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Indian fans run riot as Metallica axe gig

Posted: 28 Oct 2011 10:33 PM PDT

NEW DELHI: Angry fans smashed equipment and hurled bottles in chaotic scenes after heavy metal group Metallica cancelled their first ever Indian gig at the last minute.

Thousands of fans had already turned up at Friday's concert, timed to coincide with this weekend's Formula One Grand Prix, but were enraged when it was axed for safety reasons.

Newspaper pictures showed piles of shattered equipment and the Times of India said one man broke his leg when he was pushed down a stairwell in a stampede.

"Many others were also injured in the melee," Shouvik Roy, 41, was quoted as saying, adding that some youths were also taken to hospital. "There were no marshals to guide people and few cops to help."

Metallica said the concert in Gurgaon, near New Delhi, was initially postponed to Saturday because of damage to a security barrier, but organisers were then unable to secure a second permit.

"We are deeply disappointed with this news as we were looking forward to our first experience in India as much as you guys were," they said in a statement late on yesterday.

The Times, which pictured youths in Metallica T-shirts shouting and showing their middle fingers, said fans tore down sound systems, barriers and hoardings, and threw bottles at the stage and LED display screens.

"I'm glad my sons got out from the #Metallica madness unscathed. Why can't we organise an event without drama????" tweeted Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah.

The incident comes after Canadian rocker Bryan Adams called off a concert this year when police refused to give clearance. Flamboyant pop star Lady Gaga is due to perform after the Indian Grand Prix on tomorrow. -- AFP

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DPM: Empower BM as language of knowledge, progress

Posted: 28 Oct 2011 10:10 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today opened the 8th Malay Literary and Language Congress with a call to the people to empower Bahasa Melayu as a language of knowledge and progress while learning other languages to master the knowledge available in those languages.

He said language advocates had an important role to play in empowering Bahasa Melayu by fostering a positive attitude in the people towards the national language.

"Language advocates should not act as a mere pressure group but must go down to the ground, to be with the people, and be the drivers of awareness for the multiracial population to gain confidence in the ability of Bahasa Melayu as a language of knowledge and progress," said Muhyiddin, who is also education minister.

Intellectuals should intensify efforts to bring out works in Bahasa Melayu besides coining terminology for science and technology in the language, he said.

"The government, on its part, will strengthen the role of the National Translation Institute which will step up efforts to translate quality international academic books to expand the treasure of knowledge in Bahasa Melayu," he said. -- BERNAMA

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Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Jumaat, 28 Oktober 2011

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