Pull back your troops who have entered Ladakh Modi tells Xi

The past caught up with the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping to elevate bilateral ties, leading the PM to protest against China's bid to escalate tensions in Ladakh.

It was the festering border row which Modi sought to address first in his meeting with Xi on Thursday as he told him that peace and tranquillity along the borders was imperative for mutual trust and for realizing the full potential of Sino-Indian relations.

"This is an important understanding, which should be strictly observed," Modi said as he raised "serious concerns" over what India calls serial transgressions by the Chinese.

Pitching for a quick clarification of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Modi told Xi that China had to restore the status quo that existed before September 10 in Ladakh this year. Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj also raised the issue with her counterpart Wang Yi.

Modi, in fact, set the tone on Wednesday evening itself when, just after the public display of bonhomie, he raised the latest Chinese transgressions at Chumar in Ladakh in an after-dinner "pow-wow" with Xi.

The Chinese president came back with a response on Thursday when he told Modi that he had "noted'' India's concerns and that the incidents in Ladakh may be a fallout of the non-demarcated border.

Sources said Modi took up the border issue strongly because the understanding in the government was that the incidents at Chumar could not have taken place without the concurrence of the top Chinese leadership.

In fact, even as vigorous diplomacy continued, the Army had ensured enough presence in the region to outnumber the Chinese troops. Sources said more Indian troops were ready to move into the region where civilians formed a human wall to prevent the Chinese from moving into what India claims to be its territory.

Xi, however, said such incidents should not be allowed to impact bilateral relations. "There may be some incidents as the area is not clearly demarcated," Xi said in a media statement, but added that both sides were capable of not just effectively managing the border but also of resolving the border dispute "at an early date''.

The NDA government's first bilateral engagement at the highest level with China yielded as many as 16 agreements and MoU, including one expected to ensure investments worth $20 billion into India from China over the next five years.

Modi also raised India's concerns over China's visa policy for residents of Arunachal Pradesh and J&K and also over trans-border rivers, saying their resolution would take mutual trust to a new level.

India wants the Ladakh standoff to end immediately, with Modi telling Xi that a clarification of LAC and settlement of the dispute "would greatly contribute to our efforts to maintain peace and tranquillity". He requested Xi to look at resuming the stalled process of LAC clarification. Modi had an extended interaction with Xi which included 75 minutes of restricted meeting, 50 minutes of delegation talks and a 15-minute one-on-one.

Apart from the assurance from Xi that the border dispute could be resolved soon, an important takeaway for India was the declaration, for the first time, of support from the Chinese president for India's full membership of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a central Asia security grouping of six countries dominated by Russia and China.

India currently has observer status at SCO which is expected to play a crucial role in Afghanistan once the Nato forces depart from there. Xi added in the same breath though that India too would support China's role in Saarc. Indian officials later clarified though that this wasn't a condition for Chinese support for India's SCO membership.

India and China, said Indian officials, also decided to hold the first round of maritime cooperation dialogue within this year to exchange views on security, including anti-piracy, freedom of navigation and cooperation between maritime agencies of both countries. Progress was also made in promoting cooperation under the framework of the BCIM (Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar) Economic Corridor. "Located at the crossroads of Asia, India believes that reconnecting Asia is important for its collective prosperity," Modi said.

The two countries also decided to have annual visits at the level of head of state/government with Xi inviting Modi to visit China early next year.

-TOI

India has highest number of suicides in the world says WHO

India accounted for the highest estimated number of suicides in the world in 2012, according to a WHO report published Thursday which found that one person commits suicide every 40 seconds globally.

In the WHO South-East Asia Region, the estimated suicide rate is the highest as compared to other WHO regions. Suicide rates show a peak among the young and the elderly, the report said.

Most suicides in the world occur in the South-East Asia Region (39 per cent of those in low- and middle-income countries in South-East Asia alone) with India accounting for the highest estimated number of suicides overall in 2012.

According to the report, 258,075 people committed suicide

In India in 2012, with 99,977 women and 158,098 men taking their own lives. India's suicide rate was 21.1 per 100,000 people, according to the report.

"This report, the first WHO publication of its kind, presents a comprehensive overview of suicide, suicide attempts and successful suicide prevention efforts worldwide. We know what works. Now is the time to act," said Dr Shekhar Saxena, Director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse at WHO.

The most suicide-prone countries were Guyana (44.2 per 100,000), followed by North and South Korea (38.5 and 28.9 respectively).

Next came Sri Lanka (28.8), Lithuania (28.2), Suriname (27.8), Mozambique (27.4), Nepal and Tanzania (24.9 each), Burundi (23.1), India (21.1) and South Sudan (19.8).

More than 800,000 people die by suicide every year - around one person every 40 seconds, according to the report.

Some 75 per cent of suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries.

Pesticide poisoning, hanging and firearms are among the most common methods of suicide globally. Suicide by intentional pesticide ingestion is of particular concern in rural agricultural areas in the South-East Asia Region, the report said.

Evidence from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the US and a number of European countries shows that limiting access to means of suicide can help prevent people dying by suicide.

Another key to reducing deaths by suicide is a commitment by national governments to the establishment and implementation of a coordinated plan of action, the report said.

Currently, only 28 countries are known to have national suicide prevention strategies, according to the report.

Suicide occurs all over the world and can take place at almost any age. Globally, suicide rates are highest in people aged 70 years and over, the report said.

In some countries, however, the highest rates are found among the young. Notably, suicide is the second leading cause of death in 15-29 year-olds globally.

"This report is a call for action to address a large public health problem which has been shrouded in taboo for far too long," said Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO.

Generally, more men die by suicide than women. In richer countries, three times as many men die by suicide than women. Men aged 50 years and over are particularly vulnerable.

In low- and middle-income countries, young adults and elderly women have higher rates of suicide than their counterparts in high-income countries, the report said.

Women over 70 years old are more than twice as likely to die by suicide than women aged 15-29 years.

The report said reducing access to means of suicide is one way to reduce deaths.

Other effective measures include responsible reporting of suicide in the media, such as avoiding language that sensationalises suicide and avoiding explicit description of methods used, and early identification and management of mental and substance use disorders in communities and by health workers in particular.

Follow-up care by health workers through regular contact, including by phone or home visits, for people who have attempted suicide, together with provision of community support, are essential, because people who have already attempted suicide are at the greatest risk of trying again, the report said.

China Liberation Army intrudes 25 km deep in Ladakh

Chinese troops are reported to have entered 25 to 30 km deep into Indian territory in the Burtse area in Ladakh on Sunday and were still sitting on the ground on Monday with flags reading “This is Chinese territory, go back” in their hands. However, Army sources in New Delhi said no such incident had taken place but added that transgressions usually take place by Chinese troops due to differences between both countries in their respective perception of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

But news agency reports from Leh on Monday said a patrol of Indian troops noticed the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) personnel on Sunday while moving from their base towards the higher “new patrol base” post in Burtse area of North Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir. The area is at an altitude of 17,000 feet. These reports cited sources as having said that the troops, after walking barely 1.5 km from their base, spotted the Chinese personnel in Indian territory 25 to 30 km from the perceived Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Adhering to newly-drafted standard operating procedures, the Indian troops apparently returned back to their base but went on a patrol again to the “new patrol base” post in the early hours of Monday. However, the team found no change in the situation as it noticed the PLA personnel still sitting on the ground with flags reading “this is Chinese territory, go back” in their hands, the reports said, adding that a quick reaction team had also accompanied the Indian patrol but nothing could be achieved as the Chinese refused to budge from their position. Finally, the Indian troops reportedly returned to their base and informed their senior officers.

Sources in the paramilitary ITBP did not say where the said incident had taken place but added that transgressions do occur. The area where the incident took place is reportedly near the spot where Chinese troops had pitched their tents last year that had led to a tense three-week stand-off.

The Indian border patrol apparently attempted to reach the “new patrol base” from a place known as “Nallah one”, near its base. A satellite image of the area was likely to be taken to ascertain whether the Chinese PLA have pitched in tents like it did last year, the reports from Leh cited sources as saying, adding that there was a possibility of some tents being erected by the Chinese troops to facilitate their movement deep into the Indian territory.

The Burtse area, which is adjacent to Daulat Beg Oldie(DBO), forms part of the huge Depsang plains which India regards as its own territory. However, the Chinese side have been claiming it to be part of their territory as it gives them a tactical edge over the area.

As per primary estimations for two years from 2011 to 2013, the total number of tigers found in the core area surged from 72 to 80. The final count of tigers in the Dudhwa tiger reserve is expected to be 125, according to officials.In 2010-2011, the total count of tigers as per their census in the Dudhwa tiger reserve was 118.The latest findings have been sent to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests for screening purpose, according to an official.Once the exact number of tigers present … read more at candidshare.com

Eight more bird species listed as threatened

This is clear from the fact that the latest International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List (2014) says 173 species in India are now threatened.The latest IUCN list reveals that while earlier, the newly discovered, Bugun Liocichla, a small and colorful bird from the northeast, was vulnerable, now it is critically endangered.That's not all, studies conducted by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)-India, BirdLife International (UK) and other partner organizations indicate … Read more at candidshare.com

Chinese troops make bids to enter Indian waters in Ladakh

After making incursion bids in Ladakh through land route, Chinese troops have made several attempts to enter Indian waters at Pangong lake nestled in the higher reaches of Ladakh with the latest incident reported on Friday.

According to reports reaching various government agencies here, the Army had a face-off with the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) as recent as June 27 in the lake when their troops tried to enter the Indian waters.

Udhampur-based Northern Command Army spokesman Col S Goswami declined to answer a query from PTI about the latest incursion attempts and instead was asked to "approach PRO (Army)".

However, there was no reply from his side when it was pointed out to him that he was the spokesperson of the Army.

READ ALSO: Chinese troops enter Ladakh every 14 days

The spokesperson of the ministry of external affairs when asked by reporters yesterday about reports of fresh incursions by Chinese troops in Ladakh region merely said Indian soldiers guarding the country's borders will be able to provide an appropriate response should any incident occur on the border.

According to sources privy to the development, Chinese troops were intercepted at the imaginary line that is supposed to be the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the lake and sent back after the face-off drill during which the army personnel on both sides wave banners claiming it to be their territory.

The incursions have taken place in eastern Ladakh and on the northern bank of Pangong Lake, located 168km from Leh, the sources said.

The Chinese patrols used to come frequently from the northern and southern banks of this lake, whose 45 km stretch is on the Indian side while another 90 km is on the Chinese side.


Pangong is a disputed territory between India and China. (Getty images photo)

However, every attempt was foiled by the Army which has been equipped with new boats.

The high-speed interceptor boats, that were bought from the US, can accommodate nearly 15 soldiers and are equipped with radars, infra-red and GPS systems.

These boats are stated to be as good as the Chinese vessels and are used to conduct reconnaissance and area domination patrols.

The sources said the Chinese patrol boats were backed up by PLA troops from the banks of the lake and the move was apparently to put psychological pressure on the Indian troops who man the area.

The situation along the banks of the lake has always remained volatile with Chinese troops being intercepted by Indian Army patrol several times after the three-week long stand-off in the Depsang plains of Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) in May last year.

The areas where the face-off frequently occured included the Finger-VIII area, also known as Siri Jap. China has managed to construct a road up to Finger-IV area which also falls under Siri Jap area and is five km deep into the LAC, the sources said.

-TOI

discover india app launched by tourism ministry india

The Ministry of Tourism has launched a mobile application to enable its users to independently travel and experience 16 cities in the country. The self-guided tour application ‘Incredible India Walking Tours’ was launched by the Ministry in collaboration with Genesys International Corporation and will cover 16 Indian cities including Agra, Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Coastal Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai, Patna, Pune and Surat. The facility will be extended to 36 cities by December 2015. The app enables users to sight-see free of cost at their own pace and convenience, with the help of walking tours curated by travel experts. “We are extremely excited about this because it is the first time an app can enable users to discover India on their own. It’s free, easy to use and, most importantly, comes with 360 degree street views and information put together by a panel of experts. It’s like having a local take you by the hand and show you his city, at your convenience,” Tourism Minister Sripad Naik said. The application, however, is only available on Blackberry mobile handsets. It runs on all BlackBerry 10 handsets including the Z3, Z10, Z30, Q5 and Q10 phones. An Android version of the free application is also being worked upon and is expected to be announced in coming weeks, said a senior Tourism Ministry official.

How government plans to leverage cloud computing

The Indian government is looking to leverage cloud computing in a big way, beginning with its multi-billion dollar mission-mode projects, six of which will be kick-started within a month's time, following an evaluation of what technological changes can be brought about in these to improve efficiency and provide better citizen services.

Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY) secretary Ram Sewak Sharma told ET that he has identified six existing mission mode projects (MMP) which will be assessed by an internal group, based on the need for technology upgradation, scope of process simplification with emerging technologies and the possibility of leveraging newer technology platforms.

"We can redesign a lot of projects now. In a lot of these, we can provide SaaS (softwareas-a-service), deploy the software centrally, and everybody should become a client and start using it...you can converge this infrastructure so you can rewrite codes, make them more efficient, use more technologies, use more delivery mediums," said Sharma.

The government's MMPs focus on one aspect of e-governance such as pensions, banking, insurance and judiciary. These are classified as central, state or integrated projects, and each state can identify up to five MMPs for its own needs.

These projects include Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) Scheme, e-Courts, road transport, treasuries and commercial taxes. It is also assessing the national social assistance programme and another one related to prisons.

The combined total outlay of these projects, most of which were sanctioned between 2007 and 2010, is over Rs 4,842.41 crore, according to figures obtained from a 2011 DeitY report.

The group will make recommendations on the possibility of using a common software across different MMPs, migration from legacy systems to newer ones, and implementing more such projects in different areas to enable better egovernance, Sharma added.

In tune with prime minister Narendra Modi's slogan of "minimum government, maximum governance", DeitY's roadmap seeks to leverage different media and technology including cloud, broadband and mobile.

The use of existing platforms such as Aadhaar, social media, payment gateways, and new delivery mediums such as real-time applications are just some of the ways this can be achieved, Sharma said.


-TOI

Delhi to have six new Metro lines

New Delhi: Delhi is expected to get additional 108 km of Metro lines in Phase III with the government suggesting two more lines to the six already planned. While the six new lines will be around 69 km long, the two lines suggested by Delhi government will be 39 km long. The Delhi Metro will now start preparing detailed projects on the two new suggested lines.



The government has suggested an Outer Ring Road route connecting Badli with Sector 18 in Noida through Uttam Nagar, Dhaula Kuan and GK II. Since this line is a completely new proposal, the DMRC will have to prepare a detailed project report of the route.

The other modification suggested is a 7-km link connecting Rajouri Garden to Dhaula Kuan. The Delhi Metro had proposed two corridors -- Rajouri Garden to Mukundpur and Dhaula Kuan to Anand Vihar -- both of which have been approved by the Cabinet, which suggested that both corridors be linked, said the officials .

The government has also asked the DMRC to reconsider the proposed Ashok Park-Delhi Gate corridor as two Metro corridors already run parallel to this and a light rail transit system is being planned on the same route. "We have asked the DMRC to reconsider this route. We feel that this corridor can be avoided as there are lines feeding this area. However, this is only a suggestion and the DMRC can re-examine it," Transport Commissioner and Secretary R K Verma told (Indian Express) Newsline.

The Dwarka Sector 9 to Noida/ Anand Vihar line and Inderlok-Mundka line run parallel to this proposed corridor. But sources said the new line was proposed as this has been identified as a densely populated area with high ridership possibilities.




Though the corridors proposed by the DMRC and the suggestions made by the Transport department were approved by the Cabinet on October 11, the DMRC received the notification on approvals and changes last Wednesday. DMRC Director (Projects) Kumar Keshav said, "We have received the suggestions and are looking into them. A detailed project report has to be done on the new lines suggested by the government."

Sources said that Delhi Metro officials were largely in agreement with the changes proposed. The link from Rajouri Garden to Dhaula Kuan was to be considered at a later stage by DMRC and hence wasn't proposed for the initial Phase III lines. However, with the government insisting that the line be considered, DMRC has been in agreement with the decision.

Meanwhile, geo-technical and topographical surveys are being conducted for the Central Secretariat-ITO and Jahangirpuri-Badli corridors which are expected to be expedited first in line. All the lines, however, have to go through Cabinet approvals once again after the routes are finalised and then through the Group of Ministers, following which the funding will be decided.

Source: The Indian Express

Michelle Obama’s uncle worked in Punjab in ’60s

Bathinda: While the Golden Temple in Amritsar is no longer on their itinerary, US President Barack Obama’s wife, Michelle Obama, can trace her links to Punjab back to 1961 when her uncle, Nomenee Robinson, worked in the state as a Peace Corps volunteer.



Robinson, an architect, was sent to Punjab to assist in building projects. Based at the Punjab Engineering College, he was associated with the institute's rural housing wing. He worked under then Punjab Financial Commissioner for Development Anthony Fletcher (ICS officer).

During his field work, Robinson stayed in Nasirpur village near Patiala, where he helped the residents in fabricating structures using a Cinva-Ram machine to make bricks from soil, sand, straw and a fraction of cement. In the course of his two-year stay in Punjab, Robinson travelled extensively with Indian engineers throughout the state, visiting Ludhiana, Sangrur, Jalandhar and Amritsar.

Asked about his Punjab stay, Robinson, now 73 and a Peace Corps recruiter, said in an e-mail to The Indian Express: "It crosses my mind every year since I left. I would love to be involved in some way with strategic and economic planning for regions of India."

Robinson, who went on to do his MBA from Harvard Business School after returning from India, said he enjoyed Punjabi food and hospitality. His best friends were a mix of Sikhs and Hindus, he said, recalling some names like Muktiah Singh, Jugdesh, Tunji, Vir, Raju and Sohan Lal.



Besides Punjab, Robinson also went to Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. For three months, he was sent on an assignment to begin construction of trekking huts above Manali. "It was a most exciting, and sometimes thrilling, exposure to India and the cultures in the north," said Robinson.

"I'm proud to say I know India and its people in small ways, but profound ones," said Robinson, adding that he found his visit to Chandigarh "spellbinding", since he had read about the place during his university years.

Recalling some of his unforgettable memories, Robinson said: "On one occasion, Mr Fletcher took me to New Delhi when he assisted in Five Year Plan sessions. He arranged for me to chat with Jawaharlal Nehru in his private office. I shall never forget that experience, one that few Americans have ever had. I, a small boy from the inner city of Chicago, drinking tea, sitting and talking with one of the greatest men in our lifetime."

Source: The Indian Express

After two decades, Muslim officer to command Srinagar-based 15 Corps

ew Delhi: After a two-decade gap that saw insurgency at its peak in Jammu and Kashmir, a Muslim officer is set to command the Srinagar-based 15 Corps that is the nerve centre of the fight against militancy in the state. Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain, who is presently commanding the Bhopal-based 21 Corps, is set to take over as the 15 Corps Commander by the end of this year after the incumbent Lt Gen N C Marwah moves on to his next posting.




Lt Gen Hasnain, who has served several stints in the Valley including a recent one as the Divisional Commander at Baramulla, is also the senior-most serving Muslim officer of the Indian Army.

The officer, who is known for his academic leanings in military circles, is the only serving Lt Gen in Army ranks belonging to the minority community and is a second generation Army officer.

Hasnain will be the first Muslim officer to command the 15 Corps after Lt Gen M K Zaki who was in charge of the crucial command from 1989-91. Lt Gen Zaki was also later appointed as the advisor to the Jammu and Kashmir government from 1991 to '93.



Well regarded as an out standing officer, Hasnain has had several stints in Kashmir and has spent a bulk of his over three decades of service in the state. More recently in 2008, the officer was instrumental in maintaining the peace in Baramulla that was badly affected when Jammu and Kashmir was struck by violence over the Amarnath row.

Then a Maj Gen commanding the Baramulla based `Dagger' Division, Hasnain used the concept of what he described as `soft power' to defuse tension by reaching out to the masses.



In his several talks with local leaders, the officer gave his personal example as a Muslim in the Indian Army to drive home the point that the minority community can do well by joining the mainstream.

Besides tackling operational hurdles, the officer has also handled controversies in the Valley and is known to employ a firm hand against malpractices. As a Brigadier in 2004 when cross-border firing was at its peak, the officer was commanding the 12 Brigade that guards the Line of Control at Uri when he conducted a court martial a against a Major who was accused of rape and molestation in the infamous Handwara case. The officer, Major Rehman Hussain of the Rashtriya Rifles, was found guilty and was ordered to be dismissed from the Army.

Source: The Indian Express

'Rakta Charitra'

Cabinet reshuffle this week?

New Delhi: Speculation is rife that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may undertake a reshuffle of his Council of Ministers later this week before he leaves on a three-nation visit this Sunday.




There is no official word so far but talk in Congress circles today is that the exercise may be confined to party representatives in the government.

Singh would be out of the country for a week and would be back in time for the AICC meeting scheduled here on November two.

Diwali falls on November five followed by US President Barack Obama's visit on Nov 7 and 8 and the Parliament session from November nine, leaving little time for the Prime Minister to carry out the exercise after his return from foreign tour.

The Prime Minister himself had talked about the possibility of a reshuffle while talking to Editors last month.

There are a few vacancies in the ministry including one following the resignation of Shashi Tharoor as Minister of State for External Affairs in the wake of IPL controversy.



Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who is holding charge of several departments and ministries, had said after becoming the ICC chief that he would like the Prime Minister to lighten his burden.

There are at least half-a-dozen Union ministers who are holding charge in the AICC also. Prithviraj Chavan, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mukul Wasnik, V Narayan Swami are all party general secretaries while M Veerappa Moily is in-charge of party affairs in Andhra Pradesh.

A reconstitution of the AICC secretariat is also on the cards following Sonia Gandhi's re-election as the Congress president for the fourth term.

Talk in party circles is that Gandhi, in consultation with the Prime Minister, could utilise the opportunity to make changes in the party and the government.

Source: The Indian Express

Bharatpur back in business - with birds

Bharatpur (Rajasthan): The chirping of birds can be heard again in the world famous Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan. Painted storks, cormorants and grey herons are all back to their favourite haunt, now that the sanctuary - parched until two months back - has enough water.



Hit by an acute water crisis, the park in Bharatpur district got a new lease of life when the state government released water from the Panchana Dam in Karauli district and saved it from dying.

"With water reaching the sanctuary, birds have started to come here. Painted storks, which had been leaving the sanctuary as the area did not receive enough rainfall, have returned and started to breed," a forest official told IANS.

Bharatpur back in business - with birds



The painted stork is a large wading bird in the stork family. It is found in the wetlands of South Asia and extends into Southeast Asia. These birds usually go back with their newborn in February, the official said.

"Besides the painted stork, others like the white eye, spoonbill, grey heron and cormorant, including the little cormorant, have started to come to the sanctuary," the official said.

"We are also expecting the Indian saras to be here soon," the official added.




The sanctuary was for years a favourite destination for a variety of rare birds from India and abroad. But the alarming water shortage in the sanctuary, not far from Agra, had already taken its toll on the turnout of migratory birds.

A large part of the water bodies in the sanctuary had turned into dry land. The entire area had been receiving scanty rainfall for the last couple of years but things turned miserable in 2009.

This year too, it did not receive adequate water. Incidentally, Bharatpur is one of the few districts in Rajasthan which received scanty rainfall this year.



Looking at the gravity of situation, the government decided to release water from Panchana Dam in Karauli district, around 100 km from the sanctuary.

"We have released about 350 mcft (million cubic feet) of water from the dam for the bird sanctuary," said a senior official of the water resource department.

The park, which is located at the confluence of the Gambhir and Banganga ruvers, requires 500-550 mcft of water every year. The minimum water requirement is about 350 mcft.



The water was released in the Keoladeo National Park, also known as the Ghana Bird Sanctuary, in August.

The sanctuary is spread over an area of 28.72 sq km with the lake and wetland artificially created by the Maharaja of Bharatpur in the 19th century.

The area was designated as Keoladeo Ghana Sanctuary in 1965 and was upgraded into the Keoladeo National Park in 1981. Over 370 species of birds and 375 species of flowering plants are usually found here.

Source: IANS

Priceless gems of Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag is celebrating his 33rd birthday today and while the nation wants to gift him good wishes going into big moments for Indian cricket ahead, MSN relives the greatest gifts given by Sehwag to Indian cricket and its billion fans. Let us relive the priceless gems of our magical Viru Bhai



Priceless Gem No. 1

Period and venue: March 2004/ Multan
Result: India won by an innings
Sehwag's priceless gem: 309
Key factor : First Indian to get a test triple hundred
Key statistics of the inning
Runs Balls faced Minutes Strike rate 4s 6s
309 375 531 82.40 39 6

This was easily the best inning played by Virender Sehwag for many reasons. The new generation Indian team had never toured Pakistan before this match for a test series and therefore were considered underdogs. But, the way Sehwag knocked the stuffing off Shoaib Akthar was something that gave Indian cricket a new meaning in the international arena. And his strike rate of 82 plus was phenomenal to say the least. It was nearly 10 hours of magic.





Priceless Gem No. 2

Period and venue: March 2009/ Hamilton
Result: India won by 84 runs (D/L method)
Sehwag's priceless gem: 125
Key factor: Fastest ODI hundred by an Indian cricketer
Key statistics of the inning
Runs Balls faced Minutes Strike rate 4s 6s
125 74 106 169.01 14 6

Prior to this match, India had taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 5-match series. A win here would clinch them a rare series win in New Zealand. The Kiwis had made a competitive 270 from 47 overs in fairly seaming conditions on a day when the rain Gods were playing hide and seek. Then came Sehwag and his blade did the talking. He raced to his 100 in just 60 balls, thus becoming the fastest ODI centurion from India.



Priceless Gem No. 3


Period and venue: December 2003/ Melbourne
Result: India lost by 9 wickets
Sehwag's priceless gem: 195
Key factor of the inning - Fastest test 150 by an Indian in Australia
Key statistics of the inning
Runs Balls faced Minutes Strike rate 4s 6s
195 233 312 83.7 25 5

When Sehwag gets going, even the best bowlers will have to run for cover. This was evident in the way he despatched Brett Lee to all parts of MCG in an absolute blinder. The blatant assault by Sehwag almost led him to a famous record of double hundred in a single day in Melbourne but the Nawab of Najafgarh fell short by 5 runs. India went on to lose the test match but Viru's innings will be remembered forever.



Priceless Gem No. 4


Period and venue: March 2008/ Chennai
Result: Match drawn
Sehwag's priceless gem: 319
Key factor: fastest triple hundred in test cricket
Key statistics of the inning
Runs Balls faced Minutes Strike rate 4s 6s
319 304 530 104.9 42 6

South Africa would have fancied their chances in the first test of the series after posting a mammoth 540 in their first innings. But, little did they realise what was coming their way. A storm brewing in the Bay of Bengal and was named Cyclone Viru. He simply blew them away with a thunderous knock that even had the record-writers busy carving the new name. Sehwag raced to the fastest triple hundred in test cricket ever and what an inning it was.




Priceless Gem No. 5

Period and venue: February 2009/ Colombo
Result: India won by 147 runs
Sehwag's priceless gem: 116
Key factor - Series-winning knock
Key statistics of the inning
Runs Balls faced Minutes Strike rate 4s 6s
116 90 165 129 17 0

It was the 3rd match of the 5-match series and India already were leading 2-0. So, a win here and the series in the pocket. Sehwag knew the situation when India won the toss and decided to use the willow. Sehwag blazed from the word go and smashed a majestic 116 off just 90 balls as he set such a platform that India pulverised the Lankans to win the series in emphatic fashion.




Priceless Gem No. 6

Period and venue: august 2008/ Galle
Result: India won by 170 runs
Sehwag's priceless gem: 201
Key factor - Series-levelling knock
Key statistics of the inning
Runs Balls faced Minutes Strike rate 4s 6s
201 231 348 87.10 22 4

India had come into the second test of the series after suffering their worst ever defeat in Sri Lanka and one of their all-time worst defeats at the SSC in Colombo. And just when they were looking for some inspiration, they had the magic of Virender Sehwag. The opener carried his bat in an inning, where all the other batsmen were simply falling apart. Sehwag contributed nearly 70% of the team's total. India won the match and levelled the series




Priceless Gem No. 7

Period and venue: January 2006/ Lahore
Result: Match Drawn
Sehwag's priceless gem: 254
Key factor - Fastest 250 in test cricket (then)
Key statistics of the inning
Runs Balls faced Minutes Strike rate 4s 6s
254 247 328 102.83 47 1

Two years after Sehwag had demolished the Pakistani attack on his way to 309 at Multan, the PCB decided not to field Multan as one of the venues for this Indian tour. But, little did they know that Sehwag was a man for all occasions and all venues. After Pakistan made 679 and were looking to put pressure on the Indian batsmen, Viru comes up with another blinder. A run a ball 250, which eventually was the fastest 250 in test cricket.



Priceless Gem No. 8

Period and venue: June 2008/ Karachi
Result: India won by 6 wickets and 8 overs to spare
Sehwag's priceless gem: 119
Key factor - India's record chase in Pakistan (then)
Key statistics of the inning
Runs Balls faced Minutes Strike rate 4s 6s
119 95 150 125.3 12 5

Karachi is never an easy venue for India traditionally. With full crowd roaring for Pakistan, the home team made a commanding 299 in their 50 overs. Needing exactly a run a ball, India couldn't have asked for a better start. Sehwag tore into Sohail Tanvir and Rao Iftikhar Anjum to set up the run chase for India before Raina and Yuvi ensured it was a landslide victory for the visitors.




Priceless Gem No. 9

Period and venue: December 2009/ Mumbai
Result: India won by an innings and 24 runs
Sehwag's priceless gem: 293
Key factor - Fastest 250 in test cricket
Key statistics of the inning
Runs Balls faced Minutes Strike rate 4s 6s
293 254 366 115.4 40 7

It was a golden run for Virender Sehwag and he was only getting stronger by the day. If one had thought his records are simply unbreakable, they were wrong cause Sehwag was still playing active cricket and he was there to break them. He bludgeoned Lankan bowlers to all parts of the historic Brabourne in Mumbai and in the process broke his own record for fastest 250 in test cricket. He would have broken again his own record for fastest triple hundred had he scored 7 more runs to his majestic 293.




Priceless Gem No. 10

Period and venue: December 2009/ Rajkot
Result: India won by 3 runs
Sehwag's priceless gem: 146
Key factor - Match-winning knock
Key statistics of the inning
Runs Balls faced Minutes Strike rate 4s 6s
146 102 166 143.1 17 6

Barely a few days after smashing 293 in 254 balls, Sehwag continued to haunt the hapless Sri Lankans. This time at Rajkot in the first ODI the Nawab blasted 146 off just 102 balls and looked good to break the then world record of Saeed Anwar with nearly 15 overs left. But, he got out to a soft dismissal in the end. It was ironically a match where both teams scored over 400 runs and Sri Lanka lost by a mere 3 runs.

GDP to grow by 9.2 pct in FY11

Mumbai: India's gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow by 7.1 per cent in FY 10 and by 9.2 per cent in FY 11, a leading economic think-tank said.

"We estimate the real gross domestic product would have risen by 7.1 per cent in fiscal 2009-10...and by 9.2 per cent in 2010-11," the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) said in its report in Mumbai.

In the first three-quarters of FY 10, real GDP grew by 6.7 per cent as compared to 7.1 per cent in the corresponding period of 2008-09.

In the fourth-quarter, it is estimated to have grown by an "impressive" 8.4 per cent, the CMIE report said.

"The growth in 2009-10 would be driven by the rise in GDP from the industrial sector including construction, it said," adding "we estimate that the industry sector would have grown by 9.4 per cent in 2009-10, with the manufacturing segment clocking a robust 10.3 per cent growth."

Real GDP from mining and quarrying is estimated to have grown by 10.3 per cent in 2009-10, on top of a 9.7 per cent growth in 2008-09.

"Coal, natural gas and iron ore are the few items whose production has recorded impressive growth," the CMIE said.

Growth in the services sector is estimated to have come down to 8.2 per cent in FY 10 from 9.8 per cent in FY 09, it said.

Source: The Indian Express

India remains calm, composed : Picutes

Nearly 20,000 security personnel from paramilitary forces, Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and other security agencies are camping in the Faizabad district.

In other cities across India there was a lot of maturity.



Bollywood celebrities lauded Indians for maintaining peace after the Ayodhya verdict and also hoped that the "shrieking" media does not "overdo their melodramatic analysis" and inflame passions.



Bollywood celebrities lauded Indians for maintaining peace after the Ayodhya verdict and also hoped that the "shrieking" media does not "overdo their melodramatic analysis" and inflame passions.



Celebrities like Diya Mirza, Priyanka Chopra and Arshad Warsi took to micro-blogging site Twitter to share their views after the Allahabad High Court ruled that the spot in Ayodhya where a makeshift temple was built after razing the Babri mosque in 1992, was indeed where Hindu god Ram was born.

There was heavy security in the nation prior to the verdict, but celebrities were glad that people remained peaceful.



Acclaimed filmmaker Pritish Nandy posted: "No report of any trouble anywhere across India. Proud to be an Indian in moments like this."

"Now that the verdict has been announced, can we please leave Ayodhya behind and move on with our lives? We need to look ahead. If anything the verdict shows that we in India, despite our differences, our politics and our shrieking media, respect the rule of law," he added.

Music composer Vishal Dadlani has appealed to Indian to "be proud, be strong".



"Resist every impulse to divide us. If Ram and Allah made us human, we owe it to them to be humane. Truly proud of my country and my people today. Jai Hind!" he added.

Actor Uday Chopra said: "Some decisions are beyond law. I think the bench has opted for a settlement and gone pro peace...If it helps to maintain it then I'm for it."

Sophie Choudhry prayed that "this 'division' helps to 'unite' our nation more than ever!"



National award winning actress Priyanka Chopra, however, said: "It will take a little time to fully decipher the ruling". But she appealed "... keep the peace... it's our nation at stake!"




Meanwhile, other actors said the media must react responsibly and not infuriate people with over-the-top discussions.

"Verdict is out. Views (are) being expressed. No harm with that as long as the media does not meander and people remain peaceful," stated Diya Mirza.




While internationally-acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur said: "Now that the judgement is over, the media should not overdo their melodramatic analysis or else they will inflame people."

According to actor Arshad Warsi, the judgement should be accepted gracefully.

"Let us accept the judgement and ignore the lawyers and their opinion on news channels. Humanity should be our religion," he posted.



Security personnel stand guard at the Jama Masjid after the Ayodhya verdict, in New Delhi on Thursday.