Infosys co-founder, board director resign

BANGALORE: Infosys co-founder K Dinesh and board director TV Mohandas Pai have resigned from the IT bellwether in pursuit of their future endeavours, the company said on Friday.

"Dinesh, who will retire by rotation at the company's annual general meeting (AGM) to be held on June 11, has expressed his intention not to seek re-appointment," the company said in a statement here.

Pai has also decided to relinquish the position of member of the board and has requested the board to relieve him of the responsibilities after the AGM. Pai said that it was important for young leaders to take over and was contemplating to quit for a long time.

Infosys' board of directors will meet on April 30 to finalise plans for the company's leadership as chairman NR Narayan Murthy retires in August 2011.

Former Microsoft India head, Ravi Venkatesan was appointed as additional director on the board. In the middle of its biggest management transition ever since Infosys was founded, the company is aiming for a larger share of revenue from retail, banking and healthcare customers by shifting the roles of leaders handling multiple business units.

Pai had been in a finance role as Chief Financial Officer of Infosys since 1994, and later took responsibility for the critical functions of human resources and education. He is also a well-known public face and has been part of various committees such as the Kelkar committee for reforming direct taxes and is currently on the SEBI board.

Pai was with Bangalore-based transport firm Prakash Roadlines before he was reportedly picked up by Narayana Murthy to join Infosys in 1994.

More recently, Pai was criticised for iRace, a human resources initiative, which resulted in around 4,000-4,500 employee demotions. It de-moralised employees and the move backfired on Infosys when demand for IT services returned in October 2010.

Infosys Technologies , India's second-largest software services exporter, missed market expectations despite a 13.7 percent rise in quarterly profit, hurt by higher expenses in a seasonally weak quarter.

Kicking off the results for the nearly $60 billion Indian outsourcing sector, Infosys reported net profit of Rs 1,820 crore ($408.5 million), up from Rs 1,600 crore a year ago.

K K Mital, Head of Portfolio Management at Globe Capital, says: "Guidance especially was not upto expectations. I am hopeful they will revise guidance later in the year and that it will improve. Also, some announcements like the resignation of Mohandas Pai is not perceived well in the market. Management clarification on guidance and board members will give some moral boost to investors."

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BlackBerry tablet called 'half baked' product

TORONTO: The BlackBerry PlayBook tablet has received mixed reviews before its launch April 19.

The New York Times calls the PlayBook a "half baked'' product, adding that "it seems almost silly to try to assess it, let alone buy it.''

The BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM) has touted the 7-inch PlayBook as a rival to Apple's 10-inch iPad 2 . Its initial only-Wi-Fi version comes in three models, featuring 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of storage at $499, $599 and $699 respectively.

Though reviewers have praised its all-new QNX operating system, Flash-capable web browser (which Apple doesn't offer) and smart interface, the tablet has not found much favour because of lack of apps as compared to the iPad 2.

Further, the PlayBook is only Wi-Fi and it cannot connect to mobile networks, unlike the rival tablets from Apple, Motorola and Samsung.

As a result, important apps like email, contacts and BlackBerry Messenger will be available only when the tablet is linked with your BlackBerry smart phone through BlackBerry Bridge. So if you are not a BlackBerry user, forget about using email or other important apps on the tablet.

Criticizing RIM for not putting such crucial apps on the tablet, the New York Times review says that "at the moment, BlackBerry Bridge is the only way to do e-mail, calendar, address book and BlackBerry Messenger on the PlayBook. The PlayBook does not have e-mail, calendar or address book apps of its own. You read that right. RIM has just shipped a BlackBerry product that cannot do e-mail. It must be skating season in hell. (RIM says that those missing apps will come this summer.)

"Unfortunately, there's no video chatting app, as with Android tablets and the iPad. Similarly, the tablet has GPS, but without turn-by-turn navigation software, it's not good for much other than the built-in Bing Maps app."

The review adds, "For now, the PlayBook's motto might be, 'There's no app for that.' No existing apps run on this all-new operating system, not even BlackBerry phone apps.''

RIM claims to have received about 3,000 submissions from developers to supply apps to its all-new app store for the PlayBook. But this small number of apps won't convince people to buy the PlayBook, says the review.

"Remember, the primary competition is an iPad - the same price, but much thinner, much bigger screen and a library of 300,000 apps. In that light, does it make sense to buy a fledgling tablet with no built-in e-mail or calendar, no cellular connection, no videochat, no Skype, no Notes app, no GPS app, no videochat, no Pandora radio and no Angry Birds?''

In its review, Bloomberg is also not sure whether RIM's "gamble'' to put a device without "promised features and apps'' is "going to pay off. But it (the PlayBook) has already succeeded in important way - it has made BlackBerry relevant again.''

Since RIM has promised more software apps and Android compatibility this summer, Engadget says in its review, "So, what we see at the moment is a framework with solid fundamentals but a framework that is, right now, unfinished. We have hardware that looks and feels great but isn't being fully served by the software.

"Right now, the BlackBerry PlayBook is a tablet that will come close to satisfying those users who gravitate toward the first word in its name: BlackBerry. Those who were more excited about the 'play' part would be well advised to look elsewhere, at least until Android compatibility joins the party.''

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When Lord Indra answered the call of Vedas

Panjal (Kerala), April 15 (IANS) The primal Vedic chants that ring across the rolling greens of this village in Thrissur district are a ceremonial invitation to Lord Indra, the god of rain, to join the ancient fire ritual of Athirathram.

Towards the evening, thunder rumbles in the distance, almost as if Lord Indra is responding to the call of the 18 Vedic priests. And it rains. The priests have been chanting round-the-clock for the last three days to build up the energy level.

Panjal, 30 km from Thrissur town, was teeming with humanity on the 11th day of the ritual Thursday evening. For most tourists, it was a cultural and spiritual pilgrimage covering the Kerala Kala Mandalam, near the venue of the ritual, and the Guruvayoor temple in Thrissur district.

The village of 32,000 people has drawn nearly 300,000 visitors in the last 10 days. The footfall is likely to touch 500,000 Friday when the sprawling 380-square metre venue is set afire to mark the end of the 12-day fire ritual for peace, purification, fertility, health and rain.

It has been organised by a local non-profit group Varthathe Trust to revive dying Vedic traditions in the country.

Panjal is one of the key bastions of the 'Samavedis' and 'Rigvedis' - practitioners of the ancient Hindu scriptures Sama Veda and the Rig Veda - who have kept the two living traditions of Vedic chants and 'yagnya' (worship of elements) alive for nearly 4,000 years.

Five families each of Rig Veda practitioners and Sama Veda practitioners preserve the tradition.

The village has played host to four major Athirathrams in 1901, 1918, 1956 and 1975.

In 1975, noted Dutch Indologist Frits Staal documented the ritual in a two-volume Vedic treatise -- "Agni: The Vedic Ritual of the Fire Altar".

Staal, 81, who has returned this time, watched the proceedings from behind a barricaded enclosure. "Not much has changed. The ritual is alive and well. But it is a real pleasure to be back to Thrissur," he said.

A team from Harvard University led by professor Micheal Witzel is also studying the Sama Vedic chants. "It is one of the oldest living Vedic traditions and has not changed much," Witzel told IANS.

The ancient fire rite is an elaborate avatar of 'agnihotram' and 'somayaga' - fire worship and offering of the 'soma' rasa to the ritual fire - prescribed in the Vedas.

It's said to symbolise the creation of the world with a ball of fire from the big bang, scientists studying the phenomenon say.

Athirathram is the most complex of the Vedic fire 'yagnas', first documented in 1100 BC and continued till 600 BC across the northern Indian river plains after which it disappeared from the northern part of the country.

A Vedic community of Namboodiris Brahmins in south India, however, clung to it.

"It combines chants and rites from the Rig Veda, Sama Veda and Yajur Veda," said Nellikaatilmamanul Vasudevan Namboodiri, one of the oldest Sama Veda practitioners of Panjal.

Yajamana Ramanujan Akkhithiripad, a priest from Chembra in Mallapuram district, presided over the rituals assisted by a team of 17 Vedic priests. Ramanujan's wife - known as the 'yajman pathni', has been camping at the 'yagshala' - the venue of the rite - for the 12 days with her husband as part of the rituals.

The yajamana (presiding priest) and his wife carry the scared fire home in pots and keep it burning for the rest of their lives, Vasudevan Namboodiri said.

At the heart of the ritual is the sacrificial fire that burns in a blaze of fragrant wood and herbal smoke. The ritual hearth resembles the white-crested red eagle found in the area.

"Sighting an eagle is a good omen," says priest Sivakaran Namboodiri.

However, the ritual that generated maximum curiosity was the pressing of Soma stalks or 'somaabhishavam' on the 10th day to be offered as oblation to the fire god Agni.

The 'soma' - an intoxicating creeper that grows in the Western Ghats - is ferried to the venue in special donkey-drawn 'soma' carts in a recreation of the Vedic era.

Over 300 women, decked as brides, partook of the special offering, 'soumyam, (prasadam)', a dish of clarified butter and rice -- for healthy childbirth and conjugal happiness. And an 'annaydanam (food offering)' kitchen fed 40,000 people everyday with traditional Kerala platters of ponni rice, poreal, avial, sambhar, pickles and payasam.

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Sathya Sai Baba stable but critical

Spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba continues to be stable but critical, doctors attending on him said on Friday. According to the medical bulletin issued by Sathya Sai Super Speciality Hospital at Puttaparthi in Anantapur district, where he is admitted, most of his vital systems have shown positive re sponse to the treatment being given to him, but the response is slow. 

"All his clinical parameters of health are nearly normal and are showing improvement over the previous values. He continues to be on assisted ventilation and on intermittent dialysis," said the statement by hospital director A N Safaya.

"The panel of doctors is satisfied with the response shown by him to the treatment. However, his condition continues to be critical," it added.

The 85-year-old Baba, who has millions of devotees in India and abroad, is suffering from multi-organ dysfunction.

He was admitted to the hospital March 28 with pneumonia and breathing problems. The doctors implanted pacemaker to regulate his heartbeat.

Meanwhile, hundreds of devotees of Baba in the pilgrim town of Puttaparthi continued to hold congregations, praying for his speedy recovery.

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Ghising, Tamang's wife giving tough fight to GJM

Subhash Ghising-led Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) and the Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League (ABGL), led by the wife of slain party chief Madan Tamang, are giving a tough fight to the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) in the Darjeeling Hills in northern West Bengal that goes to the polls April 18.

A total of 16 candidates of different parties are in the fray in the three hill constituencies - Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong.

In picturesque Darjeeling constituency, the fight will be mainly between Trilok Dewan of the GJM and Bharati Tamang, president of the ABGL.

Bharati succeeded her husband Madan Tamang as party chief after he was stabbed to death allegedly by GJM supporters May 21 last year.

The other three candidates contesting from the constituency are K.B. Wattar of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), Nakul Chandra Chettri of the Congress and Bim Subba of the GNLF.

According to political observers, the main factor in the elections will be the vote of the Tamang community. Madan Tamang's murder led to the downfall of the GJM and the position of the ABGL has strengthened in the constituency.

Bharati Tamang is carrying out an intense campaign, banking on the emotions linked to Madan Tamang's murder. She said: "We are demanding Gorkhaland and punishment for those who murdered Madan Tamang."

The tribal Lepcha community has called for boycotting the polls, alleging that no development had been done for them. This could work against the Bimal Gurung led-GJM.

Five small and regional parties, including the Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxist (CPRM), have decided to support the ABGL in the Darjeeling constituency.

The GJM's Trilok Dewan, a former Andhra Pradesh chief secretary, is contesting his maiden election.

The GJM said it will resume the Gorkhaland movement again after the completion of the polls. The GJM said it will not accept an "Interim Council" in the hills on which several meetings were held among the party, the central and state governments.

The GNLF, which had spearheaded the demand for Gorkhaland from the mid-1980s to early 2008 when it was sidelined by the GJM, is getting good public support in its campaign this time.

The party is demanding that the entire hills be included in the Sixth Schedule and more power be given to the Darjeeling Gokha Hill Council.

In a public meeting here, Subhash Ghising alleged that the GJM's movement for Gorkhaland had failed.

There are 21,2354 voters and 231 polling stations in the Darjeeling constituency. Altogether 228 constituencies are hyper-sensitive. The country's highest polling station - Sirikhola primary school (altitude 2,800 m) - is located in the constituency.

In the Kurseong constituency, the fight will be mainly between the GJM's Rohit Sharma and Pemu Chettri of the GNLF.

The other four candidates in the fray are Deepa Chettri of the CPI-M, Chhabi Chandra Rai of the Congress, Shiva Kumar Pradhan of the ABGL and Independent candidate Bhupendra Lepcha.

The GNLF has a strong support belt in the village and tea garden areas of Kurseong. The party has a formidable base among tea garden labourers.

The GNLF carried out its biggest election campaign in Mirik April 9 with Ghising addressing a huge gathering.

In a reaction, the GJM also held a meeting in the same area the next day in which Gurung allegedly warned that Ghising would be forced to leave the hills.

Political observers feel the GNLF will put up a tough fight against the GJM in Kurseong.

The total number of voters in the constituency is 193,942 and total polling stations 237.

The number of hyper-sensitive booths is 230.

In Kalimpong, the fight will be mainly between GJM press and publicity secretary Harka Bahadur Chetri and Prakash Dahal of the GNLF.

The other candidates in the fray in the constituency are Shanti Kumar Sharma of the Congress, Tribhuban Rai of the ABGL and Bikram Chettri of the CPI.

Ghising is scheduled to hold a road show in the constituency.

GJM chief Gurung held a big public rally in the constituency Wednesday.

There are 165,224 voters in the Kalimpong constituency and the total number of polling station is 210. Altogether 200 booths are hyper-sensitive.

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Honking, monuments, greenery...Dilliwala at home in Lahore

Lahore, April 15 (IANS) There’s something about Lahore that sets any Dilliwala pondering over the similarities between the two cities. Right from the Mughal architecture, the imposing colonial buildings to the strong Punjabi accent, the resemblance is too strong to miss.

As you walk down the streets of Lahore, the lush greenery, over-bridges, flyovers and the wide roads will make you believe that this city and the Indian capital are identical twins separated a long time ago.

The Urdu signboards and advertisements bring you back to the reality of walking around in a Pakistani city and not Delhi.

But a visit to the old city, and there are more reasons to indulge in some kinship. What is popularly called ‘shehr’ is a replica of Old Delhi, and is also known as the ‘walled city of Lahore’. There is an old world charm to the place, which is always full of activities and a lot of hustle and bustle.

Donkey carts, truck-art embedded autos, roadside eateries, innumerable congested lanes — this part of the city is always alive with eateries serving well past the wee hours.

The place also boasts of Mughal era architecture. The most prominent of all is the Badshahi mosque which has a striking resemblance to the Jama Masjid in Old Delhi. Built in 1673 by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, it is the second biggest mosque in Pakistan with a capacity of accommodating as many as 55,000 worshippers in one go.

Unlike other Mughal buildings, the intricate work on the walls and the roof has been rightfully preserved.

Then there is the Lahore fort, very similar to the Red Fort, but in rather bad shape. It’s a Unesco World Heritage Site, and restoration work is going on to preserve the beautiful ‘Sheesh Mahal’ inside. The fort gives interesting insights into how various rulers used a particular building as per their convenience.

But the real experience of watching these breathtaking sites for a visiting IANS correspondent is from Cucoo’s Cafe or Andaaz restaurant off Fort Road, and that too at night, which gives a rare view of the extraordinary architectural marvel frozen in time.

With the gentle breeze, delightful food and a great view, Lahore is quite the place to be.

Coming to life in the city, to someone from Delhi or even from Karachi, it could seem a bit conservative. You won’t come across many girls clad in jeans and kurtas – though in high-end society, girls in short dresses or jeans are not a rare sight.

Lahore has a lot to offer in terms of recreational activities as well — parks, markets, cafes and high-end fashion boutiques can be easily sighted.

And just like Dilliwallas, people here too believe in showing off their best outfits. So you won’t miss men clad in Gucci suits and women carrying Jimmy Choo bags at parties.

Coming over to traffic, again we have something in common. The honking, the impatience is just so Delhi-like. And getting stuck in a traffic jam at peak hours is a routine people here have got used to.

Located a little over 400 km of each other, Delhi and Lahore have a lot more in common than just a shared history.

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Compassion, not censure, restores harmony at workplace

Washington, April 15 (IANS) Even a single act of support or compassion by a manager or co-worker can ease workplace tension.

If management shows "an active interest in addressing underlying issues that prompted employee anger, perceptions of improved situations increase significantly", says a new study from Temple University Fox School of Business.

Challenging traditional views of workplace anger, Deanna Geddes, a Fox School professor, suggests that even intense emotional outbursts can prove beneficial if responded to with compassion, the journal Human Relations reports.

In a study of 194 people, the researchers found no connection between firing an irate employee and solving underlying workplace problems, according to a Temple statement.

Geddes and her co-author Lisa T. Stickney also found that even a single act of support by a manager or co-worker can ease workplace tension.

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BJP asks Kashmir legislators to resign (Lead)

A day after seven Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators voted for the ruling National Conference-Congress alliance candidates in the Jammu and Kashmir legislative council elections, the party Thursday asked all its 11 legislators to submit their resignations from the assembly.

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Tug of war going on between ISI and CIA: Report

ISLAMABAD: A tug of war is taking place between Pakistan .s intelligence agency ISI and the CIA, said a Pakistani daily while noting that the US had given out the firm message that it was in "in no mood" to scale down operations in this country's tribal areas.

An editorial in the Daily Times Friday said that by carrying out a drone attack near Angoor Adda in South Waziristan just a day after a four-hour long meeting between the CIA and ISI, "the US has given out a firm message that it is in no mood to scale down its CIA-led operations in the tribal areas of Pakistan".

In the meeting held between the Central Intelligence Agency and Inter-Services Intelligence in Washington, "Pakistan had put the pre-condition of limiting the scale of drone attacks for resuming intelligence cooperation with the US in the war against terror, which was stalled after the arrest of CIA contractor Raymond Davis in Lahore in January".

After Davis was arrested, it had come to light that there were around 300-350 CIA agents working in Pakistan.

"Although they have supposedly left the country to secure the release of Raymond Davis, is there a guarantee they would not be replaced?

"It is hard to imagine that the camel in the Arab's tent will leave voluntarily. The latest drone attack is a clear indication of the US thinking," it said.

The editorial said that it seemed unlikely that the US would rollback its presence or operations as long as it sees them serving its interests in the region.

"Pakistan is caught between a rock and a hard place and it would take a real test of wits of Pakistan's security establishment to find a way out.

"In fact, the two sides are locked in an uneasy embrace where they do not trust each other but need each other's help. Presently, a tug of war is going on between the two. Only time will tell which way things would settle."

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Pakistanis to sweat it out this summer

Islamabad, April 15 (IANS) Pakistanis will have to sweat it out this summer as the acute electricity shortage in the country is expected to worsen in the coming days.

The electricity shortage now stands at 3,500 MW and it is expected to go up to between 4,000 and 4,500MW this season when the mercury begins to inch up.

Dawn reported Friday that the power shortage would mean power disruption of nine to 10 hours a day as a shortfall of 450MW translates into an average loadshedding of an hour.

Sources said Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar, who chaired a meeting of the Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB), Thursday was informed about the power shortage.

A senior official of Federal Flood Commission said that prevailing low flow in rivers would continue till May 15 when snow would start melting in Skardu and other catchment areas in the northern region.

Power company representatives said they faced serious problems due to non-payment of dues by public sector consumers, including the federal government.

They also wanted the provincial governments to clear their dues, including Sindh government which alone has to pay up Rs.35 billion.

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Name new law minister, Pakistan court to government

Islamabad, April 15 (IANS) The Supreme Court has told the Pakistan government to name a new law minister to attend a judicial panel meeting after Babar Awan quit to argue in the retrial of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's death sentence.

The court Thursday wanted the new law minister to be named so as to attend the scheduled meeting of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan Saturday, Dawn reported Friday.

Federal Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Babar Awan Wednesday made his offer to resign in the Supreme Court during the hearing of reopening of former prime minister Z.A. Bhutto's trial.

The minister had sought permission to argue the case. However, the court didn't allow it, saying as he was law minister he couldn't be permitted. Awan then presented his resignation.

An effort is on to re-examine the death sentence meted out to Bhutto who was ousted from power in a military putsch in 1977.

He was hanged two years later April 4, 1979, when the country was ruled by General Zia-ul Haq.

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Pakistan rights report highlights problems of Hindus, Sikhs

Islamabad, April 15 (IANS) Stating that about 25 percent of Sikhs in Orakzai Agency were forced to leave their homes and 27 Hindu families sought asylum in India due to security threats, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called 2010 a particularly bad year for minorities.

The report released Thursday said that about 25 percent of the 102 Sikh families in Orakzai Agency had to leave after Taliban asked them to pay Jaziya or leave the area. The Sikhs could return only after a major military operation.

It also said that at least 27 Hindu families had sought asylum in India due to security threats.

HRCP has said the government did not extend sympathies to the victims of faith-related killings, Dawn reported Friday.

The report "State of Human Rights in 2010" said there were few positive developments in Pakistan with regard to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

It stated that there had been a string of faith-based attacks in which not only were minorities targeted but 418 Muslims belonging to various sects were also killed.

"All indications suggest that there are even worse times ahead.

"Extremist views grew more vociferous as voices for basic human rights and tolerance became more isolated in face of violence and intimidation," the report said.

Criticising the police, the report stated that it was not doing enough to protect the minorities from attacks and had also been accused of harassing or being complicit in framing false charges.

HRCP chairman Mehdi Hassan was quoted as saying that most of the human rights violations were by government functionaries.

"Under such conditions, who will ensure that the laws are being implemented?"

The report said that as many as 64 people were charged under the blasphemy law last year and many of them were imprisoned.

A Muslim and two Christian men accused of blasphemy were killed in police custody, the media report said.

Mentioning the law and order situation, it said about 12,580 people were murdered and 581 kidnapped for ransom. At least 16,977 abduction cases were reported.

As many as 1,159 people, included 1,041 civilians, were killed in 67 suicide attacks.

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Former Bengal Lokayukta calls for stringent anti-graft law

Kolkata, April 15 (IANS) Former Lokayukta of West Bengal Justice Samaresh Banerjea has demanded suitable amendment in the West Bengal Lokayukta Act and urged people to carry forward the Anna Hazare movement.

Banerjea, who is the chairman of rights group People's Forum for Peace and democracy, said at a conference here: "Our duty does not end only with congratulating Anna Hazare. Don't we need a comprehensive anti-corruption machinery in our state?"

"We do need a strong law, only then can the Lokayukta perform efficiently," Banerjea said Thursday.

"Lokayukta is the only institution which can combat corruption and check abuse and misuse of power. The resonance of the Hazare movement needs to be amplified in our state."

Veteran Gandhian Anna Hazare caught the imagination of the nation when he sat on a fast-unto-death for a stringent anti-corruption law April 5. The reformer broke his 97-hour fast after the government agreed to most of his demands.

"We call upon the people, including the civil society and the political parties whether in power or not to come forward for creating a strong, vibrant and meaningful institution of Lokayukta by amending the existing act of 2003," said Banerjea who has been the only Lokayukta in the state.

Banerjea also made his disappointment known on the failure of political parties to include provisions for a strong Lokayukta in their manifestos.

"Do any of the party manifestos contain anything regarding Lokayukta? We keep blaming the government. What about the opposition? Why are they sleeping?" asked Banerjea.

"Whichever party comes to power and whoever becomes the chief minister will have to amend the existing Lokayukta Act, giving adequate powers to the Lokayukta. This is not my request but a demand," added Banerjea.

Banerjea also proposed to hold a workshop April 20-21 to demand enactment of provisions for bringing public servants and bureaucrats under the ambit of the Lokayukta, making mandatory provisions for providing the Lokayukta with an independent investigating agency and ensuring proportionate civil society representation in the committee to be formed for drafting the amending act.

On his stint as the Lokayukta, Banerjea said: "I had to face tremendous bureaucratic interference when I was in the office. I had received complaints against leaders of not only the ruling party but those of the parties in the opposition also."

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30 illegal Pakistani immigrants held in Britain

Islamabad, April 14 (IANS) At least 30 Pakistanis working illegally in Britain have been arrested in a series of operations across the country, the British High Commission here said Thursday.

Around 270 other workers of various nationalities were arrested by the UK Border Agency (UKBA), Xinhua reported citing a high commission statement.

British immigration minister Damian Green said in a statement: ‘The UK Border Agency officers across the country have carried out a major enforcement crackdown which has generated a large number of arrests, cash seizures and prosecutions.’

Steps are now being taken to remove the majority of these illegal workers from Britain, the high commission statement said.

Carol Doughty, regional director of the agency in Pakistan and the Gulf region, said: ‘We do not single out Pakistanis. We will not tolerate this abuse from (people of) any nationality. We will take action against all of those who are living in Britain illegally, including those who overstay, illegal entrants and those working without permission.’

The statement said Britain and Pakistan share a close relationship through ties of history, trade, investment and security.

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Two shipped to Singapore after dozing in container, one dead

Dhaka, April 15 (IANS) Two Bangladeshi port workers who slept off in a container at Chittagong port ended up in Singapore via Malaysia - having gone without food and water for nine days. One of them died, a media report said Friday.

Din Islam, 30, said he and co-worker Alamgir got trapped while resting in the container April 1. They had nothing but a pack of cigarettes between them.

Singapore police said Din Islam and the body of Alamgir were discovered last Sunday by workers at Pasir Panjong Container Terminal in Singapore after they heard loud banging in the container.

Authorities in Singapore are treating this as a genuine case.

Singapore police said they do not believe that foul play was involved. However, some people think the men could have got into the container with an intent to seek employment abroad.

Earlier, fortune-seekers took risky journeys from Cox's Bazar in southeastern Bangladesh to Malaysia, and many have died on the way, The Daily Star of Dhaka said.

The New Paper and the Straits Times of Singapore reported the incident.

The container was carried from Chittagong Port to Singapore by cargo ship Hansa Caledo, which sailed from Chittagong April 2.

The two men had completed their cleaning chores at Chittagong Port when they popped into the empty container to take a nap, Din Islam told Singapore police, reported The Straits Times Tuesday.

Din Islam said they shouted and banged on the walls of the container to attract attention before it was being shipped. But no help came.

"Then we just slept and we didn't know that the container had been picked up and transported onto the ship. By the time we woke up, we were probably already on the ship," Din told The New Paper.

He said his colleague, estimated to be 40 years old, collapsed and died after a few days in the container.

"I really didn't know what to do. I was very scared... I cried and I prayed to god for a miracle to happen. I prayed for my life," he added.

The Hansa Caledo made a five-day journey from Chittagong to Singapore.

After arrival in Singapore, the container was moved to the port's yard.

On Sunday, as the container was being moved to a trailer so it could be reloaded onto another ship bound for Vietnam, dock workers heard banging from inside.

When they opened the door, they found Din Islam with the decomposing corpse of his co-worker with no travel document.

Alamgir's corpse was taken to Singapore General Hospital, while police have handed over Din Islam to Transient Workers Count Too (TWC), a charity for migrants in Singapore.

He will be under TWC's care until he is fully fit to return home, said Bangladeshi A.K.M. Mohsin, who is the editor of Banglar Kantha, a Bangla newspaper published from Singapore.

"Details of the two men could not be known yet," Bangladesh High Commission First Secretary Zahid Hossain in Singapore told The Daily Star over the phone.

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Diet, exercise combination best way to lose weight

Washington, April 15 (IANS) New York, Washington and 44 other of America’s 366 metro areas have flipped from majority white to majority populations of minorities during the last decade, according to new census data.

That number is up from 32 in 2000, 10 in 1990 and nine in 1980, according to William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution with San Diego, Las Vegas and Memphis among others joining cities where white people are now in the minority.

The changes are a result of relatively slow growth among the white population, white people moving outside metropolitan areas, and huge increases in minority populations, especially Hispanic and Asian, including Indians.

Recent analysis also showed white children are in the minority in 10 states.

The 2010 Census figures ‘show we’re becoming a more diverse nation, especially in our metropolitan areas, and it’s filtering out from there,’ Frey was quoted as saying by CNN.

Meanwhile, the growing Hispanic population in the United States has reached a new milestone, topping 50 million, or 16.3 percent of the nation, officially solidifying its position as the country’s second-largest group, US Census Bureau officials said Thursday.

‘Overall, we’ve learned that our nation’s population has become more racially and ethnically diverse over the past 10 years,’ said Nicholas A. Jones, chief of the bureau’s racial statistics branch.

The most significant trend emerging from the 2010 census appeared to be the nation’s new count of 50.5 million Latinos, officials said.

The Hispanic population grew 43 percent since 2000, they said. In stark contrast, all other populations together grew by only about 5 percent, officials said. The nation as a whole expanded by 9.7 percent.

The Asian population also grew 43 percent, increasing from 10.2 million in 2000 to 14.7 million in 2010, officials said. Asians now account for about 5 percent of the nation’s population.

The African-American population, which grew by about 4.3 million, is now about 40 million, or 12.6 percent of the population, a slight increase over 12.3 percent in 2000, officials said.

The census data show that while the white population increased by 2.2 million to 196.8 million, its share of the total population dropped to 64 percent from 69 percent, officials said.

‘The face of the country is changing,’ said Jeffrey Passel, demographer at the Pew Hispanic Centre.

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Anxiety can weaken bones

Sydney, April 15 (IANS) Beware -- anxiety now comes with a new risk: it weakens your bones!

Researchers from Deakin in Australia and Norwegian universities analysed data of over 8,000 men and women from central Norway and found a link between depressive symptoms and reduction in bone mineral density.

Participants underwent forearm bone mineral density scans, reports the Journal of Affective Disorders.

Deakin researcher Lana Williams said it was found that depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms in men were associated with lower bone mineral density, said a Deakin statement.

"There are several known risk factors for low bone mineral density, such as advanced age, gender (women are at greater risk than men), familial predisposition, low levels of sex hormones, inadequate calcium intake and vitamin D deficiency," Williams said.

"It is possible that poor mental health could be another one of these risk factors."

Recently, the possible association between psychiatric illness - particularly depression - and osteoporosis has been the subject of a growing body of research.

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After heart attack, some exercise helps

Toronto, April 15 (IANS) Early and prolonged exercise and not rest seems to be the best option after a heart attack.

A new study shows that the heart tends to become better with exercise sooner and with continued exercise over a longer period of time.

"While it has been shown that exercise has a favourable effect on heart function, it's also important to dispel the idea that what the heart needs is rest," said Mark Haykowsky, study co-author and researcher in rehabilition medicine at the University of Alberta.

Study co-author Alex Clark, a researcher at Alberta, said: "In the past, patients in Canada and the US have been told to wait for a month before beginning their exercise treatment and this treatment typically only goes on for about three months."

Patients who began their exercise program one week after getting a heart attack were found to have the best heart performance, the journal Trials reports.

For those who waited to start their exercise rehabilitation program, the results showed that "for every week that a patient delayed his or her exercise treatment, he or she had to train for the equivalent of one month longer to get similar benefits", said Clark, according to an Alberta statement.

"Our findings suggest that at least six months of exercise is the most beneficial," he added.

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China to create alternative to human breast milk

Beijing, April 15 (IANS) China will soon create dairy products from milk produced by genetically modified cattle and containing most of the nutrients as in human breast milk.

The ministry of agriculture has given the go-ahead to test the ‘human-like’ milk, which will be available in the Chinese market in two years, said Li Ning, a researcher at the State Key Laboratories for Agro-biotechnology at China Agricultural University.

The milk, which cows produced after researchers tweaked their genetic codes, is rich in lactalbumin, lactoferrin, and lysozume – proteins that are found in human breast milk, according to Xinhua.

‘Such proteins can be easily absorbed by the human body and can boost the immune system, which is why breastfeeding is always better than using bovine milk and infant formula,’ said Li.

Though not yet a perfect substitute for breast milk, as it lacks some antibodies and a protein that helps boost babies’ intelligence, the milk had a potential for great marketing.

‘The milk pumped out by our cattle will be a cheap source for such rare proteins, which are precious components hailed by the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries,’ said Li.

Though genetic engineering has been a rising technology, studied by pharmaceutical and biological industries and widely used to mass-produce vaccines and drugs like insulin, food production is yet to gain international recognition.

Similar concerns are present in the Chinese market, as consumers complain about lack of available information about the potential hazards of such food.

‘I think the scientists are doing a good thing (by developing genetically-modified milk) as it may help mothers who are unable to breast feed, but I, myself, won’t drink such milk just because it contains more nutrients,’ said a consumer named Tan.

Li Ning said they have highlighted the safety issue in their work, and that no research has yet indicated that such food was detrimental to human health.

The modified milk has reportedly passed the safety test of the Chinese Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, which said the milk ‘proved more healthy than the conventional one’.

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11-year-olds in US can now order condoms via mail

New York, April 15 (IANS) Children as young as 11 in Philadelphia city in the US can now order free condoms via mail in a new campaign launched to reduce sexually transmitted diseases.

The programme, launched by the department of health, features a website that shows facts on diseases like chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HIV/AIDS, as well as instructions for young girls on how to use female condoms, Fox News reports.

'Playing it safe just got easier. If you live in Philadelphia and are between the ages of 11 and 19, you can now have condoms mailed directly to you for FREE. Maybe it's difficult for you to stop by one of our sites to pick up condoms. Or maybe you're just shy or feeling weird about picking up condoms,' the website TakeControlPhilly.org reads.

'Every girl is different. Figure out what position works for you. You can stand with one foot on a chair, sit on the edge of a chair, lie down, squat, or for fun, have your partner help you out,' it says.

The website that asks visitors to the city to use condoms 'each and every time', also provides an option where users can order free male condoms to be mailed directly to their homes.

Recent national data shows that Philadelphia has one of the highest rates of STDs among comparable cities, with African-Americans and adolescents being disproportionately affected, officials said.

A youth survey found that 37 percent of sexually active high school students in Philadelphia do not use condoms during sexual encounters.

While giving away condoms to children as young as 11 might 'seem a little young' to Kevin Burns, executive director of Action AIDS, he said the free condom programme was appropriate.

'If children are old enough to be having sex, which they are in that age range (ages 11-19), they need to have protection,' he said.

One parent in Philadelphia, however, told the Philadelphia Daily News that sending condoms to 11-year-old kids - perhaps without their parents' knowledge - was not very responsible.

'As a parent, I am personally outraged. What's the back story on this campaign? What is it telling our youth? I get the sex-education thing for kids in schools, but mail-order condoms for 11-year-olds? It's shocking to me,' the unnamed parent said.

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Jairam asks Orissa to resubmit POSCO report (Lead)

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh Thursday asked the Orissa government to review its submission that that there are no tribal inhabitants or forest dwellers in the land it has proposed for the $12 billion POSCO steel project following objections raised by an anti-displacement group.

The Orissa government Wednesday said it had informed the union environment and forests ministry that there were no tribal inhabitants or other traditional forest dwellers.

The anti-displacement group, POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti, had made a representation to the ministry, which said the resolutions of two villages, Dhinkia and Gobindapur, had not been considered by the state government.

“While it is true that the state government had earlier categorically denied the authenticity of documentation submitted by the POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Committee, I do believe that these two Resolutions have to be disposed off by the appropriate authority in accordance with the Forest Rights Act,” said Ramesh in a letter.

He added that the a final decision regarding forest clearance will be taken only after the state government had completed the process of recognition and verificiation procedure for all the villages from where forest land is to be transferred.

“Ignoring these two Palli Sabha Resolutions and not allowing them to be subjected to a due process of law as enshrined in the Forest Rights Act, 2006 would be tantamount, in my considered opinion, to violating the very essence of this legislation passed unanimously and with acclaim by parliament,” said the minister.

The ministry in January granted conditional clearance to the project to be built in Jagatsinghpur, near the port town of Paradip.

While granting approval, the ministry asked the state government to give a categorical assurance that no traditional forest dwellers are dependent on or cultivating land in theproject area.

The POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS), which has been spearheading the movement against the project, said the state government has for the third time submitted false information.

"The government of India may or may not grant approval to the project, but as far as we are concerned, our protest against the project will continue," PPSS spokesperson Prasant Paikray told IANS.

"We have already produced evidences before the government that the area is inhabited by forest dwellers," he added.

Paikray said his group Thursday obtained the copy of the letter the state government has written to the central government. "We will hold a public meeting at Patna (a village at the heart of the proposed site) and set the copies of the letter on fire", he said.

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Warm morning in Delhi

New Delhi, April 15 (IANS) Delhiites woke up to a warm Friday morning with partly cloudy skies. The minimum temperature was recorded a notch above average at 21.8 degrees Celsius.

"The skies are partly cloudy, which means that the earth's heat is trapped by the cloud cover, thereby making for a warm day," an official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The maximum temperature is expected to touch 36 degrees Celsius.

The humidity level in the morning was recorded at 57 percent.

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Orissa yet to renew pact with POSCO

 New Delhi: More girls than boys have cracked the preliminary exam of the all India medical and dental entrance test conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), a CBSE statement said.

The results for All India Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Entrance Preliminary Examination (AIPMT) was declared Thursday.

A total of 26,060 students cleared the exam out of 207,590 students who appeared in the exam. While 13,229 girls have cleared the exam, the number of boys is 12,831.

"The result of All India Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Entrance Preliminary Examination, 2011 held on April 3, 2011 (Sunday) has been declared. 26,060 candidates have qualified for appearing in the final stage examination which would be held on May 15," the statement said.
  

The candidates can access the result on CBSE's website www.aipmt.nic.in and www.cbseresults.nic.in, the statement said.

Result can also be obtained by sending SMS to 56070 in the format -- aipmtresultpre. 

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Girls score over boys in medical prelims

New Delhi, April 14 (IANS) More girls than boys have cracked the preliminary exam of the all India medical and dental entrance test conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), a CBSE statement said.

The results for All India Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Entrance Preliminary Examination (AIPMT) was declared Thursday.

A total of 26,060 students cleared the exam out of 207,590 students who appeared in the exam. While 13,229 girls have cleared the exam, the number of boys is 12,831.

'The result of All India Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Entrance Preliminary Examination, 2011 held on April 3, 2011 (Sunday) has been declared. 26,060 candidates have qualified for appearing in the final stage examination which would be held on May 15,' the statement said.

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India should boost bus, train services with Pakistan: Book

 New Delhi: India must work to increase bus and train services with Pakistan even if Islamabad is hesitant, a group of scholars have said in a newly released book.

This is one of the many measures New Delhi must embark on if it seeks to expand all-round relations with neighbouring countries including China, say the scholars in the book, 'India's Foreign Policy: Old Problems, New Challenges'.

Published by Macmillan, the book has a collection of papers brought out by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies to honour its two leading men, P.R. Chari and Maj Gen Dipankar Banerjee. Scholars D. Suba Chandran, N. Manoharan, P.G. Rajamohan, Vibhanshu Shekhar, Jabin T. Jacob, Raghav Sharma and Sandeep Bhardwaj say that it's important to scale up India-Pakistan links.

'The bus and train services (with Pakistan) need to be expanded in terms of frequency and the number of people they cater to,' they say.

'Even if Pakistan is hesitant, India should take unilateral measures in allowing more Pakistanis to visit New Delhi and beyond.

'An increased inflow is automatically bound to increase the demand for more services from within Pakistan.'

The writers said that the number of truck services between India and Pakistan should also be increased, and New Delhi should not wait for any reciprocity from Islamabad.

'Such an expansion should not be focussed only across the well-defined India-Pakistan border but also include the LoC (Line of Control dividing Kashmir),' they said.

'There is increasing demand to open the Jammu-Sialkot and Kargil-Skardu roads, and also open the LoC itself for trade.

'Given the political and emotional impact that opening the LoC will have for various sections inside Jammu and Kashmir, India should adopt a pro-active policy in improving physical connectivity with the other side.

'Such a process should also have the long-term objective of reopening the Silk Route, thus connecting Jammu and Kashmir with Tibet, Xinjiang and the rest of Central Asia.'

Similarly, the scholars argue, improved road and rail links with Bangladesh were essential for the development of India's huge northeast.

In the case of Sri Lanka, they say, the proposed land-bridge linking Talaimannar and Dhanushkodi 'would also offer tremendous scope for industrial linkages, especially between southern India and Sri Lanka'.

The scholars have demanded a trans-border bus service to connect Imphal in Manipur and Mandalay in Myanmar via the Moreh-Tamu border post.

The book says that India's connectivity with its neighbouring countries and regions has actually declined since 1947, when the British Raj ended.

'Following the conflict of 1962, India and China have still not managed to shed their mistrust and continue to allow little movement of either people or goods across their borders.'

The book goes on: 'Hardened mindsets, especially among the respective bureaucracies, are also in evidence with respect to Pakistan where despite the composite dialogue, improving physical connectivity between the two countries continues to be making slow progress.'

Lack of physical connectivity, say the scholars, has meant that there has been little people-to-people contact in the South Asian region and between this region and other parts of Asia.

Consequently, the countries of the region continue to have an incomplete, often distorted, understanding of each other.

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After China visit, Manmohan leaves for Kazakhstan

Sanya (China), April 15 (IANS) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday left this Chinese coastal resort for the next leg of his two-nation five-day tour that will take him to Kazakhstan.

The prime minister's Air India One aircraft took off from the Phoenix Airport here around 11 a.m. (Chinese time). It is expected to land at the International Airport Astana, in the Kazakhstan capital, around 5 p.m. (local time).

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Hu calls for inclusive development in Asia

Boao (China), April 15 (IANS) Chinese President Hu Jintao Friday called for inclusive development in Asia and said people of the continent had the major task of maintaining both development and stability.

As the second decade of the 21st century dawns upon us, Asia is at a new starting point in its development, Hu said at the opening ceremony of the 2011 annual meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA).

'As the trend toward multi-polarity and economic globalization deepens, the people of Asia have the major task of maintaining both development and stability,' he said while delivering the keynote speech at the forum's opening ceremony in China's southern town of Boao.

'That is why the theme of this year' s BFA annual conference -- Inclusive Development: Common Agenda and New Challenges -- is so relevant,' said the president.

Xinhua reported that it was the third time the president was attending the Boao Forum, a non-government platform for global political, business and academic leaders. He had delivered speeches at the annual Boao Forum meetings in 2004 and 2008 respectively.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, South African President Jacob Zuma, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Zapatero and Ukrainian Prime Minister Mikola Azarov will attend the forum.

'Asians belong to one family,' said the Chinese leader, adding that the people of Asia have a shared mission to promote common development and build a harmonious Asia.

Hu proposed that Asian countries respect diversity of civilization and promote good-neighbourly relations.

The Asian countries need to transform their economic development pattern in keeping with global trends, restructure their economies, build capacity for scientific and technological innovation, and develop the green economy, said the president.

'We need to focus on both the speed and quality of development, and ensure both efficiency and quality,' he added.

'We need to integrate our effort to develop the economy with that to improve people's well-being, and achieve coordinated economic and social development,' he added.

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Tamils, Punjabis celebrate festivals in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Tamils and Punjabis settled in Malaysia Thursday celebrated the Tamil New Year and Vaisakhi Thursday.

The Punjabi community, estimated at over 100,000, have begun the customary three days of non-stop recital of scriptures from the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy text of the Sikhs at gurdwaras nationwide.

At the Gurdwara Sahib in Sentul, some 3,000 people attended the prayers that began Tuesday.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, Tuesday shared in the festivities. He was welcomed by gurdwara president Gurdiall Singh, New Straits Times reported.

The temple committee cooked and fed the devotees, and also organised games such as eating competitions and a turban tying race. It also held a fashion show.

Of the 12 gurdwaras here and in Selangor state, four celebrate on a grand scale Thursday.

"We will be cooking at least 15 dishes for devotees as well as visitors, including tourists," said Jalan Raja Alang Gurdwara president Inder Singh.

Besides Sikhs celebrating Vaisakhi, the New Year festival is observed on a large scale by the Tamils, who form a bulk of Malaysia's 2.1 million ethnic Indian community that is eight percent of the multi-racial 28 million population.

Cleaning of their homes was followed by elaborate offerings of fruits and flowers to the deities at temples in the national capital's Lebuh Apang, Brickfields and Masjid India areas.

Astrologers, palmists and numerologists in temples also received a steady stream of clients.

The twin festivals also saw a shopping spree.

The hottest-selling items were gold coins and coins engraved with the likeness of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, which are placed on altars at home to usher in prosperity, the newspaper said.

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Usha Uthup to perform at charity event in Muscat

MUSCAT: Noted Indian singer Usha Uthup will perform at a charity event in Oman capital Muscat, proceeds from which would go to a charity working for cancer awareness.

The singer will be accompanied by other artistes, including singers Anand Narayan and Reshmi Vijayan, at the April 29 free-for-all event organised by Y's Men International.

Y's Men International is a socio-cultural wing of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). Money raised from the programme will go to the National Association of Cancer Awareness (NACA).

"This is the first programme from Y's Men in Oman and we want to make it memorable," Mammen George, president of Y's Men, was quoted as saying by Oman's The Week newspaper.

Usha Uthup, recently honoured with the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian awards, will be felicitated by Indian Ambassador to Oman Anil Wadhwa.

A dance programme choreographed by dancer Sreevidya Vijayan will also be staged.

An array of other popular Indian television actors, comedians and singers will also perform at the show.

Yuthar Mohammed al Rawahi, founder and honorary life president of NACA, said: "We are thankful to Y's Men for helping us. We are in need of donations and it is nice when people approach us on their own to contribute to a noble cause."

Y's Men helps needy children in Indian schools in Oman by paying their fees. It has also extended financial support for building houses for the needy in the southern Indian state of Kerala.

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American Sikh Day celebrated at California Capitol

SACRAMENTO: The Sikh American community celebrated the first ever American Sikh Day in California on the steps of the California State Capitol with dozens of California elected officials.

The event Wednesday highlighted the history and contributions of Sikh Americans in California and the challenges the community faces, according to the Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund ( SALDEF), a community civil rights group.

At the event, organized by Sacramento Sikh Temple and Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg Steinberg, officials and interfaith and advocacy groups expressed their solidarity with the Sikh American community following recent attacks against them in California.

Last November, a Sikh cab driver Harbhajan Singh was brutally attacked by two passengers in West Sacramento and in March two elderly Sikhs, Surinder Singh (67) and Gurmej Atwal (78) were shot in Elk Grove. While Singh died on the spot Atwal, is still in critical condition.

"One thing we can all agree on is that prejudice and discrimination have no place in California," Steinberg said. "No one should be the victim of a hate crime, no one should be the victim of differential treatment, no on should assume something negative about someone because they follow their religion."

"Today, we come here partly because of tragedy but leave here with unity. It's important we learn about each other and that's why I wore the turban to support you all today," said California State Senator Doug LaMalfa.

"We all have common bonds as part of the American fabric and having that common love is what America is about," he said.

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BRICS regrets force, but doesn't oppose air strikes in Libya (Roundup)

Sanya (China), April 14 (IANS) Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) - the five big emerging economies - Thursday regretted the use of force in the Arab world but refrained at the same time from explicitly calling for an end to the NATO-led air strikes on Libya, an indication of lack of consensus on the issue.

But they were concerned over the global uncertainty following developments in West Asia and North Africa and agreed to coordinate their viewpoints on global political issues.

Expressing deep concern over the mass unrest in the Middle East, North Africa and West Africa, the BRICS leaders said in a joint statement “the use of force should be avoided”.

“We maintain that the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of each nation should be respected,” they said in the statement, issued after the 3rd summit of the bloc in the coastal city of Sanya in China’s Hainan island.

The situation in Libya and the UN-imposed no-fly zone that led to NATO air strikes in the North African country were among the issues deliberated upon by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, presidents Hu Jintao of China, Dilma Rousseff of Brazil, Dmitry Medvedev of Russia and Jacob Zuma of South Africa.

China, Russia, India and Brazil have earlier condemned the air strikes on Libyan forces to end Muammar Gaddafi’s 41-year rule. They abstained from the March 17 voting authorising the air strikes. China and Russia, with their veto power as permanent members of the UN Security Council, could have stopped the strikes.

South Africa, a new entrant to the grouping, was the only BRICS country that voted for the resolution.

But President Zuma called for a halt to the NATO campaign when he toured Tripoli Sunday.

The joint statement said: “We are deeply concerned with the turbulence … and sincerely wish the countries affected achieve peace, stability, prosperity and progress and enjoy their due standing and dignity in the world, according to the legitimate aspirations of their peoples.”

But the five countries didn’t specifically call for an end to NATO strikes and expressed their “wish to continue our cooperation in the UN Security Council on Libya”.

“We are of the view that all the parties should resolve their differences through peaceful means and dialogue in which the UN and regional organizations should as appropriate play their role.”

The statement said they supported the African Union’s mediating initiative to end hostilities in Libya.

The BRICS countries wield a growing political and economic clout as they together represent more than 40 percent of the world’s population and 20 percent of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The fastest emerging economies are projected to contribute 48 percent to the global economy in the next decade.

They coincidentally are now members of the UN Security Council with China and Russia being permanent and the other three countries, including India, non-permanent members.

The leaders also sounded somewhat muted over the issue when they addressed a joint press conference.

Manmohan Singh said: “The developments in West Asia and North Africa, and the aftermath of the huge tragedy that befell Japan, have introduced fresh uncertainties in the global recovery process.”

President Hu did not mention Libya in his comments to journalists. They also didn’t allow the question in what was supposed to be a joint press conference.

Earlier, addressing the plenary of the summit, Manmohan Singh asked the fellow leaders to “join hands in ensuring a peaceful and orderly transformation of the world order that reflects contemporary and emerging realities”.

“This should be the case whether it is the reform of political and security governance structures in the United Nations or the international financial, monetary or trade system,” he said.

Calling for comprehensive UN reforms, China and Russia joined other BRICS members in supporting the aspirations of India, Brazil and South Africa for a permanent place in the Security Council.

“We express our strong commitment to multilateral diplomacy with the United Nations playing the central role in dealing with global challenges and threats,” they said in the joint statement.

“China and Russia reiterate the importance they attach to the status of India, Brazil and South Africa in international affairs, and understand and support their aspiration to play a greater role in the UN,” the statement said.

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India, South Africa to hold joint naval drill

Sanya (China), April 14 (IANS) India and South Africa will hold joint naval exercises soon but the dates are yet to be finalised, a senior official said Thursday after a meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Jacob Zuma here.

The two leaders discussed bilateral trade and defence ties and a ‘gamut of issues’ that include the turmoil in Libya, Secretary, (economic relations) in the external affairs ministry Manbeer Singh told reporters here.

Manmohan Singh and Zuma met for about 45-minutes on the sidelines of the 3rd BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) summit here.

Manbeer Singh said the two leaders deliberated on ‘defence cooperation between the two sides’ and were of the view that the ties could be ‘made profitable by strengthening them’.

In this context, he said, it was decided to hold ‘joint naval exercise between the South African and Indian navies’.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction over the progress made in trade ties and noted that the two countries were poised to achieve the target of $12 billion by next year. ‘It was now revised to $15 billion,’ said the official.

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Protest over damage caused to Ambedkar statue

Gandhinagar, April 14 (IANS) A statue of Dalit icon B.R. Ambedkar was found damaged on his birth anniversary Thursday in Rajkot city leading to a violent protest and an arson attack on a house, police said.

Police lobbed tear gas shells and resorted to a cane charge to control the situation in Morbi Road area where people took to streets to protest against the incident.

A mob threw stones at the police who reached the spot where the statue was damaged. A house was also set on fire. However, no casualty was reported.

Rajkot Police Commissioner Geeta Johri blamed anti-social elements who wanted to disturb peace in the city for the incident.

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Bomb scare at Delhi Metro station

New Delhi: Security forces carried out an extensive check after a call was received at the Anand Vihar Metro station on Thursday threatening to blow it up, police said, adding the call turned out to be a hoax.

Police said that an anonymous call was received around 1.30 pm and dog squads and bomb disposal teams were immediately rushed to the spot.

An officer of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which guard all Metro stations, said all precautionary measures were taken.

"We searched the entire station and soon the situation was under control," said the CISF officer.

However, the Metro services at the station were normal and no delay was caused, said the officer.

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Rs.9 mn looted from Karachi bank

Karachi, April 14 (IANS) Robbers looted Rs.9 million from a bank in the Pakistani port city of Karachi Thursday, a media report said.

The armed robbers looted a branch of the Muslim Commercial Bank in the Jodia Bazaar area, Geo News reported citing the Pakistan Press International (PPI) news agency.

The robbers barged into the bank, held staff and customers hostage at gunpoint and decamped with the booty, it said.

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14 die in Chile road accident

Santiago, April 15 (IANS) Fourteen people, including 10 women, were killed and 22 others injured when their bus overturned on a highway in Chile Thursday, Xinhua reported.

The accident occurred around 2.30 p.m. between Chillan and Concepcion cities in the Bio bio region, some 550 km south of Santiago. Six of the injured were in serious condition.

Survivors said the accident occurred after the driver entered a curve without reducing the speed. The bus was carrying 43 people, including three crewmembers.

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Aniston back with Cooper?

London, April 15 (IANS) Jennifer Aniston and Bradley Cooper have reportedly rekindled their romance, just weeks after the actor split from Renee Zellweger.

The couple who first got together in 2009 are said to have decided to give their relationship another go and have been spending lots of time together in Los Angeles, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

‘Jen and Bradley have been spending more and more time together. It’s still the beginning of them rekindling their romance, but she’s excited about it. They started seeing each other in New York, and they’re definitely planning on hanging out more now that they’re both on the West Coast,’ said a source.

The news comes after it was revealed Bradley had ended his romance with Renee Zellweger following claims he was too busy with his career.

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Erin O'Connor likes natural eyebrows

London, April 15 (IANS) Supermodel Erin O' Connor doesn't like waxing her eyebrows as she prefers natural look.

The 33-year-old says she always felt pressured to tame her eyebrows by make-up artists in the past but has now learnt to accept her natural look, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

'I have allowed too many make-up artists to wax my eyebrows! I have decided that I'm meant to look Neanderthal. There's something comforting about furry eyebrows,' she said.

While Erin loves being a model she insists she doesn't take fashion too seriously.

'I don't try to live a life away from modelling as such - I'm still excitable over fashion. But there's a cut-off point. I think it's important you embrace a character at work so you can keep hold of reality,' she added.

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Emma Roberts ignores male fashion advice

London, April 15 (IANS) Actress Emma Roberts would never ask a man for fashion advice because she would never trust their opinions.

The 20-year-old actress says she wouldn't trust a member of the opposite sex's opinions on style and would rather get tips and views from her female friends, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

'I never take boys opinion on clothes, ever. I really think, unless you think the guy has style, don't ask. So I only ask my girl friends. I don't trust guys' opinions on style!' she said.

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Rihanna turned down 'X Factor' role

London, April 15 (IANS) Singer Rihanna had to turn down the offer of being a judge at ‘The X Factor’ because of her hectic touring schedule.

The ‘Rude Boy’ singer would have loved to accept the offer of a role on the US version of the show by head panellist Simon Cowell, but cannot appear when it launches later this year because of her hectic touring schedule, reports contactmusic.om

‘Yes, it’s something that I would have loved to do, actually. But our schedule doesn’t allow and it’s a demanding schedule to be on that show,’ she said.

‘You have to be around months at a time, which is impossible for me,’ she added.

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Rajaratnam character witness paid millions: Prosecution

New York, April 15 (IANS) Two character witnesses who came forward to testify that inside-trade charges against hedge fund tycoon Raj Rajaratnam are untrue may have been paid millions of dollars, prosecutors told a US court.

Prosecutors allege that Sri Lankan born Rajaratnam made $63.8 million thanks to tips from insiders, including a couple of Indian Americans, and a witnesses who testified Thursday that Galleon co-founder lost $3.8 million on the same trades was well-compensated.

Gregg Jarrell, a professor at the University of Rochester whose testimony the government unsuccessfully attempted to bar admitted that working at a rate of $600 per hour, he has been paid $200,000 and his firm Forensic Economics made $730,000 more.

Jarrell said Rajaratnam traded 'mind-boggling' sums through Galleon: $141.5 million daily on stock days, adding up to $172 billion over the last five years.

He called Galleon an 'event-driven' hedge fund, which traded largely in a technology industry known to be 'very active' in mergers and acquisitions.

Prosecutors allege that he learned about major events in companies like Intel, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), ATI Technologies, Goldman Sachs and Hilton through tipsters leaking nonpublic information.

Earlier, another witness, former Galleon executive Richard Schutte finished his fourth day of testimony with an admission that he signed a $2 million consulting agreement with Rajaratnam.

Schutte added that his former boss became his biggest investor in a new hedge fund called Spottail Capital.

On Sep 1, 2010, Rajaratnam invested $10 million in Spottail, and he and his family added $15 million more Jan 4, 2011, weeks before trial, Schutte said.

He agreed with US Attorney Reed Brodsky's calculations that standard consulting and management fees show him earning $500,000 on these investments so far, but he vigorously denied that they were a quid-pro-quo for his testimony.

'Absolutely not,' Schutte insisted. He added that the $2 million consulting fees were less than he was accustomed to making at Galleon, and it was the hardest-earned money of his life.

'2010 was probably the most difficult working year of my life,' Schutte said.

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Sensex weak in early trade

Mumbai, February 03: A benchmark index for Indian equities markets Thursday was ruling weak in early trade.The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,113.73 points, was ruling at 18,121.68 points, up 31.06 points or 0.17 percent from its previous close at 18,090.62 points.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange too was in a slump, trading 0.06 percent up at 5,435.4 points.

Broader markets were ruling flat too.

--IANS--

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Mexico sees $3.5 bn foreign investment in tourism over 3 years

Mexican authorities on Thursday predicted foreign investment in the tourism sector amounting to about $3.5 billion over the next three years, a capital inflow that will create about 20,000 jobs.

The investments come mainly from Spanish, German and Asian companies, Economy Secretary Bruno Ferrari and Tourism Secretary Gloria Guevara said at a press conference.

The tourism chief said that now "there exists a committed investment of $2.5 billion," and that another $1 billion "will be arriving at the proper time."

She added that hotel groups like Melia and Barcelo had confirmed that they will continue with the construction of hospitality centers in the country.

The ministers announced the progress on the National Tourism Accord, signed in February by Mexican President Felipe Calderon, the private sector and the unions with the aim of promoting the tourist industry.

"We're working with investments to support small and medium business," Ferrari said.

The economy secretary said that the financing for micro, small and medium tourist businesses had been increased by commercial banks and other financial intermediaries, and it is expected that 2 billion pesos (about $170 million) in loans will be given to support some 1,000 small and medium businesses in the sector.

Ferrari noted that the tourism industry is the country's third-largest source of income, representing 9 percent of the gross domestic product and is "a great potential and opportunity for Mexico's economic growth."

The ministers denied, however, that the country's image abroad is being "seriously affected by the violence from the ongoing drug war and the recent finding of 120 bodies in mass graves in the municipality of San Fernando, in the northern border state of Tamaulipas.

"International tourism continues arriving and the only thing that is happening is that they are heading to other points, mainly in the south and states like Baja California" in the northwest, Guevara said.

U.S. authorities recently issued a new alert advising its citizens not to travel to Tamaulipas.

"Every country has the right to alert its citizens to take precautions when they travel, but only 30 percent of the total number of tourists come from the U.S. and Canada," she said.

The officials defended the government's battle against organized crime, in particular the drug cartels, a bloody and bitter struggle that has left more than 35,000 people dead in the past four years.

Ferrari said that the flow of capital to Mexico is a sign that investors believe "that the country is working, despite the collateral damage (of) crime, a situation that didn't exist before."

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Huffington Post to enter Canada

Vancouver, April 15 (IANS) The Huffington Post, which was recently acquired by AOL for $315 million, is expanding to Canada.

Confirming this to the local Vancouver Sun newspaper, Craig Kanalley, senior editor (traffic & trends) at the Huffington Post, said the web site will localize to expand in the Canadian market. This will be the first foreign foray of the popular news web site which claims over 1.5 million readers in Canada.

The Canadian foray comes after AOL’s announcement last month to expand the web site with a UK homepage.

In a job posting on social networking site LinkedIn Thursday, AOL Canada said, ‘Calling all news junkies. We need the best of the best at the helm to plan, execute and manage the day-to-day responsibilities of the national news strategy for one of the most exciting media brands online today.

‘Over 1.5 million Canadians are already HuffPost readers. We want to keep them reading by coupling the best content they already know and love with a fresh new take on Canadian news and politics, featuring the best Canadian names as our contributors.”

Ariana Huffington, who launched the web site in 2005, has been appointed as editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post Media Group by AOL after its acquisition earlier this year.

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Controversial book on Gandhi new bestseller (Book List)

New Delhi, April 14 (IANS) 'Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle with India'

by Joseph Lelyveld - that created quite a storm in India - is the new bestseller on the non-fiction list. Jeffrey Archer's 'Only Time Will Tell' continues to rule the fiction charts.

The top 10 in each category this week are:

Non-Fiction

1. 'Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle with India'

Author: Joseph Lelyveld

Publisher: Harper Collins

Price: Rs.699

2. 'Tinderbox: The Past and Future of Pakistan

Author: M.J. Akbar

Publisher: Harper Collins

Price: Rs.499

3. 'India Calling'

Author: Anand Giridharadas

Publisher: Fourth Estate

Price: Rs.499

4. 'India: A Portrait'

Author: Patrick French

Publisher: Penguin Books

Price: Rs.699

5. 'Makers of Modern India'

Author: Ramachandra Guha

Publisher: Penguin/Viking

Price: Rs.799

6. 'A History of the World In 100 Objects'

Author: Neil Macgregor

Publisher: Penguin Books

Price: Rs.999

7. 'Matters of Discretion - An Autobiography'

Author: I.K. Gujral

Publisher: Hay House

Price: Rs.795

8. 'The Emperor of All Maladies'

Author: Siddhartha Mukherjee

Publisher: Fourth Estate

Price: Rs.499

9. '80 Questions to Understand India'

Author: Murad Ali Baig

Publisher: Tara Press

Price: Rs.395

10. 'Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother'

Author: Amy Chua

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Price: Rs.450

Fiction

1. 'Only Time Will Tell'

Author: Jeffrey Archer

Publisher: PAN

Price: Rs.325

2. 'The Collaborator'

Author: Mirza Waheed

Publisher: Penguin Viking

Price: Rs.499

3. 'Custody'

Author: Manju Kapur

Publisher: Random House

Price: Rs.450

4. 'Tender Hooks'

Author: Moni Mohsin

Publisher: Random House

Price: Rs.199

5. 'The Sly Company of People who Care'

Author: Rahul Bhattacharya

Publisher: Picador

Price: Rs.495

6. 'Shadow Princess'

Author: Indu Sundaresan

Publisher: Harper Collins

Price: Rs.399

7. 'The Immortals of Meluha'

Author: Amish

Publisher: Westland

Price: Rs.295

8. 'Silent Monument'

Author: Shobha Nihalani

Publisher: Tara

Price: Rs.250

9. 'The Palace of Illusions'

Author: Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Publisher: Picador

Price: Rs.395

10. 'Benaami'

Author: Anish Sarkar

Publisher: Amaryllis

Price: Rs.250

(Source: Bahri Sons, New Delhi, www.booksatbahri.com. All the books listed above are available online)

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Carnival of beauty, nostalgia and history (IANS Books This Week)

New Delhi, April 14 (IANS) The weekend book shelf is a mix of nostalgia, history, drama and good health.

1. 'Broken Melodies'; Written by Gajra Kottary; Published by Harper-Collins India; Price: Rs.299

Niyati is a young curious girl full of hope and dreams. The process of growing up in a dysfunctional household is proving difficult. Her life is becoming a jigsaw puzzle. Her days are clouded by parental conflict and the presence of her cheeky neighbour Chandan riles her to no end, while the sight of her sister Nisha warms her heart at once.

Nisha, 10 years her elder, is Niyati's touchstone for everything in life. Until a revelation jolts her to take charge of her own life.

2. 'Banking Beyond Boundaries'; Written by Abhik Ray; Published by Penguin-Books India; Price: Rs.1,999

The State Bank of India, in its remarkable two centuries of existence, has introduced people, trade and industry to modern banking in the Indian subcontinent. Extensively researched and superbly illustrated, the book is the story of a bank, which, apart from being an abiding resource of the country's economy, is also synonymous with banking in India. Founded in 1806 by the British Raj, it became the primary banker to the government of independent India in 1955. From then on the State Bank has set the pace for Indian banking.

3. 'Is Wheat Killing You?: The Essential Cookbook and Guide to a Wheat-Free Life'; Written by Ishi Khosla; Published by Penguin-Books India; Price: Rs.399

The book will help not only the millions of people with gluten/wheat intolerance, also known as celiac disease, but all those who prefer to avoid wheat. With the alarming rise in the incidence of celiac disease, this book is a boon as it provides information on the disease and how to manage it without having to give up favourite foods. Most people with celiac disease who follow a gluten-free diet have a complete and rapid recovery. It is a complete guide to gluten-free living, based on scientifically established principles of healthy eating and includes essential facts about a balanced diet.

4. '501 Things You Dont Know About Master Blaster'; Written by Suvam Pal; Published by Harper-Collins India; Price: Rs.150

When he picks up the willow, cricket fans across the world hold their breath. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is not just a cricketer, but an inspirer of dreams, a statistician's delight and a treat for a cricket connoisseur. This book delves into the life of the milestone man, both on and off the field, through quizzes and a slew of factoids and trivia about him. The questions encompass various phases of Sachin's life and cricketing career and try to unravel the enigma that is the man. It gives a chance to his fans to test their knowledge about their idol from his childhood and his days as a prodigy. The book covers a wide spectrum of interesting information and lesser-known facts about India's biggest sporting icon.

5. 'I Want to Live: The Story of Madhubala'; Written by Khatija Akbar; Published by Hay House; Price: Rs.399

Madhubala - the very name conjures up vivid images of a love goddess possessing bewitching beauty, dazzling radiance, subtle sensuality, and, above all, a tantalising screen presence. Her 'reel life' histrionic performances held (and continue to hold) audiences entranced. Her talent was phenomenal, and she could literally glide through a movie, whatever be the role. Tragedy, romance, comedy, drama, and what have you - she could take everything in her stride, exquisitely and flawlessly, as convincingly proved by superhits such as 'Mahal', 'Tarana', 'Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi' and the magnum opus, 'Mughal-e-Azam'.

The author recounts her captivating saga, right from her first film - 'Basant' (1942), as a child star, up to the magnificent 'Mughal-e-Azam' (1960) and beyond. Enthralling cameos from her masterpieces such as 'Mahal', 'Mr & Mrs 55' and 'Amar' are depicted in graphic detail. Also, all the drama involved in her love affair with Dilip Kumar, which culminated in intense acrimony, has been poignantly portrayed.

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Drums, cymbals, Bihu dancers -- Assamese New Year's here!

Guwahati, April 14 (IANS) The lilting beats of drums, cymbals, and the mellifluous notes of the bamboo flute, accompanied by the graceful gyrations of Bihu dancers -- the spectacle is being staged across the hills and dales of Assam as the people herald the New Year or Rongali Bihu first day celebrations Thursday.

The Assamese New Year begins Friday. Hundreds of people thronged Bihu pandals across the state with dancers in their traditional fineries performing Bihu dances to the beat of dhols or the traditional drums and lilting notes of flutes made of bamboo and buffalo horns.

'Bihu is the time for rejoicing and merry-making, and let us all hope the New Year brings in good luck and ushers in peace to the state,' Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told IANS at a community Bihu celebration here.

As the Bihu season unfolds, it is boom time for hundreds of artistes in Assam who set out with vigour to entertain audiences across the state with songs and other forms of recreation.

The stage shows in Assam during the Bihu season are something that people generally look forward to - away from politics and insurgency related violence.

'The mood is one of festivity and now everybody wants to forget about politics and insurgency. We want to break free,' said a group of college students attired in traditional dresses at one of the Bihu functions in the city.

Singers and musicians are working extra hard to keep up with various community cultural shows organised across Assam.

'It is great fun performing live before thousands of people. I have composed some new numbers for the people of Assam on the occasion of Bihu,' said Zubeen Garg, well-known singer of 'Ya Ali' fame, the song from Bollywood film 'Gangster'.

The underlying theme for the celebrations this year is 'peace and brotherhood'.

'We want an end to all forms of violence and let there be permanent peace in the state,' All Assam Students' Union (AASU) advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya said after inaugurating a community Bihu in the city.

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Politicos piggyback on Bengali new year bonhomie

Kolkata, April 14 (IANS) With calendars, greeting cards and Rabindranath Tagore’s verses, political leaders in West Bengal are trying to make their way into voters’ hearts. For, the Bengali new year comes just ahead of crucial assembly polls.

Poila Baisakh – the first of the traditional month of Baisakh which falls on April 15 this year – marks the Bengali ‘naba barsha’. Not to miss the opportunity, politicians are busy distributing calendars and greeting cards.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has got calendars and greeting cards made with lines from Tagore’s poems in them, accompanied by a call to build a Sonar Bangla or a golden Bengal. However, neither the calendar nor the card carries any appeal to voters or even the party symbol.

Student leader and youngest Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) candidate Shatarup Ghosh has been sending out greeting cards carrying a personal message from him and wishes from the party.

‘We have already started giving out cards to people wishing them a prosperous new year. It has a personal message from my behalf as well as from our party. We will also have ‘Prabhat Pheri’ in the morning tomorrow in Kasba,’ Ghosh, who is contesting from the Kasba constituency, told IANS.

Donning traditional kurta and dhoti, Bengalis conduct the tradition of ‘Prabhat Pheri’ in the morning to welcome the festival of Naba Barsha.

The CPI-M candidate from Manicktala, Rupa Bagchi, has come out with both New Year calendars and greeting cards. Though it contains no vote appeal, her mobile number has been printed on it.

‘There is, of course, an idea of campaigning behind giving out the calendars along with seeking the wishes of the people. It is important for me if I can reach out to people on this significant day and get their blessings,’ said Bagchi.

Former Kolkata mayor and Trinamool candidate from Ballygunge, Subrata Mukherjee, is distributing calendars carrying his picture, along with a vote appeal.

Trinamool candidate from Rashbehari in South Kolkata Sovandeb Chattaopadhyay is also reaching out to the electorate with a calendar which has lines from a Tagore poem.

Poila Baisakh corresponds with April 15 of the Gregorian calendar. It is celebrated by Bengalis all over the country and also marks the beginning of the traditional financial year.

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