shameen

Obama yet to gain Muslims’ trust?

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Washington, August 02: Distrust still lingers among a majority of Muslim nations over US foreign policy and rabid anti-Americanism persists despite recent overtures by President Barack Obama, a new survey has indicated.

Obamania may be sweeping the rest of the world, but it is not touching the bulk of the Muslim nations, a survey by Washington-based Pew Foundation of 24 countries and the Palestinian region has revealed.

“Large numbers continue to consider the US an enemy, including big majorities in Pakistan (64 per cent) and the Palestinian territories (77 per cent),” the report said.

Ambanis’ gas row: Govt to file new petition

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New Delh, August 02: The government is believed to have decided to amend its petition in the Supreme Court on the Ambani brothers’ gas dispute and is expected to move the apex court with the changes sometime next week.

The amendments in the petition filed by the Petroleum Ministry last month pertain to the part of the MoU that deals with gas supply and will seek to delink Production Sharing Contract between the government and Mukesh Ambani-led RIL from the Ambani family settlement.

Vidya Balan dumps stylist Manish Malhotra

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Mumbai, August 02: Vidya Balan launching a skin care product in Mumbai on Saturday afternoon and the actress seems to have gone in for a wardrobe overhaul.

Sporting a red and black salwar kameez, the lady seemed far from the icon of fashion disasters that she once was.

Vidya will next be seen with the Bachchans in Pa and the actress seemed particularly impressed with the Big B’s look in the film.

After Shah Rukh-Kajol, watch out for Shah Rukh-Aishwarya!

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Mumbai, August 02: After watching one of the most romantic onscreen couples Shah Rukh and Kajol in ‘My Name is Khan’, gear up to see SRK perform flawlessly with the ethereal Aishwarya in an unnamed film. Yes, you guessed it right the two biggies are set to reunite years after an unsavoury event during the shoot of SRK’s ‘Chupke Chupke’ (all thanks to Ash’s ex-beau Sallu). After the tussle, Rani Mukerji replaced Ash in the film and SRK-Ash turned sworn enemies.

Saif has refused ‘Dostana’ for Aishwarya and Abhishek..

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Mumbai, August 02: Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan could have been a part of Karan Johar’s hit film “Dostana” but refused as industry heavyweights Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan were expected to be a part of the movie when it was offered to him.
Contrary to popular belief that Saif declined the offer because its theme was homosexuality, the 38-year-old actor says he “didn’t really chicken out” of the role.

Railways’ Tatkal scheme earns Rs 600 cr in last fiscal

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New Delhi, August 02: Indian Railways have earned over Rs 600 crore during the last fiscal from tatkal tickets, with Northern Railways topping other zones with the best earning from this scheme.

Of the Railways’ total earning of Rs 605.48 crore, the Northern Railway shared Rs 144.50 crore, which was 13 percent of the total tickets sold, official sources said.

They said earnings this fiscal is expected to cross the figures of the last financial year, expecting a good response from the revised tatkal scheme, which came into effect from August 1, 2009 with more relaxations.

Delhi to witness high security for I-Day

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New Delhi, August 02: As the country prepares to observe its 63rd Independence Day, the national capital is being put under an impregnable security cover to pre-empt any terrorist attack ahead of the celebrations.

Thousands of security personnel, including sharpshooters of the elite National Security Guards, will keep a hawk-eyed vigil in the city in the run up to the August 15 celebrations at the historic Red Fort where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will unfurl the tri-colour and address the nation.

Anti-gay law was an instrument of exploitation: Moily

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New Delhi, August 02: Apprehending misuse of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against homosexuals in the future, Law Minister Veerappa Moily has said the law should not become an instrument of exploitation by authorities. Moily while admitting that the anti-gay law had been misused in the past, complimented the Delhi High Court for a “well-research, well-documented, well-argued” judgement decriminalising homosexuality.

Long cohabitation of couples is presumption of marriage

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New Delhi, August 02: The Supreme Court has held that if a man and a woman are residing together for a long time and have been accepted by the society as husband and wife, a presumption could be drawn that their marriage is valid.

“A long cohabitation and acceptance of society of a man and woman as husband and wife goes a long way in establishing a valid marriage,” a Bench of Justices S B Sinha and Cyriac Joseph observed.

Gunman kills 3, injures 11 at gay club in Tel Aviv

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Jerusalem, August 02: Israeli police say a gunman entered a youth club for gay teens in central Tel Aviv on Saturday night and sprayed the interior with automatic rifle fire, killing three people and injuring 11.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said it was “most likely a criminal attack and not a terror attack.” Tel Aviv has been a target for Palestinian militants in the past.

He said the gunman burst into the basement of the Tel Aviv Gay and Lesbian Association and opened fire on a support group for gay teenagers.

Iran state TV confirms arrest of 3 Americans

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Sulaimaniyah, August 02: Iran state TV confirmed Saturday that it has detained three Americans who crossed the border from northern Iraq, saying they failed to heed warnings from Iranian guards. Kurdish officials from the self-ruled region in northern Iraq said the three — two men and a woman — were tourists who had mistakenly crossed into Iranian territory Friday while hiking in a mountainous area near the resort town of Ahmed Awaa.

Raul Castro warns US, EU he will defend Cuba socialism

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Havana, August 02: Cuban President Raul Castro warned the United States and the European Union that the country’s socialist political system was non-negotiable, adding he would not “restore capitalism” in Cuba.

In a speech Saturday marking the end of the annual Parliamentary session, which has been dominated by Cuba’s grave economic crisis, Castro said he would be willing to “discuss everything” except the island’s political and social system.

Immigrants judged unpatriotic will be denied UK citizenship

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London, August 02: Britain plans to tighten the criteria for granting citizenship and any immigrant judged unpatriotic will be denied the right under a new system.

Foreigners will have to earn points to become British citizens, according to the new plan to be introduced by the Home Office.

Applicants with “unBritish” behaviour or accused of unpatriotic acts like protesting against British troops, will be denied citizenship. Immigrants will be denied passports if they have a history of anti-social behaviour, even if they have never been convicted.

Thousands mourn ex-Philippine president Aquino

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Manila, August 02: Thousands of mourners paid their final respects to former Philippine president Corazon Aquino on Sunday, lining up to file past her coffin in silent tribute to the “People Power” democracy leader.

Aquino, who died at the age of 76 on Saturday after a long battle with colon cancer, led millions of Filipinos in protests against dictator Ferdinand Marcos in a popular revolt in 1986, before taking over as president.

Afghan poll workers ambushed; Western troops killed

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Kabul, August 02: Gunmen on Saturday opened fire on a campaign manager for Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s re-election bid, killing a guard, while one French and three US soldiers died in other insurgent attacks, officials said.

The killings fuelled concern about the security of the August 20 elections with the extremist Taliban militia demanding a boycott and insurgency-linked violence at a nearly eight-year high in the war-scarred country.

Afghan mission falls short of expectations: UK MPs

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London, August 02: The international military mission in Afghanistan has delivered “much less than it promised” due to the lack of a realistic strategy, an influential committee of British lawmakers said Sunday.

In a report, the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee said without a clear strategy stabilising Afghanistan had become “considerably more difficult than might otherwise have been the case.”

Twenty-one killed in a building collapse in Karachi

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Karachi, August 02: At least 21 people, mostly women and children, were killed when a five-storey building collapsed here, authorities said.

Karachi: At least 21 people, mostly women and children, were killed when a five-storey building collapsed here, authorities said.

The building located at Lea Market area, which was weakened by heavy monsoon rains, caved in Friday night, a local official said, adding that the rescue operation was still on.

World trade system starting to work again: Lamy

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Johannesburg, August 02: A $250 billion financial package to revive a global trading system crippled by the credit crisis is starting to bear fruit, especially in Asia, the head of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) said on Saturday.

“Oil is (returning) to the various mechanisms of world trade,” WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy said in South Africa.

“My sense — but it’s a qualitative feeling at this stage — is that notably in regions like Asia, because countries like China stepped in very vigorously, things are picking up,” he said.

Govt warns of action; IndiGo calls off strike

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New Delhi, August 02: Government on Saturday virtually ruled out any bail-out for the bleeding private airlines and warned them of “appropriate action” if flight schedules were disrupted. The pressure seems to be working with budget carrier IndiGo backing out of the strike and others saying they would reconsider their protest decision if their difficulties are addressed.

“The government understands the difficulties being faced by aviation sector. However, the government does not support any move that will inconvenience the traveling public of the country,” Patel said in a statement.

BCCI, ICC emergency meet on WADA impasse begins

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Mumbai, August 02: An emergency meeting between officials of the BCCI and the ICC started on Sunday morning to sort out issues regarding the signing of the WADA Anti-Doping Code.

The Indian cricket board’s all-powerful Working Committee, along with the skipper MS Dhoni, reached the BCCI headquarters here early this morning.

The ICC is being represented by their company lawyer Iain Higgins.

Flat controversy: FIR against Emraan Hashmi

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Mumbai, August 02: Just days after Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi claimed that his dream to buy a flat in Mumbai’s posh Pali Hill was turned down by Nibbana Cooperative Society on religious grounds, a fresh complaint has been lodged against the actor and his filmmaker uncle Mahesh Bhatt at the DB Road police station.

The complaint was filed by social worker Sanjay Bedia who has accused the actor and his uncle for dividing society on communal basis and playing a publicity gimmick.

NATO-Russia foreign ministers to open meeting

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Greece, June 27: The foreign ministers of NATO and Russia are set to resume formal military ties when they meet Saturday for the first time since last year’s war between Russia and Georgia.

Relations between the alliance and the Russian military were frozen in the aftermath of that conflict. Although political ties have thawed considerably over the past five months, there have been no formal military contacts since the war.

Iran election violence ‘outrageous’: Obama

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Tehran, June 27: President Barack Obama on Friday praised the bravery of Iranians who protested against a disputed election in the face of “outrageous” violence, while a hardline Iranian cleric called for the execution of leading “rioters”.

Iran’s top legislative body, which had said it found no major violations in the presidential election which set off the worst unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, said 10 percent of ballot boxes would be recounted.

Iranian cleric urges executing some protesters

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Teheran, June 27: A senior cleric on Friday urged Iran’s protest leaders to be punished ‘without mercy’ and said some should face execution — harsh calls that signal a nasty new turn in the regime’s crackdown on demonstrators two weeks after its disputed election.

Hard-liners have ordered long sentences and hangings before, and some fear those awaiting trial by a judiciary whose verdicts reflect the will of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could face the most severe punishments the Islamic system can dish out.