Teen pleads guilty after blog confession
Dec 21, 6:28 AM EST
TAVARES, Fla. (AP) -- An 18-year-old passenger who caused a fatal crash by pulling on the steering wheel pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter after prosecutors discovered a confession on his online blog.
Blake Ranking wrote "I did it" on his blurty.com journal three days after the October 2004 crash that caused a friend's death and left another seriously injured. He had previously told investigators he remembered nothing of the crash and little of its aftermath.
Blake was sitting in the back seat as he and then-17-year-old friends Jason Coker and Nicole Robinette left a party when he pulled the steering wheel as a prank, causing the car to somersault off the road.
His blood alcohol content after the crash measured 0.185, more than double the legal limit.
Robinette, who was driving and had no traces of drugs or alcohol in her system, was seriously injured. Coker lay in a coma at Orlando Regional Medical Center until he died Jan. 11.
"It was me who caused it. I turned the wheel. I turned the wheel that sent us off the road, into the concrete drain ..." Ranking wrote in the blog. "How can I be fine when everyone else is so messed up?"
Ranking later retracted his words, deleting them from the blog and penning an explanation.
"People say I 'contradict' myself since I 'already admitting pulling the wheel.' I didn't 'ADMIT' anything. I went on a guilt trip, and I posted the story that I WAS TOLD . . . Nicole told me I pulled the wheel, I believed her," he wrote.
Still, the confession forced him to lead guilty Monday to manslaughter charges. He could have gotten 15 years in prison, but defense lawyer John Spivey and Assistant State Attorney Julie Greenberg recommended five years in prison, 10 years of probation and a permanent license suspension.
Circuit Judge Mark Hill agreed to impose the sentence Dec. 28.
Greenberg said she had planned to use the blog as evidence, a first for the office covering Lake, Citrus, Hernando, Marion and Sumter counties, but almost certainly not the last.
"Anytime a defendant confesses, that is very relevant and important," she said.
Ranking posted the lyrics to Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven" the day of Coker's funeral, but prosecutors said his remorse was not always apparent in his blogs, which included entries railing at Coker's mother because she asked him to stop calling and coming to the hospital.
"He lost the best friend he ever had," Spivey said in Ranking's defense.
Ken Coker, Jason's father, said his family never wanted prison time for Ranking, but they wished Ranking would stop writing about them because they felt the blog was insensitive. He said Ranking would benefit more from psychiatric counseling.
"There's not enough forgiveness in the world," he said.
SignOnSanDiego.com > News > AP News
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Tuition teacher held for alleged child abuse
Tuition teacher held for alleged child abuse
MANJIT KAUR, 17th December 2005
KANGAR: A 10-year-old girl was allegedly punched and slashed, and had a toenail removed and her private parts pinched by her tuition teacher for faring poorly in lessons.
Nor Adilla Syikin, from Taman Kemajuan near here, suffered bruises all over her body as a result of the abuse by the teacher, whom she called “auntie”.
Kangar OCPD Yusof Mohd Diah said police arrested the 54-year-old woman and her 15-year-old daughter at their house in Taman Perlis at 2.30am yesterday and obtained orders to remand them for five days.
The girl’s father Abdul Halim Ibrahim, 43, believed that Nor Adilla was abused on Wednesday night at the teacher’s house.
He said that his daughter, from SK Seri Perlis, had been taking lessons in English and Mathematics from the woman since Year One.
“The teacher contacted me about 8pm on Wednesday to say that my daughter would be staying overnight at her place,” he told reporters at Hospital Tuanku Fauziah on Thursday night.
Abdul Halim, a restaurant cook in Mata Ayer, said his daughter fled from the teacher’s house at 4.45pm on Thursday and ran crying in the rain to her grandmother’s house.
He said that the woman, who gives tuition to 20 pupils, was never a schoolteacher. She performed odd-jobs and worked at a laundry shop, besides tutoring students.
When interviewed, Nor Adilla said she and her friends would be beaten when they could not answer questions and that she suffered the most.
“I was scared of her and dared not tell my parents about her behaviour,” she said.
In Penang, police rescued a 10-year-old girl who had scars on her body believed to have been been caused by boiling water and cigarettes.
Her mother, 36, and stepfather, 26, a video arcade caretaker, were arrested at their home in Jalan Besi here at 10.50pm on Thursday.
It is learnt that the couple, who had only been married for a year, would also cane the Year Four student for the slightest mistake.
The couple's neighbours, who had been turning a blind eye to the abuse for some time, tipped off the police.
Read the full article at : Tuition teacher held for alleged child abuse
MANJIT KAUR, 17th December 2005
KANGAR: A 10-year-old girl was allegedly punched and slashed, and had a toenail removed and her private parts pinched by her tuition teacher for faring poorly in lessons.
Nor Adilla Syikin, from Taman Kemajuan near here, suffered bruises all over her body as a result of the abuse by the teacher, whom she called “auntie”.
Kangar OCPD Yusof Mohd Diah said police arrested the 54-year-old woman and her 15-year-old daughter at their house in Taman Perlis at 2.30am yesterday and obtained orders to remand them for five days.
The girl’s father Abdul Halim Ibrahim, 43, believed that Nor Adilla was abused on Wednesday night at the teacher’s house.
He said that his daughter, from SK Seri Perlis, had been taking lessons in English and Mathematics from the woman since Year One.
“The teacher contacted me about 8pm on Wednesday to say that my daughter would be staying overnight at her place,” he told reporters at Hospital Tuanku Fauziah on Thursday night.
Abdul Halim, a restaurant cook in Mata Ayer, said his daughter fled from the teacher’s house at 4.45pm on Thursday and ran crying in the rain to her grandmother’s house.
He said that the woman, who gives tuition to 20 pupils, was never a schoolteacher. She performed odd-jobs and worked at a laundry shop, besides tutoring students.
When interviewed, Nor Adilla said she and her friends would be beaten when they could not answer questions and that she suffered the most.
“I was scared of her and dared not tell my parents about her behaviour,” she said.
In Penang, police rescued a 10-year-old girl who had scars on her body believed to have been been caused by boiling water and cigarettes.
Her mother, 36, and stepfather, 26, a video arcade caretaker, were arrested at their home in Jalan Besi here at 10.50pm on Thursday.
It is learnt that the couple, who had only been married for a year, would also cane the Year Four student for the slightest mistake.
The couple's neighbours, who had been turning a blind eye to the abuse for some time, tipped off the police.
Read the full article at : Tuition teacher held for alleged child abuse
Scotsman.com News - Latest News - John Spencer dies of heart problems
John Spencer dies of heart problems
Scotsman.com, Press Association Ltd, 17-Dec-05 11:07 GMT
John Spencer, the actor who played a tough, dedicated politician who survived a coronary illness to run for vice president in TV drama The West Wing, has died of a heart attack.
Spencer, 58, died after being admitted to a Los Angeles hospital on Friday, said his publicist, Ron Hofmann. He would have been 59 on Tuesday.
He was "one of those rare combinations of divinely gifted and incredibly generous", said actor Richard Schiff, who played Toby Ziegler on the NBC television series. Schiff revealed Spencer had been struggling with health issues but seemed to have rallied.
Spencer played Leo McGarry, the savvy and powerful chief of staff to President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet (Martin Sheen). In a sad parallel to life, Spencer's character suffered a heart attack that forced him to give up his White House job.
Spencer, who also starred in LA. Law as streetwise lawyer Tommy Mullaney, received an Emmy Award for his performance in The West Wing in 2002 and was nominated four other times for the series.
The actor, whose world-weary countenance was perfect for the role of McGarry, mirrored his character in several ways: both were recovering alcoholics and both, Spencer once said, were driven.
"Like Leo, I've always been a workaholic, too," he told The Associated Press in a 2000 interview. "Through good times and bad, acting has been my escape, my joy, my nourishment. The drug for me, even better than alcohol."
Spencer grew up in Paterson, New Jersey, the son of blue-collar parents. With his enrolment at the Professional Children's School in Manhattan at 16, he was sharing classes with the likes of Liza Minnelli and budding violinist Pinchas Zukerman.
As a teenager, he landed a recurring role on The Patty Duke Show as the boyfriend of English twin Cathy. His big break came, playing Harrison Ford's detective sidekick in the 1990 courtroom thriller Presumed Innocent.
His made his feature film debut with a small role in War Games. In recent years, he worked both in studio and independent films, including The Rock, The Negotiator, Albino Alligator, Lesser Prophets and Cold Heart.
Last updated:
Read the full article at : Scotsman.com News - Latest News - John Spencer dies of heart problems
Scotsman.com, Press Association Ltd, 17-Dec-05 11:07 GMT
John Spencer, the actor who played a tough, dedicated politician who survived a coronary illness to run for vice president in TV drama The West Wing, has died of a heart attack.
Spencer, 58, died after being admitted to a Los Angeles hospital on Friday, said his publicist, Ron Hofmann. He would have been 59 on Tuesday.
He was "one of those rare combinations of divinely gifted and incredibly generous", said actor Richard Schiff, who played Toby Ziegler on the NBC television series. Schiff revealed Spencer had been struggling with health issues but seemed to have rallied.
Spencer played Leo McGarry, the savvy and powerful chief of staff to President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet (Martin Sheen). In a sad parallel to life, Spencer's character suffered a heart attack that forced him to give up his White House job.
Spencer, who also starred in LA. Law as streetwise lawyer Tommy Mullaney, received an Emmy Award for his performance in The West Wing in 2002 and was nominated four other times for the series.
The actor, whose world-weary countenance was perfect for the role of McGarry, mirrored his character in several ways: both were recovering alcoholics and both, Spencer once said, were driven.
"Like Leo, I've always been a workaholic, too," he told The Associated Press in a 2000 interview. "Through good times and bad, acting has been my escape, my joy, my nourishment. The drug for me, even better than alcohol."
Spencer grew up in Paterson, New Jersey, the son of blue-collar parents. With his enrolment at the Professional Children's School in Manhattan at 16, he was sharing classes with the likes of Liza Minnelli and budding violinist Pinchas Zukerman.
As a teenager, he landed a recurring role on The Patty Duke Show as the boyfriend of English twin Cathy. His big break came, playing Harrison Ford's detective sidekick in the 1990 courtroom thriller Presumed Innocent.
His made his feature film debut with a small role in War Games. In recent years, he worked both in studio and independent films, including The Rock, The Negotiator, Albino Alligator, Lesser Prophets and Cold Heart.
Last updated:
Read the full article at : Scotsman.com News - Latest News - John Spencer dies of heart problems
Welcome back, Mr Bachchan
Welcome back, Mr Bachchan
Sunday, December 18, 2005
The Shahenshah is back.
Superstar Amitabh Bachchan has finally been discharged from Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital on Saturday, where he has been recovering after a successful operation to treat his diverticulitis condition.
Huge crowds of fans surrounded the hospital, many travelling extensively just to get a glimpse of the actor.
Before he was discharged, Bachchan made a memorable appearance on the balcony of his 11th floor hospital room. Accompanying him were son Abhishek, daughter Shweta, wife Jaya and close friend Amar Singh. Industrialist Anil Ambani was seen at the hospital earlier in the morning. Amitabh looked down at the gathered media and fans, and waved -- one of those moments where the whole country collectively breathes a sigh of relief; Amitabh Bachchan is all right.
The fans weren't lucky enough to see Bachchan as he was whisked efficiently and discreetly out of the hospital. Rajesh Jadhav, one of the many who had travelled from far corners of Mumbai, said he was very disappointed. "I came early in the morning, and have been standing here for a long time. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity, to see Amitabh Bachchan recovered. I'm heartbroken that I couldn't see him up close."
But this disappointment is shortlived, and the general feeling is one of great relief.
Welcome back, Mr Bachchan.
Read the full story at : Welcome back, Mr Bachchan
Also read : The scene outside Lilavati Hospital
Sunday, December 18, 2005
The Shahenshah is back.
Superstar Amitabh Bachchan has finally been discharged from Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital on Saturday, where he has been recovering after a successful operation to treat his diverticulitis condition.
Huge crowds of fans surrounded the hospital, many travelling extensively just to get a glimpse of the actor.
Before he was discharged, Bachchan made a memorable appearance on the balcony of his 11th floor hospital room. Accompanying him were son Abhishek, daughter Shweta, wife Jaya and close friend Amar Singh. Industrialist Anil Ambani was seen at the hospital earlier in the morning. Amitabh looked down at the gathered media and fans, and waved -- one of those moments where the whole country collectively breathes a sigh of relief; Amitabh Bachchan is all right.
The fans weren't lucky enough to see Bachchan as he was whisked efficiently and discreetly out of the hospital. Rajesh Jadhav, one of the many who had travelled from far corners of Mumbai, said he was very disappointed. "I came early in the morning, and have been standing here for a long time. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity, to see Amitabh Bachchan recovered. I'm heartbroken that I couldn't see him up close."
But this disappointment is shortlived, and the general feeling is one of great relief.
Welcome back, Mr Bachchan.
Read the full story at : Welcome back, Mr Bachchan
Also read : The scene outside Lilavati Hospital
Oddly Enough News Article | Reuters.com
BOSTON (Reuters) - Are diamonds really forever?
An anonymous gift-giver left a $15,000 diamond engagement ring to the owner of an unlocked car in western Massachusetts with a typed note hinting at a broken heart.
"Merry Christmas. Thank you for leaving your car door unlocked. Instead of stealing your car I gave you a present. Hopefully this will land in the hands of someone you love, for my love is gone now. Merry Christmas to you," the note said.
The three-diamond ring with a white-gold band appeared on the seat of the man's car at a train station in Westborough, about 30 miles west of Boston, on December 7, police said. Four days later, the man reported it to police.
"This appears to be random," said Westborough Police Lt. Paul Donnelly. "I think there was a search for a car that was unlocked."
The 37-year-old man decided to keep the ring after a jeweler appraised its value at $15,000, police said.
Read the full article at : Oddly Enough News Article | Reuters.com
An anonymous gift-giver left a $15,000 diamond engagement ring to the owner of an unlocked car in western Massachusetts with a typed note hinting at a broken heart.
"Merry Christmas. Thank you for leaving your car door unlocked. Instead of stealing your car I gave you a present. Hopefully this will land in the hands of someone you love, for my love is gone now. Merry Christmas to you," the note said.
The three-diamond ring with a white-gold band appeared on the seat of the man's car at a train station in Westborough, about 30 miles west of Boston, on December 7, police said. Four days later, the man reported it to police.
"This appears to be random," said Westborough Police Lt. Paul Donnelly. "I think there was a search for a car that was unlocked."
The 37-year-old man decided to keep the ring after a jeweler appraised its value at $15,000, police said.
Read the full article at : Oddly Enough News Article | Reuters.com
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Saif wasn't drunk, say cops
Saif wasn't drunk, say cops
Mayank Soni, December 11, 2005
On Friday evening at about 4:45 pm, Saif Ali Khan drove over the foot of a Shakeel Shaikh (13) outside the Bhavan’s ground at DN Nagar, while returning from his rehearsals for the MTV Immies. Shaikh had minor injuries, but was advised a month of bed rest.
Khan (who was at the police station on Friday from 12 am to 1:30 am) says, “I was just returning from the MTV rehearsals when the boy suddenly came in front of my car. I applied the brakes, but the tyre stopped on the boy’s foot. I immediately came out and rushed him to Arogya Nidhi hospital.
He has suffered a hairline fracture. I have taken care of his hospital bill and will also pay for other medical expenses. After seeing that the boy was fine, I myself went and surrendered to the D N Nagar police station at 7 pm. I was not driving fast or anything; it was just an unfortunate accident.”
Shaikh was on his way to pick up his young cousin from the municipal school when the incident occured. “I saw the car stop so went on to cross the road, but suddenly it started and the car’s tyre ran over my left foot.
Seeing me cry out, Saif immediately rushed me to the nearby hospital in his car. Saif stayed for an hour at the hospital. He only left after enquiring about my health. Doctors have said that I have to take bed rest for a month.”
Khan was driving a silver-coloured Lexus. Inspector Pradeep Suryavanshi says, “Khan was released on bail of Rs 5,000. He has been asked to be present in the court on December 12. He was tested for alcohol, but the result was negative.”
Read the full article at : Saif wasn't drunk, say cops
Mayank Soni, December 11, 2005
On Friday evening at about 4:45 pm, Saif Ali Khan drove over the foot of a Shakeel Shaikh (13) outside the Bhavan’s ground at DN Nagar, while returning from his rehearsals for the MTV Immies. Shaikh had minor injuries, but was advised a month of bed rest.
Khan (who was at the police station on Friday from 12 am to 1:30 am) says, “I was just returning from the MTV rehearsals when the boy suddenly came in front of my car. I applied the brakes, but the tyre stopped on the boy’s foot. I immediately came out and rushed him to Arogya Nidhi hospital.
He has suffered a hairline fracture. I have taken care of his hospital bill and will also pay for other medical expenses. After seeing that the boy was fine, I myself went and surrendered to the D N Nagar police station at 7 pm. I was not driving fast or anything; it was just an unfortunate accident.”
Shaikh was on his way to pick up his young cousin from the municipal school when the incident occured. “I saw the car stop so went on to cross the road, but suddenly it started and the car’s tyre ran over my left foot.
Seeing me cry out, Saif immediately rushed me to the nearby hospital in his car. Saif stayed for an hour at the hospital. He only left after enquiring about my health. Doctors have said that I have to take bed rest for a month.”
Khan was driving a silver-coloured Lexus. Inspector Pradeep Suryavanshi says, “Khan was released on bail of Rs 5,000. He has been asked to be present in the court on December 12. He was tested for alcohol, but the result was negative.”
Read the full article at : Saif wasn't drunk, say cops
Saif Ali Khan held after his SUV injures boy - Sify.com
Saif Ali Khan held after his SUV injures boy
Saturday, 10 December , 2005, 16:33
Mumbai: A teenaged boy was injured when an imported sports-utility vehicle driven by Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan hit him at suburban Andheri on Friday evening, police said.
The boy escaped with minor injuries and has been discharged from hospital this morning, police said.
Saif was arrested and later released on bail of Rs 5000 at D N Nagar police station at Andheri in western Mumbai.
Police said the actor was passing by the Bharatiya Vidya Bhawans college at around 6 pm last evening, when his SUV Landcruizer vehicle which he was driving hit a 13-year-old boy, Shakil Sheikh, a nearby resident, who was reportedly attempting to cross the road.
The boy escaped with minor injuries as the vehicle was at a slow speed, police said.
Saif later rushed to injured boy to a nearby private nursing home, where the boy was admitted.
The actor informed the D N Nagar police station about the incident.
Since Saif himself was driving the vehicle, he was made to undergo a medical examination to find out alcohol content in his blood, police said, adding that the report showed that there was no alcohol in the blood.
The D N Nagar police granted a bail of Rs 5000 to Saif at around 1:30 am and asked him to visit the police station in the morning to complete formalities.
when the actor did not turn up, police moved the Andheri court and informed that the actor had not completed formalities regarding the bail.
The court adjourned hearing of the case till December 12. Meanwhile, Saif visited the police station at 4 pm, police added.
Read the full article at : Saif Ali Khan held after his SUV injures boy - Sify.com
Saturday, 10 December , 2005, 16:33
Mumbai: A teenaged boy was injured when an imported sports-utility vehicle driven by Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan hit him at suburban Andheri on Friday evening, police said.
The boy escaped with minor injuries and has been discharged from hospital this morning, police said.
Saif was arrested and later released on bail of Rs 5000 at D N Nagar police station at Andheri in western Mumbai.
Police said the actor was passing by the Bharatiya Vidya Bhawans college at around 6 pm last evening, when his SUV Landcruizer vehicle which he was driving hit a 13-year-old boy, Shakil Sheikh, a nearby resident, who was reportedly attempting to cross the road.
The boy escaped with minor injuries as the vehicle was at a slow speed, police said.
Saif later rushed to injured boy to a nearby private nursing home, where the boy was admitted.
The actor informed the D N Nagar police station about the incident.
Since Saif himself was driving the vehicle, he was made to undergo a medical examination to find out alcohol content in his blood, police said, adding that the report showed that there was no alcohol in the blood.
The D N Nagar police granted a bail of Rs 5000 to Saif at around 1:30 am and asked him to visit the police station in the morning to complete formalities.
when the actor did not turn up, police moved the Andheri court and informed that the actor had not completed formalities regarding the bail.
The court adjourned hearing of the case till December 12. Meanwhile, Saif visited the police station at 4 pm, police added.
Read the full article at : Saif Ali Khan held after his SUV injures boy - Sify.com
Saturday, December 10, 2005
HindustanTimes.com: Miss World 2005
Iceland's Unnur Birna crowned Miss World 2005
Press trust of India, December 10, 2005
Sanya, China : Miss Iceland, Unnur Birna Vilhjalmsdottir, who plans to be a lawyer as well as an anthropologist, was on Saturday crowned as Miss World 2005 in the tropical resort of Sanya in southern China.
Unnur, 21, who describers herself as an "organised, ambitious and good-humoured" person, won the hearts and minds of the judges at the glittering finals of the 55th Miss World contest, held for a record third time in Sanya.
She said her motto is, "You are what you do."
Miss Mexico, Dafne Molina Lona, 23, came runner-up while Miss Puerto Ricco, Inngrid Marie Rivera Santos, 22, was adjudged second runner-up in the two-hour-long gala, seen live by over two billion people worldwide.
Miss India, Sindhura Gadde, who entered the semi-finals, lost to her South Korean rival, Eun-Yong Oh in the contest for selection from the Asia-Pacific region.
This year the Miss World said they had introduced an "innovative" new voting system this year, each contestant will be allocated a number for worldwide short messaging service (SMS) voting or via the Voting Hotline in their particular country.
Six 'Vote For Me' TV specials will present contestants from each continental zone and invite the global television audience to cast votes to determine the top two from each zone to go through to the Miss World Final where the six continental winners will be chosen, Miss World Northern Europe, Miss World Southern Europe, Miss World Asia Pacific, Miss World Africa, Miss World Americas and Miss World Caribbean.
Read the full article at : HindustanTimes.com: Miss World 2005
For more images of Miss World 2005 : Beautiful Women From Around The World : Miss World 2005
For more images of Beautiful Women : Beautiful Women From Around The World
Press trust of India, December 10, 2005
Sanya, China : Miss Iceland, Unnur Birna Vilhjalmsdottir, who plans to be a lawyer as well as an anthropologist, was on Saturday crowned as Miss World 2005 in the tropical resort of Sanya in southern China.Unnur, 21, who describers herself as an "organised, ambitious and good-humoured" person, won the hearts and minds of the judges at the glittering finals of the 55th Miss World contest, held for a record third time in Sanya.
She said her motto is, "You are what you do."
Miss Mexico, Dafne Molina Lona, 23, came runner-up while Miss Puerto Ricco, Inngrid Marie Rivera Santos, 22, was adjudged second runner-up in the two-hour-long gala, seen live by over two billion people worldwide.
Miss India, Sindhura Gadde, who entered the semi-finals, lost to her South Korean rival, Eun-Yong Oh in the contest for selection from the Asia-Pacific region.
This year the Miss World said they had introduced an "innovative" new voting system this year, each contestant will be allocated a number for worldwide short messaging service (SMS) voting or via the Voting Hotline in their particular country.Six 'Vote For Me' TV specials will present contestants from each continental zone and invite the global television audience to cast votes to determine the top two from each zone to go through to the Miss World Final where the six continental winners will be chosen, Miss World Northern Europe, Miss World Southern Europe, Miss World Asia Pacific, Miss World Africa, Miss World Americas and Miss World Caribbean.
Read the full article at : HindustanTimes.com: Miss World 2005
For more images of Miss World 2005 : Beautiful Women From Around The World : Miss World 2005
For more images of Beautiful Women : Beautiful Women From Around The World
Groom pays for snapping wedlock : HindustanTimes.com
Groom pays for snapping wedlock
Sanjeev K. Ahuja, December 10, 2005
Gurgaon : A man got it nice and proper for backing out of his marriage at the eleventh hour. His family had to pay Rs 10 lakh in cash and a few post-dated cheques of an unspecified amount after the girl’s family took the matter to the police.
The groom, from Gurgaon’s posh HUDA Sector 14, refused to marry the girl moments before the shubh mahoorat, citing “compatibility problems” on Friday evening.
When his relatives and the bride’s family raised a hue and cry, he went on to offer a “one-month contract marriage” to the girl. This baffled the girl who, too, refused to marry him.
The bride’s family then took the matter to the police and at the police station, it was decided that the groom must compensate the girl. He was asked to bear the entire marriage expense borne by the bride’s family.
Both the groom and the bride are software engineers, working for Pune-based companies. They were engaged on November 4 and their marriage was slated for December 9.
Rohit Nagpal, the groom, started dating her on weekends but found her to be “incompatible”, J.M. Nagpal, his father said.
“She is a nice and intelligent girl but somehow I got a feeling that I was not made for her. I was under acute pressure from my parents as well as from bride side as the date of marriage was nearing in. On the very day of the marriage I delivered my decision that I would not marry her. It was better to face it now than regret for rest of my life,” said Rohit.
On the day of marriage, the bride’s family was awaiting the baraat at a banquet hall when they received a call saying that Rohit had a change of mind. The shubh mahoorat was due at 8.30 p.m. Shocked, the bride’s family and relatives promptly left for the groom’s house in sector 14, where there were heated arguments.
Elderly people from the girl’s family tried to convince the boy. It was then that they got another shock. Rohit was willing to marry the girl only for a month and also wanted a contract to this effect.
“Rohit said he would marry the girl but on a month’s contract during which he would see whether or not he would be able to continue with her,” said a relative of the girl. Soon the girl’s family approached the police and lodged a complaint. Police officials steered the two families to a settlement, whereby the groom’s family was asked to bear the entire expenses of the marriages.
Read the full article at : Groom pays for snapping wedlock : HindustanTimes.com
Sanjeev K. Ahuja, December 10, 2005
Gurgaon : A man got it nice and proper for backing out of his marriage at the eleventh hour. His family had to pay Rs 10 lakh in cash and a few post-dated cheques of an unspecified amount after the girl’s family took the matter to the police.
The groom, from Gurgaon’s posh HUDA Sector 14, refused to marry the girl moments before the shubh mahoorat, citing “compatibility problems” on Friday evening.
When his relatives and the bride’s family raised a hue and cry, he went on to offer a “one-month contract marriage” to the girl. This baffled the girl who, too, refused to marry him.
The bride’s family then took the matter to the police and at the police station, it was decided that the groom must compensate the girl. He was asked to bear the entire marriage expense borne by the bride’s family.
Both the groom and the bride are software engineers, working for Pune-based companies. They were engaged on November 4 and their marriage was slated for December 9.
Rohit Nagpal, the groom, started dating her on weekends but found her to be “incompatible”, J.M. Nagpal, his father said.
“She is a nice and intelligent girl but somehow I got a feeling that I was not made for her. I was under acute pressure from my parents as well as from bride side as the date of marriage was nearing in. On the very day of the marriage I delivered my decision that I would not marry her. It was better to face it now than regret for rest of my life,” said Rohit.
On the day of marriage, the bride’s family was awaiting the baraat at a banquet hall when they received a call saying that Rohit had a change of mind. The shubh mahoorat was due at 8.30 p.m. Shocked, the bride’s family and relatives promptly left for the groom’s house in sector 14, where there were heated arguments.
Elderly people from the girl’s family tried to convince the boy. It was then that they got another shock. Rohit was willing to marry the girl only for a month and also wanted a contract to this effect.
“Rohit said he would marry the girl but on a month’s contract during which he would see whether or not he would be able to continue with her,” said a relative of the girl. Soon the girl’s family approached the police and lodged a complaint. Police officials steered the two families to a settlement, whereby the groom’s family was asked to bear the entire expenses of the marriages.
Read the full article at : Groom pays for snapping wedlock : HindustanTimes.com
Sonia visits quake victims in J&K - NDTV.com - News on Sonia visits quake victims in J&K
Sonia visits quake victims in J&K
NDTV Correspondent, Saturday, December 10, 2005
(Jammu) : Congress president Sonia Gandhi visited Teethwal on the Line of Control on her second day in the earthquake-hit areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
She inspected the relief and rehabilitation work in the region.
Very few national leaders have been so close to the LoC. In fact, all that separated Sonia Gandhi and the people from PoK, was the Kishanganga river.
During her visit to the quake-hit areas in Uri on Friday, Sonia said she was satisfied with the relief work.
"A lot of work has been done, but there is still some work that remains. We must make sure that every individual receives relief. But on the whole I think work has been carried out well," she said.
Boosting students' morale
While most of the people were clamouring for relief, for the children of Teethwal, Sonia Gandhi's visit to their school was a major morale booster.
"It was really good that Sonia Gandhi visited our school. We had never thought that she would come to our school," said a student.
It was the Congress President's second visit to earthquake-hit areas in the state.
Sonia, who spent her birthday on Friday among the quake victims, said she was happy to celebrate her big day in this far more worthy manner.
"Well I thought it would be more worth one and time spending in better way. I came here to listen to the griviences of people," she said.
Keeping the promise
She also said that she had made a promise to come back and review the relief work and that she had kept her promise.
"I had come here on October 9, a day after the earthquake, and I promised that I would come back to inspect the relief work. I made sure that I fulfill the promise before the year-end,'' she added.
It was not only the people of Teethwal who were waiting for Sonia Gandhi, but people across the LoC in PoK also came out to watch her.
Hopefully, the visit will translate into a significant improvement in the distribution of relief.
Read the full article at : Sonia visits quake victims in J&K - NDTV.com - News on Sonia visits quake victims in J&K
NDTV Correspondent, Saturday, December 10, 2005
(Jammu) : Congress president Sonia Gandhi visited Teethwal on the Line of Control on her second day in the earthquake-hit areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
She inspected the relief and rehabilitation work in the region.
Very few national leaders have been so close to the LoC. In fact, all that separated Sonia Gandhi and the people from PoK, was the Kishanganga river.
During her visit to the quake-hit areas in Uri on Friday, Sonia said she was satisfied with the relief work.
"A lot of work has been done, but there is still some work that remains. We must make sure that every individual receives relief. But on the whole I think work has been carried out well," she said.
Boosting students' morale
While most of the people were clamouring for relief, for the children of Teethwal, Sonia Gandhi's visit to their school was a major morale booster.
"It was really good that Sonia Gandhi visited our school. We had never thought that she would come to our school," said a student.
It was the Congress President's second visit to earthquake-hit areas in the state.
Sonia, who spent her birthday on Friday among the quake victims, said she was happy to celebrate her big day in this far more worthy manner.
"Well I thought it would be more worth one and time spending in better way. I came here to listen to the griviences of people," she said.
Keeping the promise
She also said that she had made a promise to come back and review the relief work and that she had kept her promise.
"I had come here on October 9, a day after the earthquake, and I promised that I would come back to inspect the relief work. I made sure that I fulfill the promise before the year-end,'' she added.
It was not only the people of Teethwal who were waiting for Sonia Gandhi, but people across the LoC in PoK also came out to watch her.
Hopefully, the visit will translate into a significant improvement in the distribution of relief.
Read the full article at : Sonia visits quake victims in J&K - NDTV.com - News on Sonia visits quake victims in J&K
Cyclone set to hit TN; PM cancels visit
Cyclone set to hit TN; PM cancels visit
December 9, 2005
New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has deferred a visit he had planned on Saturday of the flood-affected areas in Tamil Nadu in view of a cyclone warning.
The prime minister's media advisor Sanjaya Baru said that Singh had expressed a desire to visit the flood-affected parts of Tamil Nadu on Saturday, but due to the cyclone warning, he has been advised not to undertake the journey.
In Chennai, precautionary measures are under way and the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu are gearing up with the warning Cyclone Fanoos is likely to cross between Nagapattinam and Chennai by noon tomorrow.
Fanoos, located just 300-km east southeast of Nagapattinam, is likely to intensify and move in west northwesterly direction and cross the north Tamil Nadu coast between Nagapattinam and Chennai tomorrow around noon, Area Cyclone Warning Centre director S R Ramanan, told reporters here.
Under the influence of the system, the cyclone and widespread rains with isolated heavy downpour was likely to commence along Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coast from morning, they said.
Strong winds with speeds between 60 and 70 kmph were likely during this period.
As the system comes closer, the condition of the sea would be "rough to high" and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea, they added.
In view of the impending threat, the PM has also been advised that local authorities might be busy in dealing with the relief work and that he should postpone his visit to the state.
"The prime minister, therefore, decided that he will visit the state after his return from Kuala Lumpur", Baru added.
Read the full article at : Cyclone set to hit TN; PM cancels visit
December 9, 2005
New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has deferred a visit he had planned on Saturday of the flood-affected areas in Tamil Nadu in view of a cyclone warning.
The prime minister's media advisor Sanjaya Baru said that Singh had expressed a desire to visit the flood-affected parts of Tamil Nadu on Saturday, but due to the cyclone warning, he has been advised not to undertake the journey.
In Chennai, precautionary measures are under way and the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu are gearing up with the warning Cyclone Fanoos is likely to cross between Nagapattinam and Chennai by noon tomorrow.
Fanoos, located just 300-km east southeast of Nagapattinam, is likely to intensify and move in west northwesterly direction and cross the north Tamil Nadu coast between Nagapattinam and Chennai tomorrow around noon, Area Cyclone Warning Centre director S R Ramanan, told reporters here.
Under the influence of the system, the cyclone and widespread rains with isolated heavy downpour was likely to commence along Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coast from morning, they said.
Strong winds with speeds between 60 and 70 kmph were likely during this period.
As the system comes closer, the condition of the sea would be "rough to high" and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea, they added.
In view of the impending threat, the PM has also been advised that local authorities might be busy in dealing with the relief work and that he should postpone his visit to the state.
"The prime minister, therefore, decided that he will visit the state after his return from Kuala Lumpur", Baru added.
Read the full article at : Cyclone set to hit TN; PM cancels visit
No method to media madness : HindustanTimes.com
No method to media madness
V Gangadhar, December 10, 2005
At Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital, there is now a new daily prayer for doctors, nurses and general staff: "O, Lord God, send us dengue cases,/ Malaria, hepatitis, encephalitis and the rest,/But God, please spare us from reporters,/Photographers and Amar Singhs."
As India's number one showman Amitabh Bachchan lay ill at hospital, the Indian media, both print and TV, provided us with examples of 'new journalism' made up of exaggeration, sensationalism and plain silliness. About half-a-dozen OB vans belonging to various TV channels were parked near the hospital; reporters, mostly young and brash, were determined to tell the world what they thought of Bachchan's illness. In the process they proved a nuisance to other patients and genuine visitors to the hospital.
One man's illness was turned into a soap opera with tears, rage, and a bit of attempted deceit for that elusive scoop. One of the reporters from Aaj Tak tried to enter the hospital posing as a doctor though this was denied by the channel's editor who pointed out that his reporter did not wear a gown and was without any hidden camera or electronic equipment.
Facts were hard to come by, so imagination took over. It was colitis the first day, though Khalid Mohammad of DNA, a close family friend of the Bachchans came out with some facts. The mob fell on anyone who had visited the hospital's 11th floor where the Bachchan family was staying and bombarded them with questions and quoted them as though they were medical experts. When a movie director came down after meeting the family, reporters from Headlines Today peppered him with questions on how the Hindi film industry would manage without Bachchan because more than Rs 500 crores were invested in him. This was a recurring theme with the media, As the star underwent surgery the media could not decide which angle was more important: the medical details or the AB financial deals.
Star News led the race in breathless frivolity devoting nearly 20 hours of its daily news to the Bachchan health saga. Its breaking news included such gems like 'Abhi Amitabh ko stretcher mein laya gaya', 'Amitabh aaj juice piya tha' (I don't know why they missed out whether he drank orange, apple or pineapple juice!). Detailed references were made to the earlier accident on the sets of Coolie in 1982 and the treatment at Breach Candy. One channel read out excerpts from Bachchan Senior's autobiography which blamed the treatment given to his son after the first accident.
The print media was no better. The Times of India carried in detail views on the lookalikes of Amitabh and Sachin Tendulkar on what they thought of the Shahenshah's illness. The Sachin lookalike was asked, "Do you want Amitabh to get well?" which made no sense at all. Amidst all this, Amar Singh often spoke as though Amitabh Bachchan was God while son Abhishek was kept busy trying to shoo away reporters from anywhere near the 11th floor.
The coverage had the message that nothing else was happening in the country. But this was not so. Young viewers polled by Mid-Day agreed that the Volcker committee report was more important than the Amitabah soap opera. The media ignored the fact that one of the most famous music directors of Bollywood, OP Nayyar, was also admitted to the Lilavati hospital just before the Amitabh illness. The Uma Bharti revolt and the final One-Dayer between India and South Africa were also drowned in the flood of the Bachchan barrage. The Hindi channels were the worst in trivialising the Lilavati episode while NDTV 24x7 was the most dignified and to the point. Sreenivasan Jain on this channel was spot on with his matter-of-fact comments.
News is Big Business...
Trying to share the media limelight was the intriguing Volcker committee report. While most of the media wanted the head of former External Affairs Minister, Natwar Singh, The Hindu was restrained in its write-ups while pointing out that the report details were vague and that Volcker had left many questions unanswered. But the media always wants the blood of politicians who cannot hit back. Editor Vinod Mehta came out strongly against the media silence on the alleged involvement of nearly 130 Indian commercial firms (including the Tatas and the Ambanis) in Oil for Food deals with Iraq.
This media-Big Business nexus is now in the open. I remember the time when Dr Manmohan Singh's Cabinet was announced late one night. The NDTV announcer after reading out the name of a minister immediately asked an industrialist or businessman what he thought of the appointment. It was as though Big Business had to approve of the choices of the Prime Minister. These days the news readers' eyes light up whenever they mention the rising Sensex. How else can the channels have the indulgence of 10 minutes news and 20 minutes of breaks? There is this story going around about TV news readers finding it difficult to get life partners because of the feeling that at crucial stages of consummating the wedding they may burst out, "Wait, we have to take a break". Habits die hard, you know!
As is trivia...
A media watcher for over 30 years, I am distressed at the lack of news sense and the focus on trivia. Nothing is serious, we are told. Watching We the People show, I am often shocked that even while discussing serious issues like rape, child molestation and caste wars, the discussion often degenerates into a club-like atmosphere with laughter and giggles. What kind of conclusions can one draw from this mood of jollity?
I worked in an era when everyone had to be referred to as 'Mr' particularly in big newspapers. There are rotten eggs in politics but that did not mean you can refer to them by their first names. But on TV this trend is catching on. During the first few days of the Volcker revelations, sleepy-voiced Amitabh of NDTV kept on referring to 77-year-old Natwar Singh as 'Natwar' as though they were school chums. Today's media is also highly conscious of colour. Television anchors often sneer at Indian politicians but are all sweetness, courtesy and reasonableness while interviewing, say, Condoleeza Rice, one of the chief architects of the US invasion of Iraq. One programme had the anchor and a group of Indian youngsters who had nothing but praise for British Prime Minister Tony Blair and never once mentioned his lying to the British people, doctoring of British intelligence reports over Iraq and his reputation as a poodle of George Bush.
Media scream of 2005: Sania Mirza can change the world! Hasn't she already edited The Times of India?
Read the full article at : No method to media madness : HindustanTimes.com
V Gangadhar, December 10, 2005
At Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital, there is now a new daily prayer for doctors, nurses and general staff: "O, Lord God, send us dengue cases,/ Malaria, hepatitis, encephalitis and the rest,/But God, please spare us from reporters,/Photographers and Amar Singhs."
As India's number one showman Amitabh Bachchan lay ill at hospital, the Indian media, both print and TV, provided us with examples of 'new journalism' made up of exaggeration, sensationalism and plain silliness. About half-a-dozen OB vans belonging to various TV channels were parked near the hospital; reporters, mostly young and brash, were determined to tell the world what they thought of Bachchan's illness. In the process they proved a nuisance to other patients and genuine visitors to the hospital.
One man's illness was turned into a soap opera with tears, rage, and a bit of attempted deceit for that elusive scoop. One of the reporters from Aaj Tak tried to enter the hospital posing as a doctor though this was denied by the channel's editor who pointed out that his reporter did not wear a gown and was without any hidden camera or electronic equipment.
Facts were hard to come by, so imagination took over. It was colitis the first day, though Khalid Mohammad of DNA, a close family friend of the Bachchans came out with some facts. The mob fell on anyone who had visited the hospital's 11th floor where the Bachchan family was staying and bombarded them with questions and quoted them as though they were medical experts. When a movie director came down after meeting the family, reporters from Headlines Today peppered him with questions on how the Hindi film industry would manage without Bachchan because more than Rs 500 crores were invested in him. This was a recurring theme with the media, As the star underwent surgery the media could not decide which angle was more important: the medical details or the AB financial deals.
Star News led the race in breathless frivolity devoting nearly 20 hours of its daily news to the Bachchan health saga. Its breaking news included such gems like 'Abhi Amitabh ko stretcher mein laya gaya', 'Amitabh aaj juice piya tha' (I don't know why they missed out whether he drank orange, apple or pineapple juice!). Detailed references were made to the earlier accident on the sets of Coolie in 1982 and the treatment at Breach Candy. One channel read out excerpts from Bachchan Senior's autobiography which blamed the treatment given to his son after the first accident.
The print media was no better. The Times of India carried in detail views on the lookalikes of Amitabh and Sachin Tendulkar on what they thought of the Shahenshah's illness. The Sachin lookalike was asked, "Do you want Amitabh to get well?" which made no sense at all. Amidst all this, Amar Singh often spoke as though Amitabh Bachchan was God while son Abhishek was kept busy trying to shoo away reporters from anywhere near the 11th floor.
The coverage had the message that nothing else was happening in the country. But this was not so. Young viewers polled by Mid-Day agreed that the Volcker committee report was more important than the Amitabah soap opera. The media ignored the fact that one of the most famous music directors of Bollywood, OP Nayyar, was also admitted to the Lilavati hospital just before the Amitabh illness. The Uma Bharti revolt and the final One-Dayer between India and South Africa were also drowned in the flood of the Bachchan barrage. The Hindi channels were the worst in trivialising the Lilavati episode while NDTV 24x7 was the most dignified and to the point. Sreenivasan Jain on this channel was spot on with his matter-of-fact comments.
News is Big Business...
Trying to share the media limelight was the intriguing Volcker committee report. While most of the media wanted the head of former External Affairs Minister, Natwar Singh, The Hindu was restrained in its write-ups while pointing out that the report details were vague and that Volcker had left many questions unanswered. But the media always wants the blood of politicians who cannot hit back. Editor Vinod Mehta came out strongly against the media silence on the alleged involvement of nearly 130 Indian commercial firms (including the Tatas and the Ambanis) in Oil for Food deals with Iraq.
This media-Big Business nexus is now in the open. I remember the time when Dr Manmohan Singh's Cabinet was announced late one night. The NDTV announcer after reading out the name of a minister immediately asked an industrialist or businessman what he thought of the appointment. It was as though Big Business had to approve of the choices of the Prime Minister. These days the news readers' eyes light up whenever they mention the rising Sensex. How else can the channels have the indulgence of 10 minutes news and 20 minutes of breaks? There is this story going around about TV news readers finding it difficult to get life partners because of the feeling that at crucial stages of consummating the wedding they may burst out, "Wait, we have to take a break". Habits die hard, you know!
As is trivia...
A media watcher for over 30 years, I am distressed at the lack of news sense and the focus on trivia. Nothing is serious, we are told. Watching We the People show, I am often shocked that even while discussing serious issues like rape, child molestation and caste wars, the discussion often degenerates into a club-like atmosphere with laughter and giggles. What kind of conclusions can one draw from this mood of jollity?
I worked in an era when everyone had to be referred to as 'Mr' particularly in big newspapers. There are rotten eggs in politics but that did not mean you can refer to them by their first names. But on TV this trend is catching on. During the first few days of the Volcker revelations, sleepy-voiced Amitabh of NDTV kept on referring to 77-year-old Natwar Singh as 'Natwar' as though they were school chums. Today's media is also highly conscious of colour. Television anchors often sneer at Indian politicians but are all sweetness, courtesy and reasonableness while interviewing, say, Condoleeza Rice, one of the chief architects of the US invasion of Iraq. One programme had the anchor and a group of Indian youngsters who had nothing but praise for British Prime Minister Tony Blair and never once mentioned his lying to the British people, doctoring of British intelligence reports over Iraq and his reputation as a poodle of George Bush.
Media scream of 2005: Sania Mirza can change the world! Hasn't she already edited The Times of India?
Read the full article at : No method to media madness : HindustanTimes.com
Train services resume in Mumbai
Train services resume in Mumbai
Prasad Kathe, Saturday, December 10, 2005
(Mumbai): Train services resumed in Mumbai after violent protests broke out between police and local train commuters.
Angry demonstrators, demanding better service to their area, stopped all trains between Virar and Borivili and threw stones at the police.
They had to be dispersed by tear gas, and at least 12 people including police personnel, were injured in the lathicharge that followed.
"They were making several unreasonable demands. We tried calming them down but when they started damaging vehicles and injuring people, we started using tear gas and lathicharge," said Suresh Khopade, Railway Police Commissioner.
The Western Railway is the lifeline of Mumbai's transport network and from Virar alone, more than 10 lakh passengers use the local train daily to come into Mumbai for work.
Pacifying commuters
Now these people are clamouring for more tracks on the route, more frequent trains and a special shuttle between Andheri and Virar.
"The work on the track has been going on way too long, it's high time they wrapped up," said a local.
The rail roko and violence that followed brought all train traffic on this route to a standstill.
And now the Western Railway is trying to bring back its train servives to normal.
It tried to convince angry commuters that all their demands will be met and that work has constantly been going on to upgrade the system, but could not keep up with the rapid growth in commuter population.
Read the full article at : Train services resume in Mumbai
Prasad Kathe, Saturday, December 10, 2005
(Mumbai): Train services resumed in Mumbai after violent protests broke out between police and local train commuters.
Angry demonstrators, demanding better service to their area, stopped all trains between Virar and Borivili and threw stones at the police.
They had to be dispersed by tear gas, and at least 12 people including police personnel, were injured in the lathicharge that followed.
"They were making several unreasonable demands. We tried calming them down but when they started damaging vehicles and injuring people, we started using tear gas and lathicharge," said Suresh Khopade, Railway Police Commissioner.
The Western Railway is the lifeline of Mumbai's transport network and from Virar alone, more than 10 lakh passengers use the local train daily to come into Mumbai for work.
Pacifying commuters
Now these people are clamouring for more tracks on the route, more frequent trains and a special shuttle between Andheri and Virar.
"The work on the track has been going on way too long, it's high time they wrapped up," said a local.
The rail roko and violence that followed brought all train traffic on this route to a standstill.
And now the Western Railway is trying to bring back its train servives to normal.
It tried to convince angry commuters that all their demands will be met and that work has constantly been going on to upgrade the system, but could not keep up with the rapid growth in commuter population.
Read the full article at : Train services resume in Mumbai
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Aamir Khan sings again - Newindpress.com
Aamir Khan sings again
IANS, Saturday December 3 2005 14:16 IST
MUMBAI: Remember Aamir Khan's hit number "Aati kya khandala" in Vikram Bhatt's "Ghulam"? Seven years later he's back at it with another full-fledged song in Rakeysh Mehra's "Rang De Basanti".
Aamir's singing was so good in "Ghulam" that even legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar had commented on how tunefully Aamir sang the Jatin-Lalit number.
The number in "Rang De Basanti", titled "Lalkaar", is a contemporary inspirational number written by Prasoon Joshi and composed by A.R. Rahman who has been closely associated with Aamir since the "Lagaan" days.
Talking about the song Mehra says: "Both Aamir and Rahman have been so closely associated with 'Rang De Basanti' from the start they know every heartbeat and rhythm in the plot. None of the 10 songs in 'Rang De Basanti' are items. They're all part of the narrative.
"Aamir's song comes at a critical juncture in the narrative. When we arrived at this song there was no hesitation - Aamir was the first and only choice. Rahman and I immediately thought of him. Aamir was the first and last choice for the 'Lalkaar' track. And it's turned out so beautifully."
Adds Rakeysh: "What makes the music of 'Rang De Basanti' as special as the music in my 'Aks' is that the 10 songs didn't just happen in the studio. They grew out of the narrative. We'd scrap tunes, find new ones, create and re-create the songs until they gelled completely with the situations. And yes, Aamir was a part of the film's musical journey."
Read the full article at : Aamir Khan sings again - Newindpress.com
IANS, Saturday December 3 2005 14:16 IST
MUMBAI: Remember Aamir Khan's hit number "Aati kya khandala" in Vikram Bhatt's "Ghulam"? Seven years later he's back at it with another full-fledged song in Rakeysh Mehra's "Rang De Basanti".
Aamir's singing was so good in "Ghulam" that even legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar had commented on how tunefully Aamir sang the Jatin-Lalit number.
The number in "Rang De Basanti", titled "Lalkaar", is a contemporary inspirational number written by Prasoon Joshi and composed by A.R. Rahman who has been closely associated with Aamir since the "Lagaan" days.
Talking about the song Mehra says: "Both Aamir and Rahman have been so closely associated with 'Rang De Basanti' from the start they know every heartbeat and rhythm in the plot. None of the 10 songs in 'Rang De Basanti' are items. They're all part of the narrative.
"Aamir's song comes at a critical juncture in the narrative. When we arrived at this song there was no hesitation - Aamir was the first and only choice. Rahman and I immediately thought of him. Aamir was the first and last choice for the 'Lalkaar' track. And it's turned out so beautifully."
Adds Rakeysh: "What makes the music of 'Rang De Basanti' as special as the music in my 'Aks' is that the 10 songs didn't just happen in the studio. They grew out of the narrative. We'd scrap tunes, find new ones, create and re-create the songs until they gelled completely with the situations. And yes, Aamir was a part of the film's musical journey."
Read the full article at : Aamir Khan sings again - Newindpress.com
Entertainment: People Article | Reuters.com
Brad Pitt moves to adopt Jolie children: reports
Reuters, Sat Dec 3, 2005 4:13 AM ET
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actor Brad Pitt has filed legal papers in Los Angeles to adopt the children of actress Angelina Jolie, news media reported on Friday, adding that this might be a step leading to the couple's marrying.
Life & Style magazine said Pitt, 41, has filed to become the legal adopted father of Jolie's two children, Maddox, 4, and Zahara, 10 months. They will go by the last name of Jolie-Pitt when the legal steps are completed, the magazine said, quoting a representative for Pitt.
Jolie, 30, adopted Maddox from Cambodia and Zahara from Ethiopia.
"The ink isn't even dry on the adoption papers, and Brad is literally jumping for joy," the magazine quoted an unnamed "insider" as saying. "He's calling friends and telling them the great news."
Meanwhile, In Touch magazine reported that the couple is expected to marry soon and have already drawn up a prenuptial agreement, primarily to benefit the two children.
Pitt's divorce from actress Jennifer Aniston, 36, was completed in October after 4 1/2 years of marriage. Jolie will also change her last name to Jolie-Pitt after the marriage, the magazine said.
Pitt and Jolie met on the set of their film "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" last year and denied being anything more than friends though tabloid newspapers insisted that they were romantically involved.
Representatives for Pitt and Jolie were not immediately available for comment.
Read the full article at : Entertainment: People Article | Reuters.com
Reuters, Sat Dec 3, 2005 4:13 AM ET
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actor Brad Pitt has filed legal papers in Los Angeles to adopt the children of actress Angelina Jolie, news media reported on Friday, adding that this might be a step leading to the couple's marrying.
Life & Style magazine said Pitt, 41, has filed to become the legal adopted father of Jolie's two children, Maddox, 4, and Zahara, 10 months. They will go by the last name of Jolie-Pitt when the legal steps are completed, the magazine said, quoting a representative for Pitt.
Jolie, 30, adopted Maddox from Cambodia and Zahara from Ethiopia.
"The ink isn't even dry on the adoption papers, and Brad is literally jumping for joy," the magazine quoted an unnamed "insider" as saying. "He's calling friends and telling them the great news."
Meanwhile, In Touch magazine reported that the couple is expected to marry soon and have already drawn up a prenuptial agreement, primarily to benefit the two children.
Pitt's divorce from actress Jennifer Aniston, 36, was completed in October after 4 1/2 years of marriage. Jolie will also change her last name to Jolie-Pitt after the marriage, the magazine said.
Pitt and Jolie met on the set of their film "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" last year and denied being anything more than friends though tabloid newspapers insisted that they were romantically involved.
Representatives for Pitt and Jolie were not immediately available for comment.
Read the full article at : Entertainment: People Article | Reuters.com
outlookindia.com | wired
Salem gets police custody till Dec 17
MUMBAI, DEC 2, 2005 (PTI)
A designated TADA court today extended the police custody of extradited gangster Abu Salem till December 17, as the prosecution claimed that "new names have come to light" which may have a bearing in 1995 murder case of real estate developer Pradeep Jain.
Salem was first remanded to police custody in the Jain murder case on November 24 after spending 12 days in CBI custody.
Seeking extension of remand, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told the court that during Salem's interrogation the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Mumbai police have come across certain new names in connection with Salem's extortion racket which may have a bearing in the Pradeep Jain murder case.
"New names have been revealed," Nikam said, adding that there would be arrests soon.
Apart from progress in probe of Pradeep Jain case, Nikam stated, the ATS has recorded statements -- before Magistrate -- of two victims of Salem's extortion racket.
"Salem used to call people from two phone numbers in Dubai to make extortion demands. We have now recorded statements of two new persons, who got calls from these numbers, went to Dubai to meet Salem and paid up (ransom)," Nikam said.
Talking about need for further remand, Nikam argued that police have to probe how the "supari" amount in Pradeep Jain murder case was routed and how much money changed hands.
"It is also to be found out who were the participants in the conspiracy, apart from seizing of some material evidence and certain documents," Nikam said.
Prosecutor Nikam said, "sophisticated" weapons were used in Jain's murder, and the police want to find out how they got into the hands of the killers. Without elaborating, Nikam asserted, "there have been some sensitive revelations." Opposing the extension of police custody, defence counsel Ashok Sarogi alleged that Salem was being tortured in custody.
"If it is not true, then why prosecution is opposing our demand that defence lawyers be allowed to be present during the interrogation?" he asked.
Sarogi also reiterated the defence team's earlier allegation that Sunil Jain, brother of Pradip Jain was allowed to meet and put questions to Salem during the interrogation.
When judge P V Bavkar asked Salem who were interrogating him (judge had earlier ordered that only two officers were to question him), he did not name Sunil Jain.
But when Advocate Sarogi mentioned Sunil Jain having confronted Salem in custody, the latter endorsed it.
Salem also alleged that despite the Judge's earlier direction he was being grilled by several officers. "They ask me about things other than the Jain case," he complained. But he didn't say anything about alleged torture.
Meanwhile, the court also allowed any one of the lawyers -- including Harjyot Singh who flew in from London last night -- to meet Salem everyday, notwithstanding prosecution's objection.
Opposing the ATS petition, Salem's lawyer O A Siddiqui said the petition cannot be admitted since the TADA court's order can only be challenged in the Supreme Court. The public prosecutor pointed out that November 29 order of TADA court was interlocutory and could be challenged under Section 19 of TADA Act.
Read the full article at : outlookindia.com | wired
MUMBAI, DEC 2, 2005 (PTI)
A designated TADA court today extended the police custody of extradited gangster Abu Salem till December 17, as the prosecution claimed that "new names have come to light" which may have a bearing in 1995 murder case of real estate developer Pradeep Jain.
Salem was first remanded to police custody in the Jain murder case on November 24 after spending 12 days in CBI custody.
Seeking extension of remand, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told the court that during Salem's interrogation the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Mumbai police have come across certain new names in connection with Salem's extortion racket which may have a bearing in the Pradeep Jain murder case.
"New names have been revealed," Nikam said, adding that there would be arrests soon.
Apart from progress in probe of Pradeep Jain case, Nikam stated, the ATS has recorded statements -- before Magistrate -- of two victims of Salem's extortion racket.
"Salem used to call people from two phone numbers in Dubai to make extortion demands. We have now recorded statements of two new persons, who got calls from these numbers, went to Dubai to meet Salem and paid up (ransom)," Nikam said.
Talking about need for further remand, Nikam argued that police have to probe how the "supari" amount in Pradeep Jain murder case was routed and how much money changed hands.
"It is also to be found out who were the participants in the conspiracy, apart from seizing of some material evidence and certain documents," Nikam said.
Prosecutor Nikam said, "sophisticated" weapons were used in Jain's murder, and the police want to find out how they got into the hands of the killers. Without elaborating, Nikam asserted, "there have been some sensitive revelations." Opposing the extension of police custody, defence counsel Ashok Sarogi alleged that Salem was being tortured in custody.
"If it is not true, then why prosecution is opposing our demand that defence lawyers be allowed to be present during the interrogation?" he asked.
Sarogi also reiterated the defence team's earlier allegation that Sunil Jain, brother of Pradip Jain was allowed to meet and put questions to Salem during the interrogation.
When judge P V Bavkar asked Salem who were interrogating him (judge had earlier ordered that only two officers were to question him), he did not name Sunil Jain.
But when Advocate Sarogi mentioned Sunil Jain having confronted Salem in custody, the latter endorsed it.
Salem also alleged that despite the Judge's earlier direction he was being grilled by several officers. "They ask me about things other than the Jain case," he complained. But he didn't say anything about alleged torture.
Meanwhile, the court also allowed any one of the lawyers -- including Harjyot Singh who flew in from London last night -- to meet Salem everyday, notwithstanding prosecution's objection.
Opposing the ATS petition, Salem's lawyer O A Siddiqui said the petition cannot be admitted since the TADA court's order can only be challenged in the Supreme Court. The public prosecutor pointed out that November 29 order of TADA court was interlocutory and could be challenged under Section 19 of TADA Act.
Read the full article at : outlookindia.com | wired
Chennai flooded from weekend rains - NDTV.com - News on Chennai flooded from weekend rains
Chennai flooded from weekend rains
NDTV Correspondent, Saturday, December 3, 2005
Chennai : Parts of Chennai remain flooded from heavy showers on Friday. Navy divers have been called in to help with rescue work.
Lawyer Sudha Ramalingam, a victim blamed rising road levels as one of the reasons for rainwater sweeping into homes.
"Every time they [authorities] relay the street, they do not keep to the level. The street [levels] goes up and the houses go down. Except for two houses all the old houses are in knee-deep water, she said of the flooding.
The city received 31 cms of rainfall and the sky remains overcast. The Met Department has predicted another night of showers accompanied by thunder.
But reports also said the depression over Bay of Bengal has weakened.
Earlier reports spoke of possible heavy rains in southern Tamil Nadu and coastal Andhra Pradesh.
The sea is expected to be rough and wind speed is likely to touch 70 km an hour.
Read the full article at : Chennai flooded from weekend rains - NDTV.com - News on Chennai flooded from weekend rains
NDTV Correspondent, Saturday, December 3, 2005
Chennai : Parts of Chennai remain flooded from heavy showers on Friday. Navy divers have been called in to help with rescue work.
Lawyer Sudha Ramalingam, a victim blamed rising road levels as one of the reasons for rainwater sweeping into homes.
"Every time they [authorities] relay the street, they do not keep to the level. The street [levels] goes up and the houses go down. Except for two houses all the old houses are in knee-deep water, she said of the flooding.
The city received 31 cms of rainfall and the sky remains overcast. The Met Department has predicted another night of showers accompanied by thunder.
But reports also said the depression over Bay of Bengal has weakened.
Earlier reports spoke of possible heavy rains in southern Tamil Nadu and coastal Andhra Pradesh.
The sea is expected to be rough and wind speed is likely to touch 70 km an hour.
Read the full article at : Chennai flooded from weekend rains - NDTV.com - News on Chennai flooded from weekend rains
Amitabh's condition steadily improving - Deccan Herald - Internet Edition
Amitabh's condition steadily improving
Mumbai, PTI: December 3, 2005
The condition of megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who underwent a surgery for an intestinal problem, is steadily improving but it would take at least a week before he can be discharged from hospital.
"There has been a steady improvement in his condition and he continues to remain stable," sources at Lilavati Hospital here said today.
It would be around a week before Amitabh was discharged, they said adding he was talking to family members and visitors.
He was on intravenous fluids, supplemented with antibiotics and vitamins, the sources said.
After a successful operation performed for perforated diverticulitis of the small intestine on the 63-year-old actor on November 30, his physical parameters continue to remain normal, suggesting that the "healing process of the wound caused by perforation is also taking up smoothly," they said.
The hospital, meanwhile, continued to witness a steady stream of well-wishers and Bollywood stars.
A large number of fans has gathered outside the hospital gates.
Read the full article at : Amitabh's condition steadily improving - Deccan Herald - Internet Edition
Mumbai, PTI: December 3, 2005
The condition of megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who underwent a surgery for an intestinal problem, is steadily improving but it would take at least a week before he can be discharged from hospital.
"There has been a steady improvement in his condition and he continues to remain stable," sources at Lilavati Hospital here said today.
It would be around a week before Amitabh was discharged, they said adding he was talking to family members and visitors.
He was on intravenous fluids, supplemented with antibiotics and vitamins, the sources said.
After a successful operation performed for perforated diverticulitis of the small intestine on the 63-year-old actor on November 30, his physical parameters continue to remain normal, suggesting that the "healing process of the wound caused by perforation is also taking up smoothly," they said.
The hospital, meanwhile, continued to witness a steady stream of well-wishers and Bollywood stars.
A large number of fans has gathered outside the hospital gates.
Read the full article at : Amitabh's condition steadily improving - Deccan Herald - Internet Edition
Friday, December 02, 2005
Rumour Mills Work Overtime- The Times of India
Rumour Mills Work Overtime
Saturday, December 03, 2005 02:12:24 am, TIMES NEWS NETWORK
MUMBAI: Amitabh Bachchan's fifth day in hospital had all the highs and lows of a Bollywood blockbuster — rumours of ill-health and news of recovery kept fans and media guessing.
The hospital management released a short statement about Bachchan recovering in the ICU, but Mumbai's rumours mills seemed to be working overtime throughout the day with the news of "profuse internal bleeding" and the "family's decision to shift him to Breach Candy Hospital".
The hospital management said that a decision to move Bachchan to a private room will be taken on Saturday morning.
Bachchan was operated on Wednesday evening for perforation in his intestine.
Monday will be a critical day as he will be started on liquid diet, said doctors. "He is much better," said a Bollywood visitor on his way out.
Family friends and sources claimed that Bachchan was seen sitting on a chair, looking out of the window. "His vital parameters are fine, his pulse rate is normal, he is stable. Things are going well," said a hospital source.
But SMSes on mobile phone read that Bachchan was leaving the hospital for another due to internal bleeding. "A team from the other hospital is already there," insisted another.
In fact, the hospital management took cognisance of this and its statement noted that "Rumours of him being treated by outside doctors are false".
According to sources, Farokh Udwadia who had taken care of Bachchan during his earlier surgery at Breach Candy Hospital had dropped by to meet him and his family.
"This could have led to the rumours even though Udwadia was here purely for social reasons rather than medical," said a hospital source.
Amar Singh, Samajwadi Party leader who is close to the Bachchan family, also denied the rumours about the Big B being shifted out of Lilavati.
Addressing reporters in the morning, he said, "We are very happy with Lilavati and have no intentions of shifting Mr Bachchan to Breach Candy."
The stream of visitors and fans continued for the fifth day. Actor-MP Dharmendra told reporters in an emotional tone, "My elder brother has always emerged victorious from all his crisis.
This time, too, he will." Abhishek Bachchan's close friends Sonali Bendre and Goldie Behl visited the hospital. Lending credence to Bachchan's recovery, wife Jaya left the hospital for the first time since his admission to hospital.
Manoj Kumar, Aruna Irani, Keshu Ramsay, Gauri Khan, Suniel Shetty, Bipasha Basu, Danny Denzongpa, Romesh Sharma, Rajkumar Santoshi were some of the other visitors.
Read the full article at : Rumour Mills Work Overtime- The Times of India
Saturday, December 03, 2005 02:12:24 am, TIMES NEWS NETWORK
MUMBAI: Amitabh Bachchan's fifth day in hospital had all the highs and lows of a Bollywood blockbuster — rumours of ill-health and news of recovery kept fans and media guessing.The hospital management released a short statement about Bachchan recovering in the ICU, but Mumbai's rumours mills seemed to be working overtime throughout the day with the news of "profuse internal bleeding" and the "family's decision to shift him to Breach Candy Hospital".
The hospital management said that a decision to move Bachchan to a private room will be taken on Saturday morning.
Bachchan was operated on Wednesday evening for perforation in his intestine.
Monday will be a critical day as he will be started on liquid diet, said doctors. "He is much better," said a Bollywood visitor on his way out.
Family friends and sources claimed that Bachchan was seen sitting on a chair, looking out of the window. "His vital parameters are fine, his pulse rate is normal, he is stable. Things are going well," said a hospital source.
But SMSes on mobile phone read that Bachchan was leaving the hospital for another due to internal bleeding. "A team from the other hospital is already there," insisted another.In fact, the hospital management took cognisance of this and its statement noted that "Rumours of him being treated by outside doctors are false".
According to sources, Farokh Udwadia who had taken care of Bachchan during his earlier surgery at Breach Candy Hospital had dropped by to meet him and his family.
"This could have led to the rumours even though Udwadia was here purely for social reasons rather than medical," said a hospital source.
Amar Singh, Samajwadi Party leader who is close to the Bachchan family, also denied the rumours about the Big B being shifted out of Lilavati.
Addressing reporters in the morning, he said, "We are very happy with Lilavati and have no intentions of shifting Mr Bachchan to Breach Candy."
The stream of visitors and fans continued for the fifth day. Actor-MP Dharmendra told reporters in an emotional tone, "My elder brother has always emerged victorious from all his crisis.
This time, too, he will." Abhishek Bachchan's close friends Sonali Bendre and Goldie Behl visited the hospital. Lending credence to Bachchan's recovery, wife Jaya left the hospital for the first time since his admission to hospital.
Manoj Kumar, Aruna Irani, Keshu Ramsay, Gauri Khan, Suniel Shetty, Bipasha Basu, Danny Denzongpa, Romesh Sharma, Rajkumar Santoshi were some of the other visitors.
Read the full article at : Rumour Mills Work Overtime- The Times of India
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Techtree.com India > News > Hardware > Intel Launches Fashionable Notebook
Intel Launches Fashionable Notebook
Techtree News Staff, November 30, 2005
With Intel Corporation and Toray Ultrasuede having launched the "ultra-fashionable" concept laptop, it looks like laptops might just have arrived on the fashion-scene.
According to a recent Intel/Ultrasuede laptop style study, 73 per cent of adult computer users in USA want to buy technology products that reflect their personal style.
Further 40 per cent of US adult computer users actually find their laptops dull, boring, lack-luster and generic; while 60 per cent wish to customize their laptops with options like patterns, colors, fabrics, etc.
The "ultra-fashionable" concept laptop is "chic", combining Intel Centrino mobile technology, with Ultrasuede fabric which gives the laptop a unique look and feel. While the Intel Centrino mobile technology offers wireless communication features in a light-weight design, Ultrasuede provides a stylish approach to the on-the-fly technology.
Ultrasuede with its wide range of colors and textures, plus durability and ease-of-care, has been successfully incorporated into several products ranging from furniture to apparel and accessories.
Steven Cojocaru, style expert, said, "For many people, a laptop may be just as much an everyday accessory as a hip belt or skyscraper stilettos, so we're seeing an image-conscious culture demanding that their laptop looks as great as it performs. The 'ultra-fashionable' concept is a very forward illustration of what can happen, when unlikely partners shake up the status quo. This laptop is so eye-catchingly stunning, I'm trying to find a way to wear it as a necklace to the Golden Globe Awards."
Jodi Geniesse, consumer mobile education manager, Intel Corporation, said, "Intel's technology innovation, coupled with the plush luxury of Ultrasuede fabric, offers a marriage of form and function with unlimited potential for fashionable personal expression. Intel has continually evolved what goes inside laptops, making them ever more powerful, mobile and connected, and now we are working to inspire the industry to transform the outsides of laptops to better reflect consumers' mobile lifestyle."
Des McLaughlin, director - sales and marketing, Toray Ultrasuede, said, "With technology becoming more and more a part of our lives, this was a natural extension for Ultrasuede. Our fabric has always conveyed luxury, fashion and style, whether in high-end automobiles, living rooms or apparel. Like Intel, we are constantly looking to enable new and exciting products and uses for consumers. We believe the integration of Ultrasuede onto a laptop PC can help lead to a category shift that will add personal expression to the list of must-have laptop PC features."
Read the full article at : Techtree.com India > News > Hardware > Intel Launches Fashionable Notebook
Techtree News Staff, November 30, 2005
With Intel Corporation and Toray Ultrasuede having launched the "ultra-fashionable" concept laptop, it looks like laptops might just have arrived on the fashion-scene.
According to a recent Intel/Ultrasuede laptop style study, 73 per cent of adult computer users in USA want to buy technology products that reflect their personal style.
Further 40 per cent of US adult computer users actually find their laptops dull, boring, lack-luster and generic; while 60 per cent wish to customize their laptops with options like patterns, colors, fabrics, etc.
The "ultra-fashionable" concept laptop is "chic", combining Intel Centrino mobile technology, with Ultrasuede fabric which gives the laptop a unique look and feel. While the Intel Centrino mobile technology offers wireless communication features in a light-weight design, Ultrasuede provides a stylish approach to the on-the-fly technology.
Ultrasuede with its wide range of colors and textures, plus durability and ease-of-care, has been successfully incorporated into several products ranging from furniture to apparel and accessories.
Steven Cojocaru, style expert, said, "For many people, a laptop may be just as much an everyday accessory as a hip belt or skyscraper stilettos, so we're seeing an image-conscious culture demanding that their laptop looks as great as it performs. The 'ultra-fashionable' concept is a very forward illustration of what can happen, when unlikely partners shake up the status quo. This laptop is so eye-catchingly stunning, I'm trying to find a way to wear it as a necklace to the Golden Globe Awards."
Jodi Geniesse, consumer mobile education manager, Intel Corporation, said, "Intel's technology innovation, coupled with the plush luxury of Ultrasuede fabric, offers a marriage of form and function with unlimited potential for fashionable personal expression. Intel has continually evolved what goes inside laptops, making them ever more powerful, mobile and connected, and now we are working to inspire the industry to transform the outsides of laptops to better reflect consumers' mobile lifestyle."
Des McLaughlin, director - sales and marketing, Toray Ultrasuede, said, "With technology becoming more and more a part of our lives, this was a natural extension for Ultrasuede. Our fabric has always conveyed luxury, fashion and style, whether in high-end automobiles, living rooms or apparel. Like Intel, we are constantly looking to enable new and exciting products and uses for consumers. We believe the integration of Ultrasuede onto a laptop PC can help lead to a category shift that will add personal expression to the list of must-have laptop PC features."
Read the full article at : Techtree.com India > News > Hardware > Intel Launches Fashionable Notebook
Apple may launch Intel laptops, analyst says | CNET News.com
Apple may launch Intel laptops, analyst says
By Reuters, November 30, 2005, 8:49 AM PST
Apple Computer could introduce its first laptop computers based on Intel chips as early as January, which, together with robust sales of video iPods, should drive earnings higher, Citigroup said Wednesday.
Citigroup analyst Richard Gardner raised his target on the computer maker's stock price to $71 from $51 and boosted his earnings forecasts for the next two years.
For the current quarter, Gardner raised his revenue estimate to $5.5 billion from $4.8 billion and his earnings-per share forecast to 60 cents from 47 cents.
He also raised his 2006 revenue forecast to $20.4 billion from $17.6 billion and his earnings estimate to $2.16 a share from $1.72.
"We are becoming more convinced that Apple will introduce its first Intel-based PowerBook at Macworld San Francisco," Gardner said in a note to clients. That conference runs from Jan. 9 to 13.
Gardner said these product introductions would be sooner than expected, which should help minimize the risk that Apple would end up with a buildup of its current line of non-Intel laptops as customers anticipate the arrival of the new models.
For 2007, he expects revenue of $24.3 billion and per-share profit of $2.61, up from his previous forecasts of $19.6 billion and $1.93.
Read the full article at : Apple may launch Intel laptops, analyst says | CNET News.com
By Reuters, November 30, 2005, 8:49 AM PST
Apple Computer could introduce its first laptop computers based on Intel chips as early as January, which, together with robust sales of video iPods, should drive earnings higher, Citigroup said Wednesday.
Citigroup analyst Richard Gardner raised his target on the computer maker's stock price to $71 from $51 and boosted his earnings forecasts for the next two years.
For the current quarter, Gardner raised his revenue estimate to $5.5 billion from $4.8 billion and his earnings-per share forecast to 60 cents from 47 cents.
He also raised his 2006 revenue forecast to $20.4 billion from $17.6 billion and his earnings estimate to $2.16 a share from $1.72.
"We are becoming more convinced that Apple will introduce its first Intel-based PowerBook at Macworld San Francisco," Gardner said in a note to clients. That conference runs from Jan. 9 to 13.
Gardner said these product introductions would be sooner than expected, which should help minimize the risk that Apple would end up with a buildup of its current line of non-Intel laptops as customers anticipate the arrival of the new models.
For 2007, he expects revenue of $24.3 billion and per-share profit of $2.61, up from his previous forecasts of $19.6 billion and $1.93.
Read the full article at : Apple may launch Intel laptops, analyst says | CNET News.com
Brahmos cruise missile test-fired
Brahmos cruise missile test-fired
November 30, 2005 12:28 IST
The supersonic cruise missile Brahmos was flight tested on Wednesday from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, about 15 km from Balasore.
The test firing of the missile took place at 1102 IST. "The flight trial has met all the mission objectives," a defence source said.
The ground range instrumentation from ITR and the radar located near the impact point tracked the missile trajectory and monitored all the parameters from launch, the source said.
Brahmos has been developed under a joint venture programme between India and Russia. The version tested on Wednesday had been designed for army use, the sources said.
The missile has a striking range of 290 km and weighs about three tonnes. It is about eight metre long and can carry a conventional warhead weighing 200 to 300 kg. A two-stage vehicle, its propulsion comprises of a solid propellant booster and a liquid propellant ramjet system.
Brahmos can travel at mach numbers 2.8 to 3 and has been configured for launch from ground, ship, submarine and aircraft. (A mach number represents the ratio of the speed of a body, like an aircraft, to the speed of sound in a surrounding medium.)
The first test flight of the missile was carried out from the ITR on June 12, 2001.
Distinguished scientist and chief executive officer and managing director of Brahmos company Dr A Sivathanu Pillai, who is also chief controller (reasearch and development) of the Defence Research And Development Organisation, was present along with other scientists of the organisation during the test firing.
Read the full article at : Brahmos cruise missile test-fired
November 30, 2005 12:28 IST
The supersonic cruise missile Brahmos was flight tested on Wednesday from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, about 15 km from Balasore.
The test firing of the missile took place at 1102 IST. "The flight trial has met all the mission objectives," a defence source said.
The ground range instrumentation from ITR and the radar located near the impact point tracked the missile trajectory and monitored all the parameters from launch, the source said.
Brahmos has been developed under a joint venture programme between India and Russia. The version tested on Wednesday had been designed for army use, the sources said.
The missile has a striking range of 290 km and weighs about three tonnes. It is about eight metre long and can carry a conventional warhead weighing 200 to 300 kg. A two-stage vehicle, its propulsion comprises of a solid propellant booster and a liquid propellant ramjet system.
Brahmos can travel at mach numbers 2.8 to 3 and has been configured for launch from ground, ship, submarine and aircraft. (A mach number represents the ratio of the speed of a body, like an aircraft, to the speed of sound in a surrounding medium.)
The first test flight of the missile was carried out from the ITR on June 12, 2001.
Distinguished scientist and chief executive officer and managing director of Brahmos company Dr A Sivathanu Pillai, who is also chief controller (reasearch and development) of the Defence Research And Development Organisation, was present along with other scientists of the organisation during the test firing.
Read the full article at : Brahmos cruise missile test-fired
India test fires Brahmos cruise missile
India test fires Brahmos cruise missile
PTI, November 30, 2005
Balasore (Orissa), Nov 30 (PTI) The supersonic cruise missile Brahmos was today flight tested today from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, about 15 km from here.
The test firing of the missile took place at 11.02 IST.
"The flight trial has met all the mission objectives", a defence source said.
The ground range instrumentation from ITR and the radar located near the impact point tracked the missile trajectory and monitored all the parameters from launch, the source said. Brahmos has been developed under a joint venture programme between India and Russia.
Today's version of the Brahmos had been designed for Army use, the sources said.
The missile has a striking range of 290 km and weighs about three tonnes. It is about eight metre long and can carry a conventional warhead weighing 200 to 300 kg.
A two-stage vehicle, its propulsion comprises of a solid propellant booster and a liquid propellant ramjet system.
Brahmos can travel at mach 2.8 to 3 and has been configured for launch from ground, ship, submarine and aircraft.
The first test flight of the missile was carried out from the ITR on June 12, 2001.
Distinguished scientist and chief executive officer cum managing director of Brahmos company Dr A Sivathanu Pillai, who is also chief controller (r and d) of the Defence Research And Development Organisation (DRDO), was present along with Russian and other scientists or the organisation during the test firing.
Read the full article at : India test fires Brahmos cruise missile
PTI, November 30, 2005
Balasore (Orissa), Nov 30 (PTI) The supersonic cruise missile Brahmos was today flight tested today from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, about 15 km from here.
The test firing of the missile took place at 11.02 IST.
"The flight trial has met all the mission objectives", a defence source said.
The ground range instrumentation from ITR and the radar located near the impact point tracked the missile trajectory and monitored all the parameters from launch, the source said. Brahmos has been developed under a joint venture programme between India and Russia.
Today's version of the Brahmos had been designed for Army use, the sources said.
The missile has a striking range of 290 km and weighs about three tonnes. It is about eight metre long and can carry a conventional warhead weighing 200 to 300 kg.
A two-stage vehicle, its propulsion comprises of a solid propellant booster and a liquid propellant ramjet system.
Brahmos can travel at mach 2.8 to 3 and has been configured for launch from ground, ship, submarine and aircraft.
The first test flight of the missile was carried out from the ITR on June 12, 2001.
Distinguished scientist and chief executive officer cum managing director of Brahmos company Dr A Sivathanu Pillai, who is also chief controller (r and d) of the Defence Research And Development Organisation (DRDO), was present along with Russian and other scientists or the organisation during the test firing.
Read the full article at : India test fires Brahmos cruise missile
India successfully test-fires supersonic cruise missile - Forbes.com
India successfully test-fires supersonic cruise missile
AFX News Limited, 11.30.2005, 02:28 AM
BHUBANESWAR, India (AFX) - India today successfully test-fired an army version of its supersonic BrahMos cruise missile that was jointly developed with Russia, a defence officer said.
The missile was tested from Chandipur-on-sea site, 200 kilometres northeast of Bhubaneswar, the capital of the southeastern state of Orissa, the officer, who declined to be named, said.
'The flight trial met all the mission objectives, officer said.
The missile has a range of 290 kilometers and can carry a 300-kilogram conventional warhead and can be launched from land, ships, submarines and aircraft, the officer said.
The eight-metre missile weighs about three metric tonnes.
The missile, first tested in June 2001, is named after India's Brahmaputra River and Russia's Moskva River.
Read the full article at : India successfully test-fires supersonic cruise missile - Forbes.com
AFX News Limited, 11.30.2005, 02:28 AM
BHUBANESWAR, India (AFX) - India today successfully test-fired an army version of its supersonic BrahMos cruise missile that was jointly developed with Russia, a defence officer said.
The missile was tested from Chandipur-on-sea site, 200 kilometres northeast of Bhubaneswar, the capital of the southeastern state of Orissa, the officer, who declined to be named, said.
'The flight trial met all the mission objectives, officer said.
The missile has a range of 290 kilometers and can carry a 300-kilogram conventional warhead and can be launched from land, ships, submarines and aircraft, the officer said.
The eight-metre missile weighs about three metric tonnes.
The missile, first tested in June 2001, is named after India's Brahmaputra River and Russia's Moskva River.
Read the full article at : India successfully test-fires supersonic cruise missile - Forbes.com
Big B undergoes surgery: Reports : HindustanTimes.com
Big B undergoes surgery: Reports
HindustanTimes.com, New Delhi, November 30, 2005
According to TV reports, Amitabh Bachchan has reportedly undergone a major surgery at Mumbai's Lilawati Hospital.
Family sources have been tight-lipped about the surgery, and the media was told earlier in the day that the superstar is on his way to recovery.
Sources say that his surgery is linked to the near-fatal accident during the filming of Coolie.
He was shifted from Delhi's Escorts Hospital to Mumbai, fuelling rumours that his condition may have been more serious than indicated.
Meanwhile, Bachchan's well wishers anxiously waited outside the hospital to know about his health.
Read the full article at : Big B undergoes surgery: Reports : HindustanTimes.com
HindustanTimes.com, New Delhi, November 30, 2005
According to TV reports, Amitabh Bachchan has reportedly undergone a major surgery at Mumbai's Lilawati Hospital.
Family sources have been tight-lipped about the surgery, and the media was told earlier in the day that the superstar is on his way to recovery.
Sources say that his surgery is linked to the near-fatal accident during the filming of Coolie.
He was shifted from Delhi's Escorts Hospital to Mumbai, fuelling rumours that his condition may have been more serious than indicated.
Meanwhile, Bachchan's well wishers anxiously waited outside the hospital to know about his health.
Read the full article at : Big B undergoes surgery: Reports : HindustanTimes.com
Amitabh Bachchan’s condition stable - Sify.com
Amitabh Bachchan’s condition stable
Wednesday, 30 November , 2005, 18:54
Mumbai: The condition of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan who is undergoing treatment for abdominal pain at the Lilavati Hospital in suburban Bandra is stable, according to hospital sources.
Bachchan, who has been diagnosed to have colitis in the diverticulum area of the colon (large intestine) will be in the hospital at least for a couple of days, sources said.
The 63-year-old actor underwent various tests since Monday when he was flown in from Escorts Hospital in New Delhi and is undergoing treatment.
"He is stable", the sources said.
Meanwhile, Bachchan’s well wishers were standing outside the hospital and some praying for his fast recovery.
Read the full article at : Amitabh Bachchan’s condition stable - Sify.com
Wednesday, 30 November , 2005, 18:54
Mumbai: The condition of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan who is undergoing treatment for abdominal pain at the Lilavati Hospital in suburban Bandra is stable, according to hospital sources.
Bachchan, who has been diagnosed to have colitis in the diverticulum area of the colon (large intestine) will be in the hospital at least for a couple of days, sources said.
The 63-year-old actor underwent various tests since Monday when he was flown in from Escorts Hospital in New Delhi and is undergoing treatment.
"He is stable", the sources said.
Meanwhile, Bachchan’s well wishers were standing outside the hospital and some praying for his fast recovery.
Read the full article at : Amitabh Bachchan’s condition stable - Sify.com
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
What really ails Bachchan? - The Times of India
What really ails Bachchan?
Wednesday, November 30, 2005 08:38:00 amTIMES NEWS NETWORK
MUMBAI: The suspense over superstar Amitabh Bachchan's illness continued on Day 2 as the first family of Bollywood made no announcement to fans and media.
A family friend told TOI that his condition was more serious than they had thought it was. "We thought it was just a stomach ache, but it seems more serious," said the friend without elaborating.
Even as the actor was put through a battery of tests at Bandra's Lilavati Hospital, there were rumours of Bachchan's "old problem'' resurfacing.
The doctors only admitted to keeping him back for a day more. Bachchan, 63, was admitted to Lilavati after being flown to Mumbai from New Delhi on Monday night.
The hospitalisation and images of a weakened Bachchan flashing across newspapers and TV screens revived memories of 1982 when the star ruptured his intestines after falling on a table while shooting Coolie.
On Tuesday evening, hospital vice president Dr Narendra Trivedi told reporters there was no need to worry. "He has colitis and needs to rest," he said.
Earlier in the day, he had said that Bachchan had been subjected to routine blood, urine and stool tests. A CT scan was also done.
Unofficial sources, however, mentioned that his family wanted him to rest and had insisted on an extra day in hospital. "They are worried he will leave for shooting if discharged," said doctors.
Unofficial verdict: Colitis with 'query of diversiculitis'
The lay person has been flummoxed with the official answer—colitis. After all, this is a term synonymous with stomach ache and weeping babies.
But in medical parlance, colitis relates specifically to an inflammation of the colon, the extreme portion of the stomach.
Even here, in medical terms, the stomach is only used to denote the part attached to the food pipe. The other parts of the stomach are referred to as the small intestine and the large intestine or colon.
The Big B's medical report on Tuesday evening read "colitis, with a query of diversiculitis".
It is this suspected condition of diverticulosis or diversiculitis that is the cause of some worry. This tongue-twister describes a condition in which the large intestine's walls are weakened and develop balloon-like pouches.
Read the full article at : What really ails Bachchan? - The Times of India
Wednesday, November 30, 2005 08:38:00 amTIMES NEWS NETWORK
MUMBAI: The suspense over superstar Amitabh Bachchan's illness continued on Day 2 as the first family of Bollywood made no announcement to fans and media.
A family friend told TOI that his condition was more serious than they had thought it was. "We thought it was just a stomach ache, but it seems more serious," said the friend without elaborating.
Even as the actor was put through a battery of tests at Bandra's Lilavati Hospital, there were rumours of Bachchan's "old problem'' resurfacing.
The doctors only admitted to keeping him back for a day more. Bachchan, 63, was admitted to Lilavati after being flown to Mumbai from New Delhi on Monday night.
The hospitalisation and images of a weakened Bachchan flashing across newspapers and TV screens revived memories of 1982 when the star ruptured his intestines after falling on a table while shooting Coolie.
On Tuesday evening, hospital vice president Dr Narendra Trivedi told reporters there was no need to worry. "He has colitis and needs to rest," he said.
Earlier in the day, he had said that Bachchan had been subjected to routine blood, urine and stool tests. A CT scan was also done.
Unofficial sources, however, mentioned that his family wanted him to rest and had insisted on an extra day in hospital. "They are worried he will leave for shooting if discharged," said doctors.
Unofficial verdict: Colitis with 'query of diversiculitis'
The lay person has been flummoxed with the official answer—colitis. After all, this is a term synonymous with stomach ache and weeping babies.
But in medical parlance, colitis relates specifically to an inflammation of the colon, the extreme portion of the stomach.
Even here, in medical terms, the stomach is only used to denote the part attached to the food pipe. The other parts of the stomach are referred to as the small intestine and the large intestine or colon.
The Big B's medical report on Tuesday evening read "colitis, with a query of diversiculitis".
It is this suspected condition of diverticulosis or diversiculitis that is the cause of some worry. This tongue-twister describes a condition in which the large intestine's walls are weakened and develop balloon-like pouches.
Read the full article at : What really ails Bachchan? - The Times of India
Friday, November 25, 2005
Monica Bedi taken to Bhopal - Newindpress.com
Monica Bedi taken to Bhopal
Saturday November 26 2005 00:00 IST, UNI
HYDERABAD: The Bhopal police on Friday took gangster Abu Salem's companion Monica Bedi's to Bhopal from the Chanchalguda jail here in connection with a another fake passport case.
Five days ago, the Chanchalguda jail authorities received a mail from Bhopal police about the production warrant they obtained from a court in Bhopal seeking the custody of Monica Bedi in connection with the case.
The Bhopal police team arrived here early this morning to take her there as Moncia's judicial custody was ending on Friday.
She was taken from Chanchalguda prison in the early hours by Bhopal police, according to her counsel here.
She was brought here from Mumbai on November 11 evening by CBI officials and produced before Hyderabad CBI cases special judge C V Subramanyam at his residence on November 12 who remanded her in judicial custody till November 25.
The case was concerned the possession of a fake passport. Ms Bedi was charged under sections 417 and 420 (for cheating), section 471 (knowingly using forged documents) and sec 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating) under the passport act 1967 for possessing the fake passport.
As per the directions of the judge, Ms Monica was shifted to Chenchalguda women's prison. On the same day, CBI filed a petition seeking her custody.
On November 15, the special judge heard the arguments advanced by special public prosecutor (CBI) Ramana and Monica's counsel A M Sanugi on the petition and posted the case to November 17 for orders.
On November 17, the special judge passed an order granting two days CBI custody for Monica.
After questioning, Monica was produced before court and was later sent to Chanchalguda prison. In her statement to the court, Monica claimed that she was not married to Salem.
On November 24, Monica's uncle Purushothamlal Bedi from Hoshiyarpur district of Punjab met her with the permission of court.
During the meeting, he claimed, his niece told him that she was not married to Salem.
As Monica's custody period was coming to a close, the Bhopal police started preparing to arrest Monica in another fake passport case pending against her.
Meanwhile, the special court for CBI cases, Hyderabad on Friday extended Monica's judicial remand till December 9.
Read the full article at : Monica Bedi taken to Bhopal - Newindpress.com
Saturday November 26 2005 00:00 IST, UNI
HYDERABAD: The Bhopal police on Friday took gangster Abu Salem's companion Monica Bedi's to Bhopal from the Chanchalguda jail here in connection with a another fake passport case.
Five days ago, the Chanchalguda jail authorities received a mail from Bhopal police about the production warrant they obtained from a court in Bhopal seeking the custody of Monica Bedi in connection with the case.The Bhopal police team arrived here early this morning to take her there as Moncia's judicial custody was ending on Friday.
She was taken from Chanchalguda prison in the early hours by Bhopal police, according to her counsel here.
She was brought here from Mumbai on November 11 evening by CBI officials and produced before Hyderabad CBI cases special judge C V Subramanyam at his residence on November 12 who remanded her in judicial custody till November 25.
The case was concerned the possession of a fake passport. Ms Bedi was charged under sections 417 and 420 (for cheating), section 471 (knowingly using forged documents) and sec 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating) under the passport act 1967 for possessing the fake passport.
As per the directions of the judge, Ms Monica was shifted to Chenchalguda women's prison. On the same day, CBI filed a petition seeking her custody.
On November 15, the special judge heard the arguments advanced by special public prosecutor (CBI) Ramana and Monica's counsel A M Sanugi on the petition and posted the case to November 17 for orders.
On November 17, the special judge passed an order granting two days CBI custody for Monica.
After questioning, Monica was produced before court and was later sent to Chanchalguda prison. In her statement to the court, Monica claimed that she was not married to Salem.
On November 24, Monica's uncle Purushothamlal Bedi from Hoshiyarpur district of Punjab met her with the permission of court.
During the meeting, he claimed, his niece told him that she was not married to Salem.
As Monica's custody period was coming to a close, the Bhopal police started preparing to arrest Monica in another fake passport case pending against her.
Meanwhile, the special court for CBI cases, Hyderabad on Friday extended Monica's judicial remand till December 9.
Read the full article at : Monica Bedi taken to Bhopal - Newindpress.com
outlookindia.com | wired
Preity Zinta files criminal complaint against Mid-Day
MUMBAI, NOV 25 (PTI)
Bollywood actress Preity Zinta today initiated criminal proceedings against a city tabloid by filing a defamation case in a magistrate's court for publishing a text of telephonic conversation between her and actor Salman Khan that allegedly had sexual overtones.
The defamation complaint is based on a transcript of a conversation -- supposedly between Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai -- in which Salman referred to his relationship with Zinta which appeared in Mid-Day's July 15 issue.
The actress' lawyer Nooruddin Dhilla said Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Dilip Joshi hasn't yet admitted the application and the matter will be taken up by the court on December 13.
Leaking of tapes of conversations to media, allegedly between Salman and Aishwarya, had made the headlines in July this year. The newspaper and the newschannel which "broke" this story had claimed that this conversations were taped by Mumbai police.
However, police denied it emphatically saying that the recent forensic laboratory reports showed that tapes were not authentic and that the voices of persons in the tape did not match with those of Aishwarya and Salman.
Zinta has moved the court only against Mid-Day, because the other newspapers and channels hadn't aired/printed part of the conversations which referred to her.
Meanwhile, reacting to the defamation suit, Mid-Day executive editor, Lajwanti D'Souza said, "it is something on record (the tapes); we just reproduced it. We feel bad about it, but that is what it was.
Read the full article at : outlookindia.com | wired
MUMBAI, NOV 25 (PTI)
Bollywood actress Preity Zinta today initiated criminal proceedings against a city tabloid by filing a defamation case in a magistrate's court for publishing a text of telephonic conversation between her and actor Salman Khan that allegedly had sexual overtones.The defamation complaint is based on a transcript of a conversation -- supposedly between Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai -- in which Salman referred to his relationship with Zinta which appeared in Mid-Day's July 15 issue.
The actress' lawyer Nooruddin Dhilla said Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Dilip Joshi hasn't yet admitted the application and the matter will be taken up by the court on December 13.
Leaking of tapes of conversations to media, allegedly between Salman and Aishwarya, had made the headlines in July this year. The newspaper and the newschannel which "broke" this story had claimed that this conversations were taped by Mumbai police.However, police denied it emphatically saying that the recent forensic laboratory reports showed that tapes were not authentic and that the voices of persons in the tape did not match with those of Aishwarya and Salman.
Zinta has moved the court only against Mid-Day, because the other newspapers and channels hadn't aired/printed part of the conversations which referred to her.
Meanwhile, reacting to the defamation suit, Mid-Day executive editor, Lajwanti D'Souza said, "it is something on record (the tapes); we just reproduced it. We feel bad about it, but that is what it was.
Read the full article at : outlookindia.com | wired
USATODAY.com - Drug smuggler crowned Miss Penitentiary
Drug smuggler crowned Miss Penitentiary
Posted 11/25/2005 11:00 AM
SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) — Like beauty pageant contestants everywhere, Caroline Goncalves hoped a victory could launch her modeling career. But she'd be satisfied if it helps shave some time off her prison sentence.
"This will put me a little closer to getting out of here," the 25-year-old convict said Thursday as stylists tugged at her long blond hair and put the finishing touches on her penciled-in eyebrows.
The sweltering heat inside the Carandiru women's detention center was only made worse by the dozens of hair dryers working overtime, but the 40 contestants from 10 prisons around Sao Paulo didn't seem to mind.
The women, serving sentences for everything from armed robbery to drug trafficking, were vying to be named Miss Penitentiary 2005 — a title that brings a 350-real (US$160, euro135) prize and a break from dreary routine.
"Afterward, we're going to be able to talk to people from (fashion) magazines," said a clearly nervous Goncalves, who is serving five years and four months for assault with a deadly weapon.
Last year's winner, Fernanda Maria de Jesus, gained early release months after her victory, but prison officials insist the shortened sentence had nothing to do with her winning the title.
After more than six hours of ceremonies, Angelica Mazua, a statuesque Angolan serving five years on international drug smuggling charges was declared this year's winner.
"People told me, 'you're tall, you should enter the contest,' so that's why I entered. I've always been interested in fashion," Mazua said.
Prison officials came up with the idea of a beauty contest last year as a way of trying to boost inmates' self confidence.
"It helps their self esteem. It helps them feel human. It shows that they're capable people, that independent of the crime, they are a part of society," said Irani Torres, director of a prison in the city of Rio Claro.
The contest is more than just a beauty pageant. Judges include celebrities, soccer players and journalists, and there are prizes in three other categories including writing, public speaking and congeniality.
But one of the contestants in the writing competition, 23-year-old Viviane Souza, complained that the beauty pageant winner gets all the attention, including appearances on television shows.
"Last year they just showed the beauty contest winner. Why not show the ones who wrote, the ones who used their minds?" asked Souza, who hopes to become a journalist when she finishes her 21-month sentence for drug dealing.
Even so, many were glad for the chance to let their hair down — or to fix it up.
"I'm not bothered by the attention the beauty contest (winner) receives," said Maria Aparecida de Almeida, 39. "She is raising the banner for all of us. She's a prisoner and she managed to make it. She helps all of us."
Peru and Colombia also hold beauty contests in prisons. Sao Paulo's is one of the largest, drawing from its female population of almost 4,000 inmates.
Read the full article at : USATODAY.com - Drug smuggler crowned Miss Penitentiary
Posted 11/25/2005 11:00 AM
SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) — Like beauty pageant contestants everywhere, Caroline Goncalves hoped a victory could launch her modeling career. But she'd be satisfied if it helps shave some time off her prison sentence.
"This will put me a little closer to getting out of here," the 25-year-old convict said Thursday as stylists tugged at her long blond hair and put the finishing touches on her penciled-in eyebrows.The sweltering heat inside the Carandiru women's detention center was only made worse by the dozens of hair dryers working overtime, but the 40 contestants from 10 prisons around Sao Paulo didn't seem to mind.
The women, serving sentences for everything from armed robbery to drug trafficking, were vying to be named Miss Penitentiary 2005 — a title that brings a 350-real (US$160, euro135) prize and a break from dreary routine.
"Afterward, we're going to be able to talk to people from (fashion) magazines," said a clearly nervous Goncalves, who is serving five years and four months for assault with a deadly weapon.
Last year's winner, Fernanda Maria de Jesus, gained early release months after her victory, but prison officials insist the shortened sentence had nothing to do with her winning the title.
After more than six hours of ceremonies, Angelica Mazua, a statuesque Angolan serving five years on international drug smuggling charges was declared this year's winner.
"People told me, 'you're tall, you should enter the contest,' so that's why I entered. I've always been interested in fashion," Mazua said.
Prison officials came up with the idea of a beauty contest last year as a way of trying to boost inmates' self confidence.
"It helps their self esteem. It helps them feel human. It shows that they're capable people, that independent of the crime, they are a part of society," said Irani Torres, director of a prison in the city of Rio Claro.
The contest is more than just a beauty pageant. Judges include celebrities, soccer players and journalists, and there are prizes in three other categories including writing, public speaking and congeniality.
But one of the contestants in the writing competition, 23-year-old Viviane Souza, complained that the beauty pageant winner gets all the attention, including appearances on television shows.
"Last year they just showed the beauty contest winner. Why not show the ones who wrote, the ones who used their minds?" asked Souza, who hopes to become a journalist when she finishes her 21-month sentence for drug dealing.
Even so, many were glad for the chance to let their hair down — or to fix it up.
"I'm not bothered by the attention the beauty contest (winner) receives," said Maria Aparecida de Almeida, 39. "She is raising the banner for all of us. She's a prisoner and she managed to make it. She helps all of us."
Peru and Colombia also hold beauty contests in prisons. Sao Paulo's is one of the largest, drawing from its female population of almost 4,000 inmates.
Read the full article at : USATODAY.com - Drug smuggler crowned Miss Penitentiary
CNN.com - Football legend George Best dies - Nov 25, 2005
Football legend George Best dies
Friday, November 25, 2005; Posted: 1:22 p.m. EST (18:22 GMT)
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Former Manchester United and Northern Ireland soccer great George Best -- hailed as the world's first football superstar -- has died aged 59.
Best, who had been in hospital since the beginning of October, had an alcohol problem for much of his adult life and underwent a liver transplant in 2002 after years of heavy drinking.
He was put on a life support machine at London's Cromwell Hospital last week after he picked up a lung infection. He then suffered multiple organ failure.
"My father has passed away," Best's tearful son Calum told reporters on the hospital steps on Friday. "Not only have I lost my dad but we've all lost a wonderful man."
Best died at 1255 GMT, according to a hospital statement.
The former Northern Ireland international is regarded by many as the greatest player ever to come from the British Isles.
Beloved by millions of soccer fans, especially during the 1960s, Best played in 1968 for Manchester United when it won the European Cup, the first English club to achieve that goal. That same season, he was named European Footballer of the Year.
Best scored 180 goals in 465 appearances over 12 years for Manchester United. He also played in the North American Soccer League, scoring 54 goals in 139 games for the Los Angeles Aztecs, Fort Lauderdale Strikers and San Jose Earthquakes.
With his good looks, agility on the pitch and an engaging personality, he was adored by millions in the 1960s and held in great affection in subsequent decades despite his descent into alcoholism, allegations of violence and a tortured personal life.
He once quipped: "I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered."
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, attending a summit in Malta, described Best as "probably the most naturally gifted footballer of his generation and one of the best footballers our country has produced."
A statement from Manchester United read: "George Best was one of the greatest footballers of all time.
"Naturally athletic, tough, confident and blessed with genius, his career was one of the brightest stars of its generation. His gifts were legendary.
"For the goals, the audacious dribbles and all the wonderful memories, Manchester United and its legions of fans worldwide will always be grateful. We feel a deep sense of loss but his spirit and his talent will live on forever."
"Manchester United's glorious history has been created by people like George Best," reflected Best's former team-mate Sir Bobby Charlton.
"Anyone that witnessed what George could do on the pitch wished they could so the same.
"He made an immense contribution to the game, and enriched the lives of everyone that saw him play.
"It is a very sad day. Football has lost one of its greats, and I have lost a dear friend."
The Irish Football Association led the mourning in Best's native Northern Ireland, for whom he made 37 appearances and scored nine goals.
IFA chief executive Howard Wells said: "This is a sad day for football. George was a complete one-off with a natural talent rarely seen since."
Most of Friday's British newspapers led with tributes to the player, who at the height of his fame in the 1960s, he was dubbed the "fifth Beatle."
Read the full article at : CNN.com - Football legend George Best dies - Nov 25, 2005
Friday, November 25, 2005; Posted: 1:22 p.m. EST (18:22 GMT)
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Former Manchester United and Northern Ireland soccer great George Best -- hailed as the world's first football superstar -- has died aged 59.
Best, who had been in hospital since the beginning of October, had an alcohol problem for much of his adult life and underwent a liver transplant in 2002 after years of heavy drinking.He was put on a life support machine at London's Cromwell Hospital last week after he picked up a lung infection. He then suffered multiple organ failure.
"My father has passed away," Best's tearful son Calum told reporters on the hospital steps on Friday. "Not only have I lost my dad but we've all lost a wonderful man."
Best died at 1255 GMT, according to a hospital statement.
The former Northern Ireland international is regarded by many as the greatest player ever to come from the British Isles.
Beloved by millions of soccer fans, especially during the 1960s, Best played in 1968 for Manchester United when it won the European Cup, the first English club to achieve that goal. That same season, he was named European Footballer of the Year.
Best scored 180 goals in 465 appearances over 12 years for Manchester United. He also played in the North American Soccer League, scoring 54 goals in 139 games for the Los Angeles Aztecs, Fort Lauderdale Strikers and San Jose Earthquakes.
With his good looks, agility on the pitch and an engaging personality, he was adored by millions in the 1960s and held in great affection in subsequent decades despite his descent into alcoholism, allegations of violence and a tortured personal life.
He once quipped: "I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered."
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, attending a summit in Malta, described Best as "probably the most naturally gifted footballer of his generation and one of the best footballers our country has produced."
A statement from Manchester United read: "George Best was one of the greatest footballers of all time.
"Naturally athletic, tough, confident and blessed with genius, his career was one of the brightest stars of its generation. His gifts were legendary.
"For the goals, the audacious dribbles and all the wonderful memories, Manchester United and its legions of fans worldwide will always be grateful. We feel a deep sense of loss but his spirit and his talent will live on forever."
"Manchester United's glorious history has been created by people like George Best," reflected Best's former team-mate Sir Bobby Charlton.
"Anyone that witnessed what George could do on the pitch wished they could so the same.
"He made an immense contribution to the game, and enriched the lives of everyone that saw him play.
"It is a very sad day. Football has lost one of its greats, and I have lost a dear friend."
The Irish Football Association led the mourning in Best's native Northern Ireland, for whom he made 37 appearances and scored nine goals.
IFA chief executive Howard Wells said: "This is a sad day for football. George was a complete one-off with a natural talent rarely seen since."
Most of Friday's British newspapers led with tributes to the player, who at the height of his fame in the 1960s, he was dubbed the "fifth Beatle."
Read the full article at : CNN.com - Football legend George Best dies - Nov 25, 2005
CNN.com - Pat Morita, 'Karate Kid's' Mr. Miyagi, dies - Nov 25, 2005
Pat Morita, 'Karate Kid's' Mr. Miyagi, dies
Friday, November 25, 2005; Posted: 10:17 a.m. EST (15:17 GMT)
LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Actor Pat Morita, whose portrayal of the wise and dry-witted Mr. Miyagi in "The Karate Kid" earned him an Oscar nomination, has died. He was 73.
Morita died Thursday at his home in Las Vegas of natural causes, said his wife of 12 years, Evelyn. She said in a statement that her husband, who first rose to fame with a role on "Happy Days," had "dedicated his entire life to acting and comedy."
In 1984, he appeared in the role that would define his career and spawn countless affectionate imitations. As Kesuke Miyagi, the mentor to Ralph Macchio's "Daniel-san," he taught karate while trying to catch flies with chopsticks and offering such advice as "wax on, wax off" to guide Daniel through chores to improve his skills.
Morita said in a 1986 interview with The Associated Press he was billed as Noriyuki "Pat" Morita in the film because producer Jerry Weintraub wanted him to sound more ethnic. He said he used the billing because it was "the only name my parents gave me."
He lost the 1984 best supporting actor award to Haing S. Ngor, who appeared in "The Killing Fields."
For years, Morita played small and sometimes demeaning roles in such films as "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and TV series such as "The Odd Couple" and "Green Acres." His first breakthrough came with "Happy Days," and he followed with his own brief series, "Mr. T and Tina."
"The Karate Kid," led to three sequels, the last of which, 1994's "The Next Karate Kid," paired him with a young Hilary Swank.
Morita was prolific outside of the "Karate Kid" series as well, appearing in "Honeymoon in Vegas," "Spy Hard," "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" and "The Center of the World." He also provided the voice for a character in the Disney movie "Mulan" in 1998.
Born in northern California on June 28, 1932, the son of migrant fruit pickers, Morita spent most of his early years in the hospital with spinal tuberculosis. He later recovered only to be sent to a Japanese-American internment camp in Arizona during World War II.
"One day I was an invalid," he recalled in a 1989 AP interview. "The next day I was public enemy No. 1 being escorted to an internment camp by an FBI agent wearing a piece."
After the war, Morita's family tried to repair their finances by operating a Sacramento restaurant. It was there that Morita first tried his comedy on patrons.
Because prospects for a Japanese-American standup comic seemed poor, Morita found steady work in computers at Aerojet General. But at age 30 he entered show business full time.
"Only in America could you get away with the kind of comedy I did," he commented. "If I tried it in Japan before the war, it would have been considered blasphemy, and I would have ended in leg irons. "
Morita was to be buried at Palm Green Valley Mortuary and Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife and three daughters from a previous marriage.
Read the full article at : CNN.com - Pat Morita, 'Karate Kid's' Mr. Miyagi, dies - Nov 25, 2005
Friday, November 25, 2005; Posted: 10:17 a.m. EST (15:17 GMT)
LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Actor Pat Morita, whose portrayal of the wise and dry-witted Mr. Miyagi in "The Karate Kid" earned him an Oscar nomination, has died. He was 73.Morita died Thursday at his home in Las Vegas of natural causes, said his wife of 12 years, Evelyn. She said in a statement that her husband, who first rose to fame with a role on "Happy Days," had "dedicated his entire life to acting and comedy."
In 1984, he appeared in the role that would define his career and spawn countless affectionate imitations. As Kesuke Miyagi, the mentor to Ralph Macchio's "Daniel-san," he taught karate while trying to catch flies with chopsticks and offering such advice as "wax on, wax off" to guide Daniel through chores to improve his skills.
Morita said in a 1986 interview with The Associated Press he was billed as Noriyuki "Pat" Morita in the film because producer Jerry Weintraub wanted him to sound more ethnic. He said he used the billing because it was "the only name my parents gave me."
He lost the 1984 best supporting actor award to Haing S. Ngor, who appeared in "The Killing Fields."
For years, Morita played small and sometimes demeaning roles in such films as "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and TV series such as "The Odd Couple" and "Green Acres." His first breakthrough came with "Happy Days," and he followed with his own brief series, "Mr. T and Tina."
"The Karate Kid," led to three sequels, the last of which, 1994's "The Next Karate Kid," paired him with a young Hilary Swank.Morita was prolific outside of the "Karate Kid" series as well, appearing in "Honeymoon in Vegas," "Spy Hard," "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" and "The Center of the World." He also provided the voice for a character in the Disney movie "Mulan" in 1998.
Born in northern California on June 28, 1932, the son of migrant fruit pickers, Morita spent most of his early years in the hospital with spinal tuberculosis. He later recovered only to be sent to a Japanese-American internment camp in Arizona during World War II.
"One day I was an invalid," he recalled in a 1989 AP interview. "The next day I was public enemy No. 1 being escorted to an internment camp by an FBI agent wearing a piece."
After the war, Morita's family tried to repair their finances by operating a Sacramento restaurant. It was there that Morita first tried his comedy on patrons.
Because prospects for a Japanese-American standup comic seemed poor, Morita found steady work in computers at Aerojet General. But at age 30 he entered show business full time.
"Only in America could you get away with the kind of comedy I did," he commented. "If I tried it in Japan before the war, it would have been considered blasphemy, and I would have ended in leg irons. "
Morita was to be buried at Palm Green Valley Mortuary and Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife and three daughters from a previous marriage.
Read the full article at : CNN.com - Pat Morita, 'Karate Kid's' Mr. Miyagi, dies - Nov 25, 2005
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Salem sent to judicial custody till 7 Dec - NDTV.com - News on Salem sent to judicial custody till 7 Dec
Salem sent to judicial custody till 7 Dec
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Mumbai : CBI handed underworld don Abu Salem over to Arthur Road Jail after the special court sent him to judicial custody for 16 days.
The investigating agency told the court that it is through with interrogating Salem, at least for now, in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blast case.
"CBI did not ask for Salem's custody to be extended, because we do not require him for investigations presently. We reserve our rights to recall him anytime," said Ujjwal Nikam, Special Public Prosecutor.
Salem was in CBI custody after his arrest on November 11 in the serial bomb blast case.
Just this Sunday, he had confessed that he supplied arms and explosives in connection with the 1993 serial blasts.
"We have applied to the court for a copy of Salem's confessions. But the judge will hear the case next on 7 December. That's when we'll know if we will get a copy," said Rashid Ansari, Abu Salem's lawyer.
Fear of safety
When asked if he had any complaints against CBI, Salem said he was just afraid of being tortured, if handed to the Mumbai Crime Branch.
He added that if provided a safe environment, he would rather stay in Arthur Road Jail.
When the judge repeatedly asked if there is a danger to Salem's life, the prosecution said a threat from the rival gang could not be brushed aside.
Only after taking the apprehensions of the defence into consideration, the judge decided to keep Salem in a high-security cell.
High-security jail
The high-security Arthur Road Jail is located in the heart of Mumbai. This overcrowded jail is home to gangsters from all the major Mumbai gangs of Chhota Rajan, Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Shakeel and many more.
The D Company's roll call is headed by Dawood's brother Iqbal Kaska followed by Aijas Pathan, Saleem Kutta and Ehtesham Haji.
The Chhota Rajan gang's inmates are Saji Joseph, Vineet Yadav, Vicky Malhotra and Farid Tanasha.
D-company and Chhota Rajan's gangsters fought with stones and bricks leading to concerns about Salem's safety.
Others are worried that Salem may become active from inside the prison as it's happened in the past.
''People like Salem can flaunt their money and easily buy over people in the jail. The only out is to ensure that such accused are in the custody of very responsible people in the force," said Julio Ribeiro, Former Police Commissioner.
Provisions for Salem
The judge said that Salem should be kept in isolation in a cell and cannot be taken out without permission of the special court.
No other accused should be allowed within 15 metres of him, and he should be home food, medicines and a bed, he added.
The judge also ruled that Salem could meet his lawyers everyday for 15 minutes. The don was then given Rs 2000 to buy provisions from the prison canteen.
Builder's murder case
But it's not over for Abu Salem yet.
After the CBI, Salem will now be interrogated by the anti-terrorist squad of the Mumbai police, which is investigating the murder of builder Pradeep Jain.
Round two of questioning for Salem could begin as early as Thursday, as the anti-terrorist squad has already moved court for his custody.
Read the full article at : Salem sent to judicial custody till 7 Dec - NDTV.com - News on Salem sent to judicial custody till 7 Dec
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Mumbai : CBI handed underworld don Abu Salem over to Arthur Road Jail after the special court sent him to judicial custody for 16 days.
The investigating agency told the court that it is through with interrogating Salem, at least for now, in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blast case.
"CBI did not ask for Salem's custody to be extended, because we do not require him for investigations presently. We reserve our rights to recall him anytime," said Ujjwal Nikam, Special Public Prosecutor.
Salem was in CBI custody after his arrest on November 11 in the serial bomb blast case.
Just this Sunday, he had confessed that he supplied arms and explosives in connection with the 1993 serial blasts.
"We have applied to the court for a copy of Salem's confessions. But the judge will hear the case next on 7 December. That's when we'll know if we will get a copy," said Rashid Ansari, Abu Salem's lawyer.
Fear of safety
When asked if he had any complaints against CBI, Salem said he was just afraid of being tortured, if handed to the Mumbai Crime Branch.
He added that if provided a safe environment, he would rather stay in Arthur Road Jail.
When the judge repeatedly asked if there is a danger to Salem's life, the prosecution said a threat from the rival gang could not be brushed aside.
Only after taking the apprehensions of the defence into consideration, the judge decided to keep Salem in a high-security cell.
High-security jail
The high-security Arthur Road Jail is located in the heart of Mumbai. This overcrowded jail is home to gangsters from all the major Mumbai gangs of Chhota Rajan, Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Shakeel and many more.
The D Company's roll call is headed by Dawood's brother Iqbal Kaska followed by Aijas Pathan, Saleem Kutta and Ehtesham Haji.
The Chhota Rajan gang's inmates are Saji Joseph, Vineet Yadav, Vicky Malhotra and Farid Tanasha.
D-company and Chhota Rajan's gangsters fought with stones and bricks leading to concerns about Salem's safety.
Others are worried that Salem may become active from inside the prison as it's happened in the past.
''People like Salem can flaunt their money and easily buy over people in the jail. The only out is to ensure that such accused are in the custody of very responsible people in the force," said Julio Ribeiro, Former Police Commissioner.
Provisions for Salem
The judge said that Salem should be kept in isolation in a cell and cannot be taken out without permission of the special court.
No other accused should be allowed within 15 metres of him, and he should be home food, medicines and a bed, he added.
The judge also ruled that Salem could meet his lawyers everyday for 15 minutes. The don was then given Rs 2000 to buy provisions from the prison canteen.
Builder's murder case
But it's not over for Abu Salem yet.
After the CBI, Salem will now be interrogated by the anti-terrorist squad of the Mumbai police, which is investigating the murder of builder Pradeep Jain.
Round two of questioning for Salem could begin as early as Thursday, as the anti-terrorist squad has already moved court for his custody.
Read the full article at : Salem sent to judicial custody till 7 Dec - NDTV.com - News on Salem sent to judicial custody till 7 Dec
CBS News | Plea Deal In Fla. Teacher Sex Case | November 23, 2005 11:00:05
Plea Deal In Fla. Teacher Sex Case
TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 22, 2005
Mugshot of Former middle school teacher Debra Lafave.
(CBS/AP) A female teacher pleaded guilty Tuesday to having sex with a 14-year-old student, avoiding prison as part of a plea agreement.
Debra Lafave, 25, whose sensational case made tabloid headlines, will serve three years of house arrest and seven years' probation. She pleaded guilty to two counts of lewd and lascivious battery.
The former Greco Middle School reading teacher apologized during the hearing, saying "I accept full responsibility for my actions."
The boy told investigators the two had sex in a classroom at the Greco school, located in Temple Terrace near Tampa, in her Riverview town house and once in a vehicle while his 15-year-old cousin drove them around Marion County.
The boy told investigators Lafave told him her marriage was in trouble and that she was aroused by the fact that having sex with him was not allowed. He said he and Lafave, a newlywed at the time, got to know each other on their way back from a class trip to SeaWorld Orlando in May 2004.
Former middle school teacher Debra Lafave with her attorney John Fitzgibbons before the start of her sentencing hearing Tuesday morning, Nov. 22, 2005, at the Hillsborough County Courthouse in Tampa, Fla.
If convicted at trial, she could have faced up to 15 years in prison on each count. The plea agreement also was designed to resolve similar charges pending in Marion County.
Hillsborough Circuit Judge Wayne Timmerman said LaFave also will forever lose her teaching certificate, must register with the state as a sexual predator, may not have any contact with children including the victim, and will not be allowed to profit from the sale of her story or personal appearances.
Prosecutor Michael Sinacore said the young victim's family wanted to get the case over with because of the intense public and media scrutiny.
"We're happy that the victim's family can put this case behind them," he said. "The whole process has been very difficult, and we hope they can now resume their lives."
After Tuesday's hearing, her attorney, John Fitzgibbons, said the plea was "a fair resolution of this case." Asked how she felt afterward, Lafave said "tired."
Fitzgibbons said in July that plea negotiations had broken off because prosecutors insisted on prison time, which he said would be too dangerous for someone as attractive as Lafave. He said then that she planned to plead insanity at trial, claiming emotional stress kept her from knowing right from wrong.
Former middle school teacher Debra Lafave with her ex-husband Owen Lafave.
In August, Lafave's ex-husband, Owen Lafave, discussed the situation with co-anchor Julie Chen on The Early Show, along with Dr. Julia Hislop, a clinical psychologist and author of the book "Female Sex Offenders."
Lafave said his ex-wife had never told him why she (allegedly) did it "and that's one of the hardest things that I've had to go through, is that I've never received a reason why."
He said "hindsight is 20-20. I can look back now and see some things that were peculiar about her behavior. But I had no idea anything like this was going on."
Read the full article at : CBS News | Plea Deal In Fla. Teacher Sex Case | November 23, 2005 11:00:05
TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 22, 2005
(CBS/AP) A female teacher pleaded guilty Tuesday to having sex with a 14-year-old student, avoiding prison as part of a plea agreement.
Debra Lafave, 25, whose sensational case made tabloid headlines, will serve three years of house arrest and seven years' probation. She pleaded guilty to two counts of lewd and lascivious battery.
The former Greco Middle School reading teacher apologized during the hearing, saying "I accept full responsibility for my actions."
The boy told investigators the two had sex in a classroom at the Greco school, located in Temple Terrace near Tampa, in her Riverview town house and once in a vehicle while his 15-year-old cousin drove them around Marion County.
The boy told investigators Lafave told him her marriage was in trouble and that she was aroused by the fact that having sex with him was not allowed. He said he and Lafave, a newlywed at the time, got to know each other on their way back from a class trip to SeaWorld Orlando in May 2004.
Former middle school teacher Debra Lafave with her attorney John Fitzgibbons before the start of her sentencing hearing Tuesday morning, Nov. 22, 2005, at the Hillsborough County Courthouse in Tampa, Fla.
If convicted at trial, she could have faced up to 15 years in prison on each count. The plea agreement also was designed to resolve similar charges pending in Marion County.
Hillsborough Circuit Judge Wayne Timmerman said LaFave also will forever lose her teaching certificate, must register with the state as a sexual predator, may not have any contact with children including the victim, and will not be allowed to profit from the sale of her story or personal appearances.
Prosecutor Michael Sinacore said the young victim's family wanted to get the case over with because of the intense public and media scrutiny.
"We're happy that the victim's family can put this case behind them," he said. "The whole process has been very difficult, and we hope they can now resume their lives."
After Tuesday's hearing, her attorney, John Fitzgibbons, said the plea was "a fair resolution of this case." Asked how she felt afterward, Lafave said "tired."
Fitzgibbons said in July that plea negotiations had broken off because prosecutors insisted on prison time, which he said would be too dangerous for someone as attractive as Lafave. He said then that she planned to plead insanity at trial, claiming emotional stress kept her from knowing right from wrong.
Former middle school teacher Debra Lafave with her ex-husband Owen Lafave.
In August, Lafave's ex-husband, Owen Lafave, discussed the situation with co-anchor Julie Chen on The Early Show, along with Dr. Julia Hislop, a clinical psychologist and author of the book "Female Sex Offenders."
Lafave said his ex-wife had never told him why she (allegedly) did it "and that's one of the hardest things that I've had to go through, is that I've never received a reason why."
He said "hindsight is 20-20. I can look back now and see some things that were peculiar about her behavior. But I had no idea anything like this was going on."
Read the full article at : CBS News | Plea Deal In Fla. Teacher Sex Case | November 23, 2005 11:00:05
Murdered Keralite’s body found in Afghanistan - Newindpress.com
Murdered Keralite’s body found in Afghanistan
Thursday November 24 2005 00:00 IST, AFP
NEW DELHI: Afghan police has on Wednesday found the decapitated body of Keralite who was kidnapped and executed by Taliban on Tuesday. "The body of the Border Roads Organisation's driver Maniappan Raman Kutty, who had been working on a road project, was found on a dirt road in the southern province of Nimroz. We strongly condemn this inhuman and barbaric act against an innocent person," the Indian External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.
"The Taliban and its backers bear the responsibility for the consequences of this outrageous act," the Ministry said. The young man had been beheaded, according to Amanullah Khan, chief of highway police in the province. The head was placed with the body and a note, apparently written in English was also found, Khan said. The body of Kutty is expected to arrive in the capital by Thursday afternoon.
Kutty was abducted from his car along with an Afghan driver and two guards in Nimroz on Saturday. The fate of two Afghan guards abducted along with Kutty still hangs on balance.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, calling Kutty a "soldier of peace", has condemned the murder. "I condemn this cowardly and brutal murder of a brave Indian, who was working in the cause of peace and development far from his home country, which reflects the cruel and inhuman character of the Taliban and the forces they represent," Singh said.
In a condolence message to the bereaved family Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that his heart goes out to the family members of Kutty in their hour of grief and assured that all assistance will be provided to his wife and children.
The Government has decided to provide liberalized pension for life to the wife of Kutty that will be as per his last pay drawn in India. She will also be given a lump sum compensation of about seven lakh rupees besides any other ex-gratia grant to be sanctioned by the Government. The education of the two children till Secondary level will also be taken care of by the Government.
Kutty was working with the Border Roads Organisation for the last over 12 years and had joined the road project in Afghanistan on the 9th of this month.
PTI adds: A note written in English was found pinned to the body of M R Kutty, the Indian driver who was killed by Taliban in Afghanistan following his abduction.
‘‘We found a peace of paper written in English pinned to the body. We have the paper. It’s in English so we cannot read it now,’’ Mohammed Hashim Noorzai, a District Governor in Afghanistan’s volatile south-western province of Nimroz, was quoted as saying by AFP.
Read the full article at : Murdered Keralite’s body found in Afghanistan - Newindpress.com
Thursday November 24 2005 00:00 IST, AFP
NEW DELHI: Afghan police has on Wednesday found the decapitated body of Keralite who was kidnapped and executed by Taliban on Tuesday. "The body of the Border Roads Organisation's driver Maniappan Raman Kutty, who had been working on a road project, was found on a dirt road in the southern province of Nimroz. We strongly condemn this inhuman and barbaric act against an innocent person," the Indian External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.
"The Taliban and its backers bear the responsibility for the consequences of this outrageous act," the Ministry said. The young man had been beheaded, according to Amanullah Khan, chief of highway police in the province. The head was placed with the body and a note, apparently written in English was also found, Khan said. The body of Kutty is expected to arrive in the capital by Thursday afternoon.
Kutty was abducted from his car along with an Afghan driver and two guards in Nimroz on Saturday. The fate of two Afghan guards abducted along with Kutty still hangs on balance.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, calling Kutty a "soldier of peace", has condemned the murder. "I condemn this cowardly and brutal murder of a brave Indian, who was working in the cause of peace and development far from his home country, which reflects the cruel and inhuman character of the Taliban and the forces they represent," Singh said.
In a condolence message to the bereaved family Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that his heart goes out to the family members of Kutty in their hour of grief and assured that all assistance will be provided to his wife and children.
The Government has decided to provide liberalized pension for life to the wife of Kutty that will be as per his last pay drawn in India. She will also be given a lump sum compensation of about seven lakh rupees besides any other ex-gratia grant to be sanctioned by the Government. The education of the two children till Secondary level will also be taken care of by the Government.
Kutty was working with the Border Roads Organisation for the last over 12 years and had joined the road project in Afghanistan on the 9th of this month.
PTI adds: A note written in English was found pinned to the body of M R Kutty, the Indian driver who was killed by Taliban in Afghanistan following his abduction.
‘‘We found a peace of paper written in English pinned to the body. We have the paper. It’s in English so we cannot read it now,’’ Mohammed Hashim Noorzai, a District Governor in Afghanistan’s volatile south-western province of Nimroz, was quoted as saying by AFP.
Read the full article at : Murdered Keralite’s body found in Afghanistan - Newindpress.com
India loves me: Jackie Chan- The Times of India
India loves me: Jackie Chan
Meena Iyer, Wednesday, November 23, 2005 04:51:29 pm, Times News Network
MUMBAI: He hesitates for a second before picking up his pen to appease the autograph hunters at a press conference to publicize his latest film The Myth.
"If I sign one then it will go on and on," he mutters under his breath.
And Jackie Chan is right. Within minutes, a dozen pen pushers surge ahead for their moment of glory beside the "most famous Chinese alive".
Chan, who is a household name thanks to hits like Rush Hour and Police Story, is hoping for a similar reaction to his latest saga, The Myth, which releases in India in January 2006. He was in the city for a day to promote the film at the behest of his co-star Mallika Sherawat.
Though the film opened to an enthusiastic response in other parts of the world in September 2005, Chan is a worried man. "Piracy is a menace," he says, choosing his words with care.
According to him, almost 17,000 people download films through illegitimate means every day. And he feels that if something is not done to correct this, then the industry will suffer.
Chan, who prides himself for making "action films with humor and a social message," says he enjoyed the experience of shooting a portion of the Stanley Tong film in Hampi, Karnataka.
The actor is also a fan of tandoori chicken and papad. And he claims he has seen loads of Bollywood films. "Don't ask me for names though," he says, "Except Mallika, I don't know any."
The actor feels The Myth will appeal to all age groups as it has action, comedy, romance and a message.
"We Chinese, Indians and Egyptians have treasure troves in our countries. Unfortunately the West has plundered a lot of it," he sighs.
The 51-year-old actor sees himself doing action flicks for another five years, perhaps slightly longer. But one role he sees himself in forever is his role as a social reformer.
The actor has donated generously to various causes including upliftment of handicapped children, building homes for the aged, helping AIDS and cancer patients.
Signing off at the press conference, Chan said though he doesn't see himself making another film in India for a long time, he is sure "India loves me."
Read the full article at : India loves me: Jackie Chan- The Times of India
Meena Iyer, Wednesday, November 23, 2005 04:51:29 pm, Times News Network
MUMBAI: He hesitates for a second before picking up his pen to appease the autograph hunters at a press conference to publicize his latest film The Myth.
"If I sign one then it will go on and on," he mutters under his breath.
And Jackie Chan is right. Within minutes, a dozen pen pushers surge ahead for their moment of glory beside the "most famous Chinese alive".
Chan, who is a household name thanks to hits like Rush Hour and Police Story, is hoping for a similar reaction to his latest saga, The Myth, which releases in India in January 2006. He was in the city for a day to promote the film at the behest of his co-star Mallika Sherawat.
Though the film opened to an enthusiastic response in other parts of the world in September 2005, Chan is a worried man. "Piracy is a menace," he says, choosing his words with care.
According to him, almost 17,000 people download films through illegitimate means every day. And he feels that if something is not done to correct this, then the industry will suffer.
Chan, who prides himself for making "action films with humor and a social message," says he enjoyed the experience of shooting a portion of the Stanley Tong film in Hampi, Karnataka.
The actor is also a fan of tandoori chicken and papad. And he claims he has seen loads of Bollywood films. "Don't ask me for names though," he says, "Except Mallika, I don't know any."
The actor feels The Myth will appeal to all age groups as it has action, comedy, romance and a message.
"We Chinese, Indians and Egyptians have treasure troves in our countries. Unfortunately the West has plundered a lot of it," he sighs.
The 51-year-old actor sees himself doing action flicks for another five years, perhaps slightly longer. But one role he sees himself in forever is his role as a social reformer.
The actor has donated generously to various causes including upliftment of handicapped children, building homes for the aged, helping AIDS and cancer patients.
Signing off at the press conference, Chan said though he doesn't see himself making another film in India for a long time, he is sure "India loves me."
Read the full article at : India loves me: Jackie Chan- The Times of India
MSN India - My victory dedicated to my father: Priya Dutt
My victory dedicated to my father: Priya Dutt
Source: IANS.
Mumbai, Nov 22: Victorious Congress candidate Priya Dutt Tuesday dedicated her victory to her late father Sunil Dutt, who represented Mumbai North-West in parliament till his death in May.
She also dedicated her victory to the hard work and support of her party workers and senior party leaders.
"I believe this is my father's victory. It is the result of his goodwill that he earned through 20 years' dedicated contribution to the people," Dutt told IANS. "I thank (Congress chief) madam Sonia Gandhi for showing faith in me and I thank all the party workers and senior leaders who supported me in this venture," Dutt said.
Dutt, 39, the younger sister of Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt, trounced her rival and Shiv Sena candidate Madhukar Sarpotdar by more than 171,000 votes in the elections held Saturday.
She expressed both surprise and satisfaction that she had garnered 346,294 votes against Sarpotdar's 174,750, despite the low 33 percent voter turnout in the 1.6 million-strong Mumbai North-West electorate. "It (the victory) has come as a super-bonus to be me. As my election slogan said, people have shown their faith in me this time. The next time I will have earned it," Dutt said.
Talking about her agenda as a Lok Sabha member, Dutt said she would now spend time studying her constituency well to understand its problems and finding solutions.
"I will look into the basic needs of the people like good roads, water problem, garbage disposal," she said. "Also, I will try to focus on larger issues like representing Mumbai in Delhi. It is already a global city but now it has to be established concretely with that image," she added.
Read the full article at : MSN India - My victory dedicated to my father: Priya Dutt
Source: IANS.
Mumbai, Nov 22: Victorious Congress candidate Priya Dutt Tuesday dedicated her victory to her late father Sunil Dutt, who represented Mumbai North-West in parliament till his death in May.
She also dedicated her victory to the hard work and support of her party workers and senior party leaders.
"I believe this is my father's victory. It is the result of his goodwill that he earned through 20 years' dedicated contribution to the people," Dutt told IANS. "I thank (Congress chief) madam Sonia Gandhi for showing faith in me and I thank all the party workers and senior leaders who supported me in this venture," Dutt said.
Dutt, 39, the younger sister of Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt, trounced her rival and Shiv Sena candidate Madhukar Sarpotdar by more than 171,000 votes in the elections held Saturday.
She expressed both surprise and satisfaction that she had garnered 346,294 votes against Sarpotdar's 174,750, despite the low 33 percent voter turnout in the 1.6 million-strong Mumbai North-West electorate. "It (the victory) has come as a super-bonus to be me. As my election slogan said, people have shown their faith in me this time. The next time I will have earned it," Dutt said.
Talking about her agenda as a Lok Sabha member, Dutt said she would now spend time studying her constituency well to understand its problems and finding solutions.
"I will look into the basic needs of the people like good roads, water problem, garbage disposal," she said. "Also, I will try to focus on larger issues like representing Mumbai in Delhi. It is already a global city but now it has to be established concretely with that image," she added.
Read the full article at : MSN India - My victory dedicated to my father: Priya Dutt
Thursday, November 17, 2005
CNN.com - NASA envisions commercial flights carrying supplies, crews - Nov 16, 2005
NASA envisions commercial flights carrying supplies, crews
Wednesday, November 16, 2005; Posted: 10:02 a.m. EST (15:02 GMT)
LEAGUE CITY, Texas (AP) -- NASA administrator Michael Griffin desires a greater role for private industry in space, and believes the international space station can provide incentive for businesses to get involved.
"The exploration of the solar system cannot be what we want it to be" if the cost is borne solely by American taxpayer, or even by taxpayers of nations willing to join in, Griffin told the American Astronautical Society's annual conference Tuesday.
The space station, which is about the size of a three-bedroom house and halfway complete, provides an opportunity to promote "commercial space ventures that will help us meet our exploration objectives and at the same time create new jobs and new industry," he said.
Once the nation's shuttle fleet is retired in 2010, Griffin said he would like to see commercial industry take over crew rotations and supply missions.
"We want to be able to buy these services from American industry," he said. "We believe that when we engage the engine of competition, these services will be provided in a more-cost effective fashion than when the government has to do it."
The space agency plans to begin seeking proposals this fall from industries to deliver cargo to orbit.
Griffin said the private sector could develop habitats in which astronauts would live on the moon, and develop communications and navigation systems as well as orbiting fueling depots where crews headed beyond low Earth orbit could refuel on return trips to the moon or farther.
"I think we are at the start of something big -- something akin to what we saw with the personal computer 25 years ago," the NASA chief said.
Read the full article at : CNN.com - NASA envisions commercial flights carrying supplies, crews - Nov 16, 2005
Wednesday, November 16, 2005; Posted: 10:02 a.m. EST (15:02 GMT)
LEAGUE CITY, Texas (AP) -- NASA administrator Michael Griffin desires a greater role for private industry in space, and believes the international space station can provide incentive for businesses to get involved.
"The exploration of the solar system cannot be what we want it to be" if the cost is borne solely by American taxpayer, or even by taxpayers of nations willing to join in, Griffin told the American Astronautical Society's annual conference Tuesday.
The space station, which is about the size of a three-bedroom house and halfway complete, provides an opportunity to promote "commercial space ventures that will help us meet our exploration objectives and at the same time create new jobs and new industry," he said.
Once the nation's shuttle fleet is retired in 2010, Griffin said he would like to see commercial industry take over crew rotations and supply missions.
"We want to be able to buy these services from American industry," he said. "We believe that when we engage the engine of competition, these services will be provided in a more-cost effective fashion than when the government has to do it."
The space agency plans to begin seeking proposals this fall from industries to deliver cargo to orbit.
Griffin said the private sector could develop habitats in which astronauts would live on the moon, and develop communications and navigation systems as well as orbiting fueling depots where crews headed beyond low Earth orbit could refuel on return trips to the moon or farther.
"I think we are at the start of something big -- something akin to what we saw with the personal computer 25 years ago," the NASA chief said.
Read the full article at : CNN.com - NASA envisions commercial flights carrying supplies, crews - Nov 16, 2005
Microsoft business unit head steps aside | CNET News.com
Microsoft business unit head steps aside
By Ina Fried, Staff Writer, CNET News.com, November 17, 2005, 10:36 AM PST
Microsoft said Thursday that it is searching for a new leader for its Microsoft Business Solutions unit, which sells software to medium-sized businesses.
Doug Burgum, who has had financial responsibility for the division, will remain in a new role as chairman of the unit. However, the software maker aims to recruit someone else to oversee the unit's financial performance.
In an e-mail to Microsoft staffers, CEO Steve Ballmer praised Burgum's work and the performance of MBS. The unit is a money-losing business, but has seen its sales grow in recent years.
"Our MBS business is off to a great start this year, and we are seeing the rewards of our focus on delivering software breakthroughs and continuing to build our strong partner channel," Ballmer wrote in the e-mail.
Ballmer, Burgum and Jeff Raikes, president of Microsoft's Business Division, will help find the new leader, the company said.
"We are doing a full search internally and externally," Burgum said in a question-and-answer session posted on Microsoft's Web site. "I will continue to drive and lead MBS until the new leader arrives."
Burgum will be responsible for the business performance of the unit for the remainder of the fiscal year, which ends in June. The software maker, based in Redmond, Wash., hopes to have a new leader in place by the spring.
The Microsoft Business Solutions unit consists of a number of different products that Microsoft has gotten through its acquisition of Navision, Great Plains Software, Solomon and Axapta. Microsoft recently announced plans to unite the products under the "Dynamics" brand name.
An effort to unify the product's underlying source code, known as Project Green, is expected to take many years, though the company has near-term plans to create a more common look and feel across the various products.
Microsoft also released a small business accounting program in September.
In his new role, Burgum will be responsible for helping MBS be better understood within Microsoft, help with development of business leaders in the unit and act as an ambassador for the unit to partners and customers.
Burgum came to Microsoft about five years ago, when the software maker acquired Great Plains Software, where he was president.
Read the full article at : Microsoft business unit head steps aside | CNET News.com
By Ina Fried, Staff Writer, CNET News.com, November 17, 2005, 10:36 AM PST
Microsoft said Thursday that it is searching for a new leader for its Microsoft Business Solutions unit, which sells software to medium-sized businesses.
Doug Burgum, who has had financial responsibility for the division, will remain in a new role as chairman of the unit. However, the software maker aims to recruit someone else to oversee the unit's financial performance.
In an e-mail to Microsoft staffers, CEO Steve Ballmer praised Burgum's work and the performance of MBS. The unit is a money-losing business, but has seen its sales grow in recent years.
"Our MBS business is off to a great start this year, and we are seeing the rewards of our focus on delivering software breakthroughs and continuing to build our strong partner channel," Ballmer wrote in the e-mail.
Ballmer, Burgum and Jeff Raikes, president of Microsoft's Business Division, will help find the new leader, the company said.
"We are doing a full search internally and externally," Burgum said in a question-and-answer session posted on Microsoft's Web site. "I will continue to drive and lead MBS until the new leader arrives."
Burgum will be responsible for the business performance of the unit for the remainder of the fiscal year, which ends in June. The software maker, based in Redmond, Wash., hopes to have a new leader in place by the spring.
The Microsoft Business Solutions unit consists of a number of different products that Microsoft has gotten through its acquisition of Navision, Great Plains Software, Solomon and Axapta. Microsoft recently announced plans to unite the products under the "Dynamics" brand name.
An effort to unify the product's underlying source code, known as Project Green, is expected to take many years, though the company has near-term plans to create a more common look and feel across the various products.
Microsoft also released a small business accounting program in September.
In his new role, Burgum will be responsible for helping MBS be better understood within Microsoft, help with development of business leaders in the unit and act as an ambassador for the unit to partners and customers.
Burgum came to Microsoft about five years ago, when the software maker acquired Great Plains Software, where he was president.
Read the full article at : Microsoft business unit head steps aside | CNET News.com
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