Indian wins Dh100,000 car from Dubai Traffic Police

Dubai announces more incentives for drivers accumulating white points

Jayaseelan receiving the prize from Dubai Traffic Police (SUPPLIED)

An Indian national was awarded a Dh100,000 car by Dubai’s traffic police for accumulating sufficient white points that made him an ideal driver in the emirate.

The man, Jayaseelan, was picked from among 700 drivers shortlisted by Dubai’s traffic police after they gathered the maximum limit of white points in one year, during which they did not commit any traffic offence or were involved in an accident. Jayaseelan has been awarded Chevrolet Cruz.

Dubai introduced the unique white point system, the first in the region, couple of years ago in a bid to encourage drivers to respect traffic rules as part of a long term strategy to curb accidents and attain its zero death target on roads.

“We honour 700 drivers who collect the maximum limit of white points every year but we intend to increase that number to 1,000,” Dubai traffic police chief Major General Mohammed Al Zafin said, adding that at least one car would also be awarded.

The Indian driver, a private sector employee, said he could hardly believe it when he was called by the police and told about his reward.

He said his children are “very happy” for him and that he is planning to hold a party after receiving the car from the traffic police.

Pup named Huckleberry crowned ‘Beautiful Bulldog’

 

If at first you don’t succeed, wipe the slobber off and try again.

Just ask 4-year-old pup Huckleberry, who was crowned Monday as this year’s “Beautiful Bulldog.”

Huckleberry competed for the title in 2010, only to walk away empty-pawed. That changed this year, when he strutted down a blue runway at Drake University in Des Moines dressed in a beige suit as the main character from the movie “Forrest Gump.”

“He’s just a lover,” said his owner, Stephanie Hein, as Huckleberry sat next to his miniature basketball toy and a suitcase similar to one owned by Forrest Gump.

The contest is now in its 34th year and is held ahead of the annual Drake Relays track and field meet. The university’s mascot is a bulldog, and each year’s winner becomes the mascot for the relays event.

Huckleberry beat 46 other bulldogs to don the crown and cape, and competition was stiff. There was a bulldog dressed as a “Thing” character by Dr. Seuss, another wore an eye patch and fake hoop earring to match his pirate-dressed owner. Diva, donning a tutu, took home the prize for best dressed.

Huckleberry seemed unfazed by all the attention, more interested in a dog-friendly cake that’s served annually from the gold-painted throne. He threw in a few slobbered kisses to his owners.

When not competing, Huckleberry likes to cuddle and hang out with a girlfriend bulldog who lives nearby, according to Hein and her husband, Steven.

Huckleberry wore a Mohawk when he initially competed in 2010. But Stephanie Hein spent weeks shrinking and sowing together this year’s outfit, which included a blue-checkered T-Shirt similar to the one worn by Forrest Gump.

“He was just a puppy then,” she said of his first attempt. “But he’s certainly grown into himself now.”

Van Persie magic seals 20th Premier League title for Man United. #MUFC

United have taken an unassailable 16-point lead over City

Manchester United reclaimed their Premier League crown in style on Monday as Robin van Persie‘s hat-trick inspired a 3-0 win over Aston Villa that gave them an unassailable 16-point lead over Manchester City and erased the pain of last season.

Van Persie’s goals after two, 13 and 33 minutes – the second among the best ever scored at Old Trafford – propelled Alex Ferguson’s side to a record-extending 20th league title in front of a jubilant home crowd.

After the hurt of having their crown snatched away by Manchester City on goal difference in stoppage time on the final day of the 2011-12 season, United were determined to make sure of the title with four games to spare.

“When you lose the title it’s hard to take it, the way we did (last year) it was not a nice feeling,” forward Wayne Rooney, who set up two of the goals in a performance that went some way to answering his recent critics, told Sky Sports.

“So we’ve all dug in deep, we’ve all worked together and done fantastic to get ourselves into this position and tonight we finished the job off.”

With the championship guaranteed, United still have much to play for as they aim for 96 points to beat the record points total of 95 set by Chelsea in 2004-05.

With United’s tally currently on 84 points, Ferguson’s side remain on target to overhaul Chelsea’s record provided they win their four remaining games.

Monday’s win earned the club and Ferguson, who has now won 49 club trophies in his managerial career, a 13th Premier League title.

“I’m so proud of everything I’ve achieved. I don’t get carried away, I don’t look back, only look forward,” he told MUTV.

“There is no reason why we can’t go on and improve for next year.”

STRANGE PLACES

Ferguson, who has secured some of his 13 championships in strange places over the years including at the gym, on the golf course and while watching snooker, would agree nothing beats doing it at Old Trafford with “champions” ringing out.

Fans had already stocked up on T-shirts, scarves and flags emblazoned with “20″ before the game knowing they were unlikely to need a refund and their faith was justified with less than 90 seconds on the clock.

Rooney’s diagonal ball from his own half found Antonio Valencia on the right wing and the Ecuadorian passed to Rafael who crossed to Ryan Giggs with the 39-year-old pulling the ball back for Van Persie to tap in with ease.

The Dutchman could have scored a second a minute later when he volleyed just over, while Rafael hit the post before Van Persie produced a candidate for goal of the season to double their lead in the 13th minute.

Another superb pass from Rooney from just inside his own half set up Van Persie for an exquisite left-foot volley from just outside the box that flew past helpless Villa keeper Brad Guzan and into the net.

His third, on 33 minutes, again involved Giggs who was fed by Shinji Kagawa before finding Van Persie in the box. The Dutchman had time to shift the ball on to his left foot before sending it in off the post for his 24th league goal of the season making him the league’s top scorer.

“The important thing was to win the game and we won the game. It was great to score so early,” Van Persie told Sky Sports.

“I feel very happy, but it’s weird you know, I have waited so long for my first title – but it’s a great feeling.”

FULL SWING

Villa, desperate for damage limitation in their relegation battle, did a better job of containing United in the second half and Van Persie was called on to demonstrate his worth at the other end of the field with a headed clearance off the line.

Kagawa missed a chance to give United a fourth, inexplicably firing high and wide, but that will be forgotten as the party gets into full swing.

United’s players will not get their hands on the trophy for another three weeks as it will not be presented until their final home match of the season against Swansea City on May 12.

United, who have 84 points to City’s 68 with their neighbours having played one game fewer, head to Arsenal in their next match on Sunday where they can continue the party in front of Van Persie’s former team mates.

ENJOY TONIGHT

Asked what he thought about going back to the Emirates as a champion with United, Van Persie replied: “Let us enjoy tonight first.”

It was fitting that the goals came from the man whose hot form has driven United’s season.

His arrival in the close season from Arsenal was a signal that Ferguson would be true to his vow that his side would never again miss out because they had not scored enough goals.

Van Persie’s treble against a young Aston Villa team, who remain a perilous three points above the relegation zone with some damage to their goal difference, took him above Liverpool’s Luis Suarez on top of the scoring charts.

The debate will rage over where this United team fits in among Ferguson’s great sides of the past, with this crop sometimes criticised for not living up to the likes of the 1994 double-winners or 1999 treble winners.

There will be few, however, that would argue about Van Persie’s place among the Old Trafford greats.

MATCH STATS

Manchester United 3 Aston Villa 0

Robin Van Persie 2″
Robin Van Persie 13″
Robin Van Persie 33″

Manchester United can seal title if City lose to Spurs #MUFC

City go to White Hart Lane 13 points behind United

Manchester United’s striker Robin van Persie celebrates scoring his goal during the English Premier League match against West Ham United at the Boleyn Ground, Upton Park, in east London, on April 17, 2013. (AFP)

Manchester City’s grip on the Premier League trophy could be prised away once and for all this weekend as Roberto Mancini’s side face Tottenham Hotspur knowing defeat would allow Manchester United the chance to be crowned champions on Monday.

A sense of inevitability has hung over the title race for several weeks but below it, the season is reaching a nerve-jangling climax both in the battle to qualify for next year’s Champions League and to stay in the top flight.

City go to White Hart Lane 13 points behind United, who play Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Monday when the title race could be decided.

City would like nothing more than to prolong the title fight for another week, but that could be scuppered with Tottenham embroiled in a scrap with Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton for third and fourth places.

While City’s pride is at stake, the repercussions of Sunday’s match are likely to be far more serious for Spurs whose hopes of a top-four finish are under threat from their London rivals.

United top the table with 81 points, followed by City on 68, Chelsea 61, Arsenal 60, Spurs 58 and Everton 56. City, Spurs and Chelsea have played 32 games, all the rest 33.

Andre Villas-Boas‘s side were in pole position for third place a few weeks ago before defeats by Liverpool and Fulham and a home draw with Everton handed the initiative back to Arsenal and Chelsea.

Chelsea moved into third spot with a 3-0 win at Fulham on Wednesday to climb a point ahead of Arsenal, held to a 0-0 home draw by Everton on Tuesday.
 
MORE PRESSURE

Arsenal’s Saturday kickoff at Fulham means they can apply more pressure before Chelsea go to Liverpool and Spurs play City.

Tottenham’s players have had a breather since losing to Basel on penalties in the Europa League, although the break may not have been long enough for Welsh winger Gareth Bale to recover from the ankle injury he sustained in the first leg of the tie.

Without him and the injured Aaron Lennon and Jermain Defoe, Tottenham are a far less dangerous side and concern is mounting in north London that the club will suffer a near-miss for the second season in a row.

They finished fourth last year but were denied a Champions League spot by Chelsea who finished sixth but won the European Cup to take their place.

Arsenal’s draw with Everton offered encouragement for Spurs who, according to midfielder Lewis Holtby, face “six cup finals” between now and the end of the season.

“It will be a tremendous game on Sunday,” he told Tottenham’s website. “City have just reached the final of the FA Cup and these six games are our cup finals.

“They are a side full of quality players but we’re determined to get three points, especially at home. It would be a massive win for us.”

Everton (56) can move ahead of Tottenham, albeit having played two more games, with victory over Sunderland on Saturday – a match with ramifications at the top and bottom.

Sunderland moved three points clear of the relegation zone with a 3-0 win at Newcastle United last weekend – a match memorable for new manager Paolo Di Canio‘s celebratory knee slide at St James’s Park.
 
CLOSE FRIEND

The emotional Di Canio coming face to face with Everton’s intense manager David Moyes is an intriguing prospect as is Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp taking on close friend Tony Pulis’s Stoke City in a match that Rangers must win to keep their slim hopes of survival alive.

Along with bottom club Reading, who play Norwich City, QPR are 10 points adrift of 17th-placed Aston Villa.

Stoke, who have lost six of their last seven league games, are nose-diving towards the drop and defeat by QPR would increase the pressure on Pulis whose side begin the weekend just three points above 18th-placed Wigan Athletic who have played a game less than their fellow strugglers.

Wigan, whose annual fight against the drop has this season been interrupted by a run to the FA Cup final, face West Ham on Saturday and will be hoping to bounce back from their 1-0 defeat  by City.

Indian American Devotee Ramalinga Raju Donates $3 Mn to Tirumala Temple

In a princely offering, an NRI devotee from US today donated Rs 16 crore to the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at nearby Tirumala.

M Ramalinga Raju, an entrepreneur based in the United States, handed over the offering in the form of a demand draft to top temple officials, temple sources said.

They said this was the first such large cash offering made by an individual devotee from overseas.

Raju presented the DD to Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Chairman K. Bapiraju and the temple Joint Executive Officer K.S. Srinivasa Raju at the temple.

He requested the TTD, administering the cash-rich ancient temple, that Rs 11 crore be used to make a golden garland “sahasra nama mala” weighing about 35 kg and utilise the balance Rs five crore for the construction of a free-meal complex for pilgrims at Tiruchanur near here, they said.

This is the second large cash offering since last month. On March 27, a Chennai-based pharmaceutical firm had donated Rs two crore to the hill shrine, they added.

Source: PTI

Related articles

• NRI donates Rs.16 crore to Tirumala temple (thehindu.com)

Indian Convicts Redefine ‘Business’ Behind Bars

The Holy Bible says, “Hear, O man; what does the Lord require of you but to love mercy, do justice, and walk humbly with your God?” Criminals are often judged as the unwanted part of the society. May be they have committed crimes for which they were convicted once, but government takes many corrective measures to inspire them to go out and live a respectful life after their conviction. Here we sum up few business initiatives taken by those who were punished and sent to jail once, but now are turning themselves to successful entrepreneurs.

1. Inmates Turned Fashion Designers- Tihar jail

A collection of clothes designed by women inmates of the Tihar Jail were displayed at a fashion show as part of Women’s Day celebrations. The Tihar Jail has for the past five to six months been running a fashion designing course with about 550 women inmates currently enrolled in the course. “The message that we want to give through this event is that we can manufacture quality products in the jail which can compete with any branded items in the market,” said Sunil Kumar, Chief PRO, Tihar Jail. The jail has a factory which has 1100 people employees and the turnover was 15 crore last year and this year it has been around 30 crore.

2. Bakers Behind the Bar- Kerala Jails

After netting a handsome revenue of 6.75 crore in nine months through food-making venture, prisons in Kerala are planning to diversify into more products like cakes, pepped and footwear with an aim of fruitfully engaging prisoners and selling these items to the common man at affordable prices. According to a top Prison Department official, the prison food business posted an impressive turnover of 6.75 crore in the first nine months of this year and is expected to touch about 10 crore by the end of March, 2013.

When Kerala Prison Department ventured into the food business, the sole model before it was the food-making unit of Tihar Jail in Delhi, which sold about of 1.5 crore chapatis and 20 lakh packets of chicken curry last year. While hotels charge 75-90 for a plate of chicken curry and 7-8 for one chapati, the jail chicken-chapati combine costs just 30. The prisoners also benefit from the initiative with cooks and helpers earning 117 as their daily wages so that they can send an average of 3500 to their families a month.

3. Convicts Take a Shine to Leather – Indore Jail

The Indore jail prisoners have a new passion. And the passion also involves fashion. With 40-50 kg of leather made accessible to them every month, the inmates are busy whipping out leather goods to be sold locally. The jail has also been planning to market the handbags and wallets Bhopal, and a national squash later. The training is imparted by the Tata International Ltd, ), engaged in the business of leather goods.

“At present, the leather products (bag, handbags and wallets) are sold locally by small retailers. This is because the quality is not up to the level of a TIL product. To help them achieve the required quality, a technical person will be sent to the jail to train one of the inmates, who will be the master trainer. He, in turn, will teach the others,” said a company spokesperson, stated Business Line.

Cakes costing below 100 and low-price rubber sandals are the next in line and the food business initiative would be extended to two more prisons soon.

4. Handicrafts in Cuff – Jagdalpur Jail

The prisoners at Jagdalpur Jail have set a very inspiring example for many who have been convicted. Inmates at Jagdalpur Central Jail make a wide range of eminent mats and bed sheets, which are in high demand in global markets. There are also around 351 convicts who make art work, handicraft and other designer materials worth 1 crore every year.  “Now, they are always busy in different kinds of activities. These prisoners were being trained in handicrafts and other works so that they could start their own business after being released from the jail”, an official said, stated dailypioneer.com.

The jail has also arranged short term courses that help the prisoners to utilize their free time as well as use their labor in a positive way. The also make other products apart from bed sheets and mats like, beds, sofas, dining-tables, chairs, office tables, steel furniture, cupboards, terracotta items, swings, foot mats, table mats, pen holders and items with cloth, like towels.

5. Penitentiary “Dabbas”  – Tihar Jail

The women prisoners in Tihar Jail are ready to launch their own Tiffin services, and Tihar will be the first prison to start such a business. The idea was that the inmates would prepare the meal and supply lunch to corporate houses and government offices athwart the city.

 Director General (Prisons) Vimla Mehra told Newline, “We are planning to start with the women’s jail first and expand the project to the other jails according to the demand. The number of tiffins, inmates to be engaged in the project, the cuisine and menu depends on the demand. Tihar will try its best to satisfy the customers and give them excellent quality and tasty food” Once instigated the service will be an add on to Tihar’s bakery and snacks business that sells ISO-certified biscuits, nut crackers, salty mixtures and other snack items.

Google pays $100 mn to Indian-American Neal Mohan to keep him from #Twitter

Google has paid a staggering bonus of $100 million to Indian-American executive Neal Mohan, just to keep him from accepting a job at Twitter.

Mohan is the man in charge of display ads for Google. He launched and developed the company’s approach and execution for that side of Google’s business. According to Business Insider which carries an excellent detailed profile of Mohan, He has a “special ability to understand what’s newly possible thanks to technology, and how this might be applied to serve a business strategy.”

He is expected to bring in an estimated $7billion for Google this year.

The report added that the bonus had come just as Mohan was on the verge of accepting an offer by Twitter to become chief of product in 2011.

A report in TechCrunch estimated that he was paid $100 million then, and Business Insider says that given the current value of Google stock, those shares are probably worth around $150 million today. The stock options will fully vest in three years.

Mohan graduated from Stanford in 1996 and worked for Accenture and NetGravity, before the latter was acquired by DoubleClick.

According to Daily Mail, “a private equity firm bought the company for $1.1billion and the CEO hired Mr Mohan to help rehabilitation. About 18 months later, after Mr Mohan implemented an aggressive plan to streamline and focus the business, Google bought it for $3.1billion.Since then, he has overseen Google’s acquisition of start-up companies to help bolster Google’s ad market.”

He reportedly also has a free rein to develop the display ad business as he sees first.

Business Insider had also collected a number of descriptions about Mohan from his co-workers who said things like, “He’s not a screamer or a big table-banger” and “”He doesn’t bullshit. If our numbers were going bad, I heard from him”. His clients were equally impressed saying things like “”He is the quiet assassin. He’s not a big show-boater.”

#ShahRukh – #Aamir together on screen for the first time?

One filmmaker couldn’t have achieved this feat. It’s taken four of them to attempt it together, or so we hear. Sources say that Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, who were last seen sharing a podium when the multiplexes locked horns with producers over the commission issue, will be seen together for the first time on Indian screen.

The two Khans are expected to be part of a song for Bombay Talkies, the film that is made to commemorate the 100 years of cinema. Bombay Talkies is an amalgamation of four short films made by Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap and Dibakar Banerjee. It will have one song that is common to the entire film, expected to play either with the beginning or end credits. Our source indicates that the song will feature most of the top actresses — like Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone — all dressed in golden-coloured costumes.

The men who are expected to be part of the song are Anil Kapoor, youngsters Varun Dhawan and Sidharth Malhotra and, of course, the Khans, among several others. The dress code for the men is a tuxedo. Aamir has apparently shot his portion of the gaana and the filmmakers are now waiting eagerly for SRK to keep his side of the commitment. A unit member said, “It would have been great to have SRK and Aamir shoot simultaneously.

But since their busy schedules didn’t allow that to happen, now we are waiting for Shah Rukh to can his portion separately.” Well, here’s looking forward to one of those magical on-screen moments when the two Khans are seen together in the same song… if not in the same frame.

A Stranger Behind the Afghan School – #AngelinaJolie

At a school in a bombed-out Afghan village near Kabul, Angelina Jolie is known as an aid worker or engineer — never as one of the world’s most famous film stars. Jolie, a special envoy of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, built the school in Qala-i-Gudar last year and is planning to open more in Afghanistan with profits from a newly-launched jewellery line that she has designed.

The Hollywood star visited Qala-i-Gudar in 2011, and she retains an avid fanbase among residents who have never seen any of her films and have no idea about her global fame as an actress. Acting is controversial in the country, with many conservative Afghans associating it with un-Islamic behaviour and even prostitution. Homaira, aged 13, is one of 250 pupils at the all-girls school who has benefited from the new facilities, which opened for their first full academic year last month.

“We used to study in the backyard of the mosque, it was hard,” Homaira said. “Now we are so happy to have a school. It’s a beautiful place.” Asked who built her school, Homaira smiled and answered, “the beautiful American lady.” The two-storey building, 30 kilometres (20 miles) north of Kabul, has large windows and neat rows of desks. On the outside, which is painted light blue, is a plaque proudly boasting of its founder.“Through the generous contribution of Angelina Jolie UNHCR Special Envoy,” it reads.

Even headmaster Gul Rahmman Ayaz appeared ignorant of Jolie’s superstar celebrity, apparently believing she was a senior UNHCR official. “Is she?” Ayaz asked doubtfully after learning Jolie was an actress. “Well whatever, she is a great woman, very kind woman,” he added with a smile.
“She was very humble. She sat on dust. She didn’t behave like a movie star,” Ayaz said, remembering Jolie arrived in a UN-marked vehicle and wore a modest black outfit and brown headscarf.

Leonhard Euler honoured by Google doodle

The mathematician introduced most modern terminology and was renowned for his work in mechanics, optics and astronomy

Leonhard Euler, the influential Swiss mathematician, has had the 306th anniversary of his birth honoured by a Google doodle. Photograph: Google

The birth of the Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler has been celebrated by Google with the publishing of an interactive Google doodle.

Euler was arguably the most important mathematician of the 18th century and one of the greatest of all time. He introduced most modern mathematical terminology and notation and was also renowned for his work in mechanics, fluid dynamics, optics, and astronomy.

Euler was born in Basel on 15 April 1707. He was tutored by Johann Bernoulli, a family friend who was also Europe’s leading mathematician. When Euler’s father tried to make him become a pastor, Bernoulli persuaded him that his son had the potential to be a great mathematician.

He travelled to Russia, where he prospered until foreign intellectuals became unpopular and he moved to Berlin. When Catherine the Great succeeded to the throne, Euler returned to Russia, where he died in 1783.