Sonam to play Saahiban for Rakeysh Mehra

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Mumbai, June 05: Actress Sonam Kapoor is all set to play the role of Saahiban in an ambitious screen adaptation by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.

It is very popular about Saahiban that when she stepped out in the streets of Punjab, the nine angels that guard the spheres died on seeing her beauty.

So far no Hindi film based on the Mirza-Saahiban love story has yet been made, there have, however, there have been many screen adaptations in Hindi and Punjabi of legendary romances like Heer-Ranjha, Laila-Majnu and Sohni-Mahiwal.

The idea struck to Rakeysh Mehra during the making of Delhi 6.

AP acid attack victim obtains distinction

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Hyderabad, June 05: There is not just life after an acid attack, there is even achievement. That is what Pranita, a 22-year-old who suffered an acid attack in December has shown.

Showing exceptional courage, Pranitha passed her final year BTech exams with distinction scoring 82 per cent.

“I was not in a position to even hold or open the books. My father would arrange a table, open the book, flip the page and I would just read with my eyes,” Pranitha said.

Her achievement has brought a smile back on her mother’s face.

Salman Khan buys a yacht along with his brothers

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Mumbai, June 05: Don’t be surprised if you see the Khan brothers Salman, Sohail and Arbaaz partying on a private yacht in Alibaug. Sources reveal that Salman has bought a yacht, and it is parked at a private stretch of the beach in Alibaug.

A source reveals, “Sohail came up with the idea of buying a yacht because he loves the ocean and swimming. Salman and Arbaaz supported him and decided they get one. The yacht is a medium- sized model that can host a small party of 10 people. Salman and Sohail were spotted partying on it a month back with a bunch of kids from their family.”

A getaway

President outlines road map for next five years

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New Delhi, June 05: Union Government on Thursday declared that it will pursue a policy of “zero-tolerance” towards terrorism from whatever source it originates and seek to reshape relationship with Pakistan which should confront terror groups inimical to India.

Outlining 10 broad areas of priority for the next five years, President Pratibha Patil said in her address to the joint session of the Parliament that the internal security and preservation of communal harmony, stepping up of economic growth and agriculture, manufacturing and services are among those areas.

Celina manhandled by Tusshar Kapoor

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Mumbai, June 05: Tusshar Kapoor is too much of a good boy to let anything get in the way of his work. Professional to a fault, he won’t let anything or anyone to bring the shooting to a halt not even his best buddy Celina Jaitly.

When provoked this seedha and shaant boy can get quite ferocious as Celina discovered. Recently, the actor had a showdown with her, followed by a cold war for a few days.

Dawood injured in firing at Karachi

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Karachi, June 05: According to unconfirmed reports, wanted gangster Dawood Ibrahim’s brother Anees Ibrahim has allegedly been shot dead by unidentified assailants in Karachi late last night. Elder brother Dawood was also injured in the shootout, however, the degree of injuries are yet to be confirmed.

Sources revealed that the assassination bid is being attributed to members of the Bhatti faction, a local gang that has an interest in controlling the drug trade in Pakistan. It is believed that the Bhatti gang is associated with Dawood’s arch rival the Chota Rajan gang.

Obama cites Quran to reach Muslims

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American President Barack Hussein Obama ended his Middle East tour and headed to Germany Thursday after he addressed the Muslim world from a tightly secured Cairo where he quoted from Islam’s Holy Book and stressed the United States was not in competition with Islam in a bid to heal the rift that has developed between the two.

Obama was in Cairo following a brief stop in Saudi Arabia, where he held talks with King Abdullah, and arrived at Cairo University to give a landmark speech that was a fulfillment of his inaugural speech promise to reach out to Muslims.

Aamir, Akshay, Hrithik nominated for AXN action awards

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New Delhi, June 05: Bollywood stars Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar and Hrithik Roshan are in the race to bag the best actor award at the AXN Action Awards.

While Aamir has been nominated for “Ghajini”, Akshay is in contention for “Tashan” and Hrithik for “Jodhaa Akbar”.

“‘Ghajini’ is a film that required a lot of aggression that exposes the basic crude emotion of human loss. I’m honoured to be nominated in the best action actor category, as the action in the film is more complex and thought provoking, showcasing anger, vengeance and physical violence,” said Aamir in a statement.

Pitt gifts diamonds to daughter on third birthday

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London, June 05: Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt made sure his daughter Shiloh had a memorable third birthday by presenting her with two diamond and platinum necklaces on the day.

Contactmusic.com reports, the tiny tot celebrated her birthday May 27 and her proud papa surprised her with priceless gifts from designer Neil Lane, including a 1.5-carat chain worth a whopping $15,000.

Little Shiloh wasn’t the only one to be given diamonds.

Bajaj sales down 8.1 percent in May

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Mumbai, June 05: Bajaj Auto, the country’s second largest two-wheeler manufacturer, has reported 8.1 percent fall in its motorcycle sales last month.

The company said in a statement Thursday that it sold 165,049 motorcycles last month as against 179,649 vehicles in May 2008.

Cumulative sales, including exports and three wheelers, stood at 185,341 units, 8.02 percent down from 201,511 units sold in May 2008.

Exports last month declined 2.5 percent to 58,682 units from 60,215 exported in the corresponding month last year.

Sensex rises 133 points in initial trade

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Mumbai, June 05: The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex rose by 133 points in initial trade today, extending yesterday’s rally, on sustained buying by funds and retail investors buoyed by hopes that the Government will revive the economy by boosting investment and accelerating reforms.

Buying activity also picked up on firming global markets as renewed hopes that the economy is reviving.

The 30-share index, which had gained 137.78 points in yesterday’s highly-volatile session, shot up by another 133.08 points to 15,141.76, as metal, PSU and capital goods sector stocks rose.

Murder case witness dies in Delhi

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New Delhi, June 05: The main witness in a murder case succumbed to injuries after being charred by the accused of the crime, said police sources.

According to the sources, Saleem, the witness in a murder case was first abducted and later charred to death by the accused of the crime.

The victim was admitted to Guru Teg Bahadur hospital in the national capital where he succumbed to his injuries after four days on Thursday. It is worth mentioning here that the police did not record any statement of the victim. The relatives of the victim accuse police of negligence in the case.

Amitabh Bachchan’s bald look in Balki’s ‘Pa’

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Mumbai, June 05: With summer at its peak, everyone almost goes for a crew cut or maybe a completely tonsured look. But one visit to the sets of Pa has a totally different story to tell and see. Everyone’s ground fell apart when realised that the fully tonsured man (which also included his eyebrows!) was none other than Amitabh Bachchan…yes…you heard it right…the Legendary Amitabh Bachchan. And this look of his is not in tune with the summer and its heat. Instead this is how he will look like in his forthcoming film Pa which stars him alongwith beta Abhishek and Vidya Balan.

Militant arrested in Delhi linked to JuD chief: Police

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New Delhi, June 05: Arrested Pakistani national Mohd Omar Madni is a top aide of Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Mohd Saeed, a prime accused in the Mumbai attacks case, police said on Friday.

Madni was arrested on Thursday evening by Delhi Police’s elite anti-terror wing Special Cell from near the Qutab Minar in South Delhi.

“He is a close aide of Hafiz Saeed and has been operating from Nepal from the past one year,” a senior Delhi police official said.

Madni has been a close aide of Saeed since 2000 and was involved in “talent scouting” for the Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit, he said.

Saif-Kareena soon to get married

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Mumbai, June 05: Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor’s marriage took place and broken up many times, not in reality but on the gossip table. If one moment the duo declares that marriage is soon to be held then the next moment they denied getting married so early. Now unsurprisingly another gossip is doing the rounds that the couple is soon going to get married and this time it has come straight from the mouth of the bridegroom Saif Ali Khan.

Hrithik to leave his father

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Mumbai, June 05: The Barbara Mori episode has damaged father-son and husband-wife relationship. Hrithik has however won over Suzanne’s heart with his love and trust but could not mend his relationship with his father and their relationship has finally gone kaput. Rakesh Roshan was indirectly blamed for the tension that Hrithik-Suzanne has gone though in their happily married life. Miffed with pa, Hrithik has decided to keep distance from his father.

Israel welcomes Obama speech

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Jerusalem, June 05: The Israeli government has welcomed Barack Obama’s speech to the Muslim world, saying it hoped the speech would bring a “new period of reconciliation” in the Middle East.

The government statement made no mention of the issue of settlements, after the US president used his speech in Cairo to reiterate his call for an end to Israeli construction on Palestinian land.

President unveils UPA government’s 100-day action plan

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New Delhi, June 04: President Pratibha Patil on Thursday unveiled the new government’s agenda that includes reviving the economy through more investments in sectors such as infrastructure, a blueprint for national security and a host of social welfare programmes focused on creating a more inclusive society and economy.

“In 2004 my government had set before the country a vision of an inclusive society and an inclusive economy. My government sees the overwhelming mandate it has received as a vindication of the policy architecture that it put in place,” Patil said.

Bush wanted to attack Iraq as early as 1999

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Washington, June 04: An investigative journalist who authored a controversial book on the Bush dynasty says he approached major US newspapers about publishing a story regarding President George W. Bush’s alleged intent to invade Iraq before the 2004 election but was rebuffed.

The journalist and author, Russ Baker, says he had a taped interview of Bush’s onetime biographer in which he says Bush told him he intended to invade Iraq as early as 1999, during his presidential campaign. The interview with former Bush ghostwriter Mickey Herskowitz took place before the 2004 election.

Women finally join Kuwait parliament

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The election of four women, despite attacks on their wardrobe, suggests that Kuwaitis were voting for change this year.

Four years to the day after the election law was changed to give Kuwaiti women full political rights it looked as though the battle had been won as four outstanding women were elected to the national parliament.

Man broadcast RAPE live

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Phoenix, June 04: A man has been accused of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman and broadcasting it live on the Internet.

A statement filed in court in Phoenix says 20-year-old Jonathan Richard Hock was arrested Monday on charges of sexual assault, kidnapping and taking a surreptitious photo.

The court document said Hock set up a Webcam and sexually assaulted the 20-year-old woman in her bedroom in February while she was unconscious from drinking alcohol.

28 MCA students selected for training

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New Delhi, June 04: A total of 28 students of MCA at Desh Bhagat institute were selected for their six-month summer training at Sebiz Infotech Ltd, Mohali.

The students were selected after a round of interviews, group discussion and one-to-one sessions. The selection process was held at Desh Bhagat Institute of Management and Computer Sciences, Mandi Gobindgarh.

Aroop Srivastava, QA, Process and Training Manager (Sebiz Infotech Ltd) along with his team supervised the selection process.

Visually impaired who set their sights on success

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Kolkata, June 04: Mohammad Asif Iqbal, 30, went door-to-door to enlist in a private tutorial before appearing in a management entrance exam, but was refused every time. Reason: he was visually impaired. But Iqbal finally cracked the entrance test on his own.

Iqbal, now working as a senior consultant in an MNC firm after passing out from a prominent private MBA institute in Pune, is not the only one who succeeded. There are many who rose above the social impediment and succeeded in different walks of life.

Saif, Bebo to celebrate 2yrs of togetherness

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Mumbai, June 04: August 16 calls for a grand celebration for the couple in love, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor. The day is special for the duo in two ways, first it is going to be Saif’s birthday and secondly on that particular date they will complete two years of togetherness.

Sonam calls Ash, Auntyji

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Mumbai, June 04: There lies a naughty face behind the innocent and docile looks of new bee Sonam Kapoor. After humiliating Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in L’Oreal issue, Sonam again takes a dig on her and referred Ash as Aunty Ji considering her age and taking into account that she has worked with her papa.

Sonam says ‘Ash has worked with my dad so I have to call her aunty na?’ Sonam popularized the new nickname of Ash among her friends.