CHANKAY: October 2013

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Danielle Fishel AKA Topanga Rocks A Bikini On Her Honeymoon In Hawaii

Just days after taking down body bullies who dared to criticize her weight, actress Danielle Fishel looks more than confident rocking a bikini.

Of course, those online bullies seemed to the farthest thing from the former "Boy Meets World" star's mind as photographers snapped photos of the actress and new husband Tim Belusko while on their honeymoon in Hawaii on Saturday.

The 32-year-old, who is about to reprise her role as Topanga Lawrence on Disney's "Girl Meets World," married her boyfriend of nearly five years on Oct. 19, and though it was a joyous occasion for the couple, it prompted online haters to spew their venom, making comments about Fishel's weight and criticizing her for marrying someone so young.

Fishel wouldn't hear any of it and hit back on Twitter, telling naysayers that her new husband is "mature, responsible, loving, & kind." And as for the comments about her weight, Fishel very poignantly had this to say:

he looks pretty damn good. For being so dang short, she has obviously worked hard to keep her body in shape. It would be silly to call her fat, can you imagine how that would make people who are actually fat feel? To think that someone weighing 107 pounds is obese? That’s just insane.

Anyway, hopefully the picture puts an end to some of the negative comments. If you find yourself about to make an insensitive comment, just stop yourself and think, “What Would Feeny Do?”

2013 American Country Awards Nominations Led By Taylor Swift

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Taylor Swift is the top nominee for the American Country Awards.

A Tuesday news release says Swift received eight nominations, including top honor artist of the year. Blake Shelton and Florida Georgia Line are next with seven apiece.

The fourth annual fan-voted ACAs will be broadcast Dec. 10 from Las Vegas on Fox with NASCAR driver Danica Patrick and country singer Trace Adkins serving as co-hosts.

Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan join Swift, Shelton and Florida Georgia Line in the artist of the year category. Swift is the only performer to have been nominated for the award in every year the show's been held.

Fans can now vote in all categories on the show's website through Nov. 12 and for artist of the year through Dec. 7.

Taylor Swift wears a Country Music Hall of Fame t-shirt as she wraps the North American portion of her RED tour playing to a crowd of more than 14,000 fans on the final night of three sold-out hometown shows at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on September 21, 2013.

After Krrish 3, you won't be sure whether to desire or fear Priyanka Hrithik Roshan

Hrithik Roshan seemed to be in a jovial mood when he visited the national capital recently to promote his upcoming film Krrish 3.

When Priyanka Chopra said that her role in Krrish 3 has a duality - with both positive and negative sides, Hrithik Roshan, who was also present chipped in:
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"Basically, her true nature will come out and you won't know whether to desire her or be afraid of her."

Later, when a kid asked if he can find Jaadu (a character from the Koi Mil Gaya, the first in series of Krrish films) in real-life, the actor cutely replied, "If you study well, eat well and become a strong boy, you will become Jaadu yourself." After the event came to an end, the actor got a picture clicked with the kid.

Talking about his experience working for the movie, Hrithik says he is excited that he got a chance to reprise Rohit's (from Koi Mil Gaya, 2003) role. "I was not sure if I will have the same tonal sound, body language as Rohit," (sic) the actor said.

Krrish has characters named and modelled after animals. We have Frog-man, Cheetah girl and Rhino-man, the actors adds.

Talking about the graphics in the film, Hrithik informs only Indian artists have weorked for the VFX for Krrish 3. He further said, "I am excited that our cinema has come to the stage where we can present such characters in almost one percent of what Hollywood films use."

Later, when asked about her alleged fight with Kangana Ranaut, Priyanka Chopra gets angry and replies, "I don't know why women's stature in movies are reduced to catfights. It's like they do not have anything better to do on the sets. Why does no one talk about the men? Nobody says how Hrithik or Vivek would have fought."

Austrailia PM declares end of 'longest war' on surprise Afghan visit

visit to Afghanistan. According to an ABC report, Abbott while speaking at a special ceremony at the Australian-run base in Tarin Kot in Uruzgan province on Monday, said "Australia's
longest war is ending. Not with victory, not with defeat, but with, we hope, an Afghanistan that is better for our presence here."

Describing the Afghan war as complicated, he further said that?the imminent withdrawal of Australian troops was "bittersweet".

"It's bittersweet because hundreds of soldiers will be home for Christmas; bitter because not all Australian families have had their sons, fathers and partners return," he said. "Sweet because our soldiers have given a magnificent account of themselves; bitter because Afghanistan remains a dangerous place despite all that has been done."

More than 20,000 Australians have served in Afghanistan 260 were wounded and 40 were killed in action. The war has cost over AUD 7.5 billion.

Under current plans, Australia will end all combat operations and withdraw some 1,000 troops from Uruzgan Province by the end of the year.

However, about 400 will remain in a variety of roles including mentoring the headquarters of the Afghan National Army (ANA) 205 Corps in Kandahar and assisting in training of ANA officer cadets in Kabul

Shiv Sena supports Rahul Gandhi over ISI remark

Though Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is facing flak for his statement that Pakistani secret agency ISI was in touch with victims of the Muzaffarnagar riots, he has received support from unexpected quarters — the Shiv Sena.

On Monday, Sena mouthpiece Saamna, which is edited by party president Uddhav Thackeray, said Rahul, whose statements were mostly “laughable”, had “unknowingly spoken the truth”.

“There is no need to be shocked about the truth the Yuvaraj has spoken about the fundamentalist Muslims in the country,” said an editorial in the newspaper, adding that, earlier, Hindutva leaders like the late Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray had also pointed to ISI activities in India.

The editorial said that the ISI’s involvement was seen in every communal riot and terrorist activity in India and that it was also involved in turning Muslim youth into fundamentalists and using them for anti-national activities.

It pointed to examples such as the Memon brothers and their involvement in the Mumbai bomb blasts and added that terrorists Abdul Karim Tunda and Yasin Bhatkal were ISI affiliates.

“The ISI’s agents here undertake more machinations than fake secularists like the Congress and the SP (Samajwadi Party) to ensure that Muslims do not join the mainstream in the country,” the editorial said, adding that the ISI wanted another partition of India on religious grounds.

It rued that political strategies hinged on ensuring that Muslims became more fundamentalist and insecure.

Salman Khan explains his outburst on Bigg Boss 7

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has taken to Twitter to explain his outburst against 'Bigg Boss 7' contestant Kushal Tandon.

Salman slammed Kushal for being rude to housemate Tanisha and his attempt to escape the reality show house over a fight during a task this weekend.

But, many of Salman's fans believed that the actor was a bit "unfair" on Kushal by taking Tanisha's side.

However, Salman, who had claimed that Kushal's action may force him to not return as Bigg Boss host next season, said his anger was genuine.

"You see one hour, I see the whole deal. Guess some of you guys may not react when someone speaks to your family's female members or women in that manner. But I do and most of us men and women stand up against men who run them down," Salman tweeted.

The 47-year-old actor said he decided to reply after seeing comments by 'Bigg Boss' followers.

"I am only answering your question about Bigg Boss because you are following me. This is a game. It's on TV so I like to keep a check on it."

He also explained why he did not say anything to Armaan or Andy for the fights they get into.

"According to what you saw on TV, both should have been out but there was a lot more to the fight than what you saw. There can only be that much put on TV," he added.

Many of Salman's followers said that the actor was 'unfair' to Kushal after his special 'Weekend Ka Wow' episode on Saturday.

"What most disgusting is how Salman Khan entirely supports Tanisha and her ways and then talk about being fair. How so Mr Khan? UnfairSalman," a fan wrote

"Ok, you are from a respected family, Tanisha. But UnfairSalman biased-ness is so not done! We love Kushal and Gauhar," fan Alok Trivedi tweeted.

Patna Blasts 40-Minute Delay in Modi's Arrival Proves Crucial

Officers of Intelligence Bureau and Gujarat Police made BJP's PM candidate Narendra Modi delay his arrival at the venue of his rally by 40 minutes to ensure that he stayed out of harm's way.

According to sources, Modi, who had touched down at Patna airport at 12.08 pm and insisted on addressing the rally even as bombs continued to go off, relented to the persuasion of the officers to defer his arrival at the rally ground.

The precaution was taken because of the apprehension that the bombers may have timed explosions to coincide with Modi's arrival at Gandhi Maidan, the crowded venue of the rally.

The precaution was justified as one of the bombs, planted closest to the dais, went off at 12.25, that is around the time Modi would have reached the ground had he set out immediately after touching down at Patna airport.

IB and Gujarat Police officers reckoned that a surge among the crowd for a closer look at the leader, a usual phenomenon at political rallies, and the panic caused by the explosions timed around that time would have led to a sudden rush.

Details available a day after the blasts suggest that the IB was sensitive to the threat to Modi from terror outfits. Sources in the district administration disclosed that the IB, at the urging of Gujarat Police, carried out an advanced security liaisoning ahead of the rally even though the drill was not mandated to be followed in his case.

Sources in the home department also confirmed that central intelligence agencies had advised the state government to take into account the threat that Modi faced from jihadi outfits, especially in light of the recently revealed facts about the reach of Indian Mujahideen's Darbhanga module.

It is learnt that governor D Y Patil has sought details from security agencies about the arrangements made for the rally addressed by a leader who figures on the top of the hit list of each jihadi outfit.

Tehsin Akhtar alias Monu, the mastermind of the terror attack, is a leading light of the Darbhanga module whose members have been found to be linked to terror attacks in different parts of the country and which helped Yasin Bhatkal and other terrorists like Pakistani national Waqas dodge police.

The details of a letter from IB to the state government can trigger a controversy in light of the statements of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and state police chief Abhayanand that they had no intelligence input.

The state government is already on the defensive about the failure of police to sanitize the rally ground, use sniffer dogs, run anti-sabotage checks and ensure frisking. There was no evacuation plan either.

Justin Bieber may face CRIMINAL CHARGES for hocking a loogie

According to a new TMZ report, Justin Bieber’s inability to keep his bodily fluids to himself may land him in some hot loogie. After a recent tantrum in which the pop idol got so cranky that he spit up at his neighbor’s suggestion that he refrain from speeding in a cul-de-sac, the L.A County Sherrif’s Dept. will now most likely recommend that criminal battery charges be filed against the dyspeptic, droopy drawer-d, dipwad.

Reportedly, the 19-going-on-three-year-old took his Ferrari for a spin around the neighborhood at over 100mph and when his irate neighbor dared to step toe on Bieber’s property to complain, the wink-y, lip licking warbler cried out, “Get the f*ck out of here, I’m going to f***ing kill you!” and then promptly expectorated on the poor man.

Officially, no recommendation has been made yet, as the investigation is not finished, however, sources are spilling that Bieber’s salivary escapade is part of a larger picture that has emerged in the past few months concerning the singer’s all-around douche-tastic behavior, and the Sherriff sincerely feels he needs to be spanked repeatedly with a ladle of medium to heavy weight until he promises to be a good boy.

Now, I’m not even going to comment on the fact that I’m decidedly perplexed that this nozzle de douche’s popularity amongst the teenage throngs continues to rage on unabated, because…well…I’m not the target audience – I know this ok! In fact I haven’t been for decades…hell I don’t think I’ve ever been. So, although I personally believe that the white noise that this dim-witted drip blarrts out of his rectum is the auditory equivalent to contemplating the cobwebs in the corners of your ceiling at 3:47 am whilst battling a severe case of cholera induced constipation, I will relent that perhaps to some pea-brained, know-nothing tweener, his music – such as it is – might come off as pleasingly peppy. So no, I’m not going to comment on his talent – or lack thereof.
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Left denies role in Attack on Kerala Chief Minister, 21 Arrested

The opposition Left in Kerala has denied that its workers were involved in the attack on Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who is in a hospital following injuries after stones were pelted at his car yesterday evening.

"It is our belief that Left workers were not involved, but let's wait for a probe," the CPM leader MA Baby told NDTV.

"The attack is unfortunate, but out agitation against the state government in the solar scam will continue," Mr Baby said.

The ruling Congress alliance has rejected the denial, alleging that the attack was pre-planned. "The opposition has crossed all limits in its protests. Kerala's history has not seen such an incident," a senior minister in Mr Chandy's government told NDTV.

It was during a Left demonstration over the solar scam that protesters pelted stones at Mr Chandy at Kannur, where he had gone to attend a couple of engagements including the valedictory of the state police athletic meet.

The protesters, who sneaked into the venue despite heavy security, stoned Mr Chandy's car shattering its glass pane, splinters of which hit his forehead above the right eye. A stone also hit his chest.

21 people have been arrested for the attack, police said.

The solar scam - an alleged con job by a pair of entrepreneurs including a woman named Saritha Nair - has engulfed Mr Chandy for months now with records showing members of his office in frequent touch with the couple.

Ms Nair and her partner, Biju Radhakrishnan, are accused of swindling several people and companies by failing to deliver on solar energy solutions they had promised. They are in jail along with Teny Jopan, who was the chief minister's personal assistant.

41 Mkilled in Iraq’s continuing ‘war of genocide’

The Iraqi capital Baghdad continues to reel under a fresh wave of car bombings, adding to the carnage that the embattled city — once a showpiece of affluence and stability in the Arab world — has suffered in recent months.

At least 41 people were killed, following coordinated strikes during rush hour on Sunday, the first working day of the week in the region.

The attacks targeted areas where there was a heavy concentration of Shias, mainly markets and a bus stations. Apparently, these blasts were meant to further inflame sectarian strife, in a nation of 32 million, whose composite social fabric has already been stretched thin because of machinations that have pitted Sunnis, Shias, Christians and Kurds against each other, in the aftermath of the country’ s invasion by the United States and its allies in 2003.

Starting at around 9.30 a.m. local time, the frenzy of bombings tore through 10 locations within a space of 40 minutes. Over a 100 people were injured during the strikes. Separately, a suicide bomber in northern Iraq killed eight soldiers who had queued up to collect their pay packages.

Overwhelmed by the spiralling violence, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said on October 23 that Iraq is facing a “war of genocide”. “It has become clear... that Iraq is subjected to a war of genocide targeting all of its components,” said the Iraqi Premier during a press conference.

Mr. Maliki blamed the al-Qaeda for killing thousands of people in Iraq, asserting that the militant outfit is “destroying the houses of citizens and killing them, and blowing up government departments.” The daily, Al Hayat quoted Mr. Maliki as saying that the fall-out of the Syrian conflict has hit Iraq badly, on account of the free-flow of al-Qaeda linked extremists across the borders of the two neighbouring countries. He told tribal sheikhs in Kirkuk — an oil city dominated by Kurds — that the strife-torn situation in Iraq “is an extension of what is seen in Syria, Egypt and Libya”. Urging the tribal elders to rise, he added: “You cannot be controlled by small groups of Chechens, Afghans, Circassians and other powers that do not wish well for Iraq.”

Barack Obama 'approved tapping Angela Merkel's phone 3 years ago'

President Barack Obama was told about monitoring of German Chancellor in 2010 and allowed it to continue, says German newspaper
Obama 'approved tapping Merkel's phone 3 years ago'
Mr Obama was told of the secret monitoring of Mrs Merkel by General Keith Alexander, the head of the NSA, in 2010, according to Bild am Sonntag, a German newspaper.

President Barack Obama was personally informed about secret US monitoring of Angela Merkel three years ago, according to latest reports on the eavesdropping affair.

The President allowed the National Security Agency (NSA) to continue spying on the German chancellor, it was claimed.

Mr Obama was told of the secret monitoring of Mrs Merkel by General Keith Alexander, the head of the NSA, in 2010, according to Bild am Sonntag, a German newspaper.

“Obama did not stop the action at that time but allowed it to continue,” a US intelligence source close to the NSA operation told the Sunday newspaper.

The White House later commissioned an extensive NSA dossier about Mrs Merkel, according to Bild.

Patna serial blasts LIVE President's Rule be imposed in Bihar, demands BJP

Till now no one from the government has gone to see the victims of the Patna bomb blast. CM should resign and President Rule should be impose in the state," says Ashwini Chaubey of BJP.

7.45 pm: LJP chief Ramvilas Paswan has slammed Bihar government over the bomb blasts in Patna. He says the incident has "exposed" what law and order exists during the JD (U) rule. "Bihar earlier never witnesses this kind of bomb blasts. The incidents expose all his claims of "Susashan" (good governance). What kind of law and order exists in Bihar during Nitish Kumar's role is fully exposed now. He should answer to people to what level he wants to take the state now," Paswan said.

7.30 pm: In the wake of Patna serial blasts, BJP says JD(U) has lost the 'moral' right to govern the state.

"The person who was to address the rally is in the Z-plus security cover category and despite that there was no proper security arrangement," BJP national spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi

Blaming intelligence bureau and the CID in Bihar for 'complete intelligence failure', Lekhi said President Pranab Mukherjee was to be in Patna but cancelled his visit "owing to the rally". "Had he come and such blasts occurred, what would have happened? Given the situation, JD(U) has no moral right to govern the state," she said.

6.55 pm: It is the criminal negligence of the state government. They have completely failed, says Bihar BJP chief Sushil Kumar Modi.

6.46 pm: Three out of the five deceased have been identified, namely – Vikas, Ram Narayan Singh, Munna Srivastav. Two are yet to be identified, says Bihar DGP Abhayanand

6.45 pm: Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were planted. We have found some documents related to the blasts, but we cannot yet reveal the details just yet, says Bihar DGP Abhayanand.

6.40 pm: Patna serial blasts were an attack on Gujarat CM Narendra Modi, says BJP. "There is no doubt that the blasts were an attempt to disrupt the BJP rally. In fact, it's a direct attack on Modiji. We don't know who are behind this attack, but both the centre and Bihar governments are answerable," says BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi.

6.24 pm: Making a guess on who did it will be premature now. I rule out any political conspiracy. Bihar has no history of political confrontation, says Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.

6.22 pm: The serial blasts an attempt to disrupt law and order in Bihar, says Bihar CM.

6.20 pm: I assure everyone that no effort will be spared to solve the case: Nitish Kumar.

6.15 pm: "Ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakhs will be provided to the families of the deceased," says Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.

6.12 pm: "There was no intelligence input. Every possible security arrangement was in place," says Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.

6.10 pm: "Some police personnel were injured during defusing the bombs. It is important that efforts of such nuisance-creating elements be thwarted by remaining united," says Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.

6.06 pm: The serial blasts seem to be a pre-planned incident, says Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. One person fleeing from Patna railways station has been nabbed, he informs.

6.05 pm: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar condemns serial blasts in Patna. "83 people in total went to Patna Medical College & Hospital (PMCH) for treatment and 38 have been admitted," he says.

6.00 pm: UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi condemned the Patna serial blasts.

5.10 pm : Eighth bomb exploded at the Gandhi Maidan, fortunately no one was hurt, agencies reported.

Serial bomb blasts have rocked Bihar's capital on the day that Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) prime ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's arrived in the city for 'Hunkar' rally.

Five people have reportedly been killed while 50 others have been injured in the explosion.

Police have detained three suspects in connection with the blasts.

Eight explosions have taken place today starting with a crude bomb blast at around 10 am at a public toilet outside the platform number 10 of the railway station.

Kim Kardashian Busts Out Of Her White Lace Birthday Dress In Vegas

Kim Kardashian had plenty of reasons to celebrate last night. The official cause for the Tao festivities in Las Vegas was her 33rd birthday, but as most people know by now, Kim also got engaged to Kanye West this week. And it's been a big year overall for the reality star, who also welcomed her first child with now-fiance West, baby Nori, in June.

Kardashian posted the following photo to her Instagram account upon arrival to Sin City:

Later, Kim changed into a sexy white lace number and posted the following photos from the gang's night of fun:

Jankovic questions Serena's sportsmanship after losing their WTA semi-final match

Williams, who claims to be exhausted near the end of a long season, reacted with fretful worrying, and sometimes distracting behaviour while struggling to a 6-4 2-6 6-4 two-hour win over Jankovic.

It included weeping into her towel, gesticulating and arm-waving, bending over and slumping, yelling and calling out, and both moving during the rallies and conducting the game at different speeds.

"I never saw her do this when she's leading,'' Jankovic said of Williams' go-slow moments.

"You know, every time she has a lead, she's running for the balls and she's hitting those big serves.

"For some reason, every time she starts losing, she starts serving slower or not running for certain balls. That's something that as a player you have to pay attention.

"It's not the first time when we played that she's doing this. That's her way of playing - or maybe when she plays against me. I don't know.

"But when it's an important moment, a huge serve comes up, so you have to be on alert every time. You never know if she's going to come slow or really fast one.

"It's not easy to focus. It's important for me to focus on my game and not really let those kind of things affect me and not allow me to play my game, but it's the way it is.

"She's the number one player in the world, and she plays so well. She deserves to be in this spot. But I think also when you play, winning or losing, you have to be up there and be a good sportsman."

Nothing in the rules of tennis says a player shall not play at different speeds.

However Jankovic appeared to be suggesting there are ways of conducting yourself not covered in the rules but which are eloquent of your attitude to the game.

Williams plays her last match of the 2013 season against Li Na in the WTA Championships final on Sunday.

Chief Minister Narendra Modi with Rajasthan BJP president Vasundhara Raje at an election rally in Udaipur on Saturday. PTI

Three days after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi made stinging allegations against the BJP for fanning communal violence and called himself a "victim of terrorism", BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in a massive rally in Udaipur said the "Shehzada" was spinning out "family serials" to win popularity and dismissed his revelation of ISI getting in touch with the relatives of riot victims in Muzaffarnagar as a "story" heard in passing.

In a rally organised by the tribal cell of the party, Modi raised a clarion call to uproot the "Delhi Sultanate" and announced that "only six months and less than 200 days were left" for change to be ushered in. Playing to a teeming crowd drawn from the tribal-dominated belts, Modi laid out a direct comparison of prices of essential commodities used commonly in the Mewar region. He alleged that these commodities have become unaffordable to the common man due to inflation, leaving the women in the audience nodding in agreement. "During Atalji's government, gur (jaggery) was sold at Rs 9, now it is not even available even at Rs 50. Similarly arhar dal used to be priced at Rs 26, now it has crossed Rs 70, chillies were Rs 50 a kg, now have crossed Rs 200," he said, quickly adding, "Kisne mirchi lagai?"

The atmosphere was electric as Modi connected with the crowd and frequently left questions to the audience. "Aapka jeena haraam karne wale Congress ka aap jeena haraam karoge? (Will you give Congress a hard time for giving you a tough time)," he asked.

Modi said that coal and 2G have caught the attention of the Congress-led government and not onions. "Now they are eyeing gold and they have got to know that every household in Rajasthan has at least 1 kg of gold. Dear friends they are out to get your gold, your mangalsutra," he cautioned.

Alternate Version Of 'Anchorman 2' In the Works Using '250 New Jokes'

Don't act like you're not impressed that "Anchorman 2" could receive an alternate cut made up of entirely new material.

That's what writer/director Adam McKay is planning in conjunction with the comedy sequel's hotly anticipated December release. McKay told Empire magazine that the project has so much to work with that there's enough for a second version.

“We did so much improv on this one that we can literally replace every single joke in the movie and put in alt scenes and alt improv runs," McKay revealed. "I think the editor’s working on it right now, with 250 new jokes. I think it would be really funny to put it in theaters for midnight showings. I know that I, personally, if I loved a movie and someone told me that, like, if 'Airplane!' had been released with all-new jokes, I’d be like, ‘You’ve got to be f--king kidding me!’ I’d see it in a second.”

That's just what "Anchorman" fans will be able to do, if this plan comes to fruition. No specific release details have been determined, so it seems likely that an alternate version could become fodder for the DVD's special features. Until then, we can all just cross our fingers for an impending double feature, as if 113 minutes of one "Anchorman" sequel won't suffice.

Box office update: 'Bad Grandpa' wins Friday with $12.6 million as 'The Counselor' flops with 'D' CinemaScore

Even without the rest of the Jackass crew, Johnny Knoxville scored with his latest irreverent prank movie, Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa, which topped the chart on Friday with an excellent $12.6 million. The film, which cost Paramount about $15 million to make, is expected to gross $30 million this weekend. Not a bad return on investment! Audiences issued the film a lukewarm “B” CinemaScore grade.

Bad Grandpa‘s success meant that Gravity finally had to give up its spot atop the chart. Warner Bros’ $100 million space drama starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney grossed $6.2 million yesterday, a drop of just 32 percent from the previous Friday, which sets it up for a $21.5 million weekend and just over $200 million total after four frames.

One rung below, Captain Phillips dropped just 29 percent from last Friday to $3.6 million, meaning it will sail away with nearly $12 million in its third box office voyage. By Sunday night, the $55 million Tom Hanks drama will have accrued about $70 million total.

All the way down in fourth place, Ridley Scott’s star-studded drama The Counselor failed to bring in crowds — despite the appeal of stars Michael Fassbender, Cameron Diaz, and Brad Pitt. Fox’s $25 million film grossed a measly $3.2 million, setting The Counselor up for a weekend in the $8.5 million range. Granted, that’s not as bad as The Fifth Estate‘s opening last weekend, but it’s surprisingly awful given the talent involved. Distressingly, audiences stamped The Counselor, which has earned weak reviews, with a dismissive “D” CinemaScore grade.

Jennifer Lawrence displays impressive martial arts moves in skintight bodysuit in X-Men: Days Of Future Past teaser

She plays reluctant warrior Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games.

And Jennifer Lawrence is certainly proving she deserves her action hero title.

The 23-year-old is shows off her impressive martial arts skills wearing a skintight bodysuit in a new teaser for X:Men: Days Of Future Past, released on Thursday on Instagram.

In the four-second clip, Jennifer, who plays mutant shapeshifter Mystique, first appears crying a solitary tear.

Her face is painted blue and she sports piercing yellow contact lenses and flaming orange hair.

Her face features textured pieces on her forehead and cheeks.

The Hunger Games actress (or perhaps a stuntwoman) is also seen showing off some impressive acrobatic skills as she balances on her hands, her legs in the air as she fights off an attacker.

Finally, Jennifer is seen being dragged along the ground by someone using just his hand from afar.

She shows off her slender figure in a skintight bodysuit, with more textured pieces to create a reptile effect.

Jennifer's real life boyfriend Nicholas Hoult, meanwhile, appears in blink-and-you'll-miss-it shot, baring his wolf fangs in his role as Hank McCoy/Beast.

Like Jennifer, his face his blue, including his hair, and he wears a rusty brown T-shirt and navy blue jacket.

As fans of the first X-Men sequel will know, Nicholas' character Hank McCoy tried to cure himself of his mutation, which causes him to have ape-like feet and super strength. However, the cure backfired, and Hank's transformation into Beast began.

David Herman, Former NYC Rock DJ, Arrested In Child Sex Sting

A retired New York radio personality has been charged in a sting operation with trying to transport a 7-year-old girl to the U.S. Virgin Islands for sex.

David Herman, 77, of Airmont, N.Y., and St. Croix, was arrested Thursday at the St. Croix airport, where federal authorities said he had expected to meet the girl and her mother flying in from New York.

Herman thought he'd been corresponding online with a woman about her child but was actually talking to an undercover officer from Bergen County in New Jersey, according to U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman.

The U.S. attorney's office confirmed Herman had worked at FM radio station WNEW, where he was a pioneering rock 'n' roll disc jockey. Herman was scheduled to make an initial court appearance Friday in St. Croix.

Prosecutors said they had not been notified as of Thursday afternoon whether Herman had a lawyer. No phone listing was found for him in Airmont.

Herman allegedly believed he was communicating with a 36-year-old single mother with a young daughter, according to court papers. He allegedly tried, in multiple telephone and online conversations, to arrange illegal sexual encounters with the child in New York and Bergen County, until indicating he wanted to fly the pair to St. Croix so he could engage in sexual activity with the child there, prosecutors said.

Herman purchased airline tickets Sept. 30 for the woman and her child to fly from LaGuardia airport to St. Croix, according to prosecutors. He arrived at the airport Thursday to pick up the woman and child, according to the U.S. attorney's office, but was instead met by special agents of U.S. Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who placed him under arrest.

Herman is charged with a count of attempting to transport a minor in interstate commerce with the intent that the minor engage in illegal sexual activity. If convicted, the charge can carry up to life in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.

A Gorilla Scares Actress Anna Friel Away!

Actress Anna Friel says she was terrified when while shooting a wildlife documentary in Africa, a gorilla charged at one of her crew members.

The 37-year-old headed to Uganda in August this year to make a film highlighting the plight of mountain gorillas, but the Trip almost ended in a nightmare for her when a silverback primate turned on one of the members, reports contactmusic.com.

A Gorilla Scares Anna Friel Away! "We got charged by a silverback, which was, erm... okay! We were told to act passive and submissive but it goes against every single instinct in the body when you see a huge thing making a loud screeching noise... and you are not allowed to run," Friel told Hello magazine. "You have to stay and go, 'I'm a tree and there's a big thing running at me'. "We heard this almighty sound as one crashed through the trees towards our photographer and came this close and then swung away again.

It was like someone going, 'Yeah? Come on then,' showing their power and that it's their forest. My heart was pumping." Friel made her debut in films in 1998 in David Leland's Land Girls.

She has since then made a number of films appearing with notable co-stars as Christian Bale, Gerard Butler, Colin Farrell, Keira Knightley, Robert De Niro, Will Ferrell, and Rachel Weisz. Outside of film, Anna Friel is probably best known in the USA for her work as Charlotte "Chuck" Charles in the ABC comedy series Pushing Daisies for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 2008.

Happy Birthday Mallika Sherawat Celebrates Birthday with kids, diva with style and Sensuality

Mallika Sherawat, the Bollywood empress of sensuality, turns 37 today. ApunKaChoice wishes her many returns of the day.

For a girl from Rohtak, a small town in Haryana, it’s no easy feat to rub her shoulders with Hollywood glitterati, walk the red carpet at Cannes Film Festival (see photos), and court international media. Mallika has done that.

The bold, feisty, outspoken, hot and fiercely self-independent Mallika Sherawat celebrated her 37th birthday with kids today.

“Celebrating my bday with the kids, loving it :)” Mallika tweeted and shared a photo.

The little ones seem to have driven away the blues of the actress who was much hurt after facing insults by some contestants on the telly show ‘The Bachelorette India - Mere Khayalon Ki Mallika’ where she’s looking for her Mr. Right.

Mallika has now returned to the show and shown her characteristic confidence in being who she is.

“Fake people have an image to maintain, real people just don't care:)!!” Mallika tweeted.

We second that.

Manna Dey Kolkata's Coffee House weeps for its balladeer

There were the routine chat sessions around the tables, but in hushed tones. The waiters served customers in their usual sluggish manner, but seemed markedly slower. For Kolkata's famous intellectual hub Coffee House was in mourning at the passing away of Manna Dey who rendered the famous song that for generations has been regarded as its anthem.

Thirty years back, Dey recorded 'Coffee Houser sei addata aaj ar nei' (The chat sessions at the Coffee House have faded away) capturing the 'golden late afternoons' spent by seven friends at the joint and the successes, frustrations, tragedies and disappointments which they experienced in their later lives. The song, which told the story of artist Nikhilesh, guitarist D'souza, journalist Moidul, wannabe poet Amol, has steeped with nostalgia generations of Kolkatans - who spent such golden moments of their youth and student lives in coffee houses with dreams of a new world order or a career of creativity, only to lose their way in the labyrinth of harsh reality.

Manna Dey: Kolkata\'s Coffee House weeps for its balladeer Thirty years back, Dey recorded 'Coffee Houser' capturing the 'golden late afternoons' spent by seven friends. "Today, truly the Coffee House chat sessions got over. Coffee House lost its soul. Not only me, but whoever ever visited Coffee House will realise this. "Coffee House will remain... so will remain the chat sessions, but the man who made them immortal is now no more," Suparnakanti Ghosh, who composed the song penned by Gouriprasanna Majumdar, told IANS. On Thursday, a portrait of Dey was put up inside the joint on College Street and garlanded, with the aroma of incense sticks filling the air. Some of the youths played the song on their mobile phones.

At the entrance, a flex paid tributes to Dey. "Legendary singer Manna Dey is no more. He will never take part in the Coffee House chat sessions. On behalf of he Coffee House family, we pray for his soul to rest in peace". "Every time I hear the song, I remember my college friends. Some are doing well and some have gone away from this world.

It is a beautiful song of remembrance. It gives me joy and sorrow," said a one-time regular Shaheed Ansar. Situated in the heart of Kolkata, opposite the Presidency College, the Indian Coffee House was commissioned in 1942 by the Indian Coffee Board. Rechristened 'Coffee House' in 1947, it emerged as the meeting place for poets, artistes, literati and people from the world of art and culture. In the 1950s and 1960s, many Left leaders held brain-storming sessions at the Coffee House, while the Maoists or Naxalites as they were called, held court in the late 1960s and 1970s trying to woo the best brains to their doctrine of an armed revolution.

Animated discussions on sundry topics amid the smoke of infusion (black coffee) and baked fish, still mark the Coffee House. "Manna Dey is like a fixed asset of Coffee House. He and Coffee House are synonymous. The song is our anthem. Many foreign media houses have done story on Coffee House and they too have described the song as Coffee House anthem," said Dipankar Dasgupta, Coffee House administrative officer. "We have paid our tribute by garlanding his photo in the joint. We are also planning to organise a programme in his honour," said Dasgupta.

Record statement of Jiah Khan's mother, HC orders Juhu cops

The Bombay high court on Wednesday directed the Juhu police to record the statement of Rabia Amin Khan, mother of deceased actor Jiah Khan. Rabia believes her daughter did not commit suicide but was murdered. She has alleged that the police did not probe the case properly.

In her petition, Rabia had said that she has strong reasons to believe the investigation has been hushed up at the behest of the police, who had carried out the probe in such a manner that the truth did not come out. The petition alleges that Jiah may have been hanged after being killed.

A division bench of justices SC Dharmadhikari and GS Patel refused to transfer the probe to the CBI, as sought by Rabia, but asked the police to probe the case properly.

The bench asked the police if they had investigated all the aspects highlighted by Rabia in her plea. The judges asked the police how much distance there was between the bed and the fan from which Jiah hanged herself, and also inquired if a stool was used to reach the fan. The police were also quizzed about the injury marks found on her forehead and hands.

“It is not a passing of any observation on the probe, but investigation should be undertaken properly,” said the HC.

Sandra Bullock, Matthew McConaughey Are Still Friends After All These Years

It was all laughs between former lovers Sandra Bullock and Matthew McConaughey, who goofed off on the red carpet at the 17th Annual Hollywood Films Monday night in Los Angeles.

The one-time couple -- who dated after meeting on the set of 1996's "A Time To Kill" -- appeared friendlier than ever as they laughed and hugged it out with McConaghey's wife Camila Alves. (Bullock has forged her own friendship with Alves, even taking her son Louis out on playdates with Alves and her children.) Bullock and McConaughey left with awards for Best Actress and Best Actor, respectively.

Despite the obvious affection, Bullock was always coy about her relationship with McConaughey. In 1997, she said that McConaughey had "become a powerful force in my life" and that "we have fabulous chemistry together," but insisted that they were only friends.

Watch Sarah Silverman's Failed NBC Pilot, 'Susan 313'

Last year, NBC announced that it was passing on a pilot from Sarah Silverman entitled "Susan 313." For the first time, viewers can watch that pilot in full.

The show would have marked Silverman's return to television after her acclaimed Comedy Central show, "The Sarah Silverman Program." Unlike that show, which had its roots in absurdist sketch comedy, "Susan 313" appears to have been conceived as a much more traditional sitcom in the vein of "30 Rock" or "New Girl."

"This isn't like, 'Can you believe they didn't pick this up?'" Silverman says in a brief announcement before the pilot, which is featured on the YouTube channel JASH. "They probably did the right thing. But we liked the show."

"Susan 313" was produced and developed by Ron Howard, and starred Silverman as Susan Farrow, a woman moving back into her old apartment building after the end of a 10 year relationship. Her costars in the pilot are Harris Wittels, Tig Notaro and June Diane Raphael as her neighbors. Jeff Goldblum makes a cameo as Susan's ex-boyfriend.

Stephen Lang Will Return For 'Avatar' Sequel

Stephen Lang is coming back to Pandora. According to Deadline.com, Lang will reprise his role as the villain in James Cameron's "Avatar" sequels. The slight problem that Cameron has to work out? Lang's character, Miles Quaritch, was killed at the end of the first "Avatar."

"I'm not going to say exactly HOW we're bringing him back, but it's a science fiction story, after all," Cameron told Deadline.com when announcing the news. Lang wouldn't be the first actor to have their "Avatar" character return from the dead in some form: Sigourney Weaver is also expected to come back for the "Avatar" sequels even though her character perished in the original film.

"Okay, here’s the deal. When you have a science-fiction series, a science-fiction franchise, you’re never dead, unless your DNA is expunged from the universe," Cameron told Vulture in 2011 about how Weaver could play a role in the second film. "And then there’s always time travel!"

Not mentioned as a possible "Avatar" bad guy: Arnold Schwarzenegger. Latino Review reported that Schwarzenegger was up for the part, but his involvement was denied by 20th Century Fox.

Gemma Merna leaves little to the imagination in yellow PVC dress and silver heels at Inside Soap Awards

While most stars want to stand out on the red carpet, Gemma Merna made sure all eyes were on her when she attended the Inside Soap Awards.

The Hollyoaks actress wore a racy, eye-catching dress while flaunting her ample chest to the max as she arrived at Ministry of Sound on Monday evening.

The blonde beauty chose a yellow PVC number for the ceremony, which saw her co-star Danny Mac crowned sexiest male.

The 29-year-old, who plays Carmel Valentine in the Channel 4 soap, flaunted her slim frame in the figure-hugging number by new designer Zeynep Kartal.

Featuring a zip-up front and suede panels, the star's outfit may have shown off her top half however her legs were covered up as the dress fell well below the knee.

The Cleethorpes-born actress finished off her outfit with sparkly, silver heels and a large watch, which featured a black leather strap.

Her hair looked super glamorous in a loose waves, while being worn down, over one shoulder while her make-up was kept simple except for bright silver eye-shadow.

Gemma tweeted about her co-stars on Sunday to say: 'I am so emotional coz of how amazing @Hollyoaks is I'm so proud of my fellow cast they r just amazing!'

Olivia Munn dazzles in a strapless cleavage-baring dress at the 17th annual Hollywood Film Awards

It’s not quite awards season yet but the stars aligned in Los Angeles on Monday.

Celebrities gathered for the 17th annual Hollywood Film Awards at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills and Olivia Munn managed the almost impossible feat of standing out from the crowd.

The Newsroom actress wowed in a quirky green leopard print dress as she walked the red carpet at the ceremony.

Her strapless full length dress was eye catching, ensuring all eyes were on the brunette beauty.

A number of A-listers were lined up to receive honours at the event including Julia Roberts, Sandra Bullock, Jake Gyllenhaal and Matthew McConaughey.

And following the news of their courtship, a source told E! News: 'He is a super normal guy and she is a really down-to-earth girl and they just get each other.

'They are on the same wavelength intellectually, and they have the same sense of humour.

'It's been going on for a little while and it's heading towards being serious. They are extremely happy together.'

India may import onion as prices soar to Rs90 per kg

India may import onion to stabilise prices that have soared to Rs. 90 per kg in the national capital, commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma said on Tuesday.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here, Sharma blamed hoarders for the recent spike in prices.

“We will import onion if there are proposals and requirements so that we can stabilise the prices,” he said.

However, the minister emphasised that there was enough stock of onion in the country.
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Onion at Rs 100 per kg in Patna, alarm bells ring in Delhi

“We have enough onion stock in the country and the state governments must act firmly against the hoarders who are hoarding the onions which has led to the artificial scarcity and sharp escalation of prices,” Sharma said.

He also expressed hope that the prices would stabilise with the arrival of fresh domestic products by December-end.

Onion prices soared to Rs. 90 per kg in the national capital and they are being sold at around Rs.80 per kg in other parts of the country. The prices have more than doubled in the past four months.

India to launch mission to explore Mars on Nov 5

India's ambitious space mission to explore planet Mars would be launched on November 5 from the spaceport of Sriharikota, ISRO announced on Tuesday.

The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), 'Mangalyan', would be launched onboard PSLV C25 on November 5 at 3:28pm from the first launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, some 80 kilometres from Chennai, an ISRO spokesperson said.

A decision on the launch date was to be taken on October 19 but postponed to Tuesday in view of bad weather in the South Pacific Ocean.

The powerful XL version of the Indian Space Research Organisation's workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) would be used for the Rs. 450 crore mission.

Primary objectives of the mission are to demonstrate India's technological capability to send a satellite to orbit around Mars and conduct meaningful experiments such as looking for signs of life, take pictures of the red planet and study Martian environment.

Launch campaign has already commenced in Sriharikota from where the 1,350-kg MOM spacecraft is slated to be launched by the Rs. 110 crore Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.

The satellite will carry compact science experiment instruments, totalling a mass of 15 kilograms. There will be five instruments to study Martian surface, atmosphere and mineralogy, ISRO said.

After leaving the earth's orbit, the spacecraft will cruise in deep space for about ten months using its own propulsion system and will reach Martian transfer trajectory in September 2014.

The spacecraft subsequently is planned to enter into a 372 kilometres by 80,000 kilometres elliptical orbit around Mars.

I am a voracious online shopper Kareena Kapoor

Kareena Kapoor ends up splurging more than required whenever she shops online from the comfort of her home.

"I am a voracious online shopper. I buy a lot of stuff via the internet because I don't get a lot of time to go to the stores and try on things. I have a wonderful experience," the actress said while unveiling Malabar Gold's online store on Monday.

"It seems I end up buying more while shopping from the comfort of my home. So, sometimes you tend to buy a little extra, which is good, I think," she added.

On the movie front, the actress will soon be seen in Punit Malhotra's Gori Tere Pyaar Mein with Imran Khan. The film will release on November 22.

Armaan Kohli has anger issues Shilpa Saklani

Evicted from the reality show Bigg Boss 7, Shilpa Sakhlani says she’s happy that she is out of the house. “I didn’t want to make a mockery of the name I had earned for myself over the last 14 years,” says Shilpa, who only misses one thing right now: her husband Apurva Agnihotri.

Shilpa, who enjoyed being part of the show, says that she was there for the experience. “I bear no ill will for any person in the house. I will meet them once they are outside,” claims the actor. “Armaan Kohli is one person I wouldn’t party with. I would meet and talk to him. His personality is quite strong. He’s got anger issues which need to be sorted out.”

Shilpa adds, “Tanishaa Mukherjee just lost the plot in the last few days. She is quite taken by the emotions that she has for Armaan — as a friend or whatever. I have actually seen her personality change. I was shocked at her behavior.” Shilpa felt that Kushal Tandon and Gauahar Khan too went overboard in showcasing their affection. “There are certain things you refrain from doing on TV. I behave decently, but that’s me,” she says.

Apparently, no one spoke about the drug case that Shilpa and Apurva were reportedly entrapped in, a few years ago. “It’s an episode that is now over,” she says.

Baba Ramdev Government is trying to defame me

A day after the police registered a case against Ramdev's brother Ram Bharat on charges of abducting and manhandling a former employee, the yoga guru attacked the government and said it was an attempt to defame him.

"There are headlines on television channels accusing me and my brother of abduction. These are all false and baseless allegations against me. This is a conspiracy by the Congress government, both at the Centre and in Uttarakhand, to defame me."

Accusing the Congress of adopting a hostile attitude towards him, Ramdev said, "I am being portrayed as a criminal. It is clear from some incidents in recent past that I am being victimised and targeted by the ruling Congress party."

According to the police, 25-year-old Nitin Tyagi used to work as a supervisor with Patanjali Food and Herbal Pvt Ltd till two years ago. There he was accused of stealing a herb used in making ayurvedic medicine. Four days ago, Ram Bharat allegedly abducted Tyagi and kept him in captivity. The man was rescued from Patanjali Phase 2 only after his grandfather, Som Tyagi, filed a complaint.

Baba Ramdev Government is trying to defame me

The police have filed a case under Sections 323, 504, 506, 365 and 342 of IPC at Kankhal police station against Ram Bharat and the four security guards. While whereabouts of Bharat and three security personnel are unknown as of now, one guard has been arrested and is being questioned by the police.

Ramdev, however, has termed the charges against his brother as baseless. "A worker at Patanjali Yog Peeth was caught red-handed stealing nearly R30 lakh. He was detained at the ashram by the security personnel and later handed over to the local police. It is unfortunate that our rivals, instigated by some political leaders at the Centre, projected the whole incident in a negative manner and the media also reported it like a case of kidnapping. It is another case to defame me," he said.

He said he was a victim of a political conspiracy. "They are trying to infiltrate sex workers into the ashram, they will be then caught and people will say Ramdev is a sex offender."

Speaking to HT, SSP Rajeev Swaroop said, "One of the four private security guards of Ram Bharat, Ramesh Kumar, has been taken in custody and interrogation is on. The victim will be given due justice and the culprits will not be spared. A special team has been formed to nab the other accused."

Lalu Prasad, Jagdish Sharma disqualified from Lok Sabha

RJD chief Lalu Prasad and JD(U) leader Jagdish Sharma have been disqualified as Lok Sabha members following their conviction in the fodder scam.

While Prasad stands disqualified for a total of 11 years — five years of jail term and six years subsequent to his release, Sharma stands disqualified for ten years — four years in jail and six more years after that as per electoral laws.

Theirs is the first disqualification from the Lok Sabha after the Supreme Court struck down a provision that protects a convicted lawmaker from disqualification on the ground of pendency of appeal in higher courts.

The first disqualification from Parliament came on Sunday when 66-year-old Masood, a Congress member of the Rajya Sabha, was held guilty in a case of corruption and other offences in September.

Lok Sabha Secretary General S. Bal Shekar has issued the notifications disqualifying Lalu and Sharma. The Election Commission has also been intimated about the disqualification and the subsequent creation of vacancies in the Lok Sabha.

Their disqualification came on Sunday night after Rajya Sabha disqualified Congress MP Rashid Masood earlier on Sunday after his conviction in a graft case.

65-year-old Prasad, convicted in the fodder scam, was sentenced to five years in prison and imposed with a fine of Rs. 25 lakh. He was till now an MP from Saran in Bihar.

Sharma (63) too was sentenced to four years imprisonment in the case. He represented Jahanabad in Bihar.

The Rajya Sabha notification said Masood stands disqualified as an MP from September 19, the day he was convicted by the CBI court.

Citing provisions of the Representation of the People Act, it said he will remain disqualified for the period of his sentence and will continue to remain disqualified for a further period of six years after his release.

Breast Milk Protein may Protect Babies From HIV

Scientists have for the first time identified a protein in breast milk that neutralises HIV and may protect babies from acquiring the virus from their infected mothers.

The protein, called Tenascin-C or TNC, had previously been recognised as playing a role in wound healing, but had not been known to have antimicrobial properties. The discovery could lead to potential new HIV-prevention strategies.

Researchers at Duke University Medical Center found the TNC protein in breast milk binds to and neutralises the HIV virus, protecting exposed infants who might otherwise become infected from repeated exposures to the virus.

"Even though we have antiretroviral drugs that can work to prevent mother-to-child transmission, not every pregnant woman is being tested for HIV, and less than 60 per cent are receiving the prevention drugs, particularly in countries with few resources," said senior study author Sallie Permar, assistant professor of pediatrics, immunology and molecular genetics and microbiology at Duke.

"So there is still a need for alternative strategies to prevent mother-to-child transmission, which is why this work is important," Permar said.

In their study, the Duke team screened mature milk samples from uninfected women for neutralising activity against a panel of HIV strains, confirming that all of the detectable HIV-neutralisation activity was contained in the high molecular weight portion.

Using a multi-step protein separation process, the researchers narrowed the detectable HIV-neutralisation activity to a single protein, and identified it as TNC.

"TNC is a component of the extracellular matrix that is integral to how tissues hold themselves together," Permar said, noting that co-author Harold Erickson, professor of cell biology at Duke, was among the first to identify and describe TNC in the 1980s.

Researchers found the protein is uniquely effective in capturing virus particles and neutralises the virus, specifically binding to the HIV envelope.

Pakistan Ranger's Death sparks off Border firing, 25 Indian Outposts Targeted

In one of the worst incidents of ceasefire violations on the International Border (IB), firing continued for the fourth successive day Monday, with as many as 25 border outposts on the Indian side being targeted.

Stating that this was the first time in over three years that the region has seen such heavy firing, Border Security Force (BSF) officials alleged that it could be cover for a large scale infiltration attempt. They said there have been as many as 36 ceasefire violations in the region this month.

According to available reports, seven persons, including two security personnel, have been injured on the Indian side, while at least two Pakistanis have been killed and two injured.

The recent confrontation between the BSF and Pakistan Rangers was reportedly triggered by the death of a Pakistan Ranger, Israr Ahmed, in the Chaprar sector on October 17.

BSF sources said Ahmed was killed after the Indian posts responded to heavy firing by the Pakistani forces. The same day, five persons, including three children, were injured in Najwal, on the Indian side.

On October 18, a BSF personnel and a police constable were injured in continued firing. A civilian, allegedly an infiltrator, was reportedly killed and two others injured on the Pakistan side. Pakistan, however, refused to accept the body.

PTI quoted BSF officers as saying that the Pakistani forces fired at the outposts in the forward areas of Jammu and Samba districts throughout Sunday night. The Pakistan Rangers also shelled civilian hamlets along the border, triggering panic. "They are firing round-the-clock on our posts and patrolling persons to inflict casualties," a BSF personnel was quoted as saying.

Sachin Tendulkar Never before, never again

Introducing Sachin in our dna, a series leading up to Tendulkar's 200th Test at Wankhede.

Four weeks remain before Sachin Tendulkar’s illustrious career comes to an end at his home ground, Wankhede Stadium, against the West Indies. I have known Sachin for a long time and have spent a lot of time with him on the tours of New Zealand (1990), England (1990) and Australia (1991-92). He is extremely passionate about the game and simply cannot live without cricket.

For him, cricket is everything. I am sure his decision to retire must have been the toughest decision for him simply because he has been playing the game non-stop for 30 years. Right from his school days to now, he has been going to the gym, training hard and spending quality time in the nets. Even today, he is as motivated and as committed as he was when he started playing the game. That’s his level of passion. That he won’t be playing the game at the competitive level after the Mumbai Test (against the West Indies) would surely hurt him big time.

Sachin has achieved what nobody in the history of cricket has achieved. I cannot think of anyone even coming close to achieving what Sachin has. It’s tough for a great player to hang up his boots simply because he has spent all his life, or say the best years of his life, doing what he knows best besides, of course, working hard to keep up the standards he has set for himself. Suddenly, he won’t have to wake up and go to the ground or play in a match. It will be tough, but I guess as time goes by, he will get used to it.

There is so much media hype surrounding his retirement, but Sachin has seen it all many a time in his career. He is no rookie when it comes to big occasions and I feel he will handle it the way he has been handling tough, emotional situations all his life. Surely, this one will be different; people will expect him to score a century in his last Test match.

There are always big expectations whenever Sachin goes in to bat. Such expectations come not just from within India but also from all over the world. I guess those who have watched Sir Don Bradman or Sir Garfield Sobers must have had the same feeling or expectations whenever and wherever they played.

For all that Sachin has achieved, to me personally, he is a wonderful human being. He is one who always respects his elders and is ever so humble. He is loved by all. Even after achieving so much, be it fame or fortune, his feet are rooted firmly to the ground. He hasn’t changed much since I saw him first in 1988. He is always helpful to newcomers and tries his best to make them feel at home.

When he first arrived on the international stage, he was extremely mature for his age. He was ready for big cricket. He had the head of a 24-year-old on his 16-year-old frame. Skill-wise, there is not much of a difference among most 15 or 16-year-olds, but those who are mentally tougher, play the game at the highest level earlier than those who are late bloomers.

Sachin looked exceptional for a schoolboy cricketer. When I took him to the nets to face Kapil Dev and other India bowlers, he was not at all overawed by the presence of some of the great players of that era. Besides, he had a lot of time while playing the pacers.

Unnao gold hunt leads to digging for precious metal elsewhere

The Unnao gold hunt has led to illegal digging at forts and temples rumoured to have hidden treasures in Uttar Pradesh.

Shobhan Sarkar, the seer who had "dreamt" about 1,000 tonne gold buried under Unnao's Daundia Khera fort, had said the precious metal was hidden in Fatehpur's Adampur area as well.

As the news spread, some people dug up the platform of an ancient Shiva temple near the Ganga's main ghat in Fatehpur.

Reports said about two dozen places in ruins have been dug up. It was also rumoured that the diggers had fled with some gold.

Residents claimed Mahant Mohandas, who lives near the temple, was held at gunpoint during digging forcing authorities to cordon off the temple.

Fatehpur district magistrate Abhay Kumar said security personnel have been deployed to prevent a repeat of such activity.

Sarkar's disciple, Om Ji, had claimed "no less than 2,500 tonne of gold is hidden in the ruins in Adampur village". He said Adampur is located on the Ganga banks and was associated with 1857 revolt like Daundiya Khera. Om Ji asked the district administration to commission digging since the treasure in Adampur was easier to retrieve.

In Bahraich, some unidentified people left behind a huge pit after they probably got tired of the physical labour at the Charda Fort "No seer has ever dreamt about Charda. The only possible connection between Daundiya Kheda and Charda forts is that they have a mound and are associated with the 1857 revolt," said a local professor.

Jagjot Singh had ruled the place and reportedly sheltered Nana Sahab and Begum Hazrat Mahal besides helping them escape to Nepal in 1858. The fort was ruined when the British attacked it.

In 2004, Dinesh Pratap Singh from the local royal family got the ruins, spread across 11.5 acre, excavated after permission and found gold coins and jewellery besides some rare weapons.

Bahraich DM Kinjal Singh said police had been deployed at the fort and ordered arrest of those involved in the illegal excavation.

Another ancient Shiva temple in Banda's Piparhari area too has been targeted in the quest for gold. Residents said the place has no connection with Sarkar's dream, but it has been prosperous.

"The temple is located in Maharajpur Kher near Pailani forest range. It is believed that gold and silver kalash (pots) are buried here," a resident said.

British woman alleges she was molested outside a mall in Mumbai

A British national has filed a complaint with the Mumbai police that she was molested by a man outside a mall. The incident happened on Monday evening.

In her complaint, the 27-year-old has said that when she got off an auto rickshaw at the Mega Mall in Lokhandwala, a man suddenly appeared and touched her inappropriately. The woman said that two of her friends, who was in the same auto, managed to raise an alarm which alerted policemen nearby. The accused was caught with the help of the policemen from a nearby chowkie as he was trying to run away.

The accused, Gaurav Gupta (36), a resident of Mira Road area, was brought to Oshiwara police station and arrested.

A case under IPC Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) has been registered at the Oshiwara police station. Senior Police Inspector of Oshiwara Police station Nasir Pathan said, "The British lady cried out for help and constables who were on duty nearby heard her cries for help and managed to catch the accused. In the beginning we thought he was a thief but later on we found out that he had molested the woman."

The police is questioning the accused and statements of the girl and her friends have also been recorded. According to the police, the victim has been staying in the city for the past one year, on a tourist visa and works as an extra dancer in films.
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Pakistan slams Salman Khurshid's remarks on Kashmir full Statement

Pakistan has reacted strongly to Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid's statement on Kashmir, asking New Delhi to avoid negative propaganda. In an exclusive interview to NDTV, Mr Khurshid had on Sunday reiterated India's stand of Kashmir being its integral part. He said that no external intervention will be tolerated on the issue, and it is a "waste of time on the part of anybody to try to question it."

Following is the full statement issued by Pakistan's foreign office:

Expressing disappointment at the comments by the Indian External Affairs Minister on the status of Jammu & Kashmir, appearing in a section of the Indian media, the Spokesperson stated that the Kashmir dispute is the core issue that remains unresolved between the two countries.

It is unfortunate that Indian leadership continues to refer to the state of Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India, when the reality is clearly otherwise.

As a member of the United Nations, India should not overlook or undermine the numerous UN Security Council resolutions on this issue. While bilateral agreements may exist, the sanctity of the UN resolutions cannot be understated.

The Kashmir dispute remains a fundamental component of the bilateral dialogue process and resolution of this dispute is vital for maintaining peace and security in the region. India's continued intransigence over this issue is counterproductive and is unhelpful in the efforts to resolve this dispute.

Pakistan remains committed to a purposeful, constructive and result-oriented dialogue with India and believes that serious efforts need to be made in maintaining a positive atmosphere and avoid negative propaganda.
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WELL- COME TO INDIA

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