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Anil Ambani businessman of the year DEC 30: According to a year-end poll, Anil Ambani emerges as the businessman of the year, followed closely by his elder brother Mukesh Ambani. Overall, younger brother Anil takes away 28 per cent of the vote, Mukesh 25 per cent. An all-India poll by DNA covered 1,632 respondents in the age group 18-45. Among the final contenders were Ratan Tata, Anand Mahindra, Narayana Murthy, Azim Premji, Sunil Mittal, and Vijay Mallya. The cities showed a diverse voting pattern however, but it was Mumbai which put Anil finally on top with 47 per cent of the vote versus Mukesh's 23 per cent. As the poll showed, Brand Ambani hasn't lost its sheen even after the family breakup. The duo cornered more than 50 per cent of the national vote.
Gunman opens fire at India Science Conference DEC 28: A professor was killed and four others were wounded at a science conference in India on Wednesday (Dec. 28) by a gunman. Police said the gunman sprayed automatic gunfire during a conference at the Indian Institute of Science, based in Bangalore. According to the BBC, four to five assailants approached the delegation in an Ambassador car. One of them got out and fired randomly outside an auditorium door and then the car sped off. Professor M.C. Puri from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, was killed in the attack. Several others were seriously hurt, including Vijay Chandru, founder of the Indian-developed palm-computer, the Simputer. The shooting took place as people were leaving for dinner. The intruder escaped under cover of darkness.
A full moon for Vajpayee NEW DELHI, Dec 26 � Former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee turned 81 yesterday. But next month will bring another special day in his life � January 14, when he will witness his 1,000th full moon. The BJP veteran would have his Sahastra Chandra Darshan (sighting of 1,000th full moon) at a grand celebration in the company of President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh apart from 100 other invited guests. The function has been organised by BJP leader Pramod Mahajan, who was once Vajpayee's blue-eyed boy, at the latter's Safdarjung Road residence here. Apart from enduring many highs and lows in his political career spanning eight decades, Vajpayee has witnessed 972 full moons, in addition to 27 blue moons, which happens once every three years. The octogenarian leader's deteriorating health is a matter of concern for many BJP leaders as they miss his oratory skills and statesmanship inside and outside parliament. Vajpayee, the longest serving Indian prime minister outside the Congress regimes who has been politically active for more than half a century, is hardly seen in public these days. His presence in the Lok Sabha, where he represents the Lucknow constituency, has now been confined to very special occasions. When the Lok Sabha discussed the expulsion of its 10 MPs involved in the cash-for-queries scam on Friday, Vajpayee's absence in the house was noticed. (Source: Khaleej Times)
Cop who thrashed 'lovers' says she was only following orders DEC 26: Madhu Malti, a woman police inspector in Meerut, now under suspension for thrashing young lovers in Meerut's Gandhi Park in full view of TV cameras, said: "I did not do anything wrong that day.", reported IANS Sunday. For Madhu Malti, a woman police inspector in Meerut, it was just another mundane day of duty. But in a flash everything changed and now she finds herself cornered for what she claims "just following a senior's orders." "I am being victimized because the seniors have not owned up their responsibilities. "I was not leading a 25-member team but I am being punished as I do not have any political links like many others in the team to save my job. I am being punished because I am a woman. I need a job to support my family." Malti admitted that beating up of the young couples mercilessly was a mistake but she said: "Our seniors were standing there and enjoying the assault, but no one stopped us." Interrupting the discussion, Mamta Gautam, another woman police officer also under suspension, while admitting to the assaults, said they did it with the permission of the seniors. She said: "I did not want to hurt anyone but it was just a spur of the moment action. She added that when the police team went into the park, young women were found in 'objectionable position', which made her lose her cool. "I also have two children and can realize how parents must have felt when they came to know about their children. We are being portrayed as bad characters, but we are also human and can make mistakes.
Man swims with tied hands Cuddalore, Dec. 26: �Does he have gills?� was what people asked about a Pondicherry youth who successfully swam for nine hours from Pondicherry to Cuddalore covering a distance of over 20 kilometers while both his hands were tied in front of him. Prabhu, 22, alias O.U. Remanandane, hails from a coastal hamlet called Periyakalapet. He began swimming at 8.45 am at the Gandhi statue in Pondicherry and reached Cuddalore by 6.05 pm. Over 1,500 people, who were waiting patiently to get a glimpse of the swimmer, gave him a warm welcome upon his arrival at Devanampattinam. His jubilant friends picked him up as soon as he reached the shore and the hero with his hands tied was carried on to the dais, where the collector Gagandeep Singh Bedi received him amid thunderous applause. Enthusiastic crowd adorned him with shawls. The collector untied the knot and said, �I thought I would reach Devanampattinam by 4 pm. But the current was high, especially at places where the river joins the sea. I had no other option than to go a little further into the sea which made the journey longer.� Five rivers join the sea between Cuddalore and Pondicherry coasts and every time he crossed the channels, he needed to be careful not to be swept away by the current. His brother and friends accompanied him on two boats and kept a close watch. Prabhu admitted that the trial trip he had undertaken 5 days ago was easier since the sea was calm. (Source: Deccan Chronicle)
American-Indian �sexiest man alive� Dec. 26: A geophysicist of Indian origin has been selected the �sexiest man alive� by People magazine along with Hollywood superstars Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt. People magazine carried Michael Manga's photo and interview in its 20th anniversary special 'Sexiest Man Alive' issue under the 'Smart Guys' section. Michael Manga, a 37-year-old geology professor at University of California, Berkeley, who won the $500,000 MacArthur �Genius� grant earlier this year, was also included in People�s list of the world�s 14 sexiest men, which included Matthew McConaughey, Matt Damon, Jake Gyllenhaal and Orlando Bloom. �My first inclination, of course, was to say no, because that�s not how I perceive myself,� Manga, father of two boys, said. �But it is a way to let people know about science and that it is okay to be a scientist.� Manga, was also named as one of the 'Brilliant 10' by Popular Science magazine two years ago, The People magazine list has included academics since 1997 and magazine editors scanned pictures of this year�s MacArthur winners and came across the pony-tailed Manga, said Elizabeth Sporkin, People�s executive editor. �I think a lot of people would be thrilled to have him as their professor,� Sporkin said. When Michael told his wife, librarian Susan Storch, that People magazine had contacted him, Manga�s wife �laughed for an hour�. �He just isn�t a People magazine kind of guy,� she says. Manga was one of only two men in academia admitted to the ranks of America`s dreamiest dudes. "That is why I agreed to do this," he explains. "I wanted to get information out to people who would not normally hear or see anything about science." Although finding it amusing, Michael concedes he is teased about it. "The MacArthur is so much better," he says. "The nice thing about being at Berkeley is that no one reads People magazine, so no one knows about this yet. And that is the way it should be. It is kind of embarrassing in a way, because it is not how I perceive myself." The scientist, who has worn his hair in a ponytail since he was 18, was one of only two men in academia admitted to the ranks of America's dreamiest dudes. He speculates that he came to People's attention after winning the MacArthur and insists that neither honor has changed his life. The scientist is not exactly thrilled about the honor. "I still get to change diapers, cook, vacuum and scrub the tub and toilets." he said. The People magazine's list has included academics since 1997 and magazine editors who scanned pictures of this year's MacArthur winners and came across the pony-tailed Manga, said Elizabeth Sporkin, People's executive editor. Manga is currently an associate professor at the University of California at Berkeley. People magazine notwithstanding, he doesn't think he's now the most famous ever geophysicist. He cites Ottawa-born John Turzo Wilson (1908-1993), one of the people who discovered the Earth's tectonic plates, as one of the more famous people in the field. Mr. Manga said he hopes that if he generates this much attention again it will be for coming up with as significant an idea as Mr. Wilson's. His father, who is of Indian origin, immigrated to Canada from South Africa. Manga was born in Hamilton and raised in Ottawa.
11 down, more to go DEC 24: Parliamentary history was made on the last day of the Winter Session on Friday when the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha together expelled 11 of their members for accepting money for raising questions in the House, reported Deccan Chronicle. The precedent-setting decision, a first such in over 50 years, came in the face of severe opposition from the BJP and some of its allies over the procedure adopted. The �cash-for-questions� scam was exposed by a sting operation on the Aaj Tak TV channel.
Filmi locations for a song HYDERABAD, DEC 23: The State government has decided to drastically cut rents for film shootings in various choice spots from January 1, reports Deccan Chronicle. A film producer can henceforth shoot a sequence or a song for eight hours in the historic Srikalahasthi temple for Rs 10,000 as against the present rate of of Rs 1 lakh. Likewise, rates for shooting in parks and gardens maintained by the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (Huda) and the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad have been reduced to Rs 15,000 per day. Producers are now shelling out amounts ranging from Rs 35,000 to Rs 1 lakh for shooting in parks. A chase sequence through the city roads will cost only Rs 5,000 from January 1. Similarly, parks and gardens in much-loved Tirupati and municipalities across the State will be available for Rs 5,000 a day. The government order giving this New Year bonanza to Tollywood will be issued in a day or two. Much to the delight of film producers, the government has fixed the upper limit for shooting in various locales at Rs 15,000 and the minimum at Rs 5,000 per day. Film locations in the State have been divided into three categories and charges have been fixed according to their �beauty�. The government has also decided to make the Andhra Pradesh Film Development Corporation a �single window� to give quick permission for film shootings. Producers need not run from one department to the other to seek permission henceforth. Even the rent for a particular shooting location will be charged by the APFDC. Earlier too, governments had reduced rates for film shootings but had withdrawn the decision following overuse of facilities. APFDC managing director K.V. Ramana Chary said that the decisions were meant to stabilize the Telugu film industry and attract film-makers from other States. The 20-member High Power Committee headed by the Chief Secretary fixed the film shooting rent for category-wise locales is as follows: Category-I: (Rs 15,000 per day): all parks and gardens in MCH and Huda limits. All locales under Archaeology and Museums including Qutub Shahi Tombs, State Museum Building, Public Gardens, Paigah Tombs. School and College buildings in city. Category-II: (Rs 10,000) All the temples and other locales under endowments department. All locales under Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board. All locales under horticulture department. School and college buildings at district head quarters. State Central Library and Durgam Cheruvu. Category-III: (Rs 5,000) All parks including Alipii gardens, other locations suitable for film shootings in Tirupati municipal corporation, Tirupati urban development authority. Kailashgiri Hills, Submarine Museum and beaches and other locales in Vizag and other municipal corporations and municipalities in the State. All locales under the jurisdiction of chief conservator of forests including zoo parks. School and college buildings in the State except State capital and all district head quarters. All public libraries except State Central Library. Rishi Konda, Yerrada, Borra Caves, Belum Caves, boating units in Hussainsagar, Safilguda and other places in Godavari and Krishna rivers. All State and national highways and other locales under the Roads and Buildings department. All dams, barrages, river banks and canals besides other locales under irrigation department.
Air Arabia likely to fly Kerala-Gulf sector DEC 23: Air Arabia is likely to be allowed into the Kerala-Gulf sector, now a jealously-guarded territory where only Air-India operates. Kerala has about 15 lakh NRIs working in the Gulf. The travel needs of Gulf-based NRIs in Kerala constitute a livelihood issue, with many employed in the blue-collar category. Several airlines, including Sri Lanka Airlines, Oman Air, Kuwait Air, have also shown interest in entering the lucrative Kerala-Gulf sector. Kerala-Gulf sector has traditionally been Air-India's catchment area in passenger traffic.
Fall in love and risk a police thrashing NEW DELHI, Dec 21 - Outrage and protests mounted in India Wednesday after TV channels showed police officers repeatedly slapping, punching and pulling the hair of young women on a date in a public park in a north Indian city. Indian media reported one couple was so humiliated by the police action in front of TV crews they have not returned home. "Is falling in love wrong? Who gave the police the right to beat and hit people and misbehave in such a manner," a woman in Meerut city in Uttar Pradesh state told Aaj Tak television news. Since Tuesday, shocked TV viewers in India have been watching images of female officers pummeling and abusing crying young women in Meerut in what the media is calling "moral policing." TV footage also showed male policemen with sticks surrounding the scared women and taking them to women officers who beat them. Several of their male companions were beaten also. The police operation, termed "operation Romeo," in a popular park in Meerut Monday was touted by police as a move to prevent sexual harassment of women. It turned out to be something very different. In Meerut, students shouting "Down with police dictatorship" have staged demonstrations and burned effigies of police officers. The outcry, including from women groups, has forced the police to suspend two women officers and probe the incident. One of India's most conservative states, Uttar Pradesh is also one of the most crime-ridden, known for gangs indulging in murder, extortion and kidnapping. People in Meerut are amazed that police have the time to go after dating couples. Some defended the right of young people to date in parks. "Nobody should be allowed to bother them as long as they are not indulging in obscene acts," local lawmaker S.P. Agarwal said. Young couples in cities often meet in parks as dating before marriage is frowned upon by many Indian parents but they are harassed by police who threaten to report them or ask for bribes. (Reuters)
Indians relatively more chaste DEC 21: Indians had sex 75 times a year against the global average of 103 and the top-ranking Greeks with 138, according to 2005 Durex Global Sex Survey. Japan came last with 45, the survey said. As many as 46 per cent of Indians surveyed said they were satisfied with their sex life, against the 44 per cent global average, the survey said. While the global average for the number of sexual partners was nine, Indians reported three, the lowest, compared with China's 3.1 and top-scoring Turkey's 14.5. The condom company surveyed 317,000 people from 41 countries for its findings.
Viagra debuts in India DEC 20: Pfizer Ltd. - the Indian unit of Pfizer Inc, on Tuesday launched blockbuster drug Viagra in the country, aiming to treat some of the estimated 90 million Indians suffering from erectile dysfunction. The estimated market size is about 750 million to a billion rupees. A 50 milligram tablet is priced at 463 rupees and 100 mg at 594 rupees a tablet, on par with prices in other Asian countries, but more than 10 times the price of generic alternatives. The drug will be imported from France.
Team India worth $70m New Delhi, Dec 20 - India's cricket team will be sponsored for a whopping 3 130 million rupees (about $70m) over the next four years, an official said on Tuesday. Indian domestic airline Air Sahara, a subsidiary of the national team's current sponsors Sahara India group, won an open bid invited by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The deal marks a large increase from the previous sponsorship agreement of 780 million rupees (about $17m) for the last three years, BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said. It covers a minimum of 44 Test matches and 110 one-day internationals the Indian team will play over the next four years, starting with the tour of Pakistan from January 6. "Team India is a brand on the rise and very popular with sponsors," Shah told AFP. "We are very satisfied with the deal." The players will wear the Air Sahara logo on the chest and arm at matches and during practice and travel. Sahara India spokesperson Abhijit Sarkar said the company was delighted to renew its contract with the Indian team. "Sahara today is synonymous with Indian cricket," he said. "We got value for money during the deal that is coming to an end now." The new BCCI regime, headed by political heavyweight Sharad Pawar, hoped to raise another $80m a year through the sale of television rights for international matches in India. Bids for the TV rights will be finalised by the end of the month, Shah said. Cricket-mad India, with huge television audiences, is the biggest market for the sport in the world. (News24)