Bhagvad Gita, one of the most sacred Hindu religious texts, is facing a legal ban and branded as 'an extremist' literature in Russia

Bhagvad Gita, one of the most sacred Hindu religious texts, is facing a legal ban and the prospect of being branded as 'an extremist' literature across Russia, with a court in Siberia's Tomsk city all set to deliver its final verdict Monday in a case filed by state prosecutors.

The final pronouncement in the case will come just two days after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was here for a bilateral summit meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev from Dec 15 to 17.

The case, which has been going on in Tomsk court since June this year, seeks to get a Russian translation of 'Bhagvad Gita As It Is' written by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), on the Hindu religious text banned in Russia and declaring it as a literature spreading 'social discord', apart from rendering its distribution on Russian soil illegal.

In view of the case, Indians settled in Moscow, numbering about 15,000, and followers of the ISKCON religious movement here have appealed to Manmohan Singh and his government to intervene diplomatically to resolve the issue in favour of the Hindu religious text, an important part of Indian epic 'Mahabharat' written by Sage Ved Vyasa.

The ISKCON followers of Russia have also written a letter to the Indian Prime Minister's Office in New Delhi seeking immediate intervention, lest the religious freedom of Hindus living here be compromised.

'The case is coming up for a final verdict on Monday in Tomsk court. We want all efforts from Indian government to protect the religious right of Hindus in Russia,' Sadhu Priya Das of ISKCON and a devotee of a 40-year-old Krishna temple in central Moscow, told IANS.

The court, which took up the case filed by the state prosecutors, had referred the book to the Tomsk State University for 'an expert' examination Oct 25 this year.

But Hindu groups in Russia, particular followers of the ISKCON, say the university was not qualified, as it lacked Indologists.

The Hindus had pleaded with the court that the case was inspired by religious bias and intolerance`from a majority religious group in Russia, and have sought that

their rights to practice their religious beliefs be upheld.

The prosecutor's case also seeks to ban the preaching of Prabhupada and ISKCON's religious beliefs, claiming these were 'extremist' in nature and preached 'hatred' of other religious beliefs.

'They have not just tried to get the Bhagvad Gita banned, but also brand our religious beliefs and preachings as extremist,' Das said.

In fact, the ISKCON devotees have taken up the matter with the Indian embassy in Moscow too, apart from writing to the Prime Minister's Office in New Delhi, for an early diplomatic intervention, before things get worse and the court passes an adverse verdict banning the 'Bhagvad Gita' and Krishna consciousness teachings.

In the Nov 1 letter, addressed to Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Pulok Chatterji, ISKCON's New Delhi branch Governing Body Commissioner Gopal Krishna Goswami, said the prosecutor's affidavit claims Lord Krishna 'is evil and not conforming to Christian religious view'.

Goswami also urged Singh to accord priority to the matter during his Moscow stay and to take it up with the Russian authorities.

Indian diplomatic corps officials at the embassy here, who were unwilling to be named, told IANS that they have been following up the case since the time it was brought to their notice earlier this year and that they had also taken up the matter at the appropriate levels in the Russian government to get the case either withdrawn or get the defence to fight the case to obtain a favourable verdict.

Officials at the Indian Prime Minister's office, who are part of the Indian delegation accompanying Singh, confirmed the case and the letter they received from ISKCON in this regard to IANS.

'This matter is receiving the highest attention and the Indian embassy officials in Moscow have been instructed to follow up the case with the Russian authorities,' they said.

"Dear Leader" North Korean leader Kim Jong-il died on December 17, 2011 state television reported

which was taken in April 1946, is displayed at the Unification Hall at the West Seoul Life Science High School in Seoul in this July 17, 2009 file photo. North Korean leader Kim Jong-il died on December 17, 2011 state television reported on December 19, 2011. An announcer said he died of physical and mental over-work.

After AMRI fire At least 122 people died and 130 people hospitalized after drinking poisonous in west bengal

Bengal

At least 55 people died and 130 people hospitalized after drinking poisonous homemade by people in an eastern state of India.

AFP quoted Indian officials said the poisoning occurred in the region Magrahat, Usthi and Mandirbazar 24 Parganas district, West Bengal. The victim drinking on the night of 13/12 and the deaths occurred in the morning.

"The number of deaths is 55 but we fear that number will increase," Narayan Swarup Nigam, top officials 24 Parganas district, said.

Nigam also confirmed at least 130 people were taken to the hospital for alcohol poisoning.

"Some of them are in critical condition," he said.

Some unnamed official of the state of West Bengal told The Press Trust of India that killed 57 people, including 10 who died in a village called Sangrampur, and 47 other people died in the hospital. Most children who are low income as construction workers, merchants and vendors who ride cabs.

Doctors and medicines have been taken to hospital near the village of Diamond Harbour Sangrampur.

Police arrested four people accused of selling alcohol poisoning. Local authorities announced they would support money to relatives of those killed.

Died from drinking cheap wine is a phenomenon often happens in India. Two years ago 122 people died in Gujarat in western India after drinking alcohol. In 2008 of alcohol poisoning group in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, the southern states, robbing the lives of nearly 170 people. Gujarat state government last week issued a new law to combat production and sales situation of poor quality wine. The law who intentionally produce and sell alcohol poisoning can cause death penalty.

Jyoti Amge named shortest living woman in the world by the Guinness World Records.

Guinness World Records adjudicator Rob Molloy, left, and Dr. Manoj Pahukar of Wockhardt hospital measures Jyoti Amge, in Nagpur, India, Friday, Dec. 16, 2011. - AP

(Check It Out! Pictures & Watch Video!) Here are images and video of Jyoti Amge who named as the shortest living woman in the world by the Guinness World Records as she was presented to a press conference on her 18th birthday on December 16, 2011 in Nagpur, India.

The 18-year-old new record holder was measured 62.8 centimeters (24.7 inches) conducted by Guinness World Records adjudicator Rob Molloy together with Indian doctor K. Sujatha of Wockhardt hospital in Nagpur.

According to Jyoti Amge, 'I want to make people happy.' She wants to become a Bollywood star and she has already got two movie offers for next year.

How can u Change Luck ?

Fortuna by Hans Sebald Beham, circa 1541. Photo Credit: commons.wikimedia.org by Yellow Lion

Who among us couldn’t use more luck, especially here in Atlanta, where the down turned economy has been hit hardest!

Lifestylist and Ultimate Health and Wellness Expert, Ellen Whitehurst, believes in certain feng shui concepts when it comes to luck – fortune – and bringing good things into one’s life…

Whitehurst says that you should always maximize your chances or opportunities – network, be relaxed and open to new opportunities. Start networking and be amongst other people who can brainstorm together or hook you up with others.

Believe in intuition – listen to your instinct – go with gut feelings and hunches. Listen to that inner voice that lets you know how to be lucky.

Expect and receive good fortune. Make this your lucky day! Those who do not accomplish, do not expect good fortune! Wake up in the morning and STOP thinking the worst outcomes of the day.

Do NOT be fearful! If you’re not dreaming the impossible dream and trying to make it come true, then you’re not doing it right…

Turn the bad into good – take your challenges and obstacles and turn them into opportunities! As they say, if life gives you lemons – make lemonade!

Ask yourself if you’re doing what you were meant to do. Are you embracing life, who you are, and enjoying yourself doing what you’re doing for a living?

Find a token of what you aspire to or what you want to achieve and be part of your life. This is the importance of what you see as the first thing in the morning upon awakening and the last thing at night before you fall asleep. Find that something that gives you purpose in life.

The 5 types of luck

Whitehurst also believes that there are five types of luck and this is particularly based on a feng shui philosophy.

Heaven Luck – that which we call astrology, pertaining to the positions that the sun, the moon and other planets were in at the exact moment we were born.

Man Luck – that which allows you to buy a lottery ticket and win money right away or show up in a parking lot and grab a parking spot exactly as someone is pulling out.

Education – they say that knowledge is power and apparently, the more you know, the more opportunities you create for yourself that bring fortune to you.

Philanthropy – the concept of giving something to others and getting something back in return. It may not be money or material goods, but that which will result in the same for others as a consequence of your actions.

Karma – the age old adage of whatever you give out, good or bad, will come back to you in spades.

I’d like to sum things up with the last type of luck – the concept of Karma – that what you give, comes back to you tenfold. it’s also a very hard and key lesson to learn in life in order to change your luck and make fortune smile down upon you!

NOTE: The photo file should be of a German engraving of the goddess Fortuna by Hans Sebald Beham, circa 1541 and not whatever this site or other users are attaching!

Bloody and expensive battle in Iraq has been officially declared over after almost 9 years December 15 2012

Iraqi soldiers attend a training session with US troops

The bloody and expensive battle in Iraq that stated on March 20, 2003 has been officially declared over after almost 9 years. The shut down was observed with a simple December 15 flag ceremony at the Baghdad International Airport, as the American troops head back home.

President Barack Obama, in his final speech to the American troops, which were originally scheduled to leave Iraq in 2008, said that their efforts were not wasted and that the war was for a cause that is now successfully accomplished. He said the American troops are leaving Iraq with the belief that it’s now a sovereign, stable and self reliant state. Surprisingly though, his yesterday’s statement sharply contrasted with the statements of the same Barack Obama who was an Illinois State senator in 2002. The one who believed that the soon to begin invasion in the name of war on terror was simple “a dumb war, a rash war”, which is based “not on reason, but on passion, not on principal but on passion”.

The price paid by both countries on a misguided enterprise was far more than anyone could have anticipated. Not only in term of the money poured into the war but the lives lost as well. 4500 U.S. soldiers died and another 32000 wounded, with 100,000 Iraqis killed. But wait, these are only estimates. According to some sources the figures are almost 5 times as high. In terms of money the war cost $800 billion from the U.S treasury.

Beltran, a U.S soldier who suffered serious injuries after his plane crashed in 2003, doesn’t believe that this war was to search for alleged connections to weapons of mass destruction or the 9/11. "The national interest is the oil so that's the reason why we're there," Beltran said.

"The oil companies are the only ones that are gaining anything from this. When I first went over there, I knew the interest was oil. In the Army, we knew that. I was naive to think that would keep the price of oil low. How much has it gone up in the past couple of years, and it's only going to grow."

There’s no guarantee that after the last of American soldiers leave Iraq by the end of 2011, there wont be any more civil wars between shia and sunni Muslims or that Iraq might find itself get caught into a new turmoil by the instability in its neighboring countries like Syria and Iran.

But no matter how failed and mistaken the 9 year mission was, the U.S. officials continue to boost it as a “responsible ending, under the leadership of President Brarack Obama”.

Nominations for the 69th annual Golden Globe Awards 2012

Actress Sofia Vergara speaks during the announcements for the nominations for the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards in the Beverly Hills

The much-awaited nominations for the 69th annual Golden Globe Awards were announced by the Hollywood Foreign Press on Thursday. The nominations were annunciated by Gerard Butler, Woody Harrelson, Rashida Jones and Sofia Vergara.

In the film categories, “The Artist” topped the list with six nominations, including best motion picture, comedy or musical. It was closely followed by “The Help” and “The Descendents” with 5 nominations while “Moneyball,” “Midnight in Paris” and “Ides of March” earned four nods each.

As for TV, “Downton Abbey” and “Mildred Pierce” both earned four nominations, while series “Modern Family,” “The Hour,” “Homeland” and “Boardwalk Empire” received three nominations each.

Here's the list of nominees for Golden Globe Awards 2012:

BEST PICTURE, DRAMA

"War Horse"

"The Ides of March"

"The Help"

"Moneyball"

"Hugo"

"The Descendants"

BEST PICTURE, COMEDY

"The Artist"

"50/50"

"Bridesmaids"

"My Week With Marilyn"

"Midnight in Paris"

BEST ACTOR, DRAMA

George Clooney, "The Descendants"

Brad Pitt, ''Moneyball''

Leonardo DiCaprio, ''J.Edgar''

Ryan Gosling, ''The Ides of March''

Michael Fassbender, ''Shame''

BEST ACTRESS, DRAMA

Viola Davis, "'The Help''

Meryl Streep, ''The Iron Lady''

Tilda Swinton, ''We Need to Talk About Kevin''

Rooney Mara, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo''

Glenn Close, ''Albert Nobbs''

BEST ACTOR, COMEDY

Jean Dujardin, "The Artist''

Brendan Gleeson, ''The Guard''

Owen Wilson, ''Midnight in Paris''

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, ''50/50''

Ryan Gosling, ''Crazy, Stupid, Love''

BEST ACTRESS, COMEDY

Michelle Williams, ''My Week With Marilyn''

Jodie Foster, ''Carnage''

Kristen Wiig, ''Bridesmaids''

Charlize Theron, ''Young Adult''

Kate Winslet, ''Carnage''

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Albert Brooks, ''Drive''

Christopher Plummer, ''Beginners''

Kenneth Branagh, ''My Week With Marilyn''

Jonah Hill, ''Moneyball''

Viggo Mortensen, ''A Dangerous Method''

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Berenice Bejo, ''The Artist''

Octavia Spencer, ''The Help''

Jessica Chastain, ''The Help''

Janet McTeer, ''Albert Nobbs''

Shailene Woodley, "The Descendants"

BEST DIRECTOR

Martin Scorsese, ''Hugo''

George Clooney, ''The Ides of March''

Michel Hazanavicius, ''The Artist''

Alexander Payne, ''The Descendants''

Woody Allen, ''Midnight in Paris''

BEST TV SERIES, DRAMA

"American Horror Story"

"Boardwalk Empire"

"Boss"

"Game of Thrones"

"Homeland"

BEST COMEDY SERIES

"New Girl"

"Enlightened"

"Episodes"

"Glee"

"Modern Family"

BEST ACTOR, DRAMA

Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire"

Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"

Kelsey Grammer, "Boss"

Jeremy Irons, "The Borgias"

Damian Lewis, "Homeland"

BEST ACTRESS, DRAMA

Claire Danes, "Homeland"

Mireille Enos, "The Killing"

Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"

Madeleine Stowe, "Revenge"

Callie Thorne, "Necessary Roughness"

BEST ACTOR, COMEDY

Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"

David Duchovny, "Californication"

Johnny Galecki, "The Big Bang Theory"

Thomas Jane, "Hung"

Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes"

BEST ACTRESS, COMEDY

Tina Fey, "30 Rock"

Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"

Laura Dern, "Enlightened"

Zooey Deschanel, "New Girl"

Laura Linney, "The Big C"

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

''Rango''

''The Adventures of Tintin''

''Puss in Boots''

''Arthur Christmas''

''Cars 2''

Don’t forget to watch the Golden Globe Awards 2012 on January 15 on NBC. British comedian Ricky Gervais will host the awards ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel for the third time in a row next ye

Remya and Vineetha kerala - Malayali nurses died in AMRI fire saving 8 person and trying 9th

Two young bravehearts from Kerala, who were nurses in the fire-ravaged AMRI Hospital in Kolkata, saved eight patients before their own lives were snuffed out while trying to rescue another victim.

Remya and Vineetha, both 24 pulled out eight of the nine patients in the noxius smoke-filled female ward and when they had gone up to save the ninth patient, who had suffered a fracture, succumbed to the smoke and heat, said Sumini, the Deputy Nursing Superintendent.

In fact, even as she was engaged in the valiant rescue effort, she had called up her home from Kolkata in the wee hours yesterday and spoken to her mother who had little inkling that this would be the last time she would hear her daughter.

She told her mother that the hospital was filled with thick smoke and fume and it was very difficult for her to breathe, a close relative here said. In fact, before she completed the talk the telephone line got disconnected.

Later,it was another nurse from Kolkata who informed Remya's relatives that she was one of the two Malayali nurses who perished in the fire. Vineetha hailed from a poor family also from Kottayam. She had joined AMRI hospital just two months back after quitting a hospital in Chandigarh.

According to Remya's relatives, she had visited them three months back and stayed for a few days before returning to Kolkata.

Remya's father,a daily wager earner, died before she completed her nursing course. It was with great difficulty that her mother and brother supported her to complete the course.
Govt should give take care of them .

Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao have named their newborn son Azad Rao Khan

Bollywood couple Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao have named their newborn son Azad Rao Khan after scholar and freedom fighter Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Aamir's "great grand uncle".

"Hey guys, most excited to share with y'all that we have finally chosen a name for our baby boy...Azad. Azad Rao Khan. I left the final choice to Kiran, and she has named him after my great grand uncle Maulana Azad, the great freedom fighter, whom the family is most proud of," Aamir revealed on social networking site Facebook.

"Azad means free or liberated. We want to thank everyone for their warm wishes and blessings, and needless to say we are absolutely overjoyed and feel most blessed. Much love," added the actor-producer.

Aamir-Kiran's son was born Dec 1 through IVF to a surrogate mother at a private clinic in Mumbai. The couple resorted to IVF due to medical complications.

This is Kiran's first baby, but Aamir has a son, Junaid, and a daughter, Ira, from his first wife Reena.

Aamir ended his 15-year-old marriage with Reena in 2002, and during the shooting of Ashutosh Gowariker's "Lagaan", he and the film's assistant director Kiran ended up together.

They tied the knot in 2005.

In 2009, Kiran got pregnant, but she had a miscarriage. However, the duo now feel "blessed" with the newborn.

Ruling party's leaders have denied cheating and Putin win . but protest continue

Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of cities across Russia on Saturday to demand an end to Vladimir Putin's rule and complain about alleged election fraud in the biggest show of defiance since he took power more than a decade ago.

Rallies were expected in dozens of cities, from Vladivostok on the Pacific coast to Kaliningrad nearly 7,400 km (4,600 miles) away in the west, mounting the biggest opposition protests since Putin came to power in 2000.

In Vladivostok, a large port city where Putin's United Russia party was defeated by communists in last Sunday's parliamentary election, protesters held banners saying: "We are against mass falsifications!" and "The rats should go!"

Organisers said about 1,000 people defied wintry weather to protest, but police put the number much lower. About 20 were detained in Khabarovsk, a city of almost 580,000 people about 30 km (19 miles) from the border with China, RIA news agency said.

At least 15,000 people protested at Bolotnya Square, a large open space across the Moscow River from the Kremlin, and up to 1,500 gathered near a statue to Communist ideologist Karl Marx at Revolution Square, a few steps from the red walls of Russia's centre of power, witness said.

Protesters in Moscow waved pictures of Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev declaring: "Guys, it's time to go."

The rallies are a test of the opposition's ability to turn outrage over the Dec. 4 election, which it says was slanted in United Russia's favour, into a national protest movement that can undermine Putin's plan to return to the presidency in 2012.

"This is history in the making for Russia. The people are coming out to demand justice for the first time in two decades, justice in the elections," a 41-year-old employee in the financial services sector, who gave his name only as Anton, said at Revolution Square.

Like other protesters, he wore a white ribbon which he said symbolised the dissent of the people. At Bolotnaya Square people of all ages gathered, many carrying white carnations which they said was the symbol of their protest.

CALLS FOR NEW ELECTIONS "I want new elections, not a revolution," said Ernst Kryavitsky, 75, a retired electrician dressed in a long brown coat and hat against the falling snow who was protesting even though he did not expect Putin to be ousted.

"Putin will not leave power, and there won't be any major changes in the country but the authorities need to know how angry we are," he said.

Around Bolotnaya Square policeman stood every 50 metres (yards) with dogs. Banners declared: "Putin Kaput" and "Big brother is watching you" with a picture of Putin.

About 50 trucks of riot police were parked near Revolution Square and police were out in force in the capital. There were no immediate reports of clashes or detentions.

There were also reports of protests in other big cities including Arkhangelsk in the Arctic north and in the Siberian cities of Barnaul, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Irkutsk and Krasnoyarsk.

ANGER OVER ELECTION The protesters were angered by the parliamentary election in which Putin's United Russia party won only a slim majority in the State Duma lower house, widely seen as a growing sign of discontent with the former KGB spy's rule.

Protesters, who this week staged the biggest opposition rally in Moscow for years, say only widespread falsifications prevented the result for United Russia being much worse.

The ruling party's leaders have denied cheating and Putin, who is now prime minister after serving eight years as president until 2008, has accused the United States of encouraging and financing the protesters.

Putin and Medvedev have both said that Russians have a right to protest but only within the bounds of permission granted by local authorities who normally allow demonstations only at specific locations and limit turnout.

Putin, 59, remains Russia's most popular leader in opinion polls, but his ratings have been falling.

Many Russians felt disenfranchised when he and Medvedev announced plans to swap jobs after next year's presidential election and said they had taken the decision years ago.

The protests have also shown the power of social media, such as Twitter and Facebook, through which most of the protests have been organised.