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.