King, beauty queens make Nepal forget Himalayan heritage
Shabana Azmi to head Asia Pacific Screen Awards jury
‘Time was right to create Indian character in Archie comics’
An artist’s endeavour to colour a child’s dream
Building where Chandigarh was designed to be conserved
Newsweek finds “Gandhi, My Father” gripping
Bengali fusion singer launches her Tagore album in New York
Penguin India gets new chief; Hachette to set up India chapter
New Delhi : Mike Bryan will be the new CEO and president of Penguin India from Sep 1, the publishing house announced Wednesday. The current Penguin India chief, Thomas Abraham, is leaving to start the India publishing operations of the Hachette Livre UK.
Bryan has been with Penguin for 27 years, most recently as international sales and marketing director in Britain and the US. His team managed the sales of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" in a majority of export markets.
India wakes up to Gandhi treasures, to alert missions
By Manish Chand, IANS
New Delhi : Stung by the costly exercise of rescuing a draft article of Mahatma Gandhi from an auction, the government has decided to evolve a national policy on the acquisition and preservation of Gandhi manuscripts.
World’s biggest hand-woven carpet to roll in UAE mosque
By IANS
Tehran : The world's largest hand-woven carpet unveiled here is all set to roll in a mosque in United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The 45-tonne green coloured carpet, custom made for Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan mosque in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, will be transported in two airplanes, WAM news agency said Wednesday.
The manager of Iran Carpet Company (ICC) said 1,200 weavers and scores of experts were involved in weaving the four-piece rug, which took one year to complete at an estimated cost of $8.5 million.
Penguin India gets a new chief
By IANS
New Delhi : Mike Bryan will be the new chief executive officer (CEO) and president of Penguin India from Sep 1, the publishing house announced Wednesday. The current Penguin India chief, Thomas Abraham, is leaving to start the India operations of the Hachette Group of publishing houses.
Bryan has been with Penguin for 27 years, most recently as international sales and marketing director in Britain and the US. His team managed the sales of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" in a majority of export markets.
Textiles discovered in 2,500-year-old Chinese tomb
Nanchang : Chinese archaeologists have found textiles in a mysterious tomb dating back nearly 2,500 years in eastern Jiangxi province of China.
The textiles, which are well-preserved and feature stunning dyeing and weaving technologies, will rewrite the history of China's textile industry, says Wang Yarong, an archaeologist who has been following the findings in the textile sector for more than three decades.
Images of vibrant India to go on show at US museum
New York : A major exhibition of photography and video art depicting contemporary India will be showcased at Newark Museum in New Jersey from Sep 19 to Jan 6.
The show, titled 'Public Places, Private Spaces: Contemporary Photography and Video Art', comprises over 100 works by 28 photographers and video artists, reflecting the interior and exterior realities of today's India.
Fake toe on mummy may be world’s oldest prosthetic
Beijing : An artificial wood and leather big toe discovered on the foot of an Egyptian mummy could be the world's earliest functioning prosthetic body part.
The fake toe from the Cairo museum in Egypt was found in 2000 in a tomb near the ancient city of Thebes. Archaeologists speculated that the 50- to 60-year-old woman the prosthesis came from might have lost her toe due to complications from diabetes.
Anil Kapoor moved to tears in South Africa
The world of rudrakshas – Rs.2 to Rs.5 million!
Chennai : Do you know that a rudraksha necklace can cost up to Rs.5 miilion?
There are all kinds of rudrakshas or blueberry seeds, which boast of healing powers. Some can be bought off the streets for as little as Rs. 2 a bead while gem shops sell them for as high as Rs.40,000 a bead.
An 'Indramala' garland made of rudraksha beads may cost as much as Rs. 5 million.
Court notice to government on Microsoft event near Taj
New Delhi : The Supreme Court Monday asked the Indian government to explain if global IT major Microsoft's Windows Vista launch function in the backdrop of the Taj Mahal this year violated norms and laws regarding heritage monuments.
A bench headed by Justice S.B. Sinha asked the government and the Archaeological Survey of India to reply within a week, providing details of the event and identifying the government agency that granted the permission for the event.
First ever Sattriya dance performance in Netherlands
Brussels : At the opening of the 23rd Milan Festival at The Hague, Vedajoyti Ozah, a young dancer from Assam, performed the Sattriya dance in the first such recital in the Netherlands.
Hague Mayor Wim Deetman inaugurated the festival and Indian Ambassador to Belgium Neelam Sabharwal was the guest of honour, Inepnext news agency reported.
Vedajyoti captivated the audience with her graceful presentation and received invitations to perform in other cities of the Netherlands.
Sunny starrer ‘Kaafila’ to open in Pakistan
Mumbai : Sunny Deol starrer "Kaafila" will become the first film in the history of Indian cinema to get a simultaneous India-Pakistan release Aug 10.
After a high court ruling in Pakistan that gave full clearance to the film, more than 20 promos are being screened every day in Pakistani theatres from July 27.
Based on a true story about human trafficking, the buzz and expectations are rising for "Kaafila" leading to an increase in demand for the promos in Pakistan.
Added wrinkles make Nefertiti more beautiful
Berlin : Wrinkles improved the face of Nefertiti, the pharaonic Egyptian queen acclaimed as the world's most beautiful woman, German scientists have discovered.
The 3,000-year-old bust of Nefertiti is the greatest treasure at Berlin's Altes Museum.
X-ray pictures of the bust by a computer tomography machine at the nearby Charite Hospital in Berlin revealed that the sculpture is a piece of limestone with details added using four outer layers of plaster of Paris.
Terminal might end Kerala’s boat race tradition
By IANS
Alappuzha (Kerala) : The 55th Nehru Boat Race here Aug 11 may be the last one as the government has acquired six acres of land near the picturesque waterfront of the Punnamada Kayal river for an oil cargo terminal.
Alappuzha legislator and former state tourism minister K.C. Venugopal believes that the construction of the oil cargo terminal would sound the death knell for tourism in the district.
‘Gandhi My Father’ impresses New York audience
By Parveen Chopra, IANS
New York : New Yorkers have enjoyed a Hindi film, "Gandhi My Father", which was recently screened here.
The audience at the Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) theatre Friday hardly had any Indian Americans. But they were all glued to the highly emotional drama played out between Mahatma Gandhi and his wayward eldest son Harilal. There were plenty of cheers when the movie ended.
Female skeletons found in 2,500-year-old Chinese tomb
By Xinhua
Jing'an (China) : Chinese scientists have identified four skeletons unearthed from a 2,500-year-old tomb in the eastern Jiangxi province here as females aged around 20 -- possibly maids who had been buried in sacrifice with a dead aristocrat.
India Broadcast Live welcomes court decision on domain name
New Delhi : The US-based India Broadcast Live (IBL), which shows Indian TV programmes through the Internet, has welcomed a recent decision by the Delhi High Court allowing it to use its web address with a disclaimer.
After a petition filed by Rajat Sharma's India TV, the court had restrained IBL from operating the domain name - www.indiatvlive.com - in an earlier order delivered in January.
A first step in understanding IT services
Title: "Blind Men and the Elephant"; Authors: Was Rahman and Priya Kurien; Publisher: Sage Publications; Price: Rs.395 (Paperback)
It would be wrong to say Was Rahman and Priya Kurien are trying to demystify Information Technology (IT) in their book "Blind Men and the Elephant". The industry is too much of a behemoth for one book to be able to do that.
Children’s Film Society India reconstituted
New Delhi : The government Friday reconstituted the executive council and general body of the Children's Film Society India (CFSI) retaining actor Nafisa Ali as its chairperson for a three-year term.
Documentary filmmaker Rinki Bhattacharya has been appointed as the vice chairperson.
The other three members of the executive council are eminent theatre personality Jabbar Patel, filmmaker Jahnu Barua and documentary director Raja Dasgupta.
States asked to organise events to mark 60th I Day
New Delhi : The central government Friday asked states to organise commemorative functions at the grassroots level to mark the 150th anniversary of the country's first war of Independence and the 60th anniversary of Independence in order to familiarise the youth with history.
A peep into Chinese lives through photos
New Delhi : Whether it was the toothless smile of a kid studying in a tiny school, the smile on an old woman's face while on a her first train trip or the yellow robed Lamas - the 200 odd photographs of the people of China displayed at an exhibition here provide a peep into their lives through a colourful lens.
Vietnam discovers 10,000-year-old residential relics
By Xinhua
Hanoi : Vietnamese archaeologists have spotted relics of a residential area of primitive people dating back to some 10,000 years in northern Cao Bang province, according to media reports.
In the Nguom Boc cave in the province's Hoa An district, the archaeologists found dozens of stone tools and many remains of meals of primitive people who lived in a transitional period between the Old Stone Age and the New Stone Age.
Exhibition of rare documents on ‘1857 in Madhya Pradesh’
Bhopal : The Bharatiya Janata Party ruled Government of Madhya Pradesh in collaboration with the India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi has organised an Exhibition of Rare Documents on '1857 in Madhya Pradesh', on the occasion of the 150th Anniversary of the First War of Independence.
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Big FM adopts global chartbuster format
New Delhi : To enthral the country's music freaks, radio station Big FM 92.7 has now introduced the 100 chartbuster format, which has been a huge hit in countries like the US, Britain and Australia.
"We are proud to be India's first radio network to bring this unique format to the country. We are very excited about it as it will fulfil all the needs of the listeners," said Tarun Katial, the chief operating officer of Big 92.7 FM.
Paintings at antique shop 27 years after theft
Bamberg : Four masterpieces by painter Lucas Cranach, the Elder (1472-1553) have been discovered in a German antique shop, 27 years after thieves ripped them from a church in communist-run East Germany.
The foldout pictures on wood, each about 1 metre tall, depict the birth of Saint John the Baptist.
The set would be worth several hundred thousand euros, art experts said. The thieves who took the paintings from the Lutheran church at Klieken near Wittenberg in 1980 were never caught.
Bihar to market brand Bhojpuri to woo diaspora in Mauritius
By Imran Khan, IANS
Patna : Bihar is ready to market its Bhojpuri brand to woo Mauritians of Indian origin, most of them from Bihar itself.
Nothing but Bhojpuri will be the main campaign of the Bihar delegation headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar visiting Mauritius from Thursday.
‘Shooting USAF plane brought Seventh Fleet to Bay of Bengal in 1971’
By IANS
New Delhi : The unwitting shooting of a US aircraft parked at Chaklala air base in Pakistan, hours after the India-Pakistan conflict began in 1971, may have prompted the Nixon administration to send a naval task force to the Bay of Bengal, says the pilot who flew the mission.
Former Indian Navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash, who flew a Hunter while on deputation with the Indian Air Force in the wee hours of Dec 4, 1971, destroyed a number of light aircraft parked at the base.
An online, participatory comic writer to the world
By Arun Kumar, IANS
Washington : Richard Branson's Virgin Comics and MySpace have teamed up to launch Coalition Comix, a new online comic book platform that allows readers to work with leading comic book creators in developing new characters and stories.
Coalition Comix will open up the role of comic book writer to the world at large allowing participants to provide artistic direction to the comic by voting on the plot twists and turns at each step of the way, according to Virgin Comics.
Sneak preview of ‘Gandhi My Father’ in New York
Mysteries of 3,000-year old kingdom of Jinsha
By Xinhua
Beijing : A construction site in the western suburbs of Chengdu in China's Sichuan province looked much like any other. It all started when a bulldozer driver heard a scraping sound as his machine hit deep into the ground. He struck a collection of golden, jade and bronze objects.
Harry Potter breaks sales records as Radcliffe celebrates
By DPA
London : Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe marked his 18th birthday Monday by taking control of a reported fortune of 20 million pounds ($40.1 million) as publishers confirmed that "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" has already broken all sales records.
Publishers Bloomsbury in London said J.K. Rowling's seventh and last Harry Potter novel had sold 2.6 million copies in its first 24 hours, overtaking its predecessor, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince", which sold 2 million copies during the same period.
Family feud sets scene for Wagner opera festival
By DPA
Berlin : A 29-year-old blonde who has staged just five operas is being lined up to run one of the world's most famous festivals dedicated to the works of Richard Wagner.
All eyes will be on Katharina Wagner when her much anticipated production of The Mastersingers of Nuremberg launches this year's Bayreuth Festival in southern Germany Wednesday.
Potter’s spell breaks sales records
By IANS
New Delhi : The 'P' phenomenon sure has it's grip strong over India, like elsewhere. Just 12 hours after the seventh book of the Harry Potter series was released Saturday, it sold 170,000 copies in the country, making it one of the fastest selling books on the first day of its release in all time.
Get high on art through a splash of emotions
By IANS
New Delhi : Love, bitterness, tears and passion - a heady concoction of various human emotions put on canvas by 40 artists will be part of an exhibition that will get connoisseurs "High on Art", as the show is titled.
Put together by Barclays, a leading British financial services group that is set to enter the Indian market, the art show will be up for public view July 27-31 at the India Habitat Centre on Lodhi Road.
Firaq Gorakhpuri’s ‘ghazals’ now in Polish
By IANS
Warsaw : After legendary poets Mir Taqi Mir and Mirza Ghalib, celebrated lyricist Firaq Gorakhpuri's 'ghazals' have been translated from Urdu into Polish.
Polish author Janusz Krzyzowski and Warsaw-based Indian poet Surender Zahid have done the translation, INEP news service reported.
Releasing a book of 'ghazals' last week in the presence of Warsaw literary elite, Indian ambassador Anil Wadhwa congratulated the two.
Art and life of Bismillah Khan in school texts
By Prashant K. Nanda, IANS
New Delhi : Fate may not have allowed shehnai maestro Bismillah Khan to fulfil his last wish to hold a concert at the historic India Gate but his name will be enshrined in the minds of children as his life and art become part of the school curriculum for Class 9 students.
In its recently published Class 9 English book, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has devoted an entire chapter on the legendary musician who died at the age of 90 last year.
‘Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows’ in Farsi
By IRNA
Tehran : A group of translators in Iran have been assigned with the task of translating 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' in a matter of few days as the latest and last copy of Harry Potter's series hit the UK markets early Saturday morning in Tehran time.
A bookstore owner Mehran Fayyaz told IRNA here Saturday that the publisher, along with the team of translators, plans to release the top-quality translation of the latest and last of the widely popular book of the young wizard boy, Harry Potter.
Potter spins magic, madness in India too
By Azera Rahman and IANS bureau reports, IANS
New Delhi : From dawn to dusk, thousands of fans of Harry Potter thronged book stores in cities and towns across India to grab the seventh and possibly the final edition of the series by J.K. Rowling as the Potter magic cast a spell and held students and parents in its fantasy grip.
Potter fans in Bangalore wish they were speed-readers
By IANS
Bangalore : Excited youngsters began queuing up outside bookstores here at 4.00 a.m. to be among the first to get copies of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows", the seventh and last book of J.K. Rowling's popular fantasy series.
"Wish I was a speed-reader so that I could finish the book fast and be among the first to know whether Harry Potter lives on or is killed by Lord Voldermot," said Priyanka Thimmaiah, a Class 10 student.
Terror attack at Pakistan Potter launch foiled
By DPA
Islamabad : Pakistani police defused a car bomb outside a shopping centre in Karachi hours before the scheduled launch of the latest Harry Potter book there, officials said Saturday.
"We got to know about the bomb on Friday night when an anonymous caller warned us that it was planted in a car parked outside the Park Tower, "Senior Superintendent Police Azad Khan told DPA.
"The bomb contained 10 kgs of RDX, connected to a remote controlled detonator," he said.
Potter mania strikes at dawn in Kerala too
By IANS
Kochi (Kerala) : Children dressed up as various characters of the Harry Potter series arrived on horsebacks at a bookshop here early Saturday morning for the release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows".
The children carried copies of the book to the Ravi bookstore here and a special function was held inside the shop during which the books was taken out from a box amidst huge applause from people who had arrived to buy J.K.Rowling's latest offering.
Orissa muggles eagerly waiting for Potter book
By IANS
Bhubaneswar : Hundreds of Potter fans in Orissa will have to wait for one more day to get a copy of the seventh edition of the Harry Potter series as all the copies were sold out within hours of the book's official release here Saturday.
"We had asked Penguin India to supply at least 500 copies of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' but we received only 192 copies," Basudev Mohapatra of A.K. Mishra Agency told IANS.
Chandigarh fans lap up Harry Potter in first go
By IANS
Chandigarh : Raghav Sharma, a first year college student, woke up at the crack of dawn Saturday but it was not for an early morning walk or a weekend gym session. He wanted to be the first to buy a copy of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows".
"I wanted to stand up and be counted among the millions of Harry Potter fans who were the first ones to get their copy of the latest edition," he said.
And lo! Potter casts his last spell on India
By Azera Rahman and bureau reports, IANS
New Delhi : Potter fans queuing up at five in the morning, bookshops opening at six, early morning breakfast parties...the Potter phenomenon has gripped India - like elsewhere in the world - with the release of the seventh and possibly last edition in the series by J.K. Rowling.
Oxford Bookstore, one of the popular bookstores in the capital, opened its doors to excited muggles (human beings in Potter lingo) to lay their hands on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", the seventh edition of the series.
Andhra Pradesh swept by Pottermania
By IANS
Hyderabad : Die hard fans of Harry Potter queued up outside bookstalls in Hyderabad and Vishakhapatnam since the wee hours of Saturday to buy "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", the seventh and last book in J.K. Rowling's popular fantasy series.
Some fans were lined up outside the bookstall since 2 a.m. though the sale of the book began only at 6.30 a.m. "I had booked the copy two months ago but did not want to take any chance. I wanted to be the first person to grab the book," said Subhash Reddy, a software professional.
It’s dawn…and time to meet Harry Potter
By Om Gupta, IANS
New Delhi : Instead of a morning walk, I went for a drive at dawn. Not for a whiff of fresh air but for the smell of a freshly printed book. Like many people hit by Pottermania around the world, me and my son were keen to get our hands on the seventh and last book of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series.
Potter fans crowd Uttar Pradesh bookshops
By IANS
Lucknow : Potter fans here spent a sleepless night before the Saturday release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", the seventh edition of J.K. Rowling's popular fantasy series, and crowded the city's bookshops the minute they were opened.
"It was a long wait, I could hardly sleep through the night waiting for the new dawn - a dawn with the new Harry Potter on the stands", 18-year-old Prabhakar Seth told IANS outside Lucknow's famous Universal Booksellers in Hazratganj.
Potter mania grips Jharkhand
By IANS
Ranchi : Excitement gripped Ranchi as "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", the seventh edition of the Harry Potter series, was released in the city early Saturday.
"We have booked around 200 copies of the seventh edition of Harry Potter. The readers are not only children but also older people. More than 20 percent of the bookings are by older people," said Pradeep Kumar Burman, owner of Gyan Deep bookstall.
Naseeruddin’s film lauded in Pakistan, draws crowds
By IANS
Lahore : Pakistani film "Khuda Kay Liye", starring Indian thespian Naseeruddin Shah and US actors, has drawn huge crowds and won popular acclaim for displaying "a soft, lenient image" of Islam that could fight Western notions that have influenced the treatment of Muslims in the post 9/11 era.
Saad Cheema, a Pakistani cine fan on a visit from the US, said the Americans had "a very rigid view of Islam" and were apprehensive of Muslims, and therefore, discriminated against them.
A date at dawn with Harry Potter
By Om Gupta, IANS
New Delhi : It was a morning drive instead of a walk. Not for a whiff of fresh air but for the smell of a fresh book that was creating a phenomenon called Pottermania that has gripped the world.
The drive was short, but the end result was frustrating. Many early risers were already in the queue. Perhaps they never went home last night. There was a sense of déjà vu. It was the same the world over - Harry Potter mania at everyone's doorstep.
Potter mania strikes at dawn
By IANS
New Delhi : Snaking queues, excited faces and an electric atmosphere. For the thousands of Potter fans across the country the moment they have been long waiting for has finally arrived - "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", the seventh edition of the Harry Potter series, has been released early Saturday morning.
Book shops opened at 6.30 a.m. to cash in on the Potter mania as parents and children lined up to buy what its author J.K. Rowling said was the final edition of the Potter series.
Harry Potter survives final story
By DPA
London : The Harry Potter saga has apparently closed with a magical finale.
In the novel released at 23.00 GMT Friday in Europe, Africa and Asia and due hours later in the western hemisphere, author J.K. Rowling has let the title character survive the last instalment of his dangerous adventures.
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" sees the schoolboy wizard triumph in a final battle over evil.
Potter mania strikes at dawn
By IANS
New Delhi : Snaking queues, excited faces and an electric atmosphere. For the thousands of Potter fans across the country the moment they have been long waiting for has finally arrived - "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", the seventh edition of the Harry Potter series, has been released early Saturday morning.
Book shops opened at 6.30 a.m. to cash in on the Potter mania as parents and children lined up to buy what its author J.K. Rowling said was the final edition of the Potter series.
Potter mania strikes at dawn
By IANS
New Delhi : Snaking queues, excited faces and an electric atmosphere. For the thousands of Potter fans across the country the moment they have been long waiting for has finally arrived - "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", the seventh edition of the Harry Potter series, has been released early Saturday morning.
Book shops opened at 6.30 a.m. to cash in on the Potter mania as parents and children lined up to buy what its author J.K. Rowling said was the final edition of the Potter series.
UTV’s Brand Bindass to find India’s first space tourist
By IANS
New Delhi : All those dreaming of space travel have a rare chance of making their dreams come true. UTV, one of India's leading film production houses, has announced the launch of entertainment channel bouquet Brand Bindass with a campaign to select the lucky Indian who will be the country's first space tourist.
Catwalk shifts to Pragati Maidan for fashion week
By IANS
New Delhi : To contain the continually swelling fashion fete of India - the Wills lifestyle Fashion Week (WIFW) - the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) has this time moved to a bigger venue, the Pragati Maidan.
The tenth edition of the spring-summer WIFW 2008 is scheduled here for Sep 5-9.
Catwalk shifts to Pragati Maidan for fashion week
By IANS
New Delhi : To contain the continually swelling fashion fete of India - the Wills lifestyle Fashion Week (WIFW) - the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) has this time moved to a bigger venue, the Pragati Maidan.
The tenth edition of the spring-summer WIFW 2008 is scheduled here for Sep 5-9.
Catwalk shifts to Pragati Maidan for fashion week
By IANS
New Delhi : To contain the continually swelling fashion fete of India - the Wills lifestyle Fashion Week (WIFW) - the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) has this time moved to a bigger venue, the Pragati Maidan.
The tenth edition of the spring-summer WIFW 2008 is scheduled here for Sep 5-9.
Cookies, magic show to greet Bangalore’s Potter fans
By IANS
Bangalore : Cookies, a magic show, tattoo painting, lucky draws, calligraphy and, of course, movies are in store at book shops for Harry Potter fans in Bangalore.
Most of the 12 major bookshops in the city are opening between 5.30 a.m. and 6.30 a.m. Saturday and many are still drawing up plans to make the early morning out of Potter fans - young ones as well as their parents - comfortable.
"Yes. We will be offering cookies," Smitha Vinayak of Oxford Bookstore, located at a hotel in central Bangalore, told IANS.
House full for Naseeruddin film in Pakistan theatre
By IANS
Lahore : Tickets for a Pakistani film starring Indian thespian Naseeruddin Shah and US actors were completely sold out at a new cinema hall here even as its release Friday was sought to be blocked through a petition before the Lahore High Court.
"Khuda Ke Liye" is paired with Hollywood blockbuster "Die Hard 4" at the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), which was recently converted into a cinema hall.
Shabana’s latest mission – save the Taj Mahal
Mountbatten tales and Hosseini captivate Delhi readers
Rowling ‘staggered’ over Potter pirate copies
By DPA
London : Harry Potter author Joanne K. Rowling said Thursday she was "staggered" that pirate copies and reviews of her last volume had appeared in the media.
"I am staggered that some American newspapers have decided to publish purported spoilers in the form of reviews in complete disregard of the wishes of literally millions of readers, particularly children, who wanted to reach Harry's final destination by themselves, in their own time," Rowling said.
Mountbatten tales and Hosseini captivate Delhi readers
Unknown crafts and craftsmen brought to light
By IANS
New Delhi : Making wigs, decorative bulbs, polo-balls, boats, shuttlecocks and jeans - one would not usually associate them with arts and crafts. But that is exactly what Payal Mohanka has done in her book "In The Shadows: Unknown Craftsmen of Bengal".
Released by Finance Minister P. Chidambaram here Tuesday evening, Mohanka's book is about the plight of the anonymous craftsmen who produce these objects.
Women’s wear dominates India International Garment Fair
Pranab Mukherjee, Ashim Ghosh bag ‘Bengali of the Year’ award
Assam tea baron’s biography reveals encounters with ULFA
Mexico & China praise Bhopal kid’s paintings
Making of a reluctant fundamentalist
Filmmaker Ravi regrets not catching Rajiv Gandhi murder mastermind
Make Hindi a strong internet language: Manmohan Singh
Hindi is a language of understanding and harmony: Ban Ki-moon
Portugal becomes world’s seventh oldest nation
Cross-culture marriages a mixed blessing in Land of Smiles
New Potter film breaks records in US, Australia
ASI to acquire land for better Hampi exposure
Harry Potter publishers launch anti-piracy drive
No proposal for TV fee: minister
New Delhi : Ahead of a crucial meeting to bail out cash-strapped public broadcaster Prasar Bharati, the government Thursday denied media reports about plans to impose an annual licence fee on TV sets.
Ramachandra Guha, Hosseini emerge as favourites again
New Delhi : Ramachandra Guha and Khaled Hosseini continue to be hot reader favourites this week with their respective books "India After Gandhi" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns" topping the best-selling lists yet again.
Sarawak gears up for 10th Rain Forest Music Festival
Sarawak (Malaysia) : Bands from around the world are gathering in Sarawak for the Rain Forest World Music Festival, which kicks off Friday on the island of Borneo.
Jurassic Park comes to life in the centre of Berlin
Berlin : You would be forgiven for thinking you should make a run for it when the giant reptile suddenly appears from around the corner.
London hosts “India Now” for better ties with India
New Delhi : London is hosting a three-month long celebration of Indian art, cinema, cuisine, fashion and culture.
Husain attends New York art event
New York : Famous Indian painter M.F. Husain was the guest of honour at the opening of an art exhibition in New York.
Agra mayor overjoyed with Taj victory, upset with Indian embassy
Agra : Agra mayor Anjula Singh is jubilant about the Taj Mahal making it to the new seven wonders of the world list but is hurt at the indifference of India's tourism industry and the attitude of Indian embassy officials in Lisbon when she went to receive the prestigious award.
It’s raining festivals in Goa
Panaji : Â The monsoon season in Goa is also time for a number of celebrations - and it sure is raining feasts and festivals.
India long way off from becoming fashion power: Rathi Vinay Jha
New Delhi : India is a long way off from being recognised as a fashion power although its designers are showcasing their lines at top global ramp shows, says the head of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI).
States to be asked for land for Urdu language centres
New Delhi : The National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) Tuesday decided to approach state governments for land to open Urdu language and Urdu cultural centres.
World Hindi meet to popularise Hindi globally
New York/New Delhi : The 8th World Hindi Conference, to be inaugurated Friday at the UN headquarters in New York, will send out a strong message for the inclusion of India's national language among the official languages of the world body.
PM visit spotlights poor upkeep of INA memorial
New Delhi : It took a surprise visit by the prime minister to highlight the poor upkeep of the Indian National Army (INA) memorial that commemorates the deeds of those who fought for the country's freedom under Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
Karan Singh is PM’s special envoy at world Hindi meet
New York/New Delhi : Scholar and politician Karan Singh has been named Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's special envoy to the three-day World Hindi Conference that begins in New York Friday.
PM unhappy over poor upkeep of INA memorial
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday visited the Indian National Army (INA) memorial in the capital and expressed his concern at the poor maintenance of the museum and its premises.
New York to host world Hindi meet from Friday
New York : Poet-filmmaker Gulzar and director Jagmohan Mundhra will be among 1,000 Hindi lovers and scholars at the eighth World Hindi Conference in New York from Friday.
Agra gets its first FM
Agra : The Taj Mahal city has got its first FM radio station, and that has been accompanied by a huge demand for radio sets.
Petition urges Rowling for more Potter books
London : Harry Potter fans preparing to get their hands on the last of the seven Potter books were being urged Monday to sign a petition to author J.K. Rowling not to abandon the boy wizard for good.
Congress moves court against ‘Sivaji: The Boss’
Chennai : Rajnikant-starrer Tamil film "Sivaji: The Boss", running to full houses, Monday attracted a second lawsuit, as a Congress activist sought a ban on the film, alleging it portrayed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party president Sonia Gandhi in poor light.
Mughal ‘bahu’ celebrates Taj glory at Howrah slum
Kolkata : The ostentatious Taj Mahal and a dingy tenement? Not much in common there, you'd think - but when the marble mausoleum in Agra was named one of the New Wonders of the World, the last of the Mughals whooped in joy at her home in a West Bengal slum.
Anjan gives reel life to Kolkata’s Anglo-Indians
New Delhi : Many stories are waiting to be transformed into gripping cinema, but the challenge is to find the right filmmaker. The fading world of Kolkata's Anglo Indian community seems to have found him in Anjan Dutt whose "Bow Barracks Forever" brings to screen the drama and pathos of the people living in one of the city's oldest buildings.
Taj Mahal on list of world’s seven wonders
By NNN-PTI
New Delhi : Always counted among the man-made marvels of the world by its admirers, the Taj Mahal today found pride of place in a new list of seven wonders polled by people around the globe.
The most photographed monument is accompanied by The Great Wall of China, Petra in Jordan, Statue of Christ Redeemer in Brazil, Machu Picchu in Peru, Pyramid of Chichen Itza in Mexico and the Roman Collosseum in the list announced at a gala ceremony in the Portuguese capital Lisbon to coincide with the date 07.07.07.
Global missile defence system by 2020: Ivanov
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky : A global missile defence system proposed by Russia could be created by 2020, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said here Sunday.
Jubilation as Taj Mahal is among new Seven Wonders
New Delhi/Agra : As soon as Bollywood star Bipasha Basu exclaimed "Oh my god, it's the Taj Mahal!" in Lisbon, millions of eager Indians who had been glued to their TV sets in the early hours Sunday watching the function jumped in joy as the 17th century monument of love was selected among a list of new Seven Wonders of the World.
A glance through the new Seven Wonders of the World
Lisbon : Around 100 million Internet and telephone voters participated in a poll to select the new Seven Wonders of the World, among which are India's Taj Mahal marble mausoleum, the Great Wall of China, Brazil's Statue of Christ the Redeemer, Peru's Machu Picchu Inca trail and Mexico's Chichen Itza pyramid.
Celebrations in Agra as Taj joins new wonders list
Agra : The city of the Taj Mahal was in a joyous mood Sunday with people bursting firecrackers and distributing sweets, as the 17th century heritage monument was included in a new Seven Wonders of the World list.
The new Seven Wonders of the World
Lisbon : India's Taj Mahal in Agra was included in the modern day Seven Wonders of the World at a star-studded ceremony held here, bringing joy to millions of Indians who had voted for the 17th Century monument of love.
Indian designers on date with Rome’s fashion street
New Delhi : Two of India's top designers Neeta Lulla and Pria Kataria Puri will showcase their autumn/winter line in the super chic streets of Rome in its Fashion Week beginning Monday.
Taj Mahal among new seven world wonders
Lisbon : The Taj Mahal in Agra was included in the new Seven Wonders of the World announced at a star-studded ceremony held here, bringing joy to millions of Indians who had voted for the 17th Century monument of love.
Bengal artisans to showcase folk art in Durban
Kolkata : The India Fashion Week in Durban in South Africa, to be held in September, will have a touch of West Bengal with several folk artisans from the state chosen to participate in the event.
Annual bull runs launched in Pamplona
Pamplona : Thousands of cheering Spaniards and tourists Friday packed central Pamplona as the northern Spanish city launched its annual San Fermin festival, world-famous for its bull runs.
Babbar calls 100,000 guests for daughter’s wedding
Agra : The much-hyped wedding reception of Juhi Babbar, daughter of actor-turned politician Raj Babbar, was held here Friday with a grand feast, complete with music and a guest list of 100,000.
Indian fashion goes for ISO certification
New Delhi : In their bid to go global, Indian fashion houses are applying for the ISO certificate. The first to get this global stamp of quality is Kimaya Fashions Pvt. Ltd., and another house, Shantanu Nikhil Design Pvt. Ltd., is to get it soon.
Seven world wonders contest courts controversy
Lisbon : Two millennia after the Greeks listed the seven wonders of the ancient world, a foundation created by a Swiss millionaire is about to announce seven sites elected as the modern world wonders in a global Internet vote.
Can rock and roll save the planet?
San Francisco : Ever since rock music emerged as a popular art form in the 1960s its visionaries have dreamed about it changing the world. Now comes its chance to save the planet.
Bengali actor Subhendu Chatterjee dead
Kolkata : Eminent Bengali actor Subhendu Chatterjee, who essayed significant roles in films of maestro Satyajit Ray, passed away in a city hospital Thursday night. He was 71.
Authors of the week: Ramachandra Guha and Khaled Hosseini
New Delhi : Ramachandra Guha's "India After Gandhi" continues to hold reader interest as does Khaled Hosseini with "A Thousand Splendid Sons" topping the fiction list, and his earlier "The Kite Runner" following close at number two position.
Osian aims to recreate cinematic culture
New Delhi : Aiming to recreate cinematic culture in the country, the 9th Osian's-Cinefan Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema - a new name for the capital's prestigious film fest - will focus on Japanese films with a tribute to Kenji Mizoguchi.
Napoleon’s handwritten love-letter is auction hit in London
World’s oldest spears to go on show in Germany
Hanover : The world's oldest missile collection, a set of spears used by Palaeolithic hunters 400,000 years ago, is to go on public display for the first time this year, 15 years after they were found in a German open-cast lignite mine.
Cremation ground near Taj Mahal gets new lease of life
Agra : As the Taj Mahal fights for a place among the seven wonders of the world, the cremation ground near the love memorial is being given a facelift by artists here.
Sports is chauvinistic, but I’ve changed mindsets: Mandira
New Delhi : TV anchor Mandira Bedi, who brought noodle strap blouses into serious cricket talk, says much of the controversy she attracts has to do with her being a woman in the male-dominated world of sports.
Gandhi manuscript back in Indian hands
New Delhi/London : After more than a week of feverish diplomacy, the Indian government Tuesday acquired the priceless manuscript of Mahatma Gandhi which was withdrawn from auction a day before it was set to go under the hammer at Christie's in London.
Notice to Nafisa Ali on Husain painting quashed
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court Tuesday suspended the operation of a show cause notice issued by a subordinate court here against social activist Nafisa Ali for allegedly purchasing a controversial painting by noted painter M.F. Husain.
Nehru Museum hopeful of acquiring Gandhi letter
New Delhi : Mahatma Gandhi's rare letter pleading for greater tolerance towards Muslims, which was saved from going under the hammer at Christie's in London at the 11th hour, is set to return to India with the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library hopeful of acquiring it.
Bollywood stars under house arrest during rains
Mumbai : Incessant rains disrupted normal life in Mumbai yet again last week and film stars weren't spared either. Many were forced to cancel their programmes and sit at home and they feel it's high time the authorities took measures to end the chaos in the city.
Amitabh to recite father’s poetry in New York
New York : Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan is set to recite his father Harivansh Rai Bachchan's poems at a literary and cultural festival here next month.
Gandhi’s letter saved from going under hammer
London/New Delhi : In a last-minute face-saver, the Indian government appears to have struck a deal with the owners of a rare letter written by Mahatma Gandhi days before his assassination, with Christie's withdrawing the letter, scheduled to be auctioned Tuesday.
Gandhi letter withdrawn from auction
London : The man selling Mahatma Gandhi's last letter has withdrawn it from auction to enable the Indian government to acquire it, Christie's announced Monday.
Film on Mahatma opposed by Gandhians in Bihar
Patna : A new film on Mahatma Gandhi, focusing on his strained relationship with his eldest son, has drawn protests from Gandhians in Bihar.
Russian art marathon opens in Tokyo
Tokyo : A marathon exhibition showcasing the best of contemporary Russian theatre, music, dance, movies and circus opened here Monday.
Oliver Stone wants to make biopic on Ahmadinejad
New York : Talented filmmaker Oliver Stone has requested Iranian officials to allow him to make a biopic about their president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Chinese experts excavate 2,500-year-old tomb
Jingan (China) : Chinese archaeologists have excavated a 2,500-year old tomb containing 47 coffins in east China's Jiangxi province and called it the most important discovery in recent years.
Rushdie, wife may divorce: friends
London : Celebrated India-born author Sir Salman Rushdie and his wife Padma Lakshmi are divorcing after three years of marriage, friends have revealed.
Tagore Centre in Berlin honours India-lover Alain Danielou
Berlin : A predominantly European audience here was enthralled by a virtuoso performance by reputed Dhrupad exponents Gundecha Brothers on the occasion of the 100th birth anniversary of Alain Danielou, an India lover who is credited with bringing Indian music to the West.
Creating unique identity through animated reality
New Delhi : Oblivious of mainstream cinema and the hype around television channels, a new form of creativity is silently but firmly taking root in India and abroad. It is called animation filmmaking.
Sotheby’s to hold art auction for Kolkata museum
New York : Famous modern Indian paintings, sculptures and photographs will go under the hammer here when Sotheby's holds an auction on behalf of the Kolkata Museum of Modern Art (KMOMA) next month.
Sotheby’s to hold art auction for Kolkata museum
New York : Famous modern Indian paintings, sculptures and photographs will go under the hammer here when Sotheby's holds an auction on behalf of the Kolkata Museum of Modern Art (KMOMA) next month.
Sotheby’s to hold art auction for Kolkata museum
New York : Famous modern Indian paintings, sculptures and photographs will go under the hammer here when Sotheby's holds an auction on behalf of the Kolkata Museum of Modern Art (KMOMA) next month.
India, Pakistan end culture talks, no headway on film ban
Islamabad : India and Pakistan Friday ended their two-day talks on cultural cooperation without headway on an issue dear to New Delhi - lifting a ban on Indian films and TV channels - with Islamabad appearing none too keen.
ICCR will bid for Gandhi letter: Pranab
Jalpaiguri (West Bengal) : External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee Friday said the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) would bid to acquire a rare letter of Mahatma Gandhi that is up for auction at Christie's in London next week.
When music takes over, there are no borders
New Delhi : Pakistan's ghazal queen Farida Khanum came, sang and conquered again. Reiterating that "music is the bridge of peace and love", the beloved singer, as popular in India as in Pakistan, had her audience in raptures and clapping endlessly for more.
Apex court directive may help non-Kannada films
Bangalore : A Supreme Court judgement calling for uniform entertainment tax for feature films in Andhra Pradesh may have far reaching box-office consequences for Kannada and non-Kannada films.
Everyone likes it hot in southern France
Paris : In summer, the weather is not the only reason the South of France is hot - there's also the music.