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Yashraj Productions is making its debut on a small screen but just like films their TV show has all the star power as well. The numero uno banner of Bollywood is coming up with a show called Rishta.com, apparently, a comedy series which will show a matrimony office through which couples meet. YRF has tapped all their loyalists including Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Preity Zinta, Uday Chopra, Tabu and Riteish Deshmukh to make an appearance on their show but opening the curtains will be biggest Khan of them all, Aamir Khan. According to reports, Aamir has agreed to be a part of YRF’s new show and the main reasons for his nod is the fact that it’s very close to real life. The perfectionist star's inclusion also comes as a surprise as the banner has always flaunted SRK to be their lucky mascot. Industry sources indicate that it’s going to be big indeed, however, the details of Aamir’s role on the show haven’t been divulged as yet.

(CNN) -- Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has been called "The King of Hearts" by many of his countrymen, referring to what they believe are his compassionate attempts to reform his ultra-conservative kingdom. He used his power Monday to overturn a criminal court sentence of 60 lashes and a two-year travel ban imposed on female journalist Rosanna al-Yami. Under the travel ban, she could not have left Saudi Arabia. Al-Yami was sentenced for her work on an episode of the television show "A Thick Red Line" that featured a Saudi man who bragged about sexual escapades. The controversial show explores social taboos. It is carried by the Lebanese Broadcasting Corp., for which al-Yami works as a coordinator and guest booker. "King Abdullah's swift revocation of this punishment sends an important notice to the Saudi judicial system that it should not go after journalists for exercising free speech," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director for Human Right...

SRI NAGAR: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sought to reach out to the Pakistan government by saying that it was the desire of India and the people of Pakistan to live in peace.Addressing a gathering in Anantnag before flagging off a train service between south and north of Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister, however, underlined that Pakistan needed to curb terrorism."For a productive dialogue it is essential that terrorism must be brought under control," the prime minister said."I strongly believe that the majority of the people in Pakistan seek good neighbourly and cooperative relations between India and Pakistan. They seek a permanent peace. This is our view as well," he said.He said India was ready to discuss humanitarian "and other issues" with the Pakistani government.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009 BERLIN: German lawmakers on Wednesday formally re-elected Angela Merkel for a second four-year term as chancellor, this time at the head of a new centre-right coalition.In general elections on September 27, Merkel, 55, was able to ditch her previous partners, the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), in favour of a tie-up of her conservatives with the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP)."I accept the result and thank you for your trust," she said, as lawmakers applauded and presented her with bouquets of flowers in the main chamber of the Reichstag parliament building.Out of the 612 MPs present in Germany's lower house on Wednesday, the Bundestag, 323 voted in favour of Merkel, with 285 against and four abstentions. Her Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and the FDP hold 332 seats.The new government has pledged to make Germany, Europe's biggest economy, emerge from the global recession in better shape than before the financial crisis sent it into it...

Wednesday, October 28, 2009 JERUSALEM: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will travel to the Middle East on Saturday in an attempt to help peacemaking efforts, Israeli and Palestinian radio stations reported on Wednesday.It will be Clinton's second visit to the region since U.S. President Barack Obama took office in January. A senior U.S. envoy, George Mitchell, has been shuttling between Israeli and Palestinian leaders every few weeks.Asked about the reports on Israel Radio and Voice of Palestine radio, an Israeli official would only say: "Israel is preparing to receive Secretary of State Clinton on the weekend."In the West Bank city of Ramallah, a Palestinian official said a schedule for a Clinton visit had not been received yet.The U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv had no immediate comment.Mitchell was expected to fly in on Thursday and stay on into next week, said an official involved in the planning.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009 CAPE CANAVERAL: Bad weather was interfering with NASA's attempt to launch a new, experimental rocket for the second day in a row early Wednesday.An estimated 154 lightning strikes were reported within a five-mile radius of the launch pad overnight. Launch controllers were retesting the Ares I-X rocket systems to make sure nothing was damaged. The extra work delayed Wednesday morning's liftoff. NASA had until noon to get the rocket flying.Tuesday's launch attempt was thwarted by clouds and wind. More of the same was expected Wednesday.The Ares I-X is a precursor to the rockets NASA hopes to launch with astronauts to the International Space Station and, ultimately, the moon. The White House may scrap it, however, in favor of other rockets and destinations.NASA has invested $445 million in the test.The first-stage booster will be recovered from the ocean for analysis.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009 TOKYO: The Japanese eyewear company behind Sarah Palin's designer glasses has come up with a high-tech solution for obsessive video-gamers and bookworms whose eyes dry out from lack of blinking.Masunaga Optical Manufacturing Co. Ltd. said Tuesday its "Wink Glasses" -- retailing for 40,000 yen (430 dollars) -- were an answer to the ocular dehydration caused for instance by prolonged computer use.When a sensor detects that the wearer has not blinked for more than five seconds, the glasses "fog up" by gradually making a liquid crystal display over one eye turn opaque.A simple blink clears the lens again.Masunaga, based in the central Japanese city of Fukui, has enjoyed a boost in sales since Palin burst to international prominence last year as the Republicans' vice presidential pick in the United States.