Gossip

French rapper MHD has been given a 12-year jail term for the murder of a young man in Paris in 2018.

A court in the capital found the 29-year-old MHD, real name Mohamed Sylla, guilty of involvement in the gang-related killing of Loic K, 23.

The victim was knocked down by MHD’s Mercedes, then beaten and stabbed to death by a crowd of about 12 people.

MHD, who is known for blending trap and West African music to get “Afro trap”, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

“From the beginning, I have maintained my innocence in this case and I will continue to maintain my innocence,” he told the packed court in Paris, AFP news agency reports.

He denied being at the scene of the murder, arguing that the case against him was based on rumours.

However, a local resident filmed the incident in the summer of 2018 from his window, and the car was quickly identified as belonging to MHD.

Other witnesses identified him by his haircut and a jumper, AFP reports.

Five of MHD’s co-defendants were also given prison terms ranging between 10 and 18 years.

Another three were acquitted.

It was not immediately known if those sentenced to jail were planning to appeal.

MHD, who has a huge following on social media, was working as a pizza delivery boy in Paris before turning to music professionally.

Five years ago, he spoke to BBC’s What’s New? programme about how he came up with the idea of “Afro trap”.

Source: BBC --Agencies

Amidst protests of trade unions, Sri Lanka Telecom is hurriedly embarking on a vendor financing project aimed at further extending the previous Rajapaksa regime’s accelerated FTTH programme, the country’s first fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband service initiative.

The vendor financing agreement is to be signed (or has been already signed as per certain reports) with international vendor firms Huawei, ZTE and Nokia (Alcatel), the former handlers of the FTTH programme at a financing cost of Rs 69 billion.

This money should have to be repaid by SLT in three years in US$ terms with accumulated inters and dollar depreciation under the vendor financing agreement, Telecommunication Engineers Union (TEU) said.

It has been planned to provide 160,000 fibre loops under this FTTH extension programme, TEU revealed. ,

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) is now initiating long term financial agreements to implement artificially built-up or massive scale projects with investments running up to billions of rupees in a hurry on the eve of upcoming presidential elections, SLT engineers alleged.

This money spending spree of vendor financing initiatives will impact the company bottom line and will eventually lead towards curtailing benefits of employees, Telecommunication Engineers Union (TEU) said.

SLT trade unions will lodge a complaint at the National Election Commission urging them to inquire into this matter and suspend vendor financing Projects which will be used as cover up for siphoning money to sponsor fvourite candidate of SLT top management.  

In a letter of protest, TEU stated that at a time of elections where the people of the country including the pubic and private sectors are adopting a wait and see stance, SLT is venturing into mega projects unrealistically.

The TEU has sent this letter to the President, Prime Minister, Finance Minister and other relevant authorities focusing their attention on money spending attempts of the top management of the company.

TEU has urged the current SLT board of directors to suspend unrealistic vendor financing initiatives aimed at siphoning money for election propaganda activities and leave the decision for funding of mega projects to a new board which will be appointed after elections following the normal procedure.

Another demand of TEU is to desist from entering into any agreements on any vendor financing projects or long term investments during the presidential election period.

Mumbai: Tunisha Sharma, a television actor, today allegedly died by suicide on the set of a serial in Vasai in Maharashtra’s Palghar district, and her co-actor, Sheezan Mohammed Khan, has been charged with abetting the suicide.

The 20-year-old went to the washroom on the set and did not return for a long time. When the door was broken down, she was found hanging inside. People on the set took the actor to a hospital, where she was declared dead.

A police team was at the spot, said senior inspector Kailash Barve of Waliv police station. While those on the set say that Tunisha Sharma died by suicide, cops said that they are probing all angles.

The actor and her co-star, who’s been booked on her mother’s complaint, played main roles in the show ‘Ali Baba: Dastaan-E-Kabul’, at the sets of which she was found hanging.

She got into acting as a child actor in the Sony TV show ‘Maharana Pratap’, where she played the role of Chand Kanwar. Since then, she featured in several shows and Bollywood movies, most prominently playing childhood roles of Katrina Kaif’s characters.

Tunisha Sharma was active on Instagram hours before her death. She posted a photo from the shoot set, and captioned it “Those who are driven by their Passion Doesn’t stop.” (NDTV)

Ending weeks of speculation, Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan on Sunday tied the knot with his "spiritual guide", his party confirmed. This is Imran Khan's third marriage.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson Fawad Chaudhary said party chief Khan married Bushra Maneka, a "respected Pir" (faith healer) in a simple ceremony in Lahore yesterday.

65-year-old Khan's previous two marriages ended in divorce. His first marriage was with Jemima Goldsmith, daughter of a British billionaire, in 1995, which lasted nine years. Khan has two sons from her.

His second marriage with TV anchor Reham Khan in 2015 ended after a brief 10 months.

Source : DNA

Veteran Sri Lankan actress Liyoni Kothalawala has passed away at the age of 78, family sources confirmed today.

A well known name in Sri Lankan cinema and television industry, she had starred in a number of popular films, teledramas as well as stage dramas.

KFC in Sri Lanka has come under fire after a customer posted a video on social media this week of an exchange between him and the branch manager of a KFC outlet regarding the quality of the meal served to him. According to the customer, the meat despite cooked on the outside was found to be raw. He also accused the store manager of speaking to him in an inappropriate manner. The incident is reported to have taken place at the KFC Kottawa outlet.

However, releasing a statement today KFC Sri Lanka claimed that the chicken served is cooked in an automated cooking system and that it appeared to its staff members that it was cooked to requisite standards. The statement also said it regretted that its staff were treated in a derogatory manner.

Opinion on social media has been divided with some accusing KFC of providing low-quality meals while others accused the customer of behaving in a rude manner.

 Video

Sri Lankan athlete and the national women’s 400m hurdles champion Kaushalya Madushani has died at the age of 25.

A resident of Dummalasuriya in Kuliyapitiya, she was reportedly found dead at her home while Kuliyapitiya Police said that the death is believed to be a suicide.

The youth athlete, who has represented Sri Lanka at several international athletic championships and won medals, has also won several titles at national level and at junior level.

Madushani had clinched the silver medal in the 400m Hurdles event at the 2019 South Asian Games in Nepal while she was also part of the Sri Lanka women’s 400m relay team at the 13th South Asian Games.

She had won silver in 400m hurdles at the 2014 Asian Junior Championships and bronze at the 2016 South Asian Games.

Hashini Amendra, the wife of veteran singer Victor Ratnayake, was arrested by the Tangalle Police this morning for the alleged misappropriation of Rs. 1.28 million worth of jewellery belonging to a state bank.

Police said the manager of the said state bank had lodged a complaint with the police against the 32-year-old for the crime she allegedly committed during her time as an employee of the pawning section of the bank during 2012- 2016.

The Tangalle Police arrested the suspect, a resident of Ambagahawatta Mawata in Athurugiriya when she arrived at the police station this morning.

Police said she will be charged under the Public Properties Act and is to be produced before the Tangalle Magistrate.

Source: Daily Mirror

Veteran actor Sarath Chandrasiri remains in serious condition following a brain hemorrhage.

He is under intensive care at Colombo National Hospital, a hospital spokesman said.

His colleague Sriyantha Mendis refuted reports that Chandrasiri has died in hospital.

Veteran singer Victor Ratnayake is said to have sent legal notice recently to his sons Jayantha and Lelum. According to Jayantha Rathnayake who had revealed the information to a weekend newspaper the notice has now barred the duo from performing any songs of their father during concerts or other events.

A rift was created between them recently due to a family spat over the veteran singer remarrying at the age of 75.

“I don't think the ban will affect our careers,” he said adding that they had only sung their father's songs at certain events at the request of audience members. “We have not made a living out of our father's songs” he added.

According to Jayantha, however, his financial state has taken a major hit due to the rift between him and his father. While earlier he directed music at all concerts attended by Victor Rathnayake, the family feud meant that he was no longer hired as the music director at these events. “For 11 months I have not directed music at a concert,” he said.

Gimhani Perera of Sri Lankan -origin has won the ‘Miss Teen International Botswana 2021’ pageant that was held in Botswana.

The 17-year-old had won the pageant that was held yesterday (19) after representing her district Pilikwe.

She was announced as the winner from among 14 finalists who were chosen from 42 contestants who had competed in the preliminary rounds of the event.

Gimhani Perera will next represent Botswana in an international-level pageant to be held in India shortly. (NewsWire)

Despite a crackdown on discriminatory policies against local travellers certain tourism-related establishments continue to adhere to a ‘no locals’ policy. One such offender according to a post on a social media site has been identified as ‘Central Beach Inn’ located in Mirissa.

The post on the page claims the establishment had denied serving a local living in Australia when he visited the restaurant with him, family. Though the original post explaining the incident appears to be over two years ago sources claim the policy is still in place with only foreign tourists being able to avail of its facilities and services.

A Sri Lanka Tourism Board official, when questioned, claimed that the issue will be looked into and necessary action will be taken in this regard.