‘Burqa Wearing Women Prone To Vitamin-D Deficiency’

By Aeman Nishat / Hyderabad

In an alarming trend, an increasing number of women from across the city who wear the burqa or observe purdah are being diagnosed with Vitamin D deficiency on account of inadequate exposure to sunlight. Exposure of at least hands or feet to sunlight every day for 15-20 minutes is necessary for the vital compound to be absorbed into the body, advice doctors. 
    
“Around 15 per cent of the body should be exposed to sunlight for around 20 minutes a day. It could be hands or feet,” National Institute of Nutrition deputy director Dr N Lakshmaiah told INN. “Otherwise supplements in the form of conventional tablets should be used regularly.”

Thanks Advaniji, For Diverting Focus From IPL Spot-Fixing

By Paagal Patrkaar / Delhi

Tired, fed up, and mighty pissed-off with non-stop news coverage of IPL spot-fixing controversy, the citizens of India have unanimously thanked LK Advani for forcing the news channels to shift focus.

“It was a masterstroke by Advani ji when he praised Shivraj Singh Chauhan in the same breath while talking about Narendra Modi. It was an explosion that was needed to wake up the media people sleeping in IPL stadiums,” said a visibly happy Arvind.

“Well, Naxals also carried out explosions, but it didn’t seem to have the same impact as Advani’s statement so far as media coverage is concerned,” Arvind added why he was so grateful to the BJP leader and could now safely switch to news channels when he was bored of watching Sony, Star Plus, Colors and Cartoon Network.

LifeStyle: Shilpa Shetty, Raj Kundra’s 'Excellent Adventure'

By Niloufer Khan & Sarah Williams

Maybe someone should make a blockbuster movie inspired by the love story of Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty, preferably starring Raj Kundra as the bunny rabbit dazzled by the Bollywood glamour of the girl with the longest legs in showbiz.

It is easy to understand why Kundra dumped Kavita, his Biwi No 1, for Biwi No 2 who had won Celebrity Big Brother in January 2007 and was then the toast of Britain, having survived all the racist taunts flung at her by the (late) Jade Goody and company. Nor is Kundra the first husband to upgrade to Wife 2.0.

Real Estate Bill Loopholes And Why Realtors Are Fuming?

By M H Ahssan / Hyderabad

The devil is in the detail. To spot it, you need time. Same is the case with the Real Estate Regulation and Development Bill 2013. After the initial euphoria over the win-win bill, now experts and stakeholders have started taking note of the gaping holes in the bill.

The Bill, which is aimed ensuring buyer protection in the housing space, guided by a state level regulator and a tribunal, has been cleared by the Union Cabinet. This, however, is just the first hurdle and actual implementation at the ground level will take much longer.

The bill would next be tabled in both the houses of Parliament and then referred to the parliamentary standing committee, before it becomes an Act.

Jagan’s Custody Extended, Sabitha Debut In Court

By Ramesh Reddy / Hyderabad

Former Andhra Pradesh Home Minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy, YSR Congress chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy and others today appeared before a special CBI court in Hyderabad in connection with the case relating to alleged quid-pro-quo investments in Kadapa MP Jagan’s companies.

The court extended the judicial custody of Jagan and his financial advisor V Vijay Sai Reddy till 21 June and posted the case to the same date while directing all the accused to again appear before it.

After the fifth charge sheet was filed by the CBI on 8 April about the role of Dalmia Cements and other firms in the case of alleged quid-pro-quo deals against Jaganmohan and others, the principal special court for CBI cases here on 14 May issued summons to all the 13 accused, including the then Home Minister Sabitha, Jagan, other individuals and firms, seeking their appearance before it today.

Women Banned At 'Miss World 2014' To Be Held In Saudi

By Paagal Patrkaar / Delhi

After banning bikini at Miss World 2013 to be held in Indonesia, the organizers have decided to ban women from the next edition of the beauty pageant slated to be held in Saudi Arabia.

“We want to reach out to new markets but don’t want to offend local sensitivities, hence we took this step,” Julia Morley, the Chairman of the Miss World Organization told this reporter.

“It was a tough decision,” she added, “But if we can do away with bikinis this year, even though Miss World had started as Bikini Contest, we can do away with women too.”

Indian Idol Sub-Junior Announced For 'Tiny-Tots'

By Niloufer Khan / Mumbai

After the great response to Indian Idol Junior, Sony Entertainment Channel has announced Indian Idol Sub-Junior, which will start immediately after the completion of Indian Idol Junior. A press release from the channel was issued yesterday in this regard and sent to media houses and expecting mothers.

A child must be aged 12 months or below on the date of audition to take part. Kids will be judged on the way they cry. The search is to find the kid who can best cry in sur. Once the auditions are over, the kids will be trained to cry musically so that they can give their best possible performance on stage.

Is New Spytech Making Safer Or Destroying Freedom?

By M H Ahssan / Hyderabad

Late on the evening of 29 May 1999, as Indian soldiers were clawing their way up the Kargil heights, General Pervez Musharraf reached out to the especially-secured phone in his Beijing hotel suite, and dialled his chief of staff. General Muhammad Aziz provided Pakistan’s military ruler with a detailed update on operations. He believed success was imminent. “The entire reason for the success of this operation,” Aziz told his boss, “was this total secrecy.”

Inside a less-generously furnished room at a Research and Analysis Wing communications intelligence station in western India, an officer also made a call. RAW’s tape of the Musharraf-Aziz call was to change the course of the war.