PM steps in to resolve Amarnath row, to meet top leaders today

As violence continues unabated in Jammu as well as in Kashmir valley, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is to chair a meeting of top political leaders across the board in the Capital today to discuss measures to calm the situation in the state and seek a consensus on how to end the impasse. The Centre decided to rope in all the parties to find a consensus to the problem that emerged over the land allocation to Sri Amarnath Shrine Board, a body overlooking the conduct of pilgrimage to the Holy cave shrine. Top leaders of all political parties have been invited to the meeting where the Centre will brief them about the steps being taken by the government and would seek their cooperation in maintaining communal harmony in the state as well as in the country. Apart from national political parties, all regional parties, including National Conference and People's Democratic Party, have been invited to the meeting. The violence in Jammu and Kashmir, which threatens to polarise the state along religious line, is being constantly reviewed by the Union Home Ministry.

Mumbai: The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex gained 425.83 points to cross the 15,000 level in early trade today on heavy stock market tradings in funds, tracking firm global trend. The BSE-30 share index, which moved up by 383.20 points on Tuesday, added another 425.83 points to 15,386.90 as funds turned net buyers in blue-chip stocks. The Sensex had earlier witnessed the 15,000 level on July 24.

Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange's Nifty gained 111.40 points at 4,614.25 as most of the index related stocks quoted higher. Marketmen said buying activity picked up as US and other Asian markets rose smartly. They said the investor regained confidence owing to easing crude oil prices. (PTI)

How secure is your card info?

The question is a simple one but the answer might appear to be a bit harder to pin down.

VeriSign, a firm that secures websites for e-commerce, told the BBC that credit and debit card information is "vulnerable" but they are working with retailers to change that.

"Credit and debit card information is just not incredibly secure," said Perry Tancredi, VeriSign's senior product manager for fraud detection.

"But it is counterbalanced by the amount of fraud losses due to cheque fraud and direct debit fraud which is much greater than credit card fraud."

Mr Tancredi said: "Regardless of how strong the security measures, and how vigilant, the weak part of the chain is there is always a human who is responsible and who has overall control over the information."

He suggested the best bet was for all consumers to "assume that there will be some sort of fraud on your account sooner or later" and put in place a plan to deal with it.

'Getting safer'

Espousing a completely different view is Jerry Tabeling who is the president of IDP, a company that carries out vulnerability assessments of networks and online business applications.

"Our information is a lot more secure after all the publicity we have had about attacks," he said.

"But yes there are still problems that still exist though it is getting safer." These, Mr Tabeling told the BBC, tend to centre around a retailer not doing a good enough job securing its network.

"If the proper encryption is configured on the wireless access point, then an attacker will not be able to get any information. I would have to bet in this case that didn't happen."

At stake for victims of fraud is more than just money

The authorities said the details of the 40 million credit and debit card holders was obtained by the hackers "wardriving" past stores to find wireless networks they could hack into.

This entailed driving around using a hand-held device to detect a wireless signal much in the same way a radio scanner hunts for a signal.

The US justice department said the hackers then loaded "sniffer" software onto the retailers' networks which captured numbers as well as passwords and account information as it moved through the retailers credit and debit processing networks.

That information was then sent to servers that the group controlled in Eastern Europe and the United States.

The justice department said the stolen numbers were "cashed out" by encoding card numbers on the magnetic strips of blank cards and then used to withdraw tens of thousands of dollars from ATMs.

'Identity loss'

The Justice Department is not putting a figure on just how much the fraud has cost, but Mr Tancredi said the money is not the point with most card liability ranging around $50 (£25).

MasterCard says it strives to safeguard account information

"If you are a victim of credit card fraud you might get your identity stolen and then you lose more than just money. You lose time, you lose trust and it could take years to fix your credit."

MasterCard said preventing fraud and safeguarding financial information is a top priority for the company.

Spokesman Chris Monteiro told the BBC: "If a cardholder is concerned at all about the security of their account they should immediately contact their issuing financial institution."

The Payment Card Industry, or PCI, has developed standards for retailers to adopt when handling credit and debit payments.

A spokesperson said while it is trying to get merchants to adopt these standards "it is not our job to go around checking who is compliant with this. That is lead by the credit card brands."

Meanwhile Mr Tabeling, an IT security specialist, suggested that all consumers need to play a more proactive part in policing their own transactions and their credit information.

"We have no choice but to trust the retailers are doing their bit but we can do more.

"We can keep track of our credit report once or twice a year, check our statements and set up a notification so that if there is any suspicious activity on our account we are told about it right away."

'IPL had great marketing team, ICL better cricket matches'

Indian Cricket League Chairman Kapil Dev admitted on Saturday that rival Indian Premier League has overshadowed ICL in market blitz but ruled out joining forces with the IPL.

But he insisted that ICL churned out fantastic, unbelievable matches and was ahead of IPL in on field action. Asked by reporters in Bangalore if ICL has been overshadowed by IPL, the skipper of India's 1983 World Cup campaign said "In marketing, yes; in cricket, no".

"I must say and congratulate IPL for such a great marketing team they have and let's give credit to ICL...what a great cricketing (ICL) matches we had. One should learn something from their (IPL's) marketing thing", he said.

He underscored that ICL has nothing against IPL nor is ICL fighting against IPL. ICL's objective is to promote the game, give opportunities to cricketers and to create jobs. "Nobody said to me what wrong we are doing. Nobody is giving me an answer", Kapil Dev said.

He strongly felt that that a deserving player even though he is playing in ICL should be given a place in team India. "If (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni comes and plays ICL, will he play for India or not? If tomorrow Sachin (Tendulkar) plays in ICL, will he play for the country or not? Will he deserve to play for the country or not", he asked.

Asked if ICL is open to the idea of joining forces with IPL, he said "(We are) open to idea of their (IPL) joining us" On the morale of ICL team members post-IPL season, he said "(It is) much more charged".

My absence not a concern, players are focussed: Kirsten

Forced to leave his wards before the series-deciding third and final cricket Test against Sri Lanka, India coach Gary Kirsten is confident that his absence would not make a difference to the team's performance as Anil Kumble's men are focussed on the task at hand.

"These players are aware what they need to do and they are right on track in terms of preparations. The important thing is the awareness of the situation. They know they have an opportunity (to win the series)," Kirsten, who flew to South Africa last night to attend to his critically ill mother, said before his departure.

"Every guy is aware if he is not fully focussed for the next Test it could affect the team's performance."

Kirsten said he has "complete faith in what (captain) Anil Kumble can do".

"There is a calm focus about the team and there is a humility about how we are going to go about our business.

There is no arrogance in the environment," he said.

Kirsten's belief stems from the team's stupendous display in the Galle Test, which the visitors won inside four days to tie the series 1-1.

The South African said the team's performance in Galle was heartening.

"We were happy with the team's response as they lifted their performance by at least 20 percent (in Galle)," he said.

Dhoni deserves to be Khel Ratna: Milkha Singh

Hailing Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the "backbone of Indian cricket", chairman of the Arjuna Award selection committee Milkha Singh said the ODI and Twenty20 captain is a deserving recipient of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.

Dhoni was on Monday conferred with the award, making him only the second cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar to be bestowed the country's highest sporting honour.

"From my side I tried my best and gave the award to whoever deserved. Four or five candidates were in contention for the award but Dhoni was the best among the lot. The whole country wanted Dhoni to get the award," Milkha Singh said last night on the sidelines of a book release function.

The 'Flying Sikh' also said the decision to confer the award to Dhoni was taken unanimously by the selection committee.

"He has done tremendously well after coming to the national team. He is the backbone of Indian cricket. The decision to give Dhoni the award has been taken with full support of all members in the selection committee," he stated.

Milkha Singh also brushed aside reports that Indian ODI skipper's application was received late by the Sports Ministry.

"The Sports Ministry has told me that they have received Dhoni's application before the deadline of July 27, but due to some internal hazards they were not able to trace the application. However, they later extended the deadline by a day or two," he said.

Although he and his colleagues in the selection committee decided to confer the Khel Ratna Award to Dhoni, Milkha Singh was quick to point out that cricket does not appeal him like Olympic sports.

"The whole country is after cricket but I am little bit against the game because I think the popularity of cricket has declined the standard of Olympic sports in the country."

He also revealed that after being appointed as the chairman of the selection committee, he was under constant pressure from all quarters of the sporting fraternity.

"I was under a lot of pressure. I used to get 200 to 300 calls every day saying that please give the Arjuna Award to him or her," Milkha Singh said.

More than 100,000 rare gorillas found in Congo

researchers reported Tuesday, double the number of the endangered primates thought to survive worldwide.

Forest clearings draw large numbers of Western lowland gorillas searching for food.

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"It's pretty astonishing," Hugo Rainey, one of the researchers who conducted the survey for the U.S.-based Wildlife Conservation Society, told CNN Tuesday.

The last census on the species, carried out during the 1980s, estimated that there were only 100,000 of the gorillas left worldwide. Since then, the researchers estimated, the numbers had been cut in half.

WCS survey teams conducted the research in 2006 and 2007, traveling to the remote Lac Tele Community Reserve in northern Republic of Congo, a vast area of swamp forest.

Acting on a tip from hunters who indicated the presence of gorillas, Rainey said that the researchers trekked on foot through mud for three days to the outskirts of Lac Tele, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the nearest road.

"When we went there, we found an astonishing amount of gorillas," said Rainey, speaking from the International Primatological Society Congress in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Though researchers did spot some gorillas, they based their estimate on the number of gorilla nests found at the site, Rainey said. Each gorilla makes a nest to sleep in at night.

"This is the highest-known density of gorillas that's ever been found," Rainey said. Watch a glimpse of gorilla life in African swamp »

Western lowland gorillas are listed as critically endangered, the highest threat category for a species. Their populations are declining rapidly because of hunting and diseases like Ebola hemorrhagic fever, whose symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting and internal and external bleeding. Take a closer look at the Western lowland gorilla »

While the discovery in northern Congo indicates that the gorilla population remains stable in some areas, it is likely that gorillas will remain critically endangered because the threats facing the species are so great, Rainey said. iReport.com: Share photos and video of gorillas in zoos or the wild

"We know very little about Ebola and how it spreads," he said. "We don't even know the animal that spreads it around."

The goal now, Rainey said, is to work with the Congolese government and donors to protect the areas in which the gorillas are known to be living.

Western lowland gorillas, which are found in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Nigeria as well as the Republic of Congo, are the most numerous and wide-ranging of the four gorilla subspecies, each of which is threatened by extinction, the WCS says. See where the gorillas live »

Illegal hunting and habitat loss have also threatened the Cross River gorillas, found in the highlands of Cameroon and Nigeria. Only about 250 to 300 are estimated to remain in the world, the WCS says.

War, habitat loss, poaching and disease are the major threats to the mountain gorillas, made famous by researcher Dian Fossey and the film "Gorillas in the Mist." The mountain gorilla population is starting to recover after decades of conservation work. From a population of around 230 in the 1970s, the mountain gorillas now number around 700, the WCS says.

Poaching and war have also threatened populations of Grauer's gorillas in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the former Zaire. The WCS estimates their population to be around 16,000.

News of the discovery of the Western lowland gorillas in northern Congo comes the same week as a report that almost 50 percent of the world's primates are in danger of extinction.

Justice: Hackers steal 40 million credit card numbers

Eleven people were indicted Tuesday for allegedly stealing more than 40 million credit and debit card numbers, federal authorities said.

Attorney General Michael Mukasey said the effects of identity theft are sometimes felt by victims for years.

The indictments, which alleged that at least nine major U.S. retailers were hacked, were unsealed Tuesday in Boston, Massachusetts, and San Diego, California, prosecutors said.

It is believed to be the largest hacking case that the Justice Department has ever tried to prosecute.

Three of the defendants are from the United States; three are from Estonia; three are from Ukraine, two are from China and one is from Belarus.

The remaining individual is known only by an alias and authorities do not know where that person is.

Under the indictments, three Miami, Florida, men -- Albert "Segvec" Gonzalez, Christopher Scott and Damon Patrick Toey -- are accused of hacking into the wireless computer networks of retailers including TJX Companies, whose stores include Marshall's and T.J. Maxx, BJ's Wholesale Club, OfficeMax, Barnes and Noble and Sports Authority, among others.

The three men installed "sniffer" programs designed to capture credit card numbers, passwords and account information as they moved through the retailers' card processing networks, said Michael Sullivan, the U.S. attorney in Boston.

"This has other personal numbers that could give them access to credit or debit cards that have already been issued and are active," Sullivan told CNN.

The probe began in late 2006, Sullivan said. In addition to the Justice Department, the Secret Service has been conducting an undercover investigation for more than three years through the U.S. attorney's office in San Diego, he said.

The three then concealed the data in encrypted computer servers they controlled in the United States and eastern Europe, the Justice Department said.

Some credit and debit card numbers were sold on the Internet, and were "cashed out" by encoding the numbers on the magnetic strips of blank cards. "The defendants then used these cards to withdraw tens of thousands of dollars at a time from ATMs," authorities said.

Gonzalez and the others used anonymous Internet-based currencies to conceal and launder their proceeds, as well as channeling funds through bank accounts in Eastern Europe, the department said.

"There are ties between all three districts and ties internationally that go all the way to the Ukraine and Latvia," Sullivan said. "The 41 million credit and debit numbers were used internationally."

Gonzalez was previously arrested in 2003 by the Secret Service on suspicion of access device fraud, the Department of Justice said, and was working as a confidential informant for the agency. However, the Secret Service discovered during the investigation that Gonzalez was involved in this case, authorities said.

The California indictment charged eight others with operating an international stolen credit and debit card distribution ring, selling stolen card information for personal gain -- millions of dollars, in at least one case, authorities said.

Three of the defendants in the most recent case, among them Gonzalez, were also charged in May in a related indictment in New York, Justice said. Those charges allege the three were engaged in a scheme to hack into computer networks run by the Dave & Buster's restaurant chain and steal credit and debit card numbers from at least 11 locations.

The three installed "sniffer" programs at the cash register terminals of the locations, capturing credit and debit card numbers, authorities said. At one location, the sniffer captured data for some 5,000 cards, causing some $600,000 in losses to the banks that issued the credit and debit cards.

Gonzalez is awaiting trial on the New York charges. The other two of the international defendants are also in custody, police said.

"Identity theft can involve a single criminal stealing the personal financial information of a single victim or, as it did here, it can involve a group of criminals stealing the credit card numbers of millions of people, many of whom may not even learn that they were victims for months or years," said Attorney General Michael Mukasey.

"Identity theft victims suffer well beyond the immediate financial costs; they suffer lost confidence in their privacy and security, as well as the emotional strain and the time it can take to repair damaged financial lives and credit histories. In many cases, the effects of these crimes can be felt for years after they are committed."

Mukasey and other officials said the case serves as a reminder that computer crimes can cross international borders.

"We have been working with countries around the world to identify and address technical vulnerabilities in computer networks, and to ensure that laws and procedures are adequate to deal with these kinds of crime," Mukasey said. "And we have been working closely with our international partners to crack specific cases when they take us beyond our borders."

India Win Second Test



India has taken the lead in the 3 test match series against England. India can now be sure of atleast getting a draw in the away series even if England win the last match. Zaheer Khan was the star for India in the second innings with figures of 5 for 75 which restricted England to only a total of 355.
Michael Vaughan praised the Indian team for their performance after the match, "They read the conditions brilliantly and fully deserved to win,". Dravid was evidently pleased with the team performance and looked very happy to be the winning captain after a long time. "You need players who can take the game by the scruff of the neck and that's what he did,'' said Dravid. "He really led the attack like a champion." were his comments on the performance of Zaheer.

The last test takes place at the Oval, and if India manage to get a draw from that it will be a great test series performance outside of the country after a long time.

Young Indian team beats Pakistan by 140 Runs

Pakistans record-breaking run of 12 consecutive win came to an end on Tuesday with their worst defeat against India, by 140 runs in the second ODI. Praveen Kumar destroyed Pakistans top order whiched helped India to register the biggest win for India. Indian team is very young and they showed why Indians needed new and young players.

Praveen Kumar bagged four wickets for India which helped India to win by 140 runs in their opening Tri-series match against Pakistan. After winning the toss India choose to bat first and it was a great decision for them as the Delhi Openers Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag provided a big start for India as both put opening stand of 155 within 22 overs before Gambhir was the first to be dismissed on 62 and Virender Sehwag follow soon after making 89 valuables runs. Half-centuries from Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh had helped India to a formidable score of 330 for eight in 50 overs. Pakistani bowlers were considering 15 wides and three no-balls against India, offences that contributed 29 out of the total of 38 extras.

In chasing a big total of 331 runs Pakistan needed a good start from their openers to have any chance. Soon they lost 2 more wickets in quick succession which was enough to put pressure on them. Pakistan's hopes slipped further away when Misbah-ul-Haq (24) fell soon at 94 for five. Indian bowlers gave a great performance. Teenage leg-spinner Piyush Chawla and young Indian seemer Praveen Kumar then took four wickets each to secure an easy point.

After this win India now will play to Bangladesh in last match before big final and it almost sure that India will play with Pakistan in final.

Terror-hit Gujarat to raise special intelligence cadre

In a bid to strengthen the information-gathering mechanism to thwart terror activities, the Gujarat government has decided to create a special intelligence unit by direct recruitment of cadres.

"We will be directly recruiting about 60 per cent of field staff, mainly at the level of police sub-inspectors, for intelligence gathering through state recruitment board," Principal Secretary (Home) Balwant Singh told PTI.

"The direct recruitment for intelligence operations means these staff will be deputed for intelligence gathering only. They cannot be transferred for policing duty," Singh said.

At present, the state intelligence wing which is under the CID gets field officers from police force who are transferred back for policing duty after some time.

The move is seen as an attempt to revive the intelligence wing following the recent blasts in Ahmedabad where 55 people were killed and planting of 24 bombs in Surat.

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil had criticised the failure of state intelligence wing in gathering prior information about the serial blasts in the city.

The state government plans to revamp totally its intelligence wing after the blasts, officials said.

Amid allegations and counter-allegations on the failure of central and state agencies in gathering information about the blasts, this seems to be a step in right direction, they said.

"We are yet to decide about the number of officials to be directly recruited at higher levels than sub-inspectors," Singh said, adding the decision was taken long back but the government has expedited its implementation after the blasts. The newly-recruited cadre will be placed under the CID's (crime) intelligence wing, Singh said.

The home department has already send a proposal to the state's Gaun Seva Pasandgi Mandal, responsible for such recruitment, for carrying out the process.

"We have to device a foolproof recruitment procedure for selection of people to create a first of its kind intelligence cadre in the state," Mandal chairman Yashodhar Bhatt said.

"What we want in candidates is they should have an aptitude and inclination for intelligence gathering as they will have to do on that field only," Bhatt said.

During Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's recent to the city after the Ahmedabad blasts, Chief Minister Narendra Modi had sought the creation of a special cadre for intelligence like IAS and IPS.

Moores and Pietersen discuss issues

	Moores: 'Kevin will bring Kevin Pietersen, which is crucial. He'll be his own man and that's going to be really important' © Getty Images

Peter Moores, England's coach, has played down rumours of a rift between him and Kevin Pietersen, England's new captain. While admitting they had differences in the past, Moores said all was resolved during an hour-long meeting at a Northampton hotel on Sunday following Michael Vaughan's resignation as captain after England's defeat in the third Test at Edgbaston against South Africa.

"Coaches and captains are always going to have different views because they look at the game from a different angle," Moores said ahead of the fourth and final Test at The Oval. "But I've always found Kevin fine. What I like about him is that he's got his views, which can be pretty forthright. One of the first things I wanted to do when we were going to offer him the captaincy was to sit down and talk to him about where he was coming from and what his views were and whether they matched mine. By the end we both felt very confident that we were coming from the same place."

Moores said he was looking forward to Pietersen's style of leadership and was confident he would be just as successful as Vaughan, despite their contrasting personalities. He singled out an encouraging sign that senior members in the team had welcomed Pietersen's appointment, after batsman Andrew Strauss admitted his disappointment in losing out on the captaincy race. Strauss said he eyed the Test captaincy but agreed Pietersen was the best person for the job, given that he's a regular in the XI in all three formats of the game.

"He'll be different to Michael [Vaughan] because he's a different man," Moores said. "Michael had his style and that was very successful. Kevin will bring Kevin Pietersen, which is crucial. He'll be his own man and that's going to be really important. What's really promising is that the senior arm of the team is going to get behind him."

Moores, however, insisted he wouldn't change his approach to coaching despite the change of guard. "Your coaching style changes with different people, but your coaching philosophy doesn't change all that much," he said. "I don't particularly see my views on the game changing. The coach's job is to try to take pressure off the captain."

Moores' South African counterpart, Mickey Arthur, said his team will observe Pietersen closely when he takes charge for the first time in an official capacity on Thursday. He agreed that for teams to succeed, it's essential for the captain and coach to think along the same lines.

"The challenge is whether it affects his batting,"Arthur said. "What's his vision going to be? I guess all those things will be answered in the next year or so. We can only wish him well from after the Oval Test match and we'll watch with interest how it all unfolds.

"As coach and captain you need to clarify the roles. It's something Graeme [Smith] and I have done particularly well. You've got to back each other up in the roles you do. And you've got to have the same vision."

Twenty20 has to be controlled - Jayawardene

	Mahela Jayawardene: "You can't think that everybody wants Twenty20 cricket. Everyone wants cricket, but they want different varieties and there is a demand for everything" © Getty Images

Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lankan captain, feels the rise of Twenty20 cricket needs to be controlled to prevent it from "taking international cricket apart" and says the "big solution" is to have one consolidated tournament where all cricket-playing countries get to share the revenue.

Speaking to Cricinfo editor Sambit Bal in Colombo, Jayawardene observed that, with players and administrators across the world driven by money, the time had come to strike a balance and get the priorities right on developing the game's shortest format.

"The times and ways of thinking are changing and you need to evolve around that. Twenty20 is good for the game as long as people keep control of things," Jayawardene said. "You can't have three or four Twenty20 international tournaments a year. You just can't have that. It has to be controlled. Tests are very important; one-day cricket is important. You can't think that everybody wants Twenty20 cricket. Everyone wants cricket, but they want different varieties and there is a demand for everything."

Jayawardene, who has signed a three-year contract for US$475,000 per season with Kings XI Punjab, the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, said the best way forward is for all those involved in promoting Twenty20 cricket to draw the line and arrive at a compromise.

"You need to strike a balance because they cannot compete with each other on these issues," Jayawardene said. "It is important to that you sit down and get your priorities and everyone needs to get together and find one big solution. That is, to have one big tournament where you get all the revenue and cricket-playing countries to share that."

The Sri Lankan players are currently in negotiations with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) over rescheduling the country's 2009 England tour, which clashes with the second IPL season. Apart from Jayawardene, 12 Lankan cricketers have signed for various IPL franchises, including Kumar Sangakkara, the vice-captain, Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis.

"At the end of the day everything is driven by money," Jayawardene said. "You have to be honest with yourself. That means the players, the administrators, everybody. As long as everyone is happy and gets to share that, I think that's the way forward. That's where everyone has to draw a compromise."

Jayawardene, however, did not agree with the suggestion that Twenty20 might become 'The Game' if money is the overriding factor, and reiterated the answer lies in consolidation and not in having "five individual tournaments".

"If you have one big tournament and the revenue is being shared, then everyone's happy," he said. "You won't need to play five individual tournaments. Then there's room for Test cricket and you can pump in money and develop the game and take it globally. That's where the compromise needs to be drawn and everyone gets together to find a solution."

Asked whether the BCCI, which runs the IPL and is a founding partner of the Champions Twenty20 League, should take the lead and let everyone share the pot, Jayawardene said, "That's difficult for me to say after one year of the IPL. I don't know how big the English Premier League (EPL) or the Stanford games are going to be, but somewhere you have to draw the line. You have people competing against each other and taking international cricket apart. It's important to understand where you need to draw that line."

Robberies at cell phone shops

The ‘ubiquitous’ is no longer an adjective for cell phones, but for the mobile shops also. As the shops are increasingly becoming omnipresent, it is equally becoming an easy target for robbers. So much so, the mobile you recently bought may be the same one that was stolen from a different shop recently?

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In the city alone, at least eight robberies have been reported in various showrooms in the last four months (five in the last one month itself). A particular chain of shops has been, curiously, a major target. Intriguingly, one particular branch of this chain has reported two robberies over the last two months. Police deal the robberies as just another crime. But circles in the know, especially those who operate in the grey market, have a different tale to tell. With almost all mobile phone shops offering deals like ‘buy 2 and get 3 free’, there is a huge demand both from shopkeepers and the shoppers. This trend has helped the cell phone stealers to dispose the stolen goods easily. There is a huge demand for stolen goods, and many respected names in the trade are said to buy huge lots of cell phones from the robbers. But the police think otherwise. ‘The security at many of these cell phones are lax,’ says a senior policeman ‘The shop-owners who are keen to showcase their products swankily forget to put in adequate security like CCTV cameras,’. adds the senior cop. The police say that they have evidence to believe that a gang is specifically targetting cell phone shops. ‘Fingerprints found at two shops that had been victims of the robbers match with that of a North Indian gang,’ said an officer in the know. But so far no breakthrough has been effected. As the items are stolen in bulk and get distributed widely, the process of tracing all mobiles becomes little difficult, he said. Doubts are also rife among policemen, whether this is also an attempt to claim hefty insurance by the mobile shops.

Firming equity markets and fall in global crude oil prices led the Indian rupee to surge further by 23 paise to 42.01/03, against the greenback in early trade. At the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) market, the domestic currency resumed at 42.08/10 a dollar from Tuesday's close of 42.24/25.

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It rallied further to breach the 42-mark at 41.97, the level not seen since July 24, 2008, before being quoted at 42.01/03 in late morning deals. A sharp rise of over 375 points in the Indian benchmark sensex at 1030 hrs, mainly helped the rupee rally. Most of the Asian indices were also trading distinctly firm this morning. Yesterday, rupee had appreciated by 25 paise. Fall in global crude oil prices near USD 118 a barrel also supported the rupee as oil companies refrained from buying dollars in anticipation of further fall in dollar. A status-quo stance taken by US Federal Reserve yesterday on interest rate also partly aided the rupee sentiment.

A Special Tribunal Tuesday lifted the ban imposed by the Centre on the activities of Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) saying there was no fresh evidence to justify the extension of the measure first clamped in 2001.
In a setback to the Home Ministry, the order by Justice Geeta Mittal of the Delhi High Court, who headed the specially-designated tribunal, came at a time when there is speculation of SIMI role in the serial blasts in Ahmedabad and Bangalore. The ban has been extended thrice.

The judge held that the Centre had given no new evidence against the SIMI to warrant the extension of the ban and asked the Centre to justify the measure, a top law officer said.

The government however maintains that the outfit is still an unlawful association.

The government only came out with the evidence of Malegaon blast in Maharashtra in 2006 to show the complicity of the organisation in unlawful activities which was not sufficient to come out with the notification to ban it, according to the judge.

Reacting to the order tonight, the Union Home Ministry indicated that the order will be challenged. "The ministry will examine the order in detail and take remedial action on a priority basis," a Ministry spokesman said.

He said a preliminary perusal of the tribunal's order indicates that it has not confirmed the ban on SIMI on technical grounds.

SIMI's lawyeer Trideep Pais welcomed the order and said governmente had no materialproof to support the extension of the ban. The ban was infortunate but justaice was done, he said.

‘Kuselan’: First Day, First Show!
‘Kuselan’: First Day, First Show!

Storm Rajnikanth has hit India, and it shows no signs of abatement. Cinemas of South India were besieged by Rajni fans, who sang, danced, howled, shrieked and shouted in absolute merriment.

Crackers were detonated and sulphur dioxide was religiously committed to the atmosphere. Milk, in gallons, was poured over the Superstar’s cut-outs. Marquee gates were destroyed and seats were stood upon.

A special screening was held for school students in Chennai.

Rajini’s magic works in ‘Kuselan’ too

CHENNAI: For a Rajinikanth film, the celebration at the release of Kuselan on Friday seemed a little low-key, but fans were evidently pleased with their thalaivar’s new film.

The usual Kollywood rituals, including pal abhishekams, bursting of crackers and dancing to fast-paced drum beats were all there, but in relatively small doses compared to the launch of other ‘superstar’ films. But a few cinemas conventionally known for celebrations still wore a festive look. With larger-than-life cut-outs of the actor put up all over, Albert theatre was surely the place to be for hardcore Rajini fans.

K. Viswanathan, a member of the Free Star Rajinikanth Fans’ Association in Otteri, who was busy moderating the crowd at the theatre, said: “In this film, thalaivar has played a very mature, age-appropriate role. The film highlights the beauty of friendship and has a very nice message.”

A. Dinesh Kumar, another film buff, said: “He has done something different in the last three films. In Chandramukhi, he played an unconventional role of a psychiatrist. Shivaji was a true Rajini film. In Kuselan again, he underplays.”

“There is not even one action sequence in the film. But he still pulls it off. That’s the Rajinikanth magic. The climax is very touching,” said Joseph Prasanna.

Fans also said actor Pasupathy’s performance was very impressive.

Interesting contrast

The scene at the not-so-far-away Woodlands theatre was an interesting contrast. Over 600 children from the Give Life Foundation saw the film specially screened for them by the Pyramid Saimira Group, the distributors. Along with the director of the film, P. Vasu, and cinematographer Arvind Krishna, Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi and Father Jegath Gasper, founders of Give Life, attended the special screening. Managers of most cinemas said all the shows were booked till Monday.

Rajnikant-starrer 'Kuselan' opens to a packed house

BANGALORE: The much-in-the-news Rajnikant-starrer , Kuselan, opened to packed theatres in Bangalore on Friday. The movie, that has the superstar in an extended cameo, hit theatres minus the trappings with which his Sivaji opened in 2007. Initial reports and reactions from fans suggest Kuselan is not the regular Rajni fare and showcases the actor more than the star.

A remake of Malayalam superhit Kadha Parayumbol, the movie has Rajni playing a superstar - with a different name, though - and traces his friendship with a village barber, played by Pasupathy.

Though the superstar appears in the movie for less than an hour, the producers have marketed it as a full-fledged Rajni movie, ensuring a massive opening.

Some hard-core fans, while acknowledging the 'different' attempt by the superstar, were left cold by the toned-down heroism. In Bangalore, some theatres reported fans walking out after the high-adrenaline introduction of the star, reflecting what they wanted from the movie.

The word, though, is that viewers are getting to see the actor perform - after a long time - without his famed, signature flamboyance. The final 20 minutes are also being appreciated for the high emotional quotient.

REAL DRAMA

For fans, it has been a long, unsure wait for the P Vasu directed movie after pro-Kannada organizations threatened to block its release in the state as a retort to 'derogatory' remarks made by the star against Karnataka on the Hogenakkal issue. Rajni's clarification on Thursday in this connection cleared the air for the release in Bangalore, across five multiplexes and about 10 other theatres.

Fans lined up at the cinema halls much ahead of the morning show and added to the celebrations by pouring milk on the actor's posters and thronging the halls with fullthrottle cheers. Most theatres have reported sold-out shows through the weekend.

Rajini's Kuselan in deep trouble

The Kannada organisations have decided to continue their protest agitation to block the release of Superstar Rajinikanth's new film Kuselan which is slated for release on August 1 in several centres of the state. Rajinikanth's letter to the president of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce indicating that he is not in the habit of hurting feelings of the people and the film chamber should co-operate for the release of his film Kuselan has not convinced the leaders of the pro Kannada organisations.

Terming Rajini's letter as style king's new stunt, former legislators Vatal Nagaraj and Prabhakar Reddy alleged that the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce has acted as brokers to the film's producers and distributors by allowing the free passage of the film's release. "This is not an apology letter.It is just an eye wash attempt by Rajinikanth to see that his film gets released without any problem. The fact is that Rajinikanth who was born and brought up in Karnataka has acted against the interests of the people of the state by stating that Tamil Nadu has the right to take up Hogenakal project. He has spoken harshly against the pro Kannada activists who are struggling to secure Kannada interests. We will not allow the release of the film in Karnataka come what may," said Vatal Nagaraj yesterday. Vatal Nagaraj addressed the press conference along with many leaders of pro Kannada organisations including the faction of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, which is spearheading the agitation to stall Kuselan's release in the state.

Narayana Gowda, the President of the militant Karnataka Rakshana Vedike said that Kannadigas are not fools to believe Rajinikanth who has perfected the art of double speak. "We wanted an apology from Rajinikanth. And an apology meant that Rajini should seek apology from all the five crore Kannadigas. For that he has to call a media conference and announce that he regrets for what he had spoken in Chennai on the day when the Tamil film artists had organised a protest rally. The KFCC is always acting against the interests of Kannadigas. We do not believe a letter to the President of the KFCC will dilute the feeling of hurt among Kannadigas. We are sure to block the release of the film in any part of the state," says Gowda.

And Gowda has made it another threat that if Rajini steps into the soil of Karnataka, he will be humiliated. "We are told he is coming here secretly for some of his personal work. If he publicly visits Bangalore, our volunteers are sure to question him about his remark on the Hogenakal issue," says Gowda.

However the distributors of the film in Karnataka were confident that the film will be released as scheduled. "The threat of protest was there even during the release of Rajinikanth's previous film Shivaji and even Kamal Hassan's previous film Dasavatharam. But both the films were released without any problems. We are sure that Kuselan would also be released on August 1," said an executive committee member of the KFCC.

Rajini pips Kamal for top spot

Dasavatharam' has successfully completed a 50-day run in over 500 screens across the globe. A technical marvel, featuring Kamal Haasan in ten different roles, has won appreciation from film-buffs all around the globe. The movie's good show at the box office has brought smiles on the face of its producer Aascar Ravichandran and director K S Ravikumar. 'Dasavatharam' topped the box office until Friday, but then with 'Kuselan' getting released, Kamal Haasan has been pipped by Rajinikanth straightaway. The big release of 'Kuselan' has reached the top slot as expected. The movie, released by Pyramid Saimira, has reported full houses everywhere. The phenomenal Rajini factor has worked wonders and Rajinikanth fans have ensured a fantastic opening for the movie. Moreover, the word-of-mouth publicity for the movie is also good. In the coming weeks, 'Kuselan' will undoubtedly reign supreme. A remake of the Malayalam hit 'Katha Parayumbol', it is directed by P Vasu and stars Pasupathy, Nayantara, Meena, Vadivelu, Prabhu alongside Rajinikanth.

Rajini on a sticky wicket' ]

Though most 'Rajini fans' celebrated the release of 'Kuselan', Rajinikanth's regret to the Kannada chauvinists for his remarks on the Hogenakkal issue has won him the wrath of many from the film industry. South India Film Artistes' Association president Sarath Kumar wanted to know why his friend (Rajini) regretted his speech and what he meant by saying 'he had learnt a lesson'. 'He must clarify his apology to the people of Tamilnadu who have made him the Superstar,' he said. Actor Sathyaraj said, "It is a disgrace not just to him but also to his fans. If Kannada organizations had threatened to stall the release of my movie in Karnataka, I would happily compensate my producers and distributors from my own pocket rather than apologize to them". Actor-director Vijaya T Rajendar said, 'Rajni wanted to showcase himself as a hero. But now he proved that he is a zero.'

Balachander comes in rescue of Rajini!

August 02, 2008

An event to honor the technicians of Kuselan financially, as promised by Rajini during the movie’s audio launch, was held today at the Raghavendra Kalyana Mandapam. A total of Rs. 40 lakhs was distributed among the technicians, of which the superstar contributed Rs. 20 lakhs and the producers, the rest.

Addressing the occasion, Rajini announced that the financial assistance would continue in his future movies as well. He said that this has been discussed with Shankar, with whom he is working next, and his daughter Soundarya. He also explained his stand in the apology issue and stated that the whole issue was a lesson for him. “Had I mentioned that my remarks on the Kannadigas do not apply for people in Karnataka in general and only to the miscreants, this issue wouldn’t have cropped up,” Rajini clarified. K. Balachander, who also attended, spoke in the event and remarked that the issue was blown out of proportion unnecessarily. “I have been watching the issue for some time now and did not comment on it since I did not want to add fuel to the fire. In my opinion, Rajini did not apologize and has only expressed regret over the issue,” KB added. He also mentioned that since Rajini’s life is closely intertwined with the producers and people, it became necessary for him to issue such a statement. “Apologizing and expressing regret are two different things. I would appeal to friends of Tamil cinema not to build a dividing wall inside the community by raising such issues. Let the bygones be bygones,” he stated. KB added that at a time when Tamil talent is being receiving nationwide recognition, especially in Bollywood, it is essential that Tamil cinema maintains its unity.

India look to decode Murali, Mendis

With the famed Indian batting order's reputation in tatters, a dejected India captain Anil Kumble on Saturday said his side will have to find ways to take on the Lankan spin duo of Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis if they have to come back in the second Test.

Muralitharan and debutant Mendis shared 19 wickets between them to hand the Indians a humiliating innings and 239 run defeat in the first Test here.

"We were not good enough against the spinners. We just capitulated (to them). We have made comebacks in the past. It is just a matter of getting together, but we have to look at the way of tackling both Murali and Mendis," Kumble said at the post-match press conference.

Kumble rued the dropped catches early in the Lankan first innings which had contributed to the hosts' mammoth 600 for six which made it a Herculean task for the famed Indian batting order to save the match.

"Obviously 600 on the board did not help us. We had a good opportunity in the beginning when they were about 100 for 2. We dropped a few catches. Warnapura was dropped, Mahela Jayawardene was dropped a couple of times, though it's tough to bowl first on a wicket which is dry at the start," he said.

"Nothing went right for us in the match. Other than planning, it is important to do well in fielding," he added.

The Indian captain also rued on a few dismissals which did not go his team's way when reviewed by the experimental referral system.

"A few dismissals were obviously negated under the referral system. The new system is something that we have to take forward. It definitely requires a review but it is too early to say."

Kumble denied his team was under prepared for the Sri Lankan tour and said a lot of planning had gone through ahead of the visit.

"We have people who have played Test cricket for more than 15 or 20 years. You can't find a better experience batting line up. We hope to cope with the spin in second Test."

Asked if India paid the price for not focusing on Ajantha Mendis, Kumble said, "Murali and Chaminda Vaas are probably the bowlers we were looking for. Nothing has changed and obviously he (Murali) is the champion bowler."

An elated Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene was a bit surprised by the collapse of the Indian batting and said he did not expect the victory would come so soon on the fourth day.

"When you see that (Indian) batting line up you would not expect them to buckle and (expect them to) give you a fight. That is a surprising factor. I am sure they will come back strongly at us," he said.

The home captain said though they will celebrate their victory but "can't stop working hard and have to try and maintain standards".

'Mystery' spinner Mendis said he had hoped to do well in the debut match but did not expect to take so many wickets.

"The senior players guided me," he said.

Muralitharan said if Mendis keeps his calm and go on learning he would get a lot of wickets in international cricket.

The champion off-spinner said the umpiring referral system was helpful for cricket as there could be "no more excuses" (for defeats).

There are times when it helps to look back and analyse exactly what went wrong in a game. But in situations like this, where everything possible went wrong, it may be prudent to just consign the past to history and look forward.

Anil Kumble tried to do that, asserting that there was nothing fundamentally wrong with the team.

“There is no need to look at a change in technique. No other line up is more technically equipped,” he said.

“They are players who have played for more than 15 years and have more than 100 Tests. You can’t get a more experienced line up than this. It is important for the bowlers to also put their hands up.”

At the same time Kumble conceded that his team had been comprehensively outplayed in all departments and that plenty of work awaited them.

“We need to work all three departments of the game,” said Kumble. “We dropped a few catches. Zaheer got a wicket off a no-ball. We had to bowl well and also ensure we held the chances that came our way.”

While India played well below par, Sri Lanka certainly did all they could to win, and Kumble did not shy from giving them credit.

“They bowled exceptionally well. It was never going to be easy after they had 600 on the board,” he said.

“Avoiding the follow-on was always going to be tough. The wicket was not really helping spin but once you bat like we did in the first innings, it was going to be tough. It was an exceptional bowling performance from Mendis and Murali.”

Kumble re-emphasised that it was Murali who posed the biggest threat, and not Mendis, despite his eight wickets.

“We did not concentrate only on Mendis. I did mention before the match that Murali and Vaas are the important bowlers and nothing has changed,” said Kumble.

“It was only that we are asked more about Mendis in media conferences. Probably the focus was on him but we always knew Murali and Vaas were the ones. Murali is a champion bowler.”

When asked what needed to be done ahead of the next Test, Kumble said that it was not as though the team did not have its plans in place for this Test, adding, “We have come back well in the past and it is the same them that has brought some wonderful results. I am confident we will come back.

“When things don’t go our way people think there is no plan in place.

“It is the same process. Obviously we need to look at our strategy in handling Murali and Mendis. We have to be a little more positive.”

Punjab, Haryana on alert after Bangalore, Ahmedabad blasts

High alert has been sounded in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh in the wake of Bangalore and Ahmedabad explosions.

Security around all key public places including railway stations, bus stands, shopping malls has been beefed up, official sources said here.

More 'nakas' were being set up in the two states to keep an eye on movement of any suspicious elements, the sources said.

Chronol

July 26, 2008: Serial blasts in Ahmedabad killing at least 30 people and injuring more than 100.

July 25, 2008: Nine explosions in Bangalore create terror killing two people and injuring twelve.

May 2008: Eight serial blasts rock Jaipur in a span of 12 minutes leaving 65 dead and over 150 injured.

January 2008: Terrorist attack on CRPF camp in Rampur kills 8.

October 2007: 2 killed in a blast inside Ajmer Sharif shrine during Ramadan.

August 2007: 30 dead, 60 hurt in Hyderabad 'terror' strike.

May 2007: A bomb at Mecca mosque in Hyderabad kills 11 people.

February 19, 2007: Two bombs explode aboard a train bound from India to Pakistan, burning to death at least 66 passengers, most of them Pakistanis.

September 2006: 30 dead and 100 hurt in twin blasts at a mosque in Malegaon.

July 2006: Seven bombs on Mumbai's trains kill over 200 and injure 700 others.

March 2006: Twin bombings at a train station and a temple in Varanasi kill 20 people.

October 2005: Three bombs placed in busy New Delhi markets a day before Diwali kill 62 people and injure hundreds.

August 2003: Two taxis packed with explosives blow up outside a Mumbai tourist attraction and a busy market, killing 52 and wounding more than 100.

September 24, 2002: Militants with guns and explosives attack the Akshardham Hindu temple in the western state of Gujarat, 31 killed, More than 80 injured.

May 14: Militants attack an army camp near Kashmir's winter capital, Jammu, killing more than 30, including wives and children of soldiers.

December 13, 2001: More than a dozen people, including five gunmen, killed in an attack on parliament in New Delhi.

October 1, 2001: Militants storm the Jammu and Kashmir state assembly complex, killing about 35 people.

March 1993: Mumbai serial bombings kill 257 people and injure more than 1,100.

ogy - Major bomb blasts in India

Serial blasts rock Bangalore, 2 killed
Bangalore was today hit by eight serial bomb blasts at crowded locations on a stretch from Brigade Road to Hosur Road.

The blasts reportedly occurred at within a span of 12 minutes, leaving two dead, including a woman, and several injured.

The first blast took place around 1.30 in the afternoon. The low-intensity crude bombs were planted mostly near refugee settlements and were triggered by timers.

Bomb squads were rushed to the blast sites. The telephone lines were jammed as a precaution. Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa called an emergency meeting of the cabinet. The CM later said the blasts represented a ''planned conspiracy to vitiate the atmosphere'' in the state.

Karnataka Welfare Minister Shoba announced a solatium of Rs one lakh for the family of the deceased woman, and said the government would bear the medical expenses of those injured.

City Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari urged the people to ''carry on with their daily activities without any fear.''

However, as the news of the blasts spread, major shopping malls and schools were shut down. Panicked people caused traffic jams across the city while heading for their homes.

In Delhi, the Union Home Ministry said they had forewarned Karnataka about an attack. Home Minister Shivraj Patil condemned the incident, saying the government would deal firmly with anti-national forces. Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta said nuts and bolts were used in the bombs, adding that the motive for the bombings was not yet known.

Site of the blasts

Rajaram Mohan Roy Road, Sampan-Giram Nagar

Mallya Hospital, near Richmond Circle

Nayandanahalli, Mysore Road

Kengeri RTO , Mysore Road

Satellite town bus stop, Mysore Road

Sarjapur Road, near Madiwala Police Station

Madiwala checkpost

Crime branch conducts overnight raids; several detained

Police conducted raids and detained a "number of persons" in connection with the serial blasts that rocked this city killing at least 38 people and injuring around 90 others.

Joint Commissioner of Police of Crime Branch Ashish Bhatia told PTI on Sunday that no arrests have been made so far.

Bhatia also said that there was no evidence as yet to suggest the involvement of a suicide bomber in the blast that occurred at the civil hospital on Saturday.

"Our teams conducted search operations at various places last night and detained number of persons. I cannot provide the exact figure as many teams were involved in the operations and we are yet to consolidate the figures," he said.

"There are some rumours going on. But I do not suspect an suicide bomber was used at city civil hospital. Upper half of a person was found at the site after the blast. He has not been identified yet. May be this might have fuelled the rumour," Bhatia said.

"But I do not think any suicide bomber was involved," he added.

When asked how the blast at the civil hospital took place, Bhatia said that the bomb was kept in a car near the Trauma Centre of the hospital.

"The car in which the bomb was kept was blown to pieces. Some small gas cylinders were found at the site. This could have increased the intensity of the blast," Bhatia said.

Serial blasts in Ahmedabad, 29 killed

At least 15 of the deaths in Ahmedabad were in blasts which took place in the government-run Civil Hospital and another three in municipal-run LG Hospital. All the blasts, except the one at Sarkhej, took place in the crowded eastern neighbourhoods of the city, within a radius of 5 km. The blasts happened at Sarkhej, Maninagar, Bapunagar, Thakkarbapanagar, Naroda, Raipur Narol and Sarangpur. The Civil Hospital and LG Hospital campuses were the last to get bombed, about 40 minutes after the first round of blasts. Most of the bombs were planted behind bicycles in tiffins contained in blue polythene bags while the bombs in the hospitals were placed in automobiles. The bombs were packed with timer devices and microprocessors. Preliminary reports suggest ammonium nitrate was used in the bombs. Eyewitnesses said multiple bombs were planted within a short range, which went off within an interval of a few seconds. The idea was to attract people to the site with the first blast and then explode the other with more devastating effect. "One bomb went off from a bag on one cycle carrier and as people collected, another one went off within 15-20 seconds on another cycle carrier", said Bhushan Bhatt, a municipal corporator. One of the bombs went off near a bus in a Hindu pocket of the otherwise Muslim-dominated Sarkhej ripping one side of the bus completely. The busy diamond market in Bapunagar here was also made a target. At Maninagar, the bombs were planted in the busy vegetable market and bus stops. Over 30 feared dead in Ahmedabad blast Terrorists want to create communal divide: Prithvi Raj Chauhan Advani reacts to Ahmedabad blasts Communally sensitive Sarkhej targeted Two explosions were heard: Witness Shivraj Patil refuses to play blame game Marked sites of Ahmedabad blasts Ahmedabad Police assures to prevent unrest

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	Rajini Health Secrets He looked only a little younger than his age in Sivaji, while the promo stills of Kuselan present a rather different picture. If not anything else, Superstar Rajinikanth is spruced up and looks a good twenty years younger here. He laid bare the secrets of his youth to the world at the Kuselan audio launch. Just in case you missed the media’s flashlights when they focused on the topic, we have compiled it for you. After all, expert tips are meant to be shared and experimented. And of course, results may vary. Avoid White Foods Superstar’s ideology of white foods range from salt to curd and everything in between. He believes that avoiding sugar, rice, pills, milk, curd, and ghee in food, especially after 40 help one stay younger. Now that you have scored every possible tasty food off your menu, look out for the supermarket shelves for brown breads and sugar free cookies to add a little taste to your life. But of course, you get to look younger that what you are supposed to.