SC awards record Rs 6 crore for medical negligence

In a path-breaking judgment, the Supreme Court on Thursday awarded a record Rs 5.96 crore compensation for medical negligence to a US-based NRI doctor, Kunal Saha, who fought a 15-year battle to fasten the charge of gross medical negligence on four doctors and Kolkata's AMRI hospital for the death of his wife Anuradha in 1998.

Until now, courts have been very cautious about fixing liability for medical negligence since the matter is regarded to be technical. But casting away its diffidence and setting a benchmark for future, a bench of Justices Chandramauli Kumar Prasad and V Gopala Gowda enhanced by over 400% the initial Rs 1.73 crore compensation awarded to Saha by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC).

The court held three doctors — Dr Balram Prasad, Dr Sukumar Mukherjee and Dr Baidyanath Haldar — guilty of negligence in treating Anuradha, who had contracted a rare skin disease. Prasad and Mukherjee have been directed to pay Rs 10 lakh each to Saha, while Halder will pay Rs 5 lakh. AMRI hospital, where Anuradha's maltreatment took place, would have to pay the remaining Rs 5.71 crore.

The court said the hospital additionally would pay an interest of 6% on the amount from the date of filing of claim by Saha. If the interest is taken to be simple in nature, then the hospital would have to pay another Rs 6 crore. Abani Roy Chowdhury, the fourth doctor involved in the case, died during the pendency of the proceedings.

For Saha, fixing the liability for medical negligence had become a crusade. Even as he went from pillar to post to secure justice, he started an NGO to take up the cause of ethical medical treatment and against excessive/wrong medication by corporate hospitals.



Setting a milestone in compensation in medical negligence cases, which the apex court observed was on the rise in India, given the unregulated growth and commercialization of healthcare services, Gowda directed the three doctors and the hospital to file compliance report of payment to Saha in eight weeks.

Anuradha's died 15 years ago when she and her husband were on holiday in Kolkata. She contracted toxic epidermal necrolysis and developed rashes all over her body. On May 11, 1998, she was admitted to AMRI hospital in Kolkata, where she was treated till May 16. As her condition didn't improve, she was taken to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai in an air ambulance. She died on May 28 following complications from bad diagnosis and an overdose of steroid that was administered at the Kolkata hospital.

In March 1999, Saha filed a petition before the NCDRC demanding Rs 77 crore from the four doctors, AMRI hospital and its directors. He also demanded Rs 25.3 crore from the Mumbai hospital, but later withdrew that claim.

The NCDRC had termed the claim, a total of Rs 102 crore, as perhaps the highest ever claimed for medical negligence before any consumer forum in India. Anuradha had first consulted Mukherjee after developing skin rashes on April 25, 1998. The doctor had told her to take rest. When the rashes increased, Dr Mukherjee, on May 7, prescribed Depomedrol injection (80 mg twice daily), a step which was later faulted by medical experts at the apex court. Instead of improving, her conditioned worsened rapidly after the administration of the steroids. She was admitted to AMRI on May 11 under Mukherjee's supervision. In Breach Candy, she was diagnosed to be suffering from toxic epidermal necrolysis.

In 2009, the Supreme Court had absolved all the doctors and the hospitals of criminal negligence in treatment, which spared them of imprisonment. However, the court had held them severally and individually liable for medical negligence leading to Anuradha's death.

NOT IN THE LINE OF DUTY

Child psychologist Anuradha Saha, just out of Columbia University, on holiday in Kolkata with husband, AIDS researcher Kunal Saha, develops skin rashes, dies weeks after being admitted to hospital

1998 Week of April 25 |

Anuradha consults Dr Sukumar Mukherjee, advised rest

May 7: Rashes worsen. Mukherjee prescribes Depomedrol injection 80 mg twice daily, a step faulted by SCappointed experts

May 11: Admitted to Kolkata's AMRI hospital under Dr Mukherjee, condition worsens rapidly, flown to Breach Candy, Mumbai. Diagnosed with rare Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis

May 28: Anuradha dies of complications from steroid overdose Saha files criminal and civil cases against doctors and both hospitals for gross negligence

2004: Trial court lets off Dr Abani Roy Choudhury. Calcutta HC acquits two of criminal negligence: Dr Mukherjee and Dr Baidyanath Halder. Saha moves SC

2006: National Consumer Disputes Redressal Committee dismisses case. Saha moves SC

Aug 8, 2009: SC upholds acquittal of doctors of criminal negligence Accepts Kunal's right to compensation

Redefines medical negligence to include overdose of medicines, not informing patients about drugs sideeffects , not taking extra care in case of diseases having high mortality rate and hospitals not providing amenities fundamental for patients

2011: NCDRC reviews case, awards Saha Rs 1.73cr

Oct 24, 2013: Saha wins Rs 5.96cr compensation from AMRI and three doctors

Supreme Court asks hospital to pay Saha interest @ 6%

Dr Balram Prasad and Dr Mukherjee to pay Rs 10 lakh each, Dr Halder Rs 5 lakh within 8 weeks
Remaining amount, with interest, to be paid by AMRI
Asks for a compliance report after payment of compensation

More: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/SC-awards-record-Rs-6-crore-for-medical-negligence/articleshow/24679517.cms

Drug-resistant TB challenge for India

India has the world’s highest estimated burden of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis patients and needs to substantially accelerate its capacity for diagnosis and treatment of these patients, a World Health Organisation report has indicated.

The WHO’s global tuberculosis report for 2013, released today, estimates that India accounts for 64,000 cases of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) among notified patients with pulmonary (lung) tuberculosis. China and Russia follow with 59,000 and 46,000 cases.

The report, based on data provided by national tuberculosis programmes, shows that the number of MDR-TB patients notified in India nearly quadrupled from 4,237 in 2011 to 16,588 in 2012. In both years, hundreds of patients with MDR-TB were not enrolled for treatment.

“This fourfold increase in the number of notified MDR-TB cases actually reflects a growing national capacity to detect MDR,” said Bobby John, physician and president of Global Health Advocates, a non-government organisation tracking tuberculosis trends in India.

“But the figures also reveal the huge challenge ahead —only 16,000-odd cases are detected (whereas) the estimated burden is 64,000. The capacity needs to expand quickly,” said John, who was not associated with the WHO report.

While drug-sensitive tuberculosis is treated with a combination of four drugs through a regimen that lasts six to nine months, treatment for MDR-TB is more expensive, has greater risks of side effects, and lasts 18 months to two years.

The WHO report, analysing a worldwide MDR-TB crisis, says the response — to test and treat all patients affected by MDR-TB — has been inadequate and attributes this to insufficient resources for battling tuberculosis.

Control programmes in many countries lack the resources to test, detect and provide appropriate drugs and medical care to all their MDR-TB patients. In India, during 2012, only 14,143 among the 16,588 notified MDR-TB patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were enrolled for treatment.

“It is unacceptable that the increased access to diagnosis is not being matched by increased access to MDR-TB care,” said Mario Raviglione, director of the WHO’s tuberculosis programme. “We have patients diagnosed but not enough drug supplies or trained people to treat them.”

The WHO said that while the number of people diagnosed with MDR-TB through rapid diagnostic tests had increased by 40 per cent to 94,000 worldwide during 2012, three out of four MDR-TB cases still remained undiagnosed.

Many countries, including India, have introduced drug-sensitivity testing, a laboratory process that allows doctors to tailor specific drug regimens to patients with MDR-TB, but such tests still have limited reach.

Among previously treated patients suspected to have MDR-TB, such tests are available to about 12 per cent patients in China and 16 per cent in South Africa. India has a higher number of MDR-TB cases but has not reported the proportion of patients who are offered such tests through the government programme.

More: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1131025/jsp/nation/story_17492671.jsp#.UmnyYu509hg

For ISRO, Mars mission may turn out to be rocket science

If the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) lifts off on November 5 from Sriharikota as planned, it will be watched by more than a normal share of anxious eyes. It is a difficult mission, and fickle weather adds to the complexity.

But ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan is not prone to fits of worry. "The PSLV is the best vehicle in its class," he says, "which is why many countries are using it now to launch their satellites." A mission to Mars will require taking into account the influence of earth, the moon, the sun and, of course, the destination planet, all of which keep changing positions with the day of the launch.

A small error in calculation will miss the target by tens of thousands of miles. "The spacecraft's arrival point on Mars has to be calculated to an accuracy of 60 miles about 280 days in advance," says Radhakrishnan. "It takes beyond textbook mechanics to achieve this precision." An excursion to the red planet does not come easy to even to the most experienced.

The Russians have a long history of failures in Mars missions. The Chinese have not yet attempted its own mission, and so Mangalyaan is extra special for India. "It will be a big leap for the country," says Goverdhan Mehta, space commission member. The Americans, Russians and Europeans have used larger rockets for their Mars missions. India is using the smaller PSLV, usually used to put small satellites into a low-earth orbit over the poles. The launch window to Mars is very small, the next one being available only in 2018. ISRO has already postponed the launch once due to bad weather.

If the PSLV does not go up before November 19, ISRO has to wait for another five years to get similar conditions. The PSLV is India's most mature rocket. ISRO has launched 35 satellites so far using PSLV and 10 are in waiting list for launch. The Mars mission will use PSLV in new ways, thereby adding new complexities. The trajectory of the spacecraft is very different to begin with.

This new trajectory, the calculations for which are different for each launch date, requires a long coasting of the rocket between third and fourth stage. "The management of the long coast between third and fourth stage is a complex issue," says V Adimurthy, Satish Dhawanprofessor and senior advisor (interplanetary missions) of ISRO. There is only one time slot for lift-off- with five minutes leeway - available for launch during a specific day.

"The time of lift-off and required coasting duration is different for each day of launch; and one has to work out a series of different trajectory management strategies corresponding to each possible launch date," says Adimurthy. The satellite is first launched into an elliptical orbit at a velocity far less than what is required - over 11 km per second - for it to escape from the earth.

To make it come up to this velocity would require three to five manouevres using rockets in the spacecraft, depending on the velocity and position of the spacecraft when first injected. When it finally reaches Mars, not more than 60 km away from the intended spot, the spacecraft has to slow down for it to be captured into the Mars orbit. If this is not done with precision, the spacecraft will either fly by or crash into the Martian surface.

Some of the difficulty is in the constraints imposed by the need to lower energy use. "We have devised an orbit that reaches Mars with minimum use of energy," says Radhakrishnan. The more the energy required for the travel, the more the fuel the spacecraft has to carry, and hence the more the weight and more the cost. Other constraints were imposed by the harsh interplanetary environment like intense cold and high radiation.

Delay in communication is another problem as the spacecraft moves further and further away from the earth. The spacecraft has considerable autonomy to take decisions during critical periods.

When the Mangalyaan project was conceived, ISRO got 30 ideas for experiments. Out of these, nine instruments were possible to build and five were flyable. "So all the experiments possible were accommodated," says Radhakrishnan. One of this is a methane sensor. Finding methane conclusively on Mars would be a major achievement for Mangalyaan.

More: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/for-isro-mars-mission-may-turn-out-to-be-rocket-science/articleshow/24679899.cms?curpg=2

No phasing out refrigerant gases: India

Sticking to its stance of not allowing phase-out of climate changing refrigerant gases under the Montreal Protocol at this juncture, India continued to block the move at the ongoing meeting of the multilateral agreement in Bangkok.

India has opposed bringing control of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) — a family of greenhouse gases used as refrigerants — under the Montreal Protocol, which is meant to deal only with ozone-depleting gases.

Recently India came in for diplomatic arm-twisting by the U.S. to let that happen in the run-up to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s meeting with President Barack Obama. Having softened its stance on the issue at the G20 talks, the Indian government had to take a step back later in bilateral meetings with the U.S.

The U.S. demanded that India agree to set up a ‘contact group’ on HFCs in the Montreal Protocol, which would effectively kick-start the process of dealing with the gases out of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), where the gases are currently handled and developed countries are required in principle to pay full costs for technology transitions.

The Indian government had internally expressed apprehensions that Indian industry would be pushed to buy proprietary technology from companies in the U.S. and elsewhere at a very high cost to make the transition without adequate financial support.

In a rear-guard action, India settled for holding an early meeting of a bilateral task force on the matter with the U.S. but not changing its stance before that. A source in the Indian negotiating team on the issue told The Hindu, “We have asked the U.S. to provide us data and information on the economics of making the technological shift but as yet they have not come back with the information.”

He added, “Unless there is clarity on the costs and technological changes involved at the bilateral task force, we cannot expect our position to change.”

With the bilateral task force yet to decide on the way forward, the Indian government has decided to stick to its original stance that HFCs be dealt within UNFCCC negotiations and not be exported to the Montreal Protocol.

At the Bangkok meeting, India, along with some allies, including China and Brazil, blocked the long-standing proposal to amend the Montreal Protocol, permitting it to deal with HFCs. As the protocol works by consensus, each country’s consent is mandatory to pass such a proposal. India also blocked other proposals, including one from the European Union, which would indirectly open the forum to talks on HFCs within the Protocol.

The diplomatic battle at the Bangkok meeting saw India pitch hard against the U.S. and several other countries that were keen on getting discussions on HFCs launched within the Protocol.

At the time of our going to press, negotiations were continuing in Bangkok with countries considering yet another proposal of asking for a technical and economic analysis to be generated under the protocol on HFCs — another opening of window in the direction the U.S. and others have desired.

More: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/no-phasing-out-refrigerant-gases-india/article5266096.ece

I’m still a 12-year-old at heart, that’s what keeps me going: Leander Paes

When the former coach of the Indian Davis Cup team, Nandan Bal, described Leander Paes as a 12-year-old, raucous laughter followed, with the packed hall seeming to pass off the quip as friendly banter between the coach and his former ward. However, when 40-year-old Paes took the podium, he reiterated that one of the biggest reasons behind his continued success and longevity in professional tennis was that he still considered himself a little boy.

"I have been playing for 28 years and I think if I keep behaving like a 12-year-old, I can comfortably keep on playing for a few more," he said. On a more serious note, though, Paes said the characteristic of constantly asking questions, maintaining a curious outlook towards life and tennis helped him perform on the professional tennis circuit for so long.

In the city for an interaction at the Amanora Township, the veteran of six Olympic Games and the proud owner of 14 Grand Slam titles, said he is looking forward to playing the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. "I am 100 per cent in for the 2016 Olympics. I absolutely want to play and there are only four players in the world who have participated in seven editions of the Olympic Games. I really want to join that group," said the bronze medalist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Having played for 28 years and figured in 31 Grand Slam finals, Paes has no plans of hanging up his racquet. "My hunger to serve at 241 kmph is still there. I want to master the art of hitting a top-spin backhand return over my shoulder, which is really difficult to execute. I have torn my stomach muscle 16 times but I still want to go on. I want to go on mastering my craft and that's maybe why I am still playing," he said.

Quizzed on his penchant for partnering players from the Czech Republic, he said the hardworking culture and constant drive of the Czechs to improve their craft is what draws him towards their tennis players. "All Czech players that I have played with come from middle-class hardworking backgrounds, similar to mine. Also, they have an innate humbleness and always want to become better at what they do. Also, their dry sense of humour and the ability to laugh at themselves is something that I appreciate," he said.

Having played with legends such as Martina Navratilova and Ivan Lendl, both of Czech origin, Paes said he has learned a lot from their culture and is very comfortable with players from the eastern European country.

Paes, who plays for the Washington Kastles, challenged the Accurate Aces — champions of the inaugural Maharashtra Tennis League — to an exhibition match. "I play for the Kastles and we currently have Martina Hingis and Anastasia Rodionova on our roster. On behalf of my owner, Mark Ein, I invite the Accurate Aces to come over to Washington to play a match. Hopefully, the Kastles will come to Pune and play the Aces on their home turf too," he said.

After having clinched the 2013 US Open men's doubles title, Paes has now set his sight on the ATP World Tour finals to be played in London in the beginning of November. "That (ATP World Tour Finals) has been something that has eluded me. We didn't start the year so well, but with the US Open title, it's getting better. Radek's (Stepanek) is coming back from spinal surgery and we are hoping for a good show in London."

More: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/i-m-still-a-12yearold-at-heart-that-s-what-keeps-me-going-leander-paes/1187012/0

Budget hotel ready to host its most famous guest - Sachin Tendulkar

About three weeks ago, a top Haryana Cricket Association (HCA) official requested the management of Hotel Rivoli, Rohtak, to block all their 16 rooms. The budget hotel did as it was told.

A couple of days ago, the hotel employees learnt that they would be hosting the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team. No wonder they have gone into overdrive mode.

“This is really big for us. Rohtak is a sleepy little town about 75 km from Delhi. It’s a village, actually. We know the Mumbai team is going to be staying here. But we still don’t know if Sachin Tendulkar will be put up here,” said Gurkamal Sodhi, the hotel’s general manager.

For the record, the Mumbai team will land in the Capital around noon. Rohtak is just two hours away. The hotel, which has 16 rooms (including four deluxe suites), will do all it can to make the team’s stay pleasant and memorable, the management said.

The Mumbai team, which will take on Haryana at the Chaudhary Bansi Lal Stadium in Lahli (about 10 km away) from October 27-30, also has stars like Zaheer Khan, Wasim Jaffer, Ajinkya Rahane, Dhaval Kulkarni and Abhishek Nayar. But everyone’s bothered about Tendulkar. After all, the match could be the maestro’s last in domestic cricket. Last in Lahli for sure.

“Yahaan toh jashn ka mahaul hai (everyone’s in celebratory mode here),” Sodhi added. “We plan to welcome the Mumbai team in a grand way. The chefs are preparing a special menu. We know Tendulkar loves seafood, so we have made arrangements to get fish and prawns from New Delhi. We really hope he dines here. I heard is that the players will have their breakfast and lunch at the stadium itself,” Sodhi said.

The tour party from Mumbai will comprise 21 persons (15 players and six support staff). “Only the international players, coach and manager will have a room to themselves. The rest will have to share,” a team source said. Tendulkar, its is believed, will be put up in a suite. “We charge Rs 3,600 plus taxes. That’s our best room,” Sodhi informed.

More: http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report-budget-hotel-ready-to-host-its-most-famous-guest-sachin-tendulkar-1908438

‘Watching Sachin Tendulkar construct an innings is like watching a rose bud come to flower’

I first heard of Sachin Tendulkar when he made his maiden Test century in England in 1990. I heard he was 17, and I thought, “Wow! That's impressive at that age”.

I was in England that season playing in the Lancashire League and played against him at the Scarborough Cricket Festival when India played a World XI in which I was selected in.

Next thing I was playing Test cricket against him during the Indian tour of Australia in 1991-92. The pads he batted in were different. I was told that Sunny [Sunil] Gavaskar had gifted to him. They were really special. That's the first thing I remember about him.

I clearly recall the two centuries he scored during that tour. One was in Sydney, on a 'turner'. The other was in Perth, on a ‘flier’— two very different pitches, and two very different centuries. Both wonderful innings — a sign of things to come. I found him a quite young man and very soft spoken. Not much has changed over the years.

Last year I was asked to facilitate a day at the Sydney Cricket Ground for the Royal Bank of Scotland. Sachin is an ambassador for them and was the guest for the day. I had not seen him for 15 years and he had not changed at all. He even looked the same. That day he spent time with all the children, all the parents, all the other people that were there, he signed all the autographs and had photos with everyone. We spoke about our careers and about the 1991-92 series. Again I found him soft spoken and humble. It was a pleasure to spend the day with him and captivating to watch him especially with the children.

Sachin has inspired a generation of cricketers worldwide. He is held in the highest regard in all cricketing nations. What a player! To watch him construct an innings is like watching a rose bud come to flower. For me, it has been length of his career that has been amazing — 24 years, 200 Tests and over 463 One-Day Internationals (ODIs)!

Cricket is a tough, physical game at the top level. These records are unbelievable. On the field he is tough, driven and has always been hungry. You have to be successful. Off the field he is a really nice person.

He has inspired the Indian nation many times. Some of those times under immense pressure. He is indeed a 'national treasure'.

In Australia, he is spoken about as the best after Sir Donald Bradman. It's always sad when a legend retires. We should all be grateful that we've had a chance to watch a master for over 20 years. He will be missed but never forgotten.

I now boast that I played against him! If I'm asked what my favourite Tendulkar innings, well it's that 114 in Perth in 1992. Why? I got him out caught at slip by Tom Moody. Yep I boast about that too!

— As told to Sudatta Mukherjee

More: http://www.cricketcountry.com/cricket-articles/-lsquo-Watching-Sachin-Tendulkar-construct-an-innings-is-like-watching-a-rose-bud-come-to-flower-rsquo/32609

Shah Rukh Khan tops list of attractive personalities, beating Salman Khan

Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan has topped a list of the most attractive personalities, beating the likes of Salman Khan and megastar Amitabh Bachchan.

Shah Rukh Khan is 'India's Most Attractive Personality' according to a 16-city 'survey' conducted by Trust Research Advisory (TRA), a Comniscient Group company, based on what it called a "36 Trait Matrix", to measure "brand attractiveness".

TRA calls itself an "actionable insights and brand intelligence company" dedicated to understanding and analysing stakeholder behaviour through two "globally acclaimed", proprietary matrices of "Brand Trust" and "Brand Attractiveness". TRA is also the publisher of what it calls 'The Brand Trust Report'.

Following SRK in "attractiveness quotient" are Amitabh Bachchan and cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Aamir Khan is India's fourth "most attractive personality", followed by Mithun Chakraborty, Katrina Kaif, Salman Khan, Sachin Tendulkar and others.

Altogether 25 personalities from the field of cinema, sports and social-spiritual, business and music, were listed in the report.

"While we often see attractiveness only in terms of physical beauty, it is much more. It is a function of four founding appeals -- rational, emotional, aspirational and communication. When the quotient is high on all four appeals, the overall attractiveness quotient becomes high," said N Chandramouli, TRA CEO, said.

Other notable entries were Rabindranath Tagore, Madhuri Dixit, Sourav Ganguly, Sushmita Sen, Chris Gayle, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor, Anil Ambani, Karishma Kapoor, Lata Mangeshkar, Sunny Deol, Priyanka Chopra, Rekha, Hrithik Roshan, Ranbir Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha and Abhishek Bachchan.

More: http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-shah-rukh-khan-tops-list-of-attractive-personalities-beating-salman-khan-1908385

Heavens open up as Manna Dey's final journey begins in Bangalore

His mortal remains were brought to Samsa open air theater on Ravindra Kalak Shetra premises for the public to pay last respects.

- Anantha Subramanyam K

Renowned playback singer Manna Dey breathed his last at 3.52 am in a private hospital in Bangalore on Thursday. He was on treatment for respiratory problems for last few months.

His mortal remains were brought to Samsa open air theater on Ravindra Kalak Shetra premises for the public to pay last respects. Moments before the arrival of his body at Samsa, the skies opened up and amid heavy down pour, Dey was brought out and placed on a make shift stage.

Dey's son-in-law Jnan Deb, accompanied the body followed in a car by Manna Dey's daughter Sumitha Deb. Few of his close family friends were among the first to arrive and pay their respects.

Renowned singers from Kannada folklore Shomoga Subbanna, YK Muddukrishna, Hindustani vocalist Sangeetha Katti Kulkarni, Archana Udupa and MP & theatre personality B Jayashree also paid their last respects. Film artist Tara and director KSL Swamy, were among the celebrity guests to pay their last respects.

Sumitha, with whom Manna Dey was staying for last few years in Bangalore said that her father liked her cooking and always fondly call her Chum Chum, which will be missing from now on.

While Sumitha got emotional when friends and guests offered their condolences, she gained her composure later on and placed a rose on her father's body with a smile saying, "This is the last flower to you dad," before his mortal remains were shifted to a florally decorated palanquin which was taken to Hebbal crematorium for the last rites.

Some of his fans rendered songs like Kasme Vaade Pyar Mohabbat from Upkaar, Ae Malik Tere Bande hum from Do Aankhe Baara Haath. Many remembered his famous song Zindagi kaisi hai paheli hai from Anand.

More: http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-heavens-open-up-as-manna-dey-s-final-journey-begins-in-bangalore-1908233

Ram Gopal Varma receives threat, gets police security

Police security have been provided at the office and residence of Bollywood filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma after he received a threat, the police said in Mumbai on Friday.

However, the police chose to remain silent about details like who threatened him and what sort of threat was issued to him.

"On the basis of an intercepted conversation, the Mumbai police gave me security for various reasons. I cannot divulge the content of the threat. For some important reasons, I cannot comment on whether or not this threat to me is related to the content of Satya 2," Varma tweeted on Friday.

When contacted by PTI, Additional Police Commissioner (West Region) Vishwas Nagare Patil said "I would not be displaying professionalism if I talk about somebody receiving a threat. I would not like to comment anything on the matter".

Varma's Satya 2, which was originally scheduled to release on Friday, would now be released on November 8.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ram-gopal-varma-mumbai-police-satya-2-ram-gopal-varma-gets-security-news-today/1/320096.html

BlackBerry Z30 smartphone launched in India, with Rs 39,990 price tag

BlackBerry Ltd may be a sinking ship, but that has not stopped it from launching a premium product, BlackBerry Z30 smartphone on Thursday in India – it even priced the top-end product at the lower end of the slab reserved for matching products from rivals like Apple Inc, Samsung, Nokia and HTC.

BlackBerry Z30 is targeted at urban youth and is a bold attempt to regain foothold in the market flooded with smartphones. To reassure its buyers that support will always remain at hand, BlackBerry, considering it is set for a fire sale, reaffirmed that no matter what happens in future it is going to remain loyal to its customers.

BlackBerry Z30's launch nearly coincides, with the arrival of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) app on Android and iOS platforms. The device packs in 5-inch super AMOLED display with a weave-pattern back panel for classy look. Under the hood the device runs a 1.7GHz processor, quad-core Adreno GPU and has 2GB RAM. It comes with a 8-megapixel rear camera and 2-megapixel front camera.

BlackBerry says Z30's 2800mAH battery lasts for about 25 hours depending upon usage.

BlackBerry Z30 runs a tweaked BB10 OS, version 10.2. The update introduces features like BlackBerry Priority Hub, which usage patterns and displays relevant notifications. The 10.2 update will be available to Z10 and Q5 users this weekend. The company is expected to roll out an update for BlackBerry Q10 soon.

While using an app, notifications such as emails and messages pop-up on top of the screen without disrupting the application being used. Users get a reply option on the notification too.

The flagship device comes with Stereo Audio and BlackBerry Natural sound technology for enhanced audio experience. The smartphone has four microphones for voice clarity.

The BlackBerry Z30 will be available in markets at Rs 39,990.

More: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/blackberry-z30-launched-in-india-with-5inch-display-rs-39990-price-tag/1186748/

Yahoo acquires image search and discovery start-up LookFlow

According to AllThingsD, LookFlow will join the Flickr unit and help Yahoo in building a 'deep learning group'.

Yahoo has reportedly acquired a California-based startup with technology that incorporates artificial intelligence into a platform for image search and discovery, LookFlow.

According to AllThingsD, LookFlow will join the Flickr unit and help Yahoo in building a ‘deep learning group’.

LookFlow’s acquisition is the latest in CEO Marissa Mayer’s list of other business acquisitions, including the mega purchase of Tumblr for a whopping 1.1 billion dollars, aimed at reviving the once-popular search site.

The terms of the latest deal are undisclosed, the report added.

More: http://www.dnaindia.com/scitech/report-yahoo-acquires-image-search-and-discovery-start-up-lookflow-1908033

BSE Sensex retreats from over 21,000-pt high, TCS, Wipro shares drag

The BSE Sensex today fell 42 points after an intra-day rally that took it past the 21,000 mark for the first time in almost three years fizzled out in the afternoon as IT stocks declined as market trends did a virtual U-turn.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Reliance Industries (RIL),Wiproand Infosys Ltd were the biggest drag on the index. Coal India, Jindal Steel & Power Ltd and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) were among the major losers as 19 shares on the Sensex declined.

Among the sectoral indices, IT, power, realty and metal retreated.

*Stocks: Top Gainers and Top Losers

The 30-share S&P BSE Sensex opened little changed and surged to 21,039.42, crossing the 21K mark after 35 months on buying in auto, banking, consumer durables and oil and gas sectors on the back of persistent foreign capital inflows.

The index then retreated and closed at 20,725.43, a drop of 42.45 points or 0.20 per cent. The BSE Sensex was last above 21,000 on Nov 8, 2010.

"IT is in correction mode for short term but will ultimately outperform if one has view of more than 3-6 months," said Rakesh Tarway, AVP Research, Motilal Oswal Securities. "There will be some buying in beaten down sectors of infra, banking. Apart from this, media will do well."

The NSE Nifty on the National Stock Exchange moved down 14 points, or 0.23 per cent, to 6,164.35. The SX40 on the MCX Stock Exchange closed at 12,331.32, down 7.5 points.

Brokers said investors judged the rally was overdone. A section of the market booked profits after disappointing earnings led by Jet Airways and Ambuja Cements, they added.

Shares of PSU banks gained after the Ministry of Finance said after trading hours yesterday that the government has approved infusion of Rs 14,000 crore in 20 lenders.

Overseas investors pumped in a net Rs 644.80 crore in shares yesterday, according to preliminary data from the stock exchanges.

Most Asian markets ended higher after a measure of Chinese manufacturing hit a seven-month high. Key indices in South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Japan rose while indices in China and Hong Kong fell.

European markets were higher in early trade as indices in France, Germany and UK moved up.

In the domestic market, 10 Sensex shares gained while Sesa Sterlite was unchanged.

The major losers on the index were Wipro (-4.25 pc), Coal India (-3.25 pc), TCS (-2.52 pc), Jindal Steel (-1.85 pc) and BHEL (-1.68 pc).

The gainers included Mahindra & Mahindra, which rose 2.59 pc, followed by Larsen and Toubro 1.83 pc, GAIL India 1.49 pc, HDFC Bank 1.34 pc and Tata Motors 1.28 pc.

Among the sectoral indices S&P BSE IT dropped 1.77 pc, followed by S&P BSE Teck 1.53 pc, S&P BSE Power 1.14 pc and S&P BSE Realty 1.12 pc.

However, S&P BSE Capital Goods firmed up 1.15 pc, followed by S&P BSE Auto 0.61 pc and S&P BSE Consumer Durables 0.49 pc.

The market breadth remained negative as 1,298 shares ended with losses, 1,191 closed with gains and 184 ruled steady.

Total turnover at the BSE dropped to Rs 2,073.26 crore from Rs 2,227.47 crore yesterday.

Sanjeev Zarbade, Vice President- Private Client Group Research, Kotak Securities: The Sensex opened on a strong note despite negative global cues. A sharp drop in crude oil prices may have aided market sentiments. However, the gains were shortlived as the rally evaporated by the middle of the trading session. We note that the Indian market has been outperforming its global counterparts helped by revival in FII flows and an extension in QE3 withdrawal timeline. Apart from this, corporate numbers from the ongoing results season has also been better than expected, which has kept the momentum going. In the coming weeks, Fed and RBI monetary policy meeting and the state election results would be closed watched.

Indian shares retreat from near 3-year highs on profit-taking

(Reuters) India's benchmark BSE Sensex index retreated on Thursday from a near three-year high of above 21,000 on profit-taking, with software exporters including Tata Consultancy Services taking the brunt of the selling.

The BSE Sensex touched 21,039.42 before slipping in the red for the day. The last time it was above 21,000 was on Nov. 8, 2010. The index's all-time high is 21,206.77, hit in January 2008.

Shares have benefited from a return of global risk appetite as poor U.S. data has pushed back expectations of any tapering of the Federal Reserve's monetary stimulus until 2014.

Foreign investors have continued to buy local shares, remaining net buyers for a 14th consecutive session. Provisional exchange data showed a net purchase of 6.44 billion rupees ($104.55 million) on Wednesday, bringing the total to about 117.34 billion rupees during that period.

However, investors are also taking the opportunity to book profits especially on recent outperformers.

"India's economic fundamentals are not supporting the market, allocations just due to global factors are not justified. At some point that money will also find it difficult to allocate further," said Aneesh Srivastava, chief investment officer at IDBI Federal Life Insurance.

Beyond 21,000 valuations become very difficult to justify, Srivastava added.

The focus is now on the central bank's policy review on Oct. 29, at which it is expected to raise its key rate by 25 basis points. Five key states are also slated to go for elections in November and December, ahead of general elections due by May.

The benchmark BSE index fell 0.2 percent, or 42.45 points, to end at 20,725.43, after earlier rising as much as 1.3 percent.

The broader NSE index fell 0.23 percent, or 14 points, to end at 6,164.35, falling for a third consecutive session.

In IT shares, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd fell 2.5 percent, Wipro Ltd lost 4.4 percent, while Infosys Ltd ended 0.5 percent lower on profit taking.

The NSE index for IT shares had risen 44.8 percent in 2013 compared with the NSE index's returns of 4.4 percent as of Wednesday's close.

Among other blue chip companies, Reliance Industries fell 1.4 percent after gaining as much as 1.6 percent earlier in the day.

Hindustan Unilever Ltd fell 0.8 percent after Unilever on Thursday reported slower sales growth for the third quarter, providing further evidence that a slowdown in emerging markets is hitting demand for its consumer goods.

Jet Airways fell 1.7 percent after the company reported its worst quarterly loss on Wednesday, squeezed by high fuel costs and a weaker local currency.

Ambuja Cements Ltd fell 1.3 percent and ACC Ltd lost 0.2 percent after the cement makers reported lower-than-expected July-September earnings.

Exide Industries Ltd shares fell 1.6 percent adding to Wednesday's 2.2 percent decline after the company said its September-quarter net profit fell 1.3 percent to 1.19 billion rupees.

However among shares that rose, IPCA Laboratories Ltd ended 2.1 percent higher after the company said its July-September profit rose 3.5 percent to 1.29 billion rupees.

FACTORS TO WATCH

* Euro pares gains after PMI data

* Oil stabilises on strong Chinese economic data

* Chinese data helps shares rebound, euro pares gains

* Foreign institutional investor flows

HIGHLIGHTS

* BSE index falls 0.2 pct; NSE ends 0.23 pct lower

* BSE index tops 21,000 intraday for first time in nearly 3 years

* Foreigners buy shares for 14th consecutive session

* Market awaits cbank policy review on Oct. 29

More: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/bse-sensex-retreats-from-over-21000pt-high-tcs-wipro-shares-drag/1186736/0

P Chidambaram asks market regulators to take preventive steps to cushion impact of US tapering

The government firmed up plans for the next round of financial sector reforms in consultation with regulators and drafted an ambitious strategy to tap large global debt funds to shore up foreign exchange reserves.

Finance minister P Chidambaram also asked financial sector regulators to put in place all possible measures to avoid any adverse impact on India from the US scaling back its stimulus programme, which he expects "sooner or later".

"The opportunity available due to the postponement of the reversal of the monetary policies in advanced economies should be utilised to further address the macroeconomic imbalances," he said at the meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) held under his chairmanship on Thursday.

There was consensus among council members that the impact of the tapering would not be significant, a finance ministry official said. The government and the regulators will also formulate a joint strategy to tap sovereign wealth funds to attract long-term foreign debt capital into the country.

Sovereign wealth funds from the Middle East and the Nordic countries besides pension funds of Australian state governments will be targeted as part of this exercise. "We want to reach out to potential debt players," the official said.

FSDC, the apex regulatory coordination body, also decided to pick up elements from the FSLRC (Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission) report that can be implemented without legislation.

"There was near unanimity about implementing the non-legislative recommendations of the FSLRC," the official said.A Finance ministry statement later said FSDC had decided that all financial sector regulators, including the Forwards Markets Commission, will finalise an action plan for implementation of FSLRC principles relating to regulatory governance, transparency and improved operational efficiency that don't require legislative action.

The Justice BN Srikrishna-headed FSLRC has proposed a new framework for financial sector regulation and proposed a draft Indian Financial Code to replace multiple and archaic financial sectors laws.

FSDC, which includes the Reserve Bank of India, Securities & Exchange Board of India, andInsurance Regulatory & Development Authority, will analyse public comments and feedback to further fine tune the draft Indian Financial Code.

The council also decided that action should be taken to finalise the roadmap for creation of new institutions such as the Resolution Corporation, Public Debt Management Agency, Financial Sector Appellate Tribunal, and Financial Data Management Agency.

FSDC also discussed the corporate distress redressal mechanism under the Companies Act, 2013 and identified the role of regulators and the government in implementing the provisions to prevent and take remedial measures on the issue.

More: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/p-chidambaram-asks-market-regulators-to-take-preventive-steps-to-cushion-impact-of-us-tapering/articleshow/24678635.cms

Idea Cellular Q2 net profit surges, beats estimates

Idea Cellular Ltd(IDEA.NS), India's No.3 mobile carrier by revenue, reported a big jump in quarterly profits, underscoring a continued recovery in the sector, helped by fewer competitors and higher call prices.

Idea, part of the Aditya Birla conglomerate, said on Thursday net profit had surged 86 percent year-on-year in its second quarter ended September 30, ahead of analysts' estimates.

However, some key operating metrics such as average revenue per user and voice minutes sold, fell from the previous quarter in a period usually seen as weak for Indian telecoms as frequent power cuts in monsoon rains and network outage hurt traffic.

"With increasing proportion of rural subscribers, the seasonal slowdown in the second quarter has become more pronounced," Idea said in a statement, but added it saw its long-term business trends as "robust".

Bigger carriers such as the Bharti Airtel Ltd (BRTI.NS), Vodafone Group Plc's (VOD.L) local unit and Idea have seen profits improving as they have reduced discounts and raised some call prices in the past two quarters, taking advantage of a court order forcing several smaller players out of the market.

Idea, with its focus only on mobile phone services and the domestic market, is best placed to gain, analysts say. Regulatory uncertainty and legal disputes are the biggest headwinds for Idea and its peers.

India's mobile telecom sector is the world's second-biggest after China by number of customers, but carrier margins are lower than elsewhere and a vicious price war in the last three years has hit profits. Voice calls account for 85 percent of the sector's revenue as high-margin mobile data business is nascent.

Bharti Airtel is the country's No.1 mobile carrier by revenue, followed by Vodafone's unit.

Nine analysts have upgraded their ratings on Idea's stock in the last three months, the most number of upgrades among 90 global phone companies for which Thomson Reuters StarMine compiles data.

Idea, which is a fifth owned by Malaysia's Axiata (AXIA.KL), said net profit rose to 4.48 billion rupees for the three months to September 30, from 2.4 billion rupees a year earlier. Analysts' average forecast was 4.22 billion rupees.

Revenue rose 19 percent to 63.23 billion rupees for the company, which outpaced bigger rivals in customer sign-ups in the nine months to September.

Average revenue per user, a key metric for carriers, fell 5.7 percent rupees from the previous quarter to 164 rupees, although margin per minute improved to 0.447 rupees from 0.437 rupees.

Ahead of the earnings, Idea shares, valued at $9.4 billion, eased 0.2 percent, in line with the Nifty that was also down 0.2 percent. The results were reported after the market closed.

The stock is up nearly 69 percent this year, compared with a 10 percent gain in Bharti Airtel. Rival Reliance Communications' (RLCM.NS) share price has more than doubled.

More: http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/10/24/india-idea-earnings-idINDEE99N07S20131024

Tata Group, Singapore Airlines get FIPB nod, set for take off, Ratan Tata meets P Chidambaram

Singapore Airlines has won the Indian Foreign Investment Promotion Board's approval to set up a full-

service airline in the country in a joint venture with Tata Group, a senior finance ministry official said.

Economic Affairs Secretary Arvind Mayaram, who was speaking to reporters after a meeting of the FIPB on Thursday, did not give further details.

Singapore Airlines will make an initial investment of $49 million for a 49 percent stake in the joint-venture company, while the Tata Group will initially invest $51 million for the remaining stake, the companies have said.

The Tata Singapore Airlines JV airline needs a slew of other regulatory approvals before it can start operations.

Ratan Tata, SIA chief meet Chidambaram

Ratan Tata, Tata group Chairman Emeritus and Goh Choon Phong, CEO, Singapore Airlines today called on Finance Minister P Chidambaram.

They discussed the Tata-SIA join venture for launching a full service airline, sources said.

The meeting took place hours after the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) gave its approval to Singapore Airlines to invest USD 49 million for starting a full service airline joint venture with Tata Sons. The initial investment in the airlines envisaged at USD 100 million.

After meeting Chidambaram, Tata told a television channel that he was excited about getting FIPB approval and said lots of work was needed to be done to start the venture.

This is Tatas' second venture in the aviation sector after its tie-up with Malaysian carrier Air Asia in February for a low-cost passenger air service.

More: http://www.financialexpress.com/news/tata-singapore-airlines-all-set-for-take-off/1186672

Immigration reform tops Obama menu

US President Obama on Thursday asked the Republican-majority House of Representatives to pass by the year end a stalled immigration bill over which India has expressed concern.

"Let's see if we can get it done this year. Let's not wait. It doesn't get easier to just put it off. Let's do it now. Let's not delay. Now it's up to Republicans in the House to decide whether reform becomes a reality or not," Obama said in a White House speech.If enacted into law the bill will pave the way for citizenship of 11 million undocumented people and accelerate immigration of science and technology professionals from India and China.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has expressed India's concern over the comprehensive immigration bill, already passed by the Senate. Certain provisions of the bill, in particular those related to H-1B and L1 visas, will adversely impact top Indian IT companies doing business in the US.

Obama said the current immigration system is broken. "It's not smart; it's not fair; it doesn't make sense. We have kicked this particular can down the road for too long," he said.

"It's not smart to invite some of the brightest minds from around the world to study here and then not let them start businesses here. We've sent them back to their home countries to start businesses and create jobs and invent new products someplace else," he said.

The Senate passed the bill in June. The plan, crafted and approved with Senate Republican support, would strengthen the border with Mexico and reorganise the visa system to give priority to high-demand fields, including engineers and farm workers.Meanwhile, the US-India Business Council (USIBC) is keeping a close eye on the bill on the House version of the bill to protect the interest of the Indian companies. PTIand US businesses with ties with India.

"USIBC plans on being absolutely vigilant in the coming weeks and months with its Coalition for Jobs and Growth, with Patton Boggs leading the lobby effort, to ensure that when the Immigration Reform Bill reawakens and begins to gain traction that we are in front of it and doing our best to educate lawmakers to make certain the discriminatory provisions are excised from any final Bill," USIBC president Ron Somers said.

"We will continue to sensitise the Senate as to these harmful provisions, while working with the House to ensure a clean bill, so that when legislation goes to conference we will have champions in both chambers to ensure a clean outcome," Somers said.

More: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Immigration-reform-tops-Obama-menu/articleshow/24686784.cms

EU fury over claims US tapped at least 35 world leaders’ phones

European leaders have reacted with anger after it emerged that the US National Security Agency had monitored their telephone conversations after obtaining their numbers from a government official.

A leaked National Security Agency document showed that US spies listened in on at least 35 world leaders’ phone calls after asking senior White House officials to share their contacts.

US official alone was said to have passed on 200 numbers, including those of the 35 world leaders, who were immediately “tasked” for monitoring by the NSA according to the 2006 memo, leaked by whistleblower Edward Snowden and reported by The Guardia

More: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/americas/article3904269.ece

Two shot near Tenn. Navy base, suspect in custody -USA

A Navy base in Tennessee was temporarily locked down Thursday afternoon following a shooting incident in which two National Guardsmen were wounded by a fellow Guardsman.

CNN reported that a National Guardsman got into a fight with two other Guardsmen just outside the base at about 12;45. One reportedly pulled a gun, shooting one man in the foot and the second in the leg, according to Memphis TV station WMC-TV.Both victims were hospitalized, although the Navy says neither has life-threatening injuries.

The lockdown ended about 90 minutes following the incident after a suspect was taken into custody A law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the case publicly told the Associated Press that the shooter was a recruiter who had been relieved of duty.

Millington Police Chief Rita Stanback said the shooter, was apprehended and disarmed of a small handgun by other National Guard members before police arrived. Their efforts likely saved others from being shot.

"I'm sure there could have been more (injuries) if they hadn't taken him into custody," Stanback said.

The sprawling base, known as Naval Support Activity Mid-South, is located in Millington, near Memphis, and is one of Tennessee's largest employers. More than 7,500 military and civilians work at the facility, which serves as a center for Navy personnel, logistical support, recruiting and as a finance center for the Army Corps of Engineers.

Thursday's incident comes just six weeks after Aaron Alexis fatally shot 12 people and injured three others in a mass shooting at Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. Alexis, a government contractor and Navy veteran, died during a gunfight with police.

More: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2013/10/24/tenn-navy-base-on-lockdown-following-reports-of-shooting/3180035/

Former Pakistan PM, officials deny US drone collusion

Pakistani officials and former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday denied a report that they had approved US drone strikes on the country's soil.

Washington Post on Wednesday quoted leaked secret documents as saying Pakistan had been regularly briefed on strikes up till late 2011 and in some cases had helped choose targets.

The purported evidence of Islamabad's involvement came as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met US President Barack Obama at the White House and urged him to end the attacks, which are widely unpopular with the Pakistani public.

A Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman said the anti-drone stance of the Sharif government, elected in May, was clear and any past agreements no longer applied.

Pakistani security officials claimed the story was a US attempt to undermine Sharif's position and reduce criticism of the drone campaign, days after an Amnesty International report warned some of the strikes could constitute war crimes.

Washington Post's revelations concerned strikes in a four-year period from late 2007, when military ruler Pervez Musharraf was in power, to late 2011 when a civilian government had taken over.

Gilani, prime minister from 2008 until June last year, vehemently denied giving any approval for drone strikes. "We have never allowed Americans to carry out drone attacks in the tribal areas," Gilani told AFP. "From the very beginning we are against drone strikes and we have conveyed it to Americans at all forums," he added.

Islamabad routinely condemns the strikes targeting suspected Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants in its northwest tribal areas. But evidence of collusion or tacit approval has leaked out in recent years.

A diplomatic cable from then-US ambassador Anne Patterson, dated August 2008 and released by Wikileaks, indicated Gilani had agreed to the strikes in private.

"I don't care if they do it as long as they get the right people. We'll protest in the National Assembly and then ignore it," the leaked cable quoted him as telling US officials.

In April this year Musharraf told CNN that he had authorised drone strikes in Pakistan while he was in power.

Musharraf's spokesman Raza Bokhari told AFP Wednesday: "There were less than 10 strikes, all of which targeted militants, and (a) few of them were a joint operation between United States and Pakistan in locations that were not accessible to ground forces of Pakistan."

Post said top-secret documents and Pakistani diplomatic memos showed the Central Intelligence Agency, which runs the drone programme, had drafted documents to share information on at least 65 attacks with Pakistan.

In one case in 2010, a document describes hitting a location "at the request of your government" and another refers to a joint targeting effort between the CIA and Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency.

A senior Pakistani security official flatly denied any official deal to help with the drone campaign.

"There has never been official arrangement at the strategic or government level," he told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"The purpose of giving such stories is nothing but face-saving. Americans are trying to dilute the growing pressure by using back channels and making Pakistan a party to the whole issue."

A second security official said Washington wanted to spread responsibility as it was coming under increasing pressure from rights groups to halt the drone campaign.

The US has carried out nearly 400 drone attacks in Pakistan's restive tribal districts along the Afghan border since 2004, killing between 2,500 and 3,600 people, according to the London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism.

Sharif this week called drone strikes a "major irritant" in ties with the US, which have recovered significantly after a series of crises in 2011 and 2012, including a US special forces raid inside Pakistan to kill Osama bin Laden.

Foreign ministry spokesman Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said the current government's position was clear — drones were a violation of sovereignty and must stop.

"Whatever understandings there may or may not have been in the past, the present government has been very clear regarding its policy on the issue," he said.

More: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Former-Pakistan-PM-officials-deny-US-drone-collusion/articleshow/24666851.cms

Odisha: 10 people killed, 1.5 lakh others affected due to flash floods

Ten people have been killed and 1.5 lakh others have been affected due to flash floods in Odisha. Around 129 villages were inundated due to the flash floods in Ganjam district of Odisha. The One Day International between India and Australia which is to be held on Saturday in Cuttack is likely to be cancelled. The Odisha government said schools and colleges in all 12 flood affected districts will be closed till Monday. 

Train services from Khurda to Vishakhapatnam have been badly hit. According to the special relief commissioner, the water levels are above the danger mark in rivers in south Odisha. "Following heavy rain for four days, water level in rivers in south Odisha are above danger level and have entered many villages," Special Relief Commissioner PK Mohapatra said. The blocks affected in flash flood include Chikiti, Hinjili, Sana Khemundi, Patrapur, Dharakote, Aska, Parlakhemundi, Mohana. Some areas of Gajapati district were also reported to have been affected. Mohapatra said the collectors of all coastal districts have been directed to evacuate people from low-lying areas. 

Two persons have died in wall collapse due to rain in Khallikote and Rangeilunda since yesterday, district emergency officer Mahendra Panda said. About 40,000 marooned people had been evacuated from Patrapur, Sana Khemundi, Chikiti, Digappahandi, Hinjili, Sheragada and Purushottampur in Ganjam, he said. Another 10,000 people were evacuated from Gajapati district, the special relief commissioner's office said. With rivers like Rusikulya, Bansadhara and Ghodahada rising due to non-stop rain for the last four days, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed the administration to provide cooked food to the people in relief camps, Mohapatra said. "The flash flood has hampered relief and restoration work in places worst-affected by the cyclone," Revenue and Disaster Management minister SN Patro said. 

Some evacuated people have already been sent to relief camps following cyclone Phailin that struck Gopalpur on October 12, with the state government deploying personnel of NDRF, OFRAF and fire services for evacuation, Patro said. Another 80,000 houses have collapsed in the torrential rain, Mohapatra said, adding that the total number of houses damaged in both cyclone and flood in Ganjam has risen to 3.40 lakh. Meanwhile, the local unit of Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) have predicted heavy rain in central and interior districts. A well marked low pressure area now lay over coastal Andhra Pradesh and adjoining areas of Telangana and Rayalaseema area, the latest bulletin said. Rain or thundershower would occur at most places over Odisha in next the 24 hours, it added.

Read more at: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/odisha-129-villages-inundated-due-to-flash-floods-in-ganjam/430321-3-234.html?utm_source=ref_article

Top gangster, 2 others killed in encounter with Delhi Police

A top gangster, who carried a cash reward of Rs one lakh and wanted in over 50 cases of murder, extortion and kidnapping, was Friday night killed along with two of his accomplices in an encounter with Delhi Police near a posh hotel here.

Acting on a tip-off, Delhi Police special cell laid a trap near Hotel Grand Hyatt in Vasant Kunj at around 10:30 pm when Surendra Malik, alias Neetu Dabodia, along with two of his associates came in a car there.

When police intercepted them and asked them to surrender, they allegedly rammed their car into the police vehicle and opened fire at them, S N Srivasatava, Special Commissioner, Special Cell, said.

In retaliation, police fired at them injuring all the three who were taken to AIIMS Trauma Care Centre where they were declared brought dead.

Malik was allegedly involved in the killing of Delhi police head constable Ram Kishan in December last year.

While one of Malik's associate was identified as Alok Gupta, the identity of the third one is yet to be established, Srivasatava said.

More: http://zeenews.india.com/news/delhi/top-gangster-2-others-killed-in-encounter-with-delhi-police_885741.html

Pak intelligence agencies in touch with UP riot victims: Rahul

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhitriggered a spat with both the BJP and SP on Thursday claiming intelligence agencies in Pakistan were in touch with riot victims in Muzaffarnagar to ensnare them into terrorism during an election rally in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

"A couple of days ago, an intelligence officer walked into my office and told me that people from Pakistan are talking to the relatives of Muslims killed in Muzaffarnagar. The officer told me that he has been trying to convince victims not to get swayed by Pakistani propaganda," said Rahul.

"Who will douse the fires of communalism? The saffron brigade is creating hatred between Hindus and Muslims. And it's the Congress which has to douse it," he said. BJP's approach will impact on the security and integrity of India, he said.

But UP minister and ruling SP's Muslim face Azam Khan, taking a dim view of Rahul's comment, said, "A leader like Rahul must not take a statement of any junior level intelligence officer so seriously as to make a comment at a rally. If he'd come to know about any such thing he should have communicated it to the UP government and the concerned ministry at the Centre."

BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Husain told agencies in New Delhi, "Rahul Gandhi has tried to point the needle of suspicion at Muslims by his remarks. He has raised questions about the patriotism of Indian Muslims by saying they were approached by ISI. This is unfortunate. He should apologise for his remarks."

Playing the family's martyrdom card, Rahul said his father was his idol and asked the crowd, "Don't you all love your father as I do?"

Earlier, speaking In Rahatgarh, Rahul told his party's faction-ridden MP unit to unite and uproot the BJP from power. "The Congress will remain united and candidates will not be a particular leader's man, but a representative of the party," he said in this dusty village in Bundelkhand. "If Congress remains united, nobody can defeat us," he said.

Recalling his 2008 visit to Bundelkhand when the region was hit by a drought, he said, "I came here and visited UP and MP, spent nights and got bitten by mosquitoes, drank village water and suffered a bad stomach. I made that effort because your leaders should know the life you lead in rural areas.

"Congress wants that one day the poor farmer's son should be in that car travelling on smooth roads and flying in aircraft. The Opposition says they constructed roads. But we constructed more roads than NDA government. We also built more airports,'' he said.

But even as Rahul spoke of a united fight against the BJP government, his party failed to reach a definite figure on the Centre's Bundelkhand package. While Rahul claimed the Centre had granted Rs 3,000 crore for Bundelkhand's development, state Congress chief Kantilal Bhuria said the amount was Rs 4,500 crore. Jyotiraditya Scindia quoted Rs 4,750 while another leader, Satyavrat Chaturvedi, said BJP had failed to utilise even 30% of the package.

Meanwhile, the UP police denied having any information about Pakistani intelligence agencies being in touch with Muslim youths in Muzaffarnagar. "We have no such information. He (Rahul) might have got the information from somewhere. We will also get it verified", said additional director general, law and order, Mukul Goel in Lucknow.

More: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Pak-intelligence-agencies-in-touch-with-UP-riot-victims-Rahul/articleshow/24680906.cms

UP rally: Modi attacks Congress, avoids Ayodhya issue

Addressing his first rally in electorally-significant Uttar Pradesh after being declared the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi went back to his humble roots on Saturday to differentiate himself from the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi.

Gujarat CM and BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and party president Rajnath Singh being garlanded during an election campaign rally in Kanpur. (PTI Photo)

“Congress leaders say poverty is a state of mind,” the Gujarat CM said. “How will those born with a silver spoon understand poverty? They go with cameras to huts to get photographed. I was born in poverty. I know what poverty is, unlike the shahzada (prince). When someone laughs at poverty, I feel the pain I experienced in childhood.”

The dig came days after Gandhi said in Gwalior that development to him meant respect for the poor rather than just building infrastructure.

It was Modi’s first public meeting in Uttar Pradesh after being named as the party’s prime ministerial candidate. The BJP is aiming to win at least 40 seats in the 2014 general elections in the country’s most populous state which sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha.

Modi, however, did not refer to the temple issue even once despite the fact that only on Friday several BJP leaders were arrested in Ayodhya while trying to observe the VHP-organised ‘sankalp divas’ for the construction of a Ram temple.

Instead, he played his humble roots to the hilt to score a point over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Read More: Modi bubble will burst soon: SP, Nitish

“The Congress isn’t talking about its own government but asking what has been done in Gujarat. I have passed the test in 2012. It is for you to face the people now.”

He also asked the people of the state to throw out the “troika” – Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) –and “bury” vote bank politics forever.

“Over 5,000 innocents were killed in UP in one year. Yet the UP government is indulging in vote bank politics. Terror accused are being freed from jails. Should not the law take its own course? Should we not punish leaders doing such politics and make them fear the public?” Modi asked.

Read More: Modi's foreign policy: bigger role for states

The Gujarat CM also reached out to the BSP’s traditional vote base, the scheduled castes, by saying Dalits had a better life in Gujarat than in UP.

Gujarat CM and BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi addresses an election campaign rally in Kanpur. (PTI Photo)

“The Congress isn’t talking about its own government but asking what’s been done in Gujarat. I passed the test in 2012. It is for you to face the people now,” Modi went on, devoting a good part of his 46-minute speech to targeting the Congress.

Taking aim at the UPA’s food security and land acquisition laws, termed game-changers by the Congress ahead of Elections 2014, he said, “To every question, they say we’ve made a law. What then did the framers of the Constitution do?”

And on the scams dogging the Centre, Modi said it wasn’t just the coal files that were lost but the government too.

The rally also saw former UP CM Kalyan Singh take the stage with a hard Hindutva line.

“In UP, riots have taken place. In Gujarat, there has been no riot for years. People talk about 2002, which Modi controlled with great effort. But they don’t talk about the burning of 59 Hindus that sparked the riot.”

Rajnath Singh also alluded to the UP riots, saying the SP should now be called DP or Danga (riot) Party.

“Kriya hogi toh pratikriya bhi hogi. Kriya nahin hoti toh pratikriya nahin hoti (If there will be action, there will be reaction. Had there been no action, there would have been no reaction).”

On the Modi-Gandhi rivalry, Kalyan Singh said, “Modi is that wrestler who floored the Congress three times in Gujarat. Rahul doesn’t even know how to tie a langot.”

Gujarat CM and BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi greets public during his election campaign rally in Kanpur. (PTI Photo)

The tone for Modi’s projection as an achiever from a humble background was set before he spoke at about 4 pm. Party chief Rajnath Singh introduced him to a cheering crowd as a leader from a poor, most backward caste background: “We decided that the nation should be governed by a man from an ‘atyant pichhada’ (extremely backward), poor family of a tea seller.”

This was the first overt reference to Modi’s OBC status from a top BJP leader, a reference that makes political sense in UP, where caste counts in politics. 

'Modi tells 100 lies in a day'

The Congress rebuttal came swiftly with spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury saying, “A man who doesn’t have ties with his own family can’t understand the woes of other families. He came after maalish polish (massage and make up).”

Read More: Manish Tewari compares Modi with Hitler

Ridiculing Modi's charge that Congress was playing "divisive" politics, Chowdhary told reporters ion Delhi pointed towards post-Godhra riots.

"Nobody feels safe in Gujarat. That is why tourists do not go there. He does not get a visa. If you want to know what is the safety in Gujarat ask about it from people from Godhara, family members of Ishrat Jahan."

Rejecting Modi's attack on Congress on the issue of poverty, she claimed that there is widespread malnutrition among children in his state.

"What he is trying to tell us about hunger. How many children in Gujarat are victims of malnutrition. He should look back into his courtyard taking time off from his focus on the chair of the Prime Minister," she said.


'Modi's rally a farce'

The Samajwadi Party (SP) has called Modi’s rally’ in Kanpur a farce that was replete with sponsored crowds instead of the general public.

The SP also called Modi the BJP’s second PM-in-waiting (The obvious reference was to Advani’s PM dream).

"It seems that the RSS, the VHP and the BJP are transporting sponsored crowds for Modi’s rallies. The state’s farmers, labourers, poor and common  people were absent from the rally,” said Rajendra Chowdhary, state spokesperson for the Samajwadi Party.

“If only the UP rallies of Modi cost an estimated Rs. 400 crore, then the total cost of his rallies would exceed thousands of crores. Only the big corporate houses, who have ‘adopted’ Modi, have the capacity to spend such money. This is a corporate conspiracy to control politics and government,” said Chowdhary.

Chowdhary said the RSS campaign to see Modi as the PM was not getting any public support.

More: http://www.hindustantimes.com/specials/coverage/myindia-myvote/chunk-ht-ui-myindiamyvote-countdownto2014/up-rally-modi-attacks-congress-avoids-ayodhya-issue/sp-article10-1137104.aspx

Congress ministers from Seemandhra seeks President's intervention

A delegation of ministers, MPs and MLAs from Seemandhra region of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday met President Pranab Mukherjee and sought his intervention on the Telangana issue amid reports that the Centre may go ahead with formation of the state without a resolution from the Assembly. The 30-member delegation met Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan and submitted a memorandum to him on the issue.

 They expressed their apprehension that the Centre may go ahead with formation of Telangana even before the Andhra Pradesh Assembly passes a resolution to give its affirmation. These legislators are opposed to Telangana and hope to defeat the resolution to prevent division of the state. "We are expecting that both the resolution on division of the state and on the bill on Telangana will be referred to the state legislature for review first as required by the Constitution," Andhra Pradesh Primary Education Minister S Sailajanath said after the meeting Mukherjee.

 Telangana note sparks off tension across Seemandhra region He said there are rumours in the state that the Centre is planning to by-pass the Andhra Pradesh Assembly and form Telangana without taking the majority view of the House. He termed any deviation of conventions and provisions as "undemocratic". "If it happens the same is most undemocratic and unconstitutional against the true spirit of our Constitution," he added. Sailajanath stressed that no state in India is formed against the resolution of the state. "Former Home Minister P Chidambaram, in 2009, had stated that the process of forming the state of Telangana will be initiated with an appropriate resolution will be moved in the state assembly," he recalled. 

Targeting the Centre, Sailajanath charged that a unilateral decision has been taken to divide Andhra Pradesh. "In spite of opposition and not heeding to the sentiments of people in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions, the Centre took a unilateral decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh and carve out the state of Telangana." It is our strong belief that the Government of India is not taking the leaders of Andhra Pradesh into confidence, he added.

Read more at: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/congress-ministers-from-seemandhra-seeks-presidents-intervention/430323-62-127.html?utm_source=ref_article

Does Formula One in India have a future?

There seems to be renewed vigour behind getting the Indian Grand Prix back for 2015 with organizers determined to make sure the race finds a place on the calendar, after speculation in the run up to this weekend’s event suggested that it could well be the country’s last. Organizers and the sport’s commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone are currently in talks to reschedule the event for early 2015 instead of its traditional late October slot as a result of which the event has been left off the 2014 calendar, the reasoning being that it doesn’t make sense to host two races in the space of six months. 

But, beyond the basic logistical reasons, the race has had to cope with broader issues around taxation policies and the high cost of hosting the event which have thrown the Grand Prix’s future in doubt. “I think there’s a renewed energy now, for sure. Sameer (Gaur, race promoter and Jaypee Sports CEO) is now very keen on making sure that we go ahead for 2015. 

This morning he said, ‘Look, we will make it happen’,” Vicky Chandhok, President of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India said. Red Bull Formula One driver Mark Webber of Australia distributes his autographs to fans at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida. Reuters “The entire Jaypee Group are the only people who have put their money where their mouth is and at no cost to the government they’ve delivered to this country a world class facility.” “And now just we have to make sure that we can support them in making sure the events come at a sensible cost and they don’t go on spending more and more money in making things happen,” Chandhok, father of former Formula One driver Karun, said. 

Promoters typically pay Ecclestone a hosting fee of between $20-50million a year for the privilege of hosting a Formula One race, with the amount escalating by 10 percent every year, and with the rupee in freefall and the fees having to be paid in dollars, the cost burden of hosting the event has increased. “Such a massive facility has been made here, an investment of more than $400 million in the circuit apart from the licence fee. We have a contract so I see no reason why we won’t come back,” Gaur told Reuters. “About the organisers’ finances, I would say we had to prove in 2011 our credibility of making the circuit and holding the race. We did that. So the credibility is already there and I am pretty sure that we shall be doing the races,” Gaur said. 

Chandhok also held out the prospect of a renegotiation of terms with Ecclestone that would go some way toward compensating for the rupee’s fall. “Since the rupee has devalued so much, perhaps the Jaypee Group and Formula One Management will be speaking to each other soon, trying to re-negotiate, to try and save some of the lock that happened because of the devaluation.” Chandhok also said that he would make a representation to the government over the taxation issues as well as with a view to bringing it on board as a partner in hosting the event in future years, with Gaur especially keen on extending the event for another five years beyond the initial term. “We need to make a representation soon and not just on the taxation issue. We need to make a representation on how to partner with us, here we have the infrastructure in place, how to partner with the government to make sure the event doesn’t go away.”

 However, some in the paddock remained sceptical about the event’s future. “We have been here three years now and we have not really established the sport that well,” Sauber team principal Monisha Kaltenborn told reporters in the paddock. “I always say that in India it’s not difficult to get 100,000 people together…but I think it will be very difficult to come back here.”

Read more at: http://www.firstpost.com/sports/does-formula-one-in-india-have-a-future-1192481.html?utm_source=ref_article

Govt eyes $15 billion rollover of subsidy costs into next budget

Finance minister is finding it harder and harder to meet the government's budget promises and may sweep as much as $15 billion in subsidy costs into next year's accounts to ensure he hits fiscal targets ahead of national elections, ministry officials say.

The Finance minister, P. Chidambaram, insists that the fiscal deficit target of 4.8 percent of GDP for the year to March 31, 2014, is a red line that will not be breached. The worst economic downturn since 1991 and a fall in the rupee to a record low have undermined budget assumptions for some months.

But finance ministry officials said the window to raise domestic fuel prices sharply, which would cut subsidies, is closing with state and national elections drawing closer, so shifting some costs into the 2014/15 budget is inevitable.

"It's a given," said one official, who declined to be identified.

The worst-case scenario as of now is that $15 billion in costs will have to be rolled over into next year's budget, the ministry officials said. This assumes that there will be no substantial increase in domestic fuel prices to offset the ballooning subsidies.

By rolling over some costs, Chidambaram can tell voters in the run up to the elections, which must be held by May, that the government met its deficit target. But equally, he will be shackling the next government with costs that could blunt its ability to stimulate an economic recovery.

"Whatever we need to do, we will do. But the fiscal deficit target will be met," said a finance ministry official. "No one should be in doubt about that."

Meeting the target is important also to stave off the ire of ratings agencies as India's credit status sits just one notch above junk. A loss of its investment grade rating would probably increase the government's borrowing costs.

Last year, Chidambaram narrowed the budget deficit by 1 percentage point to 4.9 percent of GDP by pushing nearly $15 billion in subsidy costs into this year's budget and cutting more than $16 billion in planned spending, two ministry officials said.

This year, he could rollover a similar amount in subsidies, the officials said. This will be in addition to spending cuts of $3.2 billion or more that officials are already predicting for the year.

The amount will be partly determined by the success of an auction of telecom spectrum, expected in January. The budget had pencilled in $2 billion for the sale.

But the most critical factor will be whether Chidambaram can gather government support to raise domestic fuel prices to offset ballooning subsidy costs. Some policymakers see that as politically unpalatable ahead of state elections in December, leaving a small window after those votes before the country moves into national elections.

A finance ministry spokesman, D.S. Malik, said it was "too early to say anything at this stage" on how much the rollover would be.

Chidambaram had planned to cap the subsidies for the likes of fuel and food at 2 percent of GDP, or about $38 billion. But finance ministry officials said it could cost as much as 2.9 percent of GDP, or $55 billion, this fiscal year.

Chidambaram had said earlier this month that the jump in subsidy spending must be tackled sooner rather than later to help stabilise an economy shaken this year by the rupee's slump and a record current account deficit. India imports nearly 80 percent of its oil needs and the rupee drop made government fuel subsidies more costly.

SOARING SUBSIDY BILL

Finance ministry officials in September called for an increase in diesel prices of close to 10 percent to offset the pressure on the subsidy bill.

But Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has shied away from raising fuel prices for fear it could upset voters and cost his Congress party the elections.

At the same time, international oil prices have remained stubbornly high and although the rupee has climbed up from its record low, it remains historically weak.

A new law to provide cheap grains to millions of people has increased procurement and storage costs, inflating food subsidies by around 10 percent. Adding to Chidambaram's headache, the fertiliser ministry has asked for a 50 percent hike in its budgeted subsidy.

"The budget will simply collapse, if we continue to provide subsidies on this scale," said a finance ministry official. "There is no alternative to a 3-5 rupees increase in diesel prices."

ASSUMPTIONS

It is not unusual for the government to rollover some costs into the following year's budget, although they are not publicly revealed. However, subsidy spending has massively overshot budgeted estimates for the last three fiscal years forcing up the amount of cost that the government rolls over.

If the economy was booming, Chidambaram would have easily absorbed higher subsidy costs. But GDP rose 5 percent in 2012/13, the weakest pace in a decade. Most analysts expect growth to weaken further this fiscal year, although the budget assumed a rebound to around 6.5 percent.

Ministry officials say the rollover is the result of India's cash-basis accounting, in which income is recorded when cash is received and expenses are recorded when cash is paid out. Many advanced economies follow accrual accounting, in which income and expenses are recorded as they occur regardless of whether cash has actually changed hands.

India's accounting method "never gives you the real picture of your finances," said Devendra Kumar Pant, chief economist at India Ratings & Research. "You start the year on the back foot as you have so much backlog to clear."

More: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/govt-eyes-15-billion-rollover-of-subsidy-costs-into-next-budget/articleshow/24685433.cms?curpg=2