Month: November 2010

Bahrain’s first woman councillor is also Gulf’s first

by

Manama, November 01: The first woman to be elected to a municipal council in Bahrain, Fatima Salman is conscious of her historical feat, and as the maiden female councillor in the entire Gulf region she believes women from her country deserve such an achievement.

An independent candidate, Fatima won from Muharraq, Bahrain’s second largest city.

She topped the list of nine candidates in the first round on October 23, scoring 28.8 per cent Her nearest rival, Mohammad Al Sinan, received 20.6 per cent of the votes.

Sarkozy ‘fears for his life’

by

London, November 01: Nicolas Sarkozy fears he could be assassinated, after becoming the “most hated” French President in 50 years, a media report said.

France has erupted in strikes and protests since President Sarkozy proposed saving cash by raising retirement age from 60 to 62 years. The change has now been voted into law by MPs, triggering widespread anger among French workers.

Obama better than Bush, so no protests: Indian Muslims

by

New Delhi, November 01: Barack Obama is ‘better’ than George Bush, say Indian Muslims though they don’t consider the US as Muslim-friendly yet, adding when the American president arrives he can expect a warm welcome from the community members.

There would be no demonstrations by the community to protest the high-level visit from Nov 6, say Muslim leaders who had organised rallies against George Bush’s visit in 2006 to protest his Iraq and Afghanistan war policy.

Obama to dine Indian style at Bukhara?

by

New Delhi, November 01: What is that Indian gastronomic delight that will tickle the taste buds of the world’s most powerful man? The chefs of Bukhara restaurant here are tightlipped as they cook up a dish to be named after US President Barack Obama – but it sure promises to be ‘finger-licking’ good.

Obama, who will stay at the luxury hotel ITC Maurya from Nov 7-9, will have to eat Indian style at its flagship eatery Bukhara – with his fingers!

One of the USPs of the restaurant is its custom of urging guests to use their hands, instead of forks and knives, to eat the food.

City ministers want Hyderabad state‎

by

Hyderabad, November 01: The latest Hyderabad brothers – Danam Nagender and Mukesh Goud have raised yet another demand to counter the theory of union territory status to Greater Hyderabad.

Child soldier Khadr gets 40-year jail at Guantanamo

by

Toronto, November 01: Afghan Canadian Omar Khadr, the only child soldier and last western prisoner held at Guantanamo, has been sentenced to 40 years in jail for killing a US medic in Afghanistan in 2002.

Twenty-four-year-old Khadr, whose father was a close aide of Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, was 15 when he was arrested in a gunbattle with the US forces in Afghanistan in 2002.

Why I Became A Muslim, Writes Tony Blair’s Sister-in-Law

by

Former British prime minister Tony Blair’s sister-in-law Lauren Booth writes why she loves Islam.  These are excerpts from Daily Mail, London:

It is the most peculiar journey of my life. The carriage is warm and my fellow passengers unexpectedly welcoming. We are progressing ­rapidly and without delay. Rain, snow, rail unions, these things make no difference to the forward rush.

3-yr old girl raped by youth

by

Akola, November 01: A 25-year-old youth, Sunil Sopan Manwar, was beaten to death by an angry mob for allegedly raping a three-a-and-half-year-old girl in Panchsheel Nagar, near railway station at Washim, some 80km from here on the night of October 29, the police said.

The kid had been residing with her grandparents since her mother deserted her. The kid was playing in the courtyard of her house from where the youth allegedly lured her away with the promise of buying her chocolates. The youth took her to a nearby deserted place where he raped the girl.

Mozart music may help microbes clear sewage

by

Melbourne, November 01: Believe it or not! Musical notes of 18th century maestro Mozart is now being tested whether it can boost the activity of micro-organisms in breaking down biosolids.

A German company is testing a sound system that replicates the vibrations and sounds of the concert hall which, when combined with oxygen, helps break down sewage, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Hajj aspirants left high and dry as technical snag delayed flight

by

Hyderabad, November 01: State Hajj aspirants stranded at Hajj terminal of Shamsabad airport due to technical snag in the Saudi Airlines flight. The flight had to take off at 5:40 as per schedule but it was reported to the Hajj committee by Saudi airlines that the flight would be delayed.

The airlines staff kept flipping the schedule eventually it was told that the flight would take off at 9 pm on which the Hajj committee sent the aspirants to airport without dinner. When the aspirants reached the airport it was found that the flight had not reached from Madina.

Sharp hike in Pak petroleum prices

by

Islamabad, November 01: The prices of petroleum products in Pakistan were raised sharply Sunday, the biggest single increase in years.

Pakistan’s Express Tribune Monday reported that a notification regarding the price rise was issued by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA). It says the increase was to match a similar trend in the international market during the month of October.

The highest increase was in the prices of high octane blending component (HOBC) that which went up by Rs.7 per litre from Rs.79.56 to Rs86.67.

Ash or Beebo- who will fav this Diwali?

by

Mumbai, November 01: This Diwali, get ready for ‘double dhamaka’ as two leading Bollywood bombshells will be hitting the big screen with two big films Action Replayy and Golmaal 3. So, this is a big battle between Kareena Kapoor and beauty queen Aishwarya Rai at the box office.

Now, the audience will have a real time to choose between these two hot babes. Both the films will be releasing on November 5. Both the actresses deserve to be on the top position with their own rights but one has to lead because audience will surely be divide their attention between them.

FIR against Lalu, Nitish cries ‘law breaker’

by

Patna, November 01: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad was Monday booked for violating the model code of conduct for entering a poll booth with his security guards. And political rival Chief Minister Nitish Kumar lost no time in calling him a “habitual law breaker”.

“This (Lalu’s action) violated the model code of conduct as security guards cannot enter the polling booth premises,” a police official said about the first information report (FIR) that had been lodged against Lalu Prasad.

Protest on roads against formation day celebration objectionable: CM

by

Hyderabad, November 01: Strongly criticizing against proposed protests and demonstrations on AP formation day Chief Minister K Rosaiah advised agitators of Telangana to be patient until a decision is taken up by the centre regarding the issue.

Talking to newspersons Rosaiah said ‘it has been a tradition to celebrate AP formation day since 1956. There are many people who want separate Telangana, I don’t want to declare them wrong. I have no objection to their efforts but all the efforts should be made in democratic manner.

Ship squeezes under bridge with 1.5 inch margin

by

London, November 01: A cruise liner with the capacity to accommodate 8,300 people passed under a Danish bridge with a gap of just an inch-and-a half between its tip and the bridge.

The Allure of the Seas – which cost $1.5 bn – measures around four football fields and accommodates 8,300 people including crew members. It is the sister ship to Royal Carribean’s Oasis of the Seas.

Hans Nilsen, an official at the Korsoer Naval Station, said the passage went well after the Allure had lowered its telescopic smokestacks, the Daily Mail reported.

Voice of protest against pomp and show in marriage functions

by

Hyderabad, November 01: Mr. Zahid Ali Khan editor Siasat appealed Muslim scholars, clerics and intellectuals to stay away from marriages where the hosts show off their wealth and riches. Instead such task force should be set up which should stage protest against such hosts, so that others would learn a lesson.

Mr. Zahid Ali Khan was addressing 11th ‘face to face’ programme organized by Siasat Daily and Minorities Development Forum initiated for marriage alliance settlement of prospective Muslim brides and grooms. The programme was conducted at Anwarul Uloom campus Mallepally.