Azan inspires Hollywood actor Liam Neeson to convert to Islam

ISTANBUL (Turkey), 9 Rabi Al-Awwal/1 Feb (IINA)-Hollywood actor Liam Neeson has announced that he may convert to Islam as he was inspired by Islamic call to prayer (Azan) while filming in Istanbul, Turkey, media reports quoted the actor as saying on Monday.
He was ranked at number 69 on Empire magazine’s 100 greatest movie stars of all time in 1997.
Neeson, 59,   is an Irish actor, who has been nominated for an Oscar, a BAFTA and three Golden Globe Awards. He has starred in a number of notable roles including Oskar Schindler in Schindler’s List, Michael Collins in Michael Collins, Peyton Westlake in Darkman, Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars (the film Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace and an episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars), Alfred Kinsey in Kinsey, Ra’s al Ghul in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight Rises as well as the voice of Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia film series.
“There are 4000 mosques in the city (Istanbul) – some are just stunning, and it really makes me think about becoming a Muslim,” he said.
“The call to prayer happens five times a day, and for the first week, it drives you crazy, and then it just gets into your spirit, and it’s the most beautiful thing.” Neeson, a Roman Catholic, said he had always been religious and was always questioning the meaning of life.
“It’s a very good thing and it shows people it’s not a religion to be scared about or frightened about, and that it’s a religion that people are interested in and are attracted to, and when you’ve got someone like that attracted to it, they might think `maybe there is something in this religion’,” he said.
“There are 4000 mosques in the city (Istanbul) – some are just stunning, and it really makes me think about becoming a Muslim,” he said.
“The call to prayer happens five times a day, and for the first week, it drives you crazy, and then it just gets into your spirit, and it’s the most beautiful thing.” Neeson, a Roman Catholic, said he had always been religious and was always questioning the meaning of life.

Read more »

Dairyland Surprise: Wisconsin celebrates Miss America

Miss Wisconsin Laura Kaeppeler of Kenosha waves after being crowned Miss America on Saturday night at The Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. / AP

Written by

Meg Jones » McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

Laura Kaeppeler didn't know she would cry. Otherwise, she would have used waterproof mascara. When the 23-year-old Kenosha native was crowned Miss America last weekend — becoming only the second Miss Wisconsin to win in the pageant's 91-year history — tears flowed and so did her mascara.
"Of course I realized I didn't wear waterproof mascara until after the fact. But it made that moment very real ...," Kaeppeler said.
Kaeppeler is much more than makeup, or evening gowns or swimsuits, though the Miss America pageant is certainly all those things, too. She is a poised, smart Carthage College graduate who won a preliminary talent portion of the competition by singing an Italian art song.
She's a Packers fan who jokingly told Aaron Rodgers on TV to call her.
And her platform, the issue that she made a part of her pageant campaign, was to be an advocate for children of incarcerated parents. It's a painful issue that's close to her because Kaeppeler's father was convicted of mail fraud and sentenced to federal prison while she was a teenager.
She plans to use the $50,000 in scholarship money to earn a law degree. But law school will have to wait a year. Meanwhile, she's got a full calendar.
"It's been a lot of craziness," said Kaeppeler, as she reeled off a lengthy list for her first week with the title that included numerous media interviews and a flight to New York. "Life has just been instantly changed."
Perhaps the only Wisconsinite who knows what's in store for Kaeppeler is the only other Miss America to hail from the Badger State. Terry Meeuwsen won the title in 1973 and remembers her younger brothers telling her about all of the cars driving by their De Pere home honking their horns the night she won.
De Pere put up a huge sign at the city limits heralding the community as the home of Miss America and when Meeuwsen brought her future husband home to meet her family, "we were about 10 miles out and I said, 'I need to tell you about something that's coming up on the right.'"

Read more »

New Miss America 2012 Laura Kaeppeler

Miss Wisconsin Laura Kaeppeler is being crowned Miss America 2012 on January 24, 2012 in Las Vegas, at Saturday. Miss Wisconsin Laura Kaeppeler is the 23 year old Kenosha native. She is becoming only the second Miss Wisconsin to win in the pageant’s 91-year history.

Miss America Pageant (Copyright Reserved by Fashions Gala)

Kaeppeler is a poised, smart Carthage College graduate, who won a preliminary talent portion of the competition by singing an Italian art song. She wants to become a Speech Pathologist in futures.

Miss America 2012 Laura Kaeppeler Reacts After Crowned Winner (Copyrights Reserved by Fashions Gala 2012)

Laura Kaeppeler Red Gown (All rights reserved by "Fashions Gala" 2012)

Laura Kaeppeler Red Gown (All rights Reserved by Fashions Gala 2012)

Miss America 2012 is Laura Kaeppeler Miss Wisconsin (Copyright Reserved by Fashions Gala 2012)

Read more »

Gucci launches Bags Collection for Men Fall 2012-13

The Gucci Men’s Fall/Winter 2012 fashion show held on 16 January, 2012 in Milan, Italy..Gucci is famous for its top-ranked and most fashionable brand for men’s and women’s across the world.In Gucci Men’s Fall/Winter 2012 fashion show the new collection of Men’s handbags by the name of “Your World In Bags” also showcased.

Gucci Bags Collection for Men Fall 2012-13 (Copyright reserved by Fashions Gala)

Gucci Bags Collection for Men Fall 2012-13 (Copyright reserved by Fashions Gala)

Gucci Bags Collection for Men Fall 2012-13 (Copyright reserved by Fashions Gala)

Gucci Bags Collection for Men Fall 2012-13 (Copyright reserved by Fashions Gala)

Gucci Bags Collection for Men Fall 2012-13 (Copyright reserved by Fashions Gala)

Gucci Bags Collection for Men Fall 2012-13 (Copyright reserved by Fashions Gala)

Gucci Bags Collection for Men Fall 2012-13 (Copyright reserved by Fashions Gala)

Gucci Bags Collection for Men Fall 2012-13 (Copyright reserved by Fashions Gala)

Gucci Bags Collection for Men Fall 2012-13 (Copyright reserved by Fashions Gala)

Read more »

Dubai Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012 started at Dubai World Trade Centre

Dubai Fashion Week (DFW) statrted at Dubai Fashion Week (DFW), Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai from Thursday, 20th - Monday, 24th October 2011.The duration of this event will be of 5 days.

Dubai Fashion Week (DFW) is an 'invitation only' fashion trade event aimed at bringing together major advocates of the fashion industry by providing them a single platform. DFW is overseen by fashion and industry experts comprising of an advisory board. The week enables local and regional designers and fashion houses to present their collection to global and regional buyers, media, fashion professionals and the general public.

Read more »

After Reema Now Meera is Going to marry with american national

Lahore: Pakistan actress Meera has decided to marry with an American-born pilot Naveed Pervez, and the engagement ceremony will be held on February 19.

According to reports, the actress has taken her final decision but final date of marriage will be decided with the consultation of families of Meera nad Naveed Pervez.

It is to be mentioned here that Reema had recently married with a Pakistani-born American national cardiologist surgeon on November 18.

Read more »

Winner of Zee Cine Awards 2012

 Zee Cine Awards were held on 21-Jan-2012 at the biggest casino in 'Macau'. The event was a star studded affair that included stars like Shahrukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Shahid Kapoor,Vidya Balan, Farhan Akhtar, Katrina Kaif & many more Bollywood icons.The following are the winners of the award in different categories.
Best Actor (Jury)
Shahrukh Khan, Don2
Best Actress (Jury)
Vidya Balan, The Dirty Picture
Best Actor (Popular)
Ranbir Kapoor,Rockstar

Best Actress (Popular)
Vidya Balan, The Dirty Picture
Best Film (Jury)
The Dirty Picture
Best Film (Popular)
Rockstar
Best Director (Jury)
Imtiaz Ali, Rockstar
Best Story
Zoya Akhtar & Reema Kagti , Zindagi Na Mila Dobara
Song of the Year
Chammak Challo, RA One
Best Song
Ishq Sufiyana , The Dirty Picture
Best Choreography
Oh La La , The Dirty Picture
Best Supporting Actress
Swara Bhaskar, Tanu Weds Manu
Best Supporting Actor
Farhan Akhtar, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
Best Debut Female
Parineeti Chopra, Ladies vs Ricky Bahl
Best Debut Male
Rana Daggubati, Dum Maaro Dum
Best Performance in Negative Role
Prakash Raj, Singham
Best Playback Singer Male
Mohit Chauhan, Jo Bhi Main, Rockstar
Best Editing
Aarti Bajaj, Rockstar
Best Cinematography
Carlos Catalan, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
International Icon Male
Farhan Akhtar
International Icon Female
Katrina Kaif
Best Debutante Director
Siddique, Bodyguard
Best Sound Design
Resul Pookutty, Ra.One
Best Action
Ra.One
Best Marketed Film
Ra.One
Best Music
AR Rahman, Rockstar

Read more »

Lara Dutta & Mahesh Bhupathi names her daughter as Saira Bhupathi

 Lara and Mahesh who got married on February 16, 2011 have been blessed with a baby girl. The 33-year-old actor, who is married to ace tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi, gave birth to a healthy child. The couple has named the little one Saira Bhupathi.

Earlier, in an interview given to a daily, Mahesh had said that he always prayed for a baby girl and his wish is finally granted.

Lara recently met International chat show host Oprah Winfrey and tweeted, "@Oprah and @iamsrk, two people I absolutely adore! Thank you for making my day! Now can go into labour happily! :) (sic).”

Read more »

Kajal Agarwal shows interest in doing a film like Charles Angels

Charming girl Kajal Agarwal wants to do more than a sword-wielding princess' role that she did in Magadheera.  She wants to go the full hog on donning a girl who brandishes the rapier in style.  Yes, she wants to do a Charles Angles role if that ever comes her way.  She said this at a press meet held in Hyderabad yesterday.

Even as she made a bold wish known to the world, Kajal preferred not to talk about the smooching scene in Businessman.  "I don't want to talk much about that.  The scene was infused in the movie as per the need of the script" she shot back.

Kajal is totally in love with Mahesh's dekko acting performance in Businessman.  Saying that she was happy to have acted with him, the actress said she would like to see none but Mahesh in the Hindi remake as well.  "I can't imagine anyone else in the role."

She had compliments for Puri Jagannadh.  "He made me portray both love and hate in the character."

Read more »

Little genius Star Arfa Karim , daughter of Pakistan

Born in Faisalabad, Pakistan, the little Arfa Karim was only 5 when she first came across these strange white “boxes” in her school which later she knew were computers. “When you push a button, something magically appears on the box” said Arfa.
After she persuaded her father to buy her one, Amjad Karim –who serves with a U.N. peace making force in Africa, began to notice his young daughter’s extraordinary “technical” talent, that’s when he convinced APTECH –an advanced computer institute near their home- to enroll her as a student for she was still too young to apply.
In 2005, the people at the institute amazed with her unique aptitude, informed her father that Arfa might actually be in a position to seek Microsoft certification; and after only four months of hard work and dedicated study –over summer- the little girl genius passed the exam for developing Windows applications! A process that would’ve normally taken a year to accomplish.
Being the youngest person to ever obtain this certification –Arfa was certified at only 9 years of age- she got the chance to fly to the USA and meet Mr. Gates himself.
Arfa took the Microsoft people there by surprise with her wit, intelligence, and even audacity.
During her one-on-one with Bill Gates, she talked about lots of things, asked him many questions, such as why there weren’t much women working at the company, she thought the number of male and female employees should be equaled , she also asked him why they wouldn’t hire someone her age. She also made no secret she was surprised with the dress code there as she thought they’d all be in suits, and dropped the bare truth that meeting Gates fallen only second to Disneyland on her list of the things she wanted to see in America.
Following that encounter, Arfa was regarded as a celebrity in Pakistan and was held as an icon and a role model! Pakistanis celebrated her everywhere, and took pride of her.
Arfa expressed her dream of going to Harvard University or MIT to complete her studies in order to become a developer or a satellite engineer.
Unfortunately, the little genius won’t be able to fulfill her dream, for Arfa Karim, Pakistan’s pride, died at the tender age of 16 after an epileptic seizure that left her in a coma back in December, and eventually led to a cardiac arrest in early January that sent her soul to heavens.
Arfa karim may be gone, but never forgotten. May god rest her soul!

Read more »

Mauhib Iqbal a 13 year old Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) from Pakistan

Mauhib Iqbal of Pakistan is a 13-year-old child, an O-Level Student at Beacon House School at Karachi, has achieved MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist) from Microsoft in .Net Framework 4.0 (computer programming) with 98.4%. He is also awarded with the title of “Charter Member” by Microsoft Corporation.

 

 Mauhib is the youngest child achieving this certificate and award from Microsoft on .Net 4 technology. He is currently teaching at Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology on week-ends for the students of programing. He has been awarded with a gold medal for this achievement by his school. He also attended Open Door Event of Microsoft and Visual Studio Loadfest event at Microsoft Innovation Center. He is expert in designing websites and web applications, and also expert in developing Windows Form Applications.

 

Read more »

Wikipedia Going Dark to Protest SOPA

Wikipedia will go offline Wednesday to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), according to Co-Founder Jimmy Wales. Wales made the announcement via a series of tweets. “This is going to be wow,” reads one tweet. “I hope Wikipedia will melt phone systems in Washington on Wednesday. Tell everyone you know!”

Wales has been mulling the idea of a blackout on his user talk page. Wikipedia joins other major websites, such as Reddit, where a very active anti-SOPA community exists. Wales tweeted that the decision was made by community consensus among Wikipedia users:


According to another tweet by Wales, Wikipedia English receives approximately 25 million visitors every day. Wikipedia’s decision means those millions of visitors will be greeted not with the usual digital tome of knowledge, but with a screen explaining the company’s stance on the bill and information on how to take action against SOPA. The blackout will only effect the English language page.
“Student warning! Do your homework early,” joked Wales in another tweet. “Wikipedia protesting bad law on Wednesday!”

Late last week, the authors of both SOPA and the Protect IP Act (PIPA) announced they would be removing the DNS blocking provisions from both bills. The DNS acts as a kind of “phone book” for the Internet, and many in the tech community warned that interfering with DNS would have catastrophic consequences for the stability and security of the Internet.
However, many – including Wales – have responded with a whole-hearted “that’s not good enough.” An anti-SOPA Twitter, tweeted today that “closing a global business in reaction to single-issue national politics is foolish,” perhaps an indication that Twitter will not be following in the footsteps of Wikipedia and Reddit.
Meanwhile, Rupert Murdoch, CEO of News Corporation, went on a Twitter diatribe lambasting the Obama administration for failing to support SOPA.
Do you think Wikipedia made the right choice? Let us know in the comments below.

Read more »

Shilpa's dress causes international stir

While most Indian fashion designers would maintain that our traditional garment, the sari, is one of the best known Indian outfits on the international fashion scene, when a UK tabloid called an anarkali suit a sari recently, the readers took no time to show their umbrage online.

On Friday, Daily Mail carried an article on Bollywood actor and ex Big Brother winner, Shilpa Shetty, making her first post pregnancy appearance. While the actor wore an off white and red anarkali suit with a duppatta, the report called the garment a sari; apparently failing to recognise the Indian outfit. ‘Shilpa Shetty’s sari shows off her baby bump’, read the headline. Soon enough, people started posting comments on the tabloid website about the faux pas.

“That’s not a sari. It’s called an Anarkali,” posted ZB from India. Another comment, posted by Zak, read, “Its Not a sari it’s a freakin anarkali dress (sic).” Indian designers feel that at a time when a global fashion giant like Hermes has come up with an exclusive sari collection and designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier have done their interpretation of the sari, such ignorance is amusing.

“While sari is a garment that fascinates the west, it’s sad that not many know about it still,” says designer Ritu Kumar.

Chavi Taneja, a design student in Delhi says, “Westerners may get confused between an anarkali and a churidaar, but a sari has been worn by many global celebs.”

However, designer Anand Bhushan says, “Even we may not be able to tell an abaya from a burqa. So, we shouldn’t feel hurt. After all, Hermes did a whole sari collection. What bigger compliment do we need?"

Read more »

Fashion Tips for Buying Clothes to suit Your Shape

 

Fashion tips for women with different body shapes vary. Here are fashion tips for a few of the common body shapes which cause distress among women:

• Fashion Tips for Petite Women:

1. Women with a height of 3 feet 4 inches or shorter are classified as petite. Though you should be careful about how you dress up, but as long as you know style tips for women who are petite, there is nothing to worry about.
2. Dark colors make you look taller, but that doesn’t mean you should always choose black for yourself. One of the Pakistani style ideas which you can apply to yourself if getting your shirt dyed in two tones of the same color for example: the upper half of the shirt in bottle green and the lower half as light green. This is one of the style tips for womenwhich make them look tall.
3. You can also try wearing a short length jacket on your shirt when you are wearing jeans, this is another one of good fashion tips for petite women.
4. Avoid wearing horizontal lines or prints; they will make you look shorter and broader according to style tips for women.
5. As far as Pakistani style tips for petite women wear are concerned, try wearing shorter sleeves, v-neck shirts, choori dar pajamas (or skinny jeans) to make you look elongated.

• Fashion Tips for Tall Women:

Over the time, women who have a height of 5 ft 8 or longer, are considered as tall and these fashion tips apply mainly to women who fall under this category. Pakistani style ideas encourage you to enhance your height with the sort of style tips for women clothing which are appropriate for you. Go for long dresses, lines, long boots, long hair and fitted clothes to play up the beauty. Let your arms and legs show themselves by wearing long sleeves, choori dar pajamas and skinny jeans. Your height is not something you are meant to hide.

• Fashion Tips for Hip Heavy Triangle Women:

Pear shaped women think they face the worst. But trust me on this, if you follow the right Pakistani style tips, your body will look just as gorgeous as any model on the TV.  Pakistani women with a hip heavy triangle shape should consider themselves as lucky because Pakistani style ideas give them a wide range of options which are not available to western women. You can wear dark color trousers in heavy fabric which doesn’t cling to your body, and makes you’re his look slimmer.

Always get your trousers stitched in more than average length which is another one of Pakistani style tips for pear shaped women. For shirts also, the fashion tips for pear shaped women are much the same. The main thing is to be careful about the fabric. Apart from making sure that it doesn’t cling, also check that it doesn’t shine, so that your lower body is not unnecessarily enhanced. Never opt for stiff or thick fabric either.

• Fashion Tips for Top Heavy Women:

The trick is to use fashion tips to draw attention away from your bust and play them down with the right fabric, cut and colors. Baggy tops are never a good idea for top heavy women because they just make you look bigger. Wearing V-neck is one of the successful fashion tips for top heavy women, and wearing necklace which rests on your neck and not your cleavage is another way to draw attention away from your bust. Also, you should avoid wearing high necks, sleeveless and loud prints. Go for fashion tips and cuts which skim along your body without enhancing your upper half.

• Fashion Tips for Rectangular Shaped Women:

Pakistani style tips for rectangular shapes give a wider variety to boyish shaped women. You can always go for high necks or turtle necks to make your upper half look fuller. Fabric that clings to your body is exactly right for rectangular women. Pakistani style ideas also encourage pleats, frills and short sleeves to give you a more feminine look. Flairs, flowy fabrics, Maxi cuts are the right style tips for women

Read more »

Medical experts say Aarifa Karim's case not 'hopeless'

 
FAISALABAD: Professor Dr Azhar Hussain, a neurosurgeon at the King Edwards Medical University, Lahore after examining Aarifa Karim Randhawa at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Lahore has opined that “this was not a hopeless case.”

This was revealed by Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Amjad Karim Randhawa, father of Aarifa, on Tuesday night. Randhawa quoted Dr Hussain as saying “we believe that we can be successful in activating her cerebral activity.”

A joint team of medical experts of CMH Lahore had already prepared a comprehensive report pertaining to the health status of child prodigy, Aarifa Karim Randhawa who is under care at an intensive care unit of CMH since December 22, 2011.

Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani too has sent his representative, Dr Muhammad Iftikhar, who has joined the medical experts at the CMH Lahore to assure best possible medical care is provided for Randhawa. Dr Iftikhar has assured on behalf of the federal government that it would provide medical assistance for the survival of Aarifa Karim anywhere in the word as per advice and suggestions of the resident medical team.

Lt Col Randhawa said that samples from Aarifa, including scans of her brain have been mailed to renowned medical experts in Australia and other countries.

“I have been constantly receiving a flood of calls from abroad as well as within Pakistan inquiring after the health of Aarifa”, Lt Col Randhawa said.

“A number of medical experts of all the leading developed countries are also in touch with me as well as the doctors of CMH and are providing vital assistance for her survival”.

Randhawa said that while doctors had given up hope at one point, there was renewed belief that Aarifa could be saved. “Now we believe that a miracle will take place for the survival of Aarifa Karim”.

Aarifa Karim Randhawa was rushed to the CMH Lahore after she suffered a cardiac arrest on December 22, 2011.

She is the youngest ever Microsoft certified professional in the world

Read more »