Lahore-Amritsar bus service soon; ONGC divestment process kicked off; Prices soar in Mumbai as truckers' strike continues; Chennai court dismisses petition seeking ban on; Advani's yatra; Congress rides high on 'starry' campaign; Bhopal farmers protest, demand rationalised power tariffs; Eunuchs racket busted; 11th Guwahati International Trade Fair; Agartala Book Fair; Guwahati film awards; It's Indian batters Vs Pak bowlers: Ponting; Record 28 cameras to cover Pak-India series; Fast bowler Rao in Pak one-day squad against India; Ash may have to get bold for Hollywood!; Rowling wants to give Potter a change-over!; Willis to 'give away' Demi Moore to Kutcher!; Atomic Kitten's just taking a break and not splitting!; Disney dumps Janet Jackson's Mickey Mouse!; Daryl Hannah is dying to have babies!; Brits spend 9 billion pounds on puddings in a year!; Sarah Jessica Parker swaps acting for writing!; News from India; News for Tourists and Travellers; India Travel Times;India News Times; Indian News; Travel News; Travel; Tourism

Lahore: Pakistan and India have finally agreed to start a new direct bus service between Lahore and Amritsar to facilitate Sikh pilgrims. "This move is being seen as a confidence-building measure and yet another effort to increase people-to-people contacts," a senior officer was quoted by the News, as saying. Currently, residents of east Punjab and other states have to travel to Delhi to catch the bus to cross the Wagah border into Lahore.

Indian and Pakistani officials will meet next week to discuss a cross-border bus service between Khokhrapar in Rajasthan and Munnabao in Sindh. Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna disclosed this on Thursday. He said the two-day technical-level talks on the bus service would start on March 9 in Islamabad. Also, top officials of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers will meet in Lahore from March 24 to resume talks after more than two years.

New Delhi/ Mumbai: Minister for Disinvestment on Friday said that the successful sale of the shares of energy firm Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) was a result of the comprehensive policy of the Centre. "These results show what can be accomplished when all work together. Second, when we cut out unnecessary protracted procedures and when we are vigilant and react swiftly," Arun Shourie told a news conference here. The country's sale of a 10 percent stake in energy firm for two billion dollars, its largest ever, got a warm reception on Friday ending weeks of unease about big government sales flooding the stock market. The sale of around 143 million shares in ONGC was fully subscribed in the first 11 minutes of the offer on Friday morning. The latest data showed there were bids for 1.94 times as many shares by late afternoon. A price range for the ONGC share sale was set at Rs. 680-750. The BSE website showed that bids for 277 million shares had been received by 1:55 p.m. local time.

Mumbai: Prices of essential commodities here have begun to spiral up after nearly 70,000 trucks went off the roads for the second day on Friday. The transporters are protesting a recent court order to phase out old vehicles. Consumers and vegetable vendors are the worst-hit. Kalpana Pawar, a resident, complained that prices of vegetables were going through the roof and taxis were charging exhorbitant prices. Raju, a vegetable vendor, said, "We are finding it difficult to bring our goods. Taxis are asking for double the fares than the usual. People are also reluctant to buy such expensive vegetables."

Nearly 270 transporters unions are participating in the strike. The Bombay High court had ordered vehicles more than 15 years to stop plying or change over to cleaner fuel, but on Wednesday allowed transporters time till March 31, 2005 to ensure their vehicles are CNG (compressed natural gas) compliant. Truckers want the government to either provide them with CNG kits, or allow the trucks to continue running on diesel. Transporters, who want to get their vehicles converted to CNG, will have to apply by June 30 this year with authorised dealers, otherwise their vehicles will be phased out. More than 23,000 vehicles are yet to get converted to CNG.

Chennai: A district court on Friday dismissed a petition seeking a ban on Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani's much-hyped chariot ride across the country, to highlight the achievements of his ruling coalition. Advani will kick off his yatra from Kanyakumari on March 10 and crisscross the country in a trip that will end in Orissa in the east on April 14. The ruling BJP-led coalition opted for early polls, more than six months ahead of schedule, to take advantage of a booming economy, peace with Pakistan and gains in recent state polls. The verdict came a day after the Election Commission gave a green signal to the massive campaign, dismissing opposition pleas that the ride would be a violation of model code of conduct.

New Delhi: A battery of Hindi film beauties on Friday pledged support to Congress party, adding colour to the party's so far `lacklustre' campaign. Former beauty queen Zeenat Amaan led the current heartthrobs of Celina Jaitley and Namrata Shirodkar in endorsing the Congress' ideology. Besides, character actors Asrani and Sharad Kapoor were also present on the occasion. Latest opinion polls predict that the party would win just 103 seats, an all-time low, although a stronger showing by its allies would lift the Opposition coalition to 159-169 seats from 140 now.

Bhopal: Thousands of farmers held a demonstration outside the office of Madhya Pradesh Power Regulatory Commission here on Friday demanding rationalisation in power tariffs. They were also demanding regular power supply. The farmers were joined by several social activists. Most of the farmers depend on bore-wells and electric pumps to irrigate their lands, but the power-starved state has been supplying electricity for not more than six hours a day. The farmers said the state government's decision to waive subsidies while simultaneously increasing power tariffs had hit the farmers badly.

Nawashahar (Punjab): The local police claimd to have busted a gang of eunuchs who allegedly kidnapped young boys and forcibly castrated them to make them eunuchs. Police said the ten-member gang of mainly ageing eunuchs picked up boys from remote places with the help of local goons. "We conducted an inquiry and found out...we have filed a case that they are running a vicious racket. When they get old then they kidnap these young boys and then castrate them forcing them to earn money for them," M.F. Farooqi, Senior Superintendent of Police, said. Guru Iqbal Singh, one of the rescued boys said he had been sold across many gangs. "They sold me for 200,000 rupees. We came to this place and these eunuchs are also fake," Singh said. The teenagers are forced to dress up and behave in typical Traditionally, eunuchs earn a living by collecting cash "gifts" on auspicious occasions. Groups of heavily made-up hijras in colourful saris often gatecrash wedding parties and leave only after receiving generous cash donations. While many such gangs operate across the country, few kidnappings are reported, as the castrated boys are rarely accepted back by their families.

Guwahati: The 11th International Trade Fair, which commenced last week here, proved as a great opportunity for the business community in the North East. The 14-day long fair saw the participation of six Asian countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Thailand, Vietnam and Nepal, with Vietnam and Nepal participating for the first time. Though the annual Trade Fair in Guwahati began in 1994, it was only four years back that the organisers got permission to go international by the Indian Trade Commerce Organisation.

Agartala: The ongoing 22nd Book Fair being held here has been attracting many book lovers. More than 150 publishers from Tripura, Kolkata, and Mizoram are participating in the fair. The month-long event would end on the 22nd of this month.

Guwahati: Though not comparable to mainstream Hindi cinema, there was enough glamour and glitz at the `Prag' Cine Awards in Guwahati. Organised for the first time, these awards have been instituted to recognise good work in Assamese films. Films in Assamese language have of late done well.

Colombo: A strong Indian batting line up Vs a lethal Pakistani bowling attack will be one tremendous cricket series to watch, says Australian captain Ricky Ponting. "India have a fantastic batting line-up as they showed everyone when they came to Australia and one can say they have an edge over Pakistan in that department. Things even out, as Pakistan is a better bowling side. It will be Indian batting versus Pakistani bowling," Ponting was quoted by The News as telling an Indian cricket web site. "A great batsman against a very quick bowler always makes a great challenge. Tendulkar, we all know what a batter he is and when Akhtar gets into a rhythm, he can be very dangerous," he added.

"But Pakistanis have to compete against VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid as well. These guys are in fantastic form, especially Laxman who can be devastating. It will require a special effort from Pakistani bowlers," Ponting said. When asked to pick his favourites, he said: "Now that's a tight one. As I said, it's between Indian batters and Pakistani bowlers. The Indians under (Sourav) Ganguly and (John) Wright are becoming a very good team overseas and the Pakistanis are formidable at home. Both the teams are in good form with Pakistanis winning the Test series in New Zealand." "It will be a tremendous contest and I can imagine the excitement," he concluded.

Karachi: World Cup 1996 and 2003 has been left far behind as far as camera work and television coverage is concerned. If PCB sources are to be believed, 28 cameras, if not more, will be positioned at each match venue of the Pakistan-India one-day and Test series that begins on March 13 and ends on April 17. Millions of global cricket viewers are in for a treat as the News has learnt that the television right holders of the coming series, the Dubai-based Ten Sports channel, have been cleared to fly in a team of 75 producers, commentators and technicians with a total of 28 cameras. Only 18 cameras were used for covering Pakistan's series against South Africa.

It is learnt that the series producers are also going to use the Hawkeye technology for the first time in Pakistan and spin vision, software programmes which involve the viewer in judging on contentious leg before dismissals and watching with a zoomer the revolutions on the ball. To keep the interest of the viewers alive the producers are also installing speed cameras to record the speed of every ball some, which has become common nowadays in international cricket coverage.

The 28 cameras being used for the coverage would also give the television umpire and the match referee a very close look from different angles on contentious decisions or decisions referred to them by the field umpires. The Pakistan cricket board is being paid a guarantee sum of 13.3 million dollars for the television rights of the series. Former greats like Imran Khan, Ian Chappell, Ian Healy, Dean Jones, Sanjay Manjrekar will be joined by Navjot Singh Sidhu, Waqar Younis and Ramiz Raja in the commentator's box and studios in the coverage of the series.

Lahore: Pakistan on Friday unveiled a "surprise" fast bowler Iftikhar Rao and recalled two top players against India, veteran off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and all-rounder Shahid Afridi, to play the Indian team in the first two one-day internationals starting next week. Names of Pakistan team players for initial two one-day matches - played on 13th March in Karachi and on 16th March in Rawalpindi - in the series against India has been announced. The team comprises of Imran Farhat, Yasir Hamid, Yousuf Yohanna, Inzamam ul Haq, Shahid Afridi, Misbah ul Haq, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Moin Khan, Shoaib Akhter, Muhammad Sami, Younus Khan, Shabbir Ahmed, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Rana Naveed ul Hasan and Saqlain Mushtaq.

Chief Selector Wasim Bari talking with TV channel said that inclusion of Saqlain Mushtaq is due to his previous record whereas Rao Iftkhar, Misbah-ul-Haq and Rana Naveed Latif have been selected for their good performance in domestic cricket season. Team for the side match against India on 11th of March in Lahore also announced in which Tuafeeq Umer will lead the side and other players will be Imran Nazir, Faisal Khan, Bazyad Khan, Nauman ullah , Kamran Akmal, Yasir Arfat, Junaid Zia, Umer Gul , Zahid Saeed, Muhammad Khalil, Ashar Zaidi and Qaiser Abbas. Wasim Bari added that the team for remaining three one-days will be announced following the Rawalpindi match, he added.

Bottomlines

Ash may have to get bold for Hollywood! (Go To Top)

Mumbai: Aishwarya Rai, who is known in Bollywood for avoiding explicit or wearing skimpy clothes might just do that for her international films. Aishwarya's Hollywood projects include Roland Joffe's 'Singularity' opposite 'The Mummy' star Brandon Fraser, French director Colin Seraou's 'Chaos' alongside Meryl Streep and Hollywood production 'Mr. Surprises' with Jude Law, Keanu Reeves or Billy Crudup in the lead role. However, Aishwarya's international manager Simone Sheffield has ruled out the possibility of the 'Devdas' beauty giving sexually explicit scenes or wearing skimpy outfits in her international projects. He said that the actress was not particularly averse to a kiss on screen provided it was need of the role and was not just for the heck of it. That verily sounds like the Aishwarya we know but then Hollywood films don't run on running around trees and shaking roses with the bees buzzing around!

Rowling wants to give Potter a change-over! (Go To Top)

London: JK Rowling feels that there is room for change in her creative genius! According to a report in the Sun, the British author has revealed that she wants to re-write her series of Harry Potter books. "There are loads of things I would change. I don't think any writer is completely happy with what they've written," Rowling said. Apparently, the 38-year old millionairess is all set to complete the task once she has finished the seventh book about the schoolboy wizard and also hinted that she could spin yarns with Harry as an adult. "I'll never say never because every time I do I immediately break the vow," the single mother said.

Willis to 'give away' Demi Moore to Kutcher! (Go To Top)

Washington: Hollywood couple Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher have reportedly agreed on an unlikely best man for their proposed wedding - the 'Ghost' actress' ex-husband Bruce Willis. The 'Just Married' star had struck up a close friendship with the 'The Sixth Sense' actor early on in his romance with Demi. In fact the celebrity couple feel that Willis is the perfect candidate for the special role in their wedding. Demi who has three children with Willis has frequently attended public functions with her toyboy lover, her family and her ex- husband, according to a report in ratethemusic. "Ashton has gone with Demi, Bruce and the children on many trips and they're all getting along so well. The couple feel he would be the obvious person to do them the honour of being best man at their wedding," disclosed a close friend.

Atomic Kitten's just taking a break and not splitting! (Go To Top)

Sydney: British pop trio Atomic Kitten have put aside rumours that they hate each other and have assured fans that they are not splitting permanently. Showbiz media sparked rumours of a split early this year when the three-some declared that they would take a break. The decision to take a break was made after Natasha Hamilton cited pressures of stardom, which meant she was unable to devote enough time to her young son, Josh. The other two band members, Jenny Frost and Liz McClarnon, are considering solo careers. "The decision to take a break only came about literally weeks ago so it is not like we have been thinking. I will write some solo songs myself just in case we take a break," Frost was quoted as saying by an Australian agency report. But Liz revealed that the group had been offered a number of individual projects. "We have been offered lots (as solo artists) so we are just going to assess everything and I guess we would probably rather stay with the music side of the business," McClarnon said. The girls have denied rumours they do not get along with each other. The group's 'Greatest Hits' album and DVD will soon hit the market.

Disney dumps Janet Jackson's Mickey Mouse! (Go To Top)

New York: Her Super Bowl gaffe seems to have affected Janet Jackson's image drastically, with Disney removing a statue of Mickey Mouse inspired by the singer. Janet was one of a host of celebrities asked to help design and personalise a six-ft statue to mark the cartoon character's 75th birthday last year. "Considering all the controversy it drew, we talked it over for a couple of days and decided it would be best to replace hers with a new one", Ananova quoted Gary Foster, Disney spokesman, as saying.

Daryl Hannah is dying to have babies! (Go To Top)

London: If there's one thing that celebrated actress Daryl Hannah feels a strong void for, it is the absence of kids in her life. According to a report in the Mirror, the beautiful actress with a meteoric career graph deeply regrets not having children. And in spite of her age, the 43-year old "Kill Bill" star has vowed to start a family. "I will definitely have them, even if I don't find a life partner. I would like my own, if I can, and I would definitely adopt," Daryl said, in a candid interview. "There are plenty of children who don't have any love in their lives, and I'll take them in because at least they'll have me. But I'm hoping to find a relationship because I think it's better for kids to have two people." Daryl is optimistic about having kids aroud as she believes it will help ease her own loneliness because she has been unable to hold down a long-term relationship. "So far it hasn't been my luck to find the right person for me, a life partner. But that is something I've always wanted and continue to want. Hopefully I will find him before my number comes up," she said. She had a tempestuous ten-year romance with singer Jackson Browne before dating the late John F Kennedy Jr. Then there were short- lived liaisons with magician David Blaine and temperamental actor Val Kilmer.

Brits spend 9 billion pounds on puddings in a year! (Go To Top)

London: A poll has revealed that British people spend a staggering 9 billion pounds a year on ready-made puddings. And the reason why most English people spend money on buying ready-made sweets is because they are too lazy to make their own, says a report in the Sun. The survey found that 40 per cent of 4,000 shoppers polled admitted that they buy desserts because they are clueless in the kitchen. The pudding list has apple crumble on the top, followed by chocolate fudge cake, ice cream, cheesecake and apple pie. 'Kwik Save', which carried out the survey, said, "Brits love their puds. It's great to see traditional crumble on top."

Sarah Jessica Parker swaps acting for writing! (Go To Top)

New York: It seems that her journalist character Carrie Bradshaw in the famous sitcom "Sex And The City" has influenced her a hell of a lot. As a result, Sarah Jessica Parker is now swapping acting for writing. According to a report in IMDb, the 38-year-old actress has just recently finished the last ever episode of the American TV series and has already started penning her first novel. "I've written about half of it already and I'm looking for a publisher who will take it. The basic story is about an over-the- hill TV actress who gets a shot at a comeback, but lies about everything from her age to her acting credentials. Then, one by one, they all come out", she said. And sensational Sarah has even bigger plans, she added, "I would like to write full-time, but who knows what the future holds? It would be fun to turn this book into a movie, too."