Robert De Niro named in Tarun Tejpal assault case

De Niro’s name was mentioned twice in the FIR, and it is likely that he will be questioned for further investigation. PHOTO:FILE

PANAJI: Hollywood legend Robert De Niro’s trip to India has been anything but worthwhile, as he has unwittingly gotten tangled up in a sexual assault case.

De Niro was put up in a VIP suite close to the elevator where Indian daily Tehelka’s editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal allegedly assaulted a junior colleague. As a result, the legendary 70-year-old Hollywood actor’s name has inadvertently been mentioned twice in the first information report filed by Goa Police. De Niro was also the subject of a question from a reporter directed to Goa’s Deputy Inspector General (DIG) O P Mishra.

When asked if the police would question the Godfather II star because of his physical proximity to the scene of the crime, Mishra said, “This is an investigation and many things are likely to emerge. Whosesoever’s testimony is required for investigation will be taken.”

Robert De Niro was the star speaker at the Tehelka ThinkFest, a highbrow conference held in Goa on November 8 and 9. De Niro’s name was mentioned twice in the FIR filed by the Goa Police after an official complaint was registered by the victim to Tehelka’s managing editor Shoma Chaudhury. The complaint says Tejpal used meeting De Niro as an excuse for luring the young woman into the lift and assaulting her twice, over two days.

“Let’s go wake up Bob [De Niro], he said, and I asked him why he wanted to do that. I then realised that Tejpal was simply pressing buttons on the lift’s panel to make the elevator stay in circuit, preventing it from stopping anywhere, and for the doors to open,” says the FIR in one instance, quoting extensively from the written complaint sent by the victim to Chaudhury.

The woman claims that Tejpal assaulted her twice, on November 7 and 8. The police may also question three Tehelka staff members in regard to the sensational case. Mishra said that Goa Police have obtained CCTV footages from the hotel and are examining it. While Mishra refused to comment on the possibility of Tejpal being taken into custody, according tozeenews.india.com, sources in the Delhi Police said on Saturday that his arrest is imminent.

Lals Chocolates offers sweet discounts

Lals is offering customers a 15 percent discount on all items to celebrate. PHOTOS — ARIF SOOMRO/EXPRESS

KARACHI: The founder and owner of Lals Chocolates, Lal Majid initially started out as a floral designer, and it seems that her children are the reason why Lals is celebrating seven years now.

What drove her towards the realisation of Lals eight years ago was when she faced what is called empty nest syndrome. With her two kids away at college, she decided to go into this field to occupy her time.

After gaining technical expertise by taking training courses in the art of chocolate and pastry making and specialising in macaroons, Majid thought she was ready to make the final move.

Lals is offering customers a 15 percent discount on all items to celebrate. PHOTOS — ARIF SOOMRO/EXPRESS

Her daughter and CEO of the company Madiha Sultan-Tai, in response to a question about the evolution of Lals, says, “We have gone from just one single shop to having two others. We now not only offer desserts, but also savoury foods.” They have added chicken sandwiches, brownies, and a beverage called Raspberry Lime to their menu. While their cafe has yet to find its footing, Lals’ sweets and gelatos are a loved treat among those with a sweet tooth.

With three branches today  — two in Karachi and one in Lahore — the mother-daughter duo is planning to open a Lals in Islamabad next.

Lals is offering customers a 15 percent discount on all items to celebrate. PHOTOS — ARIF SOOMRO/EXPRESS

In celebration of their birthday, Sultan-Tai says “We never believed in giving out discounts, ever! But so many people have brought us here, and to thank them we are offering a 15 percent discount all this week.”

Lals is offering customers a 15 percent discount on all items to celebrate. PHOTOS — ARIF SOOMRO/EXPRESS

The previous Sunday, free cupcakes were given to all patrons, and this coming Sunday, it’ll mean a free box of chocolates for everyone who drops by.

Sammy, Simmons star in sensational win

Sammy added 82 runs with Lendl Simmons for the sixth wicket as the tourists squared the series chasing down 289 runs for the win with three balls remaining. PHOTO: BCCI

West Indies Test captain Darren Sammy scored a brilliant 63 off a mere 45 balls to help his team beat India by two wickets in the second One-Day International (ODI) of the three-match series in Visakhapatnam.

Sammy added 82 runs with Lendl Simmons for the sixth wicket as the tourists squared the series chasing down 289 runs for the win with three balls remaining. The last match is to be played in Kanpur on November 27.

Sammy’s innings was studded with four boundaries and four sixes in his brutal assault on the Indian bowlers.

Kieran Powell (59) and captain Dwayne Bravo (50) laid the foundations for the win.

Earlier, India posted a challenging score of 288 for the loss of seven wickets. Virat Kohli was once again at his prolific best scoring 99 before falling to a brilliant catch by Jason Holder in the outfield.

Skipper MS Dhoni scored a stroke filled 51 to propel the score in the last few overs of the innings. Ravi Rampaul claimed four wickets for 60 runs in his 10 overs.

Rummenigge: €250m for Messi is absurd

The Bayern supremo has insisted that they have no plans to make a move for the prolific attacker and believes Barca would never sell their star player

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has ruled out a move for Barcelona attacker Lionel Messias he believes the Argentina international would be too expensive for the Champions League holders.

A recent report from Spain suggested that Bayern were ready to meet the 26-year-old's €250 million exit clause, with the club's honourary president Franz Beckenbauer further fuelling speculation last week with his comments that Messi would be a good signing for the Bundesliga champions.

However, Rummenigge has now made it clear that the Bavarians have no intention of splashing the cash on the prolific attacker.

"Messi? We are talking about figures here that are simply absurd, a transfer fee that is even higher than what we spent on Javi Martinez. We won't go there," Rummenigge told Sky90.

"Plus I know Sandro Rosell. Barcelona would never sell Messi. He is a saint at Barcelona and they will not sell him. 

"And I think it would be in Messi's best interest to stay at Barcelona. He fits in perfectly there."

The attacker has a contract with Barca until June 2018

Lee victorious at Hong Kong Open

The victory means the 31-year-old goes into next month’s Badminton World Federation finals on home soil having won six of the Superseries’ 12 rounds. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE

HONG KONG: Malaysia’s world number one Lee Chong Wei stormed to victory in the Hong Kong Open on Sunday, whipping Indonesia’s Sony Dwi Kuncoro in straight games to bag his sixth tournament of the season.

Amid raucous support at the Hong Kong Coliseum, top-seeded Lee needed only 33 minutes to inflict a 21-13, 21-9 bruising on his three-time Asian champion opponent.

The victory means the 31-year-old goes into next month’s Badminton World Federation finals on home soil having won six of the Superseries’ 12 rounds.

Lee’s dominant display against the Indonesian, which included 24 winning smashes, capped a superb tournament in which he did not drop a single game.

“I never thought I would do so well,” Lee told reporters after his match. “It’s a final. Sony has been doing well.”

Meanwhile, in the women’s draw, China’s Wang Yihan was made to toil hard for her 21-13, 16-21, 21-15 victory against compatriot Wang Shixian.

My priority is to focus on my recovery: Trott

UNNERVED: England batsman Jonathan Trott has left the Ashes tour of Australia due to a ‘stress-related illness’, said the England and Wales Cricket Board. PHOTO: AFP

SYDNEY: England’s Jonathan Trott has left the Ashes tour of Australia with a ‘stress-related illness’, said officials Monday, after he was targeted during their huge defeat in a spiteful first Test.

The shock departure, which echoes a situation involving Marcus Trescothick in 2006-2007, comes after Trott made disappointing scores of 10 and nine in the game in Brisbane which England lost by 381 runs.

Trott’s play was blasted as ‘poor and weak’ by Australia’s David Warner during a bad-tempered game, which also saw home captain Michael Clarke fined for warning tail-end batsman James Anderson to “get ready for a broken arm”.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said Trott, 32, would take an indefinite break from cricket and would not be returning to the five-Test tour.

“Jonathan Trott has returned from England’s current tour of Australia with a stress-related illness,” said an ECB tweet.

In brief comments released by the ECB, Trott did not give any details but said he could not play on in his current condition.

“I don’t feel it’s right that I’m playing knowing that I’m not 100%,” he said. “I cannot currently operate at the level I have done in the past.

“My priority now is to take a break from cricket so that I can focus on my recovery.”

Clarke fined by ICC over ‘sledging’

Australian captain Michael Clarke was Monday fined 20% of his match fee by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after warning England’s James Anderson to expect a broken arm.

The final day of the first Test against arch-rivals England in Brisbane, which Australia won by 381 runs, boiled over on Sunday with constant ‘sledging’ (insults).

He was reported by umpire Kumar Dharmasena and the ICC said Clarke breached its code of conduct, which relates to “using language or a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting during an international match”.

Clarke admitted the offence and accepted the sanction, avoiding the need for a formal hearing, the ICC said.

UEFA Champions League: Teams get ready to clinch last-16 berth

NEARLY THERE: Arsenal’s 1-0 win at Borussia Dortmund in their last European outing means that they will qualify for the last 16 if they beat Marseille and the German side draw their game with Napoli. PHOTO: AFP

PARIS: Chelsea travel to Switzerland to face FC Basel in the Champions League on Tuesday knowing that a point will be enough to seal their place in the last-16.

As they return to the St Jakob-Park, Chelsea will be looking to extend a run of just one defeat in 13 matches in all competitions.

Veteran midfielder Frank Lampard said he is looking forward to gaining revenge on Basel following that September shocker.

“We can put the record straight on Tuesday,” he said. “We lost at home [to Basel], but we won there last year in the Europa League.

“Let’s try to get that win. Then you can relax in that last game a little bit. We need to go and do the job.”

The margins are fine for Chelsea, as a defeat in Switzerland would leave them just a point clear of Basel, while also giving Schalke the chance to move level on points at the top if they can win away in Bucharest.

Wenger, Cazorla wary of renegade Marseille

Manager Arsene Wenger has warned Arsenal not to underestimate Marseille as the Premier League leaders look to close on a place in the last-16.

Marseille can no longer qualify for the next phase, while Arsenal will go into the match at the Emirates Stadium level on points with Napoli at the top of Group F and with a place in the knockout rounds in sight.

“They started in a difficult position because they lost their first game at home [against Arsenal],” said Wenger.

“They are a good side who went through a difficult period and that difficult period which they had certainly had an impact. I am sure that they will be difficult to beat on Tuesday night.”

Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla echoed his manager’s words of warning, telling the club website, “There is nothing at stake for Marseille because they have zero points, but they are going to make things difficult for us.”

Top spot Barca’s aim in Amsterdam

Injury-struck Barcelona can ensure they finish top of Group H with just a point when they travel to face Ajax.

Gerardo Martino’s men have already qualified for the last-16, however midfielder Cesc Fabregas has echoed his coach’s calls for there to be no excuses despite the absence of a number of key players.

“We want to be prepared for everything that is coming,” he said. “There is total unity in the group and understanding with the coach.”

Meanwhile, captain Roman Weidenfeller has insisted Borussia Dortmund convert their chances against Napoli on Tuesday in a must-win game as last season’s finalists face a group-stage exit.

“We have to win against Napoli at home, it’s as simple as that,” said Weidenfeller. “As I have been saying for a few weeks now, there is a lack of single-mindedness and determination with us at the moment