Sania Mirza to Marry Shoaib Malik in Mid-April

Then.........

NOW...........

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza  is all set to marry Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik  in April, two months after she broke her engagement with childhood friend Sohrab Mirza.

Confirming the news, Malik wrote in his Twitter page, "Thanks for all your support. And the news of me marrying to Sania is true. Inshallah will get married in April."

"I fully understand what it takes to be an international sports person and I will support Sania in her career as long as she wishes to play," he said.

"Representing India  at the 2012 Olympics  is very important for her and I will be the proudest husband if she can win a medal for her country," he added.

A statement by Sania's father Imran Mirza also stated that 23-year-old Sania and the 28-year-old all-rounder will be based in Dubai , where Malik is a resident.

"This is a unique case where the husband and wife will represent their respective countries in sport," said Mirza in Hyderabad.

"My wedding inshallah is going to be the biggest day of my life. I have been in the constant glare for too long and would appreciate privacy at this very personal moment in my life," Sania was quoted as having said in a statement.

"I hope to be fully fit to represent India in the Commonwealth and Asian Games that are scheduled for later this year," she said.

Sania's mother, Nasima said, "Marriages are made in heaven."

Incidentally, Shoaib was earlier accused of marrying another Hyderabad girl, Ayesha Siddiqui, in 2002 over phone even though the cricketer said he was merely engaged to her.

Ayesha's father had also threatened to sue Malik accusing him of ditching the girl. Malik's brother-in-law Imran Z Malik said the marriage proposal was taken by the cricketer's mother to India.

He said the entire family will leave for India on April 7 and formal nikaah ceremony would take place on April 10 or 11.

The Walima or reception is expected to be held in Lahore  on April 16 or 17.

Pakistani media reports said Sania and Malik fell in love six-and-half months back and it could be the reason for the breaking up of Sania's engagement with Sohrab.

Sania, who had got engaged to 24-year-old Sohrab in July last year, broke off citing incompatibilty. 

"We were friends for years but found ourselves incompatible as fiances," Sania had said while wishing Sohrab the very best in life.

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On 150th anniversary, Tagore's 'Muslomanir Golpo' is made into film

With the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore being celebrated this year, Bengali filmmaker Pranab Chaudhari has decided to pay homage to the Nobel laureate with his film 'Muslomanir Galpo', based on a story written by Kabiguru a few months before his death.

'Muslomanir Galpo' is about Hindu-Muslim harmony and atrocities against women. In the story, the lead character Kamala transforms herself into Meherjan and leads her life for the welfare of abandoned and repressed Hindu girls.

'I was searching for a different story for my film. Tagore wrote the story just one and a half months before his death (on Aug 7, 1941). Probably he wanted to tell his readers to stop these atrocities,' Chaudhari told IANS over phone from Kolkata. He plans to release the film May 9 to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Tagore.

Chaudhari says the story of 'Muslomanir Galpo' is relevant even 68 years after Tagore's death.

'I have made this film to give the message to the wider section of viewers to stop atrocities against womanhood and to keep Hindu-Muslim amity, the main essence of Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore's story.

'The story is still relevant in the prevailing socio-economic condition of our country as well as in several parts of the universe. Perhaps at the fag end of his life he (Tagore) just reminded us about the atrocities against womanhood and also the need for communal harmony,' added the director, who has been in showbiz for 30 years.

Chaudhari, who has made documentaries, feature films and television series, said Tagore still remains the main motivating factor for the Bengali-speaking people.

'Bengali culture and mindset is totally encompassed with the writings and philosophy of Tagore. He is an embodiment of Bengali culture. As a minuscule student of literature, I have not come across any writer who has dealt with so many aspects of life,' he said.

Produced by Pitrashish Marketing Enterprises Pvt Ltd, 'Muslomanir Galpo' is made at a shoestring budget of Rs.85 lakh. Shooting for the film started Feb 17 and has since been completed. Post-production work is going on now.

The film was shot at Itachuna Rajbari, Khannan, Hooghly, West Bengal and the surrounding villages of Itachuna.

Made in the Bengali language, the film will be released in West Bengal, Tripura and other Bengali-populated areas of India.

'At the same time English-subtitled print will be made available for release in different major cities of India as well as English-speaking foreign countries.'

For Chaudhari, it will be the most privileged moment if any member of Tagore's family sees the film.

'In our country atrocities and discrimination against women and Hindu-Muslim riots are still continuing with great vigour. We shall be able to pay our real respect to Tagore when we can eradicate these injustices prevailing in our country,' said Chaudhari.

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Sand Sculptures by Sudarsan Pattnaik

As an impoverished child, Sudarsan Pattnaik would go to his local beach and build sand castles. Little did the youngster from Orrisa, India, realise his hobby would make him famous and wealthy. These pictures show some of the sand sculptures carved by Pattnaik.


Mr. Sudarshan Patnaik was born in the coastal town of Puri, Orissa. Being inspired by the voice of his inner soul he started visiting the sea beach at Puri every day right from his childhood. Slowly he started carving out different faces of gods and goddesses in sand with his imagination and creativity. Initially the forms were not mature as he had no Guru because sand art is not considered as a professional form of art in India. Despite these limitations he pursued in his endeavor as he considered the creativity in him is God gifted ability. He took up the challenge to popularize sand art as a professional art form and started exhibiting sand art at various places in India.

Mr. Sudarshan Patnaik’s ultimate objective is to create awareness and enthusiasm among the people and make it popular professional art form among the people for which he is traveling various places in the country and demonstrating this art form by holding work shops and training. Time and again he has tried to replicate various international events through Sand art. recently he made a 4 feet gigh sculpture of Pop King Michael Jackson at Puri.

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Liquor Baron Vijay Mallya Breaks Security Rules at IGAI

If you have money power break rules & security. Vijay Mallya's IPL team may be on top in the ongoing Twenty20 tournament, but the Kingfisher Airlines chairman is bogged down by controversies over airport security breaches. The other day, a crude bomb was found in the cargo section of a Kingfisher flight in Thiruvananthapuram. Now, Mallya himself has allegedly violated security rules at the Delhi airport.

The UB Group chairman skipped the security check at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) on Saturday. After attending a function at Ghaziabad, he took a chopper to the airport, landed at the tarmac and flew off in his private jet.

He was reportedly in a hurry to reach Mumbai to watch his IPL team Royal Challengers' match. So, he requested the security agencies to allow him to take the chopper to the tarmac so that he could shift to his jet and avoid going to the terminal for security check- in. "Mallya came to Delhi by VT- VJM, his corporate jet, and took a chopper to reach the Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad, for its convocation. After awarding degrees to the students, he returned to the airport by the same chopper. Kingfisher officials arranged the transit of their boss from the chopper to his jet," a source said.

According to the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) guidelines, the transit of any passenger, even a VIP, is not allowed without security check. "Even if he was travelling by his private jet, he should have followed the rules. The airline arranged his boarding pass and he left without security check," the source added.

Despite repeated attempts, Kingfisher officials could not be contacted. An email sent to them on Wednesday remained unanswered. Mallya was the chief guest at the IMT convocation on March 20. Senior officials of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is responsible for the security of airports across the country, tried to pass on the blame to Kingfisher. They said they were aware of Mallya's transit, but were told by the airline that he was taking a scheduled flight. "We were informed by Kingfisher officials about Mallya's movement. In the rarest of rare cases, we allowed his transit on the tarmac," a CISF official said.

Asked why it was considered a rarest of rare case, as Mallya was flying in his own jet, the official said: "We were under the impression that if he goes to the terminal for security check, he would miss his flight. So, we allowed him to take the chopper to the tarmac." Security experts are, however, not buying the logic. "Even if he had to take a scheduled flight, the transfer should have been avoided because it's a breach of security," an official said. He added that relaxation in the rules is allowed in certain cases, such as technical snag. In Mallya's case, the rule was twisted.

News Courtesy : news.yahoo.com

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Britain Teenager Gets Fired via Facebook!

A teenage schoolgirl has become the first in Britain to get fired from her job through social networking site Facebook.

Chelsea Taylor, 16, who worked part-time at the Lancashire Tea Room, in Leigh, Greater Manchester, was left stunned when she logged on to the site and found a letter of dismissal waiting for her.

In the dismissal letter, manageress Elaine Sutton informed the youngster she was being sacked for losing a 10-pound note during an errand to get some cookies for her colleagues.

But the note, littered with spelling mistakes and signed off with two kisses, left Taylor heartbroken and her family furious.

The letter read: "hiya Chelsea it's Elaine from work. Sorry to send u a message like this but bin tryin to ring u but gettin no joy.

"I had to tell the owner bout u losin that tenner coz obviously the till was down at the end of day. she wasn't very pleased at all and despite me trying to persuade her otherwise she said I have to let u go. I'm really sorry.

"If u call in in the week with your uniform I'll sort your wages out. Once again I'm really sorry but it's out of my hands. Elaine xx."

It is believed Taylor now has the unwanted title of becoming the first worker to be axed in Britain via a social networking site.

"I'm absolutely fuming, it's disgusting. To sack a young worker via Facebook is appalling and heartless - and the way it was written was dreadful," the Daily Telegraph quoted her mother Nicola, 37, as saying.

"I just can't believe they didn't even have the decency to tell her over the phone, let alone in person.

"And to have the message all misspelled with capital letters and apostrophes missing is simply disrespectful and sets no example to other employees.

"What sort of message does firing someone over Facebook send out to young people who are hoping to find work? It's hard enough for adults to get jobs at the moment.

"My daughter has always worked well in her Saturday job. She worked at the last cafe for eight months and proved herself to be a good worker.

"She was mortified when she realised she had lost the money, but accidents happen. She was so upset when she phoned me to say she had lost the money, she was devastated.

"I told her to be honest and just explain to the manager what had happened. I offered to replace the money but the manager reassured us that it was all fine.

"But then she got this Facebook message later that day telling her not to come back to work and that they had to let her go.

"It seems like the owner doesn't believe in giving teenagers a second chance. They said that accidents like that shouldn't happen," she added.

Kate Southam, the editor of CareerOne and news.com.au's Cube Farm blogger said, firing an employee over a social networking site would be legally and ethically problematic in Australia.

"Employers in Australia should not get any ideas about taking the easy way out and using Facebook or other social networking tools to terminate staff," she said.

"It's a pretty sure bet that any employer dismissing permanent staff via Facebook would be falling foul of the Fair Work Act but terminating casual staff that way is also wrong.

"Just look at the way this cafi is making headlines world wide for its appalling treatment of this young woman.

"We have already had a cafi in Melbourne hit the headlines for bullying resulting in a young woman's suicide.

"Australia is heading towards another skills shortage so every selfish, greedy employer that mistreats a staff member is making it that much harder for responsible small business operators everywhere to make a living," she added.

News Courtesy : news.yahoo.com

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Password-stealing virus hits Facebook

Hackers have flooded the Internet with virus-tainted spam that targets Facebook's estimated 400 million users in an effort to steal banking passwords and gather other sensitive information.

The emails tell recipients that the passwords on their Facebook accounts have been reset, urging them to click on an attachment to obtain new login credentials, according to anti-virus software maker McAfee Inc.

If the attachment is opened, it downloads several types of malicious software, including a program that steals passwords, McAfee said on Wednesday.

Hackers have long targeted Facebook users, sending them tainted messages via the social networking company's own internal email system. With this new attack, they are using regular Internet email to spread their malicious software.

A Facebook spokesman said the company could not comment on the specific case, but pointed to a status update the company posted on its web site earlier on Wednesday warning users about the spoofed email and advising users to delete the email and to warn their friends.

McAfee estimates that hackers sent out tens of millions of spam across Europe, the United States and Asia since the campaign began on Tuesday.

Dave Marcus, McAfee's director of malware research and communications, said that he expects the hackers will succeed in infecting millions of computers.

With Facebook as your lure, you potentially have 400 million people that can click on the attachment. If you get 10 percent success, that's 40 million, he said.

The email's subject line says Facebook password reset confirmation customer support, according to Marcus.

News Courtesy : Yahoo News India

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Official Mascot Of WC Soccer 2010

Zakumi (R), the official mascot of the South Africa FIFA 2010 World Cup, near Johannesburg, March 25, 2010. Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino named a 20-man squad on Thursday for a friendly against World Cup hosts South Africa next week. 

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Visit this blog, Have some real fun.

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Nominees & Winners for the 82nd Academy Awards

Actor in a Leading Role


Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart”
George Clooney in “Up in the Air”
Colin Firth in “A Single Man”
Morgan Freeman in “Invictus”
Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker”




Actor in a Supporting Role

Matt Damon in “Invictus”
Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger”
Christopher Plummer in “The Last Station”
Stanley Tucci in “The Lovely Bones”
Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds”

Actress in a Leading Role

Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”
Helen Mirren in “The Last Station”
Carey Mulligan in “An Education”
Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia”




Actress in a Supporting Role

Penélope Cruz in “Nine”
Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air”
Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart”
Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air”
Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”




Animated Feature Film

“Coraline” Henry Selick
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” Wes Anderson
“The Princess and the Frog” John Musker and Ron Clements
“The Secret of Kells” Tomm Moore
“Up” Pete Docter




Art Direction
“Avatar” Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Art Direction: Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro; Set Decoration: Caroline Smith
“Nine” Art Direction: John Myhre; Set Decoration: Gordon Sim
“Sherlock Holmes” Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
“The Young Victoria” Art Direction: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Maggie Gray





Cinematography

“Avatar” Mauro Fiore
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” Bruno Delbonnel
“The Hurt Locker” Barry Ackroyd
“Inglourious Basterds” Robert Richardson
“The White Ribbon” Christian Berger




Costume Design

“Bright Star” Janet Patterson
“Coco before Chanel” Catherine Leterrier
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Monique Prudhomme
“Nine” Colleen Atwood
“The Young Victoria” Sandy Powell







Directing
“Avatar” James Cameron
“The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow
“Inglourious Basterds” Quentin Tarantino
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels
“Up in the Air” Jason Reitman





Documentary (Feature)

“Burma VJ” Anders Østergaard and Lise Lense-Møller
“The Cove” Louie Psihoyos and Fisher Stevens
“Food, Inc.” Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein
“The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers” Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith
“Which Way Home” Rebecca Cammisa





Documentary (Short Subject)

“China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province” Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill
“The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner” Daniel Junge and Henry Ansbacher
“The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant” Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert
“Music by Prudence” Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett
“Rabbit à la Berlin” Bartek Konopka and Anna Wydra






Film Editing
“Avatar” Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron
“District 9” Julian Clarke
“The Hurt Locker” Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
“Inglourious Basterds” Sally Menke
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Joe Klotz







Foreign Language Film

“Ajami” Israel
“The Milk of Sorrow (La Teta Asustada)” Peru
“A Prophet (Un Prophète)” France
“The Secret in Their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos)” Argentina
“The White Ribbon (Das Weisse Band)” Germany








Makeup
“Il Divo” Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
“Star Trek” Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
“The Young Victoria” Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore











Music (Original Score)
“Avatar” James Horner
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” Alexandre Desplat
“The Hurt Locker” Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders
“Sherlock Holmes” Hans Zimmer
“Up” Michael Giacchino






Music (Original Song)
“Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
“Down in New Orleans” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
“Loin de Paname” from “Paris 36” Music by Reinhardt Wagner Lyric by Frank Thomas
“Take It All” from “Nine” Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston
“The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart” Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett




Best Picture
“Avatar” James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers
“The Blind Side” Gil Netter, Andrew A. Kosove and Broderick Johnson, Producers
“District 9” Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham, Producers
“An Education” Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey, Producers
“The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Nicolas Chartier and Greg Shapiro, Producers
“Inglourious Basterds” Lawrence Bender, Producer
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness, Producers
“A Serious Man” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, Producers
“Up” Jonas Rivera, Producer
“Up in the Air” Daniel Dubiecki, Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman, Producers





Short Film (Animated)
“French Roast” Fabrice O. Joubert
“Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty” Nicky Phelan and Darragh O’Connell
“The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)” Javier Recio Gracia
“Logorama” Nicolas Schmerkin
“A Matter of Loaf and Death” Nick Park











Short Film (Live Action)
“The Door” Juanita Wilson and James Flynn
“Instead of Abracadabra” Patrik Eklund and Mathias Fjellström
“Kavi” Gregg Helvey
“Miracle Fish” Luke Doolan and Drew Bailey
“The New Tenants” Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson




Sound Editing
“Avatar” Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
“The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson
“Inglourious Basterds” Wylie Stateman
“Star Trek” Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin
“Up” Michael Silvers and Tom Myers





Sound Mixing
“Avatar” Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson
“The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
“Inglourious Basterds” Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano
“Star Trek” Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson









Visual Effects
“Avatar” Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones
“District 9” Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken
“Star Trek” Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton





Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
“District 9” Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
“An Education” Screenplay by Nick Hornby
“In the Loop” Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
“Up in the Air” Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner





Writing (Original Screenplay)
“The Hurt Locker” Written by Mark Boal
“Inglourious Basterds” Written by Quentin Tarantino
“The Messenger” Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
“A Serious Man” Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
“Up” Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy