Sachin, Deepika bow down to Katrina Kaif

Jun 8, 2011 :

He may be the cricket legend, but Sachin Tendulkar will have to bow down to beauty because the Bollywood sensation Katrina Kaif yet again topped the list of the sexiest women 2011 with her average rating being higher than that of Sachin.

The poll was conducted by the world's largest men's lifestyle magazine – FHM. "Katrina's average is higher than Sachin Tendulkar's and she replaces Deepika Padukone who won the crown in 2010," says Kabeer Sharma, executive director, FHM, India. The FHM 100 Sexiest Women poll is based entirely on online polls and SMS with over 35,000 entries being cast this year.

Interestingly, the more Katrina says that she doesn't believe in these titles - sexy, beautiful, gorgeous, the more she is getting 'caught' in various such titles and tags over and over again. "If somebody is graciously giving me something why should I refuse it," smiles Katrina. And she would definitely want to keep these titles. "When I grow old, I would like to tell my grand children about the titles I won," said Katrina, who is sans make up most of the time when she is not shooting. "If you come and stand near my house you will always find me without make up. And even when I am visiting my friends or going out for family dos, I don't use make up," she added. Katrina Kaif has previously been voted the Sexiest Woman in the World by FHM India in 2008 and 2009.

Kabeer Sharma, Executive Editor of FHM India, says, We'd love to say 2011 was a close contest...only 'Sheila' made sure it was far from. A feat that becomes even more significant because no woman in the world across all 28 editions of FHM has ever won the sexiest woman in the World title three times in the last 17 years that we've been making the list.

Though Katrina's film career is currently not at its peak with not many releases happening, she is still the toast of the season as not too long ago she was the only Bollywood actress to feature on the India Today's Elite Power list and has the most google searches than any other Indian celebrity. If that wasn't all Katrina was immortalized by Mattel who created a one-of a-kind 'I Can Be a Movie Star' Barbie Doll sketched on her image.

Salman impresses again, 'Ready' grosses Rs.41 crore

June 8, 2011

Last year it was his rural action-drama ‘Dabangg’ that broke the dry spell at the box office by earning Rs.48.25 crore in the opening weekend, and this year Salman Khan's comedy ‘Ready’ has brought the much needed respite at the box office by grossing Rs.41 crore over the weekend.

Trade pundits, however, admit that ‘Ready’ is not on par with ‘Dabangg’ in terms of content and appeal and many not enjoy a long innings at the box office, but it is an entertaining film and got a good opening.

"Ready has had a good opening. The occupancy has been 90-95 per cent. It is more of a family entertainer. One would not see the kind of action that was in 'Dabangg' and 'Wanted'," Yogesh Raizada, corporate head (Cinemas) of Wave Cinemas told the media.

"Salman is perfect in the film he has done full justice to his character. Asin, is also good in the film," he added.

In contrast to Rs.18 crore ‘Dabangg’, a small town cop drama shot in Wai in Maharashtra and partly in the UAE, ‘Ready’, shot entirely in Thailand, is expensive, has an urban setting and is said to have cost Rs.50 crore.

Released on 1,900 screens, 'Ready' earned Rs.13.5 crore on the opening day, Rs.12.5 crore on Saturday, and Rs.15 crore on Sunday.

"People are enjoying the film a lot, specially Salman Khan, although the shows have not been back-to-back houseful like 'Dabangg' and 'Wanted'. The audis have witnessed 80 per cent occupancy," said a source in PVR.

Shot in the exotic locales of Thailand, the film is about happy-go-lucky guy Prem (Salman). He mistakenly helps a girl Sanjana (Asin Thottumkal) escape from marriage and later falls for her. Paresh Rawal, Arya Babbar and Mahesh Manjeraker also feature in it.

Just like Salman's 2008 hit ‘Wanted’, his ‘Ready’ is performing much better in single screen theatres. Confirming this, Piyush Raizada of Delite Cinemas said their shows are going houseful.

"The response to 'Ready' is terrific. Till now, our shows are going housefull. Everyone is appreciating Salman's acting. It is too early to say whether the film will be as big as 'Dabangg' because every day counts because of the number of shows being played today," he said.

At a time when most of the big-budgets, with big names like Akshay Kumar starrer ‘Patiala House’, Abhishek Bachchan's ‘Game’ and ‘Dum Maaro Dum’ failed to stir the box office, Salman's magic worked again as ‘Ready’ has brought smiles on the faces of distributors, cinema hall owners and audiences alike.

"I really enjoyed the film. Salman is really good. The first half is a bit boring but the film picks up after the interval and I couldn't stop laughing till the end," said Madhu Verma, a housewife.

College student Priya Chawla liked it so much that she wants to watch it again.

"I found the movie extremely entertaining from the very first scene. Some of the one liners are hilarious and they could become popular pick-up lines. Salman is superb with his comic timing. I plan to watch it again," she said.

Last year too, when the box office was reeling under flops, Salman bailed it out with ‘Dabangg’ and conquered it not only by earning the maximum profits of reportedly Rs.145 crore, but scooped the maximum awards, including a National Award for the best entertainer of the year.

Ritika Sinha, also a college sudent, said the film lacks focus, but has some really good punch lines.

Trade pundits, however, admitted that ‘Ready’ will not enjoy long stay at the box office like ‘Dabangg’.

"The film doesn't seem to sustain for long. We are looking at the occupancy. If it drops down to 50 per cent then we will put another film. However, film is doing really well on single screens," said the source from PVR.

Piyush Raizada said: "Gone are the days when films had to run for many days to be declared a hit. Today, in two to three weeks a film is declared a hit."

Declaration of assets made compulsory in Assam

Guwahati, June 8, 2011

Assam Governor J.B. Patnaik on Tuesday said the annual declaration of assets by Ministers, parliamentary secretaries and all officials would be made compulsory and the institution of Lokayukta would be strengthened in the State.

In his customary address at the ongoing inaugural session of the 13th Assam Assembly the Governor also announced that four new services — Assam Rural Service, Assam Economic Service, Assam Revenue Service and the Assam Information Service — would be created to improve the efficiency of the administration.

Announcing a slew of measures to ensure an efficient, transparent, responsive and corruption-free administration in the State, Mr. Patnaik said an accountability commission would be set up to ensure accountability of the administrative machinery and to ensure proper service delivery to the people.

In addition to the Chief Vigilance Commissioner, additional Vigilance Commissioners and four Zonal Vigilance Commissioners would be appointed. Social audit of schemes and programmes would be carried out in the presence of NGOs and eminent citizens.

A system of performance evaluation of the government departments would be put in place and premier institutions like universities would be associated in the appraisal process. 

Bus tragedy near Vellore

Jun 8, 2011Vellore:In one of the most gruesome bus tragedies in Tamil Nadu, 23 people were killed when a Pollachi-bound private bus caught fire after it overturned at Avalur on the Chennai-Bangalore national highway late on Tuesday night. A few images from the accident spot

According to the police, the bus reportedly hit a culvert when it tried to avoid stationary vehicles on the road. Photo: B.Jothi Ramalingam.

TN Assembly passes resolution seeking imposition of economic sanctions

June 8, 2011 

Chennai :Tamil Nadu Assembly today adopted a unanimous resolution seeking imposition of economic sanctions against Sri Lanka by India on issues concerning Tamils in the island nation, including alleged human rights violations.

The resolution moved by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa also wanted India to press the United Nations to declare as “war criminals” those who committed alleged crimes during the conflict in Sri Lanka.

Ms. Jayalalithaa said only economic sanctions would “rein in” Sri Lanka, which she said, “did not heed the global opinion when it came to the Tamils issue”.

“If India and other countries impose sanctions, Sri Lanka has to listen to what we say”, she said replying to the debate on the resolution.

She said there were allegations about Sri Lanka committing human rights violations and preventing humanitarian aids from reaching the suffering Tamils, the issues which prompted her to move the resolution.

The Chief Minister said Tamils had been struggling against being treated as “second class citizens in their own country” even after Sri Lanka got independence from the British.

She, however, said terrorism had crept in the name of Tamil Eelam which had even resulted in fratricide.

She recalled that after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 on Tamil soil, the sympathy here towards LTTE had turned into an anger against them.

Ms. Jayalalithaa said it was on her insistence that the Centre had first banned LTTE in India in 1992.

She also recalled that it was her government in 2002 which passed a resolution in the assembly demanding the arrest and extradition of slain LTTE leader V Prabhakaran in connection with Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination.

Taking a dig at her party’s main rival the DMK, she said that it failed to do anything for the welfare of Sri Lankan Tamils and took potshots at party president M Karunanidhi for organising a fast as Chief Minister demanding ceasefire after having “breakfast and calling it off later in the day”.

She alleged that he had betrayed the Tamils by announcing that a ceasefire was on which made scores of people to come out from the bunkers but they were killed in aerial bombings.

Ms. Jayalalithaa said she did not intend to level charges against DMK but insisted that it was “selfish nature and helplessness of the previous DMK regime” which resulted in the death of Tamils.

FBI videotape shows Rana admitting to terror links

June 7, 2011

WASHINGTON :Federal prosecutors have released a videotape of the interrogation of Pakistani-Canadian businessman Tahawwur Husain Rana, who is being tried in a Chicago court for his alleged role in facilitating the November 2008 attack on Mumbai.

In the October 18, 2009 interrogation, Rana said that he had been in contact with a mid-level Pakistani intelligence officer known as ‘Major Iqbal,' who has been indicted for funding and coordinating the Lashkar-e-Taiba attack on Mumbai. Rana also had high words of praise for Sajid Mir, the top Lashkar commander who guided the assault team.

However, Rana insisted that while he knew the key plotters, he had no knowledge of their plans. “I am not guilty,” he said.

The videotape was released even as the Illinois federal court where Rana is being tried began hearing concluding arguments. Prosecutors hope the videotaped testimony will undermine Rana's claims that he was duped by David Headley, unaware that the childhood friend he had invited to work for his business was in fact an undercover Lashkar operative.

In the videotape, Rana admits he praised Mir, after Headley told him he had heard audiotape of the Lashkar commander guiding the Mumbai attack. Rana laughed, and described Mir as “Khalid bin Waleed”— a legendary Islamic general. “When I am very, very happy,” Rana told the FBI, “I say someone is a Khalid bin Waleed.”

Rana also admitted to speaking with ‘Major Iqbal,' but insisted their conversations were limited to discussing business plans, and how he might roll back legal proceedings initiated after he deserted the Pakistan army.

But Rana, the videotape shows, was aware of Headley's relationship with Muhammad Illyas Kashmiri — a Pakistan-based jihad commander who financed a post-26/11 plot to attack the offices of the Jyallands Posten, a Copenhagen-based newspaper which incensed many Muslims by printing allegedly blasphemous cartoons. Headley was provided visiting cards of Rana's immigration business, which allowed him to visit the offices of the newspaper, posing as an advertiser.

Rana admitted he knew Headley harboured violent thoughts about the cartoonists at the newspaper — and prosecutors say he could not but have enquired about why Headley wanted to advertise in it.

Force will be raised to deal with police action: Ramdev

 June 8, 2011

Haridwar:After striking a conciliatory tone, Baba Ramdev today again took up the issue of police crackdown on his supporters, saying he would set up a 11,000-strong force to deal with police and anti-social elements attempting to disrupt his anti-corruption movement.

“I appeal that 20 young men from every district should come here. We will train them in both shahstra (vedas) and shastra (weapons),” Ramdev, who is continuing his strike against corruption, told his followers here.

The yoga guru said, “We will prepare 11,000 men and women so that next time we do not lose any battle at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi“.

However, he said that the Sena will be raised only for self defence and not to harm anybody.

“The sena will safeguard themselves and other followers. It is not for taking lives of anybody,” Ramdev said.

Baba Ramdev had yesterday stuck a conciliatory tone, saying he “forgave” the Prime Minister for the crackdown on his agitation.

“The Prime Minister termed it (the police action) unfortunate. In a way he has accepted his sin. Since he has accepted his sin, I have forgiven him,” Ramdev had said.

“I have personally forgiven him but the history of not only India but the whole world will never forgive him for the political sin he committed. He has tainted democracy,” Ramdev had said.

The yoga guru is observing a fast from June 4 to press for his demands of bringing back black money from foreign nations, tougher anti-graft laws and to uproot corruption from the country. 

People throng Rajghat to support Hazare's fast

Jun 08, 2011
People gathered at Rajghat to take part in the day-long hunger strike called by Anna Hazare to protest against police crackdown on Baba Ramdev and his supporters during their agitation against corruption.

A number of youths wearing Gandhi caps and elderly people were seen at the spot waving the tricolour amidst a heavy posse of security personnel.
A man dressed like Mahatma Gandhi was the centre of attraction as he sang Gandhi's favourite bhajan ''Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram''.

With Delhi Police refusing permission for the day-long hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, Hazare had decided to shift the venue to Rajghat to avoid a confrontation.

Civil rights activists had contended that denial of permission to hold peaceful protest was against the basic Constitutional rights of citizens.
The Hazare-led protest will be accompanied by an all-religion prayer meeting and a debate on Lokpal Bill.

A senior police official yesterday said they have refused permission for the fast at Jantar Mantar due to
 prohibitory orders at the site after the police action against Baba Ramdev in Ramlila Maidan on Sunday.

2G scam: Kanimozhi's bail rejected, mother breaks down

June 08, 2011 

New Delhi:  Kanimozhi's mother, Rajathi Ammal, was in tears in court after her daughter's application for bail was rejected by the Delhi High Court in the 2G scam case.

"Considering the political and financial clout of the accused, the possibility of them tampering with evidence and influencing witnesses, the magnitude of the offence they've been charged with, their bail pleas are dismissed," said the judge. He also refused bail to Sharad Kumar, who co-owns a TV channel with Kanimozhi in Chennai.

The young MP from the DMK has been accused of accepting a Rs 214-crore bribe along with former Telecom Minister A Raja, who is also from her party, and is now in jail. She was arrested in May by the CBI, which is investigating the 2G scam, described as India's largest-ever swindle. The judge today said, "There's prima facie evidence to suggest they were beneficiaries and received illegal gratification."

Kanimozhi's lawyer had applied for bail on the grounds that she needs to look after her young son, since her husband travels abroad frequently for work. DMK leader TR Baalu, who was present in court today, said they would approach the Supreme Court soon against the High Court verdict.

While he was Telecom Minister in 2008, Mr Raja allegedly presented telecom licenses and spectrum to companies at hefty bargains that cost the country thousands of crores.  One of those firms- Swan Telecom- is accused of repaying him by sending him a cheque for Rs 214 crores that was deposited with Kalaignar TV.  Kanimozhi and her stepmother are both large shareholders in the company.

Kanimozhi has described the money as a payment for an equity deal which was returned with interest once the deal fell apart. The CBI counters that the money was sent back only after it began investigating Mr Raja.

Kanimozhi's imprisonment has  become the latest stress-test of her family's alliance with the Congress.  Her father, DMK President M Karunanidhi, earlier this week, blamed the Centre for her predicament. "She's in prison either because of the Centre's order or indifference," he said in his constituency of Tiravur. He also said that in jail, his daughter "will wilt like a flower."