had no inappropriate relationship with Darshan.

'Unprofessional'

Ms Thukral, who is from the state of Punjab and has acted in several Telugu, Tamil and Kannada language films, called the ban "ridiculous" when it was imposed, and said that nobody ever consulted her to get her version of events.

Many actors and film industry representatives called for the ban to be overturned, saying it was unprofessional.

"I welcome the decision to withdraw the ban. In the first place it was wrong to target the actress for a dispute in the actor's home," said producer Sandesh Nagaraj.

The ban was imposed after Darshan was arrested on charges of domestic violence last week, following a complaint from his wife, Vijaylakshmi.

She alleged that he had beaten her and threatened her with a gun but she later withdrew the complaint, a police official told the BBC. The argument was reportedly over the alleged affair with Ms Thukral.

After his arrest, hundreds of Darshan's fans held protests in Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka state. Police used canes to disperse stone-throwing groups.

Ms Thukral has consistently denied any romantic links with Darshan.

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Train accident in Tamil Nadu, 15 reported killed

TNN & Agencies | Sep 13, 2011, 11.48PM IST

CHENNAI: At least 15 people have been reported killed and more than 70 injured when a passenger train from Chennai rammed into a stationary train near Sitheri railway station close to Arakkonam, about 75 km from here, late on Tuesday night, police said.

According to TV reports three bogies have derailed and several passengers are still stuck inside the bogies.

Gas cutters are being used to open the doors and rescue the trapped passengers.

Train No. 187 Arakkonam-Vellore passenger was waiting for signal near Sitheri Station when the Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) running between Chennai Beach and Vellore rammed into it from behind at around 9.40 pm, they said.

Earlier, IG North Zone Syleendra Babu confirmed seven persons were dead and more than 70 injured in the collision.

He said the injured have been rushed to local hospitals. Several passengers have been trapped inside two bogies which derailed following the collision, railway police said.

Two teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been rushed to the accident site.

However, rescue and relief efforts were hit by heavy rains in the area.

Train traffic on the busy Chennai-Katpadi section has been disrupted and several trains leaving Chennai Central affected.

In another tragic accident, a moving passenger train has collided with a stationary train at Arakkonam station near Chennai on Tuesday night.

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Ban for actress Nikhita Thukral over Darshan 'affair'

BBC NEWS

Indian actress Nikhita Thukral has been banned from appearing in Kannada language films for three years over an alleged affair with another actor.

The Kannada Film Producers' Association imposed the ban on Ms Thukral saying she had spoiled the "domestic harmony of a fellow actor".

She denies having an affair with the actor, known as Darshan, a popular action hero in southern India.

Ms Thukral, from the state of Punjab, said the ban is "ridiculous".

She says that nobody ever consulted her to get her version of events.

The move comes after Darshan was arrested on charges of domestic violence three days ago, following a complaint from his wife, Vijaylakshmi.

She alleged that he had beaten her and threatened her with a gun but she later withdrew the complaint, a police official told the BBC. The argument was reportedly over the alleged affair with Ms Thukral.

After his arrest, hundreds of Darshan's fans held protests in Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka state, forcing police to use canes to disperse stone-throwing groups.

The Kannada Film Producers' Association says that Ms Thukral has created trouble in Darshan's domestic life.

"If Nikhita [Thukral] apologises for her behaviour and says she will just work in films and not get involved in domestic affairs of fellow actors, we will withdraw the ban," association president Munirathnam told the BBC.

He said it was the first time such a ban had been imposed on an actress adding that "it is a lesson for others".

Ms Thukral, who has acted in several Telugu, Tamil and Kannada language films, has consistently denied any romantic links with Darshan.

"There's nothing between us beyond a professional relationship. If Darshan has a problem with his wife, how am I responsible," she asked?

The association said the actress was free to challenge the ban in a court.

Correspondents say that within the film industry, there is opposition to the ban with some members calling it "unprofessional".

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