Bharti adds 6,489 employees in Q1

The country's largest private sector telecom operator Bharti Airtel added 6,489 employees during the April-June period, taking its total headcount to 24,843 at the end of the first quarter of current fiscal.

As on June 30, 2010, the company had a total of 24,843 employees, against 18,354 staff for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the company said in its quarterly report.

The cash and cash equivalents of the company stood at Rs 3,108 crore for June 2010, against Rs 710 crore in the same quarter ended June 2009.

The company today has reported a decline of 32 per cent in consolidated net profit at Rs 1,682 crore in the first quarter ended June 30, due to the foreign exchange losses.

The April-June quarter of current fiscal witnessed an adverse impact after dollar strengthened against rupee and several African currencies. As a result, derivative and exchange fluctuation loss stood at Rs 216 crore, as against the gain of Rs 279 crore in the same quarter in the previous year.

As on June 30, 2010, the company had an aggregate of over 18.33 crore customers consisting of over 17.69 crore mobile, 31.53 lakh Telemedia and 32.43 lakh Digital TV customers.

Its total customer base as on June 2010 increased by 71.3 per cent, compared to the base as on June 2009.

The company had a net debt of Rs 60,230 crore (USD 12,925 million) as on June 2010.

As on June 2010, the company had total assets of Rs 1,429,55 crore, and total liabilities of Rs 961,67 crore. The difference of Rs 467,88 crore was on account of equity attributable to equity holders of parent and non-controlling interest.

During the June quarter, the company incurred a capital expenditure of Rs 18,36 crore.

Shares of Bharti Airtel were trading at Rs 323.50 on the Bombay Stock Exchange, down 0.25 per cent from the previous close.

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Aamir, Rani at Peepli Live music launch

Rani Mukherjee, Karan Johar, Kiran Rao and Ayan Mukherjee to name a few cheered Aamir Khan as he turned drummer at the music launch of his upcoming movie Peepli Live in Mumbai. Here are a few snapshots from the event..

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I feel I'm in a dream world : Natha of Peepli Live

He got a role in Aamir Khan's movie, met his favourite actress Deepika Padukone and is basking in the spotlight of fame - it's a "dream world", says Omkar Das Manikpuri, who plays Natha in Peepli Live.

"I never thought that I would ever work in a film, neither did I plan to work in movies. Till now I feel that I am into some dream world," the Chhattisgarh-based theatre actor said.

"I would like to work more in this industry and especially with Aamir Khan. Aamirji is a person with a very big heart. He is so down to earth and speaks so well. He never lets me feel that I am with such a big actor, director and producer," Omkar said in an exclusive interview.

Directed by debutant Anusha Rizvi and prouduced by Aamir Khan Productions Pvt Ltd, Peepli Live is a satire on farmers' suicides and the subsequent response from the media and political parties.

"Though the story is complete fiction, such incidents are evident in rural central India," said Omkar.

He remembers his first day on the sets. "I was quite nervous on the first day. There was a big camera, people were setting lights, director was shouting silence. I got scared after seeing the setup. I was not sure whether I would be able to deliver or not. Then Anushaji said that there is of course some difference between performing on stage and in front of the camera, but it's not that big. She asked me to work as if I was on stage. But next day I was comfortable in front of the camera."

The cast and the crew had to follow a routine.

"Everything was time bound and there were some routine and discipline maintained on the sets and I liked that most about working in the film."

Omkara's favourite actress is Deepika and he has already met her thanks to Aamir.

"Now I want to work with Deepikaji. I had seen her film Om Shanti Om partly when it came on television. I couldn't watch the whole movie as I had to rush for rehearsals. Recently I saw her again in one of the song of Lafangey Parindey and I loved it. Aamirji introduced me to Deepikaji. I am very happy."

"I am associated with Habib Tanvir's Naya Theatre. I have spent almost 10 years in theatre. When Anushaji was casting for Peepli Live, she came to Naya Theatre and took audition of few actors. I auditioned for a small role. When Aamirji, Anushaji and all saw my audition, they liked it and cast me to play Natha," he said.

Read more at: http://movies.ndtv.com/Ndtv-Show-Special-Story.aspx?ID=567&StoryID=ENTEN20100149441&cp

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Kalki's bold sexual scenes leaked

Director Anurag Kashyap and his girlfriend Kalki Koechlin might not dream in their wildest dream that the screening of their film That Girl In Yellow Boots at the Venice Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival would trouble them. Unfortunately, the bold sexual scenes of the film involving Kalki, has been leaked online after its screening at the film festivals.

It is said that Anurag and Kalki are not happy with the leak of the steamy scenes before its official release. They were over the moon when their film was selected for a premiere at the prestious film festivals but the leak of the hot scenes has disappointed them.

That Girl In Yellow Boots is a thriller about a girl in search of her father, who she hardly knew. It features Kalki Koechlin, Naseeruddin Shah, Shiv Kumar Subramaniam, Divya Jagdal and Kumud Mishra in the lead roles and is scheduled for release next month.

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Priyanka’s heart goes out for slum girls

Priyanka Chopra has always been in to promoting girl child education but now that she’s officially associated with UNICEF she is planning to go a step ahead. As a brand ambassador, she believes if she can influence masses she should use her star power. So, she is now planning to go door to door to speak to various families in small towns and villages. She is also planning to conduct lectures for them. The actress also made efforts to go to slums and meet the girls to understand the problem from grassroots level. While sharing her experience she said that it is indeed sad to see so many girls being subjected to work or get married at tender age instead of seeking education.

She hopes that all the parents would think like her parent who have brought her up to become an independent woman but is disappointed to know that even affluent families in the city like Mumbai do not give importance to the education of their girl child.

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Mumbai ship collision: Captain blames Captain

The Captain of the MSC Chitra, the ship carrying oil and pesticide that collided with another close to the Mumbai harbour on Saturday, has been granted interim bail by the Sessions court.

Captain Mandeleno Ranjit Martin had said in his bail plea that the collision happened because of a navigational error which was caused by the failure of radio communication. He said there was no error on his part and pointed out that he had been a part of the industry for 18 years

Martin also said in his bail application that there was no point of sending him to police custody as there was nothing to recover from him.

He added that the MV Khalijia, with which his ship had collided, was not fit to sail at sea and that it was the Captain of this ship who was responsible for the accident.


The Chitra had collided with the Khalijia on Saturday and tilted dangerously. A leak in the ship caused its cargo of oil to start pouring into the sea, causing a huge oil spill. To make matters worse, some containers detached from the ship and started floating. There were fears that these contained hazardous material, but those 31 containers were later found secure in the ship's hold.

The oil leak was finally plugged on Tuesday, but 800 tonnes of oil was spilt, double of what was thought earlier. Both the Mumbai Port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) have been closed. The Mumbai Port may not open till Friday. It will take days to clean up the slick and could take up to six to eight months to refloat the ship and tow it away. (Mumbai oil spill: Clean up to take 45 days)

A Singapore-based company will conduct salvage operations from Friday. A crane mounted on a ship has been placed next to the Chitra and preliminary clearing operations have begun.
First, the ships containers will be removed and oil will be pumped out and only then will the ship be towed to the shore.

Images shot by us show that the oil slick is affecting marine life and the environment.

we travelled to Uran in Raigad district to find out the impact of the spill, and the situation is scary. A snake which came in from the sea was covered in oil, and the mangroves here are bearing the brunt of the accident.

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JK: Militants attack Army convoy

A group of militants opened fire at an Army vehicle carrying soldiers in the Rajouri district of Jammu Kashmir on Wednesday, Aug 11.

Buzz up!
Reports said a passenger bus was caught in the crossfire killing a woman and injuring 17 civilians and two jawans.


The report further added that the Army truck came under attack in the Deraki Gali area of Thana Mandi early this morning.

Army troops retaliated and a heavy gunbattle followed which continued till last reports came in.

The bus passengers have been evacuated and the injured are admitted to a local hospital in Rajouri.

This firing took place after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appealed citizens to end violence in the Valley.

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