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Bengaluru braces for IPL title clash on Sunday

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IPL

Bengaluru: With hosts Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL-9) final on Sunday against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for the elusive title, Bengaluru is bracing for a high octane clash at the M. Chinnaswamy stadium in the city centre.

“The city has been put on a high alert for hosting the event (IPL final). Security measures are in place to ensure safety of players and fans at the stadium, which has been sanitised and fortified to prevent any incident,” city additional police commissioner K.S.R. Charan Reddy told IANS on Saturday.

A Bombay High Court order to shift IPL games, including the final out of drought-hit Maharashtra to save water has been a windfall for the frenzied fans, as its board (BCCI) awarded the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) to host the final.

The city had hosted the IPL-7 final on June 1, 2014 when Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeated Kings XI Punjab by three wickets to lift the title for the second time.

“Besides deploying about 1,000 police personnel in and around the venue, an anti-sabotage drill is being conducted to secure the stadium. A dog squad and a bomb squad have been pressed to sniff out any threat to the venue,” Reddy said.

Though RCB played twice in IPL finals and lost — first at Johannesburg in South Africa in 2009 against the defunct Deccan Chargers and second in Chennai against the suspended Chennai Super Kings in 2011, they are playing in an IPL final on home turf for the first time and hoping to be third time lucky in lifting the cup.

With tickets for the high-voltage match sold out online and offline by May 25, a day after the home team entered the final by beating Gujarat Lions in the first qualifier, KSCA is expecting about 40,000 fans to pack the floodlit stadium on a summer night for a cracker of a contest.

“As half the seats in stands are reserved for complimentary tickets and passes, the remaining (about 20,000) went on sale even a fortnight before RCB entered the final. With RCB in the final, there was a surge for tickets online since May 24 night and tickets across counters at the stadium were sold out in two hours due to heavy demand,” a KSCA official said.

Apart from franchisee of both teams and their sponsors, complimentary tickets are given to BCCI-IPL, various cricket associations, their members and former players, while passes are doled out to VIPs, including ministers, lawmakers, celebrities and officials of civic agencies involved in providing support facilities to the stadium.

Police have made elaborate arrangements to maintain peace and order during the summit clash, regulate vehicular movement and ban parking for one km around the stadium to prevent traffic snarls.

“Additional constables and home guards will be on duty from 5pm to midnight on all roads and signal junctions leading to the stadium for smooth traffic flow. Being a Sunday, we hope to minimise traffic jams if drivers maintain lane discipline,” a traffic inspector of Cubbon Park police station told IANS ahead of the match.

State-run city road transport and metro rail corporations will be plying additional bus and metro services from 5pm till 1am for the convenience of fans flocking to the stadium for an exciting match.

(IANS)

Movie Review: ‘The Angry Birds Movie’ is a delightful fare ever seen before on the celluloid silver screen

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angry-birds-movie

Producers: John Cohen and Catherine Winder
Directors: Clay Kaytis and Fergal Reilly
Voice Over Artiste: Jason Sudekis, Josh Gad, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Kate Mckinnon, Bill Hader etc

In the 3D animated comedy, The Angry Birds Movie, we’ll finally find out why the birds are so angry. The movie takes us to an island populated entirely by happy, flightless birds -or almost entirely. In this paradise, Red (Jason Sudeikis), a bird with a temper problem, speedy Chuck (Josh Gad), and the volatile Bomb (Danny McBride) have always been outsiders. But when the island is visited by mysterious green piggies, it’s up to these unlikely outcasts to figure out what the pigs are up to.

The director duo Clay Kaytis and Fergal Reilly have really assembled a delightful fare for kids, youngsters and matured people.

With a movie as enjoyable as this it is very difficult to pin point a particular flaw.

It is a harmless kid’s tale that kids and adults can easily find humour in.

Movie Review: ‘Alice Through The Looking Glass’ is certainly not to be missed interesting fare

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Alice Through The Looking Glass

Producers: Tim Burton, Joe Roth, Suzanne Tod and Jennifer Todd
Director: James Bobin
Star Cast; Johnny Depp, Anne Hathway, Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter, Mia Wasikowaska, Micheal Sheen etc

After slipping through a mirror, Alice (Mia Wasikowska) finds herself back in Underland with the White Queen (Anne Hathaway), the Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Her friends tell her that the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) is depressed over the death of his family. Hoping to save his loved ones, Alice steals the Chronosphere from Time (Sacha Baron Cohen) to travel into the past. While there, she encounters the younger Hatter and the evil Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter)

Direction of James Bobbin is impressive but amongst the actors it is Sacha Baron Cohen who stands out with his superlative performance and the next in line performer is Mia Wasikowska in the title role of Alice.

This fantasy character of Alice has been rehashed time and again but all the sequels of this franchise lack something or the other.

It is a good visual treat for kids at the end of the summer vacation.

V Narayanasamy to be new Puducherry Chief Minister

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V Narayanasamy

Puducherry: Former union minister V. Narayanasamy on Saturday was elected as the Congress Legislature Party leader in Puducherry and will be the union territory’s next chief minister.

Congress’s central observers – former Delhi chief minister Shelia Dikshit and general secretary Mukul Wasnik – announced the decision after holding discussions with the newly-elected party legislators here.

The Congress, which fought the May 16 elections in alliance with the DMK, won 15 seats in the 30 member assembly. The DMK won two seats.

Since there were three contenders for the chief minister’s post – former chief minister V.Vaithilingam, party chief A.Namassivayam and Narayanasamy – there was a delay in choosing the next Chief Minister.

According to the party’s central observers, Narayanasamy was elected unanimously by all the Congress legislators.

Meanwhile, disappointed at the outcome, supporters of Namassivayam shouted slogans and also attacked buses on the East Coast Road.

Narayanasamy, who is also a party general secretary, did not contest the elections. Now he has to get elected after one of the sitting legislators resigns.

The All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) won eight seats and the AIADMK grabbed four. An independent candidate was also elected.

(IANS)

Person who never lived in Kashmir has started a fight for Kashmiri Pandits: Naseeruddin Shah on Anupam Kher

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naseeruddin-shah-and-anupam-kher

Mumbai: As Narendra Modi government celebrates two years in power, veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah says citizens of the country should give more time to it before making perceptions though he feels a bit worried by the “changes made in few textbooks”. He, however, says the government is not “stupid” enough to turn the nation towards “dark ages”. He also hit out at fellow actor Anupam Kher saying that someone who’d never lived in Kashmir suddenly started fighting for Kashmiri Pandits.

“People are taking decisions and making perceptions too fast. I think we should give the government more time. But, there are few things which make me concerned, like the kind of alterations in the text books those are the things to worry about,” Shah said in an interview here.

The 66-year-old actor was in the capital to promote his film “Waiting” which released today. “I believe the people in the government are not stupid to understand the choices in front of them, either to build a modern India or to take us back into the dark ages. I think they are not stupid to take the second choice.

“Not for anything else but to at least be in power. I am not leaving the hope. If we will leave the hope it means we have lost the battle,” he added.

The three-time National award-winning actor also took potshots at Anupam Kher, who has been vocal about his fight for Kashmiri Pandits, especially their rehabilitation in the Valley, saying, “A person who has never lived in Kashmir has started a fight for Kashmiri Pandits. Suddenly, he became a displaced person.”

Shah supported noted lyricist Javed Akhtar’s statements during his farewell speech in Rajya Sabha saying nobody has the right to question a person’s love for their motherland.

“I am sad that statements like these (referring to AIMIM MP Asaddudin Owaisi) are made and then they are not even condemned. Like Javed sahab said, ‘It is his right to say ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Bharat mata ki jai’. I will say it with my choice not because somebody asks me to,’ I support him. Nobody has a right to question my love for my country,” he said.

Akhtar had slammed Owaisi for saying that he won’t chant ‘Bharat mata ki jai’ because the Constitution does not ask him to do so. He had also condemned right-wing extremists who say Muslims should go to Pakistan.

(PTI)

Small Screen Trade Round Up By: Shaheen Raaj

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akash-chawla

ZEE’s Akash Chawla Replaces Pradeep Hejmadi

ZEE has elevated Akash Chawla & Deepak Rajadhyaksha for key roles in Zee TV to drive the organizations goals. In addition to his current portfolio as Business Head – Essel Vision Productions Limited / Zee Studios, Chawla will now also take charge as the Business Head of Zee TV. In his earlier broadcasting stint, Chawla has successfully spearheaded the marketing function for the flagship & National channels like ZeeTV, Zee Cinema & Zee Classic. He has also played a pivotal role in the launch of channels like &pictures, Zee Anmol & Zindagi. All the functions of Zee TV like marketing, research & PR will align with Chawla. Meanwhile, Deepak Rajadhyaksha, who has been successfully leading the role as the Business Head of Zee Marathi, will now take charge as the Deputy Business Head, Zee TV. He will report to Akash Chawla. The entire programming, OAP & Operations team would align and report to Rajadhyaksha. The duo will work closely with ZEEL – MD & CEO, Punit Goenka to bring Zee TV towards its leadership journey.

Colors To Air Shakti…Astitva Ke Ehsaas Kii From 30th May 2016

Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the present and renders the future inaccessible. But, what if a prejudice is so strong that it damages a family beyond repair; so harsh that it makes parents discriminate between its own blood relations; so forbidden that it changes the fate of 2 young children? Colors brings to viewers a tale of conscious prejudice meted out by a family against its own kin with Shakti…Astitva Ke Ehsaas Kii. Putting blood relations in a quandary, Shakti portrays the strength & power of a family to dictate the destiny of its children – Soumya (Mahira Khurrana) & Surbhi (Tasheen Shah). Produced by Rashmi Sharma Telefilms Ltd, Shakti is all set to unravel the truth behind their family’s behaviour towards them, starting 30th May 2016, every Mon to Fri at 8:00 PM on Colors.

Life OK Carries Sci – Fi Trend With Nagarjuna

At present, Indian television is going through a phase of super natural, mythical and larger than life shows. After the steaming success of many such shows, Beyond Dreams is all set to air the all new Mahabharata inspired show Nagarjuna – Ek Yodha on Life OK from 30th May 2016 at 900 PM. The show replaces Piya Rangrez. The makers have high expectations from Nagarjuna – Ek Yodha. Will this show work for the channel, fulfil these expectations – only time will reveal. Nagarjuna – Ek Yodha has been inspired from incidents from the Mahabharata. Explaining the connection, the makers say that there is an incident in the Mahabharata in which a fight between the Pandavas and snakes had happened. The show is a sci – fi fantasy take on this incident. Nagarjuna, played by Anshuman Malhotra, is a reluctant superhero in the show. He is half snake & half man, and the force between human land Amboli & Nag Lok. He is the man who stands between both the worlds.

Anil Kapoor Acquires Prison Break Rights

Anil Kapoor, who is currently busy finishing the 2nd series of his television series 24, has acquired the rights of another American TV series Prison Break. The actor, who had earlier taken the rights of Modern Family, said he normally went with a gut feeling that Indians would love a story when he acquires it to adapt it to Indian situation. Prison Break, of which the 5th season is about to commence, revolves around 2 brothers. One has been sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit while the other devises an elaborate plan to help him escape and clear his name. The actor said he had only acquired the rights of the 1st season. In a statement, Kapoor averred, “The show is about sibling love. It has just the right amount of emotions and of course some mind blowing action. In the past, films like Do Aankhen Barah Haath & Umar Qaid, which revolved around jailbreak, have been appreciated by the audience.”

Dr. Subhash Chandra Resigns

Subhash Chandra has stepped down from the post of director & non – executive chairman of Zee Media. According to a report on BSE, Zee Media announced that its board meeting held on 24th May 2016 took on record the resignation of Dr. Subhash Chandra as director and non-executive chairman of the company with effect from 24 May 2016. With this announcement, R K Arora has been appointed as the CEO as an additional director of the company with immediate effect. Zee Media has a lavish portfolio of news channels under it which includes Zee News, Zee Business, India 24×7, Zee Punjab Haryana Himachal, Zee Madhya Pradesh Chhattisgarh, Zee 24 Taas, 24 Ghanta, Zee Kalinga News, Zee Purvaiya & Zee Rajasthan News.

Vishal Srivastava Quits

Network 18 is seeing a major reshuffling with several elevations, appointments & resignations across its portfolio of channels. Adding to the list is CNBC TV18 executive VP & Head global business Vishal Srivastava who has stepped down from his position. In his past role, Srivastava used to head the Government & International sales for all the channels under the network.  incidentally speaking Network 18 does not have a replacement for Srivastava as of yet. He has been associated with the company for more than 13 years.

300 Hours Eligibility Criteria For E – Auction Of slots

300 hours eligibility criteria for e – auction Of slots on DD National Doordarshan, which recently decided to invite eligible producers to create & market fresh content on the channel for a fixed tenure extending up to 3 years by buying slots through e – auction, recently said the offer was open for production houses which have produced at least 300 hours of Hindi General Entertainment Programming in the last 2 years. Moreover, the production houses should have a turnover of minimum Rs 5 crores per annum in regard to TV & film production in the last 3 financial years.
Successful bidders will produce fresh programmes in various genres of General Entertainment Programme for Doordarshan will be required to adhere to the programming / broadcasting codes of Prasar Bharati. Request for Proposal (RFP) of the Slot Sale Policy is available and can be downloaded from the website:
www.ddindia.gov.in. The policy encourages private entrepreneurs to produce cutting edge General Entertainment Programming with a commitment for providing wholesome family enjoyment.

IBN7 Launches Entertainment Show

Entertainment news is an important content area for news television. There are several shows in the Hindi News genre that garner high ratings and have a loyal viewership especially amongst female audiences. The show has started and airs every Mon to Fri at 2 pm. With a view to disrupt this space, IBN7 will launch a new show Bhabhi Tera Devar Deewana. Typically, most shows in this space are anchored & driven by female anchors who bring their perspective on the latest happenings from the world of television. In order to break away from this format, IBN7 will introduce a unique character – the devar who will look at the twists & turns of the most popular TV shows from a distinctly male perspective. Delving into the lives of the television celebrities, the devar will also aim to become an inseparable part of viewers’ lives. From characters’ on & off screen persona, and various events, to on – location shoots and highlights of TV serials, the desh ka devar will take the viewers on a captivating journey bringing them closer to understand their favourite characters better.

Reduced DD terrestrial Viewership Has Led To Decline In IEBR

Prasar Bharati has admitted that declining trend of terrestrial viewership, non -implementation of professional marketing division, aggressive competition, curtailment of advertisement budget of the erstwhile heavy spending by Government Ministries like Health & Agriculture et al, in Doordarshan had led to decline in the Internal & Extra Budgetary Resources (IEBR) of Prasar Bharati since 2014 – 2015.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee for Information Technology which goes into issues relating to Information & Broadcasting appreciated steps being taken to reverse this trend which include monetization of resources, reorganization of commercial revenue divisions, change in content sourcing model, exploration of new revenue models from auction of slots on DTH platforms, and Digital Terrestrial Transmitters having multiple channel capacity et al. The Committee recommended that Prasar Bharati should continue to explore avenues to augment revenue generation so that the public broadcaster achieves self – sustenance gradually and becomes less dependent on government support. The Committee also noted that during the year 2015 – 2016, the I & B ministry had spent Rs 2827.75 crore under Non – Plan fund to meet salary & salary related expenses. Separately, Prasar Bharati allocates Rs 200 crore annually from its IEBR for Content Development Scheme as per the 12th Plan Scheme.

Zee TV Brings Season 2 Of Dance Singapore Dance

Zee TV, the flagship channel of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL), has announced the return of its highly popular reality dance competition, Dance Singapore Dance Season 2. The open category competition is open to all residents of Singapore aged 16 and above, and aims to provide a platform for amateur & experienced dancers to showcase their talent. Pre – registration for the show has begun on www.apac.zeetv.com/dsd and auditions will take place on 28th May 2016 at 9 am onwards at the La Salle College of the Arts, 1 McNally St, Singapore 187940.
Zee TV Senior vice president International business Tripta Singh said, “We are delighted to return with Dance Singapore Dance S2 after a highly successful launch Season. This year we have increased the prize money for the winner to $15,000 and included cash and other prizes for the 1st & 2nd runners – up. After the finale of Season 1, we continued to groom the dancers and provided them with on – ground opportunities in the Asia Pacific region to perform & showcase their talents. Dance Singapore Dance is not just a TV show but a platform for aspiring dancers to take their talent to the next level”.

Advertising watchdog raps Ramdev’s Patanjali ad claims

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Baba-Ramdev-noodles

Mumbai: The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has rapped yoga guru Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. for “false and misleading” advertisements that also “denigrate” rival products.

The Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) of the ad watchdog, which has released a statement on the complaints it dealt with in March, also found three of Patanjali’s product advertisements indulging in “ambiguity” and making claims that were described as “gross exaggeration”.

The CCC received 156 complaints against ads during the month, and upheld 90 – including those by Patanjali – under categories such as “education”, “healthcare and personal care”, “food and beverages” and others.

Under the “healthcare and personal care” category, the CCC pulled up the ad for Patanjali Kesh Kanti Natural Hair Cleanser & Oil, describing as “false and misleading by ambiguity” and “gross exaggeration” its claim that “mineral oil is carcinogenic in nature and may cause cancer”.

In the “food and beverages” segment, it found that the ad for ‘Patanjali Kachi Ghani Mustard Oil’ made claims that were “misleading” and “not substantiated”.

The ad had claimed that, “Other than Kacchi Ghani process most of the other edible refined oils and mustard oil are made using neurotoxin Hexagon solvent extraction process. To make profits at the cost of consumers’ health many companies mix cheap palm oil in mustard oil”.

The CCC ruled that the ad “unfairly denigrates other oils/mustard oil”.

The ad had prompted the edible oil industry body, the Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEAI), to file complaints with the food regulator, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), and ASCI.

In its letters to FSSAI and ASCI, the SEAI requested the regulators to “take action” against Patanjali, and alleged that the company’s ad for ‘Kacchi Ghani Mustard Oil’ was not in good taste.

The CCC also found issues with the ad for ‘Patanjali Herbal Washing Powder, Cake and Dishwash Bar’, which claimed they were used by “millions of housewives”. The watchdog said the claim was “not substantiated”.

It further said that there was little evidence of the cleaning benefit of its professed ingredients, and declared the claim as “misleading by ambiguity”.

The CCC also said that “the claim, ‘Dish wash bars made with chemicals do clean the utensils but they end up damaging the hands’, was not substantiated and unfairly denigrates dish wash bars directly”.

Patanjali’s ads have come in for criticism in the past. In a recent article, Pushpa M. Bhargava, former vice chairman of the National Knowledge Commission, made a detailed critique of the claims made by a Baba Ramdev ad about treatments for high blood pressure and diabetes.

Bhargava, who founded the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, described as “scientifically absurd” the “implication in the ad that blood pressure and diabetes are caused by viruses”.

(Agencies)

‘Rs 48 lakh Jaguar most affordable option for Lok Sabha Speaker’

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Sumitra Mahajan

New Delhi: The purchase of a Rs 48.25 lakh swanky Jaguar XE as the new official car for Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has raised eyebrows with the opposition Congress on Friday asking her to reconsider using the luxury vehicle.

The Lok Sabha secretariat, however, cited security considerations behind the purchase of the Jaguar car.

When queries on the issue were put at the Congress briefing, Party spokesman Manish Tewari said the Speaker should reconsider the matter.

Tewari said it was for the Speaker to decide whether it would be “prudent” to go for such a vehicle when one-third of the country was facing acute agricultural distress.

D Bhalla, Secretary in the Lok Sabha Secretariat, sought to downplay the purchase, maintaining that it was the “most affordable option” among the four-five cars suggested on the basis of security manoeuvrability.

He insisted that the Rs 48.25 lakh vehicle has been bought because of security considerations.

“This is not an overnight purchase. It is a decision of the LS secretariat after advice by the security. All information is available on our files. It is a transparent decision,” Bhalla added.

(Agencies)

Men in car try to abduct girl, rob her brother in north Delhi

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rape

New Delhi: Three men allegedly tried to abduct a 19-year-old girl today and robbed her brother of his mobile phone and wallet before pushing him off a moving car, in which they had offered lift to the siblings in north Delhi’s Geeta Ghat area, police said.

The girl was rescued after a six-km-long chase by a police team and the accused were arrested, police said.

According to police, the incident took place around 7.30 PM when the siblings, were heading towards their home in Wazirabad area, and a car stopped nearby, with its driver asking for directions.

Once the girl’s brother helped him with that, they were offered a lift to which they agreed.

Two other persons were sitting inside the car and soon after the siblings stepped in, the group allegedly started assaulting the girl’s brother. They robbed him of his mobile phone and wallet before pushing him off the vehicle near Geeta Ghat, and fled with his sister.

The boy then approached a PCR which chased the car. Other PCR teams deployed in the district were informed and the Santro car of the accused was intercepted after a nearly 6 km chase.

The accused, identified as Sachin Choudhary (32), Shiv kumar (32) and Saurabh (34), were arrested and a case under charges of abduction, robbery and criminal assault was registered in connection with the matter, a senior official said.

It is yet to be ascertained what their motive was and whether the act was planned. The three are being interrogated, the official said.

(PTI)

Pak fails to seal F-16 deal after financing row with US: report

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A Pakistani F-16 fighter jet performs in-flight maneuvers. (AFP/File)

A Pakistani F-16 fighter jet performs in-flight maneuvers. (AFP/File)

Islamabad: Pakistan seems to have failed to seal the USD 700 million deal for the purchase of eight F-16 fighter jets from the US following a row between the two countries over their financing, a media report said today.

 

The Pakistani government was required to provide the Letter of Acceptance for purchase of the jets by May 24, but Dawn News reported that the document was not issued leading to expiry of the offer.

“Pakistan decided not to fully fund the case with national funds, so the terms of sale have now expired,” a diplomatic source was quoted as saying by the daily.

However, Pakistan’s Ambassador to US Jalil Abbas Jilani, told the daily that “a dead-end has not been reached as yet”.

Initially, the USD 700 million deal for eight F-16C/D Block-52 multi-role fighters, was to be partially financed through the US Foreign Military Financing (FMF) programme but the Congress disallowed subsidising the sale.

The subsidising was disallowed over concern that Pakistan had not done enough to end the dreaded Haqqani network’s terror sanctuaries on its soil as well as fears over Islamabad’s nuclear programme.

Pakistan, which expected to get the fighters at the subsidised rate of USD 270 million, was subsequently asked by the US administration to make the full payment for the eight aircraft from its national resources.

This was not acceptable to Pakistani authorities, who remained adamant that the offer must come without any preconditions.

The aircraft were required by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) for counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations, the report said.

The jets would have come with “all-weather, non-daylight environments and self-defence/area suppression capability”.

It was unclear why Pakistan missed the opportunity despite pressing requirement for the jets, although it had originally desired to acquire 18 F-16s, the daily said.

Some quarters believe that providing the Letter of Acceptance would have kept the window open for re-negotiating the financing arrangement at a later stage, it said.

Pakistan Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said last month that Pakistan could look to buy the aircraft from some other country if the deal did not go ahead.

He also said earlier this month that Pakistan’s ties with the US had witnessed a “downward slide” amid the row over the Congress’ decision to block the sale of the jets.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had said last week that Pakistan will explore other options to meet its defence needs if the deal for F-16s did not materialise with the US.

Analysts believe Islamabad could consider Russian or Chinese fighters to meet its defence requirements.

(Agencies)

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