Delhi Elections - South Asian Daily

Transcription

MidWeek
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 03, 2013
1
Delhi Elections Arvind Kejriwal is the
Game Changer
Election Date - 4th Dec, Result Date - 8th Dec
THE INDO-CANADA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HONOURS MR KEN NAZ (EROS INTERNATIONAL)
ICCC President Naval Bajaj, Canada's Sports Minister and Member of Parliament Bal Gosal, Consulate l General of India Toronto
Akhilesh Mishra, President of Americas Operations for Eros International Ken Naz, Canada India Foundation Board Member
Vasu Chanchlani and wife Jaya Chanchlani
MORE PICS ON PAGE 3
MODI INVITED THE COUNTRY TO
DEBATE ON ARTICLE 370
B
JP prime ministerial
candidate wanted to
start a "debate" on
Article 370 of the Indian
constitution, while attending the
"Lalkar rally" in a Jammu stadium
Sunday he challenged the party's
demand for abolishing the Article
or starting the conversation to
see whether it had any benefits.
He wanted talks to start to
see if the article that provides
special state to the people in the
state of J&K had benefited or
harmed them.
His wish for a debate has
surely started a debate in the
country.
Peoples Democratic Party (
PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad
Sayeed said, "Even the ordinary
students of Constitutional
history know that Article 370
providing special status to J&K
has gained a permanent status
after the Constitutional assembly
of the state approved it,"
reported Time of India.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief
Minister tweeted "I challenge
him or any of his minions to
reproduce verbatim the section
of Article 370 that determines the
J&K state subject law," saying
Modi is misinformed.
"I see Modi's impact on
ground and it is zero. This is
because he is not an organised
politician, and he sometimes
doesn't know what he says. I feel
sorry for the BJP, as I have
known them for a long time, for
choosing a candidate who knows
propaganda but does not know
history or politics," saidJammu
and Kashmir Congress Chief
SaifuddinSoz reported DNA.
"When the BJP came to
power, did they do anything with
the Article 370? Article 370 is
irrevocable. It is an integral part
of the Constitution of India; no
K
ejriwal was there but still talking about issues like corruption,
which didn't make any sense to people who are struggling
with day to day needs like No water Supply, Higher food
prices and higher electricity bills. There are areas in Delhi where
residents have received no water in 30 days.
Kejriwal's bijli-paani (electricity and water) protests made him a
familiar face to lower middle and lower class households. Earlier his
popularity was restricted to only a sizable middle class population
because issues like corruption resonates with middle class more.
The electricity protest struck a chord with people who were feeling
the biggest pinch. This early success around everyday needs
explains why the newly released AAP manifesto promises a 50%
rate cut in electricity tariff if it comes to power.
Kejriwal's other political constituency has a similar aam aadmi quality:
his support among the city's autowallahs.
DETAILS ON PAGE 4
POLL NUMBERS IN
FAVOUR OF TRUDEAU
power is capable enough to
remove it completely. It has a
permanent nature in India.
Article 370 is the unifying factor
in Jammu and Kashmir, and the
Congress Party fully accepts this
factor," he said.
BJP said Monday it stands
firm on its demand to the
provision that special status to
J&K should be abrogated in
favour of Modi.
Leaders of opposition
ArunJaitley and SushmaSwaraj
said the party has not softened
on the issue Times of India
reported.
"It would be incorrect for
anyone to interpret BJP's
challenge for a debate on this
issue as a softening of stand on
Article 370," Jaitley said.
DETAILS ON PAGE 4
ANUSHKA SHARMA KISSSES VIRAT KOHLI
I
t seems something is cooking between "just
friends" Virat Kohli and actress Anushka Sharma.
If reports are to believed Virat stopped by at
Anushka's residence to meet her before he left for
South Africa.
Quoting an eyewitness, a Mid-Day report says that
around 10:45 pm, both, the cricketer and the actress
left Anushka's place and stepped out of the lift on
the second floor parking area of the building. Both
were casually dressed and the actress gave him a
quick kiss before he left in the car.
The report further says that both looked very happy
in each other's company and Virat kept turning back
to look at Anushka as the car left the parking area.
Both Anushka and Virat met when they were
shooting for a shampoo commercial and bonded
very well since then. After that they became "good
friends" and meet often whenever the cricketer is in
Mumbai. Well we sure hope that love is in the air for
both Virat and Anushka.
Cour tesy: stjacquesphotography/Flickr Commons
The Liberal Party is up 6 points while the Conservatives are down by
one point - reaching lowest number since 2011 election, reported the
Globe and Mail. The Ipsos-CTV poll showed the Liberals are leading
with 35 per cent while the Conservatives are at 29 per cent and the NDP
at 26 per cent. Globe and Mail reported Canadians who dislike Harper
are shifting toward the Liberal government and Trudeau. Poll results
from October concluded the two opposition parties were tied in the race
with the Liberal Party at 31 and NDP at 30, while a in a matter of a month
Liberal Party's support has increased. Darrell Bricker, chief executive
officer of Ipsos Global Public Affairs, has said the results show that
voters who were committed to dislodging Harper are in favour of the
Liberals, which is good news for Trudeau and not so good for the Conservatives and the NDP, reported Globe and Mail. Trudeau won Liberal
leadership seven months ago and the NDP will hope is the honeymoon
period for Liberal fans is only temporary reported Globe and Mail. The
Liberal Party hold a significant lead in three biggest provinces in Canada
- Ontario, Quebec and B.C. IN Ontario, Liberals stand at 37 per cent
while Conservatives at 20 per cent and NDP following at 20. In B.C.
Liberals are leading with 37 per cent while NDP stands at 30 per cent
and Conservatives at 28 per cent.
CIRCULATED THROUGH : TORONTO, MARKHAM, SCARBOROUGH, RICHMOND HILL, VAUGHAN, WOODBRIDGE, ETOBICOKE, NORTH YORK, MALTON, REXDALE, BRAMPTON, MISSISSAUGA, OAKVILLE, HAMILTON, MILTON, STONEY CREEK, BURLINGTON
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MidWeek
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
page 3
PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER AND HIS WIFE LAUREEN HARPER WITH YUDHVIR JASWAL (GROUP EDITOR & CEO) & PREET
JASWAL AT A RECEPTION HOSTED LAST THURSDAY IN INTERNATIONAL PLAZA, TORONTO
I am Virgin, Not friends with SRK,
Friends with Katrina: Salman
‘
T
he fourth season of talk show Koffee with Karan was aired on Satur
day night with 47-year-old superstar Salman Khan telling filmmaker
Karan Johar that he was saving himself up for his future bride. When
a surprised Karan asked if this meant he was still a virgin, Salman
looked at him straight in the face and said yes, nodding. So you did not have
sex with all the women you have been with, Karan said, jokingly.
They were just friends, Salman said. Salman also said he liked to sleep alone
at night and even lay down on the couch at the studio to show the various
ways he can spread his legs if there is not one else sharing his bed.
Salman also said that there was a time when he seriously wanted to settle
down but now marriage question does not interest him anymore. "There was
a time that I really did want to get married, and then it just didn`t work out. It
always comes so close, but then people have got cold feet," he said.
He also admitted that he was on the verge of getting married to
Sangeeta Bijlani. Even wedding cards were printed and the preparations were on but the relationship unexpectedly ended as Sangeeta
caught him cheating on her with another woman.
RANBIR KAPOOR HAS TAKEN
EVERYTHING AWAY FROM
ME... MOVIES AND ....
Soon after saying this, Salman went on to say. "I am not the correct person
to be with, the way I am right now in this phase of my life," he says.
On being asked, how he faces his exes in real life, the 47-year-old
bachelor said, "Some I ignore totally. I try and run away from them. I
don`t face them. I`m sure by that it would mean you cannot look me
in the eye and all. But that`s not the point. The point is now you`re
somewhere else. You have your own life. I don`t want that somewhere in somebody else`s mind that thought about ex-boyfriend you
know". When asked about the much-talked about animosity between
him and Shah Rukh Khan and the hug that took place at the Iftaar par ty
earlier this, Salman Khan said: "If I had crossed him and didn't acknowledge him it would have been wrong… I saw him sitting down
there and I moved and said salaam alaikum."
When Karan Johar asked if he felt that is was the media that propagated this so-called war, Salman Khan said: "It was never a war … It
was just two guys that got along fine and one night they didn't get
along and it was something that hur t me. He could have just come
that same night and finished it off. He chose not to and I said let it be."
"After that he came on to your show and spoke about me. He passes
my house four or five times a day. He should have come home and
rung the bell."
It was in 2008 during Salman Khan's then girlfriend Katrina Kaif's
bir thday party that there was a heated argument and spat between
Salman and Shah Rukh.
ATTENDEES AT ICCC WINTER GALA 2013
MidWeek
3
I AM VIRGIN, NOT
FRIENDS WITH SRK,
FRIENDS WITH
KATRINA: SALMAN
Salman Khan was all praise for Shah Rukh Khan saying, "I think the
romantic scenes that Shah Rukh does and his intensity, I don't think
that anybody can touch him in that."
Salman Khan said after the hug at the Iftaar par ty, he did sms Shah
Rukh Khan. Later, Salman Khan stressed that though the two actors
cannot be 'best of friends' now but also made it clear that he has
immense respect for Shah Rukh.
On asking about his contemporary actors, Salman praised all and
said, "There are fore leading actors who are more than competition
for me - Aamir, Shah Rukh, Akshay and Hrithik. Among the younger
generation - Ranbir, Ranveer, Imran and Arjun are cool."
Interestingly, Salman grabbed many oppor tunities to take a dig at his
alleged ex-flame Katrina and her current rumoured beau Ranbir Kapoor.
When Salman was asked what would he react if he woke up as Ranbir
Kapoor, Salman retor ted, ''Salman lucky hai ya main.'' The same question when asked with reference to Katrina Kaif, he said, ''Where's
Ranbir?'' Salman, when asked about giving one advice to Ranbir
Kapoor, he said, ''Have fun!'' and for Katrina Kaif? ''Make sure he
(Ranbir) does not have fun!''
Well, with Salman hinting at Ranbir-Katrina's relationship and even
Kareena Kapoor talking about it openly, we hope to see the actors
confessing about it openly at least now!
When Karan asked the most eligible bachelor, who is the most stunning among Katrina, Aishwarya and Kareena, Salman didn't waste
any time o reply, "Aishwarya definitely is the most stunning."
Salman and Aishwarya had a publicized break-up. They came close during
the shooting of Sanjay Leela Bhasali's 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' but after
dating for a year, they had a fall-out.
When Karan asked the hunk to pick up any one between the rest two choices
- Katrina and Kareena. Salman picked Katrina over Kareena.
Here is the entire rapid fire round conversation between Salman and Karan,
undoubtedly the spiciest part of the whole episode.
React in one word:
Marriage: Hey Ram
Awards: I believe in reward
On screen kissing: No fun
Being human: Heartfelt
If u wake up as the following people, what is the first thing you would do?
Sanjay Leela Bhansali: I would wonder where Karan Johar is..or where
Karan Johar was last night..
Shahrukh khan: I would do eh eh eh eh eh...aaj kaun gaya hai Karan ke
show par? Salman? Salman kyun gaya re?
Ranbir Kapoor: Salman lucky hai ya main?
Aamir Khan: (Yawns) dopahar ho gayi!
Katrina Kaif: Where is Ranbir?
If not in the film industry what should the following people do?
Sonakshi: Politics is good for her or designing
Kareena Kapoor: House wife
Hrithik roshan: Dance academy
Priyanka Chopra: Singer or house wife
Your advice for the following people:
Ranbir: Have fun
Katrina: Make sure he does not have fun
Hrithik Roshan: You stay out of this
Best advice given to you:
It got it 25 years ago. Which was gicen by Kailash (Sundernath), I was
heart broken when a friend of mine left me and went. We were coming
back from Alibaugh. He said put your hand in the water, what do you
feel? I said fish. He said there are a lot of fish in the sea. One day at a
par ty he put his arm around my shoulder and said stop wasting your
time and your father's money. After that I never par tied.
At gun point if you were forced to have a gay encounter who would
that be?
"Aisi gun banehi nahi hai karan (such a gun is never been made!). No.
But just to make you feel better...you Karan....But I am the guy ha?"
You kill one, you marry one, you are just friends with one - Preeti
Zinta, Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif?
Marry: Preeeti Zinta.
Friends with only Katrina Kaif.
The show was aired on Star World.
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MidWeek
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
Delhi Elections - Arvind
Kejriwal is the Game Changer
Election Date - 4th Dec, Result Date - 8th Dec
Contd. from Page 1
"He is with us. He rallied with
us, stayed with us but most
importantly he still helps us in
whichever legal way possible,"
says Raman Prasad, an auto
wallah from Khanpur. "The
party provides us with lawyers
whenever there is a case in the
court." Kejriwal is seen as a
undisputed leader among this
community thanks to his
resistance to the Delhi
government's plan to install a
GPS device in all autos.
"After the electricity protest
only I started noticing
[Kejriwal]. Earlier he was there
but still talking about issues
like corruption, which didn't
make any sense to people like
us," says Ajit from Chirag
Delhi's Jatav Mohalla. The
electricity protest struck a
chord with people who were
feeling the biggest pinch. "I
had a pending water bill of
seven thousand, which I paid.
But that protest made sure that
someone is here to talk about
the problem that I was facing
everyday," says Savitri in
Sangam Vihar, where many
residents have received no
water in 30 days.
Kejriwal's bijli-paani (electricity
and water) protests made him a
familiar face to lower middle
and lower class households.
His popularity until then, says
Yogendra Yadav, "was
restricted to only a sizable
middle class population
because issues like
corruption resonates with
middle class more." This early
success around everyday
needs explains why the newly
released AAP manifesto
promises a 50% rate cut in
electricity tariff if it comes to
power.
Kejriwal's other political
constituency has a similar
aam aadmi quality: his
support among the city's
autowallahs. "He is with us.
He rallied with us, stayed with
us but most importantly he
still helps us in whichever
legal way possible," says
Raman Prasad, an auto wallah
from Khanpur. "The party
provides us with lawyers
whenever there is a case in
the court." Kejriwal is seen as
a undisputed leader among
this community thanks to his
resistance to the Delhi
government's plan to install a
GPS device in all autos.
But a year after his official
entry into politics, and
despite his best efforts,
Kejriwal remains hampered by
two significant burdens.
One is the break from Anna
Hazare, and the
accompanying suspicion of
excess ambition. "Arvind's
problem has been that he was
too eager to come out of the
Anna Shadow, and projecting
himself as the leader of the
mass movement," says a
journalist in Delhi who has
been observing Kejriwal since
Anna Hazare started his first
indefinite fast at Jantar
Mantar.
"He was with Anna and the
movement, and then suddenly
he is here asking for votes?"
says Ajay Kumar in
Patparganj who runs a tea
shop. "He had his political
ambition and he just used
Anna," says Karina, an MBA
graduate! who claims she had
been to ramleela maidan to
show her solidarity during the
monthlong fast.
Even those who support his
political avatar are taken
aback by his ambition."It was
a good move that he stepped
before that she has been
around for 20 years. it takes
that much time to build a
political party."
And if Kejriwal at least enjoys
some recognition, many of his
candidates are outright
unfamiliar. As Bardhan points
out, many candidates of AAP
are barely known among the
electorates. Even though 25%
voters of Krishna Nagar are
Muslim, Ishrat Ali Ansari, the
AAP candidate, will
undoubtedly lose to BJP's chief
ministerial candidate Harsh
Vardhan. "Doctor Saab (Harsh
Vardhan) has been here for last
20 years. Of course we will vote
for him," says Imtiyaz Khan,
from Khureji, a Muslim ghetto
in Krishna Nagar.
Even Kejriwal's loyal middle
class constituency wonders if
his clean outsider image will
work against him. "I'm not
worried whether they will turn
corrupt themselves but how
many people will want a party
that is outright against the
corruption? The people
themselves are corrupt. An anti
corruption campaign excludes
at least 60 percent of the
voter," says Ashok Rawat
(name changed), a government
into the electoral politics
because the Anna movement
for it's apolitical nature could
never root out a problem like
corruption. But Arvind
Kejriwal looks like a man in
hurry," says Sunil Bhai of
Socialist Front.
Kejriwal's other problem is his
outsider status. While many
now know his name, he
remains an unfamiliar
commodity as a politician.
"What is his political
ideology? He is cashing in
the anti incumbency wave
and making false promises,"
claims A B Bardhan, veteran
leftist leader of the CPI,
comparing him to Mamata
who may be an outsider "but
serviceman from INA.
However doubtful the voters
maybe, everyone agrees that
Arvind Kejriwal has finally
offered Delhi voters a real
choice - a choice not to opt for
the same old two national
parties.
"Is it possible for one man to
change everything in a day? If
things were this easy then why
no one spoke about them
ever?", asks Kunal Kumar, from
khichripur, a slum in East Delhi.
But despite his doubts, Kumar
will be voting for jhaadu: "Gave
a chance to everyone. The
Congress is in the government
and the BJP is in the
municipality. Why not give him
a chance too?
Justice delayed: No hearing on plea for Bhopal gas relief in 3 years
J
ust days before the 29th an
niversary of the Bhopal Gas
Disaster of 1984, news
came last Friday that no hearing
took place at the Supreme Cour t
on a curative petition filed by the
central government to rectify the
flawed settlement of 1989, and
no fur ther date had been fixed.
The petition had been admitted
by the apex cour t three years
ago, on December 3, 2010. Not a
single hearing has taken place
since then.
Lost in a maze of litigation that
stretches from the Supreme
Cour t in Delhi to the MP high
cour t in Jabalpur and down to the
chief judicial magistrate in
Bhopal, survivors and family
members of the worst ever industrial disaster were baffled but
resigned - they are exhausted and
hopeless.
Nasreen Bi, was just 25 years
old when poisonous gases broke
out from the Union Carbide pesticide plant and drifted through
sleeping Bhopal on the night of
2-3 December 1984. A grandmother now, she feels betrayed
by all.
"The big political par ties, the
cour ts, the sarkari babus - they
are all unconcerned of our plight.
We have survived till today by
our own fate, though weakened
by the gas, and poor," she says,
breathless due to compromised
lungs.
In 1989, the Supreme Cour t had
approved a settlement between
the government and Union Carbide that gave Rs 713 crore ($470
million) as compensation to vic-
MODI INVITED THE COUNTRY TO
DEBATE ON ARTICLE 370
Contd. from Page 1
Swaraj said, "Modi has asked what have been the benefits of
Ar ticle 370. This is not being soft on the issue. Modi questioned
whether there has been any gain from Ar ticle 370 and that this
issue should be debated." "We need rational & focused debate not
only on 370 but other issues relating to J&K, including suffering of
sections of J&K society," Modi said on Twitter. While Bihar Chief
Minister Nitish Kumar said he was in suppor t of Article 370 repor ted Indian Express. "Raking up the issue is nothing but an
attempt to again draw a line of division in the country," said Kumar.
Gap commercial vandalism
A
picture was posted by ArsalanIftikhar, senior editor
at The Islamic Monthly and founder of
TheMuslimGuy.com on Twitter that depicted a latest Gap
poster featuring Sikh actor and jewelry designer WarisAhluwalia.
The picture that was taken in the U.S. and the poster's
caption was changed from Make Love" to "Make Bombs," along
with a line that read "Please stop driving TAXIS."
Iftikhar, said he wanted everyone to see the comments that
were made and hence put the picture up on Twitter, he told
Huffington Post.
"When I first saw my Facebook friend's photo of this
GAP subway advertisement defaced by vandals with racist
messages, I wanted the world to see how millions of brown
people are viewed in America today," he told the news agency.
tims estimated at 3,000 dead and
over 1 lakh injured. In the following 24 years the number of dead
has grown to nearly 20,000 and
number of those suffering disabilities to a staggering 5 lakh.
The effect of the poisonous gases
was becoming clearer as time
The poster was par t of Gap's latest campaign in which they made
use of various diverse models. GAP repor tedly tweeted back to
Iftikhar to find out the exact location of the vandalised poster.
The company also changed its Twitter picture and replaced it
with the poster to show suppor t and solidarity repor ted
Huffington Post. Meanwhile, Ahluwalia's Facebook Page had a
post that read, "Make sure to say thank you to those awesome
Taxi drivers that take you places.
Protests in Ukraine continue
Protestors continued to demonstrate in Kyevasking the country's President Viktor Yanukovych to step down after he refused to sign a deal
with the EU to make trade and travel easier.
Thousands have been gathered at a park before heading to Kyev's
Independence Square demanding new president and ousting of the
President. Dozens were injured over the weekend when police violently dispersed activists reported BBC News.
Ex-Prime Minister who is in jail, YuliaTymoshenko urged the citizens
of the country "not to leave the authorities' actions unanswered."
A message from him was read by his daughter said, "Fly, drive,
walk to Kyev from all par ts of Ukraine, but gather everyone on 1
December," repor ted BBC News.
"We can and should remove these authorities," opposition par ty
leader VitaliKlitschko said repor ted BBC News. "We should come
out and show that we will not allow them to humiliate us, we will
stand up for our rights."
The White House Monday urged the authorities in the country to
respect Ukrainians' rights to freedom of expression repor ted CBC
News. "The violence by government authorities against peaceful
demonstrators in Kyev on Saturday morning was unacceptable,"
White House spokesman Jay Carney told repor ters.
passed. The compensation
needed to be given to many times
more than the original number
counted. Under pressure from the
harried survivors, the government moved the Supreme Cour t
to review its order authorizing the
settlement of 1989, so that a better compensation could be given
to all the survivors and kin of dead.
Perhaps the government is purposely allowing the matter to drag
on, speculates N D Jaiprakash,
activist and a petitioner in several of the key Bhopal cases. "But
if that's the case, why is the Supreme Cour t not pulling them up
and getting on with the case?" he
asks. There is similar disregard
of the apex cour t's orders on the
shocking neglect of the survivors'
healthcare needs. Four teen years
after a petition had prayed for
improvement in healthcare, the
cour t had ordered in August 2012
the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the state government to computerize all
records of patients, carry out necessary research, issue healthbooks to all survivors and finalise
a protocol for treatment.
"Neither the ICMR nor the State Government have taken the necessary
steps to comply fully with all the directions of the Court," says Abdul
Jabbar, another petitioner.
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
MidWeek
breaking news
Floating armouries can lead to
26/11-type attack: Navy chief
NEW DELHI: Unregulated floating private armouries carrying
combatants of certain countries are a matter of concern and can
have serious security implications for the country including
infiltration of terrorists that can lead to 26/11-type attacks, Navy
chief Admiral D K Joshi warned on Tuesday.
Addressing the annual Navy Day press conference, he also
sought a "reversal" of high risk areas for merchant ships plying in
the piracy prone zones, saying such an extension in these zones has
resulted in incidents such as the killing of four Indian fishermen by
Italian marines near Kerala coast.
"Floating armoury is a matter of very serious concern. This is
entirely unregulated... This has very serious security implications
for us including the infiltration of terrorists.
"...If there are unregulated arms and ammunition on a vessel,
the existence of weapons is not known as also where guards are
transferring them and this could lead to such a situation on anybody's
soil," Joshi said when asked if unregulated floating armouries can
lead to a 26/11 attack.
The Navy chief was talking on the issue against the backdrop
TEJPAL BREAKS
DOWN, IN CUSTODY
FOR 6 DAYS
PANAJI: Tehelka founder editor Tar un
Tejpal broke down on Sunday while being
interrogated by Goa police crime branch
at their office in Dona Paula, police officers said. The interrogation lasted five
hours after which he was taken to Panaji
police station lockup.
Earlier, Tejpal was remanded to police
custody for six days. He will be taken for
a medical examination later.
Tejpal was interrogated by investigating
officer PI Sunita Sawant and others. Police began interrogating Tejpal around 3pm
Sunday, seeking to corroborate the sequence of events which the victim had
stated in her complaint. Police have
seized Tejpal's cellphone so as to secure
the conversation between him and victim.
During the hearing on the remand, Goa
police had informed the cour t that Tejpal's
interrogation was required to bring on
record the emails exchanged between him
and the girl. Goa police told the cour t that
Tejpal must have sent the email either
from his personal cellphone, laptop, office computer and friend's computer or
from other sources which need to be
seized.
Goa police also said a police team will
be sent to seize the items.
Police had sought Tejpal's custody for 14
days. Tejpal's lawyer Geetha Luthra argued in cour t that 14 days police custody
was not justified. At the end of arguments
Panaji judicial magistrate first class
(JMFC) Kshama Joshi remanded Tejpal
to six days police custody.
BIDEN IN TOKYO
AMID 'DANGEROUS'
CHINA TENSIONS
TOKYO: US Vice-President Joe Biden held
talks in Tokyo on Tuesday, saying the
United States is "deeply concerned" about
a new Chinese air zone that has provoked
fury in Japan.
The Japanese government said it was
confident it would get US backing for its
opposition to what it called an "extremely
dangerous" move by Beijing, which asser ted rights to control aircraft over a
swathe of the East China Sea, including
disputed islands.
"We remain deeply concerned by the announcement of a new Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ)," Biden told the Asahi
Shimbun ahead of his tour of nor theast
Asia, which will also take in China and
South Korea.
"I believe this latest incident underscores
the need for agreement between China
and Japan to establish crisis management and confidence-building measures
to lower tensions.
"I will reaffirm the strength of our alliance
commitments and emphasize the importance of avoiding actions that could undermine peace, security and prosperity
in the region," Biden told the paper.
Tensions in the region are their highest in
years with China and Japan squaring off
over a chain of uninhabited islands in a
feud that has some observers warning of
the danger of an armed confrontation.
of seizure of the American floating armoury MV Seaman Guard Ohio
off the coast of Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu.
He said the government has also received reports about the
presence of "combatants from some countries who on a temporary
basis take up these employments and become private armed guards."
Asked if he meant that these combatants are from Pakistan,
Joshi skirted a direct response, saying, "I am referring to what I am
referring to."
He said over the years, these armouries providing escort to the
merchant vessels plying in piracy prone areas have become a "looseknit structure" and the "unregulated manner these ships are
operating, there is no track of which ship is coming and what
guards it has, what arms does it have and where they are
going."
He said like the merchant vessels operating under the
International Maritime Organisation (IMO) framework, these
floating armouries have to be brought under the regulation
and all the littoral states must be aware of the identity of such
ships, the number of weapons and guards present on them.
5
Prithvi-II missile
successfully test-fired
BALASORE (Odisha): India on Tuesday successfully test-fired
indigenously developed nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile with
a strike range of 350 km from a test range at Chandipur in Odisha
as par t of a user trial by defence forces.
The surface-to-surface missile was test-fired at around 10:05am
from a mobile launcher in salvo mode from launch complex-3 of
the Integrated Test Range, about 15 km from here, defence
sources said.
Describing the launch of the sophisticated missile as a complete
success, ITR Director MVKV Prasad said all the mission parameters were met during the trial.
"The missile was randomly chosen from the production stock
and the launch activities were carried out by the specially formed
Strategic Force Command (SFC) and monitored by scientists of
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as
par t of training exercise," the sources said.
"The missile trajectory was tracked by DRDO radars, electrooptical tracking systems and telemetry stations located along
the coast of Odisha," they said.
"The downrange teams onboard a ship deployed near the designated impact point in Bay of Bengal monitored the terminal events
and splashdown," they said.
Test batting on Dhoni's mind ahead of ODIs
I
ndia are usually short on practice and preparation
time in international cricket. MS Dhoni is usually
philosophical about it. There are only so many days
in a year, he seems to often suggest, and that he and his
players have to make the most of what they get. India
have landed in South Africa on Monday, and are due to
play their first international on Thursday, with only one
two-day tour game to follow between the ODIs and Tests.
"I don't know if it [preparation time] is enough or
not but this is the only time we have," Dhoni said before
leaving for South Africa. "We will try to have long
practice sessions in the first one or two days that we
have with us. We will have one light session before the
match, and that is how we will get ready for the ODIs.
That is how much we have got, and we have to get the
best out of what we've got."
During the second of those long practice sessions,
which India have to get the best out of, Dhoni seemed
to have batted to his heart's content, properly against
the India quicks, spinners and throwdowns from fielding
coach Trevor Penney, and rashly against the low-quality
net bowlers India had at their disposal. Just when you
thought he was leaving, Dhoni padded up again. Behind
his net at the Wanderers stood coach Duncan Fletcher,
and CM Dhananjay, the team's analyst, was asked to
bring a camera.
The surprise came when the red Kookaburras were
brought out. Two days before the first ODI of the tour,
Dhoni - a man who loves to stay in the present - spent
half an hour doing exclusive Test-match practice, even
as others around him played the big hits. With no
change of ends and other such delays, you can face a
good 10 overs in those 30 minutes. Fletcher remained in
constant conversation with Dhoni from behind the net.
Dhananjay, who is a decent bowler himself if allowed to
bowl from 18 yards, and Penney's throwdowns tested
Dhoni. At one point, as the ball began to lose some
shine, Dhananjay applied a foreign substance to keep it
new.
It seemed to be an exercise in moving forward to
cover some of the late movement, and after the end of
the session you could hear Fletcher telling Dhoni, "You
can also ride the swing and play it late." Dhoni's batting
was critical to India's success in the home Tests earlier
this year, but he has had a weakness against the moving
quick ball when he plays with hard hands outside off
and edges through. He has in the past said that that is
the way he plays and can't do much about it.
Not on this net session's evidence. At the very
least, Dhoni is looking at his batting with much more
responsibility now that he is the more experienced
batsman in the side. He is possibly looking at himself as
more than the declaration batsman or the saviour on the
odd occasion that has been.
However, this early Test preparation of Dhoni's
could have a bigger implication. It was not just Dhoni's
batting in India that worked, but it was also the balance
his move up to No. 6 provided, with the extra spinner
drafted in. There were no tired bowlers around, no soft
overs when the ball would become old and take slow
turn. Three years ago, in Cape Town, when India had
the upper hand in the second innings, their bowlers playing a third back-to-back Test - lost their sting on
day four, although you can't take away from Jacques
Kallis' genius that day.
You wondered, though, what if India had an
allrounder, like Kallis himself, who could bowl a few
fresh overs then. Like the limited preparation time, Dhoni
knows there is no proper allrounder in the country. So
he combined with Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin to
kind of contrive one. The natural question was, if he
would be able to do the same outside Asia. If he would
be confident enough to do so outside Asia. Before
leaving Asia, Dhoni kept his cards close to his chest,
but didn't rule out a move up to No. 6.
"Well it's something that we have to go there and
decide," Dhoni said. "We have to see the strength of
our batting line-up. And at the same time whether four
bowlers are good enough to get the opposition out. It's
something that we have to weigh out.
"In the last Test match also we played with four
‘
MS DHONI'S HALF HOUR AGAINST THE RED BALL IN THE NETS, TWO DAYS
AHEAD OF THE SOUTH AFRICA ODI SERIES, SUGGESTS HE IS THINKING HARD
ABOUT HIS TEST-MATCH TECHNIQUE AND TEAM COMBINATION
bowlers, and Rohit [Sharma] was the one who
batted at No. 6. If you see at times five batsmen
are not enough, even six are not enough. And if
you see the last two Test matches, the No. 6
batsman has had a lot of impact on the game. We
will weigh how it is and then decide as to whether
3-1 [bowling] combination is good enough or we
have to play with 3-2."
A lot, of course, was going to depend on
how Dhoni feels about his batting in the ODIs
and in the nets. If he is thinking of not letting "I
dare not" wait upon "I would", unlike the cat i'
the adage, he is at least spending as much time
preparing as he can.
6
MidWeek
community
FORD STOLE A SEAT AT AN NFL GAME
COURTESY: JOHN TAVARES JR/FLICKR COMMONS
T
oronto Mayor Rob Ford
attended NFL game
Sunday night between
Buffalo Bills and Atlanta Falcons
and reportedly stole a seat. Matt
Mays, a musician who is a
Buffalo Bills fan arrived at the
Rogers Centre only to find out
his seat was taken by the myor.
"The poor usher guy was
like, 'dude, I don't really know
what to tell you right now Mayor Rob Ford is in your seat,
bro,'" Mays said as reported by
the National Post. "It was kind
of entertaining."
Reports confirmed Ford
remained in his seat for most of
the first half of the game.
The night was intensified as
fans started turning their seats
to take pictures with him which
caused Rogers Centre's security
to dispatch a guard. Reports said
the guard sat the second half of
the game sitting on the armrest
of an aisle seat in front of the
mayor.
Two ushers guarded the
stairs leading to the section
where Ford was seen.
"You're not going down for
pictures," one usher said, several
times, reported National Post.
Ford's
assistant
was
reportedly passing out mayor's
business card and fridge magnet
calling out "Rob Ford - Mayor"
reported National Post.
Musician Mays didn't
confirm if he was a Ford supporter.
"Unless I've met someone in
person, I don't have any opinion
on him," he was quoted as saying
in the National Post.
Tweets confirmed the mayor
was haooy to take pictures with
anyone who would ask for it.
"It's taking a crapload of
police/security effort to keep
people away from Ford, who
smiles and poses with anyone who
ends up next to him," confirmed a
Tweet.
Mays was two rows far away
from his original seat from where
he saw the first half of the game,
while he came back to his original
seat in the second half.
"I don't think it was
intentional," Mays said with a
smile. "But I mean, I just thought
it was funny that out of 60,000
seats, he's in mine. I wasn't mad.
I just thought it was funny,"
reported National Post.
SONIA GANDHI IS RICHER THAN BRITISH
QUEEN ELIZABETH II: HUFFINGTON POST
NEW DELHI: According to a repor t in the Huffington
Post, Congress president Sonia Gandhi is the 12th
richest political leader in the world.
With $2 billion wealth, Gandhi is believed to be richer
than the British Queen Elizabeth II, Sultan of Oman
Qaboos bin Said and Syrian President Bashar AlAssad.
To compile the list, Huffington Post compared each
country's GDP per capita juxtaposed with a leader's
personal net wor th, just to show 'how different life is
for the haves and have-nots'.
The list includes kings, presidents, sultans and
queens. The richest leaders among the top 20 originated from the Middle East region.
The repor t puts Russian President Vladimir Putin on the top of the list with a wealth of $40 billion,
followed by King of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej with for tunes wor th $30 billion.
However, the HuffPost repor t does not clearly state how it has arrived at the conclusion.
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
Time for hard cap on
CEO salaries: Horwath
New Democrat Leader Andrea
Horwath introduced a Private
Member's Bill that if passed, would
cap the salaries of Ontario's highest-paid public employees to ensure that scarce public dollars are
spent on front line services not lavish paychecks.
"When a public sector CEO takes
home more in a year than the average family earns in two decades,
people feel like their money isn't being respected," Horwath
said. "I'm hoping Ontario can move forward with a simple plan:
put a hard cap on the salaries of public sector executives at
twice the salary of the Premier."
The new legislation would cap publicly-paid executive salaries at double the salary of Ontario's Premier. The Premier's
current salary is $209,000. According to the 2012 Sunshine
List, over 180 executives made a salary more than two times
as high as the Premier, and 25 executives made more than
three times the Premier's salary.
The bill would apply to all executives in the public sector from
the Ontario Public Service to crown agencies like Hydro One
and OPG, as well as hospitals and universities.
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
MidWeek
community
Britain's most Influential Asian: MalalaYousufzai
7
Nominations open
January 2 for
Brampton's 2014
Municipal Election
NOMINATION FORMS NOW AVAILABLE
Cour tesy: Hafiz124/Flickr Commons
S
he is only a teenager, shot in the head by the Taliban for
campaigning girl's education in Pakistan and now she is
named as Britain's most influential Asian by a weekly
publication.
At the Garavi Gujarat2 Leadership Awards 2013 (GG2), the
teenager was one of the chosen for GG2 Hammer Award for her
bravery. Other two chosen incluseKainatRiaz and ShaziaRamzan.
British Deputy Premier Nick Clegg was the chief guest of the night
where she was ranked number one in the latest GG2 Power List.
"We must recognise the children's struggle for their right and help
children who are victims of child trafficking. No terrorist threats
can deter us and we will carry on with our campaign for the right
to education for girls," said Yousufzai over a video message as
she wasn't present to receive the Award.
It was noted that, "Malala, who was unknown over a year ago,
has become synonymous with a type of girl power that should be
celebrated and applauded everywhere. Today, presidents, prime
ministers, people of influence and power listen to this remarkable
16-year-old."
"The GG2 Hammer Award winner of 2013 transcends every
boundary and appeals to the very core of our humanity."
The teenager now lives and studies in the U.K. Her book "I Am
Malala" was released recently but banned in private schools in
her own country with many calling her as a trophy for the west.
AdeebJavedani, president of the All Pakistan Private Schools
Management Association, told CTV News "Everything
aboutMalala is now becoming clear. To me, she is representing the
West, not us."
KashifMirza, the chairman of the All Pakistan Private Schools
Federation said in an interview with CTV News that she "was a
role model for children, but this book has made her controversial.
Through this book, she became a tool in the hands of the Western
powers."
The teenager had been rewarded for her bravery in different parts
of the world including by the United Nations.
Early this summer, she said, "One child, one teacher, one book and
one pen can change the world," while the United Nations and the
world watched.
"The terrorists thought they would change my aims and stop my
ambitions, but nothing changed in my life except this: weakness,
fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was
born," she had said.
BRAMPTON, ON: Nominations for the City of
Brampton's 2014 Municipal Election will be accepted
by the City Clerk's Office beginning January 2, 2014 for
the following offices:
o Mayor
o Regional Councillor
o City Councillor
o School Board Trustee
Nomination forms and information packages are
available online and at the City Clerk's Office in
Brampton City Hall. Nominations must be filed in
person (or by an agent) during regular office hours,
8:30 am to 4:30 pm, on weekdays starting January 2
until 2 pm on September 12, 2014.
At the time of filing, the fee ($200.00 for Mayor,
$100.00 for all other positions) is payable by cash,
debit card, certified cheque or money order. Applicants
will be asked for proof of citizenship and qualifying
address. Only original documents will be accepted - no
faxes or other electronic versions. Anyone who wants
to be a candidate must file their nomination papers
prior to receiving any campaign contributions or
spending any funds for election purposes.
"The City of Brampton is committed to ensuring
effective processes in delivering a fair and open
municipal election," says Peter Fay, City Clerk and
Returning Officer. "Potential candidates and voters are
also reminded to take note of the new wards that take
effect for the 2014 Municipal Election."
City of Brampton Extends
Campaign to Support
Red Cross Relief Efforts
Mississauga's population moves towards 1 million
in Philippines
The City of Mississauga has completed an extensive growth
study that will enable it to better plan for the future as its
population approaches one million. This study provides key
information about long-term population, housing and
employment forecasts to the year 2041. "This is one of the
most significant reports that go to Council," says John Calvert,
director Policy Planning. "The City of Mississauga is quickly
moving towards a city of one million people. This report will be
used not only by the City as the basis for all City master plan
development, planning and infrastructure decisions but by the
Region of Peel as well." Highlights from the report include:
o A population of approximately 829,000 by 2031 and 878,000
by 2041, with most of the growth being directed to nodes,
corridors and the downtown core
o Total employment of 527,000 by 2031 and 552,000 by 2041,
with most of the future employment growth to be in large office
buildings o Forecast that Mississauga will continue to be an
attractive, liveable community with a road network and access
to highways that will attract many new residents and jobs
Calvert noted the report: Mississauga Growth Forecasts 20112041 will guide management teams as they prepare capital
budgets and forecasts, complete transportation studies, and
plan for services such as fire, libraries and parks. It is also a
valuable tool to outside agencies such as school boards,
hospitals, and police as well as private business owners and
developers interested in doing business in Mississauga.
Hemson Consulting Ltd. prepared the growth scenarios to
Donate online or in person until
December 23, 2013
update Mississauga's growth forecasts for the Development
Charges By-law Review, service and infrastructure planning
and to provide input the Region of Peel's growth allocation
exercise as part of Amendment 2 to The Growth Plan for the
Greater Golden Horseshoe.
Launch of Coalition for Progressive Canadian
Muslim Organizations to promote secular values
E
ight Progressive Canadian
Muslim Organizations are
launched a Coalition in
Parliament Hill, Ottawa on Nov
21 where Minister Jason Kenny
and Minister Tim Uppal were the
chief guests. The Coalition of
Progressive Canadian Muslim
Organizations (CPCMO) is an
umbrella for progressive
Muslims across Canada who
uphold
Canadian
values
especially separation of religion
and politics, gender equality, one
law for all, freedom of expression
and
education
against
radicalization.
CPCMO is a think tank to provide
a platform for diverse voices
within the Muslim communities
of Canada, who are engaged in
following the principles and
values stated in the Canadian
Charter of Rights and Freedoms,
while understanding the reasons
that lead to problems of Muslim
radicalization.
CPCMO supports Muslims who
recognize that sharia is a timebound, humanly constructed,
legal-political system created in
the 9th Century which is at odds
with the modern world, and are
working towards reform.
CPCMO has been created
explicitly to draw upon the
talents of experts from within its
membership to work upon a
variety of challenging issues
both locally and globally.
CPCMO has been founded and
headed by Ottawa based well
known activist, Salma Siddiqui.
SohailRaza and TahirAslam Gora
are directors of this coalition.
The member organizations are
Canadian Thinkers' Forum,
Forum for Learning, Islamic
Council for Interfaith Harmony,
Muslim Committee Against AntiSemitism, Progressive Muslims
Institute Canada, Project Ijtihad,
The Council for Muslims Facing
Tomorrow
and
Western
Canadian
Muslims
for
democracy.
The City of Brampton is extending its campaign to
collect donations for relief effor ts in the Philippines.
This is in keeping with the Government of Canada,
which has extended the deadline for how long it will
match donations to December 23, 2013.
The City of Brampton has par tnered with the Canadian
Red Cross to assist in providing relief and aid to
victims of Typhoon Haiyan in response to an outpouring
of interest and concern, as well as the relationship with
its Sister City, Marikina.
Until December 23, 2013, donations can be made at City
facilities (listed below) or online through the City’s
website (brampton.ca). Electronic tax receipts will be
issued for all online donations.
All funds directed to the Red Cross Typhoon Haiyan
appeal will directly help relief effor ts in affected areas.
Residents are encouraged to donate what they can as
every penny counts.
City facilities with Red Cross donation boxes:
Brampton Soccer Centre 1495 Sandalwood Parkway
East
Cassie Campbell Community Centre 1050 Sandalwood
Parkway West
Central Public School 24 Alexander Street
Century Gardens Recreation Centre 340 Vodden Street
East
Chinguacousy Wellness Centre 995 Peter Rober tson
Blvd.
Chris Gibson Recreation Centre 125 McLaughlin Road
Nor th
Chinguacousy Curling Club 9050 Bramalea Road
Earnscliffe Recreation Centre 44 Eastbourne Drive
Flower City Community Campus 8870 McLaughlin Road
Gore Meadows Community Centre 10150 The Gore
Road
Greenbriar Recreation Centre 1100 Central Park Drive
Howden Recreation Centre 150 Howden Blvd.
Jim Archdekin Recreation Centre 292 Conestoga Drive
Ken Giles Recreation Centre 370 Bar tley Bull Pkwy.
Knightsbridge Recreation Centre 1a Knightsbridge Road
Loafer's Lake Recreation Centre 30 Loafer's Lake Lane
South Fletcher's Spor tplex 500 Ray Lawson Blvd.
Terry Miller Recreation Centre 1295 Williams Pkwy.
8
MidWeek
opinion
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
CHARACTER, COMMUNITY AND COUNTRY:
CM BLOGS ON NATIONAL SPORTS DAY
"As seen on Narendra Modi's website”
Dear Friends,
Greetings to my fellow countrymen on National Spor ts Day! On
this day we remember the legendar y spor tsman Major Dhyan
Chand, who mesmerized the world with the magic of his hockey
stick and made India a force to reckon with in hockey. I also
congratulate all the spor tspersons and coaches who would be
honoured with the various spor ts awards this year!
I am sure every one of us has a lot of memories attached with
spor ts. We still remember the first time we held a cricket bat. As
youngsters, how we wished that the frequency of the games period were exchanged with long classes on grammar, algebra or
history! Did you not rejoice when India won a world cup or a
medal?
In my view, the three Cs that wonder fully blend with spor ts areCharacter, Community and Countr y.
All round character building is incomplete if spor ts are not a par t
of our lives. With reference to spor ts I feel, With reference to
spor ts I feel, the person who plays, shines. Without spor ts, there
cannot be any spor tsmanship! Every spor t has something or the
other to offer. It is a unique oppor tunity both to sharpen our skills
and for our personality development. No wonder Swami
Vivekananda once said, “You will be nearer to heaven through
football than through the study of the Gita.”
We all live in a community and there are only few better ways to
strengthen community bonding than spor ts. It is a great leveler
and a unifier- when we play in a team we are not concerned with
the caste, creed or community of our teammates. Neither does
their economic status bother us. What matters is the victory of
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our team. I have seen so many lifelong friendships that have originated from the games field.
We are blessed to see such kind of a wonder ful atmosphere of
oneness and social harmony during our Khel Mahakumbh. Cutting across all age groups and districts of Gujarat, the athletes
compete in various spor ting events. Khel Mahakumbh 2012-2013
witnessed a record par ticipation of lakhs of athletes. For this
year ’s Khel Mahakumbh we are star ting a new Under-12 categor y
that will enable us to tap young talent. The Government will also
bear the various expenses of the talented youngsters, which will
help them pursue their spor ting dream in the years to come.
A few years ago, we integrated specially abled athletes to participate in Khel Mahakumbh. The genesis of this happened when
a group of young specially abled athletes who had won in a tournament in China came to meet me. I spent two hours with them,
spoke to them…this touched my hear t. We decided to fur ther our
resolve to provide maximum oppor tunity to them so that they can
shine on the field and that is when we decided to integrate them in
Khel Mahakumbh. Thousands of specially abled athletes left Khel
Mahakumbh 2012-13 spellbound with their stellar per formance.
Winning a medal or a cup is a great gif t to give to our country.
Invariably, success on the games field becomes linked with national pride. Spor ts also blends with culture when a nation hosts
an impor tant spor ting tournament like the Olympics or a World
Cup that enables it to showcase its history to the entire world. Not
to mention the boost to the economy and tourism due to such
events.
Thus, it is very impor tant to inculcate a spirit of spor ts and spor tsmanship especially among our youth. Apar t from the Khel
Mahakumbhs I talked about, Gujarat has set up a Spor ts University, a unique initiative to harness spor ting talent from all across
CONSERVATIVES
MISLEAD CANADIANS
BY RE-ANNOUNCING
OLD NEWS
The Conservatives are continuing their pattern of misleading Canadians by re-announcing measures on pre-paid credit cards
and gas pump accuracy that won’t even take effect until 2014.
“If they truly cared about protecting consumers, these regulations would have taken effect months ago,” said NDP Consumer
Affairs Critic Glenn Thibeault (Sudbury). “It is downright wrong
for the Conservatives to give the impression that they’re giving
consumers a Christmas present when, in reality, it’s just a lump
of coal—Canadians will continue to be ripped off well into 2014.”
Gas pump problems were exposed by an Ottawa Citizen investigation in 2008. Although the NDP immediately called for regulations and inspections, it took the Conservatives until March 2011
to pass legislation to address fairness at the pumps, which they
still have not implemented.
“Instead of taking action to protect consumers who are paying
taxes on phantom gasoline, the Conservatives wasted millions
on ads to boost their failed Economic Action Plan,” said Thibeault.
the country. Fur thermore, ever y district will have a spor ts school
to give an impetus to spor ts. By integrating spor ts with education, a lot can be achieved. As a par t of 150th bir th anniversary
celebrations of Swami Vivekananda, Vivekananda Yuva Kendras
were set up in every corner of Gujarat with an aim to promote
spor ts. Among the other initiatives under its auspices, spor ts
kits were distributed to the youngsters.
Yet, despite all these effor ts there is a lot we have to do. I notice
that due to academic pressures, the attendance on games field in
decreasing. And if children are not studying, they are playing
games on their computers. This is a very big shor tcoming on our
par t. As citizens, let us create the right atmosphere and provide
the right oppor tunity so that ever y child goes out to play for some
time. Is it not better to hit a six or score a goal in a park nearby
rather than on the computer screen? Another good idea is to devote some time where the entire family comes together and plays
a game together.
I am aware that there are several spor ts players who are extremely talented but they miss the bus due to financial and logistical constraints. As a Government, we are trying but I also seek
your help in this. What if corporates can come together set up a
corpus so that budding spor tspersons can get constant world class
training oppor tunities along with other facilities, with an aim that
India emerges with many medals in the future Olympics and other
spor ting tournaments? This can be a par t of their CSR. Likewise,
our NRI friends who never shy away from helping their Motherland can contribute in the same way or even by sponsoring tournaments and helping create spor ting infrastr ucture in their villages. Together, let us pledge to give our youngsters a happy and
play-ful childhood that prepares the foundation of a glorious future devoted to the service of our nation.
This could be extraordinary
BY LIBERAL LEADER, JUSTIN TRUDEAU
We've come a long way since April 14 - and even far ther still since
the last federal election.
We made it this far - including winning three by-elections this year
- because you held fast to the values we cherish, and the idea of
the Canada we're working for.
Which is why as the shimmering holiday lights lift up our spirits
and remind us to let our hopes soar anew, I'm asking you to help us
make something extraordinary happen this holiday season.
For the first time this fundraising quar ter, we have the chance to
out-raise the Conservatives, and send a serious signal to Canadians that change is coming.
But to do it, I need you to believe, and I need you to act - so that we
can wake up 12 days from now having raised one million dollars
for change.
Be a par t of it - make something extraordinary happen this holiday
season and chip in $3 before midnight, December 12
When you give, you'll also automatically be entered for the chance
to join me for dinner in your town - along with four of your friends.
I shared a meal in November with the last Win Dinner with Justin
contest winner, Dorothy Corbeil, a retired nurse from Golden Lake,
Ontario, who has dedicated her life to helping others. (You can
read Dorothy's account of the evening below).
I love these dinners because they remind me that every Canadian
receiving these emails has the power to make a big difference
with a single action - which is exactly what it will take to out-raise
the Conservatives and show Canadians we're serious about change.
MidWeek
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
canada
Trudeau wants answers from the PM over
the senate scandal more than resignation
JUSTIN TRUDEAU CAMPAIGNING FOR BYELECTIONS EARLY THIS YEAR IN WHICH THE LIBERAL PARTY SECURED TWO SEATS
COURTESY: FLICKR COMMONS/JUSTIN TRUDEAU
O
n CTV's Question Period on Sunday, Liberal
Leader Justin Trudeau was asked why hasn't he
called up on the Prime Minister to resign over the
senate scandal and said the opposition should
continue to get more answers. He said Harper's resignation
is a "is a very, very serious thing," and its much more
important to get to the bottom of the issues surrounding
the scandal. "Opposition leaders who call for the prime
minister's resignation anytime something happens in
Ottawa begin to lose credibility," Trudeau said. "And what
I'm focused on right now is restoring the credibility of
Parliament and of politicians in general for Canadians by
emphasizing facts, by getting people to answer honest
questions, and to be less focussed on cover-up and more
focused on governing." He said if more information is
revealed, "it becomes clear that these allegations and these
investigations are grounded in the betrayal of trust of
Canadians towards their government or seems that it might
be, then absolutely there will be a stronger call. But I think
we have to be very respectful of our democratic institutions
and our Parliament," reported CTV News. Question Period
last week surrounded the documents that were revealed
by the RCMP that show PMO insiders that were
allegedly involved including Sen. Irving Gerstein None
of the allegations are proved as yet. Harper has stuck to
his claim that he knew nothing about the $90,000
cheque and the two people who are accused are Wright
and Duffy who are no longer part of the senate. He has
also defended Gerstein in the past saying he is not part
of the RCMP investigation. The Liberals want RCMP to
look into 12 staff members who were named in the
affidavit and continue to investigate, reported CTV
News. Just last week, the party bagged two byelection
ridings and polls show Trudeau's support has gone up.
"…We're pleased with the kind of response we're
getting right across the country and I think there's
reason to be satisfied that the approach that we are
taking. Being positive, reaching out around substantive
issues and trusting Canadians with the truth and with
honesty is giving a certain amount of interest in the
Liberal Party that hopefully will translate into votes in
2015," he said on CTV's Question Period.
Liberals and Conservatives embrace Senate-style self-policing
The NDP rejects the majority repor t of the Procedure and House Affairs Committee which states that the current level of disclosure is
“sufficient for the transparency and accountability of the House of Commons”.
“Liberals and Conservatives both seem happy with the current Senate-style self-policing,” said NDP Caucus Chair Peter Julian, after
tabling the NDP’s dissenting repor t in the House. “But Canadians are tired of secrecy, entitlement and backroom deals. Liberals and
Conservatives will use smoke and mirrors and band-aid solutions to try and deflect the attention from the only real solution, which is
an independent oversight body.”
An NDP motion that was adopted unanimously by all par ties in the House on June 18, 2013 and reaffirmed on October 21, 2013
instructed the Procedure and House Affairs Committee (PROC) to conduct hearings with a view to replace the secretive Board of
Internal Economy (BOIE). Against the Auditor General’s suppor tive recommendations, the Committee’s Liberal and Conservative
members concluded that the status quo is adequate.
“Canadians want to fix Ottawa. The NDP is the only par ty actually trying to do just that”, said Julian.
ENGINEER ACCUSED OF GIVING
CANADIAN INFORMATION TO THE
CHINESE GOVERNMENT
A Toronto based Engineer is
accused of making an attempt
to pass security information
about Canadian naval vessels
to the Chinese government,
reports confirmed Sunday.
Qing Quentin Huang is now a
Canadian citizen who is
formerly from China. He is a
Chinese-educated marine
engineer who has lived at
Simon Fraser University
campus.
Beijing has denied all
accusations in a single
statement.
"The remarks saying that a
Canadian-Chinese male
provided the Chinese
government with confidential
information is totally
groundless," Foreign
Ministry spokesman Hong
Lei said.
He was arrested Saturday in
Burlington Ont., not too far
from his home in Waterdown.
He would be convicted of a
life sentence if convicted in
court where he is scheduled
to appear Wednesday.
Everything will come up in
court saidChief Supt. Larry
Tremblay, head of the
RCMP's federal policing
criminal operations as reported
by the National Post. "We have
deployed a number of
techniques to gather the
evidence necessary to obtain
the attorney-general consent to
lay the two charges that were
laid this morning," he said.
Rick Roth, spokesman for
Foreign Affairs Minister John
Baird has said, "We don't
discuss matters of national
security," reported the National
Post. "As this matter is before
the courts, it would be
inappropriate to comment."
9
PM LAUNCHES
PRE-BUDGET
CONSULTATIONS
IP10
STRENGTHENING LONGTERM INFRASTRUCTURE
PLANNING
Ontario is proposing legislation that, if passed, would support
long-term strategic infrastructure planning to build a stronger
economy that suppor ts more jobs and apprenticeship opportunities. If passed, the proposed Infrastructure for Jobs and
Prosperity Act would require the province to regularly table a
long-term infrastructure plan in the legislature covering a period of at least 10 years. The proposed act also includes guiding principles to help planning align with demographic and
economic trends to maximize the value of provincial infrastructure investments and promote innovation, competitiveness, and job creation and training.
Recognizing the province's need for skilled trade workers, the
proposed legislation would also require the government to involve apprentices in the construction of cer tain provincial infrastructure projects.
Strengthening communities by suppor ting strategic growth is
par t of the Ontario government's plan to invest in people, build
modern infrastructure, and suppor t a dynamic and innovative
business climate.
Auditor General Exposes
Conservative Failure to Ensure
Basic Safety for Canadians
The Auditor General's (AG) 2013 Fall Repor t clearly confirms
that the Conservative government has continued to fail Canadians when it comes to ensuring basic safety measures, specifically regarding rail and food safety, said Liberals today. "Canadians would have thought that after the recent tainted meat scandals that occurred under this government, measures would have
been put in place to ensure the safety of Canadians so that such
situations could be avoided," said Liberal Health Critic, Hedy Fry.
"But the Auditor General found that Canadian Food Inspection
Agency (CFIA) officials do not have enough time available to
deliver proper quality verification and that they have been skipping follow-up procedures after a food recall; the Conservatives'
solution to this 'lack of time' has been to cut $56 million from
CFIA's budget and lay off over 300 staff." In fact, the Auditor
General's 2013 Fall Repor t concludes that "even when the government identifies a problem, it takes too long to develop and
implement solutions." The AG's global conclusions are worrying
and shed light on this government's lack of commitment when it
comes to the basic safety of Canadians in communities across
the country. "Barely four months after the terrible Lac-Mégantic
tragedy, this AG repor t clearly demonstrates that the Conservative government is failing to improve rail safety in Canada," said
Liberal Transpor t, Infrastructure, and Communities Critic, David
McGuinty. "It is deeply worrying to read about 'significant weaknesses' the AG has identified in rail safety. In par ticular, the AG
says 'it is taking too long to resolve significant safety issues' and
we don't know if rail safety inspectors have the necessary skills
to do their job. Basic information on such impor tant data as the
sections of tracks used for transporting dangerous goods and the
condition of railway bridges is missing. Canadians deserve a
government that will act to protect their safety."
10
MidWeek
canada
HARPER TO VISIT ISRAEL
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
PM LAUNCHES PRE-BUDGET
CONSULTATIONS
P
rime Minister
Stephen Harper
might be planning
a visit to Israel soon,
according to National
Post, plans would be
revealed at a fancy
dinner party scheduled
to be held in Toronto by
the Jewish National
Fund. Harper hasn't
visited Israel until now.
National Post reported
that Stephen Bronfman,
the new chief fundraiser
for the Liberal Party has
made comments that
suggested Justin
Trudeau is closer to
Israel because he has
been there.
The office of the Prime
Minister hasn't
commented on any plans
of Harper of visiting
Israel.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, joined by Matthew Waddington,
Vice President of the Canadian Plastics Group Ltd., launches
pre-budget consultations at a roundtable discussion with business representatives from the Greater Toronto Area
PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER AND HIS WIFE LAUREEN ARRIVE AT THE JEWISH NATIONAL FUND
OF TORONTO'S 2013 NEGEV DINNER, WHERE HE WAS HONOURED FOR HIS STEADFAST SUPPORT FOR
ISRAEL AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE.
(PMO PHOTO BY JASON RAMSON)
"ePassport Will Improve Security of
Travel Documents," - MP Parm Gill
Member of Parliament Parm Gill
applauded the design and
security specifications of the
new Canadian ePassport,
which was officially made
available to the public today.
This new ePassport will
provide greater convenience
for Canadians, and facilitate
safe, secure travel," said MP
Gill. "Additionally, a 10-year
passport provides better value
for money for Canadians, as it
costs less per year than the
previous 5-year passport. It
also means that Canadians will
not have to renew their
passports as frequently."
ePassports have quickly
become the international
standard in travel documents.
The new passports contain
technologically-advanced
features,
including
an
embedded electronic chip, to
prevent fraud.
The chip stores the same
Prime Minister Stephen Harper participated in a pre-budget
consultation in Newmarket, Ontario, with business representatives
from the Greater Toronto Area. This roundtable discussion is
part of a series of events in communities across the country, as
well as online consultations, aimed at engaging Canadians in
Economic Action Plan 2014 deliberations. "Our Government's
number one priority remains creating jobs and economic growth
to help hard working Canadians and their families prosper. We
will balance the budget by 2015 by controlling costs, while keeping
taxes low," said the Prime Minister. "Through these consultations,
Canadians will have the opportunity to help inform the next phase
of Canada's Economic Action Plan, which will position Canada as
a leading competitor in a challenging global economy." Pre-budget
consultations are part of the annual budget cycle. In addition to
the roundtable discussions, Canadians are also invited to submit
their views online.
New Democrats put focus
on cyberbullying
personal information as that
which is recorded on the
second page of the passport
(except for the signature) as
well as a photo and a digital
security feature that proves
that the passport was issued by
the Government of Canada. To
combat fraud, once the
personal information is stored
on the chip, it cannot be
modified without invalidating
the passport.
The new ePassport will
cost $160 and is valid for 10
years. Replacing the existing
maple leaf design on the interior
pages, the new passport
contains iconic images that
celebrate our history and
culture, such as Robert Harris's
painting of the Fathers of
Confederation, a depiction of
the last spike completing the
Canadian Pacific Railway in
1885, and a picture of Pier 21 in
Halifax. "The Canadian passport
is not only a privilege of
citizenship, but a reflection of the
rights and responsibilities of
citizenship," said MP Gill. "This
new ePassport will ensure
security in travel, while
showing Canadians and those
around the world a piece of or
national heritage."
New Democrats moved to split the Conservative cyberbullying
bill (C-13) in order to put the focus squarely on legislative reform
to make the distribution of intimate images without consent illegal.
This would have ensured that other unrelated provisions were
dealt with separately. "It is irresponsible for the Conservatives
to play politics with this important and sensitive topic," said
NDP Justice critic Françoise Boivin(Gatineau). "Splitting the bill
as proposed by the NDP would have allowed the committee to
focus solely on cyberbullying. U n f o r t u n a t e l y, f o r t h e
Conservatives, playing political games is more important
than working together to protect Canadians." Earlier this
year, New Democrat MP Robert Chisholm (Dartmouth--Coal
Harbour) introduced a bill to make non-consensual
distribution of sexually explicit images illegal. However,
instead of putting partisan politics aside to fast-track this bill,
the Conservatives introduced their own version containing
dozens of unrelated provisions. "Many people in the digital
community have raised concerns that this bill contains significant
items like changing electronic interception laws, which are
unrelated to the issue at hand," said NDP Digital Issues critic
Charmaine Borg (Terrebonne - Blainville). "At committee, New
Democrats will press the Conservatives for answers about the
impact of these provisions."
MidWeek
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
india
MODI SEEKS DEBATE ON
ARTICLE 370
SRI LANKA OPPOSITION AGAINST
MANMOHAN VISITING JAFFNA
S
ri Lanka must not
allow Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh to
visit the country’s former
war zone in the Tamildominated north, since he
declined to attend the
CHOGM summit in Sri
Lanka, the main opposition
UNP said on Monday.
Speaking in parliament,
United National Party’s
(UNP) senior leader John
Amaratunga expressed
vehement opposition to Dr.
Singh visiting the island’s
war-torn north.
He said Dr. Singh’s visit to
Jaffna was unacceptable as
he had earlier declined to
attend the CHOGM summit
last month.
C.V. Wigneswaran, newlyelected northern chief
minister had extended an
invitation to Dr. Singh to
visit Jaffna.
“This should not be allowed
to happen. How could the
Indian Prime Minister be
allowed to visit the country
without an invitation from
President Mahinda
Rajapaksa?” Mr.
Amaratunga asked.
He said the UNP is against
Dr. Singh visiting Jaffna
particularly as he chose to
skip CHOGM.
“We are concerned if this
was an attempt to cause
separation of the country.
The UNP will stand opposed
to it,” Mr. Amaratunga
added.
Dr. Singh had decided
against attending the
CHOGM summit in view of
11
the stiff opposition by
parties in Tamil Nadu as well
as a section in Congress
party. Political parties in
Tamil Nadu and several
other outfits had opposed
India’s participation at any
level in the CHOGM summit
alleging that the Sri Lankan
government had committed
gross violation of human
rights during the last phase
of the civil war in 2009 and
had no plans to devolve
powers to the minority
ethnic Tamils.
Modi seeks debate on Article 370
Addressing his first rally in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday,
Gujarat Chief Minister and the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi sought ‘at least a debate’ on Ar ticle 370
(that grants special status to J&K) and assured the people that
the par ty would transform the ‘separate State’ into a ‘super
State,’ even as he laid stress on development and integration.
He avoided references to terrorism, border killings and the
communal riots in Kishtwar.
“Irrespective of whether it remains a par t of the Indian Constitution or not, the time has come for at least a debate to
find whether Ar ticle 370 has benefited the common man in
Jammu and Kashmir. This is the need of the hour. The Congress has unfor tunately obfuscated this issue with the rhetoric of secularism to the extent where it is hard to count its
merits and demerits,” he said.
“Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has lately scolded us,
saying the BJP leaders were uselessly referring to the big
names and they had no will to act. We would just remind
him one thing about Nehr u: He [Nehru] had said that Ar ticle
370 would get worn out with the passage of time and die.
We ask Manmohan Singhji, why doesn’t his government
act on Nehru’s wish [to repeal the law],” Mr Modi said.
Significantly, Mr. Modi did not push the BJP’s trademark
demand for the repeal of Ar ticle 370. He did not make sharp
attacks on Pakistan, terrorism and Kashmir’s separatist
leadership. His 40-minute speech made no mention of this
year’s killing of the Indian troops on the International Border and the LoC, ceasefire violations, the fidayeen attacks
at Hiranagar and Samba or the communal riots of Kishtwar.
Mr. Modi, never theless, paid rich tributes to the Army and
paramilitary forces who sacrificed their lives while fighting terrorism and protecting the country.
The BJP claimed that around one lakh people, including a
few thousand Muslims, par ticipated in the ‘Lalkaar Rally’
that could mark beginning of a fiery campaigning for the
coming Lok Sabha elections in the State.
Mr. Modi, accompanied by par ty president Rajnath Singh,
spoke at length about the need for ‘transformation’ in Jammu
and Kashmir. The Congress, he alleged, had sown the seeds
of a ‘separate State’. “I assure you that the BJP’s government
will transform Jammu and Kashmir into the country’s super
State,” he asser ted.
12
MidWeek
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
MidWeek
world
CAMERON PUSHES EU FREE TRADE DEAL IN CHINA VISIT
BRITAIN PRIME MINISTER DAVID CAMERON (LEFT) AND CHINA'S PREMIER LI KEQUIANG TALK AS THEY ARRIVE AT A SIGNING CEREMONY
AT THE GREAT HALL OF THE PEOPLE IN BEIJING ON MONDAY.
B
ritish Prime Minister
David Cameron met
Chinese leaders on
Monday as he called for the
European Union to negotiate a
free trade agreement with the
world’s second-largest economy.
“I’ve been talking to
Premier Li Keqiang about
extending trade links and
hosting a [China-UK] human
rights dialogue next year,” Mr.
Cameron said on his Twitter
account.
Mr. Li hosted a formal
welcome
ceremony
for
Cameron at Beijing’s Great Hall
of the People.
Mr. Cameron began his
three-day trip, accompanied by
what his office said was the
largest British trade delegation
ever to visit China, by opening
a Jaguar Land Rover training
academy in Beijing.
He witnessed the signing
of an agreement worth some
£4.5 billion ($ 7.4 billion) for
Jaguar Land Rover to provide
100,000 vehicles to China over
the next year.
Mr. Cameron was due to
meet President Xi Jinping later
on Monday.
Analysts said Mr. Cameron
had focussed on economic ties
and toned down his rhetoric on
human rights after angering
China by meeting the Dalai
Lama in May 2012.
That meeting was a
“move that interfered with
C h i n a ’s i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s , ”
China’s official Xinhua news
agency said in a commentary
on Monday.
The recent shift of focus
s h o w e d t h a t M r. C a m e r o n
was “very pragmatic” in
trying to overcome the
differences with China after
his meeting with the Dalai
Lama, said Beijing-based
international
relations
analyst Shi Yinhong.
“Cameron’s visit is the
start of a new round of ChinaUK relations with cooperation
and mutual respect,” Mr. Shi
said. “As long as those
sensitive topics] don’t appear,
I think China-UK, or we should
say C h i n a - U K e c o n o m i c
relations, will see a big
improvement,”
he
said
Cameron’s office said earlier
that he was “ready to put his
full political weight behind an
agreement to liberalise trade
between China and the EU.”
“Britain is uniquely placed to
make the case for deepening
the European Union’s trade
and investment relationship
with China,” Cameron said in
an interview published on
Monday
by
C h i n a ’s
influential Caixin business
magazine.
“Building on the recent
launch
of
EU-China
negotiations on investment,
a n d o n C h i n a ’s c ontinued
commitment to economic
reform, I now want to set a new
long-term goal of an ambitious
and comprehensive EU-China
free trade agreement,” he said.
The Xinhua commentary
said Britain was “lagging
behind” compared with the
“frequent visits between
B e i j i n g a n d the European
continent.” “Cameron may be
late but he is still in time,” it
said.
13
Kate wants to take mum
Carole as ‘travel nanny’ on
Australia tour
Kate Middleton wants to take mother Carole as ‘travel nanny’ to
look after her son Prince George when she embarks on a tour
to Australia with hubby Prince William.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are determined to keep
their four-months-old son close during the action-packed trip
next year and hope granny Carole Middleton can join them, the
Daily Mirror repor ted.
Protective Kate wants only friends and family to be closely
involved in raising the third in line to the throne, and hopes her
mother Carole, 58, will join them as nanny to George on at least
par t of the official visit, the repor t said.
William’s former nanny Jessie Webb, 71, a close confidante
who attended the royal wedding in 2011, has been working for
the couple par t time but is unlikely to join the tour Down Under.
“They don’t want just anyone helping out in Australia and think
Carole would be perfect,” a friend of the royal couple was quoted
as saying by the daily.
When Prince Charles and Princess Diana toured Australia and
New Zealand in 1983, they left nine-month-old William with a
nanny on a remote farm in New South Wales, visiting nine
times during their six-week tour.
Mr. William and Ms. Kate, both 31, are keen to have George as
close as possible during the visit, which will be their most
exhaustive yet.
“William has always admired the close relationship between
Carole and Michael and how they’ve raised their children in
such a happy environment. That’s what he wants for George,
so he and Kate are enlisting their help whenever they can,” the
royal couple’s friend said.
PROTESTERS IN UKRAINE BLOCK
GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS
P
ro-European
protesters on
Monday blocked
government buildings in
Kiev after the biggest
demonstrations in the
Ukrainian capital since
2004-05 Orange Revolution.
Hundreds of opposition
supporters held the
mayor’s office and the
central unions building,
which had been taken by
storm during Sunday’s
protests.
About 150 protesters
gathered outside the
Ukrainian cabinet building
and demanded the
government’s resignation,
the Interfax news agency
reported.
Government employees
could not enter the
building and returned
home, the report said.
On Sunday, hundreds of
thousands of people
demanded the resignation
of President Viktor
Yanukovych, who on
Friday had refused to sign
a landmark association
agreement with the
European Union.
Arseni Yatsenyuk of the
opposition Fatherland
party of jailed former Prime
Minister Yulia
Tymoshenko had told
protesters that a
resignation of Prime
Minister Nikolai Azarov
would be “a first step.”
About 5,000 people braved
the cold night, setting up
barricades and tents on
the central Maidan, or
Independence Square.
More than 150 people -both police and civilians -were injured over the
weekend, but no incidents
were reported overnight
into Monday.
The protests escalated
after riot police violently
ended a protest early on
Saturday. Interior Minister
Vitaly Sakharchenko later
apologised for the
incident, and city police
chief Valery Koryak
offered his resignation.
Mr. Yanukovych promised
an investigation after
several legislators quit his
party over the affair.
14
MidWeek
world
Thailand braces for more violence
T
he United Nations closed
its main office in
Bangkok, dozens of
schools closed and many civil
servants stayed away from work
on Monday as the Thailand
capital braced for more violence
in a spiralling political crisis.
After a weekend of chaos in
pockets of Bangkok, protesters
vowed to push ahead with plans
to topple Prime Minister Yingluck
Shinawatra by occupying her
office compound along with
other key government buildings.
Police again used tear gas on
thousands of protesters on
Monday after repeatedly driving
them back with similar attacks
throughout Sunday.
In an e-mailed statement to its
staff, the United Nations’ security
department said “there could be
violence (Monday) on a large
scale .. staff should avoid
government offices” and other
protest locations.
Many of the offices and
schools closed on Monday
were located near the
Government House, in the
historic quarter of the capital,
where police over the weekend
fought off mobs of rockthrowing protesters armed with
petrol bombs. At least three
people were killed and 103
injured in skirmishes over the
weekend.
The protests have renewed
fears of prolonged instability in
one of Southeast Asia’s
biggest economies and come
just ahead of the peak holiday
tourist season. Protest leaders
want to replace Ms. Yingluck’s
popularly elected government,
which they say is illegitimate, with
an unelected “people’s council,” but
they have been vague about what
that means.
Protest
leader
Suthep
Thaugsuban, a former deputy prime
minister, has refused to say how such
a demand, which has been criticized
as undemocratic, could be accepted
by a government that was elected
with an overwhelming majority.
Mr. Suthep met with Ms.
Yingluck late Sunday in the presence
of top military officials even though
he has an arrest warrant against him.
He later told cheering supporters that
he told Ms. Yingluck that the only
way to end the protests was for her
to step down. He said his goal is to
topple Ms. Yingluck by Wednesday.
The military has said it is neutral
in the conflict but Army commander
Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha has urged
the police not to use force.
“There was no negotiation
during this meeting,” Mr. Suthep
said. If Ms. Yingluck “listens to the
people’s voices and returns the
power to the people obediently, we
will treat Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra
with politeness because we all are
good citizens.”
Yingluck’s government has
gone to painstaking lengths to
avoid using deadly force.
The French Embassy issued
one of the strongest warnings of
dozens of foreign governments,
urging citizens to “stay inside” to
avoid the conflict on Bangkok’s
streets. The French School is
located in a northeastern Bangkok
neighbourhood where gunshots
rang out over the weekend during
clashes between Ms. Yingluck’s
supporters and opponents.
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
China ready for space
cooperation with India
China, which successfully
launched its first ever mission to land an unmanned
spacecraft on the Moon,
has expressed interest in
space cooperation with India which has sent its first
interplanetary mission to
Mars.
The probe Chang’e-3 was
launched into orbit on
Monday night aboard an
enhanced 56.4 meter high
Long March-3B carrier
rocket from the Xichang
Satellite Launch Centre.
The launch came a day after India’s Mars orbiter
Mangalyaan left the Ear th
for a 300-day journey to the Red Planet.
Chinese space scientists are looking forward to cooperation
with other countries, including the country’s close neighbour
India, state-run Xinhua news agency said in a repor t on the
successful launch of China’s lunar probe.
Li Benzheng, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of China’s lunar
programme, told media earlier that China’s space exploration
does not aim at competition.
“We are open in our lunar programme, and cooperation from
other countries is welcome. We hope to explore and use space
for more resources to promote human development,” the Xinhua
repor t quoted him as saying.
The Chang’e-3 lunar probe is expected to land on the moon in
mid-December to become China’s first spacecraft to soft land
on the surface of an extraterrestrial body.
The probe’s carrier, an enhanced Long March-3B rocket, put the
probe in the designated orbit in a text book launch from Xichang
Satellite Launch Center in southwest China.
The probe, which is carrying a robotic rover to explore the moon
besides a telescope, entered the ear th-moon transfer orbit as
scheduled, with a perigee of 200 kilometres and apogee of
380,000 km, officials said.
“The probe has already entered the designated orbit,” said Zhang
Zhenzhong, Director of the launch centre in Xichang.
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
MidWeek
80 PERTOSA DRIVE, UNIT 12,
BRAMPTON ONT., L6X 5E9
15
16
MidWeek
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
MidWeek
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
R RAJKUMAR MOVIE PROMOTION
17
'I don't know if I am
emotionally ready to
invest in a relationship'
A
SONAKSHI SINHA, SHAHID KAPOOR AND PRABHU DEVA
WHAT'S COOKING ANUSHKA AND VIRAT?
T
here must be something
on between Anushka
Sharma and cricketer Virat
Kohli. On Sunday night, the
batsman was apparently spotted
leaving Anushka's place at
Versova in her black Range
Rover. In all probability the
cricketer was keen to catch up
with her before the Indian cricket
team's departure to South Africa
yesterday.
Says an eyewitness, Ìt was
around 10.45 pm when the
cricketer and the actress walked
out of the lift on the second floor
parking area of the building.
Anushka was wearing a white Tshirt and pink trousers while
Virat was casually dressed in tee
and jeans. The actress saw him
off in the car, but not before the
two shared a quick kiss.`
Adds the source, `Virat kept
turning back and looking at
Anushka as the car made an exit.`
As reported 'New friends?'
(Hitlist, November 12), the
cricketer and the actress were
seen together in a car at Seven
Bungalows last month.
The
source
continues,
`Whenever Virat is in Mumbai,
he visits Anushka's house and
the two look extremely
comfortable in each other's
company.` Anushka and Virat
met when they did a shampoo
commercial together and seems
like they have hit it off pretty well.
According to the buzz he had even
come to drop her home, right after
the shoot. Incidentally, this is not
the first time that Virat is
hobnobbing with Bollywood
celebrities. The cricketer loves
partying and he has quite a few
friends in the industry. Earlier
Kohli was linked with Brazilian
model, Izabelle Leiti.
fter a spate of forgettable films, Deepika Padukone is basking
in the limelight with her myriad performances in Cocktail,
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Chennai Express and Goliyon Ki
Rasleela Ram-Leela.
Very rarely in Hindi films is a heroine's performance lauded
as in Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela. That's quite a high isn't it?
I am overjoyed seeing how the
feedback has been. Even though I
wholeheartedly believed in RamLeela, I really didn't know what
to expect from filmgoers. When I
woke up that Friday morning
when it released, my brand new
CONTD. ON
phone kept hanging because the
PAGE 19
messages just wouldn't stop. I
got so emotional with the
appreciation that I was
very close to breaking
down every time
anyone said anything
nice. I can't begin to
explain how it felt.
Six years ago
you started with a
bang with Om Shanti
Om. Then you went
through a tough
phase with some
forgettable films.
Good to be
back with a
bang this
year?
SHAH RUKH KHAN
STILL UNDECIDED
ABOUT SIGNING FILM
WITH FARHAN
RANBIR-KATRINA TO RING IN 2014 IN NEW YORK
RANBIR KAPOOR AND KATRINA KAIF ARE LIKELY TO HEAD FOR
NEW YORK FOR NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS.
Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif
are likely to bring in 2014 in the
US together. According to
industry buzz, the lovebirds will
head to New York in the last
week of December.
Says a source, `Ranbir is
currently shooting round-theclock for Anurag Basu's Jagga
Jasoos, so that he can take time
off just before New Year's eve.
Adds the source, Àfter
Katrina's film Dhoom 3 releases
on December 20, she will fly off
to London to be with her
family during Christmas.
She will then head to the
US.`
Sources say Ranbir's
buddy, director Ayan
Mukerji, might join them on
the trip.
Ranbir and Kat remained
unavailable for comment. A
source close to RK says,
Às of now, we are not
aware of his holiday
plans.`
B
ollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan is yet to make up his mind
to sign Rahul Dholakia's untitled movie, which will be
produced by director-actor Farhan Akhtar.
'Don' franchise success, has promoted the producer Farhan to
team up with Shah Rukh yet again for the Dholakia directed
film. "Shah Rukh has not given his dates. We are yet to think
about the leading lady. Anything related to the casting and
shooting of the film is yet to be finalized. It is too early to talk
anything about the film," Rahul disclosed.
"The scripting is still on. So I can't talk much about the film
including which genre it is," Rahul said.
Shah Rukh, 48, is currently busy with Farah Khan's 'Happy
New Year" and the shooting of the film will go on till next
summer.
18
MidWeek
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
R U N N I N G S U C C E S S F U L LY
MidWeek
bollywood
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
19
Movie Review
Upcoming
BOLLYWOOD Movies
LUCKY KABOOTAR
HI
KHAN, SONAKS
CAST: SAIF ALI
UT
HEIRGILL, VIDY
SINHA, JIMM S
HAN
BABBAR, GULS
JAMWAL, RAJ
GILL
GROVER, MAHIE
A
MANSHU DHULI
DIRECTOR: TIG
RATING: **1/2
RELEASE DATE:
13 Dec 2013
STARING: Ravi Kissen, Eijaz Khan, Kulraj Randhawa, Shraddha Das,
Sanjay Mishra, Madhavi Sharma
DIRECTOR(S): Shammi Chhabra
PRODUCER: Karan Raj Kanwar
LYRICIST : Sameer
MUSIC DIRECTOR: Santokh Singh
'BULLET RAJA' IS A STIGMA ON
DHULIA'S CINE CREDENTIALS
I
n the era where commercial cinema is the spice of the season,
and where majority of cine sorcerers are fetching maximum
goodies at the power of this mantra. It is quite obvious for
someone, who otherwise owns a marvelous cine sense to develop a
fascination for this desirable dessert and to sacrifice his actual
potential in order to join the league. And as they say for surviving in
a league you need to follow the the norms established by the league.
So probably this would have been the reason which compelled the
director of Dhulia's stature to try his hands on commercial form of
movie making. After charming the audience with some of the critically
acclaimed cine flicks, which left the masses in aw with their brilliance,
this time Dhulia stepped in to the aisle which actually is not his cup
of tea. But as the thumb rule says "fascination seldom shares a
berth with prudence", so even this ace cinematographer belonging
to elite league of movie makers could not prevent himself falling
prey to it and decided to test his cine dexterity in the commercial
form of cinema with Saif, Sonakshi, Jimmy and Vidyut starrer "Bullet
Raja". Due to prevailing notions and admiration about Tigmanshu's
signature style of movie making, at opening even "Bullet Raja"
secured a decent foot fall and opened with an approximate occupancy
of 45 percent at the multiplexes.
Premise of "Bullet Raja" primarily narrates the story of two
commoners, Raj Mishra (Saif Ali Khan) and Rudra Tripati (Jimmy
Sheirgill), who have a rendezvous at a wedding and how
circumstances transform them into circumstantial strongman or rather
dons, who are courageous enough and give a damn to societal
norms. And subsequently what follows is forming of a a formidable
team under the patronage of a local minister Ram Babu Shukla (Raj
Babbar). With frames rolling ahead they emerge as one of the most
fearsome duo of the region who in a fit of mild vengeance kidnap a
business magnate, Bajaj (Gulshan Grover) and during this stint of
their's also saves a budding starlet Mitaali (Sonakshi), with whom
Raja falls in love subsequently. With vengeance breeding in his
head Bajaj decides to avenge his insult and teams up with Sumer
top
10
songs
1
Film: Ram Leela
NAGADA
SANG DHOL
FILM
SONG
2
Ram Leela
Lahu Munh Lag Gaya
3
R.Rajkumar
Gandi Baat
4
Satya 2
Tu Nahi
5
Tose Naina
Mickey Virus
6
Gori Tere Pyaar Mein
Naina
7
Gori Tere Pyaar Mein
Chingham Chabake
8
Mickey Virus
Ankhon Hi Ankhon Ne
9
Ishk Actually
Aye Dil Bata
10
R.Rajkumar
Saree Ke Fall Se
MOVIE COLLECTIONS
HIT OR FLOP MIDWEEK
SINGH SAAB THE GREAT
AVERAGE
RAM LEELA
AVERAGE
KRRISH 3 (HINDI)
BLOCKBUSTER
BOSS
FLOP
Yadav (Ravi kissen) for the purpose. So to know what follows next
watch "Bullet Raja". After viewing some of the path breaking delights
which always possessed a captivating plot underneath them, this
time many of Dhulia's admirers (even I am one of them) may get
surprised to see the quality of script which this ace cine literati has
picked to knit his first core commercial cine delight. And you will be
surprised because after seeing those sheer visual delights it is hard
to believe that someone belonging to Dhulia's stature can also
embrace a disastrous worn out script while trying his hand on
relatively new genre. But unfortunately Tigmanshu did so, and opted
for a flimsy story idea which uptill great extent seems to be rotten
and directionless.
As soon as the narration of "Bullet Raja" takes off with so much of
monotony and lack of expressiveness it starts giving you "I have
seen this before" pangs. Although in the second half the plot of
"Bullet Raja" transforms into a somewhat gripping saga, but if we
talk about the first half then it looks totally confused and lacking
captivating potency.
Even persona of characters seems to be so ill-defined that none of
the characters could leave any impressive impact on the viewers. In
fact about "Bullet Raja" it won't be wrong to say that major duration
of run-time seems to be so perplexed that throughout your stay in
the auditorium you keep on scratching your head in bewilderment
that what exactly onscreen proceedings want to communicate to
you. On the other hand if try to gauge the script of Bullet Raja on
the novelty front then, despite himself being an exceptional author
Tigmanshu along with Amaresh Misra has completely failed in
developing a refreshing out of the box and engaging tale.
'I don't know if I am
emotionally ready to
invest in a relationship'
Contd. from Page 17
You know these six years I have been working non stop so I
have not really had the time to sit down and analyse. I don't know
why those films didn't do well because as far as I know I did them
with the same gusto, same passion. These six years have been tough
and easy. Easy because I was fortunate to get some good films and
big banners. Tough because my debut film was such a nice set up
where I was protected so beautifully and presented so well, and I
assumed this is how it is going to be everywhere. But then suddenly
I found myself to be on my own. The unit of my first film used to tell
me that it would not be easy for me from my second film onwards,
but I didn't listen to them. I am like that. Even when my parents tell
me not to do something, I go ahead and do it.
You mean you had to drop some inhibitions?
Maybe. I have never been on a movie set before I did my debut
film. It is right on the sets that I understood the craft, learnt to deal
with the people, and most of the time I have let my instinct do the
judging for me. I still rely a lot on my instinct. I owe a lot of what I am
today to my sports background. You get defeated and you know
what to learn from it. You get a better sense of where you stand
when you face defeat. I should be grateful also to some fans who
believed in me even when I didn't believe in myself. Everyone goes
through bad phases, but I remember the people who never
questioned my decisions and loved me for who I am.
So for someone who comes from a different background, is it
tougher to deal with adulation?
Of course. My life has changed over the past few years. But
even when people shower praises, it will not go to my head. Really,
within me nothing has changed.
But there is something else that has changed. You were open
about your personal relationship but now you are more cagey about
it. Did you regret being open?
I don't think I regretted that. I decided for myself that I don't
want to do that anymore. Also, right now I have nothing to talk
about. I am in this phase of my career where I have to spend all my
energy on work. When I seriously get involved with someone, I will
give a lot of myself emotionally. I am scared to do that now. I do not
know whether I am emotionally ready to invest in a relationship
right now. The beauty of investing all your energy in your work is
that it gives you back 100 per cent but in a relationship you are
dependent on someone else. So yes, I am scared. And I control
myself.
R... RAJKUMAR
RELEASE DATE:
06 Dec 2013
STARING: Shahid Kapoor.... Rajkumar, Sonakshi Sinha.... Chanda, Sonu
Sood.... Shivraj, Asrani, Ashish Vidyarthi, Mukul Dev
DIRECTOR(S): Prabhu Dheva
PRODUCER: Sunil A Lulla, Viki Rajani
LYRICIST : Anupam Amod, Ashish Pandit, Mayur Puri,
Nilesh Mishra
MUSIC DIRECTOR: Pritam Chakrabor ty
JACKPOT
RELEASE DATE:
13 Dec 2013
STARING: Sunny Leone, Sachiin Joshi, Naseeruddin Shah
Makrand Deshpande, Bharat Niwas
DIRECTOR(S): Kaizad Gustad
PRODUCER: Raina Sachiin Joshi
LYRICIST : Turaz, Azeem Shirazi, Raj Hans
Abhijeet Deshpande, Remo Fernandes, Kaizad Gustad
Sridevi Keshavan, Irfan Siddique
MUSIC DIRECTOR: Sharib Sabri, Toshi Sabri, Mika Singh
Remo Fernandes, Sridevi Keshavan, Janaka Atugoda
Juno Reactor, Rahul Bhatt, Itek Bhutani, Rishi Rich
GENRE:
Thriller, Comedy
20
MidWeek
bollywood
Shahid, Sona and their
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
I WAS THROWN OUT OF
THE FILM INSTITUTE
quirky director S
The R...Rajkumar team engage in a full-on legpulling banter....
Sonakshi: Shahid and Prabhu sir would pull my leg as soon as I’d
enter the set.
Shahid: Really? When?
Sonakshi: You all are devils, who make fun of such a sweet girl.
Shahid: Despite that, you continue working with Prabhu sir again
and again. In fact, both of you would be sitting together and chatting,
making me feel like an outsider. I had to request to join you guys.
Sonakshi: What a liar! You felt settled on the first day itself.
Shahid: Settled? There is no time to settle on the set. What people
do in three days, Prabhu sir completes in a day. Where’s the time to
sit idle? Prabhu: Except for the two of you, we all knew what we had
to do and were quick. Whenever you (Shahid) would ask, ‘Sir, what
am I supposed to do now?’, I would say, ‘Nothing’.
Shahid: I learnt a new expression from you — no expression.
Prabhu: I had given you both a full narration, hadn’t I?
Shahid: But what we finally did on the set was completely different.
When did you explain how the scene would be executed on the set?
Prabhu: How can I tell you what will happen on the set? Shahid:
After 15 days of shooting, you looked at me with a smile and said,
‘Now, you may be able to understand why I say I can’t explain what
will happen on the set’. Because, it’s all there in your mind. I felt like
your personal robot when you would shoot orders — ‘Shahid, look
up, jump, stop, turn left, open your mouth, close…’
Sonakshi: Shahid was like a toy for you… chaabi maaro and he
started action. However, I understand you very well. Even when I
was standing behind the camera after giving a shot and you were
behind the monitor, you would do some action from there and I
would understand automatically. I also became familiar with Tamil. I
could follow your discussions with your team and would know what
was expected from me.
Producer Viki Rajani joins in at this point to add, “This film is a mixed
bag of action, dance, drama and comedy. It will touch the pulse of
the audience.”
R...Rajkumar, produced by Eros International (Sunil Lulla) and
NextGen Films, releases worldwide on December 6.
'Big B', '3 Idiots' iconic in Japan too: Japanese director
Lee, best known for directing 'Hula Girls' in 2006, is showcasing his
film 'Unforgiven' at a film festival, which features Japanese films.
The director, who makes films on Korean settlers in Japan, said that he is a
huge fan of the Big B and the 2009 blockbuster '3 Idiots', starring Aamir
Khan. "It's my first time in India and I feel great to be a part of this film festival.
I can say that Amitabh Bachchan and the film '3 Idiots' are very popular
in Japan as well," Lee said during an interactive session. 12 new Japanese
films made in the last three years are being screened at the ongoing
festival. Lee also pointed out to a unique trait in the Japanese film
market, where he said it was not the director who approached
producers with projects. It is actually directors who are selected as
per the requirements of the project, he said. Filmmaker Kiyoshi
Kurosawa, whose film 'Real' was also screened at the festival also
expressed his admiration for Guru Dutt and Satyajit Ray films and
said he is a great fan of these cinematic geniuses.
anjay Leela Bhansali did his editing course at the Film
and Television Institute of India, Pune (1985-88). While
Sanjay completed his course and was sent his diploma
cer tificate, he was kicked out of the institute and could
not complete his diploma film that haunts him till date. He believes that a par t of his soul is at the Film Institute and despite
having directed seven acclaimed films, he still feels a lack of
completeness that he believes he may be able to achieve if he
were to someday edit another student’s film or teach there. He
goes back to the institute every time before star ting a film. This
time he went with the Bombay Times post Ram Leela.
What did getting into the Film Institute mean to you?
The first day I came to the institute was with my sister Bela di in
1982 when she wanted me to fill up the form. That time, we
were not allowed in
through the gate. Bela di
got through in 1982. For
me, coming through this
gate was a big thing as
there were stories of
Jaya Bachchan and
Kundan Shah and Ketan
Mehta and Vinod Chopra
coming out of here, so
there was always a
dream to come out of this
campus. That orange
gate still haunts me. I
first tried in 1984 but
could not get in. I tried a
second time in 1985 and
got through and I can
never forget that August
rain in Pune when my
dream came true. I kept going to the loo till Bela came and told
me I had got in. There is a lane just outside where Nana Patekar
lives and I kept walking there. Getting in the institute was the
turning point in my life.
Have you changed as a person from the time you were a student?
I was my best and only friend and was extremely quiet. Sriram
Raghavan stayed right next to my room and Raju Hirani on the
same floor but I would, at best, say only a hello to them. I
am better now and I can at least say hello to people. I had
decided I won’t allow myself to be ragged even though I
knew it was a way to break barriers with other students and
overcome your inhibitions. But I found it humiliating and did
not allow it as a result and did not form a par t of the gang. I
was very insignificant, unobtrusive, unnoticeable and made
no mark at all. But people would feel that I was arrogant and
rude and therefore when my moment of trouble came and I
was to be chucked out of the institute, I did not find the support coming my
way which should have as I had no connect with people and no one fought
for me.
Why were you chucked out?
Even though I was a very good student, it came from the director who wanted to revamp the institute and picked up the quietest student of the lot, the person who slept at 9 pm and woke up
at 6 am and chucked him out. I was thrown out of the institute.
I was an editing student. We did not have a direction batch so
they decided to call a director from outside, one director for
each student who would give his film to us to edit. This was to
be our diploma film. Dilip Ghosh was the director whose film I
had to edit.
ADITI
RAO
DOESN'T
PREFER
EVERYONE IN THIS FAMILY ONLY
BIG FAT WEDDING?
WANTS TO GET MARRIED!
Amarriage track is something
most TV producers incorporate
in their shows because it works
to get eyeballs. No wonder then,
there’s a show coming that
revolves
totally
around
marriage.
This daily sitcom titled Kis Din
Mera Viyah Howay Ga
revolves around the crazy and
hysterical members of the
Choudhary parivaar, who are
desperate to tie the knot. But
owing to their amusing
obsessions
and
strange
circumstances, each one lands
up with hilarious mismatches.
There’s Qayamat Choudhary, the
head of the house, his wife
Manorama, a 40-year old
unmarried younger brother
Kamal Choudhary who is
obsessed with moustaches since
he is unable to grow one of his
own, a younger sister Billo who
wants to marry a famous dacoit,
a dacoit who is hiding in their
house disguised as a woman and
the housemaid Peeno, who
secretly dreams of marrying
Kamal. And most of these people
have just one thought — kis din
mera viyah howay ga?
Actor Pankit Thakker, who plays
Babloo, Babli and Vikrant daaku,
is excited about his three
different looks in the show. “The
way the dialogues are written is
what makes this show so funfilled. What was most interesting
for me is that sometimes in a
single episode, I’ll be seen in all
three getups.”And no points for
guessing that transforming into
Babli is quite a challenge for
Pankit. “Comedy comes naturally
to me so it’s not tough playing a
woman. But, yes, my makeup in
this case, takes a good two
hours!” he laughs.
Kis Din Mera Viyah Howay Ga
launches tonight and airs
Monday to Friday 9.30 pm on Big
Magic.
Actress Aditi Rao Hydari
prefers an intimate marriage
ceremony over a big fat
wedding. Seen in films like
"RockStar", "London Paris
New York" and "Yeh Saali
Zindagi", she said: "I love
intimate ceremonies where
all the loved ones come
together and have fun."
"I have seen some of my
friends getting married and
they had the worst time at
their own wedding. But
when it is intimate, it is fun
and the bride and the groom
enjoy the most. That's what
I would want," she added.
Aditi was speaking on the
sidelines of the on going
Aamby Valley India Bridal
Fashion Week here.
Is she in a relationship?
"No, no I am very single,"
said the actress who was
recently seen in Akshay
Kumar starrer "Boss".
She will soon be seen in
Manish Jha's new untitled
film.
MidWeek
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
21
'GAMBHIR SHOULD BE IN
TEAM FOR SA TOUR'
MS DHONI SAID PLAYING THE ODIS BEFORE THE TESTS WOULD HELP HIS BATSMEN SETTLE IN BETTER IN SOUTH AFRICA
'There is always a new start' - Dhoni
T
here was a time when a
day before departure for
a big tour would be the
day for a captain to state intent
or unwittingly reveal fears. With
India's most successful Test
captain MS Dhoni, though, it has
always been about cooling
things down a bit. Hours before
he and team-mates left for the big
- not long - tour of South Africa,
you couldn't tell if Dhoni was
the captain of a side that has
won its last six Tests at home
or one that has lost its last eight
away. Or if the team is going to
carry
the
confidence
accumulated over the home
season or doubts sown on the
previous two trips - to England
and to Australia.
What is certain is, this is
India's most inexperienced
batting line-up in a long, long
time, India don't have enough
time to acclimatise to the
conditions, and the conditions
will be vastly different from
what they are used to. About
this being a new side Dhoni
said even Sachin Tendulkar at
some point played for the first
time, about the lack of time he
said the big help will be that
the ODIs will be played before
the Tests, and he didn't shy
away from the challenge of
facing the bouncing and
moving ball, something his side
will need to get used to.
"Well if you see there is
always a new start," Dhoni said
when asked about cricket
Indian cricket after Tendulkar.
"When paaji [Tendulkar]
played his first Test match that
was his first Test match.
"What's fairly important is
that they [the new batsmen]
have a good amount of
exposure - even though it's
ODIs - outside India. That
always helps you adjust to the
pace and bounce of the wicket.
It will be a new challenge for all
of them, at the same time it is a
learning curve. It's the first time
that they will be going there, and
they will learn a lot in the series."
Dhoni knows his team might be
kids when it comes to
international experience especially in testing conditions
- but they won't be treated with
kid gloves should they fail.
"There is a one thing for sure,"
Dhoni said. "If you don't perform
and you're part of the team,
whether you're playing your first
Test or 50th Test match, criticism
goes hand in hand so that's
something you can't really get
away from. If you don't perform
you will be criticised.
"What they need to keep in
mind, what's really in their hands,
is to prepare properly. Also,
concentrate on what little things
they need to do so that they're
successful. I think it's all about
that. Good exposure."
Dhoni was hopeful the
sequence of the tour - ODIs,
followed by a tour game,
followed by the Tests - will help
his side counter the reality of
Indian cricket: no proper
preparation for big tours. "I think
it is always a challenge when you
go and play abroad," Dhoni said.
"You are competing against the
home team, and they know the
conditions well. Their fast
bowlers always know which
length to bowl and also the areas
in which they need to bowl. I feel
the batsmen will have to quickly
adjust to the bounce, see the
deliveries which they can leave
and push the bowlers to bowl at
them instead of going to the
bowlers.
"But of course starting with
the ODIs it is always a help.
When you get to play the shots,
you get rid of nerve factor
initially. We are playing three
ODIs initially, the guys will be
expressing themselves, will be
playing shots and then they will
be carrying it forward into the
Test matches as well. The good
thing is that there won't be too
many changes when you
compare the Test squad to the
ODI squad."
MUMBAI: Gautam Gambhir's presence was felt by his absence
on Sunday. In a curious turn of events, Indian skipper MS Dhoni launched
a veiled attack on the Sandeep Patil- led
selection committee while addressing
the media prior to the team's departure to
South Africa for a series comprising three
ODIs and two Tests.
It was apparent that Dhoni didn't like
the exclusion of Gautam Gambhir for
the series when he was asked who
would per form the role of the third
opener in the series. "Gambhir is our
third opener," he stressed while leaving the media contingent stunned.
When reminded that Gambhir wasn't par t of the squad that flew
out to SA late on Monday, Dhoni said, "You asked who are you
looking at as the third opener, I replied. You didn't specify if you
were asking about someone in this team."
The No. 4 conundrum
He was less cryptic though when asked about the No. 4 position
and who would occupy the slot left vacant by the great Sachin
Tendulkar. "Is it not possible to not look at number four at all? I
mean, why not play 1, 2, 3, and then 5, 6, 7?" "It's not about
someone replacing someone else. Whoever walks in at number
four will bring a fresh character into the side and will progress
from there. As of now we have not decided who will bat at No. 4,"
he added.
'A New Beginning'
With the last member of the senior brigade out of the team, this
is very much Dhoni's side and the skipper wants his young turks
to express themselves sans fear. So what if this is the first time
India will be playing a series in SA without Tendulkar. "There's
always a new star t. When Paaji played his first Test, it was his
first Test. It's the same for a youngster star ting now. What matters is exposure. When you go to a new place, it's about how
well you adjust. It's about figuring out the pace and the bounce of
wickets and it's all a par t of learning," the skipper said.
'Advantage playing ODIs first'
It's a given that the team will not be given flat tracks and the
wickets will be pacy and bouncy and Dhoni admits that the conditions will be trying. However, he feels it will be an advantage
playing ODIs before as that will offer the batsman a chance to
gauge the wickets. "Our batsman will have to quickly adjust to
the bounce and figure out which deliveries we need to leave.
We're playing the ODIs first and given the way we've performed
in the format, the 50-over game will allow our batsman to play
shots, score runs, and in turn get rid of nerves factor. A positive
factor is that our Test and ODI squads are almost the same."
'Don't be scared of scrutiny'
This series will be the first away assignment for India post the
twin 0-4 debacles in England and Australia and Dhoni knows his
team, although young, will be criticized if a similar performance
is dished out. "If you're par t of the team then regardless of whether
it's your first Test or 50th, criticism is bound to follow if you don't
perform. That's something they can't get away from."
Match Details
Telecast Date
Start Time EST*
Venue
1st Test
20 Nov - 24 Nov, 2013
7.00 PM
Brisbane
2nd Test
04 Dec - 08 Dec, 2013
7.00 PM
Adelaide Oval
3rd Test
12 Dec - 16 Dec, 2013
9.30 PM
Perth
4th Test
25 Dec - 29 Dec, 2013
6.30 PM
Melbourne
5th Test
02 Jan - 06 Jan, 2014
6.30 PM
Sydney
FOR BEST DEALS AND INFORMATION SEE PAGE 27
sports
AKRAM KHAN WANTS MORE
MATCHES FOR BANGLADESH
MISBAH-UL-HAQ MADE PAKISTAN'S ONLY FIFTY AS THEY LOST TO SOUTH AFRICA BY FOUR WICKETS IN THE THIRD ODI IN CENTURION
Pakistan leave out Rehman,
Jamshed for Sri Lanka Twenty20s
L
eft-arm spinner Abdur Rehman and batsman Nasir Jamshed
have been left out of Pakistan's squad for the Twenty20s
against Sri Lanka in the UAE later this month. Left-arm spinner
Zulfiqar Babar, who was not picked for the recently-concluded home
and away limited-overs games against South Africa due to a finger
injury, has been named in the 14-man squad, which will also play a
one-off T20 against Afghanistan in the lead-up to the Sri Lanka
series.
Middle-order batsman Haris Sohail, who has been on the fringes
of the national team but has not played in it since August, makes a
comeback. Uncapped Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited opener Sharjeel
Khan also earns a call-up.
The squad is largely comprised of young players, with the
exception of Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal and captain Mohammad
Hafeez. The selectors have persisted with the newcomers, with
batsman Sohaib Maqsood and bowlers Bilawal Bhatti and Anwar
Ali retaining their places.
Fast bowler Mohammad Irfan has missed out once again due to
his brittle body; he sustained an injury during the final match of the
series against South Africa in the UAE earlier this month and needs
a four-week rest period. He is expected to return for the Sri Lanka
Tests. Veteran allrounders Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Malik, who
were ruled out of the South Africa games with injury, have not been
named. Malik has recovered from his injury and is presently featuring
in the Faysal Bank T-20 Cup for in his departmental team, Pakistan
International Airlines.
Offspinner Ajmal will not play the T20 against Afghanistan on
December 8, but will join the team ahead of the two matches against
Sri Lanka, scheduled for December 11 and 13.
Rehman played only one of the four T20s against South Africa
in November, and was taken for 18 runs in his solitary over. Jamshed
played three matches, but didn't touch 20 in any of them and also
failed to score at over a run a ball.
Sharjeel, 24, hails from Hyderabad and has earned a name for
himself with his T20 blitzes. In the format, he has scored 688
runs - at a strike rate of 134.11 - and has a century to his
name. He scored 72 to set up ZTBL's victory in their opening
game of the Faysal Bank T-20 Cup last week, and has hit two
cameos in successful chases since. He has also been in decent
touch in the first-class competition, with three fifties in his
previous three matches. He averages 51.44 after 30 List A
matches.
PLAYING WITHOUT SACHIN A CHALLENGE
MUMBAI: Mahendra Singh
Dhoni says playing in alien
conditions and that too
without Sachin Tendulkar is a
big challenge for his side but
the Indian skipper is hopeful
that playing One-dayers first
will allow his batsmen settle
well ahead of the Test series
against South Africa. India will
play three-match ODI series
ahead of two-Test series in
South Africa.
"If you see there is always a
new start," Dhoni said about
absence of Tendulkar, who
retired recently last month.
Dhoni said his batsmen have
plenty of experience in the
shorter format of the game and
playing ODIs first will give
them confidence for the Tests.
"Many of them have had good
exposure if not in Tests, but in
ODIs. It is a new challenge for
all of them and a new learning
curve. It is always a challenge
when you go outside. Which
length to bowl and to adjust to
the bounce of the wickets. It is
good to start with ODIs. As the
batsmen can play their shots
and express themselves and
carry it into the Tests," he said
ahead of team departure.
Asked who will perform the
duties of the third opener in
Tests, which has only two
regulars in Shikhar Dhawan
and Murali Vijay, Dhoni
surprised everyone by
naming Gautam Gambhir,
who is not part of the 17member squad.
"If you see, Gautam is
definitely our third opener
that we are considering. As
of now, Vijay and Shikhar
they have done really well
for us. So third opener as of
now is Gautam."
Later he clarified, "I know
(gambir not being in team)
but he is the third opener.
But he never asked if he is
part of the team."
Nevertheless, the statement
by Dhoni makes it clear that
Gambhir is still in the
scheme of things for at least
Test side.
Asked who was likely to
replace Tendulkar at number
four in the Test squad, Dhoni
they are to yet to decide on
that. "We are not decided on
number 4. No one is going to
replace anyone else," he said
before adding in lighter vein,
"If possible we will omit the
number 4. And try to bat
1,2,3, 5,6... and 12."
Bowling in slog overs has been
a worry for India but Dhoni
was hopeful of a better
performance in South Africa.
"In different conditions the
statistics would be different.
There will be pace and bounce
on offer for the fast bowlers.
Along with the yorkers, they
can use bouncers and a little
bit pace. So we will see how it
goes," he said.
Akram Khan, the former Bangladesh captain, has kicked off his
role as BCB's new cricket operations committee chairman by
seeking to bring more solidarity with India, Pakistan and Sri
Lanka. He was given the most influential cricketing position in
BCB after he was elected as director unopposed last month.
The cricket operations committee is in overall charge of the
Bangladesh team as well as the Bangladesh A side, and Akram
believes there ought to be more tours to the neighbouring countries. The senior side has never toured India, while their visits
to Sri Lanka have substantially reduced over the last five years.
The BCB's relationship with the PCB is at rock bottom after they
failed to send over a side to Pakistan twice last year.
"I want to build more understanding with the neighbouring countries before we go to Australia and New Zealand," Akram told
the Bangla daily Prothom Alo. "If we can arrange more A team,
Academy and Under-19 matches with them regularly, we can
hold more international matches in that way. They cooperated
with us before we became a Test nation. So why not now? I will
try hard to develop relations with them. We have to play regularly with them, and at the same time, reduce our differences."
Akram however said that he would have to arrange for more
matches outside the new Future Tours Programme which isn't
favourable to Bangladesh, and added that the previous board's
bargaining capabilities left a lot to be desired.
Cheteshwar Pujara warms
up for SA with double ton
CHENNAI: The fourth day of the Tamil Nadu-Saurashtra Ranji
Group B game here was once again about one man - Cheteshwar
Pujara (269, 33x4) - and his ability to carry the team on his
shoulders. The ever-solid Pujara continued from where he had
left off on Saturday to give his team the all-impor tant firstinnings lead. The India No. 3 stood tall as Saurashtra finished
at 581-6 in chase of TN's 565-8 declared. It helped them gain
the crucial three points while TN had to be content with one.
Pujara's batting was about his refined approach and finesse.
There was hardly a false stroke and the Saurashtra batsman
ensured that he doesn't play anything in the air. Having commenced the day on 152, Pujara quickly got off the blocks as the TN
bowlers struggled to find answers. More than the Tamil Nadu bowlers, it
was bad light apart from rain that seemed to come in the way of Saurashtra
taking the first innings lead. Pujara was left stranded on 193 for about an
hour in the morning session. But once the covers were off, he did not take
much time to script his ninth double century in first-class cricket, courtesy
a square-drive off right-arm medium-pacer J Kaushik. Pujara, along with
skipper Jaydev Shah (195, 17x4, 8x6) proved to be biggest difference
between the two sides. Earlier, a cloud cover greeted the teams as they
arrived for the final day, but that did not deter the Shah-Pujara pair from
getting the runs at will. From their overnight total of 326-3, the visitors
swelled their total to 419 before right-arm medium-pacer Aswin Crist
dismissed Shah off his very first over of the day, caught by B Aparajith at
gully. The Shah-Pujara stand fetched 353 runs in 93 overs.
CLARKE TRAINS WELL
AFTER INJURY SCARE
Michael Clarke sent a scare through the Australia camp on
Monday when he appeared to roll his right ankle at training at
Adelaide Oval.
Clarke left the field after hur ting his ankle while running and
appeared ginger when he returned, although he was able to
bat in the nets later in the afternoon.
Cricket Australia tweeted a photo of Clarke holding his ankle
along with the message "He has since completed a nets sessions and is OK."
The Australians were taking par t in their first training session
in Adelaide after the team members gathered in the city on
Sunday ahead of the second Test, which begins on Thursday.
Clarke scored 113 in the second innings of the victory at the
Gabba, which was his first win as captain in an Ashes Test.
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY
MidWeek
R U N N I N G S U C C E S S F U L LY
23
24
MidWeek
MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

Delhi Elections - South Asian Daily

Transcription

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