Saturday, December 31, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
The skinny on Victoria's Secret fashion show
Start with 19 gorgeous half-naked models, throw in a $2.5 million bra and a few wings that weigh up to 50 pounds a pair, and you have the elements of this year's Victoria's Secret fashion show. The 2011 show airs Tuesday in more than 90 countries, proving that the definition of "sexy" may be the same on all seven continents.
Dazzling women in glitter, wearing sky-high heels with elaborate underwear, are some of the obvious reasons more than 9 million viewers tuned in to last year's show.
But with this year's scheduled performances by Jay-Z, Kanye West and Nicki Minaj, who knows how many fans are also anticipating the celebrity showcase? Joining the group of stars, Adam Levine will perform as he walks the runway with girlfriend and Victoria's Secret model Anne Vyalitsyna.
A Victoria's Secret model's diet Nine million viewers may sound like an large number of people gazing at pretty women in bras and panties. But who wouldn't want to see this spectacle?
"The show fulfills a fantasy, and not just the obvious one of gorgeous women in their underwear," said Glamour magazine contributing style editor Tracey Lomrantz.
"Everything about it is over the top, from the performances to the sets to the shoes. It lets the audience have a kind of escapist moment to a place where everything is sparkly and idyllic," Lomrantz added.
Glitter won't be the only thing glistening on the New York runway.
This year, model Miranda Kerr will be wearing the traditional $2.5 million Fantasy Treasure Bra. That's right, this Angel will be gleaming in a bra encrusted with more than 3,400 hand-placed gems.
Aside from the million-dollar rocks, beauty products from the Victoria's Secret collection will be used on all 19 models. If you're keeping track, almost 40 cans of hairspray will be used, and 21 makeup artists will use products exclusively from the VS makeup collection, according to HollywoodLife.com.
The combination of the fashion, makeup and celebrity performances will help create this year's spectacle on a grand scale. Pretty faces on bodies with killer curves don't hurt.
Famous VS models -- or should we say Angels -- like Adriana Lima, Chanel Iman and Erin Heatherton have some of the most envied bodies that both men and women admire.
"It's interesting how many women say they use the show as a motivator to hit the gym or to finally start their diets," Lomrantz said.
And although men often gaze at the toned bodies strutting the catwalk, some are sure not to confuse fantasy with reality.
"It is important to remember, as with all fashion shows, that what you see on the runway is not what you will see in a store -- it's a projection of desire," Esquire magazine's Matt Sullivan said.
These angels aren't always naturally blessed with the bodies they have. Many of the models follow a strict diet and exercise regimen. Lima admited to The Telegraph that she has been working out with a personal trainer every day since August.
Fast-forward to nine days before the show, and the only thing she eats or drinks are protein shakes made with powdered eggs. Speed up to the final 12 hours, and Lima doesn't consume a speck of anything -- not even water.
"No liquids at all, so you dry out. Sometimes you can lose up to eight pounds just from that," Lima told The Telegraph.
Although they put in hard work, the VS Angels end up envied. Not only do these tall beauties effortlessly balancing heavy decorated feathers in nothing but lingerie and a smile attract Nielsen ratings, but the taping of the show enjoys its fair share of media coverage.
"When there is an event this big, people pay attention," fashion blogger Mark St. James said. "When models look this flawless and graceful, you can't help but fall victim to their provocative lingerie, powerful femininity and, of course, sex appeal."
Ladies, it's almost time to whip out your little pink bag, pump up the hair and put on your best "Vicky C" garments in anticipation of this year's show. Men, pop the popcorn, call your friends and get ready to gather around the TV to admire the models and rock out to the musical guests.
According to St. James, "Victoria's Secret is the Cirque du Soleil of lingerie. The ever-increasing popularity of the Victoria's Secret shows comes from the excitement of being apart of a world where Angels are stunningly beautiful, the industry's top musical talent performs live, and power and sexual energy pour from the runway every year."
And thanks to the Victoria's Secret fashion show, we're even closer to seeing a real-life heaven on Earth.
Dazzling women in glitter, wearing sky-high heels with elaborate underwear, are some of the obvious reasons more than 9 million viewers tuned in to last year's show.
But with this year's scheduled performances by Jay-Z, Kanye West and Nicki Minaj, who knows how many fans are also anticipating the celebrity showcase? Joining the group of stars, Adam Levine will perform as he walks the runway with girlfriend and Victoria's Secret model Anne Vyalitsyna.
A Victoria's Secret model's diet "The show fulfills a fantasy, and not just the obvious one of gorgeous women in their underwear," said Glamour magazine contributing style editor Tracey Lomrantz.
"Everything about it is over the top, from the performances to the sets to the shoes. It lets the audience have a kind of escapist moment to a place where everything is sparkly and idyllic," Lomrantz added.
Glitter won't be the only thing glistening on the New York runway.
This year, model Miranda Kerr will be wearing the traditional $2.5 million Fantasy Treasure Bra. That's right, this Angel will be gleaming in a bra encrusted with more than 3,400 hand-placed gems.
Aside from the million-dollar rocks, beauty products from the Victoria's Secret collection will be used on all 19 models. If you're keeping track, almost 40 cans of hairspray will be used, and 21 makeup artists will use products exclusively from the VS makeup collection, according to HollywoodLife.com.
The combination of the fashion, makeup and celebrity performances will help create this year's spectacle on a grand scale. Pretty faces on bodies with killer curves don't hurt.
Famous VS models -- or should we say Angels -- like Adriana Lima, Chanel Iman and Erin Heatherton have some of the most envied bodies that both men and women admire.
"It's interesting how many women say they use the show as a motivator to hit the gym or to finally start their diets," Lomrantz said.
And although men often gaze at the toned bodies strutting the catwalk, some are sure not to confuse fantasy with reality.
"It is important to remember, as with all fashion shows, that what you see on the runway is not what you will see in a store -- it's a projection of desire," Esquire magazine's Matt Sullivan said.
These angels aren't always naturally blessed with the bodies they have. Many of the models follow a strict diet and exercise regimen. Lima admited to The Telegraph that she has been working out with a personal trainer every day since August.
Fast-forward to nine days before the show, and the only thing she eats or drinks are protein shakes made with powdered eggs. Speed up to the final 12 hours, and Lima doesn't consume a speck of anything -- not even water.
"No liquids at all, so you dry out. Sometimes you can lose up to eight pounds just from that," Lima told The Telegraph.
Although they put in hard work, the VS Angels end up envied. Not only do these tall beauties effortlessly balancing heavy decorated feathers in nothing but lingerie and a smile attract Nielsen ratings, but the taping of the show enjoys its fair share of media coverage.
"When there is an event this big, people pay attention," fashion blogger Mark St. James said. "When models look this flawless and graceful, you can't help but fall victim to their provocative lingerie, powerful femininity and, of course, sex appeal."
Ladies, it's almost time to whip out your little pink bag, pump up the hair and put on your best "Vicky C" garments in anticipation of this year's show. Men, pop the popcorn, call your friends and get ready to gather around the TV to admire the models and rock out to the musical guests.
According to St. James, "Victoria's Secret is the Cirque du Soleil of lingerie. The ever-increasing popularity of the Victoria's Secret shows comes from the excitement of being apart of a world where Angels are stunningly beautiful, the industry's top musical talent performs live, and power and sexual energy pour from the runway every year."
And thanks to the Victoria's Secret fashion show, we're even closer to seeing a real-life heaven on Earth.
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Crazy about Country Music
There's a standing joke that if you play a country song backward, the singer gets re-hired, wins back his girl, finds whatever he's lost, quits crying and leaves the bar. Employed, happily married and sober? Doesn't sound much like America these days.Authenticity is what defines country music, says Karla Lawson, a morning host for Nashville's WSIX country radio station.
"It's so real and accessible and down-to-earth and relatable," she says. "It's really the most honest music out there."
The Country Music Association's 45th annual awards show airs live on Wednesday, November 9, at 8 p.m. on ABC. The show consistently ranks in the top four among the most-watched awards shows on television, alongside the Oscars, Grammys and Golden Globes, says CMA media relations director Scott Stem.
Joining favorites like Rascal Flatts and Kenny Chesney on stage this year will be rock singer Grace Potter, pop artist Natasha Bedingfield and Motown mogul Lionel Richie, who has an upcoming country duets album called "Tuskegee."
"Country as a genre has changed ... and the audience has reflected that," Lawson says.
To be fair, country music's popularity has been on a steady incline for more than 20 years, Billboard country chart manager Wade Jessen says.
Singers like Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood broke down the barrier between plaid and pleather in the early 1990s. Even if you weren't stompin' your boots just yet, you were probably secretly humming Shania Twain's "I Feel Like a Woman," Billy Ray Cryus' "Achy Breaky Heart," or Faith Hill's "This Kiss."
The list of artists who have gone country since then is lengthy: Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow, Bon Jovi, Uncle Kracker, Hootie & the Blowfish's Darius Rucker, Jewel -- even Jessica Simpson. But if the last year has shown us anything, it's that America's gone a little bit country and a little less rock 'n' roll. As Brantley Gilbert sings, "Country must be country-wide."
Things really heated up in late 2010, when viewers tuned in to watch actress Gwyneth Paltrow make her live singing debut with "Country Strong" at the CMAs. Then Justin Bieber sent a million tweens into a frenzy when he announced that he'd be teaming up with country group Rascal Flatts to record a duet in 2011.
In February, Lady Antebellum swept the Grammys, winning record of the year and song of the year. In March, Lady Gaga put out a country version of her single "Born This Way" (although I have to say, Little Big Town did it better).
Even "Footloose," originally pure '80s pop, got in on the action. The movie was country-fied in its 2011 remake. Blake Shelton sang the movie's theme song and was joined on the soundtrack by country artists Zac Brown, Big & Rich, Jana Kramer, Ella Mae Bowen and more. Shelton has invited Kenny Loggins -- the original "Footloose" singer -- to perform with him at the CMAs.
But wait, the roundup is not done yet. The first three national anthem singers at the World Series were country artists: "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery, Trace Adkins and Ronnie Dunn (of the former Brooks and Dunn). Bieber added a song featuring The Band Perry to his new Christmas album. Jason Aldean and Lady Gaga were the first artists announced for the Grammy nominations concert.
Oh yeah, and Adele wants in on the country action as well.
The 23-year-old reportedly plans to go country for her next album, saying discovering American country musicians was "like (being) a 4-year-old in a candy shop who's discovering sweets again."
CMA's Stem isn't surprised. "I always claim that everyone likes country music -- they just don't want to admit it," he says with a laugh.
Artists like Taylor Swift have certainly added a "hip" factor to the country music industry. But it's the stories and the soul that keeps fans coming back, Stem says.
"We are a very real-life music, based on real-life experiences. Who among us hasn't had our hearts broken? Who hasn't lost a loved one, found love or not gotten the job we wanted? It covers (everything from) the sad to the happy to the silly."
Now that sounds more like America.
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So many dragon tattoos!
Rooney Mara plays Lisbeth Salander in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," to hit theaters on Tuesday. But Mara's character isn't the only one who has inked a -- you guessed it -- dragon on her bod. Here are a few celebs who have channeled Salander's now-famous tat:
Pink showed off her dragon tattoo while performing on German program "Wetten, dass ...?" in 2006. 
Angelina Jolie flashed her dragon tattoo at the Golden Globes in 1998. She later topped the tat with "Billy Bob" for her second husband, Billy Bob Thornton. However, she has since had the ink removed. The geographical coordinates of her children's birthplaces have taken its place. 
David Arquette sports a dragon tattoo on his calf. Rarely photographed in shorts, the actor's tattoo was visible as he climbed into a dunk tank at the Kinerase Skincare Celebration in 2007. 
Spinnerette lead singer Brody Dalle, formerly with The Distillers, showed off her tat at the Kerrang! Awards in 2004.
Victoria Beckham, better known as Posh Spice when this photo was snapped in 1998, once sported a temporary dragon tattoo on her arm. Share This
Friday, December 16, 2011
PHOTOS: Indian batting comes good in drawn Oz warm-up tie
Sachin Tendulkar hit a quickfire 92 before retiring as India's first warm-up match on their tour of Australia against a Chairman's XI ended in a draw after rain forced end of play on Friday.Tendulkar, who will be looking to notch his 100th international career century in the four-Test series that begins in Melbourne on December 26, grabbed his 92 runs off 132 balls with 15 fours.
He showed class as he went about his innings without much fuss. His strokeplay was magnificient as he got into the groove in time for the first Test.
Tendulkar-Laxman tame inexperienced bowling
Tendulkar was smooth as silk against the inexperienced Aussie bowler. He picked off-spinner Glenn Maxwell for special treatment, slamming his to the boundary at will.He teamed up with VVS Laxman (57) to get some batting practice going. Both batsmen were in fine touch, striking the ball sweetly to punish the Aussie rookie bowlers. Both, then, retired at tea with the tourists on 240 for three chasing 399 for victory.
Tendulkar came to the crease at the dismissal of Gautam Gambhir (35) in the 21st over and gathered his runs over the next 39 overs, facing 132 balls and hitting 15 fours in through his innings.
132-run stand between Tendulkar-Laxman
Tendulkar shared a 132-run fourth wicket stand with an equally elegant Laxman which drove the hosts to despair. Laxman, who took 66 balls for his 50, also retired like Tendulkar after stroking 57 classy runs.
India had reached 320 for six in the 84th over of their innings when rain forced play to be abandoned at Manuka Oval, which will also host their second and final warm-up match for the Boxing Day Test against another Chairman's XI next week. Image: VVS Laxman congratulates Sachin Tendulkar on completing his half-century
Boyce only one to impress amongst Aus bowlers
Uncapped opener Ajinkya Rahane (three) and Virat Kohli (one) were the only tourists not to rack up the runs on what has proved to be a good batting surface with skipper Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma (56 not out) also having solid knocks.
None of the Chairman's XI has any realistic chance of making the Australia team for the Test series but spinner Cameron Boyce added a notch to his belt with the wicket of Dravid on his way to figures of two for 74 when the former India skipper was caught for 45 at mid-off by Peter George. He also had the wicket of Kohli against his name.
Image: Cameron Boyce of the Chairman's XI is congratulated by teammates after dismissing Virat Kohli
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Opposition clamours for Chidambaram's resignation for ‘favouring former client'
Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram faced Opposition ire in Parliament on Thursday, as it demanded his resignation in the wake of allegations, as reported in the media, that he helped a Delhi-based hotelier who was once his client.In the Lok Sabha, noisy scenes were witnessed during Zero Hour with the BJP and the AIADMK members trooping into the well demanding his dismissal. As the House was drowned in the din, it was adjourned till 2 p.m. But similar uproar continued when it reassembled, leading to an adjournment for the day.
In the Rajya Sabha too, BJP members waved copies of The Pioneer which carried a report alleging that the Home Ministry directed the withdrawal of FIRs earlier this year against the hotelier who was charged with cheating and forgery. The Upper House was adjourned briefly. Mr. Chidambaram, who is already facing a boycott by the NDA, was not present in either of the Houses when the issue was raised by the Opposition.
As the government mounted a damage control exercise, Delhi's Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna later in the day revoked the withdrawal of prosecution against S. P. Gupta, owner of the five-star Metropolitan Hotel in the heart of the Capital and Sunair Hotels.
Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh told reporters that Mr. Chidambaram had no role in the controversy. He claimed that the draft of a letter sent by the Home Ministry to the Delhi government for withdrawal of the FIRs had not been shown to the Home Minister, the Home Secretary or the Joint Secretary concerned.
The three FIRs accuse Mr. Gupta of misusing the names of the late Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, and Congress president Sonia Gandhi and defrauding a firm — VLS Finance — of several crores of rupees.
In a statement, the Home Ministry said: “The Home Minister is unable to recall at this distance of time whether he appeared in a case concerning M/s Sunair Hotels Private Limited at any time between 1999 and 2003.”
The Home Ministry had never said that the case should be withdrawn, Mr. Singh said. “The Home Minister categorically wrote on the file that only the advice of the law should be forwarded to the Delhi government and no advice should be given from the Home Ministry. There was no question of conflict of interest.''
He explained that the issue came up before the Ministry when it received a petition from Mr. Gupta stating that a civil matter was being made out to be a criminal matter.
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Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Don’t blame Congress for black money: Tewari
New Delhi: Taking part in the debate in Lok Sabha on black money, Congress’ Manish Tewari on Wednesday hit back at the Opposition asking them not to politicise the issue.
Appealing to the Opposition to seek a consensus on the issue, Tewari said Congress governments cannot be blamed for black money problem.
On Opposition’s charge as to why the government is not revealing the names of illegal account holders, the Congress leader said the UPA government cannot do the same as it is not permissible under the laws of Switzerland where most of such accounts are located.
He further said the amount of black money stashed abroad is not known, and added black money generated in India is huge.
Agreeing with BJP leader LK Advani, who initiated the debate, on shadow economy corrupting politics, Tewari said the parallel economy in India was estimated to be over Re 1 trillion.
He also said that every third dollar invested in India is routed through some tax haven.
Appealing to the Opposition to seek a consensus on the issue, Tewari said Congress governments cannot be blamed for black money problem.
On Opposition’s charge as to why the government is not revealing the names of illegal account holders, the Congress leader said the UPA government cannot do the same as it is not permissible under the laws of Switzerland where most of such accounts are located.
Agreeing with BJP leader LK Advani, who initiated the debate, on shadow economy corrupting politics, Tewari said the parallel economy in India was estimated to be over Re 1 trillion.
He also said that every third dollar invested in India is routed through some tax haven.
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Petrol prices may go up by 65 paise from Friday
New Delhi: Petrol prices may be hiked by Rs 0.65 per litre this week if state-owned oil firms manage to get political approval for the move.
While a fall in the rupee to an all-time low of Rs 53.75 per US dollar has resulted in an increase in the cost of oil imports, international rates of gasoline -- against which domestic petrol prices are benchmarked -- have also increased, a top source at a state-run oil firm has said.
"The under-recovery on petrol is Rs 0.55-0.56 per litre. After adding local sales tax, the desired increase in Delhi comes to Rs 0.65-0.66 a litre," he said, adding that the oil companies will review prices tomorrow and any change will be effective from December 16.
State-owned oil firms have cut petrol prices on two occasions in the past one month after international oil rates eased.
The companies reduced petrol prices by Rs 2.22 per litre, or 3.2 percent, from November 16 and followed this with a Rs 0.78 per litre cut from December 1.
The source, however, could not say if oil companies will go ahead with increasing prices tomorrow, in line with the practice of changing rates every fortnight. "The actual loss to us is only 50-55 paise. We can tolerate it for another fortnight if need be," he said.
Public sector oil firms, which revise petrol prices on the 1st and 16th of every month based on the average international rates of the previous fortnight, may informally consult the parent Petroleum Ministry before taking a decision.
Parliament is in session and an increase in petrol prices may lead to protests by Opposition parties.
The price of gasoline has averaged USD 111.11 per barrel in Singapore this month, up from USD 108.25 a barrel in the previous fortnight.
While a fall in the rupee to an all-time low of Rs 53.75 per US dollar has resulted in an increase in the cost of oil imports, international rates of gasoline -- against which domestic petrol prices are benchmarked -- have also increased, a top source at a state-run oil firm has said.
"The under-recovery on petrol is Rs 0.55-0.56 per litre. After adding local sales tax, the desired increase in Delhi comes to Rs 0.65-0.66 a litre," he said, adding that the oil companies will review prices tomorrow and any change will be effective from December 16.
State-owned oil firms have cut petrol prices on two occasions in the past one month after international oil rates eased.
The companies reduced petrol prices by Rs 2.22 per litre, or 3.2 percent, from November 16 and followed this with a Rs 0.78 per litre cut from December 1.
The source, however, could not say if oil companies will go ahead with increasing prices tomorrow, in line with the practice of changing rates every fortnight. "The actual loss to us is only 50-55 paise. We can tolerate it for another fortnight if need be," he said.
Public sector oil firms, which revise petrol prices on the 1st and 16th of every month based on the average international rates of the previous fortnight, may informally consult the parent Petroleum Ministry before taking a decision.
Parliament is in session and an increase in petrol prices may lead to protests by Opposition parties.
The price of gasoline has averaged USD 111.11 per barrel in Singapore this month, up from USD 108.25 a barrel in the previous fortnight.
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Get iPads, Mumbai school tells students
MUMBAI: Mumbai's Podar International School has instructed all its students to buy iPads in order to take part in the learning process. Vandana Lulla, school director-principal , issued a circular last week that claims the management's decision to use the Apple iPad 2 in the classroom has been welcomed by parents. Some parents , however, feel the move is impractical, distractive and may hamper the growth of students.
The circular states, "Parents now have the choice of either purchasing the iPad 2 from the school on an outright basis or avail of a financial scheme on offer. You also need to indicate if it will be purchased by you on your own."
The school has told the parents to indicate their choice on a form issued by them to help them negotiate bulk orders. The parent of a class II student said, "There has been no consensus on the issue among parents. I am opposed to the move as it will hamper, rather than aid a kid's education.
I would prefer my kid to learn and write using traditional methods , instead of exposing him to advanced gadgets at a tender age. " Another parent said, "I will shift my student to another school as it is purely a money-making racket.
It is an irrational decision as examinations will be conducted using the conventional format and not on iPads."
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CBI suspects Bhanwari's husband, to file report
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will file a status report in the Bhanwari Devi case in the Rajasthan High Court on Thursday in which the agency is likely to say that her husband Amar Chand is involved in her abduction.
Sources say the CBI has found a witness in Amar Chand's driver in the Bhanwari Devi case. They say CBI investigation has revealed that Amar Chand was misleading investigators when he said his car was to be repaired so he could not accompany Bhanwari on September 1, the day on which she went missing and has been untraceable till now.
Amar Chand's driver and the garage mechanic, where the car was reportedly sent, have said the car was not repaired on September 1.
The status report will also include revelations by sacked Rajasthan water resources minister Mahipal Maderna, who is already in CBI custody. Maderna has reportedly accepted about his relationship with Bhanwari but has denied knowledge about her alleged killing.
Congress MLA Malkhan Singh Bishnoi, who represents the Luni constituency in Rajasthan Assembly, has already been summoned by the CBI for questioning.
Bishnoi's Jodhpur residence was raided by the CBI on Wednesday in connection with the Bhanwari Devi case. The CBI had on Tuesday pasted a notice outside the residence of Bishnoi warning him to appear before the agency at 11 am on December 14 for answering questions related to the missing case of Bhanwari Devi or face legal action.
The raid were carried out after Bishnoi failed to appear before the CBI. Tuesday's notice was the third one as Bishnoi has failed to respond to two notices issued by the CBI earlier.
Bhanwari Devi, an auxiliary nurse, went missing from Bilara on September 1.
Sources say the CBI has found a witness in Amar Chand's driver in the Bhanwari Devi case. They say CBI investigation has revealed that Amar Chand was misleading investigators when he said his car was to be repaired so he could not accompany Bhanwari on September 1, the day on which she went missing and has been untraceable till now.
Amar Chand's driver and the garage mechanic, where the car was reportedly sent, have said the car was not repaired on September 1.
The status report will also include revelations by sacked Rajasthan water resources minister Mahipal Maderna, who is already in CBI custody. Maderna has reportedly accepted about his relationship with Bhanwari but has denied knowledge about her alleged killing.
Congress MLA Malkhan Singh Bishnoi, who represents the Luni constituency in Rajasthan Assembly, has already been summoned by the CBI for questioning.
Bishnoi's Jodhpur residence was raided by the CBI on Wednesday in connection with the Bhanwari Devi case. The CBI had on Tuesday pasted a notice outside the residence of Bishnoi warning him to appear before the agency at 11 am on December 14 for answering questions related to the missing case of Bhanwari Devi or face legal action.
The raid were carried out after Bishnoi failed to appear before the CBI. Tuesday's notice was the third one as Bishnoi has failed to respond to two notices issued by the CBI earlier.
Bhanwari Devi, an auxiliary nurse, went missing from Bilara on September 1.
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India set to exploit Australia, says Dhoni
INDIA captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has vowed to give his touring side the best possible chance to exploit Australia's weaknesses, and is well aware this campaign is perceived as his nation's greatest chance to win a series on Australian soil.
Four summers ago, India's campaign was undermined by a rushed preparation, and Dhoni, whose team will assemble in Canberra today ahead of two tour matches, said the tourists would not make the same mistake again. ''It depends on how we prepare ourselves during the 12 days before the Test match and how we adapt to the conditions,'' Dhoni said before leaving India. ''Most of the batsmen have played there before. We are hoping we will do well there. Even last time [in 2007-08], we had a very good chance and we did really perform well. It is not that if the opposition is not doing well it will be a best chance for us. We have to play to the level of the kind of talent that we have got and not worry about such things.''
India's batting, led by Sachin Tendulkar, is strong and experienced but much will depend on whether fast bowlers Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma can stay fit, with the attack expected to be rounded out by paceman Umesh Yadav and spinner R Ashwin.
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Cricket Australia to revert to expert opinion for man of match award
Cricket Australia will revert to a panel of experts to decide man of the match awards after Doug Bracewell failed to win a public vote despite bowling New Zealand to victory in the second Test in Hobart on Monday.
Bracewell's six wickets for 40 runs in Australia's second innings were decisive in the Black Caps winning their first Test across the Tasman Sea since 1985, as they drew the series 1-1.
The 21-year-old lost out to the Australia opener David Warner, who made an unbeaten 123, in a vote conducted among subscribers of a mobile telephone company which is a major sponsor of Australian cricket.
"We were always running a bit of a trial for these two Tests with those man of the match awards, but we will definitely revert back to an expert's choice for that decision about man of the match," the Cricket Australia chief executive, James Sutherland, told Melbourne's Radio 3AW on Wednesday.
Bracewell's six wickets for 40 runs in Australia's second innings were decisive in the Black Caps winning their first Test across the Tasman Sea since 1985, as they drew the series 1-1.
The 21-year-old lost out to the Australia opener David Warner, who made an unbeaten 123, in a vote conducted among subscribers of a mobile telephone company which is a major sponsor of Australian cricket.
"We were always running a bit of a trial for these two Tests with those man of the match awards, but we will definitely revert back to an expert's choice for that decision about man of the match," the Cricket Australia chief executive, James Sutherland, told Melbourne's Radio 3AW on Wednesday.
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Setback for Australia; Tim Paine out for 4 months
In yet another setback for an Australian test squad depleted by injuries, backup wicketkeeper Tim Paine is expected to be sidelined for a further four months after surgery on his finger.
The 27-year-old Paine has not played any first-class cricket for Tasmania this season after re-injuring his right index finger during a warm-up match.
Cricket Australia doctor Trefor James on Wednesday said Paine’s recovery had been slower than anticipated.
“It is clear that the fracture has not healed as expected and the best course of action is for Tim to undergo further surgery,” James said.
Paine, who has played four tests, was to undergo surgery later Wednesday.
Australia starts a four-test series against top-ranked India at Melbourne on Dec. 26 and is in upheaval after a seven-run loss to New Zealand on Monday cast doubt over the immediate international futures of opener Phillip Hughes, No. 3 Usman Khawaja and veterans Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin.
The lack of experienced backup for Haddin takes pressure off his selection as wicketkeeper.
After winning the first test against New Zealand by nine wickets, Australia had to settle for a drawn series following the loss in Hobart on Monday. No. 8-ranked New Zealand captured its first test win on Australian soil since 1985 when Doug Bracewell inspired a batting collapse and finishing with 6-40 as Australia slumped from 159-2 to be all out for 233 chasing 241 to clinch a 2-0 series win.
Pace spearhead Mitchell Johnson is out for four months and 18-year-old fast bowler Pat Cummins isn’t expected to return until late in the series against India. Allrounder Shane Watson, top-order batsman Shaun Marsh and veteran seamer Ryan Harris are all due to return from injuries at some stage during the four tests against India.
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Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Ponting or Hussey may be axed: Border
Selectors might be forced to axe Ricky Ponting or Mike Hussey from the Australian cricket team for the upcoming four Tests against India after their dismal show in the just-concluded series with New Zealand, feels former captain Allan Border.
“I think one of the old boys will go,” Border told Fox Sports show Inside Cricket.
“I think Hussey or Ponting will go.”
While Hussey’s dip in form is recent, Ponting has been without a Test hundred for almost two years now and former Australian players feel the ex-captain is creating a tough situation for himself by not stepping down voluntarily.
“He’s a great of the game, he’s been fantastic for Australian cricket,” spin legend Shane Warne said.
“Now you’ve got the situation where he’s not performing.
So now everyone’s going to talk. It’s going to annoy Ricky, it’s going to annoy the team ... it is just the worst scenario possible when he decided to play on.
“I want Punter to get runs but when you see him getting out like this, it’s just disappointing. I think we’ve got to say ‘what are you going to do?’”
The view was echoed by former pacer Damien Fleming.
“Without putting a time limit on your career, you leave yourself open to this,” former Australia paceman Damien Fleming said.
“If he said he wanted to play the summer six months ago I reckon the selectors would have gone with that. But he’s said before the Hobart Test that he wants to continue on. Well, his figures are making it really hard for him to get a game,” he added.
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Indian economy has capacity to overcome crisis: Pranab
Concerned over slowdown, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday said the government will make efforts to build broad consensus on reforms as the economy has resilience to overcome the problem.
He said questions have been raised whether the economy is going to be derailed in
the wake of IIP figures turning negative and overall growth slowing.
"We have the capacity and resilience to overcome the crisis," he said, winding up a debate on Appropriation Bill in the Rajya Sabha.
The industrial production declined by 5.1 per cent in October, while the rupee crossed all time low of Rs 53 to a dollar.
The House later returned the Bill, granting Parliamentary approval for extra expenditure of Rs 63,180 crore for the current fiscal.
The finance minister said that for the economy to recover, it has to be demonstrated that Parliament and other institutions can function without disturbance.
He expressed disappointment over frequent disruptions in Parliament. "Let us not institutionalise instability in Parliament", he said, adding coalition governments have become stable since 2000.
Against the backdrop of difficult economic situation, he said political parties have to demonstrate that Parliament and other institutions function and it will have its impact on the government and confidence will return in the economy.
On its part, he said, "The government will not be found lacking in building consensus on broad economic policies."
Denying a perception that there is paralysis in decision making process, the finance minister said, "It is not so."
The government, he said, has taken a number of decisions which include national manufacturing policy, incentives to small industries and package to debt-ridden handloom weavers
He said questions have been raised whether the economy is going to be derailed in
the wake of IIP figures turning negative and overall growth slowing.
"We have the capacity and resilience to overcome the crisis," he said, winding up a debate on Appropriation Bill in the Rajya Sabha.
The industrial production declined by 5.1 per cent in October, while the rupee crossed all time low of Rs 53 to a dollar.
The House later returned the Bill, granting Parliamentary approval for extra expenditure of Rs 63,180 crore for the current fiscal.
The finance minister said that for the economy to recover, it has to be demonstrated that Parliament and other institutions can function without disturbance.
He expressed disappointment over frequent disruptions in Parliament. "Let us not institutionalise instability in Parliament", he said, adding coalition governments have become stable since 2000.
Against the backdrop of difficult economic situation, he said political parties have to demonstrate that Parliament and other institutions function and it will have its impact on the government and confidence will return in the economy.
On its part, he said, "The government will not be found lacking in building consensus on broad economic policies."
The government, he said, has taken a number of decisions which include national manufacturing policy, incentives to small industries and package to debt-ridden handloom weavers
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