Abbas does match fixing

Abbas is at it again. The actor, who hosted a star cricket match in Dubai five years ago, is now busy making arrangements for a new match, which will be held on December 2 at a popular cricket stadium in Dubai.

It will be a Twenty-20 cricket match between Kollywood and Tollywood, in which top young actors from both the south Indian film industries will wield the bat and ball.

Says a happy Abbas, "The match will be played in the IPL format and some leading cricketers will also be present. If it clicks, we have plans to conduct similar matches in Chennai and Hyderabad too."

Abbas will captain the Kollywood cricket team which is expected to have Madhavan, 'Jayam' Ravi, Arya, Jeeva, Bharath, Santhanu, Jai, Vikranth, Nanda and Atharva. The Tollywood team led by Tarun will have Srikanth, Ravi Teja, Allari Naresh and Ayyappa among others.

Source: http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/61966.html

Sex smart!

Are men more promiscuous than women? Do men fake it too? If these are some of the questions bothering you about sex, it's time to separate myth from fact

When it comes to sex, there have been far too many to-dos, what-to-dos and what-not-do-dos, since time immemorial. Half of these are based on realistic facts, but the rest are pure fiction. Unfortunately, due to lack of proper information, many relationships go awry. If you have been one of the many victims of sex myths, it's time to forget what you've heard so far. We separate the frisky fact from fiction and put these popular beliefs to bed.

Fantasizing about someone else during the act is bad
Get this clear before entering any relationship. Sexual experience primarily starts from the brain and not just the organ. And the brain does have a tendency to wander. What matters most in a relationship is commitment. If that's in place, doesn't matter whether you think of a Bipasha Basu or Brad Pitt while in bed.

Women are safe if a guy pulls out before ejaculation
Bad news on that front, guys. Men do not always realise when the ejaculatory fluid seeps out. This contains sperm which gets released and it's enough to get your partner pregnant.

Men think about sex every seven seconds
One wonders where this number popped up from. According to a research conducted by the Kinsey institute, USA, I4 per cent of men think about sex every day or several times a day, 43 per cent a few times per month or per week and 4 per cent less than once a month.

Interestingly, it was reported that 19 per cent of women think about sex every day or several times a day, 67 per cent a few times per month or a few times per week and 14 per cent less than once a month. When it comes to number crunching, both sexes are pretty much equal.

Oral sex is safer than its vaginal counterpart
Oral sex counts as sex as well. Hence you are not totally immune from getting a sexually transmitted disease if you only indulge in oral sex. As there is an exchange of fluids, diseases can enter your body through sores or small cuts in your mouth and throat.

Men are always ready for sex
One of the most prevalent myths about male sexuality is that men are never too tired for sex. Fact is, men are not robots. They get stressed and tired as well, and sometimes may just not be in the mood to have sex. Besides, they are driven by emotions too, which in turn affect their libido.

So if your man is not responding to your overtures, it doesn't mean he isn't interested in you anymore. He may simply not be in the mood.

Size matters
For the nth time, men, STOP looking down, because it doesn't matter. Instead, get a copy of the Kamasutra and work (hard) on getting the right technique. When you know the real art of pleasuring your partner, chances are, she won't even realise how big (or small) your organ really is. Give it a topping of love and get the 'performer' tag no size can ever help you earn.

If all else fails, Viagra will always come to your rescue
The band-aid solutions (aka Viagra) to big problems (aka erectile dysfunction) are bound to give disappointing results. Instead, consult an expert, get to the root of the problem and have it treated accordingly.

Moreover, if disorders like hypertension and diabetes are the culprits behind the lack of 'lift', oral medications can lead to serious side-effects. So save yourself from the all-knowing quack expert within you and junk that pill till you know exactly what you are doing.

After a certain age, sex is no longer important
The person who came up with this idea must have been a party pooper. If you are capable of having sex (and feel like it), just do it. It's as simple as that.

Moreover, the positive physical and emotional repercussions of frequent sex can even add some years to your life. With age, loss of libido is common, but factors such as hormonal issues, depression, communication problems with partner and anxiety disorders play an equally important role.

Most men are not interested in foreplay
Most women believe that men usually have one goal when it comes to sex and that is reaching an orgasm. But a lot of men have thankfully risen above just the orgasm and are attentive to the needs of their partners. In fact, men enjoy foreplay as well, as it helps them to keep the performance stress away and think about something other than their erection.

Great sex just happens
True. It 'just happens' once in a while. But if you wish to have a fulfilling sex life where each encounter leaves you wanting for more, stand up and take charge. There's no standard 'to-do' list that will work wonders for everyone every time, which is why good communication and mutual willingness to experiment is a must. That mindblowing sex will end with an orgasm in bed, but starts with a stimulating conversation on the couch.

Hotties catch your attention

When a hottie looks at you, you notice that quickly. And now, a new study has found the reason behind it.

Benedict C. Jones, of the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and his colleagues, Julie Main, Lisa DeBruine, and Lisa Welling of the University of Aberdeen and Anthony Little of Stirling University found that how fast we can judge whether a person of the opposite sex is looking at us depends on how masculine or feminine they look.

"Women were quickest to classify gaze direction when they were looking at hunky, masculine-looking guys. Guys were quicker when they were looking at pretty, feminine women," said Jones, based on a study the team conducted.

"There's likely to be quite a big advantage to detecting when a particularly good potential mate's looking at you.

"If I'm in a bar and there's a pretty woman looking at me – if I wasn't married – I would want to catch her eye before someone else did," he added.

According to him, this ability to perceive things about attractive people faster may have been useful to early humans.

The research is published in Psychological Science.

Men can take death-defying risks for sex

If a new research is to be believed, then men are hard-wired to show off and take risks in order to attract women.

According to the study reported on LiveScience.com, this devil-may-care attitude may explain why men tend to die younger than women. But monogamy and economic equality could counteract this trend — by assuring men they are likely to get some loving, the new study has suggested.

"The name of the game in evolution is to get your genes in the next generation," the New York Daily News quoted University of Michigan study researcher Daniel Kruger as saying.

From a reproductive point of view, men have less to lose than women if they engage in risk-taking behavior. Once he's fathered a child, a man's disappearance is not going to prove fatal to that child.

However, the child could be in mortal danger if the mom takes off, particularly in developing countries, the study has shown. Thus, unlike men, women may have evolved to not engage in risk-taking behavior, according to Anne Campbell, a researcher at Durham University in England, who was not involved with the new study.

Men will take risks as a way to impress a woman. They know on a subconscious level that women will most likely want a mate who's a good provider, which is denoted by "status and stuff," Kruger said. Throughout history, men have traditionally used both violence and other risk-taking behaviors to show off their "status and stuff."

These strategies - along with a credit card - may still be used by men today to attract the woman of their dreams.

Aishwarya Rai pregnancy rumours in Dubai

Rumours related to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan have again started making the rounds. The rumours, this time, are related to her pregnancy not in India but in Dubai.

But rumours have become such a routine affair for Ash that she does not even clarify them. We presume that she chooses to laugh it off.

Ash had some interviews scheduled in Dubai, but they were cancelled at the last moment leading to speculation among the small community of Indian journalists in the Middle East.

" Unless it is a case of dodgy Indian curries that is slowly but surely emanating, the rumour mills are grinding to grist the possibility of a classic Ash diva tantrum because she is pregnant," quoted the local newspaper in Dubai.

Sources had informed the newspaper that Ash was not well and hence had cancelled the said interviews. This is not the first time that the buzz about her pregnancy hasreached us.

Had we believed in all these gossips Ash and Abhishek should have had a few babies by now. We guess we should leave the couple alone and give them the benefit of doubt and the honour to make the announcement themselves.

After all, their marriage was the biggest ever in Bollywood and when the Bachchans will confirm any such news it would surely be the biggest one, too.

Source: http://in.movies.yahoo.com/news-detail/107782/Pregnancy-rumours-hit-Aishwarya-in-Dubai.html

Kirsten Dunst forgot steamy topless scene she did with Ryan Gosling

It seems shedding clothes is no big deal for 'Spiderman' star Kirsten Dunst as she said she has forgotten doing a topless scene against Ryan Gosling for her new film.

Dunst has done a steamy topless shower scene with Gosling in the upcoming crime drama 'All Good Things.'

"I forgot I even did it. I don't even think about it...We really got to know each other through eight weeks of rehearsal, it was important we felt very comfortable with each other," the New York Post quoted her as telling Fox News.com.

The film takes on one of the most notorious missing persons' cases in New York history, that of real estate mogul Robert Durst who was suspected but never tried for killing his wife Kathie in the 1980s.

Dunst plays the role of Kathie in the upcoming flick, and hopes the film may lead to more clues being uncovered to solve the real life murder mystery.

Source: http://www.newkerala.com/news/world/fullnews-95310.html

Bipasha Basu is enjoying a luxurious stay

Our Bong bombshell is being pampered and cared for at the Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast, Australia where she is for the shoot of her English film Singularity directed by Roland Joffe and co-starring Josh Hartnett. Talking about Bipasha Basu, the actress has been housed at the Palazzo Versace on the main beach of the Gold Coast, the world's first fashion-branded hotel with design from the House of Versace. Her condo includes a living room, master bedroom, attached guest room and guest bathroom and has all the amenities of an apartment including a kitchen and enjoys the hotel facility of house keeping as well. There's a chef to cook special meals for her.

It was Bipasha who made a choice for this hotel when she was asked to put forth her preference. Roland and Bipasha are in condos while Josh is at a place on the Broad Beach, as he didn't want to be at the hotel. Bipasha is slogging hard for her new role and is training for horse-riding and swimming at the moment and has to start to learn sword fighting and fencing.

Source: http://www.bollywood-stars.net/

Tata Motors rolls out mini-truck in Thailand

BANGKOK: Tata Motors has launched its mini-truck 'Ace Super City Giant' in Thailand and also disclosed plans to enter the Thai car market in the next "couple of years''.

The company is also looking to tap opportunities in Malaysia and Indonesia.

"We would like to get into the car market here soon. Small car is the largest segment here and in a couple of year's time we expect to be there," the Tata Motors' Thailand CEO, Mr Ajit Venkataraman, said at the Thailand International Motor Expo here on T uesday.

The company said it is also actively working to enter the medium and heavy commercial vehicles (M&HCV) segment here.

Commenting on the entry into Thailand's mini-truck market, the Tata Motors' Thailand General Manager, Mr Sompong Polchitcharoon, said the company expects to sell about 150 units a month of the Ace Super City Giant.

This mini-truck, he said, is priced at 3,49,000 Baht (about Rs 5.28 lakh) and is aimed to take away half of what Japanese rival Suzuki sells right now.

Thai auto market is expected to touch a volume of 7,20,000 units in 2010, out of which the pick-up and small cars will have 45 per cent each and the rest is accounted for by the other vehicles segment.

When asked about the period when Tatas plans to launch cars in the Thai market, Mr Venkataraman declined to give the exact timeline and also the possible models that the company is likely to launch.

"It is a very competitive market here and we have to pick and choose our models correctly. But once we have established ourselves in the market, we will go to the mass market," he said

Hyundai India crosses 20 lakh car sales

CHENNAI: Hyundai Motor India, the country's second largest car manufacturer, on Tuesday announced that it has crossed 20 lakh sales mark in the domestic market.

"Today is a red-letter day for all of us in Hyundai. We are extremely delighted to share this achievement with all our stakeholders and we believe this was possible because of our total commitment to the Indian market and the faith our customers have put in our products..." said Mr H W Park, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India.

With these achievements, HMIL becomes only the second manufacturer in India after Maruti Suzuki to reach these distinctions. At its manufacturing facility in Sriperumbudur near here, the company currently produces seven models in the passenger car segmen t and exports to more than 115 countries, the statement added.

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blnus/02301835.htm

HCL Technologies inks multi-year deal with Purdue Pharma

NEW DELHI: IT major HCL Technologies today said it has signed a multi-year IT infrastructure management deal with pharmaceutical firm Purdue Pharma.

The scope of this engagement covers management of two data centers and all remote locations of the client in the US, HCL Technologies said in a statement.

However, no financial details were disclosed by the firm. "In HCL, we found an IT Infrastructure vendor who could support the strategic transformation as well as provide a cost effective solution.

As an added benefit, this initiative enables us to free up permanent staff time to work on strategic, value-added projects," Larry Pickett Chief Information Officer Purdue Pharma said.

The company has recently announced many global engagements with entities like Singapore Stock Exchange, Al- Majdouie group, Electrolux, Nokia, Reader''s Digest Association, Dr Pepper Snapple

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/ites/HCL-Technologies-inks-multi-year-deal-with-Purdue-Pharma/articleshow/7017518.cms

North Korea warns of all-out war

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Government ministers from South Korea and Japan will attend the December meeting
China has also proposed a six-party meeting "to ease the situation," a government spokesman says
North Korea says current military drills could lead to "all-out war anytime"

Government ministers from the United States, Japan and South Korea will sit down in Washington early next month to grapple with the tensions in the Koreas, South Korea's Foreign Affairs Ministry said Tuesday.
The ministry did not provide further details about the date of the meeting, but it comes as China continues to call for an emergency meeting of the six major powers involved in talks about the Korean peninsula.
This diplomatic activity reflects efforts to lower anxieties in the Koreas, which have been at a boiling point since last Tuesday, when four people died and 18 others were injured in a North Korean artillery barrage that targeted Yeonpyeong Island in South Korea's part of the Yellow Sea.
The war of words got louder when South Korea and the United States launched joint anti-submarine military exercises in the Yellow Sea on Monday, a move that drew North Korean ire.
Being North Korea's largest trading partner and strongest ally, China has been urged by the international community to confront the crisis. It has been meeting with both North and South Korea and it has engaged in diplomacy over the matter.

A top Chinese envoy met with South Korea's president on Sunday and a top North Korean official arrived in Beijing, China, on Tuesday, the first visit to China by a North Korean official since last week's shelling of Yeonpyeong Island.
Leak exposes China's N. Korea views China ready to abandon North Korea? Onboard the USS George Washington

CNN affiliate YTN reported that Choe Tae Bok, chairman of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly, is on a five-day visit to China. And over the weekend China called for an emergency meeting of the six major powers which have been involved in talks about North Korea's nuclear program to discuss the latest crisis. The six are China, Russia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, and the United States.

Hong Lei, a spokesman for China's Foreign Affairs Ministry, told reporters Tuesday that such talks would be an important step in easing tensions.

"We made the proposal to ease the situation and to provide a platform for parties to have dialogue. ...To do this at an early date is in the common interest of all parties," he said.
But right now, the idea is up in the air.

South Korea said Sunday that it did not think the time was right for a resumption of the six-party talks but said it would "bear in mind" the Chinese proposal.
In Washington, a State Department official said that the United States is consulting with its allies but that resumed six-party talks "cannot substitute for action by North Korea to comply with its obligations."

The Japanese government said one of its envoys is in Beijing for discussions on the crisis.


If the North commits any additional provocations against the South, we will make sure that it pays a dear price without fail.
--S. Korean President Lee Myung-bak

Amid the international attempts to avert warfare, the strident and sabre-rattling rhetoric between the Koreas remained the region's background noise.

North Korea warned Tuesday that the continuing military drills by the United States and South Korea could lead to "all-out war any time."

The firmly-worded message was published by North Korea's state-run KCNA news service.
"If the U.S. and the south Korean war-like forces fire even a shell into the inviolable land and territorial waters of the DPRK, they will have to pay dearly for this," the news service report said. The DPRK is the acronym for North Korea's formal name -- the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

This comes after South Korean President Lee Myung-bak warned Monday that North Korea would face severe consequences if it launched another military attack across its southern border.
"If the North commits any additional provocations against the South, we will make sure that it pays a dear price without fail," Lee said in a nationally televised address. North Korea stepped up its threats recently on its southern rival, as well as the United States, warning that military activities must not infringe on what the communist nation considers its territory.
The crisis is top priority for Seoul.

On Tuesday, the South Korean Yonhap news agency reported that Lee upbraided Cabinet members "for not having the right sense of crisis at a time when South Korea's national security is at stake."
"We should recognize that (South Korea) is confronting the world's most belligerent group," Lee was quoted as saying.
North Korea's military aging but sizable Citing the country's Defense Ministry Tuesday, Yonhap also reported that South Korea's military "plans to toughen its rules of engagement with North Korea in a way that gives its troops greater leeway to determine the intensity of a counterattack by the level of damage and threats received."

And, a government official quoted by Yonhap, said that owners of homes destroyed in the strike on Yeonpyeong Island will get more compensation than the standard amount paid by the government in the case of natural disasters.

"Due to the special circumstances of this matter, the amount of compensation will be more generous than usual," said an official of the Ministry of Public Administration and Security. The official said that the amount will be determined after discussions with the Finance Ministry.
The agency said officials determined that "29 houses were completely wrecked, five destroyed partly and 80 others damaged slightly from artillery rounds."

As for the Yellow Sea exercises, Seoul and Washington postponed the exercises earlier this month because of a tropical storm.
U.S. and S. Korea navies send a message The drills, which are to run through Friday, are "designed to send a clear message of deterrence to North Korea," U.S. Forces Korea have said.
U.S. officials have said the exercises off the western coast of the Korean peninsula are in response to North Korea's sinking of a South Korean warship in March.
In May, a report from South Korea blamed the North for sinking the Cheonan warship with a torpedo, killing 46 sailors.

North Korea denies sinking the ship and says South Korea and the United States are using it as a pretext to conduct the war games.

North Korea's nuclear program as well as its military have long caused jitters in the region, especially during times of crisis.

The country claimed Tuesday that it has "thousands of centrifuges" working to create nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, but international powers are concerned about how the country's military would use such technology.

"The construction of (a) light water reactor is brisk in the DPRK and a modern factory for uranium enrichment equipped with thousands of centrifuges is operating to supply fuel to them. The development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes to meet the need for electricity will be stepped up in the future," the KCNA news service reported.

The North Korean news service report seemed to confirm parts of a statement made last week by Siegfried Hecker, a Stanford University scientist.

In early November, the U.S. scientist said he visited a North Korean nuclear facility at the invitation of the government, which included 2,000 centrifuges, that was producing low-enriched uranium.

Hecker said he was told that facility was configured to produce low-enriched uranium but Hecker wrote that it could "be readily converted to produce highly-enriched uranium (HEU) bomb fuel."

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/11/30/koreas.crisis/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

India looks to add Lead, will NZ fight back? 2nd ODI Ind Vs NZ

Match Facts
Wednesday, December 1
Start time 14.30 (09.00 GMT)

The Big Picture

First the good news: Daniel Vettori, who missed the first ODI, is fit to play the second game. However it's learnt that Brendon McCullum is a doubtful starter and New Zealand, who are already missing Jesse Ryder, have lost the services of Daryl Tuffey due to a bicep strain.

Of late, there seems to be a pattern to New Zealand's one-day chases. They appear to dawdle initially and allow the required rate to climb, and then lose wickets in a heap in a frantic effort to keep the chase on track. In the absence of three key players, it was always going to be difficult for New Zealand to put up a fight in the first one-dayer.

Without McCullum (if he doesn't get fit in time) and Ryder, much will depend on Ross Taylor. He had a very average Test series but took his first step towards regaining form with 66 in the first match. Martin Guptill provides aggression at the top and Kane Williamson adds stability in the middle. Gareth Hopkins, the wicketkeeper, has however been disappointing so far on this tour.

India would have been gladdened by a couple of developments in the first match. Virat Kohli hit his second successive hundred and the way he paced and built his innings stood out. R Ashwin too impressed with his control and composure in the Powerplays, while Munaf Patel caught the eye with a disciplined effort.

There were couple of concerns as well. Sreesanth picked up two wickets in the end but struggled with the new ball. His career economy rate is over six and he has struggled with his lengths in the shorter formats. Suresh Raina hit 71 against Australia in his last one-dayer before this series but went 15 games before that without a half-century. MS Dhoni had said he hoped that Raina will get a break after this match, ahead of the South Africa tour, but had added that it would depend on his performance in the first two games.

Form guide
(most recent first)

India: WWLWL
New Zealand: LLLLL

Watch out for...

Kane Williamson looked solid in the Tests and has hit an ODI hundred against Bangladesh's spinners in his last series. The Jaipur track is reported to play slow and aid turn, and Williamson's skills will come to the fore.

M Vijay impressed with his brief, but skilful, innings in the first game on a wicket that aided the seamers initially. He played his shots and looked good for more before he threw his wicket away. It's something that we have seen in the past as well: he has been guilty of failing to convert starts. Can he play a big knock tomorrow?

Pitch and conditions

The pitch is expected to play slow, but a bigger worry could be dew in the evening. "Obviously dew is a big factor, they do use the chemical to reduce its effect, but I don't think it makes much of a difference," Gautam Gambhir said. "The wicket appears to be on the slower side and it might a spin a bit. We could [play an extra spinner]. Because it looks a little dry, it might spin if we bowl first."

Teams

Vettori will replace Tuffey and, given the conditions, New Zealand could retain Nathan McCullum as well. They will hope that Brendon McCullum wins the race for fitness.

New Zealand (probable): 1 Jamie How, 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Ross Taylor, 4 Scott Styris, 5 Kane Williamson, 6 Grant Elliott / James Franklin, 7 Daniel Vettori (capt), 8 Gareth Hopkins (wk), 9 Nathan McCullum, 10 Kyle Mills, 11 Andy McKay

With Gambhir mulling the possibility of playing an extra spinner, Pragyan Ojha will fancy his chances of getting a game, coming in for either Sreesanth or Munaf Patel.

India (probable): 1 M Vijay, 2 Gautam Gambhir (capt), 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 Suresh Raina, 6 Yusuf Pathan, 7 Wriddiman Saha (wk), 8 Ashwin, 9 Pragyan Ojha, 10 Sreesanth / Munaf Patel, 11 Ashish Nehra

Stats and trivia

Sreesanth has the second-worst economy rate in the list of bowlers who have played atleast 50 ODIs and taken 50 wickets

India have played 10 games in Jaipur and lost four. They beat South Africa by one run in the last game played at this venue in February 2010.

Quotes

"I spoke to the curator and he told me that the wicket on which Hyderabad got out for 21 [in the Ranji Trophy] had lots of grass on it and now they have shaved it off. But I don't think it's (the nature of the wicket) a concern because we have played on all kinds of wickets. Rather than worrying about the wicket we need to be thinking about what we should do."

Gautam Gambhir makes the right noises

"Duncan Fletcher is just here as a bit of a consultant, giving overviews. Obviously [he has] a lot of experience with international teams and working with individuals. He's only been here today so we're finding out about him and he's finding out about us and hopefully he can add some real value to the team."

Daniel Vettori on the role of Fletcher who joined the team ahead of the Jaipur game

Source: http://www.espncricinfo.com/india-v-new-zealand-2010/content/current/story/489764.html

India is not keen to use UDRS in South Africa-India Test series

The Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) will not be a part of India's upcoming Test tour of South Africa. Gerald Majola, chief executive of Cricket South Africa confirmed the news to ESPNcricinfo saying, "[We] will definitely not be using it."

Majola who was in Dubai for the ICC Chief Executives Conference did not explain what had led to the decision but a CSA official said the main reason was, "India are not keen to use it".

Corrie van Zyl, the South Africa coach, said his team had been expecting this development, given India's stance on the issue. South Africa have used the UDRS in other home series, most recently against England in 2009-10. "We are not going to use it and thats the end of it," he said. "I like UDRS and it does eradicate a lot of decisions that are wrong, which can only be good for the game.

"I'm not disappointed, I almost knew it was not going to happen in any case, so it's not a major disappointment, and it will still be a very good series without it."

Graeme Smith, the South Africa captain, had said in October that the UDRS needed to be implemented consistently and that technology was the way forward in cricket. "I think if the UDRS is going to be successful it needs to be implemented properly by the ICC and not on a 50-50 basis like we have seen so far," he had said. "It must be used all of the time and not for selective series' like we see now."

Smith's team-mate AB de Villiers has also come out in support of the UDRS. "I'd love to see the referral system used," he said. "It's necessary to get some of the really poor decisions out of the game. It frustrates everyone. I've spoken to some umpires, who also back the system and really want it in place. It's something that we all have to get used to, and it's taken us a while to get used to it. I'd like to see it being used in all cricket."

India have played a series in which the UDRS was used only once - in Sri Lanka in 2008. They struggled with their referrals on that tour, getting only one review right, while Sri Lanka successfully challenged 11 decisions. Since then the UDRS has been used in Australia, South Africa, England, New Zealand and West Indies and has found favour with several captains and players. The Indians and the BCCI, however, are firmly opposed to the system, even though the ICC have approved its use in principle during the 2011 World Cup.

MS Dhoni, the India captain, reiterated his reluctance to accept the system during the recent home series against New Zealand, calling for the standard of on-field umpiring to be improved instead.

Source: http://www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-india-2010/content/current/story/489748.html

Madonna opens gym in Mexico City

Hundreds of fans turned out to see singer and fitness fanatic Madonna open her first gym in Mexico City.

The 52-year-old taught a short dance lesson to a handful of Hard Candy members at the event.

The name is taken from her eleventh studio album, which topped the charts around the world in 2008.

"It's a sexy name that gives you the opportunity to have fun and to build strength as far as the imagination will allow," she said.

The star, who is hoping to open a chain of gyms, said she chose to Mexico City for the first one because she likes the energy of the people.

"Our plan is to use Mexico as a place to fine-tune our brand and then expand it to other countries," added the star.

Madonna's love for exercise has been well-documented over the years.

It is thought she works out every day and follows a carefully controlled diet.

Membership costs 2,000 pesos a month (£103) a month with a one-time joining fee of 10,400 pesos (£534), which includes the first two months of membership.

Chris Dedicik, who helped Madonna create the gym, said the star was very hands-on when designing the concept.

"She chose the graphics, colours, the machines. She has weighed in on the choreography of all the classes and given them a twist to make them more dynamic, more special and to better reflect her style," he said.

"If any of you have seen my shows, you know that I don't skimp on them and the same is true for the gym," Madonna said.

"We spend what it takes to make a globally first-class gym."

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11874161

Toyota to repair Prius coolant pump fault

Toyota has said it will repair 650,000 Prius models worldwide because of a fault with the coolant pump.

The problem, which does not represent a safety risk, could cause the vehicle to overheat and lose power.

The Prius models involved were sold between 2004 and 2007 with more than half in North America, 180,000 in Japan and another 70,000 in Europe.

Toyota is the biggest carmaker in the world, and the Prius is the best-selling hybrid model in Japan.

The company said it had not received any reports of accidents or injuries from problems with the pump, which circulates coolant for the hybrid system.

Carmakers often carry out this type of repair campaign, which Toyota stresses is not a recall. Safety recalls occur when regulators decide a defect presents a safety risk.

Nonetheless, the fault puts Toyota once more in the spotlight with the focus on the reliability of its vehicles.

Since last November, Toyota has recalled about 14 million vehicles worldwide, including about 11 million in the US.

Toyota said it would begin notifying owners of the Prius repair campaign in the US in early December.

Google faces antitrust probe by EU

The European Commission has launched an investigation into Google after other search engines complained that the firm had abused its dominant position.

The EC will examine whether the world's largest search engine penalised competing services in its results.

The probe follows complaints by firms including price comparison site Foundem and legal search engine ejustice.fr.

Google denies the allegations but said it would work with the Commission to "address any concerns".

Earlier this year the attorney general of Texas launched a similar investigation following complaints from firms including Foundem.

The objections in both cases are from competitors which allege that Google manipulates its search results.

"The European Commission has decided to open an antitrust investigation into allegations that Google has abused a dominant position in online search," the body said in a statement.

It said the action followed "complaints by search service providers about unfavourable treatment of their services in Google's unpaid and sponsored search results coupled with an alleged preferential placement of Google's own services."

Continue reading the main story
Analysis


Tim Weber
Business editor, BBC News website
It probably was inevitable that Google would get into trouble with competition authorities.

If you are as big as Google, you are bound to tread on people's toes, regardless of whether you move carefully or morph into a corporate monster.

The European Commission's competition watchdog has quite a track record with tech companies: Microsoft and Intel both received bloody noses and had to pay massive fines.

This case, though, will be a tricky one, because to determine the outcome the Commission will have to look closely at Google's all-important search algorithm, the rules that determine whether your company shows up high or low in Google's search results.

Google regularly tweaks this algorithm, and as it changes the ranking it can make or break companies.

To pin down the US search giant, the Commission will have to find a smoking gun, either in the algorithm itself, or in Google's e-mail trail.

The Commission's investigation does not imply any wrongdoing by Google.

"Since we started, Google we have worked hard to do the right thing by our users and our industry," said the firm in a statement.

"But there's always going to be room for improvement, and so we'll be working with the Commission to address any concerns."

Core business
Google offers two types of search result - unpaid results produced by the firm's algorithms that are displayed in the main body of the page and "ads", previously called sponsored links.

The investigation will try to determine whether the firm's method of generating unpaid results adversely affects the ranking of other firms, specifically those providing so-called vertical search services.

These are specialist search providers, and can include sites that offer price comparison, for example.

Foundem alleges that Google's algorithms "remove legitimate sites from [its] natural search results, irrespective of relevance". It also says that the firm promotes its own services over those offered by competitors.

"Google is exploiting its dominance of search in ways that stifle innovation, suppress competition, and erode consumer choice," Foundem said in its complaint filed in February 2010.

But Google argues that there are "compelling reasons" why these sites are "ranked poorly".

For example, it said, Foundem "duplicates 79% of its website content from other sites."

"We have consistently informed webmasters that our algorithms disadvantage duplicate sites," the firm said.

The Commission will also look into allegations that Google manipulated elements of its system that determine the price paid for ads from these sites.

Finally, the investigation will also probe how the company deals with advertising partners.

Advertising is the core of Google's business.

Google is alleged to impose "exclusivity obligations on advertising partners, preventing them from placing certain types of competing ads on their web sites, as well as on computer and software vendors," according to an EC statement.

In addition, the EC said it would also look into "suspected restrictions on the portability of online advertising campaign data to competing online advertising platforms."

Google says it already allows customers "to take their data with them when they switch services" and that its contracts "have never been exclusive".

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11876443

Formula 1: No major changes at Ferrari

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has ruled out any major changes after the team's mistakes cost them this year's world titles.

Despite arriving at the final race of the championship, Abu Dhabi, with an eight-point lead over his rivals, Fernando Alonso lost the title to Sebastian Vettel by four points due a strategic blunder from the pit wall.

The Scuderia's error, not their first of the season, prompted some speculation that changes could be made to the team's hierarchy with several calls for team boss Stefano Domenicali's head.

Di Montezemolo, though, says that won't happen, although "minor adjustments" could be made.

"In Formula One terms, we have very clear targets," he said during the Ferrari Mondiali event.

"Right from Sunday night in Abu Dhabi I immediately tried to console our guys who were crying in the garage, spurring them to immediately look to the future. That is the strength of Ferrari, in that we never give up.

"Changes within the team? That is not our philosophy, because for years now we have adopted a policy based on dynamic stability: a few minor adjustments are possible, but no major upheaval.

"And after all, it has to be said that if we had not got it wrong with that 'penalty kick' in Abu Dhabi, today the discussion would be completely different.

"Alonso was amazing, both on and off the track: determined and full of self-belief, a real driving force. I expect a lot from Felipe next year: I am sure he will return to being the man we saw in 2008.

"I am very happy with the work with which Stefano Domenicali is moving us forward, with great ability, spirit and a sense of balance."

Speaking about the final race of the championship, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Italian admitted that while it was a bitter blow, he had suffered worse defeats.

"Even if there is much to be sad about when you come within a centimetre of taking the title and then lose it, this has still been an amazing season," Di Montezemolo said.

"Having been in Formula 1 for such a long time, this was certainly not the first time I have lost a World Championship at the final race.

"I was in Watkins Glen in 1974 when Clay Regazzoni was fighting it out with Emerson Fittipaldi, then I was in Jerez in 1997 and Suzuka the following year, when it was Schumacher who saw the title slip away at the last.

"The hardest one to take was in 2008: when Felipe crossed the line he was champion, but then he lost the title the moment (Lewis) Hamilton passed (Timo) Glock.

"The important point however is that, from 1997 to the present, with a handful of exceptions, Ferrari has always been a contender: after that it's a case of winning or losing which is part of sport, beautiful and terrible at the same time.

"I am pleased to see the team is angry with the outcome rather than disappointed or depressed.

"There is a great will to fight back and be ready for next season, when our aim is to have a car that, right from the start, is capable of winning so that we don't have to play catch-up."

Source: http://www.espnstar.com/motorsport/news/detail/item540174/No-major-changes-at-Ferrari/

Ryder Cup stars head BBC shortlist for Sports personality of the Year 2010

Ryder Cup heroes Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell lead the nominations for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2010.

Westwood, who finished runner-up at both The Masters and The Open on the way to taking the world number one spot from Tiger Woods, and McDowell, who became Europe's first US Open champion for 40 years, have been included in the strong shortlist for the annual award.

The pair were also part of Europe's victorious Ryder Cup team at Celtic Manor.

Fifteen-time champion jockey Tony McCoy, who won the Grand National at the 15th attempt this year on Don't Push It, has also been nominated and is regarded as the bookies' favourite.

Also on the shortlist are Jessica Ennis, who added the world indoor pentathlon title and European heptathlon title to her world heptathlon title from last year, David Haye, who twice defended his world heavyweight title, most recently with a third-round stoppage of Audley Harrison, and Amy Williams, who won Britain's first individual Winter Olympics gold medal for 30 years with victory in the women's skeleton.

Mark Cavendish, won won five stages on the Tour de France, double

Commonwealth diving gold medallist Tom Daley, England spinner Graeme Swann and darts great Phil Taylor complete the nominees.

The winner will be announced at the live event at Birmingham's LG Arena on December 19.

WikiLeaks: Next Target US banks

Washington: WikiLeaks plans to release thousands of internal documents from a major US bank in early 2011, Forbes magazine reported Monday.

Julian Assange, the founder of the self-proclaimed whistleblower website, told Forbes: "We have one related to a bank coming up, that's a megaleak.

"It's not as big a scale as the Iraq material, but it's either tens or hundreds of thousands of documents depending on how you define it." He compared the planned release to emails unveiled after the collapse of energy giant Enron Corp.

The website's latest expose was the release of more than 250,000 secret US documents Sunday, which exposed years of diplomatic communications and provided candid assessments of world leaders.

"You could call it the ecosystem of corruption," Assange told Forbes during an interview in London, but refused to provide details about the bank.

"It's also all the regular decision making that turns a blind eye to and supports unethical practices: The oversight that's not done, the priorities of executives, how they think they're fulfilling their own self-interest."

Forbes, which described Assange as a moral ideologue, a champion of openness and a control freak, said he pondered on a "cute name" for these "big-package releases," finally settling for "megaleaks".

"These megaleaks ... they're an important phenomenon. And they're only going to increase," he claimed.

The site that first went public in late 2006 is by now used to making headlines the world over - first with the release in July of 92,000 secret documents that detailed six years of the war in Afghanistan; next in October after publishing nearly 400,000 classified US military documents related to the war in Iraq; and Sunday with the leak of more than a quarter million documents detailing communications between the State Department in Washington and more than 270 worldwide outposts.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/wikileaks-to-target-major-us-bank-next-69501?cp

Nine students arrested for ragging in Pune

Pune: Nine students of the Agriculture College in Pune have been arrested on charges of ragging.

The incident came to light on Tuesday when a first-year student called up his uncle and complained about harassment by seniors who would force them to complete their academic tasks such as practical journals.

The students allege that the seniors browbeat them in different ways like making them stand with their heads hung low for hours, slapping and using abusive language.

Kuvait MP proposes One year Jail if you wear Swimsuit at Beach

Kuwait City: Five Islamist MPs in the Gulf state of Kuwait on Monday proposed a one-year prison term and $3,500 fine for women who wear swimsuits at the beach.

The lawmakers, representing various Islamist groups in parliament, also said in a proposal to amend Kuwait's penal code that the same penalty should apply to women who reveal their upper chest or take part in "indecent behaviour."

The proposal, a copy of which was received by AFP, calls for a ban on women wearing swimsuits at beaches, islands and swimming pools. It does not specify if it covers private beaches run by hotels and resorts.

The amendment would need to be approved by parliamentary panels, by parliament itself and also signed by the conservative Muslim state's ruling emir to become law.

The MPs complained of a spread of "indecent" practises and warned that coastguards were unable to act against women in indecent costume or for other violations of public order because of a lack of clear legislation.

However, liberal woman MP Aseel al-Awadhi condemned the proposal as contrary to the constitution and
"regrettable," asking why it failed to also make reference to men.

Kuwait, unlike neighbouring Saudi Arabia where women have to be covered, does not impose any restriction on women's dress in public places.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/kuwait-mps-want-one-year-jail-term-for-women-in-swimsuits-69424?cp

Europe debt fears pile pressure on Spain, others

Investors sold off government bonds from Spain, Portugal and Italy on Tuesday amid worries that Europe's debt crisis has not been contained by Ireland's bailout but is putting pressure on other fiscally weak countries.

The yields on Spain's 10-year bonds jumped as high as 5.7 per cent by midmorning, making for a euro-era record difference of 305 basis points against the benchmark Germany 10-year bond, which had a yield of 2.7 per cent.

The spread on Italy's 10-year bond reached 210 points, also the highest since the launch of the euro, before easing back somewhat. Portugal, whose yields soared last week, saw its spread edge higher as well.

Spain and Portugal have continually denied they will need a bailout like Ireland and Greece but investors have become increasingly skeptical that the series of bailouts will stop with Ireland.

While rescuing Portugal would be about as costly as Greece or Ireland, who each represent less than 2 per cent of the eurozone economy, a Spanish bailout would test the limits of Europe's finances. It accounts for over a tenth of the eurozone economy, and Italy is even larger.

"It is clear that the market is aware of the tight-rope that 'peripheral' governments are walking," said Neil Mellor, currency strategist at Bank of New York Mellon.

Portugal's central bank warned in a report Tuesday that the financial system is facing "serious challenges," as foreign concerns about public, private and corporate debt have made it harder for Portuguese banks to raise money on international markets.

Continuing to request financing from the European Central Bank is "unsustainable," the report warned, saying banks should adopt a commercial policy of encouraging saving to ensure their liquidity.

Traders worry that instability in Portugal could easily cross the border into Spain.

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has vigorously defended the nation's economy and finances. He insisted over the weekend that his administration will forge ahead with austerity measures and force troubled banks and regional governments to reveal information about savings and restructuring efforts so as to restore confidence.

Zapatero claims the structural reforms under way, which include loosening hiring and firing restrictions in the job market, freezing pensions and liberalizing the energy sector, will eventually boost the country's competitiveness, among the worst in the eurozone.

He maintains Spain's plans to reduce its deficit are being fulfilled scrupulously and added that the country's total debt was still 20 per centage points below the European average despite the crisis. Spain's debt at the end of 2009 was euro560 billion ($740 billion), roughly 60 per cent of its GDP.

Still, the country is struggling to emerge from a near two-year recession and has a eurozone high unemployment rate of near 20 per cent.

Portugal's government has also repeatedly insisted that its austerity program of tax hikes and pay and welfare cuts next year will be enough to restore its fiscal health. However, investors fear a likely economic downturn because of the belt-tightening will make it harder for the Portuguese to meet their debt obligations.

Jean-Claude Juncker, the head of the Eurogroup, which represents the 16 euro nations, was quoted as saying Tuesday that other countries in the bloc were not leaning on Portugal to accept a rescue.

"There is no pressure. It's up to the Portuguese government to decide whether it wants help," Juncker told Portuguese reporters during a visit to Tripoli, Libya, according to the national news agency Lusa.

Madrid's main stock index, which has had more than a week of negative trading and saw a sharp drop on Monday, was down another 0.8 per cent on Tuesday, while Portugal's main index was 0.5 per cent lower.

Read more at: http://profit.ndtv.com/news/show/europe-debt-fears-pile-pressure-on-spain-others-125581?cp

Lara praises Tendulkar as Today's Bradman

DUBAI: Saluting the longevity of Sachin Tendulkar, West Indies great Brian Lara has described the Indian batting legend as the 'Don Bradman' of modern era but refused to the compare the icons of different eras.

Lara, himself a legendary left-handed batsman from the Caribbean, said what astonishes him the most about Tendulkar is his longevity.

"I don't think there is any race. Both are great players. Tendulkar has shown the world what he is capable of and his longevity in the game is something to be really appreciated," Lara said.

"The time he will spend in the game, records are going to tumble. The fact that someone can be there from the age of 16 and still at the age of 37 perform brilliantly is something that I cherish more than anything else," he said.

The West Indies player is of the opinion that Australian great Don Bradman, who ended his career with an incredible Test average of 99.96, and Tendulkar should not be compared as they played and flourished in different eras.

"He is our period's Don Bradman. Forget the difference in averages with Bradman but whoever I have spoken to who have seen very old players in action, they believe that he (Bradman) would not have averaged 99 in today's cricket.

"So I believe that Sachin is our period's Bradman," Lara, who visited Dubai for a jewelry brand endorsement, told Gulf News.

Lara said he has just got back into cricket by playing three games in a Twenty20 tournament in Zimbabwe.

He also denied reports that he is becoming Zimbabwean coach but said he will be helping them in the batting department. He said he is fanatical about golf these days and spend time on the course.

"I love the game and have been working hard to bring my handicap down to five. I would love to get it a bit more lower. I spent a lot of time today at the Ernie Els Golf Course," he said.

Read more: Tendulkar is today's Bradman, says Lara - The Times of India

What is Sonia Gandhi religion?

CHANDIGARH: A division bench of the Punjab and Haryana high court on Monday dismissed an appeal to seek information under Right to Information Act on the religion practised by Sonia Gandhi. The bench comprising Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Ranjan Gogoi dismissed the appeal on whether the registrar general, Census Operations, is bound to provide details of the religion practised by the UPA chairperson and her children under the RTI Act.

The appeal was filed by former Haryana DGP PC Wadhwa. While dismissing it the bench said, ''It is evident that the petitioner is making efforts to make unjustified inroads into the privacy of said individuals even if they are public figures. Consequently, the information provided to the Census Officer cannot be made public.''

The judges said, ''In our view, the provisions of section 15 of the Census Act, 1948 are not inconsistent with provisions of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005 and both can be read harmoniously. Accordingly, Section 22 of the RTI Act, 2005 will not come into operation and cannot sustain the pleas of the appellant.

Read more: Sonia's faith is her private matter: HC - The Times of India

This man is funny.., Attends 1000 marriage?! A uninvited guest

Lucknow: You could say he barges into weddings, but it's all for a good cause. Santosh Bajpai turns up uninvited at Uttar Pradesh wedding ceremoies to make the bride, the groom and their relatives plant saplings and join his mission to make the planet a little greener!

Bajpai, a government official and native of Mankapur town in Gonda district, some 150 km from Lucknow, has got around 8,000 saplings planted in the nearly 1,000 marriages he has attended as an uninvited guest since 2001.

"I am quite happy that I have included thousands of people to join my mission of spreading greenery. I just want more and more people across Uttar Pradesh to join me in making the planet greener," Bajpai, a senior technical assistant (STA) of an Industrial Training Institute (ITI), told IANS on telephone.

"I believe we can counter the ill-effects of pollution and climate to a considerable extent just by planting saplings in our houses and nearby places. Environmental conditions would surely improve if we realise our responsibility towards our mother earth," added 42-year-old Bajpai.

Carrying saplings, Bajpai approaches the bride and the groom just before the 'jaimala', or garlanding ceremony, and convinces the duo to plant one sapling each.

As part of his green mission, Bajpai attends weddings not only in Gonda but also in adjoining districts like Balrampur, Kushinagar, Gorakhpur.

"When I first started this exercise, it was quite challenging. On several occasions, I was not allowed to approach the bride or the groom. But I did not lose hope and decided to convince the couple with the help of plants having religious value," said Bajpai.

"I took saplings of mango, tulsi, awla (goose berry) and neem as they have religious significance. My idea to link religion with plants worked and people started joining my mission. Now I don't have to do much to convince them. I just go and hand over the saplings to the bride, groom and some others and make them pledge to care for the environment," he added.

While some brides and grooms prefer planting in earthen pots - also provided by Bajpai - others plant them in open areas around marriage halls. Some even take it along to carry out the plantation at their home.

Apart from this noble effort, Bajpai himself has planted over 100,000 saplings till date. In 2004, the environment ministry conferred the Indira Priyadarshini Vriksha Mitra (IPVK) award upon Bajpai for his contribution in the field of environment.

IPVK awards are given to individuals or institutions doing pioneering and exemplary work in the field of afforestation and wasteland development.

"I received Rs.1 lakh as the cash prize of the IPVK award. I was quite happy as my efforts were acknowledged on a national platform. At the same time, frankly speaking, I was a bit nervous as I was not sure whether being in a government job, I would be able to continue my mission," Bajpai said.

"Today I am satisfied with myself. With the blessings of the almighty and support of my friends and family, I have continued with my work of planting saplings and sensitising the public towards environment," he added.

Is there any specific reason for choosing marriage venues to distribute saplings?

"Normally a large number of people attend weddings and I get a chance to come in contact with several people at one place and make my point," Bajpai replies.

"I also distribute saplings to school students and organise other programmes related to the environment with the help of NGOs," he adds.

Initially, Bajpai purchased saplings using his own money, but now people make contributions.

Bajpai has also set up an environmental club that invites individuals interested in contributing their bit towards the environment. Students, women, retired government officials and people from different walks of life are members of the club.


Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/this-man-has-crashed-almost-1-000-weddings-69529?cp

US student holds classroom hostage, shoots self

MARINETTE ( Wisconsin): A high school student who pulled a handgun and shot a film projector as the school day wound down held 23 classmates and a teacher hostage for about five hours before shooting himself when police busted down a classroom door.

Terrified Marinette High School students did their best to keep the 15-year-old gunman calm, spending hours talking to him about hunting and fishing, said student Zach Campbell - one of five hostages who were released after convincing the teen they had to use the bathroom.

"We just wanted to be on his good side," Campbell said. He said the gunman seemed depressed. "But he didn't really seem like he wanted to hurt anybody."

Officers who had positioned themselves outside the classroom said they heard three gunshots shortly after 8 pm on Monday and busted through the door, Police Chief Jeff Skorik said. The gunman, who was standing at the front of the classroom, shot himself as officers approached, the chief said.

Skorik declined to release the teen's name, saying he was taken to an area hospital and his condition was not available Monday night. No one else was injured.

Cartridge casings from both a .22 caliber semiautomatic weapon and a 9 mm semiautomatic were found at the scene.

The gunman had refused to communicate with officials during the standoff, Skorik said, but allowed the teacher to speak with authorities by phone. The teen had made his classmates put their cell phones in the middle of the room and broke his own phone when it rang, Campbell said.

Keith Schroeder, a former Marinette middle school teacher, said he had the gunman as a student and also knows the teacher well. He said the teen's family is extremely involved in all their boys' lives.

"He's a fine young man, and I'm totally taken aback," Schroeder told The Associated Press. "Surprised, flabbergasted to say the least because this is a great family. It doesn't fit any of the things or the molds that you read about people. I couldn't say enough good things about the family."

During the standoff, dozens of people kept away from the scene by firefighters congregated in the parking lot of a nearby hair salon in the town of about 12,000 people that sits on the border with Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

The high school has an annual enrollment of approximately 800 students, according to its website.

"They just spent a whole bundle of money on classroom doors to make them secure, but they don't have metal detectors at the school," said councilman Bradley Behrendt.

Choral teacher Bonita Weydt said she was talking with a teacher in another classroom at the end of the day when principal Corry Lambie came in.

"I said, 'Corry, what's going on?' and he said, 'Get out of the building,"' Weydt said.

Anxious parents met throughout the evening with officials at the county courthouse, where they were later reunited with their children amid hugs and tears of relief. Many declined to comment as they ushered their children to waiting vehicles.

Marinette Schools Superintendent Tim Baneck noted the community went through an emergency response training exercise last year.

"So the local law enforcement officials as well as the educators were all involved in a mock shooter situation, so it is actually very fresh in our minds in terms of the training we just went through," he said.

Legal advisor suspended over 2G spectrum

New Delhi: The government on Monday suspended Santokh Singh, a legal adviser in the Law Ministry who was till recently posted with Department of Telecom (DoT) and was associated with the controversial affidavit filed by the DoT in the Supreme Court.
In the affidavit, the DoT had denied the allegations that it ignored advise of Prime Minister, Finance Secretary and Ministry of Law and Justice (MoLJ) over allotment of spectrum and said all licences were given "as per law and in keeping with the extant policy and procedures."
Singh, who is a Joint Secretary-level officer, was suspended after a probe was ordered against him to investigate his role in advising the DoT on 2G spectrum allocation.

"Since the probe ordered against him is unlikely to be completed before his retirement, he would get provisional pension...he would not retire gracefully," said a Law Ministry official.
The affidavit was filed by the DoT in response to a PIL filed by Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy seeking sanction for launching prosecution proceedings against Raja and others allegedly involved in the scam.
A few days back, Singh - an Indian Legal Service officer- was transferred back to the Law Ministry from the DoT. The decision to suspend Singh came just two months ahead of his superannuation.
He was with the DoT for over four years and advised the department on several important issues relating to 2G spectrum allocation and 3G spectrum auction.

Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/legal-advisor-suspended-over-2g-spectrum/136124-3.html

It is Illegal at Tirumala temple, Gold plating Work: HC

Hyderabad: A division bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Tuesday held that the gold plating work of the sanctum sanctorum of famous Tirumala temple undertaken by the Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam (TTD) was "illegal and unconstitutional".
The bench comprising Justice B Prakasha Rao and Justice Reddy Kantha Rao found fault with the TTD for taking up the project in a hurry and in a whimsical manner.
The TTD had announced Anantha Swarnamaya Pathakam and solicited donations in gold for the scheme.

The petitioners, including Janata Party president Subramaniam Swamy, who appeared in court as party in person, and IPS officer G Raghava Reddy among others, contended that rare inscriptions on walls of the temple would be destroyed if the gold plating work is undertaken.
The petitioner argued that the inscriptions have religious value and the main temple will be weakened as more than 1400 rivets would be drilled into the temple walls during the gold plating work.
However, the TTD argued that these inscriptions were photographed, translated and published and took a stand that it was a secular activity.
The court remarked that the activity cannot form part of secular activity and as such was without any jurisdiction and in violation of article 25 and 26 of the Indian constitution.
The bench also took into consideration, report of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) which said that the gold plating will damage the inscriptions and the structure in the long run.
The bench asserted that the inscriptions pertain to the temple deity and are of immense value. It pointed out that no project report was prepared for the project which reflected the whimsical approach.

Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/gold-plating-work-at-tirumala-temple-illegal-hc/136174-3.html

He isn't your Father

One day a girl brings home her boyfriend and tells her father she wants to marry him. After talking to him for while, he tells his daughter she can't do it because he's her half brother. The same problem happens again four more times! The girl starts to get pissed off. She goes to her mom and says, "Mom... What have you been doing all your life? Dad's been going around laying every maiden in the town and now I can't marry any of the five guys I like because they have turned out to be my half brothers!!!"

Her mom replies, "Don't worry darling, you can marry any one of them you want, he isn't really your dad."

Styling tips for short hair

The short hairstyle has emerged and evolved with just about everything in life but it finally 'arrived' with many other trendsetting ideas in 20th century America. The conservative Victorian era finally ended with openness and a breath of fresh air –especially in the region of the neck. A short haircut is no longer a trademark for tomboyish- ness or even of intense rebel feminism. If it were so, the trend would have passed. The truth is – short hair is here to stay.


It is amazing how a professional hairstylist can do wonders with just a pair of scissors. A snip here and a snip there and an entire look gets transformed. This is more true in case of short hairstyles as in this case even a single bang can make a world of difference. It is important to seek professional styling tips to apply the necessary variations in your short crop to suit your face and features.


One of the all time favourites in short hairstyles is the classic bob that has evolved in a number of fascinating variations. It is ideal for straight and soft hair as this best showcases the flow and the fall but the bob also suits curly or thick textured hair in an interesting deviation. You simply need a brush and a hairdryer to style your cut or may attempt a change by combing your hair back to keep the forehead free. The blunt bob may add a little volume to fine hair and is not very suitable for naturally wavy or curly hair. If your face is oval or square go for the short bob but keep it a little long if you have a round face. Whatever the style is, remember that a lot of impact may be achieved by varying the angle of the fringes or by flipping the ends in or out. If your face is a tad too oval the tip for you would be to mix short and long fringes and keep it uneven all around.


An advantage of very short hair is that you can change the look just by altering the way you comb it. Bangs are easy to maintain and can be turned either way in the side swept style. What is needed to style the hair in this case is some mousse, a brush and a dryer and may be a hairspray to capture the look. If you want to highlight your eyes you can go for very short bangs or keep a brow-skimming length. But if you do not want to be too bold, do not try the blunt bang style. Also, if you are not very proud of your neck and do not have one like Audrey Hepburn or Julia Roberts, the celebrity short style is unfortunately, but strictly, not for you.


Two styles for very short hair that plays with the deliberately messed up look are the short shag and the pixie cut. The shag uses a layered texture and starts with longish bangs across the forehead dishevelled layers all around. You can style it by just brushing it or use a gel to stiffen the strands. The pixie cut has close cropped and very short hair behind the ears and at the neck and has seen favour since the middle of the last century. It is audacious and you should steer clear of this style if you do not have a fine bone structure.


When you are going for that short crop after all, carry all the fashion magazines and your research and get your stylist to explain why you should or should not get a particular style. Your haircut should leave you in no doubt that you are looking best in it. May be next time your short hairstyle should be used as the model for many other cuts.

Palak omlette

Ingredients: -

2 eggs, 1 small bunch palak(spinach), 1 small onion, 1 small tomato, 1 big green chilly, ¼ teaspoon grated ginger, 2 garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon oil and salt to taste.

Preparation time : - 17 minutes Serves : - 2

HOW TO PREPARE: -

Take a bowl and beat the eggs with ¼ teaspoon salt. Now take a tava and apply some oil on it. When the oil is very hot pour the egg on the tava and roll the tava so that the egg spreads over evenly. When one side is done flip over and let the other side get cooked too. Remove from flame and cut the omlette into small squares. Take a pressure cooker and put in only the leafy part of the spinach. Add a little water and salt and cook for a whistle or two. Remove from the cooker and drain completely and let it cool. When it is cool put it in a blender with the green chilly, garlic and grated ginger and make a fine paste. Now take a frying pan and heat up the remaining oil. When it is very hot add the chopped onions and sauté till they are deep brown add the tomatoes and the spinach paste. Sauté till the oil begins to leave the edges of the pan. When the gravy is as thick as you want, add the omlette squares and cook for another two minutes so that the taste of the gravy gets into the omlette too. Remove from flame and serve with a little fresh cream or butter.

A to I are 1 to 9

Every alphabet represents a different digit from 1 to 9 to make the calculation. What are they?

Market Today 30 Nov 2010

SENSEX 19521.25 (116.15) Nov 30 3:59PM

NIFTY 5862.70 (32.70) Nov 30 4:05PM

Shruthi Haasan - Udhayanidhi. The new hot pair

There is more action in the Udhayanidhi Stalin camp on the film which will launch him as the hero. The film which is to be directed by the King of Romantic Comedies' Rajesh has found its heroine in Shruthi Kamal Haasan.

Shruthi who was waiting for a film which is as big as her debut film '7am Arivu' in terms of quality and grandeur has accepted the Red Giant Films offer without a second thought.

Director Rajesh who is playing it safe this time too with a feel good romantic comedy has changed the previously suggested 'Oru Kal Oru Kannadi' and has now finalised his catch phrase he created for 'BEB' "Nanbenda" as the title of the film.

'Nanbenda' will start rolling any time from now and will have all the fireworks associated with a Red Giant Film.

Source: http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/61947.html

Be frank about your sexual past

sex-talks
Frankness about sexual past is good
(Getty Images)
Frank conversations about sexual infections and a person's sexual past is the key to a long relationship, says a new study.

The poll of more than 1,200 15 to 24-year-olds cited talking about sex lives as a signal that a relationship will last.

According to the government-funded Populus survey, young people also consider it as a better sign of a relationship getting serious than meeting parents.

However, 73 per cent admitted that they did not talk about sexually transmitted diseases before having sex with a new partner and 30 per cent said they felt uncomfortable asking a new partner to use a condom.

The research, which was conducted on behalf of the government's 'Sex. Worth Talking About' campaign, provides a snapshot of the milestones that this generation thinks is important for a lasting relationship.

"These findings reveal much about the modern relationship game," the BBC quoted Dr Catherine Hood, spokesperson for the 'Sex. Worth Talking About' campaign as saying.

"While many young couples realize the significance of being able to talk openly about accepting tests for sexually transmitted infections, sheer embarrassment is preventing them from doing so, and potentially risking their sexual health as well as the future of their relationship," she added.

Extramarital sex causes earthquakes

Couple
Extramarital sex causes earthquake (Getty Images)
Attractive women who dress inappropriately cause youth to go astray and "incite extramarital sex in society, which increases earthquakes", a hardline Iranian cleric has said.

Ayatollah Kazem Sedighi told worshippers that women who wear fashionable clothes and apply make-up cause youth to "go astray" and have affairs. As a result, the country that is bound by several fault lines experienced more 'calamities' such as earthquakes, The Telegraph reported Tuesday.

"Many women who dress inappropriately ... cause youths to go astray, taint their chastity and incite extramarital sex in society, which increases earthquakes," Aftab-e Yazd newspaper quoted him as saying at a Tehran prayer service late last week.

"Calamities are the result of people's deeds. We have no way but conform to Islam to ward off dangers."

Every woman regardless of her religion or nationality must cover her hair and bodily contours in public and offenders face punishment.

Nearly 14 million people live in Tehran province, of which eight million live in the city that is on fault lines.

Do men prefer working wives?

With the dimension of family economics going through a sea change, a majority of men today prefer a working wife. Apart from contributing financially to a marriage, working women can relate to their husband in a better way as they also have to go through similar grilling at their workplace. A recent survey also claims that majority of men have no issues in sharing the title of breadwinner with their better half.

Amit Bajpai, sales and marketing manager says, "Especially in metros, where the standard of living is so high, a man would like to have a helping hand. Moreover, a working wife would understand the work pressure you are facing; you can talk to her about your work related problems. I think the working population has become more smart and sharp with the passage of time, as they have to deal with unique situations everyday."

Model Manpreet Brar also thinks that metrosexual men prefer a working partner. "Generally, the mindset of a working woman is completely different from a house wife and she shares a better understanding with her man. Double income is another advantage. Obviously, with more earnings, you can have a better quality of life. In a situation where a guy decides to set up his own business or plans to study further post marriage, having an earning partner is a great help as she can take over the role of the primary earner in the family," Manpreet added.

Changing economic realities have changed the attitude of masses. Men are no longer bothered with the fact that their partner has a heftier pay packet than their own.

Television actor Manish Goel says, "I really respect those women who are primary earners in their families and their husbands should be proud of them. Family is a vehicle with two wheels, one on both sides and its great if a couple can strike a balance. My wife is working for past 15 years. In our industry, we have hectic schedules and strange timings. As Poonam and I are in the same profession she understands the situation completely and does not crib about it. And the best part is that you get expensive gifts. Poonam always gives me something pricey on my birthday, which she knows I am planning to buy from long!"

Panties give economy a sexy boost

A large number of Brit babes are going lingerie shopping in a big way - a trend that has soared the sales of women's undies to an incredible 117 per cent in the past six months.

And the boost in sales is attributed to sexy stars modelling fabulous frillies and the celeb-led trend for wearing underwear as outerwear.

Recently, it was revealed how a Marks n Spencer bra called Ceriso has boosted the firm's profits as shoppers snapped up the red silk version at a rate of one every two-and-a-half minutes.

And such high sales reports from High Street giants like MnS , boosts the economy.

"Women have a love affair with beautiful lingerie and sales from our ranges show this is currently a huge trend. It is seen as less of an indulgence and more a part of their day-to-day wardrobe," the Daily Star quoted a spokeswoman for the store as saying.

"Women take as much care and attention with their underwear as they do with their outerwear," she added.

The British lingerie market is worth a whopping 2.73 billion pounds, and is likely to reach 2.9bn pounds by the end of next year.

Cut-price chains such as Primark and Matalan also have extensive ranges, meaning women can stuff their knicker drawer with a string of different styles without breaking the bank.

In fact, Lingerie has also hit the supermarkets, with ranges Michelle for George sold by Asda and modelled by actress Kara Tointon, 26, and Diamond Boutique for Tesco, promoted by Elen Rivas, 35.

Other celebrity babes turned undie-cover agents include Kelly Brook, 30, Danielle Lineker, 30, and Abbey Clancy, 24, who together have helped make lingerie the biggest boom in fashion.

Brit girls spend a whopping 2,700 pounds on bras during their lifetime and own an average of 16 at any one time.

Another big reason for the undies boom is a greater choice for larger ladies.

Britain's boobs have swelled from an average 34B to a 36D, and stores have been quick to keep up by stocking bigger cup sizes than ever before.

Babes are also investing in figure-enhancing pants, which flatten tums, smooth waists and boost bums.

Stockings are also on the up because celebs such as Kate Moss, 35, and Lily Allen, 25, are regularly spotted wearing them.

A cosmetic queen

Be careful about the make up you use...

Who doesn't want to look their best? Be it at an interview, a social function, or even if it is just a walk to the park. Everyone agrees that there is no extent to what make up can do to a person. Right from the darkest scars, to the ugliest pockmarked skin, cosmetics works wonders for those who need a quick transformation or a 'make over'.

Today, however, some cosmetic products contain toxic and chemical substances, leaving your skin haggered and wrinkled before time.

According to a recent research, putting chemicals on your skin is worse than ingesting them, because when you eat something the enzymes in your saliva and stomach help break it down and flush it out of your body. But when chemicals are applied on your skin, they are absorbed straight into your blood stream without filtering of any kind, and no protection against the toxin.

The toxic chemicals you may be absorbing from the use of beauty products are, largely, going directly to your delicate organs. The research also showed that cheap cosmetics may clog the pores of the skin and make it prone to acne, pimples and eczema.

A lot of cosmetics contain chemicals that are harmful to the body. Make sure you check the cosmetic you purchase, opt for a reputed brand and never use expired products. Here are some that you need to be most careful about...

Lipsticks
These are considered to be the most toxic among all cosmetics. The perfume oils and indelible dyes used in lipsticks can cause health hazards like numbness, respiratory problems, swollen gums and inflamed eyes.

Exfoliating products
Products such as cleansers and skin peels can cause damage to the skin if exposed to excessive sunlight. Too much exfoliating removes the top layer of the skin, which is the protective layer. Excessive scrubbing or frequent washing can have similar effects by stripping away the oily layer that the body provides for protection.

Foundation
Liquid foundation mostly contains mineral oil, which is considered as a petrochemical pollutant. These can play havoc with hormones. Foundations may contain agents that slow down the process of cell renewal, which results in premature ageing.

Nail Polish
Nail polish contains toxic products like toluene, phenol and xylene. These ingredients can cause bleeding under the nails, discolouration and can roughen the smooth texture of the nails. Phenol, when in contact with the skin can cause pimples. Tuluene can cause headaches, nausea and loss of appitite. Nail polish removers have acetone, a solvant, which causes the nails to become brittle.

Go natural
Opt for synthetic cosmetics — natural cosmetics made with natural products are as effective. These cosmetics are harmless and improve the texture of the skin as they include a combination of potent herbs.

Natural cosmetics use fruit juices, crushed leaves and oil, which is extracted from seeds, milk, eggs etc. Spices and condiments like turmeric and saffron quite often figure in the list of ingredients for natural cosmetics.

Natural cleansers like milk and lemon are effective natural cosmetics in themselves. Fruits can make up excellent face packs. The oils obtained from almond and coconut act as good massage oils for skin and hair and bring a healthy glow to the skin and hair. They also help control wrinkle and crease formation on the surface of the skin.

Steamy sex

Looks have nothing to do with being irresistible in bed. Here's how to notch up your sex appeal

If Brad Pitt is asked to take the 9.55 am local every day, attend back to back meetings, skip lunch owing to work pressure and run errands in the monsoon, there's all likelihood of his six-pack metamorphosing into a sluggish guy-next-door physique.

Each one of us may be a sex God at heart, but very often, looks (we feel) play spoilsport and even before the tricks are out, the (partner's) mood goes for a toss. High time you take charge and get the oomph score running with these simple tricks.

Dress to undress
The rule of thumb says, 'The better dressed you are, the easier it is to have your woman undress you.' To be the alpha male in bed, dress like one out of it. Think about it. If the competition is between a suave sharply dressed, suited man and a dullard who wears an ill-fitted T-shirt and baggy jeans, who do you think will win? Labour (hard) on your fashion quotient and you wouldn't need to work on the buttons. She will be more than happy to oblige. And that 'polished' image will linger on even after you have undressed.

The light matters
There's a reason why photographers say 'You look beautiful when the light is right'. The wrong light can make a to-die-for six-pack look positively ghastly, so make sure you use it well. The power-saver white neon bulbs are great. Really. They help conserve energy and we highly respect your 'Go Green' attitude. But sadly, they don't do much to flatter that naked look. For once, switch to gentler yellow lights. Putting them up under lampshades will soften their glow and the flattering light will turn on the heat on your so-so physique.

Body language
When you are gearing up for some action, the last thing you want is a spineless partner crawling around with a disinterested, fallen look on his/ her face. Stand straight, throw back your shoulders and walk like you mean business. Nothing is as strong a turn-on as confidence. Also, the slouched look only accentuates your flat tyres. The correct posture can go a long way to camouflage the series of fat faux pas that are sometimes inevitable. So do yourself a favour and compensate the lack of physical finesse with a dash of attitude.

Aroma therapy
Research claims that a man's sweat is the most potent turn-on for a woman. While one wouldn't want to discount that learning, such studies do not exactly hold true in the bedroom. A sweaty stinking you can never be a turn on, no matter what the chemicals say. The Diors and Diesels can give you a hand, but it's no hard and fast rule. Just make sure you have a shower before you try to get intimate with your partner. A man who smells good, feels good!

Boxers & bras
Ask the marketing guys, and they'll tell you how crucial packaging is. Point being, do NOT take the easy way out. Make your innerwear work. This is one department where you can have the maximum fun. Get those jock straps out and experiment with cuts and colours. If you are experimental, thongs aren't that bad an idea (provided you can carry them off). If not, there are boxers — Simpsons, Batman, Popeye, you name it. Knowing what exactly your girl likes helps a great deal. Women have it a lot easier. Knowing the sheer variety of lace and nets out there, there's enough for every occasion.

Groom for it
A clean groomed look is far more presentable vis-à-vis the hairy disaster men often come with. Yes, some women like their men with hair, but that cannot justify the Amazon on your body. Get bullish in the grooming department and put that trimmer to good use. You are bound to get good dividends after dropping the shirt.

And for your facial hair, either opt for a complete shave, or a two-day stubble at the most. The prickly evening shadow stubble can spell disaster for her skin. Get a flattering haircut to ensure you don't look sloppy. After all, women (unlike men) like to work their way from the top.

Bikini-clad Cameron Diaz with shirtless beau in Mexico

Cameron Diaz and her Yankees beau Alex Rodriguez were spotted showing off their beach bods in Mexico.

"They looked super couple-y," UsMagazine.com quoted an insider as saying.

"Cameron was holding his hand and nuzzling him," added the insider.

However, friends said the reconciliation shouldn''t come as a surprise.

"They break up and get back together all the time," said the source

Source: http://www.newkerala.com/news/world/fullnews-94430.html

Ricky Martin's parents embrace son's sexuality

Singer Ricky Martin was overjoyed and surpirsed when his parents accepted his sexuality and expressed their unconditional love for him.

Martin came out of the closet in March this year after fighting his feelings for years, and was prepared for a difficult talk with his parents, but was surprised when his parents revealed they were already aware of his homosexuality.

"My mother asked me if I was in love with a man, I thought, 'Wow, this is gonna be easier than what I thought' and said, 'Yes mum, it's a man'. Then she said, 'Come on, give me a hug, you're my son and I love you, I will always be here for you' and I was extremely surprised," femalefirst.co.uk quoted Martin as saying..

Martin's father also took it rather well and simply said: "You don't have to say a word. I love you and I just want you to be happy."

Source: http://www.newkerala.com/news/world/fullnews-94219.html

Formula 1: Karun Chandhok eyes F1 return

London: Karun Chandhok will test with GP2 teams in Abu Dhabi this weekend while still hoping for a return to Formula One next year in time for his country's first Grand Prix.
The 26-year-old, who made 10 starts for the struggling Hispania (HRT) F1 team this year, said he was hopeful of securing a place without mentioning any interested parties.
"My goal for next year as I've said before is still firmly to be in Formula One and negotiations for a drive in the 2011 F1 World Championship are progressing in the right way," he said in a statement on Friday.

"So hopefully we'll have a final programme in place before the F1 world shuts for Christmas."
Chandhok tested a GP2 car in France last week but said the Abu Dhabi outing was a good chance to learn a new circuit and be race ready for 2011.
Force India and Lotus, yet to confirm their line-ups, could be targets but competition for places is intense with teams increasingly looking for drivers to bring sponsorship.
OIL MONEY
Austrian Christian Klien, who also raced for HRT this year and is looking for a seat, suggested the sport's increasing embrace of the emerging economies was being reflected in the driver market.
"Some time ago your best chance to get a drive in Formula One was when you were British, French or Italian," he said on his website (www. christian-klien.com).
"Nowadays the number of cockpits has hardly increased compared to 10 or 20 years ago but drivers are coming in from all areas of the world: Russia, India, South East Asia, soon probably Korea and China.
"Whoever has a government, an oil company or a mobile phone group from a rising country behind him has the best chance to be on the grid in 2011," added Klien.
Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado, this year's GP2 champion who tested for Williams and HRT last week, is backed by his country's state oil company PDVSA and is expected to join Williams as replacement for highly-rated German Nico Hulkenberg.
Russian rookie Vitaly Petrov, who helped Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel win this year's title by keeping Ferrari's Fernando Alonso behind him for 40 laps, is a key to the merry-go-round.
Everything is likely to slot into place once Renault announce whether he is staying or leaving, although there are clear signs that Russia's first F1 driver will be retained.
Russia is building up to a grand prix in Sochi in 2014 and Petrov has already attracted several national sponsors, while fledgling Russian sportscar maker Marussia have taken over as Virgin Racing's title backers.
"It is more positive for Vitaly than negative, so there is less chance for them (other drivers)," Renault team boss Eric Boullier said after this month's Abu Dhabi season-ender.
Those still searching for a home include Vettel's fellow-Germans Nick Heidfeld and Hulkenberg, released by Williams despite taking their first pole position for five years in Brazil this month.
Force India are likely to retain Germany's Adrian Sutil, who has solid sponsorship, but also have promising Briton Paul di Resta pushing for a race drive and Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi under contract. Virgin have yet to announce their drivers.

Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/karun-chandhok-eyes-f1-return/135928-5-24.html?from=hp

Federer hold upper hand to beat Nadal and win ATP finals

London: Roger Federer overcame Rafael Nadal 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 on Sunday to win the fifth year-end title of his career with victory in the final of the ATP World Tour Finals.
The Swiss with a record 16 Grand Slam titles clocked his 66th career trophy and his eighth win against 14 defeats by Nadal. He has claimed fifth titles this season, three from his last four events.
"I've really enjoyed playing this week," said the Swiss. "I hope I didn't spoil Rafa's vacation, he's had a dream year, it was very special for him."

The indoor surface has been the perfect compliment all week for Federer's game, with the Swiss world number two now 3-0 against Nadal indoors, his previous wins coming in Shanghai at the year-end event in 2006 and 2007.
The all-star pair have won 21 of the last 23 Grand Slams (12 for Federer, nine for Nadal). They have held a stranglehold on the year-end top ranking for the past seven years and both entered the final undefeated on the week.
It was the first final at the year-end championship between number one and number two since Ivan Lendl and Boris Becker 24 years ago.
Federer added .63 million to his career earnings as he finished the season with a 65-13 record and trophies in three of his last four events of 2010 after winning the Australian Open and Cincinnati.
"Roger played well all the week," said Nadal, winner of the last three Grand Slams after Federer's Australian Open title in January. "It's been a great season for me - certainly the most emotional of my career.
"Roger was too good today. I'm glad I could show I can play on this court," said the loser of all three group matches in 2009. "I want to come back and play even better next year."
The first ten points of the match went with the server, with Federer's first game lasting exactly one minute. He caught Nadal, who worked for three hours Saturday to beat Andy Murray in the semis, with a sizzling backhand cross-court winner on his way to the only break of the opening set for 5-3.
A game later, the opener was in the Federer pocket after 32 minutes. But the Swiss dropped serve for the first time in the second set, saving a break point but sending a forehand return wide on a second to trail 1-3 midway through the second.
Nadal levelled at a set each five games later to throw the contest into a deciding chapter.
The Swiss preyed on the tiring Spaniard, who held a winning point in the fourth game but lost serve on a one-two pair of errors as Federer crept to 3-1. The Swiss consolidated smoothly, sending down his sixth ace for a 4-1 lead.
Federer ended the season in winning style against the fading Spaniard, who netted a fatigued backhand to go down a double break, 1-5. Federer finished off victory in just over 90 minutes to put his season to bed and head into 2011 with a huge psychological edge in the rivalry.

Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/federer-beats-nadal-to-win-atp-finals/136040-5-22.html