Kamrup (Assam), Dec 8: At least 100,000 birds have been culled in Assam after bird flu began to spread in an alarming manner.

More than 100,000 chickens and ducks have been be slaughtered over the weekend in around 20 villages, after one of them, just 35 km of Guwahati, was hit by bird flu.

Authorities are worried about a new outbreak after some poultry deaths were reported in Palasbari.

"It is around between two to three lakh. About two lakh more need to be culled," said S L Mewara, the state''s commissioner of veterinary and animal husbandry department.

The virus has now spread to Barpeta and Nalbari districts besides Kamrup district.

Islamabad, Dec. 8 : Former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General, Lt. Gen. (retired) Hamid Gul, has rejected all allegations regarding his connection with banned outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba and also about his involvement in any terrorist activities involving Al Qaeda.

In an interview to a U. S. based T. V channel, he said: “Whatever happens in India, it (India) is in habit of putting blames on others.”

Mumbai, Dec. 8 : The International Cricket Council (ICC) is keeping a close watch on the developments in the Indian subcontinent in the run-up to the 2011 World Cup.

According to sources, if the existing tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad fail to subside in the wake of last month’s terror attacks, the ICC could have a rethink on whether to allow the tournament to take place in the region.

The toughening of stand by the Government of India towards Pakistan, following the terror attacks in Mumbai, is being viewed with some kind of seriousness in Dubai, the headquarters of the ICC.

Washington, Dec 8 : Movie fans have picked Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie as their favourite actors to play Batman villains in the follow-up to ‘The Dark Knight’.

According to the new poll from video and DVD rental firm Blockbuster, while Depp is the top choice, Jolie is the second.

Natalie Portman came third in the poll while Edward Norton landed the fourth spot, reports Contactmusic.

Rounding off the top five was Keira Knightley.

The top ten most requested stars to play Batman villains are:

1. Johnny Depp

2. Angelina Jolie

3. Natalie Portman

4. Edward Norton

5. Keira Knightley

6. Daniel Day-Lewis

Praja Rajyam Party president Chiranjeevi Sunday appointed his brother and actor Pavan Kalyan as the president of youth wing of the party. 

Chiranjeevi announced this in a press conference at party office in Hyderabad. 

Kalyan was nominated as Yuva Rajyam president as he wants to serve people, Chiranjeevi said.  

Chiranjeevi claimed that Kalyan has his own identity. "It is not proper to keep him away just because he is my brother," the superstar added. 

Melbourne, Dec 8 : Amanda Beard has defended fellow Olympian Michael Phelps’ romance with Las Vegas cocktail waitress Caroline Pal, insisting that he deserves to ‘have fun’.

The 14-time gold medalist Phelps has been flooded with some lousy press lately for becoming not only a fixture in Las Vegas, but also for dating the Sin City’s cocktail waitress, reports Thehollywoodgossip. com.

Beard has admitted that it''s ‘definitely weird’ to see Phelps becoming a celebrity tabloid star, but she thinks he should be cut some slack.

"A swimmer''s life is extremely boring," the Daily Telegraph quoted Beard, as telling E! Online at the opening of the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills.