Pak rains rockets, BSF retaliates
AMRITSAR/NEW DELHI: Panic swept through villages around Attari in Punjab early on Saturday after six ockets slammed in from across the border.
No one was injured as the shells landed in open fields and a few rockets failed to explode.
‘‘Around midnight, six rockets were fired from the Pakistan side, of which two fell near the border outpost. We heard 2-3 explosions,’’ BSF IG Himmat Singh said.
Two rockets fell on the Kahangarh post where 35 BSF personnel are deployed, but did not explode. The BSF retaliated with artillery and mortar fire.
Two rockets each were found in Atalgarh and Modhay villages after the fog lifted. The rockets had exploded after hitting fields. One rocket hit the farm of Surjit Singh in Atalgarh, while in Modhay, one was found at the farm of Lakha Singh.
Saturday’s attack near Attari in Punjab was the third such attack since Pakistan constructed additional fortified concrete bunkers and new observation towers close to the border in Punjab and J&K.
Pakistan has reportedly built 19 new bunkers and 39 observation towers in the past seven months.
While three rockets were fired on July 5 last year, five rockets fired by the Pakistani forces crashed into Modhay, Dhoneya Khurd, Rattan Kallan and Dalekey villages in September.
‘‘Shells have been sent for ballistic tests to find out their make. Initial examination indicates Chinese origin, but only the lab can authenticate it,’’ said a senior BSF official in New Delhi.In retaliation, BSF personnel fired machine guns and mortar shells, targeting Pakistan’s KS Wala BOP area.
SOURCE:TOI
No one was injured as the shells landed in open fields and a few rockets failed to explode.
‘‘Around midnight, six rockets were fired from the Pakistan side, of which two fell near the border outpost. We heard 2-3 explosions,’’ BSF IG Himmat Singh said.
Two rockets fell on the Kahangarh post where 35 BSF personnel are deployed, but did not explode. The BSF retaliated with artillery and mortar fire.
Two rockets each were found in Atalgarh and Modhay villages after the fog lifted. The rockets had exploded after hitting fields. One rocket hit the farm of Surjit Singh in Atalgarh, while in Modhay, one was found at the farm of Lakha Singh.
Saturday’s attack near Attari in Punjab was the third such attack since Pakistan constructed additional fortified concrete bunkers and new observation towers close to the border in Punjab and J&K.
Pakistan has reportedly built 19 new bunkers and 39 observation towers in the past seven months.
While three rockets were fired on July 5 last year, five rockets fired by the Pakistani forces crashed into Modhay, Dhoneya Khurd, Rattan Kallan and Dalekey villages in September.
‘‘Shells have been sent for ballistic tests to find out their make. Initial examination indicates Chinese origin, but only the lab can authenticate it,’’ said a senior BSF official in New Delhi.In retaliation, BSF personnel fired machine guns and mortar shells, targeting Pakistan’s KS Wala BOP area.
SOURCE:TOI
1 lakh govt schools to go 'smart'
NEW DELHI: In a bid to further improve information communication technology (ICT) in schools, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Saturday approved the revised scheme on ICT that will benefit 1.5 crore students in 1.08 lakh secondary and senior secondary schools.
“The revised scheme on ICT will cover about 1.08 lakh government, government aided secondary and higher secondary schools and would help to bridge the digital divide,” HRD minister Kapil Sibal said after the meeting. Sibal said the revised scheme, involving a cost of Rs 6,929 crore, would enable teachers and students to get acquainted with the ICT system.
The Centre would provide 75% share while the states, other than the north-eastern states, will bear 25%. The schools would be provided the required computer hardware, software and e-content for the purpose. Dependable power supply and internet connectivity, preferably broadband, would be provided to the schools.
The government has been running the ICT scheme since 2005-06. Under this scheme, nearly 53,000 schools have been included. The revised scheme envisages to cover an additional 58,000 schools.
The revised scheme aims at capacity building of more than 10 lakh teachers in using ICT-based tools for teaching through induction and refresher training. Development and dissemination of e-content in regional languages to enhance the comprehension levels of children in various subjects is another component of the scheme. A scheme of rewards for teachers and schools for encouraging use of ICT in the teaching learning process will also be instituted, Sibal said.
The estimated expenditure of the scheme is Rs 6,926.13 crore for the 11th Plan. The expenditure by the Centre would be restricted to the Plan allocation of Rs 6,000 crore for the scheme. The funding for north-eastern states would be in the pattern of 90:10. The recurring cost will be provided for a period of five years from the year of sanction.
The use of ICT in schools would improve the quality of teaching learning, school administration and information management system. Sibal said priority would be given to educationally backward blocks and areas with special attention on SC, ST, minority and weaker sections and the disabled.
SOURCE:TOI
“The revised scheme on ICT will cover about 1.08 lakh government, government aided secondary and higher secondary schools and would help to bridge the digital divide,” HRD minister Kapil Sibal said after the meeting. Sibal said the revised scheme, involving a cost of Rs 6,929 crore, would enable teachers and students to get acquainted with the ICT system.
The Centre would provide 75% share while the states, other than the north-eastern states, will bear 25%. The schools would be provided the required computer hardware, software and e-content for the purpose. Dependable power supply and internet connectivity, preferably broadband, would be provided to the schools.
The government has been running the ICT scheme since 2005-06. Under this scheme, nearly 53,000 schools have been included. The revised scheme envisages to cover an additional 58,000 schools.
The revised scheme aims at capacity building of more than 10 lakh teachers in using ICT-based tools for teaching through induction and refresher training. Development and dissemination of e-content in regional languages to enhance the comprehension levels of children in various subjects is another component of the scheme. A scheme of rewards for teachers and schools for encouraging use of ICT in the teaching learning process will also be instituted, Sibal said.
The estimated expenditure of the scheme is Rs 6,926.13 crore for the 11th Plan. The expenditure by the Centre would be restricted to the Plan allocation of Rs 6,000 crore for the scheme. The funding for north-eastern states would be in the pattern of 90:10. The recurring cost will be provided for a period of five years from the year of sanction.
The use of ICT in schools would improve the quality of teaching learning, school administration and information management system. Sibal said priority would be given to educationally backward blocks and areas with special attention on SC, ST, minority and weaker sections and the disabled.
SOURCE:TOI
PepsiCo gets CCEA nod to invest $200 million in India
NEW DELHI: Soft-drink maker PepsiCo has been allowed to invest an additional $200 million in its Indian subsidiary, PepsiCo India holdings,
within a period of three years, human resource development minister Kapil Sibal said after a cabinet meeting on Saturday. The cabinet committee on economic affairs approved PepsiCo’s investment plan after a clearance from the FIPB.
PepsiCo India is planning to invest over $170 million, with its bottling partners investing the balance amount. This is so far the largest investment by PepsiCo in its beverage business after its entry into India in 1989. These new investments will be spread across supply chain, fruit processing, agriculture, manufacturing capacity, market infrastructure, and research and development.
Over the next three years, capacities will be augmented in various locations, including the setting up of new greenfield plants, the company says. It has already begun scouting around for suitable locations, and will focus on states that offer the best investment environment. With this move, PepsiCo’s total investment for which it has approvals will increase to $655 million. It has invested around $1 billion in India so far. India is among the fastest-growing markets for both of the world’s largest soft drink companies—PepsiCo and Coca-Cola.
The committee also gave nod to the revised scheme of information and communication technology during the eleventh plan. While an estimated amount of Rs 6926.13 crore would be required for this during the eleventh plan period the funding will be provided on a 75:25 sharing basis between centre and states.
within a period of three years, human resource development minister Kapil Sibal said after a cabinet meeting on Saturday. The cabinet committee on economic affairs approved PepsiCo’s investment plan after a clearance from the FIPB.
PepsiCo India is planning to invest over $170 million, with its bottling partners investing the balance amount. This is so far the largest investment by PepsiCo in its beverage business after its entry into India in 1989. These new investments will be spread across supply chain, fruit processing, agriculture, manufacturing capacity, market infrastructure, and research and development.
Over the next three years, capacities will be augmented in various locations, including the setting up of new greenfield plants, the company says. It has already begun scouting around for suitable locations, and will focus on states that offer the best investment environment. With this move, PepsiCo’s total investment for which it has approvals will increase to $655 million. It has invested around $1 billion in India so far. India is among the fastest-growing markets for both of the world’s largest soft drink companies—PepsiCo and Coca-Cola.
The committee also gave nod to the revised scheme of information and communication technology during the eleventh plan. While an estimated amount of Rs 6926.13 crore would be required for this during the eleventh plan period the funding will be provided on a 75:25 sharing basis between centre and states.
India asks US authorities not to take action against Satyam
NEW DELHI: India has requested authorities in the United States not to take any action against scam-hit Satyam as it would amount to punishing shareholders of the IT company for a second time.
"SEBI has marshalled a request (to US Securities Exchange Commission) and we are monitoring them. On the political level such signals can be sent and we have already sent them," Corporate Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid told PTI, when asked whether the government has taken up the issue of Satyam with the US authorities.
Satyam Computer Services, now Mahindra Satyam, can face punitive action in the US as the company's shares were listed and traded on American bourses. It is also contesting about a dozen class action suits in US courts which could entail a heavy penalty on the company.
Also, the company can face action by the US Securities Exchange Commission.
"The case has been laid out quite well. And the case being that nothing should actually punish the shareholders a second time over...because any fine imposed on the company will inevitably hurt the shareholders", Khurshid said.
The American administration would understand the issue, the Minister hoped. "But I am keeping my fingers crossed," he said.
Satyam founder B Ramalinga Raju's disclosure of accounting fraud on January 7, 2008, is reported to have resulted in a loss of around Rs 14,000 crore to the shareholders.
In the US, the securities laws have empowered defrauded investors to get compensation from the errant parties. The SEC can also enforce action and get damages/ compensation for investors.
On January 7, the day when Raju disclosed the fraud to Indian market regulator Sebi, the New York Stock Exchange halted trading in Satyam after the stock plunged by over 90 per cent to USD 0.85 in pre-market trade.
The American Depository Receipts (ADRs) of Sify Technologies nosedived 17.98 per cent to settle at USD 1.46. Besides, shares of two private sector lenders -- ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank -- plunged as much as 13 per cent on the NYSE.
SOURCE: INDIATIMES
"SEBI has marshalled a request (to US Securities Exchange Commission) and we are monitoring them. On the political level such signals can be sent and we have already sent them," Corporate Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid told PTI, when asked whether the government has taken up the issue of Satyam with the US authorities.
Satyam Computer Services, now Mahindra Satyam, can face punitive action in the US as the company's shares were listed and traded on American bourses. It is also contesting about a dozen class action suits in US courts which could entail a heavy penalty on the company.
Also, the company can face action by the US Securities Exchange Commission.
"The case has been laid out quite well. And the case being that nothing should actually punish the shareholders a second time over...because any fine imposed on the company will inevitably hurt the shareholders", Khurshid said.
The American administration would understand the issue, the Minister hoped. "But I am keeping my fingers crossed," he said.
Satyam founder B Ramalinga Raju's disclosure of accounting fraud on January 7, 2008, is reported to have resulted in a loss of around Rs 14,000 crore to the shareholders.
In the US, the securities laws have empowered defrauded investors to get compensation from the errant parties. The SEC can also enforce action and get damages/ compensation for investors.
On January 7, the day when Raju disclosed the fraud to Indian market regulator Sebi, the New York Stock Exchange halted trading in Satyam after the stock plunged by over 90 per cent to USD 0.85 in pre-market trade.
The American Depository Receipts (ADRs) of Sify Technologies nosedived 17.98 per cent to settle at USD 1.46. Besides, shares of two private sector lenders -- ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank -- plunged as much as 13 per cent on the NYSE.
SOURCE: INDIATIMES
CES: Google building a Nexus One for enterprise
Once an Apple engineer, Andy Rubin went on to co-found mobile computing outfits Danger and Android. He sold the former to Microsoft and the latter to Google, where he is now vice president of engineering. He's also the guy quarterbacking development of Google's Android mobile operating system and the Nexus One--the smartphone with which Google hopes to fundamentally change the way people buy cell phones
n conversation with All Things Digital's Walt Mossberg Friday, Rubin talked about the mobile space, Google's plan for an enterprise version of the Nexus One, and its vision for the way phones should be bought and sold.
n conversation with All Things Digital's Walt Mossberg Friday, Rubin talked about the mobile space, Google's plan for an enterprise version of the Nexus One, and its vision for the way phones should be bought and sold.
Walt starts off by asking Rubin about just how involved Google was in the development of the Nexus One.
Rubin replies, "We threw out crazy ideas to our partners at HTC, and they were pretty good about plucking the good ones out of the air and building them into the device."
Walt asks about the new business model Google's launched in concert with Nexus One. Was this something the company planned all along?
"This is the next phase of Android--taking the newest versions of the product, placing them online, and allowing consumers to purchase them directly," says Rubin. "What we've learned is that there are more efficient ways of connecting consumers with the phones they'd like to purchase...easier ways." Purchasing a Nexus One through Google, says Rubin, is a casual process. "No one's breathing down your neck," he says. "No one's trying to upsell you."
Interesting. Rubin mentions that Google is working on an enterprise version of Nexus One. What's an enterprise version of Nexus One like? Does it support Exchange? Rubin says it might, but steers the conversation to Gmail and other Google services. He also notes that it might have a real keyboard.
The Nexus One is aimed at consumers who love their Google services and live in the "Google world," Walt notes. Yet, Google is encouraging developers to build new apps for Android and Nexus One. How do you reconcile that? Isn't there something contradictory to saying "we're an app platform, we're open," and then turning around and saying "we're really a platform for people who love Google?"
Rubin obviously doesn't think so. He stresses that an OS can't be successful unless people are developing for it. "It reminds me of the accessory business," he says. "The most successful phones have the most earbuds, car chargers, etc."
Walt wonders if Rubin is at all surprised by the size of the apps revolution, by the fact that there are 100,000-plus apps in the iTunes Apps Store.
"I'm not surprised by it at all. This is what happens when you drop the barriers to entry," he says, recalling how difficult it once was for developers to distribute their apps and how easy it is today.
This new purchasing model Google has created for the Nexus One puts the company at the center of the experience. People who purchase the Nexus One think of themselves as Google customers. Rubin says, "What we've done here is to offer a mobile platform where people don't have to worry about the plumbing."
Walt notes reports about people unhappy the customer service Google is providing for the Nexus One; there is only e-mail customer service, and no phone support. Rubin concedes that there is no phone support and that there is sometimes a three-day delay in response time. "We have to get better at customer service," he says, adding that for launch, they are doing great.
Moving on to the issue now of 3G network performance, which has been a very real issue at CES, especially for AT&T. Rubin says Moore's Law applies to bandwidth--4G is on its way, and after that 5G. Walt suggests that the addition of new phones like the Nexus One and the host of other superphones is going to exacerbate the problem. Rubin says that doesn't have to happen; if carriers were more on point and did what was necessary to maintain and upgrade their networks, dropped calls, etc., would not be as much of an issue as they are for some carriers today.
In his interview with Kara Swisher earlier, Palm CEO Jon Rubinstein--a former Apple engineer--said, "I don't have an iPhone. I've never even used one." In contrast, for those who may be wondering, Andy Rubin says he does use an iPhone. "What do you expect? I'm a gadget guy."
SOURCE: CNET
Sri Lanka elect to bat
Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and opted to bat first against India on Sunday in their one-day tri-series match at Dhaka’s Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
source: the hindu
Sri Lanka opener Tillakaratne Dilshan returned from injury, and Chanaka Welegedara was also included, replacing Malinga Bandara and Nuwan Kulasekara.
India made three changes from its match with Bangladesh on Thursday.
Amit Mishra, Dinesh Karthik and Sudeep Tyagi came in for Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra and Virender Sehwag.
Teams:
Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thilina Kandamby, Thissara Perera, Thilan Thushara, Suraj Randiv, Chanaka Welegedara.
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Dinesh Karthik, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Sudeep Tyagi.
Umpires: Enamul Haque, Bangladesh, I.J. Gould, England.
TV Umpire: Sharfuddoula, Bangladesh. Match Referee: AJ Pycroft, Zimbabwe.
source: the hindu
Indian media told to show restraint after latest assault in Australia
The Indian government has urged its media to show restraint when reporting attacks on Indian students in Australia.
As an Indian man recovers in hospital after allegedly being attacked and set alight in Melbourne on Saturday, the Indian foreign ministry warned that the Indian media's aggressive coverage on recent violence could have a bearing on bilateral relations between the two countries. Foreign Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash called on the local media to "exercise utmost restraint."
The comments followed the second attack on Indians in a week. On Saturday evening Jaspreet Singh claims he was doused with petrol and set alight by a group of four males as he parked his car near his home after a night out with his wife.
The previous weekend, graduate student Nitin Garg was stabbed to death as he walked to work at a fast food restaurant in Melbourne.Mr Garg's body was flown him today. His death sparked protests in India amid aggressive media reports that alleged the attack was racially motivated.
On Friday the Australian government was forced to defend police after an Indian newspaper published a cartoon depicting a policeman as a member of the Ku Klux Klan.
The cartoon, which shows a person wearing the white robes of the KKK and an Australian police badge, reads: "We are yet to ascertain the nature of the crime."
The Australian government today welcomed India's move to temper anger over the attacks, which follow a spate of assaults on indian students in the middle of last year.
"I am very pleased that overnight the government has issued what I believe is a very constructive and responsible advice and that is not to overreact to it, to understand that investigations are being undertaken," said Simon Crean, the acting Trade Minister.
"We need to get all of the facts first and we shouldn't overreact until all of the facts are in."
The attacks last year sparked street protests and strained relations between Canberra and Delhi. Australian Prime Minister visited India in November to reassure the Indian government that its students were safe in Australia, as teh growing row threatened Australia's lucrative education trade with India.
The number of Indian students in Australia has rocketed in the last few years, since the Australian government offered permanent residency to overseas students enrolled at Australian colleges. PR, as it is commonly known, has spawned a vast overseas education industry worth $15 billion to Australia, $2.3 billion of which comes from India alone.
Although Australian police have insisted the crimes were not racially motivated, Australia's High Commissioner to India, Peter Varghese, admitted this week that race might have been a motive for some of the attacks, particularly where the attackers engaged in racial abuse.
His admission came shortly after the Indian government issued a travel advisory for Indian students travelling to Australia, warning them of an increased risk of assault, especially in Melbourne.
Mr Crean today reiterated there was no evidence to suggest that the recent attacks were racist.
"I think it is important in terms of the two most recent events that it is not only the Victorian police saying that there is no evidence in either case that the murder and then the subsequent attack were racially based.
"I think it is also important in terms of the most recent incident, that a relative of Mr Singh ... also doesn't believe that it was racially based," he said.
There is some uncertainty over the incident involving Mr Singh, which Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Neil Smyth described as "a bit strange".
He said there was no evidence it was racially motivated.
A police source told Fairfax Media "there are things that don't add up in the initial reports".
A police spokeswoman said the investigation was ongoing and the first task was always to establish whether a crime had occurred.
source: indiatimes
Around 700 jihadis waiting to strike in J&K
NEW DELHI: Wednesday's fidayeen attack in Srinagar which finally ended on Thursday was not a one-off strike. It was part of a plan supported by the Pakistani military to step up terror in Jammu and Kashmir so as to avoid an increased engagement against the al-Qaida-Taliban group.
As many as 700 fully-trained terrorists are waiting in the wings to stage attacks in J&K with their "masters" in Pakistan directing them to open "other fronts" as they did in the busy Lal Chowk area in Srinagar.
The fidayeen attacks appear to be a ploy to tap into fears of the US that an escalation in India-Pakistan tensions, perhaps leading to an armed clash, will derail the Obama administration's new offensive in Afghanistan which is critically dependent on Islamabad's support.
Anti-India groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba are al-Qaida associates and have been itching to stage a big "show" in India as the David Headley-Tahawwur Rana plot indicated. These groups have been more than willing to step up the level of violence in J&K.
Intercepts of communication between the jihadis -- killed by security forces during the siege at Lal Chowk -- with their handlers in Pakistan during the terror siege hinted that LeT has already activated its different modules to carry out more attacks.
Referring to the intercepts, a senior official here said, "It is quite clear from their communication that the terrorists are fully prepared to carry out more Lal Chowk-type operations. Reference to opening other fronts indicates the possibility of similar attacks soon."
This is authenticated by a report by global intelligence group Stratfor which says jihadi groups operating in the state are likely to carry out more attacks to instigate more trouble between India and Pakistan and, in the process, derail Islamabad's participation in the war on its western border and its actions against various terror groups.
"We anticipate that Kashmiri jihadist groups will continue to plan attacks against India in an effort to stir up communal violence in that country and stoke tensions between India and Pakistan -- and provide a breather to the jihadist groups being pressured by the government of Pakistan," said the report.
The matter is also learnt to have been discussed in the standing committee meeting of the home ministry on Thursday when participants were given a detailed account of infiltration attempts made by jihadis in 2009. The meeting also took note of fresh challenges before the security agencies not only in Jammu and Kashmir but also on mainland in the light of presence of an estimated 700 terrorists in the Valley.
Sources in the home ministry said most of the terrorists in the Kashmir Valley were from Pakistan who entered India during the past couple of years. While 110 of them entered in 2009, the rest of them might have entered earlier, they added.
Security experts see the fidayeen attack at Lal Chowk as a Pakistani attempt to send a message that Jammu and Kashmir is not as peaceful as claimed by the Indian government.
Retired IPS officer and former Intelligence Bureau joint director M K Dhar said, "The incident shows that Pakistan wants to frustrate Indian attempts to initiate the process of quiet talks with Hurriyat."
With such terror attacks, Dhar said, the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI wanted to convey to the separatists that the armed struggle for Kashmir was still on and the jihadis had capacity to strike at will.
Similar concern was expressed by former additional secretary in RAW B Raman. Stating that there was no change in the jihadi objective of making India bleed, he said, "The Srinagar incident clearly indicates that the terrorists still have capacity to launch massive attack at will."
He told TOI that jihadis' masters in Pakistan, through such incidents, wanted to mark their presence, sending a message that the area (J&K) was not at all peaceful. "The terrorists are desperate and therefore they would like to carry out more such attacks in J&K and outside in coming months."
source:indiatimes.com
As many as 700 fully-trained terrorists are waiting in the wings to stage attacks in J&K with their "masters" in Pakistan directing them to open "other fronts" as they did in the busy Lal Chowk area in Srinagar.
The fidayeen attacks appear to be a ploy to tap into fears of the US that an escalation in India-Pakistan tensions, perhaps leading to an armed clash, will derail the Obama administration's new offensive in Afghanistan which is critically dependent on Islamabad's support.
Anti-India groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba are al-Qaida associates and have been itching to stage a big "show" in India as the David Headley-Tahawwur Rana plot indicated. These groups have been more than willing to step up the level of violence in J&K.
Intercepts of communication between the jihadis -- killed by security forces during the siege at Lal Chowk -- with their handlers in Pakistan during the terror siege hinted that LeT has already activated its different modules to carry out more attacks.
Referring to the intercepts, a senior official here said, "It is quite clear from their communication that the terrorists are fully prepared to carry out more Lal Chowk-type operations. Reference to opening other fronts indicates the possibility of similar attacks soon."
This is authenticated by a report by global intelligence group Stratfor which says jihadi groups operating in the state are likely to carry out more attacks to instigate more trouble between India and Pakistan and, in the process, derail Islamabad's participation in the war on its western border and its actions against various terror groups.
"We anticipate that Kashmiri jihadist groups will continue to plan attacks against India in an effort to stir up communal violence in that country and stoke tensions between India and Pakistan -- and provide a breather to the jihadist groups being pressured by the government of Pakistan," said the report.
The matter is also learnt to have been discussed in the standing committee meeting of the home ministry on Thursday when participants were given a detailed account of infiltration attempts made by jihadis in 2009. The meeting also took note of fresh challenges before the security agencies not only in Jammu and Kashmir but also on mainland in the light of presence of an estimated 700 terrorists in the Valley.
Sources in the home ministry said most of the terrorists in the Kashmir Valley were from Pakistan who entered India during the past couple of years. While 110 of them entered in 2009, the rest of them might have entered earlier, they added.
Security experts see the fidayeen attack at Lal Chowk as a Pakistani attempt to send a message that Jammu and Kashmir is not as peaceful as claimed by the Indian government.
Retired IPS officer and former Intelligence Bureau joint director M K Dhar said, "The incident shows that Pakistan wants to frustrate Indian attempts to initiate the process of quiet talks with Hurriyat."
With such terror attacks, Dhar said, the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI wanted to convey to the separatists that the armed struggle for Kashmir was still on and the jihadis had capacity to strike at will.
Similar concern was expressed by former additional secretary in RAW B Raman. Stating that there was no change in the jihadi objective of making India bleed, he said, "The Srinagar incident clearly indicates that the terrorists still have capacity to launch massive attack at will."
He told TOI that jihadis' masters in Pakistan, through such incidents, wanted to mark their presence, sending a message that the area (J&K) was not at all peaceful. "The terrorists are desperate and therefore they would like to carry out more such attacks in J&K and outside in coming months."
source:indiatimes.com
2,000 papers presented at 97th Indian Science Congress
About 2,000 scientific and technical papers were presented during the 97th Indian Science Congress (ISC 2010) that concluded Thursday in the green campus of Kerala University here.
'I have not seen such a huge participation of scientists, technologists, research scholars, experts, policy-makers and students in the previous science congresses,' ISC general president G. Madhavan Nair told reporters on its concluding day.
About 7,000 delegates, including 2,000 students from across the country, participated in the five-day mega event, held for the first time in this picturesque coastal city and for the second time in the southern state after two decades at Kochi in 1990.
About 40 plenary sessions in various disciplines of science, public lectures, parallel scientific and technical sessions, a science and technology expo and a Children's Science Congress were the highlights of the mega event that was unveiled by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Jan 3.
Organised by the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA), with the state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Kerala University as co-hosts, the focal theme of the mega event was 'Science and Technology Challenges of 21st century - National Perspective'.
Eminent scientists, including M.S. Swaminathan, father of India's first green revolution, former atomic energy secretary Anil Kakodkar and Space Commission member Roddam Narasimhan delivered lectures at the plenary sessions.
Former scientist-president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, distinguished scientists M.G.K Menon and C.N.R. Rao and Nobel laureates Roger Tsien and John Cromwell Mather from the US made presentations.
Vice-chancellors of universities and educationists from across the country and abroad discussed the status and future perspectives of science education at an university meet Tuesday.
A panel discussion on 'Frontiers of Science and Technology in 21st century' was also held during the congress.
'I have not seen such a huge participation of scientists, technologists, research scholars, experts, policy-makers and students in the previous science congresses,' ISC general president G. Madhavan Nair told reporters on its concluding day.
About 7,000 delegates, including 2,000 students from across the country, participated in the five-day mega event, held for the first time in this picturesque coastal city and for the second time in the southern state after two decades at Kochi in 1990.
About 40 plenary sessions in various disciplines of science, public lectures, parallel scientific and technical sessions, a science and technology expo and a Children's Science Congress were the highlights of the mega event that was unveiled by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Jan 3.
Organised by the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA), with the state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Kerala University as co-hosts, the focal theme of the mega event was 'Science and Technology Challenges of 21st century - National Perspective'.
Eminent scientists, including M.S. Swaminathan, father of India's first green revolution, former atomic energy secretary Anil Kakodkar and Space Commission member Roddam Narasimhan delivered lectures at the plenary sessions.
Former scientist-president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, distinguished scientists M.G.K Menon and C.N.R. Rao and Nobel laureates Roger Tsien and John Cromwell Mather from the US made presentations.
Vice-chancellors of universities and educationists from across the country and abroad discussed the status and future perspectives of science education at an university meet Tuesday.
A panel discussion on 'Frontiers of Science and Technology in 21st century' was also held during the congress.
Surya 'an Idiot' in 3 Idiots remake
Aamir was raised high with his performance in Ghajini, the remake of Tamil movie. Surya did the role in Tamil. And now for the counter return Surya will be doing the Aamir role in the 3 Idiots Tamil remake. Yes, Surya is to become one among the 3 Idiots!
The film is set in an IIT campus and he plays the role of an engineering student. The cast for the rest 2 Idiots are not yet confirmed. The official announcement for the same is yet to be made. Let's hope that the movie will make a history in Tamil industry as it has made in Bollywood.
The film is set in an IIT campus and he plays the role of an engineering student. The cast for the rest 2 Idiots are not yet confirmed. The official announcement for the same is yet to be made. Let's hope that the movie will make a history in Tamil industry as it has made in Bollywood.
Genelia hits out at Shahid Kapoor
Ken Ghosh’s next directorial venture Chance Pe Dance starring Shahid Kapoor and Genelia D’Souza is ready to hit the theatres next week. The title of the movie
explains it all in nutshell but at a recent promotional event Shahid and Genelia were put in an awkward situation when asked about him maaroin chance (hitting on) on any lass.
To which Shahid smilingly replied, “Today, time has come when girls hit on boys and boys are quite sober.” And no sooner did he say that than the bubbly Genelia unaware of Shahid’s reply to media pulled him towards her to speak to her. Smart Shahid pointed towards Genelia’s gesture and naughtily said, “Look at her she is trying to marofy chance (hit on) on me and she is a girl. I rest my case here.” Hearing this Genelia quickly took her hand away.
Seems like Shahid- Genelia the young and bubbly pair have struck a great rapport while working together in Chance Pe Dance. While rumours of Genelia getting married to Riteish Deshmukh are all doing rounds, we wonder what has Riteish has to say on this newly blossomed friendship.
explains it all in nutshell but at a recent promotional event Shahid and Genelia were put in an awkward situation when asked about him maaroin chance (hitting on) on any lass.
To which Shahid smilingly replied, “Today, time has come when girls hit on boys and boys are quite sober.” And no sooner did he say that than the bubbly Genelia unaware of Shahid’s reply to media pulled him towards her to speak to her. Smart Shahid pointed towards Genelia’s gesture and naughtily said, “Look at her she is trying to marofy chance (hit on) on me and she is a girl. I rest my case here.” Hearing this Genelia quickly took her hand away.
Seems like Shahid- Genelia the young and bubbly pair have struck a great rapport while working together in Chance Pe Dance. While rumours of Genelia getting married to Riteish Deshmukh are all doing rounds, we wonder what has Riteish has to say on this newly blossomed friendship.
Indigenous H1N1 vaccine by March: Katoch
CHANDIGARH: H1N1’s indigenous vaccines are expected to hit the Indian market by March this year at half the price of the imported ones. Dr VM Katoch, director-general, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and secretary to the Government of India, department of health research, made an announcement on Thursday while interacting with the media.
Dr Katoch was in Chandigarh to inaugurate the new academic session of PGI. Dr Katoch informed that there were four pharmaceutical companies, including Zydus Cadila and Panacea Biotec, which are in advanced stage of research. He said Zydus Cadila had already completed human trials, while Panacea was conducting animal trials.
`We are 15-days ahead of the schedule and will introduce the vaccine as early as possible,’’ said Katoch adding that government of India is negotiating on vaccine prices keeping in view community need.
The prices of indigenous vaccines would be in range of Rs 50-100, in contrast with imported ones which cost Rs 300-400. The imported vaccine will be made available for public health workers by the January-end, said Dr Katoch. He informed that the government was trying to make regulatory clearance for research easier for pharma companies so that they do not have to run from pillar to post.There is also a thrust to transform research into products and make it available to public.
source:indiatimes.com
Dr Katoch was in Chandigarh to inaugurate the new academic session of PGI. Dr Katoch informed that there were four pharmaceutical companies, including Zydus Cadila and Panacea Biotec, which are in advanced stage of research. He said Zydus Cadila had already completed human trials, while Panacea was conducting animal trials.
`We are 15-days ahead of the schedule and will introduce the vaccine as early as possible,’’ said Katoch adding that government of India is negotiating on vaccine prices keeping in view community need.
The prices of indigenous vaccines would be in range of Rs 50-100, in contrast with imported ones which cost Rs 300-400. The imported vaccine will be made available for public health workers by the January-end, said Dr Katoch. He informed that the government was trying to make regulatory clearance for research easier for pharma companies so that they do not have to run from pillar to post.There is also a thrust to transform research into products and make it available to public.
source:indiatimes.com
Is Google's Nexus One phone any good?
The screen is fantastic, it links superbly with your online Google account - but does it have what it takes to win over iPhone obsessives?
At first glance, the Nexus One doesn't look like a revolution waiting to happen. In fact, Google's much heralded rival to the Apple iPhone looks remarkably similar to almost every high-end mobile phone released in the last two years: big black screen with small button at the bottom. But as soon as you switch on the handset and swipe your finger across the screen to unlock it, it is clear this is more than just another also-ran.
The first thing that strikes you is how incredibly bright and clear the screen is. It's a 3.7in, low-power, "organic LED" screen that doesn't need backlighting and allows deep, clear blacks and vivid colours. In terms of visibility, it's streets ahead of the competition: a gang of Nexus One users waving their prized gadgets in the air could probably send a signal into space.
The second thing that leaps at your eyeballs is the animated background. Whether you've got rippling pools of water or computerised lights zipping around the screen, the constant movement whenever you're using the phone breathes a strange sort of life into this static object.
Above all, though, you are stepping through a portal into Google's world. On first use, the phone prompts you to log into your Google account – within seconds it has synchronised your email, web searches, contacts book and any other information you happen to keep with the company. Convenient for you, but also – thanks to the constant stream of data being fed back to California – handy for Google. You're now a satellite-tracked, walking, talking, web-surfing recruit into Google's informationalised army.
Despite this nagging feeling that you've stepped into the pages of Nineteen Eighty-Four, becoming one of Google's disciples boasts some impressive benefits. Browsing the web is fast, the powerful five-megapixel camera-phone with built-in flash should make the all-important business of taking good photos a doddle. The really futuristic extra, though, is "voice search". On other handsets, including the iPhone, this addition seems like a gimmick – hey, what kind of dimwit talks to their phone? – but the accuracy and speed of the Nexus One makes it feels like something from Star Trek. I asked for "toy shops in San Francisco" and it found me a (Google) map of local toy shops in a couple of seconds. Combine this with the phone's simplified "in-car mode" display and ability to speak turn-by-turn directions, and it spells goodbye to satnav.
The downsides are its appearance – sleek but bland, made from a dull, metallic-looking plastic – and the small, rubber trackball that sits under your thumb, which feels like an awkward afterthought (although it does glow in different colours to let you know when the phone is charging or connected via Bluetooth).
But a big "miss" is the feature that makes the iPhone so simple to use: multi-touch. While the Nexus One's single-finger prodding works well enough, there's none of the pinching action to zoom into maps and photographs that makes the iPhone feel so advanced, nor its realistic-feel friction. Google's on-screen keyboard feels cramped, too, and won't completely satisfy text freaks and heavy emailers.
Also missing is the depth of downloadable applications that have turned the iPhone into something much more like a mini-computer. There are plenty of programs available through the Android Market (and Google is, of course, encouraging armies of coders to feverishly build more), but there is still nowhere near the volume you can get for Apple's gizmo.
Then, of course, there's the price. Salivating British gadget fans can buy one now from Google's US shop – without a sim card or contract – for £330, and Vodafone is scrambling to make it available on a contract here for significantly less. But even then, it's unlikely to come cheap.
What ultimately justifies the price, Google argues, is the phone's sheer power. And the thing certainly is fast, with the memory and processing guts equivalent to a top-of-the-range laptop from eight or nine years ago.
But will it beat the iPhone? This debut model falls short of the smooth and totally intuitive design that Apple came up with. Google prides itself on being a company of engineers, and – despite all its bells and whistles – the Nexus One still leaves behind an aftertaste of nerdiness.
source: http://www.guardian.co.uk
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