Citigroup Hacked, 200,000 Accounts Compromised

By Todd Haselton

On Thursday Citigroup announced that hackers had breached its systems in May and accessed personal data from 200,000 accounts — about 1% of its customers.

The hackers managed to steal customer email addresses, contact information and account numbers, but Reuters reported that other information such as birth dates, Social Security Numbers and credit card expiration dates were not accessed.

“We are contacting customers whose information was impacted. Citi has implemented enhanced procedures to prevent a recurrence of this type of event,” Citigroup spokesperson Sean Kevelighan, said.

“For the security of these customers, we are not disclosing further details.”

It is currently unclear who was responsible for the breach.

Read More Here

Why The Fast Weapon Works

By Milind Kokje

Image: Javed Choudhary

The midnight police action against Baba Ramdev and his followers at Delhi’s Ramlila  Maidan may cost the  ruling Congress Party dearly. And surely they are not unaware of this.

Having said that, we must also concede the fact that the Congress showed guts by taking the risk to finally show the world who really calls the shots.

When Anna Hazare, and then Baba Ramdev, entered the political theatre without wearing any party badge and started coercing the administration with their diktats,  the government initially gave in for some time.

It even accepted Hazare’s demand of participation in the Bill drafting process, though in fact that is the job of the government and Parliament.  It also held several ministerial level dialogues with Baba Ramdev. But it was all in vain, with the yoga guru remaining adamant about his scheduled fast. This finally forced the government to act against him.

Thanks mainly to the immature media, which thrives on drama and entertainment, Hazare and Ramdev became instant national heroes.

But though it played a crucial role, one cannot blame just the media.  One must understand that the media has a limited role and impact. The issues have to be sufficiently hot and appealing to the public for sustained media coverage.

The method of  agitation also plays a critical role. A public meeting or a morcha has limited exposure as it gets over in a few hours, as against a dharna or a fast which can go on for days, ensuring prolonged media coverage.

A fast is even much more effective, since it creates an image of someone willing to sacrifice everything, even life, for a social cause. And since no government can risk being seen as apathetic towards someone willing to risk his life for a cause, the chances of success are high.

Hence an indefinite fast has become the preferred weapon of such activists because it generates prolonged media publicity on one hand and puts pressure on the government to accede to their demands on the other.

In order to extricate itself from such situations, sometimes the government gives in to the demands, without really considering whether the cause is really just for everybody concerned.

Take the case of Medha Patkar’s  recent fast in Mumbai for Golibar slum colony people. The Maharashtra government accepted  all her demands, only to face another group of people from the same colony taking out a morcha protesting against Patkar’s role and the state government for acceding to her demands.

Which is why such fasts and other coercive tactics are now being viewed with increasing scepticism by both the public and the government.

But the real reason for the rise of  people like Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev is the complete vacuum in the real political arena caused by the complete erosion of credibility of all parties and their leaders.

No political party can really organize and lead such an agitation against corruption. Even if they did, they would not garner the same level of public support.

The people have no faith in political parties and leaders,  and hence they are moving towards such non-party leadership.

For instance, the BJP has openly supported Ramdev. But the question is, why didn’t the party organize such an agitation or fast on its own? The answer is simple: its past while in power at the centre will haunt it, and so will the situation in Karnataka.  And that is the weakness of every party in the country.
The inability of mainstream political parties to launch such agitations with popular support,  and the growing support for such movements by non-party leaders is not a good sign.

In a democracy, people elect their representatives to enact laws and to look after their problems. Civil society, different organizations, independent leaders do have a role to play in highlighting certain issues and problems. But this is a limited role.  Crossing those limits can undermine the democratic institutions, which will create new problems.
If the babas and other gurus are to be stopped from taking centre-stage with popular public support,  political parties and leaders of all shades will have to  indulge in some serious introspection. They will have to bring in changes within to instil confidence among the people, make them believe that they are reliable, trustworthy, non-corrupt. They will need to leverage their bonds with the masses, and make them believe that they –and the system—work for the public good.

It is time the political parties took serious steps to re-establish their credibility. Only then the people will turn to them once again.

Mizoram University Tie With Security Firm Under Fire

Aizawl, Jun 10 : The Mizoram University (MZU) has come under fire for appointing an 'unlicensed' Guwahati-based security agency for providing security service within the university campus.

Sources said, following a complaint submitted by three Aizawl-based security firms, the Mizoram government has served a show-cause notice to the university and the appointed security firm, North Eastern Security Service (NESS).

According to the complaint lodged with the joint secretary to the government of Mizoram’s home department in April, the NESS did not produce any of the required certificate and licence at the time of submitting quotation.

On the contrary, the local competitors submitted certificate of registration issued by labour and employment department, government of Mizoram, and licence for running the business of private security agency in Mizoram issued by the state home department.

It was stated in the complaint that the NESS later on February 2, 2010 (which was four days after the appointment was made on January 28) obtained a licence from the Assistant Labour Commissioner, government of India, Silchar (Assam).

The three security firms then sought a clarification from the Mizoram’s labour and employment department which state that the licence issued by the assistant labour commissioner in Silchar was however meant for employing labourers, and not security guards.

Moreover, the state’s home department is the sole authority to issue a licence to run a security service business in Mizoram, the complaint stated.

Therefore, the appointment of NESS, which did not have a licence from the state’s home department, is a clear violation of the existing rules under the Private Security Agency Regulation Act, 2005 of the government of India and a notification issued by the government of Mizoram.

India And Myanmar Officials To Hold Talks On Border

Imphal, Jun 10: A sectoral meeting of the officials of India and Myanmar is scheduled to be held on June 14 and 15 to discuss issues like border fencing at Moreh in Manipur's Chandel district, official sources said today (June 10).


The meeting would be held at Kalewa, about 50 kms from Moreh, in Myanmar.


The present construction of the fencing at Moreh has been stopped following objections raised by Myanmar officials that the the construction site included a small area of Myanmar, sources said.

Indian officials had already put their point that the construction was ten feet on Indian side from "no man''s land".

The 14-member Indian delegation would be led by Shambhu Singh, joint secretary (north east), ministry of home affairs, and representatives from Manipur government would also be included in the team, sources said adding that other issues like sharing of intelligence, security situation at the border would also be discussed.

Wannabe Cops On Warpath in Manipur

Sinlung's View: With no jobs on the horizon, any job is a good job. With so much unemployment and so much skill...its always push and shove and its always the undeserving that get the job, WHY? Because they can buy the job.

Where else in the world would you find...people paying money to bureaucrats, politicians to get jobs except in Manipur. A primary school teacher's job costs about Rs 6 Lakhs and depending on the amount and grade it surely increases.

IT'S SAD. Manipur is no longer a jewel of the east but a garbage dump of unwanted job wannabees, unprofessional, skill-less, bribe-minded individuals sucking Manipur in the chasm of oblivion.



Imphal, Jun 10 : A bandh called by a group of candidates. who had appeared for interviews to get recruited as havildars and Constable Radio Telephone Operators (CRTOs) last year in the Manipur police department, failed to evoke response on Thursday.

They were protesting against the state government's delay in declaring results of the interview the candidates had announced the launching of a 36-hour state-wide general strike from Thursday morning.

After clearing the physical efficiency and written tests in July 2008, the 480 candidates appeared for their viva voce test in April and May last year. However, the results have not been declared till date.

The irate candidates claimed that 73 Havildars and 91 CRTOs were supposed to be recruited. They formed an association and launched an agitation seeking declaration of results.

The group has also asked their guardians too back their demands by setting up a similar body.

As decided by the two bodies in a meeting convened on Sunday, the 36-hour general strike was launched from Thursday morning 5am, a key leader of the candidates' association said.

The state government should be held responsible for any eventualities that might be triggered in the course of the stir, he added.

He said the association had no other alternative but to launch the strike as the government has repeatedly delayed declaration of results.

Northeast Indian archbishop is Nominee For Nobel Peace Prize

New Delhi, Jun 10 : The Indian Church strongly supports the candidacy of Mgr. Thomas Menamparampil, SDB, Archbishop of Guwahati, for the Nobel Peace Prize: "It would be a legitimate recognition for the commitment and dedication carried out for more than 25 years to build peace and harmony " Fr. Joseph Babu Karakombil says to Fides, spokesman for the Epioscopal Conference in India. "

Archbishop Menamparampil has been working tirelessly for peace, reconciliation and stability in northeast India for decades, a region marked by continuous territorial conflicts and ethnic clashes.

His work is recognized by religious and civic leaders, local, and is known and appreciated all over India and across Asia. Peace and reconciliation in the name of the Gospel, is the mission to which he dedicated his whole life.

This is why the Indian Bishops support with conviction his candidature for the Nobel Peace Prize, " explains Fr Karakombil.

The salesian Archbishop is currently President of the Bishops ' Conference in Northeast India, while also chairs the Committee on Education and Culture, in the Episcopal Conference of India.

He also works on a continental level and in the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC), he leads the Commission for Evangelization. His work is greatly appreciated by all the Bishops of the continent.

The candidacy of Archbishop Menamparampil for the Nobel Peace Prize was launched by the Italian magazine "The Salesian Bulletin", which remarked how the Archbishop, a skilled mediator and great peacemaker, has successfully contributed to the pacification of at least seven ethnic conflicts in the Northeast India:
that between the Bodo and Adivasi groups (1996);
between Kuki and Paite (1998);
between Dimas and Hmar (2003);
between Karbi and Kuki (2003);
between Karbi and Dimas (2004);
between Bodo and Muslim groups in Udalguri (2010);
and among Rabhi and Garo (2011).

His strategy of mediation, says the Archbishop himself, is only one: "to allow the Word of God to live in the hearts and lives of people and communities that are in conflict.

This is how peace flourishes ".

Sources: Agenzia Fides

Assam Organises Handloom Workshop For Tribal Women

Guwahati, Jun 9 : With an aim to help the tribal women, Assam government has organized a month-long handloom workshop in Guwahati. It is being attended by 50 women from various self-help groups and NGOs in the region.

The workshop is intended to provide training to the tribal women in all facets of weaving, which includes comprehensive production techniques, price calculation mechanism, design development, and effective marketing of the woven products in the country.

The tribal women, for whom it is a liberating experience, are attending the workshop to learn new weaving techniques as it is not possible to gain such exposure while being at home.

The workshop focuses on several aspects which includes technology and different weaving techniques.

The women attending the programme said that it would help them to generate good returns for hand-woven goods if they are marketed efficiently.

Hand-woven clothes are in great demand across the country, particularly the traditional Assamese sari, which is produced in the region and fetches really good prices in the cities.

The introduction of new technology through training is expected to help handloom weavers to produce more number of items in lesser time.

MF Husain Dies in London

London, Jun 9 :  Maqbool Fida Husain, one of India's best-known artists, died of a heart attack at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London at 2:30 am local time on Thursday. He was 96.
 
Mr Husain had been in indifferent health for over a month, reported PTI quoting family sources.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Mr Husain's death is "a national loss." President Pratibha Patil said his death "left a void in the world of art."

In recent years, artists and activists, like Mr Husain, had lamented his inability to live in India because of death threats and legal cases over paintings that Hindu groups described as obscene.   Mr Husain left India in 2006. In 2010, he was offered and accepted citizenship of Qatar and divided his time between homes in Qatar and London.  The government has been criticized by activists and artists for failing to make a rigorous attempt to bring Mr Husain back to India.

After Mr Husain moved abroad, right-wing groups continued to vandalize exhibitions that displayed his work.

Mr Husain repeatedly expressed a yearning to return to India. "My heart will always be in India...it is my beloved land," he said in an interview to NDTV in March last year. "I never felt I was betrayed," he said of India, stressing that he was proud of India's democracy. (Read & Watch: MF Husain's interview to NDTV - March 2010)

Popularly known as the 'Picasso of India', Mr Husain was among the earliest Indian painters to command huge prices at international auctions.

He also directed a few films. In 1967, Husain's first film, Through the Eyes of a Painter, won a Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival.

He often described Bollywood actor Madhuri Dixit as his muse. He made a film with her, titled Gaja Gamini. She was also the subject of a series of paintings he titled Fida. Husain also made a film with Tabu, titled Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities.

Mr Husain began gaining international attention in the late 1940s.  He joined the Progressive Artists' Group, founded by Francis Newton Souza, in 1947. The group was formed to explore a new idiom for Indian art by young artists wanting to break with the nationalist traditions established by the Bengal School of Art.

Honoured with the prestigious Padma Shree, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan, Mr Husain's Battle of Ganga and Jamuna: Mahabharata 12, fetched USD 1.6 million in 2008, setting a world record at Christie's South Asian Modern and Contemporary Art sale.