Dangal: Official trailer

'Dangal' is an extraordinary true story based on the life of Mahavir Singh and his two daughters, Geeta and Babita Phogat. The film traces the inspirational journey of a father who trains his daughters to become world class wrestlers.

Typhoon Haima kills 12 in Philippines, takes aim at Hong Kong

BENGUET (Philippines): Typhoon Haima, the strongest storm to hit the Philippines in three years, killed at least 12 people and inundated vast tracts of rice and corn fields, officials in Manila said on Friday, before it took aim at Hong Kong.

Philippine authorities said they were assessing the extent of damage to infrastructure and crops, but confirmed that thousands of hectares of farmland were destroyed in northern provinces.

Eight of the victims were from the Cordillera region, said Ricardo Jalad, chief of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, citing reports the agency received from provincial officials.

In Cagayan alone, where the super typhoon made landfall late on Wednesday with destructive 225 kmph winds and heavy rain, between 50,000-60,000 hectares of rice fields were flattened and flooded, said the provincial governor Manuel Mamba.

"It was like we were hit by another Yolanda," he told a radio station, referring to the 2013 super typhoon known internationally as Haiyan which killed at least 6,000 people and destroyed billions of pesos worth of property.
 Hong Kong shut all but essential services in the global financial hub as the storm approached.


"According to the present forecast track, Haima will be closest to Hong Kong around noon, skirting about 100 km to the east of the territory," said the observatory on its website.

'BRICS meet recognised state-sponsored terror as biggest challenge to world'

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday said the just concluded BRICS summit in Goa recognised “State-sponsored and State-protected terrorism” as the biggest challenge to the world.

“State-sponsored and State-protected terrorism is the biggest challenge: BRICS Summit saw a growing recognition that there cannot be business as usual when it comes to dealing with terrorism,” Ms. Swaraj said.

The Minister stressed that “terrorism is universally recognised as a key threat to peace, a truly global challenge.”

In clear reference to Pakistan, Ms. Swaraj said there was need to extract costs from those who sponsored and supported terrorists and provided them sanctuary and continued to make the “false distinction” between “good and bad terrorists."

“There must be a cost for those who support terrorists and make false distinction between good and bad terrorists.”

On deliberations at the BRICS meet, she said that while economic engagement and political cooperation remained the key factors, there was a sharp realisation that global development and prosperity were very much dependent on continued peace and security.

Keywords: Sushma Swaraj, BRICS summit, Pakisthan
                                              thanks the hindu news

Death toll rise to 20 as one more patient succumbs to injuries

At least 20 people, many of whom were being treated in intensive care unit and dialysis ward of SUM Hospital, a Bhubaneswar-based private hospital, were asphyxiated to death Monday evening as a spark from a electrical short cirtcuit turned into a major fire and the resultant smoke spread through the corridors in no time. The fire left at least 105 of the patients in the hospital gasping for breath and subsequent hospitalisation in nine different hospitals of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

Odisha health secretary Arati Ahuja, who visited SUM hospital Tuesday morning said 14 of the patients were declared brought dead at the government owned Capital Hospital while 5 succumbed to injuries at the private AMRI hospital. An elderly patient died at AIIMS Bhubaneswar Tuesday morning. The deceased included 9 women.
Fire services and police officials said a minor flame was first spotted near the dialysis ward, located on the first floor of the 1000-bed hospital at around 7.30 pm. Though the hospital staff tried to douse using two extinguishers, they gave up after 20 minutes, post which the fire brigade was called in. By then fire and smoke spread between the false ceiling and main ceiling of the second floor. The carbon monoxide gas from the fire travelled through the air-conditioner ducts to the ICU and dialysis wards quickly asphyxiating the hapless patients. “The air-conditioner ducts turned the hospital into death zone as they helped travel the poisonous gas,” said a hospital staff.

Officials said all the 19 who died Monday evening must have been asphyxiated to death instantly. The last one who died this morning to died from the effects of inhaling the carbon monoxide gases.

When the gas spread through the corridors, the clueless doctors and paramedical staff lost precious time in evacuating the patients as they hoped that the fire would be controlled. “There was no one in my ward to help evacuate my son who is being treated for blood cancer in the hospital. I had to carry her and another old cancer patient on my own to the ground floor,” said Saibani Behera, a daily labourer from Khallikote blocAs utter chaos prevailed in the hospital, the fire brigade staff broke through the window panes to evacuate the patients through slings and a Bronto skylift. It tok 6 fire engines more than two hours to to bring the fire under control. Locals and some hospital staff too joined in the evacuation. A fire brigade staff reportedly fell ill after inhaling the poisonous smoke. By the time the fire was controlled, the ICU and the dialysis ward was completely charred.

Assuring all help, PM Narendra Modi has sent air ambulances to Bhubaneswar through petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan for transportation of the serious patients to Mumbai and New Delhi. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who visited the injured patients at Capital Hospital and other hospitals yesterday and today said the State would take care of the treatment. He has ordered an inquiry by revenue divisional commisssioner and a separate probe by the Director Medical Education and Training.

Health secretary Arati Ahuja said post-mortem of all the 19 persons were completed at the Capital Hospital Monday night and vehicles have been provided to family members of the deceased persons to take the bodies back home.

Incidentally, the hospital has been accredited by NABH, a quality control body that has fire safety as one of the major issues before any certification is given. The NABH certification is valid for a period of 3 years.

The hospital is owned by Manoj Nayak, an engineer who started an engineering college in late Nineties and quickly became an educational entrepreneur setting up an university named Siksha O Anusandhan. He is reportedly close to several politicians of Biju Janata Dal. He also owns a TV news channel and Odia newspaper.

Director general of fire services Binay Kumar Behera also visited SUM hospital along with his officials for a preliminary probe.k of Ganjam district.

North Korea missile exploded shortly after lift-off: Seoul

Seoul: An explosion almost immediately after launch was behind the failure of North Korea's latest test- firing of a powerful medium-range missile, the South Korean military confirmed today.
North Korea tested a Musudan missile - capable of hitting US bases as far away as Guam - shortly after midday Saturday near an air base in the northwestern city of Kusong.
    
Such launches are usually reported within a few hours or even minutes by South Korean and US military monitors, but the news of Saturday's test only came out around 16 hours after the event.
"North Korea's missile launch failed shortly after lift- off so a considerable amount of time was needed to analyse it," a South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff official told reporters today.
A defence ministry spokesman confirmed the missile exploded soon after lift-off, in the very initial stage of the launch.
First unveiled as an indigenous missile at a military parade in Pyongyang in October 2010, the Musudan has a theoretical range of anywhere between 2,500 and 4,000 kilometres.
The lower estimate covers the whole of South Korea and Japan, while the upper range would include US military bases on Guam.
After a string of five failed launches, North Korea test fired a Musudan in June that flew 400 kilometres into the Sea of Japan (East Sea). Saturday's test weas the first since then.
The June flight had been hailed by leader Kim Jong-Un as proof of the North's ability to strike US bases across "the Pacific operation theatre".
US weapons analysts say successful Musudan testing could help the nuclear-armed North develop an operational intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of striking the US mainland by 2020

Nearly 200 nations agree on a binding deal to cut greenhouse gases: All You need to know

Nearly 200 nations have agreed a legally binding deal to cut back on greenhouse gases used in refrigerators and air conditioners, a major move against climate change.

The deal divides countries into three groups with different deadlines to reduce the use of factory-made hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) gases, 10,000 times more powerful than carbon dioxide as greenhouse gases.

Under the pact, developed nations, including much of Europe and the United States, commit to reducing their use of the gases incrementally, starting with a 10 percent cut by 2019 and reaching 85 per cent by 2036.

Two groups of developing countries will freeze their use of the gases by either 2024 or 2028, and then gradually reduce their use. India, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and the Gulf countries will meet the later deadline.

The deal binding 197 nations crowns a wave of measures to help fight climate change this month.

Last week, the 2015 Paris Agreement to curb climate-warming emissions passed its required threshold to enter into force after India, Canada and the European Parliament ratified it.

                   

 

 

Unlike the Paris agreement, the Kigali deal is legally binding with specific timetables and has an agreement by rich countries to help poor countries adapt their technology.

A scientific panel advising the signatories to the deal said phasing out HFCs will cost between $4 billion and $6 billion, said Manoj Kumar Singh, India's joint secretary at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Donors had already put $80 million in a fund to start implementing the agreement, said Gina McCarthy, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The HFC talks is build on the 1987 Montreal Protocol, which succeeded in phasing out the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), widely used at that time in refrigeration and aerosols.

The original aim of the Montreal Protocol was to stop the depletion of the ozone layer, which shields the planet from ultraviolet rays linked to skin cancer and other conditions.

                              thanku INDIA TODAY IN news

           

22 Highway Stretches In India May Double Up As Airstrips: Nitin Gadkari

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new Delhi:  Road Transport and Highways Ministry is working on a proposal with Ministry of Defence to construct runways on highway stretches and 22 such spots have been identified across the country.

"There are proposals to develop highway stretches in such a fashion that they may double up as airstrips. This will provide connectivity in difficult places," Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari told Press Trust of India.


Mr Gadkari said his ministry is shortly going to convene a meeting with the Defence Ministry to firm up the proposal. According to an official, a committee comprising officials of both ministries has been constituted to come out with specifications of such highway stretches which can double up as airstrips.

The committee will look into details like feasibility of the stretches, their length and breadth apart from other issues.
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The official said that 22 identified stretches are located in various parts of the country.

In August, Mr Gadkari had mentioned about construction of such an airport in Rajasthan and said that similar projects were being planned in Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and some other border districts.


In Rajasthan, such an airport could serve as an airstrip for landing and takeoff when it is closed and traffic can restore later.

The government is working on ways to boost regional air connectivity in the country. In new civil aviation policy, the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) has been mooted that provides for various concessions to airlines.

Under the scheme, air ticket prices would be capped at Rs. 2,500 for one-hour flights on unserved and under-served routes.

There are 394 unserved and 16 under-served airports in the country.

As part of the RCS, the government plans to provide a Viability Gap Funding, which would be financed through the Regional Connectivity Fund (RCf
                                                   thanku NDTV news
                             

Police Targeting DMK Men Over Spreading Rumours About Jayalalithaa's Health, Says MK Stalin

      Chennai:  DMK Treasurer MK Stalin on Sunday condemned 'harassment' of his party cadres under the pretext of taking action against those spreading rumours about Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's health on social media and asked police to immediately stop such 'oppressive' measures.

In a statement in Chennai, he alleged that acting on 'false' complaints by AIADMK IT wing personnel and other party functionaries, the cyber-crime police was summoning the DMK members, harassing them and threatening to block their social media accounts.

"We will never tolerate police targeting DMK men under the guise that they were spreading rumours on social media. I strongly condemn the police action," Mr Stalin, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, said.
                                                   

Police should immediately stop taking action targeting DMK men on social media based on the complaints by AIADMK, he said, noting that seven persons had been arrested and 50 cases filed on complaints of alleged spreading of rumours about Jayalalithaa's health on social media.

Mr Stalin, who recently visited the Apollo Hospital to inquire about the health status of the Chief Minister, said, "Like every person's wish for the betterment of Jayalalithaa, it is also our desire for her speedy recovery."

"It is not fair that the police are taking action targeting the DMK men despite the party's legal wing filing a complaint with Greater Chennai Police Commissioner and to the DGP of Tamil Nadu on the issue," he said.

"A doubt arises whether the police was supporting the AIADMK's attempt to create an image that rumours were spread only by the DMK men," he said.

24-year-old Antony Jesuraj from Tuticorin district was the latest to be arrested for allegedly spreading rumours on the health condition of Jayalalithaa, who is under treatment at Apollo Hospital here since September 22.thanku ndtv news

Jayalalithaa's health: Tamil Nadu CM's condition greatly improves in last 48 hours, AIADMK relieved

     

First the good news. Multiple sources have confirmed that the condition of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has improved significantly in the past 48 hours and she has been off the ventilator during the day. She is on respiratory support only for some time in the night as a precautionary measure.

The CM however, still continues to be in the Critical Care unit at Apollo Hospital. Apart from antibiotics, her treatment includes medication to help her in breathing and also nebulisation.

   

The CM however, still continues to be in the Critical Care unit at Apollo Hospital. Apart from antibiotics, her treatment includes medication to help her in breathing and also nebulisation.

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"We are not so worried any more. We are a lot more relieved," said a source who is aware of Jayalalithaa's treatment

                          

AIADMK leaders who have access to information from inside the Critical Care unit at Apollo Hospitals also confirm that Jayalalithaa is conscious. "She is also aware of what is happening around her," says CR Saraswathi, spokesperson of the AIADMK.
The next step would be to slowly move her away from the bed, where she has been for more than three weeks now, and make her sit on a chair. Passive physiotherapy that Apollo's medical bulletins say the CM is undergoing, is part of the treatment to help her do this.


But despite the improvement, Apollo Hospital and the Tamil Nadu government are fighting shy of announcing it to the world. That is because experience shows that an ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) patient even when he or she shows dramatic improvement, is deemed vulnerable.
ARDS is a life-threatening medical condition, characterised by inflammation in the lungs. ARDS is triggered by pneumonia and sepsis, one of the reasons why intensivist Dr Richard Beale, an experienced investigator in the field of sepsis, ARDS and clinical nutrition, was flown in from London to treat the CM. An intensivist by definition is a doctor who specialises in treating critically-ill patients.
Experts point out that ARDS is known to have a high mortality of up to 50 percent. When it is accompanied with other ailments, it only complicates the issue and the treatment. In Jayalalithaa's case, her diabetes, hypertension and cellulitis — ailments mentioned in her 2014 bail plea at the Karnataka High court — were factors the team of doctors took into account.
"If it was a 30-year-old patient, the body recovers that much faster. Since the CM is 68, she needs that much more care," said a source.
Given her medical history, doctors are of the opinion that her recovery is remarkable. But they would want to monitor her for some more time as with her diabetes, the risk of secondary infections always exists.
Hospitals, especially Intensive Care Units, are a more risky place for critical patients. That is because hospitals are teeming with virulent bacteria. If an infection is contracted from the community, it requires a basic antibiotic for treatment. But if a patient contracts an infection from the ICU, bacteria is likely to be resistant to basic antibiotics and doctors have to prescribe high-end antibiotics. Such potent antibiotics in high dosage can lead to side effects like diarrhea, renal failure, myopathy and neuropathy.
In order to ensure against any such complication, Jayalalithaa has been kept in a part of the Critical Care unit where no other patient is admitted. This means getting a secondary infection is out of the question.
It is expected that if the CM continues the same pace of progress, she could be out of hospital soon. However, she would still need significant rest, care and physiotherapy for at least two months. It is not clear whether Apollo doctors would prefer Jayalalithaa to rest under their supervision at the hospital or send her home by the end of October.
Doctors, who are visibly relieved now, were not in the same state of mind earlier this week. In fact, the hospital in consultation with Dr Richard Beale and the team of specialists from AIIMS had reportedly decided that if there is a further deterioration in Jayalalithaa's health, she will be shifted to either AIIMS in New Delhi or to a hospital abroad.
That possibility has now been firmly ruled out. "She will come out like a tigress," said a source.

thanks findia

Ex-panchayat president murder: 8 held

 The Tiruvallur policeon Saturday arrested eight people in connection with the murder of the former panchayat president of Thirumazhisai. Police arrested Rajesh, Isaac and six others for hacking to death 49-year-old Thangaraj.

Police said Rajesh was the son of Manoharan who was hacked to death in 1998.
   Thangaraj was the prime accused in the case. Police sources said Rajesh has confessed that he and his associates killed Thangaraj to avenge his father's death.

On Friday a six-member gang on motorcycles cornered Thangaraj, a brick kiln owner, while he was out for a morning walk with two others. TNNThe gang singled out the former panchayat president and attacked him.

Police said the assailants did not flee immediately but made sure Thangaraj was dead before speeding away.

Police produced the eight produced before a court that sent them to judicial custody.

India to buy S-400 missiles from Russia

India and Russia put up an emphatic display of deep bilateral ties on Saturday, setting aside recent discord, and came out strongly against terror. Both sides signed 16 important deals including one on S-400 missile systems, a game-changer in countering airborne threats.

Defence production and acquisition agreements were announced after the summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin.

Apart from the Inter Governmental Agreement on the missile system — worth nearly Rs 39,000 crore — Russia, in a show of “special and privileged strategic partnership”, also agreed to sell Kamov 226T helicopters and four Krivak class stealth frigates to India. The Kamov 226T helicopters will be manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and Rostec State Corporation of Russia under a joint production plan.

“The agreements on manufacturing of Kamov 226T helicopters, construction of frigates and acquisition and building of other defence platforms are in synergy with India’s technology and security priorities. They also help us achieve the objectives of Make in India,” Prime Minister Modi said after the exchange of agreements.

In his statement, President Vladimir Putin highlighted Russia’s “stable” approach to ties with India and said his government will ensure steady energy cooperation with India to support the expanding Indian economy.

“Sometimes differences appear in some projects over a period due to currency devaluation. But we commit to maintain a steady approach to bilateral projects with India,” said President Putin and added, “we are working on joint development of Sukhoi super jets and passenger aircraft.”

Before beginning official statements, both the leaders started the ground laying work for Units three and four of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant by pressing a button.by the hindu news

Bank Of Baroda To Raise Up To Rs 2,000 Crore Via Bonds

bank of Baroda said it proposes to raise up to Rs 2,000 crore on private placement basis.

Mumbai: Public sector lender Bank of Baroda today said it proposes to raise up to Rs 2,000 crore on private placement basis to meet Basel III requirements.

"The bank has initiated the process of raising funds through issuance of Basel III Compliant AT-I (Additional Tier-I Capital) Bonds - Perpetual Debt Instrument of Rs 1,000 crore with Green Shoe option of Rs 1,000 crore (total size not to exceed Rs 2,000 crore) on private placement basis," it said in a BSE filing.

The bank's shares closed at Rs 154.15 a piece on Friday, down 0.10 per cent over the previous day.

Yesterday, another state-owned lender Canara Bank informed stock exchanges that it will raise up to Rs 2,500 crore in one or more tranches by issuing Basel-III compliant bonds.

Indian banks are expected to fully comply with Basel III standards by March 2019 to improve and strengthen their capital planning processes.

The norms are being implemented to soothe concerns on potential stresses on asset quality and consequential impact on performance and profitability of banks.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Petrol Price Hiked By Rs 1.34 A Litre, Diesel By Rs 2.37 A Litre

IGHLIGHTS

1. Revised fuel rates will take effect from midnight
2. Prices were last revised on October 4
3. Global oil prices have jumped to one-year highs

Petrol price was on Saturday hiked by Rs 1.34 per litre while diesel rate was increased by Rs 2.37 per litre. Revised rates will take effect from midnight.

The hike announced by oil companies is excluding state levies.

After the price revision, a litre of petrol in Delhi will now cost Rs 66.45 per litre, while diesel will cost Rs 55.38 per litre.

Also, petrol prices in the other major cities will be: Rs 69.08/litre in Kolkata; Rs 72.83/litre in Mumbai, and Rs 65.96/litre in Chennai. And, diesel prices will be: Rs 57.64/litre in Kolkata; Rs 61.05/litre in Mumbai, and Rs 56.95/litre in Chennai.

"The current level of international product prices of petrol and diesel and Rupee-Dollar exchange rate warrant increase in selling price of petrol and diesel, the impact of which is being passed on to the consumers with this price revision," Indian Oil Corp (IOC) said in a statement.

The movement of prices in the international oil market and Rupee-Dollar exchange rate shall continue to be monitored closely and developing trends of the market will be reflected in future price changes, it added.

Global oil prices have jumped to one-year highs of above $50 a barrel on growing expectations of an output cut by major oil producers.

Petrol and diesel prices are deregulated in India, which means they are linked to market rates.

State-owned fuel retailers Indian Oil Corp (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corp and Hindustan Petroleum Corp revise rates of the fuel on a fortnightly basis based on the average oil price and foreign exchange rate in the preceding fortnight.

Prices were last revised on October 4, when the rate of petrol was increased by 14 paise to Rs 64.72 per litre while that of diesel was hiked by Rs 10 paise to Rs 52.61 per litre in the national capital. The prices were increased following increase in commission paid to dealers.

Tata Consultancy Services Did A 'Commendable' Job Of Arresting Employee Attrition: Report

India's biggest outsourcer Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) missed the Street's revenue estimate but its profit exceeded expectations.

TCS reported a better-than-expected net profit of Rs 6,586 crore in the three months ending September 30, on revenues of Rs 29,284 crore, which was below the Street's estimates.

A strong 94-basis-point improvement in operating margin to 26 per cent in the second quarter lead to the profit beat, which was aided by a fall in attrition levels and higher operational efficiency, say analysts.   

"TCS surprised positively on margin yet again with operational efficiency absorbing the 40 basis point exchange fluctuation impact. It did a commendable job of arresting attrition-fell to low of 11.9 per cent for IT services," Edelweiss Securities said in a report. 

Edelweiss Securities also believes that lower attrition will aid TCS' margin in coming quarters. 

"The company's attrition declined 60 basis points in Q2FY17. This, we believe, along with higher utilisation and lower replacement cost, will potentially aid margin in coming quarters, Edelweiss Securities said. 

"We also believe that lower attrition reduces the risk of execution delays and enables execution excellence, which ultimately flows to the bottom line," it added. 

TCS management has maintained its margin guidance range of 26-28 per cent for the year and expects "Q3 and Q4 this year will be better than the usual years." 

However, Edelweiss Securities says that "while we are enthused by fall in attrition, the policy of lower visa applications implies higher local hires or sub-contractors, thereby limited margin upside." 

Edelweiss Securities has a "hold" rating on TCS shares with a target of Rs 2,320. TCS shares were up 0.56 per cent at Rs 2,342 as of 10.50 a.m. as compared to a flat Sensex.

ndian Software Died Today, Look At TCS, Infy: Foreign Media

eventeen years ago an Indian man from New Delhi mesmerized the technology departments of global corporations with a doomsday story many times more puffed up than the luxuriant crop of hair he sported. 

The latter was a wig, and the former was just bad science fiction packaged by consultants as a $600 billion hair-raiser. But Dewang Mehta, the chief lobbyist for India's fledgling software services industry, carried off both with aplomb, convincing businesses that at the stroke of midnight of the new millennium, their computer systems would crash because old programs measured years in two digits instead of four. The solution, he persuaded them, was to let a horde of techies from Bangalore and Hyderabad go through each line of code and fix the Y2K bug.

That was the birth of India's massively successful software services industry, which died Friday after a short battle with newer digital technologies. At the time of its demise, the business was worth $110 billion in annual export revenue. 

The first hint that the end was near came on Thursday when Tata Consultancy Services, the biggest Indian software vendor by market value, announced a virtual stalling of its business in the September quarter from the previous three months. After Infosys followed up by slashing its full-year revenue guidance for the second time in three months, it was time to turn off the ventilator. 

Infosys revenue growth pre-Lehman 29% A coroner's inquiry unearthed three signs of decay, the first of which shows how Indian companies' cheap-talent-fueled growth ran out of breath. In the four quarters before the collapse of Lehman Brothers, Infosys saw revenue increase an average 29 percent in constant-currency terms. Back then, Dublin-based Accenture's growth was just half as high. But there's nothing exceptional about Indian companies' expansion anymore. All that investors have heard from managements this year is gloomy commentary on how challenging it's become to get clients to open their wallets. When the companies do make news nowadays, it's more often for dodgy business practices, regulatory slaps on the wrist, and senior-level exits. 

A slowdown alone wouldn't have stopped the Indian industry if it had been able to embrace "smac," or social, mobile, analytics and cloud-based technologies. But the vendors wasted so much time defending their legacy business of writing code for and maintaining purpose-built enterprise applications that they failed to make a mark in the new digital world. 

As this analysis from India's Livemint online newspaper shows, the dominant trio of Tata Consultancy, Infosys and Wipro between them had 1.5 times more workers doing digital stuff last year than Accenture. But the revenue they garnered was 40 percent less than what the latter chalked up from newer technologies. That makes the typical digital-tech employee of an Indian vendor 25 percent as efficient as his counterpart at the global consultant. This gap sets the clock back on Indian companies, which have taken years to narrow the productivity differential: 

Maybe it's just banking clients and their inability to pay like they once did. Or perhaps it's a combination of weak global growth, Brexit, protectionism and Donald Trump's vacillating stance on U.S. visas for Indian technology workers. Hoping that turbulence is temporary, investors are still paying a hefty premium for future growth. They may get lucky for a while. Still, a dead-cat bounce from delayed orders coming through would hardly count as proof of life. 

The millennium scare got Indian software a foot in the door at global corporations. But now the shoe is on the other foot. Robotics and artificial intelligence are putting the vendors' labor-intensive business at risk of obsolescence. Even if the concern is as puffed up as Y2K, with plenty of growth candidates in the Indian start-up world, at least for some investors it may be time to back new horses rather than flog dead ones. thanks ndtv news

Saudis Say Wrong Information Caused Bombing That Killed 140 In Yemen

A suicide bomber hit a crowded tent full of people in a market in Baghdad on Saturday, killing at least 32 people.

The attack targeted Shiite Muslims participating in Ashura, the annual ritual which commemorates the killing of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, as Reuters reports.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, according to multiple reports.

This comes as the Iraqi military prepares to launch an offensive to retake the key city Mosul, the only urban center in the country still under Islamic State control. It will be the "largest mission Iraqi security forces have yet undertaken against the enemy,"according to the spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition.

The tent hit by the bomber was in northern Baghdad, and authorities told Reuters that "some people were also in the tent to mourn the death of a local resident."

Hussein Khazem, who owns a clothing warehouse in the area, told The Associated Press that the he "saw a large number of killed and wounded people, many burning cars and major damage to the local market."

Baghdad sees regular bombings, including a deadly truck bomb in the Karradah neighborhood that killed more than 300 people in July. That attack was the "deadliest single attack in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003," as Reuters reported.

"As ISIS loses the territory that they were administering as their self-declared state, we have seen a rise in insurgent tactics," as NPR's Alice Fordham explained at the time. "They are taking some of that energy that they were putting into running these areas and putting it into bombings often in Baghdad, also in other parts of the country."thanku npr news

C P Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation turns 50

Chennai: Chetpat Pattabhirama Ramaswami Iyer, popularly known as 'Sir CP', or simply CP, was an able lawyer, efficient administrator and astute politician. 

The C P Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation was established on 14 October 1966 at his ancestral home on Eldams Road, Alwarpet, after his death with the objective of serving the interests of the community at large and promoting Indian culture through research and development.

The road that links TTK Road with St Mary's Road was named in memory of this great person. This year it celebrates its golden jubilee. The foundation will also commemorate the 50th year of the demise of Sir C P Ramaswami Aiyar. 

Ramaswami was born on 13 November 1879 to C R Pattabhirama Iyer and Seethalakshmi Ammal in Madras. Pattabhirama Iyer was a prominent judge and Ramaswami studied at the Wesley Mission School in Madras. On completion of his schooling, he joined the Presidency College in 1894 for his Intermediate course. Though Ramaswami desired to become an English professor, his father wished that he should become a lawyer and thus he chose a career in law.

Ramaswami Iyer practised law on his own and at the age of 31 he became the undisputed leader of the original side of the Madras High Court. During his tenure as a lawyer, he fought and won over 300 cases! He was offered the post of a judge of the Madras High Court, but he turned down the offer. However, Lord Willingdon, the Governor of Madras, nominated him as Advocate General of the Madras Presidency from 1920 to 1923. He was also selected as president of the First All Indian Lawyers Conference held at Allahabad.

He was the Dewan of the erstwhile Travancore princely State from 1936 to 1947. The famous temple entry proclamation, which gave Hindus of all castes and classes, including Harijans or untouchables, the right to enter Hindu temples in the State, was issued during his tenure.

Sir CP was the first person in India to suggest a plan for interlinking the rivers in the country and to introduce the midday meal scheme in the form of the Vanchi Poor Fund in Travancore to encourage poor children to attend school.

He was a leader of the famed 'Mylapore clique' which was powerful in the city and Presidency politics from the late 19th century and one of the founding members of the Mylapore Club.

The organisation named after him has grown over the years and has continued to serve the cause of education and culture. In an effort to further this, a library which would have over 20,000 books on Indian philosophy, culture, religion and arts is being opened, to commemorate the 50th year.

It is said 'CP believed in the power of education and how it can bring about great change' and that is still followed by the foundation.thanku news today.com

Karunanidhi’s Wife Visits Ailing Jayalalithaa in apllo hospital

minister J Jayalalithaa at Apollo Hospital in Chennai on Friday and met with the CM’s close aide Sasikala and enquired about Jaya's health.

Earlier, on October 8, DMK's youth wing chief and Karunanidhi’s heir apparent MK Stalin too had paid a visit to Apollo and met AIADMK leaders including O Panneerselvam who handles the ailing CM’s portfolios.

Jayalalithaa was admitted to Apollo Hospitals on September 22. While the first three medical bulletins highlighted that Jayalalithaa has been responding well to treatment, the medical bulletins released in October gave some clarity on Jaya’s health including lung decongestion, respiratory support, passive physiotherapy, support system and mentioned that CM is advised a ‘longer stay’ in the hospital.

Her continuing illness had sparked various rumours including fake audio recording of Apollo employees and a fake recording of the Chief Minister herself saying she is fine.

Tamil Nadu has so far arrested 6 people and filed FIR against 43 for spreading rumours on Chief Minister's health.

Meanwhile, special prayers and pujas are being performed outside Apollo hospital by AIADMK party workers for their leader’s speedy recovery. Two party workers committed suicide in the last one week. by thanku news 18.com

Chennai resident helps in choosing careers

Chennai: "God has blessed me so much, and now it is my duty to help others," says K Gnanasekar, founder and president of Nest Welfare Association at Padi in Chennai. Through this organisation, he has done several deeds to better the life of the underprivileged.

His association has done activities like organising tree plantation and blood donation camps. 

They have distributed sarees and dhotis at old age homes, provided provisions to orphanages, and have given medical support to underprivileged people. He raises funds from small scale manufacturers order to help others. 

Gnanasekar told 'News Today', "While I was watching a news channel, I came to know about a student studying in Velammal Medical College at Madurai in Tamilnadu and finding it difficult to pay fees. He was looking for help. The student's father is an auto driver who tried to get help from his relatives and friends, but failed. So, I noted his contact number from the television and planned to collect funds from small proprietors. When the collection reaches Rs 25,000, I will immediately call the parents of the boy and hand it over to them. Even though it is a small amount, it will be helpful."

"I am doing these services wholeheartedly without any expectation. Many factory owners approach me for good staff. I prefer south Indians who are talented and sincere in their work. I have recruited more than eight employees and sent them to Africa and USA. Now, they are well-settled and their standard of living has improved,' he said with pride.

Sharing his wisdom, he said, "Despite doing different subjects, most students prefer the IT sector immediately on completing college studies. They try to find jobs in the IT sector because it pays them well for using their communication and computer operating skill. They don’t want to choose the core sector which gives less reward for their physical work. But, in real, it is core sector that helps a student to earn more in the long run."

"Initially, I joined in a company for a salary of Rs 350 in 1989. I did my best for the organisation by sharing my ideas and innovate plans for the welfare of the company. The owner accepted it and the annual profit also increased. I got a bonus and my salary increment helped me start a new career in the cable field. I earned well when I quit as the managing director of a cable company based in USA. Later, many other manufacturers in India and aboard started to consult me to develop their cable business. I visited their factories and suggested some modifications. After they followed it, their business developed," he added.

Gnanasekar said, "There are many company owners looking for smart skilled labourers. Nowadays, manufacturers have started to share their profit with innovate workers. So, students can have a good future in any core sector more than the IT sector."yhanku news today

Bolt firms up exit plans after 2017 race

Kingston: The 30-year-old, who won the 100 metres at this year's Racers Grand Prix, has already said he plans to retire from the sport after the August 5-13 world championships in London having won nine Olympic gold medals.

"The Racers Grand Prix will be my last race in Jamaica people, it will be the last time I run in Jamaica," Bolt told Television Jamaica's 'Smile Jamaica' morning magazine programme.

The Racers Grand Prix will be held on 10 June next year.

The Jamaican, who drew down the curtain on his Olympic career in August by securing a sweep of the sprint titles for a third successive Games, will resume training next month.

Bolt has wild card entries for both the 100 and 200 metres at the worlds but remains undecided on whether he will run one or both events, saying only it will be his last competition.

"Yes I am definitely going to retire after the world championships in London, that will be my last one," said Bolt.

(Follow us on Twitter @NTChennai)  thanku news today......