Tuesday, June 19, 2012

MISSION UNACCOMPLISHED








IF you’ve ever seen large-scale deforestation, especially of the rainforest, and seen it close up when it’s just happened, you feel you’re in the aftermath of an armoured battle. The scale of the destruction stuns you: cleared ground which seems to be everywhere smoking, burning tree stumps flickering like huge candles. It feels as if some giant beast has torn off a great lump of the landscape and savagely consumed it, leaving bits of it bleeding behind.

Serious deforestation has been going on for more than 30 years across the tropical zones of the world, starting in Amazonia and gathering speed, spreading to Indonesia and then to West Africa.

The effect has been staggering: rainforests, which provide us with so much, from oxygen production to carbon storage, once covered 14 per cent of the Earth’s surface; now they cover about 6 per cent, and the devastation is continuing.


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Besttoolbars Adds Support of Latest Browsers to the Add-On and Toolbar Framework







Besttoolbars added support for Internet Explorer 9, Mozilla Firefox 13, and Google Chrome 19 to its Toolbar and Add-on Frameworks. With this support developers get the ability to build Add-ons and Toolbars fully compatible with the latest versions of these popular browsers.

Today many users update their browsers within a few days after a release, and with a simplified browser update process, the transition to the new browser version is very easy. According recent global statistics, Internet Explorer 9.0 takes 15.5 % of the market share, while its previous version 8.0 had only 14%. That means that more than half of Internet Explorer users are using the latest version.

Supporting the latest browser versions is crucial for Add-ons and Toolbars since it is very common for browsers to add new features or change/remove old features, causing Add-ons to function improperly or not function at all.




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Nanoparticles could solve mystery of Moon’s topsoil



A stunning discovery of nanoparticles inside bubbles of glass in lunar soil could solve the mystery of why the Moon’s surface topsoil has many unusual properties, according to a scientist.

Marek Zbik, from Australia’s Queensland University of Technology’s science and engineering faculty, said scientists had long observed the strange behaviour of lunar soil but had not taken much notice of the nano and submicron particles found in the soil and their source was unknown.

Zbik took the lunar soil samples to Taiwan, where he studied the glass bubbles without breaking them, using a new technique for studying nanomaterials — called synchrotron-based nano tomography — to look at the particles.

Nano tomography is a transmission X-ray microscope which enables 3D images of nanoparticles to be made.

“We were really surprised at what we found,” Zbik said. “Instead of gas or vapour inside the bubbles, which we would expect to find in such bubbles on the Earth, the lunar glass bubbles were filled with a highly porous network of alien-looking glassy particles that span the bubbles’ interior,” a Queensland statement said.

“It appears that the nanoparticles are formed inside bubbles of molten rocks when meteorites hit the lunar surface. Then they are released when the glass bubbles are pulverised by the consequent bombardment of meteorites on the Moon’s surface,” Zbik said.
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Pak troops again open fire along LoC





After a brief lull, Pakistan Rangers violated the ceasefire for the fifth time since June 13 targeting Indian forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in the KG sector of Poonch district today morning. No troops were injured. Pakistani troops targeted Indian posts with small and medium arms. Official sources said that firing lasted for nearly an hour.

“Around 10 am, Pakistani troops again resorted to unprovoked and unwarranted firing in the KG sector. They used small arms fire that lasted around 15 minutes,” Jammu-based Defence PRO Col RK Palta said.

The Indian Army said it exercised restraint to de-escalate the situation.

“Since this time their fire was ineffective, we didn’t retaliate in a bid to de-escalate the situation,” said Col Palta. He denied reports of air space violation by Pakistan in the KG sector this morning.
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Dhindsa unlikely to impose new taxes in Punjab budget





The budget of the SAD-BJP alliance to be presented tomorrow is expected to be a lacklustre affair. Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa is neither likely to impose any new taxes nor is he preparing to give any major relief. The state government is likely to step down from the promises made by it in the manifesto prior to the Assembly elections earlier this year.

The line adopted by the SAD-BJP alliance is that with the Model Code of Conduct in place on account of the Dasuya bypoll scheduled for July 11, no major announcement can be made. Also, with the fiscal deficit likely to shoot up further, the government is in no position to make any announcements regarding new sops. It is learnt that Dhindsa is just going to announce continuation of the existing sops.

The BJP is strongly against the imposition of any taxes for the urban areas. The party has also opposed the levy of tax or cess on sewerage, water and electricity. The SAD, which has a rural mass base, is in no mood to withdraw subsidy to the farmers in the form of free electricity, etc.
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Deserted by allies, BJP firm on contest



With an important NDA partner Shiv Sena today declaring support for UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee and another key ally JD(U) showing signs of doing the same, an embarrassed BJP has been left with little option but to back former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma in the presidential election.

Despite desertions by its allies, the BJP is firm that it will not allow the President’s post to go uncontested, although it is now evident that Mukherjee is far ahead in the race.

There is no official word from the BJP, but party insiders said senior leader LK Advani had got in touch with AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik, who had proposed Sangma’s candidature, and asked them to take the lead in canvassing support for the former Speaker as an Independent candidate.

The BJP was forced to change its strategy for the presidential election after NDA allies like Shiv Sena, JD(U) and the Akali Dal, were not enthused about pitting a candidate against Pranab Mukherjee. Well aware that a candidate proposed by the NDA would not find ready acceptance, Advani asked Jayalalithaa and Patnaik to be more proactive in mustering support for Sangma.
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Pak SC disqualifies PM Gilani




The Pakistan Supreme Court on Tuesday declared that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani stood disqualified since April 26 and ceased to be the premier since that date. The court also asked President Asif Ali Zardari to take steps for continuity of the democratic process, an apparent reference to the election of a new prime minister. Gilani was elected Prime Minister in March 2008 and has remained in that office longer than any other elected leader in the country’s history.

Capping nearly 30 months of bitter feud between the judiciary and the government, a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry held that Gilani, 60, “ceased” to be the Prime Minister from April 26 this year.

Gilani was then convicted and sentenced for not obeying court orders to reopen graft charges in Switzerland against President Zardari.
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Monday, June 18, 2012

Gang of robbers busted, two held








Rajpura police has busted an inter-state gang of robbers belonging to the dreaded Bhatu community. Addressing mediapersons, Rajpura (City) SHO Bikramjit Singh Brar stated that gang members Rajkumar alias Kala, Sandeep Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Dalip, Jaipal and Raja Ram were planning to strike in Rajpura. “We raided a place following a tip-off and arrested two members of the gang, while others managed to escape due to darkness”, he said.

Police said Rajkumar and Sandeep had been arrested, while three members of the gang were wanted in over a dozen cases of robberies lodged against them in many states.

Brar said the police had recovered firearms, bullets and other weapons from their possession. “More raids are on to nab the absconding members of the gang”, Brar said.
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Damdami Taksal wants Sikh as Amritsar Mayor


The Damdami Taksal today urged Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal to have a Sikh as Mayor of the holy city. In a statement here today, Damdami Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa said Amritsar was known as the spiritual centre of the Sikhs across the world. Therefore, it should have a Sikh mayor.

He said the Shiromani Akali Dal had seen a historic victory in Amritsar in the recent municipal elections, capturing 24 seats.

He said this demand should not be seen as that of a particular organisation or a political group. “ It is the desire of the entire Sikh community that a Sikh owing allegiance to the SAD should be appointed Mayor of Amritsar".
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Rs 3,300 crore plan to set up 43 more ITIs







The Punjab Government today approved a Rs 3,300 crore plan for expansion and upgradation of the Technical Education Department under which 43 ITIs and 2,500 skill development centres would be established in the state.

Technical Education Minister Anil Joshi said the newly approved plan included setting up of 43 new ITIs in uncovered blocks at the cost of Rs 1200 crore. With these ITIs, the number of seats in ITIs would increase from 50,000 to four lakh.

The new ITIs would focus on emerging technologies according to the changing needs of industry.

The Minister said 2,500 skill development centres had been approved at a cost of Rs 1,800 crore. He said that he had approved a number of short-term courses under the public-private partnership mode.
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Anthony Davidson Huge Crash 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours







Anthony Davidson Huge Crash 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours
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David Nalbandian angrily kicks Linesman and gets disqualified - Queens 2...




david nalbandian kicks Linesman and gets disqualified
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Cautious RBI keeps rates unchanged










Crushing the hopes of industry seeking a revival in the economy and consumers expecting some relief in their EMIs, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) today refused to cut interest rates that shocked stock markets which had been widely anticipating such a move.

Given the sharp slowdown in growth of the economy, the RBI move to keep the benchmark repo rate unchanged and not even ease liquidity through a CRR cut surprised all sections as a cut had almost been factored in.

The RBI chose to give priority to containing inflation over reviving growth. RBI Governor D Subbarao said in his monetary policy review that further reduction in the policy interest rate at this juncture, rather than supporting growth, could exacerbate inflationary pressures.

The RBI said that while growth has moderated significantly, headline inflation remains above levels consistent with sustainable growth. It also highlighted that the government has not taken enough measures for fiscal consolidation to enable a rate cut and that interest rates play a small role in investments.
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Kalam opts out, BJP may turn to Sangma







Embarrassed by former President APJ Abdul Kalam’s decision not to contest the Presidential election, the BJP is mulling the option of supporting former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma, whose candidature has been proposed by AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik.

This was the view that emerged at a late night meeting of the BJP core group, which felt that such a move would help build bridges with potential allies ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

However, in the process of expanding its circle of friends, the BJP was ditched by its closest ally, the Shiv Sena, which is all set to back UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee. The Finance Minister, it is learnt, sought Sena chief Balasaheb Thackery’s support earlier in the day.

Besides the Shiv Sena, BJP’s other regional partners like the Janata Dal (U) and the Akali Dal have already expressed their reservations about opposing Mukherjee at the last two NDA meetings.
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Indonesian glory for Saina






Indian badminton ace Saina Nehwal served a warning to the formidable Chinese ahead of next month's Olympic Games when she clinched her third Indonesia Open Super Series title after beating world number three Xuerui Li in a see-saw summit clash today.

The fifth-seeded Indian, who had won the Thailand Open last week, defeated China's Li 13-21, 22-20, 21-19 in 64 minutes to win her third title of the year. "It was a really, really tough and I love the crowd here,” said the 22-year-old, who had won this title in 2009 and 2010 too and was a runners-up last year.

It was a battle of attrition for Saina against an opponent who she had lost to four times and won just once — way back in 2010.

Saina didn’t start too well, conceding four successive points to Li. The two players seemed engaged in a battle of smashes and were at par with each other when it came to baseline rallies. But it was the net play in which Li enjoyed the upper hand.

Li took an 11-6 lead with her seventh smash winner, as she engaged Saina in rallies before forcing her to commit errors from close range.

The Indian could not catch up and although the Chinese floundered a bit in the middle of the game, Saina failed to capitalise and lost the opener in 15 minutes.


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Czechs shatter Polish dream








The revitalised Czech Republic surprised even their own fans by reaching the Euro 2012 quarterfinals as Group A winners on Saturday as the hopes and dreams of co-hosts Poland came crashing down to earth with a thunderous thud.

Petr Jiracek’s neat 72nd-minute strike sealed a 1-0 win and sent Poland out to the delight of a small corner of the rain-soaked Wroclaw stadium, where the majority of red and white clad fans could only rue a host of missed chances in the first half.

Poland, so full of joy and youthful exuberance during this tournament both on and off the pitch, can also look back on wasted opportunities in the opening draw with Greece and coach Franciszek Smuda said he was stepping down.

“My adventure with the national team is over,” Smuda said afterwards. “It is a bitter pill to swallow. We were too sure about the possibility of winning. We had some opportunities in the first half, we didn’t take advantage of them and we lost the game.”



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RBI keeps rates steady as growth crumbles







MUMBAI: The RBI left interest rates and required bank reserves unchanged on Monday, defying widespread expectations for a rate cut and warning that relaxing policy could worsen inflation. Bonds, stocks and the rupee all fell.

The Reserve Bank of India kept its policy repo rate unchanged at 8% and left the cash reserve ratio for banks at 4.75%, putting the onus on the government to take measures to revive flagging economic growth.

"Further reduction in the policy interest rate at this juncture, rather than supporting growth, could exacerbate inflationary pressures," the RBI wrote in its mid-quarter policy review.

The benchmark 10-year bond yield rose 9 basis points to 8.43% from levels before the announcement, while the new 10-year bond yield rose about 5 basis points.

The Sensex erased gains before the decision to fall 1.1%, while the rupee weakened against the dollar to 55.60/62 from around 55.35-55.40 before the decision.

"The Reserve Bank of India's action is clearly disappointing," said Sujan Hajra, chief economist at Anand Rathi Securities in Mumbai.

"Inflation remains a concern, but the slowing growth needed at least a 50-basis-point rate cut. The RBI will have to ease sooner or later, otherwise there will be further challenges to growth," he said.

After cutting its policy rate by 50 basis points in April, the RBI had been widely expected to leave rates unchanged in June.
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Indian taxi driver attacked, abused in Australia







MELBOURNE: An Indian taxi driver was attacked and racially abused and his car smashed, as a group of baseball bat wielding youth went about attacking and robbing cab drivers in Melbourne suburbs.

The gang ambushed and robbed five taxis in separate incidents in the western suburbs of Melbourne.

Attackers wearing balaclavas and armed with baseball bats pulled up in two stolen cars and attacked the drivers at Sunshine, Brooklyn and Laverton North areas last night.

Harpreet Singh was driving his taxi through Sunshine suburb when his car was rammed from behind and a second car pulled up abruptly in front of him.

He said four men with baseball bats got out of the car in front of him and began smashing the driver-side window.

"It was terrifying. They were smashing the car and hitting me with the bats also," he said.

"I leaned to the left side (of the driver's seat) to avoid the baseball bats hitting me (but) one guy punched me in the face. They didn't say anything to me, they just smashed the car and straight away asked for the money," he was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun.

Singh said he had already handed over $150 cash and his phone, when one of the men punched him and the group sped off in the two cars.
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Abdul Kalam not to contest Presidential poll







NEW DELHI: Former President APJ Abdul Kalam has said that he will not contest the Presidential election 2012 to be held on July 19. The BJP on Monday made several efforts to persuade Kalam to contest for the top post. Sudheendra Kulkarni was sent as a emissary to him. Later, Advani called him up to convince him.

On Friday before UPA announced its Presidential candidate, Kalam had said that he will take reight decision at right time.

"It is a good idea, will take right decision at right time," APJ Abdul Kalam told reporters on his name being suggested for President.

TV news channels report, Kalam is being pressurised by several political parties to contest polls.

After being snubbed by the UPA, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee is still keen on Kalam's name for Presidential poll.

After UPA announced its decision to back Pranab, Mamata Banerjee said the game is not over yet.

"I have said. I won't say anything more. In my life, I do what I say and if someone thinks the game is over, it's not that", she told reporters.
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Sunday, June 17, 2012

England enjoy the Swedish




England remained on course for a place in the knockout rounds of Euro 2012 after coming from behind to send Sweden crashing out of the tournament with a 3-2 victory here. Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck scored a well-taken winner for England in the 78th minute after the introduction of substitute Theo Walcott swung a see-saw Group D battle back in his side's favour yesterday.

England had got off to a dream start when recalled striker Andy Carroll headed them into a 23rd-minute lead. But an own goal from Glen Johnson on 49 minutes followed by a header from Olof Mellberg in the 59th minute threatened to set up a disastrous night for Roy Hodgson's side.

However, the substitution of James Milner for Walcott changed the game. The Arsenal winger lashed in a 64th-minute equaliser to make it 2-2 and then provided the run and pass which set up Welbeck's winner.
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China puts its first woman astronaut into orbit





China put its first woman into orbit today, one of the three astronauts to attempt a critical space docking in the latest challenge for the country's ambitious space programme.
A Long March rocket blasted off in the early evening from the remote Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the northwestern Gobi Desert, carrying with it the Shenzhou 9 spacecraft and the three astronauts, including 33-year-old woman fighter pilot Liu Yang.
This is China's fourth manned space mission since 2003 when astronaut Yang Liwei became the country's first person in orbit, and comes as the United States has curtailed manned launches over budget concerns and changing priorities.
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A first: Egypt votes to elect Prez





Egyptians voted today in the first free Presidential election in their history that for many offers a choice of the lesser of two evils - a military man who served deposed autocrat Hosni Mubarak or an Islamist who says he is running for God.

Reeling from a court order two days ago to dissolve a new Parliament dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood, many question whether the wealthy generals who pushed aside their fellow officer Mubarak last year to appease the pro-democracy protests of the Arab Spring will honour a pledge to let the civilians rule.

"Egypt chooses a President today without a Constitution or a Parliament," Al-Masry Al-Youm daily wrote in a front-page headline, highlighting the uncertainty many Egyptians feel 16 months after Mubarak's 30-year rule ended with mass protests.

With neither a Parliament nor a new Constitution in place to define the President's powers, Saturday and Sunday's run-off vote will not settle the matter, leaving 82 million Egyptians, foreign investors and allies in the United States and Europe unsure what kind of state the most populous Arab nation will be.
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Rising input costs worry farmers




Twenty-year-old Kamaldeep Kaur is annoyed with her father Devinder Singh, a farmer, who has not kept his promise of buying her a two-wheeler which she needs to commute to her college. Devinder Singh blames the declining profits in farming for his worsening economic condition. Hike in the minimum support price (MSP) of crops announced every year is usually meagre as compared to rise in costs of inputs, he says.

Similar is the plight of a majority of the farmers in this agrarian state. The Centre has raised the MSP of paddy by Rs 170 per quintal for the 2012-13 kharif season, but farmers say this is not sufficient given a substantial rise in input costs.

"The rates of diesel, fertilisers, labour etc have gone up substantially. Besides, there is constant pressure from landlords to increase the annual contract rate," said Sanaur farmer Harbir Singh. "For small and marginal farmers, it is getting harder to survive in this occupation. We are into farming for generations, but are looking for some other lucrative vocation," he added.
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Ready to resolve Nanakshahi calendar row: Pak Sikhs



Even as the SGPC is following the amended Nanakshahi calendar, Sikhs in Pakistan as well as New Delhi today observed the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev as per the original version of the calendar.

Addressing a gathering on the occasion, Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) member Swaran Singh offered a platform to resolve the differences among the community members over the calendar issue. "We are ready to host a gathering of Sikhs from around the world in Pakistan so that misunderstandings can be removed and a strong appeal can be made to the Akal Takht to implement the original calendar in letter and spirit," he said.

PSGPC chief Sham Singh, who was also present, endorsed his views. Pleading to the Akal Takht to implement the original calendar, released by the Sikhs' highest temporal seat in 2003, American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (AGPC) coordinator Pritpal Singh said if there was any amendment to be made, it should be done after holding consultations with Sikh leaders from across the world and calendar's architect Pal Singh Purewal.
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Pakistan refuses to attend flag meet; LoC trade halted



In a setback to efforts for maintaining peace along the Line of Control, the Pakistani Army today refused to attend a crucial flag meeting with its Indian counterpart at Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch district. The trans-LoC trade remains suspended for the past two days – first time since it was started four years ago.

Jammu-based traders say they have already suffered a loss of about Rs 1 crore.

Three days ago, Pakistani soldiers targeted forward Indian posts in the KG Sector. Lance Naik Harvinder Singh was killed and three other Indian soldiers were injured. In the same area, the Pakistani troops had shot dead a BSF jawan, PK Mishra, of the 94 Battalion.

“A flag meeting was scheduled between Army officers of the two sides at 11 am today at Chakan-da-Bagh trade point. We had to take up the ceasefire violations and cross-LoC firing by the other side in Poonch’s KG Sector,” said an Army source.
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Bricks, gravel, sand prices skyrocket as SC deadline on mining comes closer

More Pinch To Builders.



Those building their houses are in deep trouble: the construction cost has suddenly escalated. The prices of sand, gravel and bricks have shot up by at least 30% since March. Reason: restriction on mining in Haryana and Rajasthan following a Supreme Court order enforcing new environmental control guidelines issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF). 
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PM leaves for Mexico, Brazil; says Eurozone crisis may affect India




Ahead of his week-long tour of Mexico and Brazil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today expressed concern over the continuing Eurozone economic crisis, underlining that the problems in Europe had the potential to adversely impact India's own economic growth.

“It is our hope that European leaders will take resolute action to resolve the financial problems facing them,” he said in a statement before his departure as the head of a high-level Indian delegation to attend the G-20 Summit in Los Cabos, Mexico, and the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Noting that the G-20 leaders would be meeting in the shadow of the economic crisis in Eurozone and a faltering global economy, the PM said the situation in Europe was of particular concern to India as the continent accounted for a significant share of the global economy and was also India’s major trade and investment partner.


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Fathers Day



This Father's Day weekend, it's time to honor my dad and to share with you some of the wonderful lessons he has imparted to me.
My father spent most of his career as an options trader on the floor of the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) before anyone knew what a derivative was and when Wall Street was a simpler place. Dad did not end up a trader because he wanted to get rich. His best friend from college was working on the New York Stock Exchange and encouraged him to ditch his job in retail and swap it for one with better hours. At the time, exchanges were open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., which meant that my father was home earlier than most other dads in the neighborhood and would spend time with us after school.

When I was in elementary school and the teacher asked us what our fathers did for a living, I said that my dad was a floor trader, which the teacher interpreted as a linoleum salesman. I tried to explain that he worked in a big room where men were shouting and laughing with lots of paper on the floor and that they were trading stocks and options, even though I didn't really know what it all meant.




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Yet another marriage scamster arrested (ccb)


The Cyber Crime Wing of the Central Crime Branch (CCB) has arrested yet another man for conning divorcees. The man met the women through a well-known marriage portal and promised to marry them. The culprit posed as a businessman to lure his victims, stating that they would settle in the United States.

Only a few days after the arrest of Chakravathy alias Tamilselvan alias Vidyuth (27), of Villupuram, who cheated 16 women — who were looking for prospective grooms on a Bharat Matrimony website — of gold jewellery and cash , the CCB team has cracked down on a similar modus operandi, with the suspect operating from Mumbai.

According to CCB sources, the suspect, Aamir Khan alias Asif Khan alias Feroz from Jogeshwari, Mumbai, is an MBA graduate, who was running a travel agency. When the business failed, he became a stock broker and later worked as a receptionist at a Mumbai hotel.
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Indian Idol 6 Judges





While the show will see Anu Malik, Salim Merchant and Sunidhi Chauhan taking the judges' seats again, it will have a fourth judge in singing legend Asha Bhosle.

"This year's 'Indian Idol' will leave you shocked with the kind of talent it is going to have," Malik said at the launch of the show here in Mumbai.

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Pranab Mukherjee Likley To Be Next President




New Delhi: Pranab Mukherjee appears set to be the next President with his candidature announced by the ruling UPA and endorsed swiftly by supporting parties SP and BSP amid indications that he will gather more support ahead.
The 77-year-old vetran Congress leader, currently Finance Minister with 43 years of parliamentary experience, was named by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi at a meeting of the leaders of the Congress and the alliance partners, including DMK, RLD, NCP, NC and IUML.

Within minutes, SP, which had joined hands with TMC leader Mamata Banerjee to propose the name of APJ Abdul Kalam for the post, broke away and pledged support to Mukherjee, leaving the West Bengal Chief Minister totally isolated.

This was followed by another major Uttar Pradesh party BSP, whose supremo Mayawati also extended her support, which will take Mukherjee close to the required vote value of 5.49 lakh in an electoral college consisting of MPs and MLAs with a total vote value of 10.98 lakh.

Even counting out TMC, which has a vote value of 48,000, Mukherjee is short of just about 26,000 vote value which is expected to be made up by other parties that may include the Left.

Immediately after being chosen, Mukherjee expressed his gratitude to Sonia Gandhi and the other UPA leaders for the honour which he accepted with "all humility".
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