'Tiger Zinda Hai', the sequel to Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif's 2012 film 'Ek Tha Tiger', continues its successful run at the box-office. According to a report in Boxofficeindia.com, the single screens and smaller multiplexes recorded huge collections on Sunday, helping the film sail past the Rs 250 crore mark on its second weekend. 'Tiger Zinda Hai' grossed a whopping Rs 21.75 crore on its second Sunday, thus helping the film to gross a total of Rs 48.25 crore in its second weekend, and the total collection stands at a towering Rs 254.29 crore.

PANAJI: Congress president Rahul Gandhi welcomed the New Year in Goa along with his mother Sonia Gandhi, a senior party leader said today. The newly appointed party president joined in the celebration with his mother, who earlier this month retired as the Congress president and is vacationing in the coastal state. "Rahul Gandhi joined his mother at a five-star hotel at Mobor in South Goa on Saturday. Both of them celebrated the New Year at the hotel," a senior Congress leader told PTI. "It was a private function so the party functionaries or other dignitaries were not allowed," he added. Sonia Gandhi has been in Goa since December 27 and was seen riding a bicycle at the beach resort last week.

VATICAN CITY: Lamenting "the winds of war" blowing around the world, Pope Francis in his traditional Christmas message on Monday called for a two-state solution to find peace in the Middle East and prayed that confrontation can be overcome on the Korean Peninsula. The pope took particular aim at areas of global tension where President Donald Trump is playing a critical role. Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital has ignited new violence in the Middle East, while confrontation with North Korea over its nuclear tests has escalated tensions in Asia. "The winds of war are blowing in our world and an outdated model of development continues to produce human, societal and environmental decline," the pope said in his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" ("to the city and to the world") Christmas message and blessing from the central balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square. About 50,000 faithful packed the square. As Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, the pope depicted suffering reflected "in the faces of little children," citing war and other tensions in the Middle East and Africa. He asked for peace for Jerusalem and the Holy Land, and prayed "that the will to resume dialogue may prevail between the parties and that a negotiated solution can finally be reached, one that would allow the peaceful coexistence of two states within mutually agreed and internationally recognized borders." Francis also prayed for an end to confrontation on the Korean Peninsula and that "mutual trust may increase." The Christmas message has become an occasion for popes to survey suffering in the world and press for solutions. Francis urged that "our hearts not be closed" as the inns of Bethlehem were to Mary and Joseph before Jesus' birth. The pontiff lamented that Syria remains "marked by war," that Iraq has been "wounded and torn" by fighting over the last 15 years and that ongoing conflict in Yemen "has been largely forgotten." Recalling his recent trip to Bangladesh and Myanmar, the pope urged the international community to work "to ensure that the dignity of the minority groups present in the region is adequately protected." The pontiff also recalled children who risk their lives at the hands of human traffickers to migrate to safer lands, who suffer because their parents don't have work or who are forced into labor themselves or to fight as child soldiers.

Former BCCI chief selector Sandeep Patil stirred a fresh controversy saying opener Rohit Sharma is a better batsman than skipper Virat Kohli in limited overs cricket. ALSO READ: Rohit Sharma steals the show in maiden series as captain "Virat Kohli fans might not like it but I have to say Rohit Sharma is currently the better batsman. Virat is definitely a great batsman, no doubt about it. He is India's best Test batsman but when it comes to limited overs cricket, Rohit is ahead of him," Patil was quoted as saying by a news channel. Rohit recently blasted a record third ODI double ton, leading the home side to a 2-1 win in the three-match rubber against Sri Lanka in the absence of regular skipper Kohli, who took a break to tie the knot with Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma.

TIGER ZINDA HAI STORY: It's inspired by the real-life incident of the rescue of Indian nurses held hostage in Iraq by terrorists and at the helm of affairs of the mission is Indian RAW agent Tiger (Salman Khan). TIGER ZINDA HAI REVIEW: The story picks up from where the first film in the franchise left off. Indian RAW agent Tiger (Salman Khan) and ISI agent Zoya (Katrina Kaif) are married and living a peaceful life with their son. Eight years have gone by since they decided to choose love over their missions. But their plans will change very soon, with another mission (most impossible) coming up for this sota hua Tiger. Tiger's ex-boss Shenoy (Girish Karnad) tracks him down and wants him to rescue 25 Indian nurses who are held hostage at a hospital by a dreaded terrorist organisation that has taken over Iraq. From here, it's a Salman Khan show all the way with his star power and screen presence looming large, ably aided by Katrina Kaif who jumps into the fray as 15 Pakistani nurses who are also held hostage with the Indians need to be rescued. The other USP of this mission is, that Tiger brings together Indian and Pakistani agents to fight terror in Iraq, for the sake of humanity. And, not surprising then that there is a fair sprinkle of patriotic one-liners, too. And all this is happening with oodles of swag and style. (Obviously!) The film is visually stunning in parts and Salman Khan plays Tiger with roaring confidence and dialogues packed with punch. Of course, his fans get a true-blue Salman Khan moment when he bares his torso. However, the screenplay often loses focus, slackening the film's pace and our attention. Director Ali Abbas Zafar had a lot of ammo in hand, with the star power of Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif adding to that. But the direction falters and he is unable to keep you riveted through the film's runtime. Supporting actors that make up the rescue mission team are competent and Paresh Rawal delivers a dependable performance. Katrina Kaif gets into action-girl mode, displaying some kick-ass stunts. Meanwhile, the antagonist, Abu Usman (Sajjad Delafrooz), heading the terrorist organisation, is effective in his role. With such a premise, the storyline needed to be far more compelling and the editing much tauter. Needless to add, a lot of sequences defy logic, but at the same time, there are many moments that will leave Salman Khan and action film fans impressed. Whether Tiger is Zinda or not for the next round, that's for you to find out.

The Gujarat election results have come as a "warning bell" to those who believe in autocratic rule, the Shiv Sena said on Tueday. In an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana', the Sena asked the BJP to pay heed to the 'sterling performance' of Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Patidar leader Hardik Patel in Gujarat. "Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had to play the 'Gujarati pride' card (to win these elections)," it said noting that while people of Gujarat stood behind Modi in 99 constituencies, the "Rahul Gandhi-Hardik Patel duo" emerged victorious in 77 seats. The BJP won Gujarat and Himachal, but the Congress also did not lose, the Sena said, adding "the dream of a 'Congress-Mukt Bharat' (Congress-free India) remained unfulfilled". The Sena said there were some who ridiculed Rahul Gandhi and Hardik Patel as "monkeys" compared to the BJP leadership. "These 'monkeys' have slapped the 'lion' and sounded the danger alarm," it added. "Those who indulged in this ridicule now have to pretend that they have passed with distinction, despite barely managing to pass (the poll exam)," the Sena said. This election result is a "warning bell" for those who believe in autocratic rule, the Sena said.

LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur have not deteriorated compared to last season, manager Mauricio Pochettino said as he backed his team to come back stronger from their current poor run in the Premier League. Spurs are sixth in the table, 18 points adrift of league leaders Manchester City after losing four of their 15 games this season, the same as the entire last campaign when they finished second, and are winless in their last four matches. Despite their poor domestic form, Tottenham have improved on last season's Champions League showing, progressing to the knockout stages as group winners and Pochettino believes City's form rather than Spurs' decline had opened the gap between them. "We have maybe three points less than this time last season, and we've finished top of our Champions League group," Pochettino told British media. "Manchester City have created a gap, but I'm sure the team will improve and take many lessons from this run." Non-Surgical hair growth treatment at Dr. Tvacha Clinic Dr Tvacha Miss World '10 days' hair oil - New hair growth for sure! Rathira Ayurveda Pvt Ltd Recommended By Colombia Jan Vertonghen, Eric Dier and Juan Foyth are the north London side's only options for central defence when they host Stoke City next weekend after fellow centre-back Davinson Sanchez was sent off in last Saturday's 1-1 draw with Watford. Defender Toby Alderweireld also said that he had no fixed return date from a hamstring injury sustained in last month's home Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund as he awaits a scan in two weeks' time to assess the damage. "I have a serious muscle tear. There's a big chance of recurrence," Alderweireld told Belgian media. If the muscle tears off completely, for instance, I would need surgery and it'll take 14 weeks to recover. That's why we try to see how we can treat the muscle. In two weeks there's a scan to see how it goes. I can only try to be on the pitch as fast as possible." Tottenham host APOEL Nicosia in their final Champions League group game on Wednesday before hosting 13th-placed Stoke on Saturday.