New Delhi/Chennai: In a reversal of sorts, the Dubai-based Taj Entertainment Network (TEN) sports channel was told by the Supreme Court on Friday to give the state-run television network Doordarshan the right to telecast Saturday's one-day international. In a major relief for viewers across the country, Supreme Court Chief Justice V.N. Khare directed the broadcaster to provide Doordarshan and cable operators with a telecast of Saturday's match between Pakistan and India, which is being played at Karachi's National Stadium. Chief Justice Khare, however, said that Doordarshan must carry the TEN Sports logo during the entire period of the telecast, adding that a further hearing would take place on Monday.

          Earlier today, talks on the telecasting issue between Ten Sports and Doordarshan had fallen through after the Madras High Court had asked Ten Sports to let DD carry its feed. Ten Sports had refused to accept the order and challenged it in the Supreme Court. The channel, in its petition to the apex court argued that allowing Doordarshan the rights to show the match live will mean a huge loss in business for the channel. The Dubai-based channel argued that it had bought the exclusive rights of telecast of the series through global bidding in 2002 and had no agreement with Doordarshan for sharing the same. It also argued that it could allow only Doordarshan the right to show the matches, and that too, with a few minutes delay. But Doordarshan rejected the offer.

          Ten Sports is also in the middle of a dispute with cable networks over the money they should get for showing the matches. Cable operators claim Ten Sports is asking for more money to show the cricket series. The networks might black out after the match is over tomorrow in case no solution is reached. The only network that will show the matches is In Cable, which has been directed to pay TEN Sports an additional Rs.17 lakh by the Telecom Tribunal TDSAT. Ten Sports in turn, has been asked to restore its feed to In Cable. TEN Sports has paid 14.5 million dollars to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the telecast rights of all the matches in their country for five years.

Mixed reactions to JK Women's Bill deferment (Go To Top)

         Jammu/New Delhi: Mixed emotions have greeted the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker's decision to defer the vote on the controversial Permanent Resident (Disqualification) Bill 2004, for Kashmiri women. "From the kind of the situation in the legislative council, we feel that it was their trick to defer the Bill. The House was adjourned sine die. The issue of the Bill will be taken up when the House meets next time. We feel that the issue of the Bill does not end here," said Nirmal Singh, the BJP chief in the state. The Lower House of the state Assembly has already adopted the Bill, which if passed by its Upper House, will result in Kashmiri women losing their permanent residency status in the state if they marry men from outside the state. "They have deferred the bill just as an eye wash ahead of the general elections. If the women who are marrying outside Kashmir lose property rights, why cannot men?", Mamta Singh, a resident of Jammu, asked.

Anand Margis reject SC order on dance ban (Go To Top)

          Kolkata: A controversial cult group here has expressed discontent over a Supreme Court order banning its "Tandav Nritya" ritual, using human skulls and tridents. The apex court ruled that the Anand Marg had no fundamental religious right to perform the dance in public. Reacting to the order, Acharya Kalyanaswaran Avdoot, the public relations officer of the group, said it was thinking of legal remedies. "Today, the verdict has come and it has gone against us. But we have still not received the judgement. As soon as we receive the judgement, we shall consult our lawyers and take remedial legal action," he said.

          The Tandav Nritya, also known as Lord Shiva's dance, goes back 7,000 years. Avdoot, however, defended the practice, saying it was a symbolic form of human triumph over death. "We practise the dance. It is our day-to-day religious routine. We have to practise it everyday and it is a symbolic dance. In public also, it was advised and given in writing by our (founder) in our Characharya or Practice Book," he said. "Actually, this dance is to fight with fear and the biggest fear human mind has is about death. So, in the left hand, we have the symbol of fear. It can be a skull, it can be a snake," he added. The Anand Marg's founder, Anandmurthi P.R. Sarkar had made the Tandav Nritya a compulsory ritual in 1966. Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi banned the outfit in 1975.

Clarify your stand on IIMs, SC tells Govt. (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: India's Supreme Court today gave a week's time to the Central Government to clarify its stand on insisting on fee cuts in the country's top management schools. The apex court also instructed the government to specify the amount of subsidy that would be made available after the one fifth fee cut was put in place. The court was responding to the public interest litigation that sought a clarification on "autonomy" of the Indian Institute of Managements (IIMs). "Questions were raised on what is autonomy. If an undertaking is given, then there should be no problems because of the correct definition of autonomy. That's why the respondents needed some time to take instructions. We also said if the undertaking is not given on autonomy, then our writ petition should be heard properly," Sandip Parikh, the petitioner, said. Management officials are protesting the government order, saying that it will affect the education standards of these institutes. Parikh had earlier filed a public interest litigation seeking the Supreme Court's intervention in getting an assurance from the government that the fee deduction would not amount to an interference in the functioning of six IIMs in the country. The court had then rejected the PIL, saying that the petitioner could not prove that the fee cuts were aimed at taking control of the management schools. The court had also endorsed the decision on fee cuts after the Central Government promised not to interfere in the running of the schools.

Foreigners' issue not personal, says Advani (Go To Top)

          Coimbatore: Entering the third day of his over 30- day long "Bharat Uday Yatra" on Friday, Deputy Prime Minister L.K.Advani said that he had no doubt that the people of the country had already chosen a hugely-popular Atal Bihari Vajpayee to lead the nation once again. Talking to reporters here, Advani also rejected allegations that he had personalized the foreigners' origin issue as far as the country's politics was concerned. He said that he had never taken the name of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, but reiterated that the public was quite emphatic about not having a foreigner occupying the country's top posts.

 RSS meets in Jaipur to formulate strategy (Go To Top)

         Jaipur: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) began a three-day conclave here on Friday to formulate a strategy for the next month's national elections. According to newspaper reports, the RSS, the ideological parent of the BJP, is expected to review the impact of the BJP's "India Shining" campaign.

No threat to Indian players' lives: Punjab IGP (Go To Top)

          Lahore: There is no threat to the lives of Indian cricket players currently touring Pakistan after a gap of nearly 14 years, claimed Syed Masood Shah, the Inspector-General of Police of the country's Punjab Province. "We've no information about the life threats to Indian squad and even the Indian police men accompanying the team reported to us no such threats so far", Shah was quoted by Online News as saying at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium. The Punjab Police IG said the law and order is absolutely under control and "the visitors must not worry about their safety as we've made excellent and foolproof security arrangements for the Indian squad members". That the province would be hosting a Test match and two one-day internationals was testimony to the Indian government's confidence about the law and order situation in the province, Shah said. "Pakistan is a safe sporting place for anyone who wants to play here," he added.

          Briefing reporters about the security arrangements for the forthcoming series, Shah said that at least 2600 policemen have been deployed in and around the Gaddafi and Multan Stadiums respectively. "A police force of 2000 would be present in and around Rawalpindi to avoid any untoward incident during the visit of the Indian team," he added.

Indo-Pak ODI hits Karachi cinema screens! (Go To Top)

          Karachi: Two of Karachi's leading cinema halls - Bambino and Scala - have been given permission by the local municipal authorities to show the first one-day international between Pakistan and India on Saturday. The management of the two cinemas had reportedly approached the Town Nazim, Farooq Fariya, for permission to show the match live keeping in view the limited capacity at Karachi's National Stadium. Permission was granted with instructions that nominal rates be charged for watching the match on screen, reported the Dawn.

Men in Blue arrive to tackle the Greens! (Go To Top)

          Karachi: The "Men in Blue" arrived in this port city today amidst tight security to play the first of the five- match one-day series against Pakistan tomorrow. Hundreds of armed security personnel cordoned off the Pakistan International Airlines plane that brought Sourav Ganguly's men from Lahore, a day after their shock four-wicket defeat by Pakistan 'A' at the Gaddafi Stadium. The other passengers were asked to stay aboard the plane till the cricket players disembarked and were whisked away in bulletproof bus towards the Karachi Sheraton Hotel with the Sindh Rangers for company. The City Nazim, Naimatullah Khan, and Director Operations Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Zakir Khan welcomed the team, Geo news channel reported.

         Karachi's National Stadium, the venue of Saturday's match, has been virtually converted into a fortress. Over 7,000 policemen, including 1500 paramilitaries have been deployed in and around the stadium with senior police officers personally taking charge of its 14 gates, the hotel and other vantage points. Syed Kamal Shah, the Inspector General of Police of Sindh, disclosed this. Shah, who along with other top officers reviewed the full security dress rehearsal, said that the extra police force had been drawn from across the province to ensure trouble-free match.

         Meanwhile, Jagmohan Dalmiya, the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has said that he has no doubt that the present series will play a significant role in capturing the hearts of people in both countries and making them come closer. Talking to the Geo news channel on Friday, Dalmiya expressed satisfaction over the security arrangements. "Cricket is a game of winning and loosing, and I will invite the Pakistani cricket team and families to India," he said Pakistan captain Inzamam ul Haq, however, made his intentions clear today, when he said his team would play aggressive cricket against India.

          Addressing a news conference at the National Stadium with coach Javed Miandad, Inzamam stated that team will try its best to be positive and take advantage of weaknesses of the Indian team. Miandad, however, said that both teams were equal in terms of strengths and weaknesses. He appealed to all to treat the series as a game to ensure more such series in the future. A large number of Pakistani and Indian journalists were present at the press conference.

Warne beats Murali to the 500 club (Go To Top)

         Galle (Sri Lanka): Instrumental in scripting Australia's 197-run defeat of Sri Lanka in the first Test here today, leg spinner Shane Warne beat his Sri Lankan spinning counterpart Muttiah Murlitharan to become the second man to enter the 500-Test wicket club. He joins the august company of West Indian Courtney Walsh (519 Test wickets). Playing his first Test since returning last month from a yearlong ban for failing a drug test, Warne, 34, became the first spin bowler to take 500 Test wickets. He finished with figures of 10-159, as the Aussies bundled out Sri Lanka for 154 in their second innings after declaring their second innings on 512 for 8. Warne ended the game with 501 Test scalps. The Aussies played in superb form brushing aside the hosts' first innings lead of 161 with Matthew Hayden, Darren Lehmann and Damien Martyn smashing tons. Hayden's score of 130 coupled with seven catches, the most in a Test by a non-wicketkeeper, earned him the man of the match award.

Bottomlines

Bollywood in Pakistan!  (Go To Top)

          Mumbai: The biggest ever Bollywood show is going to happen for the first time in Pakistan at the Royal Palm Golf and Country Club in Lahore on March 25- a day after the cricket match between India and Pakistan in Lahore. The show to be organized by GS Entertainment was earlier scheduled to be held on February 12, but was cancelled due to technical problems. The show will include performances from Akshay Kumar, Shilpa Shetty and singers Shaan, Sunidhi Chauhan and musicians Jatin- Lalit, besides other Bollywood stars. The tickets for the show have been priced at a whopping cost of Rs 8000.

Baby scream to bring Al Qaeda to its knees! (Go To Top)

         Sydney: Believe it or not! A wailing baby may soon bring the Al Qaeda to its knees. If reports emanating out of Baghdad are to be believed, American soldiers in Iraq will soon be armed with a "stun gun" that uses a baby's high-pitched scream to bring enemies to their knees. The "Secret Scream" gun fires sonic "bolts" across distances as far as 300m at up to 145db, with results ranging from excruciating agony to permanent deafness or even death after a prolonged burst, reports an Australian web site. The weapon consists of a large megaphone on an armored vehicle, aimed by a computer. It will be used to control rioters and target gunmen. The Pentagon reportedly made an order for a prototype of similar weapons last July. They visited the American Technology Corporation, run by Woody Norris, who is a pioneer in ultrasound technology.

          The device emits so-called "sonic bullets" along a narrow, intense beam up to 145 decibels, 50 times the human threshold of pain. The baby scream can be projected at such high levels that it can literally leave a victim's skull vibrating, Norris adds. The pioneering aspect of Norris's work is based on the direct path his sonic bullets take. Previous attempts to create such a weapon proved difficult because sound traveled in all directions, harming bystanders near to any specific target. U.S. defence department officials are reportedly keen on the weapon to hunt for Al Qaeda operatives in Afghanistan. With the sound ricocheting in their tight cave hideouts, experts believe the terrorists fighting the U.S. forces would be flushed out quickly. "They would have to come out and they probably would come out with their hands over their ears so they would be very easy to subdue at that point," Marine Colonel Peter Dotto was quoted as telling the ABC news network.

I want my husband back, Diana had told Camilla! (Go To Top)

          London: The late Princess Diana had confronted Camilla Parker Bowles over her affair with Prince Charles and had told her firmly that she wanted her husband back. According to the Sun, speaking on the secret tapes that are being played on US TV, Diana said the confrontation took place at a 1989 party when she interrupted a conversation between Charles, Camilla and another guest. The excerpts have been broadcast on NBC's 'Today' show. They were secretly recorded in the 1990s and used by writer Andrew Morton in his biography of Diana. The royal beauty revealed, "I said to the two men, 'OK, boys, I'm just going to have a quick word with Camilla'". "I was terrified of her. I said 'I know what's going on between you and Charles and I want you to know that'," said Diana. She claimed that Camilla told her, "You've got everything you ever wanted. You've got all the men in the world fall in love with you and you've got two beautiful children, what more do you want?" Diana said she retorted by saying, "I want my husband. I said to Camilla 'I'm sorry I'm in the way . . . and it must be hell for both of you. But I do know what's going on. Don't treat me like an idiot'."

Money doesn't make a man happy: Robbie Williams (Go To Top)

          New York: Pop Star Robbie Williams is swimming in money, but is still unhappy. "Money's nothing to do with happiness. Sometimes I feel like cashing everything in and giving it all away," the Sun quoted him, as saying. The superstar was paid a staggering 50,000 dollars for a single day last year and his salary works out to nearly 2,000 dollars an hour, or 350,000 dollars a week. According to the report, the lottery-style payout was revealed in the published accounts for Robbie's firm - The Good Company Co Ltd., which reported a turnover of 34,949,632 dollars. But his enormous wealth has not prevented him from feeling the blues. "In my darkest moments I'm convinced my life would be easier if I didn't have as much as 100 dollars, then I could walk the streets as a free man, meet a girl and live the quiet life that I long for," the star added.

Paraglider nosedives into prison! (Go To Top)

          Sydney: An adventure ride turned into a nightmare for Russell Wilson, an Australian paraglider, when he flew into the grounds of a country prison. According to news.com. , Wilson was flying near Castlemaine when he landed inside Loddon Prison. Fearing a security breach, guards pounced on the 37-year-old. Wilson, who took off from nearby Mt Alexander, however, said the prison car park was the only place he could land after being caught in thermal wind. "I got near the prison and I was losing height because it was a bit windy," "I had to land and had two options - the rifle range where someone was shooting or the prison car park. I think most people would choose the car park,"he said.

Affleck's mystery woman revealed! (Go To Top)

          New York: Behold! The curtain has finally been lifted on Ben Affleck's mystery woman, after his split with Jennifer Lopez. According to Imdb, Rolling Stone journalist Jancee Dunn got a peak at the Hollywood hunk's elaborate lifestyle, when he suggested that they act as lovers for the afternoon. The paparazzi was baffled when they saw this charade and mistook her as Affleck's new girlfriend. The details of the couple's day out are in the new issue of Rolling Stone.

 Zohra Segal reunites with sister in Pak after 57 years (Go To Top)

          Lahore: It took 57 long years and an Indo-Pakistan theatre festival for India's Zohra Segal to reunite with her sister Uzra Butt in Pakistan. Separated during the 1947 partition of the subcontinent, courtesy Britain's colonial rulers, Zohra, 92, and Uzra Butt, 87, wowed the audience at Lahore's Alhamra cultural complex with their play "Aik Thee Nani" earlier this week. The play, written by Ajoka Theatre Company founder Shahid Nadeem and directed by his wife Madeeha Gauhar, was scripted with the sisters in mind.

          The play was first performed here in 1993 and brought together Zohra, and Uzra onstage for the first time in 40 years. It was performed in India last August. "The credit for everything we are goes to our mother, Natika Begum of Rampur. She left all her inheritance to us specifically for our education. It was her dream to see us reach for the stars," Zohra was quoted by the Daily Times, as saying. "We are a family of rebels, as I've mentioned in my book. I was a complete tomboy," Segal said, adding that dance has remained her first love. "Dance is a perfect art, it has music, rhythm. It's a painting in itself ... it depicts emotions without words," she said. The nonagenarian says she is also a yoga fanatic. "After light breakfast and orange juice, I do an hour of yoga, and breathing and relaxation exercises taught to me by Uday Shankar. In the evenings, I go to the rooftop and train my voice. There is no perfection without practice," she said. Asked of her write-ups in the press, Zohra said, "I'm a miserly, quick tempered and temperamental person but no newspaper ever mentions that."

         Butt on the other hand said that she was an accomplished athlete and tennis player, and was confused initially about her career choices. "I didn't know whether I should go professional as a tennis player, take up teaching or join an acting troupe," says Butt. "I went to my father to ask him what he thought was best. He said one thing that I remember to this day, 'follow your passion because when there is passion, success is inevitable'." Then the fateful call. "Zohra appa called from London and asked me to join Uday Shankar's group since a girl in this troupe had fallen ill. It was a difficult decision," she added. A stint with the Prithvi Raj Theatre Company followed. "The great grandfather of Karishma Kapoor, he was one charismatic man," she said.

          Butt says she moved to Pakistan with her scriptwriter husband Hameed Butt five years after her marriage in 1942. "I became a typical housewife, not that he ever stopped me from continuing with my career," she says, adding that moving to Pakistan "was perhaps the most difficult phase in my life, there was much idle time." Butt said that she frequently had to visit India to "recharge my batteries". Shortly after her husband died of cardiac arrest, Butt was invited to play the lead role in Raj Kapoor's Shakuntalla (1958). "I was young then. My body was flexible. Now, I get tired from rehearsing, my knees hurt when I walk and it's hard maintaining my balance," she said, adding that she was pleased that the roles were still coming in. "I used to play the love interest and now I play the grandma parts. Theatre is my life," she laughingly says. Both sisters are recipients of India's Sangeet Natak Academy Award. Offering advice to the young men and women of India and Pakistan, Zohra says, "Society goes on. It's the rebels who do something and bring about a change. Don't flirt with art. It's a gift from God, so learn to appreciate it."