Archive for July, 2005

Mattel Denies Aishwarya Rai Barbie Dolls

Wednesday, July 13th, 2005

Barbie doll manufacturer Mattel Inc denied creating a line of Barbie dolls based on Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai today, contrary to what Indian media has been reporting. Mattel did say that they released the “Expressions of India” Barbie in the UK, which features Barbie wearing traditional Indian bridal and ethnic wear, but denied the line [...]

Sania Mirza Visits Patient in Hospital

Wednesday, July 13th, 2005

A patient waiting for a lung transplant at the Global Hospital received a special visit from tennis star Sania Mirza, in attempt to draw attention to the importance of organ donation. Sania visited Ms. Subaigha Saleh Karama Ameri, a 40-year-old woman and member of the Abu Dhabi royal family. The tennis ace paid the visit [...]

Taj Mahal Declared a Waqf Property

Wednesday, July 13th, 2005

After much controversy and various claims to ownership, the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board declared the Taj Mahal a Waqf property, a claim that will be challenged by the Archaeological Survey of India. Waqf Board chairman Hafiz Usman, acting on instructions from the Allahabad High Court, declared the Taj Mahal and its connected mosques [...]

P.K. Vasudevan Nair Dies

Wednesday, July 13th, 2005

Former Chief Minister P.K. Vasudevan Nair died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi early Tuesday evening, at the age of 79. He was admitted to the AIIMS two weeks ago suffering cardiac and renal complications, and had to be put on a ventilator after his condition worsened. His body will [...]

Sachin Tendulkar Asks BCCI for Surgery Reimbursement

Wednesday, July 13th, 2005

Indian cricket ace Sachin Tendulkar has asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India to reimburse him 3,770 pounds for his tennis elbow surgery, in a letter written by Sachin’s wife Anjali to BCCI Secretary SK Nair. The hospital bill, which Tendulkar covered with his credit card, covers examination fees, hospitalization, surgery, and medicine [...]

Amritsar Man to Run to Amarnath

Wednesday, July 13th, 2005

A 45-year-old Amritsar man began a 653-km run from his home to the Amarnath cave shrine in Kashmir on Tuesday. The man, named Kamal Kishore, plans to run 13 hours a day, covering 90-100 kms a day, and hopefully reaching Amarnath in a week. Kishore is undertaking the impressive feat as part of a pilgrimage, [...]

Gandhi Featured in U.S. Billboards

Wednesday, July 13th, 2005

A billboard campaign by The Foundation For A Better Life features a picture of Mahatma Gandhi working on his spinning wheel with “What made Gandhi Gandhi: Soul. Pass it on.” accompanying it, in a effort by the non-profit organization to promote ethical values. Gandhi was chosen because he “made a significant impact on society [...]

National Film Awards Winners Announced

Wednesday, July 13th, 2005

Page 3 took home Best Film honors as the National Film Awards were announced on Wednesday, at the 52nd edition of the awards honoring the best in Indian cinema. Veer Zaara won Best Popular Film along with Autograph, and Bose picked up the Nargis Dutt award for National Integration. Saif Ali Khan won Best Actor [...]

Retailers Switch From China to India

Tuesday, July 12th, 2005

Big U.S. retailers like Wal-Mart and Gap are bracing for rising costs when China revalues its currency by increasing imports from India. Wal-Mart, which runs an 86-employee purchasing office in Bangalore, is bumping purchases from India up by 30% this year. Retailers are switching focus to India because the revaluation of the Chinese yuan could [...]

Dress Code for Mumbai Catholics

Tuesday, July 12th, 2005

With miniskirts, tight outfits, and other inappropriate clothing appearing more and more in Mumbai’s Catholic churches, Archbishop of Mumbai Cardinal Ivan Dias is urging churchgoers to dress more modestly for services. Dias stated, “People are wearing attire which is considered casual and unbecoming of the sacred dignity of the church and the members of its [...]