Hot News

Platinum Girl - Shriya Saran

2009-07-30T06:35:00.000+05:30

Feeling a bit miffed at all the media coverage about Nayantara's move to Bollywood, rival southern belle Shriya Saran has announced, "If Nayantara is like gold, I am like platinum. I have no competitor. I have gone not just to Bollywood, but I have also been part of English films too. That's why I say I have no comparison."
Shriya is currently working hard in the innovative Malayalam film industry in Kerala known colloquially as Mollywood. Her current movie list includes Jaggubhai, Chikku Bhukku, Mallanna and the Tamil movie Kutty. In Mallanna (Kanthaswamy) with Vikram, she wears a short, sexy bob hairstyle and takes on a negative role. Is this of concern to her? "It's not an entirely negative role but has a few grey shades to it," she says, "Of course, I had my doubts, but gradually my apprehensions faded away as the role shaped up convincingly."
Shriya's Kollywood movie Kutty sees an interesting shift in direction for her. She has shed her glam image for the movie which involves her exploring her acting talents opposite Dhanush. This is a trend that she hopes to develop further in future movies. The film also features an item number from Meghna Naidu.

European stocks flat at open

2009-07-29T22:25:00.000+05:30

Europe's main stock markets opened flat on Wednesday, with London's benchmark FTSE 100 index of leading shares slipping just 0.02 per cent to 4,527.55 points.
In Frankfurt, the DAX 30 was down 0.11 per cent to 5,168.89 points and in Paris the CAC 40 fell 0.05 per cent to 3,329.16 points.

How The Pathology Of Parkinson's Disease Spreads

2009-07-29T18:03:00.000+05:30

Accumulation of the synaptic protein alpha-synuclein, resulting in the formation of aggregates called Lewy bodies in the brain, is a hallmark of Parkinson's and other related neurodegenerative diseases. This pathology appears to spread throughout the brain as the disease progresses. Now, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Konkuk University in Seoul, South Korea, have described how this mechanism works. Their findings – the first to show neuron-to-neuron transmission of alpha-synuclein – will appear in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) on July 29. "The discovery of cell-to-cell transmission of this protein may explain how alpha-synuclein aggregates can pass to new, healthy cells," said first author Paula Desplats, project scientist in UC San Diego's Department of Neurosciences. "We demonstrated how alpha-synuclein is taken up by neighboring cells, including grafted neuronal precursor cells, a mechanism that may cause Lewy bodies to spread to different brain structures." This insight will impact research into stem cell therapy for Parkinson's disease. "Our findings indicate that the stem cells used to replace lost or damaged cells in the brains of Parkinson's disease patients are also susceptible to degeneration," said Eliezer Masliah, MD, professor of neurosciences and pathology at UC San Diego School of Medicine. "Knowledge of the molecular basis of the intercellular transmission of alpha-synuclein may result in improved stem-cell based therapies with long-lasting benefits, by preventing the grafted cells to uptake α-synuclein or by making them more efficient in clearing the accumulated alpha-synuclein ."
In a large proportion of Parkinson's disease cases, the aggregation of alpha-synuclein progresses in a predictable pattern – from the lower brainstem, into the limbic system and eventually to the neocortex, the part of the brain responsible for higher level cognitive functions. The hypothesis of disease progression by neuron-to-neuron transmission of alpha-synuclein that encouraged this study was supported by findings of two separate reports in 2008. In these studies, autopsies of deceased Parkinson's patients who had received implants of therapeutic fetal neurons 11 to 16 years prior revealed that alpha-synuclein had propagated to the transplanted neurons.
Collaborating with South Korean researcher Seung-Jae Lee, the UC San Diego researchers first looked at neural precursor cells in culture, co-culturing them with neuronal cells expressing alpha-synuclein . After 24 to 48 hours, the aggregated alpha-synuclein was evident in the precursor cells – results suggesting cell-to-cell transmission. Using specific inhibitors, the research team also discovered that alpha-synuclein is transmitted via endocytosis, the normal process by which cells absorb proteins from the extracellular media by engulfing them within their cell membrane. Blockage of the endocytic pathway resulted in lesser accumulation of alpha-synuclein Additionally, the researchers found that failure of the quality-control systems of the cell contributes to the observed accumulation of alpha-synuclein in recipient cells. This is due to inhibited activity of cell particles called lysosomes, which would usually degrade and remove aggregates – resulting in their increased formation. Next, the team tested to determine if alpha-synuclein could be transmitted directly from host to grafted cells in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease. Brains of the mouse model were grafted with fresh, healthy stem cells. Within four weeks, cells containing Lewy body-like masses were quite common, supporting the cell-to cell transmission mechanism.

Summer movies in crisis in Los Angeles

2009-05-01T17:53:00.000+05:30

In Los Angeles, times are tough and getting tougher, and as the summer movie season’s first half launches on Friday with X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Hollywood is banking on escapist fare and fantasy flicks to cheer recession-weary audiences. Following Wolverine comes the big-budget reboot of Star Trek, conspiracy-minded Angels & Demons and action-packed Terminator Salvation. And the summer’s stars are A-list too, from Tom Hanks to Will Ferrell to Jennifer Aniston. Why all the hype around Hollywood’s summer that starts in May and runs through August? Those four months can rake-in up to 40% of annual ticket sales, so if summer tanks from the start, Hollywood dips into its own financial funk. But one star says he’s not feeling any pressure from appearing in the first big film: Hugh Wolverine Jackman. “Whatever (launch) date it is, I’d want it to do well,” Jackman said about his new X-Men movie. “I probably put more credence into that — whether people have a great time — than how well it does at the box office. I’m a big believer that money and box office will take care” of themselves. Despite an unfinished version of the movie that leaked online, Wolverine — in which Jackman plays a “mutant” battling bad guys with his retractable claws — is expected to boost box office in an already strong year as fans look to escape the hum-drum of everyday life. Year-to-date, the US box office stands at $3.06 billion, which is up 17.4% from the year before, according to box office tracker Media by Numbers. Of course, Wolverine is not the only game in Tinseltown. It opens Friday against romance Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, starring Matthew McConaughey as a Scrooge-like womaniser visited by ghosts that help him renew his love for a childhood sweetheart. Also that first big weekend is animated adventure Battle for Terra, about a peaceful alien planet invaded by humans.

I won't mind wearing a bikini: Anjana Sukhani

2009-04-26T11:52:00.001+05:30

Anjana Sukhani says she is game for bikinis if her role really demands it. Though she has adopted a glamorous persona in films like "Golmaal Returns" and "Salaam-E-Ishq", the actress is yet to join the bikini brigade. "It's not in my wish list either. However, there comes a point in your career where you get a film that requires you to shed your inhibitions. Of course, the role that I play has to be of utmost importance - if it is justified for the character to wear a bikini, then I won't fret about it," Anjana told. Skin show has taken a different dimension in the last few months with actresses like Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Minissha Lamba and Amisha Patel getting into the swim wear for their roles. Also with dozens of film and fashion agazines hitting the stands, actresses are making a bee line to be seen on the cover. "I'm very sure about the fact that posing seductively for the camera doesn't really pay. It can't help you grab work. What eventually matters is how talented you are and whether you can deliver goods on the screen," said the actress who had grabbed attention in the Cadbury ad with superstar Amitabh Bachchan. But being in the glamour world where beauty sells, isn't that a dicey statement to make? "Of course, looking pretty is a valuable thing, but then talent matters as well", said Anjana. "At the end of the day, it is about coming up with a balancing act. Being 'just pretty' or 'just talented' doesn't help because one of them working just in isolation can't take you anywhere. You have to have a good mix of both."

Salman's snaps in Asin's bedroom!

2009-04-10T17:01:00.000+05:30

Katrina Kaif better not read or hear the latest gossip that rumour mills in Bollywood are churning. The newest piece of goss from tinsel town is that there’s something brewing between Salman Khan and his London Dreams co-star Asin . The two have been bonding big time on the sets of the Vipul Amrutlal Shah movie and their chemistry has extended beyond their work, something that could become a cause of worry for Katrina Kaif , Sallu’s present girlfriend. Rumours say Asin has become so fond of Salman that she has the walls of her bedroom covered with the snaps and posters of the 43-year-old star. A Mumbai tabloid even goes on to quote a source as saying that Salman has gifted a flat to Asin, who used to have permanent residence only in South till recently. Now, thanks to the said flat in Lokhandwala, she has a working base in Mumbai. Another similar rumour doing the rounds in Bollywood is that of growing closeness between Preity Zinta and hotelier, businessman and small-time actor Vikram Chatwal . Cracks have reportedly appeared in Preity’s love life with longtime beau Ness Wadia, while on the other hand, Vikram’s marriage with Priya Sachdev is said to be on the rocks. With their respective romantic affairs going through a rough patch, Preity and Vikram have begun bonding well, and the sparking chemistry between them was for all to see at the after party of Mai Mumbai show at Lakme Fashion Week.

Jade Goody dies in her sleep

2009-03-22T20:53:00.002+05:30

Terminally ill British television reality star Jade Goody died in her sleep in the wee hours on Sunday, her publicist Max Clifford announced. Goody, 27, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer in August last year, is survived by her two sons Freddy and Bobby and husband Jack Tweed. The dental nurse died at home in Upshire, Essex, UK, after a very public battle with the disease. She shot into fame as a Big Brother contestant in 2002. She also participated in the Indian version of Big Brother, called Bigg Boss. It was here that she learnt that she had the dreaded disease. From being brought up in a small house in southeast London to becoming one of the most hated-turned-loved persons in Britain, Shilpa Shetty's bete noire in Big Brother, Goody always lived her life for the cameras. Born as Jade Cerisa Lorraine Goody on June 5, 1981, her mother Jackiey Budden raised her as a single parent after her father left them when she was just two years old. Goody had openly spoken about her troubled childhood and her struggle to get an education saying that her poverty-ridden early days prompted her to secure a better future for her sons from a relationship with television presenter Jeff Brazier.

'Jodha Akbar' bags top awards in Filmfare

2009-03-01T07:42:00.000+05:30

The 54th Idea Filmfare Awards draws to a close with 'Jodha Akbar' making a clean sweep taking home the Best Movie, Director, Actor, Lyrics and Background Score awards. Priyanka Chopra wins the Best Actress award for 'Fashion'. AND THE AWARD GOES TO Best Movie : Jodha Akbar Best Director : Ashutosh Gowarikar for Jodha Akbar Best Actor in a Leading role (Male): Hrithik Roshan for Jodha Akbar Best Actor in a Leading role (Female): Priyanka Chopra for Fashion Critic Awards Best Actress : Sahana Goswami for Rock On! Best Actor : Manjit Singh for Oye Lucky! Lucy Oye! Best Jury Award : Nishikant Kamat for Mumbai Meri Jaan Special jury mention to Prateik Babbar and Purab Kohli for Jaane tu ... and Rock on! respectively. Lifetime Achievement Award : Bhanu Athaiya, Om Puri Best Actor in Supporting Role (Male): Arjun Rampal for Rock On! Best Actor in Supporting Role (Female) : Kangana Ranaut for Fashion Best Dialogue : Manu Rishi for Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! Best Screenplay : Yogendra Vinayak Joshi, Upendra Sidhaye for Mumbai Meri Jaan Best Story : Abhishek Kapoor for Rock On! Best Music Director : A R Rahman for Jaane tu... Best Lyrics : Javed Akhtar for Jashn-e-Bahara (Jodha Akbar) Best Playback Singer (Male): Sukhwinder Singh for Haule haule (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi) Best Playback Singer (Female): Shreya Ghoshal for Teri ore... (Singh is Kinng) Best Sensational Debut (Male): Farhan Akhtar and Imraan Khan Best Sensational Debut (Female): Asin Thottumkal for Ghajini Sony Filmfare Best Scene Award: Rab Ne Banadi Jodi R D Burman Upcoming Talent: Benny Dayal for Ghajini Technical awards Best Background Score: A R Rahman for Jodha Akbar Best Costume : Manoshi Nath for Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! Best Cinematography : Jason West for Rock On! Best Sound Design : Vinod Subramanyam for Rock On! Best Choreography : Longines for Pappu Can’t Dance Sala . ( Jaane Tu...) Best Editing : Amit Pawar for Mumbai Meri Jaan Best Production Design : Vandan Kataria and Monica Angelica Bhowmick for Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! Best Action : Peter Hein for Ghajini Best Visual Effects Award : John Deitz for Love Story 2050

Traffic Noise In Residential Areas Can Increase Risk Of Heart Attack

2009-02-10T15:34:00.002+05:30

People living in environments with high levels of road traffic noise might be more likely to suffer myocardial infarction than people in quieter areas. This according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet carried out in the Stockholm area. The study compared 1,571 people from Stockholm County who had suffered a myocardial infarction between 1992 and 1994 with controls from the same area. In order to ascertain whether traffic noise in residential areas increases the risk of myocardial infarction, the addresses of all individuals over the past 20 years were identified, and a level of noise estimated. Similarly, exposure to air pollution was charted and information on different risk factors for myocardial infarction was gathered using questionnaires and interviews. No clear correlation between noise exposure and myocardial infarction was found in the entire study population. However, once people with impaired hearing or exposure to other sources of noise had been eliminated from the study, it was found that there was a 40 per cent higher risk of myocardial infarction in people exposed to road traffic noise exceeding 50 decibels. This relationship applied independently of other known risk factors for myocardial infarction, such as exposure to air pollutants. "More research will be needed to establish a definite correlation between road traffic noise and myocardial infarction, but our results are supported by other studies showing the cardiovascular effects of noise, such as those concerning high blood pressure," says Professor Göran Pershagen, who led the study. "Councils should already be taking these results into account when planning new roads and residential areas." Noise is a serious and growing environmental problem. According to the World Health Organisation, some 40 per cent of the European population is exposed to road traffic noise exceeding 55 decibels during the day. There is at present no threshold limit for road traffic noise in the EU, but in Sweden, the maximum acceptable level is 55 decibels at a buildings façade.
"In the present study, some 65 per cent of subjects were exposed to road traffic noise at levels of 50 decibels or more," says postgraduate Jenny Selander. "This percentage is probably lower for the country as a whole, given that the subjects all came from in and around Stockholm, but there is still a considerable proportion of the population who are being exposed to noise."

Shilpa Shetty learns Indian classical dance

2009-02-01T14:55:00.000+05:30

Actress Shilpa Shetty is learning the Indian classical dance, Odissi, for a movie role. The actress with the sylphlike figure has been taking Odissi lessons from Guru Ratikant Mohapatra, son of legendary Odissi exponent late Kelucharan Mohapatra, for an India-China joint film venture, tentatively titled Desire . Along with Shilpa, actress Jaya Prada has also been taking lessons during the shoot of a song for the film in Kerala. “Odissi is complicated, and among all the songs I've ever shot, this has been the most difficult…It's been a hectic week in Kerala…This wasn't any ordinary song, it was an Odissi dance performance," Shilpa writes on her blog. Shilpa added that dancing to this song was much different from other songs she has done in films. “In the normal course, it's easy to rehearse a step and add your own style to it, not necessarily perfecting it, making it fun. But here I had to not only do a different dance form, I had to do it perfectly, making it look authentic and emote at the same time,” Shilpa wrote. Before shooting the song, Shilpa went through a week-long Odissi dance workshop under the supervision of Ratikant Mohapatra at Kollam in Kerala. According to her, the guru was a "hard taskmaster". “Desire” has Chinese superstar Xia Yu as Shilpa’s co-star. The movie, produced jointly by Sharad Hegde from Mumbai and Tracy Shiyun from China, is being directed by R. Sarath.

Oil India Ltd, BPCL staff end strike

2009-01-09T21:40:00.000+05:30

After the strict step, Oil India Ltd, BPCL staff have ended strike.
In some relief to the people hit by the oil sector strike, state-run Bharat Petroleum Corp said it would resume fuel supplies at all location starting this evening, as more than 70% of the striking employees returned to work. OIL India Ltd Officers Association has also called off its strike. "Over 70% of the people have resumed work in marketing. By this evening, we will be able to resume fuel supply at all locations. To make up for the backlog we would work on Saturday and Sunday too," BPCL Director (Marketing) S Radhakrishnan said in the capital. Indian Oil Corp chairman Sarthak Behuria, at a media briefing, also condemned the strike "We will break the strike; officers not reporting to work tomorrow and Sunday will be dismissed; administrative action like arrest and chargesheet will be taken," the IOC chairman said. "No question of conceding officers' demands; will attempt to restore normalcy by Monday," Behuria added. BPCL accounts for 25% of the petro goods market in the country, while HPCL accounts for 27% and IOC the rest.

14 bar girls arres5ted in Mumbai

2008-12-28T18:16:00.000+05:30

The city police has arrested 14 bar girls. Acting on a tip-off, the police raided the bar in suburban Borivali in the wee hours and arrested them, they said. "Bar manager, cashier and one more person were arrested along with these 14 girls," R Joshi of the SSB said. Rs 1.20 lakh was recovered from the bar, police said. They were later handed over to the Kasturba Marg police station, police said adding further investigation is on in the matter.

John among world’s sexiest men!

2008-11-02T13:40:00.000+05:30

Bollywood’s hottie is the only Indian to make it to the ‘25 Sexiest Men’ of the world list put together by a large and popular Hollywood network that is viewed in 600 million-plus homes worldwide. Congratulations are in order even though the countdown to the Top 10 and then, the Sexiest Man in the World title, is some time away; only John is stuck in Philadelphia shooting for Yashraj and you will have to wait until hereturns. The rugged star stands shoulder-to-shoulder alongside other internationally acclaimed male sex symbols like David Beckham (naturally!), Bend it like Beckham coach Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Hollywood actor Johnny Depp and rugby footballer Dan Carter of New Zealand. The Hollywood network covered the globe in its search for “the sexiest, scorching, beach-bound hard-bodies; delicious hunks that can melt women with their voice and crush ‘em with their sizzling sex appeal”. John fell into the net that was cast acrossAsia. Interestingly, John’s own definition of sexy is Hollywood actor George Clooney. Why Clooney? “For the strange reason that, at 47, he has perfected the art of ageing beautifully,” replied John who is 36. “I think Clooney’s sex appeal lies in that. Indian actors don’t know how to carry age, we try to be young; look at Brad Pitt, Pierce Brosnan, they are sexy because they show their age and don’t try to hide it.” His own sexuality, John shyly admitted when asked what rocketed him from Bollywood to Hollywood in the sex stakes, was his individuality. “I don’t know how to be, look, and act like anybody else,” he admitted. But what was physically sexy about him since Hollywood doesn’t score brownie points for individuality? “Well, my smile,” John added reluctantly. “Six packs cannot substitute for honesty on the face.”

Cricketer Harbhajan sorry for playing Ravan

2008-10-20T14:42:00.000+05:30

Cricketer Harbhajan Singh under attack for taking part in a TV reality show dressed as mythological character Ravan, apologised and vowed “never to do anything that could hurt religious sentiments of any community”."I apologise if my actions have hurt anybody. It was not my intention to hurt sentiments of anyone which includes members of my own community," the off-spinner told reporters in Chandigarh."It will be my sincere endeavour not to repeat such things in future," said Singh, currently playing in the first Test match against Australia at Mohali.

THANKS TO LG INDIA

2008-09-16T09:40:00.002+05:30

Hi Friends……!!
Today, I want to share my experience with LG Product.
1st of all , I want to thank LG INDIA and the Service Center Staff of Gurgaon Service Center for their service and support, they provided.
I purchased LG Split AC last year from M/s Regal Electronics, Gurgaon and it was installed by M/s Regal Electronics.
But it was the bad luck that the AC didn’t function well from the day, it was installed.
There was water leakage from the indoor unit. I made compliant to LG Helpline (Noida). The compliant was attended on time.
But the problem could not remove. I made compliant again and again, the technicians visited again and again, but all in vain.
I sent mails to LG India and requested the related officials explaining all the condition with the pictures of the water falling unit.
The responsible personal from the Service Center, visited my home and checked the AC.
My AC was replaced with a new one.
I, again thank LG India, particularly Satender Raghav Ji, Mr. Joshi/Doshi Ji, Mr. Mohit Ji and other related personals from Gurgaon/NCR Service Center, who did good efforts and helped me in this matter.
Friends, I was told my some of my friends that the service and products of LG INDIA are not much good.
But, friends, as far as my experience is concerned, I hereby recommend LG Products and Service, the best service provided.
Once again I thank LG INDIA for their support and service!!!!

The sexy actress and her mother

2008-08-28T09:21:00.001+05:30

The sexy actress and her mother have been supporting NGOs in suburban Mumbai that take in beggar children, give them shelter and try to put them up in schools. Last year, a girl child got molested in one such shelter, and when Sameera’s mother got the police involved... the landlady of the shelter was pressurised by the molester to evict all the children and shut down the home. “It happened on Independence Day,” revealed Sameera, “and that’s when I decided to do something for these children. One year later, on this August 15, the actress will throw open the doors of a 1,200 sq ft shelter in Goregaon East that she has managed to raise from scratch for these same street kids. “I appealed to everyone to chip in and within a week, managed to raise Rs 25 lakh,” she said. “I was overwhelmed. Even my liftman offered to help.” She’s had further luck since then. Another well-wisher has donated a place in Mulund for the same cause. “We can now house the girls and boys separately,” said Sameera, thoroughly enthused by the spirit of Mumbai.

Cancer and incense

2008-08-27T16:19:00.000+05:30

Burning incense may create a sweet scent, but regularly inhaling the smoke could put people at risk of cancers of the respiratory tract, researchers reported. In a study of more than 61,000 ethnic Chinese living in Singapore who were followed for up to 12 years, the investigators found a link between heavy incense use and various respiratory cancers. The findings are published in the medical journal Cancer on Monday. Incense has been used for millennia in many cultures' religious and spiritual ceremonies. In Asia, people commonly burn incense in their homes - a practice that is becoming more popular in western countries as well. Incense is usually derived from fragrant plant materials, like tree bark, resins, roots, flowers and essential oils. Past research has found that burning these materials can produce potentially cancer-causing substances, including benzene and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. However, no studies until now had linked the practice of burning incense to an increased cancer risk over time, according to the researchers, led by Jeppe Friborg of the Statens Serum Institute in Copenhagen. For their study, the researchers followed 61,320 Singapore Chinese men and women between the ages of 45 and 74 from the Hokkien or Cantonese dialect group. All of the subjects were cancer-free at the outset. Participants reported on their typical incense use, including how often they burned it in their homes and for how long - only at night, for instance, or all day and night. Over the next 12 years, 325 men and women developed cancer of the upper respiratory tract, such as nasal, oral or throat cancer. Another 821 developed lung cancer. The researchers found that incense use was associated with a statistically significant higher risk of cancers of the upper respiratory tract, with the exception of nasopharyngeal cancer. However, they observed no overall effect on lung cancer risk. Those who used incense heavily also had higher rates of a type of cancer called squamous cell carcinoma, which refers to tumors that arise in the cells lining the internal and external surfaces of the body. The risk was seen in smokers and nonsmokers. Study participants who used incense in their homes all day or throughout the day and night were 80% more likely than non-users to develop squamous cell carcinoma of the entire respiratory tract.

Safe Sex Ringtone!

2008-08-26T14:38:00.001+05:30

A cell phone ring tone that sings ‘Condom, condom!’ has been launched to promote safe sex in India, where condoms carry a strong social stigma even though HIV and AIDS are growing problems, health experts said. The cappella ring tone features a professional singer chanting the word condom more than 50 times, a playful approach that public health activists hope will spark discussion and make condoms more socially acceptable. "We've made a conscious effort to move the concept of the condom away from negative association, like HIV and sex work," said Yvonne MacPherson, country director of BBC World Service Trust India. "Condoms are actually health products and if you have a condom and you use it, you are seen to be smart and responsible." Nearly 2.5 million people in India are infected with HIV and the disease is still largely taboo. The BBC group, which is funded by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, hopes the condom ring tone can make people in India more comfortable with safe sex issues. More than 270 million people use mobile phones in India and ring tones, especially those featuring hit Bollywood songs, are extremely popular. "A ring tone is a very public thing," she said. "It's a way to show you are a condom user and you don't have any issues with it." The ring tone was launched August 8 and has been downloaded 60,000 times, MacPherson said.

Are you really together?

2008-08-23T06:32:00.001+05:30

he media has a tendency to portray extremes — either extremely content couples or miserable and intense ones. But the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. It is impossible for any couple to be unhappy or head-over-heels in love with each other all the time. Every relationship has its ups and downs. However, there are some ways to create a strong bond with your lover. Give your partner space Couples that are in solid relationships are not clingy and give each other enough space. This doesn't mean that they don't do anything together. But they don't feel the need to be stuck together all the time nor do they keep an eye on their partners. Only once you are happy with yourself and don't need constant approval from your partner, can you enjoy the space. Positive support Couples in good relationships give each other emotional support and don't put each other down in front of family or friends. Instead, they discuss their problems in private. If you are upset with your partner and feel a strong need to vent your frustration, take him/her to another room where you can talk in peace, instead of making a scene. Quiet moments Content couples don't feel a constant need to talk to each other. You and your partner can be sitting in the room together and reading. Sometimes the physical presence of the other person is more than enough. Share responsibilities It is important to ensure that both of you share equal responsibilities. Especially when it comes to domestic chores, take turns in doing the laundry or picking up the children from school. It shouldn't be that one person in the relationship handles all the tasks and the other doesn't pitch in.

Shilpa Shetty is the highest paid bollywood girl!

2008-08-18T09:06:00.002+05:30

Is it possible for a girl??

We have heard that the actress is slated to become the highest paid female anchor in the history of television in India. Sources reveal that Shilpa Shetty has been offered the popular reality show deal at a whopping Rs 10 crores. And, this makes her the highest paid female anchor on Indian television. Must add, Shilpa mein hai dum!

so, therez no substitute of this girl ryt now

Delhi : 49 babies die during clinical trials at AIIMS

2008-08-18T09:03:00.000+05:30

What kind of research and trial is this?
As many as 49 babies, many of whom hadn't even celebrated their first birthday, have died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences while being subjected to clinical trials for testing new drugs and therapies over the last two and a half years. Responding to a Right to Information (RTI) query on clinical trials on babies, the AIIMS administration admitted that of the 4,142 babies — 2,728 of whom were below the age of one — who were enrolled for clinical trials by the institute's department of paediatrics, 49 had died since January 1, 2006. The department conducted 42 sets of trials on babies during this period. In its reply, AIIMS said the deaths amounted to a 1.18% mortality rate. The RTI query was filed by Rahul Verma of Uday Foundation for Congenital Defects and Rare Blood Groups, an NGO. Clinical trials are the final stage of research conducted to answer questions about safety and efficacy of vaccines, drugs and devices, new therapies and forms of care or new ways of using known treatments. Many of these trials are for foreign drugs. India recently pipped China to become Asia's most popular destination for conducting clinical trials. According to the Planning Commission, 139 new trials were outsourced to India recently compared with 98 in China. The cost of conducting trials in India is 20% to 60% of the cost in industrialized countries. The RTI query also digs out information on the top drugs (according to volume of consumption) made in a foreign country that were used during the trials on the babies. AIIMS has said five foreign-manufactured medicines were tested during the trials. They were zinc tablets for treating zinc deficiency and serving as a nutritional supplement, olmesartan and valsartan for treating blood pressure-related problems, rituximab for treating chronic focal encephalitis and gene-activated human glucocerebrosidase for treating Gaucher's disease, which affects the liver. AIIMS said it had taken clearance for the trials from its own ethics committee, the health ministry steering committee (HMSC) on ethics and the national ethics committees of ICMR and DBT. Speaking to TOI, Verma said, "This is shocking. We decided to file the RTI when we saw parents unable to admit their seriously ill children at AIIMS while children of some other poor and illiterate families were being kept in the hospital needlessly for a long time." He added, "AIIMS said in its reply that families of patients are given social counselling before trials are started. With most patients in AIIMS being illiterate and belonging to extremely poor families, I doubt if they even understand what a clinical trial is and what their children are being subjected to."

It's possible to be fit and fat

2008-08-14T14:25:00.000+05:30

It may be possible to be both fat and healthy, researchers reported, for at least half of overweight adults, and close to a third of obese men and women, have normal blood pressure, cholesterol and other measures of heart health. And being lean does not necessarily protect people, either. Close to a quarter of normal-weight American adults in one study had risk factors for heart disease or diabetes. "We really don't know as much about obesity as we think we do," Judith Wylie-Rosett of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, who oversaw the study, said on Monday. "A considerable proportion of overweight and obese US adults are metabolically healthy, whereas a considerable proportion of normal-weight adults express a clustering of cardiometabolic abnormalities," Wylie-Rosett and Rachel Wildman and colleagues wrote in their report, published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine. Wylie-Rosett's team looked at data on 5,440 men and women who were examined and filled out questionnaires for the National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys between 1999 and 2004. Most did not exercise very much. They found just over 51% of those who were overweight, and 31.7% of those who were obese, had healthy levels of cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and other measures linked to heart disease. These measures have been shown in many other studies to predict heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and other heart disease, although this particular study did not look at whether people suffered any of these problems. More than 23% of those who were at a healthy weight had two or more unhealthy readings, the researchers found.

Paris Hilton's pregnancy

2008-06-07T11:28:00.001+05:30

The 27-year-old socialite’s rep said that reports are "completely false." Rumours started off when she wore a green satin slip-dress to Crown Bar in Los Angeles.
However, Paris admits that she wouldn't mind having kids. “I love kids, so one day I’ll have some of my own,” Usmagazine.com quoted her as saying. When asked whether she wants children with beau Benji Madden, she replied, "Maybe ... we are very in love.
"Everyday he does romantic things, and he writes me beautiful letters," she went on. He just has a heart of gold,” she added.

Daughter was killed for family honour by father

2008-06-07T11:01:00.000+05:30

Yet another young life has been snuffed out in the name of honour killing, this time in the Rajput community, in Nawanshahr district.

Hearing of his 17-year-old daughter's relationship with a relative, Raghbir Singh allegedly poisoned Manpreet Kaur to death. Police arrested Raghbir and sent the ashes and bones of the deceased for forensic tests.

"Raghbir used to scold Manpreet because of her relationship with the boy, the son of her mother's cousin and also related to her father. But Manpreet, who completed Plus Two this year, continued seeing the boy, who is unemployed," said a police officer involved with the investigations.
Banga SHO Lakhbir Singh told TOI that Raghbir had given a complaint to the police saying his daughter had threatened to commit suicide over the relationship.
"On June 3, he poisoned the girl at around 8 am with tablets and she died within minutes. He then informed his relatives and friends in the village that Manpreet had died all of a sudden."
Passing it off as a natural death, Raghbir cremated Manpreet’s body on June 3 afternoon but some cops present in the village at that time, grew suspicious.
"When we questioned the father, he confessed to killing his daughter," said Lakhbir Singh.
Police also recovered the container in which the tablets were stored. The SHO said, "The father said when his pleas with his daughter fell on deaf ears, he was left with no option but to save his family's honour."

Cricket : 24 million watched IPL final

2008-06-03T09:23:00.000+05:30

If you were glued to your television set on Sunday, you were not the only one. Groans or cheers (depending on which team you were supporting) filled the air in numerous pubs, coffee shops, homes and offices with the Indian Premier League reaching its crescendo and millions of viewers logging on to the final between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. Snap polls suggest that over 24 million watched the nail-biting final, though industry experts say that this is a conservative estimate and the numbers could be much higher. According to Audience Measurement And Analysis Ltd (aMap)-the overnight audience measurement system-the semi-finals too drew a crowd. Though the semi-finals were damp squibs, over 20 million people watched the Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Daredevils while the second semi-final between Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab drew an audience of 19 million. The aMap has a sample size of 6,000 households in 85 towns. Media analysts say that IPL viewership has been unprecedented. TAM has pegged the aggregate viewership between April 19 and May 24 at 99 million. According to TAM, the World Cup cricket ODI final which was simulcast on SAB, Set Max and DD drew in 32.8 million people while the T20 final-in which India played and won-attracted an audience reach of 48 million. In contrast, aMap said that 27 million watched the 2007 T20 final, indicating that these numbers could be on the lower side of the estimate

Big B : I didn't invite media to follow me on temple visits

2008-05-31T17:35:00.000+05:30

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan says he cannot prevent the media from making his temple visits look like a public spectacle. Bachchan said he never invited mediapersons to follow him during his rituals. "My religiosity is my democratic prerogative in a free society. No one has the right to question it or to paint adverse malicious comments," Bachchan wrote on his blog. The actor was responding to bloggers who posted comments wanting to know what he asks from Gods and whether there is a need to make a public spectacle of it. Bachchan accompanied by his son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya walked bare foot to Siddhivinayak temple early Tuesday morning to offer prayers to Lord Ganesh. The Big B said he visited the temple to seek strength and protection and to exist with honour and grace. The actor also denied that special treatment is meted out to him and his family during such visits. "The portals of divine presence belong to no particular individual. HE is the only VIP. In HIS presence, all are equal. I deny any special treatment meted out to us. For better people management, certain locations have intricate procedures in place. If it is accessible to all and if I fall in any one legally programmed category, I shall avail it. My presence there is that of a devotee; as one with the others," he said. Bachchan said he is disturbed, immensely upset and angry by the "anti-secular" comments made by certain elements on the blog. "I shall not mention them by name but they must know that they will never be entertained or acknowledged here. They are ignorant and wrong in their assessment and accusations," he added.

Raje puts the ball in Centre's court on Gujjar quota

2008-05-28T12:18:00.000+05:30

As the Gujjar agitation seeking ST status entered the sixth day, the Rajasthan government on Wednesday said the reservation should be done at the central level and asked the community members to "use their wisdom".

"Now the entire proceedings of reservation should be done at the central level. The Gujjar community should take their initiatives to the Centre and use their wisdom," Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said.

She also appealed to the Gujjars to stop violence, understand the reservation procedure and come forward to settle the issue through dialogue.

In a full-page advertisement issued in leading newspapers, Raje sought to remind the people that lakhs of people have been stranded at different places in the state due to the agitation.

Acting tough, the Rajasthan government has clamped National Security Act (NSA) in 15 violence-hit districts as the agitation, which showed no signs of ending, spread to several parts of the state and threatened to spill over to the National Capital Region (NCR).

With the agitating Gujjars planning a "complete NCR roko " on Thursday, the Union Home Ministry put the region on high alert to prevent stalling of trains. As many as 39 people have been killed and scores injured in police firing and violence since Friday last.

While the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has referred the issue of reservation sought for Gujjars by Raje to the Law Ministry, the Congress dismissed her recommendation saying it was "immature" and legally untenable.

Aarushi Talwar urder : My husband's innocent, says Nupur Talwar

2008-05-24T17:54:00.000+05:30

Nupur Talwar, the wife of dentist Rajesh Talwar, arrested on Friday for allegedly killing his daughter and domestic help, on Saturday claimed that he was totally innocent and she would fight his battle for justice and not sit quite. She also denied there were any illicit relations between her husband and Anita Durrani, a dental surgeon, which the police said was one of the reasons for the twin murder. "Even after all this, I can say it has nothing to do with this. There is no such thing," she told a TV channel. Coming out in strong defence of her husband, Nupur said, "With all my conviction I can say it (Rajesh killing Aarushi) can't be the way it is suggested (by the police). He was a doting father. It is doubly untrue.” She added, “In fact I used to feel that I had done something good in the past to be part of such a wonderful family. I have faith in the legal system and I have faith in God." Nupur, who is also a dentist, said she cannot believe that her husband could be behind the murders. "It is not possible, just not possible. The killer is out there somewhere. We will have to fight it out in the court. The truth is there. The truth has to come out." Breaking her silence for the first time ever since the murder came to light last Friday, Nupur said they were a very close knit family and on the night of the murder, the family had food and watched television together like any other family before they went to sleep. "I have been in the house. Is such a thing possible? Do you think...can any mother sleep throughout...I think it is beyond anybody's imagination. Utter nonsense, baseless nonsense. They (police) can say whatever they want. I know it is not true. God knows it is not true," she said. Asked as a mother can she be part of a cover-up to save the husband from law, she said "would any mother do that? Then I don't think she is a mother. She is not a human being. She is an animal. Even a father would not do it." To a question about the police charge of extra-marital relationship between Rajesh and Anita Durrani, she said, Dr Durrani was like an extended family. "I have known her since Aarushi was born. Her daughter may be six months older than Aarushi. Her daughter and my daughter were like sisters. Whenever we have had medical problems, her husband (Praful) would come and give medicines for Aarushi. Even when Rajesh gets asthmatic attack, the first to be called would be Praful. In fact, we never had a family doctor. Praful was our doctor," she said.

Now Angelina considering France for twins' birth

2008-05-18T11:12:00.001+05:30

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt will be welcoming their twins into the world on August 19 this year, and the couple is considering having their babies in France, the native place of the actress’ late mother. The news about when Angelina would be giving birth was revealed by actor Dustin Hoffman, reports The Sun . However, it was Angelina herself who revealed that she was 'certainly thinking' about giving birth in France. Speaking at a news conference in Cannes, she revealed that the couple’s kids were already learning to speak French. "It's a second language in our home," the BBC quoted her, a saying. "My children are starting to speak French, it's good for them," she added. The babies will take the number of kids in Brangelina’s brood to 6. The couple is already parents to two boys – Maddox and Pax, and two girls – Zahara and Shiloh.

Is India to be 8th wealthiest place by 2017?

2008-05-07T21:56:00.000+05:30

India with its increasing number of millionaires is projected to be in the 8th position among the world's top 10 wealth centres by 2017, says a report by banking giant Barclays. The report further says that emerging markets like India, China and Russia are fast catching up with the rich countries in terms of their wealth. "Over the coming decade, the gap in wealth between the world's most developed countries and the leading emerging markets will continue to narrow with many new millionaires being created in India, China, Russia and other countries which are undergoing rapid development," says Barclays Wealth Report. Moreover, by 2017 the four emerging markets-- India, China, Brazil and Russia-- will have so many millionaires that it would be inappropriate to call them emerging markets, Barclays added. The second fastest growing economy India is expected to join the league of top 10 wealth centres by 2017 by that time its neighbour China is likely to move up to third rank from its present seventh place. While Russia could experience considerable growth, moving to 11th place from 19th, Brazil will also move up the ladder to 12th from 15th. The report says a sudden spurt in the wealth of emerging markets has displaced more developed economies such as Australia, South Korea and Portugal from the list. In 2007, G7 countries -- Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US -- contained more than one million millionaire households.

Sharmila said - Ramadoss should focus on real issues

2008-05-01T16:57:00.000+05:30

A day after Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss trained his guns on Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, censor board head Sharmila Tagore took a dig at him saying the minister should focus on real issues. After asking actors to quit smoking on screen, the minister took Bollywood head-on over alcohol. On Wednesday, Ramadoss pointed out that movies were frequently showing 'drunken' scenes as a tool of humour. He specifically targeted Shah Rukh Khan's rendition of a drunken junior artist in the movie, 'Om Shanti Om'. Ramadoss lashed out at actors potraying scenes of consuming alcohol to drown their sorrow. He expressed pity that these actors have been idolized by the country's young and old. When quizzed about the Union Health Minister's stance on the issue of alcohol, Sharmila Tagore said: "First it was about smoking, then he spoke about chips and now alcohol. I think what is primarily very important now is that he should focus on real issues like fake medicines. There are lot of drugs that are fake and it's a known fact, which is actually causing a lot of problems." While Sharmila Tagore's ire against the Health Minister isn't that unexpected, especially after Ramadoss took a dig at her son, Saif Ali Khan, for endorsing Lays Chips and even went to the extent of citing the actor's heart attack in relation to his brand endorsement. With SRK taking potshots at the minister and Sharmila Tagore also making her ire felt, it looks like that the minister's popularity stakes in Bollywood are declining.

Hey Yana! happy B'day!!

2008-04-23T14:17:00.000+05:30

Yana Gupta turns 29 today. No, the lady is not averse to revealing her age. In fact, she is looking ahead to the New Year with anticipation as according to a Chinese friend of hers, 29 is the time when changes take place, “And they have already begun,” reveals the birthday girl who will spend the day all alone. “I love to be alone on my birthday. Last year, too I was in Goa for three days, all by myself.” So no party? “I might just invite a few friends over to my house for dinner,” says Yana who’s music album is ready for release. Her book on fitness too will be out by the year-end. “I’m finally doing what I always wanted to do, sing and write,” says the Czech beauty. So will she be singing happy birthday to herself? Laughter is all we hear from the other end. Happy Birthday Yana, let the party begin!

Priyanka met her father's assassin

2008-04-15T17:42:00.000+05:30

Priyanka Vadra, who has created a flutter by meeting one of the conspirators in her father Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, on Tuesday said she does not believe in anger, hatred and violence and will not allow these to overpower her. "It was a very personal visit and completely on my own individual initiative. I would be deeply grateful if this could be respected," she said about her meeting with Nalini Sriharan in Vellore jail in Tamil Nadu last month. Nalini, married to Murugan, sentenced to death in the assassination case, was also awarded capital punishment. Her sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment after Sonia Gandhi pleaded for clemency for the sake of the convict's daughter. "It is true that I met Nalini Sriharan in Vellore central jail on March 19, 2008. It was my way of coming to peace with the violence and loss that I have experienced," she said. Recalling her mother's intervention in getting Nalini's death sentence commuted to life imprisonment, Priyanka said she did not believe in hatred and violence. "I do not believe in anger, hatred and violence and I refuse to allow these things to overpower my life," she said. Her brother Rahul Gandhi said "I have a different way of looking at these things. I don't have a problem either". Rahul said "we don't carry hatred, we don't carry anger. It's not an exercise...She felt that she wanted to go and see the person. She has been feeling it for sometime". The issue of Priyanka meeting Nalini in the Vellore jail came to the fore with a city lawyer, D Rajkumar, seeking queries from the prison authorities by invoking provisions under Right to Information (RTI) Act. Priyanka was in Vellore on March 19 to visit the newly constructed Sri Lakshmi Narayani Golden Temple. Rajkumar, in his application to the Superintendent of Prisons, had asked whether it was true that Priyanka met Nalini? And if so under which legal provisions was she allowed to meet the convict and who accompanied her? Vellore jail authorities, when contacted, declined to comment saying that they would reply to the RTI petition filed by Rajkumar.

Sexy Ayesha goes for liposuction!

2008-04-13T09:47:00.002+05:30

After Esha Deol it’s now Ayesha Takia’s turn to undergo cosmetic surgery. Esha has reportedly undergone a lip surgery and now apparently, Ayesha, who has been criticised for her recent weight gain, is going abroad for liposuction.

The pretty actress, who recently starred in Sunday, looked quite chubby and definitely needs to shed those extra kilos. Maybe she has no time to exercise and burn it out in the gym so she has chosen the easy way out. We are waiting to see her all svelte and sexy when she comes back!

Is it Pam’s Angel love

2008-04-09T15:02:00.001+05:30

Pamela Anderson is reportedly dating magician Criss Angel. The former Baywatch actress was spotted getting very cosy with Britney Spears’ rumoured ex-boyfriend at Elton John’s concert in Washington recently. An onlooker said, “They were dancing along to the music, and at a few different points during the evening they looked very cosy, hugging and kissing.” This is not the first time Pamela and Criss have sparked rumours of a relationship. They were seen together at an Los Angeles nightclub last December following Pamela’s split from her third husband Rick Salomon. The 40-year-old mother-of-two was recently rumoured to be dating magician Hans Klok, after working as his assistant in his Las Vegas show. Meanwhile, Criss is widely reported to be the father of Minnie Driver’s baby. The actress recently revealed she is expecting her first child, but has so far refused to reveal the identity of the father.

Earth in danger, warns NASA's top climate-scientist

2008-04-07T16:29:00.000+05:30

Global warming has plunged the planet into a crisis and the fossil fuel industries are trying to hide the extent of the problem from the public, NASA's top climate-scientist says. "We've already reached the dangerous level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere," James Hansen, 67, director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, said. "But there are ways to solve the problem" of heat-trapping greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, which Hansen said has reached the "tipping point" of 385 parts per million. In a paper he was submitting to Science magazine on Monday, Hansen calls for phasing out all coal-fired plants by 2030, taxing their emissions until then, and banning the building of new plants unless they are designed to trap and segregate the carbon dioxide they emit. The major obstacle to saving the planet from its inhabitants is not technology, insisted Hansen, named one of the world's 100 most influential people in 2006 by Time magazine. "The problem is that 90 per cent of energy is fossil fuels. And that is such a huge business, it has permeated our government," he maintained. "What's become clear to me in the past several years is that both the executive branch and the legislative branch are strongly influenced by special fossil fuel interests," he said, referring to the providers of coal, oil and natural gas and the energy industry that burns them. In a recent survey of what concerns people, global warming ranked 25th. "The industry is misleading the public and policy makers about the cause of climate change. And that is analogous to what the cigarette manufacturers did. They knew smoking caused cancer, but they hired scientists who said that was not the case." Hansen says that with an administration and legislature that he believes are "well oiled, our best hope is the judicial branch." Last year Hansen testified before the US Congress that "interference with communication of science to the public has been greater during the current administration than at any time in my career." Government public relations officials, he said, filter the facts in science reports to reduce "concern about the relation of climate change to human-made greenhouse gas emissions." While he recognizes that he has stepped outside the traditional role of scientists as researchers rather than as public policy advocates, he says he does so because "in this particular situation we've reached a crisis." The policy makers, "the people who need to know are ignorant of the actual status of the matter, and the gravity of the matter, and most important, the urgency of the matter," he charged. "It's analogous to an engineer who sees that there's a flaw in the space shuttle before it is to be launched. You don't have any choice. You have to say something. That's really all that I'm doing," he explained. Hansen was in Wilmington to receive a 50,000 dollar Common Wealth Award for outstanding achievement, along with the former prime minister of Australia John Howard, the US actress Glenn Close, and NBC news anchor Ann Curry. The awards are provided by a trust of the late Ralph Hayes, a former director of Coca Cola and Bank of Delaware, now PNC. In 29 years, 165 former honorees in seven fields have included former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger, former US newsman Walter Cronkite, French marine biologist Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Howard, who would not sign the Kyoto protocol when he was in office, said: "I thought it was the right policy at the time because the major emitters" were not on board." He added: "You need a new Kyoto protocol with all the major emitters committed to it. Then you are cooking with gas."

Miss India World 2008 : Parthy Omanakuttan

2008-04-05T23:31:00.001+05:30

Miss Earth 2007 Pooja Chitgopekar and Miss Tourism 2007 Priyanka Shah, Miss India Puja Gupta alongwith Kareena Kapoor on stage to crown the winners! Last year’s winner Sarah Jane could not come to the event.
Pantaloons Femina Miss India Earth 2008 is Harshita Saxena. Pooja Chitgopekar crowns the winner.
Pantaloons Femina Miss India Universe 2008 is Simran Kaur Mundi. Puja Gupta crowns Simran.
Pantaloons Femina Miss India World 2008 is Parvathy Omanakuttan. Kareena crowns Parvathy.

Both Clintons earn USD 109 mn in 8 years

2008-04-05T14:42:00.000+05:30

US Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton and her husband Bill Clinton earned a combined USD 109 million in eight years, paid USD 33.8 million in taxes and gave away USD 10.2 million to charities, according to the tax return released by them. This puts them among the top tier of tax payers in the United States. Most of their income - after Bill Clinton left office in 2000 - came from the sale of books the two wrote as well as the former President's speaking tours. Expert tax analysts started closely examining the returns immediately after they were released but at least initially failed to find any smoking gun. The presidential candidates are not required to release their tax returns under the law but only provide rudimentary information. However, they do release the returns in the interest of transparency and to squash any rumours about their financial position. Barack Obama, who is fighting Hillary Clinton for Democratic presidential nomination, had earlier released his tax returns and had challenged her to do so. The documents show that Bill Clinton made much more after leaving the While House and the couple's income shot up to USD 16 million in 2001 from mere USD 350,000 in 2000, their last year in the White House.

Jiah jale? Jiah Khan

2008-04-05T14:25:00.001+05:30

Ken Ghosh’s untitled film with Shahid Kapoor will see a change in its leading lady soon. Reportedly, the production house does not wish to continue with Jiah Khan any more and has approached Katrina Kaif to be part of the film. Interestingly, Jiah Khan has already shot for the film and is currently shooting for it. But our source from the industry informs that Katrina has been approached to replace Jiah. When contacted, Jiah said, “I have not been told anything and as far as I know I am doing the film.” When contacted, Katrina messaged saying, “Not signed”. However, when asked if she has been approached for the film she did not revert. However, a close friend of Katrina informed us, “Though she was approached, producers have not given any reason to her but have offered her around Rs 4.5 crore. Katrina is in two minds about doing the film as it is completely hero-centric

A man relocates lost family with Google Earth in Agra

2008-04-05T14:15:00.001+05:30

Agra: Orphaned at seven, he ran away from home to escape the tyranny of his uncle and was taken care of by an affluent Muslim family in northern India. Now at 20, Rakesh Singh has through Google Earth traced his village near Agra and is fighting to get his property back.
Rakesh, who developed an early fascination for computers, has found his village in Kiraoli, about 22 km from the Taj Mahal city, thanks to his interest in the internet.
"Google Earth helped me locate the village that was faintly in my dreams. I knew the name of the village but did not have any idea where in India it was," Rakesh said.
For the past few weeks, Rakesh has been running from one office to the other to get his house and land back from his uncle. He accuses his uncle of torturing him, beating him, and even trying to get rid of him after his father Jagan Singh's death when he was just seven. His mother was kicked out of the house and died under "mysterious circumstances".
Desperate, little Rakesh ran away. Railway stations became his home. Then one day, a university couple from Delhi spotted him on a train, took pity and asked him to accompany them to their home where they looked after him, educated him and gave him a decent life.

"Every now and then the days of my childhood would wake me up. My village would appear in my dreams. I kept thinking hard about my roots but with no success. All I could remember all these years was Kiraoli. I did my diploma in computers and got involved with this fascinating technology. Then I searched various districts, one by one, on the internet.
"I looked up the maps on Google Earth and finally zeroed on Kiraoli in Agra district. A visit to the village confirmed this was the place of my birth. I found my relatives and my uncle and now I am trying to win back my property," Rakesh said.
Retired professor S W Hassan, his foster father, recounting how they got Rakesh, said he and his wife were going to Varanasi from Delhi when they saw a little boy on the train with high fever and crying endlessly. The couple asked him about his whereabouts, which he did not know as he was hardly seven at the time. The boy was brought to Delhi and a First Information Report filed at the police station. In the school records his name is Bilal alias Rakesh.
"I filed an FIR (First Information Report), on June 8, 1996, describing how the boy came with us from a railway station. Rakesh has a copy of it. But no one came to claim the boy, so we brought him up to the best of our ability, got him educated, gave him whatever he wanted. I have a son in America. Our family considered him as a member and there were no differences," Hassan said.
Hassan's wife is also a teacher.
"We are happy and relieved that he has found his home though sad he will be leaving us," Hassan said. "Please do whatever you can to help him get his lost identity and property. I am a kidney patient on dialysis."
Rakesh has all the documents and is even prepared to have a DNA test because his uncle is not accepting him for fear of losing the property. But the villagers are solidly with him.
Tall and well built, Rakesh is also a trainer at a gym. He is keen to settle down among his people and do something for those similarly distressed - making the best use of the technology he loves.

How to do safe netbanking

2008-04-04T20:53:00.001+05:30

Are you one of those wizards whose Internet banking password is `Password123’? You are in August company. Most don't seem to have the patience to create an elaborate password. Your Internet banking account is only as secure as its password. A weak password exposes it to strangers and hackers. If you love the ease of online transactions, you have to learn the ropes of basic online security, in your own interest. Here are a few tips for creating and more importantly, remembering a secure password. Your name, surname, pet name, names of your kids, your birthday, your employee number, your car’s number plate, and your account number, are all easy to guess. Avoid them completely. Don’t create lazy passwords. To make passwords strong, complicate them with capitals and small letters; use numbers and characters such as !@#$% ^&*() . Create an algorithm. It could be important dates, the first line of your favourite song or your favourite movie. Like `One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest', will get you ‘1F^TCNest’. Don’t scramble around wondering if `F’ was capital or if it was `o’ or `0’ or `1’. Have an algo and always apply it. For example, one number, one character, beginning with caps and ending with the last word in full. Use the algo to reset and change passwords. Don’t discuss your algorithm, it is the formula to your password.
Learn to differentiate :-
There are passwords to your Yahoo and Hotmail accounts and there are passwords to your bank account. Don’t sweat over the small stuff. If your friend logged in to read your mail, you may at the most lose a friend; if someone logs in to sweep off your cash, you lose both the money and the friend. Keep your critical passwords strictly confidential. Also, avoid typing a password in front of someone. Passwords like ‘qwerty123456’ are so easy for peepers to figure. Avoid strokes to adjacent keys that can be cracked by mere observation.
The longer, the better :-
Short passwords can be easily assaulted. Hackers routinely crack up to six characters. If your algo is a good one, remembering may not be tough. `Raindrops keep falling on my head and I want to steal your umbrella’ can become a superb password -- RkFoMh&Iw 2SyU. Longer a password, the more secure it is. For, every extra character increases the potential for more possible combinations. Anyone who uses a combination of at least eight letters, numbers and special symbols make things hard for decryption software.
Choose non-dictionary words :-
If you use 26 lowercase letters of the alphabet and a password length of seven characters you will have 26 = 8.03 billion combinations to choose from.This may appear large but it will be cracked in 45 minutes by a common computer. Passwords longer than seven characters, using non-dictionary words are therefore to be preferred in an attempt to use 'good' passwords.
Deadly writing :-
Don’t make the password so complicated and bizarre that you cannot remember it unless you wrote it down somewhere. Commit your password to memory with a keyword or picturisation. Imagine for example, a cuckoo clock striking one, on the top of your bank building. If you don’t leave your house key below the door mat, you don’t leave your password below the keyboard, mouse pad, in your diary, or on a post it slip stuck to your monitor. If you have to store it, make it a sentence only you understand. For example, cuckoo clock above the bank strikes one. Never keep the user name and password together.Follow system rulesOnline banking comes with some preset safeguards. Your password is masked when you type it -- it is not displayed on the screen. You are required to reset passwords periodically. When you reset, you are asked for the old password for authentication. Your new password has to be typed twice, so that you don’t inadvertently set a password with a typo and are unable to retrieve it. Your account is locked after a few attempts at guessing the password. You can ask for resetting if you have genuinely lost the password. As most writers on the subject say, a password is like your toothbrush: choose carefully, change regularly, and never share it with anyone.

Why Madonna sleeps with her mobile phone

2008-04-04T20:45:00.000+05:30

Pop superstar Madonna sleeps with her mobile phone and so does her husband Guy Ritchie. She says it is not unromantic. She says, “We lie right next to each other with our cell phones under our pillows. It is not unromantic, it’s practical. I’m sure loads of couples keep their mobile phones in bed with them.” She further adds, “I often wake up in the middle of the night and remember that I’ve forgotten something, so I jump up and make notes.”

Tanushree Dutta : I want justice

2008-04-01T21:37:00.001+05:30

It looks like Tanushree Dutta will not let go of this issue without a fight. Here’s a recap: Tanushree was supposed to do an item number in the film Horn Ok Please. But she refused to do an intimate step with Nana Patekar, and so got kicked out of the film, and Rakhi Sawant was given the item number. Not only that, Tanu alleges that mediapersons, along with the crew of the film, damaged her car, and harassed her. Tanu has now filed a complaint with the Cine and Television Artistes Association (CINTAA), demanding compensation for damage to property and her reputation. “I’ve spoken to Raza Murad from CINTAA and have explained my case to him. He has promised that notices will be sent to all the people involved. I am claiming compensation for both damage to property and my reputation,” she says. Rakhi Sawant may also get into trouble for replacing Tanushree in the item number without seeking a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from her. Dinesh Chaturvedi, general secretary of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees, said, “Rakhi should have sought an NOC from Tanushree before shooting for the song. She will definitely get pulled up for this.” Echoes Murad, “Had Tanushree left the sets without informing the producer and the director of the film then Rakhi had every right to shoot the song. But since that did not happen, as per the regulations, Rakhi will be held accountable.” He added, “As far as Tanushree’s complaint goes, we will look into the matter and take action. All the parties involved in the case will be questioned before we take a decision on this.” Tanu still cannot accept the fact that people damaged her car. “I still can’t get over the fact that people were climbing over my car and damaging it while we all were inside,” she says. Did Nana Patekar misbehave with her on the sets? “The less said about him, the better. If a co-star behaves in the manner he did with me, others will definitely take us for granted.” However, an eye-witness from the sets reveals, “The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena arrived on the set in huge numbers and began abusing Tanu. Nana was also present, did nothing to stop them, and Rakhi was shouting slogans.”

Only for $30m : Virgin Madonna is available

2008-03-30T08:29:00.001+05:30

Madonna will only perform Like A Virgin again for $30 million. The 4 Minutes star, who is set to embark on a tour this autumn, is tired of singing her early hits and has no desire to include them in her set lists. She said, “I’m not sure I can sing Holiday or Like A Virgin ever again. I just can’t — unless somebody paid me like $30 million or something.” Madonna also spoke about troubled singer Britney Spears, and revealed she works out to her new album Blackout. She added, “I actually love Britney’s new album. I usually work out to her record. I do a combination of Pilates and dance aerobics. People need to step off. For real, let’s go save her.”

Different D A to Babu??

2008-03-30T08:25:00.001+05:30

Here's some good news for babus – a clear majority of the youth in some of India's biggest cities believes there's nothing wrong with the goodies they have got from the Sixth Pay Commission. What's more, there's even a section that believes they should have got bigger pay hikes. That's the finding of a six-city opinion poll done among college-going students exclusively for TOI by Synovate, a global market research agency. The poll was conducted among students from the elite IIMs and IITs as well as those from government colleges and approval for the pay hikes cuts across both segments. Overall almost two-thirds approved of the hikes and if we add the 11% who felt the hikes should have been even higher, that's an impressive three-fourths of all respondents who felt that the pay increases were not overly generous. However, there were variations in the response to this question across cities. In Delhi, for instance, 89% were in favour of the recommendations being implemented, while in Mumbai — at the other end of the scale — only 43% approved of it. The approval ratings were in the high range for Chennai (76%) and Bangalore (64%), but much lower in Ahmedabad (56%) and Kolkata (48%). Interestingly, there was hardly any difference between the responses from the IIMs/IITs and those from government colleges. In fact, if anything the elite institutions were slightly more inclined to approve of the pay hikes than the others. But should pay hikes have been linked to productivity in some way? An overwhelming 80% said they should have been. Here again, there were greater variations in responses across cities than between students from different types of institutions. In Delhi, 95% wanted such a link to be made, whereas in Kolkata and Ahmedabad those seeking productivity-linked wage hikes were only 68% and 69% respectively. Have the latest pay increases made a difference to the way the students perceive government jobs as a career option? We first asked them how many of them would have sought government jobs before these hikes. The answer was a surprisingly high 63%. Unlike the previous questions, the responses in this case varied significantly not only across cities, but also depending on the type of college the respondent was studying in. Only 41% of IIT/IIM students said they would have looked at the government as a career option before the hikes, while 77% of students from government colleges replied in the affirmative. Not surprisingly, Delhi had the highest percentage (82%) of those voicing this opinion. This could also explain why Delhi students were more approving of the pay hikes than those from any other city. At the low end of the scale in terms of enthusiasm for sarkari jobs were cities like Bangalore (49%), Ahmedabad (55%) and Kolkata (56%). We then asked them whether the Sixth Pay Commission's recommendations had made the option of a government job more attractive to them. Again, about 63% said they had. The variations across cities and institutions reflected the same patterns as the responses to the previous question, with 50% of IIT/IIM students maintaining that despite the pay hikes, working for the government was not an attractive option. Responses to questions on the link between government pay levels and the extent of corruption in India reveal a certain despair about tackling this festering problem. When we asked them how important a factor low pay levels was in breeding corruption, about half the respondents felt that it was a major factor and another 29% said it was a minor factor. That left only 21% expressing the view that pay scales had nothing to do with the phenomenon of graft. Not all cities reflected the overall pattern. In Chennai, for instance, 44% said low pay scales were not a factor in corruption and only 28% saw this as a major factor. At the other end of the spectrum, a mere 4% in Ahmedabad said it was not a factor, while 65% saw meagre pay as a major contributor to corruption. Across institutions, the IIT/IIM students were less inclined to dismiss it as a non-factor (17%) than those from government colleges (24%). But, when we asked the students whether the latest pay increases would help bring down corruption levels in the government, 45% said they would have no impact at all, while only 17% felt they would have a significant impact, the rest being of the view that they would make only a slight difference. Chennai once again appeared the most cynical of all the cities, with 72% saying there would be no impact and just 7% saying the impact would be considerable. At the other extreme, 17% in Delhi said there would be no impact while 37% said there would be a major impact. Students from the IITs/IIMs were less inclined to be optimistic on this score than their counterparts in government colleges, though the differences between the two sets of respondents was not very large. The broad message coming through from the poll seems to be: The pay hikes are fair enough, but don't expect things to change very much as a result of them.

Goa has just become costlier in the budget for 2008-09

2008-03-29T20:30:00.000+05:30

Your dream to own a beach-side home in Goa has just become costlier. In the budget for 2008-09, the state government has increased stamp duty on property from the average 2% to varying rates depending on the value of the property. So while the state will continue to charge 2% stamp duty for land valued up to Rs 30 lakh, an additional duty of Rs 90,000 or more will be charged for a property worth between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 50 lakh. Property worth above Rs 50 lakh will be charged a stamp duty of 4%, while a 5% stamp duty will be levied for property costing more than Rs 1 crore. “Everyone wants to own a piece of land in Goa, so let them pay more,” said state finance minister Dayanand Narvekar defending his decision. Aware of the danger of properties being undervalued to save on stamp duty, the government has also proposed setting up a benchmark for property prices, based on which duty will be charged. This is similar to the ready reckenor introduced in Maharashtra. The state has also raised infrastructure tax from Rs 40 per sq mt to Rs 50 per sq mt for residential constructions and Rs 100 for commercial developments. Meanwhile, buoyed by a 12% growth rate with a revenue surplus of Rs 141.41 crore, the state has decided to waive off all loans taken by farmers from the state agricultural department. The state will also write-off the housing loans of farmers taken from the director of panchayats. The state will also offer farmers bank loans up to Rs 5 lakh at 4% interest. It has also decided to pay the difference in interest rate to banks. The state budget has also decided to provide 50% subsidy to farmers for purchase of machinery, apart from providing support prices for various items like areca nut, paddy and cashew. This grant is applicable to also horticulturists and those involved in animal husbandry; and is expected to cost Rs 50 crore to state exchequer. The state, has also extended social schemes and benefits available to SCs and STs to all families with an income of less than Rs 1 lakh per year. At the same time it has also introduced a concept of creamy layer (which include families with an income of Rs 6 lakh per year) which will be excluded from availing of any government subsidy.

Will Shilpa Shetty marry boyfriend Raj Kundra?

2008-03-27T23:02:00.001+05:30

Well, it's now Shilpa Shetty's turn. The echoes of ringing temple bells have culminated into a possible wedding bell rumour for the duo. Apparently, Raj Kundra joined Shilpa, Shamita and mom Sunanda Shetty on a visit to Shirdi. However, marriage, they maintain is still not on the cards. And the yet-very-much-single Shilpa is flabbergasted by the 'misreporting', her publicist tells us. Not very long ago, the media got Rani Mukerji married off to Aditya Chopra, speculating a big fat Indian wedding in the city of Jodhpur. Bipasha's engagement to John was also another serious conjecture. The diamond ring on Sushmita Sen's finger began assumptions of her having been proposed to by then-boyfriend Sanjay Narang, and more recently the Kareena Kapoor - Saif Ali Khan secret nikaah was just the minds of many working overtime! But then Ash and Abhi did eventually tie the knot. Wonder what Sai Baba has planned for the Shilpa-Raj jodi.

Mrs. Bachchan i.e. Ash turns down Will Smith again

2008-03-26T08:40:00.001+05:30

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has declined to co-star with Hollywood wonder boy Will Smith yet again! Two years ago, Smith offered her a role in his comedy Hitch which Ash could not accept due to time constraints. At that time, a besotted Smith who wanted to work with the beauty queen had said in an interview, “Aishwarya has this powerful energy and doesn’t have to say anything, or do anything, she can just stand there. Anything she’s making, I’ll be there.” Since then, Aishwarya turned down two more Will Smith projects. “That’s true,” she laughed. “I had to say no to Will for The Seven Pounds and now again for Tonight He Comes (Smith’s super-hero flick re-named John Hancock). I feel awful about it. But I’ve my priorities. Family always comes first.” Contrary to reports, Aishwarya didn’t decline the film to celebrate Karwa Chauth in Mumbai. “That’s what the Hollywood press wrote... that I preferred to return to Mumbai to ‘starve’ myself for a religious occasion than to meet Will. That’s incorrect. The script reading was just after Diwali when Dadima’s (Teji Bachchan’s) health dipped. So I didn’t make that trip for the reading with Will. Is that wrong? Not to me. I’d any day put family over career.” Now Ash has said no to Tonight He Comes. “I couldn’t do it because of my schedules. Flying in and out of the country for a role is not what I want to do now,” she said. Are Ash and Will star-crossed? “When it has to happen it will happen. There’s something very charismatic about that actor. He gives off very nice vibes. He’s very adventurous as an actor. He did I Am Legend and Pursuit Of Happiness at the same time. He’s an actor, rapper, and a great family man. I like that.”

Encounter Specialist Delhi Police ACP Rajbir Singh shot dead

2008-03-25T09:21:00.000+05:30

Delhi Police Special Operations Squad ACP Rajbir Singh, known as the "encounter specialist", was gunned down allegedly by a property dealer on the city outskirts late on Monday night. The ACP, who was shunted out of DP crime branch and returned in November last year to head its special anti-terror cell, was allegedly shot dead by Vijay Bharadwaj, a property dealer near Sukhrali village in Gurgaon. Delhi Police spokesman Rajan Bhagat said that the shooting is believed to have taken place around 10:30 pm and they were informed about the incident by their counterparts in Gurgaon around Monday midnight. A Delhi Police team had been sent there to verify details and a statement on what exactly happened could only be made after it returns, he said. Gurgaon Police Commissioner Mahendra Lal independently confirmed the incident. Reports said the property dealer shot dead Singh over some monetary dispute. The Additional Commissioner of Police was transferred from the crime branch to Delhi Armed Police after allegations of his involvement in an illegal land deal last year. The vigilance probe however gave him a clean chit and he returned to head the Special Operations Squad in November last year.

Haryana all for 6th Pay Commission recommendations : Monday, March 24, 2008 19:30 [IST]

2008-03-24T23:40:00.001+05:30

Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said that the State government would implement the report of the sixth Pay Commission "by and large" as per its recommendations, but made it clear that at the moment there was no proposal to raise the retirement age of the employees of the State government. Talking to reporters in the press lobby of the state assembly here this afternoon Hooda said that the state government has already provided Rs 1500 Crore in the budget of the State for the year 2008-09 for implementation of the report of the sixth Pay Commission. Hooda reiterated that the state was for having its own High Court here by bifurcating the existing Punjab and Haryana High Court between the two states on 60:40 basis as had been done in respect of other issues, including Secretariat and the state assembly after the reorganization of Punjab. On the reported statement of Union Law Minister Hans Raj Bhardwaj that Haryana could get its High Court after getting its own capital, Hooda said that Chandigarh is the capital of the state. He would further pursue the issue of separate High Court for Haryana, Hooda said.
He supported the recent passage of a resolution unanimously by the Punjab Assembly urging the centre to rename the International Airport coming up here as the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport.
In reply to a question on the problem of drinking water in Gurgaon city following a recent breach in a canal, he said that the normal water supply would be restored in a couple of days as the task of plugging the breach was expected to be completed today. On by-election to Gohana and Indri assembly constituencies following the disqualification of two ruling party legislators Dharampal Singh Malik and Rakesh Kamboj under the anti-defection law after they joined a new political party formed by former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal's son Kuldeep Bishnoi, Hooda said the State has informed the Election Commission of India about the two vacancies and there was a possibility of these by-elections to be held alongwith those of Karnataka in May.

6th Pay Commission : Panel recommends up to 40 pc pay hike for top officials

2008-03-24T23:34:00.000+05:30

New Delhi: Government employees are in celebratory mode as the Sixth Pay Commission has handed over its report to the Finance Ministry on Monday. A major hike has been announced for Government servants across the board.
The Government will incur a one-time burden of Rs 18,060 crore on payment of arrears in the event of the report being accepted with the salary increase of 77 per cent for the starting level employees.
The hike would be effective from January 1, 2006 as per the prevailing practice.
The maximum salary of Government employees will be Rs 80,000 per month while the minimum salary will be Rs 6,600 per month.
The Commission has reportedly recommended a hike of over 40 per cent in salaries of Government employees at the senior level and substantial salary hike in other categories as well.
As widely speculated, the Commission is silent on the retirement age for government workers.
The existing HRA rate has been retained for A-1 cities while it is higher by 20 per cent for A, B-1 and B-2 cities. For C and unclassified cities the allowance is higher by 10 per cent.
The report recommends that CCA be subsumed in Transport Allowance, and the rate be increased by four times. In other changes, travel is to be paid on actuals.
The Finance Ministry will consider the report and will submit its recommendations to the Union Cabinet.
With general elections round the corner, the Government is likely to accept the recommendations without any cut.
The Commission — the arbitrator in the collective bargaining process between labour and the largest employer in the country, the Central Government — however, faces challenges that seem staggering.

Haryana to implement 6th pay commission report : Saturday, January 26, 2008 18:00 [IST

2008-03-24T23:29:00.000+05:30

Chandigarh: Haryana will be the first State in the country to implement the report of the sixth pay commission, State's Finance Minister Birender Singh claimed today.
"We will implement the report soon after it's receipt and as a result of it the employees of the State Government will get more salary as compared to those of other states, Singh said speaking at the Republic Day celebrations in Rohtak, where he also unfurled the tricolour, according to an official release here.
The only surviving member of the Constituent Assembly, Ranbir Singh, who is father of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, was special invitee at the function. Birender Singh said that the present Government has not only withdrawn ban on filling up of vacancies, but also provided employment to about 20,000 youth during last about 34 months.
A target has been fixed to provide jobs to more than one lakh youth in next two years, he said, adding it was a matter of great pride that Haryana was ahead of many other states in financial management. "The State ranked at number two after Goa in per capita income," he said. He said that new schemes involving an investment of Rs 600 crore have been initiated to enhance the socio-economic status of members belonging to Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and economically weaker sections of the society. Singh paid rich tributes to the martyrs and freedom fighters. A colourful cultural programme was also presented by the school children and 16 tableux were taken out to project the developmental strides made by various departments.

'unsexiest woman' title upsets Sarah

2008-03-23T13:08:00.000+05:30

Sarah Jessica Parker, the Sex And The City actress, revealed that both she and her husband Matthew Broderick were upset when they found out that a US magazine has voted her the ‘unsexiest woman in the world’. A website reports Parker as saying, “It’s so brutal in a way, so filled with rage and anger. It upset him because it has to do with his judgement too. ” She also added, “Do I have big fake boobs, botox and big lips? No. Do I fit some ideals and standards of some men writing in a men’s magazine? Maybe not! Am I really the unsexiest woman in the world? Wow! It’s kind of shocking. It’s condemnation and it’s insane. What can I do? I guess you can’t please all people.” Runners up on the infamous list included singer Amy Winehouse, Madonna and Britney Spears.

TIO report : Central govt staff all set to get 52% raise

2008-03-23T13:02:00.001+05:30

Central government staff and officers, along with their counterparts in defence and paramilitary forces, have a reason to paint the town red on Holi — the Sixth Central Pay Commission is set to hand them a hike of up to 52%, if read along with their house rent allowance (HRA). The report is likely to be submitted to Finance Minister P Chidambaram by panel chairman Justice B N Srikrishna any day after the festival of colours, possibly as early as Tuesday. Higher housing and transport allowances may be the icing on the cake, though there could be only a modest hike in city compensatory allowance. Indications are that a secretary to the government will have a basic salary of Rs 80,000 a month (up from Rs 26,000 with 50% merged dearness pay and 47% DA). The Cabinet Secretary, the country's seniormost officer, is likely to have a basic of Rs 90,000 (up from Rs 30,000 with 50% merged dearness pay and 47% DA). The across-the-board hike could be paler compared to the pay commission's fifth edition (1997), the best bounty so far, as the proposed quantum of hike now is a few percentage points (just around 0.40) lower. But the good news is that a government employee could, sources said, now look forward to higher annual increments, besides the regular addition of DA, which is now an annual average of 12%. There is, however, the possibility of a fresh rationalisation of DA rates (decided on the basis of consumer price index) because of the upward scaling of salaries. The increase in city compensatory allowance (maximum Rs 300 at present) may also not be substantial. The bounty for senior officers, sources said, could have been more attractive had the President's monthly salary not been fixed at Rs 1 lakh recently. As expected, the commission may slash the number of scales to 18 from the present 33, to facilitate accounting and uniformity across various employees and officers. A likely implication for senior officers in A1 cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad) could be that government accommodation might not seem as attractive as before because their HRA may rise substantially. At the minimum entry level (Group 'D'), a government employee is likely to get Rs 8,000 now while the highest starting pay in non-gazetted grade (Group 'C') could be Rs 20,000. The expected starting pay for gazetted Group 'A' and Group 'B' officers could be Rs 26,000 and Rs 22,000 respectively. Pay at the highest government (secretary) level is likely to be Rs 80,000. At present, a Group 'A' officer gets around Rs 18,000 at entry (12% HRA in A1 cities is extra). These scales would have higher annual increments.

Is Eva’s figure perfect for underwear!

2008-03-21T15:16:00.000+05:30

The We Own the Night actress — who already fronts an advertising campaign for the fashion label’s fragrance — has been offered the deal despite her recent high profile stint in rehab. The fashion house’s president Tom Murry said, “News reports of Eva going to rehab made no difference. We were already in one campaign when it occurred and it did not affect our decision making for the underwear campaign. She really embodies the essence of our brand and we look forward to seeing that carried through in the creative.” Murry revealed Eva’s curvy figure was the deciding factor in choosing her for the campaign, which will be unveiled this autumn. He added, “We are trying to get across that these new products are for fuller busted, shapelier kinds of women and when we looked at the talent, Eva was right.” Eva said, “The company has such an incredible creative legacy. I’m honoured to be associated with such an iconic, world-class brand.”

Lindsay and Jessica : dolled up

2008-03-21T15:12:00.000+05:30

Lindsay Lohan and Jessica Simpson have been recreated as blow-up dolls. The Lindsay doll reads: ‘She’s no love bug, she’s a fiery red who never says no and is always up for a good time’. While Jessica’s ‘Love Doll’ reads: “She’s sexy, and newly single! She’s dumb as an ox and never says no!’ Other new additions to the collection include Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Alba and Eva Longoria. Pamela Anderson, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez and Paris Hilton dolls also appear in the range.

RK Sharma held guilty in Shivani murder case

2008-03-19T23:27:00.000+05:30

Suspended IPS officer Ravi Kant Sharma and three others were on Tuesday convicted by a Delhi court in the Shivani Bhatnagar murder case.
Additional Sessions Judge Rajendra Kumar Shastri held Sharma, a Haryana-cadre IPS officer, guilty of hatching the conspiracy to murder Shivani, who had allegedly threatened to expose the suspended IPS officer's alleged involvement in leaking classified documents to her, nine years ago.

Three other accused -- Sri Bhagwan Sharma, Pradeep Sharma and Satya Prakash -- were also held guilty for executing the suspended police official's plot to kill Shivani.

Two accused -- Ved Prakash Sharma and Ved Prakash alias Kalu -- were acquitted for want of evidence.

The court would hear the argument on quantum of sentence, which may range from life term to death penalty, on March 20.

Bhatnagar, an Indian Express scribe, was killed in her east Delhi flat on January 23 1999.

The prosecution held that RK Sharma in his capacity as OSD (officer on special duty) at the PMO between July 1997 and April 1998 had leaked classified documents to the deceased journalist. It said that the two later developed an intimate relationship.

The prosecution also claimed that after some time differences cropped up between them and Shivani resented Sharma's bid to avoid her. Later, she decided to expose his involvement in "pilferage and passing out classified documents" to her.

It was this fear that Shivani would spoil his career, social status and married life that prompted Sharma to plan her killing, the investigation had reveale

Latest Forex News

2008-03-17T23:24:00.000+05:30

The UsdJpy fell below 99 and EurUsd hit a record high after Bear Stearns said a worsening cash position forced the Wall Street firm to secure emergency financing. News that the New York Federal Reserve and JP Morgan Chase were to provide funds for the fifth-largest US investment bank signaled more credit turmoil to come and added to investor fears that the economy is in for a long recession. UsdJpy dropped -1.66% to 99.08. It was down nearly 11% so far in 2008. EurUsd hit 1.5688 on Friday, all-time high, before easing to 1.5680 up 0.38%. UsdChf fell below parity for the first time ever, trading at 0.9973 before easing to 0.9979 -1.23%. Analysts said the dollar is likely to remain on the ropes because the Fed may have to do much more to ease market nerves, either by cutting interest rates even more aggressively or by taking additional measures to inject liquidity. In addition to providing funds to Bear Stearns, the Fed last week announced plans to lend $200 bio to primary dealers and accept various mortgage debt as collateral. US economic data on Friday did no favors for the Dollar. The University of Michigan consumer sentiment index fell to a fresh multi-year low. A separate report showed underlying inflation unchanged in February.

The Risk Today:

EurUsd Euro posted a new all-time high 1.5688 last Friday. Medium term trading range is still 1.4500 – 1.6000. Initial support hold 1.5533 Friday low. Psychological 1.5000 level marks strong key support before 1.4500 pivot point. Initial resistance hold 1.6000 key level. GbpUsd Cable advanced as high as 2.0398 last week, 2 ½ month high. Further strength might open the way toward 2.0577 3-month high. Psychological 2.0100 former resistance level marks support. Renewed pressure below 2.0000 might reopen the way down to 1.9337 January low and 1.9105 (50% retracement of 1.7049 – 2.1162 advance). Further support holds 1.9630 former Trendline resistance. UsdJpy It remains weak in the last 4-week down trendline. Recent weakness open the way toward 101.68 January 2005 low and 101.22 November 1999 low. Bottom support holds 95. On the Upside, only a return over 100 may open the way up to 110.10 strong (Trendline) resistance and mid January double top ahead of 111.92 early January high. Initial support holds 95.74 today low. UsdChf Market remains weak, having broke down through 1.0000 last Friday psychological level. Further weakness open the down to 0.9639 intraday low. Uptrend would return over 1.0000 and 1.0700 opening the way for 1.1130 (38.2% of 1.1603 – 1.0838 decline). Early January double top 1.1191 marks strong resistance.

Rs 2000 cr invest in DLF realty

2008-03-15T16:53:00.001+05:30

Global financial firms Citigroup, Merrill Lynch and DE Shaw are likely to invest Rs 2,000 crore or $500 million in the DLF Assets’(DAL) real estate investment trust(REIT), according to sources. The transaction is likely to be completed by early next week. Part of DLF Group, the largest real estate developer in the country, DAL is focused on buying and managing office space. Currently, DAL is a owned by DLF promoters and the listed firm has no equity stake in this firm. However, as per the plan, DLF will also invest $750 million or Rs 3,000 crore in the REIT. DAL had earlier planned to list the REIT, but now is going for a private placement.
DLF spokesperson declined to comment saying that the Singapore market regulation didn’t allow company to make any comment on the issue as its application for listing of REIT was still being scrutinised by the authorities.
DLF Assets originally planned to raise $2 billion through its REIT called DLF Office Trust. Given the downturn in the global financial markets, DAL has now put on hold its plan to list the REIT. In the meanwhile, it is going ahead with its fund-raising plan through the private-placement route. According to sources, DLF Office Trust will now be a private trust, raising money only through institutional investors. A private trust, unlike a public trust, is not listed and doesn’t have retail participation. DLF had originally planned to have 10% retail investors in its REIT
Sources add that DLF was reluctant to go in for the public offering as it felt the share prices may not be able to hold the price on listing even if it were to subscribe fully.
The company is now in negotiations with Citigroup and Merrill Lynch apart from US-hedge fund DE Shaw, who are likely to put in a combined sum of Rs 2,000 crore in the trust. Citigroup is likely to be the lead investor in the transaction.
According to sources, DAL would use the funds to meet its debt obligations which are due by the end of March’08. Real estate developers see REIT as an avenue to cash out of property investment. DAL owns five IT SEZs, purchased from DLF. For DE Shaw, this would be yet another exposure into DLF Group. Last year, it invested $400 million in DAL. US-based investment bank Lehman Brothers, too, had pitched in with $200 million in DAL at that time.
The other investor, Merrill Lynch, one of the world’s largest securities firm, had bought 49% in DLF’s seven housing projects for Rs 1,481 crore or $377 million. These projects are spread across the cities of Chennai, Bangalore, Kochi and Indore.
ment

The largest Deal in Delhi - By BPTP for more than Rs.5000 crore

2008-03-13T09:12:00.000+05:30

In the field of real estate, Delhi based real estate firm BPTP has raised the largest deal for more than Rs. 5000 crore beating the India's largest real estate firm DLF by capturing 95 acre land in sector 94 Noida. The consortium comprising BPTP and its three subsidiaries offered Rs 1,30,207 per sq metre, compared to DLF’s Rs 1,17,000 per sq metre and Omaxe’s Rs 80,000 per sq metre. The fourth bidder, Ansal API, didn’t meet the technical criteria. The BPTP deal leaves other big-ticket land transactions in the country far behind in absolute terms, but is not the most expensive. Last year, Wadhawan Group won the bid for a 7,107 sq metre commercial plot at the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai at Rs 5.04 lakh per sq metre. The other big deals include Adani’s Rs. 2,250-crore deal with HDIL in BKC, DLF’s Rs 1,675-crore acquisition of DCM Shriram’s property in Delhi, Unitech’s Rs 1,586-crore deal in Noida and DLF’s Rs 702-crore purchase of NTC Mills land in Mumbai. The deal is being seen as a major leap for BPTP, a closely-held firm promoted by Kabul Chawla. The company, which sold 5% stake to Citigroup last year for an undisclosed sum, expects to close the current financial year with a revenue of Rs 1,200 crore and net profit of Rs 400 crore. BPTP director Sudhanshu Tripathi told ET the acquisition will be funded purely through internal accruals. It is a staggered payment, where BPTP will have to pay only 30% of the total amount now. The company will pay the rest in 16 installments over eight years, along with an interest of 11% compounded annually on the due amount. The company may take on board strategic investors for the development of the project, Mr Tripathi said. BPTP, which has put off its IPO till market sentiment improves, is raising money through private equity. This shows the bright future of BPTP.

New Study - 70% want to talk to BPO agents of opposite sex

2008-03-10T00:47:00.000+05:30

New study :- If you dial a call centre, whose voice do you want to hear at the other end? Amitabh Bachchan’s baritone was the overwhelming answer in a recent survey on call centres. While Bachchan was voted favourite-celebrity-to-answer-a-call by both men and women, there were gender differences when it came to the other questions. To start with, the men said they preferred talking to women and the women customers said they preferred talking to men. The survey thus confirmed what has long been an open secret. The study was conducted by Avaya GlobalConnect and the Sydney-based research firm callcentres.net. Questionnaires were emailed to 300 respondents in India who had recently used the services of a call centre. They were from various income groups. Exactly 70% said that they preferred talking to an agent of the opposite sex. And almost one-third were more demanding—they wanted the agents to be both of the opposite sex and younger than them. The study comes at a time when a number of banks and telecom companies have begun diverting their customer-query traffic to their call centres rather than have people visiting their outlets. Even government monoliths like the Indian Railways and state-owned telecom companies, which have a less-than-shining record of customer service, are setting up call centres to address queries. The customers don’t seem to mind with 58% saying that interacting with call centres made life easy. More than gender, it was the age groups that responded in different ways. The youngsters or Generation Y (16 to 30 years) had the most complaints and said it was usually a problematic process. They also had the lowest service expectations from the men and women at the other end of the phone. Middle-aged customers or the Baby Boomers (46 to 61 years) had the highest expectations about service quality. The Silent Generation (62 to 82 years), surprisingly, found the least problems with call centres. They were more than happy to speak to a number of different people on the same call, as long as it helped resolve their problem. What did customers look for in an agent? Once again there was a gender difference: for males it was being helpful, while for females, intelligence was most sought after.

Is it true that Bipasha Basu tries to be Sharmila?

2008-03-10T00:38:00.000+05:30

History repeats itself!!!!!!!!!!
Old trends return with a bang, and all mommies suddenly feel proud that the knee-length skirts they once wore are back in fashion, or that short kurtas and tight churidaars were a trend of their golden era. So, now what’s making the ma’s of India happy is the way Bipasha Basu has worn her eyeliner in Race. She extends it far and wide just like Sharmila Tagore did once upon a time. But Bipasha says she enjoyed ‘drawing the line’, only figuratively speaking of course!

Doctors said - British girl was murdered in Goa

2008-03-09T09:13:00.001+05:30

Goa :- The case of a dead British tourist, which is threatening to ruin Goa's image as an idyllic sea-and-sand vacation spot, got murkier as doctors on Saturday conducted a second autopsy on the body of Scarlette Eden Keeling and confirmed that the 15-year-old girl was indeed murdered, as claimed by her family. A panel of three doctors, however, said that though they could not confirm rape, there were strong indications of sexual violence because of injuries in the vagina. The report came as pressure mounted on Goa police to explain why full details of the death, summarily dismissed by police earlier as suicide, were not being released to the family. The report, which will add to the murkiness of Goa's tourism sector, urged the sub divisional magistrate in-charge of the case to investigate the death as a homicide. Since her barely-clad body was recovered from the state's prime Anjuna beach, her mother Fiona MacKown has been screaming that multiple bruises on the corpse clearly pointed to rape and murder. But cops ignored her, saying the first autopsy established death due to drowning. The incensed mother refused to take her daughter's body from the government morgue. After the report she was going to file a complaint against the police for cover up. The case has exposed the dark underbelly of Goa's otherwise picture-postcard touristy life and revealed a web of crime and drugs involving foreigners. According to police statistics, of the 25 people arrested on drug charges in 2006, 15 were foreigners. The number has steadily risen since 2004, when the first numbers are logged. Even as the second autopsy report was presented to a magistrate, the cops clung to the drowning story. "We are conducting the second autopsy only because we are not satisfied with the first," IGP Kishan Kumar said. The autopsy was conducted by three doctors at Goa medical college and hospital. Kumar also blamed the media for sensationalizing the case and levelling allegations of a police cover up. Worried that bad publicity was hurting the tourist cash cow, Goa tourism minister, Francisco X Pacheco on Saturday demanded strong action against Anjuna police station in charge, Nerlon Albuquerque and doctors who had conducted the first autopsy.

Sen Riya is shocked! Or something….

2008-03-05T06:15:00.000+05:30

What was it??
Suchitra, who has turned reclusive and shuns media attention, was admitted recently in a Kolkata hospital’s ICU. It is here that Gopa Mukherji, a lady journo working for a Kolkata channel, entered her ward. Needless to say, her family is livid. Her granddaughter Riya Sen confirms the incident and adds, "On Feb 29, Gopa entered the hospital claiming to visit someone else and caused a lot of trouble. It’s shocking." There’s a lot of anguish in her voice as she says, "Just because we are celebs, it doesn’t mean that we don’t have a right to privacy. Especially when a person is in ICU, people must leave her alone. We are so upset, especially my mom Moon Moon Sen. Granny has got a setback again, just when she was on her road to recovery."

Priyanka won't work with Akshay

2008-03-04T07:10:00.000+05:30

Last seen together in Waqt, reportedly Akshay decided not to work with Priyanka after news of an alleged link-up between the two spread like wildfire and wife Twinkle Khanna issued an ultimatum to hubby dearest. But after a three-year hiatus, Akshay and Priyanka were to work together in Blue, an action flick by Shree Ashtavinayak Cinevision. Only Priyanka didn’t give her nod. The grapevine suggests that is because Twinkle is not comfortable with the prospect of Akshay working with Priyanka again. But a well placed source puts all wild rumours to rest. "Blue did not work out because the script was just not good enough for Priyanka. Priyanka’s declining the offer has nothing to do with Twinkle," he says.

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Aishwarya Rai working hard to get in shape for 'Robot'

2008-03-03T11:18:00.000+05:30

Not that she doesn’t have an excellent figure, but for the gorgeous Aishwarya Rai Bachchan matching Rajnikant 's agility in Robot will be no mean feat.It is for this reason that director Shankar wants the Bachchan bahu to get in shape real soon before she starts shooting with the superstar in his sci-fi flick 'Robot'.
Although Ash had put on some weight for her role in Jodhaa Akbar , she is working hard on her figure now.Reports are that Ash's current diet comprises sprouts and liquids like juices and soups.Shankar is very particular even about the smallest details in his films. He has churned up some of the biggest hits like the Rajnikant starrer Sivaji and the Kamal Haasan starrer Ek Hindustani . He wants to leave no stone unturned for 'Robot' too.So Ash has already started to loose weight, through gymming and dieting, ending recent tabloid speculation that she is pregnant and has withdrawn from the film.

Britney warned she could end up bankrupt in 4 years

2008-03-03T11:14:00.000+05:30

London: Britney Spears has been warned by financial advisers that she could be out of money within four years.
According to newly released court documents, the troubled singer had a fortune of 80 million pounds but is now left with just 20 million pounds.
Last week, Britney’s parents, Jamie and Lynne Spears, and Andrew Wallet, a lawyer appointed by a Los Angeles judge to run her estate with her mother, carried out a financial meeting at the singer’s Los Angeles home.
Jamie said that his daughter was on the verge of ending up like Michael Jackson, whose Neverland ranch is due to be sold by creditors at public auction this month.
“Britney was very wide-eyed and attentive ... but ... she’s as addicted to buying houses and new Mercedes as she is to the attention of the paparazzi,” Times Online quoted a business associate, as saying.
“There was a moment when her mother said she could be out of money within four years, and her two children would still be at grade [primary] school, when she sat up and took notice,” the associate added.
The Toxic singer’s income is believed to be in decline, for her most recent album, Blackout, and Believe, her fifth Elizabeth Arden perfume from a range that used to earn her 2 million pounds a year, have failed to match previous sales.
However, the troubled pop star’s friends believe that under the guardianship of her parents, she may be coming back from the edge.

Shah Rukh Khan: My space!

2008-03-03T11:11:00.000+05:30

Shah Rukh Khan recently bagged one more trophy — his seventh Filmfare award — to add to his impressive collection. However, when we asked him where he was going to place the Black Lady, he wittingly said, “ Masha Allah, ghar bahut bada hai...toh finding a place for it is not going to be tough.” SRK’s Mannat seems to have enough and more room for many more Black Ladies, and SRK isn’t going to fall short of getting them all. And you thought that SRK wasn’t a ladies’ man?

Isha is very much single

2008-03-03T11:09:00.000+05:30

Isha Sharvani is busy these days, but only with the various performances that she has been putting up around the country. On the personal front, the beautiful actress is very much single. Single, fancy-free and footloose, does she prefer it this way? The answer is spontaneous, “Yes, I am enjoying being single but I don’t know if I am fancy free and footloose because right now my legs need to stretch after those rehearsals,” she laughs.

Heidi Klum has designs on men

2008-03-03T11:05:00.000+05:30

Heidi Klum wants Victoria’s Secret to design an underwear range for men. The 34-year-old beauty — who models for the lingerie giant — doesn’t think it is fair that women are the only sex who can wear raunchy undergarments, and thinks a male range would look great on husband Seal. She says, “Victoria’s Secret should do men’s underwear, Seal would love that. Bloomers are just not cool, boxers are all right, but there are so many sexier things we could do for guys.” Heidi also reveals she prefers rough men. She adds, “I’m really not into make-up for guys. I like them to be a little more rough and real. I think make-up, glitter and that sort of thing should just be for us girls — men should be men and women should be women.”

Indian on death row in Pak to walk free tomorrow

2008-03-02T22:02:00.001+05:30

ISLAMABAD: Indian national Kashmir Singh, held on death row in Pakistani prisons for 35 years after his conviction on espionage charges, will be released on Monday and is expected to be reunited with his family the next day, caretaker Human Rights Minister Ansar Burney said on Sunday. Following the approval of Singh's mercy petition by President Pervez Musharraf, the order for Singh's release was issued by the interior ministry on Saturday. Singh, currently in Lahore's Central Jail, will be handed over to Syed Fahad Burney, acting chairman of the Ansar Burney Trust, on Monday. The trust will take Singh to India by road through the Wagah land border on Tuesday. Singh's wife Paramjit Kaur, who has been struggling for his release since his arrest in 1973, will greet him on the Indian side of the border with family members and friends. Indian High Commissioner Satyabrata Pal spoke with Ansar Burney on Saturday and assured the minister that Singh's travel documents will be issued on Monday. Burney and the staff of his Trust will accompany Singh on the journey to Wagah. Fahad Burney said many of Singh's friends and well-wishers in India had started gathering at the border in anticipation of his return. "The release of Singh is being seen as a significant step of improvement in Pakistani-Indian relations and trust building," said Ansar Burney. The Ansar Burney Trust, one of Pakistan's most prominent rights organisations, is also working for the release of other Indian nationals in Pakistani prisons, particularly fisherman.

India clinch U-19 World Cup

2008-03-02T22:00:00.001+05:30

Virat Kohli's India juniors won cricket's under-19 World Cup with a 12-run victory over unlucky South Africa in a rain-hit final here on Sunday. The South Africans, who bowled India out for a modest 159, were left chasing a tricky 116 in 25 overs after heavy thunderstorms forced the players off the Kinrara Oval for two hours. The Proteas, already struggling at 17-3 before the rain break, finished with 103-8, with Reeza Hendricks making 35 and captain Wayne Parnell contributing a valiant 29. Ajitesh Argal, Siddarth Kaul and Ravindra Jadeja picked up two wickets each to hand India their second title after winning the premier junior event for the first time in Sri Lanka in 2000. The excellent drainage system at the ground ensured the game was not put off until Monday, the scheduled reserve day, and South Africa were left to chase 99 runs from the remaining 98 deliveries after the rain break. Before the enforced break, seamer Argal had removed the in-form Pieter Malan and Rilee Rossouw while Jon Smuts ran himself out in a mix-up with his partner Hendricks. Left-arm spinner Jadeja struck in the second over after the resumption when Jonathan Vandiar edged a faster delivery to wicketkeeper Sreevats Goswami, reducing South Africa to 22-4. Hendricks and Parnell put on 50 for the fifth wicket to revive the Proteas, but the fired-up Indians kept the runs in check by picking up wickets at regular intervals. The victory ceremony was disrupted when about 500 fans rushed on to the ground after the match, and as soon as security men stepped in to clear the field, heavy rain hit the ground for a second time. Earlier, the South African bowlers skittled India for 159, setting an ideal platform for the Proteas to win their first junior World Cup after finishing runners-up to Australia in 2002. Skipper Parnell, who gave India first strike, led the way with 2-21 from 7.4 overs of accurate left-arm seam bowling that helped terminate their rivals' innings in the 46th over. Matthew Arnold, Roy Adams and Mohammad Vallie also took two wickets each as Tanmay Srivastava played a lone hand for the Indians with 46. The South African bowlers, who won their team a place in the final by restricting defending champions Pakistan to 153 in the semi-final, grabbed Indian wickets cheaply. Parnell provided the early breakthrough when opener Taruwar Kohli (one) miscued an attempted hook off the seamer and skied a catch to Malan at square-leg. Goswami, the other opener, made six before edging Arnold to second slip to leave India on 27-2 in the 10th over. Left-handed Srivastava and skipper Virat Kohli carried the total to 74-2 by the 23rd over when both batsmen fell to catches by Sybrand Engelbrecht in the point region. Virat Kohli had made 19 when he slashed at a ball from Malan, Engelbrecht leaping to produce an outstanding catch. The fielder then took a similar catch off Adams to remove the dangerous Srivastava, who hit four boundaries and a six in his fluent innings.

India thrash Russia in Olympic hockey qualifier

2008-03-02T08:11:00.000+05:30

SANTIAGO: Eight-time gold medallists India got their campaign to qualify for the Olympic Games off to a flying start with an 8-0 win over Russia on Saturday. But Great Britain, one of India's closest rivals for the one ticket to Beijing available from this tournament, were also in ominous form, disposing of Mexico 11-0. Prabhjot Singh starred for India by hammering home a fine hat-trick. But it was Dilip Tirkey who was first on the scoresheet with a 14th minute penalty corner before Prabhjot grabbed his first of the day five minutes later scoring off a pass from Sardar Singh. On the half-hour mark, India were 3-0 ahead with Prabhjot notching his second before Shivendra Singh made it 4-0 at the interval. Tushar Khandekar added the fifth as the Russian defence began to wilt early in the second half before Sardar, with his second of the match, VR Raghunath and Prabhjot completed the rout. India have never missed the Olympics since field hockey was introduced as a medal sport in 1928. Austria and Chile make up the six-nation tournament here which runs until March 9. Ten teams have already qualified for the Olympic men's competition with the remaining two coming from the qualifying tournament here and the next one in Japan in April. The automatic qualifiers were Australia (Oceania champions), Belgium (European bronze medallists), Canada (Pan American champions), China (hosts), South Korea (Asian Games winners), the Netherlands (European champions), Pakistan (Asian Games bronze medallists), South Africa (African champions) and Spain (European silver medallists).

Hollywood laps up Taj script for Rs 2 crore

2008-03-02T08:09:00.000+05:30

MUMBAI: Hollywood clearly has a yen for the Taj. Months after Sir Ben Kingsley made his announcement about a film based on the celebrated mausoleum of love, Krishna Shah has sold the rights of his script Taj for a mind-boggling Rs 2 crore. GenNow may not have a clue about who Shah is, but the Hollywood-based film-maker created a flutter way back in 1978 when he brought Hollywood stars Rex Harrison, John Saxon and Sylvia Miles together with Bollywood stud Dharmendra and sex siren Zeenat Aman in one of India's most expensive films, Shalimar . The Yale-UCLA graduate later set up his company, Double Helix Films, in the West. Confirming to TOI that he had sold his script to Hollywood producers for an impressive USD 4,75,000 (nearly Rs 2 crore, making each page of the 122-page script worth Rs 1.63 lakh), Shah said, "Hollywood pays its scriptwriters well. Manoj Night Shyamalan can get five million dollars for a script without batting an eyelid. But in India, scriptwriters are still paid Rs 15-20 lakh for a script, which is a pity. Leading men here charge Rs 5-7 crore for a film but writers are shortchanged." According to Hollywood trade journal Variety , the film will cost 25 million dollars and will be produced by Michael A Simpson, Judy Cairo, Ken Atchity and Chi-Li Wong. (Shah had also got feelers from Hollywood biggies like Ridley Scott, Michael Rymer and Silvio Sardi, besides Indian producer Ramoji Rao.) The casting for Taj is under way, but Shah says that since he is only the scriptwriter, he won't be in on it. "The director will finalise the cast," he says. "I assume it will have a mix of Hollywood and Indian actors because that is a requirement in the script." claimed, India-born director Michael Radford to helm the film. Radford's Il Postino is the highest grossing foreign language film in the history of world cinema. Kingsley's version will reportedly cover the death of Mumtaz Mahal and then go on to the construction of the Taj (which took 20 years' of work by 20,000 masons) and Shah Jehan's subsequent imprisonment by his son in Agra Fort. Shah's version, on the other hand, is likely to focus on the emotional conflict between Shah Jahan and his stepmother Queen Noor, who was completely opposed to his love marriage to Mumtaz Mahal.

India colts ready for SA in Under-19 World Cup final

2008-03-02T00:33:00.000+05:30

Kuala Lumpur: India colts take on South Africa in the final of the Under-19 World Cup on Sunday.
India last won the Under-19 World Cup under the captaincy of Mohammad Kaif eight years ago in Sri Lanka with Yuvraj Singh bagging the Man of the Series award in that tournament.
So far it has been a near flawless tournament for India with five wins in five games. While some have been easy; others have been made possible by grit and resolve.
"Expectation to logon ko bahut hai. Sab yehi keh rahe hain ki jeet ke ana hai jab final tak pahuche hain. To dabaaw yehi hai ki accha khelne ki puri koshish karenge aur apna last effort hai. 100 per cent dene ki puri koshish karenge (There is a lot of expectation. Every won is telling us to win the final. The pressure is on us to give our best. We will try our best and give our 100 per cent," says left-hand batsman Tanmay Srivastava.
But the talismanic influence in the team has been skipper Virat Kohli. Virat has been leading with panache and batting with the maturity of a hardened veteran.
He has made 216 runs at an average of 54 and even picked up four wickets with his off-breaks.
India's opponents in the final won't be pushovers though. South Africa creamed two-time defending champions Pakistan in the semi-final and bring the traditional qualities of a South African team into battle. They have penetrative fast bowling, robust batting and a never say die attitude in the field.
"I think that it would be easy beating India in the final rather than the pool games. There is more pressure obviously with under 19s. It is a young age. Maybe one or two mistakes and then we can capitalise on that," hopes South Africa Under-19 team skipper Wayne Parnell.
India's juniors know the headlines await them on a day they share the limelight with Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men – the men they aspire to be.

Khan vs Khan at Filmfare Awards

2008-03-02T00:32:00.000+05:30

Welcome to the 53rd Fair One Filmfare Awards. They are being brought into your living room tonight courtesy Sony Entertainment Television, 8 pm, Black Lady, red carpet and all. With Shah Rukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan playing masters of ceremony and chief pranksters, the lovely Vidya Balan a valiant foil to their masti. It’s a Khan vs Khan show as SRK matches wit and audacity with rockstar Saif in gags that will have you cracking up with their bawdy irreverence to Bollywood. What didn’t the Bollywood Badshah and Chhote Nawab do! They ran a spoof on debutant award winner Ranbir Kapoor’s towel dropping act from Saawariya , holding onto their own towels, thankfully. And another one saw them, well, rip co-host Vidya Balan of the bizarre costumes she wore in Heyy Babby. Celina Jaitley, they did not spare for her makeup. In this delightful manner, the duo kept the show alive, fresh and moving, making sure even their hapless victims seated below enjoyed a chuckle at their own expense. The event, held at the Yash Raj Studios on February 23, was as fine a tribute to the world of Hindi cinema as it was a platform for the industry’s talented top stars to show what high energy they are capable of when unleashed outside of a camera. In the audience, there were black tie and velvet gown moments of suspense before the award envelopes were opened. On stage, there was dhoom and dhamaka provided by Kareena Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, Vivek Oberoi and Neil Nitin Mukesh.And then there was drama, too, as in when Rishi Kapoor accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award from his first co-star, Dimple Kapadia, and shared the honour with wife Neetu Singh. In the midst of their tears and laughter, Rishi was overheard calling up his mother Krishna Kapoor who could not make it to the function. Tonight’s telecast of the 53rd Fair One Filmfare Awards is for Mrs Kapoor and others like her who could not be at Yash Raj to witness the spectacular show unfold live on stage. Take your seat at 8 pm and watch the stars as they accept their awards.

Tanishaa and her little yellow dress

2008-03-02T00:31:00.001+05:30

Many babes on the sets of 'One Two Three' saw Tanishaa, dressed in a little yellow dress. It was an exquisite baby doll bright yellow one. We were told that most of the girls present wanted one exactly like that. In fact, director Ashwini Dheer’s daughter, too, was adamant that papa buy her a similar dress. Now, whenever the film gets released, we too will get to see Tanishaa in her yellow outfit!

I'm attracted to a lot of men: Esha

2008-03-02T00:30:00.001+05:30

Her recent films may not have set the cash registers ringing at the BO, but Esha Deol’s unfazed by the lukewarm response her films have garnered. Instead the actress, who’s currently on a self-imposed hiatus, prefers not to mull over the past and is excited about her two-month stint in the US. “Oh, I’m jobless at the moment and I’m making the most of it by catching up on sleep, working out and re-learning jazz and ballet at a US-based dance institute. I’m also indulging my tastebuds and binging on ghar ka khana, which I will so miss there,” said the sexy star, as she settled for a quick tete-a-tete, with her equally starry Lhasa, Piccola, in tow. But isn’t she wary of piling on the pounds? “We keep trying new hairstyles, so why not try new body-styles? Right now, I’m enjoying being a little curvaceous,” she laughed. “I’m also planning to have another tattoo done,” revealed the bindaas babe, who already sports three of them. “I love travelling and exploring. In fact, I have the best conversations with strangers,” revealed the star, who is looking forward to her upcoming films — Hijack, where she plays an airhostess, and One, Two Three. Esha loves living on the edge, so much so that her idea of romance too borders on the wild. So is love on the cards? “No yaar! I’m at my peak, enjoying absolute freedom. It’s not going to last forever. I know some day I am going to settle down, get married, have a family, but till then, I just want to have a blast. ” And though the girl admits that she does get attracted to men, she’s yet to come across the right guy. “I am attracted to a lot of men, but not enough to tell them about it. Besides, I would want them to woo me instead.” And who is she really attracted to at the moment? “Owen Wilson’s my hottie! I love his lips.” So, is she planning to meet the actor whilst in US? “No, I’m still waiting to meet Sylvester Stallone first. He’s my all-time hottie and I still have a soft corner for him.” And which actor does she think she’s most compatible with in Bollywood? “Ajay for sure. Ajay and me share a very strange chemistry on screen,” she says unabashedly.

CBSE 2008: Students pleased with new format on Day 1

2008-03-02T00:27:00.000+05:30

NEW DELHI: Easy but tricky -- that is how the students described the question papers as the examinations for class X and class XII under Central Board of Secondary Education started on Saturday across the country and abroad. For the first time, 20 per cent of the questions required 'high-order thinking skills' as prescribed by the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), the guiding document for preparation of NCERT textbooks. The class-XII students appeared in the Chemistry paper while Class-X students sat for Information Technology. However, the students did not find any problem to answer them. "It was not at all difficult. Those questions were bit tricky," Ananya Roy Choudhary, a Class-XII student of Delhi Public School, Dwarka, said. She said the question paper was a bit lengthy as there were many questions which warranted brief answers. "But I could answer them before time. It took me two hours to answer all questions and I had one hour time to revise," she said. "If you are thorough with the textbooks, you would not find any problem to answer," said another student. The class-X students appeared in the Information Technology paper which was on expected line, students said. "The questions were as per expectations. We could answer them before time," Snehashis Mitra, a student of Mount St Mary school, said with a smile. CBSE spokesperson Roma Sharma said the exam was conducted in a peaceful manner.

Big B's office attacked in Mumbai

2008-03-01T09:00:00.000+05:30

MUMBAI: Unidentified persons threw bottles at actor Amitabh Bachchan's office, behind his Juhu residence Jalsa , on Friday night. Confirming the incident, the actor said, "My bungalow was attacked by four people who came in a car and threw bottles. I have informed the police and they are investigating." Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh told TOI that the men came in a grey Santro (MH-02 AL 580). He suspected the involvement of Raj Thackeray's supporters in the incident and demanded their arrest. In early February, two motor-cycle borne youths had thrown bottles at Bachchan's residence in the wake of Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) attacking the superstar for alleged negligence of Maharashtra. Soon after that, alleged MNS activists had unleashed violence on the streets of several cities in the state, attacking north Indian migrants, mainly taxi drivers and shop owners.

Budget 2008: Farmers all over are loving it

2008-03-01T08:57:00.000+05:30

The entire village of Garhar in UP's Jalaun district is overjoyed. Now farmers here won't have to go to jail, thanks to P Chidambaram. But what's that got to do with the Budget? For years, farmers in this parched swathe of farmland haven't been able to repay loans. As a result, they've had to spend as much time in courtrooms and even prisons as they do in their fields. Now, the loan waiver has set them free. Up north in Lakhnour village near Mohali in Punjab, Jarnail Singh hadn't smiled for two years since he sold two acres of his 5-acre farm to pay off part of his loan of Rs 2 lakh. "If you are being truthful, all I can say is that this man (PC) has been heaven-sent. Our prayers have been answered," Jarnail Singh told a TOI reporter who sought reactions after giving him the news. National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data from studies between 1997-2005 reveals that - and this is a conservative estimate - 1.5 lakh farmers committed suicide all over India with countless farmers abandoning agriculture. It's, therefore, understandable that the loan waiver for marginal and small farmers has been received with much relief in large parts of the country. While farmers in Punjab, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and to an extent, even Karnataka, are delighted with the proposal, the reactions are more than just muted in Vidarbha, the region of Maharashtra that has witnessed a rash of farmer suicides. One of the problems in Vidarbha is that nearly 50% of farmers have taken loans from private moneylenders because they are not entertained by scheduled banks. And it is mostly farmers in the grips of the village sahukar who have been driven to suicide. Ravikant Patil, a farmer living 35 km from Nagpur, says: "Unless one has sifarish (recommendation), one isn't entertained by regular banks. We have no option but to turn to private moneylenders." There is another problem, too - the two-hectare ceiling on land holding for loan waiver. Nearly all farmers TOI contacted in Vidarbha said the Budget had nothing for them since their average land-holding is seven hectares and their problem is low rates from farm produce which has made agriculture loss-making. Farmer leader Kishor Tiwari welcomed the waiver but demanded that the land holding limit of two hectares should be relaxed for Vidarbha. "Unless the limit is relaxed, only 40% of Vidarbha farmers would benefit as against 90% in western Maharashtra." Agrees Vijay Jawandhia: "Due to the harebrained government decision, a farmer owing Rs 2 lakh in western Maharashtra would get exemption while a farmer owing Rs 50,000 in Vidarbha would have to pay." But in Gujarat's Memar village in Bavla, near Ahmedabad, Ghanshyam Solanki is pleased - the finance minister has wiped out Solanki's debt of Rs 22,000. He says: "There are many others like me - some of whom could have been driven to suicide but for this waiver." Likewise, in Andhra Pradesh, Adem Muni Reddy in Tirupati rural mandal, who has a loan of Rs 30,000 and land around 3 acres, said: "The waiver has come as a boon." But Mohan Reddy in Jyothi village isn't happy. "I took a loan from State Bank, but it won't come under the waiver scheme (he has seven acres of land) even though I am a regular repayer of loans." In Bundelkhand's Jalaun village, suicides were becoming common. "It's too late for those of our kin who committed suicide, but the move will prevent many more from unnatural death," said Ajai Parsad in Garhar village. But, Karnataka Pranta Raitha Sangha state president Maruti Manpade has the last word on the matter: "The government should have waived off all loans of all farmers."

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2008-02-29T20:32:00.003+05:30

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2008-02-29T20:19:00.000+05:30

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Why was Ajay tense?

2008-02-29T06:38:00.001+05:30

When we visited the sets of Golmaal Returns, actor Ajay Devgan looked a bit tense. Was it the post-production work and release of his directorial debut U Me Aur Hum that had got him all worked up? Nah! Director Rohit Shetty explained, “He has to dance now, and is gearing up to do what he isn’t so fond of. Naturally then, we don’t expect him to play pranks on the sets today.” Looks like Ajay was dancing to other people’s tunes that day.

Uma Thurman is a “hopeless romantic”. The Kill Bill beauty, who is currently dating billionaire businessman Arpad Busson, has been divorced twice from

2008-02-29T06:37:00.000+05:30

Though actor Juhi Chawla will next be seen in Rakesh Ros-han’s Krazzy 4, she is glad that she hasn’t lost her mind yet. When we asked her about the crazy things she has done, she simply said, “It’s not the right question to ask me, as I am not the crazy one in the film. But the other four — Arshad, Irrfan, Rajpal and Suresh are. I play a psychologist trying to re-store their sanity.” Another ‘mad’ film in the offing! And Roshan is hoping that it’ll do some krazzy business at the box office.

I’m a hopeless romantic:Uma

2008-02-29T06:36:00.000+05:30

Uma Thurman is a “hopeless romantic”. The Kill Bill beauty, who is currently dating billionaire businessman Arpad Busson, has been divorced twice from actors Gary Oldman and Ethan Hawke, but says she still believes in fairytale romance. She said, “I think we have to keep subscribing to the fairytale until we find it. I’m a true believer. I’ve been told, by a very good source, that I’m a hopeless romantic.” She further added, “I always thought I was very cynical because I have quite a biting sense of humour, but a real professional has diagnosed me as the furthest thing from it.” Uma – who has a nine-year-old daughter Maya and six-year-old son Levon with Ethan – also revealed she has never been happier. She told a US magazine, “I’m honestly happier now than I have been at any other time in my life, and I think optimism is what has given me longevity in my career. I really do think we should search for the fairytale ending. Let’s be real about how unreal we are.”

Budget: PC may give push to green products today

2008-02-29T06:35:00.002+05:30

NEW DELHI: How green will finance minister P Chidambaram's Budget 2008 be? On the FM's table, there are ambitious proposals that may find their way into the Budget. Consumers buying green products could end up paying less for white goods like refrigerators and microwave ovens, if one such proposal finds favour with the finance minister. Incentives may also be on the cards for manufacturers entering what promises to be a lucrative green-technology market. A 'green venture fund', which could provide seed capital to municipalities ready to undertake citywide energy efficiency along with private partners, is also under consideration. For consumers, the government has a scheme to rate some electrical consumer products on their energy efficiency. The Budget could provide excise relief to products with better ratings, reducing the retail price of such products. The incentives for energy-efficient appliances and products could get extended to vehicles when there is a rating scheme for the automobile sector. An excise duty reduction on buses has also been recommended to the FM as part of a larger policy to decongest city roads and reduce the carbon footprint of India's burgeoning automobile fleet. At present cars and other modes of personal transport attract lower excise rates than buses. The urban development ministry has sought this correction in the duty regime to raise a greener fleet of urban public transport. The government, as mentioned in the Economic Survey released on Thursday, has indicated that the challenge of going green using relatively costlier clean technologies has to be woven into larger development goals. This is a sign that while some fiscal carrots could surely be offered, radical measures would wait. The odds favour caution on part of Chidambaram because of a string of state polls this year leading to general elections next year. Also, with a national strategy document on climate change expected soon, the Budget might look at offering incentives to industry for adaptation to cleaner technology. Such technology is not cheap, and so five-year tax breaks can be considered for industries which commit a certain level of investment to green measures, felt government sources involved in drafting the climate change strategy. The finance minister can also signal the government's recognition of the threat of worsening climate with measures to encourage development of homegrown green R&D. This could be done by hiking the budgets for research projects aimed at seeding green technology and providing incentives to industries willing to be proactive in this field. The new and renewable energy ministry is hoping that the FM will give his nod to subsidies for generation of solar power with plants contributing up to 5MW to the main grid. After many false starts, the government looks at a 50MW target during the 11th Plan period as realistic. A plan for duty restructuring to allow cheaper imports of windmill components is also said to be in the works. So far, duty concessions are available only on import of complete kits. A depreciation incentive has also been suggested for those wishing to enter the wind energy market. Apart from the finance ministry's steps, the ministries of oil, coal and power are expected to step up their energy efficiency as mandated under the 11th Plan. ONGC, for instance, is developing a carbon capture and storage system to minimize emissions during exploration while industry as a whole has invested Rs 70,000 crore in projects which can earn carbon credits. Coal India is going back to underground mining, a measure that would bring down emissions. The framework for a fairly comprehensive climate change strategy is already in place. The Prime Minister's council on climate change is close to finalizing a national action plan. The question is how far the FM will go to show that his heart beats for the environment as he says it does for the kisan and the aam admi . Here, the government's pre-occupation with social sector schemes, under the flagship programme, might hog his attention. The Plan outlay for the environment and forest ministry might only increase slightly. From last year's allocation of Rs 1,351 crore, it could be around Rs 1,500 crore. This is less than the Rs 1,750-1,800 crore the ministry was earlier expecting. But this would not mean more than a stumble if the government announces measures to encourage green initiatives by the private sector. "Over 85% of the work and investment on renewable energy is done in the private sector," a ministry official said. Of the forest and wildlife conservation projects, tiger conservation has already found adequate fiscal support this year with the cabinet clearing a special package for relocation of villages from tiger reserves as well as their management. However, other key programmes under the ministry might need more money.

After 35 years in Pak prison, Indian set for release

2008-02-29T06:35:00.001+05:30

AMRITSAR: Kashmir Singh, alias Ibrahim, can finally see his wish of wearing a suit when he meets his wife Paramjit Kaur after 35 years. The amnesty plea of the ex-Army man, who has been in Pakistani prisons for most part of his life, has been cleared by Islamabad. Talking to TOI over phone from Lahore on Thursday, Pakistan's federal minister for human rights Ansar Burney said President Pervez Musharraf has pardoned Kashmir Singh, and he is likely to be released by Saturday. "He is healthy and feels happy," Burney said. "He has expressed a desire to wear pant, shirt and a suit when he meets his wife Paramjit Kaur. I am hopeful President Pervez Musharraf would grant him amnesty, especially because it has been cleared by the Prime Minister. Kashmir has also wished that I accompany him when he is released." Singh was 30 when he was arrested in Pakistan on charges of espionage on June 16, 1973, and was sentenced to death. During his jail term, he adopted Islam and became Ibrahim. Kashmir has spent 14 years in Sahiwal jail, 10 in Multan jail and was there for varying periods in Miawali and Lahore jails. Burney said when he spotted Kashmir Singh in a "death cell" during one of his visits to the jail he was moved to know that the Indian was locked in an overcrowded cell for 23.5 hours a day and was allowed to go out for only 30 minutes so that he could stretch his legs. Told about the news, Paramjit Kaur told TOI, "I am dying to meet my husband. I have worked as a maid all through my life to bring up my children. Now I want someone to be with me." Kashmir Singh had joined the Indian Army on March 4, 1962, to possibly work as a spy in Pakistan from 1968 to 1970. In 1972, he joined the police department but never returned. The family came to know that he was in a Pakistan jail when they received a letter from him in 1977.

Name for miracle baby: Jodhaa or Karishma?

2008-02-29T06:25:00.000+05:30

AHMEDABAD: Jodhaa for valour or Karishma for miracle? Parents of the survivor-against-all-odds baby, the 1.4 kg girl who had a delivery through her mother's womb into the toilet bowl of a running train and then right onto the tracks, have zeroed in on these two names. "Jodhaa and Karishma seem most apt. We are finding it difficult to choose between the two," says mother Bhuri Kalbi, after consulting husband Prabhuram. Being from south Rajasthan, where Jodhaa is revered for her valour, the family is leaning toward naming her after the queen whose name has been thrust into the public realm by the controversy over the movie Jodhaa-Akbar. "Our daughter has lived against all odds. Our daughter has proved she is a miraculous fighter," says Prabhuram, the girl's father who works in a packaging unit in Ahmedabad. The buzz created by the story reported in Wednesday's edition of the TOI and flashed all day Thursday by TV channels led to a procession of people to the Rajasthan Hospital, eager to catch a glimpse of the miracle baby. "Where is the little champion?" asked one man. Another peeped into the ICU asking the attending paediatrician if the girl needed any blood. "I am willing to donate blood for God's own daughter," he said. "This girl has generated tremendous excitement and goodwill among people here with her miraculous survival," attending paediatrician Dr Raj Kumar told TOI. On Thursday, the little bundle was mostly busy exercising her fragile lungs crying and also throwing in the faintest of smiles in between as she remained in the incubator. Doctors said that lady luck would have been smiling all along as she did not seem to have landed on the tracks on her head. "Usually, children are born head first. It seems the girl either came legs first or swing around her umbilical cord and landed on her hip. She has no trace of injury whatsoever on her head, though she has some internal injury on the hip bone," said Dr Kumar. The hospital has decided not to charge any fee for treating the girl and her mother since the family is not well-off, hospital chairman Babulal Rungta said. Meanwhile, station master K K Rai sacrificed his day-off on Thursday and boarded a train to Ahmedabad from Ambaliyasan first thing in the morning to check if the girl he saved from the railway track was doing fine! "Her survival is God's will. When we found her, she was lying dangerously close to one track, crying miserably, her body turning blue and cold. I am so glad she has made it," Rai, himself a father of a one-year-old boy told TOI as he peered through the incubator glass.

Shahid patches up with mom

2008-02-28T20:24:00.000+05:30

There have been many stories on why Shahid Kapoor has been hesitating to give the go-ahead for his mother Neelima Azim’s debut directorial venture. Here’s the real reason: Shahid was never the same with his mother ever since she married Raza Ali Khan four years ago. However, the situation is now changing. The mother and son are mending bridges. A few weeks ago, Shahid went over to his mother’s house and had a long discussion with her and Raza. A source close to Shahid and Neelima tells us, "Shahid was not comfortable when Neelima informed him that she was marrying Raza. He had strong reservations about the marriage and he told his mother about it. He told her that she should take some time before taking the plunge. However, Neelima had her own reasons to not delay the marriage." "After Neelima’s marriage, Neelima and Shahid began moving apart emotionally. Shahid used to visit her, but the visits became fewer and far in between. However, it seems to be a case of ‘all’s well that ends well’ now. Some time back, Shahid and Raza met to try and break the ice and are on better terms now. It is not easy for Raza too, so both Shahid and Raza have to make a lot of effort in the days to come," our source adds. When contacted, Neelima said, "Well, Shahid had his point of view and I had mine. It’s okay. Things are falling in place now. After all, I am his mother." Buzz is that Neelima plans to cast Govinda, Shahid and Amrita Rao in the main roles in her film. Shahid will soon go through the script and give his reply by end of this month. Shahid’s parents, Neelima Azim and Pankaj Kapur separated when Shahid was only three, and Neelima brought him up single-handedly. Pankaj went on to marry Supriya Pathak.

Saif is the ‘driving force’

2008-02-28T20:20:00.001+05:30

We know how Saif loves playing driver driver, (we mean chauffeur) to Kareena Kapoor. He drops her and fetches her from all events, parties ect etc. And is always her at her beck And call whenever she calls for him. Call it joru ka ghulam or pyar, whatever it may be suitable. At the award function, too, he was heard instructing his driver: Meri gaadi, Kareena, Akshay, Shah Rukh ki gaadi, sab Gate no. 1 pe chahiye. Abhi! Looks like there were dinner plans in the offing. And Saif was the ‘driver’.of the plan, we mean! It was another thing that Saifoo lingered on post the award ceremony to bond with Karisma and her hubby Sanjay Kapur.

Katie denies pregnancy reports

2008-02-28T20:17:00.000+05:30

Hollywood actress Katie Holmes has denied reports that she is expecting her second child.
Holmes rep confirmed that the actress is not pregnant.
“She’s not pregnant,”Usmagazine.com quoted the rep as saying.
According to the OK magazine, a source said, "She has that special glow that only pregnant women have. I would say there is a strong possibility that she's pregnant."
In an interview to Entertainment Tonight, the 29-year-old actress had agreed that she would definitely have more kids but also said that for time being she was content raising daughter, Suri, who will be turning 2 in April.

Shah Rukh feels cricket is commercially viable

2008-02-28T20:15:00.000+05:30

PUNE: Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan has explained that the chance to make money from cricket and channelling it to other sports was the main reason for him to get involved with the Cricket Board-promoted Indian Premier League.
"Commerce and business are very important in today's world. Cricket is commercially viable and we need to make money from this sport," said the actor, who has bought the Kolkata franchise of the IPL, in Pune on Wednesday night. Shah Rukh said this in the presence of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President and MP Suresh Kalmadi who, in turn, appealed to the superstar to share his celeb status with other sports also. "I am very happy with Chak de India and the work you did for hockey. But I'm disappointed you went back to cricket. I want you to be made the ambassador of the Commonwealth Games and Olympic sports in India," said Kalmadi at the inauguration of the Abhijit Kadam Memorial Football Cup. "There are around 10 nations playing cricket at the moment and over 200 countries competing in Olympic sports. Cricket has many fathers and I would love to have you as the brand ambassador for the Commonwealth Games," he added. However, the comments did not go well with the actor, who took a jibe at the IOA President. "Please don't feel bad that I am backing only one sport. Sports should be part of our second nature and I am a sportsperson by heart," he said. "(My) next step would be to take it (money earned in IPL) to hockey, football, kho kho, also kabaddi and gulli danda," he remarked.

Aam aadmi's income may double in 10 yrs: FM

2008-02-28T20:14:00.000+05:30

Last year the Economic Survey declared that India had moved into the East Asian growth trajectory. The FM settles all debate this time by saying that the economy has moved decisively to a higher growth phase. The Survey continues to emphasise what it did last time - managing macro-economic growth even while containing inflation. It remains sanguine about economic growth even in the face of a slowing US and global economy and notes that the economy is likely to remain domestic demand driven in the medium term. Even while the Survey talks of effective delivery systems at the state and the local level, it remains to be seen how the budget addresses the issue of effective delivery and of managing and measuring outcomes. This time, it latches on to Per Capita Income and Investment to perhaps make the point that the high GDP growth has trickled down to the Aam Aadmi . It proudly notes that the rate of growth of per capita income has sharply climbed to 7.2% per annum - implying that average income of the Aam Aadmi can virtually double in a decade. It also points that out private final consumption expenditure at per person level is up and so are the saving rates. Interestingly, it also points to the limited capability of state governments to deliver goods and services to people. It suggests a Smart Card based System to enhance the delivery and efficiency of government schemes such as NREGA, Public Distribution System etc. The management of supply is also being viewed as a critical aspect for inflation management. The Eco Survey also indicates that the targets for revenue and fiscal deficits for the year 2007-08 appear well within reach. But, it also strikes a cautionary note by saying that the current revenue buoyancy is riding on the performance of an economy more globalised than before. Thus, global developments that have a bearing on India's domestic economy would need to be watched. It also applauds the move by 26 states to a rule based programme for fiscal reforms. On Inflation, the survey notes that the change in the structure of the economy has made inflation management a more complex task. It mentions that monetary policy mechanisms - particularly to tackle inflation arising of capital inflows-have become important. Even while it acknowledges that agricultural import tariffs remain high, it is unlikely to do much to reduce these rates in an election year, particularly when a sensitive constituency like agriculture needs to be addressed. It sees agriculture as an important sector to push GDP growth upwards and to make growth more inclusive and biased in favour of women. It also sees higher farm incomes providing equitable growth. Even here, it stresses on the need to build outcome oriented perspective in the implementation of public programmes. Increasing productivity in the face of limited area of cultivation is important, it says. It expects capital inflows as a proportion of GDP to decline, but, feels that the decline will be modest but enough to take the pressure on reserve accumulation and exchange rate appreciation. It sees the country continuing to attract significant cross-border portfolio inflows as India is expected to continue to remain a relatively attractive investment destination. It notes the importance of insurance and pension funds for both the equity and the debt markets and hints at further initiatives to expand and deepen both the Government Securities and the Corporate Bond markets. It also sees the debt markets as a critical financing mechanism for the infrastructure sector. Even while it expects pressure on the rupee to weaken, the Survey is not optimistic about exports on account of world GDP and world imports. It says that the outlook for exports in the year 2008-09 is not as bright as it was in the years before. Policy changes and relief measures for export oriented sectors can be expected. Employment is a key area of focus for the UPA government; its flagship NREAGA programme is meant to address precisely this issue. The survey notes that while employment growth actually rose to 2.62% per annum in the period 1999-2000 to 2004-05, unemployment actually rose as an absolute measure on account of a faster increase in the labour force. The share of agriculture in total employment is still declining. Expect the government to latch on to this statistic to further spread the NREGA and other employment initiatives in the budget tomorrow. The survey also points out an improvement in important social indicators but stresses on the need for better governance and improved service delivery at the local level.

Musharraf may be impeached: US intelligence

2008-02-28T20:13:00.000+05:30

WASHINGTON: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf faces the threat of being impeached if the two major parties -- PPP and PML(N) -- which have joined hands to form the next government get the support of independents, a top US intelligence official has said. The official said even though the two parties do not have the numbers with which Musharraf can be arraigned since PML(N) leader and former premier Nawaz Sharif had "an agenda to impeach President Musharraf". The Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnel told the Bush administration that the PPP and PML(N) "do not have the votes to do that(impeach), but if they had independents join them, they could possibly have the votes". The ruling coalition needs a two-third majority in a House of 272 to successfully carry out any impeachment. The PPP (88) and PML-N (66) together have 154 seats. The Awami National Party (ANP) which has 10 members and an unspecified number of independents, have also extended support. "We are watching very closely now to see how the coalition is formed, who the members will be and who the prime minister might be," McConnel said On being asked by the Chairman of Senate Armed Services Committee Carl Levin about the fairness of the polls, he said "all the reporting I saw was they were reasonably -- by Pakistani standards, they were reasonable and fair. The number of people voting was a little higher than anticipated and a little higher than average for Pakistan. It was over 40 per cent". Responding to a question that if the polls were a repudiation of Islamic extremism, he said "What I would highlight is those Islamic extremists that had been serving in the assembly were defeated in this election. So at that level, the parties that won are more secular. So there is some level of repudiating extremism".

13 crushed to death by train in Surat

2008-02-28T09:25:00.000+05:30

SURAT: At least 13 people were crushed to death under a train in Udhna district on Wednesday night, Railway police said. Bodies of victims, including two women and two children, were spotted besides the track by a driver of another train, they said. The driver of train 'Flying Rani', which runs between Surat and Mumbai, immediately informed the authorities of the incident, Railway Police Inspector H M Patel said. Investigations were on to determine the circumstances under which the accident took place, he added.

After 22 years, UK woman wins baby brain damage case

2008-02-28T09:24:00.000+05:30

LONDON: A woman who suffered severe brain damage as a newborn baby following a botched heart operation will receive a massive payout after a judge ruled that her surgeon had been negligent. The operation to boost oxygen levels of an infant was performed by Dr Janardan Dhasmana in May 1985. Dhasmana, who qualified from the Lucknow University in 1964, is believed to be practising in India currently. Marianna Telles, 22, from Gwent, could receive an estimated five million pounds in compensation after her brain was starved of oxygen due to "unacceptable" delays during her treatment. Telles’ case was described as "one of the greatest scandals in the history of NHS". , Her lawyer Simeon Maskrey told the High Court she has had "significant physical, cognitive and behavioural" problems since the operation to treat a congenital heart defect in 1985. He said the surgeon who performed the operation, Janardan Dhasmana, had been guilty of "technical incompetence". Judge Mr Justice Saunders held the South West Strategic Health Authority liable and said Dhasmana had been negligent. The amount of damages will be set at a later hearing. Some experts say they could be worth five million pounds. Telles' family began the legal action after a public inquiry into the high number of babies that died during operations at the Bristol Royal Infirmary between 1988 and 1995. In what became known as the "Bristol heart babies scandal", the General Medical Council suspended Dhasmana for serious professional misconduct. The South West Strategic Health Authority had denied any breach of duty or responsibility for Telles' condition. Telles' mother Anna Redman said after the hearing: "It is a shame that it has taken me 22 years to finally get the truth as to what happened to my daughter at Bristol."

Britney’s date with her kids

2008-02-28T00:44:00.001+05:30

Britney Spears was reunited with her sons again on Feb 25. The fall pop princess’ children Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1, were driven to her Studio House by Kevin Federline’s bodyguard for a three-hour visit. It was the second visitation in three days; on Saturday, Spears saw her children for the first time since Jan. 3 after working out a structured visitation arrangement with Federline. A court order preventing Spears from seeing her sons was put in place at the beginning of the year after she refused to return the children to Federline, reports People. After police were called to her Los Angeles home, Spears was taken to a local hospital for psychiatric treatment. She was released but was readmitted earlier this month and spent six days receiving treatment for mental health problems.

Jen freezes her eggs

2008-02-28T00:43:00.001+05:30

Jennifer Aniston has quietly made preparations for her own brood by putting her eggs on ice until she meets her Mr. Right, according to reports. The 39-year-old isn’t pregnant yet, but according to a report in Star magazine, she’s frozen her eggs to beat the biological clock. According to an insider, the Friends star could postpone having her first baby until she turns 45, and thus took some precautionary measures. Another source revealed that the actor did consider other options, before deciding to freeze her eggs, reports the Daily Telegraph. There have been reports that Aniston was considering adopting a baby, but she now seems to have rejected that option in favour of her own baby. However, Jennifer’s rep dismissed the Star story, insisting that all the claims were untrue. But the source asserted that Aniston would use the frozen eggs if she had any trouble conceiving naturally.