Kalmadi denies corruption charges, takes on Indian High Comission in London

Suresh Kalmadi, the chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, has dragged the Indian High Commission in London into the Commonwealth Games corruption controversy by saying a verbal agreement involving payments of two lakh pounds to AM Films, a little known company in London, was decided after the High commission recommended the firm.

The UK government is probing irregularities in this business deal and has raised questions about why there was no written contract.

Speaking exclusively to NDTV's Barkha Dutt, Kalmadi said, "It was the Indian High Commission's letter that recommended Ashish Patel's firm to us and the total money paid to the firm is two lakh pounds."

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/cwg-corruption-kalmadi-says-every-paisa-accounted-for-41161?cp

The Indian High Commission has denied Kamladi's saying they did not recommend AM films.

"This company AM films limited, was not on the panel of companies that the High Commission recommended by the High Commission. Raju Sebastian is an assistant in the High Commission of India, not in a position to make such a recommendation but for the HCI (High Commission of India) to make any such statement, we need to scrutinise the email held up by Suresh Kalmadi," the Indian High Commission said in a statement.

"We don't know the contents of the email, which email address it was sent to, whether it is genuine or not," the statement also read.

Earlier in the day, addressing a press conference on the Commonwealth corruption issue, Kalmadi rubbished claims that 25,000 pounds were being paid to the UK-based firm each month. The CWG boss also showed mediapersons a letter in which the firm had been recommended by the Indian High Commission in London.

Kalmadi said he was "pained by the baseless charges of corruption" and that "every paisa spent on the Commonwealth Games was accounted for."

At the centre of the corruption charges, a letter written by Deputy High Commissioner of India in London, Rajesh N Prasad, to the Sports Ministry about allegations of corruption made by the UK government, which says that 25,000 pounds sent from the CWG in India to a company, AM films, in UK, is unaccounted for.

When asked him why the CWG didn't enter in any contract with the firm, Kalmadi said, "There was no written contract with Patel's firm as the decision was taken at the last minute. We had to get logistics for London in a hurry, so there was no time for tender."

Mr Kalmadi, who maintains that the Games will be word class when they are held in New Delhi in weeks from now, also said that foreign nations are satisfied with the security preparations which have been made.

'DELHI GOVT, SPORTS MINISTRY MUST ANSWER CVC'

As corruption allegations mount against the organisers of the commonwealth games, Kalmadi says the Delhi government and the sports ministry have to answer for many of the allegations raised by the Central Vigilance Commission. "The report of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) on corruption charges has nothing to do with the Organising Panel. The Sports Ministry and the Delhi government have to answer the report."

CVC report has asked the CBI to register a corruption case against certain MCD officials in connection with irregularities in a tender issued for a Commonwealth Games project worth several crores.

The CVC has found serious discrepancies like award of works at higher rates to bidders, poor quality of construction and grant of work to ineligible agencies in different Games-related construction works being carried out by various departments in the capital.

As per the assessment report prepared by the CVC's Chief Technical Examination Wing, large-scale procedural violations, including corruption, have been noticed in 16 projects.

The cost of the projects has been estimated to be about Rs 2,000 crore.

Mr Kalmadi said today said, "The CVC report is on inferior quality of work at the venues. We are now in a time when we have to take over venues. So before that we will ask for all approvals and clearances."

Meanwhile, the opposition BJP says the 2010 corruption scam must be thoroughly probed. BJP General Secretary Vijay Goel said, "The BJP demands a judicial probe into the CWG scam."

With controversies dogging Commonwealth Games, a "worried" Congress today said any irregularity should be probed into and the organisers as well as others involved should ensure that the country's prestige does not suffer.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/cwg-corruption-kalmadi-says-every-paisa-accounted-for-41161?cp

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/cwg-corruption-kalmadi-says-every-paisa-accounted-for-41161?cp

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/cwg-corruption-kalmadi-says-every-paisa-accounted-for-41161?cp

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/cwg-corruption-kalmadi-says-every-paisa-accounted-for-41161?cp

Millionaire in beggars' home

He had stepped out of home to go to the bank. Instead, he landed in a home for beggars, thanks to the unnecessary and extra concern shown by a policeman.

Colaba resident Robert D'souza (62), who is visually challenged, was picked up by a police constable in the first week of this month and, much against D'souza's wishes, taken to the Beggars' Home in Chembur.

The beggars' home is, as its name suggests, a charitable home that takes cares of mendicants.

"That morning, I was passing by Cusrow Baug in Colaba, to go Central Bank's Fort branch. I am blind and also have a wound," said D'souza.
"With a walking stick for support, I was requesting passers-by to help me to the bus stop when a sturdy hand grabbed me by the arm and dragged into a waiting vehicle."

D'souza said no questions were asked and before he knew it he was taken to the home for beggars. "How right is it on the part of the police to do such a thing?" he asks staring into nothingness.

This is the second such case of a man who is not a beggar but is being forced to live in a beggars' home.

D'souza, a bachelor, has since been moved out of the home for beggars and has now been shifted to a home for dying destitute persons at Tagore Nagar in Vikhroli.

"Life at the beggars' home was a nightmare. We were treated worse than prisoners and the food served was not meant for human beings," D'souza told MiD DAY.

"We were served half-cooked rice, a watery dal and boiled brinjal for lunch and dinner."

This was in sharp contrast to the daily diet regimen that this former employee of a multinational firm was used to in the comforts of his home.

"My daily diet comprised a chocolate-flavoured milk drink, sweet corn soup and bread."

D'souza is annoyed at the constable who mistook him for a beggar and took him to the charity home.

Life was always a bed of roses for D'souza till his mother, Mariya, passed away 17 years ago.

"She used to let out part of their 1,200-sq-ft apartment to paying guests, some of who included foreigners," said D'souza who lost his father when he was very young. He has no siblings.

After his mother's death, life was never the same. "I had developed cataract in both eyes.

During the surgery, I developed complications to the retina, which caused complete loss of vision," said D'souza. "Soon after losing my vision, I also lost my job."

As if the cruel blow that fate dealt him were not enough, there was more in store. D'souza said he was cheated of his home by people who took advantage of his blindness.

"I wanted to dispose of my property in 1993. I was offered Rs 14 lakh for the apartment but I thought I could get more," recalled D'souza.

I was introduced to one Kulbhushan Malik who agreed to pay Rs 20 lakh besides free treatment at a hospital in Chennai to help restore my vision."

D'souza said that Malik made him sign some documents, only to learn later that he had been taken for a ride. "Not only did I lose the house, the money was not paid either."

"I should have struck the first deal and taken Rs 14 lakh, but greed got the better of me," D'souza said, a tinge of regret in his voice.

After lodging a police complaint against Malik, D'souza said the fraudster was arrested. The legal matter is, however, pending in court.

Besides, a locker which his mother operated at Bank of India's Fountain branch still lies untouched.

"My mother had kept gold ornaments, some foreign currency and rent receipts in the locker," he recalled. "Surely, the valuables might run into a few lakhs of rupees."

Safely ensconced at the Home for Dying Destitutes at Vikhroli, D'souza is scared to venture out alone on the streets.

"I do not want to be hauled by another policeman and taken to the beggars' home again. I'm a free human being and want to be like that," he said.

"FROM D'souza's speech and demeanour, I figured he is not a beggar. So, I contacted the destitute home myself," said Superintendent of Beggars' Home Gautam Arwel.

About the quality of food served at the home, he said, "We cook from what the government supplies to us and cannot do anything about it."

"I have no clue about this particular incident. I will have to enquire before making any comment," said Assistant Commissioner of Police (Colaba division) Iqbal Shaikh.

About the criteria they look for when they pick up a 'beggar', Shaikh said, "We take action only against those who are spotted begging, in keeping with the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act 1959.

"D'souza seems to be from a decent family and he told me all about his past," said Brother Peter Paul (53), who heads the destitute home in Vikhroli and has worked closely with Mother Teresa's Home in Kolkata. "He is free to stay with us for as long as he wants to."

Presently the home for destitute people houses over 30 in the hospital. We provide them basic needs and once they die, we conduct the funeral, as per their religion.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/millionaire-in-beggars-home-41190?cp

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/millionaire-in-beggars-home-41190?cp

While the recent controversy surrounding Rahul Mahajan and his wife Dimpy Ganguly is being settled down, Rahul's former girlfriend Payal Rohtagi has a

A Tata Motors team visited Dharwad district on Sunday to inspect the land offered by the Karnataka government for relocating the Nano small car project from Singur in West Bengal.

Ahead of the site visit, Tata Motors managing director G Ravi Kant and senior officials of the company met Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa to discuss the slew of promises by the state government for setting up the Nano plant.

Tata Motors wants 1,000 acres of land for Nano as it is an integrated project. Karnataka has agreed to provide the land and other facilities.

The Tata group already has around 900 acres of land in Dharwad, 420 km north west of Bangalore. The group has been manufacturing earth-moving equipment since 1999 and is setting up a plant for luxury buses there.

Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani, who was also in Dharwad on Sunday to meet the Tata Motors team, has said the government has 500 acres with it. Finding another 500 acres in the area was not a problem, he added.

Tata group chairman Ratan Tata announced on Friday in Kolkata that the Nano plant in Singur was being shut in view of the continuing agitation against it over land acquisition.

Soon thereafter, Yeddyurappa telephoned Tata and invited him to Bangalore to take forward the state's offer of land and other facilities for relocating the plant in Dharwad.

Ravi Kant had met Yeddyurappa in Bangalore last month when the offer was reiterated.

Payal Rohtagi says Rahul Mahajan hit her Twice

While the recent controversy surrounding Rahul Mahajan and his wife Dimpy Ganguly is being settled down, Rahul's former girlfriend Payal Rohtagi has alleged that Rahul had beaten him twice in the past.

Rahul's relationship with his first wife Shweta Singh was broken because of domestic violence. Just two days ago, Dimpy had left Rahul's home, alleging domestic abuse and beating. She later returned home after Rahul Mahajan apologised.

According to Payal Rohtagi, Rahul not only hit him twice, but also banged her head against the door once. "Rahul completely loses his mind, when he is angry", she said.

Rahul Mahajan and Dimpy Ganguly got married on NDTV Imagine's "Rahul Dulhaniya Le Jayega". However, they find it difficult to handle the relationship now.

According to some latest reports, NDTV Imagine may decide to scrap the Swayambar Reality Show - Season 3 because of these controversy. During the first season on 'Rakhi Ka Swayamvar', Rakhi got engaged to Elesh Parujanwala, but the engagement was later broken. The Rakhi-Elesh and Rahul-Dimpy episode have forced the NDTV Imagine bosses to rethink on their strategy.

Life crippled as heavy downpour lashed capital

Heavy downpour has lashed the capital and NCR on Saturday even as traffic was thrown out of gear due to severe water-logging in various parts of the city.

Various busy intersections like ITO, Minto Bridge, Nizamuddin Bridge, Dhaula Kuan, Ajadpur Sabji mandi, IIT, Hauz Khas and industrial areas like Okhla and Peeragarhi reported endless traffic snarls. This is despite the fact that today being a weekend many offices and educations institutions are closed.

Accordding to reports, vehicular movement came to a virtual halt as motorists were stuck in serpentine jams at almost all the arterial roads across the capital following rains that led to waterlogging and breakdown in traffic signals.

Massive traffic jams were reported from ITO, Dhaula Kuan, Ring Road, India Gate, South Extension, Moolchand, Ashram Chowk and several areas in East and North Delhi.

Traffic snarls took place at several places due to breakdown of vehicles on the roads also."It took me two hours to reach Saket from ITO. Usually it takes just 45 minutes to one hour" said Maanish, a businessman.

Several autos, heavy vehicles like trucks and cars were stranded on the roads due to heavy water-logging. "The travel time from AIIMS to Hauzkhas is just few minutes on the usual day but today it took over an hour to cover the distance," Sarita, a business executive with a private firm said.

Indian celebs in MMS scandals

Sex tapes no longer generate a high degree of interest, given the deluge of such content on the internet. Unless, of course, there is a celebrity involved. We take a look at some of the most discussed celebrity sex videos, latest celeb to have been caught in it is none other than Katrina Kaif. (many of them later turned out to be fakes).



A few months after her sister Isabel was embroiled in a sex tape controversy, which was being circulated in her name but actually featured a look-a-like, Katrina Kaif is now the target of a similar online craze. Not surprisingly, Katrina has issued a denial.

Porn sites and forums have been going gaga over the clip, featuring a Katrina look-a-like. The clip has been tagged Katrina Kaif sex scandal in a bid to garner most hits. It has reached the download limit on a couple of portals.

Despite the fact that the girl is clearly not Kat, an online debate is on to discuss the authenticity of the clip.

"It's unfair!" says a source close to Katrina, "People circulate videos and stories in her name to generate interest, debate and publicity. Every fair-skinned girl doesn't have to be Katrina or her lookalike! She finds it unfair that she's mostly made the target for such bizarre speculations."

Emraan Hashmi and his women

Emraan Hashmi is in news again. This time not just for his portrayal of an underworld don in the movie Once Upon a Time in Mumbai, but also for the intimate scenes he has shot with his leading lady Prachi Desai. We take a look at the serial kisser and his hot heroines...

French woman admits to suffocating her 8 newborns

A French woman who admitted suffocating eight of her newborns and concealing their corpses in the garden and garage of her home has been charged with manslaughter, a prosecutor said Thursday.

Dominique Cottrez, a 46-year-old nurse's aide with two grown daughters, said that after a bad experience with her first pregnancy she never again wanted to see a doctor. She admitted delivering the babies herself and placing the corpses in plastic bags. She buried two of the newborns in the garden and hid the other bodies in the garage, prosecutor Eric Vaillant said.

"She explained that she didn't want any more children and that she didn't want to see a doctor to take contraceptives," Vaillant told a news conference. "She was perfectly conscious of the fact that she was pregnant each time."

Cottrez's husband, who was not charged, was in a state of shock but the family remained united behind the mother, his lawyer said.

"I want to emphasize that, as we speak, there is a sacred union within the family," attorney Pierre-Jean Gribouva said.

"That is to say there is a strong union between the children, the father and this mother of two (grown) children. There is no rejection and they are very united," he said.

Cottrez and her husband Pierre-Mariewere detained Wednesday after two corpses in plastic bags were discovered in a garden by the new owners of a house that had belonged to the woman's father in the town of Villers-au-Tertre in northern France. Under questioning, the woman admitted that there were six other corpses and told investigators that they were in plastic bags in the garage of her home, where they were found, officials said.

The woman remained in detention and will undergo further psychiatric testing, Vaillant said. Her husband was freed from custody and not charged, although he remains under judicial control. He claimed he knew nothing about his wife's pregnancies.

"As for Mr. Cottrez, the sky is falling on his head he told us," the prosecutor said. "He told us that he was absolutely not aware that his wife was pregnant."

Vaillant noted that Mrs. Cottrez is quite heavy, making it easy to conceal a pregnancy. The prosecutor had said earlier in a statement that the husband could be charged with failure to report a crime and concealment of corpses.

The husband's lawyer said his client was unjustly stigmatized for not noticing his wife's numerous pregnancies, but "we can make the same analysis about other people who should have noticed and haven't," a reference to colleagues, neighbours and others.

The couple's two grown daughters, who are in their 20s, have been questioned, Vaillant said. He refused to provide further details about them or what they said.

Neighbours in this village in northern France expressed shock after learning that Cottrez had killed her newborns.

"It's revolting. It is monstrous," said Janique Kaszynski, who lives next door to the couple. "For me ... they aren't human beings. It's monstrous to have killed eight viable babies."

Police sealed the doors, gate and windows of the house where the remains of some of the babies were discovered. DNA tests are being conducted to establish for sure whether the couple are the parents, and autopsies are being conducted on the corpses to try to determine the cause of death.
The prosecutor said the bodies "don't show any sign" of injuries.

France has seen a string of cases in recent years of mothers killing their newborns and saving and hiding the corpses.

In one case, Celine Lesage was sentenced in March to 15 years in prison after acknowledging in court that she killed six of her newborns, whose corpses were found in plastic bags in her basement in northwest France.

Another Frenchwoman, Veronique Courjault, was convicted last year of murdering three of her newborn children. Her husband discovered two of the corpses in a freezer while the two were living in South Korea. During the trial psychiatrists testified that she suffered from a psychological condition known as "pregnancy denial."

Germany also has seen similar cases. In one, a woman was convicted of manslaughter in 2006 and sentenced to the maximum 15 years in prison for killing eight of her newborn babies and burying them in flower pots and a fish tank in the garden of her parents' home near the German-Polish border.

Chelsea Clinton and her $5-million wedding

It's the New York-to-Washington social event of the season: The impending marriage of Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former US President Bill Clinton and current Secretary of State Hillary, to Marc Mezvinsky, son of two former Democratic Members of Congress

Munna Bhai chale Amerika!!

No Indian brand among top 50 brands

While many Indian companies from Tata to Bharti and many more are establishing their shops in other countries, no Indian brand managed to become the world's most valuable brand in the 50 Top valuable brand list of the Forbes magazine.

"This (Apple) is a company that has faced setbacks before and bounced back to become the world's most valuable brand--worth USD 57.4 billion," Forbes said, explaining the company's number 1 position in its Top 50 world's most valuable brands 2010 list. India inc watchers say that Indian companies must work hard in order to make their brand visible all over the world.

"Apple shows just how a brand can survive and thrive even when a parent company stumbles. Apple's sales in the late 1990s plummeted 46 per cent over a four-year stretch while the company lost money seven times over eight quarters", said the magazine.

Interestingly, tech brands occupied four of the first five places in the rankings and claimed 30 per cent of the top 50 brands. Financial services and food and beverage firms each captured six spots. Tech major Apple, which topped the list, was followed by software major Microsoft with a brand value of USD 56.6 billion.

Beverages firm, Coca Cola was third at USD 55.4 billion, followed by technology giant IBM, now worth USD 43 billion.

Search engine Google was fifth in the ranking with USD 39.7 billion.McDonald's, General Electric, Marlboro, Intel and Finnish handset maker Nokia featured in the top 10 list.

"The brands on our list fared a little better, with sales on average flat in 2009. Some brands were hit hard by the economic downturn as well as their own missteps," the Forbes noted.

Toyota, Vodafone, Pepsi, Nescafe, Frito-Lay, ESPN and Gucci were the other brands in the top 50 list.

Saina to get Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna

Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal continued to shine as she was on Friday selected for the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award for her oustanding achievements on the badminton court.

The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is the highest award given for achievements in sports in India.

National sports awards (Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna and Dhyan Chand) selection committee headed by PT Usha met on Friday and decided to bestow the Khel Ratna on Saina after considering her brilliant performance in the last one year, PTI reported.

"I am really happy. It's unbelievable, a dream come true for me to get another within one year. National awards gives you a lot of motivation and it definitely has inspired me to achieve bigger glories for my country," Saina said.

"I have done well in the last two years and the three titles that I won recently have really boosted my confidence. I am now preparing for the World Championship and I hope to win the title," she added.

The World number two Indian has been in red-hot form in the last one year, where she reached the semifinals of the All England Super Series in March before winning three successive titles in June.

The award, to be given away on August 29 by President Pratibha Patil, consists of a cash amount of Rs7.5 lakh, a scroll of honour and medal.

Sohrabuddin case: CBI submits report‎

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has submitted its status report on the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case to the Supreme Court.

CBI in its status report has asked for the case to be shifted out of Gujarat as it feels that investigation cannot be carried out in an impartial manner in the State, ANI reported.

The CBI is also learnt to have said that it will investigate the fake encounter of Tulsiram Prajapati, the man who allegedly witnessed the killing of Sohrabuddin.

The apex Court had set July 31 as the deadline for the CBI to submit its status report into the case.

According to sources, former Gujarat Home Minister Amit Shah, who is in judicial custody till August 7, was not cooperating in the probe and there was a need to interrogate him.

Most of Shah's replies according to the agency were evasive.

Meanwhile, the CBI team is likely to seek permission from its headquarters to question Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in connection with the case.

Nepal SC upholds Sobhraj's conviction

Nepal's Supreme Court on Friday upheld the conviction and life imprisonment awarded to Charles Sobhraj in a 35-year-old murder case.

A division bench of Justices Ram Kumar Prasad Shah and Gauri Dhakal upheld the 20-year imprisonment handed over to Sobhraj, The Himalayan Times reported.

The resurrection of the 1975 murder has been probably the most sensational Nepal has ever witnessed.

In December 1975, two badly charred bodies were found in different parts of Kathmandu valley.

The body of the woman, who was first stabbed to death, was identified as that of Connie Jo Bronzich, whose husband and boyfriends had died under violent circumstances in the US.

The second body, that of a male, could not be identified. Police conjectured it could have been that of a Canadian tourist, Laurent Armand Carriere, who had shacked up with Bronzich in Kathmandu.

Police say Sobhraj came to Nepal from Bangkok same year, befriended Bronzich for some gems she had bought in India and killed her.

Sobhraj says he never came to Nepal before 2003, when he arrived as a bona fide entrepreneur to explore various ventures, ranging from making documentaries for his Paris-based Gentleman Films company to starting a mineral water business.

On Sep 17, 16 days after his arrival, a local daily carried his photograph, which alerted the police who traced him to a casino and arrested him.

Initially, police charged him with having come to Nepal in 1975 on a forged passport.

But as the court acquitted him, he was re-arrested from the court premises and charged with the murder of Bronzich.

After thrashing wife, Rahul Mahajan 'feels sorry'

The family drama that was enacted when Rahul Mahajan thrashed his wife, Dimpy Ganguly, on the early hours of Thursday, Dimpy surfaced on Friday evening and told the media, “we both regret the incident. Rahul feels sorry for his action. Now everything is settled.”



Earlier in the day, Dimpy left his husband`s Worli house after she was beaten up by her husband. According to Mumbai Mirror, Dimply vowed never to return to her husband`s home. There were bruises on her chin, both hands and her left cheek was swollen.



According to Dimpy, Rahul beat her up after waking her up to know the contents of a message that had just beeped on her phone. When Dimpy asked him to let her sleep, he lost his temper and began hitting her. She was punched, kicked and dragged her by her hair.



Rahul, son of late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan, has been accused of domestic violence in his first marriage also. He divorced his first wife, Shweta Singh, as he used to beat her too. The couple divorced in August, 2008. It may be recalled that he was even charged with use of drugs in the past.

BlackBerry App World 2.0 enters the Beta Zone

As more and more applications enter the mobile terrain a new enhanced App World will surely augment the entire experience of searching and downloading software. That is exactly what the official BlackBerry blog is now going to unveil, with the BlackBerry App World 2.0 out in their Beta Zone. The new version is all set to augment the entire process with new tidbits and add-ons.

The beta is available only through an invite based approach. Those who wish to try out the beta must quickly sign up for a beta account in order to be eligible for an invite. Users can expect the beta to pack in a plethora of features some of which are barcode scanning, new Top 25s, new billing options and many more.

The current version of the App World is quite popular and is available in six languages across 65 countries. The blog claims that around a million apps are downloaded on a daily basis. The company however still does not remove the haze from the release of the complete version, so all we can do is wait and watch.

Team India stays top-ranked Test side

India has retained the No1 position in the ICC Test Championship table after the annual update and is now 11 ratings points clear of second placed South Africa.

By virtue of earning a draw in the second Test against Sri Lanka, India has also ensured that it will still be on top of the table following the conclusion of the current series irrespective of how the third Test pans out.

The result of Sri Lanka and India Test series will only reflect on the table at the end of the final Test on August 7 as the Test Championship can only be updated at the end of each series.

The annual update of both the Reliance Mobile ICC Test and ODI Championship tables take place so that both lists continue to reflect recent form with older results being discarded.

India has hugely benefited from the annual update as it has gained six ratings points to jump from 124 ratings points to 130, 11 ahead of its closest rival South Africa which had dropped one ratings point to 119.

However, India's 11-point lead at the top will be short-lived following its failure to win its current series in Sri Lanka.

If India wins the third Test, which starts at P Sara' Oval, Colombo, on Tuesday 3 August to draw the series at one-all, it will drop to 127 ratings points, while Sri Lanka will move into third place on 115 rating points, ahead of both Australia and England.

If the Test is drawn, India will slip to 124 ratings points, just five points ahead of both South Africa and Sri Lanka. However, Kumar Sangakkara's side will be placed just below Graeme Smith's side when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.

Another defeat for India will not only see it plummet to 122 ratings points but will lift Sri Lanka to 121 ratings points and into second position on the Test Championship for only the second time since the current Test ranking system was introduced in 2003.

Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship table (after annual update on 30 July. In brackets is rating points before the annual update)

1India130 (124)

2South Africa119 (120)

3Australia113 (116)

4England111 (108)

5Sri Lanka111 (115)

6Pakistan84 (84)

7West Indies79 (77)

8New Zealand 78 (80)

9Bangladesh7 (9)

Malaria is epidemic, insist BMC's corporators

Malaria was the hot topic in the BMC’s general body meeting on Thursday, with all corporators demanding that the disease be declared an epidemic.

The corporators said that at a time more people are getting affected by the disease, private hospitals in the city are overcharging patients. This is also because the BMC’s hospitals have not been up to the task.

When opposition leader Rajhans Singh raised the issue at the meeting, all corporators, across party lines, supported him.

“Incidences of malaria are rising among all sections of society. The BMC alone cannot treat patients. All civic hospitals are overflowing,” said Rajhans.

BJP corporator Yogesh Sagar said: “The city is becoming the capital of malaria. Forty per cent of patients (of all ailments) are of malaria, out of which 57% are from Mumbai.”

The call to declare malaria an epidemic was given by BJP group leader Ashish Shelar and Congress corporator Vinod Shekhar.
In reply, the BMC administration replied that the civic body is quite capable of tackling the menace. “We are doing very well,” said Ashish Kumar Singh, additional municipal commissioner.

“BMC teams have inspected 1,885 construction sites and screened 1,34,712 workers. We found 15,539 suffering from fever and 649 to be malarial. BMC teams have also visited slums, and found 1,766 malarial people.

“In the city and suburbs, there are 504 construction sites, and 264 builders are doing pest control on their own. At other sites, the BMC is administering larva treatment to stop mosquito breeding.”

Dabangg Movie Preview

Director :
Starring : Abhinav Kashyap
Salman Khan, Om Puri, Anupam Kher, Dimple Kapadia, Vindo Khanna, Mahesh Manjrekar, Arbaaz Khan, Sonu Sood, Mahi Gill.



Salman Khan's much awaited film DABANGG is all set to hit the screens on 10th September 2010.

The action-packed DABANGG is the first film of newly launched Arbaaz Khan Productions. The lead actors in the film include Arbaaz's elder brother, Salman Khan and Sonakshi Sinha, daughter of veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha. It is the debut film of Sonakshi as an actor and Arbaaz as a producer. The film also marks the debut of director Abhinav Kashyap who is the brother of acclaimed director Anurag Kashyap.

Produced by Arbaaz Khan, Malaika Arora Khan, Dhilan Mehta the film also stars Om Puri, Dimple Kapadia, Vinod Khanna, Mahesh Manjrekar, Arbaaz Khan, Mahie Gill and Sonu Sood in supporting roles

The music is done by Salman's favourite music composers duo Sajid-Wajid while the lyrics are penned by Jalees Sherwani, Faaiz Anwaar, Lalit Pandit.

The film is being distributed by Arbaaz Khan Productions and Shree Ashtavinayak Cinevision Ltd.

Synopsis:

'I dont want to be shattered from dangers, want to be fearless while facing them' DABANGG means Fearless.

Set in Laalgurj, Uttar Pradesh, Dabangg is a story of Chulbul Pandey (Salman Khan), a totally fearless but corrupt police officer with unorthodox working methods.

But even the most fearless at times face a tough fight with their innermost demons. Chulbul has had a bitter childhood. His father passed away when he was young and mother Nalini (Dimple Kapadia) married Prajapati Pandey (Vinod Khanna). Together, they had a son Makhanchan (Arbaaz Khan).

Prajapati favours Makhanchan which does not go down well with Chulbul. He decides to take the control of his destiny and detaches himself from his stepfather and half brother. His sole attachment is his mother. However after his mother's demise and an unsuccessful attempt to mend wounds, Chulbul snaps all ties with his stepfather and half brother.

Rajo (Sonakshi Sinha) with her unique perspective of life enters his world and turns upside down. Chulbul starts to see life more positively and also gets sensitized to the value of a family.

But his detractors especially the dubious Cheddi Singh (Sonu Sood) have their own vested interests. And emerge as spokes in the wheel, pulling one brother against the other. Makhanchan ends up carrying out acts oblivious to the consequences. When he realizes he has been used, he turns to Chulbul.

Will Chulbul take his extended hand?

Will the brothers be able to threat their detractors?

Well this time, Chulbul's fearlessness channelizes itself positively and reunite him with his family.

DABANGG is a hard-hitting, entertaining, emotional narrative that unfolds grippingly in a region that has place only for the fearless.

	view DABANGG stills

Character Sketch:

Salman Khan as Chulbul Pandey - Chulbul Pandey plays a fearless but corrupt police officer who very early in his life learns to take control of his destiny. He meets each of life's challenges with elan.

Sonakshi Sinha as Rajo - Rajo is the girl who changes Chulbul Pandey's life with her positive effervescence. She is unable to think of her own future as she is devoted to her alcoholic father.

Arbaaz Khan as Makhanchan - Makhanchan the dim wit, is the younger half brother of Chulbul Pandey. They share a love-hate relationship.

Sonu Sood as Cheddi Singh - Cheddi Singh plays the prime antagonist. He uses one brother against the other to attain his own selfish goals.

Vinod Khanna as Prajapati Pandey - Prajapati Pandey is father of Makhanchan and step father od Chulbul. His relationship with Chulbul is turbulent and things take a turn for the worse after the death of Nalini, Chulbul's mother.

Khel Ratna for Saina, Chettri gets Arjuna Award

Ace Indian shuttler and World no.2 Saina Nehwal will get the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the country's highest sports award, while Indian footballer Sunil Chettri, currently playing for American club Kansas City Wizards, is among the 15 sportspersons selected for the Arjuna Award.

The award's committee, headed by legendary athlete P.T. Usha, met here Friday to finalise the winners of this year's national sports awards.

Saina has been in great form and recently won three back-to-back tournaments, including two Super Series titles. The 20-year-old from Hyderabad won the Indian Open Grand Prix, the Singapore Open and the Indonesian Open.

Earlier this month, she jumped one spot to World No.2, and it came as a major boost for the star shuttler ahead of the World Championships at Paris from Aug 23.

'I am very happy and it is a surprise for me. It has come just before the World Championships. In fact, the last couple of months were great for me. I have done consistently well this year,' said Saina.

'Everything has happened quickly in my career. But it has been tough for me as well. Things will be different now as expectations will be high from me,' she said.

Saina has been made the captain of the Indian team for the World Championships.

Saina, who won the Padma Awards last year, was the first Indian girl to reach the singles quarterfinals at the Olympics in Beijing and the first Indian to win the World Junior Badminton Championships.

Footballers got an Arjuna Award after a gap of eight years. Delhi boy Chettri is the third Indian to ply his trade in a foreign football league and also scored a hat-trick in the AFC Challenge Cup final that India won to qualify for the Asia Cup after 24 years. Chettri's team mate in the national team Dipak Mondal, who plays for Kolkata club Mohun Bagan, will also get the Arjuna Award.

This is the first time, since the inception of Arjuna Awards, that two footballers have been conferred with the prestigious award.

Former India international Mohammad Habib, a member of the award's selection committee, feels the recognition will boost the game in the country.

'After a long time footballers got this prestigious award. In the last three years the team has done exceptionally well by winning two Nehru Cups and the AFC Challenge Cup. This will surely give confidence to the players,' Habib, an Arjuna Awardee, told IANS.

In cricket, fast bowler Jhulan Goswami, who was adjudged as the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women's Player of the Year award in 2007, will also get the Arjuna.

Arjuna Awardees: Krishna Punia (athletics), Joseph Abraham (athletics), Dinesh Kumar (boxing), Parimarjan Negi (chess), Jhulan Goswami (cricket), Deepak Mondal (football), Sunil Chettri (football), Rajiv Tomar (wrestling), Sandeep Singh (hockey), Jasjit Kaur (hockey), Jajseer Singh (paralympics), Dinesh (kabaddi), Kapil Dev (volleyball), Rehan Poncha (swimming), Sanjeev Rajput (shooting)

Khel Ratna for Saina, Chettri gets Arjuna Award

Ace Indian shuttler and World no.2 Saina Nehwal will get the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the country's highest sports award, while Indian footballer Sunil Chettri, currently playing for American club Kansas City Wizards, is among the 15 sportspersons selected for the Arjuna Award.

The award's committee, headed by legendary athlete P.T. Usha, met here Friday to finalise the winners of this year's national sports awards.

Saina has been in great form and recently won three back-to-back tournaments, including two Super Series titles. The 20-year-old from Hyderabad won the Indian Open Grand Prix, the Singapore Open and the Indonesian Open.

Earlier this month, she jumped one spot to World No.2, and it came as a major boost for the star shuttler ahead of the World Championships at Paris from Aug 23.

'I am very happy and it is a surprise for me. It has come just before the World Championships. In fact, the last couple of months were great for me. I have done consistently well this year,' said Saina.

'Everything has happened quickly in my career. But it has been tough for me as well. Things will be different now as expectations will be high from me,' she said.

Saina has been made the captain of the Indian team for the World Championships.

Saina, who won the Padma Awards last year, was the first Indian girl to reach the singles quarterfinals at the Olympics in Beijing and the first Indian to win the World Junior Badminton Championships.

Footballers got an Arjuna Award after a gap of eight years. Delhi boy Chettri is the third Indian to ply his trade in a foreign football league and also scored a hat-trick in the AFC Challenge Cup final that India won to qualify for the Asia Cup after 24 years. Chettri's team mate in the national team Dipak Mondal, who plays for Kolkata club Mohun Bagan, will also get the Arjuna Award.

This is the first time, since the inception of Arjuna Awards, that two footballers have been conferred with the prestigious award.

Former India international Mohammad Habib, a member of the award's selection committee, feels the recognition will boost the game in the country.

'After a long time footballers got this prestigious award. In the last three years the team has done exceptionally well by winning two Nehru Cups and the AFC Challenge Cup. This will surely give confidence to the players,' Habib, an Arjuna Awardee, told IANS.

In cricket, fast bowler Jhulan Goswami, who was adjudged as the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women's Player of the Year award in 2007, will also get the Arjuna.

Arjuna Awardees: Krishna Punia (athletics), Joseph Abraham (athletics), Dinesh Kumar (boxing), Parimarjan Negi (chess), Jhulan Goswami (cricket), Deepak Mondal (football), Sunil Chettri (football), Rajiv Tomar (wrestling), Sandeep Singh (hockey), Jasjit Kaur (hockey), Jajseer Singh (paralympics), Dinesh (kabaddi), Kapil Dev (volleyball), Rehan Poncha (swimming), Sanjeev Rajput (shooting)

Will take action if Rahul Mahajan's wife complains: Minister

Following reports that Dimpy Ganguly has walked out of her four-month-old marriage to Rahul Mahajan alleging domestic violence, Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath Friday said a panel will look into the matter if the victim lodges a complaint with them.

"I will ask the National Commission for Women (NCW) to look into the matter if she (Dimpy) lodges a formal complaint with us. Domestic violence in no way is acceptable," Tirath told reporters here.

Dimpy married Rahul, son of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Pramod Mahajan, on the Imagine TV reality show "Rahul Dulhaniya Le Jayega" in March this year.

"Rahul beat me up early Thursday morning after waking me up to know the contents of a message that had beeped on my phone. When I asked him to go back to sleep, he flew into a rage and began hitting me. He punched, kicked and dragged me by the hair," the 22-year-old Kolkata-based model told a TV channel.

Rahul has been accused of domestic violence for the second time. Earlier, his first wife Shweta Singh had accused him of physically abusing her. They separated in 2008.

Unseen pics of Dhoni and Sakshi

Lingerie gets men's pulses racing!

The next time you want to men’s heartbeat to uproar with zest then just seduce your Mr. Right with foreplay in Lingerie, and make him bow down your knees for sexual pleasure as a new study reveals that women's lingerie gets male shoppers' pulses racing.

But, when it comes to women, it's the sight of sparkly evening dresses or a glamorous pair of shoes that do the trick.

The study, which was conducted by Debenhams in a bid to establish in which department customers get the most enthusiastic, used monitor devices to track the heart rates of 1,000 shoppers, reports The Daily Express.

And the study of customers aged 20 to 40 revealed stark differences between what gets the pulses racing for the two sexes.

Lingerie topped the list of goods that boosted men's heart rates, followed by high-tech TVs and sound systems.

Debenhams spokesman Ed Watson said: "It seems men enjoy buying something special for their loved ones."

The shopping climax comes late for men it's all about closing the deal at the till."

Double ton by Sachin as test is heading for a tame draw

In his yet another masterly knock, Sachin Tendulkar hit adouble ton (203) and Suresh Raina scored his maiden century as India surpassed Sri Lanka`s first innings total with a solid batting display in the second cricket Test which is heading for a tame draw here today.

Tendulkar took little over five to score his fifth double century as India cruised to 669 for nine at close on the penultimate day in response to Sri Lanka`s first innings total of 642 for four declared.

Debutant Raina scored 120 while captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (76) was the other notable performer for the Indians.

Ishant Sharma (10) and last man Pragyan Ojha (0) were at the crease at stumps with India having a slender lead of 27 runs.

With just one day left, it is almost certain that the match will end in a draw. In case of a draw, India will

maintain their status as the number one Test team in the ICC rankings.

It was Tendulkar again who stole the spotlight as he notched up his fifth double century and featured in a 256-run partnership for the fifth wicket with debutant Raina which proved to be the backbone of

India`s resistance.

The senior statesman of world cricket was a picture of concentration as he steered India to safety with a masterly knock which spanned almost four sessions.

Raina became the 12th debutant century maker for India and was involved in a record fifth wicket partnership with Tendulkar.

Aamir Khan, the highest tax payer in Bollywood

While Bollywood Monarch Aamir Khan has been repeating time and again that he is not in a race to become the highest tax payer, he has paid more tax than his Bollywood colleagues for financial year of 2009-10. Fresh from his 48th ton in Colombo, Sachin Tendulkar paid a tax of `6.8 crore.

According to sources, most Bollywood actors paid less than the previous year. For example, Akshay Kumar’s latest tax outgo is `18 crore, which is 41% lower than the tax he paid in the previous assessment. Continuing with Aamir Khan, he has recently told Ms. Anurradha Prasad in her popular TV show ` Aamne-Samne` that he is not at all in the race to become highest tax payer. He has paid staggering Rs 12.90 crore. It is more than any other Bollywood star.

Shah Rukh Khan has paid far less than last year; at `9.5 crore, his tax payment was 70% less than the previous year. Reigning superstar Aamir Khan, who is in the limelight for a series of successful movies, is the only actor who paid more than his previous records. A tax outgo of `12.89 crore shows Aamir paid about 12% more than previous year. Hrithik Roshan and Salman Khan saw a steep fall in their tax payments. While Hrithik paid `6.5 crore, half of last year’s payments, Salman Khan with `5.5-crore tax outgo, was paying 60% less.

They are: Dilipkumar Lekhi at `9.75 crore (up 147%), Vishinda Diamond at `13.3 crore (up 96%) Deepak & Co paid `14.25 crore (up 137%), Shree Ramkrishna Exports’ tax outgo stood at `14.25 crore (up 307%) and Ankit Gems at `5.85 crore (up 135%).

Raina first since Viru to hit ton on debut

Middle order batsman Suresh Raina on Thursday became the first Indian player since Virender Sehwag to hit a century on his Test debut on day four of the second Test against Sri Lanka here.

Raina, who started the day on his overnight score of 66, brought up his ton with a four off Damnika Prasad in the 126th over of the Indian innings. He is also the third left-hander to score 100 on debut after Surendra Amarnath and Sourav Ganguly and the 12th overall.

Raina, who has had to wait for a long time to get a chance in Test cricket, has made it count in the first go itself. With this knock, he is sure to be picked for the third and final Test of this series.

What is interesting to note is that both the debut centurions for India in the last decade played alongside Sachin Tendulkar and hit tons in tough situations.

In 2001, Sehwag had come to the crease as India struggled at 68/4 before Tendulkar showed him the way with a brilliant 155 off a mere 184 deliveries. Playing alongside his idol, Sehwag scored 105 runs and the two put on 220 runs for the fifth-wicket partnership.

Raina's ton too has come playing at the same position in the batting order. He joined Tendulkar after the fall of VVS Laxman's wicket with the scoreboard reading 241/4 and added 141 runs on day three.

Raina and Tendulkar put on a 256-run partnership before the southpaw was dismissed for 120.

Sharing eye-drops is a big NO

Do not share eye drops as it can also transmit eye infection from one person to another.

Eye care for computer users

If are into a job that requires working on computers for long hours, do take off your eyes from computer at regular intervals and have an anti-glare screen set on your computer.

While working for long hours, look at distant objects either in your office or outside. Looking at a distant object and then returning to your task helps your eyes focus better. Try taking such visual breaks for about five to 10 minutes every hour.

How to prevent eye infection?

An eye infection is usually caused by bacteria or a virus. Eye infections include styes, conjunctivitis, trachoma etc. and can occur in any age group.

She'll never be able to sleep, says father of girl allegedly raped by Facebook friend

The family of the girl who was allegedly raped by her Facebook friend is ruing the day she took the decision of going to the boy's home.

"My daughter made one wrong decision and now she will not be able to sleep for the rest of her life. Her life has been ruined by the boy she went home with on that fateful night," said the father of the girl.

MiD DAY visited the home of the 17-year-old student from Swami Vivekanand College, Chembur, who was allegedly raped by Pankaj Mishra, a management student from the same college. The duo had become friends on Facebook.
The family said the girl had barely spoken since the incident and refuses to step out of the house. "I trusted him and went with him for the project, but he ruined my life," she told MiD DAY.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/she-ll-never-be-able-to-sleep-says-father-of-girl-raped-by-facebook-friend-40413?cp

When asked whether they wanted the boy to get the strictest punishment, the father pointed to an idol and said, "We believe in God and want Him and the law to punish the boy. But, at the moment, we are just concerned about our daughter and her future."

The rape took place on July 21, but the family filed the police complaint only on Sunday. "We got delayed because of the college principal. She had assured us that she will take necessary action against the boy but it never happened," said the girl's mother.

"It was only when we came to know that his father works in the college that we filed a police complaint. When the boy was brought to the police station, he said that he had never met the girl. The principal did not take any action and delayed the case," she added.

In her statement to the police, the girl said, "We became friends through Facebook and met on July 19 and 20. I told him that I had a project to complete and he offered to help me. At 6.30 pm on July 21, we met at Saroj hotel in Chembur. Pankaj told me that we can work on the project at his residence as there was no one at his place. We went there by auto and started working."

"His maid was at home and left at 8 pm. Around 9.30, he went to have food and locked the door. He started misbehaving with me around 10.30 pm. I threatened to kill myself with a knife; he took the knife saying he would drop me home and then raped me at knifepoint. He locked me inside the room and then let me go to college in the morning," she added.

Tejnarayan Mishra, the accused's father, said, "The police have been forcing us to say that we were out of town on the day of the alleged rape. The truth is that we were at home and there is no way our son could have raped the girl at our residence."

Meanwhile, J K Phadnis, Principal of the Swami Vivekanand College in an interaction with the media said the boy was innocent. She refused to divulge details.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/she-ll-never-be-able-to-sleep-says-father-of-girl-raped-by-facebook-friend-40413?cp

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/she-ll-never-be-able-to-sleep-says-father-of-girl-raped-by-facebook-friend-40413?cp

Mallika Sherawat goes topless

No doubt Mallika Sherawat is one of the sexiest and boldest heroines Bollywood has ever produced. She knows how to make guys go weak in the knees. But this time, she has posted her topless photo, leaving very little to the imagination.

It looks like Mallika is desperately trying to make it big in Hollywood, as her career in Bollywood has hit a new low. After her sexy act in Jackie Chan's The Myth, she is leaving no stone unturned to make her film Hissss a hit. She received lots of attention at the Cannes film festival by spiralling a snake around her neck. Now, she has posted her topless picture on Twitter.

Nokia C3, C6 and E5 Now Available on Nokia USA's Website

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Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia is readying the launch of a series of new handsets on the market in the United States. The company did not announce anything officially, but three new devices have just popped up on the Nokia USA website, with price tags and all. The three new mobile phones listed there include the Nokia C3, Nokia C6 and Nokia E5.
The emergence of these devices on Nokia's website suggests that the official release date might not be too far, a recent post on The Nokia Blog reads, even if no other details that their price tags were unveiled at the moment. According to the handset vendor's website, the Nokia C3 should sport a price tag of $129.00 when launched in the US, the Nokia C6 would be priced at $309.00, while the Nokia E5 should cost $259.00.

All three handsets were announced officially by Nokia back in April. The Nokia C3 was launched as the first Series 40 device to sport a full QWERTY keyboard. The phone includes support for social networking sites, as well as Ovi Mail and Ovi Chat integration, something that can only suggest Nokia planned it as a cheap messaging device. The device also includes a 2.4-inch screen, a 2-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi connectivity, and enhanced Internet capabilities.

The second device in the list, the Nokia C6, comes as a Symbian^1 smartphone that packs a 3.2-inch touchscreen display complemented by a side sliding QWERTY keyboard. The new mobile phone also comes to shelves with a 5-megapixel photo snapper, with 3G connectivity capabilities, built-in GPS receiver, enhanced email capabilities, and more.

As for the last of the three new devices spotted over at Nokia USA, namely the Nokia E5, it comes as a Symbian S60 3rd Edition device meant to prove a great option both for those interested in an entertainment device, as well as for those looking for handset for their professional lives. The E5 packs a 2.4-inch display, a 5-megapixel photo snapper with LED flash, QWERTY keyboard, enhanced support for emails, and other features more. All three phones can be seen at Nokia USA

Bullfighting around the world: from conquistadors to Hindus

A villager is flung by a bull during Jallikattu, a bull-taming sport as part of the harvest festival of Pongal, in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Photograph

Bullfighting is also practised in a small number of other countries besides Spain – albeit with regional twists:

Portugal

Portuguese bullfighting is generally described as "bloodless" because the bull is not killed in the ring. Often, however, a butcher will dispatch a wounded animal backstage though the lucky ones are packed off to take part in American rodeos or put out to pasture. Unlike the Spanish version, in Portugal the bullfighter is usually on horseback, and the bull's horns are sometimes filed down to make them less sharp.

France

Bullfighting has been popular in pockets of southern France for 150 years. Though the practice contravenes a 1976 act that outlaws the torture and deliberate mistreatment of animals, the law makes an exception for La Corrida in areas where there is an "unbroken, local, tradition". Nîmes in Languedoc-Roussillon is particularly passionate with a million visitors flocking to the five-day festival at Pentecost each year.

Mexico

The conquistadors brought bullfighting to Latin America in the 1500s and nowadays Mexicans are probably the most enthusiastic after the Spanish. Mexico City boasts the largest ring in the world, which can accommodate 60,000 spectators. Mexican bullfighting is similar to the Spanish style – the matador is the star of the show, teasing the animal with a cap before killing it with a sword.

Peru

Conchita Cintrón made her debut in 1937 at the main arena in Lima, aged 13. Famous for her skills on foot and horseback, Cintrón reportedly killed more than 750 bulls in Europe, Central America and South America. She died in Lisbon last year.

Ecuador

In Quito, bullfighting is the highlight of the Las fiestas de Quito festival each December when internationally renowned bullfighters are invited to show off their prowess. Outside of the capital, bullfighting enjoys less support: in 2007, Baños de Agua Santa city council declared itself anti-bullfighting.

India

A form of bull running called Jallikattu is practised in Tamil Nadu, southern India, as part of the annual Hindu festival of Pongal. The bull is not killed and the "matadors" are not supposed to use any weapons.

Pietersen given all clear despite football injury

England — Kevin Pietersen was passed fit to play in the opening Test against Pakistan despite injuring himself treading on a stray football during practice here on Wednesday - just a day before the first of a four-match series is due to get underway at Trent Bridge.

Pietersen's right foot and ankle were both strapped up afterwards but England captain Andrew Strauss, speaking to reporters, was confident the star batsman would be fit.

England banned players from warming-up by playing football after Owais Shah injured Joe Denly while tackling his fellow batsman at The Oval last year.

"I think we've just got to ban footballs being on the ground because they're still causing problems even though we're not playing it," said Strauss.

South Africa born Pietersen has not played any cricket for nearly a month because of a thigh injury and it is over a year since he last made a Test century.

But opening batsman Strauss said: "I'm not concerned particularly about his lack of cricket.

"He is a guy who spends a lot of time in the nets practising and for someone like him, being in the right state of mind mentally is as important as anything.

"He's in a good state of mind, he has had a good rest, he has the bit between his teeth. I think he wants to come out and prove himself again and I think he'll have a really good series."

England's selectors wanted the 30-year-old Pietersen to play for Hampshire but the county opted against picking him after he announced his intention to leave the south coast club at the end of the season.

"For counties generally it's always an issue," said Strauss.

"They have their squad they have built up without the England players being involved and when the England player comes up it is disruptive to those squads in one way or another.

"I implore the counties to realise the importance of a good strong England team. Even though temporarily that might be difficult for their side, in the bigger picture it's helping both England cricket and indirectly those counties as well.

"So in that sense I was disappointed, though I can understand Hampshire's reticence given KP's comments about what he planned to do in the future."