LONDON, July 30: Cate Blanchett, who plays ethereal elf Lady Galadriel in ‘Lord of the Rings’, instead wanted to be a dwarf on the movie adaptation of JJR Tolkien’s books.
The 45-year-old ‘Lord of the Rings’ reprised her role in ‘The Hobbit’. Blanchett, however, said she was disappointed for not getting a chance to dress up as one of the hairy mythical creatures in the film trilogy, reported Contactmusic.
“I was so desperate to play a dwarf. The facial hair. You go into the wig room. Oh my god. The beard,” she said. (PTI)
Cate Blanchett was desperate to play dwarf in ‘The Hobbit’
6 die when swept away by swollen river in Mexico
HERMOSILLO (Mexico), July 30: Six people have died and four are missing in northern Mexico after their vehicles were swept away by a swollen river near the US border.
A statement from officials in Sonora state says more than 200 rescue crews were searching yesterday for those missing in and around the Cabullona River in the municipality of Agua Prieta, which is across the border from Douglas, Arizona.
It says a group of about 35 people in 4-wheel drive pickup trucks and ATVs were leaving the area Sunday when one of the vehicles got stuck in the river. When people in other vehicles tried to help them, the river swept them away. (AGENCIES)
North Korea ship damaged Mexican coral reefs
MEXICO CITY, July 30: A North Korean cargo ship damaged nearly an acre of coral reefs off Mexico’s eastern coast when it ran aground two weeks ago, Mexican authorities have said.
The MU DU BONG freighter was heading to the port of Tuxpan when it hit 250 coral reef colonies in the Gulf of Mexico on July 14, the environmental protection prosecutor’s office said yesterday.
One of the habitats included Elkhorn coral, or Acropora palmata, an at-risk reef-building species shaped like elk antlers, the agency said in a statement.
Seven other species were struck by the vessel, including coralline rock on a protected list.
The accident was apparently due to a navigational error by the captain as he guided the ship toward Tuxpan, where the vessel was due to pick up cargo bound for Cuba.
Rescuers removed the 6,500-tonne ship on Saturday, using underwater cameras, buoys and other special equipment.
The environmental prosecutor’s office said the North Korean embassy has pledged to reimburse the costs of the rescue. (AGENCIES)
At least 20 dead, dozens missing in shipwreck off Libya
TRIPOLI, July 30: More than 20 migrants have died and dozens are missing after their makeshift boat sank off the Libyan coast, the navy has said.
“A navy patrol on Monday rescued 22 clandestine migrants who were clinging to debris from their boat,” spokesman Colonel Ayoub Kassem told AFP yesterday, adding that more than 20 bodies were plucked from the water.
Survivors said some 150 people had been aboard the vessel, which sank some 100 kilometres east of the Libyan capital Tripoli.
Search operations for possible other survivors continued today.
The migrants from south of the Sahara desert had sought to reach the Italian coast or nearby Malta after crossing restive and lawless Libya.
Hundreds of would-be immigrants die in the process every year, while others are detained by Italian police once they reach the southern EU member’s territorial waters or the islands of Sicily or Lampedusa.
This year nearly 80,000 migrants have landed in Italy so far, many more than the 2011 record of a total of 63,000, according to authorities in Rome. (AGENCIES)
Cabinet writes off Rs 59.74 cr interest to be paid by J&K Govt
NEW DELHI : The Cabinet today decided to write off Rs 59.74 crore interest amount to be paid by the Jammu and Kashmir Government to the state-run FCI for purchase of foodgrains on credit way back in 1999-2002.
“The Cabinet cleared the Food Ministry’s proposal to write off interest amount of Rs 59.74 crore to be paid by J&K to FCI,” sources said.
The interest amount accrued as on October 1, 2013 has been waived off for the State Government, while the State had demanded the complete waiver of Rs 70 crore, sources added.
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) had supplied foodgrains on credit between 1999 and 2002 to J&K. The State Government has already paid the cost of foodgrains and had requested the Centre to write off the interest payment.
Early this month, State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had met Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan seeking complete waiver of Rs 70 crore interest on payment due to the FCI.
The State is implementing universal public distribution system. (AGENCIES)
Raha takes over as new CoSC
NEW DELHI: IAF chief Arup Raha today took over as the Chairman, Chiefs of Staffs Committee from incumbent Gen Bikram Singh who is retiring tomorrow.
The Chairman, Chiefs of Staffs Committee is the senior-most military officer in the country.
Raha was handed over the baton of the COSC by Gen Singh at a ceremony in South Block, Defence officials said.
Raha, 59, will hold the office for a period of 29 months and would probably be the longest-serving officer in the chair.
He has got the long tenure because of the resignation of former Navy Chief Admiral DK Joshi in February after a series of mishaps involving naval warships.
Raha will continue in office till December 2016 and is expected to push for increasing jointmanship among the three services as the CoSC.
He is also expected to push for the creation of three new tri-services commands including Space, Cyber and Special Operations.
The proposal for raising the three new formations is with the Government for quite some time now and deliberations are being held between all the stakeholders for an early decision on the issue. (AGENCIES)
17 dead in Pune landslide, 400 NDRF men mount rescue effort
PUNE: At least 17 people were killed when torrential rains triggered a landslide at a village in Maharashtra’s Pune district today, burying over 160 as 400 NDRF personnel looked for survivors and bodies in the mud-and-rock debris battling inclement weather.
Officials said the death toll could go up. 14 injured survivors have also been pulled out of the rubble and admitted to a primary health centre nearby, sources at an emergency control room set up at Khed-Manchar told PTI.
An earlier report had said 15 persons were extricated from the debris alive.
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said over 160 people were believed to be trapped in the 44 houses buried under the rubble after large parts of a hillside collapsed on them early this morning.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to visit Malin village, the scene of the tragedy, in Ambegaon taluka of the district, some 120 km from the district headquarters, tomorrow, according to a BJP spokesman.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the tragedy and asked Singh to rush to Pune to take stock of the situation.
“The Prime Minister has condoled the loss of lives in the landslide and directed all possible efforts to help the affected people,” a PMO statement said in Delhi.
Large earth-moving machinery have been pressed into service but the rescuers are moving slowly to avoid causing harm to the possible survivors, Pune collector Saurav Rao said, adding the operation to clear the rubble was on.
Crowds have gathered at the spot and villagers could be seen moving fallen trees and rocks with bare hands to assist 300 National Disaster Response Force personnel in rescue efforts.
Scores of JCBs, dumpers and ambulances have been pressed into service to clear the rubble and shift the dead and survivors to hospitals, Rao said. (AGENCIES)
Heroin worth Rs 20 crore smuggled from Pak seized
ATTARI (AMRITSAR): The Border Security Force seized four kg of heroin with a street value of Rs 20 crore, which was allegedly smuggled from Pakistan, near the international border here today.
BSF DIG R P S Jaswal said jawans were on high alert at Border Outpost Pulmoran in Amritsar sector following inputs regarding possibility of smuggling of heroin from across the border.
A special search operation was launched during which four packets of heroin were found at a place 150-mt from the border, he said.
The value of the heroin was estimated at Rs 20 crore in the street market, the DIG said. (AGENCIES)
SMVDSB to partner with B’lore based health care service provider
SRINAGAR: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) is planning to rope in services of Bangalore based health care service provider for its upcoming medical facility for rendering quality health care services to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The Board had decided to explore the possibility of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) entering into a meaningful partnership with a well known Health Care Service Provider in the country, for rendering quality health care services to people of the State,” a spokesman of the Board said today.
The SMVDSB held its 54th meeting at Raj Bhavan here yesterday under the chairmanship of Governor NN Vohra, who is the chairman of the board.
The board discussed various important issues regarding the operationalisation of the (SMVDIME), which is coming up at Kakriyal, near Katra.
The spokesman said the decision to seek services from outside the state was taken in view of the challenges relating to managing the operations of a large hospital and the likely difficulties in the initial years of securing the services of well qualified and experienced medical professionals in varied disciplines.
The board had several years ago conceived the establishment of a sizeable hospital for providing multi-speciality medical services in identified fields of health care to the people of J&K.
The Governor had set up a committee under the chairmanship of Dr S S Bloeria to identify and recommend a suitable partner for operating SMVDIME on a long term basis.
“This Committee, after a rigorous exercise spanning over a year and a half, recommended that the Shrine Board may negotiate a partnership with Narayana Hrudayalaya Pvt Ltd, a well reputed Bangalore based healthcare chain which runs 27 well known hospitals all over the country,” the spokesman said.
The Governor set up a Sub-Committee under the chairmanship of Dr E Sreedharan to negotiate an agreement with Narayana Hrudayalaya for operationalising the hospital project. (AGENCIES)
Kerry arrives in India for strategic dialogue
NEW DELHI : US Secretary of State, John Kerry arrived here today to hold 5th Indo-US Strategic Dialogue tomorrow during which India will be raising issues of snooping by the US’ NSA and terrorism even as the two sides will explore “transformative initiatives” in key areas such as defence and energy.
Kerry along with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj will co-chair the Dialogue which will also be attended by senior representatives of various ministries including home and defence. Union Minister of State for Commerce (Independent charge) Nirmala Sitharaman will also participate in the Dialogue which will explore ways to strengthen bilateral business ties.
Noting that the Indo-US ties were at a stage of “stable and mature growth”, the Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry said the two ministers are expected to explore new frontiers and initiatives to further promote bilateral relations.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s September visit to the US during which he will hold talks with President Barack Obama in Washington at the invitation of the American leader, the Spokesperson said, “The opportunity (of Dialogue) will be taken to explore transformative initiatives which can move the Indo-US relations to the next level. In this context, Kerry will also meet the Prime Minister…”.
He also said the focus area during Swaraj-Kerry talks would be security, energy, trade and investment, science and technology, human resource development and regional issues.
Asked if India would raise the issue of snooping by US’ National Security Agency (NSA) on BJP among others, he said there was “considerable disquiet” in the country over the issue and leaders do reflect the public concerns. The issue is expected to be discussed under the cyber-security section, he indicated.
After reports emerged that BJP was among a group of foreign political parties targeted by the NSA in 2010 earlier this month, MEA had summoned a top US official and conveyed that the allegations were unacceptable and sought assurances from the US that it would not happen again.
On whether India would raise the issue of movements of JuD Chief Hafiz Saeed, designated terrorist by the US, he said any issue which impinges on India’s security, of which the homeland security was an important part, and where the Government thinks that the US can assist will be raised.
On the defence front, the two sides are in consultation to upgrade their ties by simplifying technology transfer policies and exploring possibilities of co-development and co-production of defence systems to invest the relationship with strategic value.
The defence trade has shown significant growth in recent years with aggregate worth of defence acquisition from the US crossing over USD 10 billion.
While major initiatives in defence field are likely to be discussed during US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel’s visit next month, tomorrow’s dialogue will set the tone for the same.
The US Secretary of State’s visit is first high-level interaction at the political level after the new Government came to power here, the MEA Spokesperson said.
Kerry’s visit two months ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s trip is aimed at instilling some vigour in bilateral ties, which appeared to have lost momentum in the final years of UPA regime.
While the ambitious civil nuclear cooperation agreement is stuck with American companies apprehensive of Indian liability law, the trade ties have also not shown impressive growth. Total bilateral trade in goods touched USD 63.7 billion in 2013, registering a mere growth of 1.7 per cent over the last year.
India-US ties hit a low at the end of last year after senior Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade was arrested in New York, strip-searched and charged with visa fraud for allegedly underpaying her babysitter. (AGENCIES)