Iranian film wins at Berlin film festival

Iranian director Asghar Farhadi's "Nader and Simin, A Separation," a drama that centers on a disintegrating marriage, won the top Golden Bear honor and swept the acting awards at the Berlin film festival on Saturday.

A jury led by actress Isabella Rossellini handed the ensemble cast of the film, led by Peyman Moadi and Leila Hatami, both the best actor and the best actress awards.

"I never would have thought that I would win this prize," Farhadi said. He added that it offers "a very good opportunity to think of the people of my country - the country I grew up in, the country where I learned my stories - a great people."

The film highlights a clash between traditional and modern ways of living and thinking. It chronicles the events that follow a wife's unsuccessful petition for a divorce, which she seeks when her husband refuses to leave Iran with her and her daughter. He worries about leaving behind his father, who suffers from Alzheimer's.

The wife then moves out and the man hires a pregnant, pious young woman who agrees to take care of his father, without telling her husband. One afternoon, a blazing argument is followed by the woman suffering a miscarriage - setting in motion a chain of events that shakes the family.

Farhadi was honored as best director in Berlin two years ago for his previous movie, "About Elly."

On Saturday, this year's best director honor went to Germany's Ulrich Koehler for "Sleeping Sickness," a film about an aid worker long based in Africa and his increasingly alienated wife.

Hungarian director Bela Tarr's starkly minimalist "The Turin Horse," the story of a farmer and his horse, won a runner-up Silver Bear.

Argentine-born first-time director Paula Markovitch's "The Prize," an autobiographical film set in Argentina during the military dictatorship of the 1970s, won two prizes for outstanding artistic achievement.

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, manager to be charged under Customs Act

Celebrated singer from Pakistan Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and his manager, from whom undeclared foreign currency was allegedly seized by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence at the Delhi airport on February 13, will be charged with offences under the Customs Act.

The matter has now been forwarded to the adjudicating authority, Commissioner of Customs (Airport), for further action.

The adjudicating authority, a quasi-judicial body, would grant personal hearings to Mr. Khan and his manager Maroof and then take a decision on the basis of the findings. According to informed sources, in the case of absolute confiscation of seized article, penalty is levied on the accused. If the article is returned, the accused has to pay redemption fine and penalty for the violation.

Earlier on Saturday, Mr. Khan was again questioned by DRI officials. It is learnt that he then appeared before the Customs officials at the airport.

Mr. Khan, his manager and event manager Chitresh Shrivastava were detained by the DRI sleuths when they along with the other members of his troupe were on their way to board a flight to Dubai. The agency purportedly found $24,000 in Mr. Khan's baggage, whereas $50,000 each were found in the possession of Mr. Maroof and Mr. Shrivastava. The money was much above the permissible limit of $5,000 in cash and like amount in other instruments.

The DRI investigation began with the charge of carrying foreign currency beyond the permitted limit. The role of foreign exchange agents, besides some prominent Bollywood figures, came under the scanner in due course.

Protesters call for reform in Kuwait

More than 1,000 protesters clashed with security forces in Kuwait on Friday, demanding greater rights for longtime residents who are not citizens of the country.

The crowd -- initially 300 people before quickly growing -- was attacked with water cannons.

A Kuwaiti government spokesman later claimed that the security forces were trying to protect themselves after the protesters started hurling rocks.

The "security forces on the ground talked to the protestors in a nice and civilized way," said Col. Adil Al-Hashash, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry. Members of the crowd were told "that they should go to the legal channels for their demands rather than protesting."

Al-Hashash said the demonstration was eventually dispersed and that several protesters were arrested and questioned by the security forces.

The protest took place in Al Jahra province north of Kuwait City, Al-Hashash noted.

Kuwait has been wrestling with the question of rights for non-citizen residents for decades. The country is believed to have roughly 100,000 residents who are not citizens.

Somali fighters cut off hands of 2 accused thieves

Hardline Islamists from Somalia's most dangerous militant group amputated the hands of two men on Saturday as punishments for accusations of theft, witnesses and officials said.

Masked men in the town of Walaweyn cut off the hand of Abdirashid Saleban Hamud, a teenager convicted by an Islamic "court" of breaking into a house and stealing currency worth $30, said Abdinur Hussein, a witness. The self-described judge, Sheik Ayub, said the man admitted the charges against him.

On the outskirts of Mogadishu the militants amputated the hand of Ali Hashim, who also was accused of theft. Witness Salman Abdirahman said Hashim screamed and fell unconscious during the punishment.

The amputations carried out by the group al-Shabab are not traditional punishments in Somalia, and they show the influence of hardline foreign fighters from the Middle East who are part of the group's leadership.

Somalia has not had a functioning government in two decades.

India complete revenge win

MIRPUR, 19 FEB: Virender Sehwag had said before the match that this was a "revenge match" for India and that the team hadn't forgotten the loss in 2007. If Sehwag is to be believed, he completed the revenge in grand style and kicked off India's 2011 World Cup campaign with a thumping 87-run win.

Batting first after losing the toss, India opened with Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. At about 60 for 0 after 10 overs, India looked set for a huge score. But then Tendulkar (28) fell to a run out and India went through a period of consolidation with Gautam Gambhir (39) at the crease. Just as he and Sehwag threatened to get away from Bangladesh, Gambhir fell.

Gambhir's wicket brought Virat Kohli (100 not out) to the crease and he grabbed the opportunity he received ahead of Suresh Raina with both hands. Starting cautiously, he let Sehwag blossom and then cut loose to finish with his fifth ODI hundred. He combined with Sehwag to forge a 203-run partnership in just 24.1 overs to take the game totally beyond Bangladesh.

While Kohli, Tendulkar and Gambhir played their parts, the star of the match was undoubtedly Virender Sehwag (175). He has recently said that he wants to bat for long and score big scores in ODIs. His effort today puts him at the joint second-highest scorer for India in World Cup cricket behind only Sourav Ganguly and joint with Kapil Dev.

Sehwag's innings was his usual mix of exhilarating strokeplay and some doubtful moments! But in typical Sehwag style, he sailed through it all to register a massive total. One over in particular from Abdur Razzaq will be a memorable one. He carted the hapless bowler for two brutal fours punctuated by a massive six.

India's total of 370 was always going to be a tall order for Bangladesh to overhaul. But their start would have put doubt into the Indian players' minds. Sreesanth did everyting in his power to ensure Bangladesh got off to a flyer. At 51 for 0 after 5 overs, Bangladesh were in the match. Soon enough, though, a wicket fell and things started to get difficult.