Ahmedabad: A cinema hall in Ahmedabad screening the Aamir Khan-starrer PK was today vandalised allegedly by members of a right-wing group.
Around 40 people allegedly belonging to the Bajrang Dal, an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the BJP’s parent body – reportedly broke glass panes of the multiplex, demanding that the screening of the film be stopped. The group then vandalized another multiplex nearby which was also showing the film.
PK, which released on December 19 and has smashed several box-office records, has generated a huge controversy with several outfits demanding a ban on the movie, alleging that it hurts religious sentiments. Others have demanded the removal of certain scenes from the film to ensure communal harmony.
The criticism also spilled onto Twitter with the hashtag #BoycottPK which was promptly countered by the film’s supporters with the hashtag #WeSupportPK which was one of the top trends on the micro-blogging site.
The Censor Board has refused to delete scenes from the film, saying “it’s already out for public viewing.”
‘PK’, directed by Rajkumar Hirani, is a satire on India’s godmen and Aamir plays the lead role in it. The film also stars Anushka Sharma, Sanjay Dutt and Sushant Singh Rajput.
Another plane at the bottom of the sea, another search area widened: events in south-east Asia following the crash of flight QZ8501 have taken on haunting dimensions of the loss of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in March.
The AirAsia flight, with 162 people on board, lost contact with air-traffic controllers shortly after dawn, local time, on Sunday. The Airbus A320 was flying from Indonesia’s second city, Surabaya to Singapore.
Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency concluded that the aircraft is on the seabed, in a relatively shallow area of the Java Sea between Borneo and Sumatra. But as any hope of finding survivors was dashed, the families of the passengers and crew faced a second night of uncertainty.
Two days of aerial searches involving aircraft from Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore have failed to identify any wreckage. An oil slick sighted during the day on Monday was found to be unconnected with the loss.
The losses of MH370 and QZ8501 took place in very different circumstances. The disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines jet remains shrouded in mystery, with general acceptance that the transponder was deliberately switched off to avoid detection, at a point where the aircraft was out of contact with air-traffic controllers in both Malaysia and Vietnam. “Pings” from the Boeing 777’s engines have led investigators to search a swathe of the Indian Ocean west of Australia, where the jet is presumed to have crashed after fuel ran out.
MUST READ: Hunt for QZ8501 observes smoke coming from island
The AirAsia flight was in normal flight above a relatively narrow area of sea, in an area busy with other aircraft. Investigators are not exploring the possibility that the loss was deliberate.
Nevertheless, anger is growing that lessons from the disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines jet have not yet been implemented by the aviation community. Some observers believe that real-time flight tracking, where the position of each aircraft can be continuously monitored, should have become mandatory after the loss of Air France flight 447 five years ago.
Technology allowing airlines to track their aircraft is widely available. A Canadian company, Flyht, sells a system that should have enabled rescuers to pinpoint QZ8501. If an aircraft encounters an emergency, the “Automated Flight Information Reporting System” (AFIRS) streams cockpit voice recordings and flight data to receiving stations in real time. The information, equivalent to that recorded by the aircraft’s “black box”, would help investigators to understand what caused the loss of the aircraft and where it is likely to be located. The equipment has been certified for use on the Airbus A320, but is not currently fitted to AirAsia aircraft.
In May, the UN International Telecommunications Union Secretary-General, Hamadoun Touré, said: “We must make every effort at the international level to develop real-time tracking solutions for the aviation industry.” But the UN agency responsible for passenger flights, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), has not issued any instructions to airlines to install the equipment.
MUST READ: Critics ask how planes can go missing in age of GPS
Scott Anderson, an analyst for the aviation website Leeham News and Comment, said: “It’s time for ICAO to make a decision, and if it doesn’t then individual country regulators need to step up and require real-time tracking. “This won’t save the lives lost but recovering wreckage and the black boxes in a timely manner could lead to safety and operational changes that will save lives in the future.”
Some experts have speculated that the Airbus was flying too slowly for its altitude, but without data from the “black box” there can be no certainty.
A statement from AirAsia in Surabaya said: “We have been keeping the families updated on the search and rescue efforts as well as provide emotional support. Another group of AirAsia officials are providing the same to the families based in Singapore.”
As the search continues, attention is focusing on the pilots and whether they may have responded inappropriately to stormy weather. As with AF447, which was flying from Rio to Paris, the AirAsia jet was flying through an equatorial area. The sun’s energy creates thunderstorms that present a threat to aircraft. The pilots requested a change of direction and height shortly before it disappeared from the radar screens. The increase in altitude was refused by air-traffic controllers because of the presence of other traffic.
At a press conference in Surabaya, AirAsia’s chief executive, Tony Fernandes, said: “We really can’t speculate until we find the aircraft. Then we’ll see what we need to improve – if we need to improve.”
In April, AirAsia was forced to remove its inflight magazine following the disappearance of MH370. An article by a retired pilot, said:“Pilot training in AirAsia is continuous and very thorough. Rest assured that your captain is well prepared to ensure your plane will never get lost.”
Pangkalun Bun (Indonesia): Items resembling an emergency slide, plane door and other objects were spotted during an aerial search Tuesday for missing AirAsia flight 8501, Indonesian officials said.
“We spotted about 10 big objects and many more small white-coloured objects which we could not photograph,” Indonesian air force official Agus Dwi Putranto told a press conference.
“The position is 10 kilometres (six miles) from the location the plane was last captured by radar,” he said.
He displayed 10 photos of objects resembling a plane door, emergency slide, and a square box-like object.
An AFP photographer on the same flight that spotted the debris said he had seen objects in the sea resembling a life raft, life jackets and long orange tubes
Mumbai: BJP MP from Akola Sanjay Dhotre kicked up a controversy on Sunday when, addressing a conference, he said “…let the farmers die.”
The BJP MP, however, defended his comments and said the statement from his speech at an event was shown by television channels out of context.
The controversial remark came at a time when 12 farmers from Vidarbha have committed suicide in 72 hours.
Speaking at an agriculture exhibition and conference of farmers in Akola on Sunday morning where revenue minister Eknath Khadse was present Mr Dhotre said, “The farmers are in trouble due to our wrong policies. Sometimes I say angrily say, ‘Let the farmers die, do not pay attention. Those who can afford farming will do it, others will not do it.’”
The comment immediately sparked outrage.
Criticising Mr Dhotre, Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said it showed the ruling alliance’s “perverted mentality”.
“If the BJP leadership is heading in this direction then we condemn it. The comment by Mr Dhotre shows their perverted mentality. It is sad that the comment was made on a public forum and in presence of senior leaders (sic),” he said.
AAP Leader Anjali Daminia has strongly spoken against such irresponsible statement made by a representative elected by the people.
Hundreds of underprivileged children of CRY’s ‘Diksha’ and ‘Calcutta Samaritan’ projects sang Christmas carol today aboard a luxury vessel hoping to ring in a promising tomorrow, in a unique first-ever show.
Popular Bengali singer Neepabithi Ghosh, actively associated with the two projects of CRY, handed over gifts to the children who sang along side her.
While the children of ‘Diksha’ hailed from some of the red light areas of the city, ‘Calcutta Samaritan’ works for the precocious street kids, a CRY spokesman said.
“My little association with them have opened my eyes in more than one way. I have brought my son to interact with them and show them how more privileged our children are than these kids who have the extra urge to prove themselves and don’t take things for granted,” Neepabithi told PTI.
Neepabithi, whose Mor Bhabanare in ‘Tagore on the Highway’ is among the top tracks on the FM, sang D L Roy’s iconic song ‘Dhano Dhanyo Puspe Bhara’ with the children.
“Amazed the way they recited the number and joined the chorus. A little compassion and tenderneess will make them feel special. They have the creative spark which needs to be ignited,” Neepabithi, who dedicated her last album Iconic comprising timeless Bangla tracks including the D L Roy number, said.
Besides Neepbithi, elocutionist Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee and popular film and small screen actor Bhaswar Chatterjee joined the children in singing ‘Jingle Bell’ on the deck of yacht.
AGARTALA: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has cautioned that any attempt of forcible religious conversion in the state will be severely dealt with.
“Left Front government is cautious about the religious freedom of every person or community and our government will not leave any stone unturned to thwart any attempt of forcible conversion and strict legal action will be taken against such move,” Sarkar told a meeting of party workers yesterday at Gandhacherra town in Dhalai district, about 150 km from here.
He said there was no religious conflict in the state, where Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Buddhists were living in communal harmony and that tradition should be maintained with utmost care.
“We are aware that some people are converted from one religion to another in Uttar Pradesh by giving them BPL card and other facilities, but any such attempt will be resisted here,” Sarkar said
Religious conversion is a very common practice in the North East for over a period of more than ten years. The amazing rate of Churches established in the interior parts of the North East is a matter of grave concern. Poverty, illiteracy and unemployment are the factors behind this conversion.
The indigenous groups, culture and festivals that are a pride of the North East is very much endangered by these conversions.
2015 Is not just a new but a very special year for Ranbir Kapoor! While we have already told you that he would be spending New Year with Katina Kaif in London, what we have just recently found out is that he may even ask her mother for Kat’s hand!
How cute is that? We do feel this will be a piece of cake for the charming Kapoor boy. And that he will win Suzanne Turquotte’s heart in no more than a second.
To be honest, we did see this coming soon. Specially after the couple shifting in together, and Neetu and Rishi Kapoor putting marriage pressure on their darling. It’s about time! And what’s a better time than a new year.
Way to start 2015, Ranbir Kapoor! We wish you all the love, luck and happiness!
– See more at: http://www.bollywood.com/celebrities/ranbir-kapoor/news/ranbir-kapoor-ask-katrinas-mother-her-daughters-hand#sthash.Sb1EUgme.dpuf
Shraddha Kapoor’s last Movie ‘Ek Villain‘ is on screen these days and making a very good Money. And now Shraddha Kapoor Hot Photos In GQ India Magazine Cover July 2014- Exclusive Pictures also making Buzz in B-Town. Leaving behind All other Bollywood Actresses Shradha got the chance to be on and in GQ magazine July Edition.
Shraddha Kapoor who is also known for her ‘Girl-Next-door’ in B-Town, looks in very Boly and sexy Avatar in the Fashion Magazine Pictures. She is showing her bold and sexy Shradha to the world.
Shraddha Kapoor is bearing her cutesy image on the front page of GQ magazine July Edition. The ‘Aashiqui 2′ actress is sporting a Bordelle Spring Summer 2014 bodysuit and American Apparel shorts paired with sky-high black pumps and we must say the she is looking extremely hot in the cover pic. See Shraddha Kapoor all Hot Photos In GQ India Magazine Cover July 2014.
New Delhi: Adult star-turned-Bollywood diva Sunny Leone is indeed a popular girl in the country. There is enough proof to back Sunny on this one. Well, search engine giant Google has reportedly released a year ender list of who was googled most in the year 2014.
Interestingly, Sunny has managed to remain the most searched celebrity in India on Google, and that too third time in a row. Yes! The ‘Baby Doll’ has made it to the top for the third time consecutively, marking a hat-trick of sorts. She not only maintained her position but also surged past Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is safely placed on the second spot.
Sunny has reportedly beaten the likes of superstar Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif and Deepika Padukone in the list. Meanwhile, Salman Khan has topped the most searched Bollywood actor male, closely followed by ‘new friend’ Shah Rukh Khan at the second slot.
In the female actor category, actress Katrina Kaif enjoys her top slot, followed by Deepika Padukone at the second number. Incidentally, in the trending movies list, Google has named Sunny Leone’s ‘Ragini MMS 2’ at number one place. The second position has been bagged by Salman’s ‘Kick’.
BEIJING: Some 87,000 people have been arrested by Chinese police this year for their alleged involvement in prostitution and gambling, authorities said.
Police across the country closed over 37,000 criminal cases involving prostitution and gambling during the year, ministry of public security (MPS) said.
The MPS made public 20 of the 37,000 cases, including cases of organized prostitution in entertainment venues and through online platforms, setting up casinos, running cross-border gambling website, among other violations, state- run Xinhua news agency reported.
Police captured 87,000 criminal suspects for prostitution and gambling since the beginning of 2014.
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