King Khan on Mumbai blasts
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has finally opened up about the Mumbai terror attacks. In an exclusive interview to BBC Radio, the Baadshah broke his silence over the havoc created by the fanatics.
A part of the interview was aired during the transmission of a popular London based Bollywood show recently.
SRK expressed his anguish, but at the same time said, “I’ve tried to keep away from commenting on this as there are no words to express a situation like this because our feelings are mixed with anger, disbelief and sadness.”
The actor is dismayed as he can’t gulp the fact that anyone can do such grave things in the name of religion. “Being a Muslim myself, I believe youngsters need to understand Islam and respect the religion in the right way. I think no agenda should be attached to any kind of religion”, he added.
SRK further said, “It’s such a huge waste and my appeal to all in these times and in recent years is – ‘Please, can we run what we want in terms of politics, government, jobs and teaching our children with the prime motive of taking communalism out of it’.”

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Infertility can be hard for any woman and the idea of not being able to have a child of your own can be totally devastating but for women in some parts of

Africa it’s even worse than any of us could imagine.

The pressure to bear children and continue the family line is huge in countries such as Sudan and Malawi and any woman not able to carry out this duty is considered an outcast or even a witch by the community around her.

Witchhunts still occur in certain places in Africa and anyone suspected of witchcraft- even if those suspicions are just based on malicious gossip- can be thrown out of a village, locked away in a special ‘witch camp’ or even tortured.

Now officials are planning to solve the infertility taboo in these countries by providing cheap IVF treatment for those women affected. But is that really the best way to solve the problem? Or is it simply playing up to the notion that an infertile woman in surplus to the requirements of society?

“Infertility is taboo in Africa,” said Willem Ombelet, head of a task force at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology looking into infertility in developing countries. “Nobody has paid attention to this issue, but it is a huge problem and we need to do something.”

At a media briefing at the society’s annual conference in Barcelona, Ombelet said that he and colleagues were deciding in which countries to test the new procedure whcih will see women being offered a cheap version of IVF which costs less than £100 -standard IVF treatments in the West cost up to £5,000.

The treatment can be offered at such a low price due to changes in the methods used. For example where an expensive incubator is used to create an embryo in the western world, Ombelet said that a simple water bath could be used in Africa.

Medicines and equipment used would also be a cheaper version of what is most commonly used around the world- but is this ethical? Are we saying that although we wouldn’t use these methods on our own women, they are adequate enough for African women?

The difference in the cheaper IVF procedures also means that they are less effective.The success rate with western methods is around 20% while Ombelet estimates it would probably be about 15% using this new scheme.

Surely this is going to make matters worse- a woman who is outcast for being infertile could perhaps be rejected further if she still can’t conceive even after getting help?

It’s difficult to know what is the right thing to do in this situation….On the surface these women will be grateful of any help they can get to be able to bear children and be accepted by their communities but if we think long term then shouldn’t we be educating both the men and women in these countries? Surely we should be showing them that a woman is more than just a baby-making machine and that they have plenty more to offer to society? But then again who are we to meddle in the belief systems of another culture?

Let us know what you think below…………

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The former Spice Girl – who had a cameo role in the original US TV series – was overcome when she watched the film because it triggered all of her emotions.

She said: “I’ve seen ‘Sex and the City’ twice already. It pushed all the buttons – it made me laugh, made me cry. To be honest, I felt quite traumatised by it all. I think I’m quite sensitive when it comes to engaging with other people’s energies and emotions. And yet it’s things like characters in books and films that help me work out my own stuff in life.”

Geri, 35, also said the movie reminded her of her recent reconciliation with the Spice Girls.

The star – who quit the girl group in May 1998 to pursue a solo career – added: “In a way, seeing the four women in ‘Sex and the City’ and how the story of their lives had moved on reminded me of the Spice Girls and how we’ve moved on.

“The Spice Girls reunion tour was a very healing experience for me. It put to bed every bit of doubt, guilt, insecurity I had about leaving the girls when I did. I felt I’d made amends with them.”

Contrary to media reports Salman Khan and his girlfriend Katrina Kaif are still a couple. The two have definately not broken up.

Both had been refusing to comment on their relationship status post the infamous birthday bash of Katrina wherein Salman had a huge fight with Shah Rukh Khan. Reportedly, this fight and Salman’s obnoxious behaviour had angered Katrina and she had walked out of their relationship.

But according to sources, the couple was seen enjoying a cozy dinner at a Mumbai star hotel last Wednesday. Salman had come in alone followed by Katrina.

They both had hugged each other first and then sat having dinner for over an hour there. Also, they left together in the same car with Katrina’s car following Salman’s.

Also, the shooting of Yuvraj is going in full swing in Filmcity where the couple is seen having a blast shooting together.

The unit members claim, they have never seen them fight once after the reports of their break up have started coming out. Infact they are having more fun while shooting nowadays.

Katrina Kaif also refuted reports that she had decided to end her professional relationship with beau Salman Khan and said that a good script was the only pre-condition for her to sign a film.

“I have never said that I will not work with Salman Khan after Yuvraj, ” she said. “I always go by the script. I do not know how such speculations float around. If our dates work out, we will feature in Sohail Khan’s next film.”

On reports that she was no longer part of Shah Rukh Khan’s Temptations world tour after the much-hyped SRK- Salman fracas at her birthday party, Katrina said that she enjoyed dancing, and being on stage. “If dates permit, I will be a part of the show, ” she said.

Katrina, who recently replaced Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as the ambassador of Nakshtra jewellary brand, revealed that she is leaving for the US to shoot for Kabir Khan’s film, to be produced by Yash Raj Films, this week. The actress will be paired opposite John Abraham in this yet-untitled film.

“This will be my longest outdoor schedule ever, ” she said.

But before that, Katrina is looking forward to the release of her film, Singh is Kinng this week.

“It is an entertaining film and we have worked very hard on it, ” she said, adding, “Akshay has a good sense of script, commercial cinema and audience tastes. He is unbiased towards his co-stars.

Namastey London was a woman centric film but Akshay was its strength as well. Besides, we have fun matching each other’s energy in dancing, ” she said.

Bollywood fine director Mohit Suri says his relationship with Udita Goswami is far from over and that they have just taken a break from each other. ‘I don’t know why this image of me as a Casanova is being splashed around. I’m very uncomfortable with it. I’ve been seeing Udita for four years now and I’m very much in love with her, ‘ Mohit told.

He’s directing Kangana Ranaut in ‘Raaz: Some Secrets Are Yet To Revealed’ in Shimla and there were rumours of a link-up between them. Mohit was quick to brush these aside. ‘Udita and I have taken a break from each other. I’m sure we’ll be together again. This is a crucial phase in our relationship. The last thing I need for Udita to hear is that I’m having an affair with someone else. Please, ‘ added the director of films like ‘Kalyug’ and ‘Awarapan’. Mohit admitted there have been problems between him and Udita because of his workload. And the rumours of an affair with Kangana don’t help either. ‘Kangana and I have known each other from the time she came into the industry. We’ve done a film together earlier. ‘Raaz’ is a difficult role because she plays a woman possessed. It’s her film all the way, ‘ clarified Mohit. The director said Udita was unable to understand his passion for making movies.