Samad

Fire in London’s tower block kills six

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London, July 04: Six people, including three children, have died in a fire in a block of flats in London, the fire brigade said late Friday.
Three children, one just three weeks old, were among the victims of the blaze in the 12-storey block on a housing estate in Camberwell, in south London.

The victims were among at least 18 people taken to hospitals in the area. At least 30 people were rescued from the building.

According to London Fire Brigade (LFB), the blaze was brought under control by about 100 firefighters.

Dhoni helps India take 2-1 lead

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St. Lucia, July 04: Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni played another responsible knock of 46 not out as India took an unbeatable 2-1 lead in the series, winning the third One-day international by six wickets according to the Duckworth-Lewis (DL) Method with just one ball to spare here on a rain-marred Friday.

India capitalised on a good start by openers Dinesh Karthik (47) and Gautam Gambhir (44) and Man of the Match Dhoni played a composed innings off 34 balls as the visitors achieved the rain revised target of 159 in 22 overs at the Beausejour Stadium.

Robotic ‘Obama’ debuts at Disney

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Washington, July 04: A robotic version of US President Barack Obama debuted at an event Friday at the Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
The animated, speaking figure of Obama and some 1,000 newly-naturalised citizens attended the opening of a newly revamped Hall of Presidents at the theme park, the Miami Herald reported on its webside.

Obama himself recorded the brief comments which was spoken by his robotic version at the event.

Disney staffers had worked with the White House to ensure that his wardrobe, hair and mannerisms were as accurate as possible.

Obama pays tribute to Jackson

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Washington, July 03: US President Barrack Obama has finally paid tribute to King of Pop Michael Jackson more than a week after his death.

Obama was expected to issue a statement following Jackson`s sudden death last week, but he instead chose to send the superstar`s family a private letter of condolence.

A week after, Obama acknowledged the magnitude of the loss to the generation that grew up as followers of the icon, Contactmusic reports.

He paid tribute saying: “He will go down in history as one of our greatest entertainers”.

Prakash Jha, Kabir Khan ga ga over Katrina`s acting skills

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Mumbai, July 03: Britain-born model-turned-actress Katrina Kaif has improvised her acting skills and accent since her debut in the 2003 dud “Boom” to such an extent that she is bagging praise for her work from her directors like Kabir Khan and Prakash Jha.

Khan had praised Katrina`s performance in his hit `New York` and told reporters: “Katrina has done a wonderful job in the film…she has been a revelation”.

Jha had also praised the actress for her confident Hindi speech and accent in his forthcoming film `Rajneeti` saying, “Katrina Kaif is such a revelation.”

Suspected US missile strike kills 15 in Pakistan

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Islamabad, July 03: US missiles struck a training facility allegedly operated by Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud and a militant hide-out on Friday, killing 15 people and wounding 27 others, intelligence officials said.

The two attacks took place in South Waziristan, a Mehsud stronghold close to the Afghan border, two officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.

Owen could be on brink of Man Utd move: Reports

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London, July 03: Former European Footballer of the Year Michael Owen may be on the verge of joining Manchester United from relegated Newcastle United, acco rding to several British media reports on Friday.

The England international could move to the Premier League champions if he passes a stringent medical examination, said the reports.

A Manchester United spokesman said that the club would not comment on the speculation.

Hockey India to fete women’s hockey team

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New Delhi, July 03: Hockey India on Tuesday dismissed charges of indifference towards the women’s team which won the FIH Champions Challenge II in Russia and promised to fete them when the players gather together.

Rubbishing allegations that HI showed indifference to the team and did not send a single official to receive them at the airport, HI secretary general Mohammad Aslam said on the contrary, the body was planning to felicitate them at a later date.

“I have congratulated the team and have been in constant touch with the team when they were in Kazan,” Aslam said

Biden, Fillon visit Iraq

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Baghda, July 03: French Prime Minister Francois Fillon arrived in Baghdad yesterday with a delegation of officials and business leaders seeking to raise France’s profile in Iraq.

“Iraqis were keen to remove themselves from American guardianship, and that is because they want to do business with other investors that they know well, among them the French,” a Fillon aide told journalists.

Meanwhile, in a surprise trip, US Vice President Joe Biden also arrived in Baghdad yesterday.

Nuclear facility bus bombed

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Islamabad, July 03 : At least two people were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up after ramming his motorcycle into a bus carrying workers from a nuclear facility in the garrison town of Rawalpindi yesterday.

President Asif Zardari condemned the suicide attack.

Pakistan has been hit by a wave of bombings in recent weeks in response to a military offensive against Taleban militants in the northwest of the country, but yesterday’s was the closest to the capital since the launch of the offensive.

Kingdom, Sweden team up to promote green diplomacy

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Riyadh, July 03: Saudi Arabia will be a partner of a major European initiative called Green Public Diplomacy, which calls for intensified efforts to create green environment, control pollution on a global level, adopt environmental-friendly technology and encourage journalists to write more on environmental issues, according to Swedish Ambassador Jan Thesleff.

Thesleff said Sweden has teamed up with the King Saud University and Saudi Research and Publication Company to hold a major seminar on climate change and the environment later this year as part of the initiative.

Rahman, Boyle invited to vote for Oscar

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Mumbai, July 03: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited India’s music maestro A.R. Rahman and four other Oscar winners associated with the Academy award sweeper “Slumdog Millionaire” to join its roster of voting members.

Rahman has been invited for his music in “Slumdog Millionaire” and “Elizabeth: The Golden Age”, while the film’s British Director Danny Boyle is also cited for “Sunshine”.

Sohail Khan to buy copyright of ‘Mere desh ki dharti’ for his film Kissan

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Mumbai, July 03: Salim Khan intends to become a film distributor starting with his son Sohail Khan’s forthcoming film, Kissan, which will feature the song Mere desh ki dharti from the 1967 film, Upkar. Salim Khan will buy the all-India distribution rights of the film. Sohail Khan had a talk with UTV Spotboy, co-producer of the film, to finalise the distributorship deal.

Salim Khan confirmed the news and Sohail Khan said, “Although I have already spoken to Ronnie Screwvala (UTV), the terms and conditions are yet to be finalised.”

Katrina unhappy with her dinner

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Mumbai, July 03: Well, don’t look at her size (we mean, her ‘size zero plus something’ is awesome), if you were to see what a foodie this gal is you’ll be left wondering how she got to that envious sexy size.

My girl Amna is pretty: Aftab

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Mumbai, July 03: Aftab Shivdasani, who turned 31 on Thursday, brought in his birthday with family and very close friends. And that included the pretty Amna Sharif, his co-star from the flop Aloo Chaat and also rumoured to be the love of Aftab’s life. Tell him she’s the prettiest girlfriend he has had and Aftab doesn’t demur. “Thanks. I’ll tell her that,” he acknowledges the lady’s presence. And that’s a first.

Irrfan, Divya made love for an hour!

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Mumbai, July 03: Frontal nudity is still a taboo for mainstream actors. But Bollywood is slowly warming up to the trend. Recently, Irrfan Khan came close to baring all for a lovemaking scene in Hissss.

Irrfan said, “I had absolutely no problem when my director Jennifer Lynch said I would have to take off all my clothes for a lovemaking scene with Divya Dutta, who plays my wife. But I suddenly thought that Indian couples make love with their clothes on and I conveyed the same to Jennifer.”

Seen Ranbir in disguise?

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Mumbai, July 03: His fans will probably not be able to ‘bear’d this news, but well, the truth is that lately Ranbir Kapoor has been in disguise. Yeah, don’t blame the poor fella, he enjoys every bit of the stardom, and all the attention, adulation etc, but right now even he can’t help it. Ever since he’s grown a thick beard for his role as a sardar in Rocket Singh: Salesman Of The Year, he’s been sporting a very un-Ranbir-like avatar. Apparently, when he’s in public places, he often goes unrecognised, while at first he was quite stunned, he soon got kinda used to it.

Chunky’s brush with Hollywood

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Mumbai, July 03:For the last couple of weeks Chunky Pandey and family were vacationing in their annual summer hotspot — the US of A. Well, this time it was a lot more fun because they had friends for company, and a close brush with Hollywood celebs, too (at least, so claims Chunks).

Akshay, Kareena and Stallone pack a punch!

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Mumbai, July 03: If 2008 was the year of Ghajini, then Kambakkht Ishq — which opens today in 2,030 screens worldwide, is already being declared the biggest triumph of 2009 and promises to be Akshay Kumar’s and Kareena Kapoor’s day in the sun!

Sajid Nadiadwala’s romantic comedy for Eros International with stunts provided by Akshay, glam and sex appeal by Kareena and Hollywood actress Denise Richards, and action by the legendary actor Sylvester Stallone himself, is booked solid this weekend.

Ranbir wasn’t distracting for Deepika

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Mumbai, July 03: A lot of women might envy Deepika Padukone for she is the lucky woman who’s got Ranbir Kapoor as her guy. Deeps however can be envied for her brave attitude as well for she knows how to balance beau and business. The actress recently clarified, “I am committed to my films once I sign them and I am professional when it comes to my work. Stories of me talking to Ranbir on phone for hours together when we are not working together are not true as I don’t get distracted by Ranbir once I am on the sets of my film and vice versa.

Shilpa Shetty on Dus Ka Dum

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Mumbai, July 03: The hot, sizzling and vivacious actress, Shilpa Shetty will be soon seen with the hunk Salman Khan on the show Dus Ka Dum. She has already shot for the episode and it was fun and masti.

Our khabroo from the sets revealed that, “Shilpa had a gala time on the sets with Salman quizzing her. She also talked about her personal life, her plans and showed some moves (Tumka) on the show.”

When two veterans stars met

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Mumbai, July 03: Dharmendra is one of the most loved actors in the film industry simply because he endears himself to one and all by his gestures.

No wonder when he came to RK Studios for the shoot of Salman Khans 10 Ka Dum, Randhir Kapoor who never goes out to meet any actor shooting in the studio, specially dropped in to meet Dharamji. Dharamji a huge fan of Raj Kapoor he had acted in Mera Naam Joker. He has also acted with Randhir Kapoor in Manmohan Desai directed Chacha Bhatija.

Luck favours Akshay Kumar’s Kambakkht Ishq?

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Mumbai, July 03: Akshay Kumar’s bad luck run at the box office is all set to end with his latest release Kambakkht Ishq that releases in theaters on July 3rd. At least that’s what numerology suggests according to famous astro-numerologist Bhavikk Sangghvi.

England’s little Afghanistan

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Sindh Kalay, July 03: The aroma of freshly baking flatbread wafts through the air as a unit of British soldiers position themselves for a quick patrol around the village of Sindh Kalay.

Market vendors hawk grapes and melons, as a group of village elders sit smoking water pipes and suspicious-looking men lurk beside battered motorcycles. What should the soldiers do? Conduct a weapons search? Approach the village elders first? In the complex political and cultural terrain of Afghanistan, what is the best course of action?

Looking for Mr. Right

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Mumbai, July 03: Shweta Gupta knows exactly what kind of groom she wants: he should be educated, well settled and live in a good location — one that must be in India.

Indian brides and grooms from the Adivasi tribe take part in a mass marriage ceremony.

Love may be recession proof in India, but arranged marriages are not.