Priyanka, Salman, Katy Perry to perform at IPL opening!

By Hindustan Times

The much-awaited opening ceremony of the fifth season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be a grand spectacle, as international pop star Katy Perry will perform on the big night.

Apart from the American singer, Bollywood biggies Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra and Amitabh Bachchan, along with southern superstar Prabhu Deva — who is choreographing his own act — will also deliver power-packed acts at the event, to be held on April 3 at Chennai’s YMCA College of Physical Education.

“We look forward to Ms Perry’s participation at the IPL 2012 Opening Nite. A performer of her calibre makes the occasion even more special for the players, organisers and fans,” says IPL Chairman, Rajeev Shukla, adding: “This year’s ceremony will be something that’s never been seen before in IPL.”

Others who’ll be performing are Colonial Cousins — the band formed by singer Hariharan and singer-composer Leslie Lewis, and international artist Ravi Drums. “It will be a two-hour event. Shiamak Davar is putting together the show, and Mudassar Khan will choreograph Salman’s performance,” reveals Sabbas Joseph of Wizcraft, the company that is managing the event. Contrary to reports, Big B is not hosting the event.

Cricket feast in the Capital

IPL fever will soon sweep the Capital as city restaurants prepare to lure sport fans with special menus and mocktails named after the field heroes:

Mahi Platter @ Rs 495
Named after Captain Dhoni is a fish platter at Spasso, Saket. Also, there’s Bhajji Balls and Sehwag Special with beer

Tandoor se Bhajji @ Rs 425
If you walk in sporting cricket merchandise at 1 Boulevard, Saket, you get treated to complimentary dishes such as Tandoor Se Bhajji and Sachin Fish curry

Zaheer Khan Seekh @ Rs 250
Get Zaheer Khan Seekh (Rs 250) and Dhoni Burger (Rs 250) with Knock Out, Master Blaster pitchers at Rs 750 at 1440-The 24 hour Lounge & Café at Hotel Vikram, Lajpat Nagar

Virat Strong @ Rs 450
‘Incredible Peelao League’ (IPL) at Out of the Box in Khan Market offers cocktails such as Virat Strong and Sachin King.

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WATCH: John Abraham turns item boy!

Foxy Kangana Ranaut at an event!

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China test its J-10 fighters near borders with India

Beijing:  China has conducted a massive military exercise in the high altitude Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, close to the disputed borders with India, during which it has for the first time tested the multi-role J-10 fighter jets.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force have conducted ground attack training over the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the "first operation of its kind", official media here reported.

According to a report and photos released by PLA Daily yesterday, the ground crew of J-10 regiment fuelled the fighters and loaded ammunition on the 3,500-meter-high plateau at temperatures below -20 C.

The fighters scrambled and attacked the targets with conventional as well as laser-guided bombs. Sorties were made both during the day and at night, the report said.

It was the second time that the official media released photos of the home made J-10 fighter using laser-guided bombs.

The exercises were highlighted today by another official daily - The Global Times.

The rare display of the news about exercises was seen as a message to the Indian side, which is also beefing up its border regions along the Line of Actual Control, (LAC) by deploying its top end fighter aircraft.

The J-10, which was also being sold to Pakistan, took part in exercises in October last year conducted by PLA incorporating air forces and air defence units as well as armour and artillery units in Tibet Autonomous Region.

"The J-10 fighter was initially designed as an air superiority fighter, focusing on air combat and interception capability.

"But with modern sensors, avionics and land attack munitions, it can also perform well in ground attack roles,"

Bai Wei, former deputy chief editor of Aviation World Monthly told the state run Global Times.
The J-10's activities on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau have been relatively frequent in the past months, the newspaper said.

"Operations on the plateau are a routine for the air force. The main obstacles for plateau operation are thin air, complicated weather conditions faced by ground crews and low oxygen density, which makes igniting the engines much harder," Bai noted.

The J-10 fighters made their first flight during the Chinese Lunar New Year on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in January this year with a typical air combat patrol payload, namely two mid-range air-to-air missiles, two short-range air-to-air missiles, and three external fuel tanks.

The J-10's primary air combat weapon, the active radar homing mid-range missile dubbed as the PL-12, is a fourth generation radar-homing air-to-air missile, the daily said.

It is generally comparable to the US AIM-120 missile, which has a good service record in past air combat missions, Daniel Tong, a Chinese military observer and founder of the website Chinese Military Aviation said.

The Chengdu J-10 fighter made its official debut in 2006.

The aircraft has been delivered to the air force in large quantities along with the Shengyang J-11 two-engine heavy fighter, Tong said.

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Nargis on moving-in with Shahid

By Hindustan Times

Are Nargis Fakhri and Shahid Kapoor romantically linked? Mid Day has reported that Shahid Kapoor, 31 and Nargis Fakhri, 32 have moved-in together. This isn't the first time that a tabloid has speculated about their relationship status. Rumour mills have been suggesting that the two are finding each other's company comforting.

The Rockstar actor decided enough is enough. Today she took to the social-networking site Twitter to clear the air. She tweeted: "I'm amazed at how the papers seem2know more about my life than me! N none of it is even true.i woke up this mornin SHOCKED! (sic)"

The rumour took root when Nargis was spotted at Shahid's Versova residence way too often. "Two weeks ago, Nargis stayed over at his place for five to six days. It appears the duo have become more and more familiar and comfortable with each other," a source told Mid Day.

The Kingfisher model apparently even introduced her special friend to her mother. "In fact when Nargis' mother flew in from abroad, she, too, made it a point to visit Shahid. So one can gauge how close Sasha is to Nargis that her folks too have been dropping in at his place," the tabloid quoted the source as saying.

The two were first romantically linked when Nargis specially went to Goa for Shahid's four-day birthday bash. They also performed at an award function together. "They casually met but grew fond of each other leading to the buzz that they were an item. Now it appears that romance is blooming but they prefer to be guarded about their feelings for each other," the source disclosed to the tabloid.

Romantic history
After his break-up with Kareena Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor was linked to his Kismat Konnection co-star Vidya Balan. The actor was in a rumoured relationship with Priyanka Chopra. VJ Bani, Sania Mirza and Anushka Sharma were some other names that did the rounds.

Nargis Fakhri was reportedly dating her Rockstar co-star Ranbir Kapoor. But the romance apparently didn't last long. She was also linked to Shayan Munshi.

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Massive fire at Kolkata's Hatibagan market destroys many shops

Kolkata:  A massive fire broke out at north Kolkata's Hatibagan market at around 2:30 am today. It took 32 fire engines over five hours to bring it completely under control.

According to reports, many shops were gutted in the fire. However, there were no injuries or casualties. (See pictures here)

Hatibagan market is one of the oldest and most-congested markets in the city. It houses close to 1000 shops and godowns. It is located near a residential area and hence there were fears that the fire could spread to nearby houses.

"The market is constructed in an unplanned way. Local people helped us in bringing the fire under control," a fireman said.

An eyewitness present at the site added, "For several years, there was speculation that a fire may break out in Hatibagan. But no preventive measures were taken."

Fire Services Minister Javed Khan, who rushed to the spot, said a probe has been initiated to determine the cause of the fire.

Top police officials, including Commissioner of Kolkata Police R K Pachnanda and Deputy Commissioner (North) Vishal Garg, also reached the site.

This is the third major fire incident in Bengal in the last two days. Yesterday, at least four people were injured in fire at two hospitals.

In December last year, a pre-dawn blaze at Kolkata's AMRI hospital left over 90 people dead. Most of them were patients who choked to death due to toxic smoke.

In another major fire incident in the city in March 2010, at least 24 people were killed in a devastating fire that swept through a 150-year-old multi-storeyed building in upscale Park Street.

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