PIFAA - 1st Punjabi International Film Academy Awards 2012

Toronto - The first ever PIFAA Awards will be held in Toronto over 4 days -Saturday 4th August 2012 with a number of events in addition to the Awards function.The awards function will be 3 to 4 hours long with lots of entertainment with performances from leading Punjabi actors, singers, comedians and performers. It will be attended by a large number of Punjabi film personalities from India and around the world. Leading Punjabi film personalities have already agreed to come to Toronto for the event. About 100 renowned people from Punjabi film industry are expected to attend the awards function in Toronto.

Fire in TN Express, 47 killed

Hyderabad, July 30
At least 47 passengers were charred to death and 25 others injured today when a massive fire swept through a sleeper coach of the New Delhi-Chennai Tamil Nadu Express near Nellore in coastal Andhra Pradesh.

The tragedy struck in the wee hours when the superfast train was moving at a speed of 110 kmph. The train was just a kilometre away from Nellore station when flames engulfed S-11 coach, turning it into an inferno on wheels.

Most of the passengers were fast asleep when the fire was first noticed at 4.15 am and before the train could come to a halt, the lives of 47 passengers were snuffed out by the raging fire. The screaming passengers rushed towards the exit door to escape from the tragedy.

Such was the intensity of the fire that several bodies were charred beyond recognition and the Railway authorities ordered DNA tests to confirm the identity of the victims. The mishap occurred between Vedayapalem and Nellore stations on Vijayawada-Gudur Section. The dead included some software engineers returning to Chennai after a vacation.

Two fire tenders were rushed to the spot immediately to put out the fire and they managed to restrict the blaze to the S-11 bogie, the Railway officials said. Meanwhile, Railway Minister Mukul Roy did not rule out sabotage angle and indicated that there could have been a blast.

Speaking in Kolkata, the Railway Minister said: “Some of the injured passengers undergoing treatment at the hospitals and a gateman at one of the level crossings near Nellore station heard a loud sound when the fire broke out in the coach”.

He also quoted a Divisional Railway Manager as saying that there was a report of a blast in the bogie.

“Nothing can be excluded and nothing can be said without an investigation. It will be investigated if inflammable substances were in the compartment or it was caused by a short circuit,” Roy said.

Some passengers, who had a miraculous escape from the inferno, said they heard an explosion before a thick smoke and fire engulfed their coach.

However, the Nellore District Collector B Sridhar said there was a short circuit near the toilet which could have led to the devastating fire. 

Mohd Rafi's native village remembers the legend

 

Chandigarh, July 31

Legendary playback singer Mohammed Rafi's native village Kotla Sultan in Punjab's Amritsar district remembered him on his 32nd death anniversary today, with scores paying a tribute to him.

"We organised a function in the village. A number of people and Rafi sahab's fans thronged to pay tribute," Rafi's childhood friend Bakshish Singh's grandson Jodh Singh Samra told PTI.

Samra, district president of the Youth Akali Dal and SGPC member, said village sarpanch Kuldeep Singh along with sarpanches of some neighbouring villages took part in the function, that also had many school children participating.

"A singing competition was also organised for the children," Samra said.

He said that government should help the villagers set up a library, which will have a collection of Rafi's songs.

Rafi was born in Kotla Sultan village, about 30 kms from Amritsar in Punjab and about 250 kms from here. Born on December 24, 1924, Rafi died of a heart attack in Mumbai on July 31, 1980. He was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1967.

Rafi, who began singing by chanting the notes that a fakir sung in his village, went on to lend his voice to Bollywood megastars including Amitabh Bachchan, Shammi Kapoor, Dharmendra and Dev Anand in his career as a successful playback artist.

He has numerous hit songs to his credit including several duets with famous playback singers Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle.

Working with music directors like OP Nayyar, Laxmikant Pyarelal and RD Burman, Rafi delivered some evergreen hits including 'Yeh duniya yeh mehfil', 'Chura liya hai tumne', 'O Haseena', 'Tum jo mil gaye ho' and 'Aaj mausam bada beimaan'.

Samra recalled that Rafi was a simple man who used to speak from his heart and help everyone in need.

He said that the village is trying to do its own bit to keep the memory of the singer alive. 

Lithuanian teenager Ruta Meilutyte takes shock 100m breaststroke gold in London 2012 Olympics

Lithuanian schoolgirl has become the first swimmer to win a medal for her country after producing the race of her life to take the 100 metre breaststroke title.

Ruta Meilutyte was left completely speechless after winning gold in the 100-meter backstroke. 

London: The 15 year-old, who is coached by Jon Rudd at Plymouth Leander and studies at Plymouth College which is the same school as diver Tom Daley, finished in a time of 1 min, 5.47 secs to clinch Olympic gold.

Her performance was even more impressive considering that the start, a time when swimmers are already battling their nerves, was delayed by a technical malfunction that saw the starter's gun go off before he had called "on your marks".

American Breeja Larson dived into the pool on the gun but was able to race because of the malfunction.

The eight finalists sat down while the problem was fixed and an unfazed Meilutyte still got off the blocks fastest, and led at the turn, but then had to survive a fierce challenge from American Rebecca Soni, the reigning world champion in the event.

The more experienced Soni drew level in the final few strokes but Meilutyte kept her cool and got her hands on the wall first.

Emilie Heymans, Jennifer Abel win Canada's first Olympic medal at the Olympic Games in London

Jennifer Abel (left) and Emilie Heymans celebrate their bronze medal win in 3-metre synchronized diving at the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games in London, England, July 29, 2012. 

LONDON - Emilie Heymans stopped and all but panicked for a moment. She didn't know what to do with her arms. She had done these dives all her life, all year long, and here she was at her fourth Olympic Games, and this woman of nerve was melting down.

"I don't remember what I have to do with my arms when we walk," she said to her diving partner, Jennifer Abel.

And Abel took a deep breath and knew precisely what she needed to do."I said, well, it's back, front, back..."

A simple instruction, really. But not when your mind is going blank. A simple instruction that led to a podium finish.

"And then we did our second dive and it wasn't that good. After that, it was just, look, just try it and calm down ... We know what to do."

It's what partners do at a moment of sporting crisis. They get each other back together, back in synchronization. It's what Heymans has done for four Olympic Games at the times that mattered most. She got her act together. They got their act together. And Canada has its first medal of the 2012 Olympics because the kid, 20-year-old Abel of Montreal, knew what the old lady of the diving board, Heymans, 30, of Brossard, Que. needed at that exact moment in time at the Olympic Aquatics Centre.

"She knows that I know her and she knows that she knows what to tell me to not make me feel nervous and I know what to tell her to make her calm...I calm her down."

They calm each other down.

"We like the same things, hate the same things," said Abel.

And they loved raising their arms together, with big wide, smiles, these unlikely friends -- Heymans looking relieved and celebratory, which has never been her way -- with the first Canadian medal of the Games. They each get one.

And Canada now has one to call its own.

Now one of them makes history while other just begins her career. Before these Olympics began, Heymans was an athlete of a lifetime. The pragmatic Olympian. She shows up and wins something. Now she's taken a greater step -- alongside Marnie McBean and Kathleen Heddle -- as the most decorated Canadian women in Summer Olympic history. Four Olympic Games, four medals won for Heymans. No female diver has ever done that before. No Canadian athlete has gone to four Olympics and come back with a medal each time.

Three of them with three different synchronized partners. Like McBean, who needed Heddle in rowing, Heymans has needed Abel, and before her, Blythe Hartley and Anne Montminy in her synchronization. The more public Alexandre Despatie has gotten more publicity from the diving world: Heymans has the been the best in-the-moment Olympian the country has had in years at the Summer Games.

"It's the story of our team," said chef de mission, Mark Tewksbury, grinning like a proud papa after the third-place finish. He was so excited he tripped over himself ever so slightly. He was right in saying that Heymans was in her fourth Games, owning her fourth medal. But he did say Abel was in her first Games, and this was her first medal.

It was her first medal. But in her second Olympics.

"It's awesome," said Yihua Li, Heymans' coach. She coaches Heymans. Cesar Henderson coaches Abel. Twice a week, they take a break from their individuals athletes and their individual clubs in two sides of Montreal and come together for synchro practice. At first, Abel and Heymans didn't seem to fit. They had different rhythms, different styles. Heymans is a power diver. Abel is more a finesse diver. Heymans is larger, Abel more petite. "But these girls are very competitive. With each other and against each other.

"I'm so proud of Emilie. She works so hard. She always wants better. If she gets bronze, she wants a silver. If she gets silver, she wants a gold. I'm so happy, so relieved.

"With her, maybe the whole year in competition she screws up, but the one time you need here, when you really need her, she comes through."

There was no gold medal available Sunday except to the Chinese. They are in their own world in this sport. The silver and bronze came down to the Americans, Canadians and Italians. And after a bad second dive that sent Canada to fifth overall, Abel and Heymans moved up to fourth, then third with their fourth dive. They had a shot at silver with their final dive. But they had to match their excellent fourth dive and couldn't do so. Like Yogi Berra, Heymans said: "it's never over until the last dive."

"I'm really happy," said Abel, with flags being waved around her and members of Canada's Olympic team hugging in the background. "I don't feel (happy) but I know that I am," she said.

WOMEN'S 3-METRE SYNCHRONIZED DIVING

Gold: China - Wu Minxia and He Zi

Silver: USA - Kelci Bryant and Abby Johnson

Bronze: Canada - Emilie Heyman and Jennifer Abel

I don't like the word Bollywood: Amitabh Bachchan

"One is normally used to seeing this on television. But to be a part of it was a huge surprise," says Amitabh Bachchan about carrying the torch at the London Olympics this year. The actor talks to us about how he was surprised when he was approached for this, and how he has been closely following India's prospects. Amitabh also talks about how he would love to play a historical character at this juncture of his career...

What did carrying the torch mean to you?
The Olympics is the ultimate sporting event. And to be asked to be a part of it is a huge honour. I don't know why I was chosen. It feels wonderful that Great Britain, the hosts of the Olympics, has chosen people from different communities, different parts of the world. It shows the spirit of the Olympics, where it preaches the coming together of caste, creed, religion, colour, nations to compete in a friendly atmosphere. And just to be a part of it is a moment of great pride.

Were you surprised when they contacted you?
Yes. One is normally used to seeing this on television. But to be a part of it was a huge surprise.

Have you been following India's prospects?
Yes. We have the largest contingent ever so far in any Olympics. And one wishes them the very best. There are many routines where there were no representatives ever. Initially, India came just as a hockey team and that was it. But now they are in track and field, boxing, wrestling, archery and shooting. These are all routines which were never heard of or at least never heard of as being associated with India. But they all hopefuls.

Today, you are not merely a filmstar, but a legendary Indian. Do the issues that confront India make you think about the way India is progressing?
We are just normal human beings. And just because we happen to be in a profession where you are loaded with the title of a celebrity doesn't mean we are acquainted or equipped or knowledgeable enough to be able to answer some of these questions. But somehow it is just because you are a celebrity it is assumed you will have this great solutions to some of the greatest problems the country is facing. I would just say I am an aware citizen of my country. Yes, what develops in the country affects all of us and we have our opinions. I just feel that expressing it is not what I would like to do because I am not knowledgeable enough.

Any historical character you might like to play?
I haven't played any historical characters. Yes, that would be one of the important options.

Hindi cinema has grown bigger. Today, it is as big abroad as it is in India. How do you see it get better as the years go by?
I don't like this word ( Bollywood) which describes the Indian film industry. Cinema was almost looked upon as infra dig, parents used to go and vet a film before we were allowed to get inside a theatre. Cinema in general was held as an institution where children from good families were not looked as being associated with. But look at the change that has happened now. I don't know if this is good for the country or not; but it's almost become a part of our culture. There are more people who know about the Indian film industry. So, that bodes well. The West was very cynical about our quality of cinema. We made very escapist fare. But one of the points the West did not recognise was that cinema as a medium of entertainment for the common man. I do see Indian cinema progressing very well; gradually, our talent is being recognised, whether in Great Britainor Hollywood, in festivals in Cannes, London, Venice. So, I think we are on the right path.

Apple buys Samsung's mobile security supplier AuthenTec for $356m

Apple Inc has agreed to buy AuthenTec Inc for $8.00 per share, the maker of fingerprint sensor chips used in personal computers said, in a deal valued at about $356 million.

AuthenTec makes security software and chips for mobile phones that it licenses to companies such as Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. It also produces chips for fingerprint recognition and near-field communication (NFC).

Melbourne, Florida-based Authentec disclosed the deal in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

Based on Thursday's closing price $5.07, the offer represents a premium of 58 percent for AuthenTec's shares.

AuthenTec, which also counts Lenovo Group Ltd, Fujitsu Ltd and Dell Inc as customers, has annual revenue of about $70 million.

Piper Jaffray advised in the deal, the company said.

London Olympics set to open with magnificent ceremony

LONDON: London presented a vibrant picture of Great Britain's rich heritage and culture as a colourful opening ceremony marked the inauguration of the 30th Olympic Games at the spunky Olympic stadium on Friday night. 

Queen Elizabeth II declared the Games open amidst thunderous cheers from the capacity crowd of 80,000 signalling the launch of the biggest sporting spectacle which returned to Britain after a gap of 64 years, giving the country the distinction of holding the mega event for an unprecedented third time. 

The night sky lit up with dazzling fireworks as the Queen declared the Games open to herald London's moment of glory in the presence of as many as 100 heads of state and a host of other dignitaries who have descended on this historic city to witness the extravaganza, watched by an estimated one billion global audience. 

The 27 million pound three-and-a-half-hour long opening ceremony, which magically transformed the stadium into a rural British idyll, complete with cows, horses, sheep and dogs and synthetic clouds to provide traditional British rain, was designed to give Britons a "picture of ourselves as a nation". 

More than 10,000 performers took part in the opening extravaganza which vividly brought about the country-side scenes -- a cricket pitch, traditional country side cottages, mining wheel and people dressed in the Victorian era. 

Actor Daniel Craig, who has played the fictional spy 007 James Bond in films, was shown in a video accompanying the Queen from Buckingham Palace into a waiting helicopter and then taking her to the Stadium. 

There was also a touch of British humour in the form of Rowan Atkinson who regaled the audience with his famous "Mr Bean" comic act. 

The Ceremony's artistic director Danny Boyle, whose film "Slumdog Millionaire" won eight Oscars, had kept most elements of his show a secret. 

Former England football captain David Beckham brought the Olympic flame on a speedboat on the Thames river before handing it over to five-time Olympic gold medallist rower Sir Steve Redgrave. 

A group of seven athletes nominated by British Olympic champions then took the flame from Redgrave and ran around the stadium before lighting the Games' Couldron made up of 204 copper petals carried in by teams from across the world. 

The competitive action will unfold tomorrow as around 10,500 athletes from 204 countries affiliated to the International Olympic Committee will battle for glory and honour in the next 17 days with powerhouses USA and China expected to retain their supremacy. 

The 17-day sporting spectacle will see competitions in 39 disciplines with the new addition of women's boxing this time around. 

The 204 participating teams walked into the stadium amidst loud cheers from the spectators many of whom had thronged the stadium well ahead of the scheduled start. 

The largest-ever Indian contingent, hoping to make a significant impact at the Olympic level after their path-breaking show in the Beijing Games, got a rousing welcome as they walked into the stadium with the men attired in blue blazers and women wearing yellow saris. 

Beijing bronze-winning wrestler Sushil Kumar led the contingent holding the Indian tricolour as the athletes acknowledged the cheers of the crowd and soaked in the electrifying atmosphere at the brand new stadium built at a cost of pounds 486 million for the mega-event. 

Apart from the fireworks and absorbing cultural programmes, the heart-touching entry of many of the strife-torn countries were some of the highlights of the nearly three hour opening ceremony depicting the theme "Isles of Wonder". 

A segment featuring bike stunts was earlier scrapped from the opening ceremony due to fears that an overrunning show would cause bottlenecks on public transport. 

The Ceremony kicked off with the largest harmonically tuned bell in Europe, produced by the Whitechapel Foundry, being rung by Britain's Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins and the Stadium was transformed into the British countryside for opening scene 'Green and Pleasant', which included real farmyard animals. 

It was then the segment 'Pendemonium' which celebrated Britain's role as the birthplace of the Industrial revolution -- the workshop of the world. 

The Ceremony also included a special sequence celebrating the best of British, featuring volunteer performers from the NHS. 

Danny Boyle, Artistic Director of the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony, said, "Our Isles of Wonder salutes and celebrates the exuberant creativity of the British genius in an Opening Ceremony that we hope will be as unpredictable and inventive as the British people." 

The formalities started with Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by her husband the Duke of Edinburgh, being received at the entrance of the Olympic Stadium by the President of the IOC, Jacques Rogge. 

The Union Flag was carried into the stadium and raided by representatives of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force. 

Another segment of the programme 'Second to the right and straight on till morning' honoured two of Britain's greatest achievements -- its amazing body of children's literature and its National Health Service. 

It was then time for 'Abide with me', a favourite hymn of Mahatma Gandhi, which was choreographed by Bangladeshi-origin Akram Khan, who has successfully combined classical European and Indian classical forms of dance in his work. 

After the dignitaries took their seats, the procession of the participating teams in the Stadium began with Greece entering the arena first as per Olympic convention while the host nation Great Britain coming in last amidst rousing cheers from the vociferous home crowd. 

After all the nations had arrived into the Stadium, LOCOG Chairman Sir Sebastien Coe gave a brief speech, followed by Rogge who, in turn, invited the Queen to officially declare the Games open. 

"I declare open the Games of London, celebrating the 30th Olympiad of the modern era," the Queen said. 

Once the Games were declared open, the Olympic Flag was then carried into the Stadium and hoisted into the air as the respective Anthem was played. The Olympic Charter states that each flag must fly for the entire duration of the Games - placed in a prominent position in the main Stadium. 

Sarah Stevenson, Taekwondo silver medallist at Beijing 2008, read the Olympic oath on behalf of athletes holding a corner of the IOC flag in their left hand and raising their right, vowing to compete according to the rules of their respective sport. 

Mik Basi, a boxing referee born at Newham, read the judges' oath followed by Eric Farrell, MBE, who reads the coaches' oath. 

The big finale was the entrance of the Olympic Flame into the Stadium. It was passed through the athletes to the final Torchbearer.... who ceremoniously lit the Cauldron, indicating the beginning of the Games. The Flame will continue to burn for the whole of the Games. 

Breath-taking fireworks then lit up the London sky with Beatles' Paul McCartney belting a number as the ceremony came to a dazzling end, setting the stage for the competitions to begin in earnest from Saturday. 

Romney, in London, criticizes Olympic preparations

A worker on a mobile lift stands in front of a giant screen featuring a London Olympics logo in the Equestrian arena in Greenwich, London. US presidential hopeful Mitt Romney made some undiplomatic criticism of London's preparations for the Olympic Games, expressing concern about Britain's readiness to host the event.

US presidential hopeful Mitt Romney made some undiplomatic criticism of London's preparations for the Olympic Games on Wednesday, expressing concern about Britain's readiness to host the event.

"It's hard to know just how well it will turn out," Romney, who is running to unseat President Barack Obama in November's election, told NBC News from London, where he will attend the opening ceremony of the Games on Friday.
"There are a few things that were disconcerting," he said.
"The stories about the private security firm not having enough people, the supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials -- that obviously is not something which is encouraging," he warned.
Romney even called into question whether the British people as a whole were behind the spectacle, saying this would be key to their success.
"Do they come together and celebrate the Olympic moment? And that's something which we only find out once the Games actually begin," he said.
Romney's Olympic eye is keener than most. The multimillionaire former businessman and investor was called in to head the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City after preparations were marred by scandal, and has first-hand knowledge of how to put on a successful Olympics.
There have indeed been hiccups in the preparations for the London Games.
Britain rushed to deploy an extra 1,200 troops in London following a shortfall at the Games' private security contractor G4S, and there was a threat of a strike by British border officials planned for Thursday due to a dispute over jobs, although the labor union called off the strike.
Romney has a personal connection with the London Games. His wife Ann co-owns the horse Rafalca, which will compete in Olympic dressage.
While Ann Romney herself will not ride Rafalca in competition -- the horse's trainer Jan Ebeling will take the reins -- she said in June that competing in the Olympics was "a dream come true."
And yet her husband sounded on NBC like he knew little about competitive dressage, which in London marks its 100th year as an Olympic sport.
"I have to tell you. This is Ann's sport. I'm not even sure which day the sport goes on," he said.
"She will get the chance to see it, I will not be watching the event."
Romney travels to Israel after Friday's opening ceremonies in London.
Romney's on-air comments followed a previous awkward step in London.
He was already facing criticism over comments made by an unnamed adviser to his campaign, who told The Daily Telegraph newspaper that Romney understands the shared US-British "Anglo-Saxon heritage" better than Obama, the first black US leader.
Romney was asked about the gaffe in the NBC interview. "I don't agree with whoever that adviser might be," he said, adding that he believed Obama "understands" the common bond between the United States and Britain.
Romney holds a series of meetings and photo-ops Thursday with top British officials including Prime Minister David Cameron.

London Olympics final countdown begins

London - The opening ceremony of the London Olympics is due to take place later after seven years of preparations.
The three-hour spectacle in the Olympic Stadium is expected to be viewed by a global TV audience of 1bn.
The final day of the torch relay will see the Olympic flame taken along the Thames on royal rowbarge Gloriana - and then used to light the cauldron that will shine during 16 days of sport.
The Games will see the biggest UK peacetime security operation mounted.
Organisers have released a video clip giving a sneak preview of Oscar winner Danny Boyle's opening ceremony, featuring groups in colourful stage outfits dancing to Tiger Feet by 1970s rock group Mud and cyclists with wings pedalling along to Come Together by the Beatles.
Europe's largest bell will ring inside the stadium at 21:00 BST at the start of the £27m extravaganza, featuring a cast of 10,000 volunteers and said to be a quirky take on British life.
Some 15,000 square metres of staging and 12,956 props will be used, and the event will boast a million-watt PA system using more than 500 speakers.
The crowd of about 80,000 will include the Queen and a host of dignitaries and celebrities.
As late as Thursday night, Games organisers said that the ceremony had not sold out and tickets in the two highest price categories, costing £2,012 and £1,600 were still available.
Earlier, the torch relay will make its way through the maze at Hampton Court, before it travels down the Thames.
The final torchbearer of the 70-day relay will be 22-year-old basketball player Amber Charles, who played a key role in London's winning bid and who will carry the flame in front of City Hall and Tower Bridge at approximately 12:45 BST.
The relay ends late in the evening with the lighting of the cauldron during the opening ceremony but the identity of the person who will take on the honour remains a mystery.
BBC sports editor David Bond said the millions of people who have lined the UK's streets to witness the passing of the torch relay reflect an enthusiasm and pride in the Games which has been growing over the last few weeks.
He said Games organisers have not experienced the sort of problems so many other host cities have endured but could find themselves under the spotlight if the transport network fails or if problems with venue security emerges.
The Queen and Prince Philip will host a Buckingham Palace reception for heads of state and government and an opening ceremony celebration concert featuring Snow Patrol, Stereophonics, Duran Duran and Paolo Nutini will be held in Hyde Park.
And the sporting action, which officially began on Wednesday with the women's football competition, continues with archery at Lord's cricket ground.
In other developments:
London taxi drivers will stage another protest as part of their campaign against being banned from using Olympic traffic lanes
A mass bell-ringing, conceived by Turner Prize-winner Martin Creed, is to take place for three minutes from 08:12 BST to mark the official start of the Games. Big Ben will chime 40 times during the period
About 60,000 people gathered in Hyde Park on Thursday night to see the final torchbearer lit a cauldron in front of 60,000 people as London Mayor Boris Johnson wished the crowds a wonderful Olympics, and thanked them for their support
The Team GB men's football team were denied victory on their return to the Olympic Games after a 52-year absence when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Senegal in their opening Group A match at Old Trafford on Thursday in front of a near capacity crowd of 72,476
The mayor of London has hit out at US presidential candidate Mitt Romney for comments suggesting Britain is not ready to stage the Olympic Games
More than 10,000 athletes from 204 nations will take part in the London Olympics.
Some £9bn of public money has been spent on staging the Games but Prime Minister David Cameron, who toured the Olympic Park on Thursday, has stressed the opportunity presented by the Games at a time of economic fragility.
"Let's put our best foot forward, we're an amazing country with fantastic things to offer. This is a great moment for us, let's seize it," he said.

London Olympics 2012: London ready for opening ceremony

London:  The stage is set and the athletes are primed as the seven-year countdown to the London 2012 Olympics reaches its finale with Friday's much-anticipated opening ceremony.

The three-hour spectacle, expected to be watched by a global television audience of up to one billion, will mark  the beginning of 17 days of athletic endeavour which will create heroes, shatter dreams and fire national pride.

But London is preparing for its own intense examination as questions over the city's creaking transport system and the ever-present security threat hang over the event, ready to overshadow on-track achievements.

Prime Minister David Cameron insisted on Thursday that Britain would deliver a memorable Games after US presidential hopeful Mitt Romney backtracked on barbed comments he made about the preparations.

The Republican hopeful, in London to attend Friday's opening, said the build-up had been "disconcerting", pointing to the failure of a private security contractor to provide the number of guards it had promised.

16 Amarnath pilgrims killed in bus accident

Jammu : A truck carrying Amarnath pilgrims fell into a gorge in Kashmir, killing 16, police say.The worshippers were returning from Amarnath cave, the site of an annual pilgrimage, when the incident happened in Samba district late on Thursday.

Sixteen other pilgrims travelling in the truck were injured. They were taken to a local hospital. Hindus revere Amarnath as the abode of the god Shiva.

This is the second major incident involving pilgrims returning from the Amarnath cave this month. On 14 July, 15 pilgrims were killed when a passenger bus returning from the pilgrimage plunged into a gorge near Ramban on a mountain road.

The pilgrims set off from the state's winter capital, Jammu, for Pahalgam, which serves as base camp for the 45km trek to the cave, 4,000m above sea level.

Aung San Suu Kyi condemned for silence on Burma abuses

Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese opposition leader, is facing a backlash from fellow pro-democracy campaigners who are dismayed at her refusal to speak out against abuses being committed by her country's military.
Activists who supported the icon of human rights through her years of imprisonment and isolation accuse her of staying silent on the most pressing human rights issue in Burma today - the treatment of the Rohingya, a stateless group identified by the United Nations as one of the most persecuted minorities anywhere.
Critics contend that she has dodged the subject throughout eight weeks of strife in Rakhine state in western Burma, where hundreds of people have been killed and tens of thousands displaced from their homes.
There have been consistent reports of army beatings, acts of intimidation and extra judicial killings of the Rohingya, who are Muslim.
Her refusal to criticise President Thein Sein, a former military general, for endorsing policies that could be seen as recommending ethnic cleansing have caused particular consternation. Thein Sein said the 800,000 Rohingya population should be put in camps and sent across the border to Bangladesh.
"She is in a difficult position, but people have been disappointed she hasn't been more outspoken," said Anna Roberts, executive director of the Burma Campaign UK.
"She passed up opportunities to say good things on this," said Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch. "This was all blowing up when she was travelling in Europe and she didn't confront it," he added, referring to her recent foreign tour when the Nobel laureate was feted in London, Dublin, Paris and Oslo.
The sweeping reforms that have seen Suu Kyi take a seat in parliament have also eased censorship laws, exposing resentment towards the Rohingya and Muslims among the majority Buddhist ethnic Burmese population.
Some activists said it was unclear if the Nobel Peace Laureate shared commonly held prejudices towards the dark-skinned minority from the subcontinent, who first migrated from Bengal centuries ago. "One has to be suspicious or concerned about what her views are," said Adams. "It's very hard to know what she thinks."
In her first parliamentary speech this week Suu Kyi cited the importance of protecting minority rights, but that was widely regarded as referring to larger Buddhist groups such as the Karen and Shan.
Maung Zarni, a Burmese academic who was on a panel with her at the London School of Economics in June, said: "She has been very non-committal on the issue of the Rohingya."
Other victims of Burma's military regime had been released from prison only to show a "shocking" level of racial prejudice against Muslims, he said.
"Pro-democracy crowds are also cut from the same racist ideological fabric" as the military-dominated government, he added. There have been reports that Buddhist monks in Rakhine have distributed pamphlets urging boycotts of Muslim traders and shops.
When asked about the Rohingya issue, Suu Kyi has vaguely referred to the need for the "rule of law", or for a clear immigration law, which critics say suggests she sees the Muslim group as immigrants. The Rohingya have never been granted Burmese citizenship and a 1982 law excluded them from the list of officially-recognised minorities.
As Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy look to elections in 2015, analysts have said expressing support for the Muslim minority would be politically calamitous. Adams and others disagree. "This is an unequivocal issue, it's something where clarity is needed. She is such an icon, she could bring a lot of public opinion with her if she went after the issue," he said.

President Pranab takes charge as 13th President of India

At impressive swearing-in, new Prez focuses on tackling poverty, pushing growth

President Pranab Mukherjee waves from his horse-drawn carriage at Rashtrapati Bhawan after his swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday.  

DIDI COMES FOR DADA

After bitterly opposing Pranab Mukherjee’s candidature, key UPA ally Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee attended his oath-taking ceremony. Mamata, who reached Delhi on Tuesday night in a special plane sent by the Centre, went straight to Mukherjee’s residence and the two reportedly chatted till midnight. Actor Mithun Chakraborty, who is said to be Mukherjee’s mascot, was among a host of persons who came to witness the swearing-in of the country’s first Bengali President.

THE POMP AND THE BIG SHOW

Before the swearing-in, Pranab was driven to the Rashtrapati Bhawan in a black limousine  Both Mukherjee and Pratibha Patil were given the national salute by members of the three Services lined along the road leading to Raisina Hill  The two then left for Parliament House in a cavalcade. After the function, Mukherjee inspected his first guard of honour in a horse-driven buggy  Later, the new President escorted his predecessor to her new residence at Tughlaq Lane. Patil will stay there for some months before she moves to her residence in Pune

New Delhi, July 25
After five decades in active politics, Pranab Mukherjee today began a new innings when he took oath of office as India’s 13th President at an impressive ceremony in the historic Central Hall of Parliament. As he himself later put it, it is a journey “from the flicker of a lamp in a small Bengal village to the chandeliers of Delhi.”

Attired in a black sherwani and white churidar, 76-year-old Mukherjee was administered the oath by Chief Justice of India SH Kapadia in the presence of a huge gathering which included Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, all ministers, UPA partners, Opposition leaders, Governors and many Chief Ministers. Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar were among the Opposition leaders who especially flew down for this occasion.

The ceremony began with the arrival of Pranab Mukherjee along with outgoing President Pratibha Patil, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and the Chief Justice. Soon after being seated on the dais, the veteran Congress leader took oath.

Pranab then exchanged chairs with Pratibha Patil while a thunderous applause echoed through the high dome Central Hall. As soon as he assumed the top Constitutional post, a 21-gun salute was offered to Pranab. It was an announcement that the country had got a new President.

In his acceptance speech, Mukherjee underlined that his high office demands that he must rise “above personal or partisan interests in the service of the national good” and vowed to “to preserve, protect and defend our Constitution.”

Touching upon issues ranging from hunger to global terrorism, Mukherjee unveiled his vision of a modern India, which, he said, is built on fundamentals of secular values, economic equity and gender equality.

The speech bore Mukherjee’s distinctive imprint as he made a passing but telling reference to the touchy issue of tackling poverty and pushing growth. Stating that there is no humiliation more abusive than hunger, the new President underlined, “Trickle-down theories do not address the legitimate aspirations of the poor. We must lift those at the bottom so that poverty is erased from the dictionary of modern India.”

Mukherjee, who was the Finance Minister till last month, was known for his conservative views which have been at variance with those of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who believes in economic liberalisation. While those with socialist moorings contend that people at the bottom of the pyramid have to be pulled out of their poverty stricken condition by adopting a “bottom-up” approach, others pushing for economic reforms maintain that poverty can be erased by pushing for high growth as its benefits would percolate down to the poorest.

Mukherjee’s remark did not go unnoticed by Congress leaders who believe he will not be a “rubber stamp” President but will carefully scrutinise all the legislations sent to the Rashtrapati Bhawan for approval.

With Team Anna beginning another indefinite fast to press for the passage of the Lokpal Bill and action against tainted ministers, corruption too found a mention in Mukherjee’s speech. “Corruption is an evil that can depress the nation’s mood and sap its progress. We cannot allow our progress to be hijacked by the greed of a few,” he said.

Not forgetting that as President he is also the supreme commander of the armed forces, Mukherjee made a special reference to their role in the battle against terrorism.” I am proud of the valour, conviction and steely determination of our armed forces as they have fought this menace on our border,” he said.

Army patrols streets as Assam toll rises to 38

 More villages burnt  Eight fresh deaths reported

No Bangladesh hand in arson: Centre

New Delhi: The Centre has ruled out the hand of Bangladesh-based gangs in Assam violence. “The international border is sealed. It is simply impossible for any organised group from across the border to cross over and carry out the attacks,” Union Home Secretary RK Singh told reporters here.

Guwahati, July 25
With no let-up in Assam violence, the Army was deployed in the three riot-hit districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri on Wednesday. The death toll in the current communal flare-up has risen to 40.

Union Home Secretary RK Singh has asked the Assam Government to nab the “ring leaders” of both sides involved in the communal violence. The Home Ministry has deputed 2,000 Central security personnel to guard Assam-bound trains and railway tracks.

Singh said 2,500 paramilitary personnel had reached Assam to assist the local administration while 2,300 more men will reach the state tonight. "Another 15 companies (1,500 personnel) are on their way," he said.

Shoot-at-sight orders were issued in Chirang district. The visiting Joint Secretary, Home (N-E Affairs), Sambhu Singh, however, told the media in Kokrajhar that there was a slight improvement in the situation in violence-affected areas. He admitted that there were reports of fresh violence, but claimed that the situation was gradually being brought under control.

Bodo women walk through a relief camp at Kokrajhar, some 230km from Guwahati, on Wednesday.

Army spokesman Colonel NN Joshi said around 13,000 troops were deployed in the three districts this morning. They later conducted a flag march in Kokrajhar, Chirang. Dhubri and Bongaigon.

Despite deployment of forces, violence spread to new areas in Chirang district where more villages were burnt and three persons were shot dead by armed raiders. Curfew was relaxed for four hours in the morning in Kokrajhar town.

With the deployment of four additional companies of the Railway Protection Security Force, stranded passenger and goods trains at New Jalpaiguri Station in North Bengal started their onward journey to Assam at 3 pm today.

Northeast Frontier Railway spokesman SS Hajong said at least three trains, including two Rajdhani Express, have resumed their journey from the NJP station. He said additional RPSF men have been deployed along the violence-affected stretch between Gossaingaon and Kokrajhar railway stations. He said the decision about resumption of normal train services would be taken after proper assessment of the ground situation and available security arrangements.

The ongoing violence had disrupted rail services between Assam and the rest of the country, leaving 8,000 passengers stranded at New Jalpaiguri Railway Station in North Bengal.

‘Ensure safety of victims’

A joint forum of Muslims today asked the Centre to immediately intervene to put an end to “killings” by Bodos in Assam. The victims should be provided security and rehabilitation. The forum also demanded a judicial inquiry into rioting. Former Union Minister Ashraf Ali Fatmi said riots between Bodos and Muslims have been continuing for the last four to five days. “Lakhs of Muslims have become homeless. They are forced to live in camps but the government of Assam is not taking stern measures to control the situation,” said Fatmi.

Rajesh Khanna's ashes immersed in Ganga

Estranged wife of Rajesh Khanna Dimple Kapadia &
 daugher Rinki Khanna at Rishikesh on Wednesday. 

Dehradun, July 25
The ashes of Superstar Rajesh Khanna were immersed in the Ganga at Rishikesh here today. Dimple Kapadia, wife of Rajesh Khanna, and their daughter Rinki Khanna reached Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, in afternoon, from where they headed to Rishikesh by road.

Dimple and Rinki performed the ashes immersion in a brief ceremony at Rishikesh before rushing back to Mumbai. The media was kept away from the entire ceremony. The ceremony was initially scheduled for Haridwar, but was later changed to Rishikesh to keep the crowds away. Rajesh Khanna died in Mumbai on July 18.

SC decision to ban tourism in tiger reserves hailed by wildlife conservationists

 

Dehradun, July 25
The Supreme Court’s decision to ban tourism in core areas of all tiger reserves in the country could not have come at a more appropriate moment for Corbett National Park, the highest tiger density park in the country. While tourism had taken a giant leap in and around Corbett, boosting the region’s economy, it's adverse ramifications on tigers have been a matter of concern among the conservationists.

In his first reactions to the apex court’s order, Uttarakhand Principal Chief Conservator of Forests RBS Rawat, while reiterating the Forest Department’s commitment towards tiger conservation, said they will await Union Environment and Forests Ministry’s directions regarding the Supreme Court order and act in it's accordance. He admitted that banning tourism in the core areas of tiger reserves will serve the large purpose of tiger conservation.

Welcoming the Supreme Court’s directive, wildlife conservationist and authority on Corbett Park Hem Singh Gehlot said the Supreme Court’s decision has come very timely. He said today tigers in the country and Corbett in particular have suffered the most in the name of eco-tourism. “Take, for example, Corbett; the resorts stand as main culprits. While on the one hand these resorts have blocked the tiger corridors, on the other they flay all norms to create trouble for the region’s wildlife, including tigers, by promoting rampant tourist activity inside the reserve,” he pointed out.

People for Animals, Uttarakhand, member-secretary Gauri Maulekhi, too, expressed her happiness over the Supreme Court’s order. She said a large tourist inflow into the core areas of Corbett Reserve is proving to be detrimental to the tiger population in the reserve.

Echoing similar sentiments, former Uttarakhand Chief Wildlife Warden AS Negi said the Supreme Court decision will certainly relieve the core zone of Corbett of increasing burden of tourists and will be in the interest of the region’s wildlife.

While conservationists have taken the Supreme court decision as a matter of rejoicing, former chairman of the State Forest and Environment Advisory Committee Anil Baluni has expressed his concern over the decision, asserting that locals, who are solely dependent on tourism in Corbett as a source of livelihood, will be the ultimate losers.

“About 20,000 people earn their livelihoods through tourism in Corbett, and the latest Supreme Court order will come as a huge setback for them,” Baluni pointed out. He said in the backdrop of the Supreme court order, he himself will be taking up the matter legally. Baluni said he would even appeal to the Uttarakhand government to take to legal course over the matter as various large and small entrepreneurs in and around Corbett will be on the verge of losing their jobs after this decision.

Storms sweep through Edmonton, central Alberta

Severe thunderstorm warnings for Edmonton area ends

Edmonton - All tornado warnings and watches ended Monday evening for Edmonton and areas south of the city including Leduc, Camrose, Wetaskiwin and Tofield.
Severe thunderstorm warnings issued earlier for the city also ended. A number of areas south of Edmonton, including parts of Camrose, Leduc and Wetaskiwin counties, were under tornado warnings late Monday afternoon. They, too, ended Monday evening.
Heavy rains swept through Edmonton in the early evening. Epcor reported power outages in the west part of the city, including West Edmonton Mall, Wolf Willow and an area from 111th to 191st Streets and 39th to 101st Avenues. The outages caused traffic lights to go out at a number of intersections.
Heavy rain also caused flooding. Emergency officials had to close off an underpass at 127th Street and 127th Avenue to rescue a motorist caught in the rising water.
Firefighters were called to a home at 94th Avenue and 75th Street after a possible lightning strike caused a fire in the attic area. Crews found smoke and flames coming from the west side of the building.
No one was inside at the time and the fire was put out quickly.
"Nobody was hurt in this scene and damage pretty much was confined to the attic," said Edmonton Fire Capt. Wayne Shacker.
There was a rainfall warning in effect for Whitecourt, Edson, Fox Creek, Swan Hills, Hinton and Grand Cache, with heavy rains expected up to 50 to 70 millimeters.
All current Environment Canada weather warnings can be found here.

 

Tornado watch issued for Edmonton and region

Tornado funnel

Edmonton - A tornado watch has been issued for the City of Edmonton, and surrounding areas. 

Areas under a tornado watch early Monday afternoon are: Edmonton, St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove, Morinville, Mayerthorpe, Evansburg, Fort Saskatchewan, Vegreville, Redwater, Smoky Lake, Leduc, Camrose, Wetaskiwin, Tofield, Westlock, Barrhead, and Athabasca. 

A tornado watch means conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms with the potential to produce tornadoes. 

These severe thunderstorms will also have the potential to produce very large hail, flooding rain, lightning, and powerful winds. 

Environment Canada advises people to use this time to secure outdoor property and to ensure family members and co-workers are prepared to take action should the severe weather approach.

Environment Canada continues to monitor the situation closely for severe thunderstorm development and possible tornado warnings. 

Should severe weather approach or if you feel threatened do not wait for warnings to take action. Take shelter immediately.

Earlier Monday, Environment Canada advised that wet weather is sweeping across central Alberta, with areas west of the city expected to be under a rainfall warning for most of Monday.

The warning area covers a large portion of west-central Alberta, including Whitecourt, Fox Creek, Swan Hills, Edson, Hinton, Grande Cache and Jasper.

A low pressure system brought rain into the region Monday, with more than 50 millimetres of rain possible by Tuesday morning, according to Environment Canada. Rain is expected to continue through most of the day Tuesday, resulting in an additional 20 to 30 mm of rain, before tapering off in the evening. In total, up to 90 mm could fall.

Recent wet weather, including heavy rain, is believed to have caused a mudslide that forced the closure of a portion of the Trans-Canada Highway on Friday, stranding motorists and travellers.

Wet weather is also possible for Edmonton and surrounding regions, which are under a severe thunderstorm watch, with the potential for damaging winds and large hail.