Britney walks into new airbrush row
Britney Spears has been accused of trying to dupe fans after releasing a heavily airbrushed image of herself.
The singer appeared to have shed pounds in glamorous publicity shots for her new album Femme Fatale.
The ‘Toxic’ hitmaker looked super slender in a polka dot swimsuit, but in a gig on TV she looked much bigger.
She was seen bursting out of a leather basque and fishnet tights and appeared much older than in the album shots.
“Britney still looks good but she’s changed a lot since she first found fame as a teenager,” the Daily Star quoted a source as saying.
“The leather outfit made it impossible to hide any lumps and bumps but these photos make her look like a different person. It definitely looks like she’s had a helping hand from technology,” the source added.
Raunchy in-bed photos of Christina Aguilera and boyfriend surface
Hundreds of raunchy photos of Christina Aguilera have surfaced after she apparently left her camera”s memory card in a French hotel.
The images are said to show the singer in various intimate situations, including at Nicole Richie”s bachelorette party and in bed with her new boyfriend Matthew Rutler, reports the Daily Mail.
The photos, dated from June to November 2010, surfaced when they were offered for sale to a U.S. website by a man who said he had found the lost card in an upscale hotel.
The website claims to have seen the ‘romantic’ shots of 30-year-old Aguilera and Rutler.
A selection of images reportedly showed the new couple kissing passionately in a variety of locations. Another showed them lying in bed together.
The couple met in 2010 on the set of ‘Burlesque’, where Rutler worked as a set assistant.
Fifteen of the shots showed Aguilera at her friend Richie”s bachelorette bash in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico September 2010.
Radaronline.com, which was offered the images for sale, also reports that images show Aguilera in a series of compromising poses, including mimicking oral sex on a banana, dancing on a table, posing with naked men, and posing for before-and-after make-up shots.
This is not the first time Aguilera has seen her private photos made public.
In December a series of images showing her in various stages of undress were published online.
Plenty at stake as arch-rivals India and Pak clash
Billed as the ‘mother of all clashes’, bitter rivals India and Pakistan go into the high-voltage World Cup semi-final battle in Mohali on Wednesday in what promises to be an epic tussle of nerves and skills between two teams desperately seeking to regain the coveted trophy.
When the two captains walk out for the toss, two estranged nations who have fought wars in the past but have a common passion for cricket, will virtually come to a standstill with millions glued to the television sets to watch the blockbuster unfold.
Shared history — albeit bitter — only adds to the emotional quotient of Indo-Pak contests where victory and defeat is not just a result but a matter of national pride.
The presence of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani and a host of other dignitaries, the massive hype and build-up and the phenomenal interest the match has generated have set the stage for the 2011 World Cup’s biggest showdown.
Indo-Pak matches, which showcase one of the world’s most intense sporting rivalries, invariably boil down to handling the pressure in crunch situations.
With so much at stake, the team that handles the pressure better will travel to Mumbai for the summit showdown on 2nd April.
The potentially explosive clash on Wednesday is the first match between the two neighbouring countries on Indian soil after the 26/11 terror strikes in Mumbai which led to the snapping of bilateral cricket ties between the two nations.
They have faced each other in four World Cup matches in the past and India have come out victories on all these occasions even though Pakistan have a clear edge in the overall record, winning 69 of their 119 clashes so far.
Even on Indian soil, Pakistan have the upper-hand in record books, having managed 17 wins in 26 matches.
But all these stats and reputation count for nothing as the team that plays better on the given day will win.
Defending champions Australia and stong contenders South Africa are already knocked out of the tournament at the quarter-final stage which only goes to show that reputation alone does not win matches.
India appears to hold a slight edge over their traditional rivals and will look to capitalise on home advantage and the support of the crowd in pressure situations.
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has sought to put up a brave face by stating that the Indians will not be under any undue pressure.
“The World Cup is being held in the sub-continent and India and Pakistan are playing in the semifinals. It does not get better. The pressure will be big, but in reality it makes no difference to us. It will be just a game. Indian cricket team has always been under pressure and we have handled it well”, Dhoni said on Tuesday.
Ranbir, Priyanka promote upcoming flick ”Anjaana Anjaani” in Mumbai
Bollywood actors Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra visited Mumbai”s Kishenchand Chellaram College on Tuesday to promote their upcoming flick ”Anjaana Anjaani”.
Actor Ranbir Kapoor was given a warm welcome on the occasion since it was also his birthday. The college staff and the students celebrated his birthday by singing songs and cutting a cake.
Ranbir Kapoor later thanked his fans and requested them to watch the romantic movie.
“You guys please go for Anjaana Anjaani, it”s coming out on October 1, so please go watch. I hope you have good time while watching this movie and I love you guys thank you,” said Kapoor.
Priyanka and Ranbir later threw ”Anjaana Anjaani” music cds at the students.
The movie was slated to release on September 24, but was postponed as it was coinciding with the Ayodhya verdict.
The movie will hit the box office on Friday.
Mukesh Ambani again tops list of richest Indians
Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani has topped the latest Forbes’ India Rich List with a net worth of 27 billion dollars for the third consecutive time.
Steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal remains at No. 2 with a net worth of 26.1 billion dollars.
Moving up to third position this year is IT outsourcer Wipro’s Azim Premji. His wealth increased to 17.6 billion dollars from 14.9 billion dollars last year amid an improving outlook for the sector.
Premji moves up to third place, displacing younger Ambani sibling Anil Ambani, who dropped to No. 6.
India’s rising stock market and a booming economy that’s expanding by 8.5 percent have boosted the net worth of richest people, according to Forbes’ India Rich List.
The combined net worth of India’s 100 richest people is 300 billion dollars, up from 276 billion dollars last year. This year, there are 69 billionaires on the India Rich List, 17 more than last year.
Also improving on their previous ranking to No. 4 are brothers Shashi and Ravi Ruia with 15 billion dollars, more than their last year’s net worth of 13.6 billion dollars.
Naazneen Karmali, India Editor of Forbes Asia and Mumbai bureau manager of Forbes
magazine, said: “As we had predicted, the huge correction in Indian wealth which occurred in 2008 is fast becoming a distant memory. This year’s list illustrates the vibrancy and resilience of India’s economy.”
Twenty-six of the 35 who returned to the top 40 from last year are wealthier now. The biggest gainer in percentage terms was media baron Kalanithi Maran, who made a splash with his purchase of a big stake in low-cost airline SpiceJet. His net worth rose 74 percent, according to Forbes.
The top 10 richest in India are:
1) Mukesh Ambani; US$27 billion
2) Lakshmi Mittal; $26.1 billion
3) Azim Premji; $17.6 billion
4) Shashi & Ravi Ruia; $15 billion
5) Savitri Jindal; $14.4 billion
6) Anil Ambani; $13.3 billion
7) Gautam Adani; $10.7 billion
8) Kushal Pal Singh; $9.2 billion
9) Sunil Mittal; $8.6 billion
10) Kumar Birla; $8.5 billion
Muggy day in Delhi, rains likely
Delhi experienced a muggy Tuesday morning as maximum humidity touched 100 percent. The weatherman said parts of the city could see some showers later in the day.
“The skies will be partly cloudy with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers in some parts of the city later in the day,” said an official of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
According to weather officials, the capital received 1 mm of rainfall from Monday morning till 8.30 a.m. Tuesday.
Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 26 degree Celsius in the morning, normal for this time of the season. The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 34 degrees.
The maximum humidity was on the higher side at 100 percent, while the minimum was 72 percent.
The city has received 800.6 mm of rainfall so far this monsoon, which is 43 percent above average. In the month of August alone, Delhi received 456 mm of rainfall – almost 101 percent above the usual.
Nokia-X2 incorporating 5 mega pixel camera hits Indian market
Nokia’s mid range handset, X2 that was earlier heard in April 2010 officially enters Indian market with the price tag of Rs. 5,999.
Unlike most X-Series handsets, this phone runs on S40 OS.
The phone that was slated to release in June is late by three months. The features of Nokia X2 are-
* 5 megapixel camera at the rear
* 2.2 inch QVGA display
* Dedicated music keys, dual speakers and 3.5mm headset jack
* Bluetooth 2.1, 3.5mm headset jack
* FM radio
* Nokia Messaging, Facebook integration
* microSD card support.
Another rainy day in Delhi, more showers likely
Monday morning saw heavy, incessant rains in Delhi, causing waterlogging that slowed down traffic in many areas. The weatherman said there would be more showers as the day progressed.
“Skies will be cloudy with rains and thundershowers in some pockets of the city. One or two spells may be heavy in some areas,” said an official of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
The national capital received 18.0 mm of rainfall from Sunday morning till 8.30 a.m. Monday. The rains flooded several roads in the city, leading to traffic jams.
According to the Delhi Traffic Police, traffic movement was slow near the Qutub Metro Station, Aurobindo Marg, a major arterial road in south Delhi, and Badarpur road, which connects Delhi to Faridabad, and Dhaula Kuan among others.
The city recorded a minimum temperature of 25.7 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the season. The maximum is expected to hover around 31 degrees Celsius.
The maximum humidity was at a high of 100 percent and the minimum was 85 percent.
Delhi has so far received 799.6 mm of rainfall this monsoon season, 42 percent above the average. In the month of August, Delhi received 455.1 mm of rainfall – a good 101 percent above average.
Suicide blast kills 14 in Pakistan
At least 14 people, including five policemen, were killed and more than 50 injured Monday in a suicide blast targeting a police station in Lakki Marwat, a town in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
A suicide bomber reportedly rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into the rear wall of the police station Monday morning. There were more than 45 police officials present inside the police station at the time of the blast.
The police station, situated in a busy shopping area of the town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that was earlier known as North West Frontier Province, has been severely damaged. At least nine civilians, including four girls, were killed in the blast.
A school and several government buildings adjacent to the police station have also been damaged.
“We’ll only be able to assess the damage completely once the debris are removed,” a police officer said.
Security forces have cordoned off the area and the injured were being shifted to a hospital whose northern wing was also damaged by the deafening blast.
In the fresh spate of terrorist activities in Pakistan, more than 110 people were killed in two separate suicide blasts last week targeting Shia community processions in Lahore and Quetta.
A suicide blast targeting a village close to Lakki Marwat earlier this year had killed over 100 people.
Bill Clinton”s 64th b”day party leads to Hamptons grumbling
Former US President Bill Clinton”s birthday bash at a rented Hamptons mansion ended dramatically after an expensive vase was broken and a neighbour complained about parking.
The party, thrown by wife Hillary and Clinton”s longtime aide Doug Band, was held at a house on Deerfield Road in Water Mill for the ex-president”s 64th birthday.
“The Clintons know how to party. A large vase in the front entrance was broken, the front lawn and sprinkler system were shredded, and a neighbour complained,” the New York Post quoted a source as saying.
“The house was rented by Band from women”s golf-wear designer Toby Tucker Peters, who was told it would be a small party, but it ended up being over 100 people,” source said.
Guests at the late-August bash included Paul McCartney, Jimmy Buffett, Pete Peterson, Matt Lauer, Lloyd Blankfein, Christie Brinkley, Katie Couric, Barbara Walters and Vera Wang, who designed Chelsea”s wedding dress.
However, a Clinton source said, “It wasn”t a wild party. It rained heavily, so everyone was confined inside the house. The sprinkler system was not broken and the lawn wasn”t in great shape in the first place.
“If a vase was broken, it will be replaced. One neighbor did come across before the party to complain about a car on his driveway, but it was the housekeeper”s car.”
Neighbor Daniel Beller said: “I was a classmate of Hillary”s in law school. I like and respected her then as I do even more so now.
“During the day I asked the valet service and the hosts to be mindful of where the cars were parked and to avoid parking cars on the grass leading to my house. They said they would do so, and they were good to their word.”
