Cervical cancer: Know all about the top cancer-killer among Indian women

What is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix or cancer of the entrance to the uterus (womb). It can also be defined as a type of cancer that happens in the cells of the cervix. Cervix is the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina.

What causes cervical cancer and how you get the disease?

Cervical cancer affects mostly women over the age of 30. It is believed that cervical cancer is caused by a virus called human papillomavirus or HPV. The disease can be contracted through sexual contact with someone who has it.

While there are different types of the HPV virus, not all types of HPV cause cervical cancer. Some of them cause genital warts, but other types may not show any symptoms.

About 132,000 cases of cervical cancer diagnosed in India yearly

Gravely, the disease kills more women in India than any other countries in the world. Cervical cancer affects approximately 132,000 Indian women annually, of which an astounding 72,000 die, according to the Cervical Cancer-Free Coalition.

Symptoms:

Signs and symptoms of cervical cancer may include - vaginal bleeding during sex, pelvic pain or pain during intercourse, change in menstrual cycle, bleeding in-between periods, post-menopausal bleeding, vaginal discharge tinged with blood that may have a foul odour.

Diagnosis:

Treating cervical cancer is more likely to be successful if detected in its earliest stages. The American Cancer Society advises that all women should begin cervical cancer screening at age 21. It recommends that women aged 21 to 29, should have a Pap test every three years. Women who are age 30 or older should have a Pap test combined with an HPV test every five years till age 65 or just a Pap test every three years.

According to the Society, though the Pap smear is not foolproof in screening, it has been “more successful than any other test in preventing a cancer”. The Pap smear is available in several laboratories in Indian cities nowadays.

Treatment

Treatment differs depending on stage of cancer and other health problems you may have. Treatment choices may include:

Surgery- Surgery is performed to remove the uterus (hysterectomy) in the early stages of cervical cancer.

A simple hysterectomy is a surgical process to remove the cervix and the uterus.

A radical hysterectomy involves surgical removal of the cervix, uterus, part of the vagina and lymph nodes in the area.

If you have a hysterectomy, you won’t become pregnant. But, hysterectomy isn’t always needed if cancer is detected very early.

Radiation- In this therapy, high dose of X-rays is used to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumours. It is a standard treatment for many types of cancer and may be used in combination with surgery, chemotherapy, or hormonal therapy.

Chemotherapy- It is the use of drugs/medicine to kill cancer cells. Certain chemotherapy drugs may lead to infertility as well as cause early menopause in premenopausal women.

Prevention:

You can reduce your risk of getting cervical cancer by following the tips below:

1. Have regular Pap test screening

2. Get HPV vaccine

3. Do not smoke or if you do then quit smoking

4. Avoid having multiple sexual partners

5. Use condoms

6. Avoid all intimate sexual contact with anyone who has symptoms of STIs (sexually transmitted infections).

More: http://zeenews.india.com/news/health/diseases/cervical-cancer-know-all-about-the-top-cancer-killer-among-indian-women_25429.html

Exercise 'is good dementia therapy'

People with dementia who exercise improve their thinking abilities and everyday life, a body of medical research concludes.

The Cochrane Collaboration carried out a systematic review of eight exercise trials involving more than 300 patients living at home or in care.

Exercise did little for patients' moods, the research concluded.

But it did help them carry out daily activities such as rising from a chair, and boosted their cognitive skills.

Though we can't say that exercise will prevent dementia, evidence does suggest it can help reduce the risk of the condition as part of a healthy lifestyle”Dr Laura Phipps of Alzheimer's Research UK

Whether these benefits improve quality of life is still unclear, but the study authors say the findings are reason for optimism.

Dementia affects some 800,000 people in the UK. And the number of people with the condition is steadily increasing because people are living longer.

It is estimated that by 2021, the number of people with dementia in the UK will have increased to around one million.

With no cure, ways to improve the lives of those living with the condition are vital.

Researcher Dorothy Forbes, of the University of Alberta, and colleagues who carried out the Cochrane review, said: "Clearly, further research is needed to be able to develop best practice guidelines to enable healthcare providers to advise people with dementia living at home or in institutions.

"We also need to understand what level and intensity of exercise is beneficial for someone with dementia."

Dr Laura Phipps of Alzheimer's Research UK said: "We do know that exercise is an important part of keeping healthy, and though we can't say that exercise will prevent dementia, evidence does suggest it can help reduce the risk of the condition as part of a healthy lifestyle."

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-25202903

Hubble senses water on five planets, bodes well for finding new Earths

There’s water in them thar planets – five massive “hot Jupiters” spied by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope.

But if you just thought "Life?!" think again. Despite the presence of water molecules in their atmospheres, none of these five planets is suitable to life as we know it. They are all gas giants, and they are all too close to their suns to sustain liquid water on their surfaces.

These planets -- WASP-17b, HD209458b, WASP-12b, WASP-19b and XO-1b -- are tidally locked with their stars so that the same side of the planet always faces the star and is constantly bombarded with a powerful stream of solar radiation. The heat from the star is distributed around the planet via strong winds that move faster than the speed of sound.

"They are very violent places," said L. Drake Deming, an astronomer at the University of Maryland who recently led a census of exoplanet atmospheres.

To find traces of water vapor in their atmospheres, Deming and his colleagues used Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3, which measures near-infrared light. The scientists waited until each planet was about to pass in front of its sun, then pointed Hubble at it. Because water molecules absorb certain wavelengths of light, the scientists could detect the presence of water vapor during the planet's transit across its sun if those wavelengths were not picked up by Hubble.

Deming said that finding water vapor on these planets was not a surprise. Indeed, he would have been surprised if he hadn't found it.

"It was consistent with what we expect," he said. "But it is one thing to say these planets should have water vapor and it's another thing to actually measure it."

Hubble is only strong enough to see the signs of water vapor on the gas giant planets, but Deming said that Hubble's successor -- the James Webb Telescope, slated to launch in 2018 -- will be strong enough to find water signatures in the atmospheres of smaller, rockier planets more like Earth.

"The James Webb Telescope would allow us to extend these measurements to habitable Earth-like planets, maybe twice as big as Earth, and in the habitable zone where water could condense," he said.

In the meantime, Deming and his team want to determine the most accurate way to measure the presence of water on planets trillions of miles away, and the hot Jupiter planets make good test cases. Because they are so close to their host stars, most of them take just days to complete a full orbit, offering scientists frequent opportunities to take measurements.

"It wouldn't be a bad analogy to say these planets are the astronomical equivalent of fruit flies," he said."The grand challenge is to find another habitable Earth-like planet, but the focus of my work is to put these measurements on a really sound basis."

More: http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-hubble-finds-water-on-5-planets-20131203,0,1063198.story#ixzz2mZqzLonw

Mars mission extends 9.25 lakh kms, travels beyond Earth's sphere of influence

India's maiden mission to Mars has traversed beyond the sphere of influence (SOI) of Earth extending about 9,25,000 km in its 10-month long voyage to the red planet.

The spacecraft crossed the SOI of Earth at around 1:14 hrs (IST) on Wednesday, Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) said.

The Mars orbiter spacecraft had slung out of its earth-bound orbit in the early hours of December one during the critical 22-minute Trans Mars Injection, a manoeuvre billed as the "mother of all slingshots."

The spacecraft which was in a hyperbolic orbit had escaped from the SOI, after the first step on Sunday in the Mars mission's 680 million-km-long odyssey to its destination to put on course the country's first ever inter-planetary space rendezvous.

ISRO has planned four mid-course corrections --around December 11, in April, August and on September 14 --in case of any deviation along its path to the Martian orbit before its expected arrival in the orbit of the Red planet in September 2014.

The spacecraft is being continuously monitored from the Spacecraft Control Centre at ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bangalore with support from Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN) antennae at Byalalu here.

The Mars mission's success would catapult India into a small club, which included the US, Europe and Russia, whose probes have orbited or landed on Mars.

ISRO's workhorse ISRO's PSLV C 25 had successfully injected the 1,350-kg 'Mangalyaan' Orbiter into the orbit around the earth in a textbook launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota on November five.

More: http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-12-04/news/44757456_1_trans-mars-injection-mars-orbiter-spacecraft-mars-mission

India's got talent but need facilities: Former Manchester City goalkeeper Alex Williams

Former Manchester City goalkeeper Alex Williams believed that the “Indian youngsters are as much talented as youngsters abroad”. But, it surprised him that not many play for an English club.

Williams was in Mumbai on Wednesday to conduct a Manchester City football coaching clinic at the Cooperage.

Williams, who made 125 appearances for City, felt that playing football in India was very different from playing in other places. “It’s very hot in India, hence you can’t play a fast game because it gets really tiring. So you need to know just when to attack. And because of that, you need to be technically strong when playing in the sub-continent,” he said.

Speaking about the pressures of being a Premiership goalkeeper, Williams said: “It’s extremely daunting, especially when it’s a derby game. You need to be mentally strong apart from the physical element. For, when a goalie makes a mistake, more often than not, it results in a goal.”

Though cricket is like a religion in India, Williams felt that good infrastructure could see many more players taking up the sport. “Infrastructure, on the whole, has to be good. You can’t just have good players and think that your country will do well. You need to have good coaches, good facilities and good administrators if you want football to grow,” he said.

Know Williams
Age: 52;
From: Manchester, England,
Teams: Manchester City (1980-86), 125 appearances; Port Vale (1986-87), 35 appearances.

More: http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report-india-s-got-talent-but-need-facilities-former-manchester-city-goalkeeper-alex-williams-1929747

Dad hasn't accepted I can have girlfriends, says Ranbir Kapoor

Bollywood heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor may have girls drooling over him, but his father and yesteryear star Rishi Kapoor still hasn't come to terms with him having a girlfriend.

The 31-year-old Kapoor scion, who is reportedly dating his 'Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani' co-star Katrina Kaif, talked about his camaraderie with his dad while chatting on Karan Johar's celebrity talk show 'Koffee With Karan'.

The second episode of the fourth season of 'Koffee With Karan' will be aired Sunday 9 p.m. on Star World and Ranbir's cousin and actress Kareena Kapoor will also join him.


Ranbir Kapoor may have girls drooling over him, but his father Rishi Kapoor still hasn't come to terms with him having a girlfriend.

When host Karan asked him what is he (Rishi) like with your girlfriends, Ranbir said: "I don't think he has come to terms with the fact that his son can have a girlfriend... I don't think he is ready to accept, in way 'oh aaja let's have a meal together'."

On being asked if he feels awkward introducing his girlfriend to his dad, the young star first said: "I don't know."

He then quickly added: "Maybe I am awkward, so I am putting it on him. I never really tried to (get together) for a dinner with a girlfriend with my parents. Maybe I should try sometime soon."

However, Ranbir, who in the past has dated Deepika Padukone, admitted that his mother is comparatively at ease with his girlfriends.

"She is cool with all my girlfriend and that's the truth," he added and rued about his parents being dragged into his link up rumours.

"My parents have worked so hard all these years and they have reached a certain age, but unfortunately they are dragged into these controversies where me and another girl are concerned.

"They are absolutely not like that," he said of his parents who are known for working together in hits such as 'Khel Khel Mein', 'Kabhie Kabhie' and 'Doosra Aadmi' as well as 'Do Dooni Chaar'.

But in the same breath, he confessed: "Yes, my mother will be a little possessive about me as I am the only son, but that is all about it."

However, Ranbir, who has earned the star status with hits like 'Raajneeti', 'Rockstar', 'Barfi' and 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani', is not at all a mamma's boy and makes his own decisions.

"They don't tell me what to do or what not to do or who to be and who not to be. They are happy if I am happy as long as it is a girl," said the actor.

The episode is likely to offer more meat. For instance, Ranbir is yet to confirm his relationship with Katrina, but Kareena referred to the 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara' actress as her sister-in-law on the same show while answering a question.

More: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/dad-hasnt-accepted-i-can-have-girlfriends-says-ranbir-kapoor/437763-8-66.html

Tendulkar’s novel suggestion to MCA

Sachin Tendulkar suggested the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) can create opportunities for youngsters in inter-school and inter-collegiate cricket by allowing 15 players to compete in each team.

“Talented youngsters will get chances to display their talent at the school and college level. It is those kids who are borderline cases who should not suffer from lack of opportunity,” said the maestro.

He was speaking at a felicitation function by the MCA on Tuesday.

He said: “Mumbai cricket should take the lead and I am sure Indian cricket will follow. It is because of Mumbai’s club culture that we produce cricketers and teams worthy of winning the Ranji Trophy for many years.

“When I played club cricket, 15 players would get the chance to showcase their batting and bowling ability in matches. I wish more kids could be given the same. Selectors will also benefit from having more players to choose from. As a former cricketer, this is what I feel.”

Mumbai’s dominance

Tendulkar touched upon Mumbai’s dominance in the Ranji Trophy. “For the Mumbai Ranji team, I know the situation is tough with many seniors away playing for India. This challenge should bring out the best in you and I will be the first one to join you in celebrations if Mumbai can win in this situation.”

Defending champion Mumbai has to play the remaining league games without Zaheer Khan, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane, all away on national duty.

Noted coach and Dronacharya awardee Ramakant Achrekar was also felicitated by the MCA president Sharad Pawar, joined on stage by his famous ward Tendulkar, who helped his mentor cut the cake on the occasion of his 81st birthday.

Former India captain Ajit Wadekar also spoke about Achrekar’s rise from a dreaded batsman in tennis ball cricket into a serious coach who moulded a talented kid into a world cricket icon.

More: http://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/tendulkars-novel-suggestion-to-mca/article5422308.ece

Bigg Boss 7: Tanishaa is insecure and jealous of Gauahar, says Kushal

With the return of Armaan in the house, not all seems to be well. The house has been divided into two groups with Kushal, Gauahar, Kamya, Sofia and Ajaz joining hands against Armaan, Andy, Tanishaa and Sangram. Even during the luxury task, the two groups did not leave any stone unturned to pick up arguments and pass personal comments.

On day 79, in order to slow down Armaan's production line, Ajaz tosses one of the cotton bags outside the house. Getting irritated by the cheap tactics, Armaan gets involved in an argument with Ajaz who coolly calls it his team's winning strategy. Later, Kushal asks Sofia to follow Ajaz's lead and throw one more bag of cotton outside the house. She obliges but gets into an argument with Armaan over the same. Their fight takes an ugly turn when Sofia pushes Armaan and he decides to complain to Bigg Boss. In the process, Gauahar tries to calm everyone down.

Later, Tanishaa makes fun of Gauahar with Andy and tells him that she should also faint and that Bigg Boss should call her to the confession room. Ajaz overhears the conversation and tells Gauahar and Kusahl about the same. Gauahar begins to cry that Tanishaa keeps on making fun of her medical condition. Kushal pacifies her by saying that, "Tanishaa is insecure of you." Ajaz also joins in and tells her that she is far better than Tanishaa and she is just jealous.


Tanishaa and Gauahar have made two separate groups in the house and seem to be taking digs at each other.

Later, Bigg Boss steps in and warns Sofia to follow the rules of the task and the house. He also asks the inmates to re-start the task but Armaan and Kushal continue taking digs at each other. Gauahar asks both of them to stop passing personal comments. The cotton bags which were thrown outside the Bigg Boss house by Ajaz and Sofia are also returned to Armaan's team. However, Kushal refuses to participate in the task anymore because of an aggravated shoulder injury. However, both the teams complete the task and Armaan's team wins the luxury task.

More: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bigg-boss-7-tanishaa-is-insecure-and-jealous-of-gauahar-says-kushal/437776-44-124.html

Shah Rukh Khan: AbRam is healthy, has dimples like me

Bollywood supertstar and father of three, Shah Rukh Khan said his newborn son AbRam has got dimples like him.

Shah Rukh Khan, 48 recently became a father of AbRam, born through surrogacy.

"AbRam is very much healthy. He is a good-looking baby and has got dimples," Shah Rukh Khan told reporters at a conclave hosted by a new channel in New Delhi.

SRK said that he and Gauri decided to go for a third child because their teenage children Aryan and Suhana were busy with their friends.

"I and Gauri (wife) decided to go for a third child because we were missing the childhood of our kids. My son is 16 and daughter is 13 and they always lock themselves up in their room with their friends. So, we decided to have a third child and keep Gauri busy with the new born," Shah Rukh Khan added.

AbRam, Gauri and Shah Rukh's third child, was born through a surrogate mother in May this year.

SRK already has two children - Aryan, 16, and Suhana, 13.

More: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/abram-has-dimples-like-me-says-dad-shah-rukh-khan/1203601/?ent_top

I want to contribute to society, nation-building via films: Aamir Khan

Aamir Khan, Bollywood's hugely popular actor-producer, says he doesn't have to join politics to bring in change because he can do it as an entertainer.

He is the face of Incredible India campaign. He is a UNICEF ambassador to promote child nutrition, and he hosted "Satyamev Jayate", but is not looking at politics at all.

"I have no intention to enter politics. I want to use the medium of filmmaking and entertainment to contribute to the society and nation-building," Aamir said at India Today Group's Agenda Aaj Tak on Wednesday.

"Every person should be politically conscious and at least have a basic understanding of social issues because only then they will we be able to make the informed choices. So, yes, I am a political person according to that. But I have no interest in politics," he added.

In the past, Aamir raised an issue as sensitive as dyslexia in his directorial debut "Taare Zameen Par", which spun entertainment and education deftly.

His TV show "Satyamev Jayate" presented startling facts about issues like dowry and female infanticide.

"I feel that wherever I am, that is my platform and I am happy there. I can bring a lot of change in society through the medium I work in. I feel my communication skills, my storytelling capabilities are my strengths. I can touch people's hearts, and I can use these to reach the people. It is an important part of nation-building," added the 48-year-old who will be next seen in "Dhoom 3".

More: http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-i-want-to-contribute-to-society-nation-building-via-films-aamir-khan-1929684

Tata Docomo launches two WhatsApp data packs for pre-paid GSM customers

Tata Docomo has ties up with the mobile messaging app WhatsApp to launch two unlimited data packs for its pre-paid GSM customers.

"These data packs will enable Tata Docomo prepay GSM customers to enjoy the hugely popular WhatsApp with specially customised value for money data plans and with unlimited use," the company said in a statement.

Tata Docomo said that the packs, valid for 15 and 30 days, are targetted at price sensitive pre-paid customers who just want to use WhatsApp for communication and don't want to spend on data usage, The two packs have been priced at Rs 15 and Rs 30.

Tata Docomo conducted an independent research and came to know that users need customised data offerings and want to pay only for the applications that they consume.

Tata Docomo Head VAS Marketing Rishimohan Malhotra said."Standing tall on the fundamental tenet of simplifying consumer's life, dedicated WhatsApp data packs serves up a hassle-free experience for our consumers with a clear focus on enriching the data experience,"

"This partnership allows us to tap into Tata's market presence in India and continue WhatsApp's significant growth as the global leader in the mobile communication space," WhatsApp Co-Founder Brian Acton said.

WhatsApp has 30 million monthly active users in India. In August WhatsApp revealed that it had crossed 300 million active users globally. During the same time the company also revealed that the app processes 11 billion sent messages and 20 billion received messages, or 31 billion total on a daily basis.

More: http://www.telecomtiger.com/Technology_fullstory.aspx?passfrom=breakingnews&storyid=19247&section=S210

Stolen Facebook and Yahoo passwords dumped online

More than two million stolen passwords used for sites such as Facebook, Google and Yahoo and other web services have been posted online.

The details had probably been uploaded by a criminal gang, security experts said.

It is suspected the data was taken from computers infected with malicious software that logged key presses.

It is not known how old the details are - but the experts warned that even out-dated information posed a risk.

"We don't know how many of these details still work," said security researcher Graham Cluley. "But we know that 30-40% of people use the same passwords on different websites.

"That's certainly something people shouldn't do."

Criminal botnet

The site containing the passwords was discovered by researchers working for security firm Trustwave.

In a blog post outlining its findings, the team said it believed the passwords had been harvested by a large botnet - dubbed Pony - that had scooped up information from thousands of infected computers worldwide.

Data on the site showed how many new details were being scraped from users every day

A botnet is a network of machines controlled by criminals thanks to malicious software being installed on to computers without the owner's knowledge.

Often, criminal gangs will use botnets to steal large amounts of personal data, which can then be sold on to others or held to ransom.

In this instance, it was log-in information for popular social networks that featured most heavily.

The site - written in Russian - claimed to offer 318,121 username and password combinations for Facebook. Other services, including Google, Yahoo, Twitter and LinkedIn, all had entries in the database.

Russian-language sites VKontakte and Odnoklassniki also featured.

Chocolate teapot passwords

Trustwave said it had notified the sites and services hit prior to posting the blog entry.

Facebook highlighted that it was not at fault, and that this security risk was due to infected user machines.

"While details of this case are not yet clear, it appears that people's computers may have been attacked by hackers using malware to scrape information directly from their web browsers," a spokesman said in an email.

"People can help protect themselves when using Facebook by activating Login Approvals and Login Notifications in their security settings.

"They will be notified when anyone tries to access their account from an unrecognized browser and new logins will require a unique passcode generated on their mobile phone."

The social network said all of the users found in the database had been put through a password reset process.

Analysis of the passwords by Trustwave showed a familiar picture - the most popular password, found in the database over 15,000 times, was "123456".

Such predictable combinations made passwords completely ineffective, said Mr Cluley.

"It's as much use a chocolate teapot," he said. "Absolutely useless."

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25213846

Smugglers moving gold like narcotics

Indian gold smugglers are adopting the methods of drug couriers to sidestep a government crackdown on imports of the precious metal, stashing gold in imported vehicles and even using mules who swallow nuggets to try to get them past airport security.

Stung by rules imposed this year to cut a high trade deficit and a record duty on imports, dealers and individual customers are fanning out across Asia to buy gold and sneak it back into the country.

Sri Lanka, Thailand and Singapore are the latest hotspots as authorities crack down on travellers from Dubai, the traditional source of smuggled gold.

In a sign of the times, whistleblowers who help bust illegal gold shipments can get a bigger reward in India than those who help catch cocaine and heroin smugglers.

"Gold and narcotics operate as two different syndicates but gold smuggling has become more profitable and fashionable," said Kiran Kumar Karlapu, an official at Mumbai's Air Intelligence Unit.

"There has been a several-fold increase in gold smuggling this year after restrictions from the government, which has left narcotics behind."

From travellers laden head-to-toe in jewellery to passengers who conceal carbon-wrapped gold pieces in their bodies - in the mistaken belief that metal detectors will not be set off - Indians are smuggling in more bullion than ever, government officials say, driven by the country's insatiable demand for the metal.

That suggests official data showing a sharp fall in gold buying, which has helped narrow India's current account gap, may significantly underestimate the real level of gold flows.

The World Gold Council estimates that 150 to 200 tonne of smuggled gold will enter India in 2013, on top of the 900 tonne of official demand.

Between April to September alone, India's customs officials seized nearly double the amount of smuggled gold it nabbed in all of 2012.

"Though the quantum of seizures has increased, in our opinion it reflects only 1% to 2% of total smuggling," said a revenue intelligence officer in Mumbai who declined to be named. "Dubai is still the number one place from where gold gets in and Singapore is slowly emerging. Sri Lanka has become a staging point."

Grappling with a high trade deficit and weak currency, India imposed measures this year to crimp demand for gold, the second most expensive item on its import bill after oil. It imposed a 10% duty on bullion and a 15% tariff on jewellery. Imports plunged to 24 tonne in October from a record 162 tonne in May.

Gold is an integral part of Indian culture, offered at weddings and festivals. India was the world's biggest gold consumer until last year but will be overtaken by China in 2013.

India has now stepped up cooperation with nearby countries to stem the smuggling.

Last week, Sri Lanka limited the amount of jewellery its residents can take out of the country and it will try to monitor whether they bring it back. Pakistan banned all gold imports in August for a month as it believed much was being smuggled on into India.

Indian gold premiums have soared to $130 an ounce over London prices due to the supply crunch, compared with about $2 an ounce in Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand.

Banks and other official trading agencies in Singapore and Thailand that had supplied gold to their Indian counterparts have stopped due to India's new rules.

But smaller dealers and retailers say they have been selling more to Indian customers than ever before, in jewellery and other forms.

Brian Lan, managing director of Singapore-based dealer GoldSilver Central, said he has sold about 10 kg of gold to a single Indian customer and gets multiple similarly big orders on some days. "We have Indian dealers buying from us directly on a regular basis," said a second Singapore dealer. "They say they have their own means of taking it in without getting caught."

As customs officials at airports and borders get more vigilant, smugglers are innovating. In June, a passenger flying from Dubai was caught at Delhi airport with about 755 gm of solid gold staples painted grey. Officials stopped the man because the cardboard boxes he was carrying were stapled far more than seemed necessary.

In several other cases, travellers have been caught with gold in their underwear. Flight attendants and police officers have been arrested for aiding the smugglers. "We are trying to plug all the loopholes. We have strengthened our anti-smuggling staff and installed door metal detectors," said SAS. Navaz, deputy commissioner of customs in the south Indian city of Kochi. "We are spending sleepless nights.

"Most of the time, it is done with the support of (airport) staff. It is very difficult to keep an eye on everyone."

In late November, 56 Sri Lankans were held in Kochi after they were found with nearly 12 kg of gold. Some of them had travelled to Kochi six times last month.

Sri Lanka, which raised taxes on gold imports from June to November due to rising smuggling to India, last week said female residents could only fly out with 120 gm of jewellery, the equivalent of about 28 wedding bands. Men are allowed a third of that.

Customs officials may allow exceptions but will monitor if passengers bring back the same amount of gold they left with. "In the last three to four months, we have seen several cases of gold smuggling from Sri Lanka to India through cities such as Mumbai, Kochi and Chennai," Leslie Gamini, a spokesman for Sri Lankan customs, said from Colombo.

"It is a very difficult task. But we have to implement it. We are in the process of developing guidelines on how to implement this."

Though the number of arrests made in India has increa-sed, those caught are usually only the "carriers" who transport gold for as little as R10,000. The people behind the smuggling are rarely identified.

In an effort to change that, Mumbai customs offers a reward of up to R50,000 per kg of bullion seized for informers in gold smuggling cases. Cocaine and heroin informers get only up to R40,000 and R20,000 respectively.

More: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/smugglers-moving-gold-like-narcotics/1203346/0

Indian Shares, Rupee Higher; Exit Polls Suggest Strong BJP Performance in State Elections

Indian shares and the rupee were sharply higher early Thursday, as exit polls predicted a strong performance for the main opposition Bhartiya Janata Party in state elections held over the past few weeks.

The final results for state elections are due on Sunday. A strong poll performance by the key opposition party would boost their chances of victory in the national elections, which are expected to be held by May 2014, dealers said. Most investors and analysts perceive the opposition BJP as being more business friendly.

Also, some have been unhappy with the performance of the ruling Congress-led United Progressive Alliance. Analysts and executives say the Congress party has not done as much as it could have to build the country's infrastructure or streamline its economy during its near 10 years in power.

The Bombay Stock Exchange's S&P BSE Sensex index was 1.7% higher at 21060.48 points at 0422 GMT. The 30-stock index had gained as much as 2.2% in opening trade--touching its highest level since Nov. 3.

The National Stock Exchange's 50-share Nifty index was up 1.8% at 6273.95 points.

The rupee was trading at a five-week high against the U.S. dollar. A dollar was last buying 61.65 rupees as compared to 62.05 Wednesday's spot market close.

"A likely clear victory by the opposition party ensures political stability and bodes well for markets. Risk appetite has picked up and the indices could test record high levels soon," said Nilesh Karani, vice president for research at Mumbai-based Magnum Broking Ltd. He expects the Sensex to face strong resistance at 21200 for the day.

All 13 of the Bombay Stock Exchange's sector indexes were trading higher. The bank sector index was the top gainer, up 4.1%.

ICICI Bank--the biggest non-state lender--was up 6.1% at 1,130 rupees, while peer HDFC Bank gained 4.3% to 685.45 rupees.

Among other key index gainers, top construction company Larsen and Toubro was 3.4% higher at 1,075.35 rupees and mortgage lender Housing Development Finance was up 2.5% at 833.45 rupees.

More: http://online.wsj.com/article/DN-CO-20131205-000007.html?dsk=y

Rupee hits fresh 1-month high, up 30 paise vs dollar

The rupee on Thursday rose by 30 paise to trade at fresh one-month high of 61.75 against the dollar in early trade at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market on increased selling of the US currency by exporters, amid sustained foreign capital inflows.

Strengthening of other currencies against the dollar overseas and a higher opening in the domestic equity market also supported the local currency, forex dealers said.

The rupee had gained 31 paise to close at one-month high of 62.05 against the dollar in yesterday's trade.

More: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Rupee-hits-fresh-1-month-high-up-30-paise-vs-dollar/articleshow/26887973.cms

Exit polls show 4-0 sweep for BJP, battlelines drawn in Parliament

An aggressive BJP is expected to arrive all guns blazing in Parliament today, charged up at the possibility of routing the Congress in Assembly elections in four major states, being seen as a semi-final before general elections due in a few months. (Winter session of Parliament: Track live updates)

"If the Congress were to lose, which seems likely, you'll have a lame-duck government for the next few months. The government had already lost its legitimacy, it will lose political relevance also," said the BJP's Arun Jaitley, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. (Watch)

Polling was held in Delhi yesterday and votes for four states where elections were held in the last month will be counted on Sunday. The "exit poll of polls", an average of exit polls conducted by different agencies, shows that the BJP looks set to register convincing wins in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and has a clear edge in Delhi, where the Aam Aadmi Party makes an extra-ordinary debut. (Read)

Already, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has written to the Prime Minister accusing the government of pushing a Communal Violence Bill "that is ill conceived and poorly drafted." He has said that the bill is an attempt to "encroach on the authority of state governments." (Read)

The Communal Violence Bill is among a set of key legislations that the government has planned for the 12-day winter session of Parliament beginning today. The BJP has questioned the timing, accusing the government of trying to consolidate minority votes with an eye on general elections.

"The session is short and it is obligatory for all parties to get all possible legislations and pending business done," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said today.

For the Congress-led UPA government, this is one of the last chances to prepare ground for the 2014 elections. On the BJP's demand that a bill on a separate Telangana state be "brought without ifs and changes," minister of state for parliamentary affairs Rajiv Shukla said, "We will definitely pass the Telangana bill."

The government also wants to push through the women's reservation bill in the Lok Sabha, which ally Samajwadi Party opposes and the Lokpal Bill.

More: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/exit-polls-show-4-0-sweep-for-bjp-battlelines-drawn-in-parliament-454669

IAS Khemka served chargesheet over Vadra-DLF land deal cancellation

The Haryana government on Thursday served chargesheet to IAS officer Ashok Khemka over Vadra-DLF land deal cancellation issue. He has been given 15 days time to reply to the chargesheet. The state government has chargesheeted Khemka for overstepping his jurisdiction in the cancellation of Vadra-DLF land deal.

This is not the first time that he has been served chargesheet by the state government. Earlier, the government had chargesheeted him for low sales of seeds when he was the Managing Director of Haryana Seed Development Corporation.

Khemka had kicked up a political storm in 2012 when he alleged irregularities in the land dealings of Robert Vadra and DLF in the state and asked the state government to give him a copy of the inquiry reports conducted by it. He said that Vadra was favoured as he is the son-in-law of Sonia. He had claimed that the Vadra-DLF deal was worth Rs 58 crore and that if all land scams in Haryana were taken into account over the past eight years, the value of scams could be between Rs 20,000 and Rs 3.5 lakh crore.

He had also claimed that Vadra falsified documents for 3.53 acre land in the Shikohpur village of Gurgaon. Khemka has been transferred over 40 times in his career for exposing corruption.

More: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ias-khemka-served-chargesheet-over-vadradlf-land-deal-cancellation/437772-37-64.html

Petition to Goa governor over Tejpal case

The probe into allegations of rape against Tehelka editor-in-chiefTarun Tejpal should be shifted from the Crime Branch and that BJPspokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi should be arrested, a petition submitted to the Goa governor said.

The petition was submitted Wednesday by a city lawyer and former head of the National Students Council of India (NSUI) Sunil Kawthankar. He had also filed a complaint against Lekhi at the Crime Branch for leaking the name of the journalist woman, who accused Tarun Tejpal of sexual assault, on Twitter.

The petition said that a key officer heading the Tejpal case has handled "quite a few high profile cases" in the past, but claims that most of the cases did not end in conviction.

Kawthankar further claimed that the officer was part of the Crime Branch unit which has been indicted by a House Committee report on drugs for not doing enough to nip the drug mafia in Goa in the bud.

"Such an officer cannot be relied upon to investigate such an sensitive case as it is feared that the victim may get a raw deal at her hands," according to the petition.

The explosive House Committee report which was tabled in the state legislative assembly exposes a nexus between police, politicians and the drug mafia in Goa.

It has said that the several Crime Branch officers who were entrusted with probing key cases related to narcotics trade were hand-in gloves with drug dealers.

The petition also sought action under section 228(A) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)against Lekhi for being insensitive to the sentiments of the woman journalist and said that a complaint filed by him against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader had not been taken cognizance of by the Crime Branch.

"Lekhi is a senior BJP Leader and the state government which is ruled by BJP will try to protect her by all means. I, thereby, request you to intervene in this matter and order her arrest as such an act must be dealt with Iron fist in order to serve as a deterrent and to protect the respect and sentiments of Indian women," the petitioner has said.

More: http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/petition-to-goa-governor-over-tejpal-case-113120500106_1.html

Narayan Sai's two-month free run ends

The two month hide-and-seek of Narayan Sai, son of controversial godman Asaram and who has been evading arrest in a rape case, ended on Wednesday morning, when crime branch officials of the Delhi Police nabbed him along with his two accomplices near Haryana border.

Sai, carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh, was brought to the national capital and produced before a court, which granted 24-hour transit remand to Gujarat Police. The rape case is registered against him in that state.

He was traveling with his driver Ramesh Malhotra, PSO Kaushal Thakur, and another juvenile disciple in a Ford EcoSport car near Pipli village in Kurukshetra area, and had plans to come to Delhi. Investigators claim that he had to meet an advocate here assuming that he could safely land in national capital as the police would be busy in assembly elections.

While Sai, in a badly attempted disguise, was wearing a turban like headgear, his driver initially tried to sway police men by using a fake name. However, things were clear once the arrested trio was interrogated in detail and brought to the capital.

According to police, Sai had lived in Gujarat, Ludhiana, Haridwar and for two days in Delhi, after he went into hiding. The car he was using all this while was provided by Diwan family from Meerut, who happen to be his disciples. The police have recovered six mobile phones and Rs 2.61 lakh from them.

“A team of Delhi police stationed in Ambala received input that Sai has left Ludhiana in an EcoSport car and they followed the car before intercepting it in Kurukshetra. Crime branch teams were stationed in Ludhiana, Rajpura, Zirakpur, Chandigarh, Ambala and Meerut,” joint commissioner of police (crime) SBK Singh told dna.

Surat police had registered two complaints — one against Asaram and the other against Sai — of rape, sexual assault, illegal confinement and other charges. The younger of the two sisters who filed complaint against the father-son duo accused Sai of repeated sexual assault between 2002 and 2005 when she was living at the Surat ashram. The elder sister, in her complaint against Asaram, has accused him of repeated sexual assault between 1997 and 2006 during the time she was living at his ashram on the outskirts of Ahmedabad.

A team of Gujarat police had landed in Delhi in mid-October seeking help of the crime branch of Delhi police. The Gujarat police had also carried out several raids at Asaram’s ashrams at Rohini, Najafgarh, Jafarpur Kalan and on Ridge Road but failed to trace Sai.

The Delhi Police zeroed in on Sai after the arrest of one of his accomplices, Dharmesh, in October. While he had no idea about Sai, he gave details about acquaintances of Sai’s driver Ramesh in Rohini. Ramesh’s acquaintance led the police to some of his phone numbers and possible hideouts, after which the police sent some teams to Ludhiana.

Meanwhile, when Sai, was taken to Ambedkar hospital for medical examination, he told reporters that he was being framed. His supporters not only created ruckus outside the hospital, but gathered outside Rohini court as well, shouting slogans in support of the accused father-son duo.
Asaram is in judicial custody in Jodhpur jail since his arrest in September for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor.

Victim happy
Surat: The victim who was raped by Narayan Sai on Wednesday demanded the severest form of punishment for him. “I am extremely happy today. Finally, I will be able to eat with peace, as I was not able to sleep for nights since the time I filed an FIR against him ... I wish he gets the severest form of punishment ,” she said.

More: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-narayan-sai-s-two-month-free-run-ends-1929819

Biden conveys U.S. concern on air zone to China’s Xi

United States Vice President Joe Biden has conveyed to Chinese President Xi Jinping “deep concerns” about China’s decision to set up an Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the disputed East China Sea, as he held more than five hours of discussions with the top-ranked Chinese leader.

Mr. Biden said he was “very direct about our firm position and our expectations in my conversations with President Xi”, in a speech to U.S. business leaders in Beijing on Thursday morning. The ADIZ move, he said, was a “recent and sudden" step that had "caused significant apprehension in the region".

Senior U.S. administration officials said Mr. Biden had indicated to the Chinese “deep concerns” on how the U.S. saw the ADIZ, and also “made clear” that the U.S. and other countries were looking at China “to take steps to lower tensions” and avoid “enforcement actions that could lead to a crisis”.

Mr. Biden had lengthy discussions with Mr. Xi stretching over more than five and a half hours on Wednesday evening, with two hours of restricted-level talks followed by a 90-minute formal, expanded meeting and a two-hour working dinner.

The senior administration officials, at a background briefing, expressed cautious optimism that all sides would take steps to tone down tensions, saying that Mr. Xi “listened carefully to the Vice President’s arguments about the need to create a more conducive environment too”. The Chinese side, they added, had "taken on board” what Mr. Biden said. “Now it’s a question of behaviour and action as we go forward,” the officials said.

It was, however, made clear that to them that China’s move was “part of a longstanding effort” and unlikely to be withdrawn, and was not a "knee-jerk" decision.

Chinese officials have stressed that they would not consider withdrawing the move, making the point that several countries had long established such zones. They have specifically pointed out that Japan’s ADIZ was set up in 1969, and covered the disputed Senkaku or Diaoyu islands in the East China Sea that are disputed by both countries - and now fall within both air defence zones.

In brief remarks to reporters in the middle of their talks on Wednesday, Mr. Xi admitted that “regional hotspot issues keep cropping up” and that “the world as a whole is not tranquil”. Mr. Biden praised Mr. Xi for being “candid” and “constructive”, saying that "candour generates trust".

China announced on November 23 that it would set up an ADIZ in the East China Sea, including the disputed islands and a submerged reef that is under South Korean control. The ADIZ is not a territorial claim, but a pre-defined area beyond a country’s territorial airspace within which it tracks or monitors aircraft.

China’s warning that it would take unspecified “defensive emergency” measures that may include interception of aircraft that had not notified authorities of their flight plans brought expressions of concern from the U.S., South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. China said last week it has scrambled fighter jets to tail 12 American and Japanese aircraft that had conducted patrols through the ADIZ without notifying China.

The Defence Ministry here on Tuesday released a lengthy statement in an attempt to address regional anxieties, saying the Chinese response would "generally" involve only radar identification, and that deploying fighter jets was "unnecessary" if there was no threat perception.

Speaking in Tokyo on Tuesday – the first stop of his three nation Asia tour – Mr. Biden spoke of the need for a “crisis management mechanism” to reduce tensions. He is expected to raise the idea in Seoul, the last stop of his tour, where he will arrive on Thursday and hold talks with President Park Geun-hye on Friday morning.

U.S. officials said Mr. Biden and Mr. Xi had discussed at length the situation in North Korea – an issue that actually took up more time than the ADIZ.

“I think the credibility of our argument about the impact of pressure on diplomatic solutions has been enhanced in the eyes of a number of countries, including China, by what’s happened with Iran,” the senior administration officials said referring to the recent Iran deal.

“That logic, which produced the interim deal in the Iran case, we are laying out as being what should apply in the North Korea case as well," they added, "and we’ve got a strong argument to make in that respect.”

More: http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/world/biden-conveys-us-concern-on-air-zone-to-chinas-xi/article5424574.ece

Aamir Khan: Salman is a bigger star than me

Aamir Khan says his colleagues' good work makes him happy, and lavished praise on his contemporary Salman Khan, describing him as "powerhouse of star power".

At an event on Wednesday (December 4, 2013), Aamir was asked about the Khan rivalry between Salman, Shah Rukh Khan and himself.

He said: "I can answer for myself. I don't have any negative thoughts about competition with anyone and I thank my ammi (mother) for it."

"It's not in my nature. I understand that there are people who think otherwise, but it's not in me to look at another person's work, and think, 'How come he did so well? How will I do as well?' I just don't feel like this."

"When I saw Sanju (Sanjay Dutt) in Munnabhai M.B.B.S. and Lage Raho Munnabhai, I was so happy with his work, or even when I saw Ranbir (Kapoor) in Barfi!," he added.

The 48-year-old, who is awaiting the release of action adventure film Dhoom 3 later this month, then went on to praise Salman's magic.

"Salman is my friend. He is a bigger star than me. When I see him in Dabangg, I feel very happy. Salman doesn't need to do anything. He is a powerhouse of star power."

" Woh sirf belt hilaata hai, chashme theek karta hai, and see his magic. I have no competitive feeling," said Aamir, who is known to be a meticulous method actor.

At the event, Aamir received a request to either perform a bit of tap dance that he has learnt forDhoom: 3 or to show his perfect body.

He did none.

Then pointing to the difference between himself and Salman, he quipped: "Salman would have done it both - tap dance and he would have shown his six-pack as well."

"I am a shy kind of person," he said.

More: http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/aamir-khan-salman-is-a-bigger-star-than-me-454685

Winter session: Row over Communal Violence Bill, PM says will try to evolve consensus on all issues

As the winter session of Parliament is set to begin on Thursday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that the government will make an effort to evolve consensus on all Bill. He said there will be an effort to do maximum pending work as the session is a short one.

"The session is a short one and the obligation is on all parties to get all possible legislation and pending business done," Manmohan Singh said.

When asked about BJP PM candidate Narendra Modi's letter on Communal Violence Bill, Singh said, "There will be an effort to evolve consensus on all matters of legislative importance." This as Modi wrote to Dr Singh against bringing the Communal Violence Bill in the winter session of Parliament.


Manmohan Singh said there will be an effort to do maximum pending work as the session is a short one.

Terming the timing of the move by the government suspicious, Modi on Thursday tweeted "Political considerations and vote bank politics rather than genuine concerns are guiding it."

Modi urged the PM "to seek wider consultation with the states and various stakeholders of the Bill before proceeding any further on a Bill like this." He said that the Bill if implemented would fragment the society and increase violence. He also added that the Bill will have results opposite to the stated objectives. "Communal Violence Bill is in clear violation of India's federal structure. Centre is busy forming laws on matters that are in the State List," Modi tweeted.

The BJP is opposed to any move to the bring the Communal Violence Bill. However, this Bill is something that the ruling coalition wants to bring especially after the Muzaffarnagar violence.

"We will bring the Communal Violence Bill this session, Modi can keep doing his work," said Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.

The Left has also expressed reservations over the Bill. "This Bill has some issues, it is said that this bill overrules the state powers. Then in case of victims also, there is some issue. I do not think this Bill can be brought in the House," said CPI leader D Raja.

The Congress will be hoping to push through some of the pending bills which could be the political game-changers ahead of polls. The Congress wants to push the Lokpal and the Women's Reservation Bills to garner maximum brownie points before the Lok Sabha elections. But Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav has reiterated his opposition to the Women's Reservation Bill.

"If controversial bills such as Women's Bill and SC/ST Promotion Quota Bill are taken up then the House won't function," SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav threatened.

Other important bills like the Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill, 2012, the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2008, the Indo-Bangla land boundary agreement discussion and voting on supplementary grants for both railways and general are all pending. The challenge before the UPA is to pack all of these in 12 working days.

More: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/winter-session-pm-says-will-try-to-evolve-consensus-on-all-bills/437779-37-64.html