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Archives for September 2015

Sania-Martina wins US Open women’s doubles title

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sania-mirza-martina-hingis

New York: Women’s doubles top seeds Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis defeated fourth seeded Casey Dellacqua and Yaroslava Shvedova 6-3, 6-3 here on Sunday to claim the US Open title.

The Indo-Swiss pair took only 69 minutes to conquer the Australian-Kazakh pair at the Arthur Ashe stadium.

It was Sania and Martina’s second women’s doubles Grand Slam title together after winning the Wimbledon earlier this year and they played with supreme confidence to win the tournament without dropping a set. It was Sania’s fifth success at the Majors (two women’s doubles and three mixed doubles crowns).

Sania’s partnership with Martina has helped her become the first Indian women’s player to be ranked World No. 1 in the doubles rankings.

Sunday’s final was Sania’s first in the category here at US Open. She won the mixed doubles title last year with Brazilian Bruno Soares here.

For Martina, the tournament turned out to be a memorable won as she lifted her second trophy at the Flushing Meadows this year on Sunday, after bagging the mixed doubles crown on Friday with another Indian, Leander Paes. It was also her fifth Grand Slam title this year, and 20th of her career across all three disciplines (five singles, 11 doubles and four mixed doubles).

The Swiss now just the third active player to have 20 major trophies (after Serena Willams’ 36 and Venus Williams’ 22).

On Sunday, the top seeds quickly jumped to a 3-1 lead breaking the second service game of their opponents.

But the fourth seeds immediately broke Sania’s serve to make it 2-3.

Sania-Martina though remained undeterred to bring about the third and fourth successive service breaks to extend their advantage to 5-2.

Sania then served out the first set at 6-3 in only 31 minutes. They hit 16 winners – four more than their opponents – to claim the first set, converting three of the eight break points. Dellacqua-Shvedova could only break their opponents once.

The reigning Wimbledon champions continued their dominant return of serves in the second set and broke their opponents to take an early 2-0 lead.

As the match went on, the top seeds grew more confident and started unleashing terrific ground strokes, both cross court and down the line, to march towards victory.

But they were made to wait for the win as Dellacqua-Shvedova converted their second break point to put up a resistance and reduce the margin to 3-5.

But that only delayed the inevitable as Martina put away a volley at the net to seal the fate of the match, with the pair clinching 62 of the total 108 points played.

Sania and Martina entered the title round easing past Italian 11th seeds Sara Errani and Flavia Pennetta 6-4, 6-1. Dellacqua-Shvedova defeated unseeded German-American pair of Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Coco Vandeweghe 6-7 (3), 7-5, 7-5 to reach the final.

“It has been a great year for us,” Sania said after the win.

“To win Wimbledon was a great year. Then to come back and back it up to win the US Open, we feel like we’re a really solid team. And we came through again today.”

“From the start, we hit it off,” Martina said.

“Our games work well together.”

(IANS)

Australia to get new PM after Abbott loses challenge

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Tony Abbott to step aside as prime minister after losing leadership challenge to Malcolm Turnbull.

Tony Abbott

by Al Jazeera

Australia is to get a new Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, after embattled leader Tony Abbott lost a challenge for the leadership of the Liberal Party, the senior partner in the ruling conservative coalition.

The former communications minister, Malcolm Turnbull, is to become Australia’s 29th prime minister after defeating Abbott in party room spill with 54 votes to 44.

Turnbull is expected to be sworn in as prime minister by Australia’s governor-general Peter Cosgrove on Tuesday.

Turnbull on Monday said he informed Abbott he would challenge him for the leadership after losing confidence in his management of the economy.

“The prime minister has not been capable of providing the economic leadership our nation needs. He has not been capable of providing the economic confidence that business needs,” Turnbull told reporters in Canberra.

Volatile

The leadership vote continues an extraordinarily volatile period in Australian federal politics, especially as the Liberals were elected in 2013 as a stable alternative to the then Labor government.

Labor came to power under Kevin Rudd at the 2007 elections, only to dump him in the face of poor opinion polling for his deputy Julia Gillard in 2010, months ahead of elections.

The bitterly divided and chaotic government then dumped Gillard for Rudd just months before the 2013 election.

Before Rudd was elected in 2007, John Howard was in power for almost 12 years.

The government has trailed the opposition in a range of opinion polls since April last year.

Bombay HC allows sale of meat on September 17

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Bombay High Court

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court today stayed the controversial ban on sale of meat in Mumbai on September 17, but refused to interfere with the bar on animal slaughter on that day.

The High Court, which was hearing a petition filed by Bombay Mutton Dealers Association challenging the ban imposed in the wake of Jain community’s ‘Paryushan’ fasting period, said the stay will be limited to Mumbai jurisdiction area.

Though a similar ban has been imposed in Mira-Bhayander and Navi Mumbai municipal corporations in Mumbai’s adjoining Thane district, the court said it was not concerned about it “as nobody has come forward challenging the ban there.”

A division bench of Justices Anoop V Mohta and Amjad Sayyed in their order said, “We are staying the ban on sale of meat on September 17, but we are not interfering with the ban on slaughter of meat and closure of abattoirs on that date.”

The High Court also observed that though the Maharashtra government issued a circular in 2004 banning meat sale on two days, it was never implemented fully.

“Though there was a ban since 2004, it was never implemented in its true sense,” the judges said.

The court said there has been inconsistency in the stands of Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) and the state government.

The state government had on September 7, 2004, issued a circular stating that for two days during the Jain community’s ‘Paryushan’ fasting period there will be closure of abattoirs and ban on slaughter and sale of meat.

“Although the circular was of 2004, we are very clear that the MCGM never fully implemented the ban on sale of meat. It never insisted on this (ban on sale of meat), but only insisted on closure of abattoirs,” the court said.

“We are only going by the law and not dealing with this matter via sentiments and political things,” the judges further observed.

The High Court also clarified that since the petition has challenged the ban only in Mumbai area, the stay too will be limited to the Mumbai jurisdiction area.

The court said, “We are not concerned about what is happening in Mira-Bhayander or Navi Mumbai as nobody has come forward challenging the ban there.”

The HC also queried as to why fish and eggs were excluded from the ban. “If it is a question of practice of non-violence by the Jain community, then why only mutton and chicken have been included in the ban and not fish and eggs?” the court asked.

(PTI)

Jhabua blast aftermath: 69 detonators, gelatin sticks seized

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The blast site at Petlwad town in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday

The blast site at Petlwad town in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday

Jhabua: Two days after an explosion claimed 89 lives in Petlawad town in tribal Jhabua district, police today recovered 69 detonators and large number of gelatin sticks from the residence of the brother of the main accused in the incident.

Rajendra Kasawa, the main accused in connection with the incident, is absconding since the explosion occurred on Saturday, a police official said. Police recovered 69 detonators and two batteries from the Mahavir Colony residence of Narendra Kasawa, Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Virendra Singh Bais said.

Gelatin sticks too were recovered from the place, but their exact number is not yet known, he said. Narendra is also absconding along with his family from Petlawad, he said. An intensive search operation was launched following reports of large number of persons storing gelatin sticks in an illegal manner for carrying out mining and blasting rocks for construction work, he said.

A reward of Rs one lakh was earlier announced by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for information leading to the arrest of Rajendra Kasawa, as his administration came under scanner over allowing storage of explosives in a crowded residential area.

Meanwhile, Chouhan, who had visited the blast site yesterday and also gone door-to-door meeting the affected families, reached Petlawad again today to meet the victims. The state government had yesterday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of those killed in the explosion.

At least 89 people were killed and nearly 100 injured after a massive blast caused by mining explosives stored in a building ripped through a crowded area in Petlawad town.

The blast completely destroyed at least two buildings –one in which explosive material for digging wells was stored and an adjacent restaurant, and damaging several houses.

The explosion took place in the building of Kasawa who had a licence to use explosive material for digging wells. He stored the explosive material, including gelatin sticks in huge quantity, in the residential building having two shops in it and situated close to the busy Sethia Restaurant in new bus stand area, a police official said.

(Agencies)

Bihar polls: NDA, Manjhi’s party reach seat-sharing agreement

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Jitan Ram Manjhi

New Delhi: The BJP and Jitan Ram Manjhi have finally reached a seat-sharing agreement for the Bihar assembly elections with the former chief minister party’s being allotted 20 seats.

“All is well and a positive outcome is expected,” PTI quoted a senior BJP leader as saying on Sunday after the talks with Manjhi’s Hindustani Avam Morcha (Secular) party in Delhi.

The seat sharing agreement was said to have been reached at a meeting the Bharatiya Janata Party’s in-charge for Bihar elections and Union minister Ananth Kumar and party general secretary in-charge of the state Bhupendra Yadav had with Manjhi in Bihar Niwas.

After the late night meeting, a HAM(S) leader claimed the party would get to field about 20 candidates, while five others would contest on the BJP’s symbol under the arrangement worked out.

BJP president Amit Shah, party sources said, cancelled his Mysore visit on Sunday to oversee the negotiations. Manjhi met Shah at the latter’s residence twice on Sunday.

Manjhi and his aides also held a series of meetings with BJP leaders including Kumar, Yadav and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan throughout the day.

On Saturday, Manjhi’s associates had threatened to reconsider continuing in the alliance if a “respectable” offer was not made after the BJP agreed to spare 13-15 seats for them.

A final announcement on the seat sharing arrangement between BJP and its three allies – Ram Vilas Paswan’ Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), Upendra Kushwaha-led Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) and Manjhi’s HAM(S) – was held up after Manjhi played hardball.

The LJP and RLSP have already agreed to the seat-sharing formula brought forth by the BJP.

Though the BJP has a strong Dalit ally in Paswan, it wants Manjhi on its side in the high-stakes state elections to bring in the Mahadalit votes.

Manjhi was said to be unhappy after he was offered 13-15 seats by the BJP and sought to draw a parity with Paswan’s LJP, which was tipped to get around 40 seats.

Those privy to the talks said the BJP wanted to contest around 160 of the state’s 243 seats, leaving 25 for RLSP.

BJP sources said its Central Election Committee is likely to meet on Tuesday as the party is keen to announce the names of its nominees at least for the seats which go to polls in the first few phases.

The five-phase polling for the 243-member assembly begins from October 12 and concludes on November 5.

(PTI)

Hindu Mahasabha’s Om Ji, and woman astrologer clash on live TV show

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Rakhi Bai Om Ji Hindu Mahasabha

New Delhi: Shocking scenes were witnessed on the national tv today when two guests on a live show used expletives, slapped and grappled with each other, leaving the audience aghast and prompting the channel to condemn the incident.

Om Ji of the Hindu Mahasabha and and woman astrologer Rakhi Bai were seen having sharp exchanges on tv show ‘Aaj Ka Mudda’ on IBN 7.

Om Ji was seen engaged in a heated discussion with Rakhi Bai over some controversy related to self-styled god woman Radhe Ma, who is embroiled in a case of alleged domestic violence.

“How can you criticise Radhe Ma, you correct yourself first,” Om Ji was heard saying. When Rakhi Bai protested, he said he was talking about another participant on the show Deepa Sharma whom the channel described as ‘Dharma Guru’ (religious teacher).

He referred to some alleged controversies about the family life of Sharma and criminal cases against her. Sharma, who had looked calm by then, stood up and approached Om Ji from behind and interrupted his harangue by patting on his back.

“Tameez se baat kariye (behave yourself),” she was seen warning the self-styled god man and then slapped him. Om Ji also hurled a slap at her and was seen tightly holding both her hands. “Tu kya maregi?” he said as the two were shown grappling on screen.

Meanwhile, the channel has “condemned” the incident. “We invite responsible people to our shows and expect our guests to behave responsibly. We don’t expect such behaviour from them and condemn it,” it said. N K Singh, general secretary of Broadcast Editors Association also disapproved of the incident.

“The purpose of such shows is to give information from both sides and let viewers make a decision. This is shameful,” he said.

2006 Mumbai train bombings: lone acquitted man comes out of jail after 9 years

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2006-mumbai-train-blasts

Mumbai: Abdul Wahid Shaikh, the only accused to be acquitted in the July 11, 2006 train bombings case, was today freed here from high-security Arthur Road jail where he had been lodged for nine years since his arrest.

“Accused no. 8 (Abdul Wahid) is found not guilty of having committed any offences with which he is charged”, special MCOCA court judge Yatin D Shinde had observed while acquitted him yesterday.

In its verdict, the court had held 12 other accused guilty of various charges.

Arguments for the quantum of sentence are likely to begin on Monday.

Shaikh came out of the jail at around 2 PM with moist eyes and was welcomed by his family members.

He had been arrested in September 2006 for allegedly harbouring some of the accused in his house.

Seven RDX bombs had ripped through the first class compartments of as many local trains on western line on July 11, 2006, killing 188 people and injuring 829.

The blasts had occurred within a span of 10 minutes between suburban Khar Road-Santacruz, Bandra-Khar Road, Jogeshwari-Mahim junction, Mira Road- Bhayander, Matunga- Mahim junction and Borivali railway stations.

(PTI)

Charlie Hebdo mocks the drowned Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi

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Charlie Hebdo Aylan Kurdi

by Emre Basaran, Daily Sabah

Eight months after the terror attack, which claimed the lives of 12 people including its cartoonists, French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo’s latest issue features the Syrian toddler washed ashore on a Turkish beach.

The magazine featured cartoons depicting the three-year-old Aylan Kurdi, who was washed ashore in southwestern Turkish city of Bodrum two weeks ago. Mocking the death of the toddler, the the drawing’s title was “Si près du but…” which translates to “So close to his goal.” The drawing featured the dead body of the toddler washed ashore in front of a publicity board with a McDonald’s ad, saying “Two children combos for the price of one.”

In another controversial cartoon, the magazine also features a cartoon entitled “The proof that Europe is Christian,” which featured a man -supposedly Jesus Christ- standing on water and saying “Christians walk on the water” and a toddler sinking into the sea, saying “Muslim children sink”.

The magazine received harsh public reaction by Twitter users after the pages started circulating on social media.

Following the magazine’s controversial cartoons featuring Prophet Muhammad, on January 7, 2015, a group of extremists forced their way into the Paris headquarters of Charlie Hebdo and opened fire, killing twelve persons including five staff cartoonists, an economist, two editors Elsa Cayat and Mustapha Ourrad, guest Michel Renaud, a maintenance worker, two police officers and wounding eleven, four of whom were in critical condition.

Saudi claims it has taken in 2.5 million Syrians since uprising

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Saudi Arabia has recently been heavily criticized for its response to the Syrian refugee crisis. (Al Bawaba/File)

Saudi Arabia has recently been heavily criticized for its response to the Syrian refugee crisis. (Al Bawaba/File)

by Arab News

Saudi Arabia has hosted around 2.5 million Syrians since the beginning of the crisis in that country in 2011, the Foreign Ministry has said.

In a statement issued to SPA, the ministry said the Syrians have been leading a decent and normal life in the Kingdom like other expatriates. “The Kingdom does not deal with Syrian expats like refugees. They are living in a normal environment not in special camps.”

According to the ministry, the Syrians have been granted legal residence permits and full freedom to travel inside the country.

“Moreover, they are allowed to study in Saudi schools as per the royal order issued in 2012.

A total of 100,000 Syrians are registered in public schools,” the ministry clarified, reacting to reports about the Kingdom’s role in tackling the Syrian refugees crisis. “All Syrians in the Kingdom receive free medical treatment. They are allowed to work in the private sector like other expatriates,” the ministry added.

Saudi Arabia has spent $700 million to help Syrian refugees, according to figures made available during the Third Intentional Conference of Donors in Kuwait in March this year, the ministry said.

The Kingdom played a vital role in helping Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon through humanitarian aid including food, medical treatment, medicines and clothes,” the ministry added.

An online publication quoted a source as saying that the Labor Ministry has excluded Syrians from labor inspections being carried out to correct expat status. “This will be a great help to my fellow Syrian visitors,” said a Riyadh-based Syrian expat. “We have lived here for many years and benefited not only financially from this country but also from free education for our children,” he observed.

The visitors residing with their families here feel that the gesture would help them put their skills to good use and benefit from their stay, he said, adding that it will be a win-win situation for them and the host country.

The directive by King Salman aims at letting the departments that face skills’ shortage to benefit from Syrian visitors, many of whom are experienced and highly qualified to make a qualitative change to the local market.

Western countries have realized the advantage of absorbing refugees with a wealth of talent and skills, which is a cost effective solution for them amid the global economic slump.

Similarly, these Arab refugees could be a blessing in disguise for the Kingdom in the face of declining oil prices. Their professional skills, along with knowledge of Arabic, will give them an edge over non-Arabic speaking expats.

This year, the king also ordered rectification of the residential status of Yemeni illegals to let them work in various sectors.

Movie Review: ‘We Are Your Friends’ is a disappointing fare

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we_are_your_friends

Producers: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner & Liza Chasin
Director: Max Joseph
Star Cast: Zac Efron, Emily Ratajkowski, Shiloh Fernandez, Alex Shaffer, Jonny Weston, Wes Bentley etc
Genre: Drama
Verdict: Poor

Max Joseph has come up with a very disappointing fare in his debut directorial offering, We Are Your Friends, about a struggling DJ Cole (Zac Afron).

Plot: Set in the world of electronic music & Hollywood nightlife, an aspiring 23 year old DJ named Cole (Zac Afron) spends his days scheming with his childhood friends and his nights working on the one track that will set the world on fire. All of this changes when he meets a charismatic but damaged older DJ named James (Wes Bentley), who takes him under his wings. Things get complicated, however, when Cole starts falling for James’ much younger girlfriend, Sophie (Emily Ratajkowski). With Cole’s forbidden relationship intensifying and his friendships unraveling, he must choose between love, loyalty, and the future he is destined for.

Aces: Zac Afron’s riveting performance as a DJ and of course the original sound tracks (OST).

Minuses: The constant beeps and most of the scenes mercilessly mutilated by the Censors scissors.

Last Word: We Are Your Friends is strictly recommended for Zac Afrons die hard fans and others just stay away.

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