Airtel connects India, China

CHENNAI: Bharti Airtel, in association with China Telecom Corporation, on Thursday announced the commencement of a direct underground link between India and China-the two fastest growing economies in the world. The new 40Gbps terrestrial link, built on highly resilient ring infrastructure will offer unparalleled diversity and reach to the region.

With this network, Bharti Airtel now establishes a third international gateway for customers in India. This terrestrial network will offer alternate and shortest route between India and China alongside existing under sea links.

This network will address the surging international traffic and diversity requirements of both the nations. In India, the high speed network spans from Siliguri gateway to Nathula via Pedong on one path and the second path will reach Siliguri from Nathula via Gangtok forming a ring.

Bharti Airtel has also inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China Telecom to develop the network to network interconnect (NNI) which allows seamless access to the combined regional and global network resources of both the operators.

Read more: Airtel connects India, China - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Airtel-connects-India-China/articleshow/7154502.cms#ixzz18zymos00

Falsely accused of killing spouse, doc jailed in Saudi Read more: Falsely accused of killing spouse, doc jailed in Saudi - The Times of India

NEW DELHI: It was an ordeal that will haunt Dr Shalini Chawla for the rest of her life. Her husband died in his sleep of a heart attack in Saudi Arabia, where the couple worked. But she was told that he had converted to Islam and accused, without a shred of evidence, of poisoning him.

That was bad enough. But Shalini was then put behind bars with an infant in a foreign land and later kept confined to a home for months with hostile people around her and the fear of death hanging over her every living moment. It was an ordeal that could have broken the strongest of people. But on Thursday, a day after she landed in the capital with her husband's body, she was a picture of fortitude.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she stood with folded hands at the Uthala ceremony. Dr Ashish Chawla's body had finally been cremated at Nigambodh Ghat on Wednesday, bringing an end to a sordid tale of how human rights of Indians working abroad are violated.

Shalini and Ashish met as interns at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, fell in love and married 10 years back. Four years ago, both accepted job offers from King Khalid Hospital in Nazran in Saudi Arabia. He joined as a cardiologist and she worked in the internal medicine department.

2010 in Dubai as she not only lost her spouse but was also accused of killing him. The hospital stated the cause of Dr Ashish Chawla's death as 'myocardial infraction' or a simple heart attack. In an advanced stage of pregnancy, Shalini had to look after her two-year-old daughter. She had already resigned from her job in anticipation of her second child and now she had to expedite the process of taking her husband's body back to India. On February 10, came her second child, Vedanta. It was a caesarian delivery which kept her confined to bed.

But the worse was yet to come. ''On March 1, Shalini was suddenly summoned to the local police station at Nazran and informed that on the basis of new evidence that her husband had converted to Islam before his death, she was being accused of poisoning him. Bewildered by the turn of events and seized by fear, she denied the allegations but was sent into detention at the police station on March 16 with her 34-day-old baby. She stayed there for 25 days and learnt that some Pakistani colleagues and locals had conspired in the whisper campaign. After being released, she was confined to the hospital campus with her movements severely restricted,'' said her paternal uncle, H Nagpal. Her family was sending her money which kept her going.

The body was preserved at the hospital and last rites disallowed. A second medical report from the Centre for Toxicology and Forensics confirmed the autopsy report that there had been no poisoning but there was no respite for her, and the days dragged on. The Indian consulate did pull some strings, with her uncle even meeting minister of state for external affairs Shashi Tharoor in Delhi, but things didn't move any faster.

Speaking to TOI on Thursday, Shalini said, ''They put me in jail with my newborn child for a crime I never committed.'' Ashish had never mentioned any intention of converting to Islam but the entire incident had assumed a communal colour and she was at her wits end.

''I lived with the two-year-old girl in the hospital complex when Shalini was sent to prison. Later, when she was released, we were so frightened. We could not go out fearing a backlash from the locals. We would go out only once a week,'' recalled Uma Nagpal, Shalini's mother.

Her father had passed away two years ago.

Barred from communicating with anybody, Shalini suffered severe mental trauma and agony. The case was now referred to the headquarters of the bureau of investigation and prosecution in Riyadh, which ordered a third autopsy by an independent panel of doctors.

It was once again confirmed that Ashish had died of a heart attack. Finally, the file was closed, and on December 3, she was given permission to leave the country.

Read more: Falsely accused of killing spouse, doc jailed in Saudi - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Falsely-accused-of-killing-spouse-doc-jailed-in-Saudi/articleshow/7154236.cms#ixzz18zyczqBo

India tops with 56,000 migrant doctors in OECD countries Read more: India tops with 56,000 migrant doctors in OECD countries - The Times of India htt

India is the top country of origin of migrant doctorsin Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OECD) countries with over 56,000 Indian doctors in these countries, which include the UK, the US, Canada, and Australia.

India also figures at sixth place in the expatriation of nurses to OECD countries (about 23,000). In terms of percentages, however, these figures constitute just 8% and 3% respectively of the doctor and nurse population in India, comfortingly low compared to some of the smaller countries severely affected by emigration of doctors such as Mozambique (75%) and Angola (70%).

These numbers, revealed by the recently released World Migration Report 2010, however, do not include the large number of Indian doctors and nurses working in the Gulf.

"It is estimated that at any given time there are over one lakh Indian nurses in the GCC (Gulf Coordination Council) countries. The poor working conditions in India coupled with low salary and the lack of respect at the work place are the top reasons for nurses migrating abroad," said Sreelekha Nair, of the Centre for Women's Development Studies at a recently organised seminar on Indian Nursing in the New Era of Healthcare.

The World Migration Report talks about the problem of "medical brain drain", especially in African countries. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the number of physicians per 100,000 population for India is 70, which is at par with low-income countries, and for the public sector, the figure is a paltry 20. In the European Union, the figure is 310 physicians per 100,000 population and in the US 240 physicians per 100,000. Similarly, the number of nurses per 100,000 population in India is 80, while it is 330 for the world and 160 for low-income countries.

The WHO threshold for a 'health workforce crisis' is 230 health workers per 100,000 population. For example, India, an origin country, with only 190 health workers per 100,000 persons, is in a crisis state.

As destination countries, the United Kingdom and the United States have ratios of 750 and 1,250 health workers per 100,000 persons respectively, which are far above the benchmark. However, there is still a demand for doctors and nurses in these countries. This was pointed out in a background paper, "The Future of Health Worker Migration", by Professor Binod Khadria of the Zakir Hussain Centre for Educational Studies in JNU. In OECD countries, there is an increasing demand for health workers because of rising incomes, new technology, and an aging population.

In terms of nurses, the Philippines is the main country of origin for nurses, with over 110,000 Filipino nurses working in OECD countries, followed by the United Kingdom (just under 46,000), Germany (under 32,000). According to the OECD data of 2007, the top five countries in terms of emigration rates of nurses are all from the Caribbean — Haiti leads with an expatriation rate of 94%, followed by Jamaica (87.7%), Grenada (87.6%), St Vincent and the Grenadines (81.6%) andGuyana (81.1%).

"A lot of the data on migrating health workers could be outdated and also fluctuates a lot depending on the demand around the world. But it is a given that there is no stopping the migration of health workers. Migration for employment abroad is the basic human right of every health worker - or any skilled worker," said professor Khadria.

CWG scam: CBI raids Kalmadi's houses in Delhi and Pune Read more: CWG scam: CBI raids Kalmadi's houses in Delhi and Pune - The Times of India

Tags:Kalmadi|CWG Scam|CBI Raids

CWG scam: CBI raids Kalmadi's Delhi, Pune houses

See photo

NEW DELHI: The CBI raided the houses of chief organiser of the New Delhi Commonwealth Games, Suresh Kalmadi, as part of a probe into graft allegations that surrounded the event.

A spokesperson from the Central Bureau of Investigation said the police had conducted searches at Kalmadi's residences in the capital and Pune, and at the home of his personal secretary Manoj Bhore.

The Games, which were held in Delhi in October, were hit by claims of massive financial irregularities as the budget ballooned to an estimated six billion dollars.

The CBI spokesperson said a top police official had written to the government earlier this month requesting Kalmadi's removal from the chairmanship of the Games organising committee on the grounds that he was obstructing the investigation.

Kalmadi, who took much of the international criticism about unfinished facilities and poor planning, quit as secretary to India's ruling Congress party in November.

The CBI raided the homes of other top committee officials in November and arrested the sacked treasurer, M. Jayachandran, the third official to be accused of forgery and cheating over the awarding of Games-related contracts.

Police have charged two other former Games officials over alleged corruption.

Companies contracted to provide sports surfaces, training equipment and landscaping for the Games were also raided by tax inspectors in October.

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has received complaints alleging up to $1.8 billion of Games money was misappropriated.

A CVC report into the Games has confirmed the use of poor-quality materials and massive cost overruns on construction projects.

A defiant Kalmadi brushed off corruption allegations, telling reporters in November: "I have not done anything wrong, even in a single thing. I welcome the investigations and will answer all queries."

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh set up a panel after the Games concluded to investigate graft claims and two other government bodies are also running separate probes.

Read more: CWG scam: CBI raids Kalmadi's houses in Delhi and Pune - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/CWG-scam-CBI-raids-Kalmadis-houses-in-Delhi-and-Pune/articleshow/7154671.cms#ixzz18zyJRA5f

Hold SBI With Target Of Rs 2490

Stock market analyst Anil Maghnani has maintained 'buy' rating on State Bank of India Ltd stock with short term target of Rs 2490.

According to analyst, the investors can buy the stock with stop loss of Rs 2424.

Today, the stock opened at Rs 2440 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

Current EPS & P/E ratio stood at 144.37 and 16.96 respectively.

The share price has seen a 52-week high of Rs 2500 and a low of Rs 1599.40 on BSE.

The Cabinet, on July 15, has sanctioned the acquisition of State Bank of Indore by SBI.

Moreover, the Cabinet also forwarded its nod to launch a Bill in the Parliament for making modifications in SBI (Subsidiary Banks) Act, 1959, with the intention to eradicate references ofState Bank of Indore.

On July 14, State Bank of India (SBI) said that it is all set to establish a new fund.

The banking institution will set up the new fund in partnership with State General Reserve Fund (SGRF) of Oman.

The new fund will be utilized for making equity investments in the Indian market.

Cabinet approves merger of State Bank of Indore with SBI

The SBI had proposed a merger with State Bank of Indore last year, which had been approved by the SBI central board. After the approval, the Centre even gave an in-principal approval. And now recently, the Cabinet has given its approval over the merger too.

With this merge happening between the two banks, SBI being State Bank of Indore's parent bank, SBI will share a swap ratio of 34:100, agreeing to give away 34 of its shares for every 100 shares from the State Bank of Indore, which is held by a few shareholders.

As it is SBI is the India's largest lender. It also holds 98 per cent stake in State Bank of Indore. Following the merger, SBI will issue 1.16 lakh shares with a face value of Rs. 10 per share for each minority holder in the State Bank of Indore.

The issued capital money of SBI will also be raised to at most Rs. 635.08 crore from its prior Rs. 634.96.

After the merger, SBI will have only five associate banks left with it.

D.C. Tremor Rattles White House

A rare earthquake rumbled through Washington D.C., today, shaking windows in the White House and throughout the city but causing no major damage, according to initial news reports.

A 3.6 magnitude quake rattles D.C.

The relatively small magnitude 3.6 quake originated at 5:04 a.m., about 15 miles away in Rockville, Md. It was the largest quake to strike within 30 miles of the White House, at least since 1974, when the U.S. Geological Survey began tracking D.C. quake activity, according to spokeswoman Amy Vaughn.

ABC News correspondent John Donvan, who lives a mile from the White House, said the quake rattled windows at his home as well.

President Obama Warns Don't Celebrate Ending Oil Leak Yet

President Obama called the cap on the gulf oil leak "good news" today, but he cautioned that the job of ending the massive oil leak is not yet complete.

A live picture of the busted well is clear for the first time in three months.

"There were a lot of reports coming out in the media that seemed to indicate, 'Well, maybe this thing is done,'" he said . "We won't be done until we actually know that we've killed the well and that we have a permanent solution in place," he said in the White House Rose Garden before heading off to a Maine vacation.

The president was referring to BP'ssuccessful attempt -- so far -- to place a tight cap on the busted oil well and for the first time in 87 days prevent the underwater gusher from pouring into the gulf. BP called Thursday's success a test to see if the device will withstand the pressure of the surging oil, or whether the oil is now leaking out somewhere else in the ocean bedrock.

"It's important that we don't get ahead of ourselves here," Obama said today. "You know, one of the problems with having this camera down there is that when the oil stops gushing, everybody feels like we're done. And we're not."

He said the well still has to be permanently plugged and there is the massive clean-up of areas polluted by the spill, which Obama said needs "better coordination on the ground along the shorelines." "But we are making steady progress," the president said, "and I think the American people should take some heart in the fact that we're making progress on this front."

Scientists today and through the weekend will be combing the area of the leak, looking for evidence of oil seeping through the ocean floor.

"It's premature to open the Champagne bottle, but this weekend we'll know whether we contained the monster or not," City University of New York physics professor and SyFy Channel host Michio Kaku told "Good Morning America" today.

Gwen Dotson is no stranger to pain. For the last seven years Dotson, from Humboldt, California, has endured Takayasu's arteritis, a rare autoimmune di

Gwen Dotson is no stranger to pain. For the last seven years Dotson, from Humboldt, California, has endured Takayasu's arteritis, a rare autoimmune disease.

Dr. Tim on alleviating the symptoms of chronic pain.

The disease, which affects the arteries, causes Dotson to experience constant fatigue and generalized aches and painsthroughout her body. The cause is unknown, and though there are treatments to help ameliorate symptoms, there is no known cure.

"Because of my illness I had to stop working, which I had done for 25 years," Dotson said. "I began to question the purpose of my life."

Dotson said she felt extremely isolated because her disease was so rare, and felt people didn't and couldn't understand her, causing her to become even more reclusive.

What's with all the presidential visits to battery-manufacturing plants? US President Barack Obama tries out an electric Ford Focus following a grou

What's with all the presidential visits to battery-manufacturing plants?

US President Barack Obama tries out an electric Ford Focusfollowing a groundbreaking ceremony for...

(SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

President Obama's trip last week to just such a plant in Holland, Mich., was his fourth automotive-battery-focused stop since being elected. To riff off of President Clinton's mantra "it's the economy, stupid," it's almost as if Mr. Obama's catch phrase about what's important could be, "It's the battery, bozo."

The reason is that batteries are central to the president's election-year message that green-tech will lead America into well-paid jobs and a revived economy. But politics aside, the $2.4 billion the Obama administration has funneled to the advanced battery industry points to a tooth-and-nail struggle as the United States endeavors to catch up to Asia in making cutting-edge lithium-ion batteries for use in vehicles.

"The workers at this plant, already slated to produce batteries for the new Chevy Volt, learned the other day that they're also going to be supplying batteries for the new electric Ford Focus as soon as this operation gears up," Obama said at the Compact Power plant in Michigan. "By 2012, the batteries will be manufactured here in Holland, Michigan. So when you buy one of these vehicles, the battery could be stamped 'Made in America' – just like the car."

Battling The Blob From Coast Guard's Command Post

Inside a sprawling command post in southern Louisiana, The Blob is everywhere.

FILE - In this June 12, 2010 file photo, BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles talks about the...

(AP)

It stains the many maps tacked to white walls. Computer monitors beam satellite images of it floating in the Gulf of Mexico, a magenta mass that looks more like an island than the colossal oil slick that it is. It sometimes changes shape on these screens, or breaks off into bits and pieces, but The Blob itself never vanishes.

Coast Guard Capt. Roger Laferriere oversees this command center, coordinating the unprecedented cleanup of oil off of the Louisiana coast. There are other posts like it in Mobile, Ala., and Miami, but none has more manpower, equipment — or more of The Blob, as Laferriere and his staff have christened their enemy — than this base inside what once was a BP training facility for offshore oil production.

On any given day, some 40,000 people are working all along the Gulf Coast to track where the oil is headed, lay protective boom, skim what they can and clean shorelines; nearly half of them are under what is known as the Houma Incident Command Post.

Some are analysts who sit in darkened rooms at the BP warehouse, feeding satellite data into computerized maps that show where the oil is moving, what marshes have already been boomed and what areas skimmers are toiling.

Others — many of them shrimpers and fishermen turned cleanup contractors — work out of quaint docks converted into "forward operating bases," hitting the water after sunup to do the hands-on tasks necessary to contain and clear the oil. There's displaced boom to be repositioned. Torn boom to be picked up, brought to shore and repaired. Absorbent boom soaked through on one side that must be turned or swapped out.

The spilling may have stopped at least for now, but their work goes on. Before a new cap fitted onto the busted wellhead corked the leak this past week, anywhere from 92 million to 184 million gallons of oil had gushed into the sea. Somehow, it's got to be cleaned up.

Leading that effort for the Louisiana coastline is Laferriere, a man of boundless energy and confidence who holds a degree in environmental science and has worked any number of oil spills big and small — from Exxon Valdez to the post-Hurricane Katrina spills that dumped more than 8 million gallons.

Securing the leak does little to change his mission over the next weeks and months. "Even given that," he says, "we've still got a lot of oil on the water. We're going to continue to push forward until all the oil is removed and the people of Louisiana can get back to their way of life. We're going to be here until the end."

Laferriere's job is to not only coordinate efforts on the ground, but to meet with parish presidents, city councilmen and mayors, to answer their many questions, and to fend off criticism that not enough has been done to stop and capture the crude.

"Not enough" is something he's heard a lot since arriving in Louisiana on May 22, almost a month to the day after the Deepwater Horizon explosion. It may be a complaint that there's not enough boom, or not enough skimmers, or not enough boots on the ground to pitch in.

Obama and the Economy: Success, Just Not the Right Kind

On a sun-soaked peak in Acadia National Park Friday, President Obama welcomed the weekend like a man who knows he's had a good week. Financial reform behind him, he flew to Bar Harbor,Maine, content to focus on his family rather than politics.

Despite his financial reform bill passing, the president's popularity sinks.

With no public events scheduled until Sunday, the Obamas went cycling and looked out on the Atlantic Coast from Acadia's tallest peak, Cadillac Mountain, all smiles. This is President Obama's third vacation since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill began, but this vacation is different -- better because, for the first time since April, no oil is spilling into the Gulf.

But for all of his recent successes – health care reform, financial reform, what may be the end of the disaster in the Gulf – President Obama has taken the brunt of much criticism lately. And some of it has come from his own party.

Politicians are often criticized for not following through on the promises that they make. They hit the campaign trail with words about more jobs, less war, cleaner energy and insurance for all. Then, if they fail to accomplish these lofty goals, the voters take their support elsewhere.