MUMBAI: Five athletes remain in contention for the million-dollar jackpot when the IAAF?s Golden League series hits its halfway mark with the hosting of the Rome leg at the Olympic Stadium.

The third leg of the Golden League will be held in the Italian capital on Friday, 11 July, and Ten Sports, the most watched sports channel in the Sub-continent, will be there to bring the event live and exclusive. Live telecast starts 11:30 pm IST.

As many as 13 World outdoor champions from Osaka will feature in the star-studded field of the Golden Gala, as well as 100m runner-up Asafa Powell, who has recovered from his injury.

If Powell is able to run in Rome, the former 100 metres record holder will face his distant cousin Derrick Atkins, who beat the Jamaican in Osaka. Atkins won the Oslo Golden League meeting in a wind-assisted 9.98s.

Another clash worth having a look will be the one between Jeremy Wariner and Lashawn Merritt in the 400 metres. Merritt beat Wariner in the opening leg in Berlin in 44.03 dashing Wariner?s hopes to win a share of the jackpot. Wariner bounced back with a superb 43.98s in Oslo.

Also in the field is ?Blade Runner? Oscar Pistorius from South Africa, who will compete for the second time in his career in a B-race on the Rome track in the 400 metres in the attempt to pursue the difficult 400 metres Olympic standard for Bejing.

The five Golden League Jackpot contenders ? Blanka Vlasic (women?s high jump), Pamela Jelimo (women?s 800 metres), Bershawn Jackson (men?s 400 metres hurdles), Josephine Onya (women?s 100 metres hurdles) and Hussein Al Sabee (men?s long jump) are confirmed names in the provisional starting lists.

Two of these Golden League events will be of special significance for the Italian fans due to the presence of local athletics heroes ? Andrew Howe in the long jump and Antonietta Di Martino in the high jump, who won two memorable silver medals for Italy last summer in Osaka.

Yelena Isinbayeva, reigning pole vault Olympic, World and European champion and last year?s Golden League Jackpot winner, has chosen the Golden Gala as her first outdoor competition. Rome will be one of four pre-Olympic meetings for the glamorous Russian.

MUMBAI: 4 friends with 4 different opinions and 4 diverse likings! Star World premieres an offbeat comedy It‘s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, beginning Friday July 11th, at 8.30 pm. The show revolves around 4 friends who run an Irish pub in a seedy part of Philadelphia and gives a refreshing look to the comedy genre with its edgy subject matter and twisted humor.

With a desire to overcome their relentless self-involvement to make their friendship and business work, the 4 egocentric buddies, Mac (the show‘s creator Rob McElhenney), Charlie (Charlie Day), Dennis (Glenn Howerton) and his sister Dee (Kaitlin Olson), try to find their way through the adult world of work and relationships. Unfortunately, their twisted views and uncertain judgments often lead them to trouble, creating a myriad of uncomfortable situations that usually only get worse before they get better.

Tune in to find out why this comedy par excellence is a winner, as Star World exclusively premieres the show on Friday, July 11 at 8.30 pm.

MUMBAI: ICICI Bank Business banking and CNBC-TV18 announced the winners of the most anticipated awards for the Indian Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Industry - ‘Emerging India Awards 2008‘ on July 8, 2008 in London, United Kingdom. The ‘Emerging India Awards‘ India‘s biggest initiative for the SME sector through its theme ‘Think Global Go Global‘ this year, recognize the SME‘s for the crucial role played by them towards the growth of the Indian economy and rewarded the most globally competitive SME, whose business practices are at par with global giants.

The primary objective of the awards is to support and motivate Indian SME‘s by honoring them with the prestigious CNBC-TV18 ‘Emerging India Awards‘. The award helps accelerate the progress of greater and easier flow of credit from the banking sector to SMEs. SMEs have the potential to drive substantial employment growth and wealth creation. It is estimated that SMEs account for almost 90% of industrial units in India, 40% of value addition in the manufacturing sector and contribute 35% to India‘s merchandise exports. ‘Emerging India Awards‘ pioneered by ICICI Bank, India‘s second largest bank and CNBC-TV18, undisputed leader in business and supported by CRISIL, India‘s premier credit rating agency which is the Indian subsidiary of S&P, provides a platform that enhances the visibility of these integral players in India‘s economic growth story.

ICICI Bank and CNBC-TV18 have been organizing the Emerging India Awards since 2005, to recognize and showcase the value creating SMEs in the Indian economy. The Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, gave away the awards in 2007. India‘s large and growing entrepreneurial base is evident from the fact that there were 125,000 entries for just 10 awards in 2007, and this number has increased to 300,000 this year. In the year 2007, Emerging India Awards also earned a mention in the "Limca Book of Records" as India‘s biggest Business Awards.

With the Small and Medium Enterprises often hailed as being the drivers of economic growth this year overall Small and Medium Enterprise for the Year is Microqual Techno Pvt. Ltd. While Molecular Connections Pvt Ltd. is ‘The Most Promising Small Enterprise of the Year‘. Next Brick Solutions Ltd. won the honour of being the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year. This year CNBC-TV18 ‘Emerging India Awards‘ introduced a new category called Green Business Awards Geetanjali Woollens Pvt. Ltd. was nominated from across categories by CRISIL for their efforts towards environment conservation and utilization of environment friendly green technologies.

MUMBAI: Buzz18.com, the country?s leading entertainment website from the Network18 group in association with Subhash Ghai?s Whistling Woods International Institute of Film, Television, Animation and Media Arts and Mukta Arts yesterday announced the winners of ?Bollywood?s Next ? Writer?s Contest? at a scintillating evening hosted at Whistling Woods International, Film City, Goregaon, Mumbai. The event was a grand success with a panel of esteemed judges from the film fraternity including eminent filmmaker and film industry icon- Subhash Ghai, Script Writer- Actor-Producer, Anjum Rajabali and Script Writer-Director Sachin Bhowmick gracing the occasion and felicitating the three winners with grand prizes.

The winner of the contest, Swati Pandey from Mumbai not only gets a full course scholarship at Whistling Woods International but also an opportunity by Mukta Arts Ltd who will buy her script. First runner up Amin Prakash, along with a short course scholarship, gets to cowork with Mukta Arts Ltd and the second runner up Dr P Vaidyanathan was rewarded with a short course scholarship at Whistling Woods International.

The ?Bollywood?s Next ? Writer?s Contest? received an overwhelming response with over 525 entries pouring in from across the globe to try their shot at fame. The participation not only covered countries like United States, UAE, Pakistan, Australia and Thailand, but also small Indian towns like Dhanbad, Erode, Ernakulam & Akola. The diversity and reach of the contest truly reflected in the participation which also included IIM Graduates and IT Professionals also. This contest is a true testimony of how creativity can bring the globe on one pedestal.

Applauding the winners, acclaimed Director, Subhash Ghai said, ?We are overwhelmed with the response received from the budding talent from across the world. Judging the entries was a colossal task, such was the quality of writing that poured in. There is vast pool of screenwriting talent in this country which is untouched and unexplored. Whistling Woods International Institute and Mukta Arts were happy to support this initiative by Buzz18 to create a platform to proclaim this talent?.

Adds Anjum Rajabali, renowned script writer and Head of Department-Screen Writing at Whistling Woods International ?These are very exciting times for screen writers with huge resources flooding the film industry there is more work available. Moreover film makers are waking up the simple fact that it is well crafted scripts that actually makes entertaining scripts?

Speaking on the initiative Ms. Chandrima Pal, Editor, Buzz 18 states, "After the overwhelming response to our maiden initiatives, ?Shortcut? and ?Stir up your dreams contest?, we realized the potential of the Internet in reaching out to the countless showbiz aspirants across various fields. This new initiative is aimed at breaking the metro centric talent myth & will present an ideal platform to budding script writers from across the country. We are delighted that a renowned, veteran director like Subhash Ghai is extending his heartfelt support in our mission to find India ?s best! ?

MUMBAI: Joi de vivre, Vivacious ,and bubbly, just a few small words to describe Vidya balan?s Tete a Tete with VJ Salil on Star Stop on B4U Music. The lovely actress is at her wittiest best as she answers Salil?s questions candidly.

B4U STAR STOP is a programme with film related interviews on B4u Music Actors/directors talk about their forthcoming movie, their likes, dislikes and other things and chat with B4U VJS. Stars talk about their personal review of the film and share their anecdotes of their experiences during the making of the film

Vidya talks about her forthcoming film Kismet Connection and the ease with which she has essayed her role. A firm believer in destiny she completely identifies with the film. Forthright and clear she answers all questions regarding her relationship with Shahid and their chemistry with absolute comfort.

Salil fires a rapid round of questions and Vidya Balan reciprocates with the most amazing amusing and witty answers. Cool and level headed she talks about the papparazi hounding her with questions on her relationship with Shahid, her disbelief in numerology astrology and palmistry.

To watch and enjoy this lively and energetic interview and much more tune in to Star Stop on B4u music on 13th July at 19.10 hrs.

MUMBAI: At a gala ceremony in Mumbai attended by the entire travel and trade fraternity, winners of this year‘s CNBC AWAAZ Travel Awards 2008 were felicitated for their outstanding contribution towards the Indian travel and tourism industry. The CNBC Awaaz Travel Awards 2008 supported by Incredible India, was graced by, Union Minister for Tourism & Culture - Ambika Soni, focused on honouring some of the people and companies behind the year‘s best travel products and services.

The CNBC AWAAZ Travel Awards 2008 announced results of India‘s most comprehensive travel trade poll to celebrate the enormous achievements of the Indian travel and tourism industry for which some of the biggest players from the industry attended. The Awards also hosted representatives from the travel trade bodies, various state tourism boards, as well as domestic and international airlines.

CNBC AWAAZ along with research organization ‘The Nielson Company‘ conducted a thorough research and selected categories depending on the various services available and provided to the discerning traveler. This year‘s Travel Awards 2008 includes 3 new categories namely Best Weekend Getaways, Airline with Best Business Class and Best International Airline, in addition to the Best Travel Destinations in India as well as International, Best Travel Operators, Best Airline, Best Beaches, Best Weekend Destinations, Best Religious Destinations, Best Managed Historical Monuments, Best Destination for Adventure Sports, Best Leisure and Business Hotels among others, bringing the total number of categories to 19 this year.

Mr. Neel Chowdhury, Vice President -Marketing, CNBC TV18 & CNBC AWAAZ said, CNBC AWAAZ takes pride in the comprehensive and detailed process of research methodology which has been used for these awards. India, today is one of Asia-Pacific‘s powerhouses in the global tourism arena; hence CNBC AWAAZ has taken this initiative to acknowledge the cream of the Indian tourism industry and we are proud to support the best in class and help increase their brand profile.