Crackdown for India's Republic Day

India has stepped up security in all its state capitals and major cities as the country holds its 60th Republic Day celebrations.
At least 15,000 police and soldiers have been deployed in New Delhi to secure the 8km route of the main parade along with anti-aircraft guns, snipers and mobile hit squads, officials said.
"We are not taking any chances," Rajan Bhagat, a police spokesman, said as officials effectively sealed off the central site of the annual event in the city.
Security was also tightened at all major government telecommunications and power installations, with frequent patrols and body checks for employees.
Checkpoints were set up to search vehicles on access roads to the capital ahead of the celebration which marks the date when independent India's constitution came into effect.
Lee Myung-bak, the South Korean president, is attending the New Delhi parade which is expected to showcase the Indian military's latest hardware acquired as part of a massive modernisation drive costing tens of billions of dollars.
Rail stations and other key landmarks across the country have been placed under increased security for the holiday, while naval and coast guard forces have also been placed on alert.
In the financial capital, Mumbai, some 42,000 police have been placed at key locations across the city.
"There is no specific alert from intelligence agencies but we are on high alert anyway," D. Sivanandan, the Mumbai Police Commissioner, told Reuters.
Security concerns have even seen federal troops deployed at the famous Taj Mahal memorial in Agra, the city's police chief said.
Recent attacks
The security crackdown comes after Indian authorities put airports across the country on high alert last week, following western intelligence tip-offs that al-Qaeda-linked fighters planned to hijack a plane.
Indian media have also cited government intelligence reports about possible threats from the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group, following reports that it had purchased 50 sets of paragliding equipment which could be used to launch airborne attacks.
The raid by Taliban gunmen and suicide bombers in the centre of the Afghan capital, Kabul, last week also set alarm bells ringing, with its strong echoes of the 2008 attacks in Mumbai.
On Monday security officials in Kashmir said they had uncovered a large cache of arms and explosives which they believe was meant for a Republic Day attack.
Several separatist groups in the country's restive northeast and in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir have called general strikes for Republic Day.
On Sunday, suspected separatists blew up a railroad track in India's remote northeastern Assam state, but no one was hurt, police said.
The blast damaged the railway track near Deka Mising Gaon in northern Assam, said Bhaskar Mahanta, the state inspector-general of police.
Source:http://english.aljazeera.net

Scoreboard: India vs Bangladesh, second day, second Test

DHAKA - The following is the scoreboard at stumps on the second day of second cricket Test between India and Bangladesh here Monday:
Bangladesh first innings 233 all out
India first innings (overnight 69/0)
Gautam Gambhir c Rahim b Shafiul 68
Virender Sehwag c Rahim b Shahadat 56
Rahul Dravid retired hurt 111
Sachin Tendulkar c Imrul Kayes b Shakib Al Hasan 143
Murali Vijay c Mahmudullah b Shakib Al Hasan 30
Mahendra Singh Dhoni not out 22
Harbhajan Singh c Mushfiqur Rahim b Shafiul Islam 13
Extras (b 1, lb 5, w 1, nb 9) 16
Total (for five wickets in 102.5 overs) 459
Fall of wickets 1-103 (Sehwag, 19.6 overs), 2-146 (Gambhir, 29.5), 2-368 (Dravid, retired not out, 81.2), 3-421 (Tendulkar, 91.4), 4-436 (Vijay, 95.5), 5-459 (Harbhajan Singh, 102.5)
Bowling
Shafiul Islam 17.5 1 70 2
Shahadat Hossain 19 2 71 1
Rubel Hossain 23 0 106 0
Shakib Al Hasan 27 0 108 2
Mohammad Ashraful 4 0 26 0
Mahmudullah 11 0 63 0
Junaid Siddique 1 0 9 0
Toss: Bangladesh chose to bat
Umpires: Billy Bowden (New Zealand) and Marais Erasmus (South Africa)
TV umpire: Sharfuddoula (Bangladesh)
Match referee: Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe)
Source:http://blog.taragana.com

Angelina Jolie, Meryl Streep and Lucy Liu: Guess what are they turning into?

Besides being 3 gorgeous beauties, they are all fantabulous actresses. But, there’s one more commonality that connects them and that’s ……………they are all turning into directors…….first time directors and for the same film.
The title of the film is ‘Half the Sky’ and it’s an all-women feature film.

It’s a four-in-one movie project produced by portmanteau. The 1st two films are to be directed by Lucy Liu and the next ones will be directed by Angelina Jolie and Meryl Streep respectively. And the movie will be shot across 4 continents.

The shooting will begin starting from the shores of India by the ‘Charlie’s Angels’ star Lucy Liu and it will be a short film about human trafficking in Mumbai. Tannishtha Chatterjee, who acted in films like ‘Brick Lane’ and ‘Road, Movie’, will be portraying the protagonist’s character in Lucy Liu’s flick. "At the moment, I’m not supposed to talk about this project. So let’s just say, I love Lucy," Tannishtha laughs off.
We are sure fans will be waiting to catch on this one. What you say, folks………
Source:http://www.entertainmentandshowbiz.com

Australian Open: Murray, Zheng into quarters

MELBOURNE, Australia — Andy Murray overcame big-serving John Isner 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday to set up a possible quarterfinal match against defending champion Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open.

The 22-year-old Scot rated Isner's serve among the best in the game, so he was delighted to wear down the American after a crucual service break in the eighth game of the second set. He fended off break points in the next game to serve out the set.

"It's tough. I had my coach serving at me from the service line this morning to try to get used to it," Murray said of the 6-foot-9 Isner's serve. "But once you get out there it's kind of tricky."

Murray broke serve again in the seventh game of the third set when the American netted a forehand and then smashed his racket into the court in disgust.

"It's been good. I moved really well since the start of the tournament," Murray said. "I didn't drop a set yet ... not too much to complain about."So far.Fifth-seeded Murray faces a daunting quarterfinal as he attempts to win his first major title. Nadal was scheduled to play Ivo Karlovic in the following match at Rod Laver Arena — the winner meeting Murray in the next round.

The loss was Isner's first of the year, which started with his first career ATP title at Auckland 10 days ago.Zheng Jie set another national mark by becoming the first Chinese player to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals when she beat Alona Bondarenko 7-6 (6), 6-4.The 26-year-old Zheng had already matched her own previous best run at Melbourne Park by reaching the fourth round, but is still a win away from equaling her best performance at a Grand Slam tournament.

She made a stunning charge to the Wimbledon semifinals in 2008, becoming only the second wild-card entry to reach the semis at a major and ousting then No. 1-ranked Ana Ivanovic along the way.No. 31-seeded Bondarenka had been on an eight-match winning streak after a title run at Hobart last week, which included a quarterfinal win over Zheng.Zheng was more steadfast in the tiebreaker after the pair traded three service breaks in the opening set.Bondarenka held for a 4-3 lead in the second, but Zheng won the last three games after holding a lengthy service game to level it and breaking player from Ukraine at love in the next.Zheng earned match point with an angled volley and Bondarenko slammed her racket into the court. She put a backhand out next point to give Zheng the win.It was Zheng's first straight sets win this week in Melbourne, where she and No. 16 Li Na set a record as the first two Chinese woman to reach the fourth round at the same major.Top-ranked Roger Federer and Australian hope Lleyton Hewitt both won Saturday to set up a meeting in the fourth round.

The winner of that could meet Nikolay Davydenko in the quarterfinals. Sixth-seeded Davydenko is on a 12-match winning streak, including wins over Federer and No. 2 Rafael Nadal. But he'll have to get past 2009 semifinalist Fernando Verdasco to get a shot at Federer or Hewitt.
Source:http://www.thereporteronline.com

Haiti telethon raises record $57 million

George Clooney's Hope For Haiti Now telethon has raised more than $57 million for the earthquake relief effort.
Hollywood's elite, including Jack Nicholson, Ben Affleck and Mel Gibson, manned telephones during Friday night's event, while Alicia Keys, Madonna, Beyonce, Bono and Christina Aguilera were amongst the stars who performed live from one of three venues; Los Angeles, New York and London.

The huge sum raised is a record for telethons according to the Entertainment Industry Foundation, and it will be boosted further through the sale of songs performed on the show through iTunes.
Speaking to MTV after the event, Clooney, who donated $1 million of his own money, said, "I hope we made some money out of this. The only way to make this a success is to make a considerable amount of money."
Source:www.kget.com

Stoke vs Arsenal, 3-1: Full time thoughts, analysis and player ratings

The Game
With what is coming up next in the Premiership, I completely agree with Arsene Wenger’s starting line-up. Sol Campbell needed a game to test his fitness out, ditto for Theo Walcott and sooner or later, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas had to enjoy a regular start in an important game.
Unfortunately, the players who were supposed to help the young ones didn’t turn up for the game, with Lukasz Fabianski, Mikael Silvestre and Denilson all showing why they should never be used as regulars.
The ratings of many players, including the young ones, are very low today but this doesn’t mean I don’t believe in them or that I’m rating them as a player. Many will blame them, they will be quick to blame players who are used once every two months with the expectations that they will play the game of their life.
Believe me, it’s not that easy. Judge them when they play 10 games in a row, maybe more, and I’m including Theo Walcott here.
We crash out, but it’s not the end of the world. As I said, it’s seeing the "experienced" players failing that really disappointed me today, not really the scoreline, which doesn’t come as a surprise to me, just like the heavy defeat against Manchester City in the Carling Cup. There are more important objectives to fight for.
Starting this Wednesday.
Match Video Highlights
Match video highlights are available in the videos section
of our website. If not there yet, rest assured they will be up in a matter of hours.
Player Ratings
Fabianski: 4,5 – Let me tell you, we’re in deep trouble when it comes to goalkeepers. If Almunia offers no protection whatsoever to the back four, you can’t say Fabianski does. Not to mention his dangerous distribution when he has the ball.
Campbell: 6,5 – He looked rusty and slow, but it was his first game after all. Having said that, he had a very, very good game, good in the air and showed all his experience at the back.
Silvestre: 3 – The challenge from which he suffered an injury was the only positive thing of his game. The rest, a disaster.
Coquelin: 4 – One of the young guns who really can’t be blamed for defeat. Not the best of games, some good tackles but panicked when in possession. He will surely learn from this.
Traore: 5 – Clichy had to play. I can’t understand why an experienced player returning from injury was not used. Armand may be very good when going forward but defensively, he’s still a long way off.
Eastmond: 6 – Keeps on performing well and one of the few who did well today.
Denilson: 4 – I still can’t believe many consider him a regular. The second and third goal exploited all his weaknesses: no strength and even more worse than that, no pace. For the record, it was Mamady Sidibe he was chasing, not Cristiano Ronaldo.
Fabregas: 6 – I knew he had to play if we were to stand a chance of winning. It seems Arsene thought the same, but you can’t expect one man to do it all alone, can you?
Vela: 4,5 – Some nice runs, some nice passes but except the final pass to Ramsey, created nothing worth noting with the ball.
Walcott: 3 – Just like Carlos, Theo also failed to make an impact on the game but I’ll wait to see him with the regular eleven to judge him.
Emmanuel-Thomas: 4 – Unimpressed by him. I thought he could be an option for the regular team in terms of physical presence, which he possesses, but he’s terrible on the ball.

(Subs)Eduardo, Arshavin, Ramsey: No Vote – These three came on to help Arsenal’s cause but I can’t really say they were involved as much as Wenger hoped. Eduardo and Arshavin barely touched the ball. Aaron was more involved but I still can’t understand why he didn’t go for the easy pass to the right to Vela and that started Stoke’s second goal move which killed us off.
Source:http://www.thegunninghawk.com

Jets vs. Colts Start Time 3:00 EST: Official NFL Odds Preview

The Jets vs. Colts game time is 3:00 EST. It’s the Vikings vs. Saints and Jets vs. Colts in the NFL’s conference championship. Here is the official AFC Championship spread preview between the New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts.
The NFL odds has the Colts -8.5 with a total of 40.5. The Jets are 11-7 straight up and against the spread and even more impressive on the road at 7-3 in each category.
The Colts are 15-2 straight up and 11-6 to the number. They are 8-1 outright at home, but 4-5 to the sportsbooks..
New York has gone over 3-of-4 while Indianapolis exceeded the total in 4-of-5. We extend best wishes to John Minko of WFAN radio, the home of Jets fans. He is going to undergo heart bypass.
The Jets do what teams must do in order to upset the Colts: keep them off the field. The Jets rush for 172 yards per game compared to only 78.6 for Indianapolis averaging a stunning 1.1 more yards per carry than Indy.
However, Peyton Manning and company get 7.3 yards per pass to the Jets 6.2. On defense, the J-E-T-S allow 3.9 yards per rush compared to 4.3 for the Colts and 4.9 yards per pass compared to the home favorite’s 5.8.
Against the spread records: the Jets are 8-2 as an underdog and 8-2 on the road versus an opponent winning home record.
The Colts are 8-2 off a spread win, yet 3-7 off a straight up win of 14 or more points.
Over/under angles: Indianapolis has gone under 7-2 in the postseason.
For more information: The last losing pick on LateInfo was in November. Swept December. Sweeping January. Undefeated in college and NFL postseason. Jets/Colts side from Big Red. That’s why he’s looking better than Jenny Jones from Frank the Entertainer and as inspiring at Melody Gardot.
"Big Red" is a major figure and pioneer in offshore betting. He has unique access to professional oddsmakers and gamblers. All his bets are based on consulting with elite handicappers, pro bettors and linesmakers. These are linesmakers who spend 50-70 hours a week making the lines and elite sports handicappers with years of experience beating those betting odds.
Source:
http://www.offshoreinsiders.com

'America should help India, Pak in back-channel talks'

Bruce Riedel, who spearheaded President Barack Obama's strategic review on Afghanistan and Pakistan, believes that aggressive US diplomacy to resolve the differences between India and Pakistan is 'absolutely critical' for the 'long-term chances of stabilising Afghanistan, and even more importantly, Pakistan'.
Riedel, an erstwhile Central Intelligence Agency analyst, also served as a former National Security Council official in the Bill Clinton administration
Riedel, currently a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said at a Capitol Hill briefing on Implications for US Policy for Afghanistan, "It we want to change Pakistani behaviour, we have to deal with the thing that drives Pakistani behaviour -- and that's India," he said.
He pointed out that "it got a whole lot more difficult," on 26/11 in Mumbai "when Lashkar-e-Tayiba probably with the assistance of Al Qaeda carried out that (terror) attack. Why did they do that? Precisely to make it more difficult to reduce tensions between Pakistan and India."
Riedel said, "The Jihadis who we are fighting have understood from the beginning of this conflict that if you want to take the heat off them in Pakistan, heat up the border between India and Pakistan. That's why, after we drove Al Qaeda and the Taliban out of Afghanistan in 2001, what do they do -- they attack the Indian Parliament. It was a brilliant tactical move that resulted in strategic space for them."
He said, "In order to try to improve relations between Pakistan and India, we have to do something that American diplomacy is not good at -- not talk about it, (but) operate under the radar screen, be supportive of others, not try to have the stage all to ourselves."
Riedel added "Is the administration working on that? As I said at the beginning, I'm not a spokesman for the administration, but I would point you to one fact. The first State Visit dinner of this administration was with the Indian leadership, because I think this administration understands exactly how important that is."
Riedel believes that US diplomatic engagement -- to bring about a rapprochement between India and Pakistan -- is not impossible.
"Steve Coll pointed out in The New Yorker about the back channel that India and Pakistan have actually come a long way, over the last several years, in finding the basis for a solution to their long-standing problems," he recalled.
Riedel asserted that "American diplomacy should be trying to help Indians and Pakistanis get back to that back channel and to try to put this back on track."
Earlier, in his opening remarks, Riedel said that "Pakistan is in the midst of an extraordinarily difficult transition from military dictatorship to democracy," and that the US "should support this transition enthusiastically."
But, he made clear that "we should recognise this is Pakistan's fourth attempt at doing so and you have to believe in the triumph of hope over expectation to expect Pakistan will get there."
However, he reiterated that "it is in our interest to encourage them to do so because the Pakistani military establishment over the years has proven incapable of running the country and has developed extensive, intimate ties with the syndicate of terror."
Riedel said that "for a variety of reasons, mostly dealing with India, the Pakistani military establishment believes it must maintain at least parts of those relationships."
"In the last year, we have seen part of the Jihadi Frankenstein in Pakistan actually turn against its old master and today, Pakistan is witnessing the most serious political violence in the country's history -- it's bordering on civil war in many ways."
But, Riedel said "the good news here is that the Pakistani people seem to have increasingly come to the conclusion that their freedoms and their way of life are truly threatened by this Jihadi monster. That wake-up is the best news we've seen in Pakistan in a long time."
However, in the question and answer session, he acknowledged that Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari's popularity was dipping and predicted that he will not last till the end of the year.
"President Zardari's popularity, which was always based on an accident of matrimony, not on anything that had to do with Mr 10 percent himself, has fallen. I think that we probably will see the end of the Zardari government in 2010."
But, he pointed out, "There is interesting polling in Pakistan that says despite the fact that the country now has an anemic economy, despite the fact that political violence in the country is now at unprecedented levels, the overwhelming majority of Pakistanis -- something around 85 percent -- say they do not want to have another military dictatorship."
Source:http://news.rediff.com

NASA finds cocaine in shuttle hangar

NASA says it has launched an investigation after finding cocaine in a processing hangar for a space shuttle at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
A small amount of cocaine was found in a restricted area of the processing hangar for the shuttle Discovery,NASA said in a statement.
"This is a rare and isolated incident, and I'm disappointed that it happened, but it should not detract from the outstanding work that is being done by a dedicated team on a daily basis," Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana said in the statement.
NASA has drug-tested employees who worked in that area, the statement said.
"There were about 200 NASA and contractor personnel who were around the facility at the time the drug was found," the statement said.
CNN affiliate WESH reported that the cocaine was found this week in a small bag on the floor near a bathroom in the restricted area.
NASA is using its own security and law enforcement officials to conduct the investigation.
Discovery's next launch is in March, NASA says.
"There is no reason whatsoever to believe this incident will have any impact on Discovery's upcoming launch," Cabana said.

Source:www.cnn.com

India-South Africa Test series to commence on Feb 6

The hastily-arranged Test series between India and South Africa will start on February 6 in Nagpur, BCCI announced on Friday.
India will play two Tests against South Africa and after the opener in Nagpur, the teams will take a three-day break before playing the second match of the series in Kolkata from February 14.
The first od the three-match ODI series will commence in Jaipur on February 21, BCCI secretary N Srinivasan said in a statement.
The next two One-dayers will folow on February 24 and 27 in Kanpur and Ahmedabad respectively. The matches in Jaipur and Ahmedabad would be day-night affairs.
South Africa were scheduled to play only five One-Day Internationals during the tour but agreed to play the Tests following a request from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
India, who became the No 1 Test side after beating Sri Lanka 2-0 at home in late 2009, were in danger of losing their top status as they were scheduled to play only two Tests in 2010, both against Bangladesh.

Source:http://cricket.rediff.com

Bollywood enters Guinness Book of World Records for 'Bhavnao Ko Samjho'

Mumbai, Jan 14 (ANI): Bollywood has entered the Guinness Book of World Records for a flick directed and produced by comedian Sunil Pal, titled 'Bhavnao Ko Samjho', for featuring 51 stand-up comedians.

The feat has been achieved by comedian Sunil Pal, who also acts in the film along with a host of other comedians.

The Guinness officials did a thorough check before entering the film in the coveted almanac.

"First of all, each comedian had to have a speaking role and not just feature in the background. Also I have seen that they have had previous careers as professional stand-up comedians," said Jack Brockbank, Judicator, Guinness Book of World Records.

"I have spent all afternoon looking at the evidence. As I said before, I'm satisfied that it is indeed a Guinness World Records achievement," he added.

The film is a complete entertainer, which promises to have the audience in splits.

"People go to the theatre expecting to have good laugh and watch a clean comedy. I have tried to make a clean comedy film," said Sunil Pal, the director, producer and actor of 'Bhavnao Ko Samjho'.

"The entire film will have the people in splits but nowhere have we resorted to using cheap punches or vulgarity to make the people laugh. You can watch the film with your entire family," he added.
Source:http://in.movies.yahoo.com

TRS withdraws boycott of Junior NTR's film

Hyderabad, Jan 14 (IANS) Faced with criticism from other parties, the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) Thursday withdrew its call for the boycott of Telugu film 'Adurs' starring Junior NTR.
The TRS said it would not stall the film as it respected the decision taken by the all-party Joint Action Committee (JAC). The JAC, which includes the TRS, at its meeting late Wednesday, found fault with the TRS for attacking theatres and stopping the screening of the film.
TRS workers had disrupted the screening of the film at several places in the Telangana region on the ground that its producers were opposed to the demand for statehood to Telangana.
Telangana Jagruthi, the cultural arm of the TRS, had given a call for boycotting the film, which was screened in Hyderabad, Khammam and some other places amid tight security.
The ban imposed by Telangana Jagruthi president and TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao's daughter K. Kavita had come under criticism from Telangana leaders of the Congress, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other parties.
Following the latest decision by the TRS, the film was Thursday released in Warangal, Nizamabad, Adilabad, Nalgonda and other places.
Kodali Venkateswara Rao alias Naani and V. Vamsi Mohan, the producers of 'Adurs', are leaders of the TDP. Kavita has alleged they were supporting the movement against bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.
Two days before the film's release, Junior NTR issued a statement clarifying he was not against Telangana. Movie Artistes' Association (MAA) had also clarified the artists had no regional feelings.
Source:http://in.movies.yahoo.com

Aayirathil Oruvan-Review

Selvaraghavan’s two years in the making, action adventure Aayirathil Oruvan is a brave attempt at trying to come out with something new in the placid world of Tamil cinema. Breaking away from the shackles of the stereotypes, the director transports us to a whole new world and at the end of it all, we are dumb stuck by the visuals, the packaging and the new way of storytelling.
The film has a terrific first half with a basic thread, comedy, action, eye catching song picturisation, stunning visuals and grandeur. The film combines ultra-violent action with murky mysticism. The Government appoints a secret team led by archaeologist Anitha Pandian (Reemma) and a military officer Ravi (Azhagamperumal) to track down the missing links after a scientist and archaeologist (Pratap Pothen) vanishes into thin air while he was on his mission to discover the lost Chola civilization!
To help them reach the lost city, Lavanya, daughter of the missing archaeologist is roped in for the mission. And helping the group to carry their belongings through the rough and tough jungle terrain and sea is the Coolie gang led by Muthu (Karthi), a boorish, uncouth, foul mouthed guy with roving eyes. They go through some of the most inhospitable terrain full of hidden danger and nature’s fury.
Suddenly after a tedious expedition, they stumble on the lost Chola civilization and its king (Parthipan) and find unexplained links between them and the world’s earliest culture. What follows is a series of happenings that will leave you glued to the screen.
The subtle message that Selva tries to convey is that a group of people cut away from civilisation, struck with poverty and knowledge is far superior to the present generation who lack values, culture or basic human kindness. All this leads to some unexpected twists and turns in the climax till you find that history repeats once again as Muthu rescues and run away with the King’s son to the darkness, like what happened centuries back!
Aayirathil Oruvan starts with a bang, but it doesn’t unfold quickly. The second half looks like another film and there are long gaps of silence in the climax which will make an ordinary viewer restless. Directing an interweaving screenplay, Selva’s narrative structure bursts with sporadic agility along with top class camera work by Ramji.
GV Prakash’s background score and his music is tangy. Un Mela Aasadhan.. sung by Dhanush, Aishwarya Dhanush and Andrea and picturised on the lead trio is a rocker. The remixed old MGR song on Karthi and the coolies is a treat.
Reemma brings an uninhibited joie to her role as Anitha and thanks to the ability of the director has extracted a fine performance from her. Andrea is likeable and seems to have enjoyed doing the film. Parthipan is adequate as the king. But it is Karthi, who is a scream. Right from his introduction scene till the end, he is lovable and provides humour. Actually Karthi with his punchlines is getting the loudest claps as the crazy MGR fan and has made a sensational comeback three years after his debut film.
The film has to be seen in the right perspective. Selvaraghavan is trying to explore the frontiers of commercial cinema. For this alone he should be applauded.
Source:http://sify.com/

Clinton weighs in on Google-China clash

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Tuesday that Google’s allegations of censorship and online sabotage by China raised "very serious concerns."
In a statement, Clinton said Google had briefed the State Department on possible plans to pull out of China.
"We look to the Chinese government for an explanation. The ability to operate with confidence in cyberspace is critical in a modern society and economy," she said. "I will be giving an address next week on the centrality of Internet freedom in the 21st century, and we will have further comment on this matter as the facts become clear."
Google said Tuesday it would stop censoring search results on Google.cn. That would allow users to find politically sensitive photos and websites abroad, though downloading them might still be barred by government filters. It also said it had discovered that computer hackers had tricked human-rights activists into exposing their e-mail accounts to outsiders.
On Wednesday, Google.cn said its top search term of the day was "Tiananmen," possibly because of Web surfers looking for material on the government’s violent 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protests.
The No. 2 search topic was "Google leaving China."
China’s foreign ministry and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology did not respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press, but the state news agency Xinhua cited an unidentified official as saying the government was seeking more information from Google.
China has the world’s most populous Internet market, with 338 million people online as of June, and foreign Internet companies eager for a share of that.
Google created its China-based Google.cn site in 2006, agreeing to censor results by excluding sites to which access was blocked by government filters, popularly known as the Great Firewall of China.
Despite that cooperation, Beijing accused Google last year of spreading pornography, and access to the site was temporarily blocked.

UN Says At Least 16 Personnel Killed in Haiti Quake

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said late Wednesday that at least 16 U.N. personnel with the peacekeeping mission in Haiti perished in the powerful earthquake that shook the Caribbean nation on Tuesday. Mr. Ban called on the international community to assist the people of Haiti and said the U.N. would be at the forefront of the coordination effort.
Mr. Ban said of the fatalities that 11 were Brazilian peacekeepers, and the others were police officers - three from Jordan and one each from Argentina and Chad. Fifty-six other personnel have been confirmed injured.
Officials say some 150 others remain unaccounted for, among them the mission's chief, veteran diplomat Hedi Annabi. There have been reports that he is dead, but Mr. Ban said the U.N. is still working to confirm his status.
To the Haitian people, Mr. Ban had this message: "To the people of Haiti I say this: We are with you. We are working quickly, as fast as humanly possible."
The U.N. chief said what is most urgently needed now are well-equipped search and rescue teams.
"People buried under the rubble are still alive. We must save them, as many as possible, and we must move immediately," he said.

Brian Wagner, a VOA correspondent who arrived in Haiti Wednesday evening, reported seeing planes from several countries, including some military aircraft, as well as emergency crews and supplies.

The United Nations says that the airport is "fully operational" despite heavy damage to the control tower. Both U.N. and U.S. officials have confirmed that the Americans will take control of airport operations once their teams are in place.

As part of his coordination efforts, Mr. Ban spoke Wednesday with U.S. President Barack Obama, who he said assured him that he would deploy "all possible, available resources" to help overcome the crisis. Former President Bill Clinton is the U.N.'s Special Envoy for Haiti. He met with Mr. Ban at U.N. headquarters and then accompanied him to a meeting of member states, at which he urged individuals and countries to be generous in their support of Haiti.The United Nations is usually in the frontlines of disaster response, but this catastrophe has been different, in that the helpers are also among the victims. U.N. Peacekeeping Chief Alain LeRoy told reporters that the earthquake could lead to the one of the highest ever fatalities in a U.N. peacekeeping mission.

"It is clearly one of the most horrible tragedies for a U.N. peacekeeping mission," he said. "We are receiving dozens and dozens of volunteers from other peacekeeping missions who are offering their services, who want to go to Haiti to help. So we have received a lot of solidarity among the U.N. family, but of course it is one of the most tragic days for U.N. peacekeeping.

"But for now, U.N. staff are putting aside their own grief and putting their energy into saving those who can be saved and easing the plight of some three million people who were in the earthquake's path.
Source:http://www1.voanews.com

ranji trophy

Ranji Trophy Super League Final Karnataka v Mumbai is played at Mysore From 11th Jan To 14th Jan 2010.
Day 3 :
Mumbai 233 & 234Karnataka 130 & 331Mumbai lead by 231 runs with 5 wickets remaining.
Mumbai lifted their 39th Ranji Trophy with a thrilling six-run win over Karnataka in the final at the Gangothri Glades Cricket Ground here Thursday.
Chasing 338 to win, six-time champions Karnataka were all out for 331 after Manish Pandey hit a scintilating 144 and Ganesh Satish made 75. For Mumbai, veteran Ajit Agarkar was the best bowler with figures of five for 81.
For More Information About Ranji Trophy Super League Final Karnataka v Mumbai.

Source:www.cricket.yahoo.com

Makar Sankranti

Makar Sankranti is one of the most auspicious occasions for the Hindus, and is celebrated in almost all parts of the country in myriad cultural forms, with great devotion, fervour & gaiety. It is a harvest festival. Makar Sankranti is perhaps the only Indian festival whose date always falls on the same day every year i.e. the 14th of January.
Makar Sankranti is the day when the glorious Sun-God begins its ascendancy and entry into the Northern Hemisphere and thus it signifies an event wherein the Sun-God seems to remind their children that 'Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya', may you go higher & higher, to more & more Light and never to Darkness.
To Hindus, the Sun stands for knowledge, spiritual light and wisdom. Makar Sankranti signifies that we should turn away from the darkness of delusion in which we live, and begin to enjoy a new life with bright light within us to shine brighter and brighter. We should gradually begin to grow in purity, wisdom, and knowledge, even as the Sun does from the Day of Makar Sankranti.
The festival of Makar Sankranti is highly regarded by the Hindus from North to down South. The day is known by various names and a variety of traditions are witnessed as one explores the festival in different states.
happy sankranti everyone..

Makar Sankranti SMS

have this 1st feastival bring Happiness to your Life.wish u & ur family a very Happy Makar Sankranthi. Avi Pawale. Ardal..
Ugta Hua Suraj Dua De Aapko, Khilta Hua Phool Khushbu De Aapko, Hum To Kuch Dene Ke Kabil Nahi Hai, Dene Wala Hazaar Khushiyan De Aapko
advance me —!@@@!—"firki"bhej raha hu,
isliye har sal ki tarah chori mat karana enjoy kite flying day
happy makar sankranti.
Makar Sannkrati ke din aapke jeevan ka andhera chhat jaye aevam gyan aur prakash se aapka jeevan ujjwal ho jaye!
Meethe gud main mul gaya til,
Udi patang aur khil gaya dil,
Har pal sukh aur hardin shanti
aap ke liya Happy Makar Sankranti
tan me masti. man me umang. chal akas me dale rang. mil jaye sab sang sang. or udaya patang happy uttarayan to all
TILGUL Ghya GOaD GOaD bola,
Aamche Til Kadhi sandu naka, aamchyashi kadhi bhandu naka.
Wish u a happy and cheerful MAKAR SANKRANTI

Tennessee coach Pat Summitt "disappointed'' by Lane Kiffin's departure

The stunning sudden departure of Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin has left a pall over the campus and Knoxville community, but the Vols have to rise up quickly and move on, legendary UT women's basketball coach Pat Summitt said Wednesday.
Kiffin resigned Tuesday after just one season to take the head coaching job at Southern Cal, where he was once an assistant coach.
Summitt and the No. 4 Tennessee Lady Vols will be in Gainesville Thursday for a 7 p.m. game against the Gators. On her Wednesday teleconference, Summitt said she has no ill-will toward Kiffin, but acknowledged his departure has devastated his players and disappointed other coaches and staff.
"Obviously we're all very disappointed with the decision he made to leave after one year,'' Summitt said. "It's been hard for all of us because I got to know coach Kiffin really well and I think he's a heck of a coach. We're just all very disappointed with the sudden departure. I never want to wish anything bad for anyone. He's going back home and so, are we happy about it? No. But it is what it is and now we've got to move on and find us a great head coach and put together a great staff. And I believe (AD) Mike Hamilton and his team will do exactly that.''
Summitt, who has been the women's basketball head coach at Tennessee for 36 years, said she feels for the Vols' players who dedicated themselves to Kiffin.
"It's unfortunate when players choose to go to a certain school and then the coach leaves,'' she said. "I can only imagine how devastated our guys were when they heard the news because I think they really respect coach Kiffin and his staff. And it's a tough blow. It takes awhile to get past that. Right now, people on our campus are not real happy, and rightfully so. But I have all the confidence that we will put together a great coaching staff and we'll recover from this, hopefully sooner rather than later.''
Source:http://blogs.tampabay.com

Infosys Consolidated Net Profit Falls 3.6%

MUMBAI -- Infosys Technologies Ltd. Tuesday reported a smaller-than-expected drop in third-quarter net profit, and raised its outlook for the full year in a sign of improving times for India's technology companies.
Infosys--India's second-largest software exporter by sales--said its October-December consolidated net profit fell 3.6% to 15.82 billion rupees ($350 million), or 27.75 rupees a share, from 16.41 billion rupees a year earlier.
Consolidated revenue dropped 0.8% to 57.41 billion rupees from 57.86 billion rupees a year earlier.
The market had expected worse.
A Dow Jones Newswires poll of 13 analysts had predicted a net profit of 14.83 billion rupees on revenue of 55.80 billion rupees.
Bangalore-based Infosys--which is listed on the Nasdaq and on the Bombay and National stock exchanges in India--is the first major local technology company to report results every quarter.
Its performance is considered to be an indication of how its rivals will do. Its results now raise expectations that Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., Wipro Ltd. and HCL Technologies Ltd. will also report numbers which reflect improving demand.
"The growth this quarter has been led by the top 10 clients," Infosys Chief Operating Officer S. Shibulal said. Revenue from its top 10 clients--who contribute 27.5% to revenue--grew 12.2% from the second quarter.
Total business volumes went up 6.1% sequentially, he added.
Indian technology companies are slowly recovering from the impact of the global economic slowdown, which had led their customers to scrap or delay projects and seek lower rates for products and services.
"The global economic recovery seems to be led by the U.S. and the financial services" sector, Chief Executive and Managing Director S. Gopalakrishnan said in a statement. "Even though IT budgets are expected to be flat in 2010, offshore outsourcing is expected to benefit from this recovery."
Brokerage firm CLSA said the results were strong. "With a lot of business billed hourly or daily, more holidays in the December quarter mean a weak seasonal pattern. Not so this time," it said in a note to clients.
CLSA, which targets the stock to rise to 3,100 rupees, said the results looked as if the outsourcing industry is returning to the momentum it witnessed a few years earlier.
"It feels like 2004 all over again as Infosys results point to a major up-cycle in outsourcing, driving earnings up to levels not imagined till recently."
Infosys raised its earnings outlook to 106.85 rupees-107.06 rupees a share for the current fiscal year through March from its previous view of 99.60 rupees-100 rupees.
The new estimate is 2.2%-2.4% above the company's earnings last year.
Its new revenue forecast for the fiscal year is 224.73 billion rupees-225.19 rupees billion, up from an estimate of 219.61 billion rupees-220.55 billion rupees given in October.
In dollar terms, Infosys expects revenue of $4.75 billion-$4.76 billion for the fiscal year, up 1.8%-2.0% from a year earlier. It expects earnings to be $2.26 per American Depositary Share, up 0.4% from the previous year.
Infosys, which gets about 99% of its revenue from outside India, said its forecast is based on the rupee staying at 45.75 to the dollar.
The rupee, which is currently trading at 45.46 to the U.S. dollar, gained 3.7% against the greenback in the just ended quarter.
For the current quarter ending March 31, the company expects earnings of 25.62 rupees-25.83 rupees a share on revenue of 56.75 billion rupees-57.21 billion rupees.
"They (Infosys) have already done around 81 rupees per share in three quarters and with the kind of pick up in volume growth they have shown now, the current FY10 outlook seems a little conservative," said Indrajeet Kelkar of Dolat Capital.
Mr. Kelkar expects the firm's current fiscal-year earnings to be around 110 rupees a share.
The company's operating margin expanded to 35.1% from 34.6% in the quarter ended Sept. 30, helped by higher pricing--which rose 1.1% from the previous quarter--and more people working on active projects, despite a strong rupee, Chief Financial Officer V. Balakrishnan told reporters.
Mr. Balakrishnan said he expects margins to fall 180-200 basis points sequentially in the fourth quarter as the rupee "may gain in the short term" and due to staff costs.
For the current fiscal year, operating margins are likely to be flat or expand by 50 basis points, while billing rates are likely to decline 3.7% from last year, he added.
Infosys had foreign-exchange hedges worth $669 million as of Dec. 31.
Infosys added 32 clients in the just-ended quarter.
The company, which hired a net 4,429 staff during the October-December period against 1,548 in the previous quarter, had 109,882 employees at the end of December.
It expects to hire 6,000 employees in the January-March period, taking the total additions for the fiscal year to 24,000, Mr. Shibulal said. Its target earlier was to add 20,000 people during the year.
Source:http://online.wsj.com

Just desserts- why it's hard to feel sympathy for Iris Robinson

Northern Irish MP Iris Robinson is due to stand down as an MP for the constituency of Strangford within the next few days, after details of her affair with a 19 year old boy and subsequent suicide attempt two years ago were leaked to the press. While it certainly wasn’t an entire suprise, given that the Tiger Woods story last month erupted in the same sort of manner- first the non-controversial story, in this case the resignation as opposed to Tiger’s car crash, before the big details begin to rush out of the cracks in the subject’s logic. Yet, unlike the plight of Mr Woods, it’s a lot harder to sympathize with Mrs Robinson, due to the massive effects it could have not only on her Northern Ireland, but on the UK as a whole.
Let me get one thing straight- I am not a big fan of Iris Robinson. Far from it. This was the MP who, fuelled by the hypothesis that ‘if God says it’s bad, then it must be’ launched a number of vehement attacks on the homosexual community, referring to homosexuality as an ‘abomination’ that made her feel ‘sick and nauseous’, and going on to describe it as a ‘viler act than sexually abusing innocent children’. How can a person sleep at night when they know that while many of innocent children have no means of preventing what happens to them, and yet it is worse than the simple choice of many, whether it is hard-wired into their brains or not, to love someone from the same sex? Not suprisingly, gay groups went up in arms, petitions were sent to the Prime Minister to reprimand her for her comments, and she was indeed nearly prosecuted. The one thing preventing all of these things from happening? Her husband Peter Robinson was leader of the party the pair belonged to, the DUP, and, sharing soe of the beliefs of his twisted wife, had no intention of sacking her.
It grew worse. The pair were among the highest claimers of expenses in the whole of Parliament, never mind NI, with over half a million pounds being paide into their bank accounts each year from Parliament, in addition to £150,000 paid to four other members of their family. In other words, a Robinson dynasty, to keep the family in clover for life and their sons and daughters elected after them to continue their hate speech.
And then, finally, the affair itself with 19 year old Kirk McCambley, who she went on to pay £50,000 for in order for McCambley to open a restaurant, sourced from two property developers, but not declared in parliament, thus making the whole business deal extremely controversial for all parties involved, especially for Mr McCambley, who had no idea of the plan, it is believed, and was manipulated into recieving the money, most of which was subsequently paid back to the two property developers after the affair broke down and some time after Mrs Robinson confessed the affair to her husband, then tried to commit suicide.
The whole story, a convoluted tale of shady dealings and romances, will not only have a negative effect on all parties involved, but on the whole of Northern Ireland. Peter Robinson’s tenure as First Minister is getting shaky, the vultures are gathering overhead. Should the other parties in NI, most notably Sinn Fein, campaign for the removal of Mr Robinson, and other members of his DUP go against him, not only could there be a crisis of power there, but given the violent history of the country, even worse.
And all due to the actions of a single woman, a single man and a single extramarital affair. I must say, Mrs Robinson, there’s something in the Bible about that, isn’t there? Up there, by the bit marked ‘Homosexuality’…
Source:http://www.tumblr.com

Hybrids steal spotlight at Detroit auto show

AUTO INDUSTRY REPORTER
The hybrid war is bursting into overdrive.
Three global automotive powerhouses introduced new hybrid cars yesterday at the North American International Auto Show as car companies battle for green leadership and strive to meet stringent new fuel economy and emission requirements later this decade.
Toyota Motor Corp., which claimed hybrid leadership in the decade just ended with its Prius sedan, said it plans to expand the Prius into a family of vehicles with cars both smaller and larger than its flagship hybrid.
The Japan-based company unveiled a concept car called the FT-CH, a vehicle about 500 millimetres shorter than the Prius that is aimed at younger buyers and is all but certain to become a model on the road within three years. (Its name stands for Future Toyota-compact hybrid.)
Drivers may need a less expensive hybrid than the Prius, Yoshi Inaba, chief executive officer of Toyota Motor Sales USA, acknowledged, but said it's far too early to tell what the price might be for the FT-CH. The Prius starts at $27,500 in Canada.
The Prius and Toyota's other hybrids sold in Canada and the U.S. are generating a profit, said Mr. Inaba, Toyota's highest ranking executive in North America. "This is the third generation [Prius] we are in and every time we come up with a newer version, then we see improvements on profit."
Volkswagen AG said its first hybrid model will be on the road this spring. The German auto maker also unveiled a concept car code-named the New Compact Coupe that combines a hybrid motor with a turbocharged, 1.4-litre engine.
That was followed by the new CR-Z from Honda Motor Co. Ltd., a hybrid sports coupe that will go on sale in the U.S. market this summer.
The hybrid version of Ford Motor Co.'s Fusion sedan won car of the year honours at the annual Detroit show.
"I think we'll see a predominance of hybrids on the road by 2020," said Ted Robertson, chief technical officer and executive vice-president of new production creation for Magna International Inc.
The Canadian auto parts giant, which has a booth at the show, was sporting federal Industry Minister Tony Clement and other politicians to a drive in the battery-powered Focus compact that Magna developed for Ford.
Electric vehicles are also moving to the forefront, which is where they were 100 years ago when the auto industry was just springing to life.
A 1922 model made by Detroit Electric Car Co. is on display outside the show. About 12,000 were made between 1907 and 1939 before another electric development made them obsolete - the arrival of the electric starter. The 1922 model cost $2,985 (U.S.).
The batteries alone for the new generation of electric vehicles now cost almost three times that amount at $8,000, industry sources estimate.
Mr. Robertson said the battery is the most expensive item, but the costs of all the components in electric vehicles need to come down to make them commercially viable.
The abundance of hybrid, electric and other environmentally friendly vehicles shows the industry believes it must meet stringent fuel economy goals through technology and not by convincing Americans to switch en masse to smaller vehicles, said industry analyst Dennis DesRosiers, president of DesRosiers Automotive Consultants Inc. of Richmond Hill, Ont.
"The vehicle companies believe Americans won't compromise on the size of their vehicles," Mr. DesRosiers said.
Nonetheless, several auto makers showed off smaller vehicles with traditional internal combustion engines, including Ford with its redesigned Focus compact, and General Motors Co. with the GMC Granite concept, a small crossover vehicle about 600 millimetres shorter than its GMC Acadia.
Source:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com

HTC’s Smart is the killer of the feature phones

The demand for better and versatile smartphones has increased for the past couple of years. Consumers no longer prefer a phone that can only send and receive messages. They want something that would allow them to multi-task, find entertainment in, and work on business-oriented matters all at the same time. Needless to say, people want to access wireless Internet through their phones as well.Most experts agree that eventually, the consumers would want their mobile devices two incorporate two major features. One being a smartphone and the other would be the pay-as-you-go SMS and/or Voice burners.Apparently, HTC will release a device which they called the Smart. This is a phone that has a touch-screen feature, a camera with 3 megapixels, and composed of hardware that seems to be made out of cost-effective materials.What’s interesting about HTC’s Smart is the release of the company’ Sense on the said platform. Because the interface is said to be "finger friendly", stylus pens are no longer necessary to make the menus work.
Gadget reviewers can’t wait to get the Smart on their hands. It might not be the next iPhone but with the HTC’s history of creating great platforms, most of these reviewers are anticipating Smart.

Source:http://www.freshnews.in

Hockey fiasco hots up, team goes on strike again

New Delhi: It was a complete about turn within 24 hours by the Indian hockey team players. On Saturday, the revolt seemed to have died down, but by Sunday evening, the fire was burning once again.
Forward Indian Hockey Team, Prabhjot Singh said, "We have not got the incentives that we had asked for. Till we get a final decision on this, we will not practice. Everyone in the team has decided this together."
Sources have told CNN-IBN that the players had not resolved the issue in the first place, yet both they and Hockey India were guilty of going public with a declaration of truce.
Hockey India had told the players that it did not have the money to agree to the demands and that it could only offer a maximum of Rs 25,000 per player for the results of 2009. It had said that the rest would be taken care once an elected body replaced the ad-hoc body.
The players were also pulled up for putting money before the country.
President Hockey India, Ashok Kumar Mattoo said, "I think the lack of communication was very important factor in talks breaking down. That's a lesson Hockey India as well as the players should take from this. There are other routes we should look at. I have no other tool of communication than media."
"I explained our financial position to them (players). I also showed them how we have spent the money. I see no reason why they have taken this route. Disciplinary action can be taken even on the last day but I don't want to do that. That is the last alternative. I think boys are being mislead and their ways are wrong. We are open to negotiations but we are not ready to get blackmailed," stated, adding, "My first priority is to get the boys back and then to conduct elections smoothly."
Sources say the players decided to go back to Pune to consult their teammates, but with Hockey India offering next to nothing, the team decided to close ranks once again. They are sticking to their demand of monthly salaries and financial incentives.
Prabhjot Singh said, "All 22 players discussed this and we decided that we did not like their (Hockey India's) proposal. We will wait for the outcome of our meeting with hockey officials and then decide on our next course of action. Our demands remain the same. Now the entire team is together," he added.
The Secretary of Maharashtra Hockey who was present at the closed door meeting players and Hockey India officials on Sunday has told CNN-IBN that the officials are considering strict disciplinary action against the players including suspending them and selecting a brand new team.
The official says the players present at the meeting on Sunday didn't utter a word.
Hockey India officials are to meet the players again - this time on their own turf in Pune. The players say this has been a difficult decision and want an early end to the sorry chapter.
The coach of the team, Jose Brasa has supported the players whole-heartedly saying their demands were just.
"We have to understand that the players are very, very sad. Some of them were close to crying because they do not want to take the decision of stopping to play because they want to play, but I think all you will agree that they should be paid for playing. I am not from India, I am not the only one saying what we should do this, I am not saying what the Indian Government should do, but what I am reading in newspapers is that they should be paid and they should earn some money for playing in the national team," he said.
But even as they squabble, it is India's chances at the World Cup in Delhi which starts February 28 that are taking a beating.

Source:
http://publication.samachar.com

Scherzinger calls spilts with Hamilton

Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger has split up from her boyfriend, Formula One racing driver Lewis Hamilton.
They have ended their 20-month romance because they want to "focus fully" on their respective careers, reports thesun.co.uk.
"They have decided to go their separate ways. They want to focus fully on their careers and will remain close friends," reads a statement from their spokesperson.
Friends of the couple are shocked because Scherzinger and Hamilton loved each other implicitly and were very happy.
"It’s sad because they did love each other. When you saw them trackside together they were always laughing and Nicole would give him a little peck on the cheek before the race. But they had to be realistic. There was no way they would continue their careers and stay together – it was too stressful. No one else is involved – their careers just got in the way," said a friend of the couple, on condition of anonymity.
Hamilton is based in Switzerland, while Scherzinger is in the US. In December, it was reported the couple hadn’t seen each other in almost a month and even scrapped plans to spend Christmas together.
The couple first met at the MTV Europe Music Awards in November 2007 and started dating in May 2008.

Source:http://www.thelatestnews.in

Sexy image baffles Britney Spears

Pop star Britney Spears says she is such a perfectionist that she is never happy with her figure and that she is baffled when she is seen as a sex symbol.

"I don’t see myself like that at all. I don’t know why. To me, someone who is sexy is someone with confidence, who carries themselves properly and is comfortable in their own skin. It’s very flattering, but at the same time I think it’s sexier when you don’t try and you’re just yourself. We all like to feel sexy," contactmusic.com quoted her as saying.
The 28-year-old and mother-of-two regularly tops lists of Hollywood’s most beautiful women but she insists her perfectionist nature means she’s rarely satisfied with what she sees in the mirror.
"I’m such a perfectionist, which means I’m never satisfied. I always strive for things to be better. I think you can be happy with the person on the inside but on the outside you’re always striving for more. But that’s how you end up driving yourself crazy."

Source:
http://www.thelatestnews.in

sibm b,I want to develop SIBM-B as a close alternative to IIM B in Bangalore: Pankaj Gupta, Director, SIBM-B,sibm banglore,

In an interview with PaGaLGuY.com, Professor Pankaj Gupta, Director Symbiosis Institute of Business Management-Bangalore (SIBM-B) explains how SIBM-B is not an offshore campus of SIBM-Pune but a management institute under the aegis of Symbiosis International University. He is rooting for prime placements for the first graduating batch of SIBM-B in 2010 which, according to him, will propel the institute to the circle of high-ranking institutes. Following is what he has to say about SIBM-B and his plans as a director

Some time back, your website stated SIBM-B as the first off-shore campus of SIBM (Pune). However, according to AICTE norms, only Symbiosis International University or SIU can have an offshore campus anywhere in India. Was it a concious effort to ride on the popularity of SIBM-Pune?

First of all, I would like to make it clear that we are the first offshore campus of SIU in Bangalore. SIBM Pune and Bangalore are two different institutes under the same university that is, SIU. We are like the IIMs, though IIM A, B, C share the same name, they are individual institutes. In the same way, we share the same name but are different institutes. However, we do share very good relations with each other. We are not a younger brother of a big brother (SIBM-Pune) but an individual institute. SIU will be building many more SIBMs in the country, like the ones coming up in Hyderabad and Noida in a short while, hence the structure will be a number of SIBMs under SIU where all will be distinct institutes.
We are not riding on the popularity of SIBM as we have maintained our individuality. People are not ignorant and they will not confuse SIBM-Bangalore with SIBM-Pune. I agree that there might have been some confusion regarding the name during the start of the institute, however, today people are well informed and join an institute only after proper research.

source:http://indmusings.blogspot.com

Telugu TV channel editors jailed for two weeks

Hyderabad, January 9: A magistrate Saturday jailed two editors of Telugu television channel TV 5 for two weeks for airing an unsubstantiated story about an alleged conspiracy behind the death of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy in a chopper crash.
Crime Investigation Department (CID) produced TV 5 executive editor Brahmananda Reddy and input editor Venkat Krishna before fourth additional chief metropolitan magistrate at his residence on Saturday night.
The magistrate remanded the editors to judicial custody till January 22. He also posted for Monday the hearing on the bail petition moved by the scribes.
CID produced the two editors before the magistrate 24 hours after arresting them.
Meanwhile, continuing its probe against the channels the CID seized hard disks, CDs and other material from the office of the Sakshi channel, owned by Rajasekhara Reddy's son and Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy.
A team of CID officials spent more than two hours on Saturday night at Sakshi office gathering evidence against the channel but left without arresting anybody. The investigating team seized hard disks, CDs, a print out of the web page of a Russian tabloid and the list of employees.
The CID officials spoke to Sakshi CEO Priyadarshini Ram about the story even as the channel scribes holding placards staged protest against the police action terming it an attack on press freedom.
Like TV 5, Sakshi and another channel NTV have been booked by the police for airing the story based on report of a Russian website.
The report sparked violence in the state and attacks on Reliance stores on Thursday night as it alleged that the company had a role in the helicopter crash that killed YSR on September 2 last year.
Cases under sections 153 A (Promoting enmity between different groups and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 505 (2) (making statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 16 of the Cable TV Networks Regulation Act, 1995, were registered against all the three TV channels, police said.
Ram later told reporters that government was trying to be tough with media for disseminating information to people. "Why the government failed to take action when the report was there on the Russian website for last four months?" he asked.
Journalists on Saturday staged protests against the arrests of two editors of TV 5.
Police arrested dozens of media persons who staged a demonstration here. Indian Journalists Union Secretary Srinivas Reddy met Chief Minister K Rosaiah and lodged a protest with him.
"We condemn the arrests of the two editors. While they are available for any probe, the police are treating them like criminals by arresting them and keeping them in custody throughout the night," Srinivas told reporters.
Director General of Police RR Girish Kumar said 114 cases were registered and 289 people were arrested in connection with the attacks on Reliance outlets and properties.
He said some news channels telecast the news story based on a publication in a foreign website of "doubtful veracity, without verifying its credentials or the credibility of the information".
Meanwhile, a police officer in Anantapur town, Narsingappa, was suspended for failing to protect a Reliance outlet when a mob attacked it.
Meanwhile, the state Congress leadership has issued a show cause notice to National Students Union of India (NSUI) state president Vamshichand Reddy, who allegedly sent an SMS to NSUI workers to attack Reliance outlets after TV channels aired the story.
Source:http://www.news24online.com

ne arrested for misbehaving with Jet Airways air hostess

Mumbai: A 56-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly misbehaving with and outraging the modesty of an air hostess of Jet Airways.
Bruno D'Souza, who was travelling from Hong Kong to Mumbai on a Jet Airways flight, was arrested last night by the suburban Sahar police from the city airport here.
"We had received a complaint stating that D'Souza had allegedly misbehaved with a female cabin crew of Jet Airways and had tried to fondle her on board the flight," a police official said.
s D'Souza, booked under Sections 354 and 509 of IPC for molestation and outraging the modesty of a woman, was sent to a hospital for a medical check to ascertain if he was under the influence of alcohol.
He was released on bail on a bond of Rs 5,000 early this morning as both the crimes are bailable offences.
Source:http://www.zeenews.com/news594631.html

India crush Sri Lanka to storm into final

Mirpur: Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir toyed with the Sri Lankan attack as India stormed into the final of the tri-series after crushing the islanders by eight wickets in a lopsided match on Sunday. The Indian bowlers did a neat job, skittling out Sri Lanka for a meagre 213 in 46.1 overs before their batting colleagues took over, guiding the team to 214 for two for a facile win that came with 17.2 overs to spare.
Gautam Gambhir (71) and Dinesh Karthik (48) gave India a flying start before Virat Kohli came up with a breezy unbeaten 71 off just 68 balls to complete the formality. Irrespective of the outcome of their final group match against Bangladesh tomorrow, India will meet Sri Lanka in Wednesday's final.
Kohli notched up his fifth half century in his 18th ODI, which he made with the help of nine fours while Gambhir, who was dropped twice on 41 and 44 smashed his 19th ODI fifty in his 94th match. With this win, India, who played without key players Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Ashish Nehra, have won two matches out of three while Sri Lanka ended their league engagements with three wins out of four.
India have collected nine points, with a bonus point for reaching the target in less overs in today's match. The victory by Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men has also rendered their final match inconsequential against Bangladesh on Monday.
Incidentally, India and Sri Lanka were playing their 120th ODI against each other, the same as between Australia and the West Indies. When the two sides meet in the final of the tri-series on January 13 they will create a new record of having played most matches in ODI history between themselves.
With the wicket at the Shere Bangla National Stadium easing out, openers Gambhir and Karthik, who came in for Sehwag, made a flying start raising 89 runs for the first wicket, virtually taking the game away from Sri Lankans' reach.
The duo were aggressive from the very beginning hitting a flurry of boundaries with exquisite timing and were also not afraid of taking risks with a couple of edges flying past fielders for fours.
Karthik, who was playing for the first time in the tournament, played some delightful shots all with perfect timing and was the more aggressive of the two, hitting Thilan Thushara for three fours in the eighth over. He was unlucky not to have got his half century and was out in the 12th over getting an outside edge of a Thushara delivery for Kumar Sangakkara to do the rest.
Gambhir ensured that India did not have any hiccups though the run chase slowed down a bit after the initial flourish. Gambhir, who hit 10 fours in his 86-ball innings with five coming from pacer Suranga Lakmal's bowling, was out in the 29th over holing out to Chanaka Welegedara off Thissara Perera but by then India needed barely 50 runs and Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh (8 not out) took India home.
Kohli hit a flurry of boundaries off Lakmal towards the home stretch of run chase before Yuvraj scored the winning run - a single - to reach 214 for two in 32.4 overs.
For Sri Lanka, Thilan Thushara and Thissara Perera took one wicket each. Lakmal was the most expensive bleeding 75 from his 10 overs.
Earlier deciding to bat first, Sri Lanka managed 213 before folding in the 47th over.
For them, captain Kumar Sangakkara top-scored with a 78-ball 68 while rookie Suraj Randiv, who made his debut in the ODI series against India last month, contributed with a valuable 76-ball 56, his maiden half century.
The seventh wicket partnership of 59 runs off 70 balls between Sangakkara and Randiv and the 69-run stand between Thilan Thushara and Randiv for the eighth wicket from 83 balls were mainly responsible for the Sri Lankan score.
Back in the side after missing the last two matches with a groin injury, Tillakaratne Dilshan struck a brisk 17-ball 33 before Zaheer Khan, adjudged Man of the Match for his three for 38, ended his onslaught.
Source:http://cricket.yahoo.com

US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary

Avatar' leads box office for fourth weekend
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "Avatar" ruled the North American box office for a fourth weekend on Sunday, days after it soared up the worldwide rankings to become the second-biggest movie of all time. James Cameron's 3-D sci-fi epic earned $48.5 million across the United States and Canada during the three-day period beginning Friday, distributor 20th Century Fox said.
"Friends" star Matt LeBlanc back to TV - as himself
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Former "Friends" star Matt LeBlanc is returning to U.S. television for the first time since 2006, playing himself in a quirky comic spoof of the TV business. LeBlanc, 42, who played womanizer Joey Tribbiani in the hit comedy "Friends," is forced to audition for the role of himself in the series "Episodes," Showtime executives said on Saturday.
CBS says business as usual with Charlie Sheen
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - CBS TV executives steered clear of the domestic violence allegations surrounding TV star Charlie Sheen, saying on Saturday it was business as usual on the set of his hit show "Two and a Half Men." "Charlie is a consummate pro. He shows up and he delivers," said Chuck Lorre, an executive producer of "Two and a Half Men," the most popular comedy on U.S. television.
"Idol" judge Jackson calls Cowell rumors distracting
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson said on Friday he did not know whether fellow panelist Simon Cowell would be leaving the show but fevered speculation on his future was a distraction from the TV singing contest's mission of finding the next superstar. Jackson also told reporters ahead of Tuesday's 9th season opener of the top-rated U.S. show that he missed departed judge Paula Abdul, and that the dynamics on the panel had changed.
Official says no charge yet against Jackson doctor
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Los Angeles prosecutor's office on Friday said it has not yet decided whether to charge Michael Jackson's doctor with a crime in the pop singer's sudden death by cardiac arrest last June. "We have nothing pending. No decision has been made and nothing has been filed," said a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office. She declined further comment.
Elvis Presley feted in Memphis on 75th birthday
MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Reuters) - The cold couldn't keep them away from the "King." Hundreds of Elvis Presley fans braved frigid, snowy weather to celebrate the late rock'n'roll legend's 75th birthday on Friday at his Graceland shrine, part of a marketing machine that generates $50 million a year.
"Jay Leno Show" future uncertain
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Are Jay Leno's days in primetime numbered? The future of NBC's "The Jay Leno Show" is in question as Web reports Thursday triggered all sorts of scenarios for the troubled program.
Female acts tipped for top again in 2010 pop polls
LONDON (Reuters) - No two lists are the same, but as pop pundits gaze into their crystal balls at the start of a new decade it is single female acts who look destined for the top, at the expense of indie bands. Emboldened by the success in 2009 of flamboyant Lady Gaga, YouTube sensation Susan Boyle and country star Taylor Swift, and the likes of Amy Winehouse and Duffy before them, women are being backed to eclipse the bands once again in 2010.
Sandra Bullock steals show at People's Choice
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Sandra Bullock entered Hollywood Awards season in high fashion on Wednesday winning two People's Choice honors for the relationship comedy "The Proposal" and for favorite movie actress. The "Twilight" vampire romance series took home four People's Choice trophies: favorite movie, favorite franchise, top on-screen team for its actors, and one of its stars, Taylor Lautner, landed the award for breakthrough movie actor.
HBO nabs rights to Pablo Escobar documentary
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - HBO has picked up the U.S. television rights to the feature documentary "Sins of My Father," the inside story of notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. The film will compete in the World Documentary section at the Sundance Film Festival later this month, and is slated to air on the pay cable network this year, possibly in the fall.

Source:'
http://www.washingtonpost.com

UK reporter, US Marine killed in Afghan blast

LONDON — An explosion outside a village in southern Afghanistan killed a U.S. Marine and a veteran war correspondent who became the first British journalist killed in the conflict, officials said.
With the death of Sunday Mirror journalist Rupert Hamer, 18 reporters have been killed in Afghanistan since the Sept. 11, according to figures kept by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists.
"Tragically it was a matter of time," former British forces commander Col. Richard Kemp told Sky News television. "Our journalists, the same as other journalists, our British journalists deploying on operations with forces in Afghanistan or Iraq face exactly the same risks as our soldiers face out there."
Hamer, 39, and photographer Philip Coburn, 43, were accompanying a U.S. Marine patrol Saturday when their vehicle was hit by a makeshift bomb near the village of Nawa in Helmand, the Defense Ministry said.
An U.S. Marine was also killed in the blast, the ministry said. Coburn was seriously wounded in the explosion but remains in stable condition, the military said.
The Defense Ministry originally said that an Afghan soldier had been killed in the attack, but later released a revised statement saying that "there were no Afghan nationals killed or injured in this incident." The statement cited new information gathered from the field, but gave no further details.
The statement also said that five Marines were left badly hurt. It did not elaborate on their condition.
The past year has been particularly deadly for those fighting the war and those covering it. Canadian journalist Michelle Lang died late last year while embedded with Canadian troops in Afghanistan. An Afghan translator for The New York Times, Sultan Munadi, was killed in September during a rescue operation.
The Sunday Mirror said that Hamer and Coburn had flown to the region on New Year's Eve and were embedded with the American military. Their trip was to have lasted for a month, the paper said.
Both were veterans of reporting from conflict zones. It was Hamer's fifth excursion to Afghanistan, while Coburn had previously reported from Afghanistan, Iraq and Rwanda.
"Rupert believed that the only place to report a war was from the front line, and as our defense correspondent he wanted to be embedded with the U.S. Marines at the start of their vital surge into southern Afghanistan," Sunday Mirror Editor Tina Weaver said in a statement.
The Sun's Tom Newton Dunn, who used to serve as the paper's defense correspondent, said he and Hamer often spent time together in the field.
"He was extremely good at getting news, and he really understood the armed forces," Newton Dunn told the BBC. "And was never afraid to go out to places like Afghanistan or Iraq."
Government officials lined up to offer their condolences, with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown saying Hamer and Coburn brought "courage, skill and dedication to reporting from the front line," something he said ensured that the world could see and read about what international forces were achieving in Afghanistan.
British defense minister Bob Ainsworth said the pair accompanied him on his most recent trip to Afghanistan and that he was "impressed by their hard work and professionalism.
"My thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the families, friends and colleagues of both men at this extremely distressing time," Ainsworth said.
Hamer is survived by his wife Helen and three young children, his newspaper said.

Source:http://www.chron.com

Patriots try to regain playoff mojo against Ravens

(Sports Network) - Twenty-three-and-a-quarter months, two major knee injuries to star offensive players, a slew of veteran defenders, and one offensive coordinator ago, the New England Patriots played a memorable playoff game.
For the first time since that contest, a stunning 17-14 loss to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII on Feb. 3rd, 2008, the Patriots will play in a postseason game again when they host the Baltimore Ravens in an AFC wild card round matchup on Sunday.
Though the loss to the Giants - which ruined what would have been the first 19-0 season in NFL history - was less than two years ago, the changes Bill Belichick's club has gone through since that time have altered the complexion of the franchise immensely.
The serious knee injury that ended quarterback Tom Brady's 2008 season in Week 1 was the most notable event, and played a key role in New England missing the playoffs with an 11-5 record last year, but by no means was it the only change the unofficial "team of the decade" endured over that span. Gone from the '07 team are key defenders such as Rodney Harrison (retired), Richard Seymour (traded), Mike Vrabel (traded), Tedy Bruschi (retired), and Asante Samuel (lost in free agency), as well as offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who just finished his first season as head coach of the Denver Broncos.
Just last week, another New England lynch pin, wideout Wes Welker, was lost for the year due to a knee injury suffered in the team's 34-27 loss at the Houston Texans. Welker suffered the injury on the same play that he recorded his 123rd catch of the year, tied for the second-most in a single season in NFL history.
The Welker injury, a middling 4-3 record over their last seven games that included losses to the non-playoff Texans and Dolphins, and a disappointing 10-6 mark on the year have conspired to make New England something less than the overwhelming Super Bowl favorite they were when they last reached the playoffs.
The visiting Baltimore Ravens, meanwhile, join the Patriots in the category of 2009 playoff entries with somewhat suspect Super Sunday prospects.
John Harbaugh's squad secured its second wild card berth in as many seasons with last week's 21-13 win at the Oakland Raiders, but Baltimore has an acute lack of quality wins to point to in defense of its playoff resume'. Since an admittedly impressive victory at the San Diego Chargers back in Week 2, the Ravens are 0-6 against teams in the 2009 playoff field, including a 27-21 loss at the Patriots back in Week 4.
Apart from the San Diego game, Baltimore's eight victories came against teams with a combined record of 45-83, with an overtime triumph over a Steelers team that was down to its third quarterback ranking as the best of those wins.
But the key for the Ravens is that they're in the tournament, just as they were last year when they advanced all the way to the AFC Championship after making the field as the No. 6 seed. Led by then-rookie quarterback Joe Flacco, Baltimore went on the road to beat the Dolphins (27-9) and Titans (13-10) before falling at the eventual Super Bowl Champion Steelers (23-14).
SERIES HISTORY
The Patriots lead the all-time regular season series with the Ravens, 5-0, winning home matchups with Baltimore in 1999, 2004, and 2009 and taking road decisions in 1996 and 2007. As mentioned, the most recent matchup took place in Week 4, when New England was a 27-21 home winner in a game that marked the Ravens' first loss following a 3-0 start. The teams have never met in the postseason.
A Baltimore-based NFL team last defeated New England in the 1983 campaign, when the then-Baltimore Colts swept a home-and-home with the Patriots.
Belichick is 3-0 against the Ravens. Belichick, who grew up in Annapolis, MD, got his first NFL job as an assistant with the Baltimore Colts in 1975. The Ravens' Harbaugh is 0-1 against both Belichick and the Patriots as a head coach.
WHEN THE RAVENS HAVE THE BALL
The Ravens had their peaks and valleys offensively during the regular season, finishing up 13th in NFL total offense (351.2 yards per game) and showing ability to both run and pass the football. The running game, led by Pro Bowler Ray Rice (1339 rushing yards, 78 receptions, 8 TD) and veteran Willis McGahee (544 rushing yards, 15 receptions, 14 TD), ranked fifth in the league (137.5 yards per game), and was tied for the NFL lead with 22 touchdown rushes. Rice went for 103 yards on just 11 carries in the last matchup with New England, while McGahee sparked last Sunday's win over the Raiders with 16 carries, 167 yards and three touchdowns, one of them a dazzling 77-yarder in the second quarter. Flacco (3613 passing yards, 21 TD, 12 INT), who threw for 264 yards with a pair of touchdown passes and an interception in the Week 4 meeting with New England, has thrown just one interception in his last four games and has seven TD strikes over that span. Wideouts Derrick Mason (73 receptions, 7 TD) and Mark Clayton (34 receptions, 2 TD) have been Flacco's most reliable outside targets, and tight end Todd Heap (53 receptions, 6 TD) has come on strong with 133 receiving yards and four touchdowns in his last three games combined. A solid Baltimore o-line has nonetheless allowed 36 sacks on the year.
The Patriots entered last week's contest against the Texans having registered three consecutive strong outings on defense, but took a step back in that regard against Houston. The Texans racked up 439 yards in the game, including 303 through the air by Matt Schaub, and the Pats were gutted for 21 fourth- quarter points in the loss. A pass defense that ranked 12th in the NFL (209.7 yards per game) during the regular season has been an occasional Achilles' heel, as the team has battled to find the right mix of defensive backs and pass rushers. In the secondary, cornerbacks Shawn Springs (40 tackles, 1 INT) and Leigh Bodden (55 tackles, 5 INT) are projected to line up with Mason and Clayton, though Bodden is considered a question mark due to a knee injury. Safeties James Sanders (48 tackles) and Brandon Meriweather (83 tackles, 5 INT) will also have to contribute. The club's top pass rusher has been Tully Banta-Cain (54 tackles, 9.5 sacks), but New England has been an inconsistent pass rushing team. The Patriots were 13th in the league against the run (110.5 yards per game), but allowed just six rushing TDs all year thanks in large part to the efforts of nose tackle Vince Wilfork (43 tackles), end Ty Warren (46 tackles, 1 sack), and inside linebacker Jerod Mayo (103 tackles, 1.5 sacks).
WHEN THE PATRIOTS HAVE THE BALL
Though he didn't mirror the eye-popping numbers he posted in 2007, Brady (4398 passing yards, 28 TD, 13 INT) was named the league's 2009 Comeback Player of the Year earlier this week after throwing for the second-most yards of his career. Brady is 8-0 in home playoff games as a starter since taking the QB reins in 2001, and has won 23 straight Gillette Stadium contests overall since a loss to the Jets in October of 2006. It remains to be seen, however, how well Brady functions without the ultra-reliable Welker in the fold. Randy Moss (83 receptions, 13 TD) will continue to be receiving option number one, but players like Julian Edelman (37 receptions, 1 TD), Sam Aiken (20 receptions, 2 TD), and tight end Ben Watson (29 receptions, 5 TD) could have to take on a more central role with Welker out. Four different New England running backs have garnered 60-plus carries this season, but it appears that veterans Fred Taylor (269 rushing yards, 4 TD) and Kevin Faulk (335 rushing yards, 37 receptions, 3 TD) will be in line for the most backfield touches against the Ravens. Taylor scored a pair of TDs in last week's loss to the Texans. Faulk will be appearing in his 17th postseason game as a Patriot dating back to 2001. A strong New England line allowed just 18 sacks on the year.
First-year Ravens defensive coordinator Greg Mattison has a major headache on his hands, as he attempts to handle Brady and the New England attack with a makeshift secondary. With former starters Fabian Washington and Lardarius Webb both out for the year due to knee injuries, figures like Chris Carr (44 tackles, 2 INT, 1.5 sacks), Frank Walker (16 tackles, 1 INT), and Domonique Foxworth (53 tackles, 4 INT) will have to play over their heads against the New England group of receivers. Safeties Ed Reed (50 tackles, 3 INT) and Dawan Landry (89 tackles, 4 INT) will be central to the cause as well, as will a wildly inconsistent pass rush led by Terrell Suggs (59 tackles, 4.5 sacks), Jarret Johnson (50 tackles, 6 sacks, 2 INT), and Trevor Pryce (31 tackles, 6.5 sacks), all of whom had sacks of Brady back in Week 4. The Ravens were solid against the run in 2009, leading the NFL with 3.4 yards allowed per carry. Linebacker Ray Lewis (134 tackles, 3 sacks) was a key part of that effort, while defensive tackles Haloti Ngata (35 tackles, 1.5 sacks) and Kelly Gregg (63 tackles, 3 sacks) set the tone at the point of attack.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Give the edge to the Patriots in the battle of the kickers. Stephen Gostkowski (26-of-31 FG) has one of the most reliable and strongest legs in the league on field goals, also ranking in the NFL Top 10 in touchbacks with 21. His counterpart, journeyman Billy Cundiff, is just 12-of-17 since replacing the erratic Steve Hauschka in Week 11. Cundiff has previous playoff experience with both the Cowboys and Saints, and is 1-of-2 on postseason field goals.
Ravens punter Sam Koch (43.7 avg.) has a bigger leg than the Patriots' Chris Hanson (39.7 avg.), and both players have four games worth of postseason experience.
The Ravens averaged 26.2 yards per kickoff return on the year, tied for the best figure in the league, and have received a nice effort in that area from second-year-pro Jalen Parmele (31.3 avg.) of late. Baltimore does have a kickoff return for a TD this season, but that went to cornerback Lardarius Webb, who is out for the year. Chris Carr (8.2 avg.) has been nothing special on punt returns for the Ravens.
Matthew Slater should get another shot on kickoff returns for the Patriots after averaging 31 yards on a pair of returns last week, and with the usual punt returner Welker out, either Edelman (10.5 avg.) or Faulk (6.2 avg.) figures to be the guy there.
The Patriots rank in the bottom half of the league in opponents' kickoff return average (24.7) and punt return average (9.0), but did not give up a touchdown return in either area. The Ravens allowed 7.6 yards per punt return and 20.3 yards per kickoff return, and the lone TD they surrendered in either area went to the Bears' Johnny Knox on a Week 15 punt return.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
The blowout of the wild card round just might begin at Gillette Stadium around 1pm on Sunday afternoon. These teams played a close contest in New England back on Oct. 4th, and if Mark Clayton doesn't drop a catchable ball inside the 10-yard line in the waning moments, maybe the Ravens even win the game. But October 4th was a long time ago, before Brady got his feet underneath him in the wake of his knee injury, and before the Ravens were passing off a group of suspect cornerbacks as starters. Even without Welker, the Patriots will throw the ball at will against a Baltimore team that doesn't cover or rush the passer well, and the road-soft Ravens will go relatively quietly against a New England team that has never lost a home playoff during the Brady/Belichick era.
Source:
http://www.canada.com