Dipu Shaw

Facebook deletes cartoon on Afzal Guru, Kashmiri artist reposts it

February 10, 2016 by Dipu Shaw Leave a Comment

Kashmir cartoon

A Kashmiri artist has alleged that Facebook removed his cartoon on Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. Mir Suhail Qadiri posted the cartoon on Tuesday to mark the third anniversary of Afzal Guru’s execution. The creation showed roots growing out of Afzal Guru’s grave in Delhi’s Tihar jail and connecting with the roots of a large tree named Kashmir. Afzal Guru was hanged and buried inside the Tihar jail complex on February 10, 2013, for his role in the 2001 Parliament attack. He was a surrendered militant from Sopore in Jammu and Kashmir.

Facebook confirmed to First Post that it removed the artist’s creation. “We remove any comments – posted by anyone – that praise or support terrorist groups or their actions,” a Facebook spokesperson told First Post.

Mir Qadiri said facebook had even blocked him from posting anything on his Facebook page – MIR Suhail. News Hour India however found out that Qadiri’s page has been unblocked and he has reposted the controversial cartoon on his Facebook page.

A comment on the post read: “Even Mark Zuckerberg is crushing Kashmir movement by all means, To strengthen his Stakes in India. I don’t think there was anything wrong in this cartoon. Time for explanation Facebook for how long power will determine fates of ideas and opinion?”

Meanwhile, student groups at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) clashed over an event against the execution of Afzal Guru and separatist leader Maqbool Bhat and Kashmir’s right to self-determination.

India complete T20 series whitewash against Australia

January 31, 2016 by Dipu Shaw Leave a Comment

Team India win T20

Team India completed a magnificent run chase (India 200/3 against Aus 197/5), the second highest by any team against Australia in T20s, to win the final game by seven wickets at the Sydney Cricket Ground Sunday. India won the T20 series 3-0 and are now at the top of T20 ranking.

Batting first, Australia put up a daunting total of 197/5 in 20 overs anchored by Shane Watson’s 124 in just 71 balls. India needed more than an ordinary good start to get to the total and Rohit Sharma (52 off 38 balls) and Shikhar Dhawan (26 off 9 balls) gave the visitors the momentum that was needed right at the start of the inning. India charged to 45 runs in the first 3 overs of their inning.

Virat Kohli’s half century in 36 balls set the stage for the finish but Team India still needed a match winning effort from someone in the middle order. And Suresh Raina who is known for his power ranking in T20s delivered that part. Raina’s 49 not out off 25 balls included some clever cricket shots and a boundary of the last ball of the match.

Yuvraj Singh got his first chance to bat in the series and produced 15 runs off 12 balls in a pressure situation and mind you he is returning to international cricket after nearly two years. Yuvraj struggled initially but pulled himself up hitting a six and a four in the first two balls of the last over in which India needed 17 to win. After that it was up to Suresh Raina to finish the task and he did it in style with a boundary in the last ball of the match.

Virat Kohli was adjudged the Man of the Series for his consistent batting performance.

Hot yoga guru Bikram Choudhury to pay $7.4 million in sexual harassment case

January 27, 2016 by Dipu Shaw Leave a Comment

Bikram yoga4

Global yoga guru Bikram Choudhury has been ordered to pay nearly $7.4 million to his former legal advisor who alleged that he sexually harassed her and fired her for investigating claims that he raped a yoga student.

Minakshi Jafa-Bodden, the former personal attorney of the founder of Bikram yoga and a celebrity yoga guru, was awarded $6.4 million in punitive damages and almost $1 million in compensatory damages.

Women asked to give massage

A Los Angeles jury, that heard the case, awarded Jafa-Bodden compensatory damages for claims of discrimination, retaliation and of suffering sexual harassment herself. The lawyer alleged in the lawsuit that Bikram Choudhury created a “hyper-sexualized” and “degrading” environment for women. She also alleged that some women, who participated in Vikram’s yoga sessions, were requested to brush his hair and give him massages.

Bikram yoga2

According to Aljazeera America, one witness, Sharon Clerkin, testified that Vikram, 29, once announced at a packed training session, the majority of whose participants are usually women, that “I should rape more girls, it’s good for business.”

Bikram style hot Yoga

Bikram yoga style, performed in sweltering rooms heated to 105 degrees Fahrenheit (41 degrees Celsius), is reportedly practised by millions of people around the globe.

‘Bikram is a dangerous predator’

The Los Angeles Times quoted Minakshi Jafa-Bodden as saying “I feel vindicated, I’m elated,” after the verdict and describing Bikram Choudhury as “a dangerous, dangerous predator.”

According to the newspaper, Bikram Choudhury admitted to keeping a fleet of up to 40 luxury cars — including Bentleys, Ferraris and Rolls-Royces – during cross-examination in the court. Prospective teachers of Bikram studio reportedly pay thousands of dollars to attend his weeks-long training certification programs, which are required to teach his style of hot yoga.

The Minakshi Jafa-Bodden v. Bikram Choudhury lawsuit is one of several against the renowned yoga guru that allege sexual harassment and abuse.

WATCH: Chris Gayle hits fastest 50 in Big Bash League

January 18, 2016 by Dipu Shaw Leave a Comment

Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle has smashed a 12-ball-50 to equal Yuvraj Singh’s record of the fastest half century in a T20 game. Yuvraj Singh had set the record of the fastest 50 in Twenty20 in the 2007 World Cup against England in Durban. Yuvraj had smashed 6 sixes in an over of Stuart Broad in the match.

Gayle hit 7 sixes and 2 fours for Melbourne Renegades before he was dismissed for 56 off 17 balls in the semi final of the ongoing Big Bash League in Australia.

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Melbourne Renegades needed 171 runs in 16 overs against Adelaide Strikers to qualify for Big Bash T20 league final. And Gayle started by hitting four consecutive sixes in Greg West’s first over. He reached his 50-run mark in the fourth over of Renegades’ innings.

The West Indies opener also holds the record for the fastest T20 century in the Indian Premier League. Chris Gayle had scored 100 in just 30 balls in the 2013 edition of the IPL while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore.

In spite of Gayle’s blistering half century, Renegades lost the semi-final and and crashed out of the Big Bash League. The Melbourne team fell 27 runs short of their target of 171

Chris Gayle was met with raucous applause by the crowd of 25,227 people in the Etihad Stadium as he walked off raising his bat after his dismissal. This could be the Jamaican’s farewell match if Cricket Australia decides not to welcome him back in the next edition of the cricket league.

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Chris Gayle to TV presenter Mel McLaughlin: Don’t blush baby

January 4, 2016 by Dipu Shaw Leave a Comment

Chris-Gayle interview

Chris Gayle is drawing ire for his comments to a female reporter during a live interview after a Big Bash League game in Australia. Gayle asked Channel 10 presenter Mel McLaughlin out for a drink during a live interview after Melbourne Renegades‘ Big Bash League win over Hobart Hurricanes. The West Indian cricketer further added “Don’t Blush Baby” making the interviewer uncomfortable with his remarks that has been criticised by former England all-rounder and Channel 10 commentator Andrew Flintoff.

Well played @Mel_Mclaughlin !! Big fan of @henrygayle but made himself look a bit of a chop there @tensporttv #bbl05

— andrew flintoff (@flintoff11) January 4, 2016

Chris Gayle made a whirlwind 41 in 15 balls to help Melbourne Renegades register a comfortable victory in the match.

Mel McLaughlin said to Gayle at the start of the interview: “You’re absolutely smashing this innings!”

Gayle, who is known for his antics, replied: “I wanted to come and have an interview with you as well.. That’s the reason why I’m here, just to see your eyes for the first time. It’s nice so ..“Hopefully we can win this game and have a drink after. Don’t blush baby.” The cricketer burst out in laughter after the comments leaving the interviewer clearly embarrassed.

The comments led to an onslaught of condemnation on social media. According to Australian media, David Barham, Channel 10 head of sport said, the network was “deeply offended” by Gayle’s comments and had conversations with Cricket Australia and had sought an apology.

Twitter has been trolling Chris Gayle but not all of it is criticism. There is some support for the star West Indian batsman too.

A bit of fun by @henrygayle everybody relax – no one hurt, injured or dead!

— Tex Walker (@texwalker13) January 4, 2016

If Chris *Gayle hit on me I'd be beyond flattered, turned on and naked, waiting at the same time #BitOfFun

— steph (@StephkateS) January 4, 2016

This is not the first time Gayle has been criticised for his sexist comments on female reporters during interviews.

In 2014, Chris Gayle who was captain of franchise Jamaica Tallawahs during the Caribbean Premier League was asked, “How does the pitch feel so far in terms of the training (and) the weather?,” by a female reporter. And in response he said to her, “Well I haven’t touched yours yet so I don’t know how it feels.”

Did Gambhir snub MS Dhoni after Vijay Hazare match?

December 29, 2015 by Dipu Shaw Leave a Comment

gautam-gambhir-ms-dhoni

A video that is doing the rounds of social media shows India discard Gautam Gambhir allegedly snubbing ODI cricket captain MS Dhoni after a match in the ongoing Vijay Hazare trophy. Some news outlets took queue from the Youtube video uploaded by an individual and published news stories peppering it with instances of reported past animosities between Gambhir and Dhoni. A furious Gautam Gambhir has blasted the media over the reports and for publishing stories without verifying ‘facts’.

What the video shows

Jharkhand and Delhi clashed in the quarterfinal of the Vijay Hazare trophy – India’s premier domestic One-Day cricket tournament. Chasing 225, Jharkhand team was all out for just 126 runs with MS Dhoni still at the non-striker’s end having scored an unbeaten 70. Dhoni shook hands with opposition players at the end of the game as is customary after cricket matches. Other Delhi players courteously shook hands with Dhoni but when the latter reaches near Delhi skipper Gautam Gambhir, the southpaw walks away ignoring India’s limited-over captain. Gambhir is seen looking the other way and shaking hands with his own team members when Dhoni almost extends his hand for a handshake.

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What Gambhir says

Gautam Gambhir lambasted the media for the reports and shared photographs on his official Twitter handle of him shaking hands with MS Dhoni after the quarterfinal match. He even advised media houses to verify facts before publishing them.

And finally 2 my dear friends in d electronic media: here's a pic of me and Dhoni shaking hands after our QF win. pic.twitter.com/RMkqNwxwoR

— GGF (@GautamGambhir) December 28, 2015

Dis handshake made more news dan d one between Pak PM Nawaz Sharif & Mr Narender Modi! Grow up media. Verify facts. pic.twitter.com/iBnfmCErNl

— GGF (@GautamGambhir) December 28, 2015

Gambhir has been out of the national squad for quite some time. He last played an ODI for India in January 2013. There have been one or two instances of differences with skipper MS Dhoni during Gambhir’s days in the Indian cricket team.

International Space Station astronaut: Hello, Is this Planet Earth?… Sorry Wrong Number

December 25, 2015 by Dipu Shaw Leave a Comment

ISS

It is not every day that you get a call from the International Space Station asking “Hello, is this planet Earth?” An unsuspecting woman experienced exactly this on Christmas when British astronaut Tim Peake mistakenly called the wrong number from the ISS.

The astronaut later apologised to the lady for his mistake and assured her it was not a prank call and that he was trying to speak to someone on earth from the International Space Station.

Tim Peake divulged this on microblogging site Twitter.

I'd like to apologise to the lady I just called by mistake saying 'Hello, is this planet Earth?' – not a prank call…just a wrong number!

— Tim Peake (@astro_timpeake) December 24, 2015

Tim Peake who arrived on the ISS on December 15 will be at the space station for six months to conduct scientific experiments. Earlier on December 22, the British astronaut had delivered a Christmas video message from the International Space Station (ISS).

WATCH: Child miraculously saved from being crushed by Mumbai local train

December 23, 2015 by Dipu Shaw Leave a Comment

man saves

A child had a miraculous escape when a man pulled him up from the railway tracks just at the nick of time and saved him from being run over by a Mumbai local train. The incident took place at around 4 pm on Sunday at Ambarnath railway station of the Mumbai Suburban railway network.

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CCTV footage shows the child running across the tracks to reach the platform even as a local train speeds towards him. He tries to climb the station platform that appears to be too high for his height. Passengers waiting on the platform are stunned at the sight but one of them acts swiftly and pulls the child up on the platform seconds before a train reaches the spot. The man’s presence of mind has been much appreciated by co-passengers and netizens.

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According to DNA newspaper, the parents of the child got separated at two different platforms and the child – who was with his mother- made a dash for his father by running across the tracks. RPF inspector SP Singh described the incident as a miracle. “It is a miracle that the child got pulled out by a passenger a few moments before a train ran into the platform,” he was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Funny jokes on business sense of Gujaratis

December 21, 2015 by Dipu Shaw 1 Comment

Two beggars are sitting side by side on a street in Rome, Italy. One has a Cross in front of him; the other one is holding the Star of David. Many people go by, look at both beggars, but only put money into the hat of the beggar sitting behind the Cross.

The Pope comes by. He stops to watch the throngs of people giving money to the beggar who holds the Cross while none give to the beggar holding the Star of David. Finally, the Pope approaches the beggar with the Star of David and says,

“My poor fellow, don’t you understand? This is a Catholic country; this city is the seat of Catholicism. People aren’t going to give you money if you sit there with a Star of David in front of you, especially when you’re sitting beside a beggar who is holding a Cross. In fact, they would probably give more money to him just out of spite.” The beggar with the Star of David listened to the Pope, smiled, and turned to the beggar with the Cross and said, “Jignessbhai, look who’s trying to teach the Patel brothers about bijness!”

________________________________________

A man approached a Gujarati in Ahmedabad Railway Station.

“Sir, I have lost my purse and all my money in it. I need ₹150 for rail ticket and another ₹ 50 for the bus fare to reach home. Will you help me?

Gujju gave this brilliant suggestion.

“Does your family have a mobile phone?
“Yes sir!”

“Take my mobile. Call your family. Give my mobile number. Ask them to recharge ₹200 for my phone. Take ₹ 200 from me after that.”

Can anyone beat a Gujju in business sense ?