News24 Bureau New Delhi:Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan faced flak from BJP leaders for his remarks on intolerance in the country, with the members of the saffron party linking his statement to a “deep political controversy”. Union minister Kiren Rijju said that Khan’s comment tarnish the image of the nation, while BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said that ‘Incredible India’ is a tolerant nation and one view does not change that, the Economic Timeswrote. BJP national spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain unleashed a counter attack on Khan saying, “Where will Aamir and his family go other than India? There is no other better country like India and no better neighbour than a Hindu for an Indian Muslim. What is the situation in Muslim countries and Europe. There is intolerance everywhere.” Aamir was however defended in equal measure by Congress and some other political parties, which said that the government should not brand its critics as unpatriotic and threaten them for “speaking the
truth”.

Shielding him from the attack, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said the government should instead of branding all those who question it and the Prime Minister as “unpatriotic, anti national or motivated” reach out to people to understand what’s disturbing them. “That’s the way to solve problems in India- not by bullying, threatening & abusing!” Gandhi said, a view that was shared by CPM leader Sitaram Yechury.

(25 Nov) Turkey and Russia have long been at loggerheads over the Syrian conflict, with Ankara seeking Assad’s overthrow while Moscow does everything to keep him in power. Ankara : NATO member Turkey shot down a Russian war plane on the Syrian border on Tuesday, an act President Vladimir Putin denounced as a “stab in the back” by “accomplices of terrorists” as tensions spiraled between the two rival players in the Syria war. The Russian Sukhoi Su-24 jet was shot down by Turkish F-16 fighter planes after it allegedly violated the country’s air space and ignored ‘ten warnings in the space of five minutes’, army officials said. The assertion was backed up by Turkey’s NATO ally the United States. However, Russia’s Ministry of Defence claims the jet was in Syrian airspace, and was shot down from the ground. Turkey has called an extraordinary meeting of NATO while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he had scrapped a planned trip to Turkey aimed at narrowing differences on the By
Syria conflict.

Turkish television pictures showed the Su-24 exploding and crashing in a ball of flames into a Syrian mountain and two pilots parachuting to the ground after ejecting. Their fate was uncertain, with reports that one had been killed. The incident was the first of its kind since Russia launched air strikes in Syria in September in support of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, causing concern in the West over a possible clash with US-led coalition planes also in the skies. Footage reportedly filmed by rebels in Syria’s Turko-men Mountains, an area which has been the cause of recent tensions between Turkey and Russia, shows local fighters cheer as they uncover the body of one of the Russian pilots. The men can be seen surrounding the corpse of the pilot, wearing Russian military fatigues, shouting ‘Allahu Akbar.’ Putin branded the shooting down of the aircraft as a “stab in the back by accomplices of terrorists”. He said oil from jihadist-controlled territory was being exported through Turkey while funds were flowing back, and warned: “The tragic event will have serious consequences for Russian-Turkish relations.” Putin said the plane fell in Syrian territory four km from the border and “did not in any way threaten Turkey”. The Turkish army said the downing took place over the Hatay province on the border with Syria. “The plane violated Turkish air space 10 times in five minutes despite warnings,” it said in a statement, adding that it was shot down “according to the rules of engagement”. Its version was backed up by the US military which said Turkish pilots had issued 10 warnings without response. Russia summoned the Turkish military attache in Moscow while Ankara summoned Moscow’s charge d’affaires to the foreign ministry. “Everyone must know that it is our international right and national duty to take any measure against whoever violates our air or land borders,” Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said.

The incident came as Russian and Syrian jets are waging a heavy bombing campaign against targets in northern Syria while the US-led coalition continues its own air strikes. Turkey has expressed anger at the operation, saying it is aimed at buttressing the Syrian regime and has displaced thousands of Turkmen Syrians, an ethnic minority in the area and strong allies of Ankara. Russia however insists its strikes are aimed against Islamic State jihadists. European Union President Donald Tusk warned of a “dangerous moment”, saying “all should remain cool headed and calm.” Turkey and Russia have long been at loggerheads over the Syrian conflict, with Ankara seeking Assad’s overthrow while Moscow does everything to keep him in power. The Turkish military in October also shot down a Russian-made drone that had entered its airspace. But Moscow denied the drone belonged to its forces. The shoot down occurred as Russia and the West were slowly edging toward some manner of understanding to unite forces to confront the Islamic State in the wake of the bloody terrorist attacks in Paris and the downing of a Russian charter flight over Egypt that combined killed 354 people. There is a lot of oil coming to Turkey from ISIS territory. And some of these military groups get their financing from there. And now they stab us in the back; they hit our planes that are fighting terrorism.

(25 Nov) On early hours of Wednesday, a group of terrorists attacked an army post at Tangdhar near LoC in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district. More than 3 militants, and they are most probably fidayeens -Ajaz Ahmed,SSP Kupwara. . An army officer and a civilian killed in the operation. The official said it was not yet clear whether the militants were part of infiltrating group. “That is a matter of investigation. We can comment on it only after the operation is over,” he added. Tangdhar sector is close to the LoC in Kupwara district and has been used as an infiltration route in the past.

The official said the militants seem to be heavily armed as they used small fire arms and UBGLs to carry out the attack. Army official said, there was a brief lull before the militants opened fire again, triggering off a gunbattle, which was going on till last reports came in. No casualties have been reported so far. “There was a stand off fire from Kalsuri Ridge (in Tangdhar sector) towards an army camp this morning,” an army official said. Militants attacked using small arms and under barrel grenade launchers. More reinforcements have been sent towards the area. Officials said that two to three militants attacked an army camp of 1/3 GR at Kalsuri. A senior officer said some militants have been seen near the camp. Army’s Quick Action Team Responded the attack. Unidentified militants attacked an army camp near the Line of Control in Tanghdar in Kupwara sector. Heavy firing and blasts are going near the camp.

Los Angeles, Nov 23: Singer Taylor Swift, who garnered appreciation this year for her fifth studio album “1989”, clinched key honours at the American Music Awards 2015 by winning three awards. She won the Song of the Year, Favorite Pop/Rock Album and Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist trophies. Hosted by singer-actress Jennifer Lopez, the awards show took place here at the Microsoft Theatre on Sunday, reports variety.com. The other big winner of the night was British boyband One Direction, which received the trophy for Artist of the Year and the Favourite Duo or Group – Pop/Rock. While the Favourite Male Artist – Soul/R&B went to singer The Weeknd, singer Nicki Minaj took home the trophy for Favourite Artist – Rap/Hip-Hop.

The Favourite Artist – Alternative Rock honour was taken by American rock band Fall Out Boy. Music producer Skrillex and DJ Diplo’s single “Where are u now”, featuring singer Justin Bieber, won the award for the best Collaboration of the Year,unleashed by T-Mobile. Singers Carrie Underwood and Ariana Grande took home the awards for the Favourite Female Artist – Country and the Favourite Female Artist – Pop/Rock. Also, Sam Hunt was named New Artist of the Year; Minaj’s album “The Pinkprint” won the Favourite Album – Rap/Hip-Hop; filmmaker Elizabeth Banks’s 2015 musical comedy film “Pitch Perfect 2” won the Top Soundtrack award; singer Luke Bryan won for Favourite Male Artist – Country; and The Weeknd’s “Beauty Behind the Madness” album was named Favourite Album – Soul/R&B. British singer Ed Sheeran clinched the trophy for Favourite Male Artist – Pop/Rock, while, singer Rihanna won the Favourite Female Artist – Soul/R&B award. Also amongst the winners were Enrique Iglesias and Calvin Harris, who won Favourite Artist – Latin and Favourite Artist – Electronic Dance Music (EDM).