US targets to send 15000 American students to India every year

Washington: The United States is looking to triple the number of Americans going to India for higher studies in the next five years.

"That is still far from our goal of 15,000 in five years," Tara Sonenshine, the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, told the visiting Human Resources and Development Minister, Pallam Raju, in a roundtable interaction earlier this week.

Currently, while more than 100,000 Indian students visit US to study every year, the number of American students who studied in India in 2011-2012 was a mere 4,300 and far less than those going to China for studies.

"We have to look at what are the obstacles to getting American students to go so that we can boost interest and participation," Sonenshine said.

Robert Blake, the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia had earlier said that the US government was working with the Indian government to streamline the education visa processes, which have been repeatedly identified as a key reason for why so few American students go to India

Source : PTI

Anand beats Radjabov, moves to joint third after seventh round

Sor Hidle, Norway: World champion Viswanathan Anand outclassed Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan to jump to joint third spot after the seventh round of Norway chess 2013 super tournament, here.

It turned out to be a good day in office for Anand as he won an important game with black pieces adding to the woes of Radjabov whose slide in the world ranking continued.

The full point also took Anand to four points out of a possible seven.

Karjakin accounted for Hikaru Nakamura showing great signs of recovery after losing to Carlsen in the fifth and salvaging a half point against Anand in the sixth round.

World number one Magnus Carlsen of Norway scored a lucky victory against compatriot Jon Ludvig Hammer while in the other two games Levon Aronian of Armenia played out a draw with Chinese Wang Hao and Russian Peter Svidler signed peace with former world champion Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria.

Karjakin stayed ahead with 5.5 points and Carlsen remained on his toes a half point behind. Aronian shares the third spot along with Anand on four points while Svidler and Nakamura have 3.5 points each for the shared fifth place.

Topalov is next in standings on three points, a half point clear of Wnag Hao and Nakamura while Hammer remained on the bottom having 1.5 points from his seven games.

The Catalan opening holds a solid reputation as white but Radjabov was on the receiving end after some reckless play in the middle game.

Anand capitalised on his queen side pawn majority and an open file in the center to exert pressure and Radjabov’s position crumbled in quick time. The world champion ended the game with a tactical finesse winning material.

Karjakin faced the Najdorf Sicilian and went for the blood early. Nakamura’s attempt for counter play did not materialize as he lost his queen for two pieces. The technicalities remained but the result of the game was never in doubt as Karjakin cruised home in 59 moves.

Carlsen was lucky as himself admitted, "I need some rest," said the Norwegian who is set to meet Anand in the next world championship match at Chennai.

Hammer not only had a slight advantage but was also on top with extra time on his clock. However, a mistimed pawn advance in the center led to a bad endgame wherein Carlsen struck form quite easily.

After a rest day now, Anand will play with Hammer and then Wang Hao which means his chances of a good finish are much on cards. Carlsen has to meet Wang Hao and Aronian while Karjakin plays with Svidler and Topalov. The stage is set for a thrilling finish with Karjakin holding an edge over the rest.

Results round 7: Teimour Radjabov (Aze, 2.5) lost to V Anand (Ind, 4); Jon Ludvig Hammer (Nor, 1.5) lost to Magnus Carlsen (Nor, 5); Sergey Karjakin (Rus, 5.5) beat Hikaru Nakamura (Usa, 3.5); Wang Hao (Chn, 2.5) drew with Levon Aronian (Arm, 4); Peter Svidler (Rus, 3.5) drew with Veselin Topalov (Bul, 3);.

Source: DC

After Lamborghini, Ferrari, Dubai cops to have Bentley, Mercedes

Dubai: Cash-rich Dubai police has added Aston Martin, Bentley and Mercedes to its existing fleet of luxurious supercars which includes Ferrari and Lamborghini, making it the most stylish security force in the world.

Following recent unveilings of a Ferrari FF and a Lamborghini, the force has shown off new cars from luxury UK auto maker Aston Martin, Bentley and Mercedes.

The Aston Martin One-77, Bentley Continental GT and Mercedes SLS have been launched at the Arabian Travel Market, Arabian Business reported.

Last month, Dubai's police chief said that a number of Ferraris to be introduced to the force will be driven by female officers.

Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan had tweeted that he expected to see Dubai Police's female recruits getting behind the wheels of the Ferrari FF supercar, which costs about USD 500,000 and has a top speed of 335 kmph.

Last month, the department made the announcement via Twitter, "Ferrari joins # Dubai_Police patrol fleet," the police tweeted. The twitter page also had an online link to the picture of the car.

"Ferrari cars will be equipped with the latest technology needed by the police to control road movement and ensure safety and security on Dubai roads," Lieutenant General Khalfan had said.

Earlier, Dubai Police also revealed its new AED2m (USD 500,000) Lamborghini which can reach speeds of up to 350 kmph.

Dubai Police's fleet also includes the Toyota Land Cruiser and the Kia Mohave.

Meanwhile, an environment-friendly car from S S Lootah has also been introduced to the Dubai Police fleet as it will improve safety works.

Lieutenant General Khalfan said the new vehicle would help support the police efforts in preserving the security of the UAE residents and will provide fast service when required, especially at events when early intervention and protection of life and properties is needed.

Daughter-in-law should not be treated as domestic help, says Supreme Court

PTI


The top court said a bride must be respected in her matrimonial home as it "reflects the sensitivity of a civilised society."

"A daughter-in-law is to be treated as a member of the family with warmth and affection and not as a stranger with respectable and ignoble indifference. She should not be treated as a house maid. No impression should be given that she can be thrown out of her matrimonial home at any time," a bench of justices K S Radhakrishnan and Dipak Misra said.

"Respect of a bride in her matrimonial home glorifies the solemnity and sanctity of marriage, reflects the sensitivity of a civilised society and eventually epitomises her aspirations dreamt of in nuptial bliss.

"But the manner in which sometimes the bride is treated in many a home by the husband, in-law and the relatives creates a feeling of emotional numbness in society," it said.

The Supreme Court made the observations while sentencing a man to five years imprisonment for torturing his wife, who committed suicide.

The bench said it was a matter of great concern that brides in several cases were being treated with total insensitivity, destroying their desire to live.

"It is a matter of grave concern and shame that brides are burned or otherwise their life-sparks are extinguished by torture, both physical and mental, because of demand of dowry and insatiable greed and sometimes, sans demand of dowry, because of cruelty and harassment meted out to the nascent brides, treating them with total insensitivity, destroying their desire to live and forcing them to commit suicide, a brutal self-humiliation of life," the bench said.

Angelina Jolie: From girl with tattoos to girl with a cause

In her bad girl days, Angelina Jolie's body was a billboard for tattoos that said such things as 'Billy Bob'.

Now she's sharing intimate details of her anatomy to help women at risk, going public with her preventive double mastectomy to greatly reduce her high odds of breast cancer.

Read -- Angelina Jolie's column: Opening a conversation on women's health

It's the latest peak in Jolie's turn-around from hedonist to humanitarian, party girl to inspirational poster girl. The way she went public with her medical story on her own terms, in her own time with a New York Times op-ed piece Tuesday that caught the media fishbowl of Hollywood completely by surprise reveals a woman who once seemed out of control to be one of Hollywood's most forceful and compassionate stars, using her fame with surgical precision to promote matters dear to her.

"I'm in awe of her. She remains one of the most inspiring women that I've ever encountered,'' said former Paramount Pictures boss Sherry Lansing, who heads the Sherry Lansing Foundation for cancer research. "By letting people know about her personal issue, she is touching countless women who have the same genetic mutations, and she is showing them that they have choices and they can be empowered and can take care of their own health. And by doing so, I believe she is going to save countless lives.''

Jolie's come a long way from her wild-child days of 10 or 12 years ago. She was branded a home-wrecker when she took up with Billy Bob Thornton, who broke up with Laura Dern and married Jolie. Thornton and Jolie were a tabloid writer's dream team, an odd couple who wore lockets with a drop of each other's blood.

Back in 2000, Jolie proudly showed off the newest of her 10 tattoos, the name "Billy Bob'' etched across her left shoulder. The marriage ended three years later, and new home-wrecker accusations arose after Brad Pitt left Jennifer Aniston for Jolie, his co-star in the 2005 assassin adventure "Mr. and Mrs. Smith.''

New life for waste plant

Kochi: The state government which failed to find a suitable agency to construct the proposed modern solid waste treatment plant at Brahmapuram has now opted for the ‘Swiss challenge system’ of tendering, an innovative bidding method.

This method, popular in western countries, is more transparent and will help private sector initiative in major government projects. According to sources at Suchitwa Mission, the coordinating agency for the project, the bid can be finalised in three months using the Swiss model.

“The state cabinet has already decided to opt for the Swiss challenge system and a tender notification will be issued soon,” said sources at Suchitwa Mission.

According to civic experts, this new system is ideal for the plant as it will ensure the best technology and competitive rates for the government. Under this system, private companies can submit unsolicited bids with a detailed project report, technology solutions and also contract terms.

Then the government will invite competitive bids from other interested parties. If a counter proposal is found favourable by the government, the original project proposer will be given an opportunity to match it. Later, the project will be awarded to that company which submits the most competitive proposal.

It was in May last year that the state government had floated a global tender through the Suchitwa Mission for setting up the plant. Though three companies had been shortlisted, the technical committee after scrutiny expressed dissatisfaction with their bids.

The proposed plant will have a capacity to treat 500 tonnes of solid waste a day and the estimated project cost is Rs 350 crore. The plant will be set up on 10 acres of land out of the more than 100 acres of land acquired by the City Corporation.

In pictures: ‘Perfect’ operation conducted on Roona Begum’s swollen head

In this combination of photographs,(L) taken on May 15, 2013, doctors prepare Roona Begum, a 18-month old Tripura girl suffering from hydrocephalus, and (R) taken on April 13, 2013, Roona's mother Fatima Khatun (L) holds her hand at their hut in Jirania on the outskirts of Agartala, Tripura.