Month: August 2010

Saudi Arabia to launch official TV, radio for fatwa

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Riyadh, August 22: Saudi Arabia is mulling the idea of setting up an official television channel and radio station for accredited Muslim scholars to issue fatwas, or religious edicts, reports said Saturday.

The television channel will “create a credible link between the inquirer from inside or outside the kingdom and the authorised clerics” through free hot lines for people from all over the world, the daily al-Youm reported.

Sources indicated that the channel would be based in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.

Karat wanted to teach Manmohan, Sonia a lesson: Somnath

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New Delhi, August 22: CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat had decided to teach Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi a lesson for the ‘insult’ meted out to him on the nuclear deal issue by withdrawing support to the government in 2008.

With their larger-than-life image and influence on governance with 62 MPs, Karat, CPI’s AB Bardhan and other Left leaders were of the belief that their decision would be the last word for the government, says former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee.

Power protest injures 16 in Iraq

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Tehran, August 22: At least 16 people have been injured as dozens of Iraqis in the southern city of Nasiriyah turned out in the streets protesting the shortage of power supplies.

The protesters said the provincial government was not providing sufficient basic services, especially electricity, police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Murtada al-Shahtur said.

Police officers fired water cannons to disperse the crowd, who had gathered in the center of the city on Saturday evening.

MLA, 24 others chargesheeted for blocking highway

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Muzaffarnagar, August 22: A chargesheet has been filed against an MLA and 24 others in a Saharanpur court in connection with rioting and blocking of a highway, police said today.

According to prosecution, police have filed cases against MLA Imran Masood, former UP minister Virender Singh, BKU leader Naresh Tikait, former MLAs Sushil Choudhry and Pradeep Choudhry and 20 others under various sections of the IPC.

The accused had blocked Ambala highway on May 20 in protest against handing over of disputed land to dalit allottees by the district authorities in Saharanpur

—PTI—

Sooraj Barjatya Ropes In Sallu For ‘Love You Mr. Kalakaar’

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Mumbai, August 22: The distance between the Bollywood bad man Salman Khan and ace director Sooraj Barjatya has finally been bridged.

Sallu Miyan, who was named as ‘Prem’ in Barjatya’s earlier 3 films made under Rajshri Productions banner, has been roped in for a lead character in the upcoming flick.

The sources said that the actor has already been picked by Sooraj for a small role in his film ‘Love You Mr. Kalakaar’.

Differences crept in between Sallu and Sooraj after Raj Kumar Barjatya’s condemnation for the actor after the blackbuck slaughter accident.

Categories Uncategorised

Thousands evacuated in flood-hit China

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Beijing, August 22: Fresh floods in China’s northeastern Liaoning province have forced more than 120,000 people to evacuate their homes and thousands to relocate in North Korea.

China’s Civil Affairs Ministry said late Saturday that 127,000 people had been evacuated in Liaoning province in just three days due to the rains, AFP said.

Heavy summer downpours have dangerously swollen the Yalu River, which forms the boundary between China and neighboring North Korea. Chinese forecasters have warned of more heavy rains in parts of Liaoning.

Iran to expand Latin American ties

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Tehran, August 22: Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has received Peru’s new envoy to Tehran, reiterating Iran’s interest in expanding ties with Latin American nations.

In receiving the accreditation of Peru’s new Ambassador Javier Paolonich in a Saturday meeting, Mottaki noted the historic relations between Iran and Latin American countries and emphasized the Islamic Republic’s interest in expanding relations with all countries in the region.

Barcelona wins Spanish Super Cup

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Spanish, August 22: Barcelona has won its record ninth soccer trophy in the Spanish Super Cup by defeating Seville 4-0 in the second leg for a 5-3 aggregate.

The Catalan club star Lionel Messi scored a hat trick at the Camp Nou Stadium on Saturday, blotting out his disappointing performance in South Africa’s World Cup.

In the 14th minute, Pedro Rodriguez delivered a low cross that rebounded in off defender Abdoulay Konko.

Nine minutes later, Messi ran on to Xavi Hernandez’s long through pass and put a first-time shot past goalkeeper Andres Palop.

Our struggle not Islamist, says Mirwaiz

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Srinagar, August 22: Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq lashed out at the forces “bent on branding the struggle in Kashmir as Islamist”. The letters urging Sikhs to embrace Islam, he said, was a part of this gameplan.

“We think the indigenous nature of the ongoing uprising has unnerved some forces to start conspiring against the movement,” Mirwaiz told. “Otherwise how can a few anonymous letters delivered to a few Sikh households be treated as the voice of the Valley’s majority population.”

Palestinians sense danger for Abbas

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Occupied Jerusalem, August 22: Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, may pay a heavy price for agreeing to resume talks despite the prospect of renewed Israeli colony expansion in September and widespread scepticism among Palestinians that talks will yield results.

Palestinian politicians and analysts say that any breakthrough is highly unlikely, and there is a sense among many Palestinians that the talks are being renewed on Israeli rather than Palestinian terms.

Muslim or Christian? Religion row dogs Obama

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Washington, August 22: A day after controversial evangelical leader Rev. Franklin Graham said Barack Obama was born a Muslim because of his father’s religious beliefs, the White House again asserted that the president is a ‘committed Christian’ and prays daily.

Graham, son of famed presidential religious adviser Billy Graham, told CNN on Thursday that while he believes Obama is now a Christian, the president was born a Muslim because the ‘seed of Islam’ is passed through the father.

60-year old woman trampled to death by elephant

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Erode (TN), August 22: A 60-year old woman was trampled to death by a wild elephant in Kadambur forest range in the district, police said today.

The body of Deviammal, with injuries confirming trampling by an elephant, was recovered today, forest officials said.

The woman was missing since Friday when she had ventured into the forest for grazing her cattle.

A search was launched to locate her, police said.
–PTI

Rambo had a tough time directing ‘Expendables’

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London, August 22: Rambo star Sylvester Stallone had a hard time directing ‘The Expendables’ as he had to persuade his co-stars to get out of their comfort zones.

The 64-year-old actor and filmmaker, who appears in the action blockbuster alongside Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren and Arnold Schwarzenegger, admits it was tough trying to convince his cast to try new things on set.

Shakira may be in trouble

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London, August 22: Pop star Shakira may land herself in trouble for stopping traffic while shooting for a music video in Barcelona.

Authorities at the Spanish city are considering fining the Colombian singer for causing inconvenience to traffic as she filmed her video, reported New York Post.

The ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ hitmaker was wearing a bikini top and gold hip-huggers, exposing her well-toned legs, for the shoot.

‘Couple of incidents of cruelty sufficient for divorce’

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New Delhi, August 22: The Delhi high court has ruled that, a couple of incidents of cruelty by the spouse may be sufficient ground for divorce.

The High court has lined that while allowing the plea by a woman who has been living separately for 21 years.

The court observed that it is not necessary to narrate each incident of harassment to prove mental or physical cruelty to get divorce.

“Sometimes two or three incidents may be sufficient to prove the cruelty committed by the spouse. Many a time’s mental cruelty is more severe than physical cruelty.

Mudslides hit China, 23 dies

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China, August 22: A remote mountain village in southwest China was hit by mudslides killing at least 23 people and 69 missing.

Rescuers have retrieved 11 bodies on Saturday, four days after the disaster in Yunnan province.

“The chances of survival for the missing people are slim,” said Hou Xinrong, director of public security bureau in Gongshan County.

Heavy rains hampered the rescue work.

Families of the dead and missing received 10,000 yuan (about $1,400) for each victim from the government.

Federer in final with Fish

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Washington, August 22: Roger Federer defeated Marcos Baghdatis 6-4, 6-3 on Saturday to set up a final at the Cincinnati Masters with US player Mardy Fish.

The 36th-ranked Fish reached his fourth title match in just over two months, turning the tide after a rain delay to overcome good friend Andy Roddick 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-1.

Tharoor weds Sunanda in Kerala

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Kerela, August 22: Member of Parliament (MP) Shashi Tharoor and Sunanda Pushkar tied the knot at his ancestral home near Palakkad in Kerala on Sunday morning.

The rituals were performed as per Kerala Hindu tradition in his 200-year-old ancestral home. Tharoor tied the ‘thali’ around Pushkar’s neck, exchanged garlands and handed her ‘podava’ or a new set of clothes around 8.30 a.m.

While Throor was clad in traditional Malayali atire of Kurtha and mundu, Sunanda, who hails from Kashmir, turned up with jerried off-white ‘veshti-mundu set’.

Earthquake hits Taiwan

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Taiwan, August 22: A moderate earthquake has struck off the eastern coast of Taipei (Taiwan), Central Weather Bureau said.

There have been no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

The bureau says the quake registered magnitude 5.4, while the US Geological Survey puts it at 5.0.

The quake hit at 12:37 am on Sunday (1637 GMT Saturday), the bureau says. It says the earthquake was centred 35 kilometres east off eastern Taiwanese county of Hualien, some 135 kilometres southeast of the capital.

Earthquakes frequently rattle Taiwan but most are minor and cause little or no damage.

Gilani defends flood response from India

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Islamabad, August 22: The Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday defended his government’s decision to accept aid for flood victims from India, saying it has enhanced Pakistan’s diplomatic image.

He said those opposed to taking aid from India should give reasons for their stand.

“I would like to ask the critics of Indian aid on what ground we should refuse it. It will be a narrow approach if we refuse aid from India,” Gilani said.

Tharoor-Pushkar tie knot in Kerala

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Palakkad, August 22: MP Shashi Tharoor and Sunanda Pushkar tied the knot at his ancestral home near here Sunday morning in a typical Kerala Hindu tradition.

Performing rituals as per the tradition of Nair family, Tharoor tied the ‘thali’ around Pushkar’s neck, exchanged garlands and handed her ‘podava’ or a new set of clothes around 8.30 a.m.

After the ceremony, which takes place on the first day of Onam festival, the two will Sunday evening head for former union minister Tharoor’s parliamentary constituency of Thiruvananthapuram.

Google receives govt notice over PoK

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New Delhi, August 22: Search engine giant Google received notice from Indian government over showing Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) as a part of Pakistan.

State for telecom and IT minister, Sachin Pilot said, “Any wrongful depiction of Indian map and its boundaries is liable for action under the India Information Technology Act. Google has been asked to immediately correct this inaccuracy.”

Google Insights for Search, a tool which shows search volume patterns across specific regions, had shown a map of India as part of Pakistan.

‘Umrao Jaan’ is Manasvi Mamgai’s dream role

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Mumbai, August 22: After yesteryear beauty Rekha and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan played Umrao Jaan in Bollywood, Miss India World Manasvi Mamgai says playing the famous Lucknow courtesan is her “dream role”.

“Playing Umrao Jaan is my dream role. Bollywood is surely in my mind. But right now, I am concentrating on my Miss World 2010 pageant in China. That’s my first priority,” Manasvi told IANS over phone.

Manasvi was crowned Pantaloons Femina Miss India World 2010 earlier this year.

Cong warns Jagan against resuming yatra

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New Delhi, August 22: Taking a tough stand, the Congress high command on Saturday warned rebel party MP Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy of disciplinary action if he goes ahead with his controversial yatra in Andhra Pradesh.

The warning has been given by senior leader Pranab Mukherjee to Jagan, son of the late Chief Minister Y S Rajsekhar Reddy, ahead of his plan to start the ‘Odarpu Yatra’ from Prakasam district on September three, sources close to Mukherjee said.

Jagan, a known critic of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah, had met Mukherjee twice during the past one week.

23 die as more mudslides hit China

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Beijing, August 22: At least 23 people have died and 69 are missing after mudslideS hit a remote mountain village in southwest China, Xinhua reported Saturday.

Rescuers have retrieved 11 bodies Saturday, four days after the disaster in Yunnan province.

“The chances of survival for the missing people are slim,” said Hou Xinrong, director of public security bureau in Gongshan county.

Heavy rains hampered the rescue work.

Families of the dead and missing received 10,000 yuan (about $1,400) for each victim from the government.