nitya007's
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Friday, September 23, 2011
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TELENGANA
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Hyderabad, Sept 23: All trains to and from Hyderabad have been cancelled from Friday (Sept 23) night over the two-day rail blockade by the Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC).
Demanding a separate statehood, the protest for Telangana entered the 10th day on Friday. 55 express and 176 passenger trains over the next two days (Saturday and Sunday) have been cancelled by the South Indian Railways on Friday. The communication through rails between Hyderabad and North India will come to a standstill too.
Trains running between Hyderabad and Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Guwahati, Patna, Rajkot and Balharshah also have been cancelled due to the threat over the rail-blockade.
Railways sources also informed that while 55 trains have been diverted, four trains have been re-scheduled around the region.
nitya007's
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Friday, September 23, 2011
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International
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ISLAMABAD — Pakistan lashed out at the U.S. for accusing the country's most powerful intelligence agency of supporting extremist attacks against American targets in Afghanistan -- the most serious allegations against Islamabad since the beginning of the Afghan war. Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar dismissed the claims as mere allegations. She warned the U.S. that it risked losing Pakistan as an ally and could not afford to alienate the Pakistani government or its people.
"If they are choosing to do so, it will be at their own cost," Khar told Geo TV on Thursday from New York City, where she is attending a UN General Assembly meeting. "Anything which is said about an ally, about a partner publicly to recriminate it, to humiliate it is not acceptable."
Khar's comments were first aired in Pakistan on Friday.
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani responded to the U.S. criticism by saying Washington was in a tough spot.
"They can't live with us. They can't live without us," Gilani told reporters Friday in the southern city of Karachi. "So, I would say to them that if they can't live without us, they should increase contacts with us to remove misunderstandings."
The Pakistani officials were responding to congressional testimony by the top U.S. military officer about Pakistan.
Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, accused Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency Thursday of supporting the Haqqani insurgent network in planning and executing the assault on the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan last week and a truck bomb that wounded 77 American soldiers days earlier.
He also said the U.S. had credible information that Haqqani extremists, with help from the ISI, were responsible for the June 28 attack on the Inter-Continental Hotel in Kabul and other small but effective assaults.
The Haqqani insurgent network is widely believed to be based in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal area along the Afghan border. The group has historical ties to Pakistani intelligence, dating back to the war against the Soviets in Afghanistan in the 1980s. The U.S. military has said the Haqqani network, which has ties to both al Qaeda and the Taliban, poses the greatest threat to American troops in Afghanistan.
Mullen insisted that the Haqqani insurgent network "acts as a veritable arm" of the ISI, undermining the uneasy U.S.-Pakistan relationship forged in the terror fight and endangering American troops in the almost 10-year-old war in Afghanistan.
Pakistan is "exporting violence" and threatening any success in Afghanistan, Mullen told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
"In choosing to use violent extremism as an instrument of policy, the government of Pakistan, and most especially the Pakistani army and ISI, jeopardizes not only the prospect of our strategic partnership but Pakistan's opportunity to be a respected nation with legitimate regional influence," Mullen said. "They may believe that by using these proxies, they are hedging their bets or redressing what they feel is an imbalance in regional power. But in reality, they have already lost that bet."
Mullen's harsh words marked the first time an American official had tied Pakistan's intelligence agency directly to the attacks and signaled a significant shift in the U.S. approach to Islamabad. In the past, U.S. criticism of Pakistan largely had been relayed in private conversations with the countries' leaders while American officials publicly offered encouraging words for Islamabad's participation in the terror fight.
Mullen did not provide specific evidence backing up his accusations or indicate what the U.S. would do if Pakistan refuses to cut ties to the Haqqani network. The U.S. has repeatedly demanded that Pakistan attack the insurgents and prevent them from using the country's territory.
Pakistan has denied ties to the group in the past and has said it cannot attack them because its troops are stretched too thin fighting other militants in the country's semiautonomous tribal region. Many analysts believe, however, that Pakistan wants to remain on good terms with the militants because they could be useful allies in Afghanistan after foreign forces withdraw.
Mullen's comments carry particular weight since the Joint Chiefs chairman has nurtured ties with the Pakistanis during his tenure, meeting with officials more than two dozen times. His congressional testimony was his last before he retires next week.
Mullen reaffirmed his support for continued U.S. engagement with the nuclear-armed Pakistan and warned of the consequences if the relationship should break down. But his comments could make that engagement harder and continue a recent downward trend in ties between the two countries.
The relationship took one of its hardest hits when U.S. commandos sneaked into Pakistan on May 2 and killed al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in a garrison town not far from Islamabad.
The covert raid outraged the Pakistani government because it was not told about it beforehand, while bin Laden's presence in Abbottabad raised further suspicions among U.S. officials about the country's duplicity in the anti-terror fight.
Former Indian cricket captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, who died of a lung ailment in Delhi on Thursday, was laid to rest at his ancestral palace on Friday with thousands thronging the burial site to pay their last respects leading to chaotic scenes.
Pataudi, who was 70 when he breathed his last at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi, was buried next to the grave of his father, Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi — the last ruling Nawab of Bhopal.
Final goodbye
As distraught family members, bid final goodbye to the man who was fondly called ‘Tiger’, there was chaos at the Pataudi Palace’s sprawling campus with close to 15,000 people converging at the burial site to catch a glimpse of the proceedings.
The huge police presence was hardly a deterrent as media and the gathered crowd jostled to be the closest to the grave even as the Pataudi family grieved in silence.
Pataudi’s wife, yesteryears’ Bollywood star Sharmila Tagore, looked calm and composed when she came on the palace balcony once along with other female family members.
Pataudi’s son Saif Ali Khan, also a Bollywood actor, performed the last rites after offering Friday prayers. Saif’s actress girlfriend Kareena Kapoor looked distraught along with Pataudi’s daughters Soha and Saba, both of whom were inconsolable.
Kareena’s elder sister and Bollywood actress Karisma also attended the funeral and was seen consoling Saif.
Cricketing fraternity
From the cricketing fraternity, former captain Kapil Dev and Ajay Jadeja came with the family from Delhi this morning when Pataudi’s body was brought here.
Also present was former captain and coach Anshuman Gaekwad along with santoor maestro Amjad Ali Khan.
Funeral procession
The funeral procession of Pataudi began from his home in Delhi with several celebrities paying their last respects.
The body of the former captain, who would forever be remembered for leading India to their maiden Test series triumph abroad, was brought to his Vasant Vihar residence early on Friday morning.
Among those who came to pay their last respects in Delhi were Pakistan High Commissioner Shahid Malik with his wife and Punjab Cricket Association chief I.S. Bindra.
Political fraternity
Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit, and BJP leader Arun Jaitley also paid their respects to Pataudi, who led India in 40 of the 46 Test matches he played.
Hundreds had gathered outside the Pataudi residence in Delhi also including numerous media persons, who even got into an argument with the policemen over the coverage.
Former Haryana Chief Minister O.P. Chautala also came to pay his respects but the procession had left for Pataudi by that time.
Finest captains
Pataudi, regarded as one of India’s finest captains, scored 2793 runs in 46 Tests at an average of 35 and made six centuries, the biggest of which was an unbeaten 203 against England in Delhi in 1964.
Pataudi, who lost his right eye because of an accident, played 46 Tests between 1961 and 1975 and was arguably India’s greatest captain. He was given the leadership in his fourth Test, when he was 21, in Barbados in 1962, because the regular captain Nari Contractor was in hospital after getting hit on the head by Charlie Griffith.
Pataudi, who was also known for his amazing sense of humour, was the youngest Test captain, a record that stood until 2004. He also captained Sussex and Oxford University.
Under Pataudi’s captaincy, India won nine Tests but it was he who instilled the belief in the team that it could win international matches.
nitya007's
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Thursday, September 22, 2011
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INDIA news
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The Supreme Court today said the vault 'B' of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple will be opened only after substantial work regarding documentation and preservation of assets unearthed from other 'kalaras' (vaults) of the shrine is completed. A Bench headed by Justice R V Raveendran turned down the plea of an expert committee to hand over the security of the temple to Central paramilitary forces and directed the state government to provide foolproof cover to the temple to protect its assets which are estimated to be over Rs 1.50 lakh crore. The Bench also said that the management of the temple would provide an amount of Rs 25 lakh per year for preservation of assets and security of the temple and the rest of the amount needed would be borne by the state government. The court said that no tender should be floated for private players for giving contract for preservation work of the assets and said that it has to be done by Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (KELTRON).
nitya007's
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Thursday, September 22, 2011
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SPECIAL NEWS
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Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today refused to comment on a letter sent by his ministry to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the 2G spectrum scam, saying he cannot make any remark on the matter as it is "subjudice". "The matter is subjudice. I cannot make any comment on it. The whole matter is under the scrutiny of the Supreme Court of India. We cannot make any comment on any matter that is subjudice," Mukherjee, who is here to attend an India-US investor forum, told reporters here. Separately, while addressing Indian and American business leaders at a high-profile USIBC roundtable, Mukherjee said the Finance Ministry letter to the Prime Minister's Secretariat is out in the open only due to the Right to Information Act, which is one of the many steps the government has taken to flush out corruption and make governance transparent and accountable.
nitya007's
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Thursday, September 22, 2011
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BILLGATES
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Bill Gates tops this year's Forbes list of the 400 richest Americans with a net worth calculated at USD 59 billion.Forbes says the Microsoft co-founder saw his wealth increase by USD 5 billion from last year.
Investor Warren Buffett ranks second with a fortune of USD 39 billion, though Forbes says the Berkshire Hathaway Inc.chief executive's wealth shrank by USD 6 billion from a year ago.
Oracle CEO Larry Ellison rounds out the top three with a net worth of USD 33 billion, a USD 6 billion increase from last year. George Soros entered the top 10 list for the first time at seventh. Forbes estimates his wealth at USD 22 billion.
Three members of the Walton family, descendants of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, also are among the top 10 wealthiest this year.
nitya007's
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Wednesday, September 21, 2011
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SPECIAL NEWS
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One of India's homegrown denim brands, Flying Machine, landed itself in hot soup soup for its 'What an ass!' print ad. The advertisement showed a woman in tight jeans, flaunting her shapely derriere with the tagline printed across her buttocks. The ad was supposed to highlight how women are growing to accept their figure, but has drawn much criticism from women's rights groups for portraying ladies as sex objects. Here's a look at other controversial ads.
The cellular service provider's latest ad wanted to drive home a point about its solid network but got embroiled in controversies instead, for showing domestic help and doctors in a poor light. The ad shows a maid hiding her employer's mobile phone in her blouse as she is getting ready to leave, but the phone rings, suggesting that the network is so strong that it follows you everywhere. The ad was eventually pulled off air after protests from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and other groups.
The recent Fastrack watch ad featuring actor Genelia D'souza and cricketer Virat Kohli was hauled up by pilots and air-hostesses, since it showed the two getting cozy in the cockpit of an aircraft, thereby endangering the lives of passengers on board.
Amul Macho
The Amul macho 'Yeh toh bada toing hai' ad featured housewife having sexual fantasies while washing her husband's underwear. The Information & Broadcasting ministry initially banned its screening though the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), the self-regulatory body of the advertising industry, later cleared it for public viewing.
Tuff footwear
The footwear ad featured models Madhu Sapre and Milind Soman posing nude with a python. In 1995, an obscenity case was filed against all persons (including the models) who were involved in making of the offensive ad. Not only social activists, but animal rights protesters fought to get the ad off the streets. The case was finally cleared in 2009, 14 years long years since the hoardings first went up
Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, who is on 72 hour long fast to promote harmony and peace and unity, refused to wear Muslim skull cap on Sunday when a Maulana offered him on the dais at the fast venue. Modi politely refused to accept the cap and instead accepted a shawl from Maulavi Sayed Imam,who had gone to greet the chief minister for Sadbhavna fast.A maulana walked up to the stage to meet Narendra Modi and told him he had something to offer him before taking out a skullcap from the side pocket of his sidepocket of robe, hopping that the Modi will wear it graciously since he has been letting different people tie turbans.
Seeing the cap, Modi's expression changed like a flash and he gestured that he would not prefer wearing the cap under the gaze of cameras.
While the exchange of words between them is not known, Modi is believed to have indicated to the maulana that he would not mind wearing the latter's green chadar but not the cap.
The maulana obliged and immediately draped his chadar around his shoulders and clicked photographs with smiling faces.
According to some BJP leaders, Modi, it seems, does not wish to make the mistake that former deputy Prime Minister L K Advani had made on his visit to Pakistan. The senior BJP leader had offered a chadar to Jinnah’s mausoleum and described the founder of Pakistan as "secular" and an "ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity".
"That episode ended Advani's credibility so obviously Modi would not repeat such mistake," a BJP minister said.
Meanwhile, Modi will end his fast and address the gathering at 5 pm on Monday. Among the leaders who visited him on Monday was Raj Thacksrey, who hailed Modi as the most qualified person to be the Prime Minister of the country.
nitya007's
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Saturday, September 17, 2011
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SPORTS
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Adjournments in dope hearings have become routine. Hearings have dragged on and cases are being disposed of well after the three-month deadline stipulated under the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) rules.
The way the adjournments are being sought and granted in several important doping cases, the comparison invariably tends to be made to civil court proceedings rather than those decided by adjudicating panels, sitting and deciding the future of athletes.
Despite his repeated observations that he wished to wind up the arguments in the cases of six leading female athletes, facing charges of steroid abuse, noted lawyer R.K. Anand has shown little urgency during the last two hearings.
At the last hearing on August 18, Anand had sought certain documents from the laboratory and the matter had to be adjourned. He admitted that day that he had the complete documentation package of the two athletes who were found ‘positive' in tests conducted by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), Mandeep Kaur and Jauna Murmu, but no headway was made even in those two cases.
On Wednesday, the only missing document in the voluminous collection Anand had was a Laboratory Documentation Package in respect of a second ‘positive' test returned by one of the athletes, Tiana Mary Thomas. It had not even been sought from the laboratory by the athlete or the lawyer.
The prosecution lawyer, Gajendra Kumar, made a plea that they could take up the rest of the cases. But the plea fell on deaf ears. The cases have now been adjourned to October 5.
Unperturbed
The athletes seemed unperturbed even as Anand expressed concern over their careers. All six are under provisional suspension.
Why the six cases should be clubbed together is beyond anyone's understanding. Is it only because the defence lawyer is the same for all six?
Two of the cases, those of Mandeep and Murmu, have practically been ‘wrested' from the domain of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), supposed to adjudicate on behalf of the IAAF, by the NADA.
Two of them, Sini Jose and Tiana, were from in-competition tests at the Bangalore inter-State meet in June last, and two others, A.C. Ashwini and Priyanka Panwar, in out-of-competition tests done at Patiala. Tiana also turned in a ‘positive' in a Patiala test shortly after the Bangalore meet. However, her two offences will only be treated as one.
In all fairness, the cases of Mandeep and Murmu should be heard separately, unconnected with documentations being requested and processed for others, since their cases come under the IAAF rules. At least that is what the IAAF had stipulated when it agreed to their cases being transferred to the NADA.
Meanwhile, the Dinesh Dayal-headed disciplinary panel took on record on Wednesday a letter from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) forwarding a supplement-testing report by the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL).
The testing, done without the knowledge of the NADA, was at the request of the Justice Mudgal Committee which wanted the report to be placed before the hearing panel.
Amusing
It was amusing to note on Wednesday the prosecution lawyers requesting a copy of that report which was based on supplements “seized” from athletes and one sample of supplement provided by Priyanka.
The one closed package given by Priyanka and one of the other products, “seized” from the athletes, both reportedly ginseng samples, turned up ‘positive' for a steroid that was found in the urine samples of the 400m runners.
It was not clear who “seized” those supplements, when and where. In the meantime, there was further delay in the methylhexaneamine cases involving 11 sportspersons since Anand was awaiting some more documents he had sought from the laboratory. The cases have gone on for nearly a year now. The next hearing would be on October 7.
Mike Hussey hit his second century of the series to lead Australia to a first innings score of 316 on the second day of the third and final test against Sri Lanka on Saturday.
Seam bowler Shaminda Eranga led a spirited Sri Lankan attack by taking four wickets and bagging the last five Australia wickets for 81 runs in the opening session.
Eranga returned Sri Lanka’s best bowling figures of 4-65.
Sri Lanka batted for 12 minutes before lunch, scoring nine without loss.
Australia resumed the second day on 235-5, with Hussey batting on 63 with Brad Haddin on 21.
But Eranga quickly put the pressure on the visitors with the fifth ball of his first over of the day when Haddin was caught behind by Prasanna Jayawardene for 35 runs.
Left-arm seamer Chanaka Welegedara took two wickets in succession having Mitchell Johnson caught by Rangana Herath and Peter Siddle caught by Tharanga Paranavitana at slip. Welegedara returned 3-75.
Eranga then bowled Hussey after the left-hander had faced 178 balls, smashing two sixes and 12 boundaries. Hussey scored 118 runs -- his 15th test hundred -- following up his top score of 142 in the second test and 95 in the first.
Shaun Marsh, who batted at No. 3 ahead of regular Ricky Ponting, scored 81 after getting 141 on his debut in the second test.
nitya007's
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Saturday, September 17, 2011
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Motoring
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The all-new Volkswagen Jetta looks like a Vento, or even the Polo. It makes one wonder if the VW's new design language has been carried a tad too far. Then again, you could easily mistake the Jetta for its more expensive sibling, the Passat, and this is what Volkswagen's head of design, Klaus Bischoff, would like you to think.
This shared corporate styling has ensured that VW has been given a fresh look that can't be mistaken for any other brand, and given how the brand in India has become something to aspire for, this may just be the master stroke.
The Jetta may have an absence of overall design flair, like with any other model in the current VW line-up, but what you get is a very clean and uncluttered look which hints at the no-nonsense character of the car.
If the Jetta's styling doesn't make a lasting impression, its size certainly will. This executive saloon has grown in every dimension to look and feel a class above others in this segment. The new Jetta is now 90mm longer than its predecessor and gets an extra 58mm in the wheelbase, which hints at the best-in-class interior space. The extra sheet metal hasn't translated into extra flab and in fact, the new Jetta weighs just 25kg more than before and that too with a more powerful motor.
Thankfully, VW rejected the U.S. version's basic rear torsion bar setup with drum brakes for the India model and instead opted for the more sophisticated European-spec, which includes a four-link setup at the rear with discs all round.
From the inside, the Jetta is more mini-Passat with top-notch plastics, exemplary fit and finish, and an overall sense of quality that befits its near-Rs. 20 lakh price tag. The experience starts with the chunky steering wheel with indents for the thumbs, which feels great to hold. The steering-mounted buttons are small but have a wonderfully tactile feel. Curiously, there's a button for hands-free phone usage but Bluetooth pairing is not offered even on the top-end Highline version. The rest of the switchgear feels fantastic, a lot of it chromed and rubberised, and works in a delightfully fluid way. The air-con vents feel solid too and the overall heft of the dashboard and door pads reveal the durable build of the car.
The new Jetta is better specced too but previous Jetta owners may miss some of the small details that made it special. The driver gets a 12-way power adjustable seat, including lumbar support, and finding the perfect driving position is easy. The front seats are generous but unlike the previous Jetta, which had leather seats, you now get a synthetic alternative.
The most noticeable omission is dual-zone climate control. On the new car, there's a simple air-con unit and though it's electro-mechanically controlled, there isn't even a digital temperature readout. But you get an iPod connectivity, Park Distance Control (front and rear) with display on the central infotainment system, and daytime running headlights.
This car has the most comfortable backseat in the segment. The ‘hip-point' is nice and high so you sit more relaxed, legroom is class-leading and the seat base is generous and superbly contoured. If there is a fault, it's with the cushioning which is a little too hard and the backrest is a wee too upright. The rear seats get an armrest, which the previous car never had, and a 60:40 split. The 510-litre boot is all you will ever need but when you pack to maximum capacity.
Another area that gets a boost (literally) is under the hood. The 1986cc, 108bhp motor has been replaced by the 138bhp version of the same turbo-diesel engine. It's also the same unit that currently powers the Laura and Superb. For the moment, and given the massive swing to diesel car demand, VW is offering the new Jetta with just this single diesel engine which comes with six-speed manual and automatic options. There is no petrol option yet, but we understand a 1.4 TSI version is expected sometime in 2012.
Having experienced the identical 2.0 TDi in the Laura and the Superb, there were no real surprises. It's not the quietest of motors and though it's not really intrusive you can't miss its characteristic gruffness, especially at higher revs. Another trait we know so well is this motor's fantastic responsiveness. There's minimal turbo-lag and we just love the strong tug you get from low revs. Performance is more than adequate, in fact it's pretty good. The six-speed manual is slick and precise like before but it's mated to an engine that doesn't like to be revved hard, so you constantly need to short-shift. The steering, like most VWs, though accurate and well-weighted, is rather numb and doesn't bristle with feel. The gentle responses and the leisurely manner in which the Jetta turns into corners doesn't make it overtly sporting and this makes you automatically adopt a more relaxed driving style. The Jetta feels best driven fast but not furiously. Its poise at any speed is unflappable and the sense of confidence you get lets you press on untiringly for hours.
VW has priced its base Trendline version at Rs. 14.12 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). That's a fairly aggressive price, but as you move up to the top-model, the Highline DSG, it costs Rs.17.86 lakh, or a massive Rs. 3.74 lakh more, and that makes the Jetta a bit pricey. But if you are looking for comfort, style and a well-built car , there's nothing like the new Jetta.
It is the news that chocoholics have been waiting for: Chocolate is as good as exercise, a new study has claimed.
Scientists at Wayne State University in the U.S. found that small amounts of dark chocolate may improve health in a similar way to exercise.
The researchers who focused on the mitochondria, the tiny powerhouses in cells that generate energy, discovered that a plant compound found in chocolate, called epicatechin, appeared to stimulate the same muscle response as vigorous activity, the Daily Telegraph reported.
“Mitochondria produce energy which is used by the cells in the body. More mitochondria mean more energy is produced the more work can be performed,” said Dr. Moh Malek, who led the research on mice.
“Aerobic exercise, such as running or cycling, is known to increase the number of mitochondria in muscle cells,” Dr. Malek said.
“Our study has found that epicatechin seems to bring about the same response, particularly in the heart and skeletal muscles.”
For their study, published in the Journal of Physiology, the researchers gave a specific type of epicatechin from cocoa to the laboratory mice twice a day for 15 days.
At the same time, the animals underwent 30 minutes of treadmill training each day.
It was found that mice only fed epicatechin had the same exercise performance as those running on the treadmill.
The findings would lead to better ways of combating age-related muscle wasting, the scientists hoped.
Dr Malek said, the number of mitochondria decreases in skeletal muscle as we age, and this affects us physically in terms of both muscle energy production and endurance.
“Applying what we know about epicatechin’s ability to boost mitochondria numbers may provide an approach to reduce the effects of muscle ageing.”
According to the researchers, middle-aged mice who both exercised and ate epicatechin showed an even greater benefit.
“It appears epicatechin treatment combined with exercise could be a viable means to offset muscle ageing,” said Dr. Malek.
“At the moment it would be a leap of faith to say the same effects would be seen in humans. But it is something we hope to identify in future studies,” he added.
“Early to bed, early to rise keeps a man healthy, wealthy and wise,” Benjamin Franklin famously said some 300 years ago. Now, scientists have confirmed it.
Researchers at the Roehampton University in the U.K. found claimed that early risers are slimmer, happier and healthier than those who get up later in the day.
Worst off are night owls, the researchers said, as late nights appear to be taking their toll on health and happiness, the Daily Mail reported.
For their study, the researchers quizzed almost 1,100 men and women about their health and sleeping habits.
Some 13 per cent of those questioned were larks, getting up before 7a.m. during the week and seeing no need for a lie-in at the weekend.
Night owls, who fall out of bed just before 9 a.m. Monday to Friday and sleep-in on Saturdays and Sundays, accounted for another 6 per cent.
The remaining 81 per cent fell somewhere in between.
The analysis revealed the early risers to have fewest signs of depression and anxiety.
They were also more likely to eat breakfast — something that has previously been linked with slimness, a British Psychological Society conference heard.
Study author Dr. Jorge Huber said: “These effects are small — and in some occupations and situations there are clearly advantages to being an evening person — but they are highly statistically significant.
“If you are an evening type, you are not necessarily a miserable person but there is some difference.”
Dr Huber wasn’t sure of the cause, but he believes it may be that late bed times make for a worse night’s sleep.
Politcial theorist Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), who was one of the founding fathers of the U.S., was perhaps the first to point out that going to bed too late is bad for both health and mind.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday carried out marathon interrogation of former Revenue Minister of Karnataka G. Karunakar Reddy, brother of Gali Janardhan Reddy, in the case against Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC).
The interrogation of Mr. Karunakar Reddy which commenced in the morning went on till night. He was questioned separately from his sibling and the other accused, B.V. Srinivas Reddy, who is the managing director of OMC. Though there were several persons who appeared for questioning before the agency, the officers were said to have confronted each of them separately.
Also present in the CBI office were former director of mines and geology B.D. Rajagopal and mining officials from Sandur village in Karnataka. The CBI on Thursday had interrogated G. Somasekhar Reddy, another brother of Mr. Janardhan Reddy, similarly till late in the night.
Meanwhile, the special court for CBI cases here ordered the investigating agency on Friday to provide Mr. Janardhan Reddy and Mr. Srinivas Reddy minimum facilities at the place where they were held in custody. This is the fourth day of their interrogation in police custody.
Their lawyers had complained to court that they were being shifted to different police stations at night where the conditions were pathetic.
The locations were not suitable for stay by human beings, much less for snatching a sleep after daylong ordeal at the hands of CBI officers. The minimum decency of life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution was violated.
In a memo filed in the court, the lawyers said the CBI carried out interrogation till late in the night taking advantage of the fact that the court did not fix any timing for the purpose when the custody was granted. The two were brought back to CBI office in the early hours from unidentified police stations and subjected to interrogation continuously by different officers.
‘Nothing audible'
The lawyers permitted by court to be present during interrogation were made to sit far away as a result of which nothing was audible to them. They could not even see the interrogation properly.
London: A suspected rogue trader accused of a staggering £1.3billion fraud told friends he needed ‘a miracle’ days before he was arrested. Kweku Adoboli, 31, posted a desperate last message on Facebook as he tried to recover enormous losses he had run up through illegal trading. He is then believed to have confessed to his bosses at Swiss banking giant UBS the extent of the losses he had racked up, as it understood the bank were not aware of the suspected fraud. Detectives detained Adoboli during a 3.30am raid yesterday at his luxury London flat. The Ghanaian, who was privately educated in Britain and is the son of a retired UN worker, is accused of being responsible for the biggest loss ever accrued by a single trader based in London. The £1.3billion figure easily dwarfs the £827million lost by rogue trader Nick Leeson, the man behind the collapse of Barings bank in 1995. It equates to about the same amount UBS is seeking to save by cutting 3,500 jobs worldwide. Speculation was mounting that he may have been caught out after the Swiss Central Bank unexpectedly devalued the franc last week, producing mammoth losses on one of his currency trades. It was then that Adoboli’s final Facebook message, believed to have been left on Tuesday, September 6, read: ‘Need a miracle.’ Adoboli’s boss John Hughes is reported to have quit his job in the aftermath of the scandal. Sources said he would have faced serious questions about supervision of staff. He could not be reached for comment last night. UBS is understood to have discovered the huge loss late on Wednesday afternoon. City of London Police commander Ian Dyson said the force was tipped off by UBS at 1am yesterday. Within three hours, detectives had entered the HQ of UBS and had also arrested Adoboli, who according to sources was a ‘work-hard, play-hard’ trader who enjoyed the company of a series of attractive women at his flat in Whitechapel, East London. Sources said he earned around £200,000 a year, plus up to £400,000 more in bonuses. Adoboli was formally arrested on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position, and was still in custody last night. Police are liaising closely with the Crown Prosecution Service and a decision on charges could be made over the weekend. He was detained on the third anniversary of the collapse of U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers, and just three days after an independent report called for tighter regulation of British banks, to stop potentially catastrophic ‘casino’ banking.
London: A suspected rogue trader accused of a staggering £1.3billion fraud told friends he needed ‘a miracle’ days before he was arrested. Kweku Adoboli, 31, posted a desperate last message on Facebook as he tried to recover enormous losses he had run up through illegal trading. He is then believed to have confessed to his bosses at Swiss banking giant UBS the extent of the losses he had racked up, as it understood the bank were not aware of the suspected fraud. Detectives detained Adoboli during a 3.30am raid yesterday at his luxury London flat. The Ghanaian, who was privately educated in Britain and is the son of a retired UN worker, is accused of being responsible for the biggest loss ever accrued by a single trader based in London. The £1.3billion figure easily dwarfs the £827million lost by rogue trader Nick Leeson, the man behind the collapse of Barings bank in 1995. It equates to about the same amount UBS is seeking to save by cutting 3,500 jobs worldwide. Speculation was mounting that he may have been caught out after the Swiss Central Bank unexpectedly devalued the franc last week, producing mammoth losses on one of his currency trades. It was then that Adoboli’s final Facebook message, believed to have been left on Tuesday, September 6, read: ‘Need a miracle.’ Adoboli’s boss John Hughes is reported to have quit his job in the aftermath of the scandal. Sources said he would have faced serious questions about supervision of staff. He could not be reached for comment last night. UBS is understood to have discovered the huge loss late on Wednesday afternoon. City of London Police commander Ian Dyson said the force was tipped off by UBS at 1am yesterday. Within three hours, detectives had entered the HQ of UBS and had also arrested Adoboli, who according to sources was a ‘work-hard, play-hard’ trader who enjoyed the company of a series of attractive women at his flat in Whitechapel, East London. Sources said he earned around £200,000 a year, plus up to £400,000 more in bonuses. Adoboli was formally arrested on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position, and was still in custody last night. Police are liaising closely with the Crown Prosecution Service and a decision on charges could be made over the weekend. He was detained on the third anniversary of the collapse of U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers, and just three days after an independent report called for tighter regulation of British banks, to stop potentially catastrophic ‘casino’ banking.
London: A suspected rogue trader accused of a staggering £1.3billion fraud told friends he needed ‘a miracle’ days before he was arrested. Kweku Adoboli, 31, posted a desperate last message on Facebook as he tried to recover enormous losses he had run up through illegal trading. He is then believed to have confessed to his bosses at Swiss banking giant UBS the extent of the losses he had racked up, as it understood the bank were not aware of the suspected fraud. Detectives detained Adoboli during a 3.30am raid yesterday at his luxury London flat. The Ghanaian, who was privately educated in Britain and is the son of a retired UN worker, is accused of being responsible for the biggest loss ever accrued by a single trader based in London. The £1.3billion figure easily dwarfs the £827million lost by rogue trader Nick Leeson, the man behind the collapse of Barings bank in 1995. It equates to about the same amount UBS is seeking to save by cutting 3,500 jobs worldwide. Speculation was mounting that he may have been caught out after the Swiss Central Bank unexpectedly devalued the franc last week, producing mammoth losses on one of his currency trades. It was then that Adoboli’s final Facebook message, believed to have been left on Tuesday, September 6, read: ‘Need a miracle.’ Adoboli’s boss John Hughes is reported to have quit his job in the aftermath of the scandal. Sources said he would have faced serious questions about supervision of staff. He could not be reached for comment last night. UBS is understood to have discovered the huge loss late on Wednesday afternoon. City of London Police commander Ian Dyson said the force was tipped off by UBS at 1am yesterday. Within three hours, detectives had entered the HQ of UBS and had also arrested Adoboli, who according to sources was a ‘work-hard, play-hard’ trader who enjoyed the company of a series of attractive women at his flat in Whitechapel, East London. Sources said he earned around £200,000 a year, plus up to £400,000 more in bonuses. Adoboli was formally arrested on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position, and was still in custody last night. Police are liaising closely with the Crown Prosecution Service and a decision on charges could be made over the weekend. He was detained on the third anniversary of the collapse of U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers, and just three days after an independent report called for tighter regulation of British banks, to stop potentially catastrophic ‘casino’ banking.
London: A suspected rogue trader accused of a staggering £1.3billion fraud told friends he needed ‘a miracle’ days before he was arrested. Kweku Adoboli, 31, posted a desperate last message on Facebook as he tried to recover enormous losses he had run up through illegal trading. He is then believed to have confessed to his bosses at Swiss banking giant UBS the extent of the losses he had racked up, as it understood the bank were not aware of the suspected fraud. Detectives detained Adoboli during a 3.30am raid yesterday at his luxury London flat. The Ghanaian, who was privately educated in Britain and is the son of a retired UN worker, is accused of being responsible for the biggest loss ever accrued by a single trader based in London. The £1.3billion figure easily dwarfs the £827million lost by rogue trader Nick Leeson, the man behind the collapse of Barings bank in 1995. It equates to about the same amount UBS is seeking to save by cutting 3,500 jobs worldwide. Speculation was mounting that he may have been caught out after the Swiss Central Bank unexpectedly devalued the franc last week, producing mammoth losses on one of his currency trades. It was then that Adoboli’s final Facebook message, believed to have been left on Tuesday, September 6, read: ‘Need a miracle.’ Adoboli’s boss John Hughes is reported to have quit his job in the aftermath of the scandal. Sources said he would have faced serious questions about supervision of staff. He could not be reached for comment last night. UBS is understood to have discovered the huge loss late on Wednesday afternoon. City of London Police commander Ian Dyson said the force was tipped off by UBS at 1am yesterday. Within three hours, detectives had entered the HQ of UBS and had also arrested Adoboli, who according to sources was a ‘work-hard, play-hard’ trader who enjoyed the company of a series of attractive women at his flat in Whitechapel, East London. Sources said he earned around £200,000 a year, plus up to £400,000 more in bonuses. Adoboli was formally arrested on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position, and was still in custody last night. Police are liaising closely with the Crown Prosecution Service and a decision on charges could be made over the weekend. He was detained on the third anniversary of the collapse of U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers, and just three days after an independent report called for tighter regulation of British banks, to stop potentially catastrophic ‘casino’ banking.
London: A suspected rogue trader accused of a staggering £1.3billion fraud told friends he needed ‘a miracle’ days before he was arrested. Kweku Adoboli, 31, posted a desperate last message on Facebook as he tried to recover enormous losses he had run up through illegal trading. He is then believed to have confessed to his bosses at Swiss banking giant UBS the extent of the losses he had racked up, as it understood the bank were not aware of the suspected fraud. Detectives detained Adoboli during a 3.30am raid yesterday at his luxury London flat. The Ghanaian, who was privately educated in Britain and is the son of a retired UN worker, is accused of being responsible for the biggest loss ever accrued by a single trader based in London. The £1.3billion figure easily dwarfs the £827million lost by rogue trader Nick Lee
nitya007's
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Saturday, September 17, 2011
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SPECIAL NEWS
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Ahmedabad: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who on Saturday began his three-day Sadhbhavna fast here, said the state has overcome several setbacks in the past decade and has set an example for everyone.
“Today, the world is talking about Gujarat’s development, be it in the field of industry, agriculture, rural areas or urban poor,” Modi told his supporters at Convocation Hall of Gujarat University.
The world is also talking about Gujarat’s model of governance, Modi said, adding a day will come when Gujarat’s model of development while maintaining peace, unity and brotherhood will be taken note of.
Ruing votebank politics in the six decades post independence has ruined the nation, Modi said he doesn’t follow politics of appeasement.
Modi said Gujarat’s rise post the devastating 2001 earthquake, 2002 communal riots and the Akshardham temple attack set an example of peace, unity and brotherhood for the world.
“After the 2002 riots there was talk that Gujarat will slide back... there will be no investment. However, Gujarat overcame the crisis and rose to new heights,” Modi said.
After the 2008 serial blasts in Ahmedabad, six crore Gujaratis set an example of peace, unity and brotherhood, Modi said.
He noted that Gujarat had come a long way from the 1980s and ’90s when curfew and communal violence were daily occurrences.
Stating Gujarat follows the path of democracy, justice and Constitution, Modi said the state never tried to retaliate “when people hurled stones and attacked us”.
“We have used the stones hurled at us to build path of development,” the CM said.
He added that Gujarat wants to progress and help the nation.
Modi, who is celebrating his 61st birthday today, began his three-day Sadbhavana fast amid the presence of a galaxy of BJP leaders, including LK Advani, Arun Jaitley, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Kalraj Mishra, Vijay Goel, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Rajiv Pratap Rudi and Smriti Irani among others. Punjab Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal Prakash Singh Badal is also present on the occasion.
AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has dispatched two emissaries -- M Thambidurai and V Maitreyan -- to extend her support to Modi’s fast.
“I deeply believe that this fast will further strengthen Gujarat's environment of peace, unity and harmony,” the chief minister said.
Earlier, in a letter to the people of Gujarat Modi said, "The unhealthy environment created by the unfounded and false allegations made against me and government of Gujarat, after 2002 riots, has come to an end."
Modi announced his move to sit on fast after the Supreme Court earlier this week refused to pass any order on the alleged inaction of the Gujarat CM to contain the 2002 communal riots which followed the Godhra carnage and referred the matter back to the trial court in Ahmedabad.
On the eve of his three-day fast, Modi expressed confidence that his mission would lend further strength to the nation's unity in diversity. He expressed sadness for the life lost in the Gujarat riots.
"India and Gujarat have realised that casteism and communal fanaticism does not serve anybody. Gujarat has risen over the distortions in society and national life to march on to the path of progress, peace, unity, harmony and brotherhood," he said in an official release.
A five-tier security has been put in place for the fast which has turned out to be a grand affair.
Prior to Modi beginning his fast, senior Congress leader Shankarsinh Vaghela, surrounded by Congressmen in Gandhi caps, launched his parallel fast at the Gandhi Ashram to counter that of the Gujarat CM.
nitya007's
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Thursday, September 08, 2011
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SPECIAL NEWS
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Computer peripherals maker iBall today introduced its first Android tablet Slide in the Indian market. Powered by Android 2.3, 1GHz processor, and seven inch capacitive display, Slide will be sold for INR 13,995.
Connectivity-wise, iBall Slide comes with Bluetooth, WiFi and 3G [Via Dongle, not built-in]. Other features of the tablet include 8GB of internal memory, 4400mAh battery, 2MP front camera, USB host and HDMI out.
Company has roped in Hrithik Roshan as the brand ambassador of the tablet.
nitya007's
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Thursday, September 08, 2011
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WORLD NEWS
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A person tries to kill themselves in China every two minutes, the government and state media said Thursday, giving the country one of the highest suicide rates in the world. China's suicide rate is 22.23 people out of every 100,000, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said on its website.
"Our nation has one of the highest rates of suicide in the world," the Beijing Youth Daily quoted Beijing Health Bureau spokesman Mao Yu as saying.
About 287,000 people kill themselves in the country of 1.3 billion every year, while about two million try to commit suicide annually.
China marks World Suicide Prevention Day on Saturday, according to the Beijing Youth Daily.
The disease control centre said suicide is the biggest killer among Chinese aged 15 to 34.
Extreme pressure to perform well at school and to find employment were the main reasons behind the high rate of suicide among China's youths, media said.
The suicide rate in rural areas is three times higher than in urban centres and accounts for 75 percent of China's suicide total, it said.
According to the Guangzhou Daily, the number of suicides in China has risen sharply during the reform and open period, when the nation's economy has boomed.
A person attempts to commit suicide in China every two minutes, the paper said.
In 2009, the British medical journal The Lancet identified Lithuania, Finland, Latvia, Hungary, China, Japan and Kazakhstan as all having exceptionally high rates of suicide, 20 per 100,000 people or higher.
There was a time when you'd take John Abraham and Bipasha Basu's name almost in the same breath. Now, the lady refuses to even acknowledge the mention of him, simply referring to John as someone who isn't part of her life anymore.
Nevertheless, this Bengali beauty isn't disillusioned with love. Probably why back-to-back link-ups with former co-stars hardly bother her. In a chat with Hitlist, she talks love, work and more...
Ques: Your break-up with John Abraham has become headline material. Do you feel a little claustrophobic?
Bipasha: I have chosen to be part of an industry where everyone has his or her hawk eyes on you. And I think I will have to accept all the extra attention, wanted or unwanted. What's interesting is that everyone's looking to get me a boyfriend, when I am so very much single and loving it. At least give me the chance to spend time with people. Only then will I be able to start dating someone, right?
Ques: So, are you spending time with Shahid Kapoor or even Ranbir Kapoor?
Bipasha: Ranbir's a sweetheart; he's a very good friend. I don't need to get to know him. I've known him for six whole years. Shahid and me, we hardly know each other. We worked on one film together (Shikhar), but then we never really spoke much. It takes time to get to know people. So yes, I am getting to know Shahid now.
Ques: But we can't say that you two are dating?
Bipasha: (Laughs) I get a lot of male attention and I'm not going to deny that. I get along with men, but I am not going to comment every time I go out for dinner with someone. Even my parents are not worried about me finding a boy as much as the rest of the world. They know that I am a responsible girl, and eventually I'll find someone and get settled.
Ques: Everyone's also talking about John dating someone. Does it bother you?
Bipasha: I am not really interested in talking about anyone who isn't part of my life anymore. You ask me anything about myself and I'm ready to talk.
Ques: You said you loved the promo of Rockstar. A dialogue in it says how heartbreaks help you make music or probably make you more creative. Do you believe that?
Bipasha: I don't believe in mulling over heartbreak. Yes, it makes you stronger, but I'm not the one to sit and sulk over it. I don't believe in wasting a minute over someone who doesn't value me.
Ques: A lot of girls who are junior to you are doing much better with their films. Does that make you insecure?
Bipasha: This industry is very brutal. A lot of people say a lot of things, even if it's none of their business. So if anyone's saying I'm out of the race, it doesn't bother me. I'm very thick-skinned and it helps me not to get affected. I'm very content with the kind of work I'm doing and that's all that matters.
Ques: You have Raaz 3, Singularity, Players and also Shyam Benegal's next. That's a lot of films...
Bipasha:The Bhatts have a soft corner for me, and I am so happy I could be part of Raaz 3. Of course, it's going to be nothing like the original because the whole space is changing too rapidly. Players, of course, is an out and out masala flick, but very stylish. I have discussed a script with Shyamji, which I totally loved. The logistics of that are being worked upon.
Ques: Did you get along with Sonam during Players?
Bipasha:She is a very sweet girl. She is a little like me in fact... lives in her own world. I like that about her.
Ques: Buzz is you're coming up with yet another Yoga DVD?
Bipasha:Yes, it's almost a year since I've been planning it. The previous one was pretty popular, amongst men more than women I guess. So this time I'm going to include a lot more tips for men, too.
Ques: Lastly, are you looking forward to watching any films this year?
Bipasha: I love the look of Mausam and of course Rockstar. I'm looking forward to both films.
nitya007's
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Thursday, September 08, 2011
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indian Express
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A Palestinian militant has been killed and two others wounded in an explosion in the Gaza Strip, medics say.
The Islamic Jihad militant group blamed an Israeli air strike for the death of Remah al-Hasani, a member of its military wing, the al-Quds Brigades.
But Israel's army denied any role in Wednesday's late-night incident.
On Tuesday evening, an Israeli air raid on Gaza killed a militant from the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) and wounded a father and his two sons.
The latest violence comes despite a ceasefire that came into force after a spasm of violence that followed a militant attack in Eilat on 18 August, which left eight Israelis dead. Mosque attack
Meanwhile, settler violence in the West Bank has also increased in recent days.
Vandals sprayed graffiti on a mosque near Nablus, torched two Palestinian cars and uprooted olive trees in overnight attacks on Thursday that locals blamed on Jewish settlers.
The mosque in Yatma village, some 10km (six miles) south of Nablus, was spray-painted with the Hebrew words for "price tag" and "Migron" - a settlement outpost where Israeli troops demolished three homes on Monday.
Hardline settlers have adopted a so-called "price tag" policy under which they attack Palestinians and their property in retaliation for Israeli government measures to dismantle their illegal outposts.
It was the second time in three days that vandals had attacked a mosque and painted the word "Migron" on the walls, following an arson attack in the nearby village of Kasra.
And on Wednesday, settlers vandalised an Israeli army base in the first suspected case of "price tag" attacks against Israeli forces, said the army.
There are some 500,000 Jewish settlers living in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Settlements are regarded as illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this.
Tensions have been running high two weeks ahead of a planned appeal by the Palestinian leadership to the United Nations, calling for the acceptance of an independent Palestinian state within its 1967 borders in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.
Israel is fiercely against the move.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi returned to the capital early this morning from abroad where she underwent surgery a month ago for an undisclosed ailment.
“Congress president returned early today and she is fine,” party general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi said.
The 64-year-old Gandhi had left the country on August 2 and had thereafter undergone a surgery.
Immediately after her departure, Congress had made a brief announcement saying Ms. Gandhi had been recently diagnosed with a medical condition and was advised surgery.
The Congress president had handed over reins of the party to a group of four comprising Rahul Gandhi and senior leaders A.K. Antony, Ahmed Patel and Mr. Dwivedi.
NEW DELHI — Indian authorities detained three men for questioning Thursday as they scrambled for leads into a powerful briefcase bomb that tore through the crowds outside a New Delhi courthouse, killing 12. Investigators were looking into an email sent to several TV news channels hours after Wednesday's blast, allegedly by a Pakistan-linked Muslim extremist group. They were trying to determine the authenticity of the claim.
The email demanded that a Kashmiri man convicted in a 2001 attack on India's Parliament have his death sentence commuted. It also threatened to target other courts.
Police in Indian Kashmir said investigators had traced the email to an internet cafe in the disputed Himalayan region's Kishtwar area and had detained the owner and two other residents for questioning.
Authorities also were searching various locations in Kishtwar but police would not provide more details.
The bomb exploded at about 10:14 a.m. near a line of more than 100 people waiting at a reception counter for passes to enter the courthouse to have their cases heard.
The bomb's impact left a deep crater on the road and shook the building, creating panic and sending lawyers and judges running outside. The blast killed 12 people and wounded 80 others.
The investigation was immediately handed over to the National Investigation Agency, created after the 2008 Mumbai siege to investigate and prevent terror attacks.
Police said they were combing the city for possible suspects and all roads out of the city were under surveillance.
Police also released two sketches Wednesday they said were based on descriptions by witnesses who said they saw someone waiting outside the building with a briefcase.
The court bombing was the first major attack in India since serial blasts in Mumbai killed 26 people on July 13. Suspicion then fell on the shadowy terrorist group Indian Mujahedeen, though no arrests have been made.
The bomb struck the High Court, an appeals panel below India's Supreme Court, even though the capital is on high alert because Parliament is in session. A small explosion on May 25 in a parking lot at the same court building appeared to have been a failed car bomb.
After the Mumbai attacks, the government expanded police recruiting and training, set up the NIA and established commando bases across the country so forces could react swiftly.
The attack was reminiscent of the string of deadly bombings that rocked the country in 2008, including a series of coordinated bomb blasts in New Delhi on Sept. 13 that killed 21 people. Many of those attacks were blamed on militant groups composed of disaffected Muslims furious at perceived injustices at the hands of India's Hindu majority.
That attacks abated after the November 2008 siege of Mumbai, when 10 Pakistan-based militants terrorized India's commercial capital for 60 hours, killing 166 people.
However, the recent attacks have renewed worries about a return of the violence.
nitya007's
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Friday, September 02, 2011
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INDIA news
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Asserting that enactment of the Lokpal Bill was not enough to check corruption, the CPI(M) on Friday said the country needs laws for poll and land reforms and also tackling corruption by corporates.
Addressing a protest rally in New Delhi, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat accused the UPA government of being the “most corrupt” in Independent India with “a scam being unearthed every single day” and found fault with the economic policies pursued by it.
He said that the country needs legislations to tackle corruption in the judiciary and on land and electoral reforms. “We need a strong Lokpal. But one single Lokpal will not help us in the fight against corruption,” he told protesters, a view echoed by CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, CPI leaders A.B. Bardhan and D. Raja and Forward Bloc’s Debabrata Biswas.
Mr. Karat said the government bill does not have provision for bringing the corrupt practices of corporates under the ambit of Lokpal or bringing the whole bureaucracy under the ombudsman.
“Thousands of acres of land are being acquired by government. Lokpal alone is not helpful in tackling the issue of land acquisition. For that what we need is a strong (land acquisition) law,” he said.
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan lashed out at the U.S. for accusing the country's most powerful intelligence agency of supporting extremist attacks against American targets in Afghanistan -- the most serious allegations against Islamabad since the beginning of the Afghan war. Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar dismissed the claims as mere allegations. She warned the U.S. that it risked losing Pakistan as an ally and could not afford to alienate the Pakistani government or its people. 
Bill Gates tops this year's Forbes list of the 400 richest Americans with a net worth calculated at USD 59 billion.Forbes says the Microsoft co-founder saw his wealth increase by USD 5 billion from last year.
One of India's homegrown denim brands, Flying Machine, landed itself in hot soup soup for its 'What an ass!' print ad. The advertisement showed a woman in tight jeans, flaunting her shapely derriere with the tagline printed across her buttocks. The ad was supposed to highlight how women are growing to accept their figure, but has drawn much criticism from women's rights groups for portraying ladies as sex objects. Here's a look at other controversial ads.
The recent Fastrack watch ad featuring actor Genelia D'souza and cricketer Virat Kohli was hauled up by pilots and air-hostesses, since it showed the two getting cozy in the cockpit of an aircraft, thereby endangering the lives of passengers on board.
VANDANA MEMON PIC
Ahmedabad: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who on Saturday began his three-day Sadhbhavna fast here, said the state has overcome several setbacks in the past decade and has set an example for everyone. 
Computer peripherals maker iBall today introduced its first Android tablet Slide in the Indian market. Powered by Android 2.3, 1GHz processor, and seven inch capacitive display, Slide will be sold for INR 13,995. 
There was a time when you'd take John Abraham and Bipasha Basu's name almost in the same breath. Now, the lady refuses to even acknowledge the mention of him, simply referring to John as someone who isn't part of her life anymore. 
NEW DELHI — Indian authorities detained three men for questioning Thursday as they scrambled for leads into a powerful briefcase bomb that tore through the crowds outside a New Delhi courthouse, killing 12. Investigators were looking into an email sent to several TV news channels hours after Wednesday's blast, allegedly by a Pakistan-linked Muslim extremist group. They were trying to determine the authenticity of the claim. 
