| 17/03/2010 | Three arrested in Spain over Sahil kidnapping |
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Three people have been arrested in Spain suspected of being linked to the kidnapping of five-year-old Sahil Saeed, according to reports. A Spanish newspaper said two Pakistanis and a Romanian woman were arrested in the town of Constanti, near the north-eastern city of Tarragona. 
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| 17/03/2010 | Sahil kidnap gang hunt switches to Spain |
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The hunt for the kidnap gang who snatched five-year-old Sahil Saeed has switched to Spain after part of the ransom was paid there. It is understood that the family of Sahil’s mother, Akila Naqqash, managed to raise the cash. Sahil, from Oldham, was kidnapped two weeks ago while on holiday in Pakistan when his family were held at gunpoint by robbers. 
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| 17/03/2010 | 13 years for man who fired shotgun in nightclub |
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A 24-year-old man has been sentenced to 13 years in prison following a shooting in Bradford city centre last year. Omar Shah of Little Horton was arrested and charged after the incident at the Cube Nightclub on Ivegate in November 2009. He was convicted of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, GBH and two counts of ABH. 
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| 17/03/2010 | Twin ‘confessed over shooting’ to river rescuer |
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A man accused with his twin of shooting dead a young dad told an ambulancewoman about the killing after trying to take his own life, a jury was told. Brett and Jordan Francis, 26, of Birch Avenue, Chadderton, deny murdering Amran Khan, 29, in a row over £12,000 of drugs money. 
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| 17/03/2010 | Fusion awards final call for nominations |
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Nominations for this year's north west Fusion Awards is closing at the end of the month. The awards recognise the commitment of individuals across communities who help make the north west a better place to live and work. 
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| 17/03/2010 | RDB perform at UK Asian Music Awards |
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RDB rocked the stage last week with a special performance at the UK Asian Music Awards. The annual award ceremony took place on March 11th at the Royal Festival Hall in London. The event was a star studded affair with appearances from Jay Sean, Malkit Singh and Sugababes. 
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| 16/03/2010 | Indian soap deals with issues of female feticide |
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It's been nearly a month and Megha Malik has only just taken a day off from shooting for the popular Colors TV show, Na Aana Is Des Laado.
Most people will recognise Megna as the over zealous lady of the house, Amma in the programme which deals with the controversial issues of female feticide and infanticide. 
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| 15/03/2010 | Academics gather at Bollywood and Beyond conference |
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Leading academics of Hindi cinema gathered to speak at the cinema studies conference Bollywood and Beyond, at University of Westminster’s recently launched India Media Centre. The nine experts from leading institutions in the UK and India presented on a range of Bollywood topics, to an audience of cinema fans and film students attending from as far afield as New York. 
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| 15/03/2010 | Akshay Kumar returns in Housefull |
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Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar is all set to rock the Box Office this year with the much anticipated release of his first film of 2010, romantic comedy Housefull. Co-produced by Eros International, Housefull was filmed on location in UK, Italy, Hong Kong and India. 
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| 10/03/2010 | Shyam Benegal celebrated at film festival |
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One of India’s leading filmmakers, Shyam Benegal, is in the UK for a series of events exploring his vast career and celebrating his achievements in Indian cinema. As part of the Tongues on Fire 12th Asian Film Festival, the director is attending a range of functions across London, including a BAFTA interview, a director’s workshop at the University of Westminster, and a talk on women in films at the Nehru Centre. 
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| 08/03/2010 | From tea-boy to Bollywood star - Abhishek Bachchan on his climb to fame |
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In a 36 hour visit to the UK, Abhishek Bachchan gave London audiences an insight into his life and work at the 12th London Asian Film Festival. The actor opened the ten day series of events with a BAFTA interview and gala dinner on Friday, wrapping his jam-packed visit with an Actor’s Masterclass at a West End cinema on Saturday, before flying home. 
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| 03/03/2010 | Akshay Kumar kickstarts shoot for Tees Maar Khan |
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Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar and Bollywood’s most lovable director, Farah Khan have just kick-started their already-hyped new venture Tees Maar Khan at Mumbai's Film City. Akshay is currently shooting his introductory shot in the film - a major action comedy scene on a huge jumbo jet constructed by set director, Sabu Cyril. 
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| 03/03/2010 | Hrithik Roshan on the colours of love |
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On the occasion of Holi, Hrithik Roshan speaks up on his colourful life and his upcoming movie Kites, which stars Brazilian actress Barbara Mori and the beautiful Kangana Ranaut in a never-seen-before role. 
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| 08/03/2010 | 12th London Asian Film Festival attracts Bollywood stars |
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Bollywood fans in the UK will get the chance to interact with some of the biggest names in the Hindi film industry at the Tongues on Fire 12th London Asian Film Festival (5-14 March 2010). Leading Bollywood figures are scheduled to attend including Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Jaya Bachchan, Soha Ali Khan and Sharmila Tagore. 
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| 17/03/2010 | Man arrested in murder investigation |
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A 22-year-old-man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 19-year-old man died following a stab wound. The man remains in custody after being arrested earlier today. |
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| 17/03/2010 | Murder enquiry launched after man dies from head injuries |
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Detectives have launched a murder enquiry after a 24-year-old man died after being stabbed with a screwdriver. 
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| 17/03/2010 | No Limits to great ideas at Expo |
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Inventors are being challenged to prove there are No Limits to their imagination when they meet in Burnley for the fifth annual North West Inventors’ Expo (Saturday March 20). The event, sponsored by Pennine Lancashire’s No Limit’s programme, is a chance to showcase new products and inventions to financiers, businesses and the general public. And there are workshops and presentations to help inventors get ideas off the drawing board and into production. |
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| 17/03/2010 | Latics Kickz project takes teams to regional tournament |
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Oldham Athletic will be taking 30 young people from the Coldhurst area to play in the regional ‘Why Let Drink Decide’ tournament at Blackburn Rovers academy training ground. Latics Kickz project will be represented by three different age groups - under 14’s, 16’s and 18’s. 
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| 17/03/2010 | Booze shop has licence revoked |
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An off-licence which has previously sold illicit alcohol on three seperate occasions has had its licence to sell alcohol revoked. The Woodley Off-Licence had also failed to comply with underage sales legislation and was associated with anti-social behaviour. |
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| 17/03/2010 | Muslim, German, female and a sports star |
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Fatmire Bajramaj is the carefree young face of women's football in Germany. A Muslim Kosovan, her eventful life story recalls the hit English film Bend it like Beckham, in which a girl footballer strikes out against ethnic prejudices and her family's reservations. 
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| 17/03/2010 | UP tops in child rape cases, Delhi comes second |
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Uttar Pradesh has achieved the dubious distinction of reporting the maximum number of child sexual abuse and rape cases and the national capital comes a close second.
The country’s largest state in terms of population has reported 61 child sex abuse cases and 900 cases of rape of children with Delhi coming next with 52 child sexual abuse and 301 rape cases, according to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).
While the figures for child sexual abuse are a compilation since the inception of the NCPCR in 2007, the number of rape cases are for the year 2008.
Andhra Pradesh reported 16 abuse and 412 rape cases, Bihar 15 and 91 and Madhya Pradesh 18 and 892.
The corresponding figures for Orissa were 22 abuse and 65 rape cases while Tamil Nadu and West Bengal reported 14 and 10 abuse cases respectively.
ibnlive.in.com/news/up-tops-in-child-rape-cases-delhi-comes-second/111642-3.html
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| 17/03/2010 | BSP defiant, gifts Maya Rs 18 lakh garland |
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A defiant Bahujan Samaj Party on Wednesday gifted another garland made up of currency notes worth Rs 18 lakh to party chief and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati.
Mayawati was given the Rs 18 lakh garland at a press conference in Lucknow just a couple of days after she was given another garland, reportedly worth Rs 2 crore and made up entirely of Rs 1000 notes during a rally to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the BSP.
The garland presented on Wednesday was made up of notes of different denomination.
"Our party organises these rallies for the poor. The Opposition has objected to Mayawati’s garland and making it an issue. BSP is very angry about all these allegations being made against Mayawati. We will continue to garland Mayawati with currency note garlands," said BSP leader Nasimuddin Siddiqui at the press conference.
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bsp-defiant-gifts-maya-rs-18-lakh-garland/111639-37.html?from=tn
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| 17/03/2010 | Maya challenges I-T probe with another currency garland |
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In a show of defiance ignoring all criticism, BSP chief and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Wednesday got herself garlanded with currency notes said to be of the value of Rs 18 lakh.
The garland comprising notes of various denominations was put around her neck at a meeting of party leaders despite an opposition outcry over her being presented a similar garland of value estimated between Rs 21 lakh and Rs 5 crore at a massive rally in Lucknow on Monday.
"Wherever she goes, she will henceforth be greeted with garland of notes and not with garland of flowers," state PWD Minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui told reporters after the meeting.
The Bahujan Samaj Party supremo has came under sharp attack inside and outside Parliament after she got the "multi crore" currency garland comprising notes of Rs 1000.
The IT department has decided to investigate the source of the money for the garland presented to her at the ’Maha’ rally.
www.indianexpress.com/news/maya-challenges-it-probe-with-another-currency-garland/591991/
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| 17/03/2010 | Rao meets US officials, briefs on Indo-Pak talks |
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Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao reviewed the progress of India-US strategic dialogue with top Obama Administration officials, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and briefed them on the recent Indo-Pak talks as well as New Delhi’s view point on Afghanistan.
Rao, who is on a six-day visit here, met Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Bill Burns at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department, where Clinton dropped in and joined the discussion.
The Foreign Secretary also met National Security Adviser Gen James Jones at the White House.
"Foreign Secretary briefed the US side about her talks with the Foreign Secretary of Pakistan (Salman Bashir) last month," Indian Embassy said in a statement.
India and Pakistan resumed dialogue last month after a 14-month gap. Rao and Bashir met in New Delhi on February 25.
www.indianexpress.com/news/rao-meets-us-officials-briefs-on-indopak-talks/591929/
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| 17/03/2010 | Pranab: inflation rate can reach double-digit mark |
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Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday cautioned that the inflation rate could reach the two-digit mark in the coming months but gave an assurance that the government was taking all possible steps to protect vulnerable sections. He identified the three main objectives of the budget as price control, fiscal consolidation and expansion of the economy.
Replying to the debate in the Rajya Sabha on the Union budget, Mr. Mukherjee maintained that while there were other options, the government opted for hiking taxes on petroleum products in order to share the proceeds with States.
With the Rajya Sabha approving the budget through a voice vote in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Parliament has passed the Vote on Account and Appropriation Bills which authorise the government to withdraw money from the exchequer. The Lok Sabha approved the budget last week.
www.hindu.com/2010/03/17/stories/2010031756900100.htm
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| 17/03/2010 | President felicitates Maha Nayake thera |
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a message of greetings to the most Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkhita Maha Nayake thera of the Asgiriya Chapter on his 81st birthday today has said the prelate has earned honour and reverence from all for his simple lifestyle and love and compassion to all beings.
The message said the most Ven. Buddharakkhita Mahanayake thera who was born in 1930 entered the order with the prime intention of making life successful.
The noble service rendered by him as a great teacher today should be recalled with deep honour.
The stanza-Dhammaramo Dhammarato, Dhammang Anu Vichiththayang, Dhammang Anussarang Bhikkhu, Saddhamma na Parihayathi" - in the Dhammapada said a bhikkhu who remembers and lives by the Dhamma will never degenerate.
www.dailynews.lk/2010/03/17/news21.asp
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| 17/03/2010 | Fonseka appears before Court Martial |
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The first Court Martial, appointed to try General Sarath Fonseka on charges against his participation in political work while in active service commenced its sittings as scheduled at 9.30 a.m. yesterday morning at Navy Headquarters.
The Court Martial, presided by Major General H.L Weeratunga took up three charges separately under the above category in accordance with provisions in the Army Act during hearings.
General Sarath Fonseka who appeared before the Court Martial refused to answer when the charges were read out to him by the President.He also refused to accept the judicial power of the Court Martial. Rienzie Arsekularatne PC appearing for General Sarath Fonseka begged to make two preliminary objections on behalf of the Defence.
The first objection was about the composition of the Courts Martial.
The Courts Martial examined the objections one by one according to the provisions of the Army Act and rejected them.
www.dailynews.lk/2010/03/17/news01.asp
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| 17/03/2010 | Three Appeal Court judges nominated |
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The Court of Appeal yesterday nominated, three Court of Appeal judges to hear the Habeas Corpus application filed by Anoma Fonseka, wife of General Sarath Fonseka.
The Bench comprised Court of Appeal President Justice Sathya Hettige and Justice Anil Gooneratne.
Therefore, the Court directed Senior State Counsel Sanjey Rajaratnam to appear for the Attorney General before the three Judges Bench.
This case will be taken up on March 19.
The three Judges nominated are Justice Sathya Hettige, Justice D.S.E. Lecamvasam and Justice Ranjith de Silva.
President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva appeared for Anoma Fonseka.
www.dailynews.lk/2010/03/17/news12.asp
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| 17/03/2010 | Former CJ’s statement contrary to law - Senior Counsel Dayasri |
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Former Chief Justice Sarath Nanda Silva’s statement on the arrest of General Sarath Fonseka is contrary to law and has given an extra motivation to certain international forces to interfere with the internal matters, threatening the sovereignty of the country, senior counsel Gomin Dayasri said.
He further explained that as a legal expert and distinguished counsel former CJ is well aware that in any country national law supercedes the international law. So, any matter should be settled within our legal provisions and everybody is equal before the law. It is very unfortunate that being a former CJ, he is criticizing his successor’s decisions.
Once he sent people were sent to jail under contempt of court when they criticized some court decisions, he said.
People will now think the verdicts given by him when he was in office was with political motives. He has been a spokesman for General Sarath Fonseka who is in military custody. If Sarath Fonseka is not satisfied with the verdict to be given by the court martial, he can appeal to the appellate court and thereafter even to the Supreme Court.
www.dailynews.lk/2010/03/17/news02.asp
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| 17/03/2010 | Mumbai attack suspect Headley to plead guilty |
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In a new twist, American national David Headley, charged by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with conspiring in the Mumbai terror attack, will plead guilty before a US court on March 18, his lawyer has said.
"Yes, he (Headley) will be pleading guilty on March 18," John Thief, Headley’s lawyer said.
The Chicago court has set March 18 as date for ’change of plea’ hearing for 49-year-old Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) operative, who has been charged with conspiring in the Mumbai terror attack.
"...scheduling David Coleman Headley for a change of plea hearing on March 18, 2010, before US District Judge Harry Leinenweber," the court entry read.
Theif said that discussions were going on with the government regarding plea bargaining.
"We are working on it and negotiating the plea deal. Yes, I expect this is what is going to happen on March 18," he added.
Meanwhile, US Attorney spokesperson Randall Samborn said he would not be able to comment on whether Headley is changing his ’not guilty’ plea or whether a deal has been reached between Headley and the government.
ibnlive.in.com/news/mumbai-attack-suspect-headley-to-plead-guilty/111618-2.html
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| 17/03/2010 | SF appeares before Court martial |
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The first Court Martial, appointed to try General Sarath Fonseka on charges against his participation in political work while in active service commenced its sittings as scheduled at 9.30 a.m. today at Navy Headquarters.
The Court Martial, presided by Major General H.L Weerathunga took up three charges separately under the above category in accordance with provisions in the Army Act during hearings.
General Sarath Fonseka appeared before the Court Martial with his lawyers, headed by Mr Rienzi Arsakularathne, President’s Counsel. Representatives of the Attorney General’s Department appeared for the prosecution.
The second Court Martial, expected to hear charges regarding contravention of procedures, related to military procurement is to sit tomorrow as announced.
www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/2408-fonseka-appeares-for-court-martial.html
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| 17/03/2010 | Women get one-third share in Gadkari team |
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Women have got their place under the sun in Bharatiya Janata Party president Nitin Gadkari’s new team of office-bearers and an effort has been made to take forward the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat’s ’diktat’ on the need to give the party a youthful look.
The 121-member new National Executive Committee has as many as 40 women members, nearly one-third of the total, as mandated by the party constitution amended during the tenure of the outgoing BJP president Rajnath Singh.
On the all-powerful 12-member Parliamentary Board, all former party presidents — Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, M. Venkaiah Naidu and Rajnath Singh — except Bangaru Laxman find a place, as do RSS point men, general secretaries Ram Lal and Thawarchand Gehlot and Bal Apte. Ananth Kumar retains his position as secretary.
Mr. Gadkari has kept Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi out of the board, following the line taken by Rajnath Singh, who dropped him on the plea that no incumbent Chief Minister was its member. Varun Gandhi, who set off a storm of protest after his hate speech during the Lok Sabha poll campaign, has been made secretary.
www.hindu.com/2010/03/17/stories/2010031761290100.htm
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| 17/03/2010 | Congress spokesperson curses Pawar, sacked |
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Senior Congress leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi was on Tuesday removed as party spokesperson in the wake of a controversy over his allegedly objectionable remarks against NCP chief and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar in the context of price rise.
Congress sources said the action against Chaturvedi followed the NCP taking strong exception to his remarks against their leader during an interview to a TV channel.
AICC media department Chairperson Janardhan Dwivedi said Chaturvedi has been removed as a party spokesperson.
Reports had it that Chaturvedi had made some caustic comments about Pawar to a TV channel two days back, drawing a sharp reaction from NCP.
This was for the second time in recent years that Chaturvedi kicked off a controversy as he had faced trouble earlier when he made some uncharitable remarks against the then Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh.
ibnlive.in.com/news/congress-spokesperson-curses-pawar-sacked/111617-37.html
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| 17/03/2010 | Man alleges harassment by bank, commits suicide |
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A 35-year-old auto rickshaw driver allegedly committed suicide after failing to repay a loan installment and being hounded by the bank recovery agents.
Police have reportedly recovered the suicide note in which the three ICICI bank agents have been named but no abetment to suicide case has been registered.
Dharamraj Verma had bought two auto rickshaws two years back with a loan from the ICCI Bank. He committed suicide on March 12, allegedly because he was being hounded by the bank’s recovery agents.
"He was suffering as he was unable to repay the loan. Even I had started working as a maid but he was under so much pressure that he committed suicide," Dharamraj’s wife Shashi says.
In his suicide note, written on the back of the ICICI Bank loan card, Dharamraj names three men - Kamal, Raghvendra and Vijay - who are allegedly the recovery agents of the bank.
ibnlive.in.com/news/man-alleges-harassment-by-bank-commits-suicide/111620-3.html
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| 17/03/2010 | Govt bid to win over BJP, Left |
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Determined to introduce the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill in the Lok Sabha in the second half of the Budget Session of Parliament commencing from April 12, the UPA government has decided to make yet another attempt to build a political consensus on the issue.
During the recess period, National Security Advisor Shivshanker Menon and Atomic Energy Commission chairman Srikumar Banerjee will brief the BJP and Left leaders separately to dispel “misconceptions” about the Bill, government sources said. They are likely to meet Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj of the BJP and Sitaram Yechury of the CPM, said the sources.
The government had deferred introduction of the Bill in the Lok Sabha on Monday in the face of fierce opposition from the BJP and the Left. The government does not want the Bill to be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy, headed by SP’s Mulayam Singh Yadav, as it could cause undue delay in carrying out nuclear commerce with international power producing companies.
www.indianexpress.com/news/govt-bid-to-win-over-bjp-left/591743/
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