India perceived as more corrupt after CWG scam

New Delhi:  India has slipped to 87th spot in Transparency International's latest ranking of nations based on the level of corruption, with the global watchdog asserting that perceptions about corruption in the country increased in the wake of the scam-tainted Commonwealth Games.
Transparency International's 'Corruption Perception Index' report covering the public sector in 178 countries shows that India fell by three positions from its ranking of 84th in 2009.
With an integrity score of 3.3, India is now ranked 87th in the world in terms of corruption. Neighbouring China is ahead of India in the list at 78th place, with a score of 3.5. It was at 79th position in 2009.
"India has gone down in the ranking as well as integrity score and this is a matter of concern and regret. It appears that the level of governance has not improved despite India having a skilled set of administrators," Transparency International India Chairman P S Bawa said in New Delhi.

The rankings, on a scale of 0 to 10, are based on the extent of corruption and each government's ability to punish and contain corrupt activities, among other criteria.  A score of zero is perceived to be highly corrupt while 10 would indicate the lowest level of corruption.
According to the report: "The perception about corruption in India seems to have increased primarily due to alleged corrupt practices in the recently held Commonwealth Games (CWG) in Delhi."
As many as four investigating agencies - the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), Enforcement Directorate (ED), Income Tax Department and Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) - are looking into allegations of corruption against the organisers of the CWG, which concluded here earlier this month.
The top three countries with the lowest level of corruption globally, as ranked by Transparency International, are Denmark, New Zealand and Singapore.
Denmark was ranked first in the report, with an integrity score of 9.3, while New Zealand and Singapore came second and third with a similar score.
Bhutan was the best performer in the South Asian region and was ranked 37th, with an integrity score of 5.7.
However, other SAARC nations are ranked below India.
Pakistan is ranked at 143th in the list, with an integrity score of 2.3, while Bangladesh is at 134th, with a score of 2.4. Sri Lanka was ranked 91st in the list, with an integrity score of 3.2, while Nepal was 146th (2.3) and Maldives joined Pakistan at 143th place (2.3).
Afghanistan, the newest SAARC member, was ranked 176th in the list with an integrity score of 1.4. The world's largest economy, the USA, garnered an integrity score of 7.1 and was 22nd in the list.
Among BRIC countries, Brazil was at 69th position with a score of 3.7 and Russia was 154th, with an integrity score of 2.1.
Transparency International is organising Anti-Corruption Day on December 9 to sensitise the public on this issue.
The report is based on 13 surveys conducted throughout the year by various international bodies, including the World Bank, the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and the Freedom House Foundation.

Kasab Death penalty hearing today at bombay high court

MUMBAI: The confirmation hearing of the death sentence awarded to Pakistani gunman Amir Ajmal Kasab is set to commence in the Bombay high court amidst unprecedented security on Monday. 

The court will hear the three applications-the plea to confirm the death sentence, the appeal filed by Kasab against his conviction and the appeals filed by the state government challenging the acquittal of two co-accused in the 26/11 case, Faheem Ansari and Sabahuddin Ahmed. 

A division bench of Justice Ranjana Desai and Justice R V More will hear the arguments, which will be opened by special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam. 

Kasab will not be present in person but participate in the proceedings through video-conferencing in view of the threat perceptions against him. 

Special judge M L Tahaliyani, who is now the principal sessions judge, awarded the capital punishment to the 22-year-old Pakistani gunman for his role in the November 26-29, 2008 Mumbai attack that claimed the lives of 166 people, including 26 foreigners. 

Unprecedented security measures have been ordered in the court premises with strict regulations on the entry of lawyers, litigants, mediapersons, court employees and others in Court No. 49, according to IANS. 

Government counsel Ujjwal Nikam, who fought the case in the trial court, will open his arguments seeking confirmation of the death sentence. 

Later, defence lawyers Farhana Shah and Amin Solkar will make their submissions on the confirmation of the sentence and their appeal against it. 

Two other co-accused in the case, Faheem Ansari and Sabahuddin Ahmed, who were acquitted by the Special Court owing to "doubtful evidence" against them, were re-arrested following an appeal filed by the state government. 

Both are currently lodged in different jails in Mumbai. 

Nine out of 10 gunmen, barring Kasab, who staged the attack were killed by security forces.

Dengue costs India almost $30m every year, says WHO Read more: Dengue costs India almost $30m every year, says WHO - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Dengue-costs-India-almost-30m-every-year-says-WHO/articleshow/6765033.cms#ixzz12eWQ5gJl

NEW DELHI: Two "neglected diseases" -- dengue and cysticercosis -- are costing India nearly $45 million between them every year.

According to WHO, around 1 billion of the world's poorest people suffer from such neglected tropical diseases, mostly in urban slums. The global health watchdog said in its latest report the societal monetary cost of cysticercosis -- an infectious disease caused by the pork tapeworm Taenia solium -- is estimated to be $15.27 million while the economic burden of vector-borne dengue is estimated at $29.3 million.

According to WHO's first-ever report on neglected diseases, these diseases kill an estimated 534,000 people each year.

India also has a huge disease burden of rabies, caused by dog bites. In India, 20,000 rabies deaths (that is about 2/100,000 population) are estimated to occur annually. Asia and Africa account for the vast majority of rabies fatalities. In Asia, 31,000 deaths are estimated to occur annually (1.2/100,000 population).

WHO identified 17 such diseases present in 149 countries and found that more than one-third of the 2.7 billion people living on less than $2 a day were affected.

WHO said the number of cases of dengue, which recently caused havoc in India, saw a jump of 18% in 2007 compared with 2006 in southeast Asia.

Dr Margaret Chan, director general of WHO, said, "Though medically diverse, neglected tropical diseases form a group because all are strongly associated with poverty, all flourish in impoverished environments."

She added, "Most are ancient diseases that have plagued humanity for centuries. Today, though neglected tropical diseases impair the lives of an estimated 1 billion people, they are largely hidden, concentrated in remote rural areas or urban slums. They are also largely silent, as the people affected or at risk have little political voice."

Chan said neglected tropical diseases have traditionally ranked low on national and international health agendas.

According to WHO, close companions of poverty, these diseases also anchor large populations in poverty. Onchocerciasis and trachoma cause blindness. Leprosy and lymphatic filariasis deform in ways that hinder economic productivity. Without post-exposure prophylaxis, rabies causes acute encephalitis and is always fatal. Leishmaniasis leaves permanent scars and is rapidly fatal if untreated.

Dengue has emerged as a fast spreading vector-borne disease affecting mostly poor, urban populations. It is also the leading cause of hospital admissions in several countries.

"The consequences are costly for societies and for healthcare," Chan said. 

Obama to visit Golden Temple, college in Amritsar

Amritsar:  When US President Barack Obama lands in India next month, his itinerary will include a visit to the Golden Temple in Amritsar. 
Obama will arrive in the Sikh holy city from Mumbai on November 7and visit the Golden Temple and offer prayers at Harmandar Sahib, the sanctum sanctorum.
"Obama will visit the Golden Temple. US embassy officials and security officers have been coming here at regular intervals for weeks. We are cooperating with them," SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar told IANS.
Details of the areas Obama will visit in the shrine complex, spread over 15 acres, are being worked out. After offering prayers, he is likely to go to the main langar hall, the 24-hour community kitchen where an estimated 100,000 devotees are fed traditional meals on peak days.
"We have started preparations (ahead of the visit). Security has been beefed up in Amritsar district," Amritsar's Deputy Commissioner K.S. Pannu told IANS.
"Obama will visit Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) and Khalsa College. But there could be last minute changes. The final plan is yet to be sorted out," said Pannu.
What is worrying security agencies is that Obama is arriving on a Sunday, which attracts the highest number of devotees. The rush could be even more this time as Diwali falls on November 5, making it a long weekend holiday till Nov 7.
"So far it has not been decided in which hotel President Obama will have his lunch," the official added.
Unprecedented security arrangements are being put in place by the US Secret Service along with officials of Indian security agencies, including the Punjab Police and the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), which manages the shrine.
"Since the area around the Darbar Sahib is very crowded, we could direct the shopkeepers and other traders to close their premises for some time. We can also ask people to remain away from certain areas during Obama's visit," Pannu added.
Obama's visit comes close on the heels of one by President Pratibha Patil to the shrine October 6. 
Regarding security arrangements for Obama's visit, Makkar said: "Amritsar Police are taking care of security outside the Golden Temple. Inside our premises, we will have our own arrangements in consultation with security officials."
The SGPC provides a volunteer force inside the shrine while security officials in plainclothes are allowed along with high-security VIP visitors.
The US entourage will land at the Rajasansi airport and then drive into the city.
Makkar said the SGPC would honour the US president at the shrine complex. 
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited the Golden Temple in November last year. British monarch Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Phillip had visited it in October 1997.

"It is good such a big leader is visiting the shrine. This shows that Sikhs have an important role to play even at the international level," Balbir Singh, a shopowner near the shrine, told IANS.

United nations thanked india

NEW DELHI: Describing India as one of the top donors for Pakistan's flood relief, United Nations has said that it was a demonstration of the country's solidarity with the needy people of Pakistan.

India had offered $25 million for the victims of the devastating floods in Pakistan, which was routed through the United Nations.

A letter written by Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Valeria Amos thanked India for being 'one of the top donors' to the aid call and said it was 'testament to India's generosity and demonstration of its solidarity for people of Pakistan who are in need'.

She said, in the letter made public by India's ministry of external affairs, that UN agencies and voluntary organisations were 'counting on the continued generosity and support of donors like India'.

'India's generous contribution through the UN system will be utilised to the best extent possible,' said Amos.

Around 36 projects worth $9.1 billion have been already implemented through the Pakistan Emergency Response Fund, set up by United Nations.

She added that there was still a lot of relief work left, which emerged from a recent visit to Pakistan. 'Although floodwaters have receded in many areas, southern Pakistan remains largely submerged under water raising concerns of increasing occurrences of waterborne diseases among an already malnourished population'.

Medal Tally.......By day...Commonwealth Games

Rank Country Total Medals by Day* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Gold   Silver   Bronze         Total

1 Australia 6 17 23 23 29 - - - - - - 48 26 28 102 2 India 4 7 13 10 14 - - - - - - 22 16 15 53 3 England 4 8 14 21 29 - - - - - - 21 37 21 79 4 Canada 4 3 5 12 15 - - - - - - 14 6 20 40 5 South Africa 2 3 4 7 2 - - - - - - 7 5 6 18 6 Malaysia 1 4 4 1 6 - - - - - - 6 5 6 17 7 Nigeria 1 2 2 7 6 - - - - - - 5 5 8 18 8 Singapore 0 2 2 4 3 - - - - - - 3 5 5 13 9 Kenya 0 0 3 0 3 - - - - - - 3 2 2 7 10 Jamaica 0 0 0 2 1 - - - - - - 2 1 0 3 11 New Zealand 0 2 5 3 9 - - - - - - 1 14 5 20 12 Scotland 1 2 2 1 3 - - - - - - 1 4 5 10 13 Cyprus 0 0 0 1 1 - - - - - - 1 0 1 2 =14 Botswana 0 0 0 0 1 - - - - - - 1 0 0 1 =14 Nauru 0 0 0 1 0 - - - - - - 1 0 0 1 =14 Uganda 0 0 1 0 0 - - - - - - 1 0 0 1 17 Wales 1 1 0 5 2 - - - - - - 0 5 4 9 18 Trinidad and Tobago 0 1 0 1 1 - - - - - - 0 1 2 3 =19 Cameroon 0 0 0 2 0 - - - - - - 0 1 1 2 =19 Northern Ireland 0 0 0 1 1 - - - - - - 0 1 1 2 =19 Sri Lanka 0 1 1 0 0 - - - - - - 0 1 1 2 =22 Pakistan 0 0 1 0 0 - - - - - - 0 1 0 1 =22 Papua New Guinea 0 0 0 0 1 - - - - - - 0 1 0 1 =22 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 0 0 0 1 0 - - - - - - 0 1 0 1 =22 Seychelles 0 0 0 0 1 - - - - - - 0 1 0 1 26 Isle of Man 0 0 1 1 0 - - - - - - 0 0 2 2 =27 Bangladesh 0 1 0 0 0 - - - - - - 0 0 1 1 =27 Ghana 0 0 0 0 1 - - - - - - 0 0 1 1 =27 Guyana 0 0 0 0 1 - - - - - - 0 0 1 1 =27 Namibia 0 0 0 1 0 - - - - - - 0 0 1 1