Flat stomach food guide

Flat stomach food guide (Getty Images)

Tired of not knowing what kinds of foods to eat? Not sure how much fat, calories and sodium you should be consuming everyday? All the tips you need are here....

In addition to regular exercise, you'll also want to add some fat burning foods to your diet to help trim your waistline.

Foods that are high in protein and fibre are the best kinds of food to eat if you want to burn fat around your middle.

Did you know that it takes more energy to digest protein than it does to digest fat? So the more protein you eat, the more calories your body burns.

Eggs
Eggs are super high in protein and can help you burn that unwanted belly fat. They contain the vitamin B12 – a great supplement for breaking down fat cells.

You may have heard all the warnings about eggs and your health. That's because a couple of eggs will put you over the recommended daily amount of cholesterol.

Well, more recent studies have shown that dietary cholesterol has a minimal impact on blood cholesterol. Dietary fat is the real culprit. It's what raises your bad cholesterol levels.

However, if you're still worried about your overall cholesterol intake from eating too many eggs, you can remove the yolk and still benefit from the high protein contained in eggs.

Low fat dairy products
According to an article in Obesity Research, women who ate low-fat dairy products, such as nonfat yogurt and low-fat milk, three to four times a day, lost 70 per cent more fat than low-dairy dieters.

In another study done at Purdue University those who consumed 3 cups of fat-free milk gained less weight over the course of 2 years than those on low calcium diets.

So, not only do dairy products help you strengthen your bones, they can also play an essential role in burning that unwanted body fat.

If you are a regular consumer of milk and other dairy products, that's great, just watch your proportions and perhaps switch over to the low or no fat varieties.

Beans
While beans are often associated with the gastrointestinal disturbances they may cause, they are also very good sources of protein, fibre and iron.

Some of the best kinds of beans to eat are:
- Navy beans
- White beans
- Kidney beans
- Lima beans

And as always, limit baked and refried beans in your diet as refried beans contain tons of saturated fat, while baked beans are usually loaded in sugar. Sure, you'll be getting your protein but you'll also be consuming a lot of fat and sugar that you don't need.

Here's something else to remember. Be sure to cook your beans thoroughly because our digestive tracks are not adapted to breaking down some proteins that are contained in certain beans.

Tip: A vegetable called Edamame (pronounced ed-uh-ma-may) – an organic soybean in a pod often served at Japanese restaurants.

All you do is boil them for three minutes, add a pinch of salt and eat the soybeans out of the pods. They are surprisingly tasty and very good for you. One serving contains 10 grams of soy protein. The best place to find them is at a store that sells organic foods.

Oatmeal
While it may not be the tastiest thing you can eat, oatmeal definitely has some great nutritional qualities.

You may have noticed that many of the oatmeal brands are now boasting that eating more oatmeal will help lower your cholesterol level. That's because oatmeal is loaded with soluble fibre which helps reduce blood cholesterol by flushing those bad digestive acids out of your system.

The best kind of oatmeal to eat is unsweetened and unflavoured. While it's tempting to select the apples and cinnamon flavour and load it with butter and sugar – you really lose out on all the health benefits. If you must sweeten your bowl of oatmeal, do so by adding fruit.

Or add a spoonful of honey (much better for you than sugar) and a handful of raisins or dried cranberries.

Oatmeal is also beneficial in fighting colon cancer and heart disease.

Olive oil
Certain fats are good for you and your body needs them. Olive oil is one of those 'good fats'. In fact, it's so good that it helps you burn fat and keeps your cholesterol down.

Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fat, a type of fat that researchers are finding provide outstanding health benefits. One ounce of extra virgin olive oil contains about 85 per cent of the daily value for monounsaturated fat.

So instead of taking a swig of orange juice in the morning, many dieters are picking up a bottle of extra virgin olive oil.

Whole grains
These days everyone seems to be screaming "No carbs!" It's as if the world has gone no-carb crazy and everyone is running from sliced breads and pastas.

Well the truth is, your body needs carbohydrates. If you go without them completely your body will start to crave them. So it's not a good idea to exclude all carbs because the right kinds are actually good for you.

It's the processed carbohydrates that are bad for you – the white breads, bagels, pastas, and white rice to name a few.

The above foods have all been processed, thus stripping out all the nutrients leaving you with loads of starch.

The key is to eat 'whole grain' foods because they haven't been processed and contain the fiber and minerals your body needs.

So don't be fooled by a loaf of bread labeled 'wheat'. Regular wheat bread is still lacking in vitamins and minerals. Manufacturers add molasses to it so it turns brown.

Don't let them trick you. The only kind of bread that's good for you is the kind that's labeled 'whole grain'.

Meat and fish
Turkey and beef are great for building muscle and boosting the immune system, but as always you have to be careful as:

Basted turkeys are usually injected with fatty substances while beef contains saturated fat. If you are going to eat beef, be sure to consume the leanest cuts you can find by looking for 'loin' or 'round' on the labels.

Salmon and tuna are also good sources of protein. They both contain omega-3 fatty acids which may sound bad, but are actually healthy fats. These two foods are also good for giving your immune system a nice boost and should be consumed at least thrice a week.

Flat stomach food guide

Flat stomach food guide (Getty Images)

Tired of not knowing what kinds of foods to eat? Not sure how much fat, calories and sodium you should be consuming everyday? All the tips you need are here....

In addition to regular exercise, you'll also want to add some fat burning foods to your diet to help trim your waistline.

Foods that are high in protein and fibre are the best kinds of food to eat if you want to burn fat around your middle.

Did you know that it takes more energy to digest protein than it does to digest fat? So the more protein you eat, the more calories your body burns.

Eggs
Eggs are super high in protein and can help you burn that unwanted belly fat. They contain the vitamin B12 – a great supplement for breaking down fat cells.

You may have heard all the warnings about eggs and your health. That's because a couple of eggs will put you over the recommended daily amount of cholesterol.

Well, more recent studies have shown that dietary cholesterol has a minimal impact on blood cholesterol. Dietary fat is the real culprit. It's what raises your bad cholesterol levels.

However, if you're still worried about your overall cholesterol intake from eating too many eggs, you can remove the yolk and still benefit from the high protein contained in eggs.

Low fat dairy products
According to an article in Obesity Research, women who ate low-fat dairy products, such as nonfat yogurt and low-fat milk, three to four times a day, lost 70 per cent more fat than low-dairy dieters.

In another study done at Purdue University those who consumed 3 cups of fat-free milk gained less weight over the course of 2 years than those on low calcium diets.

So, not only do dairy products help you strengthen your bones, they can also play an essential role in burning that unwanted body fat.

If you are a regular consumer of milk and other dairy products, that's great, just watch your proportions and perhaps switch over to the low or no fat varieties.

Beans
While beans are often associated with the gastrointestinal disturbances they may cause, they are also very good sources of protein, fibre and iron.

Some of the best kinds of beans to eat are:
- Navy beans
- White beans
- Kidney beans
- Lima beans

And as always, limit baked and refried beans in your diet as refried beans contain tons of saturated fat, while baked beans are usually loaded in sugar. Sure, you'll be getting your protein but you'll also be consuming a lot of fat and sugar that you don't need.

Here's something else to remember. Be sure to cook your beans thoroughly because our digestive tracks are not adapted to breaking down some proteins that are contained in certain beans.

Tip: A vegetable called Edamame (pronounced ed-uh-ma-may) – an organic soybean in a pod often served at Japanese restaurants.

All you do is boil them for three minutes, add a pinch of salt and eat the soybeans out of the pods. They are surprisingly tasty and very good for you. One serving contains 10 grams of soy protein. The best place to find them is at a store that sells organic foods.

Oatmeal
While it may not be the tastiest thing you can eat, oatmeal definitely has some great nutritional qualities.

You may have noticed that many of the oatmeal brands are now boasting that eating more oatmeal will help lower your cholesterol level. That's because oatmeal is loaded with soluble fibre which helps reduce blood cholesterol by flushing those bad digestive acids out of your system.

The best kind of oatmeal to eat is unsweetened and unflavoured. While it's tempting to select the apples and cinnamon flavour and load it with butter and sugar – you really lose out on all the health benefits. If you must sweeten your bowl of oatmeal, do so by adding fruit.

Or add a spoonful of honey (much better for you than sugar) and a handful of raisins or dried cranberries.

Oatmeal is also beneficial in fighting colon cancer and heart disease.

Olive oil
Certain fats are good for you and your body needs them. Olive oil is one of those 'good fats'. In fact, it's so good that it helps you burn fat and keeps your cholesterol down.

Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fat, a type of fat that researchers are finding provide outstanding health benefits. One ounce of extra virgin olive oil contains about 85 per cent of the daily value for monounsaturated fat.

So instead of taking a swig of orange juice in the morning, many dieters are picking up a bottle of extra virgin olive oil.

Whole grains
These days everyone seems to be screaming "No carbs!" It's as if the world has gone no-carb crazy and everyone is running from sliced breads and pastas.

Well the truth is, your body needs carbohydrates. If you go without them completely your body will start to crave them. So it's not a good idea to exclude all carbs because the right kinds are actually good for you.

It's the processed carbohydrates that are bad for you – the white breads, bagels, pastas, and white rice to name a few.

The above foods have all been processed, thus stripping out all the nutrients leaving you with loads of starch.

The key is to eat 'whole grain' foods because they haven't been processed and contain the fiber and minerals your body needs.

So don't be fooled by a loaf of bread labeled 'wheat'. Regular wheat bread is still lacking in vitamins and minerals. Manufacturers add molasses to it so it turns brown.

Don't let them trick you. The only kind of bread that's good for you is the kind that's labeled 'whole grain'.

Meat and fish
Turkey and beef are great for building muscle and boosting the immune system, but as always you have to be careful as:

Basted turkeys are usually injected with fatty substances while beef contains saturated fat. If you are going to eat beef, be sure to consume the leanest cuts you can find by looking for 'loin' or 'round' on the labels.

Salmon and tuna are also good sources of protein. They both contain omega-3 fatty acids which may sound bad, but are actually healthy fats. These two foods are also good for giving your immune system a nice boost and should be consumed at least thrice a week.

No time for gym? Lose weight anyway

No time for gym? Lose weight anyway (Getty Images)

Keen to lose weight, but no time to hit the gym?

"It often happens that we end up missing on time to indulge in calorie-burning in an anticipation of triggering off a full-on fitness regime," says fitness expert Kiran Swahney.

So, why not dig out occasions some where in the course of the day and cash in some real time to burn the fat. We recommend you 20 physical and foodie alterations for weight loss... embrace them and staying fit won't be a long cherished dream any more!

"On foot is a stylish way to exercise as its easy, versatile, kind to your joints and doesn't require conjuring too much of paraphernalia. So involve walking as much as you can in your routine." says L.Balasubramaniam, Technogym Olympic Master Trainer.

1. Get up and walk around your office or home: This should happen at least every two hours for 5 minutes. This brisk five-minute walk every two hours will give you an extra 20-minute walk by the end of the day without making any special efforts.

2. Wash something thoroughly once a week: Be it the floor, a couple of windows, the shower stall, bathroom tiles or your car...anything that makes you don your cleaning gloves and exert some pressure on your hands and elbows burns nearly four calories for every minute spent on cleaning. A washing session of 30 minutes and you've worked off nearly 120 calories.

3. Drop a movie for an active date: Yes, it's a weekend and you're planning to spend time with your love. Why not head to the local park rather than sit idle in a movie hall? This will not only give you a chance of walking hand in hand, but will also avoid the calories that a large bucket of butter popcorns holds in. What's more? Explore other active dating ideas like cycling together; enjoying a tennis match or a swimming championship...even losing to your love will be fun here!

4. Take a walk before dinner: Yes, you are reading it right! Walking post dinner helps in digestion and burning calories, walking before gorging on your favourite dinner cuts down on your appetite. "Twenty minutes of walking reduces appetite and increases sensations of fullness as effectively as a light meal," informs Balasubramaniam.

5. Make the most of your TV time: This one is for the cricket crazy men and soap obsessed women who spend hours being a couch potato. Now make the most out of the commercial breaks to burn some calories and tone-up your body with the following set of exercises:

• As the break starts, do 25 jumping jacks.

• Then jog on the spot for the count of 30.

• Do 25 abdominal crunches.

• Lastly, get on the floor and place your feet up on your coffee table and do 25 hip lifts. By the time the break ends, you would have burnt a major chunk of calories.

6. Kiss your partner passionately: Lock your lips in passion at least 10 times a day. Not only it will keep your love life buzzing, but every minute spent kissing will burn 6.4 calories. Ten minutes a day of kissing can burn approximately 23,000 calories in a year...that's the power of love!

IIT results: 24 of Bihar's Super 30 crack IIT-JEE this year

Twenty-four students from underprivileged sections, of the total 30, have this time made it to the IIT-JEE from the 'Super-30' founded by mathematics wizard Anand Kumar.

PATNA Twenty-four students from underprivileged sections, of the total 30, have this time made it to the IIT-JEE from the 'Super-30' founded by mathematics wizard Anand Kumar.

With this the total number of Super 30 students, having qualified for the IIT-JEE in the last nine years, have gone upto 236, Kumar told PTI today.

Be it the ward of a roadside vendor, mobile mechanic, marginal farmer or truck driver and Group IV employee, all managed to successfully crack the IIT-JEE barrier, under the expert guidance of Anand and his dedicated team.

The fabled Super 30 is an institution, having featured in different prominent world publications as the unique Indian experiment, where Anand Kumar grooms 30 poor but talented students after screening for nearly one year with free coaching, accomodation and food.

Not taking any financial help from the government or any organisation, Anand supports Super 30 from what he earns from his tuition centre.

For Kanwar Barister Singh from village Gairwar in Jaunpur, it was his second attempt at the IIT-JEE.

Away from his village for nearly a year, he was overwhelmed by emotions when he saw his result on the computer monitor at Anand's house in a modest locality of Meethapur in Patna.

And there are many like Kanwar with some from Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, but all having taken their examination from Patna.

"We were lucky to be here and we did not want to waste much time. It was like a family, where we the 30 students ate, slept and studied together," said Ayush Agrawal, whose father died two years ago.

Among others from Bihar, basking in the IIT-JEE glory, courtesy Super30, are Abhay Kumar from East Champaran, whose father is a clerk in an un-aided school.

He credited the atmosphere at Super 30 and the innovative teaching style of Kumar which he will not forget.

"I and my sister used to give tuition to small students to sustain the family, before I got selected for Super 30. My mother must be happier than me," he said.

After engineering, Kumar plans to sit for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) to help poor students like him.

A satisfied Anand said "the smiles on their faces is my biggest award. But I feel bad for the six who could not crack the barrier."

Incidentally, everytime in the past three years all the 30 students of a single batch had qualified for the IIT-JEE.

The innovative Super-30 experiment has already got wide coverage in the global media with Time and Newsweek magazines having run extensive features as well as publications from China, France and Japan.

No time for gym? Lose weight anyway

No time for gym? Lose weight anyway (Getty Images)

Keen to lose weight, but no time to hit the gym?

"It often happens that we end up missing on time to indulge in calorie-burning in an anticipation of triggering off a full-on fitness regime," says fitness expert Kiran Swahney.

So, why not dig out occasions some where in the course of the day and cash in some real time to burn the fat. We recommend you 20 physical and foodie alterations for weight loss... embrace them and staying fit won't be a long cherished dream any more!

"On foot is a stylish way to exercise as its easy, versatile, kind to your joints and doesn't require conjuring too much of paraphernalia. So involve walking as much as you can in your routine." says L.Balasubramaniam, Technogym Olympic Master Trainer.

1. Get up and walk around your office or home: This should happen at least every two hours for 5 minutes. This brisk five-minute walk every two hours will give you an extra 20-minute walk by the end of the day without making any special efforts.

2. Wash something thoroughly once a week: Be it the floor, a couple of windows, the shower stall, bathroom tiles or your car...anything that makes you don your cleaning gloves and exert some pressure on your hands and elbows burns nearly four calories for every minute spent on cleaning. A washing session of 30 minutes and you've worked off nearly 120 calories.

3. Drop a movie for an active date: Yes, it's a weekend and you're planning to spend time with your love. Why not head to the local park rather than sit idle in a movie hall? This will not only give you a chance of walking hand in hand, but will also avoid the calories that a large bucket of butter popcorns holds in. What's more? Explore other active dating ideas like cycling together; enjoying a tennis match or a swimming championship...even losing to your love will be fun here!

4. Take a walk before dinner: Yes, you are reading it right! Walking post dinner helps in digestion and burning calories, walking before gorging on your favourite dinner cuts down on your appetite. "Twenty minutes of walking reduces appetite and increases sensations of fullness as effectively as a light meal," informs Balasubramaniam.

5. Make the most of your TV time: This one is for the cricket crazy men and soap obsessed women who spend hours being a couch potato. Now make the most out of the commercial breaks to burn some calories and tone-up your body with the following set of exercises:

• As the break starts, do 25 jumping jacks.

• Then jog on the spot for the count of 30.

• Do 25 abdominal crunches.

• Lastly, get on the floor and place your feet up on your coffee table and do 25 hip lifts. By the time the break ends, you would have burnt a major chunk of calories.

6. Kiss your partner passionately: Lock your lips in passion at least 10 times a day. Not only it will keep your love life buzzing, but every minute spent kissing will burn 6.4 calories. Ten minutes a day of kissing can burn approximately 23,000 calories in a year...that's the power of love!

IIT results: 24 of Bihar's Super 30 crack IIT-JEE this year

Twenty-four students from underprivileged sections, of the total 30, have this time made it to the IIT-JEE from the 'Super-30' founded by mathematics wizard Anand Kumar.

PATNA Twenty-four students from underprivileged sections, of the total 30, have this time made it to the IIT-JEE from the 'Super-30' founded by mathematics wizard Anand Kumar.

With this the total number of Super 30 students, having qualified for the IIT-JEE in the last nine years, have gone upto 236, Kumar told PTI today.

Be it the ward of a roadside vendor, mobile mechanic, marginal farmer or truck driver and Group IV employee, all managed to successfully crack the IIT-JEE barrier, under the expert guidance of Anand and his dedicated team.

The fabled Super 30 is an institution, having featured in different prominent world publications as the unique Indian experiment, where Anand Kumar grooms 30 poor but talented students after screening for nearly one year with free coaching, accomodation and food.

Not taking any financial help from the government or any organisation, Anand supports Super 30 from what he earns from his tuition centre.

For Kanwar Barister Singh from village Gairwar in Jaunpur, it was his second attempt at the IIT-JEE.

Away from his village for nearly a year, he was overwhelmed by emotions when he saw his result on the computer monitor at Anand's house in a modest locality of Meethapur in Patna.

And there are many like Kanwar with some from Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, but all having taken their examination from Patna.

"We were lucky to be here and we did not want to waste much time. It was like a family, where we the 30 students ate, slept and studied together," said Ayush Agrawal, whose father died two years ago.

Among others from Bihar, basking in the IIT-JEE glory, courtesy Super30, are Abhay Kumar from East Champaran, whose father is a clerk in an un-aided school.

He credited the atmosphere at Super 30 and the innovative teaching style of Kumar which he will not forget.

"I and my sister used to give tuition to small students to sustain the family, before I got selected for Super 30. My mother must be happier than me," he said.

After engineering, Kumar plans to sit for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) to help poor students like him.

A satisfied Anand said "the smiles on their faces is my biggest award. But I feel bad for the six who could not crack the barrier."

Incidentally, everytime in the past three years all the 30 students of a single batch had qualified for the IIT-JEE.

The innovative Super-30 experiment has already got wide coverage in the global media with Time and Newsweek magazines having run extensive features as well as publications from China, France and Japan.

Kanimozhi's case will have no impact on Cong-DMK ties: Azad

'Kanimozhi case will have no impact on Cong-DMK ties'

See photo

NEW DELHI: After a meeting with DMK chief M Karunanidhi, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Tuesday said the arrest of Kanimozhi in the 2G spectrum case would not have any impact on the ties between the two parties but insisted that the government would not interfere in the case.

"All these on-goings have no effect on DMK-Congress alliance and in future also it will have no effect," the Union minister told reporters after meeting Karunanidhi.

He said Congress president Sonia Gandhi is concerned about Kanimozhi being in jail and he expressed sympathies with the DMK over the issue.

"Our leader Sonia Gandhi is concerned because Kanimozhi being a woman is in jail and it is a matter of concern and the fact is that one cannot do anything," Azad said.

He, however, clarified that the government would not interfere in the legal process.

Azad, who is also Congress in-charge of Tamil Nadu, maintained that Karunanidhi understands that the Supreme Court is directly monitoring the 2G spectrum case and the government has no role in it.

"Karunanidhi is a man of political standing and also a man of political understanding. He knows well that the Supreme Court is monitoring and a special court is looking into it. He also knows the opinion of the Government of India as it is not interfering in any cases, including the (Suresh) Kalmadi case," he said.

"I am happy Karunanidhi understands it all.... Congress has no role to play here (in the case)," Azad said, adding that Karunanidhi knows the circumstances and the prevailing situation and the role of law agencies in the matter.

Later, Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan met Karunanidhi.

She told reporters after the meeting that the ties between Congress and DMK were the same.

"The DMK has said that it will fight the case legally. I met him (Karunanidhi) as a courtesy," she said.

Natarajan said Karunanidhi told her that Kanimozhi was fine and she is prepared to fight the case legally.

Home minister P Chidambaram and minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office M Narayansamy had met Karunanidhi on Monday to discuss the issue.

Kanimozhi's case will have no impact on Cong-DMK ties: Azad

'Kanimozhi case will have no impact on Cong-DMK ties'

See photo

NEW DELHI: After a meeting with DMK chief M Karunanidhi, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Tuesday said the arrest of Kanimozhi in the 2G spectrum case would not have any impact on the ties between the two parties but insisted that the government would not interfere in the case.

"All these on-goings have no effect on DMK-Congress alliance and in future also it will have no effect," the Union minister told reporters after meeting Karunanidhi.

He said Congress president Sonia Gandhi is concerned about Kanimozhi being in jail and he expressed sympathies with the DMK over the issue.

"Our leader Sonia Gandhi is concerned because Kanimozhi being a woman is in jail and it is a matter of concern and the fact is that one cannot do anything," Azad said.

He, however, clarified that the government would not interfere in the legal process.

Azad, who is also Congress in-charge of Tamil Nadu, maintained that Karunanidhi understands that the Supreme Court is directly monitoring the 2G spectrum case and the government has no role in it.

"Karunanidhi is a man of political standing and also a man of political understanding. He knows well that the Supreme Court is monitoring and a special court is looking into it. He also knows the opinion of the Government of India as it is not interfering in any cases, including the (Suresh) Kalmadi case," he said.

"I am happy Karunanidhi understands it all.... Congress has no role to play here (in the case)," Azad said, adding that Karunanidhi knows the circumstances and the prevailing situation and the role of law agencies in the matter.

Later, Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan met Karunanidhi.

She told reporters after the meeting that the ties between Congress and DMK were the same.

"The DMK has said that it will fight the case legally. I met him (Karunanidhi) as a courtesy," she said.

Natarajan said Karunanidhi told her that Kanimozhi was fine and she is prepared to fight the case legally.

Home minister P Chidambaram and minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office M Narayansamy had met Karunanidhi on Monday to discuss the issue.

Top LTTE leader apologizes to India for Rajiv's killing

Kumaran Pathmanathan said Rajiv Gandhi's assassination was "well planned and done actually with Prabhakaran and (LTTE intelligence chief Pottu Amman). Everyone knows the truth".

NEW DELHI: A top LTTE leader Kumaran Pathmanathan has apologised to India for V Prabhakaran's "mistake" of killing former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

He said Rajiv's assassination was "well planned and done actually with Prabhakaran and (LTTE intelligence chief Pottu Amman). Everyone knows the truth".

In an interview to CNN-IBN Firstpost, Pathmanathan, who was Treasurer of LTTE and its chief arms procurer, said "I want to say to the Indian people and especially to the Gandhi family...I want to apologise for Prabhakaran's mistake. Please forgive us. We beg you....Sorry for all this. We know the feelings of the son (Rahul) of Rajiv Gandhi....How father and daughter are attached (reference to Rajiv's daughter Priyanka)".

He said Tamils in Sri Lanka should be helped to live as humans as "we have already paid a high price. We don't have anything to lose".

Top LTTE leader apologizes to India for Rajiv's killing

Kumaran Pathmanathan said Rajiv Gandhi's assassination was "well planned and done actually with Prabhakaran and (LTTE intelligence chief Pottu Amman). Everyone knows the truth".

NEW DELHI: A top LTTE leader Kumaran Pathmanathan has apologised to India for V Prabhakaran's "mistake" of killing former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

He said Rajiv's assassination was "well planned and done actually with Prabhakaran and (LTTE intelligence chief Pottu Amman). Everyone knows the truth".

In an interview to CNN-IBN Firstpost, Pathmanathan, who was Treasurer of LTTE and its chief arms procurer, said "I want to say to the Indian people and especially to the Gandhi family...I want to apologise for Prabhakaran's mistake. Please forgive us. We beg you....Sorry for all this. We know the feelings of the son (Rahul) of Rajiv Gandhi....How father and daughter are attached (reference to Rajiv's daughter Priyanka)".

He said Tamils in Sri Lanka should be helped to live as humans as "we have already paid a high price. We don't have anything to lose".

Sania Mirza a great 'shaker' in Pakistan

Her name in a list of '100 women who can shake Pakistan' has created ripples there and in India too.

HYDERABAD: She is married to a Pakistani, lives in Dubai and quite clear in her mind that she will remain an Indian. Yet, Sania Mirza has made it to an elite list of Pakistani women, thanks to an overzealous magazine.

Pakistan Newsweek has named Sania Mirza in a list of '100 women who can shake Pakistan,' prompting people on either side of Wagah to question her claim to fame. Pakistani women are forthright on equating Sania with such luminaries as former federal minister Sherry Rehman, women's rights champion Mukhtaran Mai and Um-e-Hassan, wife of hardline Lal Masjid cleric.

In what sums up the reaction of most Pakistani women, a housewife who blogs by the same name (Sania Mirza) posted thus on her website: "One conflicting lady is Sania Mirza, who I think, cannot and should not be included in this list unless she becomes a Pakistani citizen." Another wrote: "Last I saw her she was winning games for India. Don't mean to be harsh or anything, but isn't this thread about proud Pakistani women?"

Back home in Hyderabad, many seemed amused as to how Pakistanis could stake claim to an Indian whose association with that country is just through marriage and also when she herself is proud of her heritage. "Oh God! How silly," was how Arshia, wife of former India off-spinner Arshad Ayub, reacted. "Instead of calling her a woman who can shake Pakistan, it would have been better if they had said she has a face that is influential or someone who has saleability," she said.

Arshia also felt it is unfair to those who are on the list because they may have done something for the society. "It would have been perhaps acceptable if Jemima Imran Khan made it to such a list, for she was more popular than Imran Khan himself during the years she lived in Pakistan, working for her husband's cancer hospital project ", she added.

Will this cause any trouble for Sania even as she and her husband Shoaib Malik live in a neutral country Dubai? Abid Rasool Khan, who played a key role in seeing them through the turmoil leading to their marriage, said: "The magazine got it all wrong. Of course, she had created a stir when she landed in Pakistan, but to be considered a woman who can shake that country is ridiculous. But it is not her mistake and there is no way she would court
trouble."

Sania Mirza a great 'shaker' in Pakistan

Her name in a list of '100 women who can shake Pakistan' has created ripples there and in India too.

HYDERABAD: She is married to a Pakistani, lives in Dubai and quite clear in her mind that she will remain an Indian. Yet, Sania Mirza has made it to an elite list of Pakistani women, thanks to an overzealous magazine.

Pakistan Newsweek has named Sania Mirza in a list of '100 women who can shake Pakistan,' prompting people on either side of Wagah to question her claim to fame. Pakistani women are forthright on equating Sania with such luminaries as former federal minister Sherry Rehman, women's rights champion Mukhtaran Mai and Um-e-Hassan, wife of hardline Lal Masjid cleric.

In what sums up the reaction of most Pakistani women, a housewife who blogs by the same name (Sania Mirza) posted thus on her website: "One conflicting lady is Sania Mirza, who I think, cannot and should not be included in this list unless she becomes a Pakistani citizen." Another wrote: "Last I saw her she was winning games for India. Don't mean to be harsh or anything, but isn't this thread about proud Pakistani women?"

Back home in Hyderabad, many seemed amused as to how Pakistanis could stake claim to an Indian whose association with that country is just through marriage and also when she herself is proud of her heritage. "Oh God! How silly," was how Arshia, wife of former India off-spinner Arshad Ayub, reacted. "Instead of calling her a woman who can shake Pakistan, it would have been better if they had said she has a face that is influential or someone who has saleability," she said.

Arshia also felt it is unfair to those who are on the list because they may have done something for the society. "It would have been perhaps acceptable if Jemima Imran Khan made it to such a list, for she was more popular than Imran Khan himself during the years she lived in Pakistan, working for her husband's cancer hospital project ", she added.

Will this cause any trouble for Sania even as she and her husband Shoaib Malik live in a neutral country Dubai? Abid Rasool Khan, who played a key role in seeing them through the turmoil leading to their marriage, said: "The magazine got it all wrong. Of course, she had created a stir when she landed in Pakistan, but to be considered a woman who can shake that country is ridiculous. But it is not her mistake and there is no way she would court
trouble."

Techies quit job to 'milk' dairy

Four former employees of Wipro quit their jobs and turned entrepreneurs, setting up a milk dairy in Kodihalli village in Karnataka.

HASSAN: Four software engineers, former employees of Wipro in Bangalore quit their jobs four months ago and made a paradigm shift right out of the world of technology. They turned entrepreneurs, and set up a milk dairy in Kodihalli village of Channarayapatna taluk of Hassan district.

In the milk business, there's no escape from mooing cows, dung and calving, but Shashi Kumar, Ranjith Mukundan, Venkatesh Sesasaye and Praveen Nale have no regrets about giving up 15 years of high-flying careers and plum salaries.

Says Shashi Kumar, "We planned to take up dairy farming as our business venture and set up Akshayakalpa Farms and Foods Ltd, headed by G N S Reddy and T Prasana, who have been in the business for many years. It has 21 partners, including the four of us. Our aim is to promote rural entrepreneurship in the agro sector to create employment and prosperity in villages, to prevent the educated unemployed from abandoning agriculture and migrating to cities."

So they applied their understanding of technology to their business, to benefit both farmers and consumers. The milk dairy will be set up at a cost of Rs 15 crore on 24 acres, and 300 marginal farmers (those with less than 4.5 acres of land) will be selected within a 15-sqkm radius of Kodihalli village to supply milk to the dairy.

"The farmers will be educated on modern cattle-rearing methods, milking machines and increasing milk production. The dairy will be set up in five months and we will be recruiting 500 villagers," says Ranjith Mukundan.

"The company will help the farmers get loans from banks to set up satellite farms and purchase cows. The milkman will sell milk directly to our company without any middlemen, the transportation of milk and regular medical check-ups of cows will be free for milkmen registered with our company," he added.

The advantages of setting up satellite farms are many - each will be equipped with sensors, GPS, pedometers and other equipment to monitor and trace the movements of cows, how much milk a cow produces every day, and to check the animals' body temperature and keep tabs on their health. All this data will be monitored by the dairy, and we have developed a software for satellite farms, Ranjith added.

Naval base attack: Big blow to Pakistan's snooping capabilities

NEW DELHI: Pakistan has lost almost half of its sophisticated long-range maritime snooping and strike capabilities in just one well-targeted jihadi attack on naval base PNS Mehran in Karachi that ended on Monday after a 15-hour gun-battle which left 10 security persons and four attackers dead. At least two of the five P-3C Orion long-range patrol aircraft, supplied to Pakistan Navy by the US, were destroyed in the attack.

The irony is stark. Pakistan got the P-3C Orions, packed with radars and weapons like the E-2C Hawkeye 2000 airborne early-warning suites and anti-ship Harpoon missiles, from the US as part of the around $15 billion military aid in the name of the global war on terrorism over the last decade.

India cried foul, holding that Orions as well as other weapons like F-16s were clearly meant for conventional warfare, not counter-terrorism. Al-Qaida or the Taliban, after all, did not have an air force or a navy. And now, in a role reversal, the Pakistan Taliban has destroyed at least two, if not more, of the four-engine turboprop Orions, probably seeing them "as legitimate targets".

"It's quite a significant loss for Pakistan Navy...almost 50% of its long-range maritime patrol capabilities has suddenly been taken out," said an Indian Navy officer. As per Pakistan-watchers here, Pakistan is slated to get a total of 10 upgraded Orions, with eight of them supposed to arrive by 2012.

"They had five as of now, two older ones which were upgraded and three newer ones. If the two destroyed in the attack are the newer platforms, the loss will be even more significant," said another officer.

India, of course, has been wary of the Orions for quite some time. With "a loiter time" extendable to over 10 hours, they pose a significant threat to Indian warships in the entire Arabian Sea due to their long radius of operations. An Orion, which can cost well upwards of $100 million depending on its configuration, incidentally can also carry nuclear weapons in its internal bomb bay under the front fuselage.

Indian Navy, in fact, had pushed for installation of the Israeli Barak anti-missile defence systems on 14 of its frontline warships like aircraft carrier INS Viraat, destroyer INS Mysore and stealth frigate INS Shivalik to counter the Harpoon and Exocet missiles acquired by Pakistan.

There are lessons for India to also learn from the jihadi attack to ensure its precious air and naval assets are protected in a much better manner. IAF, incidentally, came up with its own version of special forces, the Garuds, in 2004-2005 after facing fidayeen (suicide) attacks on its crucial airbases like Srinagar and Awantipora. "Security of our airbases should be further upgraded," said an officer.

The US had also offered to sell eight P-3C Orions, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, to India under the foreign military sales programme some years ago but the deal did not materialize.

Instead, India is now going for 12 Boeing-manufactured P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft for around $3.1 billion, with the first slated to arrive in early-2013.

At present, the Navy is making do with five Russian-origin upgraded Ilyushin-38s and eight ageing Tupolev-142M maritime patrol aircraft, backed by a fleet of Dornier-228s, to keep tabs on the entire Indian Ocean region.

Techies quit job to 'milk' dairy

Four former employees of Wipro quit their jobs and turned entrepreneurs, setting up a milk dairy in Kodihalli village in Karnataka.

HASSAN: Four software engineers, former employees of Wipro in Bangalore quit their jobs four months ago and made a paradigm shift right out of the world of technology. They turned entrepreneurs, and set up a milk dairy in Kodihalli village of Channarayapatna taluk of Hassan district.

In the milk business, there's no escape from mooing cows, dung and calving, but Shashi Kumar, Ranjith Mukundan, Venkatesh Sesasaye and Praveen Nale have no regrets about giving up 15 years of high-flying careers and plum salaries.

Says Shashi Kumar, "We planned to take up dairy farming as our business venture and set up Akshayakalpa Farms and Foods Ltd, headed by G N S Reddy and T Prasana, who have been in the business for many years. It has 21 partners, including the four of us. Our aim is to promote rural entrepreneurship in the agro sector to create employment and prosperity in villages, to prevent the educated unemployed from abandoning agriculture and migrating to cities."

So they applied their understanding of technology to their business, to benefit both farmers and consumers. The milk dairy will be set up at a cost of Rs 15 crore on 24 acres, and 300 marginal farmers (those with less than 4.5 acres of land) will be selected within a 15-sqkm radius of Kodihalli village to supply milk to the dairy.

"The farmers will be educated on modern cattle-rearing methods, milking machines and increasing milk production. The dairy will be set up in five months and we will be recruiting 500 villagers," says Ranjith Mukundan.

"The company will help the farmers get loans from banks to set up satellite farms and purchase cows. The milkman will sell milk directly to our company without any middlemen, the transportation of milk and regular medical check-ups of cows will be free for milkmen registered with our company," he added.

The advantages of setting up satellite farms are many - each will be equipped with sensors, GPS, pedometers and other equipment to monitor and trace the movements of cows, how much milk a cow produces every day, and to check the animals' body temperature and keep tabs on their health. All this data will be monitored by the dairy, and we have developed a software for satellite farms, Ranjith added.

Naval base attack: Big blow to Pakistan's snooping capabilities

NEW DELHI: Pakistan has lost almost half of its sophisticated long-range maritime snooping and strike capabilities in just one well-targeted jihadi attack on naval base PNS Mehran in Karachi that ended on Monday after a 15-hour gun-battle which left 10 security persons and four attackers dead. At least two of the five P-3C Orion long-range patrol aircraft, supplied to Pakistan Navy by the US, were destroyed in the attack.

The irony is stark. Pakistan got the P-3C Orions, packed with radars and weapons like the E-2C Hawkeye 2000 airborne early-warning suites and anti-ship Harpoon missiles, from the US as part of the around $15 billion military aid in the name of the global war on terrorism over the last decade.

India cried foul, holding that Orions as well as other weapons like F-16s were clearly meant for conventional warfare, not counter-terrorism. Al-Qaida or the Taliban, after all, did not have an air force or a navy. And now, in a role reversal, the Pakistan Taliban has destroyed at least two, if not more, of the four-engine turboprop Orions, probably seeing them "as legitimate targets".

"It's quite a significant loss for Pakistan Navy...almost 50% of its long-range maritime patrol capabilities has suddenly been taken out," said an Indian Navy officer. As per Pakistan-watchers here, Pakistan is slated to get a total of 10 upgraded Orions, with eight of them supposed to arrive by 2012.

"They had five as of now, two older ones which were upgraded and three newer ones. If the two destroyed in the attack are the newer platforms, the loss will be even more significant," said another officer.

India, of course, has been wary of the Orions for quite some time. With "a loiter time" extendable to over 10 hours, they pose a significant threat to Indian warships in the entire Arabian Sea due to their long radius of operations. An Orion, which can cost well upwards of $100 million depending on its configuration, incidentally can also carry nuclear weapons in its internal bomb bay under the front fuselage.

Indian Navy, in fact, had pushed for installation of the Israeli Barak anti-missile defence systems on 14 of its frontline warships like aircraft carrier INS Viraat, destroyer INS Mysore and stealth frigate INS Shivalik to counter the Harpoon and Exocet missiles acquired by Pakistan.

There are lessons for India to also learn from the jihadi attack to ensure its precious air and naval assets are protected in a much better manner. IAF, incidentally, came up with its own version of special forces, the Garuds, in 2004-2005 after facing fidayeen (suicide) attacks on its crucial airbases like Srinagar and Awantipora. "Security of our airbases should be further upgraded," said an officer.

The US had also offered to sell eight P-3C Orions, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, to India under the foreign military sales programme some years ago but the deal did not materialize.

Instead, India is now going for 12 Boeing-manufactured P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft for around $3.1 billion, with the first slated to arrive in early-2013.

At present, the Navy is making do with five Russian-origin upgraded Ilyushin-38s and eight ageing Tupolev-142M maritime patrol aircraft, backed by a fleet of Dornier-228s, to keep tabs on the entire Indian Ocean region.

Implicating ISI in terror, Headley says hatred of India after 1971 war drove him to LeT

CHICAGO/WASHINGTON: Hatred of India arising from Pakistan's defeat in the 1971 war drove him to the terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, David Coleman Headley, the Pakistani expatriate who involved in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack told a Chicago court on Monday while implicating Pakistan's spy agency ISI in nurturing terrorism.

Headley, who took the stand as a prosecution witness on the opening day of the trial of his once close buddy Tahawwur Hussain Rana, told the court that he disliked Indians for "dismembering" Pakistan and was haunted by memories of his junior school being bombed. He and Rana shared room at a military boarding school where he said India and Indians were frequently discussed. He also mentioned that in the early speeches about Jihad, he heard it mentioned that, "one second conducting Jihad was equal to one hundred years of praying."

Headley was still being questioned sequentially about his involvement in terror and the nexus between the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI and the terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba when the court broke for lunch, but his initial answers appeared to implicate ISI in planning and fostering terrorism.

He chronologically mentioned his handlers in LET, including the others charged along with Rana, in a recent second superceding indictment, including Pasha, Kashmiri, Saajid and Major Iqbal. He also related various types of camps he attended in different regions of Pakistan, ranging from essential espionage, to arms training, surveillance training and hand to hand combat.

"These groups operate under the umbrella of the ISI... They coordinate with each other," Headley told the court, recalling that one time, when he suggested that LeT sue the U.S government for designating it as a terrorist organization, LeT leader Zaki-ur Rehman said "he would have to consult the ISI."

Headley also related how his LeT handler Ali took his phone number and told him that a "Major Iqbal" would be calling him about an operation in India. The prosecution case mentions a "Major Iqbal," believed to be a serving ISI officer, who is alleged to have coordinated the Mumbai attacks.

Much of what Headley said is related in the prosecution's chargesheet but his elaboration under oath from the witness box puts Pakistan's terrorism sponsorship under the arclights. At many points during his testimony, Headley provided graphic details of his interactions with ISI and LeT personnel and their close ties.

Headley spoke of attending LeT lunches with the organization's supremo Hafiz Saeed, currently under state protection, and operations commander "Zaki," presumably Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, currently under arrest. He said he told them he wanted to fight in Kashmir but "I was told they (LET) would find something better and more suitable for me." That assignment turned out to be scouting Mumbai for the 2008 terrorist attack.

Wearing a casual grey jacket over a grey T-shirt, Headley began testifying after both the prosecution and the defense completed opening arguments that each lasted 45 minutes. In appearance, he looked more Caucasian than Pakistani, a fact that he himself remarked about when he spoke of the circumstances under which he changed his name.

Headley said when he was arrested in 2005 near Peshawar, the Pakistanis did not believe him when he said he was one of them. "They thought I was a foreigner." Subsequently, prior to the Mumbai attack, he said he changed his name, under "Zaki's advice," so that "nobody would be able to tell I was a Muslim or a Pakistani."

Earlier, maintaining that "not every player carries a weapon" in the terror game and supporters are equally as critical, the prosecution portrayed the defendant Rana as a maniacal plotter who was heard saying after the Mumbai carnage that the dead terrorists "should get Pakistan's highest military honor."

But the defense responded with a picture of Rana as a model student who went on to medical school and served as a doctor in the army, even as Headley, previously known as Daood Gilani, went astray. "David Headley is a master manipulator who made a fool of Doctor Rana," defense attorney Charlie Swift maintained.

Swift described Headley as "a master manipulator, manipulating three different organizations, the LeT, the ISI and the DEA (American Drug Enforcement Authority) all at the same time, while also manipulating several relationships and wives." Finally he sought to manipulate the government to secure his own life in return for 'betraying' Rana, he said, adding "Headley now needed a home run or a touchdown, so he changed his story and said Rana knew everything.

The courtroom drama aside, disclosure of ISI-LeT nexus and their involvement in the Mumbai attack comes at a time Pakistan's role in terrorism is under worldwide scrutiny, particularly after the US elimination of Osama bin Laden, even as the country itself is under attack from terrorists it has allegedly fostered. Headley's initial testimony, as widely expected, is seen to have exposed Pakistan as a state perpetrator of terrorism, even though its people are also victims of the same menace.

Implicating ISI in terror, Headley says hatred of India after 1971 war drove him to LeT

CHICAGO/WASHINGTON: Hatred of India arising from Pakistan's defeat in the 1971 war drove him to the terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, David Coleman Headley, the Pakistani expatriate who involved in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack told a Chicago court on Monday while implicating Pakistan's spy agency ISI in nurturing terrorism.

Headley, who took the stand as a prosecution witness on the opening day of the trial of his once close buddy Tahawwur Hussain Rana, told the court that he disliked Indians for "dismembering" Pakistan and was haunted by memories of his junior school being bombed. He and Rana shared room at a military boarding school where he said India and Indians were frequently discussed. He also mentioned that in the early speeches about Jihad, he heard it mentioned that, "one second conducting Jihad was equal to one hundred years of praying."

Headley was still being questioned sequentially about his involvement in terror and the nexus between the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI and the terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba when the court broke for lunch, but his initial answers appeared to implicate ISI in planning and fostering terrorism.

He chronologically mentioned his handlers in LET, including the others charged along with Rana, in a recent second superceding indictment, including Pasha, Kashmiri, Saajid and Major Iqbal. He also related various types of camps he attended in different regions of Pakistan, ranging from essential espionage, to arms training, surveillance training and hand to hand combat.

"These groups operate under the umbrella of the ISI... They coordinate with each other," Headley told the court, recalling that one time, when he suggested that LeT sue the U.S government for designating it as a terrorist organization, LeT leader Zaki-ur Rehman said "he would have to consult the ISI."

Headley also related how his LeT handler Ali took his phone number and told him that a "Major Iqbal" would be calling him about an operation in India. The prosecution case mentions a "Major Iqbal," believed to be a serving ISI officer, who is alleged to have coordinated the Mumbai attacks.

Much of what Headley said is related in the prosecution's chargesheet but his elaboration under oath from the witness box puts Pakistan's terrorism sponsorship under the arclights. At many points during his testimony, Headley provided graphic details of his interactions with ISI and LeT personnel and their close ties.

Headley spoke of attending LeT lunches with the organization's supremo Hafiz Saeed, currently under state protection, and operations commander "Zaki," presumably Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, currently under arrest. He said he told them he wanted to fight in Kashmir but "I was told they (LET) would find something better and more suitable for me." That assignment turned out to be scouting Mumbai for the 2008 terrorist attack.

Wearing a casual grey jacket over a grey T-shirt, Headley began testifying after both the prosecution and the defense completed opening arguments that each lasted 45 minutes. In appearance, he looked more Caucasian than Pakistani, a fact that he himself remarked about when he spoke of the circumstances under which he changed his name.

Headley said when he was arrested in 2005 near Peshawar, the Pakistanis did not believe him when he said he was one of them. "They thought I was a foreigner." Subsequently, prior to the Mumbai attack, he said he changed his name, under "Zaki's advice," so that "nobody would be able to tell I was a Muslim or a Pakistani."

Earlier, maintaining that "not every player carries a weapon" in the terror game and supporters are equally as critical, the prosecution portrayed the defendant Rana as a maniacal plotter who was heard saying after the Mumbai carnage that the dead terrorists "should get Pakistan's highest military honor."

But the defense responded with a picture of Rana as a model student who went on to medical school and served as a doctor in the army, even as Headley, previously known as Daood Gilani, went astray. "David Headley is a master manipulator who made a fool of Doctor Rana," defense attorney Charlie Swift maintained.

Swift described Headley as "a master manipulator, manipulating three different organizations, the LeT, the ISI and the DEA (American Drug Enforcement Authority) all at the same time, while also manipulating several relationships and wives." Finally he sought to manipulate the government to secure his own life in return for 'betraying' Rana, he said, adding "Headley now needed a home run or a touchdown, so he changed his story and said Rana knew everything.

The courtroom drama aside, disclosure of ISI-LeT nexus and their involvement in the Mumbai attack comes at a time Pakistan's role in terrorism is under worldwide scrutiny, particularly after the US elimination of Osama bin Laden, even as the country itself is under attack from terrorists it has allegedly fostered. Headley's initial testimony, as widely expected, is seen to have exposed Pakistan as a state perpetrator of terrorism, even though its people are also victims of the same menace.

Deepak Obhrai re-appointed Canada's parliamentary secretary

TORONTO: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Wednesday re-appointed senior-most Indo-Canadian MP Deepak Obhrai as parliamentary secretary to the minister of foreign affairs.

Obhrai, who is the longest serving Indo-Canadian MP currently in his sixth term, has served in the same capacity since 2006.

"This is a vote of confidence by the prime minister and I am honoured once again to have been chosen for this important portfolio. I look forward to representing Canada on the international stage,'' Obhrai said in a statement after his re-appointment.

He said he was looking forward to work with the new minister of foreign affairs John Baird.

In naming his new cabinet last week, Prime Minister Harper had appointed first-time Indo-Canadian MP Bal Gosal as a minister of state for sports and two-term MP Tim Uppal, a 37-year-old Canadian-born turbaned Sikh from Edmonton, as minister of state for democratic reform.

But many in the community termed Obhrai's re-appointment to the same post 'a 'demotion' since two junior Indo-Canadian MPs have been made minister of state by 'superseding' him.

Said prominent Gujarati businessman Hemant Shah, "If I were in Mr Obhrai's place, I would have told Stephen Harper: 'Thank you, Mr Prime Minister. But I would like to sit in parliament as an MP only.''

Shah said, "This man has done so much for promoting the India-Canada relationship. He should have been at least made a minister of state.''

A senior Indo-Canadian political leader of the opposition Liberal Party said, "Uppal and Bal have become ministers at the cost of Obhrai because the ruling Conservative Party wants to be seen rewarding the Sikh community which switched loyalties this time to vote for them (the Conservative Party) and helped wrest some important ridings(constituencies) from the Liberal Party.''

An Indo-Canadian corporate executive, who lauded Obhrai for promoting closer ties between India and Canada, added, "Possibly, he should have been awarded with promotion. But then it is the PM's prerogative and you have to accept this.''

With Obhrai's re-appointment, the new Canadian cabinet has three Indo-Canadian faces - the maximum ever in the government.

Ex-IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn moved to new house in New York

NEW YORK: Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn was moved on Wednesday from a temporary apartment to a luxurious townhouse in New York's TriBeCa neighborhood where he will await trial under around-the-clock armed guard on charges that he tried to rape a hotel maid.

Strauss-Kahn, who had been expected to be a serious contender to be the next president of France before his arrest, was rushed late on Wednesday to a waiting sport utility vehicle that whisked him to a posh two-story townhouse on a cobblestoned street in TriBeCa, a source close to the case said.

Strauss-Kahn was released on $1 million cash bail and $5 million insurance bond on Friday and taken temporarily to an apartment in New York's financial district after attempts to rent a luxury apartment elsewhere in the city fell through.

He emerged from the temporary apartment wearing a gray suit and blue dress shirt. He was not handcuffed but was surrounded by plain-clothed police and security officers.

Media already were gathered outside the house where Strauss-Kahn likely will spend the next months preparing for his trial. People's silhouettes could be seen through the house's frosted glass windows.

A real estate listing said the three-bedroom, four-bathroom townhouse featured an open kitchen and an "expansive loft-like living-room."

Strauss-Kahn, who spent four nights last week at New York's Rikers Island jail, has denied attacking the maid on May 14 in his hotel room. He has been charged with a criminal sexual act, attempted rape, sexual abuse, unlawful imprisonment and forcible touching. He is due back in court on June 6.

Under the terms of his release, Strauss-Kahn will be allowed to leave the townhouse only to travel within Manhattan for court appearances, meetings with his lawyers, medical appointments and a weekly religious observance.

Deepak Obhrai re-appointed Canada's parliamentary secretary

TORONTO: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Wednesday re-appointed senior-most Indo-Canadian MP Deepak Obhrai as parliamentary secretary to the minister of foreign affairs.

Obhrai, who is the longest serving Indo-Canadian MP currently in his sixth term, has served in the same capacity since 2006.

"This is a vote of confidence by the prime minister and I am honoured once again to have been chosen for this important portfolio. I look forward to representing Canada on the international stage,'' Obhrai said in a statement after his re-appointment.

He said he was looking forward to work with the new minister of foreign affairs John Baird.

In naming his new cabinet last week, Prime Minister Harper had appointed first-time Indo-Canadian MP Bal Gosal as a minister of state for sports and two-term MP Tim Uppal, a 37-year-old Canadian-born turbaned Sikh from Edmonton, as minister of state for democratic reform.

But many in the community termed Obhrai's re-appointment to the same post 'a 'demotion' since two junior Indo-Canadian MPs have been made minister of state by 'superseding' him.

Said prominent Gujarati businessman Hemant Shah, "If I were in Mr Obhrai's place, I would have told Stephen Harper: 'Thank you, Mr Prime Minister. But I would like to sit in parliament as an MP only.''

Shah said, "This man has done so much for promoting the India-Canada relationship. He should have been at least made a minister of state.''

A senior Indo-Canadian political leader of the opposition Liberal Party said, "Uppal and Bal have become ministers at the cost of Obhrai because the ruling Conservative Party wants to be seen rewarding the Sikh community which switched loyalties this time to vote for them (the Conservative Party) and helped wrest some important ridings(constituencies) from the Liberal Party.''

An Indo-Canadian corporate executive, who lauded Obhrai for promoting closer ties between India and Canada, added, "Possibly, he should have been awarded with promotion. But then it is the PM's prerogative and you have to accept this.''

With Obhrai's re-appointment, the new Canadian cabinet has three Indo-Canadian faces - the maximum ever in the government.

Ex-IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn moved to new house in New York

NEW YORK: Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn was moved on Wednesday from a temporary apartment to a luxurious townhouse in New York's TriBeCa neighborhood where he will await trial under around-the-clock armed guard on charges that he tried to rape a hotel maid.

Strauss-Kahn, who had been expected to be a serious contender to be the next president of France before his arrest, was rushed late on Wednesday to a waiting sport utility vehicle that whisked him to a posh two-story townhouse on a cobblestoned street in TriBeCa, a source close to the case said.

Strauss-Kahn was released on $1 million cash bail and $5 million insurance bond on Friday and taken temporarily to an apartment in New York's financial district after attempts to rent a luxury apartment elsewhere in the city fell through.

He emerged from the temporary apartment wearing a gray suit and blue dress shirt. He was not handcuffed but was surrounded by plain-clothed police and security officers.

Media already were gathered outside the house where Strauss-Kahn likely will spend the next months preparing for his trial. People's silhouettes could be seen through the house's frosted glass windows.

A real estate listing said the three-bedroom, four-bathroom townhouse featured an open kitchen and an "expansive loft-like living-room."

Strauss-Kahn, who spent four nights last week at New York's Rikers Island jail, has denied attacking the maid on May 14 in his hotel room. He has been charged with a criminal sexual act, attempted rape, sexual abuse, unlawful imprisonment and forcible touching. He is due back in court on June 6.

Under the terms of his release, Strauss-Kahn will be allowed to leave the townhouse only to travel within Manhattan for court appearances, meetings with his lawyers, medical appointments and a weekly religious observance.

Diplomatic immunity does not apply to family members: US State Department

WASHINGTON: Diplomatic immunity does not apply to family members of consular officers, US State Department has said, a day after the daughter of an Indian diplomat filed a law suit against New York City alleging that she was falsely arrested and suspended for sending obscene emails to teachers at her Queens High School.

"The Vienna Convention on Consular Affairs provides that consular officers are not liable to arrest or detention pending trial, except in the case of a felony where a court warrant is required. But that provision does not apply to family members," the State Departments spokesman, Mark Toner, told reporters at his daily news conference here yesterday.

Family members of the diplomats do carry diplomatic passports, he acknowledged but diplomatic immunity does not apply to them, he noted.

"This is different for consular officers versus those in the embassy. There's different categories," Toner said.

At a news conference in New York, Krittika Biswas, daughter of the vice counsel at the Indian Consulate in Manhattan, Debashish Biswas, claimed that she was ill-treated in prison.

Biswas alleged that she was not allowed to use the bathroom for a long-time when she was in custody at the 107th precinct.

"Eventually, I had to go in front of everyone," Biswas said, referring to a small toilet that was in the cell occupied by other persons.

Diplomatic immunity does not apply to family members: US State Department

WASHINGTON: Diplomatic immunity does not apply to family members of consular officers, US State Department has said, a day after the daughter of an Indian diplomat filed a law suit against New York City alleging that she was falsely arrested and suspended for sending obscene emails to teachers at her Queens High School.

"The Vienna Convention on Consular Affairs provides that consular officers are not liable to arrest or detention pending trial, except in the case of a felony where a court warrant is required. But that provision does not apply to family members," the State Departments spokesman, Mark Toner, told reporters at his daily news conference here yesterday.

Family members of the diplomats do carry diplomatic passports, he acknowledged but diplomatic immunity does not apply to them, he noted.

"This is different for consular officers versus those in the embassy. There's different categories," Toner said.

At a news conference in New York, Krittika Biswas, daughter of the vice counsel at the Indian Consulate in Manhattan, Debashish Biswas, claimed that she was ill-treated in prison.

Biswas alleged that she was not allowed to use the bathroom for a long-time when she was in custody at the 107th precinct.

"Eventually, I had to go in front of everyone," Biswas said, referring to a small toilet that was in the cell occupied by other persons.

Libya: Explosions heard in Tripoli, NATO raids on Nalyut

TRIPOLI: Four explosions were heard in the Libyan capital Tripoli, targeted for two days by NATO, which earlier carried out raids on the western town of Nalyut, Libyan news agency JANA reported.

The blasts were heard at midnight yesterday near the centre of the capital, but the exact target could not be determined, an AFP journalist said. Warplanes continued to fly over the city.

The official Libyan news agency said earlier that NATO raids targeted "civilian and military sites" in Nalyut, 230 kilometres (145 miles) west of Tripoli in the mountainous Jebel Nafussa region where there has been weeks of fighting between rebels and forces of Muammar Gaddafi's regime.

Six powerful explosions struck late on Tuesday near Gaddafi's residence in Tripoli, targeted a day earlier by intensive NATO air strikes, an AFP journalist said.

The regime said those strikes claimed three lives and wounded 150 people.

Libya: Explosions heard in Tripoli, NATO raids on Nalyut

TRIPOLI: Four explosions were heard in the Libyan capital Tripoli, targeted for two days by NATO, which earlier carried out raids on the western town of Nalyut, Libyan news agency JANA reported.

The blasts were heard at midnight yesterday near the centre of the capital, but the exact target could not be determined, an AFP journalist said. Warplanes continued to fly over the city.

The official Libyan news agency said earlier that NATO raids targeted "civilian and military sites" in Nalyut, 230 kilometres (145 miles) west of Tripoli in the mountainous Jebel Nafussa region where there has been weeks of fighting between rebels and forces of Muammar Gaddafi's regime.

Six powerful explosions struck late on Tuesday near Gaddafi's residence in Tripoli, targeted a day earlier by intensive NATO air strikes, an AFP journalist said.

The regime said those strikes claimed three lives and wounded 150 people.

Karunanidhi clan meets Kanimozhi at Delhi court

NEW DELHI: DMK leader M Karunanidhi's son Tamilarasu and daughter Selvi came to meet their jailed half-sister MP Kanimozhi on Wednesday in the Patiala House court complex. Their meeting inside the courtroom lasted for about 45 minutes.

The duo, who were accompanied by DMK parliamentary party leader T R Baalu, also met ex-telecom Minister A Raja and Kalaignar TV MD Sharath Kumar inside the courtroom and exchanged pleasantries.

Tamilarasu's wife Mohana, senior DMK leader M K Stalin's wife Durga and Union minister Dayanidhi Maran's mother Mallika also met Kanimozhi. The DMK MP was seen smiling and looked composed.

As the hearing proceeded, an illustrator of a prominent national daily was caught making sketches of the courtroom scene. The court staff intervened, and asked him to stop the illustration. The matter was reported to Special CBI Judge O P Saini since the illustrator refused to pay heed to the court staff.

The judge took exception to his action, and reprimanded him for breaking the decorum of the courtroom. The court took the copy of his identity card, and also destroyed the sketches made by him in the courtroom.

As the drama unfolded, some of the relatives of the accused, including that of Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa, also protested and demanded that the sketches be confiscated since they "could be misused".

The illustrator was warned of being fined, and also reminded that a scribe has been slapped with a Rs 10,000 fine for filing a frivolous petition in connection with the 2G telecom case. Later, the artist was let off after he apologized to the court.

DGCA stripped of probe powers

NEW DELHI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will no longer be the three-in-one investigator-prosecutor-judge combine when it comes to investigating serious air mishaps.

The government on Wednesday issued an order to set up an independent panel under the civil aviation ministry that will take help from independent experts to investigate accidents and serious incidents. The panel will conduct the probe independent of the DGCA. The demand for having an independent investigator gained momentum after last year's Mangalore crash and the recent spate of incidents in Pawan Hans. The accident investigation committee will have five officers apart from independent resource personnel whose help they can take. The panel will classify a mishap as accident or serious incident as this rating has serious impact on the airlines insurance premium and has been suspected of being manipulated in the past, said a senior official.

Under the new system, reports of any mishap will be sent to the DGCA along with a copy to the panel. The panel will also follow up implementation of the safety recommendations made with every probe report. It will also advise the DGCA from time to time on accident prevention steps, said sources.

The government studied various models for deciding the shape of the independent probe panel. Usually probe panels are kept away from the department whose accidents they would probe to have a fair and independent report with low chances of manipulation. For instance, the agency probing railway mishaps comes under the aviation ministry.

The demand for a probe panel arose after the Mangalore crash. In many cases, accidents happen due to faulty rules or practices of the regulatory agency and parent ministry governing that sector. Any air mishap will have to be probed keeping that factor in mind. So as long as the DGCA conducted probes, the question if it would examine any possible lapses always remained in people's minds. For this reason, the government has set up independent probe panels to examine big crashes like last year's Mangalore crash, said a senior pilot.

Karunanidhi clan meets Kanimozhi at Delhi court

NEW DELHI: DMK leader M Karunanidhi's son Tamilarasu and daughter Selvi came to meet their jailed half-sister MP Kanimozhi on Wednesday in the Patiala House court complex. Their meeting inside the courtroom lasted for about 45 minutes.

The duo, who were accompanied by DMK parliamentary party leader T R Baalu, also met ex-telecom Minister A Raja and Kalaignar TV MD Sharath Kumar inside the courtroom and exchanged pleasantries.

Tamilarasu's wife Mohana, senior DMK leader M K Stalin's wife Durga and Union minister Dayanidhi Maran's mother Mallika also met Kanimozhi. The DMK MP was seen smiling and looked composed.

As the hearing proceeded, an illustrator of a prominent national daily was caught making sketches of the courtroom scene. The court staff intervened, and asked him to stop the illustration. The matter was reported to Special CBI Judge O P Saini since the illustrator refused to pay heed to the court staff.

The judge took exception to his action, and reprimanded him for breaking the decorum of the courtroom. The court took the copy of his identity card, and also destroyed the sketches made by him in the courtroom.

As the drama unfolded, some of the relatives of the accused, including that of Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa, also protested and demanded that the sketches be confiscated since they "could be misused".

The illustrator was warned of being fined, and also reminded that a scribe has been slapped with a Rs 10,000 fine for filing a frivolous petition in connection with the 2G telecom case. Later, the artist was let off after he apologized to the court.

DGCA stripped of probe powers

NEW DELHI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will no longer be the three-in-one investigator-prosecutor-judge combine when it comes to investigating serious air mishaps.

The government on Wednesday issued an order to set up an independent panel under the civil aviation ministry that will take help from independent experts to investigate accidents and serious incidents. The panel will conduct the probe independent of the DGCA. The demand for having an independent investigator gained momentum after last year's Mangalore crash and the recent spate of incidents in Pawan Hans. The accident investigation committee will have five officers apart from independent resource personnel whose help they can take. The panel will classify a mishap as accident or serious incident as this rating has serious impact on the airlines insurance premium and has been suspected of being manipulated in the past, said a senior official.

Under the new system, reports of any mishap will be sent to the DGCA along with a copy to the panel. The panel will also follow up implementation of the safety recommendations made with every probe report. It will also advise the DGCA from time to time on accident prevention steps, said sources.

The government studied various models for deciding the shape of the independent probe panel. Usually probe panels are kept away from the department whose accidents they would probe to have a fair and independent report with low chances of manipulation. For instance, the agency probing railway mishaps comes under the aviation ministry.

The demand for a probe panel arose after the Mangalore crash. In many cases, accidents happen due to faulty rules or practices of the regulatory agency and parent ministry governing that sector. Any air mishap will have to be probed keeping that factor in mind. So as long as the DGCA conducted probes, the question if it would examine any possible lapses always remained in people's minds. For this reason, the government has set up independent probe panels to examine big crashes like last year's Mangalore crash, said a senior pilot.

In a first, Mauritius gives details of black money

NEW DELHI: Yielding under "pressure", Mauritius has for the first time provided bank details of a person being investigated by the Income Tax Department (ITD) for tax evasion and money laundering.

"They (Mauritius) have given information related to a person being probed by ITD who had remitted funds from that country to India," an official said.

While the official refused to provide any further details, he said it is "a major breakthrough" in the government's effort to track and collect proof against tax evasion and bring back the unaccounted money stashed in tax havens.

"There was lot of pressure exerted on Mauritius by Indian government and finally they provide the required information. It is for the first time we have been able to get information from them," he said. Indian agencies are said to have increased their vigilance after they noticed a significant surge in venture capital funds coming into the country from Mauritius in sectors like telecom and real estate. Fund flow from tax havens have been under close scrutiny in recent times for money laundering.

Mauritius accounted for about 42 per cent or $54.22 billion of the total $130 billion worth of FDI in the country since April 2000.

India is also renegotiating its Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement ( DTAA) with Mauritius with a view to facilitating exchange of information between the two countries.

Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday said the government was amending the DTAAs by inserting a clause on information regarding banking sector and also entering into tax information exchange agreements (TIEA) with tax havens.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) is in favour of re-negotiation of the tax treaty with Mauritius so that India could have access to banking details besides tax-related information vis-a-vis that country.