Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus selling online at Rs 21,399

New Delhi: The Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus, an upgraded version of the best-selling Galaxy S2, is available and up for sale on major online retail stores in the country.

While Croma and Homeshop18 have pegged the smartphone at Rs 25,999 and Rs 25,599 respectively, Sulekha and Infibeam are keeping the price tag at Rs 25,900.

Meanwhile, Tradus has kept the price of Galaxy S2 Plus at Rs 25,390 and Naaptol is selling the handset at Rs 24,999.

Ebay.in seems to be the only player which has the lowest price tag of Rs 21,399 for the Galaxy S2 Plus.


Specifications


Processor: 1.2 dual-core Broadcom BC28155 processor; Broadcom VideoCore IV

Display: 4.3-inch WVGA Super AMOLED Plus capacitive touchscreen; 217 ppi pixel density

OS: Android v4.1.2 (Jelly Bean)

RAM: 1GB

Storage: 8GB internal; expandable to 64GB

Camera: 8 MP rear 3264x2448 pixels; 2 MP front

Connectivity: Bluetooth v3.0, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 +5GHz), WiFi Direct

Battery: Li-Ion 1650 mAh battery
source:zee news

Badminton tournament opens in Vietnam....

Hanoi: As many as 269 badminton players from 14 countries and regions gathered on Tuesday in Vietnam`s capital Hanoi to compete at the Ciputra Hanoi Vietnam Challenge 2013.

The tournament, which opened here on Tuesday, is a ranking event of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and the Badminton Asia Confederation (BAC).

Held annually since 2009, the event offers prizes worth $15,000.

India maintain top spot in ICC ODI ranking; Kohli, Dhoni remain in top-10

Dubai: Team India maintained their top position in the latest ICC ODI ranking list with 119 points followed by England and Australia.

According to the fresh list issued on Monday, India is closely followed by England on 117 points and Australia are third on 116 points.

Since India top the table as per cut-off date, they will receive the shield and will collect a cheque of USD 175,000, while England will receive USD 75,000 for finishing second.

Rising star Virat Kohli and India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni maintained their third and fourth rank in the list with 812 and 784 points respectively.

The other two Indian players in the top-20 list are Suresh Raina on 12th spot and discarded Gautam Gambhir who has gained three places to 15th.

South African batsmen AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla are first and second on the list.

In the ODI bowlers` list, left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja moved two slots up the order to grab the seventh place with 663 points. The table is headed by Pakistan`s off-spinner Saeed Ajmal. All-rounder Jadeja maintained his fifth position in the All-rounder`s table with 333 points. Bangladesh`s Shakib Al Hasan displaced Pakistan`s T20 captain Mohammed Hafeez to get back his top ranking. 

Srinivasan hints he stopped Dhoni being sacked....

New Delhi: Indian cricket board president N.Srinivasan hinted that the board`s constitution gives him the power to approve any decision of the national selectors, including that on the captain.

When asked during an interview whether there was substance in the media reports that selectors were under pressure to sack Mahendra Singh after India lost four Tests in England and another four in Australia, but you had backed him, all that Srinivasan would say was "it is not proper to discuss selection matters. The constitution of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) does say that the president has to approve the national team."

When the question was rephrased and asked: "So, you have the last word as president?" 

Srinivasan: "That`s what the constitution of the BCCI says."

Asked whether Dhoni should choose to drop the shorter versions of the game format, as suggested by some experts including former captain Rahul Dravid, Srinivasan said it is for the selectors to take the call. 

"The selectors are there to take a call. We have an experienced group of selectors. It is for them to decide. But personally I feel that Dhoni is discharging the duties (captaining in all three formats) well," he said.

Former India selector Mohinder Amarnath had claimed that the last selection committee headed by Kris Srikkanth unanimously agreed to sack Dhoni after the team`s whitewash in England and Australia. But Srinivasan reportedly didn`t approve the move.

Asked if he spoke to Dhoni when the team was going through a tough phase, Srinivasan said: "All the Indian players are aware that the board is behind them. The BCCI has given confidence to the players that they should play their game. We will watch their back."

Srinivasan said Dhoni is very experienced captain and given the glorious uncertainties of the game he has sailed the team well. 

"During this season, his innings against England and the double hundred against Australia were game changers. He has always been an outstanding player. He gave us two World Cups. He is very experienced captain. Everybody will agree that given the glorious uncertainties of cricket Dhoni has sailed well," he said.

Incidentally, Dhoni who captains Srinivasan-owned Chennai Super Kings is now also the vice-president of a Chennai-based corporate.
source:zeenews

PROUD TO BE INDIAN....

Some Indian Facts. .
* India is the world's largest, oldest, continuous civilization.
* India never invaded any country in her last 10000 years of history.
* India is the world's largest democracy.
* Varanasi, also known as Benares, was called "the ancient city" when Lord Buddha visited it in 500 B.C and is the oldest, continuously inhabited city in the world today.
* India invented the Number System. Zero was invented by Aryabhatta.
* The World's first university was established in Takshashila in 700BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century BC was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education.
.

Famous Quotes on India (by non-Indians)
* Albert Einstein said: We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made.

*Mark Twain : "India is, the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grand mother of tradition. our most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India

Mahi with New ''X132 Hellcat''

Ashraf assures Misbah of captaincy till CT...

Lahore: Any threats to the Test and One-day captaincy of Misbah-ul-Haq have been dissipated by the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Zaka Ashraf during a meeting with the players in Johannesburg.

Ashraf, who met the players and team management during a visit to Johannesburg to watch the final One-day international between Pakistan and South Africa, told Misbah that he will be continuing as captain for the Champions Trophy in England in June and should be prepared for the challenge.

"Misbah was told before the final match he should not be concerned about his captaincy or place in the team as he would be leading the team in the Champions Trophy and he should just focus on trying to win the one-day series against South Africa," a source told PTI.

The source said that Ashraf had also praised the players for their fightback in the ODI series but made it clear that no player -- senior or junior -- should take his place for granted.

Ashraf also added that the board was providing them all facilities and incentives, so they were also expected to repay with good performances.

A lobby in the Pakistan cricket community had been insisting that Misbah`s tenure as one-day captain and player was now over and he would be replaced by Muhammad Hafeez as skipper for the Champions Trophy.

But the source insisted that since the time Misbah got back to form in the one-day series, he was more confident about himself and his captaincy.

The source said that Ashraf had also discussed about the appointment of a permanent batting coach and assured the team that the a coach would be named before the Champions Trophy.

"The coaching committee has been told to revive and fast track its search and recommend candidates for the batting coach position. The names of some the former Pakistan players, including Zaheer Abbas is also being considered for the position," the source said.

The board had appointed former captain, Inzamam-ul-Haq as batting consultant to work with the players before the team went to India for the One-day series in December.

It also wanted to send Inzamam with the team to South Africa but later dropped the plan after failing to reach an agreement with the former captain, who had demanded a two-year contract and fees equivalent to what is being paid to head coach, Dav Whatmore.

The source said that the national selection committee has also been asked to continue till Champions Trophy.

"The board has informed the selectors that they will be selecting the squad for the Champions Trophy although their tenure had ended with the South African tour," the source said. 

Yuvraj has inspired to climb Everest: Arunima

New Delhi: Arunima Sinha, who lost her left leg two years ago after being thrown off a moving train, says cricketer Yuvraj Singh has inspired her to make an attempt to scale the highest peak in the world -- the Mount Everest.

The fateful train journey ruined the career of a budding volleyball player who wanted to represent India. But, the steely resolve of the 26-year-old girl from Uttar Pradesh could not diminish her interest in sport.

This time, though, its mountaineering.

"The four months I spent at the AIIMS were like a bad dream. I have moved on. I have lot of unfulfilled dreams, out of which one is to climb the Everest. Hopefully, I will be able to achieve this feat," Arunima said, adding that she had decided to climb the mountain when she was still being treated at the hospital.

On an artificial limb now, Arunima says she has drawn inspiration from Yuvraj Singh, besides her family members.

"When I was training for this expedition, I used to think if Yuvraj Singh can battle a dangerous disease like cancer and play for India again, even I can climb the Everest being an amputee," she said.

Being an amputee, Arunima recognises the hardships that await her during the expedition and has been briefed by Mark Inglis, who is the only double amputee in the world to have climbed Mount Everest.

"I asked him about the problems I could face in the scaling of the peak. He was very kind in advising me and boosting my confidence," she said.

Arunima has undergone arduous training for over a year under the guidance of Bachendri Pal, who is the first Indian woman to have conquered the Everest.

"I have never seen a girl with so much determination. She is very focused towards her target and her mental strength is exemplary. I think she has all the qualities of being a successful mountaineer," Bachendri, who heads the Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF), said.

Susen Mahato, hailing from Saraikela Kharsawan district of Jharkhand will accompany Arunima. 

`Rubin football pitch to be fit for Chelsea`

Kazan: Russian football club Rubin Kazan insist the pitch will be ready for the Chelsea visit in the Europa League next month despite a UEFA order that the game must be played in Moscow because of a poor-quality surface in the stadium.

The first leg of the quarterfinal tie to be held on April 4th is at Stamford Bridge, and the Russians wanted UEFA to allow them to play the April 11 second leg in their home city.

"I want to say that we will do everything possible and impossible to hold the Rubin-Chelsea match on April 11 in Kazan," said Pavel Nikulin, the Central Stadium`s director.

Rubin are currently appealing the decision to play the match on Luzhniki Stadium`s artificial pitch in the capital.

The churned-up turf at the Central Stadium has been replanted with more than six kilos of grass seed and passed fit by the Russian Premier League for the club`s next domestic league fixture against Lokomotiv Moscow on Saturday, Nikulin said.

The club had to play their first two Europa League matches of the year at Luzhniki after holding all group games last year in Kazan.

Numerous Pak cricketers to feature in Sri Lankan Premier League 2013

Karachi: The Sri Lankan Premier League is set to attract a large number of Pakistani spectators as players from the country will rule the roost in each of the seven participating teams.

Pakistan`s Mohammad Irfan is set to feature too and although he is yet to be signed, sources close to the league claim he would be one of the biggest scalps in the auction this year.

Besides Irfan, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, and Shoaib Malik are also set to invoke renewed interest in both the SLPL and the Caribbean Premier League, which will take place from July 29-August 26.
Furthermore, top Pakistani T20 cricketers like Muhammad Hafeez, Imran Nazir, Nasir Jamshed, Umer Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Umar Gul and Junaid Khan, who have played the first edition of SLPL, will be in action in the second edition as well.

Meanwhile, some of the leading broadcasters are trying to acquire telecast rights of the tournament in the country, after taking into concern the interest of the cricketing fans.

The SLPL, along-with Caribbean Premier League are the two tournaments that would give local cricket fans the rare opportunity of seeing their national cricketers mix with the best in the business from other cricketing nations. 

Not fair to discuss about Sachin`s retirement: Srinivasan

New Delhi: BCCI president N Srinivasan on Monday refused to be drawn into a debate on whether it was time for Sachin Tendulkar to call it quits from Test cricket, saying he is the "greatest batsman India has produced" and it won`t be fair to the batsman to discuss about his retirement.

Asked whether the BCCI was giving special treatment to Tendulkar when compared to the likes of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, both of whom are presently out of the team due to non-performance, Srinivasan said, "I don`t think any one of us can talk about Sachin (Tendulkar)".

"Sachin is probably the greatest cricketer India has ever produced. I don`t think it is wise to sit and analyse his performance series wise," Srinivasan said

Srinivasan`s personal opinion was that Tendulkar has no comparison as he belongs to an altogether different league.

"Sachin is different from others. This is my personal view and I distinguish between selection matters and personal view," the BCCI chief said.

Srinivasan also refused to react to a column by renowned historian and cricket writer, Ramachandra Guha where he said that Tendulkar should have retired on a high, like Vijay Merchant, who quit international cricket after scoring a flawless century against England in 1951.

"It`s not fair to be quizzed about Sachin because I am not a selector. I don`t think we should be discussing this. It`s not fair on Sachin to be discussed at all," the BCCI president said.

Tendulkar scored a solid 81 in the first Test in Chennai but failed to score any other big knock in India`s historic 4-0 clean sweep against Australia in the four-match series. 

Keeping my fingers crossed as far as IPL is concerned: Clarke

Sydney: Recuperating from a back problem, Australia skipper Michael Clarke kept his "fingers crossed" as far as participation in the upcoming IPL is concerned, and said he would "do as I`m told" by the medical staff in deciding whether or not to play in the cash-rich T20 league.

"I`d be silly to make that decision (on the IPL) right now, I think I need to wait on the results, listen to the experts and then make a plan from there," Clarke said on landing here from India, where his team was whitewashed in the four-match Test series.

"I`ll have scans this week and spend plenty of time with the physio, fingers crossed it turns out okay. Sitting down for 12 hours has made it a little bit stiff, but I`m really confident that I`m in good hands with my physio here in Sydney."

Clarke said he has "hurt his hamstring throughout the Australian summer and it has just lingered on".

"I haven`t had the opportunity to get that 100 per cent fit due to how much cricket we`ve had."

Clarke said the unprecedented events before the Mohali Test, when four players including vice-captain Shane Watson were suspended on disciplinary ground, had been a "kick up the backside" for all.

"It certainly made us realise that what we thought were the little things are quite large in our group and important to our group having success," Clarke was quoted as saying.

"I think the team have responded very well, the players who were left out have come back really well, and it`s good to see a few of those guys getting opportunities in this Test.

"It was one of the toughest challenges of my career and I`m sure it has been for the other guys as well. Travelling to India and playing there is always tough. We knew we were going to face a lot of spin bowling and we have done.

"I think we`ll learn from that, everybody will walk out of India as a better player and certainly more well prepared next time we go there for Test matches."

Clarke said his deputy Watson was not included alongside the coach Mickey Arthur and the team manager Gavin Dovey in discussions around the decision to suspend the players in Mohali because "he was one of the players the decision was getting made on". 

BCCI tech committee discusses incentives for outright wins....

New Delhi: The BCCI technical committee under the chairmanship of former India captain Anil Kumble has discussed the possibility of introducing monetary incentives for teams that put in an extra effort to register outright wins in Ranji Trophy.

The technical committee met in Mumbai last Friday to discuss domestic cricket and the Ranji Trophy format.

The members agreed that most teams playing for first- innings lead opt to take the safer route making the four-day matches drab.

"Punjab and UP had four outright wins and champions Mumbai had only one outright win in first eight games. We are looking at options which can encourage teams to go for the maximum. The committee is mulling on ideas to introduce monetary incentives for states which record maximum number of outright wins," a technical committee member said.

"Look, point-based incentives are not good enough these days. If there is a prize money for maximum number of wins, the players may feel the urge to try something more than get a first innings lead. We want to discuss the issue further and put forth a proposal to the working committee," the official said.

The committee is also seriously contemplating increasing the gap between two group league matches so that players get adequate rest.

"Now, we have a three-day gap between two Ranji Trophy matches. If a team travels, then the players only get a day`s rest and train a day before the next match starts. This gives them very less recovery time and some sustain fatigue-based injuries."

There is also a proposal by the technical committee to use S G Test balls for the U-25 CK Nayudu Trophy matches so that the players get the feel of first-class cricket. 

Mumbai Indians start training camp for IPL

Mumbai: Mumbai Indians kicked off their Indian Premier League training camp on Monday at the Wankhede Stadium, under the watchful eyes of chief coach John Wright, chief mentor Anil Kumble and assistant coach Robin Singh.

Seven players including members of the triumphant Mumbai Ranji squad - Dhawal Kulkarni, Aditya Tare, Sushant Marathe and Suryakumar Yadav - attended the first day`s session, a team spokesperson said.

"The others are expected to join the camp as and when they are free from their domestic duties," the spokesperson added.

MI will be led by former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting in the T20 tournament, commencing on April 3 this season.

The IPL franchise is starting its campaign against Royal Challengers in Bangalore on April 4.

The Mumbai Indians’ first home game is scheduled for April 9 against the Delhi Daredevils after their second away game against former champions Chennai Super Kings, on April 6. 

BCCI`s faith in team and captain justified: Srinivasan

New Delhi: The 4-0 clean sweep against Australia in the just-concluded Test series has justified the BCCI`s faith in the team and its leader Mahendra Singh Dhoni, according to Board President N Srinivasan who said a "stern" test awaits the team when they tour South Africa.

Lauding India for its historic series victory over the Australians, Srinivasan said the Board "always had confidence in the team" despite its below-par performances in recent times.

"It is very nice to see India winning. We always had the confidence in the team. We understood that the team was going through a period of transition after some great stalwarts of Indian cricket chose to retire. But I think our faith in the team, the captain and the players have been justified," he told a leading English Channel.

"Cricket is a sport. In sport you cannot be winning all the time. I don`t think that the Indian players want to lose. They also want to win, they fought hard. Sometimes they had bad luck, circumstances were against them. But overall, we should be proud of our cricketers," he said.

Srinivasan was particularly happy with the way India bounced back after the 1-2 defeat at the hands of England at home in the previous series, but said stern tests awaits Mahendra Singh Dhoni`s men when they tour South Africa later this year.

"Against England I thought may be were little bit unlucky at times, but the team regrouped and performed extremely well against Australia. But we will have tests in South Africa and New Zealand towards the end of this year and early part of next year.

"But all of that is part of building of a team and the character of the players will also come out," he said
The BCCI chief, however, refused to comment on the selectors decision to drop the frontline opening duo of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir for under-performance during the series against Australia.

"I don't comment on selection matters. But I think overall the selectors have been very sincere and have been trying their best looking at the present and future of Indian cricket," Srinivasan said.

Without directly stating that Sehwag and Gambhir's exclusion was the correct decision, Srinivasan praised the performances of of Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara and Shikhar Dhawan.

"I don't have to say that," was his immediate reaction when asked whether the changes made in the team have borne out results or not.

"What we should be happy about is the performances of Shikhar Dhawan, Pujara and Vijay. The team is looking different, looking confident. The bowlers also have performed well," he said.

Asked whether it would be difficult for the likes of Sehwag and Gambhir to make a comeback in the team, Srinivasan said, "It is for the selectors to answer. All I can say is that the team looks good."

Srinivasan spoke highly of Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is also the skipper of his IPL team Chennai Super Kings.

"He (Dhoni) has always been playing a good role. He has always been an outstanding player. We can't forget that he has captained India to two World Cup wins. He is an experienced captain. I think he has sailed well through all ups and downs," the BCCI president said.

Srinivisan also refused to give a direct answer when asked whether he backed Dhoni when the selectors at one point of time thought of replacing the wicketkeeper-batsman as skipper after the disastrous tour of England and Australia.

"It is not proper to discuss what happens in a selection meeting. But the constitution of the BCCI does say that the president has to approve the national team," Srinivasan said.

"I definitely believed that the team should be backed," he said.

Talking about the fate of Sri Lankan players, who are uncertain to play in Chennai in the upcoming IPL in view of the prevailing anti-Sinhalese sentiments in Tamil Nadu, Srinivasan hoped that the matter will be sorted out before the commencement of the Twenty20 league on April 3.

"These are operational matters, we have got an event management company in IMG to deal with," he said.

"I believe the government of Tamil Nadu is extremely capable of handling any situation. There is absolutely no problem of law and order here. IPL is some time away and these are issues I think will get sorted out.

"India is a safe place. Every state in India is safe to play cricket," Srinivasan said.

Asked about the recent CBI raids at his residence regarding the non-payment of custom duties of 11 imported cars, Srinivasan said, "No car was taken away and its not 11 cars as stated. I was not even in India.

"I believe there was a visit, some checking took place because the CBI was possibly looking at some offender not directly related to us. They just wanted to verify some facts which they did," he said.

"India Cements has paid all duties on everything which are applicable. We never defaulted on anything," he added. 

Aussie team worst ever: Oz media

Sydney: The Australian media has left no stones unturned in slamming the national Test team for their shambolic performance during their humiliating 4-0 series defeat against India, branding the current team as worst ever.

"It`s official. Australian cricket`s class of 2013 is the worst to tour India and the nation`s worst Test outfit in 34 years."

"That is the macabre reputation Michael Clarke`s battered troops will bring home after India completed a 4-0 series sweep of Australia in the fourth Test."

"Australia`s long and miserable Tour de Flop officially flat lined at 3.49pm on day three (of Delhi Test) when MS Dhoni hit the winning runs to secure a six-wicket victory at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium."

Badel further added, "And, despite Nathan Lyon`s superb 7-94 first-innings haul, now the recriminations begin as Australian cricket supremos conduct a post-mortem just 14 weeks away from the Ashes in England."

"While just one Australian team has won in India in the past 43 years, the magnitude of this series loss is underscored by Australia`s previous period of turbulence."

"In 1979, Graham Yallop presided over a 5-1 Ashes loss after the World Series Cricket revolution forced the expulsion of Australia`s best stars, ripping the heart out of the national team. This time, there are no excuses."

The Australian media singled out vice-captain Shane Watson for his poor performance throughout the series, urging the selectors to rethink over the all rounder`s place in the team. 

Where are those who said I will never return home, asks Musharraf

Islamabad: After nearly five years in self-exile, former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf on Sunday returned to his homeland. Neither arrest threat nor Taliban warning could stop Musharraf from returning to Pakistan. 

Musharraf has been living in self-exile in London and Dubai for four-and-a-half years. He risks possible arrest in connection with the killing of an ex-prime minister, while the Pakistani Taliban says they have an assassination team ready for him if he sets foot in the country. 
The former four-star general first declared his intention to go back earlier this year. On Saturday, he gave a news conference in Dubai confirming that he would be arriving in the port city of Karachi to take part in May 11 elections despite "fear of the unknown”. Addressing a press conference, the All Pakistan Muslim League chief said that he was going back to Pakistan with the slogan of ‘Save Pakistan’. Musharraf said those creating doubts about his arrival, would realise the true fact on his arrival in Karachi. But just hours after the announcement, the Pakistan Taliban released a video threatening to unleash suicide bombers and snipers against Musharraf if he comes back. 

Here is the live coverage of the Pervez Musharraf’s journey from self-exile in Dubai to Pakistan: 

7:00 pm: He added, "My party slogan today is save Pakistan. I am thankful and happy to see so many people come to welcome me." 

6:46 pm: "Where are the people who said I will never return home. I have been receiving death threats and some people have been trying to scare me but I have returned home for the sake of my country and people," an emotional Musharraf told his supporters. 

6:40 pm: "There are a lot of challenges. There are security challenges, legal challenges, political challenges. But I will face them," Musharraf clad in an off white shalwar-kameez said as he made his way out of the aircraft. 

6:30 pm: "I have taken a big risk returning home now. But tears come to my eyes seeing the state of the country now. I ask where is the Pakistan I had left five years ago," Musharraf said. 

6:22 pm: The former commando-turned-politician said he would soon be launching a countrywide campaign of public rallies and media interaction. 

2:45 pm: Musharraf has vowed to save Pakistan and make it a country its citizens would be proud of. According to The Express Tribune, the former president expressed grief over the current state of affairs in Pakistan, saying: “I’m here to save Pakistan, I’m not scared of anyone but Allah”. 

2:38 pm: Posting a picture of himself meeting with party workers after he landed, Musharraf tweeted: "Thrilled to be back home. Meeting with APML office bearers and workers. Pakistan First! PM" 

2:15 pm: Security forces whisked away Musharraf after he landed in Karachi. The security forces took Musharraf away in a convoy of about a dozen vehicles and did not allow him to greet hundreds of supporters waiting for him at the airport. His planned press conference at the airport was also cancelled and would be held later in the week in Islamabad. 

1:45 pm: After arriving in Pakistan, Musharraf told a reporter: “I am nostalgic. I love Pakistan and missed it, but I do not have tears in my eyes.”

1:24 pm : Pervez Musharraf's plane landed at Jinnah International airport in port city of Karachi by a chartered Emirates flight from Dubai. Amidst huge security, his supporters accorded him a warm welcome. 

1:10 pm: Talking to reporters within the aircraft, a smiling Musharraf said: "It is (a) very emotional (moment). I'm going back after four years. There are a lot of challenges. There are security challenges, legal challenges, political challenges. But I will face them". 

1:05 pm : Along with a group of around 200 supporters and journalists, Pervez Musharraf is all set to arrive in Karachi. 

1:00 pm: Pervez Musharraf will reportedly address a rally in Karachi amidst huge security. 

11:40 am: As soon as the 69-year-old boarded the plane, he tweeted: "Settled in my seat on the plane to begin my journey home. Pakistan First! PM". Reports say that before take-off, chants of "Long live Pervez Musharraf" could be heard on board. 

10:35 am : Musharraf's supporters gathered at Dubai's international airport for his planned return to his homeland. 

10:00 am : The former Pakistani president tweeted a photo of him leaving his Dubai home, clad in a white shalwar-kameez. 

India planning to tie up with Russia in naval ship-building field

New Delhi: India is planning to tie up with Russia for enhancing self reliance in capabilities for design and development of all types of warships, including submarines, for the Navy and the Coast Guard. 

The Defence Ministry is planning to have a tie-up between the Kerala-based National Institute of Research and Development in Defence Shipbuilding (NIRDESH) and Russian Krylov Institute for working in this direction, officials told PTI here. 

The Russian institute, set up in 1890s, has been working in this field for a very long time and can help NIRDESH to augment its capabilities, they said. 

NIRDESH was launched on January 4, 2011 by Defence Minister A K Antony to help in developing a robust defence industrial base by providing technology support and promote ancillary industry participation in the defence shipbuilding sector. 

The issue was also discussed at the meeting of the Board of Governors of NIRDESH headed by the Defence Minister, who is also the chairman of the institute. 

The meeting decided to appoint the head of the Naval Design Directorate as the nodal officer to support NIRDESH as the Navy would be the biggest beneficiary out of the output of the institute, they said. 

A sub-committee has also been appointed by the Ministry to prepare a roadmap for growth of NIRDESH while another would examine and select Research and Development projects to be undertaken by it. 

"One project on indigenisation of rubber items used on Scorpene submarines is already progressing at the Rubber Research Institute of India at Kottayam," they said. 

NIRDESH will also take up projects related to development of civilian vessels.