Malaika Arora becomes beneficiary of settlement between her husband's production company and a brand named "ZANDU BALM" in the Munni track

The standoff between Arbaaz Khan Productions (AKP) and a company that produces balms, has come to an end.

Says Khan, "It's all been amicably sorted, out of court, thanks to  adman Prahlad Kakkad. He knew both parties very well and initiated discussions."

He adds, "It was always a win-win situation for both sides. We will have tie-ups with their company. Malaika will be their brand ambassador." Incidentally, Kakkad is expected to shoot the first balm ad with Malaika.

That said, AKP was ready to take the fight to the other party. Says a source from Arbaaz's company, "We were in consultation with lawyers. If the balm company so desired, we were ready to take them on. This was just an attempt to latch on to Dabangg's success."

The source adds, "According to statistics, the business for the balm company multiplied substantially since the song came out."

Arbaaz and his team have learnt a lesson from a previous legal wrangle when someone had objected to the use of the use of the word 'Hindustan' just before the release of the film. "We panicked because we had a delivery date staring us in the face. We changed the word to 'Gulistan' in the song. This time we were not pressured by deadlines. We were ready to go to court."

Sajid Nadiadwala Upset with Ranbir Kapoor

Actor had said that the Sept 24 release date of Anjaana Anjaani should be delayed as the Ayodhya verdict will also be delivered then

BARELY a week before the release of Anjaana Anjaani (September 24), producer Sajid Nadiadwala and lead actor Ranbir Kapoor appear to be heading for a confrontation over the release date of the film.

"It all started when Ranbir gave a statement at a press conference in New Delhi on Thursday and said that if he had his way, he would postpone the release of Anjaana Anjaani by a week as September 24 was a crucial date with the verdict on the Babri Masjid being delivered.

It is a very important day and the nation will come to a standstill with central forces being deployed in many places as the Ayodhya issue is a sensitive one. Ranbir feels that it will be more practical to postpone the film by a week or so as some audiences may not be able to go watch it, " says a source, who is also part of the film.

The source added that Ranbir's statement upset Sajid as he hadn't taken the producer into confidence before talking to the media about it. "Sajid felt that Ranbir should have kept him in the loop about it.

Though Sajid hasn't said anything to Ranbir yet, he's waiting for the correct moment to talk to him. The release date is nearing closer and he doesn't want to jeopardise the film and create a controversy by getting into a fight with his hero."

"He, of course, agrees with Ranbir too as September 24 is an important date for the country and is proud of Ranbir's sensible stand. As of now, Sajid is undecided about what he wants to do, " the source added.

The actor, meanwhile said, "It is very unfortunate that the movie is releasing on September 24 as the big hearing is on the same day. Right now my only wish is to postpone the release of the movie. It's not in my hand but I will be talking to the producer and the director about it."

Akshay Kumar into a verbal spat with his Tees Maar Khan co-star Katrina Kaif

Tees Maar Khan co-producer and lead actor Akshay Kumar recently had a verbal argument with his co-star Katrina Kaif. He needed dates from her to shoot a music video for TMK and she flatly refused.

Sources reveal that the actress's dates were blocked for her Yash Raj film with Imran Khan and she was unable to change her schedule.

Says a source, "This is the first time Akki and Kat got into an actual fight. Her saying no got him all worked up. He reminded her of past adjustments he had made for her. Kat, on her part, said that she wouldn't be able to share dates till mid-October as the YRF banner was important to her and that the schedule was locked."
Moreover, Farah Khan is in a hurry to wrap the film in time for a Christmas Day release. She has managed a smooth schedule so far. Akshay, meanwhile, wants Kat to complete the music video before she busies herself with other commitments.

Adds the source, "Things really soured between Kat and Akshay over the date imbroglio. They stopped talking to each other for a while. But then, Farah stepped in. The duo is shooting a qawalli in Mumbai with Salman Khan and FK didn't want their cold vibes to spoil the song."

The director spoke to her heroine and everything has been sorted out. "The video will be shot on October 15. Katrina managed to get YRF to allow her to shoot for the title track video featuring the entire star cast. In any case, Kat is very fond of Akshay and will not allow their relationship to sour."

Neighbours angry at King Khan for allegedly restricting entry to an access road

Residents irked at King Khan for allegedly restricting entry to an access road; cops claim that they put up the barricades only for Bandra Fair
Shah Rukh Khan, may have a fewer fans after citizens who reside in and around Mount Mary Church and Bandstand, are angry at him for allegedly blocking the cement road behind his bungalow at Bandstand.
According to the residents, security guards employed by the actor have blocked the lane adjacent to Mannat, the road behind his bungalow and restrained access to the cement road lane.
 
Angry residents
Residents complained that barricades had been erected at the entrance leading to the lane and the security guards and police authorities did not allow residents to use the road, even though the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) maintains the road.

"The police say that they have erected the barricades for the Bandra fair, but even on other days, access to the road is restricted by Khan's security guards," said Khalid Qureshi, president of the NCP Bandra Taluka.

Echoing the same resentment was 58-year-old Ruby Fernandes. She said, "I am running a candle shop and the shop has been in existence for over 40 years. However, after they restricted the use of the road, I don't have any customers as no one travels by this road."  Vivek Angre, who resides near the Church, said, "I am staying here for the last 47 years and it is a fact that residents of the area are troubled because the road has been cordoned off."

Police speakHowever, officials from Bandra police station claim that restrictions on usage of the road have been imposed only for the Mount Mary Fair and that the security guards of the actor have nothing to do with the issue.

Senior Inspector Prakash George said, "It is the police, which have imposed temporary restrictions on the road on Saturday and Sunday because of the Mount Mary Fair. The restrictions have been imposed keeping in view the benefits of the pedestrians and also the motorists, who approach the church from the main road and the road from Mehboob studios. People have a habit of using a short cut from the Caine Road via this road adjacent to Shah Rukh's bungalow Mannat."

Despite several attempts and messages to Shah Rukh Khan and his secretary Karuna, they were unavailable for comment.

Chennai edge out Warriors

Chennai Super Kings edged out Warriors by 10 runs in Port Elizabeth but both teams qualified for the semi-finals of the Champions League Twenty20.

The outcome at the end of a tense match meant the pair went through at the expense of Victoria.

Chennai struggled to put 136 on the board, for the loss of six wickets, after having chosen to bat first on a spin-friendly track at St George's Park.

But the Indian Premier League side's tenacious defending of that total limited Warriors to 126 for eight, Ravichandran Ashwin ending with figures of 3-24.

Michael Hussey reached 50 with the bat for Chennai, with opening partner Murali Vijay making 35. Justin Kreusch was the pick of the bowlers with 3-19.

The Super Kings will now meet fellow IPL side Royal Challengers Bangalore in Durban in the final four.

Flood fury in Delhi, 22 trains cancelled

New Delhi, Sep 23: Railways on Sep 23 has cancelled 22 Delhi based trains and another 65 has been diversified due to flood fury in the capital as water in Yamuna crossed 207m danger mark.

The Old Yamuna Bridge, connecting east Delhi with the heart of the national capital, was closed for rail and road traffic on Sep 22 after water level in Yamuna rose menacingly.


Flood and irrigation department official informed, "The water level in Yamuna touched 207.06m, which is 2.23m above the danger mark of 204.83m. It will keep on rising and is likely to touch 207.30m."

The official also informed that people from low lying area have been already removed to safer places in New Delhi.

48 hrs to judgment day, security forces on toes

With less than 48 hours to go before Allahabad high court delivers the much-awaited judgment on Ayodhya title suits, the nation on Wednesday braced itself for the outcome of the most contentious issue. The Centre asked all the state governments to step up security and remain on high alert to maintain law and order.

Though security across the country had been beefed up in general after the high court on September 17 rejected the deferment plea, the Centre and states geared up to remain extra vigilant after the Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to hear urgently a plea to postpone the Ayodhya verdict. The Apex Court’s refusal to hear the plea paved the way for the High Court’s scheduled pronouncement of the verdict on Friday.

Meanwhile, Union home minister P Chidambaram appealed for peace. In a statement, he asked states to take adequate measures to maintain law and order, especially in sensitive areas.

In the Supreme Court, a bench of Justices Altamas Kabir and AK Patnaik said that the matter raised by a former bureaucrat Ramesh Chandra Tripathi, who is also a party in the Ayodhya related law suits before Allahabad High Court (Lucknow Bench), isn’t mentioned in the roster before the Bench. It’s for the registry to list Tripathi’s petition against a fractured judgment of the high court before an appropriate Bench. Tripathi has questioned the appropriateness of 2:1 HC judgment that has also imposed a heavy cost Rs50,000 on him for moving the application.

Though informed sources feel that the petition may come before a bench on Thursday, they however don’t rule out the possibility of its dismissal on the ground that it’s for HC alone to take a call on the date of judgment.

But the Apex Court can partially stay the order limited to imposition of exemplary cost against Tripathi. Apprehending unrest in the aftermath of the Friday judgment, Tripathi says the verdict in the law suits filed 60 years ago should be deferred till the end of the Commonwealth Games. He has other concerns too such as flood fury across the country, troubled Kashmir, volatile Bihar elections among others.

According to home minister Chidambaram, the forthcoming verdict by a special bench of HC relates to four title suits. Chidambaram says in a statement these suits involve a number of ‘issues’ which were framed by the trial court, recast by HC that also made additional issues in the proceedings. In one case, the HM said issues were recast after certain orders of the Supreme Court.

It seems that the chief minister has downplayed the Ayodhya verdict by referring it as a longstanding issue. “In the country, there prevails an atmosphere of celebration and religious activities which are in full swing. In Gujarat, too, all of you are immersed in the fervour of festivities - be it religious, cultural or social. Zealous preparations are going on in full swing to celebrate the forthcoming festivals of Navratri, Vijayadashami and Diwali. These festivals give a boost to the economic activities of all, be it big or small. Even the poorest of the poor get good opportunity to earn their livelihood,” the CM says in the release.

Talking about the elections in the state, Modi says: “The civic body elections are approaching. My humble appeal to all the citizens is that though you would be eagerly awaiting the judgment on thelongstanding Ayodhya issue, please do not be carried away by the excitement as it will not benefit anyone. Kindly remember that Gujarat has laid to rest for the past several years the ghost of violence and curfew.”

The CM has cited figures from the report of the Union government. “Gujarat is today progressing on its strength of peace and social amity. Because of development, the poor are able to get employment opportunities. According to a recent Government of India report, Gujarat has successfully given employment opportunities to 72 per cent of its youths and it ranks as the topmost state in the sphere of providing employment. In contrast, other states put together could provide employment only to 28 per cent to the youths,” he says.

He also warned the citizens about the antisocial elements, who could try to exploit the situation. Modi says, “The country’s enemies are carefully watching us. Let us not allow any antisocial element to succeed in destroying the peaceful social fabric of our state. I appeal to you all that let us take the development of Gujarat further towards the path of progress with peace, self-control and patience.”

Delhi-Bangalore passengers safe after emergency landing

New Delhi: A Bangalore-bound JetLite flight with 105 passengers on board made an emergency landing here after one of its engines failed soon after take off from the IGI airport today.

The pilot of the Boeing 737-700 aircraft noticed an engine failure soon after take off and made an emergency landing around 7.45 am, sources said.

The aircraft landed safely at the new runway and all the passengers are safe, they said.

Commonwealth Games pressure increases on Delhi

Pressure is growing on India to deal urgently with problems concerning its hosting of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, amid increasing criticism and concerns over hygiene and security.

Commonwealth Games Canada's president told the BBC that Indian officials had been "indifferent bordering on intransigent" in tackling the issues.

New Zealand has now delayed the arrival of its athletes for the event.

India insists next month's Games will be one of the most successful.

Several participating countries have delegates in the capital urgently checking the facilities at the athletes' village and the arrangements for security.

The president of the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC), Mike Stanley, said the arrival of its athletes should be delayed until at least 28 September because of problems with accommodation and other issues. The Games start on 3 October.

Mr Stanley said: "It's tremendously disappointing. The long list of outstanding issues has made it clear the village will now not be ready for New Zealand athletes to move in as planned."

New Zealand's Dominion Post newspaper reported that the country was looking at using Singapore as a "holding pen" for its athletes if conditions in Delhi did not improve.

The chief executive of Swimming New Zealand, Mike Byrne, told the BBC that two New Zealand officials were in Delhi and would report later on Thursday about the situation.

Aishwarya, Salman: Ex Appeal On Neighbouring Sets!

It's the kind of juicy story that tattle writers can never seem to get enough of. Film City at Mumbai, was jammed with excitement of a different sort, considering that ex flames Salman 'Dabangg' Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan were filming on… neighbouring sets!

Even as Ash was shooting with Akshay Kumar for 'MasterChef India', Khan was busy grooving to a beat for the music video shoot of 'Bigg Boss 4' around the same time.

States a unit hand present on the sets, "Ever since we got the news in the morning, there was a great deal of excitement at Film City. When we learnt that Salman and Aishwarya would be on adjacent sets, there were hushed reports about the possibility of the stars crossing paths!"

Reportedly, Salman arrived a little over 2 p.m for the shoot sporting a denims and a leather jacket thrown over a T shirt. And when he wasn't grooving to Pony Varma's choreography, Salman would pull out his notebook and start sketching, as per sources.

An insider reveals that Ash arrived quite early for her shoot and got busy with the proceedings. Reportedly, 'MasterChef India' and Akshay have compiled a culinary collection that includes Khiladi Kumar's signature sizzler recipes and top dishes of the participants, as well. Reportedly, the book was gifted to Ash as a token gesture, exclusively for the Bachchan family.

Salman's Pricey Big Kick: Rs. 75 crore!

Phew. Believe it or pass out, that's the figure that producer Sajid Nadiadwala is koolly demanding from Eros International if they wish to acquire his kick. Sorry, 'Kick'.

The Salman Sonakshi starrer, slated for mid year or Eid release next year, has already turned newsy, courtesy the whopping figure.

Eros frontlined both 'Veer' and 'Dabangg', and although the former didn't stand emerge a valiant winner at the cine stakes, the latter has amply compensated for it by turning out to be a bigger grosser than '3 Idiots'.

Producer Sajid Nadiadwala, steering clear of all controversy, states cautiously in a media quote, "I haven't spoken to Eros International as yet. We have yet to lock the script and work on our budget."

An insider close to Nadiadwala, however, squealed that the producer did demand Rs. 75 crore for 'Kick'.

Says the close source, "It's too early to quote a price of Rs. 75 crore for 'Kick.' One cannot judge what Salman Khan's market position will be next year. However, Salman has been very close to Eros and one is still considering the amount."

The World's Top Universities

Kurt Badenhausen, Forbes.com

The U.S. gets a lot of bad press for the failures of its education system, and some of the supporting data is frightening. A study by the Department of Education found that 30 million adults in the U.S. are functionally illiterate. Another Department of Ed report ranks the U.S. at 35 out of 57 countries for mathematics literacy among 15-year-olds.
But when it comes to higher education, no one on Earth does better than the U.S., according to a new study by Times Higher Education (THE), a London magazine that tracks the higher ed market. Its 2010-'11 annual World University Rankings is dominated by U.S. schools. They hold 72 places among the world's top 200, including all the top five. Great Britain is a distant second, with 29 universities making the cut.
In Pictures: The World's 20 Top Universities
In Pictures: The Top Universities In Europe
In Pictures: The Top Universities In Asia
In Pictures: How To Give A Great Speech
In Pictures: 10 Most Popular College Majors For Men
"Money talks," says THE's rankings editor, Phil Baty. He points out that the U.S. spends 3.1% of its gross domestic product on higher education, which is more than any other of the advanced nations in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and twice as much as the average. However, spending by the U.S. on primary and secondary education, as a percentage of GDP, is on par with most developed nations and lags behind Belgium, Denmark, Sweden and Britain.
THE's top-ranked school is Harvard University, which is the oldest U.S. institution of higher learning, having been established in 1636 (Harvard ranked No. 8 in Forbes' own annual ranking of colleges). Harvard finished first on THE's teaching component and also scored highly on the impact of its research, which is calculated by looking at the papers produced at each institution and counting the number of citations they get.
THE revamped its methodology this year, with reduced weightings for the subjective results of a reputation survey, and more than doubled the number of metrics in the ranking, from 6 to 13. THE says its goal is to measure the three main missions of a university: teaching, research and knowledge transfer (for complete details on the methodology, click here).
The ranking clearly favors big research institutions. "Research institutions are the key to the knowledge economy," Baty says. Thus, for example, six of the eight schools in the Ivy League rank in the top 20 overall, but Brown and Dartmouth, smaller Ivies with fewer postgrad programs, lag well behind, at 55 and 99, respectively. Brown fared poorly when it came to research citations. Dartmouth got dinged for its lack of diversity among students and faculty and low scores for research reputation.
Size wasn't an issue for California Institute of Technology, ranked No. 2. Enrollment at Caltech was only 2,130 last year, including both undergraduates and graduate students. Yet the school ranked first for citation impact (tied with MIT and Princeton, which ranked Nos. 3 and 5 overall). The school's focus on sciences and engineering attracts some of the brightest minds in the world. It counts 31 Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and faculty.
The big loser in this year's ranking is the United Kingdom. There are 29 U.K. schools on the list of 200, but whereas last year the U.K. had eight in the top 50 and three in the top five, the corresponding numbers this year are five and zero. "In previous years some [British] universities have been ranked higher thanks to heritage and reputation rather than academic excellence."
Baty says that is a "wake-up call" for higher education in the U.K. The government there plays a much bigger role funding higher education than the U.S., but it is contemplating cutting funding up to 30% as it deals with a budget shortfall. The top ranked U.K. schools are the University of Cambridge and University of Oxford, which tied for No. 6.
Other countries well represented in the top 200 include Germany, with 14 schools (although none in the top 40), the Netherlands with 10 (none in the top 100) and Canada with nine (the University of Toronto ranks No. 17 overall).
China leads Asian countries with six schools in the top 200 (Peking University ranks No. 37 overall). "Asians are taking higher education seriously and investing heavily," Baty says. South Korea has four schools on the list, headed by No. 28 Pohang University of Science and Technology. It spends 2.4% of its GDP on higher ed, third among OECD countries, behind only the U.S. and Canada. THE says that spending has put Korea's higher education system on par with Japan's, Hong Kong's and mainland China's.

Mumbai Indians crash out despite win over Bangalore

Durban: Mumbai Indians pulled off a sensational two runs win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in a crucial Group B match on Sunday but still got knocked out of the Champions League Twenty20 cricket tournament on net run rate.

Although Mumbai registered their second victory in the tournament, the Sachin Tendulkar-led side will have to pack their bags and return home as Bangalore and Highveld Lions have a better net run rate with one match still to go. Mumbai's prospect has also been marred by South Australia Redbacks, which has already booked their place in the last four stage from Group B with three out of three wins.

Although Mumbai have fours points, they ended their campaign with a net run rate of +0.22, while Bangalore (+0.85) and Lions (+0.72) are in a better position with still a game to go. Incidentally, the match between Bangalore and Lions have turned out to be a decider as whoever wins the encounter will progress to the semi-finals along with Redbacks.

In Sunday's Indian Premier League derby, Rahul Dravid's unbeaten 58-ball 71 and Virat Kohli's 24-ball 47 went in vain, as chasing a competitive 166, Bangalore managed 163 for five in their allotted 20 overs, thereby falling short by two runs. Needing 13 runs off last over, Kohli struck two fours off Zaheer Khan but in the end it was not enough to guide Bangalore home as he was caught in the final delivery by Ambati Rayudu.

Bangalore produced a disciplined bowling performance upfront before Saurabh Tiwary and Dwayne Bravo stitched a quickfire 64-run sixth wicket stand to take Mumbai past the 150-mark. In deep trouble, Tiwary (38 not out) and Bravo (29 off 23) came to Mumbai's rescue with the 64-run stand after the Sachin Tendulkar-led side were down 84 for five at one stage. The duo's pyrotechnics helped Mumbai piled up 65 runs off the last five overs.

Tiwary hit three fours and a six in his 30-ball unbeaten stay while Bravo decorated his innings with three boundaries and two sixes. For Mumbai opener Shikhar Dhawan top-scored with 41 off 37 balls which was studded with two fours and as many sixes. Dale Steyn was the pick of the bowlers for Bangalore with figures of three for 26.

Chasing the competitive total, Bangalore started on a positive note with Dravid and Kallis picking up 40 runs of the first five overs. Dravid was at his elegant best, picking up boundaries at ease with classical cricketing strokes while Kallis (15) complemented him well before debutant pacer Abu Nechim Ahmed caught the South African plumb in front of the wicket.

Bravo gave Mumbai more reasons to cheer in the next over when he had Robin Uthappa caught by Dhawan at deep square leg but not before the right-hander was dropped by JP Duminy in the previous delivery. The two quick wickets stemmed the run flow and resulted in the downfall of another batsman.

Needing 95 off 10 overs, the pressure seemed to have crept up on Ross Taylor (9) as he went for a huge heave over midwicket only to give a skier to Ambati Rayudu behind the stumps off Bravo. But Dravid was rock solid at the other hand as he brought up his fifty in 39 balls.

However with boundaries drying up, the pressure finally crept up on Bangalore batsmen as Cameron White departed cheaply, clean bowled by Harbhajan with a gem of an yorker. With 40 needed of last three overs, Virat Kohli closed the gap with a huge six off Nechim's first ball. But the right-arm pacer from Assam came back strongly to concede just six runs of the next five deliveries.

But just when it seemed that Bangalore were going out of the encounter, came in a brilliant Kohli who struck three consecutive fours off Lasith Malinga to reduce the equation to 13 off the last over. Kohli nearly pulled off the match for Bangalore, but a a clever Zaheer spoiled his heroics as the Bangalore outfit eventually fell short by just two runs.

Praveen Kumar gave a perfect start to the Bangalore innings with a maiden over. However, it did not take much time for the Mumbai Indians to get off the grove as Tendulkar (11) opened the scoring with an elegant pull to the mid-wicket fence off R Vinay Kumar. But the table turned around in the next two overs as Mumbai lost two crucial wickets within a span of four balls.

Tendulkar was the first to depart, nicking one to Robin Uthappa behind the stumps off Praveen and then Ambati Rayudu followed suit giving a regulation catch to Rahul Dravid at the first slip off Vinay Kumar in the next over. Mumbai went into a shell and found runs hard to come by as Praveen and Vinay Kumar dished out a tight opening spell.

And to add to Mumbai's agony, Jacques Kallis scripted countryman JP Duminy's downfall in his first over, caught at long by Dale Steyn as the left-hander went for a big shot. Dhawan hanged in there for 12 overs, scoring 41 off 37 balls before perishing in search of quick runs caught by Dravid at midwicket off Steyn.

If that was not enough, Anil Kumble's shrewd tactics of introducing Steyn late into the attack paid off as the right-arm pacer spelled the doom of big fish Keiron Pollard , caught at extra cover by Ross Taylor. For Mumbai Dwayne Bravo cut loose, hitting Kumble for back-to-back boundaries in the 15th over to somewhat up the tempo for the Tendulkar-led side.

Saurabh Tiwary followed his partner with a flat six off Steyn to finish off the 17th over in style. And then Bravo launched an all out attack on Kumble with two sixes and as many fours, including a bye, to pick up 22 runs off the next over. If that was not enough, Tiwary dispatched Steyn for consecutive fours to bring Mumbai closer to the 150-mark. But Steyn got his man in the form of Bravo, who was caught inside the circle by Virat Kohli as the West Indian went for a huge heave.

Harbhajan Singh opened his account in style, with a boundary to the third man fence and then the feisty spinner hit Kallis for two fours the the final over.