Pakistan hopes hurt by captaincy confusion: Inzamam

KARACHI: Former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq says Pakistan’s World Cup chances have been hampered by the board’s delay in naming a skipper for the tournament.

“I fear the same fate as 2003 and 2007 for this team because just three weeks before the World Cup, the players don’t know who will lead them in such a big event,” Pakistan’s most-capped player told the Daily Jang newspaper on Monday.
“I blame the cricket board for creating this crisis,” he added. “By not announcing the captain it has created two groups in the team.”
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have announced their final World Cup squad but held back on naming a captain with all-rounder and one-day skipper Shahid Afridi vying for the role with test captain Misbah-ul-Haq.
“They are two groups in the team: the Shahid Afridi group and the Misbah group, and in these circumstances it is unnatural to expect this team to perform well,” Inzamam added.
The veteran of 120 tests and 388 one-dayers said the board would be committing suicide by changing the captain so close to the World Cup starting on Feb. 19 and co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
“There is already uncertainty in the team and this will only create more friction and problems,” he added.

Messi double puts Barca seven clear at the top

MADRID: Lionel Messi scored two late goals on Saturday as leaders Barcelona won 3-0 away to Hercules, their 15th consecutive victory matching the La Liga record set by Real Madrid in the 1960-61 season.

Promoted Hercules stunned the champions with a 2-0 win at the Nou Camp back in September, the only defeat Barca have suffered in the league this season, and they made life tough for the visitors until Pedro struck just before the break.
World player of the year Messi scored twice in as many minutes at the end after the hosts were reduced to 10 men following a second yellow card for Francisco Farinos in the 85th.
Barca moved on to 58 points from 21 games, pulling seven clear of second-placed Real Madrid who visit lowly Osasuna on Sunday.
“Scoring just before the break helped us a lot but 1-0 is always a dangerous scoreline, any lost ball can put you in danger. The red card for Farinos helped us a lot,” Barca coach Pep Guardiola told reporters.
It could have been a different story at the Rico Perez if David Trezeguet had been able to put away a good chance in the 20th minute, as Hercules unsettled the visiting defence.
Barca were knocked out of their stride until Xavi picked out Pedro in the area and the Spain forward thumped a shot inside the near post, scoring for a sixth consecutive league game.
They took the sting out of the encounter after the break but were unable to settle the match until Farinos was sent off and Messi, who had had a poor game by his standards, skipped through to score in the 87th.
Two minutes later, Dani Alves crossed for the Argentine to tap in Barca’s third goal, taking his league tally for the season to 21 behind Real’s Cristiano Ronaldo on 22.

Bollywood star slams tax evasion speculation

MUMBAI: Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra has rubbished claims she has not declared her full earnings to Indian authorities as “malicious rumours” after a raid on her home amid suspicions of tax evasion.
“We deny the many malicious rumours being spread in the media on the basis of some unidentified sources,” a spokesman for the actress was quoted as saying by the domestic Press Trust of India news agency.

Chopra was cooperating fully with the income tax department and would make no further comment until the investigations were complete, the spokesman added.
Tax officials in Mumbai raided the homes and offices of Chopra and fellow actress Katrina Kaif, prompting claims in the Indian media that the popular actresses had not fully declared their assets.
Kaif issued a similar statement through her chartered accountant, saying she was “disturbed” at similar speculation.

Ski competition brings normalcy back to beautiful Swat

ISLAMABAD: The spectacular week-long skiing competition held at the picturesque Malam Jabba Ski resort marked the revival of tourism in the scenic valley of Swat that was once termed the ‘Switzerland of Pakistan’ but fell into the hands of militants, thus damaging its trade and travel activity for a couple of years.
Swat’s Pioneer Skiing School, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and the Provincial Relief, Rehabilitation and Settlement Authority (Parrsa) jointly organized the Peace Ski Gala 2011, which concluded today.
Eight teams, including Swat Red Club, Swat Green Club, Swat Tiger Club, Malakand Division Club, Hazara Division Club, Swat Blue Club, and Swat Shaheen Club participated in the event which was attended by hundreds of skiing enthusiasts.
The event organizers hoped the successful completion of the gala would once again bring the focus back on Swat as it dusts its self off and looks ahead to a future without the bombings and the threat of militancy.
“We have organised this event to let the world know that the situation has come back to normal with peace prevailing in Swat. Swat is no longer off-limits,” said president of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Ski Association Mateeullah Khan.
The Malam Jabba resort, which was captured by militants in 2006 and later destroyed,  has now been rebuilt by the Pakistan army and is fully operational. But the damaged chairlifts, installed by the Austrian government in 1988, are yet to be fixed and caused some discomfort to participants.
“I feel very good but it is very hard this time. There is no chairlift to take up the players or hotel to accommodate participants,” Zafar Ali Shah, who won a gold medal in Piece Downhill Senior, told Central Asia Online.
But all in all, it seemed locals and foreigners alike were pleased to see the steady stream of activity that the gala brought to the tourism hub of Pakistan.

Tourism constitutes a significant source of income for Swat and its residents. Prior to activities being interrupted by militancy, Swat and its environs attracted a good number of visitors from across the world as well as other parts of Pakistan. The area was in particular favoured by trekkers and mountaineers.

Year of the World Cup infuses new spirit into cricket

A study of the rise and fall of cricket teams at the highest level clearly shows that these phenomena are cyclical. Staying at the top of the heap is not an easy task. Over the years South Africa, England, West Indies and the Australians have all had mind boggling teams.

Pakistan and India have also had their moments of glory but after each rise to the top it seems inevitable that a drop will follow. The recently completed Ashes series proves this point emphatically. Pakistan therefore should take heart from this and be assured that their stay at the lower end of the rung will not be for ever.
As the man said ‘this too shall pass’. The reaction of the Australian press and its ex-greats could have been predicted.
Quite naturally when the team does not perform up to the high expectations that have become the norm, all the elements that go to make a strong team come into question; domestic cricket structure, domestic tournaments and of course the selection committee.
The one point which we in Pakistan must note is that none of the harsh criticism about the Australian team has been laid at the doorstep of the president of the ACB. This proves that their system follows the maxim of authority and responsibility being correctly apportioned. The CEO has received some flack but the main recipient of the fall out was the chief selector.
Whilst one can argue about the reasons that bring about this rise and fall in my view the main contributing reason is the difficulty in breaking a winning combination. Human nature makes the selectors stick with top-class players just that bit longer than they should. Who says that the job is easy!!!
The Pakistan team has so far performed creditably in New Zealand.
Winning an away Test series is never easy. Their start of the ODIs has not been very encouraging but it is early days and one hopes that they will improve. The real success has been that the team has stayed away from controversy.
I believe that the lack of a decision about the captain for the World Cup has affected the performance of the players. It is obvious that both Misbah and Afridi have loyalists in the team and indecision in this matter must be having its impact.
Why am I not surprised that our inveterate much-travelling chairman has made sure that he also visits New Zealand in his tenure on the pretext of choosing a captain? These days when modern communication technology can ensure face to face interviews on Skype it is a weak excuse that personal input by the players and team management to the chairman was essential for this decision.
The Pakistan fifteen in the absence of our errant players lacks fire power. It lacks maturity and proven class in the middle order and the opener who was at last beginning to perform has been inexplicably sidelined.
The batting will depend hugely on Younis Khan and the hope that the young players come good. The bowling department has good spinners but the choice of Shoaib Akhtar is very optimistic. On subcontinental wickets I cannot see him being a force. Notwithstanding his abilities to reverse swing, the ball change after thirty-five overs leaves him a very small window. I hope as we all do that the team does well but progress beyond the quarter-finals would be hoping for too much. I would sincerely like to be proved wrong.
My forecast for the final four in the World Cup would be: England, India, Sri Lanka and Australia. Let me assure the readers that these names have not been just picked out of a hat. England has consciously gone about rebuilding their team.
The Ashes has proved that they have peaked at the right time for Test cricket. The ODI series in Australia will provide them a good work up to the World Cup. They have a balanced side with good batting backed by a young group of fast and medium fast bowlers and one good spinner. Their fielding is very good and thus the total makes a winning package. India is certainly a very potent force especially playing at home.
If they have a problem it is that their players have played too much cricket and some of their big guns have been selected in spite of carrying injuries which could become a problem. Sri Lanka is the quiet performer whose cricket is based on arguably some of the best technical players in the game today. This is due to their schools still being the nurseries for almost all their players where formal coaching is prevalent. The team has some fine bowlers who are backed by excellent fielding. Australia makes my last four. I for one will not write them off. They are a fighting unit that has some great and some very good players.
The likes of Ponting and Clarke just have too much class not to come good. I believe South Africa deserves a mention even though I do not see them in the semi-finals. Whatever the reason this team does have a history of missing the killer instinct. The team seems to now be under pressure from this reputation and tends to tense up at critical moments. This carried load makes me opine that they may not make it.

Sachin blasts critics over retaining No. 1 spot

Sachin Tendulkar has blasted critics and detractors who doubted Team India's ability to retain the No 1 world Test ranking soon after they achieved it more than a year ago. The Little Master added that the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side still being on top of the table was proof of the team's calibre.Many people thought we would be on top for only 30-40 days when we achieved the no 1 spot in Tests (beating Sri Lanka at home) as the South Africa series (at home) was next. After losing the first Test at Nagpur we heard we will lose the no 1 spot. But after more than a year we are still standing there. In this competitive era it is fantastic," said Tendulkar at the Castrol Awards function here.


Tendulkar received three awards the Indian Cricketer of the year (2009-10 season), the Test Cricketer of the year and a special award for completing 50 Test tons. In all, he received cash awards to the tune of Rs 9 lakh.

Tendulkar said the team faced many challenges after securing numero uno status and lauded the entire team as well as coach Gary Kirsten.

"I feel extremely proud to be part of this team. To get there (to the no 1 spot) was not easy. We had to face a lot of challenges and stood together supporting each other. We had to work hard. Gary brought a remarkable change in the squad. All batsmen have performed well since 2007," Tendulkar said in an indirect dig at former coach Greg Chappell.

Tendulkar also admitted that his slump in form prior to what is generally described as his "second innings" in his remarkable career was due to the change in his back swing due to the spate of injuries for which he needed four surgeries.

"I underwent four surgeries and each one took four to four and a half months to recover which changed my back swing. But since 2007, I am feeling good and not had any major injuries," he said.

preity zinta beauty secrets and biography

Preity Zinta, the dimpled beauty, is one of those popular faces that is dominating the Bollywood industry at present. Coming from the mountain region of Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, Preity Zinta is the perfect blend of smart mind and worldly wisdom, which is rare. She has proved herself in Hindi cinema in spite of being an outsider to Bollywood. She is capable of making her characters lively, through her acting skills. Her good looks, spontaneity, smartness and intelligence earned her a name, fame and recognition in Bollywood.

Personal Life of Preity Zinta:
Preity Zinta was born on 31st January in 1975 to a Hindu Rajput family at Shimla in Himachal Pradesh. Durganand Zinta, her father was in the Indian Army. When she was just thirteen, her father died in a car accident; Nilprabha, her mother, was severely injured in the accident and was bed ridden for 2 years. Her father's untimely demise along with her mother's sickness made Preity a grown up girl, when she was young. She has two brothers, Manish and Deepankar. Deepankar is in the Indian Army and Manish lives in Los Angeles.



Career of Preity Zinta:
Preity Zinta, a graduate in psychology, got selected for Shekhar Kapoor's ( a reputed director) movie 'Tara Rum Pum Pum', opposite Hrithik Roshan (one of the best actors of Bollywood), but, the film got stooped midway. However, Preity Zinta finally stepped into Bollywood through 'Dil S'e. Though she acted in movies such as 'Soldier' and 'Kya Kehna'. With the delayed release of those two movies, 'Dil Se' became her first acting venture as per bollywood norms. It was quite an unusual movie for debut, as her screen appearnace lasted for only 20 minutes. This film also starred Shahrukh Khan and Manisha Koirala, two popular actors of bollywood. It is to be noted here that she played the lead for ths first time in the movie 'Soldier', opposite Bobby Deol, which was a record hit at box office. Apart from acting in Bollywood, she has also acted in English and Telugu movies. Some of her popular Bollywood movies are 'Lakshya', 'Veer Zaara', 'Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna', 'Dil Ne Jise Apna Kaha', 'Koi Mil Gaya', 'Armaan', 'Salaam Namaste', 'Dil Chahta Ha', 'Chori Chori Chupke Chupke' and 'Sangharsh'. She has already proved her versatility by playing different type of characters.

Awards received by Preity Zinta:
Preity Zinta won the Filmfare Best Actress Award for her outstanding performance in 'Soldier' and 'Dil Se'. She has been nominated for popular awards of Hindi cinema, in nearly every year, in the category of Best Actress.

In the year 2004, Preity Zinta has joined the line up of South Asia's commentators for famous BBC News Online. Continue browsing sitagita.com, to know about other popular female actors in Bollywood. 

Sleepy Shahid Kapoor in Priyanka Chopra’s house!!

It was around 7.30 am in the morning when IT officials went in for a raid at Priyanka Chopra’s residence in Versova and Oops!! It was not sexy Priyanka Chopra who greeted them but it was her great friend Shahid Kapoor who opened the door for them in mere shorts looking sleepy and shocked.

The IT officials were equally shocked and for a moment, they thought they had raided the wrong sixth floor apartment in Classic Building on Yari Road but then they realized….

Now, obviously Shahid could not leave immediately. So, he stayed there for sometime and later left the house after getting dressed. It came out later that Shahid had spent the night at Priyanka’s place and she had come from walking the ramp at a fashion show for Shabana Azmi. The two are trying to spend as much time together before PC starts the promotions for her movie Saat Khoon Maaf.

A senior I-T official confirmed that nearly 70 officers drawn from various units raided 12 properties belonging to Chopra and Katrina Kaif yesterday in connection with alleged tax evasion. The officials sealed 12 lockers and verification of documents continued till late in the evening. Officials said many documents were seized from Chopra’s residence, which was created by merging five flats. The residence of Capt Dr Ashok Chopra, the former Miss World’s father, at Lokhandwala was also raided.

“The actresses have done many stage shows abroad. They took more money by cheque to get more exemption and then returned some of it in cash after returning to India. The said money is not reflected in their I-T returns,” said an officer. “The raids are still continuing,” said I-T Director General (investigation) B P Gaur.

All we can now think of is the statement Shahid Kapoor gave on a popular chat show barely a month ago saying, “If I woke up as Priyanka Chopra one day, I would wonder what I was doing in Shahid Kapoor’s bedroom and then walk over to my flat in the next wing.”

The only fifference here is that here Shahid Kapoor wakes up in Priyanka Chopra’s bedroom!!

Veena Malik defends herself from criticism by mullahs

Pakistani actress Veena Malik set the temperatures in the drawing room high with her skimpy dresses and oh-so-hot intimacy with Ashmit Patel in the latest season of ‘Big Boss’. Since returning from India, Malik has been constantly under fire for allegedly misrepresenting Pakistani women, Islam and Pakistani culture on the show.

She has been vehemently criticized by the orthodox community for vulgarity on the show and Mufti Abdul Kawi went on to snub her as “baigharat” (immoral) on a talk show on television. “You tell me is you conscience clear that you didn”t bring a bad name to Pakistan and Islam and that you behaved inappropriate to our religious and cultural values,” Maulana Qavi asked her on the show.

However, not the one to take down criticisms so easily, Veena Malik took the mullahs to task and even said that if she were in the wrong, so was Abdul Kawi because Islam doesn’t permit a man to cast a second look at a woman who isn’t his relative.

“One can be punished for looking at a woman a second time, you should be punished,” Malik told the Mufti on Express News’ Frontline show.

Malik defines her experience in the show as a “beautiful, terrible, exciting, emotional, sad” journey and said, “I belong to the entertainment industry and I went with my agenda. I wanted to show the world that there are other types of Pakistanis too, not just those who are in the news for terror acts.”

She defended her behavior and clothes saying, “It isn’t a religious show either. The format of the show is to get people from various walks of life under one roof… I was contacted for my bravery. I wasn’t even representing office-going women of Pakistan. I was a Pakistani from the entertainment industry. I wore only clothes that I have worn in Pakistan before. I was representing myself… and I am like this only.”

Aisam trains with women’s wheelchair champ

UNDP Ambassador of Goodwill, Pakistan’s tennis star Aisam-ul-Haq received appreciation in Australia when he went on court to train with the women’s wheel chair tennis champion Esther Verger at the Melbourne Park Tennis Complex on Monday.

Aisam was deeply impressed with the track record of Verger, the wheelchair tennis champion, who won an amazing 401 tennis matches without a loss. A record that dates all the way back to 2003, including the fact that Verger has never lost a singles match in a Grand Slam competition.

“I was shocked,” said Aisam. “What an amazing achievement in our sport. She is an inspiration. I told my coach that I wanted to meet her [Verger] and find out how she has managed to achieve so much.”

The fact that Aisam wants to help improve wheelchair tennis, impresses Verger.

 “I think that is amazing. He is already spreading the message of peace through tennis and wheelchair tennis is part of that because wheelchair tennis is going to be big, especially for the soldiers from wars.”

“In my rehab centre I got introduced to sports when I was eight years old, I became paralysed after an accident,” explains Verger.            

Aisam and Verger enjoyed a ‘hit and giggle’ then Verger invited the current world No. 18 doubles player to try playing tennis in a wheelchair, which he accepted.

“He’s an awesome tennis player so he’s able to hit the ball well, but then if he needed to push or go from left to right [in the wheelchair] he had some problems; but it took me 20 years to get at this level, so it was good,” Verger said.

Aisam and Rohan Bopanna, known as Pak-Indian tennis express are trying to remind people that sport is a universal language that facilitates dialogue – which they are promoting through their humanitarian campaign Stop War! Start Tennis.

Aisam and Rohan crashed out of the Australian Open in the third round after losing to Nanad Zimonjic of Serbia & Michael Llodra of France 3-6 7-6 7-6.

The Side Effects of Bodybuilding Supplements

Many body builders turn to discount bodybuilding supplements in order to achieve more noticeable results in a shorter amount of time. In addition, supplements can help to maintain energy levels so that workouts can be longer and more effective. However, both brand name and discount supplements can cause side effects, which should be considered before starting a supplement regimen.

One of the most popular bodybuilding supplements is creatine. Creatine monohydrate is used to increase muscle fullness and body mass. It also helps in shortening the recovery time after an intense workout. Creatine can cause your muscles to retain water, which can lead to dehydration in some people. Also, there might be up to a five pound weight gain during the first week. There are no major known side effects of taking creatine, but some people experience gas, bloating or diarrhea during the first few weeks of use.

Glutamine is taken by those who are doing frequent intense workouts. It is an amino acid that occurs naturally in your muscles, and it also works to help maintain your immune system. It can become depleted through diet or hard workouts, and a supplement can help to keep up immune response. There have been no reported side effects.

Andro supplements have received a lot of negative press as androstenedione is banned at the Olympics. However, andro supplements are not illegal and many believe they help build muscle mass and strength. Andro supplements cause an increase in female sex hormones. When taken by men, it can cause breast growth as well as a decreased sex drive. It also increases the risk of heart disease.

Caffeine is used to burn fat in a way that discourages fatigue. It can increase concentration and some feel it helps with motivation. It also has an effect on muscle contraction. It can be easy to take too much caffeine because many people also drink soda, coffee, or eat chocolate while taking the supplements. If too much caffeine is consumed, side effects include heart palpitations, nervousness, irritability, dehydration and diarrhea.

As with any type of medication or vitamin, you should make yourself aware of the possible side effects of the drug to determine whether the benefits of taking it outweigh any negative outcomes. While many supplements do not have any side effects, some have side effects which should make you think twice before purchasing them. All it takes is a little bit of research and you should be able to take supplements without having to worry about any unwanted results.

FREE BEAUTY TIPS

This is your year to look and feel like you belong in a beauty pageant. You will discover in these pages more than the usual celebrity talent search makeup tricks for hair, skin, and eyes. Prepare yourself for a complete makeover as you discover the inner world of true beauty as we dispense tips and advice on every aspect of beauty from homemade remedy to beauty pageant secrets. Our free tips and advice will work whether your skin is Asian, African American, Indian, or a light complexion. The free beauty tips, advice and secrets contained here are for the mature woman as well as the teen girl still facing the trials of acne.

The information contained here goes past the normal focus of teaching women how to apply their makeup, do their eyebrows, or fix their hair. We will deal with our inner attitudes, how we treat others, our posture, and our diet. We will guide you how to get the most out of what you have and how to find what you might be missing and camouflage what you have more than you need.

Blaming Afridi for defeat absurd: Sallu

KARACHI: Former Test cricketer and chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed Sallu on Monday said blaming skipper Shahid Afridi for Pakistan’s poor show in the first ODI at Wellington is unjust as the whole team had flopped badly to hand convincing win to the Kiwis.

Talking to Dawn, Sallu pointed out that Afridi had scored 601 runs with two centuries and had a strike rate of 144 in 2010, coupled with 19 wickets in the ODIs, and it was unfair to blame him solely for a single defeat at Wellington.

“A few former cricketers are putting the blame squarely on Afridi because they have an axe to grind with the all-rounder,” said Sallu.

“They are also citing Afridi’s performance in the recently concluded 20-20 series against the Kiwis but then they should also consider that it was his bowling (4-14) that was key to Pakistan’s victory in the last Twenty20 game.”

Not mincing any words about Afridi’s critics, Sallu said the agenda of these handful of ex-cricketers was quite obvious to everyone.

“May I ask these critics what was the performance of our openers and middle order batsmen in the first ODI, barring Misbah-ul-Haq?

“All others including opener Mohammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq and Umar Akmal have been in New Zealand for the past three weeks and well acclimatised with the conditions, and yet they failed to score even 40 runs between them.

“These critics must realise that one-day cricket is not a single wicket competition and blaming an individual for the defeat is quite absurd,” argued Sallu.

“Can the detractors of Afridi tell me how any team could defend a small 125-run target, and that too on a field that had short boundaries? Even Sir Gary Sobers would find it difficult to defend this total in a Twenty20 game, let alone a fifty over match.”

Sallu also criticised senior bowler Shoaib Akhtar who conceded as many as 47 runs in just 4 overs to nearly settle the contest in the hosts` favour.

“Shoaib’s spell is hard to defend and I would even suggest that it would be better if spinners are introduced sooner in the innings since the New Zealanders are traditionally vulnerable to spin,” said Sallu.

“There are another five games to be played and I am confident that Afridi and his boys will come back strongly in the series.”

SRK, Salman’s love-hate saga

Way back in the 1990s Bollywood’s future superstars hung out together. Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan called each other ‘brothers’. Cut to 2000s. Salman says ‘SRK and I can never be friends’ and SRK says ‘Salman and I don’t talk which is absolutely right.’ Here is how things went from good                            ,Salman Khan debuts in 1988 with Maine Pyaar Kiya while SRK is struggling to land his debut film Deewana (1992). He befriends Salman. The two become close.
1995 — Salman and SRK work together in Rakesh Roshan'sKaran Arjun. For the first time, the two look at each other as ‘competitors’ and not friends.

1998 — The two work together in Karan Johar's super hit Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. While receiving the award for the Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Salman says, “I hope Shah Rukh supports me for the rest of my life.”

2000 — Shah Rukh Khan makes a guest appearance in Salman Khan-starrer Har Dil jo Pyaar Karega.
2002 — They star together in Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam which releases in the early part of the year. A few months later Salman storms the sets of Shah Rukh's home production Chalte Chalte, which starred his then-girlfriend Aishwarya Rai. Eyewitnesses reported that Sallu and SRK almost came to fist fighting. Ash lost the film and a cold war broke out between the Khans.

2004 — Salman hugs Shah Rukh at filmmaker Farah Khan’s pre wedding bash in Mumbai. The two have an emotional reunion. They become friends again.

2007 — Shah Rukh asks Salman to make a guest appearance in Om Shanti Om. Salman reportedly asks him to do a role in Main Aur Mrs Khanna. Salman agrees, but Shah Rukh turns down the offer.

2008 — No one knows what happened on Katrina Kaif’s birthday bash, but the night is said to be the final nail in the coffin. While Kat was seen leaving the party in tears, Gauri is said to have dragged husband Shah Rukh away before the two actors could beat each other up. Conspiracy theorists say that SRK made inappropriate comments about Ash.

2008 — Shah Rukh says in an interview that Salman got angry because he turned down Main Aur Mrs Khanna. Salman says he never offered him the film, adding, “Shah Rukh was like my brother. He used to call me sir, sir during his struggling days.”

2009 — Salman says, “I have seen SRK go from door to door asking for work. He has become a different person now.” The two avoid each other at the premiere of Aamir Khan’s 3 Idiots, pictures show Salman glaring at SRK.

2010 — Salman says “Only God can come and make us friends again, and that is not happening.” Shah Rukh says they’re happy being in their own spaces.

2011 — Shah Rukh says on a chat show, “If Salman is angry with me, it is 100% my fault.” Salman retorts, saying SRK’s apology was for TRPs.  

Many online communities have appealed to SRK and Salman to make peace. A community called Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan to b friends has 1,794 members with pictures of the two actors in happier times. One comment reads, “Shahrukh and Salman my fav actors and i hope they still work together. “I hope you come together in real life," reads another comment.

Govinda’s daughter Narmmadaa Ahuja ready to act

Bollywood News:  It seems Bollywood has become all about Generation Next. Last year Shatrughan’s buxom daughter Sonakshi made a splash in Dabangg. This year may well be the turn of Govinda’s little girl Narmmadaa Ahuja, who is all set to star in as many as three films – a love story, a romantic comedy and a pure comedy. But the star kid is tightlipped about her debut project. All she will say is a cool and correct “I’m happy to work with a well known production house in this romantic comedy”. And what about her leading man in the film? “My co-star is not a newcomer. I can’t reveal any other detail,” says a reticent Ahuja, who has studied action at the Kishore Namit Kapoor Institute in Mukmbai and the London Film Institute. That’s all very well. But does Bollywood Actor Govinda’s gudiya have daddy’s comic gene intact? We can’t wait to find out.

Anushka spits on Akshay’s face

Bollywood News: Bollywood Actress Anushka Sharma seems to be in the happiest phase of her life. The pretty lady is quite satisfied with the way her filmy career and personal life are shaping up. Anushka who started her Bollywood journey with King Khan in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, didn’t leave that great an impression on the audience in Badmaash Company withShahid Kapoor .

But her last film, Band Baaja Baaraat covered up for all the complaints and past failures and turned out to be the best out of all the films that she has done so far. Anushka who has just completed her film Patiala House with Akshay Kumar is waiting for its release in February. The actress had a great time shooting with the one and only Khiladi, but also admits to have been quite nervous on her first day

NEW BMW MOTORRAD BIKE

BMW MOTORRAD RECALLS NORTH AMERICA MADE F650, F800 AND G650 MOTORCYCLES After cars, it is motorcycle recall time for BMW. The German car and motorcycle maker, which just recalled the BMW 1 Series Coupe sometime ago is saddled with a new recall. In the past, BMW Motorrad recalled 122,000 motorcycles with braking issues. Now, another new problem has manifested, although in a lesser measure in terms of number of motorcycles affected. The latest recall involves two potentially life threatening issues.

Number one: A potential roll gear pin’s mounting attachment failure leading to it breaking. This could happen on the 2007 and 2008 G 650 models leading to the rear wheel of these motorcycle locking up. If this does happen, a crash is most likely.

Number two: The drive chain may snap in the 2008 and 2009 F 650 GS and F 800 GS models resulting in the rear wheel locking up as fragments of the chain might get entangled in the sprocket. this also could lead to a very nasty crash.

To make sure that all is well with these motorcycles, BMW Motorrad is recalling these motorcycles which have been manufactured at it’s North American plant. Lets hope that the problems get sorted out at the earliest before it claims or maims a precious life.

Billiard & Snooker

Snooker:

A game of snooker consists of at least three frames and begins with 22 balls on the table: the cue ball, 15 red balls (1 point each), one yellow (2 points), one green (3 points), one brown (4 points), one blue (5 points), one pink (6 points) and one black (7 points).

Points are built up by pocketing - hitting a ball into a corner or side pocket on the table. Players must pocket a red ball first, followed by a coloured ball of choice.

When all 15 red balls have been cleared from the table, a player must pocket the coloured balls in order of value, starting with the lowest (yellow).

The winner of a frame is the player with the highest point total from pocketed balls and fouls once the table has been cleared. Unless a break begins with a free ball, the maximum any player can score from one visit to a table is 147, which is only possible if a player pockets a black after every red ball.

Billiards:

In a standard game of billiards, a player scores points by pocketing balls and may continue shooting until a shot, or pocket is missed

                                                                                                                                                               Rules

Billiards, carom, pool and snooker are all games played between two players on a special table covered in green baize. Players use a cue to strike the cue ball with the aim of hitting other balls or pocketing them.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Trailer

Brace yourselves for the beginning of the end, 'Potter' fans. The first 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' trailer is online, and, while it's more of a teaser (with a running time of less than a minute), it does give us a crucial glimpse into the look and feel of the final two cinematic chapters in the boy-wizard saga. the beginning of the end, 'Potter' fans. The first'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' trailer is online, and, while it's more of a teaser (with a running time of less than a minute), it does give us a crucial glimpse into the look and feel of the final two cinematic chapters in the boy-wizard saga.It begins with Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) asking a Mr. Ollivander (John Hurt), "What do you know about the Deathly Hallows?" With an air of foreboding in his voice, Ollivander answers, "It is rumoured there are three. To possess them all is to make oneself immortal." 

We get flashes of a lonely house by the beach, a goblin, Hermione (Emma Watson) with bloodied hands, an unconscious Harry, a flight through the forest, and the uncovering of a gravestone that reads Ignotus Peverell, as well as Harry, Hermione and Ron hiding among the Muggles. The teaser ends with Ollivander warning, "You really don't stand a chance."

The first installment hits cinemas on November 19 (a mere 318 days from now), but fans will have to wait until July 15, 2011 for 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II' to give them the epic Harry-Voldemort showdown ... as well as a little thing called closure.

India-Pakistan border match gains support

MELBOURNE: India`s Rohan Bopanna and Pakistani Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi on Thursday urged their governments to allow a tennis match across their heavily fortified border, as support grows for the symbolic event.

Bopanna and Aisam, the “Indo-Pak Express” who hope their doubles partnership can help their bitterly divided countries, said the initiative was now backed by the world tennis body and an international peace group.

The pair are pushing for a match using a net strung across the famed Wagah border crossing, as part of their “Stop War Start Tennis” campaign. India and Pakistan have had three wars since the end of British colonial rule.

Qureshi said the International Tennis Federation (ITF) had thrown its support behind the scheme, along with Peace and Sport, a non-governmental organisation run by Prince Albert of Monaco.

“A lot of good things have been achieved, the ITF is now supporting this and Peace and Sport is also supporting this,” Aisam said.

“The letters have gone to both the prime minister and president of both countries.

“It is a political issue and there are a lot of security concerns, so we are just hoping that the governments will give us the green light so we can play that match on the border.”

Aisam and Bopanna, who were finalists at last year`s US Open, are confident of a positive response from their respective governments.

“Things are going in the right direction,” Aisam said.

“Last year, at the US Open, both the UN Ambassadors for Pakistan and India came and watched our matches, which was a huge thing and they are supporting the cause as well.

“Things are going in the right direction, we just have to keep playing our matches and get more and more publicity on the bigger occasions.

“Hopefully it will happen this year.”

ITALIA - Ferrari’s innovative new V8

ITALIA - Ferrari’s innovative new V8

The 458 Italia is the latest incarnation of the mid-rear engined berlinetta and will be unveiled at the next Frankfurt Motor Show

Maranello, July 28th 2009 – While it’s true that every Ferrari is innovative by definition, it’s equally true that in the course of the Prancing Horse’s history, certain cars have marked a genuine departure from the current range. This is very much the case with the Ferrari 458 Italia, which is a massive leap forward from the company’s previous mid-rear engined sports cars.

The new model is a synthesis of style, creative flair, passion and cutting-edge technology, characteristics for which Italy as a nation is well-known. For this reason Ferrari chose to add the name of its homeland to the traditional figure representing the displacement and number of cylinders.

The Ferrari 458 Italia is a completely new car from every point of view: engine, design, aerodynamics, handling, instrumentation and ergonomics, just to name a few.

A two-seater berlinetta, the Ferrari 458 Italia, as is now traditional for all Ferrari’s road-going cars, benefits hugely from the company’s Formula 1 experience. This is particularly evident in the speed and precision with which the car responds to driver inputs and in the attention focused on reducing internal friction in the engine for lower fuel consumption than the F430, despite the fact that both overall displacement and power have increased. However, Ferrari’s track experience makes its presence felt in the 458 Italia not only in terms of pure technological transfer but also on a more emotional level, because of the strong emphasis on creating an almost symbiotic relationship between driver and car. The 458 Italia features an innovative driving environment with a new kind of steering wheel and dashboard that is the direct result of racing practice. Once again input from Michael Schumacher - who was involved from the very start of the 458 Italia project - played an invaluable part.

The Ferrari 458 Italia’s Pininfarina design provides further evidence of the complete departure from the past that this new car hails. The Ferrari 458 Italia has a compact, aerodynamic shape, underscoring the concepts of simplicity, efficiency and lightness that inspired the project. As with every Ferrari, the car’s styling has been very heavily influenced by the requirements for aerodynamic efficiency, as can be seen from the downforce of 140 kg at 200km/h generated by the new model. The front features a single opening for the front grille and side air intakes, with aerodynamic sections and profiles designed to direct air to the coolant radiators and the new flat underbody. The nose also sports small aeroelastic winglets which generate downforce and, as speed rises, deform to reduce the section of the radiator inlets and cut drag.

The new 4499 cc V8 is the first Ferrari direct injection engine to be mid-rear mounted. It has a very low piston compression height typical of racing engines which contributed to achieving its compression ratio of 12.5:1. Equipped with the traditional flat-plane crankshaft, the engine delivers 570 CV at 9000 rpm and, with an outstanding power output of 127 CV/litre, sets a new benchmark not only for the whole Ferrari range and the history of company, but also for the entire market segment. Maximum torque is 540 Nm at 6000 rpm, over 80 per cent of which is available from 3250 rpm. Specific torque is a record 120 Nm/litre. However, what is truly extraordinary is the amount of torque available while still maintaining high levels of power at low revs.

The car’s soundtrack is also typical Ferrari, with an exciting, powerful growl emerging from the engine before it channels through to the exhaust’s three rear tailpipes.

The 458 Italia is equipped with the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission which increases performance whilst providing very smooth shifts even at full throttle. The engineers have developed specific, sportier gear ratios to match the power and torque curves of the new V8, guaranteeing high torque even at lower engine speeds and allowing the car to reach its maximum speed in top gear.

This new Ferrari is also a major leap forward when it comes to cutting emissions. Despite the fact that the new engine is significantly more powerful than the V8s that preceded it, the Ferrari 458 Italia produces just 320 g/km of CO2 and fuel consumption is 13.7 l/100 km (combined cycle), the best in the entire segment.

The engineers also focused on weight reduction during the design phase for similar reasons. Consequently, the Ferrari 458 Italia has a dry weight of 1380 kg with a power-to-weight ratio of 2.42 kg/CV. Weight distribution is also optimal with 58 per cent over the rear axle. The result of the engineers’ endeavours can be summed up in to two simple statistics which together perfectly encapsulate the Ferrari 458 Italia’s exceptional performance: 0-100 km/h acceleration in under 3.4 seconds and a maximum speed in excess of 325 km/h.

For the new chassis, once more in aluminium, Maranello’s engineers incorporated various types of advanced alloys along with aerospace industry-derived manufacturing and bonding techniques.

With regard to vehicle dynamics, the Ferrari 458 Italia’s suspension features twin wishbones at the front and a multi-link set-up at the rear tuned for maximum roadholding and superlative handling. Along with a more direct steering ratio, the 458 Italia thus offers extremely rapid turn-in and body control whilst maintaining superior ride comfort.

The integration of the E-Diff and F1-Trac (now controlled by the same ECU) and their respective mappings is even greater, resulting in a 32 per cent increase in longitudinal acceleration out of corners compared to previous models. The evolution of the control logic, with even faster and more accurate calculation of levels of grip, ensures even greater roadholding, better handling and ease of control on the limit.

The same ECU also governs the high-performance ABS, providing even more precise control over the logic threshold and greater efficiency. The brakes also feature a prefill function whereby the pistons in the callipers move the pads into contact with the discs on lift off to minimise delay in the brakes being applied. This combined with the ABS has cut the 100-0 km/h braking distance to a mere 32.5 metres. 

Shakira was my inspiration, says Katrina

The famous Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif says she got her inspiration from pop icon Shakira for her sizzling item song ‘Shiela Ki Jawani’ for her latest filmTees Maar Khan.

The reporters pestered with questions about her resemblance to pop icon Shakira, and she politely said that she can only dream of comparisons. She says, “I can only dream of such comparisons. To be very frank, I drew inspiration from her. If my dance in the song ‘Shiela Ki Jawani’ reminds the viewers of Shakira, it is a huge  for me.” She is currently in Kolkatta promoting Tees Maar Khan.

She is praising director Farah Khan and gave her all the credit for the huge success of this song. She added, “We have worked hard for this song. But the credit goes to Farah Khan and her conceptualization of the song. She is a brilliant choreographer.”

Tees Maar Khan is directed by Farah Khan and is set to release on December 24. It is already hitting the headlines for this new item song ‘Shiela Ki Jawani’, which features Katrina.

When asked Katrina about her role in the movie she says, “My role is of an aspiring actress, she is not very aggressive as it looked in the song. She is very naïve and sweet. She is the of Akshay in this film. She gets herself into trouble because of her own stupidity. Its’ a fun character.”

This complete movie revolves around Tarbez Mirza Khan, who is a criminal played by Akshay Kumar. His girlfriend Anya played by Katrina gets a of robbing  worth Rs. 500 crore from a huge guarded environment. This film is an action comedy.

Ranbir Kapoor voted as the Sexiest Asian Man

The Rockstar of Bollywood, Ranbir Kapoor has finally clinched the Sexiest Asian Man title, beating some strong competitors like John Abraham and Hrithik Roshan.

This Kapoor scion, who is famous for his high profile romances, topped the survey, which was conducted by the London Weekly, Eastern Eye.

The 28-year-old heartthrob of the nation says, “If the women did not like me I would feel that something is wrong, but it does feel good. I do understand that the fans I have comprise mainly of women, it feels good to be wanted by so many women.”

Meanwhile the editor of Eastern Eye said that the actor had claimed for this title with an overwhelming margin. The editor said, “Usually it is a closely fought contest, where as this year there was only one clear winner. Winning by large margin is remarkable when you take into consideration the very high profile men who were in the list.”

Ranbir made his acting debut with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya. He has been going strong post his launch and has tasted every bit of the commercial success with hits like Rajneeti, Wake Up Sid and Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani.

The Bollywood hunk John Abraham missed this spot and landed second on this. Hrithik Roshan got the third spot while R&B star Jay Sean got the fourth spot.

Surprisingly, the ladylove of Ranbir’s life also topped the list of the hottest women in the world.

Afghan’s women cricketers aim to hit rivals for six

KABUL: In a park where men are banned, surrounded by walls topped with barbed wire in a country embroiled in war, a group of Afghan women play a controversial game – cricket.

Afghanistan’s first national women’s cricket team – whose existence would be inconceivable under the hardline Taliban fighting to regain power – are practising for their international debut.

The team, many of whom play in headscarves, will compete against other female sides from across Asia in a Twenty20 tournament in Kuwait in February.

The Taliban, ousted in a US-led invasion in 2001, outlawed all sport for women – and members of the cricket team say they often encounter opposition from traditionalist Afghan men.

But in the park their enthusiasm for the game is high. Loud cheers ring out as a batswoman is caught by a fielder at mid-wicket off the first ball.

Although the team members were only selected in recent weeks, their coach says they are learning fast in spite of the poor security situation, which can make practice difficult.

“Afghans are always very fond of games but unfortunately they have not got the opportunity (to play because) they have domestic problems,” Hajra Sarwar says, taking a break from umpiring the practice session in the women-only park.

Sexy and Hot Bollywood Actress Priety Zinta Hot Gallery64

Preity Zinta may not be having any movie releases any time soon but the actress has been quite busy. Besides jazzing up the Indian Premiere League, the actress is making the latest Voguecover look good.

Preity Zinta was born on January 31st 1974 in a Rajput family. Her dad Durganand Zinta was an officer in the Indian Army and her mom Nilprabha was a homemaker. The actress has two brothers Deepanker and Manish Zinta. Preity started schooling in Convent of Jesus and Mary School in Shimla, India. Preity was thirteen when her parents met with a tragic accident. Preity lost her Dad while her mom was bedridden. After completing her schooling, Preity pursued criminal psychology at St Bedes College. Preity, who came to Mumbai to pursue her acting career, took modeling as her first step into the glamour world. She hit jackpot wit ‘Liril Soap’ commercial and next she bagged the famous ‘Perk Chocolate’ assignment. Preity auditioned for a couple of big projects and signed three big movies Shekhar Kapoor’s ‘Tara rum Pum Pum’, Mani Ratnam’s ‘Dil Se’ and Abbas Mastan’s ‘Soldier’. Preity, who made an impressive debut, has managed to work with all big banners like Karan Johar, Yash Chopra and Rakesh Roshan

Pakistan announce World Cup squad, captain not named

LAHORE: Pakistan on Tuesday left out experienced batsman Mohammad Yousuf from their final 15-man squad for next month’s cricket World Cup hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
The selectors also surprisingly deferred naming the squad’s captain, raising doubts over whether all-rounder Shahid Afridi will lead the side after Pakistan’s 2-1 defeat in the Twenty20 series against New Zealand last month.

Thirty-six-year-old Yousuf was deemed not fit enough to warrant a place in the squad after he was last month named in the 30-man preliminary team.

His future was thrown into doubt last week after he was omitted from the one-day team due to play a six-match series in New Zealand from January 22 .                                                                                                                   Yousuf retired in protest over an indefinite ban imposed on him by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in March following a disastrous tour of Australia in which Pakistan lost all its matches under his leadership.

However, he came out of retirement in July and was sent to England after his ban was revoked, featuring in the last of four Tests and in the one-day matches.

Yousuf also played the last of five one-day matches against South Africa in Pakistan’s neutral venue series in United Arab Emirates in November before he was forced to pull out of the Tests due to a recurring groin injury.

He has so far scored 9,720 runs in 288 one-day matches, including 386 in World Cup matches in 1999, 2003 and 2007.

With Yousuf’s exclusion the squad is largely inexperienced, with only seven players having featured in previous World Cups.

Afridi, Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Akhtar are the only survivors of Pakistan’s runners-up finish in the 1999 tournament.

Pakistan will be without key players Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer who were all provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on charges of spot-fixing during team’s tour to England last year.

A decision on their case is due on February 5 and the PCB last week said they can be included in the team if absolved.

Another player, Kamran Akmal, who was also under suspicion of match-fixing, was included after being reportedly cleared by the ICC, but all-rounder Shoaib Malik and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria failed to get clearance.

Both Malik and Kaneria, part of the 2007 World Cup team, are also reportedly under suspicion of match-fixing.

Pakistan, who won the World Cup title in 1992, are placed in Group A of the 14-team event to be played between February 19 to April 2. They open their campaign against Kenya at Hambantota on February 23.

Squad: Shahid Afridi, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanveer, Ahmed Shahzad