30 apr 2014

India Severely Affected by Terrorism from Pakistan: US report

Washington:  India remained severely affected by and vulnerable to terrorism from Pakistan-based groups and their affiliates as well as left-wing violent extremists, last year, according to a new US report.

In response, Government of India "continued to undertake efforts to coordinate its counter-terrorism capabilities more effectively", said the State Department Country Reports on Terrorism 2013 submitted to the US Congress Wednesday.

India also "expanded its cooperation and coordination with the international community and regional partners", said the annual report released by Tina Kaidanow, the state department's coordinator for counter-terrorism.

Describing South Asia as a frontline in the battle against terrorism, the report said: "Although Al Qaeda's (AQ) core in Afghanistan and Pakistan has been seriously degraded, their global leadership continued to operate from its safe haven in the region."

"AQ maintained ties with other terrorist organizations in the region, such as Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Haqqani Network (HQN)," it said.

"These alliances continued to provide the group with additional resources and capabilities."

The report said while "Pakistani military undertook operations against groups that conducted attacks within Pakistan such as TTP, but did not take action against other groups such as Lashkar-e-Taeba (LeT)", held responsible for the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

LeT, it said, "continued to operate, train, rally, and raise funds in Pakistan during the past year".

In 2013, Indian sources continued to attribute violence and deaths in Jammu and Kashmir to transnational terrorist groups that India alleges are backed by Pakistan, the report said.

"Continued allegations of violations of the Line of Control between India and Pakistan (the border along Jammu and Kashmir), Pakistan's failure to bring the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attacks to justice, and activities of Pakistan-based terrorist groups remained serious concerns for the Indian government," it said.

"Afghan Taliban and HQN leadership and facilitation networks continued to find safe haven in Pakistan, and Pakistani authorities did not take significant military or law enforcement action against these groups," it said.

The report cited the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), to say that about 400 people were killed as a result of terrorist attacks in India in 2013.

"This figure is somewhat higher than in 2012, demonstrating that India remains subject to violent terrorist attacks and continued to be one of the most persistently targeted countries by transnational and domestic terrorist groups."

The US and India maintained counter-terrorism capacity building efforts and cooperation, the report said.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dr Siddharth Lakhotia arrested by police in BHU:a

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/One-doctor-arrested-open-OPD-runs-at-IMS/articleshow/31523909.cms

27 apr 2014

Indian doctor sacked after 6 years in UK due to poor English - India

He was axed after a string of complaints from colleagues and patients who said he could not communicate with them

An Indian radiographer who worked at a cancer hospital for six years despite not speaking much English has been sacked.

Ramani Ramaswamy was axed after a string of complaints from colleagues and patients who said he could not communicate with them.

He had English lessons but bosses said his grasp of the language got worse not better.

Mr Ramaswamy was also ­criticised for failing to handle equipment competently and once set up a bed so badly that his supervisor had to step in to stop a patient being injured.

A disciplinary panel found his command of English was so poor he once had to ask a patient four times to confirm his identity because he could not be ­understood.

The radiographer also consistently failed to ask people to empty their bladders before X-ray procedures were carried out, it was claimed.

The panel’s report said: “His communication skills, even after six years at the trust, were poor and he was recorded as keeping his communication with patients to a minimum and to be difficult to understand.

“The deficiencies identified by the panel have the potential to cause serious harm to patients.”

Mr Ramaswamy, who started work at The Christie Hospital, Manchester, in August 2005, branded the claims “unfair” and “cooked up”.

He said: “It’s totally ridiculous. I previously worked in Malaysia and I was very well respected.

"The Christie said there were communication problems but I speak good English. I may be a little reserved.

“But I’ve never done any harm to the patients.”

http://mancunianmatters.co.uk

Hospital: The Christie in Manchester

 

The Christie insisted no ­treatments were affected and no patients were put at risk by Mr Ramaswamy’s lack of English.

Because of his poor ­communication skills, he was restricted to a role where he had no contact with patients when he first started at the hospital.

Mr Ramaswamy, of Moss Side, Manchester, was moved on to the treatment floor in September 2009 for a three-month trial but this proved unsuccessful.

He was then closely monitored and an improvement plan was put in place.

But in June last year his performance was rated as “unacceptable” in every area.

Mr Ramaswamy, who said he was now retired, was dismissed after a hearing last year.

He has now been struck off the national ­radiography register for a year.

A Christie spokesman said: “We are satisfied that our systems and processes have enabled us to identify this problem and deal with it appropriately.”

Virat Kohli has found his place in Indian cricket - India

21  apr 2014

Virat Kohli has found his place in Indian cricket: Javagal Srinath

Javagal Srinath, now an International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee, said Virat Kohli is never compared to the likes of Sachin Tendulkar or Rahul Dravid as he has created his own place in the game.

New Delhi:  Former fast bowler Javagal Srinath on Tuesday lauded Virat Kohli for creating a place for himself in Indian cricket.

Srinath, now an International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee, said Kohli is never compared to the likes of Sachin Tendulkar or Rahul Dravid.

"Virat has done exceptionally well for himself. He is such a great player. Nobody compares him with Sachin or Dravid. He has found his place in Indian cricket," said Srinath during an interaction at Gillete's Men of Inner Steel initiative.

Srinath's long-time partner Venkatesh Prasad said that legend Sunil Gavaskar, who is the interim chief of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is the real Man of Steel.

"I feel Mr. Gavaskar is the real Man of Steel. He has survived international cricket for 15 years and has faced some of the quicker bowlers without any helmet. He is a great leader and deserves to lead the BCCI," said Prasad.

Former India captain Ajit Wadekar, under whom Gavaskar made his Test debut, also concurred with Prasad and said that his teammate is the perfect role model.

"Sunny is a great role model. He is calm and composed and the perfect man to lead Indian cricket," he said.

USA commentator feels Narendra Modi is like Ronald Reagan - India

21 apr  2014

Why this US commentator feels Narendra Modi is like Ronald Reagan

Agence France-Presse

Narendra Modi campaigns in Assam

New Delhi: An American commentator's comparison of Narendra Modi, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, with America's 40th president Ronald Reagan in an online publication has had social media abuzz for some days now as India conducts the world's largest election ever.

The author, David B Cohen, has now written an oped article published today by leading newspaper the Hindu also titled, 'Is India about to elect its Reagan?'.

Mr Cohen, who served in the administration of another US president George Bush, confesses to be "a great admirer of President Reagan." 

He draws several parallels - between their humble origins, their careers and as "unabashed proponents of free market economics: The term "Modinomics" is of course a nod to "Reaganomics.'"

And he says that the two leaders have drawn similar  detractors, people he calls the "cultural elite" who, "look down their noses at Mr. Modi, cringing at the thought of being led by a common chai wallah...The American elites believed that Mr. Reagan was an unsophisticated simpleton who was too extreme to be President."

Mr Cohen writes that his article dated April 14 in online publication The Daily Caller, "clearly struck a nerve: Indian readers were amazed to see a western media perspective on Mr. Modi that was not reflexively negative."

Earlier this month,  an article in the Economist had controversially  described Mr Modi as a divisive man and had "recommended" to Indians a Rahul Gandhi-led government as an uninspiring but "less disturbing" option.

The article, titled "India Deserves Better than Modi," said, "Mr Gandhi's coalition is tainted by corruption. By comparison Mr Modi is clean. So there is much to admire. Despite that, this newspaper cannot bring itself to back Mr Modi for India's highest office."

The Economist ascribed its reservations about Mr Modi to the 2002 riots in Gujarat, the state Mr Modi has ruled since 2001. It disputed a clean chit given to him by a Supreme Court inquiry that has said there is no evidence of his role, which was upheld by a trial court last year.

David Cohen notes that Mr Modi's critics call him a  "communalist", like Mr Reagan was called "racist", and says  "the charge lacks merit and is stoked by political opponents seeking to sow fear (and hence cement support) in minority communities."

"That's a term they use for anyone who believes that a robust and growing market economy, rather than massive government bureaucracy, is the best way to promote upward mobility for the poor and the minorities," Mr Cohen writes.  

'It came out of nowhere, flying right at us,' recounts Everest avalanche survivor - India

19 apr 2014

'It came out of nowhere, flying right at us,' recounts Everest avalanche survivor

In this photograph taken on May 23, 2013, unidentified mountaineers look out from the summit of Mount Everest

Kathmandu:  A young Nepalese guide who survived the deadliest mountaineering accident ever on Mount Everest recalled Friday being "trapped" after the avalanche came crashing down the icy slopes, killing at least 12 of his companions.

The force of the avalanche fractured 22-year-old Dawa Tashi Sherpa's ribs and broke his shoulder blades, leaving him buried in neck-deep snow -- but he was fortunate to survive.

"I don't know how I survived," said 22-year-old Sherpa, who was airlifted to Kathmandu's Grande International Hospital after being rescued.

"I am the luckiest man alive," he told AFP from his hospital bed, while his wife -- five months pregnant with their first child -- waited to see him.

Sherpa was among a large party of Sherpas carrying tents, food and ropes who headed out for an early morning expedition ahead of the main climbing season starting later this month.

Sherpa said he left the base camp of the 8,848-metre (29,029-foot) peak at around 3:00 am local time, armed with equipment to help fix ropes for commercial climbers.

As he scaled the mountain slopes in the dark, climbing ladders and walking on ice, dozens of guides kept him company, with several ahead of him and some others behind lugging up their gear.

The avalanche struck soon after daybreak at an altitude of about 5,800 metres (19,000 feet) -- in an area nicknamed the "popcorn field" due to boulders of ice that lie on the route leading into the treacherous Khumbu icefall.

"It came out of nowhere, this huge block of ice that fell from above, flying right at us," Sherpa said.

"I wanted to run but there was no time, we were just trapped."

Despite being hit by the full force of the avalanche, he said he managed to breathe and was conscious, though suffering from hypothermia.

He was eventually found by rescuers and airlifted to Kathmandu.

His doctor, orthopaedic surgeon, Chakra Raj Pandey, said he expected Sherpa to make a full recovery soon.

"He has suffered multiple wounds, but he is stable," Pandey told AFP, expressing optimism that his fractures would heal in around six weeks.

Unpaid Indian women workers sent home from Saudi Arabia - India

14 apr 2014

Unpaid Indian women workers sent home from Saudi Arabia

Riyadh:  The Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia has finally repatriated a group of Indian women workers who were not paid their salaries for the past nine months by their employer.

The Indian embassy in Riyadh arranged the flight tickets for ten workers, who were on contractual jobs for a cleaning company in Riyadh, from the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) and mediated with the contracting company to safeguard their final exits, Arab News reported on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the contracting company which had employed the cleaners for two-and-half years allowed their final exit.

Eleven Indian women from Kerala last month appealed to the Indian embassy for help after they were allegedly not paid their salaries for the past nine months.

A worker, whose travelling documents could not be processed, will be repatriated next week.

They were not going to work since March 16, demanding that they will return to work only after their dues are paid.

Earlier last month, the Indian embassy expressed its concern over the matter.

Sanjay Kumar accused of fraud NHS claim £1.5m insurance - India

25  feb 2014

Sanjay Kumar accused of faking death to claim £1.5m insurance

A husband and wife accused of faking the husband's death in a £1.5m life insurance scam appeared for the first time at City of London Magistrates' Court today.

It is alleged they falsely reported the cause of death as brain fever during the husband's visit to India and obtained £10,000.

The accused are: Sanjay Kumar, 44, and his wife.

Both face three charges of fraud by false representation in that on December 15, 2011, with intent to make gains of £250,000 and two sums of £450,000 in relation to three policies, represented that Mr Kumar had died on November 25 that year.

They face three similar charges of fraud in relation to a £5,789pension scheme, a £1,133 ISA and death benefit of £9,481.

Both were bailed until May 7 for committal on condition they reside at their recorded addresses, surrender their passports and Mr Kumar alone must report weekly to Watford Police Station.

Amitabh Bachchan unveils 'Bhootnath Returns' trailer - India

25  feb  2014

Amitabh Bachchan unveils 'Bhootnath Returns' trailer

Mumbai, Feb 25 (IANS) Megastar Amitabh Bachchan Tuesday unveiled the trailer of his much-awaited movie "Bhootnath Returns" in the presence of the entire cast of the film.

Bachchan said he was thankful to T-Series to have approached him again for the sequel.

"I am thankful to T-Series to have approached me for the sequel again. This small kid Parth is the only one who can see me in the film. In this film, he is the hero and I am zero," Bachchan told reporters during the trailer launch.

"Bhootnath Returns" is a sequel to "Bhootnath" which was released in 2008.

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, "Bhootnath Returns" features Bachchan, Boman Irani and Shahrukh Khan among others. It is slated for release April 11.

UK faces severe shortage of doctors and funds to run hospitals- India

08   dec 2013

NHS faces 16,000 shortage of GPs due to £30bn black hole, doctors’ leader warns

the Government was told the health service will face a “catastrophe” unless more funding is poured into the nation’s struggling surgerie

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Shocked: Dr Clare Gerada

A £30billion black hole in the NHS could leave ­England short of 16,000 GPs by 2021, a doctors’ leader has warned.
And the Government was told the embattled health service will face a “catastrophe” unless more funding is poured into the nation’s struggling surgeries.
There is already an existing shortfall of more than 8,300 ­GPs.
But Clare Gerada, chair of the Royal College of ­General Practitioners, says that number could swell by more than 7,000 over the next eight years.
The RCGP has already highlighted how surgeries are under pressure as patients seek treatment there instead of enduring long waits at overstretched A&E units.
Last week NHS England revealed the service was on the brink of ­running out of cash and would face a £30billion shortfall by 2021, if it continued operating at its present level.
The RCGP believes the cash squeeze will leave ­doctors in general practice facing their own £2.7billion black hole which would leave the health ­service with 7,500 fewer doctors than needed.
Ms Gerada said: “The fact that, in just eight years, we could see a shortfall of almost 16,000 GPs is truly shocking.
General practice is at the heart of the NHS and if it is left to wither, as is the case now, it could sow the seeds of an unprecedented disintegration of the service. Ministers must move to protect patient care by increasing the funding for general practice to 10 per cent of the NHS budget immediately.
“Only by ­supporting it and allowing it to treat more patients in the community can the Government protect the NHS from catastrophe.”
A recent poll found 85 per cent of family doctors believed their surgeries were “in crisis” while half reckoned GPs could no longer guarantee patient safety.
Family doctors get only nine per cent of NHS cash but are responsible for 90 per cent of patients’ contact with the health service.
But they have come in for criticism for the high salaries some get and the extra cash they receive for working evenings and weekends.

United Kingdom-Kingston upon Hull: Internal audit services - India

27  nov 2013

United Kingdom-Kingston upon Hull: Internal audit services

• 
  

358963-2013 published in OJEU S 207, 24.10.2013

deadline for submission of tenders Tuesday, December 03,2013

Contract notice (Original) of Service contract in United Kingdom

The contractor belongs to Body governed by public law (European Communities)

Directive 2004/18/EC

Section I: Contracting authority

I.1) Name, addresses and contact point(s)

Hull and East Yorkshire NHS Trust

Procurement

Paul Ralston

Hull Royal Infirmary, Anlaby Road

Kingston upon Hull

UNITED KINGDOM

+44 1482608782

Internet address(es):
General address of the contracting authority: http://www.hey.nhs.uk
Further information can be obtained from: The above mentioned contact point(s)
Specifications and additional documents (including documents for competitive dialogue and a dynamic purchasing system) can be obtained from: The above mentioned contact point(s)
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to: The above mentioned contact point(s)

I.2) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

I.3) Main activity

Health

I.4) Contract award on behalf of other contracting authorities

The contracting authority is purchasing on behalf of other contracting authorities: no

Section II: Object of the contract

II.1) Description

II.1.1) Title attributed to the contract by the contracting authority:

HEY/13/061 - Internal Audit & Local Counter Fraud Services.

II.1.2) Type of contract and location of works, place of delivery or of performance

Services
Main site or location of works, place of delivery or of performance: Kingston upon Hull.
NUTS code Kingston upon Hull

II.1.3) Information about a public contract, a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system (DPS)

The notice involves a public contract

II.1.4) Information on framework agreement

Duration of the framework agreement
Duration in years: 3
Estimated total value of purchases for the entire duration of the framework agreement
Estimated value excluding VAT: 950 000 GBP

II.1.5) Short description of the contract or purchase(s)

Hull & East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking bids from interested suppliers to provide internal audit and local counter fraud services. We require a provider of services who can demonstrate an experience of dealing with the NHS and who can provide an innovative and valuable service.

II.1.6) Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

Internal audit services (CPV: 79212200), Fraud audit services (CPV: 79212400)

II.1.7) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The contract is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA): no

II.1.8) Lots

This contract is divided into lots: no

II.1.9) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: yes

II.2) Quantity or scope of the contract

II.2.1) Total quantity or scope:

Estimated value excluding VAT: 950 000 GBP

II.2.3) Information about renewals

This contract is subject to renewal: yes
Number of possible renewals: 1
In the case of renewable supplies or service contracts, estimated timeframe for subsequent contracts:
in months: 36 (from the award of the contract)

II.3) Duration of the contract or time limit for completion

Duration in months: 36 (from the award of the contract)

Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information

III.1) Conditions relating to the contract

III.1.3) Legal form to be taken by the group of economic operators to whom the contract is to be awarded:

Any consortia will be required to form a legal entity prior to award of contract in which each member is jointly and severally liable.

III.1.4) Other particular conditions

The performance of the contract is subject to particular conditions: no

III.2) Conditions for participation

III.2.1) Personal situation of economic operators, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: Full details of the information to be provided are detailed in the Invitation to Tender which must be sought and returned by the closing deadline.

III.2.2) Economic and financial ability

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: Full details of the information to be provided are detailed in the Invitation to Tender which must be sought and returned by the closing deadline.

III.2.3) Technical capacity

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met:
Full details of the information to be provided are detailed in the Invitation to Tender which must be sought and returned by the closing deadline.

III.3) Conditions specific to services contracts

III.3.1) Information about a particular profession

Execution of the service is reserved to a particular profession: no

III.3.2) Staff responsible for the execution of the service

Legal persons should indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff responsible for the execution of the service: yes

Section IV: Procedure

IV.1) Type of procedure

IV.1.1) Type of procedure

Open

IV.2) Award criteria

IV.2.1) Award criteria

The most economically advantageous tender in terms of the criteria stated in the specifications, in the invitation to tender or to negotiate or in the descriptive document

IV.2.2) Information about electronic auction

An electronic auction will be used: no

IV.3) Administrative information

IV.3.1) File reference number attributed by the contracting authority:

HEY/13/061

IV.3.2) Previous publication(s) concerning the same contract

no

IV.3.3) Conditions for obtaining specifications and additional documents or descriptive document

Payable documents: no

IV.3.4) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

3.12.2013 - 12:00

IV.3.6) Language(s) in which tenders or requests to participate may be drawn up

English.

IV.3.7) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender

until: 3.6.2014

IV.3.8) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date: 3.12.2013 - 12:00
Persons authorised to be present at the opening of tenders: no

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: no

VI.2) Information about European Union funds

The contract is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: no

VI.3) Additional information

To receive more information about this tender, including any amendments and/or clarifications and to request any clarifications and/or to respond to this tender, you must register your interest to this tender on the following site: https://nep.eu-supply.com
Following an expression of interest on nep.eusupply.com, the ITT will be available to access on https://nep.eu-supply.com
The ITT must be returned in accordance with the instructions set out in the ITT by the time and date indicated. The contracting authority does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any offer and reserves the right to accept an offer in either whole or in part. The contracting authority is not responsible for any costs incurred by bidders in relation to the participation in this process.

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice:

22.10.2013

Sushma Verma, 13, in the Lucknow University - India

02  sept  2013

Blog: 'I don't study all the time'

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Sushma Verma, 13, at a lab in the Lucknow University

(At 13, Sushma Verma is considerably ahead of the curve.  She has begun a post-graduate course in microbiology at the Lucknow University. She was done with school at the age of 9.  Here, she explains her drive and passion.)

People often ask me - "how did you do it, how many hours do you study?" The truth is I study only when I feel like it. I have always kept a timetable and have stuck to it. I do everything what girls my age do. I go out with friends, I play, I have my fun. I do not study all the time, like people think.

But I believe that even when you study for five minutes, do it with full concentration.

I was five years old when I took admission in class IX. Till then, I was tutored at home. I used to read my brother's books. He used to teach me Math and English. My father used to teach me Hindi. He is a daily wage earner and has studied till class VIII.

Though I have studied with peers who are much older to me all my life, I was a bit nervous going to college. When I went to the Lucknow University, people were very curious. Students, a lot older to me, would come up to me and ask how did I make it here so young?

But now, I have made lots of friends and am having a great time.

My next goal is to become a doctor; though I am still to decide the field. But I am not thinking too much about it. I will decide when the time comes.

At 13, she's a senior student at Lucknow University - India

31  aug  2013

At 13, she's a senior student at Lucknow University

Sushma Verma, 13, is the youngest student ever to pass the Class XII Board exam.

Lucknow: At an age when she should be in school, the 13-year-old daughter of a poor labourer in Uttar Pradesh has baffled everybody by galloping to a master's programme in microbiology.

Sushma Verma was the youngest ever to pass class 12 exams, at just over 9 years. Now the teen prodigy has finished her graduation and has been named in the merit list for microbiology at the Lucknow University. She begins her master's classes next week.

Behind her remarkable success lies the story of a family determined to educate their children, no matter what it takes.

Sushma's father Tej Bahadur Verma, a daily wage labourer, earns barely two hundred rupees a day to feed a family of five. But when he saw his daughter's name on the merit list, he paid the initial fee of Rs. 25,000 instantly, not thinking about the rest - at least 75,000 rupees - to be paid later.

The family had to sell their land to pay for Sushma's education.

At their one-room home in Lucknow, their most precious possessions are a study table and a second-hand computer.

"I think education is important for my children, so I didn't hesitate in selling the land. We never got the chance to study - I don't want my children to work as labourers, I will do whatever I can to educate them," says Verma.

It took three years of college for Sushma to get used to studying with "big boys and girls". "At first, it was intimidating but everyone was really nice to me, so I was okay," she smiles.

Many at her college are shocked to see a senior who looks little more than a schoolgirl.

"She is much younger, but I will give her the respect any senior deserves," said Renu Rathore, a third year science student and a year 'junior' to Sushma.

Sushma wants to be a doctor and tried for medical college after school but was just too young. Now she plans to give her dream another shot when she turns 18. Age, she says, is just a number.

Katrina Kaif's sister Christine ties the knot in London - India

27 aug 2013

Katrina Kaif's sister Christine ties the knot in London

 

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Katrina Kaif's sister Natacha (extreme right) tied the knot in London.

 

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif attended her sister Natacha's wedding in London on August 25. Katrina Kaif looked pretty in a peach gown as she turned the bridesmaid for her sister Natacha. 

Katrina Kaif's sister Christine tied the knot on Sunday and thanks to the Bollywood actress' busy schedule, she could only leave Mumbai for London just hours before the ceremony.

Katrina left Mumbai for London midnight on Saturday to join her family for the wedding,
Among Katrina's forthcoming films are "Dhoom 3" and "Bang Bang".

Ratan Tata comes to Supreme Court to watch a hearing on his Right to Privacy plea - India

21  aug  2013

Ratan Tata comes to Supreme Court to watch a hearing on his Right to Privacy plea

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

File photo of Ratan Tata

New Delhi: One of India's best-known entrepreneurs, Ratan Tata, was in the Supreme Court today to watch a hearing in his case that his constitutional right to privacy was violated in the leak of his conversations with corporate lobbyist Niira Radia.

"Mr Tata filed this writ petition on a matter of principle. He believes privacy is an important right for every individual and is keenly following the progress of this case," said a Tata Sons spokesperson.

The Tata group was a client of Ms Radia's public relations firm Vaishnavi Communications.

In April 2011, he took the government to court after websites and magazines ran transcripts of his phone calls with Ms Radia, whose phone was tapped at various points between 2008 and 2009 as part of a tax investigation.

Mr Tata wants the court to frame guidelines on conversations tapped by government agencies, to prevent such leaks and protect the privacy of individuals.

Indian-American named for top US environmental award - India

17  aug  2013

Indian-American named for top US environmental award

Washington: An Indian-American professor of biological and agricultural engineering has been recognised for lifetime achievement by a top US environmental and water resources institute.

Vijay Singh, professor and Caroline & William N. Lehrer Distinguished Chair in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at Texas A&M University, has been named as a recipient of the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Society of Civil Engineers Environmental and Water Resources Institute (ASCE-EWRI).

Set up in 1999, the Environmental and Water Resources Institute is a civil engineering specialty institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the country's oldest national engineering society.

He was born in Agra, India, July 15, 1946.

He acquired his Master of Science degree from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, and then did his Ph.D. from the Colorado State University.

He also received a D.Sc. from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa.

A recipient of various distinguished awards and author of a voluminous number of publications, Mr Singh served in the faculty of various universities in the US before joining Texas A&M University July 1, 2006.

According to the Texas A&M University website, Mr Singh has been appointed a university distinguished professor effective September1 this year.

According to the website posting, Mr Singh is an internationally recognised and pre-eminent engineer specialising in water resources engineering and hydrology.

"He has made numerous advances in hydrologic and environmental modeling and has received the most prestigious awards for hydrology from multiple professional societies," the website stated.

"He is a prolific author of journal articles and books, by some measures the most prolific author working in hydrology today..."

He also serves on the editorial boards of 27 different journals.

With over 50,000 students on its rolls, Texas A&M University at College Station, Texas, is ranked as the sixth largest university in the US.

After killing five Indian jawans, Pakistan violates ceasefire for the third time in 48 hours - India

11  Aug  2013

After killing five Indian jawans, Pakistan violates ceasefire for the third time in 48 hours

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

The bodies of the five Indian soldiers, who were killed earlier this week

Srinagar: Less than a week after killing five soldiers from the Indian Army in an ambush at the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan has reportedly violated the ceasefire agreement thrice in the last 48 hours. The latest firing incident took place today in the Mendhar district of Jammu and Kashmir where five Indian Army posts were attacked. According to reports, firing from small arms and automatic weapons is still on.

Earlier today, a jawan from the Border Security Force (BSF) was injured in the firing by Pakistani troops in the Kanachak sector of the Kashmir Valley.

"There was sniper firing from Pakistani side this morning along the international border (IB) at Alfa Machial Border Out Post (BOP) area in Jammu frontier ," a senior BSF officer said.

Yesterday, both sides exchanged fire for around seven hours.

"Pakistan fired over 7000 rounds of heavy ammunition besides mortar shells on Indian posts during the seven-and-a-half-hour firing in Poonch," a Defence spokesperson said yesterday, adding that it was "biggest ceasefire violation" in recent times. No causalities were however reported.

On the intervening night between Monday and Tuesday, Pakistani troops ambushed a patrol party of the Indian Army, killing five soldiers, and injuring a sixth one in the Poonch sector, 200 km south of Srinagar.

At a rally in Delhi's Ramlila grounds today, BJP president Rajnath Singh urged the government to take appropriate steps and suspend all talks with Pakistan.

"Pakistan has crossed all limits. The attacks at the Line of Control can be prevented if the government takes the right steps. The Prime Minister should announce no talks will take place with Pakistan," Mr Singh said today.

The killing of the soldiers created a huge uproar in Parliament with Defence Minister AK Antony, in a second statement, stating the attacks were carried out by specialised troops from Pakistan. His first statement absolved the Pakistani army, saying the attack was carried out by militants. His statement was in contradiction with the one issued by the Defence Ministry, lea

Sonia Gandhi's son-inlaw Robert Vadra used fake documents to acquire land - India

Robert Vadra used fake documents to acquire land, claims IAS officer Ashok Khemka

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka (File pic)

Gurgaon: Senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka has reportedly alleged that Robert Vadra, businessman and Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law, used false registration documents to execute a series of sham transactions for the sale of 3.5 acres of land in Gurgaon to real estate giant DLF for Rs. 58 crore.

Mr Khemka, who was controversially transferred by the Haryana government in October last year, three days after he cancelled the mutation of Mr Vadra's deal with DLF handed a 100-page report to the state government in May this year and the details have become public now.

The timing is embarrassing for the Congress, which has been battling various scandals just months before it makes an attempt to win a third straight term at the centre in general elections now months away.

The IAS officer has alleged Mr Vadra received sweetheart deals from the Congress government, which has been in power in Haryana since 2004. A government committee in March this year, however, concluded Mr Vadra's deal with DLF in 2008 was fair and legal. In reply to the conclusions drawn by the committee, Mr Khemka's report allegedly says that the Haryana government had shown "undue haste" in issuing a commercial colony licence to Mr Vadra.

The senior bureaucrat reportedly alleges in his report that Mr Vadra's company, Sky Light Hospitality Private Limited, did not make any payment through a Corporation Bank cheque of Rs. 7.5 crore as mentioned in the registration certificate for the land in Shikohpur village of Gurgaon, adjacent to Delhi.

Mr Khemka, who was Inspector General, Registrations in Haryana when he was transferred, had ordered an inquiry to determine if Mr Vadra, who owned property in different parts of the state, had been sold land at discounted prices.

"The Congress will soon have to open a factory of clean chits the way it's going," BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi told NDTV today.

Mr Khemka has alleged that unauthorised officials had signed off on the mutation of the land from Mr Vadra to DLF; he also raised questions about why the government appeared to have bent the rules for Mr Vadra, processing his Change of Land Use (CLU) application at lightning speed and licensing him to build a commercial housing project on his plot of 3.5 acres. That license, granted to Mr Vadra added such dramatic value that four years later, DLF paid Rs. 58 crore for the land.

Al Qaeda messages prompt US terror warning - India

03  aug  2013

Al Qaeda messages prompt US terror warning

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Click to Expand & Play

Washington: The United States intercepted electronic communications this week among senior operatives of Al Qaeda, in which the terrorists discussed attacks against US interests in the Middle East and North Africa, US officials said Friday.

The intercepts and a subsequent analysis of them by US intelligence agencies prompted the United States to issue an unusual global travel alert to US citizens Friday, warning of the potential for terrorist attacks by operatives of Al Qaeda and their associates from Sunday through the end of August.

The bulletin to travelers and expatriates, issued by the State Department, came less than a day after the department announced that it was closing nearly two dozen US diplomatic missions in the Middle East and North Africa, including facilities in Egypt, Iraq, Yemen, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Britain said Friday that it would close its embassy in Yemen on Monday and Tuesday because of "increased security concerns."

It is unusual for the United States to come across discussions among senior Al Qaeda operatives about operational planning - through informants, intercepted emails or eavesdropping on cellphone calls. So when the high-level intercepts were collected and analyzed this week, senior officials at the CIA, State Department and White House immediately seized on their significance. Members of Congress have been provided classified briefings on the matter, officials said Friday.

"This was a lot more than the usual chatter," said one senior U.S. official who had been briefed on the information but would not provide details.

Spokesmen at the State Department and the CIA also declined to comment on the intercepts.

The importance of the intercepts was underscored by a speech that the Al Qaeda leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, posted on jihadist forums Tuesday. In his address, Zawahri called for attacks on US interests in response to its military actions in the Muslim world and US drone strikes in Pakistan and Yemen, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors statements by jihadists.

Security analysts said Friday that, in the aftermath of the furor over the Obama administration's handling of the attack last year on the diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, the State Department was now more likely to publicize threat warnings when deemed credible, both to alert the public and to help deter any imminent attacks.

"A decision to close this many embassies and issue a global travel warning for a month suggests the threat is real, advanced and imminent but the intelligence is incomplete on where," said Bruce Riedel, a former CIA case officer and a Brookings Institution scholar.

The embassy closures come toward the end of the Ramadan holidays and the approaching anniversary of the terror attack September 11 on the US diplomatic compound in Benghazi that killed four Americans, including Ambassador J Christopher Stevens.

"We are particularly concerned about the security situation in the final days of Ramadan and into Eid," the British Foreign Office said in a statement, referring to the Muslim holy month that ends Wednesday evening.

Obama administration officials publicly declined to discuss what specific information had prompted the increased alarm and alerts, citing a desire to protect classified sources and methods.

But intercepting electronic communications is one the National Security Agency's main jobs, as the documents leaked by Edward J Snowden, a former NSA contractor, have underscored. At the request of intelligence officials, The New York Times withheld some details about the intercepted communications.

Some analysts and congressional officials suggested Friday that emphasizing a terrorist threat now was a good way to divert attention from the uproar over the NSA's data-collection programs, and if it showed the intercepts uncovered a possible plot, even better.

The bulletin by the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs did not advise against travel to any particular country, but it warned US citizens to be particularly mindful of their surroundings, especially in tourist areas, and recommended that they register their travel plans with the State Department.

"Terrorists may elect to use a variety of means and weapons and target both official and private interests," the bulletin said. "US citizens are reminded of the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems and other tourist infrastructure. Terrorists have targeted and attacked subway and rail systems, as well as aviation and maritime services."

Rep Ed Royce, R-California, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Friday that the warning was linked to an Al Qaeda threat focused on the Middle East and Central Asia.

To date, the only al-Qaida affiliate that has shown a desire and ability to attack US facilities overseas is Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, a group based in Yemen.

The Al Qaeda affiliate announced in July that its second-in-command, Saeed al-Shihri, a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner, had died as a result of injuries sustained in a US missile strike in Yemen last year. But Ibrahim Hassan al-Asiri, the group's seminal bomb maker, remains at large, and, according to US officials, has trained a cadre of skilled proteges ready to take his place should he be killed.

US drones over the past week have carried out three separate strikes in Yemen, according to Long War Journal, a website that tracks drone strikes. There have been 15 US drone strikes in Yemen this year, according to the site.

The State Department has issued similar alerts and warnings in the recent past, US officials said Friday. Late last year, it warned that Al Qaeda and its global branches could seek to attack US interests around the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks.

On February 19 this year, the State Department issued a "caution" notice - less severe than a "warning" or "alert" - to Americans that "current information suggests that Al Qaeda, its affiliated organizations, and other terrorist organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks against US interests in multiple regions."

Pentagon officials said Friday that there had been no movements of troops or other forces in response to the embassy closures.

After the attack in Benghazi, the military's Africa Command bolstered its quick-reaction forces in Djibouti and created new Marine Corps reaction forces in Moron, Spain, and at the naval air station in Sigonella in Italy that can respond to a crisis within a few hours.

After 20-year-long legal battle, former Maharaja's daughters get Rs.20,000-crore relief - India

28  july 2013

After 20-year-long legal battle, former Maharaja's daughters get Rs.20,000-crore relief

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

In this picture: Faridkot House on New Delhi's Copernicus Marg

Chandigarh: It is a royal bonanza for two daughters of a former maharaja, one they had to wait for over two decades.

A court in Chandigarh has declared a 32-year-old will "forged" and illegal" and granted inheritance of properties and assets worth a whopping Rs. 20,000 crore ($4.4 billion) to the two daughters of the erstwhile Maharaja of Faridkot, Harinder Singh Brar.

The properties and assets include the palatial Faridkot House on New Delhi's Copernicus Marg, a royal palace complex and a fort in Faridkot, a fort in Mani Majra area of Chandigarh, vintage cars (including a Rolls Royce), an aerodrome in Faridkot spread over 200 acres, properties in Hyderabad and Delhi, gold and jewellery worth nearly Rs.1,000 crore with Standard Chartered Bank in Mumbai and more.

Real estate experts and accountants put the total worth of the properties and assets at over Rs.20,000 crore. The Mani Majra fort, which is over 350 years old, is not in a very good condition. The erstwhile ruler was allowed to keep these properties after the country's independence in August 1947.

The legal battle for the assets started in 1992 after the ex-maharaja's daughter Amrit Kaur filed a case in a court in Chandigarh. Following a 21-year-old legal battle, the court of the chief judicial magistrate Rajnish Kumar, ordered Thursday that the 1981 will, purportedly drawn up by the maharaja, was "forged and fabricated".

With the court judgment, Amrit Kaur and her Kolkata-based sister Deepinder Kaur will inherit the properties and assets of the erstwhile ruler. Their third sister, Maheepinder Kaur, who was not married, died under mysterious circumstances in Shimla in 2001.

Brar had three daughters and a son, Harmohinder Singh, who died in a road accident in 1981. Following this, Brar went into depression.

In her suit, Amrit Kaur, who lives in Sector 10 in Chandigarh, alleged that the will was forged by officials and servants of the ex-ruler at a time when he was in depression. The will, which gave all his properties and assets to the Meharwal Khewaji Trust, was registered in 1982. The trust had some of his servants on board, while his two daughters were appointed chairperson and vice chairperson for a mere Rs.1,200 and Rs. 1,000 per month.

Following the death of the erstwhile ruler in 1989, the trustees took control of all the properties and assets.

Amrit Kaur challenged the will, saying that the trust members had forced her father to sign it at a time when he was in depression. She had claimed that he was not in a "fit state of mind" when the will was drawn up. She pointed out that the will had completely excluded his wife, Narinder Kaur, and mother, Mohinder Kaur, who were alive in 1981-82.

Following the court order declaring the will "illegal and void", the trustees are likely to appeal to a higher court.

India vs Zimbabwe: Shikhar Dhawan, Jaydev Unadkat power India to 58-run win - India

27  july 2013

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Harare:  Shikhar Dhawan capitalised on three reprieves to slam his third ODI century as India maintained their stranglehold over minnows Zimbabwe with a comfortable 58-run victory in the second cricket one-dayer here on Friday. D hawan struck 116 as India recovered from early jolts to post a competitive 294 for eight and then restricted the hosts to 236 for nine to take a 2-0 series lead in the five-match series. Read: As it happened

Put into bat, India were in a spot of bother at 65 for four at one stage before Dhawan and Dinesh Karthik (69) put on 167 runs for the fifth wicket to not only restore the innings but take them to a commanding total at the Harare Sports Club. Read: Stats

The Indians could have won the match by a much bigger margin but a defiant late-order resistance by Elton Chigumbara (46) and Prosper Utseya (52 not out) delayed the inevitable with the duo adding 88 runs for the seventh wicket to frustrate the tourists.

Opener Visu Sibanda (55) also provided a rollicking start to the Zimbabwean innings which somehow lost the momentum after his departure with five wickets falling within a span of 24 runs. See in Pics: How India beat Zimbabwe

For India, Jaydev Unadkat was the pick of the bowlers with four for 41 while leg-spinner Amit Mishra accounted for two wickets.

The two teams will play the third match of the series at the same venue here on Sunday.

Zimbabwe lost opener Sikandar Raza (20) early into their run-chase as the Pakistan-born batsman, who had top-scored with 82 in the first one-dayer, went for an expensive pull-shot against Unadkat and was holed out in the deep.

Next man-in, Hamilton Masakadza and Sibanda chose to play a more patient game and rotated the strike cleverly before opening up against Vinay Kumar's medium-pace and Mishra's googlies.

Both hit Mishra early on in his spell for a six each while Kumar was pulled for two boundaries in the opening over and was taken for 16 runs in his return over in the second spell as the second-wicket partnership looked threatening on an eased out pitch.
Sibanda reached his individual fifty with a hit off Mishra over long-on for six and, in the process, also took his side's total past 100-run mark. However, Zimbabwe could not hold onto their strong position for long as Sibanda once again failed to covert his innings into a big score after dominating the Indian bowlers with his powerful hits.

Sibanda, who had escaped with a missed stumping chance after running down the pitch to Mishra, threw away his wicket and fell to Unadkat in the 21st over. His 57-ball 55 knock was laced with seven fours and two sixes.

Four balls later, Brendan Taylor (nought) ran himself out as from 109 for one, it became 109 for three for the hosts.

Zimbabwe's misery further compunded when Ravindra Jadeja had Sean Williams (5) trapped right in front of the stumps.

Next over saw the soft dismissal of Masakadza who ended up giving a simple catch to Mohammed Shami at short fine-leg going for a sweep shot. Masakadza scored 47-ball 34 which had one six over the deep midwicket.

Malcolm Waller (2) fell for Mishra's deceptive googly as the dismissal left the run chase in tatters.

Chigumbara and Utseya waged a lonely battle and showed some resistance but their efforts did not prove enough in the end.

Earlier, the Zimbabweans spilled regulation catches and their wayward bowlers conceded 28 extras as India posted a daunting target.

Dhawan was dropped twice when on 14 and 70 and the Delhi-lad also benefited from a no-ball by Kyle Jarvis in the fifth over when he had added just three runs to his name.

The 27-year-old, however, hung on and hit his third ODI ton in his 17th match to save the Indians the blushes. He hit 11 fours and two sixes.

Karthik played his part with a composed 74-ball innings which was studded with six fours as the duo denied the Zimbabweans any success for 25.4 overs.

India ended their innings in style with tail-enders Vinay Kumar (27 not out) and Mohammed Shami (6 not out) scoring 23 from the last over with the help of three sixes and a four.
Captain Virat Kohli could only score 14 runs while the other opener Rohit Sharma (1), Ambati Rayudu (5), Suresh Raina (4) and Jadeja (15) were also out cheaply.

The Indian innings was marred by Kohli's face-off with on-field umpires after he was given out to a controversial catch in the seventh over. He stood his ground even as Zimbabwe sought a review as the fielder -- Malcolm Waller --was not sure whether he had caught the ball cleanly or not.

Kohli refused to leave even after the third umpire adjudged him out. He argued his case once again with the umpires who confirmed the decision. Eventually, a visibly upset Kohli reluctantly walked back to the pavilion.

India suffered an early jolt with opener Rohit being dismissed in the second over as pacer Brian Vitori got his scalp in his first ball.

Dhawan was out when on three in the fifth over but survived as it turned out that Jarvis had bowled a no-ball. Then he was dropped on 14 in the ninth over with captain Brendan Taylor spilling a regulation catch, the unfortunate bowler being Jarvis. India were 38 for two then.

Rayudu, who came in at the fall of Kohli, was also dropped in the 10th over when the batsman was on three as Vitori spilled a caught and bowled chance.

Rayudu ended his struggle as he went for a drive without moving his feet while Raina also continued with his poor form as he was caught behind by Taylor.

Dhawan and Karthik then played the rescue act with a solid stand. They kept the scoreboard ticking by taking singles and rotating strike in the middle overs.

India took the batting powerplay in the 33rd over and scored 85 runs from the 10 overs to go past 200 in the 40th over.

After both were out in quick succession in the 43rd and 44th overs respectively, the lower order ensured that India go near the 300-run mark.