By SUNIL Sonkar
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Rubina Ali Qureshi, the child-actor of Oscan-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire gets a new flat as New Year gift by director Danny Boyle through the Jai Ho Trust. The cost of this Mumbai suburb flat is Rs 3.2 million.
BLUE MOON
It was a doubly special evening to celebrate. It was New Year’s blue moon that will happen again in 2028. Last time a decade ended on a blue moon was in 1819 when Napolean Bonaparte was most famous resident of Saint Helena.
A P J ABDUL KALAM
Former President A P J Abdul Kalam pledges to keep public places clean. He said in New Delhi, “Let us all resolve to keep the public places clean, neat and tidy.” Kalam also said that every citizen should undertake plantation of fruit-bearing trees so that India can have one billion trees for one billion people at the end of 2010.
BIHAR BANDH
The RJD decides to kick-off the New Year with a Bihar bandh. RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav announced a ‘Chakka Jam’ in Bihar on January 28 against steep price rise. Next the RJD will announce ‘jail bharo andolan’.
COMMONWEALTH GAMES
Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit’s New Year wish is to make the 2010 Commonwealth Games a grand success. She said, “The New Year will bring happiness, prosperity, peace and tranquility. I request people to render their constructive cooperation in making Commonwealth Games 2010 a grand success.”
BRITNEY IN KERALA
Pop sensation Britney Spears was in Kerala, God’s Own Country in the last two nights of 2009. She was on a luxury houseboat in the backwaters of Kerala. Britney is very particular about privacy during her holidays. After the holidays she will be shooting for her new album in different locations in Kerala.
FORD PRICE HIKE
Ford India is hiking the prices of all its models from Jan 1, 2010. The price hike is due to increase in input costs and also due to exchange rate fluctuations. The hike is in range of Rs 6,000 to Rs 40,000.
AIIMS FACULTY SALARY HIKE
All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) decides to bring the salaries of the faculty on par with that of IIT and IIM professors. The hike is effective from January 1.
PRESIDENT PRATIBHA PATIL
President Pratibha Patil said to the nation on New Year Eve, “On the occasion of New Year, I extend my greetings and best wishes to all my fellow citizen.”
PM MANMOHAN SINGH
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, “As we welcome the dawn of a new decade, we should build upon the achievements of the past in striving for the realization of our dreams.”
WORLDSPACE GOES SILENT
A sad news for all radio lovers. Satellite radio WorldSpace became silent from this New Year. Thursday midnight onwards they stopped their service.
GOOGLE GSM PHONE
Happy New Year with Google GSM smart phone. The phone is expected to come in the market by 5th of January.
