Saif and Kareena picture
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Vivek - Priyanka's wedding & reception!
As BollyCurry informed before, Bollywood's 'Prince', Vivek Oberoi finally got married to Priyanka Alva, daughter of the late Karnataka political leader Jeevraj Alva, on Friday 29th October.
Priyanka, who is 28 years old, is a business management graduate from UK. Her mother, Nandini is a well known classical dancer while her father passed away in 2001. Both mother and daughter are heard to be immensely involved with social world and charitable organizations. On that account, Priyanka is very well matched with the newly-hubbified Vivek who has shown his own charitable streak in the recent past, especially where environmental concerns come to fore.
The wedding took place at the farm house of the Alvas in North Bangalore and was held in all grandeur with not one but two wedding styles being blend together - the state styles of Karnataka and Punjab. The reception party was then held on Sunday by the Oberois in Mumbai.
The pre-wedding ceremonies began as early as Thursday and rolled into hours of Friday evening when the baraat finally knocked at the Alva's residence.
The wedding ceremony comes a few days after the release of Vivek's latest flick, Rakht Charitra across India.
Here are a few shots of the happy couple in their lavish outfits from the reception.
The reception was held at ITC Grand Martha in Mumbai. Big names like Akshay Kumar, Shakti Kapoor, Prachi Desai, Anu Malik, Genelia D'Souza, Sajid Khan, Farah Khan were present at the event.
Kaun Banega Crorepati on Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo!
Kaun Banega Crorepati fever is on and the same fervor will soon catch our Damini Devi (Apara Mehta) of SAB TV's Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo, to the extent that she stands stubborn to take part in actual game show with Amitabh Bachchan.
A close source says, "Soon the show will see a track where Damini Devi urges to take part in Kaun Banega Crorepati along with Amitabh Bachchan. Being a drama artist, that's really not her cup of tea to be on the hot seat and give all the right answers to the questions asked. In order to respect her feelings, all the other family members will set up a duplicate set of KBC for her, where Apoorva (Sumeet Raghavan) will be seen as Big B, playing Kaun Banega Crorepati with his mother."
"Sumeet Raghavan will dress up like Big B and Apara will be seen on the hot seat. The production house is going to prepare a set just like the actual KBC set. The track focuses on the overall drama where Damini Devi being a drama artist makes a blunder with her answers. The shoot for the track will commence within couple of days and will go on air later on, "signs off our source.
We contacted Apara Mehta who confirmed the news, "Yes, we have scripted such a great track where I will be seen on the hot seat answering to Sumeet who will be the Big B on the show."
Sumeet Raghavan too confirmed the news.
Don't forget to watch how Damini Devi blunders on hot seat!
Six leading ladies take the Hot Seat in KBC
Six leading ladies of Indian Television will be on the hot seat with Mr. Amitabh Bachchan on Sony's Kaun Banega Crorepati very soon!! The six ladies who got the privilege of sharing screen space with Bachchan Senior include Ragini Khanna, Pooja Gor, Aashka Goradia, Aishwarya Sakhuja, Disha Wakani and Bharti Singh.
We hear that the ladies played an entertaining musical chair that they would remember for a lifetime!! The episode will feature sometime during the Diwali week.
Our source tells us, "All the ladies enjoyed themselves and had a great time with Big B. Even after the shoot, they were seen talking to themselves about their experience being on the sets of KBC. In fact, Pooja Gor got a pleasant surprise when a person of the stature of Big B came up to her, bent on his knee and answered to her special question".
When contacted, Ragini Khanna said, "Yes, it was a great experience to meet Mr. Bachchan and we had loads of fun with him".
Pooja Gor in an excited tone said, "Who does not want to meet a personality like Mr. Bachchan? It was great sharing screen space with him. Many people in fact dream to have a glimpse of him, and we were there on the hot seat with him. I feel lucky to have got this chance. We had a great time both on sets and off screen too".
When asked Pooja about the special incident with Big B, she acknowledges and says, "Yes, I relish that moment a lot. When I told my friends and family that I was to shoot with Amitabh Bachchan, they were so excited. So when I was in the Hot Seat with him, I asked him a question as to how it feels to be Mr. Bachchan, the man with a great fan following who is so famous. As an answer to this, he came up to me, bent on his knee and told me 'Deviji, main toh sadaran insaan hoon'. He said that he is a normal human being just like all, and is in fact thankful to all the people who have given him so much of love and made his so great".
Guess the ladies will now be eager to watch themselves on National Television sharing screen space with the one and only Big B…
Monday, November 1, 2010
Seven housemates booked by Bigg Boss
COLORS' Bigg Boss 4 will go thro' another nomination phase in tonight's episode!! But it's going to be tough for the viewers this week, as seven housemates have been put in the danger zone!! Yes, you have heard it right!! As per the rules of the Bigg Boss, the inmates need to follow certain instructions and can be punished royally if they do not abide to them. In the case of the seven nominated contestants, we hear that they were seen plotting and scheming against one another and if this is not enough, they were spotted discussing nominations.
Our source informs us, "The seven housemates who were found guilty and booked for nominations are Manoj Tiwari, Hrishant Goswami, Rahul Bhatt, Veena Malik, Shweta Tiwari, Seema Parihar and Aanchal Kumar".
Other than the nominations, viewers will witness yet another cat fight happening, this time between Dolly Bindra and Manoj Tiwari.
According to our source, "When Salman Khan had entered the house last night, the inmates got the luxury of enjoying a great meal. The inmates decide on having the left over food when Manoj Tiwari refuses to have it as he does not want to eat non-vegetarian food. He tells all that he would make something out of eggs for himself. This makes Dolly wild, and she argues with him and asks him not to make anything new and eat the left over food like others. This makes Manoj angry and he yells at her saying the kitchen is not owned by her father, and that she has no right to talk anything. This leads to a big fight between Manoj and Dolly".
Meanwhile, Sara who has enjoyed the luxury of being in the secret room for few days will get back into the house tonight. Her comeback will bring about a mixed reaction in the house. While the new love birds Ashmit and Veena are happy, Hrishant does not like Sara's comeback.
Catch the new twists and controversies in tonight's episode of Bigg Boss..
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Shakti-Mukti to host Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa?
siblings of Indian Television, Shakti Mohan (of fame Dance India Dance) and Mukti Mohan who was lately seen in Star Plus Zara Nachke Dikha, will be seen sharing screen space, albeit in a new role!!
Our khabroo tells TellyBuzz, "Initially Shakti Mohan and Mukti Mohan were approached as participants in Sony's Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, but as the whole country knows about their dancing talent, the production house later on approached them to choreograph for the celebrities. But due to their love for dancing, they refused to choreograph the participants as they said dancing would be more fruitful for them."
The latest buzz is that the duo has been approached to host the show, instead of participating or choreographing the contestants.
"Talks are on and being known faces who have proved their worth in dancing, they have been asked to host the show together," adds our source.
We tried contacting Shakti but she remained unavailable while Mukti refused to comment on the same.
Keep watching this space to know more on Jhalak Dikhla Jaa!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Karan back with his Koffee Mug and Hamper with Season 3
It's time for yet another witty and spicy flavour of Koffee With Karan, Season three, with the charming and charismatic, Karan Johar. This time with more stars and celebrities, the season is going to be a novel one, which any viewer can hope.
The opening episode which will be aired on November 7th on Star World at 9 PM will see the most vibrant and inseparable couple from Bollywood, Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan sharing the couch with Karan.
Talking about why he chose the couple, Karan says "After their wedding, the couple has not given a full-fledged talk to media and I felt that this would be a platform wherein they can be comfortable and informal with the audience."
What if two most charming ladies of Bollywood meet? Well that is exactly what is going to happen in one of the upcoming episodes of Koffee with Karan. The audience will see Sonam Kapoor and Deepika Padukone together in the show sharing their moments with the host.
The duo has been in news for their differences, but talking about them Karan says "The episode I shot with them was one of the most amazing ones for me and they were very comfortable with each other on the sets. I was really impressed with the way they behaved and I am waiting for that episode to be on air so that I could see the audience reaction"
The viewers will also get to see two handsome and charming men of Bollywood, Imran Khan and Ranbir Kapoor sharing the stage with Karan in the coming episodes.
The momentous Koffee Mug, this time will be in Red and the Koffee Hamper is enhanced in a more technology friendly manner with an additional two gizmo, which are the IPad and Blackberry Torch. That's really freaking out, isn't it??
This time with all the more fun and pun with the Rapid Fire questions, Koffee With Karan will take off with its episodes on 7 November on Star World at 9:00pm
Sara Khan eliminated in Bigg Boss
The loyal viewers of COLORS' Bigg Boss know by now that the voting lines for elimination this week have been closed, and as a bonus for Diwali, the makers have decided that there will be no elimination this week.
However, the beauty is that the inmates inside the house are not aware of this development, and Bigg Boss is now all set to make the best use of this situation!!
TellyBuzz exclusively gives its readers the news that the process of elimination did take place today in the house.
Our source tells us, "There is a big surprise in store for viewers as well as the inmates. The process of elimination will be shown as usual tonight, and Sara Khan will be eliminated from the house. However, the plan is to keep her in a secret room for three days, from where she can notice all the happenings in the house".
For the uninitiated, Vindoo Dara Singh was also kept in a secret room last year, where he enjoyed all the luxuries like food and rest, along with a plasma screen that took him right inside the house to know what was happening there.
Guess with Ashmit's playboy act in full swing, Sara will have buckets of tears to shed when she sees Ashmit's real face!! Or who knows, Sara might just get stronger and enter the house with a new approach towards things!!
Also, as reported earlier, Salman Khan is all set to enter the house for the Diwali celebration..
Catch this new twist in COLORS' Bigg Boss tonight at 9 PM
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Roshan 'flies to Berlin for Don 2 cameo
According to Mid Day, producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani felt Roshan was ideal for the featured part in the project.
A source for the newspaper commented: "Roshan's character is a stylised one with interesting shades and they felt only he could do justice to it. But Farhan and Ritesh want to keep Hrithik's role hidden till the film's release as it's one of the highlights of Don 2."
Producers are also said to be excited about Roshan appearing opposite lead actor Shah Rukh Khan after they worked together in 2001.
"Hrithik and Shah Rukh will come together again in Don 2 after Karan Johar's Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. They shared an amazing chemistry and are close friends even today," added the source.
The green-eyed actor has recently filmed with Farhan Akhtar in Spain for Zindagi Na Milegi Dobaara.
The Merchants of Bollywood tour at Nazareth
The show features a selection of music and dance numbers from some of India's most famous films and is loosely based on the Merchant family, which helped build up the Bollywood film industry. At heart, it's a story of how to hold on to tradition as the film and dance industries change.
Salman Khan gears up to get inside Bigg Boss house
Pleasant surprises are always welcome especially as an added bonanza when you are expecting it the least. While the housemates eagerly wait for a glimpse of Salman Khan every Friday on the plasma screen, Sallu will be seen actually entering the house and spending a day with them..Just Imagine, this is a jackpot from nowhere! For the first time in the history of Bigg Boss, the viewers will see none other than the host himself entering the house and having a gala time with the housemates. What better a treat can the housemates get!
As they say, the wearer knows where the shoe pinches; Salman will actually be seen entering the house and getting a taste of what house-arrest means. Now we all know Salman can go to any extentin Mehmaan Nawazi... will the host bring in some home-cooked biryaani and other yummy delights for the housemates? Considering Salman's generosity…we wonder if Veena's going to add another pair of stilettos to her collection; if WWE Superstar The Great Khali's going to blow a new flute, will the housemates get messages from their loved ones or would it be painting from Salman himself?
Wait... there's more to the good news. In Bigg Boss always expect the unexpected!! While there's butterfly buzzing in Sara, WWE Superstar The Great Khali, Seema and Sameer's stomach; wondering who's going to be out of the house this week…Salman brings in some relief ruling out the eviction this week. Now this definitely is a dhamakedaar start to the forthcoming festive week.
Catch the Salman dhamaka on Big Boss Season 4 This Saturday, October 30 at 9 pm Only on COLORS
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Dolly Bindra boycotted in Bigg Boss house
In today's episode Dolly commented that the responsibility of the kitchen should be with the women and men should not be involved in this area at all. Shweta does not like this 'bossy' attitude of Dolly's and asks for a clarification. Manoj Tiwari, the Captain tries to manage the situation and asks all to vote for their favorite. What started as a small poll for kitchen captain eventually turned out to be a big catfight between Dolly Bindra and Shweta Tiwari. Soon the fight for the kitchen captain became personal and both started hurling accusations and allegations against each other.
After this cat fight the housemates have turned completely against Dolly's behaviour. Everyone was heard saying that till this week, nobody in the house has had such a huge fight and nobody has used such abusive language. All of them decide to boycott Dolly, and decide not to talk to her much. They have decided not to involve her in any task that will be given by Bigg Boss. Above all, they have decided to nominate Dolly this week.
After Dolly's entry it is getting majedaar inside the house, for those who have been missing some fun... Let's now wait and watch to see how Dolly reacts to this stand taken by contestants!!
Shahrukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra: The Impressive duo in Berlin conference for ‘Don 2’
It was reportedly a popular Palace in Berlin, where a press conference was held for the film’s ongoing shooting in the German capital, and where it was SRK,at his jovial best, taking every single question with as much gusto as would have any top actor in the world.SRK with Priyanka Chopra, were an impressive duo at the press conference, which made everyone present admire them in awe!He was at his best of moods, as he answered with a humorous twist to every question asked about the film. Priyanka Chopra, who was as usual at her full on 100 watt smile, had to do less of the answering, thanks to Shahrukh’s penchant for doing the needful.
However, the two got along simply amazingly, and all the media persons, seemed to enjoy themselves too. Indeed, SRK is not called the King of Bollywood for nothing! He once again proved his mettle at the Palace in Berlin! Well, as he seemingly plays a kinder Don in the sequel, maybe, the role was getting into him a bit too much, however, we all know what a cool dude SRK is, so now it’s only natural for SRK to charm everyone with his impish grin and great one-liners.
Deepika Padukone & Sidharth shoot out Names for Kingfisher’s Calendar 2011
This time also hundreds if model will line up to try their luck and ace photographer Atul Kasbekar will shoot the entire 2011 calendar again. However, the latest addition in this year’s project is Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, who happens to be girlfriend of liquor baron Vijay Mallya’s son Sidhartha Mallya. Well, before you start guessing lets clarify one thing that Deepika is not wearing two pieces and not modeling for the calendar. The actress is playing the role of a judge along with her beau to select the 12 sexiest models. She was there to support her beau on choosing the models on Tuesday.
Several models participated in the competition to feature in the popular Kingfisher swimsuit calendar. Speaking about the criteria of her selection, Deepika said that the models should be intelligent part from being just good looking.Padukone added that she just doesn’t want a good looking face or a perfect body but a perfect blend of both beauty and brain. She thinks that if one really wants to be successful, she has to be the entire package of intelligence, smartness, good look and a perfect figure.
The actress added that she had been a part of the Kingfisher calendar earlier so she can identify with the aspiring models very easily. Deepika added that during her time, there was no model hunt and she feels lucky to get that opportunity. She said that Atul Kasbekar noticed her at that time as she already started modeling by that time and she did not even required to compete with anyone at that time.
Mallya stated that Kingfisher Calendar gives the biggest platforms to the aspiring models. He did not forget to compliment the models saying that they were bold and beautiful.
The calendar was launched in 2003, which was the first of its kind in India. We believe in association with an experienced model like Deepika, Sidhatha will choose some fresh and attractive faces, which will offer 12 fresh fragrances for 2011!
Taxi cab confession: Lawyer says SI model not at blame in cab fight
White, until recently paired with Sean Penn, was arrested early Saturday morning after reportedly hitting another woman in the face and pulling her hair. She was charted with misdemeanor assault and has a Dec. 15 court date.
"The Sports Illustrated supermodels that I represent, such as Rachel Hunter and Jessica White, are all good sports and super people, not the type of women that get into catfights," attorney Mark Jay Heller told the Post. "Stories concerning celebrities frequently get blown up, and I'm confident that when the air is released from this blown-up story that has obviously been overinflated, all that will be left will be hot air with no substance."
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Golmaal 3, Action Replayy to release around Diwali
Funny and entertaining Golmaal 3 and Action Replayy are in tune with the festive mood that surrounds their release this year. With an estimated budget of around Rs 40 crore each, both the films have Rs 80 crore riding on them, in a year which had some big productions sink without a trace. Producers, distributors and exhibitors are keeping their fingers crossed.
While Action Replayy is a romantic comedy featuring Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai, which revisits the 70s through time travel, Golmaal 3 brings back the team including Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor, Arshad Warsi and Tushar Kapoor for another mindless comedy.
Don 2 is the Bollywood version of Bond
In the film King Khan makes a come back as “the smartest, smoothest gangster in the Asian drug world … criminal but good-hearted and a heart-breaker”
.
King Khan, who was recently chosen by Newsweek magazine among the world’s 50 most important people and also voted Asian Hero by Time revealed that his character in “Don 2” was “very beautiful behind the dark exterior … He’s not a typical gangster.”
At a press conference held in Berlin on Friday, director Farhan Akhtar stated “When I was here, I was very taken by the architecture of the city. It is a city that represented to me a new world.”
He added that producing a film in Berlin was a “great way to showcase this city to an Indian audience”.
Trick-or-treat times 2010
Amherst: A Halloween parade will be Oct. 31. Registration is 3 p.m. at the San Springs Building, 480 Park Ave. A costume contest follows at 4 p.m. The parade begins immediately after the costume contest. Trick-or-treat will be 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31. Residents wishing to hand out treats are asked to turn on their porch lights.
Avon: Trick or treat is 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.
Avon Lake: Trick or treat is 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.
Columbia Township: Trick or treat will be 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30.
Elyria: The annual Kiwanis Halloween parade is Oct. 31 Line-up begins at 2 p.m. near Suzin L. Chocolates on Broad Street and the parade starts at 2:30 p.m. Cider and donuts will be available following the parade in Ely Square. In case of inclement weather, the event will be at East Recreation Center, 1101 Prospect St. Please stay tuned to WEOL 930-AM for information in the event of inclement weather. Trick or treat in the city is 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.
Grafton: The annual Halloween parade will be Oct. 31. Line-up begins at 12:30 p.m. at the Grafton Police Department on Chestnut Street. The parade will step-off at 1 p.m. and travel down Chestnut, over to Railroad Street, onto Main Street and back to the police station. Trick-or-treat will be 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.
LaGrange: The LaGrange Lions Club will host a Halloween family fun day 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 30 at the LaGrange Lions Club on Glendale Avenue in LaGrange. Guests are encouraged to bring their already-carved pumpkins to enter them into a carving contest. Prizes will be given for best costumes. The parade will begin at about 2:30 p.m. at the Lions Club where parade-goers can watch everyone walk around the Lions Club grounds. After the parade, donuts will be available. The afternoon also will feature games and other family events for the family. For more information, call (440) 774-4595. Trick-or-treat will be 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.
Lorain: Trick-or-treating hours are 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.
New London: Trick or treat will be in the village 4 to 5 p.m. Oct. 30. Sign-up for the Halloween parade will follow 5 to 6 p.m., and the parade itself will step off at 6 p.m. Parade sign up will be at the Firelands Ambulance Service building on James Street.
North Ridgeville: Trick-or-treat will be 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.
Oberlin: Trick-or-treat will be 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.
Sheffield: Trick-or-treating hours 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.
Sheffield Lake: Trick-or-treating hours are 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.
Vermilion: The city’s annual American Legion Halloween Parade will be 6 p.m. Oct. 28 starting from the Vermilion High School stadium. Prizes awarded for ugliest, prettiest, funniest, storybook and most original costumes. Candy, cider and donuts provided. Trick-or-treat will be 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31. Participating residents should turn on their front porch lights.
Wakeman: Trick or treat will be 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 31.
Wellington: Trick or treat will be 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.
Photos from last year’s trick-or-treat in Elyria:
Monday, October 25, 2010
It's Monday night and time for nominations...
Khali as we already know has been nominated by Begum Ali. We hear that the other two contestants who will get nominated tonight are Sara Khan and Sameer Soni.
Ever since Manoj Tiwari has been nominated as the Captain of the house, there has been a cold war happening between him and Sameer. Though Manoj is the Captain, Bigg Boss has played it smart by appointing Sameer as the secret agent who will be Bigg Boss's 'Eyes and Ears'. As the secret agent, Sameer is given a notepad and pen and is asked to note down all the things that happen against the rules in the house.
Before tonight's nomination process, the inmates welcome the new entry Dolly Bindra into the house. While Sara, Ashmit Patel, and Rahul Bhatt were happy to see her, Shweta, Manoj and Hrishant crib about lack of sleep.
Guess with the buzz doing rounds that Khali has got into the house only for few weeks, it looks as though the time is ticking for the popular WWE wrestler in the Bigg Boss house..
Catch the Nomination Special tonight on COLORS' Bigg Boss..
It's the search for the Ultimate Dancing Jodi this time!!
Zee TV as always has planned an aggressive audition phase for the show at big cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Baroda, Indore, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Guwahati, Lucknow and Bangalore. The auditions will start in the last week of October and will go on thro' the whole of November. This time, the performers will all be common people, with no contestants of previous seasons taking part.
The new season plans to retain its old flavour and is looking to have the same jury panel including the Grand Master Mithun Chakraborthy and the three mentors, Remo DSouza, Terrence Lewis and Geeta Kapoor. We also hear that the hosts of the previous two seasons, Jay Bhanushali and Saumya Tandon have been retained.
Our source states, "Geeta Kapoor is surely in, and it looks like Remo and Terrence will give their nod. Jay and Saumya will be hosting this season too".
We tried calling Jay, but he remained unavailable. Saumya Tandon though refused to comment.
We also tried calling Producer Winay Mahajan, but he was busy in a meeting
Dolly Bindra and Vivek Mishra to enter Bigg Boss..
COLORS' Bigg Boss 4 is all set to create more dhamaka with the unexpected entry of the controversial name Dolly Bindra. The actress who was recently seen in the movie Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahaani was in news few years back for being physically assaulted by actor and Bigg Boss Season 2 contestant Raja Chaudhary. Readers would remember that it was Shweta Tiwari, Raja's ex-wife who had supported her husband thro' this ordeal.
While the channel showed a preview of Dolly's entry into the house in the last episode, TellyBuzz gives its readers inside information on the next few big wild card entries to happen in the house.
A little birdie tells us, "Bigg Boss has lots of things in store
as the production house and channel are planning the entry of Raja Chaudhary after Dolly's entry. He is supposed to stay in the house for two weeks".
Wondering what will happen when the trio Shweta Tiwari, Raja and Dolly reside in the same house?
Well, the story does not end here. Our source gives us more information that Vivek Mishra, a Yoga trainer and actor will be entering the Bigg Boss house during Diwali. He will apparently enter the house to make life hell for others. He will also be there for few weeks.
Interestingly, Vivek is the same person who was in the news earlier for being the boy friend of Sakshi Pradhan, and apparently getting her into the family way. We have also heard that Vivek knows Sara Khan very well.
When contacted, Vivek Mishra told TellyBuzz, "I don't want to comment on this".
Also, we hear that Shraddha Sharma, Raja Chaudhary's so-called present girl friend was also approached to participate in the show. However, things did not materialize with her...
As we file this news, we get to know that Dolly Bindra has taken no time to assert herself in the Bigg Boss house, and the first thing she has done is to throw Shweta Tiwari out of the kitchen and take charge of the entire cooking!!
Well, there will be lot more cooking in the Bigg Boss house in few weeks' time for sure!!
Pakpattan Blast
The blast occurred immediately after Fajr prayers. The authorities closed the shrine for visitors soon after the explosion.
Four women were also included among the victims who lost their lives. One wall of the shrine was destroyed in the explosion.
According to initial reports, two men left a motorcycle at the back door of the shrine and the explosion took place after six to seven minutes of their departure from the spot.
Eyewitnesses said that both of the suspected men were 28-30 years old.
Several people were present on the scene when deadly explosion occurred in the shrine
Friday, October 22, 2010
Wills India Fashion Week begins
To be held at the Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, the organizers of WIFW say that this season promotes a host of fresh faces who will showcase their creations on the national stage for the first time. While a number of established designers make it to the WIFW ramp, introducing new talent is in keeping with the spirit of Wills India Fashion Week, which tries to bring something extraordinary on the catwalk each year.
A total of 58 fashion labels will make it to the stage of the Pragati Maidan this season, with ace designer Tarun Tahiliani’s spring/summer collection scheduled to set the stage ablaze at the grand finale.
While Tarun Tahiliani collections will come attached with their signature style, the other designers also have surprises in store, claim organizers Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI).
The Wills India Fashion Week is special this season because with the launch of the spring/summer collection, the WIFW celebrates its 10th year on the ramp and while the WIFW has always been known for showcasing the creations of the best in fashion talent of India, this season too will not disappoint the audience, say the representatives of the FDCI.
Tarun Tahiliani says that he is proud to be associated with such a renowned platform in Indian fashion and is looking forward to showcasing his creations over the weekend. Some of the other top designers featuring in this season’s Wills India Fashion Week are Ritu Beri, Rohit Bal, JJ Valya and Wendell Rodricks among others.
Mel Gibson film cameo cancelled after protests from cast and crew
Mel Gibson's professional resurrection has suffered another setback after the troubled actor's mooted cameo in the sequel to The Hangover was cancelled following apparent protests from the some of the film's cast and crew.
It emerged this week that Gibson, 54, had been chosen to play a tattoo artist in director Todd Phillips's follow-up to the 2009 comedy blockbuster.
But Warner Bros Pictures and Phillips have now confirmed that he won't be appearing in The Hangover 2.
The director said yesterday that although the producers had been behind his decision to cast Gibson, the move "ultimately did not have the full support of my entire cast and crew"
.
Despite earning considerable critical acclaim for directing such films as The Passion of the Christ and Apocalypto, Gibson's off-screen antics have attracted more attention than his cinematic efforts over the last few years.
In 2006, when he was arrested for drink-driving, he told the police that "the Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world" and addressed his arresting officer as "sugar tits".
He later apologised for his "despicable" remarks, adding: "I have battled with the disease of alcoholism for all of my adult life and profoundly regret my horrific relapse."
Gibson's reputation took a further drubbing this year when audio recordings emerged in which he ranted at his estranged ex-girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva.
He was also dropped from the talent agency William Morris Endeavor in July.
Gibson, who returned to acting after more than five years away with the thriller Edge of Darkness, is next due to appear in The Beaver, directed by Jodie Foster.
Some had seen his Hangover 2 cameo as a chance for rehabilitation; Mike Tyson's bit-part in the original film was credited with improving his damaged reputation.
The new film, which is set to reunite Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha and Ed Helms, is scheduled for release next year.
Martin Johnson: I do not need a vote of confidence
Before he utters a sound, his presence alone almost justifies how he went on to win 84 caps and lead England to World Cup glory in 2003.
A fool would have doubted his credentials to take over from Brian Ashton in April 2008.
But at times that is exactly what has happened, and perhaps justifiably so, as his record as manager has not matched that of his playing days so far.
Johnson has presided over 23 Tests, winning nine of them, but the general consensus is his England sides have massively disappointed against tougher opposition.
But there is a new-found optimism as England embark on the autumn internationals, as a respectable series draw down under against the Wallabies saw a new generation of test players stand up to the plate.
Ben Youngs, Tom Croft, Courtney Lawes, Chris Ashton and Ben Foden all represent the future, and Johnson believes they are all the better for it after coming through some testing encounters.
“The team have been through some tough games and this has been important in their development together,” he said.
“With the games coming up we will be in a better position working towards New Zealand (in 2011).
“There are a lot of players in the group under the age of 25 and playing against some tough sides they’ll be all the better for it.
“We have seen in the last year a transition with players coming through and deserving to be there in a very competitive squad.”
The RFU’s Director of Elite Rugby, Rob Andrew, has always stood by his man and at the launch of England’s new partnership with rugby fashion label Eden Park this week was once again issuing him his backing.
But Johnson remains defiant and believes he is the man to lead his charges into the World Cup.
He said: “I don't think I need that vote of confidence because it is my job to manage the team and get the best possible results.
“We know we have to regularly play as we did in Sydney to challenge the best teams in the world.
“There will be defeats between now and the World Cup, unless it goes brilliantly well, and it’s how you deal with them.
“We need to keep reminding ourselves we can get confidence from good performances and if we do that the results should follow.”
For Johnson, it is not just the younger players England fans should be excited about, and believes he has sufficient experience and leadership in his squad going forward.
He remains hopeful of welcoming back his skipper Lewis Moody from an eye injury, but believes he has several options available to him should he not.
“The good thing is that we have a group of guys and could pick any one of them to be captain,” he said.
“We have a core of senior players who could all do a job. If you rely on one player, this is always a danger.”
Thursday, October 21, 2010
New Zealand PM Bids to Save 'The Hobbit'
Just four months before principal photography was due to begin, director Peter Jackson warned Thursday that Time Warner Inc.'s New Line Cinema will move production of the "The Hobbit"--beset by labor uncertainly--out of the country. New Zealand Actors' Equity union, which had called on actors around the world to refuse to work on the film, appeared to back down after Mr. Jackson's warning, with Actors' Equity organizer Frances Walsh declaring "industrial issues" no longer a barrier.The damage has already been done," said a spokesman for Mr. Jackson's company, Wingnut Films.
Economic and Development Minister Gerry Brownlee agreed. "Sending a message internationally that this was an environment where you have unstable employment relations is absolutely disastrous."
So Mr. Key has stepped up; he and members of his government want to meet with Warner executives here to discuss what can be done to make sure New Zealand doesn't lose the blockbuster. According to New Line spokeswoman Candice McDonough, the California-based company hasn't decided where to make the film; she declined to comment on whether production executives would meet with Mr. Key.
"It's really tragic for New Zealand," said Mr. Key's spokeswoman Jane Fraser-Jones of the possible loss. With an economy that's struggling to shake off the effects of the global financial crisis and a recent earthquake in Christchurch, the country's second-largest city, the government and New Zealand are eager for the investment the film represents. Some economists estimate that the real economic cost of losing "The Hobbit" would far exceed the $500 million budgeted to make the film.
"When you lose these sorts of projects you don't just lose the direct dollar that was going to be spent here," said Cameron Bagrie, chief economist at ANZ National Bank Ltd. in Wellington. Indeed, Economic Development Minister Brownlee estimated "The Hobbit" will create 1,000 jobs and stimulate $1 billion of spending, with scores of New Zealanders hoping for a chance to be one of the movie's many mythical dwarves, elves or trolls."More importantly it has been a 40-year exercise in New Zealand to establish a credible screen production industry here," Mr. Brownlee said.
New Zealand's alpine peaks, rain forests and wilderness provided the dramatic backdrop for Mr. Jackson's three "Lord of the Rings" films, which.have been followed by other big-budget movies—including "King Kong," "The Last Samurai" and "Prince Caspian." The country's film industry generated 2.8 billion New Zealand dollars (US$2.1 billion) last year. Like Mr. Jackson's earlier film trilogy, "The Hobbit" is based on the work of J.R.R. Tolkien; it follows hobbit Bilbo Baggins—whose adopted son, Frodo, is the hero of "Rings," set decades later—on an epic journey across the fictional land of Middle Earth.
The union, which represents performers who work in New Zealand, accused Mr. Jackson and Wingnut of refusing to recognize its right to negotiate a standard industry agreement.
Scattered Protests Still Grip France as Fuel Runs Low
At the same time, strikers blocked the access road to the airport in the southern port of Marseille for several hours early on Thursday and others held up traffic near the cities of Rouen, Toulon, Le Havre and elsewhere, news reports said. The actions came a day before the start of mid-term school vacations whose impact on the strikes and protests is unclear.
Educations authorities said 312 of the country’s 4,300 high schools had been closed down or disrupted on Thursday by protests among high-school students, some of whom planned a protest march in Paris.
President Sarkozy ordered the police to reopen all the blocked fuel depots and warned of economic dislocations from the continued protests against his determined effort to change France’s retirement plan.
“If this disorder is not ended quickly, the attempt to paralyze the country could have consequences for jobs by disrupting the normal functioning of the economy,” Mr. Sarkozy told his cabinet in remarks released by his office on Wednesday. In public remarks, he said the government would show no weakness towards the hooded youths and protesters who have looted stores, burned cars and clashed with police, calling their actions “cowardly.”
Unions are considering another day of demonstrations next Tuesday. But some union leaders acknowledged that time was running against them, and some quietly acknowledged concern that the largest and most radical French union might be pushing the protests too far.
That union, the C.G.T., was once allied with the Communist Party. It is the largest union among refinery, port, gas and power workers, some of whom are more radical than the union’s leadership.
François Chérèque, head of the second largest French union, the C.F.D.T., called on demonstrators to remain calm and not to give in to provocations, while the white-collar union, the C.F.E.-C.G.C., announced that Tuesday’s demonstration would be its last. Its president, Bernard Van Craeynest, said that in the face of excesses, “it will be necessary without doubt to pause to reorient the actions” of the unions.
He added, “We find ourselves in a situation where the movement is going in all directions.”
But with the more radical union members deployed at choke points for fuel and gasoline supplies, and with more young people protesting, the tone of the demonstrations on Wednesday became more aggressive, making it easier for Mr. Sarkozy to try to shift the public’s focus to the restoration of order.
In Nanterre, youths with hoods and scarves to hide their faces clashed with riot police officers near a high school that was the site of earlier violence, and in Lyon protesters looted stores and fought with the police, sometimes setting fire to cars. Tear gas was used.
The interior minister, Brice Hortefeux, warned rioters, “The right to protest is not the right to break things, the right to set things on fire, the right to assault, the right to pillage.” He added: “We will use all means necessary to get these delinquents.”
The Interior Ministry said that 21 fuel depots had been unblocked since Friday, and that about 1,500 people had been apprehended for violations of social order, 428 of them on Tuesday. There were also work stoppages at two of France’s three terminals for liquefied natural gas, but no immediate risk of shortages.
Fashion East celebrates 10 years in style with Lulu & Co
Narrowing the range down to ten pieces can’t have been easy. Over the past decade, this independent, not-for-profit fashion collective has nurtured an impressive roster of design talent including Roksanda Ilincic, Marios Schwab, Jonathan Saunders, Richard Nicoll and Holly Fulton, earning Kennedy her ‘fashion’s fairy godmother’ nickname. As style.com states: ‘Fashion East is such a reliable next-big-thing barometer that it’s no longer an off-schedule quirk but one of the official London Fashion Week schedule’s hottest tickets.’
The Lulu & Co range is a combination of some of the Fashion East designers’ best-selling archive work and exclusive catwalk pieces. Fulton offers a slinky art deco print maxi dress, Ilincic an asymmetric jersey cocktail frock and Saunders, the only designer with two dresses in the collection, a figure-hugging ‘Totem’ dress from 2004 and a stunning, chiffon flame detail evening gown – a sell-out when released in 2007.
‘Putting the collection together was such good fun,’ says Lulu.
‘Designers like Henry Holland are really easy to work with. He never seems to get stressed and Aggy and his gang of friends always keep things lively.’
The best advice Kennedy has ever been given came from Professor Louise Wilson, director of the MA fashion course at Central Saint Martins: ‘You can’t just expect something to be brilliant, you have to put the hours in and work really hard at it.’ Now one of the British Fashion Council’s Power 25 and the founder of MAN (a collaboration with Topman), Kennedy has forged a remarkable career in a notoriously cut-throat industry by following Wilson’s counsel. And although the Fashion East director has been mentoring young designers herself for ten years, she still suffers from insomnia and admits to feeling ‘as nervous as hell’ in the run-up to London Fashion Week.
‘I think by nature I am a worrier but it intensifies around showtime because I feel so responsible towards the designers we’re representing –
I want everything to be as perfect for them as possible,’ she says. But the support of her loyal Fashion East family, together with ‘a stiff drink’, helps alleviate any pre-show jitters.
‘It’s important to build a strong, positive team around yourself, people who believe in the brand,’ she adds. This advice, gleaned from years in the industry, is something Kennedy now passes on to her young designers: ‘Don’t try and do everything yourself, it’s all about teamwork.’
Victoria Beckham turning up at the Fashion East SS10 show was the highlight of Kennedy’s fashion decade. ‘We knew she was supposed to be coming but I thought she might cancel,’ Kennedy says. ‘When she actually arrived, I was thrilled.’
So how does fashion’s fairy godmother see the next ten years panning out? ‘London Fashion Week will continue to go from strength to strength,’ she says. ‘We really do have a group of world-class designers and the British high street is going to get even stronger, as is the online shopping trend.’
As for Lulu & Co, it’s a closely guarded secret – but don’t be surprised to see Lulu Kennedy herself getting involved in the design process. ‘Oh yes, we’re already playing around with that idea for next season,’ she says.
Lulu & Co will be stocked in Harvey Nichols London from today and
will also be available online at www.matchesfashion.com
Tamara Mellon proudly displays her OBE for services to Britain's fashion industry
Tamara, 42, founded and built up the luxury brand Jimmy Choo to make it a favourite among celebrities all over the world. Much-loved actress Vicki Michelle, 59, who played Yvette in the hit BBC series 'Allo 'Allo! was awarded an MBE by the Queen in recognition of her charity work.
Opening night of Fashion Focus takes sexy, playful turn
What is the forecast for fashion this spring, according to Chicago designers? In a word -- sexy. Opening night of Fashion Focus, held Tuesday in a white tent in Millennium Park, featured past and present designers from the Chicago Fashion Incubator program, and one big theme was sexiness, whether it's playful, quirky, glamorous or punk-rock.
CLICK HERE TO SEE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS, PLUS PHOTOS FROM ALL 13 COLLECTIONS JEANS FOR ALL
The traveling warehouse sale for premium denim brand 7 for All Mankind will park its jeans at the Great Hall in Union Station, 210 S. Canal, this weekend for savings of up to 80 percent off (with the biggest savings on Sunday -- denim will be as low as $45). Hours: noon to 8 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
GET IN ON THE ACTION
Buy tickets for shows today and Friday
Toyota recalls 1.53 million cars, mostly in U.S. and Japan
The world's biggest automaker will call back for repairs about 740,000 cars in the U.S. and 599,000 in Japan. The remainder are in Europe and other markets around the world.
Over the past year, Toyota has recalled more than 10 million cars and trucks worldwide for a variety of problems, from faulty gas pedals and floor mats that can trap accelerators, to braking problems in its Prius hybrid. In August, Toyota called back 1.33 million Corolla sedans and Matrix hatchbacks in the U.S. and Canada because their engines may stall.
The majority of vehicles this time around need to be fixed for a problem with the brake master cylinder, which could lead to weaker braking power, said spokesman Paul Nolasco in Tokyo.
Some models in Japan and elsewhere — but not in North America — have an electrical problem with the fuel pump, which could lead the engine to stall, Nolasco said.
No accidents have been reported from the two defects, he said.
The models affected in the U.S. include the 2005 and 2006 Avalon, 2004 through 2006 non-hybrid Highlander and Lexus RX330, and 2006 Lexus GS300, IS250, and IS350 vehicles, the company said in a release from its U.S. headquarters in Torrance, California.
The release said a small amount of the brake fluid could slowly leak from the brake master cylinder, resulting in illumination of the brake warning lamp.
Owners around the world will be notified by Toyota by direct mail to come for repairs at no charge, Nolasco said.
The models affected in Japan include the Crown, Crown Majesta, Harrier, Mark X, Alphard, Kluger, Lexus GS350, Lexus IS250, and Lexus IS350. The production date of the models range from May 2002 to November 2005.
In Japan, two models — the Lexus GS350 and the Crown — are affected by both problems.
Toyota came under harsh criticism in the U.S. earlier this year for being slow to address safety problems. American regulators hit Toyota with a $16.4 million fine earlier this year for failing to promptly tell the government about its car defects.
Toyota has been working to overhaul its quality controls and respond more aggressively to customer complaints in the fallout of its recall crisis.
In Japan, Toyota's image has taken less of a beating. And despite the safety woes, the Prius has been Japan's top-selling model this year.
Gwyneth Paltrow to sing at country awards
The Shakespeare In Love star will sing the title track of her new movie Country Strong and will be joined by Vince Gill.
Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban are also set to perform at the ceremony, which takes place at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on 10 November.
Paltrow, 39, has also landed a guest role in the TV musical comedy Glee.
The actress, who is married to Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, will play a supply teacher who falls for high school choir leader Will Schuester.
It is thought she will perform three or four solo songs in the episode, which is scheduled to go out next month.
In her new movie Paltrow plays a fallen country singer, who tries to resurrect her career by going on tour.
In a recent interview with news agency the Associated Press, Paltrow said she researched the history of country music when she accepted the role.
"I sort of started at the beginning with Hank [Williams] Sr. and Johnny Cash and really studied Dolly [Parton] and Loretta Lynn.
"I had never really known very much about country music, and I now am very into it. I know a lot more about it than I did."
The film is released in the US on 22 December and in the UK on 7 January.
Spending Review: Osborne defends 'fairness' of cuts
He told the BBC that including Budget measures, the top 10% of earners would be hit hardest but everyone was making a contribution to cutting the deficit.
He said "the path to economic ruin" lay ahead if the deficit was not tackled.
Labour called the £81bn cuts - the biggest since the 1970s - a "reckless gamble" with the economy.
It has been estimated that the measures will lead to the loss of 490,000 public sector jobs, but Mr Osborne told BBC Breakfast he expected many more private sector jobs to be created over the four year cuts programme.
Continue reading the main story
The Spending Review: Making It Clear
* Key points at-a-glance
* In quotes: Reaction
* Analysis: Impact still unclear
* Video and text: Speech in full
Mr Osborne told MPs on Wednesday that he had acted to restore "sanity to our public finances" and deal "decisively" with Britain's record peacetime deficit.
The government says public debt interest repayments now total £120m a day, or £43bn a year.
Hours after Mr Osborne's speech, crowds of demonstrators gathered outside Downing Street to protest against the cuts, which the TUC has said will have a devastating social impact.
Mr Osborne is currently in the midst of a round of interviews explaining his decisions in the Spending Review which, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) think tank, represent the deepest six-year period of cuts since the 1970s - not since World War II as previous plans implied.
The chancellor said he had been able to restrict departmental spending cuts to an average of 19% over four years - not the 20% he said Labour had planned - because of "tough but fair decisions to reform welfare, and the savings we've made on debt interest". He unveiled plans to cut a further £7bn from the welfare budget - on top of £11bn cuts already announced - which include putting a time limit on some incapacity benefits and changes to tax credits and housing benefit.
He also announced that the state pension would rise to 66 for both men and women in 2020 - six years earlier than planned - and there would be a £3.5bn increase in public sector employee pension contributions.
These plans were unveiled alongside other changes, including a permanent bank levy, tax changes and cuts to child benefit for higher earners.
Mr Osborne said "those with the broadest shoulders should bear the greatest burden. Those with the most should pay the most, including our banks".
Banks will find out later how a new levy on their finances will operate.
However, Labour said the Treasury's own figures showed that the poorest 10% of people would pay more to reduce the deficit than everyone other than the richest 10%.
'State retreating'
Shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Angela Eagle told BBC Two's Newsnight: "What we have got here is not actually a blueprint for recovery, it is not actually a plan for a big society.
"When you look at it, it is the state retreating. It is a blueprint for a smaller, meaner and nastier society and we think the government has got it wrong."
Shadow Chancellor Alan Johnson, who labelled the cuts a "reckless gamble with people's livelihoods", said there were "serious unanswered questions on how many jobs will be lost and how much the redundancies will cost the taxpayer". IFS acting director Carl Emmerson told Channel 4 News: "The benefit cuts we heard about today - an extra £7bn - on average will impact those in the bottom half of the income distribution more than the top half of the income distribution. Therefore, they are regressive."
He added that the best estimate suggested that the poorest 50% would also be hit harder by public service cuts.
The IFS also suggested it was still "quite possible" that the chancellor would have to make further spending cuts or put up tax in order to meet his target for tackling the deficit - if it turns out to be larger than the official estimate.
However, the Fitch ratings agency said Mr Osborne's measures should help the UK retain its prized triple A credit rating.
Mr Osborne said the cuts were guided by fairness, reform and growth: "There have been some difficult decisions on welfare, but I have sought to protect the most vulnerable and I think our overall welfare reforms will help give incentives to many in our country who currently don't have them to seek employment."
The main new welfare savings come from abolishing Employment and Support Allowance, which replaces incapacity benefit, for some categories of claimant after one year, raising £2bn.
Universal benefits for pensioners will be retained, as budgeted for by the previous government, and the temporary increase in the cold weather payment will be made permanent.
U.S. Advances Saudi F-15 Package
The package, the largest overseas U.S. arms deal to date, "supports our wider regional security goals in the Gulf" without undercutting ally Israel's military edge, Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Andrew Shapiro said.
"We want to make sure that they have the tools that they need to be able to defend themselves," he said of Saudi Arabia, a key regional ally. The kingdom had no immediate comment.
Some details of the proposed sale have been known for months, but the inclusion of up to 1,000 one-ton bombs known as Joint Direct Attack Munitions, or JDAMs, and other guided bombs in the package, was revealed in notifications to Congress on Wednesday. The inclusion of these weapons would enhance the capability of Saudi Arabia's air force to bomb hardened bunkers and tunnels, such as those that the West believes are used by Iran to hide nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
The administration said Saudi Arabia would be authorized to buy as many as 84 new F-15 advanced fighters and to upgrade up to 70 existing Saudi F-15s to a more advanced configuration.
Congress could block or amend the sale, but officials said that isn't expected. A small group of lawmakers said they will try to block the deal, arguing it would undercut Israel and support a government with a poor human-rights record.
The package includes an upgraded fleet of attack helicopters that U.S. officials say could be used by the Saudis to bolster border security with Yemen—home to an al Qaeda affiliate of increasing concern to the U.S.—and protect key oil installations.
U.S. officials said the $60 billion figure is an estimate. Saudi Arabia is expected to commit initially to spending about $30 billion, but could come back later to purchase the rest.
Under the package, the Saudis would upgrade its attack helicopter fleet with up to 70 AH-64D Apache Longbows, 72 UH-60 Black Hawks, 36 AH-6i light attack helicopters and 12 MD-530F light turbine helicopters.
The F-15s would be equipped with advanced radar systems and could be armed with an array of missiles—up to 600 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles used to knock out enemy air defenses, 400 Harpoons used against ships, and 300 air-to-air Sidewinders. The number of 2,000-pound guided bombs in the package tops 3,000.
The package could be followed by separate arms deals to provide the Saudis with naval and ballistic missile defense upgrades worth an additional $30 billion or more, officials said.
Rep. Anthony Weiner, a New York Democrat, accused the administration of trying to slip the Saudi deal through Congress while lawmakers were on recess to campaign for the November election. "It's bad policy that now is further tainted by a shameful process," said Mr. Weiner, a leading critic of arms sales to the Saudis. "This deal would destabilize the Middle East and undermine the security of Israel, our one true ally in the region."
Congress will return, however, before the 30-day review period ends. And while Israeli defense officials expressed some misgivings about the sales, they have said they won't oppose it. U.S. officials said Israel was consulted as the package took shape. U.S. officials say the Israelis are increasingly comfortable with the sale because of the planes will not have certain long-range weapons systems. Also, the Israelis are in line to buy a more advanced fighter, the F-35, which could start arriving in Israel in 2015, the same year the Saudis would start to get the F-15s.
Boeing Co., which makes the F-15s and the Apaches, says the Saudi package would directly or indirectly support 77,000 jobs across 44 states, according to U.S. officials.
It is unclear how many jobs, if any, would be supported by the Saudi purchase of Black Hawks, made by Sikorsky. Production levels are already high at Sikorsky, which is owned by United Technologies Co.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Pakistani actor Ali Zafar saves Katrina Kaif from mishap
Reportedly, Katrina stood very close to a pedestal fan and her hairs were pulled in and got stuck. Seeing this, Zafar jumped to her rescue and in the process of untangling her hair even suffered a few bruises himself. We hear that a spot boy was also injured in the incident.
While Zafar tried to play down his heroism, Katrina felt gratitude towards him after the mishap was averted. So as a gesture of thanking him, she went ahead and gave him a warm hug.
The spot boy, however, wasn’t so lucky, we hear.
Mere Brother Ki Dulhan is being shot in the Punjab town of Nabha. The movie stars Imran Khan opposite Katrina. Ali Zafar, who debuted in Tere Bin Laden plays Imran’s brother.
Powering the tiger
Nearly everyone seems happy. The government has a trainload of cash. Neither unions nor demagogues made much fuss. Reform-minded officials may take this as a green light to carry on quietly privatising other state-run enterprises, albeit slowly. And a few more Indians are now retail investors, encouraged by a small discount on the share price.
Coal India’s prospects should also be bright. India’s accelerating economy is ravenously short of energy. With renewable fuels barely a flicker, the country will rely for decades on burning mountains of carbon. Coal India accounts for more than 80% of domestic production and controls 18 billion tonnes of reserves, most of India’s total. To expand, it plans to buy foreign mines and import more coal: it has set aside $1.2 billion for an overseas shopping trip, which may include pits in America, Australia and Indonesia.
However, the partially privatised Coal India could be much more productive. The firm used to be a sponge to soak up surplus east Indian labour. Its workforce has been cut by roughly a quarter in the past decade, but still numbers 400,000.
The firm relies heavily on vast open-cast mines but is running short of appropriate places to dig (at least without antagonising gun-toting Naxalite rebels, who plague much of rural India). It is also failing to extract coal from deeper seams. The coal it produces is mostly poor in quality and rich in ash; it should be washed before shipping to make it more efficient, but is not. India’s overloaded railways struggle to deliver enough coal to power stations. Government planners, rather than a market, allocate supplies and set prices and wages. As a result, coal that is nearly the world’s cheapest when dug up is nearly the priciest when it reaches a furnace.
This creaky system struggles to deliver the half-a-billion tonnes of coal that Indians demand each year. If that demand eventually triples, as some predict, Coal India may not cope. Reformers hope that private investment will bring sharper scrutiny and better management. A better idea would have been to break Coal India’s quasi-monopoly and let rival firms vie to deliver coal cheaply. That was politically impossible, however. Greens may cheer, but many of the 400m Indians who lack electricity today will be left in the dark for longer than necessary.
Facebook Enlists More Help to Tackle Anti-Gay Bullying
Facebook is forming what it calls a "Network of Support" as a preventative measure against LGBT bullying, which includes MTV's a Thin Line campaign, GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the Trevor Project, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), and Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).
"It's not just about removing bad content, it's also about preventing it," said a blog post on Facebook's safety page. "We believe that educating people about the lasting and damaging impact of hateful remarks is a shared responsibility and that's why we routinely call upon top Internet safety experts – like members of our Safety Advisory Board – for advice and resources for our Safety Center and Safety Page."Facebook and GLAAD initially teamed up after anti-gay comments were posted to a Page dedicated to gay teens who had recently committed suicide. The Page focused on an event that called on people to honor the teens by wearing purple on Oct. 20. Facebook pledged to troll the site to better prevent that type of pejorative speech, rather than just responding to it.
With the expanded partnership, Facebook said it hopes to "provide better resources for LGBT teens and everyone who wants to keep the Internet a safe place." Blocking bullies, reporting harassment, sticking up for others, thinking twice before posting, asking for help, and knowing that you're not alone are six tips Facebook included in the post as ways users can help curb cyber-bullying themselves.Yahoo also weighed in on the issue in a Tuesday blog post, and said that its employees would also wear purple on Oct. 20 in support of LGBT individuals.
