Hrithik blessed with baby boy

MUMBAI, May 1: Actor Hrithik Roshan today became the proud father of a baby boy.

Suzanne, the actor’s wife, delivered the baby at Lilavati Hospital.

"Both the baby and the mother are doing fine", a doctor at the hospital said.

The baby, which weighed 3.3 kgs was born at 11.27 am.

This is their second baby. Their first son Hrehaan is one-and-half-year old. (PTI)

Two get life term for dealing in fake currency

NEW DELHI, May 1: Terming a person dealing in fake currency as "the worst enemy" of the nation, a city court has sentenced two men involved in printing and circulating counterfeit notes to life imprisonment.

"Counterfeit currency is a bane of economy. If economy collapses, the entire nation is bound to die a slow death. A counterfeiter is the worst enemy of the nation," Additional Sessions Judge R K Shastri said.

The court yesterday sentenced Kamil and Neeraj, son of a retired Delhi Police officer, to life term with a fine of Rs 30,000 and 20,000 respectively after holding them guilty of possessing instruments for forging counterfeit currency notes under section 489d of the IPC.

However, two other convicts — Manoj and Abdul Sami —were sentenced to five years prison term with a fine of rs 10,000 for possessing fake currency at their houses under section 489c of the IPC.

On June seven, 2001, the Delhi Police special cell laid a trap and apprehended Kamil and Neeraj with fake currency —having a face value of Rs 2.54 lakh — computer, printer, cloth and papers from a place under Preet Vihar Police Station in east Delhi.

The police later also arrested two others Manoj and Sami for possessing counterfeit notes with face value of over Rs 35,000 and Rs 40,000 respectively at their instance.

"Electronic gadget along with fake currency notes were recovered at the instance of both (Kamil and Neeraj) accused, Kamil was also found selling fake notes. The other two accused were also in possession of counterfeit currency," ASJ said, referring to fake currency as "betenoire" of a common man.

The prosecution examined as many as 11 witnesses to prove its charges against the accused. The defence also produced nine witnesses to claim their innocence. (PTI)

Women groups protest against trial
of injectable contraceptive

NEW DELHI, May 1: Concerned over the proposed trials for injectable contraceptives net en and cyclofem, women actvists and health groups have demanded Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss to immediately stop any plans of introduction of hazardous hormonal injectable contraceptives through the public health system.

The proposal for the Phase IV trials of cyclofem was presented at a meeting called by the Health Ministry on April 16, 2008 at which it was informed that the ICMR had already completed Phase III trials, on the basis of which ‘experts’ had approved the initiation of phase IV trials to be conducted in 31 district hospitals/medical colleges and through nine NGO institutions.

In a memorandum submitted to the Health Minister, women’s groups and health activists have pointed out that since 1985 they opposed the use of injectable contraceptives in view of its health hazards to women and their progeny. It is evident that despite these concerns, the ministry has continued with experimenting on Indian women with the phase III trials, they lamented.

In response to an earlier meeting regarding introduction of injectable contraceptives in the public health system in October 2004, 62 women’s groups and individuals from all over the country submitted a memorandum to him stating all reasons why injectable contraceptives were unsuited for India.

"Our concerns regarding safety, short and long term adverse health impact and severe side-effects of net-en and depo-provera which are by now, all well established. Yet you did not deem it fit to call representatives of these groups or to initiate a public debate on the matter of such widespread implications before deciding to initiate phase iv trials of net-en and cyclofem," they said. (UNI)

Maharashtra Govt to come up with
tougher laws to curb piracy

MUMBAI, May 1: Stringent laws will be in place by next month to deal with counterfeiters and those indulging in software and entertainment piracy in Maharashtra, a senior Home Department official said.

"We have proposed amendments in the MPDA (Maharashtra Prevention of Disruptive Activities Act) based on the Goonda Act in Tamil Nadu. The proposal has been sent to the centre and in a month we expect to get approval," R D Sankhe, Joint Secretary (Law) from the State Home Department, said.

Through the amendments, the Government expects to give police the power to imprison counterfeiters for upto a year, which will prevent them from indulging in any illegal activities including piracy, Sankhe said.

"The proposal that was sent to the Centre about four months ago will help tackle piracy of software, film and audio," Sankhe said on the sidelines of a FICCI conference on counterfeiting and piracy.

Besides, the entertainment industry had also sent a proposal on a law aiming to curb film, audio and other forms of piracy to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the approval of which is still pending.

Mumbai and Pune are among the largest centres of piracy in the state, where industry officials, along with police conduct raids to prevent such activities.

According to a recent study, piracy is estimated to be causing losses close to usd four billion to the Indian entertainment industry and the sector is presently seeking tougher laws like the Goonda Act in Tamil Nadu to deal with it.

"In many cases, it is the smaller people in the counterfeiters’ network who are booked and the main accused go free," Sankhe said, adding that private agencies could be hired to assist the police in cases of piracy.

Acknowledging that the conviction rate for counterfeiters has been low, sankhe said the quality of public prosecutors is good but they are burdened with a lot of work.

"The film industry is free to appoint lawyers who would assist our prosecutors in such cases," he said.

Sankhe also asked the industry to take up equal responsibility with the Government in tackling counterfeiting and piracy. (PTI)

Russian MPs want to introduce Indian
Parliamentary procedures

NEW DELHI, May 1: Impressed by the Indian Parliamentary procedures, Russian MPs want to introduce them in their Parliament as Russia moves towards a multi-party democracy.

"We are very much impressed the way open discussions on important subjects take place in Indian Parliament.... We want to incorporate that," senator Nokolai Tulaev says.

Mr Tulaev is heading a three-member delegation of senators from the Russian Federation Council.

The senators are also impressed by the healthy interaction between the Government and the Parliamentarians which, they say, is lacking in Russia.

The delegation has met Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K Rehman and seen the working of the two Houses.

They learnt the peculiarities of the legislative process, including the procedure of adoption of financial statues and constitutional amendments.

Mr Tulaev says they will invite Indian MPs to participate in the 15th anniversary of the Russian Parliament to be held in October this year.

Mr Chatterjee also says the two countries can share their experiences in the working of a Parliamentary democracy.

Earlier this month, a delegation of young parliamentarians from the Duma was in the capital to cement ties with their counterparts here in the ‘year of Russian in India’

Delegation member Elena Afanasyeva had said she was intrigued by the question hour system, where ministers had to reply directly, and would suggest something like that back home. (UNI)

Red tapism shadows RTI Act implementation in UP

NEW DELHI, May 1: It is a sorry state of affairs in Uttar Pradesh on the Right to Information (RTI) front, with close to half of the over 9,000 appeals and complaints made in a year yet to be disposed.

Between April 2006 and March 2007, the total number of appeals and complaints made under the transparency law stood at 9,946.

And of these, a total number of 4,088 appeals and complaints were pending disposal.

The information was given in a reply to an application filed by RTI activist retired commodore Lokesh K Batra to the Uttar Pradesh State Information Commission (UPSIC).

Batra had originally filed an RTI application with the UPSIC under section 25 of the act, which makes it mandatory for all State Information Commissions and the Central Information Commission to furnish reports on the implementation of law.

But he did not get the desired information even after filing the same RTI for two consecutive years.

In 2007, the UPSIC replied that the required information could not be provided as the report of the Commission for the last year had not been prepared.

"Due to acute paucity of staff, no such statement could be prepared by the Commission as desired by you so far nor it is still in such a position as to prepare and provide the same in near future," was the reply the RTI activist got.

Not ready to give up, Batra filed another RTI plea to know the monthly disposal of appeals and complaints with the UPSIC.

"The results were surprising. Cases accumulated despite the state having the highest number of Information Commissioners, which is the opposite of what should have happened," he said.

"If this is the state in one year, then imagine the number of cases pending now (since the implementation of the RTI Act)," Batra asked.

A comparison of the website of the UPSIC (www.UPSIC.Up.Nic.In) and the CIC (cic.Gov.In) clearly indicates poor implementation of section 4 of the act, which makes it mandatory for the Commission to keep its website updated on the progress made on the complaints.

"The UPSIC has failed to maintain the required data in the website in compliance of the act," he said.

When contacted, Chief Commissioner, UPSIC, Justice M A Khan accepted paucity of staff as a reason for not maintaining documentation of the information and not updating the website.

He said: "We do not have either proper infrastructure or manpower. We have ten Information Commissioners and we work on a rotational basis. We gets lots of cases, but then we do not have basic staff like data operator or web designer."

"Seeing the poor state of the SIC, the IAS officers are reluctant to continue working with us," Khan said.

Batra said: "If this lackadaisical attitude comes from the State Information Commission, who are the highest authorities for taking to task the public authority, there will be no check on the public authorities and the administration of the state too," Batra said. (PTI)

Bollywood has no scope for creativity, says Lekh Tondon

NEW DELHI, May 1: After proving his prowess with Shammi Kappor-starer ‘professor’ and several other movies and TV serials in good old days, Director Lekh Tondon has become estranged from making Bollwood films believing the industry has "lost its scope for creative freedom."

The filmmaker says that the artists’ creativity is suppressed due to commercial compulsion of film makers. "Bollywood has become a corporate business. You have to be focused on commercial profit rather than on your creativity. The chances of experiment is very less," says Tondon adding "absolutely, this is the reason why I have stopped making Bollywood films and shifted to small screen long back."

The Director also feels that Aamir Khan’s ‘Taare Zameen Par’ and Ajay Devgan’s ‘U, Me Aur Hum’ are some of the outcome of suppressed creative thrust of the actors.

"Its because of their dissatisfaction... They (Aamir Khanand Ajay Devgan) are not satisfied with what they are doing. Can any producer do what Aamir Khan has done in "Tare Zameenpar"? asks Tondon while commending recent works of a few actor-turned-directors in Bollywood.

Tondon also refuses to believe the financial constraints in making films meaningful and socially relevant. "Financial problems can not become obstacles. Not only Aamir Khan can take risk because he can afford, Shyam Benegal takes risk even in less money," adds Tondon who always believe in working on socially relevant themes.

On the recent Pakistani film ‘Khuda Ke Liye’ made by Pakistani Director Shoab Mansoor, Tondon says that a character of Muslim cleric (played by Nasiruddin Shah) has made a significant comment indirectly towards communalism.

"Actually, we should not talk about what we have against each other. Instead, we should talk what we have in common," says the Director who is planning to make a serial on partition.

"More that sixty years have passed. I want people to think what we have gained and what we have lost in this period. After all we have so much in common. Who can say in India that I don’t know about sufi music and ghazals? Who doesn’t know about the Indian classical music in Pakistan?" asks Tondon. (PTI)

India-origin lady among UK’s 20 most
powerful in public sector

LONDON, May 1: India-origin Shriti Vadera, working in the UK’s department of business enterprise and competitiveness, has been named among the 20 most powerful business people in the country’s public sector by a leading daily here.

Bank of England Governor Mervyn King has topped the list of 100 most powerful business people in the public sector and Non-Governmental Organisations compiled by the daily telegraph.

Shriti Vadera who is the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Competitiveness, Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform ranked at the 20th place is ahead of BBC Worldwide Chief Executive John Smith (26th rank), takeover Panel Chairman Peter Scott (27) and Channel 4 Chairman Luke Johnson (32), among others.

"After eight years as a Special Adviser to Gordon Brown while he was Chancellor, Vadera is now the Prime Minister’s Whitehall Enforcer at the new department for Berr," the daily said.

Vadera had spent 14 years at investment bank ubs Warburg and five years as a trustee at Oxfam.

"She retains a global perspective, helping set up bill gates’ massive drive to immunise 500 million children against preventable diseases and playing a key role in development issues including the cancellation of poor country debts agreed by the G8 in 2000 and 2005," the report noted.

On Mervyn King, the daily said that he has been at the centre of the turmoil over the future of northern rock, clashing with the financial services authority.

"He has provided some stability as the only ever-present on the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee since it was set up over a decade ago to set interest rates," the report said.

Further, financial services authority chief executive hector sants is at the second place, followed by BBC Director-General Mark Thompson, Chief Advisor to Gordon Brown Stephen Carter and Cabinet Secretary and head of the Civil Service Sir Gus O’donnell at third, fourth and fifth positions, respectively.

They are followed by office of Government Commerce Governor Sir Peter Gershon (6th rank), NHS Chief Executive David Nicholson (7), ofcom Chief Executive ed Richards (8), Royal Mail Chairman Allan Leighton (9) and Permanent Secretary to the Treasury Nicholas Macpherson (10).

Other prominent names in the top 20 list include Financial Services Authority Chairman Sir Callum Mccarthy (12), Northern Rock Executive Chairman Ron Sandler (15) and office of Fair Trading Chief Executive John Fingleton (18).

On the ranking, the newspaper said that there is no objective way to compile such a broad-based list, "so it is unashamedly subjective."

"This is not a rich list, nor one confined to British nationals, though in the majority of cases those on it spend most of their time in the UK," it added. (PTI)

Al-Qaeda resurrects in Pakistan’s tribal areas: US report

WASHINGTON, May 1: Buoyed by a ceasefire deal negotiated by Pakistan in 2007, Al-Qaeda has rebuilt some of its pre-Sept 11 capabilities, leading to major spike in attacks within the country and neighbouring Afghanistan, the US State Department’s latest annual terrorism report says.

Attacks in Pakistan more than doubled from 375 to 887 between 2006 and 2007, and the number of fatalities jumped by almost 300 per cent from 335 to 1,335, the report said.

In Afghanistan, the number of attacks rose 16 per cent, to 1,127 incidents last year, killing 1,966 people, 55 per cent more than the 1,257 who died in 2006, it said.

The ceasefire negotiated by Pakistan in 2007 gave Al-Qaeda leaders "greater mobility and ability to conduct training and operational planning, particularly that targeting western Europe and the United States," it said.

"Numerous senior Al-Qaeda operatives have been captured or killed, but Al-Qaeda leaders continued to plot attacks and to cultivate stronger operational connections that radiated outward from Pakistan to affiliates throughout the Middle East, north Africa, and Europe," the report said.

But senior US officials voiced cautious support for Pakistan’s new Government led by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani, who has vowed that rooting out terrorism in the country’s lawless tribal areas would be Islamabad’s highest priority.

"This Government has a chance to really move forward in its own security internally," Dell Dailey, coordinator of the State Department office for counter-terrorism, said.

"We think that all the tools are in place for this treaty to have the successful outcome. They certainly know the United States is watching it. And we’ll articulate our concerns if it turns out to be not as successful as the one in the past" Dailey said. (PTI)

Sino-India border trade at Nathu La postponed

GANGTOK, May 1: The annual Sino-India border trade at Nathu La, which was to be reopened today, has been postponed following Commerce Ministry’s communique to the Sikkim Government, official sources said here.

"We have received a fax message from the Union Commerce Ministry late last evening informing about the postponement of the re-opening of the border trade at Nathu La," the District Collector (east) Vishal Chauhan said here.

The re-opening of annual trade at Nathu La may take place on May 19, he said.

The district administration would continue with the processing of the applications of the Indian traders for issuance of the travel and security passes in order to enable them to take part in the border trade this year, Chauhan said.

Meanwhile, the Chinese authorities have cited the occurrence of landslides in several areas in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) disrupting the movement of people and goods as the reason behind postponement of the annual border trade, official sources said here.

The traders from the TAR might find it difficult to visit the trade mart at Sherathang near Nathu La and so would be the case with the Indian traders going to trade marts at renquingang and donquingang due to landslides, they said.

However, according to political analysts the main reason behind postponement of the annual border trade is China’s apprehension against mainly Tibetans, who comprise majority of traders at the annual event.

In spite of the State Government’s optimism that the border trade would commence on schedule, the annual event was a non-starter this year due to the ‘pro-Independence’ movement in tar recently, which was supported by the Tibetan exiles in India, they said.

A large number of Tibetans from the North-Eastern states had marched upto Rangpo on Sikkim-West Bengal border to take out a peace march upto Nathu La border in support of the Tibetan ‘freedom fighters’.

The annual border trade has been tentatively re-scheduled to commence from May 19 next. (PTI)

Nuke deal to end up with next Govt in US, India: Official

WASHINGTON, May 1: The stalled Indo-US civilian nuclear deal could well end up with the next administration both in the US and India, a former US Government official said, adding that a new American President is not likely to scuttle the atomic initiative.

The official also said the nuke deal should not become hostage to India’s ties with Iran.

"I certainly hope that wouldn’t happen," said Bruce Riedel, a former senior official of the National Security Council in-charge of Asia, when asked if a new American President is likely to scuttle the civilian nuclear initiative.

"Sooner or later, the Congress Government will force a showdown with the Communists, probably closer to the next scheduled Indian elections in May 2009. This agreement is probably one that is going to slip over into the next Indian administration too," Riedel said.

"This deal is the basis for strong US-Indian relationship and I support it. There is certainly a possibility that a new administration May try to strengthen the nonproliferation parts of it, and might, particularly if the democrats are elected, try to revive the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

"But the first step there of course would be for the United States to ratify the CTBT. I don’t think we could go to the Indians and ask them to do something that we haven’t done so far," he said.

The delay by India on the civilian nuclear deal is entirely due to politics in the governing coalition, maintained riedel.

"The Congress negotiated the deal and it wants to conclude it. But its junior partner in the coalition, the Communists, opposes the deal for a very simple reason. They recognize that the deal is the pathway by which US-Indian relations are going to get much stronger," Riedel said.

"The Communists are basically opposed to a strong US-Indian strategic partnership and they want to try to scuttle the deal," he added.

"When I was in India a few weeks ago, the Government made its determination very clear to push this deal forward and to get its various bits and pieces put together to go to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and then take it to the nuclear suppliers group....

On the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline proposal, Riedel said the project was a very complex deal and negotiations were on from a very a long time.

"My own suspicion is that it’s still probably years away from being operational. American relations with India should not become a hostage to Indian-Iranian relations.

"India does have a working relationship with Iran. India is the world’s second largest shiite Muslim country. There are almost as many Shiites in India as there are in Iran," Riedel said.

"But India also has a very strong relationship with Israel. Today, India is Israel’s number one customer for military exports, and India and Israel have a very close relationship in terms of space activity. India has been a launching point for Israels most sophisticated spy satellite, which will be launched later this year, and several that are coming up. (PTI)