Top 10 Sex Tape Scandals of 2009 revealed

Recession and climate change worries may have dominated 2009, but the year will also be remembered for some-high-profile sex tape scandals.

This year`s cast of characters ranges from a champ golfer to California`s most embarrassed fifth grade teacher.

The top ten list has its share of politicians, beauty queens, porn stars and athletes, but also regular people who never imagined their sexual escapades would make the front page.

CBS`s Top 10 Sex Tape Scandals of 2009 are:

1. Tiger Woods
"By far the biggest sex scandal of 2009 was the sordid tale of Tiger Woods and his seemingly unending supply of alleged mistresses. After a November car crash, Woods apologized for infidelity, but didn`t name names. That didn`t stop the tabloids, which dug up more than 10 women who might have had sex with Woods, including porn stars, escorts, and cocktail waitresses."

2. Carrie Prejean
"In 2009, Miss California USA Carrie Prejean said she stood for something: a strong belief in God and a dislike for gay marriage. In June, when she was fired from her post, she sued the pageant for religious discrimination. They countersued over her unpaid breast implants. But, according to NBC, the legal battle imploded when pageant organizers uncovered a sex tape featuring the religiously devout beauty queen."

03: Grey`s Anatomy Three-way
"This year, Grey`s Anatomy star Eric Dane lived up to his "McSteamy" nickname, with the help of his wife Rebecca Gayheart and former beauty queen Kari Anne Peniche, who were caught frolicking naked together in a video released to the web August 2009. The couple said the video was "personal and private" and sued Gawker for posting it. Gawker responded "If you don`t want a sex tape on the Internet don`t make one."

04: School Teacher Gave Sex Tape to 5th Graders
"A class of fifth graders in California got a shocking crash course in the birds and the bees courtesy of their teacher, Crystal Defanti, and an x-rated home video she accidently sent to their parents. Surprisingly, the children`s parents came to her defense saying that the woman is a good teacher who made an honest, but embarrassing mistake."

05: Ashley Greene
"Ashley Greene, the fresh-faced actress who played Alice Cullen in the box-office hit "Twilight," went on the offensive this summer when nude photos of the 22-year-old surfaced on the Web. Greene`s lawyer confirmed the authenticity of the shots and threatened to sue anyone who published them, claiming that the photos are illegal and displaying them is unlawful."

06: Grady Sizemore
"Cleveland Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore managed to make his own waves in 2009, when a series of racy images of the baseball all-star found their way to Web sites in November. Sizemore claimed the shots, including one where he is naked except for a well-placed tea cup, were "stolen" from the e-mail of his girlfriend, Playboy playmate Brittany Binger."

07. Michael Duvall
"In July 2009, California Assemblyman Michael Duvall was caught detailing his sexual conquests on an open mike at an assembly meeting. During the recorded conversation, the married lawmaker talked about spanking his "bad girl" mistress and expressed a liking for her "little eye-patch underwear."

08: Cops Cruising for Love
"Ohio police chief Timothy Escola and his amorous subordinate, Janine England, felt the heat once a dashboard cam video of their steamy antics came out. It didn`t help that there was a prisoner in the back seat. The infamous video, shot on June 2, 2009, shows the two making out. England touches the chief on the neck and face, and kisses him."

09: Miss Universe Trinidad
"Anya Ayoung-Chee, Miss Universe Trinidad and Tobago 2008, found herself in a pickle this year when a sex tape surfaced which featured the beauty queen in a ménage a trois with her boyfriend and another woman. The boyfriend, Wyatt Gallery, claimed the video was stolen from his laptop while it was at a repair shop in Trinidad."

10: Shauna Sand
"Former playmate Shauna Sand got into a fight with Vivid Video when the adult movie firm announced they had acquired several tapes of the buxom blonde having sex with her boyfriend. Sand said the company had no legal right to distribute her private footage." Advertisement

Insecurities have made me hungry;;Gautam Gambhir

He’s only a small man but if you saw him bat for over 10 hours in Napier to save a Test, you’ll know he has a big heart.

Gautam Gambhir’s journey in cricket has been all about absorbing pressure. So we’re putting him under some more. The Gambhir HT met was many men in one. At one level intense like Dravid, at another driven like Ganguly, and separately, married to the game, like Tendulkar. We think he’s India’s next captain. Over to Gambhir.

What does leadership mean to you?
Responsibility. Honour. A leader must motivate, must give players the freedom to play at their best. He has to be a man manager who knows his team inside out. You have to identify players who can win you games, empower them and back them.

You take a lot of pride in what you do …
Pride comes from the passion with which I have played cricket, right from under-14s to the Indian team. The toughest thing in my life has been earning the India cap. That’s why there’s never any shortage of passion when I pull on an India or Delhi cap.

When you’re batting there’s an unmistakable hunger. Where does that come from?
I’ve been hungry because insecurities still far outweigh the securities in my mind. At every level it’s been now or never, like I had to perform in the next game or be dropped. That insecurity has gone so deep into my system that I can’t get rid of it. Despite being ranked No. 1 (in Tests), I still feel that one bad performance and I’ll be out of the team. This also keeps me down to earth because though I’m seeing the good parts of life now, I’ve seen the dark side. There could be a time in the future that I might face this again.

You talk about the importance of being yourself. Sometimes you’re a kid among legends, at others you seem an angry young man. What is the real Gambhir?
That’s a good question. Sometimes I’m relaxed, light-hearted, talkative, cracking jokes and trying to be funny. Sometimes I’m intense. If I don’t make runs I get into my shell, put pressure on myself and try and get very intense. I’ve realised that when I play Test cricket, I relax more and enjoy the game. I want to keep things light, but it’s not easy for me. It still feels like the next innings I play could be the last for my country.

You work very well in partnerships. What makes this possible?
I’ve always loved taking responsibility. When I’m given responsibility, I try and take my game to another level. When I’m under pressure, I find a new level to my game and start concentrating more. When the team is under pressure or needs someone to stand up, I try and shut everything out and just bat, bat and bat. If there’s one thing that gives me maximum happiness as a human being, it’s scoring runs. This has been my life since I started playing cricket. The way I’ve been brought up is that you have to score runs to be in the side. This is so ingrained in me that the only thing that gives me happiness is to bat long and score runs. I’ve been lucky to be part of some great partnerships and that’s probably because I just love being at the crease.

If captaincy of the Indian team comes to you, how would you approach it?
If you ask any kid who plays cricket, the ultimate dream is to lead India. It’s the greatest honour possible to be leader of a team of a country of one billion people where cricket is a religion. If ever it comes to me I will try and take my game to another level.

Leadership isn’t just about runs or wickets. We rarely hear any wild stories about you. Have you consciously tried to maintain a certain image?
That’s just the kind of person I am. I’m quite reserved and not the party type. I don’t drink, never have. I like to spend my time with people who really matter to me. I’ve never made a conscious effort to keep my image a certain way. Cricket has always been the priority. After cricket, I don’t know what I’ll be like, but while I’m playing for my country this is how I’ll be. People look up to you and expect you to be a role model. If you are a cricketer in India, you are sometimes treated like a god.
That automatically means you have to maintain a certain decorum. Advertisement

Katrina kaif is Jobless!

She may be one of the most sough after actresses in the industry, but believe it or not Katrina Kaif has no films on her hand after Prakash Jha's Raajneeti. The actress who is currently in London after undergoing an appendix surgery has no project officially on her hand. There are rumours that Katrina is calling all the producers and directors from her contact list to consider her for their next projects but hasn't been able to strike any deal as yet.

There is buzz around the tinsel town that Katrina could have easily got a role in Farah Khan's Tees Maar Khan which stars her favourite co-star Akshay Kumar but the the role has been offered to Sonam Kapoor. There are rumours that Akshay insisted on working
with a new face in Tees Maar Khan which has left Katrina with no projects and plenty of time to kill. We wonder what her beau Salman Khan is doing? Advertisement

It's tough to play a simple girl: Priyanka Chopra

She is smart, glamorous and one of the most sought after actresses in Bollywood, but Priyanka Chopra says it was difficult for her to portray a simple, beautiful girl in forthcoming film Pyaar Impossible and still try to hold the interest of audiences.

"When you do characters like one in Aitraaz, Fashion or Kaminey, there are certain peripheries. For example, Sweety in Kaminey won't be able to speak English or she won't wear jeans and top. They are also difficult, but the boundaries help. When I am playing a simple beautiful looking girl, how do I get your interest?" Priyanka said.

"Heroines ought to look beautiful, it's their work. We look pretty, we wear great clothes but that's our job. But how do I make you feel for her? That's why these films are more difficult," said Priyanka, who has teamed up with Uday Chopra in the film.

Written and produced by Uday, Pyaar Impossible is a romantic tale about a beauty and a geek. Directed by Jugal Hansraj, it shows how fate brings Uday and Priyanka come together and love blooms amidst all odds.

Talking about her character in Pyaar Impossible, Priyanka said: "I play Alisha who works in a software company. She has always been a popular girl, fun loving and one who loves life. But at a young age she has to take a lot of responsibilities and she finds it difficult to manage and her life becomes chaotic," said Priyanka.

Pyaar Impossible is slated to release on Jan 8.

The actress took three months before giving her final consent for the film.

"When I was offered the film, I was shooting for Kaminey. So I told them I will take some time to decide. It took me around three months to read the script, but when I read it, I felt I was reading a romantic book or a breezy novel and I immediately called Uday and gave my consent," she added.
Priyanka was all praise for Uday and the way he has sketched the characters.
"Uday is a great human being and a very talented guy. The way he had written the story and sketched my character, they are very close to reality," Priyanka said before leaving for New York.
She will stay there for two and a half months to complete Siddharth Anand's Anjana Anjani, which also features Ranbir Kapoor.

"I am planning to enjoy the New Year's eve in Times Square, but it's so cold and there has been a blizzard too so I'm not sure whether I would be able to go out of my hotel or not," said Priyanka.

Asked about her role in Farhan Akhtar's Don 2, she said: "It's coming by the end of next year. The only thing I can say now is that I have some superb actions in Don 2 and I am very excited about that."

She has also signed on for Vishal Bharadwaj's tentatively titled 7 Husbands. Advertisement

A dozen Pak players to be auctioned in IPL 4th edition

A dozen Pakistani players will be auctioned in fourth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to be held next year but however, skipper Pakistan cricket team Mohammed Yousuf is exception, Geo news reported on Wednesday night.

According to IPL sources, Pakistani players have submitted application for independent auction instead of being auctioned through agents of the tournament.

Those players to be included in auction are Shahid Khan Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Umar Gul, Fawwad Alam, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Muhammad Aamir are noted ones.

Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ejazz Butt told Geo news PCB has to do nothing with this forthcoming auction.

Lallit Modi, the IPL Commissioner has confirmed receiving of application from Pakistani players for direct auction isolated from agents but declined bellying out names of players.

Mohammed Yousuf, however, is exception as he had withdrew from first edition of IPL contest, he added. Advertisement

Shahrukh denies being anti-social

He may be at times accused of acting pricey but Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan denies being an anti-social. While interacting with the media recently King Khan said that he definitely likes to be on his own but he should not be be misinterpreted at being anti-social. He also hit back at people who constantly take a dig at him branding him anti-social.

Shahrukh who is busy with his upcoming movie My Name Is Khan says in the movie he has played one of the most challenging characters of his career but he has enjoyed every bit of it. He also said that My Name Is Khan is not just another movie on the subject of terrorism. The Karan Johar directed movie will see Shahrukh and Kajol pairing after a long time Advertisement

Japanese PM falls for Deepika Padukone

Recently, Deepika Padukone was invited to the PM’s residence at 7 Race Course Road, Delhi to have dinner with the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and 20 cabinet ministers. The dinner was in honor of the Japanese PM Yukio Hatoyama and his wife, Miyuki Hatoyama. They are presently visiting India and are huge fans of Bollywood films.

They liked Deepika in Om Shanti Om a lot and wanted to meet her. The PM’s office then called Deepika and asked her if she would like to come to dinner. The actress, who was shooting for Ashutosh Gowariker’s Khelenge Hum Jee Jaan Se in Goa, readily agreed and took a day off from shooting. She was very excited and nervous and felt that she was privileged and honoured to be invited to the occasion. She wore a Manish Malhotra saree for the event Advertisement

Neha Dhupia in Raat Gayi Baat Gayi

Pritish Nandy Communications' Raat Gayi Baat Gayi was screened in the 'competitions category' at HBO's New York South Asian International Film Festival, 2009 on November 2. It won the Best Film Award. Director Saurabh Shukla and actor Rajat Kapoor were present to receive the award. The film is slated for a December 31 release in India. Take a look! Advertisement

Dhoni Launches official website

Almost all the bollywood celebrities have their official websites so how come our cricketers be left behind. Indian captain Mahinder singh dhoni has launched his official website dhoniworld.com at a function in New Delhi. Virender sehwag, Harbhajan singh and Ishant sharma too launched there respective websites

Dhoniworld.com is a flash based website and it’s still not complete as most of it’s features are not working currently. The site has personal information regarding Indian captain like his favourite movie, stars etc. Interestingly he mentions Amitabh, John, Katrina and Chitragandha singh as his favourite stars, no Deepika there, ouch. A star’s website can’t be complete without some pictures and this one has got too, but since it’s flash you can’t download them. Advertisement

Tiwari’s OSD involved in sex scandal: Report

In a major twist to the sex scandal involving former Andhra Pradesh Governor ND Tiwari, his Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Aryendra Sharma is now under scanner for his role in getting the women featuring in the sex tape inside the Raj Bhawan, claimed reports on Wednesday.

According to reports published in a leading daily, The Indian Express, Chief Security Officer of the Andhra Pradesh Raj Bhavan, Mohammed Shokat Ali has revealed that Sharma “exclusively handled” the visits of the women featuring in the tape.

Ali has also disclosed that being a close confidant of Tiwari, the OSD facilitated a smooth entry for those women and kept no records of their visits.

Ali further alleged that Sharma often violated the security protocol and norms to ensure that no official record of their presence was kept.

As per the security norms, the record of each visitor, his name and address, entry and exit time is registered, but in the case of these women, the record was kept only on paper.

Overriding security protocol and defying the security checks, Sharma used to instruct the security staff posted at the checkpost that such and such car belonging to the Raj Bhavan’s Motor Transport Department carrying ‘important guests’ of the Governor should be allowed a hassle-free entry with no frisking or identification checks.

Ali further revealed that the OSD, having certain powers and privileges from the Governor, facilitated the entry of these women inside the Raj bhawan in the name of “family members” or “important guests”.

These women mostly visited Raj Bhawan late in the night and no body intercepted them since OSD himself entertained them and arranged for their entry.

The security procedure at the Governor’s House require clearance from the Intelligence Bureau only then one can get an appointment with the Governor. The OSD makes arrangements usually for guests visiting Raj Bhavan, however in this case the security norms were often over-ruled.

The startling disclosures made by the Chief Security Officer is likely to cause much embarrassment to the Congress party and Tiwari himself, who resigned from his post citing health ground shortly after the news of the sex scandal broke.

Tiwari had earlier rubbished reports against him as "fabricated and false" and said he will continue to be in public life. He also sought to link it with the ongoing agitation over Telangana statehood. Advertisement

Deepika pics

Advertisement

Shriya saran bares it all for South Scope

Shriya saran bares it all for South Scope, well almost. This has to be shriya's hotttest cover shoot since Maxim. Stay tuned for inside pics Advertisement

Aishwarya's long forgotten boyfriend reappears

If you though Salman Khan and Vivek Oberoi were the only two men Aishwarya Bachchan dumped before marrying Abhishek Bachchan, think again. Aishwarya had dated model Rajeev Mulchandani at the start of her career. The two had met during their modelling days and instantly connected but as Aishwarya's career starting scaling new heights Rajeev turned out to be no match for her and the relationship died a natural death.

Rajeev Mulchandani has however emerged from nowhere and was spotted at a recent Page 3 event. Rajeev who had once dated world's most beautiful woman looked skinny to the core during the event. Aishwarya wasn't the only Bollywood actress who dumped Rajeev as he faced similar heartbreak from Manisha Koirala as well. Seems like Rajeev's stars did not favour him when it came to dating B-Town babes. Advertisement

India's transsexuals try Internet dating

It's worked for thousands of singletons the world over and now India's transsexuals are hoping Internet dating can help their marginalised community find love.

A new site offers to help people born as men but living as women find husbands in a country where marriage remains the bedrock of society and gender and sexuality are still conservatively defined.

"Many men are attracted to transgender women, but when it comes to commitment they don't want to do it," the founder of the website, Kalki, who uses one name, explained to AFP.

"The types of grooms that our girls are looking for are men who would respect them as an equal human being, who would treat them with dignity and would introduce them to friends and family as a girlfriend or wife."

Transgenders and eunuchs -- men who have been castrated -- live on the extreme fringes of Indian society, often resorting to prostitution, begging or menial jobs that leave them mired in poverty.

Their numbers are difficult to estimate. Kalki says there are about 20,000 in her adopted state of Tamil Nadu, the most socially progressive area in the country with a total population of about 60 million.

"Because of the discrimination in India, 95 percent of transgenders live below the poverty line," says Kalki, who decided to start www.thirunangai.net after two of her transssexual friends were rejected by regular dating sites.

Poorly educated, often abused and tarred by the social stigma of their blurred gender, it is unsurprising that many in the community struggle to find the love and steady relationship they crave.

"We feel love and passion like anyone else and we want to have a family and a husband, even though we can't bear children. We'd like to adopt children," says Kalki.

The site, available in English and Tamil, features six women, most of whom have had full sex change operations and are looking for "ordinary" men for a long-term relationship and even marriage.

One of them is Sowmiya, a 23-year-old former sex worker who ran away from home aged 15 and is now a campaigner at Kalki's Sahodari Foundation, a non-government organisation that fights for the rights of transgenders.

"I put my profile on the site because I want to get married to a nice man and I want a baby," she told AFP from her home in Chennai. "I don't mind if he is not too educated, but he must be faithful to me and have a kind character."

She said she had received responses already "but I haven't accepted as the respondents were older, far older, than what I am looking for."

Another lonely heart, Deepika, writes on her profile that she is looking for a man with a decent job, a modern outlook and a good dress sense.

"Preferred age group 25-30, with a moustache," says the profile.

Kalki says she had about 200 responses from men in India, Europe, the United States and Middle East, including doctors, engineers, journalists, scientists, teachers and businessmen.

She has high hopes of selecting someone suitable for the women after a "very serious" screening process.

"Out of the six girls, if one person gets married I'll be totally happy," she adds. "The first wedding may be on Valentines Day or on Women's Day on March 8 next year."

The role of transsexuals and eunuchs, like many things in India, can appear contradictory to the outsider, as they are at once spurned and discriminated against, yet in some ways accepted as part of life.

They are common in Bollywood films where they frequently play comic roles and they often appear at weddings or at the homes of newly-born children where they are paid as a defence against bad luck.

Often they extract money at such occasions by threatening to strip or resort to violence unless they are given a financial inducement to leave.

The idea of transsexuals or "otherness" has a long history in India and eunuchs are mentioned in the earliest Hindu texts, the Vedas, believed to have been written in the second millennium BC.

Being a transsexual or castrated is seen as curse in traditional Hindu culture, but the idea has historically been more widely tolerated and even venerated in India's minority Muslim population.

Many eunuchs rose to powerful positions in the Islamic Mughal regime that ruled the subcontinent for hundreds of years after an invasion in 1526.

Kalki says the outlook is changing for them in contemporary India.

"Slowly we are getting recognised and feel good. We are beginning to feel we are part of society," she said.

In November, the community claimed victory in a long-standing campaign to be listed as "others," distinct from males and females, on electoral rolls and voter identity cards.

In the past, many eunuchs and transsexuals had abstained in elections because they were unwilling to identify their gender on voter forms.

They could write "E" for eunuch on passports and on certain government forms, but had failed in their campaign for acceptance at the ballot box.

Earlier in December, a eunuch called Kamla Jaan was elected mayor in a district in the central state of Madya Pradesh, where another eunuch has electoral success in 2000. Advertisement

Katrina Kaif sizzles in pink in the latest issue of GQ magazine.

Advertisement

Eiffel Tower beats Taj to be World`s fav building

Italy`s Eiffel Tower has been named the most favourite building of the world, leaving behind India`s Taj Mahal and New York`s Statue of Liberty, according to a new survey.

The survey by leading accommodation website Hotels.com. has found the iconic Parisian structure as the most favourite among international travellers, while the sixteenth-century monument of love at Agra was the third most-liked structure in the world.

According to the survey, about 16 per cent of the over 10,000 travellers polled in five continents named Eiffel Tower as the best structure.

Peter`s Basilica in Vatican City, Rome, is the second most favourite structure with 9 per cent of votes, while the Taj Mahal came third with 8 per cent of the votes.

Three American icons - the Golden Gate Bridge, Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty - made up the remainder of the top six spots, each sharing 7 per cent of traveller`s votes.

The other structures that managed to be in top 10 are the Sydney Opera House, Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, the Acropolis in Athens and Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.

"This survey shows that the pull of famous landmarks is so strong that many people travel to a place especially to see them. These buildings really do have a hold on our imaginations," said Alison Couper, Communications Director for Hotels.com.

The survey also suggested that Spanish travellers are the most likely nationality to plan their trip around seeing landmarks, with 83 per cent saying that they had planned a trip to a city just to take in the architectural icons.

Italians were the next most likely, as 80 per cent of whom saying that they had made a trip to take in one landmark building.

"This shows that a city really is defined in tourists` minds by its iconic buildings and, with the falling cost of travel and hotel prices both at home and abroad, there has never been a better time to visit a few of the world`s greatest buildings to fill up a photo album or two," said Couper. Advertisement

Savita Bhabhi reloaded

Five months ago, Café carried a story, ‘Come back Savita bhabhi’ about the ban on the site, India’s first and only toon porn site. The ban caused brouhaha amongst its fans across the country.

Not surprising, considering the site used to get 2,00,000 hits a day and was ranked 82nd in terms of popularity. It was said to attract traffic higher than the Bombay Stock Exchange site. Launched in March 2008, a blend of graphics and explicit dialogues, unheard of in the Indian porn scenario before, had made the site popular within a few months.

Remove the ban
“The Kamasutra has explicit illustrated images, too. It is a visual art form and so is Savita bhabhi. If the government has banned the website, then they might as well ban the Kamasutra.”

“Enough. Bring back bhabhi.”

“This is not democracy! I protest. The site was about Indian woman’s quest for freedom and happiness.” — were some angry outbursts by Savita bhabhi fans.

The site made its comeback last month and can be opened through most ISPs in India freely. Savita Bhabhi is a regular Indian woman in the eyes of the world, but only a few lucky people know who she really is. She is a woman who finds the need to explore her sexuality and enjoy the moment.

No love
Trapped in a loveless marriage, she is always open to new sexual experiences.

This series follows her various sexual exploits and fantasies like in its old version but this time the main characters in her life have been outlined.

The cast of Savita Bhabhi comprises Savita Patel, 29, married to Ashok Patel, 33. She enjoys kitty parties and socialising. Savita is a regular Indian woman in the eyes of the world, but only a lucky few know what she really is.

She has always been aware of her body and the power it has over men. She’s not scared to use it to get what she wants, even if it’s only sexual pleasure. Savita is always open to new and exciting sexual experiences.

Workaholic
Her husband, Ashok, is a workaholic and never has enough time to satisfy his wife’s needs. His job forces him to travel a lot, which gives Savita enough opportunity to embark on her own sexual adventures.

Manoj, 21, single, works in the Patel household as a live-in help. His good looks and athletic body catches Savita’s attention.

Carnal pleasures
Mishraji, 45, married, loves to ogle at his female employees, surf porn online and is Savita’s lecherous boss and gets her to satisfy his carnal pleasures.

Shobha, 19, single is a naïve young woman. She’s still a virgin and looks up to Savita bhabhi for inspiration.
The site has two more series — Saath Kahaniyan and Kinara Lane, which will be launched soon.

Besides, the site also has new features — a feedback section, SB discussion board, submit story ideas, suggestion box, a fan club, live sex chat, an invitation to sumit story ideas, videos and even join the SB team. Advertisement

Angelina Jolie ripping her clothes off in a cat fight

Hollywood's most famous rivals, Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston, will wrestle it out soon. The two A-listers are the latest victims of a porn parody, which will see the two actresses ripping their clothes off in a cat fight, reported E Online Advertisement

Neha Dhupia on Beauty Mag. Dec.09

Advertisement

Vidya Balan Inaugurates ICU Ward

Advertisement

n d tiwari scandal pics

Narayan Dutt Tiwari (born 18 October 1925) is an Indian political figure. He was Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh three times during the 1970s and 1980s and was Chief Minister of Uttarkhand from 2002 to 2007. A member of the Indian National Congress, he subsequently served as Governor of Andhra Pradesh from 2007 until 2009, when he resigned due to a sex scandal. He has made the country India feel ashamed.

Advertisement

Google reportedly planning to launch its own mobile

Google reportedly hopes to strengthen its presence in the world of mobile telephony with plans to introduce its own high-tech phone sometime in 2010, according to press reports.

Reports by the Wall Street Journal and other outlets cite sources close to Google stating that the company, known primarily for its online search functions, is expected to release a phone dubbed Nexus One that runs Google's Android operating system.

However, the company hopes to sell the phone directly to consumers, skipping mobile service providers, which often package their services with hardware from other companies. That means
customers will either have to use their existing mobile phone contract with the Nexus or arrange for a new one.

The new phones will reportedly be manufactured by Taiwanese phone maker HTC, reported TechCrunch, a technology blog. HTC already produces several phones that use Android.

With Google in the lead, the two companies developed Android, which relies primarily on Google's online services for mobile internet functions. However, until now, Google has always relied on
other companies, like HTC, Samsung or Motorola, to provide network support and hardware.

Google recently reported in a blog entry that it was letting some of its employees test a new mobile device, but provided no further details. The company is seen by many to be one of the up-and-coming players in the mobile phone market. Google believes it can leverage its strong position in online advertising to similar strengths within the mobile market. Advertisement

Aishwarya rai’s Sister in Law Shrima Rai

Advertisement

Alleged sex clips of Andhra Governor Tiwari on TV

Andhra Pradesh Governor N D Tiwari landed in a fresh controversy on Friday after a local TV channel telecast explicit clippings purportedly of the veteran Congress leader with some women, a footage rejected by Raj Bhavan as fabricated and a "tissue of lies."

The development amid the crisis in the state over the Telangana statehood issue triggered demands that the 86-year-old Governor resign or be dismissed and also protests by women activists outside the Raj Bhavan where security was beefed up after the private Telugu channel aired the footage.

In a quick damage control, the Raj Bhavan approached the AP High Court, filed a PIL against the channel--"ABN Andhra Jyothy"--and got an order to restrain it from further airing the footage which was allegedly taken inside Raj Bhavan during the night.

The Channel stopped telecasting the footage after the court ordered the channel to stop airing it. The footage was shown for an hour from 10 AM today. Advertisement

Artist creates 100 sand images of Santa

Sand artist Sudarsan Patnaik created over 100 colourful images of Santa Claus on a beach in Orissa`s Puri town Thursday on the eve of Christmas.

The sand replicas created by Patnaik, with the help of students from his art institute, bear messages on the threat the world is facing from climate change and global warming.

The messages include "Save your earth from global warming" and "Go for green".

"Hundreds of tourists visited the beach to see the images today (Thursday) evening and I hope all of them will work for a greener world," Patnaik said.

"The images used about 1,000 tonnes of sand. We have worked for about 36 hours over the past three days to complete them," he said.

"Nobody has done such a large number of Santa Claus (images) on sand. I hope the images I have created will find place in the Limca Book of Records," said Patnaik.

Patnaik has participated in more than 40 international sand sculpture festivals and competitions and won several prizes.

He has figured in the Limca Book of Records in the 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 editions for his work.

Last year, Patnaik had created a 25-feet sand image of Santa Claus on the same beach Dec 24. Advertisement

Celebs caught wearing same clothes

It's the stuff of which celebrity nightmares are made of - to be clicked in an outfit already worn by someone else. That was the horror which befell a number of well known figures in 2009
Advertisement

Celina Jaitley's bed scene hits Censor hurdle

Stretching close to two minutes, the steamy lovemaking scene between Celina Jaitley and co-star Abhimanyu Singh in the upcoming movie Accident On Hill Road has hit a hurdle at Censor Board.

The movie, slated to release on December 31, has been given an ‘A’ (Adults Only) certificate and director Mahesh Nair has been asked to chop the 1-minute-50-secs long lovemaking scene which the filmmaker says is crucial to the film’s plot.

In the scene, Abhimanyu takes Celina to bed, removes her stockings and caresses her for a good one minute before making love to her. Nair says the scene is important to establish the smouldering chemistry between the two characters.

The Censor Board, however, has raised three objections: 1. Abhimanyu removing Celina’s stockings. 2. Too much fondling and canoodling between the two. 3. The length of the love scene.

But Mahesh Nair is crying fowl and accusing the Board of bias. He says that many other films featuring kisses, smooches and gory violence have been cleared by the Censor but the board is coming too hard on his film even though it doesn’t have a lip lock between Celina and Abhimanyu.

Well, that’s how the cookie crumbles in B-town. Advertisement

Gavaskar frisked at Eden Gardens

Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar was on Thursday frisked by security men along with Sri Lanka's Russel Arnold while entering the Eden Gardens Stadium for the fourth one-dayer here on Thursday.

The duo are contracted with Nimbus as commentators for the series between India and Sri Lanka. According to eyewitnesses, the security personnel near the gate asked Gavaskar to show his identity card while another securitymen checked his carry bag.

"He was allowed in after the check-up. But Arnold was not let in for some reasons as somebody from the commentarty crew came and sorted out the matter.

The Sri Lankan was later allowed inside the ground," said an eyewitness. Union Railway minister Mamata Banerjee condemned the incident saying, "It is sad that the security procedure was followed even for a legendary cricketer like Gavaskar."

When contacted, Nimbus did not comment over the incident. Advertisement

Shilpa pics

Advertisement

Asin is Sabse Tez Sitara of 2009

Asin Thottumkal made her debut in Bollywood, with Ghajini, the remake of its Tamil namesake, subsequently winning the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award. Ever since then Asin has gone on an award winning spree. The recent being, Lux–Sabse Tez Sitara for an upcoming and promising star in the film industry.

Reveals a source, “Asin has big brands behind her name. She made her debut with Aamir Khan and the next film saw her with Salman Khan. She is a classic beauty and has a long way to go in the industry. The ‘Sabse Tez Sitar Award’ is well deserved.”

Asin recently also received the Kalaimamani Award from the governor of Chennai for her contribution to arts and cinema and the Anandalok Award (The biggest award ceremony in Kolkata) for the best actress for Ghajini.

“The Kalaimamani award is given for one’s excellence in the field of art and literature. Down south Asin has already bagged 2 Filmfare Awards making her the recipient of a total 3 Filmfares at such a tender age,” adds the source. Advertisement

Woman calls 911 when husband refuses to eat dinner

Prosecutors will review the case of a woman authorities claim has called 911 30 times over six months for non-emergency reasons, including a call to complain that her husband refused to eat his dinner. Last Friday, the woman allegedly made a pair of calls to 911, including a hang-up and another where a woman was heard screaming.
Police were dispatched to the residence and officer Paul Gonzales said police were told by her that "her husband did not want to eat his supper." A police report said the 53-year-old woman was also yelling "about things that happened two weeks ago."

The woman now faces charges of 911 abuse. Advertisement

I have open relationship With Brad;;Angelina Jolie

The Hollywood actress raises six children with Brad. She insists there is no need to be monogamous when you are romancing someone, claiming it isn’t “essential” to a strong relationship.

She told Germany’s Das Neue magazine: “I doubt that fidelity is absolutely essential for a relationship. It's worse to leave your partner and talk badly about him afterwards. Neither Brad nor I have ever claimed that living together means to be chained together. We make sure that we never restrict each other.”

The couple have been dogged by rumours their relationship is on the rocks in recent months. It has been claimed they have been fighting bitterly, with insiders claiming Jolie flares up like a “cobra”. Advertisement

Dia Mirza's Cosmopolitan Magazine Scans

Lovely shots of Dia - She is just so photogenic & gorgeous! Advertisement

Rani mukherjee at special screening of Avatar

Looks different here from her DPl photos. Advertisement

Gold-leaf Quran to be displayed at museum

A 300-year-old ancestral `Golden Quran`, with its pages in the shape of gold leaves, the most prized possession of a Muslim family, may soon become the centrepiece of a national museum. But the family is not complaining about `losing` the valuable document.

Expressing their happiness, Sajid Hamid, 55, the eldest in the family living in Jaunpur district, some 250 km from here, told IANS on telephone: `I take pride and feel privileged as our ancestral Quran has been identified as a valuable manuscript and may get a place in a national museum.`

"Recently, officials of the National Mission for Manuscripts set up by the union tourism and culture ministry and district authorities, visited my home and told me that my `Sunheri (golden) Quran` has a unique heritage value and that it could be acquired to enrich the manuscript wealth of the country,`` he added.

The main attraction of the Quran is its pages that are in the form of gold leaves. The holy scripture`s cover and back cover are also made of gold and the intricate designs embossed on them are one of the major attractions of the book.

According to the family, the `Sunheri Quran` has been with them for the last five generations.

"My father used to tell me that the Quran was prepared by a group of artists, who worked mostly for rich people or those belonging to royal families as they used to charge a hefty amount for their work,`` said Hamid, a resident of the Ruhatta colony in Jaunpur who teaches at a school there.

"My ancestors got this Quran prepared after one of their wishes came true. Though they did not have enough money, they decided to get it prepared by mortgaging several valuables, which I believe were later permanently acquired by the moneylenders when the ancestors could not pay back the loans,`` he added.

The `Sunheri Quran` has become a centre of attraction for the people in not only the Ruhatta colony but across Jaunpur and its adjoining districts. Though Hamid permits everyone to see the Quran, he doesn`t allow anyone, including the family members, to touch it.

"It`s not that I don`t want people to touch the holy scripture...The Quran is an ancient one and even a slight carelessness can damage it. As I don`t want to take any chances, I don`t allow anyone to read or touch it,`` he said.

Hamid`s neighbours don`t feel bad about it. "We know the significance and importance the 300-year-old Quran holds for Hamid. We want that the Quran should get a place in a museum and become a national pride,`` Abdul Ateeq, owner of a mobile phone shop in Ruhatta, said.

Ahmad Raza, another local, said, "Specially during religious festivals, Muslims of the locality line up outside Hamid`s residence to get a view of the holy Quran.``

India has a Muslim population of about 155 million, the third largest Muslim population in the world after Indonesia and Pakistan. Advertisement

German restaurant sells gold-plated schnitzel

A German schnitzel restaurant is working against the economic downturn by offering its customers an extravagant delicacy with a difference: a golden schnitzel.
What's being dubbed as the most expensive schnitzel in the world, the 300 grams of breaded veal is fried and then covered in alba truffle cream, black summer truffles and topped off with 24 carat gold leaf. Priced at 150 euros, the golden schnitzel is available in the fast food restaurant "Schnitzel Huber" in the western German town of Duesseldorf. And even in times of financial difficulty, the restaurant's management says the golden schnitzel is still seen as an affordable treat. "We always have bankers here who like to celebrate new contracts, or people taking part in business meetings but once a rock band came and plundered their money by buying 20 of these gold schnitzels," Thomas Huber from Schnitzel Huber told Reuters TV.
Huber, who founded the fast food restaurant together with his wife Irene, focus their business on day-to-day schnitzel meals costing from five to fifteen euros. But Huber adds that the golden schnitzel shows the great variety of the traditional German schnitzel meal. "The idea is just to provoke people a bit. We normally sell much cheaper schnitzel products. We sell more than a million schnitzel a year and 20 to 30 golden schnitzel so with this we want to demonstrate the wide scope of the schnitzel business," he said.
However, don't expect to able to splash out on the golden schnitzel as an impulse purchase. Huber says it has to be ordered a week in advance so that the luxury ingredients can be freshly ordered and prepared to give it the special royal taste - fit for a king.
Thanks for your comments Advertisement

7ft-long Dog ready to set a new world record

STANDING nearly FOUR FEET from paw to shoulder giant George could be the world's tallest dog. The massive pooch, who measures 7ft 3ins from nose to tail and weighs a staggering 245lb (111kg), could be a prime contender to take the title from former record holder Gibson, who died in August. Now David the dog master, of Tucson, Arizona, are awaiting confirmation from Guinness World Records to see if he has achieved the lofty feat. David said: "He's very, very unique." George eats an unbelievable 110lb of food every month, and sleeps alone in his own QUEEN SIZE bed. David raised him from a seven-week-old pup, but never expected him to grow so big. Advertisement

William 'spends night on streets in freezing temperatures'

Prince William, the second-in-line to the British throne, has spent a night sleeping rough on the streets of London in freezing temperatures as part of his work supporting a charity for the homeless.

A photograph released by the charity, Centrepoint, shows the 27-year-old Prince in a cold alley near Blackfriars Bridgein central London in jeans and a grey hooded sweatshirt, the British media reported.

William, who chose to sleep with the charity's chief executive Seyi Obakin to highlight the plight of homeless British teenagers, said he could not imagine what it must be like for those who sleep rough night after night.

"I cannot, after one night, even begin to imagine what it must be like to sleep rough on London's streets night after night. Poverty, mental illness, drug and alcohol dependency and family breakdown cause people to become and stay homeless. "Centrepoint's work -- along with many other organisations -- in tackling these fundamental causes is desperately important if we are ever to end homelessness in this country," William was quoted as saying.

Added Obakin: "It did not occur to me that Prince William would take up this challenge. But he was determined, as he has always been, to understand deeply the range of problems a homeless young person might face Advertisement

Shilpa Shetty in a hot bikini top

Just like Priyanka Chopra, Shilpa Shetty will also been in bikini. Well, holds your horses – no bikini, its just beachwear that Shilpa Shetty will be seen dancing with John Abraham.
he gets to dance on a rocking song ‘Shutup and bounce’ in the movie ‘Dostana’. First view is good – worth a wait! Advertisement