Agitated Bollywood workers call off strike

Mumbai, Oct 03: The strike by Bollywood technicians and workers that had paralysed the city-based film industry for the past three days, was called off Friday evening after the producers' association agreed to most of their demands, said an official. The workers were on strike to demand less working hours, better pay and timely payment. "They have agreed to almost all our demands, and from tomorrow (Saturday) workers will go back to work," Dinesh Tiwari, general secretary Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), told reporters. Well-known producers TP Aggarwal, Ratan Jain, Manmohan Shetty, Mukesh Bhatt, Vashu Bhagnani among others were present at the meeting. Dheeraj Kumar represented the TV producers association. They have signed a fresh agreement with the workers association. The FWICE has 22 unions and all its 140,000 workers were on strike. The FWICE went on strike for alleged "unethical practices" of the producers' associations. Two years ago, the four main producers' organisations had signed a three-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) with FWICE and the Cine and TV Artists Association. The MoU revised and specified parameters such as technicians' working hours, payment tariffs and time limit for payment, but these were allegedly being flouted by the producers' associations. The MoU stipulated that the producers must clear the dues within 120 days of services taken, but many workers alleged they had not been paid since February this year. Some film stars like Shah Rukh Khan, who also runs a production house of his own, have supported the workers' cause.

Source:- www.zeenews.com

59 Tamil Tigers, two soldiers killed in Lanka clashes

Colombo, Oct 03: At least 59 Tamil Tigers and two soldiers were killed in fierce clashes in Sri Lanka's embattled north, where the Air Force fighter jets targeted key LTTE bases, including a building once used by the outfit's political head B Nadesan as his office, officials said on Friday. The building in the rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi, which was among those bombed by the Sri Lankan security forces this morning, used to be occupied by Nadesan when he was the police head of the outfit. Nadesan succeeded S P Tamilchelvan as the LTTE's political wing chief after the latter was killed in a raid by the Air Force in November last year. "The main office complex of LTTE leader Nadesan was located at 500m West of Driyarukulam and it was engaged around 9.20 am today," Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, said. At the same time, he said, the fighter jets pounded an LTTE military base located one kilometre north of Triarukulam in the general area of Pravipanjan in Kilinochchi. The Air Force launched the strikes on real-time information acquired through continuous ground and air surveillances, the Defence Ministry said. In ground clashes, security forces killed three LTTE cadres in Kottukulam, north of Morawewa in Trincomalee today, the ministry said. Continuing with their march towards Kilinochchi, the troops moved further north across the east of Akkarayankulam yesterday, it said. At least four LTTE cadres and two soldiers were killed in the region during clashes yesterday, the ministry said. Security personnel operating in Pannikankulam in northwest of Mankulam in Kilinochchi gunned down eight LTTE rebels during clashes yesterday, the ministry said. In the western half of the Kilinochchi battlefront, troops confronted the rebels early this morning, officials said, adding that intercepted LTTE communication revealed that six Tamil Tigers were killed and another six injured in the incident. Separately, snipers deployed in the Vannerikulam forward area of Kilinochchi shot dead two LTTE cadres yesterday, the military said. While an LTTE cadre was killed in Andankulam in northeastern Welioya yesterday, nine others died later in the day during confrontations with security forces, it said. Security forces gunned down two Tiger rebels in Iranamadu in Mullaittivu during clashes yesterday, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said. While two LTTE cadres were killed in Mankulam, another was shot dead in Kokavil area yesterday, the MCNS said. In fierce clashes in the same region later in the day, troops killed five Tiger rebels, it added. As many as five LTTE cadres were gunned down in Paraikandanmadu yesterday, the MCNS said, adding another Tiger rebel was killed in Madam area. In Vavuniya, troops gunned down two LTTE cadres in Pannakankulam and another two in Navakkulam, the MCNS said. While two Tamil Tigers were fatally shot in Kallikulam, two others were gunned down in Panikanirayi in Vavuniya yesterday, it said. In Jaffna, troops killed two LTTE rebels in Nagarkovil area yesterday, the MCNS said.
Source:- www.zeenews.com

Thailand`s top politicians agree to amend Constitution

Bangkok, Oct 03: Senior Thai politicians agreed on Friday to amend the country's contentious military-backed Constitution in order to break a political deadlock. New Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat held a two-hour meeting with opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, House Speaker Chai Chidchob and Senate Speaker Prasobsuk Boondet in Parliament to negotiate the deal. "The meeting aimed to solve our country's problem and head towards reconciliation," Somchai told reporters. "This solution is the best solution and must be acceptable to people no matter if they agree or disagree. They have to listen to the majority," he added. The current Constitution was drafted by a panel named by royalist generals who staged the 2006 coup against former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. Opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit told reporters that changing the charter would allow for greater participation in the political process. "At the meeting everybody agreed that the one way to solve the current crisis is to begin political reform by amending article 291, paving the way for more people participation," Abhisit said. A meeting of all political party leaders with the House and Senate speakers is planned for next Monday, he added. Anti-government demonstrators have been rallying outside government offices for months, partly in protest at planned Constitutional changes. People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has been fighting to bring down the democratically elected government, which it accuses of being too close to Thaksin.

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2300-yr-old paddy pot found

Colombo, Oct 03: A pot containing paddy grains believed to be from the 3rd century BC has been discovered from the archaeological site of Akurugodawaththa in Tissamaharamaya area of southern Sri Lanka. The paddy pot was found at the soil layer that was 4.5 meters below the surface. Foundations, walls, broad brick floors, pillar holes, hearths, pieces of earthen pots, and large earthenware were also found at this historical site. Ruins of a residential complex of noblemen were unearthed recently near this layer, according to a report. The ruins were excavated from a soil layer five meters below the surface close to Tissamaharamaya area. An ancient hospital's ruins were also discovered close to this site, website 'LankaPage' reported. Tissamaharamaya is believed to have been the capital of the Magama Kingdom in Ruhuna, and Akurugoda, where the excavations are being conducted, is believed to be the inner city of this kingdom.

Source:- www.zeenews.com