Month: January 2014

Pattinson-Stewart love nest sold for $6.375 mn to Parsons

by

Actor Robert Pattinson, who had listed his Los Feliz mansion for sale three months back, has sold the house to actor Jim Parsons for $6.375 million.

According to real estate agents Trulia, Pattinson first put the house, which he once shared with ex-girlfriend Kristen Stewart, on the market for $6.75 million in October, reports usmagazine.com.

Built on a terraced 1.5 acre lot in the hills above Los Angeles, the 1922 Spanish Colonial-style estate has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms, and a library.

Pattinson purchased the abode in September 2011 for $6.275 million.

Houston mayor marries same-sex partner in California

by

Houston’s mayor Annise Parker has married her long-time partner Kathy Hubbard at a private ceremony in California, as America’s second most populous state Texas does not legally recognise the same-sex marriages.

“I am privileged to now be the wife of the woman I have loved for more than 2 decades. I couldn’t be happier. We said our vows today,” the mayor tweeted yesterday.

According to a statement issued by Parker’s office, the two chose January 16 as their wedding date because it marked their 23rd anniversary of being together.

SRK, Salman hug yet again

by

Bollywood’s warring Khans — Shah Rukh and Salman — put up a united front by hugging each other at an awards night, where the ‘badshah’ received the Entertainer of The Year honour.

The picture-perfect moment was captured at the 9th Renault Star Guild Awards here Thursday night.

Looking dapper in formal suits, both the Hindi film superstars, who are said to have been sharing a cold war since a long time, warmed up to each other in a rare moment, which comes soon after Rekha broke the ice with Jaya Bachchan at another awards event.

Sensex loses 129.50 points in pre-noon session

by

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading 129.50 points or 0.61 percent down in the pre-noon trade Friday.

Selling pressure was seen in the banking index (bankex) and the IT and capital goods sectors.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 21,236.65 points, was trading at 21,135.68 points in the pre-noon session, down 129.50 points or 0.61 percent from the previous day’s close at 21,265.18 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 21,270.11 points and a low of 21,131.66 points during the trade so far.

MENTAIN REGULAR SPIRITUAL ASSESSMENT

by

An important habit that we need to cultivate in ourselves is to constantly assess ourselves and our actions. We need to ask ourselves whether we are engrossed in certain sinful behaviors and our carefree attitude, our intoxication with certain desires, and not fearing Allah has made it difficult to escape the traps of those behaviors. If you find yourself guilty of such, use whatever light of truth that remains in your heart to pause and assess the gravity of your behaviors. Follow that light and you will find a way out.

Consider the following advice by Ibn Al-Qayyim:

US Congress passes $1.1 trillion spending bill

by

The US Senate has passed the USD 1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill that eliminates the threat of another government shutdown at least until October and puts conditions on Pakistan for continuation of aid.

Passed by the House of Representatives a day earlier, the bill now goes to the White House for President Barack Obama to sign it into law, thus preventing another shutdown.

While the Senate passed the massive bill by 72-26 votes yesterday, the House approved it by 359-67 votes on Wednesday.

India’s no 1 rank at stake in ODI series against Kiwis

by

India must win the upcoming five-match One-day series against New Zealand if they have to retain their number one status in the ICC team rankings.

India are sitting atop the ICC team rankings table with 120 ratings points, and enter the series leading eighth-ranked New Zealand by 36 ratings points.

If India lose the series, starting Sunday in Napier, they will lose their numero uno status and as many as six ratings points.

India have been the number-one ranked ODI side since January 2013, when it replaced England at the top.

My best wishes are with Sunil: Kapil Sharma

by

Popular comedian Kapil Sharma is happy that Sunil Grover, who became popular as Gutthi on his show “Comedy Nights With Kapil”, is returning to the small screen with his own show and wishes him best luck.

“It’s good. Everybody has the right to do what they want to do,” Kapil said here Thursday at the red carpet of the 9th Renault Star Guild Awards.

“Even I made my show after leaving another show (“Comedy Circus”), so he also has the right to do so. My best wishes are with him. I wish he does well,” he added.

Is Ganguly be the next Sports Minister?

by

On Thursday former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly deprived of all conjecture about his joining politics and contesting forth coming Lok Sabha election.

On Thursday evening during a surprise visit to the new state secretariat building, Nabanna Ganguly confirmed by saying “ I am not in politics. I am a sportsman.

The cricket celebrity refused to intricate anything on his meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. I met Mamata to converse matters related to his upcoming school project in Kolkata, Ganguly said .

Marriage feels good: Knightley

by

Actress Keira Knightley, who married James Righton last year, says that being married “feels good”. The actress also hopes to remain in marital bliss for a long time.

“I guess it feels good until it doesn’t. At the moment it feels good, we’ll just hope it stays that way,” eonline.com quoted Knightley as saying.

The 28-year-old exchanged vows with Righton in May last year in Mazan, a small town, which is about 12 miles from Marseilles, France.

The actress has dated actor Jamie Dornan and Rupert Friend in the past.

Police books Goa tourism minister for land grab

by

The Goa Police Friday booked Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar for land grab. The registration of the First Information Report (FIR) under sections 420, 119, 120 and 120 B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) comes within 24 hours of a directive given by a trial court Thursday.

2014 will be a battle for India, says combative Sonia

by

In a combative speech that sounded like an election bugle for a beleaguered party facing widespread public resentment, particularly from the middle class, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said that Friday the “divisive” ideology of BJP will only end up dividing the country, adding that the April-May Lok Sabha elections will be “a battle for India” and its secular traditions.

Indian charged with murdering wife in Malaysia

by

An Indian man in Malaysia has been charged in a court in the southeast Asian nation with murdering his wife. Shashi Kumar, 27, was charged in a magistrate’s court with murdering between Dec 30 and Jan 3 Jolly Tewari, 28, who was a boutique worker at a bridal centre in Malyasia’s capital Kuala Lumpur, the Malysian Star reported Thursday.

If convicted, Shashi will face the death sentence under Section 302 of Malaysia’s penal code.

The charge against Shashi was read in English before magistrate Erry Shahriman Nor Aripin Thursday.

Congress most communal party: BJP

by

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday described the Congress as the “most communal party” in India. “The party that burnt alive 10,000 Sikhs … and which worked with the Muslim League that divided India is calling us communal and divisive,” party spokesman Prakash Javadekar said.

“The Congress is the most communal party in India,” he said.

Javadekar’s remarks came after Congress president Sonia Gandhi earlier in the day attacked the BJP’s “divisive” ideology and said this posed the “biggest threat” for the country.

Modi poses great danger to India, says Ved Mehta

by

BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi “will be a great danger to India” if he were to rule the country, celebrated author Ved Mehta said here Friday.

“He (Modi) will be a great danger to India because of his thinking differentiating between Hindus and Muslims,” said the 80-year-old who has written several books despite losing his sight at the age of four.

Mehta was speaking at the Jaipur Literature Festival which began Friday.

Best actor nominee Matthew McConaughey celebrates Oscar nod with family

by

Matthew McConaughey has revealed that he had a brief moment of anxiety while he was watching Oscar nominations with his wife Camila early in the morning.

The actor told ABC News that it was a wonderful moment when he was nominated for best actor for film ‘ Dallas Buyers Club .’

McConaughey, who lost more than 40 pounds to play Ron Woodroof, added that his wife’s reaction to his Oscar nod was one of utter joy and that he is going to keep the family celebrations going. (ANI)

Auto strike from friday midnight

by

The Auto Driver Union Joint Action Committee (ADU-JAC) has called for an strike in the twin cities from Friday midnight of January 17, stressing on immediate fixation of auto fare structures similar to those in neighbouring States.

JAC leader Amanullah Khan along with other leaders said that the strike had been announced, demanding immediate scrapping of Rs 1,000 fine for traffic offences, cancellation of GO No. 108 and hike in minimum auto fare.

Serena sets Australian Open record with third round win over Hantuchova

by

World number one Serena Williams has now reportedly won more matches at the Australian Open than any other woman player, notching her 24th consecutive win on the tour and improving her career record to 61-8, following her third round win over Daniela Hantuchova.

On another scorching day at Melbourne Park , the American ace beat the Slovakian 6-3, 6-3 in just 1 hour, 20 minutes, keeping her time on court to a minimum during the heat wave.

Doomsday clock set at 5 minutes until midnight

by

The iconic Doomsday Clock is poised at five minutes until midnight, it has been announced. The Doomsday Clock is a visual metaphor used to depict danger of a “civilization-threatening technological catastrophe”, CBS reported.

The Doomsday Clock is the invention of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, a publication started by some of the researchers who worked on the atomic bomb.

California woman found `not guilty` of watching TV on Google Glass while driving

by

A Google Glass wearer in the US has been reportedly found ”not guilty” for watching television while driving after an officer ticketed her for using a visible ”monitor”.

A software developer and part of Google”s Glass Explorer”s team, Cecilia Abadie was pulled over for speeding in October last year, but the Californian denied the charges. According to Sky News, Abadie”s case is the first known alleged traffic violation for wearing Google”s wearable computing eyeglasses while driving.

Twitter likely to team up with Stripe to accept credit cards via tweets

by

Twitter is reportedly said to be teaming up with online payments service Stripe that could allow retailers to accept credit cards directly through tweets.

The tie-up could potentially transform Twitter from a platform retailers use for advertising and marketing and allow for sale of products and receiving payments as well. According to Cnet, the deal, said to be in its final stages but not complete, would indicate that the microblogging site is serious about making it easier for brands, retailers or manufacturers to sell stuff directly on Twitter.

Pak editor of Dawn News passes away at 50

by

Chief editor of Pakistani news website, Dawn.com, Musadiq Sanwal, passed away on Friday after battling with lung cancer.

The 50-year old Pakistani musician and journalist had co-founded Matteela, a website for photography, music, film, art and literature based in Lahore. Sanwal”s funeral prayers would be held today, and his burial would take place in his hometown of Multan, Dawn reports. He is survived by a wife and two children. (ANI)

Modi can never become PM, can sell tea: Aiyar

by

In remarks that are likely to stoke a controversy, Congress leader Manishankar Aiyar today mocked Narendra Modi’s Prime Ministerial ambitions and said a place will be identified for the Gujarat Chief Minister to distribute tea here.

“I promise you in 21st Century Narendra Modi will never become the Prime Minister of the country. …But if he wants to distribute tea here, we will find a place for him,” Aiyar said at the venue of the AICC meeting here.

Slide in `Google-esque` office lets you change floors in 3 secs flat!

by

Managers at an office have installed a giant indoor metal slide to take workers from one floor to the other in just three seconds.

The 20ft-long stainless steel tube was added to create a sense of fun for staff at the Workshop offices in Folkestone, Kent, the Daily Star reported. The owners also claimed that the slide, which features a camera inside that takes pictures as people whizz down from the fifth to the fourth floor, adds to the “Google-esque” feel of the offices. (ANI)