ஓநாயும் ஆட்டுக்குட்டியும் - சினிமா விமர்சனம்

ஹீரோ  ஒரு மெடிக்கல் ஸ்டூடண்ட் . ஒரு ராத்திரில வழில ஒரு விபத்தைப்பார்க்கறாரு. போலீஸ் உதவல. அதனால தானே  விபத்தில் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட ஆளை தன் வீட்டுக்கு கொண்டு போய் சிகிச்சை தர்றாரு , அவருக்கு துப்பாக்கிக்குண்டு பாய்ஞ்சிருக்கு . போலீசால் தேடப்படும் குற்றவாளி .ஆபரேஷன் பண்ணி முடிச்சதும் அந்தாள் தப்பிடறார். வந்தது  வினை . போலீஸ் ஹீரோவை கைது பண்ணிடுது . 

இப்போ  யாரைக்காப்பாத்தினாரோ அவரை ஹீரோ சுட்டுக்கொலை பண்ணனும் , இதுதான் போலீஸ் கொடுக்கும் அசைன் மெண்ட். இதை செய்யலைன்னா 10 வருசம் சிறை தண்டனை . 

இப்போ ஹீரோவுக்கும்  , அந்த குண்டு காயம் பட்ட ஆளுக்கும்  நடக்கும்  யுத்தமே  கதை . 

கடந்த 15 வருடங்களில் தமிழில் வந்த  மிகச்சிறந்த  த்ரில்லர் படங்களில்  இது ஒன்று , சபாஷ் மிஷ்கின் . 1972 ல் வந்த ராஜேஷ் கன்னா வின் துஷ்மன் ( எதிரி) ,அதன் உட்டாலக்கடி ரீ மேக்கான சிவாஜி கணேசன் ன் நீதி படத்தின் சாயல்கள் ஓஆகு ல இருக்கு. அது போக  இது ஒரு போர்த்துகீசிய மொழிபடத்தின்  தழுவல்   தாக்கம் என மிஷ்கினே சொல்லிட்டதால  படத்தைப்பத்தி மட்டும் மேற்கொண்டு பார்ப்போம் 

இளையராஜா தான் படத்தின்  முதுகெலும்பு .  ஒரு  த்ரில்ல ர் மூவிக்கு  இசை எந்த அளவு  முக்கியம் என்பதை  இளையராஜா அநாயசமாக  உணர்த்தி  இருக்கிறார். இதே படத்தை பின்னணி  இசை இல்லாமல்  மியூட் செய்து பார்த்தால்   அதன்  முக்கியத்துவம்  புரியும் . அபாரமான  பி ஜி எம் , அதுவும்  க்ளைமாக்சில் அட்டகாசமான   துள்ளல்  இசை 

வழக்கு எண் ஹீரோதான்  இதிலும்  ஹீரோ , அருமையான நடிப்பு , மிஷ்கின்  நடிப்பும்  கன கச்சிதம் . அந்த  பார்வை அற்ற சிறுமி    உருக்கமான நடிப்பு .  எட்வர்ட் என படம்  முழுக்க அழைக்கும் அந்தப்பொண்ணும் அழகு நடிப்பு 

மிஷ்கின்  சில கோணங்களீல் மன்சூர் அலிகான் மாதிரியும்   தளபதி தினெஷ் மாதிரியும்  இருக்கிறார்

 

இயக்குநர் பாராட்டு பெறும் இடங்கள் 

1.  எரியும்  வீட்டில்  பிடுங்குவது எல்லாம் லாபம் என போலீஸ்  விபத்தில்  பாதிக்கப்பட்ட ஆளிடம் வாட்சை சுடும் காட்சி போலீஸ்காரங்களூக்கு  சவுக்கடி . தியேட்டரில் செம அப்ளாஷ் அந்த காட்சிக்கு 

2. ஒரு போலீஸ் காரர்   துரோகி ஆன இன்னொரு போலீஸ் ஆஃபீசருக்கு “ அய்யா “ என்பதை  மாறு பட்ட உச்சரிப்பில்  3 முறை சொல்வது கிளாஸ்  நடிப்பு  . 

3.  படம்  முழுக்க வைக்கப்பட்ட கேமிரா  கோணங்கள் அபாரம்  . வரும் கால கட்டத்தில்  ஃபிலிம் இன்ஸ்ட்டிட்யூட் மாணவர்களூக்கு  மிஷ்கின் படங்கள்  ஒரு பாடமாக இருக்கும் 

4. எடிட்டிங்க்  , ஒளிப்பதிவு மிக அருமை . முழுப்படமும்  இரவில்  தான் நடக்கிறது , ஜெவுக்கு எப்படி உதய சூரியன் ஆகாதோ அந்த மாதிரி   மிஷ்கினுக்கு  சூரிய வெளிச்சமே ஆகாது போல , ஆனால் அந்தக்குறையே   தெரியாத வண்னம் அபாரமான  ஒளிபதிவு 

5.  பின் பாதியில்  வரும்  20 நிமிட   இழுவைக்காட்சிகள் தவிர  படம் பூரா செம  விறு விறுப்பு  . ஹாட்ஸ் ஆஃப்    டோட்டல்  டீம் , கலக்கல்

இயக்குநரிடம்  சில  கேள்விகள் 

1. ஓப்பனிங்க்  சீன் ல  ஹீரோ  கிட்டே  நாளைக்கு எப்போ எக்சாம்?னு கேட்கப்படும் கேள்விக்கு காலை ல 10 30 மணிக்குனு பதில்  சொல்றார். எல்லா எக்சாமும் காலை 9 டூ 9 30க்கு ஆரம்பிச்சுடும் , அதிக பட்சம் 10 . 

2.  சாலையில்  விபத்தைப்பார்த்த  ஹீரோ உடனே ஏன் 108 க்குக்கூப்பிடலை? கூப்பிட்டு   வேன்  வராம  இருந்து பின் இவர்  காப்பாத்துனா  ஓக்கே 

3. ஓநாய் கேரக்டர்   40  கொலை செஞ்சவன்னு  ஒரு இடத்துல வசனம் வருது , இன்னொரு இடத்துல  அவன் மேல 14  கொலைக்கேஸ் இருக்குன்னு வருது . ஏன் இந்தக்குழப்பம் ? எல்லாமே வில்லனால்  ஜோடிக்கப்பட்டவை என்றாலும் செய்வன  திருந்தச்செய்ய வேண்டாமா? 

4. ஹீரோவுக்கு   ஷூட்டிங்க்க்கு போலீஸ் ட்ரெயினிங்க்  கொடுக்குது . ஆனா  காதுல பாதுகாப்புக்கவசம் தர்லையே?  தொழில்  முறை போலீசே  காதுல எதையாவ்து தடுப்புக்கு மாட்டிட்டு அதை செய்யும்போது  புது ஆள் ஏன் மாட்டிக்கலை? 

5. போலீஸ் ஆஃபீசரா வரும்  அந்த வெள்ளை சட்டைக்காரர் பாடி லேங்குவேஜ் சரி இல்லை . நாடகம் நடக்கும்போது   திடீர்னு  நீ போய் நடின்னு அறிமுகம் இல்லாத ஆளை தள்ளி விட்டா எப்படி பதட்டத்துடன் நடந்துக்குவாரோ அப்படி நடந்துக்கறார். சீன் முடிஞ்சதும் அப்பாடா எப்போடா நம்ம பார்ட் முடியும்கற மாதிரி  இருக்கு 

6.  சாதா போலீஸ் எல்லாம் க்ளோஸ் கட்டிங்க் பண்ணி  டிரஸ்ஸிங்க் ல நீட்டா இருக்கும் போது ஹை லெவல் சி பி சி ஐ டி ஆஃபீசர்   பொருத்தமே இல்லாத  சட்டை அணிந்திருப்பது உறுத்தல் 

7. ஹீரோவுக்கு  மிஷ்கின் மேல் எந்த குரோதமும் விரோதமும் இல்லை , பொலீஸ் அவரை  கொலை செய்யச்சொன்னபோதும் அவருக்கு  முழு மனதும் இல்லை , ஆனால்   மிஷ்கினை கொலை வெறியுடன் அவர் பார்க்கும்போது    என்னமோ அவர்  சொந்த  மாமன் மகளை  கொலை செய்தவரைப்பார்ப்பது போல் ஆக்ரோசமாகபார்ப்பது ஏன் ? ஓவர் ஆக்டிங்க் 

8 ரயில்  வேகமாக  ஒடும்போது   இந்த மாதிரி ஆக்‌ஷன்களூக்கு பழக்கம் ஆன மிஷ்கின்  குதிப்பது சரி , ஹீரோ ஏன் அதுக்கு ஒத்துகறார்? நான் குதிக்க மாட்டேன் , பயமா இருக்கு என ஏன் சொல்லலை ? அட்லீஸ்ட் ஆறு வந்தா  அதாவது ஆறு கிராஸ் ஆகும்போது வேணா  எட்டி குதிக்கறேன்   , தரைல குதிக்க மாட்டேன் என்று கூட ஒரு வாதம்  கூட பண்ணலையே ?

9  அந்த போலீஸ் ஆஃபீசர்  இடது  கைல எதுக்கு சில்வர் வளையம் போட்டிருக்காரு ப்? ரவுடிங்க  தான் அப்படி போடுவாங்க . வேற  ஒரு படத்துல ரவுடி  கேரக்டர் ல நடிச்சுட்டு நேராஅ இந்த பட  ஷூட்டிங்க் வந்துட்டாரா? 

10  போலீஸ் கஸ்டடில இருந்து தப்பிச்ச தாடி வில்லனை  எதிர்பாராத விதமா  வேன்ல பார்த்த  ஒரு போலீஸ் ஆஃபீசர் எந்த வித  முன் ஜாக்கிரதையும்  இல்லாம அப்படித்தான் பெப்பரப்பேன்னு  நிப்பாரா? அவன் சுடும் வரை  வேடிக்கை பார்த்துட்டு இருக்காரே >? அவர் என்ன போலீஸா? ஓ பி எஸ்சா? 

11 மிஷ்கின் கையை ஹீரோ  கட்டச்சொன்னதும்   மிஷ்கின் ஏன் கையை கிராசா வெச்சுக்கறார்? நேரா வெச்சாத்தானே பின் அவிழ்க்க ஈசி . இதே போல் படத்தில் 3 இடங்களீல் வெவ்வேறு ஆட்களை கையில்  கட்டும் சீன் வரும்போது எல்லோரும் சொல்லி வெச்சது போல் ஒரே மாதிரி கையை கிராஸ் பண்ணி காட்டுவது ஏன் ? 

12  சாகும் தருவாயில்  இருக்கும்   அந்த வில்லனின் அடியாள்  தம்பாவுக்கு ஃபோன் பண்ணிட்டு ஸ்விட்ச் ஆஃப் பண்ணாமல் எதுக்கு ஃபோனை தூக்கி எறிகிறார் ? 

13   விழி ஒளி இழந்தவர்   தீப்பெட்டியை  முதல்  டைம் சரியாகத்திறந்து   குச்சி எடுப்பவர்  அடுத்த  முறை  தவ்ற  விடுவது எப்படி ?  சாதா மனிதனை   விட அவர்களூக்கு  கவனிப்புத்திறன்  அதிகம் ஆச்செ? 

14  மிஷ் கின்   தன் ஃபிளாஸ் பேக்கை  குழ்ந்தையிடம்  சொல்லும் காட்சியில்   ரொம்ப நாடகத்தனம் .  தன்னை   தாய்மார்கள் ஆடியன்ஸ்  தரப்பு  பரிதாபமாகப்பார்க்க வேண்டும் என்பதற்காக வலிந்து  திணிக்கப்பட்ட  நடிப்பு . எப்பவும்   சாதா ஆடியண்சுக்கு  ஃபிளாஷ் பேக்கை விசுவலாக  சொல்லி விட வேண்டும்  , நிறைய பேருக்கு   இந்த வசனக்காட்சி புரியலை . முழுப்படத்தின்       கதையும்  அந்த ஒரு காட்சியில் தான் புரியவைக்கப்படும்  முக்கியகாட்சி என்பதால்   குறியீடுகள் , புத்திசாலித்தனங்கள் அந்த இடத்தில்  தேவை இல்லை

15.  திறந்த வெளி சுடுகாட்டில்  காற்று அடிக்கும்   சீதோஷ்ண  நிலையில்  ஏற்றப்பட்ட  மெழுகுவர்த்திகள்  ஒரு முறை கூட அணையாமல் இருப்பது  எப்படி ? 

16  மெடிக்கல் ஸ்டூடண்ட்டான  ஹீரோவிடம்  ஒரு அமைதியே இல்லையே , பிரமாதமான துடிப்பான  ரனிங்க் ரேஸ்  வீரன் போல் அவரிடம்  ஒரு துடிப்பு ஆல்வேஸ் தென் பட்டுக்கொண்டே இருக்கிறதே ? 

17   அந்த  பார்வை அற்ற  சிறுமிக்கும் ,  மிஷ்கின் தோளில் சுமந்து  கொண்டே வரும்  லேடிக்கும் அதீத ஒப்பனை  எதுக்கு ? 

18   அந்த  தாடி  வில்லன் நடிப்பும்  , கேரக்டரைசேஷனும் தான் படத்தின்  பெரிய  சொதப்பல் . நம்பவே  முடியலை . எதுக்காக  அவர் மிஷ்கினை நேர்ல பார்க்கனும் ? பிடிக்கலைன்னா போட்டுத்தள்ளிட வேண்டியதுதானே?

Yuvi's comeback: All eyes on selectors meet tomorrow

Star batsman Yuvraj Singh is all set to make a comeback into India's limited overs squad following some good performances when the selectors meet here tomorrow to decide on the team for the lone T20 International as well as the first three ODIs.


It is still not clear whether the selectors would choose a separate squad for the lone T20 International which will enable them to be flexible and include a few more players in both formats.

While there would be few surprises in the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led squad that has performed admirably winning the Champions Trophy and tri-series in the West Indies, the return of the stylish 31-year-old left-hander is all but certain.

Yuvraj last played for India on January 27 against England at Dharamsala and was dropped subsequently due to a poor run of form.

Having undergone a rigorous physical training in France, a fitter Yuvraj made his comeback into the competitive cricket with a bang scoring 123, 40 and 61 in three List A matches against the West Indies A followed by a quickfire 52 against the same opponent in a T20 game.

He carried on with his good form in the Challenger Series where he scored 84 against India Red and a 29 in the final.

According to reliable sources, the selection committee is impressed in the manner Yuvraj has scored.

There won't be much change in the batting line-up with Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and Dhoni being automatic selections. While Yuvraj will be the sixth specialist batsman in the playing XI that is likely to have Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja as the spin-bowling all-rounders.

The choice for three pace bowlers slot will be Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav.
One among the trio of Jaydev Unadkat, Mohit Sharma and R Vinay Kumar will be the reserve pacer in the line-up.

Leg-spinner Amit Mishra is expected to be the reserve spinner having got 18 wickets in the series against Zimbabwe.

His challenger Perveez Rasool, who recently had a match-haul of seven wickets in an unofficial 'Test' against the West Indies 'A', might find it tough to make it into the squad as Ashwin is all set to return after being rested during the Zimbabwe tour.

The 14th and the 15th slots are the ones which will be up for grabs. While Dinesh Karthik might be retained in the squad of 15, it will be interesting whether Mumbai all-rounder Abhishek Nayar is considered as a replacement for Irfan Pathan.

Dhoni has long wanted an all-rounder who bowls medium pace. While Irfan fitted his bill perfectly, injury to the Baroda all-rounder might open the door for old domestic workhorse Abhishek, who has scores of 102 no, 57, 91, 75 no and 12 in his last five innings. The first two were in first-class games while the last three innings were in List A matches.

Raja Rani Movie Online – Review

 

Raja_Rani is a Tamil romantic comedy film by debutant  Atlee, who was a short film-maker earlier and later assisted Director  Shankar in his films  Endhiran and Nanban. The film boasts of one of the biggest stars casting of this year with Arya, Nayanthara, Jai, Nazriya_Nazim, Santhanam, SathyaRaj and many more. 

The film is been produced by Director A_R_MurugaDoss and Fox_Star_Studios; Music has been composed by G_V_Prakash. It is being said that Director Atlee initially wanted to begin this film with his friend SivaKarthikeyanin lead role (with whom he has worked in short-films already) and the film was to be made in a very small budget; but now, with a great casting and very big producer, the film is been made grandly in a big budget! The film has already gained a lot of expectations after the trailer release and songs release. Does the film meet the expectations gained?

STORY:
The film moves on the subject that ‘There is LOVE after Love Failure, There is LIFE after Love Failure.’
To say in a simple manner, the film’s story is much similar to ‘Mouna Raagam’ where the hero also has a flashback here. John (Arya) and Nayantara (Regina) get married on their parents’ insistence, and they lead a married life for namesake. After a period of time, they get to know about each other’s love story; Regina’s love with Surya (Jai) and John’s love with Keerthana (Nazriya Nazim). What happens then forms the climax.

Director Atlee has come up with a very colourful and rich film; the film has got a lot to entertain the youngsters and family audience. 

He has made sure that the audience do not look at their watch, by engaging them with a perfect package of emotions, love and comedy. The way he has handled the whole film, shows him like an experienced film maker; you cannot find any major flaws in the making and technical part too. He has given a very simple story as a good, decent entertainer. Kudos to him and the whole team!

The film begins with the marriage of John and Regina, moves forward with the days of their unpleasant married life, and then the flashbacks take care of most of the first and second half. The first half is completely engaging, whereas the second half is little dragging towards the pre-final portions. The romance portions have added great value to the script, in both the flashbacks and also in Arya-Nayanthara portions. But, the point where Nayantara falls for Jai alone is much dramatic. The film also has its own melodrama and few clichés at places; but still, it is not much complain-able for this commercial entertainer.  Atlee’s touch sparkles all through the film in some visual ideas like the ‘Mirror Sequence’ and bringing a small twist in the climax where we are expecting a usual airport scene. 

Atlee’s dialogues has been a great plus point for the film; Few to mention are “Love pannapuram oruthan kudichaan na, Love failure; Athuvey Kalyaanathukku apuram kudichaan na, Life eh failure!”, “MADE FOR EACH OTHER nu yaarume kidaiyaathu, Vaazhndhu kaatturadhula dhan irukku”, “Ellaaraalayum love panna ponnai kalyaanam panna mudiyaama pogalaam, But ellaarumey kalyaanam panna ponnai love pannalaam”.

On performance part, the film has a very strong casting.

 Everyone has made the best out of their role. Nayanthara steals the show all the way with a very neat performance, followed by Arya who has done full justice to the role in comedy, romance and emotions. (Nayanthara’s performance in the car scene with SathyaRaj is worth-mentioning.) Jai could be the perfect choice for that innocent, soft-spoken guy character, and he has done a commendable job in the role given. Nazriya Nazim, nothing less to say about her, she is going to make a special place in the hearts of youngsters for sure. 

Her cute expressions and childish-like performance is much enjoyable. Sathyaraj comes in an important supporting role, and his performance in the film is subtle and good comparing to all the other roles he did in the recent time. As usual, Santhanam puts the whole theatre in laughter whenever he appears on the screen and he has been a great value for the film. All other actors like Sathyan, Mano Bala, Misha Goshal have done a good job.

Technically, ‘Raja Rani’ is too good. Songs in G.V.Prakash’s music are already BIG hits and he has done a laudable work in the background score too. (But, you might be disappointed to see a good number from the album ‘ Angnyaade’ missing in the film.) George C. Williams’ cinematography has been more like a second hero of the film; his work has given the film such a rich, grandeur look. Ways to go, George! Anthony L. Ruben’s editing has also contributed a lot for the film. With all these positive points listed, the film has few minuses like few romance portions being dramatic and a few clichés here and there. And also, being a complete urban-centric romance story, not sure how it may work with the ‘C’ centre audience. Other than that, the film has all ingredients to entertain the viewers in most portions.

POSITIVES:
* Strong casting
* Film’s rich, grandeur look
* Dialogues & Santhanam’s comedy
* G.V.Prakash’s Music
* George’s wonderful camera work & Anthony L. Ruben’s sleek editing

NEGATIVES:
* Melodrama and clichés at few places

On the whole, ‘RAJA RANI’ is a rich, colourful entertainer for the youngsters and family audience.Rating – 3.25/5! Super Hit!!!

Never used my father's name to enter industry: Javed Jaffrey

Mumbai: Noted actor Javed Jaffrey says he has never used his father Jagdeep`s influence to get work.

Javed, son of veteran actor-comedian Jagdeep, is known for donning various hats - that of an actor, dancer, singer, choreographer, VJ, ad filmmaker, among others.

He made his acting debut with `Meri Jung` in 1985 where he made a huge impact in a negative role. He has been part of many hit films like `100 Days`, `Fire`, `Earth`, `Salaam Namaste`, `Singh is Kingg` and `3 Idiots` and others.


"Being the son or daughter of a legendary film personality you get more respect. But I have never used that (my father`s name) as an influence to enter industry. It is not that I got work because of him. My father did not do a film for me or launched me, he wanted us to do things on our own," Javed said.

"Rather I never thought I will enter the film industry, it happened all by chance. Destiny played a part and brought me here in this industry," he said.


Javed has played a variety of roles, from negative to positive, but he has a penchant for comedy.

"I like to play all kind of roles. You can`t do same stuff every time as it becomes boring. Comedy is my soft spot. But I love doing action, thriller, drama and negative (roles). I am not comfortable with sexuality, intimate scenes," he said.


The actor will be seen next in debutante director Faraz Haider`s `War Chhod Na Yaar`.

"I am playing captain Qureshi from the Punjab region of Pakistan. So my tone (language) in the film is Punjabi-Urdu. The film establishes relationship in an interesting way. I had great fun doing this film," he said.

Javed will also be seen alongside Ranbir Kapoor, Rishi and Neetu Kapoor in `Besharam`. The actor has a few scenes with Ranbir and a climax scene with Neetu and Rishi Kapoor.


"We did interact on sets. I am a big fan of Rishiji, he is the best actor. Neetuji is fantastic. Ranbir is a fine actor and he is very focused about his work. They are humble and nice people," he said.

Javed will also be seen in Hrithik Roshan starrer `Bang Bang` and `Jo Bhi Karva Lo` with Arshad Warsi.

Private chopper crashes near Mumbai

A private chopper with five persons on board crashed near here this morning, Air Traffic Control sources said.

The fate of the passengers is yet to be ascertained, ATC sources said.

The chopper belonging to private operator United Heli Charters had taken off from Juhu aerodrome here in the morning for Aurangabad, they said.

The accident occurred due to the chopper coming in contact with electric wires in a rural area of neighbouring Thane district, they said.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has rushed a team to the accident spot to investigate the cause of the mishap, a DGCA official said.

Where's your conscience, BJP asks Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

 

Members of a Sikh forum protest against Rahul Gandhi's view on the controversial ordinance related to convicted lawmakers, in New Delhi on Saturday. - PTI

A day after Rahul Gandhi embarrassed the UPA government  by calling the ordinance to save corrupt politicians a piece of “trash”,  BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad came all guns blazing to launch an attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his cabinet colleagues.

“I would appeal to Manmohan Singh and ask him whether he is left with any conscience,” Prasad said.

Making a sudden appearance in a Press Club of India, Delhi on Friday, Rahul had said that in his personal view, the ordinance to save corrupt politicians “should be torn up and thrown in a dustbin” as it was wrong on the part of the government to save tainted politicians.

Prasad said the Congress had asked the BJP to refrain from making comments on the ordinance while the prime minister was away in the US but could  not stop its vice-president from rubbishing it.

He also questioned the understanding between party president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul, because the former was a part of the core group that agreed to pass the ordinance. “Does it mean there is a difference of opinion between the Congress president and the vice-president?” Prasad asked.

He said Rahul’s statement has also given discomfort to President Pranab Mukherjee since the ordinance is under his consideration.

Attacking senior cabinet ministers, Prasad quipped how come law minister Kapil SIbal drafted an ordinance that his party vice-president did not agree with. He demanded Sibal’s reply on faltering to understand his party’s stand.

Prasad also questioned finance minister P Chidambaram’s statement that the bill did not surprise anyone. “P Chidambaram says the Bill is not surprising anyone. Is he not surprised after Rahul Gandhi’s statement? Information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari should also tell us if Rahul Gandhi’s advice is solicited or unsolicited,”Prasad added.

Nigeria: Militants Kill Students in College Attack

Suspected Islamic extremists attacked an agricultural college in the dead of night, gunning down dozens of students as they slept in dormitories and torching classrooms, the school's provost said of an ongoing northeastern Nigeria's ongoing Islamic uprising.

As many as 50 students may have been killed in the assault that began at about 1 a.m. Sunday in rural Gujba, Provost Molima Idi Mato of Yobe State College of Agriculture, told The Associated Press.

"They attacked our students while they were sleeping in their hostels, they opened fire at them," he said.

He said he could not give an exact death toll as security forces still are recovering bodies of students mostly aged between 18 and 22.

The Nigerian military has collected 42 bodies and transported 18 wounded students to Damaturu Specialist Hospital, 40 kilometers (25) miles north, said a military intelligence official, who insisted on anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the press.

The extremists rode into the college in two double-cabin pickup all-terrain vehicles and on motorcycles, some dressed in Nigerian military camouflage uniforms, a surviving student, Ibrahim Mohammed, told the AP. He said they appeared to know the layout of the college, attacking the four male hostels but avoiding the one hostel reserved for women.

"We ran into the bush, nobody is left in the school now," Mohammed said.

Almost all those killed were Muslims, as is the college's student body, said Adamu Usman, a survivor from Gujba who was helping the wounded at the hospital.

Wailing relatives gathered outside the hospital morgue, where rescue workers laid out bloody bodies in an orderly row on the lawn for family members to identify their loved ones.

One body had its fists clenched to the chest in a protective gesture. Another had hands clasped under the chin, as if in prayer. A third had arms raised in surrender.

Provost Idi Mato confirmed the school's other 1,000 enrolled students have fled the college.

He said there were no security forces stationed at the college despite government assurances that they would be deployed. The state commissioner for education, Mohammmed Lamin, called a news conference two weeks ago urging all schools to reopen and promising protection from soldiers and police.

Most schools in the area closed after militants on July 6 killed 29 pupils and a teacher, burning some alive in their hostels, at Mamudo outside Damaturu.

Northeastern Nigeria is under a military state of emergency to battle an Islamic uprising prosecuted by Boko Haram militants who have killed more than 1,700 people since 2010 in their quest to install an Islamic state, though half the country's 160 million citizens are Christian. Boko Haram means Western education is forbidden in the local Hausa language.

United States President Barack Obama on Tuesday described the group as one of the most vicious terrorist organizations in the world, speaking at a meeting with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan at which both reaffirmed their commitment to fight terrorism.

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau last week published a video to prove he is alive and prove false military claims that they might have killed him in an ongoing crackdown.

Government and security officials claim they are winning their war on terror in the northeast but Sunday's attack and others belie those assurances.

The Islamic extremists have killed at least 30 other civilians in the past week.

39 killed, 80 injured in Peshawar car blast

At least 39 people, including nine members of one family, were killed and 80 others injured when a huge car bomb ripped through a historic market here on Sunday, third such attacks in the troubled northwestern Pakistani city in a week claiming nearly 150 lives.

Police said a car carrying 220 kg of explosives detonated in Qissa Khawani market, damaging at least 50 shops and setting afire many vehicles. The blast occurred when the

police official on duty asked a driver of a car to remove it

from the site.

They said 13 members the family had come to the city from the adjacent Charsadda district to take part in a marriage function and the blast left nine of them dead.

The blast killed at least 39 people and injured over 80 others, Commissioner Peshawar Sahebzada Muhammad Anis said.

Doctors at Lady Reading Hospital said six women and four children are among those killed in the blast.

The bomb was triggered with a remote control, Additional Inspector General of Bomb Disposal Squad Shafqat Malik said.

The market also known as the "storytellers' market" was the site of a massacre in 1930 when British soldiers fired on peaceful demonstrators, killing hundreds.

Pakistani Taliban were generally blamed for such attacks.

However, the banned militant group denied its involvement in today's blast that took place in Peshawar, the main city of troubled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Meanwhile, the trading community of Qissa Khawani Bazaar has announced three days of mourning to express solidarity with the bereaved families.

This is the third blast in the city since last Sunday when over 80 people were killed as twin suicide bombers struck a historic church. On Friday, 19 people were killed when a blast took place inside a bus carrying government employees.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is in New York for the UN General Assembly, strongly condemned the blast. "Those involved in the killing of innocent people are devoid of humanity and all religions," he said in a statement. 

Narendra Modi attacks Rahul Gandhi for committing 'sin' against Manmohan Singh

Exhorting people to bring the 'dream team' of BJP to power in 2014, he asked them to throw out UPA which is "deeply entrenched" in corruption.

In a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi, BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Sunday accused him of committing the "sin" of insulting the Prime Minister when he was abroad and asked people to decide in the next Lok Sabha polls if the nation will be run based on the Constitution or whims of the "prince".
Addressing a huge rally — his first in the capital as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate — Modi tore into the UPA alliance alleging there were "governments within the government" which was affecting the country's overall growth and development.

"The pride of the Prime Minister has been brought down by his own party. Congress party Vice President has committed the sin of disrespecting the Prime Minister," he said, referring to Gandhi's public denouncement of the ordinance on convicted lawmakers. Gandhi had termed the ordinance as "complete nonsense" and said it should be torn up and thrown away.

Modi also attacked the Prime Minister and questioned his abilities in effectively taking up India's concerns and said, "UPA coalition is headed by a sardar but is not 'asardar' (effective)."
Exhorting people to bring the 'dream team' of BJP to power in 2014, he asked them to throw out UPA which is "deeply entrenched" in corruption.

"Today the issue is whether the country will run on the whims of the prince or on the basis of the Constitution," he said, alleging that Congress leaders were "disrespecting" the Indian Constitution, Parliament, democracy and the Cabinet.

He said all political allies of UPA are running individual governments because of which nation's growth and development have been severely affected.
"There are so many governments in Delhi. There is a mother's government. There is son's government. There is also a son-in-law's government."

"This government is mired in corruption. Instead of finding solutions to problems, it has stopped functioning. This government is paralysed. The UPA government is immersed in Gandhi-bhakti. The Gandhi-bhakti refers to currency notes which they are collecting in tonnes," he alleged.

"Coalition governments are formed on arithmetic but run on chemistry. Till the chemistry matches, such government cannot do any public good. Though UPA coalition government is together, there is no coordination...because of which the country is not moving forward," he said.

In his over an hour-long address, the BJP leader lamented that Manmohan Singh was projecting 1.25 billion-strong India as a "poor nation" before US President Barack Obama during his meeting with him yesterday.
"My head hung in shame when the Prime Minister pleaded before Obama that he represents a poor country. That his country's people are poor. Why did he not project India as a nation where 65 per cent of the people are below 35 years of age?" Modi said, adding that the PM has behaved like some film-makers who project India as a poor nation to make money.

Taking further jibes, Modi wondered if the Prime Minister was prompted to take this line as the "prince" (Rahul Gandhi) had said recently that "poverty is a state of mind".
Modi also lambasted the Prime Minister on foreign policy issues and said the nation has doubts that he will be able to speak out strongly about India's interests and cross-border terrorism during his meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in New York today.

Modi termed Sharif purportedly calling Singh as a "village woman" during an interaction with journalists as the "biggest insult" of the Prime Minister.

"We can fight with our Prime Minister here on policy issues but we will not tolerate this. What status do you (Sharif) have to address my country's Prime Minister as a village woman? There cannot be a bigger insult of India and its Prime Minister. This nation of 1.25 billion will not tolerate its Prime Minister's insult," he said.
Modi based his comments on a report of Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir which was contradicted by NDTV's Barkha Dutt, both of whom were present during a breakfast meeting with Sharif yesterday.

"The country needs a dream team in 2014, not this dirty team. This government has no vision - look at all the budgets and Planning Commission report, only the dates are changed in the document, the rest remains the same," Modi said.

Major row over Sharif purportedly calling PM 'dehati aurat'

A major controversy erupted on Sunday over Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif purportedly calling Prime Minister Manmohan Singh a "dehati aurat" (village woman) during a breakfast meet with two journalists in the US.

The controversy has its roots in a comment by Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir on Geo TV that Sharif had used the "dehati aurat" description while meeting him and NDTV's Barkha Dutt on Saturday.
Sharif was reportedly unhappy that Singh had complained to US president Barack Obama about Pakistan.

related story

Modi attacks Pak PM Sharif for 'insulting' Manmohan

Dutt, however, said on Twitter, "this (Mir's version) is a distortion entirely" and that Sharif had said "nothing of this kind".

Dutt said there were bits in the interaction that were off the record and added the bits that were off record did not include any pejorative word about the PM.

She wrote in a series of tweets that Sharif had told an allegorical tale about a dispute between two villagers, one of them a woman. The story ended with how fights should be settled. Sharif's account was all about how disputes should not involve third parties. 

Following the row, Mir also tweeted Sharif had said nothing derogatory about Singh.
As the two journalists tried to put a lid on the controversy, playing out barely a few hours before Singh and Sharif were to meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi waded into the row.

"How dare you (Sharif) address my nation's Prime Minister as a village woman? There cannot be a bigger insult of the Indian Prime Minister," Modi, the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial face for the general elections due in 2014, said at a rally in New Delhi. 

"We can fight with him (Singh) on policies, but this we will not tolerate. This nation of 1.2 billion will not tolerate its Prime Minister's insult."

BJP Delhi rally: Modi, the media and their great political game

Chhotu is more than happy to oblige. He poses like James Bond, his fingers cocked in an imaginary gun. He sticks his hip out and sashays like Munni while the loudspeaker blares the BJP’s anthem to bring change in Delhi – a song which works both balatkar and bhrastachar into its lyrics. Chhotu makes V-signs for still cameras, does cartwheels for television cameras, all the while wearing his Narendra Modi paper mask. “Aare yaar, you should take it off once in a while so television-wallas can see your face,” remonstrates a young man near him. But the media is interested in the dancing boy in the Modi mask, not so much in the person behind it.

He tells me his name is Manish. He studies in the third grade. He lives “over there” he says gesturing across the dusty fields of Japanese Garden, where the big rally took place, with his papa, mummy and three brothers. His father makes pants he says though his own khaki trousers are pockmarked with holes. He came by himself to check out the tamasha. Manish is ten. Crowds in the Modi rally. Naresh Sharma/Firstpost.

 Crowds in the Modi rally. Naresh Sharma/Firstpost. As the great Narendra Modi rally in Delhi draws to a close, another sideshow springs up in its wake, this time for television cameras hungry for new visuals. “Look at that man’s orange turban” says one journalist. “He looks very fierce.” She sends a photographer to take pictures of him. Like lemmings the rest of us follow. The man pumps his fist in the air and shouts ‘Modi lao, desh bachao’ with even greater zeal as cameras ring him. He is Pratap Singh, a man in his sixties, a farmer with a lined face and a bright orange turban. .

 It’s his first time seeing Modi and he’s elated. He’s come from Rajnagar about 40 km away. Deepak Singh, a farmer next to him, says hesitantly it’s his first time as well. He’s come from even further away – 120 km. But Deepak Singh does not have a grand orange turban. We are not interested in him. But Mahesh Ojha looks more promising. He is cradling a wooden boat with pictures of Narendra Modi and Mahatma Gandhi stuck to its masts.

He calls it Modi’s Vijay-rath but it turns out he’s no partisan. Ojha is carrying a scrapbook of other victory boats he has carved for other political leaders – Manmohan Singh, Atal Behari Vajpayee, even one for Sachin Tendulkar after India’s 2011 World Cup cricket victory. He just wants to give this one to Modi because he hopes the government will do something for kalakars like him so they do not have to wander around on the streets. Can the media reach his Vijay-rath to Modi he asks. The media, however, has swarmed on. A cluster of Muslims, in skull caps and hijabs, has sprouted magically like mushrooms after the Modi shower. Television cameras crowd around them. The speakers are clearly on message. “He was very very good,” says Mohammad Sadiq.

“He didn’t say vikas for Hindus or Muslims. He says vikas for all.” I hear another man in another group say basically the same thing. If anyone is aware of this dance with the media, it’s the master himself. During his speech, Narendra Modi worked the crowd like a pro. As the cheers for the man rose to thunderous levels, echoing up from the crowd and down from the men hanging from the columns for a better view, Modi paused with a smile. “Aap ka hosh, utsaha, umang, media note kar liya hai (your enthusiasm and energy has been noted by the media,” he quipped.

 “Now sit down so others can listen properly.” In the world of political rallies, where the jokes, the applause lines and the rhetorical flourishes are all scripted, this is a sly acknowledgement by the man himself that he understands full well he is playing a game, a drama for the benefit of an audience way beyond Japanese gardens. The cheering crowd, the Muslims in front of television cameras, the BJP women stopping cars to smear red tikas on the occupants while lustily shouting ‘Bharat mata ki jai’ – none of these are fake. But all of them are props, means towards a larger political end. And the media looking for real moments and photo-ops is a player in that same story as well, manipulated even as it manipulates.

It’s only when the cameras are packed away and the press cars leave in a cloud of dust, that the bustle of ordinary life slowly drifts back into place. A line of rally goers, many of them Muslim, snake across the empty field towards the main road. A group of them stop to eat some Mangalpur ke papad because it’s long past lunch time now. A boy walks by hawking cream rolls – two for ten rupees. A vendor sells slices of coconut. A man poses in his black PROGRESS t-shirt with a photograph of Modi. He says he got it for free. “Chalo, at least one t-shirt I got for coming today,” he grins.

The city outside is now making one last attempt at cashing in on the great Vikas rally. The cycle rickshaw has turned into a rickshaw-pool to the Metro station. He tells me he wants 15 rupees. The next two passengers bargain him down to ten. One has come from Dakshinpuri and is very impressed at how the BJP has pulled off this mammoth rally, in grounds bigger than Ram Lila. “No one was pushing and shoving,” he says. “Isn’t that something?” When we get off at the Metro station, I offer the rickshaw driver ten rupees. He insists on fifteen though he takes ten from the others. “Aap zaban diya (you gave your word)” he says. He has me there. On a day when Narendra Modi tells that huge crowd that he is a man of his word and will never betray their trust, how can I break my word to a rickshaw puller? I meekly pay up my fifteen rupees.

Chhotu is more than happy to oblige. He poses like James Bond, his fingers cocked in an imaginary gun. He sticks his hip out and sashays like Munni while the loudspeaker blares the BJP’s anthem to bring change in Delhi – a song which works both balatkar and bhrastachar into its lyrics. Chhotu makes V-signs for still cameras, does cartwheels for television cameras, all the while wearing his Narendra Modi paper mask. “Aare yaar, you should take it off once in a while so television-wallas can see your face,” remonstrates a young man near him. But the media is interested in the dancing boy in the Modi mask, not so much in the person behind it. He tells me his name is Manish. He studies in the third grade. He lives “over there” he says gesturing across the dusty fields of Japanese Garden, where the big rally took place, with his papa, mummy and three brothers. His father makes pants he says though his own khaki trousers are pockmarked with holes. He came by himself to check out the tamasha. Manish is ten. Crowds in the Modi rally. Naresh Sharma/Firstpost. Crowds in the Modi rally. Naresh Sharma/Firstpost. As the great Narendra Modi rally in Delhi draws to a close, another sideshow springs up in its wake, this time for television cameras hungry for new visuals. “Look at that man’s orange turban” says one journalist. “He looks very fierce.” She sends a photographer to take pictures of him. Like lemmings the rest of us follow. The man pumps his fist in the air and shouts ‘Modi lao, desh bachao’ with even greater zeal as cameras ring him. He is Pratap Singh, a man in his sixties, a farmer with a lined face and a bright orange turban. . It’s his first time seeing Modi and he’s elated. He’s come from Rajnagar about 40 km away. Deepak Singh, a farmer next to him, says hesitantly it’s his first time as well. He’s come from even further away – 120 km. But Deepak Singh does not have a grand orange turban. We are not interested in him. But Mahesh Ojha looks more promising. He is cradling a wooden boat with pictures of Narendra Modi and Mahatma Gandhi stuck to its masts. He calls it Modi’s Vijay-rath but it turns out he’s no partisan. Ojha is carrying a scrapbook of other victory boats he has carved for other political leaders – Manmohan Singh, Atal Behari Vajpayee, even one for Sachin Tendulkar after India’s 2011 World Cup cricket victory. He just wants to give this one to Modi because he hopes the government will do something for kalakars like him so they do not have to wander around on the streets. Can the media reach his Vijay-rath to Modi he asks. The media, however, has swarmed on. A cluster of Muslims, in skull caps and hijabs, has sprouted magically like mushrooms after the Modi shower. Television cameras crowd around them. The speakers are clearly on message. “He was very very good,” says Mohammad Sadiq. “He didn’t say vikas for Hindus or Muslims. He says vikas for all.” I hear another man in another group say basically the same thing. If anyone is aware of this dance with the media, it’s the master himself. During his speech, Narendra Modi worked the crowd like a pro. As the cheers for the man rose to thunderous levels, echoing up from the crowd and down from the men hanging from the columns for a better view, Modi paused with a smile. “Aap ka hosh, utsaha, umang, media note kar liya hai (your enthusiasm and energy has been noted by the media,” he quipped. “Now sit down so others can listen properly.” In the world of political rallies, where the jokes, the applause lines and the rhetorical flourishes are all scripted, this is a sly acknowledgement by the man himself that he understands full well he is playing a game, a drama for the benefit of an audience way beyond Japanese gardens. The cheering crowd, the Muslims in front of television cameras, the BJP women stopping cars to smear red tikas on the occupants while lustily shouting ‘Bharat mata ki jai’ – none of these are fake. But all of them are props, means towards a larger political end. And the media looking for real moments and photo-ops is a player in that same story as well, manipulated even as it manipulates. It’s only when the cameras are packed away and the press cars leave in a cloud of dust, that the bustle of ordinary life slowly drifts back into place. A line of rally goers, many of them Muslim, snake across the empty field towards the main road. A group of them stop to eat some Mangalpur ke papad because it’s long past lunch time now. A boy walks by hawking cream rolls – two for ten rupees. A vendor sells slices of coconut. A man poses in his black PROGRESS t-shirt with a photograph of Modi. He says he got it for free. “Chalo, at least one t-shirt I got for coming today,” he grins. The city outside is now making one last attempt at cashing in on the great Vikas rally. The cycle rickshaw has turned into a rickshaw-pool to the Metro station. He tells me he wants 15 rupees. The next two passengers bargain him down to ten. One has come from Dakshinpuri and is very impressed at how the BJP has pulled off this mammoth rally, in grounds bigger than Ram Lila. “No one was pushing and shoving,” he says. “Isn’t that something?” When we get off at the Metro station, I offer the rickshaw driver ten rupees. He insists on fifteen though he takes ten from the others. “Aap zaban diya (you gave your word)” he says. He has me there. On a day when Narendra Modi tells that huge crowd that he is a man of his word and will never betray their trust, how can I break my word to a rickshaw puller? I meekly pay up my fifteen rupees.

Read more at: http://www.firstpost.com/politics/bjp-delhi-rally-modi-the-media-and-their-great-political-game-1140843.html?utm_source=ref_article

Kareena's priorities in life are clear: Soha Ali Khan

Actress Soha Ali Khan says her sister-in-law Kareena Kapoor has set her priorities right on personal and professional front.

"We are very much ourselves and what I love about her is in spite of being a huge star, she is a very down to earth person. Physically also she is without make up, chilled out and naturally very beautiful as a person.

Heavy texting linked to sleep problems in youngster

Researchers have reported that texting was a direct predictor of sleep problems among first-year students in a study that examined links among interpersonal stress, text-messaging behaviour, and three indicators of college students' health: burnout, sleep problems and emotional well-being.

Although the study by Karla Murdock from Washington and Lee University showed that the impact of texting on students' psychological well-being depended on the level of interpersonal stress they were already facing, more texting was associated with poorer sleep regardless of their previous level of stress.

The students in the study, all in their first year, answered questions that measured academic and social burnout, emotional well-being and sleep problems. Murdock also asked them to estimate how many text messages they send and receive on an average day.

The study's findings on sleep were especially significant given the well-documented compromises in sleep that students experience throughout college, but especially in the first year.

To assess students' sleep quality, Murdock used the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index with minor modifications to fit the college sample and found that a higher number of daily texts was associated with more sleep problems.

Among the potential causes for this connection are two tendencies: students' feeling pressured to respond immediately to texts, no matter what time of day or night, and students' sleeping with the phone nearby, thus being awakened by the alerts from incoming texts.

Meantime, the study found that frequent text messaging was also associated with greater psychological vulnerability to interpersonal stress.

The study is published in journal Psychology of Popular Media Culture.

Now, an alternative for heart transplant

On 24 August this year, 42 year-old cardiac patient Satish Kumar got a new lease of life when the Heartware Ventricular Assist Device (HVAD) was transplanted in his heart at Fortis Malar Hospital in Chennai. It was the first such surgery in the country. Now similar surgeries are being planned in couple of Mumbai hospitals. 

HVAD is a tiny device that pumps blood in a heart that has been irreparably damaged. It is a new ray of hope for people who suffer from cardiac ailments that cannot be treated through angioplasty or a coronary bypass surgery. 

Kumar was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy (weakened heart muscle that leads to heart failure) in May 2011, and was under medical care and strict lifestyle modifications since then. But things changed in July this year, when Kumar suddenly felt chest pain and passed out in his car when he was returning after dinner. An employee of Fortis Hospital was passing by. He pulled Kumar out of the car, and performed cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). However, when that didn’t work Kumar was rushed to the hospital, where he was revived with electric shocks. 

“His Left Ventricular had failed. For such cases we have only two options, heart transplant which is not possible immediately, or put the HVAD pump, the latest technology across the world,” Dr KR Balakrishnan, director, cardiac sciences, Fortis Malar Hospital, told dna. “The arrival of HVAD in India will be a major medical milestone for those who cannot avail a transplant,” he said. 

He added, “Within a few weeks of operation, the patient can ambulate, take a shower, go out for a walk, travel short distances and also climb stairs. The unique advantage of this device is that it’s the smallest available in the world and fits fully within the small space around the heart. There is no need to open up other body cavities to fit it inside. This is a beautiful advantage because it reduces overall invasiveness. The only issue is the cost, around Rs80 lakhs.”

Meanwhile, Kumar feels rejuvenated. “It’s a second life for me. I used to feel weak and drowsy at work, and while spending time with my wife and children. Now, just few weeks after my surgery, I already feel 10 years younger. After several years I can read a magazine completely without falling asleep mid way,” Kumar said. 

Global warming is real and human beings are responsible: IPCC

Scientists are saying with extreme confidence that human activity is the main cause of the global warming observed since the 1950s, according to the report released by the UN sponsored scientific body, the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change. 

In its strongest articulation yet, the IPCC said that its "extremely likely" that more than half of the increased global temperatures between 1951 and 2010 was due to human activity. This is a significant upgrade from the 2007 assessment, when the IPCC had said it was "very likely" that global warming was man-made. 

The scientific assessment drives home the need for immediate and aggressive action to reduce carbon emissions. It states that if temperature rise is to be contained to the guardrail of 2 degrees set by science to limit adverse impacts of climate change then the maximum permissible emissions would be to the tune of 880 giga tonnes of carbon. The report states that already, 531 gigatonnes of carbon of the total permissible limit has been emitted by 2011. 

The report finalised after a week-long discussion by representatives of 195 countries and scientists stressed that more and better observations, improved understanding of the climate system response and improved climate models has meant that evidence of human influence in global warming has "grown since the 2007 Fourth Assessment Report." 

"Observations of changes in the climate system are based on multiple lines of independent evidence. Our assessment of the science finds that the atmosphere and ocean have warmed, the amount of snow and ice has diminished, the global mean sea level has risen and the concentrations of greenhouse gases have increased," said Qin Dahe, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group I. 

The report uses four emission scenarios to project a rise of 0.3 degrees Centigrade to 4.8 degrees Centigrade in global temperatures by the end of the century. The scenario projecting a lower temperature rise requites significant emission reduction by countries. The report has raised its projections of the rise in sea levels to 26-82 cm by the end of the century. 

The key findings, referred to as the Summary for Policy makers, of first of the three parts of the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report was released in Stockholm on Friday. "This Working Group I Summary for Policymakers provides important insights into the scientific basis of climate change. It provides a firm foundation for considerations of the impacts of climate change on human and natural systems and ways to meet the challenge of climate change," IPCC chairman RK Pachauri said. 

The IPCC assessment report is important as it provides a scientific basis and gives key direction to governments in the global negotiations and domestic policy formulations. Friday's report will feed into the UN-sponsored climate change negotiations to be held inWarsaw in November, where representatives of governments will negotiate to formulate a new global regime to counter climate change. 

The IPCC's strong signal about the human role in global warming and the impending rise in temperatures, has been picked up by some governments to push for stronger action at the Warsaw "The issue is not whether to believe in climate change or not. The issue is whether to follow science or not. The day when all scientists with 100% certainty warn you against climate change, it will be too late. If your doctor was 95% sure you had a serious disease, you would immediately start looking for the cure. Why should we take bigger risks when it's the health of our planet at stake?" asked EU Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard. 

Climate activists hope to push governments to take a cue from science during the Warsaw negotiations in November. "Make no mistake: the underlying science of climate change is settled. The latest IPCC report confirms our overwhelming understanding that climate change is here and it's advancing even faster than we realized. Human activities are at the core of it. We can parse the details and have a rational discussion about solutions, but we ignore these scientific warnings at our own peril," said Andrew Steer of the Washington-based think tank World Resources Institute. 

The report is likely to give impetus to developing countries to push on resolving the question of equity. "For the first time, the IPCC gives a global budget for the total amount of carbon pollution that cannot be exceeded if we are to meet the international goal of limiting temperature rise to 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels. What must be noted is that polluters have already burnt through of half of the budget and without equitable allocations and concrete actions by governments the aim of poverty eradication will remain unachieved when the entire budget is exhausted," said Sanjay Vashisht, director of Climate Action Network South Asia 

Calling on government to act decisively, Saleemul Huq of the IIED and coordinating lead author in Working Group II of the IPCC said, "political inertia and powerful vested interests that have dominated media narratives for decades, they are less aware of the links between these impacts and their carbon emissions. Climate change affects us all and we must tackle it together. The time has come for global solidarity." 

- Warming of the climate system is unequivocal—globally averaged combined land and ocean surface temperature shows a warming of 0.85 degrees between 1880 and 2012. - The period between 1983 and 2012 was likely the warmest 30-year period of the last 1400 years. - Slowdown in the rate of warming in the 15-year period between 1998 and 2012 doesn't reflect long-term climate trends. - Global mean surface temperature change between 2016 and 2035 will be between 0.3 degree and 0.7 degree more than the change between 1986 to 2005. - 99% probability that more frequent hot and fewer cold temperature extremes. - 90% probability that heat waves will occur with higher frequency and duration. - Concentration of greenhouse gases increased since 1750 due to human activity—carbon dioxide exceeds 40%, methane by 150% and nitrous oxide by 20% above pre-industrial levels. - Annual carbon dioxide emission from fossil fuel combustion and cement production averaged 8.3 gigatonne of carbon every year between 2002 and 2011. - 99% probability that global mean sea level will continue to rise beyond 2100. Sea level rise between 2081 and 2100 is projected to be in the range of 0.26m to 0.98m.

N Srinivasan re-elected BCCI president; Arun Jaitley, Niranjan Shah stay out

Narayanaswamy Srinivasan will be elected unopposed as president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for a third year at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Chennai on Sunday alongwith all other office bearers.

Srinivasan, however, will know Monday whether he can take charge or not only after the Supreme Court decides Monday on the petition filed by the secretary of the Cricket Association of Bihar.

The CAB, which is not recognised by the BCCI, had moved the Supreme Court Monday seeking to restrain Srinivasan from getting re-elected on the ground that his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, who was the team principal of the popular Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Chennai Super Kings -- owned by Srinivasan’s India Cements -- has been chargesheeted for betting in the sixth edition of the Twenty20 tournament.

CAB secretary Aditya Verma, in his application, also sought to restrain the BCCI from nominating Srinivasan in any of its committees as a member or allow him to participate in any of the proceedings of the board in any capacity.

"Sorry. Please, I cannot comment on anything now. Please try to understand my situation," said Srinivasan when IANS reached him soon after his unanimous election.

When the nominations for various offices were released this evening, surprisingly the names of two of its senior vice-presidents, Arun Jaitley from North and Niranjan Shah from West were missing.

Both Jaitley and Shah apparently did not want to be part of a set-up mired in controversies.

Jaitley paved the way for his Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) secretary Sneh Bansal to move in while Mumbai president Ravi Sawant takes over from Shah. The other new vice-president is Rajiv Shukla, president of the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association, who replaces Vidarbha’s Sudhir Dabir.

Cricket Association of Bengal joint secretary Chitrak Mitra and former India off-spinner Shivlal Yadav from Hyderabad will continue as vice-presidents for one more year.

Baroda’s Sanjay Patel, who was nominated after Sanjay Jagdale quit in protest against the constitution of the inquiry panel to probe the alleged betting and spot-fixing by Meiyappan.

Haryana secretary Anirudh Chaudhary comes in as the new treasurer, replacing Sawant, who was nominated along with Patel when Ajay Shirke went out with Jagdale.

Himachal’s Anurag Thakur will continue as joint secretary.

BCCI Sources told IANS that if the case in the Supreme Court lingers on, former president Jagmohan Dalmiya may continue as the officiating chief.

Dalmiya took over after Srinivasan stepped aside after the IPL spot-fixing and the betting scandal broke out.

The new office-bearers:

Vice presidents:

Out: Arun Jaitley (Delhi) Niranjan Shah (Saurashtra) Sudhir Dabir (Vidarbha)

In: Sneh Bansal (DDCA), Rajiv Shukla (UP) and Ravi Savant (Mumbai)

Retained: Chitrak Mitra (Bengal), Shivlal Yadav (Hyderabad)

Honorary Secretary: Sanjay Patel (Baroda)

Treasurer: Anirudh Chaudhary (Haryana Cricket Association)

Joint Secretary: Anurag Thakur (Himachal)