Month: January 2014

Hyderabad Zakat & Charitable Trust distributes relief kits among Burmese refugees

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Hyderabad Zakat and Charitable Trust continues its relief work for Burmese refugees. A survey was conducted by the Trust among the refugees residing in Hafez Babanagar, Shaheennagar, Barkas, Balapur, Bahadurpura, Shastripuram, Kishan Bagh.

Tokens were given to widows, old-aged and most deserving families in the said camps and relief kits were distributed among them at Trust office located at Begumpet. Relief kits were given to 100 families. A total of Rs. 25 lakhs were spend on 500 families so far.

Oz interviewer left shamefaced after asking ‘Jehovah’s Witness’ Serena about Christmas gift

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World number one Serena Williams had reportedly faced an awkward moment with an Australian interviewer who asked what she got her sister Venus for Christmas, not knowing that the Venus sisters are Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Australian TV interviewer and former tennis player Renae Stubbs was left shamefaced after she asked Serena as to what the American ace got her sister Venus for Christmas, in an on-court interview.

According to Sport24, Serena replied that they do not celebrate Christmas, although she added that both of them ‘hung out’ together and had a ‘great time’.

‘Small town girl’ Julia Roberts clueless over rise to fame

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Julia Roberts has said that she is just a small town girl, who still can’t believe what all has happened to her.

The 46-year-old actress, who received an Academy Award nomination for her latest film ‘ August: Osage County’, said that she thinks she is the same relatively simple person that she has always been, who has a flashy, wacky job, the Daily Express reported.

The ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’ star admitted that she has never been one of those blindly ambitious actresses, and is really a girl from small-town Georgia in her mind

Bangalore-based Inventus Capital raises $106 mn to back U.S.-India startups

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Early-stage investment firm Inventus Capital has raised 106 million dollars in a second fund that will be invested from its offices in US-India startups.

Managing director John Dougery said that the firm is already investing from the new fund, in deals with e-commerce business Unbxd, an insurance business PolicyBazaar in India, Bangalore-based online travel agency eDreams and database startup Espresso Logic in Santa Clara, TechCrunch reports.

Even little amount of alcohol dangerous while driving: Study

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A study has revealed that even .01 blood alcohol content can be dangerous while driving. The study, which is led by UC San Diego sociologist David Phillips, has found that even “minimally buzzed” drivers are more often to be blamed for fatal car crashes than the sober drivers they collide with.

The researchers, who examined 570,731 fatal collisions, from 1994 to 2011 and used the official U.S. Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) database, found no “threshold effect” or “no sudden transition from blameless to blamed” at the legal limit for drunk driving.

18th time Oscar nominee Meryl Streep feels she’s ‘old news’

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Meryl Streep, who recently got her 18th Oscar nomination for ‘ August: Osage County’, has confessed that she thought she wouldn’t get nominated because she’s “old news”.

During an appearance on ‘ The Ellen DeGeneres Show ‘, the veteran actress told the host that she slept in when the Oscar nominations were announced, People Magazine reported.

The ‘Devil Wears Prada’ star explained that all the papers were saying that she doesn’t have a chance because there were so many great and better performances this year as compared to her performance. (ANI)

People from all walks of life urged to come forward to resolve marriage problems

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Mr. Zaheeruddin Ali Khan Managing Editor Siasat daily told that marriage of girls has become a serious problem in Muslim society. Writers, poets and artists should also come forward along with religious scholars and intellectuals to resolve this issue. He was releasing the DVD of noted comedy artist Mr. Hamed Kamal and Mr. Subhani “Readymade Dulha” at Mahboob Husain Jigar Hall, Siasat premises Abids.

Apple aiming to capture Indian market with lower priced iPhone4 mobiles

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Apple is reportedly planning to turn to its old legacy model iPhone4 at a lower price to target the consumers in India.

According to TechCrunch, many aspirational consumers in India are ready to pay an extra 100-150 dollars to own an iPhone.

According to the report, Apple is planning to sell 8GB iPhone 4 models in India for around INR 22,000, which is going to be about 70 dollars less than the previous retail price of around INR 26,500 at the time of its launch.

The strategy has been devised after Apple accounted for less than 2 percent of all mobile sales in India in 2013. (ANI)

Helen Mirren looks forward to Harvard’s Hasty Pudding award

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Helen Mirren has revealed that she is thrilled to be named woman of the year by Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals.

The Academy Award-winning actress admitted that she “adores pudding in all its manifestations” and is looking forward to the famous Hasty Pudding, CBS News reported.

The awards, presented annually, are given to performers who have made a lasting and impressive contribution to entertainment. (ANI)

Haryana Govt. orders CBI probe against Ashok Khemka: Media Reports

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The Haryana Government has reportedly ordered an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against suspended IAS officer Ashok Khemka for awarding a contract to a company in Gujarat worth eight crore rupees.

The allegations against Khemka pertain to 2009 when he was the Managing Director of the State Warehouse Corporation.

According to media reports, Haryana Government has alleged that Khemka had reportedly changed the terms and conditions listed in the contract without seeking its consent.

PM to give away national bravery awards to 25 children

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will confer National Bravery awards on 25 children this year on the eve of Republic Day. Among the awardees, nine are girls. Five awards will be given posthumously.

Announcing this at a press conference organised at Indian Council for Child Welfare, Gita Siddhartha, President, ICCW, said the coveted Bharat Award has been conferred on eight-and-a-half-year-old Kumari Mahika Gupta of Delhi who saved her brother from floods at Kedarnath in Uttarakhand last year.

Shashi Tharoor admitted to hospital after wife Sunanda found dead

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Union minister Shashi Tharoor, whose wife Sunanda Pushkar was found dead on Friday night, was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after he suffered a “cardiac condition” in the wee hours on Saturday.

57-year-old Tharoor was rushed to the hospital at around 3am after he complained of severe chest pain, anxiety and palpitation, sources at the AIIMS said.

The Union minister was admitted to the ICU of the cardiothoracic centre of the AIIMS and a number of investigations including ECG have been carried out on him.

Modi is ‘America’s Other India Problem’: Time magazine

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After the “nasty spat” between India and US over an Indian diplomat, the emergence of Narendra Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate, may cause even more tension between them, according to Time magazine.

Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade, whom US authorities charged with visa fraud involving her maid, has returned to India after being granted diplomatic immunity, the influential magazine noted in its upcoming January 27 issue.

THE POWER OF ISTIGHFAR – ‘ASTAGHFIRULLAH’ (I seek forgiveness of Allah)

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People often forget the importance of the simple yet powerful dua (supplication) – Istighfar i.e., saying “Astaghfirullah” (I seek forgiveness of Allah). Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) recited this at least 100 times a day. Let us see the benefits and virtues of reciting this simple beautiful supplication insha Allah.

Istighfar (Astaghfirullah) is the gateway of relief and happiness. Whenever you are in distress start reciting it and Insha Allah it will take you out of your anxiety and will put you in a peaceful situation and will give you happiness.

Sunanda Pushkar’s body sent to AIIMS for postmortem

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The body of Sunanda Pushkar, wife of Union minister Shashi Tharoor, was on Saturday shifted to the AIIMS for postmortem as police continued to probe various angles including suicide in the case.

Sources said a postmortem would be carried out around noon by a team of doctors and the report could be available later in the evening.

The body of 52-year-old Pushkar was taken from the Leela Palace Hotel to AIIMS at around 3:30am, sources said.

Sharapova works hard to make last 16

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Russian third seed Maria Sharapova battled into the Australian Open fourth round on Saturday with a hard-fought, straight-sets win over France’s Alize Cornet.

The four-time Grand Slam champion came through her match on Rod Laver Arena 6-1, 7-6 (8/6) in one hour 51 minutes, but Sharapova’s killer instinct deserted her in the second set when she failed to serve out for the victory, forcing a tiebreak.

“She started playing better when I gave her some chances,” said Sharapova, after setting up a clash with 20th-seeded Slovak Dominika Cibulkova for a place in the quarter-finals.

Woman robbed, killed in Sulabh complex

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Pentamma, aged 58 years was found murdered at Sulabh complex at BK Guda, SR Nagar. According to SR Nagar police the woman died after her head was bashed against the wall. Pentamma had been working and residing at the complex since her husband’s death. On the fateful night few persons entered the premises and tried to snatch her anklets. When she resisted, they smashed her head against the wall and killed her. The unknown burglars stole her mobile phone and silver anklets.

16-year-old girl pregnant after father rapes her

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A 55-year-old man, who raped his 16-year-old daughter for over three months and got her pregnant, is in the custody of Kumbalgod police.

The father was arrested on Friday, based on a complaint lodged by the victim’s mother. He was booked on charges of rape and sodomy.

The accused’s name was not released by the authorities. Police officers only said that the family stays in Bhuvaneshwarinagar near Kengeri, Dodda Basti, Ramanagaram district.

The accused is a construction labourer and his wife a garment factory employee. The victim has two brothers and is a I PU student.

MBT’s Jalsa-e-Rahmat-ul-Lilalameen today

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The 22nd Jalsa Rahmatul Lilalameen of Majlis Bachao Tahreek will be held on Saturday January 18 after Isha prayers at Moghalpura playground under the supervision of Dr. Qayam Khan. Islamic scholar of Orissa Allama Qari Sakhawat Husain Barkati will attend as chief guest while Maulana Shaker Raza Maharashtra and Qari Amanullah Balyawi will be the guest speakers.

18 killed, several injured in Mumbai stampede

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At least 18 people were killed in a stampede that broke out on early Saturday near the Malabar Hill residence of Dawoodi Bohra spiritual leader Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, who died on Friday morning, officials said.

According to police and BMC disaster control officials, the stampede took place around 1.30 am.

Thousands of community mourners converged near Saifee Mahal, where the Syedna’s body was kept for people to pay their last respects.

Twinkle is not a people pleaser: Akshay

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Bollywood star Akshay Kumar feels that his actress wife Twinkle is far from being diplomatic as she is not afraid of speaking the truth.

The 46-year-old actor was in conversation with filmmaker Karan Johar on his talk show ‘Koffee with Karan’, where he appeared for the first time.

Akshay said that his wife’s film ‘Mela’, starring Aamir Khan and brother Faisal, was the turning point of his personal life.

“She was very confident about Mela. She had said if the film didn’t work, she would get married. Fortunately for me, ‘Mela’ flopped and we got married,” Akshay said.

Tharoor, a man always in thick of controversies

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As a man who has courted controversies ever since he plunged into electoral politics, the death of his wife could become the focus of yet another row for Union Minister Shashi Tharoor.

Obviously, what made the news of the death of Sunanda Pushkar all the more shocking was that it came close on the heels of the couple’s tweets about strains in their relatiohship that hit headlines across India and abroad.

Putin says gays at Olympics must ‘leave children alone’

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Russian President Vladimir Putin today said gays need not fear persecution at the Winter Olympic Games, but stood by a controversial ban on promoting homosexuality to children.

“We don’t have a ban on non-traditional sexual relations between people,” Putin told a group of volunteers who will be working at the Games.

“We have a ban on the propaganda of homosexuality and paedophilia,” Putin said in televised comments from host city Sochi, with three weeks to go until the event.

‘Inspiring’ Jemima Khan urges Russell Brand to meditate

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Russel Brand has revealed that his girlfriend Jemima Khan is inspiring him to give up his “womanizing” ways and take up meditation and dog-walking.

The 38-year-old comedian told Jonathan Ross that he loves spending time with his socialite girlfriend and her German shepherd Brian, the Mirror reported.

The former husband of Katy Perry said that he’s in a relationship which is unlike anything that he has experienced before and that he really loves her.

AIIMS doctors to carry out postmortem on Sunanda Tharoor today

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Doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) will reportedly carry out a postmortem on the body of Sunanda Tharoor, the wife of Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor, on Saturday. Sunanda was found dead at the five-star Leela Hotel in South Delhi late on Friday night. Her body was found on a bed in suite 345 of the Leela Hotel. Her death comes within 48 hours of her going public about her husband”s alleged affair with a Pakistani journalist, Mehr Tarar, raising suspicions of suicide, although no note has been found.