Airtel downplays impact of court order stopping “Freedom to Dream” promotion

Airtel has played down suggestions it has suffered substantial financial loss following the Fast Track High Court ruling ordering a cessation of its “Freedom to Dream” promotion. The National Lottery Authority sued Airtel because it says the promotion was illegal. The promotion has been supported with a massive advertising campaign across media platforms including radio, television, the internet, billboards and flyers at great costs. Country Manager, Phillip Sowah however believes the funds were committed to a good cause. He said the company was only concerned because the promotion was designed to give its subscribers unparalleled experience. The...

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Politics to temper “BRICS” broad ambitions

BEIJING: When Indian media reported recently that Chinese troops were in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, the response from China was vehement. “Such talk is utterly baseless and totally absurd,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters last week. The episode was a small reminder of the big political differences that confront the leaders of five of the world’s big emerging economies as they meet in China this week.The leaders of the “BRICS” nations of China, Russia, India, Brazil and South Africa have voiced lofty goals, from rebalancing the global economy to giving the developing world more say in the G20 and IMF. But while...

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JAITAPUR’S own Fukushima

After the Fukushima nuclear disaster, it's time for a moratorium on all unsafe nuclear complexes in India Sadiq Naqvi Delhi With the world still staring at a nuclear catastrophe, the dense white apocalyptic plume billowing from the crippled reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex in Japan has shown that even a super-advanced country in terms of excellence and achievement can face a catastrophic accident that can endanger human lives and ecology on a mass scale. After all, this is happening in a First World economy, a country which boasts of its superior cutting-edge research and technological prowess. What exactly happened in Fukushima...

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Sun Pharma, Merck venture to target emerging markets

Mumbai : In an effort to develop and manufacture innovative, branded generic medicines for the emerging markets, Mumbai-based Sun Pharmaceutical has entered into a joint-venture with the US' Merck & Co. The joint-venture, with “equal representation”, will require investment and commitment from both partners, Sun Pharma's Chairman and Managing Director, Mr Dilip S. Shanghvi, said, adding that it would take more than a couple of years to develop these products. Senior officials of both companies will make recommendations on the structure of the company and the technologies from Sun Pharma's research arm (SPARC – Sun Pharma Advanced Research...

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“Vettai Mannan will be stylish,” says Silambarasan

Vettai Mannan will be a stylish film, said its hero Silambarasan. The star also revealed that the film will be shot in the US and Mexico and Hollywood stuntmen will be used for fight sequences. Recently, a fight scene was filmed at the Binny Mills where a huge set had been erected for the purpose. According to Silambarasan, the fight was filmed with seven cameras to bring out the best. Despite Vettai Mannan progressing in full speed, the leading lady has not been finalized yet. The actor said that talks are on with a Bollywood heroine and a decision will be arrived at very so...

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Muran is sold!

The Cheran-Prasanna starrer Muran has now been acquired by the media gaint UTV Motion Pictures. They have acquired all the rights of the film for they were very impressed with the film making and fantastic script. The movie also stars Jaya Prakash, Haripriya, Nikitha and Pratap Pothen among the other and has music by Sajjan Madhav. It is scripted and directed by Rajan Madhav who was an associate of Mysskin and the film promises to be one of the best action thrillers ever seen. Incidentally it is being produced by the hero of the movie Cheran's banner Dream Pictures. UTV will release Muran in 2011 and after this they will release Selvaraghavan's...

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The UNO calls for 'Chiyaan' Vikram!

Chiyaan' Vikram is garnering praise from all corners for his Deiva Thirumagan trailer and he is said to have performed amazingly. Professional news aside, Vikram now has something that will make him, the fans and the country very happy and proud! Yes, Vikram has been selected as the youth envoy for 'UN Habitat' (United Nations Human Settlement Programme) for the Asian Contingent. Only four envoys are selected worldwide and Vikram is one of them. When asked about it Vikram was very happy and said that this programme works towards the eradication of poverty through sustainable urban development and also in making the environment clean and green....

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Doctors 'often defy' their own treatment advice

Many doctors recommend treatments to their patients that they would not use themselves, a US study shows. Experts asked nearly 1,000 US physicians to consider a medical scenario and pick a treatment. But when doctors were asked to imagine themselves as the patient their answers differed significantly. Doctors were far more likely to opt for a therapy carrying a higher chance of death but better odds of side-effect free survival, for example. But for their patients, doctors tended to pick a treatment that erred on the side of survival, regardless of the quality of life, Archives of Internal Medicine reports. Death risk Faced with a choice...

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Endo to buy American Medical Systems for $2.9 billion

MINNEAPOLIS American Medical Systems Inc. of Minnetonka, Minn., said Monday that it is being purchased by Chadds Ford, Pa.-based Endo Pharmaceuticals Holdings Inc. for $2.9 billion in cash. The deal enables Endo to add American Medical Systems' market-leading devices to treat pelvic conditions, such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction, to its existing portfolio of urology-related drugs. News of the deal came as a surprise on Wall Street and sent shares of American Medical soaring 32 percent. That made the stock one of the market's top movers on Monday. "This is a surprise and a nice gift for investors," said Thomas Gunderson, an analyst...

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Tackling cough during pregnancy

Motherhood is the most beautiful phase of a woman’s life. It is a proud moment for every lady who has a little life within her and she nurtures her child with utmost care and love. Motherhood brings along a basket full of responsibilities. A mother has to take care of herself and the baby within her. Every little action and step affects the baby. Cold and cough is something that can affect anyone at any point of time. Incase you are pregnant and have cold or cough you don’t have to panic although the cold may be troublesome. If you are ill for more than few days and have fever accompanied by sore throat consult your doctor and get the proper...

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Libya's Opposition Rejects AU Truce Plan

Tripoli : Libya’s opposition Transitional National Council today rejected a peace plan proposed by the African Union mediators, saying longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi must accept their demand to relinquish power before any talks. “This initiative has now been surpassed. From the first day the demand of our people have been the ouster of Gaddafi and the fall of his regime,” rebel council chief and former Justice minister Mustafa Abdel Jalil said at a news conference in opposition stronghold Benghazi. “Therefore any initiative that does not include this people’s demand, popular demand, essential demand, we cannot possibly recognize,” he said. The...

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6.3 Earthquake Hits Japan's Chiba Prefecture

Tokyo : A strong offshore earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 jolted Chiba Prefecture, just east of Tokyo, this morning, a day after an aftershock of 7.1 rocked Japan's northeast, country's Meteorological Agency said. There was no immediate report of any damage to life or property due to quake which hit the prefecture and its vicinity at 8.08 am (local time). Residents in Tokyo also felt the jolts as buildings in the Japanese capital shook for several seconds.No tsunami warning was issued, but the runways of Narita international airport in the prefecture were reportedly closed for checks in the wake of quake. Another aftershock hit of 5.5 magnitude...

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I Will Come Back, Says Musharraf

Islamabad : Dismissing reports that he has dropped plans to return to Pakistan after the military here refused to provide him extra security, former President Pervez Musharraf has said he had never made such a request to the army and insisted that his plans to come back were intact. “My comeback plans are very much intact. I don’t need any extra measures for my protection and the government, not the army, is responsible for that,” Musharraf, who lives in self-exile in Britain, told The Express Tribune newspaper. He rejected reports that Pakistani military leadership had refused to provide him extra security to counter threats to his life from...

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Sathya Sai Baba Responding Positively, Say Doctors

Puttaparthi : The condition of spiritual guru Sathya Sai Baba, undergoing treatment for multi-organ dysfunction, continues to be critical and sources in the hospital said that he might continue to be aided by the ventilators for at least four or six weeks. Baba is improving gradually but is still “critical,” doctors attending on him said on Monday. “Sai Baba is showing positive response to the treatment. He is still on the ventilator and is undergoing dialysis periodically,” the bulletin issued by A N Safaya, Director, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences stated. His hemodynamic values like heart rate, blood pressure, blood...

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Bangalore Astrolger Held For Suggesting Nude Pooja

Bangalore : A self-styled astrologer was arrested by police after he advised a businessman to get his two teenaged daughters to sit for a puja in the nude, reports Bangalore Mirror. The businessman has a farmhouse in Yelahanka. Recently, a few animals and birds there died inexplicably. He found a few lemons, chillies and eggs inside the farm. He suspected black magic, and sought the help of Kannan Swami, who ran Kalikamba Jyothishyalaya in the neighbourhood. Kannan told the businessman that a special ritual was needed to be carried out in the presence of his wife and children to counter the black magic. He did a pooja with the wife first...

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Paswan Demands Dalit In Joint Drafting Panel

Nagpur  : Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan on Monday  said a Dalit should have been in the committee constituted to draft the Lokpal Bill. “One Dalit activist or leader could have been accommodated in the five-member representation from the civil society in the committee constituted for Lokpal Bill when social activist Anna Hazare launched an agitation in New Delhi,” he told reporters here. In a veiled attack on yoga guru Baba Ramdev, he said some undesirable persons had shared the stage with Hazare.Paswan said that noted social reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule should be conferred with the Bharat Ratna award. In a separate...

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