Edition 10 : News

DOUBLE AWARDS FOR RAHMAN

A. R. Rehman, who is known as the Music Storm in his home state, bagged two more prestigious awards for his composition. The music director was awarded two Grammy Awards for his work in movie Slumdog Millionaire.
Rehman received two Oscar Awards for the same work last year. In a gittering ceremony held on Sunday night, he was given one Grammy for best music compilation for a movie while another Grammy was given for the song 'Jai Ho' as the best motion picture song. The latter award was given jointly to him and Gulzar, who penned the famous song.
Rehman is again in the race for the Oscar Awards for the music given to the movie 'Couples' Retreat.' He displayed his characteristic humble-ness at the Grammy Awards ceremony when he said, “This is insane. God is great.” His competitors for the awards were Bruce Springsteen in the song category and Quentin Tarantino in the soundtrack category.
Grammy is considered to be the Oscars of the music industry. In the past, maestros like Ustad Amjad Ai Khan and Ustad Zakir Hussain have failed to get the awards even after being nominated for the awards.

NATION CELEBRATED REPUBLIC DAY
India celebrated its 61st Republic Day with pomp and gaiety. The nation brimmed with pride for having completed 60 years of democracy. The achievement becomes special in the backdrop of failure of countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh to work without military governments.
Each year, a foreign head of govern-ment is invited to the Republic Day parade. The occasion is used as a medium of showing the development and might of the country. South Korea's president Myung-bak was the guest of this year's parade in New Dellhi. Various tableau & per-formances of the artisans from all over the country also make a point of attraction in the parade.
This year, 21 tableaux were at display. Among them, the tableau of Ministry of Culture, which was put up by Sangeet Natak Academy won the first prize. The tableau based on the theme of International Film Festival, put up by government of Goa won the second prize. Chhattisgarh's showcase, based on Kotumasr caves, won third prize.
A. K. Antony, Minister for defense gave away the awards on Jan. 31st. 2010 in New Delhi.
PAES WINS TENNIS DOUBLES
Leander Paes of India got his 11th Tennis Grand Slam title when he won Australian Open Mixed Doubles title on Sunday. He and his partner Cara Black of South Africa defeated Russia's Ekaterina Makarova and Czechoslovakia's Jaroslav Levinsky in the final by 7-5, 6-3 at Melbourne Park. It was Paes and Black's second major together after losing in back-to-back finals at the Wimbledon and the US Open last year. Their only title had come in US Open in 2008, their first outing as a team. This was 36-year-old Paes' 11th Grand Slam title. He equalled with compatriot Bhupathi, also his one-time doubles partner. Paes now has six doubles and five mixed-doubles titles. It was also his second Australian Open mixed doubles title having won his first in 2003 with Martina Navratilova.
It was Paes and Black's second major together after losing in back-to-back finals at the Wimbledon and the US Open last year. Their only title had come in US Open in 2008, their first outing as a team. This was 36-year-old Paes' 11th Grand Slam title. He equalled with compatriot Bhupathi, also his one-time doubles partner. Paes now has six doubles and five mixed-doubles titles. It was also his second Australian Open mixed doubles title having won his first in 2003 with Martina Navratilova.
Paes showed his concern for the fellow countrymen when he said that the title is for the Indians in Australia. This was a reference to the recent spate of incidents when Indians in Australia were consistently attacked because of racial discrimination.
Roger Federer became the winner of Australian Open beating Andy Murray by 6-3, 6-4 and 7-6.
SIX POLICEMEN GET PRESIDENT’S MEDAL
Six policemen from Pune area including a women inspector from the city were rewarded with President's Medal this year. The awards were declared by the union government on the eve of republic day.
Inspector Sushma Chavan is the first woman officer from Pune Police to receive the President's Medal. She is presently posted in Foreigners Registration Branch in Commi-ssionerate of Pune. She joined the police fore in 1987 and has received 186 rewards for solving many cases.
Assistant commissioner of police Dattatrey Datar also received the medal. He joined the police force as a sub-inspector in 1979. He has killed three criminals in encounter so far.
Head constable Parshuram Jagtap, Inspector Vishnu Jagtap of Regional Poice Training School, deputy inspector general of police Sarabjit Singh and Dr. C. B. S. Chouhan of Reserve Police Force were also chosen for the award. Inspector Vishnu Jagtap has received 157 rewards & has solved cases of dacoity. Head Constable Parshuram Jagtap has received 375 rewards in 30 years of service.
PUNE METRO INCHES AHEAD!
The much-awaited Pune Metro rail project has inched forward with the civic body approving the Detailed Project Report (DPR) to be forwarded to Maharashtra and Central government for its clearance.
With NCP, Congress, Shiv Sena and MNS supporting the ambitious proposal which envisages a 31.59 km long metro line going through underground and elevated rails, the civic administration is now faced with the task of funding the project which in its first phase is estimated to cost Rs 6,000 crore.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) which hopes to complete the first phase comprising two corridors connecting travel points in this fast expanding satellite city of Mumbai by 2014-15, will be confronted with the recommended freezing of all developmental work along the proposed routes negotiating densely populated areas. The PMC approved the Pune Metro Rail project on Jan. 27 after a six-hour long debate. The proposal was cleared through a voting in which 88 votes were in favour of and one against the proposal. The project report has been prepared by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation after studying the situation in Pune. However there is some opposition to the plan from some NGOs consisting of few retired officers from Indian Railway