Sari spotting: Firang celebs go the extra yard

Oprah Winfrey, the latest international celebrity to hit desi shores, couldn't resist the charm of the sari. Winfrey chose a Tarun Tahiliani drape to wear to a celeb-studded party hosted for her! Photo: Viral Bhayani

Adult film star Sunny Leone also went the extra yard, dressing up in a blue sari for a hot rain dance in the Bigg Boss house this season
 Only last season at the Bigg Boss house, Pamela Anderson was also spotted showing off her tan in this skimpily draped sari.
 Elizabeth Hurley has always been a big fan of the sari and was spotted wearing it often when she was married to now former hubby, Arun Nayar. Photo: Getty Images
 Liz Hurley however, committed a huge fashion faux pas when she turned up at a charity ball in London wearing a sari minus a blouse! Photo: Getty Images
 Venus Williams was spotted in a blue sari at a charity fashion show in Bangalore in 2008
 Hollywood actress Ashley Judd turned up in a rich purple silk at an AIDS event. Photo: Getty Images
 Singer Madonna has always been a fan of Indian culture and so it comes as no surprise that she chose to wear a sari for one of her performances at a music awards event. Photo: Getty Images
 Paris Hilton's outfit wasn't exactly a traditional six yard drape but her sari-inspired Malini Ramani dress hugged every curve, showing off her lithe figure. Photo: Viral Bhayani

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Narendra Modi begins ‘Sadbhavna’ fast in Godhra

Godhra: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi began a day-long fast on Friday in Godhra as part of his ‘Sadbhavna Mission’ aimed at building bridges between all communities and strengthening peace and harmony.
Modi arrived here today morning from Ahmedabad and directly proceeded to the fast venue. As per reports, around 8000 people are sitting on fast with him.


The Sadbhavna Mission has travelled through many cities in the state after it was launched in Ahmedabad on September 17. But its Godhra stop is the most significant as the town was at epicentre of the communal riots that had engulfed the state in 2002.

Timing is also important as the fast comes nearly a month before the 10th anniversary of Godhra carnage where 59 people, mostly karsevaks, were killed when the Sabarmati Express train was burnt on February 27, 2002. The fire from Godhra had spread to other parts of the state leading to the death of hundreds of people.

Considering the sensitive equations in the town, the state government has not taking any chances and deployed over 15000 policemen in and around the fast venue.

Local BJP leaders said that a crowd of over 50,000 was expected.

Meanwhile, state Congress leader and some NGOs have also begun a parallel fast near Modi’s fast venue to protest against his fast.

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Sameera Reddy gifts a sari to Oprah

Sameera Reddy  is on a high. Her Pongal release Vettai is a hit and her village belle act in the film was widely appreciated.

But that's not all. The actress, an Oprah Winfrey fan, got to meet the celebrity talk show host at Parmeshwar Godrej's party.

The actress recounts her Oprahexperience from Singapore, where she is currently holidaying.

Parameshwar Godrej had organised a fantastic party to welcome Oprah Winfrey in India . She had called lots of people from Mumbai and I was among the invited guests.

I was promoting Vettai in Chennai and was scheduled to leave for Singapore after that. But when the party invitation arrived, I made sure that I was present in Mumbai to attend as I'm a big fan of Oprah.
Oprah was humble and very down to earth. She mingled with everyone at the party. She was surrounded by many people at the party and I waited for my turn to meet her. When we finally met, the beautiful lime green Shantanu-Nikhil sari that I was wearing caught her attention. She exclaimed, 'oh my god! What a beautiful sari! I love the colour. It's my favourite'.
I offered to get a similar sari for her but she hesitated, 'no… no, that is not necessary' but I insisted.

I immediately told Shantanu-Nikhil to design a similar sari. It will be sent to Oprah when she is in Agra.

I also told her that I was very plump earlier and she inspired me to lose weight. She couldn't believe it and said that I looked gorgeous! My day was made. I'd say she's one of the most humble celebrities I've ever met. Shobha Warrier in Chennai

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CWG scam: Delhi HC grants Kalmadi on a surety of 5 lakh

The Delhi High Court on Thursday granted bail to former Commonewealth Games (CWG) OC Chief Suresh Kalmadi on a surety of Rs 5 lakh after nine months who is an accused in the case pertaining to the mega-sporting event held in New Delhi in 2010.
The HC also granted bail to former director general of CWG VK Verma.
Kalmadi, Verma and nine others have been accused of allegedly awarding a contract to a Swiss firm to install a Timing-Scoring-Result (TSR) system for the Games at an exorbitant rate, causing a loss of over Rs 90 crore to the state exchequer.
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh commented on Kalmadi's bail and said, "Bail is the right of every accused. If a chargesheet has been filed and investigations are complete, then it is the right of every accused to get a bail."
Kalmadi had earlier moved the High Court seeking bail citing the Supreme Court's judgement in 2G spectrum case and said it has been held that "bail is rule and jail is exception".
The CBI, however, opposed the bail pleas of Kalmadi and Verma saying the trial is to begin soon and would be held on a day-to-day basis.
The CBI alleged Kalmadi was the key accused in the case.

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The pill 'does ease period pain'

Oral contraceptives may alleviate painful periods for some women, suggests a 30-year study.

Estimates suggest more than half of women have suffered from the condition, called dysmenorrhoea, at some point.
The Scandinavian study, reported in the journal Human Reproduction, found women on the pill reported slightly less severe period pains.
Oral contraceptives are not currently officially licensed for this purpose.
The researchers, from Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg University, followed groups of hundreds of 19-year-olds, recruiting some in 1981, some in 1991, and the rest in 2001.
Five years after an initial health questionnaire, the women were contacted again to see if anything had changed.

Dr Ingela Lindh, who led the study, said: "We found there was a significant difference in the severity of dysmenorrhoea depending on whether or not the women used combined oral contraceptives."

While it was hard to quantify precisely this difference in pain levels, on average it represented a change from "severe" to "moderate" pain in every third woman in the group taking oral contraceptives.
Dr Lindh said that the impact of painful periods should not be underestimated.
She said: "Painful periods occur frequently, particularly in young women where as many as 50% to 75% suffer from dysmenorrhoea.
"It can have a detrimental effect on these women's lives, causing regular absenteeism from school and work, and interfering with their daily activities for several days each month.
"Effective management of dysmenorrhoea is beneficial for both the women affected and society."
One US survey suggested that the condition could cause 600m lost working hours in the US each year.
However, earlier efforts to detect any link between the pill and period pain had proved fruitless, with a 2009 Cochrane Review concluding there was limited evidence for pain improvement.
At present, the European Medicines Agency, which oversees drug licensing across the EU, does not include the treatment of period pain as a licensed use for oral contraceptives.
This means that any doctor in the UK who wishes to prescribe for that purpose would have to go outside the official licensing scheme, and many would be unwilling to do so.
Dr Lindh said that the new information from her study should be included in contraceptive counselling sessions.
Sheila Tyne, a nurse advisor at Women's Health Concern, said that as many as 10% of women suffered severe and debilitating period pain each month.
She said: "Some GPs are prepared to prescribe the contraceptive pill for this reason - it certainly doesn't help everyone, but there are a lot of women who say that taking the pill has made things better.
"It's something we would talk about to women as part of a consultation on contraception, although we are not allowed to prescribe oral contraceptives for period pain alone."

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Dangerous abortions 'on the rise', says WHO

A rising proportion of abortions worldwide are putting women's health at risk, researchers say.

The World Health Organisation study suggests global abortion rates are steady, at 28 per 1,000 women a year.

However, the proportion of the total carried out without trained clinical help rose from 44% in 1995 to 49% in 2008.
The Lancet, which carried the report, said the figures were "deeply disturbing".
Unsafe abortion is one of the main contributors to maternal death worldwide, and refers to procedures outside hospitals, clinics and surgeries, or without qualified medical supervision.
Women are more vulnerable to dangerous infection or bleeding in these environments.
Maternal mortality In developing countries, particularly those with more restrictive abortion laws, most abortions are unsafe, with 97% of abortions in Africa described this way.
To compile the figures - often a difficult task in countries where abortion is illegal - the researchers used surveys, official statistics and hospital records.
They concluded that while the abortion rate had fallen since 1995, that drop had now levelled off, and overall, the rise in world population meant that there were 2.2 million more abortions in 2008 compared with 2003.

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“Start Quote

The progress made in the 1990s is now in reverse”

Richard Horton Lancet editor

In the developed world, the proportion of pregnancies ending in abortion fell from 36% in 1995 to 26% in 2008.

Countries with restrictive abortion laws did not have a corresponding decrease in abortion rate - in some cases, the reverse was true.
Professor Beverly Winikoff, from Gynuity, a New York organisation which pushes for access to safer abortion, wrote in the Lancet: "Unsafe abortion is one of the five major contributors to maternal mortality, causing one in every seven or eight maternal deaths in 2008.
"Yet, when abortion is provided with proper medical techniques and care, the risk of death is negligible and nearly 14 times lower than that of childbirth.
"The data continue to confirm what we have known for decades - that women who wish to terminate unwanted pregnancies will seek abortion at any cost, even if it is illegal or involves risk to their own lives."
Dr Richard Horton, the Lancet's editor, said: "These latest figures are deeply disturbing. The progress made in the 1990s is now in reverse.
"Condemning, stigmatising and criminalising abortion are cruel and failed strategies."
Kate Hawkins, from the Sexuality and Development Programme at the Institute of Development Studies, said: "Whether it is legal or illegal, women will seek abortions and obtain abortions.
"This study showed that in 2008, 86% of abortions took place in developing countries and that nearly half of all abortions worldwide were unsafe in 2008.
"That women continue to die in significant numbers because of unsafe abortion is a scandal and is an issue that the development sector should take seriously."

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Chinese writer Yu Jie describes 'inhumane treatment'

A prominent Chinese writer close to Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo has described "inhumane treatment" that forced him to leave.

Speaking in Washington, Yu Jie said he was harassed by police, then abducted and severely beaten.
Mr Yu, 38, wrote "China's Best Actor: Wen Jiabao", a controversial book that scrutinised the premier. The book was banned in mainland China.
Mr Yu arrived in the US on 11 January to live with his wife and son.
On Wednesday he appeared at a press conference and also released a statement - published on the rights group Human Rights in China website - describing persecution at the hands of state police.
He said that after Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize "illegal house arrests, torture, surveillance and tracking, and being taken on 'trips' became part of my daily life".
Mr Liu is currently serving an 11-year jail term in China for inciting subversion.
'Traitor to the state' Mr Yu said he was picked up by plainclothes officers on 9 December 2010, the day before the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, hooded and and taken to an undisclosed location.
There he said he was stripped of his clothes, beaten for hours and told that his naked photos would be posted online. He said he also suffered cigarette burns.
"They verbally abused me non-stop with vulgar language, calling me a traitor to the state and to the Chinese people, and trash," he wrote in the statement.
He was eventually taken to hospital for treatment and released on 13 December.
After that, he said he was frequently placed under house arrest and his movements were curtailed.
"After over a year of inhumane treatment and painful struggle, I had no choice but to leave China," he said.
Mr Yu now plans to publish a biography of Mr Liu authorised by his wife, as well as a new book on Chinese President Hu Jintao.
On Monday US Ambassador to China Gary Locke said that human rights in China had deteriorated since 2008 - comments rejected by a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman.
"As to some people who have been punished by law, it is not because China is repressing freedom of expression or freedom of religion, it is because they reached the bottom line of China's law and violated China's laws and, naturally, they should be punished," Liu Weimin said on Tuesday.
Meanwhile reports from China say another writer and activist, Li Tie, has been jailed for subversion.
If confirmed, he would be the third person to be jailed on the charge in a month.

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David Beckham extends LA Galaxy stay with two-year deal

David Beckham is to remain at LA Galaxy after signing a new two-year deal with the club.

The former England captain, 36, had been linked with a move to Paris St Germain but decided to stay at the team he joined in 2007 from Real Madrid.
"This was an important decision for me," Beckham said in a statement.
"I had many offers from clubs from around the world, however, I'm still passionate about playing in America and winning trophies with the Galaxy.''
Beckham, who began his career at Manchester United, helped Galaxy lift the MLS Cup last season, meaning he has won a major trophy with each of the clubs he has permanently signed for.
His Galaxy contract expired on 31 December but with his family settled in California it now looks like he will finish his career in the United States.

He has stated previously he would like to be involved in the running of an American club when his playing efforts come to an end, and he still harbours hopes of competing for the Great Britain team in the London Olympics.
"I've seen first hand how popular soccer is now in the States and I'm as committed as ever to growing the game here,'' Beckham said.
"My family and I are incredibly happy and settled in America and we look forward to spending many more years here.''
Following his graduation through the Manchester United youth ranks, he moved to Real Madrid in 2003 for £25m before moving to the United States in a five-year deal worth £128m.
The move drew criticism at the time but it is accepted that he has helped boost football in America.
LA Galaxy know how close they came to losing the player who gives the team international fame, and head coach Bruce Arena was delighted that Beckham extended his stay.
He has stated previously he would like to be involved in the running of an American club when his playing efforts come to an end, and he still harbours hopes of competing for the Great Britain team in the London Olympics.
"I've seen first hand how popular soccer is now in the States and I'm as committed as ever to growing the game here,'' Beckham said.
"My family and I are incredibly happy and settled in America and we look forward to spending many more years here.''
Following his graduation through the Manchester United youth ranks, he moved to Real Madrid in 2003 for £25m before moving to the United States in a five-year deal worth £128m.
The move drew criticism at the time but it is accepted that he has helped boost football in America.
LA Galaxy know how close they came to losing the player who gives the team international fame, and head coach Bruce Arena was delighted that Beckham extended his stay.
"I am thrilled that David has chosen to rejoin the Galaxy, especially as he had numerous options where he could continue his career,'' Arena said.
"I felt that he was one of the best players in all of MLS last season and we could not have achieved the success that we did without him. We look forward to trying to replicate that success this season with David once again in a Galaxy uniform.''
Beckham's deal was negotiated by head of XIX Entertainment Simon Fuller, who is the player's business partner and manager, and also looks after world number four tennis player Andy Murray and Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton.
"When David and I discussed making the move from Real Madrid to the LA Galaxy back in 2007, our minds were firmly focused on the massive opportunity of helping to grow soccer in the United States,'' Fuller said.
"We have made great progress over the past five years in raising the profile of soccer domestically and the MLS on a worldwide stage, and we are encouraged by all the results.
"However, clearly this is an ongoing mission and this new deal confirms our commitment to continuing our journey and making sure the world's biggest sport, soccer, continues to grow in the world's most passionate sports loving nation, the USA.''

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Avtar and Carole Kolar: Man charged with murders

A 37-year-old man has been charged with the murders of the parents of a West Midlands police officer.

Carole Kolar, 58, and Avtar Kolar, 62, who had been married for 40 years, were found dead at their home in Handsworth Wood, Birmingham, on 11 January.
Lithuanian national Rimvydas Liorancas will appear before magistrates in Birmingham on Thursday morning.
A 41-year-old man was previously released without charge and a 24-year-old man is on police bail.
Mr and Mrs Kolar were found at the Friary Road property by their police officer son Jason.
Post-mortem examinations revealed both died as a result of blunt-force trauma to the head, each sustaining a number of blows.

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Sopa: US backers end support for anti-piracy bill

Eight US lawmakers have withdrawn their backing from anti-piracy laws, after "blackout" protests on thousands of internet sites.

Two of the bill's co-sponsors, Marco Rubio from Florida and Roy Blunt from Missouri, are among those backing away.
 
Online encyclopaedia Wikipedia and blog service WordPress are among the highest profile sites to block their content.
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has branded the protests as "irresponsible" and a "stunt".
The MPAA, Hollywood's primary advocate in Washington and a key supporter of the legislation, is led by former Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Dodd.
Both bills focus on responding to online piracy, specifically illegal copies of films and other media.
The bills would also outlaw sites from containing information about how to access blocked sites.
The BBC's Jonny Dymond says that with Mr Rubio and Mr Blunt withdrawing their support, the Senate bill - Protect Intellectual Property Act (Pipa) - that had looked likely to pass, now appears to be in trouble.
Mr Rubio is a rising star in the Republican party, and is often suggested as a viable vice-presidential choice for this year's Republican presidential nominee.
Bi-partisan backlash Republicans and Democrats were among the lawmakers rowing back on Wednesday.

The list of senators no longer backing Pipa includes Mr Rubio and Mr Blunt, and Utah Senator Orrin Hatch, all Republicans, as well as Democrat Ben Cardin of Maryland.

In the House of Representatives, Republicans Ben Quayle of Arizona, Lee Terry of Nebraska and Dennis Ross of Florida said they were no longer supporting the Stop Online Piracy Act (Sopa), joining Pennsylvania Democrat Tim Holden.
Mr Ross tweeted that he was no longer supporting Sopa, because as "a true free marketer, I want IP protected correctly".
In a Facebook posting, Mr Rubio said he and fellow Senators "heard legitimate concerns about the impact the bill could have on access to the internet".
Mr Hatch called Pipa "not ready for prime-time" and said he would remove himself from the bill's list of sponsors.
Blackout on the web The US news website Politico estimated that 7,000 sites were involved by early Wednesday morning.

Google did not shut down its main search but is showing solidarity by placing a black box over its logo when US-based users visit its site.

Online marketplace Craigslist asks site visitors to contact their representatives in Congress before moving on to the main site.
Visitors to Wikipedia's English-language site were greeted by a dark page with white text which said: "Imagine a world without free knowledge... The US Congress is considering legislation that could fatally damage the free and open internet. For 24 hours, to raise awareness, we are blacking out Wikipedia."
If users tried to access its other pages via search sites, the text briefly flashed up before being replaced by the protest page. However, people were sharing workarounds to disable the redirect.
When the protest ended at 0500GMT on Thursday, Wikipedia carried the message: "Thank you for protecting Wikipedia".
WordPress's homepage displayed a video which claimed that Sopa "breaks the internet" and asked users to add their name to a petition asking Congress to stop the bill.
"The authors of the legislation don't seem to really understand how the internet works," the site's co-founder, Matt Mullenweg told the BBC.
Other net firms that have criticised the legislation decided not to take part in the blackout.
Twitter's founder, Dick Costolo, tweeted that it would be "foolish" to take the service offline.
'Gimmick' The moves were described as an "abuse of power" by one of the highest-profile supporters of the anti-piracy bills.
"It is an irresponsible response and a disservice to people who rely on them for information," Mr Dodd said in a statement, calling the actions taken by the high-profile websites "yet another gimmick".
In addition to the MPAA's support for the legislation, the US Chamber of Commerce said claims against the legislation had been overstated.

"[The sponsors] announced they would roll back the provisions of these bills designed to block foreign criminal websites, striking a major conciliatory note with those who raised legitimate concerns," said Steve Tepp, chief intellectual property counsel at the chamber's Global Intellectual Property Center.

"What remains are two pieces of legislation that are narrowly tailored and commercially reasonable for taking an effective swipe at the business models of rogue sites."
The proposed legislation would allow the Department of Justice and content owners to seek court orders against any site accused of "enabling or facilitating" piracy.
Sopa also calls for search engines to remove infringing sites from their results. Pipa does not include this provision.
Google posted a blog on the subject claiming that the bills would not stop piracy.
"There are better ways to address piracy than to ask US companies to censor the internet. The foreign rogue sites are in it for the money, and we believe the best way to shut them down is to cut off their sources of funding."
The events coincided with news that the US House of Representatives plans to resume work on Sopa next month. The Senate is expected to start voting on 24 January on how to proceed on Pipa.
Even if Congress approves the bills, President Barack Obama may decide to veto them.
The White House issued a statement at the weekend saying that "we will not support legislation that reduces freedom of expression, increases cybersecurity risk, or undermines the dynamic, innovative global internet".

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Pakistan PM Gilani appears at Supreme Court hearing

Pakistani PM Yousuf Raza Gilani has appeared before the country's Supreme Court in contempt proceedings, to defend his record.

The court initiated the hearing over Mr Gilani's refusal to ask Swiss officials to reopen a corruption case against President Asif Ali Zardari.
If found guilty of contempt he could be banned from holding public office.
After a hearing lasting little more than an hour the case was adjourned until early February.
Mr Gilani had smiled and waved as he arrived at the Supreme Court, accompanied by senior cabinet ministers.
In a lengthy opening statement he spoke of his respect for the court and the Pakistani constitution.
He said he had not intended to defy the court but that he believed Mr Zardari had presidential immunity from prosecution.
"I have discussed this with my friends and experts, and they all agree that he has got complete immunity," the AFP news agency reported Mr Gilani as saying.
"It will not give a good message to proceed against a president who is elected by a two-thirds majority."
Mr Gilani's embattled government is currently embroiled in disputes with the judiciary and also with Pakistan's powerful armed forces.
The prime minister sounded conciliatory at the hearing but his appearance was intended to be a show of strength for the government, says the BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad.

Mounting tensions face Pakistan's prime minister and government

'No harm' Mr Gilani has long refused to write the letter to the Swiss authorities but his lawyer, Aitzaz Ahsan, indicated on Wednesday that the prime minister might reverse that stance.
"There is no harm in writing a letter to the Swiss authorities," he said.
"The president has complete immunity against criminal procedures in the courts."
He added: "I don't think the prime minister has committed contempt of court by not writing the letter. Through my arguments I will try to convince the court that the prime minister is not guilty of contempt."
Money laundering Mr Zardari and his late wife, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, were found guilty in absentia by a Swiss court in 2003 of laundering millions of dollars in kickbacks from Swiss firms while they were in government.
They appealed and Swiss officials dropped the case in 2008 at the request of the Pakistani government.
The case was one of thousands dropped as a result of an amnesty that allowed Ms Bhutto to return from self-imposed exile and run for election in 2008. She was assassinated shortly after returning in late 2007.
However, in 2009 Pakistan's Supreme Court declared the amnesty unconstitutional, leaving those covered by it open to prosecution.
The government is also engaged in a dispute with the military over an anonymous memo asking for US help to avert a possible army coup in Pakistan. The memo was sent in the wake of the killing of Osama Bin Laden in May 2011.
US officials have acknowledged receiving the memo but say they took no action over it.
Both disputes have overshadowed Pakistan's deteriorating relationship with Washington following US air strikes that accidentally killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in November.

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Indians among top contenders in Space Lab contest

New Delhi: Indian students are among the 60 finalists in a global science competition, 'YouTube Space Lab', and if they win, experiments they have designed will be conducted in space with the help of NASA, ESA and JAXA.


"YouTube Space Lab received thousands of video submissions from more than 80 countries. The US led with 10 finalists, followed by India with nine," a joint statement by the organisers announcing the names of the 60 finalists said.

The contest was organised by YouTube, Lenovo and private civilian space flight firm Space Adventures in collaboration with the space agencies.

Experiments designed by the winner will be conducted in space with help of space agencies like National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Space Lab invited budding scientists in two age groups -- 14-16 years and 17-18 years -- to submit a YouTube video describing their experiment, either alone or in groups of up to three.

Approximately 40 per cent of the entries came from India, followed by the US with 15 per cent, the statement said.

Other countries in the Top 10 list of the number of entries are the UK, Russia, Israel, Canada, Spain, Italy, Poland and Japan, it added.

Seventy-eight per cent of the entries came from students between the age group of 14 to 16 years and the rest from 17 to 18-year-olds.

Six regional winners will be announced in February, who will gather in Washington, DC, in March to experience a ZERO-G (zero gravity) flight. They will also be given a Lenovo IdeaPad laptop, the statement said.

The global winners, two teams from each age group, will be announced in March.

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Filmfare Awards Nominees:

Ajay Devgn

As Inspector Bajirao Singham, Ajay Devgn brought beefy back as the muscled cop who takes on the bad guys single-handedly in 'Singham'

 

Hrithik Roshan

Hrithik scores a second nomination in a row for best actor, and this time its for his role as Arjun in the movie 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara'. He thrilled us with his dance moves in the song 'Senorita' and his cool performance

 

Salman Khan

As a beefed up bodyguard to the lissome Kareena Kapoor, Salman delivered yet another swashbuckling performance in 'Bodyguard'. The popular music also helped make the movie the top blockbuster of 2011

 

Shah Rukh Khan

SRK reprised his role as Don in the sequel to the 2006 remake. This time, he sported a menacing new look, and was every bit the crime lord to fear and admire

Ranbir Kapoor

Ranbir shut up all his critics with an applause-worthy performance in 'Rockstar'. His transition from the dorky Janardhan Jhakar to the angst-ridden rockstar Jordan was truly stellar

 

Amitabh Bachchan

As the principled head of a college who battles the policy of reservation, Amitabh Bachchan delivered a steely performance in 'Aarakshan'

 

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Filmfare Nominees

Thanks to its bold and quirky dialogues (read abuses), director Abhinay Deo debut film 'Delhi Belly' became an instant winner with the younger audiences.

If there is anybody in Bollywood who is truly versatile, it is Farhan Akhtar! After stealing haerts with his intense potrayal of Imraan in 'Zindagi na Milegi Dobara', he treated the audiences with his stylish sequel 'Don 2'.
 Director Imtiaz Ali undoubtedly has the ability to make the ordinary interesting. With Rockstar, he helped Ranbir break out of his casanova mould to deliver his best performance so far!
 
Milan Luthria's 'The Dirty Picture', starring Vidya Balan had all the ingredients for a perfect watch. In short - it's entertainment, entertainment and entertainment.
 
Director Raj Kumar Gupta film 'No One Killed Jessica' that took on the sensitive issue of the murder of model Jessica Lal, managed to do justice to the spirit of the story.

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Businessman Photos, Wallpapers

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10 bald Bollywood baddies

Sanjay Dutt in Agneepath

Sanjay Dutt in 'Agneepath' is sporting a shiny dome as he takes on the part of the bad guy Danny Denzongpa played in the 1990 original. Will the bald avatar of Kancha Cheena work with audiences? We take a look at other bald Bollywood baddies.

Arjun Rampal in Ra.One

Arjun's performance as the video game villain in the 2011 sci-fi flick 'Ra.One' may just have been one of the best things about the Shah Rukh Khan movie. For the movie, Arjun lost his hair and beefed up to look the part.

 

Kulbhushan Kharbanda in Shaan

As Shakaal in the 1980 flick, Kulbhushan paved the way for a new kind of eccentric villain in Bollywood films. Shakaal owned an island, had a shark for a pet, wore OTT clothing and sported a bald pate.

 

Pramod Muthu in Khalnayak

Muthu played the part of the slimy Roshi Mahanta who takes Sanjay Dutt under his wing and turns him into a hardened criminal. His sneer, coupled with his rimless frames and bald look only made him look more menacing.

 

Ashutosh Rana in Sangarsh

In the Bollywood remake of 'Silence of the Lambs', Rana's performance in 'Sangarsh' as Lajja Shankar put even Dr. Hannibal Lecter to shame. Rana's kohl-rimmed look sent chills down our spine as he sacrifices children to the devil and he even won a Filmfare award for the role

 

Anupam Kher in Karma

We'd be hard pressed to forget Anupam Kher's delivery of the line 'Thappad ki goonj' as the sinister Dr Dang in the 1986 flick 'Karma'. His bloodied face haunted us long after the final credits rolled

Amrish Puri in Tehelka

Ever the menacing villain, Amrish Puri gave Bollywood another baddie to remember as Dong. Who can forget the line, "Shom shom shom shaam-o shaa shaa"?

Bob Christo in Mr India

The villain best remembered from Shekhar Kapur's movie might have been Mogambo, but Bob Christo was no wallflower either. He was Bollywood favourite 'gora' baddie!

Feroz Khan in Welcome

Khan's role in his last Bollywood movie was meant to tickle your ribs instead of scaring you stiff, but he still makes for mention in this list for playing the part of the feared underworld don RDX who sports a rather stylish bald dome

M Shetty in The Great Gambler

The action director and villian was famous for his leering stare that would make any woman uncomfortable. He was always bald in his movies and it seems that the genetic trait has passed on to his son director Rohit Shetty too!

 

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Army Chief drags government to court

Asserting that he wanted to protect his integrity and honour, Army Chief Gen. V.K. Singh on Monday moved the Supreme Court challenging the Defence Ministry's order determining his date of birth (DOB) as May 10, 1950, instead of treating it as May 10, 1951.

In his petition filed through his advocate Puneet Bali, the Army Chief, who is due to retire on May 31 this year, maintained that his DOB was already concluded as May 10, 1951 once the police verified it at the time of his joining the service.

Citing a catena of Supreme Court decisions, Gen. Singh said the DOB — May 10, 1951— mentioned in the Matriculation Certificate was sacrosanct and this had to be treated as conclusive proof. On the controversy as to how the dispute arose, he said when he was 14, he was asked to fill up a form about DOB particulars, in which he wrongly gave the DOB as May 10, 1950.

However, this was later corrected as May 10, 1951 and this DOB was mentioned in the Matriculation Certificate.

The controversy arose due to different sets of records maintained in the Adjutant General and Military Secretary branches of the Army headquarters. While the adjutant general's branch, which deals with pay, perks and pensions, maintains Gen. Singh's DOB as May 10, 1951, the military secretary branch, which deals with appointments and promotions, has his DOB as May 10, 1950 in its records.

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India-China ties face golden period: Chinese official

NEW DELHI: China has predicted "a golden period" for relations with India, with a top official saying Beijing was "fully committed to developing long-term friendship" with New Delhi.

Chinese State Councillor Dai Bingguo, said to be close to Chinese President Hu Jintao, wrote in an article in The Hindu Monday: "While working hard to develop itself, China is fully committed to developing long-term friendship and cooperation with India. It is our genuine hope that India will enjoy prosperity and its people, happiness.

"There does not exist such a thing as China's attempt to 'attack India' or 'suppress India's development'. China will remain committed to the path of peaceful development," he wrote.

Underlining the need for closer ties with India, Dai said: "We speak with one voice and enjoy increasingly closer coordination and collaboration in multilateral mechanisms and in tackling global challenges."

The influential Chinese politician and diplomat also rejected that his country had rivalry with India.

"We need to view each other's development in a positive light and regard each other as major partners and friends, not rivals. We always need to be each other's good neighbour, good friend and good partner," he said.

"What we face is a golden period to grow China-India relations. The world has enough space for China and India to achieve common development, as there are so many areas for us to work together," he said.

Dai's comments came against the backdrop of recent discordant notes in bilateral ties.

China recently denied visa to an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer who was to go as a member of the Indian military delegation to China, on grounds that he was from Arunachal Pradesh, the Indian state claimed by China. This led to India scaling down its delegation from the original 30 members to 15.

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Babri Masjid demolition was just an incident: SC

New Delhi: The Babri Masjid demolition is just an incident and there is nothing famous or infamous about it, the Supreme Court said on Monday while listing Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) plea for levelling charges of criminal conspiracy against senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader LK Advani, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray and 18 others to March 27.
"What is famous about it. It was an incident which happened and parties are before us. It is not famous or infamous," a bench of Justices HL Dattu and CK Prasad said when the Additional Solicitor General said at the beginning of the proceeding that the matter is related to "famous" Babri Masjid demolition case.
The proceeding before the bench could not go on as it was mentioned that some of the parties in the case have not filed their response and the case was then adjourned.

The apex court had on March 4, 2011 issued notice to 21 people including Advani, Thackeray, Kalyan Singh, Uma Bharti, Satish Pradhan, CR Bansal, MM Joshi, Vinay Katiyar, Ashok Singhal, Giriraj Kishore, Sadhvi Ritambhara, VH Dalmia, Mahant Avaidhynath, RV Vedanti, Param Hans Ram Chandra Das, Jagdish Muni Maharaj, BL Sharma, Nritya Gopal Das, Dharam Das, Satish Nagar and Moreshwar Save.
The court had asked all of them to file their response on why criminal conspiracy charges should not be revived against them in the Babri Masjid demolition case.
It had passed the order on an appeal filed by CBI challenging the May 21, 2010 Allahabad High Court judgement upholding a special court's decision to drop the charges against the leaders.
The High Court had at that time, however, allowed the CBI to proceed with the other charges against Advani and others in a Rae Bareily court since the disputed structure falls under its jurisdiction.
Challenging the High Court order, the CBI has said in its petition that "it appears an artificial distinction was made by the trial court attempting to assign a role in respect of each of the accused persons and to see which offences were made out.
It said that the trial court had erroneously come to the conclusion that 21 persons were not entitled to be tried in the case (pertaining to the demolition on December 6, 1992).
"The order passed by the High Court results in serious miscarriage of justice, violates the principle of consolidated investigation, consolidated charge sheet and also disables an effective trial," the petition said.
The May 2010 order of the High Court had said there was no merit in the CBI's revision petition challenging the May 4, 2001 order of the special court which directed dropping of criminal conspiracy charges against them.
There are two sets of cases - one against Advani and others who were on the dais at Ram Katha Kunj in Ayodhya in December 1992 when the Babri Masjid was demolished, while the other case was against lakhs of unknown 'karsevaks' who were in and around the disputed structure.
The CBI had chargesheeted Advani and 20 others under sections 153A IPC (promoting enmity between classes), 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration) and 505 (false statements, rumours etc circulated with the intent to cause mutiny or disturb public peace).
But it subsequently invoked charges under Section 120 B (Criminal Conspiracy) which was quashed by the Special Court whose decision was upheld by the High Court.
The High Court while upholding the special court's order had said that the CBI at no point of time, either during the trial at Rae Bareily or in its revision petition, ever stated that there was offence of criminal conspiracy against the leaders.

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Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani offers to resign after SC contempt notice

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday offered to resign shortly after the Supreme Court served him a notice for contempt of court for failing to reopen graft cases against the President, according to a media report.

Gilani told a meeting of top leaders of the Pakistan People's Party and its partners in the ruling coalition that he was ready to quit if the step strengthened the government and parliament, ARY news channel quoted its sources as saying.

PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira, Religious Affairs Minister Khursheed Shah and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi of the PML-Q, a key partner in the coalition, were being considered as possible replacements for Gilani in the event of his resignation.

Gilani convened the meeting of the PPP and its allies hours ahead of a crucial session of parliament that will vote on a resolution to shore up the civilian government.

President Asif Ali Zardari too joined the meeting.

Other sources told PTI that the PPP's top leadership had discussed the premier's resignation as a possible measure to ease the government's standoff with the judiciary and the military.

The judiciary has been pressuring the government to reopen cases of alleged money laundering against Zardari since December 2009, when it struck down a graft amnesty issued by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.

The apex court has also accepted the military's request for ordering a probe into the alleged memo that had sought US help to stave off a possible coup in Pakistan after the killing of Osama bin Laden in May last year.

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10 Winter Skin Care Tips

The weather outside may be unsightly, but your skin doesn't have to be. How to banish dry skin and give your winter skin care regimen a boost.
For many people, the cold clear days of winter bring more than just a rosy glow to the cheeks. They also bring uncomfortable dryness to the skin of the face, hands, and feet. For some people, the problem is worse than just a general tight, dry feeling: They get skin so dry it results in flaking, cracking, even eczema (in which the skin becomes inflamed).
"As soon as you turn the heat on indoors, the skin starts to dry out," Bonnie LaPlante, an esthetician with the Canyon Ranch resort in Lenox, Mass., tells WebMD. "It doesn't matter if you heat your home using oil, wood, or electricity. The skin gets dry."
Sound familiar? Read on to get WebMD's top 10 tips for boosting your winter skin care regimen, so that your skin stays moist and healthy through the winter months.

1. Seek a Specialist

If you go to your local drugstore, you'll be hard put to find a salesperson who can give you good advice. That's why going to an esthetician or dermatologist even once is a good investment. Such a specialist can analyze your skin type, troubleshoot your current skin care regimen, and give you advice on the skin care products you should be using.
But that doesn't mean you'll be stuck buying high-end products. "Inexpensive products work just as well as high-end ones," says David Voron, MD, a dermatologist in Arcadia, Calif. "In fact, the extra price you pay for the expensive stuff is often just for packaging and marketing. What's most important is how your skin responds to the product -- and how you like its feel, not how much money you paid for it."

2. Moisturize More

You may have found a moisturizer that works just fine in spring and summer.  But as weather conditions change, so, too, should your skin care routine.  Find an "ointment" moisturizer that's oil-based, rather than water-based, as the oil will create a protective layer on the skin that retains more moisture than a cream or lotion. (Hint: Many lotions labeled as "night creams" are oil-based.)
But choose your oils with care because not all oils are appropriate for the face. Instead, look for "nonclogging" oils, like avocado oil, mineral oil, primrose oil, or almond oil. Shea oil -- or butter -- is controversial, because it can clog facial pores. And vegetable shortening, LaPlante says, is a really bad idea. "It would just sit on the skin," she says. "And it would be really greasy."
You can also look for lotions containing "humectants," a class of substances (including glycerine, sorbitol, and alpha-hydroxy acids) that attract moisture to your skin.

3. Slather on the Sunscreen

No, sunscreen isn't just for summertime. Winter sun -- combined with snow glare -- can still damage your skin. Try applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen to your face and your hands (if they're exposed) about 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply frequently if you stay outside a long time.

4. Give Your Hands a Hand

The skin on your hands is thinner than on most parts of the body and has fewer oil glands. That means it's harder to keep your hands moist, especially in cold, dry weather. This can lead to itchiness and cracking. Wear gloves when you go outside; if you need to wear wool to keep your hands warm, slip on a thin cotton glove first, to avoid any irritation the wool might cause.

5. Avoid Wet Gloves and Socks

Wet socks and gloves can irritate your skin and cause itching, cracking, sores, or even a flare-up of eczema.

6. Hook Up the Humidifier

Central heating systems (as well as space heaters) blast hot dry air throughout our homes and offices. Humidifiers get more moisture in the air, which helps prevent your skin from drying out. Place several small humidifiers throughout your home; they help disperse the moisture more evenly.

7. Hydrate for Your Health, Not for Your Skin

If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times: Drinking water helps your skin stay young looking. In fact, it's a myth. Water is good for your overall health and "the skin of someone who is severely dehydrated will benefit from fluids. But the average person's skin does not reflect the amount of water being drunk," Kenneth Bielinski, MD, a dermatologist in Oak Lawn, Ill., tells WebMD "It's a very common misconception."
LaPlante agrees. "I see clients at the spa who drink their 10 to 12 glasses of water a day and still have superdry skin. It just doesn't do that much."

8. Grease Up Your Feet

Yes, those minty foot lotions are lovely in the hot summer months, but during the winter, your feet need stronger stuff. Try finding lotions that contain petroleum jelly or glycerine instead. And use exfoliants to get the dead skin off periodically; that helps any moisturizers you use to sink in faster and deeper.

9. Pace the Peels

If your facial skin is uncomfortably dry, avoid using harsh peels, masks, and alcohol-based toners or astringents, all of which can strip vital oil from your skin. Instead, find a cleansing milk or mild foaming cleanser, a toner with no alcohol, and masks that are "deeply hydrating," rather than clay-based, which tends to draw moisture out of the face. And use them a little less often.

10. Ban Superhot Baths

Sure, soaking in a burning-hot bath feels great after frolicking out in the cold. But the intense heat of a hot shower or bath actually breaks down the lipid barriers in the skin, which can lead to a loss of moisture. "You're better off with just warm water," LaPlante advises, "and staying in the water a shorter amount of time."
A lukewarm bath with oatmeal or baking soda, can help relieve skin that is so dry it has become itchy, Bielinski notes. So, too, can periodically reapplying your moisturizer. If those techniques don't work, go see a dermatologist. "You may need a prescription lotion to combat the dry skin," Bielinski says. "Or you may have a condition that isn't simply dry skin and that requires different treatment."

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India loses test series, third test ends third day, faces innings defeat

Ryan Harris celebrates the dismissal of Rahul Dravid on the third day of India-Australia third test courtesy: Getty Images

PERTH: India lost the third Test against Australia by an innings and 37 runs after being bowled out for 171 in their second innings on day three here on Sunday. Thus, India lost the test serises 0-3 to Australia.
India, starting the day on 88 for four, were all out minutes after lunch. Virat Kohli top-scored for the visitors with 75 while Rahul Dravid made 47. Ben Hilfenhaus took four wickets for Australia while Peter Siddle took three.
Australia had made 369 in their first innings in response to India’s opening day effort of 161. India were on the brink of defeat in the third Test, with 165 for six at lunch on day three at the WACA Ground here Sunday, needing another 43 runs to make Australia bat again.
India, resuming on 88 for four, lost Rahul Dravid (47) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (2) in the session while Virat Kohli scored his maiden fifty of the series and remained unbeaten on 69. He was joined by R. Vinay Kumar (6) at the crease.  Dravid and Kohli shared 84 runs for the fifth wicket and withstood the pressure created by Australian bowlers for more than an hour.
Ryan Harris (1/34) set Dravid nicely for the hosts’ first breakthrough of the day. After beating Dravid’s bat several times with away going deliveries, Harris got one back in sharply that went through the gate to rattle the stumps. It was the eighth time in the last ten innings when Dravid saw his stumps disturbed.
Dhoni fell soon after to make it 148 for six. Kolhi got his fifty with a beautiful flick off Mitchell Starc’s bowling. The scoreboard on day three of the third cricket Test which India lost to Australia by an innings and 37 runs at the Western Australia Cricket Association Ground here Sunday:
India first innings: 161
Australia first innings: 369
India 2nd innings (Overnight 88/4):
Gautam Gambhir c Hussey b Starc 14
Virender Sehwag c Haddin b Siddle 10
Rahul Dravid b Harris 47
Sachin Tendulkar lbw Starc 8
V.V.S. Laxman c Marsh b Hilfenhaus 0
Virat Kohli c Haddin b Siddle 69
M.S. Dhoni c Ponting b Siddle 2
Vinay Kumar c Clarke b Hilfenhaus 6
Zaheer Khan c Clarke b Hilfenhaus 0
Ishant Sharma c Cowan b Hilfenhaus 0
Umesh Yadav not out 0
Extras: (b 1, lb 5, w 3) 9
Total: (10 wickets; 63.2 overs)
Extras: (b 1, lb 5, w 3) 9
Total: (for 10 wickets in 63.2 overs) 17
Fall of wickets: 1-24 (Gambhir, 10.2 overs), 2-25 (Sehwag, 11.3), 3-42 (Tendulkar, 16.1), 4-51 (Laxman, 19.1), 5-135 (Dravid, 50.5), 6-148 (Dhoni, 55.4), 7-171 (Vinay Kumar, 62.1), 8-171 (Khan, 62.2), 9-171 (Sharma, 62.5), 10-171 (Kohli, 63.2)
Bowling:
Ryan Harris 16-3-34-1
Ben Hilfenhaus 18-6-54-4
Mitchell Starc 12-4-31-2
Peter Siddle 15.2-5-43-3
Mike Hussey 2-0-3-0

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40 Air India pilots call in sick, 36 flights cancelled

NEW DELHI: National carrier Air India’s operations were disrupted on Saturday as about 40 Air India pilots, upset over non-payment of salaries, reported “sick”, resulting in cancellation of several flights and leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

The government urged the pilots to return to work, saying it was studying their demand. Delhi operations of the airline were the worst hit as 36 flights were cancelled, followed by four from Mumbai and two each from Kolkata and Chennai, leaving some 6,500 passengers stranded.

The cancellations in Delhi began right at dawn and continued throughout the day, an Air India official told IANS. “Nearly 40 pilots have called in sick,” he added. Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh asked the pilots to join back and promised to discuss their problems with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Tuesday.

The talks will be aimed at improving the carrier’s financial status, which has left pilots without salaries for two months. A major component of the pay, productivity linked incentive (PLI), has not been paid for over four months.

PLI constitutes 20-60 per cent of the total pay package.

“We are looking into the problem. The pilots did not give any notice… We know the pilots have problems and their salaries have not been paid and are under financial stress,” the minister said here.

He added that the airline management was talking to pilot unions.  Passengers stranded at the airports — particularly in Delhi — were furious.

“My Kolkata-bound flight at 9 a.m. was cancelled. I reached the airport a little after 7 a.m. but I was not informed that my flight has been cancelled,” complained Arun Gupta. The airline is in talks with the pilot unions to sort out the issue.

“We are in talks with some pilot leaders in Delhi. We are taking all possible steps to help passengers like providing them flight information, getting them transferred to other airlines and providing them refunds,” the official said.

The Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), which mainly comprises of erstwhile Indian Airlines pilots, has asked the pilots to return to work.

“The management has to initiate immediate steps to rein in the situation. We are not part of the protest but we understand their problems,” an ICPA spokesperson said. Air India Managing Director Rohit Nandan Friday had said that employees’ dues for November would be paid by Saturday.

The carrier currently has a total debt of Rs.43,777 crore, including loans and dues it owes to vendors like oil firms and airport operators.

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Bodyguard – Venkatesh, Trisha breeze through their roles

Venkatesh has been part of so many family dramas that you can take it for granted that you’ll end up sympathizing with his character by the end of the film. Right from Chanti to Raja and then from Nuvvu Naaku Nacchav to Adavari Matalaki Ardhalu Verule, he has been consistently impressive and Bodyguard is no different. Directed by Gopichand Malineni, the film has Venkatesh, Trisha and Saloni in lead roles. The film is a faithful remake of the original Malayalam version with the same name.
Venkatesh stars as Venkatadri, a Bodyguard by profession. His uncle sends him to Varadarajula Naidu (Prakash Raj) under the pretext that there’s threat to Varadarajula Naidu’s life. Venkatadri considers Naidu as his saviour and immediately goes on the mission. Keerthi (Trisha), daughter of Varadarajula Naidu and Swathi (Saloni) are thick friends and they study together in the same college. When Varadarajula Naidu realizes that there’s a threat to Keerthi’s life, he appoints Venkatadri as her bodyguard. What happens next when Venkatadri ends up studying in Keerthi’s college forms the rest of the story.
Venkatesh breezes through his role as Venkatadri. He has done such characters plenty of times in the past and in this film too, he’s good as a guy who’s longing to meet his secret admirer. Kona Venkat’s dialogues add some power to his characterization especially in emotional sequences. On the other hand, Trisha plays a pivotal role in the film which drives the story forward. She’s extremely good in the film and lets her tears bring out the emotional conflict which her character goes through in the second half of the film. Saloni plays another vital role which adds a major twist in the story. Prakash Raj, Ali, Subbaraju and Pragathi Rajkumar are good in their roles.
The film’s USP is a love story between the lead pair which is narrated in an interesting manner. Gopichand Malineni does a decent job as a director and extracts good performances from his lead cast. The film does drag a bit in the second half, but the emotional sequences in the final act of the film are proof enough why Venkatesh and Trisha are such good actors. Bodyguard comes with a good package of comedy, drama and romance. In a way it’s the combination of these factors and good performances from the lead cast which work in favour of the film. Thaman’s music is good. If you haven’t watched the original film, do watch this one. Although it doesn’t blow you away, but don’t be surprised if you see someone in the cinema hall wiping away their tears towards the end of the film.

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Mahesh Babu dazzles in Businessman

Movie: Businessman
Cast: Mahesh Babu, Kajal Agarwal
Director: Puri Jagannadh
Rating: 3.5/4

There’s something about Mahesh Babu’s eyes which leaves you dazzled while watching Businessman. You can see the intensity oozing out of his eyes in almost every frame. Full credit to Puri Jagannadh for creating an interesting characterisation for Mahesh.The film, set in Mumbai, narrates the story of Suriya (Mahesh Babu) who comes to the city to become a mafia don.

His intentions are never clear and we are not told why he wants to become a mafia don. He impresses the local criminals, a politician and starts a gang. Chitra (Kajal Aggarwal) is the city police commissioner’s daughter. She falls in love with Suriya but soon he tells her everything about his background and what he does. The rest of the story is about Suriya’s rise to power as he aspires to legalise the mafia.

Puri Jagannadh creates magic with his dialogues in this film. Mixing philosophy and Mahesh Babu’s charisma, it’s one of Puri Jagannadh’s finest works so far. Another strength of Mahesh Babu’s characterisation — you never understand if he’s the good or bad guy.Mahesh Babu delivers a fantastic performance in the film and it’s a delight to watch him deliver his dialogues with panache. Kajal Aggarwal is good in her role. Thaman’s background score and Sham K Naidu’s cinematography are top notch.

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Alcohol can lead to unsafe sex

A new study has found that alcohol consumption dire­ctly impacts a person’s int­ention to have unsafe sex. In other words, the more you drink, the stronger becomes your intention to engage in unsafe sex.

Unsafe sex is the most important pathway to HIV infection, and it is a main risk factor for the global burden of disease. Despite this knowledge, and substantial efforts to prevent unsafe sex, HIV incidence in most high income countries (such as the US or the UK) has not changed over the past decade. In some cases, it has even increased. Finding better ways to prevent unsafe sex is thus a major goal of public health efforts for HIV/AIDS prevention.

Alcohol consumption, especially heavy drinking, has long been associated with HIV incidence. However, there have been doubts about the cause-and-effect relationship. Researchers weren’t sure if alcohol consumption caused HIV via unsafe sex, or whether certain personality traits in individuals, such as sensation-seeking or a disposition to risky behaviour in general, would lead to both alcohol use and unsafe sex. The study, published in the January issue of the journal Addiction, summarises the results of 12 experiments that tested this cause-and-effect relationship in a systematic way. After pooling the results, the researchers found that alcohol consumption affects decision-making, and that this impact rises with the amount of alcohol consumed. The more alcohol that participants consumed, the higher their willingness to engage in unsafe sex.

In these experiments, study participants were randomly allocated to one of two groups in which they either consumed alcohol or did not. Then their intention to engage in unsafe sex was measured. An increase in blood alcohol level of 0.1 mg/ml resulted in an increase of 5.0% (95% CI: 2.8% — 7.1%) in the indicated likelihood of engaging in unprotected sex. This result remained stable in sensitivity an­a­lyses aimed to correct for a potential publication bias.

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Tips for healthy eating

 

 

Healthy eating basically involves balance, variety and moderation. The top tips to healthy eating while still not missing out on your favourite food.

Nutrient-rich food
It is important to eat a variety of foods with a variety of nutrients. Daily food should include bread and whole grain products, meat, poultry, fish and food with proteins.
Whole grains, fruit and vegetables
Enjoy plenty of whole grain, fruits and vegetables. Six-11 servings from the rice, cereal and pasta group, 2-4 servings of fruit and 3-5 servings of vegetables are advised.
A healthy weight
Excessive fat can result in high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, cancer and other illnesses. Being too thin also has its ill-effects such as osteoporosis, menstrual irregularities and certain other health problems. Regular exercise is also recommended.
Moderate portions
Eating reasonable portions helps one eat a variety of food without worrying about eating unhealthy.
Regular meals
Skipping meals does not help. It could actually have a negative effect and result in over-eating.
Reduce, don’t eliminate
For those who love food which could be high in fat, sugar or salt, it is not necessary to eliminate it from your diet, just reduce the intake. Low-fat versions of your favourite food are also available.
Make necessary changes but gradually
Don’t revamp your diet overnight. Sudden changes in diet may not help.
Balance your food choices
In case you are eating food which is high in certain ingredients, balance it out by eating other foods which are low in it.
No food is good or bad
Food cannot be classified as good and bad. Do not feel guilty of eating food which is high in fat, but instead balance it out with something low in fat.

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Cruise accident: six feared dead and 69 passengers still missing

Six people feared dead as local officials report that 50 people are still unaccounted for after pride of Italian fleet runs aground.

Holidaymakers from Britain, France, Italy and Germany were forced to flee the 1,500-cabin Costa Concordia in lifeboats when it hit a reef less than two hours after leaving port.

Some leapt overboard and swam to shore as the ship started to sink into the waters near the island of Giglio, off the Tuscan coast.

Francesco Paolillo, the coastguard spokesman, said that at least three bodies were retrieved from the sea and at least three more were feared dead.

Local officials are also reporting that 69 people are still unaccounted for.

By this morning, the ship was lying virtually flat off Giglio's coast, its starboard side submerged in the water.
Pregnant women and young children were among the 3,200 passengers and 1,000 crew on board.
Passengers' dinner on Friday night was interrupted by a loud boom at around 8pm and a voice over the loud-speaker system initially claimed that the ship was suffering an electrical failure, before ordering everyone on-board to don life-jackets.
"It was just like something out of the Titanic," one woman said. "You could tell straight away that the ship had hit something and no way was it an electrical fault."
Fabio Costa, who worked in a shop on the stricken cruise ship, said a number of people were jumping into the sea to swim ashore.
Describing the moment the boat began to list, he told the BBC: "All of a sudden we felt the boat hitting something and everything just started to fall, all the glasses broke and everybody started to panic and run.
"We could only feel that the boat had hit something, we had no idea how serious it was until we got out and we looked through the window and we saw the water getting closer and closer.
"Everything happened really, really fast and we saw the water coming in."
Mr Costa said that once the emergency alarm was set off people started to panic and push each other in a bid to get into lifeboats.
"A lot of people were falling down the stairs and were hurt because things fell on them," he added.
The worker said it took the crew a long time to launch the lifeboats as the vessel had listed so much.
He said: "We just saw a huge rock, that was probably where the ship hit, and people were having huge trouble trying to get on the lifeboats. So at that point we didn't know what to do so it took hours for people to get off the ship.
"It was easier for people to jump into the sea because we were on the same level as that water so some people pretty much just decided to swim as they were not able to get on the lifeboats."
Pictures showed a massive gash in the hull more than 150ft long, with a huge rock embedded in the side of the ship towards the stern.
Helicopters airlifted to safety around 50 people who were trapped on board.
The Costa Crociera company, which operates the seven-day Mediterranean cruise, said there were 1,000 Italians on the ships as well as 500 Germans and around 150 French people but could not confirm whether any Britons were among the evacuated.
The Foreign Office, which is sending a team to the scene, said that a few dozen British passengers are believed to have been on board.
A spokesman said: "We are in close contact with the local authorities and are working urgently to identify British nationals involved.
"A consular team from the British Embassy will shortly be in the area to provide consular assistance."
Philip Metcalf from Dorset described how his daughter Rose, a dancer and entertainer on the Costa Concordia, was brought to safety early this morning.
He said: "My phone rang just before three. I had a message from Rose telling me not to worry that she was OK but there had been a fire or something on board and she had been airlifted from near Tuscany.
"She said she had to wait a long time and that she was one of the last ones to be taken of, as she was staff. It sounds a bit like the Titanic. The boat seemed to have taken on water. I'm just so glad she's alright and she's one of the lucky ones."
Miss Metcalf posted a message on Facebook last night, saying: "My name is Rose, its Friday 13th and I'm one of the last survivors on board the sinking cruise liner off the coast of Italy. Pray for us to be rescued."
A local mayor on the island of Giglio said he was trying to find rooms to house the stranded people overnight.
The company said it was not clear what caused the fault and that an investigation was under way.
A spokesman said: "In this moment all our efforts are focused on the completion of the last emergency operations, besides providing assistance to the guests and the crew who were onboard.
"The company will fully co-operate with the relevant authorities in order to determine the causes of what happened."
The company said the evacuation of the ship started promptly, but the operation was hindered as the vessel started to list on one side.
Some passengers claimed that the crew had failed to give instructions on how to evacuate the ship. An evacuation drill was scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
Melissa Goduti, 28, an American on board the ship told the Associated Press: "It was so unorganised, our evacuation drill was scheduled for 17:00 (16:00 GMT). We had joked what if something had happened today."
The cruise ship had set off from the Civitavecchia port near Rome earlier on Friday and had been due to visit Palermo, Cagliari, Palma, Barcelona and Marseille.

Italian media reported that the ship had been involved in a previous accident in Italian waters in 2008, when strong winds around Palermo, the Sicilian capital, caused the ship to bang against the port's dock. The ship was reported to have suffered damage but nobody aboard was injured.
Two years ago, a Costa Cruises ship crashed into a dock at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm al-Sheikh, killing three members of the crew.
The ship is described on the firm’s website as “one of the biggest ships in the Costa fleet, a real floating temple of fun that will amaze you.”
Prices begin at around £400 but can exceed £1,200 for the first-class cabins.

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I am victimised for raising issues like black money and corruption: Ramdev

New Delhi:  There was ruckus at a press conference organised by Baba Ramdev in New Delhi today after a man threw black ink at the yoga guru. The attack reportedly left his left eye blackened.


The attacker has been identified as Kamran Siddiqui, a resident of Delhi who is said to be running an NGO named 'Real Cause'. Following his attempt, the attacker was beaten up by Baba Ramdev's supporters. His aides claim he had gained entry into the hall posing as a security personnel.

Siddiqui has been placed under arrest and a case of criminal assault and promoting enmity among communities lodged against him, police said.

"A case under sections 153 (promoting enmity among communities) and 355 (criminal assault) of Indian Penal Code has been registered against him," a senior police official said. If convicted, he may be imprisonment for upto two years.

At the press conference, the yoga guru was talking to reporters about his plans to campaign against black money holders in the upcoming Assembly elections. The presser was being held at the Constitutional Club in New Delhi, where he was seated along with Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy.

Trying to put up a brave front, the yoga guru said he was not deterred by such attacks and would continue his campaign against corruption with full force, "I spoke about bringing back black money to the country and giving it to the nation. I spoke about eradicating corruption. I spoke about turning a 'loot-tantra' to a real lok-tantra (democracy). And in return, as a prize this is what I have got. I don't mind receiving black ink. I was also shown black flags. I did not care even then. By throwing ink on someone, one cannot malign his character," he said.

Before the incident, Siddiqui had reportedly sought Baba Ramdev's opinion on the 2008 Batla House encounter in which suspects of the Delhi serial blasts were killed. The yoga guru had ignored the question and soon after the attack took place. Siddiqui is a petitioner in the Batla House encounter case.

Baba Ramdev's supporters had reportedly initially blamed the Congress for the attack. Reacting to the incident, Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh said he condemned it, but added that to him, it "seems like a conspiracy to create sympathy for Baba Ramdev."

"We are very disappointed at the initial remark. I don't think he seems to have benefited from his yoga teachings at all. How are we concerned? I feel bad that something like that happened to him. In a democracy, it's unfortunate...but it is worse that he blames us because we have no connection with any of this behaviour. If this is what he preaches, then it is very unfortunate," added Congress spokesperson Renuka Chowdhary.


Condemning the incident, the BJP said the attacker must be punished. "The BJP strongly condemns the attack on Baba Ramdev. He is a big social and religious leader and is respected in society. He has been carrying out a drive against black money and corruption in the entire country. Those who oppose him can discuss and criticise but our party strongly condemns such an attack. We want strict action against whoever is responsible," said senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley.

Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare also strongly condemned the attack, and said his support was with the yoga guru. "This is not only an act of throwing ink on Baba Ramdev's face but on the democracy of the country. Such acts will not stop our movements but will enhance it...Baba Ramdev, move ahead, we shall support you," said Anna in a statement.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/ruckus-at-baba-ramdev-meet-as-protester-throws-ink-at-him-166848&cp

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