India's No. 1 rank at stake in ODI series against Kiwis
Jan 17, 2014
DUBAI: India must win the upcoming five-match one-day series against New Zealand if they have to retain their number one status in the ICC team rankings.
India are sitting atop the ICC team rankings table with 120 ratings points, and enter the series leading eighth-ranked New Zealand by 36 ratings points.
If India lose the series, starting Sunday in Napier, they will lose their numero uno status and as many as six ratings points.
India have been the number-one ranked ODIside since January 2013, when it replaced England at the top.
For New Zealand, a series win against India by any margin will mean that it will push up a place to seventh, ahead of West Indies. A series loss for New Zealand, however, will not make any difference to its position on the rankings table.
If India do not manage to win the series against New Zealand, either Australia or England could stake a claim on the number-one rank.
Australia and England are currently playing a five-match series, with the home team leading 1-0.
Australia are currently in second position, six points behind India. For Australia to reclaim the number-one rank, they need to beat England in its ongoing series by a margin of 3-2 or better, and they also require New Zealand to beat India by a margin of 3-2 or better.
On the other hand, England, who sit 10 points behind India in third spot, need to beat Australia by a margin of 4-1 or better, and also for New Zealand to win its series against India by a margin of 4-1 or better, to become the number-one ODI side again.
India's young batsman Virat Kohli will start the series in New Zealand as the highest-ranked batsman on either side.
Kohli is currently in second position in the ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen with 859 ratings points, just 13 behind number-one ranked AB de Villiers.
A good show with the bat for Kohli could see him reclaim the number-one rank he last held in November 2013.
In all, India has three batsmen in the top 10, with Mahendra Singh Dhoni in sixth place and Shikhar Dhawan in 10th spot.
Inside the top 20, Ross Taylor in 16th and Rohit Sharma in 18th place are the other batsmen likely to be seen in action.
Outside the top 20, the batsmen likely to play the series are Suresh Raina (22nd), Brendon McCullum (23rd), Martin Guptill (24th) and Kane Williamson (31st).
Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja in sixth position will be the highest ranked bowler on either side in the ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers. In fact, Jadeja is also the only player in the top 10 of the bowlers' table who is likely to feature in the series.
Among the top 20 bowlers, Ravichandran Ashwin (16th) and Kyle Mills (17th) are the others likely to feature in the series.
Outside the top 20, the bowlers likely to play are Bhuvaneshwar Kumar (24th), Tim Southee(26th), Nathan McCullum (28th), Mitchell McClenaghan (29th), Amit Mishra (39th), Mohammed Shami (41st) and Ishant Sharma (50th).
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Jan 17, 2014
DUBAI: India must win the upcoming five-match one-day series against New Zealand if they have to retain their number one status in the ICC team rankings.
India are sitting atop the ICC team rankings table with 120 ratings points, and enter the series leading eighth-ranked New Zealand by 36 ratings points.
If India lose the series, starting Sunday in Napier, they will lose their numero uno status and as many as six ratings points.
India have been the number-one ranked ODIside since January 2013, when it replaced England at the top.
For New Zealand, a series win against India by any margin will mean that it will push up a place to seventh, ahead of West Indies. A series loss for New Zealand, however, will not make any difference to its position on the rankings table.
If India do not manage to win the series against New Zealand, either Australia or England could stake a claim on the number-one rank.
Australia and England are currently playing a five-match series, with the home team leading 1-0.
Australia are currently in second position, six points behind India. For Australia to reclaim the number-one rank, they need to beat England in its ongoing series by a margin of 3-2 or better, and they also require New Zealand to beat India by a margin of 3-2 or better.
On the other hand, England, who sit 10 points behind India in third spot, need to beat Australia by a margin of 4-1 or better, and also for New Zealand to win its series against India by a margin of 4-1 or better, to become the number-one ODI side again.
India's young batsman Virat Kohli will start the series in New Zealand as the highest-ranked batsman on either side.
Kohli is currently in second position in the ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen with 859 ratings points, just 13 behind number-one ranked AB de Villiers.
A good show with the bat for Kohli could see him reclaim the number-one rank he last held in November 2013.
In all, India has three batsmen in the top 10, with Mahendra Singh Dhoni in sixth place and Shikhar Dhawan in 10th spot.
Inside the top 20, Ross Taylor in 16th and Rohit Sharma in 18th place are the other batsmen likely to be seen in action.
Outside the top 20, the batsmen likely to play the series are Suresh Raina (22nd), Brendon McCullum (23rd), Martin Guptill (24th) and Kane Williamson (31st).
Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja in sixth position will be the highest ranked bowler on either side in the ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers. In fact, Jadeja is also the only player in the top 10 of the bowlers' table who is likely to feature in the series.
Among the top 20 bowlers, Ravichandran Ashwin (16th) and Kyle Mills (17th) are the others likely to feature in the series.
Outside the top 20, the bowlers likely to play are Bhuvaneshwar Kumar (24th), Tim Southee(26th), Nathan McCullum (28th), Mitchell McClenaghan (29th), Amit Mishra (39th), Mohammed Shami (41st) and Ishant Sharma (50th).
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We needed such a big win to raise our confidence level: Sardar
Jan 17, 2014
NEW DELHI: Elated after scripting a memorable 5-4 come-from-behind win over world's number one team Germany in the 5-8th place classification tie in Hero Hockey World League Final, India captain Sardar Singh said his team needed this "big win" to raise its confidence level.
This is, in fact, India's maiden win in the tournament and first against Germany in the last 10 years. India had last defeated the Germans in the 2004 Champions Trophy at Lahore.
"We were waiting for such a win for a long time. If we can beat big teams like Australia and Germany, it will definitely raise our confidence level," Sardar said at the post-match press conference.
"But it is just the beginning because we made a lot of mistakes and we need to work on those grey areas," he added.
Mandeep Singh turned out to be the star for India, slamming a brillianthat-trick, while Rupinderpal Singh converted two penalty corners as India came from behind to stun Olympic champions at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here.
Delighted with the result, India's chief coach Terry Walsh praised his boys for playing as a unit.
"It was a very commendable performance from us. We have done a lot of things right today. But the most important thing is that we played as a team," Walsh said about his first win as India coach.
"It was a very close game but we matched the Germans. I am very proud of the way the guys have adjusted to different things in the game. The win was important for the psyche of the group."
Applauding Mandeep, Rupinder and skipper Sadar for their stellar display against Germany, Walsh said, "We approached the game just like any other game. But we tried to use our strength today. Rupinder was fantastic with penalty corners and Mandeep showed his scoring abilities upfront. Sardar dominated the midfield, which is tough to do against Germany.
"All the players did a commendable job." India will now face Belgium in the fifth-sixth place play-off match tomorrow.
Jan 17, 2014
NEW DELHI: Elated after scripting a memorable 5-4 come-from-behind win over world's number one team Germany in the 5-8th place classification tie in Hero Hockey World League Final, India captain Sardar Singh said his team needed this "big win" to raise its confidence level.
This is, in fact, India's maiden win in the tournament and first against Germany in the last 10 years. India had last defeated the Germans in the 2004 Champions Trophy at Lahore.
"We were waiting for such a win for a long time. If we can beat big teams like Australia and Germany, it will definitely raise our confidence level," Sardar said at the post-match press conference.
"But it is just the beginning because we made a lot of mistakes and we need to work on those grey areas," he added.
Mandeep Singh turned out to be the star for India, slamming a brillianthat-trick, while Rupinderpal Singh converted two penalty corners as India came from behind to stun Olympic champions at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here.
Delighted with the result, India's chief coach Terry Walsh praised his boys for playing as a unit.
"It was a very commendable performance from us. We have done a lot of things right today. But the most important thing is that we played as a team," Walsh said about his first win as India coach.
"It was a very close game but we matched the Germans. I am very proud of the way the guys have adjusted to different things in the game. The win was important for the psyche of the group."
Applauding Mandeep, Rupinder and skipper Sadar for their stellar display against Germany, Walsh said, "We approached the game just like any other game. But we tried to use our strength today. Rupinder was fantastic with penalty corners and Mandeep showed his scoring abilities upfront. Sardar dominated the midfield, which is tough to do against Germany.
"All the players did a commendable job." India will now face Belgium in the fifth-sixth place play-off match tomorrow.
Dawoodi Bohra community spiritual leader Syedna passes away
Jan 17, 2014
MUMBAI: The spiritual leader of Dawoodi Bohra community Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin passed away today after a cardiac arrest here. He was 102.
His 70-year old son Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin has succeeded him, it was announced here.
Syedna Burhanuddin died this morning at his residence in South Mumbai, a spokesperson for the community said.
"The 52nd Dai al-Mutlaq of the worldwide Dawoodi Bohra community, His Holiness Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin expired today at the age of 102 at his Mumbai residence at Saifee Mahal," he said.
"Born in Surat, he was the leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community after succeeding his father Syedna Taher Saifuddin in 1965. Under his leadership, the community has achieved remarkable social, economic and educational success across the world.
"Known as ambassador of peace and goodwill, he was highly respected by world leaders and governments for his endeavours in promoting international brotherhood and harmony," the spokesperson said.
He was honoured with highest civilian titles like the Star of Jordan and Order of the Nile by the respective governments of Jordan and Egypt. Syedna was conferred Honourary Doctorates for his efforts in social and educational development by renowned institutes like Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Aligarh Muslim University and University of Karachi.
In Mumbai, the one of its kind Raudat Tahera mausoleum which has the entire Quran inscribed in letters of gold and bejewelled with precious stones; the world class Saifee Hospital; and the on-going ambitious Saifee Burhani Upliftment project of the redevelopment of Bhendi Bazaar are some of the major initiatives of Syedna in the city.
In 2011, Syedna had proclaimed Nass (investiture) upon his second son Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin in London. The 70-year-old successor is the rector of the community's 200-year-old institution Jamea-tus-Saifiah, which has campuses in Surat, Karachi, Mumbai and Nairobi.
"He was closely associated with the late Syedna and has received much of his spiritual guidance under the tutelage of his revered father.
Highly respected among the community members, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin travelled widely with his father and met heads of states and other distinguished personalities across the world, he said.
Among the many projects that Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin has worked under Syedna's directions in the restoration of famous Fatemi Masjids in Egypt and other edifices in the Arab world, he said.
Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin will lead the Namaz-e-Janaza of the late Syedna at Saifee Masjid at Bhendi Bazaar. The late Syedna will be laid to rest at Raudat Tahera mausoleum in Mumbai.
Thousands of Dawoodi Bohras from all over India and from around 40 nations are converging to Mumbai to pay their last respects and homage to their beloved leader Syedna Moahmmed Burhanuddin, he said.
Dawoodi Bohra is a sect of the Shia Muslims spread all over the world.
One of the key principles of the sect is "patriotism as part of the faith." It encourages followers to make a positive contribution to the country they live in.
The word Bohra means trader and traditionally, most members of the sect have been entrepreneurs.
Last year, thousands of Dawoodi Bohras from across the world flocked to the city to celebrate Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin's 102nd birthday.
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Jan 17, 2014
MUMBAI: The spiritual leader of Dawoodi Bohra community Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin passed away today after a cardiac arrest here. He was 102.
His 70-year old son Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin has succeeded him, it was announced here.
Syedna Burhanuddin died this morning at his residence in South Mumbai, a spokesperson for the community said.
"The 52nd Dai al-Mutlaq of the worldwide Dawoodi Bohra community, His Holiness Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin expired today at the age of 102 at his Mumbai residence at Saifee Mahal," he said.
"Born in Surat, he was the leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community after succeeding his father Syedna Taher Saifuddin in 1965. Under his leadership, the community has achieved remarkable social, economic and educational success across the world.
"Known as ambassador of peace and goodwill, he was highly respected by world leaders and governments for his endeavours in promoting international brotherhood and harmony," the spokesperson said.
He was honoured with highest civilian titles like the Star of Jordan and Order of the Nile by the respective governments of Jordan and Egypt. Syedna was conferred Honourary Doctorates for his efforts in social and educational development by renowned institutes like Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Aligarh Muslim University and University of Karachi.
In Mumbai, the one of its kind Raudat Tahera mausoleum which has the entire Quran inscribed in letters of gold and bejewelled with precious stones; the world class Saifee Hospital; and the on-going ambitious Saifee Burhani Upliftment project of the redevelopment of Bhendi Bazaar are some of the major initiatives of Syedna in the city.
In 2011, Syedna had proclaimed Nass (investiture) upon his second son Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin in London. The 70-year-old successor is the rector of the community's 200-year-old institution Jamea-tus-Saifiah, which has campuses in Surat, Karachi, Mumbai and Nairobi.
"He was closely associated with the late Syedna and has received much of his spiritual guidance under the tutelage of his revered father.
Highly respected among the community members, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin travelled widely with his father and met heads of states and other distinguished personalities across the world, he said.
Among the many projects that Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin has worked under Syedna's directions in the restoration of famous Fatemi Masjids in Egypt and other edifices in the Arab world, he said.
Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin will lead the Namaz-e-Janaza of the late Syedna at Saifee Masjid at Bhendi Bazaar. The late Syedna will be laid to rest at Raudat Tahera mausoleum in Mumbai.
Thousands of Dawoodi Bohras from all over India and from around 40 nations are converging to Mumbai to pay their last respects and homage to their beloved leader Syedna Moahmmed Burhanuddin, he said.
Dawoodi Bohra is a sect of the Shia Muslims spread all over the world.
One of the key principles of the sect is "patriotism as part of the faith." It encourages followers to make a positive contribution to the country they live in.
The word Bohra means trader and traditionally, most members of the sect have been entrepreneurs.
Last year, thousands of Dawoodi Bohras from across the world flocked to the city to celebrate Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin's 102nd birthday.
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UP only state where farmers' interests are safeguarded: Mulayam
Jan 17, 2014
NEW DELHI: Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections,Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav today sought to woo the farmers, saying no other state in the country has doled out benefits for the farming community like the Uttar Pradesh government headed by his son Akhilesh.
He also said politicians from all parties should unite on national issues like rich-poor divide, plight of farmers and threat from China.
"If the farmer is prosperous, the country is prosperous.... In Europe, I have seen farmers being given a lot of benefits. In the US, government ensures that farmers get sufficient price for their produce. Government there is willing to dump excess foodgrains into the sea to ensure prices do not drop steeply. In India this could not happen," Yadav said.
He said some states in India are also trying to ensure that farmers get due price for their produce. "UP is perhaps the only state where farmers have been given benefits.... We have made the beginning. Farmers are getting free water for irrigation. We are making efforts," he said.
He was speaking at the release of a book on him 'Sangharsh ke safar ka nayak Mulayam' by Vice-President Hamid Ansari.
The book was released to mark the birthday of the SP chief who turned 75 on November 22.
The former UP chief minister credited the efforts of former Prime Minister and farmer leader Charan Singh for bringing the plight of farmers in the limelight.
"Today, people may not do anything for farmers. But due to the efforts of Charan Singh, they at least speak about their plight," he said.
In his brief remarks on the occasion, Vice-President Ansari termed farmers as the "bricks" of the structure called India. He said if farmers are not happy, the country cannot prosper.
Former Lok Sabha Speaker Balram Jhakhar was also present. The Congress leader said while Yadav and he belong to "rival" political parties, their perspective on a variety of issues was similar.
He recalled that though he was the Speaker, he had opposed a proposal by later Indrajit Gupta to levy tax on farmers. "Speakers can't speak on such issues, but when we do, we do it forcefully," he said.
Jan 17, 2014
NEW DELHI: Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections,Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav today sought to woo the farmers, saying no other state in the country has doled out benefits for the farming community like the Uttar Pradesh government headed by his son Akhilesh.
He also said politicians from all parties should unite on national issues like rich-poor divide, plight of farmers and threat from China.
"If the farmer is prosperous, the country is prosperous.... In Europe, I have seen farmers being given a lot of benefits. In the US, government ensures that farmers get sufficient price for their produce. Government there is willing to dump excess foodgrains into the sea to ensure prices do not drop steeply. In India this could not happen," Yadav said.
He said some states in India are also trying to ensure that farmers get due price for their produce. "UP is perhaps the only state where farmers have been given benefits.... We have made the beginning. Farmers are getting free water for irrigation. We are making efforts," he said.
He was speaking at the release of a book on him 'Sangharsh ke safar ka nayak Mulayam' by Vice-President Hamid Ansari.
The book was released to mark the birthday of the SP chief who turned 75 on November 22.
The former UP chief minister credited the efforts of former Prime Minister and farmer leader Charan Singh for bringing the plight of farmers in the limelight.
"Today, people may not do anything for farmers. But due to the efforts of Charan Singh, they at least speak about their plight," he said.
In his brief remarks on the occasion, Vice-President Ansari termed farmers as the "bricks" of the structure called India. He said if farmers are not happy, the country cannot prosper.
Former Lok Sabha Speaker Balram Jhakhar was also present. The Congress leader said while Yadav and he belong to "rival" political parties, their perspective on a variety of issues was similar.
He recalled that though he was the Speaker, he had opposed a proposal by later Indrajit Gupta to levy tax on farmers. "Speakers can't speak on such issues, but when we do, we do it forcefully," he said.
Narendra Modi a person of great prominence, want to know his views: European Union
Jan 17, 2014
NEW DELHI: The European Union on Friday termed Narendra Modi as a "person of great prominence" on India's political landscape and said it respects the judicial verdict that has given clean chit to the Gujarat chief minister for 2002 riots, on which there were "enormous" concerns around the world.
EU Ambassador to India Joao Cravinho said the views of the 28-member bloc on the Gujarat riots have been based on India's judicial and political process and it engages with Modi like with any other leader.
"He is a person of great prominence in the political scene. So, of course, we are interested in knowing his views, seeing what plans he has if he comes to power," Cravinho said.
"Our position is to respect what the judicial and political processes are. We have no issue whatsoever with the competence and capacity of the Indian judicial system," he said.
A magistrate's court last month had upheld a clean chit given to Modi by a Supreme Court-appointed probe panel in the massacre of 68 people in Gulberg Housing Society during the riots.
The ambassador said the EU was following the "political developments" in India in a "non-active manner" and that it has been engaged with all important "political actors" including Modi.
He said EU never adopted any official position on the Gujarat riots issue but maintained that there was enormous concerns for the "tragedy of 2002" around the world.
"Firstly we interact with different parts of India. We interact with many chief ministers. We have had lunch with different chief ministers. So this should not be seen as something unusual or strange," he said referring to lunch hosted by the EU for Modi last year.
He said there was no impact in business between European countries and Gujarat as the companies have been active in the BJP-ruled state for many years.
"Business-wise, there has never been any issue. European companies are very much present and active in Gujarat and have been there for many years. There has been no impact of any sort on their activities.
"Whoever is the Indian Prime Minister, we will certainly respect the democratic legitimacy of that position. So we will work with him as we will work with anybody else," he said.
Jan 17, 2014
NEW DELHI: The European Union on Friday termed Narendra Modi as a "person of great prominence" on India's political landscape and said it respects the judicial verdict that has given clean chit to the Gujarat chief minister for 2002 riots, on which there were "enormous" concerns around the world.
EU Ambassador to India Joao Cravinho said the views of the 28-member bloc on the Gujarat riots have been based on India's judicial and political process and it engages with Modi like with any other leader.
"He is a person of great prominence in the political scene. So, of course, we are interested in knowing his views, seeing what plans he has if he comes to power," Cravinho said.
"Our position is to respect what the judicial and political processes are. We have no issue whatsoever with the competence and capacity of the Indian judicial system," he said.
A magistrate's court last month had upheld a clean chit given to Modi by a Supreme Court-appointed probe panel in the massacre of 68 people in Gulberg Housing Society during the riots.
The ambassador said the EU was following the "political developments" in India in a "non-active manner" and that it has been engaged with all important "political actors" including Modi.
He said EU never adopted any official position on the Gujarat riots issue but maintained that there was enormous concerns for the "tragedy of 2002" around the world.
"Firstly we interact with different parts of India. We interact with many chief ministers. We have had lunch with different chief ministers. So this should not be seen as something unusual or strange," he said referring to lunch hosted by the EU for Modi last year.
He said there was no impact in business between European countries and Gujarat as the companies have been active in the BJP-ruled state for many years.
"Business-wise, there has never been any issue. European companies are very much present and active in Gujarat and have been there for many years. There has been no impact of any sort on their activities.
"Whoever is the Indian Prime Minister, we will certainly respect the democratic legitimacy of that position. So we will work with him as we will work with anybody else," he said.
Footage from Schumacher's helmet camera can be used:
Probe sourceAFP | Jan 7, 2014, 04.55 PM IST
GRENOBLE (France): Footage from the camera strapped to Michael Schumacher's helmet as he fell and slammed his head while skiing can be used, a source close to the probe into the accident said Tuesday.
"It's an important document", said the source, who wished to remain anonymous, as investigators continued to investigate the December 29 accident in the French Alps that left the Formula One legend in a coma.
It had been unclear until now whether the camera was working at the time of the accident, or whether the footage would be clear enough to use.
The source however did not specify if the film could provide any leads to Schumacher's speed at the time of his fall on a small off-piste section in between regular slopes at the Meribel resort.
French investigators are attempting to determine responsibility in the accident, and are focusing on the retired racer's speed, as well as whether the limits of the ski runs next to the accident site were correctly marked.
They are also examining if the safety releases on Schumacher's skis operated properly.
Prosecutors involved in the probe are due to brief the press on Wednesday morning.
Probe sourceAFP | Jan 7, 2014, 04.55 PM IST
GRENOBLE (France): Footage from the camera strapped to Michael Schumacher's helmet as he fell and slammed his head while skiing can be used, a source close to the probe into the accident said Tuesday.
"It's an important document", said the source, who wished to remain anonymous, as investigators continued to investigate the December 29 accident in the French Alps that left the Formula One legend in a coma.
It had been unclear until now whether the camera was working at the time of the accident, or whether the footage would be clear enough to use.
The source however did not specify if the film could provide any leads to Schumacher's speed at the time of his fall on a small off-piste section in between regular slopes at the Meribel resort.
French investigators are attempting to determine responsibility in the accident, and are focusing on the retired racer's speed, as well as whether the limits of the ski runs next to the accident site were correctly marked.
They are also examining if the safety releases on Schumacher's skis operated properly.
Prosecutors involved in the probe are due to brief the press on Wednesday morning.
New Honda City launched at Rs 7.42 lakh
Honda today launched an all-new version of its City sedan in India, including the first diesel variants of the car, priced between Rs 7.42 lakh and Rs 11.1 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) as part of plans to strengthen its position in the country.
PTI | Jan 7, 2014, 03.10PM IST
NEW DELHI: Japanese carmaker Honda on Tuesday launched an all-new version of its City sedan in India, including the first diesel variants of the car, priced between Rs 7.42 lakh and Rs 11.1 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) as part of plans to strengthen its position in the country.
The company had discontinued the third-generation model of the car in November. The fourth generation of the sedan was unveiled globally on November 25.
Diesel variants of the new City will retail from Rs 8.62 lakh to Rs 11.1 lakh, while petrol versions are priced between Rs 7.42 lakh and Rs 10.98 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
"With the best of both petrol and diesel technologies available in Honda City, we are very confident about the success of the model, which will significantly contribute to our business growth in India," Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) President and CEO Hironori Kanayama told reporters here.
The petrol variant of the new Honda City comes with the existing 1.5 litre iVTEC engine, while the diesel version sports the recently launched 1.5 iDTEC diesel motor.
The new City was developed at the Honda R&D Centre in Tochigi, Japan, following extensive market surveys in India and the ASEAN countries.
HCIL's other models include the compact sedan Amaze and hatchback Brio. The Honda Amaze, introduced in April last year, was the company's first diesel offering in India.
It sold 73,OOO units in 2012-13 and aims to market 1.2 lakh cars this financial year on the back of new launches.
The company had launched the first-generation Honda City in India in 1998 and has so far sold 4.3 lakh units of the car.
Honda today launched an all-new version of its City sedan in India, including the first diesel variants of the car, priced between Rs 7.42 lakh and Rs 11.1 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) as part of plans to strengthen its position in the country.
PTI | Jan 7, 2014, 03.10PM IST
NEW DELHI: Japanese carmaker Honda on Tuesday launched an all-new version of its City sedan in India, including the first diesel variants of the car, priced between Rs 7.42 lakh and Rs 11.1 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) as part of plans to strengthen its position in the country.
The company had discontinued the third-generation model of the car in November. The fourth generation of the sedan was unveiled globally on November 25.
Diesel variants of the new City will retail from Rs 8.62 lakh to Rs 11.1 lakh, while petrol versions are priced between Rs 7.42 lakh and Rs 10.98 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
"With the best of both petrol and diesel technologies available in Honda City, we are very confident about the success of the model, which will significantly contribute to our business growth in India," Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) President and CEO Hironori Kanayama told reporters here.
The petrol variant of the new Honda City comes with the existing 1.5 litre iVTEC engine, while the diesel version sports the recently launched 1.5 iDTEC diesel motor.
The new City was developed at the Honda R&D Centre in Tochigi, Japan, following extensive market surveys in India and the ASEAN countries.
HCIL's other models include the compact sedan Amaze and hatchback Brio. The Honda Amaze, introduced in April last year, was the company's first diesel offering in India.
It sold 73,OOO units in 2012-13 and aims to market 1.2 lakh cars this financial year on the back of new launches.
The company had launched the first-generation Honda City in India in 1998 and has so far sold 4.3 lakh units of the car.
AAP govt may lack knowledge, but our intention is pure, Kejriwal says
PTI | Jan 7, 2014, 10.22 PM IST
NEW DELHI: In the wake of criticism by the opposition, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwalon Tuesday said his government may lack vision and have shortcomings, but its intention is pure.
In his vote of thanks to the LG's address, he said, "You (BJP and Congress MLAs) have done a good job. Don't let us sleep and keep us on our toes.
"We may have shortcomings and lack vision, but I want to assure the House that we have pure intention."
Calling for better coordination between members of the opposition and government, he said that "28 MLAs" cannot handle the situation, but to solve the problems entire Delhi has to come together.
"That will happen later, but at least all 70 members should have coordination," he said in his six-minute speech.
He added that swaraj (self-rule) cannot be brought without dialogue. "It's for our future ... our children's future," Kerjiwal said.
He noted that the discussion in the house saw positive criticism and burning issues came to light.
He said that while criticizing and advising him, some MLAs used soft language, some used harsh, while some of them used very harsh language.
"Many issues which were raised by the House members were not part of the LG's speech, but they are equally important. I want to assure the house that I will take into account all the points," Kejriwal said.
PTI | Jan 7, 2014, 10.22 PM IST
NEW DELHI: In the wake of criticism by the opposition, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwalon Tuesday said his government may lack vision and have shortcomings, but its intention is pure.
In his vote of thanks to the LG's address, he said, "You (BJP and Congress MLAs) have done a good job. Don't let us sleep and keep us on our toes.
"We may have shortcomings and lack vision, but I want to assure the House that we have pure intention."
Calling for better coordination between members of the opposition and government, he said that "28 MLAs" cannot handle the situation, but to solve the problems entire Delhi has to come together.
"That will happen later, but at least all 70 members should have coordination," he said in his six-minute speech.
He added that swaraj (self-rule) cannot be brought without dialogue. "It's for our future ... our children's future," Kerjiwal said.
He noted that the discussion in the house saw positive criticism and burning issues came to light.
He said that while criticizing and advising him, some MLAs used soft language, some used harsh, while some of them used very harsh language.
"Many issues which were raised by the House members were not part of the LG's speech, but they are equally important. I want to assure the house that I will take into account all the points," Kejriwal said.
187 million in US shiver as 'polar vortex' arrives in North America
| Jan 8, 2014, 12.25 AM IST
INDIANAPOLIS: Dangerously cold polar air snapped decades-old records as it spread on Tuesday from the midwest to southern and eastern parts of the US and eastern Canada, making it hazardous to venture outside and keeping many schools and businesses closed.
In the Florida beach city of Pensacola, patches of ice sparkled in parking lots where puddles froze overnight. In Atlanta, which saw a record low of 6 degrees (-14 celsius), fountains were frozen over, pipes burst and cars wouldn't start.
"This is severely cold for these parts," said Brian Lynn, a National Weather Service meteorologist.
The cold broke records in Chicago, which set a local record Monday at minus 16 Fahrenheit (minus 27 celsius), and elsewhere.
Forecasters said some 187 million people could feel the effects of the "polar vortex" by the time it spreads across the US.
In Toronto, a message on Pearson International Airport's official Twitter account on Tuesday morning said "extreme cold (is) causing equipment freezing and safety issues for employees. Ground stop in effect until at least 9am."
PJM Interconnection, which operates the power grid supplying energy to more than 61 million people in parts of the Mid-Atlantic, midwest and South, asked users to conserve electricity Tuesday because of the cold.
More than 15,000 customers in Indiana remained without power.
Trains, flights hit
More than 500 Amtrak passengers spent the night on three stopped trains headed for Chicago because of blowing and drifting snow in Illinois, but rail officials said some began arriving in Chicago later Tuesday.
Bob Oravec, a meteorologist at the Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland, said the blast of frigid air raised concerns that roads wet from melted snow from a weekend storm would freeze over.
But there are signs things were returning to normal. Warmer temperatures — near or above freezing — were forecast for the midwest.
JetBlue Airways, which stopped all scheduled flights to and from New York and Boston on Monday, planned to resume some flights Tuesday morning. Southwest Airlines operations in Chicago resumed Monday night, even if it was, as a spokesman for the Texas-based airline called it, "a trickle".
The Minnesota Zoo announced it would reopen to the public Tuesday. State lawmakers in Indiana planned to kick off their 2014 legislative session after a day's postponement.
And warmer temperatures — at least, near or above freezing — are in store for the Midwest. Indianapolis should reach 27 degrees F (minus 3 C) on Wednesday, and other parts of the central U.S. could climb above freezing later in the week.
Even International Falls, Minnesota, had something to look forward to. Wind chills dropped as low as minus 55 F (minus 48 C) Monday, but were expected to rebound to 25 below F (32 below C) Tuesday. By Friday, the low was expected to be 5 to 10 above zero F (minus 15 to minus 13), Oravec said.
In Canada, large parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba were in a deep freeze Monday with temperatures near or below minus 22 F (minus 30 C) and wind chills colder than minus 40 F (minus 40 C).
In Newfoundland, about 5,000 customers remained without power because of rolling blackouts in recent days, but Premier Kathy Dunderdale said it wasn't a crisis and government services were still operating.
Record low tempertarures and deaths
Record lows were possible in the east and south, with highs in the single digits F (minus 17 to minus 13 C) expected Tuesday in Georgia and Alabama. Wind chills were expected to reach minus 10 F (minus 23 C) in Atlanta and minus 12 (minus 24 C) in Baltimore.
From the Dakotas to Maryland, schools and day care centers shut down.
For a big swath of the midwest, the bone-chilling cold moved in behind another winter wallop: more than a foot (30 centimeters) of snow and high winds that made traveling treacherous.
Several deaths were blamed on the snow, ice and cold since Saturday, including the death of a 1-year-old boy who was in a car that went out of control and collided with a snowplow Monday in Missouri.
It took authorities using 10-ton military vehicles known as "wreckers" until early Monday to clear all the chain-reaction accidents caused when several semis jackknifed along snowy interstates in southern Illinois.
The crash stranded about 375 vehicles, but there were no fatalities or injuries, largely because motorists either stayed with their cars or were rescued and taken to nearby warming centers if they were low on gas or didn't have enough coats or blankets, said Jonathon Monken, director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.
Others got stuck in the snowdrifts, including the Southern Illinois men's basketball team, which had to spend the night sleeping in a church.
In the eastern United States, temperatures in the 40s and 50s F (from single digits to the low teens C) Monday helped melt piles of snow from a storm last week, raising the risk that roads would freeze over as the cold air moved in Monday night, said Bob Oravec from the Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland. The snap was set to be dramatic; Springfield, Massachusetts, enjoyed 56 degrees F (13 C) Monday morning but faced an overnight low of 6 F (-14 C).
Utility crews worked to restore power to more than 40,000 Indiana customers affected by the weekend storm and cautioned that some people could be in the cold and dark for days.
Ronald G Smith Sr took shelter at an Indianapolis Red Cross after waking up the previous night with the power out and his cat, Sweet Pea, agitated in the darkness.
"The screen door blew open and woke me up, and it was cold and dark. I got dressed and I was scared, thinking, `What am I going to do? My cat knew something was wrong. He was jumping all over the place," Smith said. "This is brutal cold. The cold is what makes this so dangerous."
Officials in Chicago and other cities checked on the homeless and shut-ins for fear they might freeze to death on the street or in their homes.
In Canada, much of Saskatchewan and Manitoba were in a deep freeze Monday with temperatures near or below minus 22 F (minus 30 C) and wind chills colder than minus 40 F (minus 40 C).
In Newfoundland, about 5,000 customers remained without power because of rolling blackouts in recent days, but Premier Kathy Dunderdale said it wasn't a crisis and government services were still operating.
Only a few hardy souls braved the cold on the Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis, normally a busy pedestrian area. Many people downtown used the extensive heated skyway system, where it is warm enough to walk around in office attire. Nearly all stores on the skyway were open as usual.
Jersey Devil Pizza & Wings was not.
"Apologies ... We are East Coast wimps. Too cold! Stay safe, see you Tuesday," read a sign taped to the door.
| Jan 8, 2014, 12.25 AM IST
INDIANAPOLIS: Dangerously cold polar air snapped decades-old records as it spread on Tuesday from the midwest to southern and eastern parts of the US and eastern Canada, making it hazardous to venture outside and keeping many schools and businesses closed.
In the Florida beach city of Pensacola, patches of ice sparkled in parking lots where puddles froze overnight. In Atlanta, which saw a record low of 6 degrees (-14 celsius), fountains were frozen over, pipes burst and cars wouldn't start.
"This is severely cold for these parts," said Brian Lynn, a National Weather Service meteorologist.
The cold broke records in Chicago, which set a local record Monday at minus 16 Fahrenheit (minus 27 celsius), and elsewhere.
Forecasters said some 187 million people could feel the effects of the "polar vortex" by the time it spreads across the US.
In Toronto, a message on Pearson International Airport's official Twitter account on Tuesday morning said "extreme cold (is) causing equipment freezing and safety issues for employees. Ground stop in effect until at least 9am."
PJM Interconnection, which operates the power grid supplying energy to more than 61 million people in parts of the Mid-Atlantic, midwest and South, asked users to conserve electricity Tuesday because of the cold.
More than 15,000 customers in Indiana remained without power.
Trains, flights hit
More than 500 Amtrak passengers spent the night on three stopped trains headed for Chicago because of blowing and drifting snow in Illinois, but rail officials said some began arriving in Chicago later Tuesday.
Bob Oravec, a meteorologist at the Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland, said the blast of frigid air raised concerns that roads wet from melted snow from a weekend storm would freeze over.
But there are signs things were returning to normal. Warmer temperatures — near or above freezing — were forecast for the midwest.
JetBlue Airways, which stopped all scheduled flights to and from New York and Boston on Monday, planned to resume some flights Tuesday morning. Southwest Airlines operations in Chicago resumed Monday night, even if it was, as a spokesman for the Texas-based airline called it, "a trickle".
The Minnesota Zoo announced it would reopen to the public Tuesday. State lawmakers in Indiana planned to kick off their 2014 legislative session after a day's postponement.
And warmer temperatures — at least, near or above freezing — are in store for the Midwest. Indianapolis should reach 27 degrees F (minus 3 C) on Wednesday, and other parts of the central U.S. could climb above freezing later in the week.
Even International Falls, Minnesota, had something to look forward to. Wind chills dropped as low as minus 55 F (minus 48 C) Monday, but were expected to rebound to 25 below F (32 below C) Tuesday. By Friday, the low was expected to be 5 to 10 above zero F (minus 15 to minus 13), Oravec said.
In Canada, large parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba were in a deep freeze Monday with temperatures near or below minus 22 F (minus 30 C) and wind chills colder than minus 40 F (minus 40 C).
In Newfoundland, about 5,000 customers remained without power because of rolling blackouts in recent days, but Premier Kathy Dunderdale said it wasn't a crisis and government services were still operating.
Record low tempertarures and deaths
Record lows were possible in the east and south, with highs in the single digits F (minus 17 to minus 13 C) expected Tuesday in Georgia and Alabama. Wind chills were expected to reach minus 10 F (minus 23 C) in Atlanta and minus 12 (minus 24 C) in Baltimore.
From the Dakotas to Maryland, schools and day care centers shut down.
For a big swath of the midwest, the bone-chilling cold moved in behind another winter wallop: more than a foot (30 centimeters) of snow and high winds that made traveling treacherous.
Several deaths were blamed on the snow, ice and cold since Saturday, including the death of a 1-year-old boy who was in a car that went out of control and collided with a snowplow Monday in Missouri.
It took authorities using 10-ton military vehicles known as "wreckers" until early Monday to clear all the chain-reaction accidents caused when several semis jackknifed along snowy interstates in southern Illinois.
The crash stranded about 375 vehicles, but there were no fatalities or injuries, largely because motorists either stayed with their cars or were rescued and taken to nearby warming centers if they were low on gas or didn't have enough coats or blankets, said Jonathon Monken, director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.
Others got stuck in the snowdrifts, including the Southern Illinois men's basketball team, which had to spend the night sleeping in a church.
In the eastern United States, temperatures in the 40s and 50s F (from single digits to the low teens C) Monday helped melt piles of snow from a storm last week, raising the risk that roads would freeze over as the cold air moved in Monday night, said Bob Oravec from the Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland. The snap was set to be dramatic; Springfield, Massachusetts, enjoyed 56 degrees F (13 C) Monday morning but faced an overnight low of 6 F (-14 C).
Utility crews worked to restore power to more than 40,000 Indiana customers affected by the weekend storm and cautioned that some people could be in the cold and dark for days.
Ronald G Smith Sr took shelter at an Indianapolis Red Cross after waking up the previous night with the power out and his cat, Sweet Pea, agitated in the darkness.
"The screen door blew open and woke me up, and it was cold and dark. I got dressed and I was scared, thinking, `What am I going to do? My cat knew something was wrong. He was jumping all over the place," Smith said. "This is brutal cold. The cold is what makes this so dangerous."
Officials in Chicago and other cities checked on the homeless and shut-ins for fear they might freeze to death on the street or in their homes.
In Canada, much of Saskatchewan and Manitoba were in a deep freeze Monday with temperatures near or below minus 22 F (minus 30 C) and wind chills colder than minus 40 F (minus 40 C).
In Newfoundland, about 5,000 customers remained without power because of rolling blackouts in recent days, but Premier Kathy Dunderdale said it wasn't a crisis and government services were still operating.
Only a few hardy souls braved the cold on the Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis, normally a busy pedestrian area. Many people downtown used the extensive heated skyway system, where it is warm enough to walk around in office attire. Nearly all stores on the skyway were open as usual.
Jersey Devil Pizza & Wings was not.
"Apologies ... We are East Coast wimps. Too cold! Stay safe, see you Tuesday," read a sign taped to the door.
UK weather: Environment Agency issues flood warnings for whole of England and WalesAdam Withnall,The Independent
Jan 7, 2014, 07.30 PM IST
With the UK suffering the worst band of winter storms in more than 20 years, the Environment Agency has been forced to issue flood warnings in every single region across England and Wales.
The agency currently has around 350 alerts in place across the country as a whole, including three severe warnings which indicate there is a "danger to life".
Last night a flood siren warning of extreme danger to people and property was sounded in Dorset, as gales and tidal surges battered the coast.
The Environment Agency raised the alarm after its sea defences were breached at Chiswell Beach in Portland last night, following on from a severe flood warning in the area.
Dorset Police told families to move to an upstairs room facing away from the sea and arm themselves with flood kits.
The Met said a further band of heavy showers will hit the south and southeast on Tuesday, and will continue to cause a localised flooding risk throughout Tuesday and into early Wednesday.
The Met advised people to check in with the Environment Agency regularly to find out how their region was affected The Met advised people to check in with the Environment Agency regularly to find out how their region was affected To find out if you are affected by the expected flooding, visit the Environment Agency website.
Jan 7, 2014, 07.30 PM IST
With the UK suffering the worst band of winter storms in more than 20 years, the Environment Agency has been forced to issue flood warnings in every single region across England and Wales.
The agency currently has around 350 alerts in place across the country as a whole, including three severe warnings which indicate there is a "danger to life".
Last night a flood siren warning of extreme danger to people and property was sounded in Dorset, as gales and tidal surges battered the coast.
The Environment Agency raised the alarm after its sea defences were breached at Chiswell Beach in Portland last night, following on from a severe flood warning in the area.
Dorset Police told families to move to an upstairs room facing away from the sea and arm themselves with flood kits.
The Met said a further band of heavy showers will hit the south and southeast on Tuesday, and will continue to cause a localised flooding risk throughout Tuesday and into early Wednesday.
The Met advised people to check in with the Environment Agency regularly to find out how their region was affected The Met advised people to check in with the Environment Agency regularly to find out how their region was affected To find out if you are affected by the expected flooding, visit the Environment Agency website.
French restaurant in Islamabad shut down for 'no Pakistanis allowed' policy
PTI | Jan 7, 2014, 01.28 PM IST
ISLAMABAD: A French restaurant, running in a posh locality here, was raided and shut down by police following a public outcry over its policy of not allowing Pakistanis in.
'La Maison', running out of Islamabad's F7-1, was not allowing Pakistanis in, citing the French style of cooking that uses wine.
Also, the food was not halal and even pork was served.
The controversial policy had led to a storm on various social media networks, with many comparing the policy to apartheid and the infamous colonial boards outside clubs in India during British rule.
The momentum against the restaurant was started by Cyril Almeida, senior journalist working with a leading Pakistani daily, who launched a Twitter war against the restaurant.
The restaurant-owner Philippe Lafforgue wrote to him, claiming he is changing his policy.
Lafforgue, however, continued to bar Pakistanis.
"What can I do? I am just trying to respect the local culture. Pakistanis with dual nationality are allowed," Lafforgue had said prior to the raid.
"But after consulting the authorities, my advisor and my partner, I am telling you it is impossible to open a place to the public when we serve non-halal food. I cannot change the recipes of French food," he had said in a letter.
"So we will stand by our policies. Everybody is welcome, even Pakistani people with a dual nationality. I don't want to hurt the sensitivities of Muslim people."
He said he had "just opened this place to give to the people an authentic French cuisine... And it is not compatible with the faith of the people here. So it will remain private".
This is not the first such incident in Islamabad. In 2009, another French restaurant 'The Cordon Rouge' hung a "foreigners only" sign, which was later removed after protests.
According to police sources, they recovered huge quantity of illegal liquor from 'La Maison'. The raid was carried out by the police with TV camera crews in tow.
The small restaurant running out of Lafforgue's house, was a hit with the expats. One had to make prior booking, giving international passport details.
'La Maison' was similar to the New York-style "secret restaurants" that operate in the federal capital.
PTI | Jan 7, 2014, 01.28 PM IST
ISLAMABAD: A French restaurant, running in a posh locality here, was raided and shut down by police following a public outcry over its policy of not allowing Pakistanis in.
'La Maison', running out of Islamabad's F7-1, was not allowing Pakistanis in, citing the French style of cooking that uses wine.
Also, the food was not halal and even pork was served.
The controversial policy had led to a storm on various social media networks, with many comparing the policy to apartheid and the infamous colonial boards outside clubs in India during British rule.
The momentum against the restaurant was started by Cyril Almeida, senior journalist working with a leading Pakistani daily, who launched a Twitter war against the restaurant.
The restaurant-owner Philippe Lafforgue wrote to him, claiming he is changing his policy.
Lafforgue, however, continued to bar Pakistanis.
"What can I do? I am just trying to respect the local culture. Pakistanis with dual nationality are allowed," Lafforgue had said prior to the raid.
"But after consulting the authorities, my advisor and my partner, I am telling you it is impossible to open a place to the public when we serve non-halal food. I cannot change the recipes of French food," he had said in a letter.
"So we will stand by our policies. Everybody is welcome, even Pakistani people with a dual nationality. I don't want to hurt the sensitivities of Muslim people."
He said he had "just opened this place to give to the people an authentic French cuisine... And it is not compatible with the faith of the people here. So it will remain private".
This is not the first such incident in Islamabad. In 2009, another French restaurant 'The Cordon Rouge' hung a "foreigners only" sign, which was later removed after protests.
According to police sources, they recovered huge quantity of illegal liquor from 'La Maison'. The raid was carried out by the police with TV camera crews in tow.
The small restaurant running out of Lafforgue's house, was a hit with the expats. One had to make prior booking, giving international passport details.
'La Maison' was similar to the New York-style "secret restaurants" that operate in the federal capital.
Teachers: E-assessment will 'break our backs'
MUMBAI: Several engineering teachers from colleges affiliated to Mumbai University, who will have to start online assessment of answer sheets from Monday, have claimed the process may take a toll on their health, causing vision- and back- related problems.
As the assessment of engineering papers is all set to begin after a month's delay, teachers fear that they might be asked to rush with the process. But, not all principals, are buying the teachers' claims and say there is an averseness to use technology among some teachers.
The teachers had voiced their displeasure about online assessment at a Bombay University and College Teachers' Union (BUCTU) meeting on Saturday. "The university took a month to scan the answer sheets. If the process is taking so much time, then what is the point of implementing it," said a teacher affiliated to BUCTU.
"If teachers sit in front computers for long, it can cause back problems," said a teacher. At a BUCTU agitation scheduled in January, the teachers plan to oppose the process, besides their other grievances, said Madhu Paranjape, secretary of the organization. But, some principals said though the delay problem needs to be addressed, health hazards seem "far-fetched".
MUMBAI: Several engineering teachers from colleges affiliated to Mumbai University, who will have to start online assessment of answer sheets from Monday, have claimed the process may take a toll on their health, causing vision- and back- related problems.
As the assessment of engineering papers is all set to begin after a month's delay, teachers fear that they might be asked to rush with the process. But, not all principals, are buying the teachers' claims and say there is an averseness to use technology among some teachers.
The teachers had voiced their displeasure about online assessment at a Bombay University and College Teachers' Union (BUCTU) meeting on Saturday. "The university took a month to scan the answer sheets. If the process is taking so much time, then what is the point of implementing it," said a teacher affiliated to BUCTU.
"If teachers sit in front computers for long, it can cause back problems," said a teacher. At a BUCTU agitation scheduled in January, the teachers plan to oppose the process, besides their other grievances, said Madhu Paranjape, secretary of the organization. But, some principals said though the delay problem needs to be addressed, health hazards seem "far-fetched".
College recovers cost of missing laptop from teacher
MUMBAI: The recovery of the cost of a laptop which went missing from a college premises in Pen, from the head of a department, has met opposition from several teachers from colleges affiliated to the Mumbai University. A delegation of around 20 teachers met the vice-chancellor recently to seek his intervention in the matter.
Around 14 laptops worth Rs 40,000 each was given to Bhausaheb Nene College of Arts, Science and Commerce in Pen, under a central government scheme by the University Grants Commission. The one given to the physics department, under the responsibility of the head of the department, went missing in March. The HoD claimed that the laptop went missing when it was being taken from the physics department to the exam department in the college. The police, in their complaint, also mentioned that the laptop was lost.
However, after several letters were exchanged between the HoD and the principal over the matter, the college started deducting the cost of the laptop from the teacher's salary. In the October's salary, disbursed in November, Rs 6,000 was deducted from the teacher's salary. Since the laptop cost Rs 40,000, the same amount will be deducted by the college for six months.
A member of the Bombay University and College Teachers' Union (BUCTU), claimed that the college failed to follow the appropriate procedure. "The college did not conduct a proper inquiry before holding the teacher responsible for the missing laptop. Every HoD in university's affiliated colleges will be in charge of several expensive items in their laboratories. How is it fair to recover the amount from the HoD?" Asked the member. Another teacher pointed out that electronic items have depreciating value, and the laptop was used for almost a year in the lab, before it went missing.
The principal of the college, also an academic council member, S B Dharap, said that the amount recovery is a normal routine procedure which is being blown out of proportion by the teachers. "If the complaint filed was for theft, we would have waited for an inquiry. But in this case, even the police complaint stated that the laptop was lost. Once a product is lost, how does the college recover the amount? The HoD had taken responsibility of the laptop in writing, when it was issued. If we do not take action, what if other laptops go missing in the same fashion?" Asked Dharap.
A delegation of teachers who met the vice-chancellor, Rajan Welukar, were assured that appropriate procedure will be followed by the grievances committee. However, teachers have alleged that the grievance committee would not be a recourse as the principal is also part of the committee.
MUMBAI: The recovery of the cost of a laptop which went missing from a college premises in Pen, from the head of a department, has met opposition from several teachers from colleges affiliated to the Mumbai University. A delegation of around 20 teachers met the vice-chancellor recently to seek his intervention in the matter.
Around 14 laptops worth Rs 40,000 each was given to Bhausaheb Nene College of Arts, Science and Commerce in Pen, under a central government scheme by the University Grants Commission. The one given to the physics department, under the responsibility of the head of the department, went missing in March. The HoD claimed that the laptop went missing when it was being taken from the physics department to the exam department in the college. The police, in their complaint, also mentioned that the laptop was lost.
However, after several letters were exchanged between the HoD and the principal over the matter, the college started deducting the cost of the laptop from the teacher's salary. In the October's salary, disbursed in November, Rs 6,000 was deducted from the teacher's salary. Since the laptop cost Rs 40,000, the same amount will be deducted by the college for six months.
A member of the Bombay University and College Teachers' Union (BUCTU), claimed that the college failed to follow the appropriate procedure. "The college did not conduct a proper inquiry before holding the teacher responsible for the missing laptop. Every HoD in university's affiliated colleges will be in charge of several expensive items in their laboratories. How is it fair to recover the amount from the HoD?" Asked the member. Another teacher pointed out that electronic items have depreciating value, and the laptop was used for almost a year in the lab, before it went missing.
The principal of the college, also an academic council member, S B Dharap, said that the amount recovery is a normal routine procedure which is being blown out of proportion by the teachers. "If the complaint filed was for theft, we would have waited for an inquiry. But in this case, even the police complaint stated that the laptop was lost. Once a product is lost, how does the college recover the amount? The HoD had taken responsibility of the laptop in writing, when it was issued. If we do not take action, what if other laptops go missing in the same fashion?" Asked Dharap.
A delegation of teachers who met the vice-chancellor, Rajan Welukar, were assured that appropriate procedure will be followed by the grievances committee. However, teachers have alleged that the grievance committee would not be a recourse as the principal is also part of the committee.
Mumbai University still shooting off SMSs for corrections in engineering papers
MUMBAI: Errors continued to creep in Mumbai University's exams followed by 'correction' SMSs on Thursday. City college principals received around six SMSs in the morning session of the exam meant for regular final-year engineering Semester VII students. At least five more errors were also spotted in the afternoon session for second-year engineering Semester IV repeaters.
Some of the SMSs principals received (see box) show the errors were not as minor as the university has claimed. A principal said there were three mistakes in biomedical engineering (Semester VII) alone out of the eight branches of engineering. A student from a centre in the western suburbs said one of the errors was corrected around 12.45 pm-close to two hours after the paper started at 11am.
"Since we had started attempting the questions, some of us contemplated whether to write that the corrections were received late at our centre," said the student. "We are spending more time reading the question paper these days," said another.
A principal added examiners should get instructions for subjects where glaring errors are detected. "Teachers should be evaluating students on the basis of their understanding or the university should give an error-free paper. Some students wasted time rewriting while some left it as it is."
In the afternoon sessions, there were at least five errors, two in electronics and telecommunications, one in computer and a couple of messages sent to principals did not even have the branch name mentioned, but just the paper code.
S K Ukrande, dean of engineering, Mumbai University, though, said, "Exams are being conducted for 14 branches of engineering. There are around 20 question paper sets that are printed and there are possibilities of typographical errors creeping in. If the errors are of a serious nature, we will look into it. But most of the errors that have been corrected so far were typographical." Padma Deshmukh, controller of exam, said they will examine the nature of errors and then decide if action needs to be taken against paper setters.
MUMBAI: Errors continued to creep in Mumbai University's exams followed by 'correction' SMSs on Thursday. City college principals received around six SMSs in the morning session of the exam meant for regular final-year engineering Semester VII students. At least five more errors were also spotted in the afternoon session for second-year engineering Semester IV repeaters.
Some of the SMSs principals received (see box) show the errors were not as minor as the university has claimed. A principal said there were three mistakes in biomedical engineering (Semester VII) alone out of the eight branches of engineering. A student from a centre in the western suburbs said one of the errors was corrected around 12.45 pm-close to two hours after the paper started at 11am.
"Since we had started attempting the questions, some of us contemplated whether to write that the corrections were received late at our centre," said the student. "We are spending more time reading the question paper these days," said another.
A principal added examiners should get instructions for subjects where glaring errors are detected. "Teachers should be evaluating students on the basis of their understanding or the university should give an error-free paper. Some students wasted time rewriting while some left it as it is."
In the afternoon sessions, there were at least five errors, two in electronics and telecommunications, one in computer and a couple of messages sent to principals did not even have the branch name mentioned, but just the paper code.
S K Ukrande, dean of engineering, Mumbai University, though, said, "Exams are being conducted for 14 branches of engineering. There are around 20 question paper sets that are printed and there are possibilities of typographical errors creeping in. If the errors are of a serious nature, we will look into it. But most of the errors that have been corrected so far were typographical." Padma Deshmukh, controller of exam, said they will examine the nature of errors and then decide if action needs to be taken against paper setters.
Interesting facts of Indian universities!
City with most universities
New Delhi has 26 Universities- the maximum in any city followed by Jaipur (25) and Chennai (22). Most of the private and deemed universities are in Jaipur (18) and Chennai (12) respectively. In contrast, the Union Territories of Lakshwadeep, Daman & Diu, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Dadar and Nagar Haveli do not have a single university.
For the minorities
Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi is the only central university that has a 50% reservation for Muslims, yet has all the privileges and rights of a central university in the country.
Name-Game
Did you know that there are 22 universities in the name of Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi-8, Rajiv Gandhi-8, Indira Gandhi- 5 and Sanjay Gandhi-1). 11 universities are named afterDr. BR Ambedkar while 8 are named after Jawaharlal Nehru.
Chai & Why? at TIFR
How does a body cell know that it has to become a skin cell or a heart cell? This was a query that made scientists at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai know about a valuable finding about selective unlocking of cells segments. And it was posed at ‘Chai and Why?’ - an informal forum for science geeks organised by TIFR along with Prithvi Theatre twice a month. It tries to engage people interested in science and keen to discuss their views. Anyone can pose any question around interesting scientific issues that may be topical, or from their daily life reflections such as global warming, space exploration, stem cells etc. The idea is to respect the notion that some queries are invariably not stupid, but are often insightful. The 100th session is due on May 5. There is no entry fee. So just turn up and you will get a cup of tea, that too for free!
3,000 crore
is the budget for Nalanda University, which is the most recent University set up in Bihar through an Act of Parliament. This money could easily bank roll three IITs or five IISERs. One wishes we have a few more Nalandas.
Language Universities
Did you know there are 21 universities dedicated to specific languages? Sanskrit has 14 while there are two in Urdu and Hindi and one each in Tamil, Telugu and English.
City with most universities
New Delhi has 26 Universities- the maximum in any city followed by Jaipur (25) and Chennai (22). Most of the private and deemed universities are in Jaipur (18) and Chennai (12) respectively. In contrast, the Union Territories of Lakshwadeep, Daman & Diu, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Dadar and Nagar Haveli do not have a single university.
For the minorities
Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi is the only central university that has a 50% reservation for Muslims, yet has all the privileges and rights of a central university in the country.
Name-Game
Did you know that there are 22 universities in the name of Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi-8, Rajiv Gandhi-8, Indira Gandhi- 5 and Sanjay Gandhi-1). 11 universities are named afterDr. BR Ambedkar while 8 are named after Jawaharlal Nehru.
Chai & Why? at TIFR
How does a body cell know that it has to become a skin cell or a heart cell? This was a query that made scientists at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai know about a valuable finding about selective unlocking of cells segments. And it was posed at ‘Chai and Why?’ - an informal forum for science geeks organised by TIFR along with Prithvi Theatre twice a month. It tries to engage people interested in science and keen to discuss their views. Anyone can pose any question around interesting scientific issues that may be topical, or from their daily life reflections such as global warming, space exploration, stem cells etc. The idea is to respect the notion that some queries are invariably not stupid, but are often insightful. The 100th session is due on May 5. There is no entry fee. So just turn up and you will get a cup of tea, that too for free!
3,000 crore
is the budget for Nalanda University, which is the most recent University set up in Bihar through an Act of Parliament. This money could easily bank roll three IITs or five IISERs. One wishes we have a few more Nalandas.
Language Universities
Did you know there are 21 universities dedicated to specific languages? Sanskrit has 14 while there are two in Urdu and Hindi and one each in Tamil, Telugu and English.
Even with 49Mbps, India to remain way behind in internet race
Ravi Sharma, TOI Tech Jan 7, 2014, 04.28PM IST
NEW DELHI: India is eagerly awaiting the launch of Reliance Jio’s 4G connection, which promises to offer average internet speed of 49Mbps on the go. This is over 12 times faster than the current average of 4Mbps on the country’s 3G networks. In theory, Reliance Jio’s 4G network will offer maximum speed of 112Mbps.
Download speed of 49Mbps may seem astounding for those in India, but the country will still lag far behind the leaders in the global internet race.
South Korea, widely acknowledged as the most ‘connected’ nation in the world, already has the highest broadband internet speed of 53.3Mbps and average speed of 13.3Mbps, according to Akamai.
On mobile networks, South Korea's telecom operator SK Telecom claimed in November that it has achieved maximum internet download speed of 225Mbps on its LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network. LTE-A is a new technology that allows 50% faster data download over mobile networks.
The speed of up to 225Mbps has been achieved for a demo, though the actual download speed of the network has not yet been announced. The commercial rollout of its service will happen in the second half of 2014, around the same time when Reliance rolls out its 4G network. Even if 225Mbps is taken as the promised maximum speed and not actual speed, it will be twice as fast as Reliance's peak of 112Mbps.
SK Telecom has said that it is waiting for smartphone chips that can support such high download speeds to arrive in the market. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 800 chipset, the most powerful in the world, support maximum actual download speed of 150Mbps.
The South Korean telecom operator also plans to offer download speed of 300Mbps on mobile connections, though it has not given a time frame for this. UK's EE has also reportedly achieved 300Mbps download speed, but has not announced plans for the commercial rollout yet.
When Reliance finally rolls out its 4G network expected by around mid-2014, its highest speed of 112Mbps will also be nearly one-third slower than that of UK-based service provider EE’s highest download speed of 300Mbps, the maximum internet speed on a mobile network in the world right now. EE promises average speed of 25-30Mbps across the UK, with speeds as high as 60Mbps in certain cities.
According to latest data compiled by analytics website Speedtest.net, the US town of Ephrata, Washington DC, enjoys average internet speed of 85.54Mbps. However, the national average internet speed of the US is 18.5Mbps only. On mobile networks, the maximum speed in the country is 58.25Mbps (AT&T 4G), according to data by PCMag.
Google Fiber, the internet titan’s pilot broadband internet project, promises maximum speed of 1Gbps (gigabits per second; 1gigabit = 1024 megabits) in the US. However, actual speed delivered in Kansas City under this project is 49.86Mbps, the second highest in US, according to Speedtest.net data.
In Hong Kong too, the peak speed is 65.1Mbps (the highest in the world) and average speed users get is 10.8Mbps. The average 4G mobile download speed, however, in the country is 20Mbps.
Akamai’s data dates back to the July-September quarter, and it is likely that the internet speeds would increase by the time Reliance’s network rolls out.
Another operator offering 4G broadband in India is Bharti Airtel. The company's network is currently available in cities like Pune, Kolkata and Bangalore, but it is not available on mobile phones. Airtel 4G offers average download speed of 40Mbps via USB dongles, with the theoretical highest speed claimed to be 100Mbps.
It is, therefore, obvious that India’s fastest consumer internet networks will not stand anywhere close to those in the developed markets and will even remain far behind upcoming networks in terms of pure download speeds.
Also, the 3G flop show in India, where only 107 million users (out of an estimated 919 million) use 3G internet on mobile devices, does not bode too well for Reliance’s soon-to-be-rolled-out 4G internet. High pricing and poor connectivity due to patchy networks has been one of the biggest stumbling blocks for 3G adoption in India. Thus, Reliance would not only have to maintain a reliable network for its 4G users, but will have to also keep the prices low to promote mass adoption.
With India’s burgeoning smartphone market, a number of consumers are likely to spend on high-speed internet on mobile devices for a better user experience, especially since video viewing is expected to be the next big data consumption medium in the country.
However, India can still catch up with the leaders in the internet speed race. The government is working with Israel to develop 5G internet networks, which offer speed of 10Gbps. This technology is still in development across the world, with several companies claiming that it will be ready by 2020.
Ravi Sharma, TOI Tech Jan 7, 2014, 04.28PM IST
NEW DELHI: India is eagerly awaiting the launch of Reliance Jio’s 4G connection, which promises to offer average internet speed of 49Mbps on the go. This is over 12 times faster than the current average of 4Mbps on the country’s 3G networks. In theory, Reliance Jio’s 4G network will offer maximum speed of 112Mbps.
Download speed of 49Mbps may seem astounding for those in India, but the country will still lag far behind the leaders in the global internet race.
South Korea, widely acknowledged as the most ‘connected’ nation in the world, already has the highest broadband internet speed of 53.3Mbps and average speed of 13.3Mbps, according to Akamai.
On mobile networks, South Korea's telecom operator SK Telecom claimed in November that it has achieved maximum internet download speed of 225Mbps on its LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network. LTE-A is a new technology that allows 50% faster data download over mobile networks.
The speed of up to 225Mbps has been achieved for a demo, though the actual download speed of the network has not yet been announced. The commercial rollout of its service will happen in the second half of 2014, around the same time when Reliance rolls out its 4G network. Even if 225Mbps is taken as the promised maximum speed and not actual speed, it will be twice as fast as Reliance's peak of 112Mbps.
SK Telecom has said that it is waiting for smartphone chips that can support such high download speeds to arrive in the market. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 800 chipset, the most powerful in the world, support maximum actual download speed of 150Mbps.
The South Korean telecom operator also plans to offer download speed of 300Mbps on mobile connections, though it has not given a time frame for this. UK's EE has also reportedly achieved 300Mbps download speed, but has not announced plans for the commercial rollout yet.
When Reliance finally rolls out its 4G network expected by around mid-2014, its highest speed of 112Mbps will also be nearly one-third slower than that of UK-based service provider EE’s highest download speed of 300Mbps, the maximum internet speed on a mobile network in the world right now. EE promises average speed of 25-30Mbps across the UK, with speeds as high as 60Mbps in certain cities.
According to latest data compiled by analytics website Speedtest.net, the US town of Ephrata, Washington DC, enjoys average internet speed of 85.54Mbps. However, the national average internet speed of the US is 18.5Mbps only. On mobile networks, the maximum speed in the country is 58.25Mbps (AT&T 4G), according to data by PCMag.
Google Fiber, the internet titan’s pilot broadband internet project, promises maximum speed of 1Gbps (gigabits per second; 1gigabit = 1024 megabits) in the US. However, actual speed delivered in Kansas City under this project is 49.86Mbps, the second highest in US, according to Speedtest.net data.
In Hong Kong too, the peak speed is 65.1Mbps (the highest in the world) and average speed users get is 10.8Mbps. The average 4G mobile download speed, however, in the country is 20Mbps.
Akamai’s data dates back to the July-September quarter, and it is likely that the internet speeds would increase by the time Reliance’s network rolls out.
Another operator offering 4G broadband in India is Bharti Airtel. The company's network is currently available in cities like Pune, Kolkata and Bangalore, but it is not available on mobile phones. Airtel 4G offers average download speed of 40Mbps via USB dongles, with the theoretical highest speed claimed to be 100Mbps.
It is, therefore, obvious that India’s fastest consumer internet networks will not stand anywhere close to those in the developed markets and will even remain far behind upcoming networks in terms of pure download speeds.
Also, the 3G flop show in India, where only 107 million users (out of an estimated 919 million) use 3G internet on mobile devices, does not bode too well for Reliance’s soon-to-be-rolled-out 4G internet. High pricing and poor connectivity due to patchy networks has been one of the biggest stumbling blocks for 3G adoption in India. Thus, Reliance would not only have to maintain a reliable network for its 4G users, but will have to also keep the prices low to promote mass adoption.
With India’s burgeoning smartphone market, a number of consumers are likely to spend on high-speed internet on mobile devices for a better user experience, especially since video viewing is expected to be the next big data consumption medium in the country.
However, India can still catch up with the leaders in the internet speed race. The government is working with Israel to develop 5G internet networks, which offer speed of 10Gbps. This technology is still in development across the world, with several companies claiming that it will be ready by 2020.
Ridiculous for banks to charge for withdrawals at own ATMs: RBI DG
Aniruddha Ghosh & Simran Gill, ET Now | Jan 8, 2014, 04.19PM ISTLashing out at the proposal from the Indian Banks' Association to start charging customers for ATM withdrawals, Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor K C Chakrabarty has said that such a move on the part of banks would be 'ridiculous' and 'illogical'.
Speaking exclusively to ET NOW, Chakrabarty says "it is very, very ridiculous that banks are charging the customers for withdrawing money, and that too from their own ATMs -- it never happens anywhere." He goes on to add that this is something that only further competition in the industry can rectify. "If the cost of withdrawing money is so high so that they charging you, then they may just start charging you even if you go to a bank branch. That is why I feel we require more banks, there is not enough competition and banks are becoming illogical," quips Chakrabarty.
Of late banks have started complaining of rising costs, after several state governments have made it compulsory for banks to install round-the-clock security guards at their ATMs. According to the Indian Banks' Association (IBA), the cost of providing physical security to these ATMs is upwards of Rs 4,000 crore for the system. "We have no choice but to raise the charges, we have proposed that free transactions at ATMs be capped at five per month," said MV Tanksale, CEO, IBA in an interaction with journalists earlier this week. Interestingly, the move comes at a time when the RBI and banks are trying to push customers to use ATMs more, in an attempt to bring down transaction costs at branches.
But Chakrabarty concedes that banks may end up with no choice but to raise charges if the costs are unviable. "If the banks are not able to do a particular business because the pricing is adverse I don't think there is any other way but to rectify the pricing," he says.
However, the RBI is yet to receive any formal intimation from banks on the subject. If and when the banks raise the issue with the regulator, the RBI is expected to set up a committee that will look into all the costs and arrive at a fair amount for the charges. At present, the RBI has not prescribed any charges for cash withdrawals at ATMs if the customer is using a card of the same bank, though the fee for withdrawals at other ATMs has been capped at Rs 20, after five free cash transactions.
Aniruddha Ghosh & Simran Gill, ET Now | Jan 8, 2014, 04.19PM ISTLashing out at the proposal from the Indian Banks' Association to start charging customers for ATM withdrawals, Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor K C Chakrabarty has said that such a move on the part of banks would be 'ridiculous' and 'illogical'.
Speaking exclusively to ET NOW, Chakrabarty says "it is very, very ridiculous that banks are charging the customers for withdrawing money, and that too from their own ATMs -- it never happens anywhere." He goes on to add that this is something that only further competition in the industry can rectify. "If the cost of withdrawing money is so high so that they charging you, then they may just start charging you even if you go to a bank branch. That is why I feel we require more banks, there is not enough competition and banks are becoming illogical," quips Chakrabarty.
Of late banks have started complaining of rising costs, after several state governments have made it compulsory for banks to install round-the-clock security guards at their ATMs. According to the Indian Banks' Association (IBA), the cost of providing physical security to these ATMs is upwards of Rs 4,000 crore for the system. "We have no choice but to raise the charges, we have proposed that free transactions at ATMs be capped at five per month," said MV Tanksale, CEO, IBA in an interaction with journalists earlier this week. Interestingly, the move comes at a time when the RBI and banks are trying to push customers to use ATMs more, in an attempt to bring down transaction costs at branches.
But Chakrabarty concedes that banks may end up with no choice but to raise charges if the costs are unviable. "If the banks are not able to do a particular business because the pricing is adverse I don't think there is any other way but to rectify the pricing," he says.
However, the RBI is yet to receive any formal intimation from banks on the subject. If and when the banks raise the issue with the regulator, the RBI is expected to set up a committee that will look into all the costs and arrive at a fair amount for the charges. At present, the RBI has not prescribed any charges for cash withdrawals at ATMs if the customer is using a card of the same bank, though the fee for withdrawals at other ATMs has been capped at Rs 20, after five free cash transactions.
Facebook acquires Bangalore-based startup Little Eye Labs
TNN | Jan 8, 2014, 11.41 AM IST
BANGALORE: Facebook has acquired Bangalore-based startup Little Eye Labs making it the social networking giant's first acquisition in India. Little Eye is a tool that helps Android app developers to measure, analyze and optimize their apps.
It helps visualize the app's behaviour and estimates the app's power, memory and network data consumption trends. The entire LittleEye Labs team will move to Facebook's headquarters in Menlo Park, California, where they would leverage the social networking giant's infrastructure to improve the performance of their apps. "Little Eye Labs will join forces with Facebook to take its mobile development to the next level! This is Facebook's first acquisition of an Indian company, and we are happy to become part of such an incredibleteam," the company said in a note on their website.
The Bangalore-based startup was founded in May last year by four programme analysis geeks -- Giridhar Murthy, who worked at Apple earlier, Kumar Rangarajan, who has worked at IBM and HP, Satyam Kandula, an IIT Kharagpur alumnus and ex IBMer Lakshman Kakkirala.
This has been a fun and exciting journey. We're eager to be working alongside the incredible team at Facebook and together, we'll continue on our mission of building awesome analysis tools to aide in the development of brilliant apps," said Rangarajan, the CEO of Little Eye. The company has raised seed funding from from GSF Superangels and Venture East Fund. Rajesh Sawhney, founder of GSF Accelerator, added, "Acquisition of Little Eye Labs by Facebook is a transformative deal for not only the Indian startup ecosystem but also for the whole of the emerging world. This validates GSF's core tenet that Indian product startups are now ready for a global play."
Subbu Subramanian, engineering manager in Facebook said, "I'm excited to announce that we're acquiring Little Eye Labs.This is an opportunity to welcome some of the industry's most- talented engineers to our team in Menlo Park, California. At Facebook, we remain focused on producing useful and engaging mobile apps. The Little Eye Labs technology will help us to continue improving our Android codebase to make more efficient, higher-performing apps."
Justice Ganguly slams Supreme Court, alleges he was 'badly treated'
PTI | Jan 8, 2014, 04.29 PM IST
KOLKATA: Retired Supreme Court Judge A K Ganguly, who quit as Chairman of the West Bengal Human Rights Commission on Wednesday attacked the Supreme Court over the inquiry by its three-judge panel into the sexual assault allegations against him, saying he was "very badly and unfairly" treated.
Claiming that he quit in "disgust", the 66-year-old former Supreme Court judge also said he would prefer jail to filing a defamation case against the law intern who levelled the sexual harassment allegation, as she was his student.
"I will never do anything against someone who was my student. I would rather go to jail," Ganguly told reporters when asked whether he would file a defamation case against the intern.
Ganguly, who quit in the wake of mounting pressure after he was indicted by a three-member panel of judges of the Supreme Court, denied any wrong doing and alleged he was not given a fair chance by the apex court.
"I have been very badly and unfairly treated by the Supreme Court. I was not given a fair chance by the Supreme Court panel," he told CNN-IBN.
Stating that Supreme Court jurisdiction doesn't apply on a retired judge, he also questioned the appointment of the panel.
"The intern never complained to the SC, then why was a panel formed? I appeared before the court in good faith. The Supreme Court panel acted without jurisdiction and basis against me. I am questioning the role of my fellow judges in the Supreme Court," he added.
On the panel's observation which had found 'unwelcome behaviour' on his part, Ganguly shot back, "Unwelcome to whom?
"I did not force her to stay with me. Neither I forced her to drink wine. Can I force if one is not willing to take it? If she did not like, she could have left before dinner also."
The panel had held that the statement of the intern, both written and oral, had prima facie disclosed "an act of unwelcome behaviour (unwelcome verbal/non-verbal conduct of sexual nature)" by the judge with her in the Le Meridien hotel room in Delhi on December 24, 2012.
Ganguly claimed he was not given a copy of the statement of the law intern given to the apex court panel on the ground it was a "secret" and said this was an "insult" to him.
The former apex court judge said he had written a detailed letter in this regard to the Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam and he had not got any reply it.
Ganguly said she wished the intern well. "I wish her well. She was quite an efficient intern. I wish her success in whatever she chooses in her life," he said.
He said that since the alleged incident at a Delhi hotel on December 24, 2012 he had not met her.
Denying all allegations made against him, Ganguly said there is no charge against him.
Asked whether he felt there was a political conspiracy against him, Justice Ganguly replied, "I can't say whether it is a political conspiracy.
"The West Bengal government never liked my continuance as chairman of state human rights commission. No dissent is allowed in Bengal. This is well-known to everyone."
"I have not done anything to feel ashamed of. The allegations were made by the intern 11 months after the incident. This was organised to defame me. The West Bengal government was very uncomfortable with me as the WBHRC Chief."
Asked about the reason for stepping down, Ganguly said it was getting difficult for him to work under the situation.
"I stepped down for my family's happiness, and the dignity and honour of Human Rights Commission," said Ganguly, adding his family had suffered a lot.
"I feel shattered by the allegations that have been made, they are very unreasonable."
He also said that Vishaka guidelines did not apply in the case as the girl was not interning with him.
Stating that he had taken action in a number of cases against women-related atrocities, he said he was pained when it was said that his continuance on the human rights panel brought disrepute to the post.
"I have been very active on women's issues and gave orders immediately. Ask women's bodies this," he said, denying that his resignation was an admission of guilt.
Asked whether he felt relieved or disappointed after resigning, Ganguly replied, "It was not disappointment. I am not giving up the fight for ensuring human rights."
On how would he spend his life ahead, he said he would work for restoring his human rights and there would be no disruption in his fight for the rights of the common people.
"I am also quite open to working again with interns," he added.
PTI | Jan 8, 2014, 04.29 PM IST
KOLKATA: Retired Supreme Court Judge A K Ganguly, who quit as Chairman of the West Bengal Human Rights Commission on Wednesday attacked the Supreme Court over the inquiry by its three-judge panel into the sexual assault allegations against him, saying he was "very badly and unfairly" treated.
Claiming that he quit in "disgust", the 66-year-old former Supreme Court judge also said he would prefer jail to filing a defamation case against the law intern who levelled the sexual harassment allegation, as she was his student.
"I will never do anything against someone who was my student. I would rather go to jail," Ganguly told reporters when asked whether he would file a defamation case against the intern.
Ganguly, who quit in the wake of mounting pressure after he was indicted by a three-member panel of judges of the Supreme Court, denied any wrong doing and alleged he was not given a fair chance by the apex court.
"I have been very badly and unfairly treated by the Supreme Court. I was not given a fair chance by the Supreme Court panel," he told CNN-IBN.
Stating that Supreme Court jurisdiction doesn't apply on a retired judge, he also questioned the appointment of the panel.
"The intern never complained to the SC, then why was a panel formed? I appeared before the court in good faith. The Supreme Court panel acted without jurisdiction and basis against me. I am questioning the role of my fellow judges in the Supreme Court," he added.
On the panel's observation which had found 'unwelcome behaviour' on his part, Ganguly shot back, "Unwelcome to whom?
"I did not force her to stay with me. Neither I forced her to drink wine. Can I force if one is not willing to take it? If she did not like, she could have left before dinner also."
The panel had held that the statement of the intern, both written and oral, had prima facie disclosed "an act of unwelcome behaviour (unwelcome verbal/non-verbal conduct of sexual nature)" by the judge with her in the Le Meridien hotel room in Delhi on December 24, 2012.
Ganguly claimed he was not given a copy of the statement of the law intern given to the apex court panel on the ground it was a "secret" and said this was an "insult" to him.
The former apex court judge said he had written a detailed letter in this regard to the Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam and he had not got any reply it.
Ganguly said she wished the intern well. "I wish her well. She was quite an efficient intern. I wish her success in whatever she chooses in her life," he said.
He said that since the alleged incident at a Delhi hotel on December 24, 2012 he had not met her.
Denying all allegations made against him, Ganguly said there is no charge against him.
Asked whether he felt there was a political conspiracy against him, Justice Ganguly replied, "I can't say whether it is a political conspiracy.
"The West Bengal government never liked my continuance as chairman of state human rights commission. No dissent is allowed in Bengal. This is well-known to everyone."
"I have not done anything to feel ashamed of. The allegations were made by the intern 11 months after the incident. This was organised to defame me. The West Bengal government was very uncomfortable with me as the WBHRC Chief."
Asked about the reason for stepping down, Ganguly said it was getting difficult for him to work under the situation.
"I stepped down for my family's happiness, and the dignity and honour of Human Rights Commission," said Ganguly, adding his family had suffered a lot.
"I feel shattered by the allegations that have been made, they are very unreasonable."
He also said that Vishaka guidelines did not apply in the case as the girl was not interning with him.
Stating that he had taken action in a number of cases against women-related atrocities, he said he was pained when it was said that his continuance on the human rights panel brought disrepute to the post.
"I have been very active on women's issues and gave orders immediately. Ask women's bodies this," he said, denying that his resignation was an admission of guilt.
Asked whether he felt relieved or disappointed after resigning, Ganguly replied, "It was not disappointment. I am not giving up the fight for ensuring human rights."
On how would he spend his life ahead, he said he would work for restoring his human rights and there would be no disruption in his fight for the rights of the common people.
"I am also quite open to working again with interns," he added.
India asks US embassy to stop commercial activities by January 16
PTI | Jan 8, 2014, 11.35 AM IST
NEW DELHI: In further retaliatory steps over the arrest of diplomat Devyani Khobragade, India has asked the US to "discontinue" commercial activities being undertaken from its embassy premises in New Delhi by January 16.
India's action comes ahead of the January 13 deadline for the indictment in New York of Khobragade, deputy consul general in New York, on visa fraud charges.
Acting tough, the government has asked the embassy to stop commercial activities undertaken under the aegis of the American Community Support Association (ACSA), including restaurant/bar, video club, bowling alley, swimming pool, sports field, beauty parlour and gym.
The US has also been asked to provide the tax returns filed by it with Indian authorities for commercial activities which are afforded through ACSA to non-diplomatic persons, including private American citizens and their families, government sources said.
Indian authorities have cited the provision of such commercial facilities to non-diplomats as a violation of Article 41(3) of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961.
The convention states that "the premises of the mission must not be used in any manner incompatible with the functions of the mission as laid down in the present convention or by other rules of general international law or by any special agreements in force between the sending and the receiving State."
It is also understood the US diplomatic vehicles will now attract penalties for all traffic-related offences such as unauthorized parking, red light jumping, dangerous driving, etc.
Necessary action against Vehicles with AF (Applied for) number plates is also on the cards.
PTI | Jan 8, 2014, 11.35 AM IST
NEW DELHI: In further retaliatory steps over the arrest of diplomat Devyani Khobragade, India has asked the US to "discontinue" commercial activities being undertaken from its embassy premises in New Delhi by January 16.
India's action comes ahead of the January 13 deadline for the indictment in New York of Khobragade, deputy consul general in New York, on visa fraud charges.
Acting tough, the government has asked the embassy to stop commercial activities undertaken under the aegis of the American Community Support Association (ACSA), including restaurant/bar, video club, bowling alley, swimming pool, sports field, beauty parlour and gym.
The US has also been asked to provide the tax returns filed by it with Indian authorities for commercial activities which are afforded through ACSA to non-diplomatic persons, including private American citizens and their families, government sources said.
Indian authorities have cited the provision of such commercial facilities to non-diplomats as a violation of Article 41(3) of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961.
The convention states that "the premises of the mission must not be used in any manner incompatible with the functions of the mission as laid down in the present convention or by other rules of general international law or by any special agreements in force between the sending and the receiving State."
It is also understood the US diplomatic vehicles will now attract penalties for all traffic-related offences such as unauthorized parking, red light jumping, dangerous driving, etc.
Necessary action against Vehicles with AF (Applied for) number plates is also on the cards.
Google teams with Audi, Honda, GM for on-board Android
AFP | Jan 7, 2014, 06.25 PM IST
SAN FRANCISCO: Google joined with automakers General Motors, Audi, Honda and Hyundai in a new partnership to bring theAndroid mobile system to vehicles.
The companies, with semiconductor firm Nvidia, announced the formation of the Open Automotive Alliance (OAA), an industry group "committed to bringing the Android platform to cars starting in 2014," according to a statement.
"The OAA is dedicated to a common platform that will drive innovation, and make technology in the car safer and more intuitive for everyone," the statement added.
"This open development model and common platform will allow automakers to more easily bring cutting-edge technology to their drivers, and create new opportunities for developers to deliver powerful experiences for drivers and passengers in a safe and scalable way."
The announcement comes with automakers looking at new technologies for the connected car, to bring navigation, entertainment and other applications to vehicles.
Some automakers are looking at developing their own platforms, while others are considering platforms like Apple's iOS or BlackBerry-owned QNX. But Monday's announcement looks to put Google and Android in the driver's seat.
"Millions of people are already familiar with Android and use it everyday," said Google vice president Sundar Pichai.
"The expansion of the Android platform into automotive will allow our industry partners to more easily integrate mobile technology into cars and offer drivers a familiar, seamless experience so they can focus on the road."
AFP | Jan 7, 2014, 06.25 PM IST
SAN FRANCISCO: Google joined with automakers General Motors, Audi, Honda and Hyundai in a new partnership to bring theAndroid mobile system to vehicles.
The companies, with semiconductor firm Nvidia, announced the formation of the Open Automotive Alliance (OAA), an industry group "committed to bringing the Android platform to cars starting in 2014," according to a statement.
"The OAA is dedicated to a common platform that will drive innovation, and make technology in the car safer and more intuitive for everyone," the statement added.
"This open development model and common platform will allow automakers to more easily bring cutting-edge technology to their drivers, and create new opportunities for developers to deliver powerful experiences for drivers and passengers in a safe and scalable way."
The announcement comes with automakers looking at new technologies for the connected car, to bring navigation, entertainment and other applications to vehicles.
Some automakers are looking at developing their own platforms, while others are considering platforms like Apple's iOS or BlackBerry-owned QNX. But Monday's announcement looks to put Google and Android in the driver's seat.
"Millions of people are already familiar with Android and use it everyday," said Google vice president Sundar Pichai.
"The expansion of the Android platform into automotive will allow our industry partners to more easily integrate mobile technology into cars and offer drivers a familiar, seamless experience so they can focus on the road."
Yahoo launches online magazines
AFP | Jan 8, 2014, 04.52 PM IST
LAS VEGAS: Yahoo dove deeper into being an internet age media company, bringing in news, music and television stars for the launch of online magazines focused on technology and food.
The fresh online offerings were showcased by Yahoo chief executive Marissa Mayer during a Consumer Electronics Show (CES) keynote presentation at a packed theater here.
"Yahoo is about making the world's daily habitsinspiring and entertaining, and there are few places as inspiring and entertaining as CES," Mayer said. "We have been hard at work re-imagining Yahoo's core businesses across search, communications, media and video - all powered by two powerful platforms, Flickr and Tumblr."
Late last year, Yahoo had more than 400 million mobile monthly users for the first time in the internet pioneer's history, according to Mayer. About 800 million people use Yahoo monthly overall, the California-based company said.
The theatrical keynote production included appearances by newly-hired Yahoo Global Anchor Katie Couric and Yahoo Tech vice president David Pogue, a former New York Times reporter.
Cecily Strong and Keenan Thompson of beloved US comedy program Saturday Night Live appeared in a faux news report skit lampooning trendy technology companies and concepts. Targets included SnapChat, Bitcoin, and in-flight smartphone use.
Grammy award-winning musician John Legend entertained the audience with a set of songs.
Announcements woven into the stage show included the launches of a Yahoo News digest app design to deliver concise, personalized summaries of global happenings twice daily to smartphones.
"Yahoo News Digest, at its core, simplifieds news and solves the problem of information overload and TL;DR," said Yahoo product manager Nick D'Aloisio, referring to an acronym for 'Too Long; Didn't Read.'
Digital magazines Yahoo Food and Yahoo Tech were launched with fanfare. "We found our inspiration in magazines," Mayer said. "They are elegant, beautiful and have a distinctive voice."
Yahoo Food is devoted to things culinary, while the Tech magazine team headed by Pogue has a stated mission of demystifying the world of geeky gadgets, services and trends.
"Everyone at CES is a gear-head, but the rest of the country is struggling," Pogue said.
"The first language we are going to speak is called English; it's called human."
Pogue said Yahoo Tech would be a "jargon-free, cool-looking" source of news and information presented in terms people not immersed in the industry can appreciate.
And instead of banner or display ads, Yahoo digital magazines will follow the lead of their glossy predecessors and weave clearly labeled advertising into content, according to Mayer.
Pogue said he will be reviewing projects seeking backing at crowd-source funding websites Kickstarter and Indiegogo, giving as an example a stand that keeps a single razor blade sharp for five years.
"It is brilliant, but it also costs $600," Pogue said of the razor system.
Mayer mentioned the acquisition of yet another firm, Aviate, which specializes in automatically organizing applications on smartphone home screens based on clues such as location or time of day and on people's habits.
Mayer took over as Yahoo chief in July of 2012, and her plan to revive the company includes being at the center of people's internet habits, especially on mobile devices.
"We reach for our mobile devices as soon as we wake up to check the morning headlines," Couric said, telling the audience she was eager to get to work interviewing "anyone with an important or interesting story to tell."
Digital magazines were touted as part of Yahoo's longterm strategy. "A common theme for us is simplifying our business and how people consume information," Mayer said.
Forrester analyst David Cooperstein saw it as a savvy move to differentiate Yahoo from Google, Facebook or other online venues by providing the professional content people are looking for instead of user-generated material they might find interesting.
"It is a more mainstream play, basically," Cooperstein said. "By bringing in familiar faces from John Legend to SNL it indicates to me she is talking about more traditional content online, which is the only angle her competitors haven't taken. And every good keynote should have some theatrics in it."
Despite many investments, Yahoo last year lost its Number 2 position in the US digital ad market to social networking titan Facebook, according to industry-tracker eMarketer.
Yahoo's share of global digital ad revenue slid about a 0.5% to 2.87% last year, while Facebook and Google say their shares rise, eMarketer reported.
AFP | Jan 8, 2014, 04.52 PM IST
LAS VEGAS: Yahoo dove deeper into being an internet age media company, bringing in news, music and television stars for the launch of online magazines focused on technology and food.
The fresh online offerings were showcased by Yahoo chief executive Marissa Mayer during a Consumer Electronics Show (CES) keynote presentation at a packed theater here.
"Yahoo is about making the world's daily habitsinspiring and entertaining, and there are few places as inspiring and entertaining as CES," Mayer said. "We have been hard at work re-imagining Yahoo's core businesses across search, communications, media and video - all powered by two powerful platforms, Flickr and Tumblr."
Late last year, Yahoo had more than 400 million mobile monthly users for the first time in the internet pioneer's history, according to Mayer. About 800 million people use Yahoo monthly overall, the California-based company said.
The theatrical keynote production included appearances by newly-hired Yahoo Global Anchor Katie Couric and Yahoo Tech vice president David Pogue, a former New York Times reporter.
Cecily Strong and Keenan Thompson of beloved US comedy program Saturday Night Live appeared in a faux news report skit lampooning trendy technology companies and concepts. Targets included SnapChat, Bitcoin, and in-flight smartphone use.
Grammy award-winning musician John Legend entertained the audience with a set of songs.
Announcements woven into the stage show included the launches of a Yahoo News digest app design to deliver concise, personalized summaries of global happenings twice daily to smartphones.
"Yahoo News Digest, at its core, simplifieds news and solves the problem of information overload and TL;DR," said Yahoo product manager Nick D'Aloisio, referring to an acronym for 'Too Long; Didn't Read.'
Digital magazines Yahoo Food and Yahoo Tech were launched with fanfare. "We found our inspiration in magazines," Mayer said. "They are elegant, beautiful and have a distinctive voice."
Yahoo Food is devoted to things culinary, while the Tech magazine team headed by Pogue has a stated mission of demystifying the world of geeky gadgets, services and trends.
"Everyone at CES is a gear-head, but the rest of the country is struggling," Pogue said.
"The first language we are going to speak is called English; it's called human."
Pogue said Yahoo Tech would be a "jargon-free, cool-looking" source of news and information presented in terms people not immersed in the industry can appreciate.
And instead of banner or display ads, Yahoo digital magazines will follow the lead of their glossy predecessors and weave clearly labeled advertising into content, according to Mayer.
Pogue said he will be reviewing projects seeking backing at crowd-source funding websites Kickstarter and Indiegogo, giving as an example a stand that keeps a single razor blade sharp for five years.
"It is brilliant, but it also costs $600," Pogue said of the razor system.
Mayer mentioned the acquisition of yet another firm, Aviate, which specializes in automatically organizing applications on smartphone home screens based on clues such as location or time of day and on people's habits.
Mayer took over as Yahoo chief in July of 2012, and her plan to revive the company includes being at the center of people's internet habits, especially on mobile devices.
"We reach for our mobile devices as soon as we wake up to check the morning headlines," Couric said, telling the audience she was eager to get to work interviewing "anyone with an important or interesting story to tell."
Digital magazines were touted as part of Yahoo's longterm strategy. "A common theme for us is simplifying our business and how people consume information," Mayer said.
Forrester analyst David Cooperstein saw it as a savvy move to differentiate Yahoo from Google, Facebook or other online venues by providing the professional content people are looking for instead of user-generated material they might find interesting.
"It is a more mainstream play, basically," Cooperstein said. "By bringing in familiar faces from John Legend to SNL it indicates to me she is talking about more traditional content online, which is the only angle her competitors haven't taken. And every good keynote should have some theatrics in it."
Despite many investments, Yahoo last year lost its Number 2 position in the US digital ad market to social networking titan Facebook, according to industry-tracker eMarketer.
Yahoo's share of global digital ad revenue slid about a 0.5% to 2.87% last year, while Facebook and Google say their shares rise, eMarketer reported.
Why Android smartphones consume more data
New York Times | Jan 8, 2014, 09.35 AM IST
Android smartphones are kind of like Hummers. Reminiscent of the oversize, gas-guzzling SUV's, Androids have the biggest screens and tend to use much more data than other types of smartphones, including iPhones. And that higher data usage could rack up heftier phone bills.
So why does Android use more data? The reasons are multifold. The most obvious is that Android phones tend to have the largest screens, so they download bigger files and video with more pixels, says Chetan Sharma , a telecom analyst.
Another factor is that Android is less efficient at managing apps than Apple's iOS. For instance, multiple Android apps may be running in the background with things like location data being collected, he said.
Also, Android users typically don't upgrade their operating systems as frequently as iOS users, so their smartphones may not receive fixes improving data management, he said.
Jan Dawson, an independent telecom analyst who previously worked for Ovum, noted that the data traffic numbers may also reflect the profiles of the people who choose Android versus those who choose iPhones. People with larger Android phones are more likely to skip buying a tablet, whereas iPhone owners may be buying iPads and consuming a lot of content there.
New York Times | Jan 8, 2014, 09.35 AM IST
Android smartphones are kind of like Hummers. Reminiscent of the oversize, gas-guzzling SUV's, Androids have the biggest screens and tend to use much more data than other types of smartphones, including iPhones. And that higher data usage could rack up heftier phone bills.
So why does Android use more data? The reasons are multifold. The most obvious is that Android phones tend to have the largest screens, so they download bigger files and video with more pixels, says Chetan Sharma , a telecom analyst.
Another factor is that Android is less efficient at managing apps than Apple's iOS. For instance, multiple Android apps may be running in the background with things like location data being collected, he said.
Also, Android users typically don't upgrade their operating systems as frequently as iOS users, so their smartphones may not receive fixes improving data management, he said.
Jan Dawson, an independent telecom analyst who previously worked for Ovum, noted that the data traffic numbers may also reflect the profiles of the people who choose Android versus those who choose iPhones. People with larger Android phones are more likely to skip buying a tablet, whereas iPhone owners may be buying iPads and consuming a lot of content there.
Yahoo may unveil Google Now rival
Reuters | Jan 8, 2014, 08.48 AM IST
LAS VEGAS/SAN FRANCISCO: Yahoo chief executive Marissa Mayer unveiled a handful of new products, including a competitor to GoogleInc's predictive search technology for smartphones, in a debut appearance at the Consumer Electronics Show that drew a big crowd.
The former Google executive who took the reins at Yahoo in the summer of 2012, has moved aggressively to revamp the struggling Internet company's business with product makeovers, acquisitions and a renewed focus on its media offerings.
Yahoo's services attracted more than 400 million monthly mobile users for the first time last fall, Mayer said, surpassing the 390 million mobile users it announced in October.
Speaking in a keynote at the annual technology industry gathering in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Mayer announced Yahoo's acquisition of Aviate, a company which makes a smartphone app that automatically brings up relevant information or other apps to suit a user's activity.
"Imagine if your phone can deliver the right experience to you at the right time instead of you having to search for it," Mayer said. "What if your phone suggested music and map apps when you got in your car or fitness apps when you got into the gym?"
The technology, which Mayer said will be rolled out under the Yahoo banner this year, appears similar to Google Now, which the search giant introduced in 2012.
While Yahoo's revenue growth has yet to pick up under Mayer's leadership, the 38-year-old CEO has brought pizzazz back to an Internet brand considered by many to be past its prime.
More than an hour before she appeared onstage, a long queue for Mayer snaked through several continuous hallways into a nearby showfloor at the Las Vegas Hilton, where Mayer and other keynote speakers were slated to speak.
During her talk, Mayer was joined onstage by celebrity news anchor Katie Couric, a recent Yahoo hire who will provide original video programs on the website.
Yahoo also unveiled new "digital magazines" focused on technology and on food, as well as a mobile app that provides short, summarized versions of the day's news. Yahoo also said it was rolling out improvements to its advertising business, to make it easier for marketers to buy ads and to target different portions of Yahoo's audience.
Shares of Yahoo, which have gained more than 160% since Mayer took over in 2012, were up 19 cents at $41.11 in extended trading on Tuesday.
Reuters | Jan 8, 2014, 08.48 AM IST
LAS VEGAS/SAN FRANCISCO: Yahoo chief executive Marissa Mayer unveiled a handful of new products, including a competitor to GoogleInc's predictive search technology for smartphones, in a debut appearance at the Consumer Electronics Show that drew a big crowd.
The former Google executive who took the reins at Yahoo in the summer of 2012, has moved aggressively to revamp the struggling Internet company's business with product makeovers, acquisitions and a renewed focus on its media offerings.
Yahoo's services attracted more than 400 million monthly mobile users for the first time last fall, Mayer said, surpassing the 390 million mobile users it announced in October.
Speaking in a keynote at the annual technology industry gathering in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Mayer announced Yahoo's acquisition of Aviate, a company which makes a smartphone app that automatically brings up relevant information or other apps to suit a user's activity.
"Imagine if your phone can deliver the right experience to you at the right time instead of you having to search for it," Mayer said. "What if your phone suggested music and map apps when you got in your car or fitness apps when you got into the gym?"
The technology, which Mayer said will be rolled out under the Yahoo banner this year, appears similar to Google Now, which the search giant introduced in 2012.
While Yahoo's revenue growth has yet to pick up under Mayer's leadership, the 38-year-old CEO has brought pizzazz back to an Internet brand considered by many to be past its prime.
More than an hour before she appeared onstage, a long queue for Mayer snaked through several continuous hallways into a nearby showfloor at the Las Vegas Hilton, where Mayer and other keynote speakers were slated to speak.
During her talk, Mayer was joined onstage by celebrity news anchor Katie Couric, a recent Yahoo hire who will provide original video programs on the website.
Yahoo also unveiled new "digital magazines" focused on technology and on food, as well as a mobile app that provides short, summarized versions of the day's news. Yahoo also said it was rolling out improvements to its advertising business, to make it easier for marketers to buy ads and to target different portions of Yahoo's audience.
Shares of Yahoo, which have gained more than 160% since Mayer took over in 2012, were up 19 cents at $41.11 in extended trading on Tuesday.