June 25 (Reuters) – India’s government has approved market-driven hike in petrol prices, television news channels citing unnamed sources reported on Friday. (Reporting by Nidhi Verma and Manoj Kumar; editing by Malini Menon)
Closely observed drains (and secret tunnels)
May 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment
London, May 11 — Mahatma Gandhi once described American journalist Katherine Mayo’s book Mother India as the “report of a drain inspector” for its criticism of child marriage and widow burning (“killers of goats,” she grumbles after viewing a Kali worship ritual in Kolkata). Tables were turned briefly when a group of ‘observers’ turned up in Britain from 13 Commonwealth countries – some from the poorest parts of Africa – to observe the conduct of last week’s general election, and left behind their own modern version of a drain inspector’s report. Exciting and smooth as the election was, a few polling booths were unable to cope with a sudden spike in voters. Said to number in their thousands, voters who arrived just before the 10 pm closing were turned away as polling papers ran out. There were unprecedented dharnas at polling booths. “The number of seats the Tories needed for an absolute majority is not that high – this could have made the difference,” said Kenyan MP Ababu Namwamba. Another observer was astonished to discover the absence of identity checks. “It was a massive shock when I saw you didn’t any identification to vote,” said Marilyn Jalloh, an MP from Sierra Leone. “In Sierra Leone, you need an identity card and also to give your fingerprint.” The observers could also have done with a guided tour of the venues that have been hosting post-election political negotiations, including ancient secret rooms, corridors and tunnels. Talks are taking place in the Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall Street in central London, next to the prime minister’s office-cum-home at 10 Downing Street. Since Friday’s verdict of a hung parliament, hundreds of reporters have camped outside the Cabinet Office. But with their entry barred into a building whose stone steps lead to passages, secret rooms and indoor tennis courts built by Henry VIII, television news channels have deployed helicopters for aerial views – just in case politicians try to escape unnoticed through the many narrow alleyways connecting Whitehall offices. On Sunday afternoon, Prime Minister Gordon Brown was seen scurrying out of his office into the foreign ministry building. At around the same time a passerby noticed Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg making his way for what turned out to be a meeting between the two.
The Commonwealth observers may not know this, but English rulers thrive on the preservation of mystique.
Gordon Brown enjoys lamb stew before count began
May 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment
London, May 7 (IANS) Labour leader Gordon Brown, who is hoping to retain power, had lamb stew with his wife Sarah before leaving for the count.
Sarah cooked Brown lamb stew as they relaxed at home in Kirkcaldy near Edinburgh, mirror.co.uk reported.
Brown had started Thursday by voting at the North Queensferry Community Centre. He then spent a few hours with close aides.
After the meal, Brown took a snooze before asking an aide to buy two Freeview boxes to watch all TV news channels at once.
He left home just after midnight to go to the count.
Editors Guild condemns attack on Andhra Jyothi
March 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment
New Delhi, Mar 24 (ANI): The Editors Guild of India on Wednesday condemned the attack on Telugu news channel ABN Andhra Jyothi, allegedly by members of Prajarajyam Party (PRP) led by cine star Chiranjeevi.
In a statement issued here, the Guild also demanded to bring the culprits to justice.
“The Editors Guild of India strongly condemns this attack and hopes that the police will ensure the culprits are brought to book,” the statement said.
On Monday, angered over a news story telecast by the news channel on Chiranjeevi, the PRP activists attacked the channel’s head office in Hyderabad’s Jubilee Hills area.
The Guild has also noted with dismay the attack on the news channel.
“Such attacks on news channels are deplorable and cannot be justified in any way,” the statement said.
The Guild also urged all political parties to stay away from attacking journalists and media houses.
“Political parties in Andhra Pradesh and across the country must stay away from attacking journalists and their offices,” the Guild said.
In the statement the Guild expressed concern over increasing attacks on news channels and newspapers across the country.
“In recent months, there have been several attacks on newspaper and channel offices across the country, each attack raising serious questions for our democracy,” the statement said.
“In a civil society, disagreements must be conveyed through peaceful, democratic means,” the statement added. (ANI)
Manmohan Singh not in tune with Sonia Gandhi over RTI
March 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment
New Delhi, Mar 5 (ANI): Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has reportedly disagreed with Congress President Sonia Gandhi over the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
As per news channels, Dr Singh is in favour of excluding the office of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) from falling under the ambit of the RTI Act, whereas Sonia Gandhi has opposed any amendments in the Act.
The changes proposed by the Prime Minister in the RTI Act will keep the office of the Chief Justice of India out of the purview of the Act.
There are reports that Dr Singh has written a letter to Congress President saying that some changes are needed in the RTI Act to address the concerns of the judiciary.
A leading news channel on Thursday night reported that Sonia Gandhi wrote to Dr Singh two months ago that she was determined that there should be no amendments to the Act and the existing RTI Act should be put into operation appropriately.
The channel further reported that Dr Singh in his reply said there was a need for RTI amendments, but all stakeholders would be consulted prior to making any alteration.
There are reports that the Chief Justice of India (CJI), K G Balakrishnan, wrote a letter to Dr Singh in November 2009 expressing concern over the possible consequences of bringing his office into the purview of the RTI Act. (ANI)
Breaking News : Fire at Lalit Modi’s House | Fire at Lalit Modi’s Juhu Bungalow
December 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Breaking News : Fire at Lalit Modi’s House | Fire at Lalit Modi’s Juhu Bungalow | Lalit Modi House Fire
It is Breaking News of the Hour.
There has been a fire at Lalit Modi’s House in, Juhu – Mumbai.
Atleast 8 fire brigades have reached the spot to put the fire off…
No one was in the house when fire broke apart.
Will update the story soon.
Source – News Channels
“Gollum from Lord of the Rings” spotted, bludgeoned in Panama
September 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment
London, Sept 18 (ANI): A mystery creature reportedly beaten to death by a group of teenagers in Panama has become the subject of intense speculation on internet forums.
Terrified locals in Cerro Azul were running scared after the creature they describe as “Gollum” crawled out of a lake and charged schoolkids, reports The Sun.
It was spotted on Saturday when four 14 to 16-year-olds were playing by the waterfront, according to Panamanian news service Telemetro.
The hairless creature has been described as having rubbery skin and measuring almost 150cm.
The teenagers were said to have feared for their own safety as the creature moved towards them so they picked up rocks and sticks and beat it to death, before throwing its corpse in the water and running away.
The youths tossed the carcass into a nearby lake but later returned to take photographs, the report said.
Experts have yet to examine the images. However, locals told Panama news channels that the water-monster was “Gollum from Lord of the Rings”.
One said: “I have only seen that creature once before – and it was in the Tolkien film.”
The fictional Gollum – originally known as Smeagol – was a hobbit whose later name was derived from the “disgusting gurgling, choking cough he made”.
JRR Tolkien – who wrote the Middle Earth adventures – said of the character: “He had become deformed and twisted in both body and mind by the corruption of the Ring.
“His only desire was to possess the Ring which had enslaved him, and he pursued it for many years after he lost it.”
Internet speculation centres around whether the “monster” is actually a shaved sloth or pit bull terrier. (ANI)
Impartial inquiry sought into war crimes against Lankan Tamils
August 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Chennai, Aug 28 (ANI): An NGO in Chenai has demanded impartial international inquiry into war crimes against Tamils in Sri Lanka.
The activists of “WE” held a press meet in Chennai city on Friday, condemning violent attacks on Tamils by Sri Lankan security forces. The NGO works for the uplift of the Tamils in the region.
The latest controversial video that is being shown on news channels and is posted on the website, shows inhuman behaviour by Sri Lanakan armed forces towards Tamils. Several young naked Tamils are brutally tortured and killed in an unabashed manner.
This has agonised and worried Tamil activists in the state.
“Very credible reports are coming that young able bodied Tamil men are separated from others they are tortured and many of them are killed. So I think what we demand is that International impartial inquiry into war crimes committed by both the parties,” said Jagath Casper, activist and member of the WE.
“Secondly, dismantling of the illegal detention centres immediately for which I think India’s foreign policy should become more stronger , affirmative and also proactive,” said Casper.
The organisation has further asked the state government and union government to help Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan Tamils have historical and cultural links with about 60 million Tamils in southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu and their fate has political repercussions in India.
The Sri Lankan government declared victory over LTTE in May, ending one of Asia’s longest conflicts.
Sri Lanka has pledged to resettle the bulk of the displaced within six months — a tall order given the thousands of landmines that have to be cleared across former Tiger territory. (ANI)
Advani asks party leaders to avoid fascination for being in news
July 6, 2009 By Leave a Comment
New Delhi, July 6 (ANI): Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Lal Krishan Advani on Monday expressed concern at the party leaders developing a habit of becoming news for the sake of drawing media attention.
“The urge (among some party leaders) to see their names in newspapers …to see their face on TV for a few seconds … Sometimes, I feel there are too many spokespersons in our party,” Advani said at a function held to mark the birth anniversary of Jan Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mookherjee in the national capital on Monday.
Several senior BJP leaders had spoken to news channels on the reasons for the party’s poll defeat and letters written by some party leaders discussing internal party matters and disagreements were leaked to the media, leaving the party red faced.
Recalling the sacrifices made by Mookherjee, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya and Atal Bihari Vajpayee to raise BJP to its present state, Advani said the party should take all precautions to avoid mistakes as it negate these sacrifices.”
“Leaders like Mookherjee, Deen Dayal, and Vajpayee have raised this party to this level… we should prevent little mistakes on our part ….”, he said.
Advani said the recent election loss should not dishearten BJP members as the party had faced several “ups and downs” in the past. The party still has 116 Lok Sabha MPs.
The Leader of the Opposition said all had not been lost by the BJP after recent poll debacle. “The party has a bright future,” Advani claimed. (ANI)
Cyclone Aila kills 82 in eastern India, rescue work on
May 27, 2009 By 1 Comment
New Delhi – The death toll from cyclone Aila that battered India’s West Bengal state rose to 82 as authorities feared that tidal surges triggered by the storm had killed more than a dozen of the highly endangered Royal Bengal tigers, officials and reports said Wednesday.
Although the cyclone that hit coastal West Bengal and its capital Kolkata on Monday eased, heavy rains lashed the region through Tuesday, causing landslides and claiming more lives, officials in the state’s emergency department said.
Local newspapers and news channels, quoting official sources, said a total of 82 people were killed as the cyclone uprooted trees, electricity poles and homes, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
The state government confirmed only 69 deaths.
“According to figures we collected, 69 people have died, but the death toll could be higher since rescue workers are reaching remote areas and bodies are still being found,” BC Patra, a state relief official, said over telephone from Kolkata.
Among the worst-hit districts were the coastal South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas districts where 34 deaths had occurred, the reports said. Kolkata and seven other districts reported the remaining deaths.
Most of the victims were killed as houses and trees collapsed, officials said.
The cyclone claimed more lives Tuesday when it reached northern parts of the state, where heavy rain caused landslides.
Twenty-two people died in landslides in the famed Darjeeling tea district in the region since Tuesday evening, the IANS news agency reported.
The state government carried out rescue operations in the coastal Parganas districts where the cyclone and accompanying heavy rains submerged large swathes of land.
The estuarine Sunderbans region is part of the districts, where several delta islands had been inundated.
“Operations to rescue marooned people in the affected areas are in full swing as the weather has cleared up since the cyclone weakened,” Patra said.
A total of 3.8 million people have been affected by the cyclone in West Bengal as thousands were left homeless since over 185,000 homes were destroyed in the storm.
At least 200 Indian Army soldiers had been deployed to assist in relief operations, with the army also air dropping food packets in the affected districts.
A report in the Times of India daily said forest wardens in Sunderbans – home to one of the world’s largest tiger populations – reported more than 12 Royal Bengal tigers might have been killed as the cyclone tore through the forests.
Twenty crocodiles and two spotted deer were found dead in the Sunderbans. The report said the full extent of damage will be known only after an assessment by forest teams. According to the last government survey, Sunderbans had a total of 265 tigers.(dpa)
Supreme Court directs Censor Board to solve Rann’s issue case within a month
May 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment
New Delhi, May 25 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Censor Board to solve the controversy over a song from a forthcoming Bollywood movie ‘Rann’ within a month.
This directive was pronounced by the judges hearing a petition filed by the director of the movie, Ram Gopal Varma.
“The movie made by me happens to be ‘Rann’. There is one song in the movie that is inspired by the national anthem. The Censor Board banned this song and they have ordered not to pass the promo of the film. We have appealed to the Supreme Court. The apex court has said that the Censor Board has to take the decision on the matter within a month,” said Ram Gopal Varma.eportedly, the title song of the film sound like the lyrics ‘Jana Gana Mana Rann Hai’ has been twisted from the national anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana…’.
Consequently, the Censor Board did not approve of the song in the movie and had banned its promos.
Reacting to it, Ram Gopal Varma appealed against the ban on the title song in the Supreme Court.
‘Rann’, delves into the highly competitive world of television news reporting in India, putting the spotlight on the media industry’s insatiable appetite for advertisers and viewers.
The film is touted as a behind-the-scenes look at how news channels greedy for ratings are being manipulated into sensationalise stories to grab eyeballs.
Apart from Amitabh Bachchan, the movie also features Paresh Rawal, Manisha Koirala and Rajat Kapoor, Riteish Deshmukh, Purab Kohli and Gul Panag.
In the film, Amitabh Bachchan plays the head of a round-the-clock news channel. (ANI)
A film song similar to national anthem turns controversial
May 9, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Mumbai, May 9 (ANI): Bollywood filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has said that he wouldppeal against a ban on the title song of his upcoming film ‘Rann’, which has whipped up a controversy.
The censor board has decided to ban the title song that appears similar to the national anthem in its tune, but with different lyrics.
“Rann” (Battle), delves into the highly competitive world of television news reporting in India, putting the spotlight on the media industry’s insatiable appetite for advertisers and viewers.
The film is touted as a behind-the-scenes look at how news channels greedy for ratings are being manipulated into sensationalizing stories to grab eyeballs.
“If the censor board like they said, if they don’t want to pass, I will go to the tribunal advising committee and whatever the procedures allow me I will do that,” Varma said.
He said that the critics did not really understand the context of the song, adding that he was ready for a debate.
“I think the people who are having a problem are in minority and they are not listening seriously to what exactly the song is saying. I like to have a conversation with them,” Varma said.
With more than 60 English and regional-language news channels in India beaming into TV-owning homes, the film comes at a time when broadcasters are scrambling to provide exclusive content. (ANI)
Angry Lalu may opt to skip cabinet meet
May 8, 2009 By Leave a Comment
New Delhi, May 8 (ANI): An angry Railway Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav is expected to skip today’s cabinet meeting in the capital in the wake of Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi suggesting a possible political arrangement with Lalu’s rival in Bihar — Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
The otherwise media-friendly and gregarious Lalu shunned the media on Thursday even as polling was held for three Bihar Lok Sabha seats, including Pataliputra, which he is contesting.
A sombre-looking Lalu turned up alongside wife and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi, son Tej Pratap and a daughter at the polling station on the Veterinary College campus where scores from the media were waiting for him since early morning.
Lalu pushed aside some reporters and cameramen of tv news channels.
A cameraman, who had managed to sneak into the room where the electronic voting machine was placed, was given a dressing-down by an angry RJD supremo. The man rushed out sheepishly. (ANI)
RSF concerned about safety of media persons in Swat after Taliban threat
May 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Peshawar, Apr.29 (ANI): Following the Taliban’s threat to the media to not to promote ‘anti-Taliban coverage’ in the Swat Valley, the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has expressed concerns about the safety of media professionals in the region.
In a statement issued by the RSF, the organization said that Taliban threats were unacceptable, and seriously endangered the safety of the journalists working in the region.
“We appeal to TNSM chief Sufi Muhammad, who recently told the RSF that he believed in press freedom, to guarantee safety of journalists to put a stop to the threats,” the statement said.
Earlier, pamphlets warning media houses were found scattered at the office premises of several TV channels and newspapers reporting on developments in the region.
“All editors of wire services, private and government-run news agencies and journalists and columnists are informed that the way you present news and report events give us an impression that you are pursuing a pro-West policy under greed or pressure saying that the Taliban are sabotaging the peace and enforcement of Islamic system,” the pamphlets stated.
“The media helps the west focus on us. Stop doing this and if you did not desist from doing this we will take you to Islamic courts and you will be responsible for this conspiracy and will be responsible for terrible consequences,” the Urdu pamphlets warned.
Editors of local dailies and news channels have taken the warning seriously and are planning to suspend their operations in the region
“We will have no other option, but to close down newspapers and leave the district,” the editor of a local daily, Shumal, Ghulam Farooq told The Daily Times.
“The Taliban are angry with aggressive government-media campaign against them,” another media person, based in the Valley, Fayyaz Zafar said. (ANI)
Media warned against ‘anti-Taliban coverage’ in Swat
May 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Peshawar, Apr.29 (ANI): The Swat chapter of the Taliban has warned the media not to promote ‘anti-Taliban coverage’.
Pamphlets warning media houses were found scattered at the office premises of several TV channels and newspapers reporting on developments in the region.
“All editors of wire services, private and government-run news agencies and journalists and columnists are informed that the way you present news and report events give us an impression that you are pursuing a pro-West policy under greed or pressure saying that the Taliban are sabotaging the peace and enforcement of Islamic system,” the pamphlets stated.
“The media helps the west focus on us. Stop doing this and if you did not desist from doing this we will take you to Islamic courts and you will be responsible for this conspiracy and will be responsible for terrible consequences,” the Urdu pamphlets warned.
Editors of local dailies and news channels have taken the warning seriously and are planning to suspend their operations in the region
“We will have no other option, but to close down newspapers and leave the district,” the editor of a local daily, Shumal, Ghulam Farooq told The Daily Times.
“The Taliban are angry with aggressive government-media campaign against them,” another media person, based in the Valley, Fayyaz Zafar said. (ANI)
Taliban”s relentless march due to government”s impotence: NWFP official
April 23, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Islamabad, Apr.23 (ANI): The Pakistan Government appears to have thrown in the towel insofar as attempting to control the surge of the Taliban.
Militants affiliated to the outfit have established effective control over Buner District, which is 70 miles from Islamabad, and a law enforcement official said it is just a matter of time as to when the Taliban will take charge of Pakistan.
“They take over Buner, then they roll into Mardan and that’s the end of the game,” the New York Times quoted a North-West Frontier Province law enforcement official as saying on condition of anonymity.
Buner, home to about one million people, is a gateway to Mardan, the second largest in North-West Frontier Province, after Peshawar.
Local non-governmental organizations have been ordered to leave, and their offices have been looted, they said. Pakistani television news channels showed Taliban fighters triumphantly carrying office equipment out of the offices of the organizations.
“They are everywhere. There is no resistance,” the paper quoted a resident of Daggar, Buner’s main city, as saying by telephone.
A local politician, Jamsher Khan, said that people were initially determined to resist the Taliban in Buner, but that they were discouraged by the deal the government struck with the Taliban in Swat.
“We felt stronger as long we thought the government was with us, but when the government showed weakness, we too stopped offering resistance to the Taliban,” he said by telephone. (ANI)
Three killed in US drone attack in Pak tribal region
April 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Islamabad, Apr 19 (PTI) A US drone fired two missiles today at a home in Pakistan’s restive South Waziristan tribal region bordering Afghanistan, killing at least three persons. The missiles were fired at a home in the Gangikhel area of Wana, the main town in South Waziristan tribal agency, TV news channels reported.
Three persons were killed in the attack and details about them were not immediately available. Local residents said they had seen two drones flying over the area this morning.
The Gangikhel area has witnessed several missile strikes by the US drones in the recent past. Pakistan has said it has differences with the US on the missile strikes, which it has described as counter-productive for the war on terror and a violation of its sovereignty.
PTI.
Five killed in Pak explosion
April 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Islamabad, Apr 18 (PTI) At least five persons were killed and as many injured in an explosion at a security check post in Pakistan’s restive North West Frontier Province today. Initial reports suggested that the check post in Doaba area of Hangu district might have been targeted by a suicide car bomber, TV news channels reported.
Witnesses were quoted as saying that five persons were killed and as many injured. Security forces cordoned off the area after the powerful blast.
There was no official word on the incident. No group claimed responsibility for the attack.
PTI.