US to send forces to Afghan

US president Obama is expected to send an additional 4,000 troops to train Afghan forces as part of review of policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The new strategy includes recommendations to counter a persistent Taliban and al-Qaeda campaign that spans the two countries’ border.

US officials have said success in Afghanistan is impossible without tackling Taliban enclaves in Pakistan, whose government is beset by political turmoil.Nabi Misdaq, an Afghanistan analyst in Washington, told Al Jazeera he hoped Obama would not go for a military solution to the conflict, citing a series of US air raids that have caused a number of civilian casualties.

Obama has said previously that the US is losing the war in Afghanistan and the new policy is central top his administration’s efforts to turn the conflict around, giving more responsibility to the Afghan government itself. Obama is to define the objectives of the plan as eliminating the threat from al-Qaeda to undermine or topple US-backed elected governments or to launch attacks on the US, its interests and allies.

The strategy is to take a regional approach focusing on counter-terrorism, economic development and offer economic aid to help stabilise Pakistan, where the Taliban has a number of strongholds, officials told the Reuters news agency.The problems were highlighted by Afghanistan’s intelligence chief, who accused Pakistan’s spy agency ISI of helping Taliban fighters carry out attacks in his country.

Cool Features of IE8!

Microsoft launched its new browser in the market one week ago. The New browser is Internet Explorer8 with new cool features and is greatly advanced considering the previous version of Internet Explorer.

Web browsers were once so mundane that Microsoft took five years to upgrade IE6, introduced with Windows XP in 2001, to IE7. Millions still use IE6. Meanwhile, Firefox, introduced in late 2004, has racked up significant market share and popularized features, such as tab browsing, which lets you quickly click back to several open Web pages.

Internet Explorer 8, gets people to the information they need, fast, and provides protection that no other browser can match. This new version of Internet Explorer was a significant improvement on previous editions. The safety features in IE8 are very good. It can spot dubious websites and alert you if you’re about to fall foul of, let’s say, a phishing website, because it has a constantly updating list of dodgy sites. * Microsoft supplies a version of IE for Windows Mobile devices that can be downloaded freely.

* A separate Web interface for Xbox 360.E8

* “Web slices” let you quickly call up selected content from a Web page

* “Accelerators” make it easier to cut and paste text from one page and insert it on another * Extremely fast to browse through the information

* Reliable software that can be easily downloaded

* Good safety features

* Helps to spot dubious tricky websites

* User Friendly interface.

Obama abandons Vets Insurers!

US President Obama’s administration is abandoning a controversial plan to charge private insurers for treatment of veterans’ service-connected ailments.
Although the president believes the plan would raise more money for veterans’ care, the administration is dropping the idea after hearing the objections of veterans groups.

The President listened to concerns raised by the veterans service organizations that this might, under certain circumstances, affect veterans and their families’ ability to access health care. News of the change of heart originally came from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who disclosed the decision to reporters while meeting with a group of veterans on Capitol Hill.

Veterans’ representatives and members of Congress have angrily opposed the proposal, which White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said was never finalized.Leaders from 11 veterans groups discussed their position in a meeting Wednesday afternoon with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

Another attendee, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff, said Emanuel was quick to come back after hearing the veterans’ groups stand firm and tell them.The meeting was very short, said King. Despite the difference in opinion, King said the atmosphere was cordial and “everybody seemed comfortable.”

On Monday, the groups met with President Obama, Emanuel, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki and Steven Kosiak, director in charge of defense spending for the Office of Management and Budget. The administration saw the plan as a way of raising more than $500 million in revenues for the Department of Veterans Affairs. However, veterans groups saw it is a violation of what they said is the government’s moral obligation to treat veterans injured during service to their country.

Is Split Personality a Reality?

I am sure that everyone living in this world is aware of this term “Split Personality“. But my question is this split personality just a myth or a reality? I was really curious to know more about the cause and effect of this split personality. Yesterday I had a deep discussion with my friend’s uncle who is a pshycatrist in order to know about this issue in depth.

The discusion started. He explained me that this is a Mental Disorder which can defined as a Dissociative Identity Disorder in which a single person exhibit  multiple distinct identities or personalities each with its own pattern of perceiving and interacting with the environment.  This state of mental disorder can also be called as Multiple Personality Disorder.

He also explained me the statistics which revealed that Possible cases of split personality have been reported in the medical literature since the early 19th century, and the condition was formally defined in the first years of the 20th.

Then the discussion went more deep. I asked him about the causes for it. He told that the causes of dissociative identity disorder have not been identified, but are theoretically linked with the interaction of overwhelming stress,  insufficient childhood nurturing, and an innate ability to dissociate memories or experiences from consciousness.

Then i was curious to know how will that individual who is affected by the mental disorder will feel and also about the symptoms. He replied that the individual affected by this disease will suffer from Head ache, Body pain, Depression, Amnesia etc. The individual will lose his memory from time to time and his behaviour and attitude will reflect those of other persons but at that time he will be totally unaware of what is happening around him. I feel that this state is possibly the worst part.

He also added that such an individual must be free of stress and must have peace of mind. Also he must undergo pshycotherapy for treatment. It is better to treat at the early stage of this mind disorder. If not it will take some time to enable him to get rid of this disorder.

I thanked him for helping me to know more about split personality.Thus the discussion came to an end. The clock ticked 10 pm and we dispersed from the coffee shop. I feel that this is really a strange disease related to mind which is dangerous. Thinking about that i made my way to house.

India Seals ODI series against Newzealand!

India, having lost the toss, went on to chase a target of 281 runs in 47 overs in the 4th ODI at seddon park in Hamilton.Virender Sehwag, the man who dominated today went on to score an unbeatable  125 runs, hammered the Kiwi bowlers all over the park. Sehwag was totally unstoppable in his approach and the newzealand bowlers could hardly do anything about it. Viru made a history as he went on to become the first Indian to reach fastest century by passing Azhar’ s record. This magical knock from Viru, has enabled India to not only win the match by 10 wickets (D/L method) but also to grab the series in style as expected by the Indian cricket fans all over the globe.

Even though there were constant interruptions due to rain which revised the target by reducing the overs to play, it didnot affect sehwag and his pure flow in any aspect as he went on to demolish the home team. India clinch the series 3-0 so far with one match left to be played on saturday. Hope India will look forward to make the series 4-0 with lights of sachin hopefully to recover and play the last ODI game.

India won Newzealand by a comfortable margin in all three matches except for the one that was spoiled entirely by the rain, even that could have been easily grabbed by the Indian team. So India now clinch the ODI series against Newzealand and seals the hope of Kiwi team in this series.

I feel that the present Indian team under the leadership of Dhoni has set some extremely high standards for them that enabled them to shape as a great team that threatens to dominate the world cricket. India has won their last 5 ODI series that includes some high quality teams like Pakistan,Australia, Srilanka, England and now Newzealand. Congratulations to Indian Cricket Team for their splendid show in ODI series against Newzealand.

Mani Rathnam’s Film as Raavan or Ashokavanam?

The title for the film directed by Mani Rathnam and starred by Aishwarya Rai was in debate. As the shooting for Mani Rathnam’s next has been going on unhindered for the past few months, the media too has been busy updating every bit of news that was available about this high profile movie. While it has been called Ashokavanam by all sections of the media with the Hindi version being called Raavan, the makers of the bilingual are yet to make any official announcement regarding the title.

Ashokavanam, had come under the scanner because a similar title had been registered by Kasthuriraja. Now, a clear picture seems to be emerging. It seems that  Raavan will indeed be the title of the Hindi version, the Tamil title is yet to be finalized, probably due to the fact that there may be collisions as far as the title is concerned. So the title for tamil version of the film will also be Raavan instead of Ashokavanam!

IPL Revises Schedule

The Indian Premier League schedule has been revised due to the fact that the dates of IPL matches may clash with the Polling dates that occurs on May. So this may cause a problem in security arrangements both for polling centres and IPL matches.

So IPL  has sent a  revised schedule for the Indian Premier League cricket tournament, but the central government is still deciding what to do. It wishes to first discuss the matter with states where both polls and the matches are scheduled.

This is even though IPL organisers have told the Union home ministry they do not require any central forces for security during the matches. The ministry has passed on the new IPL schedule to the states and is awaiting their response. The new schedule maintains the duration of the Twenty20 format tournament from April 10 to May 24, but with changes on match dates that fall on April 16, 23, 30 and May 7 and 13. This ensures no matches are held in cities on election days.

New Delhi, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad are the venues. Though the Central Government of India asked to postpone the tournament, the IPL officials clearly told there is no window open expect for April and May. Also there is a World Cup starting on the first of June,  referring to the Twenty20 World Cup in England from June 5-21. The league, involving many international players, has been thrust into the security spotlight in the wake of Tuesday’s terrorist attack on Sri Lankan players in Pakistan, which left seven Pakistanis dead.

Foreign players are raising concerns over travelling to the sub-continent. Malhotra said security had been assessed and league officials would talk to players and national boards to allay safety fears. They also emphasised the fact that India is safe place to play Cricket and thereseems to be no problem with security as far as India is concerned.

Lankan Team returns Colombo

Srilankan Cricket team safely reached the Colombo airport by a special flight to a sober and emotional reunion aith their friends, fans and family members.  The lankan which narrowly escaped from a terrible attck on tuesday at Lahore were ultimately brought back home by the Srilankan Cricket Board as soon as possible.

Srilankan Captain Mahela Jayawardene told that living in the trouble-torn island nation helped save his team as it came under fire from the attackers in Lahore. Six of the Lankan players were sent to a local hospital for further check-up and treatment.

Srilankan Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge went to Colombo airport to recieve his team players told media that the government had sent a special medical team to bring back the players. Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranawitharana were the first to be brought out and rushed to a nearby private hospital. The Lankan magician Muttiah Muralitharan told that he saw his life flash before his eyes and everyone was scared and shouted when the bullets were sprayed on our bus and he also told that he was really happy to be back home with his team mates.

Srilankan Cricketers Attacked

The terrible attack on the Srilankan Cricket team is really a very tragic and horrible incident that should never ever happen again. Six members of the Sri Lankan cricket squad were wounded when around a dozen gunmen attacked their bus as it drove under police escort on Tuesday to a stadium in the Pakistani city of Lahore.

Lahore Police chief Habib-ur-Rehman said five people were killed in the attack by the unidentified gunmen, who fired AK 47s and rockets and hurled grenades as the team bus drove to the 60,000-seater Gaddafi stadium in the eastern city. Police are chasing the terrorists, they appeared to be trained men.

Sri Lanka’s sports minister told that five players and an assistant coach were wounded, two of whom were being treated in hospital. The possible names of the players who are injured are Sameraweera, Vass, Thushara, Sangakkara and the coach, though it is not confirmed yet about the names and the extent of injury. The attack had echoes with one on the Indian city of Mumbai in November which led to the Indian cricket team cancelling its planned tour of Pakistan.India blamed that attack on Pakistan-trained militants and the incident sharply raised tension between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

The Srilankar Cricket team immediately called off the tour and made their way back to hotel except the injured ones who were taken to hospital. The srilankan criecket team will soon fly back home.

Brahmos II Missile by 2013

Brahmos Aerospace was working on hypersonic missile project, Brahmos II, and it was expected to be ready by 2013.”Once developed, the Missile would have a speed between Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound) and Mach 7″, Chief Controller of Defence Research Development Organisation, A Sivathanu Pillai, told reporters on the sidelines of the inauguration of an exhibition of armoured vehicles by Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment , organised as part of the DRDO Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Pillai, also the CMD of Brahmos, said the future wars would be fought with minimum people using high-powered weapons. “It will be a network centric and fought with intelligent and autonomous systems”, he said, adding cyber warfare and robotic systems would dominate the battlefield.