Hazare turns blogger; joins Facebook, Twitter

Mumbai, Sep 29 (IANS) Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare seems set to take the virtual world by storm. He Thursday became a blogger and even joined social networking sites Facebook and Twitter.

The blog, with posts in English, Hindi and Marathi, is titled 'Anna Hazare Says' and can be accessed on: https://annahazaresays.wordpress.com.

In his inaugural post, Hazare wrote: 'It is after a long time that I am directly communicating with you. Henceforth, it is from this blog that I will be constantly in touch with you.'

'We started a movement demanding that Janlokpal Bill be passed in India and slowly the crusade spearheaded into a full-fledged non-violent revolution spilling on to the Ramlila grounds,' he added.

The activist said he found the support of the people and his young friends as overwhelming as they came forward from every corner of the country and their cries awakened India from its deep slumber.

'Their cries not only shook the very roots of our country but people from world over who had fallen prey to injustice, corruption took active part in the movement.

'The entire movement was infectious. This was the beginning of a revolution. It was the beginning of India's second struggle for independence,' Hazare said.

The 74-year old leader pointed out that parliament gave an assurance that it would put forward some of the demands from the Jan Lokpal Bill and get them approved.

'But assurance doesn't necessarily mean law. A bigger fight awaits us,' Hazare urged.

The activist warned that the movement still 'has a long way to go and very soon it will acquire a non-violent, but intense flavour of a nation-wide revolution'.

'To enable a one-to-one conversation with you I will soon embark on my journey throughout India. I will address problems faced by people at every step of life... Interactive communication on this blog will start very soon. You can share your queries, problems thoughts and emotions with me,' Hazare appealed.

He also wrote on his blog that he has joined Facebook and Twitter.

Source:
http://in.news.yahoo.com/hazare-turns-blogger-joins-facebook-twitter-141522834.html

PCB to use Akhtar book in court case

Karachi, September 28 (AFP): Pakistan cricket authorities said on Wednesday they would use confessions made by retired paceman Shoaib Akhtar in his autobiography in court to justify disciplining the former international.

In the book, launched last week in India, Akhtar confessed to ball-tampering and other violations of conduct during a 14-year career that was marred by injury and discipline problems before his retirement in April this year.

The book, "Controversially Yours", has riled Indian fans and media alike with harsh comments on batting greats Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, claiming the duo were not "match winners."

Akhtar's appeal against a record seven million rupee (then $82,400) disciplinary fine imposed three years ago is pending in the Lahore high court.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) legal adviser Taffzul Rizvi said excerpts of the book will now be used in court against the one-time world's fastest bowler.

"In a writ case it is important for someone to have clean conduct and in his autobiography Akhtar has confessed to breach of discipline and has not come out clean, so we will use them in the court case," Rizvi told AFP.

Akhtar was banned for five years after he criticised the PCB for axing him from the central contracts in early 2008.

His suspension was later reduced to 18 months, and although the fine was imposed, he was allowed to play international cricket.

In October 2007, Akhtar was banned for 13 matches and fined 3.4 million rupees for hitting teammate Mohammad Asif with a bat just days before the Twenty20 World Cup in September in South Africa.

"Akhtar has confessed to all breaches of contract which justifies PCB's action of 2008," said Rizvi. "He has also violated his central contract which remains intact until year after a player's retirement," said Rizvi.

PCB chairman Ijaz Butt also took a swipe at Akhtar.

"Akhtar is talking nonsense and we will take action officially once we get the book," Butt said earlier this week. "His comments can hamper our efforts of reviving cricket series with India."

Former captain Shoaib Malik, who Akhtar described as "a stooge of former PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf," said no one should take the book seriously.

"We should not take him seriously and his allegations are not worthy of response," said Malik.

Source:
http://cricket.yahoo.com/cricket/news/article?id=item/2.0/-/story/cricket.yahoonews.com/pcb-use-akhtar-book-court-case-20110928/

Akhtar won’t respond to Sachin

After kicking the hornet's nest with sensational claims in his autobiography 'Controversially Yours', former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar didn't shy away from raising a new controversy when he said that 'it is beyond his dignity to respond to Sachin's snub.'

How To Sell A Cricket Book

In an interview with NewsX, the pacer took on Pakistan Cricket Board and Wasim Akram once again. He also clarified why Tendulkar was scared of him during the Faisalabad Test.

"Tendulkar was suffering from tennis elbow during that time and was having difficulty holding his bat (pulling), so we decided to target his head and get him out. We wanted to scare him off with barrage of bouncers. And I felt - that particular day - Sachin was scared, he was uncomfortable against me," Akhtar said.

Shoaib also maintained his stand that Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid were not match-winners - atleast when he was around.

The speedster lashed out at PCB chairman Ijaz Butt, calling him a mad man. The pacer said "Ijaz Butt handled the match-fixing issue very badly, he just can't think straight. He has made Pakistan cricket a joke."

Following criticism of Akhtar's remarks, Butt expressed concern that cricket ties between both boards could be strained. However, BCCI re-assured the PCB tat Akhtar's jibe will not affect the renewal of Pakistan-India cricket ties.

On Wasim Akram, the pace bowler said it was not him but others in the team who did not want to play under him. "Though I respected Akram as a bowler, he was abusive and had bad attitude," Akhtar added.

Akram earlier said that no one but the 'Rawalpindi Express' himself was responsible for the setbacks in his career. "I know, Shoaib knows and the entire world knows that he himself is responsible for destroying his career. Nobody helped him (in destroying his career)."

Union minister and Mumbai Cricket Association president Vilasrao Deshmukh said that Shoaib Akhtar should apologise to Sachin Tendulkar for his controversial claims.

A promotional event of Akhtar's book launch scheduled to be held today in Mumbai was called off because of the adverse reaction to his unflattering remarks against top Indian players in his tell-all autobiography. Bangalore has also said no to his book launch, which was supposed to take place on Tuesday.

Source:
http://cricket.yahoo.com/blogs/article-akhtar-won-t-respond-to-sachin_15809

Sex with ex can be dangerous

Temptations are hard to resist and perhaps that is why they are called so, especially when the cue is a blast from the past. And who better than the dear television couple, Ross and Rachel from the series 'Friends' can epitomize the theme of hooking up with your ex-lover?

It wouldn't be inappropriate to say that physical intimacy is a binding factor in a relationship. In fact, the emotional and physical aspects are almost intangible, which is why, when two individuals decide to part ways, the situation is shattering for both. Two possible circumstances measure up here - a consensual break-up, the decision for which is usually a practical one or a painfully heartbreaking affair for either the boy or the girl, whosoever did not expect the blow. The reasons for break-up may vary but the embers of passion remain in all hearts, veiled and often disregarded as "past is past". So what happens when these embers turn into sparks again?

The sex was great!
Some relationships blossom at the sheer thrill of sex. Emotional bonding is usually absent in these cases and the futileness of continuing the relationship is realized sooner or later. But the passionate encounters are simply hard to forget and the craving exists. For 25-year-old Pooja, a flight attendant, sex was the most exciting part of her 5-year long relationship. Says she, "More than anything, I miss the sex. It was the only thing that connected us because otherwise there was nothing in common between us." When asked if she would consider getting back with her ex for the sake of sex only, she replied in affirmative. "There was hardly any emotional connection and I think it would be fun to experience the amazing feeling once again" she said.

A bitter break-up
The thought of a sexual encounter with an ex-lover is a sore spot for many men. Unlike women, they are not quite comfortable at the thought of backtracking into the boulevards of their turbulent past. Even if the general perception about them is that they treat sex far more casually than women, their hesitation manifests loud and clear when confronted with their ex-affairs. 26-year-old Manish, a sports journalist says, "A break-up is always bitter and hurtful. When two people decide to end the relationship, there's no question of getting back together, be it for sex or anything." Of course, there are others who do not concur with this attitude. However, there are those that make no bones about enjoying sex with ex for old times' sake. "If my ex is comfortable with the 'no strings attached' idea, then I am in", says 22-year-old Rahul, an MBA student.

Love's labour regained
The emotional bonding and physical intimacy are two sides of the same coin and a sudden or planned sexual encounter with an ex can sprout hopes of reviving the lost love. A slight nudge on the arm or a soft kiss can do wonders. 27-year-old Neha, a software professional, agrees. "My boyfriend and I weren't seeing anyone for a long time post the break-up. Recently we met at a common friend's party, got drunk and made out. Since then our love has found a new meaning and has grown manifold. It has actually healed the differences and brought us closer."
Inhibitions galore

While it may seem a somewhat acceptable trend, having sex with an ex-lover certainly does not go down well with the ones who've endured a hurtful break-up. Their inhibition and inability to divulge their vulnerability to a new person prevents them from falling in love once again. Subsequently, it lures them to believe that such an encounter might recreate the magic of unrequited love.

Expert's take
Dr Deepak Raheja, senior psychiatrist & psychotherapist feels that such temptations primarily emanate from insecurity. The biggest fear of urbanization is loneliness and hence people fear abandonment. Another reason could simply be 'kink'. Monotony could lead to an urge to re-explore the sparks of the past relationship. And how does it affect the people involved? "It depends on the intensity of the present relationship. Complications are bound to occur - comparisons of the past with the present, guilt of cheating on your partner which escorts ambivalence." He sums it up by saying, "If you play with fire, you will burn your hands. So either be very careful or avoid it because it's difficult to rekindle the past."

The world seems to agree as well as disagree, and the perspectives are, without a doubt, subjective. While some chicken out at the thought of an intimate encounter without wanting anymore emotional turmoil, others start the game on a clean slate. This decision to run the risk of stroking the dormant feelings is indeed a tricky one and its fairness depends exclusively on the situation one is in. Staying in touch with your ex means no harm and meeting up over a coffee occasionally is fine too. Make sure you don't end up jeopardizing your mental peace at the cost of a one-time temptation and you're good to go.

"Only by acceptance of the past, can you alter it" - T S Eliot.
(Some names have been changed on request)

Source:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/relationships/man-woman/Sex-with-ex-can-be-dangerous/articleshow/10092083.cms

"Anger never lets you win"

Every time you lose your cool, you lose control and at times the cost could be quite high. So learn to manage your temper.

As a little kid growing up on a sheep farm near Christchurch, New Zealand, Martin was a bright, hardworking boy, prone to losing his temper and getting angry. He would end up saying harsh words to his friends and family without often realising the impact of his angry outbursts.

Intent on mending his son’s ways, Martin’s dad decided on a plan. He gave his son a sack of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the wooden fence at the back of their farm. The son agreed. The first day, he hammered 35 nails into the fence. As the days passed, the number of nails hammered into the fence gradually decreased. It was quite a task going all the way to the back of the farm and hammering a nail. Young Martin figured it was easier to just control his temper, and not get angry.

And then, one day, he did not lose his cool at all. A day of no nails! Delighted, he told his father about it. And the father said that for every day that Martin did not lose his temper, he should pull out a nail from the fence. Martin did as told, and some months later, all the nails in the fence had been removed. Martin was pleased. And so was his dad.

The father led young Martin to the back of the farm and pointing to the wooden fence he said “You have done well, my son and I am proud of you. But notice the holes left behind by the nails? They will never go away. The fence will never be the same again. It’s like that with our anger too. When we are angry, we say things that leave a scar. And no amount of apologizing thereafter can ever remove those scars. Remember that!”

It’s a lesson Martin has remembered all his life. And it’s a lesson we would all do well to take to heart too. Keep your cool. Don’t lose your temper. And you will see a significant improvement in your relationships. People will like you more, they will respect you a lot more – and you will find that hardly anybody gets angry with you. If you find yourself losing your cool often, maybe you should set yourself a punishment equivalent to hammering nails on the fence. Like Martin, you too might then find yourself controlling your temper a lot better. Good to remember that you can never really win when you get angry. You always lose -your temper, your cool and a whole lot else besides.

Saying ‘Sorry’ is like using one of those erasers on the top of a pencil. It’s easy to use, it feels like you have erased what was written, but the marks remain on the sheet of paper forever. And in this era of instant messaging and on-the-go e-mails, it becomes even more important to watch your words. If you are upset and want to shoot off an angry e-mail or message, hold it! Draft a mail perhaps – but leave it as a draft. Don’t hit the ‘send’ button whilst you are angry. Tell yourself that you will take a look at it the next morning, and only then send it. Chances are, with a cooler head the next morning, you will realise the folly of sending out the angry email. And it does not matter that you are in the right, or that you think your anger is justified. If you lose your cool, remember, you lose. Period.

Next time you are angry and want to say something, take a deep breath. Pause. And maybe say nothing at all.

Starting today, resolve to keep your cool. Watch what you say. And see the difference!

Prakash Iyer is MD, Kimberly-Clark Lever and Executive Coach. For more inspiring life lessons, read Mr Iyer's new book The Habit of Winning.

Source:
http://campus.yahoo.com/news/yeducareers360/anger-never-lets-you-win-20110919

Tired of IIT, student commits suicide

Mahtab Ahmed, 18, a first year student of B.Tech material science and engineering from Kannauj, was found hanging from the ceiling fan in his room Thursday.

A student of Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur (IIT-K) was found hanging from his hostel room, police in this Uttar Pradesh town said Friday, suspecting that he was depressed over a failed love affair.

Mahtab Ahmed, 18, a first year student of B.Tech material science and engineering from Kannauj, was found hanging from the ceiling fan in his room Thursday.

While no suicide note was found, police believe Ahmed was in depression, as evident from the writing on the walls of his room.

'I am tired of IIT...What is the meaning of happiness, yet trying to get answer,' wrote Ahmed on one of the walls.

'We suspect a failed love affair as one of the possible reasons... We have learnt that Mahtab was having a love affair with a girl, who was from outside the campus,' a senior police officer told IANS.

'We have also come to know that Mahtab used to write poems over his relationship with the girl, who is yet to be identified,' he added.

When contacted, Inspector Rajesh Kumar, who is investigating the case, said: 'We are probing the case from all the angles. Love affair is also one of them.'

According to IIT-K Registrar Sanjeev Kashalkar, the suicide was detected Thursday evening when Ahmed did not respond to the repeated door knocks by his friends.

'We informed the police and they broke open the door,' said Kashalkar.

Source:
http://campus.yahoo.com/news/yeduyahooindia/tired-iit-student-commits-suicide-20110923

Hyundai Eon to bowl over the small car segment

When you think Hyundai, the word 'style' pops unbidden to mind. Whether it's an i10, Verna, Sonata or Santa Fe, the company never compromises on style and seamless finish. Underscoring this fact is Eon, the latest offering from the Hyundai stable that is expected on Indian roads in October, priced around 2.5 lakh.

The Eon has a very intricate design accentuated with the fluidic lines we saw on the 2011 Verna. According to Autocar, the wheel arches and shoulder line are so complex that you'd have to go all the way up to a Mercedes-Benz CLS to see anything similar — and that's no overstatement.

Generally, A-segment cars disappoint on the interior. But Eon, unlike any other in the segment, gets a neatly finished and spacious interior.  Also on offer are USB-supported music system, remote locking and even tiltable steering.

The Eon will be powered by an 814cc IRDE petrol engine developing 56bhp, which is definitely zippy on a car that weighs at 715-795kg. To add joy, Hyundai is claiming 21.1 kmpl, too.

Overall, the Eon is going to be more powerful, sleek, futuristic and hopefully equally priced as the super seller Maruti Alto. Who knows, this car might even dethrone Alto as India's best-selling car.

Source:
http://in.news.yahoo.com/blogs/fullthrottle/hyundai-eon-bowl-over-small-car-segment-115021307.html

Suspended Kochi Tuskers threaten BCCI with legal action

New Delhi, Sep 19 (IANS) Kochi Tuskers have threatened legal action after the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise's contract was terminated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) at its Annual General Meeting here Monday.

The BCCI terminated Kochi Tuskers' contract after the franchise, despite repeated reminders, defaulted on a Rs.156 crore annual payment it was to make as bank guarantee.

'Because of the irremedial breach committed by the Kochi franchise, the BCCI has decided to encash the bank guarantee in their possession and also terminate the franchise. We have terminated the franchise because the breach is not capable of being remedied,' said new BCCI president N.Srinivasan in Mumbai.

But Kochi Tuskers director Mukesh Patel told IANS that they don't have any dues outstanding and in fact the BCCI owes them Rs.12-15 crore next month as a share in the central revenue.

'We don't have any outstanding dues with the BCCI. The termination is illegal. We will take them (BCCI) to court. In fact, the BCCI will be paying us Rs.12-15 crore next month as a part of our central revenue,' said Patel.

The franchise was bought by a consortium, comprising some Gujarat-based businessmen, last year for a whopping Rs.1,550 crore. According to rules, franchises have to pay the amount in 10 equal instalments.

It has been in the news right from the start due to rift between the owners, who also wanted to shift the team's base to Ahmedabad.

The BCCI in the past had also turned down Kochi Tuskers' request to cut down their franchise fees. Kochi owners were promised 18 games in the Invitation to Tender (ITT) document but it was cut down to 14 as the fourth edition was reduced to a 74-game tournament.

The IPL was earlier planned to be a 94-match tournament but due to hectic international calendar it was cut down to 74 matches.

Source:
http://cricket.yahoo.com/cricket/news/article?id=item/2.0/-/story/cricket.indiaabroad.com/suspended-kochi-tuskers-threat-bcci-with-legal-action-20110919/

Quakes in India: A chronology

New Delhi, Sep 18 (IANS) A 6.8 earthquake hit northern and eastern India Sunday. Following are some of the major quakes in the recent past:

Sep 7, 2011 -- 4.2 magnitude quake jolts Delhi and adjoining areas, with its epicenter near Sonepat, Haryana.

Oct 8, 2005 -- 7.6 magnitude quake strikes Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Pakistan, killing over 80,000 people, mostly in Pakistan.

Dec 26, 2004 -- Over two lakh people die when a 9.3 magnitude temblor hits Indonesia's Sumatra island, causing a tsunami that hit India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the Maldives.

Jan 26, 2001 -- 7.7 magnitude earthquake kills over 20,000 in Gujarat, mainly in Kutch, Ahmedabad and Bhuj.

Sep 30, 1993 -- 6.4 magnitude leaves 7,928 people dead in Latur, Maharashtra.

Source:
http://in.news.yahoo.com/quakes-india-chronology-153855924.html

Situation in quake- hit Sikkim under control, says Home Secretary R. K. Singh

New Delhi, Sep 19 (ANI): Union Home Secretary R. K. Singh on Monday said the Centre is in touch with the Sikkim Government and the rescue operations in quake -hit areas are continuing.

Taking to reporters here, Singh said that 26 civilians were dead , 19 in Sikkim, two in Bihar and five in West Bengal. 75 persons have been out of whom four have been discharged. He added that major cracks have occurred in the houses but not many have collapsed. "We do not expect major damage. Power has been restored. Roads movement would b e restored by evening."

"Our 12 NDRF team are engaged in rescue of the people along with large number of army and ITBP personnel," he said.

"We are continuously in touch with Sikkim government and no petroleum or food products are in scarcity. Rescue operations are going on," he added.

Meanwhile, the IAF promptly pressed into service its aircraft for relief and rescue operations for the quake affected areas in the North East.

Two C-130J Super Hercules Special Operations aircraft were pressed into service for the first time from Hindan airbase to Bagdogra, carrying nine tonn of relief material and equipment and approx 200 National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) personnel. One IL-76 dispatched from Agra to Kolkata carried eight tonn of relief material and equipment and 110 passengers.

Two sorties from Kolkata to Bagdogra carrying relief material, one AVRO from Palam airbase carrying a 20 member medical team, 02 AN-32 medium lift transport aircraft from Agra to Kolkata carrying relief material and equipment, two Cheetas and two Chetaks for recce mission and 04 Mi-17 aircraft from Bagdogra would also be a part of IAF's rescue and relief operations.

The epicentre of the quake was located at Mangan and Sakyong areas, over 50 kilometres from Gangtok on the Sikkim-Nepal border.

Tremors were also felt in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chandigarh and Delhi.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, had earlier spoken to Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling and offered help in all possible ways. (ANI)

Source:
http://in.news.yahoo.com/situation-quake-hit-sikkim-under-control-says-home-085652902.html

Deaths, destruction as strong quake hits India, Nepal

Gangtok/New Delhi, Sep 18 (IANS) At least 13 people were killed and about 100 injured Sunday as a 6.8 intensity earthquake ravaged the Sikkim-Nepal border region, jolting large parts of India, Bangladesh and Nepal and causing widespread panic.

Tens of thousands scurried out of their homes just after 6 p.m. in numerous cities, including New Delhi, following the powerful tremor that was quickly followed by two major aftershocks.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the epicentre of the quake was on the Sikkim-Nepal border.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh immediately convened a meeting of the National Disaster Management Authority. The Indian Army was put on alert for deployment in Sikkim.

In no time, the Indian Air Force flew five cargo planes with relief material and rescue personnel for deployment in Sikkim and West Bengal, which accounted for eight deaths.

Five people have been killed and around 60 injured, Sikkim Chief Secretary Karma Gyatso said, adding the toll could go up as reports from various villages were still pouring in.

One of the dead was a child, officials in Gangtok said. Another was Sandipan Banerjee, an official with a pharmaceutical company who died when a house collapsed in Rangpo, 40 km from Gangtok.

Another man died when his vehicle was trapped in a massive mudslide on the outskirts of Gangtok.

The worst, officials said, was feared in the Sikkim-Nepal border region, where mudslides had blockaded roads.

Gyatso said army and paramilitary personnel were engaged in rescue and relief efforts in the affected areas.

The quake also damaged some Indian Army bunkers in eastern Sikkim near Nathu-La pass along the India-China border and left many soldiers injured, said sources.

Helicopters were deployed to evacuate the soldiers, said sources adding that on-ground army installations were intact. The required soldier strength in the sensitive area was in place, they said.

Three people were killed, at least 46 injured and power supply was disrupted in parts of northern West Bengal. Many buildings developed cracks.

North Bengal Affairs Minister Gautam Deb said the deaths were reported from Siliguri in Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri district, while police reported another death in Kalimpong hills of Darjeeling.

'One person died in Siliguri. Another died in Jalpaiguri district,' Deb told IANS over phone.

The quake triggered landslides in Kalimpong and Kurseong hill sub-divisions while several patients in a nursing home in Siliguri sub-division of Darjeeling district were injured, he said.

In New Delhi, Cabinet Secretary Ajit Kumar Seth told TimesNow: 'As time passes, we will get more information... Everyone is helping out.'

At least five people were killed in Nepal, three of them in Kathmandu alone, triggering panic and chaos all across the Himalayan kingdom, news reports said.

A wall of the British embassy in Kathmandu, located in the Lainchaur area close to the Indian embassy, collapsed after the quake, smashing a car and killing three people inside.

Dozens were injured as houses crashed across the mountainous country, snapping power supply and communication lines.

Across India, buildings shook triggering panic almost all over northern and eastern India, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam and Mizoram.

In Assam's major city Guwahati, people ran out of their homes.

Power supply was disrupted in parts of northern West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in Kolkata.

'In no time all the people in my neighbourhood were out of their apartments,' said Anjani Kumari, who lives on Boring Road in Patna, Bihar.

The experience was particularly frightening for those in high rises.

'I was watching TV and for a few seconds thought my head was spinning. When I realised it was an earthquake, I ran out,' said Meenakshi Sinha, who lives on the seventh floor of an apartment complex in Noida.

She said the tremors lasted 30 to 40 seconds.

Lucknow resident Vijay Dutt told IANS: 'There were strong tremors. In our building, everybody rushed out fearing the worst. The furniture shook and windows rattled. It was scary,' he added.

In Tripura, officials said the quake was also felt in neighbouring Bangladesh.

This is the fourth earthquake to hit India this month.

An earthquake measuring 4.2 on the Richter Scale had shaken north India Sep 7 at around with its epicentre near Sonepat in Haryana, 65 km from New Delhi.

Source:
http://in.news.yahoo.com/deaths-destruction-strong-quake-hits-india-nepal-161133794.html

15 injured in Agra hospital blast, UP on high alert

LUCKNOW: At least 15 people were injured in blast at Jai hospital in Agra on Saturday evening. The explosion took place at the waiting room near the reception of the hospital.

The blast shattered the windowpanes of the reception and set off panic among the people. The hospital is located around two km from the Taj Mahal and is on the Agra-Delhi highway.

Patients were evacuated from the hospital and police cordoned off the entire area and conducted an intensive combing operation.

"The explosive was kept under a chair. The blast has badly damaged the room", said IGP, Agra Range, PK Tiwari. He added that it was too early to say if it was a terror attack.

"Anti-Terror Squad team has been rushed to Agra," DGP (Law & Order) Brij Lal told reporters in Lucknow. "Forensic team have also reached the site of blast," he added.

Agra police said that it was a low intensity blast. Several tiffin boxes have been found from the site. A bag and nine volt battery has also been recovered.

Around 97 patients were there in the hospital at the time of blast. The security has been beefed up in and around sensitive areas of Agra. Entire state has also been put on alert.

Source:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/15-injured-in-Agra-hospital-blast-UP-on-high-alert/articleshow/10021505.cms

RBI raises repo rate by 25 bps; maintains hawkish talk

MUMBAI (Reuters) - The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raised interest rates on Friday for the 12th time in 18 months and said it will persist with its anti-inflationary policy stance, even as growth slows in Asia's third-largest economy.

The RBI lifted its policy lending rate, the repo rate, by 25 basis points to 8.25 percent, in line with expectations, as it persisted in a thus far largely futile fight to curb inflation.

The central bank said it was too soon to ease back from its anti-inflationary bias.

"A premature change in the policy stance could harden inflationary expectations, thereby diluting the impact of past policy actions. It is, therefore, imperative to persist with the current anti-inflationary stance," it said in a statement.

The RBI's hawkishness, which saw it raise rates by an unexpectedly steep 50 basis points in late July, increasingly jars with dovish talk from central bankers worried about the health of the global economy, with both the United States and euro zone weighed down by debt problems.

It also sets India apart from its Asian neighbours, which have recently rolled back rate hike campaigns.

Headline inflation for August rose to 9.78 percent, data on Wednesday showed, its highest level in more than a year.

India's economic growth has cooled and demand crimped following the cumulative impact of earlier rate increases and rising prices.

"RBI is still viewing rising inflationary expectation as a key risk after a series of 12 rate hikes. This, according to me, is a real worry so far as rate outlook is concerned," said Nitesh Ranjan, chief economist at Union Bank in Mumbai.

The benchmark 10-year bond yield rose 4 basis points after the RBI kept up its hawkish tone, while the one-year swap rate surged 11 basis points. Shares too trimmed gains to be up just about 0.4 percent from 1.4 percent before the announcement.

While inflation in India was initially driven by food and fuel prices, both largely beyond the scope of monetary policy, it has spread to the core non-food manufacturing sector and remains far above the central bank's perceived comfort zone of 4 to 4.5 percent.

Most economists in a poll released on Monday expected the central bank to raise rates on Friday and then pause in a tightening cycle that has made RBI Gov. Duvvuri Subbarao one of the most aggressive central bankers anywhere over the past two years.

Industrial output in July was the weakest in nearly two years, while India's June-quarter economic growth of 7.7 percent was the slowest in six quarters.

The rupee, which plunged to a near two-year low against the U.S. dollar on Wednesday, may further weaken on the rate rise, hitting India's import bill.

Source:
http://in.news.yahoo.com/rbi-raises-repo-rate-25-bps-maintains-hawkish-070745435.html

Azharuddin's son Ayazuddin dies after road accident

NEW DELHI: Ayazuddin, the son of former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin, died on Friday five days after being critically injured in a road accident.

Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad confirmed the news of his death.

Ayazuddin, sustained critical injuries after a high-end sports bike he was driving skidded off the road at Puppalguda on Outer Ring Road (ORR) here last Sunday.

Ayazuddin's cousin, Ajmal-ur-Rahman (16) who was riding pillion, succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.

Ayazuddin is the youngest of the two sons of Azharuddin from his first wife Naureen, whom he divorced to marry former actress Sangeeta Bijlani.

In a medical bulletin issued on Thursday evening, Apollo Hospitals (Central Region) CEO Dr K Hari Prasad said, "Brain function tests conducted on Ayazuddin (in the past few days) indicate brain dysfunction. And his status remains critical."

Source:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Azharuddins-son-Ayazuddin-dies-after-road-accident/articleshow/10004523.cms

Azhar’s son critically injured in accident

Former India captain and Congress MP Mohd. Azharuddin's younger son, Mohammed Ayazuddin, is battling for his life after he was critically wounded in a road accident at Puppalguda on the Outer Ring Road (ORR) on Sunday morning.

Ayazuddin was driving a Suzuki high-power sports bike which skidded off the road. His cousin, Azmal-ur-Rahman, who was pillion-riding died while undergoing treatment, the police said.

Ayazuddin was returning from the Airport to Gachibowli, when the 1000 CC mobike skidded. Occupants of a couple of cars coming to the city from the airport witnessed the high speed accident and called in the police. A police patrol vehicle of Rayadurg station reached the accident spot within minutes.

As ambulance services were not available immediately, policemen rushed Ayazuddin and Azmal-ur-Rahman in their vehicle to Apollo Hospital in Jubilee Hills. Ayazuddin's father, Mohd. Azharuddin, who was in London is flying to Hyderabad and is expected to reach the city by midnight.

A hospital source said the unconscious youngsters were brought to the hospital by 9.30 a.m. with critical injuries. Ayazuddin suffered a cardiac arrest too. He sustained serious injuries on his chest and his kidneys were also damaged. He was put on ventilator and his blood pressure recordings were low. “The next six hours will be critical. The doctors are trying to keep him alive,” hospital sources said, indicating the seriousness of his condition.

Police officers who visited the scene of the ghastly accident surmised that the sports bike driven at a high speed must have skidded off at the toll gate structures on the ORR. Interestingly, the road at the toll gates was cemented and the bitumen stretch ended 100 yards away from the accident spot. This made police surmise that Ayazuddin would have lost control of the high-speed vehicle as it hit the cemented road and skidded.

Ayazuddin, a second-year undergraduate student in St. Mary's college is also an avid cricket player and was playing leagues on behalf of SBI. He was also playing for the MP Colts team in league matches. He was to play a league match with Sri Satya Sai Cricket club on Monday.

Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad visited Apollo Hospital to enquire about Ayazuddin's health condition. The Hyderabad MP, Asaduddin Owaisi, and cricketer VVS Laxman were among those who rushed to Apollo Hospital.

Ayaz operated upon

Meanwhile, Ayazuddin underwent an emergency surgery at Apollo Hospital to stop bleeding in his chest. However, his condition continued to be critical and a multi-speciality team of doctors was closely monitoring his condition, a hospital bulletin said on Sunday night.

A medical bulletin said that Ayazuddin (19) and Ajmal-ur-Rehman (16) were brought to the Apollo Hospital at 9.35 a.m. Both of them were brought in a state of cardiac arrest.

A team of doctors worked on both of them. After about one-and-half hours Ajmal-ur-rehman could not be revived and was declared dead.

Source:
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/andhra-pradesh/article2444376.ece