Prashant’s show in Nepal fetches casino Rs 40 lakh

Kathmandu: ‘Indian Idol’ Prashant Tamang’s first public show at Casino Royale in Kathmandu fetched its organisers at least Rs 40 lakh.Casino Royale sold 1,500 tickets priced at Rs 2,500 for the 3-hour programme on Friday night.People at the casino also enjoyed various games of black jack, roulette, flush and baccarat at jam packed tables.Source: www.mumbaimirror....

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Karnataka gets thrilling

Bangalore: The political drama in Karnataka on Saturday took a comic turn, with ruling JD-S president H D Deve Gowda going on a pilgrimage to Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu knowing well that senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha had landed in Bangalore to persuade him for a smooth power transfer in the state.In a related move, the state’s Tourism Minister B Sriramulu, whose statements against Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy brought the ruling coalition to the brink of a crisis, was likely to step down.The minister - who had earlier levelled attempt to murder charges against the CM - was asked by his party BJP to step down to defuse the crisis and ensure transfer of power on October 3, the date agreed upon earlier by the two allies - the JD-S and BJP.Gowda’s son, Kumaraswamy, was also away in Puducherry...

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Heart under attack

We all want to have a healthy life, free of disease, worry and medical bills. The stats tell a different story though: the cardiac epidemic, say doctors, is just a heartbeat away. But half the battle against heart disease is won with the right lifestyle and a balanced outlook. When it's dil da mamla , it's never too late to get started. Here are 10 steps to give your heart a chance.Eat right - Eat in moderation and a variety of foods. Dr K K Aggarwal, president, Heartcare Foundation of India, advises, "Have food of all seven colours and six tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent)." Have less of fast-food and takeouts. By cooking for yourself at home or packing a lunch tiffin for work, you exercise greater control over ingredients, cooking methods and smaller portion sizes....

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At 80, you're not too old for angioplasty

NEW DELHI: Eighty-one-year-old Begum Rawshan Ara was unhappy. Her chest pain was getting worse by the day, her appetite was failing her and her mobility had got restricted. She could hardly finish a sentence without becoming breathless.When several visits to cardiologists at Dhaka’s Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital failed to bring her any relief, her daughter Najmun Nahar decided to bring her to India.Today, she talks nineteen to a dozen, walks around without panting for breath and smiles incessantly.Begum Rawshan Ara, who underwent an angioplasty by cardiologist Dr Ashok Seth at Max Hospital, told TOI: "I haven’t felt so alive in a long time. Life had become terrible. Everytime I lied down there was pain in my chest. So I used to keep sitting, day and night. Today I feel 40 years younger."She is...

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Why women worry more than men

Scientists have known that on the whole, females of all ages tend to worry more and have more intense worries than males. Women also tend to perceive more risk in situations and grow more anxious than men. Now we know why. Women are more likely than men to believe that past experiences accurately forecast the future, according to two new studies.The research, involving both 3- to 6-year-olds and adults of both genders, tested the extent to which participants' thought that worry can be caused by thinking that a bad event that happened in the past could happen again in the future. (This skill, in its simplest form, is critical to social understanding as it is important to making decisions and assessing risk.)For the first study, subjects listened to six stories that featured characters harmed...

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Think before taking multivitamins

Men need to be cautious about taking multivitamins more than once a day, for a new study has found doing so may increase the risk of prostrate cancer.The researchers conducting the study also found that though there was no link between multivitamin use and the risk of developing localised prostate cancer, men who took multivitamins more than once a day were 32 per cent more likely to develop advanced prostate cancer.They also found that such men were 98 per cent more likely to die from the disease. However, the researchers warn that the study had its limitations.They pointed out that it was not designed to determine whether multivitamins actually...

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Strictly avoid fatty foods

Gorging on those French fries and hamburgers may not be a good idea anymore, with a new study showing that fatty foods cooked at high temperatures may cause a significant dysfunction in blood vessel dilation that can lead to heart disease.Dr Jaime Uribarri of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, who led the study, has revealed that cooking foods rich in protein and fat by employing methods involving high and dry heat—such as broiling, grilling, frying or roasting—produces high levels advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which causes dysfunction in blood vessel dilation.“Although the effect was temporary, it suggests that AGEs could, over time,...

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Players deserve recognition: Tirkey

Justifying the demands of the Asia Cup hockey winning team, Olympian Dilip Tirkey, who was part of the title triumph, said on Saturday while honouring the cricketers the state governments should not ignore the achievements of other sportspersons.Tirkey said the team had worked hard and played outstanding hockey to bring the honour and they deserved acknowledgement from people as well as associations."Every player played well in the Asia Cup. We played attacking hockey for which we are known. The team played like a unit. Thrashing a strong team like South Korea in the final is no mean feat. The state governments at least should recognise what...

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France promises to join India in garnering support at NSG

France promises to join India in garnering support at NSGFrance has promised to join it in garnering support at the Nuclear Suppliers Group which is required to change its rules to allow international community to have trade in the field with New Delhi.PARIS: Keen to have civil nuclear cooperation with India, France has promised to join it in garnering support at the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) which is required to change its rules to allow international community to have trade in the field with New Delhi.The key NSG member underlined that India is a responsible country and grant of waiver to it by the 45-nation grouping would strengthen the global Non-Proliferation regime, instead of weakening the system as apprehended by some quarters.A week after Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil...

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Govt orders FM station to explain RJ's remark

KOLKATA: A private Indian radio station has been threatened with government action after allegedly insulting the winner of the Indian Idol talent show and his entire ethnic group.The Red FM station provoked rioting by referring to contest winner Prashant Tamang from Darjeeling as a "guard"."It is prima facie evident that the remarks are in violation of the programme code," Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said in a statement, which also branded the station "racist and insulting."It ordered Red FM to explain itself by Monday evening. Areas around Darjeeling have been rocked by protests and clashes following the Red FM comments, and Indian army soldiers continued to be deployed in the nearby town of Siliguri for a third day on Sunday.Thirty people were hurt there in clashes between police...

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SC stays Tamil Nadu bandh

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Sunday stayed a ruling DMK-sponsored bandh in Tamil Nadu on the Setusamudram project issue slated for Monday.After three hours of arguments on a petition filed by AIADMK, a Bench headed by Justice B N Aggarwal stayed the bandh called on Monday or on any other day.The Court had especially met on a Sunday, a rare occurrence, to dispose of the AIADMK's petition.The AIADMK has filed the SLP, after the Madras High Court on Saturday declined to interfere with the party's plea for restraining the ruling combine from going ahead with the bandh call.The AIADMK in the SLP had contended that the proposed bandh was unconstitutional and violative of the apex court's directive on the issue.Seldom does the apex court take up for open hearing on any matter on Sundays and holidays...

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Anand wins world chess meet

MEXICO CITY, September 30: Viswanathan Anand regained the World Championship after a gap of nearly seven years, drawing his 14th and final round game in quick time against Hungarian Peter Leko here.Playing with white, the writing was already on the wall for the Indian ace as he just needed a draw and achieving it was never going to be too difficult given his stupendous form.Anand secured nine points in all in the championship and also ended up as the only unbeaten player in the event.The Tiger from Madras, as he is fondly called, also became the first undisputed World Chess Champion since 1993 as this world championship was the culmination of the reunification of the chess world.Besides, Anand will keep his number one ranking in ELO ratings due to be released on the October 1.For the records,...

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Hamilton wins Japanese GP

FUJI SPEEDWAY, September 30: British driver Lewis Hamilton overcame wet conditions to win the Japanese Grand Prix in a McLaren-Mercedes, the 15th leg of the 17-race world championship here on Sunday.Hamilton, who started from pole position, dropped to fourth after his first pit stop, but regained the lead after 41 laps to finish ahead of Finland's Heikki Kovalainen in a Renault and Kimi Raikkonen in a Ferrari.It was Hamilton's fourth win of the season, following his victories in Canada, the United States and Hungary.Source: racing.indiatimes....

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Hamilton wins Japanese GP

Formula One now and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton registered his 4th Grand Prix win, by winning the Japanese Grand prix in Fuji amidst extremely wet conditions.Hamilton, who started on pole, led the race throughout, battling through some tough conditions to win the race.This win has given Hamilton a huge margin as he aims to become the first man to win the F1 World Championship in his first season.Source: www.ndtv....

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Ist ODI: Match called off due to rain

Chasing 308, India was 9 for one after 2.4 overs against Australia in the first ODI of the seven-match series in Bangalore on Saturday when rain stopped play.Sachin Tendulkar was the first to depart as he was caught plumb infront by Mitchell Johnson in the last ball of the second over.Tendulkar returning to the team after a three-week break, was looking to see off the over after it started drizzling at the Chinnaswamy stadium.However the Bombay Bomber was undone by an inswinging delivery by the 25-year-old Aussie. Play was called off a few balls later with India at 9 for 1 after 2.4 overs.Michael Clarke's brilliant century helped Australia pile...

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Red Cross hostages freed in Afghanistan

Four employees with the International Committee of the Red Cross, kidnapped earlier this week in Afghanistan, were freed in good health.The four men, one from Myanmar, one from Macedonia and two from Afghanistan, were taken captive on Wednesday in central Wardak province while working to secure the release of a German hostage.Mohabullah, the police director of criminal investigations of the Sayad Abad district where the four were taken, said the men had been released and were in good health.Mohabullah, who goes by one name, said he had no news about the German.The number of kidnappings in Afghanistan has spiked in recent months after the Taliban secured the release of five insurgent prisoners in exchange for a captive Italian journalist in March, a heavily criticized swap that many feared...

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Pak journalists observe Black Day

Journalists are observing a Black Day in Pakistan on Sunday. They are protesting against a police crackdown on lawyers and activists in which several people were injured.Protests in Pakistan had intensified on Saturday with security forces in Islamabad mercilessly beating back lawyers protesting President Musharraf's bid for re-election in uniform.Even journalists were not spared. Angry over police brutality, the protestors attacked the State Minister for Information Tariq Azeem at the Election Commission.The police responded with more force, injuring at least 27 journalists, some with serious head injuries.Private TV channels showing the crackdown...

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China breaks silence on Myanmar crisis

China, Myanmar's closest ally, has asked the military regime to put an end to the violent crackdown on pro-democracy protestors.After a telephonic conversation with his UK counterpart Gordon Brown, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said Beijing hoped peace would return to Myanmar quickly.The remarks came as UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari is in Myanmar hoping to hold talks with the military rulers.In a statement, the Chinese PM said, ''China hopes all parties concerned in (Myanmar) show restraint, resume stability through peaceful means as soon as possible, promote domestic reconciliation and achieve democracy and development.''Meanwhile, die-hard...

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No,the aliens haven’t landed...

On Sunday, a man walked into an ATM at Kandivali, and in a heist worthy of Danny Ocean and his crew, walked off with Rs 21 lakh from the machine. He was undetected by the camera inside as he was wearing a helmet.We sent reporters Dippy Vankani and Rashmi Rajput incognito to see whether banks had woken up and tightened their security systems after this incident.Dena Bank, S V Road, Malad (west)Chupa Rustam: Dippy VankaniWhat transpired: Dippy asked the watchman, Aatmaram, whether he could withdraw cash with his Bank of India debit card. Aatmaram rather helpfully showed Dippy a list of banks whose cards could be used, but did not even once ask him to remove the helmetPopat banaya: When Dippy revealed his identity to Aatmaram and told him what he was up to, he said sheepishly: "Yes, I did hear...

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Chris Brown's Rihanna lust

Chris Brown has confessed he dreams of dating Rihanna.The hip-hop star - who worked with the stunning singer on her hit single 'Umbrella' -is keen to take their friendship further.He told America's Us Weekly magazine: "I've known Rihanna for years and I might have flirted with her a little bit at the MTV Video Music Awards."We're just friends. We're great friends. We haven't taken it to that next level YET."I'm single and ready to mingle."However, Chris may have competition for Rihanna's affections.Last month, it was claimed she is dating 'Transformers' star Shia LaBeouf.The 'S.O.S' singer is said to be smitten with Shia - who is currently filming...

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Black Eyed Peas Hold Benefit Concert

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas put on a benefit concert in Mexico Friday night to raise money for local children who can't afford a decent education."It feels good to be able to help the youth because at one point in time we were teenagers that loved getting involved with the arts and there wasn't really that many programs in East L.A., where I'm from," Will.i.am, the band's front man, said at a news conference before the show at Mexico City's National Auditorium.He added that his mother, a teacher at a California school with a large immigrant population, is proud of his charity work.Proceeds from the concert will fund educational...

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Madonna considered for Hall of Fame

Madonna has been named as one of the music acts being considered for induction into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year.The 'Hung Up' singer has been nominated alongside names such as the Beastie Boys, Donna Summer and Leonard Cohen, according to Billboard magazine.Over 600 music experts will reduce the final list to five, after a committee made the initial nominations. The chosen five will then be entered into the hall in March 2008.Last year REM, Grandmaster Flash, Patti Smith, Van Halen, the Ronettes and the Furious Five were all given the honour.Each inductee, who must have made their first recording at least 25 years ago, will be...

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Madonna considered for Hall of Fame

Madonna has been named as one of the music acts being considered for induction into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year.The 'Hung Up' singer has been nominated alongside names such as the Beastie Boys, Donna Summer and Leonard Cohen, according to Billboard magazine.Over 600 music experts will reduce the final list to five, after a committee made the initial nominations. The chosen five will then be entered into the hall in March 2008.Last year REM, Grandmaster Flash, Patti Smith, Van Halen, the Ronettes and the Furious Five were all given the honour.Each inductee, who must have made their first recording at least 25 years ago, will be represented by a computerised jukebox which will contain every song they have ever made. A film telling the story of their music careers will also be...

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Kid Rock explains Tommy Lee fight

Kid Rock has spoken out about his fight with Tommy Lee at the MTV Video Music Awards.The pair, both former husbands of Pamela Anderson, had to be separated when Rock threw a punch at the Motley Crue drummer.He told The Sun: "Tommy was always just a pain in the a**e. There was a lot of years of disrespect but I was a part of his kids' lives. So I wasn't going to be disrespectful about him around his kids."The 'Cowboy' singer claimed Lee - who had two sons with Pam before their split in 1998 - had been sending him "really inappropriate" messages on Anderson's Blackberry.He said: "I just emailed Tommy back and said: 'You know, I will see you again.'"Talking about the awards ceremony, he explained: "MTV put the three of us in a room probably hoping something would happen, so they got what they...

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Troops take back control in Myanmar

YANGON, Myanmar - Soldiers and police took control of the streets Friday, firing warning shots and tear gas to scatter the few pro-democracy protesters who ventured out as Myanmar's military junta sealed off Buddhist monasteries and cut public Internet access.On the third day of a harsh government crackdown, the streets were empty of the mass gatherings that had peacefully challenged the regime daily for nearly two weeks, leaving only small groups of activists to be chased around by security forces."Bloodbath again! Bloodbath again!" a Yangon resident yelled while watching soldiers break up one march by shooting into air, firing tear gas and beating people with clubs.Thousands of monks had provided the backbone of the protests, but they were besieged in their monasteries, penned in by locked...

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UAW wins job security pledges in GM deal

DETROIT - Local union leaders on Friday endorsed a tentative agreement between General Motors Corp. and the United Auto Workers that requires GM to pay out at least $35 billion for retiree health care, establishes lower wages for thousands of new employees and offers an unprecedented number of promises for future work at U.S. plants, according to a summary of the agreement provided by the UAW.The agreement still is subject to a vote of GM's 74,000 UAW members, which should be completed by Oct. 10. UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said he's confident members will support the agreement and that Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC will match many of its terms."We're happy with this stuff," he said.GM spokesman Dan Flores said both UAW workers and the company benefit from the agreement. GM didn't release...

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Truck knocks off power supply

BANGALORE: Two giant container trucks created havoc in Frazer Town, plunging the area into darkness on Thursday night.Earlier, while the trucks negotiated the road on Wednesday, the live wires across the main road snapped and two electric poles were damaged.Thanks to the callous attitude of the traffic police, the 16-wheeler trucks carrying containers gained entry into the city roads from the Ring Road, off Lingarajapuram, on Wednesday. Though escorted by police personnel, the trucks took a no-entry road and moved towards the power lines crossing through the road. As a rule, heavy trucks are not allowed into the city roads as they are supposed to ply along the Ring Road.As feared by the onlookers, one of the trucks cut through the wires. Sparks flew and the area plunged into darkness.Source:...

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Big three will bring experience : Dhoni

BANGALORE, September 28: Bracing up for his first ODI series as captain, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Friday said, the comeback of the 'Big three' is going to add more depth in the team as they bring huge experience with them.Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly will be back in the Indian side against Australia on Saturday and the skipper felt that he knows whom he can turn to in tough situations."The kind of experience they have is amazing. Each one of them has played more than 300 ODIs and that kind of experience really helps in tough situations. I can turn up to them in such situations," Dhoni said in the pre-match conference.Dhoni, who led India to a historic Twenty20 championship title just days ago, said that 50-over game would be different.Asked about the Australians...

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CPM may pull plug, even vote against govt

KOLKATA/NEW DELHI: Being closely watched for its next step on the road to bring down the UPA government, CPM's highest decision-making body on Friday moved to signal that it regarded imperialism (read relations with the US) and communalism (read keeping BJP at bay) as equal evils.Although party leaders were tight-lipped about what happened behind closed doors in the politburo, it appeared that the leaders who were pressing for a dilution of CPM general-secretary Prakash Karat's stance against the Indo-US nuclear deal had lost out and the West Bengal unit of the party would eventually end up toeing the Karat hardline.Before leaving for Kolkata, a senior CPM leader said in New Delhi: "We may vote against the UPA government." The remark assumes significance in the light of a recent secret meeting...

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All-religion mass wedding in UP

By Amita VermaLucknow: Exactly a month from now, on October 28, the sleepy town of Pilibhit will buzz with activity and merriment.Nearly 2,100 grooms will walk into a sprawling wedding pandal spread over 50 acres of land and more than 4 lakh ‘baraatis’ will dance to Himesh Reshammiya hits. As the 2,100 brides take the wedding vows with their chosen partners, the event will, in all probability, get listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest mass marriage event in the world having an all-religion flavour.A team from the Guinness Book of Records will also be attending and recording the event. "This will be an all-religion mass marriage and we will ensure that each couple is married according to rituals associated with his or her religion. So far, we have plans to get 2,100 couples...

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Captain Cool brand value rockets into space

By SHAMIK CHAKRABARTYKolkata, Sept. 28: Brand MSD is set to rock. The World Twenty20 win has not only ensured a windfall for India captain and his colleagues, but also promises to send Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s personal brand value sky-rocketing. His marketing agents, Gameplan, believe if the Ranchi lad performs consistently and the team is reasonably successful then, Dhoni as a brand, will close in on the heels of Sachin Tendulkar two-three years down the line.Surprisingly, Gameplan have not increased his rates even after the Twenty20 win. "We didn’t drop his rates after the World Cup in the Caribbean, when the market and the situation were pretty adverse. Now, after winning in South Africa, we have not increased his rates," a Gameplan spokesperson told this newspaper.The company roped in Dhoni...

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Troops Crack Down In 2 Burma Cities

Rangoon, Sept. 28: Security forces clamped down on protests in Burma’s two biggest cities on Friday, firing warning shots and using baton charges in the third day of a crackdown that has left at least 13 people dead.The military regime also appeared to have cut the main Internet link to block images and reports of the violence from the isolated nation, which have galvanised world opinion against the ruling generals.About 10,000 people surged onto the streets of the main city of Rangoon, playing a deadly game of cat-and-mouse as they repeatedly confronted the police and soldiers before scattering and regrouping once more.In the central city of Mandalay, thousands of young people on motorbikes rode down a major thoroughfare towards a blockade set up by security forces who unleashed a volley...

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UPA complicit in ‘Q’ issue: BJP

By OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTNew Delhi, Sept. 28: BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy on Friday said the complicity of the Congress-led UPA government in the acquittal of key Bofors accused Ottavio Quattrocchi is evident. The sensational disclosure of Sten Lindstorm, principal Swedish investigator, vindicated the BJP assertion that the CBI, at the behest of the UPA government, has been instrumental in ensuring the acquittal of Quattrocchi.The glaring complicity of the UPA government gets further strengthened by the remark of Mr Lindstorm, who categorically stated that despite Quattrocchi having direct personal links with the Gandhi family, he was denied interrogation even once.Mr Rudy said that the UPA government had clandestinely intervened in defreezing the London bank accounts holding the...

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Kate Nash: 'I'm The New Posh Spice'

Kate Nash has labelled herself as the new Posh Spice in response to being called a chav in the press.The 'Mouthwash' singer seemingly wants to dispel all the Lily Allen comparisons, instead seeing herself on a much higher level.She said: "I think the press really wanted me to be a chav because of the way I sing. I'm way too articulate to be a chav. I'm the new Posh, me."In the interview with The Star, she continued that she thinks she's just an ordinary girl, adding: "I think it's nice to have a girl who isn't standardly pretty and thin in magazines."It's good to have someone with beliefs and principles, who isn't afraid to say what they think....

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Hilary Duff - Dignity

When we think of all those actress-turned-singer careers we know of…Hilary Duff hasn’t come off the worst. Martina Mc Cutcheon was dire, Jessica Simpson was rather mournful and Linsay Lohan was a complete failure. Hilary Duff though seemed to have a sort of pleasant ring to it and hence was accepted from one art to the other…from Box-Office sell-outs to the top of the charts.Her new work though is much more than a stone throw away from the teeny style of ‘Let the Rain Fall Down’. The best way to put it is that Hilary seems to have ‘matured’ in new album ‘Dignity’, kind of reminds me of the maturing of Britney Spears only without the drama and...

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Enrique Iglesias - Tired Of Being Sorry

Enrique Iglesias is set to follow-up his hugely infectious top five smash hit single 'Do You Know' with the physical release of 'Tired Of Being Sorry'.The Latino and electro influenced ‘Tired Of Being Sorry’ will be the second single from his already gold-certified new album ‘Insomniac’. This album is the eighth studio record from the Madrid-born, Miami-raised singer who has now sold over 20 million records worldwide.‘Do You Know?’ is still firmly in the top five UK singles chart seven weeks after release and ‘Insomniac’ has already racked up over 100,000 sales charted at #5 one of his highest UK album chart positions ever. Seems Enrique, who...

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Indian women peacekeepers praised

New York, Sept. 28 (PTI): An all-woman peace-keeping force from India deployed in Liberia has come in for huge praise at a meeting of an international panel of women leaders headed by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice here today.The peace-keeping force has been on the job in the African nation for the last one year, winning appreciation of locals and even inspiring the women there to join the security forces, the meeting, in which Women and Child Development Minister Renuka Chowdhury represented India, was told."The local people are all praise for the all-woman peace-keeping force, that especially guards against violence on women and children," Chowdhury told PTI after the meeting.She said around 200 women in the African country have enrolled in the security forces taking inspiration...

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Prashant Tamang appeals for peace in Siliguri

Kolkata, Sept. 28 (PTI): 'Indian Idol' Prashant Tamant today appealed for peace in Siliguri after violence and arson rocked the this commercial town, where curfew was imposed and the army called in."I urge you all to maintain calm, otherwise I may not be able to concentrate in my career," Tamang said in an appeal on a private TV channel in Bengali and Nepali.Tamang expressed hope that peace would return "and everyone will remain as happy as ever."Source: www.hinduonnet....

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Mass protests in Darjeeling over Idol comments

Darjeeling: The celebrations for local boy Prashant Tamang being crowned as the ‘Indian Idol’ in the Darjeeling hills turned into protest rallies following an alleged derogatory comment by a radio jockey on the Gorkha community. The comment by a Delhi-based FM radio channel, a day after the Kolkata police constable was crowned the Indian Idol, led to mass protests in the hills since Wednesday.All Gorkha Students’ Union (AGSU) president Roshan Giri said members of the Prashant Fan Club, supported by leaders of all political parties, educational institutions and NGOs have called for a 24-hour bandh at Kalimpong and Sukna in Darjeeling sub-division...

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Aung San Suu Kyi my only pin-up: Desmond Tutu

New York: South Africa’s Nobel peace winner Desmond Tutu expressed concern about the situation in Myanmar on Wednesday, describing the country’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi as his only pin-up.“I think we ought to celebrate the incredible courage of our sisters and brothers in Burma,” he said, using the former name of Myanmar, where thousands have taken to the streets to demand the end of the military regime.Up to 100,000 people defied heavy security to take to the streets of the main city Yangon Wednesday, where security forces used batons, tear gas and live rounds to crack down on the protests, killing at least four people. “We want...

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Junta opens fire, 9 dead

Yangon: Troops cleared protesters from the streets of central Yangon on Thursday, giving them 10 minutes to leave or be shot as the Myanmar junta intensified a two-day crackdown on the largest uprising in 20 years.At least nine people were killed, state television said, on a day when far fewer protesters took to the streets after soldiers raided monasteries in the middle of the night and rounded up hundreds of the monks who had been leading them.One of dead was a Japanese photographer, shot when soldiers cleared the area near Sule Pagoda — a city-centre focus of the protests — as loudspeakers blared out warnings, ominous reminders of the ruthless crushing of a 1988 uprising.About 200 soldiers marched towards the crowd and riot police clattered their rattan shields with wooden batons. “It’s...

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