Meet Prince Charles and Camilla, the ‘wedding planners’!

London, Sept 20 (ANI): Prince Charles and wife Camilla are turning wedding planners and “loaning out” their country retreat of Highgrove House to wannabe brides and grooms.

And included in the package will be the royal couple’s shared “expertise”.

Like Charles and Camilla did at their Windsor wedding four years ago, couples will be encouraged to “keep it simple”, say reports.

As per rumours, the first pair to enjoy a “Charles and Camilla wedding” are TV babe Jenni Falconer and her actor fiancĂ© James Midgley, reports The Daily Star.

A royal source said: “Obviously with it being their house they would want control of the event. But they also recognise what a great opportunity it would be to showcase their home.

“Highgrove is an absolutely fantastic building and would make a wonderful venue for a wedding and reception.”

The nine-bedroom country house on a 37-acre estate near Tetbury, Gloucestershire, was bought for Charles in 1980.

A source said: “Charles is hugely proud of Highgrove. It’s a wonderful property and he has spent thousands of pounds on the gardens and grounds. I’m sure by holding weddings there Charles would take great pleasure being the host.

“And he could use them to promote the Duchy Originals organic products he’s involved with.” (ANI)

Jennifer Aniston keeps fit by running around horse track

Washington, September 20 (ANI): Jennifer Aniston has been running hard to maintain her fitness while shooting new film ‘The Bounty.’

The actress reportedly woke up at 5a.m in the morning and ran laps around New Jersey’s Monmouth Park racecourse to the surprise of the crewmembers.

“She showed up every morning at 5am to run laps on the giant oval for a solid hour before cameras rolled,” Contactmusic quoted a source as saying.

“She’s really disciplined about keeping fit. She’d get there before everyone else and zip around that huge track like a winner!” the source added.

The ‘Break-Up’ star apparently prefers running to other fitness regimes as it keeps her thighs and calves toned.

Even earlier this year, it was reported that she woke up at 3am to work out so that she could stick to her busy shooting schedule.

A source said at the time: “Jennifer has had a totally overhaul for this film. She wants to be seriously fit, yet remain curvy.

“There are a lot of early starts on set, so she has had to get up at 3am to get two hours in the gym before getting ready for filming.” (ANI)

Ludhiana hosts seminar on Sufism

Ludhiana, Sep 19(ANI): Ludhiana recently played host to a national seminar on Sufism. This time, the theme was the influence of Sufism on modern times.

The Sahitaya Academy of New Delhi and the Punjab Sahitaya Academy organized the seminar.

The seminar also focused on the ‘pain of separation from God’ and intellectuals, poets and Sufi singers.

“Sufism says that God, whom a man looks for all over, is within him. And once he realizes this fact, he will be free of his ego and will find happiness,” said Vaasthe Mohi, a Sindhi poet from Ahmedabad.

While, Gulshan Majith, a poet from Jammu and Kashmir, said: “When God is everything, so what is the importance of religion and caste discrimination, this is the message of Sufism. Shaivaism, Buddhism and Sufism give same message to the world and consider this world as the manifestation of that supreme power and do not make a distinction with the other. There are no boundaries. Everybody in this world is equal for God.”

The participants also put forth the argument that many Punjabi poets make use of themes from popular Punjabi culture. r. Chandraprakash Deval, a poet from Rajasthan, said Sufism is the paramount method to fight terrorism.

“Sufism is the best way to fight terrorism. If the minds of people can be changed, they will start respecting other religions, humanity and the feeling of brotherhood and secularism will increase, terrorism will be finished then. So to fight terrorism it is important to popularize the way shown by Sufism, adopt and follow that way and spread the feeling of brotherhood,” Deval said.

Sufi singer Balbir Kaur, who also teaches singing at Guru Nanak College in Ludhiana, held the audience spellbound and she also highlighted that school students must be made aware of the great cultural heritage, traditional folk art and literature of the Sufi saints, to promote Punjabi language.

Associating Sufism with any one religion is against its very basic tenets. Underlining this basic fact, renowned Sufi singers Idrim Khan and Skakur Khan from Rajasthan sung the verses of Bulle Shah, Guru Nanak, Kabir and Sajjan Shah. By Karan Kapoor (ANI)

Stop blaming Pakistan for ‘home grown’ terror plots, Qureshi tells UK

London, Sep.19 (ANI): Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has asked Britain to stop blaming Islamabad for the ‘home grown’ terror plots against the UK.

Referring to Britain’s lashing out at Pakistan on the liquid bomb plot issue, Qureshi said it was unfair to criticize Pakistan for every terror plot hatched in Britain.

“It is easy to pass the buck, but they (liquid bomb plotters) were British citizens. They went to school here, they are part of the British system, and they live here. If they do something extraordinary is it fair that Pakistan should be blamed?” The Independent quoted Qureshi, as saying.

Pakistan has been critical of Britain’s accusations and has objected to allegations regarding it not doing enough to counter the expanding reach of the extremists based in the country’s tribal region.

A top Pakistani diplomat recently reacted strongly to Britain’s accusations regarding Pakistan harbouring extremists plotting to attack the UK.

The diplomat charged Britain of not doing enough to tackle home grown terrorists and treating Pakistan as a “whipping boy”.

“Sometimes for our British friends the truth is bitter. We have somehow turned out to be a ‘whipping boy’, there is a long history to that. The British need to search their own house,” the diplomat had said.

It may be recalled that Prime Minister Gordon Brown, during his Islamabad visit earlier this year, had said: “Three-quarters of the most serious plots investigated by the British authorities have links to Al-Qaida in Pakistan.”

Brown’s statement had angered Pakistani leadership and strained relationship between two countries, but things normalized later with President Asif Ali Zardari visit to the UK. (ANI)

Musharraf ‘shedding crocodile tears’, says ex- Pak SCBA chief

Islamabad, Sep.19 (ANI): Pakistan Supreme Court Bar Association’s former President Aitzaz Ahsan has said that former President General Pervez Musharraf is ‘shedding crocodile tears’ while admitting that removing Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry from office in 2007 was a mistake.

Referring to Musharraf’s speech at Trinity University in Saint Antonio, Texas, where the former general admitted that he had committed a mistake while sacking the then Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) from office, Ahsan said Musharraf had committed not only one but two mistakes by removing the higher judiciary and imposing an emergency in the country on November 3, 2007.

Talking to a private television channel, Ahsan said the government and the ‘independent’ judiciary should play their role in trying Musharraf under high treason charges.

He said it was not the right time for lawyers to take their struggle to roads, as they did previously while demanding restoration of the judiciary, The News reports.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has denied that Musharraf had taken the cabinet into his confidence before promulgating the Provisional Constitutional Ordinance (PCO) and imposing the emergency rule in 2007.

Interacting with media persons during an Iftaar party hosted by PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, several party leaders rejected the notion regarding Musharraf consulting the cabinet before taking the illegal and extra-judicial actions. (ANI)

US army set for “hopping rotochut” that hops to avoid rubble trouble

London, September 19 (ANI): The U.S. army’s fleet of robots will soon be enhanced with the addition of forthcoming reconnaissance craft called the ‘hopping rotochute’, which will be capable of travelling deep into obstacle-ridden spaces like caves and rubble-laden buildings to video what it finds.

The self-righting probe is being developed for the Army Research Lab in Aberdeen, Maryland, by Eric Beyer and Mark Costello, a pair of robotics engineers at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.

The project attains significance because present-day military robots, which run on small tank-style tracks, cannot cope with irregular surfaces and obstacles such as rubble or boulders.

“They usually have trouble and get stuck with even low obstacles and walls a couple of feet high,” says Costello.

Although small helicopters are one alternative, continuous flying drains the batteries fast.

Thus, Costello stresses the need for a rotor-powered, bottom-heavy, self-righting vehicle that spends most of its time on the ground, conserving battery power.

AS to whether repeated hopping might harm the craft, a spokesman for the Impact Centre at Cranfield University in Bedfordshire, UK, said: “From a crashworthiness point of view this concept looks perfectly feasible. There should be no problem with the vehicle surviving hundreds of impacts, which is roughly equivalent to dropping a mobile phone from waist height.” (ANI)

Brit school bans sexually coloured ‘shagbands’

London, Sep 19 (ANI): A Brit primary school has banned its students form wearing coloured wristbands, after parents found out that they were called “shagbands”.

Parents of kids, attending Rayne Primary School near Braintree, Essex, discovered that each colour of the ‘shagband’ represents a different sex act.

“The children have been walking around with these rubber bands on calling them shagbands,” the Daily Star quoted mum-of-three Andrea Elward, 46, whose 10-year-old daughter studies in the school, as saying.

“My daughter said her friends had got them and could she have a set. Then she went red and giggled when she explained they were called shagbands.

“I had a word with the head and they banned them immediately,” she added. (ANI)

Beyonce to finally perform in Malaysia next month

Kuala Lumpur, Sep 19 (ANI): Beyonce Knowles is all set to perform in Kuala Lumpur next month, two years after cancelling her Malaysian concert.

Kuala Lumpur is one of her destinations in the ‘I Am…’ world tour which spans North America, Europe and Asia.

The ‘Baby boy’ singer is scheduled to stage her first concert in Malaysia at the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, at 8pm on Oct 25, reports the Star Online.

The singer was originally slated to perform in Malaysia in 2007, but cancelled her concert following protests from PAS Youth and she headed for Jakarta instead.

The world tour comes with the release of her third studio album, ‘I Am… Sasha Fierce’, which features hits like ‘If I Were a Boy’, ‘Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)’, ‘Halo’, ‘Sweet Dreams’ and ‘Broken-Hearted Girl’.

Beyonce, along with Black Eyed Peas and Jacky Cheung, will also perform at F1 ROCKS Singapore with LG on Sept 26. (ANI)

Suzanne Somers says chemotherapy killed Patrick Swayze

New York, Sep 19 (ANI): Actress Suzanne Somers, who is herself a cancer survivor, thinks that chemotherapy has killed Patrick Swayze.

The ‘Three’s Company’ star gave her opinion on the ‘Ghost’ star’s death while speaking to Shinan Govani at the party for Tom Ford’s movie, ‘A Single Man’, at the Toronto Film Festival.

“They took a beautiful man” and “put poison in his body,” the New York Post quoted her as saying.

Somers, who has a book about cancer coming out next month, said: “Why couldn’t they have built him up nutritionally and gotten rid of the toxins? . . . I hate to be this controversial . . . but I have to speak out.”

Other stars present at the party included Julianne Moore, Naomi Watts, Clive Owen, and Colin Firth. (ANI)

‘Dirty Dancing’ town planning memorial for Patrick Swayze

London, Sep 19 (ANI): Locals of a North Carolina community, where Patrick Swayze’s film ‘Dirty Dancing’ was shot, are planning a memorial service for the late star.

The ‘Ghost’ star died on Monday evening after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

The town of Lake Lure will pay homage to the 57-year-old during a memorial service on Saturday evening at Firefly Cove, a housing development that was Camp Chimney Rock when ‘Dirty Dancing’ was filmed.

Many outdoor scenes in the film were filmed there, as was the cabin of Johnny Castle, Swayze’s character.

While the memorial service is free, visitors will be asked to donate to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

Rev Everette Chapman, who will be speaking at the memorial service, said that the town’s residents remember Swayze as a kind family man.

Chapman, who lived at Lake Lure when the movie was filmed but did not meet the actors, said he would talk about Swayze’s determination to live each day to the fullest.

“I’ll ask people their memory of him and just talk about him as every woman’s heart-throb and every man’s envy,” said Chapman.

Although organisers have no idea how many people to expect, they have still arranged for police officers to help with parking. (ANI)

Jennifer Aniston not interested in other stars’ lives

London, Sep 19 (ANI): Jennifer Aniston is livid over the public interest in her private life, as she herself doesn’t care what other stars are doing.

The ‘Friends’ star has vowed not to discuss her personal life, and is unhappy with the idea of strangers reading about her personal matters.

“I don’t know about your life. I don’t want to, truthfully. It’s not my business,” the Daily Express quoted her as having told Parade magazine.

“It’s a very strange thing, but somehow it’s like there was some clause somewhere that said, ‘Well, you’re a public person, so we get to go into your house and search through your drawers.’

“I don’t know who came up with it because I wouldn’t have signed on. I don’t think anybody would have,” she added. (ANI)

Muslims in Lucknow offer ‘Alvida Namaz’ before Eid

Lucknow, Sep 18(ANI): Muslims gathered in huge numbers at several mosques of Lucknow on Friday to offer the ‘Alvida Namaz’ marking the last Friday prayers of the holy month of Ramadan.

“We prayed to the Lord to raise the financial status of Muslims and also eradicate all their problems. In India, Hindu and Muslims have been living together for several centuries and we want them to be like this in future,” said Moulvi Faizul Rehman, an Islamic cleric at a mosque in Lucknow.

Highlighting the significance of the ‘Alvida Namaz’, Mohammad Sayeed, a Namazi said that it is the reason why thousands of Muslim from across the city gather to offer prayers.

“During Ramadan if we participate in the ‘Alvida Namaz’ and offer our prayers, then we get a reward for it and it will usher prosperity to us,” Sayeed said.

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Hijri lunar calendar, commemorates the revelation of Quran, Islam’s holy book, and has traditionally been a time of religious fervour, settling old disputes and behaving charitably towards neighbours.

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. Considered auspicious for prayers, Muslims observe the month-long fasting named ‘Roza’.

They believe this secures them a place in heaven and also brings them face to face with Allah, the Almighty, on the day of ‘Kayamat’.

The end of Ramadan heralds the festival of Eid-ul-fitr. (ANI)

Halle Berry ends pregnancy rumours with sexy look on TV

Washington, Sep 18 (ANI): Putting all speculations about her pregnancy to rest, Halle Berry appeared with a sexy look on TV in America on Thursday.

The ‘Monster’s Ball’ star arrived on The Jay Leno Show wearing a revealing black mini-dress and thigh-length boots.

And the 43-year-old actress was hoping that the outfit would be enough to end speculation she’s expecting a second child.

Talking to host Leno, Berry said that the pregnancy talk is beginning to give her a “complex”.

“I was like, ‘I gotta stop with the burgers, or something,’” Contactmusic quoted her as saying. (ANI)

How life might evolve with “exotic” biochemistry and solvents

London, September 18 (ANI): Scientists at a new interdisciplinary research group in Austria are working to uncover how life might evolve with “exotic” biochemistry and solvents, such as sulfuric acid instead of water.

The research group for Alternative Solvents as a Basis for Life Supporting Zones in (Exo-) Planetary Systems was established by the University of Vienna.

Traditionally, planets that might sustain life are looked for in the ‘habitable zone’, the region around a star in which Earth-like planets with carbon dioxide, water vapor and nitrogen atmospheres could maintain liquid water on their surfaces.

Consequently, scientists have been looking for biomarkers produced by extraterrestrial life with metabolisms resembling the terrestrial ones, where water is used as a solvent and the building blocks of life, amino acids, are based on carbon and oxygen.

However, these may not be the only conditions under which life could evolve.

“It is time to make a radical change in our present geocentric mindset for life as we know it on Earth,” said scientist Johannes Leitner.

“Even though this is the only kind of life we know, it cannot be ruled out that life forms have evolved somewhere that neither rely on water nor on a carbon and oxygen based metabolism,” he added.

One requirement for a life-supporting solvent is that it remains liquid over a large temperature range.

Water is liquid between 0 degree Celsius and 100 degrees C, but other solvents exist which are liquid over more than 200 degrees C.

Such a solvent would allow an ocean on a planet closer to the central star.

The reverse scenario is also possible. A liquid ocean of ammonia could exist much further from a star.

Furthermore, sulfuric acid can be found within the cloud layers of Venus and it is now known that lakes of methane/ethane cover parts of the surface of the Saturnian satellite Titan.

Consequently, the discussion on potential life and the best strategies for its detection is ongoing and not only limited to exoplanets and habitable zones.

The newly established research group at the University of Vienna, together with international collaborators, will investigate the properties of a range of solvents other than water, including their abundance in space, thermal and biochemical characteristics as well as their ability to support the origin and evolution of life supporting metabolisms. (ANI)

Researchers operate biomedical robots from different locations worldwide via Internet

Washington, September 18 (ANI): Experts from the University of Washington and SRI International have jointly developed a new software protocol, to standardize the way biomedical robots are managed over the Internet.

Nine research teams from universities and research institutes around the world recently made a successful demonstration of biomedical robots operated from different locations in the U.S., Europe, and Asia with the help of the ‘Interoperable Telesurgical Protocol’.

In a 24-hour period, each participating group connected over the Internet, and controlled robots at different locations.

The tests performed demonstrated how a wide variety of robot and controller designs can seamlessly interoperate, allowing researchers to work together easily and more efficiently.

The demonstration also evaluated the feasibility of robotic manipulation from multiple sites, and was conducted to measure time and performance for evaluating laparoscopic surgical skills.

“Although many telemanipulation systems have common features, there is currently no accepted protocol for connecting these systems. We hope this new protocol serves as a starting point for the discussion and development of a robust and practical Internet-type standard that supports the interoperability of future robotic systems,” said SRI’s Tom Low.

The protocol is expected to allow engineers and designers that usually develop technologies independently, to work collaboratively, determine which designs work best, encourage widespread adoption of the new communications protocol, and help robotics research to evolve more rapidly.

Its early adoption may encourage robotic systems to be developed with interoperability in mind, and avoid future incompatibilities.

“We’re very pleased with the success of the event in which almost all of the possible connections between operator stations and remote robots were successful. We were particularly excited that novel elements such as a simulated robot and an exoskeleton controller worked smoothly with the other remote manipulation systems,” said Professor Blake Hannaford of the University of Washington. (ANI)

MIC chief to apologise to Dr Mahathir over ‘slipper garland’ insult

Kuala Lumpur, Sep 18 (ANI): Malaysian Indian Congress president S. Samy Vellu has said that he will personally apologise to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad over the ‘slipper garland’ insult by a MIC member during the recent party congress.

He said he would seek an appointment with Dr Mahathir to tender his apology over the incident.

“I will meet him personally to explain the whole episode and extend my apology,” Samy Vellu said in a statement on Thursday.

The MIC chief said he and the MIC regretted the incident. “I have always had the highest respect for Tun Dr Mahathir. He is a great leader and a statesman.”

He said Dr Mahathir had brought tremendous development to the country and had united the people. “He will always be respected by us and all Malaysians,” The Star quoted Vellu, as saying.

Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir said he did not feel anything about the incident and added: “Nothing would have happened to me.”

Instead, he said he would have felt angry and saddened if Umno members had made such an insult.

“This is not the first time I have been insulted. People might have forgotten how Umno leaders had insulted me. Nazri (Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Abdul Aziz) and the previous mentri besar of Kedah wanted me expelled from Umno.

However, then no one gave any reaction. No one dared to say anything,” he said. (ANI)

Megan Fox tired of fame, sexiness

Washington, Sep 17 (ANI): It seem that Megan Fox is tired of her fame and sexiness, for she doesn’t want to let people know more about herself.

The 23-year-old actress is currently promoting new film ‘Jennifer’s Body’ at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Although the ‘Transformers’ star never complains about being the hottest female star in Hollywood, she does seem a little tired of all the attention she is getting.

Asked whether playing a high-schooler made her nostalgic for her own high school days, Fox dodged the question saying that she’d instead like to “go back to a time where I didn’t have any responsibility.”

In fact, she seemed wary of the exposure she has had recently.

“I feel like I cling to my privacy and I don’t need to expose myself further to people,” Fox News quoted her as saying. (ANI)

Robbie Williams moving Down Under?

London, Sep 16 (ANI): It seems that Robbie Williams is shifting bag and baggage to Australia, all thanks to his ladylove Ayda Field.

The singer has revealed that he is searching for a farm or beachfront retreat Down Under because of his girlfriend.

Robbie divulged the details in an interview on Australia’s biggest breakfast radio show on station 2DayFM, which is being guest-hosted by Dannii Minogue.

The ‘Feel’ singer-who is making a storming comeback with new single ‘Bodies’, out on October 12-even quizzed the Aussie beauty about dealing with jetlag.

“Ayda told me she had kind of a psychic feeling she’d end up in Australia,” The Sun quoted Rob as saying.

“I’m thinking of coming down there. I have been looking for places out in the outback, maybe a farm,” he added.

Robbie has recently moved back to Blighty, and the dodgy climate is already forcing him into Aussie estate agencies. (ANI)

Coming soon: Harry Potter theme park

London, Sep 16 (ANI): Harry Potter fans can soon experience the thrills of the adventures of the hugely popular boy wizard, for a new theme park based on the hit franchise is set to open next year.

The theme park, called ‘The Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter’, is set to open in spring 2010 at Universal Studios, the Orlando resort has announced.he park is being developed in coordination with J.K. Rowling, the author of the immensely successful books, which have been adapted into films.

Recreating the fabled Hogwarts school that Potter and his friends attend, as well as the nearby village of Hogsmeade, the theme park promises a “completely immersive environment” for visitors.

“All of the action and adventures of Harry Potter’s world will come to life here at Universal Orlando Resort,” the Telegraph quoted Tom Williams, chairman and CEO of Universal Parks and Resorts, as saying.

“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be unlike any other experience on earth,” he added.

In fact, visitors at a replica of the Three Broomsticks, one of Hogsmeade’s popular pubs, will be treated to traditional British fare and have the chance to sip on Butterbeer – Potter’s tipple of choice.

The park will also feature theme rides, including the ‘Flight of the Hippogriff’, which will simulate a training flight on the magical, quick-to-offend creature.

Those who lobed the fast-paced wizard sport Quidditch, will also have a chance to participate in a simulated Triwizard Tournament, as well as examine Quidditch equipment and even the elusive Golden Snitch at several Hogsmeade shops.

“Harry Potter continues to spark the imaginations of fans of all ages and we really have seen the anticipation continue to build for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” said Brad Globe, president of Warner Bros. Consumer Products. (ANI)

Ancient book of Buddhism chantings found in Korean temple

Seoul, September 16 (ANI): Archaeologists have uncovered an ancient Chinese book of Buddhism chantings in a Korean temple.

According to a report in Korea Times, the Hangeul copy of an ancient Chinese book, which contains the notes of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) scholar Kim Si-seup, was discovered at Baekryunam, Haein Temple.

The book was originally written by a Buddhist master from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and dates back to the 16th century.

“We discovered the ‘shiphyeondam eonhaebon’ while we were examining the library of Ven. Seong Cheol (1912-1993) at Baekryunam, Haein Temple, in April this year,” Ven. Won Taek said at a press conference at the Jogye Order, northern Seoul.

“It’s a rare book ? perhaps even the only copy ? that is not included in the Natural Treasures list nor on the lists of national libraries and university libraries,” he said.

An eonhae copy, or eonhaebon, is a book or writing that contains the literal translation of a sentence in Chinese to Hangeul, or Korean.

It is different from the normal translation books as it features a word-for-word translation, and is far removed from the Hangeul sentences used today.

‘Shiphyeondam’ refers to the 10 songs and poems made to praise Buddha’s teachings, written by Tang Dynasty Buddhist master Dongan Sangchal of the Jodong Order of Zen Buddhism, a sect of the religion in China.

The songs are comprised of seven Chinese characters and contain the traditions and the practices of the Jodong Order.

Ven. Won Taek explained that the discovery was meaningful as the book was from the 16th century. Most of the eonhaebons known today are from the 15th century.

“We found many precious ancient books and eonhaebons while examining the library and we will apply these artifacts as Natural Treasures after examining the value of them. We will also make photo prints of the eonhaebons for ancient hangeul and writing experts to use them as research material,” he said. (ANI)