| Angela Johnson to make her debut with ‘Kya Kool Hai Hum Posted: 12 Jun 2011 11:46 AM PDT |
| Sonam Kapoor chosen as the face of India International Jewellery Week Posted: 12 Jun 2011 11:44 AM PDT |
| Katrina Kaif voted the FHM’s sexiest woman for the third time Posted: 12 Jun 2011 11:42 AM PDT |
| Ajay Devgan back into action with Rohit Shetty’s ‘Singham’ Posted: 12 Jun 2011 11:40 AM PDT 
 Ajay Devgan made his debut in Bollywood as an action star in ' Phool Aur Kaante' and gave quite a few superhits in action films. However, slowly he shifted his genre and switched over to excel in comedies with box office hits like Golmaal series, Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge? and Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji. Now, after eight years, Devgan is back into action with the role of a rural cop in Rohit Shetty' s ' Singham' which promises to be a raw hardcore action packed drama. "It' s a film about men. Singham will mark the return of hardcore raw action to the cinemas with a lot of dialogue-baazi and machismo. It should sock a punch; it will connect to the man on the street because of its simple narrative and terrific action," reveals Devgan. Devgan feels that times may have changed but action remain the same as ever. "We believe that it is not changing. I don' t think so. Look at the last 3-4 films that have released. Dabbang and Ghajini action is the same we used to do before 15 years. Even Wanted. I think we are trying to be over intelligent by trying to make different films. All the audience wants is entertainment. Look at Robot. It' s entertainment. Singham is hardcore entertainment; it has humor, drama and hardcore action." However, personally he prefers comedy to action and some of his all time favorites are classics like are Golmaal (the classic), Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron and Chupke Chupke. |
| World Day against Child Labour today, End of child labour – still a Dream Posted: 12 Jun 2011 11:36 AM PDT 
On World Day against Child Labour, few chotus (child labours) in Pakistan are aware of the importance of this day as they strive to earn their own and family' s bread. It is a fact that several million Pakistani children work for extremely long hours in exchange for little pay at the risk of maltreatment. Instead of being in school, these children are left at mercy of a cruel world where they continue to struggle hard as child labours. Despite government recognition of laws against child labour and empty-pledges made by politicians to end child labour in the country, these children - our future - is being crushed by the unkind society. One such child labour, Siddique Nawaz, 11, working for the last 4 years is not alone in his profession but has little or no hope for the fulfilment of his dreams to become a police officer. When asked about his dream Siddique told this scribe: "If I am able to continue my education I will join the police force and will severely punish the drug addicts." No wonder why Siddique is so dismayed by the people who use and trade in drugs. To the fate of irony, Siddique' s father, himself a drug addict, is one of the causes for Siddique becoming a child labour. Narrating his sorrowful story, Siddique continues that it was her mother' s dream that he could get a good education but the fact remains that if her children would not work she cannot live an honourable life without begging or compromising with the society. Siddique' s painful practical life began when he was only 7 years old and was deployed with his cousin to wash parked cars at Sunday Bazaar in Aabpara. After 2 years of experience he was able to earn Rs. 200 plus per week when misfortune hit him and underground mafia (that controlled the area) began demanding 50 per cent of his earnings which forced him to leave the place and find a job elsewhere. One bright Sunday, Siddique met one of his old car customers who offered him a job at his clothes shop and since then he considers himself a lucky one to get a job of Rs. 4000 per month. Like Siddique there are several thousand children living miserable lives by working 10-14 hours a day and earning as little as Rs. 10 per day in the glamorous cities such as Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore. Most children work in auto- mechanical shops while several others work as car washer and cleaner. Others can be seen mending flat tyres, selling flowers at traffic signals, or selling fruit and vegetables in markets or working as house- maids. Child rights activists have long urged the government to compiled new statistical data on child labourers as there has not been a National Child Labour Survey since 1996 which had found that 3.3 million of the 40 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 in Pakistan were "economically active on a full- time basis". Coalition against Child Labour Pakistan (CACLP) report claims that there were 21 million children employed as labourers across the country. ILO 2011 report has warned that an appallingly high number of children are still caught in hazardous work - some 115 million of the world' s 215 million child labourers. A recent report on ' State of Pakistan' s Children 2010' released by Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) revealed that "the trend of child labour is decreasing globally but unfortunately in Pakistan there has been an increase in child labour." Children working as labour are denied education, which is now a recognized right for every child between the ages of six and 14. The plight of our child-labour demands urgent action by both the government and society to end the exploitation of young children and secure the future of our next generation. |
| Blasts rock Peshawar, 30 killed Posted: 12 Jun 2011 11:32 AM PDT 
Peshawar—Two powerful blast ripped through a roadside restaurant located in the Khyber Super Market in Peshawar, killing at least thirty persons and wounding scores of others. Some people died due to raging fire. Death toll may rise further due to critical condition of wounded persons.The blasts to shattered windowpanes of nearby buildings while the restaurant located alongside a five-story residential tower was destroyed completely. A major portion of the plaza has collapsed. Police and law enforcement agencies rushed to the site and cordoned off the area. |
| Filipino declared world's shortest man Posted: 12 Jun 2011 07:45 AM PDT 
A Filipino blacksmith's son who stopped growing when he was a toddler was declared the world's shortest man today as he celebrated his 18th birthday. SINDANGAN (PHILIPPINES): A Filipino blacksmith's son who stopped growing when he was a toddler was declared the world's shortest man today as he celebrated his 18th birthday. Measuring just 59.93 centimetres, or 23.5 inches, Junrey Balawing is the oldest of four siblings -- the rest all of normal stature -- born in the rural town of Sindangan on southern Mindanao island. "Officially he is the world's shortest man," said Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of the Guinness Book of World Records who measured Balawing in front of cheering relatives and villagers. The previous record holder was Khagendra Thapa Magar of Nepal, who was measured in 2010 at just over 26 inches. "Thank you to all of you for supporting my son, the world's shortest man," Junrey's father, Reynaldo, told a crush of reporters and photographers. Junrey then blew out a candle on a cake specially made for him, before telling the crowd in a tiny voice in the local dialect: "Kapoy (I'm tired)." A throng of wellwishers, including politicians, witnessed the official measurement then handed him wads of cash which his parents said would go towards the family's meagre savings. Junrey's father said he had always believed his son to be special. He said he had been sickly as a toddler and stopped growing when he was two years old, but all the local doctors who examined him could not diagnose the problem. His mother, Concepcion, said Junrey has difficulty standing for long periods and has to be assisted when walking. His uncle, Paulino Empag, who is the local village chief, said friends and relatives were very protective of Junrey and some considered his special condition a lucky charm for the rural, superstitious community. "He is a very special boy. He has trouble speaking and standing up, but he is God's blessing to his family and to the community," he said. After the official announcement, Empag said the family was expected to return to their modest home in the village and celebrate Junrey's birthday. "Noodles and meat have been prepared. We're just happy for him," Empag said. |
| ICC chief hopes Gaddafi will 'be arrested' soon Posted: 12 Jun 2011 07:43 AM PDT 
MADRID: International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno- Ocampo, in an interview published Sunday, said he hoped that embattled Libyan leader Muammer Gaddafi "will be arrested" by his people in the coming weeks on crimes against humanity charges. "We hope that the arrest warrant (to face charges of crimes against humanity) will be delivered soon and that Gaddafi will be detained by the Libyan people. That's what we are expecting," he told the Spanish daily El Mundo. Moreno-Ocampo said he was hopeful ICC judges would rule on Gaddafi's arrest in the coming weeks. "We are working on the assumption he will be arrested by his people, by members of his regime" and if "that is not possible by the (rebel) National Transitional Council," he added. Last month, the ICC prosecutor said he would seek arrest warrants for three people considered most responsible for crimes against humanity in Libya, Gaddafi, his son Seif Al-Islam and Libyan intelligence chief Abdallah Al-Senoussi. Libya's deputy foreign minister Khaled Kaaim retorted that Tripoli was "not concerned" by ICC decisions since it was not a party to the Rome Statute that founded the ICC. But Moreno-Ocamp argued that Libya is bound to cooperate with the court as demanded by a UN Security Council resolution adopted last Fberuary 26. And he maintained that Libya would be legally required to act on the arrest warrants if they are approved by the ICC judges. Established in 2002, the ICC is the world's first permanent, treaty-based court set up to try those accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide if the accused's own country cannot or will not do so. |
| Aussies like the Queen, Rudd tells Brits Posted: 12 Jun 2011 03:32 AM PDT 
The former prime minister, in London today where he will make an opening address at the Saving Children's Lives conference, was first a guest on BBC Television. Following a brief rundown of Australia's ongoing involvement in Afghanistan and the nation's links to growing superpower China, the topic turned to the monarchy. "She's always very welcome in Australia, and she's very well- liked in Australia," Mr Rudd said of the Queen, who will travel to Perth later in the year for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). However, Mr Rudd confirmed the Labor Party's intention for Australia's future. "The Australian Labor Party is committed to turning the country into a republic," he said. "We've not stipulated a timeline for doing that. We are sensitive to the other priorities we've got as a nation and in the world, but in time the country will head in that direction. "There is a deep affection in Australia for the Queen and I mean, the Queen has been the queen ever since I was born. She is part of the firmament of Australia's national life. There is a deep respect for her role. But the country is evolving." While Prime Minister Julia Gillard has said that Australia should become a republic at the end of the Queen's reign, Mr Rudd did not rule out Prince Charles becoming Australia's king. "That's entirely a matter for how we go about the conduct of future referendums and when they might be conducted, but I emphasise that what are our priorities now - members of the G20 trying to make sure the global economy doesn't fall apart, developments in Europe, making sure we deal effectively with ... (the) rise of China," Mr Rudd said of when the shift to a republic may occur. "This (republic issue) falls somewhat down, shall I say, the totem pole of priorities." Mr Rudd is scheduled to make a welcoming address to the Saving Children's Lives conference, hosted by British Prime Minister David Cameron, during which global health alliance GAVI will seek $3.7 billion funding for continued and expanded childhood vaccinations in less developed nations. Gillard handed a royal audience The Australian, 30 Apr 2011 Support for Aussie republic dwindles Perth Now, 24 Apr 2011 Royals for the chop if republicans prevail The Australian, 22 Apr 2011 Downer: New way to embrace tradition Adelaide Now, 17 Apr 2011 Queen's Aussie trip a royal farewell? The Daily Telegraph, 25 Mar 2011 RELATED COVERAGE Queen beheaded |
