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DHAKA: Inspired by the unique painted rickshaws which pack the streets of the Bangladeshi cities, the logo for the ICC World Twenty20 2014 was unveiled on a star-studded evening in Dhaka on Saturday.
 
At a glittering gala and in the presence of the International Cricket Council (ICC) vice president Mustafa Kamal and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan, the logo for the tournament was launched exactly one year ahead of the tournament finals.
 
For the first time, 16 men's teams will compete for the ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh alongside eight women's teams, which include for the first time, the hosts. The event will run from March 16 to April 6 and is scheduled to be played in four cities - Mirpur, Chittagong, Sylhet and Cox's Bazar.
 
The spectacular night featured popular Bangladesh artists Lubna Marium and her team Shadhona, singers Habib and Nancy as well as magician Jewel Aich and sand artist Kaushik Bose performing in front of a packed audience of more than 500 specially invited guests.
 
The logo uses the colours of the Bangladesh flag with splashes of blue which represents Bangladesh's iconic waterways (as well as being the ICC's own colour). The T is made up of cricket stumps and the 0 in the T20 represents the cricket ball complete with Bangladeshi green seam while the white in the design lends an energetic, friendly and youthful feel to the logo.
 
Designed in Australia by design company WiteKite, who also designed the ICC Cricket World Cup logo in 2011, the ICC World Twenty20 2012 Sri Lanka mark and the distinctive logo for the ICC Women's World Cup 2013 India.
 
Kamal said: "The evening captured the sounds and colours of this beautiful country with a distinctively Bangladeshi logo and memorable launch event. I know that the BCB will work tirelessly in the next 12 months to ensure they help deliver a tournament that ICC, BCB, world cricket and the people of Bangladesh can be proud to be associated with.
 
"We have now less than 12 months to go to the start of the ICC World Twenty20 2014 and in that time I am certain that the excitement will build to fever pitch and the demand for tickets will outstrip even that of the wonderfully successful ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in which Bangladesh was a joint host with India and Sri Lanka."
Source: NDTV
Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl brought to England after being shot in the head by the Taliban, has announced the first donation from her new education charity with the support of Hollywood superstar Angelina Jolie.

Malala, who now attends Edgbaston High School for girls in Birmingham, said it was the happiest moment of her life, in a video played at the Women in the World summit in New York City.

The 15-year-old set up the Malala Fund after surviving an assassination attempt by the Taliban in October, after standing up for her right to go to school in her home country.

She spent hours undergoing major surgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham wherea surgeons tried to repair the damage caused by a bullet which grazed her brain.

The grant of 45,000 US dollars will be given to an unnamed organisation in the Swat Valley in Pakistan to support the education of 40 girls aged five to 12 who would otherwise be forced into domestic labour.

The organisation, which was not named for security reasons, will offer a safe place for the girls to study as well as financial support for their families.

In a video played to an audience of thousands she said: “Announcing the first grant of the Malala Fund is the happiest moment in my life.

“I invite all of you to support the Malala Fund and let us turn the education of 40 girls into 40 million girls.”
Hollywood actress and UN special envoy Jolie introduced the video and pledged to give 200,000 US dollars to the fund.

She praised the young girl’s courage.

“Here’s what they accomplished,” Jolie said of Malala’s attackers. “They shot her point-blank range in the head – and made her stronger. The brutal attempt to silence her voice made it stronger.”

The Malala Fund supports the education and empowerment of girls in Pakistan and around the world and provides grants to civil society organizations and individuals focused on education.

The fund is run by a board of trustees, including Malala and her family, with the support of the Vital Voices Global Partnership, founded by Hilary Clinton.

(Reuters) - Five Egyptians were killed and eight wounded in clashes between Christians and Muslims in a town near Cairo, security sources said on Saturday, in some of the worst sectarian violence in Egypt for months.Christian-Muslim confrontations have increased in Muslim-majority Egypt since the overthrow of former president Hosni Mubarak in 2011 gave freer rein to hardline Islamists repressed under his rule.
Four Christian Copts and one Muslim were killed when members of both communities started fighting and shooting at each other in El Khusus north of the Egyptian capital, the sources said. State news agency MENA put the death toll at four.
An angry crowd smashed shops belonging to Christians, residents said. A Reuters reporter saw a burned-out Coptic day care centre and several damaged shops belonging to Christian traders. An apartment inhabited by Muslims was also burned.
Residents said the violence broke out on Friday when a group of Christian children were drawing on a wall of a Muslim religious institute.
A Reuters reporter saw what looked like a swastika drawn on the wall. Muslim residents said it had offended them because it looked like a cross.
"I saw the kids drawing on the wall after afternoon prayers so I grabbed them and told them to remove what they'd just written," said Mahmoud Mahmoud al-Alfi, a Muslim resident.
Then another man arrived and started beating the children, drawing a large crowd, he said. The situation escalated when someone drew a gun and fired into the air, killing one boy with a stray bullet.
"Suddenly the area was full of weapons," Alfi said, while weeping Muslim women sat nearby in front of a house, showing pictures of a man they said had been killed during the clashes.
The president's office expressed condolences to the victims and vowed to fight any sectarian violence.
"The presidency ... totally rejects any attempt against the unity and cohesiveness of Egyptian society and will decisively confront any attempt to spark sectarian strife among Egyptian people, Muslim and Christian," according to a statement.
Muslim leaders were also quick to condemn the sectarian violence which comes as Egypt struggles with a severe economic crisis and high inflation after two years of political upheaval.
Grand Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, of Egypt's leading Islamic authority Al-Azhar, urged measures to prevent the situation from escalating and to "preserve the national character which characterises the Egyptian people, Muslims and Christians," MENA said.
"The sectarian riots which happened in El Khusus are unacceptable and grave," Saad al-Katatni, the head of the Muslim Brotherhood political party, said on his Facebook website. "There are some who want to set Egypt ablaze and create crises."
President Mohamed Mursi, a Brotherhood leader elected in June, has promised to protect the rights of Copts, who make up about 10 percent of Egypt's 84 million people.
TIGHT SECURITY
On Saturday the situation was calm but tense in the small town where Muslims and Christians live close to each other but in separate streets. Security was tight with police vehicles parked in the main streets.
Police detained 15 people, a security source said.
In a Christian neighbourhood dozens of angry young men gathered at noon on Saturday, chanting "with our blood and soul we sacrifice ourselves for the cross". The crowds left after a priest came and asked them to leave to calm tensions.
"There are people who want to cause sectarian strife between Muslims and Christians," said a Christian man who gave his name as Kameel. "I've been here longer than 30 years and I have never seen any violence or extremism in our area."
Sectarian tensions have often flared into violence, particularly in rural areas where rivalries between clans or families sometimes add to friction. Love affairs between Muslims and Christians have also sparked clashed in the past.
Since Mubarak was ousted by a popular uprising, Christians have complained of several attacks on churches by radical Islamists, incidents that have sharpened longstanding Christian complaints about being sidelined in the workplace and in law.
As an example, they point to rules that make it harder to obtain official permission to build a church than a mosque.
Last month, a court sentenced a Muslim to death for killing two people in a dispute with Christians in a southern town.
In October 2011, 25 people, most of them Coptic demonstrators, were killed in clashes with troops in Cairo.
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David Bowie is back with another epic new mini-movie, directed by video genius Floria Sigismondi (Marilyn Manson, Sigur Ros, Ellie Goulding, Leonard Cohen, two landmark '90s Bowie vids). In a bit of inspired casting, the Thin White Duke’s new video co-stars thin white duchess Tilda Swinton as his dutiful wife—but really, she looks more like his long-lost twin.
For years, the uncanny resemblance between Bowie and the Oscar-winning actress has been noted by observers—so much so that there's an entire Tumblr site, TildaStardust.com, devoted to their separated-at-birth similarity. In 2003, fashion photographer Craig McDean actually orchestrated a shoot with Tilda during which she dressed up as Bowie, and last year, Hint Fashion Magazine even published a rather convincing compare-and-contrast blogpost titled "Visual Proof That David Bowie And Tilda Swinton Are The Same Person."
David Bowie in "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)"Well, the fact that Bowie and Swindon appear onscreen on the same time in "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" obviously refutes Hint's theory—unless director Sigismondi used some creative CGI, of course. But perhaps what more important is how amazing Bowie looks in this video, in general.
You see, when Bowie unexpectedly emerged from a decade-long seclusion last month on his 66th birthday—releasing a new music video, “Where Are We Now,” and announcing plans to issue The Next Day, his first album since 2003’s Reality—it was cause for celebration, but there was just one minor problem: His famously aquiline likeness could barely be discerned in the “Where Are We Now” video. He merely appeared as some sort of conjoined twin, his digitally obscured face peeking out from a black shroud. Considering that Bowie had practically gone into hiding since his heart attack of '03, and that rumors about his supposed ill health had run rampant in the years since, it was worrying that he had opted to not show his full self in his comeback clip.
Model Iselin Steiro as a young BowieBut in his new video tour de force, the man looks virtually untouched by time: still handsome, glamorous, regal, and, for lack of a better adjective, positively Bowie-esque. Tilda, along with Norwegian model Iselin Steiro (who plays the younger, flame-haired Bowie in the video's band scenes) deliver stunning performances, for sure, but there’s little doubt that fans’ eyes will be riveted only to the real Bowie whenever he’s onscreen.
And as for any fans whose ears were mildly underwhelmed by the mellow moodiness of “Where Are We Now,” they'll be happy to know that Bowie’s new tune is a much more propulsively rocking affair, proving that the man hasn’t lost his edge at age 66.

David Bowie’s Tony Visconti-produced new album, The Next Day, comes out in the U.S. on March 12.
There is a reason why Yash Chopra and Shah Rukh Khan are called the Kings of Romance, they have managed to weave one unforgettable love story after the other that remains etched in our memories. 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan', Yash Chopra's last directorial venture had created ample pre-release buzz and the anticipation in the theatre was palpable. 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan' is yet another impossible love story made believable by the conviction of the makers.
Samar Anand (Shah Rukh) does odd jobs in London for sustenance, needless to say our quintessential Bollywood hero is multi-faceted; he croons, he grooves, he has a heart of gold and he is charmer all the way. On a cold London night, while cleaning snow from the sidewalks, Samar falls for the beautiful Meera (Katrina Kaif), Indian billionaire's daughter who is always negotiating with God and cutting deals to accomplish her unfulfilled wishes. Quite obviously their love for each other is mired by impossibilities.
Yash Chopra romances are historically high on sacrifices and the two besotted lovers are driven apart by circumstances. Our suave odd-job man is now Major Samar Anand, nicknamed 'The man who cannot die' because of his daredevil acts of courage. Rookie documentary filmmaker, Akira (Anushka Sharma) wants to film the fearless bomb squad head and needless to say, the feisty kudi soon finds herself falling hook, line and sinker for our intense army man.
Unrequited love and loyalty, pangs of separation and characters with a propensity for sacrifice; these are all familiar tropes in Bollywood but Yash Chopra has his way of creating the perfect mise-en-scène and converting you into a believer. For die hard romantics, philosophies like 'There is a time for every love story' is sure to become a mantra, much like, 'Someone somewhere is made for you'.
At 47, Shah Rukh, still strikes the right notes as the typical romantic hero. Anushka essays her part with ease but Katrina still needs to work on getting the emotional parts right. Rahman's music too doesn't really grow on you after you have watched the film.
JTHJ doesn't quite stand out like some of Yash Chopra's previous works and the pace of the second half seems to drag a bit. It's just that when you watch the film, the canvas is picturesque, the characters are gorgeous and the story restores your faith in good, in love and in impossible relationships.
 NEW DELHI: Thirteen years after the mutilated body of Captain Saurabh Kalia of the 4 Jat Regiment was handed over to Indian authorities, his father Dr NK Kalia has approached the United Nation Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for justice as the family wants the ghastly act to be declared a war crime.

The petition has been filed by Dr NK Kalia, Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Flags of Honour Foundation.

The petitioners urged the UNHRC to ensure a full and independent investigation is opened immediately, justice is achieved and also to conduct enquires into this matter and takes appropriate steps to urge the Government of Pakistan to conduct an enquiry into the matter and ascertain those responsible for the torture and death of Captain Kalia.

Saurabh Kalia and his five men of the 4 Jat regiment were taken captive by Pakistani troops in the icy hills of Kargil and barbarically tortured for over 22 days.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, an active voice in urging the government to take up the issue with the UN Human Rights Council, said: "I am supporting this petition to UNHRC filed by Flags of Honour Foundation and Dr. N.K. Kalia to seek justice for the family of Capt Saurabh Kalia who was tortured and shot dead performing his duty - a clear case of war crime and violations of Geneva conventions.

This is about principles of natural justice and laws being violated against Indians anywhere in the world and about men and women in uniform who serve the nation and expect the nation to back them and take care of their families."

Saurabh's parents NK Kalia and Vijaya have been raising their voice against human rights violations and pleading with the government to take up the issue of war crimes at the international level.

Dr Kalia who has been running from pillar to post to fight for justice for his son, said: "This matter is about dignity and honour of Capt Saurabh Kalia and five soldiers and a national issue where country's prestige was slighted due to such heinous crimes which go unchallenged."

Saurabh Kalia of 4 Jat Regiment, who was the first army officer to report incursion by the Pakistani army on Indian soil, had along with five soldiers - Sepoys Arjun Ram, Bhanwar Lal Bagaria, Bhika Ram, Moola Ram and Naresh Singh - went for a routine patrol of the Bajrang Post in the Kaksar sector when they were taken captive by the Pakistani troops on May 15, 1999.
Sydney, Dec 11(ANI): A rare video featuring Sir Donald Bradman in action has been released, and the 13 minute black and white film titled 'Australians in Toronto' shows the cricket legend taking part in matches against Canadian teams in 1932.
Bradman was visiting Toronto as part of a 51-match tour organised by former Australian Test leg spinner Arthur Mailey, who had gathered a team of past and present cricketers including lower level grade players, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
The tour also acted as an unofficial honeymoon for Bradman and his new wife Jessie Menzies, who joined the touring party at Bradman's request, the paper added.
Captured by the Ontario Motion Picture Bureau, it is believed to be only one of two known surviving films depicting Bradman at play somewhere other than Australia or the British Isles, it said.
The National Film and Sound Archive, whose curator Simon Smith said the archive was happy to share the clip made at a time when "the spirit of cricket was as important as the result", released the film, the paper concluded. (ANI)
Brazilian prison inmate trying to escape from a jail outside the capital city of Brasilia got stuck in a hole in wall, prompting prison guards to snap these photographs. According to local newspapers, four Brazilian prisoners tried to escape from the Ceres jail by using a shower pipe to create a hole in the wall. The first inmate was able to squeeze through the hole, scale a 5-metre (16-foot) wall and escape but the second inmate got stuck and eventually had to call for help, media said. Guards called in fire-fighters who rescued the prisoner by using a hammer and drill. Amnesty International has criticized the Brazilian government for conditions in the country's prisons which are frequently overcrowded and subject to riots.

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