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Johnson on set with prop cocktail
Scouts often cruise the streets of Mumbai looking for westerners to work as extras in Bollywood films. I ended up dancing on the set of a movie within a day of landing in India as a backpacker, says Howard Johnson.
Some people spend their lives seeking their 15 minutes of fame. But as I experienced in India, sometimes it comes looking for you.
I’d just arrived in Mumbai after a flight from Bangladesh. A little travel weary I set about looking for a hotel on the streets of Colaba, the backpacker district.
Walking past the Salvation Army hostel a shadowy figure stood in a doorway called out to me: “Hey, want to be in a Bollywood movie?”
I’d read in my guide book that scouts trawl the area looking for westerners to work as extras, but I hadn’t expected to be asked minutes after my arrival.
The man was Amjad Khan, a casting agent for the film industry. He said all I’d have to do was dance a little behind the film’s main actors.
If I was interested we’d start the next day at 8am. I’d be driven to the studios, fed, dressed and returned to Colaba in the evening. And I would be paid for my efforts.
Next morning I dragged myself to the meeting point. Stood in front of MacDonald’s on Colaba Causeway were a ragtag bunch of backpackers complete with dreadlocks, nose piercings, fisherman pants and tattoos. I had expected to see chiselled-jawed “foreign models”.
My nine co-actors seemed the most unlikely types to swing and sway their hips behind the Bollywood stars. Amjad didn’t seem to care though and set off for the film studios.
Private detective
Just under an hour later we arrived at the Filmistan Studios in Goregaon, central Mumbai. Despite being located on a dreary non-descript road, they have an illustrious 60-year-old history. After a quick breakfast of curried vegetables we headed off to get our costumes.
In a small, damp-smelling shed I was given a white nylon suit, black shirt, white tie and black shoes – none of which were clean.
Lead actor Akshay Kumar is a Bollywood star
Ignoring the sartorial set-back I headed outside to join the others. A remarkable transformation had taken place. They had been scrubbed up and now resembled a group of suave party-goers.
As we headed to the film set there was speculation over what the film was all about. Rumours were circulating that we would be dancing in a 1970s night club.
When we finally arrived on set, in front of us was a vast mock up of an ice-white night club. Far from the retro, it looked like something from the film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
On the wall was a huge clock. Bell boys and waiters wandered around among a huge team of Indian dancers. The camera crew were busy setting up our first shot. A member of the production crew handed us a glass of neon-blue liquid. “Don’t drink it,” he said.
Organised chaos
Minutes later an assistant director barked orders at us. We were moved millimetre by millimetre to be correctly placed in the camera frame.
Fellow backpacker extras scrubbed up well
Finally, when everything was set, superstar Akshay Kumar strode onto the set. The local extras excitedly whispered among themselves.
Having lived in India for a few months I knew a bit about Bollywood’s big names. Unfortunately, the wow factor was lost on the western extras, as none of the others knew who he was.
Moments later director Anees Bazmee ambled onto the set and shouted through his megaphone: “Standby!” Generic pop music began to play. The cameras started to roll.
We nervously jigged around on the spot behind Kumar. Ten seconds later the music was cut. A minute later we were all moved back into place and the process began again. The pattern of the day was set.
Wad of notes
Word was we were on the set of a film called Thank You, a comedy set in Canada and about three philandering husbands. Kumar played a private detective trying to expose the wicked ways of one of the men.
As afternoon wore on the combination of bright lights, nylon suit and non-stop dancing left me thirsty. I stared at my blue drink wondering why I couldn’t take a sip. Apparently, it was local tap water mixed with food dye.
We were warned not to drink the blue cocktails
“We need water,” shouted one of the extras. A runner was dispatched to get refreshments. We got a single bottle of mineral water to share among us.
At 9pm the film crew called it a day. After returning our costumes, we boarded the minibus taking us back to our hotels.
One of Amjad’s colleagues pulled out a wad of notes and handed us 500 rupees each. For a 13-hour day we’d been paid just under £7, but the money really wasn’t important. We felt we truly knew what it was like to be a “bollystar”, if only for one day.
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Fuel supplies in the Libyan city of Misrata have been targeted by government forces, risking aid supplies and its only desalination plant.
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Chief Electoral Officer Graham Shields has defended the slow pace of counting saying it was important to be ‘accurate’
The DUP and Sinn Fein look set to remain the biggest parties in the NI assembly as counting resumes with two thirds of the seats still to be filled.
Counters worked until 0300 BST on Saturday to finish counts at Newry and Armagh and Upper Bann. Eleven of the twelve MLAs retained their seats.
Jo-Anne Dobson of the UUP is the new face in Upper Bann.
There are cliffhanger races shaping up for all the parties across Northern Ireland.
Final results will not be in until later. Trends suggest a strong showing for the DUP, Sinn Fein and Alliance.
The overall outcome is less certain for the Ulster Unionists and SDLP.
In West Tyrone, the DUP has requested a recount. The issue centres on the six votes separating Ross Hussey, UUP and the DUP’s Alan Bresland.
In the same constituency, Sinn Fein is locked in a battle with the SDLP. It has also narrowed the gap in Foyle.
But there was disappointment for the party in Upper Bann and Mid Ulster.
The DUP has strong potential for gains in Lagan Valley, South Antrim, East Antrim and North Belfast. There is also a possibility for a gain in South Belfast.
Alliance is going to win a second seat in East Belfast and is fighting for another gain in North Down.
So far, Ulster Unionist deputy leader John McCallister is clinging on in South Down and so is his Strangford colleague David mcNarry.
TUV leader Jim Allister is battling it out with the Ulster Unionists for a seat in North Antrim.
In Newry and Armagh, Sinn Fein’s Conor Murphy topped the poll. Dominic Bradley, SDLP and Ulster Unionist Danny Kennedy were also elected in the first round.
Cathal Boylan, SF, William Irwin, DUP and Mickey Brady SF retained their seats.
In Upper Bann, Sinn Fein’s John O’Dowd was elected with 6,649 first preference votes, followed by Sydney Anderson and Stephen Moutray, DUP. In the seventh round Jo- Anne Dobson, UUP, Dolores Kelly, SDLP, and Sam Gardiner, UUP, were all elected below quota.
Official figures showed the turnout percentage to be well down on previous polls.
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The SNP wants to hold a referendum towards the end of the five-year parliamentary term
The UK government will not move to block a referendum on Scottish independence, the Secretary of State for Scotland has said.
Liberal Democrat MP Michael Moore said there would not be constitutional questions raised about the rights or wrongs of holding a referendum.
The newly-elected majority SNP Scottish government intends to bring forward a referendum later in its five-year term.
The Conservatives, Labour and Lib Dems all oppose independence.
Mr Moore said: “As a UK government we will not be putting obstacles in the way of any referendum.
“When we get to the point of a referendum actually taking place, as a Liberal Democrat, I will obviously campaign against it.”
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Murdo Fraser said the UK government should give “very serious consideration” to launching its own referendum on the future of the UK constitution to prevent a “damaging” long-running debate.
However, Mr Moore said: “We will not be bringing forward a referendum ourselves, it’s entirely a matter for the Scottish government.”
Analysis
It’s all very well for the UK government to say it won’t stand in the way of an independence referendum.
But the bottom line is this is happening, whether the coalition likes it or not.
The minority SNP government in the last parliament tried to win support for a Referendum Bill at Holyrood – even offering an olive branch to include an extra question on more powers for Scotland – but the parties didn’t go for it and, in the end, the plan was dropped.
But the SNP will shortly be in majority government. That means no more bartering – the party’s MSPs will simply vote through the bill, no matter which way Labour, the Lib Dems and Tories go.
The opposition parties say the SNP has played down the issue, so as not to scare the horses.
And a vote for the SNP doesn’t necessarily mean a vote for independence.
But, the SNP, in the wake of its stunning and decisive election win, is still committed to the vision of a free and just Scotland.
The UK government would become involved in the event of a referendum “Yes” vote.
Such a result would not mean automatic independence, but a mandate from the people would provide a rock-solid platform on which to negotiate a settlement with Westminster – albeit one it would be unable to refuse.
He added: “We’re not going to be raising any constitutional questions about the rights or wrongs of holding a referendum on this particular issue.
“How it’s actually structured will need to comply with the law to avoid challenge.”
Mr Moore also ruled out inserting clauses such as the “40% rule” in the 1979 independence referendum, which required 40% of the total Scottish electorate to vote yes.
He said: “That won’t be for us to do that. It will be for the people of Scotland to have that argument.
“It’s a matter for the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish government to determine.”
Turning to his own party, Mr Moore said the Scottish Lib Dems should not allow disquiet over the coalition, election defeats in Holyrood and English local authorities, the failure of their AV referendum, and the resignation of Scottish leader Tavish Scott to create a rift with the UK party.
He also said it was “absolutely” appropriate for him to continue as Secretary of State for Scotland despite the rejection of his party north of the border.
Mr Moore is steering the Scotland Bill through Westminster with the aim of giving Scotland greater financial accountability.
He confirmed Holyrood would not be able to alter the bill once it comes back from the Lords, but acknowledged they could refuse legislative consent.
On being returned to power on a landslide, the SNP was quick to indicate it wants an urgent reassessment of the Scotland Bill to increase financial powers for Scotland.
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By chance, a friend spotted a glow in Darcey’s right eye which led to a cancer diagnosis
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Children’s cancer campaigners want a section of the personal child health record – or ‘little red book’ – rewritten to alert new parents to the dangers of an unusual form of eye cancer.
Retinoblastoma, which affects the retina of children aged under five, can result in the eye being removed if there is any delay in treating it.
Spotting the presence of a tumour is key – and sometimes all it takes is a photograph.
The most common sign of retinoblastoma is a white glow in the pupil of the eye, which can look like a ‘cat’s eye’ in a photograph, especially when there is a ‘red eye’ look in the other eye.
The ‘glow’ is caused by the light reflecting off the tumour at the back of the baby’s eye.
Ali Fryer, mother of Darcey, has the vigilance of a friend to thank for her daughter’s diagnosis in February when she was six months old.
“An ex piano pupil of mine saw a tiny glow in Darcey’s right eye and suggested I take her to the doctor. I took her there the next morning and our GP sent us straight to eye casualty. It was confirmed that afternoon.”
Later, in an effort to thank Ruthie for what she did, Ali asked her to be Darcey’s godmother.
Ali had never heard of the condition before and she and her husband had no idea what the future would hold for their daughter. It was a confusing and distressing time.
“Had the tumour been half a degree bigger, her eye would have been removed…”
Ali Fryer Darcey’s mother
Chemotherapy at Great Ormond Street Hospital followed and Darcey has regular examinations under anaesthetic at the Royal London Hospital to check on her progress.
“Had the tumour been half a degree bigger at diagnosis, her eye would have been removed immediately.
“At the moment there’s a chance that six months of chemo might save it.”
Darcey has around a 50% chance of keeping her right eye. The danger is that a tumour could develop in her other eye too – but this is very rare.
Meanwhile, the chemotherapy treatment is shrinking the tumour and Darcey is coping well with the few side-effects.
An illustration of how retinoblastoma could look in a young baby’s eye
“We are prescribed anti-sickness drugs, a lactulose solution to combat constipation, a lovely thick cream for drying skin and as for hair loss – well, she only had a few strands really,” Ali says.
The family have community nurses visiting twice a week, monitoring her chemotherapy and carrying out blood tests.
“They are brilliant,” says Ali. “They could not make it easier for us.”
Retinoblastoma affects one in every 20,000 babies born each year and represents 3% of childhood cancers in the UK.
The good news is that 98% of children treated will survive, but because most cases are not picked up early enough about 80% of children affected will have an eye removed.
Ashwin Reddy, children’s eye surgeon and retinoblastoma expert at The Royal London Hospital, says the tumour can kill.
“Spotting the white reflex or white glow in the eye can make a vital difference because the tumour won’t be so advanced and we might not have to remove the eye.
“We don’t want to panic parents but they can prevent the risk of death by getting their child seen earlier.”
The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust are leading the push to make parents more aware of the signs and symptoms of the disease – and they are targeting the ‘little red book’ and Birth to Five book, both issued to new parents.
“The information on childhood eye cancer provided by the NHS for parents is pretty sketchy.”
Julie Firth Childhood Eye Cancer Trust
Julie Firth, from the cancer trust, says: “The information on childhood eye cancer provided by the NHS for parents is pretty sketchy and non-existent in some places.
“We feel the NHS has a duty to inform parents about the disease to avoid a delay in diagnosis.”
While chemotherapy is the standard treatment for retinoblastoma, laser therapy and radiotherapy can also be tried.
A relatively new type of chemotherapy in which the drugs are delivered directly to the eye through an artery in the leg avoids the normal complications of chemotherapy given via a central intravenous line.
But there is still no guarantee that it will be successful.
Children who are unfortunate to have their eye surgically removed can have an artificial eye fitted about six weeks after the operation.
Ali is adamant that anyone can spot the signs of retinoblastoma: “If you see something unusual about a baby or a young child’s eye, please take it to the doctor.
“It could well be nothing, and you gain peace of mind. Or it could be something which needs treatment – and if it’s retinoblastoma, you may save your child’s eyes, if not their life.”
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Chief Electoral Officer Graham Shields has defended the slow pace of counting saying it was important to be ‘accurate’
The DUP and Sinn Fein look set to remain the biggest parties in the NI assembly as counting resumes with two thirds of the seats still to be filled.
Counters worked until 0300 BST on Saturday to finish counts at Newry and Armagh and Upper Bann. Eleven of the twelve MLAs retained their seats.
Jo-Anne Dobson of the UUP is the new face in Upper Bann.
There are cliffhanger races shaping up for all the parties across Northern Ireland.
Final results will not be in until later. Trends suggest a strong showing for the DUP, Sinn Fein and Alliance.
The overall outcome is less certain for the Ulster Unionists and SDLP.
In West Tyrone, the DUP has requested a recount. The issue centres on the six votes separating Ross Hussey, UUP and the DUP’s Alan Bresland.
In the same constituency, Sinn Fein is locked in a battle with the SDLP. It has also narrowed the gap in Foyle.
But there was disappointment for the party in Upper Bann and Mid Ulster.
The DUP has strong potential for gains in Lagan Valley, South Antrim, East Antrim and North Belfast. There is also a possibility for a gain in South Belfast.
Alliance is going to win a second seat in East Belfast and is fighting for another gain in North Down.
So far, Ulster Unionist deputy leader John McCallister is clinging on in South Down and so is his Strangford colleague David mcNarry.
TUV leader Jim Allister is battling it out with the Ulster Unionists for a seat in North Antrim.
In Newry and Armagh, Sinn Fein’s Conor Murphy topped the poll. Dominic Bradley, SDLP and Ulster Unionist Danny Kennedy were also elected in the first round.
Cathal Boylan, SF, William Irwin, DUP and Mickey Brady SF retained their seats.
In Upper Bann, Sinn Fein’s John O’Dowd was elected with 6,649 first preference votes, followed by Sydney Anderson and Stephen Moutray, DUP. In the seventh round Jo- Anne Dobson, UUP, Dolores Kelly, SDLP, and Sam Gardiner, UUP, were all elected below quota.
Official figures showed the turnout percentage to be well down on previous polls.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
A man has been stabbed to death after being asked for help when fighting broke out at a neighbour’s house party.
The 50-year-old was attacked by a group of about five men and women as he approached the house in Brooklyn Road, Cleckheaton, shortly after midnight.
He suffered stab wounds to his back and died later at Dewsbury hospital.
Det Ch Insp Simon Bottomley, of West Yorkshire Police, said: “This was a vicious attack which resulted in a man losing his life.”
Police said the victim would be formally identified after a post-mortem examination which was due to take place later.
Det Ch Insp Bottomley said: “At this stage of the investigation we believe that, following some disorder at a house party, the victim had been on his way to help.
“As a result, he was set upon by what we believe to be a group of five men and women and subsequently received stab wounds to his back.
“There were a lot of people in the street at the time of this attack and I urge them or anyone else who can assist us with this inquiry to contact police.”
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
An armed attack is under way in Afghanistan against the office of the governor of southern Kandahar province.
Gunmen based in a shopping mall in Kandahar city are exchanging fire with security forces in governor Tooryalai Wesa’s compound in Kadahar city.
Explosions have been heard in the city, one near the compound.
The Taliban insurgency says it is behind the assault, with spokesman Yusuf Ahmadi claiming “heavy casualties have been inflicted on the enemy”.
A witness quoted by Reuters news agency said he could see black smoke rising near Mr Wesa’s compound. It was not immediately clear whether the governor was inside.
Mr Wesa’s spokesman, Zalmai Ayoubi, told Reuters from inside the compound: “The Taliban are attacking the governor’s compound and the fighting is still ongoing. Three civilians in the compound have been wounded but the governor’s staff are all fine.”
The Taliban announced the start of their “spring offensive” last week, saying they would increase attacks against foreign troops and Afghan government officials.
Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban and a hotbed of the insurgency, has been the focus of military operations by the Western-backed government over the past year.
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The SNP’s 69 MSPs have gathered for the first time at the Scottish Parliament
The SNP has urged the prime minister to improve plans on increasing Scotland’s financial powers, after the party’s landslide victory in the Scottish elections.
The Nationalists took 69 of the 129 seats to give them the parliaments first working majority.
SNP finance spokesman John Swinney said the result increased pressure to strengthen the Scotland Bill.
The bill is designed to create greater financial accountability at Holyrood.
Aside from indicating it will bring forward a referendum on independence in the second half of the parliament, the SNP has set a goal of the Scottish Parlaiment moving to full fiscal autonomy in the debate over increased powers for Holyrood.
The SNP’s call came as the party gathered outside the Scottish Parliament to celebrate victory at the polls.
Mr Swinney, the Nationalist’s finance spokesman, told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme: “The first minister made clear yesterday his intention to discuss with the prime minister the importance of recognising the difference that yesterday’s result produces for Scotland.
Alex Salmond said further economic powers were necessary for Scotland’s recovery
“The difference is the people of Scotland have made it very clear that they want to see progress made on the questions of economic opportunity in Scotland, and on constitutional progress.
“The short-term opportunity to do that is by improving and strengthening the Scotland Bill, currently going through the UK parliament, and that is the message that the first minister gave to the prime minister.”
The Scotland Bill is being considered after the Calman Commission examined the progress of devolution.
Under the Bill, the Scottish Parliament will take charge of more of the income tax raised in Scotland.
The new powers would be combined with a cut in the block grant, currently about £31bn, which Scotland receives from the UK government.
But the SNP wants to reinforce the bill to give it more economic teeth.
Mr Swinney said the prime minister and the UK government have to reassess the legislation if they are serious about respecting the Scottish government and the Scottish people.
Mr Swinney, who led the SNP between 2000 and 2004, also rejected suggestions that Westminster could interfere with an independence referendum in Scotland.
He said: “We can legislate for there to be a referendum on independence within Scotland, and we will do that in the latter part of the parliament.
“But the early priority is to get the necessary economic and financial powers that will enable us to work our way out of the economic challenges that we face.”
A meeting of the SNP’s national executive committee is due to take place in Edinburgh as well as the first gathering of the party’s 69 newly elected MSPs.
The first meeting of the new parliamentary session will take place on Wednesday when members are sworn in.
Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat Tavish Scott quit as party leader, after his party slumped to just five seats.
He said: “Thursday’s Scottish general election result was disastrous and I must and do take responsibility for the verdict of the electorate.
“The party needs a new direction, new thinking and new leadership to win back the trust of the Scottish people.”
Mr Scott said his party’s involvement in the UK government coalition had damaged its Holyrood election chances.
Scottish National Party’s prioritiesReinforcing the powers of the Scotland Bill to give economic teeth to that legislationTo identify borrowing powers to keep the revival in the construction industry of Scotland movingTo identify the need to devolve corporation tax powers
Alex Salmond’s victory speechElsewhere, Scottish Conservative deputy leader Murdo Fraser called on Mr Salmond to launch an immediate independence referendum.
He said: “Nothing would be more damaging for Scotland than to have four or five years of a long running debate over whether we will be independent or not.”
Mr Fraser said the UK government should give “very serious consideration” to launching its own referendum on the UK’s constitutional future.
He said: “If Alex Salmond is feart to bring forward his referendum to the Scottish people now, perhaps that is something that should be done for him.”
Scottish Labour deputy leader Johann Lamont addressed the challenge to her party of choosing a new leader, now that Iain Gray plans to step down in the autumn, after the party was reduced to 37 MSPs.
She said: “Very often the world defines big hitters in whatever way but under pressure, with the challenges ahead, leadership will always emerge.
“But critically, although we will be diminished team, the first place to go will be to build the team itself and rebuild our confidence inside the parliament.”
Ms Lamont also suggested that she could be up for the job. She said: “I’m a potential leader because I’m deputy leader, but I’ve barely slept since Thursday so I’m not going make that decision now.”
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Australia reaches a deal for hundreds of asylum seekers to be processed in Malaysia, in a move heavily criticised by opposition politicians.
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The leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Tavish Scott, has resigned after his party’s “disastrous result” in Thursday’s Holyrood election.
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Peter Robinson returns to the top of the poll in east Belfast
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Tavish Scott’s party lost more than two-thirds of its seats on election night
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott has quit the post, after his party’s disastrous night at the polls in the Scottish Parliament election.
The number of Lib Dem MSPs dropped from 16 to five, as the SNP cashed in on a collapse in the party’s vote.
Mr Scott is the second party leader to go, after Labour’s Iain Gray made a similar decision on Friday.
The UK government coalition, Mr Scott conceded, had damaged his party’s Holyrood election chances.
The Lib Dems lost 25 deposits after failing to win 5% of the vote in some areas.
The party’s only new face at Holyrood, Willie Rennie, could emerge as a likely front-runner to take over as leader.
Announcing his departure with immediate effect, Mr Scott said: “Thursday’s Scottish general election result was disastrous and I must and do take responsibility for the verdict of the electorate.
“The party needs a new direction, new thinking and new leadership to win back the trust of the Scottish people.”
Mr Scott is to stay on as MSP for Shetland.
Key Lib Dems failed to win seats on election night, including finance spokesman Jeremy Purvis, Margaret Smith, the education spokeswoman, and Mike Rumbles, the chief whip at Holyrood during the last parliament.
The Liberal Democrats are conducting a post-mortem of the party, after election night
Former cabinet minister Ross Finnie also failed to be re-elected in the West of Scotland list seat, while another party veteran, Mike Pringle, lost out in Edinburgh Southern, with the Nationalists claiming victory.
Mr Scott was one of only two Liberal Democrats to retain a constituency seat, alongside his Orkney neighbour, Liam MacArthur.
The remainder of Holyrood’s Lib Dem MSP compliment has come from wins in the regional list vote.
Mr Rennie, who was elected on the Mid-Scotland and Fife list, scored a major victory for his party in 2006 when the Liberal Democrats won the safe Labour Westminster seat of Dunfermline and West Fife, in a by-election.
After failing to hold the seat at the last UK election, Mr Rennie went on to work as an advisor in the Scotland Office.
The other Lib Dems making a return to Holyrood are Alison McInness, on the North East list, and Jim Hume in the South of Scotland.
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World number one Rafael Nadal takes on third seed Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the Madrid Open.
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At least 16 people have been killed in an attack on a predominantly Christian village in northern Nigeria.
Police said late on Friday that unidentified assailants had also burnt a number of houses in the village in Bauchi state, near Tafawa Balewa.
Bauchi is in Nigeria’s middle belt, where the predominantly Muslim north meets the mainly Christian south.
There are long-standing tensions in the area rooted in power struggles and land disputes, correspondents say.
This has caused violence in the past between indigenous Christian or animist groups, and Muslim settlers from the North.
Hundreds have died in clashes in Nigeria following national elections last month in which Goodluck Jonathan, a southern Christian, won the presidential poll against a Muslim, Muhammadu Buhari.
The worst of the violence was in Bauchi and Kaduna states.
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