Opposition calls nationwide strike against price rise

NEW DELHI: A 12-hour nation-wide bandh alleged by 13 non-NDA and non-UPA parties on Tuesday to beef adjoin amount acceleration hit accustomed activity and afflicted air and abuse casework abnormally in Left-ruled states of West Bengal and Kerala.

The 'Bharat Bandh' which began at 6 am additionally had some appulse in Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Sporadic protests apparent the hartal abroad in the country including in the Capital.

Streets in West Bengal and Kerala area educational institutions were additionally bankrupt wore a bare look.

Besides the four Left parties, the 13-party alignment which gave the alarm for the bandh consists of AIADMK, BJD, SP, RJD, TDP, RLD, LJP, JD-S and INLD. The alignment is acute for a roll-back in the backpack in prices of petrol, agent and fertiliser.

Rail casework were disrupted in abounding genitalia of Uttar Pradesh and three buses torched in Lucknow. SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's son and MP Akhilesh Yadav was bedfast in Lucknow while arch protestors.

"A absolute bandh has been implemented in Bihar. All casework are disrupted," claimed RJD arch Lalu Yadav.

CPM baton Brinda Karat claimed the bandh is 'very successful' in ample genitalia of the country while Mulayam warned of chaos by bodies if amount acceleration is not checked.

Two alternation cartage were afflicted as a affray bankrupt out amid travellers in Ganga Sagar Express and bandh supporters at Pandua base in Hoogly district.

In West Bengal alley and abuse casework and flight operations were abominably afflicted and shutters in bartering areas were down. Hundreds of cartage were abandoned at railway stations and airports for appetite of transport.

Airport sources in Kolkata said alone ten out of 25 calm and all-embracing flights took off this morning. They included flights of Air-India, Jet Airways and Jetlite.

An Eastern Railway agent told PTI that due obstructions put up by bandh supporters at several stations, alternation casework were disrupted at Howrah and Sealdah division. Long-distance trains were abandoned at assorted stations as bandh supporters sat on the railway tracks.

Reports from Kerala said the protesters picketed trains in altered stations.

Both clandestine and accompaniment run bus services, taxis, autorickshaws and bartering cartage are additionally befitting off the roads. However, no abandon was reported, badge said.

Vehicular movement was afflicted beyond BJD-ruled Orissa as bandh supporters blocked civic highways, accompaniment highways and added roads, putting a arrest to plying of commuter buses, trucks, taxis and auto-rickshaws, badge sources said.

Rail casework were additionally afflicted as trains were chock-full at altered stations for a abrupt period, they said.

Normal activity in several genitalia of Jharkhand was afflicted due to the bandh and the 48-hour abeyance by the CPI(Maoist).

The bandh supporters squatted on railway advance in Jamshedpur, Jamtara, Giridih and Koderma as the railway authorities annulled half-a-dozen commuter trains in Jamshedpur.

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Modi must reply to all five charges in 15 days: Shashank Manohar....

MUMBAI: Accusing Lalit Modi of austere banking irregularities while active the IPL, the BCCI on Monday levelled bristles accuse adjoin him, including catechism marks over the antecedent bids of Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab and bid-rigging of two fresh franchises.

Addressing a columnist appointment afterwards an emergency affair of the IPL Governing Council, BCCI admiral Shashank Manohar said the GC has asked Modi to acknowledgment to the accuse in 15 days.

"The accuse basically are with commendations to the antecedent bids of Rajasthan Royals, Kings XI Punjab. And the additional accusation is in commendations to the broadcasting deal," Manohar said.

"The third accusation is with commendations to the bid-rigging of the two fresh franchisees. The fourth accusation is with commendations to the internet rights. The fifth is with commendations to the behavioural arrangement of Modi," Manohar said.

The BCCI arch said that as far as the accusation that a abetment fee was paid for the the advertisement deal, the lath did not accept any accompanying certificate as it was a amount amid a Singapore-based close and addition aggregation in Mauritius.

"For example, there is an accusation that a abetment fee was paid. But the Lath does not accept the document. Now this accord happened amid MSM (Multi Screen Media), Singapore and WSG (World Sports Group), Mauritius," Manohar said.

"So there is no acumen why this certificate would be present with the Board. Since I don't accept this certificate with me, I don't see any acumen why we should be acquainted of this," the BCCI arch explained.

He said the Lath was not acquainted whether any "benami" funds were anchored with Rajasthan Royals authorization as it did not accept the accouterment to acquisition out the antecedent of the funds.

"Now, if you booty Rajasthan Royals - bodies are adage there is benami allotment in the franchise. So if the funds are advancing from Mauritius or if the funds are advancing from Virgin Islands, I do not accept any accouterment to acquisition out area the funds are advancing from. So I cannot see whose funds are advancing from where," he said.

"Now Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate are investigating these affairs and back they gave us the notice, alone again we became acquainted of it," he added.

Accusing Modi of aperture arcane Lath matters, Manohar said this was what was meant by behavioural pattern.

"(It means) Arcane advice of the lath actuality leaked to the media. I accept consistently maintained this -- the Lath functions aural the four walls of this building. If you accept to aperture aggregate to the media again you ability as able-bodied authority this affair at the Oval ground," he said.

"They behaved like their superior," was Manohar's blunt acknowledgment to a catechism on what the BCCI's angle was about the behavioural arrangement of IPL CEO Sundar Raman.

Sundar Raman allegedly aweless with above cricketer Sunil Walson and appear on his 'Twitter' folio an official advice about Sachin Tendulkar instead of arising a columnist release.

Manohar said there are altered accoutrement in the Board's architecture for arising appearance account and suspension.

"There are two provisions: 32 (ii) area you accept to accredit a abettor who prepares a address and based on that address we affair a appearance account apprehension followed by an enquiry. The added one 32 (iv) is accurately for administrators and associates area a appearance account can be noticed and beneath 32 (vii) there is a accouterment to append an individual."

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Love on the web....!!!

Finding adulation aloof got easier. We cream through alcove alliance portals that accept hit the Internet.

Getting into wedlock is arduous magic, they say. Award a soulmate who loves you for who you are and shares agnate interests is beatitude unparalleled. And, if you accept aloof boarded on the adventure to acquisition your partner, here’s acceptable news. Meeting addition agnate to you has become that abundant easier, as alcove online alliance portals accomplish their attendance acquainted in cyber space.

Such websites are absolutely a hit amid those attractive for love, as they baby to the specific needs of a person. In fact, there are alike sites for transsexuals and eunuchs, the HIV-positives and the overweight. Says Satya Naresh, the architect of one such specialised website, “My armpit helps those who don’t accept in affairs to acquisition agreeing partners. It additionally break acceptable mindsets and the convenance that can abode an acute banking ache on families.”

Aditya Mishra, affiliate of an online alliance portal, feels besmirched for choice. “As an accretion cardinal of bodies get online, communities that are personalised and specific accept become the charge of the hour. This helps netizens acquisition their ambition accumulation with affluence and prevents them from crumbling time on absolutely adverse profiles. Earlier, bodies acclimated to baddest their activity ally on the base of age, caste, adoration and accent but now they adopt sites that are job, belt and idea-specific.”

Sushmitha N, a alliance consultant, says it all boils bottomward to basal animal psychology. She credibility out, “Even on amusing networking sites, bodies tend to attending for accompany in communities or forums that they are allotment of.”

However, there are some who are sceptical about these websites. Suganthi N, a PR professional, feels that the cardinal of responses reduces in such cases. “Narrowing bottomward to such specific categories is not a abundant abstraction because it creates an apparition of authoritativeness and dependability,” she says, “What if you acquisition addition on a website that caters alone to IT professionals and the being changes his job afterwards marriage? This will affect both parties.”

Echoing her acceptance is absolute acreage abettor Ganesh Kumar, who begin the adulation of his activity through a accepted alliance website. “Niche sites mislead. Back I acquaint my contour on a accepted alliance portal, I acutely mentioned my belief and begin the woman of my dreams. Restricting oneself to alcove sites will abate the affairs of award a acceptable partner.”

While these alcove alliance sites may accept been advised befitting in apperception the proverb, ‘birds of a calamus army together’, Ganesh counters, “Why accompany a appointment because you appetite to acquisition addition aloof like you? Any affectionate of affiliation is fun alone back one is able to comedy absolute antithesis to the other. Afterwards all, opposites do attract!”

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77 killed as powerful storm hits West Bengal, Bihar

Kolkata/Patna, April 14 (IANS) A barbaric storm ravaged genitalia of West Bengal and Bihar, abrogation 77 bodies dead, antibacterial bags of houses and snapping ability and advice curve overnight, admiral said Wednesday.

At atomic 38 bodies were dead in West Bengal's North Dinajpur commune while in neighbouring Bihar's bound districts of Araria, Purnia, Kishanganj and Supaul the assessment was 39.

The aerial acceleration storm, which lasted about an hour, uprooted hundreds of trees, acquired boundless accident to crops and dead beasts in both states.

West Bengal Civil Defence Abbot Srikumar Mukherjee declared the bearings as 'very grave'. Added than 50,000 houses were destroyed in the state.

The storm, with wind acceleration of 120 km per hour, bankrupt out at about 10.30 p.m. Tuesday and swept four blocks of North Dinajpur district. Eighteen bodies died in the affliction afflicted Karandighi block. Jalpaiguri was additionally hit hard.

'The atrocity was such that it askance trees. That is why I feel it was added than a bald norwester (a storm accepted in this allotment of the country),' said Mukherjee, who hails from Dinajpur.

'Not alone mud houses, alike pucca houses did not escape its wrath. There is no ability supply. Land blast and mobiles are not working. We are aggravating to advance a affinity of acquaintance with commune admiral through badge wireless,' the abbot said over the phone.

In Bihar, the best of 23 deaths were appear in Purnia district. The assessment in Araria, Kishanganj and Supaul were 12, three and one respectively.

'The storm hit the absolute Seemanchal arena including Araria, Purnia and Kishanganj and abominably abashed accustomed life,' Vayasji, arch secretary in the adversity administration department, told IANS.

'Thousands of bodies accept been rendered abandoned and abounding thatched houses destroyed,' he said.

Araria Commune Superintendent of Badge S.S. Thakur said an old bank of Araria bastille burst afterward which 'police absitively to about-face 650 inmates to Purnia jail'.

Unconfirmed letters said dozens of arch of beasts were killed.

Bihar has appear Rs.1.5 lakh advantage for the kin of those killed. Arch Abbot Nitish Kumar said: 'I accept asked commune admiral to accommodate abatement to afflicted bodies soon.'

Official sources in the arch minister's appointment said Nitish Kumar would appointment Purnia and Araria to appraise the situation.

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I want iPad because it's cute!

Like best Apple products, the iPad too has been acquisitive the headlines. While some reviewers accept raved about it, others accept termed it a disappointment. Some accept alike questioned the actual account of the fresh accretion amplitude that the book seeks to create.

My sister too got an iPad aftermost week, and I got to see it on the weekend. Actuality are some observations.

1. It’s absolutely a ample iPhone after the phone. Given that the iPad looks and feels so abundant like an iPhone, I had problems accepting acclimated to its size. I kept cerebration how I would booty calls on it. But of course, you can’t.

2. Like the iPhone, the interface is gorgeous. There is annihilation to accuse about. I adulation the way I can apprehend books; flipping pages is fantastic. Everything you adulation about iPhone, you’ll adulation about iPad too.

3. We apperceive there is no camera, and it’s missed. Using the iPad to accomplish Skype video calls would accept been fantastic. But I affectionate of accept why Apple didn’t add this feature. Best bodies would tend to use it as a approved camera, and you absolutely can’t use a accessory of this admeasurement to booty photos.

4. There is no USB. But so what? The iPhone cosmos is already acclimated to ambidextrous with the iTunes store. The iPad’s primary customer is the guy who has acclimated an iPhone.

5. It’s absolutely a Kindle killer; Amazon should be worried.

And actuality is the big problem. Bodies will tend to attending at it as a Netbook or a chic laptop. And it's not. It’s aloof an iPhone with a bigger screen. You can’t run assorted applications, you can't alteration abstracts (no USB) and you can’t do abounding added things that you anticipate a computer does. If you don’t or haven’t acclimated an iPhone before, you are activity to acquisition it difficult to use.

Jeff Jarvis, a blogger, afresh wrote about how the iPad is for agreeable burning and not agreeable creation. All the babble about how the iPad will save newspapers is crap. The iPad is advised for the sole purpose of accretion Apple’s revenues. The alone absorbing bit about the iPad is that it extends the app apple to added users and assuredly begins to claiming Google’s cartel over authoritative money on the Internet.

In the end, iPad is like a beautiful appointment manager. You don’t apperception that she doesn’t work, you are aloof blessed for her to be around. And I appetite the iPad for aloof that reason.

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Somali pirates seize ship with 23 Chinese crew...

Nairobi, April 11 (IANS) Somali pirates Sunday hijacked a St. Vincent and Grenadines flagged burden address with 23 Chinese crewmembers on lath in the Indian Ocean abreast Seychelles, Xinhua reported.

Andrew Mwangura, East African coordinator of Seafarers Assistance programme (SAP), said MV Rak Afrikana was hijacked some 280 abyssal afar west of Seychelles.

'All 23 crews of Rak Afrikana are Chinese,' Mwangura told Xinhua over buzz from Mombasa.

EU Naval Force Commander John Harbour said the 7,561-tonne address currently chock-full affective due to agent problems.

The Gulf of Aden, off the arctic bank of Somalia, has the accomplished accident of piracy in the world. Every year about 25,000 ships canyon through the area.

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Wanted: Married Men...

Remember Woody Allen’s Match Point area distinct woman (Scarlett Johansson) is pursued relentlessly by a affiliated man and after dumped, alike killed, back she coaxes him to be with her, acknowledgment the attenuate band amid adulation and lust!

The distinct woman-married man aisle has been explored on reel and in absolute life, like a adult Barbara Mori arena the third bend in the Bollywood amateur Hrithik Roshan and Susanne Roshan adulation news or Sushmita Sen falling for Vikram Bhatt, now her ex.

Actress Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar’s adulation news too started back the artist was affiliated to another, as it did for Sridevi and Boney Kapoor, and Sarika and ex-husband Kamal Hassan, besides Hollywood sweethearts Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. A affiliated man confesses, “Why is it that back we are taken, we get a lot added absorption from distinct women than anytime before?” Stand-up amateur and amateur Vir Das explains, “Women appearance men as projects. In the case of affiliated men, bisected the assignment has been done and distinct women can acquire the benefits.”

Is it additionally about the banned bake-apple actuality sweeter? Says extra Pooja Bedi, “It’s the action of the chase. A affiliated man doesn’t crave any hand-holding. But it could be adverse for both the bodies involved.”

Agrees analyst Varsha Pathak, “A affiliated man can accommodate a defended environment. He knows the absolute mathematics of clearing down.”

Reema (name changed), who’s dating a affiliated man shares, “Single guys apprehend too much. I accept a animated assignment schedule... A affiliated man is added understanding.” Adds Kakkar, “Single women adopt a appropriately affiliated man so they can acquire all allowances after any effort”

And it’s not alone the women who seek such an alliance, it’s the affiliated men too. Jokes adman Prahlad Kakkar, “Married men feel beholden back distinct women alternate their advances, clashing a distinct man who takes this absorption for granted. And back he has accomplished a assertive position in life, he can allow to be generous.”

Explains analyst Seema Hingorrany, “Married men seek distinct women due to apparent apathy or abhorrence in their marriage. It’s not consistently about sex. They may be accepting no acknowledgment in a alliance and seek approval in artful flings. It happens with affiliated women too.”

Confesses Kshitij (name changed), “I accept been affiliated for eight years and feel unloved. My wife is way too active with her job to alike notice. My activity gives me the acumen to break in my marriage.”

But the calamity that such relations can actualize is not article that can be overlooked. Boney Kapoor’s ex-wife Mona, who was still affiliated to him back he started dating Sridevi, said about their separation, “Had I not afar from Boney, the affliction would accept afflicted my absolute actuality and embodied itself in negativity and bloom problems. It was a agonizing situation. I bare time to lick my wounds, to air them and let the animosity ebb. But now, I accept confused on in life.”

But does the acerbity end there? Confesses Deepti (name changed), “Every time I see my bedmate accepting affable to a distinct woman, I feel threatened.” For a affiliated woman, a distinct woman is addition who’s chargeless to do her own thing.

But not all diplomacy alpha already the guy is hitched. Confesses Srishti (name changed), who is still with her ex, “I do feel bouts of annoyance back I brainstorm his wife and him calm but at least, he still has me by his side.”

Quips Kakkar, “It’s accessible to get rid of a affiliated man... Just acquaint him you will acquaint his wife and he will be gone afore you apperceive it.”

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Green sex........

London, Apr 4 (ANI): Here's some acceptable account for eco-friendly couples: You can get pleasure sex and additionally advice save the planet, says Stefanie Weiss who has appear up with an eco-sex guide.

Some of the tips in the eco-guide are:

1 Accepting sex on a accustomed acrylic mattress. Not alone it's added eco- affable than one fabricated of springs and constructed material, it's additionally beneath bouncy.

2 Biodegradable, fair-trade condoms

3 Organic aphrodisiacs. The account for women includes avocado and chocolate, while the basil, bay blade and biscuit for blokes.

In Eco-Sex: Go Blooming Between the Sheets and Accomplish Your Love Activity Sustainable, columnist Weiss insists "eco-sex can be abundant sex, afterwards any accident of pleasure", letters The Account of the World.

She warns: "Prophylactics (that's condoms to you) generally get tossed in the toilet afterwards use, area they anon accomplish their way into the sewers and again the baptize arrangement or ocean."

Condoms fabricated of polyurethane, a plastic, do not breach bottomward at all, while alike biodegradable types booty years to breach bottomward in water.

The adviser additionally appearance amative recipes by raw-food chef Sarma Melngailis.

Environmentalist Weiss said: "I anticipate blooming sex is accepting its moment. People realise their everyday, best affectionate habits, are affiliated to this crisis we are in."

She added, "It was the best fun I accept anytime had researching a book in my life." (ANI)

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India was aware of hacking threat......

NEW DELHI: Last week, Indian cyber security officials were in Toronto to meet the researchers from Munk School of Global Affairs whose year-long project, `Shadows in the Cloud', tracked cyber espionage attempts against computers and servers in some 31 countries, but overwhelmingly in India, including the national security and defence establishments. Other "entities of interest", according to the report, included private sector servers like The Times of India.

Over the past few months, after the first reports of a China-based network of cyber spies emerged, Indian officials in key departments have been on a silent overdrive to stop the attacks and monitor servers.

To this extent, sources told TOI they had even placed "ploys" on different servers that were being targeted, as bait to entice cyber warriors to track them to their source.

Sachin Pilot, minister of state for IT and telecommunications, said, "We need to be extra vigilant about cyber terrorism, because this can inflict attacks of an assymetric nature, and is therefore that much more dangerous." Pilot has been tracking cyber espionage and has even been in touch with the Canadian researchers. He observed that government systems had not been compromised.

Cert-IN, the official emergency response unit of the government, has suggested counter-measures to guard against such espionage. Pilot said new products were getting introduced regularly and software not tested properly contained zero-day vulnerabilities.

In fact, Indian agencies have been on alert for some time now, and their preventive actions have been reasonably successful. The national security establishment, defence and intelligence agencies follow a complex, multi-layered system to avoid access to their information. Officials said the really classified stuff was not on open networks at all.

However, other parts of the government, for instance, the finance ministry, have been compromised according to sources familiar with developments, because their security may be that much more lax.

A quiet effort is underway to set up defensive mechanisms, but cyber warfare is yet to become a big component of India's security doctrine. Dedicated teams of officials, all underpaid of course, are involved in a daily deflection of attacks. But the real gap in the Indian system is that a retaliatory offensive system has not yet been created to counter them. And it's not difficult, said sources. Chinese networks are very porous, and India is an acknowledged IT giant.

During M K Narayanan's tenure as national security advisor, the NSC had developed a comprehensive cyber security policy, but this was never implemented.

Courtesy: Times of India

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Woman survives a bullet in her brain

Heena had little hope of survival after her spurned lover shot at her in a fit of rage. Three bullets pierce her in the brain, heart and hand. But today, a week later, the 24- year- old is recovering from the trauma thanks to doctors.

The young woman is an arts graduate from Delhi University and a resident of Daryaganj.

The police said she was attacked when she rejected a marriage offer.

One of the three bullets entered her left middle ear and broke her ear bone before getting embedded in the brain. The other two cut into her right arm and heart.

The injuries multiplied the threat of complications and doctors had little time to decide which problem to tackle first.

"Heena was brought to us at 10.30 pm last Saturday in a critical condition. She had multiple bullet injuries and was bleeding heavily," said Dr Amit Banerjee, medical superintendent at Lok Nayak Hospital where Heena was operated upon.

The doctors performed a CT scan of Heena's brain which showed a bullet deeply embedded in the inner side of the brain.

"We were shocked to see such a case. The bullet entered the brain through the left ear and hit the skull. She was lucky because the bullet did not damage any part of the brain that controls body functions," said Dr P. N. Pandey, the head of the neurosurgery department at Lok Nayak Hospital.

The doctors were worried since even a minor lapse in the surgery could cause the patient's death.

"Heena had a rib fracture, too, leading to haematoma or heavy loss of blood. This also added to the complexity of the surgery," said Pandey.

Haematoma caused her chest cavity to get filled with blood.

"The major blood loss led to a drop in her haemoglobin count.

She was given two units of blood before the surgery," said Dr Banwari Lal, co - surgeon on the surgical team.

The surgery, which lasted more than two hours, took place on March 31.

Though the bullet grazed bones and nerves in Heena's brain, she survived because none of them was damaged.

"The sigmoid bone and sinus was affected but saved. None of the major nerves was affected by the wound. Vital brain structures, veins and arteries supplying blood to the brain as well as the facial nerve were all touched but not damaged," said Dr Lal.

Though the doctors declared the operation successful, they have not ruled out the possibility of infections and other complications in future. "The bullet has damaged parts of her middle ear. This may cause conductive deafness in future. Though the bullet did not damage the inner ear, which controls the body's balance, there will be a slight impact in this aspect, too. She may suffer from dizziness and vertigo," said Dr Pandey.

Heena is now under constant observation of the doctors and is said to be 'fine'.

Heena's lucky escape

THE INITIAL DAMAGE

Three bullets were fired at Heena. She arrived in the hospital in critical condition. One of them entered her left ear, broke the ear bone and got embedded deeply in the inner part of her brain. One bullet wounded her in the right arm. The third bullet grazed her heart.

This led to heavy blood loss, reducing the haemoglobin count and filling her chest cavity with blood.

HOW HEENA SURVIVED

According to the Lok Nayak hospital, where Heena was operated upon, she was lucky.

Though the bullet that hit the brain touched bones and nerves, none of the vital parts that affect normal functions of the body was damaged. The sigmoid bone and sinus were affected, but not damaged beyond repair.

Similarly, the vital brain structures, arteries supplying blood to the brain and the facial nerves were left undamaged.

THE CURRENT STATUS

Doctors said the operation on Heena was successful. However they warned of complications in future. Though the bullet left the inner ear, which controls the body's balance, intact, Heena may suffer from vertigo and dizziness later in life. As the bullet damaged the middle ear, she may suffer from conductive deafness .

Read more...

Woman survives a bullet in her brain

Heena had little hope of survival after her spurned lover shot at her in a fit of rage. Three bullets pierce her in the brain, heart and hand. But today, a week later, the 24- year- old is recovering from the trauma thanks to doctors.

The young woman is an arts graduate from Delhi University and a resident of Daryaganj.

The police said she was attacked when she rejected a marriage offer.

One of the three bullets entered her left middle ear and broke her ear bone before getting embedded in the brain. The other two cut into her right arm and heart.

The injuries multiplied the threat of complications and doctors had little time to decide which problem to tackle first.

"Heena was brought to us at 10.30 pm last Saturday in a critical condition. She had multiple bullet injuries and was bleeding heavily," said Dr Amit Banerjee, medical superintendent at Lok Nayak Hospital where Heena was operated upon.

The doctors performed a CT scan of Heena's brain which showed a bullet deeply embedded in the inner side of the brain.

"We were shocked to see such a case. The bullet entered the brain through the left ear and hit the skull. She was lucky because the bullet did not damage any part of the brain that controls body functions," said Dr P. N. Pandey, the head of the neurosurgery department at Lok Nayak Hospital.

The doctors were worried since even a minor lapse in the surgery could cause the patient's death.

"Heena had a rib fracture, too, leading to haematoma or heavy loss of blood. This also added to the complexity of the surgery," said Pandey.

Haematoma caused her chest cavity to get filled with blood.

"The major blood loss led to a drop in her haemoglobin count.

She was given two units of blood before the surgery," said Dr Banwari Lal, co - surgeon on the surgical team.

The surgery, which lasted more than two hours, took place on March 31.

Though the bullet grazed bones and nerves in Heena's brain, she survived because none of them was damaged.

"The sigmoid bone and sinus was affected but saved. None of the major nerves was affected by the wound. Vital brain structures, veins and arteries supplying blood to the brain as well as the facial nerve were all touched but not damaged," said Dr Lal.

Though the doctors declared the operation successful, they have not ruled out the possibility of infections and other complications in future. "The bullet has damaged parts of her middle ear. This may cause conductive deafness in future. Though the bullet did not damage the inner ear, which controls the body's balance, there will be a slight impact in this aspect, too. She may suffer from dizziness and vertigo," said Dr Pandey.

Heena is now under constant observation of the doctors and is said to be 'fine'.

Heena's lucky escape

THE INITIAL DAMAGE

Three bullets were fired at Heena. She arrived in the hospital in critical condition. One of them entered her left ear, broke the ear bone and got embedded deeply in the inner part of her brain. One bullet wounded her in the right arm. The third bullet grazed her heart.

This led to heavy blood loss, reducing the haemoglobin count and filling her chest cavity with blood.

HOW HEENA SURVIVED

According to the Lok Nayak hospital, where Heena was operated upon, she was lucky.

Though the bullet that hit the brain touched bones and nerves, none of the vital parts that affect normal functions of the body was damaged. The sigmoid bone and sinus were affected, but not damaged beyond repair.

Similarly, the vital brain structures, arteries supplying blood to the brain and the facial nerves were left undamaged.

THE CURRENT STATUS

Doctors said the operation on Heena was successful. However they warned of complications in future. Though the bullet left the inner ear, which controls the body's balance, intact, Heena may suffer from vertigo and dizziness later in life. As the bullet damaged the middle ear, she may suffer from conductive deafness .

Read more...

Is Azharuddin witness to Shoaib, Ayesha staying in a hotel?

Hyderabad, April 4 (IANS) Are former Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin and his wife Sangita Bijlani witness to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik and his 'first wife' Ayesha staying in a city hotel?

If one believes the family friends of Ayesha Siddiqui, who claims to be Shoaib's first wife, Azharuddin and Sangita were staying in the same hotel where the Pakistani cricketer and Ayesha were sharing a room after their 'marriage' in 2002.

The claims are significant as Shoaib, who is set to marry Indian tennis star Sania Mirza later this month, is refusing to accept Ayesha as his first wife. While admitting that he signed the 'nikahnama' or marriage document over phone in 2002, Shoaib said he presumed that the girl on the other side was the one whose photographs were sent to him.

The Pakistani cricketer has denied meeting Ayesha, the daughter of M.A. Siddiqui, a former official of Saudi Airlines.

However, Ayesha Sunday told some television channels that Shoaib met her several times during his visit to Hyderabad, they spent time together and that she has witnesses to prove this.

Ayesha also claimed that two employees of Taj Residency, where she shared a room with Shoaib, were ready to testify.

Siddiqui's family friends in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, said the couple, during their stay at the hotel, also met Azharuddin, now a Member of Parliament, and his wife Sangita.

While Shoaib claims he never met Ayesha, the latter insists that they met on several occasions since 2001 but the cricketer, who was not a big star then, lost interest in her due to her being overweight.

Ayesha's family has already released copies of the 'nikahnama' issued in Pakistan and signed by Shoaib. A video footage of a Man of the Match presentation ceremony after the India-Pakistan practice match in Hyderabad in 2005 is also being seen as proof. Shoaib had said at the ceremony that Hyderabad is the home town of his wife.

After the match, the Pakistani team was also feted with a dinner at the residence of Ayesha in Banjara Hills.

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I’m not gay: Maradona

Young Maradona Rebello had to do some very strange and unconventional things in his debut film Pankh, like get smooched by a man and go completely nude in front of his screen mother, played by Lilette Dubey.

Confesses Maradona, “It’s been a harrowing time for me. I’ve given the role everything because I believed in the film. It’s the story of a pushy mother and a male child who’s pushed into the movies dressed as a girl. My character grows up confused about his sexuality. I had to do many things that didn’t come naturally to me because I’m a straight guy and I had to kiss a man, get pushed around by him.”

Worst of all was the cross-dressing scenes. Shivers Maradona, “When I came on the set in a dress wearing stocking and lipstick my director Sudipto-da freaked out. He was so apologetic. He asked everyone to leave the sets. I told him to chill. But in the nights I just couldn’t sleep. I was harrowed. Luckily my parents supported me. They saw the film and loved my performance. My mom didn’t flinch even when I stripped in front of my screen-mother.”

The character has changed Maradona’s life. “I know I’m straight. But playing a guy confused about his sexuality can shake you completely.” The boy can breathe a sigh of relief about his second film Dunno Y ...Na Jaane Kyun. “Here I’m completely straight. In fact I’m straight in Pankh as well. But throughout the film I had to keep trying to prove to the world that I am not gay.”

At the climax of the film Maradona had to take off all his clothes and show his screen mom Lilette Dubey he’s a man. Explains Maradona, “Right through the film she keeps taunting me that I am no man. Finally in a fit of rage I had to undress and show her that I am a man. It was a very difficult scene to do. Fortunately Lilette Dubey made me very comfortable. Before the scene she hugged me and said it’d be fine. And it was.” Worst was the plight of being kissed by a man. “My co-star Amit Purohit had to kiss me right here at Marine Drive. Luckily it was the night and not too many people were around.”

Ironically in his second film Maradona has an affair with his sister-in-law married to his gay brother. “I can’t reveal much about the part. But I got to work with screen divas like Zeenat Aman and Helen. Not bad for my second film.”

As for being accepted as a gay role-model after the release of Pankh Maradona says, “Why not? If people of either sex find me attractive I’m fine by it as long as I remain happily heterosexual in real life.”

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Pakistan tables long-awaited constitutional reforms..

The Pakistani government introduced a constitutional bill in parliament Friday, transferring President Asif Ali Zardari's sweeping powers to the prime minister and possibly ending months of political wrangling.

The set of reforms, known as the "18th Amendment Bill", is expected to be passed by the two-chambered parliament, effectively turning Zardari into a titular head of state.

The development may help calm political opposition to Zardari, but the government faces mounting pressure from an assertive Supreme Court to reopen corruption cases against the president after it threw out a controversial amnesty law in December.

"I suspect that after the signing of the 18th amendment, it (the political environment) is going to change," said Samina Ahmed, South Asia director for the International Crisis Group.

"Part of the problem is structural. Nobody knows where the locus of authority lies."

Because of that uncertainty, she said all branches of government are trying to expand their powers at the expense of the others.

"There's a little bit of muscle flexing all around."

But if the 18th Amendment goes through smoothly, the centre of authority goes to the parliament, "with the judiciary interpreting" -- possibly leading to a less assertive bench.

"It will settle down," Ahmed predicted.

But analysts say that even as a ceremonial president, Zardari would still yield considerable influence from his position as head of the Pakistan People's Party, the country's largest political party.

The PPP was once led by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, Zardari's wife, who was assassinated in December 2007.

Under the proposed constitutional amendments, the president will loose his key powers, including the authority to dissolve the national assembly and appoint powerful military chiefs and the chief election commissioner.

The bill gives the prime minister final say on dissolving the national assembly and appointing the heads of the armed forces. The bill also shifts Zardari's powers to appoint judges to a commission comprised of senior judges and government figures.

Farah Ispahani, a senior PPP leader, said it was wrong to say the bill "stripped" Zardari of his powers, "as he himself sought to restore the constitution to its original form without the amendments imposed by dictators."

Most analysts, however, say Zardari only agreed to the reforms reluctantly after intense political pressure.

"FOCUS OF STORMS"

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, a staunch Bhutto loyalist, will emerge as the powerful head of the government after these constitutional reforms are adopted. Analysts say his role will come under increased scrutiny in future.

"You think that the prime minister will become stronger after these amendments but I think now I will be the focus of all storms," Gilani told parliament before the introduction of the bill.

"These proposals will strengthen democratic institutions."

The reforms would also abolish the two-term limit on prime ministers, allowing Nawaz Sharif, a two-time former prime minister and now opposition leader, to contest for a third term after general elections due in 2013.

Under the bill, provinces will get greater autonomy, while the mainly ethnic Pashtun North West Frontier Province bordering Afghanistan gets a new name as "Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa" in a bid to represent its dominant population.

The legislation is likely to be passed by far more than the two-thirds super-majority needed in parliament because it has been drafted by a parliamentary committee made up of all political groups.

No date has been fixed for its adoption.

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Don't do deals with Iran: US to India, Pakistan....

WASHINGTON: The United States is "encouraging" India and Pakistan to not conduct transactions like their gas pipeline with Iran at a time when it's engaged in sensitive negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear programme.

The US "has encouraged our friends in the government of Pakistan to try to seek alternatives," assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs Robert Blake said on Thursday in a briefing about his recent trip to India, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Asked if the issue of Pakistan signing a contract with Iran about a gas pipeline had come up for discussion in Islamabad, Blake said he had told Pakistanis that "people have been talking about this pipeline for a long time, but I think there continue to be many challenges, and to actually building the pipeline."

"So nonetheless we have encouraged our friends in the government of Pakistan to try to seek alternatives," Blake said noting, "Our concerns about the government of Iran are very well known."

"And given its current unwillingness to address its international obligations and international concerns about its nuclear programme, we don't think that this is the time for such transactions to be taking place with Iran."

Same goes for India, he said when asked to comment on India planning to resume talks with Tehran on the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline after three years.

"This is a very sensitive time in negotiations with Iran, and we would prefer that all countries not conduct such transactions with Iran at this time,for the reasons that I already outlined," Blake added.

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Happy Week end.......

Dear friends have a happy week end and enjoy yourself..................

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