UK Deputy PM Clegg defends response to London riots

He also rejected claims government failed to provide leadership as the capital was hit by rioting over the weekend because senior ministers were away from London.

As it emerged that Theresa May, the Home Secretary is flying back to the UK for talks with police chiefs about the disturbances; Clegg defended the government s response to the trouble and condemned what he described as “needless opportunistic theft and violence – nothing more, nothing less”.

On his first day back in Westminster after his summer holiday Clegg said the violence was “completely unacceptable”. The government stood “side by side with those people in those communities who utterly condemn the violence and the theft”, he said.

There have been complaints that the government did not have a senior minister in London at the weekend when the rioting broke out. But Clegg insisted that senior members of the cabinet had been in regular contact by phone.

“I reject completely this notion that somehow this government hasn t been functioning very effectively,” said Clegg, who said he had spoken to David Cameron, who is on holiday in Italy, by phone on Monday morning.

“We have arranged things to make sure that this government works effectively on all the issues of the day. We are in constant contact with each other and we are working as effectively this week as we do in every other week of the year.”

Pakistan orders inquiry into killing of five Chechens

QUETTA: A Pakistan provincial government on Thursday ordered an inquiry into the killing by security forces of five Chechens, including three women, after media said they had been unarmed.

The group was killed this week, with authorities saying they were al-Qaeda-linked suicide bombers.

Islamist militants have stepped up attacks in Pakistan after the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden by U.S. special forces in the northwestern town of Abbottabad on May 2. Last week, 80 people were killed in twin suicide bombings at a paramilitary academy in the northwestern town of Charsadda.

On Tuesday, the paramilitary Frontier Corps and police gunned down five Chechens near a security checkpoint on the outskirts of Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province, saying explosives were strapped to their bodies and they were attempting to attack government forces.

But the media raised doubts over statements by security forces, with television footage showing a wounded woman waving her hand in the air before her death.

The daily Dawn on Thursday quoted witnesses as saying that the suspects were unarmed, had put up no resistance to the security forces and appeared to be about to surrender.

“The chief minister has ordered an inquiry after media reports raised doubts about the whole incident,” a provincial government spokesman told Reuters, referring to the head of the province.

Two officials of a bomb disposal squad which searched the bodies after the shooting told Reuters that they found no explosives strapped to the bodies of the Chechens.

“They were unarmed and had no suicide jackets or explosives with them,” one of the officials said.

“Five valid and two expired Russian passports were found in a ladies’ handbag lying with the bodies,” the second official said.

A witness earlier this week said the five had got out of a vehicle and were chased by police before they were shot.

Pakistan’s commitment to fighting militancy has come under intense scrutiny after discovery of the al Qaeda chief near a military academy in the military town not far away from Islamabad.

Pakistan’s tribal areas along the Afgfhan border has been described as a global hub for militants, including Arabs and Chechens inspired by Al Qaeda.

A decade after federal forces drove separatists out of power in Chechnya in the second of two wars, the North Caucasus are plagued by near-daily violence, where rebels want to carve out a separate Islamic state with Sharia law. While Chechnya now rests on a shaky peace, neighbouring regions are at the heart of a growing Islamist insurgency.

Bollywood blog addict Bachchan celebrates landmark

BOLLYWOOD: Lots of celebrities write blogs, but no one blogs quite like Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan who this week marked three years of writing in which he has often produced 1,000 words a day.

Bachchan celebrated the anniversary of his Internet outpourings with a characteristic array of long postings covering family news, spiritual thoughts and updates on his health, travel plans and sleep patterns.

Each Bachchan message attracts a huge readership and hundreds of comments contributed by adoring Indians who view him as a national father figure as well as an ageing screen star.

“Thank you for your presence and for your gratitude,” Bachchan wrote to followers who congratulated him on his blog landmark.

“You have stood by me in rough weather and fair,” he continued in inimitable style. “You have commented and encouraged, analysed and assessed, laughed and cried.”

“This is indeed a superior class of people and I am proud to have been an initiator for all.”

Bachchan, who is universally known as “the Big B”, blogs about 5,000 words most weeks — a rate that would give him a total output of about 780,000 words since his first posting on April 18, 2008.

Almost every day, and often in the middle of the night, Bachchan — who admits to being an insomniac — writes in detail about his children, his dog “Shanouk”, politics, philosophy and memories of his movie career.

As the patriarch of Bollywood’s leading family, Bachchan’s news is followed avidly, especially concerning his son Abhishek, a successful actor who is married to actress and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai.

As well as his “EF” (extended family), Bachchan’s other favourite topics include cricket, his life on film shoots around the world, and current affairs ranging from Indian government issues to unrest in the Arab world.

Blogs often end with him saying his eyes are about to close with exhaustion.

“I know it’s late — very late! But no matter what time it is I get disturbed and anxious until I put down my post for the day,” he wrote in a piece uploaded at 3:30 am on Wednesday.

After 600 words in which he wondered whether he could post blogs while in his sleep, he complained of “black squares” in front of his eyes and signed off with: “Goodnight my dearest loves.”

The physical exertion on Bachchan, 68, should not be underestimated.

He types all the words himself before posting them on the Internet, though secretaries are thought to help edit and spell-check the reams of often verbose copy.

Any mention in the blog of health problems or family disputes is immediately picked up by readers and soon reaches the national press and TV channels.

Last year fans were aghast when Bachchan blogged that he was suffering from cirrhosis of the liver and needed regular medical care.

He tried to reassure followers that he was not at death’s door, explaining that the disease was linked to a serious accident in which he ruptured his spleen on the set of the 1982 film “Coolie”.

Bachchan, who is treated like royalty in movie-mad India, made his name in the 1970s as a handsome young man playing lead roles in Hindi blockbusters such as “Sholay” and “Deewaar”.

His career later took a dive, but hosting the Indian version of TV game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? put him back in the spotlight and his blog has become a key part of his image as Bollywood’s elder statesman.

“Thanks for writing on the net each single day without fail for three years… feel connected with you… it’s a great feeling,” wrote blog follower Madhu Jain this week.

And for those who still can’t get enough of Bachchan, he has also developed into a keen Twitter fan, filing updates several times a day.

Bachchan blogs at http://bigb.bigadda.com and tweets as SrBachchan.

Pak foreign investment decreases

Pak foreign investment decreases during the last week.
During the week ended on 9th of January, Pakistan foreign investment decreased by 16.9 million dollar in spite of bullish KSE. US investors made 1.4 millions dollar investment while British investors pulled 47 millions dollars from the market.

Foreign Exchange Reserves Down by $24mn

Pak foreign exchange reserves witnessed record decrease of $2.4 crore this week.

According to State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) data, the foreign reserves reached 16.49 billion dollars after a nominal decrease. The SBP reserves recorded at Rs 12.63 crore while, reserves of commercial banks reached at 3.76 billion dollars.

Akshay Oberoi invites cousin Vivek to see his film

Setting aside all talk of a cold war with cousin, Vivek Oberoi, newcomer Akshay Oberoi who makes his debut this week in the Rajshris’ Isi Life Mein has invited Vivek to watch his film. Vivek has promised his cousin he will make time very shortly.

Says the newcomer, “There is absolutely no stress with Vivek. I don’t know where these rumours came from. I don’t know why people are making it seem as if we’re at loggerheads.”

The truth is, Akshay Oberoi tried to downplay his family connection with Vivek because he didn’t want to seem like a clingy cousin desirous of cashing in on his more-famous family member’s name.

Says Akshay, “Vivek and I didn’t grow up together. Since I was studying acting and theatre in the US for several years and we weren’t connected constantly. So if we aren’t bumchums, we aren’t at war either. Why should we be? We are like any other family. I’m a huge fan of Vivek and will always wish him well. I hope he sees my film soon.”

Having said that, the pragmatic newcomer knows it is each on his own in the entertainment industry. “Vivek and I come from different families. We lead separate lives. He has his own career. And I will have my own now. We will always be there for one another. But we are not going to be posing for together photographs all the time to prove to the world that we belong to one family.”

Akshay’s namesake, the Kumar, also has a release, a much larger one this week. But the newbie is unperturbed.

Says the latest Oberoi on the block, “Isi Life Mein and Tees Maar Khan are two different films. We are a much smaller film. We’re hoping we’d also get some support. After all it is the holiday season.”

CIA chief returns, series of allegations upon Pakistan continue

As the CIA station chief appointed in Pakistan returned, The US officials initiated a new series of allegations upon Pakistan.The US officials told a local newspaper that the station chief’s identity was revealed this week in a legal complaint by a Pakistani lawyer on behalf of clients who are relatives of individuals who died in suspected US drone attacks. Where as the lawyer Mirza Shahzad has said that Chief withdrew just to avoid the court.

Talking to the local newspaper New York Times, the US officials claimed that CIA station chief’s identity is suspected to have been deliberately blown by the ISI apparently in retaliation for naming of the Pakistan intelligence agency chief in a law suit in the US by families of 26/11 Mumbai attack victims. US officials also said that the CIA station chief had received a number of death threats since being publicly identified in a legal complaint sent to the Pakistani police this week by the family of victims of a drone attack.

Pakistani high officials when spoke to New York Times, said that there is nothing like this and lawyer Mirza Shahzad Akbar also rejected these allegations and exclaimed that CIA station chief went just to avoid the courts; where as US officials have completely denied this statement.

Oil, gold end higher in world stocks

Gold and oil prices closed higher for the week ended Dec 17, despite a strong dollar, on Europes fiscal crisis that boosted demand for the metal as a haven.

New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for January delivery, gained 32 cents to close $88.02 a barrel while Brent crude for delivery in February climbed seven cents to close at $91.67 a barrel in London trade.

However analysts said oil may decline next week on speculation that the U.S. Energy Department will report an increase in supplies after the biggest drop in more than eight years in this weeks data.

Gold for immediate delivery was bid at $1376.80 an ounce in late trade while US gold futures for February delivery were also up, gaining $8.20 to $1379.20 per ounce.

The dollar rose slightly against the euro on Friday as positive German economic data failed to offset concerns over the eurozone economy after a huge ratings downgrade for Ireland and more problems in Spain.

A stronger US greenback makes dollar-traded commodities such as oil more expensive for buyers holding rival currencies.

Silver futures for March delivery rose 35.1 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $29.133 an ounce on the Comex, up 1.8 percent for the week. The metal has gained 73 percent this year.

Live Chat: Ashutosh Gowariker on December 7 at 1500 hrs IST

He is one of the most renowned and acclaimed directors of Bollywood who has gives us some really memorable films such as Lagaan, Swades and Jodhaa Akbar. He is none other than Ashutosh Gowariker.

Ashutosh’s latest film Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey released this week and to talk about his experience shooting this film and much more, the talented director will be live on Bollywood Hungama’s video chat on Tuesday, December 7, at 1500 hrs IST. Don’t miss!

Live Chat: Vir Das on November 11 at 1500 hrs IST

Making people laugh is not an easy job and who knows this better than ace stand up comedian and actor Vir Das. Vir has made a name for himself through his stand up comedy shows and has even featured in films such as Love Aaj Kal and Badmaash Company.

Vir is now gearing up for his latest stage show ‘History of India’ which premieres in Mumbai later this week. Bollywood Hungama gives you an opportunity to have a live video chat with Vir Das on Thursday, November 11, at 1500 hrs IST. Enjoy!

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