Acer Smartphone Coming in Mid February

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Posted by Snehsan

Acer is announcing its smartphone on February 16, 2009, at the Mobile World Congress, Barcelona. It's officially confirmed now. The company has sent out invites to journalists attending the upcoming Mobile World Congress at Barcelona, and the invite contains this sweet little tag at the end which says "Smartphones Launch!"While the rumour of a possible smartphone from the Taiwanese giant was making the rounds since last year, it is only now that the same has been substantiated. With archrival ASUS being an established player in the mobile phones segment, Acer does have a huge task up front. However, if the phone turns out to be something very revolutionary, there is no reason why it cannot go on to become an established player in this segment.As usual, for details we will need to wait, till the 16th, and there seems to be no signs of any spyshots or leaked images with this one - unfortunately!

IIM Ahmedabad campus placements from today

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Posted by Snehsan

The top IIMs, IIM-A, IIM-B and IIM-C usually give each other a gap of two-three days on final placements to allow recruiters to criss-cross the country to visit these campuses

New Delhi : The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) will launch its final on-campus job placements on Wednesday. “Day Zero begins tomorrow,” said Vivek Jain, student placement cell member at IIM-A. He declined to give a closing date for the placements.

Business schools across the country have braced for a tough placement season that could take weeks to close instead of days as experienced in earlier years. Recruiters have predicted that a significant number of students will be without jobs at the end of the placement season. IIM Calcutta (IIM-C) launched its Day Zero on Saturday last week, while IIM Bangalore (IIM-B) is planning a Day Zero launch on Friday this week. The top IIMs, IIM-A, IIM-B and IIM-C or A, B and C as they are called, usually give each other a gap of two-three days on final placements to allow recruiters to criss-cross the country to visit these campuses.

The three IIMs, tense over the process, have brought forward their dates on final recruitment with IIM-C holding the process in two phases, one before and one after exams. Last year, final recruitment began on 4 March, with IIM-B taking the lead.

NDTV exposes Modasa syringe racket, case filed

Posted by Snehsan

As Modasa battles to tame the deadly Hepatitis-B outbreak in Gujarat, NDTV exposes the deadly syringe racket where used syringes are first hoarded and then sold. It's believed this was the reason the disease spread so quickly in the district.Saijuddin, a syringe dealer in Modasa, buys thousands of used syringes from private clinics and hospitals everyday and sells them to regular buyers from Ahmedabad and Himmatnagar. Unabashed, after he was caught on camera by NDTV, he explained how he did it."I buy it from several people and then sell it to merchants in bulk coming from Ahmedabad and Himmatnagar. I don't know their names," said Saijuddin.The NDTV team found four large warehouses in and around Modasa where used syringes are stacked in gunny bags, ready for sale.The state Health Department, which has so far denied the existence of any such organised racket, finally swung into action after NDTV informed Health Minister Jay Narayan Vyas about what it had found.Twelve teams of the department carried out simultaneous raids across Gujarat and confiscated lakhs of used syringes - cleaned and repackaged.On Wednesday, they registered four cases and booked the kingpin, Saijuddin.'These syringes should have been destroyed after use, but actually these have been resold in the market after just cleaning and packing," said Rajneeth Kumar, Collector, Modasa.The hub of recycling disposable syringes has been operational in Modasa for years. After the NDTV expose, actions have been just initiated by the Collectorate and Health Department as NDTV informed state Health Minister Jay Narayan Vyas about the racket.

VHP wants India to ban American products over H1B visa issue

Posted by Snehsan

The VHP on Wednesday asked the Indian Government to ban all American products unless the Barack Obama administration amends its decision on H1B visa curbs. He said the decision meant that lakhs of Indian students studying in various US universities would not get employment there. ''About one million Indians will be made jobless by a single decision of Obama,'' he told reporters here. Replying to a query, Togadia accused the Indian government of having failed to ''handle'' Pakistan on the Mumbai terror strikes. ''We should have at least snapped all ties with Pakistan,'' he said. On the Ram temple issue, he said VHP expected that the BJP would probably include it in its manifesto. ''But they have not declared their manifesto. So let us wait.'' He said no madrassas should be allowed to function in the country ''if they did not stop preaching jihad.''

200 lawyers arrested in Tamil Nadu

Posted by Snehsan

Chennai : Over 200 lawyers were arrested in Tamil Nadu yesterday and the state assembly witnessed chaotic scenes, with opposition members being evicted, over the clashes between advocates and policemen here a day earlier.

Law Minister S Durai Murugan read out a statement under Rule 110 of the assembly that prohibits debate, blaming both the lawyers and policemen for the “unfortunate turn of events”.
Murugan appealed for calm and said the police were forced to use batons yesterday, leading to bleeding injuries to over 25 lawyers who took part in the violent protests that led to the burning of a police post.
The incident was a fallout of what had happened in the premises of the Madras High Court Tuesday when some lawyers hurled rotten eggs at Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy for his opposition to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sri Lanka.
Legislators of the AIADMK, Communist Party of India, PMK and MDMK were evicted from the house following their slogan shouting and insistence on a debate. “The denial of a debate on a serious law and order issue was a shameful chapter in the annals of democracy. Further, the incidents have shown that the constitution has failed in the state,” AIADMK floor leader and former chief minister O Panneerselvam told reporters after being evicted with the rest of the opposition legislators.

While over 150 lawyers were arrested for defying prohibitory orders while taking out a procession to the secretariat, one kilometre away from the seat of the government, 50 others were held across the state for Thursday’s clashes and causing public disturbance.
Cases have been filed agains the lawyers under 307 Indian Penal Code, which among other charges includes attempt to murder.

Lawyers, however, continued to boycott courts all over Tamil Nadu protesting police action against their colleagues.

Police said lawyers set fire to government property, including public transport vehicles, and staged sit-in protests. Over 150 police personnel were injured in Thursday’s clashes. Pitched battles between lawyers and police personnel were witnessed in the court premises for several hours on Thursday.

Police officials contended that a section of lawyers demanding the arrest of the Janata Party president pelted stones at policemen - a charge denied by Madras High Court Advocates Association president S Prabhakaran.

Speaking in the assembly, the law minister admitted that Judge Arumugha Perumal Adityan and several lawyers and policemen were injured in the clashes.

A three-member division bench of the Madras High Court, headed by acting Chief Justice S Mukhopadhyay, has ordered a probe into the clashes by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has also offered to meet Mukhopadhyay to discuss the issue and defuse the situation.

“Your cooperation is very essential for me and for this government... Though I am in hospital I will come and see you in an ambulance,” Karunanidhi wrote in a letter to Mukhopadhyay. The letter was released to the media.

The Madras High Court has also posted an advance bail petition filed by movie director Seeman to February 26 for allegedly exhorting people to resort to armed rebellion in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in support of a separate homeland for Tamils in Sri Lanka.

First T20, India vs New Zealand: Statistical highlights

Posted by Snehsan

Following are the statistical highlights of the first Twenty20 International match between India and New Zealand on Wednesday.

• New Zealand's seven-wicket triumph is their second in as many matches against India.
• They had won the first game against India at Johannesburg on September 16 by ten runs.
• New Zealand's aforesaid win is their second best in terms of wickets - their best being by 9 wickets against Kenya at Durban on September 12, 2007.
• Brendon McCullum has extended his record for the highest run-aggregate in Twenty20 Internationals - 513 in 20 games at an average of 30.17, including three fifties.
• Martin Guptill (41), playing in his only second game, has posted his best ever score. In his only previous game against Australia, he had made a second-ball duck at Sydney on Feb.15, 2009.
• The match has produced 24 sixes, a record in Twenty20 Internationals, bettering the 20 recorded between India (10) and Australia (10) at Durban on September 22, 2007.
• Brendon McCullum, with three sixes in his innings, became the first batsman ever to register 20 sixes. He has now a tally of 22 in Twenty20 Internationals.
• McCullum became the first New Zealander to hit a fifty against India - 56 not out off 49 balls. He surpassed his own record for the highest individual innings against India, bettering his 45 off 31 balls at Johannesburg on September 16, 2007.
• McCullum and Taylor produced 50 runs - Nsew Zealand's highest for the third wicket against India, eclipsing the 17 by the same pair at Johannesburg on September 16, 2007.
• The fourth wicket unbroken partnership of 60 runs between McCullum and Oram is a record for New Zealand, surpassing the 58 between Brendon McCullum and Grant Elliott against Australia at SCG on February 15, 2009.
• India (162/8) registered their lowest score in a Twenty20I against New Zealand.
• Thirteen sixes in an innings is a record for India in Twenty20 Internationals.
• India's tally of 13 sixes is the second best in the history of Twenty20 Internationals, next only to Australia's tally of 14 sixes during their innings of 221 for five against England at Sydney on January 9, 2007.
• Suresh Raina registered his career-best score in Twenty20 Internationals - his maiden fifty.
  Raina's 61 not out off 43 balls is the highest ever score by an Indian against New Zealand, surpassing Gautam Gambhir's 51 off 33 balls at Johannesburg on September 16,2007.
• Raina's five sixes in an innings is an Indian record against New Zealand, bettering Virender Sehwag's tally of four sixes in Wednesday's game.
• Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh were involved in a 61-run eighth wicket stand, a new record in Twenty20 Internationals, eclipsing the 59 between Yusuf Pathan and Irfan Pathan against Sri Lanka at Colombo, RPS on Feb.10, 2009.
• Harbhajan Singh (21) has recorded his career-best score, surpassing his 7 against New Zealand at Johannesburg on September 16, 2007.

IIM Ahmedabad campus placements from today

Posted by Snehsan

The top IIMs, IIM-A, IIM-B and IIM-C usually give each other a gap of two-three days on final placements to allow recruiters to criss-cross the country to visit these campuses.

The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) will launch its final on-campus job placements on Wednesday. “Day Zero begins tomorrow,” said Vivek Jain, student placement cell member at IIM-A. He declined to give a closing date for the placements.

Business schools across the country have braced for a tough placement season that could take weeks to close instead of days as experienced in earlier years. Recruiters have predicted that a significant number of students will be without jobs at the end of the placement season. IIM Calcutta (IIM-C) launched its Day Zero on Saturday last week, while IIM Bangalore (IIM-B) is planning a Day Zero launch on Friday this week. The top IIMs, IIM-A, IIM-B and IIM-C or A, B and C as they are called, usually give each other a gap of two-three days on final placements to allow recruiters to criss-cross the country to visit these campuses.

The three IIMs, tense over the process, have brought forward their dates on final recruitment with IIM-C holding the process in two phases, one before and one after exams. Last year, final recruitment began on 4 March, with IIM-B taking the lead.

26/11 chargesheet filed; Kasab, Lakhvi named

Posted by Snehsan

Three months after the unprecedented terror attack in Mumbai, a voluminous chargesheet was filed on Wednesday naming 38 people including Pakistani nationals Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab and suspected mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi for crimes ranging from murder to waging war against the country. Indian nationals Fahim Ansari and Sabbauddin Ahmed, arrested in the case for allegedly carrying out a recee of the targets for the attacks, have been named in the chargesheet. They were produced in the court on Wednesday, PTI reported. Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, the suspected mastermind of the 26/11 carnage and believed to be hiding in Pakistan, and Lashkar-e-Toiba operative Yosuf Muzzamil are mentioned in the chargesheet as wanted accused in the case. The 11,500-page chargesheet was filed in the Esplanade court but Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist, was not produced before the court owing to security reasons, PTI report says. Special public prosecutor Ujwal Nikam filed the chargesheet before the metropolitan magistrate M J Mirza. Nikam told reporters, “38 people have been named in the chargesheet. We want the trial to end in three-six months. We will give the copy of chargesheet to Kasab.” According to TV reports, Nikam refused to reveal how many of them are Pakistanis. He said the court has fixed March 9 as the date of next hearing. Kasab and other accused have been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. They have also been charged with waging war against the country and offences under the Customs Act, Explosives Act and other Acts, PTI says.

Pakistan’s 30 plus two questions for India

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Posted by Snehsan

Following are the thirty plus two questions asked of the Indian Government by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik in connection with the November 26, 2008 terror attacks on Mumbai that claimed 179 lives and maimed over 300.

Material / evidence required from the government of India:

1. Authenticated copy of confessional statement of Ajmal Qasab recorded by the judicial authorities
2. National Identity Card number of Ajmal and other documentation/ diaries recovered from his possession.
3. Cell phone numbers used by Ajmal in the past, if disclosed during interrogation.
4. Detailed description and further particulars / maximum information of reportedly killed terrorists deposed by Ajmal during interrogation with Indian Police.
5. The digital note books/ diaries recovered from killed terrorists.
6. Authenticated copies of seizure memos of all the articles recovered from or belonging to accused terrorists along with their photographs.
7. Authentic forensic analysis reports of mobile / satellite phones and or any other evidence establishing connectivity and communication of the terrorists with militants based abroad along with identifying particulars.
8. Logs of cell phone interceptions.
9. transcripts of conversation amongst the terrorists during the terror activity from 26 to 28 Nov as well as with their handlers.
10. Cell-phone numbers targeted for transcripts immediately after the terror strike.
11. Intercepted voice recording identified by Ajmal Qasab as of Abu Hamza and Kahfa etc for voice analysis, as well as further details about alleged handlers ‘Abu Hamza’ and ‘Kahfa’.
12. Thuraya telephone forensic analysis including:

a) Numbers in stored memory.
b) Called numbers /log
c) SMS messages
d) Any other information
13. Forensic analysis of cell phones, recovered from the possession of accused including: . Dialled numbers
b. Missed and received calls.
c. Last location
d. Photographs / movies
e. Audio recording
f. IMEI no. and SIM IMSI no
g. Screen shots etc
14. Fingerprints of all the ten accused for comparison with available database.

15. Fingerprints lifted from recovered weapons, personal articles and navigation devices etc. of the accused required for comparison.
16. Clear photographs of the accused for identification and matching with the national database.
17. DNA profiles of all the terrorists arrested / killed.
18. Post mortem reports of all the killed terrorists.
19. Forensic analysis and photograph of engravings on Yamaha engine including the tampering of letters on the engine. Two letters are missing. Complete engine number must be provided.
20. Photographs of engravings on pistols /SMGs recovered from the accused for identification.
21. Confirmation as to whether the pistols used by the terrorists were 9 mm! The picture of pistol shows a TT 7.62 MM (30 Bore) and CAL-30 is clearly visible.
22. Headers of the email received from deccanmujahideen@gmail.com claiming responsibility and clarification as to which specific media received the same.
23. Complete and date wise CCTV footage of all the incidents.
24. GPS data regarding travelling log, location to check log and coordinates, etc. for identifying the launching area. This is important because certain ambiguities have been noticed in the information already provided. For instance, if the terrorists started in a small boat from Karachi at approximately 0800 hours on 22nd Nov, then how come MOB waypoint is showing the boat’s position near Keti Bandar nearly one hour before this time? Out of 17 waypoints, only three have date stamps and remaining is without the same, creating doubt whether these points are authentic or created through GPS.
25. GPS operation is dependent on internal or external batteries, thus following points need elaboration: . If internal batteries were used, a large cache of batteries were required to keep them operative for more than six days.
b. If external batteries were used on boat then picture / evidence of the same should have been included in the list of items recovered from ‘Kuber’.
c. Picture labelled ‘Thuraya satellite phone found in Kuber’ is of GPS of Garmin Company as GPS navigation buttons, waypoint names on screen and company name are clearly visible.
26. Photograph identified by Ajmal as Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi.
27. Relevant information pertaining to tailor / company marks, brand names as well as dry cleaning or laundry stamps on clothes seized.
28. Google earth does not carry details of security systems, various entries exit points, inner details. Such like information requires extensive physical reconnaissance and establishment of control centre within targets. Further details are required.
29. Why did the terrorists not come to the notice of Gujrat and Maharashtra Governments after having travelled by sea in their territory including reported refuelling enroute? Besides, how did they manage to evade so many coastal radars?
30. Details of interrogation reports of Mukhtar Ahmed (Counter-insurgency Officer) and Tausif Rehman, both Indian nationals, arrested after Mumbai attacks on charge of providing SIMs to the terrorists.

Annexure-B

Additional Information Required.

The eye witness account of Jugdev, the only survivor boarding the vehicle of ATS Chief Mr Hemant Karkare, accompanied by two other senior police officers in the same vehicle namely Mr Salasker and Mr Kamteis required to be examined by investigators in Pakistan. It is necessary as Mr Karkare was investigating the cases against militants in mass scale killings of Muslims in India including Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit, reportedly involved in Samjhota Express incident.

Linkages between diamond merchant firm Surat, Gujrat and some Hindus in Pakistan need to be clarified as the diamond merchant was alleged to sponsor Malegoen blasts through Col Purohit.

Amazing Heart Shape Places

Monday, February 23, 2009

Posted by Snehsan

So you've got some spare airmiles and want to impress on a date but you're struggling to think of a place to go which is unique and romantic at the same time. Well you can't go wrong with a visit to one of the many heart-shaped features of our planet. Heart-shaped forests, lakes, islands.... provided you can find the right vantage point when you arrive, these spots can't be beaten when it comes to romance.

1. Heart-Shaped Forest, Cantabria, Spain

This beautifully shaped forest can be found in Cantabria, Northern Spain. However, the forest will only take on the heart shape seen in the above photograph when viewed from this angle.

2. Heart-Shaped Island, Gutierrez Lake, Patagonia

A beautiful heart-shaped, tree covered island can be found in Patagonia, Argentina, and is best viewed from the East side of Gutierrez Lake.

3. Heart-Shaped Wetland, Guandu Nature Park, Taiwan

Guandu Nature Park is, believe it or not, a nature park situated in Taipei City. Within the park you'll find the heart-shaped wetland pictured above.

4. Tavarua Island, Fiji

Tavarua Island is a stunning heart-shaped island paradise just off the coast of Viti Levu, surrounded by coral reef. It's also home to a beautiful resort, perfect for a spot of romance.

5. Galesnjak, Croatia

Another beautifully shaped island can be found just south of Zadar in Croatia. Called Galesnjak, this little gem measures just 1/2 kilometre at its widest point and must be reached by boat.

6. Heart-Shaped Lake, Ohio

A perfectly heart-shaped lake can be found near Columbia Hills Corners in Ohio, but not much else is known about this curious feature. It seems to be part of a private residence.

7. Heart-Shaped Mangrove, Voh, New Caledonia

Probably the most well-known heart-shaped piece of land is this incredible mangrove in New Caledonia, made famous by aerial photographer Yann Arthus Bertrand and featured on the front cover of his book, Earth From Above.

8. Heart-Shaped Lake, Chembra, India

Itself a major tourist attraction, the lake near the top of Chembra Peak in India is said to have never dried up. Apparently over 150 people pass the lake every day during the 3km journey to the top.

9. Heart Reef, Great Barrier Reef of the Whitsundays

Heart Reef is a naturally formed, heart-shaped collection of coral in Australia. Obviously the reef can only be appreciated from the air, but the view is definitely worth the cost.

Entertainment

Friday, October 26, 2007

Posted by Snehsan

India Buzz :

The games Bipasha likes to play

We couldn’t help, but kept guessing what a beautiful dusky woman like her is doing in an all men sports film like football?

Dusky beauty Bipasha Basu is back in the news and this time it’s not her alleged link-up with Saif which is hogging the limelight, but the compliments she is getting for her look in Goal.

We couldn’t help, but kept guessing what a beautiful dusky woman like her is doing in an all men sports film like football? She laughs and says, “Well, I am never too concerned about the length or duration of my role.

I knew what my length was going to be right from the beginning of the film.

I always knew that the film belonged to the boys and I am not complaining about it.” Is she an avid football fan? “No, I was introduced to the game (football) almost five years ago when I started seeing John Abraham.

That man is simply crazy about the game. He eats drinks and sleeps football. I had no option, but to get hooked on to it,” she says. Point taken, we have no complaints as long as the two love birds stick to each other.

Spiderman wears topi :

This Spiderman wears a Gandhi topi in the film.

Spiderman lovers will be pleased to see their favourite character in yet another regional avatar. Nana Patekar, in Horn, Ok, Please, plays Spidey with a difference.

A source says, “Nana came up with the idea of Spiderman wearing a typical Maharashtrian cap. He was required to shoot a scene wearing a Spidey costume. He was in his vanity van putting it on, when the idea struck him.

He immediately went up to the director and told him that he should wear a Gandhi topi. Since he plays a truck driver in the film, it would go well with his character.”

Rakesh Sarang, director of the film, says, “Yes, it was completely Nana’s idea to wear a Gandhi cap over his Spiderman get-up. I thought it was a fabulous idea and agreed immediately.”

Source : Times of India