The Week That Was - September 27 : MS Dhoni enthralls home crowd, slams fastest half-century in Champions League T20

Voters get right to reject all candidates in elections

In a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court on Friday gave the citizens of India the right to reject all candidates in elections.

Hearing a petition filed by the People`s Union for Civil Liberties, an NGO, the apex court ruled that the Electronic Voting Machines or EVMs should have a button that will allow the voters to choose "none of the above" option.

The bench of Chief Justice P Sathasivam, Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai and Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that voters should be allowed to reject all candidates standing in an election in his/her constituency.

"Negative voting would foster purity and vibrancy in elections," the court said.

"Negative voting would lead to systemic change in polls and political parties will be forced to project clean candidates," the bench added.

Rahul Gandhi opposes Centre, says Ordinance on convicted lawmakers nonsense

Congress Vice president Rahul Gandhi on Friday questioned the controversial ordinance moved by the Centre on negating the Supreme Court verdict on lawmakers and termed it as "complete nonsense."

Addressing media persons here, Rahul Gandhi said, "I’m not concerned with any of the parties, but about what Congress is doing. The ordinance on convicted lawmakers is complete nonsense and it should be torn and thrown away."

The young Congress leader made this remark a day after a high-level BJP delegation met President Pranab Mukherjee and urged him not to give his consent to the ordinance.

The President on Friday called Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Law Minister Kapil Sibal for consultations on the issue.

J&K terror attacks: 13 killed ahead of Manmohan-Sharif talks

All three terrorists who were involved in the twin terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir were killed in fierce gunfight as the Army operation in the Samba district ended on Thursday. In the attack, 10 people were killed, including four policemen and an army officer. The attack occurred only three days ahead of a meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif.

Three heavily armed terrorists, dressed in army uniform, sneaked into the Jammu region from across the border on Thursday morning stormed a police station and then an army camp. The attackers, believed to be from banned Pakistan-based terror group LeT, were holed up in the camp of the cavalry armoured unit at Samba after attacking Hira Nagar police station in Kathua district of Jammu.

Kenya mall attack: Heavy gunfire erupts as Army fights militants

Fresh bouts of heavy and sustained gunfire was reported from Nairobi’s Westgate shopping centre where 10-15 attackers are said to be holed up, keeping an unknown number of hostages trapped still, reports said.

Although Kenyan Army said in a statement that most of the hostages held by gunmen in Nairobi`s shopping mall have been rescued, and a considerable part of the mall had been secured, the fight against the militants continued with the siege entering third day.

The al Shabab militants had attacked the mall on Saturday noon at 12:00, telling Muslims to leave and firing at non-Muslims.

Certain ministers in J&K paid by Army, claims former chief VK Singh

Under attack over reports that attempts were made to topple the Jammu and Kashmir government during his tenure as Army Chief, retired Gen V K Singh on Monday night claimed that "certain ministers" in the state are given money by the army for "stability" and that this has been going on since Independence.

Singh, who is in the eye of the storm over the charges, told TV channels that the accusations against him were false and motivated.

"Army transfers money to all the ministers in Jammu and Kashmir. .. Because there are various things to be done and ministers have to do so many things as part of the stabilising factor in the state and for organising various activities," he told a news channel.

Pakistan quake toll reaches 515, insurgents hamper aid efforts

The death toll from an earthquake in southwestern Pakistan has reached 515, a provincial official said Friday, as insurgents continue to hamper relief efforts.

Babar Yaqoob, the Chief Secretary of Baluchistan, gave the updated death toll as he was touring the destroyed region of Awaran, where the earthquake struck on Tuesday.

The area is also a stronghold of separatist Baluch insurgents, who have shot at helicopters carrying military officials in charge of responding to the disaster.

"There is a law and order situation here and other hurdles but despite everything, we will get to every last person," said Lt. Gen. Nasir Janjua, the highest ranking military official in the province.

BlackBerry agrees $4.7 bn takeover deal

Struggling smartphone maker BlackBerry on Monday signed a tentative deal to be acquired by a consortium led by its biggest shareholder, setting a USD 4.7 billion floor in the auction of the Canadian company that invented on-the-go email.

The consortium is led by Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd, a property and casualty insurer run by Canadian investor Prem Watsa. It has offered USD 9 a share in cash for BlackBerry, which last week said it expected to report a quarterly loss of nearly USD 1 billion.

"We can deliver immediate value to shareholders, while we continue the execution of a long-term strategy in a private company with a focus on delivering superior and secure enterprise solutions to BlackBerry customers around the world," Watsa said in a statement.

Govt announces 7th Pay Commission ahead of 2014 polls

The government on Wednesday decided to finally announce the Seventh Pay Commission for central government employees and pensioners.

"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh approved the constitution of the 7th Pay Commission. Its recommendations are likely to be implemented with effect from January 1, 2016", Finance Minister P Chidambaram said in a statement.

The setting up of the Commission, whose recommendations will benefit about 50 lakh central government employees, including those in defence and railways, and about 30 lakh pensioners, comes ahead of the Assembly elections in 5 states in November and the general elections next year.

The government constitutes Pay Commission almost every ten years to revise the pay scales of its employees and often these are adopted by states after some modification.

RBI bans 0% interest rate scheme for buying goods

The RBI Wednesday banned zero percent interest rate scheme for purchase of consumer goods, a move intended to protect customers but may dampen the festive spirit.

The central bank has also said that no additional charges can be levied on payment through debit cards.

"...In principle, banks should not resort to any practice that would distort the interest rate structure of a product as this vitiates the transparency in pricing mechanism which is very important for the customer to take informed decision," RBI said in a notification.

`Bigg Boss`: Imam Siddique slams Salman Khan?

Mumbai: Imam Siddique, perhaps the only man who has no reservations angering superstar Salman Khan is back with his antics yet again.

The ‘Bigg Boss 6’ contestant, who had an infamous verbal spat with the Bollywood heavyweight, took to his Facebook account to write about Salman’s deep involvement in the show.

His FB page read: “F.Y.I: to whomsoever this may concern. Mr. Salman Khan has stated in an interview that I had no work prior to `Bigg Boss` hence was frustrated. Factually inaccurate.”

It further read, “As a matter of fact, it was me that Salman had hired as a choreographer for a film that he was acting in and producing before he signed his first ever feature film. The actress was none other than my dear friend Ericca De Sousa Vohra & the co producer/ director was Mishal Varma. Incidentally I have yet to be paid for that assignment. After this first ever unpleasant experience in #bollywood, I realised I ‘n e v e r’ wanted to work in bollywood (sic).”

“Another point that I’d like to clarify is that I was called for bigg boss season 1 as a casting director, by Mr. Arjun Menon but since I was already on contract with Eskimo models at the time I turned them down. Every year since, I have been approached for the seasons but constantly declined.

Last year because I was told it would be a parivarik family oriented show I decided to agree to go in as a wild card entry. Yes I did message Salman cause I saw that contestants in the house were disrespecting the platform and the opportunity. Claiming that they could make Rs 50 lakhs in a couple of projects and need not have to suffer the indignity of 72 hours of physical labour due to a task that too on the auspicious occasion of dhanteras. I messaged Salman to say that they had hired incompetent idiots who did not deserve to be there and I was keen to go. Over to you Mr. Khan…(sic)”

After the winner of the last season of ‘Bigg Boss’ was announced, Imam was quoted as saying, “It (argument) was unpleasant and unwarranted. I think I should have done a reality check. He is a bigger superstar. I am ashamed of it. But I don`t regret it.”

But now it would be interesting to see who has the last word- “Time Out”!!!

‘Comedy Nights with Kapil’ set catches fire

The set of popular TV show ‘Comedy Nights with Kapil’, hosted by stand-up comedian Kapil Sharma caught fire at 6.30 Wednesday morning.

The set in Film City, Goregaon, Mumbai, has been completely destroyed by fire. Four fire tenders and four water tankers reached the spot to bring the blaze under control. It took more than hour and a half hour to extinguish it.

The set is believed to have caught fire following a short circuit. But the set has been completely reduced to ashes. Kapil Sharma visited the remains of the sets as the fire fighters were trying the bring the situation under control.

"It is unfortunate that such an incident has occurred on the sets of `Comedy Nights With Kapil`. There have been no casualties and we are currently in the process of assessing the extent of the damage," an official from the channel airing the show said.

"Meanwhile, we are focusing all our efforts to resume shooting for the show so that we have no disruption and we don`t disappoint our loyal viewers," the official added.

‘Comedy Nights with Kapil’, which was launched recently, has topped TRP charts and is one of the most popular shows on Indian TV.

Many celebrities have made their presence felt on the show including Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Shahid Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor and others.

Kajol not invited by the Chopras yet again?

It seems that the Chopras have not yet forgiven Ajay Devgn for filing a complaint against Yash Raj Films in 2012. And it is Ajay’s wife and YRF’s once-upon-a-time much-loved actress Kajol, who is bearing the brunt of this scuffle.

According to a tabloid, YRF’s leading ladies are all set to celebrate Yash Chopra’s birthday on September 27. There are rumours that Kajol- who has worked with the YRF banner- has not been invited to the grand event in remembrance of the late thespian.

“Kajol too was supposed to attend this event where nine of Chopra’s heroines will take to the ramp. But she has not received any formal invite to the bash and may not appear for the show at all,” a source said.

Though the actress has not been directed by late Yash Chopra, but has worked in two notable movies under their banner- `Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge` and `Fanaa`.

“The case between the two parties is still on and Ajay who claimed that his film received lesser screens because of YRF’s policy, is still waiting for the judgment,” a source added.

On the other hand, it is said that Parineeti Chopra might walk down the ramp with other YRF’s favourite leading ladies in place of Kajol.

This is for the second time that Kajol has not been given an invitation to the Chopras’ bash. Earlier, Kajol was missing at the ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’ grand premiere party because she was not invited by the Chopra clan.

Modi banned for life, BCCI takes unanimous decision in SGM

A pariah in Indian cricket for three years now, former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi was on Wednesday slapped with a life ban by the BCCI after its disciplinary committee found him guilty on eight charges of "indiscipline and misconduct".

On a day of high drama, which was marked by legal tug of war between Modi and the BCCI, a Special General Meeting of the Board took less than half an hour to unanimously impose a life ban on the controversial 49-year-old administrator.

"The BCCI, at its Special General Meeting today considered and discussed the report of the Disciplinary Committee of the BCCI on the Show Cause Notices issued to Mr. Lalit Kumar Modi, in accordance with Clause 32 (iv) of the Memorandum of Rules and Regulations," the Board said in a statement.

"...Mr. Lalit Modi is guilty of committing acts of serious misconduct and indiscipline, and therefore, in exercise of powers as per Regulation 32 of the Memorandum and Rules and Regulations of the Board, Mr. Lalit Modi be and is hereby expelled from the BCCI.

World Cup final gold eludes Deepika again, settles for silver

A gold medal in the prestigious World Cup Final eluded Deepika Kumari once again as she settled for her third successive silver after being pipped by Korean Olympic champion Ok-Hee Yun, in Paris on Sunday.

According to information received here, the 19-year-old started wonderfully with three perfect 10s and led 3-1 but a shocking time lapse in the third set enabled the Korean rally past the Indian for a 6-4 win in the showpiece annual fixture held after four stages of World Cup.

This was the 2008 Olympic champion`s second gold in the World Cup Final after 2010, while for Deepika, it was her second loss to Yun as the Indian once again could not overcome the Korean jinx.

In the final of the Shanghai World Cup in May, a judging error by the Ranchi girl had led to a shock loss while in Wroclaw stage last month the 2008 Olympic champion had won with flying colours.

MS Dhoni enthralls home crowd, slams fastest half-century in Champions League T20

He has established himself as one of the most destructive batsmen in world cricket and MS Dhoni was at his brutal best against the Sunrisers Hyderabad when he slammed a half-century off just 16 balls, the highest in the Champions League T20 history on Thursday.

The Sunrisers bowlers were left clueless as the Chennai Super Kings skipper clobbered them to all parts of the ground. Dhoni surpassed Kieron Pollard’s record where he had scored a half-century off 18 balls in 2009.

The third over bowled by Thisara Perera proved to be a decisive one as he began with a wide ball and Dhoni gave the crowd entertainment worth their money as he smashed five sixes in the over.