Raipur: A day-long shutdown called by the opposition Congress began in Chhattisgarh today to protest the massacre of 76 troopers by Maoists. As per initial reports, schools were closed and public transport was hit in urban areas across the state while no impact of the strike was seen in rural belts. Chhattisgarh state Congress president Dhanendra Sahu told reporters here that the strike was called to protest the flawed policies of the state's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) that resulted in the deadliest Maoist attack on Tuesday in Dantewada district. Dantewada is some 450 km south of capital Raipur.
Hundreds of Maoists trapped over 80 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers on a hilly stretch and went on a killing spree using pressure bombs and automatic weapons. They killed 76 troopers.
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One killed in battle with guerrillas in Kashmir
Srinagar: A Rashtriya Rifles soldier was killed and another wounded in a gunbattle with separatist guerrillas in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, police said today.
The gunbattle started on Wednesday when joint forces, including local police, surrounded the militants hiding in Zachaldara area of Rajwar forests in the district, 78 km from here.
According to a police official, one person was killed Wednesday while another received injuries.
"Firing is continuing. The cordon has been extended and more reinforcements have been rushed to the area," the officer said.
The gunbattle started on Wednesday when joint forces, including local police, surrounded the militants hiding in Zachaldara area of Rajwar forests in the district, 78 km from here.
According to a police official, one person was killed Wednesday while another received injuries.
"Firing is continuing. The cordon has been extended and more reinforcements have been rushed to the area," the officer said.
Toll in Hyderabad riots rises to three
Hyderabad: The tension was back in the old city of Hyderabad today with a person, stabbed during communal clashes last fortnight, succumbing to his injuries in a hospital. With his death, the toll in the communal riots has risen to three.
Narasimha, 54, a resident of Lal Darwaza area, who was stabbed by unidentified people in Hussaini Alam police station area on the night of March 28, died at the Osmania Hospital on Wednesday night.
As news of his death spread, police went on high alert in Shahali Banda and adjacent areas near the historic Charminar to prevent any untoward incident. Even curfew-pass holders were stopped from entering into the old city.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made as some groups are reportedly preparing to take out a funeral procession.
After initial confusion, police relaxed the curfew in these areas along with other-riot hit parts of the city.
The 12-hour curfew relaxation began at 6 a.m. in all 25 police station areas but the movement of people in Shahali Banda and surrounding areas was restricted. Shops and schools remained closed.
Though the day curfew was lifted last Monday, the police are continuing with the night curfew as a precautionary measure.
The riots, which broke out March 27 in the old city following a dispute over religious flags, also left over 150 people injured.
Police said they have registered 152 cases and arrested 200 people in connection with various incidents of violence.
Narasimha, 54, a resident of Lal Darwaza area, who was stabbed by unidentified people in Hussaini Alam police station area on the night of March 28, died at the Osmania Hospital on Wednesday night.
As news of his death spread, police went on high alert in Shahali Banda and adjacent areas near the historic Charminar to prevent any untoward incident. Even curfew-pass holders were stopped from entering into the old city.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made as some groups are reportedly preparing to take out a funeral procession.
After initial confusion, police relaxed the curfew in these areas along with other-riot hit parts of the city.
The 12-hour curfew relaxation began at 6 a.m. in all 25 police station areas but the movement of people in Shahali Banda and surrounding areas was restricted. Shops and schools remained closed.
Though the day curfew was lifted last Monday, the police are continuing with the night curfew as a precautionary measure.
The riots, which broke out March 27 in the old city following a dispute over religious flags, also left over 150 people injured.
Police said they have registered 152 cases and arrested 200 people in connection with various incidents of violence.
Responsible India has key role in strengthening non-proliferation regime: US
Washington: Given its demonstrated ability to protect nuclear technology while allowing growth of civilian nuclear capacity, the United States expects a "responsible" India to play an important role in strengthening the global non-proliferation regime.
"I think India, will play an important role both in the national security summit next week as well as the NPT (Non-proliferation Treaty" review conference in May," State Department spokesman P J Crowley told reporters here on Tuesday.
He was responding to a question about what role US visualised for India, which has declined to sign the NPT, at next week's global nuclear security summit here, which would bring together leaders from 47 nations, including Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
But as the US Nuclear Posture Review reflected, Crowley said: "We are less concerned about the exchange of nuclear weapons among states. We're more concerned about how we keep nuclear technology and know-how out of the hands of outlier states and rogue elements."
"And India will have an important role to play, both in terms of reinforcing and strengthening the Non-proliferation Treaty, but also demonstrating, as it is itself, how it can both protect nuclear technology, while also allowing the growth of civilian nuclear capacity."
Asked to comment on the India-China relationship and their decision to set up a hotline between the prime ministers of two countries, Crowley said: "I think we value dialogue, particularly in Asia. But this is a matter between the governments of China and India."
"But we certainly think that any mechanism that allows two important countries - that are neighbours and vitally important to global security and the economy - should have appropriate mechanisms to communicate whenever they feel the need."
Meanwhile, a key Obama aide on non-proliferation said the US and India have increasingly become partners in dealing with the global proliferation threat with the threat of nuclear terrorism.
"We talk about these issues on a bilateral and on a multilateral basis with India quite frequently," Special US Advisor Non Proliferation and Arms Control Robert J Einhorn told foreign media.
The Obama Administration also "appreciates and understands" India's principled stand on the NPT, he said.
"It's a long-standing attitude; it's a position of principle. What's especially important to us is that India behaves in a responsible manner. And it has behaved in a responsible manner."
"I think India, will play an important role both in the national security summit next week as well as the NPT (Non-proliferation Treaty" review conference in May," State Department spokesman P J Crowley told reporters here on Tuesday.
He was responding to a question about what role US visualised for India, which has declined to sign the NPT, at next week's global nuclear security summit here, which would bring together leaders from 47 nations, including Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
But as the US Nuclear Posture Review reflected, Crowley said: "We are less concerned about the exchange of nuclear weapons among states. We're more concerned about how we keep nuclear technology and know-how out of the hands of outlier states and rogue elements."
"And India will have an important role to play, both in terms of reinforcing and strengthening the Non-proliferation Treaty, but also demonstrating, as it is itself, how it can both protect nuclear technology, while also allowing the growth of civilian nuclear capacity."
Asked to comment on the India-China relationship and their decision to set up a hotline between the prime ministers of two countries, Crowley said: "I think we value dialogue, particularly in Asia. But this is a matter between the governments of China and India."
"But we certainly think that any mechanism that allows two important countries - that are neighbours and vitally important to global security and the economy - should have appropriate mechanisms to communicate whenever they feel the need."
Meanwhile, a key Obama aide on non-proliferation said the US and India have increasingly become partners in dealing with the global proliferation threat with the threat of nuclear terrorism.
"We talk about these issues on a bilateral and on a multilateral basis with India quite frequently," Special US Advisor Non Proliferation and Arms Control Robert J Einhorn told foreign media.
The Obama Administration also "appreciates and understands" India's principled stand on the NPT, he said.
"It's a long-standing attitude; it's a position of principle. What's especially important to us is that India behaves in a responsible manner. And it has behaved in a responsible manner."
India and China sign hotline deal
Beijing: On Wednesday India inked a deal with a China that would enable a hotline to be set up and be used for the purposes of communication by the respective Prime Ministers of both the nations. However, both the countries are yet to voice unanimous opinions on several matters of critical importance that could well have a bearing on the bilateral relationship of the Asian giants.
While talking with Yang Jiechi, the Foreign Minister of China, and Wen Jiabao, the Chinese Premier, S.M. Krishna, the Union External Affairs Minister has asked China to re-examine its stance vis-à-vis India gaining a permanent place at the United Nations Security Council. He also expressed Indian concerns regarding the assistance being provided by China to various projects that are on at Pakistan occupied Kashmir. He has also expressed worry at the way China has been providing stapled visas to people from Jammu and Kashmir.
Nirupama Rao has said that China has repeated its sympathy and support for India’s ambitions to play an important role in the context of the United Nations as well as other matters of global importance. They had also voiced the same opinion during 2008 when Manmohan Singh had gone on a visit.
While talking with Yang Jiechi, the Foreign Minister of China, and Wen Jiabao, the Chinese Premier, S.M. Krishna, the Union External Affairs Minister has asked China to re-examine its stance vis-à-vis India gaining a permanent place at the United Nations Security Council. He also expressed Indian concerns regarding the assistance being provided by China to various projects that are on at Pakistan occupied Kashmir. He has also expressed worry at the way China has been providing stapled visas to people from Jammu and Kashmir.
Nirupama Rao has said that China has repeated its sympathy and support for India’s ambitions to play an important role in the context of the United Nations as well as other matters of global importance. They had also voiced the same opinion during 2008 when Manmohan Singh had gone on a visit.
No India-type nuclear deal for Pakistan
Washington: The United States has ruled out an India-type civil nuclear deal for Pakistan, at least for now.
"We are focused on Pakistan's energy needs. But as we said last week, right now, that does not include civilian nuclear energy," State Department spokesman P. J Crowley told reporters on Wednesday when asked about Pakistan's demand for such a deal.
"I do not know if this came up during our discussions," he said referring to the recent US- Pakistan strategic dialogue where Islamabad had come up with a 56-page wish list including an India type deal.
Asked if the US was concerned that nuclear material in Pakistan was more vulnerable to Al Qaida and Taliban terrorists, the spokesman said: "I'm not going to break any new ground here. I think various US leaders have expressed confidence in the security of the Pakistani weapons. I'm not going to go any further than that."
Significantly Crowley's comments came shortly after Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told a parliamentary committee in Islamabad that Pakistan "fully qualifies" for an India-like nuclear deal as it has put in place effective security and non-proliferation measures.
A "well established, foolproof safety and security culture fully qualifies Pakistan for equal participation in civil nuclear cooperation at the international level, which would help us in addressing our immediate energy problems, and would bring greater stability as well," he was reported as saying.
A top Obama aide for nuclear non-proliferation said in Washington the US favoured setting up nuclear fuel banks as part of new global civil-nuclear architecture allowing countries to benefit from the peaceful uses of nuclear energy without increasing proliferation risks.
"And so ideas have been put forward, like fuel supply assurances, international fuel banks," Robert J Einhorn, Special US Advisor for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Arms Control, told foreign media.
"These are designed to give countries more options, to give them more access to the nuclear fuels they need to run a nuclear energy programme, a nuclear power programme," he said.
"And so we have supported these international fuel banks to do that," Einhorn said adding, This will not be the focus of next week's nuclear security summit here and will come up again at the May Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference.
"We are focused on Pakistan's energy needs. But as we said last week, right now, that does not include civilian nuclear energy," State Department spokesman P. J Crowley told reporters on Wednesday when asked about Pakistan's demand for such a deal.
"I do not know if this came up during our discussions," he said referring to the recent US- Pakistan strategic dialogue where Islamabad had come up with a 56-page wish list including an India type deal.
Asked if the US was concerned that nuclear material in Pakistan was more vulnerable to Al Qaida and Taliban terrorists, the spokesman said: "I'm not going to break any new ground here. I think various US leaders have expressed confidence in the security of the Pakistani weapons. I'm not going to go any further than that."
Significantly Crowley's comments came shortly after Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told a parliamentary committee in Islamabad that Pakistan "fully qualifies" for an India-like nuclear deal as it has put in place effective security and non-proliferation measures.
A "well established, foolproof safety and security culture fully qualifies Pakistan for equal participation in civil nuclear cooperation at the international level, which would help us in addressing our immediate energy problems, and would bring greater stability as well," he was reported as saying.
A top Obama aide for nuclear non-proliferation said in Washington the US favoured setting up nuclear fuel banks as part of new global civil-nuclear architecture allowing countries to benefit from the peaceful uses of nuclear energy without increasing proliferation risks.
"And so ideas have been put forward, like fuel supply assurances, international fuel banks," Robert J Einhorn, Special US Advisor for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Arms Control, told foreign media.
"These are designed to give countries more options, to give them more access to the nuclear fuels they need to run a nuclear energy programme, a nuclear power programme," he said.
"And so we have supported these international fuel banks to do that," Einhorn said adding, This will not be the focus of next week's nuclear security summit here and will come up again at the May Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference.
Howzzat? Akshay Kumar becomes bowler for 'Patiala House'
Mumbai: Action star Akshay Kumar is taking his role as a cricketer in "Patiala House" so seriously that he has been training rigorously under former Test bowler Paras Mhambrey even before shooting has started.
Paras, currently working with the Indian Premier League's Mumbai Indians team, has been taking time off to coach Akshay whenever possible.
Akshay has just returned from his back therapy in Germany and wants to continue training steadily and regularly so that his bowling skills are sharpened by the time he starts shooting for "Patiala House".
"Akshay has been training diligently and religiously. His coach Paras Mhambrey even joined him at Malshej Ghat for Farah's film ('Tees Maar Khan'). Because right after that our cricket sequences start in London," Nikhil Advani, who is directing "Patiala House", told IANS.
Advani's British sports coordinator Robert Miller, who handled the hockey and cricket scenes in "Chak De! India" and "Dil Bole Hadippa" respectively, is here right now finalising the list of international cricketers who will play with Akshay in "Patiala House".
"We're looking at international cricketers from all over the world - England, South Africa, Australia, Bangladesh. The fact that the IPL matches are on makes our job easier because Robert can meet and negotiate with a lot of international cricketers while they are here," said Advani.
The film also requires county-level and regional players who will be finalised after Miller fixes on the big-name cricketers.
"I basically need the cricketers from May 25 to June 5 for the various games that we'll be shooting in England. So we can work our schedules according to the cricketers' date diaries," said Advani.
This, admits Advani, is easier said than done. "I've a real uphill task ahead. And I've stopped sleeping with anxiety. But I've one expert cricketer on my team already. My leading man Akshay. You've to see how well he bowls now."
Akshay is apparently so bowled over by his coach Paras that he now intends to request the former test cricketer to train his son Aarav as well.
Paras, currently working with the Indian Premier League's Mumbai Indians team, has been taking time off to coach Akshay whenever possible.
Akshay has just returned from his back therapy in Germany and wants to continue training steadily and regularly so that his bowling skills are sharpened by the time he starts shooting for "Patiala House".
"Akshay has been training diligently and religiously. His coach Paras Mhambrey even joined him at Malshej Ghat for Farah's film ('Tees Maar Khan'). Because right after that our cricket sequences start in London," Nikhil Advani, who is directing "Patiala House", told IANS.
Advani's British sports coordinator Robert Miller, who handled the hockey and cricket scenes in "Chak De! India" and "Dil Bole Hadippa" respectively, is here right now finalising the list of international cricketers who will play with Akshay in "Patiala House".
"We're looking at international cricketers from all over the world - England, South Africa, Australia, Bangladesh. The fact that the IPL matches are on makes our job easier because Robert can meet and negotiate with a lot of international cricketers while they are here," said Advani.
The film also requires county-level and regional players who will be finalised after Miller fixes on the big-name cricketers.
"I basically need the cricketers from May 25 to June 5 for the various games that we'll be shooting in England. So we can work our schedules according to the cricketers' date diaries," said Advani.
This, admits Advani, is easier said than done. "I've a real uphill task ahead. And I've stopped sleeping with anxiety. But I've one expert cricketer on my team already. My leading man Akshay. You've to see how well he bowls now."
Akshay is apparently so bowled over by his coach Paras that he now intends to request the former test cricketer to train his son Aarav as well.
India's Sensex falls after previous day's gains
Mumbai: After scaling the 18,000-point mark to reach its highest level in 25 months, a key Indian equity market index opened lower today, as investors resorted to profit taking.
The sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) that closed on Wednesday at 17,970.02 points opened at 17,950.56 points and crawled to 17,960.91 points. Later, it was ruling at 17,920.12 points, with a loss of 49.90 points, or 0.28 percent.
The index had reached 18,047.86 points during intra-day trading on Wednesday, which was the highest since February 2008.
Twenty-one out of 30 stocks that comprise the Sensex were ruling lower and only eight managed to trade in the green. Among the 13 sector-specific indices, as many as eight were in the red.
At the National Stock Exchange, the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling at 5,360.70 points, with a loss of 13.95 points, or 0.26 percent over the previous close.
The sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) that closed on Wednesday at 17,970.02 points opened at 17,950.56 points and crawled to 17,960.91 points. Later, it was ruling at 17,920.12 points, with a loss of 49.90 points, or 0.28 percent.
The index had reached 18,047.86 points during intra-day trading on Wednesday, which was the highest since February 2008.
Twenty-one out of 30 stocks that comprise the Sensex were ruling lower and only eight managed to trade in the green. Among the 13 sector-specific indices, as many as eight were in the red.
At the National Stock Exchange, the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling at 5,360.70 points, with a loss of 13.95 points, or 0.26 percent over the previous close.
Sock made of human hair on display at Bata Museum
Toronto: The Bata Shoe Museum here, which has rare items from the Nizam of Hyderabad, opened a unique exhibition 'Socks: Between You and Your Shoes' to give a peep into "the least researched items of dress".
On display are rare socks, including a 13th century sock made of human hair, linen socks worn by King Charles I in the 17th century, a pair worn by Napoleon Bonaparte during his exile on St. Helena in the early 1800s and silk stockings worn by Queen Victoria.
The exhibition that opened Wednesday also has a replica of the footwear and sock once worn by the Otzi man 5,300 years ago.
"For thousands of years, people around the world have sought to separate themselves from their shoes with all manner of socks. Some are humble, some are splendid but all were created to make us more comfortable as we walk through life," said museum curator Elizabeth Semmelhack at the opening.
Situated at the headquarters of the Bata Shoe Company here, this unique museum exhibits 10,000 items tracing the 4,500-year-old history of shoe wearing.
The collection includes breath-taking items such as the diamond-studded slippers of the Nizam of Hyderabad, worth $160,000.
Belonging to Nizam Sikandar Jah, the slippers from the 1790s are rated as one of the most expensive shoes ever made in the world.
The glittering pair of slippers are embedded with rubies and diamonds. It was stolen in 2006 and later recovered from a church after an anonymous call.
Picasso's pony-skin boots are also here.
India was one of the first countries chosen for expansion by the 116-year-old company.
Bata owner Thomas Bata, who died in 2008, would often joke that Indians thought it is an Indian company because of its presence in India since 1931.
On display are rare socks, including a 13th century sock made of human hair, linen socks worn by King Charles I in the 17th century, a pair worn by Napoleon Bonaparte during his exile on St. Helena in the early 1800s and silk stockings worn by Queen Victoria.
The exhibition that opened Wednesday also has a replica of the footwear and sock once worn by the Otzi man 5,300 years ago.
"For thousands of years, people around the world have sought to separate themselves from their shoes with all manner of socks. Some are humble, some are splendid but all were created to make us more comfortable as we walk through life," said museum curator Elizabeth Semmelhack at the opening.
Situated at the headquarters of the Bata Shoe Company here, this unique museum exhibits 10,000 items tracing the 4,500-year-old history of shoe wearing.
The collection includes breath-taking items such as the diamond-studded slippers of the Nizam of Hyderabad, worth $160,000.
Belonging to Nizam Sikandar Jah, the slippers from the 1790s are rated as one of the most expensive shoes ever made in the world.
The glittering pair of slippers are embedded with rubies and diamonds. It was stolen in 2006 and later recovered from a church after an anonymous call.
Picasso's pony-skin boots are also here.
India was one of the first countries chosen for expansion by the 116-year-old company.
Bata owner Thomas Bata, who died in 2008, would often joke that Indians thought it is an Indian company because of its presence in India since 1931.
Brinda questions cervical cancer vaccines programme
New Delhi: Communist leader and parliamentarian Brinda Karat has written to Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad asking him to spell out the government's stand on the cervical cancer vaccination programme conducted in an Andhra Pradesh district, from where four deaths have been reported allegedly as an outcome of side effects.
The vaccine is for controlling or protecting against two to four strains of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which could lead to cervical cancer.
Protesting the HPV vaccination drive by an NGO, PATH, in Andhra Pradesh, the CPI-M politburo member on Wednesday slammed the government's attitude towards the deaths reported among the young girls to whom the vaccines were given.
Last week, Karat visited the Khammam district where the "study" was conducted by the district and state health officials for the PATH-Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) collaboration project.
Addressing reporters here Karat said: "In my discussion with the health officials there, I was told it is a demo programme and not a clinical trial as is emerging. The deaths of four tribal girls who were vaccinated is a serious issue and cannot be ignored. We need to fix accountability and ensure these studies or whatever they are, aren't carried out on socio-economically marginal groups. This should be stopped in other states."
Karat said that mainly tribal girls in the age bracket of 10 to 14 years were being vaccinated by the NGO with the approval of the Andhra Pradeshgovernment and the Indian Council of Medical Research.
"Although it is a private pharma company MSD (Merck) pharmaceuticals whose expensive vaccines are being given by a single NGO, the vaccination card has the National Rural Health Mission's logo and the district immunization officer's address, whereas the NRHM documents don't mention this vaccination programme at all," said Karat.
In the letter the parliament member has asked the government to specify if there is any such ongoing programme in any states and if so on what basis has the implementation by an NGO been approved.
"Is the ICMR even aware or concerned that the programme violated basic norms of informed consent...nearly 278 girls at a residential bridging course school were vaccinated on the basis of a single signature from their warden and without parental consent. Now there has to be some sort of screening in the coming months to ensure they are fine. I have demanded in the letter that there should be an impartial enquiry as well as a compensation to the girls," she said.
A group of NGOs working on women's rights and public health issues also released a report titled 'Where the State follows a Mercky Path', giving details of the HPV vaccination programme which was started in Khammam district in June 2009.
As part of this drive, the vaccine Gardasil was administered to 14,000 young girls aged 10-14 years. A similar project was also undertaken in Gujarat's Vadodara district.
"In 2010, four girls were reported to have died following the administering of the vaccine dosages. Amongst side effects reported in Khammam, there have been cases of mood swings, irritability and agitation, seizures and a general feeling of uneasiness. Other reported effects included headaches and stomach aches, dizziness, early onset of menstruation and heavy bleeding in some cases," said N. Sarojini, joint convenor of the Jan Swasthiya Abhiyaan who compiled the report.
Meanwhile, the pharma company Merck's said: "Gardasil is the result of over 10 years of research and development. As part of the rigorous scientific vaccine clinical development program, clinical trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of the vaccine have included more than 25,000 women from 33 countries from around the world."
The vaccine is for controlling or protecting against two to four strains of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which could lead to cervical cancer.
Protesting the HPV vaccination drive by an NGO, PATH, in Andhra Pradesh, the CPI-M politburo member on Wednesday slammed the government's attitude towards the deaths reported among the young girls to whom the vaccines were given.
Last week, Karat visited the Khammam district where the "study" was conducted by the district and state health officials for the PATH-Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) collaboration project.
Addressing reporters here Karat said: "In my discussion with the health officials there, I was told it is a demo programme and not a clinical trial as is emerging. The deaths of four tribal girls who were vaccinated is a serious issue and cannot be ignored. We need to fix accountability and ensure these studies or whatever they are, aren't carried out on socio-economically marginal groups. This should be stopped in other states."
Karat said that mainly tribal girls in the age bracket of 10 to 14 years were being vaccinated by the NGO with the approval of the Andhra Pradeshgovernment and the Indian Council of Medical Research.
"Although it is a private pharma company MSD (Merck) pharmaceuticals whose expensive vaccines are being given by a single NGO, the vaccination card has the National Rural Health Mission's logo and the district immunization officer's address, whereas the NRHM documents don't mention this vaccination programme at all," said Karat.
In the letter the parliament member has asked the government to specify if there is any such ongoing programme in any states and if so on what basis has the implementation by an NGO been approved.
"Is the ICMR even aware or concerned that the programme violated basic norms of informed consent...nearly 278 girls at a residential bridging course school were vaccinated on the basis of a single signature from their warden and without parental consent. Now there has to be some sort of screening in the coming months to ensure they are fine. I have demanded in the letter that there should be an impartial enquiry as well as a compensation to the girls," she said.
A group of NGOs working on women's rights and public health issues also released a report titled 'Where the State follows a Mercky Path', giving details of the HPV vaccination programme which was started in Khammam district in June 2009.
As part of this drive, the vaccine Gardasil was administered to 14,000 young girls aged 10-14 years. A similar project was also undertaken in Gujarat's Vadodara district.
"In 2010, four girls were reported to have died following the administering of the vaccine dosages. Amongst side effects reported in Khammam, there have been cases of mood swings, irritability and agitation, seizures and a general feeling of uneasiness. Other reported effects included headaches and stomach aches, dizziness, early onset of menstruation and heavy bleeding in some cases," said N. Sarojini, joint convenor of the Jan Swasthiya Abhiyaan who compiled the report.
Meanwhile, the pharma company Merck's said: "Gardasil is the result of over 10 years of research and development. As part of the rigorous scientific vaccine clinical development program, clinical trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of the vaccine have included more than 25,000 women from 33 countries from around the world."
All clear for Shoaib-Sania wedding, Ayesha gets divorce
Hyderabad: La' affaire Sania-Shoaib-Ayesha ended abruptly today with the Pakistani cricketer sending divorce papers to Ayesha Siddiqui, who in turn agreed to withdraw the criminal complaint of cheating against him. Shoaib Malik, who is set to wed Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza on April 15, had denied Hyderabad girl Ayesha's claims that he had married her. He had admitted to a telephone wedding but said he had been shown the photograph of another woman. After days of mudslinging, a compromise was reached with the intervention of elders of the Muslim community and representatives from the three families. "Shoaib Malik has sent divorce papers to Ayesha Siddiqui," Shams Babar, a family friend of the Siddiquis, told media. "My daughter is relieved and she is very happy. Justice has been done," Ayesha's mother Farisa Siddiqui told reporters, adding that her daughter would now withdraw the case. She said the compromise was reached without any compensation. Shoaib paid Rs.15,000 as monthly maintenance for three months as per Islamic law. The surprising development comes two days after Ayesha filed a complaint with the police accusing Shoaib of cheating, harassment and criminal intimidation. Shoaib, who married Ayesha over phone in 2002, was questioned by police on Monday and his passport seized for investigations. Abid Rasool Khan, general secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Congress and a friend of both families, told reporters that Shoaib sent the divorce papers after advice by community elders. He said efforts for a compromise were being made for last few days as the community was getting a bad name due to the allegations between the two sides.
Security forces comb Chhattisgarh forests for Maoists
Raipur: Thousands of policemen today combed the hostile jungle terrain in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region to track down Maoists responsible for Tuesday's massacre of 76 security men but failed to make any headway, officials said. "The forces are doing their best in jungles. Those who orchestrated ambush Tuesday, in which we lost 76 colleagues, are hiding somewhere close to Chhattisgarh-Andhra Pradesh. We are determined to stamp them out," S.R. Kalluri, deputy inspector general (DIG) of police posted in Dantewada, told the media. At least 75 Central Reserve Police Force troopers and a Chhattisgarh policeman were massacred by Left-wing rebels in the dense forests of Dantewada on Tuesday. The attack is the deadliest by the Maoists in over four-decade-old insurgency. Kalluri said the police personnel engaged in anti-Maoist operations in Dantewada district are highly upset over the killings and will retaliate in more "aggressive and appropriate manner". Dantewada Superintendent of Police Amresh Mishra said, "We are not scared of anything, we have capability to hit back any moment. But we don't like to share everything with media on what's going on in jungles now. But it's sure the killers will have to pay a heavy price." Officials at the state police headquarters here, who were earlier claiming that "Maoists are running for cover from one forest to another", are now tight-lipped. A police intelligence wing official said, "It's a big jolt to the entire police department. The Tuesday attack has pushed us on backfoot. But it's a temporary situation, we will overcome them and come harder on their (Maoists) bases." The incident has also shocked the state's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party which was claiming that Chhattisgarh is the lone state that has begun effectively countering Maoists challenges. "The state has lost total control in Bastar. Chhattisgarh is the fit case now for president's rule, otherwise situation will further deteriorate," Chhattisgarh state Congress general secretary Ramesh Varlyani told the media.
Pool your wisdom to battle price rise: PM tells parties
New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asked political parties to pool their wisdom and experience to evolve a pragmatic and practical solution to the problems of price rise. Asked about the Left parties' planned protests on Thursday against the rising prices of essential goods, he said: "I don't think these problems could be solved by agitational tactics. "The country has a problem and I would like all political patrties to pool their knowledge, wisdom and experience to evolve practical, pragmatic solutions to these problems." Manmohan Singh, who speaking at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, said he would discuss the issue with chief ministers.
Sajjan wants more documents from CBI in 1984 riots case
New Delhi: Congress leader Sajjan Kumar today countered the refusal of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to hand over to him more documents related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases against him and claimed he was within his right to seek these. Appearing before Additional Sessions Judge Sunita Gupta, Kumar's counsel I.U. Khan cited legal provisions and said that the accused can seek documents from the investigating agency at any stage of the case. Counsel for the CBI said the investigating agency has already filed all documents that it wanted to. The court asked the CBI to explain why certain documents as pointed out by Kumar and other co-accused were not produced. The next hearing was slated for April 14 and 15. Khan earlier asked the CBI to produce three first information reports (FIRs) related to Kumar and other co-accused in the case, filed in various courts. He also sought the action taken report on the Justice G.T. Nanavati Commission investigation on the riots. The commission was established by the central government in 2000 to investigate the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Khan said the complete action taken report has not been brought on record by the CBI. "There are only extracts of the report in the charge sheet. Also there are different charge sheets and FIRs filed in different courts which are also not in the charge sheet given to us by the CBI," he said. "Though the action taken report was presented in parliament, the CBI has not presented it in the court," he said. He claimed that Kumar will be at a disadvantage if the documents sought by him are not presented in the court. Sajjan Kumar, Khushal Singh, Girdhari Lal, Balwan Khokhar, Mahender Yadav, Maha Singh, Capt Bhagmal, Santosh Rani and Krishna Khokhar were named as accused in the murder of five people in Delhi Cantonment in the 1984 riots following then prime minister Indira Gandhi's assassination. On March 10, the court granted bail to Sajjan Kumar and others. The accused furnished a surety and personal bond of Rs.50,000 each.
Fear of arrest forced Shoaib Malik to compromise?
Hyderabad: Did the fear of imminent arrest force Pakistani cricket star Shoaib Malik to do a volte-face and compromise with his alleged first wife Ayesha Siddiqui by sending divorce papers to her? This question is doing the rounds after Shoaib, who is scheduled to marry Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza here on April 15, signed the divorce papers and sent the same to Ayesha Siddiqui today after the latter agreed to withdraw the police case against him. Ayesha, during her statement to police on Tuesday, was believed to have given clinching evidence against Shoaib. According to sources close to her family, it included medical evidence that Ayesha had become pregnant after the marriage and even had a miscarriage. They claimed that this would nail Shoaib. The woman had also submitted 'nikahnama' which carried the signature of Shoaib, details of his visit to Hyderabad after their wedding in 2002, the places where they stayed and the persons they met in Hyderabad. Notwithstanding his spirited defence, Shoaib was worried after police grilled him on Monday following a criminal case booked against him on the basis of complaint by Ayesha and seizure of his passport. He was charged with cheating, harassment and criminal intimidation. While community elders claim to have worked out the compromise in the larger interest of the relations between Indian and Pakistan and the community, sources said the solution was arrived at after Sania Mirza's family made hectic efforts fearing Shoaib's arrest. Sania's family was worried that Shoaib's arrest, legal tangle and the continuing adverse media publicity could force the postponement of the marriage. They roped in some key Muslim political and religious leaders who contacted Ayesha's family to find a way out, sources said. With only a week to go for the marriage, Sania's parents also convinced Shoaib to agree for a compromise and sign divorce papers without bothering whether the girl is Ayesha or Maha. Shoaib was given to believe that he was giving a divorce to the girl he married over phone and not to the girl whose pictures were shown over television channels. Shoaib had maintained that he signed the 'nikahnama' for marrying the girl whose photographs were sent to him. He had declined to give divorce saying he knew her as Maha Apa or elder sister of Ayesha. The Siddiqui family claimed that Maha is another name of Ayesha.
No talks with breakaway insurgent groups, says government
New Delhi: The government today said that it is always willing to talk to any group which is ready to leave the path of violence but will not entertain any splinter groups or breakaway factions of those organisations. "The government of India has always shown its willingness to enter into dialogue with any group which is willing to abjure the path of violence and place its demand within the framework of the constitution of India," said a home ministry statement. In response to the government's policy in country's northeastern region, United Peoples Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), Dima Halam Daogah-Nunisa Group (DHD-N), National Democratic Front of Bodoland (pro-talk faction), NDFB (PT), had suspended their operations. "Recently, Dima Halam Daogah-Joel Groupm (DHD-J) and Karbi Longri NC Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF) have come forward for dialogue to seek resolution to their grievances within the framework of the constitution of India and have laid down their arms to create a conducive environment for talks," it added. The government, however, cleared that it will not hold talks with any breakaway faction or splinter group of these organisations. "It has been observed that some of the renegade cadres of these outfits who did not give up their arms have not joined the ongoing peace process and some of them have reportedly formed splinter groups. security forces shall take concerted action against such splinter groups," the statement further said. "It has been decided that the government will not enter into dialogue with splinter groups or any other new outfits or breakaway factions or accept their laying down of arms in a public function. However, such cadres can surrender as per the provisions of the surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy," it added.
Mishra keen to continue the good show in IPL
Kolkata: Amit Mishra may not have found a berth in India's Twenty20 World Cup squad despite being among the wickets, but the leg-spinner is not unduly bothered and says he is enjoying his moment under the sun with the purple cap for being the highest wicket-taker in the ongoing Indian Premier League. Delhi Daredevils bowler Mishra has 14 scalps in nine matches and would don the purple cap in his side's crucial game against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens today. The 27-year-old bowler, who got a hat-trick against the Deccan Chargers in the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008, said: "My job is to perform and I will do that. Let the selectors decide." "Presently I am very happy to get the purple cap and want to continue my good showing in IPL," said Mishra, who made his Test debut against Australia in Mohali in 2008. In the international arena, Mishra has been mainly associated with Test matches. But asked whether he had any problems in adapting to the Twenty20 format, he said: "I have learnt from legends like Shane Warne. Viru (Virender Sehwag) also helped me a lot." The Gautam Gambhir-led Daredevils are currently placed just below league leaders Mumbai Indians, with 12 points from nine outings.
No advantage in having indigenous IPL skipper: Sehwag
Kolkata: After captaining the Delhi Daredevils in the first two seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Virender Sehwag feels there is no added advantage in having an indigenous skipper. Addressing a press meet organised by Emami Ltd., the Indian opener who is known for his flamboyant style of batting, today said: "It is not that an Indian captaining an IPL franchise will have an advantage. Look at (Rajashtan Royals skipper) Shane Warne. How well he is motivating the Rajasthan Royals." "Every team can play four foreigners, who are all established players. There is no need to talk to them. But one has to get the performance from the domestic players. And therein lies the challenge. Warne has handled the Indian players well. He gives them confidence," he said. Answering the problem of having a plenty of foreigners which is keeping a genuine match winner like Tilakeratne Dilshan out of the Daredevils' playing eleven, Sehwag replied: "Players like Warner (David Warner) and Collingwood (Paul Collingwood) are playing so well. So where will we accommodate Dilshan? The team is playing good cricket and we hope to continue the momentum."
Haryana police bust IPL betting gang, 5 arrested
Sirsa (Haryana): The Haryana police in this town today claimed to have busted a gang of bookies who were running a betting racket on Indian Premier League (IPL) matches being played currently. A police department spokesman said five people were arrested on the spot for this racket late on Tuesday. He said police recovered goods worth lakhs of rupees from them, including 77 mobile phones, five landline phones, three box chargers, 30 mobile chargers, four switch boards, one laptop, two coloured TVs, 26 mobile batteries, five laptop chargers, two calculators, nine account registers and other material. Giving details, the spokesman said a shop was raided by the police team following a tip-off that some people were betting on IPL cricket matches there.
'Avatar' technology for fourth 'Resident Evil' instalment
New Delhi: The fourth instalment of the hit "Resident Evil" franchise has been shot using the fusion digital 3-D camera, invented and used by acclaimed filmmaker James Cameron for his sci-fi epic drama "Avatar".
Titled "Resident Evil: Afterlife", the sci-fi horror thriller is the first movie after "Avatar" to use the Fusion Camera System, according to a statement by distributors Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Touted as the world's most advanced 3-D technology, it was developed by Cameron and Vincent Pace, director of photography for "Avatar", over a period of 10 years.
"I can't tell you how beautiful this camera system makes movies look in 3-D and how much depth you get," the movie's writer-director-producer Paul W.S. Anderson said in the statement.
Based on the survival horror video game series, "Resident Evil: Afterlife" is the first film in the series to be released in 3-D.
The movie stars Milla Jovovich who reprises her role from the previous three successful films as Alice. Also starring in pivotal roles are Ali Larter and Wentworth Miller.
"Resident Evil: Afterlife" picks up where the third film "Resident Evil: Extinction" left off. It shows that the world is ravaged by an infectious virus and victims are turned into the undead (zombies) while Alice continues her journey to find survivors and lead them to safety.
In the course of her journey and battle for survival, she gets some unexpected help from an old friend, Redfield (played by Ali), who takes Alice and her comrades to Los Angeles. When they arrive, the city is overrun by thousands of undead and a deadly trap awaits.
Releasing worldwide Sep 10, the movie will be released in India in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
Titled "Resident Evil: Afterlife", the sci-fi horror thriller is the first movie after "Avatar" to use the Fusion Camera System, according to a statement by distributors Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Touted as the world's most advanced 3-D technology, it was developed by Cameron and Vincent Pace, director of photography for "Avatar", over a period of 10 years.
"I can't tell you how beautiful this camera system makes movies look in 3-D and how much depth you get," the movie's writer-director-producer Paul W.S. Anderson said in the statement.
Based on the survival horror video game series, "Resident Evil: Afterlife" is the first film in the series to be released in 3-D.
The movie stars Milla Jovovich who reprises her role from the previous three successful films as Alice. Also starring in pivotal roles are Ali Larter and Wentworth Miller.
"Resident Evil: Afterlife" picks up where the third film "Resident Evil: Extinction" left off. It shows that the world is ravaged by an infectious virus and victims are turned into the undead (zombies) while Alice continues her journey to find survivors and lead them to safety.
In the course of her journey and battle for survival, she gets some unexpected help from an old friend, Redfield (played by Ali), who takes Alice and her comrades to Los Angeles. When they arrive, the city is overrun by thousands of undead and a deadly trap awaits.
Releasing worldwide Sep 10, the movie will be released in India in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
I owe a lot to Salman, says Zarine Khan
New Delhi: Zarine Khan, who made her acting debut opposite Salman Khan in "Veer", says she owes a lot to the star whom she doesn't hesitate to call her mentor.
"I am here because of Salman Khan. He is my mentor who discovered me and gave me my first Bollywood break. He has always been very supportive and I owe a lot to him," Zarine told media.
"I never thought that I would become an actress. I wanted to become a doctor, but destiny had something else in store for me. I am happy with the way my life is shaping up," she added.
The actress was here today to support "The Body Shop Loves You" campaign.
Before the release of "Veer" she was referred to as Katrina Kaif's look alike. But Zarine says post the film, people have started recognising her.
"It's fair enough if people compare me to her (Katrina). She is a beautiful woman and I take the compliment in a positive manner. Frankly speaking, after 'Veer', people have started recognising me as Zarine Khan," said the 25-year-old actress.
Though Zarine has not signed any new movie as of now, she is keen on doing a movie that gives her potential to perform.
"Talks are on for my next film, but nothing has been confirmed as of now. Will let you know whenever it happens. Also, I want to work in a movie that gives me scope to perform. I don't want to run around trees," explained Zarine.
So any favourite actors she would like to work with?
"Oh, I am so new in the industry and all these actors you want me to name have been in the industry for a long time now. So I would like to work with all of them because there will be so much to learn from everybody," she said.
According to Zarine, the journey so far has been interesting and she is liking every bit of attention.
"I am here because of Salman Khan. He is my mentor who discovered me and gave me my first Bollywood break. He has always been very supportive and I owe a lot to him," Zarine told media.
"I never thought that I would become an actress. I wanted to become a doctor, but destiny had something else in store for me. I am happy with the way my life is shaping up," she added.
The actress was here today to support "The Body Shop Loves You" campaign.
Before the release of "Veer" she was referred to as Katrina Kaif's look alike. But Zarine says post the film, people have started recognising her.
"It's fair enough if people compare me to her (Katrina). She is a beautiful woman and I take the compliment in a positive manner. Frankly speaking, after 'Veer', people have started recognising me as Zarine Khan," said the 25-year-old actress.
Though Zarine has not signed any new movie as of now, she is keen on doing a movie that gives her potential to perform.
"Talks are on for my next film, but nothing has been confirmed as of now. Will let you know whenever it happens. Also, I want to work in a movie that gives me scope to perform. I don't want to run around trees," explained Zarine.
So any favourite actors she would like to work with?
"Oh, I am so new in the industry and all these actors you want me to name have been in the industry for a long time now. So I would like to work with all of them because there will be so much to learn from everybody," she said.
According to Zarine, the journey so far has been interesting and she is liking every bit of attention.
"Perform in nine months": claims Rahman's Music Conservatory
Chennai: Oscar winner musician A.R. Rahman's (Slumdog Millionaire) KM Music Conservatory claims that after its training, one can "perform in nine months". Admissions are currently on at the Conservatory, which also claims to bring famed Russian style in Piano to India. Applauding Rahman for creating bridge between the music of east and west and for strengthening the worldwide market and stature of Indian music, Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, suggested that instead of offering shortcuts to musical success to students, Rahman's Conservatory should focus on providing some serious musical training and becoming one of top of world-class conservatories. Rajan Zed, who is the chairperson of Indo-American Leadership Confederation, also urged Rahman to help nourish the next generation with the richness of Indian music, elements of whose theory were first found in ancient Hindu scripture Sama-Veda. Founded by Rahman (who is also its Principal), KM Music Conservatory in Kodambakkam area of Chennai in Tamil Nadu state of India envisions expanding the horizon of musicians in India by offering education in both Indian and Western music besides music technology and its mission is to provide students with a strong artistic, intellectual, and technical foundation. Srinivas Krishnan is the provost of this international school of music and music technology whose tagline is "Become the Future of Music". Rahman has assembled international faculty at his Conservatory. Rahman, who has reportedly recorded sales of over 300 million, was called "Mozart of Madras" by Time magazine. Rahman sees music "as a way to connect to spirituality and embrace it" and for "creating harmony in troubled times".
Jaya Bachchan suffering health problems
New Delhi: Actress and Samajwadi party MP Jaya Bachchan has fallen ill, informs her husband and megastar Amitabh Bachchan. "Jaya has taken ill... suddenly... and I am with the doctors now investigating the problem. It's never good to see her like this for she rarely gets in such condition," the 67-year-old posted on his blog. "And because of this she is most reticent to any doctor visit, and more tablet treatment. But we persist and they have done their bit and gone. The medications have been administered." Amitabh said he had to go to an event, but cancelled it. "Had to go to Mahesh Manjrekar's audio release this evening, for his film ('City Of Gold') in Marathi on the mills and mill-workers problems in the city, ages ago. But had to cancel because of the situation in the house. "Spoke to him though at the function, and he put me on speaker for the media to hear through the mobile. Feel terrible pulling out of such situations at the last minute, but this was unavoidable," wrote Big B.
Airtel DTH launches digital TV recorder
New Delhi: Airtel digital TV, the direct-to-home service provider from India's top telecom company Bharti Airtel, today launched a recorder which allows customers to record TV shows from anywhere in the world using mobile phones. The digital TV recorder, which is an enhanced set-top box capable of recording live television anytime and anywhere, will be available for Rs.6,990 to new customers and at Rs.5,990 to existing ones. The company claims it to be a first of its kind example of convergence between the mobile and TV screen. "This product would be a lifestyle enabler that will significantly change TV viewing trends in India. It is also strategic as it brings together the TV screen and the mobile screen," said Ajai Puri, director and chief executive, DTH, Bharti Airtel. The recorder also offers customers the advantage of a high definition multi-media interface port for video output which means customers with the latest LCD TVs can enjoy the highest picture quality.
Punj Lloyd wins Rs.232 crore contract in Bihar
New Delhi: Infrastructure major Punj Lloyd today said it has bagged a contract worth Rs.232 crore from the Bihar government to build 850 solar-powered water treatment plants across the state. The scope of work includes design, construction and commissioning of the plants. Punj Lloyd Delta Renewables, a group company, will execute the order, the company said in a statement. With this contract, the order backlog for the group on a consolidated basis has gone up to Rs.26,205 crore, the statement added.
India records rise in foreign tourists in March
New Delhi: Foreign tourists arriving in India registered a growth of 12.9 percent in the month of March compared to the corresponding period last year, said data released by the tourism ministry today.
According to figures, foreign tourist arrivals during March this year was 472,000 compared to 418,000 during the corresponding period last year.
There was a negative growth of 12.9 percent registered in March 2009 compared to March 2008.
Foreign tourist arrivals during this year (January-March) were 15.63 lakh with a growth rate of 12.8 percent, compared to 13.86 lakh during the first three months last year.
The foreign exchange earnings from travel during March this year were Rs.5,507 crore as compared to Rs.4,437 crore in 2009.
In 2009, the arrival of foreign tourists fell by 3.3 percent to 51 lakh.
According to figures, foreign tourist arrivals during March this year was 472,000 compared to 418,000 during the corresponding period last year.
There was a negative growth of 12.9 percent registered in March 2009 compared to March 2008.
Foreign tourist arrivals during this year (January-March) were 15.63 lakh with a growth rate of 12.8 percent, compared to 13.86 lakh during the first three months last year.
The foreign exchange earnings from travel during March this year were Rs.5,507 crore as compared to Rs.4,437 crore in 2009.
In 2009, the arrival of foreign tourists fell by 3.3 percent to 51 lakh.
Government to frame policy for chewing tobacco companies
New Delhi: The government will come down heavily on chewing tobacco manufacturers and frame a policy against its widespread consumption in India, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said today.
"Chewing tobacco is most dangerous. All of us should have a policy for them," the minister said during a function at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here.
"They are going scot free. What about the 'gutka' (chewing tobacco) sellers who are spoiling the people's health? These gutka manufacturers are rich people. We should come down heavily on them," the minister added.
He said tobacco is one of the main reasons of cancer which kills tens of thousands of people. Every year, India reports around 900,000 cancer cases. The casualty figure in India due to cancer is above 400,000 per year.
The minister said the law is tougher against cigarette manufacturers though 'bidi' (rolled cigarettes) and chewing tobacco consumers are higher in number. According to official data, over 80 percent of tobacco users in India use bidi and chewing tobacco.
"Chewing tobacco is most dangerous. All of us should have a policy for them," the minister said during a function at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here.
"They are going scot free. What about the 'gutka' (chewing tobacco) sellers who are spoiling the people's health? These gutka manufacturers are rich people. We should come down heavily on them," the minister added.
He said tobacco is one of the main reasons of cancer which kills tens of thousands of people. Every year, India reports around 900,000 cancer cases. The casualty figure in India due to cancer is above 400,000 per year.
The minister said the law is tougher against cigarette manufacturers though 'bidi' (rolled cigarettes) and chewing tobacco consumers are higher in number. According to official data, over 80 percent of tobacco users in India use bidi and chewing tobacco.
India, China to set up hotline for leaders
New Delhi: India and China have signed an agreement to set up a hotline between the offices of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese premier Wen Jiabao, an official said today. The agreement was signed in Beijing on Tuesday between visiting Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi. Krishna is on a four-day visit to China, during which he held discussions with Yang and called on premier Wen. The agreement will operationalize the understanding reached between Manmohan Singh and Chinese President Hu Jintao last year to set up the hot link between the leadership of the two Asian countries.
Animal welfare may soon be another subject in schools
New Delhi: The school children may soon get the scope of learning about the animal welfare as the ministry aims to include the details on related topics in the school curriculum. With rising concern of animal abuse, the government is mulling on making topics on animal welfare an integral part of education. In a bid to prevent the future citizens of India from becoming abusers, Animal Welfare Board of India in association with animal protection groups plan to develop related-topics, which will be dealt with as the school syllabi at the primary level. According to AWBI chairman R M Kharb, the children need to learn about protection of animals as a part of formal education if they really want to understand animals and their sufferings. The Welfare Board is in constant touch with the State Boards of Education and Ministry of Human Resource and Development to get their approval.
Manmohan, Gilani meeting unlikely at Washington
Washington: President Barack Obama will meet Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani during the Nuclear Security Summit here but a meeting between the two premiers is not on the cards. Obama's meetings with Manmohan Singh and Gilani were listed by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on Tuesday among a number of bilateral meetings that the president is planning to host as part of the April 12 and 13 summit. But diplomatic sources ruled out any bilateral meeting between Manmohan Singh and Gilani on the sidelines of the summit, which would bring together leaders of besides India 46 other countries. At their first meeting since the Nov 24 White House state dinner, Obama and Manmohan Singh are expected to discuss the path forward on the landmark India-US civil nuclear deal following the accord on reprocessing of nuclear fuel. Gibbs said he was not "aware of any specific event around that (nuclear) issue." But that's something that President George Bush and President Obama both supported, he said. "I assume it will come up in their bilateral meeting next week." Catching up on their November meeting, Obama and Manmohan Singh are also expected to discuss the president's upcoming trip to India, which would most likely come before fall, diplomatic sources said. At the bilateral meetings with various countries Obama will take up issues that deal "directly with our proliferation efforts...There are (also) issues that may lie slightly outside of something like proliferation. Obviously the focus is on nuclear security," Gibbs said. He would talk about "what these countries we hope can and will do to ensure that they make every effort to lock down the type of vulnerable material that the President sees as such a danger," he said. Asked if the US would be pressing India or Japan or any other countries to get the issue of an overvalued Chinese currency on the G-20 agenda, Gibbs said: "I think there's no doubt this is of great concern to a number of economies around the world. But "the best thing to do" was to let US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and others "work through this process in upcoming meetings and evaluate where we are," he said referring to G20 finance ministers meeting and the US yearly dialogue with the Chinese here. Obama has spoken directly with the leaders in China about his concern and the "administration will continue to press the Chinese to value their currency in a way that's much more market-based," Gibbs said.
Nepal's passport deal with India taken to court
Kathmandu: The growing controversy in Nepal following the government's decision to award a sensitive passport contract to an Indian company continued to snowball with two individuals now challenging the decision in court. Lawyer Hem Mani Subedi and law student Nar Bahadur KC filed separate public interest litigation applications in Nepal's Supreme Court on Tuesday, asking it to scrap the deal signed between the coalition government and the state-owned Security Printing and Minting Corp of India to print new Nepali passports. They said the contract was "illegal" and compromised Nepal's security. The petitioners have filed the writs against Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, the cabinet secretariat, Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala, the foreign ministry, the immigration department and the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority. The trouble started in January after the foreign ministry cancelled a bidding process started in 2004. Nepal had floated a global tender to print three million modern machine-readable passports that are to replace the current handwritten ones in order to conform to the norms laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Four foreign companies were shortlisted but the process dragged on due to protracted political crises in Nepal and the fall of at least four governments. In January this year, Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala, who is also the deputy prime minister, persuaded the government to cancel the bidding process on the ground it would take too long and Nepal would fail to meet the April 1 deadline for the new passports. She proposed the Indian company, saying it would execute the job quickly due to the close diplomatic ties between India and Nepal. However, a team of MPs, who form the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee, asked the government twice not to hand over the contract to India, saying the Indian bid was higher than the others and would also jeopardise Nepal's diplomatic position as well as security. "The contract was given to the Indian company illegally in violation of the Procurement Act," former finance minister Prakash Chandra Lohani, who is also a member of the committee, told media. "It was not as if India had sought the contract. The foreign minister chose to give it to the Indian company. "Now a company from neighbouring country China has also made an offer at a lower rate, putting Nepal in an embarrassing mess." The parliamentary committee Monday summoned the prime minister for an explanation and found it unsatisfactory, Lohani said. "It is also an issue of the government defying parliament," he said. "The committee has decided to meet today to decide its next course of action." Now the two petitioners have alleged in their applications that the government may have given the contract to the Indian company after receiving kickbacks. Nepal's biggest party, the Maoists, are also opposing the deal. Maoist chief and former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda said at a public rally Tuesday that the contract to India would jeopardise Nepal's security. It also showed the blatant disregard the government had for parliament, which represented the people, Dahal said. The Indian company was to have delivered about three million new Nepali passports within the next three years, starting from June. To tide over till then, the government had said it would issue handwritten passports that would be valid for five years only instead of 10.
High alert along Orissa-Chhattisgarh border
Bhubaneswar: Security forces intensified combing operations along the Orissa-Chhattisgarh border today, a day after the massacre of 76 paramilitary troopers by Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, an official said. "The area where Maoists launched their attack in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday is located about 30-40 km from the border of Orissa's Malkangiri district," Deputy Inspector General of Police Sanjeeb Panda told media. "In view of that, all the police stations and camps in the district have been asked to be on maximum alert," he said. "We are in regular touch with the police and paramilitary forces in Chhattisgarh and the information sharing has been strengthened," he said. Maoists are active in more than half of Orissa. The districts of Malkangiri, bordering Chhattisgarh, is considered as their stronghold. Seventy-six Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers were killed Tuesday when hundreds of Maoists trapped them on a hilly stretch in Dantewada district. The guerrillas went on a killing spree using pressure bombs and automatic weapons.
We won't allow Maoists to succeed, says Chidambaram
Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh): Home Minister P. Chidambaram pledged today that the government would never allow Maoist guerrillas to succeed. "We cannot and shall not allow them to succeed," Chidambaram said here after paying homage to 75 paramilitary troopers massacred by the rebels in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday. A police head constable was also killed. Calling the attacks "brutal act of violence", the minister said the state -- the central and state governments -- would fight back. Hundreds of Maoists trapped over 80 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel on a hilly stretch in Dantewada district early Tuesday and went on a killing spree.
Chidambaram in Chhattisgarh to mourn troopers, review security
Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh): Home Minister P. Chidambaram reached this Chhattisgarh town today to attend a 'martyrs' ceremony' for the 76 security personnel massacred by guerrillas in the worst attack since the Maoist rebellion began 43 years ago. State Governor Shekhar Dutta and Chief Minister Raman Singh were also at Jagdalpur, the district headquarters of Bastar district, for the grim function to remember the dead troopers. Hundreds of Maoists trapped over 80 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel on a hilly stretch in Dantewada district on Tuesday afternoon and went on a killing spree using pressure bombs and automatic weapons. In no time, at least 74 CRPF men and a Chhattisgarh police officer lay dead in the inhospitable area in the heart of the country where the rebels have run a de facto state for decades, enlisting the support of a large number of impoverished tribals. According to a home ministry spokesperson in New Delhi, Chidambaram will also review the security situation in the state before returning to the national capital in the evening. "Something has gone very wrong...They seem to have walked into a trap set by the Naxalites. This shows the savage nature of the CPI-Maoist, the brutality and savagery they are capable of," he had said on Tuesday.
Chinese cyber espionage on India exposed
Toronto: Exposing unprecedented Chinese cyber offensive against India, dozens of other nations and the Dalai Lama, Canadian investigators have found that hackers of the so-called `Shadow Network' stole secrets files of India's missile projects, troop deployments and military schools. In what has been termed the world's biggest cyber spy ring, the Chinese hackers used simple methods of e-mail and Twitter to steal secrets from computers around the world, says the report `Shadows in the Cloud: An investigation into cyber espionage 2.0'' released here on Tuesday. In their year-long investigations, the researchers recovered India's national security files carrying information about the anti-aircraft, surface-to-air Pechora missile project, the Iron Dome missile system, and the artillery's Project Shakti. In total, as many as 78 stolen Indian military documents and two national security council documents were recovered by the investigation. These also included files about India's military training schools and troop deployment. "I thought, wow, that's the whole Indian defence establishment," researcher Greg Watson, who went to India as part of his field research for the investigation, was quoted as saying. In the cyber offensive on India, files were also stolen from computers of the Tatas and YYK India. The investigation also recovered visa applications stolen from Indian missions in Moscow, Kabul, Dubai and Nigeria.``Additionally, sensitive personal, financial and business information belonging to Indian officials (at its missions) was systematically harvested and exfiltrated by the attackers,'' the report said. But the computers of the Dalai Lama were the most hacked as investigators found on stolen files which included all emails to and from the Tibetan spiritual leader in 2009. In their global-spanning operation, the Chinese hackers used a network of `botnets' or remotely controlled computers linked to servers in China to steal secrets. The report comes a year after reports of China-based GhostNet hacked into servers of Indian government and missions abroad, dozens of other countries and the offices of the Dalai Lama last year. China had denied any involvement in GhostNet that hacked into 1,300 computers in more than 100 countries. Prepared by the University of Toronto's Munk Centre for International Studies, Canadian security firm SecDev Group and US-based cyber sleuthing organization Shadowserver Foundation, Tuesday's report put the Chinese government once again in the dock as Beijing over cyber espionage. "Essentially we went behind the backs of the attackers and picked their pockets," Ron Deibert, director of the Citizen Lab at Toronto University's Munk School of International Affairs which investigated the spy ring, was quoted as saying.
World's fastest movie is ready to release on April 9th
Toronto: Film Actor, Director, Producer & Guinness Hall of Famer Canada's record breaker Suresh Joachim of Canada has produced the "Sivappu Mazhai" in 11 days 23 hours and 45 minutes in Chennai India. "Sivappu Mazai" will be released in Canada and around the world on April 9, 2010. It will be released in more than 20 countries with English subtitles Suresh took on the leading role along with Meera Jasmine. The film is directed by V. Krishnamurthy. Music - Deva, Dialogue - Prabhakar, film editing - V.T. Vijan, Lyrics - Vairamuthu. Previous Record: scripting to screening in 13 days for The Fastest Forward (UK 1990). Produced By Russ Malkin and directed by john Gore (both UK) Suresh and his team which consist of 1,000 members completed this featured length movie in 11 days 23 hours & 45 minutes. This movie is 2 hours & 3 minutes long. Andrew Raymond & Suresh Joachim produced this film Under Suresh Joachim Entertainment Inc. & Joachim International Inc. Strict rules from Guinness World Records: 1. The film produced must have a running time of no less than 75 minutes in length. 2. The clock starts with the meeting/discussion/concept of writing a film script. 3. The clock stops as soon as the completed, classified film appears on the screen at its premiere performance The film was made in 11 days 23 hours & 45 minutes (starting from writing the story, screenplay, composing 4 songs, title, shooting up to 60 scenes and editing it into a two-hour feature length film. This multi-talented person, who is gifted with various talents, has been breaking world records since 1996. Suresh has been traveling around the world and has broken world records in four continents. He drummed continuously for 84 hours, ran 3,495 KM within an hour, every hour for 1000 consecutive hours, ran on a treadmill for 168 hours to cover 659.27km, bowled for 168hrs, carried a 4.5 kg brick in a nominated ungloved hand in an uncradled downward position for 135.5 km, non-stop crawling for 56.62 km, dribbled a basketball for 156.71 km in 24 hours, ran 100 km on a treadmill in just over 7 hours, 100 hours of continuous dancing, 24 hours moonwalk, non-stop musical performance with band for 42 hours, pushed a car for 19.2 km in 24 hours, watched TV for 69 hours on Regis & Kelly show, Radio DJ 120 hours, watched 56 movies for 123 hours at Netflix movie watching world championship and the list goes on. The Kollywood film industry and the artistes, who worked on this film, are very satisfied with the results and very proud of this achievement. This film was made from May 22, 2009 @ 6:30pm to June 3, 2009 @ 6:15pm. Suresh has given an opportunity to two poverty stricken talented sightless person to sing & act in this movie. By this he wants to expose the exceptional talent this individual was born with. When releasing the movie he is planning to help 50 children from India who is born with some type of disability. The most remarkable demonstration of Suresh's commitment to help suffering children will be the World Peace Marathon. This incredible journey will begin at 12:00 a.m. on December 25, 2011 in Jerusalem and end at 5:00 p.m. on June 24, 2012 in Toronto Canada. During his voyage, Suresh will travel through 88 major cities, in 55 countries passing a symbolic peace torch to dignitaries in each place. The journey will end with the peace torch being handed over to the leader of the country followed by a huge musical celebration. Once his journey is completed, Suresh will have traveled over 6,000 km, taking him a total of 182 days. During this time he hopes to raise One Billion dollars for Charity. Suresh Joachim will also submit a petition with millions of signatures to make June 24 a world wide cease fire day. Not only will he be raising funds for the children at the same time, but he will be breaking 20 world records including largest petition signed (500,000,000) in one year. Suresh Joachim's Next Attempt: Dancing for 150 hours. Most roles played by an Actor in one film 35 (Hollywood).The movie will be directed by Suresh Joachim who will play lead Actor of 35 characters and associate with directors from Canada USA, China, India, Japan, Saudi Arabia, France, & Russia.
A documentary hits Indian theatres - and it's not a joke
Mumbai: As India's first docu-drama to be released nationally and to receive rave reviews from critics and audiences alike, "Leaving Home" has raised the expectations of documentary filmmakers even though it may be too early to call it a trend. Directed by Jaideep Varma, "Leaving Home" has been released commercially in theatres in Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Ahmedabad, Noida and Hyderabad. " 'Leaving Home' was shot in digital and we are showing it in Big theatres, which have a digital projection capability. It saves cost and makes the film much more viable. Technology makes it possible," says Ashish Saksena, COO, Big Cinemas, the exhibitor. That is also the reason why despite fans in Bangalore and Kolkata crying for the film, it may not be released there - these cities do not have digital projection screens. "I will have to make prints for the same. I don't have the financial capability to do that now," says Varma who made it at a budget of Rs.7.5 million. His company Cartwheel Features is the co-distributor. "The film began in 2006 and has taken six times the budget we initially stipulated for it. Unless the film does well in the cities where it is currently playing, I don't think I can release it elsewhere." Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap calls "Leaving Home" awesome. His peer Dibakar Banerjee, fresh from the success of "Love Sex Aur Dhokha", a film that has a documentary feel to it, says, "I am a huge fan of documentaries. Every time I make my films, I see documentaries to inspire myself. For example the character of Dolly in 'Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye' was inspired from a similar character in the documentary 'I Am The Very Beautiful' by Shyamal Karmakar." But mere critical approval does not translate into box office success. Typically, documentaries are either show in the festival circuit or at film clubs and do not get a commercial release as they are not considered viable. "You cannot seek box office success for 'Leaving Home'. First of all, despite being a national release, it's still limited to six cities. Also, we've had very limited publicity," said Varma. So is the film's release in theatres a controlled experiment? "It is neither an experiment, nor are we testing the waters. We know that there is a market for documentaries in the country. Hence for us at Big this is a new initiative and whether 'Leaving Home' does well or not, it will not affect our decision to screen documentaries in future. 'Leaving Home' is not a make or break decision for us," said Saksena. But it is enough to make India's documentary circuit rejoice. Anand Patwardhan, who has the distinction of having his documentary being shown in theatres, reminisces about one of his own films. "It was not a national release. It was the monsoon of 2005 and the attendance in theatres for films was anyway low. "So Fun Republic and INOX in Mumbai agreed to screen my documentary 'War and Peace' on a revenue sharing basis. There was one show a day. And it did really well. It was almost houseful every day and I recovered my money." Does that mean there is an audience for documentaries? "Of course. Screening a documentary in the theatres has always been viable. It only needs some distributor willing to take the risk," says Anand. Varma too feels there will be takers for documentaries if they are marketed well. "If 'Leaving Home' fails, then it is not the problem of the film, but of not being able to reach out to that niche audience. And in a country of such a vast population, it is impossible that there isn't a crowd that will not enjoy any film. "The challenge is to make them aware that something is playing and, two, to break their inertia for them to come to the theatres and see it. The first is a distributor-exhibitor problem, the second is a problem that audiences have to handle themselves," said Varma. Said Saksena: "We are willing to give the documentary genre a long shot." So can documentary filmmakers approach him? "Of course. But I want to make it clear that a filmmaker has to have realistic expectations. You cannot expect a feature film-like promotion and distribution for a documentary. As long as you are willing to be practical, our doors are open," he said.
Aparna Sen amazed by Rahul Bose's performance
Kolkata: Filmmaker Aparna Sen was amazed by the will and ability of Rahul Bose to transform himself into the character Snehamoy Chaterjee in her upcoming movie "The Japanese Wife". "I have worked with Rahul in two of my films and I am simply amazed by the ability and will of Rahul to transform himself into the character. He is a very good actor and I feel that this is his best performance," Aparna said. "When I planned to do the movie I just couldn't give a second thought to the decision of casting Rahul as Snehamoy Chaterjee," added Sen, whose earlier highly acclaimed movies include "36 Chowringhee Lane", "Parama" and "Mr and Mrs Iyer". The story of "The Japanese Wife" is a haunting but improbable love story involving three shy people: Snehamoy Chatterjee (Rahul Bose), an arithmetic teacher in a school in the interiors of riverine West Bengal; Miyage (Chigasu Takaku), the Japanese girl who becomes his wife through a strange sequence of letters, and Sandhya (Raima Sen), a widow forced by circumstances to take refuge in his home. "When I started preparing the screenplay, I was fully engulfed by the procession of images in my mind. Making 'The Japanese Wife' in celluloid was a breathtaking experience," Sen said. The "Japanese Wife" is based on a book written by Kunal Basu, an Indian author of English fiction who has written three acclaimed novels - "The Opium Clerk", "The Miniaturist", and "Racists".
Bhaichung becomes father of twins
Kolkata: India's soccer star Bhaichung Bhutia today became a father with his wife Madhuri giving birth to twins at a private city hospital here. "Madhuri gave birth to a girl and a boy at around 7 a.m. Both the children and the mother are fine," said gynaecologist Goutam Khastagir. The girl was born first, a minute before the birth of the boy. "I wanted a girl. Now that I have a girl and a boy, I feel it's the best day of my life," Bhutia said.
Starwood and Hyatt targets Indian hotel industry
New Delhi: Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Hyatt Hotels Corporation are now targeting India for setting up luxury hotels and resorts. On Tuesday, the officials of the two companies declared about their plans for developing new hotels in India and also commented that India offers huge growth potentials for the hotel industry.
This year, Hyatt is planning to open three more hotels in India. It has already established a successful chain of 5 hotels in different part of India. Starwood also has plans to extend their hospitality wing in India. The company that runs 26 hotels in the nation presently will be opening more number of hotels in the coming days.
Leading hotel groups of United States, one of which is Hyatt eyes India to recover their lost market, which was lost during the global economic downturn. The growing economy of India and incredible business opportunities attracts many foreign companies to set up their businesses here.
This year, Hyatt is planning to open three more hotels in India. It has already established a successful chain of 5 hotels in different part of India. Starwood also has plans to extend their hospitality wing in India. The company that runs 26 hotels in the nation presently will be opening more number of hotels in the coming days.
Leading hotel groups of United States, one of which is Hyatt eyes India to recover their lost market, which was lost during the global economic downturn. The growing economy of India and incredible business opportunities attracts many foreign companies to set up their businesses here.
Hyundai launches new i20 compact car
New Delhi: Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) today launched a new i20 car with two additional variants - Era and Sportz - priced in the range of Rs.4.51-5.31 lakh. "We are pleased to announce the launch of the i20 with new features and two additional variants. While the variants are targeted at our customers who have different needs, the new features will make it even more desirable for our customers," said H.W. Park, managing director and CEO of India's second largest car manufacturer. The new i20 is the first in the compact car segment to have six-speed manual transmission gears in the diesel variant which facilitates smooth and fuel efficient driving even on highways. It also features a fully automatic temperature control system and an in-built USB port along with a burglar alarm and steering wheel with audio remote. The two new variants are positioned between the existing variants - Magna and Asta. Era is available in both petrol and diesel engine which comply with the recently introduced BSIV emission norms.
Corporate fraud on the rise in India says KPMG
Mumbai: Prominent consultancy firm KPMG has revealed that the levels of fraudulent practices at the corporate sector are on the up, on the basis of their findings. They have found 75 percent of the companies surveyed by them have been indulging in such activities. The company has also said that this is true for both private and public entities, especially in the last couple of years. As per the 'Fraud Survey Report 2010 for India' brought out by KPMG, misappropriation of financial data is the most prominent type of fraud practised by the company. The report also mentioned that corruption and bribery have become inseparable parts of the Indian business fraternity, especially for the Indian enterprises. 38 percent of the participants of the survey are of the opinion that bribery is now an essential part of business in India. They opine that this is especially evident in case of procuring regulatory consents as well as business from prospective clients.
Coal India to set up 20 new washeries
Kolkata: India's largest coal miner, Coal India, plans to set up 20 new modern washeries with a total capacity of 111 million tonnes over the next four-five years in partnership with private agencies. The washeries will be made on build-operate-maintain basis where the selected agencies will design, construct, operate and maintain them, Coal India director (technical) N.C. Jha said. "Coal India will make the investment and provide all logistical support like land, water and electricity," he said. The miner's total investment will be Rs.3,200 crore. "The agencies are being selected through corporate bidding. Tender has been floated for seven washeries. Two of the deals are in the conclusion stage. Five others are in different stages of evaluation," said Jha. The tendering process is on in seven other washeries, while for six other, the land identification process is on. "Our target is to complete work on all the washeries over the next four-five years," he said. Two of the washeries will be set up under the Eastern Caolifields limited, six under the Ranchi Central Coalfields Limited, two under South Eastern Coalfields Limited, five under Central Coalfields Limited, four under Mahanadi Coalfields Limited and another under Western Coalfields Limited. Coal India now has 19 washeries, but these function on old technological models. The new washeries will increase the availability of coal having high utilisable heat value which can be used by steel and cement manufacturers who now go mostly for imports because the heat content is low in the coal supplied by Coal India
Maoist violence 'social terrorism', says legendary Naxalite
Kolkata: Ashim Chatterjee, one of the leading figures of the bloody Naxalite revolt of the late 1960s, says the mass massacre on Tuesday of security personnel in Chhattisgarh is "social terrorism" and blamed Maoists for causing "meaningless" bloodshed. Chatterjee, who was one of the confidants of Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist (CPI-ML) founder Charu Majumdar, said revolutions never succeeded in countries that had a parliamentary system. "In China, the case was different. There, the armed struggle succeeded in the face of a counter armed struggle. But in India, we have a parliamentary system. History tells us that no revolutionary movement has succeeded in places where the parliamentary system prevails," Chatterjee, now 66, told media in an interview. Criticising the present lot of Maoists, he said they were only relying on arms and operating from the jungles by ignoring people and the doctrine of class struggle. "Firstly, the conditions which set the stage for a revolutionary movement are absent in India. Secondly, these Maoists have not cared to build up class struggle. And when you fight against the state without caring to build up class struggle, that amounts to social terrorism. The blood that is being shed is meaningless," he said. In 1970, Chatterjee was the youngest member of the CPI-ML Central Committee that was intent on unleashing an armed revolution to seize power in India. The CPI-ML enjoyed the backing of China. He was secretary of the party's Bengal-Bihar-Orissa border region committee and tried to lead an armed struggle in the Debra and Gopiballabhpur areas of West Bengal in March 1971 -- when the Naxalite movement was at its peak, leaving thousands dead. The movement failed, and Chatterjee was arrested in November 1971. Within a year, the CPI-ML was crushed and its founder leader Majumdar died in the Presidency Jail of Kolkata. Asked whether he felt that the path adopted by the Maoists then was also wrong, Chatterjee said: "Naxalbari was a struggle for land. That was the right path. That is relevant even now. This battle for land can one day give birth to a revolutionary movement. "But our policy of individual killings was wrong. When I started a movement at Gopiballabhpur in Midnapore district, there were 2,000 people with us. Had our path been right, I would have got 20,000 people with me. But when I was arrested, I did not even find 200 people with me. "When our Gopiballabhpur movement fizzled out, I realised that Charu Majumdar's path was wrong."
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PM speaks to Chidambaram over Chhattisgarh massacre
Raipur/New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today spoke to Home Minister P. Chidambaram and sought a detailed report on the killing of 73 troopers by Maoist guerrillas in Chhattisgarh, minutes after getting the news of the worst massacre of security personnel in the country. The prime minister was outraged by the massacre and sought updates from the home minister, government sources said. The issue will be discussed in greater detail when the National Security Council meets later in the evening. In what appeared to be a meticulously planned operation, hundreds of Maoists -- one report put the number at about 700 -- bombed and fired at the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel as they entered a hilly stretch of forest where the rebels have held sway for decades, running a de facto state. The massacre took place about 450 km south of the Chhattisgarh capital Raipur. Dantewada is considered a stronghold of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist, which the prime minister says has emerged as the biggest internal security threat. It was the worst massacre since Maoists stormed an isolated police post in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district in March 2007 and killed 55 policemen.
Now, fatwa issued against Shoaib Malik
Kolkata: Former Pakistani cricket captain Shoaib Malik had another googly bowled at him when a fatwa was issued today against him by a muslim cleric in the wake of Hyderabadi girl Ayesha Siddiqui accusing him of marrying and then abandoning her. The Shahi Imam of Tipu Sultan Mosque here Syed Noor-ur-Rehman Barkati issued the diktat saying Shoaib and Ayesha were now man and wife as they had married over telephone. "Nikah has been conducted over the telephone. They are now husband and wife according to Muslim law," said the Imam, known for issuing edicts on burning issues. "If Shoaib accepts the nikah, no problem. But if he denies, he will be out of the Muslim society," he said. Shoaib is now in India's Hyderabad city and plans to marry tennis star Sania Mirza on April 15. With Ayesha, who claims to be Shoaib's first wife, launching a legal fight to prove her claim and the police not ruling out the Pakistani cricketer's arrest, it is learnt the Mirza and Malik families are seriously considering delaying the marriage. Police on Monday grilled Shoaib at Sania's house after booking a criminal case of cheating, harassment and criminal intimidation against him following a complaint by Ayesha, who is also a Hyderabad resident.
Government admits failure in Chhattisgarh operation
New Delhi: Home Secretary G.K. Pillai admitted today that there had been an "element of failure" in the anti-Maoist offensive that led to the massacre of 75 security personnel in Chhattisgarh. Pillai also told reporters here that the government had no plans to use air power against the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), which has gone on a killing spree in recent weeks. "There has obviously been some element of failure in the operation," he said. "This incident should not have happened." He said 82 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were caught up in the devastating Maoist ambush in Dantewada district of Bastar region. Seven injured security personnel have been hospitalised. Some are reportedly in a critical condition. He said all weapons of CRPF personnel were taken away by the Maoists, who appeared to number in hundreds. Most casualties happened due to pressure blasts. Pillai said no member of the security forces had been captured by the rebels. "But we don't need to use air power" against the Maoists, he said. Helicopters would be used only to transport and evacuate police and paramilitary personnel, he said.
Hyderabad police continues probe against Shoaib Malik
Hyderabad: Hyderabad police today continued their probe against Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik for allegedly cheating a woman after marrying her. Sleuths of Central Crime Station (CCS) of Hyderabad police were in the process of collecting evidence against Shoaib, who is still at the residence of his bride-to-be, Indian tennis star Sania Mirza. Police sources said investigating officers would again quiz Ayesha Siddiqui, who claimed to be his first wife, and ask her to furnish more evidence in support of her allegations. Apart from documentary evidences like 'nikahnama', the legal notice which was served on Shoaib in the past and his reply to the same, Ayesha has reportedly already submitted medical reports to support her allegation that they had physical relationship and that she became pregnant and had a miscarriage. According to sources close to the Siddiqui family, she also gave details of the places where they stayed together in Hyderabad and the people who called on them while they were together. Police, who had already taken Shoaib's passport, were verifying how many times he had visited Hyderabad since his alleged marriage over phone in 2002. The investigating team, which grilled the former Pakistani skipper for nearly two hours Monday, may again examine him to take his version on the claims made by Ayesha. The Siddiqui family continued to maintain that they had solid evidence against Shoaib which could nail his lie and prove that Ayesha is his first legally wedded life. This is believed to be the medical evidence of miscarriage. Shoaib, during his questioning Monday, told police he never met the girl whose photographs were sent to him. He claimed that he was fooled by the girl who is calling herself Ayesha Siddiqui alias Maha Siddiqui, by sending the photographs of another girl. Police on Sunday booked a criminal case against Shoaib on charges of cheating, harassment and criminal intimidation following a complaint filed by Ayesha. Hyderabad Police Commissioner A.K. Khan said they may arrest Shoaib if it becomes necessary and only after they come across evidence against him. Police have identified 10 to 15 witnesses in the case and would examine them. The witnesses include those who signed the 'nikahnama' and they could be both in India and Pakistan. "The investigation is a laborious process as it involves examining witnesses at different places," Khan said while refusing to give a time-frame for the probe's completion.
Was Chhattisgarh attack intelligence failure, asks Congress
New Delhi: Terming the killing of 75 security personnel in Chattisgarh by the Maoists as an act of terror, the Congress today said "there might have been an intelligence failure and the reason for this should be ascertained". "This is very unfortunate that we have lost a number of precious lives of security personnel in a brutal attack. Those behind this terror attack should be firmly dealt with," Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed told media after 75 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers were massacred by the Maoists in the forests of Chhattisgarh. The Congress also asked the government to take measures to prevent such attacks.
Shivshankar Menon formally named NSA
New Delhi: A cabinet panel today formally approved the appointment of former foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon as the National Security Advisor (NSA). Menon, who was named on Jan 21 to take over the role of chief advisor to the national government on matters of security, will hold the status of minister of state. He assumed office on Jan 23. A brief statement by the ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions said: "The appointments committee of the cabinet has approved the appointment of Shivshankar Menon, IFS (retd), as the National Security Advisor from the date of assumption of charge and until further orders." "The competent authority has also approved that during his tenure as National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon will have the status of minister of state," the statement said. The 60-year-old career diplomat succeeded M.K. Narayanan as the NSA. Menon played a key role in the negotiations on the historic India-US civil nuclear deal. The 1972-batch Indian Foreign Service officer had earlier served in China, Pakistan, Israel, Austria, Japan and Sri Lanka and was advisor in the Department of Atomic Energy during the course of his diplomatic career. He served as foreign secretary for about three years before retiring on July 31 last year. He also did a three-year stint as high commissioner to Pakistan.
Commonwealth Games adding slums to Delhi, warns WHO
New Delhi: Construction work due to the Commonwealth Games was adding slum clusters to the existing ones and due to this the overall health condition in the city would deteriorate, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned today. "Construction related to the Commonwealth Games is bringing in migrants from outside Delhi and adding good amount of slums in the city," A.K. Sengupta, the national professional officer, sustainable development and healthy environment, WHO, warned. "Unless we manage them, it will deteriorate health conditions in the city," Sengupta told media on the sidelines of an event at WHO's regional office here. Nearly 30 percent of Delhiites live in slums and the increasing number of slums and migrants requires better planning so that urban health is managed properly, authorities said. Sengupta said the same thing happened during the 1982 Asian Games. Tens of thousands of migrant labourers are currently in Delhi to carry out construction works related to the mega sporting event Oct 3-14. They are staying in illegal colonies, in places adjacent to construction sites and on pavements. "New slums are coming up," he said. As per official records, Delhi has over 1,500 slums that house millions of people living without proper sanitation and hygiene. "Health and hygiene is a concern. It needs to be taken care well," Sengupta added. WHO officials said Delhi's environment was also not so clean but were optimistic that once the construction works are over, things will improve. Abdul Sattar, a director in the WHO southeast Asia office, said the UN's health agency believed that the government would take appropriate steps. "I hope some of these migrants will return to their home states."
Salman to judge dance reality show 'Zara Nachke Dikha'?
New Delhi: After hosting game show "Dus Ka Dum", Bollywood star Salman Khan may judge a TV channel's new dance reality show "Zara Nachke Dikha". The channel plans to have a power-packed panel of judges to test the dance skills of the various television actors, who are taking part in the show that claims to be a battle of the sexes. According to sources, Salman was approached to be a part of "Zara Nachke Dikha" but was apprehensive due to a contract with another channel (Sony) for a reality show ("Dus Ka Dum"). The actor requested the other channel to allow him to participate. But no concrete decision about his presence in the judging panel has been revealed yet. Meanwhile, Shilpa Shetty has confirmed through micro-blogging site Twitter that she will be one of the judges on "Zara Nachke Dikha". It was also revealed that popular Bollywood couple Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor were asked to judge "Zara Nachke Dikha", but they declined due to date issues. "Zara Nachke Dikha", the first season of which was seen on STAR One, has names like Rakhi Sawant, Sangeeta Ghosh, Aditi Gupta, Angad Hasija, and Karan Singh Grover participating in it. The show is expected to go on air end of April. The formal announcement of the three judges will be made soon at a conference here.
Ads galore, but just one film in Sharman's kitty
New Delhi: After the success of "3 Idiots", actor Sharman Joshi has started endorsing big brands like Nokia and Airtel, but he has just one movie - "Allah Ke Banday" - to look forward to in the near future. "Right now I don't have anything in hand. 'Allah Kay Banday' will be my next film. We have finished shooting for it. It is in post-production stage at the moment and I am still considering more scripts for future," Sharman told media. The actor was in the capital today to celebrate 70 years of restaurant chain KFC's signature product - Original recipe. While he took chunky bites of a chicken leg at the press meet, Sharman said he would love to endorse KFC, which is among his favourite eating joints. But for now he is happy with his new set of endorsements which include Nokia and Airtel, brands which A-list actors like Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor have represented in the past. Sharman says he is "indifferent" about being in the same league as such actors. "I am completely indifferent to thoughts like who was endorsing this product before or who else is. I am just proud to be associated with these brands because I believe in them. Nothing else beyond this matters," he said. On the Bollywood front too the actor likes to stay away from comparison and competition, despite having earned so much appreciation from movies like "Rang De Basanti" and "3 Idiots". "I act, because that's what I like to do. It's my passion. It's not that I like it because I like fame. Fame and adulation are by-products of being an actor and those are not the prime reasons why I am here in Bollywood," said Sharman, who earlier featured in films like "Style", "Xcuse Me", "Dhol" and "Golmaal". In "Allah Ke Banday", an intense drama about juvenile crimes, Sharman will be seen alongside veterans Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher.
I joked about dancing naked: Shah Rukh Khan
New Delhi: "Doesn't anyone take a joke anymore," asks Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan after his statement of dancing naked if his team Kolkata Knight Riders wins the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) was blown out of proportion by media. "Read in some paper that I can be taken to court for my dancing in the buff statement at IPL. When will people develop a sense of humour," the actor posted on his Twitter page. "I just joked about dancing like that at IPL... obviously I won't even if my team wins. Who does? Doesn't anyone take a joke anymore... ha ha," he added. The actor didn't even hesitate from cracking another joke on the controversy. "...from now on I am also bathing with my clothes on, ha ha," he said. Shah Rukh's team presently ranks sixth in the eight-team IPL-3.
'Raajneeti' is my toughest role: Arjun Rampal
Mumbai: Fresh from his National Award, Arjun Rampal says he is playing his toughest role in director Prakash Jha's dark political thriller "Raajneeti". In the film, Arjun is cast as Ranbir Kapoor's zany, flamboyant elder brother. "I don't play the conventional 'Bade Bhaiyya'. It's the toughest role of my career. I had to be larger-than-life but not over-the-top," Arjun told media. "This man I play is whimsical, flamboyant and audacious. He can do anything. His kid brother has gone abroad to study. My character has stayed back in India to create his own unpredictable world. He's in his own space, though not spaced out," said Arjun. He was guided by his director in interpreting the character. "'Rock On', which took my career to another level and got me the National award, was a dream role. I got to play a rock star! This man in 'Raajneeti' is completely alien to me. He's a man who does the unthinkable. Do I expect another National Award? No performance can be tailored for recognition." Arjun will also be doing unthinkable things in Anubhav Sinha's "Ra.1" where he plays the arch-villain -- the main antagonist opposite Shah Rukh Khan, though he isn't required to talk about it. But before that there's "Housefull", which, Arjun says, is a laugh riot. "But it also has very emotional moments. As a director Sajid Khan is so wonderfully clued in to what his actors can do. I worked with Farah (in 'Om Shanti Om') and now her brother Sajid. Both were fun." Such was the joy of working with Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Deepika Padukone, Lara Dutt, Jiah Khan and the whole cast that Arjun has forgotten he injured his back during the shooting of "Housefull". "It was yoga and physio-therapy that helped heal my back completely," said Arjun. "I was working out at the gym when I suffered a massive slipped disc. I was required to lose considerable weight so as to not burden my back." Arjun has lately been shooting with Kajol and Kareena Kapoor for Karan Johar's Hindi remake of Hollywood director Chris Columbus' "Stepmom". He says he enjoyed being sandwiched between two women who light up the screen. "While Kajol has always been my favourite actress, Kareena is more a buddy. Kareena and I started our careers almost together, so we both bond as colleagues, friends and fans of Kajol," he said. In "Stepmom", Arjun stars as Kajol's husband and Kareena's lover. "It's wonderful to have two such gorgeous actresses as my co-stars. But honestly, today I'm confident enough to create my own space in a film."
Manisha Koirala to wed Nepali businessman?
Kathmandu: Bollywood actress and the daughter of one of the most powerful political houses in Nepal, Manisha Koirala, seems finally set to tie the knot - and in Nepal. The 40-year-old actress, the country's most eligible single woman, will finally say "I do" to Nepali businessman Samrat Dahal with the wedding set for June 19. "Mutual acquaintances told me about a week ago that Manisha Koirala was getting married in Nepal," said Nepali film director Dipendra Khanal, whose upcoming release "Dharma" will mark the return of the actress to the Nepali film industry nearly two decades after she left Nepal to storm Bollywood. Manisha, presently shooting in Kerala for a Telugu film, will return to Kathmandu Friday, Khanal told media. She was in Nepal last month to attend the last rites of her grand-uncle Girija Prasad Koirala. At a press conference afterwards, she said the patriarch of Nepal's politics and five-time prime minister had lamented to her that nobody loved him; people flocked to him only to get something out of him. She was asked about her wedding plans but she parried the questions without divulging her new romance. The would-be bridegroom was reportedly educated in the US and is a businessman. While not much is known about him, his father Surendra Dahal made his fortune in the leather industry. The wedding will be a three-day extravaganza that is expected to see Mumbai's stars descend on Kathmandu. Manisha, grand-daughter of Nepal's first elected prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala, had a minor fling with politics in 2005 when she supported King Gyanendra's bid to seize power with an army-backed coup. However, the move backfired and led to the abolition of monarchy in Nepal, once the world's only Hindu kingdom. It is being speculated that Manisha could enter politics finally. Her aunt Sujata Koirala is the deputy prime minister of Nepal while two of her uncles are MPs. Her father Prakash Koirala was a minister in King Gyanendra's cabinet but was expelled by his Nepali Congress party that led the pro-democracy movement against the king. Manisha acted in just one film in Nepal, "Pheri Bhetaula" (We will meet again), that was, however, never released. She got her big break from modelling in Nepal when she was cast by Bollywood director Subhash Ghai in "Saudagar" and then went on to act in such acclaimed films as Mani Ratnam's "Dil Se" and "Mumbai", Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Khamoshi" and Vidhu Vinod Chopra's "1942: A Love Story".
Haryana to spend Rs.15 bn on health infrastructure
Chandigarh: On the eve of the World Health Day, the Haryana government today announced a Rs.15 billion (Rs.1,500 crore) plan to add new health infrastructure and upgrade nine hospitals. Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said here that hospitals were being upgraded at Bhiwani, Rohtak, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Sonepat, Panipat, Karnal, Panchkula and Hisar as per the Indian public health standards. "The buildings of these hospitals are being renovated. The hospitals will be equipped with latest medical instruments like endoscopes, echo machines, laproscopes and ventilators," Hooda said. Hooda said CT scan machines are being installed at Rewari and Karnal. "New hospital building at Kaithal, Jhajjar, Palwal and Bahadurgarh are ready. New medical colleges are being set up at Mewat, Sonepat and Karnal to give impetus to medical education," he added. Health Minister Geeta Bhukkal said that seven new community health centres (CHCs), 33 primary health centres (PHCs) and 28 new sub centres have also been established during the last year. "A free Swasthya Vahan Sewa number 102, a system of referral transport, has been started to shift patients from an accident site to the nearest medical facility. "The service also aims to reduce maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate by ensuring that pregnant women reach heath care centres for delivery in time," the health minister said.
India, US launch financial, economic partnership
New Delhi: India and the United States today launched a financial and economic partnership, focussing on micro-economic finance and infrastructure, in an effort to elevate their bilateral relations.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and visiting US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner signed the partnership agreement here.
"India and the United States are bound by common values of democracy, market economy and pluralism. I am confident that this partnership will unleash the energy and enterprise of people of the two countries and help adress global challenges," Mukherjee said.
Geithner on his part said: "This partnership creates a framework that is commensurate with the growing influence of our economic relationship."
He said the partnership would facilitate more trade, investment and job creation in the two countries.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and visiting US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner signed the partnership agreement here.
"India and the United States are bound by common values of democracy, market economy and pluralism. I am confident that this partnership will unleash the energy and enterprise of people of the two countries and help adress global challenges," Mukherjee said.
Geithner on his part said: "This partnership creates a framework that is commensurate with the growing influence of our economic relationship."
He said the partnership would facilitate more trade, investment and job creation in the two countries.
Swine flu scare was exaggerated, admits WHO
New Delhi: The World Health Organisation (WHO) today admitted that the swine flu scare was exaggerated as alleged by several countries, including India.
"Yes, it was," Samlee Plianbangchang, regional director of WHO southeast Asia, said in a reply to a question on whether H1N1 scare was exaggerated by the global health watchdog.
However, WHO authorities declined to comment whether the hype was created by the global body to benefit pharmaceutical companies.
"It will be answered by our designated spokesman," a WHO spokeswoman said.
India has already expressed its displeasure and demanded an investigation into "unnecessary scare" created by the WHO.
The UN health watchdog declared Influenza A (H1N1) as pandemic in 2009 after the disease broke out across the globe. The impact was much less than expected.
"Yes, it was," Samlee Plianbangchang, regional director of WHO southeast Asia, said in a reply to a question on whether H1N1 scare was exaggerated by the global health watchdog.
However, WHO authorities declined to comment whether the hype was created by the global body to benefit pharmaceutical companies.
"It will be answered by our designated spokesman," a WHO spokeswoman said.
India has already expressed its displeasure and demanded an investigation into "unnecessary scare" created by the WHO.
The UN health watchdog declared Influenza A (H1N1) as pandemic in 2009 after the disease broke out across the globe. The impact was much less than expected.
Access problems make healthcare a challenge in northeast
New Delhi: A difficult geographical terrain and inaccessibility to many places makes reaching across to the common man in the northeast with healthcare services a difficult task, a member of the National Human Right Commission (NHRC) has said. The inaccessibility of certain geographical areas in the northeast makes the task of extending both hospital and community based services difficult, the NHRC newsletter quoted panel member P.C. Sharma as saying at a mental healthcare meet in Assam. Sharma stressed the importance of conducting a survey on the prevalence of mental illness in the region to effectively tackle the issue. "Conducting a survey will also bridge the gap between infrastructural needs, manpower resources and existing conditions. Rehabilitation of long stay patients in mental hospitals needs to be addressed immediately," he added.
Commonwealth literature set to conquer Delhiites hearts
New Delhi: Delhi is all set to welcome Commonwealth literature through a series of discussions and events, workshops, symposiums and interactions between school children and award-winning writers.
As India becomes the venue of the Commonwealth Writers' Prize ceremony for the first time on April 12, a five-day run up to the event beginning on Wednesday will see the regional winners of the awards and judges promote quality literature through a series of discussions and events among the GenNext and students in the capital.
The winners of the best book and the first book from seven countries across four Commonwealth regions were announced in March.
While Daniyal Mueenuddin from Pakistan won the best first book for "In Other Rooms, Other Wonders", Rana Dasgupta from Britain won the best book award for "Solo" in the Europe and South Asian region. They will compete for the final crown with 12 regional winners.
The Commonwealth Foundation literary sessions will begin with a workshop, "Act To Alphabet: The Fantastical and The Real - a creative writers' workshop" at the Bal Bharati Public School in Pitampura to be attended by regional winners Daniyal Mueenuddin, Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, Marie Heese, Michael Crummey, Shandi Mitchell, Rana Dasgupta and Glenda Guest.
It will be followed by symposiums on topics like "The Rule Is There Is No Rule: Writing For Self Expression", "Multi-Cultural Identities: Artistic Expressions", "Across Language Boundaries: Translating Ideas and Concepts", "Market Is King? Publishers and Writers Speak of Experiences" and "Entertainment, Escapism, Exposure: What Makes Up the Desire to Read".
The highlight of the run-up blitz are interactions between school children and regional winners. The Commonwealth authors will interact with students of Springdales School, the British School and inmates of the Salaam Balak Trust.
The venues will be spread across Alliance Francaise, Bal Bharati Public School, the British Council, The British School, Crossword Bookstore, the Full Circle Bookstore, Gulmohar Hall, India International Centre, Select Citywalk, Jamia Millia Islamia and the University of Delhi South Campus.
As India becomes the venue of the Commonwealth Writers' Prize ceremony for the first time on April 12, a five-day run up to the event beginning on Wednesday will see the regional winners of the awards and judges promote quality literature through a series of discussions and events among the GenNext and students in the capital.
The winners of the best book and the first book from seven countries across four Commonwealth regions were announced in March.
While Daniyal Mueenuddin from Pakistan won the best first book for "In Other Rooms, Other Wonders", Rana Dasgupta from Britain won the best book award for "Solo" in the Europe and South Asian region. They will compete for the final crown with 12 regional winners.
The Commonwealth Foundation literary sessions will begin with a workshop, "Act To Alphabet: The Fantastical and The Real - a creative writers' workshop" at the Bal Bharati Public School in Pitampura to be attended by regional winners Daniyal Mueenuddin, Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, Marie Heese, Michael Crummey, Shandi Mitchell, Rana Dasgupta and Glenda Guest.
It will be followed by symposiums on topics like "The Rule Is There Is No Rule: Writing For Self Expression", "Multi-Cultural Identities: Artistic Expressions", "Across Language Boundaries: Translating Ideas and Concepts", "Market Is King? Publishers and Writers Speak of Experiences" and "Entertainment, Escapism, Exposure: What Makes Up the Desire to Read".
The highlight of the run-up blitz are interactions between school children and regional winners. The Commonwealth authors will interact with students of Springdales School, the British School and inmates of the Salaam Balak Trust.
The venues will be spread across Alliance Francaise, Bal Bharati Public School, the British Council, The British School, Crossword Bookstore, the Full Circle Bookstore, Gulmohar Hall, India International Centre, Select Citywalk, Jamia Millia Islamia and the University of Delhi South Campus.
Documents from India's Defence Ministry stolen to China: Research
New Delhi: Recent reports from the Canadian and United States computer security researchers reveal a striking fact that the documents from India's Defence Ministry have been stolen by a team of China-based computer spying gang. After an intense monitoring of their operation for the past eight months, the researches have come to a conclusion that a spy operation is responsible for systematically hacking into personal computers in government offices of India. The Toronto-based researchers have discovered the kinds of material stolen and also crack down into the actual documents about security in several Indian states. The data also includes embassy documents on India's relation in West Africa, Russia and the Middle East. The gang actually penetrated into the the systems of independent analysts and took reports on Indian missile systems. Moreover, the team stole confidential documents pertaining to the travel of NATO forces in Afghanistan. It was only in the last month (March) that the Indian communications minister, Sachin Pilot, revealed that government networks had been attacked by China. On March 24, the Toronto-based researchers asserted that they had informed the intelligence officials in India about the gang of intruders.
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Shoaib Malik to be arrested if necessary: Police
Hyderabad: Police have not ruled out arresting Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik in connection with the case filed against him by Ayesha Siddiqui, who claims to be his first wife. Police said it might examine Shoaib to check the veracity of some of the assertions made by the complainant. "If it becomes necessary to arrest somebody we will arrest but it will be based on how the case evolves and what sort of evidences we come across during the investigations," police Commissioner A.K. Khan told reporters. Ayesha has accused Shoaib of cheating, harassment and criminal intimidation. He said Shoaib's passport had been seized to check the veracity of the claims made by Ayesha in her complaint. The police have informed the court that it required his passport for investigations. Stating that the government had been informed of the criminal case booked against Shoaib, he said the government would deal with it in the manner it deems fit. He said after the case was registered, the immigration authorities were informed of the passport details of the accused so that a watch could be kept at international gateways in case the accused tries to fly out. Though Shoaib has come under a visa where he does not have to go to any police station, Khan said such restrictions could be imposed during the course of investigations. The police commissioner said the case was handed over to the Central Crime Station of Hyderabad police. "We have to examine the complainant in detail and many other witnesses. About 10 to 15 witnesses have been identified who are important to the case. Their examination is taking place," Khan said. Police have also asked the complainant to produce material documentary proof in support of her claims like 'nikahnama', the places they visited and persons who visited them when they were together. "We are in the process of collecting evidence," he added.
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