Latest News

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• Mubarak ‘very sick’, fainting due to depression
• Sachin should win World Cup for us: Kapil
• Does psychotherapy induce changes in the brain?
• Shock and abuse: Bollywood’s new style
• Japan, India to sign free trade agreement
• Clarify on 100,000 tapped phones: BJP to government
• Sensex creeps up after early fall, broader markets dull
• Qureshi, PPP patch-up after blazing row
• Army chief in Kashmir for security review
• Debutant directors have passion for work: Anupam Kher

Mubarak ‘very sick’, fainting due to depression Posted: 15 Feb 2011 12:31 AM PST Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak is “very sick” and has fainted on at least one occasion at the Red Sea holiday villa in Sharm el-Sheikh where he was sent into internal exile, media reports say. Locals in the resort city said they were told by Mubarak’s guards that he was bedridden and needed help in walking. “Mubarak is very sick – they say he has cancer,” the Daily Telegraph quoted Ahmed, a teacher, as saying. Mubarak is staying at a villa in the grounds of the Maritim Jollie Ville Hotel, owned by one of Egypt’s leading businessmen, Hussein Salem, who is a close member of the former president’s inner circle. Ambulances and doctors were seen in the private driveway of the hotel and security guards said he was unwell. “He has been feeling very unwell… he is a very, very sick man,” another security guard told the media. Sameh Shoukry, the Egyptian ambassador to US, said that Mubarak was “possibly in somewhat bad health”. “I am following the rumours and press reports related to his health, and might have received some communication at a personal level indicating that he is possibly in somewhat of bad health,” he said. But Shoukry stressed that, “I really don’t have sufficient information so I wouldn’t like to speculate”. Two Egyptian newspapers said that the former president was depressed, refusing to take medication and was repeatedly passing out. The 82-year-old former head of state is in a “severe psychological condition and is declining treatment despite his illness” but he is not in a coma, the pro-government Al-Gomhuria daily reported, citing sources close to Mubarak. Egyptian daily Al-Masry Al-Youm earlier reported that Mubarak was gravely ill and had slipped into a coma after mass protests forced him out of power. He stepped down Friday and handed over power to the country’s military after 18 days of widespread anti-government protests.

Sachin should win World Cup for us: Kapil Posted: 15 Feb 2011 12:16 AM PST World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev feels comments of Indian cricketers that they want to win the Cup for Sachin Tendulkar is just media hype. Kapil hoped it is the batting maestro who would win the World Cup for India. “‘We want to win for Sachin. We want to win for Sachin.’ It’s the media which is saying again and again. We all want to win. Of course Sachin wants to win. But if you keep on asking everybody if Sachin’s dream will come true what will they say? Everybody’s dream is same,” said Kapil while addressing an event, Power Play, which was also attended by former cricket legends Sourav Ganguly, Vivian Richards and Steve Waugh. Kapil felt depending on one individual will have an adverse effect on the team. “I as a cricketer would not like to depend on one person. At the end of the day it’s a team game and the team has to win together,” Kapil said. “When you start depending on one player and if anything goes wrong with him your team chokes. I think he has to do it for us. He has to perform for us so that we can cheer for him,” he added.

Does psychotherapy induce changes in the brain? Posted: 15 Feb 2011 12:09 AM PST Medication and psychotherapy both help people with an anxiety disorder. But research on the effects of psychotherapy on nerve cells has lagged far behind that on medication-induced changes in the brain. Social anxiety boils down to overwhelming fears of interacting with others and expectations of being harshly judged. “We wanted to track the brain changes while people were going through psychotherapy,” says McMaster University doctoral candidate and study co-author Vladimir Miskovic. The team, led by David Moscovitch of the University of Waterloo, collaborated with McMaster’s Louis Schmidt and Diane Santesso. Randi McCabe-used electroencephalograms or EEGs, which measure brain electrical interactions in real time, were put to use. They focused on the amount of “delta-beta coupling”, which elevates with rising anxiety. They recruited a group of adults with social anxiety disorder, according to a McMaster’s statement. The patients participated in group cognitive behaviour therapy, a structured method that helps people identify and challenge the thinking patterns that perpetuate their painful and self-destructive behaviours. Two control groups – students who tested extremely high or low for symptoms of social anxiety – underwent no psychotherapy. The patients were given four EEGs — two before treatment, one halfway through, and one two weeks after the final session. When the patients’ pre and post-therapy EEGs were compared with the control groups’, the results were revealing. Before therapy, the clinical group’s delta-beta correlations were similar to those of the high-anxiety control group and far higher than the low-anxiety groups. Midway through, improvements in the patients’ brains paralleled clinicians’ and patients’ own reports of easing symptoms. And at the end, the patients’ tests resembled those of the low-anxiety control group.

Shock and abuse: Bollywood’s new style Posted: 15 Feb 2011 12:03 AM PST Bollywood has always been about people’s cinema. And lately, so has been the language, and sometimes even the titles, of Hindi films — juicy and peppered with expletives, like we hear around us all the time. “Use of swear words has always been there in films. If a character is involved in a certain situation, then what’s the harm in putting them in dialogues? Although, there is indeed a certain way of using it. Moreover, using abusive words is quite common in real life too,” said Pradeep Sarkar, who has directed films like “Lafangey Parindey” and “Laaga Chunari Mein Daag”. Examples are not hard to come by. “No One Killed Jessica” saw Rani Mukerji hurling abuses left, right and centre while playing a television journalist. “Peepli Live” also had some abusive words, as did Salman Khan’s 2009 blockbuster “Wanted”, though the expletives were used in a humorous way. Vishal Bhardwaj’s “Omkara” saw Ajay Devgn and Saif Ali Khan at their abusive best. Last year, films like “Ishqiya”, “Khatta Meetha”, “Tere Bin Laden” had cuss words either in dialogues or songs. While Akshay Kumar-starrer “Khatta Meetha” had a song “Bulls***”, “Tere Bin Laden” had a song called “Ullu da patta”. Shah Rukh Khan danced on the tunes of “Ishq Kamina” with Aishwarya Rai in “Shakti” in 2002. Even the titles of films are no longer sacrosanct. “Kaminey”, and more recently “Yeh Saali Zindagi”, are a few examples. “The times we are living in, use of abusive words is become a common phenomena. With the landscape of cinema changing and movies getting real, filmmakers and actors are ready to take the liberty. Use of abuses is common in conversational language,” said “No One Killed Jessica” director Rajkumar Gupta. “Moreover, the censor board has also become open to different subjects and have become quite liberal in this case. Their way of approaching a subject has changed. They understand the sensibilities of the story presented in front of them,” he added. Earlier, use of abusive words was only limited to male actors. However, as the portrayal of women gets bolder, a lot of actresses are not shying away from hurling abuses. Rani Mukerji did so in “No One Killed Jessica”, while Vidya Balan broke the mould with “Ishqiya”. “I was very apprehensive while using slang. I have never used them in my real life but I had to because the script demanded it. When you will see this movie, you will understand that it is justified. The movie belongs to a certain terrain where slangs are part of their lingo,” said Vidya. Rani also said that she was doing what her character demanded and was quite “comfortable” doing so. Kareena Kapoor also got abusive in “Golmaal 3″ and “Jab We Met”, as did Divya Dutta in “Delhi 6″ and Kangana Ranaut in “Raaz 2″. Kangana will once again be seen using such words in her upcoming film “Tanu Weds Manu”. Of course, not all films have a smooth sailing. Many found themselves in legal hassles due to the liberal use of cuss words. Journalists in Patiala recently asked the police to register a case against Rani Mukerji, other actors and the filmmaker of “No One Killed Jessica” for showing them in a bad light. In another instance, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court had directed the Mumbai Police Commissioner to serve court notice on the producers and directors of “Peepli Live”, “Omkara”, “Gangaajal” and “Bandit Queen” for using abusive language. The court was responding to a petition that challenged on grounds of morality the use of offensive words in these films. “It’s not the common man who creates such controversies. Ninety to 95 percent of such cases are created for the sake of creating it. You would not see the aam junta saying we are not ready to accept it. They rather enjoy it,” Gupta added. However, director Abhinav Kashyap, whose “Dabangg” is sweeping the awards this year, prefers to keep it clean. “I wouldn’t like to comment on others, but I don’t approve of such words in my scripts. Different people have different ways of looking at things, you would never hear such words in my films,” he said.

Japan, India to sign free trade agreement Posted: 14 Feb 2011 11:52 PM PST The Japanese government said Tuesday that it would sign a free trade agreement with India that would abolish duties on more than 90 percent of trade for 10 years. Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara and Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma were to conclude the accord Wednesday, officials said. The deal would eliminate tariffs on 90 percent of Japanese exports to India, such as auto parts and electric appliances, and 97 percent of imports from India, including agricultural and fisheries products, until 2021. The two countries have been negotiating since January 2007. “India is a very big market and sharply growing,” Trade Minister Banri Kaieda told a news conference. “With the accord, the government can support Japanese firms doing business in India, which seeks infrastructure technologies from Japan.” Japan and India are also to continue talks on lifting employment restrictions to allow Indians to work in Japan as nurses and care givers. Japan, which is bracing itself for increasing health care requirements as its population ages, hopes to conclude the talks within two years, the government said.

Clarify on 100,000 tapped phones: BJP to government Posted: 14 Feb 2011 11:27 PM PST The government should give an “authoritative clarification” on media reports that 100,000 phones are being tapped per year, which is a matter of concern, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said here Tuesday. “Media reports today (Tuesday) have indicated that around 1 lakh telephone connections are being tapped. The law is very clear that tapping of phones can only be done when national security is the consideration or there is prevention of crime involved,” Jaitley told mediapersons. “The figure is so large that it is frightening. It is a matter of concern. Simultaneously this power is also excised by the states and therefore the figure may be bigger,” he added. A report in a leading national daily Tuesday said that more than 100,000 phones are being tapped by the government every year. “Naturally then there is an apprehension this is a misuse of power that is taking place and indiscriminate bugging is going on,” said Jaitely, the leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha. “It is extremely important that the government of India clarify on how many of these phones are really being bugged across the country and authoritatively clarify that phones are being tapped only on those consideration with are permitted by law and not otherwise,” he added.

Sensex creeps up after early fall, broader markets dull Posted: 14 Feb 2011 11:19 PM PST A day after galloping over 470 points, a benchmark index for Indian equities markets Tuesday pared its morning losses to rule almost flat around noon. Broader markets too seemed to take a breather after the previous session’s rally. The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,260.08 points, rose to 18,210.87 points, up 8.67 points or 0.05 percent from its previous close at 18,202.2 points. It had slipped to 18,050.48 points in the morning, The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was ruling 0.04 percent up at 5,458.25 points. Broader markets were also dull, with the BSE midcap index trading 0.12 percent lower and the BSE smallcap index ruling 0.2 percent up. Selling was seen in capital goods, IT and healthcare stocks, while banking and energy scrips generated some buying interest. The market breadth was mixed, with 1,232 stocks advancing compared to 1,296 scrips on the decline. A total of 99 stocks remained unchanged. Among gainers on the 30-scrip Sensex were ICICI Bank, Tata Power, SBI and Reliance Communications, while the losers included Jaiprakash Associates, BHEL, TCS and M&M. Other Asian markets were a mixed bag, with traders on the lookout for fresh signals on the global economic recovery front, having rallied Monday on the news that fresh economic data coming from China showed inflation lower than expected. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was ruling 0.45 percent down at 23,016.47 points, while a benchmark of Chinese markets, Shanghai Composite index, rose 0.82 percent at 2,922.89 points. The Japanese Nikkei nudged up 0.2 percent at 10,746.67 points.

Qureshi, PPP patch-up after blazing row Posted: 14 Feb 2011 11:15 PM PST Shah Mahmood Qureshi and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have buried the hatchet with the former foreign minister, who was upset at not getting the portfolio in the downsized cabinet, saying he has “no personal grievances” and the ruling party declaring that no disciplinary action would be taken against him. Qureshi said in a statement that he had “no personal grievances” against the party and its leadership over his exclusion from the 22-strong batch inducted Friday. He was offered the water and power ministry in the downsizing of the cabinet last week but refused. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has not yet named a new foreign minister. Qureshi said he respected the party’s decision to change the cabinet, Dawn reported Tuesday. The statement came after calls from some PPP members for disciplinary action against him for refusing to accept a change in portfolio. Soon thereafter, Farhatullah Babar, a spokesman for PPP co-chairman and President Asif Ali Zardari, said reports of a disciplinary action against the former foreign minister were “wrong”. Qureshi said in his statement: “I respect the party leadership’s decision to change the cabinet and I hold, and have always held, the interests of the country, the party and its leadership in high esteem.” He added that he was “committed to the party and the ideals and principles” …(it) has traditionally stood for”. In a reference to arrested US consulate official Raymond Davis who shot dead two Pakistanis Jan 27 that sparked a diplomatic spat between Washington and Islamabad, Qureshi said: “…I confirmed certain facts pertaining to the Raymond Davis case”. Qureshi is facing criticism after he said Saturday that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had “forced” him to confirm the diplomatic immunity for Davis. Davis claimed to have acted in self-defence as the two were trying to rob him. The incident led to the death of a third Pakistani who came under the vehicle which arrived at the scene to help Davis escape from the spot. Babar told Dawn that the position of the party on the issue of Davis was “unambiguous and quite clear”. “The issue is before the court and it is imprudent to comment on it,” he was quoted as saying. Babar clarified that PPP information secretary Fauzia Wahab’s statement that Davis enjoyed diplomatic immunity “is neither party policy nor government policy. She (Fauzia) herself has clarified that it is her personal opinion”. Wahab Sunday said that the party would take a serious disciplinary action against Qureshi for violating party discipline. She said the former foreign minister has no future in the party. Party sources had earlier said that Qureshi was upset by Zardari’s move to prevent him from issuing any statement as foreign minister on the Davis issue and instead assign it to Interior Minister Rehman Malik. Sources added that Zardari was also unhappy with Qureshi for skipping his meeting with a US Congress delegation last week and the president had admonished Qureshi for this in front of other members during a core committee meeting.

Army chief in Kashmir for security review Posted: 14 Feb 2011 11:05 PM PST Indian Army chief Gen. V.K. Singh Tuesday arrived on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to review the security situation in the face of a persistent demands for reduction of troops and repeal of the army’s special powers under the AFSPA. Singh landed at the headquarters of the Northern Command in Udhampur. During his visit he will assess the situation in the state and might also visit the shrine of Vaishno Devi, according to the sources in the army. “Primarily, the army chief will review the situation along the frontiers with all the corps commanders in Jammu and Kashmir and also Northern Command chief Lt. Gen. K.T. Patnaik,” a source in the army told IANS. The review would also be focused on the security needs, the strength of the troops and their special powers. People in Kashmir have been demanding repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the state. These issues have become important in the light of repeated declarations by union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai that the centre may recall 10,000 paramilitary forces personnel from the state this year.

Debutant directors have passion for work: Anupam Kher Posted: 14 Feb 2011 10:01 PM PST He’s done more than 400 films but still yearns to act with first-time directors. Anupam Kher says debutant filmmakers keep him alive as an actor and he would love to don the director’s hat again himself. “In the last five years I have launched only new directors, whether it was Dibakar Banerjee, Neeraj Pandey or Ayan Mukerjee. I love working with first-time directors,” Kher told IANS in an interview. “Their passion for work is unbelievable. They know their mind. It’s not that they want to make a film because they have nothing else to do. You will see me working with lots of first-time directors. I get to learn a lot of things from them and that keeps me alive as an actor,” he said. Kher directed a film nine years ago, but it flopped. He is now once again ready with two scripts and looking for a financier. “I would love to direct a film. I am ready with two scripts. I am looking for a financier,” said Kher, whose 2002 directorial debut “Om Jai Jagdish” failed to impress critics and audiences. The 55-year-old actor believes this is the best phase of Indian cinema and says he would continue exploring different kinds of cinema for another 25 years. “This is the best phase of Indian cinema. Audience is ready to see a film that doesn’t fit into a formula and I’m happy that I am still working and I will be working for another 25 years and I will still be exploring possibilities of different kinds of cinema.” “So this phase for a person like me, who is a trained actor from the National School of Drama, who runs an acting school…it’s a very, very exciting period,” he said. The Padma Shri awardee entered the world of Hindi films with a powerful performance in “Saaransh” in 1984. Since then he has played the funnyman, villain and serious roles with equal elan in his nearly three-decade-long career. But after doing diverse characters in more than 400 films, does he still believe that there are fresh roles he would like to essay? “If you ask me after 40 years of my career, I will still say there are hundreds of roles that I am still looking forward to do. It’s too early to answer that.” Kher, who has played a father in umpteen films like “Tezaab”(1988), “Daddy” (1989), “Dil” (1990) and “Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin” (1991), is donning daddy’s role yet again. But he promises a unique father-daughter relationship in debutant director Yogesh Mittal’s “Yeh Faasley”. “The story of this film is fantastic. I have done lots of film on father-daughter relationships like ‘Daddy’ and ‘Dil Hai Ki Manta Nehi’, but the aspects of the father-daughter relationship that ‘Ye Faasley’ has touched upon, I have never done before…,” he claimed. “I don’t think the relationship between a father and daughter has been exposed like this till now. It’s very intriguing. “In over 400 films of my career I may have played father in almost 300 films, but this role is completely different. He is arrogant, ambitious, yet a loving person. The thing that attracted me was the script and the interpretation of the father’s role,” Kher explained. Debutant actor Tena Desae plays his daughter in the film releasing March 4.

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