Acclaimed lyricist Shahryar passes away
Acclaimed lyricist Shahryar of Umraao Jaan fame and fourth Urdu writer to win the Jnanpith Award in 2008, died of lung cancer last night at Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh.
Shahryar belonged to a Muslim Rajput family, and retired as the chairman of the Urdu Department at the Aligarh Muslim University. Originally christened Akhlaq Mohammed Khan, he was recognized for his lyrics in Muzaffar Ali’s films like Gaman, Umrao Jaan and Anjuman.
News Trends sends out its heartfelt condolence to Shahryar’s family.
Watch the video: Life & Work of Shahryar
Two endings for Ekk Deewana Tha
In what appears to be the first of its kind in India, the forthcoming release, EKK DEEWANA THA, will be released with two endings. Yes, you read it right! Director Gautham Menon, who made the film in Tamil and subsequently in Telugu, had opted for diverse endings for the two films. For the Hindi version, EKK DEEWANA THA, Menon and Fox Star Studios have decided to release two endings across the country.
While the mainstream ending will be released in 500 + screens in India, the Director’s Cut, with a different end, will be released in 20 select theatres across the country. “The newspaper listings will highlight this fact as well,” Vijay Singh of Fox Star Studios confirms. An interesting development without doubt and it could pave way for similar efforts if the concept of two endings clicks with the audience.
Watch Promo: Ekk Deewana Tha
Working on relations with Pakistan despite challenges: US
The acting US Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs, Michael Hammer has said that the United States was committed to a positive relationship with Pakistan despite the upheavels throughout last year. “Clearly, we have had a very challenging and difficult period in our relationship with Pakistan, but I think both capitals, and both peoples, and both governments realize that we need to get through this difficult period and continue to work together,” he stated.
While addressing the media at Washington, DC s Foreign Press Center Monday, he said “the extremist threat is a threat for Pakistan, as well as to the United States.”
“Pakistan has put tremendous efforts forward and lost a lot of lives in fighting the extremists who want to do harm to Pakistanis, as well as to Americans and our allies,” he opined.
Commenting on the possibilities of bringing the relationship back on track, he said “we wait for the determination of the Pakistani parliament in terms of what they find, but continue to reach out to the authorities in Pakistan.”
“We feel that we need to work together to address these challenges, in order to start to bring some peace for the people in these areas, and to try to eliminate the threat of terrorism against our people, both Pakistanis, Americans and other allies,” he argued.
When asked to comment about the expectations of the US administrations from the recommendations of the Pakistani parliamentary review, he said “I would not venture to forecast as to where we ll head in terms of the bilateral relationship.
But again, because there is a willingness on both sides to continue to work together, I think we ll navigate through these difficult and troubled waters and find a common ground, because that s what ultimately leads and serves both countries interests.”
“So we ll continue to work at it, we continue to have discussions, productive ones on some issues, even while there are other challenges and we ll just see what the days and weeks ahead have in store, but from the part of the United States, clearly we are interested in a positive relationship that benefits both countries,” he reiterated.
On another question about the ongoing reconciliation efforts with Taliban for achieving peace in Afghnaistan, Mike Hammer said “we are looking to work through reconciliation talks with the Taliban, and we are interested in testing the preposition as to whether they are prepared to seriously move forward and accepting, you now, the Afghan constitution, and to renounce violence and al-Qaeda, and work to see if peace is achievable.”
“But I think at this point, we continue to, sort of, focus on this effort knowing that in order to resolve this conflict, not only do we have to continue, as the Secretary Clinton says, to fight, but we also talk at the same time and build. And there is an ongoing effort diplomatically by Ambassador Grossman and his team to see what might be possible, but I don t have any news to make on that here today,” he stated while declining to divulge further details of the outcome of these efforts so far.
When questioned about the release of five Guantanamo prisoners on the demands of Taliban as part of the reconciliation effort, he said that no such decision had been made yet. “Specifically, on the transfer of detainees, I think you have seen press reporting, where we made clear that this is not in the works at the moment,” he said.
“We have obviously looked to, the President has worked to, try to close Guantanamo, but we still are working through issues relating to that,” he said if there was any possibility of the closure of the infamous detention facility in the near future.
- Contributed by Awais Saleem, News Trends correspondent in Washington, DC
Senate poll: Last day to submit nomination papers
Elections will be held on March 2 for 54 seats of Senate and the Election Commission will receive nomination papers till 4pm today.
Eighteen candidates filed their papers in Peshawar, 10 each in Islamabad and Karachi, eight in Lahore and four in Quetta.
The MQM’s Nasreen Jalil, Kunwar Khalid Younus, Kanwar Naveed Jamil, Farogh Naseem, Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, Arshad Vohra, Naila Latif, Umar Khan Sheerazi submitted their papers.
In Lahore, six candidates from the Pakistan Muslim League-N and one each from the PML-Q and PPP submitted their papers.
The PML-N’s Ishaq Dar has filed papers for a technocrat seat whereas current MNA Nuzhat Amir Sadiq and Kamran Michael have submitted papers for reserved seats for women and minorities, respectively. Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa, Rafiq Rajwana, M Hamza and Zafarullah Dhandla submitted the papers on general seats.
Former opposition leader in the Senate, Kamil Ali Agha of the PML-Q, and PPP’s Khalida Mohsin Qureshi also filed their papers.
PPP stalwart Barrister Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, former law minister Babar Awan and Aslam Gill are expected to file their papers on Tuesday.
In Peshawar, four candidates from the PPP, 10 from Awami National Party and four from the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F filed their nomination papers.
From PPP, presidency’s spokesman Farhatullah Khan Babar (technocrat seat), Shamroz Khan, Ahmed Hassan Khan and Saifullah Bangash filed their papers.
The ANP candidates included president of the party’s Karachi chapter Shahi Syed, Azam Khan Hoti, provincial information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Tajuddin Khan, Ilyas Bilour (technocrat seat), Zahida Khan and Tabassum Shams (women seats) and Amarjeet Malhotra and Gulshan Yousuf.
Talha Mehmood, Abdul Jalil Jan, Maulana Rahat Hussain and Naima Kishwar, all from the JUI-F, also submitted their papers in Peshawar.
In Islamabad, PML-Q secretary general Mushahid Hussain Syed filed his papers to contest the only reserved seat for technocrats from Islamabad after having an understanding with the PPP.
MNA Munir Khan Orakzai, MNA Sajid Hussain Turi, Dr Abdul Qadir, Najamul Hassan, Jawad Hussain, Hidayatullah, Bismillah Khan, Abdul Malik and Husain Khan from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas also filed papers for four general seats in Islamabad.
In Quetta, only four candidates filed papers. Prominent among those were PPP’s Saifullah Magsi, son of Balochistan Governor Zulfiqar Magsi, and Shamroz Munir.
China’s military budget to hit $238 b by 2015
Asia launched its biggest exhibition of aircraft and military hardware on Tuesday as a new report said China s defence expenditures would exceed the combined spending of all other major countries in the region within three years.
Aircraft and weapons manufacturers, military officers, arms dealers and airline executives rubbed shoulders as the 2012 Singapore Airshow kicked off in a vast hangar near the city-state s Changi airport.
Deals worth about $10 billion were announced at the last show in 2010 and the number could well be higher this year as Asian nations ramp up defence spending.
IHS Jane s said in a report that while all major Asian nations are forecast to increase spending on defence, China s military budget will soar to $238.20 billion by 2015 from $119.80 billion last year, growing about 18.75 percent per annum.
That number will exceed spending by all other nations in the region combined, but compares with a base U.S. defence budget of $525.40 billion for 2013.
In Asia, Japan and India follow China in defence spending, but both may be constrained in coming years while China is likely to steam ahead, underpinned by strong economic growth, analysts said.
“Japan s government debt and the investment needed after Fukushima will impact defence spend. We will increasingly see budget channeled towards key programmes and equipment,” said Rajiv Biswas, chief economist in the Asia-Pacific for IHS Global Insight.
“India s government debt and fiscal deficit is very high as a share of GDP, and the rupee depreciated significantly in 2011, all of which will limit India s defence ambitions.”
Nevertheless, Japan s defence budget is forecast to rise to $66.60 billion by 2015 from $60.30 billion last year. India s military expenditure is likely to be $44.90 billion in 2015 from $35.40 billion in 2011.
“China s rise is not the only motivator,” said Paul Burton at IHS Jane s. “There are a number of lingering security issues, driven by competition for untapped natural resources, that are prompting many states to increase their defence to GDP ratio.”
On the civilian side, the show is likely to be dominated by Europe s carbon emissions scheme and by defects plaguing the Airbus A-380 and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The EU s Emissions Trading Scheme, introduced on Jan. 1, has drawn howls of protest from airlines around the world, with China banning its carriers from taking part.
Europe s plan to charge airlines for carbon emissions could trigger a full-blown trade war with implications for plane deals and Europe s crippling sovereign debt crisis.
Meanwhile, the discovery of hairline cracks on part of the frame inside A380 wings several weeks ago has embarrassed its maker, Airbus Industrie, a unit of EADS. European safety authorities last week extended inspections for similar cracks to the entire fleet.
Airbus and operators say there is no risk to safety, but German magazine Der Spiegel said the problem could cost Airbus 100 million euros ($132 million).
Boeing has said it has found a problem with the 787 s fuselage, but has said the “incorrect shimming” is easily fixed and will not affect production schedules. Shims are used to close tiny gaps in joints.
20th amend draft likely to be presented in NA today
According to sources, the Bill will be presented in the NA as both the government and opposition have agreed to establishment of unbiased Election Commission and interim government.
The sources further added that a meeting of the Federal Cabinet will be held today under the chair of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to discuss the current political situation of the country after PM’s indictment in the contempt case. The meeting will also approve the 20th amendment.
Aspirin helps reduce spread of cancer: research
They help shut down the chemical “highways” which feed tumours, Australian researchers said Tuesday.
Scientists at Melbourne s Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre said they have made a biological breakthrough helping explain how lymphatic vessels — key to the transmission of tumours throughout the body — respond to cancer.
“We ve shown that molecules like the aspirin… could effectively work by reducing the dilation of these major vessels and thereby reducing the capacity of tumours to spread to distant sites,” researcher Steven Stacker said.
Doctors have long suspected that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin may help inhibit the spread of cancer but they have been unable to pinpoint exactly how this is done.
By studying cells in lymphatic vessels, the researchers found that a particular gene changed its expression in cancers which spread, but not when the cancer did not spread.
The results published in Cancer Cell journal reveal that the gene is a link between a tumour s growth and the cellular pathway which can cause inflammation and dilation of vessels throughout the body.
Once these lymphatic vessels widen, the capacity for them to act as “supply lines” to tumours and become more effective conduits for the cancer to spread is increased.
But aspirin acts to shut down the dilation of the vessels.
“So it seems like we have found a pivotal junction point in a biochemical sense between all these different contributors,” Stacker said.
The discovery could lead to new and improved drugs which could help contain many solid tumours, including breast and prostate cancer, as well as potentially provide an “early warning system” before a tumour begins to spread.
Last year, a study published in medical journal The Lancet found that rates of cancer of the colon, prostate, lung, brain and throat were all reduced by daily aspirin use.
Many doctors recommend regular use of aspirin to lower the risk of heart attack, clot-related strokes and other blood flow problems. A downside of extended daily use is the risk of stomach problems.
London thieves target statues, memorials
Gangs of metal thieves are targeting London s sculptures, statues and even war memorials, stripping them from their plinths and melting them down for their scrap value as commodity prices soar.
Thieves have been plundering pipes and cables for months, but police are increasingly concerned that they are turning their attention to valuable works of art.
Renowned British artist Barbara Hepworth s imposing bronze sculpture “Two Forms (Divided Circle)” once sat proudly in Dulwich Park in Southwark, southeast London.
It vanished one night in December last year, and if it has been melted down, as police believe, it would only have earned the thieves a few thousand pounds at most, a fraction of its real worth of 500,000 (600,000 euros, $800,000).
“It s an absurd equation: having a really valuable, beautiful piece of work melted down and sold for so little for what the bronze is worth,” said Angela Conner, herself a sculptress and Hepworth s former assistant.
The price of metals has rocketed in recent years. Copper topped $10,000 per ton in February last year, a record high, while between 2009 and 2011, the price of iron ore doubled.
“The theft of public art and metal is becoming a sickening epidemic,” Peter John, the leader of the Southwark council said after the “devastating” theft of the Hepworth sculpture.
Railway cables, manhole covers, children s slides, catalytic converters, memorial plaques, bus shelters, lead piping, garden gates: the list of stolen metal items has grown and grown in the last 12 months.
“Metal theft is becoming an increasing issue for us in London and, actually, in the UK,” said police Chief Superintendent David Chinchen, who is leading a special task force to prevent the crime, codenamed Operation Ferrous.
“It ranges from theft of metals from houses, war memorials, graveyards, transport infrastructure, communication cables, so a whole raft of crimes are occurring as a result of the increasing price of metals.”
Government ministers have said they are prepared to look at the laws on scrap metal dealing, hinting at outlawing cash transactions and increasing the penalties for metal theft.
The scrap metal industry in Britain is worth 5 billion a year — with 1.5 billion of that trade done in cash, while metal theft is believed to cost the British economy around 700 million a year.
The fightback comes as the trouble caused by the thefts rises, with trains delayed, communication networks cut, monuments dismantled and churches damaged.
Last October, Scotland Yard police headquarters set up a specialist unit, the Waste and Metal Theft Taskforce, based in Bexley, southeast London, a borough with a high number of scrap metal yards.
Police, transport and telecommunications experts are now working together to tackle the problem.
Across the capital, police have stepped up vehicle checks and visits to scrapyards. Sixty thieves or handlers of stolen goods have been arrested since the unit was set up.
The business is lucrative but dangerous. According to Scotland Yard, on average, two people are killed every month trying to steal the high-voltage electricity cables running alongside railway lines. “It is a dangerous activity and it s having an impact,” Chinchen said. “We have generators stolen from hospitals, so we ve had hospital operations affected by it.”
Network Rail, which owns and operates Britain s rail infrastructure, has recorded 16,000 hours of delays caused by metal theft over the past three years.
British Transport Police has put the metal theft second on its priority list after terrorism.
The telecommunications industry has also been affected. Repairing damaged fibre-optic cables can take several days. The police have to act fast to stop metal thieves before their plunder is melted down.
On January 13, detectives in north London seized 1,000 aluminium beer kegs just in time. As for commemorative plaques or works of art, their loss is irreplaceable.
Fortunately, there are ways to deter the metal thieves. “For instance, in Dublin I ve got a piece that s 129 feet (39 metres) high,” said Conner.
“It s not the sort of thing you can pop on the back of a wagon, so I m lucky in that sense.”
Chinese, EU to discuss Europes debt crisis
The summit comes a day after ratings agency Moody s downgraded Italy, Spain and Portugal and warned that France, Britain and Austria were increasingly vulnerable to the crisis, which China said had reached a “critical” stage.
Beijing has made clear its growing concerns over the crisis in Europe, its biggest export market, repeatedly urging EU leaders to get a grip on the situation.
On Tuesday, Premier Wen Jiabao will hold talks with EU president Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso likely to touch on Syria, Iran and a controversial EU carbon charge on airlines. But concerns over Europe s economy and financial sector are expected to dominate.
European leaders have already asked China, which holds the world s largest foreign exchange reserves, to invest in a bailout fund to rescue debt-stricken states.
Beijing has so far made no firm commitment, but Wen said this month it was considering offering help through the International Monetary Fund or bailout funds, and there is speculation China will make its position clearer at the summit.
“Helping stability in the European market is actually helping ourselves… We have to keep import and export policies stable,” the Chinese premier said after talks with the visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The IMF warned last week that an escalation of the crisis could slash China s economic growth in half this year, and foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said Monday the debt issue was “at a critical juncture”.
“We believe that as China s largest trading partner and the largest economy in the world (collectively), it is important for the European Union to resolve this issue,” he added.
Van Rompuy sought to reassure his Chinese counterparts about the situation in Europe in an interview published Monday in the state-run China Daily newspaper.
“The debt crisis in the eurozone is being solved by its members,” he was quoted as saying. His remarks came as debt-stricken Greece took a key first step towards averting bankruptcy and securing a second bailout after lawmakers approved radical budget cuts despite street battles in the capital Athens.
The talks between EU and Chinese officials are also likely to touch on a new European law that imposes charges on airline carbon emissions, which China has banned its carriers from paying.
The issue of market access may also be on the agenda, as foreign firms complain China favours domestic companies and squeezes them out of some markets, including lucrative government procurement contracts.
EU trade commissioner Karel De Gucht, who said last month he is drafting a law in response to Chinese protectionism in public markets, will be present at the summit.
De Gucht has been a fierce critic of China s restrictions on rare earths exports, 17 elements crucial in the manufacturing of many high-tech products such iPods and flat-screen televisions.
The crisis in Syria is also likely to come up after China and Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution condemning the regime s bloody crackdown on protests, as are concerns over Iran s nuclear ambitions.
Wen, Barroso and Van Rompuy will hold a joint news conference after the summit, which was originally due to take place in October but had to be postponed due to the debt crisis.
Asian markets lower on Moody’s rating cut
The move came after Greek lawmakers pushed through a package of austerity cuts late Sunday, with Premier Lucas Papademos saying the measures were “the country s only hope” to avoid economic meltdown and secure another bailout.
Sydney lost 0.87 percent in morning trade, Tokyo was off 0.15 percent by the midday break while Seoul s benchmark index was 0.25 percent lower.
Hong Kong was flat, down 0.03 percent, with Shanghai shares off 0.17 percent.
Moody s chopped ratings for Italy, Spain and Portugal and said its top ratings on Austria, France and Britain were also at risk.
Ratings were also cut for Slovenia, Slovakia and Malta, with the agency warning that all nine countries were increasingly susceptible to financial and macroeconomic risks from the eurozone debt crisis. The news came as Chinese and European Union leaders met in Beijing Tuesday for a summit likely to be dominated by the debt crisis.
There has been speculation that China may try to help resolve the eurozone s fiscal woes, armed with its massive foreign exchange holdings, as Beijing looks to prop up a key export market.
European finance ministers will meet Wednesday in Brussels to sign off on the Greek deal necessary for a Europe-sponsored rescue package, followed by an offer to private sector holders of Greek government bonds.
The debtholders will be asked to exchange their existing bonds for new bonds with half the face value, chopping about 100 billion euros off Greece s 350 billion euro ($463 billion) debt mountain.
Athens must make the offer by Friday at the latest to complete its debt writedown — and receive the fresh bailout package — before a looming March 20 bond redemption, when the government must repay 14.5 billion euros.
“Markets will likely trade cautiously ahead of tomorrow s meeting of (European Union) finance ministers, especially as it appears that at least Germany and the Netherlands remain sceptical of Greece s austerity plans, which could frustrate the approval of a second 130 billion euro bailout package,” Credit Agricole said in a note to clients.
The budget cuts sparked anger among many Greeks and Athens has been rocked by violence, with dozens injured and buildings set ablaze as an estimated 80,000 protesters voiced their opposition to the unpopular austerity plan.
The drop in Asian markets followed a solid day on Wall Street as the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.57 percent, the broad-based S&P 500 added 0.68 percent with the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite up 0.95 percent.
Apple shares finished at $502.60, surpassing the $500 mark for the first time amid reports the tech giant would unveil a new iPad next month and after it released blockbuster quarterly earnings in January. The firm more than doubled its net profit to a record $13.06 billion as revenue also hit an all-time high.
Meanwhile, the owners of New York s Empire State Building applied to take it public in a real estate trust with the aim of raising $1.0 billion in an initial public offering.
On currency markets, the euro stood at $1.3160 and 102.09 yen, from $1.3191 and 102.34 yen.
The dollar bought 77.57 yen from 77.58 yen.
Gold was at $1,717.25 an ounce at 0310 GMT, against $1,721.90 in New York.
