iPad Mini to launch in India soon

The Mini iPad is said to be coming to India next week, and the good news is that the 16GB Wi-Fi model is said to cost Rs. 21,990.

This new price tag might really give rise to a fierce competition between iPad Mini and Google’s Nexus 7. Here are the features of the iPad Mini for our readers who are eagerly anticipating this arrival.

With latest version of operating system iOS 6 installed in it, the iPad Mini comes with two colour schemes: Black & Slate, and White & Silver.

You can hold it in one hand. It has Fingerprint-resistant oleo-phobic coating screen.

1. The Mini iPad is said to be coming to India next week, and the good news is that the 16GB Wi-Fi model is said to cost Rs. 21,990.

2. This new price tag might really give rise to a fierce competition between iPad Mini and Google’s Nexus 7. Here are the features of the iPad Mini for our readers who are eagerly anticipating this arrival.

3. With latest version of operating system iOS 6 installed in it, the iPad Mini comes with two colour schemes: Black & Slate, and White & Silver.

4. Unlike Google’s Nexus 7 or any other similar tablets, iPad Mini has a bigger display of 7.9 inches (diagonal), 1024x768 resolution at 163 pixels per inch (ppi).

5. You can hold it in one hand. It has Fingerprint-resistant oleo-phobic coating screen.

6. It is pencil thin with size of 7.2 millimiters and is lightweight at 308 grams.

7. App Store has more than 275,000 apps made for iPad and can be used for iPad mini.

1. The Mini iPad is said to be coming to India next week, and the good news is that the 16GB Wi-Fi model is said to cost Rs. 21,990.

2. This new price tag might really give rise to a fierce competition between iPad Mini and Google’s Nexus 7. Here are the features of the iPad Mini for our readers who are eagerly anticipating this arrival.

3. With latest version of operating system iOS 6 installed in it, the iPad Mini comes with two colour schemes: Black & Slate, and White & Silver.

4. Unlike Google’s Nexus 7 or any other similar tablets, iPad Mini has a bigger display of 7.9 inches (diagonal), 1024x768 resolution at 163 pixels per inch (ppi).

5. You can hold it in one hand. It has Fingerprint-resistant oleo-phobic coating screen.

6. It is pencil thin with size of 7.2 millimiters and is lightweight at 308 grams.

1. The Mini iPad is said to be coming to India next week, and the good news is that the 16GB Wi-Fi model is said to cost Rs. 21,990.

2. This new price tag might really give rise to a fierce competition between iPad Mini and Google’s Nexus 7. Here are the features of the iPad Mini for our readers who are eagerly anticipating this arrival.

3. With latest version of operating system iOS 6 installed in it, the iPad Mini comes with two colour schemes: Black & Slate, and White & Silver.

4. Unlike Google’s Nexus 7 or any other similar tablets, iPad Mini has a bigger display of 7.9 inches (diagonal), 1024x768 resolution at 163 pixels per inch (ppi).

5. You can hold it in one hand. It has Fingerprint-resistant oleo-phobic coating screen.

6. It is pencil thin with size of 7.2 millimiters and is lightweight at 308 grams.

1. The Mini iPad is said to be coming to India next week, and the good news is that the 16GB Wi-Fi model is said to cost Rs. 21,990.

2. This new price tag might really give rise to a fierce competition between iPad Mini and Google’s Nexus 7. Here are the features of the iPad Mini for our readers who are eagerly anticipating this arrival.

3. With latest version of operating system iOS 6 installed in it, the iPad Mini comes with two colour schemes: Black & Slate, and White & Silver.

4. Unlike Google’s Nexus 7 or any other similar tablets, iPad Mini has a bigger display of 7.9 inches (diagonal), 1024x768 resolution at 163 pixels per inch (ppi).

   You can hold it in one hand. It has Fingerprint-resistant oleo-phobic coating screen.

Indian foods that help with weight loss

Cardamom: Cardamom aids the digestive process, helping the body break down and assimilate nutrients. It is also known to boost metabolism and burn body fat, aiding with weight-loss. Toss in a few cloves of cardamom into your evening chai for a steamy cup of good health.
Garlic: Garlic has long been used in cooking, for both its full-bodied flavor and its healthy properties. Garlic has strong anti-bacterial effects, helps reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) and unhealthy fat levels in the body. Now there’s a good reason why the ubiquitous ginger-garlic paste is found in dishes across every region in India.
Buttermilk: Buttermilk is a drink full of good health, and easy to make at home. It provides the body with essential nutrients and is very low on fat and calorie content. Chop up from fresh coriander and green chillies to it, add a little salt and pepper, and you have a refreshing, healthy homemade drink.
Cabbage: Cabbage is a great antioxidant, and makes a great accompaniment to heavy meat dishes. It also slows down the conversion of carbs and sugar into fat, so makes for a great aid to your weight loss plan. Eat it raw or cooked, but make sure it’s a part of your meal.
Cinnamon and cloves: Both these spices aid the production of insulin and help control blood sugar levels in the body. Highly beneficial to people with type 2 diabtetes, it is recommended to sprinkle cinnamon powder into your cup of tea of coffee, and include cloves when you make rice or dal.
Curry leaves: Curry leaves help reduce LDL levels in the body and are a great way to detox. They also help reduce fat deposits in the body, a great aid to any weight-loss program. So add a few curry leaves into your curry or dal for a dose of great flavor and good health.

Honey: A spoonful of honey with warm water is a great way to start your mornings. Honey helps burn fat and is a widely used home-remedy for obesity.
Millets: Coarser grains like millets, jowar, ragi and bajra are high on fibre-content and great for controlling cholesterol and melting fat.

1. Cardamom: Cardamom aids the digestive process, helping the body break down and assimilate nutrients. It is also known to boost metabolism and burn body fat, aiding with weight-loss. Toss in a few cloves of cardamom into your evening chai for a steamy cup of good health.

2. Garlic: Garlic has long been used in cooking, for both its full-bodied flavor and its healthy properties. Garlic has strong anti-bacterial effects, helps reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) and unhealthy fat levels in the body. Now there’s a good reason why the ubiquitous ginger-garlic paste is found in dishes across every region in India.

3. Buttermilk: Buttermilk is a drink full of good health, and easy to make at home. It provides the body with essential nutrients and is very low on fat and calorie content. Chop up from fresh coriander and green chillies to it, add a little salt and pepper, and you have a refreshing, healthy homemade drink.

4. Cabbage: Cabbage is a great antioxidant, and makes a great accompaniment to heavy meat dishes. It also slows down the conversion of carbs and sugar into fat, so makes for a great aid to your weight loss plan. Eat it raw or cooked, but make sure it’s a part of your meal.

5. Chillies: Chillies are another great ingredient to ramp up your metabolic rate and burn that excess fat. The component capsaicin generates heat and boosts metabolism, helping burn calories for upto 20 minutes after your meal. So slice ‘em up and toss ‘em in!

6. Cinnamon and cloves: Both these spices aid the production of insulin and help control blood sugar levels in the body. Highly beneficial to people with type 2 diabtetes, it is recommended to sprinkle cinnamon powder into your cup of tea of coffee, and include cloves when you make rice or dal.

7. Curry leaves: Curry leaves help reduce LDL levels in the body and are a great way to detox. They also help reduce fat deposits in the body, a great aid to any weight-loss program. So add a few curry leaves into your curry or dal for a dose of great flavor and good health.

8. Honey: A spoonful of honey with warm water is a great way to start your mornings. Honey helps burn fat and is a widely used home-remedy for obesity.

1. Cardamom: Cardamom aids the digestive process, helping the body break down and assimilate nutrients. It is also known to boost metabolism and burn body fat, aiding with weight-loss. Toss in a few cloves of cardamom into your evening chai for a steamy cup of good health.

2. Garlic: Garlic has long been used in cooking, for both its full-bodied flavor and its healthy properties. Garlic has strong anti-bacterial effects, helps reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) and unhealthy fat levels in the body. Now there’s a good reason why the ubiquitous ginger-garlic paste is found in dishes across every region in India.

3. Buttermilk: Buttermilk is a drink full of good health, and easy to make at home. It provides the body with essential nutrients and is very low on fat and calorie content. Chop up from fresh coriander and green chillies to it, add a little salt and pepper, and you have a refreshing, healthy homemade drink.

4. Cabbage: Cabbage is a great antioxidant, and makes a great accompaniment to heavy meat dishes. It also slows down the conversion of carbs and sugar into fat, so makes for a great aid to your weight loss plan. Eat it raw or cooked, but make sure it’s a part of your meal.

5. Chillies: Chillies are another great ingredient to ramp up your metabolic rate and burn that excess fat. The component capsaicin generates heat and boosts metabolism, helping burn calories for upto 20 minutes after your meal. So slice ‘em up and toss ‘em in!

6. Cinnamon and cloves: Both these spices aid the production of insulin and help control blood sugar levels in the body. Highly beneficial to people with type 2 diabtetes, it is recommended to sprinkle cinnamon powder into your cup of tea of coffee, and include cloves when you make rice or dal.

7. Curry leaves: Curry leaves help reduce LDL levels in the body and are a great way to detox. They also help reduce fat deposits in the body, a great aid to any weight-loss program. So add a few curry leaves into your curry or dal for a dose of great flavor and good health.

8. Honey: A spoonful of honey with warm water is a great way to start your mornings. Honey helps burn fat and is a widely used home-remedy for obesity.

1. Cardamom: Cardamom aids the digestive process, helping the body break down and assimilate nutrients. It is also known to boost metabolism and burn body fat, aiding with weight-loss. Toss in a few cloves of cardamom into your evening chai for a steamy cup of good health.

2. Garlic: Garlic has long been used in cooking, for both its full-bodied flavor and its healthy properties. Garlic has strong anti-bacterial effects, helps reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) and unhealthy fat levels in the body. Now there’s a good reason why the ubiquitous ginger-garlic paste is found in dishes across every region in India.

3. Buttermilk: Buttermilk is a drink full of good health, and easy to make at home. It provides the body with essential nutrients and is very low on fat and calorie content. Chop up from fresh coriander and green chillies to it, add a little salt and pepper, and you have a refreshing, healthy homemade drink.

4. Cabbage: Cabbage is a great antioxidant, and makes a great accompaniment to heavy meat dishes. It also slows down the conversion of carbs and sugar into fat, so makes for a great aid to your weight loss plan. Eat it raw or cooked, but make sure it’s a part of your meal.

5. Chillies: Chillies are another great ingredient to ramp up your metabolic rate and burn that excess fat. The component capsaicin generates heat and boosts metabolism, helping burn calories for upto 20 minutes after your meal. So slice ‘em up and toss ‘em in!

1. Cardamom: Cardamom aids the digestive process, helping the body break down and assimilate nutrients. It is also known to boost metabolism and burn body fat, aiding with weight-loss. Toss in a few cloves of cardamom into your evening chai for a steamy cup of good health.

2. Garlic: Garlic has long been used in cooking, for both its full-bodied flavor and its healthy properties. Garlic has strong anti-bacterial effects, helps reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) and unhealthy fat levels in the body. Now there’s a good reason why the ubiquitous ginger-garlic paste is found in dishes across every region in India.

3. Buttermilk: Buttermilk is a drink full of good health, and easy to make at home. It provides the body with essential nutrients and is very low on fat and calorie content. Chop up from fresh coriander and green chillies to it, add a little salt and pepper, and you have a refreshing, healthy homemade drink.

4. Cabbage: Cabbage is a great antioxidant, and makes a great accompaniment to heavy meat dishes. It also slows down the conversion of carbs and sugar into fat, so makes for a great aid to your weight loss plan. Eat it raw or cooked, but make sure it’s a part of your meal.

5. Chillies: Chillies are another great ingredient to ramp up your metabolic rate and burn that excess fat. The component capsaicin generates heat and boosts metabolism, helping burn calories for upto 20 minutes after your meal. So slice ‘em up and toss ‘em in!

1. Cardamom: Cardamom aids the digestive process, helping the body break down and assimilate nutrients. It is also known to boost metabolism and burn body fat, aiding with weight-loss. Toss in a few cloves of cardamom into your evening chai for a steamy cup of good health.

2. Garlic: Garlic has long been used in cooking, for both its full-bodied flavor and its healthy properties. Garlic has strong anti-bacterial effects, helps reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) and unhealthy fat levels in the body. Now there’s a good reason why the ubiquitous ginger-garlic paste is found in dishes across every region in India.

3. Buttermilk: Buttermilk is a drink full of good health, and easy to make at home. It provides the body with essential nutrients and is very low on fat and calorie content. Chop up from fresh coriander and green chillies to it, add a little salt and pepper, and you have a refreshing, healthy homemade drink.

4. Cabbage: Cabbage is a great antioxidant, and makes a great accompaniment to heavy meat dishes. It also slows down the conversion of carbs and sugar into fat, so makes for a great aid to your weight loss plan. Eat it raw or cooked, but make sure it’s a part of your meal.

5. Chillies: Chillies are another great ingredient to ramp up your metabolic rate and burn that excess fat. The component capsaicin generates heat and boosts metabolism, helping burn calories for upto 20 minutes after your meal. So slice ‘em up and toss ‘em in!

   
   

A 10−storey building in 48 hours?

Chandigarh : A 10−storey building, set to come up in just 48 hours! A businessman in Chandigarh claims it is possible, and he will prove it.

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal is set to lay the foundation stone of the 10−storey building, INSTACON, Thursday.

The brain behind the project, businessman Harpal Singh, says the building will be ready within two days.

The building is set to come up in Industrial Area Phase−I of Mohali town, 10 km from here.

Harpal Singh claims this is the first building of its kind in the country.

The whole building is pre−fabricated, manufactured at the factory. There are doors that are ready to be fitted in, floors, water supply and wiring components, all ready to be shifted.

"All the components have been manufactured already, doors that can be pre−fitted, water supply components, wiring, sanitation, air conditioning ducts and everything else. These will be shifted in state−of−the−art transporting vehicles to the actual site for installation," Singh said.

He claimed that new construction technology would enable owners of such buildings to generate revenue within days, instead of waiting for months and years before the building is complete.

He said that the technology could revolutionise the whole infrastructure sector and speed up construction of commercial towers, luxury hotels, high−rise buildings, hospitals, educational institutions, universities and retail outlets.

Singh said architects, planners and engineers were being invited to witness the construction of INSTACON.

Former PM I K Gujral passes away

NEW DELHI: Former Indian Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujralpassed away in Delhi on Friday at Gurgaon's Medicity Medanta Hospital, just a few days before his 93rd birthday.

Gujral, India's 12th prime minister whose tenure ran from April 1997 to March 1998, had been admitted to the hospital in a critical condition a few days ago following a lung infection and was on ventilator support.

A team of nine medical experts, led by Dr Naresh Trehan, were attending to Gujral.

Gujral, in his illustrious political career, held many an important portfolio in the government. In 1975, he was Minister of Information and Broadcasting. He was also India's Ambassador Soviet Union.

He quit the Congress in the mid-1980s to join the Janata Dal. He also was the Minister of External Affairs in Prime Minister VP Singh's Cabinet.

In 1992, he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha. He again held the position of Minister of External Affairs in H D Deve Gowda-led government. It was during this tenure that he propounded the controversial 'Gujral Doctrine' that sought to improve relations with India's neighbours.

He also held the portfolios of Parliamentary Affairs, Information & Broadcasting, and Planning.

2G scam biggest in my tenure, says CBI director

New Delhi : Outgoing Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) director Amar Pratap Singh Tuesday said the 2G spectrum allocation case was the biggest and most complicated in the two years of his tenure.

"...I had to handle several cases, including the 2G scam, Adarsh case, Commonwealth Games case, against high−profiled accused. Among them, 2G spectrum allocation scam was the biggest in terms of its complications," Singh said reporters here.

Singh, who retires Nov 30 after two eventful tenures as CBI director, said he could not ascribe any loss figure to 2G scam.

He also said that under his tenure, the CBI attempted to be transparent and open.

"We have attempted to be as transparent and open in the functioning. In the two years we have by and large tried to keep these commitments. My tenure was marked by complex specialised high−profile investigations to probe corruption and crime," he added.

Privacy groups ask Facebook to withdraw proposed policy changes

SAN FRANCISCO  - Two privacy advocacy groups urgedFacebook Inc on Monday to withdraw proposed changes to its terms of service that would allow the company to share user data with recently acquired photo-application Instagram, eliminate a user voting system and loosen email restrictions within the social network.

The changes, which Facebook unveiled on Wednesday, raise privacy risks for users and violate the company's previous commitments to its roughly 1 billion members, according to the Electronic Privacy Information Center and the Center for Digital Democracy.

"Facebook's proposed changes implicate the user privacy and terms of a recent settlement with the Federal Trade Commission," the groups said in a letter to Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg that was published on their websites on Monday.

By sharing information with Instagram, the letter said, Facebook could combine user profiles, ending its practice of keeping user information on the two services separate.

Facebook declined to comment on the letter.

In April, Facebook settled privacy charges with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission that it had deceived consumers and forced them to share more personal information than they intended. Under the settlement, Facebook is required to get user consent for certain changes to its privacy settings and is subject to 20 years of independent audits.

Facebook, Google and other online companies have faced increasing scrutiny and enforcement from privacy regulators as consumers entrust ever-increasing amounts of information about their personal lives to Web services.

Facebook unveiled a variety of proposed changes to its terms of service and data use polices on Wednesday, including a move to scrap a 4-year old process that can allow the social network's roughly 1 billion users to vote on changes to its policies.

If proposed changes generate more than 7,000 public comments during a seven-day period, Facebook's current terms of service automatically trigger a vote by users to approve the changes. But the vote is only binding if at least 30 percent of users take part, and two prior votes never reached that threshold.

The latest proposed changes had garnered more than 17,000 comments by late Monday.

Facebook also said last week that it wanted to eliminate a setting for users to control who can contact them on the social network's email system. The company said it planned to replace the "Who can send you Facebook messages" setting with new filters for managing incoming messages.

That change is likely to increase the amount of unwanted "spam" messages that users receive, the privacy groups warned on Monday.

Facebook's potential information sharing with Instagram, a photo-sharing service for smartphone users that it bought in October, flows from proposed changes that would allow the company to share information between its own service and other businesses or affiliates it owns.

The change could open the door for Facebook to build unified profiles of its users that include people's personal data from its social network and from Instagram, similar to recent moves by Google Inc.

In January, Google said it would combine users' personal information from its various Web services - such as search, email and the Google+ social network - to provide a more customized experience. The unified data policy raised concerns among some privacy advocates and regulators, who said it was an invasion of people's privacy.

"As our company grows, we acquire businesses that become a legal part of our organization," Facebook spokesman Andrew Noyes said in an emailed statement on Monday.

"Those companies sometimes operate as affiliates. We wanted to clarify that we will share information with our affiliates and vice versa, both to help improve our services and theirs, and to take advantage of storage efficiencies," Noyes said.

BJP hopes to register hat-trick of wins in Gujarat state polls

With assembly polls in Gujarat just about three weeks away, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is hoping to register a hat-trick of wins, and said that post-polls it would like to concentrate and complete existing development projects, and generate employment for the youth.

BJP president Nitin Gadkari said that the party is keen on makingIndia a better nation, free of crime, starvation, terrorism andcorruption.

"We will set India free from crime, starvation, terrorism and corruption and would work for the benefits of farmers and poor. We would do politics of development and progress. We will help poor and give employment opportunity to the youth and will include farmers and poor in the developmental projects. We want to change the country completely and want to make it a better nation for the people," said Gadkari.

In Rajkot, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh campaigned for BJP candidates.

"I am meeting to the common man, I have full faith that in upcoming election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would win and Narendra Modi will make hat-trick by becoming the chief minister for the third time. I think that this time, we will win the election with good margin. On behalf of the Chhattisgarh state, I am appealing to the people to support Narendra Modi, who has made remarkable development in the state, increased the GDP and developed the agricultural sector and has made people proud and I am confident that all this things will make Modi become the chief minister for the third time," said Singh.

Seeking votes ahead of state polls, various political parties are making efforts to lure the electorate with tall promises by orating on various issues like price-rise, corruption and law and order among others.

The rift between BJP and Congress has always been in the limelight, this time targeting Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh to fetch votes in order to elect a new government.

The first phase of the Gujarat assembly polls will take place on December 13, while the second will be held on December 17. Counting of votes will take place on December 20.

Narendra Modi is seen as the strongest candidate of BJP during general elections in two years, thanks to rapid growth and a perception of corruption-free governance in his state, which has 5 percent of India's population but contributes 16 percent to national industrial output.

Under the high-profile but controversial Modi, Gujarat stands apart in a country that doesn't always make it easy for manufacturers.

PM unveils direct cash transfer scheme for subsidies

New Delhi : In a landmark step, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday announced the much−awaited direct cash transfer scheme wherein the subsidy amount will go directly into thebank accounts of the beneficiaries.

The government will implement the scheme for cash transfer to the beneficiary's account in 51 districts from Jan 1, 2013.

Manmohan Singh chaired the first meeting of the National Committee on Direct Transfers and asked ministries "to work in right earnest" for implementation of this pioneering initiative.

"They will need to digitize their databases, most of which are with the states, and seed them with Aadhaar numbers. You will be provided help by both the Unique Identification Authority and the IT ministry. But, you will in turn need to assist the states," he said in his closing remarks.

"Direct Cash Transfers, which are now becoming possible through the innovative use of technology and the spread of modern banking across the country, open the doors for eliminating waste, cutting down leakages and targeting beneficiaries better."

"We have a chance to ensure that every rupee spent by the government is spent truly well and goes to those who truly deserve it," he added.

US calls Kasab execution a step towards justice

As India executed Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving gunman of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the United States welcomed it as a "step toward justice" in the incident that claimed 164 lives.

"We've said before that we welcome steps toward justice in the Mumbai attacks," State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters Wednesday when asked to comment on the execution of Kasab.

"We've said many times before that we want to see the terrorists behind these attacks brought to justice. My understanding is that he received due process in a full and transparent trial and the sentence was carried out."

Asked if India had informed the US before Kasab's execution, he said: "I'm not aware that we would have been informed prior to this execution."

LeT threat on Vaishno Devi in wake of Kasab hanging

JAMMU, Nov. 27 -- Five days after Lashkar-e-Taiba activist Amir Ajmal Kasab was hanged for his role in the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008, a person claiming to be a Lashkar activist sent an e-mail to a Katra-based hotel, threatening to avenge his death by striking at Vaishno Devi shrine and Katra town, 13 km away.

The police said the mail carried this threat: "Indians will have to pay for the hanging of Kasab. Hindustanio get ready for another Diwali. We will strike in a big way."

Jammu Inspector General of Police Dilbagh Singh told HT: "The e-mail was sent from Bangalore by a person named Sayeed Anwar. A team has been sent there and we have heightened security around Katra town."

The e-mail was sent to the official ID of a three-star hotel in Katra on Saturday evening. After seeing the mail, the manager of the hotel informed the police who took away his laptop for investigations.

In Bangalore, police commissioner BG Jyotiprakash Mirji said he has formed a team to investigate the case. "The threat mail has been traced to a cyber cafe in north Bangalore," he said.

Last year 1.2 crore pilgrims had visited the Vaishno Devi shrine. This year about 90 lakh pilgrims have visited the shrine so far.

Additional deployment of security personnel has been made at Vaishno Devi and Katra town.

"We are not taking any chances. From the language it seems the terrorists are committed to strike," said a senior police officer.

Digvijaya slams Kejriwal for using Congress theme

 Congress leader Digvijaya Singh Sunday accused Arvind Kejriwal of naming his party after theCongress' slogan of "aam aadmi" (common man).

By naming his party as Aam Admi, Kejriwal has reflected hisintellectual bankruptcy, the Congress leader said.

"It reflects the intellectual bankruptcy of Mr. Kejriwal that he adopted the theme of the Congress party," he told reporters here.

Responding to a question if the Aam Admi Party will affect the prospect of the Congress in any way, Digvijaya Singh said: "Let Mr. Kejriwal first get elected as an MLA or a member of parliament or even a...municipal corporator."

Digvijaya Singh, who is also the All India Congress Committee's general secretary, also accused the Naveen Patnaik−led Odisha government of encouraging mining−related industries in the state at the cost of agriculture.

Kejriwal formally launches Aam Aadmi Party

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), India's newest political party, was Monday formally launched by activistArvind Kejriwal in the presence of thousands of supporters.

"This party is result of our struggle against corruption," said Kejriwal, who had announced the name of his party Saturday.

Kejriwal also formally released the party's constitution, a key feature of which disallows the relative of a party member in the state executive or national executive councils, from getting a place there.

Kejriwal's colleague Manish Sisodia declared the name of the party to the gathering at central Delhi's Parliament Street near Jantar Mantar and said: "It is our party."

Sisodia also announced the names of the other 23 members of the national executive body. These include Sisodia himself as well asPrashant Bhushan, Dinesh Waghela, Sanjay Singh, Gopa Rai andKumar Vishwas.

"Kejriwal takes the position as the national convenor. Pankaj Gupta would be the national secretary, Krishna Kanth would be national treasurer of AAP," Waghela said.

The names were decided Sunday in the national executive meet, a party member told IANS.

Kumar Vishwas announced the name of official website: aamaadmiparty.org, and social networking accounts on Facebook (aamaadmiparty) and Twitter @aamaadmiparty to share the information about the party and its functions.

"The other political parties are thinking about our survival, but we are getting a huge response from across the nation," he announced.

"As many as 200 offices have been opened for functioning of the party, just today (Monday) and about money, its a Aam Aadmi party... they (the aam aadmi) will run it," Vishwas said.

"The donations are coming to our party account and people are giving cheques, so they (other parties) need not to worry," he quipped.

"We are getting donations for the party from across India," he said.

Earlier in the day, Kejriwal and his colleagues visited Mahatma Gandhi's memorial Raj Ghat. He also paid tributes to B.R. Ambedkar.

Kejriwal chose to launch his party Nov 26 as the constitution of India was adopted on this day in 1949.

Kejriwal had said Sunday that he would "go to every village and town in the country for the next one year to convince people against the vote−bank politics of the Congress and the BJP". Both parties, he claimed, "used people only for votes".

US Sikhs happy at Barack Obama's re-election

The Sikh community across America has expressed happiness at President Barack Obama's re-election saying he has demonstrated deep respect for the Sikh faith and stood by the community.

The election outcome was "especially great for the Sikhs becauseObama has demonstrated in the last four years that he has deep respect for the Sikh faith", said Rajwant Singh, chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education (SCORE).

"He has strong commitment to protect the civil rights of the Sikhs in the US and has gone an extra mile to stand by the community in the aftermath of the Wisconsin gurdwara shootout," he said.

Navneet S. Chugh, managing director of the Chugh Firm, a Los Angeles-based largest Indian law firm and president of the Santa Ana Orange County Gurdwara, hoped Obama would move forward with promised immigration reform.

Dawinder "Dave" S. Sidhu, an assistant professor of law at theUniversity of New Mexico School of Law, said Obama's re-election will allow the Justice Department's reinvigorated civil rights division to continue the important work of "providing more robust enforcement of our federal civil rights safeguards".

Devinder K. Singh, president and CEO, AMDEX Corporation, and board member of EcoSikh, said the Sikh community "looks forward to his promotion of important public values, such as justice, freedom and equality that are essential to a good society".

Jasbir Singh Kang, an active Sikh leader in Yuba City and an official of the Punjabi American Heritage Society, said: "I am very optimistic that he will unite and rally all Americans under his leadership."

Amar Sawhney, president and CEO of Boston-based Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. and a board member of EcoSikh, said: Obama's "policies and actions have been directed towards inclusiveness and benefit more than the few".

Sartaj Singh Dhami, an active Sikh youth leader in Washington and an Outreach Director of SCORE, said Obama was "the strongest president to date who has worked to highlight all issues for all minorities".

"The re-election of President Obama fills me with hope in a time of great challenge," said Valarie Kaur, Sikh American activist and director of Groundswell at Auburn Seminary.