Aamir is the villain in Dhoom:3

It's official! TOI has learnt from the horses mouth that Aamir Khan will be the villain in Dhoom:3.
Spearheaded by Aditya Chopra, the movie will be directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya (Victor). Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra will continue in their much loved roles of Jai Dixit and Ali. The film will begin shooting end of this year and is slated for a 2012 Christmas release. When contacted, Aamir said, "It is indeed a pleasure to be working with Yashji and Adi again. Dhoom is a great franchise, most entertaining and full of fun. Everytime I hear the theme tune of Dhoom it brings a swing to my step. Victor's script really won me over and I look forward to working with him."

Speaking about Dhoom:3, Yash Chopra adds, "It's a great pleasure to have Aamir working with our banner. I am terribly excited with what an actor like Aamir can bring to the Dhoom franchise with his unique star power and level of performance. Adi and Victor have worked over a year to bring out, what I can now confidently say, is possibly one of the best scripts coming out of our production house."

Source:-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Aamir-is-the-villain-in-Dhoom3/articleshow/7404841.cms

Sachin strikes gold, thief loots it

MUMBAI: On the cricket field, there are very few deliveries that can get past master-blaster Sachin Tendulkar's defence. Off the field, however, things can be different, as Tendulkar learnt to his dismay on Saturday.
Sachin and his brother Nitin collected a gold-plated disc with a coin on behalf of their mother during a programme to release a CD of his late father's poems. But the memento later went missing from Bandra's Rang Sharda auditorium, right from under the Tendulkar brothers' noses.
The organizers later said the value of the memento should not be measured in terms of its monetary value. "A lot of sentiment went into the programme to release the CD of his father Ramesh Tendulkar's poems. And immediately after the CD was released came the release of a book containing poems penned by his brother," an organizer said. "Sachin's mother could not attend the programme because of health reasons and that's why Nitin collected it on her behalf. Just imagine the embarrassment of it all."
The memento, weighing 80 gram, was made partly of gold and was worth Rs 2 lakh, organizers said.
"But it's not the financial value we are bothered about. Instead, it's the sentimental value of the memento that has left us despondent. We appeal to the person who might have found it later to return it as soon as possible," the organizer said, carefully avoiding the "theft" tag.

The FIR that was lodged at Bandra police station, however, was about a case of theft.

Source:-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Sachin-strikes-gold-thief-loots-it/articleshow/7408780.cms

Egypt: Hosni Mubarak gives in, will not continue as president beyond present term

Facing an unprecedented public campaign for his ouster, embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has said he does not intend to run for another term after three decades in power, but refused to bow out immediately.

The 82-year-old leader, facing the worst-ever civil unrest during his rule, said he will ensure a "peaceful transition of power" after elections due in September this year.

"I do not intend to stand for elections again. I will work during my remaining months as president to ensure that steps are taken to ensure the peaceful transition of power," Mubarak said on state television late on Tuesday night as close to one million Egyptians from diverse sections gathered at central Cairo's Tahrir Square in an unprecedented mammoth rally to press him to quit.

Watching his speech on a giant TV, protesters booed and shouted slogan "Go, go, go! We are not leaving until he leaves."

Mubarak, however, lashed out at his detractors for "pouring fuel into the fire" and said his offer of dialogue has been rejected.

"We have been living very painful days together. The events of the past few days require us all - people and leaders - to make the choice between chaos and stability...," he said and concluded his speech by saying that he intends "to die in Egypt".

The protests in Egypt erupted close on the heels of the events in Tunisia, where a popular uprising ended the 23-year reign of Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali.

Mubarak had appeared on television on January 28 and sacked his government. He had named Omar Suleiman, Egypt's military intelligence chief, as the country's new vice-president but the protests only intensified.

His new statement came on Tuesday night as he virtually lost the backing of his strongest ally - the US - with President Barack Obama reportedly sending a message through an envoy to Mubarak not to run for another term.

Meanwhile, Cairo's international airport remained a scene of chaos as thousands of foreigners sought to flee.

Source:-http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/128421/top-stories/mubarak-gives-in-will-not-continue-beyond-present-term.html

Surajkund Crafts Mela 2011

The vibrant Surajkund Mela – 1 February 2011 – 15 February 2011

Surajkund Mela famous for unique Crafts is held annually at Delhi Faridabad Border in Surajkund. The place during this event comes alive with wonderful handloom and handicraft fair. Surajkund Crafts Mela or Surajkund Fair unites skilled artisans from all over India who display the rich crafts tradition of their respective states. The Craftsmen showcase India and its Traditional Handicrafts and Handlooms in a distinctive setting of a rural Indian marketplace. The Vibrant Surajkund Mela also offers variety of colorful cultural programme and rural cuisine..

Though artists from all the states come and display their art however one particular state is focused upon. This year the state selected is Andhra Pradesh. The Surajkund mela attracts lakhs of visitors during this 15 day long event.

How to Reach Surajkund Mela

Surajkund is just 5 Km from Mohan Coperative Industrial Estate Delhi on Mathura Road. Haryana Roadways and DTC buses ply in this route. During Surajkund Mela special buses are run by Haryana roadways to the venue of Surajkund Mela. Metro Services are also available from Central Secretariat till Badarpur via Sarita Vihar and Mohan Estate.

Haryana Roadways Enquiry - 91-11-22961262 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              91-11-22961262      end_of_the_skype_highlightingDTC Local Bus Enquiry - 011 - 23317600 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              011 - 23317600      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Source:- http://www.delhispider.com/resources/3637-Surajkund-Crafts-Mela.aspx

Kalmadi, Lalli in Shunglu panel glare over CWG broadcasting rights

Suresh Kalmadi appears to be in for more trouble after the Shunglu Committee submitted an interim report on Monday on the irregularities in awarding broadcast rights for the Commonwealth Games.

According to top government sources, the sacked Organising Committee chief is likely to come under spotlight because of his alleged links with contractors "favoured" with broadcast rights.

It is learnt that the committee, which submitted the interim report to the Prime Minister's Office, has squarely blamed the suspended Prasar Bharati CEO B. S. Lalli for causing a loss worth Rs 135 crore to the exchequer.

Lalli has been accused of favouring private firms in awarding broadcast contracts for the 14-day sports extravaganza. Lalli is already under suspension on charges of financial irregularities in other cases related to Prasar Bharti.

Officials said the heat on Lalli will also singe Kalmadi as his name has been linked to contractors who outsourced their work.

Prasar Bharati gave a contract worth Rs 246 crore to SIS Live, which is in turn being accused of subletting it to Zoom Communications.

Zoom Communications got the contract for Rs 177 crore but did work for only Rs 111 crore.

Probing these contractors and the opening of the files is likely to lead to Kalmadi's doors, the officials added.

During the course of investigation, Kalmadi may be grilled extensively on the contract terms and whether there were any links of the " favoured" contractors with Kalmadi or any of his close family members and friends.

The panel led by former comptroller and auditor general V. K. Shunglu is racing against time to collaborate and compile all documents related to projects executed by various departments in the run up to the mega sporting event held in October 2010.

The term of the Shunglu panel has been extended till March 31 to allow it to submit a full report on financial irregularities relating to the Games.

The panel's final report will also look into the alleged bungling in awarding of contracts by several government agencies such as the MCD, the NDMC, the DDA, the PWD, the CPWD among others.

Source:- http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/128331/top-stories/gwg-mess-kalmadi-&-lalli-in-shunglu-panel-glare.html

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

Cricket is considered as a religion in India and people are crazy about Cricket, especially in this part of the world. With ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 coming in the year 2011, the game would rise to new levels. If you are a Cricket fan searching for ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 schedule, Cricket World Cup 2011 fixtures, Cricket World Cup 2011 venue and Cricket World Cup 2011 teams, then you need not to go elsewhere as you will get information on Cricket World Cup 2011 fixtures, Cricket World Cup 2011 venue and Cricket World Cup 2011 teams and ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 schedule and every other info about ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 will be the 10th World Cup. Prior to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, 9 Cricket World Cups have been organized by ICC. Australia have emerged winner on the most occasions – 4. Closely following is West Indies, who won the inaugural and the very next World Cup. All the Indian Subcontinent teams – India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have won 1 World Cup each. Australia won in 1987, 1999, 2003 and 2007. West Indies won on 1975 (the first World Cup) and 1979. India won the World Cup in 1983, Pakistan won the World Cup in 1992 and Sri Lanka won in 1996.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 schedule and Cricket World Cup 2011 fixtures: ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 schedule and Cricket World Cup 2011 fixtures are given below.

Match	Date	Teams	Venue
1	19 Feb	India vs Bangladesh	Dhaka
2	20 Feb	New Zealand vs Kenya	Chennai
3	20 Feb	Sri Lanka vs Canada	Hambantota
4	21 Feb	Australia vs Zimbabwe	Ahmedabad
5	22 Feb	England vs Netherlands	Nagpur
6	23 Feb	Pakistan vs Kenya	Hambantota
7	24 Feb	South Africa vs West Indies	New Delhi
8	25 Feb	Australia vs New Zealand	Nagpur
9	25 Feb	Bangladesh vs Ireland	Dhaka
10	26 Feb	Sri Lanka vs Pakistan	Colombo
11	27 Feb	India vs England	Kolkata*
12	28 Feb	West Indies vs Netherlands	New Delhi
13	28 Feb	Zimbabwe vs Canada	Nagpur
14	1 Mar	Sri Lanka vs Kenya	Colombo
15	2 Mar	England vs Ireland	Bangalore
16	3 Mar	South Africa vs Netherlands	Mohali
17	3 Mar	Pakistan vs Canada	Colombo
18	4 Mar	New Zealand vs Zimbabwe	Ahmedabad
19	4 Mar	Bangladesh vs West Indies	Dhaka
20	5 Mar	Sri Lanka vs Australia	Colombo
21	6 Mar	India vs Ireland	Bangalore
22	6 Mar	England vs South Africa	Chennai
23	7 Mar	Kenya vs Canada	New Delhi
24	8 Mar	Pakistan vs New Zealand	Pallekelle
25	9 Mar	India vs Netherlands	New Delhi
26	10 Mar	Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe	Pallekelle
27	11 Mar	West Indies vs Ireland	Mohali
28	11 Mar	Bangladesh vs England	Chittagong
29	12 Mar	India vs South Africa	Nagpur
30	13 Mar	New Zealand vs Canada	Mumbai
31	13 Mar	Australia vs Kenya	Bangalore
32	14 Mar	Pakistan vs Zimbabwe	Pallekelle
33	14 Mar	Bangladesh vs Netherlands	Chittagong
34	15 Mar	South Africa vs Ireland	Kolkata
35	16 Mar	Australia vs Canada	Bangalore
36	17 Mar	England vs West Indies	Chennai
37	18 Mar	Sri Lanka vs New Zealand	Mumbai
38	18 Mar	Ireland vs Netherlands	Kolkata
39	19 Mar	Australia vs Pakistan	Colombo
40	19 Mar	Bangladesh vs South Africa	Dhaka
41	20 Mar	Zimbabwe vs Kenya	Kolkata
42	20 Mar	India vs West Indies	Chennai
43	23 Mar	First Quarterfinal	Dhaka
44	24 Mar	Second Quarterfinal	Colombo
45	25 Mar	Third Quarterfinal	Dhaka
46	26 Mar	Fourth Quarterfinal	Ahmedabad
47	29 Mar	First Semifinal	Colombo
48	30 Mar	Second Semifinal	Mohali
49	02 Apr	FINAL	Mumbai
*To be confirmed. Most probably it would be played in M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru (Bangalore).

Cricket World Cup 2011 venue: With India as the main host of ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, Cricket World Cup 2011 venue includes stadiums of cities like Dhaka, Mumbai, Kolkata, Mohali, Colombo, Chennai, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, chittagong and Bangalore. Cricket World Cup 2011 venue also includes new venues like Pallekelle and Hambantota – both being in Sri Lanka.

Cricket World Cup 2011 teams: Cricket World Cup 2011 teams include 4 times winner Australia, 2 times winners West Indies, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, Netherlands, Canada, Ireland, England and Kenya. Groups in which Cricket World Cup 2011 teams are divided:

Group A – Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya.

Group B – India, South Africa, England, Bangladesh, West Indies, Netherlands and Ireland.

Source:- http://www.cricketworldcup2011.co.in/

Raja quizzed on change in auction norms for 2G

NEW DELHI: Arrests in the 2G spectrum scam seem to be on the cards with the Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday questioning former telecom minister A Raja about his role in changing acceptance dates for bids by private firms for the scarce airwaves.

The central agency closely examined Raja on allegations that the first come, first served policy for 2G spectrum allocation was tweaked to favour some players by advancing the cut-off date for application to September 25, 2007 from October 1. By this, the telecom ministry disqualified some 400-odd application.

The DMK leader is also being questioned about the telecom ministry's decision that letters of intent would be issued in just one hour on January 10, 2008 to companies that pay entry fees first. With Raja visiting the CBI office for the third time since December last, the agency looks closer to making arrests.

"We have evidence in the 2G spectrum scam against several people and there would definitely be a chargesheet. We will arrest a few people soon," a senior official told TOI. Raja was questioned on his contacts with private companies, conversations with corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and investments in several firms in Tamil Nadu and Delhi in the names of his relatives.

The former minister arrived at the CBI headquarters at 10.30am and was there till 6.30pm. His leaked conversations with Radia were taken up after the lobbyist was questioned last week. Asked about Radia's role, a source said, "Radia at present does not seem relevant to our case in 2G allocations. Her role is so far limited to telephonic conversations." The officer indicated CBI may not mention Radia in its report to Supreme Court to be filed by February 10.

Raja was asked about some of his kin and their role in offshoot companies of telecom firms and the flow of funds to these entities. "He was confronted with documents recovered by the agency during searches at the Department of Telecom offices in October 2009 after registering a case against unnamed people," the official said.

Source:-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Raja-quizzed-on-change-in-auction-norms-for-2G-/articleshow/7400876.cms

For Bollywood, it's destination Argentina

NEW DELHI: Shah Rukh Khan's new TV show starting on Tuesday explores new frontiers of Indian diplomacy — more specifically, how Bollywood is at the cutting edge of influencing new continents.

The TV series 'Wipe Out (Zor ka Jhatka)' will show stunning videos of Argentina for the next couple of weeks. R Viswanathan, Indian ambassador in Argentina, said all 16 episodes of this Khan extravaganza were shot in Buenos Aires. "Indian cameramen were fascinated with the fantastic sceneries of the El Calafate Glacier and the Iguazu Waterfalls and could not stop shooting," he said.

After treating an entire generation of Indians to Alpine views from Tyrol, Austria and Switzerland, Bollywood set out to conquer Australia and New Zealand, spearheaded by gravity-challenging dance moves of Hrithik Roshan. It didn't take long for Bollywood movies to be shot in New Zealand, followed by Bollywood-crazy tourists from India. Aamir Khan wooing Preity Zinta at the Sydney Opera House to Ajay Devgn's 'Company'... they did it all.

Now Bollywood will gyrate in skimpy sarees in Machu Picchu ( Peru) and Munni could be "badnaam" in the dangerously attractive waters of the Amazon, or the Iguazu Waterfalls in Argentina. The popular 'Dhoom II' was shot in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as were some scenes in Rajnikant's 'Robot'. The Indian envoy said Illusion Studios of Buenos Aires has tied up with Toonz Animation Ltd of Thiruvananthapuram to make a cartoon film (Gaturro) which was a box office hit in Argentina in 2010.

Aamir Khan, though, may have stolen a march on Shah Rukh. His wife, Kiran Rao's new film "Dhobi Ghat", which released last week, has yet another Latin American connection. Already alluded to by Viswanathan in his blog, the film's music director Gustavo Santaolalla is Argentinian. "Gustavo is a pioneer in the rock music scene of Argentina in the late sixties and seventies," Viswanathan said.

Source:-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/For-Bollywood-its-destination-Argentina/articleshow/7400201.cms