Spark Spot

I am a  great fan of Roger Federer and i would like share his tremendous victory that created new records in the tennis books.  He is really an artistic player. Roger Federer, the popular tennis maestro from switzerland,  beat highly talented American Andy Roddick 5-7 7-6 7-6 3-6 16-14 in a marathon Wimbledon’s men’s singles final on Sunday and won 15th grandslam title.

With American Pete Sampras, the only other man to win 14 slams, watching intently from the Royal Box, Federer kept his nose in front in a nerve-racking decider and clinched victory after over four hours when Roddick dropped serve for the only time in the match at 14-15 when he mishit a forehand.

Federer was stretched to the limit in an unforgettable duel of enery-sapping tension, losing the first set and then trailing 6-2 in the second set tiebreak before digging himself out of trouble to win six consecutive points and level the match. He could make no headway on the Roddick serve but remained solid on his own delivery to win the third set on another tiebreak.

Let us congratulate the champion Roger Federer on his tremendous victory and the excited federer said humbly that he still has a long way to go.

World bank cuts economic forecasts? Japan’s  survey showed less pessimism at big Japanese manufacturing firms in the three months to June. Meanwhile German business sentiment rose to a seven-month high in June although analysts said plenty of risks remained given that expectations fueled the rise in sentiment.

Despite initial signs of a weakening in the pace of economic decline, policymakers must remain alert, European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said. “While there are first signs that the pace of economic weakening is decelerating, we must remain alert. We are in uncharted waters, and there are still risks of a sudden emergence of unexpected financial turbulence,” he said.

Trichet’s caution chimed with that of Angel Gurria, the head of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. “We see a very difficult 2009, with negative growth in the OECD area. Unemployment problems are going to continue to linger,” he told Reuters television in an interview on the sidelines of a conference in Paris.

Adding to those wary comments, the World Bank said prospects for the global economy remain “unusually uncertain” as it cut 2009 growth forecasts for most economies.

Governments around the world have borrowed hundreds of billions of dollars to fight the worst economic crisis in decades, providing incentives for businesses and consumers to spend and embarking on big infrastructure programs to create jobs and stimulate activity.

They should stick to spending programs to reignite growth because their economies are still weak in spite of signs that the worst of the crisis may be past, World Bank Chief Economist Justin Lin said in an interview with Reuters. Lin also said he was concerned about rising borrowing costs and weak external financing conditions for the emerging economies of Europe and Central Asia.

Like the ECB, the U.S. Federal Reserve has cut interest rates to record low levels and used unorthodox means to pump more money into the system.

The Fed’s interest rate setting committee meets on Tuesday and Wednesday and economists polled by Reuters see no chance that the Fed will raise its benchmark short-term interest rate from the current level near zero. The Fed is also seen unlikely to ramp up its purchases of U.S. government and mortgage-linked debt as investor focus shifts to inflation on evidence that the economy is stabilizing.

Bangladesh has ordered high security across the country amid fears of possible attacks by Islamists or criminal gangs. The alert comes as the south Asian country prepares to put on trial later this month dozens of people alleged to have committed war crimes during Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence.

Security officials also fear a backlash following the recent arrest of three close associates of underworld don Daud Ibrahim. They confessed to a judicial magistrate of having run a clandestine criminal network for Daud.

One of the detainees told police that about 100 Daud agents were active in Bangladesh, an overwhelmingly Muslim country of more than 140 million people and already facing militancy by the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen (JMB) and other outlawed groups. The JMB is blamed for a series of bomb attacks in 2005 that killed dozens of people, including lawyers, judges and police in 2005. Police and intelligence officials say they have been regrouping since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took office in January.

US President Barack Obama told that it would be very difficult to push a major health care overhaul through Congress. But the president says he really thinks “the stars may be aligned” and that a deal can get done if everyone involved works in a spirit of compromise, rather than rigid ideology.

Obama tells C-SPAN in an interview airing Saturday that he’s “absolutely committed” to keeping the process moving forward — to find ways to cut costs, increase efficiency and make sure families can get health care coverage without bankrupting them. Obama says changing the health care system will cost a lot of money upfront — but in the long run end up saving lots of money.

President Barack Obama says it’s going to be very difficult to push a major health care overhaul through Congress. But the president says he really thinks “the stars may be aligned” and that a deal can get done if everyone involved works in a spirit of compromise, rather than rigid ideology.

Obama tells C-SPAN in an interview airing Saturday that he’s “absolutely committed” to keeping the process moving forward — to find ways to cut costs, increase efficiency and make sure families can get health care coverage without bankrupting them.

Ayan, one of the popular kollywood film starred by actor Surya, directed by KV Anand and music by Harris jeyaraj is produced by mamoth AVM productions. Ayan’s screenplay does the trick and it is brilliantly choreographed stunts and car chase sequences, cleverly planted twists at every nook and corner of the plot and some good music.

Ayan proves to be an absolute time pass fare. For a little more than two hours, it would be an offense to call Ayan just another commercial potboiler. Director K V Anand’s research is evident in the tightly packed screenplay and do not miss out the potshots he takes at a few directors in the name of plagiarism.

Slipping logic into your wallet would be a good idea before entering the halls, but it’s unlikely that you would regret doing so. And it is highly doubtful that you would have any time to think about it during the course of the movie. Well, pardon the second half for dragging a wee bit though.

The movie starts off with Surya giving a little tongue-lash for Corporate Houses for treating their employees as mushrooms. A minute later, we realize that he is the trustworthy ally of Prabhu, whose business thrives on illegal diamond trafficking from Africa. With clever strategies and an M Sc degree, Suriya flies across the globe to transport consignments sneaking in and out of the airport scanners in style.

That’s pretty much the story and comes with it the evil motives of Akashdeep Segal, a fellow smuggler who crosses road with the Prabhu & Company. Gang war, a friend’s death, love and some dance sequences – Ayan culminates into a rather predictable climax.

The first half of the movie travels at a supersonic’s pace with rollicking humor application form, asks for his sign at the breakfast table. She returns from the kitchen and drops the dosa in horror only to find out that her son has used the application form to collect all the left over chicken bones. Not to mention, Jegan’s natural sense of humor that hugely helps the movie’s progress.

Ayan also spells out director Anand’s conscious effort to avoid clichés, scene after scene, with good reason. The first half also defies the rule of gangster movies with Surya justifying his job to be just ‘time pass’.

And the second half witnesses Surya doubling up as an assistant to the Narcotic Controls Office. Besides, it was also an atrocious idea to include a Koena Mitra item number out of the blue. With her weird nose-job and chiseled cleavage, she does some aerobics. The climax peaks Anand’s unleashed imagination.

Surya and Tamanna make a good pair and their love story is devoid of any clichés whatsoever thankfully. And the brilliant writing in their second meet up scene sparks up their chemistry. Prabhu is quite a natural in his role and his Chennai Senthamizh comes handy. The roles of Jegan and Renuka are beautifully developed and performed.

The only eyesore in the movie is Akashdeep Segal, who with his convoluted facial expressions and bad lip sync just doesn’t get anything right. Harris’s music is scintillating in the Nenje and Iyaayiye songs and the background score flows with the movie. In the Vizhi moodi number Karthik sizzles. Another noteworthy aspect of Ayan is M.S.Prabhu’s cinematography. Congo’s rustic landscape, Puducherry’s by-lanes and Malaysia’s scenic locales come alive in the screen.

Ayan is fun. Just buy a huge bag of popcorn, a can of cola and have a blast! Enjoy the fun!

Vishal, one of the popular actor of kollywood , is well known for his action packed films.Vishal’s Thoranai, which has Shriya as his on screen pair, has raked up the expectations of his fans. While this is on his professional side, his love life has been in for discussion in quite a few occasions before.

Vishal’s fans were in for a surprise when the actor, in an interview, stated that he was in love. However, he failed to divulge more details on this issue on several other occasions.

In a recent interview to a magazine, the actor has once again stated that he is in love but has not declared his love yet to the person concerned. Vishal added that he was afraid of losing the friendship of the lady in question if he declared his love. Better late than never, Vishal!

Pakistan, after the Lankan attack has become even more threatening place for many cricketers. ICC decided to meet on discussing the issues regarding hosting the 2011 world cup matches in pakistan.

During an important ICC meet held in Dubai,  it was decided that no world cup match could be held in Pakistan, following a uncertain political and security situation prevailing in that country. The decision is anticipated to cost Pakistan Cricket Board an approximate loss of 800,000 to 100,000 dollars.

Pakistan was scheduled to host 14 matches and the semi-final of the World Cup, which was to be co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as per previous arrangements. Doubts emerged over the prospects of Pakistan hosting the World Cup matches after the terror attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore last month, following which the ICC also indicated it would be difficult to convince teams to play in the country.

Although the World Cup central secretariat is in Lahore and the ICC recently approved appointment of a Pakistani Managing Director there but it is yet to be fully operational following the prevailing troublesome environment and uncertainty.