Ek BaNjArA

A Brother Just Like You

2009-08-06T06:56:00.001-07:00

I just want to let you know
You mean the world to me
Only a heart as dear as yours
Would give so unselfishly

The many things you've done
All the times that you were there
Help me know deep down inside
How much you really care

Even though I might not say
I appreciate all you do
Richly blessed is how I feel
Having a brother just like you.
A Sister Like You

Someone who will understand
Who knows the way I feel
In every situation
Her concern is very real

Someone who has walked my ways
Who knows my every need
Times when she would see me cry
Her heart would nearly bleed

Everyone should have a sister
Just the way I do
Richly blessed is what I am
To have a sister like you
A Sister is Forever

Gambhir, Harbhajan top Indian players in ICC Test rankings

2009-07-04T23:14:00.001-07:00

Gautam Gambhir is country's highest ranked Test batsman at number three and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, at sixth, is the highest placed Indian bowler in the latest ICC rankings issued on Thursday.

Gambhir, the Delhi left-hander with 847 rating points, is the only Indian to figure in the top 10 batsmen's chart, followed by Sachin Tendulkar (13th), VVS Laxman (15th) and Virender Sehwag (20th).

In the bowlers' chart, Harbhajan is the lone Indian in top 10, followed by Zaheer Khan (11th) and Ishant Sharma (20th).

In the team ranking, India (117 points) are placed third behind top ranked Australia (128) and South Africa (119).

Meanwhile Pakistan, currently sixth, will go into their three-Test series against Sri Lanka starting at Galle on Saturday targetting the fourth place, replacing the Lankans.

A 1-0 or 2-1 series win for Younus Khan's side will be enough to put it on 105 ratings points alongside Sri Lanka but ahead of Kumar Sangakkara's side when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.

Personally, Younus, currently the number one batsman in this format, will be aiming to become the 25th batsman in history to reach the 900-point mark.

The 31-year-old right-handed batsman is just 20 points short of becoming the second Pakistan batsman after Mohammad Yousuf to achieve the rare distinction.

Kevin Pietersen is world's best batsman: Australian players

2009-07-04T23:12:00.000-07:00

A majority of the players contracted to Cricket Australia have described England's Kevin Pietersen as the best batsman in the world outside Australia.

Pietersen, with 50 percent of the vote, was by far the most popular choice, reports The Age.

Sachin Tendulkar, Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and Kumar Sangakkara are no where close to him.

Apparently, the Australians fear Pietersen the most when it comes to an Ashes series. Batsmen want to be him, envying his audaciousness, and bowlers want to be a long way away from him.

Pietersen has made 963 runs at 53.50 against Australia, but it is the 29-year-old's attitude that attracts just as much admiration as his record.

His arrogrance has made him a abrasive character in dressing rooms, condemning him to a short and turbulent reign as England captain, but it has also made him a champion.

"He's the sort of player that is always taking the game forward. I'm not sure of his strike rate in Test cricket (63.35) but generally when he makes runs he gets them at a pretty good speed," said Australian captain Ricky Ponting.

"He's always putting it back on the bowler, the way he moves his feet, the way he walks across the stumps and does things, it's continually challenging the bowler. That in itself says a lot about you. You need great confidence to be able to do that, because if you get out doing that, at the end of the day you can punish yourself," he added.

Brett Lee was on the end of Pietersen's astonishing 158 to seal the 2005 Ashes, his debut series. Pietersen has made Muttiah Muralitharan laugh by reverse-sweeping the world's most successful spinner for six and pioneered the switch-hit, changing his grip to face up like a left-hander as the bowler approached.

Justin Langer sensed the England batsman's greatness as the Ashes turned to dust at the Oval.

"He's had the courage to play with conviction and aggression. That's what great players do," said the retired Australian opener recently.

'2008 best year for South African cricket'

2009-07-04T23:09:00.000-07:00

South African cricket fans say 2008 was the most successful year for the country's cricket team, according to an internet survey.

The survey conducted by Cricket South Africa (CSA) found that 96 percent of the fans who took part in the exercise believe 2008 was the most successful year for the South African cricket.

The survey drew nearly 550 responses, Pakistan's Online news agency said.

CSA CEO Gerald Majola said the online fan survey demonstrated the kind of support cricket enjoyed among the people in South Africa.

"This support is graphically illustrated in the most positive response to the online fan survey conducted on CSA's website," he said.

"We will study the results to ensure that we keep in touch with the fans. Their support was a critical factor in taking the Proteas to the world's top ODI spot and second in the Test rankings, and achieving the best results in South African cricket history over the 2008-09 season," he said.

From May last year to April 2009, the Proteas achieved unparalleled success in the history of South African cricket, including the Test series triumph in England and Australia, Majola said.

The final report on the fan survey will be released in the next few weeks, he added.

Pakistan's young brigade rattles Sri Lanka

2009-07-04T23:07:00.000-07:00

Teenage fast bowler Mohammad Aamer led Pakistan's spirited new-look attack to bowl out Sri Lanka for 292 on the opening day of the first Test on Saturday.

Pakistan were 15-2 in reply at stumps with skipper Younus Khan on seven and nightwatchman Abdur Rauf yet to score after openers Salman Butt and Khurram Manzoor had fallen in the first four overs.

Butt was bowled by Nuwan Kulasekera off the second ball of the innings and Manzoor was trapped leg-before by Thilan Thushara to set up a thrilling contest ahead.

Aamer, a 17-year-old left-armer, grabbed three wickets and fellow debutant Rauf picked up two after Younus sent Sri Lanka in to bat on a wicket freshened up by early morning rain.

Younus himself took 2-23 while wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal claimed four catches and a stumping as Sri Lanka slipped to 194-6 before the lower order fought back.

Left-handed opener Tharanga Paranavitana was Sri Lanka's saviour with 72, adding 75 for the third wicket with Mahela Jayawardene (30) and 43 for the fourth with Thilan Samaraweera (31).

Sri Lanka's lone debutant, Angelo Mathews, boosted the tail with a sparkling 42 off 57 balls during a 47-run stand for the seventh wicket with Kulasekera, who made 38.

The three-match series is the first between the two nations since armed gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in the Pakistani city of Lahore on March 3 while the squad was en route to resume a Test match.

The attack injured seven Sri Lankan players and eight local security men were killed.

The match began less than a fortnight after Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka in the World Twenty20 final in England on June 21.

Aamer, one of Pakistan's heroes in the triumphant World Twenty20 campaign, justified his Test debut at the expense of seasoned all-rounder Abdur Razzaq.

The left-armer struck with the last ball of his first over in Test cricket when he bowled opener Malinda Warnapura for two as the batsman was beaten by pace and chopped the ball on his off-stump.

The hosts slipped to 21-2 as Aamer removed skipper Kumar Sangakkara in his third over, forcing the star batsman to edge a short ball to Shoaib Malik at third slip.

Aamer should have had two more wickets but Malik dropped Paranavitana, then on four, and Akmal let off Jayawardene before the batsman had scored a run.

Akmal made amends 90 minutes later when he snapped up Jayawardene off Rauf, but not before the former Sri Lankan captain had partnered Paranavitana in the rescue act.

Rauf had Paranavitana caught by Misbah-ul Haq at first slip midway through the post-lunch session, before Younus dismissed Samaraweera through a catch by the wicket-keeper.

Aamer removed Tillakaratne Dilshan (28) with the first delivery after tea as Malik took a smart catch at gully to end a 34-run stand with Mathews.

Umar Gul, the only specialist bowler in Pakistan's ranks with previous Test experience, earned his first success soon after and debutant off-spinner Saeed Ajmal claimed the last two wickets.

Pakistan likely to recall Asif for Champions Trophy

2009-07-04T23:05:00.000-07:00

Cricket Council (ICC) said it would not raise any objection against the pacer's inclusion once he completes his doping ban.

An ICC spokesman has said that once Asif completes his one-year ban on Sep 22 this year, he will be eligible to take part in any international event including the ICC Champions Trophy to be held in South Africa. The biennial tournament is scheduled to get underway on September 24.

A senior Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official said that the board is seriously considering the idea of clearing Asif for the 30-man provisional squad for the Champions Trophy. Pakistan is planning to announce the preliminary squad July 23.

Saleem Altaf, PCB's chief operating officer, said the board will soon take a decision about Asif's inclusion in the national team.

The 26-year-old Asif was banned last year after he tested positive for banned anabolic steroid nandrolone while featuring in the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Earlier this week, the decks were cleared for Asif to return to national duty when the PCB fined him Rs.1 million for a 19-day detention in Dubai over possession of a small quantity of opium.

The PCB also announced that the fast bowler will be eligible for national duty after his one-year ban for doping expires.

Men in uniform may face stiffer rap for rape

2009-07-04T23:03:00.000-07:00

In keeping with increasing instances of sexual misconduct by men in uniform and in positions of authority, the National Commission for Women (NCW) is pushing for a radical overhaul of laws on crimes against women, including the anti-rape law, to make punishment more stringent.

The NCW is seeking higher punishment for policemen, public servants and employers, for not just rape but sexual offences that stop short of forced penile penetration. The maximum punishment for non-rape offences, it proposes, should be increased from five years to 10 years in jail.

It has suggested a broader definition of sexual assault to include "introduction" instead of "penetration" as the defining crime and to include anal and oral sex on an unwilling woman or minor. Towards this end, the Commission has proposed a slew of changes in the Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and Indian Evidence Act.

Said NCW chairperson Girija Vjas: "The need for a new law on sexual assault was felt as the present law does not define and reflect various kinds of sexual assault that women are subjected to in our country." She said the Supreme Court had, in the Sakshi vs Union of India case, recognized the inadequacies in the law relating to rape and suggested that the legislature bring about the necessary changes.

NCW has also suggested changes in the process of reporting, medical examination and the role of police officials. While several of the amendments are already in practice following Supreme Court rulings, the Commission strongly pitched for bringing about changes in the law to dispel any ambiguity.

In its 172nd report, the Law Commission had examined the laws relating to rape and sexual assault and suggested their complete overhaul. In keeping with that, the NCW has sought amendments to sections 375, 376, 354 and 509 of IPC. While NCW has accepted almost all amendments suggested by the Law Commission, it has differed on one: the NCW has asked for deletion of section 376A that invites a two-year prison term and fine if a husband has sexual intercourse with his wife without her consent while the two are living apart.

The NCW has also come down heavily on sexual offences committed under judicial custody. It has proposed that if a police official commits sexual assault within the limits or on the premises of the police station where he is appointed or commits assault on a woman or child under 16 years of age, he should be liable for a minimum punishment of 10 years in jail and a maximum punishment of life imprisonment.

The staff or management of a hospital, remand home or a women's or children's institution committing such an act should be liable to punishment from five years to 10 years in jail and a fine, NCW has said.

The commission has suggested the introduction of a new section -- 376D -- that would make any man who touches, directly or indirectly, any part of a woman's body with sexual purpose, liable to three years' imprisonment. In order to discourage incest, NCW has said that if the offender is related to the woman, the prison term should be increased to seven years. Unlawful sexual contact in the case of a minor would invite a five-year term and if the minor is in a relationship of dependency to the offender, the punishment could be increased to seven years.

The number of rape cases reported has been increasing steadily. NCW received 57 complaints in January 2009 which increased to 61 in June this year. "These are cases that have come to us. There are many other women who do not have the courage to complain," Vyas said.

Accordingly, the commission has redrafted a scheme to rehabilitate victims and give them compensation. The NCW has also suggested repeal of the Section 377 of IPC (dealing with homosexuality) and addition of a new section that is in line with the Delhi High Court's ruling. The commission on Saturday reiterated its stand that it would hold wide-ranging consultations on the issue of homosexuality.

Katrina Kaif - Interview

2009-07-04T13:26:00.000-07:00

Having already created a buzz with her 'no make up' look in the promos of her forthcoming venture "New York", Katrina Kaif says her character Maya in the movie is a reflection of what she is in real life.

"The first brief that I got from my director (Kabir Khan) was that 'it (the character) is the Katrina whom you have not seen in other films... She is not the one by whom you are intimidated when you see her'. I have just been myself in the film," Katrina told IANS in a telephonic interview from Mumbai.

"I was told 'look at yourself, the personality you have and the things you go through in real life'... Of course, the situations would be different but Maya is what Katrina is off-screen. She is what I'm in real life," she added.

Asked if it was a deliberate effort to have a deglamorised look in the film, she said: "When I hear the word deglamorised, I think of someone who has put mud on the face and is wearing dirty clothes... It's not a deglamorised role... It's a very realistic role where I bring out what I am in reality."

Portraying her real characteristics in the movie was also a "different experience" for the 24-year-old. "It was a kind of a challenge in itself, but it was the most wonderful part too," she said.

Produced and distributed by Yash Raj Films, "New York" is releasing June 26 worldwide.

Apart from Katrina, it stars John Abraham and Neil Nitin Mukesh in male leads with Irrfan Khan in a pivotal role.

Set in New York, the narrative spreads over nine years. It tells the story of three young friends whose lives take an unexpected turn after 9/11.

"My brief was very clear that Maya is not a Muslim and also that 9/11 attacks are only a backdrop to the film, after which their (the three friends') lives change and take a turn... it's about their emotional journey in the film than anything else," she said.

The Britain-born model-turned-actress' career soared to heights after she gave four back-to-back hits in 2007 - "Namastey London", "Apne", "Partner', "Welcome" and the first hit of 2008 "Race" in which Katrina played a character with shades of grey. She continued the winning streak with the comedy "Singh Is Kinng".

Apart from honing her acting skills, Katrina has also begun dubbing her movies on her own with an improved Hindi accent.

"I choose to dub on my own and make the efforts. I try to make it sound correct. Where some other artist might take three days to dub, I take six days, but I am trying very hard," she averred.

Katrina also denied taking Hindi classes.

"I don't think I need to take Hindi lessons."

After predominantly juggling with comedy, Katrina has moved to serious roles with "New York" and Prakash Jha's "Rajneeti".

"I've just arrived at a point where I am being offered diverse films," said Katrina who was last seen in Subhash Ghai's dud "Yuvvraaj".

Her future projects include a bevy of big-budget ventures like "Blue", "De Dana Dan" and "Ajab Prem Ki Ghajab Kahani".

The actress is content with her career.

"Everything is given to us by god. All you can do is work hard towards something. I've always believed in that and have always tried staying professional and given my best. And I love criticism... you have to take it constructively and move ahead in life," she said.

Controversial Queen busy Twittering!

2009-07-04T13:21:00.000-07:00

Rakhi Sawant has joined the bandwagon of celebrities who have caught the Twitter bug.

In a bid to promote her ongoing reality show "Rakhi Ka Swayamvar", through which she will find her life partner, the item girl has taken to Twitter to share her day-to-day experiences on the show being shot at Udaipur's Fateh Garh Palace, a source from the show told the media.

One of her posts read, "Nervous hoon..excited bhi...zindagi ki nayi shuruwat hai (I'm nervous but also excited. It's a new beginning in life for me)".

The Twitter page of the actor, who has also done cameos in films like "Main Hoon Na" and done item numbers in films like "Krazzy 4" and "1920", can be found on www.twitter.com/rakhisawant.

The latest updates by Rakhi include the proceedings of her shows and how much she hates breaking the contestants' heart.

Stuntman Akshay Enthrall Delhi With Super model Kareena

2009-07-04T13:06:00.000-07:00

He talked about his character Viraj Shergill, a Hollywood stuntman in the film, and the importance of women in the lives of men.

Popular for his daredevil stunts, Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar jumped off a 60-foot high elevated structure in the capital Thursday evening to promote his new film "Kambakkht Ishq" releasing Friday.

Clad in a black body hugging full sleeved T-shirt, jeans, sports shoes and shades, the actor played his comic self with the fans and the media before jumping off on the stage.

He talked about his character Viraj Shergill, a Hollywood stuntman in the film, and the importance of women in the lives of men. "I'm a typical male chauvinist (in the film)... do you even know who is a male chauvinist? He is one who believes that he is God's gift to women. But I must tell you that if men are from Mars, women are from heaven," said the actor while still standing suspended with wires from a crane at DLF place in Saket.
The 41-year-old then probed the media for questions from the height. "Hi media. Won't you like to ask me anything right now. I've done almost 120 films and I haven't seen such a pc (press conference). Go on, ask what you want. I won't jump before you do."

The actor who was last seen in duds "Chandni Chowk To China" and "8x10 Tasveer" also warned his fans not to repeat the stunts shown in films.

"Stunts are amazing but please don't do them... it's way too dangerous. Three months ago, my cousin was trying one of my glass breaking stunts from the film and he ended up with a lot of stitches. Even we (actors) have to undergo a lot of rehearsals before doing them," said the actor before taking the leap.
Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, "Kambakkht Ishq" has been directed by debutant Sabbir Khan.

It also stars Kareena Kapoor and has much publicised cameos by Hollywood stars like Sylvester Stallone, Brandon Routh and Denise Richards.

Joining Akshay after the stunt, Kareena couldn't stop raving about her co-star of six films including "Kambakkht...".

"The star of this film is none other than Akshay Kumar. He has done a fabulous job... it is a must watch out for," she said.

Beckhams spend $81,660 on luxury eco-spa

2009-07-04T13:05:00.001-07:00

The couple - who had initially been expected to celebrate the anniversary at Sir Richard Branson's exclusive Necker Island - are set to stay at the resort for 10 days.

Celebrity couple David and Victoria Beckham splashed out $81,660 on a luxury eco-spa break for their 10th wedding anniversary.

The soccer star and the former Spice Girl, who wed in a lavish ceremony in Ireland July 4, 1999, were keen to mark the occasion in style so they flew out to a romantic retreat in the exclusive Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, reported femalefirst.co.uk.

The couple - who had initially been expected to celebrate the anniversary at Sir Richard Branson's exclusive Necker Island - are set to stay at the resort for 10 days.

Bips smitten by Black Berry!

2009-07-04T13:03:00.000-07:00

Bipasha has lost all her numbers and she can't identify any caller, she just can't get enough of her new phone.

Bollywood actress Bipasha Basu has got a swanky new toy - a Blackberry - gifted to her by her co-star and producer Ajay Devgan for working round the clock for his new film "All the Best".

And though Bipasha has lost all her numbers and she can't identify any caller, she just can't get enough of her new phone.

"I love it! I'm going totally crazy with it. Though I've no numbers on it and am trying to figure it out, I just can't get enough of it," says the actress who finished shooting for Ajay Devgan's comedy "All The Best" in Goa this week.

Devgan gifted the phone to Bipasha out of the blue (or shall we say, black?) on the last day of shooting for working round the clock including late nights and early mornings. In fact Bipasha kept off the phone to the extent of not even connecting with her boyfriend John Abraham who was limping around on crutches in Mumbai trying to promote his new film.

Apparently Bipasha also agreed to do an additional role in "All The Best" without charging a single penny extra.

Devgan known to be a generous producer had heard Bipasha mention she wanted a Blackberry.

The actress said: "Yeah, Ajay knew I wanted it. In fact it was he who got me interested in it. It is actually a gift in appreciation for working long hours and changing at lightning speed between shots when we had loads of work to finish. Ajay is a fabulous co-star and producer."

Bipasha soon leaves for Hyderabad to shoot the songs for "All The Best". On Saturday she also watched her boyfriend's new film "New York" finally.

"I'm so proud of him," she whispered.

No Ifs For These Bollywood Butts!!

2009-07-04T12:44:00.000-07:00

Not always you get someone from Bollywood flaunting her ass and moreover talking outrageously about its shape.

"I was always curvy but I wanted to change the way my derriere looked. Somehow the thought stayed in my mind. And I am now proud to flaunt a JLo-like derriere," said Sherlyn Chopra in an interview.

Not always you get someone from Bollywood flaunting her ass and moreover talking outrageously about its shape.

In the past, Hindi cinema had its share of butt-shaking beauties who flaunted their curves on screen and heard whispering sounds of appreciation rather than aggravation, from male audiences.

Sharmila Tagore was one such actress who was more admired for her curvy butt than the big kohl eyes which were more prominent in her feature.

In 70’s Sharmila was not alone, there was a bunch of actresses who were keen to sizzle on the celluloid with their hottest property: butt.

Zeenat Aman, Parveen Babi and Neetu Singh followed ‘Kashmir Ki Kali’ in the later years.

In every generation Bollywood actresses hoodwinked men with their well toned bottoms. It never was a matter of debate but it has always been talked and adored.

Today, the silicon transplant may have killed the natural bump of butts but it has given the beauties a way to find their route for wanting whispers.

Sharmila Tagore top the list of having the most seriously carved butt by some craftsman, the Bengali diva was the first woman in Hindi cinema to don a bikini in ‘An Evening in Paris’. Opposite to her name Sharmila: Shy; she was audacious and bold.

After many years, she said, “You know I remember a funny incident. As you know I wore a one-piece bathing costume in 'An Evening In Paris' and not a bikini as is generally believed. But I wanted to wear a bikini. Shaktida put his foot down. He forced me to wear a one-piece.”

When we talk about butts, we can not dare to miss Saira Banu, the alabaster complexion, mahogany eyes, aquiline nose and an enviable figured actress of 60’s heated the screen with her back-beck. (Image- Purab Paschim)
Saira Banu made her debut in 1961 opposite Shammi Kapoor in ‘Junglee’ and her very first film earned her the nomination for Filmfare best actress awards. Saira was beautiful with curvaceous features, like an artwork which asks for heartily attention rather than mere craftsman’s labour.

In the age of conventional cinema Zeenat Aman dared to experiment with unconventional roles, shedding the clichéd image of heroines of hindi cinema – obedient and sweet lover – with boisterous and opportunist characters like hippie in ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’, hooker in ‘Manoranjan’ and extra-marital relationship in ‘Prem-Shashtra’.

Smita Patil was known for her acting acumen, dusky looks and sharp features and one ‘rarely’ looked beyond what was obvious on screen. But in ‘Chakra’ the goddess of parallel cinema left everyone breathless as she dared to put her rear for public scrutiny.

The yesteryear actresses may be forgotten in a blink after watching today’s hindi cinema where dare-bare and well-toned bodies prerequisite for any glamorous role – a must have spice of the recipe called career.

And with easy availability of feature altering technology, changing ones looks or shape is no longer a stigma as it used to be back in good old days.

The bong girl Bipasha Basu lead the pack of today’s butt revolution, the dusky lass entered with an average derriere but soon understood the basics of the game and worked hard to gain a ready to die for butts - no wonder why John Abraham stands tall at her back.

Mother of two Mallaika Arora Khan has no competition in the Bollywood when it comes to keeping the ‘butt’ in shape. The siren has worked wonders when she went on the top of the train along with Shahrukh Khan to shake her ‘bounty’ in ‘Chaiyyan Chaiyyan’ for Mani Ratnam’s Dil Se.

The Barbie girl of Bollywood Katrina Kaif has struck the cine-goers big time with her looks. Many people can argue about her acting skills but when it comes to beauty all hands will go up in affirmation for her hour glass looks and a well endowed body – her butts - no ifs for that either!
The revolution called on-screen kissing goes to the bombshell Mallika Sherawat for her countless kisses in ‘Khawahish’, while ‘Murder’ further ingrained ‘outrageous’ to her name. Mallika might be out of media glare for sometime now, but trust me: all ‘butt’ list-ing will be incomplete without a mention of her assets. Good looking Diya Mirza may never be talked as the hot or hottest girl in the B’ Town but her back can send many a men in fantasies. Off-late Diya isn’t seen often on silver-screen. However, still Diya raises the temperature whenever she passes-by – back effect!

Many of us would have forgotten the innocent faced ‘Lakeer’ girl for whom Sohail Khan and John Abraham fought on screen. Nauheed Cyrusi, model -VJ – actress has been away for long from the limelight yet the black-saree clad diva managed to get herself listed here purely on the basis of her rear-talents!!!
To miss this sexy-itsy-bitsy-babes butt, you need to have heart of a lion or taste as bad as Govinda’s dressing. Actress-model and ‘flasher’ Sherlyn Chopra is riding [ruling] high these days as she is the most searched internet babe in India currently. And it’s butt-so-obvious that the most ogled [zoomed] part of her body is not her face – butt is what we all crave for – it’s the talented cushions that have kept her floating in the glamour world till now!!! Yana Gupta originally a Czech model who strived to make it big in Bollywood after successful modeling for some big brands however strangled being an item number after her hip-jerking ‘Babuji Zara Dheere Chalo’. Lately she appeared on ‘Colors’ with host Akshay Kumar in Fear Factor- Khatron Ke Khiladi since then Yana is nowhere to be seen; yet she’s so curvy that we cannot help ‘butt’, give her place here.
Her intense role in ‘Julie’ made Neha Dhupia unforgettable for sometime, but thereafter nothing noteworthy came from the busty actress kitty. The Keraliite who was crowned ‘Miss Universe India in 2002’ made headlines for her outrageous comment, “Only Shahrukh Khan and Sex sells in Bollywood” and since then the hot actress knows how to go about the business – Butt way!

The list will look incomplete without the leggy lass Priyanka Chopra, more you drool over her body more it reveal the sensuous side of her. The Miss World 2000 may not have a great debut in Bollywood, but ‘Aitraaz’ left no-doubts over her seductiveness. Priyanka’s well toned looks in ‘Dostana’ left fans with hard breath.

‘Shut Up and Bounce’ is what Shilpa Shetty must be telling to her butts! She has one of the best bodies in Bollywood today, although it didn’t earn her a 3 hour roles but keeps her busy bouncing around.
Sushmita Sen may not like to reveal her sensual bottoms often, yet woman of essence sometimes poses in ways that leaves one without air. It may not be the most noticeable part of her body – knowing her attractive face – but-t [is] it’s worth a mention here!!!

Mother of Jackson's two elder kids may fight for custody

2009-07-04T12:38:00.000-07:00

The 50-year-old Jewish blonde, who had given up her rights to the two kids in 2001, may now challenge the temporary custody granted to Jackson's mother Katherine.

Debbie Rowe, the mother of Michael Jackson's two older children, may go to court to seek their custody, said reports here.

The 50-year-old Jewish blonde, who had given up her rights to the two kids in 2001, may now challenge the temporary custody granted to Jackson's mother Katherine, a report in the Los Angeles Times said Wednesday.

Giving up the two children, Rowe had told the court eight years ago that she had borne the children for Michael Jackson.

"They wouldn't be on this planet if it wasn't for my love for him. I did it for him to become a father, not for me to become a mother. You earn the title 'parent'. I have done absolutely nothing to earn that title," she had told the court.

Their divorce was finalised in 2000, with Rowe getting an $8.5 million settlement.

But she stopped visiting the children - Prince Michael Junior and Paris - six months later, complaining that she had to go through lawyers to send birthday balloons to her children, travel long distances to see them and had trouble getting makeup visits if she missed a scheduled appointment because of illness, the report said.

Rowe had met Jackson while working for Beverly Hills dermatologist Arnold Klein who is now being considered the biological father of Rowe's two children, not Michael Jackson.

According to the newspaper, Rowe, who now lives on a horse farm in Palmdale near here, has a strong claim to the two children she has not seen for a long time.

She will attend a custody hearing Monday, though it is not known whether she will seek custody of the older kids or just visitation rights, the report said.

The report added: "Court records and interviews paint Rowe as vulnerable, an animal-lover who doted lavishly on her horses, dogs and birds as though they were her children and vacillated in her desires to see the girl and boy she bore with Jackson.

"She also appeared to love Jackson, even though her marriage was established for the sole purpose of bearing him children.

"Jackson rewarded the blond, blue-eyed Rowe with large sums of money for forsaking the children, and money appeared to be a concern when she later tried to obtain custody."

Rowe, who gave up parental rights in a petition in 2001, later moved court to contest her waiver of parental rights when Jackson was charged with child molestation and became associated with the Nation of Islam, "whose members Deborah believed 'do not like Jews'," the newspaper said quoting court records.

Court records said: "Because she is Jewish, Deborah (Rowe) feared the children might be mistreated if Michael continued his association (with the Nation of Islam)," according to the newspaper.

DPA adds: Jackson named fellow music great Diana Ross as the backup guardian of his three children in the event that his mother Katherine, 79, was unable to fulfil that role, according to his 2002 will, which was revealed Wednesday.

According to the will, dated July 7, 2002, all of Jackson's assets have been left to the Michael Jackson Family Trust.

The document was filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court with a separate petition that estimates the value of his estate at more than $500 million, primarily comprised of his half of a music publishing catalogue that holds the rights to more than 250 Beatles' songs, as well as other music.

The will specifically excluded Jackson's heirs and his former wife, Debbie Rowe, but they could be beneficiaries of his trust, legal experts said. Jackson's father, Joe, was not mentioned in the will.

The revelation came amid feverish expectations outside Jackson's Neverland Ranch, some 200 km to the north, where television cameras already occupied prime positions along the country road leading to his home in advance of a reported public viewing there Friday.

Lalu Prasad against legalising gay sex

2009-07-04T12:33:00.001-07:00

The former railways minister said those arrested under Section 377 should be sentenced to 10 years in jail.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Saturday said the Delhi High Court had done a "very dangerous thing" by de-criminalising homosexuality and he would raise the matter in parliament.

"It is a very dangerous thing the Delhi High Court has said that it (homosexuality) is not a crime and the law must be amended. I will raise this topic in parliament and the amendment (to the law) should not be done," Lalu Prasad told a news channel.

"It should never be legalized in India," the former railway minister said.

"Some people may like or consent to these things, but these things are not acceptable in our society and we don't like all these things and it is very bad. It can lead to wrongdoings in the world," he added.

In a landmark verdict Thursday, the Delhi High Court ruled that gay sex among consenting adults was no crime. The court struck down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), a relic of the British Raj, which criminalises gay sex terming it an "unnatural offence".

The former railways minister said those arrested under Section 377 should be sentenced to 10 years in jail.

"I have been a law student and practised as a lawyer and the things which affect our society should never be permitted. All these are nonsense and bad things," Lalu Prasad said.

The government is treading cautiously on the matter. On Friday, three cabinet ministers - Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily and Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad - held a meeting to discuss the issue.

Moily later told reporters that they would submit a report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who would take a final decision on whether to amend the archaic law dealing with the issue.

Sohail still known as Sallu's bro

2009-07-04T12:20:00.002-07:00

Sohail Khan has been seen in many movies and has even directed some, but the guy is still best known as Salman Khan’s brother.

And we are not the ones saying this. The other day we spotted Sohail driving out of a studio in Bandra, heading home to the famous Galaxy Apartments. And when the car slowed down at a signal, we saw a street urchin point towards his car and shout “Woh dekh, Salman ka bhai!” Now we don’t know whether it’s a good thing that despite not having a huge hit to his credit, people still recognise Sohail, or is it bad to be known as someone’s brother!

6 shooters of Chhota Shakeel arrested in Delhi

2009-07-04T12:20:00.001-07:00

Six sharpshooters of Chhota Shakeel - one of India's most wanted gangsters - were arrested from different parts of the capital on

Saturday, police said adding "some VVIPs" were on their hit list.

"All the six work for Chhota Shakeel, who works for Dawood Ibrahim. They were planning to target some VVIPs in the national capital," Joint Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) P.N. Aggarwal said.

"We have just arrested them and will interrogate them about their purpose and targets in the capital," he added.

Aggarwal, however, refused to divulge the identity of those arrested. He also refused to divulge if any weapons were recovered from them.

Delhi Police's Special Cell, which arrested the accused, produced the six before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kaveri Baweja who sent them to police custody for seven days.

BIOGRAPHY on Michael Jackson

2009-07-04T12:00:00.001-07:00

The Bio History of Michael Joseph Jackson began when he was born on the 29th of August 1958 in Gary, Indiana. He was the 7th of nine children. (brothers: Sigmund "Jackie", Toriano "Tito", Jermaine, Marlon, Steven "Randy", and sisters Rebbie, Janet and La-Toya Jackson

Michael began his musical career at the age of 5 as the lead singer of the Jackson 5 who formed in 1964. In these early years the Jackson 5, Jackie, Jermaine,Tito,Marlon and lead singer Michael played local clubs and bars in Gary Indiana and moving further afield as there talents grew and they could compete in bigger competitions. From these early days Michael would be at the same clubs as big talented stars of there days, such as Jackie Wilson and would be learning from them even back then. In 1968 the Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers discovered the Jackson five and from there they got an audition for Berry Gordy of Motown Records. The Jackson 5 signed for Motown and moved to California. Their first 4 singles, "I Want You Back", "ABC", "The Love You Save", and "I'll Be There" all made US No1 hits. The Jackson 5 recorded 14 albums and Michael recorded 4 solo albums with Motown.

The Jackson 5 stayed with Motown until 1976, wanting more artistic freedom they felt they had to move on and signed up with Epic. The group name Jackson 5 had to be changed as it was owned by Motown, so they reverted to The Jacksons as they had be known in the early days. Brother Jermaine married Berry Gordy's daughter and stayed with Motown. Youngest brother Randy joined in his place. The Jacksons had a number of hit recordsand in total made 6 albums between the years of 1976 and 1984.

In 1977 Michael made his first film debut when he starred in the musical 'The Wiz' playing Scarecrow with Diana Ross in the lead role of Dorothy. It was at this time Michael met Quincy Jones who was doing the score for the film.

Michael teamed up with Quincey Jones as his producer for his first solo album with Epic Records. The album titled "Off The Wall" was a big success around the world and the first ever album to release a record breaking 4 No1 singles in the US.

In 1982 Michael Jackson released the world's largest selling album of all time, 'Thriller'. This album produced 7 hit singles, breaking yet again more records, and went on to sell over 50 million copies worldwide. Michael was keen to use music video or short films as he called them to promote his singles from the album. He worked with the best directors and producers, using the latest technology and special effects.for the hit song 'Billie Jean' The short film 'Thriller' used the latest make-up artists technolgy combined with fantastic dancing and cherography, to produce a 14 minute video, with a start, a middle and an ending. So successful was this video that 'The Making Of Michael Jackson's Thriller' became the world's largest selling home video combined with soaring album sales. In 1983 Michael performed the now legendary moonwalk for the first time on the 'Motown 25 years' anniversary show. This performance alone set Michael undoubtable into the realm of a superstar.

In 1984 Michael won a record breaking 8 Grammy awards in one night. The awards were for his work on the 'Thriller' album and his work on the narrative for the 'ET Storybook'.

On December 9th 1984 at the last concert of the Jackson's Victory Tour, Michael announced he was splitting from the group and going solo.

In 1987 Michael released his much awaited third solo album, titled 'Bad', and lauched his record breaking first solo world tour. 1988, Michael wrote his first autobiography talking for the first time on his childhood and his career. At the end of the 1980s Michael was named 'Artist Of The Decade' for his success off of his 'Thriller' and 'Bad' albums.

In 1991 Michael signed with Sony Music the largest ever recording contract and released his fourth solo album, 'Dangerous'. He toured world again in 1992, taking his concerts to countries that had never before been visited by a pop/rock artist. Also Michael founded the 'Heal the World Foundation' to help improve the lives of children across the world.

In 1994 Michael married Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of rock legend Elvis Presley. The marriage only lasted for 19 months, as they divorced in 1996.

1995 saw Michael release a fifth solo album, 'HIStory', which was a double album, first half new material and second half half greatest hits. Michael toured again over a legs covering a 2 year period. In between legs of the tour on November 14th 1996, Michael married for his second time to Debbie Rowe who was a nurse that Michael had met in the treatment of his skin pigment disorder. Together they had their first child Prince Michael Joseph Jackson jr born on February 13 1997 and a daughter Paris Michael Katherine Jackson born on April 3rd 1998. In 1997 Michael released the remix album 'Blood On The Dance Floor' which also contained 5 new song linked with a 38min film "Ghosts". This film Michael played 5 roles using the latest special effects and make-up artistry, combined with his dance and music.

In September, 2001 Michael celebrated his 30th anniversary as a solo artist with two concerts to be held in New York, USA. Many artists such as Whitney Houston, Usher, Destinys Child, Shaggy and many more performed there own and Michael Jacksons past songs. Michael then reunited with all of his brothers performed there biggest hits. Michael then went onto perform solo some of his biggest hits. In October 2001 Michael released the album 'Invincible' so far releasing only 2 singles including the big hit "You Rock My World". Since the release of this first single the album has been surrounded by rumours of a rift with Sony Music and a clear lack of promotion of the album.

For a more indepth biographical look at Michael Jacksons life read the following era's;
The Jackson 5 Era
The Jacksons Era
Off The Wall Era
Thriller Era
Bad Era
Dangerous Era
HIStory & Blood on the Dance Floor Era
Invincible Era

Khoobsurat

2009-02-20T06:11:00.000-08:00

khubsoorat hain wo lub
jo pyari batein kertey hain

khubsoorat hai wo muskurahat
jo dosaroon ke chehroon per bhi muskan saja de

khubsoorat hai wo dil
jo kisi ke dard ko samjhey
jo kisi ke dard mein tadpey

khubsoorat hain wo jazbat
jo kisi ka ehsaas karein

khubsoorat hai wo ehsaas
jo kisi ke dard ka madawa baney

khubsoorat hain wo batein
jo kisi ka dil na dukhaein

khubsoorat hain wo ankhein
jin mein pakezgi ho
sharm o haya ho

khubsoorat hain wo ansoo
jo kisi ke dard ko
mehsoos kerke beh jaein

khubsoorat hain wo Hath
jo kisi ko mushkil
waqat mein tham lein

khubsoorat hain wo qadam
jo kisi ki madad ke liye
aagey berhein !!!!!

Khubsooart hai wo sooch
jo kisi ke liye acha soochey

khubsoorat hai wo insan
jis ko KHUDA ne ye
khubsoorati ada ki.

For Heart Breaker

2009-02-19T06:06:00.000-08:00

Barsoon ki chahat ko ek pal main badalte dekha hai maine
Toot kar chahne waloon ko baat say mukarate dekha hai maine

Naaz karte thay jo apni wafaoun pai
Unhi ko bewafai karte dekha hai maine

Kaise sajja loon sapna apni udass aankhon main
Har khuwaab ko toot kar bikharte dekha hai maine

Karte thay jo wada hamesha sath chalne ka
Phir unhi ko raasta badalte dekha hai maine

Aitabaar na raha hai kissi par bhi kiya karain
Is aitabaar ko bhi baar baar marte dekha hai maine

Tere Saath

2009-02-19T06:03:00.001-08:00

Teri her sans sey mey sans lu,
Terey her qadam key mey sath chalon

Her din her raat her lamha terey sath rahoun,
Too meri her sans mey khusboo bana rahey

Zindagi jo yuen guzer rahi hey her pal derti hu,
Tujh sey biccherney key tassawer sey kaap uthti hu,

Khawaish hey haal mazi bun jaiy mera,
Phir mey terey sath nai zindagi shuroo karoun

Tujh sey milney key baad yeh dua hey meri,
Us jehan mey bhi mey terey saath rahoun

Teri Tasweer

2009-02-19T06:01:00.001-08:00

teri tasweer meri ankhon main basee kyun hai??...
jidhar dekho bas udhar tu hi kyun hai???.....

teri yadoon se wabasta meri takdeer hai lekin,
tujhe naa paakar meri takdeer roothi kyun hai...???

mujhko hai khabar namumkin hai tujhe haasil karna,
phir bhi yeh intezaar,... yeh bekarari kyun hai???...

barson guzar gaye mere tanhayee mein lekin,
meri baahon ko aaj bhi tera intezaar kyun hai???...

teri chaahat ki kasam khoon ke aansoo royi hoon
ab nahin hai kuch baakee ,phir yeh jaan baakee kyun hai

Heart

2009-02-19T05:57:00.001-08:00

Dil apne aap dharakta hai, dharkaya nahi jata
Ye raaz-E-mohabbat har ek ko bataya nahi jata

Agar ehsaas ho to, mohabat ko kar lo mehsoos
Ye wo jazba hai jo lafzon mein samjhaya nahi jata

Dosti k liye mohabat or khuloos hai lazim
Har haath milane walay ko dost samjha nahi jata

Bohat kam hain log jo dil mein utar jhate hain
Har rah chaltey ko apna banaya nahi jata

Koshish se badal jaati hai Taqdeerein
De kar ilzaam Qismat ko or dil ko behlaya nahi jata.

Its U

2009-02-19T05:53:00.001-08:00

Kaise kahoon keh kya ho tum
Chalo main bataaun Kya ho tum

Mere liye meri Duniya ho tum
Choo ke jo guzri woh Hawaa ho tum

Main ne jo Maangi, Woh Duaa ho tum
Kare Mujh ko jo Roshan, Woh Diya ho tum

Dil yeh kahe mera Jiya ho tum
Kiya main ne mehsoos woh ehsaas ho tum

Meri Nazar ki Talaash ho tum
Meri Zameen ka Aakaash ho tum

Mere Chehre ki Kashish ho tum
Mere Sitaaron ki Gardish ho tum

Meri Zindagi ka Qaraar ho tum
Main ne jo Chaha woh pyar ho tum

Mere Intezaar ki rahat ho tum
Mere dil ki Chahat ho tum

Tum ho tau yeh Duniya hai meri
Kaise kahoon keh Meri jaan ho tum

Har Pal Tere Naam ..

2009-02-19T05:48:00.000-08:00

Jin palon mein tum mere saath nahi hoti
vey kyon meri jindagi mein aate hain

yaadon ke uthte bawandar
kyon aa aakar mujhe satate hain

har waqt tumhe dil sochta hai
har pal tere naam ho jaate hain

tumhari khushboo saanson mein basti hai
tumhare ehsaas chu chu se jaate hain

in faaslon ki chubhan kuch aisi hai
bas aankein nam kar jaate hai

We Are Beautiful In God's Eyes

2009-02-09T08:52:00.000-08:00

When I pray I also talk to God
Sometimes I ask God if He loves me
His answer is always the same
God see us as beautiful
In His eyes

He created us for goodness
He wants us to live in peace
The little child who comes into this world
He ask the angel to sing

He cares for our souls because He has made us
He does not want us to cry, if we do then He also cries
When we are happy, He feels the same
We were born with a purpose
To see the beauty of nature
The marvel of the birds which sing and fly
For when they are near the blue sky
They are near God who loves them as well

God always forgives our sins
If we pray and say the rosary
He will call us from the heavens
Be glad He is Our Father
If we stay beautiful and feel the flowers
Touch a tree, watch a red robin fly and sing
All so wonderfully made

If we can love another, as well as ourselves
Then we can please God and through the suffering
We sometimes have, the beauty will always stand out
God will hold our hand and through eternity
Our beauty will be there and God will never leave us

What You Are To Me

2009-02-09T08:46:00.000-08:00

I am a rose, you are my thorns,
clutching to me, protecting me.
I am the sun, you are my rays,
helping me to shine and to be all that I can.
I am a lake, you are my water,
filling me with ideas, dreams,and hopes for the future.
I am a tree, you are my leaves,
sharing who and what I am
and becoming an important part of my life.
I am a heart, you are my beat,
beating rhythmical
For, you see, each day I love you more,
Today more than yesterday and less than tomorrow.

21 grams of life......

2009-02-09T08:34:00.001-08:00

Deep in the frozen woods….
A soul meanders thru
Nomadic for ages
and left without a crew….

Unknowing and unaware,
makes us shed a tear.
Corrupting the inner me,
also the very near.

Dipping the paint brush slow..
in my grimy soul
Painting the inner me,
Starring an immense hole.

Trickling down my even cheeks,
Disturbs my black kohl,
Washing the dust of uneven life,
Off my soiled li'l soul.

Remember those days

2009-02-09T08:26:00.000-08:00

I cannot imagine
How I had spent those lonely days
When you were not in my life
Only darkness remained day & night
Your love become a Golden Moon
Risen in my sky of love
Reflecting devine rays from heaven
You lit up all my dark nights
Roses started to bloom everyday
Breez had a wisper of love
The springs sparkled in the moonlight
And the sky started to drizzle
The shower of love
My heart starts to beat perfectly
To the rythm of flowing streams
So is our Love ; Flows across the valley of life
Towards the infinity of time..

When I will meet someone

2009-02-07T04:51:00.000-08:00

Bas itni si inaayat mujh pe ek baar kijiye
Kabhi aa ke mere zakhmon ka dedaar kijiye

Ho jaaye begaane aap shauq se sanam
Aapke hain aapke0 rahege aitbaar kijiye

Parhne waale hi darr jaayen dekh kar ise
Kitaab-e-dil ko itnaa na daagdaar kijiye

Na majboor kijiye, ke main unko bhool jaaun
Mujhe meri wafaaon ka na gunehgaar kijiye

In jalte diyon ko dekh kar na muskuraaiye
Zara hawaaon ke chalne ka intezaar kijiye

Karna hai ishq aapse karte rahenge hum
Jo bhi karna hai aapko mere sarkaar, kijiye

Phir sapno ka ashiyaan bana liya hai maine
Phir aandhiyon ko aap khabardaar kijiye

poocho na

2009-02-07T04:48:00.000-08:00

Pucho na us kagaj se,jis pe hum dil ke bayan likhte hai,
Tanhayino me beeti baate tamam likhte hai,
Wo Kalam bhi dewani ho gayi,
jis se hum AAP ka Naam likhte hai.
Apne haathon se yun chehre ko chupate kyun ho,
mujh se sharmate ho toh yun samne aate kyun ho,
Tum kabhi meri tarah kar bhi lo ikraar-e-vafa,
pyaar karte ho toh phir pyaar chupate kyun ho
Humein unki ebadat se fursat nahi milti ,
log na jane kisko khuda kehte hain ,
dil mein rakha hai unko,
log na jane kyon juda kehte hain.
Unka waada hai ki vo laut ayenge,
issi umeed par hum jiye jayenge,
yeh intezaar bhi unhi ki tarah pyaara hai,
kar rahe the,
kar rahe hai or kiye jayenge........................

Wait Upon the Lord

2009-02-05T08:07:00.002-08:00

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint."

I take time to replenish my energy through rest and relaxation.
I have energy and will power to do everything I must do in a day.
My body is strong and resilient.

Life

2009-02-05T08:04:00.000-08:00

"Instead of looking at life as a narrowing funnel, we can choose to see life as ever widening. To choose the things we want to do, to take the wisdom we have learned and create something beautiful."

Today I choose to believe I can do all things.
I have the courage to believe in myself.
My hopes and dreams are alive within me.

tearful dreams

2009-02-05T07:57:00.000-08:00

“The day when my tears started dreaming...

All were tearful dreams
My flagile wings were all wounded
They cant carry me to those milky clouds

I will come back here for sure
On those milky spongy clouds
With rainbows in my hands for you
And will shower dew drops on you day by day

If the eternity is without love
How could I sleep on eternity
If the world is without you
How could I live in that world..

Someday..If god starts loving me..
if my song is not fused with the breeze that embrace you
Come outside in one of those darkest silent nights
you will see me smiling to you..from the sky..”

The Power of Prayer

2009-02-05T07:55:00.001-08:00

"The vibrations of mental forces are the finest and consequently the

most powerful in existence."

I love and accept myself exactly as I am.
I meditate each day and grow with insight as to my purpose in life.
I am one with my inner power and the universe.

Rainbows of my Life

2009-02-05T07:47:00.001-08:00

"Life is a grindstone, and whether it grinds you down or polishes you up...is for you and you alone to decide."

I can courageously handle anything as long as I take it one moment at a time.
I have a positive, uplifting attitude.
Easy day I open my heart to recognize the rainbows of my life.

Morning Dew

2009-02-05T07:46:00.003-08:00

HTML clipboard"The spur of delight comes in small ways."

I take time to be silent.
I enjoy the beauty of the world around me.
I value simple pleasures.

Courage

2009-02-05T07:41:00.001-08:00

HTML clipboard"It takes courage to push yourself to places that you have never been before...to test your limits...to break through barriers...and the day came when the risk it took to continue to remain inside the bud of a rose was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."

I am willing to grow up.
I say "Yes" to life.
I have the courage to take responsibility for myself.

live.love.laugh

2009-02-05T07:35:00.000-08:00

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let us down, probably will. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, forgive freely, and love like you've never been hurt.

Life comes with no guarantees, no time outs, no second chances.Do something everyday that scares you.You just have to live life to the fullest, tell someone what they mean to you and tell someone off, speak out, dance in the pouring rain, hold someone's hand, comfort a friend, fall asleep watching the sun come up, stay up late, be a flirt, and smile until your face hurts.

Don't be afraid to take chances or fall in love and most of all,every second you spend angry or upset is a second of happiness you can never get back.

Intezaar hai

2009-02-05T07:18:00.000-08:00

HTML clipboardEk uski ibadat, aur ek uska pyaar hai
Meri zindagi ka maksad, uska intezaar hai

Jo Poochi hai mujhse meri mohabbat ki inteha
Samjhiye har dhakan pe uska Ikhtiyaar hai

Dekhe jo koi cheerkar, kabhi seena bhi mera
Uss se hai jo Mohabbat, wo Beshumaar hai

Usse dekHne ki kHwahish kHwahish hi rahi
Deedar-e-lamhe ko betaab dil Ashqbaar hai

Choomne ki talab usse, mere labon se pooch
Usse chhoone ko Zaara zarra, Bekaraar hai

Gum-e-bebasi ke siwa aur diya bhi kya usse
Uski muskurahat aaj talak,,, mujhpar Udhaar hai

Fiza mein uski mehek, katre katre mein hai
Mera khuda pathhar nahin, mera yaar hai

Dar-ba-dar bhatakta, usse dhoondhta rehta hu
Woh yaheen hai,, yahin kaheen hai,,,, Aitbaar hai

Gum-e-Judaai lekar Jaane kya mila "Ehsaas"
Woh naheen hai. Kahin naheen hai.. fir bhi uska Intezaar hai

BROKEN DREAMS

2009-02-02T06:09:00.000-08:00

I love you more than life itself
But I'm afraid to love.
My heart is like the fragile wings
Of a tiny little dove.
I'm scared to get too close.
I feel that I can't win.
You'll love me for a little while
Then you'll set me free again.
I've lived so long on hopes and dreams
I don't know what to do.
I don't think I can trust my heart,
For it belongs to you.
I know you'll only hurt me
Yet, I still keep running back.
Between the paths of our hearts
There's a worn and beaten track.
You've got my heart held on a string.
It's breaking right in two.
Enough belongs to me -to hurt-
The rest belongs to you.
I know that somewhere in your heart
There is a place for me.
I just don't know how to find it
And there's no way to make you see.
I can only hope that someday
You'll wake up and you'll find,
That while my heart belongs to yours,
Yours, too, belongs to mine.

Feelings!

2009-02-02T06:05:00.000-08:00

I feel alive beside you
and all at once
I am whole again.
We fall into each other
Your atmosphere
is all I'm breathing in
and in this rush
we are crushed.
Carry me down
roll it in your arms
'cause I can't remember
ever falling this hard
Tell me tonight,
all that we have been
Was it nothin' more
than noise inside my head
crashing down, crashing down,
in your avalanche
in your avalanche.
These scars we wear remind us
the more we change
the more we're all the same
swept up in this emotion
we fumble through and make the same mistakes
'cause we are led
to the edge
I feel alive beside you
than all at once I am whole again...

FRIEND .... COME DEATH

2009-02-02T06:00:00.001-08:00

Come friend death
And let's talk face to face
What I do for you today
A melody, song of remoteness
I sing my song and that can burn
Within the hearts, which go away from the
There is death friend and enemy
Call many times, so misunderstood,
And always accompanied by tears,
The anguish of excessive sadness
You who arrive without warning
And you take, the best, most accurate
Dust got into the veins
Bitterness, loneliness and convictions
Leave behind your shortcut
There are deaths decline
That so many lives mowing your step
Changing, the joy of sadness
Everything into ashes.
Maybe that will grandeur
But they hurry death
I am not afraid to see
And no, not a coward
Or decorated me brave
You simply claim
I've done so much damage
Let's talk face to face
The two alone, simply
Your steps, my luck ...
Who cares, tell me death

If my eyes, both mourn
It was broken by crying
And my body does not know more color
The black, not your taste
There are presumably death of innocent
And you proclaim unconscious
On boot, the lives of innocent
Segaste that, without thinking
How outrageous injustice
Behind your facts
Do not accept claims
No rights ...
I challenge you killing friend
To show your courage
I have no fear death
Afraid of life
The day that dawns
I do know .. Again and again
Your villanas cobardías
So you see, hurry death
I am ready
To talk, face to face ...
Death friend come and talk ... ..
just talk ....

How did you forget? ... If I love you

2009-02-02T05:54:00.000-08:00

You do ido
your scent still here
your smile etched
not forget as ....
Tell me how I forgot your ...
Tell me as strange is that I do not
because you do not leave my mind
because you hope every day.
It seems that you are about to arrive
to enter as usual
to say "I love you"
and you've left.
But it is quite the opposite
Now I have only memories
I smile in your soul
you're not easily forget.
Not even when you can
between more treatment because to do so
more and you think you añoro
I tears erupt.
But you are not to calm
everything leads me to you
everything I said your name
but then Dime
How did you forget?
if I love you ...

I Will Always Love

2009-02-02T05:40:00.000-08:00

If I should stay
I would only be in your way
So I'll go but I know
I'll think of you
Every step of the way
And I will always love you
I will always love you
You my darling.. you
Bittersweet memories
That is all I'm taking with me
So goodbye.. please don't cry
We both know I'm not what you need
And I will always love you
I will always love you
I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you have
All you've dreamed of
And I wish for you joy
And happiness
But above all this..
I wish you love
And I will always love you
I will always love you
I will always love you
I will always love you I will always love you
You.. darling I love you
I'll always..
I'll always love you

US President Barack Obama

2009-01-29T07:48:00.002-08:00

US President Barack Obama greets members of the armed forces during a visit to the Pentagon in Washington.

Fashion show inside a church in Paris

2009-01-29T07:48:00.001-08:00

HTML clipboardA model walks the ramp for a Palestinian designer inside the Saint-Merri church in Paris.

Making Music: Sallu’s latest agenda

2009-01-29T07:45:00.000-08:00

HTML clipboard

He acts, he paints, he sings, he dances, he writes scripts and now he is gearing to make music. That is Salman Khan for you. A source close to the actor said, “While working on the music of Partner, Salman didn’t approve of a particular song and discussed the shortcomings of the song with Sajid and Wajid. Although the alterations were technically incorrect, the duo went ahead with the modified song which went on to become a huge success.”

Our source added, “Salman has always taken keen interest in the music of all his films. He listens to the score and at times puts his foot down and makes sure that the music is altered according to his preference.”

The Sajid-Wajid duo has been creating music for Salman’s films for over a decade — right from Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998) to God Tussi Great Ho (2008) and the forthcoming Main Aur Mrs. Khanna (2009).

Sajid, who spoke to us from Pataya, confirmed and said, “Salmanbhai has a great sense of music. He always gives valuable inputs. We are encouraging him to become a full-fledged music director. We are also trying to get him to sing his songs. Wajid and I will assist him.”

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Last sunset of 2008

2009-01-01T06:34:00.001-08:00

HTML clipboardWe youngsters bidding adieu to the last sunset of 2008.

New Year celebrations in Shimla

2009-01-01T06:31:00.000-08:00

Fireworks light up the night sky during New Year celebrations in Shimla.

New Year in Malaysia

2009-01-01T06:29:00.002-08:00

HTML clipboardPeople dance during a laser and water show as they welcome the New Year, in Malaysia.

New Year celebrations in China

2009-01-01T06:29:00.001-08:00

HTML clipboardParamilitary policemen celebrate the New Year at a military base in China.

Bye Bye George!

2009-01-01T06:27:00.001-08:00

HTML clipboardDuring a recent chat with a reporter, a well-respected Arab head of state was asked what he thought of Barack Obama becoming US president. "I don't think that's as important as George Bush leaving office," he answered. "The man would never listen. He would call meetings and would never listen," he added, the right modicum of disgust in his voice. This is probably one of the most charitable assessments of the eight years of Bush presidency on the Arab street, which has faced the brunt of the US foreign policy adventures.

In the months and weeks preceding the Iraq invasion, the cereal box United Nations headquarters was constantly buzzing with one phrase: Weapons of mass destruction. Almost anyone who had heard the Security Council debates or had a chat with Hans Blix, the Swedish diplomat who as chief UN weapons inspector headed the hunt for Saddam Hussein's hidden arsenal, was convinced that it didn't exist in the form Bush & Co. insisted. Blix had photographs, data, interviews. But that failed to sway Bush, then vice president Dick Cheney and his defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld. That was the singular folly that went on to change how the world looked at America and how America responded to those glares.

Bush isn't the first American president to put national security above everything else. But the belligerence with which his administration did it pockmarked the world. True, Osama bin Laden had shown that short of an all-out response, nothing would stop him from spreading further mayhem. Hence, US troops wading into Afghanistan to crush the Taliban were welcomed. That was an opportunity and could have provided a roadmap to containing terrorism. But Bush clearly squandered that with his Iraq adventure, something that he has now admitted was done based on "the intelligence failure in Iraq".

"President Bush and his war lieutenants who have directly or indirectly executed the invasion of Iraq have misled the American people, committed men and money to an illegal war, resulting in more than 4,000 deaths and unnecessarily put tens of thousands of Americans in harm's way," said Ayman El-Amir in a recent appraisal of the Bush years for the respected Egyptian weekly Al-Ahram. And the monetary cost: More than $2 trillion, according to Nobel prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz.

While his war on terror actually failed to prevent a spurt in attacks across the globe, the sharpened rhetoric led to a civilizational chasm of sorts, widening the gulf between how world perceived America and how the Bush team viewed themselves and the world through the neo-conservative prism. Asian allies were embarrassed and traditional friends in Europe were alienated.

While Iraq will count as the emblematic failure, Bush's damage trail extends also into the economic and environmental arena. The impact of the go-by given to regulation by his team has left the US economy in tatters and sent several healthier ones across the world into a recessionary tailspin. And as the moghuls of US high-finance go scot-free, US tax-payers are left to fund huge bail-outs.

On the environment, again as Stiglitz puts it in a recent article on Bush's seven deadly sins, Dubya tried to persuade Americans that global warming was fiction. "For eight years we did nothing," Stiglitz said.

But through all this, India has little to complain about. Since Leonid Brezhnev's bear hug days, India has never benefited so much from a superpower embrace. His foreign office took a few years to de-hyphenate India-Pakistan, but once that happened, Manmohan Singh was singled out for special treatment by Washington. The nuclear deal became a personal agenda for Bush as his political and diplomatic commandos pushed it through the Hill, Brussels and Vienna. While that has opened India to a new world of technology and promise of more sustainable electricity, Washington's acknowledgement of India's regional role has helped our dealings at both bilateral and multi-lateral forums. Even as his ratings plummeted to record lows at home, Bush was being toasted in India as a true friend. It's safe for him to consider it a retirement home.

Preity Zinta in Mohali

2008-12-20T07:49:00.001-08:00

Actress Preity Zinta at PCA Stadium in Mohali on the 2nd Test cricket between India and England.

Dravid scores his 26th Test century

2008-12-20T07:48:00.001-08:00

Rahul Dravid scores his 26th Test century in the 2nd Test match between India and England in Mohali.

Snowstorm in New York

2008-12-20T07:47:00.000-08:00

A couple builds snowman during a snowstorm in New York.

History, dissent cloud Pakistan's Mumbai attack reaction

2008-12-20T07:46:00.001-08:00

The black-and-white flag of Jamaat-ud-Dawa still flutters over a relief camp for survivors of an earthquake that hit a remote corner of Pakistan in October.

But bearded medics who work with the group had vanished from the huddle of tents and mud huts when a half-dozen police showed up to close the operation following allegations the charity was linked to militants blamed for the deadly Mumbai attacks in India.

How Pakistan deals with the Islamic group — popular among many for its aid to the needy — is a key test of its pledge to help investigate the Mumbai tragedy and, more broadly, to prevent militants from using its soil to attack both India and Afghanistan.
The US and the UN say Jamaat-ud-Dawa is a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, the group India says trained and sent the gunmen who attacked India's commercial capital last month, killing 164 people and straining what had been improved relations between the countries.

Lashkar-e-Taiba has been an unofficial ally of the Pakistan army in Kashmir, a disputed territory claimed by both India and Pakistan.

Some believe the moment has come for Pakistan, which also backed the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, to make clear it has abandoned a shadowy policy of using militant proxies as a foreign policy tool.

The country stands before a ``moment of change in people's attitudes and thinking'' toward militants, Sen. John Kerry said on Tuesday in Islamabad.

Pakistan must see that Lashkar-e-Taiba has ``morphed into a more al-Qaida-esque and radicalized entity'' that is damaging the country's interests, said Kerry, incoming chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Growing Islamic extremism is tearing at the country's social fabric as well as deterring investment. The secular, pro-Western party that took control of the government in March lost its leader, former premier Benazir Bhutto, in a gun-and-bomb attack blamed on Pakistani militants.

In the wake of the Mumbai attacks, Pakistan has moved against both Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jamaat-ud-Dawa, albeit under intense international pressure.

Interviews this week with officials from both groups and the government examined the extent of the crackdown. On paper, it looks considerable, but questions remain about the long-term impact.

The Interior Ministry says 53 people are in custody, including Lashkar-e-Taiba's purported leader, Hafiz Mohammed Saeed, and two men accused by India of being key plotters of the Mumbai carnage.

Son-sani khabar

2008-12-20T07:45:00.001-08:00

Akshay Kumar’s son is yet to make his Bollywood debut. But what about Jumbo, did you ask?

That’s just it – the voice of the baby elephant in the movie is not his. It was supposed to be that way, but it didn’t happen. And the child artiste who actually has dubbed for the movie is the one from Tahaan – Purav Bhandare. He’s the one who’s done the voiceover for the younger version of Akki’s character in the film.

Navin Shah, CEO, Percept Picture Company, the producers of the film, says, “Originally, it was Aarav who was to do the voiceover, but Akshay wasn’t comfortable with that. He thought that Aarav was too young to be exposed to Bollywood, so we had to change the child artiste at the last minute. Considering Akki’s mom-in-law Dimple is also in the movie, it would’ve been great to have Aarav in it too, but Akki says, maybe in Jumbo 2.”
However, Khiladi Kumar has already dedicated the movie to his son. The Delhi event for the promotion, though, which was to happen tomorrow, has been delayed a bit. “The event will happen. It’s just that we are finalising the details and will soon make the venue and the date public,” says Shah.

Sanjay Dutt in Anees Bazmi's next

2008-12-20T07:44:00.001-08:00

Bazmi is known for his comedies. Recently, he directed two hit comedies - Singh Is Kinng and Welcome . Explaining his single-minded focus on directing comedies, Bazmi said: "It's the need of the times. Who wants to go to a movie theatre and be lost in gloom for three hours? The times are awful. People need diversion from their everyday worries. Even my next film with Salman Khan for T-Series will be a comedy.

" No Problem will be an out and out comedy with Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna and Anil Kapoor. I've worked with the other two, but Sanjay will be a first time," said the excited director. The film will be backed by Anil Kapoor Productions.

But there may be some title trouble. No Problem , the title is owned by UTV, and the big question is: Will UTV be willing to part with it?

"That's right. The title No Problem is with UTV," confirms Anees, "I was supposed to make another comedy with that title for UTV with Ajay Devgan, Nana Patekar and Riteish Deshmukh. That didn't happen. I'm committed to make another comedy with Akshay Kumar for UTV. But the title No Problem suits Anil Kapoor's film. I hope UTV parts with it," said Bazmi.

Sea lion

2008-12-17T07:46:00.001-08:00

A sea lion wearing antlers performs at the Sunshine international aquarium in Tokyo.

Christmas celebrations

2008-12-17T07:45:00.001-08:00

South Korean kids in Santa Claus outfits perform with hand-bells during a charity event to raise funds for the needy at a subway station in Seoul.

J&K goes to poll

2008-12-17T07:44:00.001-08:00

A police officer stands guard with his assault rifle at a polling station in J&K's Doda district.

Hema Malini performs at Allahabad

2008-12-17T07:42:00.001-08:00

Actress Hema Malini (left) performs classical dance at Inidian Institute of Infromation Technology in Allahabad.

Sheila Dikshit sworn in as Delhi CM

2008-12-17T07:33:00.001-08:00

Sheila Dikshit, who led the Congress to a comfortable victory in Assembly polls for the third successive term took oath on Thursday as Chief Minister of the national capital. ( Watch )

Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna administered oath of secrecy and post to Dikshit and her six cabinet ministers in a grand ceremony at the Raj Bhawan.

Dikshit had staked claim on Monday for formation of new government in the city being the leader of the largest party in the city.

The 71-year-old Dikshit led the party to victory for the third consecutive term. Congress has 43 seats in the 70-member House while Opposition BJP bagged 23 seats.

Dikshit has created a history of sort by being the only women chief minister of the Congress in the recent times.

John Abraham b'day special

2008-12-17T07:31:00.000-08:00

Actor John Abraham turns 36 years old today. And as he celebrates his big day with close friends and family.

BCCI donates Rs 3 crore for Mumbai heroes

2008-12-15T07:38:00.000-08:00

In a heart-warming gesture, the BCCI on Monday donated Rs three crore for the security personnel who either lost life or sustained injuries during last month's terror attacks in Mumbai.

BCCI secretary N Srinivasan made the announcement after the conclusion of the first India-England Test match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Of the amount, Rs two crore would go to the families of the heroes - Police, National Security Guards, Naval Commandos and Firemen - who laid down their lives while fighting the terrorists in Mumbai.

The remaining one crore would go to the police personnel, commandos and firemen who sustained injuries in the rescue operations, Srinivasan said in a statement.

Arjun, Kunal’s ‘I Love Mumbai’ magic!

2008-12-15T07:35:00.000-08:00

HTML clipboardOur B-town buddies are living in fear due to the latest terror attack, but the good news is that they’re doing something about it.

We hear that Bollywood’s newest rock star, Arjun Rampal has started something like a citizen’s movement to mobilise people across all sections of society, to help Mumbai become a better and safer place to live. His buddy, Kunal Kapoor, is joining him in the venture, and the boys together are encouraging more members to join this movement. And it’s not all just a filmi chakkar guys; they aren’t interested in simply adding glam quotient to it.

They want educated, intellectual and skilled citizens (like doctors, lawyers, etc) to be a part of this force too. Well, if our rockstars are beating the drums, what are you waiting for? Chalo, let’s all march to the heartbeat called Mumbai!

John surprises everyone

2008-12-15T07:34:00.001-08:00

HTML clipboardJohn Abraham, on a recent trip to Delhi, caught fans and the media unawares by doing something that our Bollywood stars are not known for. He managed to reach the venue of the event on time!

Visibly surprised by John’s punctuality, everyone was eager to know how he had managed it. He gave one of his smiles and said, “Bollywood stars may have a bad name for always being late, but believe them, once in a while, when they say that they had a genuine reason for arriving late or not reaching the event at all.

Today, fortunately enough, my flight was running onschedule. As soon as I reached the hotel, I got ready and came here. Interestingly, I was surprised when I saw a small gathering here. Apparently, everyone had thought that I would come late and hence, they themselves were running late!”

Arab world hails shoe attack as Bush's farewell gift

2008-12-15T07:24:00.000-08:00

HTML clipboardIraq faced mounting calls on Monday to release the journalist who hurled his shoes at George W. Bush, an action branded shameful by the government but hailed by many in the Arab world as an ideal parting gift to the US president.

Colleagues of Muntazer al-Zaidi, who works for independent Iraqi television station Al-Baghdadia, said he "detested America" and had been plotting such an attack for months against the man who ordered the invasion of his country.

"Throwing the shoes at Bush was the best goodbye kiss ever... it expresses how Iraqis and other Arabs hate Bush," wrote Musa Barhoumeh, editor of Jordan's independent Al-Gahd newspaper.

Hundreds of Iraqis joined anti-US demonstrations to protest at Bush's farewell visit on Sunday to Iraq, which was plunged into a deadly insurgency and near civil war in the aftermath of the 2003 invasion.

The Iraqi government branded Zaidi's actions as "shameful" and demanded an apology from his Cairo-based employer, which in turn was calling for his immediate release from custody.

Zaidi jumped up as Bush was holding a press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Sunday, shouted "It is the farewell kiss, you dog" and threw two shoes at the US leader.

The shoes missed after Bush ducked and Zaidi was immediately wrestled to the ground by security guards and arrested. It is not known where Zaidi is currently being held.

Al-Baghdadia issued a statement demanding Zaidi's immediate release "in line with the democracy and freedom of expression that the American authorities promised the Iraqi people."

"Any measures against Muntazer will be considered the acts of a dictatorial regime," it added.

But the government called for the channel to apologise, saying: "This action harms the reputation of Iraqi journalists and journalism in general."

Saddam Hussein's former lawyer Khalil al-Dulaimi said he was forming a team to defend Zaidi and that around 200 lawyers, including Americans, had offered their services for free.

"It was the least thing for an Iraqi to do to Bush, the tyrant criminal who has killed two million people in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Dulaimi.

"Our defence of Zaidi will be based on the fact that the United States is occupying Iraq, and resistance is legitimate by all means, including shoes."

Zaidi's colleagues in the Baghdad office of Al-Baghdadia said he had long been planning to throw shoes at Bush if ever he got the chance.

"Muntazer detested America. He detested the US soldiers, he detested Bush," said one on condition of anonymity.

Soles of shoes are considered the ultimate insult in Arab culture. After Saddam's statue was toppled in Baghdad in April 2003, many onlookers pelted it with their shoes.

On Monday, during a demonstration in Sadr City, the bastion of radical anti-US cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, protestors threw shoes at passing US military vehicles, while in the holy Shiite city of Najaf, the crowds chanted "Down with America."

"All US soldiers who have used their shoes to humiliate Iraqis should be brought to justice, along with their US superiors, including Bush," said Ali Qeisi, head of a Jordan-based Iraqi rights group.

"The flying shoe speaks more for Arab public opinion than all the despots/puppets that Bush meets with during his travels in the Middle East," said Asad Abu Khalil, a popular Lebanese-American blogger and professor at Stanislaus University in California at angryarab.blogspot.com

An Iraqi lawyer said Zaidi risked a miminum of two years in prison if he is prosecuted for insulting a visiting head of state, but could face a 15-year term if he is charged with attempted murder.

In Cairo, Muzhir al-Khafaji, programming director for the television channel, described Zaidi as a "proud Arab and an open-minded man," saying he had worked at Al-Baghdadia for three years.

"We fear for his safety," he said, adding that Zaidi had been arrested twice before by the Americans and that there were fears that more of the station's 200 correspondents in Iraq would be arrested.

"As far as I'm concerned, as he long as he hit him using a shoe, it's perfect," said Cairo shoeshiner Ahmed Ali.

Tendulkar guides India to record breaking win

2008-12-15T07:21:00.000-08:00

HTML clipboardBatting great Sachin Tendulkar hit an unbeaten 103 as India achieved the fourth-highest run chase in history to stun England by six wickets in the first Test on Monday.

The hosts surpassed the seemingly improbable victory target of 387 on a wearing wicket with 20.3 overs to spare on the fifth and final day to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Tendulkar swept off-spinner Graeme Swann to fine-leg for the winning boundary that also brought up his 41st Test century amid loud cheers from 30,000 home fans at the Chidambaram stadium.

Tendulkar, showing the form that has made him the all-time leading scorer in both Tests and One-day cricket, anchored India's chase for five hours, during which he hit nine boundaries.

Dhoni will have no say in team selection: Report

2008-12-06T05:55:00.001-08:00

HTML clipboardIn the wake of alleged displeasure between Team India captain MS Dhoni and selection committee over the exclusion of paceman Rudra Pratap Singh from the ODI team against England, a report has said that the BCCI has decided to shun the voting capacity of both coach and captain during the selection committee meetings.

According to the report, captain can only pick the final playing eleven and will no longer have any say on the selection of the squad. Since the board is not going to listen to the captain or coach over the selection issue, question has raised over the benefit of inviting both of them in such meetings.

BCCI has also strictly warned board members as well as the team captain and coach against any leakage of information about the boardroom meeting to media.

It is also come to light that Dhoni was not happy over the selection of M Vijay as opener in place of Gautum Gambhir during the recently concluded Australia series.

Last month on 22nd November, Dhoni has reportedly offered to resign from the high-profile post following paceman RP Singh's exclusion from the ODI team which was vehemently denied by the BCCI.

Later, Dhoni also denied the media reports of rift between him and selectors over pacer RP Singh's exclusion from the ODI squad against England.

"I do not know from where the reports of my resigning emerged," said Dhoni.

According to television reports, Dhoni had a disagreement with the selectors during the selection committee meeting to pick the team for the fourth and fifth ODIs against England.

Dhoni was unhappy that the selectors decided to drop RP Singh and include Irfan Pathan in his place and offered to resign, the television reports claimed, quoting an unnamed source close to one of the selectors.

The BCCI, however, was quick to rubbish the reports. "I can't respond to something that is being floated around by somebody," BCCI secretary N Srinivisan had said.

Salman’s disappearing act

2008-12-06T05:54:00.001-08:00

HTML clipboardIt is believed that producer Boney Kapoor used to have butterflies in his stomach when his lead actor Salman Khan used to run off early in the evening from the sets of Wanted Dead Or Alive . But what made Salman do that? If you think he used to spend evenings partying with his friends then you are wrong.

Salman was shooting in Greece with actor turned director Prabhu Deva for Wanted Dead Or Alive . “He loved the natural beauty that Greece had to offer and that inspired Salman Bhai to get into some landscape painting. He used to disappear in the evening from the set as soon as they finished the shoot. Salman thoroughly enjoyed painting in Greece,” reveals a unit hand.

Apparently Salman, who has earlier made semi religious paintings, has changed his style. This is for the first time he indulged in landscape painting which he has never done before.

It is believed that a painter conveys his feelings through his paintings, it’s only after we have a look at Sallu’s paintings that we understand what he is trying to convey!

Congress suspends Narayan Rane for criticising party leadership

2008-12-06T05:47:00.000-08:00

HTML clipboardThe Congress on Saturday suspended Maharashtra leader Narayan Rane, a day after his outburst against the party president Sonia Gandhi and a number of others when he lost the chief ministerial race. ( Watch )

"It has been observed that after the announcement of the new leader of the CLP in Maharashtra, Narayan Rane is making public statements deliberately with a view to lowering the prestige of the Indian National Congress," said AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi.

"The party has taken a serious view of his utterances and considering this as a case of gross indiscipline, Narayan Rane has been suspended from the party with immediate effect," he said in a statement hours before Rane was scheduled to hold a press conference in Mumbai on Saturday.

Rane, who was overlooked by the party high command in favour Ashok Chavan for chief ministership, had attacked the Congress leadership on Friday accusing it of reneging on a promise to make him the chief minister.

"I don't trust even Sonia Gandhi anymore", he said which party sources said was the trigger for his suspension.

Rane, a leader from the Konkan area who had left Shiv Sena three years ago, had attacked not only Deshmukh but also Ashok Chavan and some central leaders and accused them of conspiring and ignoring his claim for the top job in the state.

Al-Qaida may target Goa installations

2008-12-06T05:44:00.000-08:00

PANAJI: International terror network al Qaida would target certain installations in tourist hotspot Goa, warns a Goa cabinet note circulated to ministers here.

"Today, Goa faces serious threat from terrorists and there were specific inputs that al-Qaida would target certain installations in Goa. Goa has a coastline of 105 km, major sea ports and beaches," the cabinet note signed by Chief Secretary J P Singh reads.

This is the first time that Goa government has admitted that the state was on the al-Qaida radar, something it had been publicly denying so far.

"Goa is declared as the permanent venue for IFFI. It has already added to the busy tourist calendar of the state, thereby putting massive stain on the police machinery. To handle such situations, an increase of reserve force is the need of the hour to ensure effective patrolling," the note adds.

A Kashmiri youth Tarique Batloo was arrested with explosives at South Goa's Margao railway station in 2006. The police investigations had revealed that Batloo's connection with militant outfit Tehrik-Ul-Mujahid.

However, Batloo was acquitted in 2008 by a Goa court as police failed to establish offence against him.

The state cabinet, which had met on December 2, discussed the need to have an additional India Reserve Battalion (IRB), an armed police force.

SRK is now Datuk Shahrukh Khan

2008-12-06T05:40:00.001-08:00

HTML clipboardKUALA LUMPUR: Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan on Saturday became the first Indian movie star to be conferred a prestigious Malaysian title.

Wearing a traditional black and gold Malay outfit (Baju Melayu and samping) and headgear, Khan received the title of "Datuk" (equivalent to British Knighthood) from the governor of Malaysia's southern Malacca state.

Baju Melayu is similar to a kurta pajama, while 'Samping' is a piece of cloth men tie around the waist and which falls to the length of the long shirt.

The 43-year-old actor, who has a large fan base among the Malays, held the estimated 1,000 guests at the investiture spellbound as he received the Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM), conferred on him and 76 others.

The actor kept waving to his fans as he was escorted into the hall. The Bollywood icon was the focus of attention as media and fans clicked away using cameras from their seats.

The actor will be referred to as Datuk Shah Rukh Khan in Malaysia and will be addressed as Datuk. Each Malaysian state chooses its own list of people to honour with "Datukship". A majority of the awardees are local Malaysians who would have excelled in some area or are in the government.

Malacca authorities said Khan was given the title because some of his movies had been shot in the the historical state boosting tourism.

Khan shot a song for the movie 'one two ka four' in Malacca which was named as one of the heritage cities by Unesco a few months ago.

However, the decision to award Khan with the Datukship received a fair share of criticism across the country with local artists and public noting that the award could have been given to a local actor or artist.

How the Taj — the war zone — was reclaimed

2008-12-02T07:56:00.000-08:00

Journalist dead

Sabina Sehgal Saikia, journalist with a national daily who was reported missing, has been pronounced dead. It has been reported that the last message she sent to a relative said, “The terrorist is in the bathroom and I am under the bed.”

Tribute: Sabina, Scrabble, and the Spinach Rice

2008-12-02T07:53:00.001-08:00

"Get the Scrabble Board out, I’m coming next week!" she trilled over the phone in the summer of 2005. She had been invited to tour some vineyards and cherry and apple orchards in Washington by the US Department of Agriculture, and she had grabbed the chance to renew, among other things, our epic Scrabble battle that began in the early 1990s when I was heading the Sunday Times in Delhi and she was a principal correspondent. Jousting again after a decade-plus with Ma Sehgal, as we, the Sunday Times team, fondly called Sabina Sehgal Saikia, would be fun.

It turned out the vineyards and orchards weren't in Washington DC where I lived, but in Washington State, some 3000 miles across the country in the Pacific Northwest. Why don’t you route your ticket to return through Washington DC, I asked, but she would have none of it. "I'm coming 10,000 miles, and you can't do 3000?" she huffed, putting on an act of injured outrage, and telling me her ticket was already booked through Los Angeles. "Forget the Scrabble, don't you want your spinach rice?"

That did it. No one argued with Sabina in the first place, and when you did, she knew exactly where to get you -- in the stomach. Spinach rice was her simplest recipe, something the Sunday Times of circa 1991-1992 feasted on from the time she decided that our Monday post-editorial lunches (mostly at Karim's in Nizamuddin) was too heavy, and she would rather bring a lunch 'dibba' to office -- for a dozen people.

But that was Sabina. Big hearted, and brooking no opposition. Heck, I'm surprised she even allowed a couple of terrorists get the better of her. They must have been incredibly cowardly.

Anyway, I hot-footed it to Seattle that summer day in time to pick her up from Sea-Tac airport. Fortunately, the inamorata practiced medicine in the area and we had a home close to Mount Rainier. No sooner Sabina put down her bag, she headed for the kitchen. No jet lag, no unwinding. "Cooking is how I relax," she said, rejecting all suggestions to treat her to Seattle's best eating places, including Blue Ginger and others in Pike Place Market. "What kind of food critic are you that you don't want to check out the best here?" I kidded (she gone from being a foodie to a food critic in the decade I had been away; she covered hard politics during my time at SToI).

But she would have none of it; no eating out. About the only place she wanted to go was a mall to buy some stuff for her kids. Her ‘kids' were not just her two lovely children, but also her colleagues at Sunday Times, which she was heading at that time a decade after my stint, whom she so obviously loved. So I took her to a Nordstorm Rack, where she single-handedly shored up the American economy.

At home, she cranked out her masterpieces, starting from spinach rice to fish curry (with halibut). But she wasn't happy with the efforts. "Yahan ke sabzi mein swad nahi hain (the vegetables are not zesty)...the spices are not fresh,” she complained. But gluttons that we were at that moment -- rather than gourmets -- we just gorged on her offerings. One afternoon, she engineered an unforgettable picnic to Snoqualmie Falls, making even ordinary sandwiches supreme.

On languid evenings on the patio overlooking Mount Rainier, we played scrabble, breaking off to wax nostalgic about Sunday Times old and new. We laughed at our scrapes and disagreements, and our ability to constantly surprise each other. Like the working day afternoon when she turned up in office and announced she had just gotten married to Shantanu (she came to work after they registered their marriage and we all thought she was kidding).

She never did beat me in Scrabble though, which is why I reckon she will be back. She wasn't one to give up, and I can't wait for another surprise.

Sabina Saikia’s death numbs media fraternity

2008-12-02T07:52:00.002-08:00

Shantanu Saikia had been dreading this moment. But it came to him nevertheless, just as it did to hundreds others who lost their dear ones to the dastardly terror attacks in Mumbai. Missing since three days, the body of Shantanu’s better half Sabina Sehgal Saikia was today brought out after the NSG cleared the heritage Taj Hotel of terrorists.

Back home in Delhi, Sabina’s death came as a shocker, leaving her friends, family and the capital’s arts community deeply saddened and numbed. Of particular reference here is the flutter her death caused at SAHMAT - the Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust, of which she was among the most dedicated members. Ironical it seems that a woman who stood by communal harmony and secularism all her life finally went down to terrorists’ bullets.

Numbing as the experience is, the SAHMAT family today came out in the open to remember Sabina as the driving force and inspiration behind the “Artists against Communalism” events in Delhi in 1991 and later at Shivaji Park in Mumbai in 1992.

Sabina’s history tells us of how she travelled with the SAHMAT family to cities where the Anhad Garje - SAHMAT’s Sufi-Bhakti programme - was held in the immediate aftermath of the Babri Masjid Demolition in January, March 1993.

And then she was part of the Mukt-Naad in Ayodhya in 1993 held under very difficult circumstances. Mukt Naad was another event where some of the greatest classical musicians and dancers of India performed in defence of the country’s secular traditions, almost all under Sabina’s initiative.

One of the SAHMAT’s members today said, “None could refuse Sabina; she was such a beloved enthusiast of all these artists.” An acclaimed journalist and a food critic, Sabina was also the founder secretary of Spic Macay and learnt classical music with the doyens of dhrupad form of classical music - Ustads Zahiruddin Dagar and Faiyazuddin Dagar.

As a journalist later, she remained involved with the arts initiatives of her media organisation only to be led to the gourmet section later.

But with Sabina’s killing being confirmed today, all that has become history. She had gone to Mumbai to attend a wedding in a colleague’s family, but never returned. The last her husband heard from her was through an SMS, sent late on Thursday night.

“In her last SMS, she sounded very worried,” Shantanu had earlier said. About 20 minutes before that, hotel employees had received her SMS which said: “They (the terrorists) are in my bathroom'.”

The NSG commandos, who sanitised the Taj after the Operation Tornado today, confirmed the news of Sabina’s death.

Kishore Singh: Lunching with Sabina

2008-12-02T07:52:00.001-08:00

Olive Beach does things in style, and its first anniversary bash at its relocated restaurant on Sunday was every bit as classy. En route to the restaurant, we’d stopped for a brief while at The Claridges, and the brunch buffet in the front garden had never looked more inviting. But Olive, when we got there, was the more interesting with its various counters and grills and inside-outside seating. (And amusing too, if you stopped to see the way women’s heels sank inelegantly into the pebbled garden.)

Because we were late by brunch standards (but early by Delhi lunch timings), we found a table inside(actually, it was chivalrously offered to us), got our wines and appetisers, and sat down for a good tuck-in — but, alas, the grill counter on which we had our eyes was queue-deep in diners.

“Make sure you have the rabbit,” Delhi’s grande-dame of good dining had said, when I’d risen with my plate, “and the lasagna.” Fortunately, that counter was absent of people, so I took a small portion of each to bide our time — but one of the pieces of rabbit turned out to be guinea fowl from a neighbouring tureen, so while I got to feed from Sabina Sehgal Saikia’s recommendation of the menu, my wife had only the lasagna, pronouncing her faux-rabbit to be “just chicken”.

On the table beside ours, a math lesson was in progress. Sabina’s husband was teaching the younger of their two children how to solve integers (whatever they be). “He must be a very bright boy,” my wife said in jest to Shantanu. “He’s done very poorly in school,” said the boy’s father, making the kid squirm in embarrassment. At which my wife launched into a complicated story of how our son had been really, really poor in arithmetic, how he’d managed an impressive 95 per cent in his boards, and how he was now nicely settled in college, so they were not to worry about some niggardly thing like a low score in middle school.

Though we’d known each other for years, indeed known the families for some time — Sabina’s sister, a dentist, was my sister-in-law’s very close friend in Jaipur, and her architect brother had been responsible for the interiors of a company in which I had briefly worked when work under his supervision was still on — we had never been very close friends. We’d exchanged some phone calls, true; sought information even from each other; promised to meet up in each other’s homes, conversation that was never intended to be taken seriously because it was always over food, and often after a glass or two of wine or something stronger.

On any number of occasions, we’d asked her what we should eat at the banquets where we often met. And Sabina — she never lingered late, she was always among the early diners — would tell you what she had liked. Unlike her weekly restaurant review columns where she often said what was awful about the food, at parties she never told you what wasn’t nice, she only recommended what she thought was good. Invariably, she was right. And it was always a treat to have her sit beside you at Habib Rehman’s parties where even when all the food was excellent, her suggestions were extraordinarily well paired.

Sabina, since Thursday evening, has been missing at the Taj in Mumbai, her SMSes eloquent and painful and indicating a state of hopelessness. On Sunday, as she left from Olive before we did, she’d enveloped us each in her familiar bear-like hug, thanking my wife for her assurances on how her son would likely perform as he got older.

We’re waiting, Sabina, to return those hugs. At Olive this coming Sunday?

Assam mourns the death of Sabina S. Saikia

2008-12-02T07:49:00.000-08:00

Guwahati Press Club and Journalist's Forum, Assam have expressed shock and grief at the unfortunate death of Sabina Sehgal Saikia, who was one of nearly 200 victims of Mumbai terror attacks. Sabina was one of those victims who fell prey to the terrorists' attacks in heritage Taj Hotel building. The consulting editor with The Times of India, Sabina was trapped inside the hotel as the Islamist terrorists seized many parts of Mumbai's Nariman areas on November 26.

Sabina, a Punjabi born and the daughter-in-law of Assam was found dead at Taj hotel after the counter-terrorism operation against the dreaded terror strikes in India was over. Her journalist husband Santanu Saikia, a former staffer of The Economic Times, identified her amidst the pile of dead bodies. With her husband, Sabina left behind two children too.

Earlier the security forces declared iconic Taj hotel free from terrorists' clutch on Saturday morning. Speaking to scribes, the National Security Guard director general J K Dutt declared that the commandos had killed the last three terrorists hiding in the hotel.

The anti-terror forces had regained control over Oberoi Hotel and also Nariman House. The nearly 60 hours terror attacks left 183 deaths including 22 foreign nationals. The operation that snatched away the lives of few security personnel, however was successful in eliminating nine terrorists and also one captured alive.

The Sentinel, a leading English daily of Assam, made editorial comments on Mumbai terror strikes as an attack on 'all Indians, who have proved to be a highly competitive nation and are confidently marching ahead towards becoming a global power'.

Expressing anger on the government's 'counter-terrorism text with pseudo-secular dots and commas', the editorial added, "This is a war against India, which the country must win — and it has the resources, too, to win. But the only deterrence is the 'secular', effete Manmohan Singh government itself. It does not have the guts to warn Pakistan, nor does it have the will to save innocent people from the openly declared jehad. It has, therefore, no right to rule any patriotic Indian."

Sabina married to Santanu, only son of an illustrious Assamese littérateur and journalist Chandra Prasad Saikia. The Sahitya Academy award winner authored C.P. Saikia edited a number of daily and literary magazines. Also chaired Asom Sahitya Sabha, highest literary forum of Assam Sakia died in 2006.

The member-journalists of Guwahati Press Club assembled in the club soon after the news of Sabina's death in terrorist's attack broke out on November 29. The journalists observed a minute's silence as a mark of respect to all the departed souls in the incident and also lit candles on the club premises.

In another statement, Journalist's Forum, Assam expressed profound grief at the tragic death of an eminent journalist and also an 'Asomiya bowari'. The forum condemned the terror attacks on Mumbai and urged the government to initiate prompt actions against the perpetrators.

The Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi also paid condolence at the untimely death of Sabina. In an official statement, Gogoi said Sabina 'carved a niche for herself in the field of journalism and literature'. The death of Sabina Sehgal Saikia is a great loss for the nation as well as Assam, the statement concluded.

Emotional adieu to journalist Sabina

2008-12-02T07:45:00.001-08:00

Scores of teary eyed friends, colleagues, celebrities and even people who didn't now her personally turned up to bid farewell to Sabina Sehgal Saikia, a well-known scribe and food critic who perished in the Mumbai terror strike and was cremated in Mumbai on Sunday.

The body of Sabina, a consulting editor with the Times of India, was consigned to the flames at Lodhi Road cremation grounds.

For many, it tragically ended the uncertainty that had prevailed in the media about her death ever since it came to be known that she was among those trapped at the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel when terrorists struck Mumbai Wednesday night.

That she was as popular with the rich and famous as among lay readers was evident from the numbers that turned up to pay their last respects. Beauty expert Shahnaz Husain, actor Nandita Das, politician-industrialist Naveen Jindal, journalists Dilip Padgaonkar, Vikram Chandra, Vinod Nair were all present on the occasion.

Raj K Raj, a senior photojournalist, said: "I had a photo shoot with her just a week ago. I cannot believe this."

Said a bystander: "I was not a friend of hers. I am here just to express my solidarity at the moment."

Amidst all this, her husband Santanu Saikia was standing in a sombre mood with his arm around his son and sometimes folding hands and thanking friends for reaching out at this tragic hour.

Sabina was trapped on the sixth floor of the Taj Hotel that was worst affected in the deadly strike by terrorists who attacked 10 prominent landmarks in Mumbai, killing 183 people over the next 60 hours.

Sabina had been SMSing her family and friends until Wednesday midnight, after which they lost contact with her. She had texted her husband for the last time at 2 a.m. Thursday.

A massive fire has gutted major portions of the floor Sabina was on. Till late Friday night, her husband, who is also a journalist, was "hoping against hope" that she would be found alive. But that was not to be.

Her body was flown to the capital on Saturday night and brought to her south Delhi home. Sabina leaves behind her husband, a daughter aged 14 and a son aged 11.

She had gone to the hotel late Wednesday to attend a wedding when terrorists stormed it, firing at guests and holding several hostage. The standoff between the terrorists and security forces ended Saturday morning.

At her funeral, her colleagues and well-wishers found it difficult to hold back their tears. "I cannot talk right now. This is not the moment to talk," said an otherwise composed looking friend.

Some of her regular readers also turned up for a last look at their beloved writer.

"I have been reading her column for a long time. This is really shocking. I came here to make myself believe that I wouldn't be reading her anymore," said Nishant Singh, an avid reader of Sabina's column in Delhi Times.

Some of her friends recalled their last moments with her. "She was wearing her tight jeans and black T-shirt that day and was looking so adorable," said one.

Hundreds bid tearful farewell to Sabina

2008-12-02T07:43:00.000-08:00

As scores of people gathered at the Lodhi Road crematorium on Sunday morning to bid a final farewell to Sabina Sehgal Saikia, the noted food critic and consulting editor for The Times of India, family members and friends alike broke down when the scribe's body was consigned to flames.

Sabina was trapped on the 6th floor of Taj Hotel during the Mumbai terror siege and her body was recovered on Saturday. Her body was flown down to the Capital in the evening.

Sabina's cremation was attended by hundreds of people, including close friends from the journalist fraternity, noted artists, theatre personalities, politicians and people from the world of fashion.

Chief minister Sheila Dikshit, who had also come to pay her respects, told Times City: "I knew Sabina personally, and she was a bundle of joy and energy. Her death is a great loss for both the journalistic world and for us.''

Sabina's husband Santanu and brother Nikhil revealed that her end was instantaneous and she had not suffered in her last moments. "We are grateful to the NSG for the brilliant operation they carried out. Even though Sabina is no longer with us, we are happy for those who survived,'' said Nikhil.

Sarod player Amjad Ali Khan and his wife Subhalaxmi, who had a long association with the journalist, couldn't hold back their tears, describing Sabina as a family member. "This is a personal loss for us. We knew her since she was in college and an active member of the Spic Macay. She was extremely popular in the performing arts community and was a talented singer herself,'' said Khan. His wife Subhalakshmi, who Sabina referred to as "didi", broke down as she recalled the last time Sabina had gone to their home for lunch. "She got us a book and spent a lot of time with us that day,'' she said.

Bharatnatyam dancer Sonal Mansingh also couldn't hold back her emotions as she recollected her association with Sabina. "She was larger than life... so giving and caring. Sabina had a lot of respect for artists and musicians and her death is a huge loss for us,'' she said.

Actor Nandita Das described Sabina as a "bold and strong journalist''. She said: "This incident has hit us hard as she was `one of us'. This is not the time to express just anger. Sabina would definitely be more peaceful now if we used this incident to look deeper within us and see why such things are happening.''

Our soup will never be the same again

2008-12-02T06:45:00.000-08:00

[Sabina in happier days; California]

Fight till the last gasp
~ William Shakespeare
English Dramatist, Playwright and Poet

I’ve never seen someone carrying pearls as gracefully as Sabina Saikia Sehgal. I first met her a couple of years back at a party the Saikia’s hosted at their beautiful Defence colony villa. You couldn’t afford to ignore her in any setting. Sabina wore huge glasses and a huge pearl. I soon realized that beneath that overweening visage, there was a beautiful human being. She was exceedingly warm, cordial and she laughed out loud. I ate prawns that she had made and it was the best shrimp I’ve ever had.

I met her on many occasions that I went to see my editor at the Saikia‘s. Each time she would floor me with her generosity. Sabina was pretenseless and I really admired her for that. I think the geniality, grace and glow came only naturally. I was surprised to learn that she read my blogs: ‘I liked the blog post you wrote for your mom,’ she told me. I never hoped I’d some day have to write an obit for such a brilliant journalist.

I’ve seen a very few people so full of life. A globe-trotting writer, food critic and consulting editor of the Times of India were just one shade to her. She also was a wonderful mother to her two kids and a loving wife to Santanu, her journalist-turned-dot com entrepreneur hubby. Sabina’s friends would vouch for her amity. As a pro she had such a fierce reputation of being India’s best -- and ruthless -- food writer that restaurateurs would fear her weekly column. Yet, in private, she was so kind.

I shudder to think how cowardly it must have been to shoot her?

Did she laugh one last time? Her loud guffaws would often draw people to her. No wonder her funeral saw an ensemble of the crème de la crème of the capital. I had the Delhi chief minister standing to my left and fashion designer Rohit Bal to my right. Complete strangers sobbed as her pyre was lit. I’d tears in my eye.

It feels so sad to lose her. Newspapers are replete with tributes. I’m being told that she was one of the finest food connoisseurs in the country. I’m sure she will raid heaven's kitchen and savor its famed manna and nectar. And then rate it. Without fear.

Sabina will be dearly missed.

Sabina Saikia Sehgal

[1961-2008]
Godspeed
[Sabina was killed in the terrorist attack at Bombay’s Taj Mahal hotel]

Sameer

Sabeena Saikia - Journalist. Was at Taj

2008-12-02T06:36:00.000-08:00

Sabeena Saikia - Times of India journalist. Missing. Was at Taj.

Update: After the Taj siege ended, it was declared that Sabeen Saikia died in the attack. No details on how the journalist was killed.

Osama bin Laden's son denied asylum in Spain

2008-11-06T06:12:00.000-08:00

Spain has rejected a request for asylum by one of the sons of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden because it does not believe he is being persecuted, the Interior Ministry said.

Omar bin Laden was detained at Madrid's international airport after arriving on a stopover flight from Cairo bound for Morocco and applying for asylum on Monday.

Bin Laden, who was travelling on a Saudi Arabian passport with his British wife, reportedly applied for a British visa ealier this year but it was turned down.

Bin Laden, who has described himself in media interviews as a pacifist, has 24 hours to appeal Wednesday's decision, an Interior Ministry official said.

(Reporting by Raquel Castillo; Writing by Paul Day and Jason Webb; Editing by Jon Boyle)

Vijender Kumar

2008-11-06T06:08:00.001-08:00

Golden date?: Earlier, bong bombshell Bipasha Basu had promised Vijender Kumar a date if he wins the medal at Olympics.

Minor girl raped and killed in Bihar

2008-11-06T06:05:00.001-08:00

A minor girl was allegedly raped and murdered in a village Madhubani in Bihar, police said on Thursday.

The incident came to light after family found the body of the 8-year-old daughter of Shivlal Yadav on Wednesday from a school premises.

An FIR has been filed against Dina Thakur and another person for the rape and murder of the girl with the Pandual police station, police said.

When the girl did not return home for a long time, the family members began to search for her and found the body from the premises of Sarisabh Pahi Girls School, police said.

Khans

2008-11-06T06:01:00.000-08:00

Khandaan: Coming up soon is tripple treat of Top three Khans of Bollywood -Yuvraaj, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Ghajini.

Preity goes around the world!

2008-11-06T05:43:00.000-08:00

If you guys are wondering where’s Preity Zinta these days?

Here it is. Off late she has had a rather tight schedule travelling from one place to another. A close friend of the actress said, “Preity just offered prayers and sought blessings at Vaishnodevi (she makes it a point to visit the temple every year). Then she air dashed to New Delhi to address a press conference. After addressing the press in Delhi, Preity flew down to Bangkok for another press conference once again. Hmm... sounds like a pucca business woman in the making!

The life and times of Aamir Khan

2008-11-06T05:42:00.002-08:00

Did you know that actor Aamir Khan was an ace lawn tennis player who had represented Mahrashtra at the nationals?

In fact, the elusive Khan headed a rock band in his Bombay Scottish days. Surprised? Well, hold on to your awe for a while. For Aamir Khan promises lots more!

Shy and introvert, Aamir dabbled in cinema at a young age. His inclinations notwithstanding, Aamir, for a long time, was unsure of his goals in life.

However, once decided, no one could budge the chocolate-faced boy next door. Irrespective of his personal ambitions or professional commitments, Aamir saw it through till the very end.

Superstar Superlives on Zoom focuses on Aamir’s firm determination, his cinematic sense, his flops and his subsequent dramatic rise to the success story he has created today. The child actor, who made his first appearance before the camera in his father Tahir Hussein’s film, Yaadon Ki Barat, his fear of film sets, fascination for kites, an unsuccessful marriage to childhhood love Reena Dutt and finally finding happiness with present wife, Kiran Rao, the journey that the series sketches reveals a man stirred by his acute sense of observation and aesthetic skills.

The perfectionist had his share of pitfall to the verge where he once thought of quitting the film industry. His very public separation with Reena left him traumatic and vulnerable. However, he bore it with stoic dignity, when critics lashed out at him for his Mangal Pandey debacle and his separation.

That’s not all! Aamir received a lot of flak for ‘ghost directing’ his films. But he shut his critics with his exceptional directorial skills. “Aamir was exemplary in his shot angles and script sense. Need we say he was born to be a director and a legendary one at that!” says director Mahesh Bhatt.

As Aamir himself says in Dil Chahata Hai, “It’s tough to perfect perfectionism.” However this is just the prelude .

Beckhams have a magic necklace

2008-11-06T05:42:00.001-08:00

Former Spice girl Victoria Beckham and her soccer star husband David have given each other “magic” necklaces featuring an angel to watch over them and keep them safe.

The Beckhams exchanged the hand-carved gold and silver Japanese talisman pendants to mark their tenth wedding anniversary next July, reports thesun.co.uk.

“The energy they emit is incredibly powerful. These pieces act as talismans of love, healing and protection,” 34-year-old Victoria told Vogue magazine.

She added: “They were hand carved by a master carver in Japan, who spends most days in meditation before working.”

David, 33, already has an angel tattooed on his back and a cross on his neck.

‘I hardly know Sreesanth!’

2008-11-06T05:41:00.001-08:00

Shriya Saran is quite upset these days. Reason? She’s literally seething over media reports, which claimed that she had tried to woo cricketer Sreesanth recently.

The moment you ask the actress about the alleged media reports, the lady gets quite worked up. “Sreesanth and I are brand ambassadors for an upmarket product. Yes, we were there at a party together, but I barely spoke to him for five minutes. And, I was just being sweet,” she fumes.

Rag her a little about the possibility of such a connect with the much younger cricketer, and Shriya finally sees the funny side of the story and adds, “But, I don’t even know him yaar!” As she finally warms up, it’s time to take her to safer terrains and talk about her forthcoming projects. Shriya gleefully informs that she’s been shooting 24x7. “I have been shooting for Deepa Mehta’s film What’s Cooking, Stella? wherein I rediscovered myself and pushed myself beyond limits. Deepa’s characters are very real and close to life, and she doesn’t allow anyone to wear make-up either, lest it hinders the authenticity of her portrayals. Ek — The Power Of One is a film in which I play an immature girl, who thinks less and talks more. Ashok Amritraj’s film The Other End Of The Line has been recently released in the US and the response has been overwhelming. I am also doing quite a few big-budget South Indian films. So, life is hectic.”

With so many different projects in her hand, how does she flit from a glamorous role to an absolutely deglamourised portrayal with such effortless ease? “It’s easy because each director of mine knows his/her job. I always concentrate on the director and the script before saying yes to a project,” says she.

This thorough professional is equally fussy when it comes to her soulmate. She admits, “Love is the best thing that can happen to a person,” but quickly adds, “Right now, my 14-month-old nephew, Dhruv, is the only man in my life. I am absolutely smitten by him.”

B.R. Chopra passes away

2008-11-06T05:40:00.001-08:00

Legendary filmmaker B.R. Chopra expired on Wednesday after a prolonged illness. The winner of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award was 95.

His son, producer-director Ravi Chopra, said he had lost not only his father but his guru.

"I have lost not only my father, but my guru. The Chopra family has lost a virtual patriarch and the film industry a conscientious filmmaker," Ravi Chopra said.

B.R. Chopra died at 8.15 a.m. at his residence in suburban Juhu, Mumbai. He had made successful films like Naya Daur, Gumrah, Humraaz, Dhundh, Insaaf ka Tarazooand Nikah.

Besides Ravi Chopra, the filmmaker is survived by his two daughters Shashi and Neena. His funeral will be held at 4.30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Quiet first day for Obama after his historic win

2008-11-06T05:39:00.001-08:00

Barack Obama began his first full day as president-elect with the simple pleasure of having breakfast with his daughters, the type of everyday family activity he often had to sacrifice during the long campaign.

Afterward, Obama left the house alone, clad in workout clothes, a ball cap and sunglasses, and spent an hour at a friend's apartment building, where he uses the gym.

Then it was back home to clean up before heading to the office, a downtown office building where he was holding a conference call to thank campaign staff around the country. The president-elect wore a suit but no tie, and carried a black satchel.

Asked how much sleep he'd gotten on the night of his historic victory, Obama told reporters: "Not as much as I'd like."

Obama planned to stay in Chicago through the week, with a quiet weekend at home. He was still trying to figure out arrangements regarding his grandmother, who died on Sunday. A trip to Hawaii for the small private memorial she requested was likely by the end of the year.

Obama's staff said he would address the media by the end of the week, but Cabinet announcements were not planned that soon.

In addition to the many decisions he faces in getting the Obama administration up and running, he has personal decisions to be make, too. Such as when to move his family to Washington and where his 10 and 7-year-old daughters will go to school.

And then there was the matter of choosing the family pet. "Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House," Obama told his daughters in his victory speech.

In a congratulatory call to Obama on Tuesday night, President George W Bush pledged to make a smooth transition and extended an invitation to the Obama family to visit their new home at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

On Wednesday afternoon, Laura Bush and Michelle Obama spoke by telephone, and the first lady also invited her successor to visit the White House with her daughters, according to Michelle Obama's spokeswoman, Katie McCormick Lelyveld.

Lelyveld said a date for the visit would be set soon.

Liz Hurley sizzles in bikini!

2008-11-06T05:38:00.001-08:00

Actress Liz Hurley showed off her sultry figure in a sizzling photoshoot of her latest beachwear collection in India.

The 43-year-old star showed off her perfectly toned body in the photoshoot featuring the new beachwear collection, despite claiming that she hates to model in bikinis.

In an interview to Hello! magazine, Liz, who’s married to Indian businessman Arun Nayar, also revealed the secret of her svelte figure.

She maintains her body by eating “a lot less” and doing “a great deal more exercise”, reportsThe Sun.

The mum of one also revealed that she would love another child with hubby Nayar.

She even plans to switch her career and take up farming.

Singh is Kinng sequel, now

2008-11-06T05:37:00.002-08:00

Basking in the super success of Singh is Kinng, producer Vipul Shah is set to make a sequel to the comedy and has signed on fave actor Akshay Kumar for it.

However, he plans to make another film with Akki before that.

“After doing Waqt, Namastey London and Singh is Kinng, we had to do something that would take us into another zone. My next film with Akshay pushes the envelope even more. After that there’s the Singh Is Kinng sequel which I’d like Anees Bazmi to direct. But he’s very busy. So it depends on him,” said Shah.

So where did all the rumours of a rift with Akshay come from? “Search me,” Vipul said. “I was committed to a holiday from long before. I could’nt disappoint my sons. Akshay himself flew down from South Africa for just a day for his party and went back. So it was all done in a rush. Just because I don’t attend his party we’ve become enemies?”

I am proud to be a Bihari: Neetu

2008-11-06T05:37:00.001-08:00

Tuning in with SRK

2008-11-06T05:13:00.001-08:00

Shah Rukh Khan’s fan following doesn’t stop growing.

Composer Rahul Seth, who composed a jingle for a radio ad for King Khan, has joined theband wagon. SRK gave his voice for the jingle that was recorded at his house Mannat. “He’s so humble, it’s overwhelming to see a superstar like him, getting involved in every aspect of his work.That’s amazing,” recounted Rahul who has also dubbed for the Hollywood super-star Will Smith for the Hindi version I am Legend.

Rahul happens to be the nephew of renowned author Vikram Seth. The composer is now look forward to working with SRK once again. Looks like SRK continues to cast his spell on everyone!

A Black Man in White House: What an idea, sirji!

2008-11-06T05:11:00.000-08:00

Millions of Americans woke up on Wednesday morning in joyous disbelief, with something like that familiar line in an Indian ad ringing in their heads: The first ever African-American president of the United States -- What an idea!

As recently as two years ago, most pundits acknowledge, that same idea sounded improbable, even preposterous. No one outside the core group of well-heeled white anglo-saxon men had come remotely close to the White House in 234 years. So what chance of a first-term senator of two years standing and bi-racial origin who had 'lucked' his way to Washington DC at age 46?

He wasn't even given a chance against Hillary Clinton in the primaries. Talking head wisdom said there would be a woman in the White House before a black man got there. He was lucky enough to be a senator, one of only half dozen African-American senators in the country's history.

That the black man bidding for the presidency was a political minnow with Hussein as a middle name and a last name that sounded like Osama made it even more unlikely. Just six years ago, as a state senator from Illinois, he did not even have a pass to enter the Democratic convention; before that, he couldn't rent a car at the airport because his credit card was maxed out.

There were ugly rumours of his Muslim background, his connection to unsavoury characters, even of his nationality and his patriotism. There were also his experiments with marijuana and cocaine during his wasteful days.

But the pundits hadn't reckoned with an intuitive political genius with a flair for powerful oratory and building bridges. He had turned adversity to advantage, growing up suddenly with the realization that his elite degrees from Columbia and Harvard could be put to better use than latching on to high paying jobs in corporate America. Now he brought all the savvy the world's finest school taught him to the political arena and hired the best talent to build a grassroots movement that people are only now beginning to understand and admire.

In the end, Barack Obama rode the perfect storm of anti-incumbency discontent, the hunger for change, and an America in social and demographic transition to fashion the most incredible electoral victory, the scope and scale of which will be discussed for decades. His most remarkable feat was to transcend racial barriers. Although he openly identified himself as an African-American or black, his politics was not aimed at solely the black electorate, like most African-American politicians tend to do.

Instead, he reached out to the new America, and this kaleidoscopic multi-hued nation, where the current white majority will be a minority by 2042 (and the current minority will be a majority) responded like never before. The Republicans tried to subtly stir up the racial angle, speaking about "real America" and "pro-America parts of the country," thinly disguised euphemisms for white support. It didn't work. They missed the change; the real America was a new America and it was not just white.

Even as recently as a few weeks back, as polls showed Obama powering ahead, talk of victory was weighed down with concern over a possible Bradley Effect -- a scenario where white voters would hold back from supporting Obama despite promising to do so. It turned out to be a false alarm. "Some Bradley Effect, huh?" grunted Republican pundit William Bennett. "The country has grown up."

US stocks tumble despite Obama's victory

2008-11-06T05:10:00.000-08:00

Stocks are down in early trading as Wall Street focuses on the troubled economy following Barack Obama's election to the White House.

Analysts said the market expected an Obama victory and Wednesday's selling was part of a trading pattern known as "buy on the rumour, sell on the news."

Investors were also cashing in on some of their gains from Tuesday's big rally, which sent the Dow Jones industrials up more than 300 points on expectations that battered stocks would enjoy a traditional yearend rally.

Analysts say investors are focused on the economy rather than the election. They're awaiting a report that's expected to show that the service sector, like the manufacturing sector, shrank in October.

The Dow is down about 152 points, or 1.59 per cent, to the 9,472 level. Broader market indexes are also down more than 1.5 per cent.