Month: October 2009

‘Acid Factory’ about horror of discovering true self

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New Delhi, October 06: Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta is known for making multi-starrer action thrillers. His next offering “Acid Factory”, which releases Friday, continues the trend and is about the horror of self-discovery.

Said to be inspired by Hollywood’s “Unknown” (2006), it has been produced by Gupta’s White Feather Films and directed by Suparn Verma. Made at a budget of Rs.25 crore, including print and publicity, the film is releasing with around 800 prints worldwide.

Eat those nuts to stay healthy

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New Delhi, October 06: It’s time to get rid of salted potato chips from your shelves and replace them with healthier nuts that will help you overcome hunger pangs and attain a healthy lifestyle.

For years it was said that nuts contain fat and lead to body heat and so they should be avoided, especially during summer.

UAE to launch camel festival in January

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Abu Dhabi, October 06: The United Arab Emirates capital will launch the Mazayina Dhafra Camel Festival from Jan 30-Feb 8, WAM news agency reported Monday.

The festival will be organised by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) and held in Zayed City in Al Gharbia (the Western Region).

Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazrouei, director general of ADACH, and chairman of the organising committee, said the festival will include many traditional events, such as the traditional market, competitions on poetry, photography, in addition to many surprises that will be announced later.

Taliban chief meets reporters to prove he is alive

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Islamabad, October 06: The new Pakistani Taliban chief has met journalists in Pakistan’s lawless tribal district of South Waziristan to refute claims by Pakistani and US officials that he might have died.

Hakimullah Mehsud allowed five reporters to interview him in the remote, mountainous district Sunday on the condition that it would be reported only Monday.

“You know it’s risky but I chose to present myself to the media to prove that the government’s claims about my death are only propaganda and lies,” Hakimullah was quoted as saying by Ishtiaq Mehsud.

Honduran government repeals restrictions on freedom

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Tegucigalpa/Washington, October 06: The de facto government of Honduras Monday repealed a controversial decree that had restricted freedom of movement and freedom of expression in the country in the wake of the return of ousted President Manuel Zelaya last month.

Hours earlier, in Washington, Zelaya had issued a statement asking the de facto government to end repression and restore “unrestricted” freedom of expression as signs it is serious about dialogue to end the country’s political stalemate.

‘Gender Correction’ Operations on the Rise in Saudi Arabia

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Jeddah, October 06: The number of “gender correction” operations in Saudi Arabia has increased from an average of 12 every year in the last 25 years to 60, according to a 2008 study reported by the Arabic daily Al Watan on Sunday.

This showed that in one year 60 such operations were carried out compared to only 300 in the previous 25 years.

It explained that the rise was due to an “increase in awareness on the part of families and the significant medical developments witnessed in the Kingdom”, which has contributed in revealing more cases than previously.

Australia beat New Zealand to win Champions Trophy

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Centurion, October 06: Australia retained the Champions Trophy with a six-wicket win over New Zealand in the final at the SuperSport Park here Monday.

Chasing a target of 201, Shane Watson (105 not out) scored his second consecutive century and Cameron White made 62, as Australia made 206 for four in 45.2 overs and became the first team to defend the title.

–Agencies

US condemns attack on UN in Pakistan

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Washington, October 06: The US condemned the attack on the UN food office in Pakistan Monday that left five people dead, calling it a “senseless” act against individuals helping to help feed the poor.

“Such cruel acts expose the true nature of the terrorist agenda,” State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said.

A suicide bomber detonated explosives inside the World Food Programme building in the capital Islamabad, wounding an additional six people.

Leaving Afghanistan not an option: White House

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Washington, October 06: Withdrawing US forces from Afghanistan is not among the options under consideration by US President Barack Obama as he outlines a new strategy for the conflict.

“I don’t think we have the option to leave,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Monday. “I think that’s quite clear.”

Obama is in the middle of a strategic review and assessing various possibilities for the war in Afghanistan that is entering its ninth year. The top US commander there, General Stanley McChrystal, is reportedly seeking an additional 40,000 troops.

Oman urges Joint Efforts to Tackle Human-trafficking

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Muscat, October 06: A senior Omani official has called for joint effort by all parties concerned to stem human trafficking, outlining steps taken by the sultanate to tackle the menace.

Saleh bin A’yel Al Amry, Labour Welfare Advisor to the Manpower Minister, said trafficking in humans was a global issue that posed challenges at the local, national and international levels.

Dalai Lama to meet with Obama on US tour after all: US

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Washington, October 06: President Barack Obama will meet with the Dalai Lama during his US tour this month, the State Department said Monday contradicting a media report the White House had postponed their meeting in an attempt to gain favour with China.

“The United States government thinks that he is an internationally revered religious and cultural figure, he is a Nobel Prize laureate,” State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters.

“The president has decided that he will meet with the Dalai Lama at a mutually agreeable time.”

Scoreboard: New Zealand vs. Australia, Final, Champions Trophy

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Centurion, October 06: The following is the scoreboard of the Champions Trophy final between New Zealand and Australia at the SuperSport Park here Monday.

New Zealand:

Brendan McCullum c Paine b Siddle 0

Aaron Redmond st Paine b Hauritz 26

Martin Guptill c & b Hauritz 40

Ross Taylor c Hussey b Johnson 6

Grant Elliott lbw Lee 9

Neil Broom run out (Hussey/Watson) 37

James Franklin b Lee 33

Kyle Mills run out (Ponting) 12

Ian Butler lbw Hauritz 6

Jeetan Patel not out 16

Shane Bond not out 3

Extras (b 1, lb 2, w 9) 12

Abbas cabinet says will confront Israel

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Gaza, October 06: The Western-backed Palestinian government pledged on Monday “to confront Israel” as Israeli troops clashed with protesters for a second day in the Jerusalem area.

Youths hurled rocks at policemen and burned cardboard cartons and trash in the streets of Shuafat outside Arab East Jerusalem, after Israel arrested a teenager it suspects stabbed and wounded a soldier conducting a security check on a bus.

Palestinians to sign unity deal October 26

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Amman, October 06: Rival Palestinian factions are to sign a long-delayed reconciliation deal in Cairo on October 26, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said on Monday after meeting Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas.

“We agreed to hold a meeting for Palestinian factions in Cairo on October 25 before signing a reconciliation agreement on October 26,” he told a joint press conference with his Jordanian counterpart Nasser Judeh.

“Arab officials and maybe officials from outside the Arab world might attend the signing of the agreement as witnesses.”

Hamas criticizes Abbas over war crimes report

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Gaza City, October 06: Hamas leaders on Monday launched an unprecedented attack against President Mahmoud Abbas, saying they no longer consider him a Palestinian after he agreed to suspend efforts to go after Israel for alleged war crimes in Gaza.

The harsh verbal assault is likely to undermine attempts at reconciliation between the Western-backed Abbas and his Islamic militant Hamas rivals, who control the Gaza Strip.

Al Kamda is Chief of Community Development

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Dubai, October 06: His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, 
Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, in his capacity as Ruler of Dubai, issued a decree appointing Khaled Al Kamda as Director-General of the Dubai Community Development Authority.

Khaled Al Kamda was born in 1960 in the UAE. After completing his secondary education, he obtained Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree from the Melbourne Institute of Technology in Florida, United States, in 1985.

Australians search for tsunami victims

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Sydney, October 06: Search teams are still combing through smashed houses and ripped foliage in their search for human remains nearly a week after a tsunami devastated Samoa and neighbouring islands.

Eight people remain missing in Samoa and another two in neighbouring American Samoa following the tsunami which crashed into the South Pacific islands following an 8.3-magnitude earthquake last Tuesday.

A total of 135 people are confirmed dead in Samoa, another 32 in American Samoa and nine in the northernmost islands of Tonga.

President, VP Congratulate Egypt President on National Day

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Abu Dhabi, October 06: The President, High Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a congratulatory cable to Egyptian President, Mohammed Hosni Mubarak, on the occasion of his country’s National Day.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has also sent a similar cable to the Egyptian president.

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has also sent a similar cable to President Mubarak.

UN Shuts Pakistan Offices after Blast in Capital

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Islamabad, October 06: Five people, including two women and an Iraqi national, were killed and four injured in a suicide bomb blast at the United Nations World Food Programme office here on Monday.

The UN reacted strongly to the incident and immediately closed down all its offices in Pakistan.

“Preliminary investigation shows that the bomber had disguised in the uniform of the paramilitary Frontier Constabulary,” Interior Minister Rehman Malik told reporters at the site of the explosion.

City scape Dubai — A
 Reflection of Reality

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Dubai, October 06: The opening day of Dubai’s most awaited business event of the year went as most had expected. A duller affair compared to previous years, Cityscape Dubai 2009 accurately reflected the true state of the country’s real estate market — too many sellers and very few buyers.

At a few minutes before 9am on Monday, it was a smooth drive to Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, and a walk across the main hall of the venue gave the impression of a normal business day. It was a far cry from the mad rush that visitors encountered at Cityscape in past years.

Floods leave 2.5mn people homeless

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Hyderabad, October 06: Andhra Pradesh is gearing for more floods as a swollen Krishna river inundated parts of Vijayawada city and threatened to swamp hundreds of villages

Rescue workers used sandbags to stop a raging river from breaching its embankment near Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh yesterday as floods triggered by heavy rains over the last week left 2.5mn people homeless.

Hariri Case
 Witness Gets
 Six-Month Jail

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Abu Dhabi, October 06: A key witness in the former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri assassination case will spend six
months in prison and deported thereafter, the Federal Supreme Court ruled on Monday.

The Public Prosecution had charged Mohammed Zuhair Siddiq, a former member of Syria’s intelligence services, with entering the country by using a fake Czech passport.

Siddiq admitted to possessing the counterfeit passport and he used it because he was wanted by several countries for investigations related to the Hariri assassination case.

Abu Dhabi Unveils Master 
Plan for Capital District

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Abu Dhabi, October 06: The capital district of Abu Dhabi will be developed into a contemporary Arab city as envisaged in the Abu Dhabi Vision 2030 document.

The master plan for the project, worked out by the Urban Planning Council (UPC), was unveiled on Sunday by Jody Andrews, director of Capital District Development, at a press conference organised by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) to announce the setting up of the Second Abu Dhabi Investment Forum (ADIF) in London on October 19.

RERA to Launch Property Price Index in 2010

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Dubai, October 06: The real estate regulator of Dubai said on Monday that it would introduce a price index in early 2010 to help benchmark property values in the emirate.

Mahmoud Hesham Al Burai, Director of Development at the Real Estate Regulatory Agency, or RERA, said that the property price index would work along the same principles as the rental index that the agency launched earlier this year and makes available on its website.

Islamic art museum wins top architecture award

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Dubai, October 06: Museum of Islamic Art in Doha has been adjudged the ‘Overall Project of the Year’ at the 2nd Annual Middle East Architect Awards ceremony.

Qatar Museums Authority (QMA) was presented the award for the Museum of Islamic Art – Doha, at a ceremony hosted by Middle East Architect magazine.

The annual ceremony is the most prestigious event dedicated to recognise outstanding architectural projects in the region.