Muslims around the world will start the holy fasting month of Ramadan either on Friday or Saturday depending on the sighting of the new moon.

Friday, August 21:

Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Oman, Morocco, Mauritania, Libya (Shiites), Lebanon (Shiites), Iraq, Turkey, Kosovo, Macedonia, Romania, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Serbia, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Albania, Slovenia Russia

Saturday, August 22:

Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Sudan, Yemen, Iraq (Sunni), France, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, North America

Below is the 2009 Ramadan Calendar. Check it out.

LOS ANGELES — The King of Pop will be buried on what would have been his 51st birthday, a spokesman for Michael Jackson's family said Tuesday.

Jackson will be buried at a private ceremony at Forest Lawn-Glendale on Aug. 29, spokesman Ken Sunshine said in a statement. Guests will be limited to family and close friends, Sunshine said.

"The Jackson family once again wishes to express its gratitude to Michael's fans around the world for their support during these difficult times," the statement said.

Details about the ceremony and the whereabouts of Jackson's body have been tightly guarded. The announcement came a day after the New York Daily News reported comments by Jackson's father, Joe Jackson, that his son would be buried on what would have been his birthday.

Sunshine said Jackson will be buried on the Holly Terrace at the cemetery's Great Mausoleum. The cemetery's Web site describes the mausoleum as featuring replicas of works by Michelangelo. It also features a stained glass recreation of Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper."

The cemetery is located in the city of Glendale, which is about 8 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. It is a different location from the Hollywood Hills cemetery where Jackson's family was seen gathering days after his death on June 25.

KARACHI: Pakistan Computer Association (PCA) started its series of free training programmes for IT professionals on Monday from Islamabad.

The programme, which will be extended throughout the country, provides a unique opportunity for IT professionals and computer vendors to learn and understand Open Source Operating Systems, said a PCA statement released here.

“Stakeholders will be given detailed orientation sessions about different operating systems, which would be available almost free of cost to the stakeholders, ending monopoly of expensive software in the country.”

This would be first training programme of its kind where IT experts and other stakeholders would be provided an opportunity to learn about low cost operating systems helpful in Pakistan’s business environment.

PCA would not charge any cost of training, but provide maximum literature, data and training advice from national and international experts to learn about the Open Source Operating Systems.

Pakistan Computer Association (PCA) has decided to organize an extensive training programme in order to provide a unique opportunity to IT professionals and computer vendors for learning and understanding the Open Source Operating Systems (OSOS) from August 17 (today), an announcement of the PCA said here on Sunday.

The stakeholders would be given detailed orientation sessions about these operating system, which would be available almost free of cost to the stakeholders, ending monopoly of expensive software in the country.

This would be first of its kind of training program where IT experts and other stakeholders would be provided an opportunity to learn about low cost operating system helpful in Pakistan business environment and working conditions of local corporate culture.

PCA will not charge any cost of the training, but would provide maximum literature, data and training advice from national and international experts in order to learn about the OSOS.

The training would help the IT professionals to learn how to operate state-of-the-art software technology and launch the same in Pakistan effectively and the affordable new IT new technology would be available to all users in Pakistan besides protecting and ensuring following the Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) Regulations.

Pakistan’s IT industry needs to enhance its adaptability to grasp the emerging global trends as well as to ensure smooth application of the rapidly changing technology and to attract further investment in the sector.

Pakistan Computer Association (PCA) has taken special initiative of providing training opportunity in Open Source Operating Systems to the stakeholders of the industry throughout Pakistan, whose trend is rapidly growing and getting popular in Europe and rest of the world.

Reporting from New Delhi - Bollywood mega-star Shah Rukh Khan returned to India today, telling fans that the U.S. immigration screening process was discriminatory and involved bizarre and irrelevant questions -- even as he denied that his strong reaction was a publicity stunt for his upcoming movie.

Khan, 43, was taken for secondary screening at Newark Airport for about 90 minutes Friday, which he said happened because of his Muslim name and South Asian origin.

Khan was on his way to Chicago to attend a celebration for Saturday's Indian Independence Day. In recent months, he's traveled repeatedly to Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York to shoot his upcoming film "My Name Is Khan," about the discrimination Muslims have faced in the U.S. since Sept. 11.

"Routine security procedures weren't followed," he said, adding that he felt embarrassed and uncomfortable having to find a U.S. national to vouch for him.

Khan said U.S. workers already had scanned his retina and taken his fingerprints in the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi and should have just matched it against his actual prints when he landed, avoiding any problem.

His comments hit a nerve with upwardly mobile Indians who have faced enhanced and sometimes intrusive scrutiny since September 2001 when trying to attend U.S. schools, visit their relatives or participate in business meetings. His popularity also guaranteed that his complaints were heard by millions of poorer fans unlikely ever to travel abroad.

"This has definitely done huge damage to the U.S. reputation in India," said Shyamal Sengupta, a professor at the Whistling Woods International film school in Mumbai.

Hoping to blunt the criticism, recently named Ambassador to India Timothy J. Roemer said through a spokesman that Khan had millions of fans in the United States and was always welcome to visit. U.S. border officials said Khan was not detained or discriminated against but rather subject to normal procedure.

Khan, from a country with a healthy VIP culture, sought to deflect criticism that he was upset because he hadn't received special treatment. His celebrity status only allowed him to highlight treatment that many ordinary people face each day at U.S. borders, he said.

The U.S. has every right to defend its borders, he added. But it might want to balance this against a desire to present a more open attitude toward people from around the world.

"There's a little [U.S.] paranoia, which is OK from their point of view, but they need to look at it," said Khan, dressed in a gray V-neck shirt and dark glasses.

India's Foreign Ministry has pledged to take up the issue with the U.S. government. And Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni suggested that India should "return the compliment" when U.S. dignitaries next visit India.

Mahela Jayawardene cracked an unbeaten century as Sri Lanka recovered well from the shock of losing early wickets to wrest control on day one of the first Test against New Zealand in Galle.

Jayawardene scored an unbeaten 108, his 26th Test century, as the hosts put the Black Caps' attack to the sword on a pitch which had assisted the fast bowlers at the start.

Chris Martin had secured early breakthroughs with the new ball, reducing Sri Lanka to 16 for two inside the first three overs. However, opener Tillakaratne Dilshan gave the home side impetus with a belligerent 92, while Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera carried the momentum forward, helping the home side reach 293 for three at stumps.

Samaraweera is unbeaten on 82 and has so far added 159 for the fourth wicket with Jayawardene.

The start of play in the morning was delayed due to rain and, when play finally began 90 minutes late, the Black Caps gained the early advantage.

Martin, who immediately found movement in the air and off the pitch, removed opener Tharanga Paranavitana for a duck with his third delivery with the new ball. The paceman got one to slant across the left-hander and flick the edge through to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum.

Kumar Sangakkara then began his innings with two classy drives - but he was snared by Martin for nine while attempting a third, Daniel Flynn taking the catch.

Dilshan and Jayawardene steadied the ship with an impressive partnership before the former was dismissed by a poor delivery from Iain O'Brien, which he dragged back onto his stumps.

Former captain Jayawardene then assumed command following the departure of Dilshan. He drove Daniel Vettori for a couple of runs to long-off to get past the 50-run mark and pulled O'Brien to the midwicket fence to secure his century.

Samaraweera made a slow start but grew in confidence as his innings progressed.

Yang becomes first male from Asia to win a major, outdueling Woods, who had been a perfect 14 for 14 in majors when leading after three rounds.