'Spot Fixing' - Big Threat to Cricket World

'Spot-fixing' has emerged as the latest threat to the integrity of cricket after the match-fixing scandal which rocked the game 10 years ago.

British police arrested a 35-year-old man on Saturday on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers after a newspaper report that Pakistan pace bowlers Mohammad Aamir and Mohammad Asif had bowled three deliberate no-balls in the fourth Test against England at Lord's.

WHAT IS 'SPOT-FIXING'?

'Spot-fixing' involves a player agreeing to perform to order by pre-arrangement. For example, a bowler might deliberately bowl consecutive wides in his second over or a batsman could make sure he does not reach double figures.

Twenty20 cricket is particularly susceptible because so much happens so quickly that individual performances can soon be forgotten or dismissed as inconsequential.

Tim May, the chief executive of the international players' union FICA, is one of several influential figures in the game who believes that the number of Twenty20 matches now being played could tempt players to take money from bookmakers in return for 'spot-fixing'.

WHO BENEFITS?

Betting on cricket matches televised in the Indian sub-continent is a hugely lucrative business. Fortunes can be made if a gambler knows in advance what a particular bowler or batsman is going to do. Bets can be placed on every delivery.

Only betting on horse racing at trackside is allowed in India but in practice around half of a market worth billions of dollars is estimated to be illegal betting, mostly on cricket.

WHAT EVIDENCE IS THERE OF 'SPOT-FIXING'?

Rumours have abounded since the advent of the Indian Premier League (IPL) two years ago although nobody has ever been charged. During last year's Ashes tour of England an Australian player reported that he had been approached by a suspected illegal bookmaker in the team's London hotel.

Former England captain Michael Atherton said in a newspaper column earlier this year that one leading former international had told him "categorically" that 'spot-fixing' was a regular occurrence.

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif told Reuters this year that he knew of match-fixing in the now defunct Indian Cricket League.

WHAT WAS THE MATCH-FIXING SCANDAL?

Three international captains Hansie Cronje (South Africa), Salim Malik (Pakistan) and Mohammed Azharuddin (India) were banned for life in 2000 for helping to influence the results of matches.

Match-fixing had become established in One-day Cricket in the 1990s and suspicion centred, in particular, on the one-day tournaments staged at Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.

As a result of the scandal the International Cricket Council (ICC) founded its Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) to monitor all international matches. The ACSU monitored the IPL tournament in India this year but not the second edition in South Africa last year because the Indian board thought the fee charged by the ICC was too high.

Angelina Jolie Says She Has Full Faith On Marriage

She has yet to tie the knot with her partner Brad Pitt, but actress Angelina Jolie has faith in the institution and says 'marriage is a lovely thing'.

Jolie and partner Brad Pitt have been together since 2005.

'I do think marriage is a lovely thing as I've tried it twice before, but we haven't felt the need to do it yet. We have already made the greatest commitment of having a family together,' contactmusic.com quoted her as saying.

Jolie, who has previously been married to actors Billy Bob Thornton and Jonny Lee Miller, also revealed one of the best things about her relationship with Pitt is the fact they push each other to be a better person.

'We push each other to be better, even if it's just a better bike rider or better pilot. We're constantly in competition,' she said.

Paul the Octopus Predict England Will Host 2018 World Cup

He made his name predicting Germany's 2010 World Cup results, but now Paul the Octopus is returning home to help England's bid to stage the 2018 tournament.

England's campaign came off the rails in May when former Football Association chariman David Triesman was forced to stand down after being secretly taped accusing Spain and Russia of bribing referees.

His comments put a big dent in the considerable goodwill that had been built by the addition of soccer superstar David Beckham to the campaign team in 2009.

Now Paul, who was hatched at an English aquarium in 2008, is lending his particular talents to the bid despite having retired from psychic predictions.

Paul has spent the last two years of his life in Germany, but he is definitely a proud Englishman and is therefore delighted to put his support behind England 2018," Weymouth Sea Life Center manager Nicola Hamilton said on Wednesday.

"We have had a number of football approaches from around the world but Paul was only ever going to choose his homeland."

The cephalopod correctly predicted the outcome of eight consecutive World Cup matches, dooming Germany's hopes when he plumped for Spain in the semifinal and then also in the final.

He has since signed book and merchandising deals and is set to appear in a film, all of which will help to raise funds for a sea turtle rescue center on the Greek Island of Zakynthos -- which will also receive a donation from the England 2018 team.

"With his predicting days behind him, Paul is now concentrating on a number of new projects and the England 2018 campaign is something we are sure he feels passionately about. Becoming an official ambassador for the bid is an honor for Paul and everyone at the Sea Life Center," Hamilton said.

Paul joins music stars Robbie Williams, Sting and former Oasis leader Noel Gallagher as part of the team along with Prince William, Formula One champions Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.

The England bid is one of five seeking to host the 2018 tournament and one of eight hoping to stage the 2022 event, with the decision to be made by world ruling body FIFA in December this year.

Askmen Top 10 Most Desirable Women List Revisited

Emmanuelle Chriqui

Megan Fox is not so foxy after all, at least according to AskMen.com. The "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" star plummeted from a No. 2 position on the men's online magazine's list of the Top 99 Most Desirable Women in 2009 to a No. 11 position on the website's 2010 list, announced on Tuesday, with lesser known "Entourage" actress Emmanuelle Chriqui snagging the No. 1 spot.

After more than 6 million votes were cast by AskMen.com readers, Megan Fox fell short of even scoring a position in the top 10, dropping down nine positions after being bumped out by women deemed "more desirable" by AskMen.com readers, such as British actress Kate Beckinsale (No. 3), "Single Ladies" singer Beyonce (No. 6), Jessica Alba (No. 5), and Penelope Cruz (No. 7). Fox's considerable plunge in the ranks is at first surprising, considering most men's magazines admittedly couldn't get enough of the actress in 2009, so much so that several men's websites teamed up for "A Day Without Megan Fox" on August 4, 2009.

Eva Mendes

 AskMen.com, along with the likes of other online men's magazine heavyweights like Asylum.com, dedicated a 24-hour period to talking about anything other than the over-exposed "Transformers" starlet.

But was Megan Fox's over-exposure in 2009 simply the result of her notoriously racy interviews and her overtly sexy red carpet poses in which she famously sticks out her tongue? And are those traits alone enough to be considered "desirable" by men across America? 

Here goes the top 10 list: 

1. Emmanuelle Chriqui

2. Marisa Miller

3. Kate Beckinsale

4. Alessandra Ambrosio

5. Jessica Alba

6. Beyoncé

7. Penélope Cruz

8. Cheryl Cole

9. Eva Mendes

10. Miranda Kerr

Although once heralded as "the next Angelia Jolie,"  Megan Fox has yet to prove that she has the staying power and audience attraction of Oscar-winning Angelina, and it's not just AskMen.com's poll that's indicative of this. Fox's first headlining movie, October 2009's "Jennifers Body," only managed to bring in $6.8 million in North American ticket sales during its opening weekend, despite the film's racy content. 

Miranda Kerr

Fox's drop out of the top 10 on AskMen.com's list of the  Top 99 Most Desirable Women of 2010is not necessarily a sign that the actress' career has peaked, especially considering her position on the list has fluctuated over the years, debuting at No. 56 in 2006, dropping down to No. 73 in 2007, then moving up to No. 12 in 2008 before hitting No. 2 in 2009. But her latest rank at No. 11 might suggest that the actress has to show a little more dimension, if she's ever going to get back near the top. 

Will  Megan Fox have her own real-life version of "Revenge of the Fallen" in 2011? Can Megan Fox, the actress, transform herself into something other than a sexpot like Jolie managed to do? Only time will tell and, at the very least, there's always the upcoming "Transformers 3."

Alessandra Ambrosio

Beyonce

Marisa Miller

Cheryl Cole

Penelope Cruz

Kate Beckinsale

AskMen.com's Top 99 Most Desirable Women is an annual list based on votes from both AskMen.comreaders and staff, ranking the famous females deemed to be the year's most alluring. Just recalling the memory, because these women are all time most desirable. So keep visited this blog for more of this kind blog.

Obama In a Mess Over Mosque

US President Barack Obama's support for the right to build a mosque just blocks from Ground Zero poured fuel on Saturday on a raging debate over religious freedom and sensitivities over the 9/11 terror strikes. Muslims "have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country," Obama said at an Iftar meal at the White House for Muslims breaking their Ramadan fast late Friday.

That includes "the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances."

But Obama soon did a U-turn following public outrage, especially from families of 9/11 victims.

When the proposed location touched raw nerves -- Obama clarified that he was not addressing the appropriateness of the mosque's particular location.

"I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making the decision to put a mosque there," Obama said on a visit to Florida.

"I was commenting very specifically on the right people have that dates back to our founding. That's what our country is about," he said.Obama had remained silent over plans to build an Islamic cultural center, which includes a mosque, two blocks away from the gaping Ground Zero hole where the Twin Towers were destroyed on September 11, 2001. But after a New York city commission on August 3 unanimously approved the plans, the President came out to support the right to build the mosque.

"This is America," Obama had said, "and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakeable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country, and will not be treated differently by their government, is essential to who we are."

Obama acknowledged that the site where the World Trade Center towers once stood remains "hallowed ground," and that the 9/11 terror attacks "were a deeply traumatic event for our country."

Planners say the multi-story "Cordoba House" will include a mosque, sports facilities, theater, and restaurant, and would be open to the public to show that Muslims are full community members.

 source: msn.com

India Got It's New Idol No '5'

Shreeram with judges

Hyderabad-based Sreeram Chandra has won the fifth season of music reality show 'Indian Idol 5' and was awarded by megastar Amitabh Bachchan.

The 24-year-old singer pipped Rakesh Maini from Agra and Bhoomi Trivedi of Baroda to win the contest. Sreeram has been consistently performing well on the show and receiving compliments galore from the Who's Who of the Indian music industry.

His victory on the show has landed him Rs.5 million cash, one-year contract with Sony BMG, a Tata Winger car, and for the first time, a chance to sing a song in a Yash Raj Films' project.

For Sreeram, winning the title on India's Independence Day is a special feat.

Before winning the title, Sreeram told IANS: 'Independence Day has always been important. If I win, I will feel lucky that I have received my identity on a day when my country celebrates its independence. For the rest of my life I will celebrate this day as my victory day.'

The finale, held at the Filmistan Studios here, saw a melange of celebrities like Kareena Kapoor, Kailash Kher, Richa Sharma, Alisha Chinai, Shankar Mahadevan and to top it all Bollywood's Big B, Amitabh Bachchan, who is set to host quiz show 'Kaun Banega Crorepati 4'.

Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey - A Tribute to Indian Freedom Fighters

A still from movie Khelein Hum Jee Jaan se

 

Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey is a Hindi Movie directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, which will star Abhishek Bachchan and Deepika Padukone in the lead roles. It is said to be a period thriller and is based on the book 'Do And Die' by Manini Chatterjee, based on the Chittagong Uprisingof 1930. The film is being shot in Goa and is scheduled for a worldwide release on 3rd Dec 2010. The music of the movie is being composed by Sohail Sen' . This film is actually made on Master Da Surya Sen, a brave leader of India, among them who lead India to Freedom. Abhishek 

Bachchan is playing the role of Master da Surya Sen, & Deepika will play the role of Kalpana Dutt.

Ashutosh Gowariker is a rare filmmaker who believes in treading the different path from the rest. His next film Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey is a Period Thriller  which is a detailed account of the Chittagong Uprising of 1930. Starring Abhishek Bachchan and Deepika Padukone, it is currently being shot in Goa on a set created by Jodha Akbar Art Director Nitin Desai. Cinematography by Kiran Deohans is another big plus. If Junior Bachchan’s excited tweets from the on location in Goa are anything to go by, then KHJJS is a potential commercial and critical winner.

India the Capital of Malware Spam

India features among the countries where malware spam, or anything that comes with a virus or Trojan attachment urging you to visit an infected website, is the most popular, a new report has said.

According to the McAfee Threats Report, which was simultaneously released here, Colombia, South Korea, Russia and Vietnam are the other countries in this category.

Argentina had the most variety in spam, with 16 different topic areas, ranging from drugs to lonely women to diplomas.

Italy came in with the least variety, with just six types of spam, it said.

The report uncovered that malware has reached its highest levels, making the first six months of 2010 the most active half-year ever for total malware production.

At the same time, spam levelled out with only 2.5 per cent growth from Q1 2010. Malware continued to soar in Q2 2010, as there were 10 million new pieces catalogued in the first half of this year.

Consistent with last quarter, threats on portable storage devices took the lead for the most popular malware, followed by fake anti-virus software and social media specific malware.

With approximately 55,000 new pieces of malware that appear everyday, globally AutoRun malware and password-stealing Trojans round out the Top Two malware threats, the report said.

After reaching its highest point in Q3 2009, with nearly 175 billion messages per day spam rates have hit a plateau.

Cybercriminals took advantage of anticipation on and hype of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, and used various methods to promote scams and search-engine "poisoning".

Globally, the most popular types of spam varied from country to country with some interesting findings.

For instance, delivery status notifications, or non-delivery receipt spam, were the most popular in United States, Italy, Spain, China, Great Britain, Brazil, Germany and Australia.

Malware spam, or anything that comes with a virus or Trojan attachment urging you to visit an infected website, was the most popular in Colombia, India, South Korea, Russia and Vietnam.

"Our latest threat report depicts that malware has been on a steady incline in the first half of 2010," said Mike Gallagher, senior vice president and chief technology officer of Global Threat Intelligence for McAfee.

"It's also obvious that cybercriminals are becoming more in tune with what the general public is passionate about from a technology perspective and using it to lure unsuspecting victims", he added.

Beware!!! - Today is 'FRIDAY The 13th'

Friday the 13th occurs when the thirteenth day of a month falls on a Friday, which superstition holds to be a day of bad luck. In theGregorian calendar, this day occurs at least once, but at most three times a year. Any month's 13th day will fall on a Friday if the month starts on a Sunday. 

The fear of Friday the 13th is called friggatriskaidekaphobia, frigga, meaning "Friday" and triskaidekaphobia, or paraskevidekatriaphobia,]a word derived from the concatenation of the Greek words Paraskeví (Παρασκευή, meaning "Friday"), and dekatreís (δεκατρείς, meaning "thirteen"), attached to phobía (φοβία, from phóbos, φόβος, meaning "fear"). The word was derived in 1911 and first appeared in a mainstream source in 1953. According to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, North Carolina, an estimated 17 to 21 million people in theUnited States are affected by a fear of this day. Some people are so paralyzed by fear that they avoid their normal routines in doing business, taking flights or even getting out of bed. "It's been estimated that [US]$800 or $900 million is lost in business on this day". Despite this, representatives for both Delta and Continental Airlines say that their airlines don't suffer from any noticeable drop in travel on those Fridays. 

There are conflicting studies about the risk of accidents on Friday the 13th. The Dutch Centre for Insurance Statistics (CVS) on June 12, 2008, stated that "fewer accidents and reports of fire and theft occur when the 13th of the month falls on a Friday than on other Fridays, because people are preventatively more careful or just stay home. Statistically speaking, driving is slightly safer on Friday the 13th, at least in the Netherlands; in the last two years, Dutch insurers received reports of an average 7,800 traffic accidents each Friday; but the average figure when the 13th fell on a Friday was just 7,500. However, a 1993 study in the British Medical Journal that compared the ratio of traffic accidents between Friday the 6th and Friday the 13th stated that there is a significant increase in traffic-related accidents on Friday the 13th. There are indications that there are more accidents on Fridays than average weekdays (irrespective of the date) probably because of alcohol consumption. Therefore it is less relevant for this purpose to compare Friday the 13th with, say, Tuesday the 13th.


Friday the 13th on Movies:

Film	Director	Writer(s)	Producer(s)
1. Friday the 13th (1980)	Sean S. Cunningham	Victor Miller	Sean S. Cunningham
2. Friday the 13th Part 2	Steve Miner	Ron Kurz	Steve Miner
3. Friday the 13th Part III		Martin Kitrosser & Carol Watson	Frank Mancuso Jr.
4. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter	Joseph Zito	Barney Cohen
5. Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning	Danny Steinmann	Martin Kitrosser, David Cohen & Danny Steinmann	Timothy Silver
6. Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives	Tom McLoughlin	Tom McLoughlin	Don Behrns
7. Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood	John Carl Buechler	Manuel Fidello & Daryl Haney	Iain Paterson
8. Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan	Rob Hedden	Rob Hedden	Randy Cheveldave
9. Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday	Adam Marcus	Jay Huguely, Adam Marcus & Dean Lorey	Sean S. Cunningham
10. Jason X	James Isaac	Todd Farmer	Noel Cunningham
11. Freddy vs. Jason	Ronny Yu	Damian Shannon & Mark Swift	Sean S. Cunningham
12. Friday the 13th (2009)	Marcus Nispel		Michael Bay, Andrew Form & Brad Fuller