Obama's India visit to focus on pushing US exports: US

Ahead of US President Barack Obama's visit to India, the government here has said that it is looking at the country as a big market for American exports and expects several commercial deals during his stay.

Officials here said that Obama is expected to focus on removal of barriers to US exports and for greater American participation in the Indian market to create jobs back home.

"I think one of the major themes...the President is likely to emphasise is that... India is also a tremendous market, potential market, for US exports and a source of investment back in the US," Deputy National Security Advisor Mike Froman told reporters yesterday at White House briefing.

"...it's a tremendous opportunity for goods, services, agriculture that he'll be pursuing while he's there for supporting jobs back here in the US," he said, adding that some major commercial deals are likely to be announced during the Obama visit to India next week.

Besides, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Obama's focus during the visit would be that economic relations with India create jobs back home.

"I think we'll see as we get closer - not just the genuine potential of the market for American companies but some tangible impact in supporting and creating jobs here in America," Gibbs said, adding that it would be consistent with their national export initiative.

Froman said there's an ongoing dialogue between the two governments about outstanding trade issues, and Obama will make clear the importance of removing barriers to US exports and US participation in the Indian market.

He said a number of commercial deals are likely to be announced during the trip.

"There are a number of large contracts being worked on between US companies and their Indian counterparts, oftentimes with the support of the US government in terms of our advocacy efforts or our trade finance being available. We hope to consummate some of these deals in the run-up to the President's visits," Froman said.

Source http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Obamas-India-visit-to-focus-on-pushing-US-exports-US/articleshow/6828350.cms

Karnataka crisis: Tax officials raid Reddy brothers' aides

Income tax officials Monday raided the office of Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu, a confidant of the Reddy brothers, the residence of an advocate and the houses of a few Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators in Karnataka, officials said.

"We are conducting raids in Bangalore, Bellary and Hospet. It is a search operation," a spokesperson of the IT department said. No further details were available.

Bellary is the political stronghold of the Reddy brothers - Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy and his elder brother and Revenue Minister G Karunakara Reddy.

The Reddys are rich iron ore miners. Sriramulu is considered by them to be a part of their family. Hospet is near Bellary.

Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said he had no information about the raids. "I have no information on it and will not comment," he said in Haveri in north Karnataka.

The BJP legislators whose residences were raided are Suresh Babu and B. Nagendra, both said to be close to the Reddys.

Former union minister and Karnataka government's special representative in New Delhi, V Dhananjaya Kumar, termed the raids a "political conspiracy" to destabilize the BJP ministry in the state.

Source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Karnataka-crisis-Tax-officials-raid-Reddy-brothers-aides/articleshow/6808590.cms

Australian teen pleads guilty to involvement in Nitin Garg's murder Read more: Australian teen pleads guilty to involvement in Nitin Garg's murder

A 16-year-old Australian boy on Friday pleaded guilty in a children's court for his involvement in the stabbing of Indian student Nitin Garg, who died earlier this year, in a case that shocked Indians.

The teenager has been charged with committing a robbery by stealing Garg's mobile phone and making a false statement to police in which he denied that his friend had killed the Indian.

The young boy pleaded guilty in a children's court on Friday, an AAP report said. He will appear in court again next month.

The youth's friend and co-accused, also a 16-year-old, has been charged with murdering Garg by stabbing him.

The boy charged with murder indicated in court on Thursday that he planned to plead not guilty at a committal hearing next year.

Garg was fatally stabbed as he walked through a park on the night of January 2, on his way to work at Hungry Jack's restaurant. He staggered to the restaurant and died later in hospital.

The two boys, who were aged 15 at the time of Garg's death, were arrested by homicide squad detectives and charged.

The teenager, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, appeared in the court with his mother.

According to court documents, the accused was an accessory to murder as he demanded that Garg dispose of his mobile phone, 'The Age' said.

They said the teenager gave false information to police and made false police statements to protect his co-accused friend.

The court heard on Thursday that Garg, an accountancy student, was twice followed and once threatened with a knife before his death in January.

The teenager will appear for a plea hearing in the Supreme Court later this year.

Garg's murder had sent shock waves back home and came after a series of racial attacks against Indian students in Australia.

Read more: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/indians-abroad/Australian-teen-pleads-guilty-to-involvement-in-Nitin-Gargs-murder/articleshow/6792091.cms

Mumbai: Test proves rape; doc sent nurse out of ICU

In a development that brings great shame to the medical fraternity and raises questions about the sanctity of protocol involving male doctors and female patients, medical reports have confirmed rape in Sunday's incident at Lotus hospital.

Dr Vishal Vanne, 27, accused of raping a patient in a semi-conscious state in the ICU, was produced before court on Monday; he was remanded in police custody till October 25. He was arrested under section 376 D (intercourse by any member of the management or staff of a hospital with any woman in that hospital).

"Medical reports have confirmed rape. Semen was found on her dress, on the bed and also on the underwear of the accused which confirmed his involvement in the crime. We are waiting for forensic reports," said police inspector Rajkumar Chaphekar from the Vashi police station.

The complainant -- the victim's husband -- has claimed that the accused was watching porn clippings on his cellphone before he raped his 30-year-old patient. "We have sent his mobile phone to a forensic lab in Kalina. We will get the details of the website on which he was watching the clippings from the service provider," a police official said on the condition of anonymity.

The incident took place on Saturday night, after the victim was admitted to the hospital after complaining of giddiness during Durga puja celebrations. Her husband took her to Lotus hospital where she was initially admitted to the general ward; she was put under the supervision of Vanne (BAMS) (RMO) and administered saline. Vanne, a resident of Ghansoli, is unmarried and stays with his parents. He has been working with the hospital for the last one-and-a-half years.

"Since the patient was semi-conscious, there is also a possibility that the doctor might have injected some medicine which he is not supposed to give to a low blood pressure patient. We are investigating if he had given any sedative to the victim," the officer said. Vanne later recommended that she be shifted to the ICU.

"The management did not reply properly when I went to question them. They are trying to support the accused. Police should take action against them," her husband said.

ACP (Vashi) Purushottam Karad said, "The nurse was sleeping outside the ICU as she wasn't well. If the involvement of any other person is proven, we will take strict action."

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/mumbai-test-proves-rape-doc-sent-nurse-out-of-icu-60750?trendingnow&cp

Source http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/mumbai-test-proves-rape-doc-sent-nurse-out-of-icu-60750?trendingnow

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/mumbai-test-proves-rape-doc-sent-nurse-out-of-icu-60750?trendingnow&cp

Obama's India trip to establish 'true strategic' ties: Official

US President Barack Obama's visit to India in November would not only elevate bilateral ties, but also establish a "true strategic partnership" between the world's largest democracies, a top official here said today.

The President's trip to New Delhi, Mumbai and Amritsar "will take stock of the advancement of the relationship between the two countries," the official told reporters when asked about the significance of the forthcoming visit of Obama to India.

The schedule of Obama's visit to India has not been announced yet, but he is likely to start from Mumbai; in recognition of emerging economic clout of the country as well as the influence of Bollywood all over the world.

Obama's overnight stay in Mumbai, officials said, would also be a tribute to those killed in the 2008 attacks and show of solidarity with India against its war on terrorism.

Obama -- as the then President-elect -- was among the first few American leaders to call the then Indian Ambassador to the US, Ronen Sen, in the immediate aftermath of the Mumbai terrorist attacks and had vowed to work with India to bring the perpetrators to justice.

While the Indo-US civil nuclear deal was the highlight of the previous Bush era, the anti-terror cooperation between the two countries has really picked up during the Obama Administration; which is reflected in the trips that the CIA and FBI chiefs have made to India in less than two years now.

"With this administration, you have seen the elevation and development of the relationship," the official said.

The senior Administration official said a great deal of work has been done to make the relationship between the United States and India truly strategic. "We are engaged in a wide range of issues working intensively on regional issues but also global issues."

"I think this (the visit) will be a manifestation of the hard work within this administration over almost two years to elevate the relationship and expected in the President's trip you will see the full range of the issues with which the two countries are working," the official said in response to a question.

Source http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Obamas-India-trip-to-establish-true-strategic-ties-Official/articleshow/6747676.cms

China attacks 'disrespectful' Nobel Peace Prize

China has attacked other countries for supporting the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to prominent dissident Liu Xiaobo.

In the first comprehensive and public response to the awarding of the prize, the government warned other nations to think again when considering making an issue of the Nobel Prize and not to meddle in China's internal affairs.

China's foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told a press conference the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to a prisoner was disrespectful.

"In China, the cause of human rights continues to progress - this is widely acknowledged by the world - and yet the Nobel Committee gave the Nobel Peace Prize to a prisoner who is serving his sentence in jail," he said.

"This is disrespectful to China's legal system."

The ABC asked Mr Ma what message Beijing had for governments around the world which had supported the awarding of the Nobel Prize to Mr Liu.

"Some politicians in some countries are using this opportunity to make irresponsible remarks," he said.

"It's not only disrespectful to China's legal system; we also suspect their true motives [are that]... some people want to use this method to change China's political system or to slow down Chinese people's progress.

"Obviously, they're wrong if they think this will work."

Mr Liu is serving an 11-year jail term in north-east China's Jinzhou Prison for co-authoring a document calling for widespread democratic reforms in the country.

The government saw this as advocating the overthrow of the Communist Party.

In Beijing, Mr Liu's wife, Liu Xia, is under effective house arrest.

The lockdown has stopped journalists from taking footage and interviewing her.

There is a sign outside Mrs Liu's compound saying that filming and interviews are not welcome.

Source http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/12/3036607.htm?section=justin

When Mr Ma was asked why Mr Liu's wife was being detained, he replied that he did not know who the reporter was talking about.

Bangalore BPO employee rape case: Cab driver Shiva Kumar convicted

A fast track court here on Wednesday held cab driver, Shiva Kumar, guilty for the rape and murder of Pratibha Murthy, an employee of the Hewlett-Packard run business process outsourcing arm.

Shiva Kumar had first confessed to the crime, but later backtracked and denied all charges against him.

He later went on to say that he was not all connected with the case and didn't even know the BPO employee.

Earlier on September 17, the fast-track court deferred its judgement in the case.

The trial has been in the courts for the past four-and-a-half years.

The accused driver took Murthy to an isolated place and slit her throat before dumping her body in a pit near the Anjanapura layout on December 13, 2005. (ANI)

Source http://sify.com/news/bangalore-bpo-employee-rape-case-cab-driver-shiva-kumar-convicted-news-national-kkgnugfbeeg.html

Rouvanjit suicide case: La Mart's principal, four others, arrested

Sunirmal Chakravarti, the principal of La Martiniere for Boys, was arrested on Monday morning by Kolkata Police on charges of abetting the suicide of his student, Rouvanjit Rawla, a 13-year old class VIII student. Rawla had killed himself on February 12, allegedly after being caned by the principal in the school.

175-year old La Martiniere is one of Kolkata’s elitist schools. Caning and any other form of corporal punishment has been banned by the Supreme Court of India and different state governments have become increasingly intolerant towards this form of disciplining of studnts.

Ajay Rawla, Rouvanjit’s father had filed an FIR alleging persecution by the principal and teachers of the school and physical assault that drove his son to suicide.

The four will be produced in court on Monday.

All the accused was arrested from their residences after the police conducted an enquiry for four months and were prima facie convinced of their guilt.

One of the sections that have been on the four was 305 of IPC that deals with abetment to suicide of a minor and carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and even death penalty.

A section of Junenile Justice Act that deals with assault on a minor has also been slapped against them.

After the incident came to light, Chakravarti had apologized for his act in public.

Rawla had even gone to the Assembly and appealed for the early arrest of Chakravarti and his colleagues.

National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), an autonumous body under the Central government, had conducted an enquiry in June that found the school and the teachers guilty and had recommended suspension of the accused.

NCPCR had criticized the delay of the police in arresting the four.

The school’s image has already been sullied after a teacher Sanjay Smart was arrested for extorting a laptop computer from a student. Smart is currently lodged in jail.

School authorities had always maintained that Chakravarti had confessed his guilt and it was sufficient atonement for his act.

Source http://www.hindustantimes.com/Rouvanjit-suicide-case-La-Mart-s-principal-four-others-arrested/Article1-607975.aspx