Latest News

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• PM inaugurates mega transhipment terminal in Kerala
• Raymond Davis sent to 14-day judicial remand
• Governments get notice on Afzal Guru’s transfer plea
• Ranveer, Anushka to pair again in YRF film
• ‘Hum Dono Coloured’ and the nostalgic 11
• Johansson not dating Penn
• Omar aims at more power to panchayats
• Sehwag to captain Delhi Daredevils in IPL-4
• Knightley buys $3 mn house
• Kardashian dons Cleopatra look for magazine

PM inaugurates mega transhipment terminal in Kerala Posted: 10 Feb 2011 11:01 PM PST Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday dedicated to the nation the International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) in Kerala. It’s the largest single-operator container terminal in the country. Manmohan Singh, launching the Rs.3,250 crore first phase of the project in Vallarpadam off the Kochi coast, said it is a symbol of the government’s commitment to Kerala’s development. “This is also a symbol of the how private public partnership can be a commitment to the public good. Also this is a symbol of cooperation with our West Asian neighbours,” said Singh. He said it would will give a major boost to reducing the cost of exports and imports. “Through this Kochi is all set become as an attractive investment area not only for Kerala but for the country and also this could well be the start of more investment from UAE where a large number of our diaspora work,” said Manmohan Singh. The new terminal is expected to become a transhipment hub that and country will no longer have to rely on ports like Colombo, Dubai and Singapore. Thanks to the terminal, the cost of freight of a container is expected to come down by $300 and the transshipment time by almost 10 days. The total number of containers handled in the first phase would be one million and would touch four million containers annually when fully operational. The terminal has been developed on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis by the Dubai Port World (DPW), which won a global tender after quoting a gross revenue share of 33.3 percent to the Cochin Port Trust (CPT). Rs.1,650 crore has come from the central government while the DPW invested Rs.1,600 crore. The BOT is for 30 years. Manmohan Singh had laid the foundation stone for the project in February 2005. Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Friday used his speech to demand more from the central government. “The proposed Kochi Metro is awaiting clearance from the centre and during the previous UPA government we were given a coach factory which was to come up in Palakkad, but it has still not materialised. We have done what we have to do and we wish these projects are cleared,” said Achuthanandan. Deputy Chairman of Dubai Executive Council Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum was also present on the occasion.

Raymond Davis sent to 14-day judicial remand Posted: 10 Feb 2011 10:58 PM PST US official Raymond Davis, who shot dead two Pakistanis that sparked a row between Washington and Islamabad, was sent to 14-day judicial custody by a court here, an official said. “He (Davis) has been remanded in judicial custody for 14 days. The next hearing will be Feb 25,” the Geo News quoted Punjab government prosecutor Abdul Samad as saying. “He is being sent to central jail Kot Lakhpat,” said police official Suhail Sukhera in reference to the high-security prison in Lahore. The arrest of Davis, an American employee of the US diplomatic mission in Pakistan, after he shot dead two Pakistani men on a motorcycle Jan 27 in Lahore, has triggered a major row between the US and Pakistan. Davis opened fire when the two men, who some reports now say were Pakistani intelligence operatives tailing him, came close to his car. The American has said he fired in self-defence because he thought they were robbers. The incident led to a third death when a speeding US consulate vehicle coming to the rescue of Davis overran a motorcyclist. US officials have threatened to cut the $1.5 billion of annual aid to Pakistan if Davis is not released, and Tuesday put bilateral contacts on hold. The case took a dramatic turn Sunday when widow of one of the victims of the Lahore shooting, Muhammad Fahim, committed suicide, turning public opinion further against the jailed American. The woman apparently feared that her husband’s killer would be let off by the Pakistan government.

Governments get notice on Afzal Guru’s transfer plea Posted: 10 Feb 2011 10:57 PM PST The Supreme Court Friday issued notice to the central and Delhi governments on a petition by Afzal Guru, on death row for his role in the 2001 parliament attack, seeking his transfer from Tihar Jail to a prison in Srinagar. The apex court bench of Justices Aftab Alam and R.M. Lodha issued notice after the court inquired if there was any jail other than in Srinagar where the petitioner would like to be shifted. Appearing for the petitioner, senior counsel V.C. Mahajan told the court that under the rules, a convict should be lodged in a jail at the place of his residence. He told the court that Afzal Guru’s 90-year old mother, 11-year-old son and his wife have to travel repeatedly from Srinagar to Delhi to meet him. Mahajan pleaded that the court ask the central government to respond to the petition. A resident of Sopore in the Kashmir Valley, Guru was found guilty of plotting the Dec 13, 2001 parliament attack and sentenced to death in 2002. The Delhi High Court confirmed the death penalty in 2003. The Supreme Court also upheld the capital punishment. Guru’s wife filed a mercy petition to the president after the apex court verdict.

Ranveer, Anushka to pair again in YRF film Posted: 10 Feb 2011 10:54 PM PST After a sizzling chemistry in hit film “Band Baaja Baaraat”, Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma will share screen space yet again for the romantic comedy “Ladies V/S Ricky Bahl”. It’s another offering from Yash Raj Films’ and Aditya Chopra is producing the movie based on a story developed by him. It seems Yash Raj Films is looking to spin the same magic again as the premise of this film sounds similar – “Ladies V/S Ricky Bahl” is a romantic comedy where a charming conman Ricky Bahl cons girls for a living, but finally meets his match. It goes on floor early April with plans to be in theatres worldwide on Dec 9 this year. If the lead pair is repeated, some of the crew members are also from “Band Baaja Baaraat”. Habib Faisal has written the dialogues and Devika Bhagat has scripted screenplay. Salim-Sulaiman will compose the music, and Amitabh Bhattacharya will pen the lyrics. The film will be shot by Aseem Mishra (DOP).

‘Hum Dono Coloured’ and the nostalgic 11 Posted: 10 Feb 2011 10:43 PM PST A teenaged girl who came escorting her grandparents and four middle-aged couples were the only viewers at one of Delhi’s downtown multiplex theatres for a screening of “Hum Dono Rangeen”, the newly released coloured and high-tech version of the 1961 black and white classic. Being among the nostalgic 11, one felt really good about re-visiting a film seen as a teenager five decades ago. The theatre staff consolingly said the hall was full over the previous weekend and hoped it would again be so, provided the movie ran into a second week. But there was a lingering sense of disappointment about the obvious preference for fast paced, loud storytelling, with Westernised music and up-front overtones that appear to keep the current crop of teenagers and the young away from this movie. The mixed audience response sends a clear message – each generation has its own set of values. Brushing aside these concerns, it is however perfectly possible to enjoy the new version with a slightly altered name. That Dev Anand, the producer-actor who carried the film to glory on his slender shoulders, is very much around to promote it in his very special way does matter. It helps relate with the movie better. Dev Anand, who is making films at 88, opens the new film with a very brief commentary, in black and white to begin with and slowly turns to colour as he extols the Cinemascope, the Dolby sound system and other technological value additions. But the content remains the same. The emotion-charged situations in a story by Nirmal Sircar, ably written by the late Vijay Anand who went on to make more successful films like “Tere Mere Sapne” and “Teesri Manzil”. The piece de resistance is the lilting Hindustani classical-based music by then debutant Jaidev who composed iconic songs. If “Main zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya” underlines Dev Anand’s philosophy of life that he advocates for everyone, two of Indian cinema’s best ‘bhakti’ (devotional) songs – “Allah tero naam” and “Prabhu tero naam” – also make it a memorable experience. Sung by Lata Mangeshkar they defy attitudinal and technological changes that occur with each passing generation. The movie has Dev Anand in a double role, playing two army officers, quite different in their age, mannerisms, but basically humane, who get emotional while serving on the war front. Their emotions may seem too gushing in today’s cynical world, but their hold on the audience remains undiluted even now. Dev is ably complemented by Sadhna, the rich girl in love with the younger version of the star, and Nanda, married to the elder one. The deep understanding and the sense of sacrifice these women display despite education and urban living are a tribute to the eternal Indian woman. Set against the backdrop of World War II, more specifically, the Burma front, the film strikes the right chord by stirring universal emotions of love, patriotism, sacrifice and dedication. Director Amarjeet was nominated for the Golden Bear at the 1962 Berlin International Film Festival. For Dev Anand, playing the romantic Anand remained his forte for much of his acting career. But the older generation relished his role as Mahesh, the moustachio-ed army major. It was the more celebrated of the two performances. Today, the cocky Major would seem somewhat unnatural. His put-on accent is neither Col. Blimp’s, nor Brown Sahib’s. It is just Dev Anand’s – at places overdone. Both the characters Dev Anand plays are smokers. Indeed, the cigarette lighter with a lilting tune that Sadhna presents to his beau keeps appearing and chiming from beginning to end. These are musical moments. Today’s Hindi cinema audiences are used to watching films lasting about two hours, so “Hum Dono Rangeen” could be a test of patience. There are long drawn scenes and extra long pauses that contribute in a major way to this three-hour long affair. Perhaps, “Rangeen” could have been released as a snappier version, no more than 150 minutes, and could have attracted larger audiences.

Johansson not dating Penn Posted: 10 Feb 2011 10:41 PM PST Scarlett Johansson’s representative has shot down reports that the actress is dating veteran star Sean Penn, and said the two are collborating for Haiti Relief. It was reported that Johansson, 26, had hooked up with Penn, 50, last month following her split from husband Ryan Reynolds, 34. “Scarlett and Sean are not dating – they have been friends for years. Nothing more, nothing less,” people.com quoted her representative as saying. “They have been talking over the last few months regarding Haiti Relief and Scarlett’s upcoming trip to Haiti as Oxfam’s global ambassador,” the representative added.

Omar aims at more power to panchayats Posted: 10 Feb 2011 10:28 PM PST Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said that separate election and finance commissions would be set up for panchayats before the upcoming polls in conformity with the 73rd amendment of the Indian constitution. “The government will introduce bills seeking the constitution of a separate election and finance commission for panchayats in the forthcoming session of the legislative assembly,” Abdullah told a meeting of public representatives, including legislators and senior officers of Rajouri and Poonch districts, Thursday evening. There was fear among opposition groups over seriousness of the state government in holding the panchayat polls despite an announcement Wednesday that three-tier panchayat polls would be held on non-party basis in Jammu and Kashmir. The move was rejected as “half-hearted” by the opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The chief minister said: “The government has decided to conduct the panchayat polls on non-party basis.” According to the spirit of the 73rd constitutional amendment, he said, the Election Commission would be established in the state for which a bill will be introduced to amend the state’s Panchayati Raj Act, 1989. “Similarly, for setting up a Finance Commission, a bill will be introduced to amend the Panchayati Raj Act 1989,” he said. “Elected representatives at district level will also be empowered to ensure efficient monitoring of development schemes at the grassroots level,” he added.

Sehwag to captain Delhi Daredevils in IPL-4 Posted: 10 Feb 2011 10:20 PM PST India’s dashing opening batsman Virender Sehwag will lead the Delhi Daredevils in the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The 32-year-old Delhi opener has been part of the Delhi Daredevils since the IPL began in 2008. Under his leadership, Delhi Daredevils reached the semi-finals in the first two editions of the IPL and also topped the league stage in 2009. Sehwag said he was looking forward to taking the Daredevils to new heights in IPL-4. “For me there cannot be any other team than Delhi Daredevils in the IPL. As someone who grew up playing cricket in Delhi I am very proud to be playing for the Delhi Daredevils. I am delighted to be part of the Delhi Daredevils and lead the team,” said Sehwag. Srinivas Bommidala, chairman of GMR Sports, said Sehwag was the source of inspiration and strength for both young and experienced players. “He is a leader who paves the way by example,” he said. P.B. Vanchi, director GMR Sports, said: “Viru has been an integral part of the Delhi Daredevils from the day it was formed. He has been the face of the team and an icon best suited to lead our team. Sehwag’s attacking style at the start of the innings sets the tone for the rest of the team.”

Knightley buys $3 mn house Posted: 10 Feb 2011 09:36 PM PST Actress Keira Knightley has splashed out around $3 million on a new east London property. The 25-year-old star’s new 18th Century property is said to boast some amazing features, such as a cinema room, dressing room, library and music parlour, reports femalefirst.co.uk. The splurge comes shortly after the “Never Let Me Go” star split from her long-term boyfriend Rupert Friend, whom she dated for five years.

Kardashian dons Cleopatra look for magazine Posted: 10 Feb 2011 09:32 PM PST Socialite Kim Kardashian has recreated Elizabeth Taylor’s famous interpretation of the queen of Egypt Cleopatra for a magazine shoot. In a photoshoot for Harper’s Bazaar, the 30-year-old posed reclining on a sofa, in an animal print dress which showed off her shapely figure, reports dailymail.co.uk. Taylor had played Cleopatra in a 1963 movie of the same name.

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