Sensex crosses 17,000 for first time in 16 months

Mumbai, Sep 30 (IANS) The 30 scrip benchmark index of the Indian equities markets, Sensex, Wednesday crossed 17,000 for the first time in 16 months.

The benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange had last crossed the 17,000 mark May 23, 2008.

Around 11.20 a.m, the Sensex, which opened at 16,868.46 points was ruling at 17,028.73 points, up 175.82 points or 1.04 percent higher than its previous close.

Around the same time, the broader S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was at 5,050.2 points, 0.87 percent higher than its previous close at 5,006.85 points.

Broader market indices were also in the green with the BSE midcap index ruling 0.56 percent higher and the BSE smallcap index up 0.8 percent.

Source@IANS

Germany’s Next Foreign Minister is openly Gay

Guido Westerwelle and his gay partner are Germany’s new “power couple” — at least according to the nation’s leading daily, which splashed a photo of the pair hugging on election night on the front-page in Tuesday’s paper.

The ringing endorsement for the 47-year-old Westerwelle, who is widely expected to be tapped for the high-profile post of foreign minister in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s new government, in the Bild daily also highlighted his personal life in a way he rarely has.

“His man makes him so strong,” Bild wrote about Westerwelle, declaring that his 42-year-old partner Michael Mronz was not only his most important adviser during the campaign, but also “gives him security and… supports him when he suffers a setback.”

Despite eight years as leader of the pro-business Free Democrats, Westerwelle’s homosexuality has generated relatively little discussion. But with his party set to become kingmaker to Chancellor Merkel’s conservatives and him foreign minister, it has been thrust into the spotlight.

Germans have been generally tolerant of openly gay politicians and others have paved the way, including Berlin mayor Klaus Wowereit, who already declared back in 2001 that “I’m gay, and it’s good that way.”

SRK, Kajol Feature on Vogue Special Issue Cover

The lead pair of ‘My Name Is Khan’ appears on the cover of the second anniversary special issue of Vogue creating a flutter in Bollywood.

Kajol has been Shah Rukh Khan’s lucky totem judging by the number of films which went on to become hits in which the both pair together in leading roles.

Director Karan Johar not only unites the two again in the film My Name Is Khan, but also conducts an interview for Vogue with the two stars in this special issue.

Priya Tanna (Editor Vogue India) says, “Vogue is a year older and what better way to convey the ‘Power of Two’ theme that runs through (and electrifies) this issue than by

bringing together Bollywood’s ultimate pairing, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. His legendary charisma first met her quirky effervescence in 1995 on a Eurorail in Dilwale

Dulhania Le Jayenge and the entire nation fell in love. Karan wore an interviewer’s hat for Vogue, deconstructing the chemistry behind their magic.”

The special issue carries stunning photographs of the two stars together.

Delhi Student Abducted, Gangraped For 43 Days

A 23-year-old girl, a student of hotel management in Delhi, has reported to Tilak Nagar police station that she was abducted from Pragati Maidan by a gang of youths on August 17 and was gangraped several times while her abductors took her in a car to at least three states including Uttarakhand and Kashmir, police said.

The student was abducted from Pragati Maidan Gate No. 4 by four kidnappers in a moving car on August 17, according to the first information report.

Police said, the victim was taken to three states by the accused, who raped her on the way and filmed the horrific attacks on their mobile cameras before releasing her near ITO on Monday.

The victim had gone to shop at Pragati Maidan on August 17.

The victim was waiting near the bus stand of Gate No. 4 of Pragati Maidan when a car, in which four men were present, stopped near the bus stop and dragged the victim into the vehicle and gangraped her, the FIR states.

In her complaint, the victim said she was taken to Haryana. She added that she was also taken to Mussorie and then to J&K, and that she was raped every day.

Asif Could come back against Aussie

A Pakistan win, on the other hand, would throw the race for the semis wide open. Monday’s wash-out in Centurion may have allowed India to avoid a mountainous run-chase against Australia, but it also placed them in the precarious position of having to rely on other results to advance to the next round. A resounding Pakistan victory over Australia will keep alive the hopes of MS Dhoni’s men, but only if India can inflict a heavy defeat on the West Indians at the Wanderers the same day.

Weighing heavily on the Indians’ minds will be Australia’s recent 3-2 victory over Pakistan in an attritional one-day series played in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. On that occasion, the superior discipline of the Australians proved too much for an out-of-practice Pakistan side although, as punters the world over are aware, form guides are seldom of use when trying to assess Younis Khan’s team. That logic is all the more applicable with Pakistan likely to rest a number of first-choice players ahead of the semi-finals, clearing the way for Mohammad Asif to make his return to international cricket after a 19-month absence.

Australia – WLWWW
Pakistan – WWWWL

Australia: (probable): 1 Shane Watson, 2 Tim Paine (wk), 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 Callum Ferguson, 6 Cameron White, 7 James Hopes, 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Brett Lee, 10 Nathan Hauritz, 11 Peter Siddle.

Pakistan: (probable): 1 Shoaib Malik, 2 Kamran Akmal, 3 Younis Khan (capt), 4 Mohammad Yousuf, 5 Fawad Alam, 6 Shahid Afridi, 7 Umar Akmal, 8 Umar Gul, 9 Mohammad Aamer, 10 Saeed Ajmal, 11 Mohammad Asif.

India look for a good day in Jo’burg and Centurion

India need the reverse of Murphy’s Law. If they are to make it to the semi-final, everything that can go right needs to go right, and then some. They need Australia to lose to Pakistan, then they need to beat West Indies, and by such a margin that their net run-rate goes over Australia’s. If any of these doesn’t happen, they are out.

If Pakistan’s match against Australia is even as much as washed out, India can kiss their campaign goodbye. The saving grace for them is that by half time during their match they’ll know what exactly they need to do – if Australia lose, that is.

A difference of 2.08 in India and Australia’s net run-rates looks huge on paper, but since it is based on the results of one match each it is not impossible to wipe out. It will be mighty difficult, though. Pakistan and Australia will make for a tight contest either way, so even if Australia lose India will need a huge win over West Indies. A perfect day is difficult to define, but India fans will know what it is if their team makes it to the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy.

West Indies have been no pushovers in this tournament, giving Pakistan and Australia a scare. They would love nothing better than to spoil a party on their way out. It won’t be a surprise if they even wish for Australia to lose to Pakistan, so that they have a chance to actively contribute in sending a team out. September 30 will be one complex day.

India – LWLWW
West Indies – LLLLL

India: (probable) 1 Gautam Gambhir, 2 Sachin Tendulkar, 3 Rahul Dravid, 4 Suresh Raina, 5 MS Dhoni (capt/wk), 6 Virat Kohli, 7 Yusuf Pathan/Amit Mishra, 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Ishant Sharma, 10 Praveen Kumar, 11 Ashish Nehra.

Dale Richards, who dislocated his shoulder during the Australia match, is definitely out. Either Keiran Powell or Royston Crandon could get a game in his place.

West Indies: (probable) 1 Devon Smith, 2 Andre Fletcher, 3 Keiran Powell/Royston Crandon, 4 Travis Dowlin, 5 Floyd Reifer (capt), 6 David Bernard, 7 Darren Sammy, 8 Chadwick Walton (wk), 9 Nikita Miller, 10 Tino Best, 11 Gavin Tonge.

Vijender is top boxer in 75kg category

Olympic and World Championship bronze medallist Vijender Singh has achieved yet another first for Indian boxing by becoming the world’s top-ranked pugilist in the 75kg category.

The 23-year-old Bhiwani boxer, who won India’s maiden World Championships medal in Milan earlier this month, has 2,700 points and is ranked higher than the reigning champion Abbos Atoev of Uzbekistan.

Atoev, to whom Vijender lost in the World Championship semifinals, is third in the list with 2,100 points while Olympic silver medallist Emilio Correa Bayeux (2,500 points) of Cuba occupies the second spot in the International Boxing Association’s list updated after the Milan event.

“With the right government backing, boxing can become the No. 1 sport in India,” .

Sonia Gandhi To Campaign In Haryana On Oct 4

Congress President Sonia Gandhi will address public meetings in Haryana on October 4 for next month’s elections to the 90-member state assembly.

“Sonia will address public meetings at three different places for which the venues are being finalised,” Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee spokesman Ved Prakash Vidrohi said on Tuesday.

The election tour programmes of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi were also being finalised, he said.

Vidrohi said the Congress party’s poll manifesto was likely to be released on Wednesday. The ruling Congress, which won nine out of 10 seats in the last Lok Sabha elections, had advanced the State Assembly polls by seven months. PTI

Akshay-Katrina got Rs 4 crore for the National Games

Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif are the face of 34th National Games 2009, which are going to commence on November 21 at Jharkhand. Our reliable source says, “Akshay and Katrina will be present at the inauguration and closing ceremony. The duo will endorse the promotion of games as well.

On asking why Mahendra Singh Dhoni was not chosen as the brand Ambassador, since he belongs to Jharkhand, President R. K. Anand told the media persons that Dhoni was from Jharkhand and he will be invited for the inaugural and closing ceremony.”

As far as Akshay and Katrina are concerned, “Akshay and Katrina have been paid Rupees 4 crore. Posters and cut-outs of both the stars will be used for promotion, ” the reliable source signs off.

Tum Mile has surprise factor: Emraan Hashmi

Films coming from Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt are known for their shock value. Now Emraan Hashmi says his upcoming film with the Bhatt brothers, Tum Mile, will carry forward the tradition. “There is that shock element in Tum Mile as well, just like every film of the Bhatts has. They always bring in something which touches audiences in a big way,” Emraan said. “In this film, shock value comes by means of floods. It is the anti hero in the film and would take people back to the time when this unfortunate event actually took place,” added the actor.

The actor, who has paired up with his Jannat director Kunal Deshmukh again in this film, says he was very keen to do one more film with the young director.” Jannat was entirely Kunal’s brain child and I always wanted to work with him again. He has a knack of picking up a relevant topic or issue and bring it alive on screen.”In Jannat he brought forward match-fixing while in Tum Mile he has told a story based on a true incident. The common factor about both the films is that each essentially deals with human drama,” said Emraan.

“In Tum Mile, which has floods as the backdrop, we see two people who had parted ways some time back. However, now they face a dilemma in their relationship as they are thrown back together on 26th July.”Emraan emphasises that technically Tum Mile has been the most difficult film he has been a part of. “Tum Mile has been a very tiring experience, both physically and mentally. It was a difficult film to be made and hats off to Kunal (Deshmukh) for making it happen.”

“The entire team has done its best to recreate the flood situation. During shooting, everyone from cast and crew used to stand in waist deep water for hours at a stretch to give that perfect shot. Tum Mile is scheduled for a November 13 release.

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