African dance fills stadium at World Cup opening
JOHANNESBURG: Hundreds of dancers filled Soccer City with the sights and sounds of Africa for the World Cup opening ceremony on Friday, representing the six nations on the continent competing in the tournament.
The stadium, the largest in Africa, buzzed with the sound of thousands of vuvuzela trumpets as five jets flew overhead, but the stands were only partially full as many fans battled gridlock traffic to reach the venue.
Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu danced in the stands, wrapped in a yellow and green scarf and beanie hat to support the Bafana Bafana national side in their later match against Mexico.
South Africa's first black president Nelson Mandela had been expected to attend, but he cancelled at the last minute following the tragic death of his 13-year-old great granddaughter in a car accident during the night.
But he delivered a videotape message spliced into one of the songs, welcoming the World Cup to South Africa and imploring fans "to overcome all adversaries".
A traditional African praise singer in animal skins opened the 40-minute show, as dancers lined up along the compass points indicating the eight other host cities around South Africa.
A giant dung beetle puppet pushed across the pitch an oversize version of the official World Cup football, as dancers then unfurled stretches of cloth to make a map of Africa, with footprints showing the migration of humankind across the continent.
South Africa's legendary trumpeter Hugh Masekela and American R-and-B star R Kelly headlined the event that included 1,500 performers showcasing music and dance from the six African countries participating in the tournament.
A baobab tree sculpted out of flags from the six nations sprouted out of centre field, giving a stage to Algerian pop star Khaled and Nigeria star Femi Kuti. The Cameroon national ballet performed as did Ghanaian band Osibisa.
R Kelly was joined by the Soweto Spiritual Singers to perform his hit "Sign of Victory", before the 32 competing teams were announced with cut-outs of their flags spinning on the field.
Rajiv Gandhi had no role in Anderson’s escape: Congress
NEW DELHI: The Congress party on Friday strongly rejected a former prime ministerial aide P C Alexander's indication that the then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi had helped Warren Anderson, the CEO of Union Carbide Corp in 1984, escape from the country within days of Bhopal gas tragedy.
Alexander reportedly stated that Gandhi and then Madhya Pradesh chief minister Arjun Singh were directly in touch with each other over the escape of Anderson from the country barely days after the world's biggest industrial disaster in Bhopal Dec 2-3, 1984.
Congress spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan said there "is nothing unusual" in a prime minister and a chief minister being in constant touch with each other.
She said the Group of Ministers for Bhopal gas tragedy would "gather all information and put it before the people".
The GoM is headed by home minister P. Chidambaram and includes law and justice minister M. Veerappa Moily, health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, minister for road transport and highways Kamal Nath, minister for chemicals and fertilisers M.K. Alagiri, minister for urban development Jaipal Reddy, science and technology minister Prithviraj Chauhan and minister of housing and tourism Kumari Selja.
Rouvanjit suicide case: NCPCR finds La Martiniere school guilty
KOLKATA: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has ruled that Rouvanjit Rawla was driven to suicide by La Martiniere -- Kolkata's top boy's school even as the West Bengal government said it can not step in.
The NCPCR concluded that corporal punishments were a norm at the school as alleged by Rouvanjit's parents. The commission is expected to submit a report in New Delhi.
According to Ashok Agarwal, a probe committee member, the environment at La Martiniere is not suitable for children.
Rouvanjit committed suicide on Febuary 12, 2010, by hanging himself. A class 8 student, Rouvanjit was forced to take this drastic step after months of humiliation, allegedly at the hands of his teachers.
Rouvanjit's family has filed a complaint against four teachers and principal Sunirmal Chakravarti, accusing them of misbehaving with their son and torturing him.
It has been four days since the complaint but no action has been taken yet.
The school has been sacking those who question the ways of the teaching staff. When two of the school board members sought an internal probe, they were removed from their post.
Meanwhile, a panel of National Commission for Minority Education also visited the school but could not meet anyone.
A panel member said that the school management was informed well in advance but there was no one to meet.
Maran close to striking Spice deal
Mumbai: Media magnate Kalanithi Maran is close to buying about 37 per cent equity in low cost carrier Spicejet at an estimated Rs 45 a share that would cost him about Rs 700 crore.
"They are in dialogue and may strike a deal in a day or two," a source close to the development said.
"If they (Maran) want to have majority stake in the company, they may have to spend a lot more than an estimated about Rs 700 crore for the stake of Bhupendra Kansagara and Wilbur Ross," the sources said, adding that a majority stake would necessitate an open offer.
This could entail an outgo of over Rs 1,000 crore in case an open offer for 20 per cent stake is made pursuant to acquisition of 37 per cent stake of promoters, the source said.
Spicejet closed the day three per cent lower at Rs 56.05 a share on BSE though trading sentiment was favourable and the BSE benchmark index Sensex improved 142 points to end at 17,064.95 points.
The carrier claims a market share of 13 per cent and operates 129 flights daily to 18 cities, with a fleet of 19 Boeing aircraft.
It plans to launch international flights, starting with services to neighbouring Bangladesh and Nepal from this month.
While Spicejet officials remained tight-lipped about the reports, some of which said that the deal has been clinched, its promoters including Bhupendra Kansagara could not be contacted despite several attempts.
On the other hand, top officials of Maran's Sun TV denied any knowledge of the development. Kalanithi or other promoters could not be contacted for comments.
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