MidWeek 1 - SouthAsianDaily.com

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MidWeek
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 03, 2013
Midweek Sher-E-Punjab Award given to Harbhajan Singh
1
S T O RY B E H I N D T H E
HEADLINES
IN MIDDLE EAST
Israel and Saudi
Arabia want US to
strike Syria
'HEAD OF THE SNAKE'
DETAILS ON PAGE 3 & 4
6th annual Midweek South Asian Awards curtain raiser a success
EGYPTIAN LESSONS
DISCREET DIPLOMACY
MILITANT THREAT
RAJYA SABHA GIVES THUMBS UP
TO FOOD SECURITY BILL
A
fter a 10-hour long
debate the RajyaSabha
gave its affirmation to
Food Security Bill that now awaits
presidential assent to become the
law providing subsidized food
grains to country's two third of
population. Should the bill become
law, it will benefit 1.2 billion people
by providing cheap grains in India
with government support of Rs.
1,30,000 making it world's largest
food programme.
It will cover 75 per cent of the
rural and 50 per cent of the urban
population in the country reported
Business Standard.
The opposition claimed the
bill is a remake of existing schemes
and "gimmick" with an eye on
elections reported Times of India.
The opposition called it a
"half-hearted" attempt by the
government
due
to
the
shortcomings which they claimed
would be rectified once they come
to power reported Times of India.
"It is a half-hearted move by
the government...They had made
the promise in 2009 and it took
them four and a half years to fulfil
it. This is a clear example of their
intention. Elections are around that
is why they have brought this Bill
at this time," said BJP leader
Venkaiah Naidu. "We supported
the Bill and gave certain amendments
to bring improvements in it as it
suffered from some lacunas. But the
government did not accept our
amendments. When we will win
election and come to power, we will
try to make improvements in the
Bill," he said as reported by Times
of India. While food minister K V
Thomas said the shortcomings will
!
- BY YUDHVIR JASWAL, GROUP EDITOR - YMEDIA
DETAILS ON PAGE 8
HERMINDER
BHANDAL
MURDER
(BRAMPTON)
5 ARRESTED
be rectified. "…Not saying it is 100
per cent perfect (scheme)" but it
was the "first step," he said
reported Times of India. "Nothing
is perfect," he said. The bill
guarantees 5 kilograms of rice at
Rs 3, wheat at Rs 2 and coarse
cereals at Rs 1 per person every
month reported the Times of
India.
The bill was passed in
favour of the Congress-led UPA
confirmed reports despite of
opposition parties such as
Trinamool Congress found faults
with several steps.
I WILL NOT KISS AJAY DEVGAN: KAREENA
‘
KAREENA KAPOOR KHAN (AS SHE'S OFFICIALLY
CALLED NOW) HAS NEVER BEEN ONE TO SHY AWAY.
FROM FLAUNTING A HOT BIKINI BODY IN TASHAN
TO LOCKING LIPS WITH AAMIR IN 3 IDIOTS, BEBO IS
AS BOLD AS AN ACTRESS CAN BE.
H
owever, there were rumours afloat recently that Bebo and
husband Saif would not lock lips with any of their co stars
on screen, post their marriage.
It is further learnt that Bebo allegedly refused to kiss Ajay Devgn
in Satyagraha because she has a certain respect and identity to
maintain as the daughter in law of the Pataudi family.
DETAILS ON PAGE 5
Five people are facing first-degree murder charges in connection
with the discovery of a body in a burned-out car in a central
Ontario community. Police have not released the names, nor the
details surrounding the death. The investigation continues. "Further information will be released as it becomes available."
On Sunday August 25, 2013 at approximately 6:15 am, Officers
from the Nottawasaga Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) along with members of the Essa Township
Fire Depar tment responded to a repor t of a car on fire in the area
of Scotch Line and County Road 21.
The male located in the vehicle is now considered to be a victim
of homicide and has been identified as 39-year-old Herminder
BHANDAL of Brampton, Ontario.
The joint investigation is being conducted by members of the
OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), under the direction of
Detective Inspector Colleen McCormick and the Peel Regional Police Homicide Unit.
This investigation is ongoing at this time and further information will be
released as it becomes available.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact the OPP at 705-4341939 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS). You can submit your
information online at www.crimestopperssdm.com if you have any information on this crime or any other crime. Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to
call display and you will remain anonymous. Being anonymous, you
will not testify in cour t and your information may lead to a cash
reward of up to $2,000.00
SOURCE Ontario Provincial Police
CIRCULATED THROUGH : TORONTO, MARKHAM, SCARBOROUGH, RICHMOND HILL, VAUGHAN, WOODBRIDGE, ETOBICOKE, NORTH YORK, MALTON, REXDALE, BRAMPTON, MISSISSAUGA, OAKVILLE, HAMILTON, MILTON, STONEY CREEK, BURLINGTON
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MidWeek
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
special report
MidWeek
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4
MidWeek
special report
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
MidWeek
breaking news
ASARAM BAPU OF
I don't think at this stage I need
to do that: Sachin on retirement
CONTROVERSIES
H
is brush with trouble first
started in 2008 after the
deaths of two 10-year-old
cousins, Abhishek and
Dipesh Vaghela, at his Motera
ashram in Gujarat. A charge sheet
has been filed against him in the
case.
Asaram Bapu, arrested by Rajasthan
Police on charges of sexual assault,
is not new to controversies. The
spiritual guru, who started
preaching in Gujarat in the late 1960s
and today owns 200 ashrams across
the country, has earlier been
involved in criminal cases.
Asaram, 72, is in police custody in
Jodhpur over allegations of sexual
assault levelled against him by a
minor girl.
Contd. on Page 11
Israel fires test missile in
Mediterranean Sea
A Turkish anti-aircraft
battery is seen near
Cilvegozu, Turkey on
Tuesday. Facing
roadblocks at home and
abroad, U. S. President
Barack Obama this
week plans to urge
reluctant world leaders
to back an Americanled strike against Syria.
On Tuesday, Russia
said two ballistic
missiles were fired
towards the eastern
Mediterranean.
Israel said it has carried out a
missile test in the
Mediterranean Sea.
The Defence Ministry said on
Tuesday that a single missile
was fired. It had no other
details.
Russian state-owned news
agencies earlier said Russian
radar systems had detected
two “ballistic objects” fired
from the central
Mediterranean toward the
eastern part of the sea.
The United States, which has
5
warships in the Mediterranean,
is considering strikes against
Syria for an August 21 alleged
chemical weapons attack in a
Damascus suburb.
As speculation is rife that Sachin Tendulkar may quit the game
after playing his 200th Test, the senior India batsman today said
he was in no rush to announce his retirement from international
cricket. "I don't think at this stage I need to do that," said Tendulkar
when asked about his retirement.
"Where is the rush," he fur ther added in an interview to a TV
channel. "I have this formula, don't jump forward, this is how I
have approached my career."
As BCCI arranged a home Test series against the West Indies
before the South Africa tour, it raised speculations that it has
been done to give Tendulkar a chance to reach the milestone at
home and give him a grand farewell.
In an incredible 24-year international career, Tendulkar became
the highest run getter (15837 runs at an average of 53.86) with a
record 51 centuries in world cricket.
He had announced his retirement from ODIs late last year, having played 463 games, amassing a record 18,426 runs, including 49 centuries at an average of 44.83.
One of the finest exponents of the game, Tendulkar is revered by billions of fans as "God of cricket" but the Mumbaikar said he is just a
cricketer who "make mistakes" unlike the almighty.
"Mein Bhagwan nahi hoon, I just play cricket, ooper wale ki blessings
hain, ab tak jo bhi meri life mein aaya uska shukriya. We all make
mistakes, agar mein mistakes na karta toh kabhi out hi nahi hota. I just
play my game," Tendulkar said.
Asked how he prepares ahead of a match, Tendulkar said, "I prepare a
bit before my match, in general life mental preparation is required."
Asked how he managed to hold people's trust for so long, when the
game is mired in so many controversies, Tendulkar said he has kept
his life simple.
"Since my school, we had simple celebrations, whenever I achieved
anything, Mithai was offered to God, my brother always said let people
talk about the match and you move forward. I have a balanced lifestyle,"
he said.
Tendulkar went through a tough phase when his father Ramesh suddenly passed away in 1999 when he was playing in the World Cup in
England.
But Tendulkar hardly got any time to mourn the loss as he flew back
and cracked 140 against Kenya to inspire India to a victory, just three
days later.
"I do miss my father, I lost my father in 1999, it's been long time now, so
many things have happened since then and I miss him. But I have
some wonderful moments and I cherish. There are times when I rewind, I remember him but some things can't be changed," he said.
Asked about his dream car, Tendulkar said, "When I was young
my dream car was a Maruti 800 at that time."
I WILL NOT KISS AJAY
DEVGAN: KAREENA
Contd. from Page 1
Kareena and Ajay had a few intimate scenes in Omkara but that
was before Bebo tied the knot with Saif Ali Khan. Repor tedly,
Prakash Jha wanted a kissing scene between Ajay and Kareena
in Satyagraha but Bebo refused as she's said to be very fond of
her mother in law Sharmila, and does not want to hur t her feelings in any way.
6
MidWeek
community
Public schools of New
York may observe Diwali
AMRITSAR: New York City Council has introduced a resolution
calling upon the city's depar tment of education to establish Diwali
as an official holiday for public school students, informed Rajan
Zed, US-based president of Universal Society of Hinduism.
Talking to TOI over phone from Nevada on Saturday, Rajan applauded the move. He said awareness about other religions created by such holidays would make the New York City public
school pupils well-nur tured, well-balanced, and enlightened
citizens. Zed said his organization has also issued an appeal
to all school districts across US to declare Diwali as school
holiday. He said, "Since it was impor tant for Hindu families
to celebrate Diwali together at home, we did not want our children to be deprived of any privileges at the school because of it
resulting into their being marked absent. Closing schools on
Diwali would ensure that all Hindu children celebrate the festival
with their families," he said.
ONTARIO PROVINCE WILL ALLOW
USE OF TASERS BY POLICE
Ontario Province will allow
police officers top have
access to Tasers provided
the agencies chose to
provide them, a decision
that is being welcomed by
Ottawa police reports
confirmed.
The decision was
announced by Ontario
Community Safety Minister
Madeleine Meilleur a month
after controversial death of
Sammy Yatim on a streetcar
after being shot multiple
times by a police officer.
"This is the right decision
to make and will increase
community safety by
18-year-old Sammy Yatim who died on a streetcar a few weeks
ago after being shot multiple times by a police officer as seen in
amateur videos online
Cour tesy: Facebook
preventing injury and
death," said Meilleur
reported CBC News.
"The [conductive energy
weapons], more commonly
known as tasers, have been
in use in Ottawa for several
years and are currently
issued to all front-line
supervisors on patrol and
the OPS tactical unit,"
Ottawa police Chief Charles
Bordeleau has said in in a
media release.
Before the decision made,
Ontario province had given
access to use of stun guns
to a few selected officers
reported CBC News.
CP24 reported the
announcement by Meilleur
was scheduled to be made in
June, before the death of
Yatim however it was
postponed.
Police services in the province
will be responsible to pay for
Tasers and will make the
ultimate decision as to which
officers to receive them.
Cost of a new Taser is about
$1500 reported CP24.
Canadian Civil Liberties
Association showed
skepticism to the
announcement reported CBC
News. CCLA believes
expanding use of Tasers
isn't the way to go, the
police should instead be
trained on techniques to
better deal with emotionally
disturbed people.
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
NDP LEADER TOM MULCAIR
BLASTS CONSERVATIVE
SARI AND SPICE TAX
The Conservatives' tax hikes on saris and spices hur t South
Asian small businesses and consumers
BRAMPTON - The NDP is calling on Stephen Harper to explain
his plan to increase tariffs on thousands of impor ts from India,
including a tax on saris and essential cooking spices.
Speaking to a roundtable in Brampton, Tom Mulcair said the
NDP opposes the Conservative hikes on impor t taxes affecting
saris and spices, citing his concern that it would hur t consumers and South Asian businesses, including clothing retailers,
grocers, and restaurants.
"Stephen Harper has his priorities all wrong. With more than
$90 million being wasted on the scandal-plagued Senate every
year, the Conservatives are busy waging war on butter chicken,"
said Mr. Mulcair.
While wasting tens of millions on an unelected, unaccountable
and under-investigation Senate, the Conservatives increased
tariffs on goods from India and 71 other countries. The increases
will cost Canadian impor ters and consumers $330 million annually. The tariffs on impor ts from India will include a 6% tax on
saris and 3% on ground spices including tumeric, fennel, coriander and many others that are an essential par t of South Asian
cuisine.
"South Asians living in Canada, whether they own small businesses or plan to eat a home cooked meal, will feel the direct
effects of Harper's unfair tax hikes on saris and spices. It is
simply unacceptable," said Mr. Mulcair.
After speaking at a local restaurant, Mulcair toured the kitchen facilities where the manager and executive chef highlighted the importance
of the taxed spices to South Asian cuisine and the impact that it will
have on small business owners and consumers.
INDIANS HAVE 30%
WEAKER LUNGS THAN
EUROPEANS: STUDY
NEW DELHI: In another proof that worsening air quality in
Indian cities is affecting people's health, a study has
found that Indians have 30% lower lung function as
compared to Europeans. Things could get worse if
immediate steps are not taken to curb vehicular emission, doctors warned.
The study was conducted on 10,000 healthy, non-smoking
individuals in Jaipur, Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata and
Kashmir. "We measured the Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (
PEFR), the rate at which a person exhales, to assess lung
function. Nor th Indians fared slightly better than South
Indians but overall the results were appalling - we found
that lung function in Indians was 30% lower than Europeans," said Dr Sundeep Salvi, director of Pune-based
Chest Research Foundation, who led the study.
Similar results were seen in an international study on
lung function in 17 countries, including India, by Canadian
researchers. Indians were found to have the worst lungs
in the study which measured the volume of air exhaled
one second after a forceful exhalation. The test is called
forced expiratory volume (FEV).
Salvi said the main reason for worsening lung health of
India was air pollution. "The number of motor vehicles, a
major contributor to air pollution, in India has gone up
from 37.2 million in 1997 to 100 million in 2012. In 1951,
there were just 0.3 million motor vehicles," he said.
"Even cars and buses running on CNG, which is touted as
a green fuel, release ultra fine par ticles (less than 10
microns in diameter). These can enter directly into the
lungs and other organs and probably causes more harm,"
Salvi said.
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
MidWeek
community
INDIAN WOMAN FLEES WITH MILLIONS
A
n Indian woman fled with
USD 10 million in Oman
after giving a blow to
investors confirmed reports.
The woman showed phony
documents
and
claimed
investments in various projects
the Times of Oman reported.
"She lured us into the trap. She
even produced forged papers
claiming she was responsible for
executing many projects. She
wanted money and offered us
interest. Trusting her, we gave
her money after taking
cheques," said an investor, who
has lost 350,000 rials.
"She used to pay us interest in
the beginning but after a few
months she defaulted on
payments. When we tried to
enquire about her antecedents,
she had already vanished," he
said.
Times of Oman reported that
according to alleged victims the
woman is "enjoying her life" in
Mangalore, in the southern part
of India.
"She used to visit the church
and school meetings regularly
to widen her network. By
visiting these places regularly,
she gained our confidence. We
never thought that she will run
away with our hard earned
money," the investor's wife
said.
"In one case, the court has
given a verdict in our favour.
We are now planning to file
more cases. We want the
authorities to nab her, retrieve
our money and send her
behind the bars," the investor
added.
Another investor who lost
78,000 rials is looking into
seeking help of Interpol through
the local police reported Times
of Oman. "We have moved the
court. We are planning to file
more cases.We are also talking
with our lawyers for options to
seeking Interpol's help as she
has left Oman."
"She was taking money from
anyone willing to invest.
Whether the amount was big or
small did not bother her. After
the details of the fraud emerged,
we realised that she had plans to
run away after cheating us," the
victims added.
Indiaspora: White House fellowship
is a magnet for Indian-origin doctors
WASHINGTON: Do you know how the
Indian Prime Minister's Office or Rashtrapati
Bhavan works? Chances are if you are an
ordinary Indian who doesn't belong to the
elite services or have a family connection,
you wouldn't get within sniffing distance
of these high places, particularly if you are
young.
In 1964, the then US president Lyndon
Johnson created the White House fellows
program, aimed at giving exceptional young
American men and women first-hand
experience working at the highest levels of
the federal government. Selected
individuals typically spend a year working
as a full-time, paid Fellow to senior White
House staff â•” including the engaging the
president himself â•” cabinet secretaries
and other top-ranking government officials.
BRAMPTON TRANSIT
LAUNCHES NEW
SEPTEMBER SERVICES
Effective September 3, Brampton Transit will introduce its
September service improvements, which include extending
many routes plus introducing a new route in the Financial
Drive area.
"Throughout the year, we are continuously reviewing our
service to ensure we are meeting riders' needs," says Sue
Connor, Acting Commissioner of Works and Transpor tation.
"The changes and improvements we make to existing routes
are to better serve our riders and ensure our service is
working efficiently."
This September, riders will find these notable changes and
additions:
"
501 ZUM and 502 ZÜM Main Street will have
additional weekday peak-period and mid-day trips
"
11 Steeles - weekday afternoon and evening frequency increased to every 8 minutes
"
35 Clarkway - route extended to Airpor t Road via the
new Gore Meadows Community Centre and Library, plus
weekday mid-day and Saturday service added
"
56 Springbrook - extended to downtown via Queen
Street, plus weekday mid-day service added
"
58 Financial - new route to service growth areas and
provide connections into nor thwest Mississauga
Additional mid-day, peak and early evening trips provided on
a number of ar terial routes
For a complete route-by-route list of improvements, visit
www.bramptontransit.com or pick up a Read & Ride brochure
at any Brampton Transit terminal.
Beginning the week of August 26, Brampton Transit staff will
be onsite at key terminals to assist riders.
ONTARIO BASED ARTIST
PRITACHHABRA
RELEASED "AAJA"
Ford and Wynne join the pot club
Ontario Premier Kathleen
Wynne and Toronto Mayor
Rob Ford admitted to have
smoked marijuana after
questions were asked by
reporters last week.
The ongoing marijuana
controversy in the country was
started by Liberal Leader Justin
Trudeau when he spoke about
legalising marijuana and also
admitted to have smoked it in
the past.
Wynne agreed to have
smoking pot several years ago,
"very, very infrequently and
certainly not since my children
were born. And my eldest is 33,
so I'm thinking 35 years (ago),"
she told reporters.
Ford smiled when the question
popped up and said, "I've
smoked a lot of it." He did not
answer as to when was the last
time he had smoked reported
the Star.
Trudeau had admitted to have
views on legalising the drug as
Trudeau has proposed in the
past weeks, to which her reply
was she welcomes the debate.
Ontario PC Party leader Tim
Hudak and NDP party leader
Andrea Horwath have already
admitted smoking marijuana in
2011 reported the Star.
Ford's use of the drug has
already been known when he
was arrested in Florida while
driving with a joint reported the
Star. The charges were dropped
and he was convicted of drunk
driving.
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne admits to smoking marijuana
Cour tesy: Facebook
had a "puff" at a dinner party
three years ago when he was
an MP confirmed reports.
Wynne was asked about her
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CONTACT:
5 Melanie Drive, Brampton, ON, L6T 4K8
Call Raj or Jas Aujla
905 - 781 - 1213
416 - 271 - 4143
email: [email protected]
CanadianIndian gets Ejaz
Husain Award
ALLAHABAD: The Ejaz Husain
Award for 2012 was granted
to c, a Canadian national of
Indian origin by the literary
organization Karawan at a
special programme held in
the city. The function was
presided over by former IAS
officer and vice chancellor of
Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti
University Anis Ansari.
Ansari handed over the memento, cer tificate and a
shawl to Abedi. Abedi is a
medical practitioner by profession and has published,
written or compiled 37 books
so far. Prof S M Aqeel Rizvi,
Prof Jafar Raza, Prof
Naushaba Sardar (HOD Urdu
Deptt), Prof A A Fatmi, and
Prof Shabeena Rizvi also
spoke on the occasion.
Hasan Naqvi welcomed the
guests while Sibtey Rizvi
proposed the vote of thanks.
7
PritaChhabra is out with the release of her new single/
video "Aaja (Come To My Hear t)" with YouTube and
ITunes.
Chhabra is the winner of "Best World Music" at the
2012 Toronto Independent Music Awards and the first
South Asian Recording Ar tist to per form the American
and Bilingual Canadian anthems for the NHL and NBA.
Her recent per formances include one in Ottawa
alongside of Imran Khan at SouthAsianFest and
another at Montreal's India Day Parade last month.She
was also par t of Bollywood Monster Mashup on
August 24 in Mississauga and Destinaton Haiti in
Downtown, Toronto.
She has been singing and writing music since childhood but got her star t in the enter tainment industry
through her first job as a character per former at
Disney World. She also sang at several Disney
concer ts, and wrote the orchestra score for her
Cypress Creek high school's graduation. She has
per formed across Central Florida as par t of its popular
Intone accapella vocal orchestra.
She has toured steadily across Nor th America since
the release of her debut CD "Spread The Word" in
2010, which was produced by JUNO Nominated
Othentic Productions. Her music has received airplay
on several top 40 radio stations in Quebec, and she's
been featured at shows alongside #1 Billboard ar tist
Jay Sean, Russell Peters and Grammy nominee Eric
Roberson to name a few.
She has received top billing at numerous South Asian
festivals in Canada (Ottawa, Calgary) and the U.S. as
well as some Nor th America's biggest mainstream
festivals, ranging from PRIDE in Toronto to the Florida
Music Festival in Orlando. She has also per formed at
several of the IIFA 2011 festivities, and spoke alongside Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti at Markham's
IIFA press conference.
MidWeek
8
opinion
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
STORY BEHIND THE HEADLINES IN MIDDLE EAST
ISRAEL AND SAUDI ARABIA WANT US TO STRIKE SYRIA
I
f President Barack Obama has
disappointed Syrian rebels by
deferring to Congress before
bombing Damascus, he has
also dismayed the United States'
two main allies in the Middle East.
Israel and Saudi Arabia have
little love for each other but both
are pressing their mutual friend in
the White House to hit President
Bashar al-Assad hard. And both
do so with one eye fixed firmly not
on Syria but on their common
adversary - Iran. Israel's response
to Obama's surprise move to delay
or even possibly cancel air strikes
made clear that connection:
looking soft on Assad after
accusing him of killing hundreds
of people with chemical weapons
may embolden his backers in
Tehran to develop nuclear arms,
Israeli officials said. And if they
do, Israel may strike Iran alone,
unsure Washington can be
trusted. Neither US ally is picking
a fight with Obama in public. Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu said on Sunday that
the nation was "serene and selfconfident"; Saudi foreign minister
Prince Saud al-Faisal simply
renewed a call to the "international
community" to halt Assad's
violence in Syria.
But the Saudi monarchy,
though lacking Israel's readiness
to attack Iran, can share the
Jewish state's concern that neither
may now look with confidence to
Washington to curb what Riyadh
sees as a drive by its Persian rival
to dominate the Arab world.
Last year, Obama assured Israelis
that he would "always have
Israel's back". Now Netanyahu is
reassuring them they can manage
without uncertain US protection
against Iran, which has called for
Israel's destruction but denies
developing nuclear weapons.
"Israel's citizens know well that we
are prepared for any possible
scenario," the hawkish prime
minister said. "And Israel's citizens
should also know that our enemies
have very good reasons not to
test our power and not to test our
might."
That may not reassure a US
administration which has tried to
steer Netanyahu away from
unilateral action against Iran that
could stir yet more chaos in the
already explosive Middle East.
Israel's state-run Army Radio was
more explicit: "If Obama is
hesitating on the matter of Syria,"
it said, "Then clearly on the
question of attacking Iran, a move
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that is expected to be far more
complicated, Obama will hesitate
much more - and thus the chances
Israel will have to act alone have
increased."
Israelis contrast the "red line"
Netanyahu has set for how close
Iran may come to nuclear weapons
capability before Israel strikes with
Obama's "red line" on Assad's use
of chemical weapons - seemingly
passed without US military action
so far.
'Head of the snake'
Saudi Arabia, like Israel heavily
dependent on the United States
for arms supplies, is engaged in a
historic confrontation with Iran for
regional influence - a contest
shaped by their leading roles in
the rival Sunni and Shia branches
of Islam.
Riyadh is a prime backer of Sunni
rebels fighting Assad, whose
Alawite minority is a Shia
offshoot. It sees toppling Assad
as checking Iran's ambition not
just in Syria but in other Arab states
including the Gulf, where it
mistrusts Shias in Saudi Arabia
itself and in neighbouring Bahrain,
Yemen and Iraq.
Saudi King Abdullah's wish for US
action against Iran was memorably
contained in leaked US diplomatic
cables, including one in which a
Saudi envoy said the monarch
wanted Washington to "cut off the
head of the snake" to end Tehran's
nuclear threat.
Disappointment with Obama's
hesitation against Assad came
through on Sunday in the Saudi
foreign minister's remarks to the
Arab League in Cairo, where he
said words were no longer enough.
Riyadh and its allies in the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) risk
ending up empty-handed in their
latest push for US backing in their
campaign to rein in Iran, said Sami
al-Faraj, a Kuwaiti analyst who
advises the GCC on security
matters:
"The idea of a punishment for a
crime has lost its flavour. We are
on the edge of the possibility that
military action may not be
conducted," he said. "Congress,
for sure ... will attach conditions
to what is already going to be a
limited strike. At the end, we as
Gulf allies, may end up with
nothing."
Israel does not share the Saudi
enthusiasm for the Syrian rebel
cause, despite its concern about
Assad's role as a link between Iran
and Lebanese and Palestinian
enemies. The presence in rebel
ranks of Sunni Islamist militants,
some linked to al-Qaida, worries
the Jewish state - though Riyadh,
too, is keen to curb al-Qaida, which
calls the royal family American
stooges.
Saudi and Israeli support for US
air strikes in response to Assad's
alleged use of poison gas scarcely
stands out less amid a global
clamour of reproach for Damascus.
However, the recent Egyptian
crisis saw them more distinctly
making common cause in lobbying
Washington - since their
preference for Egypt's army over
elected Islamists was at odds with
much of world opinion.
That, too, reflects shared anxieties
about the strength of Islamic
populism and about Iran, which
found a more sympathetic ear in
Cairo after the election of President
Mohamed Mursi.
Israeli political commentators used
terms such as "betrayal" and
"bullet in the back from Uncle Sam"
when Obama abandoned loyal ally
Hosni Mubarak during the popular
uprising of 2011.
While some western leaders
voiced unease at the army's
overthrow of Mursi in July and
bloody crackdown on his Muslim
Brotherhood, in Israel even
Obama's mild rebuke to the
generals - delaying delivery of four
warplanes to Egypt - caused
"raised eyebrows" of disapproval,
an official there said.
A "gag order" from Netanyahu
kept that quiet, however, as Israel's
military
kept
open
the
communications with Egypt's
armed forces, not least over
militant attacks near their desert
border, in a manner that has been
the bedrock of the US-brokered
peace treaty binding Israel and
Egypt since 1979.
Unusually, it was Saudi Arabia
which was the more vocally critical
of Washington's allies over its
Egypt policy.
As US lawmakers toyed with
holding back aid to the new
military-backed government,
Riyadh and its Gulf allies poured
in many more billions in aid and
loans to Cairo.
And
Saudi Arabia
told
Washington defiantly that it would
make up any shortfall if the United
States dared to turn off the taps:
"To those who have declared they
are stopping aid to Egypt or are
waving such a threat, the Arab and
Muslim nations ... will not shy
away from offering a helping hand
to Egypt," foreign minister Prince
Saud said last month.
Discreet diplomacy
More quietly, Israel has been
engaged in direct discussions with
the White House, urging Obama
not to waver in support of Egypt's
military and saying it is time to act
on Syria.
An official briefed on US-Israeli
discussions said Israeli intercepts
of Syrian communications were
used by Obama administration
officials in making their public case
that Assad was behind the Aug.
21 gas attacks and must be
penalised.
Netanyahu, whose frosty rapport
with Obama blossomed into a
display of harmony on the
president's visit to Israel in March,
has ordered his ministers not to
criticise Obama publicly after the
president's decision to take the
Syrian issue to Congress.
A government source said the
prime minister told his cabinet on
Sunday: "We are in the middle of
an ongoing event. It is not over
and there are sensitive and
delicate issues at play.
"There is no room here for
individual comments," he said. "I'm
asking you not to behave
irresponsibly when it comes to our
ally, just so you can grab a fleeting
headline."
That did stop Tzachi Hanegbi, a
Netanyahu confidant who sits on
parliament's defence committee,
complaining on "Army Radio" that
Obama had delivered further proof
to Iran - and North Korea - that
"there is no enthusiasm in the
world to deal with their ongoing
defiance regarding nuclear
weaponry".
"To us it says one thing: ... in the
words of our sages: 'If I am not for
myself, then who is?'"
Israel clearly hopes still that
Congress will give Obama the
green light for strikes against
Assad but is also likely to be wary
of deploying its own lobbying
power among lawmakers.
That risks being counterproductive and, in any case, the
president has made clear that
threats to Israel from Syrian
chemical weapons are among his
own arguments for war.
Concern in Washington over a goit-alone Israeli strike on Iran are
still strong; Israel is unlikely to use
the nuclear warheads it is
assumed to possess but any strike
on its distant and populous enemy
would have unpredictable
consequences.
As a result, US leaders have
beaten a path to Jerusalem Obama himself in March but also
Secretary of State John Kerry
several times, relaunching talks
with the Palestinians in the
process, and General Martin
Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint
Chiefs of Staff, who made his third
visit to Israel last month.
Gadi Shamni, an Israeli military
attache in the United States until
last year, said that on the Iranian
issue, "there were times when we
were in the same book, then the
same chapter.
"Right now we are on the same
page. There is a lot of flow of
intelligence and views and
understanding."
Militant threat
For all the unease that Israel has
about Syria's rebels, who have at
times fired into the Israelioccupied Golan Heights, it is
pushing hard against Assad now
after learning to live with the Syrian
leader and his father over the past
40 years. One Israeli official said
the message from Netanyahu was
clear:
"There is a man in nominal control
of Syria who is using chemical
weapons against civilians. That
has to be stopped."
That sentiment is echoed in
Riyadh. Abdullah al-Askar,
chairman of the foreign affairs
committee in the Shoura Council,
said that US strikes should aim to
end Assad's rule.
Askar, who said he was speaking
in a personal capacity, told
Reuters: "If the attack is just a
punishment to show that the
international community will not
stand for chemical attacks, Assad
will just remain in his place and do
his bloody work.
"The second scenario is to finish
the business."
Mustafa Alani, a Gulf analyst with
good connections to Saudi
officials, said the kingdom was
also warning Washington that a
failure to attack Assad would
benefit their common enemy alQaida: "No action will boost the
extremist position," he said,
explaining that rebel despair at US
inaction on Syria would push more
fighters to switch allegiance to
Islamist militants. Paraphrasing
what he said was a Saudi
argument, Alani said: "Without a
punishment of the regime,
extremists will enjoy wider support
and attract more moderate
fighters."
Riyadh already shares rebel
frustrations with the shortage of
US military aid reaching Syria,
despite Obama's commitment in
June to step up assistance after
poison gas was first used.
A senior US official spoke of a
"stable relationship" with Riyadh
"on core national security areas".
But the official also conceded:
"While we do not agree on every
issue, when we have different
perspectives we have honest and
open discussions."
As with Israel over Iran, those are
likely to continue.
Robert Jordan, US ambassador to
Riyadh in 2001-03, said
intelligence chief Prince Bandar
bin Sultan and ambassador to
Washington Adel Jubeir had been
"very outspoken" in their belief
the rebels that can be trusted and
should get military backing.
Obama denies seeking the "regime
change" Riyadh wants. But Jordan
added: "It doesn't mean they won't
keep pushing for it."
MidWeek
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
canada
NDP TO
CONSERVATIVES:
BRING DEBATE ON
SYRIA TO
PARLIAMENT IP10
CANADA TO SUPPORT U.S. AND
ALLIES AGAINST SYRIA
MANY DIED INCLUDING WOMEN AND CHILDREN DURING A CHEMICAL ATTACK WHICH HAS LED U.S. TO TAKE FURTHER
STEPS AGAINST ASSAD REGIME
Cour tesy: 757Live/Flickr Commons
F
oreign Affairs Minister
John Baird issued the
following statement after
U.S. Secretary of State John
Kerry spoke of suffering that
Syria's people went through due
to the use of chemical attacks.
Baird confirmed Canada's
position that does not include
any military action but will show
"support" against attacks by
Syria to its own people. "Earlier
today, U.S. Secretary of State
John Kerry publicly outlined
details of how they concluded
that the Assad regime flagrantly
used chemical weapons against
its own people, causing widescale death and devastation in
the suburbs of Damascus on
August 21, 2013," Baird said.
"Along
with
its
international partners and allies,
Canada has condemned this
despicable and abhorrent act.
"As Prime Minister Harper
said earlier this week, Canada
believes that a firm and
unequivocal response is needed
to deter any future use of
chemical weapons. We also
believe that a clear message on the
proliferation and use of such
weapons must be sent to rogue
regimes around the world.
"Although
the
Prime
Minister made very clear
yesterday that the Government of
Canada has no plans at this time
for a Canadian military mission, we
fully support our friends and allies
in responding to the Assad
regime's horrific attack on its own
people.
"The Obama administration
has shown great resolve and
proper due diligence in the past
week, and we fully support its
efforts going forward.
"Prime Minister Harper and I
will continue to keep in close
contact with Canada's allies and
partners in the days and weeks
ahead."
Prime Minister Stephen
Harper had taken a similar position
last week where he said talks had
continued with Barrack Obama,
U.K. Prime Minister David
Cameron and French President
FracoisHollande.
"Our government has been a
very reluctant convert to the idea
that there needs to be some
Western military action regarding
the Syrian situation. We have
Caption: Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird during his recent visit to Latin America
Cour tesy: DFATD|MAECD/Flickr Commons
been, and remain concerned when
we look at this conflict that it is
overwhelmingly sectarian in
nature and does not have at
present any ideal or obvious
outcomes. With that all said, in
talking to our allies, we are
convinced that notwithstanding
our reluctance, that the risks of the
international community not
acting in the face of what appears
to be an escalation and likely
further escalation without action
in the use of chemical weapons as
a weapon of warfare is an
extremely dangerous precedent.
This is a very big risk and we do
believe, and we do support, our allies
who are contemplating forceful
action to deal with this," said Harper
as seen on the National Post.
Mulcair in B.C. for Senate abolition tour
FAILED CANDIDATES
SITTING IN CANADA'S
SENATE DISRESPECTFUL
TO VOTERS
PORT MOODY - In the backyard
of failed Conservative candidate
turned unelected Senate appointment Yonah Martin, NDP leader
Tom Mulcair said that having failed
candidates appointed to the Senate
is undemocratic.
"Appointing failed candidates like
Yonah Martin to the Senate is a slap
in the face to Canadian voters.
These are candidates rejected by
the people - and yet Stephen Harper
decided to override the wishes of
Canadians and appoint them to the
Senate anyway," said Mr. Mulcair.
"Instead of stacking the Senate with
failed candidates and party insiders, the NDP would abolish it - and
save Canadian taxpayers $90 million a year."
One of ten failed Conservative candidates rewarded with Senate appointments by Stephen Harper, Ms.
Mar tin will cost taxpayers more
than $6 million if she serves her
full term. Ms. Mar tin also broke
election rules when she exceeded
her spending limit by around
$8,000 during the 2008 General
Election, eventually being forced
to sign a compliance agreement
with Elections Canada. Despite
this, she was still appointed to
the Senate.
NDP leader Tom Mulcair is travelling across the country this
week on his Roll Up The Red Carpet tour - shining a light on the
unaccountable, unelected and
under investigation Senate. In
contrast, Stephen Harper's Conservatives are running away from
accountability and refusing to
answer for their role in the senate expense scandal. Canadians
deserve better.
9
MOSQUE IN QUEBEC
ALLEGEDLY SPLASHED
WITH PIG'S BLOOD
A mosque in Saguenay region in Quebec is believed to be splattered with pig's blood in an act of vandalism over the weekend
confirmed repor ts.
Saguenay Mayor Jean Tremblay called it an "isolated and stupid" act at a place of worship and was shocked by the incident
he said when contacted by The Canadian Press.
"That's not the mentality people in the region have… All it takes
is one or two stupid people for something like this to happen,"
he said in an interview.
"This isn't the way to show we have an open mind," he said.
A letter sent to Radio-Canada in Saguenay region said "This
mosque has been baptized with fresh pig's blood from Quebec,"
confirmed repor ts.
The copy of the letter was left at the mosque had "assimilate or
go home" written on it repor ted CBC News.
Mosque in-charge personnel MoustafaElayouby said the act
"doesn't even deserve a response" repor ted CBC News.
The incident is evidence of the political climate of the region.
Just a few weeks ago, PQ announced its plan to ban religious
headgear for public sector workers.
"Clearly the government of Quebec is intending to deny a segment of Quebecers their human right of their expression of religion, either by their dress or their expression of values," said
SamerMajzoub, president of the Canadian Muslim Forum during CBC's an interview with Daybreak Montreal. "This comes as
no surprise to us and we are even expecting the worst."
"With the discussion we will have all over in Quebec in the next
months, maybe you will see many things like that. It can be
dangerous," said Tremblay repor ted CBC News.
A Muslim youth conference
that was to be held in
Montreal was cancelled due
to security reasons
Repor ts confir med the conference drew criticism by
Par tiQuébécois and was cancelled byPalais des congress, the
conference centre where the conference was scheduled to be
held.
The decision by the conference centre came after a "security
review" repor ted CBC News.
The move comes a few days after the Québécois government
confirmed it had plans to not let public workers wear any religious symbols such as crosses, turbans and niqabs.
The Entre Cielet Terre conference - which means "Between
Heaven and Ear th" in French had faced criticism from Quebec's
minister of status of women AgnèsMaltais
Maltaishad asked the Canadian government to not allow some
invited guests to enter the country calling them "radical Islamists," repor ted CBC News.
The conference organisers in their defence said they were only
made aware of the controversial statements made by their
guests through the media repor ted CBC News.
Conference spokesman IshaqMoustaqin said the group cannot
control what was said outside of Canada.
"We can't control what people can say. We assure the public
that none of those messages will be allowed at our conference," said Moustaqin repor ted CBC News. Salam Elmanayi,
the president of the Muslim Council of Montreal said the minister had no right asking the Canadian government to ban those
members coming into Canada. "We don't let a civil servant
somewhere sitting at his desk decide, who you're going to say,
what you're going to say tomorrow and when you're going to
say it," said Elmanayi. "Everybody has the right to come and
say whatever they want to say," repor ted CBC News.
10
MidWeek
canada
NDP TO CONSERVATIVES: BRING
DEBATE ON SYRIA TO PARLIAMENT
W
ith the Prime Minister now musing about Canada
participating in military action in Syria, NDP leader Tom
Mulcair is demanding the House of Commons be
immediately recalled.
"Canadians, and people around the world, are watching events
in Syria with great concern and condemning these brutal
attacks on civilians," said the Leader of the Official
Opposition. "Engaging in military action is one of the most
serious decisions one can be faced with. Prime Minister Harper
should be bringing this debate to parliament, not discussing
it with himself at a press conference."
New Democrats have been arguing that parliament should be
recalled immediately to debate the best role Canada can play
in helping resolve the crisis in Syria.
"In the meantime, Canada should focus on diplomatic work
and providing humanitarian relief for the hundreds of
thousands of refugees trying to flee the violence," said the NDP's
Foreign Affairs critic Paul Dewar. "And we must work with our
partners in the United Nations on a multilateral basis. The only way
a lasting solution will be found to this crisis is through diplomacy."
CAW AND CEP JOIN FORCES
TO FORM UNIFOR
Former members of the Canadian Auto Workers union and the
Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, voted
to join together to form Canada's largest private sector union called
Unifor union.
The first president of Unifor is Jerry Dias, a veteran of the
Canadian Auto Workers.
"Unifor is here because it's time to stop playing defence and it's
time we started to play offence," said Dias in his inaugural speech.
"It's time to stop reacting and it's time to start setting the
agenda."
Unifor has more than 300,000 members, working 20 economic
sectors in every province and territory of the country.
Dias wishes to be the voice labour relations with the federal
government reported CTV News.
"The Conservative government has decided to challenge our
democratic right to organize and collect dues. They are singling out
unions. They're attacking our finances. They're attacking our ability
to represent our members," he said.
Dias is from Burlington, Ont. and won the election by an 87 per
cent vote.
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
Government of Canada
releases draft RFP for
Fixed-Wing Search and
Rescue Aircraft
Replacement Project
Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, announced that the project to replace Canada's fixedwing search and rescue aircraft has moved forward with a
draft Request for Proposals (RFP). The draft is being shared
with industry for final comments before the RFP phase is
launched in early 2014.
"We are committed to ensuring that this procurement proceeds in an open, fair and transparent way, giving best value
to Canadian taxpayers and providing the Royal Canadian Air
Force with the capability that it needs," said Minister Finley.
"We will continue to engage industry and rely on the advice of
independent third-par ty advisors throughout this process."
"Search and rescue operations are fundamental to the core
mandate of the Canadian Armed Forces to deliver excellence
at home," said the Honourable Rob Nicholson, Minister of
National Defence. "By working to fulfil our commitment to
acquire this new fleet, we will suppor t the Royal Canadian Air
Force in its vital search and rescue role for decades to come."
The principles of Smar t Procurement have been applied
throughout this procurement, including good governance, early
engagement and consultation with industry, and the use of
third-par ty independent advisors, such as the fairness monitor appointed to oversee the integrity of the process.
Since August 2011, industry representatives have provided
feedback on a number of Letters of Interests, and during oneon-one consultations and workshops, ranging from the Basis
of Payment concept, to the role of the Canadian In-service
Suppor t Integrator, to the aircraft requirements. The feedback
received provided useful information in order to assist the
Government in improving project documentation prior to
launching the actual procurement.
Following analysis of comments received from industry on
the draft, the final RFP will be posted on the Government Electronic Tendering Service in early 2014.
Labour Day is a reminder of
the achievements: Trudeau
President of Unifor, Jerry Dias
Cour tesy: Unifor/Flickr Commons
The union will also be a representation for some public sector
workers in health, education and transit sector reported CTV News.
The new Unifor Constitution was adopted by a 95.5 per cent
majority.
The Leader of the Liberal Par ty of Canada, Justin Trudeau,
made the following statement on the occasion of Labour Day:
"Today, Canadians across the country are celebrating Labour
Day. This long weekend is an oppor tunity to gather with family and friends in parks and at backyard barbecues as we near
the end of summer. Most importantly, Labour Day serves as a
reminder of the achievements - in the face of great adversity of the labour movement here in Canada. For well over a century now, we have marked this occasion as an oppor tunity to
recognise organised labour's historic struggle for workers'
rights, safety and fair pay. As we celebrate the tremendous
contribution of workers in our country, I would like to wish all
Canadians a very happy Labour Day."
MidWeek
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
india
OPPOSITION SLAMS
GOVT. FOR FUEL
PRICE HIKE
ASARAM BAPU OF CONTROVERSIES
Contd. from Page 5
His brush with trouble first
started in 2008 after the
deaths of two 10-year-old
cousins, Abhishek and
Dipesh Vaghela, at his
Motera ashram in Gujarat. A
charge sheet has been filed
against him in the case.
Since 2008 he has remained
in news for all the wrong
reasons, be it criminal cases
filed against him,
encroachment by his
ashrams or his remarks on
the Delhi gang rape.
According to a website
titled "Sant Shri Asharamji
Ashram official website",
the spiritual guru was born
as Asumal on April 14, 1941
and he migrated with his
family from Sindh in
Pakistan to Mani Nagar near
Ahmedabad in Gujarat
during the partition of the
country in 1947.
The fourth child of Thaumal
and Mehgiba Sirumalani,
Asaram is known to have
been inclined to fulfil his
quest on the existence of
life and the mystery behind
it, after his father's demise,
the website said.
Seeing his inclination away
from worldly affairs, Asaram
was forcibly married to
Lakshmi Devi, though he
had tried to run away
eight days before his
marriage, it said.
He left his family in 1968
and went to Uttar
Pradesh's Vrindavan, the
land of Lord Krishna.
After staying in the
ashram for 70 days and
meditating in the caves of
Mount Abu in Rajasthan,
he returned to Ahmedabad
and started preaching. He
also built an ashram on
the banks of the
Sabarmati, the website
said.
He has a son Narayan
Prem Sai who is also a
spiritual leader.
The 2008 death of two
boys at his Motera
ashram in Gujarat raised a
stink.
The decomposed bodies
of the boys were found on
a dried-up river bed near
the ashram, police said.
In September 2012, the
Gujarat Criminal
Investigation Department
filed a chargesheet
against seven officebearers at Asaram's
ashram in connection with
the mysterious death of
the two boys.
In December 2009, a
former ashram trustee,
Raju Chandak, registered
a complaint with the
police alleging that
Asaram and two other
people tried to kill him in
Ahmedabad.
The following year in
March, the Gujarat
government authorities
reclaimed 67,099 square
metres of land which was
allegedly encroached upon
by Asaram's ashram in
Ahmedabad.
In August 2012, Bapu is
known to have survived a
helicopter crash at Godhra,
when he was on his way to
deliver a lecture in a college.
However, the most
controversial of his statements
was the one related to the Delhi
gang rape.
Asaram Bapu said the victim of
the Dec 16, 2012 gang rape in
Delhi was also to be blamed for
the incident and that she
should have begged the
culprits to stop by calling them
brother. He later claimed that
his statement was misread.
In February, a 24-year-old man,
Rahul Pachouri, died under
mysterious circumstances in
Asaram Bapu's Jabalpur
ashram. Pachouri's father
alleged that his son was
poisoned.
Though surrounded by
controversy, the spiritual leader
enjoys the support of a large
number of people who have
been relentlessly protesting his
arrest in the recent sexual
assault case filed against him
Aug 20.
Opposition slams govt. for fuel price hike
Government on Monday came under sharp attack from Opposition
par ties in Rajya Sabha over fuel price hike with CPI(M), CPI and
Trinamool members staging walk-out from the House which saw a
brief adjournment due to uproar.
Members including those from BJP attacked the government over the
issue saying making the announcement outside the House amounted
to bypassing Parliament when it was in session.
They also ridiculed Petroleum Minister M. Veerappa Moily over his
proposal to shut down petrol pumps during night to taper the fuel
demand.
Accusing the government of declaring a war on common man and
increasing the miseries of people, the par ties demanded roll-back of
the decision.
Mr. Moily has already clarified that the government has not made any
such proposal and the idea of closing down petrol pumps for night
hours had come from public.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Prashanta Chatterjee (CPI(M))
said it was unfor tunate that petrol and diesel price hike was announced outside Parliament and demanded a rollback of the decision.
“This is the sixth increase in the price of petrol in last three months.
Price of diesel is being increased 50 paisa per month. Unable to
check fall in value of rupee, UPA government is resor ting to hikes.
11
Government is responsible for increasing the miseries of people,” he
said. Noting that pricing of petrol was decontrolled by UPA government and “on diesel, they have taken a principle decision”, Mr.
Chatterjee demanded that the government should scrap it immediately. M. Venkaiah Naidu (BJP) rued that the government’s “totally
anti-people” decision came without taking Parliament into confidence.
Derek O’Brien (Trinamool Congress) said the government has declared a war on common man and ridiculed Mr. Moily for his “illconceived and ill-thought” idea to shut down petrol pumps at night.
Demanding scrapping of the oil price hike, O’Brien and his par ty
colleague Sukhendu Sekhar Roy walked out shouting “down with this
anti-people government.”
Rupee falls 30p to 66,
ends 2-day rally
The rupee ended two days of gains to fall by 30 paise to close
at 66 against the dollar on Monday on demand from impor ters
as the U.S. currency strengthened.
The rupee’s decline, amid capital outflows and data showing
slowing economic growth, was restricted by a rise in local
equities, a forex dealer said.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local currency
star ted weak at 66.15 to a dollar from the previous close of
65.70 and then climbed to a high of 65.68.
The rupee then turned negative and dropped to a low of 66.30
before recovering some ground to end at 66, a fall of 30 paise
or 0.46 per cent. In the previous two trading sessions, it had
zoomed by 310 paise or 4.51 per cent.
“On account of U.S. bank holiday, the volumes were quite thin
and the rupee was seen trading in a very tight range”, said
Abhishek Goenka, CEO of India Forex Advisors. “Last week’s
dismal GDP numbers of India and strength in the U.S. dollar
index made the rupee open on a weaker note today.”
The benchmark S&P BSE Sensex continued its upward march
for the four th straight session and closed up by another 266.41
points or 1.43 per cent.
Foreign institutional investors withdrew a net Rs. 78.85 crore
of shares last Friday, as per provisional data with the stock
exchanges.
The dollar index, consisting of six major rivals, was up 0.10 per
cent ahead of data and central bank policy this week.
India’s gross domestic product growth slipped to 4.4 per cent
in the April-June quar ter, from 4.8 per cent in January-March.
The HSBC/Markit purchasing managers index for the country’s
manufacturing industry contracted for the first time in over four
and a half years to stand at 48.5 in August, lower than 50.1 in
July.
“The trading range for the spot USD-INR pair is expected to be
within 65.40 to 66.60”, said Pramit Brahmbhatt, CEO of Alpari
Financial Services (India).
Forward dollar premiums improved on continued payments
from banks and corporates.
The benchmark six-month forward dollar premium payable in
February firmed up to 258-265 paise from Friday’s close of
247-252 paise. Far-forward contracts maturing in August hardened to 465-471 paise from 440-445 paise.
12
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MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
MidWeek
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
world
13
MANDELA
SPENDS FIRST
NIGHT AT
HOME IP14
Lal Masjid operation: Case filed against Musharraf
In fresh trouble for Pakistan’s
former military ruler Pervez
Musharraf, a case was on
Monday filed against him for the
murder of cleric Abdul Rasheed
and his mother during the
infamous Lal Masjid operation.
The case was filed on the
directions of the Islamabad High
Court Justice Noorul Huque
Qureshi who was annoyed over
non-compliance of its earlier
order.
During the hearing of a
petition filed by Haroon Rasheed,
the son of Lal Masjid’s Rasheed,
against
70-year-old
Mr.
Musharraf for his involvement in
the killing of his father and
grandmother, Justice Huque said
non-registration of the case
despite court order was
contempt of court, media reports
said. They said the SHO of
Aabpara Police Station Qasim
Niazi was made to sit in the court
till a case was filed.
Reacting to the verdict,
Aasia
Ishaque
of
Mr.
Musharraf’s APML party said he
will fight to prove his innocence.
“Musharraf is not going to
go away. We were expecting
such a case. He will continue to
fight politically motivated case
and prove his innocence,” she
told PTI.
ARAB STATES URGE ACTION
AGAINST ASSAD REGIME
The Arab Foreign Ministers
have held the Syrian
government responsible for
all the chemical attacks on
the suburbs of Damascus,
while calling for referring
the perpetrators to
international trials, Xinhua
reported.
In the Arab League (AL)
resolution, the Foreign
Ministers strongly
condemned and denounced
the “heinous crime”
committed by using the
chemical weapons banned
internationally against
unarmed civilians, in
defiance of the international
norms.
“All the perpetrators should
face fair international
trials,” the resolution added.
The Foreign Ministers
called on the U.N. and the
international society to bear
its responsibility and take
decisive and deterrent
measures against the Bashar
al-Assad-led Syrian
government for using
chemical weapons Aug 21
against civilians.
The Lal Masjid operation,
undertaken by the then
Musharraf government in 2007,
was meant as a crackdown on the
controversial
mosque
in
Islamabad, which ended in a
bloody eight-day siege, killing at
least 58 Pakistani troops and
seminary students.
On Friday, the Court had
summoned the SHO over noncompliance with the court’s
orders to look into whether a
case can be registered.
On July 12 this year, the
same bench had ordered the
police to book the former
president, and if the Lal Masjid
operation was a cognisable
offence, a case be registered
against Mr. Musharraf for the
death of cleric and others.
However, the police had
refused to register an FIR, saying
it would do so after consulting
their legal branch. Mr.
Musharraf, who returned from
his self-imposed exile before the
May 11 elections, is currently
entangled in a legal web.
He is currently under arrest
and his house has been turned
into a prison. He is already facing
trial for treason, Benazir Bhutto
assassination case and also the
Akbar Bugti murder case.
14
MidWeek
world
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
Syria urges UN to prevent
aggression against it
S
yria has appealed to the
United Nations to try to
“prevent
any
aggression” against it
and said US military action
would amount to “support for alQaeda and its affiliates,” even as
President Barack Obama today
lobbied
with
war-weary
American lawmakers to convince
them for a strike.
“The Syrian government
calls on the UN Secretary General
to assume his responsibilities...
and to make efforts to prevent
any aggression against Syria,”
the state-run SANA news
agency said, quoting a letter
from Syria’s UN representative
Bashar al-Jaafari.
The letter also called on the
United Nations to help seek a
“peaceful political solution to
the crisis” in Syria.
Meanwhile, a senior Syrian
Minister was quoted by BBC as
saying that any US military
action against Syria would
amount to “support for al-Qaeda
and its affiliates.”
“Any attack against Syria is
support for al-Qaeda and its
affiliates, whether Jabat al-Nusra
or the State of Islam in Syria and
Iraq,” Syrian Deputy Foreign
Minister Faisal Muqdad said.
Mr. Muqdad, who is
considered to be highly
influential within President
Bashar al-Assad’s Government,
also warned that possible US
intervention would deepen
“hatred for the Americans” and
destabilise the whole Middle
East. The US has claimed that
1,429 people were killed in the
alleged chemical attacks carried
out by the Assad regime in a
Damascus suburb on August 21.
Syria, however, has denied
the US charges, saying jihadists
fighting with the rebels used the
deadly weapons in an effort to
turn global sentiments against it.
Mr. Obama, Vice-President
Joe Biden and White House
Chief of Staff Denis McDonough
have made individual calls to
members of Congress, a senior
White House official said.
The aggressive lobbying
comes after a classified briefing
was held on Capitol Hill late on
Sunday.
In a surprise move, Mr.
Obama
has
sought
Congressional approval for
limited military intervention in
Syria to win more support for his
plan to punish the Assad regime
for the attack.
The Obama administration
is facing resistance from lawmakers even before Congress
officially comes back to
Washington on September 9.
Resistance against the
imminent US strike is also
mounting at the international
front with veto-wielding Russia
on Monday saying that it was
totally unconvinced by the
evidence presented by the US
and its allies.
“What we were shown
before and most recently by our
American partners as well the
British and the French absolutely
does not convince us,” Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
said. Mr. Lavrov said that there
were “many doubts” about
images of the alleged attack
posted on the Internet.
Chinese foreign affairs
spokesman Hong Lei said, “We
are gravely concerned that some
country may take unilateral
military actions.”
“We believe that any action
taken by the international
community should abide by the
purposes and principles of the
UN charter as well as basic norms
governing
international
relations, so as to avoid
complicating the Syrian issue
and bringing more disasters to
the Middle East region,” Mr.
Hong said.
France may also hand over
evidence to lawmakers proving
the Assad regime’s hand in the
chemical weapons attack in
Syria, media reports said.
The Syrian media on
Sunday reacted sharply to Mr.
Obama’s decision of seeking
congressional approval for a
strike on Syria.
AUSTRALIA OFFERS SUPPORT
FOR US STRIKE IN SYRIA
A
ustralia is offering moral
support for a U.S. military
strike in Syria while New Zealand
said on Monday it needs more
information after U.S. Secretary
of State John Kerry personally
called each country's Foreign
Minister.
Mr. Kerry has been trying
to secure at least some
international support for a
potential U.S. strike after
accusing the Syrian government
of launching a chemical weapons
attack.
Australian Foreign Minister
Bob Carr's spokesman Patrick
Low said on Monday that Mr.
Kerry called last week and that
Australia supports the U.S.
taking action. He said Mr. Kerry
didn't ask for military assistance
and Australia didn't offer it.
New Zealand Prime Minister
John Key said Mr. Kerry called
Foreign Minister Murray
McCully over the weekend and
that New Zealand wants to
assess all steps taken ahead of a
strike before stating its position.
The U.S. doesn't have
widespread
support
internationally for military
action. So far, only France has
indicated it would join a U.S.
strike. The Parliament of key ally
Britain last week rejected a vote
endorsing military action.
Syrians, world weigh in on
U.S. debate for military action
The
international
community weighed in on
Sunday on the anticipated
debate before the U.S. Congress
on military action in Syria, with
supporters of the Syrian
opposition urging military action
and allies of the Syrian
government critical of any such
moves. As expected, the Syrian
opposition called on the U.S.
Congress to authorize U.S.
President Barack Obama’s
request for military action
against the government of
Bashar al-Assad.
The coalition’s head also
urged the Arab League, which at
its annual summit in March gave
Syria’s seat in the 22-member
bloc to the opposition coalition,
to endorse the possible strike.
“I stand in front of you
asking for your strong and
effective support for a military
strike against the killing and
terrorism machine of the regime
against the people,” Ahmed alJarba said, addressing the
opening session of the Arab
League Foreign Ministers
meeting in Cairo.
MANDELA
SPENDS FIRST
NIGHT AT HOME
South Africans on Monday welcomed Nelson Mandela’s discharge from a hospital after
nearly three months of treatment amid concerns that his
health remains so poor that he
still must receive intensive
care at home.
An ambulance returned the 95year-old leader of the antiapar theid movement to his
home in the leafy Johannesburg
neighbourhood of Houghton on
Sunday.
The office of South African
President Jacob Zuma said Mr.
Mandela remains in critical and
sometimes unstable condition
and will receive the same level
of care that he did in the hospital,
administered by the same doctors.
“If he’s back at home, I’m feeling
free,” said Harrison Phiri, a gardener. “He’s the father of the nation.”
Thembisa Mbolambi, another
Johannesburg resident, also expressed satisfaction that Mr.
Mandela had left the hospital in
Pretoria, describing him as “the
man who offered himself for us.”
The Star, a South African newspaper, carried a headline that
read, “Madiba At Home,” referring to Mr. Mandela by his clan
name. The newspaper noted
that “worries over infection persist.” A headline in The New
Age newspaper was more upbeat — “World joy for
Mandela.” Mr. Mandela was
admitted to the hospital on June
8 for what the government described as a recurring lung infection. Legal papers filed by
his family said he was on life
support, and many South Africans
feared he was close to death. Mr.
Mandela, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, is viewed around the world
as a powerful figure of reconciliation. Despite being jailed for his
prominent role in opposing white
racist rule, Mr. Mandela was
seemingly free of rancour on his
release in 1990 after 27 years
in prison.
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
MidWeek
80 PERTOSA DRIVE, UNIT 12,
BRAMPTON ONT., L6X 5E9
15
16
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MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
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MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
SINGH SAAB THE GREAT FIRST LOOK LAUNCH
17
I don't have right
bikini body: Parineeti
BOLLYWOOD ACTRESSES ARE READILY FLAUNTING A
BIKINI ON THE BIG SCREEN, BUT CURVACEOUS
ACTRESS PARINEETI CHOPRA SAYS SHE IS
OVERWEIGHT TO FLAUNT THE TWO-PIECE GARMENT
‘A
URVASHI RAUTELA, ANJALI ABROL, SUNNY DEOL AND AMRITA RAO
Inevitable War: SRK, Ekta to clash again?
wants her upcoming film Milan
Talkies to clash with SRK's
Happy New Year at the box office
on Diwali 2014.
Though Ekta's film is yet to go
on the floors, the producer
allegedly has asked her team to
wrap up pre-production work as
fast as possible to begin
shooting. Says a source, Èkta
recently replaced Imran Khan
with Shahid Kapoor for her film
while the hunt for the female lead
opposite him is still on.
She has also requested director
Tigmanshu Dhulia to complete
the shoot in time so that she gets
enough time for marketing the
film.`
This year too, Ekta (with Once
Upon Ay Time In Mumbai
Dobaara) was set to clash with
Shah Rukh (Chennai Express)
until the star requested her dad,
veteran actor Jeetendra to alter
the film's release date.
The producer apparently was
extremely upset after her film
failed to work wonders at the BO.
So much so that she even pinned
the blame for her film's failure on
Shah Rukh.
The source adds, Ìf Ekta decides
to release her film next year on
Diwali, it could prove to be a
tough situation for SRK.`
Farah's film too has been delayed
as much time was spent looking
for the right cast.
Happy New Year went on the
floors yesterday. However, Ekta's
spokesperson rubbishes the
buzz. She says, `The casting is
yet to happen.` Tigmanshu
remained unavailable for
comment.
I
KALKI ON BACKFOOT
n round one between Shah
Rukh Khan and Ekta Kapoor,
the star seems to have won
the first bout. But the producer
appears to be gearing up for
round two. Insiders say she
Actress has apologised publicly on the micro-blogging site
Twitter for accusing designer duo Ridhhi Sidhhi for calling
her "mentally disturbed"
Kalki was upset with the way she had been taunted as a
"mentally disturbed" woman, allegedly reeling under the
effects of her marriage gone kaput. It was repor ted that
designer duo Riddhi and Siddhi were "disgusted" with the
actress' "antics" at a recently concluded fashion show in
the city, where instead of walking the ramp, Kalki apparently took to giving media bytes.
Robbed of the chance of giving her side of the story, Kalki
took to the social media yesterday to vent her anger at the
designers.
She posted: Àfter a 4hour wait in lehenga, jewellery make
up they have the gall to call me mentally disturbed! Riddhi
siddhi, dp designers shame on you!Not seen a more
disorganised show than #glamourstyleweek2013 where
the organisers called me off the ramp when I'm the
showstopper!No wonder actors turn into divas. That's the
only language some people understand.By the way I am
mentally disturbed but its cer tainly not because of my
hubby;)`(sic)
However, Kalki later got to know the truth behind the
misunderstanding. Soon after, she tweeted, "dear riddhi
siddhi, i PUBLICLY apologise for for putting your name up,
if you had nothing to do with these lies, peace be with you.
DP designers, thank you for helping me get the facts out,
for talking to be personally and for being so gracious about
the whole matter." (sic)
She added in her next tweet, "unforutnately no body has
come forward to PERSONALLY apologise to me for insulting
me with lies."
FOR BEST DEALS AND INFORMATION SEE PAGE 36
sked if she will be okay wearing a bikini for a film, she
said, "If I have a hot body, then why not? But right
now I don't have the right body. I am still overweight,
so there's no way I can wear a bikini."
As such, the vivacious actress doesn't have any limitations or
restrictions as an artist.
"I don't want to restrict myself. I don't know how long will I act, or
may be the audience will get bored of me and then I will not be
acting... so (as long as I am in showbiz), I don't want to restrict
myself," she said.
Parineeti admits that most actresses justify bold scenes by saying
"it's the demand of the script". But she says it is actually so.
"In 'Shuddh Desi Romance', Sushant (Singh Rajput) has to be
physically close with (characters played by) Vaani Kapoor and
me for the conflict to happen. If a director
says that let's put some kissing scenes
for publicity, I will never do that. It's
ridiculus," she added.
Busy with the promotions of 'Shuddh
Desi Romance', which
releases on
September 6,
Parineeti
gaurantees that
the movie is
"entertaining".
Role Reversal: Big B to
play Vidya's 'Paa'
‘
S
SHOOJIT SIRCAR'S NEXT FILM COULD BRING
TOGETHER AMITABH BACHCHAN AND VIDYA
BALAN ONCE AGAIN AFTER THE 2009 FILM 'PAA'
hoojit Sircar's upcoming
film seems to be all about
role reversal. In R Balki's
Paa, Amitabh Bachchan played
Vidya Balan's terminally ill young
son.
In Shoojit's next, Vids will be
portrayed
as
Bachchan's
daughter. Insiders say both
have given their nod for the
project and the film will go on
the floors this year. Says a
source, Ìt is the story of a
father and his daughter and the
dilemma that Bachchan's
character faces as his daughter
fails to get a suitable groom.
Sircar and B a c h c h a n h a d
earlier worked in Shoe Bite
together but the film is yet to
s e e t h e l i g h t o f d a y. E v e r
since that, the duo wanted to
work together and now it is
finally happening.`
Instead of confirming the
buzz, the director remained
non-committal, `Whenever I
write a story idea, I bounce it
off Mr Bachchan. I owe him a
film. I am in the process of
writing one and will show it
to him when it's ready.`
18
MidWeek
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MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
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bollywood
19
Movie Review
Upcoming
BOLLYWOOD Movies
SHUDDH DESI
ROMANCE
RELEASE DATE:
06-Sep-2013
STARING: Sushant Singh Rajput, Parineeti
Chopra, Vaani Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor
DIRECTOR(S): Maneesh Sharma
achchan, Ajay
Cast: Amitabh B
ajpai, Kareena
Devgn, Manoj B
ao
ampal, Amrita R
Kapoor, Arjun R
sh Jha
Director: Praka
Rating: * * 1/2
PRODUCER: Aditya Chopra
WRITER : Jaideep Sahni
GRAND MASTI
RELEASE DATE:
13-Sep-2013
STARING: Vivek Oberoi, Ritesh
'SATYAGRAHA' COULD HAVE
BEEN MUCH BETTER
C
ine delights based on politico-bureaucratic
highhandedness leading to a social turmoil had always
been a triggering point for our cine theorists to come up
with one or the other cine concepts.
There are very few cine-man who have succeeded in fetching a
repute of being master of the genre, but if we talk about Prakash
Jha then he cer tainly an exception.
If we go by the cine journey of, Jha so far then most of the
times he has succeeded in picking up a socially relevant issue
and has always succeeded in erecting a structure with a
potency to knock up the conscious of the masses.
Very much in consonance with his legacy Prakash has once
again tried to manifest the home-truths of existing in politicobureaucratic system plagued by the corruption.
And keeping in view the current social unrest prevailing in
India, there wouldn't have been a better time to release this
politico-social cine tale. Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay
Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Arjun Rampal, Manoj Bajpai and
Amrita, "Satyagrah" which was rumored to be inspired from the
"Lokpal movement" of, Anna Hazare opened with an occupancy
of 17 % at the multiplexes.
Jha who so far had always picked up the themes which are
socially germane, after exhibiting his cine prowess with movies
"Gangajal", "Aarakshan" and "Chakrvyuh", has now chosen a
theme which owns a huge social relevance especially in
current scenario.
"Satyagraha is a sor t of coming together of people from diverse
background where, a senile teacher Dwarka Anand (Amitabh
Bachchan), an ambitious business tycoon Manav Raghvendra
(Ajay Devgn), a high profile political journalist, Yasmeen Khan
(Kareena Kapoor Khan), a local leader Arjun (Arjun Rampal) et
al, unite together to curb the prevailing malpractices in politicobureaucratic system, in order to make it more transparent and
masses friendly.
Probably no one can deny that there wouldn't have been a more
appropriate theme that, Jha, could have picked to tailor his
swiping cine idea.
When "Satyagraha" went on floor a debate about it's being
Fadnis, Karishma Tanna, Sonalee Kulkarni,
Bruna Abdulla, Maryam Zakaria, Kainaat
Arora, Suresh Menon, Pradeep Rawat,
Chandi Perera
Indra Kumar
DIRECTOR(S):
BESHARAM
RELEASE DATE:
02-Oct-2013
STARING: Ranbir Kapoor, Pallavi
Sharda, Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Singh
DIRECTOR(S): Abhinav Kashyap
PRODUCER: Sanjeev Gupta,
Himanshu Mehra
MUSIC Lalit Pandit
WRITER Abhinav Kashyap,
Rajeev Barnwal
BOSS
RELEASE DATE:
18-Oct-2013
STARING: Akshay Kumar, Aditi Rao
Hydari, Shiv Pandit, Mithun Chakraborty,
Danny Denzongpa, Johny Lever, Parikshit
something per taining to, Anna Hazare's "Lokpal movement"
also took off, but those associated with the movie constantly
refused the buzz and tagged it as an "apprehensive rumor"
surrounding the movie, because of the nature of it's theme. But
truly speaking up-till an extent it is.
Although Jha has tried to blend ample amount of fiction with the
facts, but even that effor t of Prakash looks more of an inspired
take adopted from some of the real life incidents which shook
the entire nation at some point of time.
Cer tainly the script that Prakash has knitted along with his
"Chakravyuh", "Aarakshan" and "Raajneeti" co-writer, Anjum
Rajbali, has got ample potency to tickle the conscious of the
masses, but it nowhere leaves you enthralled with a never seen
before kinda feel.
When it comes to movie making then it's always difficult to not
to be judgmental or decisive, but as far as Jha's, "Satyagraha"
is concerned then it's narration nowhere tries to encroach your
political banking or beleif and just serves the "said-unsaid
truths" of political aisles on the salver called celluloid and
leaves rest to discretion of the masses to make their perceptions.
Undoubtedly "Satygraha" has got a narration with which every
Indian could relate to, but the intensity of the script somewhere
top
10
songs
Deshmukh, Aftab Shivdasani, Manjari
Sahani, Ronit Roy
DIRECTOR(S):
Anthony D'Souza
PRODUCER: Ashwin Varde
WRITER : Anthony D'Souza, Siby
K. Thomas, Udaykrishnan
ZANJEER
RELEASE DATE:
06-Sep-2013
STARING: Ram Charan Teja,
Priyanka Chopra, Sanjay Dutt, Sri
Hari, Prakash Raj, Mahi Gill
DIRECTOR(S): Apoorva Lakhia
PRODUCER: Amit Mehra
PHATA POSTER NIKLA
HERO
RELEASE DATE:
20-Sep-2013
STARING: Shahid Kapoor, Ileana D
DIRECTOR(S): Rajkumar Santoshi
PRODUCER: Ramesh Taurani, Ronnie
Screwvala, Siddhar th Roy Kapur
MUSIC Pritam
WRITER Rajkumar Santoshi
1
Film:
Lootera
SAWAAR
LOON
FILM
SONG
2
Aashiqui 2
Tum hi ho
3
Raanjhanaa
Raanjhanaa
4
Ramaiya Vastavaiya
Jeene Laga Hoon
5
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Zinda
6
Chennai Express
1234 Get On The Dance Floor
7
Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani
Badtameez Dil
8
Chennai Express
Titli
9
Raanjhanaa
Tum Tak
10
Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai 2
Ye Tune Kya Kiya
MOVIE COLLECTIONS
HIT OR FLOP MIDWEEK
POLICEGIRI
FLOP
YEH JAWANI HAIN DEEWANI
BLOCK BUSTER
YAMLA PAGLA DEEWANA -2
FLOP
RAANJHANAA
HIT
diminishes the impact which could have been great otherwise.
There are numerous episodes in the movie which have got a
thorough resemblance to some of the real-life happenings, but
the manner in which they are knitted by Jha and Rajbali is
surely praisewor thy. So in nutshell script of "Satyagraha" is a
good blend of facts and fiction.
Well there is no denying the fact that, when you are dealing with
something close to real life of masses then your responsibility
as an executor increases tremendously, and Jha is one such
man who has always remained well apprised with fact and and
most of the times has succeeded in proving his adroitness.
Flow of narration in the first half which settles the foundation
stone for the upcoming proceedings is top rated, although after
seeing so many mass-revolution movies you will not feel it to
be something new, but it keeps you captivated within the charm
of onscreen dealings.
Whereas contrary to this, second half becomes a bit melodramatic momentarily, but it's OK till the time you have your popcorn pouch full. The only drawback which I guess many of you
may find in "Satyagraha" is that, despite dealing with one of the
most realistic and relevant topics of the hour, Jha uptil an extent
fails in inculcating the intensity, which could have done
miracles for this otherwise enter taining cine tale.
20
MidWeek
entertainment
KATE
BOSWORTH
WEDS MICHAEL
POLISH
According to Mar tha
Stewar t Weddings, the
couple exchanged selfpenned vows against a
backdrop of hills, mountains and wildflowers and
later treated guests to a
locally sourced dinner,
People Magazine repor ted.
The 30-year old actress
wore an ivory radzimirsatin strapless Oscar de la
Renta ball gown for the
wedding ceremony and a
‘
Robert Pattinson wants
French girlfriend
AMERICAN ACTRESS KATE BOSWORTH
HAS GOT MARRIED TO DIRECTOR
MICHAEL POLISH IN AN OUTDOOR
CEREMONY AT THE RANCH AT ROCK CREEK
IN PHILIPSBURG, MONTANA.
floral embroidered tulle dress
by the same designer for the
reception, while the groom
wore a three-piece charcoal
Brooks Brothers suit.
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
The pair first met in 2011
when he directed her in the
drama 'Big Sur' and confirmed
their engagement via Twitter
in September 2012.
The 27-year-old, who split from
longtime actress-girlfriend Kristen
Stewar t, said that it was during the
shoot that it finally dawned on him
what he wants in a woman,
repor ts showbizspy.com.
"When everybody was watching
the footage of the kissing scene, I
was already embarrassed," said
the "Twilight" star.
"Suddenly, Camille said 'Oh la la!' I
glared at her and told her 'Are you
kidding me?' I thought that the
British would say 'Oh la la!' as a
way to make fun of French.
"I didn't think that French women would
say it for real. Then I realised that I would
like to have a French girlfriend with all
her cliches," he added.
The actor filmed his Dior fragrance
adver tisement with model Camille
Rowe.
‘
ACTOR ROBERT PATTINSON WOULD LIKE TO
HAVE A FRENCH GIRLFRIEND AND SAYS HE
FELT SO WHILE SHOOTING AN ADVERTISING
CAMPAIGN FOR FRENCH LUXURY BRAND
DIOR HOMME FRAGRANCE.
Matthew McConaughey moves to Texas Kangana counts
her working hours
“
Matthew McConaughey has moved his
family to Texas, and is happy to finally
live in a place where he can be himself.
T
he 42-year-old actor, who has son Levi, three, and twoyear-old daughter Vida, with fiancee Camilla Alves,
explained that he appreciates the laid-back vibe of the
Texan capital, Austin, and is truly happy to live in the city. "No one
recognises you and no one asks you, 'Hey, what do you do?,' because
I don't think anyone cares. Fridays show up sooner here.
You want to get along in Austin, you want to get along in Texas,
all you have to do is be yourself," said McConaughey. "My motherin-law from Brazil has travelled around the world and we've lived in
Los Angeles and New York. She says to me the other day, 'In LA,
people will walk on your back and stand on your shoulders to get
where they are going, in New York, they will just pull out a gun and
tell you they will kill you. Here in Texas, everybody walks together.'
I think that is a compliment, Austin," he added. Matthew is familiar
with Texas, after all, he grew up in the small town of Uvalde in West
Texas and then attended the University of Texas in Austin.
AMANDA SEYFRIED
LOVES TAXIDERMY
A
ctress Amanda Seyfried finds taxidermy an amazing way
to look after animals after they are dead.
The 26-year-old is a huge fan of taxidermy and owns a
number of creatures including an owl and a miniature pony.
"When taxidermy is done well it's an amazing piece of
art. I love animals and they're very easy to look after
when they're dead. I recently decided I was going to start
building a parliament of owls because I only have one,"
contactmusic.com quoted Seyfried as saying.
"I bought him in Paris. He was sitting with every kind
of animal you can possibly imagine - giraffes, zebras,
scorpions - and they were all sitting in this incredible
installation and that's when I decided that this was going to be a lifelong hobby," she added.
I am very harsh on myself: Deepika Padukone
D
eepika Padukone may
have
chartered
a
successful Bollywood
career for herself in a short span
but the actress says she is rarely
happy with her work. The 25year-old says her self-criticism
helps her do better with each
film. "I am very harsh on myself.
I am very rarely satisfied with my
own work but I am glad that it is
like this. I would rather be harsh
on myself than be happy with
the smallest thing that I do.
I compete with myself and
challenge myself to do
better everyday. It gives me
the drive to push myself
otherwise I would be stuck
in the rut," Deepika said.
She proved that she is more
than a pretty face with her
powerful performance as
Veronica in Cocktail, her lone
release this year."I am glad that
this film happened for people to
realise that. I have always
believed in my work and
myself
but
sometimes
you have
to wait for the right script and
opportunity to come your way.
Cocktail did that for me."She
has already won an award for
her performance in the film.
Deepika, however, says she is
more happy to see that the
audiences' perception about her
has changed
for good.
"I think
awards
are
always welcome. Big Star
awards recently acknowledged
my contribution. But I am more
happy about the energy shift
that I feel from the audiences
post Veronica. There is nothing
in the world that compensates
for that feeling." With her latest
film Race 2 ready to hit the
screens on January 25, Deepika
says she is looking forward to
2013. "I could not have asked
for more this year.
I invested a lot emotionally
into the character of Veronica
and I am very happy with the
result. It has been a great year
for me not only in terms of
Cocktail's success but also with
the kind of films that I signed
post that. I have an interesting
line-up for 2013." Deepika is
looking forward to a busy year
in 2013 with Race 2,
Kochadaiyaan and Yeh
Jawaani Hai Deewani
releases. She has also
reunited with Shah
Rukh Khan for
Chennai Express
after Om Shanti Om
besides working with Sanjay
Leela Bhansali for Ram Leela.
"Yeh Jawaani... is almost
done and we have just started
shooting Chennai Express. I am
working with Shah Rukh again
after four years. The film is true
to Rohit Shetty's style.
While Ram Leela with
Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a love
story," says Deepika, adding
that
Kochadaiyaan
with
superstar Rajinikanth is ready
for release. Talking about Race
2, her first release of the year,
Deepika says she plays a
manipulative role. "It is for the
first time that I am doing an
action thriller.
The first part was very
successful and Race 2 has
similar twists and turns. My
character Alina is very
manipulative and intelligent and
she knows how to get her way
through whatever she wants."
The Abbas-Mustan film also
stars Saif Ali Khan, Anil Kapoor,
John Abraham, Jacqueline
Fernandez, Ameesha Patel and
Bipasha Basu.
K
angana Ranaut, it is learnt, is very particular about the hours
she puts at her work every day. An insider from the unit of
her heroine-centric film tells us that if she works an hour
extra one day, she makes sure to shoot an hour less the next day.
"Kangana also points out to the director that she'd like to leave
earlier since she shot extra the previous day," says our source.
Sunny Leone loves
Delhi's gol-gappas!
I
ndo-Canadian porn star Sunny Leone is set to perform in the
capital on New Year's Eve. She says she enjoys the street food,
especially the spicy gol-gappas. "I love Delhi! My favourite thing
about being there was before I came here as Sunny Leone (was)
walking on the streets, eating gol-gappe," she said.
Sunny made her Bollywood debut with "Jism 2" this year. She
has now even settled in Mumbai and is loving it.
"I moved into my new place a couple of months ago in Mumbai,
it's beautiful. It overlooks the Arabian Sea. I never thought I will
wake up in the morning and say 'I am looking at the Arabian Sea'. So
it's really special for me. Everything is coming together and I love
it," the 31-year-old said. Sunny will soon start shooting for " Ragini
MMS 2", her second Bollywood project.
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
MidWeek
bollywood
Kareena Kapoor's ambitious
CAREER PLANS
Malaika Arora Khan's
KITCHEN DISASTERS
Malaika Arora Khan likes trying
her hand at various types of
cuisines. And not just trying
them out, but making them too!
But then, that means coming up
with disasters too once in a
while.
When CS recently met the lady
at the opening of a culinary
school, she told us about her
experiments, and how they fail
at times.
POPULARITY OF STAR
KIDS ON THE RISE
‘
Kareena Kapoor
wanted to be a lawyer
and after completing
her 12th she took an
admission in Government Law College at
Churchgate.
But being a Kapoor she
couldn't resist her
acting talent. And after
completing a year she
moved on to
Bollywood.
`While I experiment, I have all
kinds of disasters that can
possibly
happen
while
cooking. Be it over cooking
or putting excess salt or vice
versa, burning the food,
undercooking, etc, you name
it and I have a story to tell
you. Once I was trying to
make chicken roast. I didn't
roast it; I burnt it completely!`
she laughed.
21
THOUGH THEIR FIRST FILM MAY BE YEARS
AWAY, STAR KIDS TODAY ALREADY HAVE A
HUGE FAN FOLLOWING. "THERE IS ALREADY
CURIOSITY TO GET THE FIRST GLIMPSE OF
SHAH RUKH KHAN'S SON ABRAM," SAYS A
SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER , ADDING THAT
THERE HAS BEEN A RISING DEMAND FOR
PICTURES OF STAR KIDS.
A browse through social networking sites will throw up more
than a dozen groups dedicated to Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan,
daughter Suhana, Sridevi's daughter Jhanvi, the newest
Bachchan entry, Aaradhya, among others. While some like Jhanvi
appear comfor table in front of the cameras, others like Aryan
clearly seem uncomfor table at the intrusion as was pretty evident at his father's Eid par ty. We look at how some actors deal
with their children's popularity...
Aamir Khan: While son Azad is often seen on the sets with his
mother Kiran Rao, veteran photographer Pradeep Bandekar says
that Aamir too is quite comfor table with his son being exposed
to the media. "He knows if he resists, no one is going to listen to
him, so it is better to pose and make everybody happy," says
Bandekar.
Sridevi: The actress is always seen with her daughters Jhanvi
and Khushi, be it at personal or work-related functions. Her
daughter Jhanvi seems to be grooming herself to be an actor.
She's already being touted as the next fashionista after cousin
Sonam Kapoor.
Suniel Shetty: Ask Suniel Shetty about it and he says that keeping his daughter away from the media glare was not a planned
move. "We have brought up Athiya and Aahan as normally as
possible, focusing more on their education which is most impor tant. No special treatment was given to them. I am happy
my daughter has chosen to act, but a fan following should be
based purely on quality of work. It should not be a shor tcut to
success," he says.
Akshay Kumar: Fiercely private about his family, the actor tries
to keep both his kids — son Aarav and daughter Nitara — away
from the limelight as much as possible.
Mahesh Bhatt: No one really knew much about Alia Bhatt before
her successful debut film, but now she has become hot proper ty in B-Town. "To be honest, Soni (Razdan, her mother) and I
were rather staggered by the response she evoked after her
debut film. She has been handling her fans rather well.
sports
ENGLAND CONFIRM
INDIA TOUR ITINERARY
VIRAT KOHLI CONFERRED WITH THE ARJUNA AWARD, NEW DELHI
India's NZ tour advanced to January
I
ndia will tour New Zealand
for a month in mid-January
for five ODIs and two Tests,
with the first one-dayer to
be played on January 19 and the
second Test ending on February
18. New Zealand Cricket's release
came a day after the BCCI's
working committee approved the
tour.
The
announcement
increased the uncertainty
surrounding India's South Africa
tour in November, the itinerary
of which is yet to be finalised.
The New Zealand tour was
scheduled to begin in early
February, according to the ICC
Future Tours Programme, but will
now start around two to three
weeks earlier, eating into the time
allotted for the South Africa tour.
In fact, according to the itinerary
announced by Cricket South
Africa in July, and objected to
by the BCCI, the third and final
Test in Johannesburg was to end
on January 19, the day on which
India will now be thousands of
miles away commencing their
New Zealand sojourn.
The make-up of the South
Africa trip had already been put
in doubt after it was left out of a
list of upcoming series
announced by the BCCI a day
ago, which included a freshlyplanned home Test series against
West Indies in November.
West Indies will then will
travel to New Zealand after
playing in the subcontinent, for
a series that starts on December
3 and ends on January 15, four
days before the home team's first
game against India.
David White, New Zealand
Cricket's chief executive, said he
was unaware about the itinerary
of India's tour of South Africa but
added that NZC had finalised the
dates only after discussions with
the BCCI. White did not want to
speculate on why the BCCI's
release on Sunday had not
included the dates but confirmed
both boards had worked together
on the final itinerary. "Those
dates have been signed off with
the BCCI. We had been in
discussions just before the
(BCCI) working committee
meeting and worked through the
dates and that was ratified at the
meeting,"
White
told
ESPNcricinfo.
He was understandably
pleased about the prospects of
a tour that is likely to be a money-
spinner for his board. "It's
brilliant that the Black Caps will
be playing five ODIs against the
world's top one-day side given
the proximity of the World Cup
in 2015," White said. While the
boards have stuck to the five
UNCERTAINTY
OVER INDIA'S
SOUTH
AFRICA TOUR
SCHEDULE
The status and make-up of
India's tour of South Africa,
scheduled to begin in late November, has been put in doubt
after it was left out of a list of
upcoming series announced
by the BCCI on Sunday. BCCI
president N Srinivasan said
the series is "definitely on",
though, and ESPNcricinfo understands the BCCI is on the
verge of giving Cricket South
Africa a pruned itinerary.
Srinivasan, speaking after the
board's working commitee in
Kolkata, told PTI: "I've not said
that the South Africa series
will be scrapped. It's definitely
on. We have [merely] proposed a West Indies series in
November. There were neither any discussions on the
South Africa series, nor did
any members raise any questions on it."
ODIs as laid out in the FTP, the
originally scheduled three Tests
have been cut down to two, while
the Twenty20 international has
been done away with. The venues
will be confirmed in a week or so,
NZC said.
India last toured New Zealand
from February to April 2009 for a
longer trip consisting of two T20s
followed by five ODIs and ending
with three Tests. While New Zealand
won both T20s, India took the
ODIs 3-1 and the Tests 1-0.
England face one of their most condensed home Test series
after next year's schedule for India's visit was confirmed with
five Tests to be held over just 42 days. It will be the first time
since 1959 that India will have played five Tests on an England
tour while the trip, which runs from June 23 to September 8,
also includes five ODIs and one T20. The Test matches have
been crammed into a period from July 9 to August 19 with no
other tour matches scheduled between any of them. In comparison, this year's Ashes series was spread over 47 days
with reasonable breaks between the second and third then
four th and fifth Tests. India will begin their tour with two threeday matches against Leicestershire and Derbyshire. The first
Test will be played at Trent Bridge from July 9, while Lord's
will host the second Test, which begins on July 17. While the
ECB has listed the Ageas Bowl (Southampton) as a venue for
the third Test it still needs to pass a final facility inspection
before being rubber-stamped.
The third Test is also slated to begin on Sunday, July 27, a
break from conventional scheduling in England, where Tests
are usually slotted to include a full weekend. The last two
Tests will be played at Old Trafford and The Oval, from August
7 and August 15, respectively.
The five ODIs, scheduled between August 25 and September
5, will be held in Bristol, Cardiff, Trent Bridge, Headingley and
Edgbaston. India are also scheduled to play a 50-over game
against Middlesex between the Test and ODI series. The only
T20 match on the tour will be played at Edgbaston on September 7. ECB chief executive David Collier said demand for the
tickets is expected to be high: "We anticipate significant demand for tickets both for the Investec Test series, and for the
One-Day International series which will be the first encounter
between these two countries in the 50-Over format since India's
triumph in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy competition
at Edgbaston earlier this year."
India previously toured England in 2011 when they were whitewashed 4-0 in the Tests, during which England went to No. 1 in
the world, and they also lost the one-dayers 3-0.
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
MidWeek
23
24
MidWeek
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

MidWeek 1 - SouthAsianDaily.com

Transcription

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