Nepal’s last king Gyanendra heads for Bhopal

KATHMANDU - Nepal’s last king Gyanendra, whose rash decision to seize absolute power with the help of the army four years ago resulted in the abolition of his 239-year-old crown, Wednesday began a nearly three-week-long private visit to India, his first trip abroad since stepping down as head of government in 2006.

IAF choppers can’t be blamed for Mumbai near mishap: air chief

BANGALORE - Mumbai’s Air Traffic Control (ATC) had given clearance to the three Indian Air Force (IAF) choppers carrying President Pratibha Patil’s entourage that narrowly missed colliding with a passenger aircraft, Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major said Wednesday.

Family cheers Winslet at BAFTA

LONDON - Actress Kate Winslet was supported by her family along with her 30-member entourage when she won a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award recently.

Probe into near-disaster at Mumbai airport begins

MUMBAI - The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has begun a probe into Monday’s incident where an Air India aircraft escaped crashing into President Pratibha Patil’s entourage of helicopters at the airport here, an official with the regulator said.

Air India flight, military chopper in near collision scare

MUMBAI - Nearly 170 passengers and 10 crew members of an Air India flight had a close shave Monday when a military chopper came in its path just as the passenger jet was about to take-off. The helicopter was part of President Pratibha Patil’s entourage, an Air India spokesperson said.

President’s choppers escape crashing into Air India aircraft

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI - In a major safety breach, a Delhi-bound Air India flight with 170 passengers and 10-member crew narrowly escaped colliding with a helicopter which was part of President Pratibha Patil’s fleet, minutes before taking off from Mumbai Monday morning.

Nabbed Nepal journalist flaunts Indian links

KATHMANDU - A high-flying Nepali journalist who was arrested by Nepal police Tuesday for allegedly aiding an underground armed organisation in trying to extort money from a businessman, apparently flaunted his links with top Indian leaders to impress the outfit.

Hong Kong police probe alleged assault by Mugabe’s wife

HONG KONG - Police in Hong Kong were investigating Monday whether an alleged assault by the wife of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe during a shopping trip was captured on video.

‘Chandni Chowk…’ set to make largest Bollywood splash in US

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK - Warner Bros’ first Bollywood production ‘Chandni Chowk to China’ makes the largest-ever opening of any Bollywood film in US and Canada Jan 16 with its release on more than 125 screens in over 50 markets.