Month: February 2012

Canada Flourishing Halal Butchers

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Nova Scotia, February 03: Halal meat outlets are growing at a rapid pace in Canada’s Nova Scotia province, where they compete to cater to a large, diverse Muslim community and therefore earn a niche market, even among non-Muslims.

“We became frustrated with the quality of halal meat available here,” Khalil Alshanti, co-owner of Taiba Halal Grocery, told The Chronicle Herald on Thursday, February 2. 

“We opened up the grocery store as a service to the Muslim community and over time we’ve also served some non-Muslims, too.”

Minaret or Not, Muslims Mull Mosque Design

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Washington, February 03: Facing a popular discomfort with minarets rising from mosques, American Muslims are exploring new concepts of designing their places of worship.

“I don’t think identity should be based on symbols only,” Haris Tarin, director of the Washington DC office of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, told the BBC on Thursday, February 2.

“Identity has to be based on the fact that you are part of a community, part of something bigger than you.”

In the post 9/11 era, building mosques has become a difficult mission in the United States.

2G scam: Sharad Pawar defends Manmohan

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Mumbai, February 03: Union agriculture minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar came out in strong defence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying that the SC verdict cancelling 2G licenses was not an indictment of the government. He also ruled out that the 2G case will harm UPA’s poll prospects in the assembly elections to five states.

Addressing a press conference, Pawar read out few paras of the judgement and said that the judiciary had taken note of the PM’s letter to then telecom minister A Raja to ensure fairness and transparency in spectrum allocation.

Congress condemns BJP for sensationalizing Supreme Court 2G verdict

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New Delhi, February 03: Congress has condemned the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) attempt to politicize and sensationalize the Supreme Court verdict in the 2G scam case.

While addressing the mediapersons at a press conference here today Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said: “We deprecate in the strongest possible terms the repeated attempts of BJP and other opposition parties to politicize and sensationalize the legal judgment.”

Railways need a national policy, says official

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New Delhi, February 03: India urgently needs a national railway policy, a senior railway official has said.

Giving a presentation on “Strategies for making railways a sustainable transport in India”, Anjali Goyal, Executive Director, Ministry of Railways, said a national railway policy, with legally enacted Bills in land development and procurement rules Public Private Partnership (PPP) and technology acquisition to take transport more efficient, will also help in raising investor confidence.

Man arrested in 6-year-old murder case

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New Delhi, February 03: A man was arrested here for involvement in what was said to be an unsolved six-year-old murder case, police said Friday.

“Mohd. Arif was arrested at Farashkhana Thursday. A button-actuated knife was recovered from his possession,” a police official said.

Arif, 24, a resident of Shastri Park, was involved in murder of a young person in Mewat, Haryana, six years ago.

Arab actor insult Islam, jailed

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Cairo, February 03: The Arab world’s most famous actor, Adel Imam, has been sentenced to three months in jail for ”defaming Islam” on stage and screen.

A Cairo court sentenced Imam, a UN goodwill ambassador described as the Arab world’s Charlie Chaplin, in absentia to three months’ jail with hard labour, after being sued by Asran Mansur, a lawyer with Islamist ties.

”I will appeal the ruling,” the Egyptian comic said. ”Some people seeking fame filed a suit against me over works I have done which they consider insulting to Islam, and this is, of course, not true.”

Militants ambush kills 7 troops in NW Pakistan

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Islamabad, February 03: Clashes broke out in the early hours of Friday when a group of 50 militants attacked a security checkpoint in Shidano Dand post in the remote mountainous Kurram region, killing seven government soldiers and wounding three others.

The militants later took six troops hostage at gunpoint, and fled the scene along with them.

Security forces launched a counter attack in the aftermath of the assault, engaging in an hours-long fierce gun battle after which government soldier took full control of the area.

Three killed, 50 injured in Assam train accident

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Guwahati, February 03: At least three people were killed and 50 injured when a Guwahati-bound train hit a road construction vehicle at an unmanned crossing near here Friday morning, a railway official said. Five coaches went off the tracks while four other coaches overturned under the impact.

The Chilarai passenger Express was coming from New Bongaigaon station in lower Assam when it hit a JCB vehicle at Gosaikhat area near Mirza, 15 km from here, at around 9.45 a.m., said railway public relations officer S. Hajong.

BJP charges against PM, Chidambaram politically motivated: Congress

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New Delhi, February 03: The Congress Friday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of levelling allegations against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P. Chidambaram on the 2G spectrum verdict to serve “its narrow political interests”.

“We want to remind the BJP that the Supreme Court had made its verdict on the deeds based on the policy formulated by their (NDA) government,” Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhhvi told reporters here.

BJP demands probe against Praful Patel for bribery charges

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New Delhi, February 03: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Balbir Punj has demanded a special probe against former Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on Friday after reports emerged in a leading Canadian newspaper suggesting that he was bribed.

The newspaper reported that Patel during his tenure as the Civil Aviation Minister took a bribe to the tune of about 100 million dollars from an Indian born Canadian national, Nazir Karigar after the Air India floated tenders to introduce computerised passenger face recognition biometrics system.

Govt has moved forward in curbing graft: PM

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New Delhi, February 03: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday said government has moved “substantially forward” in curbing corruption and improving public services delivery system but acknowledged there is “still a long way” to go to ensure transparency, accountability and probity in public life.

Addressing the Conference of Chief Secretaries, the Prime Minister also expressed confidence that a strong Lokpal law would be enacted soon.

Meta university by next year: Sibal

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New Delhi, February 03: Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal Friday said a network of universities forming a meta university to allow students to pick courses from across disciplines from different institutions will be ready by next academic session.

“I am hopeful that by next academic year, we will be able to start the meta university,” Sibal said, addressing a conference on uniting knowledge communities organised by US-India Business Council.

The meta university will, for example, let an engineering student pick up a degree in literature.

Naxalism, terrorism, key challenges: PM

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New Delhi, February 03: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday termed Maoist violence, cross border terrorism and religious fundamentalism as key internal security challenges and favoured dealing them with firm and effective hands.

Addressing a conference of chief secretaries, Singh promised all possible assistance to the states in their efforts to deal with all internal security challenges.

Iran’s defense ministry: new space products on agenda

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Tehran, February 03: Iran’s Defense Minister hails as a “brilliant achievement” the launch of the country’s new fully-indigenous satellite into orbit, saying Iran will unveil new space achievements.

Iran successfully launched its Navid-e Elm-o Sanat satellite, completely designed and built by Iranian experts, into orbit early Friday following a decree by Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Genelia weds Riteish

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Mumbai, February 03: Bollywood couple Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D’Souza tied the knot on Friday according to Marathi traditions in the presence of Bollywood and political biggies.

The marriage came at the end of an eight-year-long courtship with Riteish (32) and Genelia (24) taking their vows around a sacred fire at the suburban Grand Hyatt hotel.

The groom, wearing a white sherwani and red feta (turban), entered the hotel riding a white ghodi Genelia wore a red and gold lehenga designed by Ritu Kumar.

The baaraat started from the grounds near Grand Hyatt.

Gaddafi’s shirt, wedding ring for sale

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London, February 03: Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s shirt, which he had been wearing when he was killed, have reportedly been put up for sale along with his wedding ring.

The disgraced dictator was wearing the silver ring and bloodied beige shirt when he was dragged from a drainpipe near his hometown of Sirte before being beaten and shot.

Libyan national Ahmed Warfali is apparently asking for 2 million dollars for the items after somehow coming into their possession.

APSRTC Junior Assistant written exam results

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Hyderabad, February 3: Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation APSRTC has released Junior Assistant written exam results. The details of which have been displayed on the corporation website. i.e. http://apsrtc.gov.in/

Corporation told that the written exam was conducted in December 2011.

Siasat news

Illegal occupation of Dargah land

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Hyderabad, February 3: On the representation made by Deccan Waqf Properties Protection Society, regarding unauthorized construction activities at the waqf property, adjacent to Dargah Hazrat Durvesh Mohiuddin Qaudri, Karwan, Task force team of waqf board and inspector auditor waqf circle IV examined the unauthorized construction works on the spot and submitted a report to chief executive officer.

CM helpless over enhancing minority budget to 3000 crore

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Hyderabad, February 3: Chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy said that the state government is increasing the minority budget for the financial year 2012-13 however he expressed his helplessness over raising the budget to 3000 crore rupees. He was talking to a delegation which called on him yesterday at camp office led by Prof. Kancha Elaiah.

Few days ago a meeting of the representatives of the various political parties was convened by the Prof. Kancha Eliah on minority budget.

Israel to strike Iran soon: Panetta

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Washington, February 03: US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta believes there is a growing possibility Israel will attack Iran as early as April to stop Tehran from building a nuclear bomb, US media reported on Thursday.

The Washington Post first reported that Panetta was concerned about the increased likelihood Israel would launch an attack over the next few months. CNN said it confirmed the report, citing a senior Obama administration official, who declined to be identified.

Loan sharks destroying the society, 24 Muslims out of 66 arrested

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Hyderabad, February 3: Interest has destroyed the entire society and today innumerable people have come under the spell of this evil which created diseases like tension and depression among the people. The loan sharks are driving the society towards degradation.

For the past few days police administration, through special drive, is arresting the loan sharks. 66 loan sharks have been arrested so far. Unfortunately out of 66 loan sharks 24 are Muslims including a woman.

SLAP report affecting my kids: SRK

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Mumbai, February 03: Bollywood badshah Shah Rukh Khan Wednesday refused to categorically state whether he had slapped Shirish Kunder or not but said the reportage on the incident was affecting his kids.

“Lots of things are being said about my life in news channels but the stuff which you put up in the channels are not the whole truth. This is embarrassing at times as I have a 14-year-old son and an 11-and-a-half year old daughter,” said Shah Rukh, who was in Kolkata to address a programme.