Ex-tennis player Elena Baltacha dies of cancer

LONDON: Elena Baltacha, a former top-50 professional tennis player, who had been fighting liver cancer since retiring from the game, died on Sunday. She was 30.

The former British No 1 died peacefully surrounded by family and friends, the Women’s Tennis Association said on its website. Baltacha, who represented Britain at the 2012 London Olympics, was diagnosed with the illness in January, two months after retiring from tennis and only weeks after she married her long-time coach Nino Severino.

“We are heartbroken beyond words at the loss of our beautiful, talented and determined Bally,” Severino said in a statement. “She was an amazing person and she touched so many people with her inspirational spirit, her warmth and her kindness.”

“Elena’s journey was never an easy one and yet she consistently showed her strength, good humour and indomitable spirit,” WTA chairman Stacey Allaster said.

“We have lost a shining light from the heart of British tennis-a true role model, a great competitor and a wonderful friend,” former Fed Cup coach Iain Bates said. “We have so many special memories to cherish, but this leaves a gaping hole for everybody in both British and women’s tennis, and words simply cannot express how saddened we are by this news.”

Baltacha had already planned a tennis charity event in June, “Rally for Bally,” to raise money for a cancer hospital and her tennis academy. It will go ahead in her memory, with competitors, including childhood friend Andy Murray, Martina Navratilova and Tim Henman.

Ex-tennis player Elena Baltacha dies of cancer

LONDON: Elena Baltacha, a former top-50 professional tennis player, who had been fighting liver cancer since retiring from the game, died on Sunday. She was 30.

The former British No 1 died peacefully surrounded by family and friends, the Women’s Tennis Association said on its website. Baltacha, who represented Britain at the 2012 London Olympics, was diagnosed with the illness in January, two months after retiring from tennis and only weeks after she married her long-time coach Nino Severino.

“We are heartbroken beyond words at the loss of our beautiful, talented and determined Bally,” Severino said in a statement. “She was an amazing person and she touched so many people with her inspirational spirit, her warmth and her kindness.”

“Elena’s journey was never an easy one and yet she consistently showed her strength, good humour and indomitable spirit,” WTA chairman Stacey Allaster said.

“We have lost a shining light from the heart of British tennis-a true role model, a great competitor and a wonderful friend,” former Fed Cup coach Iain Bates said. “We have so many special memories to cherish, but this leaves a gaping hole for everybody in both British and women’s tennis, and words simply cannot express how saddened we are by this news.”

Baltacha had already planned a tennis charity event in June, “Rally for Bally,” to raise money for a cancer hospital and her tennis academy. It will go ahead in her memory, with competitors, including childhood friend Andy Murray, Martina Navratilova and Tim Henman.

Minimum bus fare will be Rs 7

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  The stage is set for hike in bus fares. The Government decided to hike the fares following discussions with private bus operators on Sunday.

As per the new decision, the minimum charge will be raised by Re 1 and thus the minimum fare will become Rs 7 from the existing Rs 6.    

There will also be hike kilometre-wise at the rate of 10 paise. Thus the kilometre charge will go up from 58 paise to 68 pasie. The order regarding the hike will be issued after the cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

The Ramachandran Commission appointed by the government to review the bus fare had also suggested an increase in the bus fares in the present circumstances. The report will also be discussed in the cabinet meeting. The government, however, wants to keep the hike at Re 1, fearing repercussions from the public

The bus owners’ demand was to make the minimum charge Rs 10. Meanwhile, the concession fare for the students will be left untouched.         

The last fare-hike was in August 11, 2012 and it was also by Re1. After that diesel charge was hiked several times. There was also diesel hike even after Ramachandran Commission report was submitted. Above, all KSRC is going through financial crisis. All these factors have made the bus fare hike unavoidable.     

Minimum bus fare will be Rs 7

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  The stage is set for hike in bus fares. The Government decided to hike the fares following discussions with private bus operators on Sunday.

As per the new decision, the minimum charge will be raised by Re 1 and thus the minimum fare will become Rs 7 from the existing Rs 6.    

There will also be hike kilometre-wise at the rate of 10 paise. Thus the kilometre charge will go up from 58 paise to 68 pasie. The order regarding the hike will be issued after the cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

The Ramachandran Commission appointed by the government to review the bus fare had also suggested an increase in the bus fares in the present circumstances. The report will also be discussed in the cabinet meeting. The government, however, wants to keep the hike at Re 1, fearing repercussions from the public

The bus owners’ demand was to make the minimum charge Rs 10. Meanwhile, the concession fare for the students will be left untouched.         

The last fare-hike was in August 11, 2012 and it was also by Re1. After that diesel charge was hiked several times. There was also diesel hike even after Ramachandran Commission report was submitted. Above, all KSRC is going through financial crisis. All these factors have made the bus fare hike unavoidable.     

Experts say FIR order against journalists ‘unlawful

ISLAMABAD: The unanimous opinion of legal experts is that the additional sessions judge and the Justice of Peace Islamabad, who passed an order under section 22-A Cr.PC to register an FIR against journalists under the treason and terrorism acts, is unlawful and the JP didn’t fulfil the requirements of the law.

The JP has transgressed his authority by passing an order in the absence of an application moved to the police for lodging an FIR, criminal law experts spoke out when contacted by this correspondent.

Renowned criminal lawyer, Rizwan Abbasi when contacted, said, “The JP crossed his limits.” He said section 22-A, B of the Cr.PC provides remedy for aggrieved person in case there is some excess of the police authorities or the police refuse to lodge an FIR after receipt of information of a commission of a cognisable offence. When the application has not been submitted before the police, how can the Justice of Peace be approached, he asked.

The JP, in his order, indicated that the complainant didn’t approach the area police first and directly submitted a petition before the JP, he said. “Comments were sought from the SHO Margalla, who reported that no such application has been submitted by the petitioner as well as that the incident took place in another part of the country, so there is no jurisdiction to register an FIR,” the JP wrote in his order.

Renowned lawyer Athar Minallah, when contacted, said the court (JP) should not exercise such power in these circumstances when high courts have dismissed the same kinds of petitions. “I haven’t heard such orders in my career,” Minallah said.

Many prominent lawyers of the federal capital, including Malik Nasir, Advocate, Mohammad Mansoor, Advocate, Muhammad Arif, Advocate, Ziaur Rehman, Advocate Muhammad Imran, Advocate Rizwan Bagri and Muhammad Akhter Cheema Advocate expressed the same point of view about the biased order of the JP.

It is to be mentioned here that Additional Sessions Judge-VIII, /Judge of Peace (West) Islamabad, earlier accepting the petition filed by Arshad Mehmood Butt, son of Fazal Karim Butt, resident of Mustafa Apartments, Markaz G-8, Islamabad, ordered to lodge an FIR against journalists under the terrorism act.

Eminent lawyer Jam Asif Mehmood said the orders to register an FIR against journalists have been issued by the Justice of Peace, and not the judiciary. He clarified that the Justice of Peace is not part of the judiciary.

He said the order was issued on the complaint of a person who is not an aggrieved party, while the aggrieved party has already availed its remedy and approached the Ministry of Defence and Pemra. Hence, he said, this order was not maintainable and the impression was not right that an FIR was not being registered despite court orders.

Bureau Chief of Geo News Islamabad Rana Jawwad also added that Justice of Peace can be contacted only when the applicant has already approached police.

 

Experts say FIR order against journalists ‘unlawful

ISLAMABAD: The unanimous opinion of legal experts is that the additional sessions judge and the Justice of Peace Islamabad, who passed an order under section 22-A Cr.PC to register an FIR against journalists under the treason and terrorism acts, is unlawful and the JP didn’t fulfil the requirements of the law.

The JP has transgressed his authority by passing an order in the absence of an application moved to the police for lodging an FIR, criminal law experts spoke out when contacted by this correspondent.

Renowned criminal lawyer, Rizwan Abbasi when contacted, said, “The JP crossed his limits.” He said section 22-A, B of the Cr.PC provides remedy for aggrieved person in case there is some excess of the police authorities or the police refuse to lodge an FIR after receipt of information of a commission of a cognisable offence. When the application has not been submitted before the police, how can the Justice of Peace be approached, he asked.

The JP, in his order, indicated that the complainant didn’t approach the area police first and directly submitted a petition before the JP, he said. “Comments were sought from the SHO Margalla, who reported that no such application has been submitted by the petitioner as well as that the incident took place in another part of the country, so there is no jurisdiction to register an FIR,” the JP wrote in his order.

Renowned lawyer Athar Minallah, when contacted, said the court (JP) should not exercise such power in these circumstances when high courts have dismissed the same kinds of petitions. “I haven’t heard such orders in my career,” Minallah said.

Many prominent lawyers of the federal capital, including Malik Nasir, Advocate, Mohammad Mansoor, Advocate, Muhammad Arif, Advocate, Ziaur Rehman, Advocate Muhammad Imran, Advocate Rizwan Bagri and Muhammad Akhter Cheema Advocate expressed the same point of view about the biased order of the JP.

It is to be mentioned here that Additional Sessions Judge-VIII, /Judge of Peace (West) Islamabad, earlier accepting the petition filed by Arshad Mehmood Butt, son of Fazal Karim Butt, resident of Mustafa Apartments, Markaz G-8, Islamabad, ordered to lodge an FIR against journalists under the terrorism act.

Eminent lawyer Jam Asif Mehmood said the orders to register an FIR against journalists have been issued by the Justice of Peace, and not the judiciary. He clarified that the Justice of Peace is not part of the judiciary.

He said the order was issued on the complaint of a person who is not an aggrieved party, while the aggrieved party has already availed its remedy and approached the Ministry of Defence and Pemra. Hence, he said, this order was not maintainable and the impression was not right that an FIR was not being registered despite court orders.

Bureau Chief of Geo News Islamabad Rana Jawwad also added that Justice of Peace can be contacted only when the applicant has already approached police.

 

IOC plant closed temporarily due to fuel leak

Kochi: The Indian Oil Corporation plant at Udayamperoor in Kochi was closed down for the time being as gas leak was detected in one of the pipelines.

Sources said the leak was detected at around 8 a.m while the fuel was being transferred from the bullet tanker to the storage tanker of the plant.

The fuel was found leaking from the pressure valve of the tanker.

“There is no emergency situation and it is now under control,” the IOC sources said.

IOC plant closed temporarily due to fuel leak

Kochi: The Indian Oil Corporation plant at Udayamperoor in Kochi was closed down for the time being as gas leak was detected in one of the pipelines.

Sources said the leak was detected at around 8 a.m while the fuel was being transferred from the bullet tanker to the storage tanker of the plant.

The fuel was found leaking from the pressure valve of the tanker.

“There is no emergency situation and it is now under control,” the IOC sources said.

Arrest warrant issued against Sanjay, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone

Muzaffarpur (Bihar): A local court in Muzaffarpur on Friday issued arrest warrants against Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram Leela director -producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali, actors Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra and Ranveer Singh in connection with a case alleging that few scenes in the movie hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindus.

Warrants were also issued against another producer Kishore Lulla, as well as the musicians and lyricists of the movie.

Issuing the arrest warrants, Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) SP Singh directed Mumbai Police Commissioner to arrest the persons concerned and produce them at his court on June 4.

These warrants were issued based on a complaint case under various sections of the IPC filed by advocate Sudhir Kumar Ojha in November last year which alleged that few scenes in Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram Leela hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindus.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court had stopped the release of the movie till November 22, 2013 but it was released here on November 12 itself.

The CJM took cognisance of the case on February 14 this year and summoned the actors and the director, who did not turn up following which today the warrants were issued.

PTI

Arrest warrant issued against Sanjay, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone

Muzaffarpur (Bihar): A local court in Muzaffarpur on Friday issued arrest warrants against Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram Leela director -producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali, actors Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra and Ranveer Singh in connection with a case alleging that few scenes in the movie hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindus.

Warrants were also issued against another producer Kishore Lulla, as well as the musicians and lyricists of the movie.

Issuing the arrest warrants, Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) SP Singh directed Mumbai Police Commissioner to arrest the persons concerned and produce them at his court on June 4.

These warrants were issued based on a complaint case under various sections of the IPC filed by advocate Sudhir Kumar Ojha in November last year which alleged that few scenes in Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram Leela hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindus.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court had stopped the release of the movie till November 22, 2013 but it was released here on November 12 itself.

The CJM took cognisance of the case on February 14 this year and summoned the actors and the director, who did not turn up following which today the warrants were issued.

PTI