Obama girls get dating advice from their watchful dad

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama says he's not worried about his daughters starting to date. After all, he's got some help keeping an eye on them.

Malia, age 15, and Sasha, age 12, are "very sensible," Obama told comedian and talk show host Steve Harvey in a television interview that aired on Friday.

"And the second thing is, I've got men with guns following them around all the time," Obama quipped, referring to the Secret Service detail that is a constant presence around his family.

"This is the main reason I ran for re-election," he joked in the light-hearted interview taped at the White House. "You know I'm going to have them covered for most of high school." Obama and his family left for a two-week holiday in Hawaii on Friday.

He and his wife, first lady Michelle Obama, have worked hard to keep their daughters out of the public eye as much as possible during his presidency.

"They're doing great, but they grow up so fast," Obama said in the interview.

Obama said he worries about "getting in the way of the girls just having a normal life" and said he has taught them to make good decisions about relationships.

"What I've told them before is, as long as that young man is showing you respect, and is kind to you, then I'm not going to be hovering over every second," he said.

"I think it's intimidating enough to be asking out the daughter of the president without me adding to that intimidation factor," he said.

(Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Eric Walsh)

Prince Mishaal named new Makkah governor

Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, who was hitherto governor of the Makkah region, has been appointed minister of education, replacing Prince Faisal bin Abdullah. Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah, who was the governor of Najran, will take charge as the new Makkah governor.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah made the new appointments by issuing a Royal Decree, which said Prince Faisal bin Abdullah was relieved of his position as education minister upon his request.

Prince Khaled, the third son of the late King Faisal, has previously worked as the governor of the Asir region from 1971 to 2007 and at the Ministry of Social Affairs. The Arab Gulf soccer championship was his brainchild. Since 2007 he has been the governor of Makkah.

Prince Khaled is a member of the Allegiance Council, representing his father. He has been widely regarded by Saudis as a good administrator who has been doing his work with clarity and determination.

He was the chairman of a ministerial committee that was set up to find out the culprits behind 2009 Jeddah floods. He supervised a large number of giant projects that were carried out during the past three years to prevent flooding in Jeddah. He has won the applause of Jeddawis for spurring the city’s development.

Prince Mishaal is the sixth son of King Abdullah. He was appointed governor of Najran in March 2009. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in political science from King Saud University in Riyadh, he pursued his higher education in the UK. He has worked as head of the computer department at the National Guard from 1997 to 2003. He was later appointed minister plenipotentiary at the Foreign Ministry where he worked until 2006. He has also worked as an adviser at the Royal Court.

Royal nanny 'wanted' for Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William

(Herald Sun)

BRITAIN'S Duchess of Cambridge has done a U-turn on childcare and is "actively" looking for help.

Catherine and her husband William welcomed their son Prince George into the world last month. At first it seemed she was determined to be a hands-on mother - just like her mom Carole Middleton - and refused to hire a nanny for the first months of George's life. However, insiders claim Catherine has changed her mind and now wants some assistance.

"Kate and William have realised that they really do need help with George. They were both determined to do it themselves, but common sense has prevailed and they have actively started looking for help," a source told British magazine Grazia. "It is highly unlikely that this will be an advertised position. Kate is going to rely on word-of-mouth. One of Kate's best friends from Marlborough, Alice Alvenel, lives in Chelsea and has already been helping Kate. She is one of the Duchess' most trusted confidantes; she also already has a little girl and is pregnant again. William and Kate want someone trustworthy and very well experienced. It's unlikely they'll hire a live-in nanny, though."

Catherine is due to return to her royal duties on September 12, when she will attend a Tusk Trust fundraising gala with William. The pair are also expected to go to a society wedding next month.

The family are currently in Anglesey, North Wales, while William completes his final weeks as a pilot with the British Royal Air Force.

He is then expected to resume full-time royal duties, with Catherine scheduled to make her first solo appearance in October.

The duchess is apparently looking forward to moving back to London once their apartments at Kensington Palace have been refurbished.

"Kate hasn't really seen anyone apart from immediate family since George was born, so she is really looking forward to returning to London to her tight support network of mummies," a source revealed. "She's felt somewhat cut-off for the past few months and is itching to get back into the swing of things."

How often do single men wash bed sheets?

By Yahoo News

Single men only wash their bed sheets four times a year, study says

If you’re a single man, you may go to bed with a clear conscience but you rarely sleep on clean sheets. At least, that’s according to a new study, which found that single men on average only clean their bed sheets four times a year.

In comparison, single women change their bed sheets every two weeks.

And while cleanliness numbers surge for married couples, it appears the credit for the median boost for guys primarily belongs to women. In fact, it may be the men who are dragging the women down, as the average washing frequency amongst couples is once every 2.3 weeks, with women doing 81 percent of the washing.

And as “How Stuff Works” points out, the average person spends about a third of their entire life in bed. In other words, the old saying, “ As you make your bed, so you must lie on it,” may have more meaning than originally intended.

But are these single men literally sleeping in beds of filth? Or, are the women perhaps overdoing it a bit? Turns out, it mostly depends on your own standards of cleanliness.

For example, Martha Stewart recommends washing the sheets weekly, but notes that itultimately is an issue of personal preference. The Wall Street Journal also says that weekly washes are the norm but that many other go several weeks between cleanings.

For people with asthma or other allergies, clean bed sheets are more of a priority. That’s because sheets, and mattresses and pillowcases in particular, are excellent at accumulating dust and microorganisms that can disrupt otherwise healthy breathing patterns.

In that case, many experts recommend laying plastic covers on top of mattresses and even pillows in order to keep those microorganisms from making a home inside the mattress or pillow padding.

"The conventional idea is that you might exacerbate eczema, hayfever or asthma at night, but all of these ideas are more based on conventional wisdom, not necessarily founded in experience," Euan Tovey, head of the Allergen Research Group at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research told MSN.

"We've done research that showed that you don't get as much exposure to dust mites in bed as we once thought. Anywhere where there is dust and movement you are going to get exposure –– it's not confined to bed," he added.

According to the survey, people between the ages of 35 and 50 are the most likely to wash their bed sheets each week.

So, as Tovey said, health concerns might not be a major issues for younger sleepers. But it certainly could be an aesthetic one for younger men hoping to forge meaningful romantic relationships.

"Would you want to be invited into a bed of somebody who hadn't washed it for months?" Tovey said.

Expansion of Prophet’s Mosque through the ages put on display

By Arab News

The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Prophet’s Mosque has organized an exhibition on the mosque’s history and expansion works as part of the ongoing celebration of Madinah as the Islamic Cultural Capital of 2013.

The items on display give an insight into the kind of expansions that the mosque underwent since its inception in the seventh century to date.

“The items showcased also include manuscript copies and photos of the messages sent by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to many kings of his time, inviting them to Islam,” Exhibition Director Abdul Hadi Al-Hujaili said in a statement quoted by the Saudi Press Agency on Friday. "His seal is also among them.”

The items include 35 photographs, replicas of the mosque, tape recordings in English and Arabic, plaques that describe the expansion and constructions ordered by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. Photos of the razing of old buildings, diggings for new constructions, foundation stone-laying ceremonies and completion of construction, expansion of its squares and construction of car parks and utilities can also be viewed, Al-Hujaili said.

The exhibition venue is at the southern side of the mosque.

Books describing various aspects and history of the mosque and the city of Madinah are also exhibited. One book on display is on the imams of the mosque over the past decade.

Videos on various stages of the expansion and construction of the mosque are being shown at a closed hall. The films include the efforts of King Abdul Aziz and his successors in the development of the mosque.

It also gives a video presentation of the ongoing 30,500-square-meter expansion ordered by King Abdullah in March and the installation of 250 huge umbrellas and cooling and water spraying systems using 436 fans in the mosque squares, he said.

When the expansion works are completed in less than two years, the mosque will have a capacity of 1.6 million worshippers.

“The exhibition will also showcase rare manuscripts and copies of the Holy Qur’an including a copy of the Amma juz, Surah Maryam, Surah Al-Fatihah, beginning of Surah Al-Baqarah, and Surah Ibrahim. It will also give details on the construction of the service buildings, control rooms and the service tunnels besides the standby power stations and air-conditioning system,” he said.

School and university students who wish to visit the exhibition should apply for that at the exhibition office, he said, adding that they can visit on weekdays from Sunday through Thursday during the forenoon.

Islamic smartphone ready for launch

By RIYADH: SHAHZEEN ERAM | Arab News 

The soon-to-be-launched “Peace Mobile,” an Islamic smartphone, is a useful media gadget that reconciles Qur’an with modern science.

The smartphone was invented by Dr. Zakir Naik, an internationally renowned public speaker on Islam and comparative religion, and is ready to be launched internationally in the last week of Ramadan.

Demand for the Islamic handset is scaling among Muslims in Saudi Arabia. Thousands of people have already ordered the gadget online, while hundreds are talking about it on various media platforms.

A breakthrough technological initiative by Naik, founder and president of the IRF (Islamic Research Foundation), the phone will facilitate the implementation of Islamic ethos in daily life. Peace Mobile is completely customized with authentic Islamic apps and software and helps practicing Muslims stay connected with the Islamic world.

Naik was in Riyadh recently speaking at a Ramadan forum organized by the IICC (India Islamic Cultural Center), where he urged knowledge and unity.

The Islamic scholar has always stressed the need for both religious education and modern education, considering both as essential.

The Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) is a nonprofit organization that owns the Peace TV channel, a major Islamic satellite television network that recently exceeded a record global viewership of 200 million.

Featuring over 80 hours of Naik’s videos, 50 Islamic applications, hundreds of Islamic wallpaper and 200 Islamic ringtones, the phone contains numerous books on Islam and comparative religion written by Naik, apart from other Islamic programs. Okasha Mujahid, international business manager at Darussalam, a Riyadh-based Islamic publishing house, welcomed the smartphone and said, “Darussalam has earnestly worked to spread the word of Islam through its publications. Peace Mobile can help become an extension for this.”

“People will be able to experience the difference, as communicating through technology will make life easy and convenient par excellence while fostering an intimate relationship with the Creator,” read an official statement by the IRF.

Competing with the most prominent of smartphones, Peace Mobile is equipped with advanced specifications in a stylish design, including a 4.6-inch screen, capacitive multi-touchscreen tablet, a dual 32-GB SD SIM card and 4-GB internal memory dual core processor, 5-megapixel auto-focus camera, in addition to Android Gingerbread 2.3.5 OS, upgradeable to Android Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.

The IRF has officially announced that the dispatch of the mobile phones will start by the last week of Ramadan. The handsets will be available worldwide from UAE through online purchase and delivery will be completed via DHL or FedEx. The handset is priced at $240, equivalent to SR901 and AED882.

Titanic 2: Scheduled to Set Sail in 2016

Provided by BORNRICH

2013 is a landmark year since it marks the 101st anniversary of the sinking of the historic ill-fated ship “R.M.S Titanic”. The gargantuan vessel, which hit headlines around the world at the time of its launch in the year 1912 on account of its unparalleled grandeur, has been resting at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean for more than a century.

However according to latest reports plans are afoot to bring back the glory of the Titanic back to life with the creation of the Titanic 2, which is supposed to be an exact replica of the original. The estimated time of launch of the vessel has been tentatively set to the year 2016. Once completed, the massive vessel is expected to transport thousands of passengers across the sea.

Recently billionaire Australian mining tycoon Clive Palmer, also the owner of the Blue Star Line, a reputed shipping company held a press conference in New York to unveil the blueprints of the Titanic 2. Palmer’s ambitious plans include sailing the new Titanic across the Atlantic Ocean on the same route as the one taken by the ill-fated ship as a tribute to those who built the original. According to media reports the new age Titanic 2 will make its debut voyage from Southampton to New York in 2016.

Titanic 2 will possess enough space to accommodate a maximum of 2,600 passengers in its 850 cabins. As per estimates the ship will employ about 900 crew members on board. Reportedly the length of the Titanic 2 would be approximately three inches longer than the original ship whose length was measured at 883 feet. Some sources claim that in a stark contrast from the original Titanic which ran out of life boats when they were most needed, the new ship will have 18 lifeboats on board which can ferry a maximum of 2,700 passengers.

The replica will feature several key design elements from the original. Titanic 2’s designers are trying very hard to recreate the grand staircase which was the one of the most striking features of the 20th century vessel. However modern touches like an advanced air conditioning system and internet connectivity will be incorporated on the new ship. Palmer is not very enthusiastic about the new features like Internet connectivity since he believes that when someone is on a vacation they should only relax.

Sheikh Zayed Mosque to be built in China

By:Yasmine Hamdy (MSN Arabia)

In remembrance of late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his humanitarian efforts all over the world. The Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation has stated its support for building the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in the Chinese city of Wuzhong, commemorating Emirates Humanitarian Work Day that is dedicated to the memory of the father of humanity Sheikh Zayed.

The Sheikh Zayed mosque is expected to house more than 1,000 worshippers, prayer hall, ablution areas, toilets and an imam’s residence.

The project aims to be a meeting place for people of Wuzhong where large Muslim populations exist; aiming to be a meeting ground for people to discuss religious and scientific views and an arena for modern thinking in keeping with traditional Islamic orientation.

Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Gold Edition

Provided by BORNRICH

The Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Gold edition has been tailor made and manufactured for the Chinese market. Produced only in limited number of ten copies, this gold painted special and limited edition of an otherwise normal Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 is aimed at catering the new rich Asian population and their craving for fast and luxurious cars. The newly enabled and bustling economy has produced a number of billionaires in the Asian countries, with China leading the pack. They have a huge penchant for luxury cars and fast and flashy ones. Most of the car manufacturers in the high-end car manufacturing industry have been in the foray to woo the ever expanding Asian market, especially the Chinese market with their limited edition of their wares.

The Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Gold edition is Lamborghini’s customised edition of the Lamborghini Gallardo. The car has a metallic gold paint that gives it a look and feel of Gold plated one. The car has also had some other facelifts and touch ups to match the new look and feel. The bumpers for both the front and rear are re-profiled and also coloured with the same gold colour. The sharp angles of the body and air vents; the short overhangs of the car give it a powerful look. The LED running lights are Y shaped and the adds to the overall powerful look of the car. The rear is designed in a trademark Lamborghini style. The rear lights and large quad exhausts gives it an extremely powerful and stylish look and finish. The design is extremely futuristic and aerodynamically inspired. The rear diffuser only adds to the look. The car runs on a 19-inch wheels that have been given a specialised facelift to match the gold plated look of the car.

The interior of the car has also had a minor facelift. The seats have been sutured with red stitching. The steering wheels and the head restraints also have had the same red treatment. The red colour has been to respect the Chinese population. There is plenty of room for both the driver and passenger. The dashboard is an exclusive blend of German engineering and Italian design. The car is also loaded with luxury and comfort features. The Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Gold edition is also full of world of entertainment and utility features.

The power of this impressive beast is generated by a 5.2 Liter V10 engine. The engine can generate about 552 BHP at 8,000 RPM. The torque generated at about 298 feet-pound at 6,500 RPM. The Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Gold edition can produce a top speed of 201 MPH. The acceleration from 0-60 MPH takes a mere 4 seconds. The car is also known to be environment friendly too as it produces almost 18 percent lower carbon Di-Oxide emission. The Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 is a 4 wheel drive coupe, and the Gold plated edition will surely make it look like a ray of gold running away fast when in top speed.

The Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Gold edition is slightly costlier than its classic model. The Gold edition is priced at 600,000 USD, which is 200,000 USD dearer than the classical Gallardo model. In Chinese currency the price of a Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Gold edition equals to about 4 million Yuan. Overall it might be slightly pricey, but definitely worth it.

Prince William returning to army

Britain's Prince William is to rejoin the army.

The 31-year-old royal has been working as a search-and-rescue pilot for the RAF in Anglesey, Wales but his tour of duty ends in September and he is planning the military move so he and wife Duchess Catherine and their baby son Prince George - who was born last Monday (22.07.13) - can be based in London.

William will rejoin his former regiment the Blues and Royals as a captain in the Household Cavalry's Mounted Regiment, where his duties will include a role in mounted ceremonial parades, inspecting soldiers before they go on duty and drafting career reports for troops within his squadron.

The division, which is based in Knightsbridge, west London, do not get sent on tours abroad.

An army source told the Sunday Express newspaper: 'Our understanding is that he will finish with the RAF have some leave that is due and then return to the Blues and Royals and serve with the Mounted Regiment, where he will take an appointment as second in command of a squadron. It is not a difficult role but it requires a lot of attention to detail.'

A royal spokesperson refused to confirm the claims, saying only: 'We will make a statement about the prince's future role in due course.'

(MSN news)

Tawaf made easy for disabled, elderly

By MAKKAH: ARAB NEWS

At the orders of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, President of the Two Holy Mosques Affairs Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais opened the temporary mataf bridge for disabled and elderly worshippers on Thursday.

Al-Sudais said that he was opening the bridge experimentally and the operational opening would take place today.

He said the 12-meter-wide and 13-meter-high bridge can accommodate 1,700 wheelchairs in one hour.

He added that one more level will be opened later and it will be linked to the first floor of the Grand Mosque. The bridge will be used by disabled people until the completion of the expansion work, the sheikh added.

The expansion of the mataf started on Nov.15.

The expansion undertaken at the orders of King Abdullah with the aim of increasing the comfort and safety of pilgrims. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Haj and Umrah Studies prepared a study on how to implement the expansion project.

The study recommended using the available space and potential of the mataf to the maximum while maintaining the architectural features of the Grand Mosque using advanced technology.

After the completion of the mataf expansion work, its capacity will increase to 105,000 pilgrims per hour. The capacity fell to 22,000 pilgrims per hour during the expansion period from 48,000 pilgrims.

William and Kate name new royal heir George

By Costas Pitas

LONDON (Reuters) - Prince William and his wife Kate have chosen three traditional royal names by calling their new-born baby boy George Alexander Louis, William's office said on Wednesday.

The baby, born on Monday to global media frenzy and third in line to the British throne, will be known as His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge, Kensington Palace said in a statement.

All three names had been among the favourites listed by British bookmakers, and the announcement was relatively quick by royal standards; it took a month for the name of Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, to be announced, and a week for William, his eldest son.

George has been the name of six British kings. The last, George VI, was the father of The Queen and reigned from 1936 to 1952.

Alexandra, the female form of Alexander, is one of the queen's middle names, and was also the name of the queen consort of King Edward VII at the start of the last century.

Louis is one of William's middle names, and was the given name of Prince Charles's mentor and great-uncle Louis Mountbatten, who was assassinated by Irish nationalist IRA guerrillas in 1979.

The baby's arrival on Monday triggered frenetic coverage from global media who had camped for days on the doorstep of the London hospital where he was born, as well as celebratory gun salutes and the illumination of London landmarks in blue.

The choice of name, relatively short by royal standards, does not necessarily mean the baby will eventually become King George VII. The queen's father was christened Albert, but chose to be crowned as George VI.

"It's interesting that they chose to go with just three names. It's almost as if the royal family is coming down with ordinary people, who tend to have fewer middle names than monarchs," historian Suzannah Lipscomb, told Sky News.

"It is a name that none can find any problems with. George itself can't be shortened in any obvious offensive way ... They've probably gone for something that is safe."

KEEPING IT SIMPLE

Some commentators said the names appeared to have no direct connection to Kate's side of the family.

"They've kept it very simple by not trying to represent all parts of the family," royal historian Tracy Borman told Sky News.

"I think there seems to be genuine joy, warmth and good feeling about this birth and the duke and duchess are so popular. People will be nothing but pleased."

The interest stirred by the birth has given a further boost to the royal family after the public's enthusiastic celebration last year of Queen Elizabeth's 60 years on the throne, and Kate and William's lavish Westminster Abbey wedding in 2011.

The monarchy's popularity sank to a low in the 1990s after a string of divorces and the death of William's mother, Diana, after which many said the royal family's response made it appear out of touch with public sentiment.

The left-leaning Guardian newspaper described the turnaround as "an incredible recovery", although its website offered readers a 'Republican' button to block out royal stories.

Most British newspapers devoted their front pages to big pictures of Tuesday's first photocall, with headlines such as "Hello World" and "Our Little Prince".

But after weeks of fevered coverage, the couple are expected to try to keep a low profile. They spent Wednesday at Kate's parents' home in the village of Bucklebury, in southern England.

The royal couple have been living in a remote part of Wales, where William works as a rescue helicopter pilot, but are expected to move later this year to London's Kensington Palace, William's childhood home.

Royal observers say William is determined to shield his son from the obsessive attention that plagued his mother Diana, pursued relentlessly by the media and killed in a car crash in 1997 after her car was chased by photographers.

"William knows only too well that his baby son will be the new favourite creature in the circus he grew up in," wrote Daily Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson. "Every plan he and Kate have put in place is to protect him."

(The story removes superfluous word 'new' in first paragraph)

(Editing by Kevin Liffey)

Saudi urges pilgrims to delay Hajj

By JEDDAH: P.K. ABDUL GHAFOUR | Arab News

In an unprecedented move aimed at preventing congestion and stampedes and ensuring safety of the guests of God, Saudi authorities have urged domestic and foreign pilgrims to postpone their Haj plans for this year if possible due to ongoing expansion work at Makkah’s Grand Mosque.

The call follows the government’s decision to reduce the number of foreign pilgrims by 20 percent and domestic pilgrims 50 percent this year. Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh has backed the measure, saying it was taken in public interest.

In a series of announcements through the Holy Qur’an television channel, which is aired from Makkah, the government advised pilgrims intending to perform Haj and Umrah this year to postpone their plans to reduce congestion at the Grand Mosque.

“By making this announcement our government is not preventing anybody from Haj, but asking them to postpone in order to avoid congestion and help first-time Hajis to perform their religious duties without difficulties,” Saeed Al-Qurashi, a member of the Haj & Umrah Committee at Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told Arab News.

He said the mataf (the circumambulation area around the Holy Kaaba) could hold now only 39,000 faithful per hour, suggesting an influx of a large number of pilgrims could cause congestion inside the mosque.

“Once the mataf expansion is completed, it can accommodate more than 130,000 pilgrims per hour. So, it would be better for our brethren to come for Haj next year or after two years, when they will be able to perform their rituals with ease,” he explained.

Hatem Qadi, deputy Haj minister and spokesman of the ministry, emphasized the need for reducing the number of foreign and domestic pilgrims this year.

“The period for cutting the number of pilgrims will not exceed two years,” he said. The ongoing expansion work at the two holy mosques are aimed at accommodating more pilgrims in the coming years, he pointed out.

Qadi cited the grand mufti’s statement on the issue saying the government took the decision because it was essential. “The ongoing expansion is for the benefit of pilgrims,” the mufti said.

Mohammed Noor Rahman Sheikh, Indian consul for Haj, said his country would send more than 170,000 pilgrims this year. “We have been informed about the government’s plan to cut the number of foreign pilgrims by 20 percent,” he told Arab News.

Toyota is world’s most valuable car brand

Toyota reclaimed the top spot as the most valuable automotive brand in the BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands 2013 which has just been published. Toyota’s brand value increased by 12% to $24.5 billion making it one of the biggest movers in the automotive sector.

In the eight years since the BrandZ report was first published in 2006, Toyota was crowned brand value leader in the automotive sector six times, and second on two separate occasions.

According to the report, although automotive sales improved in some regions, they remained below pre-recession levels in others, adversely impacting overall brand values. In contrast, global sales for Toyota in 2012 increased by 22.6% to 9.75 million units which positively contributed towards the company’s brand valuation in this year’s report.

BrandZ also suggests that brand value developments in the sector were shaped in part by the growth of customer affinity towards hybrid vehicles.

Since Toyota pioneered the world’s first mass produced full hybrid vehicle in 1997 – Toyota Prius – sales of Toyota and Lexus hybrid models have exceeded 5 million globally. Customers can choose from the widest range of hybrid vehicles of any manufacturer including: Yaris Hybrid, Auris Hybrid, Auris Hybrid Touring Sports, Prius, Prius+, Prius Plug-in Hybrid, and Lexus CT 200h, IS 300h, GS 450h, RX 450h, LS 600h.

Lexus retains its 10th position in the Top 10 list for the most valuable automotive brands with a brand value of $3.5 billion.

AutoMiddleEast.com

Pakistani British boxer Amir Khan’s nuptials today

By Geo News

LONDON: Pakistani Briton, boxer Amir Khan, is getting hitched with his US-born fiancée, Faryal Makhdoom, in New York City today (Friday).

Extravagant nuptials will be held in Faryal’s hometown, New York, at the grand five star hotel Waldorf Astoria.

Reports have it that Khan will whisk his bride back to Bolton, England, for another wedding bash to be attended by 4,000 guests before they head on a honeymoon.

Amir, 26, says: “It’s time to settle down and hopefully it will settle me down a bit.

“We get on really well, and I know she will help me in my boxing career as well. I’m excited more than anything.”

After his points victory against Julio Diaz, Amir is back in title fight contention, but admits he won’t be looking at heading back to the boxing ring until December.

He will first enjoy his honeymoon with 20-year-old Faryal, and then observe Ramadan before getting back into training for his next bout towards the end of the year.

The couple only met last July, but have had a whirlwind romance and earlier this year held a glitzy engagement party in front of 1,000 people at the Reebok Stadium, home of Amir’s beloved Bolton Wanderers.

They’ve had a long-distance relationship so far with Faryal based in New York, but Amir has pledged his future to Bolton and aims to welcome his bride to a new life in the north west.

Also, Amir Khan has been focusing on his dancing skills ahead of his wedding.

The 26-year-old posted a picture of him and his friends, learning Bollywood dance steps to surprise his guests at the wedding.

The Bolton-born ace tweeted: "I'm now on way to my gym. The boys are practicing a dance for the mehndi and wedding. This is going 2be fun."

"Dance routine was tough but it will be good. Very tiring it was like a 2hr workout," he later added.

England confirmed as host for 2019 Cricket World Cup

By Reuters

LONDON (Reuters) - England has been confirmed as the host country for the 2019 Cricket World Cup, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Monday.

The tournament, scheduled to involve 10 teams, will be held in June at 10 different venues which will be announced later.

"The ECB is honoured to have been selected to stage one of the largest and most important global sports events which will be a wonderful boost to sport and cricket in particular throughout England and Wales," ECB chief executive David Collier said in a statement.

ICC chief executive David Richardson said the World Cup attracted a broadcast audience in excess of 1.5 billion people.

"England and Wales boasts a number of high quality cricket venues providing players, officials and spectators with excellent facilities," Richardson said.

"We look forward to working with the ECB to deliver an outstanding tournament."

England hosted the first World Cup in 1975 and also staged the tournament in 1979, 1983 and 1999.

(Reporting by Ed Osmond, editing by Justin Palmer)

Pakistan prosecutor in Bhutto case shot dead

By Al jazeera

Gunmen killed Pakistan's main government prosecutor on the Benazir Bhutto murder case in Islamabad before escaping on a motorbike, police said.

State prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali was shot in the head, shoulder and chest in the attack on Friday as he was driving to a hearing in the murder case of the former prime minister, who was assassinated in 2007.

Bullets hit the lawyer at least 13 times, and his car was left pockmarked and with a shattered windshield, police officer Arshad Ali said.

The attack happened in broad daylight in a busy street in a middle-class neighbourhood of the Pakistani capital.

His bodyguard was also wounded and a woman was killed when Zulfiqar lost control of his vehicle, police said.

Bhutto's husband, President Asif Ali Zardari, strongly condemned the prosecutor's slaying and called for a thorough investigation.

A motive for the killing was unclear, but his involvement in two particularly high-profile cases will likely be scrutinised closely.

Security requested

Zulfiqar was also leading the investigation into a case related to the 2008 terrorist attack on the Indian city of Mumbai that killed 166 people.

The attack was blamed on the Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba. Pakistan has put seven men on trial on charges they assisted in the Mumbai siege, but the trial has made little progress. 

Zulfiqar was scheduled to appear in an anti-terrorism court in the neighbouring city of Rawalpindi on Friday, according to Al Jazeera's Kamal Hyder in Islamabad. 

Our correspondent said Zulfiqar had recently requested additional security from the ministry of interior “because of the high-profile case that he was investigating.”

“However, none of that was given and only one guard was riding with him,” Hyder said. 

Musharraf house arrest

On Tuesday, ex-military ruler Pervez Musharraf was placed under a two-week house arrest over charges that he conspired to murder the former prime minister, who was at the time campaigning for election.

Musharraf denies being involved in Bhutto's killing, and his government blamed it on Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, who denied any involvement and was killed in a US drone attack in 2009.

Bhutto's son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairman of the outgoing main ruling Pakistan People's Party, has accused Musharraf of her murder.

In 2010, a UN report said Bhutto's death could have been prevented and accused Musharraf's government of failing to give her adequate protection.

Zulfiqar's colleagues described him as a highly competent prosecutor.

"He had a vast experience of handling complicated and high-profile cases and because of his competence he was assigned the Benazir Bhutto case and some other cases," said Ashraf Gujar.