'Shortage of vets main for FMD in Karnataka'

The State government on Thursday said it was shortage of veterinary doctors and absence of universal vaccination that had led to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in some districts of the State.

Addressing presspersons here, Minister for Animal Husbandry T.B. Jayachandra said the vaccination programme would be taken up on the pulse polio mode. He pointed out that there were 950 veterinary doctors’ posts vacant in the department, and 200 doctors only to control the disease.

The FMD has claimed 2,332 cows in the State and 18,386 have been infected in 1,507 villages.

The vaccination had covered only about 80 per cent of the cattle. He said several farmers show little interest in the vaccination of cows citing reduction in the milk yield for a few days after the injection, he said. Twenty-six doctors who are on deputation to other departments have been told to return to the parent department. It has been decided to hire retired veterinary doctors to complete the vaccination drive.

As a preventive measure against the disease, cattle have to be vaccinated twice a year. The disease affects early to high-yielding cattle, particularly hybrid varieties. With the outbreak of FMD confirmed in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, he said entry of cattle (cows, bulls and buffaloes) from other States has been regulated.

Asked about compensation, he said the milk unions have decided to grant compensation of Rs. 10,000 for families who have lost cattle to the disease. Only members of milk societies are eligible to receive compensation from milk unions and the Karnataka Milk Federation.

More: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/shortage-of-vets-main-for-fmd-in-karnataka/article5224548.ece

Cancer-stricken teen ends life day before discharge

19-year-old found hanging in Tata Memorial Hospital washroom.

A 19-year-old cancer patient was found dead in a washroom at Tata Memorial Hospital in Parel on Wednesday night. According to the doctors, Kapil Deb Roy, who had blood cancer, was admitted on October 1 was found hanging by a towel in the bathroom.

“The teenager had been admitted on September 7 and he was discharged on September 14. However, he was admitted once again with fever and we were going to discharge him on Thursday,” said SH Jafri, senior public relations officer, Tata Memorial Hospital in Parel.

He further added that the patient went to the washroom around 10pm in his room. The patient’s attendant informed the sister in-charge that Roy was inside the bathroom for more than 15 minutes.

After continuous knocking on the door, the sister informed the security officer, who called the police to break open the door and found the patient hanging by a towel. “He was declared dead and the body was sent for a post-mortem,” informed Jafri.

Sunil Tondwalkar, senior inspector of Bhoiwada police station said no suicide note was found. A case of accidental death has been registered.

According to experts, prolonged illness like cancer or tuberculosis do create a psychological impact on patients. “We have a department of psychiatry and a set of counsellors to counsel patients. This was an unfortunate incident that happened just a night before his discharge. The teenager’s maternal uncle was with him in the hospital,” said Jafry.

On September 18, a 26-year-old man, committed suicide at Sewree’s TB Hospital. The Worli resident, was apparently depressed over his ailment and jumped from the fourth floor of the building in the afternoon.

More: http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/1901946/report-cancer-stricken-teen-ends-life-day-before-discharge

Amur Falcons sighted in Nagaland

Thousands of migratory Amur Falcons have arrived for roosting at Pangti village in Nagaland where an awareness drive to save these winter visitors from being hunted has yielded positive results.

The falcons (Falco amurensis) travelling from Siberia are expected to roost in this village of Wokha district for over a month before proceeding to Africa, Wildlife Trust of India said today.

"The Amur Falcons have arrived and were sighted from October 1. Initially, around 50-60 birds were sighted but the numbers have gone up to a couple of thousands now. More are expected to arrive. No hunting or trapping has been reported indicating that our efforts are making an impact," Steve Oduyo of 'Natural Nagas', a wildlife conservation organisation, said.

Other rare water birds have also been seen sighted around Doyang reservoir, Oduyo said.

WTI's Yuri Pator, who is in Pangti to oversee the activities, said, "After talking to the villagers and council members, I feel positive that this year the falcons will be safe and there is sufficient awareness in and around these three villages to ensure that the falcons continue their journey to Africa", he added.

Unlike earlier seasons when the Amur Falcons were hunted in large numbers, this year saw local protection groups enforcing resolutions by village councils to save these birds.

Following reports about the falcons being hunted in large numbers last year, a Rapid Action Project (RAP) was undertaken by the Natural Nagas and WTI to assist the state Forest Department in their endeavour to protect them.

More: http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/amur-falcons-sighted-in-nagaland-113101100259_1.html

NASA admits mistake in banning Chinese student -- but likely too late to help

Misapplication of a federal law meant to stem the theft of American technological know-how has likely made it impossible for several Chinese scientists to attend a NASA astronomy conference -- a ban criticized by Chinese officials and the law's author.

One of those banned is Yale University post-doctoral student Ji Wang, who had planned to present data from the now-defunct Kepler spacecraft at the event. NASA head Charlie Bolden admitted the agency had made a mistake on Thursday, a change of heart likely too late to help, said Alan P. Boss, a member of the Carnegie Institution for Science and co-chair of the conference.

"The efforts of NASA's Ames Research Center to ensure that our Chinese astronomer colleagues will be able to attend
the Second Kepler Science Conference have been halted by the fact these approvals must be entered into a computer system at NASA HQ in Washington DC," Boss told FoxNews.com.

"Because of the ongoing federal government shutdown, there is no one at NASA HQ who can complete the approval process."

"The ability of scientists to attend an open scientific meeting about the spectacular results produced by NASA's Kepler Space Telescope is another likely fatality of the failure of the U.S. Congress to enact a federal budget for FY2014," Boss added.

In a Thursday e-mail to NASA staff seen by FoxNews.com, space agency chief Charlie Bolden blamed "mid-level managers" and said his office was looking to correct the mistake.

"In performing the due diligence they believed appropriate following a period of significant concern and scrutiny from Congress about our foreign access to NASA facilities, meetings and websites, [they] acted without consulting NASA HQ," Bolden wrote.

'It is unfortunate that potential Chinese participants were refused attendance at the upcoming Kepler Conference.'

- NASA's Charlie Bolden

"Upon learning of this exclusion, I directed that we review the requests for attendance from scientists of Chinese origin and determine if we can recontact them immediately upon the reopening of the government to allow them to reapply."

The ban had been widely denounced by both Chinese officials and scientists, who initially labeled it “deplorable.”

The issue arose when an employee of the Ames Research Center where the Kepler Science Conference II is to be held sent an e-mail citing a 2013 restriction spearheaded by Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va. It prevents the agency from hosting any Chinese nationals, and was drafted as a response to national security concerns -- concerns described to FoxNews.com in conversations with a whistle-blower earlier this year.

But it shouldn't extend to students and ordinary scientists, Wolf said.

“It places no restrictions on activities involving individual Chinese nationals unless those nationals are acting as official representatives of the Chinese government," reads an Oct. 8 letter Wolf wrote to NASA chief Charlie Bolden and supplied to FoxNews.com.

[pullquote]

Speaking Wednesday in Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying called the ban "discriminatory." She said China believed that academic or scientific research activities "should not be politicized."

A strongly worded letter from the committee organizing the event agreed.

“We find the consequences of this law deplorable and strongly object to banning our Chinese colleagues, or colleagues from any nation, from participation in KSC2 at NASA/Ames. Had we been aware of this possibility at the onset of planning KSC2, alternate venues to NASA/Ames would have been pursued,” the letter reads.

Wolf said the ban was a misinterpretation of the rules: NASA had conflated the temporary restriction and a larger, 2011 congressional provision that primarily restricts bilateral meetings and activities with the Communist Chinese government.

“The email from NASA Ames mischaracterizes the law and is inaccurate.”

Yet Wolf told Bolden he remains concerned about leaks of highly sensitive information from Ames and elsewhere in NASA.

“There is good reason Congress is concerned about providing the Communist Chinese government with additional opportunities to work with the U.S. on space given their continued cyberattacks, espionage campaigns and development of space weapons to use against the U.S.,” Wolf wrote.

More: http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/10/11/nasa-mistakenly-bans-chinese-student-from-conference/

Mark Webber fastest in Japanese GP final practice from Lewis Hamilton & Nico Rosberg

Mark Webber was fastest in final practice ahead of qualifying for Saturday's Japanese Grand Prix as Sebastian Vettel's preparations suffered a hiccup at Suzuka.

Webber set the pace with a time of 1:32.053s around the 5.807km track to end the session 0.134s quicker than the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton's team-mate Nico Rosberg was third fastest as the Silver Arrows' expected challenge continued to materialise, but Red Bull's preparations were hampered when the defending World Champion was unable to complete a qualifying practice run.

Instead, Vettel was out of the car with about 15 minutes to go. A problem with the KERS battery on his RB9 was diagnosed, giving Red Bull's mechanics work to do ahead of the afternoon's all-important session.

Lotus's Romain Grosjean was fourth fastest ahead of the Ferraris of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, with Jenson Button seventh fastest for McLaren.

Kimi Raikkonen was eighth ahead of Vettel, with Nico Hulkenberg overcoming an exhaust problem on his Sauber to go tenth fastest.

Conditions were again sunny but cooler than those on Friday while the gusty wind, which had caught a number of drivers out during opening practice, was again blowing.

The fact it had changed direction, however, created further difficulties. Grosjean, for one, had a number of excursions during the hour while Adrian Sutil's participation was cut short when he lost control exiting Spoon Curve and damaged his Force India's nose and suspension.

Webber (1:32.722s) also set the fastest lap on the prime tyre, with Vettel second fastest at this point. From there on in, however, his name slowly tumbled down the order.

Lotus were the first team to switch to the option, with Grosjean going 0.015s faster than the time Webber had set on the hard tyre.

Alonso and Massa moved respectively third and fourth fastest in the closing moments but Webber was soon P1 again with a time 0.654s quicker than Grosjean's.

Mercedes were the last of the frontrunners to begin their single-lap runs, with Rosberg and then Hamilton moving second.

Elsehwhere, Sergio Perez was 11th in a chassis McLaren had built up from their spare after his Friday crash while Paul di Resta ended the session 15th overall.

Max Chilton was 21st fastest over three seconds faster than Marussia team-mate Jules Bianchi, who was also out in a spare chassis after his shunt on Friday morning.

Qualifying starts at 6am BST.

More: http://www1.skysports.com/f1/report/12040/8968769/mark-webber-fastest-in-japanese-gp-final-practice-from-lewis-hamilton--nico-rosberg-

No one can stop me from playing: Jwala

"My fight is not against individuals but against a setup. I have done nothing wrong as captain of the Delhi Krrish Smashers franchisee in the IBL."

India’s ace women’s doubles shuttler, Jwala Gutta, said she would love to play on the badminton court and not engage in battles in the court of law. “That is not what I am looking for. I love to be out there,” she said pointing to Fateh Maidan Indoor Stadium courts, where she learnt the basics of the game since she was 10.

Jwala and Ashwini Ponnappa will miss the next week’s Denmark Open championship, where they were slated to play in women’s doubles as they could not complete the formalities, including getting visa by 4 p.m. on Friday.

Speaking for the first time after the Delhi High Court order, which directed the Badminton Association of India (BAI) to let her compete in the Denmark Open pending final view by a BAI panel, Jwala said though the BAI was not in direct contact with her, she was informed that the association had communicated to the organisers withdrawing its letter that barred her entry in the wake of the recent IBL (Indian Badminton League) row.

“My fight is not against individuals but against a setup. I have done nothing wrong as captain of the Delhi Krrish Smashers franchisee in the IBL. I had the support of every one, including my franchisee owners and many former players such as Prakash [Padukone] Sir and Vimal [Kumar] Sir,” Jwala said in the presence of Ashwini, parents and coach and mentor Dronacharya awardee S.M. Arif.

“I know it is not going to be easy to come out of this mess and focus on the sport. But, still I don’t think this is the worst phase of my career. Let me be honest, I was never down in this fight for the right to play,” she said.

“I always believe that no one can stop me from playing unless I decide to quit the sport. I am born to play badminton and can’t think of anything else,” she said.

“Yes, even now I and Ashwini are not sure for which tournaments the BAI has sent our entries in women’s doubles. We are actually preparing for the Denmark, French and the German Open this month and then for the China and Hong Kong Opens next month. If this is the treatment meted out to me, you can well imagine the plight of those who cannot even raise their voice against such biased actions,” she said.

“I tried my best to speak to Gopi [chief national coach P. Gopi Chand], top BAI officials and many others, but did not get any response. Well, Gopi only said that he was not in a position to comment on the episode. Yes, it would have been nice if he had a few words of moral support to me,” she said.

“I did take up the issue with the Union Sports Ministry and got a positive response of speedy justice.”

Ashwini, when asked whether she felt being “victimised” for siding with Jwala, said she had no other option but to support her partner who was fighting for a cause. “It is very disappointing to get this kind of treatment,” she said.

Intervening, Jwala said she was glad that her partner had understood her position and the importance of the battle against the BAI. The duo won the bronze medal in the World Championship a couple of years ago.

“Whatever happened is not good for the sport itself, leave alone how a Jwala or an Ashwini think about it. I decided to take it on for I believed that it is our right to play based on our performances. Just look at the results in the last one year when I did not play in any event and also before I started pairing with Ashwini in women’s doubles and V. Diju in mixed doubles at the international level,” Jwala said.

Renowned coach Arif felt that it was time the BAI set its house in order. “In fact, this is not what any athlete in India should look for having sacrificed so much to represent the country. Let there be rules and regulations and implement them with all sincerity,” he said.

More: http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/no-one-can-stop-me-from-playing-jwala/article5226307.ece

Number 3's triple Number 3

When Cheteshwar Pujara commenced his knock on Friday, the penultimate day of the final unofficial Test against West Indies A in Hubli, the 25-year-old Saurashtra right-hander was already on 139. Through the day, Pujara continued to provide a sense of calm in his measured manner with a belligerent burst later.

He started the morning serenely; a mini-drama came at the stroke of lunch when he survived a dropped catch before he provided a spurt of entertainment in the afternoon. One thing Pujara has been used to since his youth is scoring triple-hundreds, having crossed the 300-run mark at all age-group levels before replicating the feat twice in the Ranji Trophy. As he progressed past the 200-run mark in customarily steady fashion, there was almost a sense of inevitability that there was another one coming. And Pujara duly completed his third triple, becoming only the ninth batsman in first-class history to complete the feat, the list including the likes of Don Bradman, WG Grace, Wally Hammond and his state-mate Ravindra Jadeja.

It was really Pujara's incredible change of tempo though, as India A began losing wickets, that was the story of third day's play. The first 235 runs of his innings came in the most pristine of fashion. He was reprieved on 198 on the stroke of lunch, when Ashley Nurse dropped a straightforward catch at slip off the bowling of Miguel Cummings. And there were a couple of nervous moments as he approached his double-hundred.

Fluent strokes

On either side, Pujara's innings was laced with fluent strokes on both sides of the wicket, off front and back foot. He used his feet against Nurse and Nikita Miller to great effect every time they gave the ball even a semblance of air, off-driving and on-driving the spinners towards the straight boundaries.

His defence remained as steadfast as ever, however, with the West Indies A bowlers failing to find the elusive chink in his armour. Any width from pacers Delorn Johnson or Cummings was punished past either side of point, his bat coming down on the ball like a rapier with every one of his trademark cut shots. A hapless Cummings was even pushed into intimidating Pujara with a series of bouncers, three on the trot, with the third being signalled a no-ball for height, causing a minor stoppage in play.

But as wickets began tumbling at the other end, he decided to change gears. Few batsmen can score at a rapid pace without really looking gung-ho in their approach like Pujara can. He even brought out a few uncharacteristic shots from his repertoire, a reverse scoop shot off off-spinner Narsingh Deonarine, a glide over the slips for four off Cummings and a few delicate lap sweeps.

Pujara raced to 273, having scored 38 runs off his previous 26 balls. Then Zaheer Khan and Bhargav Bhatt fell off successive deliveries, leaving Pujara with just Ishwar Pandey for company.

It's here that Pujara was almost Laxmanesque when batting with the tail, facing 23 off the next 25 deliveries of the partnership, racing to the cusp of his triple-century. Then Cummings pitched one slightly full and wide, which Pujara smashed through the covers, taking him to 303, before declaring the India A innings with a lead of 296 runs. His last 71 runs came off just 55 balls. Having come into this match on the back of three failures, his series average jumped from 15 in three innings to 117 in four.

Fitness supreme

The run-machine, who never tires of batting, provided another example of his prime fitness as he was immediately back on the field, leading his side in their quest to level the series. And by stumps, Zaheer Khan,Dhawal Kulkarni and Pandey snared a wicket each to leave the visitors at 116/3 with a day to bat out, save the match and win the series.

Brief scores: WI A 268 & 116/3 (N Deonarine batting 44, A Fudadin batting 36; I Pandey 1/11) vs India A 564/9 decl (C Pujara 306*, G Gambhir 123; A Nurse 3/106)

Making the Don-Grade

Cheteshwar Pujara has now scored six triple centuries, including three in First-Class cricket, to go equal with Don Bradman. While all of Bradman's six triple tons were made in First-Class games, Pujara's half-a-dozen includes one while playing for Saurashtra Under-14 in 2001 and another two when representing his state's Under-22 side in 2008.

"When it comes to triple centuries it would be safe to say that Pujara has equalled the great Don Bradman. While Under-14 and Under-22 age-group cricket cannot be classified as First-Class cricket, these formats are of national importance because they are recognised by the BCCI and Pujara was playing for his state side. At the same time Pujara's record also gains significance because I can't think of another batsman in the world who has scored as many triple centuries right from age-group to First-Class cricket," cricket statistician Mohandas Menon said.

Following Don Bradman on the First-Class list of century makers are Bill Ponsford and Wally Hammond on four each. Those who have made three triple-centuries are WG Grace, Graeme Hick, Brian Lara, Michael Hussey, Ravindra Jadeja, incidentally also from Saurashtra, and Pujara. —ENS

More: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/number-3s-triple-number-3/1181597/3

The Last Word: Roger Federer, don’t tarnish the memories... bow out now

Roger Federer is hands down the best tennis player ever to grace a court and singularly the most polite and accommodating athlete I have ever interviewed. So I say this with a heavy heart, but he should retire.

I know there are those – they are many and include Tim Henman – who say that the greatest of them all has earned the right to determine the moment of his own departure from a sport he so utterly dominated.

But I cannot sit by quietly while the 17-time Grand Slam men’s singles champion, and my all-time sporting hero, insists on chipping away at his legacy by losing to a string of players who are simply not in his class.

I have been holding my tongue ever since his shock second round exit from Wimbledon this summer at the hands of Sergiy Stakhovsky, a rank outsider from Ukraine. I was at the All England Club that night and, as difficult as it was to accept, it tangibly felt like the end of an era.

But the 32-year-old Swiss immediately insisted he would be back and, my faith in his genius intact, I decided to let it pass. He knows best, right? Then he lost to Tommy Robredo in the fourth round of the US Open and my confidence wavered.

His latest defeat – in three sets to Gaël Monfils at the Shanghai Masters this week – was the final straw. It leaves Federer struggling for a place in the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals, which he has won a record six times, and fans wondering if they really have seen the best of the best.

All the evidence – despite the caveat of a recent back injury – would suggest the answer is “yes” as he endures the worst season of his career since he first won Wimbledon a decade ago. So why won’t he call it a day?

He already has the most Grand Slam singles titles of any man – a record that is unlikely ever to be eclipsed, given the punishing toll the modern game takes of the human body. He has nothing left to prove.

I want to remember him at his peak and not for having toppled off it. Sadly, Federer is displaying all the symptoms of denial usually seen in a prizefighter seeking one last comeback.

In the week that Ricky Hatton released his candid autobiography, War and Peace: My Story, we should remember just how fine the line is between greatness and narcissism. It is barely a year since the former champion of two weight divisions made the disastrous decision to return to the ring after his defeat to Manny Pacquiao. Seeing the referee count him out after he was floored by a left hook from Vyacheslav Senchenko made for painful viewing. Had he retired before his last two fights, his win-loss record would have stood at 45-1.

Boxers (Rocky Marciano aside, who retired aged 32 undefeated after 49 fights) are the athletes most likely not to know when they’re cooked but other sports offer salutary tales of legends who refused to bow out in their prime.

Brett Favre, the star quarterback for the Green Bay Packers during a 15-year period and holder of numerous NFL records, became fodder for stand-up comedians over the “will-he-won’t-he” saga surrounding his future.

Speculation about his retirement dragged out over nine years until he finally collected his NFL pension in 2011. Even so, just last month, Favre’s agent, Bus Cook, said the 44-year-old was so fit he could play in the NFL today. Give it up already.

Jimmy Connors might have the Open era record of 110 singles tour titles but Bjorn Borg had it right. Go out on top when people are least expecting you to. It adds a mystery and allure that feeds legends: there is a perception of immortality if the live footage ends when the athlete in question is only 26 and still has a washboard stomach.

Brevity worked for Bobby Jones, who remains the only golfer to have completed the major grand slam in a single season despite signing his final competitive card at the age of 28. They made movies about him. I’ve not seen one about Fred Funk.

Maybe Federer has one last Wimbledon title in him. But the likelihood that he doesn’t is greater and that risks diminishing the magnificence of the seven he already has.

There is no debate here. Federer is the best. End of. He should end it before the memory is tarnished.

More: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/the-last-word-roger-federer-dont-tarnish-the-memories-bow-out-now-8875295.html

Yuvraj Singh dedicates match-winning knock to Sachin Tendulkar

An emotional Yuvraj, who guided India to a six-wicket win over Australia here, dedicated his unbeaten innings to Tendulkar who yesterday announced that he would quit Test cricket after playing his 200th match against the West Indies next month.

He should have been on cloud nine after smashing a match-winning unbeaten 77 against Australia in the one-off T20 International in his comeback match, but Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh said he had mixed feelings as it came on the day Sachin Tendulkar retires from Test cricket.

An emotional Yuvraj, who guided India to a six-wicket win over Australia here, dedicated his unbeaten innings to Tendulkar who yesterday announced that he would quit Test cricket after playing his 200th match against the West Indies next month.

"Well I don't know if I am happy or sad. Happy that I hit the ball and sad day that Sachin is retiring. But really happy the way I hit the ball and how I continued to play well since the India A and West Indies A series," Yuvraj said at the post-match press conference.

"Definitely, I would like to dedicate it to Sachin and hopefully, maybe tell him on the phone as well. That is the least I can do, dedicate this knock to him. I will also like to dedicate this knock to my mother who prayed a lot for my comeback. Everyday she has been praying for me," he said.

The 31-year-old batsman, who last played an international match in January, was recalled to the national team after a string of fine performances for India A against West Indies A and a solid display for India Blue in the NKP Salve Challenger Series.

"Yuvi is back my friend," he told the media.

Yuvraj said it was an emotional moment for the country when an iconic cricketer like Tendulkar retires and added that he did not want to see him leave the game.

"I don't think I am going to let him go away. I am going to catch hold of his feet and not (let him) leave the dressing room. It has been amazing to play with him for so many years. One of the greatest players to have played the game. I don't know what to say," he said, adding that the team did not discuss Tendulkar's retirement in the dressing room.

More: http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/1902055/report-yuvraj-singh-dedicates-match-winning-knock-to-sachin-tendulkar

Member of Aamir Khan film crew arrested

A unit director of Aamir Khan`s upcoming movie ‘PK’ has been arrested for hurting religious sentiments during the shooting of a scene for the film, police said Friday.

The film crew member, whose name police refused to reveal, was arrested Wednesday and a case was registered against him after locals objected to a scene in which a man dressed as Lord Shiva was pulling a rickshaw in which two burqa-clad women were sitting.

"A case under section 295 A (injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religious of any class) and 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered against the unit director and the three actors at Kotwali police station," said a police official.

The unit members were shooting the scene in Chandni Chowk area Wednesday.

Initially, people thought the actors were members of a Ram Leela party but on seeing cameras, they inquired about the issue.

The actors told police that it was a dream sequence of the movie and they had all the legal documents and permission for shooting.

But a mob that gathered at the police station started shouting slogans that the film-makers were hurting religious sentiments, forcing police to take action.

The officer said that no case has been registered against Aamir Khan.

More: http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/bollywood/member-of-aamir-khan-film-crew-arrested_144388.html

Tune in on the 22nd – live from Nokia World Abu Dhabi

There’s a Nokia press event taking place on the 22ndOctober in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The press conference will start at 8am UK time (that’s 11am Abu Dhabi time). And the webcast from the event will be broadcast right here on Conversations, so that you can watch the action on your screen of choice!

This time around we also have an extra treat in the form of a second round of webcasts, after the main announcement.

These are additional interactive sessions that go into much more detail about… well, whatever is announced in the morning. These sessions have historically been reserved for the press, bloggers, partners and analysts who attend Nokia World, so we’re extremely pleased and excited to be able to offer them here on Conversations, for the first time.

The all-inclusive sessions will begin at 11am UK time and close at around 1pm.

More: http://conversations.nokia.com/2013/10/09/tune-in-on-the-22nd-live-from-nokia-world-abu-dhabi/

Apple To Launch IPhone 5S, 5C Models In Italy, Additional Countries Oct. 25

Apple Inc. (AAPL) unveiled its plans to continue its rollout of its newest iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C devices into more than three dozen countries--including Russia, Italy and Spain--starting Oct. 25, following last month's launch of the smartphone.

The iPhone 5s and 5c will be available on Oct. 25 in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, French West Indies, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion Island, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and Thailand.

The iPhone 5s and 5c will also be available on Nov. 1 in Albania, Armenia, Bahrain, Colombia, El Salvador, Guam, Guatemala, India, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and United Arab Emirates.

The new flagship iPhone 5S includes a faster processor, a better camera and a new fingerprint scanner. A second, less expensive model called the iPhone 5C repackages much of the technology from last year's device in a new, colorful plastic case. The models went on sale on Sept. 20 in nine countries, including the U.S., Australia, Canada and China.

Apple sold nine million of its latest iPhones in their first three days in stores, a new company record. The company said last month its quarterly revenue and margins should be near the high end of its previous forecast.

Shares were up 3.7% to $484.65 in recent premarket trading. Through Tuesday's close, the stock is up 14% over the past three months.

More: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20131009-705500.html

India not in crisis, won't tap IMF for five years, says Raghuram Rajan

Comments come days after IMF cut growth outlook.
On his first visit to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Banks annual meetings as the governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Raghuram Rajan took to the podium with a loud and clear message: India must not be seen as a country in crisis.

He did not hesitate once before declaring to the world that India would not run to the IMF for money for at least the next five years and maybe even beyond.

“We have $280 billion of forex reserves. Come on!” he exclaimed, adding that India was, in fact, lending to the IMF. “I think the perception should change now.” He said India was facing turmoil in the financial markets but was away from any crisis-like situation.

“We are a country which has a debt of 66% of GDP, 90% of which is denominated in rupees.
External debt was 22% of GDP and reserves at 15% of GDP. We can pay back all the short-term debt tomorrow,” he said.

He said India has issues in the financial sector; there are inflation challenges; there is a need to get back to a high growth trajectory. “But these are certainly not crisis issues,” he said.

Rajan said that corporations in India could face difficulties in paying off external debt, but it does not pose a system-wide risk to the country’s financial sector.

His remarks came a couple of days after the IMF slashed India’s growth outlook for this fiscal by almost 2% from the previous estimate, citing lack of investment, project delays and high inflation.

“We have our own discussions with the Fund (on) whether those estimates are right. I think we could be a little stronger than the World Economic Outlook suggests. I also think that the current account deficit would be significantly smaller than what they suggest,” he said, while sharing the stage with IMF’s MD Christine Lagarde.

He said there was not much to worry about the possible impact that any US Fed tapering could have on India as the damage has been done already and there is nothing much left that will leave the country.

He said the decision to hike interest rates was not aimed at keeping the foreign institutional investors in India. It was taken to control high inflation domestically. “I wanted to move away from worrying everyday about the external side. It is going to take care of itself. Let’s get our house in order and that is the best way to instill confidence about our economy,” said Rajan.

Rajan had unexpectedly increased policy rates in his maiden monetary policy review last month.
He said that high interest rates may hurt growth in the short run but it bodes well from a longer term perspective.

More: http://www.dnaindia.com/money/1902425/report-india-not-in-crisis-won-t-tap-imf-for-five-years-says-raghuram-rajan

Corporation Bank cuts rates on home, auto loans

State-owned Corporation Bank on Friday reduced interest rates on home, auto and consumer durables loans by up to 1.75 per cent to cash in on the festival season demand.

The bank cut lending rate on home loans by 0.50 per cent, while the reduction in rates for auto loans is 1 per cent.

The cut in lending rate for consumer durables loans of up to Rs 5 lakh is 1.75 per cent.

The bank offers home loans of up to Rs 50 lakh at base rate of 10.25 per cent for all tenors. For loans of above Rs 50 lakh, the interest rate is 10.50 per cent.

The processing charges are fully waived for loans up to Rs 25 lakh, while 50 per cent concession is offered on loans above Rs 25 lakh, it said.

With regard to auto loans, it said the rate of interest is 10.65 per cent for u pto Rs 50 lakh and 50 per cent of applicable processing charges are waived.

Similarly, the rate of interest has been reduced from 12.25 per cent to 10.50 per cent for kitchen and home appliances, solar panels, water heaters etc.

The offer is available for a period of four months till January, 2014.

For the advantage of customers, the bank has made a special arrangement with New India Assurance Company Ltd in offering vehicle insurance coverage at attractive premium.

Earlier this week, SBI too had launched festival offers along with other public sector lenders.

According to the country's largest bank, interest rate on car loan has been slashed by 0.20 per cent to 10.55 per cent against the earlier 10.75 per cent.

"Processing charge has also been cut from 0.51 per cent of the loan amount with a minimum of Rs 1,020 to a flat rate of Rs 500," SBI said.

More: http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/corporation-bank-cuts-rates-on-home-auto-loans/1/199536.htmlhttp://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/corporation-bank-cuts-rates-on-home-auto-loans/1/199536.html

High interest rates, weak consumer demand take its toll on industrial growth

High interest rates, weak consumer demand and the slump in overall investment seems to be taking its toll on industrial growth. The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growth went down sharply to 0.6 per cent in August as compared to the corresponding month last year. It was also much lower than the revised 2.75 per cent growth in July .

The cumulative growth in IIP in the first five months of 2013/14 (over the corresponding period last year) remained flat at 0.1 per cent.

Of the three sectors on which the IIP is based, mining and manufacturing contracted by 0.2 per cent and 0.1 per cent respectively as compared to August 2012. The electricity sector grew by 7.2 per cent.

The numbers did not come as a surprise, especially after the new RBI governor Raghuram Rajan raised the repo rate by 25 basis points (to 7.5 per cent) soon after taking up his new job.

The repo rate was raised in a bid to rein in inflation, but experts believe the step has dampened the corporate sentiments further which, in turn, affected the investment climate and industrial growth. Inflation rose for the third consecutive month in August to 6.1 per cent, fueled by an 18.8 per cent rise in food inflation.

Production of both capital goods - a barometer of investments in the economy - and consumer goods, have shown negative growth. Some other items which showed decline include rice, air conditioners, radios, TVs and communications equipments, gems and jewellery and telephone instruments (including mobile phones).

The disappointing set of numbers have come at a time when the country is staring at its worst economic performance in a decade. GDP growth was five per cent in 2012/13.

However, consumer demand is expected to rise in the near future, especially in rural areas, as agricultural output will be much higher this year due to a strong monsoon.

Besides, the August figures are at least better than those of May and June this year when the IIP contracted by more than two per cent.

More: http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/india-industrial-growth-august-high-reasons/1/199533.html

Nach Baliye to be a 'bold dance show'...new faces to display seductive moves

In its sixth season, Nach Baliye will be 'bolder' and 'better'. By being 'Bold', the reality show moves from the cliched celeb dance show to a 'closely-dancing' reality show . Yes, the popular dance show on Star Plus is all set to heat up the dance floor with lots of oomph this year.

Starting this November on Star Plus , Nach Baliye 6 this year will have popular celebrities from the world of entertainment dancing intimately. Popular TV stars and comedians will grace the show and will be donning dancing shoes though with a twist. The couples will get cozy on the floor and there is full public display of affection in the show.

(Right) Gurmeet Chaudhary and Debina Bonerjee

The theme is clearly seen in the very first promo featuring popular TV couple Gurmeet Chaudhary and Debina Bonerjee, wherein Debina is seductively flirting with her shirtless husband to dance. The makers have kept the theme for couples to bring romance alive in the show.

(Right) Ritvick Dhanjani and Asha Negi

Also featuring in the show will be popular youth couple Ritvick Dhanjani and Asha Negi from TV serial 'Pavitra Rishta'. Rumored to be an off-screen couple as well, this on-screen couple share amazing chemistry which will translate well on the dance floor. Both being good dancers, this will be one couple to check out for their sizzling chemistry.

(Left) Kiku Sharda and wife Priyanka

This might be awkward for a few couples dancing in the show, like popular comedian Kiku Sharda and wife Priyanka but that's where the catch lies: How will a normal looking couple romance each other with full public display of affection on national TV? Kiku has recently gained popularity as the drag Palak in Colors TV's popular comedy show 'Comedy Nights with Kapil'. But dancing with his real wife will be another ball game for this talented comedian.

Another popular comedian has been confirmed for the show but still has been kept under wraps. From TV, almost nine couples will be dancing in the show. Two vamps - Kanika and Amrapali with their beaus, one TV beta Nakul and bahu Riddhi Dogra and chef Ripudaman complete the rest of the dancers list.

While makers are trying couples from Bollywood and the music industry as well to complete the list of 11 celebs. But since the show caters to family viewing weekend slots, it needs to be seen how much public display of affection will go well with the audience. Shows like Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa and Big Boss have already made attempts to push the envelope. Hope Nach Baliye also redefines its format this time. So, get set to watch some erotic dance moments in Nach Baliye this season.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/nach-baliye-6-contestants-bold-dance-moves-clos-dancing/1/314274.html

India offers huge foreign investment opportunity: Chidambaram

Expressing confidence that India will see a long spell of high, sustained growth, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has said the country offers huge opportunity for foreign investment with high returns.

"The focus of the Indian economy has been on the infrastructure investment, which has grown massively supported by increased private sector participation," he said at an event here Friday for the announcement of first closure of IDFC's second infrastructure fund.

Total investment requirements for power, roads, ports, civil aviation etc. during the Twelfth Plan period is projected at $1 trillion, nearly half of which is expected to come from the private sector, Chidambaram noted.

"This provides an ample opportunity for foreign investments to reap benefits from the high returns from India," he said referring to several massive infrastructure projects underway.

These included Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor that will link Delhi to Mumbai's ports covering an overall length of 1483 km passing through six States, entailing over $90 billion in investment,.

India, in recent years, has emerged as one of the leading Public Private Partnerships (PPP) markets in the world, he said with the government promoting PPP as an effective tool for bringing private-sector efficiencies for delivery of quality public services.

India currently has over 1000 PPP projects in the infrastructure sector with a total project cost (TPC) of about US $97 billion.

Pointing to steps taken to make India more attractive for Foreign Direct Investment, Chidambaram said FDI limits have been increased in several sectors, including retail, civil aviation and telecom, and restrictions in the banking sector have been eased.

FDI up to 100% is allowed, under the automatic route, in most of the sectors/activities. Investors are only required to notify and file documents at the regional office of the Reserve Bank of India, he said.

Through policy interventions and tax incentives, India has encouraged Infrastructure Development Funds, Chidambaram said calling it an innovative attempt to address the issue of sourcing long term debt from foreign investors for infrastructure projects."

Potential investors in these will be overseas High Net Worth individuals and institutional investors like Sovereign Wealth Funds, Insurance and Pension Funds, he said.

He congratulated IDFC established by the Government of India in 1997 to lead private investment flows into Indian Infrastructure on successfully conveying the robustness of the Indian infrastructure investment opportunity to foreign institutional investors.

Noting that these investors have committed $644 million towards first close of its Second India Infrastructure Fund, Chidambaram expressed confidence that they will shortly achieve the target size of $1 billion.

More: http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/india-offers-huge-foreign-investment-opportunity-chidambaram-113101200136_1.html

Dozens dead in new migrant boat tragedy off Lampedusa

Dozens of migrants, including children, died on Friday when their boat sank off Malta near the Italian island of Lampedusa, officials said just over a week after a similar tragedy killed more than 300 refugees.

Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said at least 27 migrants were dead after the heavily loaded boat capsized in rough seas on Friday around 100 kilometres (60 miles) south of Lampedusa and 110 kilometres from Malta.

Italian news agency Ansa said about 50 bodies, including women and around 10 children, had been pulled from the sea.

"Operations to recover the bodies are ongoing," Muscat told journalists.

Around 150 survivors have already been picked up by a Maltese ship, the prime minister said.

The Italian navy has rescued around 50 survivors, and more rescue boats and helicopters have been sent to the site.

The Maltese navy swiftly dispatched rescue ships and helicopters and diverted commercial vessels to the area. Italy sent two naval vessels and helicopters carrying inflatable life rafts.

"The operation is in progress. The navigational conditions are difficult, with strong wind," a Maltese navy spokesman told AFP.

An Italian helicopter carrying around 10 surviving children landed on the tiny island of Lampedusa, where hundreds of migrants are already seeking refuge in a seriously overcrowded reception centre.

European Union Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstroem said she was following the rescue operations "with sadness and anxiety" and praised Italy and Malta for their swift response.

"These new horrible events are happening while we still have the shocking images of the tragedy in Lampedusa in our minds," she said, adding that the latest disaster highlighted the need for expanded search and rescue operations "to better detect and assist boats in distress".

The Commission has been urging EU states to pledge planes, ships and funds for EU border guard service Frontex, whose budget has been cut.

Italian Prime Minister called the latest tragedy "a new and dramatic confirmation of the state of emergency".

"Italy and Malta cannot be left all alone, this is a European problem," said his Maltese counterpart, Muscat, who spoke with Letta by phone.

The migrants in Friday's disaster alerted the authorities using a satellite phone when their boat got into difficulty in Maltese waters.

The boat capsized after those aboard attempted to catch the attention of a military aircraft flying overhead by gathering at one end of the vessel, the Maltese navy said.

On Friday morning, Italian divers found another body from the refugee shipwreck last week off the coast of Lampedusa, raising the death toll in the tragedy to 312.

Only 155 survivors were rescued out of an estimated 500 people, most of them Eritreans and Somalis, on the boat which departed from Libya.

The disaster has shown up the EU's asylum policy, which has been criticised for being overly restrictive and forcing refugees to resort to desperate measures to reach Europe.

EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso was heckled by activists and local residents when he visited Lampedusa on Tuesday.

The remote island is Italy's southernmost point and closer to the African continent than to the rest of the country.

Italy has appealed to EU states for help in coping with the thousands that are washing up on its shores every month, and wants migration to be put on the agenda of summit talks in Brussels at the end of the month.

Immigration charities estimate that between 17,000 and 20,000 migrants have died at sea trying to reach Europe over the past 20 years, often crossing on rickety fishing boats or rubber dinghies.

More: AFP

Efforts to bring more girls to school highlight of Int'l Day of Girl Child

To mark the second International Day of the Girl Child, UNICEF on Friday highlighted the power of innovation to get more girls in schools and improve the quality of learning for all children.

Millions of girls are still out of school, including 31 million primary school aged girls who are denied quality education and a chance to reach their full potential.

According to UNICEF, evidence shows that even a single year of secondary school for a girl correlates with as much as a 25 per cent increase in her future earnings.

"Education can transform the lives of girls and strengthen their communities," said Anthony Lake, UNICEF Executive Director, adding that, "Innovation can help us reach every girl by transforming education."

With its partners, UNICEF is exploring how technology can increase access to education for out-of-school girls and improve the quality of learning for every child.

Innovation is also helping governments and their partners to reach the hardest to reach children who are at the greatest risk of being out of school.

Unicef said innovation is not only about technology, it can mean embracing new ways to overcome other barriers that keep girls out of school, like improving sanitary facilities and keeping girls safe as they walk to and from school.

"Innovation is giving us powerful new tools to reach and teach more girls than ever before," said Lake. "To help more girls go to school, stay in school, and complete their learning, we need to keep learning ourselves, using these new tools, generating new ideas, and scaling up the most promising innovations."

The International Day of the Girl Child promotes girls' human rights, highlights gender inequalities that remain between girls and boys and addresses the various forms of discrimination and abuse suffered by girls around the world.

The United Nations General Assembly on December 19, 2011 adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, to recognise girls' rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.

More: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/efforts-to-bring-more-girls-to-school-highlight-of-intl-day-of-girl-child/1181412/2

Pakistan Taliban commander 'seized in US operation'

US forces have captured a senior Pakistan Taliban commander, Latif Mehsud, in a military operation, the state department has confirmed.

Spokeswoman Marie Harf described Latif Mehsud as a "terrorist leader" and a "senior commander" in the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

She gave no details of the operation.

She said he was a close confidante of the group's leader, Hakimullah Mehsud, who this week gave a rare interview to the BBC about possible peace talks.

Ms Harf said the Pakistan Taliban (TTP) were held responsible for the attempted bombing of Times Square in 2010, as well as attacks on US diplomats in Pakistan and many Pakistani civilians.

The group "had also vowed to attack the US homeland again," Ms Harf said.

An Afghan provincial official earlier told Associated Press news agency that Latif Mehsud was arrested as he was driving on a highway in Afghanistan's eastern Logar province.

The arrest took place about a week ago, the official said.

Latif Mehsud was reportedly returning from a meeting to discuss swapping prisoners.

The Washington Post said that US forces had taken him from Afghan intelligence agents who were trying to recruit him as a go-between for peace talks.

A spokesman for President Hamid Karzai, Aimal Faizi, told the Post: "The Americans forcibly removed him and took him to Bagram."

Mr Faizi said Latif Mehsud had only agreed to meet Afghan operatives after months of negotiations.

Some reports say Mr Karzai, who is currently holding talks with visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry, was furious about the US operation.

PM's pledge

This week, Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud told the BBC he was open to "serious talks" with Pakistan's government but said he had not yet been approached.

Latif and Hakimullah Mehsud are not thought to be related.

In a rare interview, Hakimullah denied carrying out recent deadly attacks in public places but said he would continue to target "America and its friends".


Marie Harf: "Group had vowed to attack US homeland again"

The chief loosely controls more than 30 militant groups in Pakistan's tribal areas.

After being elected PM in May, Nawaz Sharif announced he would open unconditional talks with the Taliban.

The group has killed thousands of people in its war against the Pakistani state in recent years.

They control areas in the north-west and have been blamed for a wave of suicide bombings and other attacks.

Along with Pakistan, the Afghan government has also made overtures for peace with the Taliban. A number of Taliban prisoners have been freed to smooth the process.

US attempts in June to talk to the Taliban, including the opening of a now-shut Taliban office in Qatar, infuriated Mr Karzai.

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24500286

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons wins 2013 Nobel Peace Prize

The small Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons was still getting used to its unaccustomed role at the center of world affairs, overseeing the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons, when it won the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday.

“The news of the Nobel Peace Prize was really overwhelming,” said Ahmet Uzumcu, director general of The Hague-based agency. “I see it as a great acknowledgement of a success story.”

Until minutes before the Norwegian Nobel Prize Committee revealed its choice in Oslo, speculation had centered on Malala Yousafzai, the 16-year-old Pakistani girl who was shot in the head by the Taliban a year ago for defending education for girls. But just as it did last year when it selectedthe European Union,the committee took the world by surprise.

“We are now in a situation in which we can do away with a whole category of weapons of mass destruction,” Thorbjorn Jagland, the committee’s chairman, said. “Of course this is a very important message.”

On Aug. 21, a sarin gas attack in Syria killed more than 1,000 civilians, a reminder to the world of the horror chemical weapons visit on their victims. An estimated 100,000 people have died in the 21 / 2-year conflict.

OPCW inspectors were in Syria as part of a U.N. team at the time of the August chemical attack and subsequently investigated it, despite coming under sniper fire at one point. The team later produced a widely acclaimed report that documented the use of sarin in the attack and that indirectly implicated the Syrian government.

OPCW inspectors returned to Syria at the beginning of October. About two dozen inspectors are there, attempting to find and oversee the destruction of an estimated 1,000 tons of chemical weapons — in the middle of a civil war, accompanied by unarmed U.N. guards, with security entrusted to a Syrian government that doesn’t control the entire country.

Jagland said the committee hoped the prize would have implications beyond the Syrian conflict, including encouraging signatories to the Chemical Weapons Convention such as the United States and Russia to step up destruction of their stockpiles.

“The crisis in Syria highlights the need to do away with these weapons,” he said. “This is about disarmament, which goes straight to the heart of Alfred Nobel’s will.”

Nobel, the Swedish industrialist who invented dynamite, left the Nobel prizes as his legacy. The ceremony for this year’s Peace Prize, worth $1.2 million, will be held on Dec. 10, the anniversary of Nobel’s death.

Although the OPCW was an unexpected recipient, the decision was widely applauded – outside of Syria. Inside the country, the two parties to the conflict took differing views, with government supporters seeing it as an affirmation of President Bashar al-Assad’s commitment to destroying chemical weapons and rebels calling it untimely.

U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry, however, commended the agency’s work since the attack in Syria.

“The OPCW has taken extraordinary steps and worked with unprecedented speed to address this blatant violation of international norms,” he said Friday.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the OPCW had strengthened the rule of law in the field of disarmament and nonproliferation. “Thanks in large measure to its efforts,” he said in a statement, “eighty per cent of the declared chemical weapons stockpiles have been destroyed.”

The OPCW, with a staff of about 450, including 125 inspectors, and a budget of $95 million, has labored since 1997 as the enforcement arm of the Chemical Weapons Convention, an agreement signed by 189 countries that prohibits them from producing and using chemical weapons. Syria becomes the 190th member country on Monday.

The agency has long worked quietly from its Hague headquarters, concentrating on the technical aspect of weapons destruction with little exposure to politically fraught situations like Syria. Its assignment there has given it new urgency.

“People are still getting their heads around being in the global limelight,” Michael Luhan, the OPCW’s spokesman, told The Washington Post in a recent interview. “If this is not an example of building a plane and flying it at the same time, I don’t know what is.”

The agency is so small that when the Nobel committee called early Friday to break the news, it got no answer. So the committee resorted to a tweet: “Please contact us @Nobelprize_org we are trying get through to your office.”

“The OPCW has been operating in one gear for so long that switching into overdrive will be a considerable challenge,” Amy Smithson, a chemical weapons expert at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, predicted recently as the agency took up its Syrian challenge.

Such modest circumstances can also be viewed as an advantage.

“They don’t have an ax to grind,” said Faiza Patel, a former senior policy officer at the OPCW. “And it is technically very competent, and that’s going to stand them in good stead.”

Uzumcu told reporters in The Hague that the prize money would help pay for the work of eliminating chemical weapons.

“I truly hope that this award and the OPCW’s ongoing mission together with the United Nations in Syria will [assist] efforts to achieve peace in that country and end the suffering of its people,” he said.

Previously nominated

The OPCW operation in Syria was galvanized by a Russian diplomatic initiative, which proposed persuading Syria to give up its chemical weapons in exchange for the United States backing off plans to bomb the country. President Obama was considering airstrikes in retaliation for chemical weapons use.

All of that occurred well after the Feb. 1 deadline for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize nominations. Jagland, however, said the OPCW had been nominated in previous years, implying it had remained in contention. The five members of the committee are appointed by the Norwegian parliament.

“It is a huge challenge to do the right thing,” he said, “but it was not difficult to come to this decision.”

After the announcement, a reporter in Oslo asked Jagland if the 2009 Peace Prize award to President Obama was justified.

“Obama got the prize because he paved the way for new negotiations with Russia on Strategic Nuclear Weapons,” he said, adding that President George W. Bush had permitted their collapse. “And then Obama came, rescued the whole international regime, and got a START agreement.

“That is more than enough to get the Peace Prize.”

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/chemical-weapons-watchdog-wins-nobel-peace-prize/2013/10/11/e656a87c-3254-11e3-ad00-ec4c6b31cbed_story_1.html

Malala Yousafzai captivates World Bank audience in address in Washington

If she’d had the chance before the bullet was fired, she would have delivered a clear message to the Pakistani Taliban extremist who shot her in the head a year ago: “You can shoot me, but listen to me first. I want education for your sons and daughters. Now I have spoken, so do whatever you want.”

That was what Malala Yousafzai told a spellbound World Bank audience Friday.

The 16-year-old became an international celebrity after the October 2012 attempt on her life. Her face is still partly paralyzed from the shooting.

The Taliban movement, which had banned girls’ education in her region of Pakistan, sought to punish and silence her activism on behalf of educating women and girls there.

Instead, the intrepid activist has spent the months since her recovery traveling, speaking and being showered with praise. This week, she appeared at Harvard University and on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart,” won a prestigious European human rights award, and narrowly missed being honored Friday with a Nobel Peace Prize, which went to a group that works to ban chemical weapons.

On Friday, in an hour-long exchange with World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, Yousafzai spoke with poise, passion and flashes of wry humor as she repeatedly urged her listeners — including about 50 female students from area private schools — to stand up for girls’ education and rights.

“I am proud to be a girl, and I know that girls can change the world,” she said to a burst of applause from hundreds of bank employees and guests in the bank’s soaring atrium. “If a terrorist can change someone’s mind and convince them to become a suicide bomber, we can also change their minds and tell them education is the only way to bring humanity and peace.”

Dressed in a black head scarf and brightly colored traditional Pakistani dress, Yousafzai bantered frequently with Kim, who seemed both awestruck and charmed. Kim, a medical doctor, asked her why she had decided to become a politician. She answered in an instant, to more applause.

“Because a doctor can only help someone who has been shot.” she said. “If I become a politician, I can help make a tomorrow where there are no more cases of people being shot.”

Yousafzai’s appearance was especially inspiring to the students in the audience, most of whom are active in a volunteer program called Girl Up, which works through the United Nations to promote opportunities and leadership development for girls around the world.

“We are so used to having many privileges and opportunities. I never thought I would have to risk my neck just to go to class,” said Ingrid Braun, 16, of the Madeira School in McLean, where students sent a group get-well card to Yousafzai while she was hospitalized. “I can’t imagine being as brave as she is.”

“The Taliban tried to kill her, but still she is here, not hiding,” marveled Elizabeth Macrides, 17, a student at Georgetown Visitation School in the District.

Yousafzai is visiting the United States partly to promote her new memoir, “I Am Malala.”This week she received fresh death threats from the Pakistani Taliban, who also vowed to attack any store that sells her book. The bank event was held under heavy security, and sniffer dogs checked the stage repeatedly.

She was scheduled to speak Friday night at Sidwell Friends School in an event sponsored by Politics & Prose bookstore.

Yousafzai described her happy childhood in Pakistan’s bucolic Swat Valley and spoke of how her father — who beamed and waved from the bank audience — had supported her love of learning and books. Then, she recounted, the Taliban forces “snatched away our normal life. . . . They blasted schools, they flogged women, but still we did not expect them to shoot a child.”

At Kim’s prompting, several of the invited students read questions sent from others around the world. One asked which books she liked, another whether she had ever wished she were a boy, and a third wanted to know what advice she would give to the fathers of girls.

“I would tell them don’t give anything extra to your daughters, but don’t clip their wings,” Yousafzai said. “Let them fly, and give them the same rights as your sons. Give them a chance to be a human being.”

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/pakistani-teen-still-brave-in-the-face-of-threats-by-the-taliban-speaks-at-world-bank-on-friday/2013/10/11/c1ccdbea-32a7-11e3-8627-c5d7de0a046b_story.html

Durga Puja: Pandal hoping in Kolkata

Pandal of the day: Madhyam Kolkata Uttaran on College Street for their take on the sound of the universe. Sound and it's many aspects dressed up the pandal in the North Kolkata locality. From gramophone horns to the inner ear and ear drum it was all there to dress it up. And inside the Durga's idol sat in meditation as if humming the ultimate sound of "brahma"… Om.


Actress Tridha Choudhury stops to beat the dhaak at Madhyam Kolkatta Uttaran pandal. The sound of the universe was its theme. Photo: Subir Halder

Star of the day: Tridha Choudhury, the 20 year old debuting with Srijit Mukherjee's Mishawr Rahasya who braved the sweltering 33 degree celcius heat to play the 'Dhaak' for the kids at Madhyam Kolkata Uttaran puja.


Photo: Subir Halder

Game of the day: Beg the dhaki to take a turn at the 'Dhaak' and see if you can actually make a beat out of it. Actress Tridha sure did.


Photo: Subir Halder

Song of the day: Any puja themed 'Rabindra Sangeets' blaring across traffic stops, puja pandal and music competitions.


Photo: Subir Halder

Dish of the day: "Luchi and bhaja," Saptami bhog is generally simple. Our staple is aloo bhaja and some vegtables fried with luchis," says Anwesha Dutt who's family has been hosting the Durga Puja since last 109 years.


Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/durga-puja-pandal-hoping-in-kolkata/1/314275.html

Narayan Sai files for anticipatory bail

Narayan Sai, son of the tainted religious leader Asaram, moved a local court on Friday seeking anticipatory bail in the offence of rape and other crimes lodged against him by a 30-year-old woman.

The sessions court will start hearing on the plea on October 15.

Sai's lawyers Gautam Desai and Kalpesh Desai have questioned the delay in filing the complaint and its timing. The woman, whose sister also lodged a complaint of rape against Asaram, had accused Sai of raping her several times from 2001 to 2005.

"The contents of the complaint look improper, improbable and motivated as it has been filed after more than 10 years," Desai told TOI.

"There is something fishy about the timing. He also said that complainant did not share the details of the alleged crime for so many years with any of her near and dear ones but frequently visited the ashram for a long time.

"It seems that some facts are manipulated to intentionally rope in Narayan Sai," said Desai. Surat police teams are hot on the trail of Sai.

The women have also named Asaram's wife Lakshmi and daughter Bharati in their complaints for helping Asaram in the crime.

The younger sister was allegedly raped between 2001 and 2006 in Jehangirpura ashram of Surat, whle the the elder has alleged that she was raped in Ahmedabad ashram between 1997 and 2007 by Asaram.

Meanwhile, chief judicial magistrate J N Thakkar heard the appeal of prosecution demanding copy of the woman's statement registered under section 164 of CrPC.

The order on the plea was reserved for Monday.

More: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/Narayan-Sai-files-for-anticipatory-bail/articleshow/24014475.cms

Chandrababu Naidu says he is in favour of Telangana

Ending ambiguity over his stance on the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu has said he is in favour of carving a separate state of Telangana.

In an interview to a news channel on the fifth day of his fast on Friday, Naidu, however, added that he wants justice for Seemandhra people.

"You cannot divide state without delivering justice to everyone," the TDP chief said.

He confirmed his support to the resolution adopted by TDP politburo in October 2008, which said: "In deference to the sentiments of people of the region, Telugu Desam supports the demand for separate statehood to Telangana."

Naidu was later on Friday taken to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital from the venue of his fast at Andhra Bhavan here but intended to continue his fast as he did not allow a glucose drip. Doctors said his condition was stable.

More: http://zeenews.india.com/news/andhra-pradesh/chandrababu-naidu-says-he-is-in-favour-of-telangana_882699.html

'Phailin' disrupts normal life in Srikakulam

Normal life was thrown out of gear in Srikakulam district that is reeling under the impact of the super-cyclone 'Phailin', since Friday evening.

Heavy rain and gale with speed up to 185 kmph hit the region since midnight and people in 11 coastal mandals feared extensive damage due to the unprecedented, heavy gale. The district administration has set up a control room at the Collectorate complex to monitor the cyclone situation that is impacting 237 villages.

Collector Saurabh Gaur ordered closure of all schools and colleges, shops and cinema halls in the entire district. He said about 47,000 people from Itchapuram were shifted to higher locations. While no damage was reported thus far, he said the officialdom was prepared to face any eventuality.

Streets wore a deserted look in Itchapuram situated near Gopalpur where the cyclone is likely to cross by the evening. Vehicular movement on the Chennai-Kolkata national highway came to a halt and power supply was completely disrupted since Friday night.

More: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/phailin-disrupts-normal-life-in-srikakulam/article5228088.ece

PM in 2G firing line of DMK'S dissent note

After lying low for long, the DMK has finally mustered courage to take on the Congress in general and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in particular on the 2G scam.

In its dissent note to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) report on the scam, the party described the report as an attempt to save the prime minister.

Though belated, the DMK’s assertion lends credence to reports that it is gravitating towards the BJP for a possible tie-up to face the coming Lok Sabha elections. Remember, the BJP too dubbed the JPC report as tutored for political expediency.

Besides, the dissent note is yet another proof that the DMK is not willing to abandon its Dalit face A Raja, the disgraced former telecom minister. Both Raja and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi have cases pending against them in the 2G scam, which cost the party dearly in the 2011 Assembly elections.

The dissent note, submitted by party veteran T R Baalu, himself a former Union minister and a member of the JPC, says: “Unfortunately, full facts have not been properly appreciated in the preparation of the report and facts have been chosen selectively and conveniently to reach a pre-conceived conclusion.”

Criticising JPC chairman P C Chacko for his refusal to allow Raja to be examined as well as scrutinise vital documents, Baalu’s note calls it inexplicable. He also questions the rationale behind exempting the prime minister, finance minister, external affairs minister and the solicitor general from deposing before the panel.

Citing an official correspondence Raja had with Manmohan Singh, he says the file noting of the PM’s private secretary nails the lie that the PM was kept in the dark by the former telecom minister. “PM wants this informally shared with the Deptt. Does not want a formal communication & wants PMO to be at arm’s length,” Baalu quotes the PM’s private secretary as having said in the note.

On the charge that Raja had mislead the PM, the dissent note wonders how this conclusion could be reached without even examining the PM and the former telecom minister. In assailing the JPC report, Baalu relies heavily on procedural lapses and cites the legal opinion tendered by the solicitor general, who had advised that what had been proposed was fair and reasonable.

More: http://newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/PM-in-2G-firing-line-of-DMKS-dissent-note/2013/10/12/article1832241.ece

Infosys posts strong topline growth in Q2

Despite a dip in profit on account of funds being set aside for an ongoing visa-abuse investigation in the US, IT bellwether Infosys Ltd on Friday reported a strong topline growth during the second quarter of the current fiscal and revised upwards its revenue outlook for the full year.

Infosys' renewed focus on large outsourcing contracts since the return of its founder N R Narayana Murthy seems to be bearing results as the country's second largest software services exporter crossed the $2 billion quarterly sales mark for the first time, with the markets cheering on by sending Infosys shares up 4.79 per cent at Rs 3,274.50 on Friday after the numbers were announced.

Beating street expectations, Infosys notched a 3.8 per cent growth quarter-on-quarter in revenues in dollar terms and a 15 per cent year-on-year growth. The company earned $2,066 million in the second quarter. Profit for the July-September quarter dropped 11.1 per cent from the previous year to $383 million. Part of that fall was due to $35 million set aside for the possible resolution of an ongoing dispute with US authorities over whether it misused temporary visas to bring Indian workers into its largest market.

The company recast its revenue growth projection for the current fiscal year — upping it to the range of nine to 10 per cent from the conservative six to 10 per cent forecast at the end of the first quarter of the current fiscal.

Senior management at Infosys attributed the growth to a return to a strategy of going after outsourcing deals like its IT peers have been doing in recent times, along with improved sales. A return to chasing outsourcing deals is incidentally one of the key strategic shifts that have taken place in Infosys since Murthy came out of retirement in June after the company's growth began falling behind that of its peers as it pursued mainly large transformative IT deals.

Though fluctuations in the currency market on account of the weakened rupee gave the company some advantages in the second quarter, these were offset by the kicking in of hikes for staff through July, Infosys said. In rupee terms, Infosys saw a 15.1 per cent quarter on quarter growth in revenues —at Rs 12,965 crore — for the quarter that ended September 30. The year-on-year growth in revenue was 31.5 per cent.

More: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/infosys-posts-strong-topline-growth-in-q2/1181565/2

No UT status for Hyderabad, says GoM

Police detain a supporter of Chandrababu Naidu in New Delhi on Friday. - Reuters

Amid high drama in the national capital leading to the eviction of a protesting TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu from Andhra Bhawan, the Group of Ministers (GoM), constituted to look into bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, made it clear that there are no plans to give Union Territory status to Hyderabad. It also said that the Centre shall play no role in determining the new capital of Seemandhra, which will be decided by the leaders of the state.

Hundreds of Seemandhra supporters tried to block the police from shifting a fasting Naidu to hospital while the GoM sat for its first meeting to discuss the methodology, modalities and issues concerning bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh by forming a new state of Telangana comprising 10 districts.

Finally, Naidu was persuaded by senior police officials and taken to Ram Manohar Lohia hospital.

After a nearly two-hour-long meeting, the GoM said, “It would like to assure all the people of Andhra Pradesh that the relevant issues as well as their concerns would be addressed with fairness and objectivity. The GoM would take the opinion of stakeholders on all important subjects while formulating its recommendations.”

Sources told dna that the GoM has decided to make Justice Sri Krishna Committee report the basis of its discussions and will take into account all the issues flagged in the report.

As for the individual responsibilities to be given to the ministers, AK Antony will look into reorganisation of border issues and defence installations matters, Sushilkumar Shinde will see issues relating to Hyderabad as the joint capital and law and order and fundamental rights for all.

While Moily has been tasked with looking into all the legal issues, Gulam Nabi Azad health, education and employment, Narayanasamy the division of IAS, IPS and IRS cadre, Jairam Ramesh will look into backward areas identity and special package, water resource and environment and P Chidambaram all the financial matters.

“The GoM is contemplating working out a special financial package for Seemandhra region offset all the losses that would accrue on account of losing Hyderabad and other resources,” sources said.

However, taking into account the highly-charged emotion atmosphere, the GoM is unlikely to visit Andhra Pradesh and instead will seek the views and opinions of the stakeholders by calling them here or by writing to them.

The GoM has tasked key ministries of water, power, finance, road transport and infrastructure departments with working out division of assets between the two regions, prepare status reports and submit them to the GoM as to the terms of reference.

The GoM will hold its next meeting on October 19.

More: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/1902429/report-no-ut-status-for-hyderabad-says-gom

Have it in Mumbai, because this one's for mom: Sachin tells BCCI

Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkarwants to play his farewell Test in Mumbai as there will be one very special spectator among the thousands thronging to see his final bow - Sachin's mother Rajni who has never seen him play an international match before.

Sachin's request is likely to be accepted by the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) and Mumbai will be the venue of the master blaster's 200th Test appearance in mid-November with proud mother Rajni watching. She needs a wheel chair to get around but Tendulkar is determined to ensure she is in the stands when he walks out.

Sources said Sachin's wish will be accommodated by the board and his 199th Test will be at the Eden in Kolkata, another venue known for its cricket loving spectators. It is understood that Tendulkar is not too bothered whether the Mumbai venue is the Brabourne Stadium run by the Cricket Club of India or the Wankhede controlled by Mumbai Cricket Association. What matters to him is to end his phenomenal career with his mother watching.

Apart from a personal touch, Tendulkar is keen to call it a day before the Mumbai crowd which has cheered him on over the years and in a city that saw him progress from a school prodigy to international cricket's most celebrated batsman with a string of records. It is learnt that Tendulkar is also keen to extend invitations to some persons he has admired in the cricketing world.

While he prepares to sign off in style, BCCI is busy considering his replacements in the middle order with another Mumbai player Rohit Sharma seen as a likely choice. The other is Yuvraj Singh who could be in contention if he carries his form into the ODI series against Australia. The third name doing the rounds is Suresh Raina.

The board's tours and fixtures committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday (Oct 15) to decide on the venues for the two-Test series against the West Indies. The committee's chairman, also a BCCI vice-president, Rajiv Shukla assured that Tendulkar's request will be considered. Speaking to TOI on Friday, he said, "We will consider Sachin's request for playing the Test in Mumbai."

As for the match being played at the Brabourne or the Wankhede, former BCCI and MCA chiefSharad Pawar entering the MCA elections (to be held on Oct 18) fray has certainly added to the intrigue. Those in the BCCI circles say the ruling BCCI head and Pawar's bete noire N Srinivasan may choose to favour Brabourne over Wankhede.

More: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/series-tournament/sachin-tendulkar-to-hang-his-boots/top-stories/Have-it-in-Mumbai-because-this-ones-for-mom-Sachin-tells-BCCI/articleshow/23992490.cms

PM leaves for home after 4-day visit to Brunei, Indonesia

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today concluded his four-day visit toBrunei and Indonesia and left for home, expanding India's 'Look East' policy to beyond economic ties and to co-operation in areas like security, anti-terrorism, disaster management and combating corruption.

The visit assumes significance for expansion of trade ties as well with various countries of Asia Pacific region and Singh held bilateral meetings with Prime Ministers of Asian superpowers like Japan and Australia as well on the sidelines of Asean and East Asia Summits in Brunei.

Singh also announced a separate mission for Asean, a 10-member block of South East Asian nations, with a full time ambassador. Besides, he also said that a Free Trade Agreement on services and investments would be signed with Asean by end of 2013 to help meet India-Asean trade to $100 billion by 2015.

Singh was in Brunei Darussalam from October 9-10 for attending Asean Summit as also the East Asia Sumit, a forum for co-operation among Asean nations and its partner countries that include China, India, Australia, Japan and the US.

After Brunei, Singh came to Jakarta on October 10 for his first official bilateral visit to Indonesia, although he has been here thrice for multi-lateral and regional events.

Six pacts were signed between India and Indonesia including in areas like health, anti corruption, narcotics, disaster management and academics.

Two leaders agreed to expand their strategic partnership by holding annual summits and an eminent persons group will be set up to expand the relationship. New areas of co-operation have been identified such as space, nuclear energy, food security, counter-terrorism, transborder threats from jehadi forces.

Co-operation will be expanded in areas like defence, maritime and a comprehensive action plan will be developed for security cooperation.

The Indian delegation in Indonesia also included External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma and Chief Vigilance Commissioner Pradeep Kumar, besides other top officials.

More: http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/pm-leaves-for-home-after-4-day-visit-to-brunei-indonesia-113101200129_1.html

Will Cong name Rahul as its PM candidate? Buzz gets louder in party

Notwithstanding his perceived reluctance for the prime minister’s post, there is a growing clamour within the Congress to name party vice president Rahul Gandhi the party’s prime ministerial candidate.
The Congress has been careful not to turn the 2014 election campaign into a battle of personalities between BJP prime ministerial hopeful Narendra Modi and Gandhi.

However, many in the party feel that Gandhi’s projection as PM candidate will enthuse the cadre, attract young voters and serve to contain Modi’s rising popularity.

Though the Congress vice president has been deeply involved in the party’s poll preparations, he has not shown any interest in the PM’s post or even in joining the Cabinet.

But a recent remark by the 43-year-old Gandhi at a rally in Rampur — that “a government of the youth will be formed in 2014” — has fuelled the clamour within the party for Rahul to be their PM candidate.

The Congress officially maintains that it is not party “practice” to announce its PM hopeful but does not rule out an exception this time.

“We all expect that Rahul Gandhi will take up leadership of the party and the country,” party spokesman PC Chacko told HT on Thursday.

Accusing the Congress of nepotism, the Opposition has relentlessly been taking potshots at Rahul. BJP general secretary Amit Shah recently said: “Congress thinks the PM’s chair is Pappu’s (a reference to Rahul) birthright. But this is a democracy, you need people’s blessings, and people’s blessings are with Narendra Modi.”

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has already declared Gandhi as the ideal choice for PM. “I have always maintained that Rahul Gandhi would be an ideal choice for the PM post after 2014 elections. I will be very happy to work under him,” he said last month.

Even finance minister P Chidambaram said in a recent interview: “The time has come for the torch to be passed on to a new and younger generation.”

More: http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/Chunk-HT-UI-MyIndiaMyVote-CountdownTo2014/Will-Congress-name-Rahul-as-its-PM-candidate-Buzz-gets-louder-in-party/Article1-1134113.aspx