China launches Anti-Satellite missile

China has not yet confirmed the test, but the reports of the Jan. 11 incident are now widely accepted as accurate that Beijing used a ground-based medium-range ballistic missile to destroy an aging Chinese weather satellite that was orbiting Earth at an altitude of 865 kilometres, according to U.S. intelligence reports.

The satellite was only about a metre in length, so its destruction by a ballistic missile was a highly impressive show of precision targeting.Other countries are watching with concern. The satellite-killing missile test has fuelled anxieties about a Chinese military buildup that has already shocked the experts with some remarkable breakthroughs. It could trigger a new arms race in space. And it has exposed a key vulnerability in the U.S. military doctrine, with its mounting dependence on satellite communications and satellite spying.
Bush administration officials have said that they have not been unable to get even the most basic diplomatic response from China after their detection of a successful test to destroy a satellite 10 days ago.
They were also uncertain whether China's top leaders, including President Hu Jintao, were fully aware of the test or the reaction it would engender, the New York Times quoted the officials as saying.

Last summer, the U.S. administration declared space vital to national security. The statement was a strong signal that Washington has no intention of accepting Chinese and Russian proposals for the demilitarization of space.
Shortly afterward, China used a ground-based laser to "paint" a U.S. satellite, showing its space technology to be more powerful than expected. China also surprised many analysts by unveiling the Jian-10 fighter-bomber jet, said to be superior to its Russian counterparts and putting China at the leading edge of military aviation.

China's latest defence "white paper," released by the Central Military Commission at the end of last month, contains some ambitious goals for military modernization. With a focus on high-tech "information warfare," the paper proclaims that China must be "capable of winning digitalized warfare" by the middle of this century.

75 killed in a Blast in Bhaghdad

Around 75 were killed and more wounded in two simultaneous car bombs in Baghdad.Last week 70 were killed in a blast in the Baghdad university surroundings.

Source

What CNN and BBC do not show you

These are the pics from the war of Iraq.
willthomas.net
infoshop.org
newstandardnews
robert-fisk.com
whatreallyhappened.com
hrw.org
thewe.cc

Saddam's Last Words

Baghdad - Ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussein has urged Iraqis to assume "tolerance" toward those who betrayed them, expressing his readiness to forgive those who helped kill his two sons Uday and Qusay in July 2003, according to Khalil Duleimi, the head of the former leader's defence team. Source

"Down with the traitors, the Americans, the spies and the Persians."
Hussein had reportedly asked that, as Iraq's commander in chief, he be sent before a firing squad. Instead, he was condemned to die on the gallows - like a garden-variety Iraqi criminal or thug.
'This is my end, this is the end of my life, but I started my life as a fighter and as a political militant, so death does not frighten me."' Source

"Here I offer myself in sacrifice.... If my soul goes down this path [of martyrdom] it will face God in serenity," he wrote in a letter released by his lawyer. "O faithful people, I bid you farewell as my soul goes to God the compassionate. Long live Iraq. Long live Palestine. Long live jihad and the mujahideen. God is greatest." Source

"Before putting the rope around his neck, Saddam shouted 'Allahu Akbar. The nation will be victorious and Palestine is Arab,"' Source

"He was reciting, as it was his custom, 'God is great,' and also some political slogans like 'down with the Americans' and 'down with the invaders,'" Haddad said. "He said we are going to heaven and our enemies will rot in hell, and he also called for forgiveness and love among Iraqis, but also stressed that the Iraqis should fight the Americans and the Persians."
Hussein refused a black hood with a shake of his head. Then he appeared to agree to let one of his executioners tie a black scarf around his neck - presumably to prevent injuries that might disfigure his corpse. Source

BBC: But did he say anything else?
Judge Haddad: He said, "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is God's messenger." - Source

Saddam is Dead

Saddam Hussain was executed at 6 am Iraqi timing.But nothing changed in Iraq.Also view this article nytimes.com

What People are saying about Saddam being Hanged :

Added: Saturday, 30 December, 2006, 11:18 GMT 11:18 UK
I fail to understand how/why there is so little revealed about the trial of Saddam Hussein. Even though I am a Shiya Muslim,I can not call this a fair trial when the people who tried him are corrupt. Can someone tell me why each and every president of the US should not also be hanged? Ronald Raigon for his crimes in Nicaragua? Bush/Blair for the countless lives under their belt, Israeli leaders?....Shame on the muslims for letting it come to this.
It's a sick world we live in..a "western" world
-Anwar Hussain, Baghdad


Added: Saturday, 30 December, 2006, 09:08 GMT 09:08 UK
This was not done for Iraq or Iraqies, the hanging was Americas way of saying to the dictators around the world "do as we tell you, not as you think, we own your country and all its wealth or you will end up like saddam". Saddam was evil and commited crimes against his people and others, we have no time for him but Iraq today is 1000% worse than it ever was under Saddam, this should be a wake up call that what America will bring is only Death and Distruction.
-Hasan, Rawa Iraq


Added: Saturday, 30 December, 2006, 07:45 GMT 07:45 UK
Now I wonder American President Bush hails the death of Saddam Hussain as a victory to the humanity. Bu has he ever thought of the death of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians killed by his troops under occupation. Who is going to be hanged for those crimes. Does Bush has any record on those killings.
Edison, Rome


The Americans invasion of Iraq and murder of Saddam is a perversion of any notion of justice and is a crime against humanity.

Bush and Blair should be held to account in the same manner.

God willing.
Philip, Glasgow


Added: Saturday, 30 December, 2006, 10:09 GMT 10:09 UK
Margaret Beckett has given a typical politician's response to the news of Saddam's execution... but I think she, and other British Government ministers, should have the moral courage to acknowledge that Saddam's trial was not conducted fairly and that execution can never be justified no matter what the crime committed.

The world may be better off without this man but that does not justify state-sanctioned murder.
Jeff Buck, Nottingham


Added: Saturday, 30 December, 2006, 09:19 GMT 09:19 UK
The death of Saddam Hussein should not be celebrated. I judge from his reactions shown on television, and through his defence lawyer that he finally accepted the concequences of his actions. Since the downfall of Saddam, the people have been violent and the majority do not welcome democracy. Im not for the death penalty, George Bush and Tony Blair are now just as guilty as he is, as many innocent people have been killed for a war that was not sanctioned. They should also be held accountable.
Christopher Kirby, Aldershot

Added: Saturday, 30 December, 2006, 11:05 GMT 11:05 UK
This form of punishment is barbaric. It shows the new government of Iraq & USA are no different to Saddam or his regiem. In order for people to live together you have to have tolerance there could have been a much more constructive punishment. He has not been held to account for all the other attrocities he committed. We don't condone it in England so how can we anywhere else? I fear Blair is dragging us into a much more sinister 2007.
Ruth Smoker, New Forest


Added: Saturday, 30 December, 2006, 11:49 GMT 11:49 UK
Putting someone to death – whether murder, judicial fiat, war or what ever – is morally reprehensible. Was Saddam a bad person? Perhaps. Did anyone have the right to kill him…certainly not. Is the “world a better place?” Decidedly not.

All we do is stoop to the level of the lowest common denominator, which mind you is where Mr. Bush seems to reside.

Next stop the gutter?
Ben, California


Added: Saturday, 30 December, 2006, 09:12 GMT 09:12 UK
is it really a punishment or simply a revenge?
'a milestone on the road to democracy' or rather to more atrocities and chaos? will ignorant bush understand that it's violence that causes violence? death of one man won't change the situation in iraq;furthermore, who gave us right to kill others-hanging him we've proved to be as wicked and wretched as he was
simon, poland


Added: Saturday, 30 December, 2006, 11:21 GMT 11:21 UK
It sounds to me like: "We can penetrate to your country whenever we want and sentence your leader to death penalty front a fake court, execute him quick but set so called democracy slowly for a price of a few hunderd ordinary lives per day.."
One way or other around 650.000 Iraqian died since the occupation, since US&UK ignored the very sensitive dynamics of Middle East. We'll celebrate new year on "thin ice".
I have so much antipathy towards Saddam. Misery is, now he became a heroic victim.
Cuneyt Guzes, Istanbul

You will find these responses at BBC

People keep saying and showing the pics of Happy Iraqis enjoying and dancing on knowing that Saddam was dead (here is the proof).But does it justify the killing of a person?How many people wont jump and party when they come to know that suppose Bush is dead? Many not only in Iraq but all over the world.Does it mean that Bush should be killed?

British Church Leader Speaks Out About Iraq War

The spiritual leader of the Anglican church has written an article criticizing the U.S. and British governments for their roles in the Iraq war.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, says in an article published in the London
Saturday that military actions in the Middle East put Christians in the region at risk.

The Archbishop said that Middle Eastern Christians are frequently seen as supporters of the West. He says the war has troubled relations between Muslims and Christians in countries such as Iraq, Egypt and Turkey.

The Archbishop wrote specifically about the isolation of Christians in the city of Bethlehem in the West Bank. Christians revere Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus.
Archbishop Williams has been visiting the Holy Land before Christmas with other church leaders from Britain.source

Human Olfactory sense is Underrated

Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley conceived an experiment of their own which, though it looked funny at times, came up with some serious evidence. It appears people can follow a scent surprisingly well, having nothing else to rely on but their noses. Those who participated in the experiment were blindfolded and asked to wear sound-muffling headphones as well as thick gloves, kneepads and elbow pads. A line of string was dipped in chocolate scent and then embedded in the grass, and the participants crawled away on all fours, trying to follow the track (this being the funny part of the research); they couldn’t see the string or feel it.

The serious part came when researchers found that their subjects were actually close on the trail – slowly but surely the people followed the scent and even took turns as the trail did.

The purpose of the experiment was to ascertain whether having two nostrils spaced slightly apart helps track a scent, just as having two ears enables the brain to locate the source of a sound.
When each nostril was blocked, the participants' scent-tracking accuracy dropped dramatically.

The study indicates that there is a strong purpose for humans having precisely two nostrils: the human brain compares data it gets from each nostril to get clues about where a smell is coming from. The Berkeley study demystifies the theory that says human nostrils are too close together to get distinct signals.

By revealing how noses locate smells, scientists hope to lay the groundwork for electronic noses that could detect hazards like land mines. The work was funded in part by the Army Research Office.
Reference

Baby with heart outside body has surgery

MIAMI - Using a piece of Gore-Tex fabric to make their repairs, doctors performed corrective surgery on a baby born with his heart outside his chest, and said Wednesday that the youngster should be able to lead a close-to-normal life.
Naseem Hasni underwent surgery to put his heart inside his chest hours after being delivered by Caesarean section Oct. 31 at Holtz Children's Hospital.more

U.N. slams rights abuses in Gaza

Jerusalem: The top U.N. human rights official said on Monday Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip had suffered ``massive'' human rights violations.
Louise Arbour, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, travelled to the town of Beit Hanoun, where Israeli artillery killed 18 members of a single family two weeks ago as they slept in their house.
She said she would use a five-day trip to the region to call on Palestinian and Israeli leaders to stop further violence.
More

Arbitrageous, Outrageous and Immoral

Back-Dooring the CSIS:
The US and Israel have admitted they back-doored Canada’s top secret computer for about eight years. They did not admit it until they were discovered so we can imagine they are still doing this kind of thing. If our friends do this to each other what does that say for what kind of lies they might perpetrate on so-called enemies. I know, we have lots of evidence about how immoral and deceitful they can be. This happened during the North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations and the floating of the Canadian dollar and actions promised to maintain currency was part of the outcome. Mexico saw an immediate devaluation of their currency and the workers went on strike but the army was called out to force them to work at half pay. I have known people who trade currencies in large amounts. Alan Greenspan (As head of the FED) has said arbitrageurs make huge illegal profits but there really is little legislation and enforcement in these insider deals. He once bailed out a Connecticut hedge fund that was showing a huge loss. Then there were those futures sold or bought around 9-11. Could that be the reason for the Mossad agents who were found cheering as the towers went down?
Full Story

Aussie paceman Lee swings to Bollywood music

Australian fast bowler Brett Lee has appeared in a music video with Bollywood legend Asha Bhosle, playing the role of a foreigner who woos an Indian girl. The video shows the guitar-playing Lee miming along to a love song from the album "Asha and Friends" which was released this week.

Lee, who has a rock band called "Six et Out" at home, shot the video during Australia's victorious Champions Trophy campaign in India last month. Lee, 29, is preparing to spearhead Australia's pace attack against England in the much-awaited Ashes series starting in Brisbane on Thursday.
"Other than cricket, music is my passion. When I was told I would be singing with a legend, I was glad," Lee was quoted as saying in the Times of India newspaper.

The 73-year-old Bhosle was a Grammy nominee in 1997 and in a career spanning six decades has sung for 965 films. She is best known for folk-pop and cabaret. Lee sang well, he knows a few Hindi words and is a star," Bhosle told reporters here.

Ashok Mehrotra, who directed the video, said: "Lee is cool headed and was a very focussed artist. We wanted him because he lends charisma and energy. "It was a great experience, all done in one take."

Lee said he had earlier turned down an offer from another Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan, made when he visited Mumbai on his way home from Australia's tour of Bangladesh in April, to play the lead role in a movie. "I said 'mate, I've had no acting experience in my life' and he told me that was OK, they could sort that out," Lee was quoted as saying.

Australian swimming superstar Ian Thorpe retires

The powerful "Thorpedo," who won legions of fans around the world as he raced in his trademark black bodysuit to nine Olympic medals and 13 world championship medals, said he had realised there was more to life than swimming.

After facing injury, illness and questions about his motivation ahead of the Beijing Olympics in 2008, Thorpe said a training stint in Los Angeles this year had focused his mind on his future as a man, rather than as a swimmer.

"As I got fit physically my mind also got fit, I started asking a lot of questions. I started looking at myself not only as a swimmer but as a person," he told a news conference. "Another way to look at it is you can swim lap after lap staring at a black line and all of a sudden you look up and see what's around you. That's what it feels like to me."

Thorpe, who stands 195 cm tall and has massive flipper-size 17 feet, won three gold and two silver medals at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 when he was just 17. Magnificently built and admired for his powerful grace in the water, he was the pin-up of the games and later did a catwalk modelling stint for Armani.

He went on to win two Olympic golds in Athens in 2004, in his favoured 200 and 400 metres freestyle, and over his career broke an astonishing total of 13 world records.
He won 11 gold medals, one silver and one bronze at three FINA World Championships and 10 Commonwealth Games gold medals.

Thorpe, looking relaxed and cheerful, said he had realised that he now viewed his swimming career very differently to how he had seen it in the past and had wrestled for some time over his decision to retire.

The legendary swimmer has not competed at a major international meet since the 2004 Athens Olympics, with his bid to come back following a year out of competition ravaged by illness and injury.

He was ruled out of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games last March because of glandular fever and he has struggled to shake off the energy-sapping illness. Thorpe, who has an interest in fashion and his own underwear line, said he had not yet made any decision about his future, but would retain "some role" in swimming and was involved in plans for an Australian television show.
"I have a number of different opportunities with what direction I'm going to go. I haven't picked up the newspaper to look for a job. But if anyone's got any good ones for an ex-Olympic swimmer..." he joked.

Thorpe, who earns a reported 3.5 million dollars (2.6 million US) from sponsorships each year, said money was not his driving force. "I'm not driven by finance, it's not my thing. I'm lucky that I'm pretty financially secure. I'm not completely secure -- I have to work or I'm going to run out."
Thorpe, who was uncomfortable with the intense media focus he was subjected to in Australia and around the world, expressed his appreciation for the support he had received.
He paid special tribute to supporters in Japan, where fans, many of them young women, would welcome him at airports, hotels and swimming pools with shrieks usually reserved for Hollywood stars.

"I've reached all of the dizzying heights of this profession. I've had all of the success that I never thought would happen for myself, and for all of that I'm extremely appreciative."
He added: "I'm happy with what I've done. I'm happier now than I've ever been."
Thorpe's retirement was met with expressions of regret and admiration from Australia's political and sporting leaders.

Prime Minister John Howard called him "a remarkable athlete, a great swimmer, a good bloke".

Israeli troops open fire on women outside mosque

Staff and agencies
Guardian Unlimited Friday November 3, 2006
At least one Palestinian woman was killed and another 10 were reported woundedwhen Israeli forces today opened fire on a group preparing to act as a humanshield for militants in a Gaza mosque.Dozens of women were gathering outside the mosque in Beit Hanoun in the northernGaza Strip this morning after an appeal on a local radio station. Up to 60gunmen had taken refuge in the building after the Israeli army began its largestGaza offensive in months
- View Full News

Muslim Scholar Seeks Debate With the Pope

Eminent scholar of comparative religion Dr.Zakir Naik has invited Pope Benedict XVI for an open inter-faith dialogue.
The Pope`s recent statement, which included a quote from a 14th century Byzantine emperor, sparked outrage in the Muslim world. In his latest efforts to calm down the Muslim anger the Pope invited diplomats from 20 Islamic countries at his summer residence in south of Rome. This extraordinary gathering was seen as the latest effort by Benedict XVI to quell the furor stirred two weeks ago by controversial remarks he made about Islam.
He is attempting to channel the emotion into what he calls an authentic and respectful dialogue. Dr. Naik sees the Pope`s statement on Islam as pre-planned.
"He (the Pope) knew very well what he was speaking at University of Regensburg in Germany on September 12," he said.
"The Pope`s apology to the Muslims was at all not an apology rather it was putting salt on the wounds," said Dr. Naik, adding that the Pope should have explicitly apologized and retracted his statement.
"I am more than willing to participate in the inter-faith dialogue with Pope Benedict XVI. I am ready on any topic he (the Pope) wishes as long as it focuses on Quran and the Bible," Dr. Naik said. He said he can go to Rome or Vatican to meet the Pope.
"I can go to Rome and to Vatican on my own expense if an Italian visa is arranged for me," he told ONLINE after delivering his lecture on "20 most common questions about misconceptions of Islam," organized by Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh, attended by a number of ambassadors, diplomatic staff and members of the Sri Lankan community. Dr. Naik during the past three years has delivered over 600 lectures in the US and Canada.
"I am absolutely ready for an open and public debate with the pope under live international TV coverage," he said.
Let the 1.3 billion Muslims and 2 billion Christians around the world listen to the debate based on equal slot of time allotted to both sides, he said.
"It is not only a debate but also a question and answer session allowing the people to ask queries," he said. He said he is not in favor of closed-door meeting with the Pope, as was suggested by his predecessor Pope John Paul II, when South African-based Islamic scholar Ahmed Deedat invited him for open dialogue, he said. Full News
References - geocities.com , paktribune.com , saudigazette.com

Cruise, Holmes exchange vows in Italy

BRACCIANO, Italy - Officially, they got married in Los Angeles, but the spectacle of the wedding between
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes was here, in a 15th-century castle that evoked fairy tales and lit up with red, white and green fireworks for a cheering, celebrity-laden crowd.There were fireworks inside, too, a "never-ending kiss" between the betrothed after they exchanged vows Saturday. The kiss lasted so long it caused guests to shout "stop, stop!" said Giorgio Armani, who attended the wedding and designed the outfits of the bride, the groom and their baby, Suri.... more

Russia issues warning on Iran, N. Korea

HANOI, Vietnam - The world must be firm but also very cautious when dealing with the North Korean and Iranian nuclear programs, Russia's foreign minister said Saturday during an Asian-Pacific summit in Vietnam
It was Russia's latest warning that harsh actions against
Iran could undermine efforts to resolve the disputes over their nuclear programs.
"The international community is obligated to approach the resolution of the Korean peninsula issue and the issue of the Iranian nuclear program extremely cautiously — firmly but cautiously," Sergey Lavrov said on the sidelines of the summit. "If we force this situation into a corner then the threats of (nuclear) proliferation will significantly increase." ... more

Test your personality

This is what my test results say about my personality - Personality type ENFP - "Journalist". Uncanny sense of the motivations of others. Life is an exciting drama. 8.1% of total population.Test Yours

Is it okay to kiss in public?

Kissing in public is no longer frowned upon or unheard of in India. It is getting more common and young people seem to love it. Do you think public kissing is okay?Join debate and give your
Opinion

Fourty kidnapped workers freed in Baghdad,Fate of others unclear

BAGHDAD - More than 40 Iraqi government employees who were among around 100 kidnapped in a raid on a Baghdad research institute have been freed, reports said on Wednesday amid conflicting accounts of exact events.
An Iraqi interior ministry spokesman was quoted by national news channel Al Iraqiya as saying that “a majority of the male employees had been released or rescued,” by interior ministry troops.
However a spokesperson for the research and higher education ministry, which employed the abducted workers said “the employees are being released in groups randomly by the kidnappers themselves.”
The spokesperson confirmed to Deutsche Presse-Agentur that around 40 of the workers had been freed, but denied the involvement of security forces. The fate of the remaining workers was meanwhile unclear.Full Report

Madonna reveals she wants to adopt a baby girl

Now Madonna reveals she wants to adopt a baby girl from Malawi.
She has told of her hurt and shock at the backlash which greeted her planned adoption of an African baby boy.
However it seems it was not enough to put Madonna off going through it all again.
The pop queen has revealed she plans to adopt a second youngster from impoverished Malawi - this time a baby girl, to "redress the balance" in her family.
She is already mother to Lourdes, ten, and Rocco, six.
Asked in an interview if she wanted another child the 48-year-old answered: "Yes, absolutely. I'm going to adopt another Malawian child very quickly. A baby girl this time, in order to redress the balance".
The 48-year-old said that Lourdes and Rocco would be involved in the 'choice' of their new baby sister but she wanted them to have time to get used to 13-month-old David Banda - who Madonna is in the process of adopting - first.
View the Full Report

Don Chase

Are you in the Don Chase ? If no then Get in now ! Don Chase Collect clues,Win the Contest.Winners can meet SRK in person.

Spiderman

Spiderman 3 is gonna be a festival for Spiderman fans.If you compare Spiderman and Superman , Spiderman makes lot more stunts and entertains people more than Superman.His twists,Jumps,falling off buildings,suddenly throwing web out of his hands amuse people.Actually People miss most of the action in the first time so they are forced to see it twice and thrice.
Spiderman 3 - Here is a trailer for his fans.

Shahrukh Khan is a selfless actor- Ishaa Koppikar

Praises galore for SRK! No it's not Kareena Kapoor...This time around its Ishaa Koppikar who seems smitten by 'The Baadshah of Bollywood'- Shahrukh Khan.

Koppikar is completely in awe of King Khan after working with him in DON. The damsel is still reeling from the DON hangover. "I'm elated. DON has truly been an entertaining and fulfilling experience. Shahrukh is a great guy and a selfless actor. He's not just concerned with his performance but he's bothered about everyone on sets. He has a great sense of humour and is very young at heart. Even Farhan Akhtar is full of life," says an ecstatic Ishaa.

So here's another Shahrukh Khan fan in his already huge repertoire of admirers!

Amitabh begins countdown to IIFA 2007 in Yorkshire

London, Nov 12 (IANS) Indian film legend Amitabh Bachchan began the countdown to the International Indian Film Awards (IIFA) function being held in Yorkshire next year with two launch events at the House of Commons and at Bradford.

This is the second time that the IIFA awards will be held in Britain, since its launch at the Millennium Dome here in 2000. The June IIFA weekend and awards will be held across five Yorkshire towns of Sheffield, Leeds, Bradford, York and Hull.

After the launch at the House of Commons, Bachchan travelled to Bradford for the build-up event at the National Museum of Film, Photography and Television.
'If anyone ever asks themselves 'Why Yorkshire?', we should say, 'Why not?',' he told the audience. 'End of question, end of argument.'

Sabbas Joseph, director of Wizcraft International Entertainment, which created the event, said: 'Why Yorkshire? Exciting place, virgin territory, beautiful locality for setting up a film event.'
During the IIFA event in June, local organisers are hoping to host a cricket match featuring Indian film stars and Sachin Tendulkar, who has played county cricket for Yorkshire and was a popular figure in the region during his stay here.

Bachchan said he was looking forward to getting to grips with all that Bradford and Yorkshire had to offer. He said: 'I was here once, for the Bite the Mango film festival. When I'm here next I will take a good look at the area and the region.

'I saw some films recently by the tourism board and they were absolutely amazing. Yorkshire is impressive; the scenery, the people and the warmth and affection. I am so happy that IIFA decided to hold the event in Yorkshire', he said and added that work on a film with a Yorkshire backdrop was on the cards.

Yorkshire's business leaders are hoping to exploit the opportunities the event will offer. Local businessmen estimate that the event will bring 28,000 film fans who could be expected to spend 9.5 million pounds. During the weekend, there will also be a forum to promote trade. Yorkshire's bid was branded 'Yorkshire - love at first sight'. The region has a large concentration of Asian origin and is often responsible for substantial box office earnings for new Indian films released in Britain. It is said that more DVDs of Indian films are bought or rented in Yorkshire than anywhere in Britain.

Yorkshire Tourist Board Chairman Judith Donovan said IIFA would be a massive boost for the region. She said: 'Our bid was branded 'Yorkshire - love at first sight' and that's what we intend, not only with the people who come here but those who will see Yorkshire for the first time on television screens worldwide and create a life-long love affair with Yorkshire.'

Prime Minister Tony Blair has praised Yorkshire for winning the right to host the IIFA event. Sending Bachchan and IIFA his best wishes for the event, Blair said: 'I am delighted to send my very best wishes to all at the IIFA launch at the House of Commons. 'I am also delighted to hear that UK, and in particular the Yorkshire region, has been chosen to host this important international gathering. It is very fitting that the UK and India are working together to promote Indian film in both countries. I look forward to hearing of the success of the awards in the coming months.'

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said the event would be a massive boost for the region. She said: 'We are terribly proud that Yorkshire has achieved this great honour. This is an impressive achievement for a region that is already thriving.'

For the June 2007 event, Rome, Hong Kong and New York were in the race to host it.

Salman, Katrina to perform in Kuala Lumpur

Despite their intimacy in real life, Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif have seldom performed together on stage. Even on the ramps in fashion shows, when Katrina walks the catwalk, Salman is often seen cheering from the aisles. And vice versa is also true. At a recent show at Lakme Fashion Week, while Salman walked the ramp with Miss Universe Zuleyka Rivera, Katrina was sitting among the audience.

But now the two stars are set to perform together on stage at the Global Indian Films Awards (GIFA) 2006 in Kuala Lumpur. They will perform on Dec 9, which will be the night of awards distribution. GIFA will begin on Dec 7 and will be a three-day event.

During the event, Ravi Chopra's movie 'Baabul' will have its world premiere. Salman and other stars of the film will be present at the premiere. GIFA promises to be a big entertainment extravaganza with performances by Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra, Amisha Patel, Salman, Katrina and other Bollywood stars.

The event will be telecast on Sony Entertainment Television.

Brangelina play tourists in Mumbai

Mumbai, Nov 12 (IANS) Hollywood first couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were spotted in the city with their two adopted children, Maddox and Zahara soaking in the sights like ordinary tourists Sunday.

Brad and Angelina, who flew to Mumbai by a private helicopter Saturday, were also seen cruising around at the Gateway of India. Maddox, five, sat on his papa's shoulders while Zahara, one, was perched in her mama's arms.

The family, along with biological daughter Shiloh Nouvel and a bevy of bodyguards, is staying in a five-star hotel in the upmarket south Mumbai area.

Angelina is in the city to shoot for a film based on the life of slain American journalist Daniel Pearl, who lived in the city for seven years. She plays Pearl's widow Marianne in 'A Mighty Heart', produced by Brad's production house.

The film will chart Pearl's life and career until his abduction and murder by Al Qaeda terrorists in Karachi.

Brad and Angelina were earlier in Pune where they shot parts of the film with Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan and others.

20 Bollywood beauties in one song!

It can't get bigger than this. For the first time in the history of Indian cinema, as many as twenty actresses from Bollywood will come together in a movie song.

Producer Sajid Nadiadwala is creating a record of sorts for the title song of his movie 'Hey Baby'. The movie, starring Akshay Kumar, Ritesh Deshmukh, Fardeen Khan and Vidya Balan, is the first full-length feature film by Sajid Khan (director). The movie's title song, composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, introduces the three heroes and shows their love for women.

To get the right impact, a huge and lavish set depicting a nightclub has been created in Mumbai's Filmcity and as many as 500 dancers have been called from the UK. But the real feast for the eyes in the song will be cameos by 20 Bollywood heroines.

According to reports, they are: Malaika Arora, Amrita Arora, Celina Jaitley, Dia Mirza, Ayesha Takia, Amisha Patel, Koena Mitra, Neha Dhupia, Minissha Lamba, Payal Rohatgi, Amrita Rao, Aarti Chabria, Hrishitaa Bhatt, Riya Sen and Sophie Chowdhary. There is also a possibility of roping in Sameera Reddy and Sushma Reddy. Grapevine says Lara Dutta, Bipasha Basu and Preity Zinta might also be among the twenty.

The song will feature the three heroes dancing with the twenty girls one by one. The number will be choreographed by Farah Khan.