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ரஜினியின் கோச்சடையான் - படப்பிடிப்பு முடிந்தது... போஸ்ட் புரொடக்ஷன் பணிகளில் மும்முரம்!

2012-06-06T12:14:00.003-07:00

ரஜினி, தீபிகா படுகோனே ஜோடியாக நடிக்கும் ‘கோச்சடையான்‘ படப்பிடிப்பு கடந்த மார்ச் மாதம் தொடங்கியது. லண்டனில் 20 நாட்கள் முதல் கட்ட படப்பிடிப்பு நடந்தது. பின்னர் திருவனந்தபுரத்தில் இரண்டாம் கட்ட படப்பிடிப்பை நடத்தினர். அங்கு உள்ள சித்ராஞ்சலி மற்றும் மோகன்லால் ஸ்டூடியோக்களில் பெரும் பகுதி காட்சிகள் படமாக்கப்பட்டன.

கிராபிக்ஸ் பணிகளில் ஒரு பகுதியையும் இங்கு நடத்தின். உண்மையில் இந்தப் பணிகள் லண்டனில் நடந்திருக்க வேண்டும். ஆதி மற்றும் தீபிகோ படுகோனுக்கு விசா கிடைக்க தாமதமானால், அந்தக் காட்சிகள் கேரளாவில் எடுக்கப்பட்டன.

இறுதிக்கட்ட படப்பிடிப்பை ஹாங்காங்கில் நடத்தி முடித்துள்ளார் சௌந்தர்யா. தற்போது டப்பிங், கம்ப்யூட்டர் கிராபிக்ஸ், மிக்சிங், ரீ-ரிக்கார்டிங் பணிகள் நடந்து வருகின்றன.

லண்டன், லாஸ் ஏஞ்சல்ஸ், ஹாங்காங் ஸ்டூடியோக்களில் ஒரே நேரத்தில் இப்பணிகள் நடந்து வருவதாக படத்தின் இணை தயாரிப்பாளர் டாக்டர் முரளி மனோகர் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

படத்தை வெளியிடுவதற்கான தேதியை இன்னும் முடிவு செய்யவில்லை என்றார். இந்த வருடம் இறுதிக்குள் படம் வெளியாகி விடும் என்றும் அவர் கூறினார்.

ஜப்பான், தமிழ், இந்தி, தெலுங்கு ஆகிய மொழிகளில் படம் வெளியாகிறது. இதுபோல் பிரெஞ்சு, ஸ்பானிஷ் மொழிகளிலும் படத்தை ரிலீஸ் செய்ய ஏற்பாடு நடக்கிறது.

காந்திக்குப் பின் மிகச் சிறந்த இந்தியர் 50 பேர் பட்டியலில் ரஜினி!

2012-06-06T12:14:00.000-07:00

தேசப் பிதா என கொண்டாடப்படும் காந்தியடிகளுக்குப் பிறகு இந்தியாவின் மிகச் சிறந்த மனிதர் யார் (Greatest Indian after Mahatma Gandhi)?

இந்தத் தலைப்பில் ஒரு வாக்கெடுப்பை நடத்தி வருகிறது ஹிஸ்டரி மற்றும் சிஎன்என் ஐபிஎன் தொலைக்காட்சிகள். அவுட்லுக் பத்திரிகை ஆதரவுடன் இந்த வாக்கெடுப்பு நடக்கிறது.தலைவர்களின் சர்வதேச புகழ், மக்கள் மீதான அவர்களின் தாக்கம், உதாரணத்தன்மை என பல விஷயங்களின் அடிப்படையில் இந்த வாக்கெடுப்பு நடத்தப்படுகிறது.

பிபிசியின் வாக்கெடுப்பு விதிகளின் அடிப்படையில் நடத்தப்படும் இதில் 50 இந்திய தலைவர்கள் மற்றும் பிரபலங்கள் பட்டியல் தயாரிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

அண்ணல் அம்பேத்கர், சர்தார் வல்லபாய் பட்டேல், ஜவஹர்லால் நேரு, அன்னை தெரசா, அன்னை இந்திரா காந்தி, என தலைவர்களும் மனித நேய மாந்தர்களும் இடம்பெற்றுள்ள இந்தப் பட்டியலில் நமது சூப்பர் ஸ்டார் ரஜினியின் பெயரும் இடம்பெற்றுள்ளது.

ஒவ்வொரு நபரும் தனது பேஸ்புக் கணக்கைப் பயன்படுத்தி 10 தலைவர்களை வரிசைப்படுத்தலாம். அதாவது 10 வாக்குகளை அளிக்கலாம். இதுவரை 215332 வாக்குகள் பதிவாகியுள்ளன. இதன் அடிப்படையில், இப்போது 12வது இடத்தில் உள்ளார் ரஜினி. முதலிடத்தில் விஸ்வநாதன் ஆனந்த் உள்ளார். வாக்குகளின் அடிப்படையில் இந்த நிலை மாறிக் கொண்டிருக்கும்.

சகுனியில் நான் ரஜினி.. சந்தானம் கமல்! - கார்த்தி

2012-06-06T12:12:00.000-07:00

சகுனி படத்தின் இசைவெளியீட்டுக்குத் தேதி குறித்து அழைப்பிதழும் வைத்துவிட்டார்கள்.

சிறுத்தைக்குப் பிறகு கொஞ்சம் இடைவெளிவிட்டு வரும் இந்தப் படத்தில் கார்த்தி ரஜினியாகவும், சந்தானம் கமலாகவும் வருகிறார்களாம்.

இதுகுறித்து ஹீரோ கார்த்தி கூறுகையில், "சகுனி எனக்கு ரொம்ப பிடிச்ச படமாக வந்திருக்கு. ஒரு பொதுவான பிரச்சினையை என் புத்திசாலித்தனத்தால தீர்த்து, கூடவே தன்னையும் காப்பாத்திக்கிற கேரக்டர். இது அரசியல் படமா என்பதை பார்த்துவிட்டு நீங்கள்தான் சொல்லணும். காரணம், எதுலதான் அரசியல் இல்லாம இருக்கு... அப்படி பார்த்தா இது அரசியல் படம்தான்...

இந்தப் படத்தில் சந்தானம் என்னை ரஜினி என்று அழைப்பார், நான் அவரை கமல் என்று அழைப்பேன்," என்றார்.

ஜூன் 2-ம் தேதி படத்தின் இசை வெளியாகிறது. மொத்தம் 5 பாடல்கள். ஜிவி பிரகாஷ் இசையமைத்துள்ளார். ஏற்கெனவே கார்த்தி பிறந்த நாளான மே 25-ல் இரண்டு பாடல்களின் முன்னோட்டத்தை வெளியிட்டிருந்தது நினைவிருக்கலாம்.

என் படத்தை விற்க சல்மானும், ஷாருக்கும் தேவையில்லை: கமல் ஹாசன்

2012-06-06T12:10:00.002-07:00

தனது படத்தை போணி செய்ய பாலிவுட் ஹீரோக்கள் சல்மான் கானும், ஷாருக்கானும் தேவையில்லை என்று உலக நாயகன் கமல் ஹாசன் தெரிவி்த்துள்ளார்.

கமல் ஹாசன் தற்போது விஸ்வரூபம் படத்தில் நடித்து வருகிறார். அதையடுத்து ஊழலை மையமாக வைத்து அமர் ஹை என்ற படத்தை எடுக்கவிருக்கிறார். இந்த படத்தில் நடிக்க அவர் பாலிவுட் ஜாம்பவான்களான சல்மான் கான், ஷாருக்கான் மற்றும் ஹாலிவுட் நடிகர் ஜாக்கி சான் ஆகியோரை அணுகியதாக தகவல்கள் வெளியாகின். ஆனால் இதை கமல் மறுத்துள்ளார்.

இது குறித்து அவர் கூறுகையில்,

நான் இரு கான்களையும் சரி, ஜாக்கி சான், டாம் க்ரூஸையும் சரி எனது புதிய படத்திற்காக அணுகவில்லை. அது வெறும் வதந்தி. எனது படத்தை போணி செய்ய சல்மான், ஷாருக்கான் தேவையில்லை.

நான் தற்போது எடுத்து வரும் சினிமாவே எனக்கு திருப்தியாக உள்ளது. எனக்கு பாலிவுட் நடிகர் திலிப் குமாருடன் நடிக்க வேண்டும் என்ற ஆசை உள்ளது. விஸ்வரூபம் ரிலீஸ் ஆன பிறகு அமர் ஹை பற்றி சொல்கிறேன் என்றார்.

தனுஷ் மனைவி மீது எனக்கு சந்தேகம் இருந்தது.. ஸ்ருதி ஹாசன்

2012-06-06T12:09:00.000-07:00

3 படத்தில் நடிக்க ஒப்பந்தமானபோது எனக்கு ஐஸ்வர்யா தனுஷ் மீது சந்தேகம் இருந்தது. இவர் இயக்கும் முதல் படமாச்சே, எப்படி எடுப்பாரோ என்று சந்தேகப்பட்டேன். பின்னர் அது நீங்கியது, ஒரு படைப்பாளியாக அவரை ஏற்றுக் கொண்டேன் என்று கூறியுள்ளார் ஸ்ருதி ஹாசன்.
3 படம் வெளியாகி, ஏகப்பட்ட சர்ச்சைகளும் எழுந்து முடிந்து ஓய்ந்து விட்டது. சில சர்ச்சைகள் ஸ்ருதியை முன்வைத்தும் ஓடிக் கொண்டிருந்தன. இந்த நிலையில் 3 படம் குறித்தும், ஐஸ்வர்யா குறித்தும் கருத்து தெரிவித்துள்ளார் ஸ்ருதி.

அவர் கூறுகையில், 3 படத்தில் பணியாற்றும்போது தனுஷ், ஐஸ்வர்யா, நான் மூவருமே ஒருவரையொருவர் தொழில் ரீதியாக அணுகுவது என்ற முடிவு செய்துகொண்டோம். இதனால் சொந்த விருப்பு வெறுப்புகளுக்கு இடம் தரவில்லை.

தொடக்க காலத்தில் ஐஸ்வர்யா மீது எனக்கு சந்தேகம் இருந்தது. அவர் இயக்கும் முதல் படம். எப்படி கையாளப்போகிறாரோ என்று எண்ணினேன். முதல்நாள் ஷூட்டிங்கில் அவர் பணியாற்றியதை பார்த்தபிறகு அவர் மீதான சந்தேகம் தீர்ந்தது. ஒரு படைப்பாளியாக அவரை ஏற்றுக்கொண்டேன்.

இப்படத்தில் பள்ளி மாணவி, மனைவி, விதவை என 3 விதமான தோற்றத்தில் நடிக்க வேண்டி இருந்தது. நடிப்புக்கு வாய்ப்பு இருந்ததால் நடிக்க ஒப்புக்கொண்டேன்.

நான் காதல் வலையில் விழுந்துவிட்டதாக கூறுகிறார்கள். எனக்கேற்ற ஒருவரை தேர்ந்தெடுத்தால் அதை முதலில் எனது தந்தையிடம் சொல்வேன். இப்போதைக்கு காதல் செய்ய நேரமில்லை என்றார் ஸ்ருதி.

விஜய் பிறந்த நாளில் வெளியாகும் அஜீத் படம்!!

2012-06-06T12:02:00.002-07:00

அஜீத் ரசிகர்கள் ஆவலுடன் எதிர்ப்பார்க்கும் பில்லா 2 வரும் ஜூன் 22-ம் தேதி உலகம் எங்கும் வெளியாகிறது.
அதிகாரப்பூர்வமாக இந்த அறிவிப்பு இன்று வெளியாகியுள்ளது.

அஜீத், பார்வதி ஓமனக்குட்டன் ஜோடியாக நடித்துள்ள படம் பில்லா 2. பில்லா படத்தின் முதல் பகுதி கதை இது.

சக்ரி டோலட்டி இந்தப் படத்தை இயக்கியுள்ளார். யுவன் சங்கர் ராஜா இசையமைத்துள்ளார். இன் என்டர்டெயின்மெட் தயாரித்துள்ளது.

பில்லா 2 ரிலீஸ் தேதி குறித்து பல்வேறு தகவல்கள் வெளியாகி வந்தன. இப்போது தயாரிப்பு நிறுவனமே அதிகாரப்பூர்வமாக இதுகுறித்து அறிவித்துள்ளது.

வரும் ஜூன் 22-ம் தேதி இந்தப் படம் வெளியாகிறது. இதனை தயாரிப்பாளர் சுனிர் கேட்டர்பால் அறிவித்துள்ளார்.

ஜூன் 22- அஜீத்தின் திரையுலக போட்டியாளரான விஜய்யின் பிறந்த நாள் என்பது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது!!

California gay marriage case looks headed to Supreme Court

2012-06-05T10:32:00.001-07:00

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals cleared the way on Tuesday for the Supreme Court to consider California's gay marriage ban, declining an appeal to revisit the case.

Supporters of the 2008 ban, Proposition 8, have lost two rounds in federal court but have made clear they will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court and hope for a favorable response from the conservative-leaning court.

The top U.S. court could agree to hear the matter in the session beginning in October, putting it on track to decide the case within a year. It could also decline to review Prop 8.

President Barack Obama last month turned gay marriage into a 2012 campaign issue, saying he believed same-sex couples should be able to marry. Republican Mitt Romney disagrees.

The vast majority of U.S. states limit marriage to opposite-sex couples, and popular votes have consistently approved bans on widening those rights.

But polls show growing acceptance of same-sex nuptials, which have been legalized in eight states and the District of Columbia, thanks to votes by legislators and court decisions.

The 1st Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston last week ruled that the federal Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutionally denied benefits to same-sex couples in a state where gay marriage was legal.

The U.S. Supreme Court would set national precedent if it decided to take the California case. Appeals courts have so far declined to rule broadly on whether marriage is a fundamental human right for same-sex couples as well as heterosexuals.

U.S. drone strikes targeted Al Qaeda second-in-command

2012-06-05T10:31:00.002-07:00

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The fate of Al Qaeda’s second-in-command remained unknown Tuesday after Pakistani intelligence sources confirmed that U.S. drone missile strikes targeted the compound near the Afghan border where he was believed to be staying.

The death of Abu Yahya al-Libi would mark another significant milestone in Washington’s bid to dismantle the Al Qaeda terrorist network. Al-Libi became the top deputy after Ayman Zawahiri took over the militant group following the May 2011 U.S. commando raid that killed Osama bin Laden in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad.

However, there were conflicting reports on whether Al-Libi was killed in the strikes, which occurred Monday in Hesokhel. The small village is located in North Waziristan, a tribal region that has long been a stronghold for Al Qaeda, the Taliban, the Haqqani network and a host of other militant groups.

Some Pakistani intelligence sources said on Tuesday that it appeared Al-Libi, a Libyan national, may have been killed in the second of two drone strikes targeting the area. He was in a vehicle at the time, the sources said.

Other Pakistani intelligence sources, however, stressed there was no information on whether Al-Libi was killed in the strikes. Sources within the Pakistani Taliban denied that Al-Libi was slain, though they said his driver and another Al Qaeda militant died in the attack.

Washington has stepped up its drone campaign against Al Qaeda and Taliban militants in Pakistan’s tribal regions in recent weeks, despite Islamabad’s repeated demands that the U.S. abandon the use of drone attacks against militant groups. Pakistani civilian and military leaders insist that the tactic violates their country’s sovereignty and provides tribesmen along the Afghan border a motive to join the ranks of insurgents.

Nevertheless, Washington has carried out seven drone strikes within Pakistan in the last two weeks.

In the aftermath of errant U.S. airstrikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers near the Afghan border last November, Pakistani officials have demanded an end to all drone strikes as a condition to a full restoration of ties between Washington and Islamabad. Pakistani officials have yet to end a six-month blockade that has prevented Afghanistan-bound NATO supply convoys from using Pakistan as a transit route.

On Tuesday, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry summoned U.S. Deputy Ambassador Richard Hoagland to protest the continuation of drone strikes on Pakistani territory. The issue, the ministry said in a prepared release, “represented a clear red line for Pakistan.”

Damascus merchants put up shutters in challenge to Assad

2012-06-05T10:30:00.004-07:00

In the biggest act of civil disobedience by Damascus merchants in Syria's 15-month-old uprising, many stores have been closed for a week in protest against the massacre of more than 100 people in Houla on May 25.

The closures have affected districts all across the capital, from the Old City market to opposition areas where 70 percent of stores appeared shut despite what shopkeepers said were attacks and threats by security forces to force them to reopen.

"We want to participate in the strike but at the same time we are afraid of the reaction of the security police," said Mohammed, who owns a clothes shop in the traditional al-Hamidiya souk - a long, covered walkway that cuts through the Old City.

Widespread closures in the capital, a stronghold of President Bashar al-Assad, represent a major challenge to the Syrian leader and Mohammed said security forces had broken open his locked shop door a few days ago to intimidate him.

Mohammed, who asked to only use his first name to avoid identification by police, said that the action was a piecemeal attempt that he and other merchants have tacitly agreed to in protest against the killing of 108 civilians in Houla in violence blamed by the United Nations on army shelling and pro-Assad militiamen.

"The strike does send a political message," he said, although admitting that the opposition movement was still weak.

Since the attack, Mohammed has opened the shutters to give the impression that his shop is open, but the door is in fact closed while he sits outside in case the police return. During a tour of the Hamidiya souk it appeared that around half of the shops remained shut.

Most Syrians to buy their goods from small local merchants, rather than modern supermarkets, and the dampening effect of the strike is tangible in Damascus' lonely streets.

The Hamidiya souk, a centuries-old cobblestoned street linked to a maze of smaller alleyways winding through the capital, used to be a hive of activity where rich businessmen would make deals and sell merchandise over sugared tea. Now it stands quiet, a backwater in the centre of the capital.

Sunni Muslim merchants have traditionally formed the core of the business community in the Syrian capital and in the commercial hub Aleppo, Syria's most populous city.

Assad, and his late father - from Syria's minority Alawite sect - forged close ties with the Sunni merchant class, who helped prevent a collapse of the Syrian pound last year by keeping their cash in the bank while everyone rushed to exchange weak pounds for dollars.

However, Assad is losing support among merchants who are suffering from a stagnant business climate and Western sanctions imposed to put pressure on the defiant president.

And Assad's crackdown on the uprising by Syria's majority Sunnis has lost him many supporters who are enraged by the deaths of more than 10,000 fellow citizens at the hands of Assad loyalists.

70 PERCENT OF SHOPS CLOSED

More than 70 percent of shops are on strike in Sunni opposition districts outside the Old city such as Midan, where activists say government forces have shot and killed demonstrators at weekly protests.

"We open our shops for an hour a day so people can buy essentials," said Midan-based supermarket owner Amin, who also asked Reuters only to use his first name. Like Mohammed in Hamidiya, many shop owners in Midan sit in front of their businesses so they can open up quickly if security personnel arrive.

Markets in Damascus have been subject to a heavy security presence over the past week, with new checkpoints erected at their entrances, residents say.

Even districts of Damascus that are predominantly Christian, a minority group that Assad's supporters say will stick by the leader against the largely Sunni revolt, have reported a large number of shop closures.

And in towns on the Damascus outskirts, many of which have witnessed army raids and widespread arrests, residents say the markets have been empty for weeks.

Damascus residents, whether they support the strike or not, say the shop closures have compounded the already dire economic situation. Prices have soared over the past 15 months and sanctions have cut vital trade links.

Many Syrians are unable to buy anything but the bare essentials. Syrian government figures put annual consumer price inflation at 31 percent in April, but residents say basic goods such as sugar, vegetable oil and eggs have doubled in price.

Not all are 100 percent behind the campaign of civil disobedience.

"I feel bad about what happened to the people of Houla," said a restaurant owner in the Kafr Souseh district, where most shops are on strike. "But I have three employees to pay and what use is a strike?" he said, echoing the sentiments of many frustrated businessmen.

For others, the loss in earnings is justified by the disruption they are causing to the heart of the capital where state security forces have been scrambling to give an impression of calm and control while the rest of the country crumbles.

"Strikes are less dangerous than open demonstrations," said a high school teacher from the capital. "We need strikes in shops, schools and universities. It's a safer way to express ourselves."

Russia and China to strengthen trade ties

2012-06-05T10:30:00.002-07:00

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The presidents of Russia and China laid out ambitious plans on Tuesday to tie their countries into a closer strategic and economic partnership as both Beijing and Moscow seek to use each other to balance their relationship with the US.
The two presidents set a goal of more than doubling bilateral trade from $83.5bn last year to $200bn in 2020, Hu Jintao, China’s president, said after talks with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president.
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The ambitious target was announced together with a slew of investment and trading deals. It was held up by the two leaders as a sign of new heights for the relationship between two powers to be reckoned with on issues ranging from global trade to the international response to Syria.
Mr Hu said that through closer co-operation China and Russia would “set the global political and economic order in a more fair and rational direction”.
Chinese state media feted Mr Putin, a fairly frequent visitor to Beijing who had last been in town in October 2011, praising close and growing bilateral co-operation and consultation of the two nations on the world stage. People’s Daily, the ruling Communist party’s mouthpiece, even ran a long piece by Mr Putin himself in which he talked up ties with China.
“Without the participation of Russia and China, without considering Russia and China’s interests, no international matter or issue can be discussed and implemented,” he wrote.
Moscow and Beijing have angered western countries with their refusal to back an international intervention in the brewing civil war in Syria.
But Russian and Chinese analysts say the two countries are still far away from a close alliance.
“The reason the Chinese media are hyping the visit like this is that a significant portion of the Chinese leadership, including the military . . . hope to build Russia into an ally to help push back against the US,” said Dmitri Trenin, director of the Carnegie Moscow Center. “But for Mr Putin the focus is mainly on strengthening the economic relationship.” And, he cautioned, historical suspicions lingered. “There remains a lack of trust between the two sides, and none of the two wants a true alliance.”
Chinese observers said the fact that Mr Putin had cancelled his participation in a G8 summit soon after his inauguration last month but had now decided to honour his long-scheduled Beijing visit showed the importance he gave to China.
“But there is no need to exaggerate it,” said Li Ziguo, a professor at the Institute of International Relations. “Following the financial crisis, the world order is being realigned, and the economic centre is shifting from Europe to the Pacific, so Russia hopes to lean towards Asia in its economic development.”
The two governments on Tuesday announced more than a dozen co-operation agreements including a joint venture for the development of long-range civilian aircraft. They also officially launched a joint fund for investments in Russia, the creation of which was first reported by the Financial Times last October.
The Russia-China Investment Fund would make its first investments in timber, logistics or agriculture within two months and was also interested in ports, infrastructure and logistics, Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, told the FT.
He said China and Russia would sooner or later handle some of their bilateral trade in their own currencies. “If you consider Chinese investments into the equity of Russian companies the amount is less than $2bn each year and we expect it will grow 10 times over the next five years,” he said.
A long-awaited gas pipeline deal was delayed again as the two sides continue to disagree over pricing, although Mr Putin said he hoped Russia would export “large quantities” of natural gas to China eventually.

Diamond Jubilee: Queen 'humbled' by celebrations

2012-06-05T10:29:00.002-07:00

In a message to the nation, she thanked all those who organised the events.

Festivities culminated in an appearance by the senior royals on the Buckingham Palace balcony in front of huge crowds to watch an RAF flypast.

But the Queen's consort, Prince Philip, was absent from her side as he remains in hospital with a bladder infection.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex visited the Duke of Edinburgh on Tuesday afternoon.

Afterwards, Prince Edward said: "He's feeling better." The countess added: "He's in good spirits; he's on good form."

'Happy atmosphere'
The Queen's message was broadcast on television and radio across the UK and Commonwealth.

Continue reading the main story
Analysis

Daniela Relph
Royal correspondent
After Monday's party, today was a more sedate tribute to the Queen.

The Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral was a celebration of 60 years of loyal service and commitment.

In his sermon, the Archbishop of Canterbury spoke of the Queen's "years of utterly demanding yet deeply joyful service". His words are a reflection of the mood throughout the Jubilee celebrations.

Thousands again descended on central London for the ceremonial part of the weekend's festivities - especially the Royal Family's appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

I have spoken to many people over the past few days about how they view the Queen. Some have been royalists, some far from it. But nearly all have held the Queen in high regard.

The days events have been marked though by the absence of the Duke of Edinburgh. For 60 years he has been at the Queen's side at almost every ceremonial occasion. Today she has been without him.

"The events that I have attended to mark my Diamond Jubilee have been a humbling experience," she said. "It has touched me deeply to see so many thousands of families, neighbours and friends celebrating together in such a happy atmosphere.

"But Prince Philip and I want to take this opportunity to offer our special thanks and appreciation to all those who have had a hand in organising these Jubilee celebrations.

"It has been a massive challenge, and I am sure that everyone who has enjoyed these festive occasions realises how much work has been involved."

She added: "I hope that memories of all this year's happy events will brighten our lives for many years to come.

"I will continue to treasure and draw inspiration from the countless kindnesses shown to me in this country and throughout the Commonwealth. Thank you all."

Earlier on Tuesday, the Queen attended a thanksgiving service at St Paul's Cathedral where Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams paid tribute to her "lifelong dedication".

"I don't think it's at all fanciful to say that, in all her public engagements, our Queen has shown a quality of joy in the happiness of others," he said.

'Tireless leader'
David Cameron, who gave a reading at the service, called her "a real inspiration".

The Queen attended a Jubilee thanksgiving service at St Paul's Cathedral
"We have seen the country come together with a sense of celebration and unity but also tremendous resilience, resilience from people who want to celebrate despite the weather and resilience, of course, from Her Majesty - nothing stops her doing the job she does," the prime minister said.

US President Barack Obama was among those who payed tribute to her "60 extraordinary years".

In a specially recorded message he called the Queen "a steadfast ally, loyal friend and tireless leader" and said she had been "the chief source of resilience" for the unique alliance between his country and the UK throughout her reign.

In other Jubilee events on Tuesday:

Crowds gathered from early morning to cheer the Queen on her journey from Buckingham Palace to St Paul's
The congregation at the cathedral included a large representation from the government, military personnel and members of the royal household, alongside diplomats and foreign leaders
After the service, the Queen attended a reception at nearby Mansion House - the official residence of the Lord Mayor of London
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry were at a similar event at the Guildhall
All of the senior royals then enjoyed a lunch at Westminster Hall before embarking on a carriage procession through packed streets back to the palace
The day ended in an appearance by the senior royals on the palace balcony to watch a flypast by World War II aircraft and the Red arrows
The flypast had been threatened by the sort of bad weather and poor visibility that forced the cancellation of a similar event on Sunday.

But to the delight of the tens of thousands gathered on The Mall - who had surged forward to get as close to Buckingham Palace as possible - it went ahead as planned.

Queen's procession in open-top carriage procession
Other events during the extended Jubilee weekend included a star-studded concert outside Buckingham Palace on Monday night.

At the end the Queen came on to the stage to press a diamond-shaped crystal into a pod, igniting a beacon in The Mall to mark her 60 years on the throne. It was one of more than 4,000 lit across the UK and the Commonwealth.

On Sunday, about a thousand boats took part in the Diamond Jubilee Thames River Pageant, the first of its kind for 350 years.

Syria permits aid workers to enter 4 provinces

2012-06-05T10:05:00.004-07:00

Syria agreed to allow aid workers and supply convoys into four of its hardest-hit provinces, where at least 1 million people are in urgent need of aid because of injuries from the bloody civil conflict or the loss of homes and jobs, officials said Tuesday.
President Bashar Assad's government pledged in a written agreement to ease humanitarian access to the provinces even as the regime plunged itself into further international isolation by labeling a string of U.S. and European diplomats as unwelcome.
The deal requires Syria to provide visas to allow in an unspecified number of aid workers from nine U.N. agencies and seven other non-governmental organizations, and to cut through the bureaucratic red tape that has blocked convoys from delivering critically needed food, medicine and other supplies, said John Ging, operations director for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
But officials were quick to caution they will not declare success until the Assad regime delivers on its promises. Ging said he hopes it will be "days, not weeks" before the workers start filtering in and aid is delivered to the provinces of Daraa, Deir el-Zour, Homs and Idlib, and he urged Syria to keep up its end of the bargain.
"Whether this is a breakthrough or not will be evident in the coming days and weeks and it will be measured not in rhetoric, not in agreements, but in action on the ground," Ging told reporters after emerging from a closed-door session in Geneva to discuss the dire humanitarian situation in Syria.
Syria's uprising began with mostly peaceful protests, but a brutal government crackdown with tanks, machine guns and snipers led many in the opposition to take up arms. The violence has grown increasingly chaotic in recent months, and it is difficult to assign blame for much of the bloodshed as the country spirals toward civil war.
Last week, Western nations expelled Syrian diplomats in a coordinated move over a massacre in which more than 100 people were slaughtered over one weekend in Houla, a cluster of small villages. The U.N. says pro-regime gunmen were believed to be responsible for at least some of the killings, but Assad has insisted his forces had nothing to do it.
On Tuesday, Syria barred a string of U.S. and European diplomats, saying they were "no longer welcome." The countries targeted by the expulsion order have already pulled their ambassadors from Damascus, but the move was symbolic of how far diplomatic ties have disintegrated over the course of the uprising that began last year in March.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi said Damascus has decided to take a "reciprocal measure" against ambassadors from the U.S., Britain, Turkey, Switzerland, France, Italy and Spain. A number of French, German, Canadian, Bulgarian and Belgian diplomats also are affected, Makdessi said.
Because of visa delays and hassles over customs clearances and how to distribute the supplies, the U.N. has struggled to deliver aid and it has largely trickled in through the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.
The U.N. launched the Syrian Humanitarian Forum, a gathering of diplomats to negotiate for access. "Today marks a step of progress, in that there is now an agreement with the Syrian government on the scale, scope and modality for a humanitarian response in Syria," said Ging after chairing its latest session, where he said Syria's representatives also expressed support for the new plan.
Ging said many in need in the four provinces have been injured during fighting or have lost jobs or homes. More than 78,000 Syrian refugees were also being helped in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, the U.N. refugee agency said.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has a network of sources on the ground, said Tuesday that 113 soldiers have been killed in clashes with rebel forces across the country since Friday. The figure was impossible to confirm independently, but the Syrian government confirmed nearly 80 soldiers had been killed over the past three days.

Life's a picnic at the palace Jubilee concert

2012-06-05T10:05:00.001-07:00

We joined the long queue that snaked around the perimeter of Buckingham Palace near the Palace convenience store - I wondered if this is where Her Majesty would pop out to get a pint of milk?

The orderly procession moved slowly as we each clutched one of the 10,000 invitations from the Master of the Household at Her Majesty's command to a Jubilee picnic in the garden.

Once through airport-style security scanners we made our way through the palace gates.

We followed the route I had seen prime ministers and presidents take except that we were not greeted by a senior royal official, but by a picnic hamper from Waitrose.

I followed my wife Joanne up the red carpet and into the palace, passing large portraits as we were shown out into the garden.

Joanne knew where she was going as she had been here before for the Golden Jubilee concert.

Ten years ago her sister Alison won a pair of tickets in the ballot and this time Joanne had been successful along with her brother Stephen - the Gilmores must be the luckiest family in Fermanagh in the royal concert lottery.

Continue reading the main story
The picnic menu

chilled British baby plum tomato soup with garden mint-infused oil
tea-smoked Scottish salmon
Diamond Jubilee coronation chicken
Sandringham strawberry crumble crunch
lemon and caraway cake
chocolate indulgence cake decorated with a chocolate crown and sprinkled with popping candy
A cheese selection and Duchy Originals oat biscuits
After collecting a glass of champagne we found a spot next to the lake and spread the contents of the wicker hamper out on the lawn.

The menu was created by chef Heston Blunenthal with the royal chef Mark Flanagan.

Following a starter of chilled British baby plum tomato soup with garden mint-infused oil there was tea-smoked Scottish salmon and a Diamond Jubilee coronation chicken.

Pudding was a Sandringham strawberry crumble crunch along with a lemon and caraway cake and a chocolate indulgence cake decorated with a chocolate crown and sprinkled with popping candy.

A cheese selection was accompanied by Duchy Originals oat biscuits and there was even a pack of royal hand wipes.

Shelter
A brief shower had people donning their Jubilee ponchos and taking shelter under the trees but thankfully this was not going to be the soaking experienced at the Thames pageant the previous day.

Anyone wanting a royal flush had to face another long queue for the executive portable toilets and all too soon it was time to leave.

Ready for anything, but the Diamond Jubilee poncho was only needed briefly.
I left the palace with one final look behind - I am not expecting a knighthood so this will probably be my first and last visit - and made our way to our seats for the concert.

The roundabout around the Queen Victoria Memorial had been transformed into a stage for a spectacular party featuring a galaxy of rock, pop and classical music stars.

Surreal
Robbie Williams kicked off proceedings with Let Me Entertain You.

Jessie J was popular with the crowd (and me I admit) and Grace Jones performance was surreal as she sang Keep It Up in a skin tight red leather outfit while hula hooping.

It was bizarre but very entertaining. I'm not sure what Her Majesty would have thought especially when Grace Jones finished by wishing the Queen a Happy Birthday.

We will never know as The Queen entered the royal box late just missing out on a powerful set by Tom Jones which had tens of thousands singing along to Delilah.

Other highlights for me were Annie Lennox, Alfie Bowe and classical pianist Lang Lang, before the acts I was most anticipating: Shirley Bassey, Elton John, and Stevie Wonder.

They performed some of their most popular hits for the crowd and VIPs to sing-along to and at one stage I saw Prince Andrew on his feet wrapped in a Union flag leading the chorus in the royal box.

Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote

The three cheers that rang out along the length of The Mall in honour of The Queen were almost as loud as the spectacular fireworks display that followed. ”

With thousands of flags being waved it was a cross between The Last Night of the Proms and a royal karaoke.

The palace itself became part of the performance with spectacular light projections dancing along the facade.

As Madness sang Our House (in the middle of one's street) from the rooftop, the palace was transformed into a row of terraced houses.

The grand finale was led by Sir Paul McCartney with a string of hits from the Beatles and Wings accompanied by pyrotechnics.

The stars then all gathered on stage to welcome Her Majesty and the Prince of Wales.

Witty
Prince Charles caught the popular mood with a witty speech that had the crowd laughing as he talked about "Her Majesty's, mummy's" 60 year reign.

Prince Charles also paid tribute to the comedians who had hosted the concert: Rob Brydon, Miranda Hart, Lenny Henry and Lee Mack "who made those jolly good jokes" - more often than not at the expense of Prince Harry.

The three cheers that rang out along the length of The Mall in honour of The Queen were almost as loud as the spectacular fireworks display that followed.

For the last few hours we had forgotten about recession, austerity and the Eurozone financial crisis.

It was a night to remember for everyone who was there and we left clutching our wicker Jubilee hampers knowing we had been a part of something special.

Pakistan summons US envoy over drone strikes

2012-06-05T10:04:00.002-07:00

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's foreign ministry Tuesday summoned US Charge d'Affaires Richard Hoagland to lodge a formal protest over the series of drone strikes in the country, the ministry said.

The protest came a day after two US drones killed at least 16 people in North Waziristan Monday, the third strike in the area over the past three days.

At least 151 people have been killed in 20 drone strikes launched this year.

"US Charge d'Affaires Ambassador Richard Hoagland was called to the ministry of foreign affairs today (Tuesday). He was officially conveyed the government's serious concern regarding drone strikes in Pakistani territory," Xinhua quoted a ministry statement as saying.

"He (Hoagland) was informed that the drone strikes were unlawful, against international law and a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty," the ministry said.

The statement recalled that the Pakistani parliament had in April stated that the drone strikes were unacceptable.

"Drone strikes represented a clear red-line for Pakistan," the US diplomat was told.

Anti-US sentiment runs high in Pakistan, basically stemming from the drone strikes in Pakistan's northwest border region. The drone strikes have killed hundreds of civilians.

Pakistani authorities have repeatedly condemned the drone strikes in the past but the US has never stopped the attacks.

Heat wave kills 30 in West Bengal

2012-06-05T10:03:00.000-07:00

Kolkata: After reports of over 30 deaths, apparently due to an intense heat wave in southern West Bengal, the state administration has started taking precautionary measures.

"We have received reports of 16 unnatural deaths from various hospitals in the Burdwan district on Tuesday," District Magistrate OS Meena told Indo-Asian News Service.

"Keeping in mind the intense heat wave which might result in casualties, we have arranged for additional beds and generators in the hospitals," he said.

Also Read
Heat wave kills 15 in West Bengal
"Drinking water tankers are also being placed in various parts and schools have been asked to extend the summer holidays," he added.

While Hooghly reported three such deaths, four people succumbed to the heat in Jhargram in West Midnapore. Two deaths due to intense heat were reported from Howrah and Kolkata, district sources said.

Officials of several other district administrations have taken similar precautionary steps.

While the mercury touched 40.2 degrees Celsius in Kolkata -- five degrees above normal - the temperature rose even higher in the other parts of South Bengal.

The Regional Meteorological Centre forecast the heat wave would continue and said a change in the weather conditions was unlikely in the next 24 hours.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has asked the education department to order the schools to extend the summer holidays till June 17.

The intense heat has even forced advocates of the Calcutta High Court to declare cessation of work till Monday.

Dimple Yadav files nomination in Kannauj; Cong, BJP not to contest

2012-06-05T10:02:00.002-07:00

Dimple Yadav, wife of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, today filed her nomination for the Lok Sabha by-election from Kannauj where Congress decided not to enter the fray, reflecting the growing bonhomie between the two parties ahead of Presidential poll.

35-year-old Dimple, who suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Congress' Raj Babbar in the by-polls for the Firozabad Lok Sabha seat in 2009, may have a smooth run in the June 24 election in view of the fact BJP has also decided not to put up its candidate and the BSP still undecided.

Accompanied by her husband, Dimple, filed the papers before the returning officer after both of them addressed a rally.

Seeing a buffer in SP, which provides outside support to the UPA government, Congress is keen to covet the party's 68,000 vote value in the Presidential election as a quid pro quo.

Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh, however, sought to disguise the party strategy saying, "we had not contested the seat in the 2009 Lok Sabha election and we are not contesting it now."

The Kannauj by-election has been necessitated following the resignation of Akhilesh Yadav after his election to the Legislative Council.

However, what is surprising is the decision of BJP not to enter the fray in Kannauj and the BSP keeping the suspense about its strategy.

At the meeting of BJP election Committee here, it was decided not to contest Kannauj by-polls claiming that party's priority was local bodies elections in which it was focussing.

BJP asks Cong to look within instead of criticising Opposition

2012-06-05T10:01:00.003-07:00

New Delhi: Taking offence at the attack on the Opposition by the Congress Working Committee at its conclave, BJP on Tuesday asked the ruling party to first look within saying its own leaders and coalition partners were responsible for the corruption in UPA government.

"They have a right to criticise us and we have no objection to that. They have nothing to say about their own achievements but the manner in which the Opposition was criticised without any basis is unfortunate," BJP Chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi had defended Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and alleged that the Opposition was uduly critical of the government.

"The almost reckless criticism of the Opposition for articulating the inefficiencies and corruption of this government is truly surprising," Prasad said, adding that this was inspite of over 40 Congress leaders conveying their "deep concern" at the conclave on price rise and rampant corruption had dented the government's image.

BJP charged that both Sonia Gandhi and Singh have tried to run away from this "stark reality".

"To live in chronic denial is the DNA of Congress. It tries to run away from reality," Prasad said.

He also rubbished allegations of "conspiracy theories" being at work against the Congress.

"Congress should remember that this always fails. During the JP movement in the 1970s, Indira Gandhi and Deokant Barua (then Congress President) alleged that JP is a leader of a group of conspirators. Then in 1987-88, during Bofors they said conspiracy theories. And now again. This is the India of 2012, a changed India," Prasad said.

Dhoni MS Dhoni visits Leh

2012-06-05T10:00:00.005-07:00

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, brand ambassador of the Indian Army and captain of country's cricket team, on Tuesday arrived at Leh town of Jammu and Kashmir.

Dhoni, who is also an honorary lieutenant colonel of the Territorial Army, was briefed on the unique operational challenges faced by the army on account of rough terrain and hostile weather conditions in the Ladakh region.

Dhoni also interacted informally with the army personnel over a cup of tea at the Leh corps headquarters.

In the afternoon, Dhoni witnessed an exhibition match played between the army and a local cricket team at the highest cricket pitch in the world.

"Spirit of the game came alive when Dhoni cheered not only the army soldiers who had donned the cricket uniform but also the talented local Ladakhi boys when they played exciting shots during the match," a defence release said.

Dhoni is expected Wednesday to visit the army troops deployed in the forward areas, including the world's highest battlefield, the Siachen Glacier.

Mamata wins wards, loses face in civic polls

2012-06-05T10:00:00.002-07:00

The Trinamool Congress won four of the six civic bodies for which results were announced today. However, the party that had confidently gone to polls on Sunday hoping to silence both the opposition CPM and ally Congress with its performance lost the two seats that mattered: the CPM retained the prestigious Haldia municipality, located next to Nandigram, while the Congress romped home 11-1 in Cooper’s Camp.

Not only do the results show an erosion in the TMC’s support base since the Assembly polls a year ago, it is also clear that whether she likes it or not, Mamata Banerjee would do well to keep the Congress as an election partner. The civic elections were the first test of their individual strengths since the Assembly polls, and in a large number of wards, Congress votes made up for the winning margin of opposition candidates.

However, the TMC did manage to wrest the Durgapur and Dhupguri municipalities from the Left while retaining Nalhati and Panskura.

Preliminary reports show that the TMC vote share went down in 22 of the 129 wards (in the six municipalities) where it had a lead during the Assembly polls.

Even the CPM didn’t expect to retain Haldia, with its local strongman Lakshman Seth behind bars on charges of murder. The party’s organisational set-up was in a shambles, destroyed by the TMC’s aggressive inroads. TMC MP Suvendu Adhikari, the architect of the party’s Nandigram movement, had predicted a clean sweep, 26-0, for his party in Haldia.

Apart from its location near Nandigram — which was the epicentre of the TMC’s turnaround story in Bengal — Haldia is also the showpiece of whatever industry is left in the state. All the trade union units here have shifted sides from CITU to the All India Trinamool Trade Union Congress, while all the MLAs, MPs from here belong to the TMC and the party controls all the zilla parishads.

US wants India to play more active role in Afghanistan

2012-06-05T09:59:00.001-07:00

NEW DELHI: US defense secretary Leon Panetta will encourage India to take a more active role in Afghanistan as international forces draw down after a decade of war, US officials said on Tuesday as the Pentagon chief arrived in New Delhi for two days of talks.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged the longstanding rivalry between India and Pakistan for influence in Afghanistan but insisted that both countries had an interest in working with the international community to ensure stability in their northern neighbour.

"There is a risk that the tensions and historical mistrust between India and Pakistan could lead them to view their respective roles in Afghanistan as being in conflict," one official said. "This is not predestined. This does not have to be the case."

Pakistan wields considerable influence over neighbouring Afghanistan, while India is already one of its biggest bilateral donors, having pledged about $2 billion since the 2001 US led-invasion for projects from the construction of highways to the building of the Afghan parliament.

In October, India and Afghanistan signed a wide-ranging agreement to deepen ties, including to help train Afghan security forces, a deal that angered Pakistan.

"India and Pakistan share an interest, the same interest that we have, of peace and stability in Afghanistan," the official said. "That makes Pakistan more peaceful and stable and it makes India a lot more stable."

Their remarks came as Panetta flew to India as part of his week-long Asia tour to explain a new U.S. military strategy to allies and partners in the region. The strategy calls for a shift in U.S. focus to the Asia-Pacific region.

Panetta announced on Saturday during a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a security conference in Singapore, that the U.S. military would rebalance its military assets so that by the year 2020 60 percent of U.S. warships would be in the region, versus 50 percent now.

The officials said the United States views India as a logical partner to work with on security and stability issues in the Indian Ocean region and that India was singled out for its importance in the new strategy.

SUSPICION

Panetta is expected to elaborate on that theme during his meetings with senior defence and political leaders, as well as in a speech at a think tank on Wednesday.

India has a long history of involvement in the country and its activities have often been viewed suspiciously by Pakistan, which is concerned about being diplomatically encircled by its longtime enemy.

India has trained Afghan army and police over the past decade, but on a relatively small scale, the U.S. officials said. It has also increasingly helped Afghanistan with its economic reconstruction, the officials said.

"As we look to the future development of peace and stability in Afghanistan ... we know that the regional actors, Afghanistan's neighbours and extended neighbours like India will play a greater role," one official said.

"That's historically been the case in Afghanistan and that's going to be the case again. And we welcome that."

The official said the United States would like to see "all of the neighbours, including Pakistan and India, harmonize their approaches because they do share an interest in peace and stability in Afghanistan."

The two sides will also discuss their military cooperation, including weapons and training needs.

"We believe that it's very important, again, to help India modernize its capabilities and develop its military capabilities so it can be a net provider of security in the region and internationally," the official said.

The United States is keen to get a bigger slice of India's defence acquisitions, and is negotiating to sell it about a dozen Apache helicopters along with other weapons.

Javdekar No dissension in BJP: Javdekar

2012-06-05T09:58:00.002-07:00

Indore: Days after its party mouthpiece launched a veiled attack on leaders including Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and B S Yeddyurappa, the BJP on Tuesday put up a brave face, claiming "there is no dissension in the party".

"There is no squabbling among party leaders" the party spokesperson Prakash Javdekar told reporters here in reference to the attack made on several saffron leaders in the party magazines,Kamal Sandesh, Panchjanya and Organiser.

"they are like any series of newspapers in the country... Every magazine editor got his idea and concept to write freely as newspapers are doing. It is the media which is making their own interpretation from party's magazine(s) ....Ghar ke andar koi ladayee nahin hai (No internal strife in BJP)," Javdekar said. He was reacting to the editorial in Kamal Sandesh which appealed the party leaders to rise above the petty issues of "self" and "other" besides that of "self existence" and come together for the existence of the party.

On the posters of party leader Sanjay Joshi coming up in Ahmedabad, Javdekar said, "I do not see such posters...Where are they?".

Though the posters did not name Modi directly, it is apparent that the snub is aimed at the chief minister who had his way in elbowing out Joshi from the BJP national executive held in Mumbai last month.

On BJP president Nitin Gadkari touching feet of Yoga guru Baba Ramdev, Javadekar said," Gadkari has touched the feet of a sant (Baba Ramdeo) not of any "rakshasa" (demon)... We are not followers of Baba Ramdev or Anna Hazare. Corruption and black money were the issues that BJP had raised years ago".

Targetting the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government at Centre over its failure to rein in inflation and corruption, the party spokesperson said the dual factors herald a "bad omen" for Congress ahead of the 2014 general elections.

"Inflation coupled with corruption is diabolic to economy. It signals that change in regime is apparent as it had happened in 1975 during Emergency and during economic crises of 1977, 1987 and 1999",Javedkar said.

He said, "inflation and corruption would play a major role in 2014 general elections," .

"The Manmohan Singh government is suffering from policy paralysis..I wonder if we should give credit of unleashing economic reforms to Manmohan Singh," Javdekar said.

When asked if the NDA would field its candidate in Presidential polls or support the UPA nominee, he refused to comment, saying let the Congress first announce their nominee.

Javdekar also appealed the UPA government at Centre to distribute free wheat to poor people in the country to check "spiralling prices".

At least 200 lakh tones of wheat is already lying as buffer stock, while 600 lakh tones is the Rabi production, surpassing the godown capacity of 400 lakh tonne, the senior leader said, adding the excessive produce will perish due to climatic conditions.

"If UPA government wants to arrest inflation, it should distribute a bag of wheat to poor for free," Javdekar said.

During former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's tenure, wheat was sold in market but in UPA there is a high degree of mismanagement as the foodgrain is rotting in absence of sufficient warehouses to store it, he said.

On Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's appeal to states to reduce tax to offer some relief to common people from rising petrol prices, Javdekar said,"This is illogical...Centre increases petrol prices and states have to lower them. The Centre receives about Rs 1.5 lakh crore in excise tax from petrol alone..Let the Centre reduce the tax first"

மங்காத்தா பட வில்லன் ரவிக்குமார் சென்னையில் படுகொலை!

2012-05-31T07:32:00.000-07:00

அஜீத் நடித்த மங்காத்தா படத்தில் ஒரு வில்லனாக நடித்தவரான ரவிக்குமார் என்கிற குமார் சென்னை அருகே படுகொலை செய்யப்பட்டார். இவர் விஷால் நடித்த வல்லக்கோட்டை உள்ளிட்ட படங்களிலும் நடித்துள்ளார். மேலும் சில டிவி சீரியல்களிலும் நடித்துள்ளார்.

சென்னை எருக்கஞ்சேரியைச் சேர்ந்தவர் ரவிக்குமார். அதே பகுதியைச் சேர்நத் ராஜ்குமார் என்பவர் இவரது நண்பர் ஆவார். அடிக்கடி தனது நண்பரைப் பார்க்க வருவது வழக்கம். ராஜ்குமார் வட்டிக்குப் பணம் கொடுப்பவர். அப்பகுதியைச் சேர்ந்த சிலர் ராஜ்குமாரிடம் வாங்கிய கடனுக்கான வட்டியைக் கொடுக்காமல் ஏமாற்றி வந்ததாக தெரிகிறது.

இதுகுறித்து ரவிக்குமாரிடம் சொல்லி வருத்தப்பட்டுள்ளார் ராஜ்குமார். இதையடுத்து கோபம் பெருக்கெடுக்க, ராஜ்குமாரை தனது பைக்கில் அமர வைத்துக் கொண்டு பணம் கொடுக்காமல் ஏமாற்றி வருபவர்களைப் பார்க்க கிளம்பினார் ரவிக்குமார்.

நேற்று நள்ளிரவு இவர்கள் போயுளள்ளனர். அப்போது பணம் வாங்கிக் கொண்டு ஏமாற்ரி வந்தா ரமேஷ், ஜானி, தேவா உள்ளிட்ட 10க்கும் மேற்பட்டோர் இருவரையும் பைக்கோடு வழிமறித்து சரமாரியாக தாக்கினர். இதை எதிர்பாராத ரவிக்குமாரும், ராஜ்குமாரும் தலை தெறிக்க ஓடினர்.

அப்போது ரவிக்குமாரை அக்கும்பல் மடக்கிப் பிடித்து சரமாரியாக வெட்டி வீழ்த்தியது. இதில் சம்பவ இடத்திலேயே ரவிக்குமார் பலியானார். ராஜ்குமார் சிக்காமல் தப்பி ஓடி உயிர் தப்பினார்.

நண்பருக்காக பஞ்சாயத்துப் பேசப் போய் கடைசியி்ல ரவிக்குமார் பரிதாபமாக பலியாகி விட்டார். கும்பலைச் சேர்ந்தவர்கள் தாக்க வந்தபோது ரவிக்குமாரை விட்டு விட்டு ராஜ்குமார் தப்பி ஓடி விட்டதாக கூறப்படுகிறது.

தனுஷ் படத்தில் ப்ரியா ஆனந்த்!

2012-05-31T07:27:00.000-07:00

தனுஷின் வுண்டர்பார் நிறுவனம் தயாரிக்கும் புதிய படத்தில் ஹீரோயினாக நடிக்கிறார் ப்ரியா ஆனந்த்.

'3' படத்தைத் தயாரித்த நிறுவனம்தான் இந்த வுண்டர்பார். கஸ்தூரி ராஜா குடும்ப நிறுவனம்.

பாலச்சந்தர் இயக்கத்தில் வெளியான எதிர்நீச்சல் படத்தை இந்த நிறுவனத்தின் சார்பில் தயாரிக்கிறார் தனுஷ்.

சிவ கார்த்திகேயன் நாயகனாக நடிக்க, அவருக்கு ஜோடியாக ஒப்பந்தம் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளார் ப்ரியா ஆனந்த்.

வெற்றிமாறனிடம் பணியாற்றிய செந்தில் இந்தப் படம் மூலம் இயக்குநராக அறிமுகமாகிறார்.

கொலை வெறிடி பாட்டைத் தந்த அனிருத் இந்தப் படத்துக்கு இசை அமைக்கிறார். இந்த செய்தி வெளியானதிலிருந்து படம் குறித்த விசாரிப்புகள் ஆரம்பமாகிவிட்டனவாம்.

அதேநேரம், முன்பு 3 படத்தில் ஏற்பட்ட நஷ்டத்தை இந்தப் படம் மூலம் ஈடுகட்டிவிடுவதாக தனுஷ் தரப்பு உறுதியளித்துள்ளதாம்!

சென்னைக்குத்தாம்பா ஆதரவு கொடுத்தேன்... திரிஷா புலம்பல்!

2012-05-31T07:22:00.000-07:00

ஐபிஎல் இறுதிப் போட்டியில் நான் சென்னை சூப்பர் கிங்ஸுக்குத்தான் ஆதரவு கொடுத்தேன் என்று பதறியடித்துப் போய்க் கூறியுள்ளார் திரிஷா.

சென்னை சேப்பாக்கம் மைதானத்தில் ஐபிஎல் இறுதிப் போட்டி நடந்தது. சென்னை அணியும், கொல்கத்தா நைட் ரைடர்ஸும் மோதின. இதில் கொல்கத்தா வெற்றி பெற்றது.

போட்டியைக் காண பல திரைப்பட பிரபலங்கள் குவிந்திருந்தனர். கொல்கத்தாவுக்கு ஆதரவு தெரிவித்து ஜெனிலியா, பாடகி உஷா உதுப் உள்ளிட்டோர் வந்திருந்தனர்.

அதேபோல சென்னை அணிக்கு ஜெயம் ரவி, உமா ரியாஸ் உள்ளிட்டோர் ஆதரவு தெரிவித்திருந்தனர். நம்ம திரிஷாவையும் ஸ்டேடியத்தில் காண முடிந்தது.

ஆனால் அவர் கொல்கத்தா ரசிகர்கள் மத்தியில் உட்கார்ந்திருந்தார. இதனால் அவர் கொல்கத்தாவுக்கு ஆதரவாக இருந்துள்ளதாக பேச்சு வெடித்தது. கொல்கத்தா வேறு வெற்றி பெற்றதால் திரிஷா மீது சென்னை சூப்பர் கிங்ஸ் ரசிகர்கள் திரிஷா மீது காட்டமாகியுள்ளனர். டிவிட்டர் மூலமும், பிளாக்குள் மூலமும் திரிஷாவைத் திட்டித் தீர்த்து வருகின்றனராம்.

இது திரிஷாவின் காதுகளுக்குப் போய் அவர் களேபரமாகி விட்டார். நான் எப்போதுமே சென்னையின் ரசிகைதான். நேற்றும் கூட சென்னைக்குத்தான் ஆதரவு கொடுத்தேன். எனது நெருங்கிய தோழி சபீனா கான் அங்கிருந்ததால் அவர் பக்கத்தில் போய் உட்கார்ந்தேன். மற்றபடி நான் கொல்கத்தாவையெல்லாம் ஆதரிக்கவி்ல்லை, சாமி. தயவு செய்து விட்டுடுங்க என்று புலம்பியுள்ளார்.

விடுங்கப்பா, விடுங்கப்பா...

அஜீத்தை தனியாவிட்டு லண்டன் பறந்த குடும்பத்தார்

2012-05-31T07:19:00.000-07:00

அஜீத் குமார் படப்பிடிப்புகளில் பிசியாக இருப்பதால் அவரை தனியாக விட்டுவிட்டு அவரது குடும்பத்தார் கோடை விடுமுறையைக் கழிக்க லண்டன் சென்றுள்ளனர்.

அஜீத் குமார் ஷூட்டிங்களில் பிசியாக இருக்கிறார். இந்நிலையில் விஷ்ணுவர்தன் இயக்கும் இன்னும் பெயரிடப்படாத படத்தில் நயன்தாரா, ஆர்யா, டாப்ஸி ஆகியோருடன் நடிக்கவிருக்கிறார். அந்த படத்தின் ஷூட்டிங் நாளை மும்பையில் துவங்குகிறது. இதற்கிடையே அவரது குடும்பத்தார் கோடை விடுமுறையைக் கழிக்க லண்டன் செல்ல திட்டமிட்டனர். ஆனால் அஜீத்துக்கு படப்பிடுப்புகள் இருப்பதால் அவர் லண்டன் வருவது கஷ்டம் என்பதை அவரது குடும்பத்தார் உணர்ந்தனர்.

இதையடுத்து அஜீத்தின் மனைவி ஷாலினி, செல்ல மகள் அனோஷ்கா, மாமனார், மைத்துனி ஷாமிலி ஆகியோர் மட்டும் லண்டன் பறந்துவிட்டனர். அவர்கள் எல்லாம் ஜாலியாக லண்டனை சுற்றிப் பார்க்க தல மட்டும் இங்கு தனியாக உள்ளார்.

படப்பிடிப்புகள் இருப்பதால் குடும்பத்தார் வீட்டில் இல்லாதது ஒரு வேளை வித்தியாசமாக தெரியாமல் இருக்கலாம். ஆனால் அவர் நிச்சயம் தனது மகளை மிஸ் பண்ணுவார்.