Coming soon: a horror story on American Fritzl’s victim?

London, Sept 20 (ANI): Publishers and Hollywood studios have begun a multi-million dollar bidding war for the rights to sex slave Jaycee Dugard’s horrifying life story.

Fresh details of the American Fritzl’s victim have emerged, including that in the early days of her captivity, the terrified schoolgirl was so hungry she ate bugs and worms in the rambling back garden where she was held in tents and lock-up sheds, reports The Daily Express.

She had to use a garden hose to shower outside, even in winters, say detectives guarding her and her two daughters, fathered by kidnapper Phillip Garrido.

However, the public apparently is desperate for the full story of how Jaycee, now 29, survived after being snatched on her way to a school bus stop when she was only 11.

A New York literary agent, who estimates the book and film rights to be worth up to 12million dollars, said: “You couldn’t dream up a script like this. Americans can’t wait to hear the story from the girl who lived it.”

A Hollywood studio producer said: “Everyone is in the market for this story. Poor Jaycee’s life may have been hell for 18 years but she’ll never want for anything for the rest of it.”

Garrido, a registered sex offender, has been linked to six child abductions and murders stretching back years within a 400-mile radius of the ramshackle home in Antioch, California, where Jaycee was held. (ANI)

Nine-day ‘Navratri’ festival begins all over India

New Delhi/ Faizabad/Allahabad, Sept 19 (ANI): The nine-day ‘Navratri’ festival began across India with religious fervour on Saturday.

Thousands of devotees queued up at various temples dedicated to Goddess Durga.

In New Delhi, devotees converged at Jhandewalan to offer prayers prior to dawn and observed fast throughout the day.

“We observe fast on the first day of Navratri. On the first day, we pray for the whole day and meditate on Goddess Durga,” said Madan Gehlot, a devotee.

Meanwhile, at Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh, people made a beeline to the temple of Goddess Badi Devkali.

The devotees believe their wishes are fulfilled if they pray to Goddess Badi Devkali during the festival.

“People believe that coming here redeems them from their sins. Since the Goddess Devkali is the deity of Lord Rama’s dynasty, her significance is all the more. That’s why people come here to offer prayers to the Goddess,” said Poonam, a devotee.

Earlier on Friday, a day prior to the commencement of Dusshera, a unique annual horse procession was taken out through the streets of Allahabad.

The belief is that the horse representing sage Vyasa would relate the Ramayana.

Musical bands led the attractively decorated white horse procession organised by a leading Ram Lila committee of the city.

“Legend says that when Maharishi Valmiki narrated the story of Lord Rama to Luv and Kush then this horse standing next to them also listened to the story. The horse in the form of sage Vyasa tells the story of Rama to people during the Navratri celebrations,” said Ajay Kumar Shukla, secretary, Ramlila Committee.

“Naaratri”, which literally means nine nights, is observed twice a year.

The festival lasts for nine days in honour of nine manifestations of Durga, goddess of power, and fall in the months of April-May and September-October.

It is believed that during the Navratri, Goddess Durga descends on earth to rid it of the demons and blesses her devotees with happiness and prosperity. (ANI)

Jim Carrey denies wedding reports

Washington, September 17 (ANI): Jim Carrey has not tied the knot with girlfriend Jenny McCarthy in a special commitment ceremony in Malibu, his publicist has said.

Recent reports said that the couple vowed to be together forever in front of family and friends.

The lovers then purportedly headed to Las Vegas for their own version of a honeymoon, it was also said, reports Contactmusic.

But Carrey’s representative Marleah Leslie has denied the story, saying the claims are “not true”.

The couple have been dating since 2005. (ANI)

Amanda Seyfried dismisses ‘Mama Mia!’ sequel reports

London, September 15 (ANI): ‘Mamma Mia!’ star Amanda Seyfried has dismissed reports that a sequel to the movie musical is being planned, and believes there is “no point” trying to make it.

“I don’t think that’s correct. I don’t think it’s accurate. Because I don’t see the point in trying to top something,” the Daily Express quoted her as saying.

The actress insists that there is no way a sequel can better the original.

She said: “I mean, maybe if they had a really good idea for a story, but I don’t think they would do it to top the first one. It’s a good movie. It’s an original piece. It’s something that was really popular on Broadway. It’s a great soundtrack; a good, family-friendly movie.”

Rumours of a second instalment started circulating after Meryl Streep recently expressed her desire to sign up for another ‘Mamma Mia!’ movie. (ANI)

Research team all set to explore sacred Maya pools of Belize

Washington, September 14 (ANI): A team of expert divers, a geochemist and an archaeologist is all set to become the first to explore the sacred pools of the southern Maya lowlands in rural Belize.

The expedition, made possible with a grant from the National Geographic Society and led by a University of Illinois archaeologist, will investigate the cultural significance and environmental history and condition of three of the 23 pools of Cara Blanca, in central Belize.

Called ‘cenotes’, these groundwater-filled sinkholes in the limestone bedrock were treated as sacred sites by the Maya, according to University of Illinois archaeologist Lisa Lucero, who will lead the expedition next spring.

“Any openings in the earth were considered portals to the underworld, into which the ancient Maya left offerings,” said Lucero. “We know from ethnographic accounts that Maya collected sacred water from these sacred places, mostly from caves,” she added.

Studies of shallow lakes and cenotes in Mexico and Guatemala have found that the Maya also left elaborate offerings in the sacred lakes and pools.

Items found on the bottom of lakes in these regions include masks, bells, jade, human remains, figurines and ceramic vessels decorated with animals, plants and the gods of fertility and death.

“Diving the sacred pools of Cara Blanca, in central Belize, is necessary to determine if they have similar sacred qualities,” Lucero said.

“Once underwater, we will first have to cut out some of the jungle wood so that we can even reach the bottom,” said Patricia Beddows, a lecturer of earth and planetary sciences at Northwestern University and an expert diver who has explored cenotes on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.

“After mapping for fragile Maya artifacts, we will also take water data and manually drill sediment cores,” she added.

“The sediment samples will provide a record of changes in surface and water conditions,” Beddows said.

“Were the Maya challenged by droughts in the area? Did the water quality suddenly go bad due to sulfur or other geologic factors? We hope these cenotes will provide a rich story of linked human and environmental conditions,” she said.

One of the three pools the researchers will explore has a substantial Maya structure on its edge, likely ceremonial.

Preliminary investigations of the structure conducted by archaeologist Andrew Kinkella, of Moorpark College, turned up a lot of jars and the fragments of jars.

“This could indicate that the site was important for collecting sacred water,” Lucero said. (ANI)

Spitzer call girl Ashley Dupre wants to make a comeback

New York, September 14 (ANI): Ashley Dupre, the former high-class call girl at the centre of the Eliot Spitzer prostitution scandal, is tired of hiding and wants a comeback.

The 24-year-old was dubbed as an ‘informant’ during the scandal that saw the politician patronising a prostitution service that subsequently led to his resignation from the post of New York Governor.

And eighteen months after the storm, Dupre, who is recording pop songs and wooing a record deal, is seeking to get her life back on track.

“Everyone likes an underdog story, and everyone likes a comeback. I’m the poster child for redemption,” the New York Post quoted her as saying.

Dupre, who is also working on a book she calls a “cautionary tale,” further laughed at the idea that she was after the limelight.

She added: “I didn’t ask for it, but now that I have it, it’s up to me to take advantage of this platform and do something amazing. I have a voice now.” (ANI)

Jermaine Jackson backtracks on Chris Brown tribute announcement

London, September 10 (ANI): Jermaine Jackson has climbed down from his announcement that Chris Brown would form a part of the forthcoming concert in honour of his late brother Michael.

The former ‘Jackson 5′ member previously revealed Brown would be among a host of other artists to perform at the tribute set to take place in front of Vienna’s former imperial Schoenbrunn Palace on September 26.

But representatives for Brown, who is presently on probation for assaulting ex-girlfriend Rihanna earlier this year, subsequently denied the story, reports the Daily Express.

And now, Jackson has backtracked on his earlier announcement, saying he was only inviting the shamed singer to perform.

The 54-year-old said in a second press conference in London that he was not announcing headline acts but would like to see Brown be part of the show if he is allowed out of the U.S.

He said: “It’s up to the judge if he gets let out of the country or not. I’m not worried at all. He wants to be here. It’s just up to what he’s going through with his court case right now.

“He’s asked for forgiveness. If Christ can forgive him, so can we. People make mistakes, but he’s a wonderful performer.” (ANI)

Robert Pattinson, Kirsten Stewart “totally smitten”

London, Sept 9 (ANI): Twilight co-stars Robert Pattinson and Kirsten Stewart have become real-life lovers and are “totally smitten”, it has emerged.

Although both the stars refuse to confirm their relationship, pals reveal a different story altogether.

“The pair are totally smitten,” the Daily Star quoted a source as saying.

Meanwhile, rumours are abuzz that Pattinson and Stewart are set to share a new love nest as they are looking at a 3-million-dollar pad in West Hollywood.

A source told American tabloid the National Enquirer: “Kristen wants a super-romantic place to share with Rob in Los Angeles.” (ANI)

Ang Lee ‘working on film version of Life of Pi’

Nevada (US), Sept 9 (ANI): Oscar winner Ang Lee is working with a writer on film adaptation of Yann Martel’s fantasy “Life of Pi” about a boy from Pondicherry, India, who survives 227 days after shipwreck, according to reports.

Lee is quoted as saying: “It’s a very strong story, but it’s hard to crack.”

Acclaimed Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed, welcoming the film adaptation of this India influenced story, urged Lee to handle the Pi’s spirituality exploration and holistic edge with cultural sensitivity.

Expected to be released in 2011, Canadian Martel’s (Manners of Dying) Man Booker Prize and other awards winning novel is an adventure tale about 16-years old Pi Patel stranded on a lifeboat with a hyena, orangutan, an injured zebra, and a hungry Bengal tiger in Pacific Ocean on his voyage from India to Canada.

It has sold well over one million copies and was a global publishing phenomenon. Keith Robinson adapted it into a play and toured England.

Oscar nominated M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense), Alfonso Cuarón (Children of Men), and Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Delicatessen); and Dean Georgaris (What Happens in Vegas) have already dropped this project after preliminary exploration.

The Fox 2000 high profile film adaptation will be produced by Gil Netter (Personal Effects). (ANI)

A docudrama plays a story of women cricketers’ struggle and triumph

Kolkata, Sep 9 (ANI): A docudrama titled ‘Indian Women’s Cricket team Poor Cousins of Million Dollar Babies’ highlights the disparity between men and women cricket players in India.

As the title suggests, the docudrama shows how while men cricketers hog all the limelight and bask in the glory of success and money, women cricketers are way behind their male counterparts though they have been able to carve a name for themselves in the international sport arena.

The 25-minute audio-visual commentary narrates a story of the triumph of women’s cricket despite the disparities and differential treatment.

Former Indian Skipper Anjum Chopra said the docudrama has been able to mirror the women cricketers’ struggle, hard work and determination to reach the milestone they have achieved despite receiving far less attention of sports authority, sponsorship and media coverage as compared with their male counterparts.

“I really liked it. I think it’s very nice. It covers a lot of angels into the lives of women cricketers on and off the field. It’s a true depiction of the lives and struggles of Indian women cricketers go through,” Anjum Chopra added.

The The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI ) spends millions of rupees on men’s cricket and its stalwart players but women’s team, which has consistently done well in the context of world tournaments, has not received the same attention and promotion.

Sunil Yash Kalra, who has directed the documentary, said it’s time to tell the story of players engaged in the most popular and fast growing game in India despite their gender.

“It’s a sport which is a nerve centre of India, the subcontinent. And, it’s also included in the Asian Games next year. So, basically if you were to look at it… A, it’s the fastest growing game. B, there is a story that needs to be told about each individual member, that’s what the idea is to showcase the best to the rest of the world,” Kalra added.

The film also reveals interesting facts about women’s cricket in India. For example, women’s cricket in India can be traced back to early 20th century when an Australian school teacher Anne Kelleve made cricket a compulsory game at the Baker Memorial School in Kottayam, Kerala, in 1913.

The Women’s World Cup was initiated in 1973, two years before the men’s World Cup. And, Indian eves played T20 international cricket in 2006 while Indian men played their first match in 2007. (ANI)

‘Main Aur Mrs Khanna’ all set to woo audience

Mumbai, Sep 9 (ANI): Bollywood’s latest romantic drama featuring some of the top actors is all set to woo the audiences with its originality.

Directed by, Prem Soni, ‘Main Aur Mrs Khanna’, is an unusual story of passion, love and an extra-marital affair.

The film starring Kareena Kapoor, Salman Khan and Sohail Khan is a simple ordinary story set in a contemporary fashion.

Targeted at the youth, the film also deals with the issues surrounding career over love which is one of the main reasons for an unstable marriage in today’s time.

“It is an original film with original storyline. Coming from close people of mine, family friends. So it’s sketched from there. So its completely original, no similarity whatsoever,” said Prem Soni, director.

The film revolves around the lives of Samir Khanna, played by Salman Khan and Raina, played by Kareena Kapoor, who have a fairy tale marriage.

Samir gets his dream job and the couple have a great life until one mistake ruins it all.

According to Kareena, the film has been made from the point of view of the woman and is a journey of a girl’s life.

“For me, I think the girl’s role was very strong. She is the protagonist of the film. Whatever story is told in the film is from her point of view. So it’s a journey of a girl’s life and after marriage, after she gets married to Samir, how she makes a friend and what happens. For me it was a contemporary idea and an interesting role for me,” said Kareena.

The film is set to be released at Diwali. (ANI)

55th National Awards announced: Gandhi, My Father wins two

New Delhi, Sep.7 (ANI): The Anil Kapoor produced film ‘Gandhi, My Father’ has won two National Awards while the Shahrukh-starrer ‘Om Shanti Om’ has won in the Best Art Direction category, and Shahid Kapur-starrer ‘Jab We Met’ won the award in Best Choreography category in the 55th National Awards that were announced on Monday.

Gandhi, My Father was pitted against commercial successes like Taare Zameen Par and Chak De.

Feroz Abbas Khan, the director of the Gandhi, My Father won the National Award for Best Screenplay and Darshan Zariwala bagged theaward for the Best Supporting actor for portraying Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation who strives hard to have a normal relationship with his son in the film.

Meanwhile, actor Prakash Raj has won the Best Actor award in the 55th National Awards for his sterling performance as a silk weaver in Priyadarshan’s Tamil film Kanchivaram, which has been adjudged as the Best Film of 2007.

“It’s a very human story of pre-partition time about Kanjivaram. The film’s script was written so well that I didn’t require any homework. It is

It is Prakash Raj’s second National award. The previous one was in the Best Supporting Actor category for Mani Ratnam’s Iruvar in 1998 and a special jury award in 2003.

Directed by Priyadarshan, the film depicts the lives and times of silk-weavers of Kancheepuram in pre-Independent India.

Actor Umashree has won the Best Actress award for her performance for her lead role ‘Gulabi’ in Girish Kasaravalli’s Kannada film “Gulabi Talkies”.

The Gulabi Talkies, which was made in the coastal dialect of Kannada is based on the communal tension in Karnataka.

The best child actor award has gone to Sharad Goyekar for his role in the Marathi film “Tingya”.

Darshan Zariwala has got the best supporting actor award for his role in Feroz Abbas Khan’s film “Gandhi My Father”.

There is also a special jury award for this film, which explores the troubled relationship between Harilal Gandhi and Mahatma Gandhi.

“Chak De” has got the award in the wholesome entertainment category and “Taare Zameen Par” in the family welfare category.

Playback singer Shankar Mahadevan has won the award for the song “Meri Maa” from the film “Taare Zameen Par”.

The jury members for the National Awards headed by Sai Paranjpe included Ashok Viswanathan and Namita Gokhale. About 102 films and 106 non-feature films were considered.

The list had been finalized last week but because of the death of Andhra Pradesh chief minister YSR Reddy, the announcement was postponed. (ANI)

Adam Sandler’s ‘princess’ act to please daughters!

Washington, Sept 6 (ANI): Actor Adam Sandler dresses up as a princess when he reads fairytales to his kids at night.
The 42-year-old star is father to two daughters with his wife Jacqueline – Sadie Madison, 3, and the 10-month-old Sunny Madeline.

Sandler reveals he entertains his kids by donning the attire of the lead in their bedtime fairytales.

Contactmusic quoted him as saying: “I often slip into costume as the lead character in whatever bedtime story I am reading.

“This is a little weird because my daughters love Disney princesses. But you would be surprised at how good I look in a ball gown.” (ANI)

Senior FBI agent says Gaddafi may have sanctioned Lockerbie bombing

Jerusalem, Sep. 4 (ANI): A senior FBI agent has claimed that Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi must have personally okayed the 1988 Lockerbie bombing that killed 270 people.

Richard Marquise, an FBI veteran who led the US task force probing the December 1988 blast, said it is unthinkable that such a major terrorist attack in a regime like Libya could have been authorized without Gaddafi’s approval.

“If you were a senior minister, would you do this without telling the boss? I doubt it. I have to think [Gaddafi] knew something was going to happen, something that the US would be pissed about, and he said OK,” The Jerusalem Post quoted Marquise, as saying.

He said investigators had tried to pursue the chain of responsibility up through the Libyan hierarchy, but had been unable to muster the necessary evidence.

“We couldn’t make the connections… A lot of names came up… We had names of people in the Libyan hierarchy, buying radios, making inquiries about putting bombs in radios,” Marquise said.

The bomb that destroyed Pan Am 103 was hidden in a Toshiba radio cassette player.

“But there was no real overt act [that could serve as the basis for an indictment. It would have been nice to indict the entire Libyan regime, but our system wouldn’t allow for it. It would have been a real struggle to show Gaddafi and others in the chain,” he said.

Marquise said he was also convinced that Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, the former Libyan intelligence officer who is the only man ever convicted in the attack, was no “rogue” agent.

“It had been hoped that Megrahi would give us the whole story, and go up the chain. That didn’t happen. And Megrahi never talked. He did everything for his leader,” he said. (ANI)

Naked Joile’s on-screen lesbian romp unveiled

London, Sept 4 (ANI): Angelina Jolie bares all for some girl-on-girl action as her raunchy role in 1998 TV movie “Gia” is revived.

The flick features the Oscar winning hottie in some sizzling and sensual scenes with Lost actress Elizabeth Mitchell.

Jolie, 34, and Liz, 39, played lovers in Gia.

Now, film bosses have come up with an uncut, uncensored version of the film, which is based on a real life story, reports the Sun.

The revived edition is an improved high definition video version.

Angelina plays a tragic supermodel Gia Carangia who got contracted HIV due to the use of an infected injection needle and died at 26 in 1986. (ANI)

Foreign tourists join Onam celebration in Kerala

Kochi, Sep 3 (ANI): Foreign tourists in Kerala took part in the ten-day long harvest festival ‘Onam’.

The Homestay Operators Association organised Onam celebrations for the foreign tourists staying in the association’s homes.

Many foreigners participated in a simple procession in Kochi along a floral carpet on a street.he foreigners enjoyed sumptuous traditional meal with a variety of delicacies prepared in coconut oil and served on Banana leaf.

“I feel very lucky to be here to be a part of the Onam celebrations today by joining in arranging the flowers and also in the parade. It is a very beautiful experience for me so I feel lucky,” said Claire, a tourist from Australia.

Onam, a harvest festival, is celebrated in Kerala when young girls and women make flower patterns called “Pookalam” in local parlance to welcome the mythical King Mahabali.

Onam recalls the story of the mythical king Mahabali who created a kingdom in what is now Kerala.

The festival falls during the month of Chingam (August-September as per the Gregorian calendar), the first month of the Malayalam calendar and lasts for ten days.

Traditionally celebrated as a harvest festival, mythologically it is linked to Malayalee-Hindu folktales. (ANI)

A unique story of parallel evolution in moths unraveled

Washington, Sept 2 (ANI): A new revision of the taxonomic relationships among one group of moths, the subfamily Dioptinae, sheds light on the diversity of tropical moth species and presents a unique story of parallel evolution.

“These diurnal moths are a microcosm of butterfly evolution,” said James Miller, author of the new Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History and a research associate in the Division of Invertebrate Zoology at the Museum.

“There are about 500 spectacular dioptine species, all of which evolved from a common ancestor-a nondescript brown nocturnal moth-into a diversity of butterfly mimics,” he added.

Miller qualifies this with a technicality, though, noting that no one is sure whether butterflies or diurnal moths evolved their colors first (and who is really mimicking whom).

The wing pattern diversity within the subfamily is enormous: some species mimic clear-winged butterflies and inhabit the darker parts of the forest understory where their co-mimics fly.

Still others have wings that are colored blue and yellow and feed on melastomes.

About 100 species feed on Passiflora, the poisonous passion flowers famous for being consumed by the caterpillars of Heliconious butterflies.

In fact, although most of the Dioptinae are diurnal, or fly during the day, a few species like those in Xenomigia have re-conquered the night.

Although most dioptines are neotropical, ranging from lowland jungles to cloud forests at 4,000 meters in the Andes, Phryganidia californica occurs in the western United States.

Miller’s new revision of the Dioptinae is the first systematic look at this group in almost a century.

After studying over 16,700 specimens housed at 38 different institutions and private collections around the world, Miller discovered and described 64 new species and seven new genera, bringing the total to 456 species in 43 genera.

Some of the new species were found during field work in parts of the tropical Americas poorly explored by lepidopterists.

Even so, there is much more work to be done on the Dioptinae.

Miller estimates that there are about 100 to 150 species in collections that still need to be described and inserted into the taxonomy, and he thinks that additional fieldwork in under-sampled countries like Bolivia and Colombia will ultimately bring the total number of species to between 700 and 800.

Miller’s careful analysis has dissected the taxonomic groups, finding that 47 of the previously named species could be included within another existing species. (ANI)

Madonna set to make film on Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson

London, Sep 1 (ANI): Queen of Pop Madonna is set to start her new movie project on Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor.

Madge, 51, hopes that Scottish actor David Tennant, 38, and Aussie actress Cate Blanchett, 40, will star in the movie about Wallis Simpson, the twice-divorced American socialite, to marry whom King Edward VIII gave up the throne.

The movie will be another musical like the 1996 flick ‘Evita’, in which Madge played Eva Peron, but this time she will be directing and producing, not acting in it.

She has already met with ‘Dr Who’ star Tennant to persuade him to play Edward, and she is determined to get Blanchett to play the young Wallis after deciding against Keira Knightley.

“The final script is now written and the locations have been scouted. Madonna is now trying to assemble the cast and put the finances in place,” the Sun quoted a source as saying.

“The first scene of the film is an old woman in her nineties living on her own in a Parisian flat. She starts to tell her life story to her housekeeper. It turns out the old woman is Wallis Simpson.

“There will be a song for each decade of her life,” the source added. (ANI)