A Minute With Nicole Kidman working on "Rabbit Hole

 Updated at: 2215 PST, Thursday, December 23, 2010

 LOS ANGELES: Oscar winning actress Nicole Kidman has scored positive reviews, and a Golden Globe nomination, for her role as a mother dealing with the death of her child in the independent film "Rabbit Hole."

The film was released last week in major US theaters and expands around the country starting on Christmas day.

"Rabbit Hole" is based on the Pulitzer prize-winning play by David Lindsay-Abaire. Kidman stars alongside Aaron Eckhart as grieving couple Becca and Howie. Kidman also produced the film, marking it the inaugural project from her company, Blossom Films.

Kidman, who lives in Nashville with her country star husband Keith Urban and their daughter Sunday Rose, spoke about the film, her family and being a mother.

Q: How did you come across the play?
A: "I read the review of 'Rabbit Hole' in the New York Times. Living in Nashville, I get the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. That's my contact with the city because that's where I used to live and I'm a theater buff. When I read the review, I thought, 'Gosh, that sounds like rich material.'"

Q: As a mother, you felt for Becca's pain?
A: "When we first optioned the play, I wasn't pregnant. This has been years in the making, so there wasn't a thought of being pregnant. I thought I'd never get pregnant. But I get what she goes through. I get her relationship with her mother, her sister, God. I get the way in which she is so angry."

Q: How did you prepare to play a woman who goes through something no parent should ever have to face?
A: "I read stuff. I tried to go to a grief group but I was told 'No, you're not allowed. You can only step into these rooms if you lost a child.' I totally get it, yet for whatever reason, that rawness was available to me. Maybe it was from giving birth (to daughter Sunday Rose) 11 months prior."

Q: The subject must have made for a difficult shoot.
A: "It was more like there was a big thrust to honor the people who are going through this right now. There's almost something lifting you up, going 'Come on, if someone can actually be living this, I can be living this.'"

Q: How has motherhood impacted your career?
A: "Time is the most precious thing. I'm very particular about how I spend it. I'm more reluctant to leave my family. Keith and I are very tight, and we're never separated. If we are, it's no more than three days."

Q: How is motherhood today different than it was when you were raising Connor and Isabella (with ex-husband Tom Cruise)?
A: "I raised two kids when I was in my 20s, but that was a different thing. I was a kid and still so young mentally and emotionally -- a totally different mom."

Q: And now?
A: "There is something about mothering late in life. A lot of it is I want to stay alive for Sunday. There is plenty of deep fear and emotion. Sunday has healed an enormous amount in me. It's a very private thing, but she just has."

Q: What's Sunday like now?
A: "She's two and a half and in what we call 'the raccoon' stage because she's into everything. She's into this, she's into that. She's just really hard to wrangle at this stage."

Q: Were you like that as a kid?
A: "I don't think so. I was more placid. But Keith rode BMX bikes and grew up in a pretty rambunctious family. Sunday's got a lot of her dad's face and a lot of his DNA."

Q: You and Keith were both raised in Australia and you're now living the country life in the United States. Does Sunday have any of your Aussie roots in her?
A: "Our daughter is a Tennessee girl, but she still says 'G'day mate.' She says both 'Hi y'all' and 'G'day mate.'"

Q: Any plans on expanding the family?
A: "We're hoping for another one!"
source: geo.tv

Stocks, oil rise in festive cheer

 Updated at: 1624 PST, Saturday, December 25, 2010

PARIS: World stocks held near the previous day's two-year high while oil hit fresh two-year peaks after strong U.S. data this week encouraged investors to maintain their risk positions into 2011.

Thursday's U.S. data showing that demand for a range of long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods surged in November and consumer spending rose for a fifth straight month reinforced expectations for strong economic growth in the fourth quarter.

"We've had a good run, helped by quantitative easing and better economic data," said Bernard McAlinden, investment strategist at NCB Stockbrokers in Dublin. "We've broken out of ranges, and it can go higher in 2011."

The MSCI world equity index edged higher to just below Thursday's peak, which was its highest since September 2008, set just before the collapse of Lehman Brothers.

The index is up 9.6 percent this year.

Fund tracker EPFR said investor focus shifted from bonds to equities in the final weeks of 2010, with equity funds globally taking in a net $4.5 billion for the week ending Dec. 22. Bond funds saw redemptions totaling $2.3 billion.

The global stock index dipped slightly, but the FTS Eurofirst 300 index rose about 0.1 percent.

Ratings agency Fitch downgraded Portugal on Thursday, citing burgeoning debt levels and a tough financing environment, a move analysts said was largely expected by investors.

The downgrade puts Fitch's rating for Portugal on a par with Moody's A1 rating, but still two notches above that of Standard and Poor's A-minus.

Trading was very light, with markets closed in Germany, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Greece, Austria, Hungary, and Iceland. U.S. markets were also closed to observe the Christmas holiday.
source: geo.tv

Europe shares fall as China ups rates; trade thin

Updated at: 1916 PST, Monday, December 27, 2010

LONDON: European stocks fell on Monday in thin trade, after an interest rate rise in China sparked worries about global growth, with Europe's carmakers badly hit by the rate hike and also by Beijing's move to cut registration quotas.

At 12 p.m. British time, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was down 0.8 percent at 1,138.21 points. But trading was subdued, with UK markets closed for a holiday.

Auto shares fell with the STOXX Europe 600 Automobiles & Parts .SXAP index down 3.2 percent. Daimler (DAIGn.DE), Peugeot (PEUP.PA), Porsche (PSHG_p.DE), BMW and Volkswagen fell between 2.1 and 5.6 percent.

Beijing announced measures to limit new car registrations to tackle congestion in the Chinese capital.

"They may do the same in other cities in China, and it will hurt the German makes like Daimler," said Heino Ruland, strategist at Ruland Research, in Frankfurt.

"Banks are also suffering, with the China rate hike and as it looks like Portugal will be forced to accept the rescue package of the IMF and EU."

Spanish banks Banco Santander and BBVA fell 2.8 and 1.6 percent respectively.

On Saturday -- Christmas Day -- China's central bank surprised investors with a 25-basis-point rate rise in benchmark deposit and lending rates, its second increase in just over two months, as it looks to rein in inflation.

The People's Bank of China said it would raise the benchmark lending rate by 25 basis points to 5.81 percent and lift the benchmark deposit rate by 25 basis points to 2.75 percent.

Across Europe, Germany's DAX .GDAXI and France's CAC 40 .FCHI fell 1.4 and 1.2 percent respectively; Spain's IBEX 35 .IBEX fell 1.9 percent.

The pan-European index has gained 6.7 percent in December and is still on track for its biggest monthly gain since March.

The benchmark is up more than 76 percent from its lifetime low of March, 2009, with several major economies having emerged from recession, helped by stimulus from governments and central banks worldwide.

Traders expect low volumes this week as many institutional investors have closed the books for the year.

"This implies low trading volumes, like last week, bearing potential risk of large swings in either direction," traders at Close Brothers said.

Among individual shares, Norwegian oil firm DNO rose 8 percent after Iraq's new oil minister is quoted as saying his government would honour production contracts like one DNO has with the Kurdish regional government.

Swedish specialty steelmaker SSAB rose 3 percent after Handelsbanken Capital Markets raised its rating to "accumulate" from "reduce".

In macroeconomics, the Conference Board leading economic index (LEI) for the euro zone rose 0.7 percent to 114.3 in November, a sharper rise than October's 0.3 percent and one that points to continued economic recovery.

Ruland said he believed the market rally would resume after the holiday period. "Investors have been selling bonds and buying equities, and this will continue as equities still look cheap," he said.

U.S. futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street, which resumes trade after the Christmas break.

Oil rises in Asian trade as blizzard hits US

Updated at: 0945 PST, Tuesday, December 28, 2010

 SINGAPORE: Crude prices rose in Asian trade on Tuesday as temperatures fell and snow storms hit the US and other parts of North America, analysts said.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in February, rose 24 cents to 91.24 dollars per barrel. Brent North Sea crude for February delivery was up 18 cents to 94.03 dollars.

The massive blizzard that hit the US east coast Monday has reached eastern Canada, dumping huge amounts of snow and forcing the cancellation of flights. "There will probably be more of such bad weather (in the US and Canada), and I expect oil prices to stay strong," said John Vautrain, vice president for Purvin and Gertz international energy consultants in Singapore.

Analysts say the cold weather spell will likely mean increased demand for heating oi. "It's not how cold it gets but how long it stays cold," said Jason Feer, vice president and general manager with energy market analysts Argus Media."It's turning out to be a fairly long, cold winter and what that means is that people are burning lots of heating oil," he said.

The US is the world's biggest oil consumer and its northeast region is the biggest heating oil market globally.
source: geo.tv

Oil down in Asian trade

SINGAPORE: Oil fell in Asian trade on Wednesday but the decline was seen as limited with heating oil demand set to stay firm as a cold spell continued to grip the United States and Europe, analysts said.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in February sank 11 cents to 91.38 dollars per barrel.

Brent North Sea crude for February delivery was down 14 cents to 94.24 dollars.

Analysts say prices will be underpinned by strong heating oil demand which has perked up because of the unusually strong cold spell in the northeast US and parts of Europe.

"As long as the extreme cold in northern hemisphere persists, this will lend some support to oil prices in the near term," said Chen Xin Yi, a commodities analyst for Barclays Capital.

US reserves fell by about 15 million barrels in the first half of December in the face of brisk demand and end-of-year inventory adjustments by refiners.

New figures on US stocks are to be published Thursday.

Oil demand from China, the world's biggest energy consuming nation, is also another factor bolstering prices, she said.

"China's demand growth has scaled a new high in November, topping 9.3 million barrels per day, with diesel, jet fuel and gasoline demand all setting record highs in the month," she said.

Barclays Capital predicts oil prices will average 91 dollars per barrel in 2011.
source: geo.tv

Stocks witness slightly recovery at KSE

KARACHI: Pakistani stocks ended higher on Wednesday, led by sharp gains in banking shares amid expectations of healthy financial results, and dealerspredicted the market would remain steady in coming days.

The Karachi Stock Exchange's benchmark 100-share index ended 0.32 percent, or 37.97 points, higher at11,886.02. Volume was 99.78 million shares compared with 110million shares traded on Tuesday.

Most of the leading banks have been performing well in recent weeks and we expect investor interest in the sector to continue as banks are expected to report healthy full-year results next month, dealers said.

On Wednesday, Bank Alfalah, United Bank Ltd (UBL) and Allied Bank all closed at their upper locks, or 5 percent higher. Other banks also posted gains.

An announcement by the Abu Dhabi Group that it has agreed to sell a 20 percent stake in UBL to Bestway (Holding) Ltd at an undisclosed price also fuelled interest in the lender.

Zakaria said investor interest was also witnessed in oil stocks, in anticipation of an expected rise in retail fuel prices later this week.
source: geo.tv

Cool wave expected tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast more rain and snowfall for Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and adjoining hilly areas today.

However, the current rain/snowfall spell is likely to weaken during next 24 hours and upper parts of the country will again experience cold weather in the coming three days, said the spokesman of the PMD.

The other parts of the country especially Balochistan and Sindh will also remain in the grip of severe cold wave during next 2 days.

According to Met analysis, the westerly wave southwesterly winds with a cloud cover over upper parts are likely during next 48 to 72 hours.

The spokesman said that the foggy conditions are likely to develop again during next 2-3 days and dense fog is expected over Motorways sectors; Pindi Bhattian to Lahore, Lahore to Gujranwala and Swabi to Peshawar during the period.

The scattered rain and snowfall over the hills was recorded in different parts of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and GB during last 24 hours.

The rainfall recorded in Kotli was 24 mm,Sialkot 23 mm, Rawalakot 20 mm, Islamabad 17 mm, Abbotabad 16 mm, Lahore 15 mm, Rawalpindi and Gujrat 14 mm.

However, half feet snowfall was recorded over the hills in Murree and Galiat during last 24 hours.
source: geo.tv

Odd 2010 Sound the vuvuzela for year of the mystic mollusk

LONDON: The astounding predictions of an octopus, the perils of "chexting" and the pain of getting around on planes were the laughing matters of 2010.

News that a Sicilian man had stolen sweets and chewing gum so he could spend New Year's Eve in jail to avoid his relatives seemed odd until another Italian man was stabbed by his son after a quarrel over tactics for a soccer videogame.

An ash cloud from an Iceland volcano caused travel chaos around Europe and spawned jokes across the Internet about the coincidence of the volcano's eruption and the collapse of Icelandic banks owing billions to angry savers in Europe.

"The last wish of the Icelandic economy was to have its ashes scattered over Europe."

Ash clouds and airport security woes failed to deter two women in Britain from trying to smuggle a dead relative wearing sunglasses onto a flight bound for Germany. But the agony of air travel sent others over the edge.

US flight attendant Steven Slater became an overnight sensation for issuing a string of profanities, grabbing a few beers and leaping down the emergency chute of his plane at JFK airport to head home following an altercation with a passenger.

An Internet "Don't Touch My Junk" campaign encouraged US.

Thanksgiving travellers to refuse airport full body searches after a widely viewed YouTube video captured California man John Tyner telling a security official during a full body search: "If you touch my junk I'm going to have you arrested."

SINGLE AND BITTER?

The unfavourable economic climate also took its toll on the sex lives of American seniors with a poll showing people in their 50s were having less sex.

Lovelorn Chinese workers did not despair however. Their government set up a match-making website to help thousands of busy but lonely government workers find love at work.

"Are you still single and bitter?" asked the pink-themed website (www.ywqq.gov.cn). Look no further.

A US study advised men seeking women to wear red. But British men risked a Valentine's Day anticlimax by stocking up on anatomy-boosting underpants.

"The briefs mean that no man ever needs to feel inadequate again on the most passionate day of the social calendar," said Rob Faucherand of UK shop Debenhams. "However we can't be held responsible for what happens once the pants come off."

Infidelity by mobile phone text, Facebook and Twitter highlighted the dangers of "chexting" in 2010.

Golfer Tiger Woods and US TV celebrity Jesse James, who was married to Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock, were the top celebrities who saw their lives unravel amid revelations of cheating on their spouses, in part by arranging liaisons via text messages.

"It's lipstick on the cellular -- digital proof that becomes evidence you've been unfaithful," said Peter Dedman of Predicto Mobile, the largest paid mobile community in America.

Other words also took the English language by storm.

The Oxford English Dictionary welcomed "vuvuzela", the plastic trumpet which wreaked havoc at the Soccer World Cup.

The incessant buzzing vuvuzelas blown by fans at World Cup soccer matches in South Africa in the summer drowned out almost all other sounds, caused mayhem with referees and broadcasters, became an iPhone app, a sensation on YouTube and were finally banned by European soccer's governing body UEFA.

Paul, the oracle octopus who shot to fame for his uncanny ability to predict the results of Germany's World Cup campaign, enjoyed brief fame before dying in October after disappointing his hosts by correctly predicting they would lose their semi-final match to eventual World Cup champions Spain.

Spaniards asked for Paul's transfer to Spain from his German home, while some annoyed Germany fans wanted to grill him.

World leaders also waded into the world of wackiness.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi drove past the Israeli-built wall in the West Bank, but failed notice it and caused offence when he said it was "better to like beautiful girls than to be gay".

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez told mothers they could cure insomnia in their children by making them watch his lengthy televised speeches and took up Twitter, urging Cuba's Fidel Castro and Bolivian President Evo Morales to join in.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he sleeps only when President Dmitry Medvedev is awake.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono released his third album of pop songs and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy launched an anthology of Japanese-style Haiku poetry.
source: geo.tv

Vidya celebrates 33rd birthday today

MUMBAI: Vidya Balan turns 33 on January 1. The actress plans on bringing in her birthday and the New Year at her parents' place in Khar, Mumbai.

Initially, she was planning to spend the special day with friends, but given the fact that she's been on the road promoting No One Killed Jessica for the last few weeks, Vidya wants to be with her mom and dad.

A source close to Vidya says, "She's been in and out of Mumbai for the last six months. Earlier she was shooting for Sujoy Ghosh's Kahaani for almost two months.

After that she got into the promotion of Jessica travelling to almost every major city. Her busy schedule hasn't given her any chance to spend time with her parents."

Since her birthday and New Year fall on the same day, Vidya has a double reason to celebrate.

Despite buying a new apartment in Khar, the actress wasn't able to renovate the place or spend time in it. Her New Year resolution is to buy some antique furniture and do up her place.

Every year, Vidya prefers to keep her birthday a low-key affair. Rather than go out with friends, she enjoys spending quality time with her parents. "This year will be no different. She will bring in her birthday and the New Year at her parents' house. Since she doesn't believe in cutting a cake, her mom plans to prepare a sweet dish on the occasion," a source said.

After the release of No One Killed Jessica, Vidya plans to start preparing for her next film Balaji's Dirty Picture based on the life of Silk Smitha.
source: geo.tv

IMF issues stern financial warning to Pakistan

WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) issued a stern warning to Pakistan to take steps to cut its spiraling budget deficit, a top US financial daily reported.

In an official letter to the Government of Pakistan, the IMF warned that the state of the nation's economy is far worse than previously realized and urged immediate fiscal belt-tightening measures, according to newspaper.

The IMF withheld $3.5 billion in 2010 from its total $11.3 billion loan package for Pakistan in a bid to pressure the country to take action.

Pakistan's budget deficit is already 6%, above a 4% target, due to failure to bring in a general sales tax and curb expenditures, which are promises made by Pakistan to the IMF in return for lending.

Pakistan also needs to do more to strengthen the independence of its central bank, the IMF says.

Analysts said further delay in the implementation on tax reform could lead to an even larger deficit.
source: geo.tv

30 dead in Nigeria market blast

ABUJA: At least 30 people have been killed in an explosion at a market in Nigeria's capital Abuja, state television has reported.

The blast occurred at Mammy market on Friday close to the Sani Abacha army barracks, a busy area where people meet to eat and shop.

A witness said he was approaching the market to join New Year's Eve celebrations when he heard the explosion.

"People ran in different directions. There were scores of bodies - dead and wounded. They used army trucks to pack them away," Eric, who regularly uses the market, said.

Al Jazeera's Yvonne Ndege, reporting from Abuja, said: "The attack occurred in an area where people were gathering for the New Year celebrations."

In the past week, violence has flared in Nigeria after bombings on December 24 in the central city of Jos.

At least 80 people were killed in ensuing violence between Christian and Muslim residents.

Friday's attack came as police detained 92 suspected members of the Boko Haram group.

A police spokesman said on Friday that Boko Haram, which is thought to oppose Western education and culture, was behind the deaths of at least 16 people in three attacks this week in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state.
soruce: geo.tv

Firing on new-year eve hurts 70 in Khi

KARACHI: The number of wounded persons including children and women has surpassed 70 amid gunfire incidents related to new-year celebrations in separate areas here in metropolis on Friday night, Geo News reported.

Firing continued more than 2 hours.

According to sources, though Sindh Home Ministry had imposed Section 144, banning carrying and display of arms in city even then hundreds of thousands of merry-makers and revelers welcomed in the year 2011 by resorting to aerial firing in almost every part here.
source: geo.tv

Three US drone strikes kill 15 in North Waziristan

MIRANSHAH: US drones killed at least fifteen people in three strikes in North Waziristan on Saturday, security officials said.

"US drones fired multiple missiles on two suspected hideouts and a vehicle. At least fifteen suspected militants have been killed and many others injured. The drones are still flying over the area," one security official in Miranshah said.

Another security official in Miranshah confirmed the attacks in Mandi Khel and Ghoresti areas of the agency.

Mandi Khel and the surrounding area is a known stronghold of the militant Haqqani network.

The men who died were thought to be attached to militant commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur, security officials in Miranshah and Peshawar said.
source: geo.tv

Ineffective laws helping terrorists: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Friday sought help from the parliamentarians to make appropriate laws to curb terrorism and appealed to the PML-N and MQM leaders to show maturity.

He was addressing the National Assembly today. The prime minister pointed out that most terrorists walked away due to lack of adequate laws to deal with the menace.

The PM said that foreign media was trying to taint the image of Pakistani institutions by giving false news.

Taking the National Assembly into confidence on the news items reported by foreign media about security agencies of the country, he said Pakistani security agencies have no need to violate human rights.

"If our agencies have to violate human rights then they would have asked us in meetings to make the anti terrorists law ineffective," he asserted.

He said Anti Terrorist Act needed to be improved because thousands of terrorists who were apprehended by the law enforcement agencies were bailed out from the courts and again indulged in terrorist activities.

"I will not blame the judiciary but we have to improve the Anti Terrorist Act," he said adding that terrorists have killed thousands of innocent people and personnel of security agencies.

He called for making the anti terrorist law more effective to ensure zero tolerance for anti- state elements.

He said foreign media wants to defame Pakistani institutions by giving an impression that Pakistani agencies are violating human rights.

Gilani said Islam is the religion of peace and tolerance but the foreign media tried to portray wrong image of the religion and Pakistan as well.

Referring to heated arguments between two political parties of the country, he said: "We have to show political maturity and avoid saying anything about political leadership. The political leadership is very respectable".

He said media also have a major responsibility in this regard and it should report facts so that the facts may not be distorted
source: geo.tv

A Digital Tour of Paris

The next time you pack for a trip to Europe, leave those hefty guide books at home.

DK Publishing, the company behind the popular Eyewitness Travel Guides, is producing its guides as apps for the iPad. First up, Paris, followed by London, then New York.

The digital Paris guide is organized similarly to its printed counterpart, with categories like Top Attractions, Area by Area and History of Paris. Included are an interactive map of the city and its neighborhoods, detailed drawings of the top sites to visit and illustrated walking tours.

Also included are suggestions for places to eat, drink, shop and sleep. Need to know the difference between a bistro and a brasserie? What kind of wine or water to order? Where smoking is allowed? How to use a payphone? The 236MB app provides useful tips, including terms to know, ratings, pricing, tipping and how to get around by rail, bus, car and foot.

An interactive map pinpoints hotels, restaurants and other Parisian accommodations, which is convenient if you’re staying, for instance, in the Marais and want to find a nearby cafe, bar, post office or Metro stop. A tap on a pinpoint reveals more information, like an address, a telephone number and hours of operation. To help navigate the streets of Paris, the iPad’s GPS chip reveals your location on the map, which can flip over to reveal a color-coded Metro map.

A new feature, Paris in Pictures, includes dozens of color photographs of Parisian attractions to provide inspiration for what to do while you’re there. Still can’t decide? The Paris app has suggestions for exploring, including the must-see churches, museums, parks, gardens and 90-minute walking tours.

The best new feature is a heart button that helps you personalize your trip. Tap on the button, and the app will remember your favorite shops, restaurants and attractions. All you have to do is remember to pack your iPad.
source: gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com

10 Ways to Get the Most Out of Technology

Your gadgets and computers, your software and sites — they are not working as well as they should. You need to make some tweaks.

But the tech industry has given you the impression that making adjustments is difficult and time-consuming. It is not.

And so below are 10 things to do to improve your technological life. They are easy and (mostly) free. Altogether, they should take about two hours; one involves calling your cable or phone company, so that figure is elastic. If you do them, those two hours will pay off handsomely in both increased free time and diminished anxiety and frustration. You can do it.

GET A SMARTPHONE Why: Because having immediate access to your e-mail, photos, calendars and address books, not to mention vast swaths of the Internet, makes life a little easier.

How: This does not have to be complicated. Upgrade your phone with your existing carrier; later, when you are an advanced beginner, you can start weighing the pluses and minuses of your carrier versus another. Using AT&T? Get a refurbished iPhone 3GS for $29. Verizon? Depending on what’s announced next week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, get its version of the iPhone, or a refurbished Droid Incredible for $100. Sprint? Either the LG Optimus S or the Samsung Transform are decent Android phones that cost $50. T-Mobile users can get the free LG Optimus T.

STOP USING INTERNET EXPLORER Why: Because, while the latest version has some real improvements, Internet Explorer is large, bloated with features and an example of old-style Microsoft excess.

How: Switch to either Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome. Both are first-rate, speedy browsers, and both are free. It remains a tight race between the two, but Chrome has had the lead lately in features and performance. Both browsers include useful things like bookmark syncing. That means that your bookmarks folder will be the same on every computer using Chrome or Firefox, and will update if you change anything.

UPLOAD YOUR PHOTOS TO THE CLOUD Why: Because you’ll be really sorry if an errant cup of coffee makes its way onto your PC, wiping away years of photographic memories. Creating copies of your digital photos on an online service is a painless way to ensure they’ll be around no matter what happens to your PC. It is also an easy way to share the photos with friends and family.

How: There are many good, free choices. To keep things simple, use Picasa, Google’s service. After your initial upload — which may take a while, so set it up before you go to sleep — you will have a full backup of your photo library. And by inviting people to view it, privately, with passwords, you will not have to e-mail photos anymore. Anytime you have new pictures, upload them to Picasa, send a message to your subscribers, and they can view your gallery at their leisure.

GET MUSIC OFF YOUR COMPUTER Why: Because music bought digitally wants to be freed, not imprisoned in your portable player or laptop. It wants to be sent around the home, filling rooms like good old-fashioned hi-fi.

How: Using iTunes for your digital music? Buy Apple’s Airport Express for $99 and connect it to your stereo. When you play music on your computer, you can stream it to the Express and, therefore, your stereo’s speakers. Have an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad? Download Apple’s free Remote app and you will be able to control your music from anywhere in the house.

BACK UP YOUR DATA Why: Because photos are not the only important things on your computer. With online backup services, you do not have to buy any equipment; you just install software, which sits on secure servers and runs in the background, regularly updating a mirror image of all your files while you spend time on more important things, like confirming that Ben Gazzara really was the bad guy in “Road House” (he was).

How: Go to sosbackup.com. Pay $80 a year. Install the software. Sleep easy.

SET UP A FREE FILE-SHARING SERVICE Why: Because while e-mailing yourself files is a perfectly decent workaround, there are easier, more elegant ways to move files around — and they do not cost anything, either.

How: Go to dropbox.com and set up a free account. You will then get an icon that sits on your desktop. Drag and drop files onto that icon, and they are immediately copied to the cloud. The free account gives you up to two gigabytes of disk space; 50- and 100-gigabyte are also available, but they cost $10 or $20 a month.

Set up your account on all your other computers, and they all have the access to the same files. You can set up shared, private and public folders, and apps for iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry and Android mean you can gain access to shared files from anywhere.

GET FREE ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE Why: Because attacks on unwitting users are more widespread and tactics are growing more advanced.

How: Windows users should download Avast Free Antivirus. Mac users can download iAntiVirus Free Edition. Both applications will provide a basic level of security against a variety of so-called malware. And they cost zero.

GET A BETTER DEAL FROM YOUR CABLE, PHONE AND INTERNET PROVIDER Why: Because it does not take much to get them to give you free (or cheaper) services. These companies are generally indifferent to customer needs, but they are quick to cough up discounts — if you ask.

How: Just call and ask — they will probably give you something. Other tactics: Measure your Internet speed, using dslreports.com/speedtest; if it is less than what you are paying for, ask for a free upgrade. Or ask to speak to the cancellation department. That usually scares them.

BUY A LOT OF CHARGING CABLES Why: Because you should never have a gadget’s battery die on you, and they are cheap. Smartphone user? Have a charging cable at the office, one in the car, and a couple at home. Laptops? Have enough chargers in the house, so you are not tethered to the den when the power runs low.

How: eBay. Search for what you need with terms like “original” or “oem” (original equipment manufacturer). You will often see accessories for as little as one-tenth their normal retail price. Buy them by the gross.

CALIBRATE YOUR HDTV Why: Because that awesome 1080p plasma or LCD TV you bought has factory settings for color, brightness, contrast and so forth that are likely to be out of whack. They need to be adjusted.

How: Order Spears and Munsil High Definition Benchmark: Blu-ray Edition, a DVD, for $25. Its regimen of tests and patterns will help you adjust your TV’s settings to more natural levels. After you use it, you may want to fine-tune the TV some more, but you can do so knowing you are getting the most out of your display.
source: www.nytimes.com

Tower Inferno With Dolly v/s Ashmit and Veena

The Bigg Boss house was in complete shambles on Wednesday’s episode as the hot headed Dolly Bindra began the day by fighting out loud and strong with Ashmit Patel and Veena Malik due to the fact that they had not cleaned the kitchen area properly.

The daring Dolly Bindra got into quite a spat with the two love birds due to this and it was a day full of bitter memories for all the six inmates as it was quite evident that no one could see eye to eye on any issue in the house.

The task of burning the logs given by Bigg Boss was quite a burden on the inmates adding to the fact that they had to grind out their own flour out of the cereals and millets given which sort of tired and fagged out all the energy and patience from every member.

Thus with a trivial issue of getting the kitchen platform cleaned, the arguments went off to so many other areas and it ultimately was akin to opening a can of worms as Dolly Bindra going against Ashmit and Veena’s cozying up with each other inappropriately and the two love birds criticizing her manly behavior.

All this was enough to make the house look like a tower inferno and thus making the cold winter day quite a day of hot temperatures flying around. The other three inmates Khali, Shweta Tiwari and Sameer Soni were forced to listen to both parties and their woes!

Watch out for the latest from the house right here.
source:  www.santabanta.com

Tees Maar Khan

Director: Farah Khan

Rating: **

Farah Khan tried all the industrial tricks to give a real hit during the Christmas with the hit pair Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif in Tees Maar Khan. However, all the hype created around ‘Sheila Ki Jawani’ could not safeguard this latest Farah Khan flick.

Akshaye Khanna plays a superstar Aatish Kapoor, who dreams to win an Academy Award one day. Katrina is a wannabe actress Anya, who also happens to be the girlfriend of Tees Maar Khan (Akshay Kumar).

The conman disguised as a Hollywood filmmaker ‘Tees Maar Khan’ plans a big train robbery of 10, 000 kilograms of antiques and goes for a fake shooting of a film. He even goes on signing Aatish Kapoor as the hero and appoints some villagers for this purpose.

But then, the viewers will scratch their hair to find logic behind Aatish signing for the act. The film does not have the typical flavor of Farah Khan films.

It seems she messed up the things after signing Akshay and Katrina or more concentration went to the much talked item number ‘Sheila Ki Jawani’. The spice factor is missing and tries to go by the slapstick way.

The film is a remake of 1966 movie Caccia Alla Volpe but one change in the Hindi version is that the robbery is shifted to train than the original ship.

However, Farah could play around the interesting train plot and somewhere the magic and charm got lost. It seems Sheila is the only spicy thing in the story with her raunchy choreography.
source: www.santabanta.com

Sonakshi Sinha: Sallu Ko Chhod Ke Jaaon Kahan?

While Karan Johar is keen to cast Sonakshi Sinha in his next film where SRK plays an eligible professor, he wonders whether she is ready to do a film outside Salman's creative ring

After a blockbuster with Salman Khan, and two more projects on the anvil with him, Sonakshi Sinha has got Shah Rukh Khan interested.

Apparently, Karan Johar is keen on signing her for his next venture where SRK plays a young, eligible professor. Sonakshi might play the campus hottie, a la Rani Mukherjee in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

The question that some in the industry, especially SRK's camp, are asking is whether Sinha is open to offers outside Salman Khan's creative radius?

Says a source, "So far, she has signed three films, two of them (Kick and Dabangg 2) are with Salman. The third project, Joker, is also affiliated to him because the director, Shirish Kunder, is close to Salman, and is in fact also directing Kick.

While Karan and Shah Rukh are keen on signing Sonakshi, they are wondering if the Salman-Farah group is supervising Sonakshi's career. "

Sinha laughs off the suggestion, though. "Aisa kuch nahin hai. Salman has been very supportive and helpful. Neither he nor Farah or anyone else is advising me on my career. I've the best advice at home.

And If I've not signed films with actors my age, it's because they've been busy with other projects. Besides, Salman and Akshay Kumar are superstars. Their age is of no consequence to me or the audience. "

Joker is going to be shot in 3D, and shooting starts in January.
source: www.santabanta.com

Spirituality bug bites Katrina, leaves glamour for Satsang

Katrina gets set to play a woman robed in ochre and in search of spirituality in the Prakash Jha film

After opting out of Prakash Jha's Aarakshan, Katrina Kaif plays the central character in Satsang, the director's upcoming film exposing the multi-billion global religion factory in India.

After a critically acclaimed performance in Raajneeti, Kat seems dead serious about getting into serious non-glamorous roles.

However, 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, who played a pivotal character in the director's Raajneeti.

In Satsang, she doesn't just play the central character, but also a semi-autobiographical character. The character of a woman from the West in search of Oriental spiritualism is modelled on a real-life character.

This will be a startling departure from her glamorous image.The decision to do Satsang came after much brainstorming between the actress and director.

Even before Raajneeti, Jha was sure that Kat was perfect for the part in Satsang in terms of physical appearance.

He realised she could deliver the strength required by the central character in Satsang while shooting for the political thriller.

In Satsang, Kat will don ochre robes and will appear without makeup. She would also have to get informed on the intricacies of the multi-billion religious industry in India."

KK's up to the task. She says, confidently, "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."
source: www.santabanta.com

Ram Gopal Varma takes a dig at Farah Khan

Farah Khan is not facing criticism from the viewers and critics only for her latest release Tees Maar Khan. The choreographer turned director has got the best comment from fellow filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, whose Aag became the best example of a worst film.

After a long time, RGV has now got the opportunity to take a dig on someone else’s film and he did not miss the opportunity. Taking to Twitter, RGV posted that his Aag seems like Sholay in front of Farah Khan’s recently released Tees Maar Khan.

However RGV made it clear that Farah is a close friend of him and he could not manage to watch the film yet and his tweet was just based on messages forwarded to him by other friends.

RGV said that he was fed up of seeing his Aag being always compared with a bad film. However, he should be a happy man now because Farah Khan has joined the league after Tees Maar Khan. The movie was creating lots of buzz before the release with its popular item number ‘Sheila Ki Jawani’ but the entire craze faded as soon as the film released.

RGV has even gone on saying that TMK is ‘Farah Ki Aag’. Well, it seems that RGV has also accepted his film to be a standard bad film! We will wait to see Farah’s reaction on this comment.
source: www.santabanta.com

Arjun Rampal turns pricey, loses Housefull 2

Bollywood actor Arjun Rampal is flying in the seventh sky these days after the success of his multi-starrer film Rajneeti and doing the lead role in We Are family with Kareena Kapoor and Kajol. The actor has turned very pricey these days thus losing the roles in the sequels of his movies.

Earlier, Arjun lost his role in the sequel of Don to Kunal Kapoor and now he has been replaced by Rahul Khanna in the sequel of Housefull. Rampal had reportedly quoted a huge amount of Rs 2.5 crore to producer Sajid Nadiadwala.

Hosuefull 2 will have new faces like John Abraham, Paresh Rawal and Nana Patekar. Director Sajid Khan and producer Sajid Nadiadwala found Arjun’s demand too high, so they finally replaced him. Both of them agreed to cast Rahul Khanna, who has been known mainly for his off-beat roles.

A source has been quoted saying that Hosuefull 2 will also have new female faces like Genelia D’souza and Sonakshi Sinha. However, Lara Dutta will continue to be one of the leading ladies.

It will be interesting to see if the new cast can create the same magic as done by Akshay Kumar and Ritesh Deshmukh.
source: www.santabanta.com

Akshay throws beach party for B'day girl Twinkle

Akshay Kumar made Twinkle's 36th birthday a big affair, invited friends from all over the world

Akshay Kumar brought in wife Twinkle's 36th birthday (December 29) by throwing a beach party for her at their bungalow on Anjuna beach in Goa.

Says a source close to Khiladi Kumar, "Akshay always makes Twinkle's birthdays very special and plans them down to the minutest details.

This year was no exception even though he was busy with the release of his film Tees Maar Khan last week. He has called about 30 of his and Twinkle's close friends from all over the world.

Their son Aarav, Tina's mother Dimple and sister Rinke are also there sharing in the festivities."

The source adds, "The couple had a double cause to celebrate as TMK has taken the third highest opening this year. It's a huge get together after many years and all of them even plan to ring in the New Year's in Goa.

Last year, Akki flew in Tina's best friends from the US followed by a week of partying.

This year the crowd just got bigger. Kumar also invited Tina's sister Rinke and her husband and all their children at the bungalow as well as his buddies Sajid Nadiadwala and his family and Sajid Khan.

Twinkle's birthday on the beach last night. Akshay had the entire stretch of beach on his bungalow decorated with candles, lamps and flowers."

A couple of years ago, Akshay had gifted his biwi a Bentley on her birthday while last year he had gifted her a whopper emerald ring studded with diamonds. This year it's expected to be a huge 'sparkling' surprise again.
source: www.santabanta.com

Guinness World Record set by Karachi girls – SAMAA video

Ubaid Awan’s report on a Guinness world record set by a group of 19 female students by cramming into a Smart Car in Karachi.  
Source: www.samaa.tv

England complete victory in fourth test, retain Ashes

MELBOURNE: England retained the Ashes in Australia for the first time in 24 years when they won the fourth test by an innings and 157 runs on Wednesday.

The victory, sealed before lunch on the fourth day, gave holders England a 2-1 lead in the series, which will be completed with the fifth and final test in Sydney next week.

The England players embraced and pumped their fists in the air upon the final wicket as thunderous cheers rang out from England's "Barmy Army" of supporters who had sung joyously throughout the morning at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

"We worked very hard to achieve this," said England captain Andrew Strauss. "To know that we're taking that urn home with us is very special. It's been a really top quality performance from the lads this week.

"We're very excited, it's special occasion the MCG game and to come out here and retain the Ashes is something that will live long in all our memories."

Australia skipper Ricky Ponting was gracious in defeat.

"It's been a tough week, to be beaten by an innings and plenty is obviously a disappointing result, but you've got to give full credit to England with the way they've played their cricket from the start of the tour," he said, adding that his own batting performance had been "horrible".

Australia had resumed on 169 for six, still facing a 246-run deficit to make England bat again but lost their remaining wickets shortly before lunch to be all out for 258.

Chris Tremlett removed Mitchell Johnson for six in the second over of the morning, the Australian paceman pushing half-heartedly at a fuller delivery that took an inside edge before crashing into off-stump.

Peter Siddle defiantly slogged his way to 40 before belting a lofted drive off Graeme Swann straight to Kevin Pietersen at long on.

The injured Ryan Harris did not take his place leaving Ben Hilfenhaus to take the crease. The paceman was out to Tim Bresnan for a fourth-ball duck, caught behind to wicketkeeper Matt Prior to complete the innings.

Brad Haddin enjoyed a swashbuckling partnership with Siddle, striking four boundaries and a six off Graeme Swann, but was left stranded on 55 not out.

Strauss's team became the first to retain the Ashes in Australia since Mike Gatting lead the tourists to a 2-1 series win in 1986/87, the decisive victory also sealed at the MCG.

Tim Bresnan, called into the side for Steve Finn, was the pick of England's bowlers in the second innings, finishing with 4-50 after ripping through Australia's top order after tea on day three to quash the hosts' slim hopes of salvaging the test.

The win was a stunning turnaround from the third test in Perth, where England slumped to a 267-run defeat that levelled the series 1-1.

Australia's resurgence on the fast WACA wicket proved little more than a mirage when their batsmen, brittle throughout the series, were skittled for a first innings total of 98, a record low against the tourists at the MCG.

England pressed the advantage by romping to 157 for no loss on the first day and anchored by a sublime unbeaten century by Jonathan Trott, who was named man of the match, posted a first innings total of 513 on day three.

That gave the hosts a 415-run deficit to make England bat again and any hope of a fightback was quashed after tea when Australia's top order were blown away by Bresnan.

They limped to 169 for six at stumps and the victory early on day four for England was all but a formality.

"We owe it to ourselves, we owe it to our fans around Australia to bounce back quickly and show a bit of pride in what we do for our country," Ponting said of the final test in Sydney.

"Although we can't win the Ashes, there's a good chance for us to level the series."

Strauss said England would be celebrating hard on Tuesday but be back fighting hard until the last ball in Sydney, however.

"We came here to win this series, we've retained the Ashes but it would be a very disappointing if we didn't manage to win the series." AGENCIES 
source: www.samaa.tv

Four dead as car crashes into tree in Lahore

LAHORE: A speedy car rammed into a tree in Lahore early Wednesday morning, killing four people and leaving another seriously wounded.

The crash happened in Gulberg locality of provincial capital.

According to Gulberg Police, five men riding a car were racing with another car. The driver lost control and struck his car with a tree. As a result, Raja Tahir, Raja Umar, Ali Akbar and Umar Daraz perished on the scene.

While the fifth person, Irfan, suffered serious wounds and was rushed to a local hospital. SAMAA  
                                                                                    source: www.samaa.tv

President Zardari, Governor Ebad hold crisis talks

Staff Report

KARACHI: Sindh Governor Dr. Ishratul Ebad held a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari at Bilawal House and conveyed to him his party’s concerns.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Federal Law Minister Babar Awan also attended the talks.

Earlier, Interior Minister Rehman Malik visited Governor House and held a one-on-one meeting with Governor Ebad.

According to sources, the Interior Minister would make a visit to MQM’s Headquarter Nine Zero today.

On Tuesday, MQM’s federal ministers, Dr. Farooq Sattar and Babar Ghauri, sent their resignations to President Asif Ali Zardari.

The relations between the two coalition partners remain tense after Zulfiqar Mirza’s provocative speech against the MQM. SAMAA  
source: www.samaa.tv

Zardari calls PPP Sindh ministers meeting

Staff report

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari will hold a meeting with ministers of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Sindh at Bilawal House on Wednesday.

The meeting is slated to mull over tense relations between PPP and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and performance of Sindh ministers.

According to sources, bad performance of certain ministers is likely to spur action against them during the meeting.

President Zardari will be briefed about the Local Bodies system in Sindh as well, the sources added.

Meantime, MQM’s Federal Minister of Overseas Pakistanis, Farooq Sattar, and Federal Minister of Ports and Shipping, Babar Ghauri today dispatched their resignations to President Asif Ali Zardari.

The MQM ministers sent their resignations to President Zardari through fax.

The statement issued here from MQM’s Center Nine Zero, said the party’s reservations still exist, adding, ‘The government neither took MQM into confidence nor did have any consultations with it.’

It should be mentioned here that MQM decided to sever ties with the federal cabinet yesterday night. SAMAA  
source: www.samaa.tv

McCullum rested from last T20 against Pakistan

WELLINGTON: New Zealand's Brendon McCullum will miss Thursday's third and final Twenty20 international against Pakistan, having missed the first two with a back injury, New Zealand Cricket said on Wednesday. With New Zealand winning both the Twenty20 matches in Auckland and Hamilton, the Christchurch match has been rendered inconsequential, prompting the selectors to provide McCullum further rest ahead of the two-match test series against Pakistan starting on Jan 7, followed by six one-day internationals against the same opponents. "Brendon got through the fitness test well and we are pleased with the progress he has made," selector Glenn Turner said in a statement. "Although the signs are good the selection panel think the sensible approach is to rest Brendon for the final Twenty20 international against Pakistan. "This is in view of the heavy workload Brendon will shoulder in the upcoming test and (one-day) series. We believe the extra rest will be of benefit in the longer term." McCullum sustained the back injury during New Zealand's tour of India in November. AGENCIES source: www.samaa.tv

PM declines to take Swati back into cabinet

Staff report

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Tuesday declined to take sacked minister Azam Swati into the federal cabinet, saying he is willing to take other ministers from Jamiat-i-Ulema Islam (JUI-F).

According to sources, PM Gilani refused to take again the removed federal minister into the cabinet, saying the minister in question went against the discipline.

In return, Prime Minister offered Maulana Fazlur Rehman that he is geared up to take various other JUI-F ministers into the federal cabinet.

According to sources, the President House has ramped up their efforts to bring Maulana round thanks to the deadlock between PM and Maulana Fazl; hence, a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and JUI-F chief is expected soon. SAMAA  
source: www.samaa.tv

Indian troops open unprovoked firing across LoC

Indian troops open unprovoked firing across LoC

Staff Report

SIALKOT: Indian troops opened unprovoked firing from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Sialkot at Shakargarh sector on Wednesday morning, SAMAA reported.

There are no immediate reports of casualties in the firing, which continued for an hour.

Around 35 hand grenades and 1100 rounds were fired at Imran Shaheed Post in Sialkot

The cross-border violation ended after Punjab Rangers opened retaliatory fire. SAMAA  
source:  www.samaa.tv

Finger Sized Animals

                             
















































































































































































































































source: streakr.com