Beckhams' Permanent US Move

LONDON: David and Victoria Beckham are reportedly selling their house in the UK, and making their move to the US permanent.

David and Victoria Beckham are reportedly making their move to the US permanent.

Soccer star David and his fashion designer wife are set to put their mansion in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, Southern England up for sale for £18 million, as they prepare to permanently base their family in the US.

A source told the Sunday Mirror newspaper: "Frankly they cannot see themselves ever returning to make London their full-time base.

"The house takes a lot of looking after. They have a petting farm with miniature animals, swimming pools indoor and out and huge grounds. Then this summer, the time they spent in Europe was at their South of France chateau. Sawbridgeworth just sits there empty."

David plays for US team LA Galaxy while Victoria has most of her business interests in California, while their children - Brooklyn, 11, Romeo, seven, and Cruz, five – are said to have fully absorbed the American way of life.

The source added: "The children are settled, speak with American accents and David and Victoria are immersed in the laid back Los Angeles way of life. They love it there - they're well liked, have plenty of friends and feel it's their spiritual home."

Last month it was report

I want to kiss Penn: Mallika

Oomphy girl Mallika Sherawat, who has practically made US her home, flew down to Mumbai after two years. And in an exclusive chat with TOI, she said that Mumbai continues to be the home where her heart lies... despite the razzle dazzle she has become used to in Los Angeles.

"I missed everything about Mumbai. I missed the rains and I also missed the vada pav. I'm going to hog some during my stay," said Mallika, who is here to promote her Hollywood movie Hisss and act in Double Dhamaal. She added, "In LA, I'm representing India, the land of Om, and it's a huge responsibility. I take pride that I'm at the forefront of the convergence of the West and the East."

The actress had created a stir in Bollywood eight years back with her record kissing act in Khwahish in which she smooched the lead actor 17 times. Post this, she went bold in many other films and her kisses and body were as much of an USP of the film as its plot. Is there a person over whose lips she wants to plant hers? "I want to kiss Sean Penn. He is an intense actor whom I really adore," Mallika shot back, laughing. The actress also said of her evolving sex appeal, "As time goes, one matures and everything about a person goes through change. I think my sex appeal right now is in my mind and how I connect with people."

Mallika credits Slumdog Millionaire for her success in the West. "That film really opened doors in Hollywood for everyone. I am doing some good Hollywood films and there are many many offers too. The women are now just not seen as Oriental beauties — they are seen as actors and talents with huge potential. Hollywood has become totally colour blind," she said.

She has big entrepreneurship dreams in terms of launching a fashion label in the future and said with time she has mellowed down from a person who used to shoot from her lips and made headlines with controversies. "Those were the days of rebellion and there were so many moral codes for the leading lady in Bollywood. When I kissed on screen or wore swimsuits, big deal was made out of it. But now everyone is doing it. I have become patient and calmer," she added.

Nearly 40 missing as bus falls into Bhotekoshi River

KATHMANDU: At least 30 to 40 persons went missing when a passenger bus plunged into the Bhotekoshi River at Gati VDC-9, Sindhupalchowk on Monday at 10am.

It is reported that the bus was en route from Tatopani to Barabise when the incident occurred.

Police personnel have been deployed for rescue operations at the accident site after the incident.

The identities of the passengers have not been ascertained yet.

Fourth Pakistan cricketer probed for 'fixing' scam

CARDIFF , SEP 05 -

The British newspaper whose allegations of a betting scam have rocked the world of cricket said Saturday that a fourth Pakistan player was being probed over the claims, but declined to name him

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) and Pakistan's coach refused to comment on the report in the News of the World, and officials stressed Sunday's Twenty20 match between England and Pakistan in Cardiff would still go ahead.

The newspaper's report last Sunday into an alleged fixing scam caused a major scandal and prompted the ICC to charge Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif under its anti-corruption code.

In its latest edition due out on Sunday, the paper claimed the suspended trio were facing 23 charges between them -- and revealed that the ICC was now probing a fourth player, although it did not name him "for legal reasons".

It also quoted Pakistan batsman Yasir Hameed as saying that some players were fixing in "almost every match". Hameed later denied he made the remarks.

"I have not given any interview to the News of the World or any newspaper."

Hameed added: "I can never think of blaming my teammates in match-fixing. I have just told the team management that the newspaper is claiming I have given them an interview. This is not correct."

At the team's hotel in Cardiff, Pakistan coach Waqar Younis refused to discuss the new revelations.

A spokesman for the ICC also told AFP: "We do not comment on ongoing investigations and nor will we comment about the details of the charges."

However, the chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, Giles Clarke, said Sunday's game would go ahead. Asked if the revelations would stop the one-day match from taking place, he replied: "No."

The allegations all relate to the recent fourth and final Test between England and Pakistan at Lord's, which ended with an England victory, in which the News of the World said deliberate no-balls had been bowled.

Aamer, at 18 one of cricket's hottest talents, Asif, 27, and Butt, 25, were questioned by police about the claims on Friday but were released without charge, their lawyer said. They have denied any wrongdoing.

The News of The World said Saturday it would be publishing further details of its investigations to back up its claims, and quoted Hameed as saying that some in the Pakistan team were fixing "almost every match".

"They?ve been caught. Only the ones that get caught are branded crooks. They were doing it (fixing) in almost every match. God knows what they were up to. Scotland Yard was after them for ages," the batsman was quoted as saying.

"It makes me angry because I?m playing my best and they are trying to lose."

However, Hameed told AFP that he had not spoken to the News of the World and denied accusing his fellow players of corruption.

"I can never think of blaming my teammates in match-fixing," said the batsman, who played in the Test series against England but was not included in the one-day squad.

"I have just told the team management that the newspaper is claiming I have given them an interview. This is not correct."

Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed confirmed Hameed's denial but refused to comment further, saying: "Let's wait and see what happens."

Earlier, Pakistan one-day captain Shahid Afridi apologised for the scandal, telling reporters: "I think this is very bad news.

"On behalf of these boys -- I know they are not in this series -- I want to say sorry to all cricket lovers and all the cricketing nations."

The News of the World last week alleged that it paid Mazhar Majeed, an agent for several Pakistan players, 150,000 pounds in return for advance knowledge of no-balls, which could then be bet upon.

The 35-year-old was arrested and bailed by British police.

In its latest edition, the tabloid claimed investigators had found between 10,000 and 15,000 pounds worth of its marked bills in Butt's hotel room.

The ICC action against the three players has infuriated the Pakistani authorities, in particular ambassador to Britain Wajid Shamsul Hasan, who said the ICC had "no business" to suspend the trio and suggested they were set up.

England Twenty20 captain Paul Collingwood said: "I just want this (fixing) eradicated from the game, full stop."