India's Lanka tour itinerary finalised

Dambulla will host the first two games of India's five-match ODI tour of Sri Lanka [Images] on January 28 and 30.
Both the matches will be played at Rangiri Dambulla International cricket stadium (RDICS).
Colombo's R Premadasa International Cricket stadium (RPICS) will host the third and fourth match on February 2 and 5, besides the only Twenty20 [Images] match of the tour on February 10.
The fifth ODI is scheduled on February 8 at Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo.
The Indian team will reach Colombo on January 26.
Tour itinerary:
Jan 26: Arrival in Colombo.
Jan 28: 1st ODI (RDICS)
Jan 30: 2nd ODI (RDICS)
Feb 2: 3rd ODI (RPICS)
Feb 5: 4th ODI (RPICS)
Feb 8: 5th ODI (SSC)
Feb 10: T/20 (RPICS)
Feb 11: Departure for India

ISI recruits 10-year-olds for jihad: IB

Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence has instructed terror modules in India to begin recruiting boys for the cause of jihad from the time they are 10 years old, claims an Intelligence Bureau report.
These groups are called the White Falcons.
Intelligence sources told rediff.com that according to the indoctrination process, these boys are not trained in using arms, but gradually conditioned to follow the path of jihad.
The modules are instructed to look for preachers and educationists who approve of the ISI's agenda to train these boys.
The sources say at least 5,000 Indian boys are part of the White Falcons. The IB report also details how the ISI has structured its operations in India.
If the White Falcon groups are the lowest rung, the other groups are named the Tauqeers, Call of Jihad, Ikhwans and Ansars.
Tauqeers are the 12 people who form the core group that reports directly to the ISI. These people are usually leaders of various terrorist outfits floated and backed by the ISI like the Jaish-e-Mohammed. Sources said Students Islamic Movement of India chief Safdar Nagori was one of the Tauqeers.
Below the Tauqueers is a group called the Call of Jihad. This group has around 15,000 to 20,000 members who are concentrated mostly in Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh [Images], Madhya Pradesh [Images], West Bengal and Kerala [Images].
Members of the Call of Jihad group identify people who can be recruited and collect funds. This group reports to the Tauqueers who direct their efforts.
The members, who are appointed by members of the Call of Jihad group and are approved by a Tauqueer, are part of a group known as the Ikhwans.
IB sources believe the Ikhwans number 6,000. Fahim Ansari, the man who surveyed likely targets in Mumbai [Images] for the 26/11 attacks, was an Ikhwan.
These men generally constitute sleeper cells and become active just before terror attacks. The Ikhwans take instructions from a group called the Ansars.
The Ansars are mainly involved in the execution part of a terror strike. The men who plant the bombs or undertake a suicide missions are usually Ansars.

Jharkhand governor reccomends President's Rule

In the wake of a logjam between the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and the Congress over who should be the next chief minister of Jharkhand, the state Governor Syed Sibtey Razi has in a letter to the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram [Images] recommended that the Centre move to impose President's Rule in the state.
Highly placed sources in the Governor's office disclose that the Razi sent the letter late this afternoon when all efforts to break the impasse between Laloo Yadav and Shibhu Soren failed as each is continuing to stick to his stand on who should take over after Shibhu Soren demitted office on Monday in the wake of his electoral defeat.
Sources say that the recommendation could also be in the nature of a pressure tactic to bring the warring United Progressive Alliance leaders to heel as no one wants President's Rule imposed and most certainly not an early election, with the state assembly polls due in February 2010. In the event that it does not have the desired effect, President's Rule would most certainly be on the way.
While Shibhu Soren's candidate for the chief minister's post is Champai Soren, Lalu Yadav along with independents have been supporting Madhu Koda and are pressing that he be reinstalled. Interestingly the Christian lobby in the Congress is plugging for another JMM candidate Nalin Soren with Mabelle Robello, Bandhu Tirkey, Stephen Marandi, Neil Tirkey and pradesh Congress committee president Pradip Balmuchu supporting his candidature.
With a three-way split in the UPA complicating the situation, prevailing wisdom in New Delhi [Images] has been for imposing President's Rule but in view of the persuasive powers of Laloo Yadav it was decided to give him a chance to work a consensus around his candidate. So far it has failed.
Senior Congress leaders are of the view that the more the decision is delayed, the more it would help the BJP in the state and the best recourse now is to impose President's Rule for the time being and then wait for an opportune moment to take a final decision on whether to go in for early polls or give the state another shot at forming a populargovernment in the current term of the assembly.

South Africa beat Australia in a thriller

Melbourne, Jan 16 (IANS) SOuth Africa recovered in time from a middle-order collapse to pull off a stunning three-wicket victory in the final over in the first One-Day International cricket against Australia here Friday.
Chasing 272 to win, South Africa needed 50 from 30 balls with just three wickets in hand, but Albie Morkel blasted 40 off 18 balls to see the team through with three wickets in hand and three balls to spare.
South Africa were three for 90 in the 19th over before Jean Paul Duminy (71) and Neil Mckenzie (63) shared a 123-run stand. The fall of Duminy triggered a mini collapse as Australia strongly came back sniffing victory only to be thwarted by Morkel's blitzkrieg.
South Africa thus registered their sixth win from six ODIs against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground here.
Australia, electing to bat, rode on some luck and poor fielding by South Africa to put on a challenging target. Opener Shaun Marsh hit 79 off 97 balls with four fours and one six. Skipper Ricky Ponting scored 46 while David Hussey contributed 52.
South Africa's chase started poorly when Shaun Tait rattled Hashim Amla's stumps in the second over with only four runs on the board. Herschelle Gibbs (22) and Jacques Kallis (41) made starts but could not carry on.
Duminy, who has been the find of the tournament for South Africa, once again came for the team's rescue. He showed amazing control as he compiled 71 without a single boundary. Mckenzine hit six fours in his 80-ball 60.
Duminy finally fell to Nathan Bracken while McKenzie was dismissed by Ben Hilfenhaus, leaving the final task for the tailenders.
South Africa lost four wickets in a space of eight runs and were reduced to 221 for seven as the match looked like slipping out of their grasp. The last powerplay which South Africa took in the 45th over, however, did the trick. Morkel went after the bowling freely as Johan Botha (12) gave him company at the other end.
Morkel hit Hilfenhaus for four fours and a six as South Africa picked up 51 from the powerplay at a frenetic pace to go one-up in the five-match series.

US gets new evidence on Iranian nuke intrigue

Washington, Jan.16 (ANI): American security and law-enforcement officials have reportedly gathered fresh evidence of Iran trying to evade sanctions and acquire metals from China used in high-tech weaponry, including long-range nuclear missiles.
A Wall Street Journal report said Iran's efforts are detailed in a series of recent emails and letters between Iranian companies and foreign suppliers.
According to the paper, business records show one Iranian company, ABAN Commercial and Industrial Ltd., has contracted through an intermediary for more than 30,000 kilograms (about 66,000 pounds) of tungsten copper - which can be used in missile guidance systems - from Advanced Technology and Materials Co. Ltd. of Beijing.
One March 2008 email between the firms mentions shipping 215 ingots, with more planned.
The United Arab Emirates has informed the U.S. that in September it intercepted a Chinese shipment headed to Iran of specialized aluminum sheets that can be used to make ballistic missiles.
A month earlier, UAE officials also intercepted an Iran-bound shipment of titanium sheets that can be used in long-range missiles, according to a recent letter to the U.S. Commerce Department from the UAE's Washington ambassador.
Evidence of Iran's efforts to acquire sensitive materials also is emerging from investigations by state and federal prosecutors in New York.

Zimbabwe unveils 100 trillion dollar banknote

Harare, Jan 16 (Xinhua) The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has introduced a new family of trillion Zim-dollar banknotes in denominations of 100 trillion, 50 trillion, 20 trillion and 10 trillion that went into circulation Friday, starting with the 10 trillion notes, a media report said.
The 20 trillion, 50 trillion and 100 trillion notes will be introduced gradually, The Herald newspaper said.
In a statement Thursday, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe said the notes will ensure that those in formal employment withdraw their salaries with minimal hassle.
'In a move meant to ensure that the public has access to their money from banks, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has introduced a new family of banknotes which will gradually come into circulation, starting with the 10 trillion,' read the statement from the RBZ.
With effect from Jan 12, workers can now withdraw their entire January salary in cash as long as they produce their current payslips.
The new notes have the same security features as the existing ones: a colour shift stripe with RBZ printed on it, the Zimbabwe Bird colour shift on the front, and see-through of the values on either side which are in perfect register.
The 10 trillion note has the image of the RBZ Building and the Conical Tower at the Great Zimbabwe National Monuments.
The 100 trillion note has the image of a buffalo and the Victoria Falls, the 50 trillion has the Kariba Dam spilling and an elephant, while a mineworker drilling in an underground shaft and the GMB grain silos appear on the new 20 trillion note.
RBZ last week introduced 10 billion, 20 billion and 50 billion Zim-dollar notes with a view to enabling workers to access their full salaries.
Inflation in Zimbabwe has spiralled out of control. According to last official estimates, inflation in July of last year stood at 231 million percent in the country

CPI-M MP calls Modi's development initiatives praiseworthy

New Delhi, Jan 16 (IANS) A.P. Abdullakutty, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) MP from Kerala, Friday said that although he doesn't agree with Narendra Modi's 'communal agenda', he was impressed by the Gujarat chief minister's development initiatives.
Abdullakutty, who has been representing Kannur constituency in parliament for the last two terms, had stirred a controversy by stating on Dec 29 that Modi's development model for Gujarat should be emulated in Kerala for attracting more investments.
The CPI-M, known for its anti-Modi stand, had asked Abdullakutty to explain why action should not be taken against him for praising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader.
In his five-page written reply to Kannur district leadership of the party, Abdullakutty said Modi's efforts towards economic development of Gujarat were praiseworthy.
'I cannot forgive Modi for his role in the 2002 Gujarat violence. I don't agree with his communal agenda. But I have given full marks to his development programmes (in the reply),' Abdullakutty told IANS on phone from Kerala's Kannur town.
In his statement to Malayalam television channels in Dubai in December, Abdullakutty also described Gujarat as the country's number-one investor-friendly state.
He had referred to Ratan Tata's decision to pull out the small car project from West Bengal and subsequent intervention by Modi to bring the project to Gujarat.
The statement created a storm in the CPI-M with T.K. Hamsa, another party MP from Kerala, criticising Abdullakutty for praising Modi. Some party leaders even call him mad.

Indian businesses vulnerable to terrorist strikes: KPMG

New Delhi: Indian businesses are unprepared to deal with the growing threat of terrorism with more than 75 percent of corporates lacking a comprehensive response plan for such incidents, a survey report by global consultancy KPMG says.
According to the survey, 53 percent of respondents (corporates) have not conducted any threat analysis, while only 39 percent have insurance cover for terrorism-related incidents.The study gains importance in light of the recent terror attacks in Mumbai and heightened security threat across the country.
"Organisations across the globe are obliged to provide for a safe working place, therefore, it is imperative that corporate draw effective emergency plans to ensure proper safeguards for their employees, assets and business," said KPMG India's forensic services head Deepanker Sanwalka.
"The preparedness to threats was found to be drastically low as only about 24 percent of the respondents had a comprehensive response plan and rest of the respondents either had no or very generic security response plan for their organisation," the survey said.According to it, "travel (airlines and airports), hospitality and retail are more prone to terror attacks as compared to others". These are the soft targets due to the sheer volume of people visiting such places and easy access, it said.

Pakistani panel begins probe on 'terror dossier'

Islamabad: The three-member committee appointed to probe the Mumbai attacks has started its work and will be presenting the initial report by end of next week, an official in the interior ministry said.
The committee is headed by Additional Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Javed Iqbal, and comprises counter-terrorism experts Khalid Qureshi and Liaquat Ali Khan. The official said the committee is mandated to complete the probe "as soon as possible" and has been asked to submit weekly reports until the probe is completed.
The committee has also been authorised to communicate with the Indian intelligence people "through proper channels and in confidence with the senior officials of the Interior Ministry", the official told IANS.He said that the committee has been asked to submit its first report by end of next week "outlining its scope of work, help required from other departments and recommendations for further actions".
"Yes, the committee has started its work and their first meeting was held in the Interior Ministry and they have been given financial authority as well so that they can move freely within the country for interrogating people," said the official, adding they will be given access to all information collected by the security agencies so far.
Replying to a question, the official said that the "government will have no objection if the committee wants to travel to India to question Ajmal Amir Kasab... however, it depends if India agrees to it. We will cross the bridge when it will come".Interior Ministry Advisor Rehman Malik Thursday said that the government has arrested 124 militants belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jamaat-ud-Daawa and Jaish-e-Mohammad.
The government has also shut down several offices and at least five training camps in different parts of the country.India has blamed the Mumbai attacks, in which 170 people were killed, on "elements" based in Pakistan and provided Islamabad with a dossier containing evidence. But Islamabad termed it just information asking India to provide "concrete evidence".
"We don't expect any fair investigations and trial that is being done under pressure," a senior leader of Jamaat-ud-Daawa told IANS on condition of anonymity. He said that all their top leadership is under government custody and their communication links have been completely blocked.
"Whatever the government is doing is all under pressure from India... even the UNSC Committee sanctions were pushed by Pakistan and the crackdown on Jamaat was done after pressure from India," said the JuD leader.He said: "We want fair and transparent probe under the UN auspices and without any fear or pressure... you can expect the result of investigations and trial that is being done under tremendous pressure rather under instructions."

Congress, BJP lash out at Miliband for Kashmir remarks

New Delhi: Setting aside their political differences, the ruling Congress and the chief opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lashed out at British Foreign Secretary David Miliband for his remarks linking terrorism with the Kashmir issue.
While the Congress termed it Britain's "double standards", the BJP described Miliband's visit to India as a "diplomatic disaster" and his remarks "pro-Pakistan".
The BJP also questioned the Congress-led government's "political will to fight terrorism" and demanded an all-party meeting on the issue.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said Britain should not adopt double standards. "Miliband should not have linked the Mumbai terror attacks with the Kashmir issue. Did the British link the London terror attacks with Iraq," he asked.
The BJP expressed surprise that Miliband "spoke in Pakistan's language" from Indian soil.
"His visit was pro-Pakistan and pro-Rahul (Gandhi). Miliband by his utterances endorsed Islamabad's stance on the Mumbai attack and that too from the Indian soil," BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley told reporters here.
"Miliband spoke in the same language as (former Pakistan president) Musharraf used to," he said.
The British Foreign Secretary had triggered controversy by linking the Mumbai attack with the unresolved Kashmir issue in an article Thursday in Britain's The Guardian newspaper.
He wrote that the "war on terror" was "misleading and mistaken" because it failed to take into account the different motives of various terror groups.
The BJP wondered if the government was serious about tackling terrorism and demanded an all-party meeting on the issue.
Jaitley expressed surprise that the British foreign secretary visited Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's Amethi constituency for two days and then made such statements.
The BJP leader wondered how India was now willing to let Pakistan investigate and try the perpetrators of the heinous attack.
"The president of that country entrusted the inquiry into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto to Scotland Yard for it cannot trust its own agencies. How can we let such a country have the last word on Mumbai?" Jaitley asked.
He was referring to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's statement to a TV channel Thursday that if it was not possible for Pakistan to hand over the fugitives to India "there should at least be a fair trial in Pakistan".
However, on Friday, Mukherjee said the "perpetrators must face Indian justice". But the BJP would not take this. Its spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told IANS: "Even after this clarification, the weakness of the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) is visible because of their lack of political will."He earlier demanded in a statement that the Congress-led UPA government "must convene an all-party meeting to discussion its dealings with Pakistan".

Mumbai beat UP to win 38th Ranji Trophy title

Hyderabad: Dhawal Kulkarni claimed five wickets as Mumbai asserted their supremacy by thrashing Uttar Pradesh by a huge 243-run margin and clinching the Ranji Trophy cricket title for a record 38th time in Hyderabad on Friday.
Needing an improbable 525 to win the match on the last day, Uttar Pradesh folded up for 281 in 71.5 overs although the last wicket pair of Amir Khan (43) and Praveen Gupta (25) only delayed the inevitable by stitching a 55-run partnership.

The young Kulkarni was the pick of the Mumbai bowlers with five for 76 while spinner Ramesh Powar chipped in with three wickets at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium at the Uppal.

Kulkarni removed Gupta to take the last wicket as the tired-looking UP batsman lazily drove an outside off-stump delivery to first slip where substitute S Kukreja grabbed it, triggering scenes of celebrations in the Mumbai dressing room.

Mumbai had scored 402 and extended their 177-run first innings score with a big second-innings score of 367.

Mumbai dominated the first session by reducing UP to 55-4, but skipper Mohamad Kaif (72) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (80) added 65 runs to lend some stability to the UP innings at the rate of 3.84 runs.

With another 402 required to win in two sessions, Khan and Gupta frustrated Mumbai bowlers as they went on run-spree for 10.2 overs, scoring in almost all the areas of the park.

As bowlers got tired, captain Wasim Jaffer brought Sachin Tendulkar to do the trick but in vain as UP took tea break at 273 for 9.

Uttar Pradesh batsmen scored an admirable 150 runs in the second session with the last pair accumulating 47 runs in less than 10 overs even as Amir Khan was dropped in the 71st over off a Tendulkar delivery.

Kulkarni started the rot as he sent opener Shivkant Shukla back to pavilion in the sixth over with just 11 runs under his belt.

Shukla, who played the most important role in UP securing the final berth, guided the ball straight to be caught by Rohit Sharma at gully.

Kulkarni then got Suresh Raina, who went for a cut and edged to Sachin Tendulkar in the slips. Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar scalped the other two wickets of Tanmay Srivastava and Parvinder Singh in the morning session.

Kulkarni later took the wickets of Bhuvaneshvar Kumar and R P Singh. Bhuvneshwar had picked five wickets in first innings while also impressing with the bat for UP.

Jaffer, who lifted the winners' trophy said "I thought UP bowled really well in the first session but Rohit and Nayar brought us back to get to 400."

As UP finished runners-up for the second successive year, Kaif admitted the fielding lapses from his side which included a reprieved to Rohit Sharma, who went on to post a century for Mumbai.

"We fielded first to get some early wickets and we weren't good with the fielding. Shukla batted well for us," he said.

'I will contest on Samajwadi Party ticket’: Sanjay Dutt

Mumbai: Ending speculation and ignoring objections from his family members, Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt Friday night announced that he would contest the next parliamentary elections on a Samajwadi Party ticket.
He also said that he was the eldest member of the Dutt family and so there was no need to discuss his political plans with anybody.If there were legal hurdles to his political plans, then the next step would be decided accordingly, he said.
The Samajwadi Party named Dutt as party candidate for the Lok Sabha polls from the Lucknow seat. His sister and Congress MP Priya Dutt has voiced objections to his joining the Samajwadi Party

Satyam probe turns to role of banks in fraud

The probe into the Satyam (SATYAM.BO : 29.95 0) scam has turned the spotlight on banks as investigators and its newly appointed auditors verify the company's numerous accounts. The government is trying to ascertain how much cash actually exists in Satyam's accounts, whether the bank certificates presented to auditors were forged, and whether bank employees colluded with company officials.
Satyam has claimed deposits of nearly Rs 180 crore for the year ended March 2008 in international branches of several global banks. These include Banco do Brasil, BNP Paribas, Citibank, Citibank International, China Merchants Bank, Dresdner Bank, HSBC Bank, Kookmin Bank, KSB Bank, Mitsui Sumitomo Bank, UBS, UniCredit Banca, United Bank, Wachovia Bank and Woori Bank.
The company has stated that another Rs 3,308.41 crore had been parked in long-term fixed deposits. Although the break-up of these investments is not available, Satyam has listed Bank of Baroda, BNP Paribas, Citibank, HDFC Bank, HSBC and ICICI Bank (ICICIBANK.NS : 441.1 0) as it principal bankers.
When it comes to its current account details with foreign banks, Satyam's annual report not only lists the opening balance for the financial year against each account held, but also the maximum balance during the year. Interestingly, the company showed a balance of Rs 1,166.89 crore in various current accounts that earn zero interest, which caught the attention of government investigators and regulators. B Ramalinga Raju, former chairman of Satyam, had said that the company had Rs 5,040 crore in non-existent cash and bank balances on its books.
Meanwhile, Satyam's new board on Wednesday appointed KPMG and Deloitte as its new auditors to assist in the restatement of accounts, while previous bookkeeper Price Waterhouse said its audit of company has now been rendered "unreliable" after Raju's admission of fraud. According to Deepanker Sanwalka, a partner and national head of forensic services at KPMG, companies often include cheques in hand and remittances in transit to inflate cash balances. Another way is to forge bank statements to show fictitious reconciliation statements, he said.
The transactions pf Satyam's hundreds of accounts with some 50 banks and would be probed to determine whether any bank officials colluding with the company. "If employees of any bank connived with officials of Satyam, it is the responsibility of the bank to take action. It is highly unlikely that the banks themselves colluded with Satyam in this fraud. But if so, action can be taken under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949," a source closely tracking the banking regulator said.
At a meeting with senior Cabinet ministers on Tuesday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh discussed Satyam's liquidity position. "The idea is to pore over each transaction the company has had with banks and verify the authenticity of each bank certificate," an official in the know said. The official said it would take around two weeks to arrive at a preliminary assessment of bank balances. Satyam shares pared early gains of 8.8% on the BSE (^BSESN : 9370.49 0) on Wednesday to end down 4.2% at Rs 29.95.

Wall St dragged by bank anxiety, retail sales

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell to six-week lows on Wednesday on worries about steeper losses at banks worldwide and as U.S. retail sales data pointed to a deepening recession.
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq tumbled more than 3 percent, and all 30 Dow stocks were in the red, including Citigroup. The bank shed more than 23 percent as investors and analysts worried whether the bank can be profitable as it unravels its business model. It is expected to post a multibillion-dollar loss this week.
Fears about the banking sector were exacerbated after Morgan Stanley analysts forecast HSBC, Europe's biggest bank, is likely to halve its dividend and may need to raise up to $30 billion of capital, while Germany's Deutsche Bank said it lost more than $6 billion last quarter.
"There is an awful lot of uncertainty out there about how severe the economic downturn will be and whether there will be a second round of asset write-downs," said Lincoln Anderson, managing director and chief investment officer at LPL Financial in Boston.
Sales at U.S. retailers fell 2.7 percent in December as the economic slowdown made consumers cut back on spending during retailers' crucial holiday selling period.
Consumer spending accounts for about two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, making it a key pillar of corporate profits.
The Dow Jones industrial average fell 248.42 points, or 2.94 percent, to 8,200.14. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index gave up 29.17 points, or 3.35 percent, at 842.62. The Nasdaq Composite Index lost 56.82 points, or 3.67 percent, to 1,489.64.
The day's declines put another wrench in the market's attempt to recover from the November bear market low. The broad S&P 500 had gained more than 20 percent from that level, but is now up only close to 14 percent. It was the sixth straight day of declines for the Dow, racking up losses of 815 points, or 9 percent.
The S&P financial index was down 5.7 percent. Since the start of the year, the index has managed only two up days. Citigroup was down 23.2 percent at $4.53 after a deal by the embattled bank to sell a controlling stake in its crown jewel, the Smith Barney retail brokerage unit, to Morgan Stanley for $2.7 billion.
Analysts speculate the Smith Barney sale is a precursor to a break-up of Citigroup and that the bank must be urgently seeking to replenish capital due to mounting losses.
Citigroup is due to report its results on Friday, after moving up the reporting date, a day after JPMorgan Chase & Co is due to post its results, after also after moving up its date. JPMorgan fell 1.7 percent to $25.91.
The S&P retail index fell 3.6 percent on worries cash-strapped consumers spooked by the recession will remain unwilling to buy.
Energy shares also tumbled, taking oil's lead as U.S. crude fell 50 cents to $37.28 a barrel on rising inventories and weakening demand from the United States, the world's biggest energy consumer. Exxon Mobil and Chevron were among the Dow's biggest drags, falling 3.6 percent to $75.10 and 3 percent to $69.69, respectively.
The Federal Reserve's anecdotal Beige Book report on the economy added to the sour picture, showing the economy weakened further into the opening days of the new year.
Tax and domestic help troubles surrounding Treasury secretary-nominee Timothy Geithner further dampened investor sentiment, but President-elect Barack Obama said he expects Geithner to be confirmed. Geithner would be Obama's point man on efforts to combat the financial crisis.
Trading was moderate on the New York Stock Exchange, with about 1.42 billion shares changing hands, below last year's estimated daily average of roughly 1.9 billion, while on Nasdaq about 1.94 billion shares traded, below last year's daily average of 2.17 billion.
Declining stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the NYSE by 2,793 to 318 while decliners beat advancers on the Nasdaq by about 2,263 to 477

Australia will struggle to replace Hayden, says Sehwag

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Matthew Hayden was a batsman of rare ability and Australia will struggle to find a suitable replacement for the retired left-hander, said India opener Virender Sehwag.
Hayden drew stumps on a dazzling career on Tuesday as one of the greatest opening batsmen of all time and Sehwag said his retirement would come as a relief to bowlers worldwide.
The prolific 37-year-old played 103 tests between 1994 and 2009, scoring 8,625 runs at an average of 50.73 with 30 hundreds.
He was dropped after his first test and made only six appearances before finally establishing himself as a permanent member of the team in 2000, forging a devastating partnership with fellow left-hander Justin Langer.
"I have not seen an attacking batsman of his calibre in my career," Sehwag told Mumbai's DNA newspaper on Wednesday. "You can be sure that Australia will not be able to unearth an opener who can hit 20 centuries in the next eight years.
"If you look at my career I have played eight years and managed only 15 (hundreds)."
Sehwag, considered one of the hardest strikers of a ball in contemporary cricket, said Australia would sorely miss Hayden.
"His absence will be felt just as the retirements of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath. Very badly, that is."
Warne, McGrath and Langer all retired after the 2006-07 Ashes series, Damien Martyn quit during that series and Adam Gilchrist retired a year ago, leaving the side considerably weakened.
Australia are struggling to stay on top of the test cricket racnkings after losing to India and South Africa in recent months.

Bin Laden calls on Muslims to support Palestinians

Istanbul, Jan 15 (DPA) Muslims around the world should come to the support of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, according to a message allegedly released by Osama bin Laden, leader of the Al Qaeda terrorist network on the Internet Wednesday.
Bin Laden said in the 22-minute long audio message that Muslims should either directly support the fight against the Israeli offensive into the Gaza Strip.
According to the message, diplomatic meetings on the topic were pointless. 'The only way to free the al-Aqsa mosque and Palestine is through Holy War.'
Bin Laden also expressed his delight at the ongoing financial crisis which has weakened the United States which, after Israel, is the Muslim world's greatest enemy, the recording said.
Bin Laden said Israel has carried out a 'horrible massacre' in the Gaza Strip.
Additionally, the message, which may be up to four days old, said Al Qaeda hopes to open additional fronts in its battle with the heathens. Muslims should also support holy warriors in Somalia, the Maghreb and the Pakistani province of Waziristan, Laden said.
Addressing Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, bin Laden said: 'We feel for you, because the same airplanes with which you are being attacked are being used against us. We link our fate to yours.'

Obama vows to go after Al Qaeda's safe havens

Washington, Jan 15 (DPA) US president-elect Barack Obama vowed Wednesday to go after Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and prevent the terrorist organization from using safe havens along the Afghan-Pakistani border to carry out attacks.
'Bin Laden and Al Qaeda are our number one threat when it comes to American security,' Obama said. 'We're going to do everything in our power to make sure that they cannot create safe havens they can (use to) attack America.'
Obama was speaking after a purported tape of bin Laden surfaced Wednesday. Bin Laden called on Muslims to launch a holy war against Israel to defend Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has been engaged in an offensive for more than two weeks to halt rocket attacks from Hamas militants.
Bin Laden also predicted that the recession in the United States will lead to the decline of American economic influence abroad

India Inc cries Modi-fy India, causes flutter

The praise of two leading industrialists - Anil Ambani and Sunil Bharti Mittal - for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and suggestions that he could be the prime minister has created a flutter in the political circles. On CNN-IBN's India At 9 Talking Point to debate the issue were Congress Spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi and former chairman of the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce Paru Jai Krishna.
CNN-IBN: There was a comment from a Congress spokesperson saying that the situation was a bit like how German industrialists used to praise the Nazi regime. Is that fair? Isn't it time now for as far as the Congress is concerned to move from 2002 (Godhra riots)? We have seen industry move from 2002 and the people of Gujarat move from 2002.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi: Well I would put it a little differently. I'd like to make three points. Firstly, it's a democracy and each person is entitled to their own view. For every two persons who praise Mr Modi and want him to become prime minister, perhaps you can lineup some 2,000 who will have an opposite viewpoint. So let's not go by the view of two people. These two people do not constitute the electorate. Number two, don't forget that they were talking in the context of an industry investment meet. What is very good for getting investments is not necessarily good for being prime minister. Number three, what you may be able to get in a divisive debate generated in Gujarat would not again be easily replicable to the rest of India. A prime minister has to truly observe raj dharma, he has to be prime minister for every section of society, he has to carry everyone together and there is very serious doubt from the past record of Mr Modi - howsoever good it might have been for Gujarat, where he was able to divide society - whether he can have the same raj dharma or an inclusive kind for the whole country. It is a legitimate concern.
Last but not the least, we are a far cry away from that so I think that there is no point in speculating. Even within his own party, there are enough people to put daggers into him for that post and none within his party are likely to make it to that post.
CNN-IBN: Mr Singhvi, the Congress likes to make that point that Modi's success is not translatable to the rest of the country, yet what you are hearing is not speculation from the media, but words coming out of the mouths of two of India's most respected and biggest industrialists. Are you seeing a certain change now? Are you seeing Narendra Modi's credibility as a national leader growing?
Abhishek Manu Singhvi: One swallow doesn't make a summer. A successful investment meet and observations by industrialists in the context of an investment meet has no political significance, let me assure you. India is a diverse country, it's a country of so many colours and hues. They were just two comments. It is being made out like an absolute poll survey. So what if two people said it? There are many who don't. How is it relevant? Please do not take it as an India view.
CNN-IBN: Fair enough. That is a valid point. A lot of this love, as far as corporate India is concerned, for Narendra Modi is because of these figures that we keep hearing about, of the large amount of investments that are coming into Gujarat. There is talk of Rs 12,000 crore that is being pledged in this Vibrant Gujarat Summit. How much of that is actually going to turn into investment? Is this just a good business hype that Narendra Modi continues to carry on?
Paru Jai Krishna: I think everyone has the right to carry an opinion but the way Vibrant 2009 has happened and the way the doyens of industry, the prudent and the conservative people have come to invest in Gujarat shows the confidence they have in the state. And here is a man who is an iron man - like Sardar Patel. He has proved that everything does not happen on its own. One has to make it happen and he has done it. When he took over the reins of Gujarat, people doubted that he would ever be a good administrator. Today he has proved them all wrong.
CNN-IBN: Ok, you are talking about the fact that he has proved himself as far as investment goes, but he remains one man who cannot travel to US, his visa has been denied. This is one of the biggest investment destinations and US is a big investor in India. How can you say that his magic could possibly translate even outside Gujarat?
Paru Jai Krishna: There is some magic in his management style. The investments have come not only within India, but have come from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Africa, Europe and also America, so it is not that just by personally going to the US will he bring in investments.

Satyam's viable, doesn't need bailout: Karnik

New Delhi: The new Satyam Computers Services Ltd board has made it clear that it is not interested in a government bailout for the IT company.
Speaking exclusively to Network18, Kiran Karnik, one of the members of the reconstituted Satyam board, said that a government grant, subsidy or bailout is not in the best interest of the company.
"I don't think we need any Government grant or bailout package. If a bank gives money we are comfortable. We will be happy to get money from wherever but this (Satyam Computers Services Ltd) is a very bankable proposition from the balance sheet and account statements,” said Karnik, who is a former Nasscom president.
Karnik admitted that the IT giant is short of cash reserves and there is an immediate need to get some money to ensure the smooth functioning of Satyam.
“Problem just now is that there is no money. There is no c in the company. The immediate need is how you get cash into the company to see through this difficult period? Money must be provided in the form of loan or whatever form, but not as a grant or subsidy. If it comes as a loan (then) the company is capable of repaying it from its own business,” Karnik said.
“I think words like bailout package are not the right term. It is not as if the company is not financially viable. This is a company and has many assets and like every IT company its primary asset are the people, the talent. But there are physical assets too. As far as we have found out, it is still a very viable company, it is a good company. It has strong talent, has very good customers and like all other IT companies, it can be a strongly prosperous company,” claimed Karnik.
Karnik also said that the new three-board, which also includes HDFC Chairman Deepak Parekh and former presiding officer of Securities and Appellate Tribunal C Achutan, has not yet submitted a formal report to the government.
“See we are yet to submit a formal report to the government. We are government nominees but the board is of an independent company. We will give a detailed report top the government and move ahead with their permission,” said the former Nasscom president.
Meanwhile, the Union Government, too, has made up its minds on not giving Satyam any bailout package.
"Let us not create panic in the market... minds of employees. Things are being looked into by the government," said Union Corporate Affairs Minister Prem Chand Gupta.
Sources in the government have told CNN-IBN that the Centre is not planning any bailout package for Satyam Computers but will only act as a facilitator in rescuing the IT giant.
If any private company comes forward to buy Satyam, the government will provide all the help, sources revealed.

Vivek Paul to be new Satyam CEO?

The markets are abuzz with the news that Vivek Paul, former vice chairman of Wipro, might be appointed the new chief executive officer of Satyam Computer Services.
Paul resigned from Texas Pacific Group (TPG), a private equity firm where he was a partner, in December, leading to the rumour that he might be picked to head the beleaguered Satyam.
Paul was considered as a possible buyer for Satyam at one time.
Before joining TPG, Paul was with Wipro. He joined in 1999 and took the company from a $150-million firm to a billion-dollar IT giant by 2005. He left Wipro as vice chairman in 2005 to join TPG.
Paul is a BITS Pilani graduate and an MBA from University of Massachusetts. Born in 1959, Paul is currently on the board of Electronic Arts, the world's leading game publisher, and Elevance Renewable Sciences Inc., a leader in developing chemicals from renewable sources.

LS poll in April, likely over 7-9 phases

The 15th Lok Sabha elections will be held in April-May, spread over six weeks with the largest number of seven to nine phases, setting a new record for the parliamentary elections. Tentatively, the first phase is likely on April 10 and the entire process will end on May 10, 2009.The Election Commission has drawn up a tentative plan to announce the elections on March 10, the date from which the model code of conduct for political parties and the government comes into force.The actual polling in phases will be from the second half of April, by which time the school examinations will be over and as such deployment of teachers on poll duties would not disrupt the academic session.Elections are being spread to more phases since the Home Ministry has expressed its constraints in providing the central forces in sufficient number for the poll duties in view of their deployment in the anti-terror preparedness.The same security personnel will have to move from region to region and hence the Commission worked out seven rounds of polling at the minimum, though the same may go up to nine, the Election Commission sources in New Delhi [Images] said.They said talks have already begun at the secondary level between the Commission and Home Ministry officials on the deployment of the Central forces.Last Parliament session from February 13 Sources said the government had informed the Commission that it intends to hold the last session of Parliament, prior to the polls, from February 13.
It will be a short session of seven to ten days, closing on either February 20 or 26, primarily to pass a vote-on-account for the government budget up to June end, leaving the actual budget to be prepared by the new government elected.The Election Commission's plan is to complete the elections and constitute the new Lok Sabha latest by June 4.
The last round of polling will be over by the end of May.Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami will be demitting the office on April 20, just around the time the first phase of polling takes place.New Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla, the controversial Election Commissioner whose case is still pending with Gopalaswami for disposal as directed by the Supreme Court, will be taking over as the new CEC by virtue of his seniority, unless Gopalaswami gives an adverse recommendation to the President against him for removal from the Election Commission.
The Commission sources said Chawla is associated with all the preparations now being made for the conduct of the Lok Sabha elections and as such there will be continuity in the process that takes off before he takes over as the CEC.The present 14th Lok Sabha had held its first session from June 2 to 10 in 2004, spending the first three days in the new members taking the oath, followed by election of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker and the President's address to the joint session on June 7.

All options open, says army chief

New Delhi: Noting that Pakistan has moved troops towards border with India, Army chief General Deepak Kapoor today said New Delhi has kept all options open, including the "fighting option" as a last resort.
Kapoor said tension between India and Pakistan were "larger" in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks, but said there was no need to create any hysteria.
"We expect Pakistan to move some troops from FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) to its borders with India. They have come to eastern border of Pakistan with India," Kapoor told a press conference here.
He said the Indian Army had already "factored this" into its planning and there was "no cause for concern" in India."There is a larger amount of tension after 26/11. Because we feel that the perpetrators of 26/11 came from Pakistan. In view of that, we in India are keeping all options open," he said.Elaborating on the options, he said these were "diplomatic, economic, or as a last resort, a fighting option."

I'd love to play Lord Krishna: Aamir Khan

Aamir Khan talks to Paarul Vats of India Syndicate about the success of Ghajini, '3 Idiots' and his dream project, 'Mahabharata'.
Q. How come you are sporting a new and lean look?

My body is my instrument. I have to keep changing it according to the character’s demand. When I was trying to get eight-packs, I thought it was the most difficult job in the world. It took a lot of conviction to go through the training sessions. I now have to shed the eight packs for a lean look, and I feel becoming lean is more difficult.

Q. Can you tell us something about '3 Idiots'?

In '3 Idiots', I play a college guy. I am working for the lean look to look like a college student. I am trying to model my character in '3 Idiots' on Murugadoss (Laughs).

Q. How do you feel post the success of 'Ghajini'?

It feels great. I am not a number person, and I am completely ignorant about the business aspect. The appreciation is overwhelming. The entire team of ‘Ghajini’ has worked hard for the success.

Q. You had rejected 'Ghajini' when it was first offered to you.

I never rejected it. I liked the Tamil version of 'Ghajini'. I felt Salman Khan or Akshay Kumar was more suited for the action hero role. I talked to Surya about the role. He said, "Nobody would be able to do this as good as you can". I took on the role and the rest is history.

Q. What are your criteria for selecting a movie?

Main us ghode pe baithta hoon jo teda ho. I take the risk of choosing different scripts. When I did 'Taare Zameen Par', I never knew it would be such a big hit. When I saw the Tamil 'Ghajini' for the first time, I was on the edge of my seat throughout the movie. I felt happy during the sweet love story, sad when the lead actress dies, excited during the action sequences. I went through all the emotions, and that is what a good movie is all about. The emotions should be conveyed by the narration of the movie.
Q. Are you planning to make 'Mahabharata'?

I will definitely make a movie on Mahabharata someday. It is a vast subject. I need to be fully prepared to attempt such a magnanimous movie. A lot of research and study has to go into the movie. It will require my full attention and dedication at a very high level.

Q. If 'Mahabharata' is made, which character will you play?

I might play the role of Krishna.

Q. Will the success of 'Ghajini' raise expectation from your future movies?

Yeah, pressure builds up. Your fans expect you to perform better than your last movie. I try to give my best in every film of mine. I hope my next movie '3 Idiots' is more successful than 'Ghajini'.

Army gearing up for N-warfare

New Delhi: The prospect of a terrorist laying hands on nuclear weapons is a global worry and India is also gearing up for this “fourth generation warfare,” Army chief Deepak Kapoor said here Wednesday.“It is very much a part of our thought process and we call it fourth generation warfare or the dirty bomb,” Kapoor told reporters during a conference organised ahead of the 61st Army Day.“This is the new dimension added to the policy of the Indian Army apart from the counter insurgency and anti-terrorism operations,” Kapoor added.
The army chief also hoped that Pakistan's nuclear arsenal was in safe hands.
“I suppose there is a degree of stability and this (Pakistan nuclear weapons falling in the hands of terrorists) does not happen. I hope their (Pakistan's) weapons are as secure as of any other country,” Kapoor said.

Anil Ambani, Sunil Mittal endorse Modi as PM

Corporate honchos Anil Ambani and Sunil Bharti Mittal on Wednesday showered praises on Gujarat Chief Minister Narandra Modi and termed his leadership as a national level material.
Speaking at the valedictory session of the Fourth Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit, Ambani said, "Narendrabhai has done good for Gujarat and what will happen if he leads the nation."
"Gujarat has seen progress in all the fields under his leadership. Now, imagine what will happen to the nation if he leads the nation," he said and added, "Person like him should be the next leader of the country."
Recalling his father late Dhirubhai, Ambani said that Dhirubhai used to say "Modi lambi race ka ghoda hai (Modi will go a long way)."
Similarly, Bharti Mittal also lavished praises on Modi and his leadership. "Chief Minister Modi is known as a CEO, but he is actually not a CEO because he is not running a company or a sector. He is running a state and can also run nation," he said

We will build on our partnership with India: Hillary Clinton

Washington, Jan 14 (IANS) Describing the Mumbai terror attacks as a new challenge for American diplomacy, Hillary Clinton has vowed to build on economic and political partnership with India, 'a nation with growing influence in the world', to deal with today security threats.
'Today's security threats cannot be addressed in isolation,' she told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Tuesday during her confirmation hearing for the position of secretary of state under president-elect Barack Obama.
'Smart power requires reaching out to both friends and adversaries, to bolster old alliances and to forge new ones,' she said. 'That means strengthening the alliances that have stood the test of time-especially with our NATO partners and our allies in Asia.
Clinton completed her testimony Tuesday. The committee is expected to vote on her nomination Thursday and the full Senate is likely to approve her nomination before Obama takes office next Tuesday.
John Kerry, Democratic chairman of the committee, closed the hearing by saying 'we are excited about the prospect of working with you.'
'Our alliance with Japan is a cornerstone of American policy in Asia, essential to maintaining peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region, and based on shared values and mutual interests,' the former first lady said during her hearing.
The US 'also has crucial economic and security partnerships with South Korea, Australia, and other friends in ASEAN.'
'We will build on our economic and political partnership with India, the world's most populous democracy and a nation with growing influence in the world,' Clinton said.
Noting that the world is now in the cross currents of the most severe global economic contraction since the Great Depression,' she stressed the need to engage emerging powers like India and China to solve the crisis.
'For too long, we have merely talked about the need to engage emerging powers in global economic governance; the time to take action is upon us,' Clinton said.
'We know that emerging markets like China, India, Brazil, South Africa, and Indonesia are feeling the effects of the current crisis. We all stand to benefit in both the short and long term if they are part of the solution, and become partners in maintaining global economic stability,' she said.
Hillary Clinton said that she aims to 'renew America's leadership' in a world that has undergone an 'extraordinary transformation' since the end of the Cold War and is now facing 'great peril.'
Calling the current US engagement in Afghanistan the 'greatest priority for the president-elect', she promised to use 'diplomacy, development and defence' to work with allies in Afghanistan and Pakistan, which she referred to as 'the central front in the war on terrorism.'
President-elect Barack Obama will pursue a 'more for more' strategy in Afghanistan, where additional US support will be supplemented by more NATO and Afghan government support, she said.
Clinton also emphasised the need to look at the problems in Pakistan and Afghanistan together, and said it is 'imperative' to work with both of them to root out Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and other violent extremists.
'Terrorism remains a serious threat,' Clinton said stressing the need for 'a comprehensive strategy, leveraging intelligence, diplomacy, and military assets to defeat Al Qaeda and like-minded terrorists by rooting out their networks and drying up support for their violent and nihilistic extremism.'
On Iraq, she called the withdrawal of US troops a 'primary priority' and said it would occur within the context of the current Status of Forces Agreement.
The Obama administration hopes to remove US troops from Iraqi cities and villages by June 2009, and redeploy some of those troops to Afghanistan.
But as it focuses on Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan, US 'must also actively pursue a strategy of smart power in the Middle East that addresses the security needs of Israel and the legitimate political and economic aspirations of the Palestinians,' she said

I was authorised to speak on Kasab, says sacked Pak NSA

Former Pakistan national security adviser Mahmud Ali Durrani, who was sacked after disclosing to media the nationality of Mumbai [Images] attacker Ajmal Kasab [Images], has said he had written authorisation from Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani [Images] to speak on the evolving situation in the wake of the 26/11 strikes.
Durrani, a retired major general who served as Pakistan's envoy to the US and military secretary to former president Gen Zia-ul-Haq, also claimed that President Asif Ali Zardari [Images] had phoned him and "regretted his dismissal" by Gilani last week.
Gilani had said that Durrani, who was selected by Zardari for the post of NSA last year, was fired for his "irresponsible behaviour" and for speaking on the Kasab case without taking the government into confidence.
However, Durrani told Pakistani newspapers that he was authorised by the prime minister in writing to speak on matters of national security and Indo-Pak relations, and it was his understanding that the Kasab issue was within this domain.
Durrani said a reason for his dismissal might be Gilani's feeling that he was being "left out" of the process for making key decisions.
Media reports have suggested that Durrani's sacking was a fallout of differences that have recently emerged between Gilani and Zardari.
An official letter issued on the directive of the prime minister last month said only the national security adviser, foreign minister and information minister were authorised to speak on the "evolving situation" in the wake of the Mumbai attacks, according to Durrani.
Durrani said it was "decided at the highest level, in consultation with the premier security agencies that it was in Pakistan's supreme national interest to admit Kasab's Pakistani nationality before others started harping on it, leaving Islamabad [Images] with no choice but to own up".
Security organisations had briefed Zardari about Kasab's nationality before Durrani talked about it.
Durrani said all stakeholders were taken into confidence before the statement on Kasab was made public and he "did not breach the confidence or the trust of the leadership."
Durrani said he had no differences with Gilani before his sacking and dismissed as "nonsensical" media reports that top US officials had lobbied for his restoration.
"The prime minister had every right and authority to send me home, but the way he did it was not nice although otherwise he is a fine gentleman. I wish him success.The way I was sacked, I was painted as if I have committed a grave crime," Durrani told The News daily.
He also said "it was his strong commitment to have peace with India". He had worked for this purpose in the past and would continue to do so, Durrani said.
Durrani also said he was anguished that certain elements had launched a character assassination campaign against him and were describing him as an "American agent".
He acknowledged that he had strong links with top US officials but said such contacts were necessary for protecting Pakistan's national interests.

PM reviews government response on Satyam scam

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday once again reviewed with his key cabinet colleagues and senior finance ministry officials the government's response to the Rs.70- billion Satyam Comptuter Services scam that has rocked the India Inc.Among those who attended the Tuesday meeting were Home Minister P. Chidambaram, who earlier held the finance portfolio, Commerce Minister Kamal Nath and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who was with the prime minister at the time, also attended the meeting, sources in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said."The prime minister has been monitoring the situation right from the day one. Since he also holds the finance portfolio, he is keen that the response is swift and targeted," a PMO source said."He is particularly keen that the employees of Satyam do not suffer from the mistakes of the erstwhile Satyam management," the source added.Officials said the constitution of a new board for the company, as also the probe ordered by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office was at the direction of the prime minister.
"He's on top of it," the PMO source said, referring to the government's moves on the Rs.70 billion ($1.4 billion) fraud admitted to by the company's founder and former chairman B. Ramalinga Raju that has shaken India's entire corporate sector.
The prime minister held a series of meetings over the past few days during which he was briefed by the chief of market watchdog Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) C.B. Bhave, as also by Corporate Affairs Minister Prem Chand Gupta, the PMO sources added.Raju has confessed before investigators that he manipulated the balance sheet of the company for the past seven years to attract more business and avoid any possible hostile acquisition.Ramalinga Raju, in his confessional statement before officials of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of Andhra Pradesh police, said things had gone out of control because of the present global situation and hence he tendered his resignation as chairman of the board on Jan 7.
The reconstituted Satyam board held its first meeting Monday. The board comprises former chief of the National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) Kiran Karnik, chairman of Housing Development Finance Corp (HDFC) Deepak Parekh and former SEBI member C. Achuthan.Apart from the Serious Fraud Investigation Office, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the Registrar of Companies and the Institute of Chartered Accounts of India are conducting concurrent investigations into the Satyam scam.

Govt plans Rs 2000-crore financial aid for Satyam

New Delhi: The Central Government has decided to take direct action to remis looking at a salary bailout for the 53,000 Satyam Computer Services employees.
A Rs 2,000 crore package is under consideration to ensure that Satyam employees get their salary on time after it the new board said that they are looking for funds.
CNN-IBN has learnt that the government is looking at giving three instalments of Rs 500 crore to Satyam for the next three months and is planning another infusion of about Rs 400 crore.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met senior Cabinet ministers and officials at his residence to discuss the over Rs 7,000 Satyam scandal where the bailout package was finalised.
The meeting was attended by Home Minister P Chidambaram, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath, Corporate Affairs Minister Prem Chand Gupta and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
The Centre has already directed the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) to investigate the scam which threatens to affect India's IT brand.
The SFIO has got three months to submit its report on Satyam. The role of Satyam's auditors Pricewaterhouse Coopers will also be investigated.
A team of Andjhra Pradesh Police on Tuesday raided the Hyderabad office of Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
Meanwhile, Satyam’s interim CEO Ram Mynampati is in the US to reassure clients about the beleaguered company’s ability to serve them and is likely to be arrested on his return.
Others who are under the scanner for the accounting fraud in the IT major include former Indian School of Business (ISB) dean Ram Mohan Rao and former Cabinet Secretary and a Satyam director TR Prasad.
The first official report by the Registrar of Companies (RoC) into the Satyam scandal has already been sent to the government on Tuesday.
Sources say the RoC report has found serious manipulation in the company's finances.
Satyam's founder-chairman B Ramalinga Raju resigned on January 7 from the IT major's board after admitting a multi-crore fraud in the company’s accounts.
In a notification to the stock exchanges, the Hyderabad-based IT firm said Raju and managing director Rama Raju resigned early Wednesday and that the Securities and Exchanges Board of India (SEBI) had been informed.
In the regulatory statement, Raju said that the company had fraudulently incorporated a non-existent cash component and inflated the bank balance to reflect Rs 5,040 crore (Rs 50.4 billion) as against Rs 5,361 crores (Rs 53.61 billion).
''No board member had any knowledge of the real situation. Accrued interest of Rs 376 crore in books is non-existent. About Rs 1,230 crore was arranged to Satyam, but was not reflected in the books,” Raju said while announcing his resignation.

Wipro is legally and ethically right, Premji tells staff

New Delhi: Hours afterWorld bank made public that Wipro has been debarred from doing any business with the global lender,the company's Chairman Azim Premji wrote to its over 1,00,000 employees saying that the company had not done anything unethical.
Denying charges levelled by the World Bank that Wipro provided improper benefits to the bank staff, Premji said, "Let me reaffirm that Wipro was right from a legal as well as ethical standpoint. We believe what we did what was right and we did it in the right manner."The company, in 2000, had provided Bank staff option to purchase its American Depository Shares at IPO price through a Directed Share Programme. However, the Bank in June 2007 determined that this was a conflict of interest.In an internal communication to the company's employees, Premji said, "We have always prided ourselves for setting the highest standards of business ethics in our dealings with all our stakeholders. We have built a strong culture which upholds compliance in letter and spirit. The approach was no different in this instance also."
The World Bank deemed the IT firm ineligible to bid for direct contracts from it for the period 2007-2011. The Bank also named other companies that were barred from doing business it in a list made public yesterday.Premji further explained thatall participants in the Direct Share Programme signed a conflict of interest statement that their purchase did not violate any ethics or conflict of interest policies of their company.Though the company maintained yesterday that the announcement will not have any impact on its revenues, its stock took a beating at the BSE yesterday. It, however, was trading 4.5 per cent up at Rs 237.6 on the BSE today.

US sanctions A.Q. Khan network; lawmaker seeks more action

Washington, Jan 13 (IANS) An influential US lawmaker has demanded action to prevent a new nuclear blackmarket as Washington announced sanctions on notorious Pakistani scientist A.Q. Khan and 12 others involved in his busted proliferation network.
'These sanctions, though belated, are welcome,' said Howard Berman, Democratic chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, noting: 'Those involved in the A.Q. Khan nuclear black market are party to the worst proliferation of nuclear equipment and technology in history.'
'But the sanctions do not put an end to the matter; equipment and technology from this network may still be circulating, and new suppliers could well spring up to take Khan's place,' he said Monday.
President-elect Barack Obama would inherit a complex situation, in which he must redouble US efforts against international black markets in weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles, Berman said.
'Congress should be ready to provide new funds and the legal authorities that he may need to end the activities of these merchants of mass destruction,' he added.
Earlier, the State Department announced that sanctions will be imposed on 13 individuals and three private companies for their involvement in the A.Q. Khan nuclear proliferation network.
This announcement comes after a multi-year US government review of the available information pertaining to the activities of this network.
'We believe these sanctions will help prevent future proliferation-related activities by these private entities, provide a warning to other would-be proliferators, and demonstrate our ongoing commitment to using all available tools to address proliferation-related activities,' it said.
'Dr. A.Q. Khan led an extensive international network for the proliferation of nuclear equipment and know-how that provided 'one stop shopping' for countries seeking to develop nuclear weapons. He and his associates provided Iran and Libya with centrifuge components, designs and, in some cases, complete centrifuges.
'The United States also believes that Khan and his associates provided centrifuge designs, equipment and technology to North Korea. Dr. Khan also provided Libya with nuclear weapons designs,' the State Department said.
With the assistance of Khan's network, countries could leapfrog the slow, incremental stages of other nuclear weapons development programmes.
In 2004, following Libya's welcome decision to renounce its nuclear programme, the United States removed from Libya items it had received from the network.
The network's actions have irrevocably changed the proliferation landscape and have had lasting implications for international security, the State Department said.
Governments around the world, including Pakistan, South Africa, Turkey, Britain, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland and Malaysia, worked closely with the United States to investigate and shut down the network, it said.
Governments have also joined together to put in place United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 to criminalise proliferation and have worked cooperatively to establish the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) to enhance international tools to interdict and prevent trade in sensitive technologies, it said.
Many of Khan's associates are either in custody, being prosecuted, or have been convicted of crimes. Khan publicly acknowledged his involvement in the network in 2004, although he later retracted those statements.
'While we believe the A.Q. Khan network is no longer operating, countries should remain vigilant to ensure that Khan network associates, or others seeking to pursue similar proliferation activities, will not become a future source for sensitive nuclear information or equipment,' it said.
Besides A. Q. Khan, sanctions have been imposed on: Selim Alguadis, Kursad Zafer Cire, Muhammad Nasim ud Din, EKA Elektronik Kontrol Aletleri Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., ETI Elektroteknik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., Muhammad Farooq, Paul Griffin, Peter Griffin, Shamsul Bahrin bin Rukiban, Buhary Seyed Abu Tahir, and Shah Hakim Shahnazim Zain.

Bush legacy shaped by war, economic crisis

Two unfinished wars, the U.S. economy deep in recession, the budget deficit about to hit $1 trillion and America's image badly tarnished abroad.
Not since Herbert Hoover left Franklin Roosevelt the Great Depression has a U.S. president left his successor a litany of problems seemingly as daunting as George W. Bush will bequeath to Barack Obama when he takes office on Jan. 20.
While Bush and his loyalists insist history will take a kinder view of his legacy, historians are already debating whether he will rank among the worst presidents ever, putting him in the company of Herbert Hoover, Warren Harding and James Buchanan.
Some presidential scholars say it's too soon to render a verdict, but many have made up their minds.
"Can anyone really doubt that this was an abysmal presidency?" said Shirley Anne Warshaw, a political scientist at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania. "All that's left to sort out now is just how far down the list he goes."
A generation ago, Ronald Reagan, Bush's Republican hero, asked Americans to think about whether they were better off than when his Democratic opponent, incumbent Jimmy Carter, entered the White House.
By that standard, Bush doesn't stack up well.
Ending his eight-year tenure amid the worst financial crisis in 80 years, he leaves with one of the lowest approval ratings of any president in modern times -- under 30 percent.
The widespread support he won in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001 is long gone, weighed down by the unpopular war in Iraq, an inept response to Hurricane Katrina and a meltdown on Wall Street that has spilled onto Main Street.
At home, unemployment is at a 16-year high, mortgage markets are imploding and people's savings are slipping away.
On the plus side, Bush's top domestic achievement may be something that didn't happen -- another attack on U.S. soil.
"We haven't had another attack in seven years," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said. "And that matters."
IRAQ TO DEFINE FOREIGN POLICY RECORD
Overseas, Bush's legacy will be defined largely by Iraq, and it will be left to Obama to finalize an exit strategy and repair the damage to U.S. credibility.
Bush flew to Baghdad last month hoping to showcase security gains there, but instead the enduring image will be of the president ducking shoes hurled by an angry Iraqi journalist.
Bush leaves other unfinished foreign policy business.
The nuclear standoff with Iran could be one of Obama's biggest challenges, testing his promise of direct talks with Tehran to supplant Bush's policy of diplomatic isolation.
In Afghanistan, which critics say Bush neglected because he was too distracted by Iraq, the Taliban are resurgent and Osama bin Laden has yet to be captured or killed.
Bush's effort to broker Israeli-Palestinian peace came, in the view of most analysts, as too little, too late, and the latest crisis in the Gaza Strip is seen as a fitting epitaph.
Obama has promised bolder engagement in the Middle East but will face entrenched distrust in the Arab world of a perceived U.S. bias in favor of Israel, the residue of Bush's policies.
While Obama copes with that, he will inherit another problem from Bush -- what to do with terrorism suspects held at Guantanamo Bay. The military detention center has been a source of human rights condemnation. Obama has vowed to shut it down.
Bush also has drawn fire, especially in Europe, for resisting fixed nationwide limits on greenhouse gas emissions to fight climate change, a stance that has added to a perception of U.S. arrogance that Obama must now contend with.
On the other hand, Bush has won praise for forging stronger ties with India, nudging China into a more constructive international role and battling the AIDS epidemic in Africa.
ONCE-IN-A-CENTURY CRISIS
But it is a once-in-a-century financial crisis -- which erupted after six years of presiding over an economy that would be the envy of most presidents -- that may have dealt the crowning blow to Bush's legacy.
His administration has resorted to massive government intervention once anathema to his free-market roots.
And as ripples have spread worldwide, criticism of unbridled U.S.-style capitalism has grown, raising questions about the future of America's dominance of the global system.
Many analysts say Bush's deregulatory zeal contributed to the meltdown, though they also agree there is plenty of blame to go around. But since it happened on Bush's watch, he will likely bear the brunt of history's judgment.
Bush's Republicans have already heard the voters speak. Obama's resounding victory in November against John McCain was widely seen as a repudiation of Bush's policies.
"Without Bush, the first African-American president probably wouldn't have been elected at this time," said Stephen Wayne, a political scientist at Georgetown University.
Mindful of the clock ticking down, Bush has spent his final weeks trying to burnish his legacy. He granted more exit interviews than any recent president, delivered a series of policy speeches and held a farewell news conference.
Through it all, Bush has staunchly defended his record but has also seemed more reflective, admitting to reporters on Monday his disappointment that no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq and about the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal that shocked the world.
Bush said history would be his judge but only "after some time has passed." He has insisted he will be vindicated someday like Harry Truman, unpopular when he left office and now admired for his handling of the Cold War.
"Truman is the patron saint of failed politicians," said Douglas Brinkley, a presidential historian at Rice University in Houston. He suggested a likelier comparison to a very different president -- Hoover, who presided at the start of the Great Depression

No citizen will be handed to India even if proved guilty: Pak minister

Islamabad, Jan 13 (ANI): Pakistan Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Raza Rabbani has said that no Pakistani will be handed over to India even if any citizen is proved guilty of being involved in the Mumbai terror attacks.
"India has failed to provide proof of Pakistani involvement in the Mumbai attacks. Even if any citizen is proved guilty, he will be tried inside the country," Rabbani said.
"Unlike Musharraf's regime, we will not hand over our citizens to any foreign country," he added.
Rabbani said violation of the country's airspace was not acceptable, and hoped that the new United States Administration would review its policies.
He emphasised that Pakistan wanted peace in the region, but that should not be taken as its weakness.
Separately, talking to BBC, Rabbani said the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) was committed to repealing the 17th Amendment and implementing the Charter of Democracy.
Rabbani, also leader of the House in the Senate, said, "We sent a draft constitutional package seeking input to all the political parties a few months ago."
He said the PPP was ready to debate any bill presented by the opposition in parliament on repealing the 17th Amendment.
The situation at the western and eastern borders of the country had changed the party's priorities, he said.
However, Rabbani said the PPP would carry out all positive steps to repeal the amendment.

Pakistan state not linked to Mumbai attack - Britain

Britain's Foreign Secretary said on Tuesday that he believed the Pakistan state did not direct the Mumbai attacks, contradicting accusations from the Indian government that state agencies were involved.
"I have said publicly that I do not believe that the attacks were directed by the Pakistani state and I think it's important to restate that," David Miliband told a news conference.
He added that it was clear the attacks originated from Pakistan, and Islamabad had to crack down on the militants operating on its soil, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) which has been blamed for the Mumbai attacks.
"We are absolutely clear about the origin of the terrorist attack, and the responsibility that exists in Pakistan to bring the perpetrators to justice," Miliband said.
"What is relevant is the approach of the Pakistani state to the LeT organisation and the way the Pakistani state takes on the menace of the LeT organisation," he added.
India has become increasingly frustrated at what it sees as Pakistan's failure to take strong action against those it blames for the Mumbai attacks, in which 179 people were killed last November.
The attacks revived tension between two nuclear-armed nations that have fought three wars since 1947.
But Miliband praised India for the "maturity" and "wisdom" of its response to the attacks, referring to New Delhi's decision to respond diplomatically rather than militarily to the attacks

AP police conducts raid at PricewaterhouseCoopers' office

Hyderabad, Jan 13 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Police today conducted searches at the office of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the firm that audited the accounts of defamed Satyam Computer, here. The personnel of CB-CID, investigating the financial fraud of Satyam Computer, carried out searches at the PwC office at Jubilee Hills, a top CID officer told PTI. "An eight-member team has begun search operations and recovered some documents," he said.
PwC, however, said in a statement that "there is no raid at the Price Waterhouse Hyderabad office.
We are fully cooperating with the agencies and providing whatever information/documents/materials that have been asked for.
" Asked if any director of the disbanded Satyam Board had been picked up for questioning, he replied in the negative. The officer, however, added that some of the directors are under the scanner of the investigating agency.
On January 11, a joint search operation was conducted by the officials of state CID police, SEBI, Serious Fraud Investigation Office and Registrar of Companies at the offices and residences of Satyam's former Chairman B Ramalinga Raju, his brother and former MD B Rama Raju and former CFO Vadlamani Srinivas.

Evading arrest? Satyam says Mynampati is in the US

In a major development in Satyam scandal on Tuesday morning, ex- CEO Ram Mynampati, who is believed to be in the US right now, may be arrested after questioning. More heads are expected to roll in connection with the biggest corporate scandal reported last week and the needle of suspicion is being pointed at 27 others.

TV reports said CID is under pressure not to arrest Mynampati. CID denied the reports that Mynampati was in the US. He is very much in Hyderabad and was spotted yesterday in his office after new Board addressed media, CID source told CNN IBN. His arrest is imminent, CID told the TV channels.
Mynampati meeting clients
Satyam Contradicting CID claims was a press statement issued by Satyam PR firm that said Mynampati is in the US. A Satyam spokesperson said Mynampati was meeting clients in the US and the reports of his arrest and interrogation were not true.Mynampati also spoke to the three-member new board of the company Monday from the US via video conference, she said. "I don't know when he went to the US," the spokesperson told IANS.Mynampati was acting as interim CEO of the company after B. Ramalinga Raju resigned as chairman on Jan 7 while admitting the massive fraud. Mynampati, who was on the board of directors since 2006, addressed a news conference on Jan 8 along with other top executives and denied knowledge of the fraud.He might have left for the US on Jan 9 to meet clients to allay their apprehensions in the wake of the fraud, the spokesperson added.The new board constituted by the central government told the media Monday that Mynampati was no longer CEO or board member but said he continued to be an employee of the company.

26/11: India threatens to snap all ties with Pakistan

New Delhi: India plans to break off business, transport and tourist links with Pakistan and isolate it from the rest of the world if it fails to help to investigate the Mumbai terrorist attacks, the country's Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram has told the Times.
Chidambaram accused Pakistan of doing nothing to assist India bring to justice the perpetrators of the attacks.Asked what Pakistan was doing to help with the investigation, in which India handed over a dossier of evidence to its neighbour last week, Chidambaram said: "Zero. What have they provided? Nothing." The minister will brief David Miliband on the investigation's progress when the British Foreign Secretary meets him in Delhi on Tuesday.
"There are many, many links between India and Pakistan, and if Pakistan does not co-operate and does not help to bring the perpetrators to heel, those ties will become weaker and weaker and one day snap," he said.
"Why would we entertain Pakistani business people? Why would we entertain tourists in India? Why would we send tourists there?" Mr Chidambaram refused to discuss when such measures might be introduced, but said: "We need co-operation soon."

Wipro admits ‘facilitating payments’, denies bribing

New Delhi: IT major Wipro understands clearly the difference between a bribe and 'facilitating payment' and is not averse to giving gifts "in the normal course of business" provided that these do not exceed $50.
"A contribution or entertainment should never be offered under circumstances that might create the appearance of an impropriety. Some very modest gifts with a value not exceeding USD 50 or equivalent currency, appropriate to give in the normal course of business practice may be acceptable," the company says in its code of business conduct and ethics.Wipro, banned for four years from doing business with the World Bank for offering improper benefits to its employees, has questioned the global lender's decision saying it had done nothing wrong.In its code, the company says there is a clear distinction between bribe - a practice of corruptly giving a thing of value in exchange for gaining advantage in favour of the giver or any other person - and 'facilitating payment'. It defines 'facilitating payment' as "payment of money to expedite a routine governmental action to which the giver is otherwise entitled to.
After the World Bank made its decision of 2007 to debar the company for four years, Wipro had said in a statement that it had offered the staff of the global lender shares under a plan approved by the authorities.
It is important for the employees to understand the difference between bribe, which it said was a strict-no, and facilitating payment, the code said, adding that even the latter is discouraged in the company.

We respect Satyam staff as professionals: Murthy

Bangalore: Infosys Technologies Chairman and Chief Mentor N R Narayana Murthy on Monday said the company's intention on not to entertain job seekers from Satyam was no reflection of integrity and competence of employees at the Hyderabad-based firm.
"This (Infosys' intention not to act) is no reflection on the integrity and competence of Satyam's employees. We respect them as professionals," Murthy said in a statement.
He also said it is to ensure that nothing was done that would adversely impact Satyam's future.
"At times of crisis, it is important that the industry acts in a responsible and credible manner," he added.

Somdev jumps to 154 in ATP rankings

New Delhi: Somdev Devvarman's stellar show at the Chennai Open tennis tournament, where he ended runners-up, catapulted him to 154 in the latest ATP singles tennis rankings issued on Monday.

The Indian leapfrogged 48 places from his earlier ranking of 202. Somdev, with 562 points, continues to be India's numero uno singles player but the gap between him and second highest ranked Prakash Amritraj is widening as the latter is now placed 209, a loss of three places. Somdev, playing in his maiden ATP Tour event final, lost in straight sets to Marin Cilic of Croatia, on Sunday.

In the doubles, Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes hung on to their sixth and 10th position respectively. Both Bhupathi and Paes cut a sorry figure at the home event making early exits with their respective partners.

Meanwhile, Sania Mirza, who is all set to return to competitive tennis at Australian Open, was ranked 107th in the latest WTA singles rankings.

Did Raju surrender or was he 'picked up' from home?

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh government on Monday gave a version on Ramalinga Raju and Rama Raju's arrests, which contradicts what Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy said on Sunday.
Rajasekhara Reddy had said that the Satyam founder and his brother were "picked up" from their house, but Home Minister Jana Reddy told reporters today that they were arrested at the state police headquarters, although popular perception is that the Rajus surrendered."We launched a manhunt for the Raju brothers on Friday. Having come to know that the police were searching for them, the brothers drove to the state police headquarters to surrender.
But the police arrested them immediately," Jana Reddy told reporters here today.Chief Minister Reddy said on Sunday that the police "picked up" the Rajus from their house late on Friday night.
The police action was based on the letter written by Ramalinga Raju to the Satyam board of directors, the chief minister had said."I am giving you the information I have," Jana Reddy said today, while quickly adding that he would give a clear statement on the entire issue in the next three-four days.

The horrors of living under Taliban "dos and don'ts" in Pak's Swat Valley

Peshawar, Jan 12 (ANI): People in Pakistan's restive Swat Valley are leaving the area, because surviving in duress is becoming difficult for them, as they have been subjected to many "dos and don'ts" in recent months by the Taliban militants.
Over the past two weeks, many families left the valley fearing a bleak future for their children. Apart from the education sector, which has suffered constantly in the settled and Tribal Areas, the people of Swat have been subjected to many 'dos and don'ts' in recent months.
"We are living under duress these days," the Daily Times quoted a Swat-based educationist, as saying.
He said this while condemning the recent threats from Taliban for closure of girls' schools in Swat.
However, after repeated talks, the Taliban have agreed to allow girls' education at government and private institutions until class IV, he said.
Hairdressers have been forced to stop shaving beards. "We are not shaving beards and don't visit us to get your beards shaved" announced handwritten notices displayed at every barbershop in Mingora, headquarters of the restive Swat district.
"Women are not allowed in this market," reads a banner installed in front of a three-storey market, which was once called Women's Market.
"We were dealing in women's garments and cosmetics and were doing a reasonable business. However, we cannot even earn enough money to pay the rent and electricity charges of the shop since the ban has been imposed on women's entry in the market," said a shop owner.
Another shop owner said he had not seen a woman in the whole Mingora Bazaar in the past month.
"They (Taliban) have ordered the killing of women seen in market areas," he said.
The market of dancing girls, also known as the Bundh Bazaar, has also been closed following the recent killing of a female dancer.

Satyam may get financial help from govt: Nath

New Delhi, Jan 12 (PTI) Troubled Satyam Computer Services, facing a liquidity challenge, may get financial support from the government, which is willing to consider "all aspects" of helping the crisis-ridden company, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said today. Since it was a question of saving jobs and an international Indian brand, the government would consider all the proposals from the newly-constituted board, Nath said.
When asked whether the government could extend even financial help to Satyam, Nath said, "Of course. There are many jobs at stake and institutional stakes.
" Addressing a press conference after the first meeting of the government-appointed board in Hyderabad, Deepak Parekh said the liquidity issue would need immediate attention. Nath said it was up to the board to come up with proposals.
He said the Satyam fraud is not a slur on India Inc because the country's corporate norms have passed the test of the Securities and Exchange Commission of the US and several other multilateral agencies.

"Slumdog Millionaire" hits Golden Globe jackpot

Rags-to-riches tale "Slumdog Millionaire" hit the jackpot at the Golden Globes on Sunday, winning four of the coveted awards including best film drama to give it a leg up in Hollywood's race for Oscars.
"Slumdog," which tells of a young Indian man looking for love and competing for money on a television game show, also earned awards for director Danny Boyle, screenwriter Simon Beaufoy and composer A.R. Rahman for best musical score.
Boyle thanked the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which gives out the Golden Globe Awards, for supporting his movie that captures the frenetic pace of life in Mumbai.
"Your mad, pulsating affection for our film is much appreciated, really deeply appreciated," Boyle said.
In other major honors, director Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" was named best film musical or comedy.
Kate Winslet grabbed two Golden Globes, one for best actress in a drama in her role as a frustrated housewife in "Revolutionary Road" and the second for best supporting actress playing a German woman with a hidden past in "The Reader."
It was only the third time in Golden Globe history that a performer has won two acting awards in one year, according to Tom O'Neil of awards website TheEnvelope.com.
Mickey Rourke was named best actor in a film drama with "The Wrestler" and Heath Ledger, who died of an accidental drug overdose last year, was named best supporting actor for playing the villain Joker in Batman movie "The Dark Knight."
"All of us who worked with Heath accept this with an awful mixture of sadness but incredible pride," director Christopher Nolan said onstage.
Colin Farrell won best actor in a musical or comedy with his role as a hitman in "In Bruges," and Sally Hawkins was best actress in the same group for her work as an optimistic teacher in "Happy-Go-Lucky."
"Wall-E," a huge summer hit with $523 million at global box offices, took home best animated film, and Israel's "Waltz with Bashir" was named best foreign language film.
The Golden Globe Awards are given out by some 90 members of the HFPA. They are closely watched for clues as to which films might vie for Oscars, the world's top movie awards given in February by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

India's manned moon mission by 2020: ISRO

Salem (TN), Jan 12 (PTI) The ISRO proposed to undertake the country's first manned moon mission by 2020 following the success of Chandrayaan-I, project director of Chandrayaan-I M Annadurai has said. The successful launch of Chandrayaan-I in October last year has given space scientists the confidence to undertake manned mission to moon, Annadurai told reporters here yesterday.
The Chandrayaan-II mission is expected to be undertaken within a couple of years followed by Chandrayaan-III, he said. The Chandrayaan-I mission has been sending considerable amount of data and scientists are busy analysing it, he said.
Several countries have approached India to set up a common lunar research centre for conducting various studies, the director added.

Satyam's new board hunts for CEO and CFO

Hyderabad: The government-appointed board of directors for scam-hit Satyam Computers has begun the hunt for a new chief executive officer and a chief finance officer as part of measures to restore credibility and confidence in the country's fourth largest IT bellwether and ensure business continuity, Deepak Parekh, one of the new directors said Monday.There will also be a new accounting firm in two days to go over the company's finances and present a correct picture."We will appoint a new accounting firm in 48 hours to restate the financial position and are in talks with two auditing firms (for the job)," Parekh, chairman of the Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC), told a press conference after the first meeting of the three-member board, appointed by the central government Sunday to steer the company.Parekh and other two board members, former president of NASSCOM Kiran Karnik and former SEBI member C. Achuthan, met at Satyam Corporate office through the day familiarising themselves with the firm's financial position and talking to several senior staff. Satyam's founder-chairman B. Ramalinga Raju resigned Jan 7 after admitting to the country's biggest financial fraud of Rs.70 billion.
Flanked by Karnik and Achuthan, Parekh said the first priority of the new board "is to restore credibility of and confidence in the company among employees, customers and investors"."This is an enormous task," he said in his opening remarks at the press meet.
He said restating the financial position was another priority as "none has faith in the figures (given by Ramalinga Raju)".Parekh said a few more members will be appointed to the board soon. "The full board will elect the chairman (of the board)," he added.He said finding a CEO and CFO was not going to be easy. "Not many will like to leave their current position for this job. It will take time. We are hopeful of finding people soon," he added.On Satyam's cash position, Parekh said there was not much outstanding against receivables (payment from customers). "We expect payments to flow regularly. We may also offer incentives for early payment," he said. Most of the software companies give their customers up to 60 days time to make payment for their completed services.
He denied that his being on the board of directors of WNS Global Services, a BPO company, was in conflict with being a Satyam board member."We have been appointed by the government which has taken into account these issues. We are known as special directors," Parekh asserted.
He said Karnik had resigned Monday as director of Emergency Management and Research Institute (to avoid conflict of interest as EMRI was promoted by the disgraced Satyam founder).Responding to questions, Karnik said he "does not expect clients to move away because Satyam has been been handling their mission critical applications".
"The fact that the government has moved in swiftly (to appoint a new board) gives enough hope to clients and employees that the company will be put back on track," Karnik said.Achuthan said Ram Mynampati, a wholetime director whom Ramalinga Raju named as interim CEO when he resigned, was no longer a board member. "That board is no longer there.
"Mynampati is, however, an employee of Satyam," Achuthan said.
On whether the new board was open to merger of Satyam, Parekh shot back "do you expect us to discuss merger in public?" The new board met as a Hyderabad magistrate postponed to Jan 16 hearing on a bail plea by Ramalinga Raju and his brother who are sharing a cell at Chanchalguda Central Jail with people accused of petty crimes like theft.On that day a SEBI plea to interrogate the Raju brothers and an Andhra Pradesh police application seeking their custody will also be heard.Raju and his brother and Satyam's managing director B. Rama Raju were arrested late Friday, the day the central government sacked the remaining board members and announced it will appoint new members to save the company from collapse.Besides the Raju brothers, the third person behind bars in connection with the fraud is Satyam's former CFO Srinivas Vadlamani.