Woman gives birth to quadruplets

KATHMANDU, Nov 12: A 21-year-old Nepali woman has given birth to quadruplets in Dadeldhura district.

Kalamati Devi Kaini yesterday gave birth to four baby girls - each weighing one kg.

The health of the infants is sound, the National News Agency reported today. (PTI)

'Indian films should continue to reflect country's ethos

PHILADELPHIA, Nov 12: Indian film industry should continue to reflect the country's ethos and heritage and not change the style under pressure from foreign movies, filmmaker Karan Johar has said.

Participating in the panel on media at the Wharton India Economic forum here yesterday, he said music and dance are part of the Indian movies which viewers enjoy and this tradition does not require any change.

"No doubt, the movies break into sudden sequence of song and dance without any reason but then that has been the part of the tradition and the audience look forward to it," he added.

He said corporatization of the film industry is not an easy task as the industry still considers itself an extended family and might not be amenable to corporate rules.

"How could I tell Amitabh Bachchan that uncle do not bring auntie Jaya with you because my corporate manager objects to her presence," he remarked amidst cheering from the audience.

Other members of the panel also agreed that bringing corporate culture is not an easy task though it might help in getting financing. "Still even if it comes, caution is needed that it does not interfere with the creativity of the artistes and does not dictate the choice of the cast," the panelists said.

Founder of Adlabs Films Manmohan Shetty said he had no quarrel with the foreign film industry participating in making movies in India but they should guarantee that Indian films are released in mainstream cinema. (PTI)

Mahathir will not give up anti-Govt campaign, says son

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12: Malaysia's former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will not give up his anti-Government campaign despite his recent heart attack, his son said today.

"Knowing how he has been going at it, it (the heart attack) doesn't at all put a damper to his spirit," Mukhriz Mahathir told reporters. "He is the type of person who will probably ... Go into a depression if he stops working, if he is not active, if his mind is not working."

Mahathir, 81, suffered a mild heart attack Thursday but is progressing well and will start an exercise regimen to keep fit, Mukhriz said.

However, doctors have advised him to take it easy for at least two months before resuming normal activities.

The heart attack has been expected to temporarily halt Mahathir's steady stream of criticism against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Mahathir stepped down in October 2003 after 22 years in office, hand-picking Abdullah as his successor. But he now accuses Abdullah of corruption, mismanaging the economy and compromising the country's sovereignty.

"What is important now is whether what he has said, what he has done so far has touched any one at all," Mukhriz said. If it has, it is up to others to "further the struggle on his behalf if they feel it is important enough," he said.

But if his father has failed to convince Malaysians about his allegations, "of course it (his public support) will end there," Mukhriz said -- but "he will still continue, even if he were alone to pursue the matter." (AGENCIES)

China marks 140^{th birth anniversary of Sun Yat-sen}

BEIJING, Nov 12: Chinese Premier Hu Jintao today paid homage to Sun Yat-sen, the man who pioneered the democratic revolution in the country.

About 3000 people, including top CPC leaders, government and military officials besides Sun’s relatives took part in the grand gathering convened at the Great Hall of the People here to commemorate Sun’s 140^{th birth anniversary.}

^{Sun is known across the country as a "great revolutionist and statesman" who fought against feudalism and imperialist aggression. He had led a 20 year revolutionary struggle against dictatorial rulers before establishing the Chinese Republic in 1912 with him as president.}

^{Sun was born in 1866 in south China’s Guangdong Province and died of illness in Beijing on March 12, 1925. (PTI)}

Comeback Kylie gets rapturous welcome

SYDNEY, Nov 12: Australian pop princess Kylie Minogue has made a triumphant comeback to the stage after recovering from breast cancer, wowing a sold-out Sydney crowd at the start of her "Showgirl Homecoming" tour.

Eighteen months after the shock diagnosis forced the former soap opera star to cancel the Australian leg of her "Showgirl" tour, the 38-year-old Minogue shimmered in sequins and feathers at an emotional concert last night.

Australian newspapers were unanimous today in their verdict that the show was a stand-out success for the diminutive popster, whose battle with cancer has been closely followed in her home country.

She won a huge welcome and a standing ovation from thousands of devoted fans as she rose on a platform at the Sydney Entertainment Centre in an elaborate, yet skimpy pink outfit adorned with feathers.

Apparently choked with emotion at her reception, the 2004 Grammy winner paused for a moment before kicking off the show with her classic hit "Better The Devil You Know".

This was followed by "In Your Eyes" and other favourites including "A Night Like This", "Shocked" and "Confide In Me".

The dance routines in Minogue's first show since her illness were noticeably less rigorous than before, the Sun-Herald noted, but still sent fans into raptures.

Emotion got the better of her again as she prepared for an encore, choking up as she dedicated "Especially for You" to her father, Ron, who was in the audience with other family members.

Minogue had surgery for breast cancer in Melbourne in May 2005, followed by a course of chemotherapy in Paris where her French actor boyfriend, Olivier Martinez, has a home. (AGENCIES)

Taiwan's EVA Air to open new flights to India

TAIPEI, Nov 12: Taiwan's EVA Airways is scheduled to inaugurate new passenger flights to India to meet growing demand, a company official said today.

EVA Air would provide three flights weekly between Taipei and Mumbai, beginning December 10.

"We have attached great importance to this new market, given the strong tourism and business demand," Nieh Kuo-wei, deputy senior vice president of the air carrier, told AFP.

Taiwan's leading international carrier, China Airlines (CAL), announced last month it was to increase the number of passenger flights between Taipei and Delhi to five a week from three. (AGENCIES)

Iran criticises UN Security Council over push for Sanctions

TEHRAN, Nov 12: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today criticised the United Nations Security Council over its efforts to impose sanctions on Iran because of its nuclear programme.

"It is most embarrassing that the UN Security Council, which should be the defender of nations' security and rights, threatens countries pursuing nuclear fuel under the law to provide fuel for peaceful purposes," Ahmadinejad said, addressing the seventh conference of the general assembly of Asian Parliaments Association for Peace in Tehran, the Iranian capital.

He criticised the UN for applying a double standard, saying that it was pursuing Iran, "while those countries, armed with nuclear weapons, deny the rights of other countries to produce nuclear fuel and exploit it for peaceful purposes."

Ahmadinejad made the comments following the meeting yesterday in Moscow between Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russia is urging the resumption of international talks on Iran's nuclear programme. Although Moscow, along with China, have agreed in principle on sanctions, both have publicly pushed for dialogue instead of punitive measures.

Both countries have major commercial ties with Iran, and can veto UN Security Council resolutions as permanent members. (AGENCIES)

Indonesian police find explosives in suspect's home

JAKARTA, Nov 12: Police found two bombs, explosive powder, cables and shrapnel in the house of a man suspected in a blast at an American fast food restaurant in the Indonesian capital, investigators said today, suggesting more attacks were planned.

Officers declined to speculate on a motive for yesterday's attack, but said the bomber was "unprofessional," indicating he was not linked to the Al-Qaida-linked group Jemaah Islamiyah, blamed for a string of well-organized and deadly strikes on Western targets in Indonesia since 2002.

But a boy who identified himself as a relative of the suspect told a local radio station he apparently admired the terror network and was willing to die for Islam.

Only the 36-year-old bomber was injured in the lunchtime blast at the A&W restaurant, which caused little damage but added to jitters over security days ahead of US President George W. Bush's visit to the world's most populous Muslim nation, said Jakarta's police spokesman Ketut Untung Yoga.

Witnesses said the suspect looked ill and was visibly shaking when he triggered the rudimentary device while seated at a table.

He was hospitalised with wounds to his head, heart, leg and hand, police said, and did not regain consciousness until more than 24 hours after the attack.

"He's in a critical condition," anti-terror official Budi Cahyono said of the suspect. "He's on a respirator."

Soon after the blast in east Jakarta, police raided a nearby house where they suspected the bomber lived after tracing the address through an identity card found in his pocket. (AGENCIES)

Indonesian airport reopens after haze lifts

JAKARTA, Nov 12: A major Indonesian airport on Borneo island has reopened after being closed for weeks because of thick smoke from forest fires, an airport official said today.

Cilik Riwut airport, which serves the town of Palangkaraya and is the main air hub in Central Kalimantan province, had been declared safe for flights, Ngurah, an airport officer, told Elshinta radio.

The official said visibility had improved to 3,000 metres (9,800 ft).

Visibility had falling as low as 30 metres in early October during the worst of the haze.

So far, only Dirgantara Air Service was operating, while two other airlines had said flights would remain cancelled until November 15, the official said.

The haze from fires in Borneo and Indonesia's Sumatra island has been particularly bad during this year's dry season, spreading pollution across large areas of Southeast Asia.

The fires, often deliberately lit by farmers or by timber and palm oil plantation firms, have been largely extinguished in Sumatra after recent rain and weeks of water bombing by fire-fighting aircraft.

Conditions in Borneo have also got better, although some problems remain.

(AGENCIES)

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