CR7 Breaks Messi's Champions League Goal Record; Now Has a Record 16 Goals in a Single Season

EFT Report: Records are bound to tumble when this gifted Portuguese superstar is around, Cristiano Ronaldo has got one over Lionel Messi again to become the Champions League's highest goal-scorer with 16 goals in a single season after his 2 goals propelled Los Blancos to humiliate Bayern Munich 4-0 (5-0 in aggregate) at Allianz Arena.

Cristiano Ronaldo

The previous record was held Lionel Messi, who netted 14 goals for FC Barcelona during the 2011-12 season. Since his £80 million move from Manchester United in 2009, CR7 has scored a staggering 250 goals in 243 games for Real Madrid.

The 2013 Ballon d'Or' winner now has 51 goals in 50 games in Champions League. With the Champions League final to be played at his native Lisbon, expect CR7 to up his tally.

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Virgin For Sale; US Med Student (27) Auctioning Her Virginity

EFT Report: A 27-year-old American medical school student using an alias internet name 'Elizabeth Raine' is auctioning off her virginity to the highest bidder. The student launched her online auction on March 31, with the bidding deadline on May 7, she has already received bids as high as $550,000.

US Med Student (27) Auctioning Her Virginity

Raine, who claimed to have spent much of her childhood in Saudi Arabia because of her dad's job in the oil industry and have a bachelor's degrees in both biology and engineering, told the Huffington Post she's doing this for the money primarily and is also attracted by the adventure, eroticism, scandal and the chance to challenge norms about virginity.

The winner of this auction must have no STIs, be willing to wear a condom, no drugs during the encounter and no anal sex. Women bidders are not entertained. All the transaction will take place in Australia because prostitution is illegal in the US. May the highest bidder win :)

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Brad Paisley Sues Sony Music for $10 Million Over Royalties

EFT Report: Whiskey Lullaby crooner Brad Paisley is suing his record label Sony Music for $10 million for back royalties, the 41-year-old country star in the court documents, filed on March 31, stated that Sony 'failed to live up to their agreements and other legal obligations.'

According to reports, Paisley and his advisors have sought to resolve this matter amicably with Sony, but to no avail. In 2002, Paisley had sued to win access to his royalty information.

Brad Paisley

'The primary reason that Paisley is commencing this action is because Sony continuously has refused Paisley access to a variety of information and applied incorrect royalty rates, prices, and reductions, pursuant to the Recording Agreement, resulting in Sony’s significantly underpaying Paisley,' the documents read.

Brad Paisley, who is reportedly worth $65 million, will headline the 2014 Taste of Country Music Festival in June.

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Honda Launches Activa's Automatic Variant

EF Times, New Delhi: Two-wheeler major Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI), Monday launched its largest selling scooter brand Activa's 125cc automatic variant priced between Rs.52,456 and Rs.58,196 (ex-showroom Delhi).

"Propelled by new third plant near Bangalore, Honda is all set to excite customers with new products with speed. In this background, Activa 125 is Honda’s next strategic step towards reinforcing market leadership and facilitating Indians to step up their daily ride for more power,” said Keita Muramatsu - president and chief executive, HMSI.

The automatic scooter segment's share in the two-wheeler industry has grown to 24 percent from 16 percent in 2009-10.

According to the company, the new variant has a newly developed 125cc engine delivering net power of 6.4kw at the rate of 6,500 rotations per minute (rpm) with a mileage of 59 km per litre.

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George Clooney, Amal Alamuddin Engaged

EFT Report, Los Angeles: Actor George Clooney, 52, seems to have decided to say goodbye to his more than two-decade-old singles status. He has reportedly got engaged to barrister Amal Alamuddin.

"George and Amal are trying to keep things very low key but they also aren't really trying to hide this, it doesn't seem. I think it's like they want the people they love to know that this is real, that they plan on being together forever," people.com quoted a source as saying.

The engagement happened "not that long ago, I think", added the source.

But the couple don't appear to have wedding plans so far. 

Alamuddin, 36, was recently spotted wearing a ring on her left ring finger, said a source.

Two more sources say that witnesses at a restaurant here reported seeing the pair apparently celebrating their engagement with friends April 23 night, with Alamuddin sporting a "huge ring". 

The two were first photographed stepping out together in London in October. They have since been spotted together often. 

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'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' Wins 9 Awards at IIFA 2014

EFT Report, Tampa Bay: Filmmaker Rakesh Om Prakash Mehra's "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag", which has already garnered several awards, claimed nine technical awards at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards 2014 being held at Tampa Bay in Florida, United States.

"Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" bagged the awards for best cinematography (Binod Pradhan), best screenplay (Prasoon Joshi), best dialogue (Prasoon Joshi), best editing (P.S. Bharti), best sound design (Nakul Kamte), best sound mixing (Pranav Shukla), best background score (Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy), best costume designing (Dolly Ahluwalia) and best make-up (Vikram Gaikwad).

Milkha Singh grabbed the limelight during the award show, as Farhan Akhtar sang "Zinda" from the movie and "Senorita" from "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara" and later got down from the stage and hugged the Olympian.

Singer Mika Singh sang some of his hit songs, and also got Hrithik Roshan on stage who grooved to his "Agal Bagal" song from "Phata Poster Nikla Hero".

Sonakshi Sinha and Bipasha Basu also performed to a few dance numbers.

Rakesh Roshan's "Krrish 3" won two awards - best action (Sham Kaushal and Tony Ching Siu Tung) and best special effects-visuals (Keitan Yadav and Haresh Hingorani - Red Chillies VFX).

Rohit Shetty's blockbuster hit "Chennai Express" won for best song recording (Vinod Verma for "Lungi Dance") and best sound mixing (Anup Dev) along with "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag".

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SAIL Wins Rs 650-Crore Rail Supply Orders

EFT Report, New Delhi: Steel Authority of India (SAIL) has won two global tenders for supplying over 1.17 lakh tonne of rails worth Rs 650 crore. 

The company said in a statement that two global tenders totaling to Rs 650 crore were floated by Rail Vikas Nigam (RVNL) for major passenger railway line projects in the country. 

SAIL would supply varieties of rails to RVNL for four important passenger railway line projects connecting Hospet-Tinaighat, Daund-Gulbarga, Titlagarh-Raipur and Sambalpur-Titlagarh. 

The schedule for supply of the high quality (Grade 880 Class A) rails by SAIL would be completed within 18 months from the date of award of contract, the company said. 

SAIL's flagship Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP), which had been supplying rails to the Indian Railways since its inception fulfilled total requirement of seven lakh tonne annually. 

BSP was gearing up to meet all future requirements of the Railways, including head-hardened rails with ongoing Rs.17,265-crore modernization and expansion program. 

Sail said work was progressing rapidly at BSP's new 1.2 million tonne per annum capacity plant.

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L&T Wins $740-Million Contract From Qatar Railways

EFT Report, Mumbai: Conglomerate Larsen and Toubro (L&T) said its heavy civil infrastructure business unit has secured a $740 million (Rs. 4,510 crore) order from Qatar Railways for designing and building the rail line for the Doha Metro project.

"The total value of the order for the joint venture is $3.3 billion (approximately Rs.20,000 crore)," the company said here in a statement.

L&T won the order along with its joint venture partners Aktor SA of Greece, Yapi Merkezi Insaat of Turkey, STFA Group of Turkey and Al Jaber Engineering of Qatar.

The project is scheduled to be completed in 54 months.

"We are very seriously pursuing our program of internationalization and such orders go a long way in opening the doors to new geographies and opportunities," said S.N. Subrahmanyan, member of the board and senior executive vice president (infrastructure and construction) at L&T.

L&T said in its January outlook that it was strengthening its presence in select overseas markets to combat slow economic growth in the country.

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Anup Soni, Smita Bansal's Come Together for a New Play - HUM DO HAMARE WOH‏

Report by Santanu Ganguly: The play 'HUM DO HAMARE WOH' which will premiere on 27th April has a unique pairing of Anup Soni and Smita Bansal who are a couple in the hit TV Serial Balika Vadhu. 

The makers have done a casting coup by bringing the hit pair of TV on stage. Smita Bansal says, "I love doing theater. It’s a very comical role and after a long time I am playing a comedy character. The scripting is done very nicely. Anup Soni is a very spontaneous actor and the audience will enjoy watching us together."

Anup Soni adds, "This is the first commercial play I am doing. The humour is very good and audiences will surely like to see me in the play. The perception of people that I do only serious plays will change after this. Working with Smita is a pleasure."

Writer and Producer Sanjay Jha says, "It's a unique play with lot of humour. Anup Soni and Smita are known TV stars and very good actors. People will be surprised to see them doing comedy and that is the novelty. The re-marriage and divorce situation would generate comic situations."

The Play Story

The subject throws light on the blind belief which most of the people have in their individual lives on elements which do not have any base or constructive reasons. A couple (Samir and Saloni), who lived almost one and half decade together, suddenly reach a point of a divorce. Samir who is going to die after a few days announces Saloni’s re-marriage plans. His drunkard friend (Dheeraj) supports him in his decision and calls for various candidates for Saloni. Unknowingly a friend (Vineet) of Saloni enters the house as a guest and comes to know about the declaration made by Samir. Samir is under a great influence of one famous baba called ‘Komal Baba’ who has announced Samir’s death after 15 days. Samir and Dheeraj both decide to select Vineet, Saloni’s friend, to be her life partner for the rest of her life. Saloni doesn’t have any grief after hearing her husband’s death news! And therefore she starts preparing for her re-marriage with Vineet very happily. Here the black humour starts on stage especially when a salesman called ‘Divangat Atma’ enters. He is a salesman of nothing but a death celebration and event management company. He tries his best to sell his products and services after hearing Samir’s death news till the audience is revealed the fact by way of Komal Baba’s entry that Samir is not going to die. In these various confusions and roller coaster what will be Saloni’s decision? What will happen to Samir? And what will be the state of mind of Vineet? All such various questions unfold the mystery of the entire story.

And to conclude "HUM DO HAMARE WOH" throws a wonderful social message to the audience in a hilarious way.

Cast : Anup Soni, Smita Bansal, Prasad Khandekar, Sachin Parikh, Jay Chaubey, Durgesh Dwivedi

Director - Prasad Khandekar
Producers - Theater people Pvt. Ltd.
Asst. Dir. - Jay Chaubey
Music - Sushil Kamble
Light - Pratik Redij
Set - Jaysukh Ravrani

Play Venue- Rangsharda, Bandra, Mumbai 7.45 on Sunday 27th April 2014

If you wish to review the play or cover the premiere show, please contact Sanjay Jha on 9192274752

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'Danse Dialogues' Dance Festival in Delhi April 23-29

Report by Santanu Ganguly: The Embassy of France /Institut Français en Inde  and the Alliance Française de Delhi celebrate performing arts in April by bringing to you the second edition of the contemporary dance festival, DanSe DialogueS. 

Date: Wednesday 23 April

Performance: CETTE IMMENSE INTIMITE (“Huge intimity”) - Retouramont Company

Venue: IGNCA  at 7.30 pm (duration: 1hr, Aerial dance)

A beautiful outdoor show where the graceful dancer’s movements melt with light and gravity, placing the spectator very close to the dance, to verticality and to sensations. The performance will be preceded by a short screening about the company’s work.

Date: Thursday 24 April       

SCREENING: A Panorama of Indian Contemporary Dance presented by Kri Foundation and Danz Lenz

Venue: Alliance Française Delhi, 7 pm

Date: Friday 25 April           

Performance: RECITAL - Käfig Company & The Danceworx

Venue: Abhimanch auditorium, NSD, 7 pm (duration: 50min, hip-hop)

Number one in French hip-hop, Mourad Merzouki started his successful career with a show called « Récital », a funny union where the energy of hip-hop mingles with the tones of violin and a talk box, initiating a confrontation between two worlds: concerto and hip-hop dance. Concerned by the idea of sharing around the practice of dance and involving local dancers, Mourad transmited « Récital » to a troupe of Indian dancers from the Delhi based The Danceworx Repertory Company.

Date: Monday 28 April         

SCREENING: BLANCHE-NEIGE, by Angelin Preljocaj

Venue: Alliance Française Delhi, 7 pm 

Date: Tuesday 29 April       

Performance: NOS SOLITUDES (“Our solitudes”) - A.I.M.E. Company

Venue: Kamani auditorium, 7 pm (duration: 50min, contemporary)

A reflection on loneliness and weightlessness by renowned dancer and choreographer Julie Nioche, « Nos solitudes » is a graceful choreographic work conceived around a suspended body. In this new space and gravity ratio, the moving body experiences loneliness while the strings of a guitarist resound in a dream-like dialogue.

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John Travolta to Attend 15th IIFA Awards

Report by Santanu Ganguly: New Delhi: America is all set to witness the unique convergence of Hollywood and Indian Cinema, as IIFA (International Indian Film Academy) rolls out its Green Carpet in Tampa Bay. The Award Winning Actor John Travolta is set to make an appearance at India’s biggest celebration of cinema, the 15^th Videocon D2H IIFA Weekend and Tata Motors IIFA Awards later this month. The actor will also receive a special honour at the Awards ceremony, being the ‘Most Popular All time International star in India’.

The superstar’s presence at IIFA is symbolic to the coming together of the two distinctive film industries. Travolta will grace the extravaganza extending his support and appreciation of the Indian Film Industry and its spectacular influence world over. An iconic name in Hollywood, John Travolta has seen staggering success as an actor, singer and dancer. Travolta has starred in numerous eponymous blockbusters including Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction, Grease, Swordfish, Face Off, Broken Arrow and Ladder 49. The multitalented star has been nominated for the Academy Award twice and nominated for 7 Golden Globes. He went on to win 2 Golden Globes including one for his performance in the critically acclaimed film Get Shorty.

The third day of the Videocon d2h IIFA Weekend (25^th of April) will see the IIFA Magic of the Movies and Technical Awards. Held at The MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, it will be a night of music, dance and awards, with performances from Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sonakshi Sinha, Farhan Akthar, Pritam, Bipasha Basu and a special musical act by the Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. The 26^th night, the Tata Motors IIFA Awards will see performances by Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh, Madhuri Dixit-Nene, Siddharth Malhotra and Deepika Padukone among others. Tickets for both shows will be available at www.ticketmaster.com

 The 15^th IIFA Weekend & Awards will be celebrated in Tampa Bay, Florida from the 23^rd-26^th of April. This will be IIFA’s debut in the United States.

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Man Utd Sacks David Moyes; Giggs to Take Charge

EFT Report: Iconic English club Manchester United has sacked manager David Moyes with immediate effect.

A tweet on the club's official Twitter account read: 'BREAKING: Manchester United announces that David Moyes has left the club. The club would like to place on record its thanks for the hard work, honesty and integrity he brought to the role.'

Man Utd Sacks David Moyes

It emerged on Monday that United's owners, the Glazer family, had lost patience with Moyes after a dismal season that has seen the Red Devils slump to 7th in the EPL table. The final straw was Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Everton, their 11th in the Barclays Premier League this season.

Moyes, who has not even completed 1 year of his 6-year contract, is expected to receive a hefty compensation package. Ryan Giggs will take temporary charge for Saturday's home match with Norwich City.

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Danny Boyle Zooms in on Leonardo DiCaprio for Apple Co-Founder Steve Jobs Biopic

EFT Report: After his strong, credible but Oscar-less portrayal as New York stockbroker Jordan Belfort in Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf Of Wall Street, Leonardo DiCaprio is now tipped to play the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs in a new biopic to be directed by Danny Boyle. The pair last worked together on 2000 film The Beach.

Leonardo for Danny Boyle 's Steve Jobs Biopic

DiCaprio has yet to sign on for the movie; the 39-year-old has already signed to star in the thriller ‘The Revenant’, with shooting likely to begin in September. Ashton Kutcher’s Jobs released last year flopped at the Box Office.

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Delhi Celebrates Easter With Fervor

EFT Report, New Delhi: Delhiites celebrated Easter Sunday, which marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ, with prayers and sumptuous meals.

While some members of the community attended the Easter vigil a day prior to the festival, many preferred attending the morning mass organised in churches across the city.

"Easter is a festival and holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead three days after his crucifixion at Calvary," Father Dominic Emmanuel, spokesperson of the Delhi Catholic Church said.

He added that people celebrate the festival by making and distributing chocolates among children.

"The egg, today, holds great significance as it signifies life," Emmanuel added.

For Annie Johnny, who works with an NGO, the day marks fresh beginnings.

"This day Jesus rose from the dead. It also tells us that we should not be bogged down by challenges in life," the 27-year-old said.

The day is all about feasting after a long fasting period of 40 days.

"We got up in the morning and cooked food, which essentially comprised of appam and chicken stew," Johnny added.

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Hamilton Wins 3rd Straight F1 Race at Chinese GP

EFT Report, Shanghai: Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton captured his third straight Formula One race with ease on April 20, leading from start to finish to win the Chinese Grand Prix.

Mercedes showed again that it's in a different class from its rivals, with Hamilton's teammate Nico Rosberg taking second place and the third time in four races this season the pair have finished one-two.

Fernando Alonso held on for third place to give Ferrari its first podium finish of the year.

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'Water, Peace, and War: Confronting Global Water Crisis' Seminar

Report by Santanu Ganguly: With diplomatic, political and economic exchanges over water creating friction among neighboring nations, the global crisis over access to this precious resource is considered to be one of the most contentious issues of our generation. What are the geopolitical implications of water shortage, and how are they connected to equally pressing food and energy challenges in developing economies? Regional and international cooperation is needed to better understand the challenges as well as provide a holistic approach to shaping global water policy. Join our distinguished speakers for a broad-ranging discussion on how we can confront this global challenge. 

This pioneering and authoritative study considers the profound impact of the growing global water crunch on international peace and security as well as possible ways to mitigate the crisis. Water is essential to sustaining life and livelihoods, yet it remains the world's most underappreciated and undervalued resource. One sobering fact is that the retail price of bottled water is already higher than the international spot price of crude oil. But unlike oil, water has no substitute, raising the specter of water becoming the next flashpoint for conflict. The danger is that these water wars could escalate to armed conflict or further limit already stretched food and energy production.

Speakers: 

Brahma Chellaney, Professor of Strategic Studies, Centre for Policy Research

Kanwal Sibal, Former Foreign Secretary of India

Brahma Chellaney is presently a professor of strategic studies at the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi. Chellaney is also a trustee of the National Book Trust and an affiliate with the International Centre for the Study of Radicalization, at King’s College London. He has served as a member of the Policy Advisory Group headed by the foreign minister of India. Before that, he was an adviser to India’s National Security Council. As a specialist on international strategic issues, he has held appointments at Harvard University, the Brookings Institution, the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, and the Australian National University. 

Kanwal Sibal joined the Indian Foreign Service in July 1966, eventually serving as India's Foreign Secretary. He was Deputy Chief of Mission in the US, and India's ambassador to Turkey, Egypt, France and Russia. He has been a member of India’s National Security Advisory Board and served as President of the Association of Indian Diplomats. He is Dean, Centre for International Relations and Diplomacy of the Vivekanand Foundation and Editorial Consultant to The Indian Defence Review. He has received the high distinction of Grand Officier of the Ordre du Merite from France.
 

Date: Friday, 25th April, 2014

Time: 6:30 pm
Registration begins at 6:00 pm

Venue: CSMVS Visitor’s Centre Annex Auditorium, CSMVS Museum, 159-161, M.G Road, Fort, Mumbai

RSVP required:
asiasociety@asiasociety.org.in
Priority for Asia Society Members

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Doha Bank to Buy HSBC Bank Oman Biz in India

EFT Report, Dubai: Qatar-based Doha Bank has agreed to buy HSBC Bank Oman's business in India that has gross assets of Rs.350 crore ($58 million).

“Doha Bank has entered into an agreement with HSBC Bank Oman (HSBC Oman), an indirect 51 percent owned subsidiary of HSBC Holdings, to purchase the banking business of HSBC Bank Oman in India,” Doha Bank chairman Sheikh Fahad bin Mohamed bin Jabor al Thani said in a statement. 

The business being acquired consists of its two branches and had gross assets of Rs.350 crore (approx $58 million) as at March 31, 2013, he said.

According to the statement all the staff of HSBC Bank Oman in India will be transferred to Doha bank as part of the purchase. 

The transaction is subject to the approvals of regulatory authorities in Qatar, India, Oman and Jersey.

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'Pretty Mom' Credit Card Launched by a Chinese Bank

EFT Report: The Agricultural Bank of China (ABC) issued a new type of credit card targeting China's young mothers, a growing group known for their love of shopping and their greater say in the family budget.

The cards focus on the needs of new mothers with children up to the age of six by offering discounts on major baby product brands and early education institutions.

Liu Guiping, business director of ABC, said the bank is counting on female clients in cities toupgrade the bank's credit card services. The new services will focus on consumerexperience, Liu added.

ABC is not the first bank to show interest in China's female consumers. The country'sleading banks, including China CITIC Bank and China Everbright Bank, have alreadyoffered cards geared toward women.

Along with traditional financial services, the cards offer discounts or incentives for purchases related to "female industries," such as health, salons, cosmetics, clothing and accessories.

The banks have targeted Chinese women not only for their personal consumption but alsodue to their growing role in managing family assets.

A survey conducted by HSBC showed that 63 percent of female interviewees from themainland acted as decision makers on money matters, higher than the figure for maleinterviewees.

In traditional Chinese families, couples once set up combined accounts, instead of managingfinances individually, and men controlled most major affairs, ranging from money to bigdecisions. But the situation has started to change due to the higher education and economicposition of modern women.

CITIC's vice president Sun Deshun said its "Lady Card" was consistent with the socialtrend of women becoming heads of households and "bosses" of family wealth management.The bank has even established a new strategic brand targeting women as "the actualcontrollers of family assets," according to Sun.

Analysts believe female-oriented services will help integrate multiple financial products,including consumption, lending, mobile banking, insurance and investment management toboost financial innovation.

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Duminy Helps Daredevils Win Against KKR

EFT Report, Dubai: J.P. Duminy played a thrilling innings to take the Delhi Daredevils to a four-wicket win over the Kolkata Knight Riders in an Indian Premier League (IPL) clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday, April 19, 2014.

Chasing a challenging target of 167, the South African played a swashbuckling knock of 52 not out to take the Daredevils home with a six - with three balls to spare.

Daredevils opener Murali Vijay did not give the team the start they required, getting out for a duck on his second delivery. However, Mayank Agarwal (26 off 14) looked impressive but got caught in a soft dismissal at square leg. New Zealand's Ross Taylor (6) also got out soon after but captain Dinesh Karthik kept the flow of runs going for his team.

Karthik, who got out for zero in his last match, looked in sublime touch as he scored a fluent 56 off 40 deliveries, including five fours and two sixes. He also got good support from Duminy, who had also struck an important half-century in their opening match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore Thursday.

Just when it was looking that the Daredevils would romp home thanks to Karthik, mystery spinner Sunil Narine turned the tables by getting the captain out leg before wicket.

Duminy now decided to take the role of the anchor as piled as he smashed three sixes and boundaries each. Manoj Tiwary (8) and James Neehsam (8) did not get many runs but stuck in their to aid Duminy, who appeared a man on a mission.

Morne Morkel's 18th over proved to be the difference when Duminy smashed 21 runs off the over, including two sixes and a boundary to bring down the asking rate to 11 off 12.

Delhi suffered a hiccup or two but reached home with another Duminy six to bag the team's first win of the tournament.

Earlier, the Knight Riders recovered from an early slump to put up a fighting total of 166/5.

The 2012 edition champions had a disastrous start after electing to bat as both openers Gautam Gambhir and Jacques Kallis got out for a duck. It was the second successive zero for captain Gambhir, who played on a Nathan Coulter-Nile delivery to backward short leg.

However, Manish Pandey (48) and Robin Uthappa (55) took control of the ship and steered it through the middle overs. The duo provided stability to the innings by a 64-run third-wicket partnership to take the team out of trouble.

The Daredevils bowlers, however, managed to keep a check on the economy rate and did not allow the Knight Riders batsmen to go for the shots. Trying to accelerate, Pandey perished when he was bowled by spinner Shahbaz Nadeem.

But Bangladeshi all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan (30 not out) provided good support to Uthappa, who went on to score a half-century. The explosive batsman hit six boundaries and a six in his 41-ball knock before getting out. Their partnership of 57 runs also came at a good time for the team.

Some lusty blows towards the end by Al Hasan took the Kolkata-based team to a 150-par score. Later, Suryakumar Yadav (8 not out) hit two boundaries off the last two balls to take his team to a fighting total.

Brief scores: 
Kolkata Knight Riders 166/5 in 20 overs (Robin Uthappa 55, Manish Pandey 48, Shakib Al Hasab 30 not out; Nathan Coulter-Nile 2/27, Jaydev Unadkat 1/25, Shahbaz Nadeem 1/29) lost to Delhi Daredevils 167/6 in 19.3 overs (Dinesh Karthik 56, JP Duminy 52 not out, Mayank Agarwal 26; Morne Morkel 2/41, Jacques Kallis 1/15, Sunil Narine 1/18)

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The Diplomatic Briefing Series by Asia Society

Report by Santanu Ganguly: The Diplomatic Briefing Series is designed to engage diplomatic missions and to provide them a platform to inform the public about relevant issues facing their countries vis-à-vis Asia. The diplomats we have hosted in the past include US Ambassador Nancy Powell,Australian High Commissioner Peter Varghese, Singapore Consul General Chin Hock Seng, USAID Administrator, Rajiv Shah, Afghan Parliamentarian Farkhunda Naderi and most recently US Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz. Join us for a conversation on the future of South Asian diplomacy, as we discuss historical ties within the subcontinent and the rising new generation.

High Commissioner Abdul Basit joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1982. Born in 1958, he holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations. Basit has held various diplomatic assignments at Pakistan's missions abroad including Moscow, New York, Geneva, and London. He has served at the Headquarters as Section Officer, Director, Director General, Spokesman, and Additional Secretary Europe. Before being posted in New Delhi, High Commissioner Basit was Pakistan's Ambassador to Germany

Shekhar Gupta is Editor-in-Chief of The Indian Express, and the host of an interview-based programme Walk the Talk on NDTV 24x7. Mr. Gupta has authored Assam: A Valley Divided and India Redefines Its Role. He is the recipient of several awards and honours, including the 1985 Inlaks award for young journalist of the year, G K Reddy Award for Journalism, and the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Memorial Award for National Integration. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2009, and he is also a member of Asia Society’s Global Council. Under his leadership, The Indian Express has won the Vienna-based International Press Institute’s Award for Outstanding Journalism in the Public Interest thrice, a record unmatched in the media.

Speakers: Abdul Basit, Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Shekhar Gupta, Editor-in-Chief, The Indian Express.

Date: Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Time: 6:30pm, registration begins at 6:00pm 

Venue: Hall of Culture, Nehru Centre, Dr. Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai

RSVP required: asiasociety@asiasociety.org.in

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