Rahul Gandhi flays RSS, BJP on patriotism issue BJP president

MODI GREETS SHARIF BUT
ATTACKS ME: KEJRIWAL
NEW DELHI, (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi wishes bir thday
greetings to his Pakistani counterpar t Nawaz Sharif but attacks me,
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said, questioning Modi's
commitment to "cooperative federalism".
"You go and wish Nawaz Sharif happy bir thday and attack me. Am
I worse than Pakistan?" Kejriwal asked in an interview to Outlook
magazine ahead of the first anniversary of his AAP government. Kejriwal
squarely blamed the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) for the AAP
government's unending impasse with the centre and said the Modi
government had turned the concept of cooperative federalism on its head
in Delhi. "Cooperative federalism is a sham.
'Bewakoof bana rahein hai saari duniya ko'
(They are fooling everybody)," Kejriwal
told the magazine. "The centre sent
paramilitary forces and annexed our
Anti Corruption Bureau. Is this
cooperative federalism? The Lt.
Governor declares my orders on
raising circle rates for agriculture land
null and void. Is this cooperative federalism?
"If I transfer an officer or take action against him, they declare it
null and void. Is this cooperative
federalism?"
POLICEMEN TAKE AWAY NSUI ACTIVISTS DEMONSTRATING IN SUPPORT OF JNU STUDENT LEADER KANHAIYA KUMAR, WHO WAS
ARRESTED ON A SEDITION CHARGE IN NEW DELHI (IANS).
I DETAILS ON PAGE 11
Rahul Gandhi flays RSS,
BJP on patriotism issue
BJP president slams
Rahul over JNU row
TITABOR (ASSAM), (IANS) Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on
Monday said the RSS and the BJP dub as a traitor whosoever speaks
or goes against their ideology.
"It seems only the Bharatiya Janata Par ty and the Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh have the licence to say who is a traitor and who
is a patriot," he said while addressing a public rally at Titabor in
Assam's Jorhat district.
Gandhi arrived in Assam on Monday morning and addressed par ty
workers in two meetings at Gohpur and Bihpuria before addressing
the public rally at Titabor, the home constituency of Assam Chief
Minister Tarun Gogoi.
"I went to Hyderabad a few days back. A Dalit student, Rohith Vemula,
committed suicide there. He did nothing wrong. He only said whatever he
had in his hear t and whatever he had
to say. The ministers of the government of India ordered the university
that he is a traitor and so he must be
banned from the university, forcing him
to commit suicide," Gandhi said.
NEW DELHI, (IANS) BJP president Amit Shah on Monday flayed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for supporting JNU students, asking whether
he had lent his voice to the separatists.
Rahul Gandhi must apologise for igniting "anti-national activities" at the
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Shah told reporters here and wondered if the Congress leader had "lent his voice to the separatists".
JNU students union president Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested for allegedly
raising anti-national slogans during a meeting on the campus on February 9. Kumar has denied the charge.
"No citizen can accept that a terrorist is favoured and anti-India slogans
raised at a prestigious university," Shah said.
"But the kind of statements Rahul Gandhi and his party colleagues have
delivered at the campus proves there is no
place for national interest in their thinking."
Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had
succeeded in controlling "anti-national sentiments in Kashmir" but
the Congress "is igniting unfor tunate anti-national activities at the JNU".
I DETAILS ON PAGE 11
I DETAILS ON PAGE 11
PUNJABI COMEDIAN GURPREET GHUGGI JOINS AAP. ALSO SEEN IN THE IMAGE ARE SANJAY SINGH, SUCHA SINGH CHHOTEPUR,
AND BHAGWANT MANN IN CHANDIGARH (IANS).
I DETAILS ON PAGE 8
SIKH ORGANISATION
DELIVERS SPECIAL V-DAY
GIFTS TO WOMEN'S SHELTER
TORONOTO, (IANS) Members of Toronto's Sikh community on Sunday delivered dozens of pink boxes containing cupcakes, and chocolates to four
women's shelters here, just to say someone cares, according to a media
report. Each care package included handmade cards authored by elementary school children. "You are great," read one Valentine. "You are beautiful,"
said another, thestar.com reported. "Something as small as a cupcake could
make someone's day," said Sarpreet Pannu, a member of the group. "We met
with some of the women in one of the shelters and saw how it put a smile on
their face," she added. The initiative was based on the Sikh tradition of langar
- the communal kitchen - where a meal is served for free.
Pannu was one of 25 volunteers who spent the past several weeks coordinating the joint effort to deliver 160 treat-filled parcels to four shelters in the
Greater Toronto Area. She worked out the logistical details with shelters, such as
drop-off times, as well as finding donors to supply the pastries and chocolates.
Nellie's Women's Shelter director Margarita Mendez said charitable acts such as
these were always welcome, no matter how big or small. "It's nice to have little
gifts say someone cares," she said. Sikh organisations in five other Canadian
cities -- from Montreal to Vancouver -- were also part of the campaign. More than
1,600 such packages are expected to be delivered by Sikh groups nationwide.
RAVINDER BRAHMPURA WINS
KHADOOR SAHIB BYPOLL
DESK REPORT
CHANDIGARH, (IANS) The ruling Shiromani
Akali Dal on Tuesday convincingly won the
Khadoor Sahib assembly by-election in
Punjab. Akali Dal candidate Ravinder Singh
Brahmpura defeated his nearest rival by a
margin of 65,664 votes, election department
officials said here. He polled 83,080 out of the
107,341 votes polled. His nearest rival,
Bhupinder Singh, an independent candidate,
polled 17,416 votes. There were seven candidates in the fray. Brahmpura led through all 15 rounds
of counting of votes, which began at 8am. As many as
58 percent of the over 1.87 lakh electorate had cast their votes in the bypoll. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal described the result of
the Khadoor Sahib by-election as a "massive victory of positive agenda
of peace, communal harmony, brotherhood and development in the state".
The polls were held on February 13 amidst a boycott of the election by
Congress and AAP, making it a one-sided contest for the Akali Dal. However, the Akali Dal leadership is seeing the by-poll victory as a sign of
Akali Dal's preparedness for Punjab's assembly elections early next
year. The seat fell vacant after sitting Congress legislator Ramanjit Singh
Sikki resigned in October 2015 over last year's incidents of sacrilege of
Sikh holy book, Guru Granth Sahib, in Punjab and the state government
failing to contain such incidents. The candidate winning the Khadoor Sahib
seat in the by-election will remain a legislator for only about one year as
assembly elections to 117 seats in Punjab will be held in February 2017.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016
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AUGUST 28,
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2016
PAGE 3
ARBAAZ, MALAIKA MISSING FROM ARPITA'S BABY SHOWER
3
CULTURAL SHOW
FIRE MOST
UNFORTUNATE:
AAMIR KHAN
SALMAN HIT-AND-RUN
CASE: SC JUNKS PLEA FOR
CBI PROBE INTO EXPENSES
NEW DELHI, (IANS) The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition
seeking a CBI probe into the expenditure of Rs.25 crore by Salman Khan in
the hit-and-run case till his acquittal by the Bombay High Court. Dismissing the public interest suit by advocate M.L. Sharma, the bench of Justice
Jagdish Singh Khehar and Justice R. Banumathi said the amount the
actor's father Salim Khan claimed to have been spent in the course of the
litigation may have gone as fee of the lawyers. "These are wild allegations
without any basis," Justice Khehar said. "You are misrepresenting the
facts" he told Sharma. On Sharma's plea for witness protection, the court
said Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi was arguing for the Maharashtra
government which has challenged Salman Khan's acquittal by the Bombay
High Court and he could assist him in the course of the hearing.
Indo-British Filmmaker Asif
Kapadia wins Grammy for 'Amy'
ARPITA KHAN ALONG WITH BOLLYWOOD ACTOR AND HER BROTHER SALMAN KHAN, FATHER SALIM KHAN AND OTHER FAMILY
MEMBERS DURING HER BABY SHOWER CEREMONY IN MUMBAI (IANS).
Why was SRK's car stoned in Ahmedabed?
AHMEDABAD, (IANS) Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's car
was on Sunday stoned by some miscreants while he was shooting
for his for thcoming film "Raees" here. He was not in the car and was
not hur t. According to police, a small crowd shouting "Jai Sri Ram"
and "Shah Rukh, Hai Hai" stoned the car parked some distance from
the location where the shooting was taking place.
"Raees" is based on the life of a city-based underworld don of the
1980s, Abdul Lateef Shaikh, who was killed in a shootout with police.
The film is being directed by Rahul Dholakia, who had earlier made
controversial film "Parzania" based on the 2002 Gujarat riots. "Raees"
has Pakistani heroine Mahira Khan along with Shah Rukh.
Shah Rukh shot a couple of scenes at the historic Sarkhej Roza
mosque and dargah campus during the day. Over 200 policemen
guarded the Roza campus. Meanwhile, over a dozen activists of the
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) were detained by police as they burnt
an effigy of the actor on Ashram Road.
Salman, Anushka share new look from 'Sultan'
MUMBAI, (IANS) Celebrating the 'love of equals',
actors Anushka Sharma and Salman Khan's new
look from the upcoming movie "Sultan" was
shared on Valentine's Day on Sunday.Anushka,
who is learning how to wrestle for the film, has
her arm around Salman in the image that was
posted on the film's official Twitter page. Both the
actors are seen in blue tracksuits sitting near
what seems to be like a wrestling arena.
The image was captioned: "Haryana ka Sher aur
Haryana Ki Shaan ka ghana ishq hai takkar ka.
This #Valentines Day, celebrate the love of
equals. (Haryana's tiger and Haryana's pride in a
keen tussle of love.).
Doing 'Ki and Ka' is Arjun's bravest decision: Kareena
MUMBAI, (IANS) The fact that actor Arjun Kapoor chose to play a man
who wears the apron in the house instead of the pants in upcoming film
"Ki and Ka", was very brave on his par t, says his co-star Kareena Kapoor
Khan. The film, directed by R. Balki is about a career-oriented woman
essayed by Kareena, and her house husband played by Arjun.
Kareena said it's a film with a new concept. "I think the fact that this is
such a brave script and Arjun has done this role, is the bravest decision
he has taken. Not many men have the confidence to wear an apron and
stand in that kitchen and tell their wife, 'Give me money to run the house'.
That's a big thing," the actress said at the trailer launch of the film here on
Monday.
Arjun says the notion of being a man in this country needs to be changed.
"I personally feel that to be a true man is to be able to take care of the
person you love, in any capacity. In this country, that notion of being a
man is stereotypical... and it should be changed."
Asked if the film is inspired from his real life in any way, Balki, who is
married to filmmaker Gauri Shinde said: "Gauri accuses me for writing
things that I never practice in my life. She says, 'Why don't you practice
at least 10 percent of what you preach?' The fun is in doing films which
are not par t of your life. "Ki and Ka" will release on April 1.
CULTURAL SHOW FIRE MOST UNFORTUNATE: AAMIR KHAN
MUMBAI, (IANS) Superstar Aamir Khan, one of the attendees of a cultural extravaganza at the Make In India Week event here, says the
fire at the venue was most unfor tunate - and is glad the crisis was handled well. "The fire during the live show at Chowpatty was most
unfor tunate but the crisis was very well handled by the Mumbai police, fire depar tment and the Maharashtra government. The
evacuation was carried out smoothly resulting in no casualties and no panic. The CM stayed till the end to oversee the evacuation.
Excellent disaster management," Aamir posted on Facebook.
The fire broke out on Sunday during a performance of Maharashtra's Lavani folk dance at the mega event at Girgaum Chowpatty beach,
the BMC Disaster Control said. The fire was brought under control in about an hour. At least 14 fire tenders and 10 water tankers were
rushed to the site. The stage was completely burnt down and the show was stopped midway.
Apar t from Aamir, actors Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Katrina Kaif, Vivek Oberoi and Shreyas Talpade also attended the event.
Maharashtra Governor C.V. Rao, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his wife Amruta Fadnavis, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray
and his wife Rashmi Thackeray were present at the venue too.
LOS ANGELES, (IANS) British filmmaker of Indian origin Asif Kapadia
on Monday bagged a Grammy Award for his film "Amy", a documentary on the life of late singer Amy Winehouse. He was honoured with the
Best Music Film award for "Amy", which is also in the Oscar race in the
Best Documentary Feature category. "Amazing! Thank you
@TheGRAMMYs #AMY wins Best Music Film @AmyFilmUK
@amywinehouse @AmyTheMovie @A24," he tweeted after his victory.
The documentary uses archive footage to tell the story of the "Rehab"
hitmaker's life and premature death. She died at the age of 27.
The filmmaker on Sunday won a British Academy of Film and Television
Arts (BAFTA) honour for the movie, which was premiered at the 2015
Cannes International Film Festival. A three-time BAFTA winning filmmaker,
Kapadia, born and brought up in London, will next helm a feature documentary about the soccer player Diego Maradona. Kapadia's earlier films
include "The Warrior" and "Senna".
First Grammys for Weeknd, Bieber
Toronto - The Weeknd, who had seven nominations, bagged Grammys for Best R&B Performance for “Earned It (Fifty Shades of
Grey)” and Best Urban Contemporary Album for “Beauty Behind the
Madness” for the first time. Justin
Bieber also won his first Grammy
for best dance recording for the song
Where Are U Now alongside EDM
hitmakers Diplo and Skrillex.
WHAT ARE ALIA BHATT'S
DATING FUNDAS?
NEW DELHI, (IANS) Alia Bhatt, who has starred in romantic films like
"Student Of The Year" and "2 States", suggests that planning is important to get one's Valentine's Day celebrations right. Watching the sunrise with your loved one or baking for the special someone are some
ways to add a sparkle to your plans, says the actress.
Alia, who has become the face of ice-cream brand Cornetto along
with Vikrant Massey, shares her tips to keep in mind for a special
Valentine's Day - the Alia Bhatt way:
* Plan: First things first, decide in advance how you would like to
spend the day with your beau. Think about things that are special to
him. A well-planned date can make a great impression especially on
someone you have just met.
* Have a movie-thon: Laugh, cry and celebrate the experience of
falling in love with your beloved beside you. Have loads of flavoured
popcorn, cold coffee and ice cream to up the excitement. Start with a
classic like "Casablanca", "Gone With The Wind", and then move on to
"Titanic", "The Notebook", "Pretty Woman" to name a few.
* Watch the sunrise: Most of us have seen the sun set beautifully with our
sweetheart. But this year on Valentine's Day, why not watch the spectacular sunrise and let the feeling sink in that the relationship you both share is
more than just friendship.
* Getaway: Go the off-beaten path. Head out to an unknown destination
that is not touristy and explore it for yourself. Check out the local art, culture
and cuisine to experience a different Valentine's Day to deepen the bond
that you share.
* Bake for him: Don the chef's hat! This Valentine's Day woo him with
goodies that are lovingly baked by you. Bake his favourite cake, cookies or
ace the game with some brownies to make him realise that he is the
special one.
* Go for a classic romantic evening: If you are a
die-hard romantic person then plan an elaborate night of candlelit dinner at the favourite
restaurant. Serenade with flowers,
chocolates and sparkling bubbly. Request the restaurant to play his/her
much-loved music track and let
your bestie know that you
are more than just
friends.
* Surprise element:
Fill his day with surprises! Place heartshaped candies and
love notes hidden in
secret places. These
will make your beau
feel 'Oh so, so special!'
Even better, send a fabulous
bouquet of flowers at the place
of work to declare your love and
see him transform into the love of
your life from being a dear friend.
4
MidWeek
special report
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016
Al Qaeda wanted to attack India: David Headley
MUMBAI, (IANS) Pakistani-American terrorist-turned-approver David
Coleman Headley on Friday said the global terror network Al Qaeda wanted
to attack India's National Defence College in New Delhi as he also revealed
a medley of Lashkar-e-Taiba plans to strike terror in the country.
Headley, who has been testifying through video-conferencing since Monday
before a special court in Mumbai for his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai
terror attack, claimed that Al Qaeda considered the defence college as "a
good, high-value target with many senior military officers".
He said he visited the college campus casually for a survey in 2007 at the
instance of Al Qaeda leader Ilyas Kashmiri. In his ongoing deposition before
Special TADA Judge G.A. Sanap, Headley revealed how the Lashkar nefariously planned to eliminate Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray.
Headley, 56, spoke of developing close links with Rajaram Rege, the former
PRO of present Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray, by luring him with a
business offer to access Shiv Sena Bhavan which was also on the target list
of LeT.
"I took videos of the Shiv Sena Bhavan from outside and inside... I thought LeT
would be interested in attacking it or even carry assassination of its (then)
head (Bal Thackeray)," Headley said. He said he provided two-three videos
to his Pakistani handlers Sajid Mir and Major Iqbal. Rege admitted that he
knew Headley but said he never took him to the Shiv Sena Bhavan.
Sena MP Sanjay Raut said the Thackerays and the party have always been
targeted by international terror groups "since we are the only ones who speak
out against Pakistan". The terrorist-turned-approver also talked about the
Lashkar plans to hit Mumbai's famed Siddhi Vinayak Temple and attempts to
recruit staffers from the sensitive Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) to
tap them for "classified information".
"The ISI wanted to recruit BARC staffers for future... to get classified information from them," Headley said. The Lashkar operative, jailed in the US for his
terror activities, said that he came in touch with actor Rahul Bhatt, son of
veteran film-maker Mahesh Bhatt, through the in-charge of the upmarket
Moksha Gym. Headley was a member of the gym from October 2006.
He said he again surveyed the NDC, Chabad Houses in international
tourist destinations like Goa, Pune and Pushkar after the Mumbai
attack on the instructions of Kashmiri. He said he handed over
videos of the famed Siddhi Vinayak Temple in Dadar and the Na-
val Air Station to his main contacts Mir and Iqbal.
Outside the temple, he said, he bought a bunch of around 15 red and yellow
coloured sacred threads and sent them to Mir so the terrorists could tie them
around their wrists and pass off as Hindus and avoid detection. Headley
claimed to have discussed the temple and other terror plans with his LeT
handlers and the ISI discouraged them from targeting the temple, Indian
Navy's air force station, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport and Gateway of India in Mumbai as they were very heavily guarded sites when he
surveyed them.
On his spying activities, Headley said he followed the progress of Indian
Army and on one trip to Mumbai, he bought a book "Indian Army-Vision 2020"
from Nalanda Books & Record Shop in Hotel Taj Mahal Palace. He had
purchased four other books - "Royal Rajasthan", "India's Jewish Heritage",
"The Grand Trunk Road" and "Polo In India" - but the army book was of great
interest to him, he said. "The other four books were mostly pictorial and there
was nothing sinister about them." At this, Judge Sanap enquired whether
there was anything "sinister" (motives) about the book on Indian Army, Headley
replied: "Yes... My Lord!" At one point in the deposition, Nikam suddenly shot
a question about a woman named Kainaz.
"She was a friend from Mumbai," Headley replied. "Friend or girlfriend,"
Nikam countered. "Not a girlfriend, just a friend," a visibly irritated Headley
replied. Later, identifying a picture of the captured and hanged terrorist Ajmal
Kasab, Headley said the LeT was "saddened" by his arrest during the November 26, 2008, Mumbai attack.
'ECOSYSTEM FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT CRITICAL FOR MAKE IN INDIA'
MUMBAI, (IANS) The ecosystem for skill development, technology and innovation was critical for 'Make in India' to succeed,
was the unanimous view expressed by central ministers,
officials and industrialists on Monday.
Speaking at a seminar on "Make in India: The Way Forward",
organised by the central government and the Confederation of
Indian Industry (CII), Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said
the industry and the government should collaborate in these
areas.
Parrikar said that with the opening up of foreign direct investment (FDI) to 49 per cent, no pendency in approvals for offset
and expor ts, and amendments in the new Defence Procurement
Policy, the Indian defence industry was moving in the right
direction to be a key beneficiary and contributor to the 'Make in
India' campaign.
In her remarks at the panel discussion, Commerce and
Industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman expressed satisfaction at the cooperation received from various states on
reforms to ease of doing business. Expressing confidence on
the two-way exchange between the Indian industry with the
states as well as the central government, she said the
government was there to play the role of a facilitator and not
that of a regulator.
Amitabh Kant, secretary in the depar tment of industry policy
and promotion, said the world of manufacturing was changing very drastically with a paradigm shift in technology and
disruptions brought about by robotics, simulations, cyber
security and big data analytics has made the global compa-
nies to get digitally integrated.
There was a need for Indian companies also to embrace such a
shift, he said. Ashok Lavasa, secretary in the ministry of
environment, forests and climate change, said the online
system for environment and forest clearance over the past 18
months enabled the government to give 954 environment
clearances translating into Rs.6.5 lakh crore wor th of investments.
Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman of the Aditya Birla Group,
said the overall investment climate has seen significant
improvement over the last six months on the back of the policy
reforms under taken by the central government and the measures taken by the states for attracting investments have made
it easier to do business.
MIDWEEK NEWS
NEWS WEEKLY
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY
AUGUST 28,
16,2012
2016
special report
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5
Talk of withdrawing from Siachen cannot be agenda-driven
BY SHIV KUNAL VERMA
Thir ty-two years after Indian troops secured key passes on the nor thsouth running Saltoro Range to deny Pakistan access to the Siachen
Glacier, it continues to dominate the headlines. Tragedy, no stranger
to the glaciated region bordering Sinkiang and the Nor thern Areas
under the control of Pakistan, resulted in a 10-man infantry section from 19 Madras, inclusive of a medic from the Army Medical
Corps, being buried alive when an ice wall collapsed near Sonam
Post at 20,600 ft.
In what had to be a major feat of human endurance, braving the extreme cold and lack of oxygen, rescue teams dug through the 35 feet
of ice debris and five days latermiraculously pulled out a survivor,
Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad. Despite the collective prayers
of the entire nation and the effor ts of army doctors, this brave soldier
too joined his other nine comrades three days after being rescued and
evacuated.
Even as the rescue drama unfolded before the nation, a leading
newspaper in the country published an ar ticle written by an associate professor from the Jawaharlal Nehru University suggesting
that Indian troops deinduct from Siachen and the glacier be declared
a peace park.
The ar ticle, echoing sentiments expressed in the past, claimed that
maintaining troops at Siachen cost the government Rs.5 crore (nearly
$735,000) daily and that hundreds of lives had already been lost in
holding territory that was of no major consequence.
"I'm all for an open debate on matters that concern our national security. However, these debates need to be informed discussions that
look at the entire picture and are not just agenda driven," said General
V.L. Singh, the minister of state for external affairs who is also a
former Indian Army chief. "The last time the 'withdrawal from Siachen'
issue was raised, it was in 2012 at the behest of the PMO. Once these
behind-the-scenes machinations were exposed on social media, the
UPA had quietly dropped the idea."
A 12-member Track-II committee
had been cobbled together in
2011 with the blessings of then
prime minister Manmohan Singh.
A former air chief, along with
handpicked armoured corps officers (all of them never having
served in the region) represented
India while on the Pakistan side
was a group headed by a former
army chief. The two delegations
then met in various par ts of the
globe under the aegis of an Ottawa-based think tank.
"The Americans have always had
an interest in the region," says
Lieutenant General Rakesh
Loomba, a former head of Military Intelligence. "Even the maps
that initially showed the Saltaro
range and the Siachen Glacier as
being Pakistani territory were issued by the US Air Force."
The blatant car tographic aggression had resulted in Colonel
Narendra 'Bull' Kumar leading an
Indian Army expedition into the
area in 1982 that confirmed the
presence of mountaineering
groups sent in by Pakistan. Subsequently, Indian troops had secured the key passes on the
Saltoro, getting into position just
a few hours before Pakistani
troops also arrived.
Lieutenant General Prakash
Katoch (retd), a Special Forces
veteran who commanded the
Siachen Brigade during the 1999
Kargil conflict, said: "All this talk
of withdrawing from Siachen is
pure bunkum! First, Pakistan has
zero presence on Siachen, notwithstanding whatever their army
keeps telling their own people.
Their positions are to the west of
the Saltoro Ridge. For years, they
have tried to dislodge Indian
troops from there, but they have
never succeeded. We've paid in
human lives to secure the border
there - it is now the de facto Line
of Control with Pakistan while towards the nor th, we have China
that controls the Shaksgam Valley. Why should we pull out? That
would amount to shooting ourselves in the foot and a betrayal
of all those who have died securing the area."
While most Indian Army officers
dismiss all talk of de-induction
from the glacier, Sanjaya Baru, in
his book "The Accidental Prime
Minister", touches on the subject,
saying a former Indian Army
chief, General J.J. Singh, had privately told Manmohan Singh that
a withdrawal was doable.
"All this is fanciful talk," says
Gen. V. K. Singh. "The basic question that needs to be asked from
those who wish to withdraw - be
it (Ajai) Shuklaji and his friends
in Trac II or Professor Happymon
Jacob from JNU - after de-inducting where do you want your new
line of defence to be set up? Do
they have any idea what that will
entail? Also, what about the rest
of the LOC - have these people
any idea of the conditions prevailing there? To just mouth off with
no idea about the larger picture is
extremely dangerous."
"It would mean for tifying the entire Ladakh range that runs from
west to east, preparing defences
along the Shyok river. The quantum of troops required would be
almost 15 times what we have in
Siachen now, plus it would make
Leh a frontline town," says General Katoch who continues to
write extensively on the subject.
"If we want to honour the fallen who
have sacrificed their lives in Siachen,
we need to nip this talk in the bud. We
must remember that the gates to India
have always been opened from
within," Gen. Katoch adds.
6
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community
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016
Kids Talent Show and Charity Fundraiser
MILTON - Milton Kids Talent Hunt- Charity Fundraiser Event
organized by Kids Megafest and Indo Canadian Club in Milton
on 6th Feb at the Senior Center. Through the event, we
managed to raise CAD 1600/- and the cheque was handed
over to Arianna's family at the event, said Vandana Raj Bhatt,
Director Kids Mega Fest.
Mike Cluett and Rick Lorenzo were present to grace the
event. Indira Naidoo Harris and Mayor Krantz sent their
greetings for Arianna and her family. We had some ver y
talented kids and mesmerizing per formances. The show
star ted with Rick Imus studio's Kids band per formance with
singing and dance per formances by some ver y talented
kids. Kicks for Kids also showcased a Mar tial Ar ts per formance while young Devan Wheeler per formed Magic show
for the audience. The highlight of the show was Kids Fashion
show. Small kids walked the ramp in Summer and Winter
wears. All par ticipating kids were given trophies and
cer tificates as appreciation of their per formance at the
SUHAAG WINTER SHOW
event. Flawless Beauty by Nidhi suppor ted the event with
make up for Kids and Light and Sketch suppor ted the event with
event photography. We would also like to thank all volunteers
and suppor ters who helped us in organizing this event for a
noble cause said Raj Bhatt, Director Kids Megafest.
Little Princess 5 year old Arianna was diagnosed with Leukemia and star ted her Chemo. The family along with Arianna were
able to make it to the event and thanked the community and the
organizers for the suppor t they have been receiving so far.
ACE CHOREOGRAPHER SAROJ
KHAN TO BE IN TORONTO
FULL OF INSPIRATION AND GLAM!
TORONTO - Sanskriti Ar ts Ensemble and Imagebuilderz present
Dance Diaries with the renowned Saroj Khan, a unique opportunity for Bollywood dance aficionados to learn the art of popular dance under the tutelage of one of Bollywood's best choreographers' and get a once in a lifetime oppor tunity to perform
with the choreographer on stage during the final showcase.
The first event of its kind in Canada, Dance Diaries will allow
Bollywood enthusiasts to train with leading dance director Saroj
Khan who is credited with choreographing some of Bollywood's
most popular numbers including Ek Do Teen from Tezaab, Dhak
Karne Laga from Beta and more recently Gun Guna Re from
Agneepath and Dil Mera Muft Kafrom Agent Vinod. The workshops will be half day (on first day only), full-day or one on one
sessions between March 25 and March 28, 2016 in Toronto
and Ottawa and will allow students to learn directly from Saroj
Khan the moves to some of her evergreen popular classics.
Mississauga Moves Ahead on
Affordable Housing Program
TORONTO - Patrons at the19th Annual Suhaag Show witnessed breathtaking wedding fashion, the hottest trends in decor, make-up and hair,
photography and video, cakes and more!
SUHAAG clearly wanted to make a statement with this show; as they
introduced several new ideas to heighten the experience for brides,
grooms and all those in attendance. They added several more prizes
for brides (ie. at the beginning of the show, on stage and at the magazine booth); they enhanced the floor plan to provide patrons the ability
to visit each vendor; they added inspirational elements from the big
four decorators present at the event; and they created a center aisle
coined "fashion alley" that had the GTA's top boutiques show of their
breath-taking designs.
With their latest collections in bridal and par ty wear, leading these
leading fashion houses were wooing throngs of young brides and
grooms. Over 150 booths were on hand to consult with young couples
who were accompanied by parents, siblings and extended families.
People came in full force when doors opened at 11 am at the Toronto
Congress Centre. Youtube sensation, and actor, Rupan Bal, was the
celebrity emcee this year.
Stunning decor displays from Karma Design Studio, Dream Par ty
Décor, Absolute Event Planning & Décor; SSDN Noble Creations,
Soulmate Wedings, Elegant Décor, The Wedding House, to name a
few brought novel concepts and added an element of dramatic themes.
The first 300 brides received a complimentary copy of the glamorous
2016 SUHAAG magazine! This year's edition has the colour, couture
and trends in fashion industry for 2016. The magazine also features
content that appeals to a wide range of individuals including newly
engaged couples, their families and friends. The magazine will be
available in early March at Chapters and Indigo bookstores across
the country. Other prizes presented on stage included a 7 night all
inclusive land-stay at Iberostar Domincana in Dominican Republic
cour tesy Absolute Wedsite, foursome round of golf courtesy Clublink,
a one night Jacuzzi suite cour tesy Monte Carlo Hotels, and much,
much more! If that was not enough, those who were present got to
witness a slick fashion show that showcased the upcoming fashion
trends by the GTA's Top 12 fashion boutiques. The uniquely created
designs displayed not only conventional outfits, but also traditional
styles fused together with Canadian designs.
MISSISSAUGA - The City of Mississauga Council has approved a work plan for an affordable housing program for the
city. The program is based on creating a suppor tive environment for the development of affordable housing.
The Affordable Housing Program will look for bold and innovative approaches to respond to the City's affordable housing
needs. It will expand on work done to date and focus on actions to narrow the gap between supply and demand, with an
emphasis on affordable rental and ownership housing.
Highlights of the program include:
" Measures to increase the supply of affordable rental and
ownership housing and
" Ways to protect the existing affordable housing options,
par ticularly in areas identified for redevelopment, such as the
Hurontario Street corridor
The program will also explore new par tnerships, innovative
strategies and implementation measures, along with opportunities to
leverage existing legislation at all levels of government.
"The City of Mississauga's Strategic Plan identifies affordable
housing as a priority," said Ed Sajecki, Commissioner of Planning and Building. "Working in par tnership with the Region of
Peel, the Provincial and Federal governments, the Federation
of Canadian Municipalities, the Association of Municipalities
of Ontario, the private sector and non-profit agencies, our goal
is to increase access to affordable housing options. This work
plan is a strong step toward meeting that goal."
The City's Affordable Housing Program is expected to be established by the end of 2016.
MIDWEEK NEWS
NEWS WEEKLY
WEEKLY
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY
AUGUST 28,
16,2012
2016
MidWeek
community
7
MiWay Starts On Two New
Mississauga Transitway Stations
VANESSA MANGAR AND DEEPTA BONIK WON THE TORONTO DANCING SUPERSTAR DUET OF LOVEBIRDS 2016.
ONTARIO PC CANDIDATE LORNE COE
WINS WHITBY-OSHAWA BY-ELECTION
WHITBY - Ontario PC Candidate
Lorne Coe was recently announced the winner of the provincial by-election in the riding of
Whitby-Oshawa.
"Thank you to the hundreds of
volunteers who helped out each
and every day, and to the residents of Whitby-Oshawa who
have placed their trust in me,"
said Coe to a crowded room of
suppor ters. "I am so honoured to
be continuing the legacy of advocacy and strong representation of
progressive conservative values
that our riding has seen under both
Christine Elliott and the late Jim
Flaher ty."
Coe added, "I'd like to thank the
other candidates for a hard-fought
campaign debating the issues that
are impor tant to the people of
Whitby-Oshawa and Durham Region." An overwhelming number
of Whitby-Oshawa residents have
rejected the Wynne Liberals
wasteful spending, financial incompetence, cuts to essential
services, and continued mismanagement of Ontario's economy.
Tonight, the people of WhitbyOshawa said they will support a
Par ty and a candidate who will
stand up against a government
that doesn't have Ontarians' best
interests at hear t.
THE WAY WE THINK INFLUENCES WHAT WE THINK
BY RENUEAPEN, PROGRAM
CONSULTANT
Recognizing our thinking pattern can
help identify our moments of excellence. When you know your thinking
pattern you will be able to pick out
unique talents within yourself, which
means, you can turn what might have
been sheer luck into a repeated series of success.
Everyone is unique. Everyone has
their own way of thinking and storing
memories, ideas and information.
For some children, an incident that
took place a long time ago may remain sharp in their minds. They will
be able to remember minute details,
such as colors, time or people but
something taught to them just an hour
before may not be so easily recalled.
This is not because of their lack of
interest in learning but simply because their pattern of thinking is
formed as a series of pictures. Those
who remember and think in pictures
and stories are right brain dominant.
The right side of their brain focuses
on visual imagery and can make
sense of what they see. Right brain
dominant individuals are generally
more creative, imaginative and have
ANCHOR PARMINDER SINGH WITH BRAIN O BRAIN CANADA TEAM - JULIE GEORGE, PRABHJOT
CHAHAL AND STUDENT AYAAN SHARMA DURING HIS SHOW ON EDUCATION AT CHANNEL Y STUDIOS.
CHANNEL Y CAN BE VIEWED ON ROGERS 857 AND BELL FIBE 828.
a strong sense of estimation and judgment.
Those who are left brain dominant
are strategic and analytical thinkers.
They can easily understand mathematical and scientific concepts.
They are logical and have strong numeric and writing skills.
We take information through all
senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste
and smell. Visual thinkers think in
pictures. To them, ideas, memories,
and imagination come in forms of
images. Auditory thinkers learn better by listening. To them, noises or
voices ring sharply in their minds.
We are a GTA - based company and in business since 2006.
We need team drivers for
Long Haul (USA - Canada) Runs
Team will be paid 54 cents/mile.
Trucks are 2016 on-wards model.
Minimum two year verifiable experience.
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Trailers are safety tested on every trip.
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Send your resume and CVOR through e-mail or fax or in-person
ADDRESS:
COUNCILLOR DHILLON TO
INTRODUCE UBER MOTION AT NEXT
BRAMPTON COUNCIL MEETING
BRAMPTON - At the next
Brampton City Council meeting,
on Wednesday, Febr uar y 24,
Councillor Gurpreet S. Dhillon will
introduce a motion recommending Council to suspend ride-sharing companies, such as Uber,
until a final decision can be made
by the City to ensure public safety,
consumer protection, fairness and regulation. "This is a good
first step and I want to see greater public consultations, including all stakeholders such as the City's taxis, limousine
drivers, operators, and those who work for or use Uber," said
Councillor Dhillon. "Until this public review is completed, we're
asking Uber to suspend their operations within the City of
Brampton until we know a fair and competitive environment
has been created, and that public safety is guaranteed."
INDIAN-ORIGIN ENGINEER
DISCOVERS GROUND BREAKING
2D SEMI-CONDUCTING MATERIAL
HIRING A Z DRIVERS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
MISSISSAUGA - From February 16, MiWay will begin service
to two new Mississauga Transitway stations - Tahoe and Etobicoke
Creek, extending service from Dixie station to the Mississauga Airport Corporate Centre.
"Routes 107 and 109 will now travel on this new section of dedicated
bus corridor and service the Mississauga Airport Corporate Centre,
an important economic hub in the City," said Geoff Marinoff, Director
of Transit. "This will make it easier for commuters to travel to work
and bypass congested roads."
Eight stations and 12 kilometres of the 18 kilometre transitway are
now complete. With the opening of Tahoe and Etobicoke Creek stations, MiWay now travels on the dedicated bus corridor from east of
the City Centre Transit Terminal (Rathburn Road and Hurontario Street)
to Central Parkway, Cawthra, Tomken, Dixie, Tahoe and Etobicoke
Creek stations. In September 2015, the Erin Mills station, constructed
by Metrolinx was opened. MiWay service to the Erin Mills Station is
scheduled to begin in May 2016.
The Mississauga Transitway uses a dedicated corridor, bus-only
bypass lanes on Highway 403 and mixed traffic in the downtown
area. The City is planning to study this downtown area for future
transit development.
When fully complete in 2017, the 18 kilometre transitway will have 12
stations from Winston Churchill in the west to Renforth Gateway in
the east. The dedicated bus corridor will reduce travel times and
improve efficiency, making travel connections to Toronto Pearson
International Airport and the Bloor-Danforth Subway line from Renforth
Station easier via Highway 427.
The City of Mississauga is the first municipality in the Greater Toronto
Area (GTA) to construct a dedicated transitway linking surrounding
GTA communities. Learn more about the transitway by visiting
miway.ca/transitway. For information on MiWay's five-year service
expansion plans from 2016 to 2020 visit miway.ca/miway5
Similarly, some individuals think better through the sense of touch, also
known as Kinesthetic method of
learning. They learn better through
experiments, relating everything
through activities and demonstrations. Taste and smell are a part of
this category.
Our minds may prefer one system
over the other which can influence
the way we think and communicate.
By recognizing our patterns, we can
store information in our unique way
of understanding and remembering.
This can help our minds to be sharper
and stronger.
At Brainobrain, children are taught
using the VAK method- Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic method of learning. By doing so, children from a
young age are able to use both sides
of their brain. This helps them to
empower their learning skills by improving their memory and concentration power. Children will be able
to grasp mathematical concepts
quicker and expand their creative
minds. They will also be able to
recognize their own thinking pattern which will enable them to learn
and retain information in their own
unique way.
NEW YORK, (IANS) A team led by an Indian-origin engineer
from the University of Utah has discovered a new kind of 2D
semi-conducting material for electronics that opens the door
for much speedier computers and smartphones that consume a lot
less power. The semi-conductor, made of the elements tin and oxygen or tin
monoxide (SnO) by the associate professor Ashutosh Tiwari-led team is a
layer of 2D material only one atom thick, allowing electrical charges to
move through it much faster than conventional 3D materials such
as silicon. This material could be used in transistors, the lifeblood of all electronic devices such as computer processors
and graphics processors in desktop computers and mobile
devices. Transistors and other components used in electronic
devices are currently made of 3D materials such as silicon
and consist of multiple layers on a glass substrate. But the
downside to 3D materials is that electrons bounce around inside the
layers in all directions.
M AT R I M O N I A L
Jatt Sikh Dhillon family looking for a Canadian boy for the 25
Year old girl, height 5’ 4’. Girl is working in Toronto and her
PR status is in process, GNM Nursing finished. Girl’s Uncle
and Aunty and Grandparents are well settled in Toronto.
Please Contact 647-825-2385 or 416-275-2275
_____________________________________________
Jatt Sikh Sandhu family looking for a Canadian boy. Girl lives
in India (Moga-Punjab).
Age 22 Year, Height 5’ -2.5”, B.Sc. Nursing done. Girl’ss Aunty
Uncle are well settled in Toronto.
Please Contact 647-628-9708 or 946-392-2392
LIVE-IN CAREGIVER
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Assist child with bathing and other aspects of personal
hygiene, Perform light housekeeping and cleaning
duties, Assume full responsibility for household
(in absence of householder), Assist clients to walk,
Administer medications Paying $13.76/hr Pl only call
weekdays between 7 and 8 am
CITY: MISSISSAUGA, PHONE: (289) 997-0344
8
MidWeek
opinion
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016
ISHRAT JAHAN CASE
FLASHBACK TO A POLICE SHOOTOUT
BY SARWAR KASHANI
NEW DELHI, (IANS) The controversial Ishrat Jahan shootout,
which once sent current BJP president Amit Shah to jail for
months, is back to cause ripples in India's political landscape
after David Coleman Headley, a Pakistani-American Lashkar-eToiba (LeT) operative, on Thursday named her a member of the
terror group.
Controversy has shrouded the action on the June 15, 2004 by a
police team led by DIG D.G. Vanjara, amid claims and
counter-claims about its authenticity. At least two investigations -- one by a metropolitan magistrate and the other by a
cour t ordered special investigation team -- indicated that the
shootout was staged and Ishrat had no terror links. She was
alleged to have been killed in cold-blood.
Shah, was then Gujarat's home minister. He had to resign in
the aftermath of the case. He was jailed for a few months
before being given bail and was asked to live outside Gujarat.
Jahan, a 19-year-old college student, and her three associates, Pranesh Pillai also known as Javed Gulam Sheikh,
Amjad Ali Rana and Zeeshan Johar, were killed near
Ahmedabad in an alleged shootout with the police.
The Ahmedabad police claimed that the slain persons were
Lashkar's suicide bombers and were in the city to kill
Narendra Modi, the then chief minister. The police also
claimed that the suspected terrorists were plotting to avenge
the 2002 Gujarat communal riots, in which hundreds of
Muslims were killed.
MidWeek
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Months later, on September 7, 2009, metropolitan magistrate
S.P. Tamang submitted a repor t in an Ahmedabad cour t saying
that the four had earlier been arrested and killed in police
custody. Tamang picked holes in the police theory citing a
forensic repor t that showed the suspected terrorists were shot
from a ver y close distance and at different times of the day.
Tamang's repor t said that there was no evidence to link them to
the Lashkar militant group and nothing that indicated that they
had planned to assassinate Modi. On the basis of Tamang's
findings, the Ahmedabad cour t ruled it to be a staged shootout.
The government challenged the decision in the high cour t,
terming Tamang's repor t "illegal and doubtful" because, the
government said, it didn't have the response of 20 policemen,
including senior IPS officers, involved in the shooting.
The Gujarat high cour t tasked a Special Investigation Team to
probe the case fur ther. The probe panel submitted its repor t on
November 21, 2011 that the shootout was staged. The high
cour t ordered murder charges to be framed against those
involved. However, in June 2013, an Intelligence Bureau repor t
which appeared in the media told the PMO and the home
ministry that the agency had enough evidence to prove that
Ishrat was par t of an LeT module which planned to kill Modi. In
2004, a Central Bureau of Investigation repor t also denied that
Amit Shah had any role in the shootout.
Headley's earlier testimony before a team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) came in 2011 when he repor tedly told Indian
investigators who had gone to the US that Jahan was a Lashkar
terrorist. And on Thursday he repeated the asser tion via video
from the US before a Mumbai cour t that she indeed worked for
the terror group that operates from Pakistan.
COME ELECTION SEASON, PUNJAB
PARTIES TURN 'STARRY-EYED'
BY JAIDEEP SARIN
CHANDIGARH, (IANS) Major political players in Punjab have literally
become 'starry-eyed' ahead of next year's assembly polls in the state.
Actors, singers, comedians and other celebrities are out to be wooed
by four major political par ties on Punjab's electoral front.
The latest entrants into the political fold are Punjabi comedian-actor
Gurpreet Ghuggi who joined the Aam Aadmi Par ty (AAP) while singeractor Balkar Sidhu, who had earlier been par t of the AAP, joined hands
with the Congress. These two are not the only ones. With assembly
polls in Punjab one year away, more celebrities are likely to take on
political colours.
For AAP, getting a celebrity face in Punjab is nothing new. Its candidate, comedian-actor and singer Bhagwant Mann, won the Sangrur
Lok Sabha seat with the highest margin in the entire state in the 2014
general election. He defeated ruling Shiromani Akali Dal stalwar t and
former union minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa by over 200,000 votes.
Mann, who had earlier aligned with the People's Par ty of Punjab (PPP)
floated by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's estranged nephew
and former Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal in 2011, is
now a prominent face of the AAP in Punjab despite controversies over
his public behaviour and allegations of coming drunk to events.
"Ghuggi joining AAP will be an asset to the par ty. We will utilise his
services for the par ty's campaigning," Mann said here after Ghuggi, a
stand-up comedian and actor, joined the AAP. The AAP, which was
routed in the rest of the country in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, won four
parliamentary seats from Punjab alone.
Balkar Sidhu, a friend of Bhagwant Mann, was earlier par t of the AAP
and has now joined the Congress. He was given the AAP ticket for the
Talwandi Sabo by-election in 2014 but it was withdrawn later due to
his name being involved in controversies related to human trafficking
and eulogising of the gun-culture through his songs.
In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the AAP had fielded singer Jassi Jasraj
for the high-profile Bathinda parliamentary seat poll. He finished third.
In the 2012 assembly polls, the Congress fielded popular singer
Mohammed Sadiq for the Bhadaur reserved assembly seat. He won
the election, but that has been challenged in cour t. In 2013, Punjabi
singing sensation Miss Pooja joined the BJP for a brief period. She
has not been politically active lately.
In the past, the BJP, which is an alliance par tner of the Akali Dal in
Punjab, had fielded two celebrities - actor Vinod Khanna and cricketer-turned-TV celebrity Navjot Singh Sidhu for the Gurdaspur and
Amritsar Lok Sabha seats. While Khanna has won the Gurdaspur seat
four times and lost once (2009), Sidhu got elected from Amritsar
thrice (2004, 2007 (bypoll) and 2009). The BJP dumped Sidhu in the
2014 elections, opting for senior leader Arun Jaitley, who is now the
country's finance minister, for the Amritsar seat.
Jaitley lost the election, his first foray into electoral politics, by a
margin of over 100,000 votes to senior Congress leader and former
Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh. In the 2009 Lok Sabha polls,
the Akali Dal fielded well-known Sufi singer Hans Raj Hans for the
Jalandhar parliamentary seat. Hans continued singing paeans for the
Akali Dal leadership till 2014 before quietly exiting the political scene.
In the 2014 general election, the BJP fielded Bollywood actress
Kirron Kher while the AAP trusted another actress, Gul Panag, for
the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat. Kher, who is known for her motherly roles in
big-ticket Bollywood movies, was elected as the MP of Chandigarh.
DISCLAIMER: THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PAGE ARE THE PERSONAL OPINIONS OF THE AUTHORS.THE INFORMATION, FACTS OR OPINIONS APPEARING IN THE
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MIDWEEK NEWS
NEWS WEEKLY
WEEKLY
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY
AUGUST 28,
16,2012
2016
MidWeek
canada
What will you do with 2,000
hours a year when you retire?
TORONTO MAYOR JOHN TORY PRESENTED THE KEY OF THE CITY TO RAPPER DRAKE (TWITTER.COM).
CANADA, US, MEXICO TO
COOPERATE ON CLIMATE CHANGE
OTTAWA, (IANS) Canada, the US and Mexico signed a deal in Winnipeg,
Canada, on Friday to tap into energy cooperation among the three countries,
National Resources Canada said.
The Memorandum of Understanding on Climate Change and Energy Collaboration was signed at the North American Energy Ministers Meeting, which
was hosted by Canada's Minister of Natural Resources Jim Carr, with the
attendance of US Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz and Mexican Secretary of
Energy Pedro Joaquin Coldwell, Xinhua reported.
"The Memorandum of Understanding we signed today reflects our governments' shared vision for a future where an expanding clean energy sector, a
sustainable environment and a strong economy go hand in hand," said the
Canadian minister. Under the memorandum, the three countries will collaborate and share information in key areas such as low-carbon electricity, clean
energy technologies, energy efficiency, carbon capture, use and storage,
climate change adaptation, and reducing emissions from the oil and gas
sector, including from methane. They will also work together to increase
policy alignment and ensure that the North American energy sector is developed responsibly, effectively and efficiently.
During the meeting, the three ministers discussed the importance of trilateral
cooperation and the continental approach to energy. They also launched a
web platform featuring new energy maps, which for the first time depict
North American energy resources, production and infrastructure in a single
place. It will be helpful to energy users and stakeholders.
Among Canada, the United States and Mexico, 167 billion Canadian dollars
($120 billion) worth of energy products were traded in 2015 across the continent, highlighting the importance of North American energy cooperation. On
November 30, 2015, Canada, the US and Mexico announced their participation in Mission Innovation, along with 17 other countries. Participating governments have committed to doubling their investments in clean energy
research and development over five years.
ONTARIO TO SPEND $8.5 MILLION
TO HELP REFUGEES RESETTLE
ONTARIO - Ontario is helping to ensure seamless and coordinated support for the thousands of refugees
settling in the province. By supporting settlement agencies and sponsorship organizations, the province
is helping ensure the availability of
services critical for refugees to start
their new lives, contribute to economic growth and enrich the
province's cultural fabric.
Premier Kathleen Wynne was at the
City Adult Learning Centre in Toronto
to highlight the support being provided
to refugees to learn English and upgrade their skills to meet the needs
of Ontario's job market. The Premier
also announced two further investments to help refugees settle and integrate into Ontario. The funding of
about $626,000 over two years is part
of the government's commitment of
$8.5 million over two and a half years
to support refugees.
The Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants is receiving about
$343,000 to launch a public education campaign that will create a welcoming environment for refugees and
Ontario's Muslim communities; conduct province-wide trauma and mental health training for front-line staff
working with refugees; and assess
the settlement sector's capacity to
help refugees. COSTI Immigrant Services is receiving $283,000 to develop orientation resources; deliver
workshops to refugees about living
in Ontario; and increase support to
the Armenian Community Centre,
which is sponsoring 2,600 refugees.
Ontario is collaborating with federal
and municipal governments, as well
as community partners, on refugee
settlement and integration. The province has undertaken a variety of initiatives to provide refugees with critical support. These include:
" The Ministry of Education has trained
a group of educators to help district
school boards assess the math and
literacy skills of newly arrived Syrian
children and youth to ensure appropriate school placement.
" The Ministry of Health and Long-Term
Care is working to ensure that refugees
have access to health services such
as immunizations and primary care. A
small Emergency Medical Assistance
Team is meeting flights at Toronto
Pearson International Airport to provide
primary care services.
" Youth outreach workers at community agencies funded by the Ministry
of Children and Youth Services will
be engaging with refugee youth to
build trusting relationships.
Through their outpouring of support,
the people of Ontario have upheld our
province's long tradition of welcoming those fleeing war and oppression.
Our government is working to help
newcomers acquire the education
and skills training that they need to
succeed here. We know how critical
the supports we are providing to refugees from Syria - and around the
world - are to helping them achieve
their dreams of working and raising
a family in Canada. As they do, our
economy and our society are forever
enriched. - Kathleen Wynne, Premier
of Ontario
The compassion and support that
Ontarians have demonstrated during
this crisis is extraordinary. As refugees continue arriving to warm welcomes in communities across
Ontario, we continue to provide ongoing support on many fronts to help
them settle and integrate into our
neighbourhoods. - Michael Chan,
Minister of Citizenship, Immigration
and International Trade
Our government has a long and
proud history of accepting and supporting refugees. Ontario's hospitals,
public health units, dentists, mental
health agencies and community
health centres have been tremendous
partners. These two new investments will help ensure that we continue to meet the needs of refugees. Dr Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health
and Long-Term Care
TORONTO - When Canadians retire, they will have an average of 2,000 additional hours per year to fill - the time they
now spend working. A new RBC survey of 1,500 working
Canadians 50 and older found nearly three-quar ters (73 per
cent) are unsure what they'll do with that extra time.
While the survey found nearly two-thirds (64 per cent)
have done some planning for how they will finance retirement,
less than half have done some planning for retirement lifestyle
decisions, such as where they will live, where they will travel
(44 per cent each) and what activities they will do (46 per cent).
Bill Hill, national financial planning consultant and
retirement designer at RBC, encourages Canadians to plan
for their retirement by first thinking about the kind of life
they want to live in retirement, before discussing their
finances. "Too often, the word 'retirement' is tied to the
money, rather than to the life you hope to lead when you
retire," Hill explained. "You should star t by asking yourself, 'What do I want to do when I retire?' If you're par t of a
couple, have you discussed each other's hopes for
retirement - or are you assuming your par tner fully agrees
with what you personally want to do? If you're an individual, have you thought about what will be truly important
to you when you retire?"
The RBC survey found more than half (61 per cent) of
Canadians polled plan to stay in their current home when
they retire, with more than a quar ter (28 per cent) planning
to renovate. A third (33 per cent) plan to downsize to
smaller home. International home designer Hilary Farr has
seen first-hand how impor tant it is for couples to have
these discussions in advance - whether it's about renovations or retirement. "You need to have a strong foundation
and a shared vision to ensure the end result satisfies
everyone, whether you're thinking about retirement or your
home," said Farr. "For your home in retirement, you should
take other priorities into account as well. For example,
how important is it to you to have family and friends
nearby? How easily will you be able to access healthcare
or get to enter tainment and other activities?"
Canadians wanting to get their own retirement design
underway can find helpful, interactive resources at
www.retirementdesigners.ca
$1.6 MILLION IN SPORTS
CENTRE FOR AT-RISK YOUTH
ONTARIO - Ontario is investing $1.6 million over four years
in a new facility -- the first of its kind in Nor th America -- that
will combine spor t, education and research to help at-risk
youth build a brighter future.
Premier Kathleen Wynne made the announcement today
with Tracy MacCharles, Minister of Children and Youth
Services, at the construction site for MLSE LaunchPad in
Moss Park in downtown Toronto. Ontario's investment will
help suppor t evaluation and research effor ts aligned with
Ontario's Youth Strategy, Stepping Up, and will enhance
non-profit organizations' capacity to serve youth.
MLSE LaunchPad will give 200,000 young people aged 6 to
25 from underserviced communities in the Greater Toronto
Area access to a multipurpose gymnasium, classrooms
and teaching kitchen. The facility will encourage teamwork, resilience and striving for excellence; promote a
healthy and active lifestyle; provide education on nutrition
to encourage healthy eating habits; and teach life skills to
prepare young people for school and work. It is set to open
in 2017.
The funding builds on the government's $55-million
enhanced Ontario Youth Action Plan, which suppor ts atrisk youth to help them reach their full potential.
Making sure the province's young people have the best
possible star t in life is part of the government's plan to
build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to
grow the economy and create jobs. The four-par t plan
includes investing in people's talents and skills, making
the largest investment in public infrastructure in the
province's history, creating a dynamic, suppor tive
environment where business thrives and building a secure
retirement savings plan.
MLSE LaunchPad will encourage teamwork and give
young people the discipline and determination to help them
tackle any challenge they face in life. Our government is
pleased to suppor t these innovative programs, which will
help youth develop the skills and habits they need to reach
their full potential. - Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario
The Ministry of Children and Youth Services is pleased to
provide funding for research effor ts at MLSE LaunchPad.
This research will have a far-reaching impact. Not only
will it show evidence-based ways to improve and deliver
effective programming for youth, it will be shared with
grassroots organizations across Ontario to help them
achieve even better results for our young people. Tracy
MacCharles, Minister of Children and Youth Services
The funding from the Province of Ontario means MLSE
LaunchPad will be able to leverage its spor t, education
and research capabilities to help move the needle on
social issues affecting youth in the communities we serve
and beyond. Aris Kaplanis, Chair of the MLSE Foundation
416-907-4420
9
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canada
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016
Canada calls for genuine commitment TRUDEAU 100 DAYS: DOUBLING SUMMER
to UN-led peace talks on Syria
JOBS PROGRAM TO 70,000
OTTAWA - Stéphane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has issued
the following statement welcoming the outcome of the International Syria Suppor t Group meeting in Munich. "We welcome the
outcome of the International Syria
Suppor t Group meeting in Munich,
in particular the commitment to providing humanitarian assistance and to
implementing a nationwide ceasefire
in Syria. We hope this will pave the way
for a resumption of UN-led peace talks
in Geneva. It is absolutely necessary to
end this conflict, which has caused
the death of over 250,000 people,
including 12,000 children. "A
genuine commitment from all
par ties to the UN-led peace talks
is now essential. Continued military offensives by the Syrian regime and its backers will only
jeopardize the prospects for peace
and strengthen the position of terrorist groups such as ISIL [the
Islamic State of Iraq and the Le-
General Accounting & Bookkeeping
vant]. We call for an immediate
end to attacks on civilians, the
termination of siege tactics, the
release of women and children
detainees and the granting of full
humanitarian access, in accordance with international humanitarian law."
OTTAWA - Canada Summer Jobs
(CSJ) provides funding to not-forprofit organizations, public-sector
employers, and small businesses
with 50 or fewer employees, to help
create summer job opportunities for
students. The program also delivers
important and diverse community
services that can range from youth
services organizations, to summer
camps to services for seniors. Students learn transferrable skills such
as public speaking, time management, self-confidence, and organizational skills.
The Government of Canada announced on February 12 this year that
it will double the number of summer
jobs from over 34,000 in 2015 to
nearly 70,000 in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
New funding will be allocated to
Canada's 338 constituencies on the
basis of the most recent Labour Force
Survey and the census. As a result,
constituencies with higher levels of
unemployed students will receive a
greater allocation than constituencies with lower levels of unemployed students. The annual budget for Canada Summer Jobs will
increase by up to $113 million for
each of the next three years, beginning in 2016-17.
Not-for-profit organizations may be
eligible for up to 100 per cent of the
minimum wage and up to 100 per
cent of mandatory employment-related costs. Public-sector and privatesector employers are eligible for up
to 50 per cent of the minimum wage.
Employers approved for funding must
agree to hire youth who are:
"
between 15 and 30 years
of age at the start of employment;
"
registered as full-time students in the previous academic year
and intending to return to school on a
full-time basis in the next academic
year;
"
Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or have official refugee protection status under the
Immigration and Refugee Protection Act;
MIDWEEK NEWS
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY
AUGUST 28,
16,2012
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11
BJP observes 'Black Day' on
AAP's first year in power
DELHI BJP PRESIDENT SATISH UPADHYAY WITH OTHER BJP LEADERS DURING A DEMONSTRATION AGAINST KEJRIWAL
GOVERNMENT AT JANTAR MANTAR IN NEW DELHI (IANS).
JNU protesters got support
from Hafiz Saeed: Rajnath
NEW DELHI, (IANS) Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said the
demonstration on the JNU campus to mark the hanging of parliament
attack convict Afzal Guru received "suppor t" from Lashkar-e-Taiba
founder Hafiz Saeed. His remark sparked a political uproar with opposition leaders asking him to furnish evidence. Communist Par ty of
India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury posted a series of tweets to
question Rajnath Singh on his remark.
"The Union Home Minister has made a very serious allegation about
terrorists 'backing' JNU protests. We hope that he has concrete proof,"
Yechury wrote. "When we met the Home Minister yesterday (Saturday), he never mentioned Hafiz Saeed to us but only harped on the
slogans being raised at the protests. This seems to be a case of
shifting goalposts with the sole design of tarnishing JNU. Considering
the gravity of the charge made by no less than the Union Home Minister, we
would like him to share the evidence with the country.
"We are concerned as we've seen this earlier with the Home Minister where he
deleted his twitter updates about Pathankot attack terrorists," Yechury said. Rajnath
Singh on Sunday told reporters here that what happened at Jawaharlal Nehru
University had the support of LeT chief Hafiz Saeed and it was very unfortunate.
"What happened in JNU also got suppor t from Lashkar chief Hafiz
Saeed. The nation must also accept the reality," he said. While Rajnath
Singh did not give any reference for his comment, a tweet recently
surfaced from the Twitter handle @HafeezSaeedJUD with the hashtag
#PakStandWithJNU that asked Pakistanis to trend the hashtag
#Suppor tJNU for "pro-Pakistani JNUites brothers".
The Twitter handle, however, was not a verified one and it appeared
that the tweet was later deleted. A home ministry spokesperson later
said the minister's remarks were based on inputs from various agencies. "The home minister made his statement based on inputs from
agencies," the spokesperson said. Saeed is wanted in India for the
2008 terror attack in Mumbai.
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said Rajnath
Singh should share evidence about his remarks concerning Saeed.
"That #HafizSaeed suppor ted the #JNU protests is a very serious
charge to level against the students. The evidence must be shared
with all. "The Home Minister must go public with the evidence collected that enabled him to level this charge against the #JNU students #HafizSaeed
Kanhaiya 'beaten up' in court complex; sent to judicial custody
NEW DELHI, (IANS) JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar, arrested for sedition, was on Wednesday sent to judicial custody till March 2
while the Supreme Court made Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi personally responsible for his safety after being told that he was
"badly beaten up" while being brought to cour t premises.
Several journalists were again beaten up by a section of lawyers at the Patiala House Cour t - much like what happened on Monday before Kanhaiya Kumar was brought there. With another day of scuffles at the Patiala House court, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
said the law and order situation in the national capital was "fast deteriorating" and the Communist Par ty of India-Marxist demanded
Bassi's removal following the "assault" on Kanhaiya Kumar. Bassi, however, maintained that the JNU student was not beaten up.
As the controversy over JNU protests escalated, Communications and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the
country was eager to hear "eloquent, powerful and constructive alternative voice" from the university.
Metropolitan Magistrate Lovleen sent Kanhaiya Kumar to judicial custody after Delhi Police said it did not need the Jawaharlal Nehru
University Students Union (JNUSU) president any more for interrogation.
The cour t directed Delhi Police, who will escor t him to the jail from the court, and the superintendent of the Tihar jail to ensure his safety.
Kanhaiya Kumar told the cour t that he was attacked by a group of people wearing black robes while he was being escorted by police to
the court room. The leftist All India Students Federation (AISF) leader was arrested on February 12 on after anti-India slogans were raised
at an event held at the JNU campus on February 9 to commemorate the execution of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.
Kanhaiya Kumar, in a statement leaked to the media, appealed to students to maintain calm and said he does not suppor t anti-national
activity. He condemned the February 9 event at the JNU and said those who shouted the allegedly anti-national slogans included "some
people from JNU and a section of outsiders". Ten student organisations owing allegiance to different political par ties on Wednesday
pledged support to him while Amnesty International sought his immediate release.
NEW DELHI, (IANS) The BJP's Delhi unit on Sunday observed
a "Kala Diwas (Black Day)" on the first anniversary and staged
a protest against its "total failure".
Bharatiya Janata Par ty (BJP) state president Satish Upadhyay
said that it was very unfor tunate that the government which
got unprecedented mandate from the people has in just one
year lost its connection with the common man.
"Aam Aadmi Par ty government's one year is a total failure of
governance. It is a black day today (Sunday)," he said as BJP
workers gathered outside the New Delhi Municipal Council
(NDMC) convention centre where a programme to mark the
AAP government's first year in office was underway.
The par ty workers raised slogans against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and displayed placards that read "Har Roz
Naya Bawal, Pehla Saal Kejriwal" (Every day a new controversy, first year of Kejriwal).
Kejriwal presented the 'repor t card' of the AAP government on
completion of its one year in office by holding a public interaction session along with his ministers where he and his cabinet answered phone calls from people.
BJP PRESIDENT SLAMS
RAHUL OVER JNU ROW
CONTD. FROM PAGE 1
"I demand an answer from Congress president Sonia Gandhi and
her son Rahul Gandhi over the issue. I also demand Rahul Gandhi
to apologise to the nation for his acts," the BJP president said.
"I want to ask him if he has joined hands with separatists?" Shah
asked. The JNU has been on the boil over the arrest of Kanhaiya
Kumar on sedition charges after anti-national slogans were raised
at a meeting on the campus to mark the anniversaries of the
execution of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and Jammu and
Kashmir Liberation Front co-founder Maqbool Bhat.
Shah said Rahul Gandhi was not able to "differentiate between
anti-national and pro-national activity".
"Is this the definition of nationalism for Rahul Gandhi? By terming
anti-national activities as student revolution and describing (the)
action against anti-nationals as (an) attack on the freedom of speech
and expression, he has shown insensitivity towards the country's
unity. "I want to ask Rahul Gandhi: Had it been in national interest
if the government didn't act and remained silent? Are you not encouraging anti-national forces by staging support in their protest?"
RAHUL GANDHI FLAYS
RSS, BJP ON
PATRIOTISM ISSUE
CONTD. FROM PAGE 1
"In Indian Institutes of Technology, a youth stands up and tells
about the Dalits; the government of India says he is a traitor.
The president of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union
spoke about the poor people, weak people, progress, Adivasis
and development etc. What does the government of India say?
It terms him a traitor."
The Congress leader said that whenever the youth speak out
against the ideologies of the RSS and the BJP, they are termed
traitors. "It seems only the RSS has opened a shop of patriotism; only they can say who is a patriot or a traitor. They (RSS
and BJP) are the people who fired three bullets at Mahatma
Gandhiji. These are the people who bowed their heads before
the British. Now they ask us to take lessons of 'deshbhakti'
(patriotism)?" Gandhi said.
"But this is not fair. I want to tell them that more they pressurise
the youth, more the youth will stand up against them and challenge them," he said. "What is the meaning of Independence if
the RSS can take away the voice of the youth...they have only
one agenda - they want power."
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MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016
BJP wins four seats as NDA fares
better in by-elections
ACTIVISTS OF DSO AND SUCI (C) TAKE OUT A RALLY AGITATING FOR THE RELEASE OF THE JNU STUDENTS UNION PRESIDENT
KANHAIYA KUMAR IN KOLKATA (IANS).
December factory output falls again,
January inflation up 5.69 per cent
NEW DELHI, (IANS) India's factory output declined again in December by minus 1.3 per cent while retail inflation climbed to 5.69 per
cent in January from 5.61 per cent in the month before, official data
showed on Friday. There was a growth of 3.6 per cent in December
2014.
Although the December output growth continued to be in the negative
as compared to 3.6 per cent growth in December 2014, it was somewhat better than the minus 3.42 per cent dip registered in the month
before.
As per data on index of industrial production (IIP) released by the
Central Statistics Office, the cumulative growth of the country's factory output logged a 3.1 percent rise in the first nine months of the
current fiscal as against 2.6 per cent growth during the corresponding
period of last fiscal.
December IIP was dragged lower by a minus 2.4 per cent drop in
manufacturing activity. Between the other broader indices, electricity
production rose by 3.2 per cent, while that for mining was up by 2.9
per cent. The cumulative growth of the electricity and mining indices
for the first nine months of the current fiscal were 4.5 per cent and 2.3
per cent, respectively. Manufacturing's cumulative growth stood at
3.1 per cent.
In addition, the data revealed that among the six use-based classifications of the index, the output of consumer durables segment expanded by 16.5 per cent in December. The consumer goods segment
accelerated by 2.8 per cent. However, capital goods segment, which
is a key indicator of economic activity plunged by minus 19.7 per
cent. The output of consumer non-durables was lower by minus 3.2
per cent.
The basic and intermediate goods' output inched-up by 0.5 per cent
and 0.9 per cent, respectively. Overall, only 10 out of the 22 industry
groups in the manufacturing sector have shown negative growth during the month under review.
Economy has plunged into deep crisis, says Congress
New Delhi, Feb 12 (IANS) The Congress on Friday said that the
"economy has plunged into deep crisis" in the 21 months of Narendra
Modi government with decline in GDP, increase in bad loans of banks
and rupee on a "downward slide." Congress spokesperson Abhishek
Manu Singhvi said that the government seems "clueless" about reviving economy. "They seem to move from one slogan and event to
another without attempting to address the real crisis at hand. Slogans
like `Make in India', 'Digital India' and `Skill India' have turned out to
be nothing but hollow slogans in order to befool people of India by
diver ting attention," he said. Singhvi said that India's GDP growth
slowed down to 7.3 per cent in the third quar ter from a revised 7.7 per
cent in the preceding September quar ter,the lowest in the three quarters of this fiscal. He said 29 state-owned banks wrote off Rs 1.14
lakh crore bad debts between 2013 and 2015, much more than they
had done in the last 9 years. Singhvi said investors were dumping
shares of state-run banks which account for close to 90 percent of
banking sector's "troubled assets" of nearly $100 billion. The rupee,
which was Rs 58.5 to a dollar when Narendra Modi government assumed office, had slid to Rs.68.38 to a dollar. Singhvi also said the
market sentiment had also come down. "The prime minister has systematically undermined all good work done by the previous UPA government," he said.
ECONOMIC PROBLEMS MANMOHAN'S GIFT
TO THE NATION, SAYS BJP
NEW DELHI, (IANS) Hitting back at former prime minister Manmohan Singh over his criticism of
Narendra Modi governments' economic policies, the BJP said on Friday that the problems are his
gift to the nation. "He rightly identifies a lot of issues Indian economy is facing. These problems
are his gift to the nation. He himself admits that when they were in power, people complained of
tax terrorism. Can he tell us if he addressed this problem?" the ruling par ty said here in a
statement.
"But we believe in solutions and not problems, and are solving all legacy problems left by UPA,"
it added. Manmohan Singh, in an interview, criticised the Bharatiya Janata Par ty government for
its economic policies, saying it has not been able to benefit from falling oil prices and "for tuitous
circumstances" to boost the rate of investment in the country.
The Bharatiya Janata Par ty also hit out at Singh for being critical of the Modi government. "We are
absolutely delighted with the fact that Manmohan Singh has finally found his voice in the Modi
regime. We welcome him to a free India where everyone can speak what he thinks unlike the
India when even he as the PM was denied his free speech," the par ty said.
"When he was the PM his silence and inability to act against corruption hur t India's image
internationally and put citizens trust in the Government at an all time low," it added. The BJP also
accused Manmohan Singh of batting only for one family rather to the nation. "Perhaps he hasn't
been following the news properly enough and so gives the rich advice that the PM belongs to the
entire nation. 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' and India First are our government's guiding mantra. He
conveniently forgets that he was a PM who batted only for one family," the party said.
NEW DELHI, (IANS) The BJP on Tuesday won four seats and the
Congress two as the ruling NDA bettered the opposition in by-elections for 12 seats held across eight states three days ago. Uttar
Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) was the worst sufferer. The
SP lost two of the three seats it held in Uttar Pradesh - one each to the
Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Par ty (BJP). The BJP also
snatched two seats from the Congress - one each in Madhya
Pradesh and Karnataka. The BJP was the winner in Maihar
(Madhya Pradesh), Muzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh) and in
Hebbal and Devadurga in Karnataka. The Congress grabbed
Bidar in Karnataka and Deoband in Uttar Pradesh. Bihar's
Harlakhi seat was retained by the Rashtriya Lok Samata Par ty
(RLSP). The Shiv Sena won from Palghar in Maharashtra, the
ruling TRS crushed the Congress in Narayankhed in Telangana
and the CPI-M won from Amarpur in Tripura again with the BJP
taking the second spot. Punjab's Kharoor Sahib constituency
went the Shiromani Akali Dal way in an election boycotted by
both the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Par ty (AAP), the state's
new entrant. In BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, Narayan Tripathi
snatched the Maihar constituency from the Congress by over
27,000 votes. Tripathi had won the seat for the Congress earlier. He quit the house after joining the BJP. Uttar Pradesh proved
a shocker to the SP. BJP's Kapil Dev Agarwal was declared
elected from Muzaffarnagar, where communal riots took place
in 2013. He defeated Chittaranjan Swaroop of the SP by about
6,000 votes. Congress's Mavia Ali worsted Meena Rana of SP
in Deoband by 3,424 votes. Both Muzaffarnagar and Deoband
seats were held by the SP, which faces assembly elections in the
state next year. The SP's consolation came in Bikapur in Faizabad
district. It retained the seat, the winner being Anand Sen Yadav.
PUNJAB SHIV SENA LEADER'S
SON SHOT AT IN JALANDHAR
JALANDHAR, (IANS) A son of a Shiv Sena leader in Punjab's Jalandhar
city was on Tuesday shot at and critically injured by unidentified assailants, police said. Deepak, son of Shiv Sena leader
Vinay Jalandhari, was shot at by two motorcycle-borne assailants outside a school in Deen Dyal Upadhaya Nagar locality on Tuesday afternoon as Deepak arrived there to pick up
his children.
Deepak was rushed to a nearby private hospital here, 150 km
from Chandigarh. Police said CCTV footage from the school
and other areas showed that the assailants had covered their
heads and faces. The rear number plate of the motorcycle
used in the crime was missing.
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh on Tuesday condemned the murderous attack on Deepak. Expressing grave
concern over such incidents, Amarinder Singh said it was the
third incident of its kind in the state in the past one month.
"Two similar incidents took place in Ludhiana earlier and police were yet to identify the culprits," the Congress leader said
in a statement here.
Amarinder Singh flayed the Akali-BJP government in Punjab
for its failure to identify and arrest the guilty. Unidentified
miscrants had fired at a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
'shakha' in Ludhiana on January 18. No one was injured. In the
second incident in Kidwai Nagar in Ludhiana, a single shot was fired
by a person at one of the participants at an RSS 'shakha'.
MIDWEEK NEWS
NEWS WEEKLY
WEEKLY
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY
AUGUST 28,
16,2012
2016
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13
China, South Korea to discuss
Korean peninsula issue
BEIJING, (IANS) Officials from China and South Korea on Tuesday will discuss the current situation on the Korean peninsula,
said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei on Monday. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui and South
Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam will co-chair
the seventh high-level strategic dialogue scheduled on February 16 in Seoul, Xinhua quoted Hong as saying.
The two sides are expected to exchange views on bilateral
relations, the current situation on the Korean peninsula and
other issues of mutual concern, said Hong. The sixth high-level
strategic dialogue was held on June 3, 2013 in Beijing.
SEVEN DIE IN ATTACK ON
MSF-SUPPORTED HOSPITAL
INDEPENDENT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FAUSTIN TOUADERA (1ST L) CASTS HIS BALLOT AT A POLLING STATION IN BANGUI,
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (IANS).
Turkey denies reports of troops entering Syria
ANKARA, (IANS) Turkish Defence Minister Ismet Yilmaz has denied Syria's
claim that about 100 Turkish troops had entered Syria, the media reported on
Monday. "It is not true," Yilmaz told lawmakers in Ankara during a parliamentary budget meeting on Sunday shortly after the Syrian government made the
claim. The Syrian Foreign Ministry has sent a letter of protest to the UN
Security Council over the alleged move, Xinhua reported.
In a related development, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke on Sunday about the situation in Syria,
the prime minister's office said.
The phone conversation came in the wake of Turkey shelling positions of the
Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria.
The Turkish artillery continued to shell Kurdish areas in northern Syria for the
second straight day on Sunday, killing and injuring nine fighters of a Kurdish
group, a monitor group reported.
Two fighters with the Kurdish-backed Syrian Democratic Force, a new rebel
alliance comprising of Syrian Arab and Kurdish fighters and supported by the
West, were killed and seven wounded by the Turkish shelling that targeted
YPG positions in Aleppo, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Turkish officials have repeatedly said that they will not allow the Kurds in
Syria to expand more near the Turkish border.
The latest escalation also came as talk about a ground intervention by Saudi
and Turkish troops in Syria made headlines in recent days.
Observers say such an intervention
will spark even more chaos in the
war-torn country.
Syria's Foreign Minister Walid alMoallem said any foreign troops entering the country without the consent of the government "will be sent
home in wooden coffins."
ISRAEL'S EX-PM OLMERT STARTS JAIL TERM FOR GRAFT
JERUSALEM, (IANS) Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert on Monday star ted serving his 19month jail sentence for bribery and obstruction of justice.
Olmer t, 70, is the first ex-Israeli prime minister to serve time in prison, Xinhua repor ted.
The media showed Olmer t entering the Ma'assiyahu prison in Israel.
A shor t while earlier, he released a video footage, proclaiming his innocence.
"At this time I want to say that I deny outright the charges relating to bribery attributed to me," he
said. "As prime minister I was entrusted with Israel's security and now I am the one who is about
to sit behind bars. You may well imagine how this transformation is painful and strange to me."
"It is with a very heavy hear t that I accept the sentence -- no one is above the law," he said.
A spokeswoman for the Prison Service said Olmer t will be admitted to "block 10," a special section
of the prison intended to house prisoners who for various reasons cannot be placed with the general
prison population. Due to Olmer t's former position, "he is subject to various threats and is in
danger", she said. Olmer t, who served as the Israeli prime minister between 2006 and 2009, was
convicted for bribery, fraud, and obstruction of justice for pressuring his former aide Shula Zaken
not to testify against him.
PARIS, (IANS) At least seven people were killed after a
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)-suppor ted hospital in Syria
was destroyed in an attack on Monday, the medial humanitarian organisation said. The hospital in Ma'arat Al Numan in Idlib
province was hit by four missiles in two attacks within a few
minutes of each other, according to staff from the hospital.
Around 15 other houses and structures located in populated
zones were struck in the area, including repor ts of another
non-MSF-suppor ted hospital. "The destruction on the MSF suppor ted facility appears to be a deliberate attack on a health
structure," said Massimiliano Rebaudengo, MSF's Head of
Mission. Five patients were killed as well as one caretaker. In
addition, a hospital guard was killed and eight members of
staff are missing, presumed dead, a MSF statement said. Other
patients are still missing, but their numbers are currently unknown, the
statement said. "The destruction of the hospital leaves the local population
of around 40,000 people without access to medical services in an active
zone of conflict," Massimiliano said.
14
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MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016
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AUGUST 28,
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15
PUTIN, OBAMA DISCUSS
SYRIA CRISIS OVER PHONE
GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL (R) AND VISITING ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU ATTEND A
WELCOME CEREMONY AT THE CHANCELLERY IN BERLIN (IANS).
ECONOMY TOP CONCERN OF
US VOTERS NOW: GALLUP
WASHINGTON, (IANS) In the lead-up to the next US primary in the
state of South Carolina, Americans' main concern is the economy,
according to a Gallup poll. The economy and jobs have been a
major concern of Americans since 2008 when the country was hit
by the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression,
Xinhua repor ted.
While there have been improvements, the US economy has not fully
bounced back. Millions remain unemployed or underemployed,
wages remain stagnant, and that issue is on Americans' minds as
they decide which candidate to suppor t, said the Gallup poll
released on Thursday. Seventeen per cent of Americans name the
economy as the top problem, up from 13 per cent last month and
nine percent in December.
In those months the government and terrorism were more prominent among Americans edging out the economy as the No.1
problem, Gallup found. In addition to the economy, at least 10
percent of the US adults mention dysfunctional government,
immigration and unemployment as the top problem facing the
nation, according to Gallup.
Altogether, 39 per cent of Americans name an economic issue -including the economy in general, unemployment, the federal
budget, wages and others -- as the most impor tant problem in
February. That is up from less than 30 per cent in December and
January, according to Gallup. While the economy in general ranked
as a top issue among Republicans, independents and Democrats,
par tisans differ in what else they perceive to be most impor tant.
The Republicans are more likely than Democrats and independents
to name the federal budget deficit, immigration and national
security. Democrats and independents are more likely than
Republicans to name unemployment or jobs. Democrats are also
slightly more likely than independents and Republicans to name
race relations, education and health care.
The economy and unemployment are again prominent in Americans' minds as impor tant problems, while non-economic issues
such as terrorism have faded. This could be impor tant to Washington lawmakers as they attempt to agree on the next budget. The next
Republican Par ty primary will be held in South Carolina on February 20, while the Democratic Par ty's is to be held on February 27.
CHANDIGARH BORN JUDGE SEEN AS
NEW US APEX COURT JUSTICE
BY ARUN KUMAR
WASHINGTON, (IANS) The sudden death of a US Supreme Cour t justice has catapulted a Chandigarh-born Indian-American judge to the
top of succession stakes amid a major political battle during an election year. Srikanth Srinivasan, 48, who became a judge of the US
Cour t of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit -- a traditional
launching pad for Supreme Cour t nominees - in May 2013 after a 970 Senate vote was on the shor t-list of many in the media.
Speculation over whom President Barack Obama would nominate to
replace Antonin Scalia star ted hours after the conservative judge's
death Saturday morning in Texas even as top Republicans said the
choice should be left to the next president. Obama said Saturday he
would nominate a successor "in due time," and the Senate will get
"plenty of time .to give that person a fair hearing and a timely vote"
even as Senate Republican leaders and presidential candidates were
dead set against the move. Any list of potential replacements begins
with Srinivasan, said CNN noting that Obama would likely try to find
someone that at least some Republicans in Congress might find ac-
ceptable given that the opposition par ty controls both chambers.
Obama first nominated him to the post in 2012, and the Senate confirmed him, 97-0, in May 2013, including votes in suppor t from Republican presidential contenders Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio.
Srinivasan's father hailed from Mela Thiruvenkatanathapuram, a village near Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. His family, including two younger
sisters, migrated in the late 1960s to Lawrence, Kansas.
His father was a professor of mathematics at the University of Kansas, and his mother taught at the Kansas City Ar t Institute and later
worked at the University of Kansas computer science depar tment.
Srinivasan was a high school basketball star in Kansas before attending Stanford University, which he graduated from in 1989.
He was Obama's principal deputy solicitor general, most notably
working on the successful fight against the Defence of Marriage Act.
Srinivasan also has experience on the other side of the aisle, serving
as an assistant to the solicitor general during the George W. Bush
administration and as a clerk to Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. He
was once a par tner in the law firm O'Melveny & Myers.
Iran increases oil production, sends first shipment to Europe
TEHRAN, (IANS/EFE) Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Rokneddin Javadi announced on Sunday that his country has increased its oil
production by 400,000 barrels per day after the lifting of international sanctions against the Islamic Republic, adding that an
increase by another 200,000 barrels per day will take place.
Javadi made this announcement while revealing that Iran has sent its first crude oil shipment to Europe in five years. Four
million barrels were expor ted to a refinery in Spain as well as the Total French company and the Russian Lukoil company.
According to Fars news agency, Iran is selling its oil to Europe at a discount and at a lower price than that offered by Saudi
Arabia. Increasing oil expor ts is the main objective of the Iranian ministry of petroleum since the implementation of the nuclear
agreement reached with the P5+1 countries (the US, France, China, Britain, Russia and Germany).
Saudi Arabia announces major military manoeuvres with 19 allies
RIYADH, (IANS/EFE) Saudi Arabia announced on Sunday the arrival of troops of 19 of its ally countries, who will par ticipate in
the Ra'ad Al-Shamal (Thunder of the Nor th) military manoeuvres - "the largest and most impor tant military manoeuvre in the
history of the region".
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the manoeuvres will be carried out at King Khalid Military City in Hafr Al-Batin in
nor thern Saudi Arabia.
Countries par ticipating include Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain, Senegal, Sudan, Kuwait, Maldives,
Morocco, Pakistan, Chad, Tunisia, Comoros, Djibouti, Oman, Qatar, Malaysia, Egypt, Mauritania, Mauritius, in addition to the
Peninsula shield forces.
According to SPA, the manoeuvres are considered as "the largest of its kind in terms of the number of countries with the
par ticipation of 20 Arab, Islamic and friendly countries". The "Thunder of the Nor th" exercise involving ground, air, and naval
forces sends a "clear message" that Riyadh and its allies "stand united in confronting all challenges and preserving peace and
stability in the region", SPA said.
Riyadh announced last December the creation of the Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism, which consists of 34 countries, many of which are included in the current exercises. However this military coalition has not been materialised yet.
MOSCOW, (IANS) Russian President Vladimir Putin and his
US counterpar t Barack Obama on Sunday discussed the Syrian crisis over phone, the Kremlin said. During the "frank and
business-like" conversation, Putin and Obama positively assessed the results of the International Syria Suppor t Group
(ISSG) meeting in Munich on February 11-12, Xinhua repor ted.
Both leaders suppor ted the tasks of achieving ceasefire and
delivering humanitarian aid, while agreeing to intensify cooperation through diplomatic and other channels to implement
the agreement reached at the ISSG meeting. Putin noted the
need to establish regular working contacts between the defence ministries of the two countries in order to ensure a "systematic and successful" fight against terrorism.
Both countries have carried out military campaigns in Syria.
The ISSG meeting, sponsored by the the US and Russia,
agreed on a nationwide cessation of hostilities to be implemented soon in Syria, and on humanitarian aid delivery to
besieged areas in the country. The two leaders also touched
on the situation in Ukraine, especially the implementation
of the Minsk accords.
Putin expressed hope that Kiev would take practical steps
to meet its obligations under the Minsk deal as soon as
possible, including constitutional reform, establishing direct dialogue with the two self-proclaimed republics in
eastern Ukraine, and amendments to the law on special
status of the Donbass region.
Relations between Russia and the Western countries have
been undermined by disputes over the Syria and Ukraine
issues, with both sides waging a sanctions war and cutting
dialogues.
ASEAN UNLIKELY TO TAKE
SIDES BETWEEN US, CHINA
AT SUMMIT: ANALYSTS
KUALA LUMPUR, (IANS) A two-day summit will kick off later
on Monday between Asean leaders and its host US President
Barack Obama at the Sunnylands Centre in California, which is
the first such meeting to be held on US soil.
It's believed that the US government will take the gathering as
an oppor tunity to exer t its clout in Southeast Asia against a
backdrop of growing Chinese influence in the region, when
Obama may wish to reach consensus among all Asean member states to issue a statement on the South China Sea disputes that will touch on China, Xinhua repor ted.
However, exper ts said as Southeast Asia has always taken a
neutral stance in the tussle between the powers, and there are
huge mutual interests and deep cooperation between the region and China, Asean is not expected to take sides between
the US and China at the summit.
Although a US State Depar tment official has claimed that the
imminent summit is "not anti-China," China will inevitably be
an impor tant topic in the discussion.
"The issue of South China Sea will for sure be featured in the
discussions in the context of the freedom of navigation," said
Tang Siew Mun, head of the Asean Studies Centre and concurrently senior fellow at the Regional Strategic and Political Studies programme at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute based in
Singapore. However, during the summit, while countries like
the Philippines may continue to play the victim and urge the
Asean to take a hard stance against China over the territorial
disputes with the backing of the US, Asean as a whole is not
expected to take sides on this issue due to its strong and complicated ties with China.
William Kirby, T.M. Chang Professor of China Studies at Harvard
University, said all the attending countries have complex relations
with China, most of which are very positive.
Speaking to visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry last month,
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said "for the South China Sea
issue, we should... try to encourage the countries concerned in the
dispute to continue negotiations with each other because Asean has
no rights to measure land for any sides." As part of Obama's AsiaPacific rebalance strategy, the summit also sees different expectations from its Asean attendants. "It is hard to say that
there is a strong consensus of all Asean countries on what
they expect from the US. Some want stronger or more robust
presence of the US in the region, while others prefer less,"
said Ngeow Chow Bing, senior lecturer at the Institute of China
Studies, University of Malaya.
While the minimum consensus is that all will prefer the US to
continue to have at least some presence, that presence should
not be seen as making Asean countries feel compelled to pick
between the US and China, he added.
Ngeow said that there may also be different policy preferences
or agendas between the US and Asean for the summit. "While
the US may want to make the summit's discussions devoted to
mostly China-related issues, some Asean countries may expect that the summit can focus on US-Asean rather than USAsean-China," he added.
TERROR SUSPECT, POLICEMAN
KILLED IN INDONESIA SHOOTOUT
JAKARTA, (IANS) A suspected terrorist and a police official
were killed on Monday in a shootout in Indonesia. The incident
occurred in Bima district around 7. a.m. (local time), XInhua
quoted police chief General Badrodin Haiti as saying. Haiti
said the suspect was a member of a terrorist group led by
high profile militant leader Santoso based in Poso in Central
Sulawesi. The militant, who appeared to be alone, fired
shots at the police, said Haiti.
"He took par t in assassination of the police chief of a subdistrict in Bima. He was also the perpetrator who shot a
police patrol in Poso," he said in Jakar ta. Indonesian police
have been on high aler t for ter ror threats following an
announcement by the Islamic State group. In Januar y, the
group claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing in
Jakar ta, which killed eight people, including four attackers.
16
MidWeek
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016
Bored with 'hardworking'
tag, want poetic
adjectives: Katrina
ALIA BHATT, SIDHARTH MALHOTRA, RATNA PATHAK SHAH, RAJAT KAPOOR AND FAWAD KHAN AT THE TRAILER LAUNCH OF
FILM KAPOOR AND SONS IN MUMBAI (IANS).
What do Bollywood celebs fear?
MUMBAI, (IANS) Karan Johar fears that his right profile is captured
instead of the left on camera; Parineeti Chopra is scared of plane
landings; Neil Nitin Mukesh is afraid of being alone -- it is such fears
and more that a string of Bollywood stars have shared ahead of the
release of "Neerja" -- a biopic on a fearless woman.
The celebrities shared their fears as par t of a unique social media
campaign made for the Sonam Kapoor starrer "Neerja", which encourages unleashing one's fears and exhibiting courage.
Produced by Atul Kasbekar under the banner of Fox Star Studios, the
film, which is slated to release on February 19, revolves around the
hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in Karachi in Pakistan and how a flight
attendant named Neerja Bhanot saved the lives of 360 people on
board the air craft. To suppor t her bravery, many Bollywood celebrities took to various social media sites to share videos of their fears
and how they overcame it under the hashtag "#fearvsneerja".
Here's what the stars have said:
Salman Khan shared a piece of advice given by his father Salim
Khan: "Jo darr gaya samjho mar gaya".
Anil Kapoor shared: "My biggest fear is sitting on the dining table and
going hysterical and berserk where food is concerned. I overcome it
by sitting with my wife who keeps on slapping on my hand so that I
don't eat too much.
Filmmaker Karan Johar spoke about his biggest fear which is of his
right profile being captured instead of his left profile which he feels
makes him look best.
Shahid Kapoor shared a rather light hearted video in which he said he
doesn't have any fear, while Priyanka Chopra talked about a rather unique
fear which she termed as 'No-Mo Phobia' -- fear of no mobile phones.
Parineeti Chopra terms "plane landing' to be her biggest fear; and Alia
Bhatt shared that she fears "missing out" and so she battles it by
being everywhere and doing everything.
Anupam Kher is fearful about losing his memory one day.
Huma Qureshi spoke out loud about her fear of dreams.
Rajkumar Rao shared: "My biggest fear would be that one day my
director would say action and I will just freeze. I wouldn't know how to
act.. I wouldn't know how to crack it. It's like god will take away
acting from me. I don't know what I would do then."
Neil Nitin Mukesh termed "being alone" to be his biggest fear.
Esha Gupta shared to have overcome her fear of "free falling" by
indulging in sky diving.
KUHELI GANGULEE (INDIA) WON GOLD MEDAL, ANUJA JUNG (INDIA) WON SILVER MEDAL AND MANDIRA RAEES (PAKISTAN) WON
BRONZE MEDAL IN THE 50M RIFLE PRONE WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL AT THE 12TH SOUTH ASIAN GAMES-2016, IN GUWAHATI (IANS).
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CALL ROGERS AT 1.800.929.5723 & BELL FIBE AT 1.888.748.9196
MUMBAI, (IANS) Actress Katrina Kaif says that she has heard numerous compliments terming her "hardworking", but she would rather
prefer more poetic adjectives. "I have said this already, I want to hear
more adjectives... I want to hear dream-like, talented, wistful, beautiful - I want to hear poetic ones," said Katrina on Wednesday at the Reliance
Digital store for the promotions of her film "Fitoor".
Her response was to the query regarding her "Ek Tha Tiger" co-star Salman
Khan calling her "most hardworking in the industry" and almost like a
"mazdoor" (worker). Her mother in "Fitoor", Tabu had also claimed that Katrina
was the most hardworking actress. "If my co-stars find and feel that I'm a
good worker and a hard worker,
that's good because in all seriousness there is so
much riding on a film,
everyone puts in so
much of their life,
hardwork and money. So
the most you can do is to
give your best, work with
your full hear t, work as
much as you can, then leave it
up to god," she added.
Katrina and her co-star Aditya Roy
Kapur promoted "Fitoor" in various cities like Delhi, Jaipur,
Ahmedabad recently. But
she is not tired and wants
more. "If I had my way, I
would have gone to every city, at least 8 or 9
more. But there is only so
much time and we can only
do that much in the time we
have. We have tried to get
the message about the film
out there. It's a film that we
really believe in.
ASHWIN SPINS INDIA TO
SERIES WIN OVER SL,
INDIA REMAIN T20 NO.1
VISAKHAPATNAM, (IANS) Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (4/8)
spearheaded an incisive bowling attack to help India beat Sri Lanka
by nine wickets in their third and final T20 International and win the
series 2-1 here on Sunday. The series win also enabled India remain
No.1 in the T20 rankings.
Chasing a paltry target of 83 runs for a win, India lost just the wicket
of right-hander Rohit Sharma (13) in the sixth over when their score
was 29. Left-hander Shikhar (46) and Ajinkya Rahane (22) guided
India home in 13.5 overs for a win with 37 balls to spare.
Ashwin was named Man of the Match as well as the Man of the Series
for his impressive form. Earlier, Ashwin) ran through Sri Lanka's top
order to help India bowl out Sri lanka for a mere 82 runs at the Dr. Y.S.
Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium here. Ashwin's supreme display was backed by his team-mates as pacers Ashish Nehra
(1/17), Jasprit Bumrah (1/10), left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (1/6)
and par t-timer Suresh Raina (2/11) all contributed to the Sri Lankan
debacle. Sri Lanka's batsmen could never get going with Dasun
Shanaka (19) being their highest scorer. They were bowled out in the
18th of their allotted 20 overs. India won the toss and chose to field.
Dhoni's decision was justified by off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin
who opened the bowling and struck twice in the very first over.
I CONTD. ON PAGE 22
18
MidWeek
bollywood
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016
'SANAM RE' HAS ELEMENTS
OF MY PERSONAL LIFE:
DIVYA KHOSLA KUMAR
ACTRESS PRIYAMANI AT THE JEWELS OF EXOTICA FASHION SHOW IN BENGALURU (IANS).
Yami Gautam 'excited' to
work with Hrithik Roshan
NEW DELHI, (IANS) Actress Yami Gautam, who will star
alongside Hrithik Roshan in upcoming film "Kaabil", says
she is nervous yet excited to share the screen space
with the actor whose work has inspired her a lot.
"I am very excited to get such a huge oppor tunity to
star with him (Hrithik). I am nervous to share
screen space with him. He is a big star and
someone whose work has inspired me every
time. I am sure he will be amazing to work
with. So, I am really looking forward to work
with him," Yami told IANS here.
The film will be produced by Hrithik's father,
filmmaker Rakesh Roshan and directed by
Sanjay Gupta. Yami, best known for her
roles in films like "Vicky Donor", "Total
Siyapaa" and "Badlapur", will next be seen
onscreen in romantic drama film "Sanam
Re" along with actor Pulkit Samrat.
"I liked the story and my character a lot.
Also the fact that it will be the first love
story that I'll be doing. That got me
excited. No love story is complete
without songs," she said. She also
shared her experience of shooting in
Shimla in near-freezing conditions.
"It was a freezing experience,
shooting it in Shimla. It was very
tough. But it has been wor th it
because the only thing that
motivated us was good work and
it's going to come up very nicely,"
Yami said. "It was very difficult to
shoot because there were problems with
oxygen, water and so many hurdles. But
today we are proud of what we have
done," she added.
Asked whether the film will break the
stereotypical image of romantic films in
Bollywood, Yami said: "I don't think we
are trying to change any image or
anything. We are just trying to touch
hear ts. If you feel something from
inside and if you wish that's how I
want my soulmate or my partner to
be, I think our job is done."
"Through 'Sanam Re', we are
just trying to narrate a story
and spread love." Yami's
chemistry with Pulkit in the
film's trailer has garnered
appreciation. So is this the
reason why the duo got a
chance to work again in
another film called
"Junooniyat"? Yami said: "We
were already shooting
'Junooniyat' before 'Sanam Re'.
We did both the films simultaneously. Right now we are only
hoping that people will love this
one." "Sanam Re", directed by
"Yaariyan" fame filmmaker
Divya Khosla Kumar, is set to
release on Friday.
CAN'T RELATE TO MY 'KI AND KA' CHARACTER: ARJUN KAPOOR
MUMBAI, (IANS) After portraying a goal-oriented IIM student in "2 states", actor Arjun Kapoor will be seen essaying a house husband in
the upcoming film "Ki and Ka". He says cannot relate to his "unambitious" character from the R. Balki directorial.
"My character Kabir is not ambitious, unlike me. So I cannot say I can relate to him," Arjun told IANS. The 30-year-old actor will be seen
playing an IIT graduate and a house husband to actress Kareena Kapoor Khan's character Kia, an ambitious and a career-oriented woman
in the upcoming romantic comedy which is slated to hit the screens on April 1. "He (my character) has grown up wanting to be like his
mother and not like his father. But he has tremendous respect for people who work. He does not look down upon work. He is not a slacker.
He's an educated boy from IIT. But he is very clear about why the way he is," he added about his character. Arjun says the concept of "Ki
and Ka" is essentially about the impor tance of understanding in a marriage despite the fact that the wife is a working professional and the
husband stays at home. "Society takes some time to understand these things, but that is the quirk of the film, I think," Arjun added. "Ki and
Ka" also features megastar Amitabh Bachchan and his actress-politician wife Jaya Bachchan in a cameo.
MUMBAI, (IANS) Filmmaker Divya Khosla Kumar, who feels
that her marriage to T-Series head honcho Bhushan Kumar was
par t of her destiny and a matter of "soul connection", says her
new directorial "Sanam Re" has many elements which she has
picked from her personal life.
"I come from a conservative middle class Punjabi family. I
come from such a family where nobody would think of becoming an actress or be a par t of this industry. I think it was destiny
that they suppor ted my decision to come to Mumbai to pursue
my dream. "I believe in soul connection and was meant to
marry Bhushan (Kumar). My destiny got me here, not my work
and that's what I call soul connection," Divya said in an interview. Divya is not just a director, but has acted too. She featured in "Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo" in 2004 with
actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar and Bobby Deol.
A year later, she got married and quit films. "I have put many
elements in 'Sanam Re' which resembles my personal life,"
she added. Nine years after featuring as an actress, Divya came
back into the limelight as the director of "Yaariyan".
She feels Bollywood is focusing least on making pure love
stories these days. "While rom-coms are often made in
Bollywood, a pure love story like 'Aashiqui 2' is hardly thought
about these days. 'Aashiqui 2' is pure and innocent. I can relate
to that love story," she said. Talking about her own film, Divya
said: "My film 'Sanam Re' talks about love and happiness. We
think that we might be happy if we become successful in life
but it does not make you happy all the time. So, it's a deep
feeling which my film tells." Apar t from directing the film, Divya
has also starred in a special song in "Sanam Re", which will be
releasing on Valentine's weekend. The mother of a four-yearold son, Divya has surprised all and sundry with the song
"Humne pee rakhi hai", in which she is looking svelte and uber
glamorous."Sanam Re" features Pulkit Samrat, Yami Gautam
and Urvashi Rautela in the lead roles.
RHEA WAS JUDGED
BECAUSE SHE IS A
WOMAN: SONAM KAPOOR
MUMBAI, (IANS) Actress Sonam Kapoor says her younger sister Rhea was judged when she star ted out as a producer because she was a woman.
"My sister went through it (discrimination). She was 21 when
she produced her first film. And my father (Anil Kapoor) unfortunately was not here, he was in shooting in Hollywood, and
my sister had such trouble getting finance for the films because they thought she is 21, despite having an outstanding
script and something completely different," Sonam said at
the L'Oreal Paris Women Of Wor th Awards 2016 which
honour women for their achievements in various fields.
"But even though everybody thinks that we come from a
cer tain family, and it's easier (to produce), in fact it gets
tougher because people don't want to invest money, first of
all, because she was a woman. Though she was stern and
she came back and is extremely capable, she was really
judged for being a woman. If it was a 22 or 23-year-old
man, it would have been completely different," said the
"Neerja" actress.
Rhea had star ted out as a producer with her sister starring
in the film "Aisha" which released in 2010. The film couldn't
create magic at the box office, but she bounced back with
her sister again in "Khoobsurat" which was successful. They
are currently working on another film titled "Battle For
Bittora" and have also star ted a fashion label. On discrimination against women, Sonam said: "I feel that especially
in the field of ar t, I know that it is male dominated.
NOT OFFERED 'RAM LAKHAN'
REMAKE: VARUN DHAWAN
MUMBAI, (IANS) Actor Varun Dhawan has rubbished rumours
that he has been offered a role in Rohit Shetty's remake of
"Ram Lakhan". "For the record, I have never been offered 'Ram
Lakhan'. Rohit Shetty has always been one of my favourite
director... I had such a good time doing 'Dilwale' with Rohit sir
and sincerely hope I get a chance to work with again," Varun
posted on Twitter. There were rumours that Varun rejected the
"Ram Lakhan" remake because "Dilwale" didn't do well. But
clearly as per Varun, that's not the case.
RICHA CHADHA IS THE HERO
OF 'CABARET': POOJA BHATT
SONAM KAPOOR DURING THE PROMOTION OF FILM NEERJA IN MUMBAI (IANS).
MUMBAI, (IANS) "Cabaret" lead actor Richa Chadha is the hero
of the film, says producer Pooja Bhatt. "Richa's character in the
film is a very strong character. She is the hero of the film. She
is the whole and soul of the film," said Pooja at the location
shoot of the film on Tuesday.
Richa had repor tedly fallen ill after she had smoked cigarettes for a scene in the film, since she is a non-smoker in
real life. She had to take a break of a couple of days to get
back to the sets. Considering the title, it is obvious that the
film will draw references to veteran cabaret dancer Helen.
But Pooja denied that it is inspired from Helen's life.
"The film is not inspired by anyone. It's based on the lives
of celebrities and incidents related to the functioning of the
film industry. The film is inspired by life and nothing else. It
is the media which has said that it is inspired by Helen,"
she said. Pooja had shared Richa's look in the film on social media, which has generated sufficient buzz. The film
has been directed by Kaustav Narayan Niyogi and produced
by Pooja Bhatt and Bhushan Kumar. The film also marks the
debut of cricketer S. Sreesanth.
MIDWEEK NEWS
NEWS WEEKLY
WEEKLY
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY
AUGUST 28,
16,2012
2016
bollywood
MidWeek
19
hollywood
KATE WINSLET TREATS
CAREER AS 'HOLIDAY'
RAJNIESH DUGGALL,NIDHI SUBBAIAH AND SINGER SWATI SHARRMA WENT TO COMEDY CLASSES TO PROMOTE THEIR FILM
DIRECT ISHQ IN MUMBAI (IANS).
'JAI GANGAAJAL' WAS AN AMAZING
EXPERIENCE: PRIYANKA CHOPRA
MUMBAI, (IANS) Actress Priyanka Chopra says
shooting Prakash Jha's "Jai Gangaajal" was an "amazing" experience as she got an oppor tunity to work with
"fine actors". The 33-year-old actress shared a video on
Twitter, showcasing some clips from the film. The video
also featured Jha, as well as actors Manav Kaul, Murli
Sharma, Ninad Kamat and Rahul Bhat. "'Jai Gangaajal'
was an amazing experience especially because I had
the oppor tunity to work with such fine actors," Priyanka
captioned the video. "Jai Gangaajal", releasing on
March 4, revisits the dusty hear tland of central India
and examines the society-police relationship. Priyanka
will be seen por traying the role of a police officer
named Abha Mathur, while Jha will also be seen
playing a police officer in the film.
LONDON, (IANS) Actress Kate
Winslet says she doesn't see
her busy career as a job
and, instead, prefers to
look at it as a holiday. "I
really do love acting,
and as I get older I find
myself loving it more
and more. I'm so
struck by how long
I've been doing this.
I suddenly feel like
one of these people
who's been around a
long time - and I have!"
she told OK! Magazine,
repor ts
femalefirst.co.uk
"The great thing about
acting is that every role
brings different challenges and new mysteries. It's like going on holiday; I love it. I do," she added. And despite having a catalogue of
movies under her belt, the 40-year-old actress prefers to take on
only one job a year. "In terms of being a workaholic, that's not for
me. I like to think that I have this way of working which is to just
do one thing a year, which often can take four or five months of
my life. But in the last couple of years, I seem to have found
myself doing a heck of a lot more," the "Steve Jobs" actress said.
KANYE WEST CLAIMS BILL
COSBY IS 'INNOCENT'
LOS ANGELES, (IANS) Following his Twitter feud with
singer-songwriter Wiz Khalifa, rapper Kanye West has once
again caused a stir on the internet by sending out a tweet
which claimed that comedian-actor Bill Cosby, who is
charged with sexual assault, was innocent.
"Bill Cosby innocent!" the 38-year-old rapper posted to his
18 million followers, repor ts aceshowbiz.com. He didn't
give any explanation about his controversial tweet and continued posting some messages about other topics. Shortly
after the tweet was sent, people immediately reacted to it.
While some of them expressed their disagreement, some
others just gave hilarious comments. "Countdown to @kanyewest
saying 'My Twitter was hacked'," a Twitter user wrote. "Im'ma let you
finish but Kanye West wrote the worst tweet of all time," another user
tweeted. There's also a user who posted a photograph showing the list
of Bill's victims. "Here are all the women who have accused Bill Cosby
of sexual assault @kanyewest," so read the caption of the photo.
20
MidWeek
bollywood
Movie Review
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016
MIDWEEK BOX
OFFICE REPORT
GHAYAL ONCE AGAIN
32.08 CR
SAALA KHADOOS
14.6 CR
FITOOR
14 CR
SANAM RE
9 CR
SANAM TERI KASAM
5.91 CR
top
INA KAIF,
ROY KAPUR, KATR
YA
IT
AD
,
BU
TA
:
CAST
T AZIZ
I RAO HYDARI, TALA
AJAY DEVGN, ADIT
AND RAHUL BHAT
RATING: **1/2
'FITOOR': NO 'GREAT' EXPECTATIONS
FROM THIS ADAPTATION
BY TROY RIBEIRO
To begin with, the title "Fitoor" is such a misnomer. There is nothing maddening or crazy in the film that is worth screaming about! With themes of wealth
and poverty, love and rejection, Abhishek Kapoor's "Fitoor" based on Charles
Dickens's novel, "Great Expectations", is set in Kashmir.
It is the love story of an orphan, Noor Nizami (Aditya Roy Kapur) who lives
with his married sister and caring brother-in-law. The narration begins with
Noor coming face-to-face with a terrorist Mirza Beg (Ajay Devgn), on his way
home one night. The terrorist scares him into getting food for him and offering
him a safe hideout for the wintry night. Days later, Noor, who accompanies
his brother-in-law on an assignment to the rich heiress Begum Hazrat's
(Tabu) house, happens to spot Firdaus (Katrina Kaif), her daughter. Smitten by
her good looks and charm, love happens at first sight for Noor.
But Firdaus is cold and does not reciprocate his feelings. Encouraged
by Begum Hazrat, Noor pursues his love only to realise that love is
elusive. While every actor is enthusiastic about their individual par t,
they lack the passion and this shows in their performance, which is
very poised and theatrical.
Moreover, Katrina Kaif and Aditya Roy Kapur's onscreen chemistry,
though deliberate, seems uninspiring. Tabu as the eccentric Begum
Hazrat offers nothing new or extraordinary to her character. Ajay Devgn
in a special appearance as Mirza Beg is wasted and Aditi Rao Hydari as the
young Begum with her voice dubbed by Tabu only rattles the viewer. The
young Noor steals your heart with his simplicity, innocence and endearing
looks.
This Victorian Era story is narrated at a leisurely pace, perhaps in keeping
with that period. But that does not work for the viewer. The first half is painfully
slow and drags, making you restless. The second half gathers momentum
with the Begum's back-story and the second act of the main plot, but still does
not rivet you to the screen.
The script written by director Abhishek Kapoor along with Supratik Sen,
though close to the source material, lacks depth in characterisation, especially that of Mirza Beg. And, thereby the tale loses its plot and emotional
quotient, which is so apparent in Dickens's novel.
Furthermore, the film lacks dramatic twists and surprise elements that could
have kept the audience intrigued. The only time you get jolted out of your
seats is during the unexpected, well-synchronised action sequence that takes
place in the first half. And, thereafter you keep pining for more such action, but
alas! Nothing happens.
The Urdu infused Hindi dialogues like, "Main aur meri alishaan mohabbat"
which means, me and my magnificent love, are poetry to the ears, but these
are few and far between. What mars the listening experience is the heavy
anglicised accent, of Katrina Kaif.
With wide angled shots or the tight close-ups, be it the white, snow-covered
terrain or during the golden hued autumn, cinematographer Anay Goswamy's
frames pack the ornate imagery of Kashmir and Delhi to picture perfection. They are a treat for the eyes and definitely one of the few highlights
of the film.
Hitesh Sonik's background score has some nice delicate pieces that
elevate the viewing experience, but the soundtrack by Ankit Trivedi does
nothing to propel the narration. Even "Pashmina" sounds lacklustre on
screen. Overall, "Fitoor" does not live up to the great expectations you have
from the film.
10
songs
SONG
1
FILM:
SANAM RE
SANAM RE
FILM
JHALLI PATAKHA
SAALA KHADOOS
GAZAB KA HAI YEH DIN
SANAM RE
JEETE HAIN CHAL
NEERJA
MAIN WOH CHAAND
TERAA SURROOR
ROM ROM ROMANTIC
MASTIZAADE
ATRANGI YAARI
WAZIR
SOCH NA SAKE
AIRLIFT
TERE BIN
WAZIR
TERE BAGAIRE
CHANNO
HIT OR FLOP MIDWEEK
GHAYAL ONCE AGAIN
SAALA KHADOOS
FITOOR
SANAM RE
SANAM TERI KASAM
HIT
HIT
HIT
AVERAGE
AVERAGE
MIDWEEK NEWS
NEWS WEEKLY
WEEKLY
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY
AUGUST 28,
16,2012
2016
bollywood
MidWeek
21
WITH 'NEERJA' SONAM
MIGHT FIND HERSELF:
RAKEYSH MEHRA
ADITYA ROY KAPUR AND KATRINA KAIF DURING THE PROMOTION OF FILM FITOOR IN MUMBAI (IANS).
MALLIKA SHERAWAT MEETS
'CHARISMATIC' OBAMA
MUMBAI, (IANS) Actress Mallika
Sherawat, currently in the US,
says she has had the "good fortune" to meet President Barack
Obama again. The 39-year-old
actress tweeted a selfie of herself with Obama, and they are all
smiles for the camera. "Had the
good for tune of meeting the one
and only, the charismatic President Obama again," Mallika
tweeted on Wednesday, calling it
a "proud moment." Mallika, however, did not reveal where and
when she met Obama this time.
She had earlier met him in 2011
a tea par ty in Los Angeles. The
actress is known for her bold performances in films such as
"Khwahish" and "Murder", and
was last seen on screen in the
2015 film "Dir ty Politics".
KJO GETS CANDID ON ADITYA'S ONSCREEN LOVE JOURNEY
MUMBAI, (IANS) Filmmaker Karan Johar is in awe of the progress of actor Aditya Roy Kapur's onscreen journey from being an alcoholic
lover in "Aashiqui 2" to a shir tless lover in "Fitoor". Karan, whose celebrity chat show "Koffee With Karan" was immensely popular, will
grill Aditya in the virtual world through a special show. Witnessing Aditya's popularity in the digital space, Karan hosted an online chat
show called "#HotChocolateWithKaranAndAditya". And Aditya's unavailability on any social media platform further made the young actor Karan's first
choice, read a statement. Karan termed Aditya to be "The flavour of the season - from alcoholic lover to shirtless lover".
The filmmaker will be seen putting Aditya, who is awaiting the release of "Fitoor" in which he will be seen romancing Katrina Kaif, on the scanner. This show,
available for all on various social networking platforms, will go live on Friday. "Fitoor", a love story of a poor boy and rich girl, is slated to release on Friday.
RITEISH REVEALS REASON FOR DELAYED SHOOTING OF 'BANJO'
MUMBAI, (IANS) Actor Riteish Deshmukh, who has star ted filming Ravi Jadhav's "Banjo" with actress Nargis Fakhri, revealed that the
shooting of the film was supposed to begin in October 2015, but it got delayed as he had to grow his hair long for his role.
"Regarding the look it was Ravi Jadav's wish to do something different with the look. The character I play, which stays in a slum, has a unique style. So
Krishika (Lulla) insisted that I should grow my hair long," Riteish said at the media interaction of "Banjo" here.
"We were about to start shooting last October, but was busy doing 'Housefull 3'. I had to push the shoot to have enough time to grow the hair and style it accordingly,"
he added. The "Bangistan" actor is "excited" to be a par t of the film as he feels that his "character is quite unique. I am really excited to do
the film as this character is quite unique. Every day when I come to shoot I feel eagerness to work. It keeps me feel live on set," he added.
MUMBAI, (IANS) "Rang De Basanti" director Rakeysh
Omprakash Mehra on Saturday said that with the upcoming
film, "Neerja", lead actress Sonam Kapoor might find herself.
"It feels that with this film, Sonam will find herself and that's the
expectation. It is said that every ar tist, every actor or every
writer, director achieves something where they find themselves.
This one feels the same way for Sonam," said Mehra at a special screening of the film here.
Although Sonam had made her debut with Sanjay Leela
Bhansali's "Saawariya", it was with the song "Masakali" in
Mehra's film, "Dilli 6" that she gained popularity. She also featured in a brief role in his next film "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag",
which was a big hit. Mehra said that he hoped "Neerja" earns
her 10 times even more popularity than "Masakali".
Ace photographer Atul Kasbekar ventures into production with
the film. "A new producer has been born. He is very sincere,
very hardworking and has excelled in whatever he has done.
Best wishes to him," Mehra said.
Another debutante is the director of the film, Ram Madhvani,
who has come from an advertising background like Mehra. "It
is the bir th of a new director, and when a new director comes
and joins the family, it feels good. He is a very promising director, I share an old friendship with him, he is well-known in
adver tising where he has done extremely well."
The film is based on the 1986 sacrifice and heroic act of Neerja
Bhanot, a flight attendant on the ill-fated Pan Am Flight 73, which
was hijacked by terrorists.
SRK FINED IRS1.93 LAKH
FOR ILLEGAL RAMP OUTSIDE
'MANNAT'
MUMBAI, (IANS) Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan has
been fined IRs1,93,784 by the BrihanMumbai Municipal
Corporation for constructing an illegal ramp outside his
bungalow 'Mannat' in Bandra, a RTI query revealed here on
Thursday. Activist Anil Galgali sought details under RTI on
a reinforced cement-concrete ramp constructed outside the
actor's landmark bungalow which was used for parking his
vanity van, leading to an outcry early last year.
Following a campaign by various citizens and activists,
the municipal commissioner initiated action and a notice
was slapped on Shah Rukh on February 6, 2015. After the
notice period ended, the BMC star ted the demolition on
February 15 of the ramp which falls outside the bungalow
on the junction of HK Bhabha Road and Mount Mary Road.
Activists had alleged that by constructing the ramp for his
private uses, Shah Rukh had also encroached on a por tion
of public land. After the demolition, the BMC served a
demand notice of IRs193,785 on the actor as costs towards
the razing of the illegal structure, or face prosecution.
In order to close the issue, the actor quietly made the
payment through a cheque for the entire amount, Galgali
said. When the ramp came up in late 2014, locals had
complained that it blocked access to the famous Mt. Mary
Church steps from the Bandstand side where the actor's
bungalow is located.
ANUSHKA SHARMA
LEARNING WRESTLING FOR
'SULTAN', REALLY?
MUMBAI, (IANS) Actress Anushka Sharma, who is sharing
screen space with superstar Salman Khan in "Sultan", is learning how to wrestle for the film. Taking to her Twitter account,
Anushka posted images wherein she can be seen in the wrestling ring, leaning for th, clad in shor ts and a blue t-shir t.
Captioning the image, the actress posted: No pain no gain so
just train #Wrestling #Sultan #Training. The Ali Abbas Zafar
directorial is being produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj
Films banner It features Salman Khan, who is playing the role
of a wrestler in the film and has also gained weight. The film
also features Randeep Hooda and Amit Sadh.
AISHWARYA RAI BACHCHAN
SHOOTS FOR 'SARBJIT' AT
GOLDEN TEMPLE
AISHWARYA RAI BACHCHAN VISITS THE GOLDEN TEMPLE IN AMRITSAR (IANS).
MUMBAI, (IANS) Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and the
crew of Omung Kumar directorial "Sarbjit" shot a few scenes
inside the Golden Temple in Amritsar on the occasion of
Basant Panchami.
"Sarbjit" is a biopic on Sarabjit Singh, an Indian farmer
who was convicted of terrorism and spying in Pakistan and was
sentenced to death. He was attacked by inmates at a prison in
Lahore in April 2013 and died a few days later.
Aishwarya plays the pivotal role of Dalbir, Sarabjit's sister,
in the film. She has been shooting at various locations in
Amritsar. But shooting at the Golden Temple was a unique
experience for the team.
Kumar said: "We are really thankful to the officials of the
Golden Temple to have allowed us to shoot inside the beautiful shrine. The way they guided us smoothly through various locations to shoot inside on such a busy day was impeccable and I am truly grateful.
"We got the shots that we desired and wrapped up the shoot
by 5:30 p.m." Actor Randeep Hooda will be seen playing
Sarabjit in the film, which will be narrated through the perspective of the victim's sister Dalbir Kaur. The film is slated
to hit the screens on May 19.
Indian women beat Nepal 4-0
to bag SAG football gold
SHILLONG, (IANS) The India women's team won gold at the
12th South Asian Games (SAG), beating Nepal 4-0 in the final
at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Monday.
Kamala Devi scored twice. Bala Devi and Ashalata Devi were the
other scorers.
The goal spree was started by Kamala when she converted a cross
by Bala in the 31st minute. India led 1-0 at half-time.
Kamala Devi doubled the home team's lead in the 55th minute when
she netted after a goal-mouth melee inside the box following a cross
from Sushmita Mallik.
Bala Devi then etched her name on the scoresheet on the 71st,
utilising another assist from Sushmita.
Ashalata Devi completed the victory when she scored eight minutes later. The match brought to an end India's top women's
footballer Bembem Devi's international career.
Bangladesh call up Imrul Kayes
to replace Tamim for Asia Cup
INDIA GATHER AROUND TO CELEBRATE THE FALL OF A WICKET, INDIA V SRI LANKA, 3RD T20I, VISAKHAPATNAM.
ASHWIN SPINS INDIA TO SERIES WIN
OVER SL, INDIA REMAIN T20 NO.1
CONTD. FROM PAGE 17
Opener Niroshan Dickwella (1), in for the injured Chamara
Kapugedera, was stumped on the third ball and his experienced
par tner Tillakaratne Dilshan (1) was trapped leg before wicket
off the sixth ball to cap off a dream over by Ashwin. Sri Lanka
got rattled by the poor star t, and their troubles worsened when
skipper Dinesh Chandimal (8) skied an aggressive shot off
Ashwin to be caught at mid-off to leave the visitors reeling at
12/3 in the third over.
Ashwin continued to torment the Lankans, picking up his and
the team's four th wicket shor tly thereafter, dismissing debutant
Asela Gunaratne (4). Sri Lanka were tottering at 20/4 inside five
overs. Pacer Nehra joined in the act, clean bowling Milinda
Siriwardana (4) in the next over. At 21/5 in the sixth over, Sri
lanka were looking down the barrel. They struggled to score
freely and kept losing wickets at regular intervals with
Seekkuge Prasanna getting run out (9) and Dasun Shanaka (19)
bowled by Jadeja. From there on, it was always going to be
difficult for the Islanders to post a decent total, and they
ultimately folded for 82.
NEW ZEALAND'S TAYLOR, SANTNER RULED
OUT OF SECOND TEST VS AUSTRALIA
CHRISTCHURCH, (IANS) New Zealand's wishes of squaring the
Test series against Australia have taken a hit with batsman
Ross Taylor and spin-bowling allrounder Mitchell Santner r uled
out from the second game scheduled to star t here from Saturday. The match will also be the farewell Test of veteran Brendon
McCullum.
Taylor, who scored a memorable 290 against Australia in the
WACA Test in Per th last November, has not recovered enough
from a side strain to be fit for the game, repor ted
cricket.com.au on Monday.
The hard-hitting batsman tore a muscle in his left side while
playing against Pakistan in December. The injury also kept him
out of the Chappell-Hadlee series earlier this month.
Santner hur t his right foot in the second One-Day International
against Australia in Wellington and is still suffering the effects
of bone bruising. Henr y Nicholls filled in Taylor's shoes for the
first Test which the hosts lost by an innings and 52 runs but the
24-year-old got to a well-fought 59 in the second innings before
being bowled by Jackson Bird.
With Santner ruled out, off spinner Mark Craig has retained his
place in the Black Caps squad for the second Test.
"Everyone wants to play against Australia, so both guys are
understandably disappointed to be missing out," said Black
Caps coach Mike Hesson on Monday. "The players and the
medical staff worked hard to be available for the match, but in
the end ran out of time. Ross is back hitting balls again and is
targeting a return in the Island of Origin match before we head
away to the ICC World Twenty20."
"Mitch is on track to be fit for the World Twenty20 and we'll
continue to monitor both players closely."
INDIAN WOMEN THRASH SRI LANKA BY 107 RUNS IN FIRST ODI
RANCHI, (IANS) Indian women produced an all-round performance to outclass Sri Lanka by 107 runs in the first One-Day International
(ODI) match at the Jharkhand State Cricket Association Stadium here on Monday.
Batting first India posted 245/6 in 50 overs, thanks to half-centuries from Smriti Mandhana (55) and Harmanpreet Kaur (50).
In reply, the visitors suffered a severe batting collapse as they were bundled out for 138 in 45.2 overs.
Poonam Yadav (4-22), Deepti Sharma (2-20) and Rajeshwari Gayakwad (2-32) were the pick of the bowlers for the home side.
Chasing a challenging target of 246, Sri Lanka lost opener Chamari Atapattu in the second over itself.
From there on Prasadani Weerakkody (69) and Lasanthi Madushani (15) held on to score at a slow rate but failed to build a big
par tnership. The second wicket fell in the 15th over.
Soon after, Oshadi Ranasinghe (12) and Eshani Lokusuriyage (15) fell in quick succession to have the visitors in a spot of bother
at 122/4 in the 36th over.
Sri Lanka then collapsed from 122 for 4 to 138 all out.
Earlier, India made the most of their batting strength, piling on runs in power plays at a healthy rate to post a commendable total.
Beside half-centurions Smriti and Harmanpreet, captain Mithali (49) missed her 40th One-Day half century by just one run.
For Sri Lanka, Udeshika Prabodhani and Shashikala Siriwardene claimed two wickets each.
Brief Scores: India women 245/6 in 50 overs (Smriti Mandhana 55, Harmanpreet Kaur 50; Shashikala Siriwardene 2-31, Udeshika
Prabodhani 2-38) vs Sri Lanka 138 in 45.2 overs (Prasadani Weerakkody 69; Poonam Yadav 4-22, Deepti Sharma 2-20, Rajeshwari
Gayakwad 2-32)
DHAKA, (IANS) Bangladesh have called up opening batsman
Imrul Kayes for the Asia Cup T20 squad to fill in for Tamim Iqbal.
Tamim has opted out of the competition to be at his wife's side during
the imminent birth of their first child, reportts bdnews24.com.
This is the only change in the squad announced earlier this month
also for World T20. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced the
Asia Cup squad on Sunday. Tamim is currently in the United Arab
Emirates ()UAE playing for Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super
League (PSL).
Tamim will join his wife and other family members, already in
Thailand, after his PSL stint. BCB's chief selector Faruque Ahmed
said on Sunday Tamim earlier had notified them about the leave.
Ahmed said playing in the PSL will constitute enough match practice for the left-handed opener before the World T20.
"He's playing very well in the PSL. Missing the Asia Cup won't make
much of a difference." Ahmed said they were also happy with Imrul
Kayes' recent performance in all forms of cricket. "His bad luck is
that we couldn't keep him in the World T20 squad, but I hope he'll
make the best of this opportunity in the Asia Cup."
Imrul had a successful run for Comilla Victorians in the last
Bangladesh Premier League. He was the key to the Victorians becoming champions with the second-highest runs, 312, in the tournament. The Asia Cup begins on February 24 with Bangladesh taking on
India at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka's Mirpur.
The Asia Cup squad:
Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Shakib Al Hasan, Imrul Kayes, Soumya
Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Nurul Hasan,
Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Mustafizur Rahman,
Abu Hider, Al-Amin Hossain, Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny.
Afghanistan win six gold, India
five in taekwondo at SAG
SHILLONG, (IANS) Afghanistan won six gold medals while
India had to be satisfied with five golds in the finals of the
taekwondo event at the 12th South Asian Games here on
Monday. Overall, the Afghans clinched six gold, one silver
and one bronze in the event. India got five gold, three silver
and two bronze medals, followed by Pakistan with one gold
and silver and four bronze medals.
Afghanistan's Ahmad Ali Bakshi thrashed Nepal's Bir B.
Mahara and won gold in the final round match of the men's
under-63 kg category. In the women under-53 kg category,
India's Latika Bandari clinched the gold beating Nepal's
Neema Gurung in the final round.
India's Navjeet Man defeated Nepal's Shaksham Karki to grab
the gold in the men's under-80 kg category. In the women's
under-62 kg category, India's Margerita Regi defeated Nepal's
Ayasha Shakya by a single blow during additional time after
a draw of 8-8 points in the first three bouts.
DAILY HOPES FOR REVIVAL
OF HOCKEY IN PAKISTAN
ISLAMABAD, (IANS) A leading Pakistani daily on Monday
hoped for the revival of hockey in the country after its team
beat India in the South Asian Games hockey final.
An editorial "Hockey win" in the Dawn said that Pakistan's
"stunning, though unexpected, 1-0 victory over India in the
South Asian Games hockey final at Guwahati has provided
the beleaguered national spor t with hopes of a revival, besides giving the country a chance to rejoice". "In a rare exhibition of focused hockey in a pressure-cooker situation, the
Pakistan team held its nerve to beat its arch-rivals on their
own turf in a closely contested final which deserves high
praise," it said. The daily said that besides the performance,
"the significance of the victory is underscored by the fact that
Pakistan has managed to thwart the psychological factor of
facing up to India in a final of a tournament, after ending up on
the losing side on many such occasions in the recent past".
SHASTRI WANTS TO TRY
ALL COMBINATIONS BEFORE
WORLD T20
DIVIJ SHARAN, ANKITA RAINA (INDIA) WON GOLD MEDAL AND SANAM SINGH, PRATHNA THOMBRE (INDIA) WON SILVER
MEDAL AND AISAM UL HAQ QURESHI, USHNA SUHAIL (PAKISTAN) WON BRONZE MEDAL AND HARSHANA GODAMANNA,
AMRITHA MUTTIAH OF (SRI LANKA) IN MIXED DOUBLES, AT THE 12TH SOUTH ASIAN GAMES-2016, IN GUWAHATI (IANS).
SANIA-MARTINA WIN 13TH TITLE,
STRETCH WINNING RUN TO 40
ST. PETERSBURG, (IANS) Indian tennis star Sania Mirza and her
Swiss par tner Martina Hingis won the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy
here on Sunday and extended their remarkable winning streak to 40
matches in the process.
The top seeded Indo-Swiss pair hardly broke sweat on their way
to a 6-3, 6-1 victory over the Russian-Czech team of Vera
Dushevina and Barbora Krejcikova in the women's doubles final
that lasted for an hour.
This is the four th title that Sania and Martina have won this year.
Their overall trophy count now stands at 13. They star ted the year
with wins in Brisbane and Sydney before completing a hat-trick of
Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open.
They have been close to unstoppable since an upset loss in the
French Open quar ter-finals last year. Since then, they have claimed
titles at Wimbledon, US Open, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Beijing, the WTA
Finals in Singapore, Brisbane and Sydney.
West Indies thrash India to lift maiden U-19 World Cup title
MIRPUR (BANGLADESH), (IANS) The West Indies produced an
outstanding bowling performance to outclass India by five wickets
in the final match to win their maiden U-19 World Cup cricket
tournament at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium here on Sunday.
Batting first, India were bundled out for a meagre 145 runs in 45.1
overs, thanks to Ryan John (3-38) and Alzarri Joseph (3-39). In
reply, Keacy Car ty scored a match-winning knock of unbeaten 52
alongside Keemo Paul (40 not out) as the Windies chased down the
total, reaching the target in 49.3 overs.
While chasing, the West Indies got off to a disappointing star t losing
both openers Gidron Pope (3) and Tevin Imlach (15) inside eight
overs to be reduced to 28/2. The two incoming batsmen, Shimron
Hetmyer (23) and Car ty, held on after fall of the two wickets in
consecutive overs. They guided the team from there on.
But in the 27th over it was left-arm spinner Mayank Dagar (3-25)
who brought the much-needed breakthrough for India. Hetmyer,
looking to hit a six, was caught at long-off by Armaan Jaffer. The
West Indies were 67/3 in 23rd over. The dismissal gave Indians the
confidence they were looking for as Dagar struck twice in
consecutive overs soon after, sending Springer and Jyd Goolie (3)
packing. Thw West Indies were 77/5 inside the 29th over at that
stage. But Car ty and incoming batsman and Paul held on under
pressure, without losing anymore wickets to take them home.
Earlier in the day, sent to bat first on a greenish oitch, India got off
to a worst possible star t by losing opener Rishabh Pant (1) off the
four th ball of the innings.
From there on India found it really difficult to score as the pacers
used the helpful wicket to good effect to deny the batsmen any
chance to score. India's aim to recover after the first wicket ws
dealt two consecutive blows as No.3 batsman Anmolpreet Singh (3)
and skipper Ishan Kishan (4) fell in a space of four overs to leave
them struggling at 27/3 in the seventh over.
Sarfaraz Khan (51 off 89) along with Washington Sundar (7)
looked to stick on after three early wickets. But the 15th over,
Sundar popped a simple catch to mid-off off the bowling of
John. India's woes deepened fur ther when Armaan Jaffer (5)
was soon dismissed to put India at 50/5 in the 18th over.
Sar faraz, however, kept his focus intact and inched closer to a
half-century. Mahipal Lomror (19) came in and gave some good
suppor t to Sar faraz but his stay was shor t-lived. The West
Indies' impressive bowling was backed up by athletic fielding.
As the lower order batsmen came in, Sar faraz had no other
option but to pile on some quick runs and while looking to do that,
he too fell leg-before-wicket off the bowling off John. After his
dismissal, India's hope of getting to a respectable total
extinguished.
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RANCHI, (IANS) Ahead of the second Twenty20 International
(T20I) against Sri Lanka, India team director Ravi Shastri on
Thursday said he is aiming at trying all possible combinations
to get the best squad prior to the for thcoming World T20 at
home next month.
Having whitewashed Australia 3-0 in their own backyard, the
Indians were expected to do well at home against the Lankans
as they prepare to host the World T20 in March-April. But the youthful
Sri Lankan team handed them a rude wake-up call as the island
nation defeated India by five wickets in the first match.
"The ideal scenario would be to give most of the guys who are
par t of the World Cup squad a run. That will be the endeavour,
but you will have to see what the conditions are, what the state
of the series is and accordingly decide," Shastri said at the
pre-match press conference here.
The green pitch in the first T20I at Pune saw the hosts struggle
against some quality pace bowling by the Lankans. Debutant
pacer Kasun Rajitha proved to be the surprise package, troubling the Indian batsmen with pace, swing and appreciable
movement off the pitch to end up with three top order wickets.
The 22-year-old enjoyed a memorable debut, bagging two wickets in his very first over in international cricket. The other
Lankan pacers including Dasun Shanaka and Dushmantha
Chameera also made merry on the green wicket.
"If the pitch is good we say it's good. If the pitch does a lot we
will say, it does a lot. Why should we be scared of saying what
we feel? It's very clear that it did a little too much but we should have
adapted well," Shastri said. "No excuses for losing the match, but we
should have scored 140. It would have been a good competitive
score on that surface," the former India skipper said.
MARY KOM INFLUENCED US:
PAKISTANI WOMEN BOXERS
BY RAYMOND KHARMUJAI
SHILLONG, (IANS) Three Pakistani women boxers -- Khoushleem
Bano, Rukhsana Parveen, and Sofia Javed -- are on the verge of
scripting history here on Indian soil, when they step into the ring for
the very first time in an international event at the 12th South Asian
Games here on Saturday.
The three pugilists credited the biographical sports film on five-time
world champion and Indian boxing icon Mary Kom as the biggest
influence which has inspired them to take up a career in boxing.
"We have been watching Mary Kom and it (movie) has really influenced us," the trio, donning their tracksuits with the Pakistani flag
embroidered on it, told IANS. However, the young Pakistani boxers
admitted that it was not an easy journey for them initially, when they
informed their family and friends about their decision to take up boxing. "There are a lot of anti-groups who don't accept us. Initially, even
our family and friends were not happy with us. But now everyone is
supporting, be it our government or the boxing federation," Khoushleem
said. In fact, the trio picked up boxing only in the early part of 2015 and
were trained by their coach Nauman Karim -- a bronze medallist at
the 2003 World Boxing Championship -- at Lahore, Islamabad and
Peshawar for the multi-national sports event.
"We stepped into the boxing ring just eight months ago. I know it will
be tough to fight with an experience boxer like Mary Kom and others,
but our coaches have trained us well to fight in the ring," Khoushleem
said. But the 23-year-old, who hails from the scenic valleys of GilgitBaltistan, is eagerly looking forward to meeting Mary Kom in the
boxing ring. "I know it will be tough to fight with an experienced boxer
like Mary Kom. But I am sure I will learn a lot from her in the boxing
ring," Khoushleem who will be competing in the fly-weight (51kg)
category, said.
Rukhsana, who was member of the Pakistan World Cup Kabaddi
team which won a bronze medal in Punjab in 2014, said, "After having
learnt that Pakistan has no woman boxer, I took up the challenge to
fight in the boxing ring. The movie Mary Kom has motivated me to
take up this challenge. Insha Allah (If God's willing) you never know
we might go back home with a medal from here," the 60kg category
pugilist from Multan said.
BANGLADESH FINISH THIRD
IN U-19 WORLD CUP
FATULLAH (BANGLADESH), (IANS) Hosts Bangladesh squeezed past
Sri Lanka with three deliveries to spare to take third place in the ICC
Under-19 cricket World Cup with a three-wicket win at the Khan
Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium here on Saturday.
Having bowled Sri Lanka out for 214, Bangladesh survived a midinnings crisis that resulted in three run-outs before Jaker Ali hit the
winning boundary off seamer Lahiru Kumara.
Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan followed his three-wicket haul
with a top-score of 53 and was later adjudged the Player of the Match.
Nazmul Hossain made 40 and Jaker, who was forced to retire with
cramps, returned to the crease and remained unbeaten on 31. In
Sunday's final, three-time champions India will clash with the West
Indies in Mirpur.
Sri Lanka, beaten by India in the semi-final, made a sound start as
openers Kamindu Mendis (26) and Salindu Ushan (34) put on 60 for
the first wicket in 12 overs. But Bangladesh hit back to grab three
wickets in the space of 10 runs before skipper Charith Asalanka and
Wanidu Hasaranga revived the innings with a 55-run stand for the
sixth wicket.
Hasaranga fell for 30 while Asalanka was ninth out after top-scoring
with 76 with the help of six boundaries and a six. Off-spinner Mehidy
finished with 3/28. Mohammad Saifuddin and Abdul Haleem picked
up two wickets each. Bangladesh, looking to bounce back after the
semi-final loss to the West Indies, lost opener Zakir Hasan in the first
over bowled by Asitha Fernando. The home team's run-chase was
hampered by the run-outs of their two main batsmen, Mehidy and
Nazmul, before all-rounder Saifuddin also fell in similar fashion.
Needing 15 off the last two overs, Bangladesh took 11 runs in
Fernando's penultimate over to ease the pressure before Jaker and
Mehedi Rana carried their team past the victory target.
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