05.01.10 / Bollywood / Author: timepasss / Comments: (0)
Ramgopal Varma thinks out of the box. When it comes to movies or story concepts or even casting actors, RGV has never followed rules. Now here’s more on this maverick film-maker. While everyone may’ve received the standard new year messages from family and friends, the one sent by RGV catches you by complete surprise.
Let me quote the message verbatim: “Since we never ever really learn anything from the old years that have gone by and yet we stupidly keep on wishing each other a happy new year and this we keep on doing year after year, inspite of knowing that last year’s new year wishes didn’t give us even an iota of extra happiness ever and also none of us ever believe even for one second that neither our wishes nor anybody’s wishes will never ever amount to our’s or anybody’s happiness ever, I hereby declare that I am not going to wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR!”
RGV’s new year greetings are a shocker as well, right?
05.01.10 / Bollywood / Author: timepasss / Comments: (0)
Leading choreographer Ahmed Khan hasn’t directed a film for a while now. His last [directorial] venture FOOL & FINAL opened a few years ago and his next venture, PAATHSHAALA, produced by his company, opens worldwide on 9th April. Ahmed is now gearing up to start his new venture, which, according to sources, will star Ahmed’s buddy Shahid Kapoor and Deepika Padukone in lead roles.
Ahmed expressed complete surprise when this writer called to verify the news. “Sure, I am working on a script and it will star Shahid, but I haven’t thought of anyone yet. I would like to cast Katrina and Deepika both, but the script has to take shape first,” Ahmed clarifies.
He continues, “The script seems exciting now, but may not excite me after a point. So only when I am through with the final script, will I take a call on the casting.” Point noted!
05.01.10 / News / Author: timepasss / Comments: (0)
The US has moved dozens of names on to “watch” and “no-fly” lists as it seeks to overhaul security in the wake of an alleged jet bomb plot, officials say.
The US government has also introduced new security measures for all travellers flying to America.
There will be extra screening for people travelling from 14 countries.
Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama is to meet officials assigned to review security after the suspected plot and is expected to announce reforms.
These will aim to “improve our watchlisting system as well as our ability to thwart future attempts to carry out terrorist attacks”, an Obama administration official said.
Among those attending Tuesday’s briefing will be Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, defence secretary Robert Gates, CIA director Leon Panetta, Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano and FBI chief Robert Mueller.
The review comes after an alleged plot by a 23-year-old Nigerian to blow up an airliner shortly before it was due to land in Detroit on Christmas Day.
White House spokesman Bill Burton said that since then, lists had been checked and updated, with names moved from the Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment (Tide), to a watch list or no-fly list.
“Probably dozens were moved to different lists,” he said.
Those on the watch list are subject to extra security checks, while those on the no-fly list are not allowed to board flights to the US.
Focus on Yemen
The suspect in the alleged Christmas Day bomb plot, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, came to the attention of US authorities in November, when his father voiced concerns about him to the US embassy in Nigeria.
But he was never moved from the Tide list, which includes hundreds of thousands of names, to the extra screening or no-fly lists.
As US authorities moved to tighten security, they announced that people travelling from or through 14 countries would be subject to enhanced screening measures, including pat-downs, scanning, and the inspection of hand luggage.
The countries include Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria, which the US considers to be sponsors of terrorism, as well as 10 other states considered “of interest” based on recent intelligence.
Passengers flying from other countries will be checked at random.
Among the states considered “of interest” are Yemen – where Mr Abdulmutallab allegedly received training – and Nigeria, through which he travelled on his way to Detroit.
Nigeria called its inclusion on the list “unfair”, while Cuban government newspaper Granma dismissed the measures as “anti-terrorist paranoia”.
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) claimed responsibility for the plot, increasing concerns about Yemen, where the group is based.
On Monday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stressed the international nature of threats resulting from instability there.
“We see global implications from the war in Yemen and the ongoing efforts by al-Qaeda in Yemen to use it as a base for terrorist attacks far beyond the region,” she said.
She also said Western support for the country was conditional on Yemen working for peace and stability for its own people and the region.
The US re-opened its embassy in Yemen on Tuesday, embassy officials said. It had closed it on Sunday in response to what it said were al-Qaeda threats.
The British and French embassies resumed operations but remained closed to the public.
Yemeni authorities have tightened security measures at Sanaa’s airport, as well as around several other embassies.
05.01.10 / News / Author: timepasss / Comments: (0)
The main suspect in the mass killing of 57 people in the southern Philippines, Andal Ampatuan Junior, has pleaded not guilty to 41 counts of murder.
Mr Ampatuan is part of a politically influential clan which has close ties to President Gloria Arroyo.
He denies multiple charges of murder over the attack, in which members of a rival political family and journalists travelling with them were killed.
They were on their way to register a rival candidacy for local elections.
Prosecutors say Mr Ampatuan led more than 100 armed men who stopped the convoy in which the group was travelling, then killed them and buried them in mass graves.
His father and several other clan members have been charged with rebellion.
‘Test for judiciary’
Mr Ampatuan was guarded by more than 30 heavily armed police as he attended court in the capital, Manila, on Tuesday.
At an earlier, preliminary, trial hearing, he was jostled and hit by an angry crowd of journalists, upset by the large number of colleagues, thought to be at least 30, whose lives were lost in the mass killing.
The judge adjourned the trial until next week to allow for a dozen witnesses to be called to support a bail application.
The BBC’s South East Asia correspondent Rachel Harvey says the trial is likely to be long and convoluted, and is widely being seen as a test of the Philippines justice system.
The Ampatuan clan were once loyal supporters of President Arroyo, our correspondent says, and so proceedings are likely to be scrutinised for any sign of leniency.
Andal Ampatuan Jr remains the only suspect charged in direct connection with the murders, she adds.
Mrs Arroyo imposed martial law for a period following the killings, and vowed to bring those responsible to justice.
05.01.10 / News / Author: timepasss / Comments: (0)
The Argentine musician Sandro, an early Latin American rocker who matured into a ballad singer, has died aged 64.
He died from complications from heart and lung transplant surgery, doctors at a hospital in the western Argentine city of Mendoza said.
The singer, whose real name was Roberto Sanchez, began his rock career in the 1960s in the style of Elvis Presley.
He later developed into a ballad singer with a distinctive manner and a strong following across Latin America.
Among his hits were Mi amigo el Puma and Rosa, rosa. In all, he recorded dozens of albums and starred in 16 films.
He was the first Latin American artist to sing at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Early in his career his dancing style, with its Elvis-style pelvic thrusts, scandalised conservative opinion, and his first TV performance triggered protests, Efe news agency reports.
His health had been poor since he underwent transplant surgery in November because of chronic lung disease.
