Antony to stand in for PM in R-Day functions

New Delh: Defence Minister A.K. Antony will stand in for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is undergoing a bypass surgery, at the Republic Day function, the defence ministry said.
Antony will lead the nation in paying homage to the martyrs by laying a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti, the memorial to the Unknown Soldier, Monday morning, a defence ministry spokesperson said.
"These are Defence Ministry functions and it is normal for the defence minister to perform the role in the absence of the prime minister," ministry spokerperson Sitanshu Kar told IANS.Singh, who is undergoing a bypass surgery at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), will miss the Republic Day function this year.
"The Defence Minister will receive President Pratibha Patil and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, India's guest of honour at the Republic Day parade, at Rajpath on Monday," Kar said.Antony will also preside over the National Cadet Corps (NCC) rally Jan 28 and host a tea party for the NCC cadets and members of the Republic Day tableau at the lounge of Teen Murti Bhawan. According to doctors, Singh likely to remain in hospital for a week after the bypass surgery.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is officiating in place of Manmohan Singh, till he fully recovers.

India soft on Pakistan, say Advani, security experts

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani and a select group of security experts feel that India adopted the "mildest" response to Pakistan after the Mumbai terrorist attacks and it was not befitting an "emerging global player", the party said Saturday.
According to a BJP statement, the participants in the closed-door meeting at Advani's residence Saturday said that "after Mumbai, any self-respecting government would have adopted a much more robust response" - referring to the terror strikes in that city in November.
Such a response "alone could compel Pakistan to not only bring to book those behind the incident but also to wind up the infrastructure of terror (in that country)," it said. The statement said the participants felt that despite "Pakistan's involvement" in several terror strikes in India during the last three years, the government had adopted a soft policy.
"(This) inevitably led to the Mumbai action." The BJP statement listed out measures that the government should initiate to improve internal security situation. Among them is a "blueprint" proposed by Advani for security reforms containing 350 recommendations on intelligence, higher defence management, internal security and border management.
The statement did not clarify if the experts also agreed with Advani's "blueprint". The meeting was attended by 35 people, including 14 retired defence officials and 13 retired civil servants. Party leaders Rajnath Singh, Arun Shourie and Arun Jaitely participated in the discussion. Former chiefs of air staff, Air Chief Marshals A.Y. Tipnis, S. Krishnaswami and S.P. Tyagi, and former chief of naval staff Admiral Arun Prakash, were among the retired defence officials. Among former civil servants at the meeting were home secretary Anil Baijal, defence secretary Yogendra Narain and director of Intelligence Bureau Ajit Doval.Journalists M.J. Akbar, Chandan Mitra, Swapan Dasgupta and Brahma Chellaney were also present.

Pakistan has become ground zero for terrorist threat: John Kerry

Washington, Jan 23 (IANS) Even as Pakistan has become 'ground zero for the terrorist threat', an influential US senator has advocated support for Islamabad and helping it and India to return to bilateral peace talks disrupted by the Mumbai attacks.
'As America's second post-9/11 President takes office, a single country has become ground zero for the terrorist threat we face,' said John Kerry, the new Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman in an Op-Ed piece in the Washington Times Friday.
But Pakistan is also 'under enormous pressure from all sides, from tensions with India to a ferocious insurgency in the tribal belt to a financial crisis that threatens the solvency of the Pakistani state', the Democratic party's presidential nominee in 2004 said.
'And all of this is being held together by a fledgling civilian government not even a year old,' Kerry said. 'For our sake and theirs, America must do more to help Pakistan.'
'Crucial to this effort will be finding a winning regional strategy that recognizes the centrality of Pakistan's relationships with neighbours such as Afghanistan and India,' he said.
'It has become conventional wisdom that the war in Afghanistan can be lost in Pakistan, whose tribal belt offers a sanctuary from which Taliban insurgents launch cross-border raids against us and our Afghan allies,' he said.
But 'What is often overlooked, however, is that the opposite is true as well: Violent instability in Afghanistan can undercut essential counterinsurgency efforts in Pakistan.'
'Similarly, as the aftermath of the November terror attacks in Mumbai reminded us, getting Pakistan to focus its military on extremist sanctuaries that endanger American troops also depends on lowering tensions with India.'
US must work assiduously to help Pakistan and India to find a path back to the bilateral peace talks which were disrupted by the Mumbai attacks, Kerry said.
The consensus among US intelligence agencies is that top Al Qaeda leaders are plotting their next attack from Pakistan, where the prevalence of religious extremists and nuclear weapons make it the central, crucial front in the struggle to protect America from terrorism, he noted.
But while there is an increasingly broad consensus that Pakistan is the strategic centre of gravity for defeating insurgents in Afghanistan, a military strategy alone cannot prevail on either side of the border, Kerry said.

'LTTE chief still hiding in Sri Lanka'

Colombo, Jan 23 (Xinhua) Velupillai Prabakaran, the elusive leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), is still hiding in the jungles in northern Sri Lanka, his former deputy told reporters here Friday.
Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan alias Karuna, who now supports the government, says Prabakaran has not fled the island.
'It will be difficult for him (Prabakaran) to survive, now that the army is after him,' he said, adding that the LTTE leader might be hiding in the jungles in the north.
Karuna had been Prabakaran's trusted commander in the Eastern Province before he broke away from the LTTE in 2004.
Speculation was rife that Prabakaran may have fled the northern Mullaithivu district by the sea route to a foreign country, after the rebels lost almost 95 percent of the territory it formerly controlled in the region.
Prabakaran has been waging a separatist war since the mid-1980s to set up a separate homeland for the minority Tamil community, citing discrimination at the hands of Sinhalese dominated governments.

Gurkha heroes to get chance of livelihood in UK

London, Jan. 24 (ANI): Even after defending Britain for nearly 200 years, retired Gurkha soldiers are struggling for citizenship rights and a livelihood. But now, a new railway engineering training is being seen as a fresh ray of hope for some of them.
Under this initiative, around 400 Gurkhas could be employed across Britain's railways by the end of the year, if Network Rail appoints the newly qualified engineers, the Daily Express reports.
After reading about the Gurkhas' plight in Britain, recruitment specialists, Bryn Clarke got inspired to recruit Gurkhas for the project. Clarke's company Ganymede Solutions is funding the training.
"I knew all about the Gurkhas but when I read the article and saw Joanna Lumley leading the campaign it reminded me how great these guys are," he said.
Managing Director Gary Hewitt, a retired Wing Commander who had the experience of working alongside the Gurkhas in the Falklands, said, "Gurkhas are renowned for their dedication and high work rate and very high skill set. Typically they have been combat engineers who can apply themselves to a broad range of tasks."
Despite sacrificing their lives for Britain and battling in fierce territories to defend British people, the British Government had threatened that many would not be granted citizenship. Now hundreds of Gurkhas are struggling for new opportunities.
Shiparsad Limbu, 46, an ex Queens Gurkha Engineer started his rail safety training this week said, "I have been looking for something new to do with my skills and this is perfect. I have been a combat engineer, a driver and a crane operator in the army and these are all skills that I can apply in this area."
Liberal Democrat spokesman for Defence, Lord Addington also appreciated the move. "This is a very sensible use of a much needed resource. These are people who are committed and companies can capitalise on their skills," he said

(Inserting additional quote of the doctor) PM undergoes first graft successfully, two more left

New Delhi, Jan 24 (PTI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is today undergoing a complex heart bypass surgery in a premier hospital here, had a successful first graft and two more similar procedures were to be performed, doctors said. The first graft has been successfully performed on the Prime Minister at 3.10 PM in AIIMS, Sudhir Vaishnav, cardio-vascular thoracic surgeon with the AsianHeart Institute (ASI), Mumbai, said nearly eight hours after the operation began this morning.
"Two more grafts are left. The operation is still on," Vaishnav said.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was wheeled into the operation theatre at 5:30 AM. The operation finally began at 7:15 AM, Vaishnav told PTI. He said an 11-member team from the ASI led by Dr Ramakant Panda was performing the operation on the 76-year-old leader at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here. The team comprises three more doctors and the rest are support staff.
Heart bypass, which the Prime Minister had undergone 18 years ago in London, involves grafting of veins or arteries from elsewhere in the patient's body to the coronary arteries to bypass atherosclerotic narrowings and improve the blood supply to the coronary circulation supplying the heart muscle. Six years ago, Singh had also undergone an angioplasty.

French number one Alize Cornet has had several momentous victories on the women's tour.Ranked 15 in the world the Frenchwoman is definitely going places

The 19 year old's outfit at the Hopman Cup drew all the wrong attention.It prompted Australian Open officials to state that they would not tolerate any breach of dressing etiquette.

While she managed to wake up the Fashion Police on court,Alize Cornet continues her good run unperturbed.Well all we can say is Voila!

Ana Ivanovic oozes style on court along with a game that has grabbed eyeballs from the start.

The 21 year old Serbian is currently ranked five in the world.She loves sporting sleeveless tops on court.

Ana Ivanovic is the reigning French Open Champion.Needless to say,with her superhigh glam quotient and solid game she definitely has a bright future ahead

Daniela Hantuchova's long legs have taken long strides on the tennis court. The Slovakian's hard hitting game has taken her to as high as No.5 on the women's tour.

Hantuchova loves teaming up sleeveless tops with shorts.A beaded necklace completes her look in this picture.

Daniela Hantuchova who has also walked the ramp is definitely worth watching on the women's tour.

World no 4 Elena Dementieva's is famous for her running forehand.Her style and grace on court is definitely worth buying a ticket for.

The Russian loves turning out in one piece!Comfort is definitely high on her priority list.

Elena dementieva comes from a country that experiences sub zero temperatures, but this diva surely knows how to turn the heat on with her good looks and dressing sense on court.

India's highest ranked women's player is a must on the list.The stylish Hyderabadi combines a mean forehand with loads of oomph.

Sania Mirza likes tops with bright colours and pairs it up with shorts or skirts.

Also known to be fashionable off-court,Sania did get into the news for her attire for all the wrong reasons.But she prefers to let her racquet do all the talking

Karuna's 'final appeal' to Centre on Lankan Tamil issue

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Friday said the UPA Government should take expeditious steps to bring about a ceasefire followed by political solution to end the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka, failing which he would 'relinquish power'.
Moving a resolution in the state Assembly calling for Indian mediation to "first ensure a ceasefire and then initiate steps for a political solution," to bring about peace in Sri Lanka, Karunanidhi, however, did not make any reference to DMK's presence in the UPA government.
In his statement, Karunanidhi expressed 'willingness to relinquish power if the efforts fail to bring peace in Sri Lanka'.
If Centre did not heed the appeal, DMK's general council would meet to decide the next course of action, he said.
As Karunanidhi moved the resolution, Opposition AIADMK and MDMK staged a walkout, saying that "we do not want to be part of the drama being staged by DMK."
However, the CPI and CPI-M, which recently aligned with AIADMK to contest the next Lok Sabha polls, stayed back and supported the resolution which was later adopted.
Speaking after moving the resolution, he said "we are making this final appeal since the earlier resolution passed by the assembly did not reap any benefits."
"Please don't ignore this final appeal. Ensure a ceasefire immediately and a political solution next," he said.
As a "great democracy" India had the right to intervene and question ethnic violence in any part of the world, Karunanidhi said while seeking India's role in Sri Lanka as Tamils there shared cultural ties with India.
He quoted former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru's message in 1939, which said "a day will come when her (India) long arm protection and her strength will compel justice for them (people of Indian origin living abroad)".

Pranab Mukherjee to officiate in Manmohan's absence

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is the frontrunner to officiate as the head of the Central Government in the absence of Prime Minister Monmohan Singh.
Mukherjee is the second most senior Congressman in the government and heads over 50 Group of Ministers.
He has already chaired Cabinet meetings when Manmohan Singh is on a foreign tour. He has also chaired meetings of important committees including the Cabinet Committee on Security and Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs.
Mukherjee met Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Friday morning to discuss the situation arising out of Manmohan Singh undergoing surgery and not being able to resume work before March.
Mukherjee is likely to play a more public role in the coming days because of the forthcoming visit of Kazhakstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who is chief guest at this year's Republic Day parade.
The External Affairs Minister has been Congress' main trouble-shooter and has also negotiated with allies and played an important role in the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal.
He has also steered India's post 26/11 Mumbai terror attack diplomacy and is also the leader of the House in Lok Sabha.
The Vote on Account speech in Parliament will be given by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, who will look after the Finance Ministry in the absence of Manmohan Singh.
A Gandhi loyalist for long, he has held several important Cabinet portfolios, including finance, which he again gets in the absence of the Prime Minister. Home Minister P Chidambaram will give the vote on account speech next month.
UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi will take all the final decisions that need to taken. Defence Minister A K Antony will be Sonia's trusted man in Cabinet and Railways Minister Lalu Prasad and Sharad Pawar are the trusted allies.
What everyone is speculating now is whether Rahul Gandhi will take a more active role and be the election face of the Congress.
With the bypass surgery on Saturday, Manmohan Singh will not be able to attend the Republic Day parade and Beating Retreat ceremony.
Meanwhile, leader of the Opposition, L K Advani has expressed concern over the Prime Minister's health and wished him a speedy recovery as has CPM's D Raja.
"The PM's health is a cause of concern for the country. I wish him the best to recover soon," D Raja stated.

Satyam Board shortlists 3 names for CEO, CFO

New Delhi: Satyam Computer Services Ltd's new six-member board is in damage control mode. They are looking for a new CEO as well as new CFO for the beleaguered firm and it has been no easy job till now.
Though the firm is fraud-hit, the new board has been flooded with resumes for the two posts. The board sifted through and initially shortlisted 40 applications for consideration.
Now, three names have been shortlisted for the two top posts and though the board members are not saying anything yet, the selections will be taken next week.
Meanwhile, in a communication to the Bombay Stock Exchange, the board has said that the new CEO will be a leader of global standing and recognition. The members announced after the board meeting - chaired by Tarun Das - that the CEO will be uniquely qualified for leading the transition.
The new board also told the BSE that funding arrangements for Satyam is in final stages and will be announced before January 28. Members said they were close to arranging funds to meet the immediate requirements like salary payments, while dispelling doubts about employee numbers - 53,000.
Commenting on the doubts raised on the headcount, the board said: "Prima facie there appears to be no basis to doubt the same. The independent investigation process is expected to reaffirm this fact in the coming weeks."
Satyam director Deepak Parekh indicated that the immovable properties of the company, including campuses, could be mortgaged to raise funds as "they are free of any encumbrance."
The government-appointed board, which met for two days from Thursday, is expected to formally announce before January 28 the funding arrangements, which will address the company's operational needs till the end of March 2009.
The collections from receivables have been robust so far making the cash position a little better, the company said in a statement after the board meeting.
Satyam is struggling to regain its footing after the IT giant was hit by a Rs 7,800 crore accounting scandal. The only respite as of now is that the immovable properties of company is free from any encumbrances.
In another development, Larsen & Toubro, which had shown an interest in buying Satyam has increased its stake in the company from four per cent to 12 per cent.
COURT REJECTS SEBI PLEA TO QUESTION RAJU
According to Rajus' lawyer S Bharat Kumar market regulator Securities and Exchange Board (SEBI) of India's plea to record statements of disgraced Satyam Computer Services chairman, B Ramalinga Raju and his brother B Rama Raju, were rejected by a Delhi court.
The Nampally Court rejected the interrogation request statement of the Raju brothers' on the grounds of maintainability and jurisdiction.
The court also refused to entertain another petition by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), seeking permission to record statement of the Raju brothers as well as former Satyam CFO Srinivas Vadalamani.
All three have been sent to judicial remand till 31 January. The court also posted the bail applications of Ramalinga and Srinivas for hearing on January 27 and that of Rama Raju on January 28.
Public prosecutor K Ajay Kumar had opposed Ramalinga's bail plea, contending that he was supposed to be a watchdog of public money, but betrayed the trust by fudging accounts.
"The crime he (Ramalinga Raju) committed was grave and heinous," Kumar said.
The Rajus were arrested on January 9 and Srinivas on January 10 and have been inaccessible to the separate investigation teams of SEBI and SFIO that reached the city as early as January 8 - a day after Ramalinga disclosed a Rs 7,800 crore accounting fraud in his company.
Raju admitted in court on Friday that he is not being harassed by the police in custody.
Meanwhile, Raju's counsel Bharat Kumar has lodged a compaint with the Andhra Pradesh Human Rights Commission against the detention of two employees of Raju's brother. In the complaint it is alleged that two employees of SRSR company owned by Ramalinga Raju's brother Surya Narayana Raju have been detained by the CID.

Obama orders Guantanamo's closure within a year

President Barack Obama on Thursday ordered the closure of the Guantanamo military prison within a year and a halt to harsh interrogation of terrorism suspects, moving quickly to restore the U.S. image abroad.
He signed the executive orders at a White House ceremony. Shutting the controversial camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where terrorism suspects have been detained for years without trial, would fulfill a promise Obama made during his campaign.
The prison became a blot on the human rights record of the United States and a symbol of detainee abuse and detention without charge under the Bush administration

Security tightened in Delhi ahead of Republic Day

New Delhi, Jan 23 (ANI): New Delhi was turned into a fortress on Friday with policemen standing guard in every area of the city.
Arrangements have been put up for the full dress rehearsal of the country's Republic Day function, where India will showcase its military might.
Commuters were stopped by the police verifying their identities. Police also conducted security checks on private and public transport vehicles plying on the city roads.
Sand bunkers were raised on the roadsides with policemen keeping a strict vigil on the movements of the people.
Police are on a high alert following the numerous terror attacks in the country, especially after the Mumbai attacks.
Police sources said a massive ground-to-air security apparatus would be organised in the city for the event that is attended by the country's top political and military leadership.
A multi-layer security ring will also be thrown around Rajpath, where President Pratibha Patil will unfurl the tricolour and take the salute of marching contingents.
Mobile hit teams, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters of the National Security Guards (NSG) will be deployed at various locations while paramilitary and Delhi Police commandos will keep a tight vigil along the route of the parade.
All police heads in the National Capital Region have been directed to ensure that calls made to any of the Police Control Rooms in the region regarding a crime falling in the jurisdiction of another force should "immediately be shared" with the concerned PCR.

'Flying car' to take off this year

Washington, Jan 23 (ANI): A company in Boston, US, has developed a 'flying car', and is planning to conduct test flights of the vehicle this year.
According to a report in Discovery News, the vehicle, named 'Transition', is actually a two-seater airplane that also moonlights as a car.
Though some people are calling it a 'flying car', the company designing and selling the vehicle prefers the term "roadable aircraft."
"It's probably a concept that people have been dreaming up since there have been airplanes and cars," said Dick Knapinski with the Experimental Aircraft Association, a aviation group based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
According to the company, "You sit down behind the steering wheel, drive to the runway, unfold two wings and take off. You can fly 500 miles on a tank of gas - regular unleaded - and when you land, you simply fold up the wings and drive where you want to go."
"At the end of the day, you fly back, drive home and park inside your garage," it added.
Terrafugia, founded in 2006 by a group of MIT students, has taken deposits for more than 40 'Transitions' and plans to begin deliveries in 2010, according to Richard Gersh, vice president of business development.
The vehicles would sell for 194,000 dollars.

PM to undergo surgery Saturday morning

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, will undergo a coronary bypass surgery early Saturday for the removal of blockages in his heart vessels, a major operation that will him keep away from official work for about a month, during which Pranab Mukherjee will be in charge.
The 76-year-old leader, who has a history of heart ailments which have included a bypass surgery 18 years ago and an angioplasty 6 years ago, was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here around noon.
A team of 11 doctors from AIIMS and Mumbai's Asian Heart Institute (AHI) led by Dr P K Panda, a highly reputed cardiac surgeon, will perform the surgery on Singh who has been complaining of fatigue and chest pain in recent days. He was then subjected to tests which indicated blockages.
Singh will, therefore, miss the Republic Day parade, the first Prime Minister to be absent from it and other connected functions. He is unlikely to be fit to present the vote on account in Parliament which meets from February 12.
External Affairs Minister Mukherjee, being the senior-most minister, will stand in for the prime minister at the Republic Day functions and will also chair meetings of the Cabinet.Mukherjee (73) was also given the additional charge of Finance portfolio, which was also held by Singh after P Chidambaram moved to Home three months ago.

Satyam: CID arrests SRSR general manager

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh CID has arrested Gopal Krishna Raju, general manager of SRSR Holding, through which Satyam founder Ramalinga Raju's family held a stake in the IT firm.Gopal Krishna was arrested on Thursday, police said on Friday.SRSR Holding is owned by Ramalinga Raju's sibling, Suryanarayana, whose house was also searched by the police with regard to the Rs 7,800 crore accounting fraud in Satyam.The family of B Ramalinga Raju, who resigned as Satyam chairman after the shocking disclosure of falsifying profits, had held 8.27 per cent stake in Satyam through SRSR Holdings at the end of September quarter.But the stake had fallen to 2.34 per cent as of January 8 following the share sale by lenders, with whom all the promoter's equity had been pledged.

Pak militant groups mulling friendly Kashmir policy: The News

Pakistan-based militant groups, including LeT, are pondering a "new, friendly policy on Kashmir" in the wake of mounting pressure on them following the Mumbai attacks, a media report claimed on Thursday.
Senior members of LeT and the United Jehad Council, a conglomerate of terrorist groups active in JandK, are reassessing their policy in the aftermath of the November 26 terror strikes, The News said.
UJC chairman Syed Salahuddin's spokesman Ehsan Elahi said the groups wanted the Kashmir issue to be "settled amicably" in the emerging situation.
"It is our desire that this problem is resolved through dialogue... Neither is militancy an easy affair nor are we happy with it," Elahi said.

'Slumdog Millionaire' at 2-7odds of winning Oscar for 'Best Motion Picture'

London, Jan 23 (ANI): If experts are to be believed, critically acclaimed 'Slumdog Millionaire' is at 2-7odds of winning the prestigious Academy Award for the Best Motion Picture.
The film, which has won four Golden Globe Awards and has garnered 10 nominations at the Oscars, tracks the story of Jamal Malik, a dirt-poor orphan from the slums who astonishes India when he does well on the country's version of 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire?'
Indian music composer AR Rahman has been nominated for original score while director Danny Boyle is a nominee in Best Director category.
Damian Smee, film expert from William Hill, one of the largest bookmakers in the UK, has been compiling Oscar odds for 27 years and picks up the winner 'eight times out of ten'.
He said that Slumdog Millionaire is at 2-7 odds of winning the Oscars while The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button is at 4-1 odds.
Boyle is at 4-9 odds of winning the Oscars for the Best Director compared to 7-2 for David Fincher, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, 8-1 for Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon, 8-1 for Stephen Daldry, The Reader, and 10-1 for Gus Van Sant, Milk.
Kate Winslet has 8-15 odds of winning the Best actress award for The Reader, while Anne Hathaway is at 8-15 odds of winning for Rachel Getting Married.
Angelina Jolie (Changeling) and Meryl Streep (Doubt) are at 8-1 odds of winning the gong.
Mickey Rourke's role as retired professional wrestler Randy in The Wrestler puts him at the highest odds of winning the Academy Award for Best Actor with 4-6 odds.
Brad Pitt has 14-1 odds of winning award for The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, while Sean Penn is at 6-4 odds of winning the gong. (ANI)
"The biggest prizes have never looked as settled as they do this year," Times Online quoted a spokesman for the betting company as saying.
"There's normally at least two contenders for each award but this year the favourites are all nailed on," he added.

PM to undergo surgery at AIIMS, will miss R-Day parade

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences on Friday. According to PMO, Prime Minister will undergo heart surgery on Saturday.
"Dr Manmohan Singh will undergo coronary artery bypass graft surgery on January 24 at AIIMS," according to PMO Spokesperson.
The surgery would be performed by a team of doctors drawn from AIIMS and Asian Heart Institute, Mumbai, according to the spokesperson
Prime Minister will not attend the Republic Day parade to be held on Monday. It is learnt that his staff is planning to keep his participation at public gatherings minimal. He is expected to attend only some of the important functions like 'Beating the Retreat'.
Earlier, doctors examining Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, did not rule out possibility of bypass surgery.They were also mulling other options even after he was discharged from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences on Thursday after undergoing angiography.
"There are three options which are on the cards - angioplasty, bypass and controlling the problem with medicines. We have not ruled out any of these. The whole planning process among the doctors is evolving and we should not say anything specific as of now. It will take a few more days to decide on medical intervention," Dr K Srinath Reddy, chairman of the PM's medical panel told The Indian Express.
Sources at the premier institute, however, revealed that he is likely to undergo bypass surgery, which would require him to rest for at least one month though the other options were also discussed with the PM's family members on Wednesday.
The 76-year-old had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery in the UK several years back. He also underwent angioplasty in the Escorts Heart Institute about five years back.
However, this time, doctors have found new blockages in the vessels, which may require coronary artery bypass grafting.
"The PM is already on anti-anginal medicines like aspirin and more medicines have been recommended," added another doctor.
The problem came forward on Tuesday as the PM went for an overall medical check up at the premier institute as a routine procedure. Doctors found an 'unusual' development after which angiography was conducted on Wednesday

81st annual Oscar nominations

1. Best Picture:

'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button''Frost/Nixon''Milk''The Reader''Slumdog Millionaire'.

2. Actor

Richard Jenkins, 'The Visitor'Frank Langella, 'Frost/Nixon'Sean Penn, 'Milk'Brad Pitt, 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'Mickey Rourke, 'The Wrestler'

3. Actress

Anne Hathaway, 'Rachel Getting Married'Angelina Jolie, 'Changeling'Melissa Leo, 'Frozen River'Meryl Streep, 'Doubt'Kate Winslet, 'The Reader'

4. Supporting Actor

Josh Brolin, 'Milk'Robert Downey Jr., 'Tropic Thunder'Philip Seymour Hoffman, 'Doubt'Heath Ledger, 'The Dark Knight'Michael Shannon, 'Revolutionary Road'

5. Supporting Actress

Amy Adams, 'Doubt'Penelope Cruz, 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona'Viola Davis, 'Doubt'Taraji P. Henson, 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'Marisa Tomei, 'The Wrestler'

6. Director

David Fincher, 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'Ron Howard, 'Frost/Nixon'Gus Van Sant, 'Milk'Stephen Daldry, 'The Reader'Danny Boyle, 'Slumdog Millionaire'

7. Foreign Film

'The Baader Meinhof Complex', Germany'The Class', France'Departures', Japan'Revanche', Austria'Waltz With Bashir', Israel

8. Adapted Screenplay

Eric Roth and Robin Swicord, 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'John Patrick Shanley, 'Doubt'Peter Morgan, 'Frost/Nixon'David Hare, 'The Reader'Simon Beaufoy, 'Slumdog Millionaire'

9. Original Screenplay

Courtney Hunt, 'Frozen River'Mike Leigh, 'Happy-Go-Lucky'Martin McDonagh, 'In Bruges'Dustin Lance Black, 'Milk'Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon and Pete Docter, 'WALL-E'

10. Animated Feature Film

'Bolt''Kung Fu Panda''WALL-E'

11. Art Direction

'Changeling''The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' 'The Dark Knight''The Duchess''Revolutionary Road'

12. Cinematography

'Changeling''The Curious Case of Benjamin Button''The Dark Knight''The Reader''Slumdog Millionaire'

13. Sound Mixing

'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button''The Dark Knight''Slumdog Millionaire''WALL-E''Wanted'

14. Sound Editing

'The Dark Knight''Iron Man''Slumdog Millionaire''WALL-E''Wanted'

15. Original Score

'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button', Alexandre Desplat'Defiance', James Newton Howard'Milk', Danny Elfman'Slumdog Millionaire', A.R. Rahman'WALL-E', Thomas Newman.

16. Original Song

"Down to Earth" from 'WALL-E', Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman;"Jai Ho" from 'Slumdog Millionaire', A.R. Rahman and Gulzar"O Saya" from 'Slumdog Millionaire', A.R. Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam.

17. Costume

'Australia','The Curious Case of Benjamin Button','The Duchess','Milk','Revolutionary Road'

18. Documentary Feature

'The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)','Encounters at the End of the World''The Garden''Man on Wire''Trouble the Water'

19. Documentary (short subject)

'The Conscience of Nhem En''The Final Inch''Smile Pinki''The Witness — From the Balcony of Room 306

20. Film Editing

'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button''The Dark Knight''Frost/Nixon''Milk''Slumdog Millionaire

21. Makeup

'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button''The Dark Knight'Hellboy II: The Golden Army'

22. Animated Short Film

'La Maison en Petits Cubes''Lavatory — Lovestory''Oktapodi'Presto''This Way Up'

23. Live Action Short Film

'Auf der Strecke (On the Line)''Manon on the Asphalt''New Boy''The Pig''Spielzeugland (Toyland)'

24. Visual Effects

'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button''The Dark Knight''Iron Man'

Sania knocked out of Aus Open singles Images

Cashing in on little mistakes of big players is imperative to tame them but the Indian player missed on those chances in both the sets.

Petrova, world number 11, on the other hand whenever faltered, had a very strong game to bail out herself.

Sania had her first breakpoint -- earned through a beautiful service return winner -- in the third game of the first set but Petrova served well to save the game, which she completed by hitting an ace.

The unseeded Indian did show some improvement in her ground strokes as she hit some stunning double-handed backhand winners but failed to maintain the intensity.

Petrova broke Sania in the fifth and seventh games to create a 5-2 lead and served out the set and match with the help of a couple of aces.

There goes India’s only singles hope Down Under

Sania now will play in women's doubles with American Vania King and in mixed doubles with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi.

Hillary Clinton confirmed as secretary of state

Washington: The US Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to confirm Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, clearing the way for her to take the oath of office and become the nation's top diplomat.
Hours after Barack Obama's inauguration, the Senate swiftly approved six members of the new president's cabinet, but the confirmation of Hillary Clinton as secretary of state was delayed after Republican John Cornyn objected to the unanimous vote.Cornyn said he still had concerns about foreign donations to the foundation headed by her husband, former President Bill Clinton.

I can never be even half of what Tendulkar is: Sehwag

In fact, Virender Sehwag arguably the most daring batsman in world cricket today, told PTI in an interview that he would be honoured if Sachin Tendulkar is viewed as his 'guru'.
New Delhi: He once said in jest that the only difference between him and Sachin Tendulkar was in their bank balances, but Virender Sehwag, a trailblazer in his own way, said that as a batsman he can never be "half of what the batting maestro is".

Very early in his career, Sehwag, whose height and body structure nearly makes him a Tendulkar lookalike when they are on the wicket, had said "the only difference between us is in our bank balance. I am nowhere near him."

In fact, Sehwag arguably the most daring batsman in world cricket today told PTI in an interview that he would be honoured if Tendulkar is viewed as his 'guru'.

"I would be honoured if he is viewed as my guru and I as his shishya (disciple)."

Excerpts from an interview:

Q: First, a couple of things which are of immediate concern. How soon can India become the number one Test team of the world and your view on ICC's recent list of all-time great cricketers?
A: If Australia lose to South Africa in an away series next month and we do well in New Zealand, it might cost the present world champions their top spot. However, I foresee India to be a consistent world's best team by 2010.

A lot of work sure still needs to be done. As for ICC's list, all of us (Team India members) are disappointed at how low they have placed Sachin Tendulkar.

Obama, the President of America

President Barack Obama delivers his inaugural address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Tuesday.

Barack Obama, joined by his wife Michelle, second from right, and daughters Sasha, second from left, and Malia, takes the oath of office from Chief Justice John Roberts to become the 44th president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Tuesday

The Rev. Rick Warren, of the Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., gives the invocation as President-elect Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, left, bow their heads during swearing-in ceremonies at the U.S. Capitol in Washington On Tuesday.

President Barack Obama is greeted by former President George W. Bush after Obama delivered his inaugural address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington On Tuesday.

President Barack Obama gives his inaugural address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

President Barack Obama rests his hand on President Lincoln's Inaugural Bible as his wife Michelle Obama holds it as he takes the oath of office at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Tuesday

President Barack Obama, left, kisses his wife, first lady Michelle Obama, after taking the oath of office at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Tuesday

President Barack Obamat, is congratulated by daughter Sasha, lower left, as first lady Michelle Obama looks on after taking the oath of office at the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

President Bush, walks out with President-elect Barack Obama, on the North Portico of the White House before sharing the presidential limousine enroute to Capitol Hill for inauguration in Washington on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

A sailor salutes as the limousine carrying President George W. Bush and President-elect Barack Obamaleave the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama stand with Vice President Joe Biden and Jill Biden as they wave to former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush on the East steps of the Capitol in Washington as their Marine helicopter takes off

President-elect Barack Obama is seen before being sworn in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday.

President Barack Obama smiles after being sworn in at the U.S. Capitol in Washington

Barack Obama,, takes the oath of office from Chief Justice John Roberts to become the 44th president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol in Washington

Nuclear-capable BrahMos missile successfully test-fired

Jaisalmer: India on Tuesday successfully test-fired the nuclear-capable BrahMos missile with a range of 290 kms at Pokhran in Rajasthan's desert in a planned launch for the army.
The test comes in the midst of heightened tension between India and Pakistan following the Mumbai terror attacks.
Defence Minister A K Antony told reporters in New Delhi that the test was pre-planned and not directed against any country.The missile, capable of touching a speed of 2.8 times that of sound, was launched during the trial in its vertical mode, DRDO officials told PTI.Currently, the army has one regiment armed with the BrahMos missile which is different from the version that was test-fired today.
The present round of trials was earlier scheduled for January 17 but was postponed till today. However, the DRDO sources did not specify any reasons for the delay.BrahMos is a missile that India is developing in collaboration with Russia and is named after river Brahmputra and Moscow.
During the visit of Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov to India late last year, an agreement was reached between the two countries for development of a hyper-sonic BrahMos missile.

Obama's starry inauguration Images

Beyonce sings for President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

Stevie Wonder, left, and Sting perform together at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

Beyonce sings for President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ballin Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

Singer Mariah Carey sings at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball for President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

Stevie Wonder, left, and Sting perform together at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

Shakira performs at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

Shakira performs at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

Aretha Franklin performs at the swearing-in ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

Singer will.i.am performs at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

Singer will.i.am performs at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

Singer Stevie Wonder laughs with his wife Kai Milla Morris at the Obama Home States Ball, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, in Washington.

Illinois rap artist Common performs at the Obama Home States Inaugural Ball in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

Faith Hill performs at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

Singer Jack Johnson performs at the Obama Home States Inaugural Ball in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

Mary J. Blige performs at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

Jay-Z and Beyonce try to find their seats as they arrive for the inauguration ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

Oprah Winfrey, center, is joined by companion Steadman Graham as she arrives for the inauguration of Barack Obama and Joe Biden at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

Actor Denzel Washington, right, joins others watching the inauguration ceremonies at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.