MUMBAI: A fighter, a style icon, a doting father, romantic at heart and a die hard optimist? He is cool, he is suave. He is one of Bollywood‘s successful actor and Chote Nawab Saif Ali Khan.

Son of two famous public figure, father cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan and mom actress Sharmila Tagore, as a child Saif was always a bit of a star. During his early years in Bollywood, he was often known for being a spoiled brat. This unpleasant personality overshadowed his acting talent. Soon he realised his mistakes and started afresh with his first movie "Aashiq Aanwara" which bagged him a huge success and was awarded the best New Comer award.

His other success includes Yeh Dillagi, Main Khiladi Tu Anari and national international hits like Hum Saath Saath Hain, Kache Dhaage, Dil Chahta Hai and Kal Ho Na Ho. His outstanding performance got him the Filmfare Best Comedian Award, Best actor award in National Film Awards and Best Supporting Actor Award.

Friday‘s episode of Bollywood Biographies features all about Saif, right from his career success, highs and lows, his marriage to Amrita who is 12yrs his senior, his divorce, his love affair with Roza, his spontaneity in his performance as an actor and lots more?

So tune in to Bollywood Biographies to know more about Saif Ali Khan this Friday, January 02 2009, 8.30pm only on ZoOm.

New Year countdown rocks, with Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM, its Hot!

To bid farewell to the Year 2007, Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM, India?s hottest Radio station is on a mission to maximise the celebration for its listeners. Continuing with the spirit of presenting interesting and innovative programming in the past, Radio Mirchi has lined up excitement activities to bid goodbye to2008.

Beginning early this December, Radio Mirchi 98.3FM had undertaken activities that pumped in more excitement and made the year end more rocking for the Delhiites. Aimed at catering to the expectations of its listeners across all age groups, Radio Mirchi 98.3FM has associated itself with a bunch of engaging and entertaining on ground activities such as college and theatre festivals, Christmas and New Year special carnivals etc.

Besides it?s unique on?air programming, the brand associations was another attempt to entertain listeners through various avenues. The list includes initiatives such as the Ghajini promotion that gave an opportunity to the listeners to meet and greet Aamir Khan in person, association with college festivals such as VIBGYOR 2008 (college fest of International School of Business and Media), BLITZKRIEG 2008 (ICFAI Business School), COBWEB 2008 (college fest of LHMC) and SPANDAN 2008 (college fest of Vivekananda College), theatre festivals at India Habitat Centre, India International Women‘s Film Festival, Public Art Festival and many more.

Radio Mirchi 98.3FM has also made an effort for an elongated Christmas celebrations as the station was in an alliance with the Sunshine Kids Carnival where kids enjoyed the carnival with their parents. Mirchi Bana Santa, personalised gift service by the station was another initiative by the station to spread love and happiness on the occasion.

To make New Year an unforgettable experience, Radio Mirchi 98.3FM has launched its Mirchidaar ?Happy New Ear? campaign wherein the station is providing its listeners a chance to win exciting goodies that will be related to everything about ?ear?.

Expressing his views on the tie-ups, Srinivasa Shenoy, Cluster Head, Radio Mirchi said, ?Year End is one time where everybody gets into the celebration mood and we at Radio Mirchi decided to provide our listeners an elongated festive season. The multiple initiatives are conceptualised to bid adieu to 2007 and welcome 2009 in the true Mirchidaar style.?

Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM has been creating a lot of buzz in Delhi with its pioneering initiatives and has received an over whelming response from all its listeners and the advertisers.

MUMBAI: They have been together through many hardships in life and career. Together they have stood the test of time and have proved to the world that they are Bollywood golden couple - Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar.

Inside Bollywood with Rohit Roy this Wednesday features all about Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar. Right from Shabana Azmi‘s first brush in acting at the age of 3, where she was part of her school play, a nursery rhyme ‘Hey lily little feedle the cow, the cow jumped over the moon‘. She always wanted to be an actor; during college she along with Farook Shaik started the first Hindi Theater Group in St. Xaviers College and won an award at the inter college competition. Her parents have always been very supportive, and backed her decision to pursue a course in acting from FTII, Pune. Soon after, she joined the industry and earned praises and awards including five wins of National Film Award for Best Actress for her performances in films in variety of genres. She is known today as super woman as she juggles between her acting and political career.

Shabana‘s husband Javed Akhtar, one of the most terrific writer, poet, and lyricist comes from a family of poets and writers. He joins Shabana in the show where he shares about his humble beginning as a writer. His family, career success, life, marriage and lots more?

So tune in to Inside Bollywood with host Rohit Roy to know more about Bollywood‘s golden couple Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar this Wednesday, December 31, 8pm only on ZoOm.

MUMBAI: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has announced that:
Total 10.18 million telephone connections (Wireline and Wireless) have been added during November 2008 as compared to 10.29 million connections added in October 2008. The total number of telephone connections reaches 374.13 million at the end of November 2008 as compared to 363.95 million in October 2008. With this growth, the overall tele-density has reached 32.34% at the end of November 2008 as against 31.50% in October 2008.

The total wireless subscribers (GSM, CDMA & WLL(F)) base stood at 336.08 million at the end of November 2008. A total of 10.35 million wireless subscribers have been added during the month of November 2008 as against 10.42 million wireless subscribers added during the month of October 2008. Circle-wise wireless subscriber base of service providers is given at Annexure-I.

In the wireline segment, the subscriber base has decreased to 38.05 million in the month of November 2008 as against 38.22 million subscribers in October 2008 registering a drop of 0.17 million. Circle-wise wireline subscriber base of service providers is given at Annexure-II.

Comparison table of subscriber base during corresponding periods of 2007 and 2008 is shown below:
(Subscribers in Million)

* The data is tentative.

Broadband (? 256 Kbps download) Growth: Total Broadband subscribers base has reached 5.28 million by the end of November 2008 as compared to 5.05 million by the end of October 2008.

Comparison table of broadband subscriber?s growth during corresponding periods of 2007 and 2008 is shown below:

(Subscribers in Million)

* The data is tentative.

MUMBAI: In the shocking second chapter of ?Volume 3: Villains?, Angela confronts her much- changed son Peter, as the bursts of violence around them only hint to the catastrophes to come.

First, Sylar declares war on the Company by attacking their headquarters, and finds a lot more than he expected on Level 5. During a battle with Elle, Twelve savage criminals escape. Meanwhile, Claire discovers that, after Sylar‘s attack, she is unable to feel pain, the one thing that made her feel human.

Determined to reclaim his family‘s secret, Hiro and Ando follow Daphne to Paris. Suresh is thrilled to find his research, his life and his relationship with Maya evolving.

However, the powers he gained continue to transform him and he fears what he is becoming. Meanwhile, Matt finds a guide to help him through the Sahara.

Catch all the up-to-the-minute action, as it unfolds in the all-new Heroes 3 exclusively on STAR WORLD on Tuesday December 30, 2008 at 10pm.

MUMBAI: A firmer and more practical anti-doping code has been approved for implementation by the ICC as cricket continues the fight to ensure the sport is free of banned substances.

The code, which comes into effect on 1 January 2009, was recently given unanimous approval by all members of the ICC Board, indicating the overwhelming level of support the code has within the ICC membership.

The adoption of this strengthened ICC Anti-Doping Code coincides with the amendment of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code, making sure that cricket plays its part in the global fight against drugs in sport.

Consistent with the WADA Code, the new ICC Anti-Doping Code gives more flexibility to any hearing panel appointed in terms of the sanctions and penalties that may be imposed against players who test positive for a banned substance.

Critically, it also means that international cricketers must be available for testing at any time, any day of the year, whether it is at ICC events, bilateral series or even out of competition.

?The ICC has a zero-tolerance approach to doping in cricket and this new code serves to reinforce that position,? said ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat.

?This code means it has just become even harder for drug cheats to get away with doping practices and it is part of our continued battle to ensure fair competition for all,? said Mr Lorgat.

?The code is a living document which is constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of cricket and modern sport in general. To this end, and in line with best practice, the ICC has conducted a comprehensive consultation process for the practical review and fine-tuning of the code?s provisions.

?We are grateful to our Members and other stakeholders for their input and we are encouraged by the full support the Members have shown in approving its implementation,? said Mr Lorgat.

?We must never become complacent when it comes to protecting our sport against drug cheats. We have recognised the threat and we have done something about it. This is a big step forward for everyone who wants to maintain clean and fair competition in cricket.?

The ICC became a signatory of WADA in July 2006 and has been testing at its events since 2002. In that time, there has not been a positive test at an ICC event.

In line with the provisions of the code, the ICC will establish a doping hearing panel from which three people will be selected to sit as an anti-doping tribunal from time to time in order to determine whether an anti-doping rule violation has been committed.

The chairperson of the tribunal is required to be legally qualified while the others on the tribunal will have legal, medical or technical expertise with specific experience in anti-doping matters. Each member of the doping hearing panel shall be independent of the ICC.

In a further move aimed at bolstering the anti-doping movement in the sport of cricket, the ICC has also recently circulated a template anti-doping code for all of its Members to adopt in order to help them to govern anti-doping matters at a domestic level in a consistent and WADA Code-compliant manner.