The farmer picking apples in the outskirts of Kabul must pay the Taliban $33 to ship out each truckload of fruit. The governor sends in armed men to chase workers off job sites if the official bribes aren't paid. Poor neighborhoods never get their U.N.-provided wheat, long since sold on the black market.
These are some of the elements, large and small, that together form the elaborate organized crime environment Afghans contend with daily. And despite the hoped-for success of the U.S. military surge and President Barack Obama's claims of significant progress, Afghanistan's resemblance to a mafia state that cannot serve its citizens may only be getting worse, according to an upcoming report by the International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based think tank.
The 46-page study, to be released next week, looks specifically at Afghanistan's heartland: the rural areas of Ghazni, Wardak, Logar and other provinces just beyond the periphery of Kabul. Unemployment is high, government presence is low and the insurgency operates with impunity. Corruption and cooperation with the Taliban reach the highest levels of local governance.
"Nearly a decade after the U.S.-led military intervention little has been done to challenge the perverse incentives of continued conflict in Afghanistan," the research group says. Rather, violence and the billions of dollars in international aid have brought wealthy officials and insurgents together. And "the economy as a result is increasingly dominated by a criminal oligarchy of politically connected businessmen," the report concludes.

Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig have married in a secret ceremony, the News of the World first reported (via Daily Mail) and Celebuzz has confirmed.

The pair began dating while filming the movie, "Dream House"; Weisz had just the month before announced her split from director Darren Aronofsky after nine years and a child together. The ceremony was a small, private affair, with only four guests: Weisz's four year old son, Henry; Craig's 18-year old daughter, Ella; and two friends as witnesses.

"Daniel and Rachel insisted on having a small, quiet wedding. They are madly in love and couldn't wait to be husband and wife - but they wanted minimum fuss," a source told The News of the World.

Rumors began rumbling about their relationship in November; it was a country getaway vacation together a month later in which they first came out as a couple.

"Daniel and Rachel looked like a romantic couple in a film. They were laughing and hanging on to each other's words and stopping to take photos of each other," one witness said of their very public pub canoodling during the getaway. Added another: "They were clinging to each other like honeymooners. The chemistry was obvious."

Public nudity is a common fear for millions, but no one confronts it quite like artist Miru Kim.

Her body of work is, literally, her body, and she photographs herself in taboo areas, such as the catacombs beneath Paris or the suspension cables of Manhattan Bridge, and has even gone as far to get into a pig pen on her hands and knees in order to get at one with the creatures.

Is it working? It better, because the 30-year-old is getting a worldwide reputation as a provocative artist whose work appeals to art experts and casual viewers alike.

"I have always been timid since childhood," she told AOL Weird News. "Most people may think I'm joking considering my work, but it's true. [When I spoke at the TED technology, entertainment and design conference in 2008], I had to cross my leg and my arms both because they were shaking so much... I couldn't even say my name during interviews a few years back."

Kim first started disrobing for art back in 2004 and admits it was not easy at first.

"Now I'm used to it, but when I first tried to be nude in front of camera in 2004 I was very nervous," she said. "I remember, in order to get used to being nude for my project's sake, I modeled for a nude portrait for a painter in Berlin, who was my studio mate at the time, and I got so nervous I couldn't stand still.

"This was a mortifying and humiliating experience at the time. I had to force myself because I had decided

Read Full Story 

A San Mateo woman is suing Abercrombie & Fitch after she was allegedly fired from her job at the company’s Hillsdale Shopping Center outlet for not removing her headscarf.

The woman, who has not been identified, is a Muslim, and “she was told that her headscarf, though worn based on a religious mandate, was not in compliance with the company's ‘look policy,’” said those representing her in the lawsuit. She worked at Hollister Co., a subsidiary of Abercrombie & Fitch, in 2009 and 2010.

Some Muslim traditions require that women wear the headscarf, or hijab, when out in public.

Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat arrives for the world premiere of the film “Double Dhamaal” in Brampton June 23, 2011. The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards will be held in Toronto on June 25.

REUTERS/Mike Cassese

The Anna University Tirunelveli recently posted its latest TANCET 2011 exam results. Students are now obtaining their marks online in hopes of using them to apply for various educational programs at different colleges.

The TANCET 2011 results are provided online via student registration number. These particular exam results are helpful in applying for admission to a variety of programs including MBA, MCA, M-Tech and ME courses in the state. The exams are distributed and scored by Anna University for the Tamil Nadu government.

The 2011 TANCET marks can be obtained at the official website here. Keep in mind a registration number is necessary to accquire these exam results. Also, there may be times at which the website is experiencing heavy traffic loads and the site may have problems loading properly.

Students will hope for the best with these results as they attempt to apply to the programs of Anna University Tirunelveli, as well as the Government Colleges of Engineering at Salem. These are very important fields and respected jobs in the state, so students will need to obtain top of the line results to achieve entrance.

marks the 2 year anniversary of Michael Jackson‘s death. It’s really insane to me to know that it has been 2 full years since we first heard the tragic news that MJ passed away … but one thing’s for sure, in those 2 years not a single day has gone by where the late King of Pop was forgotten by anyone … not for one second.

Two years ago Saturday (June 25), Michael Jackson died in his Los Angeles home. He was 50 years old. The circumstances surrounding his death are still disputed, though authorities officially attributed it to acute propofol intoxication and cardiac arrest. In the two years since Jackson died, the question of whether or not his doctor, Conrad Murray, is responsible has not been settled. The doctor, who stands accused of involuntary manslaughter, is due to stand trial in September. Jackson’s three children — Prince (14), Paris (13) and Blanket (9) — appear to be thriving. They now live with their grandmother, Katherine Jackson. On Thursday, they were spotted heading to the movies in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Earlier this week, according to the Daily Mail, the Jackson children were presented with custom-made memorial motorcycles that will be driven through Los Angeles’ Forrest Lawn cemetery on Saturday. A tribute will also be held in Jackson’s hometown of Gary, Indiana, where the mayor says the one-time King of Pop will be honored every June 25.

While the sad circumstances surrounding his death are still being debated in court, I think it’s important to remember all the wonderful music that MJ left us with. He was truly a genius and will forever be an eternal Pop Culture Icon. On this second anniversary of his death, let’s not wallow in sadness but, instead, let’s revel in his art. Maybe cue up some of your fave Michael Jackson songs … some of your fave MJ videos … let’s celebrate his life today, not mourn it. The world still greatly misses Michael Jackson … but thru his art, he will be with us forever.
[Source]

Ad filmmakers have often tried their luck in films and their endeavoring attempts have yielded them favorable results. Say for instance, Rajiv Menon made just couple of movies ‘Minsara Kanavu’ and ‘Kandukondain Kandukondain’ that are still regarded as the best entertainers. So has been the unique attempts of Pushkar-Gayathri of ‘Oram Po’ and ‘Vaa’, which didn’t have a proper plot, but boasted of some creative quotients in advertisement commercial style. Here comes Jayendra, who has been a part of several films made by Mani Ratnam. He makes his debut directorial with ‘Nootrenbadu’, which with its songs and rich visuals had kept our eyeballs fixed over it. Read More........................................