Month: May 2012

Google ‘fabricating lies’ for leaving Gulf nameless on its maps

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Iran has lashed out at yet another Internet giant, this time going after Google for what it sees as an egregious omission on Google Maps, AFP reports.

The body of water separating Iran from the Arabian peninsula has been a point of contention between Iran and the Gulf nation states, who choose to refer to it as the Arabian Gulf. Iran refers to it as the Persian Gulf.

Google has left itself out of the map argument by simply not calling it anything at all.

Gulf Iran accuses Google of fabricating lies for leaving Gulf nameless on its maps

Osama bin Laden’s son hiding in Pakistan?

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Hamza bin Laden, who is said to be the Osama’s most militant son, was in Peshawar at the time US Navy SEALs raided his father’s Abbottabad hideout on May 02, 2011, said a report.

According to the report in The News International, Hamza was living at a safe house in Peshawar when his father was shot dead by the US Navy SEALs.

Hamza was reportedly being groomed as the future chief of al Qaeda.

A trove of documents the US Navy SEALs took from Osama’s Abbottabad compound was published last week on the website of the Combating Terrorism Centre.

Dr. Zahid Ali memorial lecture

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The 3rd Zahid Ali memorial lecture organized by the Department of Arabic Osmania University will be held on May 7, 11:30 am at New Seminar Hall, Art College Osmania University.

Prof. Mohammad Hassan Khan head of the department of Arabic, Barkatullah University Bhopal has been invited to deliver lecture at the Seminar entitled ‘Impact of India on Arab culture’.

Siasat news

Al Qaeda chief al-Zawahiri is in Pak: Hillary

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Al Qaeda’s new chief Ayman al-Zawahiri is in Pakistan, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said here on Monday.

Egyptian cleric al-Zawahri took over the organisation after Osama bin Laden’s killing on May 02 last year by US Navy SEALs in Pakistan’s Abbottabad town.

Hillary Clinton said: “We want to disable al Qaeda. We believe Zawahiri is in Pakistan.”

Speaking at an interaction, she said: “You have to go over those who are trying to kill you. You have to be focused on that.”

US will invest in state, Clinton has proven me right: Mamata

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In an hour-long meet with the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said she discussed health, education, human rights, and developmental policies in West Bengal but stayed away from discussing FDI in retail or sharing waters of the Teesta river with Bangladesh.

Banerjee pleased with the meet, said that she had a “very positive, constructive, creative and concrete discussion” with Hillary Clinton.

India 5th in cyber crime affected countries’ list

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India’s cyber woes claim fifth spot in a worldwide ranking of countries afflicted with cyber crime, claims a report by the Security and Defence Agenda (SDA) and McAfee.

The report, ‘Cyber Security: The Vexed Question of Global Rules’, states that premium on Internet privacy in the country is quite low.

Brussels-based SDA spoke to leading global security experts to ensure that findings would offer useful recommendations and actions.

Sensex recovers losses on GAAR postponement; ends up 82 pts

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The BSE benchmark index Sensex recovered from early lows to close higher by 82 points after the government deferred implementation of the General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR) by one year.

The 30-share barometer index had dropped by 317 points to intra-day low of 16,513.77 on fears that proposed provisions could lead to heavy tax burden for foreign investors investing through tax-friendly places like Mauritius.

Govt rolls back gold tax, GAAR deferred till FY14

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Bowing to pressure, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Monday announced a slew of measures to provide relief to the jewellery sector and postponed implementation of the general anti-avoidance rules (GAAR) by one year, but offered no concessions to Vodafone involved in tax dispute.

Moving the Finance Bill, 2012 for consideration and passage in the Lok Sabha, Mukherjee halved the capital gains tax for private equity investors to 10 percent and relaxed the norms for arrest of persons involved in violation of Customs Act.

IPL 2012: Gambhir to take on Delhi and Sehwag as KKR lock horns with Delhi Daredevils today

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Talk about shifting loyalties and mixed emotions, no one better than Gautam Gambhir would know about it. After his home crowd supported Pune Warriors against his team at the Eden Gardens, the Delhi lad is back to the familiar position as Kolkata Knight Riders set themselves to take on the formidable Delhi Daredevils, Gambhir’s old team.

Playing down the occasion, the southpaw had earlier stated that, “I`ve not done enough for Delhi to be honest. I`ve not done so much. I think 90 percent of the crowd will be supporting Delhi Daredevils. ”

IPL 2012: Incredible de Villiers seals five-wicket win for RCB

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Dale Steyn was stunned, shaking his head in disbelief as the capacity Bangalore crowd went berserk. The reason was a certain South African AB de Villiers who produced a masterclass of an innings that sealed a thrilling win for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Deccan Chargers on Sunday.

RCB: 185/5 beat DC: 181/2 by 5 wickets

Scorecard »I Points tally»

Manchester City inch closer to Premier League title

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Manchester City are as close to glory as they ever came in 44 years with a 2-0 victory over 4th placed Newcastle United in their penultimate match of this season.

Ivorian Yaya Toure provided the two key goals in the 70th and the 89th minute to seal the deal for the blues after they played out a frustrating first half in which the forwards spill many a chance to find the net.

Del Potro wins Estoril Open second year running

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Argentine Juan Martin del Potro defeated Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-2 to clinch the Estoril Open for second successive year.

I felt it was my best match of the week,” Del Potro said as quoted vy a news agency. “I felt really confident on my forehand and I grew in confidence every game.”

This is Del Potro’s 11th career title and second this year.

‘Internet revolution bypasses rural India’

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Internet revolution has bypassed rural India with less than half a percent of families having the facility at home as against 6 percent in cities, reveals a government survey.

“At all India level only about 0.4 percent of rural households had access to Internet at home as compared to about 6 percent of urban households,” said the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) report on expenditure in 2009-10.

Reflecting the digital divided in India, the study said just 3.5 households per 1000 families, had access to Internet services at home in rural areas in the year.

Vibrations to help in energy harvesting

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Sensors, transmitters and GPS modules need only a few milliwatts of power to operate, which could also be met by vibrations produced by moving objects, thanks to a new technology – “energy harvesting”.

But is this really enough to supply electronic microsystems? The answer lies in a compact data-logger installed on board, designed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits, Germany.

‘Centre responsible for deplorable condition of Ganga’

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Slamming the Centre for its alleged lackadaisical approach towards cleaning Ganga river, BJP leader Uma Bharti said the National Ganga River Basin Authority is not functioning properly and is a “mere wastage of money.”

“The central government is responsible for the deplorable condition of Ganga. The Prime Minister constituted Ganga River Basin Authority, but it is merely a waste of money,” she told reporters after she visited environmentalist Swami Gyan Swarup Sanand in a hospital here yesterday.

How our time on Earth will end

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A group of astrophysicists studying the dust of shattered “corpse planets” in the atmospheres of dying white dwarf stars have highlighted a doomsday scenario, which states that one day in the distant future, the sun will explode and destroy our nearby planets, roast the Earth’s surface and probably kill us all.

Scientists from the University of Warwick used the Hubble Space Telescope to examine the chemical mix of 80 such stars.

US man charged for threatening to kill Obama

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Washington, A man in Virginia, United States, has been charged for threatening to assassinate President Barack Obama.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Harrisonburg court, Christopher Hecker of Waynesboro made death threats against Obama and threatened to bomb the White House, hotels and other places.

An affidavit said the threats were emailed to various media outlets on April 19.

According to the affidavit, four days later, Hecker allegedly sent an email to another media outlet that threatened more violence, Fox News reports.

Elders Think Tank to hold General body advisory meeting

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Hyderabad, May 7, 2012: The general body advisory meeting of Elders’ Think Tank will be held on Wednesday, May 9, at 6 pm at Madina Education Centre, Nampally. Mr. Asif Pasha President Think Tank and former minister will preside over. Prof Kancha Ilaya will deliver keynote address. Mr. K M Arifuddin vice president will deliver inaugural address. Mr. Bhasker Bini advocate and joint secretary will present the report of earlier meeting.

Aishwarya’s weight watchers: 3 reasons why fat shaming is for losers!

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Aishwarya Rai can never get it right. Too perfect, too plastic, too fake, and now, alas, too fat. Ohmigod, look at the “chubby cheeks” on that aunty!

Clearly, Ash didn’t get the memo laying down the ground rules for a celebrity pregnancy.

Step one, look like a stick insect with a perfect baby bump for nine months. Step two, squeeze out spawn, and head straight for the gym and/or operating theatre. And step three, step out on the red carpet looking radiantly under-nourished within a month of delivery a la Angelina Jolie, Posh Spice, Beyonce et al. QED

Salman beyond a mentor for me: Arjun Kapoor

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Arjun Kapoor comes from an affluent film family, but he seems to have a sound head on his shoulders. Making his bow in Bollywood with ‘Ishaqzaade’, the son of filmmaker Boney Kapoor gives credit to Salman Khan for his acting journey and his sculpted body.

“Salman is a brother to me. I look at him in a very emotional way at both the professional and personal levels. Salman bhai is above and beyond a mentor for me,” Arjun said.

Muslim quota demand not a bargaining tactic: Khurshid

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The Centre’s move to carve out 4.5 percent reservation for minorities would double the job opportunities for Muslim community, Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid today said here.

“The 4.5 percent reservation for minorities would increase two-fold the job opportunities for Muslims, who must get their rightful share in the fruits of development,” Khurshid said.

The demand for reservation in employment and education for Muslims was not a “bargaining tactic”, but was a struggle for justice, said the minority affairs minister.

Squalid stain on Muslims: Women money lender hold baby as surety

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Mumtaz and Rihana ran a business of lending money at exorbitant interest rates to families from below poverty line ( BPL) category.

Stephan, a construction site worker, paid a terrible price for borrowing ` 10,000 from a local money- lender. When he failed to repay the loan, the money- lender snatched away his two- year- old son, held the infant captive for nearly a year and kept him chained to the floor.

The police on Saturday rescued the child, held by the money- lender as surety, from the woman’s house in Tumkur, 76 km from Bangalore.

Annu Kapoor finds Priyanka Chopra unprofessional

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Priyanka Chopra seems to have had a great fall post her alleged link-up with Shah Rukh Khan and her subsequent absence from his camp. Her career graph has reportedly taken a deep plunge and has been at the receiving end for quite some time now.

After Karan Johar indirectly slammed her through his tweet, veteran actor Annu Kapoor has said that the actress doesn’t take her work seriously at all.

Kapoor, who recently played a pivotal role in critically acclaimed film ‘Vicky Donor’ believes that the former Miss World is not a thorough professional.

`Jannat 2` is an original script, says Emraan Hashmi

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Emraan Hashmi, who plays the protagonist Sonu Dilli in `Jannat 2`, has denied the plagiarism charges hurled against the movie.

‘Jannat 2’ got involved in the controversy just a day ahead of it release.

A budding writer Kapil Chopra, filed a case against the Bhatt Camp, alleging that Mahesh and Mukesh have lifted his concept for ‘Jannat 2’.

Trying to defend the movie, Emraan denied all the allegations against the makers. He said that the person hurling the charge is simply trying to draw mileage.