Wednesday 29 February 2012

4 Signs That a Man's Ready for Marriage & 4 That He's Not - India

29  feb 2012

4 Signs That a Man's Ready for Marriage & 4 That He's Not

4 Signs That a Man's Ready for Marriage & 4 That He's Not
Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India
Men and Marriage
Men and marriage -- ever wonder what it takes to get the two together? If you're trying to get your boyfriend to make a commitment, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that you can stop trying to manipulate, sweet talk or pressure him into proposing. The bad news is that there's nothing you can do to speed up the process. That's not to say it'll never happen. Men fall in love and get married every day. But men have their own biological clocks. When they're ready, they head down the aisle -- but not a moment sooner. In the meantime, it's not possible to convince a commitment-phobic guy that you're the best thing that will ever happen to him -- even if you are! If you're anxious to get married, your best bet may be looking for someone who doesn't need convincing to get down on one knee.

The Sex and the City gang once compared a marriage-ready man to a taxi: At a certain point in his life, he becomes ready for commitment. His "available" light goes on and the next lady in his life gets the ring. Luckily for us, it's not that hard to tell the difference between a man who's got the light on and one who's just driving around in the dark. Want some help? Here are four hints that a man has present-day potential to become a mate for life.




His Oat-Sowing Days Are Over
According to John Malloy, author of Why Men Marry Some Women and Not Others, which details the results of a survey of 2,500 men, the singles scene no longer appeals to a man who is ready to marry. Malloy interviewed men from ages 17 to 70 who were about to marry; all admitted they felt increasingly out of place in the bars, pool halls and dance clubs that were once their favorite hangouts.

Joe T., a 30-year-old married computer technician in Denver, confirms, "For years I spent every Friday night at a singles bar till I realized I was just pretending to have fun drinking and smoking and hitting on pretty girls who weren't interested. The thought of staying home and chilling seemed much more appealing." Rob F's epiphany came via a shocking realization. The 36-year-old recently married lawyer from New York recalls, "I started not wanting to bed models because I'd have to struggle through a conversation afterward."




He's Financially Independent
Tina Tessina, Ph.D., a California psychotherapist, explains, "Men do have a biological clock, but their timing is different from women. Most men's priorities tend to be focused on winning financial security before having a family. If he's still struggling to pay his bills, he's not going to want to add the burden of supporting a wife." To take it further, the man you're looking for is a grown-up -- someone who can be counted on. He's able to commit to a job, not to mention family and friends. On the romantic front, even if he's not ready to wed right away, he's at least able to discuss the concept of commitment.

Julia, a 27-year-old Philadelphia paralegal, says, "I had a definite type: ski bums and musicians who waited tables to make money. They were sexy as hell, but I was expected to pay for most dates and they'd be reluctant to ask me out for New Year's, never mind the rest of my life. I was miserable. Something had to change." That "something" was her type: The next time Julia went to a singles dance, she tried something new. Instead of seeking out a drummer with six-pack abs, she met an accountant. He may have lacked a hard body, but he did have a loving heart and a steady job and, most importantly, the urge to merge. They're planning a wedding.




He's Discovered His Desire to Be a Dad
Carol Morgan, a Boca Raton matchmaker, observes, "He's ready for marriage when he stares longingly at kids and suggests you would have beautiful children." [Editor's note: I'll say!] If your man isn't as straightforward , take a cue from John Malloy, who says, "Most men want to be young enough to teach their sons to fish and play ball and do the male-bonding thing." His research has found that age can have a great effect on a man's attitude toward marriage. Most college-educated men don't consider marriage as a serious possibility until age 26. In fact, they enter a phase of high commitment between the ages of 28 and 33. Men who've gone on to graduate school -- doctors, lawyers, etc. -- hit their commitment-peak phase from age 30 to 36. But Malloy says that once a single man hits 37, the chances that he'll marry start to fade. And after his 43rd birthday, he'll probably remain a bachelor for life.

That's not to say that a man won't catch marriage/fatherhood fever later in life. Mitch J. was 39 when he started seriously wanting a child. The problem for the Los Angeles film publicist: His live-in girlfriend had two children from a previous marriage and no intention of becoming pregnant ever again. Mitch recalls agonizing: "If I stay, I know I will have a good relationship and a stable future. If I leave, who knows if I'll ever find a woman I really love and who wants children." Finally, he chose to leave. Within a year he met Pauline. They're now married and have a baby girl.


He's Your Boyfriend in Name -- Your Husband in Spirit
April Masini, author of Date Out of Your League, explains, "When a man is ready to become a husband -- your husband -- he starts acting like a husband. For instance, he will make plans for the future, introduce you to his friends and family, and not only call you daily but want to tell you the details of his day and have a desire to hear about yours."

Carol Morgan adds, "He's honest and open, and when you enter the room he doesn't immediately make his computer screen go black so you can't see what he's doing. He'll even -- gasp! -- let you answer the phone [at his place]." And if he makes room for you in his closet, baby, your single days are numbered. He'll also listen when you tell him that you're ready for marriage. Malloy says that the key finding in his book about men and marriage was this: "Seventy-three percent of the women coming out of marriage-license bureaus with their future husbands told us that they put pressure on their man to get a proposal. In most cases, this pressure didn't involve an attempt to manipulate their man into marrying them but was simply a result of telling their man what they were feeling."

If you're not sure about your guy's intentions, take notice of the way he acts and, more importantly, the way he talks about your future. If he's making promises but hasn't delivered in a reasonable amount of time, or if he objects to any talk about your future at all, his prospects for becoming a groom are probably pretty grim. But don't just assume he's not ready. Be direct with him and tell him how you feel. Then you'll know exactly where you stand. If he's not ready, he's not ready. In that case, better to move on to a man who is. Who knows if he'll be flashy, but his "available" light will certainly sparkle.




He's Not Marriage Material If He:

Says he has no interest in tying the knot.
Instead of trying to change his mind, believe him and move on.

Buys a Porsche.
Or other high-end items that no man saving up for a ring or a future would purchase. Carol Morgan says, "If he acts financially immature and irresponsible, he's thinking 'me,' not 'we.'"

Calls his married friends "losers."
If he wants to couple up, he considers a man and a woman building a future together beautiful, not pathetic.

Continually makes you cry.
And they're not tears of happiness. If he's unreliable, abusive, a liar, cheat and/or uber-flirt, divorce yourself from this relationship before it takes a trip to court to do so.

Source: ivillage

Tuesday 28 February 2012

New UK immigration rule to cover Indians - India

28 feb 2012

New UK immigration rule to cover Indians



London:  Indian citizens with permission to settle in the UK permanently will need to apply for a biometric residence permit (BRP) as part of changes in immigration rules intended to make it harder for non-European Union (EU) nationals to work illegally and abuse the benefit system.

Many Indian citizens who migrated to the UK years ago and gained the right to settle here permanently did not opt for UK citizenship and retained their Indian citizenship.

Such individuals will be covered in the latest changes announced today.

A BRP is a card which holds an immigrant's biographic details (name, date and place of birth); and 'biometric information' (fingerprints and facial image).

It also shows immigration status and entitlements while in the UK.

Most categories of immigrants are required to apply and obtain BRPs.

Immigration Minister Damian Green has now extended the requirement to include refugees and those with right to live in the UK permanently (called 'indefinite leave to remain').

The widening of BRP requirements to almost all categories of immigrants is intended to tackle immigration abuse by proving a person's right to work or access services in the UK, official sources said, adding that the number of foreign nationals issued with a BRP will double to 400,000 a year.

Since the BRP holds a person's fingerprints and photograph on a secure chip, it enables a "simple and quick check" about an immigrant's work and benefits entitlements.

There have been several instances of immigrants who do not have the right to work in the UK being arrested



Monday 27 February 2012

Mallya to sell Whyte & Mackay stake? - India

27 feb 2012

   Financial Express  

Vijay Mallya
Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

New Delhi: Vijay Mallya-promoted United Spirits Ltd is considering to sell 49 per cent stake in its Glasgow based subsidiary Whyte & Mackay to pay off debt, according to a media report. According to the 'The Times', the move is a part of a drive to cut UB Group's USD 4 billion (2.5 billion pounds) debt.
Mallya told the daily that that USL, the spirits holding group that has debts of USD 1.68 billion, was considering sale of a 49 per cent stake in Whyte & Mackay, which was bought in 2007 for USD 1.2 billion.
Last fiscal, USL had posted a total income of Rs 6,422.72 crore with a net profit of Rs 403.04 crore. So far this fiscal, in the nine months period ended December 31, 2011 the company's total income stood at Rs 5,778.14 crore and net profit was at Rs 332.77 crore.

Saturday 25 February 2012

Controversy over SRK's bungalow: Plea filed in SC - India

25 feb 2012

Controversy over SRK's bungalow: Plea filed in SC

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

The controversy over Shah Rukh Khan's palatial bungalow 'Mannat' has reached the Supreme Court with the filing of a petition alleging violations by the megastar while constructing his dream house.

The petition has alleged that there were violations of archaeological laws and coastal regulation zone in the construction of Mannat.

Simpreet Singh and Amit Maruand of Mumbai approached the apex court challenging the Bombay High Court's order which had dismissed their petition against Khan.

The high court had, on January 28, dismissed the PIL filed by the duo and imposed a cost of Rs 20,000 on them saying that it was a "publicity petition".

The PIL had alleged that the actor had constructed the building inside the compound of his bungalow in violation of environment and heritage laws.

Khan had, however, contended that there was no violation of rules and the construction was allowed by the municipal body.


Friday 24 February 2012

Kashmir govt reviewing amnesty for 1,524 people, says Omar - India

24  feb 2012

J&K govt reviewing amnesty for 1,524 people, says Omar

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday said it is examining under its amnesty scheme the cases of 1,524 people allegedly involved in stone-pelting during the 2010 summer unrest in the Kashmir Valley.


J&K govt reviewing amnesty for 1,524 people, says Omar
Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India
The 228 cases are being examined and orders for their withdrawal, if falling within the ambit of the scheme, are likely to be issued in the near future chief minister Omar Abdullah said on Friday.
In a written reply to a question by PDP MLA Peerzada Mansoor Hussain in the Assembly, the CM said the amnesty scheme was launched on August 28 last year for youths and first-time offenders who were not involved in serious cases of crime during the unrest.
However no amnesty will be given to persons involved in heinous offences or in causing arson and damage to the public property he said adding that those found involved in such incidents after August 28 will also be out of the purview of this scheme.
Omar further said the initiative was launched to ensure that bureaucratic hurdles do not hamper their future prospects when it comes to applying for government jobs passport loans for education and self-employment or for pursuing higher education.
The CM also said that as many as 1,524 persons involved in 228 cases of stone-pelting have been prosecuted so far and probe is on in another 174 cases involving 1,180 persons.

Thursday 23 February 2012

Amitabh Bachchan discharged from hospital - India

23  feb 2012

Amitabh Bachchan discharged from hospital

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who was recuperating in hospital since his abdominal surgery and follow-up treatment, has been discharged today.

He was discharged at 9.30 p.m. and was accompanied home by his wife Jaya Bachchan.

"He is doing absolutely fine and finally he is going back home," a source from the hospital said.



The 69-year-old actor too was eagerly awaiting his "moment of freedom". "Freedom !!! free from central line, free from all kites, free to sleep without precaution....Now await to be free from hospital !! (sic)," Bachchan wrote on twitter.

On Tuesday, Big B had tweeted: "Looks like a few more days... before they set me free... but recovery at home will be another few months. Getting independent gradually... a careful shower avoiding the cuts and needles and 'kites'... pretty dexterous exercise," he wrote.

Earlier this week, hospital sources said that as his health is improving he might get discharged in a day or two, something which has now been ruled out.

Mr Bachchan said in his recent blog post that the doctors seem to be satisfied with his recent improvement in health.

"The meetings of the morning with the team of doctors.. the most trying for the patient. As you await results of their assessment, you wonder what new discovery they may have found that would immerse you in further treatment. But happy to note that they seemed satisfied with the progress and after a few closed door discussions, came back with a few points that would bring relief to any sufferer."

"A welcome day! many aspects improving, many reports positive, smiling satisfied faces all around... your prayers work so well... Hunger pangs swell for the first time... docs say its good sign... hope so," Bachchan had tweeted.

"The 'kites' gradually and slowly disappear... 'kites'? Yes, the various drips and tubes stuck into the body... I used to tell this to Abhishek and Shweta when they showed dismay and fear in 1982 hospital visits... 'kites'!!," he added further.

The actor even watched the India-Australia match on Sunday (February 19, 2012). "Saw some Tv... the India-Australia match! Sad we lost, but some bizarre moments by the umpires...! pressed wrong button?," Mr Bachchan had said.

On Saturday (February 18, 2012) Big B showed signs of improvement and the doctors at Seven Hills Hospital decided against another surgery on him.

"He was supposed to undergo second surgery as he had developed pain post the first surgery. However, there is no hassle as such...he is not critical but under observation," sources from the hospital had said.

Doctors treating the superstar went into a huddle when he suffered fresh pain in the abdomen.

The superstar went through two abdominal surgeries on Saturday (February 11, 2012). He was taken to the Operation Theatre where doctors inserted a "central line" through an incision on the neck.

"The night started off with great apprehensions, what with the temperature of the fever going up - always a dangerous signal. But the mercury fell during the night, or in todays terminology the digital reading in these modern contraptions, showed improvement and by the morning there was a freshness and hope of repair. Soon after wards though, the additional pain that has developed in the abdomen, apart from the surgical, kept doctors busy and going into a huddle. When ever they do that I always surmise there is something more than normal in the patient. Heavy dosages of even more antibiotics were pumped in, and to facilitate this operation they had to wheel me in to the OT again to put a 'central line', through an incision on the neck, "he posted on his blog.

Amitabh Bachchan is a voracious social networker. He keeps his fans up-to-date on his health through his tweets and blog posts.

The Big B recent visitors included actress Tabu. "The wonderful Tabu visited today and spent sizable time, talking of many connected and unconnected issues. Of film and nature, of quality and appreciation and of course her own considerations on the kind of films she wanted to be associated with. A joy always to be with her," he posted on his blog.

Earlier, Anupam Kher and wife Kirron, Sanjay Dutt and wife Maanyata and other industry colleagues have visited the hospital too. In the early hours of Wednesday (February 15, 2012), Amitabh Bachchan daughter-in-law Aishwarya brought her three-month old daughter to the hospital too. Undoubtedly, she would have been the grandfather's most special visitor yet.


Monday 20 February 2012

ISI behind new political party in Pakistan, Difa-e-Pak - India

20 feb 2012

ISI behind new political party, Difa-e-Pak

The sudden rise to prominence of the Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC), a collection of religious parties and militant groups, has raised fears in Pakistan's political arena that these parties will be used to tilt the balance in the coming elections by intelligence agencies. The council came into being after Pakistan banned the overland transport of NATO supplies last year following a controversial raid that left 28 dead in November. The DPC has held several rallies so far.
What makes these rallies worrisome is that members and leaders of militant and banned outfits have also joined the DPC, primarily the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and the Jamaat-ud Dawa.
It is speculated, that behind the scenes, orchestrating the rallies, is a retired army general and chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Hameed Gul.
The DPC on Monday protested in front of the parliament in Islamabad against the possibility of lifting the ban on overland movement of NATO supplies and also the admission by Pakistan's defence minister Ahmad Mukhtar earlier this month that Pakistani airspace was being used to transport NATO supplies with government permission.
Behind the DPC, say observers, is the ISI which seems to be cobbling together yet another political alliance ahead of the elections scheduled for the end of the year or possibly 2013.
The extremist nature of the DPC can be gauged from the fact that on Monday three prominent leaders of the council could not turn up in Islamabad as their entry is banned in the federal capital.
Hafiz Muhammad Saeed , Maulana Ahmed Ludhianwi and Dr Khadim Hussain Dhillon announced that they will not participate in the sit-in at Aabparah Chowk in Islamanad.
The decision was taken by the leadership of DPC to avoid any clash with the government as the administration had imposed a ban on the entry of these three leaders in Islamabad for seven days, said Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamat spokesman Ubaidullah Usmani.
This will also ensure peace during the rally, he added. All three are accused of fermenting sectarian hatred.

Sunday 19 February 2012

Shut resorts in tusker corridor: Experts - India

19  feb 2012

NEW DELHI: The battle over removing hotels and resorts from the only corridor linking elephants in the Eastern and Western Ghats has got shriller. Experts on board the prime minister-led National Board of Wildlife (NBW) have written a joint letter to senior forest officials warning that they could be in contempt of court if they overrode the unanimous expert advice and set up yet another committee to review the Madras High Court decision that demanded removal of the resorts.

The Madras HC had ordered that the land falling in the Sigur corridor be taken over by the forest department and the resorts be demolished. The HC had ordered shutting down all the resorts in the belt and said the guest house owners had indulged in eco-destruction in the name of eco-tourism.

A bulk of resort owners took the case to the Supreme Court which asked the standing committee of the NBW to give its comments on the expert committee's report on which the Madras HC had based its orders on. It noted, "It is open to the National Board for Wildlife to offer their comments on the report submitted by the committee constituted by the high court."

The standing committee is chaired by the Union environment and forests minister and is stacked with senior forest officials and non-government wildlife experts. In a meeting, the experts agreed with the report and recommended that the land should be cleared of the resorts. But the forest officials suggested that yet another committee be set up on the issue. The issue was deferred with the minister, Jayanthi Natarajan, asking for more time to study the matter and come back to the group with the issue. It was decided that the ministry would seek some more time from the apex court to come back with its comments.

Now, in a joint letter, the experts have warned that the NBW could fall foul of court orders if it sought to review the results of a court-appointed committee without any mandate.

The experts shot off the letter, sources said, apprehending that the forest officials would use the delay in comments from the standing committee to set up yet another committee or site visit. Their letter reads, "We, therefore, humbly request that in the affidavit to the Hon'ble Supreme Court for seeking more time, the justification should not be the need to constitute another committee or site visit etc. We place on record that the undersigned members did not agree and in fact opposed the idea of forming another committee."

The experts have also noted that the records of the meeting, when the Sigur corridor was discussed, did not reflect that all the experts were against setting up another committee. They wrote, "We wish to reiterate that all the undersigned members and not only Dr Divyabhanusinh Chavda, concur with the findings and recommendations given in the detailed report of the expert committee... including all the areas identified."

Saturday 18 February 2012

26/11 attacks: Court accepts NIA chargesheet against David Headley - India

18 feb 2012

26/11 attacks: Court accepts NIA chargesheet against David Headley


Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

New Delhi:  A court in Delhi today accepted a chargesheet filed by the National Investigating Agency or the NIA against Pakistani-American David Coleman Headley and nine others in connection with the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case.

According to Ahmed Khan, the lawyer for the NIA, a letter rogatory will also be sent to Morocco requesting the government to grant NIA permission to question Headley's Moroccon wife.

"Court has taken cognizance of the NIA chargesheet, now our case against Headley stands," Mr Khan said.

Non-bailable warrants will reportedly be issued on March 13 against other people named in the chargesheet, including Major Iqbal and Ilyas Kashmiri .

The NIA, in its chargesheet filed in December last year, has accused Headley, his Pakistani-Canadian accomplice Tahawwur Rana, Lashkar-e-Toiba founder Hafiz Saeed and seven others of plotting the criminal conspiracy of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

With its chargesheet being accepted, the NIA can now seek Headley's extradition to stand trial in India.

Both Headley and Rana are currently in the custody of US authorities. So far, the NIA has got only limited access to Headley, who entered into plea bargain with the US to escape a harsh sentence. He had conducted recce of 26/11 targets for the Lashkar-e-Toiba, which carried out the attacks in Mumbai on November 26, 2008. At least 166 people were killed in the attacks. This included many foreign nationals.

Rana was convicted by a court in Chicago for helping Lashkar-e-Toiba in a plot to attack a Danish newspaper. However, he was acquitted of federal charges that he aided the terrorists who carried out the attacks in Mumbai.



Friday 17 February 2012

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's teachings on your phone - India

17  feb 2012

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's teachings on your phone


Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

New Delhi:  NDTV today announced an exclusive partnership with The Art of Living Foundation spearheaded by His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, India's prominent spiritual leader. NDTV will have the exclusive right to use Sri Sri's teachings, sermons and meditation across all mobile platforms including video and live chats.

Speaking on this occasion, Suparna Singh, Deputy CEO and Managing Editor, NDTV Convergence said, "We look forward to sharing Sri Sri's messages - video and audio - through a dedicated The Art of Living application and other digital platforms. Sri Sri's activism against corruption is leading to even higher interest among Indians across the world in his beliefs and opinions."

The dedicated voice portal can be accessed by Airtel users on 507858 and will soon be live across other operators as well. There will also be monthly Live Chats with H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for Airtel users.

The new guidelines introduced by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India are encouraging operators to look for credible and genuine content in the VAS space. NDTV over the next few months will bring the user experience and innovation it is known for to a host of new products for mobile and other platforms.

One of the trustees of Sri Sri Publications Trust, Mr. Prasana Prabhu said, "Today's world is stifled with stress and violence. It's our aim to bring knowledge to the people that would help them get rid of all negativities and make spirituality a part of their lives. With NDTV Convergence we have got a credible and reputed nationwide platform to reach out to masses at large."

About NDTV Convergence Ltd.

NDTV Convergence, the digital arm of the NDTV Group, is responsible for the new media initiatives of the group across the internet and mobile platforms. NDTV mobile offerings include the market leading news and cricket applications, WAP portal - m.ndtv.com, and it is the leading mobile content partner for telecom operators in India, and has partnered with leading handset manufacturers for premium content offerings. The NDTV digital portfolio also includes leading web properties, including, but not limited to, the flagship www.ndtv.com.



Thursday 16 February 2012

Sahara and BCCI reach agreement; Pune to play in IPL - India

16 feb 2012

Sahara and BCCI reach agreement; Pune to play in IPL

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India
New Delhi: The BCCI and the aggrieved Sahara Group on Thursday reached a compromise after a series of hectic negotiations over the past few days, paving the way for Pune Warriors' participation in the fifth edition of the IPL.

Sahara, which had severed ties with the Board and withdrawn the Team India sponsorship on February 4, will return as a sponsor following the truce which brought an end to the 12-day stalemate.

The major concessions Pune Warriors got was an extension of the trading window till the end of February, re-activation of their auction purse, the possibility of being allowed five foreign players (subject to the agreement of the other franchises), and an arbitrator to decide on their demand for a concession in the franchise fee.

Both BCCI and Sahara issued a joint statement, giving details of the agreement.

Regarding the contentious issue of replacement for marquee player Yuvraj Singh, who is undergoing treatment for cancer in the United States, Sahara has offered to obtain the consent of all the franchises for fielding five foreign players for the IPL matches. The trading window has also been extended.

"To extend the trading window, which was due to close on Friday 17 February, until Wednesday 29 February 2012 to give Pune Warriors India the opportunity to have successful negotiations with other franchises as it looks to strengthen its squad," the joint statement said.

"Re-activation of the Auction Purse of Pune Warriors India so that it can take a number of players, subject to the squad composition regulations," it added.

This was a key Sahara demand - it means that the $ 1.8 million spent on Yuvraj is added to its purse for this year of $ 1.6 million - after accounting for the 400,000 dollars spent to acquire Sourav Ganguly - to make a substantial $ 3.4 milion dollars that it can spend in the next 10 days. Yuvraj, who is battling cancer, will not play this season.

The BCCI and Sahara have also agreed to start arbitration proceedings to address Sahara’s demand for a reduction in franchise fee for 74 matches last season. Sahara paid 1,702 crore for the Pune franchise in 2010, more than three times the cost of any of the original eight teams. It had asked the BCCI to reduce their franchise fee because only 74 matches were played in the 2011 season as opposed to 94 as originally proposed by BCCI. The bidding and the valuation for the franchises had been structured around the number of matches originally proposed by BCCI.

The BCCI also did not have any issues with Sahara seeking a strategic partner in the Pune Warriors India franchise, subject to terms of the Franchise Agreement.

"In respect of their request to sign overseas players who were not included in the Auction Register, subject to the relevant player regulations, BCCI agrees to the request subject to the views of all other franchise," the joint statement, signed by BCCI President N Srinivasan and Sahara Group Chairman Subrata Roy, said.

Sahara also requested for one of the play-off matches scheduled to be played in Bengaluru to be played in Pune, and the BCCI said it was in principle agreeable to host one of the play-off in the new Pune stadium subject to the consent of Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The right to host the play-off matches is awarded to the finalists from previous edition, in this case Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Sahara has also requested to furnish the Bank Guarantee against the Franchisee fee in two installments and the BCCI has agreed to consider it at the next available opportunity.

"Notwithstanding the recent working committee decision rejecting 5 foreign players in the playing XI, in consideration of the exceptional circumstance and the non-availability of Yuvraj Singh, Sahara has offered to obtain the consent of all the franchises for the submission to the BCCI," the statement said.

"Sahara confirms that it will continue sponsorship of the Indian team. Sahara may want to exercise its right to assign the sponsorship as per the agreement," said the statement.

Soon after the joint statement was issued, BCCI insisted that they have not bent rules and the matter has been resolved within the framework of rules and regulations.

"The matter has been resolved. We are happy. Whatever issues were there, have been addressed. Whatever was possible within the framework, has been achieved. We have not bent rules," IPL Chairman Rajiv Shukla said.

Sahara Group Chairman Subrata Roy, said an open auction without any player retention to make the cash-rich Twenty20 league more entertaining should be considered.

Roy said that doing away with player retention would lead to the teams being more balanced which he said would produce more thrilling matches.

"One request of ours is not included in the joint statement, but BCCI has definitely given us very positive assurance for looking into the matter seriously in the near future," Roy said in a statement.

"There should be perfect level playing field. We have strongly requested open auction without any kind of retention. Due to retention policy, a disparity in player ability and corresponding payment structure is created," he said.

Sahara, sponsor of the Indian team for over 11 years, decided to part ways with the BCCI on February 4, complaining that the Board did not give due consideration to its genuine grievances with regards to players and number of matches in the IPL. The decision to severe all ties with BCCI was taken just hours before the IPL auction got underway in Bangalore.

The BCCI's Working Committee had met in Chennai on February 13 but had failed to resolve the standoff.

The Board's Working Committee rejected some demands of the long-time sponsor and refused to make "exceptions" for the company.

After over three hours of deliberation at its Working Committee meeting, the BCCI said it had communicated its decisions with regards to Sahara's demands to the company and had hoped for a "favourable response".

Sahara had signed a renewed sponsorship agreement with the BCCI on July 1, 2010 till December 31, 2013 and was paying Rs. 3.34 crore per Test match, one-day international and Twenty20 International under the new terms. The deal is said to be worth Rs. 532 crore.

The BCCI could have lost close to Rs. 2000 crore if no solution.

Wednesday 15 February 2012

Apple chief Timothy Cook unveils a new product: Himself - India

15 feb 2012

Apple chief Timothy Cook unveils a new product: Himself


Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

New York:  When he was alive, Steven P Jobs, Apple's former chief executive, treated investors as if they were biohazards, rarely deigning to meet with them. The disdain was not mutual, as an Apple stock chart for the last 10 years shows.

Timothy D. Cook, Apple's new chief, showed on Tuesday how he planned to do things differently from his predecessor. Mr. Cook, who long handled the investor relations chores Mr. Jobs avoided, spoke at a Goldman Sachs conference on a wide range of topics, all the while displaying a bit more personality than he has in public presentations in the past. His appearance amounted to his most extensive public comments since he became chief of Apple in August, just weeks before the death of Mr. Jobs.

Mr. Cook devoted a significant part of a question-and-answer session with the Goldman analyst Bill Shope to addressing Apple's attitude about workplace conditions among its overseas suppliers, a topic that has begun to receive scrutiny after an investigative article in The New York Times last month. Mr. Cook said Apple had no tolerance for suppliers that violate Apple's labor and human rights standards. He called the use of under-age labor "abhorrent" and said that although it occurred rarely among Apple's partners, its complete elimination was a "top priority" for the company.

To help combat a more common violation at its suppliers, excessive working hours, Mr. Cook revealed that Apple every month will publish data on its Web site about the portion of its suppliers who are complying with Apple's workweek standards. He said that figure currently stands at 84 percent. Apple has typically included its findings on excessive work hours as part of an annual report detailing violations it discovered in the factories where its products are made, most of which are in China. The company will still publish that annual report.

Apple has begun stepping up its efforts to reveal more about the conditions in factories where iPads, iPhones and other Apple products are made. Apple said the first inspections of those factories by an outside group commenced on Monday, when a team from the Fair Labor Association visited a Foxconn factory in Shenzhen.

"We know people have a very high expectation of Apple," he said. "We have an even higher expectation of ourselves. Our customers expect us to lead and we will continue to do so."

Mr. Cook reiterated earlier predictions he has made about sales of tablets like the iPad eventually eclipsing those of conventional personal computers. He added acerbically that if a meeting were held of developers working on cool PC applications, no one might show up, while it would be tough to accommodate all of the iOS developers working on cool apps in one hotel ballroom.

Mr. Cook did not come bearing gifts for investors thirsting for more information about what Apple intends to do with its nearly $100 billion cash hoard, though he repeated previous comments he has made about actively discussing the matter with Apple's board, suggesting stock buybacks or dividends were distinct possibilities.

He offered only a tantalizing clue about bigger plans on the horizon for Apple in the television business. Mr. Cook played down the company's Apple TV product because it had not approached the magnitude of Apple's mobile phone, computer and tablet businesses. But he hinted that it might. "We've always thought there was something there and that if we kept following our intuition and kept pulling the string, we might find something that was larger," he said.

Mr. Cook was also asked about how his leadership of Apple might differ from that of Mr. Jobs. He said that Mr. Jobs "drilled" into all Apple employees how everything at the company should revolve around making great products, and that he wouldn't tamper with that. "Apple is this unique company, unique culture that you can't replicate," Mr. Cook said. "I'm not going to witness or permit the slow undoing of it."



Tuesday 14 February 2012

Rs. 1 crore seized: President's son, Maharashtra chief minister in a spot - India

14 feb 2012

Rs. 1 crore seized: President's son, Maharashtra chief minister in a spot


Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India


Mumbai:  Days ahead of the Municipal Corporation polls in Maharashtra, the state Congress has been caught in an embarrassing situation over the seizure of Rs. one crore cash by the police. President Pratibha Patil's son and Congress MLA Raosaheb Shekhawat has said that the money was meant for distribution among the financially-weak candidates for the local civic polls on February 16. But the  BJP, which is in the Opposition in the Congress-NCP ruled Municipal Corporation, alleged that the Congress has put the money into circulation to influence voters before polls.

The state police on Saturday recovered Rs. one crore rupees from the Amravati district and arrested two Nagpur residents. The cash, recovered during night raids, was hidden in the bonnet of a car.

"I had sought funds from the state Congress Committee for distributing them among 87 party candidates as most of them are women and poor. Accordingly, Rs. one crore was sent to me
which was to be distributed at Rs. one lakh per candidate and the rest (of the money) was meant for the district Congress committee," Mr Shekhawat said.

The BJP has accused Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and the Congress for using cash to woo the voters.

"This money has been distributed under orders of Prithviraj Chavan, his party ministers distributed the money, also distributed it in Zila Parishad elections, crores were distributed," BJP President Nitin Gadgari said.

Although the Maharashtra Congress has claimed that the money was sent from the party fund and was not unaccounted for, the larger question which remains is - why  is so  much  money being  pumped in the civic elections?


The Congress claims that Rs. one lakh each was to be distributed to 87 financially weak candidates, contesting in the Amravati civic polls.

A claim that has not even convinced the Congress's own ally, the NCP, which says it will complain to the state Election Commission, which has already asked district collector Rahul Mahiwal and municipal commissioner N Navin Sona to inquire into the matter and file a report.

Oservers insist that money, black or white, running into tens of crores, is pumped to influence the voters, especially for the municipal elections in Mumbai.

"On the eve of the elections across Maharashtra, candidates often attempt to distribute alcohol and cash to sway voters," says Meera Sanyal, country executive, India, RBS.


Monday 13 February 2012

Rural tourism boost for urbane Delhi - India

13 feb 2013

Rural tourism boost for urbane Delhi

If all goes as planned, cosmopolitan citizens as well as tourists will be able to get a glimpse of 'real India' in the heart of Delhi.


The Delhi government plans to bring the Indian countryside to the Capital itself. To present the "real India" to foreign tourists, the government has selected 14 villages, each with a water body, across the Capital.

These spots will be redeveloped, restored and offered as a 'rural tourism destination' to the foreigners. The project, worth crores of rupees, has already received the necessary clearances.

Once the water bodies in these select villages are restored, the government would start developing basic infrastructure and creating a unique recreational environment with special focus on the visiting tourists.

The environment department officials say once these water bodies are restored, activities such as fishing and boating will be introduced. "At the same time, each village will have its own identity. The culture and infrastructural facilities will be developed accordingly," an official said, adding that these features would boost the state's economy and tourism infrastructure.

The prominent villages selected for the project include Goyla Khurd in south-west Delhi, Daulatpur in south Delhi, Hastsal village, Khera Dabur in south Delhi, Bamnoli village, Chhawla village, Dera Mandi village in south Delhi, Hiran Kudna village in west Delhi, Kamruddin Nagar, Doolsiras, Harshvihar and a lake in Madipur village.

Confirming the development, the environment department's Delhi Parks and Gardens Society CEO Dr S.D. Singh said: "We are hopeful of cleaning and restoring water bodies. We will be using a new process to complete the work."

"The real problem with these water bodies is that they have become dumping grounds for sewage or other pollutants. With poor oxygen content, these can't support marine life," Dr Singh said.

"We are hopeful of cleaning and restoring water bodies. We will be using a new process to complete the work."

"The real problem with these water bodies is that they have become dumping grounds for sewage or other pollutants. With poor oxygen content, these can't support marine life," Dr Singh said.

The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) will restore the water bodies and institute scientist Dr Rakesh Kumar will implement the project using the phytorid technology.

This restores the oxygen content in the water, thereby creating conditions to reintroduce marine and aquatic life.

It only involves introduction of certain categories of antipollutant and oxygen-releasing plants to the water bodies.

"It is energy-efficient, requires low maintenance and is aesthetic," Kumar told Mail Today. The technique positively impacts the nitrogen, phosphorous and other aspects affecting water quality.

Sunday 12 February 2012

7 Foods That'll Make You Healthier - India


12  feb 2012


7 Foods That'll Make You Healthier


Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Cook with Coconut Oil
The latest "it" ingredient for healthy eating: coconut oil. Almost every nutritionist I spoke to says one of the best things you can do to maintain good health is consume 1 to 3 tablespoons of coconut oil every day. Michelle L. Butler, a holistic nutritionist in Redondo Beach, Calif., says eating the oil every day can "relieve stress, stabilize cholesterol levels, increase immunity, and boost your metabolism and thyroid activity."
Coconut oil includes acids that are antimicrobial and antifungal, which keep your body working at its optimum level. You can "drizzle it on food, cook with it, or eat it straight," Butler says. Certified fitness trainer and nutrition guru for DailyBurn, Kate Brown, says eating coconut oil "also stimulates fatty acid oxidization, so it helps accelerate fat loss."
And it fills you up. "Fat is satiating," Brown says. "Eating a spoonful of coconut oil can help you forget that what you were actually craving was a muffin or a cupcake."


Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Add Some Pineapple to That Pork
When you think meat, you don't exactly think fruit. But having a side of pineapple with your steak (or chicken or pork) dinner helps your digestive track.
"Protein takes the most digestive work, as the foods have to be broken down into amino acids from complex chains," says Kimberly Snyder, celebrity nutritionist and author of "The Beauty Detox." Instead of canceling your cookout, Brown suggests adding some pineapple slices to your meat.
"Pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain, which helps to break down proteins," Brown says. "It's like a meat tenderizer in your stomach. If you are going to eat a high protein meal like steak or chicken kabobs, make sure to pineapple slices to each skewer." Apparently, my boyfriend has the right idea when he orders his pizza Hawaiian-style. Who knew?


Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Spice Up Your Comfort Foods
Going cold turkey on fatty foods is a non-option for most of us. Instead, add two tablespoons of spices -- like black pepper, garlic powder, rosemary, paprika, or oregano -- to your next fatty indulgence. "The Journal of Nutrition" reports that those who incorporated spices into their fat-laden meals had 30 percent lower levels of triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood) than those who skipped the seasonings.
So, the next time you're making that macaroni and cheese, add some cayenne pepper. Or opt for the green curry instead of the pad thai at your go-to takeout place. Your belly will thank you.


Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Drink Pure Aloe Vera
While aloe vera is great for soothing sunburned skin, drinking the liquefied plant can also help heal your body, says Tanner Martty, fitness guru at LEAF Lifestyle. "Drinking pure aloe vera not only aids in proper digestion, it helps repair a digestive system that has been under duress from a diet high in grains, gluten, and dairy." What American doesn't need help on that front?




Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Just a Spoonful of Vinegar Helps the Sugar Craving Disappear
Even after I've had the most satiating meal -- when I'm sure I can't take another bite -- I somehow always manage to find room for dessert. Even if all I crave is just one little bite, my sweet tooth wins (and I always end up eating more than one bite).
If you can relate, Aim True yoga instructor, Kathryn Budig has an effective (if a little off-putting) solution: Make a spoonful of raw apple cider vinegar your post-dinner cocktail. (Trust me, you're going to want to pound this stuff like it's a Jagermeister shot.) Raw apple cider vinegar helps stabilize blood sugar levels, says Budig, which curbs your craving for sweets. You can also take a shot of the vinegar in the morning; it revs up your metabolism and digestive system for the day, she says.
 

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Sprinkle Cinnamon into Your Coffee
Here's a little insight into my typical morning:
7 a.m.: Fill up my to-go mug with coffee and sip on my drive to work.
9 a.m.: Hit the office coffee maker for a refill (and a frozen burrito, or a bagel, or a leftover pastry from the morning board meeting).
11 a.m.: Walk to the local coffee shop with some co-workers for a double-shot latte (and, on most days, some sort of sweet treat).
You get the picture. I'm hungry almost all day, every day. But to keep my appetite in check -- and help me avoid noshing on a sugary treat every time I need a caffeine fix -- James M. Andry, MD, co-founder of MDWeightWorx in Bloomington, Ind., tells me to add some cinnamon to my diet. And sprinkling a little bit into my morning java is a great way to start.
Not only does cinnamon help curb appetite, research also shows that this spice also helps control the insulin spike that often comes after meals. Cinnamon causes your body to absorb carbohydrates much more slowly, and lowers your blood sugar levels -- both which contribute to a lower insulin level, says Andry. And remember, insulin is a hormone that converts excess sugar into fat, which ultimately contributes to weight gain.
Andry says as little as 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon a day can improve your blood sugar content by 24 percent and cholesterol levels by 18 percent. To get the benefits, sprinkle the sweet spice into your coffee, oatmeal, or cereal.



Believe in Bacteria
Bacteria gets a bad rap. It's the stuff that makes us sick, the stuff we're supposed to avoid at all costs. But there is such a thing as good bacteria, and when it comes to digestion, this good bacteria is crucial.
"Beneficial bacteria [known as probiotics] keeps your gut healthy," says Stella Metsovas, a nutrition and diet expert in Los Angeles. "Having healthy, functioning intestines allows you to better digest and assimilate nutrients -- a key factor to optimal health!"
While Metsovas takes a bite of kimchi or sauerkraut every morning, any foods with live active cultures (like miso, tempeh, and kefir) fit the bill.

Saturday 11 February 2012

Vatican besieged by reports of money laundering, plot to kill the pope, at delicate time- India

11  feb 2012


VATICAN CITY - Money laundering at the Vatican bank. Corruption in the awarding of Vatican contracts. Even a purported plot to kill Pope Benedict XVI.
The Vatican is being besieged by near-daily leaks of confidential documents and tabloid-style reports of alleged financial mismanagement, political infighting and gossip about who might be the next pope — all coming out at an exceedingly delicate time for the Holy See and Benedict himself.
The frescoed halls of the Apostolic Palace have been buzzing about the leaks, which have emerged as the pontiff prepares for the ceremony next week to crown 22 new cardinals — the princes of the church who will elect his successor.
Such ceremonies always breed unseemly speculation about a future pontiff since they provide a rare chance for cardinals new and old to size one another up. But the Feb. 18 consistory has taken on greater gravitas since the 84-year-old Benedict is showing signs of slowing down.
Conspiracy theorists reading the Italian media of late might also point to another looming date as reason for why the Vatican's dirty laundry is being aired now: In June, a European commission will decide whether the Holy See has abided by tough international anti-money laundering and anti-terror finance laws.
Compliance would mark a key step in the Vatican's goal of joining the so-called "white list" of countries that share financial information — a designation the Vatican hopes will forever dispense with its reputation as a scandal-plagued, secrecy-obsessed tax haven.
The flurry of articles and television news programs seemingly seeking to reinforce that reputation — regardless of whether it's deserved — certainly can't help the Holy See's bid.
All of which explains why the Vatican has been aggressively shooting down the reports with an unprecedented array of detailed, line-by-line refutations and sarcastic jabs at the journalists reporting them in a bid to set the record straight.
Almost lost in the shuffle is that the Vatican in recent weeks has done more to come into compliance with international financial norms than perhaps at any time in its history. It has ratified three major U.N. conventions, rewritten its law on money laundering and, separately, scored a legal victory in the U.S. concerning its embattled bank, the Institute for Religious Works or IOR.
The most explosive story to hit newsstands came on Friday: reports that the Vatican had received a confidential letter last month from a top Vatican official describing how an Italian cardinal visiting China had spoken about a presumed plot to kill Benedict this year. The document also said the pontiff was grooming Milan's archbishop as his successor.
The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, dismissed that report as "so completely beyond reality and hardly serious that I don't even want to consider it."
But Lombardi has taken the other reports alleging financial mismanagement far more seriously, warning of possible legal action against the media outlets responsible.
Veteran Vatican correspondent Andrea Tornielli said the reports showed a clear power struggle is under way inside the Vatican, "the outcome of which is uncertain yet devastating," concerning both the fate of the pope's deputy, Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, and any future conclave to elect the next pope.
Another Vatican commentator who has been highly critical of Bertone's leadership, Sandro Magister, put it this way in a recent column: "The secretary of state is increasingly alone, in a curia he does not govern and with a pope he does not help."
The question that has yet to be answered is why the reports are coming out now, and whether they are more related to internal power struggles over Bertone's leadership or external tensions between the Bank of Italy and Italian prosecutors on the one hand, and the IOR on the other. As the financial institution of a sovereign city state, the Vatican's IOR is outside the Italian central bank's regulatory grasp.
Some of the leaked documents have carried the processing stamp of the Vatican secretariat of state, implying an internal leak. Other reports have been based on information from Rome judicial authorities. Regardless, however, none of them appear to be so grave as to cause significant harm to the Holy See, particularly given that the Vatican has taken a remarkable steps in the past year to be more transparent in its financial dealings and co-operative with international requests for financial data.
The media campaign kicked off last month with the publication on television news program "The Untouchables" of leaked letters from the former No. 2 in the Vatican city state administration, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, to Benedict and Bertone in 2011. In one, Vigano begged not to be transferred after exposing what he said was corruption in the awarding of Vatican contracts.
Vigano was subsequently named the Vatican's ambassador to Washington — a high-ranking post that was perhaps better suited to his diplomatic background but that nevertheless sealed the impression that he had been punished for stepping on too many toes in his cost-cutting efforts.
Lombardi initially issued a lengthy statement lamenting the leak but insisting that Vigano enjoyed the "undoubtable esteem and trust of the pope." A week later, Vigano's now-retired boss and the three current top officials of the Vatican city state changed course, saying Vigano's assertions were the baseless "fruit of erroneous evaluations."
Lombardi subsequently shot down an article in the leading newspaper Corriere della Sera suggesting that a monsignor with links to the Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints had lost €1.6 million by investing with a Bernard Madoff-like schemer.
Corriere identified the source of that story as Luca Tescaroli, the Rome prosecutor who has pursued a 30-year-old case concerning the worst scandal at the IOR: the death of Roberto Calvi, the Catholic banker who helped managed the Vatican's investments and was found hanging from London's Blackfriars Bridge in 1982.
Calvi headed the Banco Ambrosiano, which collapsed in 1982 after the disappearance of $1.3 billion in loans made to dummy companies in Latin America. The Vatican had provided letters of credit for the loans.
Calvi was found hanging a short time later, his pockets loaded with bricks and cash. After an initial ruling of suicide, murder charges were filed against five people, including a major Mafia figure, but all were acquitted.
While denying wrongdoing, the Vatican Bank paid $250 million to Ambrosiano's creditors.
The case remains unresolved, but Tescaroli has recently revived judicial requests to the Vatican for information about it — information the Vatican insists it has provided.
Tescaroli was the featured guest this week on "The Untouchables," which has been on a campaign of sorts against the IOR. It is hosted by Gianluigi Nuzzi, author of the 2009 book Vatican SpA about the IOR scandals that was based on a trove of leaked Vatican documents.
Separately, the IOR's president and director general remain under investigation by Rome prosecutors who allege they broke Italian law in 2010 by trying to transfer money from two IOR accounts without identifying the sender or recipient. The Vatican says the matter was the result of a misunderstanding.
Almost lost in all the noise was a victory that the Holy See scored for the IOR in the United States on Feb. 1: A federal judge in Mississippi dismissed with prejudice a fraud and racketeering lawsuit against the Holy See filed in 2002 by the insurance commissioners of five southern states alleging Vatican involvement in jailed financier Martin Frankel's scheme to buy and loot insurance companies of some $200 million.
The Vatican's lawyer called for the media to report on the "undignified" demise of the case and not just on claims of corruption.
"That inflammatory allegations against the Holy See and the IOR are easily disseminated and make good fodder for conspiracy theorists cannot be doubted," the lawyer said in a statement.

Friday 10 February 2012

Esha Deol to get engaged - India

10 feb 2012

Esha Deol to get engaged



Esha Deol to get engaged
Esha Deol
Bollywood actress Esha Deol is set to exchange rings with her long-time boyfriend Mumbai-based businessman Bharat Takhtani on Feb12, 2012, two days before Valentine's Day.

"Yes, it is going to be a traditional ceremony at their Juhu residence Sunday. It will be a family affair," Esha's manager confirmed.

The time of engagement is yet to be revealed, but the family is said to be excited.

Daughter of veteran actors Hema Malini and Dharmendra, Esha began her tryst with Bollywood in 2002 with "Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe". She went on to feature in films like "Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne", "Na Tum Jaano Na Hum" and " Dhoom".

Last year, Hema relaunched her 29-year-old with " Tell Me O Kkhuda", but it failed to resurrect her career as the movie tanked at the box office.

Thursday 9 February 2012

Thousands shake a leg with Michelle Obama for 'Let's Move' - India

09 feb 2012


Thousands shake a leg with Michelle Obama for 'Let's Move'


Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Des Moines, Iowa:  She did some wild arm swings, sharp robotic turns and pulsing fist pumps.

Michelle Obama busted out a few new moves on Thursday to mark the second anniversary of her campaign against childhood obesity with a few new friends - 14,000 or so, it turns out.

The first lady rocked out with thousands of sixth- to ninth-graders at a Des Moines arena on the first stop of a three-day trip to highlight her "Let's Move" campaign. It was a giant pep rally for eating right and exercising, complete with confetti, balloons and a towering birthday cake made of fruit.

The first lady and crowd revved up by doing the Interlude, a dance that started in a dorm room at the University of Northern Iowa and went viral from there.

Mrs Obama chose Iowa for her first stop because the state is working to become the nation's healthiest state by 2016, as measured by the Gallup organization. It ranked 19th in 2010, the most recent rankings.

She sold healthy eating to the kids as something fun, but also dangled the bait that it could help them "pass your tests and get good grades in school."

There were plenty of sports celebrities on hand to help pump up the crowd, including gymnast Shawn Johnson, figure skater Michelle Kwan, NASCAR champion Carl Edwards, Iowa State basketball coach Fred Hoiberg and former WNBA star Tamika Catchings.

The first lady took on the issue of childhood obesity because almost a third of US children are at least overweight, and about 17 percent are obese.

In the two years since Mrs Obama launched her campaign, she has brought substantial new visibility to the childhood obesity issue and has prodded schools, families, restaurants, grocery stores, doctors, local communities and others to do more to tackle the problem.

Robert Blendon, a Harvard professor who tracks public opinion on health care, said Mrs Obama has helped bring about a shift in attitude, with childhood obesity increasingly being viewed as a societal problem rather than a personal matter. She's given people tangible ideas on how to eat better and exercise more rather than talking in broad concepts that don't hit home with parents, he said.

"It's getting into people's conversations in ways that it would not have been if someone had not taken it on," Blendon said.

The first lady herself said recently she's "pretty much willing to make a complete fool out of myself" to get kids moving and eating better.

To that end, she's done push-ups with everyone from Ellen DeGeneres to South Africa's Desmond Tutu, danced the "Dougie" with school kids, done jumping jacks and swiveled a hula hoop on the South Lawn, fed veggie pizza to Jay Leno and competed in an East Room potato sack race with Jimmy Fallon.

On Thursday, she added the Interlude to her repertoire.

Later in the day, she was visiting Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas to announce a new program to improve the meals served on military bases. And she was having dinner at an Olive Garden restaurant in Fort Worth, Texas, to chat with parents about the challenges of getting kids to eat right. On Friday she travels to Florida.

Beyond the policy and health implications, the effort has contributed to an engaging image of the first lady - and, by association, has been an asset for the president's re-election effort.

The first lady's campaign hasn't been just all fluffy words, hip dances and funny jokes.

Marion Nestle, a food and nutrition professor at New York University, gives the first lady high marks for going up against powerful forces in the food and beverage industry, and getting some pushback along the way. The first lady also has attracted some "nanny state" grumbling from conservatives who think she's intruding on what should be personal matters.

"Let's give her credit," Nestle said. "She has no real power. She has no legal authority. She's a wife, and yet she has managed to take this issue and bring it to national prominence."

Nestle said it will take decades to tell whether the campaign produces reductions in childhood obesity, likening it to the gradual turnaround in attitudes about smoking.



Wednesday 8 February 2012

I'm proud of my baby bump: Shilpa Shetty - India

08 feb 2012



I'm proud of my baby bump: Shilpa Shetty



I'm proud of my baby bump: Shilpa Shetty
Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India


Shilpa Shetty shares with us the experience of being a first-time mother
Shilpa Shetty, currently in her fifth month of pregnancy, can't wait to begin playing the most personal role of her real life: a mother. Mankind's Prega News, one of the most trusted home pregnancy test-kit brands helped her discover the great news.


Shilpa says, "Mankind's Prega News confirmed the best news of my life. My husband Raj and I are ecstatic. We can't wait for the little one's arrival and for the new phase in our lives to begin," she says excitedly. Says the expectant mother, "It's a beautiful gift and the most lovely experience to go through. I am enjoying every moment of being a mother."


Has she reduced her workload post-pregnancy? "The work hasn't reduced. I have just changed my work destination. These days I travel less. I do go to the office - not every day but once in two weeks. I was more careful in the first three months; but now that I am my fifth month, I am being just a bit careful and have started spacing out my work. I am also reading a lot."


Shilpa being a health freak is also monitoring her diet. "I'm someone who likes to do things the right way, so I just have the right kind of food. I don't take the pre-natal vitamins but prefer natural foods like boiled beetroot and palak soup. Till my pregnancy, I could fit into my jeans from college but now I can fit into only two pairs of track pants, two tops and two skirts which keep altering. I really want to start a maternity line soon as we don't have anything here in India."


Recently, the media said she was hiding her tummy when she went for a charity event. An irritated Shilpa retorts, "I'm very proud of my baby bump. I would never think of hiding it."

Tuesday 7 February 2012

Medical, engg craze will subside: Murthy - India

07 feb 2012


Medical, engg craze will subside: Murthy


Narayana Murthy
Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India
Kochi: The craze for Medical and Engineering courses among Indian students will subside when the country becomes developed, N R Narayana Murthy, Chairman Emeritus of Infosys, said. India is a poor country. There are a lot of uneducated persons in this country, no proper drinking water (in many areas) and there is unemployment problem. Everyone wants to get jobs after completing their courses," Murthy said.
Developed countries have many students pursuing courses in different subjects such as philosophy and history, he said.
"When the country becomes developed, there will be a reverse of this present situation," he said at the release of the Malayalam translation of his book 'A Better India, A Better World', a collection of some of his speeches.
Murthy also said the recent appreciation of the Rupee would not affect Indian IT Companies.
"It will not be like that," Murthy said in a brief interaction with reporters.
The only way to solve poverty in ndia, Murthy said, was through entrepreneurship.
The Infosys co-founder listed out five qualities required for an aspiring entrepreneur: "he must have an idea, market must be ready for the idea, good team and value system, sacrifice today for the benefit of tomorrow and Finance".
Interacting with students, he said India was second to none. What needed to be done for youngsters and the coming generation was to create an environment that enhanced the enthusiasm of the students and get the cooperation of the central and state governments and corporate leaders,

Monday 6 February 2012

S&P warns of risk factors to India's stable rating - India

S&P warns of risk factors to India's stable rating


Global credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) on Monday warned that the balance of risk factors for the current sovereign credit rating on India may be shifting to negative.

The rating agency, which recently hit the headlines for downgrading the Untied State’s credit rating for the first ever to below AAA, said India’s risk factors included high inflation, a weak government fiscal position, and a slower rate of economic growth.



“Weaker economic growth prospects and high commodity prices could constrain the government's effort for fiscal consolidation,” the rating agency said in a note on Monday.

India currently enjoys a stable rating of BBB- on it sovereign debt. However, it has been grappling with political gridlock and the government’s ability to implement measures to improve economic growth and fiscal prudence will be vital to boosting confidence, S&P credit analyst Takahira Ogawa said. .

“Uncertainty in global financial markets and European sovereign debt problems could add to the pressures on India,” he added.

The risk factors, it said, had affected investor confidence in the rupee’s value, triggering capital flight, which in turn weighed on the sovereign rating.

Indeed, the fiscal deficit – or the difference between the government receipts and spending – touched Rs 3,81,000 crore for nine months ended December 2011. This is 92 per cent of the target of 4.6 per cent of GDP -- or about Rs 4,12,800 crore – set out in the Union Budget in February 2011. A higher fiscal deficit also means that the government will need to borrow more from the Reserve Bank of India; this will release more liquidity into the financial system and eventually lead to even higher inflation.

The central bank has also cautioned against the high fiscal deficit in the past, saying it would hurt growth if a cap was not put on public debt.

And on Monday, the same day as the S&P note, RBI deputy governor Subir Gokarn said “We can't discount the importance of fiscal consolidation contributing to growth. It is not that growth first and then we get fiscal consolidation. They are interrelated.”

While S&P does not expect to downgrade or revise the outlook on India’s long-term rating in the near future. the negative factors, combined with the government's weak policy formulation and implementation, may lead (us) to a tipping point, Ogawa said.