world News | India News | Politics news | Sports News | Business News

ysr is really god - posani video

2009-09-12T03:17:00.000-07:00

roja is good once in tdp Video

2009-09-12T03:13:00.000-07:00

Railways to launch non-stop trains

2009-09-12T03:09:00.000-07:00

Indian Railways will add one more feather to its cap when it launches its new class of passenger carrying ’Duronto’ trains on the next Friday.

’Duronto’ will be the first ever non-stop superfast passenger carrying train in the history of the Railways promising better speed, comfort and security for passengers.

’Duronto’ trains will be non-stop and take passenger from end to end. It means that passengers will not be allowed to embark or disembark at the intermediate stations.

’Duronto’ will be of two types, one is fully air-conditioned reserved train and other is air-conditioned and non air –conditioned combo reserved train. Outer colour scheme and design of ’Duronto’ coaches is distinct from the entire population of coaches of Indian Railways. The fare of the ’Duronto’ trains will include the cost of meals.

The introduction of this class of trains was announced for the first time in the Railway Budget 2009-10 speech delivered in the Parliament by the Minister of Railways Mamata Banerjee in July this year.

Mamata Banerjee will flag off the first train in this series at Sealdah station in West Bengal on Sept 18. The train will reach New Delhi next day.

The second ’Duronto’ train will be flagged-off by the Minister of Home Affairs P.Chidambram from Chennai on same day and it will reach Nizamuddin Railway Station, the next day .

Cong to wait for ’emotions to cool’ before deciding Jagan issue

2009-09-12T03:08:00.000-07:00

New Delhi, Sep 11 : The Congress leadership would wait for emotions to cool down before deciding on the issue of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, senior Congress leader and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today hinted and said the party would take an ’appropriate decision at appropriate time.’

’’It is not a big issue. Sometimes such things happen,’’ Mr Mukherjee said while reacting to the vociferous demand made by most Andhra Pradesh MLAs that former Chief Minister Y S R Reddy’s son Jagan Mohan Reddy be appointed as his successor.

Stating that no decision has been taken yet about the next Chief Minister, Mr Mukherjee, however, hoped that the matter be resolved and a way out would be found.

’’It is very unfortunate that Andhra Pradesh lost a tall leader and Chief Minister who was at his Zenith. Emotional upset is there.

I do hope that it will be possible for the leadership to find a way out, for the Congress legislature Party to choose and select the next leader. It may take sometime but it will resolve. Nothing has been decided as yet,’’ he said while interacting to members of Indian Women’s Press Corps here.

Regarding the demand that Jagan Mohan Reddy be made the Chief Minister, he said, emotionally upset by Mr Y S R Reddy’s untimely death, some people have suggested it on the basis of popular acceptability, but ’’sense has to be brought’’. The Congress will take appropriate decision to this at appropriate time, he added.

Asked about the possibility of Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy being made the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Mukherjee jokingly quipped ’’you people are giving ideas.’’ Asked whether Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy be made the Chief Minister or not, he said, ’’I am neither ruling out anything, nor ruling in.’’

--UNI

Will Chiru join Congress?

2009-09-12T03:06:00.001-07:00

While Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu showed his utter disregard for late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy at the condolence meeting held at Ravindra Bharati on Friday, Praja Rajyam Party president Chiranjeevi presented a completely contrasting picture.

Chiranjeevi’s speech was more like that of a Congress leader and a die-hard YSR loyalist, rather than that of an opposition leader. He lavished praises on YSR and his leadership abilities, saying he had never seen such a mass leader in the past or would see in future. The PRP president recalled every moment of his association with YSR including his smile, his friendly appearance and his daring nature. He even recalled how he travelled along with YSR from Kadapa to Hyderabad, bypassing Nallamala forests.

One wondered whether Chiranjeevi has any plans to join the Congress, as he was asking everybody to carry forward the programmes and policies of YSR and follow his leadership. “I feel fortunate to be associated with him in assembly. It was an education to listen to his speeches, observe his style of answering debates and tackling the leaders. I never felt an opposition party member,” he said. What do you say?

US hopes Pak will bring 26/11 perpetrators to justice

2009-09-12T02:59:00.000-07:00

United States on Friday expressed hope that Pakistan will bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist attack to justice.

“We would hope that the Pakistani authorities will continue their investigation and bring the perpetrators of the attacks to justice,” Assistant secretary of State for Public Affairs P J Crowley said.

The visiting Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, during his four-day trip to Washington and New York, had expressed his concern to the top US leadership about Pakistan’s lackluster approach against terrorists responsible for the Mumbai terrorist attacks.

Mr. Chidambaram, among others met US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and National Security Adviser General (Rtd) James Jones.

“Among the topics discussed were ongoing cooperation on terrorism, following up on the Mumbai attacks and deepening our cooperation between the two countries,” Crowley said when asked about the meeting between Clinton and Mr. Chidambaram.

Mr. Chidambaram left for India on Friday, following his four-day trip to the US during which he appraised the US leadership about the ground realities about terrorism in South Asia, had a first-hand experience of the steps being taken by the US with regard to counter-terrorism, and discussed various issues of mutual interest.

Keywords: Mumbai terror, Pakistan, India, perpetrators, United States, Chidambaram, Hillary Clinton,

source : The Hindu

Pak forces fire rockets at India, BSF retaliates

2009-09-12T02:56:00.000-07:00

Pakistani forces on Friday night fired two rockets towards Indian territory which fell in agriculture fields in two adjacent villages, drawing retaliation from BSF using machine guns.

There was, however, no casualty on the Indian side in the Pakistani action, BSF Inspector General Himmat Singh said.

Mr. Singh said Pakistan fired rockets which landed in an open area at villages Modhey and Dhoneya Khurd at around 10 pm IST after which the BSF troops hit back by opening fire from machine guns.

He said BSF authorities got in touch with their Pakistani counterparts for a flag meeting where India would lodge a strong protest against the action.

The attack happened on a day when the BSF deployed its first batch of women constables at the border to facilitate frisking of women going for work in fields.

Sixteen of a batch of 178 women constables of the force were deployed at Rorawari village near Attari border in Punjab on Friday.

Keywords: Pakistan forces, rockets, Indian territory, BSF, retaliation, machine guns, Inspector General, Himmat Singh, villages, Modhey, Dhoneya Khurd

source :The Hindu

Jet cancels 260 flights, as pilots’ strike enters 5th day

2009-09-12T02:55:00.000-07:00

Jet Airways cancelled 260 domestic and international flights, including 32 from the national capital, on Saturday as the strike by the pilots entered the fifth day after nine-hour long conciliation talks between them and the management ended in a deadlock.

The pilots maintained that they were "hopeful" of a breakthrough as negotiations will continue on Saturday.

"A total of 235 domestic and 25 international flights remained cancelled for the fifth consecutive day today," the airlines said in a statement.

Jet tried to accommodate some of its passengers in its low-cost arm JetLite by combining the flights on Mumbai-Ahmedabad, Mumbai-Vadodara, Mumbai-Kochi, Mumbai-Mangalore, Kolkata-Bangalore, Kolkata-Guwahati, Mumbai-Mangalore and Kolkata-Agartala sectors.

The airlines also merged their Chennai-Mumbai and Bangalore-Mumbai to fly on Bangalore-Chennai-Mumbai sector.

The airlines run a total of 380 flights to domestic and international destinations.

The strike by the pilots has caused huge loss of revenue for the airlines. Jet’s ticketing and check-in counters at the IGI airport here wore a deserted look.

On Friday, the pilots and the management representatives sat for face-to-face negotiations for the first time since the stir started on Tuesday, but the marathon talks before Chief Labour Commissioner here ended inconclusively.

Keywords: Jet Airways, flights, cancelled, pilots’ strike, union

Source : The Hindu

Centre urged to name BHEL-NTPC project after YSR

2009-09-12T02:49:00.001-07:00

HYDERABAD: The State government has urged the Centre to name after Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy the proposed Rs.6,000-crore BHEL-NTPC power equipment plant in Chittoor district.

This was stated by Chief Minister K. Rosaiah at an all-party condolence meeting on YSR organised by the State government here on Friday. He wrote a letter to the Centre on Thursday proposing that the project be named after the late Chief Minister. He said YSR had given a new definition to politics and ensured that every assurance given by him was implemented.

Paying rich tributes to YSR, leaders of various political parties as also Legislative Council Chairman A. Chakrapani and Assembly Speaker N. Kiran Kumar Reddy called for implementing all the developmental and welfare schemes initiated by the former Chief Minister.

Mr. Chakrapani, recalling his association with YSR, said that the latter had brought lot of glory to Telugus. Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy said the former Chief Minister, in spite of his hectic schedule, used to greet everyone affectionately. It was hard to even imagine how the Assembly would function without a smiling YSR.

Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu said that he had lost a good friend in the death of YSR. Though they fought politically, there was no personal animus between them. Both of them served as Ministers in the Cabinets of three Congress Chief Ministers.

APCC president D. Srinivas said YSR was a “decisive and aggressive leader.” A decision taken by him would have to be implemented irrespective of the consequences.

He and YSR used to run the party and government in a coordinated manner and the same trend should be continued without thinking that he was no more. Praja Rajyam leader K. Chiranjeevi said that he drew inspiration from YSR and recalled the personal warmth exuded by the late leader while interacting with him and others.

MIM president and MP Asaddudin Owaisi said Muslims would never forget what he had done for them — ensuring 4 per cent reservation in employment and education. He lauded the late leader for announcing Rs.2,000-crore package for development old city.

Telangana Rashtra Samithi president K. Chandrasekhar Rao said YSR had left an indelible imprint while serving in whatever capacity, be it as leader of the Opposition or Chief Minister. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Bandaru Dattatreya, CPI(M) leader B.V.Raghavulu, CPI State secretary K. Narayana, Lok Satta leader, Jayaprakash Narayan and Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy, brother of YSR spoke.

sourse: the hindu

ICC mulling on Tendulkar's ODI-splitting idea

2009-09-12T02:38:00.000-07:00

When Sachin Tendulkar speaks, the world listens and International Cricket Council is now planning to split one-day matches into two innings of 25 overs each, an idea mooted by the Indian batting great earlier this month.

In order to spice up the one-day format, Tendulkar had proposed that every team should play two innings of 25 overs each and ICC Cricket Manager Dave Richardson said the governing body might soon conduct a trial.

"I quite like that idea. I believe South Africa may try something along those lines," Richardson told BBC Sport.

"This might work in day/night cricket where one team has to bat in the day and the other at night. It provides something different and reduces the effects on the team who loses the toss and has to bat first on a damp wicket, for example," he said.

Even though Tendulkar aired his views earlier this month, Richardson said the idea had popped up in the past as well and came up for discussion at the annual ICC Cricket Committee meeting in May.

One-day cricket is already facing a tough challenge from Twenty20 and the England and Wales Cricket Board scrapped Friends Provident trophy, the only 50-over domestic tournament, in favour of a Twenty20 event.

Richardson, however, is concerned that splitting a match into two innings would mean less centuries, as batsmen would have less overs to bat.

"I don't necessarily like the idea of playing two matches of 25 overs each with the openers batting again. The charm of one-day cricket is seeing someone batting at four and scoring a good hundred," Richardson said.

"If you bat in the middle order of a Twenty20 or a new 25-over innings, you're not going to get much of an opportunity to hit three figures, one downside of the Twenty20 game," he said.

He, however, made it clear that such an experiment should be conducted at the domestic level before pushing it into international cricket.

"If it has been tried successfully at domestic level, it may be possible to give it a go-ahead at international level," he said.

"The ICC has been proactive with ideas and innovations, like the powerplays. The idea of the 'super-sub' wasn't as successful and got rid of quite quickly. One of the criticisms was that we trialled things at international as opposed to domestic level.

"Our tactics going forward are member countries trial changes first domestically and if they are successful, then we can take them on board at the international level," Richardson said.

The ICC Cricket Committee will discuss the result of the experiment when it meets next year.

Source; Rediff

India beat New Zealand by six wickets; climb to No. 1 spot in ODI rankings

2009-09-12T02:31:00.000-07:00

Colombo, Sept. 11 -- Saturday's match against Sri Lanka becomes of only academic interest - and of this there is no shortage as India temporarily took the No 1 spot in the ICC ODI rankings. From an aesthetic point of view, though, what is even less edifying is watching quality batsmen struggle and ordinary bowlers sneaking wickets because of the pitch.

In a strangulated ODI where bowlers ruled, India got the better of New Zealand by six wickets, knocked the Kiwis out of the tournament and assured themselves of a place in the final.

Saturday's match against Sri Lanka becomes of only academic interest - and of this there is no shortage as Indiatemporarily took the No 1 spot in the ICC ODI rankings.

India, with 128 points are technically ahead of South Africa, who have 127, but to stay at pole when the rankings are officially announced in a week the men in blue have to ensure they don't lose either of their two matches against Sri Lanka.

In the ICC's complex method of determining points, India receive considerably less points for defeating New Zealand orSri Lanka than would be the case if the result went the other way, on the basis that India are higher ranked than both.

None of this had any bearing on the play, though, as Daniel Vettori won a crucial toss and watched helplessly as his batsmen fluffed their lines. Jesse Ryder, Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor, Martin Guptill and Grant Elliott managed to do worse than in their opening game of the tournament, being reduced to 66 for 5 as opposed to Tuesday's 69 for 5.

Ashish Nehra picked up three wickets to take his ODI tally past 100 and Yuvraj Singh winkled out as many with his loopy left-arm spin. In the end, New Zealand managed 155.

Dinesh Karthik was unlucky to be given out lbw to a ball that appeared to strike him high on the pad and be heading down leg. Rahul Dravid's return seemed anything but auspicious as he struggled to get the ball away. After a tortured hour and five minutes that yielded 14 runs from 45 balls, Dravid failed to get bat to an attempted flick and was trapped in front by Jacob Oram.

Sachin Tendulkar (46), who had been largely purring along, working the ball off his toes with elan and piercing the off-side field with controlled cuts, was out to a soft dismissal, presenting Guptill at cover with the simplest of catches.

Yuvraj then sent the ball up in the air and was caught by Guptill. At 84 for 4 India's top-order had done their bit to keep the game alive, but Dhoni (45 not out) and Suresh Raina (35 not out) kept their heads and walked India past the target.

Scoreboard:

New Zealand: B McCullum lbw b Nehra 3, J Ryder lbw b Nehra 0, M Guptill c Dravid b Yuvraj 22, R Taylor c Dhoni b RP 11, G Elliott c Dhoni b Yuvraj 22, J Oram c & b Ishant 24, N Broom c Raina b Yuvraj 21, D Vettori b Ishant 25, K Mills b RP 6, I Butler c Harbhajan b Nehra 6, S Bond not out 10

Extras (lb-4, w-1) 5

Total (all out; 46.3 overs) 155

Fall of wkts: 1-1, 2-4, 3-19, 4-51, 5-66, 6-101, 7-116, 8-134, 9-142, 155.

Bowling: Nehra 8.3-0-24-3, RP Singh 8-2-22-2, Ishant 10-2-26-2, Yuvraj 10-0-31-3, Harbhajan 8-0-39-0, Raina 1-0-4-0, Yusuf 1-0-5-0

India: D Karthik lbw b Mills 4, S Tendulkar c Guptill b Vettori 46, R Dravid lbw b Oram 14, Yuvraj Singh c Guptill b Vettori 8,MS Dhoni not out 35, S Raina not out 45

Extras (lb-3, w-1) 4

Total (for 4 wkts; 40.3 ovs) 156 Bowling: Mills 5.3-1-25-1, Bond 10-3-30-0, Butler 4-0-25-0, Vettori 10-0-33-2, Oram 7-1-19-1, Elliott 2-0-9-0, Guptill 2-0-12-0

Source: Yahoo News

China opposes Dalai Lama’s visit to Arunachal

2009-09-12T02:26:00.000-07:00

New Delhi, Sep 12: China has raised objection to Dalai Lama’s upcoming visit to Arunachal Pradesh citing that the proposed visit shows the Tibetan spiritual leader’s ’anti-China and separatist essence’.

"We firmly oppose Dalai visiting the so-called ’Arunachal Pradesh’," Jiang Yu, the spokeswoman for China’s foreign ministry was quoted as saying in a news
agency report.

Dalai Lama was expected to visit the disputed Indian state in Nov 2009 to deliver speeches. Tibetan government-in-exile maintains that the spiritual leader’s visit has nothing to do with politics.

India most optimistic on hiring plans for Q4

2009-09-08T05:16:00.000-07:00

India has again emerged as the most bullish country in terms of hiring plans, with 25 per cent of the employers intending to recruit people in the next three months.

Wholesale and retail trade along with finance, insurance and real estate sectors are among the most optimistic when it comes to hiring intentions.

Global staffing services firm Manpower has said India has a net employment outlook -- a measure of recruiting plans -- of 25 per cent for the fourth quarter of 2009, the highest among 35 countries surveyed.

The employment outlook for the next three months is much higher than 19 per cent, forecast for the third quarter of this year. "Indian employers have absorbed the layoffs conducted in the third quarter and are telling us they will being hiring again at a conservative pace, but most intend to keep their workforces intact through the end of the year," Manpower India's Managing Director Naresh Malhan said.

However, the employment outlook for the fourth quarter of this year (19 per cent) is less by 14 percentage points, as compared to the same period a year ago. India has seen the most favourable hiring environment since the third quarter of 2008, the report said.

Nearly 5,637 employers spread across 30 Indian cities were surveyed. According to Manpower, job seekers in the finance, insurance, real estate, services industry, wholesale and retail trade, public administration and education, mining and construction segment can expect favourable hiring environment.

"Good news is that in the fourth quarter, job seekers in key industry sector can look forward to the most favourable hiring environment.

"We are also seeing accelerating hiring plans in India's mining and construction sector, thanks to government efforts in support of infrastructure projects," Malhan said.

Compared to the third quarter of 2009, employment outlook for wholesale and retail trade has shot up by 13 percentage points to 34 per cent. The same for finance, insurance and real estate sector is at 19 per cent and that for services sector at 25 per cent.

As per the survey, the softest hiring pace is reported by employers in the transportation and utilities at 16 per cent.

Malhan noted that all regions in the country are witnessing improving hiring trend as compared to recent months.

Globally, in terms of hiring optimism, India is followed by Brazil (21 per cent), Colombia (13 per cent), Peru (9 per cent), China (8 per cent) and Australia (7 per cent).

The weakest recruitment intentions for the fourth quarter are in Romania, Spain, Ireland, Japan and Mexico.

Source: Rediff

India pays $102 mn to speed up refit of Gorshkov

2009-09-08T05:11:00.000-07:00

India has paid another staggering USD 102 million to Russia, to speed up refit work on the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, pending a final agreement on a huge price hike of almost USD 2 billion demanded by Moscow.

"The advance payment of USD 102 million has given a fillip to repairs and refit works. The workforce would be increased to 2500 for work in two shifts," spokesperson of the Sevmash shipyard Anastasia Nikitinskaya said as Russian officials committed that they would meet the 2012 delivery deadline.

The increasing delay in the delivery of the warship has been described by President Dmitry Medvedev as the 'sole irritant' in Indo-Russian relations.

The issue came up in the delegation level talks between President Pratibha Devisingh Patil and her Soviet counterpart on September 3, during her first state visit to the country.

Director General of Severodvinsk-based Sevmash shipyard Nikolai Kalistratov along with his Chief Engineer was also present at the talks held at Kremlin.

Under the initial USD 1.5 billion contract signed in New Delhi in January 2004, Russia was to deliver retrofitted aircraft carrier in August 2008.

However, the Sevmash shipyard later demanded that USD 974 million allocated for the upgradation of the 44.5 thousand ton vessel, given to the Indian Navy 'free of cost', was not sufficient and demanded an additional sum of USD 2.2 billion.

According to Chairman of Russian Technologies State Corporation, Sergei Chemezev, the talks are currently underway for negotiating a new agreement, which may be signed in mid-October.

Source: india express

Mukherjee asks Krishna, Tharoor to leave hotels

2009-09-08T05:09:00.000-07:00

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday asked External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and his deputy Shashi Tharoor to vacate their five-star hotel suites.

Krishna and Tharoor have been staying in five-star hotels in national capital for the past three months in the absence of official accommodation.

While Krishna was staying at ITC Maurya, Tharoor was lodged in the Taj Mahal Hotel. The media had criticized both ministers for not moving into their official residences. Krishna, a Rajya Sabha member, was earlier allotted the residence of former External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh at 19, Teen Murti Lane. However, he found the house in a poor state and ordered it to be renovated.

On becoming External Affairs Minister, Krishna got himself a bungalow allotted on Thyagaraja Marg, which again is said to be under renovation. Tharoor an M P from Thiruvananthpuram was initially offered accommodation in Kerala House after the polls but is said to have turned it down. He has since been allotted a house in Lodhi Estate, which is under renovation.

According to sources, Krishna is staying at the Maurya’s Presidential Suite of the hotel on the 16th floor. The suite’s tariff is said to be on request. In other words, there’s no declared tariff for the four Presidential suites in the hotel, which have had guests like US President George W Bush and Bill Clinton. Hospitality industry experts feel that the room tariff is in the range of Rs 1 lakh plus per night, although it can be negotiated.

Obama speech to welcome U.S. kids back to school

2009-09-08T05:01:00.000-07:00

U.S. President Barack Obama is set to welcome America's children back to school on Tuesday.

He and Education Secretary Arne Duncan will host a group discussion with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Va., before the president speaks to students nationwide through C-SPAN television.ploy

U.S. President Barack Obama attends a town hall meeting on health insurance reform at Portsmouth High School in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in August. He will address the nation's children at a school in Virginia on Tuesday, Sept. 8.(Jim Young/Reuters)

In the speech, the president will speak directly to the nation's children and youth about persisting and succeeding in school, the White House says.

An advance copy of the speech suggests he will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning.

But even a seemingly innocuous speech on education is not without controversy in the current political climate.

Obama opponents suggest the address to schoolchildren is part of his strategy to overhaul the health-care system in the United States. That divisive debate has dominated the nation's attention all summer.

Florida Republican chair Jim Greer said last week it's inappropriate to use taxpayer dollars to broadcast White House politics into the nation's school system.

"President Obama has turned to American's children to spread his liberal lies, indoctrinating American's youngest children before they have a chance to decide for themselves," Greer said.

Back in Washington later on Tuesday, Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden will attend a Supreme Court investiture ceremony for its newest justice, Sonia Sotomayor.

Later, the president meets with congressional leaders and welcomes professional golf champions to the White House.

source: cbcnews

Indians 'killed in staged clash'

2009-09-08T04:48:00.000-07:00

A female student and three others were killed by police in a "staged" encounter in the Indian state of Gujarat, a judicial probe has found.

Ishrat Jahan Raza was one of four people shot dead by Gujarat police in 2004 on suspicion of being part of a banned Pakistani-based militant group.

Relatives maintained the victims were killed by police in a staged clash, commonly known as "fake encounters".

Police in Gujarat have denied the allegation.

They say the victims were members of the banned Pakistani-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba.

But a judicial probe into the incident has named a senior Gujarat police officer, among others, in connection with the "cold-blooded murder" of the 19-year-old student and three others.

The probe by judge SP Tamag said that police had "kidnapped" the student and three others in the city of Mumbai (Bombay).

They were then taken to Ahmedabad, Gujarat's main city, and killed in "police custody", the probe said.

'Plot'

Ms Raza's mother said she was happy that her daughter's "innocence had been proved".

"This is the first step towards towards justice. We want to remove the stain that my daughter has been branded a terrorist," Shamima Kausar said.

The four were killed in "police custody", the probe said. But the police claimed that they were killed in an "encounter" in Ahmedabad

Human rights groups have repeatedly expressed concerns about so-called "fake encounters" whereby security forces are accused of unprovoked killings in staged clashes.

Police say that Ms Raza and the others who were killed were involved in a plot to kill the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi.

The Gujarat high court has appointed a committee of three senior policemen for a fresh investigation into the killings and asked it to submit its report by the end of November.

The four were driving near Ahmedabad airport when they were intercepted.

Later police in Mumbai said Ms Raza had no criminal background and had never been involved in any terrorist activity, as claimed by the police in Gujarat.

Study finds potential way to make an AIDS vaccine

2009-09-06T22:04:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON - The discovery of immune system particles that attack the AIDS virus may finally open a way to make a vaccine that could protect people against the deadly and incurable infection, U.S. researchers said on Thursday.

They used new technology to troll through the blood of 1,800 people infected with the AIDS virus and identified two immune system compounds called antibodies that could neutralize the virus.

And they found a new part of the virus that the antibodies attack, offering a new way to design a vaccine, they reported in the journal Science.

"So now we may have a better chance of designing a vaccine that will elicit such broadly neutralizing antibodies, which we think are key to successful vaccine development," said Dennis Burton of The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, who led the study.

"The findings themselves are an exciting advance toward the goal of an effective AIDS vaccine because now we've got a new, potentially better target on HIV to focus our efforts for vaccine design," added Wayne Koff of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, or IAVI, which sponsored the study.

Since the AIDS pandemic started in the early 1980s, more than 25 million people globally have died from the virus. The World Health Organization estimates that 33 million are currently infected.

There is no cure, although a cocktail of drugs can help keep the virus under control. Efforts to make a vaccine have failed almost completely.

MUTABLE VIRUS

Part of this is because the virus mutates so much that any one person is infected with millions of different versions, each one appearing different to the immune system.

In addition, the virus infects the very immune cells that are supposed to help protect the body. And if even one virus gets past the immune defense, it appears to set up a lifelong infection. No drug has been able to eradicate it.

IAVI director Dr. Seth Berkley said the findings will not lead directly to a vaccine, but show that there are new and better ways to design one.

He said 10 percent of the patients whose blood was screened had a strong antibody response to the virus. "We have people with even more potent serum out there. We will probably see more," he said in a telephone interview.

It may also be possible to use such antibodies as therapy themselves -- such as the gamma globulin used for hepatitis virus. But the eventual goal, Berkley said, is a vaccine that produces antibodies that could stop the virus from ever infecting a person in the first place.

"We haven't been able to do that because we haven't been able to find the right kind of response," Berkley said.

Most vaccines elicit an antibody response, priming the body to make antibodies that will recognize and attack an invader such as a bacteria or virus.

The two antibodies, called PG9 and PG16, are the first new HIV antibodies to have been identified in more than 10 years. They target a region of the spike the virus uses to infect cells, the researchers wrote.

A team at South San Francisco-based Monogram Biosciences Inc screened the blood for the ability to neutralize HIV. Theraclone Sciences used its technology to identify the antibodies involved.

North Carolina-based Laboratory Corp of America Holdings acquired Monogram in July.

Source: Reuters

Obama aides leave room for healthcare compromise

2009-09-06T21:58:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON - U.S. PresidentBarack Obama's top aides said on Sunday he still wants a government insurance option in healthcare legislation but they left room for a compromise that could disappoint his liberal backers.

Ahead of a major Obama healthcare speech on Wednesday night, the advisers sought to portray a sense of momentum behind an overhaul of the $2.5 trillion U.S. healthcare system after a tumultuous summer of debate during which Obama lost ground and Republicans rallied opposition.

Obama, speaking to a joint session of Congress, will lay out specifics of what he supports to try to regain control of the healthcare issue and gain passage of a plan this year.

Analysts say how he handles the debate this autumn is a major test of his leadership and could define his presidency.

With government spending and deficits soaring as the Obama administration fights the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and inherited wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, critics say the healthcare reforms are too costly.

A key question is whether Obama is ready to drop his support for the "public option" -- a government insurance plan designed to compete with private insurance companies that has been a major feature of a proposed $1 trillion overhaul.

Liberal Democrats such as House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi insist any plan has to include the public option, while moderate Democrats and almost all Republicans have vowed they will not support such a proposal.

Top Obama adviser David Axelrod and White House spokesman Robert Gibbs, in interviews on morning television shows, gave a preview of the speech and were pressed on the public option.

Axelrod told NBC's "Meet the Press" that Obama believes a government-run insurance plan is an important part of reform as a way to encourage competition and lower costs but that the public option "should not define the whole healthcare debate."

Gibbs, on ABC's "This Week," said Obama wants a public option included in the overhaul but declined to answer a question about whether that provision was essential for the president to support healthcare legislation.

The president will "draw some lines in the sand" in his speech, Gibbs said.

"Well, I doubt we're going to get into heavy veto threats on Wednesday," he said when asked if Obama would block a bill that lacks the public option. "We're going to talk about what we can do because we're so close to getting it done."

'TRIGGER' FOR PUBLIC OPTION

The insurance industry strongly opposes the public option and has spent millions of dollars lobbying against it, while conservative commentators have fanned fears of a government takeover of healthcare akin to socialism or communism.

Many analysts believe Obama will be forced to accept a scaled-down plan.Obama enjoys solid Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress and some of his liberal supporters would like him to ram through legislation with the public option included.

A group of moderate Democratic and Republican senators -- known as the "Gang of Six"-- have been engaged in closed-door negotiations searching for a way to avoid that divisive outcome and bridge the gap.

A top item under discussion is a proposal that would not initially include a public option but would "trigger" the creation of a government program if insurance companies failed to meet cost and quality benchmarks.

A key Democratic member of that group, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, may try to end the stalemate with a proposal based on various suggestions and possible provisions discussed in recent months, Democratic aides said on Saturday.

"I think he (Obama) has to say if there's going to be a public option, it has to be subject to a trigger," Senator Ben Nelson, a centrist Democrat, said on CNN's "State of the Union."

"In other words, if somehow the private market doesn't respond the way that it's supposed to, then it would trigger a public option or a government-run option, but only as a fail-safe backstop to the process."

Congress returns to session this week after a break in August marked by heated public meetings and heavy media coverage of the battle over healthcare.

A CBS News poll last week said most Americans found the healthcare proposals discussed in Congress confusing and thought Obama had not clearly explained his plans.

Source: reuters

New Andhra Govt sworn in

2009-09-06T21:50:00.000-07:00

Ending three days of confusion, ministers of the erstwhile Cabinet of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, including all the loyalists of the late chief minister, were on Sunday sworn in afresh as required under the Constitution. They were administered oath of office and secrecy by Governor N D Tiwari at a brief ceremony at Raj Bhavan here.

The oath-taking ended all speculation whether YSR loyalists who were clamouring for making his son Jaganmohan Reddy as the next chief minister, would join the government under interim Chief Minister K Rosaiah with the Congress high command invervening and asking them not to precipitate matters during the mourning period that ends next Thursday.

Earlier, AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh held discussions with Rajya Sabha member K V P Ramachandra Rao, who was adviser to YSR, and impressed on him that loyalists of the late chief minister should also join the government.

Some seven to eight ministers of YSR cabinet, including P Ramachandra Reddy, J Krishna Rao and Syed Ahmadullah, were reportedly reluctant to join the Rosaiah government. The YSR loyalists held a meeting with Ramachandra Rao who counselled them to give up their diffidence and take oath.

Earlier, the Governor, after consulting legal experts, decided that the ministers would have to take oath afresh to fulfil a constitutional requirement following the swearing-in of new Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Thursday.

There has been a lot of confusion over the status of the ministers who served under Rajasekhara Reddy before his death in a helicopter crash on Wednesday.

Legal experts contended that the ministers were required to again take oath of office afresh since a new Chief Minister had taken over.

Rosaiah himself wrote to the Governor on the issue as he wanted to clear the air. The Governor, in turn, asked state Chief Secretary P Ramakanth Reddy to explain the legal and constitutional position in this regard.

Accordingly, the Chief Secretary and state Advocate General Seetarama Murthy met the Governor late last night and reportedly conveyed to him that the ministers were required to take oath once again.

Official sources said legal and constitutional experts in New Delhi were also consulted. "Since a controversy has arisen over the status of ministers, the concluding view was that it would be better to administer fresh oath of office to them so as to avoid any constitutional violation," a top-ranking official in the General Administration Department said.

Source: India Express

Nanao Singh crashes out of World Championships

2009-09-06T21:44:00.000-07:00

New Delhi Thokchom Nanao Singh became the fifth Indian boxer to crash out of the World Championships after losing to Thailand's Pongprayoon Kaeo in the light fly weight (48kg) second round in Milan, Italy.

The 18-year-old Asian silver medallist, competing in only his second senior international event, was out-punched 4-16 by Kaeo late last night.

Kaeo had earlier beaten the Indian in the Asian Championship finals.

The Thai was in control of the contest right from the start and took a 4-1 lead in the opening round. The diminutive Indian found the going tough against his taller opponent, who notched up 10 points in the second round. Having chalked up the massive lead, Kaeo took it easy in the third and final round before wrapping it up 16-4.

Source: India express

Campaign for YSR son runs into Sonia wall

2009-09-06T21:38:00.000-07:00

New Delhi With Congress president Sonia Gandhi deciding to crack the whip on regional leaders seeking to dictate terms in the Andhra Pradesh succession, senior party leader Digvijay Singh was sent to Hyderabad on Sunday to deliver a stern message to Rajya Sabha member Dr K V P Ramachandra Rao — the late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy’s right hand man, and perceived brain behind the feverish campaign to install YSR’s son Jaganmohan Reddy as chief minister.

Late on Sunday afternoon, Ramachandra Rao, widely known as KVP, gave a dramatic speech to members of YSR’s council of ministers, reminding them that in the Congress, “no one goes against the high command”.

Within an hour, all 34 members of the YSR’s former Cabinet took oath again — and Konijeti Rosaiah took charge of the new government as interim chief minister in Hyderabad.

Digvijay Singh met Jaganmohan and other members of YSR’s family to convey the Congress high command’s displeasure over the high-voltage campaign being waged over the succession, party sources told The Indian Express.

Singh himself, however, told The Express that his visit to Hyderabad had nothing to do with politics: “I met the (Reddy) family to express my condolence. It would have been improper for me to talk about politics with them,” he said.

Singh’s meeting with YSR’s family in Hyderabad came hours after Sonia got a briefing on the situation from the AICC’s Andhra Pradesh in-charge Veerappa Moily in New Delhi.

andhra CM YSR Sweet memries images

2009-09-04T03:19:00.000-07:00

memories

PM, Sonia pay homage to YSR, thousands line funeral route

2009-09-04T03:15:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and a host of party leaders on Friday paid homage to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S R Reddy, who died in a chopper crash.

The Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Defence Minister A K Antony and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit placed wreaths on Reddy's body at the Chief Minister's Camp office in Begumpet area in Hyderabad.

Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and senior BJP leader L K Advani, Home Minister P Chidambaram and other Union Ministers including Sushil Kumar Shinde, Salman Khurshid and Andhra Pradesh Governor N D Tiwari were among others who offered their tributes and placed wreaths on Reddy's body.

The leaders consoled the family members including the late Chief Minister's son Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Thousands of party workers, who came in from different parts of the state, also paid homage to their departed leader throughout the night.

The leaders also wrote condolence messages in a book at the camp office.

Thereafter, the funeral cortege moved out of the premises and moved along a designated route towards the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, where it will lie in state for about three hours to allow the general public and politicians to pay their last respects to the departed leader.

The Andhra Pradesh capital was a sea of grieving humanity as people from all walks of life gathered in tens of thousands on major thoroughfares to give a fitting farewell to their son of the soil, YSR.

The flower bedecked army truck and funeral convoy, led by his emotionally distressed son M Jagan Reddy, wound its way slowly through the streets of the city towards the stadium. Jagan Reddy greeted the emotionally charged masses lining the route with folded hands.

The mortal remains of Reddy and four others, who died in a chopper crash in Kurnool district after it went missing on its way to Chittoor from Hyderabad on September 2, was brought to the city by a special IAF helicopter on Thursday evening.

Source: india express

Thousands of tearful mourners pay last respect to YSR

2009-09-04T03:13:00.001-07:00

Hyderabad The flag-draped and flower-bedecked coffin of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy left the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium on Friday afternoon, hours after it was placed there for the general public and leaders to pay their last respects.

The funeral convoy is headed to Hyderabad's Begumpet Airport from where the coffin carrying the body of the late chief minister will be flown to his native village Pulivendula in Kadapa district and laid to rest in full state honours at 5 pm.

Thousands of mourners on Friday swarmed the city to bid a tearful adieu to Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

The journey began from his house in Begumpet in Hyderabad after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and top Congress leaders paid homage and placed wreaths on his body.

Wrapped in tri-colour and kept in a bedecked open army truck, the body was taken first to Gandhi Bhavan - the state headquarters of Congress - in Nampally here to chants of 'YSR

amar rahe'.

Thereafter, the funeral cortege moved out of the premises and moved along a designated route towards the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, where the late chief minister's body will lie in state till about 1 pm to allow the general public and the political leadership to pay their last respects. It will then be flown to his native village for final rites.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, Defence Minister AK Antony and Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Salman Khursheed also arrived in Hyderabad on Friday morning.

Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and senior BJP leader L K Advani were among several governors and leaders from all political spectrums who paid their last respects to the late YSR.

The body of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy was found deep inside the Nallamala forest on Thursday morning, almost 24 hours after his helicopter went missing. The body of YSR was found with the seat belt still around him. He was identified by his while dhoti and shirt.

Also dead in the crash were the CM’s Principal Secretary P Subramanium, Chief Security Officer A S C John Wesley, pilot Group Captain S K Bhatia and co-pilot M S Reddy.

The death of 60-year-old YSR, who led the Congress to two successive election wins in the state and became one of its most powerful chief ministers, has left a huge hole in Andhra politics with the party struggling to find a successor. State Finance Minister K Rosaiah has been made acting Chief Minister.

YSR is survived by wife Vijayalakshmi, son and MP Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and daughter Sharmila.

andhrapradesh CM life photos and peoples Worrying of his death photos

2009-09-03T10:21:00.000-07:00

View all

Get your own

YSR's chopper deviated from route, hit a cliff

2009-09-03T09:11:00.000-07:00

The helicopter carrying Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy from Hyderabad to Chittoor on Wednesday deviated 18 km from its path towards east, near Rudrakoduru in the Nallamala forest range in Kurnool district, before it hit a cliff and crashed.

"The chopper hit the cliff, crashed and exploded. All the five persons in the ill-fated helicopter were burnt to death," state Finance Minister K Rosaiah and Chief Secretary P Ramakanth Reddy said in Hyderabad on Thursday.

The chopper might have drifted from its path because of a large cloud formation due to inclement weather and ended up hitting the cliff, they said.

Except the tail portion, the body of the Bell-430 helicopter of AP Aviation Corporation was reduced to bits and pieces in the mishap.

Source: India Express

YSR to be buried in native village on Friday

2009-09-03T09:05:00.000-07:00

The last rites of the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajsekhar Reddy will be held with full state honours at his native place Pulivendula in Cuddapah district on Friday.

According to sources the burial of the departed Chief Minister will be held at around 2 pm. Before that, the dead chief minister’s body will lie in state at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium from Friday morning till about 1 pm to allow the general public and the political leadership to pay their last respects. It will then be flown to his native village in Cuddapah District for final rites.

The charred and decomposed bodies of Reddy and four others were airlifted by an Indian Air Force helicopter to state capital, where autopsy was conducted.

The Andhra Pradesh Government has declared seven days state mourning in honour of YSR and cancelled all the official programmes in the state and the national flag will be hoisted at half-mast.

Source: India express

Y S RAJASEKHARA REDDY'S POST MORTEM IN KURNOOL

2009-09-03T08:45:00.000-07:00

YSRs death: I lost a good friend, says Naidu

2009-09-03T08:38:00.001-07:00

Obituary: YS Rajasekhara Reddy (1949-2009)

2009-09-03T08:37:00.001-07:00

Hard to digest YSR's tragic death: Chiranjeevi

2009-09-03T08:36:00.000-07:00

Sonia Gandhi expresses pain over YSR Reddy's death

2009-09-03T08:35:00.000-07:00

last speech of YSR. last interview of y s Rajashekhar reddy

2009-09-03T08:34:00.001-07:00

Tribute to Andhra Pradesh CM Rajasekhara Reddy

2009-09-03T08:33:00.001-07:00

Star News takes the air route which led to YSR's chopper crash

2009-09-03T08:32:00.001-07:00

Digvijay Singh mourns YSR Reddy's death

2009-09-03T08:30:00.000-07:00

Home Minister declares Andhra CM YSR Reddy dead in crash

2009-09-03T08:29:00.000-07:00

AP CM found dead- andhra cm dead

2009-09-03T08:28:00.000-07:00

YSR's body brought to Hyderabad

2009-09-03T08:25:00.000-07:00

HYDERABAD: The body of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who was killed in a helicopter crash, was brought to the state

capital on Thursday evening.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter carrying YSR's body landed at the old airport at Begumpet. State ministers and senior leaders of the ruling Congress received the casket at the airport.

It was then taken to the chief minister's camp office, where his family members and close relatives and friends were present.

The bodies of YSR's Special Secretary P. Subrahmanyam, chief security officer A.S.C. Wesley and pilots S.K. Bhatia and M.S. Reddy were also being brought here before being sent to their respective home towns.

Earlier, the bodies were brought from the crash site in Nallamalla forests to Kurnool town, where an autopsy was conducted.

Since the bodies were charred beyond recognition and were decomposed, the military personnel had a tough time in air lifting them from the crash site.

A team of forensic experts conducted the autopsy on the remains of the five and the caskets were later kept in an IAF helicopter for taking them to Hyderabad.

YSR's body will be kept at the Lal Bahadur Stadium from 10 a.m. Friday for people to pay homage. It will be then taken to his native Pulivendula town in Kadapa district for state funeral.

Australian Deputy PM assures safety of Indian students

2009-09-01T23:09:00.000-07:00

New Delhi: The Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, today marked the first day of her visit to cement ties with India by meeting Mr. Kapil Sibal, Minister for Human Resource Development, in New Delhi.

Kapil Sibal stressed that India greatly values the education relationship with Australia and was looking to work with Australia as India met the challenge of meeting the urgent education needs of the Indian people from elementary school through to university.

In an important step to achieving greater collaboration and a new partnership, the Ministers agreed to an annual ministerial dialogue on education.

Significantly this meeting will also involve education (both university and technical education) and industry representatives from the two countries. Sibal and Gillard looked forward to working together through this new arrangement in the coming year.

The ministers discussed the challenges faced by some Indian students in Australia. The Deputy Prime Minister assured the HRD Minister that the Australian Government was acting firmly to ensure all International students had a safe and enjoyable time in Australia.

She said the Australian Government and the Australian people have zero tolerance for violence and that Australians welcome Indian students.

The ministers discussed the Australian Government's proposed amendments to the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act which governs international students, the legislation requiring the re-registration of vocational education and training providers, the upcoming International Student Round Table in Canberra, and the joint working party on student welfare established by the Council of Australian Governments.

Sibal said he was appreciative of the Australian Government's efforts to support Indian students studying in Australia and both ministers agreed to ensure that the number of Indian national students studying in Australia would continue to grow.

Both Minister Sibal and the Deputy Prime Minister noted the efforts of the joint working group between Australia and India on vocational education and training, student welfare and quality assurance and that the report of the joint working group would be concluded by the end of this year.

These joint efforts are a further part of the close collaboration and partnership between the two nations on education.

The Deputy Prime Minister invited Mr. Sibal to visit Australia at a mutually agreeable time. The Ministers also discussed the forthcoming visit by Australia's Prime Minister and a variety of bilateral matters.

Wife beats husband's mistress to death in AP

2009-09-01T23:08:00.001-07:00

Find out who's Dhoni's first love!

2009-09-01T23:05:00.000-07:00

PM postpones Tirupati visit

2009-09-01T23:03:00.001-07:00

HYDERABAD: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's two-day visit to the state was rescheduled to September 16 and 17 respectively. Earlier, the Prime

Minister was scheduled to inaugurate the Tirupati international airport on September 5 and lay the foundation stone for the NTPC-BHEL power plant at Mannavaram in Chittoor district on September 6.

A press release from the chief minister's office said the postponement was due to the fact that the financial tie-up for the Tirupati airport is pending clearance with the Union civil aviation ministry. Chief secretary P Ramakanth Reddy has been directed to follow up with the civil aviation ministry and ensure the clearance of the airport, the note said.

As per the revised schedule, the PM will visit Tirupati on September 16 and have darshan of Lord Venkateshwara. He will make a night halt in Tirupati and inaugurate the NTPC-BHEL power plant at Mannavaram near Srikalahasti on September 17. The same day, he is also scheduled to address a public meeting in Tirupati.

Chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy had a telephonic conversation with the Prime Minister on Tuesday evening where the rescheduled dates of the latter's visit to the state was confirmed, the note said.

AP High Court block is illegal

2009-09-01T22:53:00.000-07:00

HYDERABAD: Even as the AP High Court is set to reopen from Wednesday after a fire gutted two of its floors early Monday, it has come to light

that the seven-storied administrative block that was constructed a decade ago adjacent to the heritage building still does not have building permission from the GHMC. It has also not been given the mandatory no objection certificate (NOC) by the fire services department. The administrative block, however, was not affected by the Monday morning’s fire.

The fire services department gives the NOC only after the building has put in place all the mandatory fire safety equipment and measures. The heritage wing of the court - that was affected by the fire - does not require any fire department clearance. Only high rises constructed after 1982 require the clearance.

That the administrative block of the high court does not have building permission nor fire safety measures came to light in 2006 when the erstwhile MCH submitted to the high court a list of 17 government high-rise buildings that were constructed illegally and did not have the NOC from the fire department. The matter came up when the high court was hearing a case on the high-rise buildings that do not have fire safety norms following a report in the TOI.

Apart from the administrative block of the high court, among the other unauthorised structures that figured in the list were the Director General of Police's office at Lakdi-ka-Pul, the Hyderabad police commissioner building at Basheerbagh, the Rangareddy district collectorate, Paryatak Bhavan at Begumpet and Aranya Bhavan at Saifabad.

However, in the last three years many in this list like Paryatak Bhavan and Aranya Bhavan secured building permission from the GHMC. But neither the high court administrative block nor the DGP's office did so. "In the last three years since it was known that the HC's administrative block was illegal, neither the roads & buildings department (which constructed it) nor the HC (occupants) applied for permission," a GHMC official said. Sources said when this fact came to light during the court hearing, then chief justice G S Singhvi remarked,: "If that is the case, the GHMC can tear down the structure without seeking prior permission from the high court."

Source: Times of India

Websites will talk to you now

2009-09-01T22:51:00.001-07:00

BANGALORE: Websites will soon be accessible to the disabled, especially the visually-impaired, once the Union government makes it mandatory for

all websites to go audible.

For this, websites have to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. This new standard, along with a screen reader, will make content audible through a headphone or a speaker. A visually-impaired person can use the keyboard to respond -- the tab keys will take him or her through different links.

The project has been given to BarrierBreak Technologies and will take 10%-15% of the ordinary project cost.

"It will not only help blind people, but also aged and illiterate people," said Javed Abidi, National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People.

The idea came up last year on December 3, `Day for the Disabled', in Delhi. "The IT ministry was proactive about the programme. The draft, approved by the ministry, will be released soon," he said. The policy would be extended to other hardware as well -- like the ATM, television, washing machine and microwave. This will be the second phase of the project.

Source: Times of India

Pakistan behind fake Indian currency racke

2009-09-01T22:48:00.000-07:00

Woman molested on the streets of Patna

2009-09-01T22:40:00.000-07:00

Designer Anand Jon gets 59yrs for sex crimes

2009-09-01T22:36:00.000-07:00

Designer Anand Jon gets 59 yrs for rape

2009-09-01T22:32:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES: An Indian-born fashion designer convicted of sexually abusing a string of teenage girls and women was Monday sentenced to a minimum

of 59 years in jail by a Los Angeles judge.

Anand Jon Alexander, 35, whose clothes had reportedly been worn by celebrities including Paris Hilton and Mary J. Blige, was found guilty of 16 sex crimes, including forcible rape and sexual battery, at a trial in November.

Alexander represented himself at Monday's sentencing hearing, where he broke down in tears as he requested a new trial. The judge rejected his request.

Prosecutors at Los Angeles Superior Court had accused him of preying on a string of girls and women aged between 14 and 21 over a six-year period from 2002 to 2007.

Nine women testified against Alexander during his trial. Most of the designer's victims were aspiring models lured into meetings with Alexander and forced into sex, prosecutors said.

Alexander is also the subject of an indictment made up of similar allegations in New York, as well as an ongoing probe in Dallas.

22-year-old Andhra student dies in car accident in US

2009-09-01T22:24:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON: A 22-year-old student from Hyderabad was killed in a freak car accident in the US.

Naresh Dacha, first year MS (EE) student at Wright State University, was driving from his home to the university Monday morning along with his friend Varun when his car hit a tree on Route 22 in Dayton, Ohio.

The incident happened around 5.30 am when Naresh hit the tree in an effort to save a cat.

Varun, who was in the front passenger's seat, is safe with minor injuries, said Prasad Thotakura, president-elect of Telugu Association of North America (TANA).

"We have informed the parents of Naresh. We are making all the necessary arrangements to send the body of Naresh to Hyderabad as soon as possible," Thotakura said.

Naresh completed his BTech from Arora Engineering College, Bhuvangiri, Nalgonda district in 2008 and joined Wright State University in January 2009. He is survived by his parents and brother who live in Hyderabad.

"It is very sad to see a young bright student losing his life in a freak, horrific accident. Bhaskar Dacha, father of Naresh, was in a great shock seeking TANA help to send Naresh's body to Hyderabad to pay last respects to his beloved son," said Jayaram Komati, president, TANA.

Source: Times of India

India imported swine flu vaccine

2009-09-01T22:14:00.000-07:00

NEW DELHI: India will vaccinate 20 lakh healthcare and emergency services personnel against the deadly H1N1 virus by the end of January using an

imported swine flu vaccine.

The health ministry has set aside Rs 100 crore as an interim budget to purchase these vaccines from any one of the four international manufacturers — Novartis, GSK, Sanofi Pasteur and Baxter — whose candidates are presently undergoing human trials.

However, India has one clear condition — the vaccine would have to undergo safety and efficacy trials on the Indian population before being used in the country.

According to experts, the vaccine may behave differently in Indians in comparison to people of other nationalities and may cause serious side effects like paralysis, urticaria and toxic reactions. Refusing to accept data from the trials conducted in foreign countries, ICMR director general Dr V M Katoch wrote to all four companies making it clear that even if it was not a largescale trial, the companies would have to atleast undertake a two-month bridge study on around 500 healthy volunteers.

Novartis and GSK have agreed to initiate a bridge study in India while the other two are yet to get back.

The global vaccines are expected to be available by October-end. It will then undergo a two-month bridge study in India. If found to be safe and efficacious in the Indian population, the two-dose vaccine, expected to cost around Rs 500 per dose, will be imported for frontline health workers dealing with H1N1 cases.

India’s indigenous vaccine being developed by Serum Institute, Bharat Biotech and Panacea Biotech is expected to be ready by April. The Indian vaccine will then be picked up by the government at a much cheaper price to vaccinate other high risk groups like children younger than five years old, people suffering from chronic health disorders and pregnant women.

Speaking to TOI, Dr Katoch said, "India can’t use a new vaccine against a completely novel virus without being sure that it is safe and effective for the Indian population. Till now, two of the foreign companies have agreed to carry out bridge studies in India. If all four companies carry out the study and their vaccines prove safe, we will then buy from whoever gives us the cheapest price. To start with, we will use it on healthcare workers for which we would require around 40 lakh doses of the imported vaccine."

According to director general of health services Dr R K Srivastava, countries like UK, France and US have booked vaccines from these international manufacturers under an advance purchase agreement. This is because the candidate vaccines have been tried on their population which isn’t the case with India.

An official said, "Even though these companies knew that most of their vaccines will be purchased by developing countries like India and China, they didn’t conduct trials here."

AP News: rains forcast in Andhra Pradesh

2009-09-01T00:52:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, Aug 31 : Widespread rains have been forcast in Andhra Pradesh in the next two or three days following the formation of a trough which is expected to develop into a low pressure in the Bay of Bengal even as two people died today.

According to weather office here today, the trough would develop into a system bringing more rains to the state.

The upper air cyclonic circulation over west central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal extending upto mid-tropospheric level persists. Under its influence, a low pressure area may form over west central Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood during next 48 hours.

Another upper air cyclonic circulation system over south Rajasthan and adjoining Gujarat and neighbourhood, persists, extending upto lower-tropospheric level.

Hyderabad city received 10 cms of rains during the last ten hours, ending at 0830 hrs this morning. One person was electrocuted in the Chaderghat area while police found a body in a nullah in the city.

Several low-lying areas in the city were inundated and hundreds of people marooned. Several areas plunged into darkness due to disruption in electrical supply. Traffic jams were witnessed in seveal places due to water logging and overflowing of the drains.

The chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm are Elamanchili 5, Srungavarapukota 4, Salur 3, Komarada and Parvathipuram 2 each.

Light to moderate rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at a few places in the districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari of Coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Isolated rain or thundershowers are likely to occur in the remaining districts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Rayalaseema.

Indian husbands: The second class citizens?

2009-08-29T10:36:00.000-07:00

MARRIED MEN in India have been reduced to second class citizens who are systematically discriminated against by the Indian Police, Indian government and the Indian Judicial system. Instead of being protected by the law, laws are used to harass Indian husbands.

Indian men contribute more than 80 per cent of the country’s taxes and have little or nothing spent on their welfare. The state systematically denies any rights in a married life and creates laws to purposely harass them in all ways possible. Thousands of crores are spent every year through various different channels on women’s programmes, little or nothing is being spent on welfare for men. The Government of India has a ministry for welfare of animals but has still not heeded to the requests for creation of a mens welfare ministry .

Laws in India are so biased against men that women who have never married in India or do not have children who are Indian citizens also come all the way to India tomisuse Indian laws. Most marital laws are unconstitutional and go against articles 14, 15, 20 and 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees fundamental rights like right to equality before the law, special provision for weaker sections of the society, multiple trials for the same crimes and right to liberty. On one side, the government promotes that they are committed to eradicating dowry completely from India on the other hand they allow the exchange of dowry to go unabated. But once the exchange has happened, millions of husbands and their families are arrested without the slightest iota of evidence or investigation under the draconian section 498 A of the Anti Dowry act.

In terms of Alimony, Indian laws are no better. In the western world, there exist hard and fast rules for alimony for women. In most states in the US, alimony applies only when the marriage has completed 10 or more years . However, in India, men are forced into a ‘compromise’ against their will and are made to pay huge settlement amounts to women who have broken marriages, which have not even reached their first anniversary. Child custody remains with the mother all the time and the father gets visitation to the tune of one hour a month.

The less written about the newly created domestic violence act of 2005 the better. Better known as the property grabbing act of 2005, this act has been misused by the empowered women of India to grab the properties of husbands and their families. Misuse of the law also has reached epic proportion and now misuse of this law competes with misuse of section 498A, which according to government is misused in 98 per cent of cases .

The resulting consequence of the systematic torture of men in India has been catastrophic. More than 56000 married men commit suicide every year due to spousal as compared to only half that number of women. Even after the suicide of the husband, every attempt is made to make this death as a death due to unknown reasons and no punishment is ever meted out to the wife who was the responsible for the death. In fact the two main categories that men’s deaths are classified in the national crime records bureau are ‘Unknown reasons’ and ‘Other reasons’.

The cruel and deliberate attempts to subjugate the rights of husbands in India is deplorable and shows a very fascist attitude. The government must immediately amend the marital laws to make them gender neutral and then proceed to create a men’s welfare ministry and study and arrest the rising mens suicides in India before the situation goes out of hand

Crime-lord Dawood's arrest threaten several regimes

2009-08-29T10:33:00.000-07:00

AMERICA’S DEMAND that Pakistan must hand over India’s most-wanted fugitive and international terrorist Dawood Ibrahim for his alleged links with Al Qaeda-related terrorist groups and involvement in the global heroin trade should come as good news for India. Washington and New Delhi appear to be on the same wave length on this issue.

Dawood Ibrahim is a ‘living legend’ for all the wrong reasons. No single person in independent India has ever roused so much curiosity, contempt, curse and criticism and evoked such extreme reactions.

In terms of a commoner’s fanciful thought, Dawood is a mystery, an enigma, a fleet-footed nightmarish character who is invisible and yet who is omnipresent in India’s crimeland. Dawood implies gangsterism, killing and looting from Mumbai to Mallapuram. Dawood runs guns and goons, deploys whores and generates wealth, patronises land sharks and leads mafia wars.

The police are chasing him, intelligence sleuths are snooping on him, Customs is issuing classified alerts on him and the Income Tax Department is scrutinising his benami returns. Interpol has been frequently issuing red corner alerts

Yet Dawood remains unfazed and cannot be caged. He is alive but missing. He is supposed to be in Dubai, he was seen at Clifton in Karachi; he reportedly attended a marriage after undergoing cosmetic surgery. Speculations go on and rumours run riot. Yet Dawood remains unseen and unheard.

To make matters worse, the allegations against the most-wanted Indian are indeed serious. That he has invested millions of dollars in the financial capital of India and its outskirts, in trade and industry, in political funding, film production, transport and now communications! Dawood’s ‘investment’ today is ‘bearing fruit’.

In fact what has Osama been to the US since 9/11, Dawood has been to India for the last 25 years. Yet, whereas the world has responded positively to the US call to catch Osama, dead or alive and sustained military operations by international coalition forces have been launched, India’s repeated call to apprehend Dawood has always fallen on deaf ears.

Is it because Dawood has ceased to be a small time criminal and petty gangster of Mumbai? In the arena of criminals and the history of crime, Dawood is a shining example where individual attains the status of an institution who in turn becomes an ‘icon’, and then turns into an ‘idol’.

Yes, since Dawood’s crimes in the past have now started yielding tangible gains in the form of financial profit to his numerous partners, one doubts as to whether he will be caught at all or not.

Assuming, without conceding, that Pakistan does hand over Dawood to American agencies, what happens? In one stroke chaos and all round desperation are likely to follow and fear would grip many powerful individuals across Asia. Since 9/11, the US is supposed to be the strongest, roughest and the toughest votary of the ‘global war on terror’.

Mahindra Satyam says it's chasing 30 large deals

2009-08-29T10:14:00.000-07:00

Information technology services provider Mahindra Satyam is pursuing around 30 “large deals” and expects some of these to materialise during the current financial year, according to a senior official of the company.

“We are vigorously pursuing 20 to 30 large deals in the life sciences, public services, transportation and engineering domains, which are showing a lot of positive business momentum. We expect to close some of them to our advantage by this fiscal end,” the official told Business Standard, while declining to share the size of the deals.

A large deal, in normal IT parlance, is anywhere between $50 million (around Rs 245 crore) and $100 million (Rs 490 crore).

The scam-hit company, now logging on to the recovery path after Tech Mahindra acquired a controlling stake in it in April, has been seeing increasing business stability since then, winning over 30 new logos (customer wins), including the five-year SAP contract with global pharmaceutical major GlaxoSmithKline, the official added.

“The company has been witnessing high traction of business from emerging markets like India, Europe, Middle East and Asia (MEA) and the Asia Pacific. These new geographies are now accounting for close to 55 per cent of our business, while the contribution from the US is hovering around 45 per cent, a positive trend which is slowly beginning to grow and drive our revenues further,” he said.

On the company’s business processing outsourcing (BPO) arm’s recent major client win in Tata Docomo for providing back-office support, he said the company had already hired 1,000 professionals for its client. “Mahindra Satyam BPO will be adding 300 people every year over the next five years to service this telecom client,” the official added.

Mahindra Satyam, which had in June announced a one-time virtual pool programme aimed at addressing idle staff costs while retaining talent, had so far recalled 1,000 employees. “We will be calling back some more,” he added.

Mahindra Satyam stock ended the trade at Rs 113.85 on the BSE on Friday, down 0.52 per cent against the previous close of Rs 114.45.

Govt to infuse additional equity in Air India

2009-08-29T10:12:00.000-07:00

The government is understood to have decided to infuse additional equity in Air India and give a soft loan to counter the financial crunch, as a high-level Committee today asked the Civil Aviation Ministry to move a note on the issue for consideration of the Union Cabinet.

The Committee of Secretaries, headed by Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar, which reviewed the turnaround plan of the ailing carrier, directed the Ministry to prepare the cabinet note on the matter.

The note, to be prepared in consultation with the Finance Ministry, would be ready for circulation to the Cabinet Ministers in the next seven to ten days, official sources said after the meeting here.

Though there was no official confirmation of the quantum of equity infusion and the soft loan the government could give to the national carrier, there were indications that its equity base, which now stands at only Rs 145 crore, would be enhanced by at least Rs 2,500 crore.

While the government would make only a partial contribution as equity infusion to the airline, a major part of resource mobilisation is likely to be through issuance of Initial Public Offer or infrastructure bonds, they said, adding the Cabinet would now take a final call on the issue

Obesity Ages the Brain and Reduces Life Span

2009-08-29T10:05:00.000-07:00

Overall, about two-thirds of adults in the U.S. are either overweight or obese and about 6 percent are extremely obese, putting them at an increased risk for diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, osteoarthritis, stroke, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea, respiratory problems and even certain cancers. Researchers have also discovered that obesity increases the risk for dementia, and a new study detailed in the online edition of the journal Human Brain Mapping may help to explain why.

When researchers at UCLA and the University of Pittsburgh scanned the brains of 94 people in the 70s, they found that the obese individuals had 8 percent less brain tissue than their normal-weight peers, and their brains looked 16 years older than the brains of lean people—evidence of “severe brain degeneration,” according to study author Paul Thompson, a UCLA professor of neurology. Those classified as overweight had 4 percent less brain tissue and their brains appeared to have aged prematurely by eight years.

For obese people, the areas of significant shrinkage was in the frontal and temporal lobes, areas of the brain critical for reasoning and judgment; the anterior cingulate gyrus, key to attention and decision-making; the hippocampus, which processes long-term memories; and basal ganglia, from which movement is initiated. Overweight people showed shrinkage in the basal ganglia and the parietal lobe, where we integrate sensory input, and in the corona radiata, which helps speed messages among regions of the brain that must work together for proper functioning.

While the participants of the study showed no outward signs of cognitive impairment at the time of the study, the researchers predicted that the premature aging and loss of brain volume will put the heavier subjects at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other degenerative brain diseases. “That’s a big loss of tissue and it depletes your cognitive reserves, putting you at much greater risk of Alzheimer’s and other diseases that attack the brain,” Thompson said.

Experts say people can greatly reduce their risk for Alzheimer’s and related diseases by exercising, eating healthily and keeping their weight under control. “A brain healthy diet is one that is heavy on fruits and nuts and low in fat and cholesterol,” says Lou-Ellen Barkan, president and CEO of the New York City chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. “Obesity is definitely not a good thing for a healthy brain.”

But researchers say obesity isn’t just causing the brain to shrink—it is also trimming years off people’s lives. Economists at RTI International, a non-profit research organization in Research Triangle Park, N.C., analyzed data on 366,000 people and found that extremely obese people, those with a body mass index of 40 or greater, live three to 12 years less than their normal-weight peers. And extremely obese people who smoke live an average of 21 years less than non-smokers of normal weight. For instance, an 18-year-old white male who is of normal weight and does not smoke can expect to live to age 81, but if he’s extremely obese and a smoker, his life expectancy fall to 60. The researchers estimate that overall, Americans lost roughly 95 million years in 2008 by carrying around excess weight.

However, the study found that just being overweight or moderately obese has little or no effect on life span. Non-smokers who are overweight—meaning they have a body mass index of 29 or less—do not have shortened lives, and non-smokers who are obese — those with a BMI of 30 to 39—lose about a year or less off their lives. Lead author Eric Finkelstein says that may be because there are effective treatments to manage many of the health problems that often stem from extra pounds, such as hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes. For example, 10 of the top 25 most prescribed medications target the three aforementioned diseases.

Findings of the RTI study are published online in the journal Obesity.

Hormone Therapy Could Be Risky for Some Prostate Cancer Patients

2009-08-29T10:03:00.001-07:00

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men, affecting about one in six men in the United States. It is usually a very slow-growing disease, taking years to spread beyond the gland and pose a serious health threat. Once the cancer has spread beyond the prostate gland it can no longer be cured, but it can be slowed down by injecting the patient with drugs that block the supply of testosterone, a male hormone that directly stimulates the growth of both normal prostate tissue and prostate cancer cells. The treatment, known as hormone therapy or HT, can increase survival in more advanced cases of prostate cancer when used with surgery or radiation. But the side effects are unpleasant: hot flashes, erectile dysfunction, bone loss, memory problems, fatigue and loss of interest in sex. And, according to a new study, it may be dangerous for some men with heart disease—doubling their risk of death.

Dr. Anthony D’Amico of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and colleagues studied 5,077 cases of men, average of about 70, diagnosed with localized or locally advanced prostate cancer between 1997 and 2006. All the men were treated with radiation therapy and 30 percent of them also took HT for an average of four months. Over a median follow-up of five years, 419 of the men died. Of those, 200 had no underlying cardiac conditions or risk factors, 176 had one coronary artery disease factor, such as high blood cholesterol, and 43 had suffered from heart failure or had a heart attack.

Analysis of the data showed that, when considering comorbidity groups separately, HT caused no increased risk of all-cause mortality in men with no co-existing conditions (9.6 percent vs. 6.7 percent) or those with a single coronary artery disease risk factor (10.7 percent vs. 7.0 percent). However, for those with a history of serious heart problems, HT was associated with nearly twice the risk of all-cause mortality (26.3 percent vs. 11.2 percent). “Our results should heighten awareness about the potential for harm with hormonal therapy for men with pre-existing heart disease,” said study author Dr. Akash Nanda of the Harvard Radiation Oncology Program in Boston. “The risks need to be balanced with the benefits. For more advanced disease, the primary treatment is a combination of hormone therapy and radiation. So, for them, it becomes a little more tricky.”

Some experts agree that co-existing heart conditions should be taken into account when deciding which treatment best suits a patient. “I think this is going to make people even more conservative in their use of hormones than when researchers started to identify who benefited,” said Dr. Eric M. Horwitz, acting chairman of the radiation oncology department at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. “We had always thought that there might be cardiac problems with long-term use of hormones, but this shows that even a short course can be harmful.”

For other experts, the findings weren’t unexpected. “For those who’ve been following the field, this is not surprising at all,” said Dr. Stephen Freedland, a Duke University prostate cancer specialist. He said that although some patients benefit from hormone therapy, it’s dangerous in the wrong patients—increasing insulin resistance, raising cholesterol, and increasing fat—likening it to the opposite of performance-enhancing drugs some athletes have taken. “You take away the muscles and give him fat,” Freedland said.

The study is published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Early Treatment off COPD May Increase Life Expectancy

2009-08-29T10:02:00.000-07:00

reating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during early stages may slow the progression of the disease, and allow those who suffer from the illness to live longer and suffer less. New research on a promising anti-inflammatory drug, as well as a study on an already well-known anticholinergic drug, offer renewed hope for those who have been diagnosed with COPD.

Now the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, COPD is a progressive disease that causes irreversible damage to the lungs and is most commonly caused by years of smoking. An estimated 24 million Americans suffer from COPD. Symptoms of the illness may include shortness of breath, a persistent cough, mucus production, wheezing, chest tightness, and tiredness.

In the first of three reports on COPD published in the August 29th issue of the journal The Lancet, patients who began early treatment with the inhaled drug Spiriva (tiotropium) experienced improved outcomes in comparison to patients who remained untreated. According to lead researcher Dr. Marc Decramer, a professor in the department of pathophysiology at University Hospital of the University of Leuven in Belgium, “If you treat moderate disease with these anticholinergic drugs, you get clear improvements in lung function, health-related quality of life, exacerbations and even, maybe, in mortality.” As for the improvement in mortality, Decramer said that although this was not found to be statistically significant, there was a trend observed. He also pointed out that the treatments “seem to reduce the rate at which the disease progresses.”

Decramer and colleagues monitored 2,376 early stage COPD patients who were randomly assigned to receive Spiriva or a placebo. After following the progress of the participants for four years, the researchers found the rate of decline in lung function to be 12 percent lower among the recipients of Spiriva compared to those who received the placebo. In addition, patients taking Spiriva had 18 percent less flare-ups of their COPD, leading to a reduction of 26 percent in hospitalizations due to flare-ups. Decramer explained that it is highly important that COPD be diagnosed in the early stages, and that aggressive treatment begins upon diagnosis to attain the best possible outcomes.

The remaining two reports in The Lancet established the benefits of the new anti-inflammatory drug called Daxas (roflumilast) in the treatment of COPD. The drug is still undergoing the approval process of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In the first study, Dr. Leonardo Fabbri of the University of Modena in Italy and his team followed 3,091 patients who suffered from severe COPD after randomly assigning then to receive either Daxas or a placebo. After monitoring the patients for one year, findings revealed that those patients taking Daxas gained improved lung function and experienced 17 percent less flare-ups of their COPD than did patients taking the placebo. In their report, the researchers conclude, “These results suggest that different subsets of patients exist within the broad range of COPD, and that targeted specific therapies could improve disease management.”

Dr. Klaus F. Rabe, of Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands led the second study in which Daxas was used in addition to the standard COPD treatments with long-acting bronchodilators or anticholinergics. A total of 1,677 patients having moderate-to-severe COPD took either Daxas or a placebo for a 24-week period. Those patients who were randomly assigned to receive Daxas also received the bronchodilator Serevent (salmeterol) or Spiriva. The results showed that patients who took Daxas with either Serevent or Spiriva experienced a greater improvement in lung function than they would have by taking Serevent or Spiriva alone.

A decrease in respiratory symptoms was another benefit observed in patients who were treated for COPD with Daxas. However, in both trials, patients taking Daxas experience side effects including nausea, diarrhea and weight loss.

The researchers concluded, “Roflumilast improves lung function in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD who are already being treated with long-acting bronchodilators [or anticholinergic drugs], although with expected class-specific adverse events. Roflumilast could become an important, concomitant treatment for these patients.”

Umar Akmal and Iftikhar script crushing win

2009-08-29T09:30:00.001-07:00

Umar Akmal’s maiden international hundred, a rousing unbeaten 102 from 72 balls, and Younis Khan’s first half-century as captain took Pakistan to a large total and set up their first win on tour. Batting first has been distinctly advantageous at the Premadasa and so it proved as Pakistan put up a mammoth score and then pressured the Sri Lankan batsmen into self-destruction. Iftikhar Anjum played a major hand, claiming career-best figures as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 175, losing their last seven wickets for 45 runs in 12.3 overs.
The pace was set early by Umar’s elder brother Kamran, who ensured the tempo did not flag despite Imran Nazir’s early dismissal, but Sri Lanka’s spinners struck thrice in less than six overs. Young Umar walked to the crease when Pakistan were 130 for 4, with a struggling captain searching for a partner and only Shahid Afridi to follow. He took the opportunity to prove that not all is as made to believe about Pakistan’s domestic set-up. His effervescence complimented Younis’ solidity and their 176-run stand paved the way.
Where Nazir, Mohammad Yousuf and Misbah-ul-Haq struggled against a combination of tidy bowling and a slow track, Umar appeared comfortable from the get-go. He showed he wasn’t going to get bogged down, swinging his seventh delivery - from Ajantha Mendis, no less - over long-on for a six and flicked almost effortlessly. His was a sensible approach, poaching the odd boundary and turning ones into twos while also dominating the perceived weaker bowlers. Finding the narrowest of gaps in the field and always sprinting hard between the wickets, he began rebuilding.
Credit is due to the man at the other end. Younis’ innings contained crisp drives and wristy flicks and stolen runs but most importantly it was an effort that allowed Umar to flourish. Around his captain, Umar could play his own game and Pakistan didn’t feel the pinch. Pakistan had been hurt in the series by Younis’ indifferent form. Today they realised just what a difference runs from him can mean.
Importantly, he quickly assessed conditions and played with a welcome smoothness. Younis’ innings was controlled, he ran hard between the wickets, and Pakistan’s run-rate lifted to nearly five-and-a-half an over. With Umar rattling along Younis too changed his game. Soon defence turned to single hunting, gliding and efficiently flicking in the gaps.
Umar’s half-century came up from 46 balls, after which he upped his strike-rate. Always keen to get back and across and then mow the ball over the on-side, he took consecutive fours off Mendis and then clubbed Lasith Malinga for 13 in the 46th over. Another effortless six off Malinga followed in the 48th over, the back leg once more lifted to gain power.
Younis departed for 89 in the 49th over trying to get six but Umar reached three figures with two balls to spare. You can argue the pressure of winning the series wasn’t there, but maiden ODI centuries don’t come cleaner than this.
To chase 322 under lights in Sri Lanka a team needs something near a batting miracle. Upul Tharanga (80) played a cool hand to try and keep the required run-rate in check but there was little support. Pakistan’s bowlers began by bowling too short - in particular Naved-ul-Hasan - and Tharanga and Sangakkara added 65 in good time. Sangakkara sped away to 39 from 33 balls before he was early into a drive against a slower ball from Anjum and scooped a catch to point.
From here the attack tidied up, Anjum sticking to a decent length and the spinners taking as much pace off the ball as possible. Thilina Kandamby went next, slashing Saeed Ajmal to slip, and a one-handed effort from Naved in the deep took out Chamara Kapugedera. Anjum bowled a lot of deliveries on an awkward length, too short to drive but too full to pull, and was rewarded with 5 for 30. Ajmal tossed the ball up into the rough with good control to take two wickets.
Tharanga played an extension of his half-century in the previous game, accumulating most of his runs by soft-handed steers through the arc between cover and gully. Third man proved a productive area for Tharanga, who didn’t take the aerial route much. With his dismissal, feathering Anjum to Kamsran, went Sri Lanka’s chances. From here on it was a steady procession of wickets and Sri Lanka fell way short of the target.

PCB likely to appoint Saeed Anwar

2009-08-29T09:29:00.001-07:00

Chairman PCB today had a discussion with Saeed Anwar regarding utilisation of his services for cricket.The chairman and Saeed Anwar will meet in the coming week to discuss the plan in detail, PCB said in a statement yesterday.PCB chief Ijaz Butt is hopeful that Saeed can use his vast experience for the benefit of Pakistan cricket.’’I am thankful for Saeed’s encouraging response and his offer to assist PCB and Pakistan players. I am sure Saeed will be able to contribute a lot to Pakistan cricket,’’ Butt said.The 40-year-old former batsman had scored 4052 runs from 50 Tests but it was his exploits in the one-day arena that made him a shining star in Pakistani cricket. In 247 One-dayInternationals, Saeed has piled up 8824 runs with 20 centuries.

I will not apologise

2009-08-29T09:28:00.000-07:00

Younus’’I accept the responsibility of defeat, but will not apologise to anyone nor will I resign as captain because it’s part of the game to lose and win,’’ Younus was quoted as saying by ’The News’.The Pakistan skipper lashed out at his critics, saying there were some people who were trying hard to oust him as the national team’s captain.’’I am trying my level best to lead the team and achieve the best results but some people want me to relinquish the captaincy, which I won’t.’’ ’’Am I not a good captain, or do I lack leadership qualities?’’ he said.Younus concurred that Pakistan’s success in the last two one-dayers showed that his team have the potential to win in Sri Lanka.

ICC World Twenty20 2009

2009-08-29T08:08:00.000-07:00

ICC World Twenty20 Women's final, Lord's: England 86-4 (17 overs) beat New Zealand 85 (20 overs) by six wickets

A devastating spell of high-class swing bowling from Katherine Brunt helped England beat New Zealand comfortably to win the Women's ICC World Twenty20.
Brunt, swinging the ball into the left-handers and seaming it away from the right-handers, took 3-6 as the White Ferns were bowled out for just 85.
Player of the tournament Claire Taylor hit an unbeaten 39 as England won by six wickets with 18 balls to go.
England now hold the Ashes, the 50-over World Cup and the Twenty20 trophies.
In contrast to their nervous performance in the field in the semi-final at The Oval, when Australia hit 163-5, this was a highly-polished display by all the bowlers and the fielders, not least wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor who took a stumping and two fine catches.
The early start, at 1030 BST, may have helped Brunt find swing, and she was quick to cash in, bowling the dangerous left-hander Aimee Watkins (scorer of an unbeaten 89 in the semi-finals), and then adding the wickets of Lucy Doolan - caught behind attempting a paddle-sweep - and Rachel Priest, who was caught and bowled.
Against Australia, Brunt had been brought into the side at the expense of Isa Guha in an attempt to rattled the opposition with pace and bounce. The ploy failed when she went for 39 runs, but England's management intelligently persevered with the woman from Barnsley and here she repaid their loyalty in dramatic fashion.
Laura Marsh (R) after taking the first wicket for England

As important as the wickets was her superb economy rate, in a match in which the other bowlers all cost at least four an over.
After eight overs, the score was 23-4, Laura Marsh having set the ball rolling with a wicket in the very first over with her bravely flighted off-spin, and New Zealand did not know whether to stick, twist or fold.
Medium-pacers Nicky Shaw and Jenny Gunn helped themselves to two wickets each, and the scoring was of the ones and twos variety until the 18th over, by which time England must have felt they had done enough.
By then Holly Colvin had got through her four overs of left-arm spin safely, and it took a burst of 21 runs from 11 balls towards the end, with Sophie Devine and Kate Pulford finally putting some pressure on the fielders, to take the White Ferns past 80.
Lydia Greenway, who had earlier held a fine catch running in from the boundary, produced a deadly accurate throw to run out Devine from the final ball.
England's chase got under way with a lovely cover-drive from Sarah Taylor for four, and skipper Charlotte Edwards took the left-arm seamer for two off-side boundaries in the fourth over.
But Edwards was over-confident. Backing away to leg in a bid to hit Sian Ruck for another boundary, she was defeated by the inswing, and New Zealand had a wicket to celebrate.
In the seventh over, an outside edge from Claire Taylor, off Pulford, was dropped by wicketkeeper Priest before she had scored. The ball escaped for four and a massive opportunity to have England's best batsman back in the pavilion was lost.
England's best batsman Claire Taylor was voted player of the tournament
New Zealand kept attacking field settings, forcing England to hit boundaries, and the tactic had some effect in making the host nation feel pressure that wasn't really there.
Sarah Taylor nicked an attempted cut to fall for 23, before Claire Taylor slipped gears, biffing Pulford down the ground for four and then whipping Suzie Bates through square-leg.
Beth Morgan was dropped once, before holing out to midwicket, but by then Taylor, the Oxford graduate and former hockey player who has become a thorn in the side of so many teams, was in full flow.
Ten runs came from Doolan's first over, and just 14 were needed from the last five overs with seven wickets in hand.
Just as they had done in the World Cup final - when New Zealand were again the opposition - England did not make things entirely straightforward, losing another batsman when Greenway was bowled slogging across the line.
But Taylor was determined to see the job through to the finish, sealing the deal with a lofted straight drive for four off Nicola Browne

Vettori reaches Test double mark

2009-08-29T08:04:00.000-07:00

Second Test, Colombo, day one:

Sri Lanka 263-3 v New Zealand

New Zealand's Daniel Vettori became only the eighth player to achieve the 300 wickets-3000 runs double on day one of the second Test against Sri Lanka.
Kumar Sangakkara was the left-armer's 300th victim on a day which ended with Sri Lanka on 263-3.
They were 75-2 earlier in the day put an unbroken stand of 147 between Mahela Jayawardene (79) and Thilan Samaraweera (78) put them in a strong position.
"I still see myself as a bowler, rather than an all-rounder," said Vettori.
"As a spin bowler, I did not think a feat like this would happen, so it's a very special feeling."
The left-arm spinner is the second player from New Zealand after Sir Richard Hadlee to achieve the double and joins a list that also includes the likes of England's Sir Ian Botham, India's Kapil Dev and Australia's Shane Warne.
But the Kiwis still face a tough task in trying to level the series after losing by 202 runs at Galle.
Vettori used himself as first-change and the move paid off when opener Tharanga Paranavitana, who failed twice in the first Test, pushed forward and edged to Ross Taylor at slip, departing for 19.
Seam accounted for Tillakaratne Dilshan in the third over after lunch when he lobbed a return catch back to Iain O'Brien after making 29.
But home skipper Kumar Sangakkara looked in good touch as he struck nine boundaries, only to sweep Vettori to Jacob Oram at mid-wicket just after reaching 50.
It proved to be New Zealand's final success of the day, however, and although the pitch was "extremely flat", according to Vettori, he professed himself slightly disappointed by the match situation.
"We were ideally looking at five wickets, but Mahela and Thilan are seasoned players and are at the top of their game," he said.
"I hope our batsmen will take a leaf out of their book and put up a big score too."

New “liquid condom” to protect women from transmitted diseases including HIV

2009-08-29T07:58:00.000-07:00

The new “liquid condom” developed by the scientists will not only empower women by aiding in controlling their pregnancy without their partner’s permission it will also protect them from sexually transmitted diseases including HIV.

The new contraceptive gel can trap semen as well as any particles wider than 50 nanometres, which include the HIV, herpes and papilloma viruses.

The new "molecular condom" gel changes in response to changes in pH - acidity or alkalinity - in the vagina caused by the introduction of semen during sex.

It remains in liquid form while in contact with acidity levels normally found in the vagina but it turns into semisolid when it encounters semen which his alkaline, forming a mesh of "crosslinked" molecules.

Lead researcher, Patrick Kiser, and assistant professor at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City says that the chemical bonds between the two polymers constantly attach and detach at normal, acidic vaginal pHs of about 4.8, allowing the gel to flow. But at a pH of 7.6 - the slightly alkaline condition when semen enters the vagina - the PBA and SHA polymers "crosslink" and stick tightly together.

ri Lanka poised to defeat Kiwis

2009-08-29T07:54:00.000-07:00

Second Test, Colombo, day four (close):
Sri Lanka 416 & 311-5 dec v New Zealand 234 & 182-6

Captain Kumar Sangakkara completed his 20th Test century as Sri Lanka closed in on a 2-0 series victory over New Zealand in Colombo.
Sangakkara made 109 as the home side, who won the first Test by 202 runs, declared their second innings on 311-5.
It left New Zealand with a target of 494 and despite 50 by Daniel Flynn, they struggled to 182-6 at the close.
Spinner Rangana Herath dismissed Jesse Ryder (38) in the penultimate over of play to finish with figures of 4-73.
For once, Muttiah Muralitharan, Test cricket's record wicket-taker, was outbowled and had to settle for a single success, achieved when Brendan McCullum (13) played on as he attempted to drive.
McCullum's exit came just five overs after Flynn had been trapped lbw on the back foot by Herath after battling to keep the home attack at bay for almost two hours.
And the loss of Ryder, who was leg-before after missing an attempted sweep shot, meant the Kiwis ended another tough day on a low note, although Sri Lanka have yet to reach the tail, with Jacob Oram and Daniel Vettori not out at the close.
The home side batted through the morning session with Sangakkara and former skipper Mahela Jayawardene extending their third-wicket partnership to 173.

Sangakkara reached his century - his sixth in Tests at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground - off 164 balls, with a six and 11 fours, but eventually departed when he was caught at slip by Ross Taylor off Jeetan Patel.
First-innings centurion Thilan Samaraweera was lbw to Vettori for 25 shortly after lunch and Sangakkara called a halt when Jayawardene followed for 96, with Taylor taking another catch from the bowling of Patel - this time a superb low effort.
New Zealand made a solid start to their reply before openers Tim McIntosh and Martin Guptill fell in quick succession, McIntosh bowled for seven when he offered no stroke to a ball from Dammika Prasad and Guptill caught behind off Herath for 28.
Flynn and Taylor added 56 for the third wicket before a flighted delivery from Herath lured Taylor (27) into an error and Jayawardene accepted the chance at first slip.
Taylor's downfall left New Zealand on 97-3 and the loss of three further wickets left them needing either inspired batting by Oram and Vettori or an intervention by the weather to save them on the final day.
Coach Andy Moles described his side's batting as "very disappointing and very frustrating".
He added: "These are very talented cricketers but they make the same mistakes over and over again."

India has excellent investment climate: PM

2009-08-29T07:48:00.000-07:00

BARMER/RAJASTHAN: Oil exploration major Cairn's success story demonstrates that India is an excellent destination for foreign investment, Prime

Minister Manmohan Singh said on Saturday.

Speaking after inaugurating the Mangala field, India's largest oil discovery in two decades, he said: "It can be demonstrated through Cairn's contribution that there is a very good climate for investment in India".

Urging foreign investors to come to India to take advantage of the opportunities available here, the prime minister said: "I call on investors from different parts of the globe to come here and assure them that they will get full and honest support from the Indian government for all facilities."

Manmohan Singh turned a valve on the dais to symbolically start the Mangala field's production, amidst cheers from the assembled audience of dignitaries, employees and local people, with the Oscar-winning song "Jai Ho" playing in the background.

He was also presented with the first drops of oil from the field in a container.

The prime minister said that the inauguration of the Mangala field was bound to bring enormous prosperity to Rajasthan.

"It is a historical fact that whenever oil has been found in a country, it has developed very fast. I believe after the oil production here, there will be a new Rajasthan where there is no poverty and less unemployment.

"Our country is moving forward at a rapid rate. But to remove poverty, there is a lot left to do," Manmohan Singh said, noting if this rapid rate of growth has to be improved, there will be further need for energy.

"Energy production is taking place, but the demand for oil and gas is also increasing," he added.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot were present at the function, held in a massive air-conditioned tent, which had eight large screens hanging from the roof to enable the audience to watch the event closely. The site is 125 km from the India-Pakistan border.

Mangala's peak production of 125,000 barrels per day (bpd) will be reached in the first half of 2010.

Along with the production at its Bhagyam and Aishwarya fields, the aggregate peak production by Cairn India will be 175,000 bpd or 20 percent of India's domestic production - enough to power 3.4 million cars daily or fill up 4.5 million cooking gas cylinders a month.

The three fields are expected to save the country $1.5 billion annually as import bill over the next 10 years. It would also earn the government $30 billion across the life of the field by way of taxes, royalties and profit petroleum revenue.

Deora has said the central government would get Rs.46,000 crore (Rs.460 billion) as profit petroleum revenue. The Rajasthan government would get another Rs.12,000 crore (Rs.120 billion) as royalty revenue for the first five years, he said.

India imports over 70 per cent of its crude oil needs. At its peak, Cairn's production will lead to cutting down about 8 per cent of India's import bill at current oil prices.

7 Hizbul Mujahideen militants convicted in sedition case

2009-08-29T07:28:00.001-07:00

HYDERABAD: Seven Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including a ’commander’ Mujeeb Ahmed, were on Thursday convicted by a local court in a case of sedition. First Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge L Srirama Murthy found them guilty under section 122 (collecting arms with intention of waging war against the government), 124 (A) (sedition) of IPC and Section 23 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967.

The quantum of sentence against the seven accused including a woman would be pronounced on Friday. Mujeeb alias Ahmed Bhai, a native of Hyderabad was also found guilty under the Indian Wireless and Telegraphy Act, 1933.

Mujeeb was arrested by Hyderabad Police on December 26, 2005 on charges of hatching a criminal conspiracy against the state by procuring sophisticated AK 47 rifles from Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin of Pakistan.

Police recovered one satellite phone, Rs 1.15 lakh in cash, two CDs containing inflammatory materials and two cell phones from Mujeeb, who was known as ’Ameer-E-Deccan’ and planned to create disturbance in Hyderabad, according to public prosecutor Challa Seshu Reddy.

AP Home Minister Sabitha Reddy no poltical motive in Kovvur MLA

2009-08-29T07:27:00.001-07:00

Asserting that there was no ’ulterior’ motive behind the arrest of TDP MLA T V Rama Rao in connection with a sexual assault case, Andhra Pradesh Home Minister P Sabita Reddy today made it clear that the law would take its own course’’.

The Minister was making a statement in the Assembly when the arrest of Rao for allegedly outraging the modesty of two girl students from Kerala, was raised in the House under rule 344 by Mr M Narasimhulu and other TDP members.

He contended the Congress government had foisted the case against him as he was a ’’Dalit MLA’’ and refused to switch over to the ruling Congress from the TDP.Alleging that the TDP member was trying to shield himself by attributing political motives, the Minister denied the charge that the Congress had resorted to political vindictiveness as Mr Rao did not join the ruling party.

Investigations were being done by the police impartially as per the law, she added.

Chennai Doctors done 14 breast cancer sureries in 3.5 hrs record

2009-08-29T07:01:00.001-07:00

CHENNAI: In a development that has shocked the medical fraternity, doctors at the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai said they performed 14 breast cancer surgeries in three-and-a-half hours this week for an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records. The hospital claimed that the "feat" was videotaped and sent to the Guinness authorities through the state government.

The state health department condemned the move and said no permission was given for such an exercise. It has now ordered an inquiry into the incident by the state’s director of medical education, Dr S Vinayagam. "We do not approve of it and we have not sent it to any agency for recognition. Safety is our prime concern and we condemn anything that can risk a patient’s life," said health secretary VK Subburaj.

Rajaji hospital’s head of oncology, Dr BKCR Mohan Prasad, held a press conference on Thursday to announce that an in-house team of three doctors including himself, chief anaesthetist Dr R Chandrasekhar and surgeon Dr Gopinath had achieved the "feat" by operating non-stop on patients from 8.30am to noon on August 24. Hospital dean Dr SM Sivakumar added that "non-stop lumpectomy on 14 women is a proof of the facilities available in the hospital".

"We opened four patients at one go. I would open the breast, remove the tumour and nodes and move on to the next patient. My assistant and a post-graduate student would close the wound. When I moved to the fourth patient, the first was ready to be sent to the recovery room and another patient would be wheeled in," Prasad told reporters.

The announcement shocked members of the medical fraternity, including those from the Tamil Nadu State Medical Council and the Indian Medical Association, who called it a blatant violation of the Hippocratic Oath.

YSR and finance minister Rosaiah keep their vool in Assembly

2009-08-29T07:00:00.001-07:00

The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, and the finance minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, were unusually sober and accommodating in the Assembly on Thursday apparently to run things smoothly.This was a sea change from Wednesday when there was a heated discussion over the proceedings. The ruling party seems to have deliberately decided to keep a low-profile to help run the House.

The Opposition, except for the Telugu Desam, responded positively to this display of sobriety by the ruling party. MLAs of the Opposition were particularly surprised when the ever-aggressive Mr Rosaiah also tried his best to be cordial.He kept his cool even when there was a chance to criticise the main opposition party, the TD and its president, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu. The Chief Minister, who also never misses an opportunity to make sharp remarks on Mr Naidu, maintained restraint throughout his hour-long speech on the 9-hour power supply to the farmers.

The TD members continued to heckle him but the Chief Minister did not lose his cool and pleaded with them to give him a chance to explain the government stand. “This is not fair on the part of the main Opposition,” said Dr Reddy.“They level allegations on the government and at the same time do not allow us to explain our version. This is unfair

Jaswant Singh blames Nehru, Patel for partition on Pak television

2009-08-29T06:59:00.002-07:00

Islamabad: Expelled Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jaswant Singh has once again invited controversy by blaming India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru for the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947.

In an interview with the Dawn News, Singh blamed Pandit Nehru and Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel for the partition and creation of Pakistan.Referring to Nehru’s Tryst with destiny speech, Singh said it was nothing short of double standard as Nehru himself talked of secularism while contributing to the country’s division along with Sardar Patel on grounds of so called ’faith’.Singh claimed that later Nehru had himself admitted of being responsible for the partition.

It is worth mentioning here that Jaswant Singh’s book ’Jinnah: ndia-Partition-Independence’ which saw him being expelled from the BJP after serving it for nearly 30 years has received an overwhelming response in Pakistan.Singh, in his book, has glorified Jinnah while blaming Sardar Patel for the country’s division in 1947.

The book quotes Singh as saying that Jinnah did not win Pakistan, rather Nehru and Patel conceded Pakistan to Jinnah with the help of the British.Meanwhile, authorities have denied permission to Singh to visit Pakistan to launch his book. However, Singh’s son Manvendra Singh said his father has not applied for a visa, and as far as he knew.

He also rejected reports that there was a different Pakistan edition of the book.

Brazil swine flu toll 577, highest in world

2009-08-29T06:59:00.001-07:00

Brazil: (EFE) A total of 577 people have died from swine flu in Brazil, putting the South American nation at the top of the list of countries reporting fatalities from the Influenza A (H1N1) virus, the health ministry said.

The mortality rate, however, is 0.29 percent in Brazil, well below the 1.08 percent rate in Argentina, the 0.75 percent rate in Chile and the 0.67 percent rate in Costa Rica, which have the highest levels in Latin America, health officials said Thursday.

The toll from swine flu stood at 488 as of last Friday, the health ministry said, noting that the jump in the death toll was due to lab tests coming back positive for people who died between Aug 16 and Aug 22.Brazil now has the highest number of deaths from swine flu followed by the US with 522, Argentina with 439 and Mexico with 179, according to the World Health Organization.

A total of 5,206 people have contracted swine flu and undergone treatment as of Wednesday, the health ministry said.The government has decided to appropriate 2.1 billion reais ($1.13 billion) for the purchase of vaccinations against swine flu, health officials said.

The funds will allow health officials to purchase 73 million doses of the vaccine, which will be administered during the first half of 2010 to deal with an expected outbreak of the disease during the southern hemisphere winter

Pregnant woman dies of swine flu, toll rises to 26

2009-08-29T06:58:00.001-07:00

PUNE: The swine flu toll in the city went up to 26 with a pregnant woman succumbing to the H1N1 virus at the ICU of a private hospital on Friday.While the contagion claimed three lives in Karnataka, another person succumbed to the virus at Nashik in Maharashtra, pushing the national toll to 83.

Rupali Jori (28) of Malkhed village in Haveli taluka, who was moved to the Sahyadri Munot hospital in the city on August 20, died at 8 pm on Friday, PMC deputy health officer D D Chandakkar said. Chandakkar said Rupali Jori had tested positive for the H1N1 influenza. “Rupali, who was pregnant for 20 weeks, showed symptoms of cough, fever and breathlessness.

Her condition was critical when she was moved to the isolation ICU of our hospital. She was immediately put on the ventilator, but her condition deteriorated on Friday,” Rajkumar Ambad, medical administrator of Sahyadri Munot hospital said.

Earlier, the patient was treated at a private hospital in Wadgaon Dhayri. “But she didn’t show any signs of improvement. Hence, she was moved to our hospital on August 20. Her condition was critical. She had slipped into acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS),” Chandakkar added.

District collector Chandrakant Dalvi said three people tested positive for the H1N1 virus in the city. A total of 18 patients are in ICUs of various hospitals in city. Out of these, nine are critical and six are on ventilators.

Four patients were taken off ventilators on Friday, he said, adding that 7,610 people were screened in the district, of whom 322 were given Tamiflu doses. “So far, over 2.73 lakh people have visited screening centres in the district, which has till now recorded 845 positive patients for the H1N1 flu.”

Dalvi said the volume of positive samples and number of visitors, especially children, at screening centres have come down in the last week.

Now you can simply book a refill cylinder by sending an SMS

2009-08-29T06:57:00.002-07:00

NEW DELHI: No more visiting your cooking gas dealer for booking a refill. Or having to endlessly try the dealer’s phone which always seems to be busy. From Monday, you can simply book a refill cylinder by sending an SMS from your mobile to a five-digit toll-free number.

You can also register your complaints by dialling a six-digit easy-to-remember number that will be common to consumers of all LPG companies.The service, part of junior oil minister Jitin Prasada’s efforts at cutting delays and improving service, will kick off in Delhi and will start in other cities across the country in phases.

The new system will be simple and somewhat similar to the railway inquiry or phone-banking services. Some dealers may not be covered by the system in the beginning but will come under the plan in a few days

The first batches of swine flu vaccine rolled out from baxter labs

2009-08-29T06:57:00.001-07:00

NEW DELHI: The first batches of swine flu vaccine rolled out from Baxter Inc labs on Friday but there’s little to cheer for India. While the first supplies from Baxter went to the British health network, subsequent batches from Baxter and other pharma companies have been booked by countries such as US and UK which are stockpiling the vaccine to ward off a harsher bout of swine flu.

While huge quantities — 195 million and 90 million doses respectively are going to the US and UK — India is still miles from getting vaccines because the government has not entered into any pre-booking contracts with Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline or any others. India also may not have its indigenous vaccine ready before May 2010.

China has 20-odd companies racing to make the vaccine, with Sinovac Biotech perhaps the first company worldwide to complete clinical trials for swine flu vaccine.WHO said recently that countries in the northern hemisphere had ordered more than a billion doses, sparking warnings about shortages.

Developing a vaccine is the only way to protect people from the disease, which may become severe with the onset of winter and the dire possibility of the H1N1 virus mutating.Despite the swine flu toll touching 90, Indian health authorities have failed to move fast enough.

The government has also not placed any orders with domestic manufacturers — Serum Institute, Panacea Biotec and Bharat Biotec which are developing the vaccine. (Cadila Pharma is also developing a vaccine in collaboration with US company Novavax).

Serum Institute executive director SS Jadhav told TOI, ‘‘No talks have been held with procurement agencies regarding their plans of stockpiling the vaccine, including the quantity required and target group of population.’’

As a result, companies aren’t sure about the quantities of vaccine they must produce.

When contacted, Dr VM Katoch DG, ICMR, said, ‘‘We have asked global companies like Novartis to include Indians in their clinical trials to test efficacy of the vaccine on our population. We are waiting for their reply.

mj was a homicide involving a combination of drugs

2009-08-29T06:56:00.001-07:00

Washington: More than two months after Michael Jackson died, the Los Angeles County Coroner has ruled that the death of "King of Pop" was a homicide involving a combination of drugs."The drugs Propofol and Lorazepam were found to be the primary drugs responsible for Mr Jackson’s death. Other drugs detected were: Midazolam, Diazepam, Lidocaine and Ephedrine,” the Coroner office said in a brief statement on Friday.

Jackson died of "acute propofol intoxication," the Coroner office said. Other conditions contributing to his death was "benzodiazepine effect," the statement added.However, the Coroner’s office did not release the final report including the complete toxicology report, saying that it will remain on security hold at the request of the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County district attorney.

"In accordance with this request, the Department of Coroner will not comment on its completed investigation," the statement said.Jackson’s personal physician criticised the Coroner’s office for releasing only the summer of the report. He alleged that this contains "nothing new" and has "all the earmarks of police gamesmanship.

However the Jackson’s family commended the effort of the Los Angeles County Corner’s office. "The Jackson family again wishes to commend the actions of the Coroner, the LAPD and other law enforcement agencies, and looks forward to the day that justice can be served," it said in a statement.

The Home Ministry has withdrawn X-category security of 24 VIPs

2009-08-29T06:54:00.000-07:00

NEW DELHI: As part of its comprehensive review and rationalisation of the VIP security system, the home ministry has withdrawn X-category security cover of over two dozen individuals, including former Chief Justice of India Y K Sabharwal. It also reduced the number of personal security officers (PSOs) available to those remaining under this category from three to two.

Others in X-category whose security cover was withdrawn include former MPs Govinda and Anwar Hussain, UP politician D P Yadav, two Delhi-based journalists and some local leaders from different northeastern states. Shoaib Iqbal (MLA from Matia Mahal in Delhi) will also lose his security cover from next month.

Sources in the home ministry said against the current practice of having three PSOs (one round-the-clock), the remaining X-category protectees (nearly 50) will now get two PSOs. Similar trimming will take place in the Y and Z-category list in due course so that more police personnel are available for actual policing in the Capital, they added.

Though other categories of protectees have not been touched as of now, there is a proposal to scale down the security cover of former home minister Shivraj Patil, National Commission of Scheduled Castes chairperson Buta Singh, former foreign minister Natwar Singh and Lok Janashakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan among others.

Besides withdrawing the security cover of over two dozen individuals, it was also recently decided to ask states to disengage central paramilitary force (CPMFs) personnel who were wrongfully diverted for VIP security. The ministry will soon write to states in this regard.

Sources said the ministry, meanwhile, has directed all states to observe the principle of reciprocity in extending security to nearly 400 central protectees of all categories.An official said while the Centre took care of security of state-level protectees while they were in Delhi, the states had often been found lacking in according security to central protectees commensurate with their security categorisation.

According to guidelines, no central protectee can retain his Delhi-based PSO beyond 72 hours while on an outstation trip. The PSO is thereafter required to report back to Delhi, leaving the onus of protecting the VIP on the state police.