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TN stops measles vaccine work, Centre plans to follow suit
Chennai, Apr 24 (PTI) Tamil Nadu government has stopped measles vaccination programme and the Centre is considering the same step across the country following the death of four infants who were given vaccine shots in the state's Tiruvallur district.
The Centre's mind was conveyed by Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss to Tamil Nadu Health Minister M R K Pannerselvam when he spoke to him about the incident.
Pannerselvam told reporters that he had also apprised the Union Minister of the state's decision to suspend the programme.
Anbumani told him that he would hold an emergency meeting of officials to discuss the issue, Pannerselvam said.
Earlier, Pannerselvam told the state assembly that the vaccination programme would be suspended in the state. He said the nurses, who administered the vaccine, had been suspended.
The vaccine samples had been sent to Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh for testing at the central government laboratory there, he said.
Chief Minister M Karunanidhi announced a solatium of Rs three lakh each after members cutting across party lines demanded that compensation be paid to the families of the four children who died after they were administered the vaccine.
The children died soon after the vaccine was administered at the Katchur Primary Health Centre in Poondi panchayat union of Tiruvallur district. PTI
Munde made BJP leadership in Delhi buckle: Thackeray
Mumbai, Apri 24 (PTI) Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today said BJP leader Gopinath Munde by raising the banner of revolt had made his party restore democracy in its functioning.
"An important thing that had happened because of Munde is that democracy in the party which had been lost was restored," Thackeray said adding the BJP leadership buckled when Munde flexed muscles because the party did not want to lose Maharashtra due to internal squabbles.
After the episode Munde has emerged as a very strong leader in the state and there were none to match him, Thackeray said in an editorial in Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Samana'.
There were attempts to finish off Munde politically but he rebelled and succeeded to make the party heed to his demand.
Headlined "Dilli bhi Jhukti hai", the editorial said people like Uma Bharati and Madanlal Khurana did rebel but they were shown the doors.
"Uma Bharati who rebelled was shown the door while the rebellion of Khurana was crushed. Similarly the rebellion of Shankarsinh Waghela did not last long while rebel leader Keshubhai Patel failed to make any impact in the party." In the backdrop of these, Munde's rebellion had become the "focal point" of discussion as people were wondering whether Munde's rebellion will be crushed like others or whether he will break the "obstinacy" of the BJP leadership in Delhi.
Thackeray also referred to Munde calling on him at his residence on the day of the incident but did not give any details of the meeting. PTI
NDA disrupts Parliament over price rise issue
New Delhi, Apr 24 (PTI) The NDA's agitation on price rise issue rocked Parliament today with both the Houses being adjourned for two hours as opposition disrupted proceedings over UPA government's "failure" to contain inflation.
In the Lok Sabha, trouble started during the Question Hour itself when members of BJP and its allies, who had formed a human chain outside the Parliament complex to protest over the issue, trooped in the House shouting slogans denouncing the government.
The atmosphere in the House was surcharged as a visibly angry Speaker Somnath Chatterjee pulled up BSP member Brajesh Pathak for his behaviour while asking a question to Fertiliser Minister Ramvilas Paswan on availability of fertiliser in Uttar Pradesh.
Chanting slogans such as "Down with incompetent government", "Government which cannot check price spiral needs to be changed", the opposition members stormed the well and were in no mood to listen to the Speaker.
In the Rajya Sabha, similar scenes were witnessed as BJP members walked in just five minutes before noon and started shouting slogans in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The Parliament complex saw NDA members led by L K Advani and George Fernandes sporting banners against price rise and forming a human chain to focus on government's "incompetence" to tackle the situation. PTI
India, Malaysia to sign MoU on protecting Indian workers
New Delhi, Apr 24 (PTI) India and Malaysia have finalised a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on labour which will lay down the institutional framework for protection of Indian immigrant workers, Government said today.
"The two governments are completing necessary procedures for signing the MoU (on Labour and Manpower Development) at the earliest," Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi told the Rajya Sabha.
The proposed MoU will lay down the institutional framework for bilateral cooperation to facilitate employment and protection and welfare of Indian immigrant labourers, especially unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled workers, he said.
The Minister said existing Indian workers will also be covered under the MoU.
The MoU, which has been finalised at the official level, also provides for setting up of a Joint Working Group for better coordination between the two countries on labour issues.
There have been complaints of Indian workers in Malaysia being left stranded by agents or being forced to work for minimal wages in difficult working conditions.
India has signed MoUs with several Gulf countries to protect the rights of its workers there. PTI
Tendulkar celebrates birthday with teammates
Chennai, Apr 24 (PTI) A quiet but warm celebration marked Sachin Tendulkar's 35th birthday as the master batsman cut the cake surrounded by his cheerful Mumbai Indians team-mates at a city hotel here today.
As Tendulkar cut the rectangular-shaped cake which had the logo of Mumbai Indians, he was joined by two other Mumbai Indians players, Luke Ronchi and Vikrant Yeligati, who had a delayed celebration after their birthday clashed with the team's match against Chennai Super Kings yesterday.
New Zealander Ronchi turned 27, while Yeligati celebrated his 23rd birthday.
Tendulkar admitted missing his family on the occasion and said, "I wish I could celebrate my birthday with my wife and children, but that is not so. They are joining me at Mohali tomorrow." Asked what was the best gift he got today, Tendulkar said, "The wishes of my fans and teammates is the best gift I have received today. I hope I will perform better this year." After cutting the cake, Tendulkar gave the first piece to Ronchi and then offered a piece to cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle, who is also part of the Mumbai Indians think-tank.
On Tendulkar's insistence, the cake was distributed to every person present at the party, including the media members. PTI
Yuvi, Bhajji would be eager to open account in IPL
Sanjay Ganjoo
Mohali, Apr 24 (PTI) With no certain word still on Sachin Tendulkar's Indian Premier League debut tomorrow, Kings XI Punjab will be eager to take the opportunity to clinch an elusive win at home turf against Mumbai Indians here.
The Yuvraj Singh-led Punjab team, having lost both its matches -- against Chennai Super Kings here and Rajasthan Royals at Jaipur, is bound to be under pressure to record a victory as it will be again playing before their home crowd.
Though Yuvraj is one of the dangerous batsman in this format of the game, he is yet to unleash his real firepower for which he is known. He scored 23 and 57 in his previous two matches.
Other top batsman Mahela Jayawardene is also yet to prove himself while his compatriot Kumar Sangakkara would wish to play a big knock tomorrow.
Punjab's other problem are its strike bowlers, who are yet to live up to their reputation.
Right-arm fast bowler Brett Lee finished with similar figures of 4-0-35-1 in his two matches while left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan had figures of 4-0-47-2 in his first match.
S Sreesanth is yet to come good for the Punjab team as he has proved expensive in the six overs he has bowled in two matches without much success.
The spin department, with Piyush Chawla in the forefront, has also failed to click so far.
Another keen thing to watch out will be how Yuvraj tackles his state-mate Harbhajan Singh. PTI
Shotgun criticises presence of cheer girls at IPL matches
Shimla, Apr 24 (PTI) Actor-turned politician Shatrughan Sinha today lashed out at organisers of IPL matches for bringing cheer girls to the stadiums, making a "mockery" of cricket.
"If you are so interested in deploying these cheer girls who dance after hits of fours and sixes, it is better to give chance to the bar girls who have been rendered unemployed after Maharashtra government put a ban on the dance in bars," Sinha told PTI over phone from Mumbai.
"I am afraid that cricket, which has been shortened from five days to one day and now to the T 20 format, might be reduced to 'Toss-Toss' in which the winner will be decided through toss," he said sarcastically.
Strongly criticising the move to bring cheer girls from abroad for performing what he termed as "indecent dance" during Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, Sinha said it is "difficult to find cricket in these matches".
Sinha, who was also Union minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government, also took exception to the auctioning of players for the IPL tournament.
Shotgun Sinha appealed to the cricketing bosses to seriously ponder over the issue to save the glory of the great sport. PTI
Pakistanis taking IPL like movies with popcorn: Shoaib Malik
New Delhi, Apr 24 (PTI) Jaw-dropping action, nerve-wrecking thriller, high glamour quotient and song-and-dance to boot, the Indian Premier League is threatening Bollywood's popularity across the border, according to Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik.
Popular Hindi movies have traditionally, and often stealthily, managed their ways to the other side of the Line of Control. But of late, the Pakistanis have discovered a new source of wholesome entertainment in the form of the ongoing IPL, said Malik.
"People there have lapped it up like movies. It's like enjoying a cinema with popcorn. The three-hour duration (of the matches) also helped to create the craze," Malik, part of the IPL Delhi Daredevils squad, said here today.
Along with the rest of the people in Pakistan, Malik and his teammates were also hooked on to IPL matches even when they were playing against Bangladesh in the just-concluded ODI series.
"Even when we were playing Bangladesh, we saw the IPL matches in the dressing room," he said.
Malik had no qualms admitting that the IPL's standard was higher than that of Pakistan's recent series against Bangladesh.
"The competition is definitely tougher (in IPL). So many international players are involved and each team can have only four foreigners, so the competition is naturally intense." PTI
Markets end flat in choppy trade
Mumbai, Apr 24 (PTI) The markets ended virtually flat in choppy trade today as the benchmark Sensex oscillated in small range amid mixed signs from global bourses.
However, IT shares attracted good buying interest for the second consecutive day. Infosys Technologies was up 2.86 per cent, Satyam Computers 2.06 per cent and Wipro 1.46 per cent.
The 30-share index of Bombay Stock Exchange settled the day at 16,721.08, a rise of 23.04 points, or 0.14 per cent, from its previous close.
The index touched a low of 16,668.60 points on the back of firm global markets, which came under pressure in the latter part of day.
Asian indices ended mixed while European markets traded subdued, adversely affecting investors sentiment at home.
The broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange, however, dipped by 22.95 points, or 0.46 per cent, to close at 4,999.85 from its last close.
Marketmen said the marketwide rollover to May series was about 60 per cent as on April 23. The April contract of the Futures & Options (F&O) expired today.
Attributing volatility to the end of derivatives series, they said profit selling in second-line stocks turned the market breadth to negative with a sharp fall in volume.
Rising global crude oil prices, which hovered near their record high of USD 120 a barrel, also caused concerns.
Among other gainers in Sensex pack, Hindustan Unilever gained 3.13 per cent, BHEL 1.19 per cent, ICICI Bank 1.42 per cent, L&T 1.36 per cent and Jaiprakash Associates 1.29 per cent. PTI
Maruti Q4 net at Rs 299.7 crore; declares 100 pc dividend
New Delhi, Apr 24 (PTI) Affected by a newly adopted depreciation policy, car market leader Maruti Suzuki India today reported a 33.64 per cent dip in net profit for the quarter ended March 2008 at Rs 297.7 crore.
Net profit during the corresponding quarter in previous fiscal stood at Rs 448.6 crore. However, the two figures are not comparable owing to a more stringent depreciation policy adopted voluntarily by the company from 2007-08, MSI said in a statement.
During the quarter the company registered total income (net of excise) of Rs 5069.9 crore, a growth of 9.4 per cent compared to January-March 2007.
MSI said its board of directors recommended a dividend of 100 per cent for 2007-08. In the fiscal 2006-07 it had announced a dividend of 90 per cent.
For the fiscal 2007-08, net profit stood at Rs 1730.8 crore up 10.8 per cent over 2006-07. This is despite a more stringent depreciation policy adopted voluntarily by the company with effect from April 1, 2007.
Total income (Net of Excise) for the year 2007-08 climbed to Rs 18823.8 crore. This is the highest total income (Net of Excise) ever in the company's history, and marks a growth of 23.4 per cent over 2006-07, it said.
Under the shorter depreciation cycles for its equipment and tooling assets, full depreciation will now be 8 years instead of 13 years previously. The full depreciation for dies will be 4 years instead of the earlier 5 years, it said. PTI
Gold dips Rs 185 on selling by stockists
New Delhi, Apr 24 (PTI) Gold prices fell on the bullion market here today to Rs 11,895 per 10 gram, down by Rs 185, on heavy selling by stockists sparked by a weakening trend in international markets as dollar gained strength, eroding the precious metal's lure as a hedge.
A similar pattern of trade was seem in silver as retailers and industrial units refrained from doing business at existing higher levels amid weak overseas trend. Silver dropped by Rs 460 to Rs 22,950 per kg.
In global markets, gold and silver declined as dollar strengthens against the euro, eroding demand for the precious metal as a hedge against further declines in the US currency.
Gold in New York fell near to 900 dollar an ounce. The metal has declined for five consecutive trading sessions after dollar fell against the euro. Silver also fell 2 cents to 17.12 dollar an ounce.
The impact was felt in domestic markets as standard gold and ornaments dropped by Rs 185 each to Rs 11,895 and Rs 11,745 per 10 gram respectively. Sovereign was unchanged at Rs 9850 per piece of eight gram.
Silver ready tumbled by Rs 500 at Rs.22,950 per kg and weekly-based delivery by Rs.460 at Rs.22,590 per kg as traders and industrial units refrained from enlarging their positions at existing higher levels.
Silver coins were also down by Rs 100 at Rs 26,500 for buying and Rs 26,600 for selling of 100 pieces. PTI
Infosys to invest Rs 500 cr in Bengal
Kolkata, Apr 24 (PTI) Finally it is official that IT bellwether Infosys Technologies would invest Rs 500 crore in red citadel West Bengal with the company signing an MoU with the state government for 90-acre land.
The Bangalore-based company would employ 5,000 engineers in the first phase at its Kolkata Development Centre.
"We have signed an MoU with the state IT Department early this month and decided to invest Rs 500 crore and recruit a workforce of 5,000 in the first phase," Infosys CEO and Managing Director S Gopalakrishnan told reporters after meeting Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at the state secretariat.
"It will be multi-technology and multi-service development centre and would be the 11th centre," he said.
It has been two years since the company had expressed interest to invest in West Bengal, but land pricing was a major stumbling block. PTI
Sarabjit kin allowed jail visit; Pak considering Indian request
Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Apr 24 (PTI) As the family of Sarbjit Singh prepared to meet him in a Lahore jail, Pakistan government today said it was "actively considering" India's request for clemency to the death row prisoner and will take a decision in "due course".
"The issue of Sarabjit Singh is under active consideration by the Pakistan government," Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq told reporters here when asked if the Indian national, sentenced to death for alleged involvement in the 1990 blasts in Punjab province, would be hanged.
"We have received a request from the Indian government. A decision will be taken in due course," he told reporters here, but did not provide details.
Sadiq's comments came as Sarabjit's family members was granted permission to meet him in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail, where he has been lodged .
"The Home Department of Punjab province has given us permission to go and meet Sarabjit and we will shortly be leaving to meet him," Sarabjit's sister Dalbir Kaur told PTI.
Sarabjit's wife Sukhpreet Kaur and his daughters Swapandeep and Poonam along with his sister and her husband Baldev Singh arrived in Lahore yesterday from India crossing the Wagah border.
They are set to visit Sarabjit today itself in the jail, where a meeting with a death row prisoner is allowed for not more than an hour. However, the jail superintendent may extend the meeting time to 90 minutes, according to TV channels.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan President's office said that no mercy petition for the condemned Indian national was pending with it. PTI
Malaysian govt lifts ban on Tamil daily
Kuala Lumpur, April 24 (PTI) Malaysian government today lifted the ban on publication of a prominent Tamil daily in the face of fierce criticism by Opposition leaders and pressure from media activists.
The country's Home Ministry had suspended the publication permit of "Makkal Osai" or People's voice last week on the grounds that the paper had flouted publication guidelines.
The newspaper's General Manager, S M Periasamy, today said he received a letter from the ministry informing him that the ban has been dropped.
Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar confirmed that he approved a fresh annual permit for 'Makkal Osai' or 'People's voice', saying its editors had assured the government that "they will abide by the guidelines and contribute to our nation-building efforts." He denied that the government had backtracked in the face of criticism by the opposition leaders.
"We never act under pressure," Hamid told reporters. What we act on is in the interest of the country." Hamid said the decision to lift the ban on publication of the paper was taken considering the interests of the paper's employees.
Periasamy said the government has not imposed any condition while allowing its publication. He said the newspaper could resume publication from Saturday.
"We will continue as before by giving prominent coverage to Indian-based issues," he said. PTI
Maoists corner 217 seats in Constituent Assembly
Kathmandu, Apr 24 (PTI) The Maoists have won double the number of seats of their nearest rivals in Nepal's 601-member Constituent Assembly at the end of the counting votes for the landmark poll held on April 10, election officials said today.
The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has won a total of 217 seats in the Constituent Assembly.
The Maoists received 29.27 per cent of the total votes and the Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) got 21.13 and 20.33 per cent respectively.
The 29.27 per cent of votes have given the Maoists 97 seats under proportional representation, Nepalese media reports said.
The Maoists had already secured 120 of the 240 seats under the first-past-the-post system or direct voting system.
Nepal's Election Commission completed the nationwide counting of votes for the 335 proportional representation seats late last night.
The Nepali Congress, the dominant party in the country, got only 107 seats, including 37 under the first the first-past-the-post system.
The new Nepalese government is empowered to nominate candidates to fill a further 26 seats. PTI
Bachchan and Sinha squabble over IIFA insinuations
Mumbai, Apr 23 (PTI) The old rivalry between Amitabh Bachchan and Shatrughan Sinha appear to have resurfaced with the Bollywood superstar lashing out at the star-turned-politician for his insinuations that the nomination list of the (IIFA) Awards were 'fixed'.
Taking the war of words to cyberspace, Bachchan, in his newly created blog reacted to media reports where "my colleague, friend and neighbour Shatrughan Sinha" is purported to have said "Sab kissika beta hai, ya kissiki bahu, ya kissiki biwi" in regard to the nomination list of International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards.
The Big B, who is IIFA's Brand Ambassador, said "I am surprised at this observation, especially since, during the time of the National Award selection for Best Actress in one of the past years, when the award went to Raveena Tandon. It was alleged that Mr Shatrughan Sinha's wife, the lovely and graceful Poonam, a great friend of Raveena's mother had recommended the appointment of MacMohan, brother of Raveena's mother, on the board of the jury to favour the actress." He also added, "If this alleged story is true then, I do value Mr Shatrughan Sinha's statement (Sab Kissika..)- you are so right Shatru !!," said Big B in the blog.
Reacting to Bachchan's outbursts, Sinha said he failed to understand the reason for him being overcome by anger.
Describing Bachchan as a "good friend" with whom he did so many successful movies, Sinha said the superstar's comments on him was "unnecessary and bad in taste." "I had just said the award has turned out to be a function of a Bollywood family and did not name anybody...There are families of Khans, Raj Kapoor and Rakesh Roshan in the films...So on what basis Amitabh assumed I was referring to his family," he told PTI in Shimla over phone. PTI
Remembering Satyajit Ray
New Delhi, Apr 23 (PTI) "Not to have seen the cinema of Satyajit Ray means existing in the world without seeing the sun or the moon." These words by legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurasawa best describes the man, who is considered to be have changed the face of Indian cinema forever.
Ray made his films in Bengali. Yet, they were of universal interest. His humanistic approach in dealing with the subjects and subtle handling of characters earned him a place among the league of extraordinary filmmakers of the world.
And even today after 16 years of his death in 1992, he still continues to inspire generations with his creative vision. Ray's death anniversary was observed today.
"He is the first filmmaker in Indian to follow the concept of world cinema and is responsible for bringing out the modern aspect of Indian cinema. His films have always been in the realm of realism and the characters always identifiable with the common man," says ten times National Award winning director Jahnu Barua.
"His cinematic discipline is incomparable and speaks volumes about his commitment to his craft," he adds.
From capturing the simplicity of rural life in Apu Trilogy-- 'Pather Panchali', 'Apur Sansar' and 'Aparajito', to the deft handling of the loneliness of Charu, with just one line of dialogue in seven minutes in 'Charulata', he has crafted each of his films with equal elan, brilliance and equanimity. PTI
Kidman campaigns for ending violence against women
New York, Apr 23 (PTI) Academy-Award winning actress and and UN Goodwill Ambassador, Nicole Kidman has called on people around the world to lend greater support to an online petition, seeking an end to violence against women.
"Every voice counts, and every amount counts," Kidman told reporters here, urging people to add their names to the campaign and donors to step up funding for the cause.
"Let survivors of violence around the world know that they can count on us," said Kidman who is ambassador of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).
Asked about the motivation behind her joing the movement, she said, as a mother of two who is seven months pregnant, she sought to help both her own children and children around the world to have a "better life." Since its launch late last November, the "Say NO to violence against women" petition has garnered more than 200,000 supporters.
"By signing on, citizens send an unequivocal message to leaders around the world, letting their governments know, that they want to see decisive action," Executive Director of UNIFEM, Joanne Sandler said.
In a welcome development, governments have started to sign on to the campaign, including the entire Senegalese Cabinet, led by the West African nation's President, she added.
Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro said that the UN system was now converging around this key topic, noting that in February, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon kicked off a multi-year global campaign bringing together the world body, governments and civil society and called it an issue that "cannot wait." PTI
Bedi blames law enforcement agencies for piracy
Sridhar Krishnaswami
Washington, Apr 22 (PTI) A veteran Bollywood filmmaker has said that problems of piracy and counterfeiting were plaguing the Indian entertainment and blamed the law enforcement agencies for the scenario.
Ahead of the World Intellectual Property Day on Saturday, filmmaker Bobby Bedi slammed the government of India for poor enforcement of the "great laws" to curb piracy.
"The law is all there. The real problem is the enforcement of the law. The authority at ground level does not really take serious action. As a result it becomes a joke," Bedi, who brought the issue before the US Congress, told PTI.
"Today in Bombay, for example, you could go to jail for a night for talking on your mobile phone while driving. But if you are caught with cable piracy, it is not so easy to prosecute. There is no sense in having a law that cannot be enforced," Bedi said.
"But that is India's problem in so many areas. We have great laws and not so great enforcement," Bedi said.
The top Indian film producer warned members of Congress about the massive problems of piracy and counterfeiting plaguing the entertainment industries in India and other developing countries.
Bedi's remarks assumes significance in view of a recent study by Ernst & Young showing that the Indian entertainment industry was losing USD four billion a year, representing almost 40 per cent of their potential annual revenue, due to piracy and counterfeiting. PTI
India, through the lens of sexuality
New Delhi, Apr 24 (PTI) Sexuality can be an interesting lens to examine changes happening in India -- the economic surge, the higher political profile, the cultural explosion on the world stage and a new and assertive confidence in its own capability as a major world power, says a new book.
In 'Gay Bombay,' venture capitalist Parmesh Shahani, chooses Gay Bombay -- an online-offline community in Mumbai --to describe what it means to be a gay man in India's financial and entertainment capital.
"The timely emergence of pop culture homogeneity, pan-Indianness have enabled gay-identified Indian individuals to imagine a distinctively Indian gay identity," the Mumbai-based Shahani, who also works as research affiliate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Convergence Culture Consortium, writes.
He says the present gay scene would not have been possible but for the economic reforms of the 1990s.
"Closely connected to this is the political landscape of the time," he writes. According to Shahani, the queer activist movement in India is broad and diverse, pursuing several legal and health agendas.
"The history, the legal challenges and the medical interventions have enabled an ideoscape of gayness to be formulated and to circulate within the Indian society. There is an awareness of certain issues, an acknowledgment that gayness is something that exists in India," Shahani writes. PTI
Dangers ahead but India will weather economic turbulence: book
New Delhi, Apr 24 (PTI) India's journey to become an economic superpower is fraught with dangers but the country has the potential to overcome the turbulence,feels a management expert.
Kachru however expresses confidence in India's potential as an economic powerhouse, while simultaneously highlighting the dangers we face as a nation on the move.
The widely held belief, particularly among constituents of India's 300 million strong middle class that the country was on its way to becoming an economic superpower in the near future, was misplaced as the journey was "fraught with danger", cautions Upendra Kachru, a management expert. His book 'Extreme Turbulence' was launched in the capital recently.
Kachru however expresses confidence in India's potential as an economic powerhouse, while simultaneously highlighting the dangers we face as a nation on the move.
Unless the country gears up to face the onslaught of 'turbulence' resulting from a sudden yet tedious transition witnessed by the economy, it runs the risk of squandering the initial gains of growth, according to him.
"The focus of the book is on the challenges of change witnessed by India in its long journey of transition from a closed to an open economy and the resultant turmoils accompanied by this transition", says Kachru.
Though the Indian economy has crossed what Kachru calls the "inflection point" of integration with the global economy, it has now entered the period of "extreme turbulence", he says. PTI
Blogger Bachchan packing punches in cyber world
Bedika
New Delhi, Apr 23 (PTI) Superstar Amitabh Bachchan's blog has turned out to be an instant hit in the cyber world inviting comments from zealous fans and hawkish critics across the globe.
Fans are happy to find Big B within their reach and are lapping up every detail about the life of their favourite icon, who is whetting their appetite by blogging with unfailing regularity.
Bachchan is certainly going to have a tough time answering bloggers as they are not only querying Big B on his work, life and family but also filing details about their own life and seeking his advice on various issues as well.
The actor has been bombarded by fans from as far away as Poland, America, Europe, UK, Australia and Canada.
On his part Amitabh Bachchan is taking the job of blogging very seriously, going online about the latest developments in his life, discussing his daily routine or updating readers about the injury he incurred during the shooting of 'Aladin'.
Most comments directed to the actor are remarks about his family and he does not flinch from giving a point blank answer to one and all.
When a female blogger from Pakistan expressed her reservations on Abhishek's wedding with Aishwarya, Bachchan responded instantly, "You may differ with her in her work her profession, but if you will cast aspersions on her personally, I will defend her, fight for her and not tolerate this kind of talk, as I am sure neither would you, were someone to speak ill of a member of your family." PTI
I never wanted to be an actor: Arshad Warsi
Amit Das
New Delhi, April 23 (PTI) He might be one of the finest actors in Bollywood with an impeccable comic timing but actor Arshad Warsi, whose latest film 'Krazzy 4' has just hit the screens, says he did'nt dream of becoming an actor.
"I never wanted to be an actor. I was also terrible in business, so I didn't want to be a businessman either. I was interested in choreography. But now after spending 12 years in the industry I think people have accepted me and I am a decent actor now," says Arshad, who started his career with 'Tere Mere Sapne' in 1996.
Arshad, who immortalised the character of 'Circuit' a henchman of 'Munnabhai' in 'Munnabhai MBBS' and its sequel 'Lage Raho Munnabhai' says, he never tried to do anything different to get into focus.
"I never tried anything out of the way. For me, It has always been being in the right place at the right time. Now I'm getting a variety of roles and things are looking good," he says.
Arshad's 'Krazzy 4,' which is supposed to be a rip off from Howard Zieff's 'The Dream Team', has received some flak from the critics. However, Arshad has no qualms about acting in such flicks.
"I dont care for honesty. Every film is a copy of some other film, so it doesn't bother me. As long as the Indian junta is happy and are enjoying the flicks, I am happy to do such films," he says. PTI
Repetition of 2007 rat menace looms large: Scientist
H C Vanlalruata
Aizawl, Apr 22 (PTI) The prediction by elders in Mizoram's villages that 2008 would be a year of bountiful harvest after a disastrous year of 'Mautam' may prove to be wrong according to James Lalsiamliana, an expert on pest control.
Lalsiamliana's worst fears are based on reports that 'Dendrocalamus Hamiltoni,' a variety of bamboo locally known as 'Phulrua' flowered in the last quarter of last year and the seeds are on the ground now even as 'melocanna baccifera' or 'Mautak' has completed flowering.
'Mautam' is the local term used for gregarious flowering in bamboo, followed invariably by a plague of bandicoot rats, which multiply in response to the temporary windfall of seeds; they subsequently turn to forage on stored grain, which in turn causes famine.
The ecological phenomenon cyclically occurs in this state every 48 years resulting in immense hardship to the agrarian tribals. "As had happened in the late 1950s the rodents that caused so much destruction to the cultivation area during 2007 were expected to die enmasse due to liver disease as they wouldn't find anything to eat from January to April," he said, adding that now they found food in form of 'Phulua' seeds.
He said that even wild boars and jungle fowls devoured the seeds of Phulrua and many villagers reported an increase in the population of wild boar and jungle fowl in their areas after 'Phulrua' flowered. "Phulrua flowered sporadically since 2000 but this year it is flowering gregariously," Lalsiamliana said, adding that the species is found almost everywhere in the river valleys.
"No study has revealed that rats ate Dendrocalamus Hamiltoni and even if it is so, the population of this bamboo species is too small to re-trigger rodent menace," he told PTI. PTI
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