NEW DELHI: World chess champion Viswanathan Anand was denied an honorary doctorate from University of Hyderabad because the government is confused over his citizenship. The University of Hyderabad had decided to award Anand an honorary doctorate in 2009 and formally forwarded the proposal to the human resource development ministry recently. Since all foreign awardees require approval from the ministry of external affairs, the HRD ministry raised …

Most hurdles crossed, Sania and Shoaib are now set to come together in a holy matrimony. The known cost of divorcing his ex-wife is Rs 15,000. But there're reports suggesting that Shaoib has paid a good 15 crore to buy his independence. Frantic negotiations anchored by several Muslim leaders, including cricketer-cum-MP Mohd Azharuddin, Andhra Pradesh minorities welfare minister Mohammed Ahmadullah, and Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary …

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza will tie the knot with Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik here Friday. Qazi Azmatullah Jafari, one of the qazis of the area in which Sania’s house is located, told reporters that the nikah would be performed after the ‘maghrib’ prayers after sunset. Sania’s parents, Shoaib’s mother and close relatives of the duo would attend the simple nikah at Sania’s house in Jubilee Hills. The ceremony has been kept a closely guarded …

Police Monday began questioning Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik in connection with the complaint filed against him by Ayesha Siddiqui, who claims to be his first wife. A police team reached the residence of Shoaib’s bride-to-be and Indian tennis star Sania Mirza in Banjara Hills. Assistant Commissioner of Police Ravinder Reddy and Banjara Hills police inspector Iqbal Siddiqui reached Sania’s residence around 9.30 a.m. to question him. Shoaib, …

Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, saves up to 3,200 KW of energy every day by tapping solar power to heat the 140,000 litres of water required by its occupants. This translates into an annual saving of 690 MW, said Ahmad Al Matrooshi, Managing Director of Emaar Properties that constructed the tower. “Energy efficient measures, especially through use of renewable sources, are not an option but an imperative for sustainable growth. …

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza’s wedding plans took a dramatic turn Sunday as Hyderabad resident Ayesha Siddiqui, who claims to be the first wife of Shoaib Malik, filed a case of cheating against the Pakistani cricketer after he denied marrying her. Ayesha also accused Malik, the former Paksitani skipper, of trying to buy her silence for $1 million, muddying the waters ahead of the April 15 marriage of Sania and Shoaib. In her complaint at the …

Despite US Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer's assertion to the contrary, Washington will allow New Delhi to access David Headley once before the trial and once during the trial in India after the Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist is chargesheeted in the Mumbai attack case. According to top officials, US Attorney General Eric Holder had assured Chidambaram that access would be allowed to Headley both at the pre-trial and during the trial of the case registered …

Mumbai, March 29- Prakash Mahajan, brother of late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan, has been appointed Shiv Sena spokesperson, Sena sources said. After Pramod Mahajan's death, Prakash joined Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). He left MNS after differences with Raj last year and joined Shiv Sena. Senior Sena leader Anil Desai confirmed the development. Speaking to the media, Prakash said: "The party has entrusted me with a responsibility …

Faridabad, March 15 -- Three bikers armed with iron rods attacked and injured two people in the Central Government residential colony on NH 4 and smashed glasses of some vehicles on Friday night. The incident took place around 11 p.m.. "First, a woman was attacked," M.L. Meena, president, RWA Central Govt Residental Colony, NH4 said. "My son was attacked with iron rods, his mobile phone and some cash was also snatched," said Jagdish, father of Rohit, …

New Delhi, March 15 -- In a shocking incident, a temple priest allegedly raped a 22-year-old mentally unstable girl in Saket in South Delhi. Police say, the priest allegedly took the girl to his room to get some vegetables cut and raped her. The incident reportedly took place on March 4 at the Shiv Mandir in Pushp Vihar Sector-1. Santosh Kumar Tiwari (40), the accused, has been arrested. "He had fled from the temple but returned on Sunday evening …