Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Daily Latest News

Daily Latest News

Heavy exercise helps you live longer

Posted: 12 May 2010 12:06 PM PDT

London, May 13 (IANS) Heavy exercise could be the secret to living longer, scientists claim.

A study found that strenuous physical activity – like running a marathon can stop cells dying and keep bodies healthy till old age, reports express.co.uk.

Scientists hope that finding a drug to slow cell death – a process called apoptosis could help prevent people from ageing completely.

They discovered that apoptosis is stopped after heavy exercise. Their findings suggest this is because a gene called sirtuin – an anti-ageing protein looks after the cells during exercise.

This could mean that certain cells which cannot normally re-generate, such as skeletal muscular cells, can be protected by exercise.

The scientists studied amateur athletes after a 26-mile run, looking at cells in the blood that are critical for helping the immune system to fight infection.

They found that the balance between the slowing of cell death changed after the race.

Matteo Russo, one of the researchers, said: “Sirtuins are genes that alone can increase the survival rates of mammals, including may be man”.

“They are very important because they are involved in the link in maintaining tissues which usually don’t proliferate. We hope that this kind of single link can be useful for successful ageing, which is very important,” he added.

Enter your email address:

Daytime Emmy Nominations 2010 announced, General Hospitals leads the race

Posted: 12 May 2010 11:50 AM PDT

Ellen Degeneres

Ellen Degeneres

General Hospital was the favourite among all for the Daytime Emmy Nominations 2010 with the soap claiming 18 nominations in the 37th annual awards. At the second position was They Young and the Restless with 16 nods. The others in contention are Sesame Street with 14 and One Life to Live and As the World Turns with 13 each.

Among the talk shows, The Ellen DeGeneres Show lead the way with eight nominations. The show also bagged a nomination for the Outstanding Talk Show. The View garnered five nominations for itself including the hosting nomination for the ladies.

Oprah Winfrey's show was given four nods though Oprah herself had moved out of the host race a long time back. The Daytime Emmy Awards are scheduled to take place on June 27 in Las Vegas and will be screened on CBS. The list of nominees is :-

OUTSTANDING DAYTIME DRAMA SERIES

• General Hospital

• All My Children

• The Bold and the Beautiful

• The Young and the Restless

~ Rest Continues Below ~

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

• Michael Park, As the World Turns

• Doug Davidson, The Young and the Restless

• James Scott, Days of Our Lives

• Peter Bergman, The Young and the Restless

• Jon Lindstrom, As the World Turns

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

• Maura West, As the World Turns

• Sarah Brown, General Hospital

• Bobbie Eakes, All My Children

• Crystal Chappell, Guiding Light

• Michelle Stafford, The Young and the Restless

OUTSTANDING TALK SHOW HOST

• Dr. Mehmet Oz , The Dr. Oz Show

• Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa, Live With Regis and Kelly

• Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Sherri Shepherd and Barbara Walters, The View

• Rachael Ray, Rachael Ray

• Bonnie Hunt, The Bonnie Hunt Show

OUTSTANDING TALK SHOW – ENTERTAINMENT

• The Ellen DeGeneres Show

• Rachael Ray

• Live With Regis and Kelly

OUTSTANDING TALK SHOW – INFORMATIVE

• The Doctors

• The Dr. Oz Show

• Dr. Phil

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Agnes Nixon

Doris Eaton, last of the Ziegfield girl, dies

Posted: 12 May 2010 11:17 AM PDT

Doris Eaton Travis

Doris Eaton Travis

The death of Doris Eaton Travis, the last of the Ziegfield Girl, lead to end of one of the most glorious eras of Broadway on Tuesday. She was of 106 year old and was into dancing even in this century. Broadway will be putting off lights on Wednesday to honor her going away.

Doris Eaton joined the Ziegfield Follies in the year 1918 when she was just 14, though she claimed to be 16. In 2004 she precisely detailed what she had done in the production that day. Eaton worked in the Ziegfield Follies for three seasons before she went for the silent films in the 1920s.

Eaton revealed that she was primarily a dancer and continued performing till the late 1929. After that the jobs got scarce and the theaters were closed. At that time she went for teaching tap dancing and then went into social dancing. In 1936 she also considered being a 'taxi dancer' due to the recession. Doris Eaton surely will be deeply missed by many.

Gadkari calls Mulayam, Lalu ‘licking dogs’, retracts (Second Lead)

Posted: 12 May 2010 11:09 AM PDT

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari Wednesday said Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad were like “dogs who lick the feet of the Congress” but later took back his words saying he didn’t mean to be offensive.

In a rally here, Gadkari accused Mulayam Singh and Lalu Prasad of betraying the opposition on the recent cut motions in parliament and said: “Bade dakarte the sher jaise, aur kutte ke jaise ban kar Sonia-ji aur Congress ke ghar par talve chatne lage’ (these leaders were roaring like lions but later bowed like dogs to lick the feet of Sonia and the Congress).”

Gadkari’s remark led to a sharp political reaction from the Samajwadi Party and the RJD leaders who accused him of using foul and unparliamentary language.

“I was just using a phrase in the speech to make a point. I take my words back if this has hurt anyone. I have not called them dogs personally. It was only a phrase. It should not be misunderstood. I was talking of their role,” Gadkari told IANS immediately after the remarks.

The BJP president, addressing his maiden rally in this city, said the two leaders and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) deserted the opposition on the cut motions in parliament.

“In front of the TV, Mulayam Singh and Lalu Prasad stood with Sushma Swaraj (leader of opposition). All these parties stood with us but turned away later,” Gadkari said.

“What happened during the cut motion? The BSP went and sat in the lap of the Congress,” he said.

“Someone asked me later which party is with the Congress? I said that only one party was with the Congress – the Congress Bureau of Investigation,” Gadkari said taking a swipe at the Congress for allegedly using the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against political leaders.

“Mulayam Singh and Lalu Prasad bowed before the CBI. In their inquiry, somewhere the lawyer was changed while somewhere the affidavit was changed,” the BJP president claimed.

Earlier, Gadkari chided the Congress Party for promoting dynasty politics.

The BJP president said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee cannot even think of ever becoming their party’s chief.

Referring to his elevation from a poster-pasting ordinary worker to the BJP president, Gadkari said the Congress culture was only to depend on the Nehru-Gandhi clan for leadership.

“Can Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Pranab Mukherjee and other senior Congress leaders even ever think of becoming the Congress president?” Gadkari asked.

“From (Jawaharlal) Nehru to Indira Gandhi to Rajiv Gandhi to Sonia Gandhi now and in future Rahul Gandhi, the leadership issue is quite decided in the Congress,” he said.

Gadkari said as an ordinary party worker, he had pasted BJP posters and painted walls.

“I have been going around places with electricity linesmen to put up BJP posters. The BJP is a party of the workers. You can become an ex-MP from MP, ex-minister from minister and ex-MLA from MLA, but you can never be an ex-worker. The BJP knows the worth of its workers,” he said.

Condemning the policies of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, Gadkari said the government has failed to fulfil its promise of controlling prices within 100 days of coming to power June last year.

“Instead of the slogan ‘garibi hatao’ (eliminate poverty), the Congress government is out to eliminate the poor,” he said.

“Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that India is moving towards double-digit GDP growth but in reality we are going towards double-digit growth in inflation. Our neighbouring country China is maintaining its inflation at below two percent but here it is over 11 percent,” Gadkari said.

He added: “Poverty and poor plight of crores of people is the direct result of wrong economic policies and bad governance of the present government. These policies have ruined the whole country.”

Sixth Goa policeman arrested for drugs mafia links

Posted: 12 May 2010 11:07 AM PDT

A policeman was arrested late Wednesday for links to the narcotics mafia, officials said here.

Subinspector Punaji Gawas was arrested for selling seized drugs stored for safekeeping in the police stiorehouse back to the drugs mafia, an official said.

“Gawas was arrested Wednesday evening for his links to the drugs mafia,” Deputy Superintendent of Police Chandrakant Salgaonkar told reporters.

Gawas was first suspended and then placed under arrest.

Gawas, who is the sixth policeman to be arrested for his links to Goa’s narcotics mafia, was the officer in charge of the police godown where drugs seized during narcotics raids were stored.

Police had earlier maintained that white ants had devoured the drugs.

David Miliband to run for Labour party leader

Posted: 12 May 2010 11:07 AM PDT

The race for the leadership of Britain’s opposition Labour party began Wednesday with the former foreign secretary David Miliband announcing his candidacy to succeed Gordon Brown.

Miliband, 44, had been the favourite to succeed Brown, who stepped down as Labour leader and prime minister Tuesday following last week’s general election.

Miliband became foreign secretary in 2007.

“I am standing because I believe I can lead Labour to rebuild itself as the great reforming champion of social and economic change in this country,” said Miliband Wednesday.

He became the first Labour figure to declare his candidature after Alan Johnson, the former home secretary, said Wednesday that he would not stand.

Miliband’s younger brother, Ed, 40, is also expected to stand in the contest, as well as Ed Balls, a former protege of Brown. Both held cabinet posts in the Brown government.

A new leader is expected to be installed before the Labour party conference in September, following a contest.

Wrong economic policies, bad governance ruined India: Gadkari

Posted: 12 May 2010 11:02 AM PDT

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari Wednesday blamed Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for following “wrong economic policies” and sending the country into inflation and poverty.

“Our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that India is moving towards double-digit growth but in reality we are going towards double-digit growth in inflation. Our neighbouring country China is maintaining its inflation at below two percent but here it is over 11 percent,” said Gadkari, while addressing his first public rally here.

“Poverty and plight of crores of people is the direct result of wrong economic policies and bad governance of the present government. These policies have ruined the whole country.”

“They are following the policy of commodity exchange and have shown a turnover of Rs.450,000 crore, but out of this actual delivery is of only Rs.4,500 crore. The rest money has gone into the pockets of multi-nationals, corporates and big traders,” said Gadkari.

Gadkari said, “This government is an utter failure in curbing terrorist and Maoist attacks. So far they have not executed orders of capital punishment awarded to Afzal Guru by the Supreme Court and this year China has illegally encroached our land at 147 places near the border but we have not taken any concrete steps.”

Anne Hathaway’s boyfriend accused of theft

Posted: 12 May 2010 11:02 AM PDT

Hollywood actress Anne Hathaway’s boyfriend Adam Shulman has been accused of stealing a valuable painting from a street artist.

Actor Adam Shulman, who has been dating the “Alice in Wonderland” actress since 2008, allegedly walked off with a mural painted by street artist Mr. Brainwash.

Ken Hart of H&H Building has claimed ownership of the piece, but he insists if he does not get his art back he would report it as stolen.

“If he brings me back the art, it’s over. But if he doesn’t, I’m going to the police to report it stolen!” femalefirst.co.uk quoted Hart as saying.

This is not the first time Anne’s boyfriends have been in trouble with the law. In 2008, her ex-partner Raffaello Follieri was sentenced to four-and-half years in prison after pleading guilty to fraud charges.

No hand in student leader’s killing in Bangladesh: HNLC

Posted: 12 May 2010 10:59 AM PDT

The outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) Wednesday claimed that it had no hand in the killing of a Khasi student activist, missing since 2007, in Bangladesh.

The Khasi militant outfit, which runs hit-and-run operations from its hideout in Bangladesh, has been accused by its arrested ’sergeant major’ Paniston Pakyntien that HNLC cadres had killed Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) leader Phershal Kongwang in Bangladesh.

Kongwang had been missing from Dec 16, 2007, after he was reportedly abducted by HNLC cadres from Umkrem village.

“We offer the Meghalaya police and Khasi Student’s Union and surrendered and arrested HNLC cadres to lead the HNLC to the location where Kongwang was buried in order to find out the truth,” HNLC spokesman Sainkupar Nongtraw said.

In an e-mail statement, the HNLC which is fighting for a sovereign Hynniewtrep homeland for the tribal Khasi and Jaintia people in Eastern Meghalaya, also denied that it knew Kongwang or had any enmity towards him.

However, police officials who interrogated Pakyntien told IANS that he (Pakyntien) confessed that HNLC cadres had killed Kongwang and his body was buried at Radhanagar Bagan, a tea garden in Jaflong area of Bangladesh’s Sylhet district.

Meghalaya shares a 443-km border with Bangladesh, part of which is porous, hilly and unfenced, and prone to frequent infiltration.

In June 2008, four surrendered HNLC cadres revealed that the outfit had kidnapped the KSU leader and later killed him in Bangladesh.

On Tuesday, the influential KSU demanded from the HNLC to come clear with the confession of Pakyntien that the outfit had abducted and killed Kongwang.

“We are convinced that Khongwang was abducted and killed by the HNLC. The outfit must come clear with the reason behind his killing,” KSU general secretary Hamletson Dohling told IANS.

However, the HNLC termed the confessional statement of its arrested and surrendered cadres as “nothing” but a “propaganda”.

The HNLC is closely linked to the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) as well as to the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland and the National Liberation Front of Tripura.

Guerdwich Montimere, a permian high School Hoopster Revealed as a Scasmter by Police

Posted: 12 May 2010 10:44 AM PDT

The Police finally revealed that the Permian High School hoopster who was playing as if he was belonged to the group of men in the court, turns out to be Guerdwich Montimere. He is 22 year old and is naturalized citizen originally from Haiti.

Guerdmire entered into the Permian team by telling the Permian coach about his being homeless. Danny Wright, the coach kept him in 2009 and Guerdmire reaped the benefit of playing in the court. He is said to be a star player for Fort Lauderdale a long time back.

This means that Guerdmire will most likely won't be able to take the credit for performing in the 2009 season. Montimere was arrested by the Police on Tuesday for presenting false identification proofs to a Police officer. Though Montimere is not the first one to indulge in such an act. Many have gone before him who've used false identification to get into one of their favorite teams.

Gadkari terms Mulayam, Lalu ‘licking dogs’, retracts later (Lead)

Posted: 12 May 2010 10:38 AM PDT

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari Wednesday hit out at Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad for supporting the Congress on the cut motions in parliament and said they were “dogs who lick the feet of the Congress”. Gadkari later retracted his statement and said he did not mean to be offensive.

Speaking at a rally here, Gadkari said about Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh and Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Lalu Prasad: “‘Bade dakarte the sher jaise, aur kutte ke jaise ban kar Soniaji aur Congress ke ghar par talve chatne lage’ (these leaders were roaring like lions but later bowed like dogs to lick the feet of Sonia and the Congress).”

Later, however, Gadkari told IANS: “I take back my words. I just used a ‘muhavara’ (idiom)…I did not personally call them dogs….I take my words back.

Addressing his maiden rally in this city, Gadkari said the two leaders and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) deserted the opposition on the cut motions in parliament.

“In front of the TV, Mulayam Singh and Lalu Prasad stood with Sushma Swaraj (leader of opposition). All these parties stood with us but turned away later,” Gadkari said.

He also hit out at the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

“What happened during the cut motion? The BSP went and sat in the lap of the Congress,” he said.

“Someone asked me later which party is with the Congress? I said that only one party was with the congress – the Congress Bureau of Investigation,” Gadkari said taking a swipe at the Congress for allegedly using the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against political leaders.

“Mulayam Singh and Lalu Prasad bowed before the CBI. In their inquiry, somewhere the lawyer was changed while somewhere the affidavit was changed,” the BJP president claimed.

Tonya Craft Relieved of all the molestation Charges against Her

Posted: 12 May 2010 10:33 AM PDT

The charges of 22 molestation on Tonya Craft was rejected by the jury when they delivered a not guilty verdict on all charges. The case was marked by three young accusers with her daughter also jumping into the fray. She has been in custody since 2008.

The Catoosa County Superior Court jury finally delivered their verdict leading to Craft weeping and her supporters cheering outside the court. Though the whole proceeding has left Craft obviously dejected and she tells that half of her heart was stolen.

Tonya Craft stated that until she got the custody of her two children back, she won't be truly satisfied. The 37 year old teacher had lost the custody of her children after being slammed with the charges of abusing three young girls. The hardest thing, as Craft stated was the testimony of her daughter against her during the trial. She stated that it was really heartbreaking that her daughter believed in things which were indoctrinated.

Lost Across the Sea the weakest Episode: Review (Full Episode Video)

Posted: 12 May 2010 10:27 AM PDT

Lost ‘Across the Sea‘ episode showcased the story of Jacob and The Man in Black, aka Smokey, and is fast heading for the final showdown. The conflict between these two is the theme around which the whole drama unfolds.

Lost ‘Across the Sea‘ depicts Jacob and MIB as siblings, brought up in strange circumstances by a fake mother after their mother was murdered when she gave birth to them. The brothers go through different experiences in life ending up in fighting with each other. Jacob is made to drink from the golden waterfall by his fake mom offering him immortality. An irked MIB kills her and in turn gets murdered by Jacob. While Jacob was trying to dispose his body in the waterfall, there emerges out of it Smokey, the monster.

Despite the many details provided, the episode leaves the audience perplexed with numerous unanswered questions. Also there exist certain flaws in its progression and production aspects. The personalities of Smoke Monster and MIB are confusing as the latter's taken over by the former. The concluding remark is that Lost ‘Across the Sea’ is just a weak link in the long running hit series.

Gujarat government ordered an inquiry into the mysterious deaths of 11 blackbucks

Posted: 12 May 2010 10:26 AM PDT

Gandhinagar, May 12 (IANS) The Gujarat government Wednesday ordered an inquiry into the mysterious deaths of 11 blackbucks in the Gir forest sanctuary in Saurashtra region of the state.

The bodies of 11 blackbucks were found by forest officials in the limits of Nana Hadmatiya and Kana Vadla villages in Junagadh district falling within the notified national park.

The bodies bore no marks of external injury and the forest officials believed the deaths could be a case of mass poisoning through water or fodder.

The forest officials’ suspicion on water poisoning is linked to presence of artificial water holes in the park.

The water holes seem to have been created as if these were meant to lure the animals, said an official.

The forest officials have collected water samples and the mud from the holes for laboratory tests.

The local villagers often come in confrontation with the blackbucks as they move in groups and sometimes destroy their standing crops in the fields.

Obama sees heavy fighting ahead in Afghanistan

Posted: 12 May 2010 10:23 AM PDT

Washington, May 12 (DPA) US President Barack Obama predicted Wednesday there will be heavy fighting in Afghanistan in the months ahead as US and Afghan security forces move into areas controlled by the Taliban.

During a press conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Obama noted the progress that has been made in Afghanistan in recent years but cautioned there are still difficult challenges that must be overcome.

“There are going to be ups and downs,” Obama said. “There is going to be some hard fighting in the next several months.”

Obama met with Karzai as part of an effort to smooth over recent tension and demonstrate that despite any differences, the two leaders share the same goals for building a secure and stable Afghanistan.

Obama came into office vowing to intensify the US effort in Afghanistan following gains made by the Taliban and concerns Al Qaeda could use safe havens along the Afghan-Pakistan border to plot terrorist attacks.

Obama has announced a buildup of US forces that will widen the American presence to more than 100,000 soldiers this summer, while stepping up aid programmes to improve the Kabul government’s capabilities and for economic development.

Karzai is in Washington for three days of high-level talks with Obama and senior US officials on a broad range of subjects including security, economic development, good governance, agriculture and ending corruption.

The purpose of the meetings was to review the current strategy and evaluate additional steps that need to be taken, but it came just weeks after intense quarrelling between Washington and Kabul that threatened to derail this week’s meeting.

Karzai and the White House had been at odds over US concerns about widespread corruption in the Afghan government, and allegations by Karzai that the UN and Western governments were behind the voting fraud in his August re-election.

The spat erupted just days after Obama’s March 28 visit to Kabul. Obama and Karzai acknowledged the tension but insisted that even though there are occasional differences on tactics, both are committed to building a better Afghanistan.

“There are moments that we speak frankly to each other,” Karzai said. “And that frankness will only add to the strength of the relationship and contribute to the successes that we have.”

Karzai was attending meetings at the State Department and the Pentagon and as well as meeting with some members of Congress, where some lawmakers have been increasingly sceptical of his effectiveness.

Karzai’s time in Washington was the first of several key dates for the Afghan leader. He has initiated a peace conference for later this month to pursue reconciliation with members of the Taliban willing to renounce violence, sever any ties with al-Qaeda and respect the rule of law.

Obama offered strong support for the initiative, but added that military pressure must be kept up on the Taliban to give the militants a reason to lay down their arms and reintegrate into Afghan society.

“One of the things I emphasized to President Karzai, however, is that the incentives for the Taliban to lay down arms … and make peace with the Afghan government in part (depend) on our effectiveness in breaking their momentum militarily,” Obama said.

Another source of tension between Karzai and Washington has been civilian deaths caused by US and NATO forces. Obama said the US military in Afghanistan under the leadership of General Stanley McChrystal has take substantial steps to reduce civilian casualties.

“I take no pleasure in hearing a report that a civilian has been killed. That’s not why I ran for president,” Obama said.

Brad Pitt’s next movie is adaptation of novel “The Tiger”

Posted: 12 May 2010 10:11 AM PDT

London, May 12 (IANS) Hollywood star Brad Pitt is teaming up with Darren Aronofsky to film novel adaptation “The Tiger”, scripted by “21 Grams” writer Guillermo Arriaga.

“This is the first time I have adapted a screenplay, since I have previously only written original screenplays,” contactmusic.com quoted Arriaga as saying.

“I chose to adapt this story, first, because I have a profound love for the outdoors and the intense tension between man and nature which the book reflects; and, second, because of the great privilege of working with such accomplished filmmakers as Darren Aronofsky, Brad Pitt, and James Schamus,” he added.

The movie, based on a yet-to-be-released, non-fiction book by John Vaillant, has been optioned by Focus Features, with Brad potentially taking a leading role.

The novel “The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival” is due for publication in August.

Nitin Gadkari says Mulayam, Lalu no roaring lions but licking dogs (Kutta)

Posted: 12 May 2010 10:09 AM PDT

Chandigarh, May 12 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari Wednesday accused Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad of betraying the opposition on the recent cut motions in parliament, and said they were “dogs who lick the feet of the Congress”.

“‘Bade dakarte the sher jaise, aur kutte ke jaise ban kar Soniaji aur Congress ke ghar par talve chatne lage’ (these leaders were roaring like lions but later bowed like dogs to lick the feet of Sonia and the Congress),” Gadkari said about Mulayam Singh and Lalu Prasad.

Gadkari, addressing his maiden rally in this city, said the two leaders and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) deserted the opposition on the cut motions in parliament.

“In front of the TV, Mulayam Singh and Lalu Prasad stood with Sushma Swaraj (leader of opposition). All these parties stood with us but turned away later,” Gadkari said.

“What happened during the cut motion? The BSP went and sat in the lap of the Congress,” he said.

“Someone asked me later which party is with the Congress? I said that only one party was with the congress – the Congress Bureau of Investigation,” Gadkari said taking a swipe at the Congress for allegedly using the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against political leaders.

“Mulayam Singh and Lalu Prasad bowed before the CBI. In their inquiry, somewhere the lawyer was changed while somewhere the affidavit was changed,” the BJP president claimed.

Kerala’s Ramesh Chennithala said the party will host its southern regional conference in October

Posted: 12 May 2010 10:03 AM PDT

New Delhi, May 12 (IANS) Kerala’s state Congress unit chief Ramesh Chennithala said Wednesday that the party will host its southern regional conference in October.

The Kerala conference will be one of the five such conferences being organised across the country as part of 125th anniversary of the Congress.

“The KPCC (Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee) has agreed to host the conference in the state during the third week of October, after the elections to local civic agencies,” Chennithala told IANS.

He announced this after a meeting of south Indian states’ Pradesh Congress Committee chiefs and Congress legislative party leaders here.

Senior party leaders, including union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily and Motilal Vora attended the meeting chaired by Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Mohsina Kidwai, he said.

“If the conference is held in Kerala, it would help boost party workers’ morale ahead of the assembly election next year,” he said.

The KPCC chief said the south Indian regional conference planned for October may be attended by some 5,000 party workers from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Goa.

Darul Uloom Deoband denied it has asked Muslim women not to work along with men

Posted: 12 May 2010 10:00 AM PDT

Lucknow/New Delhi, May 12 (IANS) Darul Uloom Deoband, India’s foremost Islamic seminary, Wednesday denied it has asked Muslim women not to work along with men and said it only suggested that working women should dress “properly”.

“We had only given an opinion based on Sharia that women need to be properly covered in government and private offices,” said Maulana Adnan Munshi, spokesman for the seminary in Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh.

He denied a media report that the seminary was opposed to men and women working together.

“No new fatwa was issued,” Maulana Munshi told IANS on telephone, adding that even the opinion on dress code was given when a Muslim woman desired to know if women could go to work without a ‘purdah’ or veil.

“That too is one-and-a-half months old,” he said.

The Deoband institution also denied having issued a ‘fatwa’ whereby a husband’s dependence on his wife’s earnings was declared illegal.

“We have not issued any such ‘fatwa’ declaring a woman’s financial support to the family as illegal. I fail to understand how such a news was flashed across a section of the media,” Mufti Mohammad Shakeel of the ‘Fatwa’ department told IANS over telephone from Deoband.

According to him, the only case where the income of the lady of the house could be treated as ‘haram’ or illegal was when the means of her earnings were unlawful.

He stressed that neither has such a fatwa been issued in the past, nor was there any scope for such a ‘fatwa’ to be issued in future as it was against the basic spirit of Islam, which believed in equality between man and wife.

“I would not be surprised if someone was misusing the name of this esteemed Deoband institution to paint a distorted picture of the Shariat by projecting such a view,” Mufti Shakeel said.

Maulana Khalid Rasheed, Naib Imam of Lucknow’s Idgah who also heads the city’s oldest seminary Firangi Mahal, said Islam did not discriminate between men and women.

“There was no question of the tenets of Islam dismissing a women’s earnings through legitimate means as illegal. A woman has as much right to contribute financially towards running a family household as her husband,” he said.

But the media report claiming that the Deoband seminary had issued a “fatwa” against working women has led to sharp reactions from leaders and scholars from the Muslim community.

Maulana N.A. Farooqui, secretary of the Jamiat-Ulama-i-Hind, said the Deoband fiat “should be understood in the correct perspective”.

He said Islam does not prohibit women from taking up jobs or moving outside the house but it was obligatory for them to keep themselves “properly covered”.

Congress MP Rashid Alvi said every religion had its own rules but the law of the land must prevail ultimately.

“Whatever a preacher says, it is according to religion. But if there is a conflict between religion and constitution, then the law of the land will prevail,” Alvi told IANS.

Former MP Syed Shahabuddin said Muslim women in contemporary life were educated, had taken up jobs and, in some cases, were helping their husbands in running businesses. “It is not possible to follow such a fatwa.”

Chhattisgarh policeman donated blood and saved the life of a Maoist guerilla

Posted: 12 May 2010 09:59 AM PDT

Raipur, May 12 (IANS) A Chhattisgarh policeman donated blood and saved the life of a Maoist guerilla who suffered bullet injuries in a gun battle with the security forces, sources said Wednesday.

Chandrika Yadav, who was shot on his waist in gunfight with the police in a forested stretch of Surguja district May 7, got a fresh lease of life as the policeman donated blood at Ambikapur Government Hospital where the rebel was operated upon, sources at the police headquarters told IANS.

“Virendra Singh donated his blood on humanitarian grounds when no one was ready to donate his or her blood to the injured Maoist,” the source said.

The Maoist carried a cash reward of Rs.10,000 on his capture and was involved in several attacks, the source said.

The official added that the Maoist leader is recovering and will soon be interrogated by police for his role in attacks.
Posted by Suresh at 3:22 PM

0 comments:

Post a Comment