Investors' wealth swells 10-fold in this decade

In an eventful decade, the wealth of investors in the Indian stock market has grown over 10-fold to nearly Rs 73 lakh crore by the end of 2010.

Besides, during the decade ended today, the total investor wealth, measured in terms of cumulative market capitalisation of all listed companies on the Bombay Stock Exchange, grew to nearly 10-fold from about Rs 7,00,000 crore at the end of the year 2000, to Rs 72,96,725.14 as on December 31, 2010.

Last 10 years have seen the stock markets bellwether Sensex travelling from 4,000 mark in 2001, to over 20,500 by the end of 2010.

"Sensex has grown over five-fold over the past decade. To put in other words, if somebody has invested Rs 1,00,000 in Sensex at the beginning of the decade, it would have, at present, become Rs 5,16,792," SMC Capitals equity head Jagannadham Thunuguntla said.

Stock markets have witnessed a smart surge over the decade on the back of robust overseas investments and strong India growth story, said an expert.

"The barometer of Indian capital markets Sensex has moved up five fold from 4,000 to 20,000 in this decade and the FII investment, which was Rs 6,200 crores in the year 2000 has surpassed Rs 1,00,000 crore in 2010," Unicon Securities Vice President Research Madhumita Ghosh said.

Going forward, experts feel that with the growing stature of India on the global front, the coming decade will also be equally fruitful for India.

Golf: Grateful moments in 2010

Golf may never quite have a year again like the highs and lows of 2010. Marcus Chhan recaps five moments on ESPNSTAR.com

The fall of Woods

It wasn't pretty to watch, although you simply couldn't take your eyes off it. Tiger Woods, arguably the greatest player to have ever played the game of golf, fell spectacularly from grace in 2010 in what was one of the biggest sporting stories of the year.

Forget about the women he slept with, and all the tabloid stories which followed, Woods not winning a single tournament in 2010, the first time this has happened to him in his professional career, is a huge story on its own.

The fact that he lost his number one ranking, something he has held for 281 weeks, as a result of this poor form potentially sets up golf fans nicely for an exciting 2011 as well.

The mark of a man can not only be measured by how hard he falls, but how he rises from a bad situation.

And it would take a brave man to bet against Woods next year, no matter how badly we've seen him play in 2010.

Mickelson proves - again - that nice guys don't always finish last

Phil Mickelson's 16 under par total was the lowest score at Augusta for nine years but seemed rather unimportant given the highly emotional setting on the 18th green.

There waiting for her husband stood Amy Mickelson, who 11 months prior had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and the pair shared a long embrace as 'Lefty' won his third green jacket in the last six years.

Major excitement

Following Phil Mickelson's win at Augusta, the rest of golf's majors went to three different players in exciting fashion.

Irishman Graeme McDowell gave us all an inkling of just how good his year would get when he ended Europe's 40 year wait at the US Open in June. McDowell came from three shots behind overnight third-round leader Dustin Johnson to win at Pebble Beach by one shot from France's Gregory Havret.

South African Louis Oosthuizen's (pictured) seven-stroke British Open triumph a month later at St. Andrews was nowhere nearly as dramatic as McDowell's US Open win, but it was remarkable given that victory came on the day Nelson Mandela celebrated his 92nd birthday.

Rounding up the majors in 2010 was Dustin Johnson's anguish at the PGA Championship. The final shootout for the title between Johnson, Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson will be most remembered for the controversial seven he was forced to card on his final hole - instead of the five he holed.

Johnson was given a two-stroke penalty after he placed his 4-iron behind the ball, unaware that it was part of a bunker and thus eliminating hopes of him making the playoff with Kaymer and Watson.

Europe rains (reigns) at Ryder Cup

The rainy conditions in Wales forced the Ryder Cup finale to be pushed back to a Monday, but a thrilling final putt showdown between Europe's Graeme McDowell and America's Hunter Mahan to settle the destiny of the cup ensured all the right headlines were made.

Europe won by one point.

The 59 club

This year golf welcomed two new members to its exclusive 59 club in the space of just one month.

Paul Goydos shot an opening round 59 at the John Deere Classic in mid July before Stuart Appleby's final round 59 gave him a highly deserved one-stroke victory at the inaugural Greenbrier Classic in August.

Only five PGA Tour players have ever recorded that magical number of 59.

Tennis: Top Moments of 2010

From the longest tennis match ever played to Rafael Nadal's career Grand Slam, Daniel Teo recaps the best tennis moments of 2010.

The Match

An unfancied first round Wimbledon match shattered the records as the longest match in the history of tennis. For 11 hours and five minutes spread over three days, United States' John Isner and France's Nicolas Mahut slugged it out on Court 18 and how hold a record that neither men would have wanted.

The game lasted so long, it was suspended because of darkness - two nights in a row.

Play resumed Thursday at 59-all and continued for more than an hour before Isner won 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (3), 70-68.

It was by far the longest in the sports' history in terms of games and time with the previous record standing at six hours, 33 minutes at the 2004 French Open.

Nadal completes career Grand Slam


The world number one became only the sixth man to win all four majors after claiming his first US Open crown in September, defeating Novak Djokovic Novak Djokovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.

It capped a supreme season for the Spaniard, making it three Grand Slams in a row after winning Wimbledon and the French Open.

He made known his feelings post match: "For me, it's a dream to have the career grand slam,

"It is an unbelievable feeling because I worked all my life in difficult moments to be here."

Federer beats Nadal, finally


It has been a less-than-perfect season for Roger Federer but he ended it on a winning note with a victory over arch-rival Rafael Nadal 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to clinch the 2010 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

And how the Swiss needed it, given his 1-6 record against the Spaniard in their last seven meetings.

Nadal, who was on the back of one of his most successful seasons, was magnanimous enough to give Federer the credit: "I tried my best but he was better than me."

The Victoria Azarenka scare


The crowd held their breath in horror when 10th seed Victoria Azarenka collapsed on Grandstand court in the first set of her second-round match at the U.S. Open against Gisela Dulko of Argentina.

The scorching New York heat was thought to be the cause of her downfall - literally, but it was revealed later that the Belarusian was diagnosed with concussion after hitting her head whilst warming up before the match during a sprint exercise

She released a statement saying: "I was warming up in the gym prior to my match against Gisela Dulko when I fell while running a sprint. I fell forward and hit my arm and head,"

The great Sampras theft


The legendary Pete Sampras, whose 14 major championships are second in tennis history only to Roger Federer's 16, was robbed of most of the trophies he won throughout his playing career.

The Los Angeles Times reported thieves had made off with nearly all the trophies from his 64 tour wins, two Davis Cup victories, an Olympic ring and six crowns for his world number one ranking from 1993 to 1998.

Only one of his 14 grand slam trophies - the first one he won at the Australian Open in 1994 - had gone, however.

A devastated Sampras said: "Losing this stuff is like having the history of my tennis life taken away."

Meanwhile, International Tennis Federation president Francesco Ricci Bitti has offered Sampras a replica trophy from his two Davis Cup wins.

TATA dreams for Car which run on water

BANGALORE: Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata's dream is to see cars run on water and he has invested USD 15 million in a start-up firm supporting research in the field, an eminent scientist said today.

Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister Prof C N R Rao said one of his close friends and a professor in the famed Massechusetts Institute of Technology in the US has found a way to split water directly into hydrogen and oxygen.

" Ratan Tata has given him (the Professor) 15 million (US) dollars so that he (Tata) can own that company when it comes up," Prof Rao said.

"He (Tata) wants to invest in a company which will split water directly into hydrogen and oxygen," Rao said, adding, when any kind of water -- toilet water, rain water or sea water -- can split to hydrogen and oxygen, then these components can be used for energy.

"And a dream of Ratan Tata is eventually cars will be run on water. My dream is also that," he said, referring to a recent conversation he had with the Tata Group Chairman.

Rao spoke on this initiative during a press conference convened by the Chemical Research Society of India to give details of the organisation's planned activities in 2011, an year which had been declared as the "International Year of Chemistry" by the United Nations.

BHEL approaches government for remedial action on Chinese threat

Navratna public sector unit BHEL has approached the government for remedial action to counter the threat posed by Chinese power equipment suppliers.

BHEL has urged the government to impose duties on Chinese imports, so that a level playing field is created, Executive Director of BHEL Trichy Complex A V Krishnan said, adding, "This is the real threat which BHEL is facing now."

According to him, Chinese equipment supplies are 20 per cent cheaper than domestic supplies.

"We have approached the government through the power ministry for giving us a level- -playing field. We hope that the government will do something in the coming budget," he said.

There is no duty on capital goods imports for power equipment supplies, according to BHEL.

Commenting upon Chinese supplies, Krishnan said his company had collected feedback from the market and as per the feedback, Chinese products suffer from inadequacy in boiler capacity, lack of adequate access for maintenance and difficulty in realising rated capacity.

According to Krishnan while BHEL was dominating the sub-critical boiler segment, Chinese companies were penetrating the super-critical segment.

"The future lies in super-critical boilers," he said.

The Koreas’ and America’s Unfinished or All-Out of War

"We lost thirty thousand dead in Korea to save face for the United States and the Untied Nations, not to save South Korea for the South Koreans, and it was undoubtedly worth it. Soviet expectations about the behavior of the United States are one of the most valuable assets we possess in world affairs." -Thomas Schelling (RAND) in Arms and Influence

Unlike most Western Powers, the United States is unfortunately still seduced by the idea that it can fix something after the fact. This might be a comforting and visceral concept, especially when a nation is confronted with nearly insurmountable odds, or with something that is insolvable, like an ongoing conflict. But those out-of-sight and out-of-mind problems have a way of sometimes returning in more ghastly and terrible forms.

The current shelling and threats for an all-out war between North and South Korea is applicable and relevant to the fix-it-later and out-of-sight/out-of-mind syndrome. In some ways, the Korean War merely passed the responsibilities of a major crisis and the conclusions to a perpetually horrible conflict onto future generations. At the time, and specifically for the United States, it might have seemed like an intelligent and strategic solution, but it was not. It was actually an abnegation in behaviorism.

Thomas Schelling and other elite economists, politicists, militarists and nuclear physicists, engineers, and scientists, who advised the Truman Administration and worked for the RAND Corporation, never quite understood this. Since their main task was to create new weapons systems that were faster and cheaper, and since they were only obsessed with how new methods, techniques and strategies of warfare could be used to benefit the Pentagon and American Empire, they were always mystified about human behavior.

The problem with Thomas Schelling and the RAND Corporation was that there were no moralists, philosophers, psychologists, sociologists, and definitely no theologians. They were (and still are) true believers in military strength and power. Their chief executive officer, after hearing about the questionable legitimacy of the Allied Dresden bombing, that killed over 200,000 Germans, said: "We must not get soft. War must be destructive and to a certain extent inhuman and ruthless."(1) This is way of thinking would guide the American Empire during the Cold War years (and after).

After thirty-five years of Japanese occupation and right after World War II, in 1950 Kim Il Sung, a socialist dictator, ordered North Korean troops over the 38th parallel into South Korea. South Korean forces were quickly routed and in a state of confusion. As millions of civilians and wounded soldiers flooded into Seoul, North Korean loyalists in the South quickly switched sides, as did a number of public figures who no longer believed in the South and its right-wing dictatorship.

Truman's advisors (RAND) initiated a total war. However, the American public was taught to refer to it as a war of "containment," or a "limited war." Hundreds of thousands of American and U.N. forces drove the North Koreans back to the Yalu River. Kim Il Sung was finally rescued, though, when U.S. military generals tried to usurp the authority of the presidency by threatening to attack China. The Chinese intervened on behalf of North Korea. In the midst of a stalemate and armistice that was eventually signed, a demilitarized zone was established. Tens of thousands of troops now faced each other.

Meanwhile, Korea was blanketed by U.S. strategic bombing campaigns and with napalm. Villages and cities were either turned to ash or reduced to rubble. Dams and crops were ruined, as were irrigation canals, roads, and other life-saving infrastructures. While the living starved, two million Koreans lay dead. Hundreds of thousands of women and orphans too were without food, clothing, water, and shelter.

A BBC Journalist wrote, "In front of us a curious figure was standing, a little crouched, legs straddled, arms held out from his sides. He had no eyes, and the whole of his body, nearly all of which was visible through taters of burnt rags, was covered with a hard black crust speckled with yellow pus…He had to stand because he was no longer covered with skin, but with a crust-like crackling which broke easily…I thought of the hundreds of villages reduced to ash which I personally had seen and realized the sort of casualty list mounting up along the Korean front."(1)

Schelling and the RAND Corporation never wanted to admit to these truths and realities. Neither did they want to acknowledge that Korea was still plagued by rival dictatorships and U.S. occupation forces. In the North, Sung promoted an all-pervasive cult of personality centered around his own supposedly god-like qualities. He also announced his intention of creating a dynasty of rulers, namely, his son, Kim Jong Il. Military spending, poverty, unemployment, and food shortages leading to famine have devastated North Korea. It is alone and isolated from much of the world.

The South was backed by an imperial cult bent on world domination. Some in this god-like empire, or so they thought of it as such (and still think today), believed the Soviets and China were threats to national security and self-interests, as was Vietnam. Therefore, right-wing dynastic generations continued to fund an ever bloated military empire and, of course, the RAND Corporation. In this empire, poverty and unemployment have also risen, as has political and economic isolation from other nations of the world. For both sides, the hidden costs and sacrifices of the unfinished Korean War have been exponential.

But in reality, the Soviets are no threat. Neither is China or even Vietnam. Japan too will help contain the volatility that currently exists between the Koreas. At the same time, hereditary dictators and archaic, dying empires are seldom wooed by the carrot at-the-end of-a-stick approach, especially when both are trying to hold the stick. Both these dictatorial dynasty and empire live in a different realm and a different world, one that not only disregards their own people, but in the end, brings upon themselves their own self-destruction.

Schelling and the RAND Corporation popularized the Game Theory approach to world conflict during the Cold War, applying it to Korea (and many other disastrous wars). They assumed that the one who took the biggest risk in a given situation would win. The risk, of course, always dealt with winning a conflict by having and using the most powerful weapons, even nuclear weapons. It was a policy that guided the American Empire for decades, and one that still guides many policy makers today. (This type of thinking and strategic behavior can be seen in Afghanistan and Iraq.)

But what if the greater and most productive risk, that would have brought about a more secure peace, would have dealt with peace itself, or the absence of weapons systems and military intervention and total war? This is something the Soviets displayed in 1950, when it called home its advisors and denied Pyongyang the use of its planes. In other words, what if the United States would not have strong-armed the United Nations and instead, issued an all-out of war? Would the conflict over the two Koreas and their eventual unification have been solved?

Embalmed and worshipped to this day, homicidal dictators and a right-wing militant and suicidal empire, both of which were responsible for the deaths of millions of Koreans from 1950-53, are close to an all-out war again. (A war that is not so forgotten.) In peace, nothing is lost. But in war or in an "uneasy peace," everything can be lost. Perhaps it is true that an oppressed people can only liberate themselves through a struggle, a struggle, that is, which might be much closer to their own homes than what their leaders have taught and told them to believe.

Meantime, human behavior is not a game. Neither can it be theorized. Like war, human behavior is both predictable and unpredictable. It is rational and irrational. Demilitarized zones with thousands of soldiers facing each other, expensive and massive weapons systems, ongoing military maneuvers, and nuclear weapons are merely symbols of human failure and the irrational and unpredictable. Regarding North Korea and the American Empire, unless people rise-up and declare an all-out of war, the present-day turmoil will more than likely prolong an unfinished war, a war that might not leave anyone alive to feel guilty for pulling a trigger.

World starts marking the new year

Celebrations are being held around the world to mark the new year.

Thousands of revellers have taken to the streets in New Zealand - the first major country to see in 2011.

Australians are marking the occasion in Sydney with what is billed as the largest and most advanced New Year's Eve fireworks display in the world.

Displays are also planned in Europe, while up to a million people are expected in New York to see the famous Times Square Ball drop at midnight.

The municipal authorities and warmer weather have combined to clear the streets following the snowstorm which blanketed the city this week.

This year meanwhile marks the first time Vietnam's capital, Hanoi, officially celebrates the new year. In previous years, the city authorities have focused on Tet, the holiday marking the lunar new year.

In Burma, however, the military government has banned all fireworks and said severe action would be taken against anyone using them.

CARS OF 2011

2010 was one of the best years for Indian car lovers and consumers alike, with a never-seen-before influx of high quality automobiles flooding the streets, from India and abroad. While the country warms up to the romance of wheels on one hand, and international vehicle manufacturers continue to realize the untapped potential of this massive market on the other, 2011 promises to be another cracker. Be it affordable hatchbacks, sleek saloons or the most delectable performance machines on the planet - it's all happening.

New Looks, New Goods ( Face lifts and Variants )

These may not be all new-cars, but will offer a lot more to buyers who have now grown to trust these vehicles as brands thanks to their extended presence. Not just that, these upgrades and facelifts will give the cars an edge over their rivals, or in some cases just bring them up to speed - both of which are good scenarios for the market.

Chevrolet Beat Diesel
Coming in : May 2011 Expected price : Rs 4-5 lakh

Tata Safari Facelift
Coming in: March 2011, Expected price: Rs 8-12 lakh

Chevrolet Tavera Rehash
Coming in: Late 2011, Expected price: Rs 6.5-9.5 lakh

Mahindra Logan Facelift
Coming in: Mid 2011, Expected price: Rs 5-7 lakh

Audi TT Diesel
Coming in: Mid 2011, Expected price: Rs 45-50 lakh

Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Coming in: Mid-2011, expected price: Rs 30-35 lakh

High-End Entries

It's not just about the volume market - some of the world's most acclaimed and prestigious cars are on their way to Indian shores in 2011 too. The Ferraris, Porsches and Bentleys may be out of reach for most of us, but there are cars like the new Maruti Suzuki Kizashi and the Renault Fluence that will up the ante this year!

Maruti Suzuki Kizashi
Coming in: February 2011, Expected price: Rs 15-17 lakh

Star Attractions (sub- Rs 10 lakh)

These are the cars that will find real favour amongst Indian masses, and bring the much sought-after volumes to the manufacturers. The most eagerly awaited cars will remain the hatchbacks, and some big global names have India-specific products up their sleeves for 2011. Here's the complete list!

Maruti Suzuki Swift
Coming in: Mid-2011, Expected price: Rs 4-5.5 lakh

Nissan Sunny
Coming in: Late 2011, Expected price: Rs 7-9 lakh

Tata Venture
Coming in: March 2011, Expected price: Rs 3.5-4 lakh

Ford Fiesta
Coming in: February 2011, Expected price: Rs 7-9 lakh

Honda Brio
Coming in: June 2011, Expected price: Rs 4-5 lakh

Toyota Etios Liva
Coming in: March 2011, Expected price: Rs 4.5-6 lakh

Who will make it to 2020?

People & Politics

In the next ten years, development will become the main political issue with different social groups demanding their share of the India growth story, writes Arati Jerath.

The clearest evidence that the political paradigm is changing came from Nitish Kumar's sweeping victory in the 2010 Bihar assembly elections. He cooked up a storm with a development plank that pushed traditional politics, both of patronage and identity, to the margins of irrelevance and gave him numbers that all political leaders dream of but rarely get. It was a personal triumph for Nitish but the real significance of his win lies in what it says about the emergence of development as a key political issue in today's India.

With the economy projected to continue growing at between 7-9% annually over the next decade, there is every reason to believe that development and governance issues will increasingly dominate public discourse with different social groups demanding their share of the GDP pie. The Congress party's politics of patronage of vote banks had currency in an underdeveloped economy. Caste and religion-based identity politics took over as the process of economic and social empowerment began with the opening up of the economy. Today, after a period of rapid growth, politics is set to enter another phase, which is likely to be defined by battles for a more equitable distribution of wealth and resources.

The lessons from Bihar are slowly being assimilated. Nitish's mastery over the emerging new idiom reaped him huge electoral dividends. Now Mayawati is seeking to emulate him as she scrambles to set her house in order before the 2012 state polls. Like Nitish next door, she too is concentrating her energies on targeted development projects for marginalized communities. Dalit villages are at the top of her list, but she is also trying to ensure that roads, electricity, water, schools and primary health care centres reach areas populated by extremely backward castes and minorities. In fact, UP's utilization record of funds allocated for development of minority concentration districts is one of the best — almost 60%. She is revisiting the law and order issue as well by cracking down on goonda elements, including those in her own party. This is the same woman who relished courting controversy with Ambedkar parks in pink sandstone and giant statues of herself in a bid to promote her Dalit politics.

It is important to understand the nature of the development politics taking shape. It's not just a simple matter of building roads or providing electricity. The question to which voters are demanding an answer is: development for whom? Nitish's success lay in the focused manner in which he took development to different social groups to create a wider constituency beyond his narrow caste base. This is identity politics of a different kind in which mobilization is not merely on the basis of caste but also on economic, gender and age subgroups.

The coming decade will see an acceleration of the factors responsible for altering the political dynamics in the country. The three important ones are the mainstreaming of marginalized social groups, the communications revolution and increasing urbanization. The biggest success of Indian democracy has been empowerment of castes and communities that existed outside the social pale. The spread of adult franchise, a series of affirmative steps like reservations, a slew of welfare measures and the growth of market forces are changing the feudal nature of social and economic relations. The rise of caste-based parties, the land battles at Singur, even the spread of Naxalism are all signs that those at the bottom are demanding to be heard.

Increasing connectivity has only strengthened the process of empowerment. Mobile phone connections have already zoomed beyond 600 million and are expected to cross 1 billion by 2015, while television penetration, according to industry estimates, will cross the 60% mark by 2020. It means people in every corner of the country are rapidly getting connected and acquiring independent means of accessing information. It also means that voters can no longer be fooled by mere rhetoric and empty promises. They want delivery and are acquiring the means to monitor it.
The third factor, urbanization, has the potential to take politics beyond caste to include class. More than one third of the population is likely to be living in cities and towns by 2020 and their concerns and issues will be shaped by their urban environment and the growing disparity between the rich and the poor, between those who live in gated communities and drive shiny, big cars and those who live in slums without basic civic amenities and have to make do with shoddy public transport.

A transforming India means a changing polity. Those who keep pace with the times will emerge as the powerhouses while others will fall behind. The visible process of fragmentation into subgroups, subregions and subcultures gives regional forces an advantage over national parties which have to work with a larger canvas. Regional satraps like Nitish or Mayawati or Naveen Patnaik or even Narendra Modi and Yeddyurappa (who despite belonging to the BJP are really regional chieftains) are better connected to the grassroots. They also have the flexibility to knit together an electorally successful social alliance specific to their state without having to worry about the bigger national picture. The BJP was compelled by local Karnataka considerations to allow scam-hit Yeddyurappa to continue as chief minister even as it fought a high-pitched battle over corruption at the centre with the Congress.

Nitish's victory underlines the continuing relevance of the satraps. The Congress in its glory days was an umbrella party of strong regional leaders. Its decay began when Indira Gandhi started cutting them down one by one till the party stood decimated in numerically important states such as UP and Bihar. Today, regional chieftains have created their own political units while the Modis and Yeddyurappas survive in a national party like the BJP only because they have been given almost complete autonomy.

Yet, as Nitish understood and as Mayawati seems to be realizing, regional leaders have to expand their political horizons beyond caste identities to remain on top. They have to put together broader social coalitions while national parties will have to put aside their dreams of single-party rule and contend with political coalitions to run the centre. This is one reality that is unlikely to go away even as the political frame expands to include issues of development and governance.

Past tense

In politics, every player works and waits for a big moment. A real leader emerges when there is perfect harmony between his ideas and the people's mood. But, at some point, he has to fade away. The leaders who make desperate attempts to cling to their receding turf often face humiliation. Lalu Prasad, once the giant of Bihar politics, was rejected by the state in the latest election. Sunday Times looks at the canvas 10 years down the line to guess where some of the most durable leaders will be at the onset of the century's third decade

Arun Jaitley

At a time when the images of marauding kar sevaks demolishing a mosque haunted the BJP, a young lawyer made an attempt to bring the party's central discourse into the constitutional framework. For the newly emerging Indian middle class, Arun Jaitley was a welcome change. He defended his party but not its inclination towards religious fundamentalism. Over the years he has drawn a line between the BJP's position as a conservative party and the elements pulling it into the chaos of communal posturing. Articulating his party's support for the women's bill in the Rajya Sabha, Jaitley referred to a similar legislation in Pakistan. Perhaps no other BJP leader today would dare to take such a bold step. If the party recedes into the doctrine of religious revivalism in the coming years, moderates like Jaitley will be pushed to the margin. But a realisation that a hardline approach is a flawed strategy to win elections even for a majoritarian outfit like the BJP may allow Jaitley to raise new signposts for the party's future. Basically a strategist fond of setting the field for an election campaign, Jaitley can still be relevant beyond 2020. If he ties down the government on a tricky issue of constitutional inappropriateness and in the process prevents his party's swing towards the extreme right position, it's good news for India.

Mamata Banerjee

She has trudged into an arena which even the Devil will fear to tread — challenging the entrenched communists in their bastion. Indeed, so overwhelming was the penetration of Left politics into the psyche of West Bengal that many Congressmen were reconciled to a red star over Writers' Building. Not the feisty woman from a shantytown near Kolkata's Kalighat temple. Despite her incohesion, Mamata Banerjee has made the people believe that there can be life beyond Marxist politics. This itself is an achievement irrespective of the outcome of next year's assembly elections. However, given the polemical nature of her politics and her rapid-fire style, it will be difficult for Mamata to sustain her brand for a long time. Ten years down the line she is unlikely to ride the crest of the waves. In all probability history will remember her more as a street-fighter, more in the mould of Lech Walesa leading Solidarity in Gdansk shipyards, rather than a Nelson Mandela leading a mauled people into peace and stability through a smooth transition.


Sitaram Yechury

The Left always accuses the media of being on the side of big business. One from their ranks, however, has been a favourite of the 24x7 channels. The kind of media space CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury commands is the envy of many senior ministers. The reason for his popularity is the Marxist leader's understanding of the language of change. Even when the CPM is facing the real threat of being ousted from power in both Kerala and Bengal after its disastrous performance in the 2009 general election, he still holds forth, arguing his party's viewpoint with perfect elan. He does not believe the advent of technology can radically alter politics. "Technology can change the mode of propaganda but the core issues will remain the same," he points out, dismissing the notion that density of mobile telephony can take the focus away from basic concerns. "Of course, the audiences will be better informed," he says. Rejecting the view that India is on the cusp of an economic resurgence, he says, "The crisis in the system will remain the same." But he agrees India is going beyond the staples of yesterday's politics. "Climate change will become crucially relevant to the basic issues," he points out. The 58-year-old Rajya Sabha member is amused by the prospects of fading away by 2020. "You're relevant as long as you can keep pace with the changes," he says.

Mayawati

At the core of UP chief minister Mayawati's politics is a deep-rooted sense of injustice among her followers who, as her mentor Kanshi Ram used to say, are the base of India's social pyramid. With about 15% of the Dalit vote secured in her basket, Mayawati would do business with an ally for additional support to capture power in UP. "My supporters will go out and vote for anybody I want them to, but theirs will not," she kept saying until a major segment of the Brahmins, exasperated by Mulayam Singh's brand of politics, entered into a social agreement with Mayawati and ensured 200 plus seats for the BSP in the last assembly elections. In a sharp reversal, a significant number of Dalits did not back the BSP in the 2009 election. They preferred Rahul Gandhi's Congress. Observers saw 2009 as the first hint of erosion in caste politics. If the voting pattern is repeated on a larger scale in the 2012 election that will spell disaster for 54-year-old Mayawati's brand of politics and her dream of becoming the country's first Dalit prime minister.

Future perfect

A brave new generation of leaders with fresh, innovative ideas may start calling the shots some time in the next decade. Bhaskar Roy takes a look at some of the future leaders and analyses their idea of India.

Jyotiraditya Scindia

Scindia, 39, has won three successive elections from Guna in the Gwalior region with ease. A close friend of Rahul Gandhi, he is a man of many passions: politics, sports and social issues. For the minister of state for commerce, the new decade will offer fresh possibilities and also a backlog of unresolved issues from the past. "Water is going to be a big issue in the near future," says Scindia. Safe drinking water will be scarce unless a plan is worked out on a war footing with the adoption of the right technology. With consumption levels rising every year, energy will be a cause for concern 10 years from now. The search for a substitute for fossil fuels needs new impetus since petroleum reserves are going to deplete within the next few decades. As a rising power, India will have to deal with such issues in the coming years, he says. The young leader sees Indian society being impacted as much by education and forward-looking legislations as by new technology. "Global warming is going to be a very big issue as it will have a bearing on crop patterns and food output."

Mausam Noor

The 30-year-old MP from the Bengal backwater of North Malda is a lawyer by training. But childhood images of crowds at the Malda mansion of her uncle, Congress strongman Ghani Khan Chowdhury, left a deep impression on her. She wanted to don Ghani Khan's political mantle but did not know that the opportunity would come so early. Before the 2009 election, Sonia Gandhi preferred her over the other claimants from within the clan for the seat. Defying the media stereotype of the glam brigade in Parliament, Mausam has got down to work in Bengal's politics polarised between the Marxists and Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool. "I courted arrest recently as part of a protest," she says. The big picture, she argues, is changing faster than the political class is ready for because of the inroads made by technology. "The world is looking at India as a big power, convergence of the two Indias is the need of the hour." By 2020, she believes, the average age of MPs will go down. "A younger leadership should represent a younger nation," she says. Issues and concerns, too, are going to change. With people's aspirations rising, connectivity improving, the delivery mechanism will have to be more efficient, she says.

Sachin Pilot

Pilot, 33, earned his stripes by snatching away the Ajmer seat from the BJP in a hard-fought battle in the 2009 general election. Savvy, charismatic and a member of Team Rahul, the junior minister in the telecom department has a clear roadmap to 2020. "Roads can still be bad in some parts of the country but the optical network connecting each of the 2.5 lakh panchayats will be strong," he says, claiming that this ambitious goal will be achieved by 2012. He sees challenges of urbanisation, migration, land alienation and insurgencies of the Naxalite variety as some of the major challenges for the country in the coming years. At the same time, Pilot sees technology as a great equaliser which will bring down the barricades of perceived disparities and biases. To a large extent, according to him, blackboards will be replaced by computer screens. As an outcome of technological penetration, society as a whole is going to raise more questions. With the rural population connected to the system through high-speed broadband, aspiration levels will rise making governance more transparent and responsive. "How do you communicate with the system in the 21st century? It's only through e-governance," he says, offering glimpses into the not-so-distant future.

Manick Tagore

The 35-year-old Youth Congress functionary from Sivaganga in Tamil Nadu is a giant killer. His schoolteacher father was an ardent fan of Rabindranath Tagore, says the first-term MP. "I was given the great poet's surname by my father." The opportunity to trounce a stalwart came unexpectedly. "Rahul Gandhi asked me to take on Vaiko in Virudhunagar. 'Make it a good fight', he said." Until then Manick had been busy organising elections for the youth body's state units. The little-known youth activist became famous overnight as the "boy who vanquished Vaiko". Like his mentor, Manick speaks the language of transformation at the grassroots. "Micro and medium scale industry is going to be the vehicle of change," he says, borrowing heavily from Rahul Gandhi. "If the Tatas set up a plant in my constituency that will employ a thousand people maximum. But micro-scale industry can absorb the excess labour from agriculture, and that's the future." He sees this as a future trend and a pointer to the direction India may take in the next decade.

Varun Gandhi

Like cousin Rahul, he is a Gandhi too. But Varun has walked across the fence into the Hindutva camp. The BJP MP from Pilibhit had triggered a furore by delivering a rabidly communal speech on the campaign trail during the last general election. If the world was shocked by his communal rhetoric, it certainly turned him into a saffron icon. Educated at the prestigious Rishi Valley School and Delhi's British School, the only son of Sanjay and Maneka Gandhi has moved to the right. "Rise above caste to build a unified Hindu society," he said while visiting flood victims in Mirzapur in UP earlier this year. For the saffron party, Varun could not have joined them at a more opportune time.

Down and out after two successive defeats, for the opposition party he is an answer to the Congress' future leader, Rahul Gandhi. Already a member of the BJP's national executive, Varun seems set to rise further in the party hierarchy. In the new decade, this Gandhi is sure to occupy one of the top chairs his party can offer as right-of-the-centre politics will continue to occupy political space in the coming decade.

Read more: Who will make it to 2020? - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-toi/special-report/Who-will-make-it-to-2020/articleshow/7164789.cms#ixzz19hJwsdrk

Protest against security procedures, Man strips at US airport

RICHMOND: Police say a man stripped to his underwear at an airport checkpoint in Virginia in a protest against security procedures.

Airport police said the man took off his shirt and trousers at Richmond International Airport on Thursday. He had scrawled across his chest a reference to the U.S. Constitution's protections against unreasonable search and seizure.

Police identified the man as 21-year-old Aaron B. Tobey of Charlottesville, Virginia. He told police he was a student at the University of Cincinnati.

Tobey was interviewed by airport police and federal authorities, issued a citation for disorderly conduct and released. He is scheduled for arraignment on Jan. 10.

Girl gangraped at knifepoint

NAGPUR: Cops have booked five youths, all having criminal records, for their alleged involvement in gang-raping a girl at Chadramani Nagar on Thursday evening. The minor girl was gagged and savaged repeatedly by her tormentors who also threatened her with a sharp weapon. Police said that the culprits were also from the same locality and probably knew the victim.

Rachna (name changed) had gone to a general store where she was approached by the culprits. Police said that the girl was forcibly whisked away by the accused in full view of the local residents who opted not to resist due to the criminal backgrounds of the perpetrators. Rachna was taken to a neighbour's place where she was raped.

The five culprits apparently forced themselves one by one on the girl while she was being threatened with a knife. Unconfirmed sources claimed that Rachna's younger brother too rushed to the place where her sister was being tortured. The goons are learnt to have fled the place after seeing him. Rachna's family members later contacted the cops.

Ajni police swung into action after the matter was reported to them. Rachna was rushed to Government Medical College and Hospital for treatment and medical examination. The cops had launched a manhunt but had made no arrest until late in the night.

Football: Top ten matches in 2010

London: There has been much discussion about what constitutes a 'top game' so for this list we have gone with an iconic match that you will immediately think of when discussing football in 2010.

1. Manchester United 3, Bayern Munich 2 (Champions League quarter-final second leg, April 7, 2010)

Responding to a 2-1 defecit from the first leg, Sir Alex Ferguson's side came out the blocks in scintillating fashion turning the tie on its head with goals from Darron Gibson and a brace from Nani. Ivica Olic brought Bayern back into the tie two minutes before the break and after Rafael had been sent off the Germans scented blood and Arjen Robben claimed a terrific winner to send Louis van Gaal's side through after a terrific game at Old Trafford.

The top 10 football matches of 2010

2. Fulham 4, Juventus 1 (Europa League round of 16 second leg, March 18, 2010)

Probably the most dramatic night ever witnessed by the Craven Cottage faithful. David Trezeguet's second minute opener put the Old Lady into a 4-1 aggregate lead but Roy Hodgson's team did not know when they were beaten on the way to the final of the Europa League where they would lose to Atletico Madrid. Bobby Zamora pulled the first back before Zoltan Gera claimed a brace to set up a dramatic end to the final 40 minutes. Clint Dempsey duly stepped up with a brilliant chipped goal to win the tie 5-4 on aggregate with eight minutes remaining in surely the most dramatic Europa League match to date.

3. Inter 3, Barcelona 1 (Champions League semi-final first leg, April 20, 2010)

Whilst the second leg in the Camp Nou saw an incredible rearguard performance from the Nerazzurri and crazed celebrations at full-time, this was the match where Jose Mourinho's side put one leg in the final. Barcelona rarely lose by two goals and it didn't look likely when Pedro slotted home the opener. Inter responded with goals by Wesley Sneijder, Maicon and Diego Milito to prove that Jose Mourinho's side were not just about defending but could also outscore even the best teams in Europe.

4. Manchester City 0, Tottenham 1 (Premier League, May 5, 2010)

The penultimate game of the Premier League season was billed as the 60 million Pound match by Fleet Street as Harry Redknapp's swashbuckling side headed to Eastlands looking to secure fourth spot and entry into the Champions League. Whoever would have made the premier competition in Europe would have finally laid rest to the 'Big Four' dominance in England and it was Tottenham who performed well on the night, attacking throughout despite a draw being enough to leave them in pole position to claim fourth. Peter Crouch's late goal sealed the win and set up the Tottenham adventure in Europe that has seen them beat European champions Inter at home and now face Milan over two legs in the first knockout round of the Champions League 2010-11.

5. Bayern Munich 0, Inter 2 (Champions League final, May 22, 2010)

The two sides came into this match looking to create history by securing a treble of domestic title, cup and the Champions League trophy. Jose Mourinho emerged as the major winner, claiming 'Big Ears' for the second time and securing his position as coach of Real Madrid just days later. Diego Milito was the main star with two goals in the match, exploiting some weak defending from Munich and showcasing his expert finishing. Massimo Moratti enjoyed his finest hour as Inter president and the question now at the San Siro is whether anyone can ever live up to the Special One?

6. Germany 4, England 1 (World Cup 2010 last 16, June 27, 2010)

Germany eviscerated both England and Argentina but this game warrants inclusion in our top 10 list because of the drama at the end of the first half that simply has to ensure FIFA adopt goal line technology. Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski had put Jogi Low's side 2-0 up with some typical attacking football. The Three Lions responded with a header from Matthew Upson and then looked to have drawn level before the break with a Frank Lampard effort that rebounded off the bar and clearly over the line. The goal was rejected by the Uruguayan officials and a stunning German performance was rewarded with second half goals from Thomas Mueller with Mesut Oezil memorably skinning Gareth Barry for the fourth.

7. Uruguay 1, Ghana 1 (Penalties 4-2) (World Cup quarter-final, July 2, 2010)

For many the World Cup failed to live up to the hype and certainly the opening weeks of the tournament in South Africa witnessed some turgid games. This match, or at least the final seconds of extra time, saw the most dramatic of circumstances that had they been in a film would have been denounced as unbelievable. Sulley Muntari's opener was cancelled out by Diego Forlan in normal time but the late scramble, which eventually saw Luis Suarez save with his hand on the line, receive a red card and then Asamoah Gyan miss a penalty to send Ghana through must be one of the craziest moments of insanity in World Cup history.

8. Holland 0, Spain 1 (World Cup Final, July 11, 2010)

Like the tournament that preceded it, this game failed to really ignite but the win for La Furia Roja was a victory for good football and the gold trophy was handed to the best team in South Africa. An aggressive Dutch side were shown in full glory with Nigel De Jong's now infamous Kung Fu kick on Xabi Alonso in the first half. Arjen Robben was presented with two great chances in the second period but the Dutch winger failed to take his opportunities and in extra time, Spain's tiki-taka finally paid off to secure another 1-0 win. Andres Iniesta fired past Stekelenburg after a searching ball from substitute Cesc Fabregas to set off wild celebrations in Johannesburg and Spain.

9. PSV 10, Feyenoord 0 (Eredivisie, October 24, 2010)

Feyenoord's current poor standing in Dutch football was highlighted for the world as PSV took them to the cleaners and scored 10 goals without reply. In their defence, Feyenoord had Kelvin Leerdam sent off but it was just 2-0 at half-time. Jonathan Reis claimed a hat-trick, both Jeremain Lens and Balazs Dzsudzsak notched braces and Ibrahim Afellay, Ola Toivonen and Orlando Engelaar also scored in what is Feyenoord's heaviest ever defeat.

10. Barcelona 5, Real Madrid 0 (La Liga, November 29, 2010)

Barcelona produced one of the greatest team performances of all time as they smashed their great rivals Real Madrid with some incredible football. Jose Mourinho described the loss as a "historically bad result for his club" and to see Los Blancos reduced to shadows showed many that this current Barca side will take some stopping. Xavi volleyed the opener past Casillas and Pedro scored number two to leave Madrid with a mountain to climb despte the best efforts of Cristiano Ronaldo. A quick fire brace by David Villa sealed the win early in the second half and a fifth from Jeffren in the 90th minute completed the stunning victory.

2010 is the Golden year for Indian sports

New Delhi: Individual brilliance shone through in record-breaking medal hauls at Commonwealth and Asian Games while the iconic Sachin Tendulkar raised the bar further on the cricket field in what turned out to be a golden year for Indian sports.

There were moments of pure ecstasy when the country's athletes notched up 101 medals (including 38 gold) in the Commonwealth Games here and 64 (14 gold) in the Asian Games in Guangzhou. It was the best ever medal haul in both events for a nation which hardly looks beyond cricket on its sporting calendar.

Speaking of India's unofficial national sport, cricket, there were cherishable moments all through 2010 and Tendulkar provided two of the biggest ones by fittingly becoming the first batsman to pull off a double century in one-dayers at the beginning of the year before signing off with another first of recording 50 Test hundreds.

2010 a golden year for Indian sports

But for a change, cricket and Tendulkar did not matter for at least 14 days in October as India hosted its biggest sporting event after the 1982 Asian Games.

The 19th Commonwealth Games were supposed to showcase India as the next big sporting destination but left fans with mixed feelings after a botched build-up but a historic medal haul.

The athletes were undoubtedly on an unprecedented high at the event in front of home fans but the administrators touched a nadir when they made the country a subject of international mockery with preparations so shoddy that it seemed that top participating nations would give the Games a miss.

In fact, administrators were the only source of embarrassment for Indian sports this year because going by on-field performance, 2010 can easily be counted among the most successful in Indian sporting history.

At the centre of it all was Suresh Kalmadi, the man who has headed the Indian Olympic Association for over a decade and was chairman of the organising committee for the CWG.

The messed build-up to CWG was squarely blamed on him but most importantly he was the focus of an alleged multi-crore scam in CWG deals now being investigated by the CBI.

The veteran administrator claimed innocence but damning evidence, some of it chronicled in national dailies, meant that his houses in Pune and Delhi were raided, adding another low to his chequered career.

The wrangling between the Sports Ministry and National Sports Federations over tenure limitation guidelines was also a messy chapter in Indian sports this year with administrators insisting on unlimited hold on their positions while the government calling for more accountability through time-bound tenures.

The ugly developments, however, could not take the sheen off the massive achievements on the field.

Shuttler Saina Nehwal continued her giant strides, breaking through the 'Great Wall of China' with five international titles to become the world number two in a highly successful 2010.

After a highly promising last year during which she won the Indonesian title, Saina proved once again why she is the brightest star in Indian badminton as she went several steps ahead this year.

The Hyderabadi became the first female Indian shuttler to win three back-to-back titles when she clinched the Indian Open Grand Prix Gold, Singapore Super Series and defended the Indonesian Open in June.

But the icing on the cake came in October when the 20-year-old won the Commonwealth Games gold medal at the Sri Fort Complex.

She didn't stop there and her insatiable hunger for success guided her to a third Super Series title when she won the Hong Kong Open last month to wipe out the disappointment of losing in the quarterfinals of the Asian Games.

Twin honours at the national level added to her aura as she was conferred the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Padma Shree awards.

History was also scripted in the swimming pool when a 19-year-old Virdhawal Khade produced a performance to remember by ending Indian swimming's 24-year-old medal drought in the Asian Games, holding out promise for a better future.

The strapping six-footer from Kolhapur clinched a bronze in the 50m butterfly event of the Asian Games in Guangzhou, the India's second swimming medal at the event after Khazan Singh's 200m butterfly.

However, there was disappointment for the Indians in the other multi-discipline sporting extravaganza in Commonwealth Games. The Indian contingent had to bow to Australian, English and Canadian might, even as they advanced to finals in some events.

But even there, para-swimmer Prasanta Karmakar became the first Indian swimmer to fetch a medal by winning a bronze in the 50m freestyle event.

In the boxing ring, the year started with an unprecedented gold rush and ended pretty much the same way as new heights were scaled with Olympic hero Vijender Singh once again leading the charge by clinching two gold medals and a bronze.

The season began with three gold medals in the South Asian Games in Dhaka in February.

Just a month later, the boxers landed half a dozen gold medals with a cracker of a performance in front of adoring home fans in the Commonwealth Championships.

Trading punches in front of crowds that generally don't turn up for non-cricket sporting events in India, Vijender (75kg), South Asian Games gold medallist Amandeep (49kg), Suranjoy (52kg), Asian silver medallist Jai Bhagwan (60kg), Olympian Dinesh Kumar (81kg) and Paramjeet Samota (+91kg) fetched gold to further enhance the sport's rising profile in

the country.

The championship, in fact, was just a prelude to a fantastic performance in the Commonwealth Games that were to follow six months later, again in the capital.

It turned out to be a bitter-sweet campaign in the end with Vijender settling for bronze after a controversial loss in the semifinals and defending champion Akhil Kumar (56kg) signing off without a medal following a quarterfinal defeat.

But Suranjoy, Manoj Kumar (64kg) and Paramjit Samota (+91kg) ensured that Indian boxing pulled off its best-ever performance in the Games history by notching up gold medals.

A month later at the Asian Games, the Indian boxers managed a brilliant haul of two gold, three silver and four bronze medals without showing any sign of fatigue. The twin golds -- bagged by Vijender and 18-year-old Vikas Krishan (60kg) -- were the first after Dingko Singh clinched the yellow metal in 1998.

The men had a consistently good run but in the women's arena it was only 'The Magnificent' M C Mary Kom who made an impression.

The Manipuri mother of two added an unprecedented fifth world championship title to her kitty but the rest of the women boxers flopped at the September event, fetching just a bronze to go with Mary Kom's gold.

At the shooting range, fortunes ebbed and flowed but Indian shooters, led by the mercurial Gagan Narang, experienced more highs than lows in a year that saw them clinch a record 30 medals in the Commonwealth Games.

A measly haul of eight medals in the Asian Games in Guangzhou following the high at home was the only blip in an otherwise satisfactory year.

Apart from Narang, there were quite a few others such as Hariom Singh, Ronjan Sodhi, Asher Noria and Tejaswani Sawant who also caught the attention with their exploits over the last 12 months.

Narang and Hariom won quota places for the London Olympics in 2012, Sodhi won gold in the ISSF World Cup in Turkey before repeating his feat in Guangzhou, while Sawant and junior world champion Noria were the two world record holders of the year.

Courtesy her gold in the World Championship in Munich, Sawant became the first woman shooter from India to win the yellow metal.

In tennis, emergence of a new men's singles hope in Somdev Devvarman and resurgence of an injury-ravaged Sania Mirza were the highlights of a memorable 2010.

The country can now look upon Somdev to be the sport's torchbearer in men's singles while the doubles scene also brightens up with the estranged pair of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi reuniting next year -- ending a nine-year separation on the ATP circuit.

Being in and out of the top-100 ranking, Somdev reached a career high of 94 this October and justified his growing stature at the international arena.

He ended the year on a perfect note, by becoming the first Indian to win a tennis singles gold medal at the Asian Games.

Some less talked about sports also made a mark.

Indian archers had some hits as well as misses as they became a force to reckon with, ahead of the London Olympics in two years time.

The emergence of 16-year-old Deepika Kumari and the stunning comeback by 2004 Olympian Tarundeep Rai after being in the sidelines for about two years were some high points of 2010.

Daughter of an autorickshaw driver in Ranchi, Deepika was the best performer in the Commonwealth Games when she clinched the gold in individual section and helped the team win another yellow metal.

Asian Games was though a heart-breaking experience for Deepika who faltered to finish fourth in individual section, but the Army archer Tarundeep scripted history by bagging the first ever silver in individual recurve as India also won a bronze medal each in men's and women's team events.

However, the archers bagged just eight medals -- three gold, one silver and four bronze -- of the 24 up for grabs in the CWG.

In cue sports, Pankaj Advani was yet again cynosure of all eyes with his gold medal win at the Guangzhou Asian Games.

But there were disappointments as well.

Dope menace ebbed a bit in weightlifting but the country's lifters produced below-par performances in the two multi-sporting events of the year -- Commonwealth Games and Asian Games -- in which they were allowed to take part only after paying a hefty fine to the international parent body.

The lifters could win just eight medals, including two gold, in the CWG, a far cry from the 27 -- 11 gold, nine silver and seven bronze -- in 2002 Manchester Games and less than the three gold, five silver and a bronze the country won in Melbourne in 2006.

On the football field, it was not smooth sailing on the field but off it there have been many positives for Indian football, especially the AIFF's Rs 700 crore commercial deal with IMG-Reliance that is expected to pave the way for a better future for the sport in the country.

The national team continued with its exposure trips to prepare for the Asian Cup next year, touring Portugal where the players got opportunities to train in world class facilities and play against the second and third division clubs in the Iberian country.

In the final analysis, year 2010 was a roller-coaster ride for Indian sports in which the highs clearly outnumbered the lows.

New year party can be till 5 am Govt clears in Mumbai

Mumbai: The government has permitted bars and restaurants to remain open all through the night on December 31 for new year celebrations in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai but boat parties along the coast have been banned for the third time in a row due to the terror threat.

"The state excise department has allowed bars, hotels and restaurants to remain open till 5 am on January 1, 2011. Usually, these establishments are shut by 1:30 hours but due to the New Year celebrations, the norms have been relaxed," Joint Police Commissioner (Law and Order) Rajnish Seth said.

"Boat parties along the coastline have been banned as a precautionary measure in the wake of intelligence inputs. Earlier also, for two years, the boat parties were not allowed due to security reasons," Seth added.

Mumbai can party till 5 am for New Year: Govt

Loudspeakers will be allowed to play till midnight in an open ground, instead of the usual 10 pm deadline.

The hotels which conduct performances in their premises can also play loudspeakers till midnight, he added.

With inputs that four alleged members of Pakistan-based terror outfit LeT have sneaked into the city to carry out "violent" attacks during New Year celebrations, a tight security blanket has been thrown across the metropolis.

Vigil has been heightened to avert any terror threat emanating from land, air and water during the celebrations, police said today.

Roads near the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel, one of the sites of the 26/11 terror attacks near Gateway of India, have been closed for 15 days from December 23 and the area has been put under surveillance, police said, adding, parking on the roads around the Taj has also been prohibited for the same period.

Additional Police Commissioner Naval Bajaj said, "The inputs received in the past few days have prompted us to take unprecedented security measures to preempt any terror strikes during New Year celebrations,".

South Mumbai's Colaba area, particularly the places, including the Gateway of India, where large crowds are expected during the festivities, have been kept under surveillance through high resolution CCTVs, Bajaj said.

According to police, most of the possible terror targets are in south Mumbai. Security has been strengthened at vital installations, railway stations, crowded areas, religious places and consulates.

Barricades would be put up at the Gateway of India to separate families from single men to avoid eve-teasing, Bajaj said, adding that five watchtowers would also be installed.

Special Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad would be deployed near the spot and policemen stationed at the jetties to frisk persons sailing in boats and check baggage.

The sea-front up to five nautical miles would be guarded round the clock by police armed with advanced boats and sophisticated equipment, he said.

Police are also co-ordinating with Navy and Coast Guard officials who would conduct air surveillance, he said.

Cricket: Ricky to continue as Skipper, CA

Melbourne: Despite calls for his sack getting louder everyday, Ricky Ponting looks certain to survive the axe as his deputy Michael Clarke and Cricket Australia (CA) have endorsed him as the Australian skipper after he returns from injury.

CA's chief executive James Sutherland also endorsed Ponting's continuation as skipper upon return from his injury and quashed assumptions that a new captain would be appointed should the team lose the fifth and the final Ashes Test.

CA board unanimously endorsed a recommendation from the selection panel of Andrew Hilditch, Greg Chappell, David Boon and Jamie Cox, to appoint Clarke as captain for the Sydney Test in the absence of Ponting.

Ricky will undergo surgery to repair a broken left little finger in a bid to lead the side in the one-day World Cup in February.

"There's no question of looking beyond the immediacy of this Test match … and [Ponting's] return ahead of the World Cup, which we've obviously flagged as being incredibly important, which is why he's being wrapped in cotton wool from now," Sutherland was quoted as saying by The Age.

Clarke said that his appointment as the Australian captain for the final Ashes Test in Sydney is only a temporary arrangement as he can't think of a Test side without Ponting.

Ponting also said that he had no intention of giving up the captaincy despite his record as the first skipper since 1890 to have lost the Ashes urn three times.

"I think I've got a lot to offer as a player and as the captain of the Australian team and I want to continue to do that. I want to play Test cricket post-World Cup as well, so that's what's in the future for me," he said.

Citibank Scam: Hero Group CFO questioned

Gurgaon: The Hero Group today acknowledged that it invested close to 29 crores in schemes suggested by Shivraj Puri, the Citibank executive who is believed to have pulled off a 300-core scam at the Gurgaon branch of the bank. However, the group clarified that its flagship company, Hero Honda Motors, had not been impacted by the scam.

Puri was arrested yesterday. He was the Relationship Manager at Citibank in Gurgaon.

Three people were questioned by the Gurgaon police today - Sanjay Gupta, the Chief Financial Officer of the Hero Group, as well as one executive each from broking firms Religare and Bonanza.

Puri allegedly pitched high-return schemes to high net worth individuals who had Citibank accounts. He then diverted the money into accounts in the names of his family members, and siphoned the money into the stock market. Police sources say the Hero group was among nearly 20 corporate firms who bought into Puri's schemes. Gurgaon Police Commissioner S S Deswal has said that Puri's Rs. 300 crore swindle was based on Rs. 200 crore collected from corporates and another Rs. 100 crore collected from individuals.

The Hero group issued this statement today: "The exposure of the B.M.L Munjal controlled Hero Group in this case is only via its entities, and is Rs. 28.75 crore. These investments were made as part of routine treasury operation in what seemed like perfectly legal investment options. Hero Group is disappointed to learn that it has become a victim of the fraud under question. The Group is taking appropriate action and has also initiated dialogue with relevant authorities and Citibank to recover its dues. This is to further clarify that Hero Honda Motors Ltd, a part of the Group, has no involvement in any of these investments."

Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) today said it has initiated a probe into the fraud at Citibank's Gurgaon branch and would soon issue a statement in this regard.

"Any bank where fraud (has taken place), we cannot (ignore)...and from banking side we have to do our own job...how it (Citibank fraud) has happened and what are the implications," RBI, Executive Director, G Gopalakrishna told reporters

French model in anti-anorexia campaign dies

Paris: Isabelle Caro, a French actress and model whose emaciated image in a shock Italian ad campaign helped rivet global attention on the problem of anorexia in the fashion world and beyond, has died at the age of 28.

Caro had said she began suffering from anorexia when she was 13, and she weighed about 59 pounds (27 kilograms) when the photos that made her famous were taken.

After a 21-year-old Brazilian model died from the eating disorder, Italian photographer Oliviero Toscani produced a 2007 campaign for an Italian fashion house that plastered newspapers and billboards with a naked picture of a spectral Caro looking over her shoulder at the camera, vertebrae and facial bones protruding under the slogan "No Anorexia." The campaign gained Caro widespread attention in media in countries around Europe and in the United States, and she spoke out often about her anorexia and her efforts to recover, and the menace of eating disorders on the fashion industry.

Caro's longtime acting instructor, Daniele Dubreuil-Prevot, told the AP on Wednesday that Caro died on November 17 after returning to France from a job in Tokyo.

Dubreuil-Prevot said she did not know the cause of death but that Caro "had been sick for a long time" and spent years in and out of hospitals. Her death and her illness "are an absolute waste," the acting teacher said.

Caro wrote a book published in France in 2008 titled "The Little Girl Who Didn't Want to Get Fat," served as a member of the jury on Top Model France, and worked periodically as a film and television actress. In one appearance, she was interviewed by Jessica Simpson for the VH1 show "The Price of Beauty."

In one online video, Caro ends with words of advice for aspiring models: "Believe in life." Her agent, Sylvie Fabregon, told The Associated Press that the Italian campaign was intended "to show what it is like to be anorexic."

Some groups working with anorexics warned, however, that the attention paid to Caro did a disservice to others afflicted with the disorder. Images of Caro appeared on so-called pro-ana, or pro-anorexia websites. On Wednesday, one posted a notice about her death and a photo of her, large blue-green eyes peering over a child-size upper arm, with the caption, "die young, stay pretty."

However, concern over anorexia has not been matched by deeds. The 2006 anorexia-linked death of the Brazilian model prompted efforts throughout the international fashion industry to address the health repercussions of using ultra-thin models -- but no binding measures. French fashion industry representatives signed a government-backed charter in 2008 pledging not to encourage eating disorders and to promote healthy body images by promoting "a diversity of body representations" and not showing "images of people that could help promote a model of extreme thinness." But London Fashion Week organizers dropped plans in 2008 for something more concrete, international health certificates for models, because industry executives around the world refused to cooperate. In France, a bill that would have cracked down on websites that advise anorexics how to starve was passed by parliament's lower house but never considered in the Senate.

Swiss singer Vincent Bigler and Caro had been working on a video for a song he wrote about anorexia called "J'ai fin," wordplay in French that means roughly "I am the end" but is pronounced identically to "I am hungry." Bigler said he penned the song after being so moved and worried by seeing Caro on television, and meant the lyrics to focus on hope and healing. Caro "left me with many images, and much hope," he said by telephone, describing her different moods and ideas as they worked on the project together.

Caro's Facebook page, which quickly filled with condolences in several languages, says she was born September 12, 1982. She took violin lessons and then acting lessons in Nantes and Versailles, according to Dubreuil-Prevot.

Caro's father alerted a few close friends at the time of her death, and a funeral service was held in Paris, according to Dubreuil-Prevot. Her family could not be reached for comment.

Major traffic Scam: 2,000 vehicles caught in China

Beijing: Nearly 2,000 vehicles were stuck in a massive traffic jam on a highway in China's Gansu province due to an ongoing road project and inclement weather, authorities said.

The huge traffic snarl was on a main highway in northwest China's Gansu province, the China Daily reported on Friday.

A team of 100 police officers has been sent to the congested Xingxing Gorge section of State Highway 312, said a spokesman with the provincial public security bureau in capital Lanzhou.

State Highway 312 runs 4,967 km from Shanghai to Xinjiang.

The spokesman said police would try to divert some of the vehicles to other routes, and arrange food, water and lodging for the stranded drivers and passengers.

The spokesman said that the congested section of the highway was narrow, as a new freeway was being constructed.

The severe weather conditions, with high winds and a low temperature of minus 24 degrees Celsius, also had worsened road conditions due to ice.

Several stranded vehicles had run out of fuel, as the congestion, a chronic problem that began to worsen on Wednesday, had made it impossible for tanker trucks to enter.

A universal charger for all mobiles in 2011

London: Coming soon in 2011: a universal charger for all mobiles.

The world's 14 most prominent mobile manufacturers have been sent details by the European Commission of a new standard connection, after they agreed to sign up to it in June 2009.

The technical specifications are based on the micro-USB connector that many mobile manufacturers have already begun to use.

Samsung, Apple, Nokia and Research in Motion, the maker of the BlackBerry, are among those that have agreed to adopt it, 'The Daily Telegraph' reported.

The Commission anticipates that the first devices whose chargers meet the precise details of the new standard will appear early next year.

European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, said: "Now it is time for industry to show its commitment to sell mobile phones for the new charger. The common charger will make life easier for consumers, reduce waste and benefit businesses. It is a true win-win situation."

In a statement, the Commission said that "Incompatibility of chargers for mobile phones is not only a major inconvenience for users, but also a considerable environmental problem. Users who want to change their mobile phones must usually acquire a new charger and dispose of the old one, even if it is in good condition."

The common charger is cross-compatible with data-enabled mobile telephones of different brands.

Aarushi case: Rajesh Talwar suspected by CBI

Noida: The CBI believes that Rajesh Talwar killed his daughter, Aarushi, but decided to close the investigation into the 14-year-old's murder because it did not have enough evidence against him, and could not establish motive.

Sources say that the closure report filed by the CBI in a Ghaziabad court earlier this week lists only Rajesh Talwar in the column of suspects. The 30-page report also accuses the Talwars of trying to influence the doctor who conducted their daughter's post-mortem. The doctor allegedly told the CBI that he got a call from a family member asking him to skip a virginity test. The CBI has said that three domestic helpers who were arrested for the murders of Aarushi and her family's domestic help, Hemraj, were found innocent.

The CBI's decision to end its investigation has yet to be accepted by court. It has caused public outrage, and this morning, Law Minister Veerappa Moily summoned the CBI director and warned him to take the case seriously and to take another look at the case.

Aarushi Talwar, 14, was found dead in her bedroom in Noida on the morning of May 16, 2008. Her throat had been slit while her parents were sleeping in their room next door in their flat in Noida. At first, the Noida police suspected the Talwars' domestic help, Hemraj. However, on May 17, blood stains on the stairs leading to the terrace of the building led to the discovery of Hemraj's dead body.

Exactly a week after her death, Rajesh Talwar, was arrested by the police, which suggested he had killed his daughter because he had found her in a compromising position with Hemraj. Child rights' activists attacked the police for its unfounded and invasive statement. Amid public outrage, and at the request of UP Chief Minister Mayawati, the double murder investigation was then handed to the CBI.

Dr Talwar was released from jail in July 2008 after the CBI admitted it had absolutely no evidence against him. However, both Rajesh Talwar and his wife Nupur, were put through lie detector and brain mapping tests. The tests, according to the CBI, were inconclusive.

Sources in the CBI say that the closure report maintains that any evidence found against Rajesh Talwar was circumstantial. For example, the post-mortem shows Aarushi was killed between midnight and 1 am. Dr Talwar's internet connection shows he was online till midnight, proving he was awake while his daughter was being murdered. The Talwars' home had not been broken into, leading to the theory that the murderer was inside the house, or someone who had easy access to the apartment. In its closure report, the CBI also stresses that when the Noida police discovered Hemraj's body, Dr Talwar was not at home. He refused to return to identify the corpse. However, the Talwars have earlier pointed out that when they were called, they were on their way to Haridwar to perform Aarushi's last rites.

Between June and July 2008, the CBI arrested three domestic helpers who were known to the Talwars. Krishna worked at Rajesh's dental clinic, Raj Kumar was employed by the Talwars' closest friends, the Durranis; and Vijay Mandal worked for a family that lived in the same apartment building as Aarushi. The three men were put through narco-analysis. They did not implicate themselves or each other. The results of brain-mapping and narco-analysis are in any case not admissible as evidence in court.

Anushka and Krish in love

A lot is being buzzed after Anushka confessed recently that she is in love and would enter wedlock with the man of her choice in a couple of years. She also said everyone would be in for a surprise when she reveals 'his' name.

If Tollywood sources are to be believed, the man who stole the heart of the 'Stole my heart....' girl is Krish, the director of the multistarrer 'Vaanam', which has Anushka playing an important role.

"The rapport between Anushka and Krish that started during the making of Vaanam's Telugu original 'Vedam' slowly developed into love. Krish was the main reason behind the actress agreeing to be part of the Tamil version," sources say.

However, Krish, like any other celebrity in this part of the world, has denied any affair between him and Anushka. "She is close to me and I would call her amma," the filmmaker reportedly said.

Bono's teenage daughter dating James Lafferty?

Bono's teenage actress daughter is reportedly dating actor James Lafferty.

According to JustJared.com, Eve Hewson, 19, and Lafferty, 25, seemed to be very close, as they watched the Leopardstown Horse Races with the U2 frontman and his wife Ali from their private box in Dublin, Ireland.

"They looked adorable together. Eve kept whispering in James' ear and they exchanged a few kisses," the Daily Star quoted a source as saying.

Another insider tells the website the stars have been together since at least November.

"James and Eve were making out at a recent concert for Brooklyn-based alternative/rock band Wakey Wakey held at Maxwell's, Hoboken, New Jersey, on November 20," the source said.

Adding: "They hung out... with friends after the concert."

Michelle Williams not to star with her daughter in movies

Michelle Williams wants five-year-old Matilda, her child with the late Heath Ledger, to choose her own path in life.

The 'Brokeback Mountain' star has admitted that she once thought about letting a director cast Matilda with her in a film, but ultimately decided against the opportunity.

"There were a few very sweet, very light scenes that were more about playing. They were having a hard time finding a child and I said to the director, 'Gosh, Matilda would be the right age'," the Daily Star quoted her as saying.

"But then (I) realised if that''s something she''s interested in, then it''s a choice she can make in her own life. It''s something she''s never expressed interest in doing. Her interests are horseback riding, Flamenco dancing and taking care of puppies," the 'Blue Valentines' actress added.

SRK the brand ambassador for XXX Energy Drinks?

MJ Group firm XXX Energy Drinks Limited is eyeing on a Rs 100 crore expansion plan next year and wants Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan as the brand ambassador of its products.

"We are in talks to get Shah Rukh Khan as brand ambassador… We will officially announce in March or April next year," JMJ Group Vice Chairman Sachin Joshi told PTI.

The company said it is looking at setting up its first facility and is deciding on the place. It could be either in Pune or Dubai, where it currently manufactures its products through third party.

"To set up a manufacturing facility, we need to do a substantial business first. By 2012, hopefully we would start setting up a plant, which could entail an investment of $10 million (Rs 45 crore)," he said, adding that the capacity of the plant will be around three million cans a month.

At present, the firm sells four brands - XXX, Rejuve, Nicofix and Minus, in India and abroad.

Sizzling debutantes in year 2010

The year 2010 was marked by some very beautiful, talented and of course sexy girls who made their debut in the tinsel town and left the cinegoers panting for more. Interestingly, more girls stepped in than the boys, the only male debutant to get noticed being Ranvir Singh who got appreciation for his performance in 'Band Baaja Baraat'. Though, there are many names which made their presence felt, we list down our top 5 favorite debutant hotties:

Sonakshi Sinha:

She is definitely the most promising and the most talked about debutant in the year 2010 who gave a huge hit with the biggest box office collections with 'Dabangg' where she starred opposite none other than Salman Khan himself. Being Shatrughan Sinha's daughter, the tinsel town was not new for her but the entire credit for her fan following goes to her poise and performance alone.

Barbara Mori:

This Mexican beauty created more stirs with the rumors of her alleged affair with Hrithik Roshan than her performance in 'Kites'. The movie failed miserably at the box office and though none can question her oomph and appeal and her perfect, sizzling chemistry with Hrithik Roshan, she failed to set cash registers ringing with her Bollywood debut.

Aruna Shields:

This British actress set temperatures soaring as she looked amazingly sexy in her bold and bikini clad avatar in her debut film 'Prince. There after, this bold actress with doe-like eyes and a svelte body went a step ahead and shed her clothes further for 'Mr Singh Mrs Mehta' in a few scenes.

Trisha Krishnan:

Though Trisha is a successful and known name down South, she made her debut in Bollywood with 'Khatta Meetha' where she was paired with Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar. However, the role was not a very glamorous one and it failed to give the desired push to her career in Bollywood.

Lisa Hayden:

Super model Lisa Hayden, half Malayali and half Australian created waves with her debut in Aisha. Lisa was busy walking the ramp in fashion weeks until Bollywood knocked at her door. She was seen as Abhay Deol's friend in the movie Aisha. It may be mentioned here that Anil Kapoor himself approached her for the role.

PUFFY FACE

Do you ever wake up in the morning and wonder what happened to your face? It looks bloated and puffy, and you have no idea what went wrong. You just put it down to a bad face day, do whatever makeup you can to look a little better, and continue with your day believing that whatever went wrong will just correct itself eventually. There's nothing you can do about it, right Wrong.

First, think about this. Did you exercise today? If not, why not Perhaps because there is no real sense of urgency. If we don't exercise 3 times a week, we don't fall sick on the weekend. But, if our bodies did indeed tell us what we are doing wrong regularly, we would definitely pay more heed.

However, what most of us don't realize, is that our bodies do let us know, in various ways, that something we are doing is wrong, but most of us either don't notice, or ignore it until it goes away and we feel the full effects only years later,

Our face is an accurate indicator of our health. When our bodies are undergoing hormonal changes, we know because we start developing pimples, or thicker facial hair. When we are very stressed, we start experiencing hairfall. When we smoke too much, our lips go black much before our lungs collapse. Similarly, the effects of unhealthy habits such as an improper diet or lack of exercise are only visible years later. When we start putting on weight, develop high blood pressure, problems with our kidneys or lungs due to excessive smoking or drinking, heart problems, or when we develop any other of the numerous lifestyle related problems, we start getting more conscious about our health and habits. Our faces are thus telling us what we did wrong recently. We drank too much Coke or alcohol, ate too many burgers, or exercised too little.

Similarly our faces get puffy when:


We are dehydrated. If we haven't had enough water to drink, our bodies tend to absorb whatever water it can, and as a result blood vessels enlarge, leading to a puffy face. To prevent this, make sure you drink a glass of water every night before going to bed. Keep a bottle of water by your bedside table so you never forget to take that last glass of water. If you wake up and see that your face is puffy, reach for some water immediately and drink up. Avoid tea or coffee, since these are diuretics and will flush even more water out of your system. Keep drinking water through the day, and the puffiness, if caused by dehydration, should reduce.

Our diet is inadequate. We need to take in some fat, so that our skin stays supple. In addition, if your body lacks in beta-carotene or vitamin C, it will show in your face. One of the best things you can have to instantly nourish you and your skin is watermelon juice. Put a large piece of the fruit, along with the seeds, in a blender, extract the juice and drink up.

Milagu Kari

Ingredients: -
500 grams mutton, 2 onions, 1 cup grated coconut, ½ teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, ½ inch ginger, 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste, 1 tablespoon oil and salt to taste.

Preparation time : - 30 minutes Serves : - 2

HOW TO PREPARE: -
Finely chop the onions and keep it aside. Take a blender and make a paste of the coconut, pepper and ginger. Now take a frying pan and heat the oil. When the oil is very hot add the cumin seeds and let them splutter. Now add the onions and sauté till they are a dark brown. If you want the gravy to be dark cook the onions till they are dark brown. Now add the mutton pieces and mix well. Pour in two cups of water and bring to boil. When it begins boiling add salt to taste. Add the coconut paste and stir well. Now cover with a lid and simmer and cook for 15 minutes or till the mutton is tender and the gravy is as thick as you want. Remove from flame and serve with rice and some lentils.

Good News and Bad News

An artist asked the gallery owner if there had been any interest in his paintings currently on display. "I've got good news and bad news," the owner replied. "The good news is that a gentleman inquired about your work and wondered if it would appreciate in value after your death. When I told him it would, he bought all fifteen of your paintings."

"That's wonderful!" the artist exclaimed, "What's the bad news?". With concern, the gallery owner replied, "The guy was your doctor."

Mass Money Makers Evaluation

Therefore, Mass Money Makers is merely about to launch and yes it seems to like that most people are on board. I am sure you do receive like ten more emails over it, but I got a sneak peek with the product, and want to present you my review.

Thus, what is Mass Funds Makers? It's based using a simple concept that is effective (and works well). This concept is what allows us to get ranking on 1st page of Google within 2-3 weeks for almost any keyword out there then we take those same rankings and find them to build considerable (really massive) lists which often are piped through "mass money funnels" and the results is money.

Simple, nevertheless very powerful. Indeed it really is, and that's why they've simplified it into four center videos that are 2-3 hours each, where they break up everything in minute aspect. Can you get just about any better then that?

In regards to the creators Matt Bacak along with Allen Sultanic:
Matt may be a Internet Millionaire who includes created several mult-million buck companies. He is an expert from the internet marketing niche (guru if you like) and has changed plenty of peoples' lives with several of his recent works. A number his specialty include: Bum marketing and Email Marketing. I can personally vouch this his products are excellent and very clear to see as I have been following him for a while and used some associated with his methods.

To cement things extra, Matt was awarded Online marketer of the year 2010 meaning that you should pay happy attention to what this guy is providing. Aside from being an online Marketer, Matt is also philanthropist donating 1000s of dollars to several charity agencies.

Allen is also a proper known guy in the net Marketing Arena. He like Matt has also created products that grossed a lot of dollars in sales. One of his most recent products Commission Formula was an enormous hit and had many positive reviews on almost all internet marketing forums. Allen is an expert at cpa along with ppv marketing.

Conclusion:
So eventually, I vote for Muscle size Money Makers. It's an awesome product, that really works. If you've been looking for how to make money online, then you should certainly get in on it prior to a launch is completed. When they first opened the doorways, they said the software can be limited. I just got the update from them and by today they only have 17 spots left! I highly recommend that you get your hands on this software right these days!

Gears

There are five gears connected in a row, the first one is connected to the second one, the second one is connected to the third one, and so on. If the first gear is rotating clockwise what direction is the fifth gear turning?

Market today 31 Dec 2010

SENSEX 20509.09 (120.02) Dec 31 3:59PM

NIFTY 6134.50 (32.65) Dec 31 4:05PM

Three cheers to Trisha

Trisha was one of the three prominent personalities who came together in Chennai on Wednesday to honour the winners of a contest at the Silk Mark Expo, an initiative of Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.

The other two special guests were veteran Bollywood actress Hema Malini and ace Carnatic vocalist Sudha Ragunathan. Interestingly, all the three happen to be the brand ambassadors of a popular textile chain in Tamil Nadu.

The 30 winners participated in an SMS contest that had questions on three varieties of the saris. They were selected through a lucky draw contest and were gifted silk saris, which were designed to give a blend of tradition and modernity.

Remember a couple of weeks ago Shriya Saran walked the ramp at an handloom expo organised by the same Union Textile Ministry.

Madhuri Dixit to pair up with Anil Kapoor again?

Madhuri Dixit is one star Bollywood is proud of and can never get enough of her. Post marriage Madhuri has kept away from cameras devoting her time and attention to kids and family. Her last film was 'Aaja Nach Le' which failed to create a spark at the box office but this has not faded the lady's adoration in any way.

Now, the reports have it that she may play the role of Sonam Kapoor's mother in Anil Kapoor's remake of the Hollywood film, 'Freaky Friday'. The film revolves around a mother and daughter who magically swap roles for a day.

Bollywood actresses like Shabhana Azmi, Rekha and Kirron Kher had been previousle approached for the role but they all gave a no to the project due to date problems. Now, Madhuri is being considered for the role and if she says yes, it would fulfil Anil Kapoor's wish which was expresses when he said that he would like to work with his former leading lady again.

Her secretary and previous manager, Rakesh Nath has said, "She has got four-five very good offers. She will definitely do another film soon, but this time we have to be very careful. I've worked with other actresses, but Madhuriji is Madhuriji."

Well, some part of the story definitely seems to be true as Madhuri has tweeted, "Meeting with Anil Kapoor today. Lets see what happens…."

Katrina Kaif to go de-glam

Katrina Kaif rocked the nation with her sexy avatar in 'Tees Maar Khan' and especially her item song 'Sheila Ki Jawaani'. Now, the actress will be seen in a role in dire contrast to what she played in TMK. This Prakash Jha film titled 'Satsang' will see Kats as a woman clad in an ochre robe and in search of spirituality. This upcoming film exposes the multi-billion global religion factory in India.

Her role in Satsang is so complex that even Jha was not sure, initially, if the actress could deliver. "It would be the most challenging part of my career so far," says Katrina.

She plays the central character in the film which is semi-autobiographical in nature and is that of a woman from the West in search of Oriental spiritualism. Katrina will be seen sans makeup for the film and will have to get informed on the intricacies of the multi-billion religious industry in India."

Katrina is already geared up for the role and says, "Prakashji and I have discussed the part in detail. This is one film that I've do the most preparation for. I'm open to the challenge."

Jolie wants to direct a French film

Hollywood star Angelina Jolie has revealed that she wants to make a film in French.

The actress is hoping to perfect her French in 2011, so she can make a movie in her late mother''s native tongue.

Jolie's mum Marcheline Bertrand hailed from France and Jolie now has a dream to make an arthouse film in the country - once she has mastered the language and accent.

"I''m going to practice (French) and try to become fluent in the next few years," Contactmusic quoted her as saying."I would love to do a movie in French when my French gets a little better," she added.