Month: August 2013

US President Barack Obama is set to do a ‘Bush’ in West Asia

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(Seema Mustafa)US President Barack Obama is set to do a ‘Bush’ in West Asia. In what could be the first war based on little more than a U-Tube video, Obama is preparing to invade Syria and destroy yet another sophisticated country in the region. He has clearly decided not to wait for the report of a United Nations team investigating charges of the use of chemicals against civilians by the Syrian government, maintaining that this would not be “credible.” So the US, past master in cooking facts, is collecting its own ‘evidence’ to justify the decision to invade Syria.

TPJAC warns against suppression of T-people rights

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Telangana Political Joint Action Committee chairman Prof M Kodandaram on Thursday warned against the suppression of rights of Telangana region and its people.

Addressing a meeting of Progressive Recognised Teachers’ Union at Indira Park here, Kodandaram said that further suppression of Telangana people would not be tolerated. He said that the Telangana region suffered injustice for several decades and remained backward. He condemned the Seemandhra leaders for their interference in the formation of Telangana State.

I am not 100 % honest: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

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Politicians seldom admit in public that they are not honest and they accept money to fight elections. Well, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah turned out to be different today when he said “it would be self-deception if I say that I am 100 per cent honest”.

It’s not as if he has revealed something which is unknown in the public domain. But it’s the open admission that earned him a round of applause at a function, organised by “Rashtriya Navanirmana Vedike”, to mark the 87th birth anniversary of former Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde.

Rupee rises from record low, zooms 225 paise to 66.55 vs USD

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The battered rupee gained 225 paise to 66.55 against the dollar today, the most in at least 15 years, after the Reserve Bank of India eased pressure in the currency market by starting a facility for state-run oil refiners to buy foreign exchange.

The rupee, which closed at a record low yesterday, ended a three-day losing streak even as the dollar strengthened overseas and capital outflows continued. Fresh dollar sales by exporters on expectations of a further rise in the rupee also helped the local currency.

‘Bhaktal’s arrest will boost confidence that such people would be caught’: Khurshid

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Following the arrest of Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder Yasin Bhatkal from the Indo-Nepal border last night, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Thursday said that there is confidence in India that such people, who have continuously harmed the country, would be held from anywhere and brought to justice.

“I believe those people had a lot of place where they could hide. But that has ended now. Now the mentality of people, across the globe, has changed. We have been doing routine advocacy on this and we have put this matter before the world a lot of times.

Men’s self-esteem gets bruised by female partner’s success

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Men are more likely to feel subconsciously worse about themselves when their female partners succeed than when they fail, a new study has revealed.

The research, which looked at heterosexual Americans and Dutch, also found that women’s self-esteem was not affected by their male partners’ successes or failures.

Researcher Kate Ratliff, PhD, of the University of Florida studied 896 people in five experiments.

‘Smile Surgery’ becoming runaway hit with South Korean women

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While it is said that a person is never fully dressed without a smile, it seems that some South Korean females have taken the message rather seriously, as they are now turning to plastic surgery in search of permanent, smiling faces.

According to a Wall Street Journal’s report, a new trend in South Korea- a cosmetic procedure called the ‘smile lipt’- is gaining popularity, Stuff.co.nz reported.

A video from the Seoul clinic Aone Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery explains that the surgery tugs the corners of your mouth upward to simulate a faint perma-smile.

Excessive use of internet `causing sleep problems`

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A new survey has revealed that one out of 10 people do not sleep properly at night in order to stay in touch on the internet.

In the poll conducted by Nytol last December, more than 50 percent of 2000 people polled admitted that they went online while in bed trying to sleep, News.com.au reported.

It was found that one in five said that they needed to check their Twitter, Facebook or email accounts because they have a “fear of missing out”, while just one in 10 described their quality of sleep as “good”.

Rebecca Adlington reveals she was rejected by `Strictly Come Dancing`

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UK’s former Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington has revealed that she was turned down by ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, despite being invited to meet the show’s producers.

The freestyle swimmer, who won two gold medals and two bronze medals for her country, told the Mirror that she would have loved to have done the show but unfortunately it didn’t work out.

Adlington, 24, asserted that the bosses didn’t think she would fit in with the balance of the people.

Adlington, however, added that she will still be glued to it every weekend since she is a big fan. (ANI)

Land Acquisition Bill tabled in LS

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The Land Acquisition Bill has been moved for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha today.

The Land Acquisition Bill was moved for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, while moving the Bill, said that it aims to lay down a transparent process for land acquisition for industrialisation, development of essential infrastructural facilities and urbanisation by giving adequate financial compensation to the affected people.

Britney Spears rehearsing for `something top secret`

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Britney Spears has hinted that she could be close to releasing a new video after she revealed that she is in rehearsals for “something top secret.”

The pop queen said that she was practicing for the mystery project – due to happen “next week” – but didn’t confirm what the rehearsals were actually for, Contactmusic reported.

She took to her Twitter account to reveal about her “top secret project”.

When a fan responded speculating it could be a video for a new single, Britney simply replied with a wink.

Kentucky kids claim Michelle Obama’s `healthy` menu `tastes like vomit`

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Michelle Obama’s healthy-eating campaign has apparently not gone down well with the students and parents in one rural Kentucky school district, who have slammed the “disgusting” mandated menu plans.

According to the Harlan Daily Enterprise, while describing the kids’ reactions to the healthy-eating plan, Harlan County Public Schools board member, Myra Mosley, said that the kids claim that the food tastes like vomit, the Washington Times reported.

The parents of the children expressed similar concerns, asserting that their kids can’t learn when they’re hungry.

Man fined for swallowing severed human toe out of whisky shot glass!

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A man was slapped with a fine of 307 pounds after he swallowed a human toe while drinking at a bar.

As part of the Yukon ritual in Dawson City, Canada, a severed body part is dropped into a shot of whisky and someone has to drink the ‘Sourtoe Cocktail’ without swallowing the body part, Metro.co.uk reported.

And, if one accidentally ingests it he or she has to pay up like the man who drank at the Downtown Hotel.

Plus, the severed toes are reportedly donated by living donors that have lost them to an ailment or in an accident. (ANI)

Michael Douglas to visit place where he first met Catherine Zeta-Jones

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Michael Douglas, who is apparently taking a break from his marriage with Catherine Zeta-Jones, has gone back to the place in France where he first saw the brunette beauty.

The Oscar winner was recently spotted having dinner with pals at La Petite Maison in Nice, France, People Magazine reported.

A source told the publication that the veteran actor has been hanging out in the South of France with his friend Jean Pigozzi, but will be flying out to attend the Deauville Film Festival in northern France, where the pair were introduced to each other in August 1998.

Syria evacuates army buildings in Damascus ahead of possible western military strike

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The Syrian government has evacuated most personnel from army and security command headquarters in central Damascus in preparation for a Western military strike. US-led air or missile strikes on Syria look certain after the United States and European and Middle Eastern allies blamed a suspected chemical weapons attack that killed hundreds in the city on 21 August on President Bashar al-Assad’s forces.

Pak set to have India-like RTI bill soon

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The Pakistan Senate committee has reportedly approved the draft of ‘Freedom of Information Law’ on lines of the Indian ‘Right to Information’ bill, after eight-month-long debates.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) had reservations regarding the draft but the President’s spokesman who headed the sub-committee, Farhatullah Babar said that the Senate could not wait any longer for the ministry’s reply.

Obama ‘sure Assad regime behind alleged chemical weapons attack’

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President Barack Obama has said the United States has concluded the Syrian government carried out the chemical weapons attacks near Damascus.

In an interview with Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), Obama said he has not yet made a decision about whether to intervene militarily and was still evaluating options for possible military retaliation. According to the BBC, he said that the US would send the government of Bashar al-Assad ‘pretty strong signals that it is better not use chemical weapons again.

Brazil opposes military intervention in Syria without UN backing

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Brazil opposes military intervention in Syria without the full backing of the United Nations, Brazilian Foreign Minister Luiz Alberto Figueiredo said Wednesday.

“The Brazilian government”s position is and has always been not to consider armed intervention if it is not done under the support of a resolution from the United Nations Security Council,” Figueiredo said at his first press conference as foreign minister.

Fort Hood army base murder suspect Nidal Hasan awarded death sentence

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The shooter accused of killing 13 and injuring more than 30 at the Fort Hood Army Base in the U.S. state of Texas in 2009 has been sentenced to death by a military jury after just two hours of deliberation. Major Nidal Hasan, the Army psychiatrist, offered little defense and sat motionless as the jury president read the verdict.

Hasan has said he acted to protect Islamic insurgents abroad from American aggression and never denied being the gunman, Fox News reports.

Greg Chappell backs `Pak-origin` Khawaja to `inspire thousands` for Oz cricket

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Legendary Australian batsman Greg Chappell has backed Australian batsman Usman Khawaja to inspire thousands of children from numerous ethnic backgrounds to believe that they can also represent Australia.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Chappell”s comments come days after an English journalist was criticised for suggesting that the ”Australia”s experiment with their Asian immigrant population will be shelved” after Khawaja was dismissed in the fourth Ashes Test.

‘Madam and son’ behind conspiracy against me: Asaram Bapu

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Spiritual leader Asaram Bapu on Thursday indirectly targeted UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, and accused them of leveling false accusations against him, in connection with the sexual assault of a minor.

“I don’t want to oppose any party but I’ve been told that all of this has been orchestrated by Madam and her son (Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi). So, I said, let them do whatever they are doing,” Asaram Bapu said.

Weak Al-Jazeera America start belies Nielsen’s expectations

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Al-Jazeera America, the United States offshoot of the Qatar-based international news organization, has recorded very low viewer ratings on its opening day in the traditional cable news network.

The channel”s launch drew just 22,000 people, which was below Nielsen’s minimum accuracy threshold, the Washington Times reports.

According to the report, the rating firm could not make an accurate estimate of the number of viewers for the new channel.

The channel, which replaced the low-rated Current TV, was launched on Tuesday.

‘Madam and son’ behind conspiracy against me: Asaram Bapu

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Spiritual leader Asaram Bapu on Thursday indirectly targeted UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, and accused them of leveling false accusations against him, in connection with the sexual assault of a minor.

“I don’t want to oppose any party but I’ve been told that all of this has been orchestrated by Madam and her son (Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi). So, I said, let them do whatever they are doing,” Asaram Bapu said.