The Tribune Online

Hilton sex video no. 2 soon

With Paris Hilton's ex-boyfriend boasting of more 'red-hot' footage to be released soon the worst is yet to come for the hotel heiress. If you thought the worst was behind Paris Hilton you were wrong with new reports that a second video of her sex romps is going to be released soon. According to The Sun sleazy ex-lover Rick Salomon plans a sequel to the tape that made him millons before. The gambling tycoon, 33, boasts he has more "red-hot" footage.

A source revealed to the tabliod, "He is telling friends he has another Paris porn tape ready to go." The first tape had become the most searched for item on the internet a year ago when a previous sex video had been released. The insider is reported to have said of the new clips, "Millions worldwide will want to see them."

In a sepearate report, last week the hotel heiress Paris Hilton left a party in tears on the weekend, after she walked in on guests watching her sexual exploits on film. The socialite and friends were gate-crashing a bash in California's Malibu area on Saturday night when they stumbled on fellow revellers glued to a large TV screen admiring her graphic encounter with ex-boyfriend Rick Salomon, writes the british newspaper.

Actor Amrish Puri is no more

MUMBAI, Jan12: Film actor Amrish Puri on Wednesday died at the Hinduja Hospital here following prolonged illness, hospital sources said. He was 72. Puri suffered a blood clot in the brain and slipped into coma, family sources said. He was also being treated for malaria, they added. The actor had undergone a surgery last week. He is survived by wife, a son and a daughter.

Puri, known for his versatility and great acting prowess, performed remarkably in Mr India as underworld don Mogambo. The actor, who started his film career at a relatively late age, would always be remembered for his roles in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Vidhata, Hero, Reshma aur Shera. The funeral is likely to take place on Thursday, family sources said

Fur flies as sultry activists bare skin

SEOUL, Jan 7: Sultry animal rights activists stripped down in the freezing weather to bare their skin on Friday to try to save the hides of millions of animals slaughtered for fur garments. Wearing nothing more than flimsy underwear, painted-on leopard spots, cat's ears and carrying a banner reading "Only Animals Should Wear Fur", two young women from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) marched down the street at the busy commercial block of Myeongdong.

A crowd of curious, mostly male onlookers feasted their eyes on the activists who braved the numbing winter weather to show their skins and shout slogans. But, several plainclothes policemen quickly forced their way through the group, wrapped the two naked women with blankets and overcoats and dragged them to a nearby police station.

The two were then charged with "indecent exposure" and ordered to appear before court where they will likely be fined, said Lisa Franzetta, one of the two protestors and the coordinator of PETA's international "Anti-Fur" Campaign. "People just need to know if they are buying fur coat ... that animal was either electrocuted, or poisoned or had their neck broken simply for the sake of fashion," she said.

"We know when the Korean people become more aware of the really incredible suffering and violence behind the fur industry, they will reject fur. "That's why we were out there showing some of our own skin today in the hopes that it will help save the skins of the millions of animals," she said. Traditionally, North America, Western Europe, the Nordic countries and Russia have been the major markets for fur garments.

But because of the declining fur industry's desperate efforts to create new markets, sales of furs have expanded to South Korea, China and Japan, PETA said.

"With today's toasty and fashionable synthetics, there's no excuse to wear fur," said Christina Cho, who took part in the protest with Franzetta. Sales of fur garments in South Korea had been increasing until the economy fell into a slump in 2003. At that time annual sales were estimated at 400 million dollars.

"Differently from those in Europe, clients in South Korea are not affected much by anti-fur campaigns as the winter here is too cold to reject fur coats," said Han Sang-Hoon, a manager of Jindo Corp., a leading fur coat maker in Seoul. South Korea was the last leg of PETA's Asian campaign which also took the activists to Japan and China. "This is the first anti-fur protest in South Korea but certainly it won't be the last," Franzetta said.

Jackson's lurid molestation details revealed!

WASHINGTON, Jan 8: Lurid details about the case against pop icon Michael Jackson have emerged now that the child molestation trial is on the horizon. According to EOnline, the abused child's story about his relationship with the 'Dangerous' star has come out in graphic detail on the website TheSmokingGun.com.

The young boy, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2000, was keen to meet his favourite singing sensation, Jackson. The 'Thriller' singer after learning the sick child's wish called him in the hospital, following which they interacted regularly on telephone and became friends. The accuser claimed that on one of the first two trips with his younger brother to Neverland, Jackson showed them porn sites using an Apple laptop computer he had presented the boy as a gift.

The pop king went on to lavish expensive gifts like a a white Ford Bronco and a video gaming system on the boy and his family. Jackson even allegedly told the boys that if anyone asked them about viewing porn, they should just say they were watching 'The Simpsons.'

The boy further revealed that Jackson seved alcohol to him and started touching him inappropriately. But the boy's mother suspected some foul play while a plane ride from Florida to California, in which she said that she witnessed Jackson licking the sleeping boy's head. The younger brother corroborated his mom's story, even demonstrating how it was done.

Jackson, meanwhile, has pleaded not guilty to charges of child molestation, administering an intoxicating agent, and conspiring to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion. He is currently free on 3 million dollars bail and will stand trial on January 31.

Rog -- a suspense thriller

Pooja Bhatt and Sujit Kumar Productions "Rog" tells the story of a young girl, Maya, (Ilene Hamann), a gorgeous woman who leaves men awestruck with her beauty. An advertising agency head, Harshavardhan (Suhel Seth) who needs a model for one of his campaigns approaches Maya and falls head over heels in love with her. There is another young man, Himanshu Malik, who is attracted to her.

At this juncture, the story takes an interesting turn when Maya is murdered and from here starts the story of "Rog", when Uday Singh Rathore, (Irrfan) the police officer investigating the case, develops a strong attraction for her. Irrfan cannot come to terms with the fact that he is in love with a dead woman and his love for her makes him a sick person, who craves for Maya all the time. In order to get rid of his feelings, he tries to solve Maya's murder mystery on a priority basis and gets in touch with every person associated with her. The suspense about the identity of the culprit and how the story unfolds subsequently forms the crux of the story line.

Rog is Pooja Bhatt's third film after Jism and Paap, with the latter last receiving a dismal response at the box-office. The film is directed by Himanshu Brahmabhatt and the story is written by Mahesh Bhatt. The film introduces South African supermodel, Ilene Hamann, who is playing a full-fledged role in the film. Pooja decided to cast the actress after she saw her photograph on the cover of a French publication, 'La Official'. Apart from Hamann, the film stars Irrfan Khan, Suhel Seth, Munish Makhija, Shyamli Varma and others. M.M. Kreem, who had earlier composed the songs for Jism, has composed the music of the film.

The film has been extensively shot in Mumbai and Alibaug and was recently shown at the Kara Film Festival, where it received a promising response. ROG is once again a film in a different genre coming from Pooja Bhatt's production house. The suspense thriller is being slated for a January 7 release.

First Asian JLo in the making?

She's leggy and flashes her style in a very in-your-face way. She's been touted as 'the next big thing' and is seen to be the first Asian JLo in the making. She's the pop punk on the rise. This dreamgirl is the hot new singing diva, who not only knows her music, dance steps, but writes her own songs too. Meet Deeyah, a Norwegian who traces her roots to India and Pakistan.

She's just back from the US after recording her forthcoming album 'Plan Of My Own', and she met Janet Jackson at the studio while recording. So, did you talk about Nipplegate? "Naah," laughs Deeyah, "I should've got some lessons in that." Deeyah's album is being produced by Darin Prindle, the man behind Destiny's Child, Madonna, Boyz II Men and Usher.

Is she ready to go the Janet, Britney, Beyonce way? "Gosh! It's a tough world out there. The music industry is very glamourous. I'm competing with the singing divas and trying to get a voluptuous figure. You know, fuller bodies are so hot, bigger bums, bigger bustlines, bigger everything. I'm too skinny right now. So, I'm trying to put on weight," says the 26-year-old, who has trained in Indian classical music under Pakistan's Ustad Shaukat Hussain Khan and Ustad Sultan Khan of India.

Deeyah's a hard rap to beat. She likes the mystery behind the celebrity. Her bootylicious style, street-casual attitude is kool. Is Deeyah the new sex siren? "The singing divas are all sexy. But I think Britney, Beyonce, JLo, and most of us here, are a lot more conservative than the hot item girls in India. Wow, those girls are very, very bold. I'm still conservative. Even JLo is a lot less sexy than the item girls in India." Now, let's hear the pepper 'n spice in her style. "Mmm... my style is cool, sexy and diva-ish. After all, I'm competing with Britney and Beyonce. I'm comfortable in hi-fashion and streetwear. I'm independent and strong-minded."

Wait, there's a dark side to being a pop diva. "There are bad men everywhere. They'd hound me even when I was 15. Drugs are a reality. You have to be strong-willed; if anyone tries something funny. I'll just smack him in the face. My mom has this love-hate relationship with my profession; she's possessive."

Deeyah's still close to her connection with the subcontinent. "My name is Deepika, I changed it because the goras here couldn't get it right. My first album 'In All Kinds of Light' was released when I was just 15 in Norway. My second album has Pakistani folk tunes, Indian ragas. I can sing in Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, Pashto and English. My genre is mixed, I love singing R&B, pop, rock and classical. When I wrote 'Plan Of My Life', I knew it would work for me; it has international appeal," says Deeyah, who plans to sing with rapper Little John, Bonecrusher and Moby next year. "I just missed a chance to sing with Gwen Stefani," she adds.

Bollywood dreams? "Why not. I'd love to sing for a Bollywood movie. I'm a fan of Shabana Azmi, I think she's fabulous. I loved Kuch Kuch Hota Hai ." Is there a man in Deeyah's life? "I'm really boring. I'm looking out for someone who is understanding. A man who just lets me be. Is it possible?"

Hugh's this lingerie for?

LONDON: Hugh Grant recently splurged 300 pounds on smalls at an upmarket lingerie store in Sloane Square, London, on Saturday and sources are guessing that it is for his girlfriend, Jemima Khan. "He was trying to hide his face so he couldn't be recognised, but all he did was draw more attention to himself. He was very thorough though, and examined every piece of underwear in the shop.

In the end, he chose a black vest with a matching thong and several pairs of dark blue lacy G-strings," the Mirror quoted an insider as saying. "He handed over his credit card and then stood outside the shop before going back in to sign and pick up the goodies," the source added.

Britney tops searches

LONDON: Britney Spears has earned the title of the most-searched-for person for the third time in four years, thanks to her headline grabbing antics. The tally compiled by the website America Online places twin actresses Mary Kate and Ashley Oslen second, beating American television personalities Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa who came third, reported femalefirst.co.uk.

The top three "mother" searches were Julia Roberts, Shar Jackson - former girlfriend of Spears' husband Kevin Federline - and Liv Tyler, who gave birth to a baby boy last week. Musician Usher came on top in the most-searched-for under the male category with Kobe Bryant coming first in the most-searched-for athlete. The survey processes as many as 700 million search queries per month.

Shahrukh excels in Swades

The Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan has proved his critics wrong with Ashutosh Gowarikar's film Swades, which was received with mixed responses at the box office. There are two schools of thoughts; one found it intellectually stimulating, while others said that its less appealing. Quite often he has been criticised for being obsessed with himself and playing himself on the screen rather the character. But in Swades he has proved the statement wrong. The film doesn't show a single trace of Bollywood Badshah's iconic attitude.

So far he has only portrayed the larger-than-life roles in films like Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhie Khusi Kabhie Gham and Devdas. In fact its not Shahrukh's fault entirely. He was roped in by the Chopras and Johars to act in their well-packaged love-sagas time and again as a result he never got an opportunity to show his acting abilities.

Recently Bollywood's 'realistic' filmmaker, Ramgopal Varma, criticised Shahrukh and said, "What is Shahrukh Khan? Nothing, without the right packaging. Shahrukh Khan comes with a package, the best musicians, the best clothes, the perfect look - he is really smart to get all that just right. If all these things are not correct, I don't think people will like Shahrukh as much. So I avoid stars, who cost a huge amount of money, and pool all my resources in the idea."

His critics like Varma must watch the actor in Swades where he is devoid of glitz, glamour and starry attitude. He slips into the character of Mohan Bhargav, a guy-next-door, with ease and carries off the role of an NRI with élan and perfection. From his mannerisms to his clothes - the perfection is reflected everywhere. He played the part extremely well, from his ability to portray an intelligent and sophisticated project manager in NASA, to an NRI showing no signs of discomfort while trying to adjust in a remote village in India called Charanpur.

Varma claims that if the idea is right, then people come to see that. That's all that works. If that's the case then the audience will go to watch Swades - both for Shahrukh and the idea. However, Ashutosh Gowariker's noble intentions might not prove to be a great idea for the box-office but the film has proved that Shahrukh is no less than Aamir Khan in etching out the real life characters on screen.

The year 2004 is very significant for Shahrukh as it re-established his iconic status, thanks to hits like Main Hoon Na and Veer Zara. The acceptance of his role in both the films, though they dealt with two different aspects of life, substantiated the fact that there is no one like Shahrukh Khan.
He is the most keenly watched current superstar of Indian cinema. As Karan Johar rightly describes him: Shahrukh is far too intelligent and when he says something like I'm the best" or "I'll always be a superstar", he means it and knows what he is doing. Hence one shouldn't underestimate his potential as an actor. Even at 40, he is still too full of energy and thriving for better roles.

Virginity is up for sale on ebay

WASHINGTON: Showcasing a two-minute clip of school kids' smut is hardly unusual for an online auction company that's been home to folks wanting to sell their virginity, a ghost in a jar, a windbag (full of air from Hurricane Isabel), evil in a bottle, a hairy armadillo, and a rotten cantaloupe among other things.

Since its founding in the US in 1995, ebay, the parent company of Baazee.com , has flirted with the kooky and the spooky, the nutty and the smutty. But it has also redefined the rules of retailing and is one of the few great successes of the internet age that saw most e-commence ventures flame out.

Although ebay once hosted someone who wanted to sell "one slightly used human soul," the company's founder Pierre Omidyar, who still serves as its chairman, is known for his social conscience. Omidyar's philanthropy comes with a demand for precision delivery: show me it will make a difference.

A school in Coimbatore is among the beneficiaries. In an India connection that predates ebay's June 2004 acquisition of Baazee.com, the school was rewarded with a modest $ 5000 to build a new toilet block after it proved that girls were dropping out of school when they began menstruating because there were no bathrooms.

On Saturday, ebay reacted angrily to the arrest of its country manager Avnish Bajaj, calling it "completely unwarranted." Acknowledging that the listing of the DPS (Delhi Public School) smut clip violated Baazee.com's policies and user agreement, it said in a statement that the video clip itself was not shown on the site and the offending item was removed from the site once it was discovered.

Moreover, Bajaj had voluntarily travelled to New Delhi to further cooperate with the police. The information provided by Baazee had allowed the police to locate and arrest the seller. "It is unfortunate that local law enforcement has chosen to misdirect its energies towards Mr. Bajaj," the statement said.

While the US administration made its mandatory inquiries because of Bajaj's US citizenship, the arrest stirred interest in the cyber community, with some online denizens arguing that the Indian law enforcement just did not understand the business where anyone with an account hawked items in good faith. The items could be removed only when it was reported they had violated the rules.

Ebay has been in the news for hosting some dodgy sales, but typically it withdraws items of questionable taste or origin when it is brought to its notice, and none of its executives have had to see the inside of a clink in the US on this account. On Saturday, the site threw up more than 1000 items under a search for "porn," all of which are available to any Indian with a credit card and a mailing address.

Bajaj's connection to ebay run deep. Like the student who peddled the smut clip on Baazee, Bajaj too is an IITian. A B.Tech in Computer Science from IIT Kanpur, he went to the University of Wisconsin in Madison for his M.S and earned an MBA from the Harvard Business School. He worked a while with Apple before moving to Goldman Sachs in their high technology practice, where he dealt with clients such as Yahoo, Priceline and eBay.

In 2000, Bajaj and his colleague Suvir Sujan left their jobs in the US and returned to India to start Baazee.com. Despite the spectacular collapse of e-commerce ventures across the world, they hung in, and were rewarded for their efforts when ebay, in an effort to gain a toehold in India, acquired them for $ 50 million in June this year.

Now, as the NRI returnee's e-Swades dream turns into a Tihar Jail nightmare, some of his peers in the US who declined to be named questioned a legal system that is merciless in clapping him in jail when criminals with more serious charges are bailed out. India, one of them maintained, had still to come to terms with its arrival in the information age amid rules that were still unclear. "If they want to clean up smut, they should start with Palika Bazar," he said.

Timeout for Lisa

Purr-fect: If looks could kill, Lisa Ray, watchmaker Rado's brand ambassador, would be a threat to peace. As it happens, the lady describes herself as a Sufi at heart. More than 10 years after this half Bengali, half Polish girl swept into the limelight with a series of ads and the famous video of the late Sufi maestro, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Ray remains a bit of enigma shrouded in a little mystery. "I have clear definitions - work, play. I never confuse the two and I don't let the world know about my private life. That's the way I want it. If that's enigmatic, it suits me," she laughs.

Ray was the proverbial Indian dream woman of the 90s - picture perfect milk and cream complexion, striking cat eyes and an hourglass figure to die for. Bollywood, Hollywood (film) made her a huge star in Canada, where she grew up.

"I was used to being recognised in India, but suddenly everyone knew me in Canada. These were the people I had grown up with, so it was a little surprising," she says. She has just finished Deepa Mehta's Water, which is why she is sporting short hair. Talking about her latest hairstyle, she says, "I have to grow them back, for sure." Lisa Ray has also finished a Canadian movie named Seeking Fear.

The grey-green eyed beauty says nothing can ever cut her down to size. The green-grey eyed beauty, talking on Indian films, says, "The Bollywood stuff is really not very challenging. But I've now got the right agent in Hollywood and there is some very interesting work I'm looking at. "I'm Sufi in spirit. Till something great comes, I'm happy wandering around."

Lisa Ray was in New Delhi recently to showcase the Rado watch collection. Rado, part of the Swatch group, the world's largest watch manufacturing conglomerate, started its operations in India in early 1998, and is now in the process of expanding and strengthening its distribution network across the country. She also poses with Rado Watches President Roland Streule at a showcase of the Rado watch collection. Lisa Ray poses for the media during a press conference for the promotion of Rado watches in Kolkata.

Spice Girls' dare bare act

WASHINGTON, Dec 15: 'Baby Spice' Emma Bunton has revealed that the pop band Spice Girls, which was a phenomenal success in mid and late nineties, had once shocked a group of tourists in a Los Angeles hotel during a playful late night stripping act. Bunton said that all the spice girls always provoked each other to do funny things, and they had once dared to walk almost naked in a hotel corridor.

"Mel C dared us to streak down the hallway with nothing to cover ourselves, but tiny washcloths. We had to run down the corridor, touch the far wall, turn and run back," Rate the Music quoted Bunton as saying. "We almost made it when the elevator doors opened on our floor. There were people in the elevator, but nobody got out. They must have been in shock," she added.

Singles rest on women's lap - made of foam!

Japanese men who want to rest their weary heads this Christmas season are finding comfort in the lap of a woman - made of foam. The torso-less "lap pillow" stands upright like a small cushion and resembles a woman's legs in a miniskirt. "Single men find this soothing," said Mitsuo Takahashi of the seven-employee manufacturer Trane KK.

"From the time people were kids, people have laid their heads on their mothers' laps to get their ears cleaned," he said. "This is made to be quite close to the real thing." So far the company has shipped about 3,000 of the sets of laps, which are retailing for 9,429 yen (90 dollars) including tax, Takahashi said. The healing goods are also selling well as gag gifts for New Year's parties, he said.

Potion that puts you in the mood for love

SINGAPORE, Dec 15: Fragrances aimed at getting Singaporeans in the mood for love will soon be sold abroad, after being used by the government in a campaign aimed at boosting the city-state's declining birth rate. His and hers "Romancing Singapore Eau de Parfum" will soon be exported to Asia, North America and Europe, said Jan Chan, marketing manager for the company that handles the scents, Cosmetical Asia Pte. Ltd.

The perfumes - a floral essence for her and a musky scent for him - were created by chemistry students from Singapore Polytechnic prep school to coincide with the island country's "Romancing Singapore" campaign in February this year. The campaign was a government effort to help citizens find love and boost the country's record-low birth rate.

The perfumes are being marketed globally because of their "overwhelming popularity," Singapore Polytechnic said in a statement. "14,000 bottles of the perfumes handed out at various Romancing Singapore events were snapped up and an additional 3,000 limited edition bottles were sold out in record time," it said, without elaborating. The perfumes will be sold in 50-milliliter bottles at 49 Singapore dollars (US$29.70; euro23.7) locally from Friday.

I want my virginity back: Madonna

WASHINGTON: Pop icon Madonna once shocked celebrity Santa, Brady White, by asking him to make her a virgin again. White, who has graced a number of Hollywood parties as Santa Claus, revealed that she sat on his lap and asked him to give her virginity back. According to Rate the music, White replied by telling her to ask for something more 'material.'

White also revealed that some of the more successful wishes he had granted, however, were to singer Cher, who asked him for an Oscar for her performance in Moonstruck just two months before winning it and to Jodie Foster who asked him for a 'meaty role' a few weeks before she bagged the part of Clarice Starling in Silence of the Lambs.

I will never retire: Dev Anand

It is not without reason that Dev Anand is called the eternal hero. When asked whether he was in love with Suraiya, he immediately admitted: "Yes I was. I was young then, vulnerable." He recalls the famous song Naina Deewane, she sang in his first film Afsar. "But unfortunately it was given a communal twist," apparently hinting that her family would have liked him to convert to Islam. "It was an emotional jolt. But then I moved on. I have no regrets. The pace of life has been so fast."

He was in London recently for the shooting of his latest passion, Mr Prime Minister. He also has Beauty Queen and the Song of Life, which caused a furore with Ravi Shankar, in the pipeline. "I do not feel tired. Why should I say quits. I will never retire so long as I can create," said the actor. His earlier films Guide and Hare Ram Hare Krishna are being redone in digital and he also wishes, if possible, to do a film on the tragedy in the Nepalese Royal family if the present King gives permission.

He hopes that Mr Prime Minister, in which he plays the hero, would be included in the Cannes Festival this summer. He got excited talking about it. The idea for the film, he said, came to him in a "flash" when he heard on the TV that the general elections had resulted in a hung Parliament and then "no leader could be chosen for over 10 days".

The location is Bachchau near Bhuj in Gujarat where earthquake had brought utter ruin. He has planned the world premiere there and given proceeds to the people who had so enthusiastically helped "during location shots". "I want the people there to be exposed to the world cinema," he said. The film has a love angle that could make some feel that it refers to certain political happenings but he clarifies: "It is not about anyone or any party. It is about the kind of politics that should be."

"I am an apolitical person. The BJP had offered me the Gurdaspur seat but I refused. It then went to Vinod Khanna. In Parliament one speaks what one is told. I do not want to be stifled. My affiliation is not with any party but with the country. I have seen India develop from 1945 to today, almost 2005."

He says he has patched up with Ravi Shankar. He explained to him that Song of Life is not a biography of his. "What a wonderful theme it is. It is about an Indian who fell in love with an American but then left. The woman did not tell him she was pregnant and decided to bring up the child on her own," Dev Anand explains.

He added: "The child one day wins so many Grammy awards and then the Indian girl falls in love with an American." He wants Merryl Streep to play the role of the mother and Stevie wonder to sing a few songs.

He has plans to make New York as base and make films in English. There is no end to the Dev Anand story as he says, "I think of tomorrow. I am romantic but not static." His advise to young romantics: "Do not try to fool a woman all the time. Look into her eyes and hold her hand."

Beauty captured

Body-painted Russian models pose with Olympus' new 8-mega pixel SLR digital camera, the E-300, during its unveiling in Seoul on December 12, 2004. The E-300 will go on sale on the South Korean market for 1,180,000 won (1,100 USD) from the middle of December.

'Krishna Subah' - the new range of Couture by Delhi designer Sunil Mehra is inspired by Krishna Consciousness. Woven with natural threads, the entire collection features styled Krishna motifs and blends traditional designs with a modern appeal.

Branson at Sydney beach

SYDNEY, Dec 9: British billionaire Richard Branson carries model Ashleigh Warwick from the surf while promoting the maiden flight of his flagship airline, Virgin Atlantic, from London to Australia on Sydney's Bondi Beach. Branson said he wanted to smash the Qantas-British Airways control on the "kangaroo route" by having daily Virgin Atlantic flights via Hong Kong.

Branson is in Sydney to promote Virgin Atlantic's new arrangement for passengers travelling from Hong Kong to Sydney and that Virgin passengers can now fly from London to Australia, where Branson also owns part of low-cost domestic carrier Virgin Blue. Branson also poses with Miss Bondi competition contestants and lifesavers at Sydney's Bondi Beach.

Branson in Sydney to promote Virgin

SYDNEY, Dec 8: British entrepreneur Richard Branson stands with two models as he disembarks his Virgin Atlantic plane after it arrived in Sydney on Wednesday. Branson is in Sydney to promote Virgin Atlantic's new arrangement for passengers travelling from Hong Kong to Sydney. Virgin passenegers can now fly from London to Australia, where Branson also part-owns low cost domestic carrier Virgin Blue. Atlantic chairman Branson hopes to have up to 300,000 passengers a year flying on the new London-to-Sydney service.

Britney's b'day bash: Sex in the spa

LONDON, Dec 8: Pop sensation Britney Spears reportedly celebrated her 23rd birthday by having a 48-hour marathon sex session with hubby Kevin Federline in a Santa Barbara hotel.

According to The Sun , the Toxic star and Kevin checked into the Bacara Spa and Hotel in Santa Barbara and immediately put up a Do Not Disturb sign on the door.

The lovey-dovey couple reportedly came out of their 2,500 pounds-a-night presidential suite only once to have a quick dinner. They even refused to answer the door to room service staff trying to deliver a birthday cake and flowers.

Harry's girl wants social condom

LONDON, Dec 6: Only after their relationship is out in the open, Prince Harry's girlfriend Chelsy Davey has lifted the lid on their blossoming romance and confessed that the couple wanted it to be a secret. According to The Newsoftheworld , The 19-year-old blonde revealed how the couple tried to keep their relationship under wraps during their trip to Argentina last month. She also revealed that she how she secretly made her way there on a private plane, separate from Harry.

"I sort of got seen at the beginning of the trip when I arrived there, but we weren't seen again after that," Chelsy was quoted by the magazine as saying. "Harry was pretty pleased about that," she added. Now the Zimbabwean beauty is preparing for a holiday with the Prince, in an island off the coast of Mozambique and again she's aiming to keep a low profile. "I hope we'll be able to give everyone the slip. But I doubt we'll be able to pull it off," Chelsy concluded.

Peruvian beauty crowned Miss World

SANYA, (China), Dec 4 Miss Peru, Maria Julia Mantilla Garcia, an aspiring high school teacher, was crowned Miss World 2005 on Saturday night in this southern Chinese beach resort. Miss Dominican Republic, Claudia Julissa Cruz Rodriguez, was the first runner-up and Miss U.S.A., Nancy Randall, was the second runner-up.

Mantilla Garcia (20), wearing a turquoise gown, blew kisses to the crowd as she was crowned. The title carries a $100,000 prize. Organisers said the winner was selected by pageant viewers, who voted by Internet, phone and mobile phone text message. Vote totals and other details of the voting were not immediately released. A total of 107 women from around the world competed for the crown.

"I am very surprised but I am also very happy," Mantilla Garcia told reporters. She said she wanted to do charitable work as Miss World and "help all the people that I can." The pageant included performances by American pop singer Lionel Richie. A panel of celebrity judges was on hand to pick the winner in case the high-tech voting system failed. They included the Australian television star, Kate Ritchie; the West Indian cricket legend, Sir Viv Richards; the Chinese fashion photographer, Li Shaobai and Krish Naidoo, an Ireland-based businessman.

The hosts were the British model, Lisa Snowdon; the Hong Kong television host, Angela Chow and Troy McClain, a former contestant on the U.S. Reality TV series The Apprentice. This was the second straight year the London-based Miss World pageant has been held in Sanya. Organisers announced on Friday that the event would be held in Sanya again next year.

Stage set for Miss World

Stage is set for Miss World pageant on Saturday in China's southern resort island of Hainan. Miss India Sayali Bhagat is one of the contestants for the pagent. A total of 107 contestants will go through selection for the Miss World 2004 crown on December 4. Beauty contests like Miss World have long been ridiculed and attacked in the West as degrading, but in China where anything from the West is synonymous with progress, they represent freedom and openness, and as even before China officially lifted a 54-year ban on beauty contests last year, they were taking place in disguised forms. Miss World contestants united December 2 in defending the pageant's relevance and angrily denied it degraded women.

Prince Harry's sex romp in the loo

LONDON, Dec 1: Prince Harry, who has often been in news for his wild ways, reportedly had sex with his new girlfriend in a toilet. According to The Sun, the Prince and his girlfriend Chelsy Davy stunned pals by vanishing into the toilet for 20 minutes at a nightspot. And when they emerged they looked "like a pair of naughty schoolkids", a source at a club in Cape Town, South Africa, was quoted as saying. Harry has been romancing society beauty Chelsy Davy, 19, for eight months.

The Prince had recently invited Chelsy to join him for a week of his stay at the ranch. And he spent most evenings in a cosy guest cottage with the Zimbabwe-born babe. The couple first met when Chelsy was a sixth-former at posh Cheltenham Ladies' College - near Harry's home at Highgrove. The 20-year-old prince has since visited her in Cape Town, South Africa, where she is a university student.

First Pakistani movie released in 8 Indian cities

MUMBAI, Dec 3: `Khamosh Pani', a Pakistani film based on Partition was released in eight cities in India on Friday, making it the first film from the neighbouring country to be screened here. The film has been screened 41 times through mobile screening in both rural and urban Pakistan and was currently being shown in the theatres across US, Europe and Canada, its Director Sabiha Sumar told newsmen after a preview of the film here.

"The response in Europe was overwhelming," Sumar said. This will be the first Pakistani film -- with Indian actress Kiron Kher in the lead role -- shown on Indian silverscreen and in Mumbai alone it would be shown in four theatres, she said. "The story begins in 1979 in Pakistan under president General Zia-ul-Haq's martial law when that country had embarked on a road to Islamization," she said.

The film also goes back to the actual events that took place when the Indian subcontinent was partitioned in 1947 as a flash back story when one of the Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan tried to look for his sister, who was abducted in 1947, the director added.

Paris Hilton in a lesbian stint

Phtographs of Paris Hilton indulging in a bit a lesbian lip-lock are about to be published in US editions of Hustler magazine. New York's Daily News claims to have seen the set of shots, which capture the hotel heiress in a steamy clinch with a "very pretty brunette". Hustler's publisher Larry Flynt was quick to pounce. "(The pictures are) quite erotic, even artistic, certainly compared to her videotape," Flynt told the newspaper. "I think people will see a new Paris Hilton."

The millionaire socialite and her "friend" are fully clothed throughout the shoot, taken about three years ago and set in a nightclub. Of course most fans have already seen Paris in all her glory in the video tape Flynt refers to, co-starring former boyfriend Rick Salomon and cheekily titled 1 Night In Paris.

But the clothes are by no means substantial, Paris wearing a leopard-print halter-neck and low-slung black pants while her companion wears a midriff-baring black halter. The series begins with Paris being caressed about the hips before the pair move into more passionate positioning, ending with the sort of heavy petting seen on the Gold Coast's beaches during this week's schoolies.

Paris, who Flynt says was about 20 years old at the time of the shoot, has indulged her lesbian side more recently, sharing an "intimate" moment with Baywatch babe Carmen Elektra at the MTV Movie Awards in June. At the time, she reportedly said she didn't know what to do, but Hustler's pictures are proof, if anything, that the "coy" blonde may not have been strictly telling the truth.

Any douby cast over the images has been put to rest by David Hans Schmidt, the agent who sold the photos to Flynt. He told the Daily News: "I've had the pictures forensically analysed and there's no question that's Paris." Paris' agent, Gina Hoffman, stopped short of denying the pictures were Paris when contacted by the paper, but did say she seriously doubted the party loving princess was attracted to her own sex

Mariah Carey has come out of the closet to reveal her nickname to her fans. Pop diva Mariah Carey has told her legions of fans that they can now start calling her Mimi. Says Mariah, it is the nickname known only to "those closest to me," but now feels ready to let her "guard down" and reveal it publicly.

Mariah left a message at her fan club addressing her fans as "Dear Lambs. Mimi is a very personal nickname only used by those closest to me... just one of those little things that I've kept for myself in an attempt to have some delineation between a public persona and a private life."

"By naming the album 'The Emancipation of Mimi' I am letting my guard down and inviting my fans to be that much closer to me."
Mariah's secret name follows Madonna's revelation that she likes to be called 'Esther' and Janet Jackson naming her latest album 'Damita Jo' - her middle name. Mariah's new single - 'Say Something' featuring Snoop Dogg - will be released next month. 'The Emancipation of Mimi', Mariah's tenth studio album, is her first since 2002's 'Charmbracelet', which failed to charm the audience.

LONDON: Jennifer Lopez's physical assets seem to be causing a lot of trouble it seems, for filming of a new Pepsi commercial had to be halted because her behind was allegedly too big for her outfit. According to Femalefirst , producers of the advert starring Beyonci Knowles and David Beckham were stunned to realise that she couldn't fit into the skin-tight leather costume they had provided her. So shooting had to be stopped while frantic staff stitched an extra piece of material to help cover her bum.

"It was quite comical, really. There were all these people ready to get on with the work when we realised there was a problem. Basically, JLo's bum was just too curvy for the outfit and we had to make sure the costume fitted her before we could start filming," an insider was quoted as saying.

SANTA ANA (California): An 86-year-old man has been found guilty of attempting to travel to the Philippines to sexually molest girls, in violation of a new federal law aimed at fighting sex tourism. A judge on Saturday found John W Seljan guilty of six counts, including attempting to travel for the purpose of having sex with minors and possession of child pornography. Seljan faces a minimum term of 10 years in prison and a maximum of 270 years when he is sentenced in March.

The retired business owner is one of about a dozen men who have been arrested under the Protect Act, which was enacted last year. The law made it easier to prosecute those who molest children overseas and increased penalties. Seljan was the first to go to trial on charges brought under the Protect Act. At least two other men have pleaded guilty.

His defence attorney, Allan Stokke, had argued that the government presented insufficient evidence that Seljan intended to have sex with two girls with whom he exchanged sexually explicit letters. The lawyer said on Friday he had not decided whether to appeal.

Seljan, who sat in a wheelchair during the non-jury trial, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport, where he allegedly attempted to board a flight with child pornography, sexual aids and nearly 100 pounds of chocolate.

LONDON: Baywatch could soon appear on the big screen. But its iconic stars Pamela Anderson, David Hasselhoff and Carmen Electra might not make it to the celluloid version. DreamWorks have confirmed that they have bought the film rights to the show, reported the Guardian.

Neither Hasselhoff, nor Pamela Anderson have been approached for the film, although it will be produced by the show's original creators Michael Berk, Doug Schwartz and Greg Bonnan. In 2003, Hasselhoff, Anderson and many of the cast appeared in TV movie "Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding". It is said DreamWorks will look for fresh faces for their own take on the popular 1990s series.

Put away the cake. Pass the spinach. Popeye celebrates his 75th birthday this year, animated evidence that a steady diet of leafy green vegetables and pipe smoking can guarantee you Hulk Hogan forearms as a septuagenarian. To honour the veteran sailor man, the Museum of Television and Radio unveiled a retrospective featuring rarities and collectibles from the cartoon hero's career.

"There are very few characters that are that old and still in the public consciousness," said Barry Monush, curator of the exhibit. "It's quite impressive to stick around that long and stay recognizable."

Recognizable? Who could forget that face, with its jutting jaw and permanently squinting right eye? Or those arms, with the signature anchor tattoos?
The exhibit at the midtown Manhattan museum features five flat-screen televisions running a loop of classic cartoons, with Popeye proudly proclaiming, "I yam what I yam." He's joined, as always, by the usual cast of sidekicks: love interest Olive Oyl, nemesis Bluto, the ever-indigent Wimpy and baby Swee' Pea. Popeye was launched in 1929, debuting in a minor role in the comic strip "Thimble Theater." The sailor was an immediate hit with readers, and artist EC Segar converted him into the star of the strip within two years.

Several of the "Thimble Theater" strips, including one from the December 12, 1931, New York Evening Journal, are on display. But it was the Max Fleischer short films, 109 in all, that ingrained the spinach-chomping sailor into the national consciousness. The first one debuted in 1933, and Popeye became such an instant icon that spinach consumption in the United States jumped 33 percent during the 1930s.

In the 1950s, the Fleischer cartoons arrived on television and created a whole new generation of Popeye fans. New Popeye cartoons debuted in the 1970s, although that incarnation was more politically correct: He didn't smoke a pipe, and was far less likely to pound Bluto into a pulp.
He was, however, still strong to the finish. And he still ate his spinach -- although no one is really quite sure why. "I've never read anywhere why spinach was chosen," said curator Monush. "Maybe it was something that Segar liked. Or hated. Maybe it was just a big joke."

Segar died in 1938, but that did nothing to slow down the Popeye phenomenon: kids in Denmark knew the character as Skipper Skraek, while Italian children were treated to cartoons with Bracchio Di Ferro (Iron Arm). The retrospective also features a variety of Popeye memorabilia, from comic books to an original 1933 production cell to the "Official Popeye Pipe," still in its original package with the promise "It toots!"
"Well, Blow Me Down!: 75 Years of Popeye" runs through Jan. 30 at the museum.

NEW YORK, Nov 14: J Lo and Beyonce can take another bow. The booty-shaking stars have shaped the newest generation of mannequins, with hundreds of well-rounded plastic backsides appearing in shop windows across New York. Bootylicious figures clad in tight low-rise jeans have spilled from the city's street fashion stores into more established labels. "It's absolutely the trend," said Dwight Critchfield, creative director for mannequin firm Goldsmith. "These mannequins look great, and there is a real sex appeal about them."

The recent pop culture fixation on large bottoms has been around since at least 1992, when rapper Sir Mix-a-Lot scored a hit with "Baby Got Back."
But some credit the recent booty shakin' efforts of shapely stars Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce for the fresh emphasis on bigger and rounder posteriors, coupled with the fashion explosion of the Brazilian-style low-rise jeans.

"J Lo was the first to stress that women shouldn't be afraid to show their curves, and the popularity of rap made that shape more acceptable," said Critchfield. "And it is about these low-riding jeans looking good on a sexy, tight fit."

The company launched a "Sex" mannequin with "a larger booty and body" tailored for fashion label Express and for stores carrying lower-end trend clothing, said Critchfield. On the juniors' floor of Macy's in Manhattan, Guess jeans and streetwear label EckoRed display jeans on a fuller rear-end bottom-half mannequin, known as a pants form, opposite a large poster of J.Lo and her clothing label, while a DJ mixes hip hop and reggae to teen and 20-something shoppers.

EckoRed launched the new mannequin -- called the J.Lo butt form -- at the store almost two years ago and sales have since tripled. "It is a serious sociological trend that is positive for retailers and customers in that the tyranny of the undernourished perfect model is over," said Rich Rollison of Lifestyle Forms and Display, which designed the pants form mannequin.

Other companies also are developing more realistic mannequins with larger posteriors in maternity and plus sizes. US label Lane Bryant, which caters to plus sizes 14 to 28, is launching a more voluptuous full-body mannequin across its 250 stores after a successful test run in New York.

"It originated from urban ethnic street wear, but it has transcended that," Rollison said. "Now you are going to see it projected in more urban markets and it will get bigger."

LONDON, Nov 10: A film shot inside a British army tent in Iraq, in the heart of the war zone, has become the latest controversy to rock the coalition forces in Iraq. A raunchy video, shot six weeks ago, featuring two women British soldiers performing lesbian acts, while being cheered on by their male colleagues, is currently being investigated by Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch, reports News Of The World website.

Shot at a place called Shaiba, located near the Basra airport, the video has left the authorities red-faced. A probe has reportedly been initiated into the matter. The two blonde female soldiers and the others who cheered them on, from the Royal Engineers, are now being questioned by the Royal Military Police Special Investigation.

Referred to as Angie and Jane, the two girls are seen writhing on top of each other in the video footage while the excited bystanders urge them to get on with the action. Remotely print-worthy catcalls like "Go on bitch!", "Rip her jeans down!", "On your knees!" and a raucous "Get 'em off!" can be heard in the background, the website reports. As some of the men lunge forward to join in, they are stopped by others whose view of the action is being obstructed.

While some soldiers are seen using their camera phones to capture the moment, others endlessly gulp down beer, which is rationed to two cans daily for each soldier. The fact that there is currently one high profile Special Investigation Branch inquiry taking place into the booze culture among British troops in Iraq and another on in Afghanistan just makes the situation even more ironic.

What is surprising is that the makers of the tape have not tried to hide their location and profiles. Even though no one is in uniform and everyone appears to be off duty, a soldier's mark 6 armoured helmet and body armor is plainly visible in the background, reports News Of The World .

Moreover, there are clear shots of the distinctive floor webbing used in army quarters. There is also a stack of mineral water - the type imported by the army from Kuwait - and an army regulation air-conditioning unit, the site reports. Over a dozen copies of the video have been reportedly doing the rounds in the army bases in Iraq. A disgruntled colleague was the one who alerted the authorities, says the website.

LONDON, Nov 10: After setting the screen afire in Alfie , actress Sienna Miller is all set to deliver the most graphic role yet - as "sex slave" Edie Sedgwick. The movie titled Factory Girl is reportedly built around the love triangle between Warhol, Sedgwick and Bob Dylan during the 1960s and will feature some of the most controversial sex scenes ever filmed for a mainstream release.

The star, who is dating Jude Law, has had talks with producers of the film and is close to signing on the dotted line. The film begins shooting early next year and is expected to feature some of cinema's most explicit sex scenes.

But Sienna is no stranger to stripping off after appearing in her underwear opposite Daniel Craig in Layer Cake. According to Mirror.co.uk , "there's a huge buzz about it. Sienna Miller would be perfect for the part". Beautiful, glamorous and troubled, Sedgwick was the first of Andy Warhol's superstars. An heiress who ran away from her fortune and went to New York at 21, she met Warhol in 1965, becoming his muse and disciple, even copying his silver hair and black outfits.

In one year she appeared in six of Warhol's films, including The Poor Little Rich Girl. Warhol said, "I could see that she had more problems than anyone I'd ever met - so beautiful but so sick. I was really intrigued."

LONDON, Nov 7: Hollywood actress Tara Reid became the latest celebrity to join the 'Nipplegate' bandwagon after her left breast popped out of her dress as she arrived for hip hop artist P Diddy's birthday bash, in New York. The American Pie actress whipped off her fur wrap as she arrived, which in turn lowered her dress and exposed her breast and she did not even realize it until an attendant warned her.

The actress however seemed unperturbed as she told the press photographers, who were snapping away like crazy, to abstain from publishing them anywhere. "She giggled and wagged a finger at the snappers, saying I'd better not see those photos anywhere," The Sun quoted an onlooker as saying.

TAIPEI, Nov 6: More than 2,000 gay activists marched in Taipei on Saturday calling for an end to discrimination as organisers accused police in the southern Kaohsiung city of infringing their rights by raiding a gay bar. "We are saddened by this improper police action," said organiser Ashley Wu. Organizers of the annual parade alleged that the police abused their power to raid the bar where a press conference was being held. Police maintained that they were conducting a legitimate inspection but the bar owner refused to cooperate.

He was detained for questioning and released later. "I demand an apology from the police," the bar owner told reporters at the parade, saying he already appealed to the Presidential Office and the National Police Agency. Wu said this year's rally was aimed at promoting "civil awareness" in Taiwanese society in the wake of Friday's incident as well as a number of discrimination cases against gays since last year.

The parade was marked by a carnival-like mood with marchers donning flamboyant wigs and costumes, wielding rainbow banners and an array of placards. "We want marriages," said a woman dressed in a bridal gown, waving a sign which read, "Lesbians want to get married."

Several marchers held an enlarged wedding certificate while chanting slogans such as "Homosexuals can wed too." Taiwan's cabinet last year drafted a controversial bill to legalise same-sex marriages and recognize the right of homosexual couples to adopt children. The bill, pending approval in parliament, would have made Taiwan the first country in Asia to legalise gay marriages if enacted.

However, some gay groups cast doubt on the government's sincerity in pushing for the legislation, saying it was a ploy to woo voters. In January, uproar erupted over possible violations of gays' human rights after television networks broadcast pictures of 92 homosexual men in their underpants after a police raid. The footage was repeatedly aired after blood tests later found that 28 of the 92 men were HIV positive.

LONDON, Nov 6: Pop princess Britney Spears has announced in an open letter to fans that she will be quitting the music world for two years and return with a new image. "I haven't really thought a lot about work lately, what better time for a greatest hits album to come out? I can actually enjoy and reflect on my success at this point in my life," the Sun quoted the singer-cum-actress as saying. "I may be disappointing some fans but I don't think I'll do another tour for a couple of years. My priorities in life have changed. When I come back, things will be totally different," she added.

LODNON: It might not be music to Posh's ears, but US hip hop queen Missy Elliott is hunting for her ideal man, and has reportedly set her eyes on David Beckham, who tops of her list of most desirable males. "David Beckham is hot, but I've got a hell of a lot of competition. Maybe, I should find myself one of those sexy British soccer stars," The Mirror quoted Elliott as saying.

However, the singer admitted that she would love to be with a person who matched her tomboyish ways. "The person I eventually find will have to like me and my style. I blame my mother for making me a tomboy. When I was younger, she'd dress me up really girly in lacy dresses, so I went wild when I discovered tracksuits," she added.

NEW DELHI, Nov 2: Papparazzi favourite Britney Spears made a quick stopover in India as part of her honeymoon with dancer husband Kevin Federline, on the way to a secluded island resort in Fiji. The pop princess' visit was strictly hush-hush. Britney, who was keen on exploring the exotic locales of Rajasthan, travelled around Jodhpur along with Kevin. What caught her fancy was the Lake Palace in Jodhpur. Just back from Fiji and now at home in the US, Britney tells Delhi Times , "It was a breathtaking sight and so relaxing."

Britney, whose marriage and honeymoon have been a source of interest to tabloids the world over, managed to give the media the slip, even as the flashbulbs converged at a Beverly Hills hospital after rumours that the Baby One More Time star had been admitted after an emergency illness in Fiji. Britney has stated she will take time off to chill out and start a family, but not before releasing her greatest hits album titled Britney Spears: My Prerogative early next month.

The perennial newsmaker whose every step -- professional and private -- is watched by the media, now wants to reduce her poster girl appearances. In an open letter addressed to her fans on her official website she says, "My prerogative right now is to just chill and let all the other overexposed blondes on the cover of US Weekly be your entertainment."

MUMBAI, Nov 1: Cine actress and beauty queen, Aishwarya Rai, turned 31 on Monday. Rai, who began her career as a model, sashaying down the ramp in designer outfits, hit headlines when she bagged the Miss World title in 1994. After her stint in the world of beauty, Rai made a foray into the world of films. Her repertoire of films include, `Aa Ab Laut Chale', `Jeans', `Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' and the musical film, `Taal'.

It was her role in the Sanjay-Leela-Bhansali film, `Devdaas', that won Rai plenty of accolades. The film also went on to be selected as India's entry to the Oscars. Recently, the actress caught global attention when she starred in the international production `Bride and Prejudice' based on a famous Jane Austen novel.

Rai also has the rare distinction of having her wax model featured in the famous Madam Tussaud's museum. The actress has also participated in several campaigns promoting a social cause. The doe-eyed actress plea urging people to donate their eyes after death, evoked a positive response. She also has contributed her mite to campaigns relating to polio and breast cancer.

Naked News, which features nude presenters reading the day's headlines, could soon be available on mobile phones. According to Annanova.com executive producer David Warge said, "Naked News is the most successful transition from internet to television ever. We have shown that we offer a unique programme that attracts a large and loyal audience.

"We are planning to produce programme segments geared to the current state of mobile technology in Europe, something that our target group considers important. We will start with news, sports, entertainment and possibly even weather reports. As soon as North America is ready, we will produce a similar programme for that market."

Naked News was founded internationally in 1999 and quickly developed into a global media phenomenon. The broadcasts are available in 172 countries over the internet and through pay-per-view television in North America, the Caribbean and Europe.

LONDON: Baywatch babe and now best-selling author Pamela Anderson has revealed that she has "good penis karma," i.e. all her past lovers have been well endowed. The actress, who recently wrote her autobiography Star said that she had never seen a small penis until recently. She also revealed that as a youngster she was scared that she would not be good in bed and wouldn't be able to stay in a steady relationship, reports Female First.

"I've always had very good penis karma . I used to say I'd never seen a small one, but recently, maybe I have," the report quoted her as saying. "When I first came to California, I was nervous, thinking, 'I don't know if I can handle how to be with someone.' Then I realised it was all talk, talk, talk. Big hat, no cattle, as my dad used to say," she added.

Poland is organising a fair of its own kind that is sure to raise eyebrows. The country is hosting the Eroticon sex fair, a contest to find the world female sex champion. Three women from Brazil, the US and Poland will be pitted against each other for the Sex Champion title.

Organisers hope that one of them will break the World Sex Record which currently stands at 759 'humps' or the 1,000 men mark. "The World Sexual Record is a great chance to meet famous porn stars and enjoy the most important sex show in the world,” spokesman Krzysztof Garwatowski was quoted as saying.

“And the men who take part will also get the chance to compete for the title of Polish Stallion," he said. The erotic fair also includes an erotic fashion show, go-go dancing competitions, body painting and the chance to meet your favourite porn star.

Miss United Kingdom Laura Shields wears the Union Jack as a national costume during the Miss International Beauty Pageant final in Beijing on Saturday.

After being rated as the sexiest woman alive, actress Angelina Jolie has confessed that she loves to have sex with British men. What appeals to her about the Brits is hard to tell. They might be repressed but they're the ones that are good in bed, she recently told The Sun. But this is no good news for the weak hearted, because this wild woman is majorly into sadomasochism and her kinks also involve sex in hotel rooms, tattoos, blood and cutting herself. It is all a part of her personality, insists Jolie.

She, however, wants to make it clear that sadomasochism should not be misinterpreted as violence and insists that sadomasochism is mostly about trust and that she likes to push boundaries - both emotional and sexual - with her mate, which makes her feel the sexiest
The Original Sin starrer has been rather infamous for the dark and wild side to her sexual life. Jolie feels that she is far more wilder and freer today than she ever was before. There have also been rumours linking Jolie to Brad Pitt which she denies by saying that her 'two' lovers already keep her satisfied and she doesn't need a married man to keep her happy.

Jolie says that she prefers lovers to boyfriends simply because she does not want her son Maddox to call anyone one of them daddy unless they are going to stay. Jolie is now single after divorcing her second husband Billy Bob Thornton.

When you talk about scripting a novel that matches star quality Pamela Anderson wins hands down. Her novel Star has all the elements of a bestseller with the heroine enjoying sex in a limo, girl-on-girl action (twice) and an orgy. And that's not the end of it there is a romp in a trailer, on the set of a TV series, in a lift and in the toilet of a posh Beverly Hills restaurant. Some would say it is a far-fetched fantasy but when you know the author is former Baywatch beauty Pamela Anderson well then, maybe it is true!

In an exclusive in UK's The Sun , Pamela says, "It is my story. I wanted to tell the truth. I don't talk about my sex life normally but I wanted to tell my life story. The publishers asked me to write an autobiography. Instead I suggested a novel."

Though Pamela who co-wrote the book with Eric Shaw Quinn admits the sex scenes shocked him, says, "I'd have to tell him it really happened. The book could have been worse - we had to cut stuff out." Now that's what you call a suspense thriller!

MUMBAI, Oct 18: Former Miss World Diana Hayden is to play the glamorous lead role in an upcoming Bollywood venture - Adaa - Will Kill U. As the title suggests, Adaa is all about style with dollops of suspense and sensuality thrown in for added attraction, with Diana playing the lead opposite the tall and handsome Rajeev Singh, who won Manhunt International in 2001.

According to director Ajeet Sinha, "Adaa has everything that the audience of today is looking for -- a bold theme, glamour and an aesthetic presentation of beauty which shall evoke desire but will not be vulgar." Other actors in the film are Vasundhara Das, Gulshan Grover and Viswajeet Pradhan. Reshmi Ghosh, a former Miss India is there in a special role.

Singer-actor Vasundhara is excited about the project. "This is my first official Bollywood film," she said. "Though my singing career is going great guns with a national award for 'Shaka laka baby' and 'It's the time to disco', my acting career has been static. I hope to do well with Adaa." Vasundhara plays wife to Rajeev Singh in the film.

The film was launched with the recording of three songs with music by Jaideep Chaudhary. Shooting for Adaa begins October 25. While the director and lead actors refused to reveal the story, the film is reported to have a liberal sprinkling of "bold scenes".

LONDON: Madonna prefers reading a book to a romp in the bed, Marilyn Monroe finds it "wrong" and Andy Warhol declared it "the biggest nothing of all time". Welcome to the world of asexuals! According to a report in the New Scientist , having sex is no longer an item on the most desired list of the human population, and a sizable minority of people reportedly have absolutely no interest in sex, leading to the emergence of a group entitled as "asexuals".

"I suspect there have always been people who haven't been interested in sex and I would think that is related to attitudes in their family during childhood. The amount of sexual imagery all around us now could also have a reverse effect," the Daily Mail quoted Christine Northam, a relationship counsellor with Relate, as saying.

Dr Anthony Bogaert, a psychologist at Brock University in St Catherines, Canada, recently analysed the responses of 18,000 people, and found that one percent agreed with the statement: "I have never felt sexually attracted to anyone at all."

Researchers believe that some asexuals may have extremely low sex drives, but others may have normal levels but are simply not attracted to others. Some, however, still want to form close and lasting emotional bonds with other people and may even want to have children by using IVF to avoid having physical contact.

The report says that recent studies suggest that far from being just a handful of loners, the number of asexuals may be almost as large as the gay community.

Bollywood actress Karishma's hubby, Sunjay Kapur, couldn't believe his ears when his wife broke the news of her pregnancy. "You know how men are. When I first told him about it, he kept asking if I was absolutely sure! Of course, he is really thrilled about it. And I am very happy and content to start a family," says Karishma.

Karishma, popularly known as Lolo, is in the fourth month of pregnancy. "I was planning to shoot for two films when I got this news. It was completely unplanned, so it came as a big surprise - a pleasant one though."

Now, Lolo is all kicked about starting her family. "When we were kids, mom was always there for us. She would run down to help us when we fell down. With her soft touch, kisses and sweet talk, she would gently put us at ease. Years later, I enacted all this whenever I played the on-screen mommy. By now, I think I am an ace as a mother! Even my friends are convinced that I do not really need to prepare for motherhood," says Karishma.

Though everyone in the Kapoor-Kapur khandaan is rejoicing, sister Kareena is the most ecstatic of the lot. "Bebo is so impatient. She has just one question always: How long to go? She is already planning her own stuff," laughs Lolo.

Busy wrapping up the last schedule of her TV serial, Karisma has been "working non-stop" for the past 15 years. "I did not take time off even for my wedding. So, this is a very deserving break." There is no preference for a boy or a girl child. And they haven't thought of any names yet.

"We will start the process soon," informs Karisma, "Naming your child is no easy task. Each one will have a name to suggest, but I am sure Bebo is going to come up with the most names."

Karisma isn't sure about where she would prefer the delivery - Mumbai or Delhi. For now, the mom-to-be will keep herself busy by "watching movies, reading and relaxing at home."

Indian model-turned-actress and writer Salman Rushdie's new wife Padma Lakshmi has stirred up some hot controversy. Readers in the UK have found her picture in the Observer Food Monthly, with a headline titled 'Dish of the Day', unpalatable, reports asiansinmedia.org. Calling the picture sexist, they have lodged a complaint.

The picture shows Padma Lakshmi, who starred in Kaizad Gustad's doomed new-age flick Boom, lying on a metal kitchen table full of lobsters and surrounded by a group of male chefs. The caption for the picture reads, 'Padma Lakshmi: Salman Rushdie's favourite cook'.

However, in a ruling on Thursday, the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) has dismissed the complaints. The Guardian Media Group, who owns the Sunday broadsheet, has defended the move saying the picture was provided by Padma Lakshmi herself, reports asiansinmedia.org. The saucy picture, the Group reasoned, was "relevant in the context of Ms Lakshmi's dual careers as a model and as a presenter of a TV cookery programme". And the ASA seems to have bitten into the explanation, saying it "considered that the image was tasteful".

Born in southern India, Lakshmi has not only modelled for Versace, Armani and Ralph Lauren, but also appeared in magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Mirabella and Glamour. She presents a show on the Food Network in the US and recently published a successful book called 'Easy Exotic: A Model's Low-Fat Recipes from Around the World'. She can also speak five languages and is working to kick start a movie career.

Bride and Prejudice has taken the UK's top spot in cinema box office receipts despite the expectations of some movie critics, earning nearly £1.7 million over the weekend. The figures show that the horror movie Saw was UK's no. 2 film with Wimbledon in third position, new entry Resident Evil: Apocalypse in fourth and Layer Cake in the fifth.

Although the hype, publicity and column inches for Gurinder Chadha's film seem to have paid off for the time being, the opening is less than what Bend it Like Beckham achieved two years ago. Nevertheless the movie has done well to get to no. 1 with a largely unknown cast (to most Britons) and lukewarm reviews in the press.

She said: "I am thrilled, 'Bride' took over 1.65 million pounds in the UK in one weekend! I have now seen the film with the English, Indian and American public and they have all had mostly the same exuberant reaction. I set out to make a British movie using an Indian musical style for the global audience, from what I've seen so far I am happy I've achieved this."

MUMBAI, Oct 11: Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan turned 62 on Monday. Voted as the superstar of the millennium by an opinion poll and one to have his statue sculpted in wax at the world famous Madam Tussaud's gallery, Amitabh has essayed a variety of roles from being an illegitimate son, an alcoholic do-gooder, a criminal with a heart-of-gold, a conman, an honest police official to even a dealer selling jaggery.

Born in 1942 to renowned poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji Bachchan, Amitabh went to carve his own niche in the film industry through his powerful acting prowess and his legendary deep voice. Faced with rejection at the very outset of his career due to his tall lanky looks and his deep voice, the actor turned the tables to achieve superstardom and make these perceived liabilities as his greatest assets.

Though his initial film `Saat Hindustani' sank without a trace, the tall hero went on to make his mark when he stole the limelight in the film `Anand' with his much loved character of unassuming doctor, determined to save his friend from terminal illness. Though he shared the screen with the then superhero, Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh's character of `Babu Moshai' till date remains unforgettable.

However, it was his roles as a young man fighting against a corrupt system single-handedly, his angst with a society riddled with problems like unemployment and corruption, that saw the audience emphathising with him totally.

A dekko at the way Stone, pouts seducing ones at handsome hunk Douglas. The first time that Douglas (Detective Nick Curran) chances his blue eyes on blonde Stone (Catherine Tramell), in connection with the death of her boyfriend.

LOS ANGELES, Oct 8: Pop diva Britney Spears has made her marriage to dancer Kevin Federline official nearly three weeks after they secretly wed, stifling claims that they faked their wedding, aides said on Friday. The couple filed their marriage license with Los Angeles authorities on Thursday, formalising the union that one report had claimed was faked amid a row over the financial terms of the marriage.

The blond bombshell's spokeswoman Leslie Sloane said the document had been filed well within the official 90-day limit, making the celebrity marriage final. "They are legally married, the paperwork was filed on Thursday," Sloane said.

People magazine said the multi-millionaire singer and her far less rich back-up dancer beau formalized their union after signing their prenuptial that is aimed at protecting the assets of the wealthier spouse. The couple, who began dating in April, married at a surprise ceremony at a friend's Los Angeles home on September 18. But Us magazine later said Spears, 22, and Federline, 26, had staged a "faux wedding." It claimed they delayed formalising their marriage because their lawyers were still wrangling over how much cash Federline would be entitled to if the marriage collapsed.

The magazine said it had obtained a draft of a prenuptial contract stating that if the couple split, Federline would only be entitled to 300,000 dollars a year for exactly half the term of the marriage, instead of 50 percent of Spears' total wealth. Under the draft contract, Spears, who is reportedly worth anywhere from 32 to 100 million dollars, would also not be financially responsible for Federline's two young children by another woman.

But the singer, famed for such hits as " Oops, I did it again " and for her 55-hour Las Vegas marriage to a childhood friend in January, rebuked media claims she had not tied the knot. "I'm really upset that somebody someplace decides to write a false headline about a special day that I've dreamed about since I was a little girl," she told People, which reportedly agreed to pay two million dollars to the couple for rights to the pictures of their wedding.

But even as Spears gained a husband, she lost a manager, parting ways with Larry Rudolph, who has represented her since she was just 13 years old.

MUMBAI, Oct 10: Bollywood star Rekha, who captured cinegoers for decades with her powerful acting style and timeless beauty, has turned 50 today. Born in 1954 to cinestars Gemini Ganesan and Pushpavalli, Rekha with husky smouldering voice and acting style to match, went on to become the country's leading heroine with her roles in blockbuster films like Silsila, Khoobsurat or Umrao Jaan.

But as they say, 'she was born a star'. Rekha was a success right after her first Hindi film, Sawan Bhadon. She had once said as a teenager, stardom bothered her a lot as she could no longer go to the stores or take walks. One of the industry's ugly-duckling-turned-into-swan stories, the actress has worked hard, very hard, to reach the top. Today the actress never fails to evoke the the words sensual.

LONDON, Oct 4: Exotic fairy light garlands and Indian drummers in traditional tunics have brought Bollywood to Britain with the world premiere of Bride and Prejudice , an adaptation of Jane Austen's classic tale. Director Gurinder Chadha said the film gave Pride and Prejudice a modern twist in an Indian setting. "It's a very British Asian movie that incorporates India, England and America," Chadha told newsmen as a host of stars arrived for the premiere on Monday.

"It is very true to Jane Austen and the spirit of the book, and I think if she came down and went to see it in her local Odeon (cinema), she would like it," Chadha said. Stars walked up a pink carpet, rather than the usual red, into the London Palladium, decorated in Indian fabrics and fairy lights and abuzz with the sound of Indian drummers.

Like the novel, the film features a lower middle-class family's attempts to marry off its daughters to men of a higher social standing. But the film is a million miles away from the setting of Austen's classic - it is an all-singing, all-dancing affair set in India, London and Los Angeles. Heroine Elizabeth Bennett becomes Lalita Bakshi in the film, and is played by Aishwarya Rai, one of Bollywood's most sought-after actresses.

Mr Darcy is played by Martin Henderson, a Los-Angeles based actor from New Zealand. The character is brought up to date in the film - he is a wealthy heir to an American hotel chain. Bride and Prejudice is to be released in Britain on October 8. Chadha's last movie Bend It Like Beckham - the story of an Indian girl born in England whose only desire is to become a football star like David Beckham - was a huge surprise hit around the world and launched the Hollywood career of Keira Knightley.

NEW YORK: Paris Hilton appears to be at the centre of yet another scandal. The London's News of the World has reportedly obtained a 11-minute steamy footage showing her "writhing in the back of a car as she is being groped intimately" by former Backstreet Boy Nick Carter, according to the New York Post. It also shows her answering the door naked - wearing only a "pore strip" across her nose. In yet another scene she reportedly puffs on a joint, chirping, "Paris Hilton, part two: How to roll a joint!"

The footage is believed to have been made from 12 hours of video stolen from Hilton's home rented Hollywood Hills home last month. Hilton's spokesman Elliot Mintz warned that Hilton's legal team will sue anyone who tries to give away her X-rated tapes to the tabloids.

NEW DELHI: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, civil servant Gautam Goswami and sitar exponent Anoushka Shankar feature prominently in Time 's 20 Asian Heroes under the age of 40. Sri Lankan legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, gutsy Pakistani woman Mukhtai Mai, Afghanistan's prominent human rights activist Ahmad Nader Nadery and John Wood, a former Microsoft executive who is building schools and libraries throughout Asia, also figure in the list.

Others who figure in the list of 20 are Hong Suk Chun, a South Korean actor who was the first public figure in the country to admit he is gay and helped change conservative attitudes towards homosexuality.

Royston Tan, a multi-award winning filmmaker, whose willingness to push the creative envelope has made him a hero to Singapore's independent artists, figures in the magazine. Pham Thi Hue, an HIV-positive mother of one who runs a Vietnamese NGO to educate people about AIDS, and Butset Manurung, an Indonesian conservationist who teaches jungle tribes, also feature in the magazine.

The others are Cambodia's Bokor National Park rangers, Chinese Olympic gold medallist hurdler Liu Xiang, Hong Kong's pro-democracy activist Jackie Hung, Chinese dancer Yuan Yuan Tan, Sabriye Tenberken, a blind German woman who invented Tibetan Braille and teaches blind Tibetan children how to be self sufficient, Japanese fashion icon Nigo, Japanese actor Yuuya Yaqira and Japanese baseball star Ichiro Suzuki. The magazine will honour the heroes at a gala event in Seoul (South Korea) next month.