| The swine flu virus spread to 30 US states Sunday with a total of 226 confirmed cases, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.
Health officials cautioned that the rise in cases had more to do with increased and better reporting of test results than a rapid spread of the virus. While Mexico, which is the epicentre of the outbreak, claimed the virus was “declining” the World Health Organization (WHO) said the virus could return and the world might even witness a surge in the spring. US Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, appearing on CNN’s State of the Union programme Sunday, warned that even if the outbreak wanes, “it could come back with greater force in the winter and fall, when we get into flu season.” “So, this is no time for complacency,” she said. “We want to stay out ahead of this.” WHO director Michael Ryan, in countering this assertion, said that “these viruses are very unpredictable” and that it could still turn out that the swine flu could develop into a pandemic. Ryan said that the WHO still had to assume that alarm level 6 – that of a pandemic – would be reached. At the moment, WHO has an alert status of 5. “We have to suspect that phase 6 is reached but we have to hope that it is not reached,” he said, while also noting, “at this stage it would be unwise to suggest or to say it was spreading in an uncontrolled fashion.” The US has 50 million doses of anti-viral medicine, has distributed about a quarter to 19 states with confirmed cases, and ordered 13 million more to replace them, officials said. The individual US states have an additional 23 million doses on hand, and the federal government was sending 400,000 doses to Mexico. |
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Monthly Archives: August 2009
30 countries report 4,694 cases of swine flu: WHO
Mexico had 48 deaths from 1,626 laboratory-confirmed human cases of infection. The USs had 2,532 infections, including three deaths and Canada reported 284 cases, with one death. Costa Rica was hit with eight instances of the virus, including one death.
In Europe, Spain was most affected, with 95 cases of what is also known as swine flu, and Britain had 47 infections, the health agency said on its website.
Keiji Fukuda, the WHO’s head of health security, could not say how the virus would act in Europe.
“It is hard to know what will happen in Europe,” he said, adding that so far nearly all cases in the continent were travel related, meaning people brought the virus back with them from trips abroad.
Similarly, he said the organisation is still trying to understand the overall nature of the new virus. Pinning down the severity of the disease is also difficult as there is no quantitative scientific definition of the term.
“Severity is not a simple issue,” he said, adding later, “There is no epidemiological definition of severity.”
Currently, the agency has its influenza alert status at phase 5, just one below the highest possible, though this only tracks the geographic spread and not other aspects of the disease.
The WHO has not changed any of its recommendations, which call for governments to remain alert and people to engage in healthy activities, including regular washing of their hands with soap. It has stressed there is no need for travel restrictions or prohibitions on properly prepared pork products.
Swine flu cases rise to 2,371 in 24 countries: WHO
In a posting to its website late on Thursday, the organisation said Mexico had 1, 112 confirmed human cases of infection, including 42 deaths and the US had 896 cases with two deaths. Canada had 201 infections.
In Europe, Spain remained hardest hit with 81 cases followed by Britain with 32.
Earlier, the UN’s health agency had reported 2,099 cases in 23 countries. The latest country to be added to the list is Poland, which had one case.
Meanwhile the US, Mexico and Canada have urged trading partners around the world to lift all restrictions on pork products that were adopted because of the virus’ outbreak, and left open the possibility of legal action to remove the barriers.
“Pork and pork products, handled in accordance with good hygienic practices … will not be a source of infection,” the statement added.
First Swine flu detected in Pakistan: ministry
Pakistan’s health ministry today confirmed the country’s first swine flu case but stressed that the patient was in a stable condition.
“Swine flu was detected in one patient at the national institute of health Islamabad,” Doctor Rashid Juma, a health ministry official told AFP.
A cabinet minister told the national assembly that precautionary measures had been taken.
“We have taken precautionary measures at our airports, ports and bus stops and health officers have also been alerted,” Mir Ijaz Hussain Jhakrani, federal minister for health, reportedly told the lower house of parliament.
Around two million Pakistanis live in Europe, North America and other countries where the swine flu pandemic has appeared.
Tamiflu has side-effects in kids: Study
A recent British study has warned that Tamiflu should not be administered to children. Giving Tamiflu or oseltamivir to children under the age of five can trigger nausea, stomachaches, insomnia and even nightmares.
A recent study claimed that half the children who were administered Tamiflu experienced these symptoms.
And it’s not just kids who were among the high-risk groups. Even pregnant women, the elderly, diabetics, heart patients and those with renal troubles were vulnerable to the side-effects.
Also, Oseltamivir is not a preventive medication. Doctors say if the pill is popped without being infected by the virus, the body might create antibodies and become resistant to the medication.
Swine Flu & Hajj
The daily published from Mumbai in a signed article in its Sunday edition entitled “Like Al Qaeda Flu and Bird Flu, Swine Flu too is a marketing flu invented by America’ pointed out it was said that America was the first to be hit by Swine flu, exactly the way it was hit by ‘Bird Flu’ after which fear-psychosis had gripped the world.
According to the paper as fear spread the US pharmaceutical companies were quick to invent and manufacture vaccines and market the same across the world when Bird Flu had broken out. Now it’s expected that on the eve of the Hajj (one of the five most important obligations for all able-bodied, financially capable Muslims at least once in a lifetime) at least 20 lakhs to 25 lakh vaccines would be used.
It said ever since swine flu surfaced, American companies have sold vaccines worth Rs 10,000 crores across the globe and India alone has so far imported medicine worth over Rs 5 crores. Saying that such killer diseases was product of the ‘marketing brain of American companies’ the article said that in the past too when Muslims were busy preparing for Hajj and Umrah (mini-Hajj) bird flu had broken out in an epidemic form.
Mandatory measure by Saudi govt
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has ordered mandatory measures for pilgrims going on Hajj this year, reported the Arab News (a leading English language daily of Saudi Arabia) on Thursday, August 6. “These conditions have been approved after consultations with top international experts in the field,” said Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah.
- “No one will be able to get a visa without fulfilling these new rules.”
- Rabeeah said pilgrims taking part in the circumambulation, the devil-stoning ritual and the standing at `Arafat would be required to wear face masks.
- Pilgrims must also be vaccinated two weeks prior to their departure for the holy cities, he said.
- The minister said no visas will be issued to pregnant women and those who are chronically ill.
- He noted that overseas Saudi missions will inform Hajj operators of the new measures, which have been sent to the Saudi cabinet for approval.
Saudi Arabia has so far reported more than 600 swine flu cases, with six deaths from the virus.
Iran & Tunisia banned Umrah
According to Islamonline.net as swine flu fears are growing, Iran has banned `Umrah during the holy fasting month of Ramadan while Saudi Arabia ordered mandatory measures for pilgrims during hajj.
“We will have no pilgrims in Saudi Arabia during the month of Ramadan,” Iran Health Minister Mohammad Bagher Lankarani was quoted by a news agency.
He said Iranian pilgrims will leave Saudi Arabia before the start of Ramadan, expected on August 22.
The minister said Iranians older than 65 and younger than 10 and those who are chronically ill would not be allowed to perform hajj this year.
Iran has so far reported just over 130 cases of the A/H1N1 flu strain, the majority of them among returning pilgrims.
Several Muslim countries have already restricted pilgrims going to the holy places in Saudi Arabia amid fears about the risk of contagion if large numbers congregate there and then return home.
Mohammad Saaz, director of a pilgrimage medical center at the Iranian Red Crescent, told the Kuwait news agency KUNA on Saturday that children under the age of 10 and the elderly 65 and older “are being taken off the pilgrims’ list for this year.”
Saaz said the Iranian Health Ministry has concluded that 53 percent of swine cases seen in the country so far have been among people who had returned from Saudi Arabia.
KUNA reported Iran has stopped flights to Saudi Arabia in a bid to counter the spread of the virus.
Tunisia last month suspended `Umrah because of the virus, while reserving judgment on whether hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, should be undertaken
Egypt wants delayed Hajj
According to a BBC report on Saturday the Muslim religious authorities in Egypt have suggested delaying the annual pilgrimage to Mecca because of the spread of swine flu.
Egypt’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Ali Jumua, has called for a religious edict to decide how long the pilgrimage rites of the Hajj could be postponed.
More than 7,500 cases of swine flu have been reported worldwide.
In an interview with BBC Arabic radio, Dr Ibrahim Negm, an advisor to the Grand Mufti, said Sheikh Ali Jumua supported a view already outlined by Mohammed Tantawi, the Grand Imam of the al-Azhar Mosque.
Pandemic alert
Mr Tantawi says that the pilgrimage rites could be postponed if the World Health Organisation declares a global pandemic, and raises its pandemic alert from five to the maximum six.
At that point, he says, Islamic researchers would meet to discuss a possible delay.
Mr Negm insisted however, that both the Grand Mufti and the Imam believed this was a technical issue, which should be dealt with by the ministries of health, environment and agriculture.
The Mufti of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdel Aziz Haddad, has urged Muslims to delay any pilgrimage to Mecca for the next two or three weeks.
He also advised the faithful to pray in the open air to avoid contracting, or spreading, the swine flu.
First case
No cases of swine flu have been reported in any Gulf or Arab countries. But pilgrims travel to Mecca from around the world, including countries where the swine flu virus has been confirmed. The WHO says the number of confirmed swine flu cases has risen by more than 1,000 in the last 24 hours. More than 7,500 people have gone down with the flu, in 34 countries, and 65 people have died, mainly in Mexico, where the outbreak began.
Malaysia has confirmed its first case of swine flu – a student who arrived on a flight from the United States on Wednesday. The authorities are trying to trace the 199 passengers and crew from the flight, though they believe some of them may have travelled on to Indonesia.
Last month, Arab health ministers agreed to ban the elderly and young children from going on `Umrah and hajj in Saudi Arabia this year.
FMCG cos’ margin may fatten in FY10
According to a recent report by Morgan Stanley, most FMCG companies have the potential to witness strong gross margin expansion over the next two quarters due to a combination of low base and declining input cost pressures.
The FMCG companies are likely to demonstrate an expansion of 110 basis points (bps) in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) or net profit margin in the current financial year. According to the report, during this period Godrej will see a margin expansion of around 300 bps. FMCG companies would also perform well on account of the savings that companies are likely to make from the fall in input costs.
These savings would likely be used for increased promotional and marketing activities. “The worst is suddenly behind us and the overall consumption is very strong for the branded FMCG sector. However, the gross margins of the company might not see any major changes due to the increase in petroleum prices and the increased spending by companies on marketing and advertising. Selling prices of FMCG products are also not likely to change. In fact, companies will offer banded discounts in order to increase sales. However, a large part of growth will come from the rural areas,” said Arvind Singhal, chairman, Technopak Advisors.
As far as increasing earnings is concerned, the Morgan Stanley report said Godrej and Marico have the potential to achieve ‘maximum earnings revisions’. Morgan Stanley’s India strategist, Ridham Desai, pegs topdown Sensex earnings growth of the sector at 10 per cent compared to the consensus bottomup forecast of four per cent earnings growth for the first half of 2010.
“The top FMCG companies such as Godrej, ITC and Nestle will certainly see good growth in the next two quarters. And this will be maintained in 2010. The topline of the major players will swell by 12-15 per cent. Less rain could be a bit of a dampener as the prices of commodities are expected to rise in some time. This will put pressure on companies as they would not be able to increase prices while consumer spending remains skewed,” said Anand Shah, FMCG analyst, Angel Broking.
Another interesting trend that the sector has witnessed during the March quarter this year is of mid-sized players performing better than the sector biggies.
Companies such as Dabur, Nestle, Godrej Consumer and Marico have performed better than Hindustan Unilever Ltd and ITC. Even small-sized players such as Jyothy Laboratories and Emami have delivered robust performance, the Morgan report noted.
At a time when consumers are shifting their preference from high-priced goods to more economical value-for-money products, companies will be offering large discounts on banded products this year, analysts said.
BSNL Union, engineers call strike
Services of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) across the country are likely to be impacted as major employee unions are calling for a 2-day strike on various demands including wage revision, implementation of promotion policy and absorption of officers on deputation.
While the United Forum of BSNL Unions has called a 48-hour strike on August 19-20, the All India Graduate Telecom Officers Association (AIGETOA) with over 10,000 engineers as its members, has called for an indefinite strike.
The United Forum of BSNL Unions, which will see the participation of seven BSNL unions comprising 1.5 lakh non-executive employees, will begin at 0000 hrs on August 19.
“The top executives like CMD and Directors have taken a pay hike of 50-70 per cent, while the BSNL management is offering only 30 per cent pay-hike to the non-executives which is unacceptable. We are also demanding a five year periodicity for wage revision with full fitments benefit, while the management is insisting on a 10-year periodicity,” BSNL Employees Union General Secretary VAN Namboodiri told reporters here.
BSNL management was not available for comments on the impact of the twin strikes.
BSNL management was not available for comments on the impact of the twin strikes.
Air India board meeting
| The Air India board’s crucial meet today is likely to discuss rescheduling of Boeing aircraft deliveries and revision of wages for pliots and senior executives.
Air India sources said wage revision of erstwhile Indian Airlines pilots is expected to be the main agenda of the board meeting. They further said the board is also likely to discuss deferment of delivery of Boeing aircraft in the wake of Air India’s financial woes and the global downturn. The wage revision, if passed by the Board, would be effective from 1997 and cover all categories of pilots. They (pilots) include First Officers, Captains and Commanders. The Board is also likely to discuss the wage revision agreemnt with Air India officers and executive cabin-crew. According to sources, the board is likely to consider granting another extension to Accenture, which has been appointed as its consultant on the merger of Air India and Indian Airlines into one entity. |
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Markets end positive
Alternating days of gains and losses continued on Thursday for the BSE Sensex as the barometer seemed to be consolidating at the psychological 15,000 level by gaining 203 points on positive news from China.
The Bombay Stock Exchange 30-share index moved in the range of 15,145.00 and 14,928.18 before finishing the day at 15,012.32, a net rise of 202.68 points or 1.37 per cent over its previous close.
Although the turnover was low, buying in select key pivotals helped the bellwether index to recover most of yesterday’s losses. Once again China played a crucial role in reviving market sentiment. China’s Shanghai Composite Index today spurted by 4.52 per cent, the second-largest gain in 2009.
Besides Taiwan, most of the other Asian indices also ended up between 1.46 per cent and 1.97 per cent. European markets also were trading firm by nearly 1.5 per cent in their afternoon deals.
The broader 50-share Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also bounced back by 59.35 points or 1.35 per cent to 4,453.45 from its last close.
US stock index futures also indicated a positive opening today. Bonanza Portfolio Assistant Vice-President Avinash Gupta said, “The investors overcame the anxiety relating to China and the markets across the globe rallied.”
Rs 10,000 cap per withdrawal from third party ATMs
The apex bank has sent a communication in this regard to Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and this is expected to be implemented shortly, IBA Chairman K Ramakrishnan told PTI.
“The Reserve Bank has agreed to put a cap of Rs 10,000 per withdrawal in such (third party) transactions. Also, the number of such transactions will be limited to five times a month,” Ramakrishnan said.
IBA, which is the industry lobby of Indian banks, had submitted its recommendations to the central bank last month citing the financial burden faced by banks on account of huge number of third party usage and small-ticket withdrawals.
Inter exam fee dates
Hyderabad: The last date for payment of fee is up to September 14 for students appearing for first year Intermediate examination in March 2010. The last date of payment of fee with a fine of Rs. 100 is up to September 24.
The cost of examination application form is Rs. 10. The examination fee for general courses is Rs. 210 and for vocational courses Rs. 310.
The fee for bridge course vocational is Rs. 60; fee for first year practical for vocational back log candidates is Rs. 100 while for bridge course exam fee for mathematics for BI.P.C first year students is Rs. 60, Candidates who fail to pay the fee even with late fee should apply for tatkal scheme which will be announced in November, a BIE press release said.
Govt may monitor phone calls to counter terror threat
The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT), a telecom research and development organisation, is working on the Telecom Security project, which will help the government to monitor both calls in the country through a centralised system.
Talking about the project, C-DoT Executive Director P.V. Acharya said: “It is viewed as a national project … Basically, it is about monitoring certain messages or conversations so that we can ensure security of the country.
Essentially, our technology would provide an interface to operator of any service or technology and it will give them access to the messages traversing through their network,” he said.
The present system of surveillance is managed by individual operators, and a phone is tapped and call details are given when law enforcement agencies ask for them.
The government has a Signal Intelligence Agency, a joint service organisation manned by personnel from the army, navy and airforce, which monitors military links (wireless) of other countries.
However, it does not have a centralised monitoring system for voice calls on the mobile, landlines and internet.
The government has not yet decided on how the surveillance system will work.
“We will just provide an opportunity to this … but how this would be done depends on the agreement between the operators and the government,” Acharya said.
Declining to share technical details of the project, Acharya said the first phase of the project will cost Rs 400 crore. It will end next year.
The need for lawful intervention is being felt more after the terror attacks in November last year, when the terrorists were in contact with their instructors on the phone.
IIT professors on mass leave demanding better pay packets
“IIT professors are loosing Rs 23 lakh in their career compared with the government scientists and other officials of similar rank,” Somya Mukherjee, Secretary of Faculty Forum IIT-B, told PTI.
The salary hike demand is also to attract faculties to join IITs, he said, adding the Government has announced setting up of eight new IITs across the country and 8,000 professors are needed for that.
“Our job in IIT is teaching and research unlike other universities, where research is secondary. So, we are demanding honour and prestige for our work,” Mukherjee said.
He also condemned the Gowardhan Mehta report submitted to the Government in February this year, saying some of its recommendations are not favouarable to professors.
“The report has suggested that IIT professor should have work experience of three years after PhD. However, it is very unlikely that after getting job, people may come here,” he said.
State government releases Rs. 62.50 cr. to Water Board
Hyderabad: The State government has sanctioned Rs. 62.50 crore to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board towards its share amount for first and second quarter budget to clear the pending bills towards the Moulana Abdul Kalam Hyderabad Sujala Sravanti Scheme and to maintain progress of works.
Through the GO 533 issued on Tuesday, the government issued the budget release order in relaxation of treasury control orders. This follows the request made by the Board Managing Director to the State to release at least Rs. 125 crore out of its share as per the budge provision made for 2009-10 to clear the pending bills. The Board required an amount of Rs. 338.43 crore for immediate payment towards committed expenditure on the project.
GHMC to focus on cleanliness
| More men and machinery deployed to keep surroundings clean this festive season |
Commissioner goes around Ganesh immersion procession route to take stock of situation
Officials assure arrangements for celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi, Ramzan in the right spirit
HYDERABAD: More men and machinery are being deployed in the twin cities to keep it clean during the current twin festivals season of Ganesh and Ramzan. Special focus was on keeping the surroundings of each and every Ganesh mandap as well as mosques free of garbage, said GHMC Commissioner S.P. Singh.
Mr. Singh, along with Police Commissioner B. Prasada Rao and senior colleagues, went round the Ganesh immersion procession route on Tuesday night for about four hours to check for themselves the current state of affairs and steps that need to be taken to ensure pothole-free roads as well as good illumination throughout.
They started the tour from the DCP office (East Zone) and traversed through Moosaram Bagh crossroads to Gaddiannaram, Saroornagar, Sankishwar Bazar, IS Sadan, Falaknuma, Nagulachinta, Charminar, Moosabowli, Puranapool, Tappachabutra, Durbar Maisamma Temple, Sarada Nagar, Asif Nagar crossroads, Malakunta via Seetharambagh, M.J. Market, Abids, Liberty, Ambedkar Statue, Tank Bund, and NTR Marg.
Road cutting
Road cutting done by water board for sewerage lines in the old city near Falaknuma and Hussaini Alam road was also inspected and work is to be expedited.
The officials assured citizens that elaborate arrangements were being put in place for celebrating both the festivals in the right spirit.
GHMC Additional Commissioner (Health & Sanitation) Sk. Aleem Basha informed that two medical and health camps would be organised at the Tank Bund and the NTR Marg on the ninth day of Ganesh immersion (September 3). Doctors and paramedical staff have been deployed to work round the clock, he said.
Immersion of idols
Ganesh idols immersion is expected to begin from the third, fifth, seventh and ninth days respectively.
Additional Commissioner of Police T. Krishnam Raju, Municipal Zonal Commissioners Bala Subramanyam Reddy, Anuradha, Chief Engineer and other officials attended.
Swine flu checks in at IGIA
“The S-I has been kept in isolation at the Airport Health Organisation (APHO) and his condition is being monitored,” said Rohit Katiyar, the CISF spokesperson.
Around 250 CISF men are posted at the international terminal in one shift. The force had also issued a circular stating personnel stationed at the IGIA for security checks must take proper precautions.
An APHO official said all those working at the airport are prone to the disease and need to be extra careful.
“We had sent the S-I’s sample to the National Institute of Communicable Disease because he showed swine flu symptoms. The report has come and he has tested positive,” said the official.
Earlier, a housekeeping staff was quarantined because he had similar symptoms.
A source said ground staff can easily get swine flu as they are not fully prepared. “The masks have been given to selected people such as the CISF and immigration staff while doctors have their own safety kits. The housekeeping staff is working without any mask or safety kit,” he said.
The health ministry sends 500 masks to the international terminal of IGIA daily, but they are clearly not enough. “Those who come in early get the mask. Ground handlers and airline officials usually don’t get masks,” said a source at the airport.
“We have repeatedly asked IGIA authorities to give us masks, but to no avail,” said an official of ground-handler firm ASL. In the meantime, the number of new H1N1 cases appeared to have come down on Tuesday with 99 new infections being confirmed across India.
Of the new cases, 20 each were reported in Bangalore and Mumbai, while Pune had 18 new cases.
Ten cases were reported from Delhi, three each from Ahmedabad, Dhule and Aurangabad. Two cases each were reported from Nashik, Panchkula, Hyderabad, Cochin, Calicut, Dibrugarh and Jaipur. One case each was reported from Ghaziabad, Goa, Udupi, Manipal, Surat, Silchar, Kolhapur and Satara.
The H1N1 virus has claimed 25 lives till now – 13 in Pune, five in Bangalore, two in Mumbai and one each in Ahmedabad, Chennai, Vadodara, Nasik and Trivandrum.
So far, 2,026 people in India have tested are positive for swine flu.
India leads the beauty race!
While the mercury is rising in Bahamas with more than 80 beauties from across the globe gearing up for the much-talked about Miss Universe 2009 title, here are the results of the online voting conducted on India Today‘s Miss Universe special. Let’s see who’s sand who’s not.
And the winner is…
The online voting recorded around 1150 votes. The numbers show that people are all excited to watch the event. And now for the winner…Well, it is our very own Miss India, Ekta Choudhary who is a clear winner with 911 votes in her kitty.
Ekta Choudhary , 23, is a Delhi-based girl who is confident about her winning the Miss Universe crown. Talking about her, designer Ritu Kumar (who has also designed her national costume) says, “Her height is her strongest point and then comes her classic face. I see amazing confidence in her and hope that helps her bring the crown home!”
And it’s not just the designers but even readers who feel that Miss India 2009 has the X factor. “I am sure that one more Miss Universe crown is in our clutches. Our girls are among the most beautiful gals in the world and they have not only the looks to hook the viewers, but also the intelligence to floor the organizers,” says Billi from Hyderabad.
Coming back to the results…
Miss Sweden has got the least number of votes.
Till now, the contestants have participated in the following events: bikini round, evening gown and national costume event.
Waiting for the Grand Finale
The beauty pageant, as expected will run through its usual format of competition. The first part is the selection of Top 15 semi-finalists. The chosen 15 semi-finalists will be judged accordingly in swimsuit, evening gown and first round of interview portion. The 15 will be trimmed down to Top 10 and whoever gets the highest tallied score will advance on the Top 5 finalists. Special Awards like Miss Photogenic and Miss Congeniality will be given all throughout the competition.
Watch the event Live from the Imperial Ballroom in Bahamas on Sunday August 23, 2009 at 10:00 pm (GMT).
British sports minister says sorry to Gill for World Badminton pullout
A Sports Ministry official revealed to PTI that Sutcliffe called Gill on Friday to regret Badminton England’s (BE) last minute withdrawal from the elite tournament because of security reasons and assured England’s support when the capital hosts the Commonwealth Games next year.
“During the event, Dr Gill was in Switzerland, so the UK Sports Minister did not get a chance to clarify his stance. On Friday, he called Dr Gill to regret after the English shuttlers went home from Hyderabad in a hurry,” the official said.
The BE had reacted gingerly to a Home Ministry security advisory and pulled out citing “specific” Lashkar-e-Toiba threat to the Aug 10-16 event.
“During the conversation, Dr Gill told his counterpart that BE’s decision to withdraw was uncalled for and they did not bother to discuss it with us before leaving the country.
He also made it clear that neither the government nor the public here liked their action,” the official said.
Gill pointed out that England’s security fears were unfounded since the event went on without any safety hiccup.
“In his response, the UK Sports Minister assured full support for next year’s Commonwealth Games,” the official said.
Andhra Pradesh: YSR Cabinet to be expanded in November
Talking informally to reporters in his chamber in the state Assembly on Tuesday, the chief minister said performance of the incumbent ministers would be reviewed ahead of the Cabinet expansion. He, however, observed that the performance of his Council of Ministers was satisfactory.
The chief minister constituted his Council of Ministers on May 25 after the Congress government retained power in the April elections. The state Cabinet currently has 36 members, including the chief minister, and has scope for inclusion of six more.
Though the Legislative Council was revived in 2007, Reddy has not included any of its members in his Cabinet, with Finance and Legislative Affairs Minister K. Rosaiah being the exception.
Rosaiah served a full term as an MLA from 2004 and opted out of the contest in 2009. He was elected to the Legislative Council and, by virtue of his seniority and crucial role, has been retained as a minister.
Senior Congress MLCs have been demanding for long that they too be given berths in the Cabinet but the chief minister did not concede their demand earlier.
It still remains a suspense whether any MLC would be given a cabinet berth even in the forthcoming expansion as the chief minister was not willing to reveal his mind.
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