Top Miss universe 2010

Have Salman Khan and Katrina really broken

HAVE Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif really broken up this time? The buzz has been gathering ground over the past few days, though both the Bollywood stars are not willing to confirm.

I have never said that she ( Katrina) is my girlfriend. We were friends for everybody then and we are friends even now. We kept it at that and I maintain that position even now," Salman said while refusing to come clear on the latest breakup rumours.

Katrina's reply on break- up queries has been diplomatic. She has neither confirmed nor denied the reports. " I don't think any of us know the future. I have learnt from my experience that you really cannot make plans. God has made his own plans for you," she said.

Industry insiders, meanwhile, are floating various reasons for a possible break- up at this point. Some cite Katrina's of-late closeness to Ranbir Kapoor. Others insist Katrina feels alienated because of Salman's reported unwillingness to get married. A section of the industry feels Katrina, now a superstar in her own right, doesn't need Salman anymore to push her career.

A big reason why these reports have been doing the rounds is also because of Ranbir Kapoor's entry. It all started with the buzz that Katrina got quite cosy with Ranbir on the sets of Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani and later Raajneeti . Apparently, Salman was quite upset about it. And recently, when Ranbir was in Delhi to endorse an automobile brand, Katrina was in town, too. They are rumoured to have met and spent long hours together in the Capital.

Still others have dubbed it as a mere publicity stunt. " In Bollywood, ninety per cent gossip about the personal lives of stars are generated by the stars themselves, who then go on to deny such reports and blame the media for irresponsible reporting," says an industry insider, not wishing to be named.

Rahul Gandhi May become P.M.

Actress Deepika Padukone has praised Congress MP Rahul Gandhi as a "classical role model" for youth and hopes he leads the country as prime minister one day.

Rahul Gandhi becomes Prime Minister. “said Deepika” Deepika told Manoj Tibrewal Aakash while appearing on the show ‘Ek Mulaqat’.

"I don’t know much about politics, but from whatever I see on TV; whatever Rahul Gandhi is doing makes him a classical example for the youth. Hopefully, he will be prime minister one day," Deepika told a news channel in an interview.

"I think he connects very well with the youth. His thoughts and outlook are traditional, but at the same time he has a futuristic approach. I think this is very important for our country," added the actress who will be seen as a blind girl in her forthcoming movie ‘Lafangey Parindey’ releasing Friday.

Sanjay as Chhatrapati Shivaji after MUNNABHAI

After the super hit movie ‘Munnabhai’ series, Sanjay Dutt is all set to rock the screen – the gladiator style, by playing the role of Indian history’s most ferocious warrior known, Chhatrapati Shivaji, in an upcoming venture.

Reports reveal that Sanjay is preparing himself for the role, by extensively studying the ways and behavioral conduct of the Maratha revolutionary.

However, the industry bigwigs involved with the project are apparently tight-lipped about the same as they’re waiting for Dutt’s current assignments and legal hassles to be sorted out, according to reports.

According to a source close to the project, "We can’t see anyone except Sanjay Dutt as the brave and flamboyant Maratha warrior, galloping across the screen, sword in hand. We want someone who comes close to Russell Crowe’s character in ‘Gladiator’ or ‘Robin Hood’."

Sources reveal that the mega project will be directed by Soham Shah, however, the helmer does not give the clear picture. He says, "All I would say at the moment is I can never make a film without Sanjay Dutt. He’s my mentor, guru, guide and support. If in spite of ‘Kaal’ and ‘Luck’, I’m still directing a project as big as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, it’s because of the trust and support of Mr Dutt. At the moment, I’m getting ready to direct a film for Sanjay Dutt Productions. Then I’ll start work on the Shivaji project."

Grapevine has it that the filmmakers are also considering making Shivaji Chatapati film a Hindi-Marathi bi-lingual. Well, this surely sounds interesting. What say!

Horrible pics of Sanjay Dutt from LAMHAA

Swine flu's Hits on Kerala

According to H1N1 monitoring cell of the health department, More than thirty people have tested positive for the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu, the highest number of 16 cases were reported from Thiruvananthapuram followed by Kollam (7), Kannur (3) and Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Malappuram one each.

However, no death has been reported after one patient died of the infection at Ernakulam General Hospital on June 9, taking the H1N1 toll in the state to 47 since its outbreak last year.

A pregnant woman Aashia Qasim Sheikh, 25, died at the Sion hospital on May 30 of swine flu after she developed Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), a complication commonly resulting from swine flu. Her baby could not be saved.

But 3 people have succumbed to the virus in Mumbai and 17 cases of swine flu have been recorded since May this year.

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) has put its health department on alert and urged people not to avoid flu-like symptoms.

"If the patient is screened and there is a strong suspicion of swine flu, Tamiflu will be administered immediately," Additional Municipal Commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar told reporters, "We have asked all hospitals to keep the standard operational procedures that we devised last year in a state of readiness so if there is a need, we will be able to revive them within 24 hours."

According to H1N1 monitoring cell of the health department, More than thirty people have tested positive for the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu, the highest number of 16 cases were reported from Thiruvananthapuram followed by Kollam (7), Kannur (3) and Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Malappuram one each.

However, no death has been reported after one patient died of the infection at Ernakulam General Hospital on June 9, taking the H1N1 toll in the state to 47 since its outbreak last year.

A pregnant woman Aashia Qasim Sheikh, 25, died at the Sion hospital on May 30 of swine flu after she developed Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), a complication commonly resulting from swine flu. Her baby could not be saved.

But 3 people have succumbed to the virus in Mumbai and 17 cases of swine flu have been recorded since May this year.

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) has put its health department on alert and urged people not to avoid flu-like symptoms.

"If the patient is screened and there is a strong suspicion of swine flu, Tamiflu will be administered immediately," Additional Municipal Commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar told reporters, "We have asked all hospitals to keep the standard operational procedures that we devised last year in a state of readiness so if there is a need, we will be able to revive them within 24 hours."

Big’B’ Again on ‘KBC 4

The fourth season of the KBC with BIG B the show will commence by the end of 2010 on a new entertainment channel as a source from the TV industry said, “The show will now be aired on a different channel.”

By the way, ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ marked Big B’s first appearance on Indian TV in year 2001. In 2005, the second season of ‘KBC’ was called ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati Dwitiya’, which carried almost double prize money - Rs 2 crore. However, with Big B falling ill, the second season came to an abrupt end in 2006. Although Big B announced that he would soon return to the show, it was Shah Rukh Khan who hosted it in 2007.

Talking to a news daily on why Big B is indispensable to ‘KBC’, a source said, “Both, Bachchan and Shah Rukh, respectively brought their distinct individuality on the table, but frankly speaking, Shah Rukh’s histrionics did not do go down well with the audience. There was a vast difference in the TRPs between the two seasons hosted by Bachchan and the third season hosted by Shah Rukh.”

“An official announcement will be made very soon,” the source added.

With Bollywood’s living legend Amitabh Bachchan as its host, ‘KBC’ saw unparallel success. Even cinema halls faced the burnt of ‘KBC’, as they reported a slump in the sale of tickets during night shows.

Scientist infects himself with computer virus

Dr Mark Gasson, a cybernetics expert at the University of Reading, has become the first human to be infected with a computer virus.

Gasson has had a computer chip implanted in his hand which is programmed to open security doors to his lab. The chip also ensures that only he is able to switch on and use his mobile phone.

But the British boffin deliberately infected the chip with a computer virus. It was then automatically transmitted to affect to the lab security system.

"Once the system is infected, anybody accessing the building with their passcard would be infected too," he told Sky News.

The virus on his chip is benign. But malicious computer code could give criminals access to a building. (ANI)

Look Bipasa as KASHMIRI GIRL in 'LAMHAA'

Bipasha Basu is dubbing for her next film `Lamhaa` This time Bipasha is however determined not to allow her voice performance to suffer on grounds of her accent. For months the actress has been secretly practicing her lines.

"It is tough, really tough because I don`t really understand Urdu. But I`m never one to shun the urge to learn. I find it great fun. And my director Rahul Dholakia is very patient and chilled out," Bipasha told reporters.

Since `Lamhaa` tackles the sensitive issue of militancy in Kashmir, Dholakia is pretty adamant on getting every nuance right. He has asked sound recordist Manoj Sikka to monitor Biapasha`s diction.

"I`m putting my trust in Rahul`s team and the sound recordist," said the actress.

According to Dholakia, who`s supervising Bipasha`s dubbing, the actress has made the best effort possible to sound like an authentic Kashmiri Muslim girl.

"At the moment I`m simultaneously doing two very different jobs on two of my very different films. While I`m editing my social satire `Society`, I am supervising the dubbing of my film on Kashmir, `Lamhaa`. Dubbing the dialogues of a film with as vast a historical-political canvas as `Lamhaa` is very tough. I wish I could devote more attention to Bipasha. But she`s doing a fine job," said Dholakia.

Now 'Viagra' for women

A German pharmaceutical giant wants to sell a drug with the decidedly unsexy name "flibanserin," which has shown prowess for sparking a woman's sexual desire by fiddling with her brain chemicals.

A Good news for women those who want to perk up the action in their bedroom-the Food and Drug Administration committee is thinking of endorsing the first pill designed to do for women what Viagra does for men-boost their sex lives.

"Achieving a happy and healthy sex life can be a real and important problem for some women. But we have lots of questions about the 'pink Viagra,'" the Washington Post quoted Amy Allina of the National Women's Health Network, a Washington-based advocacy group, as saying.

Viagra's catapult to blockbuster status after its 1998 approval set off a flurry of interest in me-too medications for women.

However, drugmaker Pfizer's hopes that its "little blue pill" would also ignite female libido fizzled, making it clear that a woman's sexuality is more complicated than a man's.

But, Germany's Boehringer Ingelheim is optimistic that flibanserin is on the verge of becoming the first prescription medication to tap what some have estimated could be a 2 billion dollar market in the United States alone.

"We believe women deserve options and we're hoping flibanserin may represent a safe and effective option for many women," said Michael Sand, who heads the company's clinical research on flibanserin.

The Boeing-737 crashed in Mangalore runway

A Mangalore-bound Air India Express plane overshot the runway at Bajpe Airport in Mangalore at 6.30 am this morning. At least 160 passengers are feared dead. Initial reports say six people have survived the mishap. All the injured were taken to government hospitals.

The Boeing-737, IX 812 coming from Dubai burst into flames soon after it overshot the runway while landing at the airport, said eye witnesses. The plane, manned by a Russian expat pilot reportedly landed 2000 feet from touchdown point.

Rescue operations at the site are almost over and there are no chances of any more survivors. Rescue operators who have braved bad weather and a hilly terrain said, most of the bodies were charred beyond recognition making it difficult to identify the dead.

Abdul Putter, one of the survivors of this tragedy, lives to tell the gory tale. Reports say, another passenger, Pradeep, a technician who works in Dubai, jumped out of the plane and helped save two others. In his account to a TV channel, Pradeep said, "Everything was normal till touchdown. Then the plane started shaking and before long, it burst into flames and broke into two. I jumped into a ditch. The local villagers helped us a lot, till the ambulance came in about 15 minutes. I can't believe I'm still alive."

Aviation experts say that landing an aircraft in the Table Top airport in Mangalore requires special skills. The Boeing 737 is equipped with enough gadgets for a safe landing, so speculation is that human error maybe the cause of the accident. Experts also argue that if the visibility was poor, the pilot could have taken the aircraft up again and hovered around the airport till the visibility improved. But since the blackbox hasn't yet been recovered, the exact cause of the crash remains unknown.

Helpline numbers are: 01125656196,01125603101, Mangalore: 0824-2220424, KMC hospital, Mangalore: 2444777, Air India Dubai airport numbers: 00971-4-2165828/29

CBSE Class 12 results declared

CBSE Board 12th class result declared today in CBSE.NIC.IN. The overall pass percentage of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 12 board exams saw a drop of 1.13 percent. The board results were declared on Friday in Delhi, Guwahati and Allahabad.

The overall pass percentage was 79.87 percent compared to 81 percent last year, a CBSE spokesperson said.

The pass percentage for girls was 85.28 percent, compared to 75.90 percent for boys.

The results, which were uploaded on the board's website www.cbse.nic.in, were declared for the three zones at 8am. In Ajmer, Chennai and Panchkula regions, the results were declared on Wednesday.

The overall pass percentage was the highest in Chennai - 92.12 percent.

The pass percentage for regular students was 81.95 percent while it was 41.99 percent for those who studied through correspondence.

This year, 699,129 students - 408,367 boys and 290,762 girls - took the Class 12 board exams in the country and abroad.

Aish and Akshay very busy for ‘Action Replay’

Since Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan left the project ‘Action Replay’ of Bollywood film maker Vipul Shah, halfway for other commitments, Shah is desperately seeking the stars for dates, so as to finish the film as soon as possible.

Talking to news daily, that Vipul Shah urgently requires Aishwarya’s dates to shoot a song in ‘Action Replay.’ However, due to her packed schedule and past commitments, the actress is unable to allocate the required dates. Likewise, Akshay Kumar is currently shooting for Nikhil Advani’s ‘Patalia House’ in London.

According to the source, "Vipul is in a fix because both stars are busy with their other projects. Even when they were shooting, getting dates was a big hassle. Now, Vipul is left with no other option but to wait till Ash gives the dates or do away with the shoot."

By the way, the issue cropped up when Aishwarya got busy with the promotions of ‘Raavan’, followed by her famous Cannes visit.

"Vipul was upset because Ash put her other commitments before his film. He wanted her dates before she began the ‘Raavan’ promotion, but that didn`t happen," the source added.

Will Anurag’s “KITES” fly very high in Bollywood

Produced by Rakesh Roshan and directed by Anurag Basu, "Kites" is a mega-budget venture worth Rs.150 crore in two versions - English and Hindi. It also stars Kabir Bedi and Kangana Ranaut who makes a cameo appearance in the movie.

"It`s a very strange love story between two people because they don`t understand each other`s language or culture but as they say love and music doesn`t need any language, `Kites` is just that,.

Shot in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Santa Fe, "Kites" is a compelling romantic saga that goes beyond barriers, boundaries and cultures. A love story about an Indian man`s affair with a Latin woman and their predicament as they don`t understand each other`s language, "Kites" is about their thrilling journey filled with precious moments and unexpected betrayal.

"Kites" will first release in India, then US, Britain, UAE, Australia, South Africa and 30 other countries Friday while in the second phase, it will release in an additional 30 countries, which include various non-traditional markets.

The story starts in a harsh terrain of the Mexican desert where a mortally wounded man Jai is left to die in the heat of the scorching sun. Once a street smart, carefree young guy, he is now a wanted man.

As death looms, the only thing that keeps him alive is the quest to find the love of his life, Natasha - a woman betrothed to another man. Jay and Natasha fell in love despite language and cultural barriers and embark on an action-packed adventure of love, dance and danger across Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Mexico - an adventure that could kill them both, or bring them together forever.

Exclusive Bikini Pics of Miss India 2010

Agni II missile successfully tested in Orisa

India on Monday successfully test fired the nuclear capable intermediate range Agni II missile, with a range of over 2,000 km, from a launch site in Orissa. The surface to surface missile was tested by army personnel as part of a training exercise from Wheeler's Island in Bhadrak district.

The last two tests in May and November did not meet the mission's desired objectives and were described as failures.

"It was a very successful launch. It met all the mission objectives," director of the test range S P Dash said. The Agni II missile, part of India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, is 20 metres long and can carry a payload of 1,000 kg.

Weighing 17 tonnes, the range of the missile can also be increased to 3,000 km by reducing the payload. It can be fired from both rail and road mobile launchers.

It takes only 15 minutes for the missile to be readied for firing, officials said, adding that the Agni II-version of the Agni series of missiles was first test fired in 1999 from the same location.

Mumbai reached Final of IPL 2010

The lip-smacking contest turned out to be a one-sided affair with Mumbai scoring an emphatic 35-run victory on Wednesday. Pollard cracked 33 not out form 13 balls and then took three wickets.

After Saurabh Tiwary and Ambhati Rayadu along with the big-hitting Pollard lifted the Mumbai Indians to an impressive 184-5, Bangalore could manage only 149-9.

Bangalore were always behind the asking rate with Mumbai keeping a tight lid over the scoring except for a brief period when Robin Uthappa (26 0ff 13) opened his shoulders. The Bangalore dasher smashed Harbhajan Singh for 18 runs in the ninth over. Uthappa's cameo was the only bright spot in the Bangalore chase.

Jacques Kallis' sudden slump with the bat continued as he could manage only 11, allowing Tendulkar to keep the coveted Orange Cap. Rahul Dravid (23 off 22), who opened the batting, and Kevin Pietersen (19 off 14)held the fort for a while but the absence of big hits forced Pietersen to step out to Harbhajan Singh but the wily tweaker outfoxed the Englishman by bowling it down the leg side, Ambhati Rayadu did the rest.

It was the tenth over that handed Mumbai a very clear advantage. Uthappa, for once, miscued one off Pollard to hole out in the deep. The very next ball, Dravid was run out when he hesitated for a second in the middle of the pitch in what should have been an easy single.

From there on, the run-rate kept climbing up and Bangalore slipped further. Virat Kohli (nine), Manish Pandey (five) and Praveen Kumar (one) departed in quick succession. Ross Taylor (30 not out off 29 balls) struck occasional blows but he was kept in check by the sharp Mumbai bowling.

Earlier, Mumbai's young guns rose to the occasion as Tiwary (52 not out off 31) and Rayadu (40 of 38) set Mumbai up with a brisk 67-run stand before Pollard bludgeoned three huge sixes.

After Mumbai elected to bat, Bangalore struck a crucial blow early when Dale Steyn managed to send back the in-form Sachin Tendulkar for just a run-a-ball nine. The master batsman was dismissed for a single-digit score for the first time this year. Two overs later, a direct hit from Virat Kohli ended Shikhar Dhawan's knock for 12.
Rayadu and Abhishek Nayar revived the Mumbai innings with a 39-run stand before Bangalore spinners got into action.

Pietersen got rid of Nayar (22 off 18) and took a brilliant catch to dismiss new man JP Duminy (three) in the next over. Then it was Mumbai's finds of the season Rayadu and Tiwary to fire in unison. Both played sensibly before Tiwary launched into Jacques Kallis and Anil Kumble to take 17 each from the experienced duo.

The game was closely poised till the 15th over of the Mumbai innings with the score at 107-4. But Bangalore slipped at the death by leaking 77 runs in the final five overs.
Bangalore will now play the losing team of the second semi-final between the Chennai Super Kings and Deccan Chargers. Mumbai will play the winner of that game in the final on Sunday.

Kareena again playing lead role for Bhandarkar

Kareena Kapoor is playing the lead role in director Madhur Bhandarkar`s next film inspired by the life of legendary Hollywood actress Marilyn Monroe. But the director reveals that the actress is yet to give her consent. Now he starting two films.

"We know each other for years. We both admire each other`s work. In `Page3` we wanted to work together but there were some economic problems because of which we couldn`t. I met her and we have spoken on it, but we need to sit for couple of times. Once it`s decided we will make the announcement," Madhur told reporters.

Asked if the economic problem was Kareena quoting a very high price, he said, "It`s not because she was quoting a very high price. It was because our budget of the film was very less. The dates were also clashing. I think she was doing `Chameli` at the time, I wanted to start my film.”

Obama explains about moon programme

US President Barack Obama has outlined his administration's new space exploration plan, vowing to increase NASA's budget by $6 billion over the next five years.

Speaking at the Kennedy Space Centre on Thursday, where America's moon missions originated decades ago, Obama said he was "100 percent committed to the mission of NASA and its future".

Obama said he wants to accelerate the development of a large, heavy-lift rocket to carry astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit. He called for a decision on the new rocket design in 2015.

He said by 2025 he expects US space exploration to reach beyond the moon and further into the solar system's reaches, aiming to send US astronauts into Mars orbit by the mid-2030s.

"By the mid-2030s, I believe we can send humans to orbit Mars and return them safely to Earth, and a landing on Mars will follow," Obama told a gathering of about 200 space scientists and members of the Congress.

The President was making a trip to the heart of the US space industry, seeking to explain why he aborted former president George W. Bush's return-to-the moon plan.

"We've been there before," Obama said. "There's a lot more of space to explore."

Polish President killed by aircraft crashed in Russia

Polish President Lech Kaczynski, was killed on April 10, 2010, with his wife Maria and 130 others including almost all his aides when their aircraft crashed in foggy weather while landing in Russia, officials said.

The disaster, which plunged Poland into grief, occurred when the Russian-built Tupolev 154-M reportedly struck some trees, caught fire and broke up as it approached the airport in Smolensk city in western Russia.

The president and his delegation, which included Polish National Bank president Slawmir Skrzpek, was going to Russia to take part in an official ceremony in Katyn, where 20,000 Poles were slaughtered by Soviet forces during World War II.

The Katyn massacre was a major irritant between Poland and Russia. Kaczynski was reluctant to go there until the last day because he was not sure of getting a proper protocol from the Russian authorities.

He was a great admirer of Indian democracy and a major critic of China. He also had a soft corner for the Dalai Lama and always met him when the Tibetan spiritual leader came to Poland.
In Poland, the speaker of parliament, Bronislaw Komorowski, hurriedly arrived here from Gdansk to take charge as president till a new election is called. Prime Minister Donald Tusk rushed to Warsaw for an emergency meeting of the cabinet.