DLD‰‰†‰KDLD‰‰†‰DLD‰‰†‰MDLD‰‰†‰C Is Whitney Houston pregnant? Ghostbusters find Looking for love? The stork might just be visiting larged state of the singer’s troubled pop star Whitney stomach. THE TIMES OF INDIA a Bhoot in Claudia Hrithik & Preity Houston for the second time, re- Houston, 39, has a history of Wednesday, veal multiple reports in the US. alleged drug misuse and a tur- June 25, 2003 Schiffer’s house... ko Koi Mil Gaya! It is thought bulent relation- that Houston ship with Br- Page 7 Page 8 conceived on a own, 34 — recent inspira- who is the fa- tion-searching ther of her 10- trip to Israel year-old dau- with her R ‘n’ B ghter Bobbi Kr- husband Bob- istina. Says an by Brown. Sp- insider, ‘‘She eculation was has been trying first sparked to have a baby following the for years. Let’s pair’s perform- hope that she ance on music has a healthy channel VH1’s Diva’s Duets pregnancy.’’ After all, doctors show last month — where preach that a healthy mum viewers commented on the en- makes for a healthy baby! OF INDIA MANOJ KESHARWANI WHERE HAVE ALL THE TREES GONE? DIVYA VASISHT whose growth, over the years, has been Points out Centre for Science and Envir- ansplanting disasters, Delhi’s forest cov- Times News Network stunted appreciably.’’ onment director Sunita Narayan, ‘‘The er has reduced. Native trees such as Ma- A recent report prepared on the Rid- protection of a single species of flora or ndara are now extinct. A plan keeping t’s a wild, wild world. So wild, that ge forest area in Delhi reveals that Delh- fauna can not be done in isolation.’’ in mind the soil and the fertility of dif- 11,170 plant and animal species acro- i’s greenery is literally in the red, with So, where have all the trees gone? ‘‘Ad- ferent regions should be drawn up.’’ Iss the globe face extinction. The Swi- certain species of trees having become mittedly,certain species of trees no lon- Adds Ajay Mahajan of Kalpavriksh, tzerland-based World Conservation Un- extinct and others on the verge of being ger exist. We will approach the forest de- an NGO working for the preservation of ion’s ‘Red Alert List of Threatened Spe- wiped out. ‘‘We are in the partment in Dehradun to trees, ‘‘Even as ‘introduced’ species su- cies’ points out that while Indonesia, In- process of compiling a re- RED ALERT get a clearer picture and ch as Kabuli kikar, Eucalyptus and Ja- dia, Brazil and Chi- caranda multiply at na are home to the Certain species of trees in Delhi have disappeared from the cityscape or are on the verge of extinction a rapid rate, indige- ‘most threatened’ nous trees face rege- mammals and birds, neration problems.’’ plant species are de- But the silver lini- clining rapidly in ng among the dark South America, cen- clouds is that 45 sp- tral and west Africa, ecies, which were on and south-east Asia. the verge of extinct- Certain species of ion have re-appear- trees have, over the ed, explains AK Sh- years, disappeared ukla, deputy conser- from the face of the vator (forests), ‘‘The earth — and the ear- latest report prepa- th, of course, includ- Spathodea Erythrina Tecomella unduleta red by the forest de- es Delhi. Says HB partment shows th- Nathani, former senior scientist at the port on the species of trees which come the reasons behind this. The main ques- at certain species have resurfaced and Forest Research Institute in Dehradun, under the ‘endangered’ category.These tion is of replantation, which we are go- this has happened due to minimisation ‘‘Species such as Sterculia urens or kun- species will be included in our next Gre- ing to concentrate on this year,’’offers of activities and fencing in the area.’’ dali; Tecomella unduleta or lohera; Ery- en Action Plan,’’ informs a senior forest- chief forest guardian AK Sinha. There is a way. Only, what seems to be thrina; Tekulia urens; Cordia rothii or department official. Explains ecologist Iqbal Malik of Va- lacking is the will. Yes, it’s time for Del- gondhi; Spathodea; salai; chichola;and Despite official efforts, Delhi’s trees tavaran, an NGO, ‘‘Due to increased con- hi to turn over a new leaf. kulu make for dormant species in Delhi are slowly, but surely, being rooted out. cretisation, ill-treatment of trees, and tr- [email protected] Catch ’em young: A Fair play: Dusky is lovely metro park for kids The dusky complexion is an inherent part of skin-deep beauty VINOD NAIR ARUN KUMAR DAS barely manages to reach the According to Sheetal Mallar, ‘‘Initially, it Times News Network Times News Network half-way mark. was tough for me, but things have changed. I Still, the DMRC strikes an believe that ads have always preferred fair-sk- t’s all in the mind. And the mindset is a-ch- nderground trains are not optimistic note. ‘‘The ridership inned girls. If they have light eyes, that’s even anging. The dusky complexion is now a ve- enough. For, the Delhi Me- of the metro can’t be judged on I better! But the dusky complexion is just fabu- U ry inherent part of skin-deep beauty.If Halle tro Rail Corporation (DMRC) the basis of partial operations lous for runway shows and designer shoots.’’ Berry and Naomi Campbell spell haute prop- has decided to go beyond the along the Shahdara-Tis Hazari Carol Gracias is another model who believ- erty in the West, back home, track followed until now by co- route,’’ says DMRC spokespers- es that the dusky look has slo- ‘fair’ is lovely,but so too is the nstructing a theme park for ch- on Anuj Dayal, ‘‘Once the met- BEAUTY SPOT wly,but surely,come to be acc- sultry look. Dusky ildren. Seen as a move to give ro in its entirety becomes oper- Nina Carol epted. ‘‘Many a ti- girls rule the fashi- its finances a shot in the arm, ational, the sale of tickets will me, I went home di- on runway — this the proposed park will be equi- match projected figures.’’ sappointed because impressive line-up of the general per- TWO’S COMPANY! Delhi Times catches up with Kareena Kapoor & Abhishek Bachchan pped with state-of-the- Beyond the includes Nina Ma- ception about dark as the Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon stars, in town for an Indiatimes-presented promotion, art rides and other Shahdara-Tis nuel, Sheetal Mall- skin. Just imagine, in association with PVR Cinemas and Sunsilk, strike a bright note at the Maurya Sheraton attractions for Hazari secti- ar, Carol Gracias, I have done all of (To send this photograph to a friend, log on to www.timescity.com/delhi/) the Capital’s on, the metro Nethra Raghuram- kids. is all set to re- two commercials!’’ an, Laxmi Menon, ‘‘The the- ach Tri Nagar Beauty, they say, Diandra Soares. me park will in September is skin-deep. Perce- ‘‘Ever since I sta- be set up on a and be furth- ptions, however, se- Bebo finds Prem in Abhishek! rted out, I have em to go deeper th- 15-hectare stretch er extended to never faced any NIKITA DOVAL one? These are the issues the movie deals of land at Shastri Pa- Rithala by an the skin. And th- problems at fash- Times News Network with. Sanjana is intelligent and sensitive —I rk,’’ informs a senior March, 2004. is makes Carol feel ion shows because of the colour of my skin,’’ identify with her to a great extent.’’ DMRC official, In the mean- sore. ‘‘A majority of people in our country are says Nina Manuel, ‘‘But yes, TV commer- istory, they say, repeats itself. Kareena Abhishek, in turn, chooses to describe his ‘‘Apart from roll- while, the dark-skinned. And most products are target- cials and print ads always seem to favour Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan’s de- reel character Prem as being dignified and er-coasters and lo- DMRC wants ed at them. So, why do people want to use only H fair-skinned girls! Anyway, even if there is but film Refugee was a much-awaited film — reticent. ‘‘He is a shy guy and a workaholic.’’ oping coasters, it NEELABH to cash in on fair girls in ads?’’ It’s a question of answers. discrimination — real or perceived — let it so what if it failed to create ripples at the box- Both, however, fight shy of calling their roles will also house child’s play.‘‘We plan And desi models are certainly not in the dark. be. I am successful... and happy!’’ [email protected] office? Four years down the line, as the two as author-backed ones since ‘‘each character facilities for go- to tie up with schoo- prepare for the release of Main Prem Ki Di- in the movie represents Soorajji’s point of karting.’’ As ls and organise wani Hoon, the excitement has reached fever view and is equally important.’’ for the ‘why’ conducted gui- pitch. And this time round, the duo has the If Abhishek has seven films lined up for re- behind the mo- CHILD’S PLAY ded tours for added advantage of lease this year, Ka- ve to target chi- Now, the DMRC plans children,’’ says having Hrithik Rosh- reena has signed on the ldren, the DM- to set up a park for kids Dayal, ‘‘We ha- an in the picture. CELLULOID CHEMISTRY dotted line for Deepa RC has figured ve also set up a Two young men, one woman..