Month: May 2014

Shinde fears for safety of women if Modi becomes PM

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Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Friday said he shudders to think what would happen to the safety of women should BJP leader Narendra Modi become the next prime minister of India.

Directly attacking the BJP prime ministerial candidate during a press conference here, Shinde said everyone was aware of what Modi had done in connection with the Snoopgate row.

“When as CM, he was snooping on women, what will happen to the safety of women if he becomes PM?” Shinde asked.

Chidambaram played fraud with budgets: Yashwant Sinha

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It’s getting personal. Former Finance Minister and BJP leader Yashwant Sinha Friday said Finance Minister P Chidambaram has played “fraud” with union budget and the next government should come out with a white paper to expose his lies.

Sinha’s comments came a day after Chidambaram termed the BJP leader’s tenure as finance minister the worst since 1991 calling him “mischievious” and ignorant.

OU offers one-year PG Diploma in Digital Information Management

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The Department of Library and Information Science, University College of Arts and Social Sciences, Osmania University is offering one year Post Graduate Diploma in Digital Information Management (Course Code : 81) under UGC innovative program scheme.

The salient features of this course is to teach and train the students in the use of latest techniques in building and maintaining Digital Libraries; Digital Library software such as DSpace, Koha, NewGenLib, etc; Digitization procedures and techniques; Content Management Systems such as Drupal and Joomla; Use of ICT in Libraries.

VHR not to apply for anticipatory bail

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Rajya Sabha MP V Hanumantha Rao on Friday announced that he would not seek anticipatory bail in the case filed against him on a complaint lodged by BJP leader Seshagiri Rao.

Speaking to media persons here, VHR said that the case was booked following a political conspiracy. He alleged that the Reddy lobby was trying to attack his political career and therefore, conspired to registered under SC, ST Atrocities Act against him. He also alleged that the address mentioned by Seshagiri Rao in his complaint is false.

Local court issues non-bailable warrant against Raj Thackeray

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A local court has issued a non-bailable warrant against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray for not appearing before the court for a long time.

The next hearing is scheduled on May 8, Thursday.

According to the charges, MNS workers allegedly pelted stones at a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus on the Jalna-Aurangabad road on October 20, 2008, near the Shekta village in Maharashtra.

BP control, exercise key to preventing strokes

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Stroke survivors should control their blood pressure, cholesterol and weight and do moderate physical activity regularly to avoid having another stroke, scientists say.

They should also receive other evidence-based therapy specific to their individual health, which may include aspirin therapy or a surgical procedure to keep neck arteries open, according to a scientific statement by American Heart Association.

TDP, BJP two sides of same coin: Sonia Gandhi

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Congress president Sonia Gandhi Friday described Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the two sides of the same coin.

Addressing an election rally in this Andhra town, she appealed to people to reject TDP-BJP, saying a vote for the alliance will be a divisive vote that will spread prejudice and hatred among people.

“A vote for TDP will only strengthen communal forces and greatly damage our secular fabric,” she said.

India, Saudi Arabia discuss standard employment contract

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Indian and Saudi Arabian officials discussed points of standard employment contract for Indian workers in the Saudi kingdom, media reported Friday.

The first meeting of the Saudi-Indian Joint Committee on labour issues concluded Thursday, the day celebrated as International Labour Day.

The meeting was a follow-up to an agreement that was recently signed for the recruitment of domestic workers between this Gulf nation and India.

The agreement was signed by Saudi Labour Minister Adel Fakeih and India’s Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi.

No threat to Modi’s life: Shinde

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Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde Friday said there was no threat to BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

“There is no specific input about threat to Modi and the government of India has already taken precautionary measures to avert any untoward incident,” he told reporters here.

Shinde said the threat perception was a theory propagated by Bharatiya Janata Party leaders.

Indian nanny accused of killing baby in Dubai

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An Indian nanny in Dubai has been accused of strangling an 11-month-old baby girl to death with her scarf as she was denied leave to go back to her country, media reported.

The 29-year-old woman initially denied all accusations, but later reportedly confessed to prosecution investigators she killed the baby because she was in a hard condition after her mother passed away in India a month earlier, the Khaleej Times reported.

Celina Jaitley lends her voice to UN campaign to fight homophobia

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Bollywood actress and rights activist Celina Jaitley has lent her voice to United Nations’ music video to promote LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) rights.

Jaitley, the goodwill ambassador of United Nations’ Free and Equal Campaign, made her singing debut by voicing the song for the campaign produced by UN in typical Bollywood song-and-dance style for the first time.

The two and a half minute video called ‘The Welcome’ calls for recognition and support for LGBT community.

Azmi’s DNA remark on Muslims draws flak from political leaders

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Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Abu Azmi has once again attracted controversy for saying that Muslims who speak against his party should have their DNA tested.

Addressing a rally in Sant Kabir Nagar District of Uttar Pradesh on April 30, Azmi had said that Muslims who do not vote for his party are not “true Muslims”.

Senior journalist and former politician Shahid Siddiqui condemned Azmi’s controversial remark.

NIA team at Chennai twin blasts site: Shinde

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Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde Friday said the centre has sent a National Investigation Agency (NIA) data collection team to the site of the twin blasts on a train in Chennai that left a woman dead.

He said the Tamil Nadu government was probing Thursday’s incident in which 14 people were also injured.

“The Tamil Nadu government refused to get the matter investigated by the NIA as it claimed that the state police officials are sufficiently efficient to investigate the incident. Nevertheless, we have sent a data collection team of the NIA,” he told reporters here.

Qaeda leader orders Syria affiliate to stop fighting rivals

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Al-Qaeda’s leader ordered the group’s Syrian affiliate, the Al-Nusra Front, to end fighting with its jihadist rivals, in an audiotape posted online today.

Ayman al-Zawahiri, in a message to Al-Nusra chief Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, ordered that “all soldiers of the front immediately cease fighting” other jihadist groups.

Instead, he urged him to “devote himself to combat the enemies of Islam, specifically Baathists, Shiites and their allies.”

New technology to use body heat to power cellphones

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Scientists have devised new technology which generates electricity from body heat, allowing you to charge electronic devices on the go.

Professor Byung Jin Cho from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in South Korea is leading the team working on a thermoelectric (TE) generator.

The small and flexible generator, made from glass and fabric, can be used to power up heart monitors, smart glasses and other wearable tech.

Banana Halwa

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Ingredients:

1/4 tsp Cardamom Powder
4-5 tbsp Sugar
4 Ripe Bananas
2-3 tsp Ghee (clarified butter)

How to make Banana Halwa:

First, peel off and mash the bananas.
Heat ghee in a frying pan.
Add bananas and cook over low heat, stirring to prevent the mixture from sticking.
Cook for 10 minutes over medium flame or until bananas have turned golden brown.
Add more ghee if necessary.
Now, add sugar after 4-5 minutes and continue stirring until dissolved.
Add cardamom powder to the halwa and turn off the flame.
Keep on stirring till the mixture becomes thicker.

Modi’s temple visitin Seemandhra left pilgrims irate

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The temple politics which was Narendra Modis new brand was dished out in Seemandhra left people seething with anger as armed cops and volunteers prevented hundreds from entering ancient shrines because the BJPs prime ministerial candidate was busy offering special prayers inside.

Though Modi has skillfully steered clear from speaking on religion during election rallies in other parts, but he completely changed tack during his marathon tour of Seemandhra and played the Hindutva card to the hilt.

Narendra Modi will never become PM: Kapil Sibal

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Hitting out at Narendra Modi, Union Minister Kapil Sibal today claimed that the Gujarat chief minister will never become Prime Minister despite all efforts as people have come to know his real face.

“My experience says Modi will never become the PM. Do they want a person who got people of his own state killed in fake encounters? The voters will not like a person to become the PM who has acted against the minority community, be it Muslims or Sikhs in Gujarat,” Sibal said.

The Union Law Minister referred to Tulsiram Prajapati and Javed-Ishrat Jahan encounters to support his argument.

Children among 18 dead in two Syria bombings

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Eleven children were among 18 people killed in two bombings in central Syria today, state media reported, as al-Qaeda’s chief called on its Syrian affiliate to stop fighting rival jihadists.

The deadly attacks, in which suicide bombers blew themselves up in vehicles, targeted two towns in Hama province that are majority Alawite, the religious community to which President Bashar al-Assad belongs.

The first bombing, in the town of Jibrin, in the southwest of the province, killed 17 civilians, including the 11 children, state media said.

BBMP wants to vacate Russell Market but traders refuse

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The impasse between the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Russell Market traders continues.

Although the BBMP has been asserting that the traders vacate the market as experts have declared the heritage building not safe after fire broke out in it in February 2012, traders recommend the civic body to make public the report prepared by Civil-Aid Technoclinic Pvt Ltd, a forum that certifies buildings. The traders have questioned the genuineness of the Civil-Aid report, which was prepared soon after the fire.

Shahnawaz attacks Asim Azmi on controversial remarks

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Taking strong exception to controversial comments of Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi that DNA test of Muslims who do not vote for SP should be conducted, senior BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain today asked him why he was trying to act as “pope of Muslims.”

“Abu Azmi shall get his DNA test conducted first,” he said in a caustic remark on SP leader.

The BJP leader alleged that by making “provoking” statements Azmi was trying to “hoodwink” minorities to his party fold.

No houses on rent for Indians in Singapore

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Many online home rental websites in Singapore include the words “No Indians, no People’s Republic of China (PRC)”, which is sometimes followed by the word “sorry”, leading to increasing rental discrimination in the city.

The issue appears more common with less expensive properties and on sites where content is posted directly by users, the Online Citizen reported.

The president of the Universal Society of Hinduism (USH), Rajan Zed, has called on Singapore’s President Tony Tan and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to put an end to the discrimination, which is becoming a rising menace.

Shilpa Shetty named ‘Spalicious Mom’, elated

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She is as svelte and stunning a mother of a two-year-old as she was when she danced to the tunes of “Chura ke dil mera”. Shilpa Shetty, who was given the title of ‘Spalicious Mom’ at an awards event here, says she takes the awards as “compliments”.

Breaking into a laughter on being congratulated for being a ‘Spalicious Mom’, Shilpa told IANS: “What does it mean? I have no inkling of what it means. I don’t understand it really, but an award is always a compliment and so, I am happy and excited about this.”

A typist killed in public glare

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On Wednesday evening, four unidentified men in an autorickshaw approached a 52-year-old typist near Ambedkar Medical College, off Shampur Main Road and hacked him to death in full public glare.

The deceased, Yusuf bin Mohammed, from Basavanagar, KG Halli, was returning home around 6 pm when the killers arrived in an autorickshaw, came near and hacked him to death even as passersby watched in horror. Bleeding profusely, Yusuf was taken to a hospital but he succumbed to his injuries, according to police.