ISLAMABAD: Pakistani government has imposed restrictions on the movement of US diplomats and other embassy officials in the country, media reports said on Friday.
All US diplomats will now require to get special no objection certificate for travelling to other cities, Geo television reported.
Pakistani authorities have imposed travel curbs on US diplomats few days ago. The same curbs would also apply on other diplomats, Geo reported quoted an unspecified sources as saying.
The US has also slapped similar curbs on Pakistani diplomats and embassy staffers in the US, the report said.
There was no official word and reaction from the US embassy.
The reports came days after Pakistan has repeatedly denied US Embassy employees entry into Peshawar city in the country's volatile northwest region, police said.
Two groups of US diplomats were sent back from areas in the outskirts of Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province, this month, according to local media.
All foreigners are required to have special permission to enter the northwest and southwestern Balochistan province, officials say.
The reports came at a time when relations between the US and Pakistan have deteriorated after the this month blockade of USD 800 military aid. The decision was aimed at mounting pressure on Islamabad to take more steps against the Taliban and al-Qaida militants.
Sunday, 31 July 2011
Aishwarya Rai won't follow Kate Middleton
While Kate Middleton has willingly put up her wedding gown for exhibition at Buckingham Palace, exhibiting her own wedding ensemble is not something the Bachchan bahu will ever do.
Says a source close to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan says, "While most brides want designers to make their wedding outfits, Ash and her mom chose her wedding saree from a non-designer store. They flew to Chennai and selected a traditional South Indian yellow and gold Kanjeevaram saree for her big day." Now it has been packed away and maybe someday Ash will give it to her daughter." Ash and Junior B are expecting their first baby in October.
Says a source close to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan says, "While most brides want designers to make their wedding outfits, Ash and her mom chose her wedding saree from a non-designer store. They flew to Chennai and selected a traditional South Indian yellow and gold Kanjeevaram saree for her big day." Now it has been packed away and maybe someday Ash will give it to her daughter." Ash and Junior B are expecting their first baby in October.
Gandhi to Hitler
Story: The film captures Hitler's last days which he spent hiding in a bunker, while the Allied Forces closed in on Berlin at the end of World War ll. The tension builds up as loyalists flee and the German dictator (Raghubir Yadav) is left, almost alone with his mistress Eva Braun (Neha Dhupia).
Movie Review: Did anyone mention Gandhi in the title of the film? Seems strange, because Gandhi remains a shadowy figure in the entire proceedings, now and then marching through fields and mouthing soliloquies on nationalism and non-violence before a motley bunch of silent followers. The only link that the film maker establishes between the two disparate leaders is through a couple of letters which Gandhi pens to Hitler, giving him gyan on ahimsa and tyag. Don't know whether the German leader received the letters or even read them!
Apart from this tenuous link between Gandhi and Hitler, there is another superficial track of a bunch of Indian soldiers who enter hostile terrain on the bidding of Subhash Chandra Bose. Led by Aman Verma, the misguided Indian patriots keep reminiscing about their fields and family in Punjab while dodging enemy bullets. Connection, please?
And finally, there is the character of Hitler....Now Raghubir Yadav is a fine actor who has entertained us with many memorable performances. But here, he makes a complete caricature of the protagonist who has been part and parcel of many landmark films. The only person who seems to get a slight hold on her character is Neha Dhupia who doesn't reduce Eva Braun to a parody unlike the other historical figures.
Tip Off: This one's an unnecessary play with history, trying to superficially compare India's nationalist movement with German nationalism.
Movie Review: Did anyone mention Gandhi in the title of the film? Seems strange, because Gandhi remains a shadowy figure in the entire proceedings, now and then marching through fields and mouthing soliloquies on nationalism and non-violence before a motley bunch of silent followers. The only link that the film maker establishes between the two disparate leaders is through a couple of letters which Gandhi pens to Hitler, giving him gyan on ahimsa and tyag. Don't know whether the German leader received the letters or even read them!
Apart from this tenuous link between Gandhi and Hitler, there is another superficial track of a bunch of Indian soldiers who enter hostile terrain on the bidding of Subhash Chandra Bose. Led by Aman Verma, the misguided Indian patriots keep reminiscing about their fields and family in Punjab while dodging enemy bullets. Connection, please?
And finally, there is the character of Hitler....Now Raghubir Yadav is a fine actor who has entertained us with many memorable performances. But here, he makes a complete caricature of the protagonist who has been part and parcel of many landmark films. The only person who seems to get a slight hold on her character is Neha Dhupia who doesn't reduce Eva Braun to a parody unlike the other historical figures.
Tip Off: This one's an unnecessary play with history, trying to superficially compare India's nationalist movement with German nationalism.
Ties with Pakistan essential to fight terror: US
ISLAMABAD: The US has said its relationship with Pakistan was "essential" in the fight against terror. The ties were, however, complicated and difficult at times.
"Without addressing specific methods, I would say simply that we believe our relationship with Pakistan is essential to fighting terrorism and terrorists, fighting al-Qaida," Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) quoted US President Barack Obama's spokesman Jay Carney as saying in Washington.
Carney was asked by reporters about a call by former US intelligence chief Admiral (retd) Dennis Blair for an immediate halt to drone attacks on Pakistani soil.
"We also make no apologies for the need to go after terrorists, members of al-Qaida, wherever they are. And that is certainly true about the mission to eliminate Osama bin Laden," Carney said.
Osama was killed in a US special forces mission in Pakistan's Abbottabad city in May. The US did not inform Pakistan about the operation, saying it may have been sabotaged.
Blair recently said Washington's unilateral actions were harming ties with Islamabad and that Pakistan should be given control over drone strikes.
According to APP, the White House official's remarks indicated that the US understands that tensions were arising from its unilateral anti-militant actions. But that Washington wants to maintain close ties with Islamabad and fight terrorists simultaneously.
"And I think that I understand that that creates tension. And we have... we engage with the Pakistanis to discuss these issues all the time. But the relationship is important and, obviously, fighting terrorism is important," the spokesman said.
"Without addressing specific methods, I would say simply that we believe our relationship with Pakistan is essential to fighting terrorism and terrorists, fighting al-Qaida," Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) quoted US President Barack Obama's spokesman Jay Carney as saying in Washington.
Carney was asked by reporters about a call by former US intelligence chief Admiral (retd) Dennis Blair for an immediate halt to drone attacks on Pakistani soil.
"We also make no apologies for the need to go after terrorists, members of al-Qaida, wherever they are. And that is certainly true about the mission to eliminate Osama bin Laden," Carney said.
Osama was killed in a US special forces mission in Pakistan's Abbottabad city in May. The US did not inform Pakistan about the operation, saying it may have been sabotaged.
Blair recently said Washington's unilateral actions were harming ties with Islamabad and that Pakistan should be given control over drone strikes.
According to APP, the White House official's remarks indicated that the US understands that tensions were arising from its unilateral anti-militant actions. But that Washington wants to maintain close ties with Islamabad and fight terrorists simultaneously.
"And I think that I understand that that creates tension. And we have... we engage with the Pakistanis to discuss these issues all the time. But the relationship is important and, obviously, fighting terrorism is important," the spokesman said.
'Salman Khan didn't want to insult Sanjay Dutt'
After the messy fights, Khan has asked the filmmakers to scrap the role for which he had approached Sanjay Dutt
I am not old enough to play Salman's dad," Sanjay Dutt told the media. This was after Salman Khan had approached Sanjubaba to do a cameo in his forthcoming film Bodyguard and Dutt had refused, politely.
In fact, when the two fast friends, Sanju and Sallu fought at Maanyata Dutt's birthday party recently, insiders speculated that perhaps the offer to play Sallu's dad was the main bone of contention.
Looks like the temperamental Khan has decided to do away with the very bone. The role of the father in Atul Agnihotri's film has now been removed completely.
Reportedly, the role in question, that of the Bodyguards's father was earlier offered to Jackie Shroff. Salman had then asked good friend Sanjay to step in for the role.
And even after the much publicised fight, Salman had remained adamant on having only Sanju play his father in the film. However, now since the role has created so much stress between him and Sanjay, Salman has decided to do away with it.
A source close to Salman revealed, "Not for a minute did Salman think that Sanjay would feel insulted on being offered the role. But when Salman got such a negative reaction from Sanju, he was really hurt. He hid his feelings in his usual way.
He got brash and aggressive at the party. However, now Salman has decided to scrap the role completely. He thinks, if Sanju doesn't do it, no one else should either."
This last-minute change in the film's script is being kept under wraps. The 'father' of the Bodyguard who hit the headlines during the casting phase, has now been rendered non-existent by the crew members of the film. In fact, when contacted, producer Atul Agnihotri told Mumbai Mirror, "There's no such casting in the film." In other words, RIP, daddy!
I am not old enough to play Salman's dad," Sanjay Dutt told the media. This was after Salman Khan had approached Sanjubaba to do a cameo in his forthcoming film Bodyguard and Dutt had refused, politely.
In fact, when the two fast friends, Sanju and Sallu fought at Maanyata Dutt's birthday party recently, insiders speculated that perhaps the offer to play Sallu's dad was the main bone of contention.
Looks like the temperamental Khan has decided to do away with the very bone. The role of the father in Atul Agnihotri's film has now been removed completely.
Reportedly, the role in question, that of the Bodyguards's father was earlier offered to Jackie Shroff. Salman had then asked good friend Sanjay to step in for the role.
And even after the much publicised fight, Salman had remained adamant on having only Sanju play his father in the film. However, now since the role has created so much stress between him and Sanjay, Salman has decided to do away with it.
A source close to Salman revealed, "Not for a minute did Salman think that Sanjay would feel insulted on being offered the role. But when Salman got such a negative reaction from Sanju, he was really hurt. He hid his feelings in his usual way.
He got brash and aggressive at the party. However, now Salman has decided to scrap the role completely. He thinks, if Sanju doesn't do it, no one else should either."
This last-minute change in the film's script is being kept under wraps. The 'father' of the Bodyguard who hit the headlines during the casting phase, has now been rendered non-existent by the crew members of the film. In fact, when contacted, producer Atul Agnihotri told Mumbai Mirror, "There's no such casting in the film." In other words, RIP, daddy!
Big B gets teaching tips from Super 30's Anand
PATNA: Super star Big B and Saif Ali Khan have learnt teaching skills in mathematics from Bihar's Super 30 founder Anand Kumar.
Bollywood director Prakash Jha, whose recent movie 'Aarakshan' revolves around the subject of education, had sought Anand's help in imparting teaching skills to Big B and Saif.
The math wizard shot a video at Jha's office in Mumbai. Anand conducted three to four simulated classes at Jha's office over a period of two days in December last year.
In the film, Big B plays the role of Prabhakar Anand, who is the principal of a college which does not abide by the government's regulations on caste-based reservation. Moved by the plight of poor children, Amitabh Bachchan, in the film, decides to coach students from underprivileged background in his free time. Saif Ali Khan also teaches at this school.
"For this, Big B and Saif needed teaching skills and I thought no one was more capable to do it than Anand," Jha told TOI over phone from Mumbai.
"Prakashji one day gave me a call early in the morning and said he was shooting a movie and needed some help as Big B needed tips to teach mathematical problems in a way which is easy for the students to grasp. And I agreed to conduct simulated classes. I was glad to do that," Anand told TOI.
"I had to direct Big B and Saif on teaching mathematics to underprivileged children. And, I did not know how to do that. So I requested Anandji to spare sometime for me, to which he readily agreed," Jha said. "His unique style made our task easy. I am thankful to him for helping me out," Jha added.
As for Big B, he has been lauding Anand at film promos in various cities. "I have come to know about Anand, who prepares underprivileged but talented students for free in Patna. He has made many of them crack IIT-JEE during the past few years. We should encourage public-spirited efforts like Anand's to improve the educational environment in the country. Such personalities really need encouragement," Big B spoke during a recent promo on a private TV channel.
During his visit to Patna in August, Big B will be having an exclusive meeting with Anand.
About compliments from a person like Big B, Anand Kumar said, "Words of encouragement from him have reinforced my belief into my own abilities."
Bollywood director Prakash Jha, whose recent movie 'Aarakshan' revolves around the subject of education, had sought Anand's help in imparting teaching skills to Big B and Saif.
The math wizard shot a video at Jha's office in Mumbai. Anand conducted three to four simulated classes at Jha's office over a period of two days in December last year.
In the film, Big B plays the role of Prabhakar Anand, who is the principal of a college which does not abide by the government's regulations on caste-based reservation. Moved by the plight of poor children, Amitabh Bachchan, in the film, decides to coach students from underprivileged background in his free time. Saif Ali Khan also teaches at this school.
"For this, Big B and Saif needed teaching skills and I thought no one was more capable to do it than Anand," Jha told TOI over phone from Mumbai.
"Prakashji one day gave me a call early in the morning and said he was shooting a movie and needed some help as Big B needed tips to teach mathematical problems in a way which is easy for the students to grasp. And I agreed to conduct simulated classes. I was glad to do that," Anand told TOI.
"I had to direct Big B and Saif on teaching mathematics to underprivileged children. And, I did not know how to do that. So I requested Anandji to spare sometime for me, to which he readily agreed," Jha said. "His unique style made our task easy. I am thankful to him for helping me out," Jha added.
As for Big B, he has been lauding Anand at film promos in various cities. "I have come to know about Anand, who prepares underprivileged but talented students for free in Patna. He has made many of them crack IIT-JEE during the past few years. We should encourage public-spirited efforts like Anand's to improve the educational environment in the country. Such personalities really need encouragement," Big B spoke during a recent promo on a private TV channel.
During his visit to Patna in August, Big B will be having an exclusive meeting with Anand.
About compliments from a person like Big B, Anand Kumar said, "Words of encouragement from him have reinforced my belief into my own abilities."
Health of the nation
If corruption is a malady, many VVIPs seem overly illness-prone. Is that why our politicos know exactly when to develop tummy turmoil, cardio-capers, lung collapses, pancreatic perforations, lily-liver malfunction and - lest we forget - expedient amnesia? Accused of moral malaise, where do VIPs go? To ICU. In that well-chosen operation theatre, they take intensive care to avoid extensive probing. Call it our netas' self-love in the time of cholera. Or is it dementia?
But hold on to your stethoscopes. "My mind, my brain is all okay," declares ex-Commonwealth Games organising committee boss Suresh Kalmadi, rubbishing reports of suffering from dementia, a disease linked to memory loss. Can he claim otherwise, with all those kambakht MRI scans showing little evidence of his losing total recall? No mental bhool-bhulaiyya afflicts this Congressman accused of Games-related shenanigans. That's a pity, some say. Isn't forgetfulness a fortuitous medical emergency for politicos kept in jail? Grill them on alleged acts of omission and commission. They'll omit everything and commit to nothing. On spin doctor's orders.
Since his fall from grace, Kalmadi's been examined for the three Ds: dementia, diabetes, dil ka daura. Going from CWG to ECG fits with hallowed tradition. When ex-Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda was accused of illicit moneymaking, he got a tummy bug of crampingly long duration. Timely indispositions go beyond politics. Diagnosed as ailing, ex-Satyam chairman Ramalinga Raju - charged with corporate fraud - graced a hospital's VIP suite till the judiciary rapped him out of it. Indeed, health monitoring is now our national mission. Don't we need to fathom the elusive allergies, undetectable ulcers and new-fangled neuroses of the scam-hit on life support?
There can be three remedies. One, let's attach our prisons to super-speciality hospitals. After all, the list of tainted celebrities getting arrested is growing by the day. As are their exotic disorders - from competitive foot-in-mouth to rent-a-colic, from moral abscess to amoral contagion. Two, VIPs-at-risk can SOS Baba Ramdev. His followers swear by his panaceas for everything from baldness to swine flu. Why, if love is a pathological condition, he has even unwittingly cured glam-girl Rakhi Sawant of her crush on Rahul baba. True, she now looks upon the Swami as a hoped-for swami. But that's another - perhaps less treatable - heart flutter.
Three, floored by the yoga guru's anti-corruption crusade, the 'It' girl can join his camp. That'll boost national immunity. Here's how. Team Anna will lose the crowds to Baba Ramdev's oomph-aided public dos and be compelled to join him. That will unify the anti-graft ranks. Plus, police raids of the Ramlila Maidan-type won't happen: tear-gassers and lathi-chargers will watch rather than disrupt Rakhi's anti-bhrashtachaar reality show. Finally, with cops not breaking up fasts and protests, their political masters' doctor-patient games will be stymied. Corruption will become less of an active virus. The ultrasound and the fury will subside.
The upshot? Political convalescents will come to view moral health as - you guessed it - common wealth. What say, Kalmadi?
But hold on to your stethoscopes. "My mind, my brain is all okay," declares ex-Commonwealth Games organising committee boss Suresh Kalmadi, rubbishing reports of suffering from dementia, a disease linked to memory loss. Can he claim otherwise, with all those kambakht MRI scans showing little evidence of his losing total recall? No mental bhool-bhulaiyya afflicts this Congressman accused of Games-related shenanigans. That's a pity, some say. Isn't forgetfulness a fortuitous medical emergency for politicos kept in jail? Grill them on alleged acts of omission and commission. They'll omit everything and commit to nothing. On spin doctor's orders.
Since his fall from grace, Kalmadi's been examined for the three Ds: dementia, diabetes, dil ka daura. Going from CWG to ECG fits with hallowed tradition. When ex-Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda was accused of illicit moneymaking, he got a tummy bug of crampingly long duration. Timely indispositions go beyond politics. Diagnosed as ailing, ex-Satyam chairman Ramalinga Raju - charged with corporate fraud - graced a hospital's VIP suite till the judiciary rapped him out of it. Indeed, health monitoring is now our national mission. Don't we need to fathom the elusive allergies, undetectable ulcers and new-fangled neuroses of the scam-hit on life support?
There can be three remedies. One, let's attach our prisons to super-speciality hospitals. After all, the list of tainted celebrities getting arrested is growing by the day. As are their exotic disorders - from competitive foot-in-mouth to rent-a-colic, from moral abscess to amoral contagion. Two, VIPs-at-risk can SOS Baba Ramdev. His followers swear by his panaceas for everything from baldness to swine flu. Why, if love is a pathological condition, he has even unwittingly cured glam-girl Rakhi Sawant of her crush on Rahul baba. True, she now looks upon the Swami as a hoped-for swami. But that's another - perhaps less treatable - heart flutter.
Three, floored by the yoga guru's anti-corruption crusade, the 'It' girl can join his camp. That'll boost national immunity. Here's how. Team Anna will lose the crowds to Baba Ramdev's oomph-aided public dos and be compelled to join him. That will unify the anti-graft ranks. Plus, police raids of the Ramlila Maidan-type won't happen: tear-gassers and lathi-chargers will watch rather than disrupt Rakhi's anti-bhrashtachaar reality show. Finally, with cops not breaking up fasts and protests, their political masters' doctor-patient games will be stymied. Corruption will become less of an active virus. The ultrasound and the fury will subside.
The upshot? Political convalescents will come to view moral health as - you guessed it - common wealth. What say, Kalmadi?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)