McLaren sign Sergio Perez for Lewis Hamilton

McLaren have confirmed they are signing Sergio Pérez on a multi-year deal from next season as a replacement for Lewis Hamilton, who is on his way to Mercedes.

McLaren have trumped an announcement from Mercedes regarding Hamilton's switch with their own statement regarding the 22-year-old Mexican, who will leave Sauber at the end of this year to drive alongside Jenson Button in the 2013 season.

The McLaren team principal, Martin Whitmarsh, said: "We've been monitoring his progress carefully for some months. It was a string of giantkilling performances, a trio of podiums and a brilliant fastest lap in this year's Monaco Grand Prix that showed us that Sergio lacks nothing in terms of speed and commitment.

"Uniting Sergio alongside Jenson will give us a very broad base of driver ability. While Sergio is still developing his palette of skills, we're convinced that he's not only talented and quick, but also that he's willing and eager to learn.

"He's perfectly poised to develop into a world championship challenger. His addition to the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team provides us with the perfect two-pronged driver line-up for the new season." Pérez added: "I'm thrilled and delighted to have become a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver.

"The McLaren name is one of the greatest in the history of Formula One. For more than 40 years, McLaren has been a team that every racing driver has aspired to drive for - I was brought up on the great stories of Ayrton Senna's many world championship triumphs for McLaren – and I'm truly honoured that they've chosen me to partner Jenson from 2013 onwards."

Hamilton has decided to end his 14-year association with McLaren at the end of the season and join Mercedes on a three-year deal worth a reported £15m a year. Hamilton said: "It is now time for me to take on a fresh challenge and I am very excited to begin a new chapter racing for the Mercedes Formula One Team.

"Mercedes-Benz has such an incredible heritage in motorsport, along with a passion for winning, which I share. "Together, we can grow and rise to this new challenge. I believe that I can help steer the Silver Arrows to the top and achieve our joint ambitions of winning the world championships."

Whitmarsh paid tribute to the 27-year-old, who won the 2008 drivers' title with the Woking-based team. "It's entirely appropriate I should take this opportunity to pass on our thanks to Lewis," said Whitmarsh. "He wrote a huge chapter of his life and career with us, and was, and always will be, a fine member of an exclusive club – the McLaren world champions' club.

"It goes without saying we all wish him well for the future, just as it also goes without saying we hope and believe Sergio, too, will become a member of that exclusive club before too long." Hamilton will partner his close friend Nico Rosberg at Mercedes, with the veteran former champion Michael Schumacher moving aside and possibly to stay on as a brand ambassador for the team.

Lewis Hamilton joins Mercedes for 3 year deal leaving Mclaren

2008 F1 Champion Lewis Hamilton is all set to leave McLaren for Mercedes in a three-year deal worth $100 million, British and German media reports said on Friday. The agreement, expected to be announced later Friday, could spell the end of the Formula One career of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, who is out of contract at Mercedes at the end of the year.

Sources told DPA Mercedes would not be extending Schumacher’s contract, although it is unclear whether the German will go back into retirement or seek a new team. British newspapers said an announcement could come later on Friday after the Mercedes board had signed a new commercial agreement binding the team to the sport.

The Telegraph said the three-year deal could be worth as huge as $100 million. Both teams were expected to hold news conferences later in the day. The decision by Hamilton to leave McLaren will be a major blow to the British team, which had offered their driver a new deal.

Hamilton had been with the team since he was 13 years old and won the world championship in 2008. The 27-year-old has reportedly been told by Mercedes he will be the number one driver, partnering the German Nico Rosberg.

A possible move by Schumacher to another team “is “not an issue today,” his manager Sabine Kehm told DPA. Schumacher returned to Formula One in 2010 after a three-year absence, but has registered only a single podium place with Mercedes since then.

On Thursday, Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn told the BBC that Schumacher had “been a huge asset to the team, he’s really taken us forward.” He added: “I do think Michael contributes an awful lot, so I think the decision for Michael to stay or not continue is a difficult one.

“Obviously he’s very involved in that decision, and discussions are ongoing at the moment.”

Google Street View maps the Great Barrier Reef

While Apple Maps on iOS 6 are giving you a bad time, Google Maps has given users another reason to cheer. According  to an official Google blogpost, Web users around the world can now access underwater pictures from some parts of the world.You can virtually scuba dive in the world's most beautiful reefs after a group of scientists map the seabed using advanced panoramic cameras.

Google has joined forces with the Catlin Seaview Survey, a scientific project studying the health of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, to add underwater photography to its Street View service.Starting with the Great Barrier Reef, reefs around the world have been captured in high-resolution, 360 degree panoramic photographs and made available on Google Street View for the public to access through 'virtual diving'.

It is hoped the photography will also provide the scientific community with a means of monitoring the effects of pollution and climate change on these sensitive ecosystems. Click here to view Great Barrier Reef or Click http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/gallery.html#!/ocean

'Dhoom 3' first Bollywood film to release in IMAX

IMAX Corporation and Yash Raj Films Pvt. Ltd., India's largest film studio, today announced that the action thriller DHOOM:3 will be digitally re-mastered in the immersive IMAX format and released in IMAX theatres across India and selected global locations next winter. The film marks the first Indian local-language production to be released in IMAX.  The Company currently has 14 IMAX theatres open or contracted to open in India.

From producer Aditya Chopra and director Vijay Krishna Acharya, and starring Aamir Khan, DHOOM:3 is the next installment in one of the most popular franchises in Indian box office history. Also starring Abhishek Bachchan, Uday Chopra and Katrina Kaif, the film tells the story of the adventures of Jai Dixit, a no-nonsense cop, and his scatterbrained partner, Ali. The success of DHOOM and DHOOM:2 have established this as Bollywood's pre-eminent franchise.

"IMAX has always symbolised high-quality film entertainment and experience and this vision of the company works very well with the ethos of YRF, which has been synonymous with Indian film entertainment over the last four decades," said Yash Chopra, Chairman, Yash Raj Films Pvt. Ltd. "We are indeed happy to announce our association with IMAX for the additional release of DHOOM:3 in this exciting format next year. Added to the anticipated thrill that the film promises, this IMAX experience will give it an all-new edge-of-the-seat dimension altogether. We look forward to closely working with their team over the coming year."

The local Indian film market currently ranks number one in the world for attendance and film production with over 1,000 films produced a year and approximately 90% of revenues derived from non-English language movies.  Recent reports project the country's film industry to grow from $3.2 billion in 2010 to $5 billion by 2014.

"Our network growth in India has reached a point where we're now able to present local-language films in IMAX, which is paramount to our success in the region," said Greg Foster, Chairman and President, IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "We're very excited to begin this partnership with Yash Raj Films and look forward to working with director Vijay Krishna Acharya and Yash & Aditya Chopra on this highly anticipated Bollywood blockbuster. With its riveting action set pieces, global locales and stunning visuals, DHOOM:3 is an ideal film to take advantage of our immersive format as we begin our initiative with Indian-language/Bollywood films."

The IMAX release of DHOOM:3 will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience with proprietary IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images coupled with IMAX's customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

Curiosity discovers Pyramid shaped mysterious rock on the red planet Mars

Looking uncannily like an Egyptian pyramid, it is not something you would expect to see on the surface of Mars. Nasa engineers were so intrigued by the unique, football sized rock, they have driven the Curiosity rover up to it for a closer rock. The football-size rock will be the first on Mars to be examined by rover's robotic arm .

Curiosity is about 8 feet (2.5 meters) from the rock. It lies about halfway from the rover's landing site, Bradbury Landing, to a location called Glenelg. The team plans to touch the rock with a spectrometer to determine its elemental composition and use an arm-mounted camera to take close-up photographs. Both the arm-mounted Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer and the mast-mounted, laser-zapping Chemistry and Camera Instrument will be used for identifying elements in the rock. Nasa hopes this will give them a new insight into the structure of the red planet, and also allow cross-checking of the two instruments.The rock has been named 'Jake Matijevic' after a Nasa employee who recently passed away.

THE MAN BEHIND THE ROCK

Nasa has named the rock after the late engineer Jacob Matijevic, who was the surface operations systems chief engineer for Mars Science Laboratory and the project's Curiosity rover.  He passed away on August 20th, at age 64.Matijevic also was a leading engineer for all of the previous NASA Mars rovers: Sojourner, Spirit and Opportunity.

Ameer to direct Illayathalapathi Vijay for Kannapiran

Illayathalapathi Vijay who missed the magnum opus "Yohan Adhyayam Ondru" with ace director Gautham Vasudev Menon is all set to tally the loss. Sources inside kollywood say Vijay will join hands with another ace director Ameer for a film titled "Kannapiran". Vijay who is currently on the verge of finishing "Thoopakki" will start his next film with director Vijay post which he will start his film with Ameer. Ameer is also busy with his Jeyam Ravi starrer "Adibhagavan". This is the first time Vijay & Ameer are working together. Isaignani Illayaraja is being approached by Ameer to score the music for the film. If Isaignani says yes, it will also be the first time for Illayaraja & Ameer to work together, since Ameer's film always has Yuvan's music. The hunt for heroine is also underway with Amala Paul leading the race. Randy @ Rathina velu will be the cinematographer while Antony will take care of the editing process. The rest of the crew is yet to be decided. The film is expected to take off in next January and hit theaters by summer of 2013.

Watch Jab Tak Hai Jaan Movie Trailer Online

It’s finally out! After months of huge speculations, the first trailer of Yash Chopra directed ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’ starring King Khan Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma released on the Internet. Earlier on, the teaser of the then untitled film was unveiled with Salman Khan’s mega release ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ in the theatres.

The trailer opens with the beautiful Ladakh in the background and SRK dressed in an army soldier riding a bullet. The trailer is devoid of any song but has SRK reciting beautiful poetry interspersed with AR Rahman’s music.

The trailer also depicts shots of London and Leh, where the film has been extensively shot. Like most heroines of Yash Raj Films, Katrina is presented in a beautiful avatar. Anushka Sharma plays the role of a documentary filmmaker in the film.Scheduled for a Diwali release, the film is being touted as a big release. It also marks a comeback for Yash Chopra as a director after 8 long years. And with SRK-Yash Chopra as part of a film, it is but obvious that Jab Tak Hai Jaan is all set to redefine romance in Hindi cinema Industry.

Click here to watch the trailer.

Mahela Jayawardene replaces Virender Sehwag as captain of Daredevils for CLT20

Virender Sehwag on Friday stepped down from captaincy of the Delhi Daredevils and Mahela Jayawardene will now lead the team in the Champions League Twenty20 beginning October 9 in South Africa.

Delhi Daredevils mentor TA Sekar said that Sehwag's request to relieve him of captaincy for the Champions League has been accepted by the team management.

"Viru told us a few months ago that he wanted to bat freely and suggested that we make Mahela the captain of the side," Sekar said.

Delhi Daredevils have been drawn in Group A with Kolkata Knight Riders, Perth Scorchers, Titans and a qualifier.

Group B has Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Sydney Sixers, Highveld Lions and a qualifier.

The two qualifiers will be spotted from among Trinidad and Tobago, Sialkot Stallions, Uva Next, Yorkshire, Hampshire and Auckland Aces.

The Delhi Daredevils squad includes six overseas cricketers, among them Jayawardene.

Explosive batsmen David Warner, Kevin Pietersen and Ross Taylor, IPL 2012 Purple Cap winner, paceman Morne Morkel and exciting West Indian all-rounder Andre Russell complete the set of overseas players in the squad of 15.

The squad: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), David Warner, Kevin Pietersen, Ross Taylor, Morne Morkel, Andre Russell, Virender Sehwag, Irfan Pathan, Umesh Yadav, Venugopal Rao, Pawan Negi, Naman Ojha (wicket-keeper), Ajit Agarkar, Unmukt Chand and Aavishkar Salvi (as replacement for Varun Aaron).

Power Star Srinivasan Arrested

Popular Kollywood Actor 'Power Star' Srinivasan was on Friday arrested on charges of cheating a businessman of Rs 65 lakh. He was arrested on a complaint from G U Balasubramanian, proprietor of RBS International in Chrompet, to city police Commissioner J K Tripathy that the actor had taken the money after promising to get him a 10 crore loan.
Balasubramanian said he never got the loan. Police said Balasubramanian had approached the actor's finance company, Baba Trading, on Poonamalle High Road to arrange the cash to help him expand his business six months ago. The actor told the businessman that he would charge 5% as service charge for getting the loan. Subsequently he took the money claiming that the amount is towards documentation charges and commission.
"He failed to obtain the loan and kept dodging the businessman. He promised to return the sum when the complainant warned him of approaching us," said an investigating officer. Bala Surbamanian in his complaint alleged that he was threatened at gunpoint when he approached Srinivasan at his Anna Nagar residence.
Police have registered a case under IPC Section 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and 506 (ii) (criminal intimidation) 27 Arms Act. He was remanded in judicial custody and lodged in Puzhal prison. Police said several others had earlier gone to them with complaints against Srinivasan, but they all arrived at a compromise. On May 4, a Saidapet resident called Ganesan lodged a complaint that Srinivasan had taken 10 lakh promising a loan.
The police are investigating into the matter and are also probing the possibility of this being a 'false case' foisted by Srinivasan himself in order to garner some’ publicity.
Srinivasan is a physician who directed and acted in the movie Lathika (2011). He later made guest appearances in movies like 'Mandapam,' 'Unakkaga Oru Kavithai,' 'Neethana Avan' and 'Indrasena.' He is working on the film 'Kanna Laddu Thinna Asaiya' with Santhanam in the lead role.

Apple iPad Mini Photos Leaked

You might be looking at a real prototype of Apple's next tablet. Just one day before Apple's scheduled iPhone 5 event, alleged photos of an iPad Mini have popped up on the Internet. And they're pretty convincing.

If the pictures are actually of an iPad Mini, then it pretty much confirms everything we've believed up to this point, such as it being roughly the size of a Kindle Fire (perhaps a little wider), with Apple's newer, smaller dock connector. If they're not--this is the best fake we've seen in a while.

While it's interesting that the photos would leak just a day ahead of the iPhone 5 event, it's worth remembering that many reports point to an October reveal for the tablet. This is in order to keep full attention focused on what is arguably the most important device in Apple's product line, and save a spot for its iPad Mini to be announced just in time for the holidays, effectively giving Apple two hot items to sell during gift-giving season.

If anything, the iPad Mini is admission by Apple that there is a market for smaller-size tablets. Amazon helped prove this with its offerings. If Apple can keep the Mini at a desirable price, it's easy for it to target that same market that invests in e-reader-focused tablets a la Nook Color and Kindle Fire.

'Jab Tak Hai Jaan' Yash Chopra and Shahrukh Khan film title revealed

This year's best kept Bollywood secret has been the title of Yash Chopra's with Shahrukh Khan.

Yash Chopra and the title of his much anticipated film starring Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma is finally titled 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan'. As the name suggests, the film promises an epic saga of undying love. The film also marks the comeback of Yash Chopra as a director after eight years.

Known for his larger-than-life screen depictions, Yash Chopra seems to have planned the film publicity too in a similar way. India woke up today to a full-page spread of Gulzar's lyrics for the title track and a suave Shah Rukh Khan, dressed as an army man looking regal on his Royal Enfield motorcycle.

The film is scheduled for November 13, 2012 Diwali release.

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh finally let the cat out of the bag on Twitter last night – just a few hours before the official announcement was made through a front page advertisement in a daily this morning.

Although SRK had tweeted that the name would be revealed on Wednesday, the media beat him to it! Adarsh tweeted, "Breaking: Yash Chopra's new film is called 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan'".

The lyrics of the song are: