Month: July 2013

No iftar is complete without dates

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The date palm, mentioned more than any other fruit-bearing plant in the Qur’an, is a symbol often associated with Islam. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) is reported to have said, “A house without dates has no food.” And now the science has also proved that dates have full nutritional values. They are packed with all essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that are required for normal growth, development and overall well-being. Muslims have an immediate need for this energy when they break their fast.

Sri Lanka beat West Indies by 39 runs, stay in contention

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Kumar Sangakkara cracked a superb 90 and Angelo Mathews returned with a four-wicket haul as Sri Lanka notched up a comprehensive 39-run victory over West Indies via in their crucial rain-affected ODI match of the tri-nation series here.

Sangakkara played a superb 95-ball unconquered innings, which was studded with six fours and one six, to help Sri Lanka post 219 for eight in the match, which was reduced to 41-overs a side after two rain interruptions last night.

13% of international students in US are Indians

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A top American academician has described the drop in number of Indian students joining US universities as brain circulation rather than as reverse brain drain.

“I call it as a brain circulation and in the past it was going in one direction. We see discoveries are coming in the field of medicine, agriculture, technology from places that we did not think of in the past.

Call off Re 1 per kg rice scheme: Mohandas Pai to Siddu

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Former Infosys CFO T V Mohandas Pai today asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to rise above politics and call off implementation of Congress government’s scheme to provide 30 kg rice per month to BPL families at Re one per kg as it would impose a heavy burden on the state exchequer.

Pai said government was not going to give money from its pockets but implement the scheme by using tax-payers money.

Ranbaxy to pay $420,000 in US for selling sub-standard drugs

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Indian generic drug manufacturer Ranbaxy will pay Idaho state in northwestern US nearly $420,000 to settle civil and criminal complaints of selling drugs of inferior strength, purity or quality.

Idaho had joined several states and the US government in alleging that Ranbaxy products manufactured between April 2003 and September 2010 did not meet US Food and Drug Administration standards and caused Medicaid to pay fraudulent claims. Medicaid is a US health programme for families and individuals with low income and resources.

Chief Secretary directs to finish all works before Ramadan

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State chief secretary Dr. P K Mohanty reviewed arrangements of Ramadan-ul-Mubarak along with high officials of various departments. In a meeting held in this connection, officials of police, minority welfare, civil supplies, water works, electricity, labour and other departments participated.

Zahid Ali Khan attends Jalsa-e-Isteqbal-e-Ramadan

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Jalsa-e-Isteqbal-e-Ramadan was held at Vanasthalipuram. On the occasion Mr. Zahid Ali Khan Siasat editor and TDP politburo member attended as the chief guest. Scores of TDP activists and leaders were present along with him. Mr. Zahid Ali Khan released pigeons, the symbol of peace.

Present on the occasion were Messrs Abdul Rauf, Abdul Rauf Rafeeq, Shaikh Adam, Abdur Rahman, DA Rahman Khan, Ali bin Sayeed Alqutami and others.

Siasat news

Sri Lanka win leaves West Indies in anxiety

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The loss to Sri Lanka ruined West Indies’ hopes of an automatic qualification for Thursday’s final in the Celkon Mobile Cup triangular cricket series. They must now await the outcome of the India-Sri Lanka match Tuesday.

A four-wicket haul by captain Angelo Matthews and a solid 90 from wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara steered Sri Lanka to a 39-run victory over West Indies in their rain-affected at Queens Park Oval Monday, reports CMC.

Nepal polls: India to donate 764 vehicles

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India is going to donate 764 vehicles to Nepal for its upcoming elections, said Foreign Minister Madhav Ghimire Tuesday.

Ghimire told IANS that during the day-long visit of his Indian counterpart Salman Khurshid, a Letter of Exchange (LoE) will be signed by both sides in which India has agreed to donate various kinds of 764 vehicles to Nepal to help during the November elections.

As many as 716 will go to Nepal’s home ministry and rest 48 will be given to Election Commission of Nepal.

Rain forecast in coastal Andhra, Telangana

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Met. Department has forecast mild rain in Telangana and Rayalseema and heavy rain in coastal Andhra during the next 48 hours. Sky will remain cloudy in Hyderabad city. Mild showers are expected in the city.

Maximum and minimum temperatures will be 34 and 24 degree Celsius respectively. Southwest monsoon is active in coastal Andhra and Telangana. 1 to 13 centimeter rain was recorded in coastal Andhra, 1 to 5 centimeter rainfall at some places of Rayalseema while 1 to 11 centimeter rainfall was recorded in most of the districts of Telangana.

Siasat news

Babies sleeping on back have flattened heads?

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Nearly half of the newborns develop flat spots on their heads by the time they are two-month old due to sleeping on their backs to prevent sudden infant death syndrome, a new Canadian study has found.

Published in the US journal Paediatrics, the study investigated the occurrence of positional plagiocephaly, or flat spots on heads, in infants 7 -12 weeks of age who attend a two-month well-child clinic in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Xinhua reported.

Don’t want to be a size zero: Huma Qureshi

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Three-film-old Huma Qureshi, who has managed to garner equal adulation and flak for her curves in the size-zero-obsessed industry, prefers to be her pretty self rather than falling for the fad.

Huma was loved for her voluptuous figure and earthy style in her first movie ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’. But she was criticised by some quarters for her weight issues.

British TV to Broadcast Call to Fajr Prayer Throughout Ramadan

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UK’s Channel 4 will air a daily Islamic call to prayer throughout the month of Ramadan.

The plans, which start on the first day of Ramadan on 10 July, have been fiercely defended by the broadcaster, who say that the channel gives “a voice to the under-represented.”

The broadcast will be heard for three minutes from around 3am. Channel 4 said the call will be transmitted “directly into British living rooms at the exact time Muslims prepare for their first prayers and as they begin their fast every morning during Ramadan.”

Obama greets Muslims on the occasion of Ramadan

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Greeting Muslims on the occasion of the start of the holy month of Ramadan, US President Barack Obama today said this month reminds that freedom, dignity and opportunity are the undeniable rights of all mankind.

“For the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims, Ramadan is a time for thoughtful reflection, fasting and devotion,” Obama said in a statement issued on the eve of Ramadan.

Salman Khurshid arrives in Kathmandu

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India’s External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid arrived here on Tuesday on a day-long visit during which he will “extend support” to Nepal’s upcoming elections.

“To extend the support and cooperation to the elections, I am paying an official and goodwill visit to Nepal. We (India) support the choices made by Nepali people as whatever political system or what kind of constitution they want to set up here,” Khurshid told mediapersons on his arrival.

The minister added that he will also discuss some ‘critical’ area of Nepal-India cooperation. He did not elaborate on them.

Demand to issue funds in view of Ramadan

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Congress Muslim leaders led by Vice President Pradesh Congress Committee Mr. Mohammed Ali Shabbir called on President Pradesh Congress Committee Mr. Botsa Satyanarayana. They urged him to issue GO regarding transfer of budget of Rs. 2.5 crore sanctioned for renovation masajid and other facilities. Ex-minister and MLC Mr. Mohammed Ali Shabbir, former minister and MLC Mr. Mohammed Jani, president Pradesh Congress Minority Department Mr. Mohammed Sirajuddin, SETWIN Chairman Mr. Mohammed Maqsood Ahmed met President Pradesh Congress Committee.

China acts against water polluters

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As part of a drive against water pollution, Chinese police have started targetting people who discharge unprocessed waste water into local rivers and underground waterways.

According to the Chinese public security ministry, police have made greater efforts to prosecute and punish environmental polluters.

Police have finished investigating 112 environmental pollution cases since January, the ministry said. The cases included several high-profile cases that drew wide attention across the country, Xinhua reported.

Khurshid arrives in Kathmandu

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India’s External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid arrived here Tuesday on a day-long visit during which he will “extend support” to Nepal’s upcoming elections.

“To extend the support and cooperation to the elections, I am paying an official and goodwill visit to Nepal. We (India) support the choices made by Nepali people as what ever political system or what kind of constitution they want to set up here,” Khurshid told mediapersons on his arrival.

The minister added that he will also discuss some ‘critical’ area of Nepal-India cooperation. He did not elaborate on them.

US trade hails India’s preferential market access policy review

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A leading US trade association, seeking stronger commercial relations with India, has welcomed the Indian government’s decision to review the preferential market access (PMA) policy for domestically manufactured electronic goods.

The US-India Business Council (USIBC) comprised of more than 350 of the top-tier US and Indian companies said it has consistently argued for market-based incentives, not mandates, to encourage manufacturing in India.

Porn MMSes from Delhi Metro CCTV footage!

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In a shocking disclosure, a Hindi daily on Tuesday reported that CCTV cameras installed in Delhi Metro trains have been used to capture couples’ intimate moments. Not only this, the video footage captured have even been uploaded on pornographic sites.

While the acts were themselves indecent, what has shocked more is that the same found their way to porn sites and became viral.

As per the daily, so far 13 videos have been uploaded on porn sites and these have been viewed by nearly 1.5 lakh people. It is believed that many such videos have been made but are yet to come in public domain.

Preservation of Waqf properties stressed

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The weekly Minority Grievance Cell for redressal of grievances pertaining to Minority Welfare institutions was held on Monday at Hajj House. A large number of people complained against officials of Minority Finance Corporation saying that the scholarship and fee-reimbursement amount of the last year has not been received yet, as a result students face various problems in educational institutions. Minority Finance Corporation officials told that the government recently released Rs.

US Hindu body condemns Mahabodhi temple terror attack

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A prominent advocacy organisation for the Hindu American community on Tuesday urged the Indian government to provide ample security to places of pilgrimage throughout the country, a day after 10 low-intensity serial blasts rocked the historic Mahabodhi temple at Bodh Gaya in India.

“We are highly disturbed by this callous attack on Bodh Gaya and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured,” said Swaminathan Venkataraman, director of India strategic relations of the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) in Washington.

Court to hear suspended IPS officer Amin’s bail plea

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A special CBI court will hear the bail plea of suspended IPS officer NK Amin on Tuesday in connection with the 2004 Ishrat Jahan encounter case. Suspended Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Amin’s lawyer Ruturaj Nanavati claimed that the CBI chargesheet filed earlier this week was incomplete which entitled Amin to apply for bail.