Usha Jadhav likely to sign Malayalam, Bengali films

Leh: National award-winning actress Usha Jadhav is likely to sign films in Malayalam and Bengali.  

Usha, who won the national award for her Marathi film "Dhag", has got an offer for a Malayalam film from director Bijukumar Damodaran.  "I have got the offer but I am yet to sign it on dotted line. I have liked my part in the film I would sign the film soon. I want to explore all kind of cinema and this is my first step towards it. It is a challenge to do films in other languages," Usha said on the sidelines of Ladakh International Film Festival (LIFF). 

"Both are interesting projects. I know a bit of Bengali but I am alien to Malayalam language. But I am ready to learn it," she said.  Usha, who appeared in many TV commercials, started her career in films with Madhur Bhandarkar's "Traffic Signal". After that she did a small role in the Deepti Naval's directorial debut "Do Paise Ki Dhoop, Chaar Aane Ki Baarish". 

She will be seen next as Kay Kay Menon's wife in a Hindi film titled "Rahasya" and a Marathi film with director Anant Mahadevan's "Uchalya" based on Laxman Gaikwad's poignant autobiography Usha says life has taken a 360 degree turn after she won the National award.  "People are taking me seriously. They are respecting me... They are taking my work seriously. I am getting a lot more offer for lead roles. But it gets difficult to say no to a film. I am looking to do meaningful roles but I would love to do a romantic film," she said. 

Usha Jadhav likely to sign Malayalam, Bengali films

Leh: National award-winning actress Usha Jadhav is likely to sign films in Malayalam and Bengali.  

Usha, who won the national award for her Marathi film "Dhag", has got an offer for a Malayalam film from director Bijukumar Damodaran.  "I have got the offer but I am yet to sign it on dotted line. I have liked my part in the film I would sign the film soon. I want to explore all kind of cinema and this is my first step towards it. It is a challenge to do films in other languages," Usha said on the sidelines of Ladakh International Film Festival (LIFF). 

"Both are interesting projects. I know a bit of Bengali but I am alien to Malayalam language. But I am ready to learn it," she said.  Usha, who appeared in many TV commercials, started her career in films with Madhur Bhandarkar's "Traffic Signal". After that she did a small role in the Deepti Naval's directorial debut "Do Paise Ki Dhoop, Chaar Aane Ki Baarish". 

She will be seen next as Kay Kay Menon's wife in a Hindi film titled "Rahasya" and a Marathi film with director Anant Mahadevan's "Uchalya" based on Laxman Gaikwad's poignant autobiography Usha says life has taken a 360 degree turn after she won the National award.  "People are taking me seriously. They are respecting me... They are taking my work seriously. I am getting a lot more offer for lead roles. But it gets difficult to say no to a film. I am looking to do meaningful roles but I would love to do a romantic film," she said. 

Roadside bomb kills Pak general, two officers

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani general was among two senior military officers killed by a roadside bomb on Sunday, in a north-western district once controlled by the Taliban. Major General Sanaullah and Lieutenant Colonel Tauseef were killed in the area of Upper Dir as they were on their way back after visiting checkpoints at the Pakistani border with Afghanistan, the military’s media wing said. A mid-ranking official also died when the vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive devise (IED) planted on the roadside. Major General Sanaullah was commander of Pakistani forces in Swat, a scenic valley in north-western Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, from where the Taliban were driven out in a military operation in 2009. Major General Sanaullah is the highest-ranked military official to be killed so far in Pakistan’s decade-old operation against terrorist organizations in the region. The attack occurs amid reports that the Pakistani government and local Taliban were preparing to open peace talks approved by the country’s top political leaders last week at a conference in Islamabad. The Taliban on Friday released eight government officials it had been holding for a year, calling it a “goodwill gesture” ahead of talks. Nonetheless, scepticism about the proposed talks lingers. No group has claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attack. However, the Taliban have been behind attacks in the area in recent past.

Roadside bomb kills Pak general, two officers

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani general was among two senior military officers killed by a roadside bomb on Sunday, in a north-western district once controlled by the Taliban. Major General Sanaullah and Lieutenant Colonel Tauseef were killed in the area of Upper Dir as they were on their way back after visiting checkpoints at the Pakistani border with Afghanistan, the military’s media wing said. A mid-ranking official also died when the vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive devise (IED) planted on the roadside. Major General Sanaullah was commander of Pakistani forces in Swat, a scenic valley in north-western Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, from where the Taliban were driven out in a military operation in 2009. Major General Sanaullah is the highest-ranked military official to be killed so far in Pakistan’s decade-old operation against terrorist organizations in the region. The attack occurs amid reports that the Pakistani government and local Taliban were preparing to open peace talks approved by the country’s top political leaders last week at a conference in Islamabad. The Taliban on Friday released eight government officials it had been holding for a year, calling it a “goodwill gesture” ahead of talks. Nonetheless, scepticism about the proposed talks lingers. No group has claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attack. However, the Taliban have been behind attacks in the area in recent past.

16 killed in series of attacks in Iraq

BAGHDAD: At least 16 people were killed in a series of bombings and attacks, mainly in Shiite-dominated areas, in central and southern Iraq on Sunday, police officials said. The largest attack was in Basra city, some 550 km south of Baghdad, when twin bombs exploded killing 10 people and wounding 15. In the southern city of Karbala, a car bomb went off in an industrial neighbourhood killing two people; while in the city of Hilla one person was killed and 17 wounded in two car bomb blasts inside a parking lot. Three people were killed when gunmen opened fire on a car near the Sunni-dominated city of Tikrit, 170 km north of Baghdad. There has been a sharp rise in sectarian violence in Iraq in recent months. The United Nations said that 1,057 people were killed in July, the deadliest month in more than five years, while at least 916 civilians were killed in August.

16 killed in series of attacks in Iraq

BAGHDAD: At least 16 people were killed in a series of bombings and attacks, mainly in Shiite-dominated areas, in central and southern Iraq on Sunday, police officials said. The largest attack was in Basra city, some 550 km south of Baghdad, when twin bombs exploded killing 10 people and wounding 15. In the southern city of Karbala, a car bomb went off in an industrial neighbourhood killing two people; while in the city of Hilla one person was killed and 17 wounded in two car bomb blasts inside a parking lot. Three people were killed when gunmen opened fire on a car near the Sunni-dominated city of Tikrit, 170 km north of Baghdad. There has been a sharp rise in sectarian violence in Iraq in recent months. The United Nations said that 1,057 people were killed in July, the deadliest month in more than five years, while at least 916 civilians were killed in August.

Nuclear-capable 'Agni-V' tested for second time

Balasore (Odisha) : India today conducted a second test flight of its indigenously developed nuclear- capable 'Agni-V' long-range ballistic missile, which has a strike range of more than 5000 km, from the Wheeler Island off Odisha coast. The three stage, solid propellant missile was test-fired from a mobile launcher from the launch complex-4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at about 8:50 AM, defence sources said.

The surface-to-surface missile, which can carry a nuclear warhead of more than one tonne, witnessed an 'auto launch' and detail results of the trial will be known after thorough analyses of all data retrieved from different radars and network systems, they said.

'The sleek missile, within a few seconds of its blast-off from the Island launch pad, roared majestically into a clear  sunny sky leaving behind a trail of thin orange and white column of smoke and within seconds it pierced into sky,' said
an eye-witness to the launch.

Today's launch, conducted in the presence of defence scientists and experts, was the second developmental trial of the long range missile while the first test was conducted on 19 April, 2012 which was a total success.

The indigenously developed missile Agni-V is capable of striking a range of more than 5000 km. It is about 17 meter long and 2 metres wide with launch weight of around 50 tonnes. Unlike other missiles of indigenously built Agni series,
the latest one 'AGNI-V' is the most advanced version having some new technologies incorporated with it in terms of  navigation and guidance, warhead and engine.

Many new technologies developed indigenously were successfully tested in the first Agni-V trial. The redundant  navigation systems, very high accuracy Ring Laser Gyro based Inertial Navigation System (RINS) and the most modern and
accurate Micro Navigation System (MINS) had ensured the missile reach the target point within few meters of accuracy.

The high speed onboard computer and fault tolerant software along with robust and reliable bus guided the missile flawlessly, said a defence official. In the Agni series, India at present has Agni-1 with 700 km range, Agni-2 with 2000 km range, Agni-3 and Agni-4 with 2500 km to more than 3500 range. After some more trials, Agni-V will be inducted into the services, the sources said. PTI

Five killed in China chemical plant blast

BEIJING: Five people have been killed in an explosion in a plant in China’s northeastern Liaoning Province, local authorities said on Sunday.

The explosion occurred on Saturday in a small private chemical plant in Dongzhou District of Fushun City, when workers of the factory were checking material tanks, officials said.

Five workers were killed in the accident.

The blast caused fire, but the fire is under control, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Five killed in China chemical plant blast

BEIJING: Five people have been killed in an explosion in a plant in China’s northeastern Liaoning Province, local authorities said on Sunday.

The explosion occurred on Saturday in a small private chemical plant in Dongzhou District of Fushun City, when workers of the factory were checking material tanks, officials said.

Five workers were killed in the accident.

The blast caused fire, but the fire is under control, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Nuclear-capable 'Agni-V' tested for second time

Balasore (Odisha) : India today conducted a second test flight of its indigenously developed nuclear- capable 'Agni-V' long-range ballistic missile, which has a strike range of more than 5000 km, from the Wheeler Island off Odisha coast. The three stage, solid propellant missile was test-fired from a mobile launcher from the launch complex-4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at about 8:50 AM, defence sources said.

The surface-to-surface missile, which can carry a nuclear warhead of more than one tonne, witnessed an 'auto launch' and detail results of the trial will be known after thorough analyses of all data retrieved from different radars and network systems, they said.

'The sleek missile, within a few seconds of its blast-off from the Island launch pad, roared majestically into a clear  sunny sky leaving behind a trail of thin orange and white column of smoke and within seconds it pierced into sky,' said
an eye-witness to the launch.

Today's launch, conducted in the presence of defence scientists and experts, was the second developmental trial of the long range missile while the first test was conducted on 19 April, 2012 which was a total success.

The indigenously developed missile Agni-V is capable of striking a range of more than 5000 km. It is about 17 meter long and 2 metres wide with launch weight of around 50 tonnes. Unlike other missiles of indigenously built Agni series,
the latest one 'AGNI-V' is the most advanced version having some new technologies incorporated with it in terms of  navigation and guidance, warhead and engine.

Many new technologies developed indigenously were successfully tested in the first Agni-V trial. The redundant  navigation systems, very high accuracy Ring Laser Gyro based Inertial Navigation System (RINS) and the most modern and
accurate Micro Navigation System (MINS) had ensured the missile reach the target point within few meters of accuracy.

The high speed onboard computer and fault tolerant software along with robust and reliable bus guided the missile flawlessly, said a defence official. In the Agni series, India at present has Agni-1 with 700 km range, Agni-2 with 2000 km range, Agni-3 and Agni-4 with 2500 km to more than 3500 range. After some more trials, Agni-V will be inducted into the services, the sources said. PTI