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Squash star offers to sell kidney to represent India at South Asian Games

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Ravi Dixit

New Delhi: In an incident holding a mirror at the sorry plight of Indian athletes, an Indian squash player Ravi Dixit, who won gold at the 2010 Asian junior championship, is struggling to fund his campaign for next month’s South Asian Games, to the extent that the player has offered to sell his kidney.

Bogged down by lack of support and financial paucity, the 20-year-old posted on FB that he was willing to sell his kidney for Rs 8 lac in order to support his career.

“I have been playing squash for the last 10 years. Even after winning so many medals and representing India so many times, I do not get any support to take my squash to the national and international levels. Next month, the games are starting in Guwahati and I am representing India. To prepare, I am training in Chennai but I have not been able to arrange enough money to fund my campaign. I have lost my determination. I am ready to sell my kidney. If anyone needs a kidney, they can contact me.

The price of my kidney is Rs 8 lakh,” Dixit wrote in a post on Sunday.

Dixit’s father Ramkailash Dixit is worried about his son’s plans and stated that Ravi’s squash winnings had helped him to get his daughter married.

Speaking to a national daily, Ramkailash Dixit said that Ravi could hardly utilise what he bagged for himself because he has responsibility of the family.

“Together we will figure a way out, but it is sad that a player had to think of such means to support himself.” Ramkailash said.

(Agencies)

Pakistan submits initial findings, ISI joins probe on Pathankot attack

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Pathankot

Islamabad: Pakistan on Monday submitted to India its initial findings on alleged Pakistani links to the Pathankot terror attack saying that the telephone numbers given by India were not registered in Pakistan, a news report here said.

A Joint Investigation Team, formed following a directive of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, submitted the initial findings on the alleged Pakistani links to the terrorist attack on the Indian Air Force station in Punjab’s Pathankot district earlier this month.

“According to sources close to the development, the investigation report has been handed over to Indian authorities,” The News International said.

It said Indian authorities provided Pakistan details of telephonic conversations that terrorists, believed to be Pakistanis, had had with their handlers and family members from the air base.

According to the Indian authorities, the terrorists who sneaked into Punjab and attacked the IAF base on January 2 were affiliated to the proscribed outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad.

The report quoted unnamed sources as saying that the telephone numbers given by India were not registered in Pakistan.

“The investigation agencies were further investigating (leads) pertaining to Pathankot attackers,” it said.

A media report on Monday said Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence were helping probe the suspected Pakistani link to the terror attack on the IAF base.

The ISI, the Military Intelligence and the Intelligence Bureau were part of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed following a directive of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the Express Tribune reported.

The decision to form the JIT was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Sharif “a few days ago”, it said.

Pakistani news reports on Friday had said that Sharif directed the Intelligence Bureau to probe the leads provided by New Delhi on the alleged Pakistani links to the January 2 terror attack in Punjab.

The pre-dawn attack on the Indian Air Force (IAF) station killed seven security personnel. Security forces killed all six attackers who were said to have sneaked into Punjab from Pakistan.

“Nawaz (Sharif) is taking an active role in getting to the bottom of the Pathankot incident,” a source in the Prime Minister’s House was quoted as saying.

“He (Sharif) also discussed the issue with army chief Gen Raheel Sharif and took him on board about the decision to form a JIT,” it added.

India has provided Islamabad “actionable information” on the terrorists’ alleged Pakistani links. New Delhi wants Sharif to crack down on those who planned the audacious terrorist attack.

After the terror attack, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif promised his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi that his government will act on information provided by New Delhi on the terrorists’ alleged Pakistani links.

“Nawaz (Sharif) has assured his Indian counterpart (Narendra Modi) that Pakistan will investigate the matter and make the results public,” the report said.

But Pakistani officials have told their media that the information given by India was not enough and may not stand scrutiny in a court of law.

The News International quoted “highly placed diplomatic sources” as saying that the foreign secretary-level talks between Pakistan and India could be deferred by New Delhi as there was no information so far about the visit of the Indian foreign secretary for the January 15 talks in Islamabad.

“It is likely that India would notify the postponement at the eleventh hour some time next week,” the daily said.

No communication has taken place between Islamabad and New Delhi on the foreign secretary-level talks since the Pathankot attack, it said.

Pakistan does not want the foreign secretary-level talks to get derailed as they were expected to pave the way for a comprehensive composite dialogue covering all outstanding disputes, including Kashmir, it added.

(IANS)

Bypolls to 12 Assembly seats in eight States on February 13

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(AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

(AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

New Delhi: Three constituencies each in U.P and Karnataka and one each in Punjab, Maharashtra, Bihar, Tripura, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh will go to polls; counting on February 16.

The Election Commission on Tuesday announced bypolls to 12 Assembly constituencies in eight States, including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Karnataka and Maharashtra, to be held on February 13, 2016.

Muzzafarnagar, Deoband and Bikapur in U.P., Devadurga, Bidar and Hebbal in Karnataka, Khadoor Sahib in Punjab, Palghar in Maharashtra, Harlakhee in Bihar, Amarpur in Tripura, Narayankhed in Telangana and Maihar in Madhya Pradesh are the constituencies going to polls on February 13.

The notification will be issued on January 20, while January 27 will be the last date of filing nominations. While candidates can withdraw from the electoral race till January 30, the polls will be held on February 13, a Saturday.

Counting will be held on February 16, the EC said.

All the three seats in U.P. were held by the ruling Samajwadi Party. The Devadurga seat in Karnataka was held by the ruling Congress, while Bidar and Hebbal were held by the BJP.

The Khadoor Sahib seat in Punjab was held by the Congress, while Harlakhee in Bihar was held by the RLSP. In Tripura’s Amarpur, the bypoll was necessitated after the CPI(M) expelled its sitting MLA M. Acharjee who later resigned from the Assembly in December 2015.

The bypoll to Palghar in Maharashtra was due since June 2015 but the EC could not move ahead as an election petition was pending. The seat was with the Shiv Sena.

The Narayankhed seat in Telangana and Maihar seat in Madhya Pradesh were held by the Congress.

(PTI)

Australia beat India by five wickets to win first ODI

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Cricket-Australia

Perth: India posted a massive 309/3 in 50 overs against hosts Australia in the opening game of the five-match One-Day International (ODI) series at the WACA Ground here on Tuesday.

Opener Rohit Sharma (171 not out) slammed a superb century while Virat Kohli (91) gave him good support to help team post a challenging total.

(IANS)

SC stays Centre’s notification allowing Jallikattu

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Jallikattu. Photo Source.

Jallikattu. Photo Source.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today stayed the Centre’s notification lifting ban on controversial bull taming sport Jallikattu during the festival of Pongal in Tamil Nadu.

“As an interim measure, we direct that there shall be stay of notification dated January 7, 2016 issued by Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF),” a bench comprising justices Dipak Misra and N V Ramana said.

The bench also issued notice to the MoEF and Tamil Nadu on petitions filed by various bodies including Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) seeking striking down of the Centre’s notification and sought their replies within four weeks.

Earlier during the day, a bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur referred the petitions to the present bench as one of the judges Justice Banumathi, who hails from Tamil Nadu, recused from hearing the batch of petitions.

The Centre’s notification lifting ban on Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu was challenged in the Supreme Court yesterday by AWBI, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India and a Bangalore-based NGO.

The four-year-old ban on holding of Jallikattu was lifted on January 8 by the Modi government in poll-bound Tamil Nadu with certain restrictions.

The decision to allow Jallikattu along with bullock cart races in other parts of the country, had come through a government notification despite strong objections by animal rights groups.

Jallikattu also known Eruthazhuvuthal is a bull taming sport played in Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebrations on Mattu Pongal day.

In its notification, the Centre had said, “…Central Government, hereby specifies that following animals shall not be exhibited or trained as performing animals with effect from the date of publication of this notification, namely bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers, lions and bulls.”

“Provided that bulls may be continued to be exhibited or trained as a performing animal, at events such as Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu and bullock cart races in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana, Kerala and Gujarat in the manner by customs of any community or practiced traditionally,” it had said.

However, the Centre had also put some conditions, saying bullock cart race shall be organised on a proper track, which shall not exceed two kilometres.

In case of Jallikattu, the moment the bull leaves the enclosure, it shall be tamed within a radial distance of 15 metres and it should also be ensured that bulls are put to proper testing by authorities of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department to ensure that they are in good physical condition to participate in the event.

Performance enhancement drugs are not to be administered to the bulls, the notification had said.

The use of bulls in performances was banned by the UPA government in 2011 on the ground that the sport ended in cruelty to the animals.

(Agencies)

Women India Movement launched with a commitment to lead social change

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sdpi

Bengaluru: The Women India Movement-WIM held its launching ceremony at Indian Social Institute-ISI Bangalore has been attended by women representatives from different states.

The objective of the organization is to take action through grassroots activism to promote social, educational and political awareness among women, lead social change, eliminate discrimination, achieve equal representation and protect the rights and security of all women and girls in all aspects of social, political and economic life.

A national level committee of the organization has been elected for the term 2016-18 and this new leadership has been entrusted with the mission of empowering women by all means.

SDPI National President A Sayeed in his speech said, it is the need of the hour that women have come up with such a strong platform wherein they owe to lead social change in the country. It is time that women come forward, stand up for their rights and empower themselves in order bring about a revolutionary and fundamental change in the society.

While addressing the gathering, SDPI Founder President E Abubacker said, we do see a little India here as women from across the country are assembled here. This demonstrates their commitment on how serious are they about their empowerment. As we see that the fascist forces who got enthroned through the loopholes of our democracy are recklessly determined to exploit and enslave people by their agenda of hatred and communal terror. This enables us to step-up our democratic struggle to liberate our beloved country and I believe Women India Movement will play its vital role in achieving it, said Abubacker.

The newly elected President Yasmin Farooqui said, the movement is meant to mobilize and utilize women’s potential for the development of the society. Women should be involved in community development services and spread the need of political awareness for the attainment of our rights and dignity. We resolve to prepare sisters to face and tackle grievous issues and challenges in the society like harassment, domestic violence, sexual assaults and such other atrocious problems, said Yasmin Farooqui.

The Central Committee elected Office Bearers for the term 2016-18. Yasmin Farooqui from Jaipur has been elected as President, Sufiya Parveen from West Bengal as Vice President, Shahida Tasleem from M’lore as General Secretary, Sitara Begum from Kota Rajasthan, Adv Saira Banu from Tamil Nadu and Daisy Balasubramanyam from Kerala as Secretaries and Tarana Sharfuddin from Kanpur UP as Treasurer.

SDPI National Vice Presidents Samkutty Jacob, Prof. Naznin Begum and Adv. Sharfuddin Ahamad, National General Secretaries Elyas Muhammad Thumbe, Afsar Pasha, Mohammed Shafi, M.K. Faizy, National Coordinator of Women India Movement Abdul Majeed Faizy, All India Imams Council President Moulana Usman Baig and several other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

Golden Globes: ‘The Revenant’, ‘The Martian’ named best films

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martin-revenant

Los Angeles: “The Martian” was named the best motion picture – musical or comedy at the 73rd Golden Globe Awards ceremony, where “The Revenant” was adjudged the best motion picture – drama, and won the best actor’s trophy for Leonardo DiCaprio and best director award for Alejandro Inarritu.

“The Revenant”, set in 1823 Montana and South Dakota, and was inspired by the experiences of frontiersman and fur trapper Hugh Glass, was in competition in the best motion picture – drama category with “Carol”, which was leading this year’s nomination pack for the Golden Globes. Other contenders were “Mad Max: Fury Road”, “Room” and “Spotlight”.

The movie features DiCaprio as Hugh Glass, the protagonist left for dead by his fellow hunters. His effortless portrayal led him to beat fellow nominees Will Smith (“Concussion”), Michael Fassbender (“Steve Jobs”), Eddie Redmayne (“The Danish Girl”) and Bryan Cranston (“Trumbo”).

In the best director’s category, AIAAirritu was competing with the likes of Todd Haynes (“Carol”), George Miller (“Mad Max:Fury Road”), Tom McCarthy (“Spotlight”) and Ridley Scott (“The Martian”).

However, apart from winning the best motion picture – musical or comedy, Scott’s “The Martian” won an honour for Matt Damon, whose performance in the movie was named the best by an actor in a musical or comedy motion picture.

Among the actress in the same category, it was Jennifer Lawrence who walked away with the laurels for “Joy”. Meanwhile, the best performance by an actress in a motion picture – drama honour was given to Brie Larson for “Room”.

The best screenplay – motion picture award was won by Aaron Sorkin for “Steve Jobs”; best original score – motion picture went to Ennio Morricone for “The Hateful Eight”; and the best original song – motion picture award was taken home by Sam Smith for “Writing’s on the wall” for James Bond film “Spectre”.

The 73rd Golden Globe Awards ceremony, hosted as the ‘biggest party of the year’ by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, saw Hollywood’s creme de la creme. The occasion saw the prestigious Cecil B. DeMille Award being bestowed on actor Denzel Washington.

(Agencies)

Aid convoys take off for besieged Syria towns

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Starving residents of Madaya, Foua and Kefraya – towns encircled by government or rebel groups – wait for food supplies.

Madaya Syria

by Al Jazeera

Aid convoys have departed for besieged Syrian towns where thousands are trapped and people are reported to have died of starvation.

Trucks headed for Madaya, near the Lebanese border, and two villages in the northwest of the country on Monday, the Red Cross said, as part of an agreement between rival sides.

The vehicles were to simultaneously enter rebel-held Madaya, which has been blockaded for months by pro-government forces and where aid agencies have warned of widespread starvation, and Foua and Kefraya in Idlib province, which are encircled by rebel groups, including the al-Nusra Front.

The blockade of Madaya has become a focal issue for Syrian opposition leaders who told a UN envoy last week they will not take part in talks with the government until it and other sieges are lifted.

A Reuters witness said dozens more ICRC-marked trucks were also preparing to depart from Damascus for Madaya. Vehicles heading for Foua and Kefraya, nearly 300km away, had departed earlier.

The UN said on Thursday that the Syrian government had agreed to allow access to Madaya, where the world body says there have been credible reports of people dying of starvation.

The ongoing Syrian conflict started as a largely unarmed uprising against President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011, but morphed into a full-blown civil war that has killed more than 250,000 people and turned more than 4.3 million others into refugees, according to statistics by the UN.

Blockades have been a common feature of the nearly five-year-old conflict.

An estimated 400,000 people are living under siege in 15 areas across Syria, according to the UN.

The UN reported in December that the Syrian government and allied militias had also placed under siege more than 181,000 people in the Damascus outskirts, including Daraya and Ghouta, as well as in Zabadani, near the Lebanon border.

Separately, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group has imposed a siege on more than 200,000 in Deir Az Zor in Syria’s east.

Sharif Nashashibi, a London-based analyst of Arab political affairs, says that government-imposed sieges “don’t just wear down the fighters, it also causes them to see the population around them suffering and raises the concern that the population could turn against them”.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Nashashibi added: “Besieging Syrian civilians is wrong, whoever the perpetrator. One cannot be selective in one’s outrage over the suffering of Syrian civilians and plausibly claim to have a moral compass.”

The areas included in the latest agreement were all part of a local ceasefire deal agreed in September, but implementation has been halting.

The last aid delivery to Madaya, which took place in October, was synchronised with a similar delivery to the two villages.

Juliette Touma, a spokesperson for the UN children’s agency UNICEF, says the lack of access has made it impossible to assess the humanitarian needs of the communities in question.

“These are areas that have been under siege by parties to the conflict,” she told Al Jazeera.

“We can’t point a finger to one party and not another because more than one party to the conflict is involved in besieging various communities.”

Juliette Touma, a spokesperson for the UN children’s agency UNICEF, says the lack of access has made it impossible to assess the humanitarian needs of the communities in question.

“These are areas that have been under siege by parties to the conflict,” she told Al Jazeera.

“We can’t point a finger to one party and not another because more than one party to the conflict is involved in besieging various communities.”

Pathankot airbase attack: Pakistan arrests some suspects

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Pathankot

Islamabad: Pakistani authorities carried out raids at different places following attack on the Pathankot air base in India, leading to some arrests, intelligence officials said today.

They said that raids were carried out in Gujranwala, Jhelum and Bahawalpur districts and an unspecified number of people were arrested.

“Probe has been going to ascertain if they were involved in the attack or some of them facilitated it,” they said.

The arrests led Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to order a Joint Investigation Team of IB, Inter-Services Intelligence, Military Intelligence, Federal Investigation Agency and Police to thoroughly probe the Pathankot attack links to Pakistan.
Sharif has already said that a transparent investigation will be made and those involved will not be spared.

India has provided telephone number in Pakistan contacted by the airbase attackers and given other inputs while asking Islamabad to take punitive actions against the handlers and possible mastermind.

(PTI)

SC questions practice banning entry of women at Sabarimala

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Sabarimala

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today questioned the age-old tradition of banning entry of women of menstrual age group in historic Sabarimala temple in Kerala, saying it cannot be done under the Constitution.

“The temple cannot prohibit entry (women), except on the basis of religion. Unless you have a constitutional right, you cannot prohibit entry. Anyway, we will examine it on February 8,” a bench of Justices Dipak Misra and N V Ramana said.

The bench was hearing a PIL, filed by the Young Lawyers Association, seeking entry for all women and girls in the Sabarimala temple which, as a practice, does not allow girls after attaining puberty to enter the premises.

However, women, who have crossed menopause, are allowed. During the brief hearing today, the bench posed a query as to why women cannot be allowed inside and observed that the practice was not supported by the constitutional scheme.

It asked the government whether it was sure that women have not entered the temple premises in the last 1,500 years.

The bench also observed that it was a public temple and everyone needed to have “the right to access”. At best, there can be religious restrictions and not a general restriction, it said.

Senior advocate K K Venugopal, appearing for Kerala, said the women, who have not attained menopause, cannot preserve the purity during the religious journey to the temple, located on a hilltop, which usually spans 41 days.

(PTI)

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