TURKEY HOLDS WANTED NZ I.S. MILITANT
Accused of violating a law used to prosecute those breaking virus curbs
Ankara, Feb. 16: Three New Zealand citizens were detained while attempting to illegally cross into Turkey from Syria, Turkey's Defence Ministry said. A ministry statement posted on Twitter on Monday said the group included a 26-year-old woman wanted on an Interpol notice for allegedly belonging to the extremist Islamic State group. The woman was identified only by her initials SA.
The three were caught by border security units while trying to sneak into the town of Reyhanli, in Hatay province, the ministry said. The state-run Anadolu Agency said the woman was accompanied by two children when she arrived at a local courthouse to be questioned by judicial officials following her interrogation by police.
Turkey has intensified security along its border with Syria to prevent infiltrations and regularly carries out raids against suspected IS militants in the country.
Turkey has been hit by a string of attacks since 2015 by Kurdish militants and IS extremists.
Yangon, Feb. 16: Police in Myanmar filed a new charge against ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, her lawyer said Tuesday, which may allow her to be held indefinitely without trial. Lawyer Khin Maung Zaw told reporters after meeting with a judge in the capital, Naypyitaw, that Suu Kyi has been charged with violating Article 25 of the Natural Disaster Management Law, which has been used to prosecute people who have broken Coronavirus restrictions.
Suu Kyi, who was ousted in a military coup on Feb. 1, has already been charged with possessing walkie-talkies that were imported without being registered. The maximum punishment for the Covid-19 violation is three years' imprisonment. However, the new charge may allow her to be held indefinitely without trial because a change in the Penal Code instituted by the junta last week permits detention without court permission.
Groups of demonstrators turned out in Yangon and other cities on Tuesday to protest the coup and demand that Suu Kyi and members of her ousted government be freed from detention. In Yangon, police blocked off the street in front of the Central Bank, which protesters have targeted amid speculation online
that the military is seeking to seize money from them.
Buddhist monks demonstrated outside the UN's local office. The protests are taking place in defiance of an order banning gatherings of five or more people. Around 3,000 demonstrators — mainly students — returned to the streets in Mandalay, the country's second biggest city, carrying posters of Suu Kyi and shouting for the
return of democracy.
Security presence was low-key around the march, with most police guarding key buildings in the city, such as state banks branches. On Monday in Mandalay, soldiers and police violently broke up a gathering of more than 1,000 protesters in front of the Myanmar Economic Bank. They attacked the protesters with slingshots and sticks, and police could be seen aiming long guns into
the air amid sounds that resembled gunfire.
Local media reported rubber bullets were fired into the crowd and that a few people were injured. The government ordered internet access blocked on Sunday and Monday nights without giving a reason. It has in the past few weeks imposed selective and ineffective blocks on social media platforms and prepared a draft internet law that would criminalise online
activities.
There is also widespread speculation that the government is installing a firewall system that can monitor or block most or all online activity. State media were acknowledging the protest movement with indirect references. The Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported about a meeting of the State Administration Council, the new top governing body, and
Melbourne, Feb. 16: Novak Djokovic smashed his racquet to bits and then swept Alexander Zverev out of the Australian Open as the defending champion followed Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka into the semi-finals on Tuesday.
It was a patchy performance from the world number one, who is nursing an abdominal injury and drew deeply on his mental fortitude to win 6-7 (6/8), 6-2, 64, 7-6 (8/6).
Djokovic will be hot favourite to reach Sunday’s final when he plays Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev, who continued his dream run with a 2-6, 64, 6-1, 6-2 win against injured Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.
After destroying his racquet as he slipped behind in the third, Djokovic recovered brilliantly to take the set and he was icecool on the big points, drilling an ace to seal the decisive tiebreaker.
“Down to the very last shot it was anybody’s match. A lot of nerves out there, a lot of pressure. Emotionally I feel a little bit drained, honestly,” said the 33-year-old.
The Serb remains on track for a record-extending ninth Australian Open title and 18th Grand Slam trophy, nipping at the heels of rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who both have 20.
Earlier, Serena took a step towards a recordequalling 24th Grand Slam title with a 6-3, 6-3 dismantling of second seed Simona Halep, her nemesis in the 2019 Wimbledon final. Williams, 39, said her level was improving ahead of her meeting with Japan’s Osaka, who came out on top in their tempestuous 2018 US Open title match. Their semifinal
promises much after Osaka looked formidable in her 6-2, 6-2 win over Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei.
Elsewhere, 114th-ranked Karatsev became the first man to reach an Open-era Grand Slam semi on debut when he ousted a hobbling Dimitrov 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2.
The 27-year-old has knocked out three seeds as he became the lowestranked player to reach a major semifinal after world number 125 Goran Ivanisevic at Wimbledon in 2001.
A still from Uppena movie
Lately, chartbusters seem to be having more traction than star power in Tollywood. The big success of movies like 30 Rojullo Premichindam Ella and the muchhyped Uppena have caught the attention of viewers with their songs which attracted millions of views on social media before drawing crowds to the theatres in the last few weeks.
“Uppena and 30 Rojullo… revived the genre of pure love stories in Telugu cinema, and both turned out to be big money-spinners, thanks to their soulful music,” says producer
Lagapadati Sridhar, who feels ‘a million views’ is the new yardstick for success. “A mellifluous song reflecting the soul and spirit of the story is bound to strike a chord with music lovers initially, and then draw crowds to the theatres, the music acting as a sort of curtain raiser for the movies themselves,” he says.
“Composers like
DSP and Anup Rubens could belt out soul-stirring numbers since they had good stories to inspire them. I am banking on young composer Achu’s talent for my upcoming movie Kothaga Rekkalochena on the theme of perfect imperfect love,” Sridhar adds.
The producer’s views are endorsed by young director Munna Dhulipudi, who began his T-town career with a bang, with 30 Rojullo Preminchadam Ella riding on the hit song ‘Neeli Neeli Akasam’. “The song became an invitation card for our movie and ended up as a signature tune,” says Munna. “Word-of-mouth publicity helped the film to become a superhit and overcame all the hurdles and criticism to give a much-needed break to me and anchor-turned-actor Pradeep,” he stresses, adding, “Our song crossed a record 300 million views. Superstar Mahesh Babu termed our four-minute video song ‘fantastic’ while launching it and producer Bunny Vas described the movie as a heart-wrenching romance,” he says.
Adding a personal note, Munna says, “The first few lines of the song were taken from my love letter to my wife. Top lyricist Chandrabose enriched it further. Special thanks to Anup Rubens for his everlasting tune as well.”
Ace composer Gopi Sunder, who made waves in the Telugu music world with tunes like ‘Inkem Inkem Inkem Kaavaale’ (Geeta Govindam), ‘Adiga Adiga’ (Ninnu Kori), Priyathama Priyathama (Majili) and now ‘Manasa Manasa’ in Akhil Akkineni’s next movie Most Eligible Bachelor, says, “Frankly, I don’t start composing a song hoping that it will be a signature tune for the movie. I just try to give my best to justify the song for a particular situation narrated by the director. I am glad that they are turning out to be chartbusters.” Gopi also has a word of thanks for Telugu music lovers “for patronising my kind of music and also for directors for giving me creative freedom.”
He says, “I believe that good songs emanate from a ‘soulful story’ and then everything falls in place. Although, I have done mass-centric numbers in Malayalam, I have been delivering soft melodies in Telugu as per the requirements of the filmmakers.” Considering himself lucky to have composed songs for newage stars like Nani, Vijay Devarakonda and Akhil Akkineni, he says he wishes to expand his portfolio in the days to come. Gopi Sundar listens to the music of his arch rivals like Thaman and Manisharma. “Of course, I have to observe other’s work, to belt out better numbers,” he says.
Giving an actor’s perspective on chartbusters drawing crowds, actress Ritu Varma says, “Music has become a part of the young generation’s life, and personally, I am always wired to music. I listen to music at the gym, to boost my mood at times and also for relaxation, so it is not surprising that music albums have become a rage nowadays. At last, composers and lyricists are getting their due.”
The actress’ dream of having a song by ace singer Sid Sriram was fulfilled in her upcoming movie Varudu opposite Naga Shaurya. “Sid Sriram is an endearing playback singer with an inimitable style. I am happy that he sang ‘Kola Kalle Ilaa’ for our movie Varudu and I am sure it will rock music buffs,” she asserts.
I don’t start composing a song hoping that it will be
a signature tune for the movie. I just try to give my best to justify the song for
a particular situation narrated by the director. I am glad that they are turning out to be
chartbusters
Music has become a part of the young generation’s life, and personally, I am always wired to music. I listen to music at the gym, to boost my mood at times and also for relaxation, so it is not surprising that music albums have become a rage nowadays. At last, composers and lyricists are getting their due — RITU VARMA, actress
— GOPI SUNDER,
composer