Archive for: December 11, 2009

Tanzanian designer Mustafa Hassanali says the African fashion industry needs to take a leaf out of the book of Indian stylists and make a mark internationally to clear a lot of misconceptions about the continent. In love with Bollywood, he also wants to dress up Aishwarya Rai some day.

“We have abundant talent in our country and we have already proved ourself there. Now, is the time to move beyond boundaries and make a mark internationally. It is very important for growth and recognition,” Hassanali told IANS in an …

Actress Manisha Koirala, who left her home and the Nepali film industry two decades ago to carve out a niche in Bollywood, is now poised to make a comeback in Nepali films with “Rajniti”.

The 39-year-old actor, who comes from one of the best known political families of Nepal, has agreed to play the lead in a new Nepali film that is being produced by former politician and women’s right activist Durga Pokhrel whose career took a downturn after she decided to join forces with Nepal’s deposed king Gyanendra.

Manisha, who made her screen debut with a Nepali film - “Pheri Bhetaula” …

The central nod for Telangana triggered varied reactions, from jubilation to disbelief to angry resignations, and led to a domino effect with another regional faction demanding carving Andhra Pradesh up into three parts. Congress president Sonia Gandhi conferred with party leaders on the issue late Thursday night.

Sonia Gandhi called a high-level party meeting at her 10, Janpath residence to discuss the day’s developments triggered by the Telangana issue. The meeting was attended by cabinet ministers Pranab Mukherjee, A.K. Antony, P. Chidambaram and M. …

Nine swine flu deaths, including five in Rajasthan, were reported in India Thursday taking the toll due to the Influenza A (H1N1) virus to 675 so far, health authorities said here.

A record 339 new cases were reported in the country, taking the number of people infected with the flu to 20,929.

With the five deaths in Rajasthan, the toll in the state has gone up to 86.

Apart from Rajasthan, two deaths were also reported from Maharashtra, which tops the list of deaths from the disease in …

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Thursday said it was waiting for the Punjab government’s approval to prosecute state assembly Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon in a corruption case.

The investigating agency had accused Kahlon of misusing his political position to illegally appoint over 900 panchayat secretaries during his tenure as Punjab’s rural development and panchayat minister in the Akali Dal government 1996 to 2001.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court asked the CBI to probe this case in 2003, on a complaint from a senior official of rural development and panchayat department.

After conducting an independent inquiry, the CBI accused Kahlon and over …

Two powerful explosions, including a grenade attack, in two busy markets in Assam’s Sonitpur district Thurday killed four people and left wounded at least 34 others, officials said.

A police spokesperson said both the attacks took place in northern Assam’s Sonitpur district.

The first blast took place around 3 p.m. at a daily market at Missamari town, about 220 km north of Assam’s main city of Guwahati.

“The market was teeming with people when the bomb went off, leading to utter panic and chaos …