'India is ready to write new chapter of ties with China' Beijing: India is ready to write a new chapter of its relationship with China and the two countries should align their positions in many areas despite differences, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said on the eve of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to India. "This visit is special because it is the first visit abroad by the Chinese premier since he assumed office in March. The relationship between our two countries are now sound and good," Khurshid told Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua in an interview on Saturday.



Khurshid believed the two neighbouring countries, despite their differences, have a lot in common and should "align their positions in many areas." "India is ready to write a new chapter of our relationship with China," he said. The upbeat tone is shared by Sitaram Yechury, a senior leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and a member of the upper house of the Indian parliament. "This will be a very important visit for India. It will not only strengthen but also multiply the ties between the two countries," said Yechury, noting that the two countries are registering enviable growth rates while many other economies are struggling in recession or slowdown.

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03:05 AM, May 19, 2013

Ship stranded for 5 months, no help extended: ABHRO Amritsar: A ship, which had got struck along with its 39 crew members, for the last several months off the shores of Mumbai port, has not been provided with fuel, provisions or any means of safe exit by the owning company, a human rights organisation alleged on Saturday. "The ship, Kamal XXXVI, owned by Jaisu Shipping Co Pvt Ltd, with the 31 Indian crew members and eight from Ukraine on...  
02:32 AM, May 19, 2013

Girls outshine boys in Punjab Higher Secondary exams Mohali: Girls outshone boys in the class XII examinations conducted by the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB), the results of which were declared on Saturday. "More than three lakh students took the examinations in March and the total pass percentage was 78.97 per cent. The last year's percentage was 72.31 per cent," state Education minister Sikander Singh Maluka, who was along with PSEB Chairperson, Tejinder Kaur Dhaliwal, told reporters in...  
12:37 AM, May 19, 2013

Fired Mancini thanks City fans in newspaper advert Manchester: Roberto Mancini bade farewell to Manchester City fans by taking out a full-page advert in the local newspaper on Saturday, thanking them for their support during his 3 1/2 years in charge. The Italian was fired by City on Monday after failing to win a major trophy in a season of regression, even though he guided the club to a first Premier League title 12 months earlier. In an...  
08:45 PM, May 18, 2013

Border issue on Li's agenda during India visit
by IANS
New Delhi: All issues, including the boundary question, would be on the table when Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meet in New Delhi on Sunday evening for talks. Li, who arrives in India Sunday afternoon on a three-day state visit, and Manmohan Singh are also likely to discuss the proposed border defence cooperation agreement during their talks, sources said Saturday. Li's visit comes days after the...  
07:58 PM, May 18, 2013

Cong rules out change of PM in the run up to LS elections New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday ruled out change of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the run up to next Lok Sabha elections but steered clear of questions whether he would again be at the helm if the UPA-III comes to power. In reply to questions about change of the Prime Minister soon and holding of early Lok Sabha elections, Congress spokesman PC Chacko said "please do not think of...  
07:50 PM, May 18, 2013

Omar meets PM, seeks relief package for quake-hit people New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and requested a special package for earthquake-hit districts of Doda and Kishtawar in Jammu region. During the meeting, the Chief Minister apprised the Prime Minister about the matters pertaining to peace and development in the state, according to a statement issued by the state government. "The focus of the discussion was recent earthquake...  
07:44 PM, May 18, 2013

Salman Khan is my mentor, says director Prem Raj Mumbai: Director Prem Raj, who has roped in Salman Khan for a cameo in his second film 'Ishkq in Paris' after working with him in 'Main Aur Mrs Khanna', says he shares a mentor-mentee relationship with the superstar. "Salman is my mentor and I am here because of him. It was not difficult to have him in my second film. I genuinely respect him. I have a relation with him...  
05:33 PM, May 18, 2013

Baz Luhrmann: I was an idiot to reject 'Harry Potter' London: 'The Great Gatsby' helmer Baz Luhrmann had turned down the opportunity to direct the 'Harry Potter' films in favour of shooting movie musical 'Moulin Rouge'. The 50-year-old filmmaker said he was contacted by producers of the wizarding franchise while they were planning the first big screen installment, 2001's 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone', reported Contactmusic. "The first one came along and they rang me, and while I love...  
05:27 PM, May 18, 2013

Former Argentine dictator Videla dies in prison at 87 Buenos Aires: Jorge Rafael Videla, an austere former army commander who led Argentina during the bloodiest period of a "dirty war" dictatorship and was unrepentant about kidnappings and murders ordered by the state, died on Friday at age 87. Videla was the first president to head the military junta that "disappeared" thousands of suspected leftists from 1976 to 1983, and he spent his final years behind bars for human rights...  
11:57 AM, May 18, 2013

'The Great Gatsby' review: Big B shines in Bollywood-styled entertainer New Delhi: Baz Luhrmann's film might not have pleased the critics abroad due to its pomp, but we as Indians dig for the typical Bollywood entertainer. Opulent sets, dance, over-the-top dialogues just make us stand up in the theatre and whistle and clap. And, Baz Luhrmann gives you yet another opportunity to enjoy your heart out with his latest offering 'The Great Gatsby'. The film revolves around a war veteran...  
11:27 AM, May 18, 2013

Ferguson praises 'amazing' Beckham's longevity David Beckham's longevity and his ability to reinvent himself were "absolutely incredible", retiring Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has said. Beckham and Ferguson, who were synonymously linked with Manchester United until the former England captain moved to Real Madrid, both announced in the past 10 days they would retire from soccer at the end of the current season. The 71-year-old Ferguson's final game in charge after 26 years at Old...  
09:31 AM, May 18, 2013

Manmohan Singh to visit US on Obama's invitation New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to travel to Washington in a few months at the invitation of US President Barack Obama. Obama's invitation to Singh was delivered by US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns during his recent visit here, sources said. Singh has accepted the invitation and will be travelling to Washington, the sources said. The Prime Minister's visit to Washington could be clubbed with his...  
09:20 AM, May 18, 2013

US: Indian sentenced to three years for human trafficking Washington: An Indian has been sentenced to three years of imprisonment on charges of trafficking immigrants from India into the United States, the Department of Justice said. Kaushik Jayantibhai Thakkar, 33, along with Brazilian national Fabiano Augusto Amorim were sentenced on Friday to serve 36 months in prison for their roles in smuggling undocumented migrants to the US for private financial gain, the Acting Assistant US Attorney General Mythili Raman...  
06:27 AM, May 18, 2013

JKNPP demands central team for providing quake relief Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) on Friday accused the state government of adopting "criminal negligence" towards the quake-affected people of the region and asked the Centre to rush a relief team. "The situation in erstwhile Doda district is highly alarming because of earthquake and aftershocks going on since May 1, 2013 and due to criminal negligence of the state government to provide adequate and immediate relief to...  
12:37 AM, May 18, 2013

Kerala court orders DNA test on Bitti Mohanty Kannur: A Sessions Court in Kannur on Friday ordered DNA test on Bitti Mohanty to obtain scientific proof for establishing his identity following his arrest in March this year after being on the run for several years. Bitti remained absconding by jumping bail following his conviction for raping of a German woman at Alwar in Jaipur. Additional Sessions Judge KV Jayakumar issued the order on Friday on Kerala Police's plea...  
11:41 PM, May 17, 2013

Play-offs in sight for Hyderabad after win over Rajasthan Hyderabad: James Faulkner's effort of 5 for 16 went in vain as Rajasthan Royals failed to chase a moderate total of 137 against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium at Uppal on Friday. The 23-run victory, meanwhile, boosted Hyderabad's chances of reaching the play-offs as, with 18 points from 15 matches, they are now two points ahead of nearest rival, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and have one more game...  
11:22 PM, May 17, 2013

Pitroda asks PM to reactivate GoM on spectrum vacation New Delhi: Time is appropriate to "reactivate" the GoM on spectrum vacation that could free over 122 Mhz of radiowaves as DoT has almost completed alternate communication network for defence forces, Sam Pitroda, Adviser to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, has said. "With the anticipated completion of the terrestrial network for defence services undertaken by DoT...there are fresh possibilities for vacation of more spectrum by the defence services. In addition, digitisation...  
08:55 PM, May 17, 2013

French honour for Anurag Kashyap
by IANS
New Delhi: Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap will be conferred with the French honour Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters for his efforts in the promotion of Indian cinema across the globe. India is the guest country at the ongoing 66th Cannes International Film Festival, which began Wednesday. It celebrates 100 years of Indian cinema. French Culture Minister, Aurelie Filippetti will confer the Chevalier dans l'ordre des Arts et Lettres...  
06:43 PM, May 17, 2013

'Epic' review: It's stunning and well intentioned
by IANS
Voices: Amanda Seyfried, Beyonce Knowles, Colin Farrell, Josh Hutcherson, Christoph Waltz, Aziz Ansari, Steven Tyler Director: Chris Wedge Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Based on the children's book 'The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs' by William Joyce, 'Epic' is a 3D animated science fiction fantasy film with ample amount of action and adventure. 'Epic' tells the story of an ongoing battle between the forces of good, who keep...  
06:32 PM, May 17, 2013