7. LaShawn Daniels Grammy Award-winning songwriter dies at 41
LaShawn Daniels, a Grammy Award-winning songwriter who penned songs for Beyoncé, Whitney Houston and Lady Gaga has died. He was 41. He earned a Grammy in 2001 for his songwriting work on Destiny Child’s ‘Say My Name.’
8. Tunisia’s former president dies at 83
Tunisia’s former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali died at the age of 83. He ruled Tunisia b/w 1987 & 2011. He started his career in the Tunisian army & oversaw Tunisia’s military security for 10 yrs. He was appointed as prime minister in 1987.
9. Fernando Ricksen, former Netherlands and Rangers footballer, dies aged 43
The former Rangers and Netherlands player Fernando Ricksen has died at the age of 43. He spent six trophy-laden seasons at Ibrox having initially joined several other Dutch players under manager Dick Advocaat in the summer of 2000.
10. Film editor Sanjib Kumar Datta passes away
Film editor Sanjib Kumar Datta passed away aged 54. He has movies like Iqbal, Ek Hasina Thi and Mardaani to his credit. He collaborated with Nagesh Kukunoor on most of the director’s films including Aashayein, 3 Deewarein, 8×10 Tasveer, Mod & Bombay to Bangkok.
11. Climate change campaigner Tongan PM dies in New Zealand
Tongan Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva, a pro-democracy and climate change campaigner in the South Pacific, died in New Zealand. He was 78. He was known as a champion for democracy & was charged with sedition in wake of pro- democracy riots in the capital Nuku’alofa in 2006.
12. Renowned writer of Kerala Sivaraman Cheriyanad passes away
Noted writer Sivaraman Cheriyanad passed away. He received the Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award in 1988 and the A.P. Kalakkad Award in 2009. He bagged Kerala Sahithya Akademi scholarship in 1990-91 for his study on the works of writer Parappuram. He received National Teachers Award in 1989.
13. Jacques Chirac: Former French president dies aged 86
Former French President Jacques Chirac passed away at the age of 86. Chirac served two terms as president and twice as PM and took France into the single European currency.
14. Actor-Kathak guru Veeru Krishnan dies in Mumbai
Actor and dance trainer Veeru Krishnan, best known for his role in Aamir Khan’s 1996 film Raja Hindustani, died in Mumbai. He trained several actresses in dance over the years including Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif and Athiya Shetty, to name a few.
15. Ramsay ‘Brother’ Shyam Ramsay Dies in Mumbai
Shyam Ramsay, one of the 7 Ramsay Brothers known for cult horror films such as “Puraani Haveli” and “Tahkhaana”, died. He was 67. He made the country’s first horror series “The Zee Horror Show”. He also made “Ghutan” (2007), a comedy horror film, “Bachao” (2010) & “Neighbours” (2014).
16. Former AP speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao passes away
Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, former speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, passed away. He was 72. He was a Six-time MLA from Narsaraopet constituency in Guntur district. He joined the Telegu Desam Party in 1983. In 2014, he was made the first Speaker of the Assembly.