Shah Rukh is always one step ahead of rival Aamir

If Aamir Khan can go all out to promote 3 Idiots, will Shah Rukh Khan lag behind? Aamir's promotional strategy had floored everyone.

So, SRK went ahead and released the first look of My Name Is Khan (MNIK) at the premiere of the mega Hollywood flick, Avtaar, by James Cameron.

But King Khan insists he isn't copying Aamir for the promotion of his film that has been directed by his friend Karan Johar.

Talking about Aamir's promotional strategy and his own for MNIK, he said: "Everyone has their own ideas and plans. I wouldn't like to do so (what Aamir did) and reduce my film to anything (like a gimmick but he didn't exactly use the word). I don't really think about someone else's film. Aamir is a good- thinking person, so he must know what he is doing. And I guess the idea must be in sync with his film's plot too. I think everyone should market the film in the way the film speaks or is. Of course, the more innovative its promotions the better. MNIK is a love story at the core and we will market it that way. For rest, you will have to wait and watch."

20th Century Fox will showcase MNIK's trailer with all its prints worldwide and it will get a much wider exposure. "I am really thankful to them for doing so. It's a first for a Hindi film. Fox Star Studios' is distributing the film and they will be a big help in increasing our market by making bigger films," said Shah Rukh.

MNIK will also be showcased in the Berlin Film Festival and Karan is thrilled about it. Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Karan will be present at the festival, which is from February 11 to February 21. Unconfirmed reports claimed Fox bought the film for Rs 100 crore and plans to release it with over 600 prints world over. It will guarantee the widest release ever for a Hindi film.

Shortest day of winter

Tomorrow is the shortest day of winter.

It is a day when the Earth's axis tilts the farthest from the Sun and is called winter solstice, a term derived from Latin words 'sol' (sun) and 'sistere' (to stand still).

A solstice is an astronomical event which happens twice each year, when the tilt of the Earth's axis is most inclined toward or away from the Sun, causing the Sun's apparent position in the sky to reach its northernmost or southernmost extreme, Science Popularisation Association of Communicators and Educators (SPACE) president CB Devgun told reporters.

On the day of winter solstice, North Pole points directly away from the Sun and South Pole points directly towards the Sun, he said, adding the Sun shines at lowest heights in Northern skies and at maximum heights in Southern skies.

This results in the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere, but at the same time it's the longest day in Southern Hemisphere.

Devgun said winter solstice indicates peak of the cold season. After this, the length of the day starts increasing and it reaches a point where day and night become equal in length at Vernal or Spring Equinox. The day continues to grow longer till summer solstice, the longest day, he added.

Tomorrow the winter solstice will be at 23.17 pm. In Delhi, sunrise will be at 7.10 am and sunset at 5.29 pm making it a day which is about 10 hours in duration, Devgun said.

A Khagol Mela on winter solstice has been planned by SPACE in collaboration with Nehru Planetarium at Jantar Mantar in the city.

Students from various schools would be performing activities like measuring the sun's angle during noon and finding declination of the sun using Jai Prakash Yantra at Jantar Mantar on the day.

Teenage girls' weight affects sexual behavior

A new study has revealed that teenage girls' weight or perception of their weight might play a role in their participation in risky sexual behaviors.

The research team from University of Pittsburgh showed that those girls who were both sexually active and overweight, or who thought they were overweight, were less likely to use condoms than normal-weight sexually active girls.

Moreover, underweight girls were also less likely to use condoms.

"This study will contribute to sexual health education prevention efforts, which can be tailored to address how cultural norms regarding body size may influence adolescent sexual decision making," said lead researcher Dr Aletha Akers, M.P.H., assistant professor of gynecology and reproductive sciences at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

"Knowing how a girl perceives her weight may be just as important as knowing her actual weight," Akers added.

The study involving nearly 7,200 high school girls from 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance survey, half reported ever having sex suggested variability in the girls'' sexual activity and sexual risk-taking behavior based on their ethnicity and actual or perceived weight.

The study results are published in the journal Pediatrics.

Wife posed as girl in online trap

Cheryl Roberts, 61, pretended to be a 14-year-old girl and was asked by David Roberts, 68, to meet for sex.

Roberts admitted engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and making and possessing illegal images.

He was given a three-year community order and banned from having access in person or online to under 18s.

The couple have now split up and are getting divorced.

Different computer

The court heard that mother-of-two Mrs Roberts became suspicious about the amount of time her husband was spending in his study and of a message which popped up on their computer while he was out.

While Roberts was chatting online in his study, Mrs Roberts used a different computer in the living room at their home in Pantygog, Bridgend, and pretended to be a schoolgirl.

Roberts propositioned the "girl", unaware he was chatting to his wife, the court was told.

Prosecutor Martyn Kelly told the court that Roberts, a former pub landlord who used the nickname 'Corky' online, also used a webcam to film himself carrying out acts of indecency - which his wife could see on her PC just yards away.

Illegal images

Mrs Roberts was so shocked by the behaviour of her husband of almost 20 years she brought in police, who seized his computer and found dozens of illegal child porn images.

Roberts believed he had been caught through downloading the images and did not know until weeks later that it was his wife who had called the police.

The court heard that, when interviewed, Roberts denied having sex with any schoolgirls but admitted he was "prepared to do so".

Byron Broadstock, defending, said: "He's brought shame on himself and his family."

Psychiatrists' reports said Roberts might have a brain disorder which causes him to be an exhibitionist.

Mr Broadstock said Roberts had been going through a dark patch at the time, was anxious to know why he had behaved in that way and would welcome treatment.

Claude Knights, director of children's charity Kidscape, said: "The offences that he has committed are very serious indeed and his wife must be commended for the active part that she played in bringing him to justice."

sex scandals to have made news in public

Let's begin with the lastest development in Madhur Bhandarkar's case wherein a magistrate's court on Wednesday said the FIR filed against him in July 2004 could not be dismissed.

Bhandarkar a National Award winning filmmaker was accused of rape and making false promises to an aspiring actress Priti Jain. She filed a case stating that she slept with him from 1999 to 2004 as he promised her a role in a movie and marriage. However, in 2005, Jain was arrested for hiring people from the underworld to have Madhur killed.

Later, the Versova police during investigation had found that the complaint filed against Bhandarkar was false, they asked a magistrate at Railway Mobile Court in Andheri to classify the case as 'B' summary and dismiss it.
The case came up for hearing on Wednesday and it seems the trouble involving the rape charges are not over. Rejecting the police contention that allegations against Bhandarkar were false, the magistrate court has said that the FIR filed against could not be dismissed.

Shakti Kapoor

Shakti Kapoor well known for playing comic and villainous roles has acted alongside comedian Kader Khan in over 100 films.

In March 2005, a television channel released a video, allegedly showing Shakti Kapoor asking for sexual favors from an undercover reporter posing as an aspiring actress, in return for entry into the film industry. This was a sting operation to expose the phenomenon of casting couch prevalent in Bollywood. This incident sparked a controversy in Bollywood and Kapoor was banned by the Film & Television Producers Guild of India. Association of Indian Motion Pictures and TV Programme Producers decided not to ban him as no allegations against him were proven. The Film & Television Producers Guild also lifted the ban later.

Kapoor claimed that the video clip in question was doctored and he had been framed. He said that the undercover reporter met him several times and threatened to commit suicide if he did not come to the hotel room she had booked.

Aman Verma

Thank him for making the term 'sting operation' familiar to the Indian audience. Verma was undoubtedly the reigning star of the Indian telly, when a sting operation revealed that he molested a woman. His entire career was tarnished.

The bulky Salman came to his rescue. But that hardly helped. Seems like an episode right from a K serial.
The sting operation carried out by a TV channel filmed Aman Verma making advances towards the undercover reporter and also trying to examine her 'closely'.

Shiney Ahuja

Shiney Ahuja who won Filmfare Best Debut Award for Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi in 2006 has been accused of raping a household maid.

On June 14, 2009, a household maid working at Ahuja's house lodged a complaint with the Mumbai Police alleging that Ahuja had raped her that afternoon. She further claimed that he threatened her to kill her if the incident came to light. Ahuja was arrested the next day. After being in the Arthur Road Jail for over three months, he was granted bail from the Bombay High Court.

Michael Jackson

Despite Jackson's popularity and good works, he became the subject of a major scandal. In 1993 a thirteen-year-old boy accused Jackson of sexually abusing him at the star's home. Jackson settled the case out of court while insisting he was innocent. The scandal cost Jackson his endorsement contract with Pepsi and a film deal. His sexual preference was called into question, and his public image was severely damaged.

Jackson was charged with seven counts of child molestation and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent.Jackson denied the allegations.

Anand Jon

Anand Jon Alexander a fashion designer was convicted for serial child molestation and sexual abuse. He appeared on America's Next Top Model and rose to fame in the fashion industry prior to being convicted.

Jon was arrested in March 2007 in Beverly Hills, California on rape and related charges, based on the allegations of numerous aspiring models, including committing lewd conduct upon a minor. He pled "not guilty" to all charges. His defence being that he was set up by aspiring models trying to get revenge after he rejected them for photo shoots and fashion shows.

Jon was convicted for 16 out of 23 counts of sexual abuse; charges included forcible rape of seven women and girls, aged 14 to 21.

At the end of the trial Jon was sentenced to 59 years to life. He is expected to be extradited to New York, where prosecutors will charge him with more than 40 counts, including first-degree forcible rape and rape of a minor, involving 12 additional women and children. Jon also faces pending charges in Texas and Massachusetts.

Bill Clinton

William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001 was the third-youngest president.

The Lewinsky scandal was a political sex scandal emerged from a sexual relationship between United States President Bill Clinton and a 22-year-old White House intern, Monica Lewinsky. The news of this extra-marital affair and the resulting investigation eventually led to the impeachment of President Clinton in 1998 by the U.S. House of Representatives and his subsequent acquittal on all impeachment charges in a 21-day Senate trial.

David Beckham

David Robert Joseph Beckham, the English footballer currently plays in midfield for American Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy and the England national team.

Many ladies claim that they have 'had' Becks! But this turned really nasty when, he was accused twice. First, he was accused of having a torrid affair with Rebecca Loos, his former personal assistant.

A week later, a model named Sarah Marbeck stated that she had slept with the soccer star. Of course, Beckham denied these charges. There has never been any proof of any of the allegations of Beckham's claimed infidelity.

Top 9 Terror persons of the world

Osama Bin Laden

The most wanted man in the world is accused of master minding the 1998 bombings of U.S Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, resulting in the deaths of over 200 people. He has also been charged with conspiring to kill Americans outside the U.S. and has claimed responsibility for the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Centre towers in New York that resulted in an estimated 3,000 deaths.

He is believed to be hiding in Pakistan, perhaps in the Waziristan region. Former U.S. President, G.W. Bush authorized a $25 million bounty, but for the last seven years, the 51 year old Saudi Arabian has managed to evade the largest man hunt in history.

Joaquin Guzman

In the shady world of South American drug cartels, it takes a particular breed of nastiness to topple the Columbians, famed for their particular brand of ruthlessness that allowed them to dominate the drug trade into the United States. So when Guzman established himself as the head of the Sinaloa Cartel, it goes with out saying that he did so in a wave of bloodshed that has killed thousands, including priests and policemen.

Known as 'El Chapo' or 'Shorty', the Mexican kingpin specialized in importing cocaine from Columbia and smuggling it into the U.S through elaborate tunnels. He was arrested in 2001 and placed in a Mexican maximum security prison, and was due to be extradited to the States. However, so deep was his influence that he orchestrated his escape, allegedly in a laundry truck, with the help of no less than seventy eight people, including, it is rumored, the facility director.

Since then he has evaded capture, while being indicted by the United States and a five million bounty has been placed on his head.

Alimzhan Tokhtakhounov

Originally from Uzbekistan, Tokhtakhounov has established himself as the modern face of the Russian mafia. Known as 'Taiwanchik' for his Asiatic features, Tokhtakhounov is suspected to be a major player in the trafficking of drugs, illegal arms and stolen motor vehicles.

He is also rumored to be heavily involved in the fixing of high profile events, ranging from beauty pageants to Olympic events at the Utah Winter Games. In 2002, he was indicted by the U.S. government for bribing Olympic figure skating judges to favor the French team, robbing the Canadians of gold medals in the pair's competition. The U.S. tried to get him extradited from Italy after his arrest there, but he was released and has since disappeared into Russia.

Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar

Arguably the most wanted man in India's history; this son of an Indian policeman allegedly oversees a criminal empire that stretches across Mumbai, Pakistan and Dubai. His organized crime group, 'D-Company' is reportedly involved in drug trafficking, counterfeiting, weapons smuggling, and murder. Ibrahim has been accused of masterminding the 1993 Bombay Blasts that killed 257 people and wounded 713.

According to reports, the lone surviving gunman from the November 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, Ajmal Amir Kasab, has allegedly confessed to authorities that Ibrahim's organization provided the terrorists with the arms and explosives to carry out the attacks.

The Indian government has long suspected him of having ties with Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence agency and believes that the Pakistan government is sheltering him in Karachi. The United States government has declared him a 'global terrorist' and has associated him with Al Qaeda. The United Nations has attempted to freeze his assets and Interpol has placed him on their most wanted list, but as yet he remains protected in Pakistan. It's been rumored that the 52 year old has had significant plastic surgery to alter his appearance.

Matteo Messina Denaro

The 'playboy' of the Italian mafia, Denaro seen as the most powerful and influential member of the Costa Nostra, taking advantage of the vacuum in power left by the arrest of long time leaders like Bernardo Provenzano in 2006.

Denaro is known for his taste in expensive watches, fast cars and young women, but this is no mere playboy playing gangster, Denaro has been implicated in the deadly 1993 bomb attacks that forced the Italian government to stop its campaign to crack down on the mafia. He is also rumored to be heavily involved in the international drug trade and extortion rackets. Recently, "Diabolik" as he is also known, has been rumored to be involved in money laundering rings that allow him to circulated hundreds of millions of dollars. It has also been estimated that he has been involved in the murders of at least 50 people.

The Sicilian has since evaded arrest following the 1993 attacks and has been sentenced to life in prison (in absentia).

Félicien Kabuga

The most wanted man in Africa, Kabuga is held responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of men, women and children, having been the driving force behind the Rwandan genocide in 1994.

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda issued an international arrest warrant for Kabuga, a rich businessman, and charged him with crimes including genocide, the conspiracy to commit genocide and the complicity in genocide. He has been accused of bankrolling the Hutu militias who carried out the massacres of over 800,000 Tutsi civilians over a period of 100 days in Rwanda. He allegedly provided arms, transportation and uniforms to the militias and purchased thousands of machetes and hoes, which were used as weapons to attack unarmed civilians. Kabuga's radio station was also heard to propagate extremist Hutu ideology and exhort the militias to wipe out the Tutsi population.

Following the conquest of Rwanda by the Tutsi dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front, Kabuga has fled the country and is currently a fugitive, having attempted to seek refuge in Switzerland and the Democratic Republic of Congo, before being admitted into Kenya, where he is rumored to be a resident in Nairobi.

Joseph Kony

The founder and head of The Lord's Resistance Army, a guerilla group that is conducting a violent and bloody campaign to establish a theocratic government in Uganda, using a system of governance based on the Bible and the Ten Commandments.

Kony has been issued with a warrant by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. It is believed that under his direction, the LRA has been responsible for the displacement of two million people, the abduction of approximately 60,000 people, including 30,000 children, who are used as soldiers in his campaign of murder, destruction, rape, sexual slavery and mutilation. Allegedly, Kony has been known force children to murder their own parents as part of their initiation into the LRA.

In the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, the United States government placed Kony on their 'global terrorist' list, a move that carries severe financial and other penalties. It is unknown whether Kony has any assets that would be affected by this designation.

James 'Whitey' Bulger

The leader of an Irish-American crime family, Bulger controlled the drug trade and extortion rackets in South Boston, building up a fortune that is believed to be in excess of $50 million. He has been implicated in a number of murders, and has been known to associate with a number of major criminal enterprises across North America and Europe, including the Irish Republican Army.

According to sources, Bulger was a gangster of the old school, refusing to deal in heroin and to children, extracting violent retribution against dealers who disobeyed his edicts.

The FBI has tracked Bulger for more than a decade, placing him on their 'Ten Most Wanted' list and a $1 million bounty on his head. However, due to his wealth and extensive lists of contacts built up over the decades, the 80 year old mob boss has managed to evade capture, and is currently rumored to have relocated to Sicily, with last confirmed sighting of him being in London, 2002.

Omid Tahvili

The kingpin of an Iranian crime family, Tahvili is believed to be connected to various triads and global criminal groups. Known as "Nino", the Iranian is based in Canada and is suspected of heading up one of the major crime organizations operating of the Iranian community in Canada.

In 2005, Tahvili was arrested for the torture and sexual assault of a male relative of an associate he suspected of stealing $500,000 dollars from him. He was awaiting sentencing in a maximum security prison in British Columbia, but walked out after bribing a guard with $50,000.

The U.S. government is seeking his arrest in relation to an alleged operation of a fraudulent telemarketing business that scammed approximately three million dollars from elderly American victims. Tahvili is rumored to have contacts throughout the Middle East and Europe, and is believed to run operations in these areas. He remains at large.

Things you cannot buy with £45m

Certain Masterpiece

Looking for something to brighten up the grand hall of your new country estate?

Work by Warhol or Rothko may be just about affordable, but if you are taken by Renoir's Le Moulin de la Galette or Van Gogh's Portrait of Dr Gachet, think again.

You will need to keep playing the lottery and hope for a second jackpot if you like Jackson Pollock's abstract No. 5, 1948, rumoured to have sold last year for a record-breaking $140m (£84m).

Super-Yacht

For lessons in how to spend millions, Russian billionaires are a good place to start.

It is considerably over budget at a reported $1.2bn (£722m) but Roman Abramovich's yacht is a fine example of how not to scrimp.

The Eclipse - which resembles the floating home of a James Bond villain - is almost the length of two football pitches.

It is said 70 crew members are needed to run the yacht. Security on board is so tight there are missile defence and intruder detection systems, as well as a system which can detect paparazzi cameras.

It also has two helipads, 11 guest cabins, two swimming pools (one of which can be drained and converted into a dance floor), three launch boats, an aquarium and a mini-submarine.

Large Caribbean Island

Buying an island is when you truly enter the super-rich bracket, so a relatively paltry £45m will not go far.

Admittedly, there are options in Scotland, Dorset and further afield in the British Virgin Islands - the 43-acre Buck Island advertised for $50m (£30m) comes just within budget.

But if you are looking for something with a bit more room then Ronde Island, in Grenada, gives you 2,000 acres of remote, untouched Caribbean paradise where the water is so clear you can see 100ft under the surface.

It was on the market two years ago for $100m (£60m).

Cristiano Ronaldo

The Portuguese footballer, and reportedly soon-to-be Armani model, will be £35m over-budget.

Silky footwork and an eye for the back of the net made the 24-year-old the game's most expensive player when Real Madrid stumped up £80m for him this summer.

A recent ankle injury may mean, with some tough bargaining skills, you could get him for a knock-down price.

But given that you would need to buy another 10 men for a team, it may not be the best use of your jackpot win.

Blockbuster Movie

Harbouring an urge to step into Steven Spielberg's world? Then you may require a bank loan.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End came in at $300m (£181m) with the likes of Spider-Man 3, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and James Bond's Quantum of Solace not far behind.

Just within a £45m budget was Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Doctor Dolittle, according to The Numbers.com

Or you could make lots and lots of films like 1999's Blair Witch Project, which cost a mere $35,000 (£21,000) to make.

Ant and Dec for five years

TV presenters Ant and Dec do not come cheap.

ITV have just signed up the pair, who started out as teenage actors on BBC children's show Byker Grove, to a two-year exclusive deal.

Reports suggest the contract is worth a cool £20m to the duo, even though it represents a 10% pay cut on last year's deal.

That being the case, if you want them for five years, you will need to hit them with another pay cut, or make do with them for just four.

Private Jet

There should be no problem picking up a helicopter for around the £1m mark but if it is top-of-the-range you are after, you'll need three times your jackpot win.

The FA-22 Raptor is one of the world's most expensive jets, priced at $260m (£156m) five years ago.

It can fly at 1,500km/h and still remain undetected by radar.

It is able to fire precisely targeted smart bombs and can also engage hostile aircraft far beyond the pilot's vision.

Diamond Mine

Diamonds are no trouble on a £45m budget. In fact, you could stretch to a dozen flawless blue diamonds.

The gem is one of the rarest in the world and one was bought at auction in Hong Kong auction in 2007 for almost £4m.

But if that is not enough sparkle, there are diamond mines for sale in Israel, South Africa and Western Australia among other places.

One South African mine was bought by Petra Diamonds for one billion rand (£72m) two years ago - a little over-budget but with some wise investment, you could revisit your plans in a few years' time.