How Television news stars won war

India’s best-known television journalists appear to have finally beaten Ekta Kapoor in the battle for TRPs. In six days flat. The all-out war witnessed editors being paradropped, reporters lying prostrate on the ground when not blaring into the cameras, and a thousand “breaking stories” every day.

Here’s how the TRPs were garnered, shot by shot, starting around 10.30 pm on Wednesday, November 26:

• Close in on the woman in tears — show her from every possible angle and deliver a soul-wrenching commentary of what might be going through her mind.
• Repeatedly flash shots of the adorable, crying child. Shove your mike in his face. Oh! hasn’t learnt to talk yet, not even Yiddish? Ask the woman carrying the child how she rescued him from the carnage.

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Target Islamabad

The government came under increasing pressure on Sunday to take decisive action in the wake of the November 26 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, as the clamour for suspending the five-year-old composite dialogue process with Pakistan grew louder.

With the Opposition parties upping the ante and seeking appropriate measures to deter Pakistan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was weighing his options so that his government was seen to be doing its utmost in the runup to the general elections.

The government, fighting off demands to suspend all confidence building measures such as rail and air links with Pakistan, is understood to have put the Indian cricket team’s forthcoming tour of Pakistan on hold.

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Taj General Manager’s wife, 2 sons die

The wife and the two sons of Taj Mahal Hotel’s general manager Karambir Kang were killed in the terrorist attack on the hotel. A relative of the Kangs family, which is from Mohali near Chandigarh, said while Karambir Kang was not in the hotel on Wednesday night, his wife Neeti and sons Uday (14) and Samar (5) were killed in the terrorist strike.

The three deceased were residing in the accommodation provided to them at the hotel and became targets of the terrorist bullets, a relative of the Kangs family told reporters in Mohali.

Two MPs — Lal Mani Prasad and Jaisingrao Gaikwad Patil — who were at the Taj hotel are safe in their rooms, said Parliament member N.N. Krishnadas who was himself rescued from there by commandos on Thursday.

“They are safe at their hotel rooms,” Mr Krishnadas, an MP of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) from Kerala, said. “They are expected to join us after the entire operation is over,” he added.

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Film to be made on Meerut double murder

The Meerut double murder case that involves a former beauty contest winner, Priyanka, and her friend, Anju, as accused, is now preparing to come alive on the silver screen.

According to sources, at least two Bollywood producers have contacted Priyanka’s relatives, expressing a keen desire to translate this sensational case on to the big screen.

It may be recalled that Priyanka and Anju were arrested in Meerut on November 17 after they were found to be prima facie guilty of murdering the former’s parents on November 10.

“We do not know their credentials or background but two producers have contacted us for permission to put this case on celluloid. We are in a dilemma because we do not know whether we have the authority to give any such permission.

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7/11 accused detained in United Kingdom

Rahil Sheikh, who the police alleges routed hawala funds to the perpetrators of the July 11, 2006 serial train blasts in Mumbai and is an absconding co-accused in the case, was arrested by the UK police at Birmingham International Airport as a red corner notice was pending against him. The UK police has asked Interpol in India to send the details of the case, along with those of his alleged role, in order to initiate the extradition process.

“We have received a letter from Interpol in Delhi to send across the information about the serial blasts case and Rahil’s role. We have contacted the AntiTerrorism Squad (ATS), which has filed the chargesheet in the case,” said Mr Rakesh Maria, Mumbai joint commissioner of police, crime.

According to him, Rahil was detained at Birmingham airport by immigration officials as a red corner notice was pending against him. Originally from Naya Nagar in Mira Road, Thane, he had worked for six months with Oracle India in Bengaluru in 2004.

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Jackson, Bahrain prince settle case

American pop star Michael Jackson avoided giving testimony in London high court on Monday afternoon as he reached an out-of-court settlement with a Bahraini prince in a breach of contract case. Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who is second son of Bahrain’s King, had filed a £4.7-million breach of contract lawsuit against Jackson in London and has asked the pop star to repay several advances given to him.

Fifty-year-old Michael Jackson was expected to give evidence at the trial at the Royal Courts of Justice on Monday afternoon.

The trial had commenced on November 17 before Justice Sweeney at the Royal Courts of Justice and was expected to last for 8 to 10 days.

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Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam morale plunges as it loses 2 bases

Advancing Sri Lankan troops have intensified the battle near the LTTE-controlled headquarters of Kilinochchi amidst fierce resistance by the Tamil Tigers and are now consolidating their position near Mannar, officials said on Sunday.

Sri Lanka Army offensive divisions in the Wanni theatre of operations are now marching towards the Kilinochchi built up in three frontiers, defence sources said.

They said Army Task Force 1 and 57 Division have launched attacks at the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam held earth bund on the outskirts of Kilinochchi.

According to the latest reports, pitched battles are going on in the north of Adampan, South of Adampan and Therumurikandi areas near Mannar since early on Sunday morning.

Army Task Force 1 launched a pre-dawn offensive targeting LTTE defence in the North of Adampan area.

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