Nicole Kidman miscarried Tom's baby

Nicole Kidman has revealed that she lost a baby in the early years of her marriage to Tom Cruise.

In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, the actress confessed that she suffered a "traumatic" miscarriage when she was just 23.

The 40-year-old actress further revealed that the failure to conceive and the desperation to have a child led the couple to adopt their kids Isabella, 14, and Connor, 12.

Nicole has revealed in the past that she had a second miscarriage when three months pregnant at the time of her break-up with Cruise.

"From the minute Tom and I were married, I wanted to have babies. And we lost a baby early on, so that was really very traumatic. And that's when it came that we would adopt Bella," The Sun quoted her, as telling the mag.

Kidman, who is now married to country music star Keith Urban, said that she is still 'yearning' to have a baby of her own.

"I'm yearning to have one. I think I would be very sad if I wasn't able to have a baby," she said.

"Keith knows I want one, and he has been getting there slowly. My husband really wants a couple of years, he said, 'Where I just have you.' So it's kind of romantic. That's what we decided," she added.

Cong, TD campaigns bring election atmosphere

Even though the talk of mid-term elections to the Lok Sabha have subsided following reports of truce between the UPA and the Leftists at the Centre, the election atmosphere has already started developing back home in the State.

The ruling Congress has intensified its pet programme "Intinta Indiramma Sambaralu," while the main Opposition Telugu Desam has launched its Palle Palleku programme in a big way in the villages to woo the electorate with assurances, as if the Assembly elections have already approached.

While the Congress programme which began on September 1 was aimed at to highlight the welfare programmes of the government and to identify true beneficiaries irrespective of parties for granting houses and pensions, the Opposition party launched its counter programme from September 5 by targetting to highlight the government's failures, nepotism and corruption. Following the directions of Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, party ministers, MLAs and senior leaders were making whirlwind visits to rural and urban areas.

Thus, the parties are prepared for elections, but are the voters ready?

Himakumar Reddy: 'God saved my brother’

NELLORE: “The car flew up before my eyes and for a second, I almost thought I lost my brother. Thanks to Edukondalavadu (points to the sky), he escaped from the jaws of death by a hair’s breadth...!"

The tension caused by the blood-curdling incident was clearly visible in his eyes even as Nedurumalli Himakumar Reddy, a cousin of the former Chief Minister N. Janardhana Reddy, narrated the incident to this correspondent.

Mr. Reddy was seated in the sixth car in the convoy, just behind the ill-fated Ford Fiesta that was blown up by the landmine triggered by Maoists near Vidyanagar in the early hours of Friday.

“I heard a loud noise and what I could see was just debris and dust all over. Immediately, I got out of the car and a corpse, understandably thrown up by the blast, fell next to me with a thud, spilling blood all over my shirt. I almost thought it was Anna, but found his car much ahead of the spot and ran towards it for confirmation. It was only then I heaved a sigh of relief,” he narrated the nerve-wracking incident to media after the blast.

Panabaka to make way for her husband!

Nellore MP and Union minister of state for health and family welfare minister Panabaka Lakshmi is likely to make way for her husband Panabaka Krishnaiah in the next elections.

Indications are that Krishnaiah might plunge into active politics by 2009 or even if they are advanced and might contest from Gudur Assembly constituency, since Nellore constituency might be dereserved for SCs. Morover, the Congress leaders and cadres in Nellore district, who are under the influence of former Chief Minister N Janardhan Reddy, have been complaining to the high command against Panabaka for her anti-party activities.

Several congress party leaders and cadres from Vakadu, Kota and Chittamuru mandals, who met at the residence of NJR at Vakadu on Thursday, leveled serious charges against Panabaka stating that she had been giving importance to those recommended by the local Telugu Desam leaders in various government schemes. They alleged that she had been inaccessible for them. NJR, too, expressed concern over people representatives lukewarm response towards the problems being faced by the Congress party cadres. It is unfortunate that the leaders are ignoring the cadre, Reddy lamented.

Security lapse reason for attack on NJR

A serious lapse of security is believed to be the reason for the attack of Maoists on the life of former Chief Minister and Visakhapatnam MP Nedurumalli Janardhan Reddy at Vakadu near Nellore on Friday morning.

The Nedurumalli couple command Z-Category security, which requires their routes to be checked wherever they go. The culverts are especially checked, as Naxalites are known to plant landmines at such places. NJR has been on the hit list of the Naxals since he was the first person to ban outfits such as the People's War Group (PWG) when he was the Chief Minister in 1991. Other governments followed suit, but NJR has been the prime target because of his bold initiative.

Neither he nor the police force took the threat seriously enough, as is clear by the failure to man police at all culverts along the route. The Z-Category security requires each police station to submit reports every

15 days after checking the culverts. The sub-inspectors have to physically verify and fill up a proforma stating 'Checked and found nothing particular'.

It is said that the police send the report without actually carrying out the checks. Even on Thursday night, such a report was sent stating that checks had been completed, including the culvert where the incident took

place. Police are also required to post cops at all culverts, particularly for Mr. Reddy, which they failed to do so, manning only the junctions.

Chandrababu Naidu Bribed Journalists

ABK Prasad, the Chairman of official language commission and senior journalist said that Chandrababu Naidu started the culture of bribing journalists by putting cash under the sweet box. He used to send that to senior journalists and editors, he added. This has become a practice and the small time journalists are expecting something now only because of Chandrababu Naidu.

ABK affirmed that the values of Press are going to dogs only because of Chandrababu Naidu.

After unleashing the inside stories of Ramoji Rao and his attitude, now ABK started revealing the deeds of Chandrababu who spoiled the values of Press. ABK said this in the new issue of 'Ee Vaaram' weekly.

YSR hits last nail in Ramoji coffin!

After stepping up a multi-pronged attack on media baron Ramoji Rao in the form of targetting the Margadarsi Financiers and destabilsing Eenadu Telugu daily by launching his own paper Saakshi, Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy is hitting the last nail into his coffin.

Eenadu group's agricultural magazine "Annadata" is a very popular journal among the farmers, as it provides a lot of material for their benefit. It has a respectable circulation and is fetching a lot of profits for Ramoji Rao. The Chief Minister, who did not concentrate on this magazine all these days, suddenly woke up and decided to sound a death knell to Annadata.

He asked the Agricultural Department to revive its old journal "Paadi Pantalu" in tune with the latest trend and see that the copies reach all the farmers' groups free of cost. He ordered that the content of Paadi Pantalu should be more attractive and informative than Annadata. What is more, he instructed that all the farmers groups and gram panchayats stop subscribing to Annadata and switch over to Paadi Pantalu. Two birds at one shot!!

YSR spares TDP, but attacks Left

Guntur: In a departure from his usual rhetoric, YSR on Saturday skipped commenting on the TDP and instead trained his guns on former allies, the Left parties, and assailed their land for landless agitation.

Addressing a meet at B R Stadium here, the CM , without naming the Left parties, said that neither the Congress nor the state government need lessons on welfare from some political parties. “We are giving pucca houses to the poor in the state. Unfortunately, some political parties are waging a war for house sites,” he said.

According to him, about 19 lakh houses would be constructed in the first phase of the Indiramma programme and nearly 22 lakh houses in the second phase. “The construction of lakhs of houses is going on at a brisk pace and the aim is to ensure that no one is left without a house in the state,” he said.

“I do not understand the agitations launched by some parties for house sites for the poor. They are trying to mislead the people by telling them that the government launched housing schemes for the people only due to the agitation launched by these parties. We need no lessons from any political party on doing good for the poor”.

YSR said he had advised Sonia against visiting Hyderabad after the bomb blasts to avoid unnecessary publicity to the terrorist attacks. Such publicity would have shown the state in a bad light and also reflect on the investments, he added.

Political Talk: Snap Poll Will Benefit TDP!

There talk of mid-term elections to the Lok Sabha are being heard everywhere. But many feel that such a possibility is very remote. The Left parties have certainly raised the pitch, but it is highly unlikely that they would pull the rug from under the feet of Manmohan Singh.

But the ground reality in the state suggests that in such an eventuality, it is the Telugu Desam Party that will emerge as the biggest gainer from a snap poll. The party fared poorly last time and managed to win just 5 MP seats. So if the TDP can manage to win even 10 seats now, it would have doubled its strength in the Lok Sabha.

The biggest loser undoubtedly would be the TRS, which will have to, in all probability, go it alone.

Behind The Scene: Babu silences 'Maharaja'!

Former minister and senior Telugu Desam leader P Ashoka Gajapathiraju is hardly seen at the TD State party headquarters NTR Bhavan. He used to be active while the TD was in power. The former "Maharaja" of Vizianagaram kingdom has reportedly decided not to be in the limelight at least for one more year. And this explains why he is not seen much at NTR Bhavan. Moreover, Chandrababu Naidu has entrusted the responsibility to his "trusted lieutenants" MV Mysoora Reddy and Nagam Janardhan Reddy.

An interesting aspect now observed in TD headquarters is the active participation of former information minister Dadi Veerabhadra Rao. This man had remained silent for more than five years. But during the past three months, he is sitting on the media conference dias and sharing it often with none other than Chandrababu Naidu.

Another leader who has been given a "raw deal" is former union minister Ummareddy Venkateswarlu. Also same is the case with former CBI director and former minister K Vijayarama Rao.

Only God knows what is in the mind of Chandrababu Naidu these days.

Lokesh' marriage: two quite contrasts

It is being dubbed as the "marriage of the year" in the political circles in the State. Whatever be the reasons attached to the marriage being dubbed as the wedding of the year, there's one reason no one can escape from or overlook.
It is the quite contrast between the bride and the bridegroom.
While the marriage arrangements are in full swing in the bungalow of film star Balakrishna whose daughter Brahmani is getting married to Nara Lokesh, son of former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on August 26, there's no such an environment in the bungalow of Chandrababu Naidu.
With Chandrababu Naidu deciding to keep the marriage a "low key affair", much activity is not seen at his house, though occassionally Lokesh and his mother Bhuvaneswari are said to be busy shopping. It is in quite contrast to the busy schedule in the residence of Brahmani.
The invitation list is also going to be quite contrast: big list vs small list. In every aspect the marriage is going to be quite in contrast, one making it a big affair and the other a low-ley function.
Many feel that they have not come across such a marriage in contrast.

Fact Sheet: Of Naidu and his 10, Janpath links!!

Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu, who was in New Delhi last week, took the party leaders and mediapersons by surprise by going into hiding for a couple of hours early in the morning.
There was nobody with him, except former Rajya Sabha member Kambhampati Rammohan Rao, when he went out in the latter's car without even taking his breakfast. Nobody could guess where Naidu had gone and after a week, too, Kambhampati also did not open his mouth even before closest of his friends, leave along the Desam MPs.
However, mediapersons tried to sniff the news about Naidu's secret mission. Accoding to their guess, Naidu had a one-on-one meeting with an industrialist, who has close links with the powers-that-be in 10, Janpath (Sonia Gandhi's residence), on a business deal. Sources say Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy has become a major hurdle in getting clearance to this business and therefore, Naidu sought the help of this industrialist to prevail upon YSR through Sonia Gandhi. So, business is politics and politics is business!

Undavalli's Verbal Bombardments In 'Ee Varam'

The new weekly Ee Vaaram is launched and the first issue deals with Ramoji Rao and his deeds with Margadarsi. The chief editor of the magazine is Undavalli Arun Kumar and the other story that took big place in the magazine is about Chiranjeevi's political entry.
The sensational Congress leader who came to file only with Margadarsi issue is now turned a Press person as well with 'Ee Vaaram'. It is obvious that Congress is funding that magazine and the multi color magazine is being sold out at just Rs 5. Television Ads are also hitting in big way about this magazine.
We have to see how Congress and Undavalli use this magazine in near future.

Fact Sheet: Ex-bureacrats go on their own!

Three retired IAS officers -- D. C. Rosaiah, B. Danam and I. Venkateswarulu – who earned notoriety as the most corrupt officers during their tenure, are on a crusade to empower Dalits and minorities of the State.
The retirned bureacrats were associated themselves with the United BC/SC/ST Front initially, but later, they realised that their purpose won't be served if they play second fiddle to the petty politicians. So, they have decided to go on their own and see the people's response.
These former bureaucrats are now conducting political awareness programmes at Kakinada, Vizag, Vijayawada, Tirupati, Warangal and Hyderabad to enlighten the Dalits and prepare them for a longer battle for power. They saythough Dalits and minorities comprised about 85 percent of the population, they did not have decision making power.
"Power is in the hands of the remaining 15 percent and they are trampling over the rights of the Bahujans," they say.

Jagan ‘stopped’ in his tracks by YSR

Vijayawada: Is Y S Jaganmohan Reddy wary of group politics in the ruling Congress? Is he restrained by his chief minister-father YS Rajasekhara Reddy on making tours? Whatever may be the reason, the ‘rising son’ of the state, Jagan has cancelled his visit to Krishna and Guntur districts scheduled for August 25.
In fact, there was a flurry of activity in the Congress circles ever since the cadres came to know about his visit to the city to attend the marriage of a youth Congress leader in Guntur. On learning the news, leaders from Krishna too exerted pressure on him to spare some time in Vijayawada. But, youth leaders from Palnadu who secured his promise to visit Macherla did not agree to the proposal.
A group of leaders, led by local ZPTC member Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy, told Jagan that they have already made arrangements for a ‘grand welcome’. Meanwhile, proprietor of construction giant Ramky group Ramakrishna Reddy, a partner of Jagan in real estate business holdings, reportedly suggested Jagan to visit Sattenapalle to inaugurate charity works taken up by their foundation.
Guntur market committee chairman L Appi Reddy, who planned Jagan’s visit to the city, too wanted to keep him busy. As the rush of invitations kept growing, Jagan reportedly said he was going to Mumbai for a board meeting of Raghuram cements. But, rumours are rife in the party circles that the CM asked Jagan to wait for some time before plunging into active politics.

Behind The Scene: Why PJR is lying low!

Looks like the worries of the Chief Minister, Mr YS Rajasekhar Reddy, are over now. The main dissident in the Congress in the State, Khairatabad legislator P Janardhan Reddy is lying low. Another MLA M Sashidhar Reddy is also keeping mum. Suddenly all the dissident elements including MP Sarve Satyanarayana, MLA P Shankar Rao and MP Madhu Yashki Goud have decided to keep the dissident activity under wraps. No one understands why they are keeping quiet. Is it the calm before the calm. Let's wait and see.
Sources point out that AICC Chief Sonia Gandhi has acted tough and this explains for the silence of these leaders. Only time will tell, whether their silence is because of fear of Sonia or it is calm before the storm.

Spy Report : Lagadapati emulating Chandrababu!

Vijayawada MP and firebrand industrialist Lagadapati Rajagopal seems to be emulating former Chief Minister and Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu in "back-stabbing" his father-in-law Parvathaneni Upendra.

There is a lot of drama in this episode. Upendra played a prominent role in the early days of Telugu Desam foundation and was a close associate of its founder-president N T Rama Rao. On the other hand, Rajagopal has been in the Congress right from the beginning, like Chandrababu Naidu. While Naidu differed with NTR because the latter married Lakshmi Parvathi, who was dominating the TD politics, Upendra was angry with Lagadapati, because the latter has was allegedly having illicit relationship with a woman public relations officer in the police department. Because of her, Lagadapati started ignoring his wife (Upendra's daughter).

Of late, Lagadapati has been dominating the Vijayawada politics, completely sidelining Upendra, who sacrificed his seat for his son-in-law in 2004 general elections. Now, Upendra feels he has been stabbed in the back by Lagadapati, just as NTR suffered backstabbing from Chandrababu Naidu!

CPM-MIM fight behind Tasleema attack?

The CPM and the MIM have been fighting against each other for the last three years to establish their supremacy in old city of Hyderabad.
There have been instances of clashes, often violent. But the fight has assumed serious proportions on Thursday when MIM attacked Tasleema Nasreen, the controversial Bangla writer.
The MIM wants to drive home the message back home in its constituencies that the Communists have befriended Tasleema Nasreen who has written against Islam and Muslims. They want to tell their voters that the Communists had sided with Tasleema and the MIM is the real champion of the minority community.
But the MIM set a bad precedent by attacking the organisers and the writer at the book release function in Hyderabad.

Fact Sheet: Left doublespeak on land, Tasleema!

The Communists think that they can get away with anything. First they created trouble for the Congress government in the State through a "bhoo poratam" (struggle for land distribution). This led to police firing resulting in the death of seven persons at Mudigonda. The communists bayed for the blood of the chief minister, Dr YS Rajasekhar Reddy.
They conveniently forgot that a similar land struggle back home in West Bengal led to several deaths in police firing.
It was the Communist government in West Bengal which had banned controversial Bangla writer Tasleema Nasreen's book. Now the same communists speak of freedom of expression.
What is good for the goose should also be good for the gander.

Spy Report: Lagadapati emulating Chandrababu!

Vijayawada MP and firebrand industrialist Lagadapati Rajagopal seems to be emulating former Chief Minister and Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu in "back-stabbing" his father-in-law Parvathaneni Upendra.

There is a lot of drama in this episode. Upendra played a prominent role in the early days of Telugu Desam foundation and was a close associate of its founder-president N T Rama Rao. On the other hand, Rajagopal has been in the Congress right from the beginning, like Chandrababu Naidu. While Naidu differed with NTR because the latter married Lakshmi Parvathi, who was dominating the TD politics, Upendra was angry with Lagadapati, because the latter has was allegedly having illicit relationship with a woman public relations officer in the police department. Because of her, Lagadapati started ignoring his wife (Upendra's daughter).

Of late, Lagadapati has been dominating the Vijayawada politics, completely sidelining Upendra, who sacrificed his seat for his son-in-law in 2004 general elections. Now, Upendra feels he has been stabbed in the back by Lagadapati, just as NTR suffered backstabbing from Chandrababu Naidu!