Prison rules may nip Jagan Mohan Reddy's fast in the bud

Hyderabad: YSR Congress president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who began his indefinite hunger strike on Sunday in Chanchalguda Jail, is likely to face serious action under the Prison Act. The Prison Act and Rules says that a prisoner can be force-fed and if he commits the offence again, he can be prosecuted and punishment can amount to a year’s imprisonment.

Chanchalaguda jail superintendent K. Saidaiah confirmed that Jagan Mohan Reddy refused to take any food since morning and said that he would be dealt with according to prison rules.

The Central Industrial Security Force has been deployed outside the jail to prevent protests by YSRC activists and counter-protests by Telangana protagonists.

A jail official who does not want to be named, said Jagan Mohan Reddy had refused to eat any food throughout the day. “He gave us several reasons orally for not taking food. But he refused to give a written application on what ground he is going on strike. He will be dealt with according to Sections 302 and 593 of the AP Prison Rules 1979 and Sections 52 and 46 of the AP Prison Act 1894.”

A jail doctor checked the health condition of Jagan Mohan Reddy.

In earlier cases, when arrested Maoists went on mass hunger strikes, the prosecution sections were not invoked and only ordinary punishments like penal diet and cutting down facilities were imposed.

A jail official said, “As per Section 593, it is the duty of the prison authorities to do what they reasonably can to keep up the health of the prisoner.”

Jagan could be fed by force

Speaking on the option of YSR Congress president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy being force-fed after he began his indefinite hunger strike at the Chanchalguda jail, a jail official said, “In hunger strike, a prisoner is likely to cause his own death, and the medical officer at his discretion can direct that the prisoner be forcibly fed if it is the only option to keep him alive. Forcible feeding shall not be with violence.”

On Monday, jail officials will warn Jagan that as per Section 302 (treatment of hunger strikes) no redress of any alleged grievance will be allowed as long as the strike continues and he is liable to any prison punishment under Section 52 of the Prison Act. The Section also says that after sufficient warning, the prisoner can be prosecuted under this Act.

The proceedings have to be held within the prison with no delay.

Suriya turns singer for Rajiv Menon

Suriya has been lying low after the success of ‘Singam 2’ and is expected to start work on his next pretty soon. Meanwhile, it is learnt that he lent his voice for an ad film, for the first time.

Sources said the ad film's director Rajiv Menon of ‘Kandukondein Kandukondein’ fame managed to convince the actor to sing for the jingle. Music for the same is by singer Karthik.

Buzz is that the making of the video that shows Suriya in the recording studio has gone viral.

On the acting front, all eyes are on which project Suriya would start as he is committed to do films with directors Lingusamy and Gautham Vasudev Menon.

There was also speculation that he may join hands with a new-age director like Nalan Kumarasamy but nothing much has emerged on that front.

'Star Wars Episode 7' to release in 2015 December

The upcoming ‘Star Wars’ instalment, to be directed by JJ Abrams, is reportedly up for a December 2015 release, instead of May.
With all previous six instalments having been filmed in Britain and released in May, many people believe that the upcoming 'Star Wars' chapter will continue the tradition.

However, according to a report, this upcoming film might be the first to break the history despite the fact that the production will still take place Britain.

The highly-anticipated film will see the return of some original cast members, including Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford. David Prowse, who played Darth Vader in the original trilogy, admits he wants to take part in it.

"Unfortunately Darth Vader was killed off. But it would be nice to come back and do another character, because no one's ever seen my face. I was never unmasked," Prowse said.

Grapefruit may be heart's best friend

A new research has revealed that grapefruit, which contains health-promoting biomolecules, could help prevent cardiovascular diseases.

The study, which was carried out by the researchers from Glasgow University, has found out that biomolecules could be used to reduce the inflammation that is the main cause of various heart problems , the Daily Express reported.

This research may give rise to a new generation of anti-inflammatory drugs that are cheaper and less lethal than some existing therapies.

'Chennai Express' shatters through the 100-crore club, breaks multiple records

Shah Rukh Khan’s rise to the top hasn’t really been too difficult. His swarms of fans have followed him through his near three-decade long career through all the ups and downs and sudden U-turns.
After you excuse all the ‘bokwaas’, realisation sets in that despite all the criticism, SRK’s latest film 'Chennai Express' has become the fastest film to earn 100 crores at the box office (domestic). The film did 103.50 crore in 4.5 days, breaking 'Ek Tha Tiger's record of Rs 100 crores in five days!

'Chennai Express' managed a cool Rs 6.75 crores in paid previews on Thursday, earning another first for the movie in ‘highest paid collections’. It broke the '3 Idiots' paid preview record (of Rs 2.75 crores) and 'Ek Tha Tiger''s first day collection record (close to Rs 33 crores). The film and its cast, including the film’s director, has been trending on twitter for four days now.

So if you’re wondering about the film’s earnings in total, try to wrap your head around these figures. But keep in mind the numbers are just for three days, the film is still running to full houses.

Opening day: Rs 33.12 crore

Saturday: Rs 28.05 crore

Sunday: Rs 32.5 crore

The Red Chillies and Disney UTV film is directed by Rohit Shetty and stars SRK and Deepika Padukone in lead roles.

Here are some numbers to boggle your mind:

Highest Paid Preview Collections:

'Chennai Express': Rs 6.75 cr

'3 idiots': Rs 2.75 cr

'Kites': Rs 1.85 cr

'Ghajini': Rs 1.75 cr

'Jism 2': 1.50 cr

Fastest Rs 100 crore Ever:

'Chennai Express': Four days (plus paid previews)

'Ek Tha Tiger': Five days

'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani': Seven days

Chennai Express climbs box office charts in the US; ranks at 13th

Shah Rukh Khan-starrer 'Chennai Express' has climbed up the popularity chart in the United States and is ranked at 13th spot in the very first weekend.

Released in 196 theaters across the United States, ‘Chennai Express’ collected $2,416,513 (about Rs 1.4 crores), in the first four days of its release, BoxOfficeMojo reported Monday, adding that it collected $2,220 in the first weekend.

BoxOfficeMojo, keeps tracks of all major movie releases in the US, according to which the film was ranked at 13th spot on the popularity chart, which was topped by ‘Elysium’ with $29.8 million collection, followed by ‘We are the Millers’ ($26.4 million) and ‘Planes’.

Determined England wins Ashes series

Chester-Le-Street, United Kingdom: With shadows lengthening across the Riverside ground and time rapidly running out, Alastair Cook tossed the ball one final time to the man who had put his England team on the brink of winning a third straight Ashes series.
Stuart Broad didn't let his captain down.

Steaming in from the Lumley End backed by roars of the crowd, Broad sent down another fierce delivery that Australia tail-ender Peter Siddle lofted harmlessly to mid-off, where James Anderson took a simple catch.

England had won the fourth test — and confirmed its dominance over its greatest cricketing rival in the process.

"We'll enjoy what is a very special day," Cook said, "and one that I'm going to look back on with huge fondness."

A day of 15 wickets and high tension at Chester-le-Street will forever be remembered for Broad's devastating bowling performance.

Set a victory target of 299 on day four, Australia collapsed from 168-2 to 224 all out in just shy of two hours in a final session Monday that saw nine wickets fall in total.

Broad took six of them, finishing with 6-50 and career-best overall figures of 11-121. And, of course, the man-of-the-match award.

England won by 74 runs to take a 3-0 lead in the five-match series. The final test is at The Oval starting Aug. 21, where Australia is looking simply to save face.

"We got outplayed, Stuart Broad bowled a couple of outstanding spells and as soon as we lost Chris Rogers (for 49, to make it 109-1), we found it difficult," Australia captain Michael Clarke said.

"We've got to play better than that," he added. "We need some time to let this sink in."

Retaining the urn, which they did after the drawn third test at Old Trafford last week, was one thing. But winning a third Ashes series in succession for the first time since the so-called "Botham's Ashes" of 1981 really is something to savor for a team that lost eight on the bounce between 1989 and 2003.

Despite their improvement over the past two weeks, the Australians' winless streak in tests moved to eight — a sorry record for such a proud cricket nation.

England, whose unbeaten run in tests stretches to 11, lost the final five wickets of its second innings for the addition of 96 runs to the overnight 234-5. That meant it stayed in the driving seat in a fluctuating test.

Ryan Harris took four wickets to claim a career-best 7-117 — becoming the first Australian since Shane Warne in 2001 to take so many victims in one Ashes innings — but agricultural knocks of 45 from Tim Bresnan and 30 not out from Graeme Swann proved crucial in taking the game away from the tourists.

Even so, things looked rosy for the Australians when Rogers and David Warner put on an opening stand of 109 — the team's best first-wicket partnership of the series.

Rogers edged Swann to Trott at first slip but Warner stayed in the groove, uppercutting Broad for four and smashing Swann over extra cover for the only six of the match.

Even when Usman Khawaja (21) was trapped lbw to Swann to make it 147-2, Clarke came in, hit three quick fours and ensured the momentum was still with the tourists.

Then it all went wrong.

Warner edged a beauty from Bresnan to wicketkeeper Matt Prior to go for 71, and Broad bowled Clarke (21) with a pearler off the seam.

The crowd came to life. England's fielders suddenly chirped up.

"Cooky threw me the ball and said, 'Spice it up a bit,'" Broad said. "I got a good partnership going with Tim Bresnan, we tried to hit the deck as hard as we could and we managed to do it."

Steve Smith (2) dragged a 90 mph delivery from Broad onto his own stumps as he attempted a pull and the paceman then trapped Brad Haddin lbw for 4. He wheeled away in celebration, puffing his cheeks and with his eyes bulging.

In 55 minutes, the whole middle order had been removed. So had Australia's hopes of squaring the series.

"He really charged in," Cook said of Broad. "When everything clicks and he's bowling in the high 80s with the control Broady has, it's incredibly hard to bat.

"Words can't justify how good a spell of bowling that was."

Then it was just a case of wrapping up the tail.

Harris (11) was plumb lbw to Broad, who then bowled Nathan Lyon for 8 to bring up his second five-fer of the match.

With darkness descending and spectators straining their eyes, England was allowed an extra half-hour to take the last wicket — and they needed 16 minutes of the allotted time.

In that crazy final session, Australia lost nine wickets for 104 runs, with Broad hitting one of those purple patches he is known for.

"The guys are very proud in that dressing room," Broad said. "There's a group in there who have won three (series) from three, and there is a real hunger in there that you want to achieve more."

That's something the bruised and battered Australians won't want to hear. They will have their chance for revenge in the return series Down Under starting in November.

'Chennai Express' breaking records, racing towards 100-cr mark

'Chennai Express' has taken off on the fast track on the very first day, it seems. The film made Rs 6.75 crores by way of paid reviews and Rs 33 crores through regular screening on Friday itself. It broke the '3 Idiots' paid preview record (of Rs 2.75 crores) and 'Ek Tha Tiger''s first day collection record (close to Rs 33 crores).

The film continued to make Rs 28 crores on Saturday followed by Rs 30 crores on Sunday. As a result, the film has already made close to Rs 98 crores, even before it has entered weekdays.

The only film to have made Rs 100 crores within five days of its release was Salman Khan’s 'Ek Tha Tiger'.

But if the numbers are anything to go by, 'Chennai Express' might just overtake that. Given the smooth run that the film has had so far, trade analysts believe that the film will make Rs 150 crores at a minimum, but the real challenge for the film now is to cross the Rs 200 crore mark. Given the fact that it will face competition from 'Once Upon A Time In Mumbai' next week, the collections are expected to dwindle a bit.

Bomb threat to Thalaivaa theatres

Chennai: With nine prominent theatres of the city receiving bomb threats on Tuesday night warning them against screening the Vijay starrer, Thalaivaa, advanced bookings were stopped by all theatres for the film slated for release on Friday.

The manager of Inox Cinemas approached the Mylapore police station Wednesday morning with a threat letter from an organisation which called itself the Oppressed Students’ Revolutionary Union.

The letter alleged that Vaendhar Movies, one of the producers of the film, had cheated students of Tamil Nadu and other states of money and was pumping it into the movie business. It warned against screening the film Thalaivaa as it too had been made with such money.

Representatives of Satyam Cinemas and Devi Cineplex also approached the police with similar letters later in the afternoon, according to sources.

When contacted, the Mylapore police confirmed that cinema houses in the city had received threats and the matter was under investigation. But pointing out that there was no such group as the Oppressed Students Revolutionary Union , some police officers felt the letters could be a hoax.

Indian kid has 7-inch tail

A 12-year-old boy in Chandigarh has a 7-inch long tail sticking out of his back, media reports revealed.
Arshid Ali Khan is now worshipped as the living incarnation of Lord Hanuman, and has faithful followers who refer to him as “Balaji,” Nairaland. com reported.

Doctors say the appendage is actually meningocele, a rare form of spina bifida that causes the spine to grow abnormally. Although medical experts believe that Khan should have the “tail” removed because he risks medical problems, he is opposed to it. “I love my tail. It’s a gift from God. I feel special,” he said.

Dr. Scott Meyer, a member of the neuro-spine team at Morri-stown Medical Center in New Jersey, said that the meningocele can be associated with a tuft of hair in the lower back.

Hockey girls bag World Cup bronze

New Delhi: Forward Rani Rampal was the star performer as India clinched their first ever medal in the Junior Women’s Hockey World Cup. India defeated a gritty England 3-2 (1-1) via sudden death in the third place playoff in Monchengladbach , Germany, on Sunday evening.
Rampal, who had earlier scored in regulation time, struck twice in the penalty shootout as India notched up their best-ever finish in the quadrennial event, bettering the ninth place finish in the 2009 edition.

In the final, Holland defeated Argentina 4-2 (11) on penalties.

Rampal converted the first chance for India in the shootout, while Navjot Kaur, Vandana Katariya, Navneet Kaur and Poonam Rani missed out.

Goalkeeper Bigan Soy stood like a rock as England too faltered on four of their five chances, forcing the game into sudden death.

This time, Rampal and Navneet converted successfully to hand India the bronze. Earlier, the teams were locked 1-1 in regulation time. Said coach Neil Hawgood, “It means a lot to our kids’ psychology that they can actually win a medal.

They have never been in those games before.

“We practised shootouts, so I thought we would score more than three out of seven. Our goalkeeper Bigan Soy, who never played a minute the whole tournament, did a great job,” he added.