Not nearly enough women' in Cabinet, says Cameron

PM admits the government needs more women - but why did he need his wife to explain it to him?

DAVID CAMERON has decided there are not ”nearly” enough women in the top echelons of government. ”My wife likes to say that if you don't have women in 50 per cent of top positions, you are not missing out on 50 per cent of the talent, you are missing out on more than 50 per cent of the talent and I think she's right”, the Prime Minister told an audience in Mumbai today. Nice sentiment, says the Daily Telegraph’s Emma Barnett, but there’s a problem – the prime minister is acting on advice from Samantha rather than coming to his own conclusions. ”If Mr Cameron really has to take his advice on promoting women from his wife, akin to having her help him pick out a pair of socks or a decent tie, our Prime Minister really has proven just how out of touch he is. ”It’s a bit like when someone white talks about racism, and quickly qualifies their views by explaining that ‘their best friend is black’.” Barnett believes that Cameron – who in his last reshuffle cut the number of women in his 27-strong cabinet from five to four – should know for himself why it’s important to have women in his party and his Cabinet. Responding to Cameron’s Mumbai speech, Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston tweets: ”Actions speak louder than words.” The backbencher, one of 47 female Conservative MPs (out of a total of 302), says the House of Commons ”still has the feel of a 1950s boys boarding school and unlikely to change unless dragged into 21st century”. Cameron doesn’t just have a problem with too few Conservative women in politics – he’s also losing female voters. Peter Kellner, president of the pollster YouGov, points out that ”the politics of gender have bubbled to the surface of political debate” with some Conservative MPs concerned ”women are deserting them in such numbers that the party will lose the next election”. Source: The Week UK

Read More........ → August 23, 2014

ICC World T20 2014: Indian men and women acquired, striking win against Australia, Bangladesh

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India registered their fourth consecutive win in the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 with a 73-run victory over Australia. The Indian bowlers skittled the opposition out for 86 after Yuvraj Singh’s 60 off 61 balls helped them to a challenging total. Chasing 160, the Australians perished miscuing shots while taking the aerial route. Indian spinners fashioned Australia’s collapse. Ravichandran Ashwin starred with a four-wicket haul as India coasted to a win in their last league game. Earlier, opting to field first, George Bailey opened the bowling with spin from both ends. Rohit Sharma, who took first strike, began the proceedings with a boundary to deep square-leg off Brad Hodge. But two balls later, he was back to the dugout after handing a catch to point. Virat Kohli then joined Ajinkya Rahane in the middle. Rahane had replaced Shikhar Dhawan in the team, while Mohit Sharma got his T20I debut. Kohli took off from where he had left in the previous game. His six over mid-wicket indicated that he was set for another blistering knock. But after a run-a-ball 23, Kohli’s attempt to clear the ropes was caught by Cameron White. He had kept the scorecard moving during the 40-run stand with Rahane. However, Rahane followed him back to the hut. Gently nudging Doug Bollinger to the wicketkeeper, he departed for 19. India’s innings looked shaky as Suresh Raina, who had then joined Yuvraj Singh in the middle, got a life as Glenn Maxwell couldn’t hold on to a return catch. However, dropped on five, Raina had added just one run before offering a simple catch to Aaron Finch in Maxwell’s next over. Yuvraj, who had played himself in, then took on the Australian bowlers. With the captain at the other end, the left-hand batsman launched Muirhead over deep midwicket and over long-on for back-to-back sixes. And with singles and twos, they garnered 17 runs off the over to change the tempo of the game. From there on, the pair gleaned runs off the bowlers. They attacked the opposition with gusto. 10 runs were claimed from Bollinger, while Mitchell Starc was hit for a six each by both batsmen to claim 19 from him. Shane Watson wasn’t spared either as Yuvraj struck him for two boundaries and a six on the leg side to take 16 runs. The pair had collected 84 runs at 12 runs per over to seize the advantage for India. With nine balls left, Starc knocked back Dhoni’s stumps to remove him for 24, triggering another string of wickets to fall. Then, on the first ball of the last over, Yuvraj holed out to long-off, while Ravindra Jadeja responding to Ravichandran Ashwin was run out off the last ball. With 82 runs scored off the last seven overs, India set Australia a competitive target. The Indian pacers – Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohit – conceded six runs each, but Ashwin gave India their first breakthrough in the third. Finch, looking to slog the spinner, only managed to get a top-edge and Kohli running in to mid-on took a comfortable catch. In the next over, White’s mistimed shot off Bhuvneshwar was taken by Jadeja. And with Mohit dislodging Watson’s bails in the next over, Australia were reduced to 21 for three. Maxwell hit Raina over deep midwicket and over fine-leg after joining Warner in the middle. But Warner, who had made his way to 19, perished soon. A superb catch by Rohit running to deep midwicket sent back the opener. Maxwell looked positive as he struck Jadeja over the fence, but he too departed an over later. Going for an unorthodox shot, the batsman lost his stumps to Ashwin. Bailey came, hit Jadeja for six over long-off, but was caught by Kohli’s safe hands off the next ball in the deep. With Australia on 63 for six with half the innings over, the Brads – Haddin and Hodge – faced an uphill task. Like the batsmen preceding him, Haddin perished taking the aerial route. He swept Mishra and Rahane received the offering at deep square-leg. With the match already out of their hands, Starc was run out, while Hodge too was out to a slog. Ashwin then sealed the game by claiming Muirhead.  Man of the Match: Ravichandran Ashwin for his four-wicket haul. Source: Article, India Women registered their first win of the ICC World T20, 2014 with a 79-run win over

Bangladesh Women at the Sylhet Stadium in Bangladesh. A magnificent 77-run whirlwind knock by Harmanpreet Kaur helped India set Bangladesh a challenging target in the match. The Jhulan Goswami-led attack then strengthened the team’s position by dealing early blows. Goswami and Shubhlakshmi Sharma claimed three wickets each to hold Bangladesh to 72 for eight to claim a comprehensive victory Source: Article

Read More........ → March 31, 2014

Hard Currency launches ‘10 Pound’ denims for men

Hard Currency has launched a denim brand for men called ‘10 Pound’. The company has chalked out plans to establish the new brand across India. 10 Pound is also targeting 25 percent growth this festive season. New denim brand for domesticmarket“We have launched a new brand of denims for men called ‘10 Pound’. It is a subsidiary of Hard Currency and is available at economic prices. We plan to promote the newly launched label as an economic brand across India,” shares Paresh Chandan, Proprietor, Aru Enterprises makers of both the brands. The brand’s collection for the upcoming festive season has full of bright coloured threads, different embroideries and prints and vintage washes. The entire collection is made with Lycra fabrics, out of which 60 percent is fine finish denims. “Trends haven’t changed quit a lot since last season. Cross pocket and cut pocket in denims are still in style. Two faced denims are still in demand, however, coloured denims are phasing out. Experiments with fabrics such as water-proof denims are being tested by some international brands. But fine finish Lycra fabrics seem to be the hero of the season,” Chandan says. The company’s product portfolio comprises of denim and non-denim trousers exclusively for men. Retailing across IndiaThe company has recently introduced its product range in North India and expects to get a good response during the festive season. Its products are available with over 450 MBOs across India. Launched in 1995, Hard Currency, started communicating to its target audience by sponsoring a lot of college events, which made it very popular. “Our presence in MBOs has increased by 50 percent. We have a large presence in South India in states like Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. We have also ventured into the East and the West, Assam, Orissa, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Gujarat,” explains Chandan. Since consumer preference in the South is completely different, the brand is gradually adopting and settling to regional tastes. The products were launched in the listed states last Diwali, so they are expecting to do good business in these markets this festive season. Source: Fashion United

Read More........ → October 17, 2013

Messi breaks world record as Barca beat Deportivo

Messi 'breaks record' by scoring in 17th consecutive La Liga game

Lionel Messi scored in his 17th successive La Liga game, breaking a world record which has stood since the 1930s, according to his club Barcelona. The 25-year-old came off the bench to register his 40th league goal of the season for Barca in the 88th minute of their 2-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna. The world player of the year chipped in for his 27th goal in 17 matches. Barca said Messi had beaten Pole Teodor Pewterek's 1937-38 record of scoring in 16 straight games for Ruch Chorzow. Magical Messi Messi's 40 goals in La Liga means he has scored more league goals than 16 of the 20 teams in the division "The Argentine player's tally represents a new record in the history of football, something no other player has achieved before," the Spanish club said on their website. There was no immediate confirmation of Barcelona's claim by world governing body Fifa. Messi has now scored 52 goals in all competitions this season, including five in the Champions League. In December, Messi broke another record - that of the most goals in a calendar year - when he surpassed Gerd Mueller's 1972 tally of 85. With Barca seeking to overturn a first-leg deficit when they face AC Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday, the Catalan giants started their match against Deportivo with several of their biggest stars, including Messi, on the bench. Barcelona never needed to be at their fluid best to see off Deportivo. Alexis Sanchez gave them the lead just before half-time before Messi, who came on in the 59th minute, sealed victory two minutes from time. Speaking about overturning the 2-0 first-leg deficit, Barcelona assistant coach Jordi Roura said: "Tuesday will be an entirely different story. "But there is no doubt that the best way to get ready for a match is having won the previous game." Barcelona's 12th win in 13 home league games extended their lead to 14 points over Atletico Madrid, who meet Real Sociedad on Sunday. "We have the league title in our hands and we are not going to let it slip away," Alexis said. Source: Liocris

Read More........ → March 12, 2013

Zuckerberg donates $500mln to charity

Zuckerberg said on Tuesday that he made a contribution of 18 million Facebook shares to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation to “lay the foundation for new projects.”

The gifts are part of Zuckerberg's involvement in The Giving Pledge. Launched by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and investor Warren Buffett in 2010, the group asks US billionaires to give away at least half their wealth during their lifetime or after their death and to publicly state their intention with a letter explaining their decision. Voice of Russia, Reuters, Surce: Voice of Russia

Read More........ → February 27, 2013

Murder suspect, Oscar Pistorius, granted bail

The blade runner was granted bail by a South African court this afternoon after a judge ruled he was not a flight risk. He will be free to go home until the start of his trial for shooting dead girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Thursday February 14th. His bail was set at one million rand, with one hundred thousand rand paid immediately. He's also not allowed to drink alcohol or return to the home were he killed Reeva. Bail conditions include a ban on leaving Pretoria. The next hearing in the case has been set for 4 June. Source: Linda-Ikeji

Read More........ → February 23, 2013

John Kerry sworn in as secretary of state

Kerry, 69, was sworn in at a private ceremony, taking an oath administered by the US Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan. “I was very honoured to be sworn in and very anxious to get to work,” Kerry told media, with his wife Teresa Heinz Kerry by his side. Besides his wife, he was joined by daughter Vanessa, brother Cameron, and his Senate staff. Kerry is a strong advocate of peace talks between India and Pakistan as he firmly believes that there are few relationships that will be vital in the 21st century for Washington’s ties with New Delhi. Kerry has an illustrious career spanning over three decades of public life.
For the last four years he was chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee. A close confidant of Obama, Kerry in the last four years several times came to the rescue of Obama administration whenever US relationship with Pakistan reached low ebb. He has a personal relationship with top Pakistani leadership. Kerry’s top priority during his tenure is going to be the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan — in which Pakistan has a crucial role to play. He is also expected to make his first trip to India in the first six months of him occupying the post of top American diplomat. While it is too early to zero in on the precise dates, Kerry would be leading a high-powered US delegation to India sometime in the middle of this year for next round of India-US strategic dialogue; which was started by his predecessor Clinton and former external affairs minister S.M. Krishna in 2010 in Washington.Source: The Asian Age

Read More........ → February 03, 2013

I have never seen 100-Crore – Salman Khan

No matter how much his movies earns at box office, the Megastar Salman Khan says he have never seen 100 crore on his table. Especially when it’s their home production film, actor says they always get into loss. So why at all Salman is saying so . . . check out his exclusive interview where he opens up everything about his upcoming movie ‘Dabangg 2’ releasing December 21st. Do you think the sequel film will get the benefit of first Dabangg’s mega success? The film means a lot to me because we have taken lot of extra effort to make it different from 1st Dabangg. Dabangg has become a brand because of its ‘hatke’ title and its unique style. Moreover I think people connects themselves with this brand so who have liked 1st Dabangg, they will watch the sequel but the success of sequel is totally depend upon the response of audience. What was your thinking when you decided to do Dabangg and even the sequel? The script of Dabangg was lying on the tables of many big production houses for 2 years, no one was ready to make the film on it but when we made a film on it everyone got amazed with the response. I personally liked the script and found very appealing to the mass audience, and after that with the amazing response we went for the sequel. Dabangg has a lot of Desi style and belongs 80’s era? No it’s not like that, Dabangg’s style is today’s style which connects with today’s masses. Its style and its category is very hatke’ that doesn’t match with 70’s or 80’s era at all. ‘Chulbul Pandey’ is today’s character. After a long time such a unique character has come, a corrupt police officer who is good at heart, who sings-dance-fights everything in very ‘hatke’ style. How was it working under brother’s direction? Very nice because I was more comfortable, as I knew if anything goes wrong or though I give any kind of suggestion, I didn’t have go down anywhere as Arbaz is a brother. We just have one year age difference so our tuning is also good. We fought a lot on set, also tore each other’s clothes, and over all enjoyed a lot. Was it easy or difficult for sequel and what will be difference that audience will see? The first Dabangg ended on a happy not, there was no villain left or any bitter moment remained with anyone, so it was more difficult for us to work on script where we had to show how and why the story goes ahead. With that we also had to keep in mind that the sequel should not go much bigger than Dabangg or it should not also be lesser than 1st part, we had to make a balance film so that people should enjoy the film and not compare with first one. Well about difference, all the characters are same , just a story has moved forward. This time the romance is one step ahead because I think people likes to watch romance of married couple too. You have now become a star who gives a guarantee of 100 crore film? What is 100 or 200 Crore yaar, I have never seen 100 crores. When it’s our home production film we don’t earn any profit, in-fact we bear a loss because all the time we goes over budget. May it Partner, Hello Brother, Pyaar Kiya Toh. . . or anyone, we have never earned any profit. I think only with Dabangg, Arbaz has managed to earn some profit for 1st time. So now you are full confident for Dabangg 2? Yes, I am; we have seen the film and we all liked it, we think we have delivered our best. Now we are just waiting for response of audience. No matter how much film earns, for me it is successful only if my audience likes it. So can we also say the sequel series will continue? Yes, of-course; in-fact we are ready with Dabangg 3, it will have the story of Chulbul Pandey’s personal life and all. But Dabangg 3 will only come if Dabangg 2 gets the same success. Source: Page3

Read More........ → December 25, 2012

North Korea's new leader Kim burnishes credentials with rocket

The rocket, which North Korea says put a weather satellite into orbit, has been labeled by the United States, South Korea and Japan as a test of technology that could one day deliver a nuclear warhead capable of hitting targets as far as the continental United States North Korea successfully launched a rocket on Wednesday, boosting the credentials of its new leader and stepping up the threat the isolated and impoverished state poses to its opponents. The rocket, which North Korea says put a weather satellite into orbit, has been labeled by the United States, South Korea and Japan as a test of technology that could one day deliver a nuclear warhead capable of hitting targets as far as the continental United States. “The satellite has entered the planned orbit,” a North Korean television news-reader clad in traditional Korean garb triumphantly announced, after which the station played patriotic songs with the lyrics “Chosun [Korea] does what it says.” The rocket was launched just before 10 a.m. Korea time (01000 GMT), according to defense officials in South Korea and Japan, and easily surpassed a failed April launch that flew for less than two minutes. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said that it “deployed an object

North Korean youths dance before the Pyongyang Grand Theater in Pyongyang to celebrate Wednesday’s rocket launch. (PHOTO: AP, Jon Chol Jin)
that appeared to achieve orbit,” the first time an independent body has verified North Korean claims. North Korea followed what it said was a similar successful launch in 2009 with a nuclear test that prompted the United Nations Security Council to stiffen sanctions that it originally imposed in 2006 after the North's first nuclear test. The state is banned from developing nuclear and missile-related technology under UN resolutions, although Kim Jong-un, the youthful head of state who took power a year ago, is believed to have continued the state's “military first” programs put into place by his deceased father Kim Jong-il. North Korea lauded Wednesday's launch as celebrating the prowess of all three Kims to rule since it was founded in 1948. “At a time when great yearnings and reverence for Kim Jong-il pervade the whole country, its scientists and technicians brilliantly carried out his behests to launch a scientific and technological satellite in 2012, the year marking the 100th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung,” its KCNA news agency said. Washington condemned Wednesday's launch as a “provocative action” and breach of UN rules, while Japan's UN envoy called for a Security Council meeting. However, diplomats say further tough sanctions are unlikely to be agreed at the body as China, the North's only major ally, will opppose them. “The international community must work in a concerted fashion to send North Korea a clear message that its violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions have consequences,” the White House said in a statement. U.S intelligence has linked North Korea with missile shipments to Iran. Newspapers in Japan and South Korea have reported that Iranian observers were in the North for the launch, something Iran has denied. Japan's likely next prime minister, Shinzo Abe, who is leading in opinion polls ahead of an election on Dec. 16 and who is known as a North Korea hawk, called on the United Nations to adopt a resolution “strongly criticising” Pyongyang. Beijing block: China had expressed “deep concern” prior to the launch which was announced a day after a top politburo member, representing new Chinese leader Xi Jinping, met Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang. On Wednesday its tone was measured, regretting the launch but calling for restraint on possible counter-measures, in line with previous policy when it has effectively vetoed tougher sanctions. “China believes the Security Council's response should be cautious and moderate, protect the overall peaceful and stable situation on the Korean peninsula, and avoid an escalation of the situation,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told journalists. Bruce Klingner, a Korea expert at the Heritage Foundation, told a conference call: “China has been the stumbling block to firmer UN action and we'll have to see if the new leadership is any different than its predecessors.” A senior adviser to South Korea's president said last week it was unlikely there would be action from the UN and that Seoul would expect its allies to tighten sanctions unilaterally. Kim Jong-un, believed to be 29 years old, took power when his father died on Dec. 17 last year and experts believe the launch was intended to commemorate the first anniversary of the death. The April launch was timed for the centennial of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the grandfather of its current ruler. Wednesday's success puts the North ahead of the South which has not managed to get a rocket off the ground. “This is a considerable boost in establishing the rule of Kim Jong-un,” said Cho Min, an expert at the Korea Institute of National Unification. There have been few indications the secretive and impoverished state, where the United Nations estimates a third of the population is malnourished, has made any advances in opening up economically over the past year. North Korea remains reliant on minerals exports to China and remittances from tens of thousands of its people working on labor projects overseas. The 22 million population often needs handouts from defectors who have escaped to South Korea in order to afford basic medicines. Given the puny size of its economy - per capita income is less than $2,000 a year - one of the few ways the North can attract world attention is by emphasizing its military threat. Pyongyang wants the United States to resume aid and to recognize it diplomatically, although the April launch scuppered a planned food deal. It is believed to be some years away from developing a functioning nuclear warhead although it may have enough plutonium for around half a dozen nuclear bombs, according to nuclear experts. The North has also been enriching uranium, which would give it a second path to nuclear weapons as it sits on vast natural uranium reserves. “A successful launch puts North Korea closer to the capability to deploy a weaponized missile,” said Denny Roy, a senior fellow at the East-West Center in Hawaii. “But this would still require fitting a weapon to the missile and ensuring a reasonable degree of accuracy. The North Koreans probably do not yet have a nuclear weapon small enough for a missile to carry.” Pyongyang says that its development is part of a civil nuclear program, but has also boasted of it being a “nuclear weapons power.”Source: TodaysZaman

Read More........ → December 16, 2012

Be your own man: Tata's advice to Cyrus Mistry

Mumbai: Be your own man, Ratan Tata has advised Cyrus Mistry, who will succeed him at the helm of the $100 billion Tata group two weeks from now. "I don't think it is right to have a ghost to shadow over somebody," says Tata, dismissing any notion that his larger-than-life persona would linger even after he retires on December 28 when he turns 75. The Tata patriarch has told Mistry, 31 years younger, "you should be your own person, you should take your own call and you should decide what you want to". Tata spoke about his 50 years with the group, 21 as its chairman, the highs and lows of his tenure, his equation with Mistry and his post-retirement plans during an expansive interview to PTI in his office at "Bombay House", the group headquarters. Mistry, currently Vice Chairman of the conglomerate that spans automobiles, IT, hotels, tea and steel across 80 countries, has been working closely with Tata to prepare for the transition. Have you passed on a success mantra to  Mistry?,  the  outgoing  chairman  was

asked. "No, I told him the same things that I told myself when JRD (late J R D Tata) handed over the mantle to me. The first reaction of anybody is to be Mr J R D Tata because you are filling his shoes. "I instantly told myself, 'I can never do that'. I will never be him much as I try to imitate him. So I took a decision to be myself and to do what I thought was the right thing. I told Cyrus the same thing," he said. During the transition, Mistry had asked him from time to time, 'is this ok, that ok'. He had responded by telling him that he should look at things as "if I were not there because you should be your own person". He had told Mistry, "if you want my inputs I will give it to you but be your own man and be yourself and just be driven by the fact that every act you do and every move you make has to stand the test of public scrutiny". That, he said, was the test he had given himself. "If it stands the test of public scrutiny, do it....if it doesn't stand the test of public scrutiny then don't do it." Asked if his counsel would be available to his successor, Tata replied, "Yes, certainly. He knows where to reach me and, we in fact, would talk business and stay in touch after I leave." He then disclosed that the two of them would have lunch every couple of weeks "over something and we will talk about whatever he wants to talk about". Tata, who will remain Chairman of the various Tata trusts, which hold 66 per cent shares of Tata Sons, was asked as to whether this would not give him a large influence over the group. He replied, "I don't want to say I will have a large influence over the group. I think I would have to wear a different hat of being the major shareholder. The same kind of view that a shareholder might have, not a Chairman's  view  of  the  company. "I should  not

be involved in the business of the company or how the company goes about its growth. But at the same time I should be concerned about the return I get on my shares because it is the only income that the trusts have."The dividend from Tata Sons was to be distributed for charity by the trusts. "So I should protect that," he said. Looking ahead to the future of the group, Tata said that he personally believed that it was poised to continue to grow. "Where it would grow, I think Cyrus Mistry should have his space and define where he would like it to grow," he said. His 20 years at the helm was enough time to charter course. Quite often an organisation has played out one course and is ready to go in a different direction, he said. Often, an unwillingness to have that "course correction brings about the demise of an organisation because when you bring fresh blood into it, he sees things in another way," Tata said. The group would continue to grow at the same kind of growth that it had achieved but the patriarch warned, "competition is growing all the time and sustainability of business is becoming more and more difficult". He went on to say, "So I am sure Cyrus will bring new ideas and new things. I feel very confident that the organisation and his leadership will grow." Asked about the changes he had not been able to achieve in the group, Tata said that he had wanted a more open, flat organisation where there is not much hierarchy, where there is much more informal working relationship at all levels. "We are very hierarchical, not feudal--given to honouring years of experience... We don't touch each other's feet but we still almost bow down every time when one passes." Describing his long tenure as a "journey of great learning", Tata said that he had a role model to look up to in Mr J R D Tata whom he had got to know about six years after he joined the group. He knew him but was not close to him and they had come close together because they were both pilots. Did he have any regrets in life? "No, I don't like to look back. There are many things that, if I have to relive, may be I will do it another way. But I would not like to look back and think what I have not been able to." What is the legacy he would leave at the Tatas? "Apart from values and ethics which I have tried to live by, the legacy I would like to leave behind is a very simple one--that I have always stood up for what I consider to be the right thing and I have tried to be as fair and equitable as I could be. "I may have hurt some people along the way but I would like to be seen as somebody who has done his best to do the right thing for any situation and not compromised," the Tata patriarch, one of the world's most influential business leaders, concluded. Be your own man: Tata's advice to Cyrus Mistry

Read More........ → December 15, 2012

Sonia, Manmohan among world's most powerful: Forbes

Washington: Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh are ranked 12th and 19th, respectively, on the Forbes list of 'The World's Most Powerful People'. US President Barack Obama retains his top position. As leader of India's ruling party, Sonia Gandhi, 65, who was ranked sixth on Forbes list of Power Women, "has the reins of the world's second-most-populous country and tenth-largest economy", the US business magazine said. "Son Rahul is next in line to take over India's most famous political dynasty," it suggested. Listing Manmohan Singh, 80, 19th on the power list, Forbes says: "The Oxford- and Cambridge-educated economist is the architect of India's economic reforms, but Singh's quiet intellectualism is increasingly seen as timid and soft." German Chancellor Angela Merkel moves up to number two from fourth place last year, followed by Russian President Vladimir Putin (No.3), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Co-chair Bill Gates (No.4) and Pope Benedict XVI (No.5). Rounding out the Top 10 are US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S Bernanke (No.6), Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud (No.7), European Central Bank Ppresident Mario Draghi (No.8), General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Xi Jinping (No.9) and British Prime Minister David Cameron (No.10). Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (No.25) dropped out of the Top 10 to 25, from No.9 in 2011. Pakistan Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is listed 28th on the list, while Zaheer ul-Islam the "new head of Pakistan's notorious intelligence service" Inter-Services Intelligence is ranked 52nd. Among the 14 newcomers to the list are LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman (No.71), the world's most powerful venture capitalist and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk (No.66), the entrepreneur behind Paypal, Tesla Motors and the private space industry. They are joined by President Francois Hollande (No.14) of France, North Korea Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un (No.44) and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer (No.46). Among the drop-offs are Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is on his way out of office and US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton - both of whom have announced they won't return to their powerful posts for Obama's second term. Forbes said it assembled the list using four criteria: power over lots of people, financial resources controlled, whether the person has power in various spheres of life, and whether that person actively uses the power. Source: News Bullet

Read More........ → December 09, 2012

Maldivian ex-president Nasheed arrested

Police in the Maldives arrested former president Mohamed Nasheed on Monday after he twice failed to appear before a court to face charges that he illegally ordered the arrest of a judge while in office. Nasheed, who has said the military ousted him from office in a coup earlier this year, was arrested while campaigning for next year's elections. His arrest could trigger protests by his supporters who have previously clashed with police and who say the charges against him are politically motivated. Police spokesman Hasan Haneef said Nasheed was arrested on Fares-Mathoda island, in the Gaaf Dhaal atoll, around 440 km away from the capital Male on Monday. "He is in police custody in order to be produced before courts on Tuesday," Haneef added. On Sunday, Hulhumale magistrate court issued an arrest warrant on Nasheed after he twice defied summons to appear before courts. The same courts, two weeks ago, ordered him not to leave the capital, Male, without the court''s permission. Nasheed defied that order too. Image Link Flickr, Source: Hindustan Times

Read More........ → October 25, 2012

Brazilian boy with no feet to train at Barcelona

Muniz appeared on the hit Brazilian show TV Globo, where officials for Barcelona saw his story. He then showed off his skills at a training session in Saquarema.

Gabriel Muniz is impressing soccer fans all around the world with his inspiring story. Despite not having feet, the boy is one of the best soccer players in his school. That is just how this little kid rolls, according to his mom. He started walking before he was one. We would go after him, expecting him to keep falling, but he never fell. Muniz continues to exceed expectations, not willing to consider himself with a handicap. He even

An 11-year-old Brazilian boy has earned a place at the Barcelona football team's summer training camp - despite being born without feet.

has ankle prosthetics, but the report states he ditches those to play soccer, even against older kids. By then, Catalan officials were so moved that they offered him an invitation to travel to Barcelona's September academy. There he will get a chance to see all the players he would consider putting on a dream team of sorts. Here is the wonderful side Muniz would pick if he were the Catalan manager: Me, Messi, Dani Alves, Villa, Iniesta, Xavi, Victor Valdez, Adriano, Puyol, Pique, Mascherano and Sanchez. Source: Sam Daily Times

Read More........ → August 30, 2012

U.S. man faces 25 years in jail for e-mail threat to kill Obama

An American faces 25 years in prison for an e-mail threat to kill President Barack Obama and for attempting to assault a police officer while being detained, the Reuters news agency reports. Anton Caluori, aged 31, warned the FBI by e-mail that he intended to kill Obama. “I want you to come and get me. I give you seven days”, he said. Caluori was arrested in his home on Tuesday and appeared before a district court in Seattle on Wednesday.His lawyer declined comment but requested a psychiatric test. Source: Voice of Russia. 

Read More........ → August 23, 2012

Bob Dylan receives US presidential honour

Los Angeles, IANS: Legendary musician Bob Dylan has been honoured with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour given in the US. Dylan is among 13 recipients of the honour. US President Barack Obama said he is a fan of the 71-year-old musician. "By the time he was 23, Bob's voice, with its weight, its unique, gravelly power was redefining not just what music sounded like, but the message it carried and how it made people feel. Today, everybody from Bruce Springsteen to U2 owes Bob a debt of gratitude. There is not a bigger giant in the history of American music," femalefirst.co.uk quoted Obama as saying. "I have to say that I am a really big fan. I remember, you know, in college listening to Bob Dylan and my world opening up because he captured something about this country that was so vital," he said. The president chooses the recipients of the medal, which is awarded to people who have made major contributions to the security of the US, world peace or culture, or have undertaken other significant public or private endeavours. Source: Hindustan Times

Read More........ → August 18, 2012

Putin and Phelps show golden touch

Black belt Vladimir Putin cheered a Russian judoka to a gold medal at the Olympics on Thursday, and American Michael Phelps hit new heights by becoming the first male swimmer to win the same event at three successive Games. The futuristic velodrome witnessed six world cycling records, a double disqualification and golds for Britain's men and Germany's women in the team sprints. Elsewhere, a 'play-to-lose' badminton scandal took a new twist when a disqualified Chinese player said she was quitting the sport. Controversy also struck in boxing. A Turkmen referee was expelled for failing to stop a bout in which a fighter was knocked down six times, and an Angolan coach was deemed a "plonker" by his team chief for failing to present their only fighter for a weigh-in, thus getting him disqualified. It was Russian President Putin who staged one of the day's most emphatic victory celebrations, leaping to his feet with both fists aloft when his countryman Tagir Khaibulaev defeated a Mongolian opponent to win Russia's third judo gold. Putin, who cultivates a macho image based partly on his skills on the mat, slapped the victor repeatedly on the back and grabbed his cheeks with both hands. In buoyant mood, he went on to suggest to Russian news agency Interfax that members of female punk band Pussy Riot, on trial for protesting against him in a Moscow cathedral, should not be judged too harshly. Prime Minister David Cameron watched the judo with Putin and had reasons of his own to celebrate, as Britain rose to fifth in the medals table with golds in the men's cycling, double trap shooting and canoe slalom double.Source: Sam Daily Times

Read More........ → August 07, 2012

You're my hero and you deserve a hug! Schoolboy's embrace with Olympic champion Andy Murray captures buoyant mood of the nation

Their embrace lasted no more than a few seconds. But a tearful boy of 11 innocently encapsulated the buoyant mood of the nation yesterday after witnessing Andy Murray become an Olympic champion. Henry Caplan raced down through the stands at Wimbledon’s Centre Court to hug the tennis star after what turned out to be one of the best days of each of their separate lives. But in that magic moment – captured on giant screens around the court and broadcast to the world – Britain’s feelgood barometer soared after a weekend during which the country, quite simply, went Olympics daft.  For Murray, it was the moment he turned a dream to reality and sensationally added an Olympic gold to Britain’s astonishing medal tally. For young Master Caplan, it was the opportunity of a lifetime to share in the glory of one of his top sporting heroes during a peak of national excitement over the Games. One minute, he was sitting with his father in the dizzy heights of row Z. The next, he broke free to sprint down towards Murray and into the players’ box. ‘Give me a hug!’ he cheekily demanded. ‘Anything for my fan,’ said Murray, and readily obliged. Yesterday as he waited for another glimpse of Murray and his other tennis hero, Roger Federer, he told me: ‘I was just so happy. I had to let him know. I’m his biggest fan and I didn’t want to miss my chance.’ His father Elliot, a 41-year-old furniture supplier from Blackmore, Essex, said: ‘I was hugging him at the end of the match because he was overwhelmed and crying with joy. He said “get off me” and slipped out of my arms. ‘Next thing I know, he’s all over the telly screens giving Andy Murray a hug.’ Jumping for joy, punching the air in triumph, Murray ran back on to the grass to celebrate his prize. Four weeks on from the moment he left Centre Court in tears, the 25-year-old champion-in-waiting had returned to take his revenge on arch rival Federer – and to stride spectacularly into the record books. He declared his victory ‘the biggest win of my life’ and added: ‘I’ll  never forget this moment.’ Murray won Britain its first gold medal in the men’s singles for more than a century, since the 1908 London Games. Then he topped it up with silver alongside national sweetheart Laura Robson in the mixed doubles. So it wasn’t hard to understand why the famously grumpy Scot managed to raise an ecstatic smile yesterday as he took a well-deserved share in this most glorious weekend in British sport. He even had a stab at mouthing the national anthem – and willingly draped himself in a Union Flag after being presented with his first Olympic gong. His victory was the latest in a succession of triumphs to lift the country’s spirits in a way that few anticipated before the start of the Games.  For just under two hours yesterday Murray was swept along on a wave of British support that started with a rousing welcome to Centre Court, possibly twice the decibel level of that raised for his Swiss adversary. Congratulations: Defeated finalist Roger Federer congratulates his opponent, while a young fan wanted a hug from his hero Source: Travelfwd+

Read More........ → August 06, 2012

12,000 calories a day don't seem to be doing him any harm! Michael Phelps looks buffer than ever as details of his staggering carb-filled diet emerge

He has already earned himself a record-breaking 16 Olympic medals and the world will watch as he propels himself through the water for gold in the next few weeks. But American international swimmer Michael Phelps works hard for the enviably strong physique that has garnered him an army of female fans as well as a closet full of medals. The 27-year-old athlete, whose arms span 6 feet 7 inches (201 cm)—disproportionate to his height of 6 feet 4 inches (193 cm)— maintains that his performance is down to his highly calorific diet, which sees him feast on a staggering 12,000 calories every day. He starts the day with a hearty breakfast consisting of three fried-egg sandwiches, three chocolate chip pancakes, a five-egg omelette, three sugar-coated slices of French toast, and a bowl of grits (maize porridge). His lunch doesn't get much smaller as he devours half a kilogram of pasta (enriched with vitamins and fibre) over lunch, two large ham and cheese sandwiches covered in mayonnaise and gallons of energy drinks. For his final meal of the day, he finishes off the remaining kilogram of pasta, followed by pizza and more energy drinks.

Fellow swimmer  Ryan Lochte has an equally epic diet. 'After morning practise I have a big breakfast: pancakes, waffles, cereal, bagels, eggs, everything.' Personal trainer and nutritionist and weight management expert Jenny Dawes, who has trained athletes, rugby player and celebrities such as Ulrika Johnson, maintains that, although Michael's diet would be dangerous for a regular person, he needs that

amount of energy for training. 'I would recommend that a regular competitive male swimmer would need around 6,000 calories a day but because Michael is at Olympic level will be training so hard that he will be burning it straight off. 'His cholesterol intake is very high but by constantly swimming, there is no time for the cholesterol to stick to his arteries. His cholesterol levels do need to be checked regularly to ensure he

is not putting his body at risk for Jenny says that Michael's energy drink consumption is necessary for an athlete in order to keep his electrolytes balanced and his muscles hydrated. 'Carb and electrolyte enhance drinks should be taken to replenish glygogen stores in muscles and liver as dehydration can cause muscles to fatigue very quickly. I would always check the sugar content on the bottles.' Phelps's high-calorie diet clearly pays off as his international titles and record-breaking performances have earned him the

World Swimmer of the Year Award six times and American Swimmer of the Year Award eight times.  He has won a total of sixty-six medals in major international competition, fifty-four gold, nine silver, and three bronze spanning the Olympics, the World, and the Pan Pacific Championships. His unprecedented

Olympic success in 2008 earned Phelps Sports Illustrated magazine'sSportsman of the Year award. His hard work paid off at the Beijing Games where he took home Men's 200m Butterfly gold medal Source: Travelfwd

Read More........ → July 29, 2012

Kim Jong-Un Married Ri Sol-Ju According to State TV

North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Un has got married, according to reports on state TV. The television reported that Mr Kim and wife Ri Sol-Ju took part in a ceremony marking completion of a Pyongyang amusement park. The announcement came after weeks of speculation over a "mystery woman" who has regularly appeared at the leader's side during public events. "Marshal Kim Jong-Un took part in the opening ceremony of Nungra People's Amusement Park with his wife, Comrade Ri Sol-Ju," the television station reported. South Korea's unification ministry said it appeared that Ri was indeed the woman who has been pictured several times at Kim's side. The Coming Crisis

Read More........ → July 26, 2012

Ban: UN enjoys 'strong support' from China

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks during an exclusive interview by the Xinhua News Agency at the UN headquarters in New York, July 11, 2012. Ban Ki-moon said that the United Nations enjoys "strong support" from China in most of important agendas of the world body, which include peacekeeping, development, human rights and humanitarian assistance. [Shen Hong/Xinhua]

The secretary-general made the statement in a recent interview with Xinhua on the eve of his visit to China, the first one since he got re-elected as the UN chief in June 2011. "I am very pleased and excited to have an opportunity to be visiting China again," said the secretary-general, who has been to China many times before, adding that he saw the upcoming visit very important because it comes in the early months of his second term, which began on Jan. 1. China's role:  "I'm very much grateful for China's continuing support and global role China is playing in the international community," he said. "Most of the important agendas the United Nations is doing to have a strong support from the Chinese government: peacekeeping, development, human right issues, humanitarian assistance." "China has been expanding its global role all throughout the world," he said, adding that during his upcoming visit to China, " I'd like to discuss all this matter, (and) how we can strengthen further the cooperative relationship and partnership between UN and China." During his stay in Beijing, Ban is expected to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao and other Chinese leaders, and he is scheduled to attend the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which is slated for July 19-20 in the Chinese capital. "Any important agenda within the United Nations, starting from peace and security, development, human rights, (and) humanitarian assistance, all these require Chinese active support and engagement," he said. "As the secretary-general of the United Nations, I will emphasize the importance of Chinese stronger and enhanced participation and engagement to Chinese leaders," he said. "I am very much grateful for Chinese support for the United Nations, as well as for me as the secretary-general." Chinese culture: Ban, a Korean national, said that he learned "many important, valuable wisdom" from the Chinese classics, which "have given me a lot of inspiration and wisdom." "From (the) Chinese classics, we learn many important, valuable wisdom," he said. "These are the ones that have influenced me since early, early days, like Kongzi (Confucius), Mengzi (Mencius) lessons of these great philosophers, and educators, have given me a lot of inspiration and wisdom." Confucius and Mencius were both great philosophers in ancient China, their thoughts are still flowering in both China and many other countries. Confucius (551-479 BC) had talked about heaven and humanity becoming one, imagined humankind and the natural world in perfect harmony. Mencius (379-281BC) earned him the title "second sage," meaning a great thinker just next to Confucius. Chief among his basic tenets was an emphasis on the obligation of rulers to provide for the common people. "Their thoughts are becoming more and more universal now in the world," Ban said. Although he started to practise Chinese calligraphy when he was a child, a modest Ban said, "I am just a beginner." "I'm very much impressed, whenever I see many beautifully written calligraphies by many Chinese people," he said. "I want to really learn more, because I am still practising it." "By practising calligraphy you can also concentrate," he said. "This is not only good for spiritual way, but also helps your body health, by concentrating you can forget about all of this, but you can only devote all your time and energy on writing this calligraphy." "I simply don't have much time to practice, whenever I have time, I and my wife really enjoy writing and practising calligraphy," he said. In mid-January this year, Ban displayed one of his Chinese calligraphy work at an exhibition held at the UN headquarters in New York, sending his good wishes to the Chinese people as the Year of the Dragon is coming. Ban's work contains two Chinese characters, "Heping," which means "peace." Although the strokes seem a little bit immature, the calligraphy as a whole is well-balanced and beautiful. "Peace, Heping you said just now, development, and human rights, these are three pillars of the United Nations Charter, one day I presented my own writing, Heping to one of the exhibitions, in the UN, I feel proud, but even so, my calligraphy was not good enough, " he said. "I need more practice." Source: China

Read More........ → July 21, 2012