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Movie Review: ‘The Legend Of Michael Mishra’ is the most boring & the most disappointing film of the year 2016

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The Legend Of Michael Mishra

Director: Manish Jha
Star Cast: Arshad Warsi, Aditi Rao Hydari, Kyroze Irani & Boman Irani
Music: Meet Bros Anjjan, Som – Raul, Abhinav Bansal, Rishi – Siddharth & Ujjwal – Nikhil

Director Manish Jha in his hat trick outing, his earlier 2 films were Matrubhoomi & Anwar, The Legend of Michael Mishra can easily be termed as the most unforgettable film of this year. So much so that one can’t even pin point one plus point of the film. Right from the captain of the ship with his behind – the – scenes technical team to the on screen actors, including the lead actor Arshad Warsi, have just sleep walked throughout the film. Need I say anything more on this front.

The scripted scenario of The Legend Of Michael Mishra kick starts with FP aka Full Pant (Boman Irani), the owner of Michael Mishra Dhaba, telling a bunch of tourists about the “legendary” greatness of Michael Mishra (Arshad Warsi). FP then, recalls the entire flashback incidents that transformed a simple tailor Michael Mishra into a “tailor – made” Michael Mishra. FP states that, Michael Mishra, when on duty as a tailor, accidentally killed his customer. What follows after that are a series of incidents that transforms the simple Michael Mishra into a dreaded don, who becomes a self confessed “kidnapping specialist”. But when Michael Mishra ultimately finds his lady love Varsha ‘Hello’ Shukla (Aditi Rao Hydari) after years of incessant searching, he plans to change himself into a better human being, at her “insistence”. The very moment he decides to change himself, he surrenders himself before the law, which then, punishes him with an imprisonment of a whopping 500 years, which, later, gets changed to lifetime imprisonment in a ruthless jail. Amidst all this, Michael Mishra’s sidekick Half Pant (Kyroze Irani) stands by him like a rock.

Director Manish Jha has spoilt every thing by displaying his shabby & sloppy directorial treatment as well as scripting the most hackeneyed plot in lieu with his hand in glove partners namely Radhakrishnan & Sneha Nihalani. That apart Manish Jha has seriously failed to extract any noteworthy performance from his artistes. And pray what were a dozen music composers doing in a single film like The Legend of Michael Mishra?

Performance wise even a good actor like Arshad Warsi proves himself as a total failure as the main protagonist of The Legend of Michael Mishra. Oh! What a yawn inducing act he has delivered!!! Aditi Rao Hydari appears to be a total misfit in her role, so how can one expect her to deliver even an iota of a decent act. And the same holds true for Kyroze Irani & Boman Irani.

Tail Piece: The Legend of Michael Mishra is the most boring & the most disappointing film of the year 2016. So a piece de resistence advise to one & all, don’t waste your time, energy & money.

Movie Review: ‘Budhia Singh – Born To Run’ is a realistic, heart warming & heart touching movie

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Budhia Singh - Born To Run

Director: Soumendra Padhi
Star Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, debutant actor Master Mayur Patole, Tillotama Shome, Shruti Marathe & Chhaya Kadam
Music: Sidhant Mathur & Ishaan Chhabra

Debutant director Soumendra Padhi has really tackled the sports genre oriented movie Budhia Singh – Born To Run with finesse. In fact Budhia Singh – Born To Run is an inspirational tale of human spirit, endurance & sacrifice. And giving the director a perfect support are his cast & crew. Hats off to all of them.

The scripted scenario of Budhia Singh – Born To Run kick – starts with a set up of the divine Puri in Bhubaneswar. It is here that the 5 year old Budhia Singh (Mayur Patole) is introduced. He gets sold off to a local merchant by his impoverished mother, for a mere Rs. 650. There enters the “social entrepreneur” Biranchi Das (Manoj Bajpayee), who runs a judo coaching classes for the young albeit orphaned children. When he gets to know about Budhia Singh has been sold off to a man, he rescues Budhia Singh and convinces Budhia Singh’s mother to allow him to be kept with him, while he gets her a job. Delivering a chance punishment to Budhia Singh, makes Biranchi Das discover the former’s “God – gifted” talent to run relentlessly without even an ounce of tiredness. There after he starts coaching Budhia, with a sole aim of creating a world record. And when the news of Budhia’s athletic talents reaches the media, he, not only becomes an overnight sensation, but also the toast of the entire Bhubaneswar state. Biranchi Das gets so very involved in coaching Budhia to become an international marathon star, that he, unintentionally, starts overlooking his own family. And when the non – stop achievements & the records created by the 5 year old Budhia reaches its pinnacle, the Child Welfare Board’s committee members try to bring down Biranchi Das as well as Budhia Singh.

Writer – director Soumendra Padhi really deserves a special mention for his excellent directorial treatment of this real life story in tandem with Manoj Kumar Khatoi as the cinematographer, Sidhant Mathur & Ishaan Chhabra as the music composers & Shivkumar V. Panicker as the editors. The extra special highlight of the film is the picturisation of the marathon run sequences from Puri to Bhabuneshwar.

Performance wise the 2 pillars of the film are Manoj Bajpayee as the coach Biranchi Das & debutant Master Mayur Patole as the main protagonist Buddhia Singh. Both of them are simply outstanding. In fact Master Mayur Patole really steals the hearts of the cinegoers. He literally lives the role by getting into the skin of his character Buddia Singh. Manoj Bajpayee the seasoned actor has once again proves that he can sink his teeth into any character than be it a homosexual or a coach. No doubt that both Manoj & Mayur complement each other with a perfect & bang on chemistry. And lending the duo an adequate support are the other actors like Tillotama Shome, Shruti Marathe, Chhaya Kadam et al.

Tail Piece: Budhia Singh – Born To Run is a realistic, heart warming & heart touching movie. But this National Award film will surely score on the Box Office turnstiles in the long run.

Kashmir trust asks Karnataka government ‘not to play politics’ over Amnesty event

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amnesty-international

Bengaluru: The Kashmiri Hindu Cultural Welfare Trust on Sunday asked the Karnataka government “not to play politics” over the incident in which anti-India and anti-Army slogans were raised at an event organised by Amnesty International.

Chairman of the Trust R K Mattoo said those who shouted ‘Azadi’ and anti-national slogans should be identified and booked under the law to prevent such incidents in future.

“I appeal to government of Karnataka not to play politics in this as the whole incident is of national security and anti-national forces raising their heads. Nip the evil in the bud please and do not allow this to spread to other parts of our dear nation …Have a Heart and do not play politics,” he said.

“Interestingly, the Karnataka government has chosen to give a clean chit to Amnesty International even as a probe into the sedition charges (following an FIR by the ABVP) is underway,” he added. On Saturday, the state Home Minister G Parameshwara had said Amnesty International India has never involved itself in any kind of anti-national activities. “… I have not heard of Amnesty International being involved in any seditious activity so far,” he had said.

Mattoo said Amnesty International should come out openly and condemn the “slogan shouting at the function organised by them and own the responsibility for the same… It (Amnesty) cannot take shelter under freedom of speech and at the same time ignore the responsibilities under the Constitution.”

Mattoo, a Kashmiri Pandit, accused Amnesty International of being selective in its protest against human rights violation and urged the NGO to publish a report on the “human rights violations and atrocities perpetrated by Lashkar-e- Taiba, Hijbul Mujahideen and its followers like Burhan Wani.” “Their reports should focus on the Sikhs under threat by separatists in the Valley and the victims in Shopian incident, where more than 2,000 Kashmiri Pandit employees were tortured and forced to flee and their reports should reflect on the bloodbath and terror unleashed by separatists in the Valley,” he said.

He also demanded “imposition of ban on Amnesty International in India which has till date focused only on so-called human rights violations by armed forces inKashmir and totally ignoring killings of Kashmiri Pandits, security forces and role of terrorists in the valley.”

(Agencies)

Urjit Patel named new RBI governor

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Urjit Patel

Dr. Urjit Patel has been appointed the new RBI Governor. His appointment should be perceived as a continuity of monetary policy approach as Dr. Patel has been the RBI deputy governor under Dr. Rajan and key author of the Urjit Patel Committee report (on which India’s flexible inflation targeting monetary policy framework is based). Dr. Patel, an economist from Yale University, has served at IMF and in various corporate & government roles in his professional life. Over the next few weeks, the government will also constitute the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) wherein policy decisions will be taken based on the committee’s majority view.

Once the MPC is set up, one needs to monitor 2 things. First, how the MPC reads the CPI mandate of 2-6% range and will there be any change in the glide path to 4% target by January 2018. Second, the committee’s stance on the 1.5-2.0% real rates objective which the central bank has been following over the past 3 years. Both these will be crucial in assessing the future scope of monetary easing. For now, we continue to maintain our expectation of another 50bps easing in balance FY17.

Dr. Urjit Patel: Brief profile
Current position: RBI deputy governor in charge of monetary policy since January 2013.

Educational background: PhD from Yale University and M.Phil from Oxford University.

Key beliefs on economic policy: Author of the Monetary Policy report which recommended flexible inflation targeting policy with headline CPI of 4 +/-2% as target. He has been a strong proponent of continued fiscal consolidation. Monetary policy stance is likely to be a continuation of the current one.

Past professional experience: Worked at IMF from 1990-1995. From 1995-2004, he has worked with RBI and Government of India in various high level committees. From 2004-13, he has served various corporates such as Advisor, Boston Consulting Group, IDFC, Reliance, etc. Deputy Governor since January 2013.

Key things to monitor going ahead
Monetary Policy Committee: A committee of 6 members will be set up to take policy decisions based on majority. The governor will carry the decisive vote in case of a tie.

Change in CPI glide path of 4% target by January 2018: RBI’s current policy targets CPI inflation of 4% by January 2018. One would need to monitor MPC’s stance on the same and how it reads the 2-6% CPI target.

Real interest rates: Over, the past 3 years RBI has tried to maintain 1.5-2% real interest rates. One needs to see if this will be continued or will there be some relaxation.

Chouhan’s draws criticism, ridicule over flood picture

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Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has drawn flak and ridicule for a photograph showing him being lifted by security personnel to cross a swollen nullah in the state’s Panna district to meet flood-hit people there, with the Opposition Congress saying it reflected his “feudal mindset”.

The picture, which has gone viral on internet with netizens taking pot-shots at the BJP leader, was issued yesterday by the State Public Relations department after his visit to the rain-ravaged district but was later withdrawn.

MP Congress chief Arun Yadav said Chouhan’s “photo-stunt” for cheap publicity had backfired but Principal Secretary S K Mishra contended that the Chief Minister was a ‘Z’ security protectee and the security personnel had to ensure that he is not bitten by any poisonous animal in the flood waters.

“Chouhan in a bid to garner cheap publicity has indulged in this photo stunt. Instead of mitigating the problems of flood-hit people in Panna and other parts, the Chief Minister has himself become a problem for people (security personnel),” Congress leader Arun Yadav said.

He said that the “real face” of Chief Minister has been exposed in the photo. “Now people know him well. We seek his resignation over the photo, depicting his feudal mindset,” the Congress leader said.

In social media, social activist Ajay Dubey posted the photo of Chief Minister being lifted by security personnel with a caption “I am a prince”.

Dubey took a dig at Chouhan saying the picture has revived memories of feudalism.

Reacting to the photo, one Sachin Jain posted “Liability, isn’t it”.

Likewise, journalist Abhilash Khandekar, who had written Chouhan’s biography, has reacted to the photo commenting it as “Inhuman.Indecent”.

When a senior officer of State Public Relations Department was asked about the photo release, he said the picture was released by their Panna office to media houses and not by Bhopal office.

However, it was withdrawn yesterday evening itself, he added.

Meanwhile, defending Chouhan, the Principal Secretarysaid the CM was having ‘Z’ security cover prompting his security personnel to lift him to ensure that any poisonous animal in water doesn’t bite him.

“Nothing should be read into it,” Mishra told PTI.

“Chouhan in fact risked his life to cross the swollen nullah. He is too sensitive to people’s problems. He is meeting people affected by flood round-the-clock. We should appreciate his concern, sensitivity for the people rather taking it the other way round,” Mishra said.

(PTI)

International Agribusiness Congress 2016 held in Bengaluru

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FKCCI

As many of you would be aware, the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry known as FKCCI is the apex body in the State of Karnataka for Industry, Trade and Services. This was founded by none other than Bharat Ratna Sir M V who was a genius engineer and a great visionary. FKCCI has just completed its 100 years of successful journey and I was elected to take over as the 100th President of this iconic organization with effect from 1st July this year. It is now my responsibility to steer this organization to adapt itself to convert the challenges into opportunities. The Federation should continue to act as a spokesperson for Trade, Industry & Commerce and be a trusted partner of the Government and provide timely inputs to policy making by the State as well as at the Centre.

In this direction, I will assure you that me and my team have started well in earnest and in the very first month, we were able to organize a major event on Income Declaration Scheme 2016 which was attended by the Finance Minister of India, Shri.ArunJaitely. We collaborated with the Income Tax Department in organizing the event.

This month we are partnering with the Media Today Group in organizing the AgriTech Exhibition and Congress at BIEC from 26th to 28th August 2016.

Next week, I am visiting United States to participate in the AKKA World Conference. I am delighted to inform you that I have been invited as a Special Dignitary by the President of The Association of Kannada Kootas of America (AKKA) who will be organizing the 9th World Kannada Conference in Atlantic City, USA from 2nd to 4thSeptember 2016. The President of the Association has requested me to lead a Delegation from Karnataka to participate in the Conference.Apart from participating in the Business Forum and speak on various Business and Investment opportunities in Karnataka, the following issues would also be discussed:

1. FKCCI which is the apex Trade and Industry Body in the State of Karnataka would honour an NRI personality from Karnataka who has contributed significantly for the economic development of his mother State.

2. FKCCI would be the main facilitator of investments into Karnataka by the NRIs from Karnataka. FKCCI would particularly provide a platform for promoting Cross-Border entrepreneurship. The Start-Ups from Karnataka to be incubated in the US would be an objective.

3. AKKA in collaboration with TiE would explore the possibility of setting up an Invest Karnataka Fund and FKCCI would facilitate in identifying suitable opportunities for investments.

As I mentioned, Sir M Visvesvaraya, our founder was born on 15th September. To express our gratitude, we celebrate his Birthday as the Founder’s Day and we confer a Sir M V Memorial Award on a great personality who has contributed to the economic development of Karnataka and who has also excelled in philanthropy. Our Awardees include Shri.N.R.Narayana Murthy, Ms.KiranMazumdar Shah, Shri.AzimPremji, Shri.NandanNilakeni and others. This year the award is being conferred upon Dr.M.K.PandurangaSetty who is a well-known industrialist, more importantly an educationist, Rotarian and an intense philanthropist who has believed in giving back to the Society.

Let me share with you yet another great event we are preparing for. Shri.NarendraModiJi, our dynamic Prime Minister who made us remember that we are proud Indians has agreed in principle to inaugurate our Federation’s Sir M V National Economic Conference. The convenient dates are awaited from the PMO and we are hopeful that it will be at the end of October or the beginning of November this year. It will be a large event where we would have decision makers as speakers who would deliberate on topics such as Re-Designing the financial infrastructure of India to meet global challenges, Policy measures to make India a ten trillion dollar economy. We would keep you informed of further details.

As I mentioned, we have just completed our first century of existence. Traversing one hundred years successfully is a great thing for any organization. To commemorate the success, we are building a Centenary Auditorium Complex, just behind this Heritage Building. It would have a large auditorium with a seating capacity of around 300 and 8 different Halls / Conference Rooms that would facilitate capacity building programs, workshops, Seminars, Skill Development Programs and more importantly, house the Sir M V Economic Research Centre that would take up issues of practical importance in the field of Industry, Commerce and Economy.

I would like to mention here that Shri.SiddaramaiahJi, our beloved Chief Minister is appreciative of the significant role played by the Federation in promoting the economic development of the State by various programs including creating Tax Awareness, Tax compliance, Skill Development, Policy inputs etc., and has granted Rupees ten crores for the Centenary Auditorium Project. Apart from, training, Capacity Building and Research, the Auditorium complex provides facilities for business development at the Centre of Bengaluru.

We would also be organizing a Green Summit sometime around February – March next year. Green Summit is now a brand of FKCCI and the event will showcase energy related products, technologies and important issues will be discussed at Seminars during the event.

Many of you would be aware, that the PravasiBharatiya Divas is being organized by the Central Government in Bengaluru from 7th to 9th January 2017 in collaboration with the State Government of Karnataka. This is a major event wherein 5000 to 6000 NRIs are expected to participate. Around that time, FKCCI is planning to organize a Tourism related event that would showcase various products from Karnataka, diverse culinary delicacies, so that the whole of Bengaluru could turn itself to welcome the visitors and create a festive ambience making it a shopper’s paradise. We want to promote Tourism and for every visitor we want to make it an enjoyable experience.

We are also interested in organizing a major event centering around education. Karnataka is the hub of higher educational facilities. We would like to gather all the stake holders not only from within the State but, from outside the State and from abroad so that the opportunities available could be projected in an optimal manner to promote further collaborative efforts in this field.

Similarly, Karnataka has been an important Centre for the manufacture of parts and sub-assemblies for the aerospace industry. However, defence industry is also interested in developing innovation and also to procure products from MSMEs in Karnataka. Boeing and Airbus are also interested to source their products from Karnataka. Accordingly, we would like to organize a Vendor Development Program that would be of mutual benefit.

In the field of ITBT, Karnataka has been a pioneer. The eco-system that has been created has served the sector well so far. We need to get geared up for the Internet of Things (IoT) and for further development in this sector to ensure investments, innovation and job creation. We are going to organize an event to give fillip to our objectives.

We are also coordinating efforts for Skill Development programs which will be taken across to all Districts in Karnataka. Health facilities to reach out to the nooks and corners of the States would be possible through telemedicine. Bricks and mortar facilities need a lot of funding and a large number of trained personnel. We are collaborating with a large telemedicine company to create the necessary infrastructure so that the delivery of healthcare could be built on this platform.

The Federation, over the decades has been organizing several of our flagship events that include MANTHAN, a talent nourishing event where college students are encouraged to come up with viable business models. We have Export Excellence Awards event, Innovation Awards Event and many such. All these would continue but, with greater vigor.

My ambition is to make FKCCI an internationally known credible organization. We would like to make the Federation known for its intellectual inputs including research on practical economic issues affecting the State. More importantly, it should be an effective spokesman and a bridge between the Government and Trade, Services & Industry. We would like the Federation to have a significant digital presence, active through the social media and leverage technology to identify and deliver programs and facilities for the benefit of the members.

Friends, this is only the beginning. I would be keen to meet and interact with you at regular intervals. I would be available for you at any time you want. If you have any queries, seek any comments or want to suggest anything to me, you are most welcome.

Death for two, life term for another in Jigisha murder case

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Jigisha murder case

New Delhi: A Delhi court today awarded death penalty to two convicts and life term to another for robbing and killing IT executive Jigisha Ghosh here in 2009, observing that it was a “brutal” and “cold blooded murder”.

“To be hanged by neck till death,” Additional Sessions Judge Sandeep Yadav said, while awarding death to convicts Ravi Kapoor and Amit Shukla.

The judge also observed that gruesome crimes against women were on the rise and any leniency to the criminals would send a wrong message to society.

“The offence was committed in a brutal, cold blooded and cruel manner. The victim was helpless and remained in captivity for hours and the convicts brutally mauled her to death. It was an uncivilised act done in a barbaric manner.

“The magnitude and brutality of the crime makes it fall in the category of rarest of rare,” the judge said.

Besides Ravi and Amit, the court sentenced Baljeet to life imprisonment.

28-year-old Jigisha, working as an operations manager in a management consultancy firm, was abducted and killed on March 18, 2009 after she was dropped by her office cab around 4 AM near her home in Vasant Vihar area of South Delhi.

Her body was recovered three days later from a place near Surajkund in Haryana, police had said.

While awarding death penalty, the court said according to the pre-sentencing report (PSR), there was “no scope for Ravi Kapoor and Amit Shukla to reform”.

As per the report, Baljeet’s conduct was normal and there was no complaint against him and he was not a threat to society.

The court also imposed a total fine of Rs nine lakh on the three convicts, who were present at the hearing, out of which Rs six lakh is to be given to the victim’s family as compensation.

It also said this amount was not adequate and asked the legal aid authority to decide appropriate compensation for the victim’s family.

“The pain, agony and trauma of victim’s parents cannot be compensated,” the court observed.

The court had on July 14 convicted the three men, saying it was “abundantly clear” that they had committed the crime.

The court had said it was proved that the three convicts had abducted Jigisha, robbed her of her gold chain, two mobile phones, two rings, debit and credit cards and killed her.

The court had on August 20 reserved the order on sentence after the arguments concluded and a PSR was submitted by probationary officer.

While seeking death sentence for the convicts, Special Public Prosecutor Rajiv Mohan had argued that they abducted Jigisha, robbed her, killed her and used her debit card for shopping, and a CCTV footage of their shopping showed they had no remorse for their act.

Advocate Amit Kumar, appearing for convicts Baljeet and Amit Shukla, had argued that his clients have already spent over seven years in jail and maintained good conduct.

The counsel for convict Ravi Kapoor sought leniency for his client, saying he was suffered from a life-threatening disease and belonged to a poor family.

The police had filed the charge sheet in the case in June 2009 and trial began on April 15, 2010.

Recovery of the weapon allegedly used in Jigisha’s murder had led to the cracking of the murder case of Soumya Vishwanathan, who was a journalist with a news channel.

Soumya was shot dead on September 30, 2008 while she was returning home in her car from office in the wee hours.

Police had claimed robbery as the motive behind the killing of both Jigisha and Soumya.

The accused had used Jigisha’s ATM card to buy expensive goggles, wrist watches and shoes from Sarojini Nagar market in South Delhi, police had said.

(PTI)

Sindhu gets rousing welcome, Telangana govt felicitates her

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P.V. Sindhu

Hyderabad: Amidst scenes of jubilation and a sense of pride, Olympics silver medallist P V Sindhu was today accorded a rousing welcome on her arrival to home town and felicitated by Telangana government for her stupendous performance at Rio Games.

The 21-year-old, who landed with her coach Pullela Gopichand, was received at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport by her parents P V Ramana and P Vijaya, some Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Ministers, amidst cheers from crowds.

A beaming Sindhu, displaying her silver medal and waving to the crowds, was then taken in a open-top-motorcade along with Gopichand to Gachibowli Stadium, where the government felicitated her along with her coach in the presence of a capacity crowd.

Sports-lovers and fans, particularly school children, some with national flags in their hands waved to Sindhu at several road junctions along the route to the stadium where excitement was in the air.

School children held banners hailing the badminton star, who caught the imagination of the country with her superb run at Rio. They raised slogans such as ‘P V Sindhu Pride of India’, and many of them also showered flower petals on the motorcade.

A celebratory mood prevailed at the stadium, where an enthusiastic crowd, mostly school and college students, welcomed her amid beating of drums by traditional ‘Dappu’ dance artistes.

“I never expected such a huge turn-out; it made my day,” said a smiling Sindhu, overwhelmed by the huge reception.

“Thanks for the support and blessings. I thank my Guru (P Gopichand)…my parents, who supported and motivated me. I would like to thank everyone,” she said at the felicitation event, attended by her parents, Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mohd Mahmood Ali and IT Minister K T Rama Rao, among others.

Gopichand thanked the Telangana government for its support and for announcing rewards.

Praising the two Indian medal winners at Rio, he said, “Hats off to the women (Sindhu and grappler Sakshi Malik) for actually saving the respect of India in front of the whole world.”

“It’s huge support from the government and also for financial rewards. It is unprecedented. I am sure this will inspire and help in preparing lot of champions and lot more sportspersons,” Gopichand said.

Rama Rao told Sindhu’s parents that they should be proud of her as she has now become “daughter of India”, and announced that the government would come out with a new sports policy after holding consultations with Gopichand and other Arjun awardees.

There is a need to prepare a comprehensive plan for future Olympics, the minister said.

Speakers at the event praised the efforts and sacrifices made by Sindhu’s coach and her parents for her success at the international level.

The Telangana government had earlier announced Rs five crore cash reward for the 21-year-old, a 1,000 square yard housing site near the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Gachibowli and suitable government job, if she is willing, and a cash prize of Rs one crore for Gopichand.

(PTI)

Syria’s civil war: ‘Last hospital in Daraya bombed’

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Only remaining civilian hospital in besieged Damascus suburb hit with incendiary weapons, activists say.

Incendiary weapons have been used at least 18 times in six weeks, HRW says [Al Jazeera]

Incendiary weapons have been used at least 18 times in six weeks, HRW says [Al Jazeera]

by Al Jazeera

Syrian government forces have bombed the last remaining civilian hospital in the besieged Damascus suburb of Daraya, according to activists, who say an incendiary weapon similar to napalm was used.

Government forces dropped the bombs on the hospital shortly after midnight on Friday morning, according to activists and the Britain-based Syrian Network for Human Rights.

“The hospital … which was providing a humanitarian service to the civilians in the city is being targeted by internationally banned weapons. Everyone is standing by silently and watching,” said one doctor from Daraya in a video purported to have been shot outside the hospital shortly after it was hit.

This video, published on the local Daraya council’s YouTube page, is said to show the immediate aftermath of the attack on the hospital. Al Jazeera could not independently verify the footage.

The hospital was the only medical facility available to 8,000 civilians in the besieged suburb, which was hit with incendiary bombs for three straight days earlier this week, according to the local council.

Incendiary weapons start fires and cause horrific burns much like those inflicted by the napalm dropped from US planes during the Vietnam War.

Incendiary weapons are not entirely banned. While there is an international agreement forbidding their use in areas with a heavy civilian presence, it has only been signed by 113 countries. Russia has signed up to the agreement, known as Protocol III of the Convention of Conventional Weapons, but Syria has not.

Daraya, a rebel-held suburb of the capital, has witnessed some of the heaviest bombings of the war, and has been under siege since 2012.

Incendiary uptick

Earlier this week, the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused Syrian government forces and their Russian allies of repeatedly using incendiary weapons against civilians in rebel-held parts of northern Syria.

“Incendiary weapons have been used at least 18 times over the past six weeks, including attacks on the opposition-held areas in the cities of Aleppo and Idlib on August 7, 2016,” the rights group said in a report published on Tuesday.

Photographs and videos recorded by the group at the time of the attacks indicated that there were incendiary weapon attacks on opposition-held areas in the Aleppo and Idlib provinces between June 5 and August 10.

“Countries meeting at the Convention on Conventional Weapons in Geneva on August 29 should condemn the use of air-dropped incendiary weapons … and press Syria and Russia to immediately stop using incendiary weapons in civilian areas,” HRW said.

Shortly after Russian militarily intervened in Syria’s civil war on behalf of embattled President Bashar al-Assad last autumn, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov wrote a letter to HRW, saying that incendiary weapons were being used in Syria and that their “improper use” had caused “significant humanitarian damage”.

The letter did not specify which side had used them.

Bangalore blast: Prime accused Mohammed Ali Khan of Al-Umma arrested

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malleswaram-blast

Bengaluru: Mohammed Ali Khan, the founding member of Al-Umma, a banned terrorist organisation, and prime accused in a 2013 bomb blast near BJP office in Bengaluru, has been arrested.

Khan (45) was arrested from Sathyamangalam in Erode district of Tamil Nadu on August 15 where he was in hiding, police said.

They said Khan was allegedly involved in planning the Malleswaram bomb blast on April 17, 2013 and had also supplied explosive materials for it. At least 16 people, including 11 policemen, were injured in the blast near the bustling Karnataka BJP office in a crowded residential area ahead of the state assembly election.

The bomb was strapped to a motorbike parked between a van and a car.

Khan was earlier convicted in the 1998 serial blasts at a Coimbatore rally of veteran BJP leader LK Advani in which about 50 people had died. Accused of supplying materials in this case, he was sentenced to life imprisonment but was released in 2010 after serving 12 years sentence. Involved in several terror acts carried out by Al-Umma, Khan had gone into hiding after the Malleshwaram blast, police said.

Stressing that there are 20 accused in the Malleswaram blast case and 17 have been arrested so far, officials said Khan has been taken to police custody and an investigation is underway.

(Agencies)

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