Jackson’s personal invite to Shilpa

It was a poignant moment for Shilpa Shetty when she received a personal invitation from the King of

Shilpa Shetty (TOI photo) More Pics

Pop.

Mikaeel Jackson (that’s his new name) inviting her for his brother Jermaine’s birthday bash which Mikaeel himself was throwing.

Jackson’s brother was one of the contestants of Big Brother along with Shilpa Shetty and Jade Goody. Besides Shilpa, Jackson had also sent an invite to Jade Goody. We are told both the foes-turned-friends — Shilpa and Jade — had been specially invited as ‘Chief Guests’ for Jermaine’s birthday. Can you ‘beat it’? Needless to say, Shilpa was very excited to get a personal invitation from the King of Pop himself. Who won’t be, right? Hmm, ‘pop’ some champagne to that?

Paris Hilton 'wooing' ex-beau Benji

Hollywood actress Paris Hilton has sparked rumours that she is back with her ex-beau Benji Madden, after she was spotted talking “cozily” with Paris Hilton with Benji Madden (Reuters photo) More Pics him at a Los Angeles event. The hotel heiress, who split from Benji in November, is reportedly keen to patch up with him and made a beeline for him as soon as she heard he was coming at the event. “Paris was doing interviews on the red carpet when Benji arrived. He stopped to greet her in mid-interview and the two went inside the store together, where she quickly pulled him into a private corner so they could talk,” the Sun quoted a source said. “Paris waved off photographers as the former couple chatted cozily together. After grabbing drinks at the bar, Paris quickly approached Nicole Richie, who was there with her boyfriend, Benji’s twin Joel, to say hi, and then she and Benji headed out to the smoking patio for some more quiet conversation, When someone asked Paris if she was getting back together with Benji, she reportedly “offered a knowing smile,” the source added. Just two weeks ago, Paris had hinted that the two might rekindle their romance. “I love Benji. He's such an amazing man and he's my best friend and he's been so great to me and so loyal,” Paris said. “We''ll always be very close. We''ll see what happens in the future. I''m still in love with him,” she added.

Carving out the spirit of Liberation War

Syed Abdullah Khalid is regarded as one of the most brilliant sculptors of our country. A multitalented artist, Khalid has not excelled in sculpture but also made an impression with his paintings. Khalid's “Aparajeyo Bangla” on Dhaka University campus has become an evocative icon on the Liberation War. The sculpture is a reflection of the Bengali consciousness and indomitable yearning for freedom. The project was launched in 1973 when this artist was a young teacher at the Department of Fine Arts, Chittagong University. Throughout the making of the sculpture, Khalid had to face religious anarchism and negative reaction from the bigots. Nevertheless Khalid -- high on patriotism -- was determined to finish the work of art. “I think struggle is one of the most remarkable traits of human nature. The rewards we get without struggles are paled when compared to achievements accomplished through physical and psychological labours,” said Khalid. Hasina Ahmed, Syed Hamid Moksood and Badrul Alam Benu, who are very close to Khalid, modelled for "Aparajeyo Bangla." The artist closely observed the models' personalities and his close association with them enabled him to do justice with his portrayal. On August 15, 1975, the work suddenly came to a halt because of the heinous murder of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Political instability and the arrest of the then Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University, Abdul Matin Chowdhury, also disrupted the work. The project remained incomplete till the end of 1978. Some fundamentalist groups tried to demolish the sculpture in 1977. However, the brave students of Dhaka University fiercely guarded the work. After a long hiatus, the work began once more in the beginning of 1979 -- with a new vision and dream. At last the project was finished on December 16, 1979. The sculpture was inaugurated by wounded freedom fighters. “There are monuments recognised and commissioned by the government, and then there are those made by the people. 'Aparajeyo Bangla' falls in the latter category. I undertook the project for my own gratification. I wanted to do doing something for my country and fellow citizens. After the Liberation War, I contemplated a plan to create a symbol which would inspire generations of Bangladeshis,” asserted Khalid. Losing himself in nature, Khalid takes themes from this infinite source and plays with colours on the canvas. He likes to experiment with different forms and adores breaking and constructing them in many ways. In many of Khalid's works, one finds a great interchange between abstract and realistic forms. Works of Mustafa Monwar, Rashid Choudhury, Quamrul Hasan and Zainul Abedin inspire Khalid. Today Khalid has become the model of an ideal artist. Unfortunately he has received no assistance from the government or any organisation. However, the artist has no complaint. Imagination, love for nature and motherland continue to drive his artistic endeavours.

Another war around corner, 37 years after

Call to boycott war criminals through ballots gets louder Just before the surrender of the Pakistani forces on Dec 16, 1971, a skirmish breaks out between them and freedom fighters near the then Hotel Intercontinental in Dhaka. They surrendered after a brief encounter. Two paper cuttings (Bangladesh Observer and daily Azad) show reports on seeking information about Al-Badr activists and the ban imposed on five anti-liberation parties. Photo: Star File Photo The government of independent Bangladesh in its first decision banned five communal outfits including Jamaat-e-Islami, which not only opposed the nation's independence but also actively helped Pakistani occupation forces commit genocide and other war crimes. Thirty-seven years into independence, those who won freedom of Bangladesh through a nine-month bloody war are waging another fight against the defeated anti-liberation forces in a battle of vote. The leading veterans including the living commanders of the Liberation War have launched a unified battle to wake up people once again to stand against Jamaat and alleged war criminals contesting the national polls. Prior to the celebration of Victory Day today, the sector commanders and other Liberation War forces have already identified 14 candidates as war criminals in the BNP-Jamaat alliance. The banned parties including Jamaat were given the green light to do politics during the rule of late president Ziaur Rahman after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975. After victory on December 16, 1971 the first issue of newspapers of the new nation carried the government's decision to ban five communal parties on December 18. The Morning News run the report reading, "The government of the peoples' republic of Bangla Desh has banned four communal parties with immediate effect. These four political parties are Muslim League and all its factions, Pakistan Democratic Party, Nezam-e-Islam and Jamat-e-Islami. In addition to these the government has also banned the Pakistan People's Party. The announcement was made by the Bangla Desh government in a radio broadcast." The Liberation War forces are waging the fight against Jamaat and war criminals as the long-standing demand to restrict participation of war criminals in the polls has failed. A ray of hope, however, shimmers in the dark as the Election Commission for the first time decided to debar war criminals from polls and included a provision in the Representation of People (Amendment) Ordinance, 2008. The provision states: "A person shall be disqualified for election as or for being, a member, if he has been convicted as war criminal by any national or international court or tribunal." But the move to debar war criminals from polls falls flat on its face as the government has not initiated a move to officially identify them. Former army chief Lt Gen (retd) M Harun-ur-Rashid told The Daily Star: "The government has neither initiated any move to identify war criminals nor even informed the Election Commission about them though the government has many old records and documents in this regard." "The Liberation War ministry could have done the job on behalf of the government," added Harun, also coordinator of the Sector Commanders' Forum, which would launch a campaign soon in the constituencies of candidates belonging to anti-liberation forces. Besides conducting door-to-door campaign against war criminals, they will also publish posters and leaflets making voters aware why these elements should not be elected. The leaflets and posters will feature credentials and roles of the respective war criminal candidates during the Liberation War. Committees to resist these elements will also be formed in those constituencies in addition to carrying out regular rallies and processions to be attended by the sector commanders and freedom fighters. Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, a forum for secular Bangladesh and trial of war criminals, will carry out simultaneous campaigns. Acting president of the forum Shahriar Kabir told The Daily Star: "We ran such campaigns ahead of polls in 1996 and 2001 with the slogan 'We want Razakar-free parliament'. We also distributed posters, leaflets and pamphlets containing credentials of war criminals in their respective constituencies during those campaigns." Meanwhile, the Qur'an Sunnah Research Institute, Jhikargachaa, Jessore, and Sachetan Nagorik Samaj have already published posters and leaflets against Jamaat this time. The publication contains some statements of Jamaat founder Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi that appear contradictory to Islam. "Had we got expected response from the political parties regarding our appeal of debarring war criminals from polls, the fight need not be launched," Gen Harun said. When the Sector Commanders' Forum moved to hold a dialogue with political parties with the appeal, BNP did not response. The party rather formed an alliance with anti-liberation force Jamaat. Even Jamaat was not supposed to get registration with EC but allowed the registration to bring all parties in polls. Just six days ahead of victory in 1971, incumbent Jamaat Secretary General Ali Hasan Mohammad Mojaheed, who was then president of its student wing Islami Chhatra Shangha, was active to foil the Liberation War. Mojaheed addressed a rally organised by Al Badr on December 10. The Daily Azad covered the rally and reported on December 11: "President of East Pakistan Islami Chhatra Shangha Al Mujaheed urged people to deal a deathblow to expansionism of Hindustan. He said, "We cannot accept existence of Hindustan. It has become an indispensable task to eliminate Hindustan for the sake of ensuring security to Pakistan."

Nude 'Virgin Mary' on Playboy

A nude model resembling the Virgin Mary on the cover of the Mexican edition of Playboy magazine, published only days before a major Mexican festival dedicated to the mother of Jesus, prompted the company's U.S. headquarters on Friday to apologize.

The magazine, which hit newsstands on December 1 as ceremonies began leading to Friday's pilgrimage to the Mexico City shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe, showed a model wearing nothing but a white cloth over her head and breasts.

She is standing in front of a stained glass window with the cover line, "We Love You, Maria" in Spanish. The model's name is Maria Florencia Onori.

The Virgin of Guadalupe, said to have appeared to a sixteenth century Indian peasant, is Mexico's most revered Roman Catholic figure and the annual pilgrimage to the Mexico City basilica dedicated to her is one of the world's largest religious events.

In a statement, Chicago-based Playboy Enterprises Inc said the Mexican edition of the magazine is published by a licensee, and the company did not approve or endorse the cover.

"While Playboy Mexico never meant for the cover or images to offend anyone, we recognize that it has created offense, and we as well as Playboy Mexico offer our sincerest apologies," the statement said.

Raul Sayrols, publisher of Playboy Mexico, said in a statement, "The image is not and never was intended to portray the Virgin of Guadalupe or any other religious figure. The intent was to reflect a Renaissance-like mood on the cover."

Playboy Mexico printed 100,000 copies of the issue.