FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 06, 2013

8 Pages Rs: 1.00 Jammu Edition

www.thestudentage.com JKENG/2012/41612 Vol. 2 No: 222

CLOSE MALE-FEMALE LITERACY GAP: PRANAB

BEGUILED WE ARE NOT, BY THESE MAI-BAAPS

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BARACK OBAMA ARRIVES AT RUSSIA G20 TO PUSH FOR SYRIA STRIKE

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NEED TO FOCUS ON HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT Three-tier border fencing "death trap" for infiltrating militants OF UNIVERSITIES: OMAR ABDULLAH
some years. In a PowerPoint presentation the Vice Chancellor of the University, Dr. A. R. Trag stated that the integrated Ph.D programme introduced in School of Business Studies. He said Ph.D programme are being offered in Schools of Humanities and Social Sciences from current academic session. He said AICTE has granted extension of approval for the period 2012-13 to Islamic University of Science and Technology for technical courses. Dr. Trag said that the project entitled 'establishment of quality control and food testing laboratory' has been sanctioned at a cost of Rs. 386.82 lakhs by Union Ministry of Food Processing and Industries for the University. The Vice Chancellor said that up to 80 percent construction has been completed in two academic buildings of Electronics and Communication Engineering and Computer Science and Engineering for which foundation was laid by the Chief Minister last year. He said 50 percent construction has been complete in OBC girls hostel for which foundation was laid by the Minister for Social Welfare, ART and Trainings and Public Grievances in this year. He said that online admission process has been started current year and fully automated admission process is on. He said the project proposal for creation and re-modeling of departments for an integrated Master's and Doctorate programme in Nutrition Biology has been submitted to the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. The Vice Chancellor said that three supernumerary seats per course in Engineering streams introduced under NRI quota has been introduced from academic session 2013 to enhance own resource base of Islamic University of Science and Technology. Contd p2 HAMIRPUR, SEPT 05: The three-tier border fencing along the LoC has turned into a "death trap" for infiltrating militants, leading to desperation among militant ranks and has prompted repeated firings on Indian posts from across the border, the Army has said. "It is impossible for infiltrating militants to cross over the three-tiered border fencing along LoC. There is desperation in militant leadership and Pakistani establishment due to failure to cross-over the fencing", Brig A Sengupta told a news agency. Commanding the front brigade deployed to guard the LoC in forward sectors, Sengupta said, "There is firing on the fencing at times from across due to desperation caused as a result of failure to push in armed militants this side. They are violating ceasefire, targeting Indian forward posts and resorting to mortar firing". Armed with thermal imagers

News in Brief
Hike in fuel prices: Air India hikes fare by 25 percent
NEW DELHI: faced with a burgeoning cost of fuel bills on account of steep rise in air turbine fuel (ATF) Air India on Thursday hiked passenger fares up to 23-25 per cent on all domestic routes. It may also raise fares on international routes. "We have hiked fares by 23-25 per cent on all domestic routes. This has been done to offset the recent increase in ATF price," an Air India official said. The rupee depreciation is also a big concern for the airline, said Contd p2

SRINAGAR, SEPT 05: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah has underlined the need for enhancing financial resources by Islamic University of Science and Technology to ensure sustained growth without depending on outside help. Chairing the review meeting of the Islamic University of Science and Technology here on Thursday, the Chief Minister who is also Chancellor of the University asked the University Management to formulate Five Year Plans identifying

roadmap of development and financial requirements for academic activities, strengthening of faculties and building of benefiting infrastructure. Omar Abdullah also asked the University to focus on consolidation and creation of adequate infrastructure in the University complex. He said whatever help possible would be extended to the University for its holistic development. He appreciated the achievements and improvement shown by the University during the last

and surveillance equipment, the fencing from Malu (Akhnoor) in Jammu district to Kanzalwan in Kupwara district of Kashmir Valley covering 490 kms of LoC and 190 kms of International Border from Malu to Pathankote in Punjab has become a major hurdle for infiltrating militants. As per intelligence reports, there are over 300 militants waiting across the LoC to infiltrate for the past three to four months but they are unable to cross over due to fencing and increased vigi-

lance by troops and ground surveillance equipment, the Army officer said. "They fire on posts to force jawans to keep their movement restricted to posts so that they can try and engineer infiltration of militants," he said. "Not even a single infiltration has taken place this year in this sector. All infiltration bids have been foiled", Maj Gen VP Singh, who is looking after operational control of 220 kms long LoC in Rajouri-Poonch region, said. The Army Contd p2

Bhatkal remarks: SP dumps Kamal Farooqi

NEW DELHI: Peeved over his controversial remarks over the arrest of Indian Mujhahideen Yasin Bhatkal, Samajwadi Party (SP) on Thursday sacked Kamal Farooqi as its secretary . SP general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav on Thursday shot off a letter to Farooqi informing him that party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav has removed him as secretary of the SP National Executive with immediate effect. Farooqi had said Bhatkal may Contd p2

Modi tones down PM aspirations, Compensation upto Rs 5 Lakh Zubin Mehta concert opposed by two Kashmiri poets approved by govt for riot victims wants to serve Gujarat till 2017
GANDHINAGAR, SEP 05: Playing down his prime ministerial aspirations, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said he never dreams of holding the top post as he is bound to respect the mandate given to him by the people of his state till 2017. "Those who dream of becoming something end up destroying themselves. One should not dream of becoming something, but one should dream of doing something," Modi said when a student asked him whether he will come and interact with them in 2014 after 'he will become the Prime Minister'. "I never see such dreams (of becoming PM), nor am I SRINAGAR, SEPT 05: Jammu and Kashmir government has approved ex-gratia of up to Rs 5 lakh for victims of riots and other "extra-ordinary" law and order disturbances for damage or destruction to immovable property. The decision was taken on Wednesday night in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at Civil Secretariat, an official spokesman said. "The Cabinet, in supersession of any previous order, approved ex-gratia to the victims of riots and other extraordinary law and order disturbances in respect of destruction and damage to immovable property. "The amount of relief to be granted for destruction and damage to the immovable property shall be equal to 50 per cent of the actual loss or up to Rs 5 lakh, whichever is lesser," the spokesman said. He, however, did not elaborate on what would constitute extra-ordinary law and order disturbance. The spokesman said the policy would be applicable retrospectively from April 1 this year, but not to the settled cases. He said the assessment of the loss due to destruction or damage would be made by the Tehsildar of the area and it would be verified by the Assistant Commissioner, Revenue. The Contd p2

Child sex abuse: Victims' parents criticize Pope

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis came under fire from victims groups on Thursday following news that he had quietly sacked the Vatican's envoy to the Dominican Republic over allegations of paedophilia. "Like all of his predecessors, Pope Francis is acting belatedly, secretively and recklessly," said Barbara Dorris, outreach director for the US-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP). "Catholic officials Contd p2

going to see such dreams. People of Gujarat have given me a mandate to serve them till 2017 and I have to do this with my full strength," Modi said. The BJP strongman, who is in the race for the party's PM

candidate, was replying to questions asked by students who had gathered at a function for felicitating best teachers of the state on the occasion of Teacher's Day. Modi shared the dais with state Contd p2

SRINAGAR, SEPT 05: Two noted Kashmiri poets, including Jnanpith awardee Rehman Rahi, have opposed the musical concert featuring internationally renowned conductor Zubin Mehta here on Saturday and said they may not attend the high profile event. "Many (people) are saying it is ill-timed. I

may not attend the concert," Rahi, who was awarded the prestigious Jnanpith award in 2007 for his Kashmiri poetry, told a news agency. Another noted Kashmiri poet, Zareef Ahmad Zareef, was categorical in saying he will not attend the concert as it is "unnatural" to hold such an event when people Contd p2

Deepak Sandhu becomes first woman CIC Omar for North-South Cold Chain Taliban kill Indian author in Afghanistan
the country at international Film Festivals in Cannes, Berlin, Venice and Tokyo, International Conference on Terrorism and Electronic Mass Media at Glendzhik (Russia) and Cyprus besides Heads of News Meetings at Atlanta, USA and Beijing. Speaking to reporters she said the RTI journey which began in 2005 is just a beginning and she propose to take it forward by engaging with various stakeholders. The new CIC said her priority would be to reduce the pendency of cases at the Commission. The 64-year old officer is joining office for a relatively smaller tenure of nearly three months in which her biggest challenge would over 30,000 pending cases with the Commission. "We are waiting for new Commissioners which are likely to be Contd p2

Link for horticulture produce

SRINAGAR, SEPT 05: Stressing on the need for a comprehensive Mission Mode Programme for improvement of apple production and its marketing, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that the concept of Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for strengthening the apple value is an encouraging initiative in this direction. He directed for converting the Vision Document in a viable and feasible Detailed Draft Report (DPR) taking care of all aspects and financial implications. The Chief Minister said the presentation on SPV made by the NABARD is a welcome step towards addressing the issues of improving production, productivity and marketing of apple on remunerative prices. He said the document needed to be converted into a comprehensive DPR so that it is launched in the State taking all stakeholders of the trade and production on board. Chairing a high level meeting to receive the brief on various programmes aimed at horticulture and agriculture development, the Chief Minister said that besides various schemes under implementation in the State to give boost to farm production and enhance production and marketing of horticulture

Lays stress on enhancing per hectare productivity, production

produce, the concept of SPV for apple would be yet another effective measure to achieve the desired results in the development of horticulture sector. Omar Abdullah laid stress on North-South Cold Chain Link in Kashmir Valley adding that investors need to be encouraged and supported to establish Controlled Atmosphere Stores in industrial estates and fruit markets in Sopore, Baramulla, Rafiabad and other places to provide facility to the fruit growers to store their fruit for timely marketing. The Chief Minister also underlined the importance of adopting modern methods to enhance the Contd p2

NEW DELHI, SEPT 05: Deepak Sandhu, who has been an information commissioner for the last four years at the Centre, on Thursday became the first woman Chief Information Commissioner of the country. A former Indian Information Service officer of 1971 batch, she was administered the oath of office by President Pranab Mukherjee at a function in

Rashtrapati Bhavan, attended among others by Vice President Hamid Ansari. Sandhu had served in many key positions like Principal Director General (Media and Communications) in the Press Information Bureau, Director General of DD (News), Director General (News) All India Radio before taking over as Information Commissioner in 2009. She had represented

KABUL, SEP 05: Indian author Sushmita Banerjee who was settled in Afghanistan was shot dead by a group of Taliban who barged into her home took her outside and pumped bullets into her body on Thursday. Her memoir about her dramatic escape from the Taliban was turned into a Bollywood film. Banerjee, 49, was killed outside her home in Paktika

province. She was married to Afghan businessman Jaanbaz Khan and recently moved back to Afghanistan to live with him. Taliban militants arrived at her home in the provincial capital of Kharana, tied up her husband and other members of the family, took Banerjee out and shot her, police were quoted as saying by BBC. The militants dumped Banerjee's body near a religious Contd p2

SHOULD CITY OF TEMPLES TOLERATE THIS OUTRAGE

HINDSIGHT
ROHIT SINGH RANA The incident of continuous rape and sexual assault on poor mentally retarded girls in a home that was meant to safeguard their lives and modesty has shocked all well meaning people of Jammu who fortunately still are in large numbers. Imagine that moment which people believe happened many years ago when a king in search of an auspicious place for his capital found a spot where a lion and a goat were drinking water close to each other. Every eddy of Tawi River bears witness to that incident. The King thought that the incident was a good omen for the construction of his capital, selected the spot and built Jammu. Raja Jambulochan never envisaged that in the course of times, his progeny in the famed City of Temples will one day bring ignominy and disrepute to his name. This is exactly what we the citizens of Jammu are doing at present. As they say a single sinner sinks the boat and a stale fish putrefies the whole pond so has happened here in this famed city. We may not all be responsible for this outrage and despicable act but if we tolerate such people it will bring even more shame on us all than ever imagined. Meant to safeguard the lives of mentally retarded children especially girls the Rotary Home in Channi Rama, turned out to be the very marauders praying on the flesh of its innocent, ignorant denizens who neither have any body to look after nor any one to cry for. Destitute and desolate, these girls huddled in a ramshackle place and then subjected to sexual assault by the director and other employee of the Home reflects upon the fast dwindling standards of morals in our lives. It is not long ago but a recent incident that a woman mentally challenged and physically frail was subjected to rape in the dead on night and after some time gave birth to a baby in SMGS hospital. The women knew nothing about the meaning of being raped and getting pregnant and then giving birth to a baby. The child it is reported has been shifted to a orphan home. But the flesh predators who raped her knew what they were doing. If this is the tragic fact in the City of Temples where there is hustle and bustle and at least some rudimentary threat of police what should be the condition of the of the rural areas in any bodys guess. The incidents of outraging the modesty of girls and women who attend to desolate fields or to do some other work are choice target of these brutes out lurking in any niche and corner to stalk their prey and drag them to the road of despondency and perennial mental assault. The fundamental question is why the city of temples is getting slowly converted into a city of rapes and turning every hour unsafe for our daughters and sisters. The threat of police is itself not a deterrent because people who commit such heinous crimes eventually get free of the loose tentacles of law and again return to their old ways. The City of Temples which hosts a huge number of pilgrims across the world can not afford to be called a city unsafe. It will then have a highly negative effect on social, psychological and other parameters of the city. There is a need of a concerted effort to monitor the activities of orphanages and other asylums and Homes where children, whether mentally retarded or otherwise are kept. In this incident, it is incumbent upon the police to unravel all interlink ages in the sinister act and there is a strong possibility that many other people too might also be involved in sexual exploitation of these innocent girls.

ARE POLITICAL PARTIES ABOVE RTI ACT?

The political parties and the Chief Information Commission (CIC) are at variance at each other with the CIC terming the political parties as public authorities as a result they should fall within the ambit of RTI Act. The political parties Right, Left and Centre are united on their effort to keep themselves away from RTI ambit. They are displaying a rare unity but when personal interests coalesce and threat of transparency is common to all of them, a unity all but sadistic is bound to happen. Let it be at the cost of the nation or at the cost of the Indian tax payers money but united they are, so that nobody raises any doubt about their sources of income. Remember, how all political parties cutting across party lines were united when they made a hefty raise of their salaries and other perks. United they are, when they force the fragile coffers of the country to feed them from the kitchen of the Parliament all dainties and choice dishes at damp cheap cost. All big political parties are worth hundreds of crore with Congress worth more than a thousand crore followed by BJP. Here, differences do not matter, common cause matters. What a nation it would have been, had these Parties displayed the same unity in defeating corruption and terrorism. But that is least on their minds. With scams making headlines everyday, it is obvious where does the interest of our law makers lie. RANASAHIB

STUDENT AGE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER, 06, 2013

CONTD
1300-1450 militants set to be pushed into India, over 1000 were in 21 camps and launching pads along the LoC and 450 in four bases along the IB. These included Bagh, Kahuta, Hazira, Goi, Jandro, Nikia, Sensa, Mirpur, Khuiratta, Saman, Zafarwal and Sialkote forward, it said. The launching pads are at Bhimber, Bindi, Samani, Marar, Shakergarh, Dhallapur, Manana, Nikial, Goi, Sensa, Hajira, Ralaur and Garnun opposite Kathua in JammuRajouri-Poonch sector. Around 300 militants are in Chirat-KahutaGoi area and 150-155 in Sensa-Kotli-Nakial belt opposite Poonch. fying the country is considered one of the greatest in the world. If we want to keep our nation intact, mantra of unity is important and that gave me the idea to build a statue of unity of Sardar Patel," Modi said. At the function, Ina Solanki from Vadodara asked Modi how many times he gets angry in a day and what he does when he gets angry. "I am a human being and I have all vices which any human being has. However, I don't get angry but many times I feel pain. Particularly it is very painful for me when people older then me touch my feet," he replied. Modi had informal interactions with school children who posed questions to him on the subjects like how kids can convey their birthday wishes to him, from whom he learnt yoga and in his opinion which were the three most important development works he did in the state of Gujarat. Earlier in his address to the gathering, which comprised mostly teachers, he announced that from the next year his government will also felicitate best teachers down from the pranth level to district and state levels. Taking an indirect dig at the central government, he said, "State government is also intending to increase the amount of awards to these teachers as at present rupee has lost its value. Our rupee has been admitted in ICU (intensive care unit), so we have to increase the amount so that teachers do not feel disheartened." He also appealed to the teachers of the state to focus more on imparting quality education in the state. "Now age of teaching has ended, now its the age of learning. Today for students there is only one guru, Google-guru. Teachers have to compete with this new age guru and unless they focus on imparting quality education no student will value teachers," he said. While congratulating recipients of the best teachers' awards, Beniwal emphasised on the value of good teachers and their duty to give back to society. on resolving Kashmir issue so that there is an end to the suffering of the people. "Once that is done, we will invite Zubin Mehta and other renowned musicians from around the globe to perform here."

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The new laws introduce specific forms of crime that are indicated in international conventions that the Vatican has already ratified including against racism and war crimes and on children's rights. "The Holy See is finally making up for a serious lag," the international children's rights organization Terre des Hommes said in a statement hailing the changes. The legislation applies to a few thousand people who are directly employed by the Vatican in Rome and abroad. Sex abuse cases which take place in other countries are dealt with under national legislations. Although some observers welcomed the legislation as proof of Francis's commitment to tackling the paedophilia crisis that has plagued the Church over the past several years, the SNAP victims group criticised it as window dressing, slamming the decree as "tweaking often-ignored and ineffective internal church abuse guidelines to generate positive headlines but nothing more."

CONTINUATION
Need to ..
He said that the AICTE Tuition Fee Waiver scheme has been adopted and 44 students benefited during 2012-13. He said that 12 students have been given special concession in fees after verifying their credentials for their poor financial background enabling them to continue their studies. Dr. Trag said that the UGC Expert Committee has remarked about the Islamic University of Science and Technology stating "the Committee noted with much satisfaction that the University only in its eight academic year, exudes vibrance, joiedevivre, commitment, effective teacher student interaction, an open and welcoming administration and an earnest desire for growth and development". The meeting was attended by Minister for Higher Education, Mohammad Akbar Lone, Principal Secretary Planning and Development, B. R. Sharma, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Secretary Higher Education and Secretary Technical Education.

Taliban kill Indian .

school, police said. A senior police official said Banerjee, also known as Sayed Kamala, was working as a health worker in Paktika and had been filming the lives of local women as part of her work. No group claimed responsibility for the attack. Banerjee's book "Kabuliwalar Bangali Bou" (A Kabuliwala's Bengali Wife), about her escape from the Taliban in 1995, became a bestseller in India and was made into the Bollywood film "Escape From Taliban" in 2003. The memoir focussed on her life in Afghanistan with her husband and her escape from the militants. The film based on the book starred actress Manisha Koirala and was billed as a "story of a woman who dares (the) Taliban". act only when forced to dChild sex ..o so by media pressure," she said in a statement received by AFP. "When they do act, they act secretively - in this case, by not disclosing the allegations, the suspension or the reason for the suspension." On August 21 Monsignor Josef Wesolowski, the papal nuncio in Santo Domingo, was sacked without the Vatican sharing the news with the public. On Wednesday, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told the I.Media news agency on Vatican affairs that an investigation was underway in Rome into allegations of child sex abuse against him. The Dominican press said the diplomat had sex for money with underage boys in the "Zona colonial", the historic centre of Santo Domingo. Wesolowski, a 65-year-old Pole who has been the papal envoy in Santo Domingo for five years, was ordained in 1972 by the then Archbishop of Krakow, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, who later became Pope John Paul II. John Paul II appointed him nuncio to Bolivia, his first posting. Wesolowski also worked in several countries in Central Asia and was appointed to the Dominican Republic by Pope Benedict in 2008. Pope Francis has vowed to crack down against abuse in the Catholic Church, reiterating the zero-tolerance approach eventually taken up by his predecessor Benedict following a wave of revelations. In July, Francis bolstered criminal legislation against child abuse in the Vatican, issuing a decree that included "a broader definition of the category of crimes against minors" including child prostitution, sexual acts with children and child pornography."

Bhatkal remarks: .
have been arrested because he was a Muslim. He had later apologized for his remark stating that his comments were misunderstood. Farooqi's remarks had kicked up a controversy when he asked whether it is based on the grounds of crime or religion. Congress and BJP had slammed Farooqi for his comment calling it ridiculous.

Omar for ..
per hectare production of apple by rejuvenating old orchards and providing high-density and disease resistant planting material to the horticulturists. The meeting among others was attended by Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir, Minister for Horticulture, Raman Bhalla, Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Principal Secretary Planning and Development, B. R. Sharma, Principal Secretary Finance, B. B. Vyas, Commissioner Secretary Agriculture, Asgar Samoon, representatives of NABARD and SKUAST, Director Horticulture P&M, Showkat Ahhmad Zargar, Heads of the Departments of Horticulture, Agriculture, SIDCO, J&K Horticulture Produce Marketing Corporation and various senior officers. In a PowerPoint presentation Commissioner Secretary Agriculture, Asgar Samoon presented the present status of horticulture and agriculture scenario in the State and gave resume of the schemes and programmes in pipeline to catapult these sectors and improve the lot of farmers and growers. The representatives of SKUAST and NABARD also made presentation in the meeting on improvement of root stock for high-density plantation and SPV to address horticulture in a holistic and comprehensive manner.

Hike in fuel ..
the official, as it has affected the margins of its international operations.

Three-tier border ..
feels the border fencing along the Indo-Pak border has virtually turned into a death trap for ultras, as 28 infiltrating militants were killed when troops foiled bids this year. Passing through dense woods, narrow valleys and riverine areas along the LoC and international border, the fence has proved to a major deterrent against cross-border infiltration as it acts as a "round-the-clock" guard, the Army officers said. "The Army continues to maintain a state of high alert along LoC and work on repairing parts of the fence damaged due to snowfall continues rapidly to make this round-theclock guard more effective," they said. The Army has also mapped new probable routes of infiltration and vigilance was being maintained by soldiers equipped with ground sensors, thermal imagers and battlefield surveillance radars, they said. The Line of Control and International Border in Poonch sector and Jammu frontier have become hot and active with Pakistani troops violating ceasefire and repeatedly attacking forward posts. Six jawans were killed and 11 people injured in ceasefire violations and firing by Pakistan troops on forwards post, civilian areas and patrolling parties along Indo-Pak border during August. People living along the LoC are relaxed as the fencing has brought down infiltration. "Earlier, militants used to stay in their houses, take food at gunpoint and misbehave with their womenfolk," they said, adding, "Now border dwellers are fully supporting Army against infiltrating militants". According to intelligence reports, of the

Compensation upto ..
relief would be sanctioned by the Deputy Commissioner of the district concerned on the recommendations of a district level screening-cum-coordination committee, he said. The committee would comprise District Magistrate as Chairman, Superintendent of district, Additional Deputy Commissioner, ACR, Tehsildar of district, besides the Tehsildar assessing the loss, as its members and any other member co-opted by the Chairman, he said.

Modi tones ..
governor Kamla Beniwal at the function for the first time after fresh confrontation between them. Beniwal has returned the controversial Gujarat Lokayukta Bill for reconsideration to the government with stinging remarks. Modi's comments come at a time when opposition Congress is gunning for his resignation and has given a call for Gujarat bandh on Friday after the explosive resignation letter of suspended IPS officer D G Vanzara and emergence of a sting operation CD involving two BJP MPs allegedly trying to derail the investigation in the Tusli Prajapati encounter case. Asked what prompted him to moot the idea of making 'statue of unity' of Sardar Patel in the state, Modi said every country in the world had aspired to build something monumental which assures its name in the world and India has nothing to boast of anything like that since independence. "And the work done by Sardar Patel of uni-

Zubin Mehta ..
of the Valley were suffering miseries due to non-resolution of Kashmir issue. "If this concert was to provide a healing touch to the people of Kashmir, who have suffered so much over the years, the victims and sufferers should have been the audience for this concert. However, it is the elite from outside who will form the audience for the concert," Zareef said. He said if Germany had the welfare of Kashmiris at its heart, the massive amount of money spent on holding the concert could have been better utilised in rehabilitating the victims of violence in Kashmir. German embassy is organising the event. The poet said all efforts should be focused

Deepak Sandhu ..
appointed soon. It will ease our burden of disposal of cases and also reduce the pendency at the Commission," she said. Sandhu will succeed Satyananda Mishra who demitted office after five-years of tenure at the Commission yesterday during which he headed the Bench which declared political parties to be under the ambit of the RTI Act.

Ovarian tissue transplant - A new hope for female cancer survivors

Cancer treatments, like chemotherapy or radiation therapy, highly hinder both hormonal production and reproductive potential in women, as the treatments attack fast growing cells in the body. However, with an Australian woman, rendered infertile by ovarian cancer treatment, expecting twins after successfully undergoing ovarian tissue transplantation, doctors are expecting that the new technique could revolutionise fertility treatment. Though the procedure had been carried out previously, this is for the first time that the tissue has been successfully transplanted into the abdomen instead of the ovaries. Ovarian tissue transplant: How it is done Healthy ovarian cortical tissue is removed using laparoscopic surgery (keyhole surgery) from the

Top 5 reasons that can trigger migraine

NEW DELHI: When a migraine attacks, one has no choice. Migraine can be described as a chronic neurological disorder epitomised by moderate to severe headaches. According to experts, women get more migraines than men. Further, there has been a debate amongst experts worldwide if stress can trigger migraine. The answer is yes, no and maybe, but as per studies, stress may be the biggest cause of a migraine attack. A recent study suggests that migraine raises the risk of brain lesions, white matter abnormalities and alters brain volume compared to people without the disorder. Here is a list of top 5 reasons that can trigger a migraine attack: Alcohol: It is a myth that consuming alcohol releases from stress and tension, rather researchers suggest

Cataract surgery linked to longer life

WASHINGTON: People who have had cataract surgery to improve their sight live longer than those who choose not to undergo the procedure, according to a new study. The research is drawn from data gathered in the Blue Mountains Eye Study, a population-based cohort study of vision and common eye diseases in an older Australian population. A total of 354 persons aged 49 years and older and diagnosed with cataract-related vision impairment - some of whom had undergone surgery and others who had not - were assessed between 1992 and 2007. Adjustments were made for age and gender as well as a number of mortality risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes, smoking, cardiovascular disease, body mass index and measures of frailty and comorbid disease. Follow-up visits took place after five and ten years since the baseline exam. Jie Jin Wang, Ph.D., of the Westmead Millennium Institute and one of lead researchers of the study, said that their fiodnings suggested that correcting cataract patients` visual impairment in their daily practice results in improved outcomes beyond that of the eye and vision, and has important impacts on general health. Wang noted one limitation of the study is that participants with cataract-related visual impairment who did not have cataract surgery could have had other health problems that prevented them from undergoing surgery, and that these other health problems could partly explain the poorer survival among non-surgical participants. The study has been published in the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

woman about to undergo cancer treatment. The minimally invasive procedure lasts approximately 1 hour and requires general anesthesia. The ovary`s cortex is cut into tiny 1 millimetre thick strips and then frozen to be used for future transplantation. Once

the patient goes into remission post cancer treatment and plans to have a baby several slices of the previously frozen ovarian tissue can then be thawed and implanted near the fallopian, either orthotopic (on the natural location) or heterotopic (on the abdominal wall).

that alcohol can change the way the body manages stress, leading to a migraine attack. Caffeine: Consuming caffeine in a little amount is okay, but, if used excessively, caffeine can be too stimulating and cause anxiety and sleep problems, ultimately triggering a migraine. Inadequate sleep: Most of us do not care about our sleeping schedule or do not get

adequate sleep. It is actually bad for our health and can cause mild to severe headaches. -Weather change: Studies suggest that extreme weathers like too hot, too cold or too humid can be a cause for headaches and migraine triggers. -Loud noise: If one is exposed to loud or high-pitched noise for a long time, then it might cause severe headache.

DIABETES RISES IN CHINA, REACHING 'ALERT' LEVEL

Washington: Almost 12 percent of adults in China had diabetes in 2010, with economic prosperity driving the disease to slightly higher proportions than in the United States, researchers said Tuesday. The overall prevalence of diabetes in China in 2010 was found to be 11.6 percent of adults -- 12.1 percent in men, and 11 percent in women, according to the study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). In the United States, about 11.3 percent of people over 20 have diabetes according to 2011 data from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease was more common in China than in the United States even though the population was slimmer - average body mass index, a ratio of height and body weight, was just 23.7 in China compared to 28.7 in the United States. "The prevalence of diabetes has increased significantly in recent decades," said the JAMA study. "These data suggest that diabetes may have reached an alert level in the Chinese general population, with the potential for a major epidemic of diabetes-related complications, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, and chronic kidney disease in China in the near future without an effective national intervention." 30 percent of Chinese with diabetes were aware of their condition, it said. Further, about half of the population has high blood sugar, or a condition known as prediabetes, according to a nationally representative sample of Chinese adults. Diabetes has been rising in China along with the nation`s economic growth. In 1980, the prevalence of diabetes was less than one percent of the population. The latest findings mark a more than two percentage point increase over 2007, when a national survey found a 9.7 percent prevalence of diabetes, or about 92.5 million adults. The current data puts the total number of cases of diabetes in China at 113.9 million. Worldwide, diabetes affects about 8.3 percent of the global population, or 371 million people. "China is now among the countries with the highest diabetes prevalence in Asia and has the largest absolute disease burden of diabetes in the world," said the study. The Chinese survey included more than 98,650 people and was led by Guang Ning, head of the Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases and colleagues with the 2010 China Non-communicable Disease Surveillance Group. Diabetes was more common in urban areas and among young and middle aged people who were overweight or obese, and was found to be increasing along with economic development. The research suggested that one cause for the growing trend could be poor nutrition among pregnant women and young babies, combined with overeating later in life. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease, and can be managed with improved nutrition and exercise, as well as medication if needed. According to an accompanying editorial in JAMA by Juliana Chan of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, "rapid modernization" has fuelled an environment that encourages diabetes "characterized by food abundance, physical inactivity, and psychosocial stress." The CDC says that diabetes is a top cause of blindness, kidney failure and amputations of the legs and feet, and was the seventh leading cause of death in the US in 2007. One in three US adults will have diabetes by 2050 if current trends continue, according to the CDC. The disease is characterized by the body`s shortage of insulin, or an inability to use the hormone efficiently for converting glucose into energy.

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STATE
PDA, DDA authority meets held

3
Peerzada visits Haj House Srinagar, finalizes arrangements for Haj-2013
SRINAGAR, SEPT, 05: Minister for Haj, Auqaf, Floriculture and Public Enterprises Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed on Thursday visited Haj House Srinagar and took stock of the arrangements put in place for Haj pilgrimage-2013 starting September 7th. The Minister went round various sections of the Haj House and enquired about the facilities available for the Haj pilgrims. He directed the concerned for maintaining hygiene in and around the complex. The Minister said that fool proof arrangements at the Haj House and en-route have been made for pilgrims to facilitate their smooth travel from various district and their stay at Srinagar. Peerzada said that proper arrangements have also been made for smooth transfer of pilgrims from their place of stay to the Haj House and from there to the Airport. He said besides, other arrangements, some nationalized bank counters have also been set up for disbursement of foreign exchange. He said Rs. 50 lakh have been earmarked for free vaccination of Haj pilgrims, moreover, the pilgrims have also been provided free SIM cards, he added.

Mughal Road-Poonch tourist circuit to be developed: G.A Mir

'Doodhpathri promoted as major destination, another project of Rs. 4 crore taken up'
SRINAGAR, SEPT 05: The State Government has prepared Rs. 8 crore Plan for Centre funding to create the Mughal Road-Poonch tourist circuit via Kashmir Valley to boost the economic activity in the area, revealed Tourism Minister, Mr. Ghulam Ahmad Mir while chairing a Poonch Development Authority meeting held here on Thursday. The Minister said that another detailed project report would be formulated to create way side amenities along Mughal Road via Jammu and directed the concerned authorities to formulate the DPRs for early submission to the Centre for approval of funds. "The creation and the upgradation of the necessary tourist infrastructure facilities are underway. New scenic spots like Pushana, Atul Duloo, District Development Commissioner Poonch., Special Secretary Planning Department, Director Tourism Jammu, Managing Director Cable Car Corporation, Managing Director JKTDC, Chief Executive Officer PDA, Chief Town Planner, Jammu, Additional Secretary Tourism, Joint Director Planning Tourism Department besides other senior officers of concerned departments attended the meeting. The meeting discussed current years action plan being carried out for construction of tourism related infrastructure in the district besides it also reviewed the work done report of last financial year of the Authority. The Meeting also approved current year's action plan of Rs. 1.50 crore

Doogron, Chadinarh, Sailan, Bhuriekhat, Buffliaz, Mandi Phegla, Mandi Laran and Bhimber Gali, would be brought under the jurisdiction of the PDA for their development," he said. Mir said a lake circuit is also being developed in the area as a tourist attraction adding that in this regard the Centre has approved funding of Rs. 4.19 crore and already released Rs. 83.82 lakh as a first installment.

Mir said that the promotion of heritage tourism in the area is also receiving focused attention of the government, adding that renovation of Poonch Fort was taken up at a cost of Rs. 3.79 crore and Government would submit another project to the Centre for funding so that complete renovation of heritage sites in the area is carried out. Mir said that historical tourist spots of Poonch district are also being fully

explored by expending Rs 20.00 crore under Poonch Tourism Development Authority (PTDA), funded under Prime Ministers Reconstruction Plan (PMRP). He said tourist spots along the way side of Mughal Road like Noori Chamb, Peer-ki-Gali, Tatta Panni would be developed on priority. MLA Poonch Aijaz Jan, Commissioner Secretary Tourism and Culture, Mr

Teachers nation builders: Shabir

For inculcating sense of respect, responsibility among students

Mustafa chairs Estimate Committee Meeting

SRINAGAR, SEPT 05:- To review the functioning of PHE Department, a Meeting of Estimate Committee of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly was held here on Thursday under the Chairmanship of Dr. Mustafa Kamal. Threadbare discussions were held on the issues pertaining to the Department. The Members gave their valuable suggestions for its improvement and thrust for proper supply of potable drinking water. Legislators, Mr. Ashok Khajuria, Mr. Harshdev Singh, Ashwani Sharma, Mr. Nayeem Akhtar Andrabi, Syed Mohammad Rafiq Shah, Charanjeet Singh, Peerzada Mansoor Hussain and Mr Nizam-ud-Din Bhat were present in the meeting. The Committee discussed various issues pertaining to the PHE department and expressed their grave concern over the proper supply of safe potable drinking water supply to the masses all over the State and people living in main cities, towns and particularly in Kandi areas of the State. The Committee directed concerned PHE authority to supply potable water supply through water tankers, engage more man power and also utilize its resources for the purpose besides improving the system. The Committee also stressed the Department to complete all on-going pending schemes in stipulated time frame and also directed the concerned authorities to immediately start the repair work of damaged machines and replace the old machinery, which is not in use and out of order due to recent rains and floods in the State. During the course of deliberation the department apprised the Committee that they have been doing their best efforts to upgrade the system and cover all on-going schemes. Principal Secretary, PHE, Pawan Kotwal, Chief Engineers, PHE, Jammu, Kashmir, Executive Engineers, PHE, senior officers of PHE and Assembly Secretariat attended the meeting.

The Minister said the issue of concession in fare for those who are going 2nd time to perform Haj, has already been taken up with the Haj Committee of India, Civil Aviation and Ministry of External Affairs. He said External Affairs Ministry has also allotted quota of 50 pilgrims to a private agency. Peerzada expressed his gratitude to the Union Government for not curtailing the allotted quota of Haj pilgrims for the State. Meanwhile, the Haj pilgrims have been advised to report early on September 7th at the Haj House. The reporting time for Ist Flight pilgrims is 9am and for 2nd flight pilgrims at 11 am.

The meeting was informed that the first Haj flight is scheduled to operate from Srinagar on September 7th till September 23rd, 2013 and corresponding return flights shall operate from October 20th to November 5th, 2013. As many as two flights with a capacity of 275 pilgrims each shall operate daily directly from Srinagar Airport to Madina Munawarah, the meeting was informed. The meeting also decided that Deputy Commissioners Shopian and Pulwama would ensure restrictions on movement of trollies and other load carriers plying on Mughal road during the period for the convenience of pilgrims from Poonch and Rajouri.

Death of a kashmiri student of SRM college Gaziabad

JAMMU, SEPT 05: Jammu and Kashmir Police has contacted Ghaziabad Police in connection with death of a student of SRM college Gaziabad namely Abdul Manan Wani resident of Channapora, Srinagar. Manan was putting up in a private hostel. According to SHO police station Modinagar under whose jurisdiction the hostel falls, Police had received an information that a student of SRM college had attempted to commit suicide by hanging himself in this hostel room. He was rushed to hospital but died on way. After taking cognizance, police has sent the body for post mortem. The police is looking into the cause of this extreme step by checking up with his friends and the call details of the mobile phone of the deceased.

Rs. 80.56 crores credited for 5731 IGUs in Kupwara

SRINAGAR, SEPT 05:Describing teachers like beacon lights, Minister of State for Health, Shabir Ahmad Khan on Thursday said that they are nation builders and have pivotal role in shaping life of students, adding that the relation between a teacher and a student is a sacred relation and we owe a lot to this sacred relationship The Minister said this while addressing in a function organized by Gandhi Global Family in connection with the Teachers-Day celebrations at Tyndale Biscoe School Srinagar here on Thursday. Director Health Services,

Kashmir Dr Saleem-ulRehman, President Gandhi Global Family, Mr. S P Verma, Director, Principal, staff and students of Biscoe School were present in the function. Mr. Shabir said Teachers should dedicate themselves to their job to such an extent that society perceives a great regard for teacher, saying that a teacher is an inspiration, a role model, a source of kindness and love. The Minister said the greatness of a teacher cannot be explained in a few words and maintained that 'Teacher's Day on Sept. 5 is celebrated to convey the message that

we care for our teachers and on this day we recognize and appreciate their efforts, hard work and devotion not just for their academic lessons but for the guidance, their help in each and every sphere of life". He also lauded the role of GGF for spreading the message of peace and love among the society. The Minister said that government has initiated a health scheme for the students who fall under the age 18 years through which they can avail benefit of free medical treatment from the health department and asked students to take maximum benefit from such health schemes .

Policemen arrested with Chinesemade pistols and ammunition

JAMMU, SEPT 05: Two policemen have been arrested with Chinese-made pistols and ammunition in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said here on Thursday. Acting on specific information about suspicious activities of some policemen, a team of Special Operation Group intercepted Ishfaq Ahmed and Mohd Zakheer on motorcycle, going from Mendhar in Poonch to Rajouri yesterday, a police officer said. The police team of SOG led by Deputy SP Azad Sheikh recovered two Chinese-made pistols, two magazines and four live rounds from their possession, he said, adding that both of them were arrested. A case has been registered against the duo -Ahmed, of Naika Panjgrain, (Manajakote) and Zakheer, of Rajdhani (Tehsil Thannamandi) -- in this regard, he said. The duo has been sent for questioning and some more arrests and recoveries are likely to be effected in the coming days, the officer said. He did not rule out the possibility of their links with militancy. The accused, who were working as police followers, were under the scanner for use of drugs and other activities in the past, he said. Zakheer was transferred to Kishtwar from Rajouri six months back but he did not join duty there, the officer said.

Gul seeks support for equitable resources sharing for healthy world
set-up that will provide equal opportunity for an individual to fulfill his desires, as the democratic governance rests on the maxim that power and authority are derived from the people and are used for the people. The Speaker said global financial crisis and subsequent recession have exposed vulnerabilities and structural imbalances in major economies. He said that the income levels have diverged sharply in many developing countriesand added that stable earning opportunities, income security and modern infrastructure amenities still remain out of reach for hundreds of millions of people. Mr. Gul said increasing globalization, increasing scarcity of natural resources, new security challenges, rapid technological innovation and demographic shifts affect the economic performance by undermining social structure, trust and limited sources of growth by leaving many resources

SRINAGAR, SEPT 05: The Speaker, Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Mr. Mubarak Gul while addressing an international Parliamentary Conference at South Africa asserted that the social and economic inequality is detrimental to the health of any society especially when the society is diverse, multicultural, over populated and undergoing rapid but unequal economic growth. He said that the desire for healthy family, healthy society, a healthy country and a healthy world, at large, drives individuals and governments alike. The 15-day conference organized by Common Parliamentary Association (CPA) on the theme "Inequitable Resource-Sharing: A Threat to Democratic Governance." The Speaker said that the Government, particularly under the parliamentary democratic system, is supposed to create

untapped, adding that the governments around the world are increasingly under pressure to re-think conventional economic policies and governance strategies in order to understand what is really required to make the life better of their citizens. The Speaker said that developing countries have to take steps to promote inclusive growth in their respective countries by reducing inequality and poverty and providing opportunities for improving quality of life to all segments of society. Mr. Gul said that the institution of democracy throughout the globe should ensure equitable sharing of the resources for sustainable development of the population. He said parliamentarians irrespective of their political ideologies need to rise to the occasion to suggest measures to their respective governments to ensure equal distribution and sharing of all the available resources.

KUPWARA, SEPT 05: An amount of Rs. 80.56 crores were provided as financial assistance for the establishment of 5731 Income Generating Units in Kupwara district by the existing financial institutions upto September 30, 2013. This was stated by the Lead District Manager, Kupwara in a meeting of District Level Review Committee held under the Chairmanship of District Development Commissioner, Kupwara, Mr. Itrat Hussain Rafique to review the progressive achieved by the financial institutions and line departments' upto June 2013 under Annual District Credit Action

Plan 2013-14. The Lead District Manager, Kupwara, Chief Planning Officer, Kupwara, JKB Cluster Head, representatives of RBI, NABARD, besides bankers and sponsoring agencies were also present in the meeting. It was informed in the meeting that under Priority Sector Rs. 64.77 crores were credited for establishment of 4985 income generating units while under Non-Priority Sector Rs. 15.79 crores stands provided for establishing 746 income generating units in the district upto June 2013, under AAP 2013-14, for the development of the area and ameliorating poverty and unemployment.

Zubin Mehta concert opposed by two Kashmiri poets

SRINAGAR, SEPT 05: Two noted Kashmiri poets, including Jnanpith awardee Rehman Rahi, have opposed the musical concert featuring internationally renowned conductor Zubin Mehta here on Saturday and said they may not attend the high profile event. "Many (people) are saying it is ill-timed. I may not attend the concert," Rahi, who was awarded the prestigious Jnanpith award in 2007 for his Kashmiri poetry, told a news agency. Another noted Kashmiri poet, Zareef Ahmad Zareef, was categorical in saying he will not attend the concert as it is "unnatural" to hold such an event when people of the Valley were suffering miseries due to non-resolution of Kashmir issue. "If this concert was to provide a healing touch to the people of Kashmir, who have suffered so much over the years, the victims and sufferers should have been the audience for this concert. However, it is the elite from outside who will form the audience for the concert," Zareef said. He said if Germany had the welfare of Kashmiris at its heart, the massive amount of money spent on holding the concert could have been better utilised in rehabilitating the victims of violence in Kashmir.

Sagar, Sakina dedicate 4-kms road to people at Laisoo

SRINAGAR, SEPT 05: While maintaining that the government has initiated sustained development of every part of the state, the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar has said several flagship programmes have been undertaken which have been instrumental in changing the socio-economic profile of the rural and farflung areas. The Minister was addressing a huge gathering after dedicating to the public, the newly constructed 4-km road stretch at Laisoo, Damhal Hanjipora in Kulgam district. The Minister for Social Welfare, Ms. SakinaItoo, legislators, Mr. Nasir Aslam Wani, Mrs. Bimla Luthra, Dr. B. A. Veeri, Mr. Abdul Majid Bhat, besides other senior officers of district administration and different departments were present on the occasion. Asking the people to come forward to avail the maximum benefits of the various flagship schemes intro-

Three-tier border fencing along the LoC turns into a "death trap" for infiltrating militants
HAMIRPUR, SEPT 05: The three-tier border fencing along the LoC has turned into a "death trap" for infiltrating militants, leading to desperation among militant ranks and has prompted repeated firings on Indian posts from across the border, the Army has said. "It is impossible for infiltrating militants to cross over the three-tiered border fencing along LoC. There is desperation in militant leadership and Pakistani establishment due to failure to cross-over the fencing", Brig A Sengupta told a news agency. Commanding the front brigade deployed to guard the LoC in forward sectors, Sengupta said, "There is firing on the fencing at times from across due to desperation caused as a result of failure to push in armed militants this side. They are violating ceasefire, targeting Indian forward posts and resorting to mortar firing". Armed with thermal imagers and surveillance equipment, the fencing from Malu (Akhnoor) in Jammu district to Kanzalwan in Kupwara district of Kashmir Valley covering 490 kms of LoC and 190 kms of International Border from Malu to Pathankote in Punjab has become a major hurdle for infiltrating militants. As per intelligence reports, there are over 300 militants waiting across the LoC to infiltrate for the past three to four months but they are unable to cross over due to fencing and increased vigilance by troops and ground surveillance equipment, the Army officer said. "They fire on posts to force jawans to keep their movement restricted to posts so that they can try and engineer infiltration of militants," he said. "Not even a single infiltration has taken place this year in this sector. All infiltration bids have been foiled", Maj Gen VP Singh, who is looking after operational control of 220 kms long LoC in Rajouri-Poonch region, said. The Army feels the border fencing along the Indo-Pak border has virtually turned into a death trap for ultras, as 28 infiltrating militants were killed when troops foiled bids this year. Passing through dense woods, narrow valleys and riverine areas along the LoC and international border, the fence has proved to a major deterrent against cross-border infiltration as it acts as a "round-the-clock" guard, the Army officers said. "The Army continues to maintain a state of high alert along LoC and work on repairing parts of the fence damaged due to snowfall continues rapidly to make this round-the-clock guard more effective," they said. The Army has also mapped new probable routes of infiltration and vigilance was being maintained by soldiers equipped with ground sensors, thermal imagers and battlefield surveillance radars, they said.

Concern expressed over sexual harassment by Dr. Nirmal Kamal

JAMMU, SEPT 05: Taking serious note of the horrific practice of sexual exploitation going on in the Rotary Inner Wheel Home for Mentally retarded children at Channi Rama in the outskirts of Jammu city, BJP State Spokesperson Dr. Nirmal Kamal asserted that the State Government's Social Welfare Ministry should directly intervene in the matter. Expressing shock over the helpless mentally retarded innocent girls aging between 10 to 16 years, who took shelter under a home where more than 45 boys and girls are inhabiting, so that they can be treated to become normal and live a dignified life,

duced by the government, the Minister said that by doing so they would be exhibiting a participatory involvement in their implementation, besides giving the much needed feedback about them. He said that several schemes have been launched which have contributed a lot in ensuring that the infrastructure creation is done in rural and far-flung areas, besides ensuring their socio-economic upliftment. Mr. Sagar appealed the people not to pay heed to the propaganda being carried out by certain political parties as they are trying to create con-

fusion in their minds for their own vested political interests. He said that it is a recorded fact that the present government has initiated a developmental agenda which has no parallels in the annals of history. "We have launched several programmes which have been instrumental in ensuring that the people get the much needed employment opportunities at their doorsteps, besides also taking care of the youth of the state by launching schemes like Himayat, Umeed etc", the Minister said.

Dr. Nirmal Kamal questioned the authorities that when women of the entire country and the state are united against the heinous crime of sexual assault on women, how the authorities of such Protective Homes in connivance with sick members of society are engaged in flourishing the anti-social crime against women?

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EDUCATION AGE

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CPMT counselling scheduled from Sep 9 to 14
KANPUR: The second phase of UPCombined Pre-Medical Test (CPMT) counselling is scheduled from September 9 to 14. Counselling will be held at four centres across the state, including Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical College (Kanpur), King George Medical University (Lucknow), and medical colleges of Meerut and Allahabad. As per the schedule declared by the authorities of Chatrapati Sahuji Maharaj University (CSJMU), all the successful candidates of ST category, SC students from rank 01 to 1000 can come for registration on September 9. The SC candidates ranked above 1001 can appear for registration on September 10. On September 11 and 12, general candidates from rank 1 to 400 and 401 to 1000 can appear for registration, respectively. On September 13, general candidates from rank 1001 to 2500 can appear for registration. All the students will be given an opportunity to lock the seats on September 14. The counselling fee is Rs 300. The students also have to submit Rs 5,000 as security money. The students will have to bring documents like admit card, rank card, high school pass certificate and marksheet of Class XII. Photocopy sets of original certificates, passport size photographs (photos should be same as used in the form). Duplicate certificates will not be accepted. The counselling team will verify the photograph and signature. Bio-metric verification will also be conducted. The students who have already taken admission in some other MBBS or BDS College and have submitted their original certificate are required to bring an application letter from the principal of that college mentioning the submission of original certificate. Details regarding registration fee and others are available on the university websites www.upcpmt2013 . If the documents are found to be fake or the expert committee is not convinced about the genuineness of documents submitted, the students will be debarred from counselling. Impersonators will be prosecuted. If the candidates do not get original documents/acknowledgments verified from any other organisation, they will be rejected. The medical education department has not included homeoptahy and Unani colleges even in the second phase of UP-CPMT counselling. Hence, counselling of BHMS and BUMS seats will not be held in the second phase.

CAREER IN SPEECH PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY

INTRODUCTION Speech pathology and Audiology are allied health careers where the professionals are qualified by special training, education, skills and experience to provide health care service and treatment. While the field is an allied health field, the practitioners are not physicians but rather known specifically as speech pathologists and audiologists. Speech language pathology and audiology are distinct disciplines, but are so interrelated that to be fully competent in either, one should be familiar with both. Both deal with speech, language and hearing impairments that disrupt the ability of the sufferer to communicate and interact in various social situations. Speech language pathologists and audiologists are concerned with the prevention, identification and rehabilitation of children and adults with communication disorders and hearing impairment. Audiologists examine people of all ages and identify symptoms of hearing loss, auditory, balance and related sensory and neural problems. They use specialized equipments like audiometers, computers and other testing devices to evaluate and estimate the impact of auditory and balance problems on the client's daily life. Audiologists then use the results from these tests to prepare a diagnosis and design a course of treatment by using remedial measures and rehabilitation strategies depending on what the situation demands. Speech therapists or speech language pathologists work with people who have speech disorders like inability to produce sounds, speech rhythm and fluency problems and also people who have swallowing disorders due to problems like cleft palate or other medical conditions which may be congenital, developmental or acquired. Speech language pathologists' work involves assessment, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of speech-related disorders, designing and employment of augmentative and alternative communication methods. In India, the first Audiology & Speech Language Therapy program was started in 1966 at T.N.Medical College and BYL Nair Charitable Hospital in Mumbai. The Government of India established All India Institute of Speech and Hearing in 1966 at Mysore. Today this institute is the country's leading institute in the field of communication disorders. There are about 20 universities in India which provide Speech Pathology & Audiology programs which are accredited by Rehabilitation Council of India. cleaning the ear canal, fitting and dispensing hearing aids, and fitting and programming cochlear implants. It also includes counseling on adjusting to hearing loss, training on the use of hearing instruments, and teaching communication strategies for use in a variety of environments. Audiologists keep records on the initial evaluation, progress, and discharge of patients. In other settings, audiologists may work with other health and education providers as part of a team in planning and implementing services for children and adults, from birth to old age. Some audiologists specialize in work with the elderly, children, or hearing-impaired individuals who need special treatment programs. Others develop and implement ways to protect workers' hearing from on-the-job injuries. They measure noise levels in workplaces and conduct hearing protection programs in factories, as well as in schools and communities. A few audiologists conduct research on types as well as treatment for hearing, balance, and related disorders. The job of a speech therapist includes diagnosing communication disorders and swallowing disorders. Planning and implementing treatment in language, speech, voice and swallowing disorders. Educating and counseling individuals, families, co-workers, educators, and other persons in the community regarding acceptance, adaptation, and decision making about communication, swallowing, or other upper aero digestive concerns. Certified Speech Language Pathology and Audiology professionals can find employment in Hospitals, Rehabilitation Centers , Nursing Care Facilities , Industry , Home Health Agencies , Longterm Care Facilities, Research Labs, Centers for Persons with Developmental Disabilities, Public or Private Schools, Private Practice, Community Clinics, College/University Clinics, Health Department, State or Government Agencies, Adult Day Care Facilities and Business. REMUNERATION The starting salary for speech pathologist and audiologist is around Rs 8000/- per month initially and may go upto Rs 12000/-. The gross emoluments may sum upto Rs15,000- Rs20,000 per month. Those in the teaching field may earn between Rs 9000-Rs.15,000 per month. For lecturers the pay scale lies between 14000-18000 and the gross emoluments may go upto Rs25,000 per month.

The job titles for professionals working in this field include Audiologist, Program Director, Rehabilitation Counselor, Sign Language Interpreter, Language Specialist, Linguist, Speech Pathologist etc. These professions provide essential services to people of all ages and backgrounds in developing the vital human skill - communication. They offer a variety of specialization opportunities, challenges and have relevance to daily living. As these professionals help people make their lives more productive and richer by improving people's communication skills their career is well respected and gives an opportunity to make a difference in other people's life. ELIGIBILITY & COURSE AREAS To practice audiology, professionals need to have either Bachelors/Masters degree in Audiology and be registered with Indian Speech and Hearing Association (ISHA) or Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI). For undergraduate courses the applicants should have passed the pre-university course or 10+2 from a recognised institution with science subjects Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics. The duration for an undergraduate course is 3 to 4 years. The various universities may grant admissions either on the basis of marks of the 10+2 course or they may conduct specific entrance tests to gauge the merit and aptitude of the aspirants.

Admission to the 2 year post graduate courses requires a graduation in speech language pathology and audiology. Besides the undergraduate/ post graduate courses, several institutes offer diploma courses of varying durations. Course Areas : University courses in speech language pathology and audiology include acoustics, anatomy, assessment, counseling, hearing disorders, hearing aids, language development and disorders, linguistics, neurology and neurophysiology, nonvocal communication, parent training, psychology, phonetics, speech disorders, statistics, stuttering, voice and voice disorders, and a variety of specific areas (e.g., autism). Personal Skills: The job is not physically demanding but is emotionally demanding. The professionals must be able to approach problems objectively and provide support to patients and their families. Because a patient's progress may be slow, patience, compassion, and good listening skills are necessary. They must have exceptional skills in observation, concentration, and record keeping. Audiologists should be able to effectively communicate diagnostic test results, interpretation, and proposed treatment in a manner easily understood by their patients, relatives and other staff. JOB PROSPECTS & CAREER OPTIONS Audiologic treatment may include examining and

New CBSE rule puts franchisee schools in a 30 percent of Chinese fix, fee structure to be under scanner cannot speak Mandarin
JAIPUR: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has termed those schools running as franchisee of principal institutes as 'commercialized models' in the recently amended by-laws which govern its affiliated schools. The move aims to keep the school education free from commercial franchisee models and to reduce the financial burden on parents arising out of heavy franchisee fees. The order is giving sleepless nights to franchisee schools running in the country under the brand names like Delhi Public Schools Society, Ryan International School Society, Birla Schools, Gems Group, EDIFY and Bal Vidhya Ashram Group, to name a few. The board has cleared that such schools have to provide an affidavit that they have not entered into any such contract to use name and logo of the parent for consideration for their fees. The board has also recommended that such schools should delink themselves from franchisee arrangements. The amended rule said that any franchisee school making payments to its parent institute for use of name, motto and logo or any other non-academic activities would be termed as commercialization of institution. Sources said that parent institutes initially charges ranging from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 25 lakh from franchisees to allow them use their names, logos or brand names. In turn, the parent institutes only support the franchisees in recruitment, settingup amenities and management of schools. The franchiser has no say in syllabus and course content. A senior CBSE official in Delhi requesting anonymity said, "Franchise model is a sheer marketing gimmick." Such practice involved a lot of cost factors. Apart from one time fee, the franchisers also charges per student amount and have a certain percentage in annual profits. In a bid to fulfill the financial liabilities to be franchisees, the schools pass on the money burden to parents by charging hefty fees. Sources said a school located along the Jaipur-Ajmer highway gives 20s% of its fees to the franchiser. Parents have a rage for admitting their children on franchisees with big brand names. They expect that franchisee schools are offering the same quality education as they are being delivering in the parent schools, but in reality it turns out to be poles apart. Ajmer-based Mayoor School of Mayo School group has opened its franchisee schools in Bhopal and Noida with its brand name Mayoor School. DPS has three schools in Rajasthan-Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur. Defending the order, the school owners said that brand name is a property and is always transferable. "Brand names and logos are properties of an individual group and being used by franchisees is not a commercial activity. The CBSE is unnecessarily exercising its authority in areas which are not in its domain," said Damodar Goyal, president, Society for Private Unaided Schools in Rajasthan. However, parent associations have welcome the move and are expecting such schools to reduce fees. Such a situation will also pose a challenge for states like Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Punjab as the respective state governments has formed committees to decide the schools fees on various parameters. About 30 percent of the Chinese population cannot speak Mandarin, the official language of China, said the ministry of education Thursday. Although the remaining population can communicate in Mandarin, also known as Putonghua, a large number of them do not speak it well, reports. Ministry spokesperson Xu Mei said the country still needed to invest in promoting Mandarin. The government has been holding a campaign to promote Mandarin in the third week of September every year since 1998. This year, the ministry would focus on the remote countryside and areas inhabited by ethnic minorities, Xu said.

Ad hoc teachers get a raw deal

NEW DELHI: Based on yearon-year accumulation, they now form nearly 60% of the institution's teaching resources and have been vital to the smooth conduct of academics since 2008. Yet they face misbehaviour from colleagues and administration and are discriminated against even on grounds of caste. For years they have been living in constant fear of losing their jobs which jeopardizes their personal life. Yes, this is the story of the ad hoc and temporary teachers of Delhi University, according to a survey conducted by six teachers from different colleges. While reforms are meant to bring in good news, the newlylaunched four-year undergraduate programme has ironically added to their woes. The survey conducted online received 223 responses-cutting across 27 subjects-from present and former ad hoc teachers, which revealed their sorry service conditions. The average age of the respondents is 31 years. With over 27% of irregular faculty being retrenched in the current academic session following the introduction of FYUP, the claims of the university administration that there will be no job loss for ad hocs due to the reforms have fallen flat. Meanwhile, being an ad hoc in has turned out to be a nightmare for many teachers. "I've been a Delhi University topper throughout. Working in Delhi University was a dream come true. But having worked as an ad hoc teacher for over a year now, I think nothing could be more humiliating and frustrating. Although my college renewed my term, I'm living in constant fear and it is affecting my personal, professional and social life. If after studying (in fact excelling) in academics for six years the state can't guarantee me a dignified permanent job I wonder what job opportunities would be available to the current FYUP batch who exit after two years?" commented one of the respondents. While 64% of the respondents claim that they are constantly insecure about their job, nine said they have faced sexual harassment and 19% faced one kind of social discrimination or another. In fact, things have worsened for those who continued as temporary teachers in Delhi University with 42% of the respondents claiming that their employment status got diminished-from temporary to ad hoc and ad hoc to guest. Adverse work conditions also got reflected in the personal life of respondents with 41% delaying their marriages and another 26% the birth of children in view of uncertain employment. None of them ever received any medical leave or benefits even as 33% of the respondents or their dependents underwent major medical expenditure during their employment in Delhi University. The allegations against the administration of forcing ad-hocs to vote en masse for a particular group has been reflected in the findings of the survey. Seventy percent of respondents said they can't express their views openly when it comes to DUTA elections and 46% said they are obliged to support the political opinions of those who matter in their colleges and departments. In fact, one temporary respondent shared at length his case of victimization wherein he was removed after three years of service immediately after he contested and won the college staff association elections

Stabbing incident leaves Delhi University, JNU students' one dead in US school unions finalize list of poll contestants WASHINGTON: A 17-year-old student
was stabbed to death and three others were injured during a fight at a high school in the US state of Texas early Wednesday, reported. The stabbing took place in a hallway leading to a cafeteria on the Spring High School campus in Houston area, report. One student died on the spot and a 16-year-old boy in critical condition was flown to a medical facility. The boy's parents told reporters that he is expected to survive. 2 other students suffered minor injuries and one of them has been discharged from hospital, the report said. Officials said all the victims are students. Three students have been detained by authorities. But it's not clear at this point if they were suspects in the stabbing. No details have been revealed about the circumstances of the campus stabbing. Unconfirmed reports on Twitter indicated it was possibly a gang fight. NEW DELHI: The final lists of contestants for students' union elections in Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University were declared but things didn't progress too smoothly at JNU. There was a heated exchange of words between the election committee the newly-formed Concerned Students when a member had his candidature for the post of general secretary in the central panel cancelled. Late Wednesday evening, the EC called an all-party meeting to discuss the issue. In all, 162 candidates are in fray for Delhi University Students' Union Elections for the four posts, while 22 candidates have filed nominations for the central panel of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union elections scheduled for Sept 13. The election offices of both the universities issued the final list of candidates on Wednesday. In DU the candidates will have till Friday to withdraw their candidatures. Nominations of 44 candidates have been found valid for the post of president for DUSU, while 34 are in fray for the post of vice-president. For secretary and joint secretary there are 50 and 34 candidates respectively. Out of 44 candidates, 13 are female candidates for the post of DUSU president. The final list of candidates after the withdrawal will be announced on Friday. ABVP has filed 10 nominations for the four posts in DUSU, they will have to withdraw six of the candidates. NSUI too has filed around 12 candidates for the four posts. AISA however has filed nomination for just four candidates for the posts and they are the final candidates. In JNU, 103 candidates have made the final list of nominations for the posts of councilors in the different schools with the maximum - 33 - for the School of Languages. The new groups this time include Concerned Students; and what was JNUSFI last year, is now the Democratic Students' Federation (DSF). The presidential debate is on Sept 11 and voting is on 13.

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EDITORIAL

5
particularly arrived. Today, every comment, gaffe, and public rally, is recorded under the gaze of the news cameras and the highlights are sent over the airwaves again and again. Talk shows discuss the news of the day. Print and online media editorialise away. And all it creates is a new rumble of up-to-date awareness. And there are major changes afoot. Picture this: Here are Trinamool Congress goons from the Maoist badlands, wild as troglodytes, roaming the corridors of airconditioned malls in Kolkata. Their forestdwelling eyes are blinking with equality married to branding and disposable income too. This is the confluence of revolution and lipstick/deodorant in designer clothes, and it wont go away. It is a phenomenon very interesting to observe but probably worrisome for the party ideologues. Its all going from Maobadi to market-badi spontaneously. Are these people, the cadres, angry or hungry for more? Only the polls can tell. Who can stop it? Our politicians must deliver on aspiration and not on potted grievance alone. How can this be done by ignoring development and growth? Our populists need to go to school in China and change their thinking. Learn from modern day Maoists who have made sure that nothing gets in the way of progress, meaning the fattening of their billions of wallets. Besides, they are willing to work for it in good capitalist fashion. We are too soft here in India, expecting riches by gift parcel. The new China is consumerist and has earned the money to pay for it. Nixon knew what he was doing but probably had no idea how well it would all turn out.And yet, our Government, lusting to be re-elected for the third time in a row, keeps up its barrage of misinformation. But misinformed we are not. We know things are bad and whose fault it is. And beguiled we are, rich and poor, only if we want to be. (The accompanying visual is of Union I&B Minister Manish Tewari and Congress president Sonia Gandhi at the inauguration of the National Media Centre in New Delhi on August 24. PTI photo by Shahbaz Khan)

PMs strange strategy

It is not surprising that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should have failed in his efforts to win over senior leaders of the BJP in his bid to seek their cooperation for the smooth functioning of Parliament. The Prime Minister had invited Mr LK Advani, Ms Sushma Swaraj and Mr Arun Jaitley to his residence late in the evening on Tuesday, but the meeting failed to break the deadlock because Mr Singh's actions appear to be driven more by necessity than by sincerity. He is keen to secure the opposition party's help in passing various Bills during the fag end of the Monsoon Session. But Mr Singh has of late been repeatedly ridiculing the BJP in both Houses. He has blamed the party for obstructing Parliament's functioning, for calling him names and, strangely, also for the economic mess that his Government has landed the country in. He has gone out of his way to snub even the senior-most leaders of the BJP. For instance, on Tuesday, he walked out of the Lok Sabha in a huff after making a statement on the crucial coal files which the Congress-led Government claims are missing, even as veteran BJP leader LK Advani sought the Speaker's permission to speak on the matter. Eventually, neither Mr Advani nor Ms Swaraj, who too wished to say something, could make their submissions. Earlier during the ongoing session, the Prime Minister, instead of assuring the Opposition that he will hold accountable all those who are responsible for the missing files, Mr Singh had haughtily remarked that he was not the custodian of files.The arrogance, along with his lack of interest in getting to the bottom of the disappearance of the files that the Central Bureau of Investigation needs urgently to take its probe in the coal block allocation scam forward and have something substantial to report to the Supreme Court which is monitoring the investigation, has naturally upset the BJP. It has also raised doubts that the Government is trying to conceal inconvenient facts. Perhaps Mr Singh's new-found and completely misplaced belligerence has to do with the advice that his spin doctors have rendered. They believe that he has been too meek and too less forthcoming. But they must realise that the Prime Minister has little to be bellicose about. He has presided over the ruin of the country's economy, the drastic depreciation of the rupee against the dollar, a new low in the trust deficit between his Government and the Opposition, and over the devaluation of the very exalted position of the country's Prime Minister. Mr Singh's suddenlydiscovered power of eloquence will not mitigate either any of these disasters or change the public perception. Meanwhile, in his zest to demonise the BJP, the Prime Minister appears to have forgotten that the party he heaps scorn on now, had only a few days ago cooperated with his Government to steer the National Food Security Bill in Parliament despite having strong reservations over some of the Bill's provisions. The BJP did the same with the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill in the lower House. These are just some of the recent instances where the main Opposition has helped out the UPA regime. Given the situation, many BJP leaders are naturally wondering whether their policy of cooperation with such a Government should continue.

Beguiled we are not, by these mai-baaps

GAUTAM MUKHERJEE
Beguiling the nation, which seems to be a policy of the Government, in the age of 24 hour-seven days-a-week television news channels in major and minor regional languages, plus Hindi and English, is not easy. Even the illiterate have-nots, the target audience, the patsy and dupe for the predatory politician, for this discredited Government angling to be re-elected, cannot be fooled out of hand. Even they, supposedly not bothered about anything large and beyond their day-to-day livelihood, want more than tokenism and promises. Such supposedly disconnected and disinterested people are also bombarded by a lot of information, and many images and sound bytes. By sheer exposure to all this, much is absorbed to inform their opinion. Boasting, as in, I will turn Mumbai or Kolkata into Hong Kong or London, or transform the economy into untold prosperity, does not work. The mai-baaps and their maternal/paternal postures are simply not believed, as the poor wonder just how rich the politician speaking to them is. And how many of their relatives, friends and benami buddies are in on the gravy train? Public relations practitioners, paid for their image-building strategies, are mining a thinner seam these days. Walking through shadows, alleys, landmines of paradox, and lies that contradict other lies, force them to wear blinkers and be heroic in what they are projecting. The image-maker and his subject need must believe their own thesis; viz Congress is the default programme if India were a computer, a kind of Canadian rocker Bryan Adams rip-off. And trust in paint-it-bright Bharat Nirman advertisements which are mildly psychotic in their hectic gaiety, their subjects airbrushed to suit the frame. But where are all these happy people, giddy with satisfaction, the Government is talking about? Do they exist outside the recording studio? What we see with our jaundiced eyes is a procession of dysfunc-

This is not the Doordarshan era. But, lusting to be re-elected, the Government has unleashed a barrage of misinformation, which has come out like a police state's bulletin on the health and morals of the dictator Objective journalism is a contradiction in terms. Hunter S Thompson
tional cheats, rapists, murderers, frauds, and apologists; Many, many paid and compromised apologists, who insist that any other dispensation would be very much worse. How they know that is a mystery, but one in keeping with projecting the myth of trading better for worse. And some of us are made to feel a little ashamed for being cynics. But the Government is experienced and thickskinned. It thinks its work is done if it aims its message properly. Rome was not built in a day and neither was its propaganda. So lay it on thick. The people are presumed to have been well prepared their attitudes induced to serve, like pre-cooked meals or instant noodles. Brainwashed, ready to heat and eat when it comes to election time and voting behaviour.But attempt to beguile reality is turning on its conjurer. This is not the Doordarshan, All India Radio, the limited print media era. Everything came out pseudo-objective, mandatorily upbeat then, tightly edited, like a police state bulletin on the health and morals of the dictator. Yeh sab chalta tha (this was acceptable) in that comfortably insular world, before globalisation in 1991 let the vendors and internationals in via the tradesmens entrance. But now, there is no U-turn visible. People, the times, the roads, routes and pathways, have all changed irrevocably. But you can see the longing for those days within a mercilessly pilloried Government. You see it in clumsy attempts to regulate Internet commentary, websites, blogs and Twitter, and even some alternate media channels on You Tube, and the snooping on friend and foe alike through their cellphones and GPS. The idea of licensing journalists, like factories or lifts, was also a recently mooted idea. The intent was probably to suspend the licence if things did not suit, like the moves of a bad or drunk driver. The present Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, frothing at the mouth with impressive legalisms, is maybe hoping to seduce favourable reportage via the recently opened swank media centre in New Delhi.There are also the if-you-cant-beatthem-then-join-them ideas, such as buying Twitter followers even if they do hail from Istanbul and Sofia and may not know how to spell Gehlot, or even Gaylord, for there are too many unfamiliar vowels. Besides, there are soap operas and talk shows and the occasional bold movie in keeping with the multiplex revolution that also serve the awareness juggernaut. But there is no going back or subduing this octopus. As former Information and Broadcasting Minister Ajit Panja, said at the start of the satellite TV revolution, that he knew no method to control or indeed censor satellite broadcasts. And this was in the days when neither mobile telephony with its converged internet applications, nor the Internet itself, had

Boasting, as in, 'I will turn Mumbai or Kolkata into Hong Kong or London', or 'transform the economy into untold prosperity', does not work. The mai-baaps and their maternal/paternal postures are simply not believed, as the poor wonder just how rich the politician speaking to them is. And how many of their relatives, friends and benami buddies are in on the gravy train? Public relations practitioners, paid for their image-building strategies, are mining a thinner seam these days. Walking through shadows, alleys, landmines of paradox, and lies that contradict other lies, force them to wear blinkers and be heroic in what they are projecting.

NEW DELHI IN A FIX ON SYRIA

Indias equidistant position on the crisis in Syria and concern over a military strike on the country by the US-led West, are understandable. At a time when the country is battling a major rupee crisis which threatens to blow our fuel import bill to an unmanageable level, the last thing it would want is an addition to its woes. A military confrontation between Syria and the West will certainly impact global fuel prices and lead to a further escalation in India's dollar payment on account of crude oil. Interestingly, Damascus has played up this possibility with New Delhi when its Ambassador, Mr Raid Kamel Abbas, hinted at the dangers that lie for this country in a US-led strike and praised India for its stand. Apart from the economic dangers that a military intervention by the West holds, New Delhi is also apprehensive that the offensive could result in even more violence than there has been over the last two years since fighting between the Syrian forces and the rebels began. More than a 1,00,000 lives have been lost and two billion people have been displaced with many taking refuge in neighbouring countries. While India's concerns are sound, a hands-off approach will not necessarily end the violence in Syria. It is fine to call upon all sides to abjure violence, so that conditions can be created for an inclusive political dialogue leading to a comprehensive political solution taking into account the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people as the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin has stated. But that sagacious advice has been given repeatedly to both the warring factions over the months and has been ignored because no side wants to let the other gain the upper hand by scaling down the offensive. Since Syria has been left to itself to resolve the problem, both the Government and the rebels there have become more emboldened to continue their slaughter. Worse, as the situation deteriorates, there are reports that terror organisations such as the Al Qaeda have begun to infiltrate the ranks of the rebels, and in some cases they have formed their own strike groups. On the other hand, the Bashar al-Assad regime is backed by, Hezbollah, which is what is giving many countries, especially Israel, sleepless nights. In any case, outside intervention has already happened, with both the Government and the rebels receiving logistical and other supports from sympathisers abroad. India's concerns are unlikely to weigh much with the US when it decides to hit. The latter would have struck by now had President Barack Obama not decided to first seek a broader consensus within the Congress for the decision, and Britain's Parliament had not voted against its country's military involvement in Syria. If the United Nations' inspectors who recently visited Syria to determine if the Assad regime had used chemical weapons against civilians, report in the affirmative, nothing can prevent the inevitable.

Results alone dont measure success

MEETA W SENGUPTA
We do bemoan the state of education in India, and of course a lot needs to be done to bring millions to literacy and numeracy. A lot more needs to be done to bring education to the literate argumentative Indian but that is a discussion for another day. Even the schools and colleges that are supposed to instruct their wards in standardised curricula may only be working towards partial instruction. Because of what we measure. We measure our success in education by the results students achieve. Other measures that explore the system in depth include the District Information System for Education data provided via the National University of Educational Planning and Administration to the Union Ministry of Human Resource

To bring about improvements in school education, we need to first know the goals and targets that need to be addressed. Thats yet to happen
Development. The Annual Status of Education Report explores student achievement in depth, as do the Wipro studies assess on more holistic criteria. Much progress has been made in these assessments of education systems in the past two years, with J-PAL setting up monitoring systems for helping education officers manage their areas better by changing the way they assess their zones by moving to a more collaborative and supportive approach. It was interesting to realise that India allowed one pilot-run of the Programme for International Student Assessment test, did not do well in that at all (ranking almost at the bottom of the global table) and then disallowed the test in subsequent years. The test was not suited to our education system and did not test the things that our students were prepared to answer. The students had been brought up in a system of rote learning and were unable to navigate their way through questions that expected them to think, or at the very least re-arrange the facts. This hole in our education system is now being plugged with the very adventurous Problem Solving Assessments that supplement the new continuous evaluations introduced in schools all over the country. The PSA actually expects students to think and solve problems rather than replicate responses in standardised methods. The emphasis here is on the process rather than on the results, though of course the rewards are for results achieved. Traditionalists (read, teachers and parents schooled in the old system) are protesting, outraged about the fact that the students now will have to enter uncontrollable spaces such as thinking, analysing and processing for results. There are fewer guarantees of marks' since the process is now out of the parental supervision space. This, and the watered down version of the open book examinations are tentative steps towards moving away from rote learning by changing what is assessed. These are positive steps, too mild to have much impact soon, but as they gain support and confidence will bring a fundamental shift in the learning process within the classroom. Even at a systemic level, institutions are being assessed holistically. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act looks at playgrounds, libraries and classroom spaces. The quality of teaching and learning is an area that needs more work mere input criteria are inadequate. Even the Indian Institutes of Technology are now being assessed on a more holistic basis on internationalisation, on the contributions to research, on the transparency of governance structures, on facilities and teaching and diversity and gender equity among other things. This is progress indeed, and will help the institutions improve. But does it ask the right questions? It depends upon the goals. And the goals must depend upon the needs of the stakeholders. Who decides the goals?

If the goal of the IITs is to climb up the league tables, then the set of criteria identified to assess them is perfect it directly speaks to the criteria of the major league tables of the world, and will help the IITs restore their lustre. On the other hand, if the goals of the IITs were to rejuvenate the manufacturing sector in the nation, or to help the nation become a hub for applied research, then these might not be the only questions to ask and hold the institutions accountable. Similarly with schools do we know the goals and targets that we need to improve?

READER SPACE

Too late
Dear Editor, It is clear from the outburst of DIG D.G. Vanzara, who has been in jail for almost seven years in connection with a chain of encounter killings in Gujarat, that he did not discharge his duty as per the law as a responsible IPS officer. He carried out the encounters because his political superiors told him to do so with no regard for the right or wrong of his actions. What was the quid pro quo he expected for implementing what he calls the conscious policy of the Narendra Modi government? Why did he carry out the dastardly acts, knowing full well that he was acting against the law? Yours, etc., B. Raman, Jammu

Yours, etc.,

via-e-mail

Syrian crisis
Dear Editor, The United States does not seem to have learnt anything from its experience in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan (Two-faced in West Asia, September 4). It would do well to remember the past and abandon its policy of one-upmanship in world affairs. Gone are the days when it bullied nations for support. It is crucial to strengthen the United Nations to handle the Syrian crisis. Yours, etc.,

via-e-mail

Outrage in Mumbai
Dear Editor, The impact of the media is a factor. There are leading dailies that spend pages analysing the reasons for increasing assault on women yet which do not think twice about publishing advertisements for clothing in a way that demeans women. Yes, Bollywood is for entertainment, but in the name of artistic freedom and liberty of thought, vulgar scenes and dialogues cannot be passed by the Censor Board or defended by the elite. Yours, etc., Mahesh Kumar, New Delhi

Political overlords
Dear Editor, Rajrishi Singhal has clearly explained the reasons behind recent violent crimes (The political overlords of a violent underclass, September 3). It is shocking to note that 1,448 representatives of people have declared criminal cases against them. Alcohol and movies contribute a lot to violence against women. Why not curb alcohol production and strictly censor movies?

The emphasis here is on the process rather than on the results, though of course the rewards are for results achieved. Traditionalists (read, teachers and parents schooled in the old system) are protesting, outraged about the fact that the students now will have to enter uncontrollable spaces such as thinking, analysing and processing for results. There are fewer guarantees of 'marks' since the process is now out of the parental supervision space. This, and the watered down version of the open book examinations are tentative steps towards moving away from rote learning by changing what is assessed.

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NATIONAL

Close male-female literacy gap: Pranab

essential in this process so that all stakeholders can ensure the desired results. He presented national awards to 355 teachers from various states teaching in CBSE schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas, among others. 177 primary school teachers and 140 secondary school teachers were felicitated along with six teachers in Sanskrit and four teachers from Madrasas. Each award consists of Rs. 25,000 cash, a certificate of merit and a silver medal. Noting that a sound education system is the bedrock of an enlightened society, Mukherjee said the country cannot claim to have evolved into a developed society despite accomplishments unless citizens develop values and faithfulness to their spiritual and cultural heritage. Here, I see a pivotal role for teachers in resetting the moral compass. Teachers have to help our youth imbibe the essential civilisation values of love for motherland, performance of duty, compassion for all, tolerance for pluralism, respect for women and honesty in life, he said. The President said India has to regain its primary position in the field of education on the global stage which it was known for during the period of Takshashila and Nalanda universities. There was a time when we had renowned seats of learning like Takshashila, Nalanda, Vikramashila, Valabhi, Somapura and Odantapuri. They attracted scholars from far and wide. The powerful minds who taught at such universities created an exalted position for our ancient education system. We have to regain our leadership position. We look towards teachers to guide the way, he said.

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 5: President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday stressed on closing the gap in literacy levels of males and females, saying nothing is more saddening than the sight of a girl child being denied education. An inclusive approach is critical for achieving our developmental goals and a key objective is to close the male-female gap in literacy. Nothing is more saddening than the sight of a girl child being denied education. I take this opportunity to reiterate the motto that all for knowledge and knowledge for all, the President said in New Delhi on the occasion of Teachers Day. Underlining the need to fine tune course

curriculum and adopt current methodologies to create relevant and effective approaches to teaching, he called for developing systems for continuous assessment of quality of education. I am confident that there is greater awareness in the entire teaching community of the need to fine tune the curriculum and adapt current methodologies to create relevant and effective approaches to teaching and learning. We need to create systems for continuous assessment of the quality of education and the outcome of our educational inputs, he said. Mr. Mukherjee said participation of the teaching community and parents would be

A Kathakali artist performs in Chennai, India. Kathakali is a classical dance that was created in the ancient kingdoms that now make up Kerala.

Telangana issue rocks Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 5: The Telangana issue rocked the Lok Sabha on Thursday with Congress members exchanging hot words with a TDP member on the controversial topic. V. Arun Kumar (Cong) raised the issue of a united Andhra Pradesh during Zero Hour. He said life was paralysed in some parts of the State due to the ongoing agitation on the issue. He said a similar agitation took place in 1972 in which he too had participated. As he was supporting the cause of a united Andhra Pradesh, some Congress members supporting a separate Telangana started raising slogans, apparently targeting the TDP. This prompted Nama Nageshwar Rao (TDP) to protest. The verbal duel continued for several minutes. While Mr. Rao took his seat, Congress members kept raising slogans. Finance Minister P. Chidambaram urged them to sit down even as Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh went over to their seats to pacify them. T.R. Baalu (DMK) wanted India to take steps to ensure that Sri Lanka is suspended from the comity of Commonwealth nations for its human rights violations against ethnic Tamils. He said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should not attend the Commonwealth summit proposed to be held in Colombo in November. Another round of war of words erupted, this time between Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress over the plight of farmers in Punjab. Rattan Singh Ajnala (SAD) blamed the Congress rule for the plight of farmers and said they should be compensated with a package. Ravneet Singh (Cong) blamed the SAD Government in the State for the plight of the farming community. Sanjay Jaiswal (BJP) said the decision of the Medical Council of India and the Health Ministry that a stint in rural areas is compulsory for those wanting admission to PG courses in medical streams was wrong. If women were not safe in urban areas, how could they be safe in rural areas, he asked. SP members said there was nothing wrong if young doctors served in rural areas.

N.M. Rajeshwari of JD(S) is the new Mayor of Mysore

MYSORE, SEPTEMBER 5: N.M. Rajeshwari of the Janata Dal (Secular) is the new Mayor of Mysore. In the Mayoral polls held here on Thursday, the JD (S) cobbled a majority through a power-sharing agreement with the BJP and thwarted the Congress from coming to power though it is the single largest party with 22 councillors in the 65-member house. The elections held in March threw up a hung council with the JD (S) securing 20 seats, and BJP 12, while there were seven independents, two councillors from the Socialist Democratic Party of India, and one each from the BSR Congress and the Karnataka Janata Paksha. Ms.Rajeshwari secured 39 votes in her favour. This included votes of the 20 JD (S) councillors, 12 BJP councillors, five legislators three from the JD (S) and two from the BJP who too have voting rights apart from the support of the KJP councillor and an independent. Ms.Rajeshwari defeated Manjjula Manasa of the Congress who secured 29 votes. Sources in the JD (S) said as per the power-sharing agreement, the posts of both the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor would be retained by the JD (S) and the BJP would be offered the post of chairmen of the four standing committees of the MCC. Ms. Rajeshwari will be the Mayor for one year and her tenure will close on September 4, 2014. This was the first meeting of the council after the completion of the elections to the local body in March 2013 and prior to the elections. The Mayoral polls were delayed because the rooster of reservation was announced only in the last week of August.

Congress demands CBI probe in Chhattisgarh bank scam

RAIPUR, SEPTEMBER 5: Congress in Chhattisgarh on Thursday demanded a CBI inquiry into an alleged multi-crore cooperative bank scam of 2006 and met Governor Shekhar Dutt in this regard. They also demanded to make Chief Minister Raman Singh and his four Cabinet ministers as co-accused in the case. A delegation of Congress leaders, led by Union Minister and partys state unit chief Charandas Mahant, submitted a memorandum to Governor today seeking a CBI probe into the Indira Priyadarshini Mahila Nagarik Sahkari bank scam, party spokesperson Shailesh Nitin Trivedi said. We have also demanded to make CM Raman Singh, his four ministers Brijmohan Agrawal, Amar Agrawal, Ramvichar Netam and Rajesh Munat co-accused for their alleged involvement in the scam, based on the statements made by the prime accused and then bank manager Umesh Sinha, during his narco-analysis test, Mr. Trivedi said. The party demanded that the government should recover Rs. one crore from each of the 22 defaulters, whom the bank had given loan. The delegation informed the Governor that the narco-analysis CD of Umesh Sinha which it had disclosed in the past and the one obtained from the police under RTI (right to information) were same. After this there is no reason for delay in action against the CM and the four ministers, Mr. Trivedi claimed. Expressing ire over police for allegedly not submitting the CD before court, the delegation urged the Governor to assign the case to CBI for further probe. The Opposition Congress had a couple of months back released a CD and transcripts of a narcoanalysis test conducted on then banks manager Umesh Sinha in which he had purportedly named Chief Minister Raman Singh and four of his ministers as beneficiaries in the seven-year-old scam. The CD purportedly showed Umesh Sinha making a statement during narco-analysis that Rs. 1 crore was given to each top ruling party politicians at the behest of then chairperson of the bank, Rita Tiwari. However, few days after the Congress disclosed the CD and transcripts of narco-analysis of Mr. Sinha, Rita Tiwari had denied allegations that she had paid money to the chief minister and his cabinet ministers, after the bank went bust in 2006. Ms. Tiwari, who is out on bail after her arrest in connection with the case, had then told reporters that, The statement of Umesh Sinha (the then bank manager) I saw in the media is totally wrong. Neither I had asked him to pay money to anyone nor he had given money to anyone. Last month, Umesh Sinha had also retracted from his statement and denied paying money to the chief minister and the ruling party ministers. I have not made money transactions with anyone. I am not at all under pressure or being threatened by anyone, he had told reporters here. Mr. Sinha had said that he was in a sub-conscious state during narco-analysis test and did not know anything he had spoken at that time. However, later Congress had claimed that Mr. Sinha made a Uturn from his statement allegedly under pressure. The ministers of ruling BJP had earlier rejected the allegations, saying that Congress party has a tradition of releasing CDs on any fake issue as the polls come closer. Around Rs 54 crore were allegedly embezzled in the Indira Priyadarshini bank from 2003, till the fraud came to light in 2006.

Happy to serve Gujarat: Narendra Modi

GANDHINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 5: Even as BJP dithers on declaring him as the partys prime ministerial candidate, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said he does not dream of occupying the top post and would respect the peoples mandate for serving the state till 2017. I never see such dreams (of becoming Prime Minister), nor am I going to see such dreams. People of Gujarat have given me the mandate to serve them till 2017 and I have to do this with full strength, Mr. Modi said, in remarks that could be seen as subtle expression of his displeasure over the continued delay in formally anointing him BJPs prime ministerial nominee. Those who dream of becoming something end up destroying themselves. One should not dream of becoming something, but one should dream of doing something, Mr. Modi, BJPs election campaign committee chief, said during an interaction with students. He was responding to a students query about whether he would come and interact with them in 2014 after he becomes the Advani, are said to be opposed to the idea as they consider the Gujarat strongman as a polarising figure. Thursdays remarks by Mr. Modi would surprise many as less than a month ago he had pitched himself firmly as BJPs prime ministerial candidate challenging Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to a public debate on governance on Independence Day. Mr. Modi, who on Thursday shared the dais with Governor Kamla Beniwal for the first time after she returned the contentious Lokayukta Bill to the government for reconsideration by the legislative assembly with stinging remarks, answered students questions ranging from his Yoga skills to the proposed 182 metre Statue of Unity of Sardar Patel. Addressing the gathering, which consisted mainly of students and teachers on the occasion of Teachers Day, Mr. Modi also took a dig at the Centre for the tumbling rupee. The state government also intends to increase the amount given in award to teachers as rupee has lost its value.

NRHM scam records missing from Muzaffarnagar, says CBI

MUZAFFARNAGAR, SEPTEMBER 5: The Central Bureau of Investigation has lodged an FIR complaining that some records related to the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam here have gone missing. The CBI has found that some records related to the purchase of medicine in the district hospital between 2008 and 2011 are missing, Chief Medical Officer Dr V K Johri said on Thursday. An FIR has been lodged about the missing records, he said. CBI has named three former CMOs of the district hospital -Umesh Sharma, Annand Swroop and Ashok Mishra - and present deputy CMO Gyanender Kumar in connection with the scam.

Judicial Bill in RS: Govt, Opposition unite to attack judiciary

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 5: The Government and Opposition were on Thursday united in criticising the functioning of the judiciary and sought to scrap the collegium system of appointing judges to higher courts, saying it is essential to restore the delicate balance of power which has been disturbed. As Rajya Sabha took up a bill to amend the Constitution to set up a Judicial Appointments Commission replacing the collegium system, Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal, Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley and several other members were of the view that the present system of appointing judges to Supreme Court and High Courts lacked transparency and accountability. Moving the Constitution (120th Amendment) Bill, 2013,Sibal said the Judiciary rewrote Constitution in 1993 when the collegium system of appointing judges to higher courts was adopted which disturbed the delicate balance between the Judiciary, the Legislature and the Executive. Sometimes moments come in the life a nation when you have to revisit the past and embrace the future. One such moment has come today, he said. Mr. Sibal, a renowned lawyer, noted that it was in 1993 that the Supreme Court sought to change the procedure of appointment of judges in higher judiciary with an interpretation of Article 124 (2) by bringing in a collegium system. With greatest respect to Supreme Court of India, I believe they rewrote Constitution, he said. Underlining that appointment of judges has nothing to do with judicial function, he said, The acts of appointments are Executive acts. The judiciary has taken over executive power by rewriting Article 124. That balance must be restored. Executive must have a say in appointment. Mr. Sibal said, It has disturbed the delicate balance of separation of powers. There is very clear division of powers among the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary in our Constitution.

Prime Minister. MR. Modis remarks came days after senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said there should be no controversy over the issue of the partys prime ministerial candidate as that would be akin to committing a hit-wicket and could turn out to be the only possible reason for the party losing the upcoming general elections. Parliamentary elections at times also become (like) presidential elections, especially when the leader enjoys overwhelming popularity. This has happened in the case of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Indira Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru in the past, Mr. Jaitley, leader

of the opposition in Rajya Sabha had said, stressing that the sooner BJP announced its leader (read Prime Minister candidate), the better it would be for the party. We should not get a hitwicket. That is a scenario where nobody bowls you out, but you give your own wicket. That is the only way we are going to lose this election, he had said, adding that the party should not create any unnecessary controversy on the leadership issue. Mr. Jaitley has often insisted on declaring Mr. Modi as BJPs prime ministerial candidate. However, some top leaders, including L.K.

JD(U), SP create uproar in RS over Vanzaras charges Kanda gets interim bail till October 4
NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 5: Rajya Sabha on Thursday witnessed uproar by Left, SP and JD(U) members over charges by jailed IPS officer D.G. Vanzara against Narendra Modi and his aide Amit Shah. Members belonging to Left parties staged a walkout after they were not allowed to raise the issue. As soon as the House met for the day, Left, SP and JD(U) members were on their feet shouting slogans, demanding that the issue be taken up for discussion immediately. Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurein, who was in the Chair, however, rejected their demand leading to more protests. He then adjourned the House for 15 minutes. Earlier, Mr. Kurein asked them to take their seats so that a reference could be read out to pay tributes to former President and Rajya Sabhas first Chairman Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. After the reference, the agitating members moved into the aisles demanding that their notice for discussion on the issue be taken up. If one of you speak, I will allow, Mr. Kurien said, but NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 5: After spending over a year in jail, former Haryana Minister Gopal Goyal Kanda, an accused in airhostess Geetika Sharma suicide case, was on Thursday granted interim bail till October 4 by a Delhi court to allow him to attend the state Assembly session. Additional Sessions Judge M.C. Gupta granted the relief to Kanda considering special circumstances that he has to attend the Assembly session and has to look after the development of his constituency Sirsa. The court directed Mr. Kanda to furnish a personal bond of Rs. 5 lakh and two sureties of the like amount. It also imposed several conditions on him including that he will not leave the country and will not flee from justice. The court had on Wednesday reserved its order on Mr. Kandas plea after hearing arguments from his counsel and the prosecution. Recently, the court had also granted interim bail till November 15 to Aruna

members continued to shout Vanzara, Vanzara. BJP members too were on their feet to counter them but could not be heard in the din. As his attempts to restore order failed, Kurien adjourned the House for 15 minutes. When the House reconvened, Mr. Sitaram Yechury (CPI(M) said the issue of terrorism was not a state subject as it concerns the entire country. Mr. Kurien then ruled that the subject could not be raised in Rajya Sabha. That is not a subject to be raised here because that is a

statement of an undertrial...Chairman cannot take congnisance of a statement by an undertrial, he said. Left members, however, continued to protest saying they were given an assurance that they will be allowed to raise the issue. They were countered by slogan shouting by BJP members. Mr. Kurien said he had only told them that he will give a ruling on the issue. I did not say that Vanzara issue will be allowed to be raised. After sufficient consideration, it has been decided not allow the issue, he said.

Chadha, Mr. Kandas employee and co-accused in the case, for attending religious and family events. Earlier during the arguments, Mr. Kandas counsel had said that he is an MLA from Haryana and he wanted to attend the Assembly session for which he was seeking interim bail. He is an MLA from Sirsa which is a big constituency. He has to perform many obligations and welfare activities for his people. Funds for his constituency are lying unuti-

lized. Public is suffering, in the end, the counsel had said. He had said Mr. Kanda had surrendered on August 18 last year had has been in custody for over an year and as investigation is complete, there is nothing left for the police to apprehend that he might hamper the case. Additional Public Prosecutor Rajiv Mohan had opposed his plea, saying, There is reasonable apprehension of his tampering with the evidence.

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A reporter at the scene said witnesses had reported seeing a car explode while the minister's car was close by. Blood and pieces of flesh were scattered on the ground. The military-backed government that took over from Mursi has killed hundreds of supporters of his Muslim Brotherhood, which it accuses of inciting violence and committing terrorist acts, and arrested most of its top leaders. Around 100 members of the security forces have also been killed. The Brotherhood denies the allegations and accuses the army of staging a coup and trying to return Egypt to the repressive era of former president Hosni Mubarak. It says it is committed to peaceful resistance. Egypt faced an Islamist insurgency in the 1990s, when bombing and shooting attacks destabilised the country and hurt tourism.

Barack Obama arrives at Russia G20 to push for Syria strike

St Petersburg: US President Barack Obama arrived in Saint Petersburg for the G20 summit in Russia, where officials said he would argue his case for military action against the Syrian regime over an alleged chemical weapons attack. With a serious expression, Mr Obama jogged down the steps off his Air Force One plane which touched down at Saint Petersburg's Pulkovo airport ahead of the opening by Russian President Vladimir Putin of the summit later in the afternoon. An Obama aide said there were still no plans for a bilateral between the two leaders, who are bitterly divided over regime. But the United States did not want to have a debate on whether the attack actually took place, he said. Rhodes said Obama accepted that not every G20 member would agree "about the way forward in Syria, particularly given the Russian position". He is expected to "explain our current thinking" to allies and partners and explore what type of "political and diplomatic support they may express for our efforts to hold Syrian regime accountable". The United States has France's support for military action in Syria, but several other G20 powers including China and Germany have firmly voiced their opposition.

Egypt's interior minister survives bomb attack

CAIRO: Egypt's interior minister survived anassassination attempt on Thursday when a bomb blew up on Thursday as his convoy drove through Cairo's Nasr City district, state media and security officials said. Security sources said at least 10 people had been injured, but the minister, who lives in Nasr City, just outside the city centre, was not hurt. The minister, Mohamed Ibrahim, has been among those responsible for a violent crackdown on supporters of Mohamed Mursi, the Islamist president ousted two months ago by the army following mass protests against his rule. The security sources said a bomb had exploded near his convoy. According to report that Ibrahim had survived an assassination attempt. Initial reports suggested the device had been acar bomb but state TV later reported that it had been thrown from a building.

Pakistanis shot dead in mosque attack, says Kabul

KABUL: Afghanistan's intelligence agency said on Thursday that its spies shot dead two Pakistanis who opened fire on Afghan worshippers before dawn at a Shiite Muslim mosque in Kabul. "Around 5 am, two Pakistani terrorists in Afghan police uniforms armed with AK-47s and pistols wanted to carry out an attack on Afghan worshippers in west Kabul," it said in a statement. "Fortunately, the two terrorists were shot dead by Afghan intelligence forces in an exchange of fire," it added. Three Afghan worshippers were wounded by the Pakistanis and taken to hospital, the statement added. Afghan officials often accuse the Pakistani government and its intelligence agents of sheltering insurgents and supporting them in attacks in Afghanistan -- allegations that Pakistan denies. Afghan President Hamid Karzai last week spent two days in Pakistan, asking the new Pakistani government to help set up peace talks between his administration and Taliban insurgents. Around 87,000 US-led NATO troops are to leave Afghanistan next year, putting Afghan forces in charge of nationwide security.

Syria, but added that they would have a chance to "have interactions" on the sidelines of the meeting of heads of states of the world's biggest emerging and developed economies. Ben Rhodes, who is Obama's

Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications, said US officials will "continue to discuss with the Russian (side) what our evidentiary basis is" for claims of a chemical weapons attack by Assad's

Our nuclear facilities are in safe hands: Sharif

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Thursday reaffirmed that Pakistan's nuclear facilities are in safe hands. The reassertion came after some media reports said the US has intensified its surveillance of Pakistan's nuclear programmes. "Our nuclear facilities are in safe hands," Dawn reported Sharif as saying Thursday at a meeting of the National Command Authority (NCA) responsible for the security and safety of Pakistan's nuclear installations. According to reports said the US has intensified its surveillance of Pakistan's nuclear programmes after the leakage of US classified documents by whistleblower Edward Snowden. The meeting was also called to find solutions to the prevailing tensions at the Line of Control (LoC) that divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan, and explore the effects of a possible US-led strike on Syria. Others participating in the NCA meet included the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Khalid Shamim Wynne, the three services chiefs and Foreign Affairs and National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz. On Tuesday, the country' foreign ministry said: "Pakistan has established extensive physical protection measures, robust command and control institutions... to ensure safety and security of nuclear installations and materials." The US welcomed Pakistan's pledge to protect its nuclear arsenal. "The US is confident that the govt. of Pakistan is well aware of its responsibilities and has secured its nuclear arsenal accordingly," State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said Wednesday. "While there is room for improvement in the security of any country's nuclear programmes, Pakistan has a professional and dedicated security force that fully understands the importance of nuclear security," she said. The Washington Post earlier reported that the US has ramped up surveillance of Pakistan's nuclear arms. The State Department said the US recognised the fact that Pakistan was fully engaged with the international community on nuclear safety and security issues. "We will continue to work together to find ways to cooperate to make Pakistan and the region more secure, stable and prosperous."

Three car bombs hit Iraq's Kirkuk, two killed

KIRKUK: Three car bombs ripped through Iraq's ethnically mixed city of Kirkuk Thursday, killing two people and wounding some 25 others, police said. Two of the car bombs separately detonated in Wasity and Nasir districts in the southern part of Kirkuk, some 250 km north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, a local police source said on condition of anonymity. The explosions, which killed two people and wounded 20 others, also damaged seven nearby houses and left several civilian cars charred, the source said. Later in the day, a third explosion took place in the same city when a KIA pickup loaded with explosives went off at al-Askari district, wounding five people and damaging some nearby houses and cars, the source added. Kirkuk is the capital of the oil-rich province of Kirkuk, which is part of the disputed areas between the Kurds and both Arabs and Turkomans. The Kurds want to incorporate the province into their domain, but their move is being fiercely opposed by the Baghdad government. Iraq is witnessing its worst eruption of violence in recent years, which raises fears that the country is sliding back to full-blown civil conflict that peaked in 2006 and 2007, when monthly death toll sometimes exceeded 3,000.

U.S. Army to deploy air cavalry squadron back to S. Korea

SEOUL: The U.S. Army will deploy an air cavalry squadron comprised of approximately 380 soldiers and 30 OH- 58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters to South Korea next month, the Combined Forces Command (CFC) said Thursday. The U.S. Department of the Army has approved the rotational deployment of the 4th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment from Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington to Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, on Oct. 1, according to the CFC. "This action supports the U.S. defense commitment to the Republic of Korea as specified by the mutual defense treaty and presidential agreements," the U.S. Army said in a release. The squadron, which has finished a five-year mission in Iraq from 2008 to 2012, will rejoin the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade to support U.S. Forces Korea and the U.S. 8th Army, reports. After a five-year absence from the Korean Peninsula, the squadron's return to South Korea will bring the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade back to full strength, the CFC said. The soldiers of the squadron will return to Joint Base Lewis- McChord after completing their nine-month rotation. The helicopters will stay in South Korea for use by follow-on rotations. The OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter is an armed reconnaissance chopper capable of carrying AGM114 Hellfire missiles, Hydra-70 rocket pods, air-to-air Stinger missiles and an M296 12.7 mm heavy machine gun. Seoul handed over the wartime command of its troops to Washington during the 1950-1953 Korean War, and some 28,500 U.S. troops have been stationed in the country as a legacy of the war. South Korea in July has asked the US to postpone the transition of wartime operational control of South Korean forces from Washington to Seoul, currently slated for Dec 1, 2015.

ECONOMY

Raghuram Rajan effect sends Sensex soaring 412 points

MUMBAI: The benchmark S&P BSE Sensex soared 412 points to a threeweek high Thursday after new RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan whetted the appetite of investors with a spate of measures including steps to boost the rupee and revive economic growth. The gains were led by banking, realty, consumer durable and PSU stocks, while information technology stocks declined. The rupee also gained on the back of Rajan's announcements and went up to 65.5 against the dollar in intra-day trade from yesterday's close of 67.07. The index opened 290 points higher than yesterday's close and gained as much as 550 points to the day's high of 19,117.52 before settling at 18,979.76, a rise of 412.21 points or 2.22 percent. The Sensex was at the highest level since August 14, when it closed at 19,367.59. Yesterday, the Sensex had gained 333 points on investor optimism about the new RBI Governor. Soon after taking over as the 23rd Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Rajan announced plans to revise and strengthen the monetary policy after Rajan raised the overseas borrowing cap for banks and said there is a need to cut investments by lenders in govt. securities. He said banks would soon be free to open branches. The National Stock Exchange index Nifty shot up 144.85 points, or 2.66 percent to 5,592.95. The MCXSX's SX-40 ended at 11,208.21, up 241.39 points. The passage of the Pension Bill in the Lok Sabha Wednesday raised hopes of more reforms, experts said. Foreign institutional investors bought a net Rs 172.53 crore of shares, as per provisional stock exchange data. Asian stocks ended higher following overnight gains on Wall Street. Key indices in Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan rose while the Shanghai Composite fell. European stocks traded mixed ahead of policy decisions from the European Central Bank and the Bank of England. Key indices in France and Germany eased while UK's FTSE was up. In the domestic market, 18 Sensex shares advanced, led by State Bank of India (9.74 percent), ICICI Bank (9.2 percent), BHEL (8.2 percent), HDFC Bank (7.53%) and Coal India (7.02%). ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and SBI together contributed about 245 points to the gains in the Sensex. The losers on the index included Sesa Goa, which dropped 4.26 percent, followed by TCS 3.37 percent, Infosys 3.32 percent, Wipro 2.74 percent and Gail India 1.54 percent. Among sectoral indices, S&P BSEBankex rose 9.3 percent, S&P BSERealty 5.41 percent, S&P BSEConsumer Durables 4.54 percent, S&P BSE-PSU 4.5 percent and S&P BSECapital Goods 3.48 percent. The market breadth was positive as 1,487 stocks gained, 849 declined and 138 ruled steady. Total turnover improved to Rs 2,062.18 crore from Rs 1,938.81 crore yesterday.

Govt move to force old gas price for KG-D6 gas illegal: RIL
NEW DELHI: Lashing out at a move to force it to sell gas from main KG-D6 fields at old rate of $4.2, Reliance Industries BSE 1.41 %said the "illegal" action runs contrary to the signed contract and will stifle private investment in oil and gas hunt. While the Cabinet has approved doubling of gas price from April 1 next year, Oil Ministryis proposing that old rates of $4.2 per million British thermal unit apply to gas from D1/D3 and MA fields in eastern offshore KGD6 block till it proved that RIL had proved less than targets only because of geological factors. In a strongly worded letter, RIL on September 3 wrote to Oil Minister M Veerappa Moily saying the signed Production Sharing Contract (PSC) does not bind a contractor to indicative production numbers. "Neither the PSC nor the field development plan (or investment proposal) even suggest that a shortfall in production can be considered a breach for which penalties can be levied," RIL Executive Director P M S Prasad wrote. RIL, he said, has on numerous occasions asked Government to appoint an independent and industry renowned third party technical expert to verify performance of the fields and see if the company was hoarding gas to get benefit of higher price. Prasad said any move to penalise it on allegations of hoarding gas made by certain vested interests having little familiarity with techno-commercial operations of oil and gas industry will be against the PSC. The PSC provides for all reserves and production numbers provided in a field plan are only estimates derived on basis of reservoir understanding at a given point of time. So RIL's estimate of 80 million standard cubic meters per day of gas output from KG-D6 for the current year was based on geological understanding in 2006 which is far removed from actual operations where rapid sand and water ingress shut half the wells and brought down output to less than 14 mmscmd. Prasad said it was not for the first time that a field has not performed up to its anticipation and cited examples of ONGC and OIL, who were never questioned for shortfalls. "The action being proposed by its very nature discriminatory. Any move to penalise RIL for failure to produce so called 'committed' quantities of gas is violative of the PSC, unfair and prejudicial to the interests of the contractor besides being in breach of the contract," he said.

framework and liberalise the markets as well as curbs on investment and position-taking. He said steps would be taken to strengthen financial infrastructure and attract capital inflows and stressed the need for faster, broad based, inclusive growth. "The RBI governor's enthusiastic words seemed to calm the markets," said Raghu Kumar, co-founder of RKSV Securities. "Mr Rajan emphasised that the RBI's primary role is to keep inflation levels at bay and to keep stability in the markets." The banking sector index rose 9.3%

Cotton exports to fall 22 per cent this year as China buys less
MUMBAI: India's cotton exports are expected to drop by a fifth this year on account of a slump in purchases by top cotton consumer China and higher domestic prices, survey of traders and exporters found. Lower Indian exports this year could provide some respite to soft world cotton prices which have shed nearly 12% since midAug on expectations of higher output in the upcoming season in India, the world's secondbiggest cotton producer. China holds about 60% of world cotton stocks in state reserves. A radical plan to ditch its stockpiling programme in favour of subsidies to farmers that could lead to a long-term cut in China's imports has also hurt market sentiment. Indian exports of the fibre may on average drop by 22% to 10 million bales of 170 kg each in the year that ends Sept 30, five traders and exporters surveyed said.

Allahabad HC seeks report from on sugarcane arrears

LUCKNOW: Lucknow Bench of Allahabad HC today directed the Uttar Pradesh govt. to apprise the Court about the steps taken towards the settlement of sugarcane arrears, which currently stand at about Rs 2,600 cr. The HC has directed the UP principal secretary sugar industry and cane development Rahul Bhatnagar to submit an affidavit by September 17 in this regard. Besides, the court asked for the submission of a detailed chart on the cane arrears, interest payments and cane society's commission. The orders were passed on the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan president V M Singh seeking payment of cane arrears and other dues. The case would be heard in the first week of Oct. On July 4, 2013, the HC had directed the state to ensure the settlement of dues within 6 weeks by giving priority to flood affected districts. At that time, the arrears stood at around Rs 4,000 cr, which come down to about Rs 3,000 cr at the end of 6 weeks' time. Yesterday, the court had contented before the HC that interest payment upon arrears was not the right of farmers and it depended upon the discretion of the govt. Last week taking a tough stance against private sugar mills defaulting on cane arrears, the state had issued Recovery Certificates (RCs) against 5 units, whose payment percentages figured amongst the lowest. The state's action had caused much consternation amongst the millers, who have long been claiming they were moving towards sickness due to higher cost of production vis--vis sugar prices in UP. The sugar companies are understood to be even considering not to run their units in case the govt. turns on the heat over the issue of cane arrears and if there is no pro-industry gesture from the Akhilesh regime. The industry had even demanded soft loan of Rs 2,000 cr from the govt. to settle dues.

Air India hikes domestic fares

NEW DELHI: Air India Thursday hiked passenger fares 23 to 25 percent on all domestic routes following a sharp increase in the price of air turbine fuel (ATF). The carrier may also raise fares on international routes. "We have hiked fares by 23-25 percent on all domestic routes. This has been done to off-set the recent increase in ATF price," an Air India official said.

Rupee will regain value: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI: Finance Minister P Chidambaram Thursday said the Indian rupee should recoup its recent losses as the depreciation was overdone given the fundamentals of the economy. "Rupee has to find the value depending on the fundamental macro-economic factors," Chidambaram said in the Lok Sabha, adding that the recent decline was overdone. "We think that the correction will take place." However, the finance minister emphasised that the government was not targeting any particular level for the currency. The Indian rupee has depreciated by more than 20 percent since the beginning of the current financial year. The rupee recently hit a record low of nearly 69 against a dollar. Chidambaram said fundamentals of the economy would decide the value of currency. The finance minister pointed out that the rupee had witnessed a volatile journey in the past and had recovered from the lows. Chidambaram said the government was concerned about the growth slowdown and a number of steps had been taken to revive the economy. "We are concerned about the decline in growth last year and I am especially concerned about the decline in growth in the first quarter of this financial year," he said. India's gross domestic product (GDP) growth slumped to 4.4 percent in the quarter ended June 30, 2013 -- the worst performance in four years. The finance minister said the government was committed to meeting the tough fiscal deficit targets for the current financial year. "This is a year of fiscal consolidation... I have repeatedly said that the 4.8 percent which we have estimated will be the fiscal deficit is a red line. The red line will not be crossed," he said.

STUDENT AGE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 06, 2013

MISC
New Zealand A skipper Tom Latham (61, 100b, 7x4) put his head down to get some runs, which will help his confidence before the start of the List A series. After Neil Broom (0) was trapped leg before by Kulkarni, Latham in company of Carl Cachopa (76, 139 balls, 13x4) added 128 runs for the second wicket and the contest was as good as over. Left-arm spinner Rakesh Dhurv (2/45) removed the two set batsmen in successive overs but it was too late in the day. The two 'Test' series had some positives for the Indian team as far as their batting reserves are concerned. Young India U-19 skipper Vijay Zol announced his arrival in the first-class arena with a century, Manprit Juneja showed why he is rated so highly in the domestic circuit when it comes to days' cricket. Kerala opener Vasudevan Jagadeesh also showed glimpses of his talent with a gritty knock. The biggest disappointment was Delhi's Unmukt Chand who failed to even reach double figures in the two 'Tests'. Unmukt also had a disastrous ACC Emerging Trophy campaign in Singapore where he scored only against Pakistan. His sequence of scores in the last five games (List A and firstclass) reads: 10, 0, 15, 4, 4. One can only hope that Unmukt scores a few runs in the upcoming List A (One day) series where he has been entrusted with the responsibility of leading the side. BRIEF SCORES: New Zealand A: 437 & 176/3 (Tom Latham 61, Carl Cachopa 76, Rakesh Dhurv 2/45) India A: 430 (Manprit Juneja 193, Vasudevan Jagadeesh 91, Abhishek Nayar 58, Mark Gillespie 4/80, Doug Bracewell 3/88). BUENOS AIRES: India's wait to get back to Olympic fold will be delayed further after theInternational Olympic Committee stuck to its stand on the chargesheet clause, clearly stating that the IOA has to adopt the above mentioned clause in order to ensure good governance. According to the IOA proposal, the sanction will apply only to those officials who are convicted and sentenced to a jail term of more than two years. But the IOC stood firm on its stand during its Executive Board (EB) meeting on Wednesday ahead of the 125th IOC Session here and asked IOA to accept all demands in full before conducting elections. "Since the suspension of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in December 2012, the IOC has been working towards finding a solution to

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IOC rejects IOA's clause, India's Olympic ban to continue

Juneja misses out on 200 as second 'Test' ends in a draw

V I S A K H A PAT N A M : Manprit Juneja missed out on a well-deserved double hundred by only seven runs while New Zealand top-order got some much needed batting practise against India A bowlers as the second unofficial 'Test' between the two sides predictably ended in a draw. In reply to New Zealand A's first innings score of 437, Indians finished their first innings seven runs short at 430. In the second innings, the Kiwis finished at 176 for three in 51.2 overs as the umpires decided to call off the match after taking consent of the two skippers. In all 62.5 overs of play was held on the final day. The honours were shared as both the Test matches failed to yield any positive outcome for either of the two teams. The only interest in final day's play was whether young Juneja (193, 362 balls,

20x4, 1x6) would get to score his second first-class double hundred but seamer Mark Gillespie (4/80 from 29.3 overs) dismissed him caught by Corey Anderson. Resuming the day at 408 for seven, India added 22 more runs with Juneja scoring 15 off them.

But Gillespie used his slower delivery to good effect as Dhawal Kulkarni(10) was caught and bowled. Juneja was the next man out, while Imtiaz Ahmed was also castled by him as he finished with four wickets in the match. With a result out of question,

improve good governance within the National Olympic Committee (NOC)," the IOC said in a statement on its website. "The IOC provided the IOA with a roadmap and sent observers to the IOA's General Assembly (GA) that took place on 25 August. The EB heard a report that the GA had approved most of the amendments to the IOA's constitution requested by the IOC, but one specific clause had not been adopted. "This clause, which deals specifically with the eligibility of members, is key to the good governance of the NOC

and needs to be fully accepted before the suspended IOA can proceed with the elections. An official notification of the IOC's position will be sent to the IOA," the statement read. India was suspended from the Olympic movement in December last year after tainted Lalit Bhanot, who is facing corruption charges linked to the scandal-hit 2010 Commonwealth Games, was elected secretary-general of the IOA. The IOC asked the IOA to amend its constitution to keep officials facing criminal or corruption charges out of the election process.

WI tour of India to begin on Oct 31, to play 2 Test and 3 ODIs

NEW DELHI: The hastily arranged West Indies tour of India where Sachin Tendulkar is expected to play his 200th Test before home fans will begin on October 31. The BCCI announced that the four-week tour, which will comprise of two Tests and three One-day Internationals apart from a three-day warmup game, will begin on October 31 and conclude on November 27. "The dates and venues of the matches will be announced shortly," BCCI secretary Sanjay Patelsaid in a release. It is widely believed that the tour has been arranged to give Tendulkar an opportunity to play the historic 200th Test in front of his home fans. As per rotational policy, Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad is in line to host the 200th game but Tendulkar's home city Mumbai and Eden Gardens Kolkata are also vying to host the landmark occasion.

Lahiri shoots stunning 8-under in opening round

CRANS MONTANA: India's Anirban Lahiri fired a pair of eagles and five birdies against just one bogey to card a stunning eight-under 63 that gave him a two-shot lead midway through the first round of the Omega European Masters at Cranssur-Sierre. Adding to Indian contingent's fine showing wereJeev Milkha Singh and Gaganjeet Bhullar, who returned three-under 68 each. Both Jeev and Bhullar had four birdies and one bogey each and they were joined in tee off. Three-time Major winner, Padraig Harrington shot 70. Three-time winner on the Asian Tour regular, Lahiri, who made headlines at 2012 British Open with a hole-in-one, had an eagle on par five 14th. Lahiri started on 10th and his run of three pars was disturbed with a bogey on 13th. An eagle on 14th gave him the impetus and then there was a birdie on 15th followed by another eagle on par-4 18th. Four birdies, on first, second, fourth and ninth completed a superb day for Lahiri. He was two shots clear of 2010 winner Miguel Angel Jimenez and recent Johnnie Walker Championship winner Tommy Fleetwood and was three clear of 2011 Omega European Masters winner, Thomas Bjorn (66). England's Richard Finch shot a 67 as did Stephen Gallacher. Last week's winner at ISPS Handa Wales Open Gregory Bourdy was part of a large group on three under in ideal scoring conditions.

HI inducts Hockey Gangpur (Odisha) as associate member

NEW DELHI: Hockey India on Thursday inducted newlyformed Hockey Gangpur (Odisha), a body set up by former international players, as an associate member. HI now has 17 associate members, 27 affiliated members and two state Olympic association members. With this inclusion, Hockey Gangpur (Odisha) can take part in all the National Championships to be conducted by HI in future.

the group by Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, who had an eagle, two birdies and a bogey. Himmat Rai (73) and Digvijay Singh (74) were

unable to exploit the fine scoring conditions, while C Muniyappa had just begun his round and SSP Chowrasia and Shiv Kapur were yet to

Mayur, Vignesh to vie for honours at Weak rupee putts pro golf off Indian fairway All India Tennis Championship
BANGALORE: A cream of young upcoming and veteran tennis players will try to lay claim to the 3rd All India Prize Money Championship scheduled to be held in the city from September 9 to 14. "As in the past, a cream of Indian players including rising stars like Mohit Mayur, P C Vignesh, Ashwin Vijayaraghavan besides veterans like Nitin Kirtane and Vijay Kanannan, will vie against each other in the competition," Tournament Director Niranjan Ramesh told reporters here. In the women's section, the top draw will be the local lass Sharmada Balu, besides a pool of young talents like Sai Samhita, Nupur Kaul and Manya Nagpal. Organised by Stalwart Sports, the tournament will be conducted under the auspices of All Indian Te nnis while the purse for the runners up will be Rs 18,900 and Rs 12,600 for men and women, Ramesh said. Besides men's singles and women's singles, there will also be men's doubles and women's doubles. The main draw on September 9, will be preceded by qualifying rounds on September 7 and 8 and over 300 players are expected to figure in the qualifying draw, and top eight players in the men's and women's qualifying rounds will make it to the main draw, Ramesh said. The main draw also includes four wild cards, besides 20 direct entrants. The wild cards will be named by the organisers before the commencement of main draw. MUMBAI: The falling rupee has had a new casualty -Indian golf. The nation's most lucrative golf event - the $2.3million (over Rs 15.4-crore, at We d n e s d a y ' s forex rate) A v a n t h a Masters - will no longer feature on the Indian calendar from next year due to the decline of the Indian currency vis-a-vis the US dollar. This is not the only event to be affected. Another event that is set to vanish from next year is the Kensville Gujarat Challenge, the only European Challenge Tour event in the country hosted in Ahmedabad since 2011 with a prize purse of 200,000 euros . Effectively, this means the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) could lose over 40% in prize money (down from $6 million, or over Rs 40 crore, in 2013 to $3.5 million, or less than Rs 24 crore, in 2014) with only three international events left - the $300,000 SAILSBI Open, $ 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 Panasonic Open India (both over Rs 2 crore each) and the $1.25-million (nearly Rs 8.4 crore) Indian Open. The minimum prize money to stage an event on the European Tour is 1.5 million euros. The title sponsors Avantha Group backed out of the tri-sanctioned European Tour event after hosting it for four years since 2010, following a more than 50% rise in prize money since its inception due to the depreciation of the rupee.

Mumbai Magicians to sponsor Super League

MUMBAI: The last few days have been extremely rewarding for the Mumbai H o c k e y Association Ltd(MHAL). A couple of days ago, a city court ruled in favour of the association and set aside the eviction order passed by the state government and on We d n e s d a y, the Mumbai Magicians, a franchise which is part of the Hockey India League, announced a long-term tie-up with the MHAL. For starters, Mumbai Magicians will be the official sponsor of the MHAL-conducted Super Leaguehockey tournament which is underway at the MHAL's Churchgate-based Mahindra Stadium. "We are a Mumbai-based franchise and we wanted to get associated with hockey. It is a popular sport in the country. There's It is reliably learnt that in the first joint venture with MHAL, the Magicians will shell out Rs 5 lakh, but have promised a more handsome sum when the association conducts the prestigious Bombay Gold Cup sometime in October. Other than financial support, Magicians in alliance with MHAL are also looking to set up an academy to unearth local talent. "This is just the beginning," secretary, MHAL, Ram Singh Rathore said. "We have some grand plans for the future and hopefully we will be able to revive the sport in this city. We are really looking forward to this alliance," Rathore added.

Association (AITA) and Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) and will be sponsored by DS Max Group. In the Rs 3.5 lakhs tournament, the individual men's and women's champions will receive Rs 27,300 and Rs 18,200 respectively,

Lacklustre India qualify for semis despite loss to Nepal

KATHMANDU: Defending champions India dished out yet another lacklustre performance to go down 1-2 against hosts Nepal but still managed to sail through to the semifinals of the SAFF Football Championships on Thursday. The six-time champions were clearly the inferior side in their last Group A match at a packed Dasarath Stadium and they were lucky to make it to the last four stage after Pakistan beat Bangladesh 2-1 in another simultaneous match. For Nepal, who were cheered by a vociferous home crowd, Anil Gurung and Jumanu Rai scored in the 70th and 81st minutes while Syed Rahim Nabi pulled one back for India in the stoppage time (92nd minute) with an impressive side volley. India and Pakistan ended on four points behind Group A toppers Nepal -- who garnered seven points from two wins and one draw -- but Wim Koevermans' men qualified for the semifinals as group runners-up having beaten Pakistan in the headto-head encounter. A lucky India had beaten Pakistan 1-0 in their campaign opener thanks to an own goal by their rival skipper before escaping with a 11 draw against Bangladesh with captain Sunil Chhetri scoring an injury time equaliser. According to tournament rules, if two teams are on equal points in the group stage, head-to-head result will first decide which team will go through to the next stage and goal difference rule comes to play only after this. In case of India, since they have beaten Pakistan earlier, there is no need to look at goal difference. In the semifinals, India will play the Group A winners which will be decided after Friday's match between Maldives and Afghanistan, who are on six points each after winning both their earlier matches. Thursday's result was the only second win for Nepal against India in 12 matches in all-time head-to-head contest, according to FIFA records. The earlier win by Nepal was through penalty shootout in the 1993 SAF Games in Dhaka after the two sides were locked 2-2 after regulation and extra time.

no better way to do it than get involved with people who share our sentiments and are as passionate about hockey," Chief Operating Officer, Mumbai Magicians, Satya Tadimeti said and added: "It is not a one-off association with the MHAL. We are looking at long term plans and hopefully we will be able to drive the sport forward with our alliance."

Hattrick for Mary Ann, Tania second Rahul Dravid is brand ambassador for Tobacco Control Campaign in National women's chess
KOLKATA: Local favourite Mary Ann Gomes pipped Tania Sachdev and Soumya Swaminathan with a better tie-breaking score to clinch a hat-trick of titles in the 40th Women's National Premier Championship on Thursday. It was a heartbreak for overnight leader Soumya as the Pune girl lost to Padmini Rout in the final round to slip to third, while top seed Tania Sachdev who had suffered early losses finished second with six points from last seven rounds. Mary Ann, who was on second spot, settled for a hardfought draw against Ivana Maria Furtado and the result was enough to earn a third national title in a row. Mary Ann, Tania and Soumya were locked on 7.5 points but the local girl had a was no championship in 1978. Playing 14-year-old Ivana of Goa, Mary Ann found herself in an inferior position in a King's Indian attack. But Ivana was equally nervous as she offered a draw despite being a piece ahead on the 25th move and Mary Ann promptly accepted. Odisha's Padmini cleared the deck for Mary Ann later by outplaying the overnight leader Soumya, who was in tears after her loss. Padmini, who had blundered last evening against Michelle Catherina, showed remarkable cool in handling a queen and rook ending and later converting her superior position into a winning rook and pawn ending to finish fourth. NEW DELHI: The Union Health Ministry on Thursday announced former Indian cricket team captain Rahul Dravid as brand ambassador for its National Tobacco Control Campaign. India has been committed towards strengthening its national tobacco control efforts as well as contribute towards tobacco control, additional secretary MoHFW C K Mishra said while making the announcement on Thursday. "Despite effective, evidence-based tobacco control policies, smoking continues. India played a leading role in the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) negotiations and has been

better tie-breaking score (40.5) to pocket a prize purse of INR 1.75 lakh. Subaraman Vijayalaxmi had won the National women's title five times in a row (1998-2002), while Rohini Khadilkar had won thrice in 1976, 1977 and 1979 -- there

striving to implement more tobacco control measures," Mishra said. It is only through collective resolve of governments, world leaders, development partners and civil society, we can save lives, protect and preserve the health of future generations from harmful effects of tobacco use, he said. "The national anti-tobacco control campaign has to go on till we achieve desired results," Mishra said.

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