Black Eyed Peas planning new album?

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February 18, 2014

American hip hop band Black Eyed Peas are reportedly planning to come up with a new album.

Some of the bandmembersWill.I.Am, Apl.De.Ep, and Taboo are apparently yearning to hit the road again and perform at the concerts, reported Contactmusic.

“The Black Eyed Peas are all in agreement that they should put a new tour on for the fans – it`s not like they properly split when they parted for a hiatus in 2012,” a source said.

“This time around they`re going to head back into the studio and lay down a new album quickly and then hit the road once again,” the source added.

Will.I.Am, 38, is believed to have been instrumental in persuading the members to get back together.

However the rapper is reportedly finding it tough to get his fourth bandmemberFergie on board.

Mariah Carey’s twins to feature on new album

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Afternoon Voice

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February 18, 2014

After collaborating almost with everyone in the music industry, pop diva Mariah Carey is all set to team up with her twins in a new album.

The singer`s children, two-year-old Moroccan and Monroe, will make their recording debut on their superstar mother`s upcoming album, out in May, reported People magazine.

“It`s a song that I wrote with Bryan-Michael Cox and Jermaine Dupri. There`s a part that Jermaine says on the song that (the kids) loved, and Monroe started to say it.

“I kept having to get my iPhone and record her. So I have all these different takes of her saying things, singing things. Then I`d be like, `This is your new ad lib ?learn it!` I have to make it fun for her,” she said.

Carey isn`t the first singer to feature her child on a new track.Beyonce`s daughter Blue Ivy, 2, appeared with her on `Blue` in December.

Kim Kardashian ‘surprised’ by marriage proposal

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Afternoon Voice

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February 18, 2014

Socialite Kim Kardashian says rapper-fiancé Kanye West`s marriage proposal was the “surprise of a lifetime”.

The ‘Stronger’ hitmaker asked the brunette beauty to be his wife in front of all her loved ones at AT&T Park in San Francisco on her 33rd birthday and Kim, who has eight-month-old daughter North with Kanye, later admitted she had no idea what was going to happen.

“I`m, like, shaking. It is so crazy to me that this is all happening. Kanye really outdid himself. It feels like I`m in a dream. It`s just the most amazing experience. I am the biggest investigator, so the fact that I didn`t see one sign of this happening is the surprise of a lifetime,” contactmusic.com quoted Kim as saying.

Small time journalists joining AAP

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Afternoon Voice

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February 18, 2014

The AAP party which was formed with an intention to cleanse the political system of India has attracted people from all walks of life from business to the common man. Last month when AAP started holding a party registration drive across the country many people joined it. Even journalists too have jumped on the AAP party bandwagon. Journalists who already are aware about the political scenario prevailing in the country has joined the party for transforming the country by eliminating corruption. Small time-journalists are also joining the party. Many of them feel that AAP party can directly connect with the masses and resolve their problems. They are impressed with party’s style of functioning where the common man is given more importance and decisions are not taken in the closed-door meetings. People are already fed up of the corruption and want to take an initiative to curb this issue which is considered as a social evil.

In past, several eminent journalists have joined the Aam Aadmi Party. Few eyebrows were raised when Ashutosh Managing Editor of IBN 7 had joined the Aam Aadmi Party. Ashutosh is not the first journalist to shift to join the political party. Manish Sisodia, Shazia Ilmi and Rakhi Birla have earlier switched from media to AAP. Abhinandan Sekhri, the co-founder of eminent portal website Newslaundry and also a journalist joined AAP. Sisodia and Birla were ministers in the AAP government at Delhi while Ilmi is a member of the AAP national executive and Abhinandan sekhri is a committee member.

AV contacted several journalists who have joined AAP. Many journalists refused to comment about their decision to join the party as it may lead to conflict of interest.

Chandan Pawar a journalist employed with a weekly Magazine joined AAP and is keen to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election from Dhule Constituency.

When AV asked Chandan Pawar why many journalists are joining AAP he replied, “Being a journalist, I am aware that AAP is the only party which is honest. This party will transform the society hence I wanted to join it. AAP will eliminate corruption from our society. Other parties are only interested in indulging in politics while AAP’s objective is to work for the welfare of the people.”

Mayank Gandhi, AAP’s national executive member said, “Everyone is aware that AAP party works for the welfare of the common man. Even journalists are interested in joining the party. Hence we are inviting journalists and people working in other fields to join the party.”

Sources from the Maharashtra state Aam Aadmi Party on the condition of anonymity said, “Many journalists are in contact with AAP. They are keen to join the party.”

“Eminent journalist Punya Prasun Bajpai an eminent journalist is likely to join Aam Aadmi Party”, sources informed.

Raj Thackeray’s property to be attached to recover loss in Toll both vandalism?

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Afternoon Voice

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February 17, 2014

The Maharashtra government on Monday said that it is mulling the option of attaching MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s property to recover the cost of damage caused by party activists when they vandalize toll booths across the state.

Home Minister RR Patil said the government may recover the cost by attaching properties owned by Raj.

The MNS has been at loggerheads with the state government over the collection of toll tax across highways in the state.

MNS workers had gone on the rampage, vandalising toll plazas in different parts of the state following party chief’s diktat not to pay the levy and “thrash” those who raise a voice against it.

Raj Thackeray topped up with a direct threat. He warned of “wreaking havoc” at houses of toll contractors who use force to collect the levy.

“I appeal to people of Maharashtra not to pay toll till the state government implements changes in the toll policy,” Raj told after meeting Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on the issue.

Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi alleged that MNS’s agitation against the road toll was stage-managed by both Raj Thackeray and the state government.

“Shiv Sena first raised the toll issue in Kolhapur. To nullify Sena’s agitation, Congress used Raj Thackeray. Congress does not want to win election on the strength of the work it has done. It wants to win by making false assurances to the minorities and fooling them,” the SP leader said in a press release.

Ready to expose Gadkari and his five more scams: Anjali Damania

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Afternoon Voice

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February 17, 2014

Maharashtra irrigation scam whistle-blower and AAP nominee Anjali Damania today said she is determined to take on BJP heavyweight Nitin Gadkari from Nagpur Lok Sabha constituency here, in order to keep exposing his corrupt ways and alleged involvement in many more scams.

“I was reluctant to fight a poll earlier because of my small kids but in the changing scenario, when AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal gave away his chair of Delhi Chief Minister to fight corruption in the country, how can I sit back home? Hence, I agreed to the party nomination,” said Damania.

“In 2011, I had exposed Gadkari’s nexus with NCP chief and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, and since then I have collected enough material to expose his five more scams. Now I am ready to face and fight him in the 2014 LS polls,” Damania said.
In her first full-fledged interview, Damania said she is aware that were will be a lot of mud-slinging (in the coming days) and therefore she is braced for a vicious campaign.

Damania, who blew the lid off the multi-crore irrigation scam, is now all set to root out corrupt leaders from politics.

“Our fight is against corruption and we want to bring a change and now is the time to begin and bring it,” she said.

“They (BJP) are accusing me of being an outsider (for Nagpur) but I belong to Maharashtra and India. When Rahul Gandhi can fight from Amethi constituency why can’t I fight from Nagpur,” she asked.

The 44-year-old RTI activist had accused the former BJP President of being hand-in glove with Sharad Pawar to suppress the alleged irregularities related to the irrigation projects in the state.

Damania had also alleged that when she approached Gadkari to seek help in filing a PIL in the scam, Gadkari refused to help.

“Now our goal is to clean the system, rout criminals and corrupt politicians from this country… For which AAP is likely to field 300 or more candidates in the forthcoming general elections,” she said.

Minor handicap girl raped in Thane

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Afternoon Voice

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February 17, 2014

A teenaged handicap girl was allegedly raped repeatedly by her neighbour for nearly a year in Jawahar locality, police said on Monday.

The incident came to light yesterday when the family of the deaf and dumb girl filed a complaint with the police after accused –Navshu Shankar Khuva–refused to marry the victim, who is in her seventh month of pregnancy, Deputy SP Pradeep Jadhav of Jawhar police station said.

Shankar befriended the 17-year-old girl last year and sexually abused her whenever she was alone at home, police said. When her pregnancy was revealed the accused agreed to marry her and both families reached an agreement.

However, he backed out later following which an offence was registered under various sections of the IPC against Shankar, who is now absconding.

Police have launched a man hunt to arrest the accused.

Denied Mumbai Police chief’s post, IPS officer Javed goes on leave

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Afternoon Voice

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February 17, 2014

There is huge controversy over the appointment of Indian Police Service office Rakesh Maria as Mumbai Police Commissioner. Ahmad Javed, a senior IPS officer, has gone on leave instead of taking charge as Director General, Home Guard.
Javed, who had called Maria’s appointed unjust and pointed out that he was the top contender for the post, handed over the charge to KL Bishnoi before proceeding on leave.
Javed had said that the delay in naming Mumbai Police Commissioner cost him the position that would have come to him automatically due to his seniority. Javed, who was holding the Additional Director General of police (law and order) post and promoted as the DG, said that had the decision been taken in April 2013 when former CP Satyapal Singh was due for promotion, he would have been the natural choice.
Meanwhile, Vinita Kamte, the wife of slain IPS officer Ashok Kamte who was killed by Pakistani terrorists during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, too lashed out at Maria.
Vinita Kamte told that she feared Maria would influence the investigation into lapses which led to her husband’s death during the 26/11 attacks. She had earlier alleged discrepancies in crucial call records of wireless conversations between the Police Control Room and Ashok Kamte’s van on the day of his death.
She said she feared Maria may not be transparent in the case. Earlier in 2009 she had questioned Maria’s claims that he did not direct Ashok Kamte to the Cama Hospital where he died.
Rakesh Maria had been in charge of the police control room at the time of the carnage in November 2008.

Congress, NCP may swap Raigad and Amravati seats

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Afternoon Voice

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February 17, 2014

Having finalised the 26:22 seat sharing formula, Congress and NCP in Maharashtra are likely to swap Raigad and Amravati Lok Sabha constituencies in the coming general elections.

NCP will most probably field Water Resources Minister Sunil Tatkare, a close aide of Ajit Pawar, from Raigad, while PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal will test waters from Nashik parliamentary seat, replacing his nephew Sameer. NCP will give the Amravati seat to Congress in return for Raigad.

NCP had proposed that as Congress was unable to wrest the Raigad seat from Shiv Sena for the three consecutive terms, it should be given a chance, sources said. Similarly, NCP could not win Amravati seat, which was unsuccessfully contested by Rajendra Gavai of RPI last time with its’s support.

However, Congress sources said that the swap was not yet finalised. NCP sources said party supremo and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar will meet ministers and office-bearers deputed to tour the 22 constituencies on Tuesday. “He will take stock of the political situation in the 22 constituencies and discuss finalisation of candidates. It is likely that both Congress and NCP will announce their list of candidates after February 21,” party sources added.

Home Minister R R Patil has toured the Maadha constituency and interacted with the local party leaders to discuss who would replace Sharad Pawar. Pawar has been elected to the Rajya Sabha and has announced quitting electoral politics. “The local unit of NCP is divided between senior leader Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil and Suresh Shinde, brother of local MLA Baban Shinde,” sources informed.

Despite the local unit in Satara demanding that senior leader Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar be given the ticket, it is likely that sitting MP Udayanraje Bhosale will be fielded again, sources added. After some delay, Congress and NCP decided to continue with 26:22 formula (26 for Congress and 22 for NCP) for the 48 seats in Maharashtra.

NCP has already said that it will not part with Kolhapur seat, and has decided to field Dhananjay Mahadik. The sitting MP, Sadashiv Mandlik, had contested as an independent after being denied ticket by NCP in 2009, and has since joined Congress.

Sources said Congress was not demanding Hingoli for Indian Youth Congress chief Rajiv Satav, as he had decided not to contest. Sitting NCP MPs Supriya Sule (Baramati), Padamsinh Patil (Osmanabad), Sanjay Dina Patil (Mumbai North East), Sanjeev Naik (Thane), Praful Patel (Gondia) will get tickets again.
Laxman Jagtap (Maval), Anand Paranjpye (Kalyan), Suryakanta Patil (Hingoli) have been finalised. Ministers Jaidutt Kshirsagar and Suresh Dhas are vying for the Beed Lok Sabha seat, against BJP leader Gopinath Munde.

High Court quashes case against Salman Khan; to impose costs on complainant

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Afternoon Voice

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February 17, 2014

In a relief to actor Salman Khan, the Bombay High Court on Monday quashed proceedings against him in a magistrate’s court on a private complaint seeking contempt action for posting court orders on his website concerning his criminal cases.

Allowing Salman’s petition for quashing the complaint, Justice Sadhana Jadhav said she was inclined to impose Rs 2,000 cost on the complainant, Hemant Patil, for wasting the time of the court as the case for contempt was not made out.

Salman’s lawyer Ravi Kadam argued that the complaint was frivolous and urged that costs should be imposed. However, the complainant’s lawyer Wajed Khan submitted that his client had moved the court against the actor in public interest.

Justice Jadhav observed that prima facie it appears that the complaint was filed to gain publicity in the media and hence the court was inclined to impose costs.

Salman’s lawyer pleaded that the 2002 hit-and-run case involving the actor had been committed to a sessions court for trial and hence the magistrate had no jurisdiction to issue notice to him on the contempt complaint.

Salman pleaded that he had created the website only to ensure that there was no incorrect reporting by the media.

The Bandra magistrate had issued notice to the actor on July 10, 2013, while hearing a complaint filed by Patil alleging contempt of court action against Salman for allegedly posting court proceedings on website–www.salmankhanfiles.com.

The complaint alleged that Salman was embroiled in legal cases including the 2002 hit-and-run case and said that by posting court matters on the website, the actor had committed contempt of court as the matters were sub judice.

Salman, however, pleaded that he had created a website only to ensure that there was no incorrect reporting by the media and that the website gave factual information about his cases and nothing beyond that. He said that no contempt had been committed by him.

The actor pleaded that the complaint and the summons issued to him may be quashed and set aside. He said the magistrate had not applied his mind on the complaint filed against him as he did not arrive at a prima facie conclusion that a case of contempt of court had been made out.