44 Charles Street by Danielle Steel

44 Charles Street is the name of Danielle Steel's latest novel, but also the address of the inhabitants in the book. When an art gallery owner suddenly separates from her boyfriend, she realizes the only way to survive financially is to open her Greenwich Village home to boarders. 44 Charles Street follows a year in the lives of four people living together in this house.

The plumbing was prone to leaks, the furniture rescued from garage sales. And every square inch was being devotedly restored to its original splendor -- even as a relationship fell to pieces. Now Francesca Thayer, newly separated from her lawyer boyfriend Todd, is desperate. The owner of a struggling art gallery, and suddenly the sole mortgage payer on her Greenwich Village townhouse, Francesca does the math and then the unimaginable. She puts out an advertisement for boarders. Soon her house becomes a whole new world.

First comes Eileen, a fresh, pretty L.A. transplant, now a New York City schoolteacher. Then there’s Chris, a young father struggling with a troubled ex-wife and the challenge of parenting a seven-year-old son who visits every other weekend. The final tenant is Marya, a celebrated cookbook author hoping to start a new chapter in her life after the death of her husband. As Francesca’s art gallery begins to find its footing and Todd moves on to another woman, she discovers that her accidental tenants have become the most important people in her life.

Over the course of one amazing, unforgettable, ultimately life-changing year, the house at 44 Charles Street fills with laughter, heartbreak, and, always, hope. In the hands of master storyteller Danielle Steel, it’s a place those who visit will never want to leave.

Nepal Luring Tourists to Buddha's Birthplace

Nepal's president announced a campaign Saturday to lure hundreds of thousands of tourists and pilgrims this year to visit the area of the country where Buddha was born.

President Rambaran Yadav said Nepal is eager to welcome both devotees of Buddha and peace believers to Lumbini, in southwestern Nepal, where Buddha is believed to have been born 2,555 years ago.

"Let us spread peace not just in the country and among our people, but also in the world," Yadav said.

Buddha was born in Lumbini as Prince Sidhartha. Followers believe he left his family and kingdom and meditated in the jungles of Nepal and India before achieving enlightenment.

Iron Sky (2012)

Iron Sky is an upcoming sci-fi comedy film from the makers of Star Wreck: In the Pirkinning. The film is directed by Timo Vuorensola and produced by Tero Kaukomaa of Blind Spot Pictures production company. Samuli Torssonen is responsible for the computer generated effects of the film. Screen written by Johanna Sinisalo and Michael Kalesniko. The film is financed by Energia Productions, Blind Spot Pictures, New Holland Pictures and 27 Films production companies.

The story -- As World War II comes to an end in 1945, Hans Kammler and other German scientists make a breakthrough in anti-gravity research. From a secret base in the Antarctic, Nazi spaceships are sent to the "dark side" of the Moon to establish the military base "Schwarze Sonne". Their plan is to build a powerful fleet and return to conquer Earth. The film is set in the year 2018 when their descendants finally return.

The film stars Julia Dietze as Renate Richter, Götz Otto as Klaus Adler, Christopher Kirby as James Washington, Tilo Prückner as Doktor Richter and Udo Kier as Wolfgang Höss. Scheduled to be released April 4, 2012

Burberry's Sartorial New Gentility

The true test of a design champion, like their equivalent in sports, is the ability to consistently turn out hit collections, fashion statements that both set a stylistic agenda and sell large numbers of clothes. On that basis, there are few greater heavyweight champions in men's fashion today than Christopher Bailey, the chief creative officer of Burberry, whose latest senior Prorsum collection for the U.K. house, staged Saturday, Jan. 14, in Milan, was a tellingly clever and cool visual discourse on a new sort of gentile chic.

"I liked the idea of familiar clothes, but playing with the proportioned with a certain contradiction. We are all hankering after something that is more gentile and calm, and a little more polite too," explained Bailey post show.

The clothes themselves were all about re-inventing the past -- celebrating British tailoring, just as Bailey subverted it; though not in any aggressive way. Take his choice of elegant gloves or brogues -- all classically cut yet all covered in studs. The same pattern was repeated in the giant bank of lights positioned above the photographers pit in the custom-made, and heated, tent in the same palazzo on Corso Venezia, where Napoleon once wintered in Milan more than two centuries ago.

Gene Hackman 'OK' After Bike Crash

Oscar winning actor Gene Hackman was taken to the hospital on Friday after he was in a collision while riding his bicycle in the Florida Keys, but the actor was released after routine tests, a spokeswoman said.

Hackman was riding his bike and got bumped from behind by a car, said Susan Madore, a spokeswoman for the actor. Because he was on an island, he had to be airlifted to the hospital, she said.

But he only suffered "a couple minor bumps and bruises" and has been released from the facility, she said.

Hackman, 81, is an actor and novelist. He won two Oscars, one for his leading role in 1971 film "The French Connection" and the other for his supporting part in 1992 picture "Unforgiven." He more recently starred in "The Royal Tenenbaums," which came out 10 years ago.

Hackman has written four novels: Wake of the Perdido Star (1999), Justice for None (2004), Escape from Andersonville (2008) and Payback at Morning Peak (2011).

Scholes shines for United, Lampard survived Chelsea

Frank Lampard shoots and scores at Stamford Bridge

Paul Scholes marked his Premier League return with a goal as Manchester United beat Boltan Wanderers 3-0.

Paul Scholes scored the opener, his first since August 2010, at 45 minutes on the clock. Nani had the original shot, which was blocked by David Wheater. Rooney received it and slid the ball across the six-yard line to Scholes who easily peeled away from Gretar Steinsson at the far post.

Wayne Ronney again provided a assist for the 2nd goal scored by Danny Wellback on 74 minutes. Welbeck fired a right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.

After 83 minutes Michael Carrick had extended the lead to 3-0, receiving Ryan Giggs’s sideways pass and curling a left-footed shot into the corner from 20 yards out.

Tottenham Hotspurs title race suffered a big set-back after 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

After 22 minutes Wolves went into the lead when Steven Fletcher fired in the goal from close range. The oportunity came after Roger Johnson shot on Jarvis' corner was saved.

Five minutes into the second half,Luka Modric scored the equaliser. Rafael van der Vaart showed quick feet in the box and passed back to Gareth Bale who squared it for Luka Modric. The Croat’s shot went through a crowd and dipped from outside the box to the centre of the goal.

Frank Lampard was in the right place at the right time once again as Chelsea survive a second-half scare to beat Sunderland 1-0. Lampard profited from the Fernando Torres' rotten luck, staying stationary as his team-mate’s volley cannoned off the crossbar straight to his legs.

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas was satisfied with the poor Spaniard's performance.

“His performance was good — he is getting a good run of games. He is finding inspiration, motivation, and finding form with all his team behind him. As for scoring, he is getting nearer every time," he said.

India suffers another humiliating defeat as Australia clinch series

Ben Hilfenhaus claimed 3 wickets in 5 balls

Perth, Jan 15: Indian batting collapsed once again as Australian fast bowlers proved their strength and guided Australia to an innings and 37 runs victory to lead the series 3-0.
Ben Hilfenhaus claimed three wickets in an over, dismissing Vinay Kumar, Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma, as Australia completed a fantastic victory over India in the 3rd day.
India started the day with 4 wickets down and required 120 runs to avoid an innings defeat. A 5th wicket stand of 84 runs between Rahul Dravid (47) and Virat Kohli (75) gave India a good hope but after Ryan Harris bowled out Rahul Dravid the remaining batsmen collapsed.
Peter Siddle nicked out MS Dhoni in the shadows of the interval, and Ben Hilfenhaus razed the tail with three wickets in five balls on resumption.
Score Card

AUS vs IND: 3rd Test

India 161 & 171 (63.2 ov)

Australia 369

Australia won by an innings and 37 runs

• Border-Gavaskar Trophy - 3rd Test
• Test no. 2029 | 2011/12 season
• Played at Western Australia Cricket Association Ground, Perth
• 13,14,15 January 2012 (5-day match)

	India 1st innings		R	M	B	4s	6s	SR
	G Gambhir	c †Haddin b Hilfenhaus	31	138	82	3	0	37.80
	V Sehwag	c Ponting b Hilfenhaus	0	13	4	0	0	0.00
	R Dravid	b Siddle	9	41	35	1	0	25.71
	SR Tendulkar	lbw b Harris	15	74	25	3	0	60.00
	VVS Laxman	c Clarke b Siddle	31	108	86	5	0	36.04
	V Kohli	c Warner b Siddle	44	95	81	6	0	54.32
	MS Dhoni*†	c Ponting b Hilfenhaus	12	28	22	2	0	54.54
	R Vinay Kumar	lbw b Starc	5	12	4	1	0	125.00
	Z Khan	c Clarke b Hilfenhaus	2	14	11	0	0	18.18
	I Sharma	c †Haddin b Starc	3	12	8	0	0	37.50
	U Yadav	not out	4	3	4	1	0	100.00
	Extras	(b 2, lb 2, w 1)	5
	Total	(all out; 60.2 overs)	161	(2.66 runs per over)

Fall of wickets 1-4 (Sehwag, 3.2 ov), 2-32 (Dravid, 13.5 ov), 3-59 (Tendulkar, 24.1 ov), 4-63 (Gambhir, 25.1 ov), 5-131 (Kohli, 50.6 ov), 6-138 (Laxman, 52.5 ov), 7-152 (Vinay Kumar, 56.1 ov), 8-152 (Dhoni, 57.2 ov),  9-157 (Khan, 59.2 ov),10-161 (Sharma, 60.2 ov)

	Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ
	RJ Harris	18	6	33	1	1.83
	BW Hilfenhaus	18	5	43	4	2.38
	MA Starc	12.2	3	39	2	3.16	(1w)
	PM Siddle	12	3	42	3	3.50

	Australia 1st innings		R	M	B	4s	6s	SR
	EJM Cowan	b Yadav	74	177	120	10	0	61.66
	DA Warner	c Yadav b Sharma	180	258	159	20	5	113.20
	SE Marsh	c Laxman b Yadav	11	22	19	2	0	57.89
	RT Ponting	b Yadav	7	5	6	1	0	116.66
	MJ Clarke*	c †Dhoni b Khan	18	63	38	3	0	47.36
	MEK Hussey	c Sehwag b Vinay Kumar	14	63	29	2	0	48.27
	BJ Haddin†	c †Dhoni b Khan	0	6	3	0	0	0.00
	PM Siddle	b Yadav	30	39	31	4	0	96.77
	RJ Harris	c Gambhir b Yadav	9	26	17	0	0	52.94
	MA Starc	not out	15	29	27	3	0	55.55
	BW Hilfenhaus	c Kohli b Sehwag	6	8	9	1	0	66.66
	Extras	(lb 3, w 2)	5
	Total	(all out; 76.2 overs)	369	(4.83 runs per over)

Fall of wickets 1-214 (Cowan, 38.5 ov), 2-230 (Marsh, 42.6 ov), 3-242 (Ponting, 44.5 ov), 4-290 (Warner, 55.1 ov), 5-301 (Clarke, 58.4 ov), 6-303 (Haddin, 60.1 ov), 7-339 (Hussey, 67.1 ov), 8-343 (Siddle, 68.2 ov), 9-357 (Harris, 73.2 ov),10-369 (Hilfenhaus, 76.2 ov)

	Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ
	Z Khan	21	3	91	2	4.33	(1w)
	U Yadav	17	2	93	5	5.47	(1w)
	R Vinay Kumar	13	0	73	1	5.61
	I Sharma	18	0	89	1	4.94
	V Sehwag	7.2	0	20	1	2.72

	India 2nd innings		R	M	B	4s	6s	SR
	G Gambhir	c Hussey b Starc	14	39	37	3	0	37.83
	V Sehwag	c †Haddin b Siddle	10	47	28	1	0	35.71
	R Dravid	b Harris	47	176	114	8	0	41.22
	SR Tendulkar	lbw b Starc	8	20	16	1	0	50.00
	VVS Laxman	c Marsh b Hilfenhaus	0	11	9	0	0	0.00
	V Kohli	c †Haddin b Siddle	75	187	136	9	0	55.14
	MS Dhoni*†	c Ponting b Siddle	2	22	16	0	0	12.50
	R Vinay Kumar	c Clarke b Hilfenhaus	6	24	20	1	0	30.00
	Z Khan	c Clarke b Hilfenhaus	0	1	1	0	0	0.00
	I Sharma	c Cowan b Hilfenhaus	0	2	3	0	0	0.00
	U Yadav	not out	0	2	1	0	0	0.00
	Extras	(b 1, lb 5, w 3)	9
	Total	(all out; 63.2 overs)	171	(2.70 runs per over)

Fall of wickets 1-24 (Gambhir, 10.2 ov), 2-25 (Sehwag, 11.3 ov), 3-42 (Tendulkar, 16.1 ov), 4-51 (Laxman, 19.1 ov), 5-135 (Dravid, 50.5 ov), 6-148 (Dhoni, 55.4 ov), 7-171 (Vinay Kumar, 62.1 ov), 8-171 (Khan, 62.2 ov),9-171 (Sharma, 62.5 ov), 10-171 (Kohli, 63.2 ov)

	Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ
	RJ Harris	16	3	34	1	2.12
	BW Hilfenhaus	18	6	54	4	3.00	(1w)
	MA Starc	12	4	31	2	2.58
	PM Siddle	15.2	5	43	3	2.80	(2w)
	MEK Hussey	2	0	3	0	1.50

Score Card from ESPN