Exodus of northeastern people: Pakistan rejects India's 'cooked up' charges

NEW DELHI: Pakistan on Sunday rejected Indian charges that morphed pictures of Assam and Myanmar violence which sparked an exodus of northeastern citizens from other states originalted in Pakistan. 

Such remarks only widen the trust deficit between the two countries, sources in the Pakistan high commission here said. 

Home secretary RK Singh said on Saturday that the bulk of rumours of imminent attacks on northeastern people for the killings of Muslims in Assam originated in Pakistan. 

The rumours forced thousands to flee Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. 

The Pakistani sources said these were "cooked up" charges. 

"Instead of indulging in mud-slinging and blame game, it's time for India to address its internal issues," the source told IANS. "Such comments only widen the trust deficit." 

Singh had said India will take up the issue with Pakistan. "I am certain they will deny our information but our technical team is very certain of the information it has gathered," he said.

Law ministry twice advised for auction but coal ministry ignored: CAG

NEW DELHI: Pointing out that the government extended windfall gains of Rs 1.86 lakh crore to private players by distributing coal blocks without bidding over years, the CAG has said, "A part of this financial gain could have accrued to the national exchequer by operationalizing the decision taken years earlier to introduce competitive bidding for allocation of coal blocks. Therefore, audit is of strong opinion that there is a need for strict regulatory and monitoring mechanism to ensure that benefit of cheaper coal is passed on to the consumers." 

In a report, which was tabled in Parliament on Friday, the auditor noted that the government had set a cut-off date of June 28, 2004, for distributing blocks through nomination but kept on awarding coal blocks through the screening committee route till 2009. The government could have introduced competitive bidding in 2006 through "administrative directive" as advised by the law ministry, the report said. In fact, while the CAG stopped short of asking for cancellation of allocations, it did ask for a review of the decisions. 

Politically, the latest volley of censures from the auditor will ensure that the focus on "corruption" in the allocation of natural resources during the two UPA regimes does not fade away. Buoyed by the three reports, the opposition demanded the PM's resignation saying that the auditor has validated its charge of crony capitalism with free rein to carpet baggers. 

The government, which had anticipated the onslaught, reacted by rejecting the charge and criticizing the national auditor who has been a source of intense political headache. 

Official sources said bidding could not be invited for blocks since doing so would have required amending the mining law, a lengthy process which could have proven counter-productive in view of the rising demand for coal for power generation and other industries. Further, they argued that the allocations were done based on recommendations of a screening committee that included representatives of states, including those ruled by the opposition. 

But the final CAG report has addressed the coal ministry's argument why the ministry could not switch to auction despite strong opinions from within as well as the law ministry since 2004: it would have held up release of coal for crucial consumers. The auditor pointed out that the law ministry had said government could introduce auctions by merely amending the existing administrative procedure and without having to legislate afresh. 

This opinion is significant as it addresses the concern that enacting a law would hold up distribution of coal. Obviously, CAG stressed, "Thus, competitive bidding could have been introduced in 2006 as per the advice of the law ministry." It also emphasized that the law ministry had left it for the coal ministry to decide which route to take — administrative or legislative — for holding auctions. 

The report also noted that the coal ministry did not stir even when the law secretary repeated the same advice in August 2006. 

Going into the sequence of how the ministry went on handing out blocks in spite of strong advice to the contrary, the auditor said the then coal secretary had noted in 2004, "Since there is substantial difference between the price of coal supplied by Coal India and coal produced by captive mining, there is windfall gain for the person who is allotted a captive block." The seniormost official of the ministry had argued for a more "transparent and objective process" like competitive bidding, but failed to goad the ministry into a rethink. "Despite such clear advice, coal ministry went ahead for allocation of coal blocks through screening committee for allocation of 38 coal blocks and continued with the process till 2009," the CAG said. 

Altogether, 75 mines with 15.35 billion tonnes of geological reserves of coal were given out to private companies, including 57 open cast mines. The report estimates 6.3 billion of the reserves in open cast mines as recoverable, assuming an extraction rate of 73% for open cast mines and 37% for mixed mines. This is good enough for generating over 50,000 mw for 25 years. 

CAG has taken the open cast mines alone for calculating the gains. It has first taken the difference between the average sale price of Rs 1,028.42 per tonne for all grades of coal mined from open cast mines by state-run Coal India Ltd and the average production cost of Rs 583 per tonne. Then it has made an allowance of Rs 150 per tonne towards financing cost in line with the coal ministry's suggestion. After adjustment of this allowance, the final benefit has been taken at Rs 295.41 per tonne for the extractable reserve. 

The final CAG report, however, is silent on one count: the final report does not argue against giving coal blocks to private cement, steel and power plants — existing or proposed.

Geetika suicide case: Gopal Goyal Kanda arrested

NEW DELHI: Controversial former Haryana minister Gopal Kanda surrendered before police early this morning and was arrested, 13 days after the suicide of his former employee Geetika Sharma, who accused him of abetting her suicide.

Kanda, who was on the run from police for the past 11 days after police served him a notice to appear before them to join investigations, surfaced at Ashok Vihar police station a little after 4 am. It was supposed to be a 10 minute wait, but turned into a four hour long drama outside the Ashok Vihar police station in New Delhi. Prime accused in Geetika suicide case Gopal Goyal Kanda, who was going to surrender around 12:30 am, according to his brother, did so only after 4 am.

Earlier, his anticipatory bail plea in the case was dismissed by the Delhi High Court on the ground that it has not been filed by the person who is apprehending arrest.

Justice PK Bhasin, in his order, said that the accused "appears to be sitting comfortably somewhere without any apprehension of his arrest by the police" and his brother Govind Kumar has filed the anticipatory bail application on his behalf without any proper authorization.

"Kanda has surrendered and we have arrested him," P Karunakaran, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-West) told mediapersons.

His employee, Aruna Chaddha, a senior functionary with now defunct MDLR airlines, has already been arrested and is in judicial custody in connection with the suicide of Geetika Sharma, who allegedly took her life on August 5 in her Ashok Vihar residence.

In her suicide note, Geetika had alleged that Kanda and Chaddha were harassing her to rejoin the former minister's firm after she left the job.

The Rohini Court on Thursday issued a Non Bailable Warrant (NBW) against former Haryana Minister Gopal Kanda. The court asked the police to execute the arrest warrant by August 24.

Delhi Police had conducted over 60 searches and raids in Haryana, Goa and Siliguri in West Bengal, besides questioning around 30 people. His brother Govind Kanda was also arrested yesterday for allegedly helping Kanda to evade police.

Kanda, who was last seen coming out of his Gurgaon residence on August 8, was served with a notice to join investigations on August 7. 

Fake Railway websites issuing admit cards for recruitment tests: Government

NEW DELHI: Railways is aware of fake websites issuing admit cards for recruitment tests for Group D posts, the government said today. 

Minister of State for Railways K H Muniayappa said admit cards for recruitment tests for Group-D posts by Railways Recruitment Board, Jabalpur were issued by such fake websites. 

Railways have launched an awareness campaign about the existence of fake websites and public has been advised to check credentials of such websites or organisations before applying for railway jobs, the Minister said in a written reply in Lok Sabha. 

People are informed about the genuine websites through awareness campaign and Department of Information Technology is alerted about the fake websites whenever such portals are brought to notice, Muniyappa said.

Apple paid $1.4 billion in patent royalties: Samsung

SAN JOSE: A financial expert said Apple has overstated Samsung Electronics Ltd's profit margins for mobile products, an issue that goes to the heart of damages in the high profile patent trial between the two tech companies.

Michael Wagner, an accountant who testified on Thursday for Samsung, said Samsung's US profits from the smartphones and tablets targeted in the case should be calculated at about 12 per cent, or about $519 million.

Earlier in the trial, an Apple expert witness testified the US margin was closer to 35.5 per cent.

Additionally, two other Samsung financial experts contended that Apple should owe up to $421.8 million for violating a clutch of the South Korean company's patents.

Apple and Samsung are going toe-to-toe in a patents dispute that mirrors a bigger struggle for industry supremacy between the rivals that control more than half of worldwide smartphone sales.

Apple accuses Samsung of copying the design and some features of its iPad and iPhone, and is asking for a sales ban in addition to monetary damages. South Korea's Samsung, which is trying to expand in the United States, says Apple infringed several patents, including some for its key wireless technology.

Earlier this week, Apple expert Terry Musika said Samsung earned 35.5 per cent margins from mid-2010 through March 2012, on $8.16 billion in US revenue. Apple is seeking over $2.5 billion in damages.

However, Wagner testified on Thursday that Musika did not take into account many of Samsung's costs, including marketing. "Not a penny," Wagner said.

Wagner said his 12 per cent figure assumes a period beginning in April 2011 for most of the mobile products.

The trial, now in its third week, is drawing towards a close.

US District Judge Lucy Koh had given each side 25 hours to present evidence. Samsung began feeling the crunch on Thursday: its attorneys decided not to cross examine two of Apple's technical experts at all, citing time limitations.

More financial details about Apple were revealed on Thursday: The company has paid about $1.4 billion in patent royalties to at least 90 companies, according to testimony from Samsung financial expert Vince O'Brien.

Apple has sold $12.23 billion worth of iPhones in the US since September 2010, and US sales for the iPad are at $2.29 billion since the end of April 2011, Samsung financial expert David Teece said.

Other testimony on Thursday focused on how much Apple should pay if the jury finds that Apple violated Samsung's patents. O'Brien said a reasonable royalty for three of Samsung's feature patents -- including one for seamlessly emailing a photo -- was $22.8 million.

Asked why the amount was so small, O'Brien said: "They're one of many features on the phone."

Yet Teece said Samsung's wireless patents in the case were worth up to $399 million. Under questioning from Apple, Teece acknowledged that he had not seen any evidence that Samsung had ever received money for those patents from another company.

The case in US District Court, Northern District of California, is Apple vs Samsung Electronics et al, No. 11-1846.

Oracle fined $2 million over secret India payments

Oracle agreed to pay a $2 million fine to settle US Securities and Exchange Commission charges that an India subsidiary secretly set aside money used to make unauthorized payments to phony vendors in that country. 

Thursday's settlement, which involved no admission of wrongdoing, resolved charges that the world's third-largest software company violated the federal Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). 

In a complaint filed with the federal court in San Francisco, the SEC said that between 2005 and 2007, employees of Oracle India Private Ltd structured transactions with India's government that allowed distributors to "park" $2.2 million of proceeds, "creating the potential for bribery or embezzlement." 

The SEC said the employees directed the distributors to make unauthorized payments to local vendors, several of which did no work for Oracle, and that some payments were documented with fake invoices. 

It said the set asides occurred approximately 14 times and concerned eight government contracts, and that Oracle's books and records did not properly account for them. 

"Through its subsidiary's use of secret cash cushions, Oracle exposed itself to the risk that these hidden funds would be put to illegal use," Marc Fagel, director of the SEC regional office in San Francisco, said in a statement. 

Deborah Hellinger, an Oracle spokeswoman, said the Redwood Shores, California-based company fired the employees responsible for the set asides, and that their activity violated the company's business practices. She also said Oracle disclosed the matter to investigators and has cooperated with the SEC probe. 

The case is among the earliest in which the SEC brought FCPA charges that did not allege actual bribery of foreign officials, but rather only the potential for bribery. 

"We want (companies) to have effective controls to eliminate any possible avenues for illicit payments through local partners, and we are hoping this is a good reminder," Elena Ro, an SEC lawyer who worked on the Oracle case, said in an interview. 

Oracle shares closed up 48 cents, or 1.5 per cent, at $32.03 on the Nasdaq. 

The case is SEC vs Oracle, US District Court, Northern District of California, No. 12-04310.

Maruti Suzuki to restart riot-hit Manesar plant on August 21

NEW DELHI: Maruti Suzuki, India's largest car maker, will restart production at its Manesar factory on August 21, more than a month after a deadly riot shut the plant, costing the company tens of millions of dollars in lost output. 

The 550,000 vehicles-a-year factory in Manesar in Haryana near Gurgaon, where the unit of Japan's Suzuki Motor Corp makes its best-selling Swift hatchback, has been idle since the July 18 clash between workers and management.

Google upgrades its maps designed for Android based mobiles

San Francisco: In a bid to give a fresh competition to Apple, Internet giant Google is upgrading its maps that are specially designed for mobile phones that work on its Android software. 

The update released on Thursday includes directions and departure times for more than 1 million stations worldwide for the first time. 

New technology on the maps will allow users to focus exclusively on directions for specific transportation options, such as the subway, while excluding other alternatives such as the bus.

The changes come as Apple Inc. prepares to replace Google's maps as the automatic navigation service on the iPhone and iPad. Apple is casting aside Google for its own mobile mapping service. 

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet launched; priced at $499

Samsung has launched a new tablet to take more market away from rival tech giant Apple and its much-popular iPad, expecting the bigger version of the device to ring well with consumers.

Amidst the ongoing patent war between the two arch rivals, Samsung Electronics launched the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet in Britain, United States and South Korea on Thursday.

Samsung, though accused by Apple of copying the design and features of its iPad and iPhone, is rumoured to unveil the next iteration of the Galaxy Note II smartphone at its Samsung Unpacked event on August 29, 2012.

The Galaxy Note 10.1 tab is a tad bigger than its predecessor, which stood at 9.7 inches, and has new teeth of its own with a stylus-based note taking and sketching function. It also allows users to work on two separate apps simultaneously, appearing side-by-side.

Samsung hopes the bigger and better version of its Note tab will gel well with the consumers, which will narrow down the wide gap that places Samsung Co in the second spot.

Apple sold 28.8 million iPads in the first six months of this year to take 64.4 percent of the market, while Samsung sold only 4.4 million to take 9.9 percent of the market, according to research firm IHS iSuppli.

The Note 10.1 uses Google’s Android software and a quad-core processor with 1.4 GHz clock speeds. It boasts a 5 megapixel rear camera and a 1.9 megapixel front facing camera, which also detects users' eye movements to prevent the device from going into standby mode.

The device with 16 gigabytes of memory and wifi-only function will be sold for USD 499, the same as the latest iPad, and a 32GB model for USD 549, versus iPad's USD 599.

Related Pics

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1

A U.S. judge asked on Wednesday that the chief executives of Apple and Samsung speak to each other before a jury begins deliberating next week in the high-stakes patent trial between the two tech firms.

Apple and Samsung are going toe-to-toe in a patents dispute mirroring a struggle for industry supremacy between the rivals that control half of worldwide smartphone sales.

Shares in Samsung were trading flat at 1.345 million won on Thursday, versus a 0.2 percent drop in the wider market.

Olive oil can protect bones: Study

London: A diet enriched with olive oil can help preserve bone strength, a new study has claimed.

Researchers from Hospital Dr Josep Trueta in Girona, Spain found that consumption of a Mediterranean diet enriched with olive oil for two years is associated with increased bone formation markers, suggesting a protective effect on bone.

"The intake of olive oil has been related to the prevention of osteoporosis in experimental and in vitro models," Jose Manuel Fernandez-Real, lead author of the study said.

"This is the first randomised study which demonstrates that olive oil preserves bone, at least as inferred by circulating bone markers, in humans," Jose said in a statement.

The participants in this study were 127 community-dwelling men aged 55 to 80 years randomly selected from one of the Prevencion con Dieta Mediterranea (PREDIMED) study centres who had at least two years of follow-up.

Participants were randomly assigned to three intervention groups: Mediterranean diet with mixed nuts, Mediterranean diet with virgin olive oil, and a low-fat diet.

Biochemical measurements of osteocalcin, glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were performed at baseline and after two year follow-up on fasting blood samples.

Researchers found that only consumption of the Mediterranean diet with olive oil was associated with a significant increase in the concentrations of total osteocalcin and other bone formation markers.

There were also no significant changes in serum calcium in subjects taking olive oil whereas serum calcium decreased significantly in the other two groups.

The study will be published in the Endocrine Society`s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM). 

Twitter co-founders launch new publishing platform ‘Medium’

London: Evan Williams and Biz Stone, the co-founders of popular micro blogging site Twitter, have launched a new publishing platform named ‘Medium’.

Williams described Medium as a “new publishing platform” saying “we haven’t even scratched the surface of what our smart devices and our networks that connect most of the planet might enable”. 

According to The Telegraph, Medium is being compared to Blogger, a more simplified platform that allows people to curate and collect collections of quotes, images and other pieces of content. 

The site is invite-only at the moment, the report said. 

It is the second creation unveiled by the duo since they left the running of Twitter to the other co-founder Jack Dorsey and its chief executive Dick Costolo. 

‘Ek Tha Tiger’ Review: Kabir Khan fails to impress; film thoroughly disappointing

What would you expect when Salman Khan, Kabir Khan and Yash Raj Films team up- a super masala entertainer, right?

‘Ek Tha Tiger’ looked very promising prior to its release and the film does entertain you to an extent but also compels you to wonder if you truly want to ridicule your intelligence.

After ‘Wanted’, ‘Dabangg’ and ‘Bodyguard’, ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ - yet another Eid release of Salman Khan - might just make it to the Rs100 crore club, courtesy his incredible fan following and an intriguing first half. But the film sadly falls in the same trap like other Salman films which lack content.

Salman Khan plays Tiger, a code name given to him by Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) of India. But the role of an intelligence officer has been manipulated to the core to befit a masala entertainer! 

After a successful mission in Iraq, Tiger is now entrusted with the task of collecting external intelligence by spying on a Trinity College Professor, who has apparently been approached by the ISI for sharing missile technology secrets. 

Tiger flies down to Dublin, the Irish capital, to follow the Professor. And that is where he ends up meeting his ladylove (Zoya) Katrina Kaif, the professor’s residence caretaker. Tiger introduces himself as Manish Chandra, a writer, and seeks her help in getting an appointment with the professor.

Zoya extends all possible help to a shelter-less Manish and befriends him. And that is when seeds of romance are sowed!

Though Tiger knows that he is on a mission and he dare not fall in love, he loses his heart to Zoya, who could act as a catalyst in providing information about the professor. Tiger is constantly reminded of his duties by Gopi (Ranvir Shorey), his colleague, not to lose his heart while on a mission but he does approve of Tiger’s choice of a Bhabhi for him!

Zoya, who also happens to be a dance instructor, invites Tiger for a show and here is where you would find a twist in the tale!

After an incredible ‘Kabul Express’ and somewhat gritty `New York`, a masala entertainer like ETT wasn’t expected from director Kabir Khan. Yash Raj Films has certainly spent a whopping amount on the exotic locations that are a treat to watch but haven’t helped the film gain a cult status.

However, the film does have superbly directed action sequences, foot-tapping songs by Sohail Sen and Sajid-Wajid, and a tinge of Salman Khan`s special comedy that does make you cheer.

And mostly importantly, though Salman and Katrina deny being in a relationship in real life, their chemistry onscreen looks every bit convincing. And the duo is an absolute delight to the eyes! 

But over all, the film does disappoint you for it fails to deliver what it promised.

If you are a Salman Khan fan, you would love it for sure and the movie might rake-in the moolah because of the superstar! It will certainly entertain you if you leave your brains outside the theatre!

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Attack on Northeast people in Karnataka just rumours: Shinde

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Thursday described as rumours reports of attack on people from northeast in Karnataka. 

"I request the nation through you, don't spread such rumours... there is peace, all steps have been taken," Shinde told reporters outside parliament. 

"Strict action will be taken against people who spread such rumours," he added. 

Shinde’s reaction comes after over 6,000 people from the Northeast are reported to have fled Bangalore Wednesday night amid rumours that they could be attacked like some of their compatriots in Pune and Mumbai in the aftermath of Assam riots. 

Earlier today, Home Secretary RK Singh assured full safety to the people of the northeast saying that there was no threat to them in any part of the country. 

The situation was seriously viewed by the Centre with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh speaking to Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar yesterday, who in his Independence Day address assured people from the Northeast of security. 

Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde also spoke to Shettar on phone Wednesday night and was understood to have asked him to ensure the safety of people from northeastern states in Karnataka. 

The Bangalore City railway station was flooded with people from Northeastern states to board the available trains as rumours spread that some people from the state had been subjected to attacks in the city, which was promptly denied by police. 

Shettar said that he told the Prime Minister and the Home Minister that "there is no untoward incident nor is there any threat to people of northeastern states. I promised that necessary steps would be taken to give protection to these people". 

In the wake of abrupt exodus of passengers, the South Western Railway decided to run a special train. 

Shettar assured protection and deputed Deputy Chief Minister R Ashoka, who also holds Home portfolio, to instill confidence in the panic-stricken people and convince them not to leave the city. 

The Chief Minister said police officials have been using public address system at the railway station to reassure the northeastern people gathered there and assured them protection. 

Shettar said Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi also spoke to him over phone and he assured him that all possible assistance and protection would be given to his state people. 

In Mysore, a Tibetan college student is battling for life after being stabbed by two persons who suspected him to be from northeastern region. 

What may hurt Apple's market share in China

SHANGHAI: In China's booming smartphone market, which is set this year to overtake the United States as the world's largest, a host of little-known local firms are primed with cheap phones to squeeze market share from US giant Apple's iPhone.

In the latest local challenge to the iPhone, Xiaomi Technology on Thursday launches the successor to its popular MiOne smartphone, which is expected to have top-end specifications exceeding those of the iPhone 4S - at around half the price.

While iPhone sales will increase in China, Apple's market share may stagnate or even dip as the market's changing demographics mean the iPhone flourishes in just a handful of wealthy Chinese cities, analysts said.

"The sweet spot of affordability in China is 800-1,500 yuan ($130-$240)," said Michael Clendenin, managing director of Shanghai-based consultancy RedTech Advisors. "The 'Lao Bai Xing', or man in the street, is going to go for these mid-tier phones."

Industry researcher IDC estimates that in China last year, smartphones costing less than $200 made up 40 percent of shipments, while devices costing $700 and more accounted for 11 percent of the market.

Apple releases a single iPhone model a year at a price - around $800 - equivalent to about two months pay for an urban Chinese, who make up half of China's 1.3 billion population. Analysts say the real growth in China is in cheaper smartphones where a wide variety of models at different prices appeal to first-time buyers.

"Apple isn't going to rule China, simply because of the limited models they have and the price points they target," said TZ Wong, an analyst with IDC. "Based on these two factors, we do not think Apple will be the No. 1 smartphone player in China."

Apple ranked second in January-March smartphone shipments in China, with 17.3 per cent market share, trailing Samsung Electronics' 19.2 per cent, according to research firm, Gartner.

Smartphones from Xiaomi - founded only two years ago but already worth more than Blackberry maker Research in Motion, according to private market valuations - have proved so popular they sell out in minutes after going on sale online. The company, founded by CEO Lei Jun, said last month its first-half revenue was close to $1 billion as it sold more than 3 million phones.

Mirroring Apple's annual worldwide developers conference (WWDC), where devotees would pay to listen to Steve Jobs showcasing new products, the informally-clad Lei will charge MiOne fans 199 yuan ($31.30) to attend the Beijing launch, with the proceeds going to charity.

iOS to slip 3rd

Apple's market share by volume has been on a downtrend, and the share of the market commanded by its iOS mobile operating system is expected to slip to third place by 2016 from second earlier this year, according to Gartner analyst Sandy Shen - below Google's Android and Microsoft's Windows.

Apple's iPhone sales in China, its second-largest market, stumbled in April-June on inventory adjustments with the launch of the iPhone 4S. That extra inventory meant resellers didn't need to buy as many iPhones during the quarter, and the expected launch later this year of the iPhone 5, with enhanced Chinese language capabilities, also likely held back orders.

"Apple's market share is pretty stable. It will be flat over the next five years. Although volume-wise it's increasing, that's because the total market is growing," Shen said. Research firms IDC and Gartner predict China's smartphone shipments could hit 140 million this year, topping those in the United States.

High-spec, low cost

Growth is driven largely by smartphones made by ZTE, Lenovo and smaller private firms such as Xiaomi, Gionee and Meizu Technology. Meizu phones, which sell in China and Hong Kong for 1,500 yuan, are feted by Western technology blogs for offering high-end smartphones at bargain basement prices.

Offering even cheaper models, Alibaba Group, Shanda Interactive and Baidu Inc have all this year launched smartphones for under 1,000 yuan. Baidu's phone, made with partners, retails at 899 yuan ($140), while Alibaba's waterproof smartphone, made with Haier Electronics Group , costs 999 yuan.

"For those with an iPhone or Samsung ... it's just a replacement cycle. But for many people who haven't got their first smartphone, those are the people who will get cheap smartphones," Shen said. ($1 = 6.3586 Chinese yuan)

Samsung taking Galaxy Note 10.1 pre-orders in India

Samsung India has started taking pre-orders for the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet on its e-store. However, the tablet which has been launched in US, UK and South Korea, is yet to be launched in the country.

Buyers are required to pay Rs 2,000 in order to book the tablet, which is available under its code name, Galaxy Note N8000, on the Samsung India e-store. The South Korean manufacturer is offering a free book cover worth Rs 3,249 with every booking of the Galaxy Note 10.1.

Interestingly, those who book the Galaxy Note 10.1 in India in advance will have to pay the balance amount within 3 days of the launch of the device. The company will send emails to buyers who have pre-ordered the tablet to intimate them about the launch. Samsung is not offering Cash on Delivery service for the tablet.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is the latest tablet from the stables of the South Korean company. It features a 10.1-inch PLS TFT display, with S Pen (stylus), multiscreen and multitouch compatibility. The device is powered by Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and runs on a 1.4GHz quad-core processor with 2GB RAM.

Specifications of Galaxy Note 10.1 are as below:

Display: 10.1-inch PLS TFT (Transistor Liquid Crystal) touchscreen, 1280x800 pixel resolution, with S Pen, multitouch and multiscreen compatibility

Operating system: Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

Processor: 1.4GHz quad-core processor

RAM: 2GB

Camera: 5MP rear camera with autofocus, geo-tagging and LED flash, captures video at 1080p@30fps; 1.9MP rear snapper

Memory: 16, 32 and 64GB; upgradable up to 64GB via microSD card

Connectivity: Wi-Fi, 3G, LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0, MHL, infrared

Pre-loaded apps: Smart Stay, Adobe Photoshop Touch, S Note, S Planner, Shape Match, Formula Match, My Story etc

HC seeks Mamata judiciary remarks footage, affidavits

Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Thursday admitted a petition filed by a section of lawyers against Mamata Banerjee seeking contempt proceedings against the Chief Minister for her alleged comments against the judiciary on August 14. 

While admitting the petition, the court sought a CD containing the footage after reviewing which it would decide on whether to initiate contempt proceedings against her. 

Also, it sought affidavits from the media houses which broadcast the video to prove the veracity of the footage in which Mamata is seen making her anti-judiciary remarks.

The HC gave three weeks for submitting the affidavits failing which the court would presume that the reports against the West Bengal CM were wrong. 

Banerjee had allegedly commented during a function in the state Assembly that there were instances when court judgements had been delivered for money. 

Geetika suicide case: Fresh raids at Kanda's residence, ex-minister yet to be traced

SIRSA/NEW DELHI: Delhi Police conducted fresh raids at the residence of former Haryana minister Gopal Kanda, who is accused of abetting the suicide of former flight attendant Geetika Sharma, even as he evaded police for another day.

Investigators went to Kanda's residence in Sirsa late on Wednesday night and conducted raids but the former minister could not be traced.

They picked up one of Kanda's relatives for questioning, sources said.

Investigators have conducted searches and raids in around 50 places and questioned over 25 people but they were unable to trace Kanda, the owner of erstwhile MDLR Airline where 23-year-old Geetika was working.

Kanda was served with a notice to join investigations last Wednesday but the former minister had gone underground with police declaring him an "absconder" while his employee Aruna Chaddha was arrested.

Kanda and Chaddha were named in the suicide note of Geetika, who took her life on August five, alleging that they had harassed her and ruined her life. Both Kanda and Chaddha denied the allegations.

The former minister had moved a local court and then Delhi high court seeking anticipatory bail. While local court denied it, the high court has reserved the order.

Police have told the high court that they "already have enough evidence" against Kanda and required his custodial interrogation for a deeper probe.

Kanda's lawyer has argued that prima facie, no case is made out against his client on the basis of the FIR and the suicide note. "The suicide note cannot be treated as the gospel truth and the same has to be proved by independent evidence," he had said.

Kudankulam nuclear plant: Centre making mockery of Madras HC, say judges

CHENNAI: How can a Union minister go around issuing statements on the commissioning of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, when the Madras high court is still hearing cases relating to the matter, asked a division bench of the court on Thursday. "He says the plant is going to be opened shortly. If that is so, why do you come to court," asked the bench, comprising Justice P Jyothimani and Justice P Devadoss on Thursday.

The judges said the Centre was not represented in the court properly, and said the senior judge received hundreds of SMSs whenever the minister issued such statements. Noting that the portfolio came under the Prime Minister and that the cases were heard for more than one and a half month regularly, the judges flayed Centre for not taking the case seriously. They said the government of India was making a mockery of the Madras high court. The bench said: "The Centre thinks that only the Supreme Court is a court and that Madras high court is not a court at all".

What is the purpose of hearing the case for so long, the judges wondered, adding that if such indifference continued, they would not hesitate to pull out of the hearing. In this regard, they pointed out that the court had received the orders after a detailed hearing and that nearly 200 pages of the judgment had been dictated, too.

The livid judges did not spare the state pollution control board as well. Referring to the Board's order that the sea water, the point where plant effluent was to be released, could be around 47 degrees Celsius, Justice Jyothimani sought to know as to how marine lives could survive in such high temperature. Pointing out that it was a nuclear plant, the judge said the pollution control board should not treat it like an ordinary industry and an effluent treatment plant. This is a nuclear facility and it requires special guidelines, the bench said.

The activist-petitioners too came under fire. The judges said the activists could not go on filing fresh petitions and added: "It is improper and anti-national." As for a report filed by another petitioner, the judges said it was absurd, as it pertained to a US report having no relevance to the case.

Karnataka government assures protection and security to northeast people

BANGALORE: Appealing them not to leave the state, Karnataka chief minister Jagadish Shettar assured the northeast people living in the state of full protection from the government.

Meeting northeast people, who had come in large numbers to CM's home office on Thursday, Shettar said not even a single incident of attack on northeast people has taken place in the state. There is no need to panic. What you have heard is rumours. You people have lived here for many years and have become one among us. Leaving state is not good news. We will provide you full protection," the chief minister said.

Following spreading of text messages that people from northeast would be attacked by a section of the society as retaliation to attack on Muslims in Assam, as many as 6,800 people left Bangalore in 3 special trains on Wednesday night. "Nearly 1,000 people are expected to leave tonight. We have requested them not to leave Bangalore," home minister R Ashoka said. All the trains were given security until Karnataka border on Wednesday night.

As a confidence-building measure, the police have been told to deploy good number of their personnel to the areas where northeast people reside in large numbers. "Patrolling the area will be done. This apart, security will be provided to the properties of those who have already left Bangalore. Police will be holding peace committee meeting involving all the sections of the society," Shettar said. Elaborate security arrangement have been made on and after Ramzan, he added.

Sending a stern warning, the chief minister said he will not allow Karnataka to be a place for clashes on region, caste, race grounds.

Besides Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh chief ministers, Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, opposition leaders of both the House of parliament spoke to Shettar.