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INDIA PUNE BLAST PICTURE

2010-02-14T13:10:00.003+05:30

Pune blast picture

2010-02-14T13:05:00.001+05:30

Uddhav Thackeray blames Ashok Chavan for Pune blast

2010-02-14T13:01:00.000+05:30

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray Sunday squarely blamed Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan's immature politics as

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"responsible for the Pune terror attack".

"It is because of the sins of the CM that nine innocent persons have lost their lives in the attack," Uddhav said in a brief statement from Badlapur in Thane.

Uddhav alleged that in order to protect (Shah Rukh) Khan, a massive security force had been withdrawn from sensitive locations and deployed on the roads last week.

"Instead, if that security had been appropriately deployed at the requisite places, then the terror attack could have been prevented," Uddhav said.

A bomb ripped through the German Bakery in Pune's posh Koregaon Park area Saturday evening, killing nine and injuring 57, including foreign nationals.

Pune blast: Chidambaram denies intelligence failure, Maharashtra ATS takes over probe

2010-02-14T13:00:00.000+05:30

PUNE: Dismissing "intelligence failure" in the Pune blast, Union home minister P Chidambaram on Sunday said the terrorists have hit a "soft target"

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like the German Bakery which is frequented by foreigners and Indians alike.

He maintained that the "hard targets" like the Osho Ashram and the Jewish Chabad House located near the bakery had been surveyed by US Lashker-e-Taiba suspect David Headley during his visit to India and the area was "in the radar" of terrorists for some time.

"But apart from hard targets, there are soft targets... All these (the German Bakery where the blast took place yesterday and an Italian restaurant nearby) are soft targets where foreigners and Indians congregate especially during the peak hours," he told reporters here after visiting local hospitals to meet the injured in the terror attack.

The home minister said the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad has taken over the case and constituted teams to investigate the blast.

He announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the families of those killed in the attack.

Terror struck Pune on Saturday night as a powerful bomb ripped apart a popular bakery near the Chabad House, killing nine people and injuring 45 in the first major attack since 26/11 carnage.

None of the nine persons killed in the Pune blast is a foreigner, Union home secretary Gopal K Pillai said on Sunday.

"None of the bodies of the nine killed has been identified yet as that of a foreigner. Out of the nine, three bodies have been identified which are of Indians and others' identification process is still going on," he told reporters.

After the blast took place at a German Bakery in Pune last night, it was reported that one among the dead is a foreigner.

Pillai said among the injured, four are Iranians, two Sudanese, one Taiwanese, one German and two Nepalese.

The improvised explosive device, kept in a packet outside the kitchen of the German Bakery, exploded at around 7.30 pm when a waiter attempted to open it.

The Union home minister said it appears that a "person or more persons pretending as customers seem to have come to the German Bakery and one of them might have left a backpack under a table" in the bakery.

Denying any "intelligence failure" with regard to the incident, he said police had been sensitised about Osho Ashram and Chabad House which are located in the area.

"So, this area is on the radar of terrorists. There is no intelligence failure, but please remember this is not an overt attack by gunmen. This an insidious bomb that had been planted in what appears to be a backpack."

He said the Pune Police had in the past "sensitised all the establishments in the area, especially in North Main Road... that they should take measures in order to keep away or at least identify potential trouble-makers.

"In some bigger establishments some mock-drills were conducted. But it is not that they were sensitised every day. They were sensitised as this is the area which is on the radar of terrorists, being the location of Chabad House in the general neighbourhood... this area was vulnerable," he said.

Asked if anyone has been detained in this connection, he replied, "We will not give you hourly reports on detention or interrogation, that is very wrong. The police should not do that and they have been advised not to do that."

He said the media will be given information periodically whenever necessary and asked it not to "speculate".

Chidamabaram said the forensic scientists, including those from Delhi, have gathered samples and "we would shortly have a report on what kind of explosives were used.

"Let the analysis report come, then we will be able to identify what explosives were used and what trigger was used and then we can draw some conclusions."

Asked whether any particular terrorist outfit was involved, including the Indian Mujahideen, Chidambaram said "We are not ruling out anything and ruling in anything."

On links of Headley's recce and yesterday's blast, he said it will be "premature" to draw any conclusion.

"David Headley had surveyed the Chabad House, that is a fact. At the moment, it is a stand-alone fact. Whether this particular incident is related to that, it is premature to answer that. We have to wait for the investigation to find out who perhaps is behind this incident."

To a question whether the blast would affect the proposed foreign secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan, the minister said, "I have not come here to answer questions on the diplomatic or external affairs side. Those are matters we will consider in Delhi...that we will discuss when I get back to Delhi."

Asked if the state government did not take intelligence inputs seriously, he said, "No, it is not correct. The state government had taken the advice seriously and the police put in place security measures in the hard targets... what has happened is an insidious planting of the bomb."

Outpouring of grief as YSR's body reaches his hometown

2009-09-04T15:37:00.000+05:30

HYDERABAD: There was an outpouring of grief across Andhra Pradesh on Friday with much of the state shutting down to mourn the late chief minister Y An Indian Army carriage transports the coffin of deceased Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy as supporters pay their last tributes.
S Rajasekhara Reddy, whose funeral cortege snaked its way through surging crowds from his home here to the stadium where national leaders and people lined up to pay homage.

The body was then flown on Friday afternoon to Pulivendula, his native town in Kadapa district, for burial. The body was flown in an army helicopter from Begumpet airport here after thousands of people paid their last respects at the L S Stadium in Hyderbad.

YSR, who died in a chopper crash Wednesday, will be laid to rest at the family estate Edupulapaya in Pulivendula town by the side of his parents.

Earlier, several people were injured in a stampede at the Lal Bahadur Stadium, forcing authorities to move the body of the late Andhra Pradesh CM an hour before schedule.

Police failed to control the surging mourners, who broke barricades at several points to rush towards the body kept on a pedestal in the middle of the ground.

Several people were injured, some of them seriously, as police used force to control the crowds. As the situation was going out of control, the late leader's son Y S Jaganmohan Reddy had a word with military and police officers to shift the body to Begumpet airport, from where it would be flown to his native Pulivendula town for the funeral.

Though the body was scheduled to be kept at the stadium till 2 pm to enable people to pay their last respects, the situation forced the authorities to move it out at 1 pm.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi were among the many leaders who flew in from New Delhi to condole the death of the chief minister, whose body was found in the forests of Nallamala on Thursday, a day after his helicopter had crashed.

That YSR, as the chief minister was popularly known, was one of the Congress' most powerful leaders was underscored by reports that 67 people had died in the state - either out of shock or by committing suicide - after hearing about the death.

Accompanied by several central ministers, Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi laid wreaths on the body placed in his residence and camp office in Begumpet. They met the late leader's wife Vijayalakshmi, son Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, who issued an appeal asking people not to commit suicide, and daughter Sharmila.

From the camp office, the body of YSR was taken to the Congress headquarters Gandhi Bhavan to enable party leaders to pay respect and from there to the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, six kilometres away, where he had been sworn in for a second term in office only four months ago.

Y S Rajasekhara Reddy had taken oath as chief minister for a second term on May 20 in this stadium where his body was now brought to enable people to pay their last respects.

Standing in an open top jeep and accompanied by his wife, son and other family members, the 60-year-old had entered the stadium four months ago waving to thousands of his supporters when he took oath.

Though the gathering was huge on Friday too, this time they came to bid a tearful farewell to him. All the way to the stadium were teeming mourners, lined up along the road, on rooftops and packed into the stadium to bid adieu to the man, who had steered the Congress to victory for a second term and died a sudden, tragic death they were still coming to terms with.

Thousands of others accompanied the funeral procession as it slowly made its way to the stadium where leaders from across the political spectrum, including Bharatiya Janata Party's L K Advani, paid tribute.

Hundreds of vehicles followed the flower-bedecked truck in which the body, draped in the national flag, was kept.

Standing by the side of his father's body was his MP son Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, who was appealing to people to allow the vehicle to move. Holding national flags, some ran towards the truck to have a closer look at the casket and console YSR’s son.

In the rest of state, a silence fell with normal life coming to a crippling halt. Schools, colleges, offices, shops and businesses closed as a mark of respect to the leader, whose last rites will be performed in his native town Pulivendula in Kadapa district later on Friday.

The usual morning bustle was missing as the government declared a two-day holiday -- Thursday and Friday. The state government has declared a seven-day mourning period. Cable TV operators took all entertainment channels off air.

Guntur, Ongole, Kurnool, Nizamabad, Nellore, Warangal... the situation was similar everywhere.

As the people and his family prepared for the funeral at Pulivendula, where YSR's body will be taken by air, the Congress began to grapple with who would fill the void.

Though finance minister K. Rosaiah has been acting chief minister, YSR's loyalists want his 36-year-old son to be made chief minister. Nearly half the 34-member cabinet backs the demand, saying this would be best tribute to YSR.

YSR's iron-like grip over the party ensured that he completed five years without any dissension. Within hours of his death, however, infighting had broken out over who would inherit his legacy

Hot Hot Karina Kapor

2009-07-30T09:40:00.001+05:30

Hot Kiss scense

2009-07-30T09:28:00.005+05:30

BOLLYWOOD LOVE SCENES

2009-07-30T09:20:00.002+05:30

Hot Hot Maddona

2009-07-05T10:15:00.003+05:30

Madonna Biography

2009-07-05T09:55:00.003+05:30

Madonna's father, Silvio Ciccone was an Italian-American. He worked as a design engineer for Chrysler/General Motors. Her mother, Madonna Louise, was of French-Canadian heritage. The third of six children, Madonna was raised as a Catholic, in the Detroit suburbs of Pontiac and Avon Township.

When Madonna was five, her mother died of breast cancer and father went on to marry their housekeeper, with whom he fathered another two children.

At high school, Madonna was a straight-A student as well as a member of the school cheerleading squad. She took dance classes from a young age and eventually earned a dance scholarship for the University of Michigan

Madonna: Music and Film Career

Madonna moved to New York to pursue a dancing career in 1977. She formed her first band, The Breakfast Club, with then-boyfriend Dan Gilroy. She sang and played guitar and drums in the band. Her second band, Emmy, with another boyfriend, Stephen Bray, brought her attention in New York's dance clubs. One local DJ was so impressed with her dance recording demo tapes that he passed them on to Seymour Stein, the infamous founder of Sire Records.

Stein signed Madonna to a singles deal. Her first release, in 1982, was 'Everybody'. The track reached number three in the Billboard Hot Dance/Club chart, as did its follow-up 'Burning Up', the next year. The success of the singles convinced Stein to finance a full-length album. Madonna, released in 1983, was also a success, peaking at number eight on the US album chart.

The follow-up album, Like A Virgin, became Madonna's first US number one album. Her popularity drew a massive wave of look-alikes, with girls bleaching their hair and wearing fishnet tights, to copy Madonna's style. The title track from the album was also a number one success, this time on the mainstream Billboard Hot 100 chart. Madonna performed the song 'Like A Virgin' at the first ever MTV Video Awards. She performed the song on top of a giant wedding cake.

Madonna's second number one single and first Grammy Award nomination came with 1985's 'Crazy For You'. The song was from the Vision Quest soundtrack. The film featured Madonna in a small role, playing a club singer. Later that year, she starred in Desperately Seeking Susan. 'Into The Groove', from the film's soundtrack, became Madonna's first UK number one. Later that year, Madonna undertook her first US concert tour, with rap group The Beastie Boys.

In 1986, Madonna released True Blue. The album spawned five hit singles, including 'Live To Tell', 'Papa Don't Preach' and 'Open Your Heart', which all reached number one in the US. The next year. Madonna contributed four songs to the soundtrack to Who's That Girl?, another film featuring the singer in a lead role. At the time, Madonna's 'Who's That Girl?' World Tour was the highest-grossing tour in music history. Pope John Paul II encouraged fans to boycott her Italian performances.

Like a Prayer, Madonna's fourth studio album, was released in 1989 and featured Prince playing guitar on two songs. The album reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

The next year, Madonna starred in Dick Tracy and again, was featured on the soundtrack, which reflected the 1930's setting of the film. The album, I'm Breathless, sold over seven million copies worldwide. Later on in 1990, Madonna embarked on the 'Blond Ambition World Tour', which found her critcised for her dance routine during 'Like A Virgin', in which she simulated masturbation. In November of the same year, her first greatest hits collection was released: The Immaculate Collection. 'Rescue Me', one of two new songs on the compilation, became the highest-debuting single by a female artist on the Billboard Hot 100. The video for the other new track, 'Justify My Love', was banned from MTV for its explicitly sexual overtones. The single became her ninth number one.

Continuing her chart domination, Madonna's next single, in 1992, was her tenth number one. 'This Used To Be My Playground' was taken from the soundtrack to her latest venture, A League Of Their Own. That same year, Madonna set up Maverick Records and released the book SEX, a publication of explicit photographs of Madonna by Steven Meisel. The accompanying album was entitled Erotica. The single of the same name became the highest-debuting single in US history. Madonna's next two films were not brilliantly received, either publicly or by critics. Body of Evidence contained a number of S&M scenes and Dangerous Game was denied a theatrical release. Her overtly sexual image continued and Orthodox Jews protested against her first Israel concert. Her critics were not appeased when she removed her underwear on the Late Show with David Letterman in 1994.

Madonna's sixth studio album was entitled Bedtime Stories, produced by Dallas Austin and nominated for a Grammy award for Best Pop Vocal Album. The title track was co-written by Icelandic pop star Björk and 'Take A Bow' stayed at number one for seven weeks.

In 1996, Madonna returned to acting and starred in Evita, playing the role of Eva Perón. The soundtrack became her 12th platinum album. 'You Must Love Me', from the film, won both and Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song from a Motion Picture. She also won a Best Actress Golden Globe for her performance.

The next year, Madonna's album Ray of Light was released. Produced by William Orbit, the album won three Grammy Awards. She also released 'Beautiful Stranger', again with Orbit at the helm, for the soundtrack to Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. In 2000, Madonna covered Don McLean's 'American Pie' for the soundtrack to her film The Next Best Thing. The follow up to Ray of Light saw Madonna continuing the electronic sound she had developed with William Orbit. Music went to number one in both the UK and US album charts. Her international success began to falter in 2002 when she starred in Swept Away, directed by her husband Guy Ritchie. The film was a failure and failed to obtain a theatre release in Europe. Her song 'Die Another Day', for the 20th James Bond theme earned her both a 'Best Original Song' nomination at the Grammys and a 'Worst Song' Golden Raspberry nomination.

American Life was the title of Madonna's ninth studio album, released in 2003. It was the lowest-selling album of her career, despite selling over four million copies. At that year's MTV Video Music Awards, Madonna courted more controversy by sharing a kiss with both Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears during their onstage performance. Her 'Re-Invention World Tour was the largest-grossing tour of 2004, and earned $125 million.

Confessions on a Dancefloor, released in 2005, sold over 8 million copies. Madonna opened the 2006 Grammy awards with a performance of 'Hung Up.' It's follow-up, 'Sorry', made her the female artist with the highest number of number one singles in the UK. The 'Confessions' tour was the highest-grossing tour ever for a female artist.

2007 saw Madonna leaving Warner Bros. and signing a new 10-year contract with Live Nation. The contract is reported to be worth $120 million and covers merchandise, albums and promotion. Her Warner Bros. obligations were completed with the 2008 release of Hard Candy, which features contributions from Timbaland, Pharrell Williams and Justin Timberlake. In December 2007, Timberlake inducted Madonna to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Madonna: Personal Life

Madonna has had a number of high-profile relationships with men in the entertainment industry. Most notably, she has dated artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, musician Jellybean Benitez, actor Warren Beatty, rapper Vanilla Ice and basketball player Dennis Rodman.

In 1985, Madonna married Sean Penn, whom she had met on the set for the 'Material Girl' video. The couple was officially divorced in 1989.

Madonna met Carlos Leon whilst walking in Central Park. They began dating and Madonna gave birth to their daughter Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon on 14.10.1996. The relationship ended in 1997. Two years later, she met Guy Ritchie and gave birth to their son, Rocco John Ritchie. The pair married in Scotland in 2000.

In 2006, Madonna adopted a Malawian child, David Banda. The adoption caused outrage in some quarters as the adoption was not deemed to be legal and it was thought that Madonna had received special treatment due to her international profile.

Maddona crying for a death Jaco

2009-07-05T09:43:00.002+05:30

Madonna and Elizabeth Taylor are very surprised to hear news of their death, Michael Jackson. Madonna can not even claim to stop crying because the king of pop is.
I can not cry is heard the news. I always adore Michael Jackson. The world lost one of the best," says Madonna

Elizabeth Taylor is familiar with the famous father to three children are at this time can not issue a statement. Representative Elizabeth says her client is not able to sorrow giving response.
Michael Jackson is close to many famous celebrities of the world. Singer Cher is also the first time respected for Jacko met when young. According to Cher, the man born 29 August 1958 it always looks amazing and optimistic.

As has been made, the man who hits song with the 'Black or White' to die at the age of 50. Jacko expire after the last breath was to the Los Angeles hospital due to heart attack.

Michael Jackson's uncanny pre-death premonition

2009-06-28T11:23:00.000+05:30

With all the newfound speculation about the role prescription drugs may have played in the tragic death of pop legend Michael Jackson and the similarities between his death and the death of king of rock Elvis, or more recently of Heath Ledger, coupled with the Jackson family’s new request to have a second, private autopsy performed on the singer’s body, intrigue is running high. To add fuel to the fire, Lisa Marie Presley, former wife of the musician, has reportedly blogged on Myspace (as confirmed by E! News) about an eerie conversation she had with her ex-husband several years ago, in which he spoke to her about his death. She describes that during a conversation about her own father’s death, “At some point [Michael] paused, he stared at me very intensely and he stated with an almost calm certainty, 'I am afraid that I am going to end up like him, the way he did.'" It seems as though, somehow, Jackson knew that this was the end in store for him. This unusual story only seems to add to the portrait of the tragic figure Michal Jackson is quickly becoming in American pop culture. Presley later remarks, in reference to her own much speculated relationship with Jackson, "I wanted to save him from the inevitable, which is what has just happened." It seems in a slew of praise and appreciation for the singer’s professional career and vision, his private life has become a source for great sorrow, confusion, and unanswered questions

Katrina Kaif News : I'm the first Indian to be the face of Barbie: Katrina Kaif

2009-06-27T11:06:00.002+05:30

British-born actress Katrina Kaif, whose face will now adorn Barbie dolls, says contrary to what people believe her Barbie is not an Indian counterpart of the international brand. She also feels that in many ways it's an endorsement of how kids connect with her.

'I'd call it a fun honour. To have your face on dolls that you've played with from childhood is quite flattering. We've been in negotiation for nearly six months. It finally came together for the 50-year celebration of Barbie,' Katrina told IANS.

'Contrary to what people believe my Barbie is not an Indian counterpart of the international brand. It's an honour because I'm the first Indian to be the face of Barbie. I'll be dressed the way the Barbie is all over the world.

'And I think in many ways it's an endorsement of how kids connect with me. You can't be the face of an international doll unless kids like you. I like that. The thought that kids like me enough to make me a part of their doll collection is very gratifying,' the 24-year-old said.

The actress walked the ramp as the showstopper at a special show dedicated to Barbie at the Lakme Fashion Week here. She sported a small pink dress that the 'Katrina Barbie' will be wearing from September.

With the Barbie image coming to the surface, Katrina is a little worried about the bubbly-girl image that she'd like to change.

'So much for my attempts to move to more mature level as an actor,' laughed the actress. 'I guess Prakash Jha's 'Rajneeti' will take care of that. But I'm very happy being the clean healthy Barbie-girl next door.'

The doll's look and dress were planned in collaboration with Katrina.

'It is quite something, if you think about it. But I'd rather not. I don't want my head to get swollen. For me, it's enough that I was chosen because I reflect a certain bubbly wholesome personality, quite contrary to the 'sexy' tag that I get in net polls and which I'm not very comfortable with,' she said.

Apart from 'Rajneeti', Katrina's other releases this year are debutant director Anthony D'Souza's underwater thriller 'Blue' and Yash Raj Films' 'New York'

Singer was prepping comeback

2009-06-27T11:01:00.001+05:30

Jackson died Thursday afternoon at UCLA Medical Center after being stricken at his rented home in the posh Los Angeles neighborhood of Holmby Hills. Paramedics tried to resuscitate him for three-quarters of an hour there before rushing him to the hospital.

His brother Jermaine said Jackson apparently suffered cardiac arrest. The heart can stop for many reasons, from a heart attack to an erratic rhythm that disrupts the heart’s electrical currents.

Jackson was preparing for a monster comeback bid — a series of 50 concerts that was to begin next month in London.

A handful of bleary-eyed fans camped out throughout the night with media outside the Jackson family house in the San Fernando Valley and near his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. People heading to work in New York stopped to pay respects outside Harlem’s Apollo Theater, where Jackson performed as a child.

A producer said Sunday’s BET Awards would be dedicated to Jackson because of his influence on music and pop culture.

“This is going to be the first gathering of people who really cared for and were influenced by him since his death,” said Stephen Hill, an executive producer for the awards. “It’s a tall order for us but we have every intention of paying respect to Michael Jackson.”

Hill said he expects acceptance speeches to be dedicated to Jackson’s memory and the influence he had on the artists.

A screening of Universal Pictures’ “Bruno” in Los Angeles on Thursday night cut a scene involving Jackson’s sister La Toya.

NBC News contributed to this report.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistribute

Jackson’s cause of death undetermined

2009-06-27T10:58:00.001+05:30

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles County coroner’s spokesman Craig Harvey says determining the cause of Michael Jackson’s death will require further tests that will take four to six weeks.

Harvey says there were no signs of foul play or trauma to the body. He also says Jackson was taking some unspecified prescription medications.

The spokesman says Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter is with Jackson’s family

Police investigating Jackson’s death Friday were seeking to interview one of the pop king’s doctors and seized a car that they said may contain drugs or other evidence.

As the three-hour autopsy began Friday morning, police towed a BMW from Jackson’s rented home “because it may contain medications or other evidence that may assist the coroner in determining the cause of death,” police spokeswoman Karen Rayner said.

She said the car belongs to one of Jackson’s doctors whom police wanted to interview. Rayner stressed the doctor was not under criminal investigation.

Authorities said they spoke with the doctor briefly Thursday and Friday and expected to meet with him again soon.

The Los Angeles Times has identified the physician as Dr. Conrad Murray, 51, a Las Vegas cardiologist, and reports that Murray was administering CPR to Jackson when paramedics arrived.

A woman who answered the phone Friday at Murray's clinic in Houston confirmed to The Associated Press that Murray was Jackson's cardiologist. The woman, who refused to give her name, would not confirm the Los Angeles Times report that Murray performed CPR on Jackson.

The Los Angeles Times cites other published reports saying Jackson had received a shot of Demerol before going into cardiac arrest.

The Texas State Board of Medical Examiners Web site shows no complaints filed against Murray in the four years he's been a licensed cardiologist in Texas

Jackson's doctor practices in three states
In a 911 call released by fire officials, a caller reports Jackson was on a bed and not breathing or responding to CPR. The unidentified caller said Jackson only was with his personal doctor at the time. The pop star died later Thursday afternoon at UCLA Medical Center.

As stores reported they were inundated with orders for Jackson’s music, a chorus of grief for the megastar spread around the world, from statesmen to icons of music to legions of heartbroken fans.

“I can’t stop crying. This is too sudden and shocking,” said Diana Ross, who helped launch Jackson’s career. “I am unable to imagine this. My heart is hurting.”

Lisa Marie Presley, briefly married to the pop icon in the mid-1990s, said he had confided to her 14 years ago that he worried about facing the same tragic fate as her father, Elvis Presley, who died of a drug overdose at age 42.

“The world is in shock but somehow he knew exactly how his fate would be played out some day more than anyone else knew, and he was right,” she wrote in a long, emotional statement on her MySpace page online.

The White House also weighed in for the first time, with a spokesman saying President Barack Obama saw Jackson as a spectacular performer and music icon whose life nonetheless had sad and tragic aspects. The House of Representatives observed a moment of silence.

Painkillers a concern
Brian Oxman, a former Jackson attorney and a family friend, said Friday he had been concerned about Jackson’s use of painkillers and had warned the singer’s family about possible abuse

Painkillers a concern
Brian Oxman, a former Jackson attorney and a family friend, said Friday he had been concerned about Jackson’s use of painkillers and had warned the singer’s family about possible abuse

I said one day, we’re going to have this experience. And when Anna Nicole Smith passed away, I said we cannot have this kind of thing with Michael Jackson,” Oxman said on NBC’s TODAY show. “The result was, I warned everyone, and lo and behold, here we are. I don’t know what caused his death. But I feared this day, and here we are.”

Oxman claimed Jackson had prescription drugs at his disposal to help with pain suffered when he broke his leg after he fell off a stage and for broken vertebrae in his back.

After Jackson was acquitted on child molestation charges in 2005, prosecutors argued against returning to Jackson items including syringes, the drug Demerol and prescriptions for various drugs, mainly antibiotics, in different people’s names.

Katrina Kaif dazzles as Barbie at Lakme Fashion Week

2009-06-24T12:06:00.004+05:30

Lakme Fashion Week Started on Friday with special show to celebrate the 50 year of Barbie Doll. Many Indian designers competed in a contest to dress Barbie and Katrina Kaif walked the ramp wearing the Barbie dress of victorious designer.

Katrina Kaif wearing the Barbie dress was really looking like doll. On this occasion Katrina also enjoyed walking the ramp wearing Barbie dress. She said”, It is sweet memory for me as I have passed countless hours in my childhood with Barbie doll”.

She was the show stopper of first day of Lakme Fashion Week as she walked the ramp wearing dress of Nishka Lulla who was victorious designer. All eyes were on her as she walked the ramp and really proved to be a show stopper as a Barbie.

Katrina Kaif is truly a Barbie doll which every one wants to have with them.

Katrina Kaif not playing Sonia Gandhi in Rajniti

2009-06-24T12:02:00.004+05:30

Everybody considered it wrong about Katrina Kaif’s role in her upcoming film Rajniti. They are thinking that she is going to play the role of a Sonia Gandhi. The reason is that in this film, Katrina Kaif is going to play the role of a politician and sexy katrina wore a sari for this role.”All these reasons do not indicate that she will play the role of Sonia Gandhi.” Film director Prakash Jha explains to media.

The director of the film designed the role of Katrina kaif as a simple Behanji type which is surprise for everybody. But the director know in advance that after knowing about the role of Katrina there can be lot of rumors about her character in the film.

The director of the film, Prakash Jha said to media, when the media caught him at the time of shooting in Bhopal, “There is no match in the character of Kat in Rajniti and Mrs. Sonia Gandhi. It is just a rumor which I was already expecting”

Further he said, “Just wearing a sari and performing the role of political leader does not not mean she is going to play the role of Sonia Gandhi. In the politics there are many ladies who wear saris. Expect Mayawati many politician women wear saris like Sushma Sawraj, Jayalalita, Mamta Bannerjee. So how can we make a conclusion that she is playing Sonia Gandhi in the film?

In the film Katrina went to politics after the death of her husband and in this hot Katrina will look in simple and totally changed make-over.

Rest about the reality of the film, people can see only after the release of the film.

Let’s wait for Katrina Kaif in different look!

Is Salman-Katrina relationship heading towards end?

2009-06-24T12:01:00.003+05:30

The news from the media says that the Jodi of Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif is planning to split from each other. The reason for this break up is once again the Sallu over-possessive nature towards Katrina. Salman is very persistent type of guy and he can’t listen no from anybody. He wants that the things goes as he wants. He wants to live in his own way he don’t like suggestion because of this nature he wants his wife to be housewife, not an independent woman. But our bollywood hottest actress Katrina is just opposite to his choice. Katrina prefers her career before anything else. She is very ambitious lady.

The news of their break-up came in front of media when they didn’t talk with each other on the set of Veer. The sources said that both of them are not talking with each other from a very long time.

It is not difficult for Salman to forget all the remembering of Katrina but for Katrina it is impossible after creating a long relationship of five years with Sallu. She was so much close to him that she feels homely at Salman’s house even she is very much frank with Salman’s parents also.

So let’s hope this time also this news proved only a rumour for one more time and we will see the Beautiful Jodi of Salman and Katrina Kaif together once again.

Katrina Kaif' photo

2009-06-24T11:53:00.003+05:30

The visit to the Guantanamo Bay prison horrifies Katrina

2009-06-24T11:49:00.003+05:30

Katrina Kaif got an opportunity to visit the security prison at Guantanamo Bay as she shot for a movie at the place. The place horrified the delicate beauty so much that she was left drained and gloomy after her visit to the place. When she came face to face with the stories of brutality and tortures associated with the prison, she was absolutely shocked.

A depressed Katrina said, “We are not making a documentary on 9/11 and so this film is highly entertaining yet very realistic. We shot in actual locations associated with the 9/11 attacks and Guantanamo was one of them. I was there for just a day to shoot my portions. It was shocking to see the high-profile prison where people who were sentenced for their lives were also living.”

“I did not meet any person arrested and jailed in connection with the terror attacks. But I have heard stories about them when I was shooting there. Some most wanted criminals have stayed there”, she added.

Meanwhile checkout the latest photoshoot of the lady for the June 2009 issue of FHM Magazine, India, where she looks absolutely chirpy, sexy and pretty.

Sonam Kapoor: The face of The Hollywood Reporter

2009-06-24T11:46:00.000+05:30

Two films old, Sonam Kapoor, has already succeeded in creating a rage. This 24-year-old pretty Bollywood actress is already representing globally recognized cosmetic brand, L’Oreal in India. Now, she has added another feather to her cap.

She is the new face of a renowned magazine of Hollywood, ‘The Hollywood Reporter’. She is enthralled to get this recognition. The latest issue of the magazine is dedicated to Asians. As per the actress, she is quite elated and amazed to get this international recognition in such an early phase of her career. However, she owes her entire success to Bollywood from where she got to learn all professionalism and intricacies related to film-making. The actress also unveils the fact that she is quite honored to get this recognition and now she sees herself as a representative of the fresh talent that Film Industry has.

Canadian Dollar Tug of War

2009-06-20T10:57:00.000+05:30

The only major release on the calendar today is the Canadian retail sales report. Consumer spending in the month of April fell for the first time this year, driving the Canadian dollar lower. Spending on cars and gasoline dropped 1.9 percent, reducing overall spending by 0.8 percent; sales ex-autos declined 0.5 percent.

This is a bearish report, but at the same time, consumer spending was unusually strong in the first 3 months of the year, so a correction is not out of the ordinary. Also, the labor market has deteriorated materially with the unemployment rate hitting an 11 year high last month. Yet the Bank of Canada should be in no rush to jump start their Quantitative Easing program after the hotter inflation report yesterday. At 2.0 percent, the annualized pace of core CPI growth is still consistent with the central bank's target.

Carney on the Canadian dollar

Last night, Bank of Canada Governor Carney warned the FX market that he is still watching the loonie closely. This is the THIRD time this month that he has expressed concern about the Canadian dollar's rise. Despite the recent correction, the currency still appreciated 12.8 percent since March. The strength of the Canadian dollar offsets the benefits of higher oil prices and threatens the nation's recovery. USD/CAD below 1.15 is very damaging for Canadian exporters. Carney even went so far to say that currency intervention is always an option although "intervention itself without policy action consistent with the direction of that intervention is rarely effective in the long term."

Shiney finds some supporters!

2009-06-20T10:56:00.001+05:30

Ever since news of Shine Ahuja’s arrest for allegedly raping his maidservant broke – multiple threads of discussion took over the Indian Diaspora. Shiney AhujaMore Pics

Did he? Didn’t he? Or was he framed?... were some questions that hit the minds of one and all, till the actor broke the ice and confessed. And the discussion continued but the questions twisted to – Why did he, what next - doom or another pending star-ry case?

After his reel life Sins, where would this real life sin take Shiney, we try to find answers ...

Psychologically speaking:
Shiney’s confession of indulging in consensual sex with his maid has raised many eyebrows within the fraternity and otherwise too. It has also raised several questions about his sexual behaviour. Dr. Kamal Khurana, marriage and relationship counsellor states, “Indulging in a sexual act with a maidservant clearly indicates that the male is sexually very hyper and can go to any extent for having sex. And the act also raises a possibility that he might have had sexual relationships outside his marriage in the past as well.”

Elaborating on the reasons behind such ‘consensual sex’, Dr. Khurana adds, “This can happen for reasons like sexual experimentation where a man has a strong urge to try something different with another partner. Secondly, the boredom with wife might push him to step out and indulge in such relations. Lastly, high sexual needs which trigger anxiety and leave a person unsatisfied with his own sexual acts can lead to such situations.”

Be it consensual sex or a case of rape, Shiney’s married life has already gone for a toss. If the actor is found guilty, no law can save him. While, if he gets a clean chit, even then his confession of having consensual sex might act against him. Dr. Khurana explains, “If the confession is made without any pressure, then it’s a case of clear adultery and it will take lot of time and courage on the wife’s part to forgive the man and move ahead in life. Such a case also calls for a great deal of courage for the guilty partner too as he needs to reassure his partner that such acts won’t happen again in future.”

Celeb speak ...
While charges against Ahuja are yet to face the court hearings, fraternity is all out with different reactions with some supporting the actor and others still remaining tight-lipped.

Actor Shakti Kapoor, who was put under the scanner for allegedly making advances towards a supposedly struggling actress, asserts, “I am still waiting for the final judgment to be made in Shiney’s case. However, I hope that it is a frame up. The fact that he is an upcoming actor of fine caliber with a superior family background and good education might have worked against him and he may be framed framed. As for his confession about having consensual sex, I would say that any such confessions made to any local Police Station hold no importance unless they are made in front of the judiciary (read court). It’s very likely that to get these confessions out, the person could have been pressurized. So my 100 per cent respect goes for Shiney and my heart goes out for his family.”

Another victim of casting couch charges, TV actor Aman Verma comments, “A controversy can be built around someone who has an image to protect. And in our country, there are three genres - actors, politicians and cricketers, who can be an easy prey of character assassination for their deeds. And ironically, even before the law gives out the final word, people start presuming. In case of Shiney, I would like to ask has anyone from the authorities come out in open and made an official statement? Has Shiney confessed his actions of consensual sex in front of the camera? He is a well known, good looking guy with a prospective career, so such accusations can tarnish his image. I would be glad if authorities could focus on other important things like who was the maid, where she came from and bring out her statements in media rather than framing Shiney.”

Dale Bhagwagar, Shiney’s friend and ex-media publicist maintains, “From last evening, there has been widespread media reaction and speculation about him. I understand that television is much about sensationalism, but at the same time, I feel that the channels need to restrain themselves a bit in such matters, before jumping to conclusions or tarnishing Shiney’s image. Our constitution says, a man is innocent until proven guilty. I guess, we just need to give this a little more time, until there is clarity about what really happened. I’ve known Shiney for almost four years now. He is a good human being and I will do all that is possible to help him.”

Actor Shiney Ahuja detained on rape charges

2009-06-20T10:55:00.001+05:30

MUMBAI: The Oshiwara police on Sunday evening detained Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja for questioning in connection with a rape case. Ahuja's teenaged
domestic maid lodged an FIR against the actor alleging that he had raped her while they were alone at the actor's flat on Sunday afternoon. Ahuja is likely to be arrested. ( Watch )

The 18-year-old maid (name withheld), said police sources, had been working with Ahuja for the last one-and-a-half months. "She approached the Oshiwara police at around 7 pm and told the police that Ahuja had raped her," said Amitabh Gupta, additional commissioner of police.

The complainant told the police that she had come for domestic work to Ahuja's flat. The actor's wife was not at home. "He took me into his bedroom, gagged and raped me," the victim is believed to have said in the FIR. The incident took place between 3 pm and 5 pm on Sunday. "The complainant told the police that she was traumatised after the incident and went to her relatives' place who along with the girl then approached the police station," said DCP Niket Kaushik.

Soon after the complaint was registered, the girl was sent to the Nagpada police hospital for a medical examination. The preliminary report of the examination is expected to come in the morning. Police officers said that they were yet to verify the complainant's age since they were busy verifying the facts.

After the complaint was registered, a police team went to Ahuja's flat and called him for inquiry, said an officer. Ahuja is married and is known for his roles in films like ‘Hazaroon Khwaishe, ‘Aish' and ‘Gangster'.

Mahesh Bhatt, who produced Gangster for Shiny Ahuja, said, "This is a body blow to me. I spoke to a top police official who told me that he was informed by his juniors at Oshiwara that Shiny claimed that he had sex with the consent of the maid. However, she has claimed that she was forced into it. The police officer added that they had to accept the woman's version. I had spoken to Shiny only yesterday. If he is found guilty of rape, we have to condemn him."

H1N1 tally 50, officials fear spiral in October

2009-06-20T10:53:00.000+05:30

NEW DELHI: The number of H1N1 flu cases are steadily rising in the country. With six new cases confirmed on Friday, the number of swine flu cases in
India has risen to 50. But Union health ministry officials say that they are gearing up for the "first wave", which is likely to hit India in October.

Of the six new cases, three were reported in Delhi, two from Bangalore and one from Mumbai. Delhi reported its fourth human-to-human transmission case and the victim is a 66-year-old female relative of a 35-year-old woman, who had returned from Chicago and tested positive on June 17. The other two cases — a nine-year-old boy from USA and a 28-year-old man from Egypt — are currently recuperating at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.

The two cases in Bangalore are of a two-year-old boy and a 36-year-old man, who came from USA and Frankfurt, respectively. Mumbai's first confirmed H1N1 infection was reported on Friday, in a 36-year-old man who came from New Jersey. In India, seasonal flu isn't taken seriously and with swine flu mimicking flu-like symptoms, health ministry officials say awareness has to be created among masses

Obama refuses Kashmir mediation, favours Indo-Pak dialogue

2009-06-20T10:52:00.000+05:30

WASHINGTON: Ruling out any American mediation on Kashmir issue, US President Barack Obama has said dialogue is the best way to reduce tension
between India and Pakistan.

"I believe that there are opportunities, maybe not starting with Kashmir but starting with other issues, that Pakistan and India can be in a dialogue together and over time to try to reduce tensions and find areas of common interest," Obama told Pakistan's Dawn TV in an interview.

The answer from Obama came in response to a question as why his Administration has been silent on Kashmir, after he initially mentioned it.

"Well, I don't think that we have been silent on the fact that India is a great friend of the United States and Pakistan is a great friend of the United States, and it always grieves us to see friends fighting. And we can't dictate to Pakistan or India how they should resolve their differences, but we know that both countries would prosper if those differences are resolved," Obama said.

Categorically ruling out any mediation between India and Pakistan, Obama said: "We want to be helpful in that process, but I don't think it's appropriate for us to be the mediators in that process. I think that this is something that the Pakistanis and Indians can take leadership on."

When asked, if has asked India to resume dialogue with Pakistan, Obama said: "Well, what we have said is that we think that all of South Asia would benefit by reduced tensions between India and Pakistan."

Obama had recently sent a letter to the Prime Minister, which was delivered by the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, William Burns.

"I think that dialogue is the best way to reduce tensions. And so, you know, we're hopeful that Prime Minister Singh and President Zardari -- they recently had an opportunity to meet briefly. It wasn't an extensive conversation but it was the start of what may end up being more productive conversations in the future," Obama underlined.

IAS officer caught with pants down, suspended

2009-06-20T10:51:00.000+05:30

BHOPAL: An IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh government was suspended on Friday after a male colleague accused him of seeking sexual favours.

CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan ordered suspension of Dyane-shwar Patil, CEO of Panchayats in the state, when two TV channels filmed him and a junior officer in their underwear in senior bureaucrat's room on Thursday night.

Patil, a 2003 batch IAS officer, denied the charges and said his subordinate was trying to frame him for not appointing a friend as a permanent employee.

The TV crews reached Patil's office after they were tipped off by callers, who identified them only as "friends of the victim".

When the crews reached the CEO's office, they allegedly found the officer half naked in the bathroom. The junior officer, who rushed out of the room in an underwear, told them that the IAS officer had called him to do "unnatural and objectionable" acts.

Patil, a young officer in the rank of an additional collector, told reporters later that his junior came to his office asking if a friend of his working in the Bagroda panchayat office could be regularised.

German Consumer Price Index - Economic Data Preview

2009-06-10T11:57:00.000+05:30

The final revision of Germany’s Consumer Price Index is set to confirm that inflation fell -0.1% in May to bring the annual pace of price growth to a standstill for the first time in at least 17 years. The adjusted version of the metric using a harmonized EU methodology is set to show an even more ominous result, confirming that the annual pace of German inflation shrank -0.1%, the first negative outcome since the creation of the Euro. The onset of deflation in the Euro Zone’s largest economy is a scary prospect for the single currency: if expectations of falling prices become entrenched, Germany may find itself treading water for longer than expected as consumers and businesses wait for the best possible bargain and perpetually hold off on spending and investment; the massive weigh of Germany as driver of economic growth for the Euro Zone as whole means that the bloc’s performance will remain subdued as well, pushing expectations for higher interest rates farther out into the future to hurt the European unit against UK and US counterparts. Indeed, overnight index swaps show traders are pricing in expectations that the Fed and the Bank of England will deliver 100 basis points in rate hikes over the next 12 months while the European Central Bank lags behind with just 61bps in the same period.

Forex Market Update: New Zealand Dollar Rally Tempered Ahead of RBNZ Rate Decision

2009-06-10T11:56:00.000+05:30

Kiwi gains this week have been hampered by the AUD/NZD, with the cross rising steadily from lows under 1.2700 on Monday to highs above 1.2800 this week. Expectations that the RBNZ will cut rates by 25bp, while the RBA is seen on hold, is hampering the Kiwi performance. While AUD is two big figures off Monday's lows, NZD/USD has only managed a gain of just over 150 pts from 0.6153 to today's highs of 0.6307. NZD/USD has benefited today from renewed weakness in the USD and risk appetite for NZD/JPY as the Nikkei rose to 8-month highs. This saw the Kiwi mostly ignore data including the news that export prices fell 8.2% in March quarter and the largest quarterly decline since 1957. Some positive news emerged however with electronic card spending rising in May by 0.7% however weak economic conditions have seen company debt collections rise by 127%. Expectations as to the RBNZ outcome vary widely with Bloomberg asserting that rates will remain unchanged due to signs of recovery while a Business Day opinion article calls for a 50bp rate cut, with the market expecting a 25bp easing. For Kiwi, 0.6340 and 0.6400 are the next resistance levels.

Greenback Rallies Sharply

2009-06-10T11:53:00.000+05:30

The greenback reversed previous session’s losses, rallying sharply against the euro by over two big figures to 1.4111 and the sterling by nearly four big figures at 1.6244. US equities bourses pulled back further with the Dow Jones and Nasdaq sliding by over 1.2%, while the S&P 500 lost over 1.8%.

With markets eagerly anticipating the May US labor report due out on Friday, the May ADP private-sector payrolls were worst-than-expected, posting a loss of 532k jobs and exceeding expectations for a loss of 520k jobs from 491 private sector jobs lost previously. April durable goods orders increased by 1.7%, albeit less than the 1.9% increase from March, while factory orders improved by 0.7% from 0.9%. The May non-manufacturing ISM report improved to 44 versus 43.7 a month earlier, remaining beneath the key 50-level though.

Data slated for release on Thursday include weekly jobless claims, Q1 labor costs and non-farm productivity. The key reports will be released on Friday, consisting of the May unemployment rate, which is seen creeping up to 9.2% and the non-farm payrolls reading, expected reveal a 520k job loss from 539k loss of jobs a month earlier.

Dollar Tumbles to ’09 Lows

2009-06-10T11:52:00.000+05:30

The greenback slid across the board in the Tuesday session, tumbling to its lowest level of the year against the euro at 1.4321 and a seven month low versus the pound at 1.6590. The dollar remains under pressure amid renewed skepticism over its position as the world’s reserve currency, with comments from Russian President Medvedev reiterating his proposal for a new global currency.

Dallas Fed President Richard Fisher expressed optimism, saying the Fed has been successful in pulling the economy back from the brink and is beginning to see the results from its efforts to support the credit markets. Although he said the US economy is “getting less worse” with time, he believes it is still “not out of the woods” and expects the recovery to be very slow. He did offer a somewhat upbeat assessment, saying consumer confidence was picking up somewhat and retail sales was no longer plunging. Fisher said the aggressive action adopted by the Fed helped stave off the worse of the US downturn.

The US data released earlier in the session was better than expected. The April pending home sales sharply beat expectations for an increase of 0.5% from the March reading at 3.2%, instead posting highest increase since 2001, advancing by 6.7%.

This article contains the following sections

USD Extends Gains

2009-06-10T11:51:00.000+05:30

The greenback traded higher in the London session, starting the week where it left off from last Friday, extending its gains from the stronger than expected May non-farm payrolls report. The dollar pushed the euro to 1.3805 and the pound toward the 1.58-figure before relinquished some of its strength in New York trading. The major equity bourses traded lower, with the Dow Jones, Nasdaq and S&P500 down by around 1%, while both spot gold and crude oil drifted lower as well.

There has been speculation that the recent data, particularly the May non-farm payrolls report, point toward a bottom in the economic downtown – prompting an advance in the dollar and declines in stocks amid inflationary concerns. The Fed’s current monetary policy remains highly stimulative and we believe it will remain so for the remainder of the year and into early 2010. Thus, we deem it to be premature for markets to begin pricing FOMC rate hikes.

The economic calendar from the US will see on Tuesday, April wholesale inventories, wholesale sales, on Wednesday: the April trade deficit and May Federal budget, on Thursday: weekly jobless claims, May retail sales, April business inventories and on Friday: the June University of Michigan consumer confidence survey and May import / export prices. Retail sales for May are expected to reverse the 0.4% decline in April, improving by 0.2%, while the core retail sales figure is seen edging up by 0.3% from a 0.5% decline a month earlier. The April trade deficit is estimated to edge up to $29.0 billion from a month earlier at $27.58 billion. The Federal budget deficit is expected to surge in May to 195.0 billion compared with $165.93 billion in April. The dollar may come under pressure toward the latter part of the week as the twin deficits come into focus, likely to trigger some profit-taking in the latest greenback run-up.

Australian PM urges calm, warns off student vigilantes

2009-06-10T11:40:00.000+05:30

CANBERRA: Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd called for calm as Indian students led "vigilante" patrols on Wednesday after a second night of
protests in the wake of attacks on foreign students in Sydney and Melbourne. ( Watch )

Scores of Indian students took to the streets of western Sydney, leading to two police arrests, after attacks in both Sydney and Melbourne which have sparked diplomatic protests and fears of an international student exodus from Australia.

"I fully support hardline measures in response to any act of violence towards any student anywhere - Indian or otherwise," Rudd said. "And furthermore we also need to render as completely unacceptable people taking the law into their own hands.

"It's unacceptable for anyone to commit an act of violence against any student of any ethnicity anywhere in Australia," Rudd told local radio. "It's equally unacceptable for so-called reprisal attacks and for so-called vigilante action as well.”

"I think everyone just needs to draw some breath on this and I think we need to see a greater atmosphere of general calm," Rudd said.

Rudd made his appeal after Indian students formed vigilante-like groups at train and bus stations in Melbourne following a string of attacks in the city over the past 18 months which Australian authorities insist have been mostly crime-related.

Indian students believe the attacks have been "racist", warning of a culture of "curry bashings" in Australia, where foreign students are the country's third biggest export earner, worth more than $12 billion.

China's government last week joined India in raising concern about sporadic attacks on Chinese students in recent years, urging Australian authorities to ramp up security.

In a bid to ease tensions, police in Melbourne ordered groups of young Indian men patrolling three suburban railway stations at St Albans, Thomastown and Springvale to disband after they gathered to prevent more attacks on their countrymen.

In Sydney, around 70 people gathered in the western suburb of Harris Park, where Indian community representatives claimed to have been attacked by ethnic Lebanese-Australian gangs, responding with baseball bats. Police have warned that Harris Park is a dangerous area at night due to criminal gangs and that the attacks on Indian students were purely opportunistic.

Indian community leaders have also urged students to stay away from protest gatherings to avoid stoking tensions.

Australia's foreign minister Stephen Smith said it could take "some time" to bring the violence under control, while education experts have warned the damage to Australia's international reputation as a safe study destination could last even longer.

Police in Victoria state police said they were launching a fresh crackdown to restore order, building on increased patrols already announced. In Sydney, greater numbers of police also patrolled the worst-affected suburbs.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described the attacks in a speech to Parliament as senseless violence, while foreign minister SM Krishna joined Kevin Rudd in asking students to show restraint and called for calm

Fresh attack on Indian student in Australia

2009-06-09T11:31:00.001+05:30

MELBOURNE: A 23-year-old Indian student was beaten up for the second time in a fortnight by a group of youths in Melbourne, the 11th person from the
community to be assaulted within a space of a month in Australia. ( Watch )

Kamal Jit was found unconscious and bleeding by another Indian student in western suburb of the city on Sunday.

itimes: Share your experience in Australia

It was the second attack in two weeks on Jit, who was previously pelted with eggs by several masked men after getting off a late night train at St Albans station in western suburb.

"It is very bad because we pay a lot of money and we are living far away from our country and from our families and we are without protection," Jit was quoted as saying in 'The Age' newspaper on Monday.

As he walked home at about 1:40 am on Sunday, Jit said, he noticed three men acting suspiciously in a car and he tried to avoid them.

He then saw two men come out of it near a pizza shop, while another waited in a car.

"The two guys pushed me to the ground and I was hit on the head, I think with a steel rod," Jit said.

Jit, who required seven stitches after the blow to his head, said he did not want to live in the suburb any longer.

Jit's friends said the attack was the sixth or seventh over the past week on the Indian students, and called for extra police at the suburb of St Albans station at night.

A Victoria police spokeswoman was quoted by the newspaper as saying that extra police, increased surveillance and mobile patrols had been deployed around train stations.

The Australian government had last week announced setting up of a task force headed by the National Security Adviser to deal with such violence.

Hundreds of Indian students on Sunday rallied in Sydney to protest against the attacks.

Apart from Indians, there were students from other countries at the rally, who voiced their concerns about the racial violence and demanded police to be alert to prevent such incidents from happening again.

Just ahead of the rally, another youth from the community complained about his newly-bought car being torched outside his home here.

QnA: Are the attacks on Indian students racist or are we just soft targets?

Air France plane's tail fin found, hunt for black boxes intensifies

2009-06-09T11:23:00.000+05:30

FERNANDO DE NORONHA, BRAZIL: Brazil on Monday recovered the tail fin belonging to the Air France jet that plunged into the Atlantic a week ago
killing 228 people, as well as more human remains from the doomed flight. ( Watch )

Twenty-four bodies so far have been fished out of the Atlantic, Brazilian officials said.

The tail fin discovery is the most important element to date in the quest to find out why the Airbus A330 went down June 1 as it flew from Rio de Janeiro to Paris. No distress call was received from the pilots.

The plane's black boxes were mounted in the tail section, and the fin's location could narrow the underwater search for those devices by a French submarine expected to arrive in the zone on Wednesday.

A Brazilian frigate was expected early Tuesday in the Fernando de Noronha archipelago carrying the first 16 bodies along with airplane debris, air force spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Henry Munhoz told reporters.

From there, the bodies and debris will be taken to the mainland coastal city of Recife, where investigators hope to identify the remains by checking dental records and DNA samples provided by relatives. In Recife French investigators will also pore over the plane's components.

The other bodies would follow "at an appropriate time," according to an air force statement.

Brazilian and French teams continued to scour the crash zone 1,100 kilometers (700 miles) off Brazil's northeast coast for more bodies and pieces of wreckage.

The clock is ticking for finding the black boxes, believed to lie on the sea floor at a depth of up to 6,000 meters (19,700 feet). Their homing beacons will cease to operate in three weeks.

The US Navy said on Sunday it would send two towable pinger locators and a crew of around 20 to the scene later this week to join the hunt for the devices.

If the voice and data recorders are found, a French research sub -- the same one that has explored the wreck of the Titanic -- will be deployed to recover them. That small sub, the Nautile, is also expected to arrive within days.

The disaster is the worst aviation accident since 2001, and unprecedented in Air France's 75-year history.

Early suspicions are focusing on the Airbus A330's airspeed sensors, which appear to have malfunctioned in the minutes before the catastrophe, according to some of the 24 automatic data warnings sent by the plane.

Investigators are looking at whether the sensors, known as pitots, could have iced over, possibly leading the Air France pilots to fly into a storm in the zone that day without knowing their airspeed.

France's transport minister Dominique Bussereau said on the weekend that could have led the pilots to set the plane at "too low a speed, which can cause it to stall, or too high a speed, which can lead to the plane ripping up as it approached the speed of sound, as the outer skin is not designed to resist such speed."

British Pound to Follow Stock Prices Lower if Risk Appetite Abates

2009-04-26T09:52:00.000+05:30

Fundamental Forecast for British Pound: Bearish

The British Pound is likely to look past an uneventful economic calendar to be driven lower by a reversal in risk trends across global financial. The sterling’s average value against a trade-weighted basket of global currencies is now 83.2% correlated with the MSCI World Stock Index, a composite of global equities’ performance. For its part, the MSCI metric began last week with a sharp reversal lower from resistance at the top of a falling channel that has contained prices since October 2008. Stocks inched higher for the remainder of the week, managing to re-test resistance but failing to close above it by Friday’s close. If this was merely a correction to re-test resistance, a return to bearish momentum awaits in the week ahead that is sure to take the British Pound along for the ride. Some upside risk does remain, however, on the heels of cautiously optimistic rhetoric from the G7 summit in Washington, DC.

Looking at the data docket, Gfk Consumer Confidence is expected to continue to advance for the fourth consecutive month in April, rising to -28 from -30 in the previous month. The news is hardly encouraging, however, even if we assume that the metric has put in a bottom despite rising unemployment. Looking at a comparable period of low consumer confidence during the 1990-91 recession, we see that the GfK metric reversed upward in March 1990 but GDP follow suit only 6 months later and did not return to positive growth for a full two years down the road. The absence of expanding output will mean that the central bank is likely to maintain a very loose monetary policy, holding the British Pound back against the currencies of countries where economic growth and by extension interest rates will head higher sooner (most notably the US Dollar). Turning to the housing market, any immediate impact from small improvements in March Consumer Credit and Mortgage Approval readings may be offset with Nationwide expected to report that property prices turned lower in April to shrink at an annual pace of -15.8%. The survey would conflict with a similar report by Rightmove, but its later release suggests a more accurate reading on what April’s housing market actually looked like.

Japanese Yen Trades Must Gauge Risk and the Currency's Relation to It

2009-04-26T09:51:00.000+05:30

There is an ongoing debate as to whether the yen is a sensible safe haven currency considering the financial and economic troubles Japan is suffering. This is argument that will carry over into next week – and just as the market’s tolerance for risk is put to the test through a wave of major fundamental catalysts.

Fundamental Outlook: Bearish

There is an ongoing debate as to whether the yen is a sensible safe haven currency considering the financial and economic troubles Japan is suffering. This is argument that will carry over into next week – and just as the market’s tolerance for risk is put to the test through a wave of major fundamental catalysts. Therefore, traders will first have to assess the ever-fluctuating level of sentiment through G20 and IMF policy statements, a mooring US first quarter growth report and ongoing register of market health derived through earnings releases. Then, they will have discern the level of optimism or panic that is borne from this mix and judge whether the Japanese currency is a viable safe haven via the depth of its markets and sheer size of its economy. Anything less than borderline fear or a dour forecast for the markets will likely see the once sacrosanct safe haven / yen correlation drift apart.

First, in taking stock of the economic mines that could leverage panic and volatility; we can see that there is a lot to keep track of. This weekend, the spot light will fall on the various meetings scheduled for the world’s policy makers. The G7 meeting has already passed with little more than cheerleader optimism; and any G20 statement is likely to provide little more. What traders really crave is tangible policy steps with responsibility and consequence along the way that can truly put the world on track to correcting what is clearly a global problem. To the extent of its capabilities, the IMF’s semi-annual meeting will likely produce better results. However, while this group has been very blunt on the current state of affairs and what needs to be done to genuinely turn economic activity around; the organization doesn’t have the clout to push policy onto the world’s leading nations. Moving beyond the weekend, the risk barometer will find input from the change in sentiment derived from earnings. Better-than-expected revenues is not the same thing as profits that are expected to expand as the year progresses. Net profit, write downs, delinquencies and non-performing assets are components that will not be overlooked. Finally, in measuring the health of the financial markets; we first gauge the health of the economy that supports it. The first quarter reading for US GDP will fill this role nicely. Should the world’s largest nation report a slower pace of contraction as expected, it could interpreted as the first (meaningful) step towards a working recovery.

After assessing the ebb and flow of risk sentiment, the fundamental crowd then has to decide whether the yen is indeed the proper currency to represent safety. This leads us to examine the health of the island economy. Over the past few days, Japanese policy officials have painted a grim outlook for economic activity (even taken within the context of a global recession). Despite confirming the worst recession for the world’s second largest economy in over a quarter of a century through the fourth quarter, the Bank of Japan’s top economist predict worse over the opening months of this year. The same sentiment was shared by BoJ Shirakawa. Data is working hard to confirm such fears as well. This past week, the ministry reported the worst annual trade deficit in nearly three decades. This will be followed up by employment, spending, factory activity, and auto sales data in the days ahead. When measuring this economic fodder against sentiment, questions will only arise should pessimism reign. Otherwise, if sentiment is improving, there is no need for a safe haven and the bleak future for Japan means there is really no reason to buy yen. – JK

Euro at Critical Crossroads versus US Dollar

2009-04-26T09:49:00.000+05:30

Euro at Critical Crossroads versus US Dollar
The Euro finished the week marginally higher against the US Dollar, but it extremely choppy price action makes it difficult to anticipate continued gains through near term trade. Last week we forecasted that a turnaround in the US S&P 500 and other risky asset classes would lead to a similar pullback in the Euro. Yet an early-week decline quickly reversed and led to a similar bounce in the EUR/USD. The US S&P now stands an impressive 30 percent higher from multi-year lows and a mere 4.1 percent down on a year-to-date basis. The impressive recovery in risk appetite has had a noteworthy effect on the Euro, but we continue to question whether such financial market improvement is truly sustainable. Early-week market tumbles emphasize that equities and other key risk barometers remain extremely fragile, and it may be only a matter of time before we see large corrections in the S&P and major world equity indices.

Our outlook for the Euro/US dollar remains bearish, but the true litmus test may come at resistance near the 1.3400 mark. Said level represents an important multi-week high and the 61.8 percent Fibonacci retracement of the 1.3750-1.2880 move—a “line in the sand” for technical traders. Fundamental biases are far harder to establish due to the current economic climate. A busy week of European and US economic event risk may only exacerbate this point, and it will be critically important to watch for shifts in trader sentiment following a key number of data releases.

Likely highlights in the week ahead include German and broader Euro zone Consumer Confidence, CPI Inflation, and especially important Employment results. Recent German Ifo Business survey figures suggest that investor confidence has bottomed and many now expect business conditions to improve through the foreseeable future. This may amount to little, however, if Consumer Confidence does not show a commensurate improvement, and markets will likely respond to any surprises in German Gfk survey results. The very next day’s German Consumer Price Index inflation results could likewise spark volatility in the EUR/USD. Analysts predict that yearly price growth remained at a relatively robust 0.8 percent through April. This stands in stark contrast to a -0.1 percent rate in the United States and perhaps explains why the European Central Bank has thus far kept interest rates well-above their US counterpart. Uncertainty surrounding ECB monetary policy may make for especially large moves on big surprises.

Last but certainly not least, markets will pay close attention to Friday’s Unemployment stats out of Germany and the broader Euro zone. Labor market reports remain very politically important, and any especially noteworthy deterioration in jobless rates could put further pressure on domestic governments and the ECB. Though further fiscal stimulus packages seem unlikely, politicians continue to lean on the ECB—calling for Quantitative Easing measures in order to boost money supply. Any such announcement could easily derail the Euro’s recent bounce. - DR

US Dollar Facing 1Q GDP, FOMC, Earnings and G20 forecasts

2009-04-26T09:48:00.000+05:30

Despite a relatively light docket of scheduled economic event risk, the US dollar tumbled against most of its counterparts this past week. This was due to the market’s acute interest in risk trends and the dollar’s association to such macro concerns. In the week ahead, fundamental conditions threaten to be far more complicated which could in turn lead to far greater levels of volatility and/or momentum

Fundamental Outlook for US Dollar: Bullish

First quarter earnings may have been a positive factor so far, but the outlook is still far from encouraging
- Fed says recession ‘substantially reduced’ some banks’ capital though most are still well-capitalized
- Do technicals support a dollar bullish forecast? Read the FX Technical Weekly to find out.

Despite a relatively light docket of scheduled economic event risk, the US dollar tumbled against most of its counterparts this past week. This was due to the market’s acute interest in risk trends and the dollar’s association to such macro concerns. In the week ahead, fundamental conditions threaten to be far more complicated which could in turn lead to far greater levels of volatility and/or momentum. To garner a sense of what could move the market and how specifically it impacts the world’s most liquid currency, we will address each of the major themes likely to influence price action one by one. However, it is important to distinguish between those drivers that will have an immediate and decisive impact on the dollar and those that could have a drawn out impression. Both the first quarter GDP release and FOMC rate announcement have clearly defined parameters for timing and influence. In contrast, there is no clear scenario for how forecasts from global policy officials and the steady flow of earnings reports could sway a currency that has to balance its place in the economic food chain with its status as a safe haven.

There is no way of telling which manner of event risk (schedule release or general risk) will have the more pervasive effect on the US dollar; but recent history suggests we follow the currency’s function as a capital refuge. Immediate concern is the cumulative and distilled outlook for global growth and policy that comes out of the various meetings scheduled over the weekend and beyond. The G7 released met on Friday; but their seemed to offer little progress towards the world-wide rescue beyond offering a forecast for a ‘weak’ recovery by the end of the year and offering a warning that toxic assets are still a serious threat. There was sideline commentary suggesting the member nations have taken steps towards realizing the G20’s Agenda points from the London summit; but there is little evidence to substantiate such claims. Going forward, market participants will actively monitor the news wires for signs that the recovery in sentiment is unrealistic. An official statement from the G20 would be read over with a fine-toothed comb, traders will gauge the sway of proposals from the IMF and World Bank meetings this weekend, and fundamental traders will never ease up on their vigilance over nation’s individual efforts to stabilize their own economies.

The other indeterminable factor for dollar traders is the ongoing release of first quarter earnings reports. On the whole, its seems revenues and net income for American firms was stronger than analysts were predicting through the first quarter. However, this is an unreliable benchmark to gauge sentiment and economic health against. Firms are still clearly struggling with the recession and lack of credit as bottom lines that are splashed in red. This is an particularly important point to make with the financial sector (and more to the point, the 19 banks that are being reviewed for the Fed’s stress test). Traders the world over are waiting for the Federal Reserve’s assessment of how the banking giants will fair should the recession linger. In a white paper that explained the examiners’ methodology for judging each institution’s health, it was said that ‘most’ of those under scrutiny had sufficient capital – suggesting some will fail.

It is far easier to prepare and scale the impact of the advanced reading of 1Q GDP and the Fed’s rate decision. There is growing consensus that the central bank will further shrink its target range, but such a move would change little. More meaningful is the growth report. There have been claims from various policy officials of initial signs of stabilization and a decelerating pace of recession. These assertions will be immediately confirmed or denied by this specific piece of event risk. As the world’s largest economy, should data confirm a slower pace of annual contraction (as economists predict), it would be the first tangible sign that conditions are indeed improving. - JK

Maruti net dips 18% on forex, raw material costs

2009-04-26T09:44:00.000+05:30

NEW DELHI: Higher raw material costs and forex loss outweighed an increase in car sales for Maruti Suzuki, which witnessed an 18% fall in fourth
quarter (January-March, 2008-09) net profit to Rs 243 crore against Rs 297.6 crore in the corresponding period of the previous financial year.

In Q4, total vehicle sales increased 17%. "The cumulative impact of the adverse forex exchange movement both direct and via vendor imports impacted our profit," Shinzo Nakanishi, Maruti MD and CEO, said.

Maruti made a provision of Rs 121 crore in Q4 for mark-to-market loss on dollar-rupee derivatives, CFO Ajay Seth said, adding that the company has hedged one-third of its total foreign currency exposure as on March 31.

Raw material costs also grew substantially for the company at Rs 4738 crore against Rs 3694 crore in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007-08, the company said, adding that prices have since softened and are likely to reflect positively in the first quarter of 2009-10.

Net sales for Maruti grew to Rs 6308 crore, from Rs 4763 crore in Q4 of 2007-08, registering a growth of 32%. The company's net profit remained subdued for the full year as well (2008-09) which fell near 30% at Rs 1218.7 crore against Rs 1730.8 crore in 2007-08. However, Maruti's net sales in the period rose 14% to Rs 20,358 crore against Rs 17,860 crore, led by models like the Swift and the Dzire. Total vehicle sales for the company in 2008-09 rose 3.5% at 792167 units from 764,842 in 2007-08.

"Despite the revival in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal, future still looks uncertain. Experts have presented different growth projections. We foresee 2009-10 to be another volatile and difficult year," Nakanishi said. Maruti has also started sale of A-Star compact to Nissan as part of contract manufacturing, he said. "We have shipped 2000 units. Full year sale to them is expected at 30,000 units," said Nakanishi.

WASHINGTON: A third of teens who smoke cannabis regularly use it as medication, rather than as a means of getting high, claims a new study.

2009-04-26T09:43:00.001+05:30

WASHINGTON: A new study has found that long-term treatment with Gamunex can significantly improve health-related quality of life in patients with
chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP).

CIDP is a debilitating nerve disease that results in progressive weakness in the arms and legs, causing significant disability for many individuals.

Gamunex is the first and only FDA-approved product for the treatment of CIDP. The researchers showed that patients who received Gamunex experienced greater improvements in physical and mental component scores compared with placebo.

"The data provide the rationale for administering maintenance doses of Gamunex every three weeks as a means of improving health-related quality of life and preventing relapse of symptoms," said Dr Ingemar Merkie, Department of Neurology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam and Spaarne Hospital Hoofddorp, the Netherlands.

"Until now, there has been no FDA-approved dosing regimen for an effective course of intravenous immune globulin therapy to reduce neuromuscular disability and improve quality of life in patients with CIDP.

"Data from this trial provide an effective regimen with Gamunex to achieve improvements," Merkie added.

"The improvement in health-related quality of life, social participation and activity supports the use of Gamunex in patients with CIDP who have responded to it in the past. It validates the benefits of every three week infusions of Gamunex," said Dr. Peter Donofrio, professor of Neurology and Chief, Neuromuscular Section of the Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.

Teens use cannabis for relief, not recreation

2009-04-26T09:42:00.001+05:30

WASHINGTON: A third of teens who smoke cannabis regularly use it as medication, rather than as a means of getting high, claims a new study.

Joan Bottorff worked with researchers from the University of British Columbia, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, to conduct in-depth interviews with 63 cannabis-using adolescents.

Of these, 20 claimed that they used cannabis to relieve or manage health problems. Bottorff said: "Marijuana is perceived by some teens to be the only available alternative for those experiencing difficult health problems when legitimate medical treatments have failed or when they lack access to appropriate health care."

The most common complaints recorded were emotional problems (including depression, anxiety and stress), sleep difficulties, problems with concentration and physical pain.

The teens' experiences with the medical system were uniformly negative. The authors said: "Youth who reported they had been prescribed drugs such as Ritalin, Prozac or sleeping pills, stopped using them because they did not like how these drugs made them feel or found them ineffective. For these kids, the purpose of smoking marijuana was not specifically about getting high or stoned."

The authors emphasise that the unmet medical needs of these teens are of key importance in these findings. In contrast to the unpleasant side effects of prescribed medications and long, ineffective legal therapies, cannabis provided these adolescents with immediate relief for a variety of health concerns, said a British Columbia release.

15 Pak terrorists on loose ahead of J&K polls

2009-04-26T09:36:00.000+05:30

SRINAGAR: At least 15 of the 31 terrorists who sneaked into Jammu and Kashmir are still at large, and many more are waiting to infiltrate the state Brigadier Gurmeet Singh, with Pakistani Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant, Saqib Moin-ul-lah Shah (L), addressing a press conference at Badami Bagh army base camp in Srinagar. (PTI Photo)
More Pictures
with the full backing of the Pakistan army. This disturbing disclosure confirming the worst apprehensions of the Indian security establishment came from a Pakistani mercenary, Sakib Moinullah Shah, captured by the armed forces. ( Watch )

Shah was a part of the various terror groups that had made incursions into the forested areas of Kashmir's Kupwara district last month. Of the 31 terrorists, nine were killed by the security forces in encounters while six died in an avalanche. Shah, under arrest, is singing like a canary. Fifteen other terrorists remain untraced.

"In all, 120 of us infiltrated into Kashmir," Shah told a press briefing on Saturday. "Thirty-one were terrorists. The rest were porters, guides and those who cut through the snow to make way for us," Shah said. That explains the heavy ordnance the terrorists infiltrated with--13,000 rounds and 245 grenades apart from 30 AK-47s. All these were recovered from a militant hideout near the Line of Control.

The revelation comes ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in the Valley which begin on April 30, but that's scarcely the chief concern of the security agencies. Terrorists failed to disrupt the assembly polls but are seeking to derail the Lok Sabha elections. While the security forces are geared to meet the threat, what's worrying them is the confirmation from Shah about the revival of the Pakistani army's collaboration with the jihadis, which marks the end of the brief lull when it was forced to cut back on its support to terrorists.

The resumption of the assistance ties in with the government's assessment that the Pakistani army, which is under tremendous international pressure to take on the Taliban, is trying to divert jihadi energies towards India in a bid to avoid getting into a war that it is loath to fight.

Security forces apprehend sustained terrorist violence in May to coincide with the transfer of the government from Jammu to Srinagar.

Shah said he was trained at a camp in Mansehra in Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province. Significantly, Ajmal Amir Kasab, the only terrorist nabbed alive during the the 26/11 Mumbai carnage, was also trained at Mansehra along with his fellow attackers.

Shah said he was brainwashed into joining the Hizbul Mujahideen. "I was told there was oppression in Kashmir and motivated to join the jihad." He said themilitants receive 18 to 90 days' weapons training. Now singing a different tune, he has reportedly said there's no need for a jihad in Kashmir as the situation there does not reflect what he was told in Pakistan.

Srinagar-based army officer Brigadier Gurmit Singh said Shah was captured while he was trying to sneak back into Pakistani territory along the LoC in Gurez in northern Kashmir. "Six terrorists of the group died in an avalanche, while around 15 are still at large," the officer said. The porters and others in the group had managed to escape to PoK.

Brigadier Singh said, "The weapons, communication equipment...the method of communication between infiltrating militants and the launch pad...it's quite evident that the armed forces across (Pakistan) support them." He also said the fencing erected to check infiltration along the LoC had been damaged by heavy snow, which had made it easier for the terrorists to cross over. The army has killed 53 terrorists in the valley since the beginning of the year.

India, US stop Nepal from axing army chief

2009-04-23T09:25:00.000+05:30

Nepal’s beleaguered army chief Gen Rookmangud Katawal will now live to fight another day as his arch enemy, the ruling Maoist party, has decided to
tread with caution after pressure from India and the US.

“The party has asked the government not to take a hasty decision since there is tremendous pressure from India and the US,” Maoist lawmaker Chandra Prakash Gajurel said after the top leaders of the party met to study the developments.

The switch came after indications that the Maoists’ biggest ally in the coalition, the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (UML), would not support the firing of the army chief.

Pakistan a mortal threat to world: Hillary

2009-04-23T09:22:00.001+05:30

WASHINGTON: A stunned Obama administration said on Wednesday that Pakistan posed a "mortal threat" to the United States and world after a rampant
Taliban moved to within 60 miles of Islamabad by taking control of Buner district just outside the capital region.

The rapid advance of heavily armed and un-uniformed Taliban towards Pakistan's capital region, home to the country's army (headquartered in nearby Rawalpindi) and much of its nuclear assets (in nearby Kahuta), is sending shock waves across Washington. Administration officials, lawmakers, and South Asia experts are tripping over each other to express grave concern and offer prescriptions to tackle the deteriorating situation.

At a Congressional hearing on US foreign policy priorities, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reflected some of the urgency and panic when she implicitly blamed the Pakistani government, the army, and civil society for ceding space and territory to the advancing Taliban without a fight.

"Pakistan poses a mortal threat to the security and safety of our country and the world," Clinton said. "And I want to take this occasion ... state unequivocally that not only do the Pakistani government officials, but the Pakistani people and the Pakistani diaspora ... need to speak out forcefully against a policy that is ceding more and more territory to the insurgents ..."

Not enough voices are being heard against the Taliban's progress, she added.

Clinton's blunt remarks are the strongest to come from Washington, where typically, administration officials and regional experts have previously put their trust in Islamabad's bonafides and accepted its word that it was fighting terrorism. For the first time, the US is now saying Pakistan is not; and in fact, it is abdicating its responsibility.

President Obama meanwhile invited President Zardari of Pakistan and President Karzai of Afghanistan to Washington to discuss the speedy developments that seems to have stunned Washington. The three-way talks are likely to take place May 7-8.

Also this week, Washington's top general Admiral Mike Mullen, rushed to Islamabad in what is turning out to be a monthly sortie to get a handle on the situation.

In an interview on CNN, Pakistan's ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani insisted the situation was not so serious and the government in Islamabad was in control of the developments.

Contesting reports about Taliban advancing to within 60 miles of Islamabad, Haqqani split hairs while maintaining US officials were making "factual errors." Islamabad was 60 miles from Buner "as the crow flies" and longer if one took into account that Swat is a isolated valley across mountains, he said. Pakistan's peace deal was also with a movement which supports Taliban and not Taliban itself, he added.

But at the Congressional hearing, Clinton told worried lawmakers that Taliban's advance poses "an existential threat" to Pakistan and urged Pakistanis worldwide to oppose a government policy that is yielding to them.

"(We) cannot underscore the seriousness of the existential threat posed to the state of Pakistan by the continuing advances now within hours of Islamabad that are being made by a loosely confederated group of terrorists and others who are seeking the overthrow of the Pakistani state," Clinton said.

"I don't hear that kind of outrage or concern coming from enough people that would reverberate back within the highest echelons of the civilian and military leadership of Pakistan," she added.

Lawmakers too expressed immense concern over the deteriorating situation amid a stream of stories in the US media from Pakistan even as Iraq has faded into the background.

The House International Relations Committee chairman Howard Berman, a Democrat from California, said that he and several other Congressional colleagues who had just returned from a trip to India and Pakistan were happy at the dramatically improved ties with India, but deeply concerned about the security situation in Pakistan.

"We cannot allow al-Qaida or any other terrorist group that threatens our national security to operate with impunity in the tribal regions (of Pakistan)," Berman said, adding, "Nor can we permit the Pakistani state - and its nuclear arsenal - to be taken over by the Taliban or any other radical groups, or otherwise be destabilised in a manner that could lead to renewed conflict with India."

Clinton assured lawmakers that the US is advancing its relationship with India as part of a wide-ranging diplomatic agenda to meet today's "daunting challenges" topped by the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Pakistan a mortal threat to world: Hillary

2009-04-23T09:22:00.000+05:30

Microsoft MyPhone vs Nokia Ovi

2009-04-20T10:41:00.000+05:30

Consumers are struggling to find an easy way to get files like photographs out of their phones to share with friends and family. Microsoft Corp's upcoming MyPhone service seems to solve the mobile industry's eternal challenge: how to make a wireless service easy to use. It may not have as much storage or as many features as the equivalent from Nokia but an early version of the service is easier to use.

Sales of cameraphones have already passed those of digital cameras, and last year alone some 700 million cameraphones were sold. But sharing the pictures requires cables (or shaky wireless connections), time and nerves.

Microsoft's MyPhone is the solution at least for users of Windows phones. It is a simple back-up service, still in limited testing, that uploads pictures and any other data from a phone to a Microsoft data center via the Internet.

Here's Microsoft MyPhone versus Nokia's Ovi.
Users can then log on to myphone.microsoft.com and tweak or download the pictures and data. Usage is as simple as it gets: the service works on its own, quietly downloading files when the phone is not in use.

Google Q1 profit rises 8.9%

2009-04-20T10:39:00.001+05:30

SAN FRANCISCO: Google Inc, owner of the world’s most popular search engine, reported an 8.9 per cent increase in first-quarter profit after cuttin
g jobs and jettisoning some businesses. Sales growth slowed as demand ebbed for online ads.

Net income climbed to $1.42 billion, or $4.49 a share, the company said today. Excluding revenue passed on to partner sites, sales were $4.07 billion last quarter, compared with the average analyst estimate of $4.1 billion in a Bloomberg survey.

Customers scaled back ad campaigns last quarter, leading to the first sequential drop in quarterly sales since the company went public in 2004. Google is now reining in research and marketing expenses to maintain profit growth. It has eliminated sales jobs and shut down its newspaper and radio ad units.

“We’re still basically in uncharted territory,” Chief Executive Officer Eric Schmidt said on a conference call. “The current economic environment, which everybody is all very, very familiar with, remains tough.”

Google, based in Mountain View, California, climbed as high as 6 per cent in extended trading after the earnings report was released. The shares then drifted back down during the conference call. Google’s stock has climbed 26 per cent this year in Nasdaq Stock Market trading.

Conference call
The downbeat tone of the call may have changed investor sentiment, said Richard Fetyko, an analyst with Merriman Curhan Ford & Co in New York. He recommends buying the shares. “They were talking things down,” he said.

Excluding costs such as stock-based compensation, earnings were $5.16 a share, compared with the $4.95 estimated by analysts. Net income was $1.31 billion, or $4.12 a share, a year earlier. While sales rose 6.2 per cent, Google’s total expenses were little changed from last year, at $3.63 billion.

Revenue from outside the US made up 52 per cent of total sales, up from 50 per cent in the fourth quarter. The company also announced that its head of global sales, Omid Kordestani, will become a senior adviser to Chief Executive Officer Eric Schmidt and Google’s founders. Nikesh Arora will take over Kordestani’s old job.

US online advertising spending growth will slow to 4.5 per cent this year, according to New York-based research firm EMarketer Inc. That’s down from 10 per cent in 2008.

Are job cuts in IT inevitable?

2009-04-20T10:38:00.000+05:30

Job cuts in IT are inevitable," says the former IT Secretary of Karnataka, Vivek Kulkarni. According to IT sector veteran, "When there is no busi
ness, companies have to react; otherwise no body will survive. Either you have to reduce everybody's salary, or you have to let some people go and move on with that."

Kulkarni has more than 25 years of experience in business and government, and is currently the Chairman and CEO of knowledge process outsourcing firm, Brickwork India.

Reasoning his statement Kulkarni says that because, if companies do not have labour flexibility, they can't do business well.

Do you agree that job cuts in IT sector are inevitable? Or there are other alternatives that company can look at? Also, shouldn’t layoffs be the last option for a company? Shouldn’t companies find other ways to cut costs rather than giving employees pinkslips? Write in .

Nokia to bring capacitive screen for 5800 XpressMusic

2009-04-20T10:37:00.000+05:30

Nokia, the Finnish manufacturer for mobile phone is preparing updates for Nokia 5800.

The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic is no strange to the marketing strategy of Nokia. The Finnish manufacturer always tweaks the models in its line up to make them at par with consumer’s expectations. The company is now reportedly working at updating its 5800 for a future revision.

The mobile manufacturer is expected to replace the 5800’s resistive touchscreen with a capacitive one. The S60-based Samsung i8910 has a capacitive screen. With this ramp up in marketing skills and tweaks in user interface, Nokia is trying to compete with its rivals.

The capacitive screen will make the device more usable and responsive.

Nokia has sold around 10 million sets of 5800 XpressMusic in first two months of its launch. Since then the company is updating its handset for keeping the users involved with the mobile set.

Oracle launches application for banks

2009-04-20T10:34:00.000+05:30

MUMBAI: Oracle Financial Services Software has introduced Oracle FLEXCUBE Enterprise Limits and Collateral Management, which is a SOA-based applic
ation to help banks more effectively to manage exposure across the enterprise.

Customers using the product can centralise exposure management across the entire spectrum of offerings including loans, trade finance, treasury and overdrafts.

Oracle FLEXCUBE Enterprise Limits and Collateral Management enables efficient limits monitoring across the institution with centralised online tracking and monitoring of multi-currency limits for all transactions across all branches or entities -- in countries as well as regions.

The solution helps banks make informed credit decisions with fast and accurate credit information -- by customer and segment -- while also helps improve exposure management with collateral pooling and contribution controls.

"Enterprise limits and collateral management is of importance for successful credit risk management at banks, and even more crucial given the ongoing financial market turmoil. Having excellent visibility of their client accounts would minimise defaults and help thaw out the liquidity freeze by increasing banks' confidence in lending," Li-May Chew, CFA, Senior Research Manager, Asia/Pacific Risk Management Advisory Service from Financial Insights (an IDC company), was quoted as saying in a press release

How TechM may change Indian IT

2009-04-20T10:33:00.001+05:30

SYDNEY: How about living in a hotel room with see-through showers, floating TV sets and mobile phone entry? Well, it’s no dream - a hotel in Paris
is offering its customers an opportunity to experience the future of the hospitality industry.

Pullman Paris Bercy Hotel in Paris has come up what they call ‘visionary spaces combining futuristic techniques and state-of-the-art design’. The room features a special hotel key card with a radio frequency microchip to open it.

The luxury room designed by Natacha Froger contains the centrally positioned bed, which is one of the super comfortable ones that are in all Pullman and Sofitel hotels. A side table carved from a single piece of wood also serves as a bedside table and includes an ice cube bar and espresso machine.

Seemingly suspended in mid-air in the window is a 1.2m TV screen with an advanced 5.1 surround sound system. There’s also a touch-sensitive remote control that turns on all the room’s automated functions, including the bedroom and shower lights, along with video projector and lightproof blinds. The hotel’s glass and stone facade creates the impression that it’s floating above the Seine.

Floating TV, see-through shower in new-age hotel

2009-04-20T10:32:00.001+05:30

Experts find secret of night vision

2009-04-20T10:30:00.000+05:30

LONDON: The night vision abilities of nocturnal animals such as mice is down to the unconventional way that DNA is packaged within the nuclei of
specialised cells responsible for low light vision, say Cambridge University researchers.

The research of the scientists from the Ludwig- Maximilians University Munich and the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research in Frankfurt, published in journal Cell, shows that a special DNA architecture turns the rod cell nuclei into millions of tiny, light-collecting lenses.

These lenses are stacked in columns which improve light transmission through the nocturnal retina and maintain vision, even at very dim light conditions.

In normal non-dividing cells, DNA is typically packaged into chromatin, which arranges the DNA into a unique order where the more condensed DNA, heterochromatin, is located on the periphery, while the less dense euchromatin, which is where the genes are active, is found in the centre.

This general pattern is almost universal and conserved over 500 million years in both single-celled and multicellular organisms.

It took a great leap to realize that the structure of the nuclei deep within rod cells might have something to do with animals' behaviour at night versus during the day.

That is because biologists typically think of DNA and its packaging into chromatin in terms of its effect on gene activity.

Boy dies emulating dance reality show `stunt'

2009-04-20T10:28:00.001+05:30

LUCKNOW: In a shocking incident that came to light on Sunday morning here, a nine-year-old boy died while trying to perform a stunt shown in a dance
reality shown on television. The incident was reported from Sector 8 of Vikasnagar police circle in the state capital. Identified as Chandan Singh Rawat, the boy was found hanging with one end of a stocking tied around his neck and another end from the handle of terrace door of the house.

The incident took place around 9 pm on Saturday but the family members of the victim informed police late on Saturday night. Chandan, a student of class IV from Golden Circle Public School in Sector 6 of Vikasnagar, was living along with his uncle Bhagat Singh Rawat. The boy's parents live in Pithoragarh.

Chandan's parents had sent him to study in Lucknow in 2006. Bhagat Singh, who is an assistant manager in the high value branch of Punjab National Bank in Hazratganj, said that at the time of the incident he was in office and informed over phone.

Bhagat added that his mother along with his elder sister-in-law who live in the RBI Colony here had come over for dinner on Saturday evening. While the other family members were having dinner. Bhagat's three children Nakul, Mitali and Rahul along with their cousins Chandan and Kamlesh were playing.

After a while the other four except Chandan went for dinner. This led to the family searching for the boy for dinner. When one of them went upstairs he saw Chandan hanging with a stocking tied around his neck.

The boy was rushed to a doctor in the locality, who pronounced him brought dead. Around midnight on Saturday, Vikasnagar police was informed about the incident which reached the site in the morning to send the body for post-mortem.

Bhagat said: "Chandan, apart from being good in studies, also had interest in dance. On Friday, he had asked my wife Nanda, while watching a dance reality show (Dance India Dance) on Zee Television channel if he could also perform the same stunt that a contestant was performing with a rope in his hand."

Nanda not taking the chat seriously did not answer back. On Saturday too the boy told his cousin Kamlesh, who was also living in the same house and come here for studies, that he was going to perform a stunt by hanging himself.

After an hour of this conversation, Chandan was found hanging. His father Balu Singh was informed about the incident over phone and the body was sent for post-mortem.

Boy dies emulating dance reality show `stunt'

2009-04-20T10:28:00.000+05:30

Spy satellite RISAT takes off from Sriharikota

2009-04-20T10:27:00.000+05:30

SRIHARIKOTA, AP: Aiming to bolster India's defence surveillance capabilities, ISRO on Monday successfully launched its first all-weather spy
satellite that will help security agencies keep a watch on the movements on the borders, from its spaceport here. ( Watch )

The PSLV-C12, carrying 300-kg Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT-2) and 40-kg micro educational satellite ANUSAT lifted off from ISRO's Satish Dhawan space Centre here at 6:45am and placed into 550 km orbit around earth.

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, weighing 230 tonnes at the time of launch, soared into a clear sky from the spaceport here, about 90 km north of Chennai.

At the end of the 48-hour countdown, the 44-meter tall four-stage PSLV-C12 blasted off from the second launch pad with the ignition of the core first stage.

RISAT has all-weather capability to take images of the Earth and would also be beneficial in mapping and managing natural disasters, such as floods and landslides, besides amplifying defence surveillance capabilities of the nation. It would also help keep track of ships at seat that could pose a threat.

As per specifications, RISAT is different from previous remote sensing satellites as it uses Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), equipped with many antennas to receive signals that are processed into high-resolution pictures.

The SAR, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, gives RISAT defence capabilities.

ANUSAT is the first satellite developed by an Indian university (Anna University), which would demonstrate the technologies related to message storing and forward operations.

University sources said scores of students and faculty from different streams had worked on this satellite for the last six years.

ANUSAT is a store-and-forward communication satellite that will help transfer confidential academic materials, including exam question papers, to prevent question paper leakages. It will also help monitor drought and wasteland, urban planning and other studies.

This is the 15th flight of ISRO's workhorse PSLV, which had launched 30 satellites (14 for India and 16 for foreign countries) into a variety of orbits since 1993.

The Dharma of Change

2009-04-12T10:13:00.002+05:30

War, said Bhishma in the Mahabharata, is old men talking and young men dying. Indian politics during the silly season of elections is not very
different from this ancient war drama. Here, the young are expected to give their votes - and sometimes their blood - to keep the old in their palaces of power. With the election campaign getting more shrill by the day and looking more like a countdown to all-out war, will all the talk about a "new politics" remain wishful thinking? Are the young destined to be shortchanged, yet again?

There is a gathering campaign for change - political reform in favour of youth with some campaigning for a limit on the number of terms an MP can seek. Voices are increasingly being raised to "give a rest to the old and give a break to the young".

They may not have intended it, but the entrenched political class itself may have sparked this debate:

- Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi has called Congress a "125-year-old budhia".
- Congress has been making fun of the BJP’s 81-year-old prime ministerial candidate, L K Advani

Age has undoubtedly become an issue in India’s 15th general election. Danseuse Mallika Sarabhai, who is contesting against Advani in Gandhinagar, says it’s her biggest advantage. "I am 30-odd years younger than Advani," she told TOI this week.

But electoral reform campaigners say they want more from this focus on age as a term of abuse or mockery. Fixed terms for MPs so that younger people are given a chance. Anil Bairwal, coordinator of the National Election Watch, which is working for electoral reform, says, "Every country, society and institution needs a proper succession plan. But in Indian politics this doesn’t happen. A politician keeps contesting elections till either he is too old or when his son or daughter is ready to occupy his seat".

Historically and demographically, India is a young nation: Born in 1947, 70% of its population is younger than 35 today. Nearly 40% voters are in the 18-35 age group. Many of them will be first-time voters. Born in an independent and economically liberalized India, many of them find the old politics stifling and regressive. Danson Joseph is general secretary of Jago Party, which represents middle-class professionals frustrated by mainstream parties. He is categorical: "We need fresh faces, new ideas and new leadership in this country and for that we must limit the number of terms of MPs."

Joseph, who has a day job as an engineer, says it is a tragedy that "there is no place (in politics) for someone like me who doesn’t have money and muscle power and the wrong surname in parties like Congress and BJP. The Election Commission must look into it and restrict the MPs’ terms to make them perform in a better way."

Perhaps it is a nascent anger with mainstream old politicians that has led to the mushrooming of a slew of new political parties. Jago was born in January 2008. Joseph may speak for many other of India's ignored young people when he deplores the great wealth of outgoing MPs defending their seats. "They (political parties) have place for people with money, not for young men with ideas."

The old guard - Congress and BJP politicians - dismiss this argument. They proudly claim a new crop of young leaders. A Congress official parrots the names of young leaders: Rahul Gandhi, Sachin Pilot, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Milind Deora and Jitin Prasad. All are sons of Congress leaders. It's almost the same story in every party, national or regional, with the exception of the Left Front. Bairwal says that a dynastic change of guard is "against the principles of democracy" and limiting the number of terms an MP can serve will help to "break this father-to-son/daughter chain and give a chance to the parties to evolve as better institutions".

But, not everyone agrees this is a good idea. Bimal Jalan, former RBI governor, who is currently a Rajya Sabha MP, says, "In the US they restricted the number of terms of the president to prevent him from becoming a dictator, but in India, we can't do that. With our diversity and multi-party system, it won't make much sense." Jalan writes in his book, India's Politics: A View from Backbench, of the need to put forward "suggestions for political reforms in order to make India's democracy more stable, transparent and accountable". He believes there is a case for wider reform, not small steps such as limiting MPs' terms.

Wholesale political reform may be a long way off, but the new parties and civil society groupings say a young country should have the leaders that reflect its age and ideas.

Medical delay kills most heart patients in India

2009-04-12T10:13:00.001+05:30

CHENNAI: For Indians, genetically predisposed to heart diseases at least ten years ahead of those in the West, what finally proves fatal during
strokes is the delay in reaching a hospital and getting to the life-saving 'clog busters'.

Heart specialists across the country are in agreement on this point, underscored by a study published in the British medical journal Lancet. The study by Canadian and Indian researchers has found that the biggest problem in India is that people in need of emergency care are unable to reach hospitals quickly. This could add to a rise in the number of heart fatalities since, as Lancet notes, India is slated to account for 60% of heart patients by 2010.

On an average, it takes 300 minutes to reach a hospital in India, more than twice the response time in developed nations. Few patients use an ambulance to reach a hospital. Most use private or public transport because they do not have money to hire an autorickshaw or a car.

"Time is muscle," says Dr Naresh Trehan, senior cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon at Apollo Hospitals, Delhi, and Global Health chairman. "The window of best opportunity (to save a patient) is the first 60 minutes. A delay of 300 minutes could mean severe damage to heart muscles, sometimes irreparable. There is an urgent need to educate people about this."

Bangalore-based specialist Dr Denis Xavier, who was part of the study, says 90% of hospitals in India delay even first-aid. "Even after the person reaches a hospital, there is an average delay of 50 minutes," says Dr Xavier.

The 2008 study, which covered 21,000 heart attack victims admitted to 89 hospitals in 50 cities across India, says the delay in medical treatment is largely due to people's inability to pay. "The life-saving 'clog buster' costs only Rs 2,500, but many may not have that money ready. Several hospitals delay the administration of even first-aid until the victim pays for it," says Dr Xavier.

According to Dr S Thanikachalam, head of the cardiac care unit at Sri Ramachandra University, nearly 40% of heart attack victims die before they can reach a hospital for treatment. More than 75% of heart attack victims are not covered by medical insurance.

Chennai-based cardio-thoracic surgeon Dr K M Cherian says a majority of patients can be saved if they contact a cardiologist in time. "It's important to meet a cardiologist within the first 15 minutes of the attack. Patients should take an aspirin in water before they call the ambulance," he says.

Modi insulting aged, women, culture: Congress

2009-04-12T10:12:00.001+05:30

NEW DELHI: Age is catching up with Indian politics. Whether it's BJP leader L K Advani lifting weights at a gym, or Gujarat chief minister Narendra
Modi's remark describing the Congress as a "125-year-old budhiya" followed by Priyanka Gandhi's "Do I look old to you" retort, age has become a talking point this election season. ( Watch )

This despite the fact that the leading lights of both the Congress and the BJP are rather long in the tooth. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is 76, foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee is 73, and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi is 62, while Advani at 81 clearly leads the pack. But the Congress's aggressive projection of Rahul Gandhi seems to have given some impetus to the age issue.

While the Congress took on Modi in "cultural" terms, pointing out that his remark smacked of sexism and also flouted the Indian "tradition" of respecting the elderly, Priyanka's response was an in-your-face assertion of youthfulness. Without getting into the political incorrectness of Modi's remarks, she simply posited herself as the young symbol of an old party. Given her striking looks, her move certainly appears to be a poser for Modi and the BJP.

When Gujarat opposition leader Shaktisinh Gohil suggested that Modi should consider Advani's age before attempting to gain "cheap publicity", the attack was only to be expected. Advani himself has sought to address the age factor by arguing that his experience makes him the right person to lead India at a time when serious domestic and international issues need urgent attention.

The Congress has described Modi's "budhiya" remark as perverted, and asked the Gujarat CM whether his contempt for the elderly means that Advani is not fit to be the prime ministerial candidate.

Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan said women would soon show that Modi and the BJP are a burden on secular democracy. "He has called old women a burden, and attacked the very essence of Indian culture which gives a place of respect to the elderly. The women of India will never forget this insult," she said.

Stating that Modi's remarks exemplified the anti-woman mindset of the BJP, she added that the Gujarat CM had a history of making such comments. She recalled that he had said at a seminar on rural sanitation that a certain community insists on its women wearing burqas but that they are forced to go to the jungles to respond to nature's call. After the Godhra riots, he had remarked, "Relief camps are child-making factories." She also pointed out that the Modi regime had abolished the cell that deals with violence against women in Gujarat.

"Little wonder the woman minister in charge of women's development in the Modi cabinet is none other than Maya Kodnani, who is in jail for leading the mob against innocent civilians in the Godhra riots and instigating the vilest violation of Muslim and other women," Natarajan said.

Varun national threat, Mayawati govt tells SC

2009-04-12T10:09:00.000+05:30

NEW DELHI: Mayawati government has strongly opposed Varun Gandhi's challenge to his detention under the National Security Act. The UP govt has accused Varun Gandhi of causing fear among Muslims.

In an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court through the district magistrate of Pilibhit, the UP government has justified the detention of BJP candidate by calling him a threat to public order and accusing him of causing fear among Muslims. The next hearing is on Monday.

The strong defence of Varun's detention is significant in view of the sharp reactions the case has drawn. Both Samajwadi Party and Congress suspect that the use of a tough law against Varun just after his purportedly provocative speech against Muslims was meant to polarise the electorate. In fact, SP has even talked of a clandestine pact between BJP and BSP.

Mayawati's vigorous defence of its move against Varun Gandhi in the SC can only strengthen the suspicion about a clandestine pact between the BJP and the BSP to polarise the electorate. There are indications of rising appreciation among Muslim community for her tough stand against the BJP candidate, as well as signs of sympathy for the saffron party in Pilibhit and other constituencies of eastern UP.

In his affidavit, Ajay Chauhan, district magistrate of Pilibhit, has defended his preventive detention order against Varun, saying that latter's acitivities were prejudicial to public order.

He builds up his case against Varun by saying that he held his rally under the banner of "Hindu Samman Sammelan", and not as "Karyakarta Sammelan" as claimed in the petition challenging his detention.

The affidavit dismisses Varun's defence that the CD of his purported contents was doctored as irrelevant to present proceedings which it says is centred on the competence of the district magistrate to detain him under NSA.

It also says that the petitioner should have presented his case before the Advisory Board, which scrutinises the legality of preventive detentions under NSA, rather than the SC.

'India to see 7.3% rise in salaries this year'

2009-04-07T10:30:00.000+05:30

NEW DELHI: India is likely to witness a moderate salary increase of 7.3% this year after registering years of double-digit growth as recession is
affecting the pay, benefit and job prospects for employees, global human resource consultancy firm Hay Group has said.

"Overall, the picture for India has deteriorated...Now, with large numbers of organizations freezing pay, and predictions overall of median pay inflation of around 7.3% after years of double-digit growth, there is evidence that organizations are having to tighten their belts," Hay Group said in a report.

The report further said "the biggest concern for Indian companies is still the attraction and retention of talent as opposed to managing downsizing."

This means that Indian organizations would continue to invest in competitive salaries for high performing and high potential employees, but will also need to get more creative in developing a work culture and leadership style that enables them to become employers of choice without having to resort to the check-book, Hay Group said.

Fast-growth economies with high wage inflation such as India and China, which have seen double-digit wage growth for some years are now predicting salary increases of less than half of 2007 levels.

In India and China, the firms that are freezing pay are more likely to be local operations of multinational companies. However, if the freeze continues for another year, then companies owned by foreign firms in India and China will see a significant weakening of their market positioning compared with state-owned enterprises and indigenous companies.

Regarding the public sector companies in India, Hay Group said "pay in the public sector remains relatively modest, even after these changes (even after implementing pay reviews), but increases of this magnitude will clearly skew Indian pay market data for some time to come."

Across the globe, salary freezes have become very common with employees in 36% of companies facing salary freezes and 27% of organisations are decreasing their staffing levels, the survey said adding that "many organisations which a year ago were having trouble filling vacancies are now having to resort to job cuts."

The survey, which covered 2,000 organizations from 88 countries across six continents, said "executive pay is likely to rise even less than that of their employees and in practice many executives will receive significantly less than in previous years, as bonus pay-outs drop and the value of share-based payments is hit by stock market falls."

Terror blasts ahead of PM's visit rock Assam, kill 9

2009-04-07T10:29:00.000+05:30

GUWAHATI: Ten days before it goes to the polls and 24 hours before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was to land in his home state, Assam was rocked by Dense smoke at the site of the bomb blast at Maligaon, in Guwahati. (PTI Photo)
More Pictures
four deadly explosions on Monday that left at least nine people dead and more than 60 people injured. ( Watch )

Undeterred by the terror attacks, the prime minister will go ahead with his visit and address a rally at Dispur on Tuesday, officials in New Delhi said. Union home minister P Chidambaram called chief minister Tarun Gogoi minutes after the blasts. Official sources said the Union cabinet secretary, defence secretary and home secretary would arrive here on Tuesday to take stock of the situation.

The finger of suspicion pointed to the northeast's most active terrorist outfit, the United Liberation Front Of Asom (Ulfa), which is to mark its 30th 'Raising Day' on Tuesday. In the past, Ulfa terrorists have triggered blasts in the state to observe the day and also planted bombs just ahead of VVIP visits, the deadliest being serial blasts in January, just ahead of Chidamabaram's first visit to Guwahati as home minister. ( Watch )

Monday's deadliest blast was triggered at a busy bus stop at Maligaon on the outskirts of Guwahati around 1.40pm and killed eight people, including a 10-year-old boy. More than 50 people were injured there. The Maligaon police station and the headquarters of the Northeast Frontier Railway are a stone's throw from the site.

According to a police officer scanning the site minutes after the blast, the explosion at Maligaon was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted either on a bicycle or a motorcycle. People waiting at the bus stop were the first to be hit.

The blast was so powerful that several cars and motorcycles parked nearby caught fire. The flames soon spread to neighbouring houses. Many people jumped out of their windows in panic to escape the fire and smoke and injured themselves.

Less than two hours later, another explosion, this time at a busy marketplace in Dhekiajuli in Sonitpur district, injured three Railway Protection Force personnel on election duty. Here, too, the bomb was strapped to a parked bicycle, a vehicle of terror that has been used effectively by Ulfa terrorists.

In the third blast in the evening, terrorists threw a grenade at the Mancachar police station in Dhubri district, killing a constable. Another grenade lobbed in the Garo Basti area in Udalguri district did not explode. A fourth bomb explosion rocked Karbi Anglong district, injuring two people.

Gogoi condemned the blasts and said his government would crush the terrorist elements operating in the state.

Deputy inspector general of police (central range) G P Singh said Ulfa was behind the blasts. "We had information about the outfit's plans to carry out terror activities ahead of its foundation day on April 7," he said.

Sources said intercepted messages of Ulfa militants suggest the outfit will now target security forces and non-Assamese people.

"The Maligaon blast may have been carried out by one of Ulfa's 109th battalion members who have recently sneaked into the city. We came to know about a 27th battalion Ulfa cadre named Deepak who had supposedly hired a man called Sagar Topno to carry out the blast in Sonitpur district," a source said.

Forensic experts who visited the blast site at Maligaon said bicycle ball-bearings were packed into the bomb as shrapnel. Experts said chemical tests would be required to confirm the type of explosives used. An NSG bomb squad is also expected to arrive on Tuesday.

'Love waves':Earth hums a subtle tune

2008-04-18T08:41:00.001+05:30

WASHINGTON: Seismologists have detected a subtle and mysterious global hum, known as "Love waves", by studying records from some of the most uninteresting seismic stations of the earth.

According to a report, the newfound vibration is made of two-minute to five-minute, side-to-side surface seismic waves. They are named for the British mathematician Augustus Edward Hough Love, who created the mathematical model of such waves in 1911.
The Love wave is a mode that essentially torques the Earth's north and south hemispheres against each other. "It's as if the planet is dancing the Twist," explained Rudolf Widmer-Schnidrig of the Black Forest Observatory in Wolfach, Germany, and the Institute of Geophysics at the University of Stuttgart. "This gentle, faint twisting is called the "toroidal" mode," he added.
All of the planet's natural oscillations have signatures, or "modes" of vibration, depending on where and how they are created by earthquakes, ocean waves or other forces.

MySpace launched in India

2008-04-18T08:39:00.000+05:30

SAN FRANCISCO: MySpace officially launched in India, as the world's most popular social networking website strives to fend off fast-growing rival Facebook in the international arena.

MySpace India is an online community tailored to that country's culture and boasts industry alliances including a partnership with Star TV.

"We're thrilled today to launch MySpace in one of the world's most vibrant cultures," said the News Corporation-owned firm's international managing director Travis Katz.

"We will be providing the people of India the tools they need to live their lives online and ... a launch pad for Indian creators, from developers to musicians to filmmakers, to showcase their talents on the global stage."

A national college talent search programme called "Campus Star" is broadcast on Star TV and features judging by celebrities and members of a MySpace audience.

MySpace is celebrating the formal launch of the website, which was online previously in a "beta" testing mode, with a concert in Mumbai headlining rock bands Pentagram, Super Fuzz, and Them Clones.

MySpace will host an event in Bangalore on April 21 for local software developers it wants to inspire to create hip, useful or fun applications for people to use on website profile pages.

MySpace has hosted similar local "devJam" or developer jam events in China, Japan, Australia, Britain, Sweden and the United States.
The unveiling of MySpace India comes two days after the US firm launched a locally customised South Korea version of the website.

MySpace founder Chris DeWolfe was optimistic while kicking off the South Korea social networking website, saying it took lessons from Internet firms that had trouble getting traction in that country.

MySpace first went international by moving into Europe in 2006 and now has websites serving 25 countries including France, Russia, Australia and Japan.

MySpace rival Facebook has set out to boost its global popularity by making itself available in different languages, launching French, Spanish and German websites since the start of the year.

MySpace and its roster of approximately 110 million users still dominates the US market but fresh data from industry-tracker comScore indicates Facebook is closing the gap with MySpace when it comes to international visitors.

A majority of Facebook users live outside the United States, with a third based in Europe. France has the sixth largest community after United States, Britain, Canada, Turkey and Australia, the site says.

ComScore listed Facebook among the websites with the fastest rising number of visitors in 2007. Facebook has been steadily gaining on MySpace, which was founded in 2003 and snapped up two years later by Rupert Murdoch's media empire.

Facebook's 23-year-old founder Mark Zuckerberg is the youngest ever self-made billionaire according to Forbes magazine.

The site's value has been estimated at as much as $15 billion (9.75 billion euros), based on Microsoft paying $240 million for a 1.6 per cent stake in the company last year.

Motorola launches new phone in India

2008-04-18T08:37:00.000+05:30

NEW DELHI: Motorola’s brand ambassador and musician Wyclef Jean, launched MOTOROKR U9 in India that comes with Stereo Bluetooth 4 and CrystalTalk Technology
With metallic gloss finish, the phone has an external touch-sensitive music controls and an external display that shows floating, animated screensavers.

With 25MB of on-board user memory, the phone supports Microsoft Windows Media Player 11. It also has an optional microSD memory card that enables storage of up to 4GB of music and pictures.

The phone comes with voice recognition dialing and allows one-touch access to music library. The phone supports multiple audio files including Windows WMAv10 plus Janus DRM, MP3, AAC and AAC+. Also, Stereo Bluetooth wireless technology enables users to enjoy a wireless mobile stereo experience.

The phone has 2 mega pixel camera, 8x zoom, multi-shot feature and video capture.

“MOTOROKR U9 delivers stylish and dynamic mobile music experience to Indian consumers,” said Yatin Naik, Head-Retail Marketing, India and South West Asia, Motorola Mobile Devices. “MOTOROKR U9 embodies the stylish side of Motorola’s music-enabled devices, further building on our strong portfolio of products.”
The phone will be available by the end of May

iPhone India debut in Sept

2008-04-18T08:35:00.000+05:30

NEW DELHI: Come September and Indians will be able to lay their hands on one of the most-sought after gadgets -- iPhone. According to a leading financial daily, the phone from Apple is expected to be launched with telecom operator Vodafone in the first week of September
Quoting Apple retail sources, the report says that the California-based company will initially launch the 8 GB version of the touch-screen device, which combines Wi-Fi capabilities with a email client, TV feeds, online music store and map-based location guide. The 8 GB model is expected to be priced between Rs 27,200-Rs 28,000
The launch of the 16 GB version is likely to be pushed to the middle-2009, depending on the response, says the report.

Quoting an Apple source, it says that the carrier deal for India is being worked out with Vodafone. The UK-based telecom provider is also likely to become the carrier for the Australian market once iPhone is launched there.

Apple reportedly claims to have shipped four million iPhones this January since its US launch on June 29 last year, and its chief Steve Jobs has targeted sales of 10 million units by December 2008.

Intel and Micron Develop the World's Fastest NAND Flash Memory with 5X Faster Performance

2008-03-08T04:29:00.002+05:30

Intel Corporation and Micron Technology Inc. today unveiled a high speed NAND flash memory technology that can greatly enhance the access and transfer of data in devices that use silicon for storage. The new technology – developed jointly by Intel and Micron and manufactured by the companies' NAND flash joint venture, IM Flash Technologies (IMFT) – is five times faster than conventional NAND, allowing data to be transferred in a fraction of the time for computing, video, photography and other computing applications.

The new high speed NAND can reach speeds up to 200 megabytes per second (MB/s) for reading data and 100 MB/s for writing data, achieved by leveraging the new ONFI 2.0 specification and a four-plane architecture with higher clock speeds. In comparison, conventional single level cell NAND is limited to 40 MB/s for reading data and less than 20 MB/s for writing data.

"Micron looks forward to unlocking the possibilities with high speed NAND," said Frankie Roohparvar, Micron vice president of NAND development. "We are working with an ecosystem of key enablers and partners to build and optimize corresponding system technologies that take advantage of its improved performance capabilities. Micron is committed to NAND innovation and designing new features into the technology that create a powerful data storage solution for today's most popular consumer electronic and computing devices."

"The computing market is embracing NAND-based solutions to accelerate system performance through the use of caching and solid-state drives," said Pete Hazen, director of marketing, Intel NAND Products Group. "At up to five times the performance over conventional NAND, the high speed NAND from Intel and Micron, based on the ONFi 2.0 industry standard, will enable new embedded solutions and removable solutions that take advantage of high–performance system interfaces, including PCIe and upcoming standards such as USB 3.0."

For example, the specific performance advantages of high speed NAND in today's most popular devices include:

When used in a hybrid hard drive, high speed NAND can allow the system to read and write data anywhere between two or four times the speed when compared to conventional hard drives.
With the popularity of digital video cameras and video on demand services, high speed NAND can enable a high-definition movie to be transferred five times faster than conventional NAND.
With the pending USB 3.0 interface, high speed NAND is expected to effectively deliver on the increased data transfer rates of the new specification, where conventional NAND would act as the bottleneck in system performance. USB 3.0 is aiming for 10 times the bandwidth of current USB 2.0 solutions, or approximately achieving 4.8 gigabits per second.
As NAND continues to move into the PC platform, the Non-Volatile Memory Host Controller Interface (NVMHCI) can take advantage of high speed NAND in solutions such as Intel® Turbo Memory, allowing for even better system performance. NVMHCI is designed to provide a standard software programming interface allowing operating system drivers to access NAND flash memory storage in applications such as hard drive caching and solid-state drives

Intel and Micron Develop the World's Fastest NAND Flash Memory with 5X Faster Performance

2008-03-08T04:29:00.001+05:30

Intel and Micron Develop the World's Fastest NAND Flash Memory with 5X Faster Performance

2008-03-08T04:29:00.000+05:30

Intel Tops Corporate Citizen List

2008-03-08T04:22:00.000+05:30

Intel Corporation took the No. 1 spot in this year's "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. Released today by CRO Magazine (stands for corporate responsibility officer), the list has gained national recognition as an indicator of best practices in the area of corporate responsibility.

The list identifies companies that best combine business objectives with responsible practices across eight categories: environment, climate change, human rights, employee relations, corporate governance, lobbying, philanthropy and financial performance. Rankings are based on research and analysis by IW Financial, and the companies are drawn predominantly from the Russell 1000 Index. Intel has been in the top 20 on the list since its inception 9 years ago.

"At Intel, we define success not only by our business performance, but how we transform the world in which we live and work," said William A. Swope, corporate vice president and general manager of Intel's Corporate Affairs Group. "We invest a great deal of effort and resources toward corporate responsibility and have high expectations for ethical conduct in all parts of our business. This recognition is a testament to the ongoing work and commitment of our employees worldwide."

Intel's approach to global citizenship includes an annual $100 million commitment to improving education around the world and a long-term commitment to sustainability in its operations and in its products. In fact, in the past year Intel produced 45-nanometer chips that deliver industry-leading energy-efficient performance and come from the most advanced manufacturing process incorporating environment-conscious lead- and halogen-free design. Additionally, the company recently topped EPA's Green Power Partner List by becoming the largest purchaser of renewable energy credits in the United States.

In 2007, Intel received more than 50 corporate social responsibility recognitions world-wide including the U.S. EPA 2007 Water Efficiency Leader award for reducing, reusing and recycling water; the Most Responsible Multinational Corporation in China from Beijing University; the Supersector Leader for Technology by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and the Corporate Knights/Innovest's list of the "100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World." More information about Intel's efforts can be found at intel.com/go/responsibility.

Intel Announces Intel® Atom™ Brand for New Family of Low-Power Processors

2008-03-08T04:21:00.000+05:30

The Intel® Atom™ processor will be the name for a new family of low-power processors designed specifically for mobile Internet devices (MIDs) and a new class of simple and affordable Internet-centric computers arriving later this year. Together, these new market segments represent a significant new opportunity to grow the overall market for Intel silicon, using the Intel Atom processor as the foundation. The company also announced the Intel® Centrino® Atom™ processor technology brand for MID platforms, consisting of multiple chips that enable the best Internet experience in a pocketable device.The Intel Atom processor is based on an entirely new microarchitecture designed specifically for small devices and low power, while maintaining the Intel® Core™ 2 Duo instruction set compatibility consumers are accustomed to when using a standard PC and the Internet. The design also includes support for multiple threads for better performance and increased system responsiveness. All of this on a chip that measures less than 25 mm², making it Intel's smallest and lowest power processor yet.1 Up to 11 Intel Atom processor die -- the tiny slivers of silicon packed with 47 million transistors each -- would fit in an area the size of an American penny.

These new chips, previously codenamed Silverthorne and Diamondville, will be manufactured on Intel's industry-leading 45nm process with hi-k metal gate technology. The chips have a thermal design power (TDP) specification in 0.6-2.5 watt range and scale to 1.8GHz speeds depending on customer need. By comparison, today's mainstream mobile Core 2 Duo processors have a TDP in the 35-watt range.

"This is our smallest processor built with the world's smallest transistors," said Intel Executive Vice President and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Sean Maloney. "This small wonder is a fundamental new shift in design, small yet powerful enough to enable a big Internet experience on these new devices. We believe it will unleash new innovation across the industry."

With personal computing increasingly going mobile and the computer industry rapidly developing new classes of products to connect the next billion people to the Internet, the Intel Atom processor offers customers the unique ability to innovate around the new low-power design. In addition to the MID opportunity, Intel believes the demand for a new category of low-cost, Internet-centric mobile computing devices dubbed "netbooks" and basic Internet-centric desktop PCs dubbed "nettops," will grow substantially over the next several years. The Intel Atom processor is perfectly suited to meet these new market segments.

Intel said the Intel Atom processor also has potential for future revenue opportunities in consumer electronic devices, embedded applications and thin clients.

Intel Centrino Atom Processor Technology
The Intel Centrino Atom processor technology brand represents Intel's best technology for MIDs. Formerly codenamed "Menlow," Intel Centrino Atom processor technology includes the Intel Atom processor, a low-power companion chip with integrated graphics, a wireless radio, and thinner and lighter designs. Together, these components are designed to enable the best mobile computing and Internet experience on these new devices.

Intel Delivers 'Hard-Core' Eight-Core Platform for PC Performance Aficionados

2008-03-08T04:20:00.000+05:30

For those who crave more performance than what four processing cores and a single graphics card can deliver today, Intel Corporation has introduced the Intel® Dual Socket Extreme Desktop Platform. Formerly codenamed "Skulltrail," this is one of the first enthusiast desktop platforms to support two Intel quad core processors for a total of eight processing engines and a choice of multi-card graphics solutions from either ATI* or NVIDIA*.

"When it comes to delivering innovation to the ultimate enthusiast, our new 8-core desktop platform is a winner," said Jeff McCrea, senior vice president and general manager of Intel's Digital Home Group. "The ground-breaking Intel Desktop Board D5400XS enables the flexibility to pair a variety of quad graphics solutions with two of our fastest desktop processors. The result is stunning PC performance."

The Intel® Desktop Board D5400XS, when paired with two Intel® Core™ 2 Extreme QX9775 processors, forms the foundation of the Intel Dual Socket Extreme Desktop Platform. Hardcore gamers will welcome the opportunity to enjoy multiple simultaneous graphics card solutions featuring either NVIDIA SLI* or ATI Crossfire* for today's latest graphics-intensive titles. And the performance of eight processing cores is especially welcomed by the 3-D animators, digital audio artists and high-definition video editors behind the coolest games here at the Game Developers Conference.

"For the team creating world-class games here at id, time is one of our most valuable assets," said Robert A. Duffy, Programming Director, id Software. "Having eight powerful Intel cores in a single machine helps our team create and test our latest titles at record speed. We have seen one of our most time-consuming asset generation processes cut from over 4 hours to under 20 minutes by utilizing all eight cores and threading the generation code. Long term this translates to better games on the market faster than previously possible."

As high-definition video becomes more prevalent than ever, encoding and editing is a task that more power users are looking to their PC to do for them. Such workloads are handled with ease by this new platform, and video developers such as DivX* are excited about the possibilities.

"By optimizing our codec to take advantage of these eight cores, we're seeing very impressive performance gains in our labs," said Jerome Vashisht-Rota, co-founder of DivX Inc. "Natively supporting eight core technology allows us to significantly accelerate codec performance for processor intensive applications like the encoding of high-definition video on the PC so that we can continue to offer our users the high-quality digital video experience they have come to expect."

Each Intel Core 2 Extreme processor QX9775 offers 12MB of L2 cache, a fast 1600 MHz system bus and four cores running at a brisk 3.2 GHz. When paired on the dual-socket Intel Desktop Board D5400XS, this platform breezes through modern benchmarks and advanced workloads. For experienced enthusiasts who desire more capability, the Intel Core 2 Extreme processor bus ratio locks (overspeed protection) have been removed**. This offers added technical flexibility in customizing the system so OEMs can unleash even more performance.

"This dual processor platform is the fastest desktop PC we've ever tested in our labs, reaching a score of 6481*** on 3DMark06* CPU and 20,160*** on Cinebench* 10 even while running at the standard 3.20 GHz frequency," says Shervin Kheradpir, director of Intel performance benchmarking.

Pricing and Availability

The Intel Core 2 Extreme processor QX9775 is available now at an MSRP of $1,499 each. Estimated street pricing for the Intel Desktop Board D5400XS is $649. Platform components are sold separately. Several enthusiast PC manufacturers plan to offer systems based on this new platform starting today and over the next 30 days, including Armari*, Boxx Tech*, Digital Storm*, Falcon Northwest*, Maingear*, Puget Systems*, Scan*, Velocity Micro*, Vigor Gaming*, Voodoo*, @Xi Computers* and others.

Intel Game Demo Contest Enters its Third Year

On Feb. 15, Intel launched the third Intel® Game Demo Contest to showcase the latest creations from professional, aspiring and student game developers. The games will be judged in three categories: best threaded quad-core game, best game-on-the-go and best game on Intel integrated graphics.

The contest will award prizes valued at more than $100,000 in cash, tools and services, including a marketing support kit worth more than $20,000 to help jumpstart the success of the winning games

Intel Ships New Processors for Embedded, Communications and Storage Markets Based on New Transistors, Manufacturing

2008-03-08T04:15:00.000+05:30

Intel Corporation today announced expanded offerings for embedded market segments with new processors with extended, 7-year life cycle support, a new chipset and a carrier-grade server. The processors, based on Intel's revolutionary high-k, metal gate transistor formula and manufactured on the company's 45-nanometer (nm) process, include the Quad-Core Intel® Xeon® processor 5400 Series and Dual-Core Intel® Xeon® processor 5200 Series.

These new processors, coupled with the new power-optimized Intel® 5100 Memory Controller Hub (MCH) chipset, comprise the first 45nm CPU platforms for thermally constrained bladed applications. When using the Intel 5000P chipset, the 45nm processors are ideal for full-performance and memory-intensive applications such as storage, routers, security and medical solutions, as well as communications applications such as IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMS).

The processors take advantage of Intel's Hafnium-based, high-k metal gate transistor formula, which reduces power consumption, increases switching speed and significantly increases transistor density over the company's previous 65nm manufacturing technology. These 45nm CPU-based platforms, based on the Intel® 5100 MCH chipset, are ideal for 200 watt maximum power envelope specifications such as AdvancedTCA* and also for NEBS Level-3 requirements.

"We're acutely aware of the performance demands and power consumption concerns of our customers and reached a remarkable 67 percent more compute performance-per-watt when we validated the Intel 5100 MCH chipset-based 45nm quad-core platform1," said Doug Davis, vice president and general manager of Intel's Embedded and Communications Group. "In addition, the 45nm quad-core processors also allow for a 22 percent performance gain over previous-generation platforms within the same thermal profile2, making it an excellent choice for compute-intensive applications such as IMS and platforms for storage, routers and security."

"Ericsson will introduce its quad-core Intel Xeon Processor-based IMS/Core network nodes and application servers to allow operators and service providers to host more subscribers in a smaller footprint, thus lowering total cost of ownership and environmental impact," said Magnus Furustam, vice president and head of Ericsson's product area Core and IMS. "The processing headroom will also enable the next generation of innovative IMS services. To accelerate this innovation, Ericsson and Intel are promoting the benefits of IMS to the communications developer community globally."

Intel is offering extended lifecycle support for 7 years for the Dual-Core Intel Xeon processor 5200 series (E5240, E5220, L5238) and the Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor 5400 series (E5440 and L5408). This represents an expansion from previous minimum support of 5 years.

The new Intel® Carrier Grade Server TIGH2U building block offers increased choice for customers that require power efficiency and improved compute performance for high-end communication applications. Intel also announced enhancements for the Intel® Carrier Grade Server TIGW1U, Intel® IP Network Server NSW1U and Intel® IP Network Server NSC2U. These reliable communication rack-mount servers now support the Quad-Core Intel® Xeon® processor 5400 Series and are ideal for telco and network applications in harsh environments with NEBS Level-3 requirements that demand high performance, energy efficiency and high I/O throughput.

Pricing and Availability
The 45nm processors with extended lifecycle support are available today, and prices range from $321 to $690. The dual-core Intel Xeon processor L5238 at 35 watts will be available in April. The Intel 5100 MCH chipset is available today, starting at $76.

Intel Lowers First-Quarter Gross Margin Forecast Due to Lower NAND Flash Memory Prices

2008-03-08T04:13:00.000+05:30

SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 3, 2008 -- Intel Corporation today lowered its first-quarter gross margin forecast to 54 percent, plus or minus a point, as compared to the previous forecast of 56 percent, plus or minus a couple of points, due to lower than expected prices for NAND flash memory chips. All other expectations are consistent with the first quarter Business Outlook published in the company's fourth quarter 2007 earnings release, available at www.intc.com.

Status of Business Outlook
During the quarter, Intel's corporate representatives may reiterate the Business Outlook during private meetings with investors, investment analysts, the media and others. From the close of business on March 7 until publication of the company's first-quarter 2008 earnings release, Intel will observe a "Quiet Period" during which the Business Outlook disclosed in the company's press releases and filings with the SEC should be considered to be historical, speaking as of prior to the Quiet Period only and not subject to an update by the company.

Risk Factors
The above statements and any others in this document that refer to plans and expectations for the first quarter and the future involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause Intel's actual results to differ materially from current expectations, including the following:

Changes in business and economic conditions, including conditions in the credit market that could affect consumer confidence; customer acceptance of Intel's and competitors' products; changes in customer order patterns, including order cancellations; and changes in the level of inventory at customers. Intel's results could be affected by the timing of closing of acquisitions and divestitures.
Intel operates in intensely competitive industries that are characterized by a high percentage of costs that are fixed or difficult to reduce in the short term and product demand that is highly variable and difficult to forecast. Additionally, Intel is in the process of transitioning to its next generation of products on 45nm process technology, and there could be execution issues associated with these changes, including product defects and errata along with lower than anticipated manufacturing yields. Revenue and the gross margin percentage are affected by the timing of new Intel product introductions and the demand for and market acceptance of Intel's products; actions taken by Intel's competitors, including product offerings and introductions, marketing programs and pricing pressures and Intel's response to such actions; Intel's ability to respond quickly to technological developments and to incorporate new features into its products; and the availability of sufficient components from suppliers to meet demand.
The gross margin percentage could vary significantly from expectations based on changes in revenue levels; product mix and pricing; capacity utilization; variations in inventory valuation, including variations related to the timing of qualifying products for sale; excess or obsolete inventory; manufacturing yields; changes in unit costs; impairments of long-lived assets, including manufacturing, assembly/test and intangible assets; and the timing and execution of the manufacturing ramp and associated costs, including start-up costs.
Expenses, particularly certain marketing and compensation expenses, vary depending on the level of demand for Intel's products, the level of revenue and profits, and impairments of long-lived assets.
Intel is in the midst of a structure and efficiency program that is resulting in several actions that could have an impact on expected expense levels and gross margin. Intel is also in the midst of forming Numonyx, a private, independent semiconductor company, together with STMicroelectronics N.V. and Francisco Partners L.P. A change in the financial performance of the contributed businesses could have a negative impact on our financial statements. Intel's equity proportion of the new company's results will be reflected on its financial statements below operating income and with a one quarter lag. The results could have a negative impact on Intel's overall financial results.
The tax rate expectation is based on current tax law and current expected income. The tax rate may be affected by the jurisdictions in which profits are determined to be earned and taxed; changes in the estimates of credits, benefits and deductions; the resolution of issues arising from tax audits with various tax authorities, including payment of interest and penalties; and the ability to realize deferred tax assets.
Gains or losses from equity securities and interest and other could vary from expectations depending on fixed income and equity market volatility; gains or losses realized on the sale or exchange of securities; gains or losses from equity method investments; impairment charges related to marketable, non-marketable and other investments; interest rates; cash balances; and changes in fair value of derivative instruments.
Intel's results could be affected by the amount, type, and valuation of share-based awards granted as well as the amount of awards cancelled due to employee turnover and the timing of award exercises by employees.
Intel's results could be impacted by adverse economic, social, political and physical/infrastructure conditions in the countries in which Intel, its customers or its suppliers operate, including military conflict and other security risks, natural disasters, infrastructure disruptions, health concerns and fluctuations in currency exchange rates.
Intel's results could be affected by adverse effects associated with product defects and errata (deviations from published specifications), and by litigation or regulatory matters involving intellectual property, stockholder, consumer, antitrust and other issues, such as the litigation and regulatory matters described in Intel's SEC reports.

A detailed discussion of these and other factors that could affect Intel's results is included in Intel's SEC filings, including the report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2007.

Sikhs won't meet Pope during US visit

2008-03-08T04:12:00.000+05:30

WASHINGTON: c because the Secret Service won't allow them to wear a ceremonial dagger that members of the Eastern religion must carry.

Sikhs had been invited to join other religious leaders for a 45-minute meeting with the head of the Roman Catholic Church on April 17 in Washington to express a shared commitment to peace. But the US Secret Service would not allow the Sikhs to carry a kirpaan, which resembles a small sword or dagger.

The kirpaan "represents the Sikh commitment to resist oppression and injustice" and is to be carried "only in a defensive posture and never to initiate confrontation," according to the World Sikh Council-America Region.

"We have to respect the sanctity of the kirpaan, especially in such interreligious gatherings," Anahat Kaur, secretary general of the Sikh Council, said in a statement. "We cannot undermine the rights and freedoms of religion in the name of security."

Ed Donovan, a Secret Service spokesman, said: "We understand the kirpaan is a sanctified religious object. But by definition, it's still a weapon. We apply our security policy consistently and fairly."

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops and Sikh leaders have engaged in interfaith dialogue for the last few years. Sister Mary Ann Walsh, a spokeswoman for the conference, said the bishops "feel very sad" that the security concerns could not be resolved.

Compulsory identity cards for Indians in UK from this year

2008-03-08T04:11:00.000+05:30

LONDON: Citizens of India and other non-European Union countries will be issued compulsory identity cards from later this year as part of the British government's plans to improve security and prevent identity fraud ( Watch ).

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith on Thursday said non-EU nations will be the first to be required to have the identity cards. It will then be rolled out to airport baggage handlers.

People in other sensitive security roles will get them from 2009. Students will need to have the cards from 2010, Smith said.

Britain will also introduce biometric passports from 2012, she said and added that people could use either the cards or the biometric passports to prove their identities.

She told in a radio programme she wanted to "speed up" up the introduction of the cards by making them compulsory for some groups at an earlier stage.

Canadian court dismisses Sikh's plea on

2008-03-08T04:09:00.000+05:30

TORONTO: A Canadian court has dismissed a Sikh's plea challenging the mandatory wearing of helmet while riding a motorcycle but admitted that the law did violate his constitutional right to religious freedom.

Baljinder Badesha, 39, who immigrated from India to Canada in 1989, was fighting a USD 110 ticket he received in September 2005 for not wearing a helmet over his turban while riding his motorcycle. He had claimed that the law discriminates against Sikhs because their religion obliges them to cover their hair with nothing more than a turban.

Ontario's Justice W J Blacklock ruled that the law indeed violates Badesha's constitutional right to religious freedoms, but is justifiable under Section 1 of the Canadian Charter for Rights and Freedom because the safety measure dramatically reduces public healthcare costs and saves lives.

"Given the nature of Badesha's beliefs, which foreclose him from wearing anything over his turban, and yet the unquestioned safety and related issues, this is one of those cases in which, unfortunately, no accommodation appears possible," the judge ruled on the case that took more than two years to move through the courts.

The evidence, Justice Blacklock said, showed that to ride a motorcycle helmetless involves the imposition of significant extra risks related to safety and would put "undue hardship" on the province.

Badesha's lawyer Melvin Sokolsky said they would file appeal against the judgment. Badesha and his supporters told local media they were not disheartened by the ruling and they would now lobby the government to change the law.

India and Britain exempt Sikhs from wearing helmets and so do the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and British Columbia, where a human-rights challenge led to the exemption.

Infosys seeks to enhance women power

2008-03-08T04:07:00.001+05:30

BANGALORE: Infosys Technologies is gifting its 'potential women staff' a two-day, one-night tour, stay and fun package on its campuses in Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore, Pune, Bhubaneshwar, Hyderabad, Chennai, Chandigarh and Thiruvananthapuram.

Over 1,200 hand-picked girl students (of semester 4&6) from around 400 engineering colleges around the country would be receiving these all-for-free gift hampers that contain an enjoyable stay, delicious, learning and confidence boosting sessions, workshops on self-development, soft-skills, leadership capabilities, analytical and problem solving abilities, inspirational interactions with senior Infy execs, entertainment and campus tours.

Geeta Kannan, head, diversity, Infosys Technologies, told TOI that the company has kicked off a special initiative, Spark, a partnership between Infosys Women's Inclusivity Network and Campus Connect initiative, to carry out this exercise.

"Three months ago we conducted a pilot on this country-wide exercise. Our focus is to help more number of women enter the workforce, therefore they feel included and their socio-economic value is enhanced. The idea is to give them a perspective on the implications and importance of being employed."

The itinerary includes check-in at respective campuses at 8.30 am on March 7, followed by break-fast, campus tour, recreational activities at 6.30 pm and the day culminates with a multi-course dinner.

The next day begins with breakfast and progresses with interactions with leaders and various learning sessions and the picnic ends by 4 pm. Infosys' Bangalore campus alone will host over 200 guests of fair-sex.

Well, this gentle, gender gesture of Infy clearly has an underlying objective: To enhance its girl-power. Women currently account for 32% of its total employee base of 80,000 people.

On an average, around 30% of tech workers are women while the percentage is likely to go up to 45% by 2010, as per a recent Nasscom estimate.

Is Tata eyeing stake in Ferrari?

2008-03-08T04:06:00.001+05:30

NEW DELHI: This could well be the one on the fast track for Ratan Tata. Close to acquiring British marquees Jaguar and Land Rover (JLR), the media in Europe have indicated he may be interested in buying a stake in Ferrari — the legendary Italian sports car company. The company is part of Fiat, one of Tata's joint venture partners in India.

Tata, who has been spearheading the group's charge in overseas markets, was quoted by an Italian publication that he is interested in buying a stake in Ferrari, one of the top names in the Formula One circuit. "I have two passions in my life: Cars and aircraft," he told the magazine. "I have always dreamed of being able to be a fighter pilot and I confirm the desire to participate in the shareholding of Ferrari," he was quoted as saying.

When contacted, a spokesman for Tata Motors said the reports were untrue and that the chairman had been misquoted. "Tata Group wishes to clarify that the statement has been misquoted and taken out of context. The report is completely untrue," the spokesman said.

In the interview, Tata said Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo shared his vision and that he had been invited by him to Italy. "Luca di Montezemolo has invited me to look around in Italy because his country offers a lot of opportunities in the design and luxury sectors," Tata was quoted as saying by L'Espresso.

Importantly, the Tata group chairman added that "Montezemolo has made me curious. We have the same vision, we buy the same things." Interestingly, Tata last month flagged off a 13,000-km tour of Ferrari in India that would feature the company's '612 Scaglietti' model traveling across 57 Indian cities.

Tata is also a board member on Fiat. The two companies already have a joint venture in India to manufacture passenger cars, engines and transmissions for the Indian and overseas markets. The Euro 650 million JV will manufacture Fiat's premium cars, Grande Punto and Linea, its 1.3 litre Multijet diesel engine, its 1.2 and 1.4 litre gasoline engine and matching transmissions apart from Tata's next generation vehicles. Tata will handle distribution and service network for Fiat branded cars in India while the Italian auto major is likely to do the same for Tata Motors in many overseas markets.

Tata's interest in Ferrari comes just when Tata Motors is close to acquiring Jaguar and Land Rover brands from Fiat. The two companies, engaged in final negotiations, have said there were "no major roadblocks" to the deal. "... these are complex and detailed discussions. There is still some work before any agreement could be announced. All parties are committed to ensuring that the final agreement is robust, rigorous and expeditious," Ford has said.

Indian doctor at centre of hepatitis scare in US

2008-03-08T04:05:00.001+05:30

WASHINGTON: Las Vegas is synonymous with gambling, but some 40,000 residents of Sin City are being told that they may have been putting their life in a lottery when they visited a facility co-owned by a physician of Indian origin.

Health authorities in Nevada have shut down the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada — whose majority owner is Dr Dipak Desai — and several affiliated clinics after unsafe medical practices are believed to have put a huge number of people at risk of contracting Hepatitis C.

In what's being described as the largest patient notification effort in US history, nearly 40,000 people treated at the center from March 2004 to mid-January were sent letters telling them they are at risk for exposure and should be tested for hepatitis, strands B and C, and HIV. At least six people are said to have already been diagnosed with Hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne infectious disease that is caused by Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infecting the liver. The infection can cause liver inflammation that is often asymptomatic, but ensuing chronic hepatitis can result later in cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Health officials believe the virus was spread when clinic staff regularly reused on multiple patients syringes and vials of anesthesia intended to be used on one patient.

Clinic staff told authorities that the practice was ordered by management. Five nurses associated with the clinic have surrendered their licenses and both state and federal authorities are moving in to investigate.

Both the FBI and the IRS have joined the investigation in a case that has caused a furore in Nevada. The resultant media frenzy has focused attention on not only Dr Desai's alleged lack of professionalism but also his wealth, lifestyle, and political affiliations.

Desai, a long time resident of Nevada, has denied the charges. In a full-page ad in a local newspaper under the headline "Open Letter to Our Patients and the People of Southern Nevada," he maintained that "evidence does not support that syringes or needles were ever re-used from patient to patient at the center."

Expressing his "deepest sympathy to all our patients and their families for the fear and uncertainty that naturally arises from this situation," Dr Desai said "In cooperation with the Southern Nevada health district and other health agencies and officials, we have carefully reviewed our procedures and implemented the changes they recommended."

But it's unlikely he can get away with the pro-forma denial in a system where medical malpractice is not only viewed seriously but its victims are spurred into action by an aggressive and often predatory legal community.
Local commentators have been scathing on his lack of contrition.

The Nevada case is the second major scandal involving Indian doctors in the US in recent months following the infamous case of Dr Jayant Patel of Oregon — the so-called Dr Death — who was accused of gross incompetence while working at Bundaberg Base Hospital in Queensland, Australia.

Dumped by US, paralysed techie has nowhere to go

2008-03-08T04:00:00.000+05:30

NEW DELHI: Manjunath Kalmani occasionally gives a confused smile. But his eyes never smile. Framed by the iron headrest of his hospital bed, a striped sheet draped over him, Manju remains immobile. Actually, he can't move even he wanted to — he has been paralysed neck down following a car accident in the US on May 1, 2002.

The date is etched in his brain that's ticking away — and registering every bizarre twist in his life story that took a dramatic turn on that early May morning. Not only was his promising life as a software engineer rudely interrupted at the age of 27, but he was reduced to a vegetable, living under the care of nurses in an alien land. And today he's back home, but with no one to take care of him.

That's the latest twist in his short but eventful life. On Wednesday an air ambulance ferried him from Northside Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia, to the Palam airport. And from there, he was taken and dumped at Safdarjung Hospital which put him on a ventilator. The crippling paralysis has made his respiratory system useless.

Manju was on his way home from Nashville that May Day when his car spun out of control and hit a tree, leaving him with a badly injured spine. Following a brain stroke, and an emergency operation, he was paralysed neck down.

So all he can do now is speak in a rasping whisper that's not easy to comprehend. "I want to meet my mother. I haven't met her for the past eight years. Please tell her I'm missing her if you get to speak to her," he told TOI.

Manju's family is in Koppal, Karnataka. But hesitant to come to Delhi. "Come, and do what?" asked his brother Sudhakar when contacted over phone. The family can't afford his treatment, and fears it might be forced to take him back home. "We can't take care of Manju. He is on ventilator and we don't have the facility to take care of him," said Sudhakar, who works in a cooperative society that lends money to farmers and petty businessmen. Manju's father is a farmer and mother Vidyawati a housewife.

There was a time when the same family thought Manju would change everything for them. He had got a job with an American new economy company, weather.com, for which he was developing software. But the economy turned choppy and weather.com laid off many. Manju, too, got the pink slip. As it turned out, life had greater trials in store.

Sensex drops 500 points

2008-03-04T10:39:00.000+05:30

MUMBAI: Equities opened sharply lower Monday as investors sold stocks tracking declines in markets overseas ( Watch ). At 10:05 am, the Bombay Stock Exchange’s Sensex was down 552 points or 3.14 per cent at 17,027.20 ITC (down 5.52%), ICICI Bank (4.03%), BHEL (3.82%), Bharti Airtel (3.46%), Grasim Industries (3.41%), Wipro (3.37%) and State Bank of India (3.07%) were under pressure.

There were no losers in the 30-share index. The National Stock Exchange’s Nifty was down 156 points or 2.96 per cent at 5069.00. Asian stocks dropped the most in almost two weeks, almost erasing last month's gains, on deepening concerns credit losses at financial companies will increase and the US economy is headed for a recession. The Nikkei 225 lost 3.82 per cent, the Hang Seng shed 2.63 per cent and the Straits Times slipped 2.83 per cent.

US stocks plunged on Friday after losses by American International Group shook up Wall Street and poor results from Dell rocked the tech sector. The Dow fell 315.79, or 2.51 per cent, to 12,266.39, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index lost 37.05, or 2.71 percent, to 1,330.63, and the Nasdaq Composite Index declined 60.09, or 2.58 percent, to 2,271.48.

Trading in commodities to churn more revenues

2008-03-04T10:35:00.000+05:30

NEW DELHI: Trading in commodities might have been slow in benefiting farmers but it could soon generate more revenue for the government than the equities market.

With FM P Chidambaram proposing commodities transaction tax (CTT) on the lines of the security transactions tax (STT), sources said the government could end 2008-09 with a mop-up of at least Rs 10,000 crore. The budgeting is based on present volumes in the commodity futures market where the turnover is rising faster than equities.

In contrast, the government has budgeted to mop up around Rs 8,500 crore this year from the securities transaction tax. So far this year, the Centre has received Rs 7,000 crore by way of STT.

Last week, the Economic Survey said between January 2006 and December 2007, the volatility of weekly returns of Indian indices was higher than S&P 500 or South Korea's Kospi.

While the increase in short-term capital gains tax could generate additional funds for the government, a stable market might mean that equities would receive tough competition from commodities when it comes to raising resources for the government.

In 2007, the trade volume in the commodity futures market rose 5% to Rs 35.54 lakh crore despite suspension of trading in wheat, rice, urad and tur. The daily average value of trade in commodity exchanges improved from Rs 13,000 crore in 2006 to Rs 15,000 crore in 2007.

The spot market turnover for NSE and BSE amounted to Rs 45 lakh crore in 2007, while in the derivatives market, the turnover of the two exchanges added up to Rs 121.6 lakh crore.

Commodities trade regulator B C Khatua has predicted that trading volumes could touch nearly Rs 50 lakh crore this financial year. Even if the target is not met, the steep rise in global prices, introduction of trading in new commodities and options are expected to significantly push up turnover in the coming years

'Fall in share prices reflect happenings in world market'

2008-03-04T10:32:00.000+05:30

NEW DELHI: Unperturbed over fall in the stock markets, Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Monday said the downslide reflected happenings in the world market.

"Asian markets have slipped today because of fears of recession in the US, what is happening in India shows that we are not as decoupled as we think we are," Chidambaram said in reply to a query from Bajaj Auto Chairman Rahul Bajaj over the fall in share prices in the Indian markets on Monday.

He said: "I don't think we need to worry too much about that. This is really reflecting what is happening in the world market."

The Bombay Stock exchange benchmark, Sensex, on Monday dipped by 571 points in early trade.

Farm loan waiver runs into trouble

2008-03-04T10:22:00.000+05:30

NEW DELHI: The mega loan waiver announced by the Manmohan Singh government is running into some in-house scepticism with doubts about funding for the give-away being aired in the Cabinet.

On Monday, a meeting of the Cabinet saw commerce minister Kamal Nath asking whether the government had made provisions for the Rs 60,000 crore scheme it has announced in the Budget. He also seemed to argue that it would have been better if the Cabinet had been taken into confidence.

Sources said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh intervened to commend finance minister P Chidambaram and the loan waiver. Foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee also said that the finance ministry has chalked out the broad direction and details will soon be worked out.

This reflected doubts put forward that the waiver unfairly lumps farmers tilling irrigated lands with those in dry-land conditions and that the two hectare cut-off for beneficiaries cannot apply across the country.

Wondering whether the waiver would benefit distressed farmers, minister of state for new and renewable energy Vilas Muttemwar told TOI, "The problem lies in many farmers in areas like Vidarbha owning up to 15 acres of land, but being very poorly off. It is not just the small farmer, even those with larger holdings, who actually can access credit, are suffering."

Muttemwar said he would speak to the Prime Minister and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and ask for the eligibility for the Rs 60,000 crore waiver announced by the government to be altered in a state or region-wise manner. He also said that even smaller farmers might not be able to use the waiver as they were largely indebted to private money lenders.

Muttemwar disputed agriculture minister and NCP boss Sharad Pawar's call to farmers to stop paying money lenders. "This is easier said than done. These loan sharks get farmers to sign agreement to sale documents. Even those sales are being closely scrutinised, it is not easy for farmers to simply throw off the yoke of money lenders," he said.

The minister's views could be some cause for worry as he represents Nagpur, the political centre of the Vidarbha region which has been reeling from suicides by farmers. The criticism that farmers who need help might be outside the waiver also dovetails with the argument that UPA's largesse will help well-off agriculturalists in areas like western Maharashtra.

Well-known agro-economist M S Swaminathan agreed that it was difficult to compare farmers from green revolution states with those in impoverished dust bowls. "Comparing farmers owning two hectares in Punjab with those with holdings of similar size in Rajasthan or Vidarbha is unfair. The size of holdings in distressed areas should be much bigger," he said. Swaminathan said farmers in irrigated areas who used advan

Jodhaa Akbar distributors move SC over ban

2008-03-04T10:13:00.000+05:30

After the Madhya Pradesh high court quashed the state government's decision to ban Jodhaa Akbar following the controversy over its script, the distributors of the film on Monday moved the SC challenging similar restraint orders passed by the UP, Haryana and Uttarakhand governments.

The distributor of the film, UTV Software Communication Pvt Ltd, alleged that while the ban was effective in the whole of UP, it was partial in Haryana and Uttarakhand that seriously violated its fundamental rights.

UTV's petition complained that the censor board cleared the film for public viewing after ascertaining that it was not against the sovereignty or integrity of India, security of the country, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality.

I’m a hopeless romantic:Uma

2008-02-29T05:36:00.001+05:30

Uma Thurman is a “hopeless romantic”. The Kill Bill beauty, who is currently dating billionaire businessman Arpad Busson, has been divorced twice from actors Gary Oldman and Ethan Hawke, but says she still believes in fairytale romance.

She said, “I think we have to keep subscribing to the fairytale until we find it. I’m a true believer. I’ve been told, by a very good source, that I’m a hopeless romantic.”

She further added, “I always thought I was very cynical because I have quite a biting sense of humour, but a real professional has diagnosed me as the furthest thing from it.”

Uma – who has a nine-year-old daughter Maya and six-year-old son Levon with Ethan – also revealed she has never been happier. She told a US magazine, “I’m honestly happier now than I have been at any other time in my life, and I think optimism is what has given me longevity in my career. I really do think we should search for the fairytale ending. Let’s be real about how unreal we are.”

Juhi Chawla cherishes her sanity!

2008-02-29T05:35:00.001+05:30

hough actor Juhi Chawla will next be seen in Rakesh Ros-han’s Krazzy 4, she is glad that she hasn’t lost her mind yet.

When we asked her about the crazy things she has done, she simply said, “It’s not the right question to ask me, as I am not the crazy one in the film.

But the other four — Arshad, Irrfan, Rajpal and Suresh are. I play a psychologist trying to re-store their sanity.” Another ‘mad’ film in the offing! And Roshan is hoping that it’ll do some krazzy business at the box office.

Why was Ajay tense?

2008-02-29T05:25:00.000+05:30

When we visited the sets of Golmaal Returns, actor Ajay Devgan looked a bit tense.

Was it the post-production work and release of his directorial debut U Me Aur Hum that had got him all worked up? Nah! Director Rohit Shetty explained, “He has to dance now, and is gearing up to do what he isn’t so fond of.

Naturally then, we don’t expect him to play pranks on the sets today.” Looks like Ajay was dancing to other people’s tunes that day.

After 35 years in Pak prison, Indian set for release

2008-02-29T05:23:00.000+05:30

AMRITSAR: Kashmir Singh, alias Ibrahim, can finally see his wish of wearing a suit when he meets his wife Paramjit Kaur after 35 years.

The amnesty plea of the ex-Army man, who has been in Pakistani prisons for most part of his life, has been cleared by Islamabad.

Talking to TOI over phone from Lahore on Thursday, Pakistan's federal minister for human rights Ansar Burney said President Pervez Musharraf has pardoned Kashmir Singh, and he is likely to be released by Saturday.

"He is healthy and feels happy," Burney said. "He has expressed a desire to wear pant, shirt and a suit when he meets his wife Paramjit Kaur. I am hopeful President Pervez Musharraf would grant him amnesty, especially because it has been cleared by the Prime Minister. Kashmir has also wished that I accompany him when he is released."

Singh was 30 when he was arrested in Pakistan on charges of espionage on June 16, 1973, and was sentenced to death. During his jail term, he adopted Islam and became Ibrahim. Kashmir has spent 14 years in Sahiwal jail, 10 in Multan jail and was there for varying periods in Miawali and Lahore jails.

Burney said when he spotted Kashmir Singh in a "death cell" during one of his visits to the jail he was moved to know that the Indian was locked in an overcrowded cell for 23.5 hours a day and was allowed to go out for only 30 minutes so that he could stretch his legs.

Told about the news, Paramjit Kaur told TOI, "I am dying to meet my husband. I have worked as a maid all through my life to bring up my children. Now I want someone to be with me."

Kashmir Singh had joined the Indian Army on March 4, 1962, to possibly work as a spy in Pakistan from 1968 to 1970. In 1972, he joined the police department but never returned.

The family came to know that he was in a Pakistan jail when they received a letter from him in 1977.

Name for miracle baby: Jodhaa or Karishma?

2008-02-29T05:22:00.002+05:30

AHMEDABAD: Jodhaa for valour or Karishma for miracle? Parents of the survivor-against-all-odds baby, the 1.4 kg girl who had a delivery through her mother's womb into the toilet bowl of a running train and then right onto the tracks, have zeroed in on these two names.

"Jodhaa and Karishma seem most apt. We are finding it difficult to choose between the two," says mother Bhuri Kalbi, after consulting husband Prabhuram.

Being from south Rajasthan, where Jodhaa is revered for her valour, the family is leaning toward naming her after the queen whose name has been thrust into the public realm by the controversy over the movie Jodhaa-Akbar.

"Our daughter has lived against all odds. Our daughter has proved she is a miraculous fighter," says Prabhuram, the girl's father who works in a packaging unit in Ahmedabad.

The buzz created by the story reported in Wednesday's edition of the TOI and flashed all day Thursday by TV channels led to a procession of people to the Rajasthan Hospital, eager to catch a glimpse of the miracle baby.

"Where is the little champion?" asked one man. Another peeped into the ICU asking the attending paediatrician if the girl needed any blood. "I am willing to donate blood for God's own daughter," he said.

"This girl has generated tremendous excitement and goodwill among people here with her miraculous survival," attending paediatrician Dr Raj Kumar told TOI.

On Thursday, the little bundle was mostly busy exercising her fragile lungs crying and also throwing in the faintest of smiles in between as she remained in the incubator. Doctors said that lady luck would have been smiling all along as she did not seem to have landed on the tracks on her head.

"Usually, children are born head first. It seems the girl either came legs first or swing around her umbilical cord and landed on her hip. She has no trace of injury whatsoever on her head, though she has some internal injury on the hip bone," said Dr Kumar. The hospital has decided not to charge any fee for treating the girl and her mother since the family is not well-off, hospital chairman Babulal Rungta said.

Meanwhile, station master K K Rai sacrificed his day-off on Thursday and boarded a train to Ahmedabad from Ambaliyasan first thing in the morning to check if the girl he saved from the railway track was doing fine!

"Her survival is God's will. When we found her, she was lying dangerously close to one track, crying miserably, her body turning blue and cold. I am so glad she has made it," Rai, himself a father of a one-year-old boy told TOI as he peered through the incubator glass.

Work 12 hrs a day: Govt

2008-02-29T05:19:00.000+05:30

To reformers, the day before the Budget and the Budget day itself must feel rather like the New Year eve and January 1. As in the latter, it's on the eve of the Budget that they can let their spirits soar, make the most pious resolutions and forget how sobering the next day's hangover will be.

This year's Economic Survey, on that count, was no different from earlier versions of the annual exercise.

If anything, the Budget-eve party was just a little more wild this time.

The list of policy prescriptions — or what the document chose to call 'policy options' — included hiking the 48-hour work week under the Factories Act to 60 hours, besides pushing for privatization or FDI or both across a wide range of sectors.

The recommended list for private entry included nuclear power, coal mining, old oil fields, urban public transport and rail freight.

As for FDI, the Survey called for either raising the cap or permitting entry in sectors like insurance, retail and rural-agricultural banks.

At a time when most in the government may have forgotten they once had a disinvestment ministry, the Survey said all public sector units (PSUs) should be listed and at least 10% in them sold to the public.

Further, all non-revivable loss-making PSUs should be auctioned and even negative bidding (that is bidders would be paid to buy) should be allowed where the net worth is down to zero.

Among the other reform measures suggested was decontrol of the sugar, fertilizer and pharmaceutical industries. The interesting omission from the customary list was talk of reforming labour laws.

At the best of times for reforms, this wish list would have seemed outlandish.

At a time when the government depends on the Left for survival and elections are just about a year away, the disconnect from political reality seems even more pronounced. But then, like New Year-eve resolutions, Budget-eve resolutions have traditionally been used by North Block to show reformers that its heart is in the right place. To take them as serious pointers to the Budget would be a mistake.

The wish-list of policy prescriptions apart, this year's Survey was less self-congratulatory in its style and more candid about problems than most of its predecessors.

Thus, even while celebrating the fact that India had become a trillion-dollar economy, it sobered the reader with the next sentence pointing out that it still remained a low-income country.

Budget: PC may give push to green products today

2008-02-29T05:16:00.000+05:30

NEW DELHI: How green will finance minister P Chidambaram's Budget 2008 be?

On the FM's table, there are ambitious proposals that may find their way into the Budget. Consumers buying green products could end up paying less for white goods like refrigerators and microwave ovens, if one such proposal finds favour with the finance minister.

Incentives may also be on the cards for manufacturers entering what promises to be a lucrative green-technology market. A 'green venture fund', which could provide seed capital to municipalities ready to undertake citywide energy efficiency along with private partners, is also under consideration.

For consumers, the government has a scheme to rate some electrical consumer products on their energy efficiency. The Budget could provide excise relief to products with better ratings, reducing the retail price of such products. The incentives for energy-efficient appliances and products could get extended to vehicles when there is a rating scheme for the automobile sector.

An excise duty reduction on buses has also been recommended to the FM as part of a larger policy to decongest city roads and reduce the carbon footprint of India's burgeoning automobile fleet. At present cars and other modes of personal transport attract lower excise rates than buses. The urban development ministry has sought this correction in the duty regime to raise a greener fleet of urban public transport.

The government, as mentioned in the Economic Survey released on Thursday, has indicated that the challenge of going green using relatively costlier clean technologies has to be woven into larger development goals.

This is a sign that while some fiscal carrots could surely be offered, radical measures would wait. The odds favour caution on part of Chidambaram because of a string of state polls this year leading to general elections next year.

Also, with a national strategy document on climate change expected soon, the Budget might look at offering incentives to industry for adaptation to cleaner technology.

Such technology is not cheap, and so five-year tax breaks can be considered for industries which commit a certain level of investment to green measures, felt government sources involved in drafting the climate change strategy.

The finance minister can also signal the government's recognition of the threat of worsening climate with measures to encourage development of homegrown green R&D. This could be done by hiking the budgets for research projects aimed at seeding green technology and providing incentives to industries willing to be proactive in this field.

The new and renewable energy ministry is hoping that the FM will give his nod to subsidies for generation of solar power with plants contributing up to 5MW to the main grid. After many false starts, the government looks at a 50MW target during the 11th Plan period as realistic.

A plan for duty restructuring to allow cheaper imports of windmill components is also said to be in the works. So far, duty concessions are available only on import of complete kits. A depreciation incentive has also been suggested for those wishing to enter the wind energy market.

Apart from the finance ministry's steps, the ministries of oil, coal and power are expected to step up their energy efficiency as mandated under the 11th Plan. ONGC, for instance, is developing a carbon capture and storage system to minimize emissions during exploration while industry as a whole has invested Rs 70,000 crore in projects which can earn carbon credits.

Coal India is going back to underground mining, a measure that would bring down emissions. The framework for a fairly comprehensive climate change strategy is already in place. The Prime Minister's council on climate change is close to finalizing a national action plan. The question is how far the FM will go to show that his heart beats for the environment as he says it does for the kisan and the aam admi .

Here, the government's pre-occupation with social sector schemes, under the flagship programme, might hog his attention. The Plan outlay for the environment and forest ministry might only increase slightly. From last year's allocation of Rs 1,351 crore, it could be around Rs 1,500 crore. This is less than the Rs 1,750-1,800 crore the ministry was earlier expecting.

But this would not mean more than a stumble if the government announces measures to encourage green initiatives by the private sector. "Over 85% of the work and investment on renewable energy is done in the private sector," a ministry official said.

Of the forest and wildlife conservation projects, tiger conservation has already found adequate fiscal support this year with the cabinet clearing a special package for relocation of villages from tiger reserves as well as their management. However, other key programmes under the ministry might need more money.

Playing with gun, girl suffers bullet wound

2008-02-10T04:22:00.001+05:30

GHAZIABAD: In a freak accident, an 11-year-old girl, Soumya, ended up in hospital with a bullet wound in the head, apparently after she and her younger brother had been playing with a loaded revolver when no adult was at home. The victim is a Class 5 student of Delhi Public School, Meerut Road.

The incident, which occurred around 2 pm at a house in Raj Nagar in Ghaziabad, was brought to the notice of neighbours as Soumya's five-year-old brother, Ashoo, ran out screaming that his sister was bleeding. The girl was rushed to Yashoda Hospital where her condition is critical, doctors said.

District police chief Deepak Ratan described the case as an "accident". "The boy told us it was an accident. There is nothing complicated about it. Right now, everybody is upset. We will look into the case a little later," he said.

The children's father, Sudhir Sahlot, told TOI it "was an accident, when the brother and sister were alone at home".

He refused to elaborate but Kavi Nagar police station chief Ramji Lal revealed details that pointed to sheer callousness.

"The parents told us that the loaded pistol of Sahlot was lying at home, and the bullet was fired accidentally," Lal said, dismissing the possibility of a case being registered. Sahlot's pistol was licensed, officials pointed out.

When the incident occurred, Sahlot was away at work in Noida while the girl's mother and grandmother had gone shopping, leaving behind the children. While the family remained tightlipped, medical reports suggest the 11-year-old couldn't have been shot at from close range.

Kidney Kumar back, whisked to CBI HQ

2008-02-10T04:20:00.000+05:30

NEW DELHI: Kidney racket kingpin Amit Kumar was brought here by a CBI team from Kathmandu on Saturday evening after Nepal — despite initial noises to the contrary — quickly gave its nod to his deportation. Within hours, he was handed over to the team which brought him back to the capital by evening and whisked him away to its CGO complex office, avoiding reporters and photographers waiting for the doctor.

Amit was reportedly taken out of IGI airport through a special exit which is normally used by customs officials. He was driven to the CBI headquarters in a taxi from which he stepped down a few metres away from the agency's office and walked fast to enter the building.

Forty-year-old Kumar, flown in on an Air-India IC-814 flight, will go for the mandatory check-up after which the preliminary round of interrogation will begin. Wearing a black jacket, Kumar smiled at the sight of the huge media presence at the heavily-guarded CBI headquarters but, unlike in Kathmandu, he didn't respond to any questions.

Soon after formally taking over the probe from the Haryana Police, the CBI on Friday registered a case against Kumar and others under various sections of the IPC, including 120B (criminal conspiracy), 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapon), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement) and 420 (cheating), and under sections 18 and 19 of the Transplantation of Human Organs Act of 1994.

If convicted under all these charges, Kumar could face life imprisonment.

Big B's house attacked; city on alert

2008-02-10T04:18:00.000+05:30

MUMBAI: Security has been beefed up in the city in the wake of Sunday's incidents of violence involving supporters of two political outfits, police said.

"The sensitive pockets, where trouble can erupt, are on high alert. The cinema theatres have also been provided security as one of the movie halls, showing a Bhojpuri film was targeted on Sunday, police said.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party (SP) general secretary Amar Singh lodged an FIR against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray in the wee hours on Monday, accusing him of encouraging attacks on North Indians.

Also, two unidentified persons hurled glass bottles in the direction of film star Amitabh Bachchan's residence early Monday morning forcing the police to set up high security cover at his residence, they said.

Prior to the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) rally at the Shivaji Park on Sunday, MNS activists clashed with SP supporters, close to the venue resulting in detention of the violent mob.

Supporters of both the parties allegedly assembled outside the Plaza cinema in Dadar and indulged in stone pelting following Rajya Sabha MP and SP leader Jaya Bachchan's retaliation to Raj Thackeray's statement against her husband, Amitabh Bachchan.

Baba Amte passes away

2008-02-10T04:15:00.000+05:30

NAGPUR: Noted social activist and Magsaysay award winner Murlidhar Devidas Amte alias Baba Amte died at his 'Anandvan' ashram (see video) in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra on Saturday. He was 94.

Baba Amte passed away at 4:15 am, his son Dr Vikas said.

One of the country's most respected social leaders, Amte devoted his life to the care and rehabilitation of leprosy patients.

Baba Amte also launched the Bharat Jodo movements from Kanyakumari to Kashmir in 1985 and Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh in 1988, with the mission of establishing peace and raising environmental consciousness.

In 1990, Baba Amte left Anandvan to live along the Narmada river to fight against social injustice to local inhabitants. Although he continued to support the movement for rehabilitation of tribals affected by the construction of large dams on the Narmada, he had recently returned to Anandvan for health reasons.

He is survived by two sons.

Baba Amte's funeral to take place tomorrow

The mortal remains of Baba Amte will be laid to rest on Sunday morning, family sources said.

Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and host of ministers and other social activists including Medha Patkar would be attending the funeral.

Amte's daughter Sheetal was in Sri Lanka and is returning on Saturday, after which all the family members will decide upon whether he should cremated or buried, Vikas said.

Baba had earlier expressed his desire that his body be buried instead of being cremated, he added.

Interrogation begins for kidney kingpin

2008-02-10T04:11:00.000+05:30

NEW DELHI: According to TV reports, Dr Amit Kumar, prime accused in the kidney transplant racket, has been taken to the CBI headquarters in New Delhi for interrogation ( see video ). Kumar, who was nabbed from a jungle lodge in Nepal, has been brought back to India from Kathmandu ( see video ).

CBI officials accompanied Kumar on his way back to India, according to Times Now . This came shortly after Nepal officials handed him over to India ( see video ). Kumar will straight be taken away for interrogation.

On Friday, CBI took up the matter of Kumar's handing over with Nepalese government through the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said.

Kumar was arrested in Nepal by the local police from a jungle resort at Chitwan near the Indian border on Thursday after a two-week international hunt.

Kumar allegedly offered bribe to the tune of Rs 20 lakh to Nepal police team which arrested him ( see video ). "I will give you Rs 20 lakh if you let me go," Kumar was quoted as saying by hotel employee Maheshwar Regmi. Police had seized a bank draft for Indian rupees 936,000, and Euros 145,000 and USD 18,900 in cash from him during his arrest.

Indian shot dead in US by robbers

2008-02-10T04:08:00.000+05:30

LUDHIANA: A month after the killing of two brothers from Patiala in the US, another Indian has been murdered there.

Reports reaching here said robbers shot dead Surinder Kumar Goswami, who had migrated to the US eight years back from Ludhiana, on Friday night at California's Valeho City. Goswami's family said he was not a victim of hate crime.

Goswami, a cashier with the 7-Eleven chain of stores, was on-duty on Friday when some unidentified persons came to the store and asked for money at gunpoint.

"My father stood up and raised his hands, but the robbers, irritated at finding very little cash in the safe, shot him dead," deceased's son Sarbjit Singh, who had come to India last month, told TOI.

He was informed about his father's killing on Friday night. Sarbjeet plans to go back to the US on Monday for his father's last rites.