Los Angeles, Feb 1 (PTI) Indian music maestro A R Rahman struck gold once again, bagging two trophies at the 52nd Grammy Awards here for his music in ''Slumdog Millionaire''. The composer, who has already won a Golden Globe and two Academy awards, registered win in both the categories he was nominated for.

Rahman, 44, was the earliest winner in the best compilation soundtrack for a motion picture category and picked up another trophy for his song "Jai Ho" in the best motion picture song category moments later. "This is insane, God is great again," an elated Rahman said while accepting the golden gramophones.

Rahman beat Steve Jordan for "Cadillac Records," Quentin Tarantino for "Inglourious Basterds", the producers of "Twilight" and "True Blood" to bag the award in the best compilation soundtrack for a motion picture category. In the best song category Rahman''s rivals included Bruce Springsteen for his song "The Wrestler," from the Oscar-nominated movie of the same name.

Rahman''s Grammy win was similar to his triumph at the Oscars last year where he picked up the best original score statuette before winning the Oscar for ''Jai Ho'', which has become an international anthem. It is Rahman''s first Grammy.

The other Indians who have won the award, known as the Oscars in music, include Pandit Ravi Shankar and Zakir Hussain.
 

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Did not release documents necessary for widow to get treatment at hospital

The Mumbai police may declare how security and welfare of senior citizens tops their list of priorities, but they did nothing as Saraswati Maruti Gaikwad, a terminally ill senior citizen, died when she was denied treatment because she did not have her ration card and other identification documents.
The Nagpada police had seized those documents two years ago, and despite repeated pleas, did not return them in time for her treatment. She finally died at Nair Hospital on January 28.

Seized documents

Gaikwad (77), a widow with no relatives, lived in BIT Compound in Mumbai Central and was first treated for stomach cancer at Sir Hurkisondas Nurrotumdas Hospital, Girgaon, in 2007. In 2008, she filed a complaint against A&W builders, stating that they had coerced her into signing papers giving up her house so they could construct a high rise building there. Following the complaint, the Nagpada police seized Gaikwad's documents.

Death watch

On January 19 this year, Gaikwad again fell ill. Members of Belasis Road BIT Seva Sangh, an NGO, rushed her to Nair Hospital. On January 21, they wrote to the Nagpada police requesting Gaikwad's ration cards and other identification proof be released. The dispatch clerk at the station has confirmed the receipt of the letter.

However, the cops did not release the documents. On January 26, doctors requested she be shifted to Hurkisondas Hospital as she had been treated there earlier. However, Gaikwad was allegedly refused admission, as she did not have identification proof needed to complete legal formalities.

Two days later, Gaikwad died at Nair Hospital.
The Other Side
When asked if a ration card is required at the time of admission, Tushar Pania, spokesperson, Sir Hurkisondas Nurrotumdas Hospital and Research Centre, said, "There is no truth in that. A ration card is required as proof of income as per Bombay High Court judgement for patients seeking charity. If someone wants concession, then the proof has to be submitted before discharge."

Sanjay Kadam, senior inspector, Nagpada police station, said, "I was not there when the documents were handed over to the Nagpada police in 2007. However, I am carrying out an enquiry into the matter and the culprit will be punished."
 

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"Drivers should take a lesson from Haveliwala who, despite being heavily drunk, ensured that her seat belt remain fastened. Her car turned turtle twice, but she managed to escape without a scratch. Besides, the air bags also inflated at the right time," said a doctor from the hospital.  

Haveliwala, a resident of Sagar Sangeet in Colaba, was rushing home in the early hours of Saturday after partying with friends at a pub in Breach Candy when she lost control of her Honda CRV at Marine Drive, killing two men, including a policeman, and injuring four.

No regret

According to GT Hospital sources, Haveliwala, who is in police custody, was brought to the hospital for a medical check-up. "She was very casual when she came for the medical check up at 2.45 pm on Saturday.

When asked whether she was aware of what she had done, she calmly said yes. There was no sign of regret on her face," said a hospital source. According to the medical examination report, 457 mg of alcohol was found in Haveliwala's blood -- more than nine times the permissible limit of 50 mg.

"When she was asked what she had eaten and drunk that night, she said that she had consumed only four pints of beer. She had come to the hospital on Saturday complaining of backache and gastritis," said a member from the medical team.

Family reacts

Yusuf Haveliwala, Nooriya's father, said, "I know my daughter and also know that she has never been in the habit of drinking too much. I am a doctor and I know what the condition of a drunk person is. My daughter was perfectly alright and conscious when I met her. The police are falsely trying to implicate her in a case of drink driving."
 

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday emphasised that "terrorism, insurgency and extremism need to be tackled with a firm and yet sensitive hand" as a requirement for rapid economic growth.

"It is one of the primary responsibilities of any government to ensure the rule of law. In addition, an atmosphere of peace and communal harmony is also a pre-requisite for rapid economic growth," Manmohan Singh said while inaugurating a two-day conference of state chief secretaries here.

The first of a kind conference aimed at formalising the process of interaction with states and union territories is expected to serve as a standing forum for exchange of views and provide an occasion for interaction on internal matters.

"The law and order machinery has to be sensitized to the key security concerns that affect us. Terrorism, insurgency and extremism need to be tackled with a firm and yet sensitive hand," said the prime minister.

"You have to be aware not only of local and regional happenings but also of pan-India and trans-border developments."

Over the next two days, issues relating to the latest trends in technology, emerging global challenges and opportunities and key security concerns and the role of state governments would be discussed. Global developments that have a bearing on the country would also be deliberated upon. 
 

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At least 10 people were killed and 20 were missing on Saturday after an overcrowded boat capsized in Godavari river in Andhra Pradesh.

A police officer said 10 bodies were recovered so far while a search was on for the missing people. The boat was carrying 70 people, mostly pilgrims. Local people rescued 40 passengers.

The incident took place at Upputeru in Narsapuram mandal of West Godavari district, near the mouth of the river. The pilgrims were going to Lakshmi Narasimha Swami temple, also known as Antarvedi temple, in East Godavari district on the other side of the river.

The police officer said the boat was carrying more people than its capacity, which led to the mishap.
 

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The US continues to receive information about terrorist groups planning attacks against India, the State Department has said and advised its nationals to be alert during their travel to the country in the coming months.

"The Department of State alerts US citizens to ongoing security concerns in India. The US government continues to receive information that terrorist groups may be planning attacks in India," the US State Department said in its latest terror alert.

Terrorists and their sympathisers have demonstrated their willingness and capability to attack targets where US citizens or Westerners are known to congregate or visit.

The recent advise replaces the travel Alert dated December 29 that expired on April 30, the State Department said.

Noting that 26/11 Mumbai attacks provide a vivid reminder that hotels, markets and other public places are especially targetted by terrorist groups, the State Department asked its nationals to always practice good security, maintain a heightened situational awareness and a low profile.

"US citizens are advised to monitor local news reports and consider the level of security present when visiting public places, including religious sites, or choosing hotels, restaurants
 

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Bandits are reportedly preying on vulnerable earthquake survivors, even raping women, in makeshift camps set up in the capital after the disaster, Haiti's police chief has revealed.
 
"With the blackout that's befallen the Haitian capital, bandits are taking advantage to harass and rape women and young girls under the tents," The Telegraph quoted Police Chief Mario Andresol, as saying.

"We have more than 7,000 detainees in the streets who escaped from the National Penitentiary the evening of the earthquake... It took us five years to apprehend them. Today they are running wild," he added.

Figures for the number of crimes were not available but women's organisations have already detailed a number of cases and alerted the United Nations mission in Haiti, Andresol said.

His warning came a day after UN human rights chief Navi Pillay said that gangsters and child traffickers could try to exploit the chaos triggered by Haiti''s devastating earthquake to step up their criminal activities.

The January 12 earthquake killed around 170,000 people and left more than a million others homeless, many of whom are living in makeshift camps in the ruined capital.

Security had been tenuous in Haiti before the 7.0-magnitude quake, but Andresol said the police force itself had been crippled by the disaster.
 

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The Australian government has handed over the Indian government, a police dossier of high-profile attacks on Indians over the past year.

The dossier that nearly half of those arrested since March last year for vicious assaults were less than 18 years old.

The dossier, prepared by Victoria Police, was handed over after Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith telephoned Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Jan 11 to express his condolences over the Jan 2 murder of Indian student Nitin Garg in Melbourne.

It reveals that nearly half of those arrested between March 2009 and Jan 5 were under 18, The Age reported.

The dossier shows that among the 18 high-profile cases, two cases of attack reported in May and June last year remained unsolved.

"The Australian government initially resisted giving more information to Indians as it deemed racial appearance to be a limited indicator of ethnicity because it was only based on a subjective police assessment," The Age quoted sources as saying.

It claimed people described as Indians could have originated from countries such as Mauritius and Fiji.

The dossier goes on to tell that of the 18 cases, two people were run over by a train and there was no foul play. In the remaining cases, 33 people have been arrested.

The revelations come a day after five youths were charged for assaulting two Indian students in Melbourne Monday night.

The spate of attacks on Indians in Australia has caused an outcry in India. Two of the vicious attacks proved fatal. The assaults have strained relations between Canberra and New Delhi. 

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PTI, 31 January 2010, 

MELBOURNE: Leander Paes equalled the record for most Grand Slam title triumphs by an Indian as the veteran and his Zimbabwean partner Cara Black In Pics: Mixed doubles final
 
clinched the Australian Open mixed doubles Championship with a straight-set win on Sunday.
Top seeds and favourites, the 36-year-old Paes and the 30-year-old Black beat 10th seeds Ekaterina Makarova of Russia and Jaroslav Levinsky of Czechoslovakia 7-5, 6-3 in just about one and a half hour.

The triumph gave the Indian his 11th overall and fifth mixed doubles title. With this, Paes has equalled one-time doubles' partner Mahesh Bhupathi's tally.

The last couple of times they reached a Grand Slam final, Paes and Black ended up on the losing side and eager to make amends for that, they were dominant from the word go today.

They broke their rivals as early as in the third game and save for a couple of breaks lost on Black's serve, the Indo-Zimbabwean pair seemed hardly troubled by Makarova and Levinsky, who committed far too many unforced errors.

Black, whose net game and serve were the weak links for the top seeds, raised her game when it mattered after getting some pep talk from Paes.

Having lost her serve twice, Black held it in the all-important 12th game before Paes smashed a winner to clinch the opener 7-5.

The emotionally charged Paes exulted and an equally enthusiastic crowd cheered him on in the stands.

With momentum going in their favour, Paes and Black broke their rivals in the very first game of the second set.

Makarova and Levinsky has their moments but they were far too few in a match which left them amazed at Paes' athleticism.

They could only watch wide-eyed as the veteran Indian reached out to chase unlikely winners at the net and inspire his partner in moments of doubt.

This is Paes and Black's second title together, the first being the 2008 US Open.

Paes and Black had made back-to-back Grand Slam finals - Wimbledon and the US Open - last season but faltered at the finishing line in both the events.

Paes has been a former mixed doubles' champions at Melbourne Park and that triumph came in 2003 when he was partnering American legend Martina Navratilova.

New Delhi, Jan 31 (PTI)

Law Minister M Veerappa Moily on Sunday advocated enactment of separate laws and creation of a specialised agency to deal with the menace of cyber crimes, as amending the existing IT Act will not solve the problem.

"I think instead of amending the IT Act we should have separate laws for each of the classification of the cyber crimes. It is a matter we need to deal with, instead of tinkering with the IT Act from time to time to meet the contingencies," Moily said here. Making laws only to deal with contingencies is "not a desired thing" as it may lead to curtailing the basic substantive rights of the entrepreneurs, Moily said at the launch of the "Cyber Law Enforcement Programme and National Consultation Meeting." The Law Minister also lamented that the country lacked a specific enforcement agency to deal exclusively with cyber laws. He said several countries like United States and South Korea have created such agencies. He also said that since challenges posed by cyber crime were new to India, the country did not have a collective skill of experts to deal with such situations. The Law Minister pointed that judicial officers also lacked training to deal with cases related to cyber crimes. The minister pointed out that even the IT industry lacked self-regulation in areas of privacy and data collection.