Stranger than fiction!!!

‘Gay’ Saudi prince faces execution

London: The Saudi prince, who allegedly killed his manservant at a posh London hotel, faces execution in his homeland-—not for the murder but “for being gay”, a media report said.
   ABritish court was told that homosexuality is illegal in Saudi Arabia and carries death penalty which could well be applied if the 34-year-old Prince’s family decide that he has brought shame on them, The Sun reported.
   “Homosexuality is illegal in Saudi Arabia and carries the death penalty,” prosecutor Bobbie Cheema was quoted as telling the Old Bailey court. “The country in which any alleged acts took place would have little bearing on the likelihood of prosecution as the Saudi legal system is based on the sharia law which is considered to be universal."
   Prince Saud Abdulaziz bin Nasser al Saud has admitted manslaughter but strenuously denies having a “gay fling” with his victim—found beaten and strangled at a five-star London hotel where the pair were allegedly on a holiday.
   He pleads not guilty to murder. Servant Bandar Abdullah Abdulaziz, 32, had bite marks on him, said to have been caused during a sex romp. His master —captured on CCTV attacking him in a hotel lift—is grandson of the Saudi king.
   Two male escorts are alleged to have performed sex acts on the prince at the Landmark hotel in central London where he and Abdulaziz were staying
   Cheema said any prosecution by the Saudis depended on “the wishes of his family”. “There have been cases where the family have pushed for the most severe penalty.” The Prince could also be in peril from his victim’s family “although as he is a member of the Saudi royal family, this risk would be reduced”, the prosecutor added.
   The Prince’s counsel John Kelsey-Fry, however, said: “That all is predicated on, if it was the case as alleged, the defendant had engaged in homosexuality.” The trial continues. The prince, whose mother is one of King Abdullah’s daughters, denies murder and a charge of grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to an earlier alleged assault in a hotel lift.

Courtesy: Times of India 17.10.10

This GOLD is worth a Billion Dreams

One billion people and one Gold medal after 52 years! Even if it is only in the commonwealth games, this gold is worth a billion dreams! Foto from Mathrubhumi of 12.10.10.

1, 2, 3...History! Trailblazing Sports Stars Keep Flag Flying High

India wins first Games track & field gold since Milkha Singh in 1958

Women Sweep Discus, Hosts Equal Best Haul

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: On Monday, India equalled its highest gold tally at the Commonwealth Games— 30 medals at Manchester 2002—but No. 30 didn’t come in shooting. It came in the little-celebrated area of track and field. Krishna Poonia led a podium sweep in women’s discus as it ended a 52-year-old wait for gold in athletics. Milkha Singh had remained India’s only gold winner in the marquee event since his 400 m win in the Cardiff Games in 1958.
Harwant Kaur and Seema Antil provided India with silver and bronze. It was one bright spot in a disappointing day.
    With 28 silver and 28 bronze, India remained at the second spot in the overall medals table which continued to be topped by Australia with 62 gold, 39 silver and 38 bronze. England is in third spot with 26 gold, 46 silver and 34 bronze medals.

Women’s discus gold winner Krishna Poonia (R) exults with Harwant Kaur (silver, centre) & Seema Antil (bronze)

Nothing moves in govt sans money

Well, Indira Gandhi was once reported as saying that corruption is a global phenomena. Why should the Supreme court be surprised? On the other hand, is the judiciary free from corruption?

News item: Courtesy Times of India 11.10.2010

 

Nothing moves in govt sans money: SC

Says I-T, Sales, Excise Depts Are Most Corrupt

New Delhi: Stating that “nothing moves without money”, the Supreme Court has expressed concern over growing corruption in government machinery, particularly in the income tax, sales tax and excise departments.
    “It is very unfortunate that there is no control over corruption in the country. There is rampant corruption particularly in the department of income tax, sales tax and excise department. Nothing moves without money,” a bench of Justices Markandeya Katju and T S Thakur said. The apex court made the remarks while admitting an appeal filed by the CBI challenging the acquittal of an I-T inspector Mohanlal Sharma by the Punjab & Haryana high court. Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra, appearing for the CBI, submitted that Sharma was acquitted by the high court despite the trial court holding him guilty of demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 from an IT assessee. He was earlier sentenced to one-year RI by the trial court.
    In a sarcastic vein, the bench said, “Why not government legalize corruption so that a specific amount is fixed for every case. Let us say if a man wants his case to be settled, he can be asked to pay Rs 2,500. That way every individual will know how much bribe he has to pay. There is no need for any bargaining by the official and the people will also know beforehand how much they have to pay without any worry.”
    “Poor government officials, we can’t blame them also because of the growing inflation,” the bench said. Sharma, who appeared in person, denied the allegation and said he was innocent and had been falsely implicated. The bench was not impressed with the argument and reiterated that corruption was more rampant in the I-T, sales tax and excise departments. The bench then sought the views of senior counsel K K Venugopal on its suggestion to legalize corruption in the country.
    However, the senior counsel said that it would be better if good moral values are imparted in every school of the country as part of their curriculum so that at least the future generation is free from the menace of corruption.