Mercedes Benz ropes in Bollywood celebs
The German automotive giant Mercedes Benz is on a mission to dominate the Indian car market with its latest edition. And in a bid to reach out to the Indian masses, the manufacturers have roped in young Bollywood, Cricket and Fashion personalities.
The luxury car makers have planned to launch a slew of new generation compact cars in India over the next few years. For this, they have roped in writer Chetan Bhagat, actor-director Farhan Akhtar, cricketer Irfan Pathan and fashion designer Masaba Gupta to drive sales.
Mercedes yesterday unveiled one of the concept A-Class cars as well as launched the latest M Class series at the 11th Auto Expo in Delhi that exemplifies Benz’s new design language.
Vivek Oberoi Wedding Pics
October 31, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under Entertainment
Vivek Oberoi Wedding Pics, Vivek Oberoi and Priyanka Alva got married on Friday evening at the Alva farmhouse in Bangalore.
Vivek arrived at the wedding venue in a Mercedes along with his parents and baraatis at about 5.45 pm. There were dhols, baaja, firecrackers going off as the baraat entered the venue.
The 34-year-old actor was dressed in a heavily embellished maroon sherwani and a turban. He then mounted a mare and, accompanied by the baraat, he rode around the venue like a true-blue dulha.
The wedding was solemnized according to Hindu rites amid the chanting of verses from Holy Scriptures.
Philippine gun lovers celebrate new president
August 1, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
MANILA: Standing amid an array of foreign assault rifles and local shotguns at one of the Philippines” largest shopping malls, firearms aficionados celebrated the rise of the nation”s new president.
Benigno Aquino, who took office on June 30, is an avid sports shooter and clips on YouTube show him using a semi-automatic pistol with great skill at a target shooting competition.
“The feeling is that he is one of us. He also inhales gunpowder,” said Johnmuel Mendoza, head of PRO-Gun, the country”s largest firearms-rights group, at the twice-yearly gun show in Manila”s vast “Megamall”.
Indeed Aquino, the Supreme Court chief justice and other influential figures have been frequent visitors to the shows in recent years, according to Mendoza.
And in the gun-crazy Philippines, having a firearms exhibition alongside shops selling perfume, designer clothes and frozen yoghurt appears remarkably normal.
Women carrying infants and schoolchildren attended last month”s five-day show, not necessarily to buy guns but just to marvel at the weapons as if they were browsing through the mall”s more conventional retail outlets.
“It”s Rambo”s gun,” said one boy, looking at a machine-gun on display. “Stupid, that”s from World War II,” his classmate replied.
Among the highlights of the show were the various companies offering shoulder bags, belt packs and photographer”s vests that were all designed to conceal a handgun.
“Just one pull on the strap and you can have your gun out in the blink of an eye,” said a salesman demonstrating a quick-draw from the holster cunningly concealed inside a shoulder bag.
Despite the ominous brand-name “Assassin”, the salesman denied the bag was designed with malicious intent.
“This was made to comply with police requirements,” he explained, citing new rules banning people from carrying guns openly.
Experts gave lectures on legal aspects of gun ownership, sports shooting and how to maintain a firearm, while a fashion show featured models showing off catchy new holster designs.
The stalls that got the most attention displayed exotic military hardware, even though ordinary citizens are not allowed to own such weapons.
People lined up to have their photos taken cradling a Tavor assault rifle or taking aim with a Remington sniper rifle.
“It”s like a car show where you go to see a Mercedes Benz or a Porsche. You can”t buy these cars but you can get inside, try it out. That is how it is at the gun-show,” said lawyer and gun enthusiast Ernesto Tabujara.
During his visit, Tabujara got a chance to handle both the Israeli Tavor and the Swiss-designed SIG 556 rifle.
“If I could choose, I would prefer the Tavor. The SIG has the set-up of a basic M-16 rifle but the Tavor has more exotic looks and has very good quality,” he said.
In the Philippines, anyone can get a license to own a conventional gun, subject to a police clearance and other security checks.
The law allows people to carry guns outside their homes if they can prove to police they may need to use it in self-defence.
It is commonplace for off-duty police, lawyers, judges, businessmen and even journalists to walk the streets with guns.
There are about 1.3 million licensed firearms in the Philippines, with 600,000 in the hands of private citizens and the rest held by the military, police and other law-enforcement agencies, according to police estimates.
However police said last year there were also about 1.1 million unlicensed firearms in the Philippines.
The combined tally means there is roughly one firearm in circulation for every 40 Filipinos.
National police chief Director-General Jesus Verzosa this year pushed for an extension of a six-month ban on carrying guns in public that was put in place to help limit violence surrounding national elections in May.
However he backed down following an outcry by the powerful gun lobby.
Chief Superintendent Gil Meneses, head of the police firearms division, said that trying to disarm the population would be nearly impossible.
“Our society is pro-gun. People are not really saying they don”t want guns. They are saying they want less crime,” Meneses said at the gun show.
Church leaders and civil society groups insist that loose gun laws are one of the major factors in the Philippines having such a violent society.
Police statistics show violent crime across the country dropped by about a third during the election-related six-month ban on the public carrying of firearms, backing the anti-gun lobby”s argument.
Aquino also said shortly after assuming the presidency on June 30 that he was open to police proposals to make it tougher for people to buy a gun.
“It (firearms possession) is not a right under our law. It”s a privilege. There are certain conditions you have to meet to be granted a (gun) license and there is some looseness in the implementation of the rules,” he said.
However the gun lobby remains confident that Aquino will continue to allow guns to flourish in society.
“We believe he is one of us. He will not let us be deprived of the privilege of owning firearms without due process,” Mendoza said.
Saudi King unveils first Saudi-made car
JEDDAH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah on Monday unveiled Saudi Arabia”s first car, which was manufactured by engineers at King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh. The car is named Ghazal 1.
Higher Education Minister Khaled Al-Anqari thanked King Abdullah for his continuous support of the Kingdom”s higher education, adding that this has resulted in the manufacturing of the new car. “This is the fruit of your support,” Al-Anqari told the king, adding that students of the university”s Faculty of Engineering had been working on the project for the last two years.
“What is achieved today is a clear proof of the ability of Saudi youth to make innovations and inventions … if they are provided with adequate facilities and given opportunities,” the minister said.
He described the making of Ghazal 1 as a turning point in the Kingdom. “It also shows that we have capable people who can transform ideas into products of high economic value,” he said. “This is a national strategic product and KSU holds its patent rights and intellectual property rights,” he added.
Professor Said Darwish of KSU”s industrial engineering department said the car model was based on tests of category development (wheelbase) in collaboration with several major companies such as Motorola, Mercedes and Magna Canada.
The students were given full freedom to design. Ghazal 1 is 4.8 meters long with a width of about 1.9 meters.
“This car is designed for use on all roads and terrain, even in difficult conditions, while the car interior is designed to provide comfort for passengers,” Darwish said.
President Zardari greets new British PM
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari today contacted David Cameron on phone and felicitated him on assumption of the office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
In a statement issued from the presidency, President Zardari felicitated the new British Prime Minster for assuming his office.
The president hoped that Pakistan and Britain would further enhance their ties in all sectors in the days to come.
Shahbaz says ”no” to Taseer”s Mercedes
LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has rejected a summary for purchasing new bullet-proof Mercedes Benz car for Governor Punjab Salman Taseer, forwarded by Additional Chief Secretary and Punjab Finance Ministry.
According to government spokesman, CM rejected the proposal citing austerity reasons adopted by the provincial government to reduce expending.
Punjab, from being a surplus province is now in deficit and borrowing heavily from the State Bank to make ends meet. But it is being made to pay Rs25 million for the purchase of a special bullet-proof Mercedes Benz for Governor Salmaan Taseer. Much to the chagrin of the chief minister, a special supplementary grant has been created through relaxation of rules to make the funds available for the purchase.
Reacting strongly to the refusal Salman Taseer offered for exchanging his official vehicle with that of CM Shahbaz”s and proposed that he (CM Punjab) should sell out bullet proof cars worth billions of rupees under his use.
webber
May 9, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
Mark Webber earns third career win with triumph at Spanish Grand Prix
BARCELONA — It was difficult to distinguish between what might be volcanic ash clouds or just light rain clouds over the Grand Prix circuit outside Barcelona during the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday.
But what was never in doubt was that if it did not rain, the fifth Formula One race of the season would be little more than a procession on this highly technical circuit where overtaking is next to impossible.
For the previous nine editions of the race here, the man who started from pole position won the race, and Mark Webber was keen to maintain that statistic, as the Australian driver started in his Red Bull at the pole for the second time of the season.
Holding on from start to finish, Webber dominated to take the third victory of his career, his first in Barcelona and his first since the Brazilian Grand Prix last October.
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“It was my day today — I started on the pole and won the race,” said Webber, who threw his helmet into the crowd after the race in appreciation of the fans.
“It was a crucial pole and I felt very good in the car,” he added. “The car wasn’t easy at the start, but it was good to see the gap build up and it gave me confidence.”
That remains the Red Bulls, which are seriously fast, certainly untouchable in qualifying with Vettel taking three poles to Webber’s two this season, including the one here in Barcelona. Converting such astonishing speed and dominance into victories has proved a step beyond the Red Bull outfit, though, with Vettel’s win in Malaysia their only success.
Could that be about to change? With a dry track and no shenanigans inflicted by rain, the Red Bull drivers simply had to press the throttle and take wing. Webber did exactly but there is always a slip waiting to haunt Vettel. This time it was long pitstop, which allowed Hamilton to get the jump on his rival – but in controversial circumstances as we have almost come to expect.
spanish grand prix
May 9, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
Webber wins; Hamilton crash
Australian Mark Webber led from start to finish to win the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona on Sunday.
Spain’s Fernando Alonso in a Ferrari finished second with Webber’s teammate Sebastian Vettel completing the podium positions.
Former world champion Lewis Hamilton was in second place until the penultimate lap when the front tire on his McLaren punctured and he ploughed into the barrier.
Hamilton was unhurt, but the 18 points that disappeared in an instant could cost him dear in the title race which is still being led by his teammate Jenson Button, who finished fifth at the Circuit de Catalunya.
Button spent a frustrating afternoon trying to get past Michael Schumacher, who put up an improved performance to claim fourth for Mercedes, his best result of his comeback season.
He has seen his lead in the title race cut to three points by Alonso, with Vettel 10 points adrift and a further seven ahead of Webber.
Webber and Hamilton pitted simultaneously, and the McLaren driver was then able to get in front of Vettel — who had a slow tire change earlier — as he returned to the track, holding his ground at the first corner to split up the Red Bull cars.
Schumacher started behind Button but made a nice pass as the two engaged in a battle for fifth, with Felipe Massa eventually sliding into the mix. The Ferrari driver would settle for sixth.
Button Wins F1’s Chinese GP
Jenson Button’s secured his second victory of the season at the Chinese Grand Prix beating teammate Lewis Hamilton to give McLaren a 1-2 finish.
The reigning world champion had started fifth on the Shanghai grid and completed the distance in 1 hour 46 minutes and 42 seconds.
Hamilton, meanwhile, had started sixth but once again drove superbly to secure his best finish of the season while Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg took third for the fourth podium finish of his career.
Button Wins F1’s Chinese GP was first posted on April 19, 2010 at 11:24 am.
Copyright @ A Pakistan News.Com
chinese grand prix
April 18, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
Jenson Button hails ‘best victory’ after dramatic Chinese grand prix
• ‘We really earned that one’ says Jenson Button
• ‘We both did a tremendous job’ says Lewis HamiltonWorld champion Jenson Button hailed his victory in the rain-affected Chinese grand prix as his best ever, and emphasised that the decision not to change his slick tyres while the rest of the field pitted to switch to intermediates earned him the win.
The 30-year-old Briton took the lead in the overall standings after celebrating his second win of the season and ninth of his career. “We really earned that one” he said on his team radio as he crossed the line. “For me it’s my best victory,” said Button, who had started fifth on the grid. “It was very tough conditions and the great thing is our pace was good. It wasn’t just the luck of calling the weather.”
“This victory is special and means a lot,” said Button. “The tricky conditions have helped me but it was not luck we came out on top today, we chose correctly. My first few months with the team have been extraordinary and I really feel part of the team.”
Hamilton, who carved his way through the field from 12th on lap four to finish 1.530 seconds behind his compatriot in the first British one-two since 1999, may yet pay the penalty for his aggressive drive after a post-race probe into a pit lane clash with Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel.
“I had quite an eventful race,” said Hamilton, the 2008 world champion, who embraced Button and shook his hand afterwards. I fought my way through and we both did a tremendous job and it’s great for the team.”
Button now has 60 points overall, 10 ahead of Rosberg with Hamilton and Alonso third and a point further back.
McLaren lead the constructor’s standings with 109 points to Ferrari’s 90.
Pole-sitter Vettel, who won the last race in Malaysia and here last year, could only manage sixth behind Robert Kubica’s Renault, leaving the Shanghai race still without a repeat winner after seven years. “Today was very chaotic and in the end to take sixth can be quite important,” said the Red Bull driver. “Obviously, our main competitors finished ahead, so that’s not nice. It was a very difficult race for us.”
Renault’s Vitaly Petrov passed both Michael Schumacher of Mercedes and the Red Bull of Mark Webber on the last few laps to take an impressive seventh place in the Russian’s first completed Formula One race. Alonso’s premature start, a safety car for a three-car pile up on the first corner, heavy rain and another safety car later in the race contributed to an entertaining but chaotic race.
“I think we stopped five times to change the tyres,” said twice world champion Alonso, who muscled his car past Brazilian team mate and previous championship leader Felipe Massa as both headed into the pits.
