Washington: One in 10 Americans still believe US President Barack Obama is a Muslim, a poll conducted by the Pew Research Centre found.The number is only slightly lower than the results of a poll conducted by Pew last October.
Nineteen percent of white evangelical Protestants and 17 percent Republicans are among the most likely to view Obama as a Muslim, according to the poll. While just seven percent of the Democrats say Obama is a Muslim, Pew said on its website Friday.
In spite of Obama being on record about his Christian faith and his well known association with a Chicago United Church, opponents raised questions about Obama's religion during the contentious 2008 US Presidential campaign, the Nationalpost.com said.
Conservapedia, which bills itself as the conservative alternative to Wikipedia, has a subsection called 'Obama is likely the first Muslim President' in its entry on Obama. The section lists what it sees as evidence of Obama's Muslim faith. The debate over Obama's religion also took to the Internet where Obama's campaign started its own website to address the religion issue and other 'smears'.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Eleven percent Americans still think Obama is a Muslim
Karunanidhi receives death threat allegedly from LTTE
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Friday received a death threat allegedly from the banned LTTE, police said.Police said a letter carrying the symbol of the proscribed outfit issuing the death threat was received at Karunanidhi's Gopalpuram residence.Following the threat, security has been stepped up for the Chief Minister, who already is in the 'Z plus' category.A case has been filed with the Central crime branch of the city police which is probing the matter.Police officials said the Union Home Ministry had already warned of a terror threat to Karunanidhi from LTTE, which is engaged in what is been termed as the "last ditch battle" in Sri Lanka
Gunman shoots himself after killing 13 in New York shooting rampage
New York: A lone gunman shot dead as many as 13 people, wounded another 26 in a shooting rampage inside an upstate New York civic association building that caters to immigrants and then killed himself, media reports said.
The gunman has been identified as Jiverly Voong, 42, from upstate New York, media reports said.
ABC News reported citing police that Voong, also known as Linh Phat Voong, was from Johnson City, New York. ABC News cited multiple state law enforcement officials as saying Voong entered the single-storey American Civic Association building in downtown Binghamton about 10 a.m. Friday and began a shooting spree.
Voong's body was found on first floor with a hunting knife jammed into the waistband of his pants. A senior law enforcement official told ABC News that 13 people were shot dead and 26 wounded. Many others were believed to be held inside the building as hostages. At the time of the shooting the civic association was holding citizenship classes.
Earlier Friday, police called Broome Community College to find someone who could speak fluent Vietnamese to "assist police with translation", said college spokesman Richard David. Police, he said, did not indicate whether the translator, Professor Tuong Nguyen, was needed to speak with the shooter or with hostages, but believed the professor would be talking with the shooter. Officials said Voong backed his car up to the rear door of the building to block any escape before he went to the front of the building and started to execute people. Police officials said two weapons have been found.
According to one police report a 9 mm pistol was recovered as SWAT team officers entered the building. One of the first sights that greeted police officers when they entered the American Civic Association, an organization that helps immigrants, was a receptionist who had been shot in the head, police said.
By early afternoon a number of people were seen being escorted out of the building by police. But police at that time appeared to still be treating the situation as an active one with a shooter possibly still at large.
Several people were removed from the building on stretchers. Others left with their hands on their heads and were searched by police. "It looks like they're bringing out hostages. It looks like most of them are coming out," said eye witness Nick Masucci, a community college student and Binghamton resident.
Masucci said as many as 20 people had exited the building and were pat down by police. "They look like immigrants, lots of different cultures coming out of there. Some people are getting patted down.
The police are taking a lot of precautions, they're still taking cover," he said. People in nearby buildings were told to stay away from windows and Binghamton High School is under a lock-down as police are using the school as a staging area. The school is a block and a half away from the shooting site.
Ten ambulances were called to the scene and an FBI hostage rescue team was reportedly also sent for
Tickets for IPL opening day's double-header sold out
Mumbai: Tickets for the double-header on the opening day of Indian Premier League's second edition at Cape Town in South Africa, scheduled on April 18, have been sold out within hours of going on sale online on Friday.
Very few tickets remained to be sold for the second day's double-header on April 19 at the same venue - Sahara Park at Newlands, the organisers announced.
Commenting on sale of the IPL tickets online at www.Cumputicket.Com, the chairman and commissioner of the cash-rich tournament, Lalit Modi hoped that the first day of the Twenty20 league will see "a dream start for season 2009".
The first day's double-header will see last year's runners-up Chennai Super Kings clashing with Mumbai Indians which would be followed by the defending champions Rajasthan Royals taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore.
On April 19, Delhi Daredevils would clash with Kings XI Punjab, while Deccan Chargers are to take on Kolkata Knight Riders.
The preliminary round-robin phase of the tournament would see 56 matches over 34 days at eight venues - Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Pretoria, East London, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein and Kimberley.
The two semi-finals would be held on May 22 and 23 at Pretoria and Johannesburg respectively, while the final is at Johannesburg on May 24.
U.S. payrolls plunge, jobless rate hits 8.5 pct
The U.S. unemployment rate soared to 8.5 percent last month, a fresh 25-year high, as employers slashed 663,000 jobs and cut workers' hours to the lowest level on record, the government said on Friday.
In a report underscoring the economy's distress, the Labor Department also revised its data to show job losses of 741,000 in January, the biggest decline since October 1949. February's drop in non-farm payrolls was unrevised at 651,000.
The report, coming in the wake of recent data that have surprised on the upside, did little to alter perceptions the economy's downward momentum was slowing, as unemployment tends to peak well after a recession ends.
The economy now in its 16th month of recession remained on track to recover in the second half of this year and the intense phase of job losses was likely over, economists said.
"I don't think the recovery for the end of this year is derailed by this jobs report. It looks like the job losses are certainly down significantly from January, which may very well be the peak," said Bernard Baumohl, chief global economist at the Economic Outlook Group in Princeton, New Jersey.
U.S. stocks fell on the data, but government bond prices dropped as some traders had braced for an even weaker report.
Economists had expected non-farm payrolls to fall by a slightly less severe 650,000 jobs in March, but had anticipated the jump in the jobless rate from February's 8.1 percent.
March's unemployment rate was the highest since November 1983, when the economy was recovering from the back-to-back recessions of 1980 and 1981.
Since the start of the current downturn in December 2007, the economy has shed 5.1 million jobs, with about two-thirds of the losses occurring in the last five months, the department said. In the first quarter of 2009, 2 million jobs were lost.
WORST OF JOB LOSSES LIKELY OVER
"What we saw today may indicate the intense portion of job declines may have reached its nadir," said said Joseph Brusuelas, an economist at Moody's Economy.com in West Chester, Pennsylvania. "The fact that weekly jobless claims continue to increase and we have further auto cuts in front of us creates some risk."
To combat the deep recession, which next month will become the longest downturn since the Great Depression, the government has put in place a $787 billion package of tax cuts and spending. In addition, the Federal Reserve has pumped trillions of dollars into the economy.
Christina Romer, the head of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, called the figures "unquestionably horrible." She told Reuters Television the economy should be growing by the year's end, but that jobs growth would lag.
"As painful as it is to say, you have to be a little bit patient, that is unfortunately where we are," she said. "We are taking every action we can to make sure we don't see numbers like this a few months from now."
Job losses in March were broad-based. Even government payrolls, normally resilient during downturns, contracted -- the first drop since December. Only education and health services added jobs.
The manufacturing sector shed 161,000 jobs last month, after eliminating 169,000 positions in February. Construction payrolls fell 126,000 after a 107,000 loss in February and the service sector axed 358,000 positions after cutting 366,000.
The report showed it has become increasingly difficult to find new jobs, with the number of Americans experiencing long spells of joblessness rising by 265,000 to 3.2 million.
"Nearly one in four of the unemployed had been jobless for 27 weeks or more, the highest ratio since mid-1983," U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Keith Hall said.
Rising unemployment is cutting into household incomes, which already have been decimated by the collapse in housing and stock prices, restricting consumers' spending ability.
A separate report showed activity in the service sector, which represents about 80 percent of U.S. economic activity, shrank for a sixth straight month in March. The Institute for Supply Management's services index slipped to 40.8 from 41.6 in February, indicating a deepening contraction.
In the jobs report, a measure of unemployed people working part-time for economic reasons and those who have given up looking for work raced to a record 15.6 percent from 14.8 percent in February.
The length of the average workweek fell to 33.2 hours in March, the lowest on records dating back to 1964, from 33.3 hours the prior month, suggesting further job losses ahead and erosion of first-quarter output.
While payrolls generally lag the rest of the economy, economists cautioned that continued steep job losses could outweigh government efforts to resuscitate the economy and further depress consumer spending and confidence.
"The fiscal stimulus will be overwhelmed if the job market does not begin to stabilize in the coming months. We will be keeping a close eye on jobless claims," said Ethan Harris, co-chief U.S. economist at Barclays Capital in New York.
Maruti bucks industry slump
At a time when auto analysts are expecting flat to negative growth for the industry for 2008-09, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI), the country's largest passenger car manufacturer, registered a growth of 3.6% (including exports) in 2008-09 at 7,92,167 units (highest ever in its history) as compared to 7,64,842 units in the previous year. This has been mainly driven by new models and higher focus on rural India.
In the domestic market, sales of MSI went up by 1.5% in 2008-09 at 7,22,144 units as compared to 7,11,818 units in the preceding financial year while its exports jumped by 32.1% at 70,023 units' vis- -vis 53,024 units in 2007-08.
The growth came even on a month-on-month and year-on-year basis, courtesy the two stimulus packages that were announced by the Centre in December and January. Sales were higher by 4.57% in March vis- -vis February at 70,625 units and the same went up by a robust 14.64% as compared to 64,421 units in March last year. "The period 2008-09 was a difficult year and we were only expecting a decline from June onwards when the sentiments started moving in the negative territory. However, the confidence started coming back since December after the Centre and the Reserve Bank intervened with stimulus packages that resulted in lower interest rates, lower prices and higher affordable credit," says Ajay Seth, chief general manager, Maruti Suzuki India. He added that barring some models, car prices have come down by 10-11% now as compared to their prices at the beginning of April.
"On top of this, funds from the Sixth Pay Commission came in and fuel price eased to levels beyond expectation. This boosted the consumer sentiment and those who were deferring purchases till then finally decided to buy a car," he adds.
However, Rakesh Batra, national leader (automotive practice), Ernst and Young, feels 2008-09 volumes for any player are not what was anticipated by players on the backdrop of high double digit-growth over the last few years. "The passenger car industry had registered a compounded growth of 17% since FY'03 to FY'08. Even if 2008-09 ends up at 2-3%, it would be a decline of around 15%," he said. After September last year, MSI's sales in October, November and December declined by 7.1%, 27.4% and 10% respectively. In January and February, sales, however, rose by 5.39% and 24.08% respectively.
Growth path
and#149; Maruti registered a growth of 3.6% (including exports) in 2008-09 at 7,92,167 units (highest ever in its history), as compared to 7,64,842 units in the previous year
and#149; In the domestic market, sales of Maruti Suzuki went up by 1.5% in 2008-09 at 7,22,144 units
No intention to borrow from IMF: PM
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told the global community that India is willing to increase its contribution to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) but does not intend to borrow any money from the multilateral lending agency.
"We do not visualise any need in the near future to go to the IMF ... We can consider contribution to (the) IMF in proportion to our quota," he said after the meeting of the G-20 leaders, who pledged to treble the resources of the IMF.
"As far as India is concerned ... the question arises that we should contribute (to the IMF)," Singh said when asked whether India, like Mexico, is planning to withdraw funds from the new facility approved at the G-20 Summit.
India, he added, has foreign exchange reserves of about USD 250 billion.
Expressing satisfaction at the inclusion of the country in the two key international committees, Singh said, "India has been recognised as a major economic player. It's a great achievement."
India has been made a member of the Financial Stability Forum (FSF) and the Basle Committee on Banking Supervision, the two key standard setting bodies.
Bhajji feels 'fantastic, good effort' has put India in the driver's seat
Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh today said that team's 's 'fantastic, good effort' on the first day of the third and final Test against New Zealand, has placed it in the driver's seat.
Harbhajan, who scored his seventh Test 50 and fifth in 15 months, said India looked to be vulnerable when he joined captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and expressed delight over his contribution of 60 of 78 balls.
"It was crucial to contribute lower down the order and if you look at the scoreboard we have got some decent runs," said Harbhajan, who clouted seven boundaries and a six.
"Thankfully me, Dhoni and all the other guys got some runs. Those 180-odd runs in the last session ... it was fantastic, a good effort."
Potentially fragile at 204 for six when the last specialist batsman, Rahul Dravid, was dismissed, Harbhajan was still confident the remaining batsmen could prolong the innings.
"Many teams would think they were in control, but I knew that we have done it before and that there was a very good chance for me to go out there in a pressure situation and deliver.
"Me and Dhoni we had a great partnership, those were crucial runs and obviously it will help us in the game."
Dhoni, scored 52, and Harbhajan put on 79 for the sixth wicket - the first of four fruitful partnerships that kept New Zealand in the field longer than they imagined.
Khan and Harbhajan smacked 32 before the fast bowler dominated a ninth-wicket stand worth 33 with Sharma.
The last pair put on 28 at seven an over - and also fulfilled an Indian goal.
"We were looking to bat the whole day and we achieved that,' Harbhajan said.
"It would have been nice to get these runs with losing six or seven wickets but we are still very happy."
Impressive Hauritz spins Australia to victory
Off-spinner Nathan Hauritz snapped up four wickets to steer Australia to an emphatic 141-run victory over South Africa in the first one dayer on Friday.
Hauritz's career-best figures of four for 29 condemned South Africa to their heaviest one-day defeat against Australia as they were skittled out for 145 after just 33.1 overs.
Chasing 287 for victory, South Africa lost their last nine wickets for just 54 runs as Hauritz and medium-pacer James Hopes, who took two for 24, ran through the order.
Australia had earlier posted a total of 286 for seven, with Mike Hussey returning to form with 83 not out.
Hauritz, playing his first match on tour, claimed the key wickets of Graeme Smith (52), Mark Boucher (0) and Albie Morkel (14) in 8.1 overs.
Captain Smith gave South Africa a solid start as they raced to 89 for one after 15 overs but Hopes sparked the collapse by having Herschelle Gibbs well-caught by Michael Clarke at point for 33.
BATSMEN STIFLED
The rest of the South African batsmen were stifled by Australia's bowlers.
Smith, who scored his 38th ODI fifty at a run-a-ball, tried to play Hauritz on the on-side and was beaten by the 27-year-old's wise use of flight and turn, offering a simple return catch.
From then on only JP Duminy (15) and Morkel were able to reach double figures as South Africa quickly headed for defeat.
Hussey pounced on every opportunity to score as he cracked an unbeaten 83 in 79 balls.
He and Hopes (38) put on a quickfire 67 for the sixth wicket.
Earlier, wicketkeeper Brad Haddin showed his versatility as a batsman as he moved up the order to open the innings and contribute 53.
Haddin and captain Ricky Ponting shared a stand of 77 for the second wicket.
Ponting fell for 37 when he mis-hit a lofted drive off Morne Morkel to his brother Albie at deep mid-on before Haddin was run out in a mix-up over calling.
Paceman Dale Steyn was the most effective bowler, taking two for 45 in nine overs.
Flintoff hat-trick helps England win to take series 3-2
England ended their ragged tour of the West Indies on a high on Friday when an Andrew Flintoff hat-trick helped them beat the hosts by 26 runs in a rain-shortened match to win the one-day series 3-2.
Flintoff took five for 19 in his five overs, including the hat-trick in his final over, as England claimed their first one-day series victory in the Caribbean.
It was a well-deserved win on Friday too as England bowled with accuracy and discipline after an earlier batting collapse meant they managed only 172 for five from their allotted 29 overs.
Put in to bat, England started well as they overcame the early loss of Andrew Strauss to reach 88-2 after 15 overs on a difficult pitch. However, an all-too-familiar middle-order collapse took the steam out of the innings.
Kevin Pietersen was looking good on 48 when recalled spinner Sulieman Benn had him controversially caught by Darren Sammy, with TV pictures suggesting he grounded the ball.
Ravi Bopara was also in lively form but he too missed out on a half-century when he fell for 44. When Owais Shah and Flintoff followed soon after, England had slumped to 112-5.
Paul Collingwood (35 not out) and Matt Prior (25 not out) staged a spirited recovery with an unbeaten partnership of 60, including 30 off the last three overs.
West Indies' chase got off to the worst possible start when captain Chris Gayle was caught in the slips off Jimmy Anderson off the third ball of the innings.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul (13) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (23), who have troubled England throughout the tour, both settled in but failed to build on their starts as England took wickets at regular intervals.
Flintoff, whose tour has been bedevilled by injury, then took centre stage as he bowled Denesh Ramdin, had Ravi Rampaul lbw and then bowled Benn.
The match ended in something of a shambles as Sammy (7) was run out going for a second run to leave them all out 146 after 28 overs.
West Indies beat England 1-0 in the test series.
Obama seeks more European help in Afghanistan
U.S. President Barack Obama told Europe on Friday it must do more to help the United States win the war in Afghanistan, seeking to use his huge public popularity here to wring concessions from NATO allies.
Greeted by crowds as a hero on his first trip to Europe as president, Obama warned its leaders and students at a meeting in the French city of Strasbourg that Europe faced a bigger threat from al Qaeda than the United States for geographical reasons.
"Europe should not simply expect the United States to shoulder that burden alone," he said of Afghanistan, looking to drum up support for his new strategy in the war.
"This is a joint problem that requires a joint effort," he said, before attending a dinner with leaders of the 28 NATO member states at a summit marking the military alliance's 60th anniversary in Strasbourg and nearby Baden-Baden in Germany.
Despite his popularity with many Europeans, police battled anti-NATO demonstrators with water cannon and teargas on the outskirts of Strasbourg to prevent them reaching the city centre. About 300 protesters were also arrested on Thursday.
A disagreement between Turkey and its European allies over who should be the next head of NATO also soured the mood, with Ankara resisting calls for Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen to replace the outgoing secretary-general.
Turkey is unhappy with Rasmussen's handling of a 2006 row over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad that caused riots in the Muslim world and NATO sources said discussions on the issue would continue on Saturday after no consensus had been found.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel had earlier come out openly in favour of Rasmussen and had hoped for a decision on Friday.
PRESSURE OVER AFGAHNISTAN
Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy each met Obama before the summit, but despite warm endorsements, they gave no indication they would send more soldiers to Afghanistan.
Britain said it would consider dispatching extra forces to help out during Afghanistan's August presidential election.
The United States has 38,000 troops in Afghanistan, more than all the other national contingents put together. Obama has said he will add an extra 17,000 combat troops as well as 4,000 others to help train Afghan officials.
European leaders are reluctant to send more of their own soldiers to a war that is unpopular with voters, preferring to focus their energies on reconstruction and development.
Unlike his predecessor George W. Bush, who was deeply unpopular in Europe and whose administration sometimes bullied allies publicly to bolster their contributions in Afghanistan, Obama struck a more conciliatory tone.
"I understand that after a long campaign in Afghanistan people can feel weary of war, even a war that is just," he told reporters at a joint news conference with Merkel.
But he also delivered a clear message, saying he expected Germany would be "stepping up to the plate" and warning of the al Qaeda threat to Europe.
Obama's Afghan plan aims to get a grip on rising violence by Taliban militants driven from power in 2001 but never completely defeated, broadening the focus to Pakistan and putting the highest priority on the defeat of al Qaeda militants.
He said on Friday he did not expect NATO troops would operate in Pakistan, easing fears of an expansion in the war.
CHEERING CROWDS
Obama was greeted by cheering crowds when he arrived in the Strasbourg in eastern France, fresh from his economic diplomacy at the G20 summit in Britain, and was also feted later when he travelled the short distance across the border to Germany.
The NATO summit will be packed with symbolism aimed at celebrating an alliance created to defend Europe's borders.
Obama warned that although NATO's old adversary, the Soviet Union, had gone, the threat of nuclear catastrophe remained.
"Even with the Cold War over, the spread of nuclear weapons or the theft of nuclear material could lead to the extermination of any city on the planet," he told the town hall meeting.
He said he would set out an agenda to seek a world without nuclear weapons at an EU-U.S. summit in Prague on Sunday.
The NATO summit will initially focus on often difficult relations with Moscow, with Obama saying the West needed engage Russia while acknowledging they had "some core disagreements".
India helps secure G20 deal for developing countries
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh left here Friday after helping secure a G20 deal that he said would help inject up to $1.1 trillion into the rapidly-emptying coffers of developing countries struggling to cope with the world's worst economic crisis in 60 years.
'I was happy to note that our views received wide acceptance and support,' Manmohan Singh, who led the Indian delegation, said at the close of the summit.
India pushed hard for developing countries - both large economies, as well as the poorest countries - to make good losses that they have already suffered and to ensure they do not again lose out in a crisis that was not of their making.
'We have agreed in favour of greater resources for the world's developing countries, because developing countries who are not responsible for this crisis are yet major victims of the crisis,' the prime minister said.
The summit ended Thursday with world leaders pledging to inject a massive $1.1 trillion into the world economy through international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The ADB's capital will be increased by about 200 percent.
The money, some of which would go directly as aid to the world's poorest countries and some into funding global trade, would aim to make good a $700 billion decline in capital flows to developing countries.
The bulk of it will go into funding cheap IMF loans to vulnerable economies.
Although India itself does not need to draw out from the IMF, it made the call because emerging economies are expected to power the global economy through the recession.
'Together they involve a massive provision of $ 1.1 trillion for emerging market economies. India does not need IMF funding but we have been in favour of expanding IMF resources as this will help developing countries that need assistance. It will restore confidence about emerging markets,' Manmohan Singh declared.
The other important part of the summit was the decision to enforce a much tighter regulation of globalization, but this, Manmohan Singh said, would take time.
India is now a member of the two standard-setting regulatory bodies, the Financial Stability Forum and the Basle Committee on Banking Supervision.
'The directions of the reform of financial regulation and supervision that have been agreed are in line with our own thinking in India,' the prime minister said.
IBM cuts Sun offer,may unveil deal next week - source
IBM cut its offer for Sun Microsystems Inc to $9.55 a share after a thorough vetting and may soon unveil details of its largest- ever takeover, a source with knowledge of the matter said on Thursday.
But the source, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the deal, said that price was not final, although IBM had decided Sun Micro was worth less than thought after a weeks- long due diligence process.
A merger would create a server industry powerhouse with a commanding 65 percent of the $17 billion Unix server market, a dominance analysts say might trigger antitrust scrutiny and concerns from clients.
A deal at $9.55 would mark a 92 percent premium -- or almost double -- Sun's closing share price on March 17, the day before news of IBM's offer emerged.
Sun agreed to a lower price in return for stronger commitments from IBM that it will complete the deal, even if it faces intense regulatory scrutiny, the Wall Street Journal cited people familiar with the matter as saying.
Sun would hand IBM a clear lead at the high end of the $45 billion overall server market fought over with Hewlett-Packard Co. It would broaden IBM's software portfolio, add storage products that vie with EMC Corp and Network Appliance Inc and provide an edge over Cisco Systems Inc, which some see as its biggest rival in the long term.
"Sun has many valuable assets that have not been adequately monetized," said Cross Research analyst Shannon Cross.
But she added the challenge would be to integrate the two cultures and product lines.
The Wall Street Journal reported early in the day on Thursday that IBM was in the final stages of negotiations with Sun, but had reduced its offer to between $9 and $10 from a previous $10-to-$11 range. Last month, the newspaper reported the deal was worth about $8 billion, including $1.4 billion in cash on Sun's balance sheet, if IBM were to pay $10 to $11 per share.
Officials with IBM and Sun, which now carries a market capitalization of about $6 billion, declined to comment.
Some analysts say IBM could have a hard time improving performance at Sun, which has been lackluster for years. IBM, which runs services, hardware and software businesses, has kept profits growing in the midst of the worst U.S. economic recession in decades.
The shares of Sun -- whose name was once synonymous with the Internet, but never recovered from a dive in sales after the dot.com bubble burst -- have lost 97 percent of their value since peaking at $260 in 2000.
SETTING SUN
On Thursday, they jumped 2.6 percent in after-hours trading after rallying the same amount in the regular session. IBM shares held steady in extended trading after gaining more than 3 percent.
Sun rose to prominence in the 1990s, but after the dot.com bubble burst earlier this decade, it failed to generate substantial profit from software products, including Java and Solaris.
To counteract a potential slide in margins after a deal is completed, IBM is likely to embark on a major reorganization that could produce more job losses at a company known for talented engineers and a heavy focus on research and development.
IBM has already cut thousands of jobs.
Canaccord Adams analyst Peter Misek said the strategy was to make Sun's business profitable for IBM by reducing costs, while helping IBM enter new markets and giving it new technology.
"Makes a ton of sense if they can pull enough costs out," Misek said.
IBM led the business of selling high-end UNIX servers last year, claiming about 37 percent of sales. It was followed by Sun with 28 percent and HP with 27 percent, according to market researcher IDC.
A merger of the two would have less impact on the low end, x86 server market, where profit margins are tight and there is less differentiation between products from competitors.
Sales in that sector totaled some $28 billion last year. HP led that segment, claiming 37 percent of the market, followed by Dell Inc with 22 percent, IBM with 16 percent and Sun with 2.5 percent.
BJP offers tax cuts, tough Pakistan policy
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) promised low taxes and interest rates to revive a slowing economy and a tough posture on Pakistan in an election manifesto on Friday aimed at boosting its poll ratings.
The BJP, India's main Hindu-nationalist opposition party, also promised to retrieve Indian money illegally stashed abroad, generate employment through massive infrastructure projects and give cheaper farm loans to cushion Indians from the global financial crisis.
It said it would cut housing interest rates, give tax exemption to citizens above the age of 60 and also waive personal income tax for hundreds of thousands of defence personnel and pensioners.
'We are giving a message to our voters that if you give us an opportunity then whatever we do we will do with honesty,' the party's prime ministerial candidate Lal Krishna Advani said.
The BJP said India will resume peace talks with Pakistan only after Islamabad dismantled the 'terrorist infrastructure' on its soil. 'Without that there can be no comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan,' spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
The party has accused the ruling Congress party in the past of being soft on national security, sharpening the criticism in the wake of the Mumbai attacks in November blamed on a Pakistan-based guerrilla group.
The BJP-led opposition alliance trails in most opinion polls for the month-long election beginning on April 13 and is struggling to find allies in potentially swing states.
Its principal battle is with the ruling left-of-centre Congress-led coalition in the staggered election running from April 16 to May 13.
Votes will be counted on May 16 and most analysts predict that smaller regional parties will hold the balance of power after the election.
POPULIST
Announcing a raft of populist measures, the BJP proposed farm loans at an interest rate of four percent and a ban on foreign direct investment in retail to help domestic trade.
It also threatened retaliation against moves by countries to discourage hiring of Indian workers abroad by imposing visa restrictions.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Britain introduces tougher visa regime for students
New Delhi: The new visa regime introduced by Britain is set to make it tougher for Indian students to pursue education in UK colleges due to stringent conditionalities attached to travel and admission norms.
The new visa regime introduced since yesterday require colleges who recruit international students to be registered with the UK Border Agency, the educational institutions also have to report to the Agency if pupils engage in activities other than they have enrolled for.
Barbara Woodward, Director, Visa Services of the UK Border Agency said previously about 15,000 colleges enrolled international students for various educational courses but many were found wanting in providing quality education.
About 2,100 education providers (schools, colleges, universities) had applied for registration with the Border Agency and 1000 have been issued licenses, she said.
Before a student makes a visa application, he needs to ensure that he has an unconditional offer from a licensed education provider and has sufficient funds to cover course fees and living costs during his studies, Woodward said.
Under the new system the name of the university will be stamped along with the student visa, she told reporters here.
Woodward claimed that the new arrangements as part of Tier 4 of the points based system will make the visa process simpler, more objective and more transparent for applicants and prevent abuse of the immigration system.
Polling will be peaceful; Chidambaram takes on BJP
Cautioning against panic or alarm amid reports of terrorist threats to politicians in the run-up to and during the general elections, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Thursday the government was taking all measures to ensure peaceful polls, even as he accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of promoting a divisive agenda.
'There is no need for any panic. There is no need for any alarm. Our levels of preparedness have gone up substantially,' Chidambaram told reporters at the Congress headquarters here, unexpectedly donning the role of party spokesperson.
'We have deployed enough security forces in the run-up to the elections. We have taken all measures that are required to ensure polling takes place peacefully,' he maintained.The home minister also lashed out at the BJP in anticipation of the release of its election manifesto Friday.'The BJP's agenda is a divisive agenda.
The BJP divides people on communal lines. When you divide the country you cannot fight terror,' he contended.'A country divided on religious and caste lines can't fight terrorism. We need to vanquish the communal agenda if you want to vanquish terror,' he said, claiming that only the Congress could fight terrorism without dividing the country.'Our enemy remains the BJP.
Our enemy remains the communal agenda of the BJP.'Chidambaram said it was 'shameful' that the party had claimed the controversial CD containing the hate speeches of BJP candidate Varun Gandhi was doctored when no investigation had been carried out.
'How can they (BJP) say it is doctored without a forensic investigation?'Just last week, Chidambaram had urged 40 VVIPs, including leaders of political parties and chief ministers, to take all precautions while campaigning and specifically detailed a list of dos and don'ts while venturing out during electioneering.
Leaders on the radar of various terror groups include the BJP's L.K. Advani, AIADMK chief J. Jayalalitha, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, central ministers Pranab Mukherjee and A.K. Antony and the chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and West Bengal.When specifically asked about the security threats to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul, the home minister said: 'I cannot discuss the individual threat to individuals. All arrangements have been made to protect both.'Chidambaram linked the terrorist threat in India to the deteriorating security situation in South Asia, especially in Pakistan and Afghanistan and to a lesser extent, in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.'We have be on our guard,' he said, urging the media to separate the wheat from the chaff and focus on real issues like coastal security, communal harmony and peace.
Chidambaram said that 'growth' and 'inclusive growth' were the foremost issues before the country.Listing the achievements of UPA government, Chidambaram said : 'The United Progressive Alliance government has delivered unprecedented growth for four years.
We are hopeful of overcoming the current financial downturn and the year will end with a growth rate of 7 percent.'Earlier in the day, Chidambaram called on Advani at his residence, in deference to his 'age and seniority', to brief him on intelligence alerts about political leaders being targeted by terrorist groups during campaigning.'It was basically a briefing on the safety measures that needed to be taken while campaigning,' Advani's personal secretary Deepak Chopra told IANS.
The advisory to some of those on the hit list instructs them to keep the police in the loop about their campaign routes, not to accept garlands while campaigning, not to mingle closely with surging crowds and keep security agencies aware of a change in route during election roadshows.
Satyam board for open auction
Hyderabad, April 2 The board of Satyam Computer Services has modified the bidding process for the sale of 51 per cent in the company by allowing for open auction method instead of the sealed bidding method.
In a letter to the stock market regulators in India and the US, the board said that “if there are one or more financial bids which are at least 90 per cent of the highest bid, the board will treat the highest bid as the floor price and conduct an open auction.”
“If none of the bidders raise their financial bids, then the highest sealed bid received would be declared as the successful bid,” the letter said.
If the bidders raised the bid value in the open auction, the highest bidder would be declared the successful bidder, the company said.
“If there is no bid which is at least 90 per cent of the highest bid, then the highest bidder will be declared the successful bidder,” it said.
Kareena wears dress worth Rs.800,000 in 'Kambakkht Ishq'
Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor will sport a dress worth Rs.800,000 for a song in 'Kambakkht Ishq'. Producer Sajid Nadiadwala had specially ordered it for the actress from Paris.
"When the song was completed and the whole crew had a look, it looked very beautiful and eye catching. But most importantly everyone's eyes were stuck at seeing Kareena's dress. Kareena was looking gorgeous. The dress cost Rs.800,000," said a source close to the producer.
The filmmaker has also gifted the dress to Kareena as she looked really pretty wearing it.
" Sajid Nadiadwala is a wonderful person at heart. He always makes sure that his cast and crew is happy. Kareena was happy after receiving such an extra-ordinary gift from Sajid bhai. She was short of words to express her feeling after she received the gift." added the source.
Kareena plays a supermodel in the movie, which has Akshay Kumar in the male lead. It also stars Hollywood biggies Sylvester Stallone, Brandon Routh and Denise Richards.
TDP manifesto promises free colour TVs, cash for poor
Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh's main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Thursday released its election manifesto promising free colour televisions to the poor and cash doles of Rs.1,000 to Rs.2,000 per month for poor and middle-class families if the party is voted to power.
Releasing the 64-page manifesto at the party headquarters NTR Trust Bhavan, TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu said food, health and financial security for the people was his party's goal. The former chief minister said the TDP was committed to the welfare of all sections of the people, including farmers, backward classes and minorities.
Under the cash transfer scheme promised in the manifesto, each family in the poorest of the poor category will get Rs.2,000 every month, a poor family will get Rs.1,500 and a middle-class family Rs.1,000 through the banks.
Naidu termed it revolutionary and the first of its kind scheme in the country. He said the scheme, borrowed from some Latin American countries, would provide economic security to the poor and the middle-class families and meet their basic needs like food every month.
Referring to his promise of a colour television to every poor family, Naidu said: "The idea is to ensure that after a day's hard work, people should relax by watching television."
According to him, the sale of colour televisions through shops had already dropped after the TDP released highlights of the manifesto a few days ago.
The TDP president also launched the party's election campaign at Medchal near here by addressing a public meeting.
Alleging that the Congress government was neck deep in corruption, he appealed to the people to bring the TDP back to power for an efficient and transparent administration.
Naidu, whose party lost power to the Congress party in 2004, will campaign non-stop over the next 13 days in the state that holds simultaneous assembly and Lok Sabha polls next month. The TDP is contesting elections to the 294-member state assembly and the 42 Lok Sabha seats in alliance with the Telangana Rashtra Samiti, the Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M).
Airports on alert after terror tip-off on women fidayeen
New Delhi: The Indian government Thursday asked airports around the country to adopt heightened security measures after an intelligence tip-off of a possible terror attack.
Official sources confirmed that a red alert has been sounded at airports across the country, especially in the four metros, as well as in Hyderabad, Bangalore and at some international airports like Amritsar.
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has issued a circular asking all airports to be on high alert, an official confirmed.
"We are not denying the fact that there is a terror threat but we have not circulated any instructions to the airports. This might have been done by some other agency," T. Premnath, the spokesperson for the Airports Authority of India (AAI), told IANS.
However, a senior AAI official said they were tipped off by intelligence agencies about the possibility of fidayeen (suicide squads) attacks by trained pilots and women.
Emergency anti-hijacking measures and multi-layered security arrangements have been put in place at most of the crucial airports, an official said.
Manmohan lays 'minimum precondition' for further talks with Pakistan
London: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said Pakistan has to "convince" India that it is "absolutely sincere" in not allowing its territory to be used for terror acts against India as a "minimum precondition" for further bilateral talks.
Addressing a press conference on the sidelines of the G-20 summit here, Manmohan Singh also said that India had provided Pakistan with all the answers to its queries on the 26/11 terror attacks and the ball was now "in Pakistan's court" on bringing the perpetrators to book.
"We expect Pakistan to do all that is required to bring the perpetrators (of the terror attack) to book. We have supplied all the answers (to 26/11). The ball is now in Pakistan's court," Singh said.
"It has to convince us that it is absolutely sincere."
To a question whether India was willing to discuss Kashmir with Pakistan, he said: "We are willing to discuss all bilateral issues that have bedevilled our relationship. But talks cannot be held if hundreds of people, like in Mumbai, are being killed."
"Pakistan has to ensure it is absolutely sincere that its territory won't be used in acts of terror against India."
"That is the minimum precondition for bilateral talks," the prime minister stressed.
Taliban soften position on beards and burqas: report
London: The Taliban, who are known for their obsession with extreme interpretation of the Sharia law, have agreed to soften their position on such things as beards and burqas as part of a trade-off in talks with the Afghan government, a news report said on Thursday.
US President Barack Obama recently underlined the need for negotiations with “moderate Taliban” to bring peace to the restive region. The Afghanistan government has been involved in talks with Taliban representatives aimed at ending the war in country.
According to an earlier report, Mullah Omar, the supreme leader of the Taliban, has approved the talks, with a top aide of the one-eyed cleric taking part in the Saudi-sponsored peace negotiations.
While in power in Kabul before 2001, the Taliban ran one of the most reviled regimes, with narrow interpretation of Sharia law, enforcing harsh punishments to the violators.
Though a Taliban spokesman has rejected the American offer of negotiations, talks in the early stages between President Hamid Karzai's government and Taliban insurgents appear to have yielded a significant policy shift.
"The Taliban are now prepared to commit themselves to refraining from banning girls' education, beating up taxi drivers for listening to Bollywood music, or measuring the length of mens' beards", The Independent newspaper said, quoting representatives of the Islamist movement.
New groups like Third Front not good for democracy: Sonia
Bhubaneswar: As the Congress has expressed its displeasure over NCP chief Sharad Pawar's plan to attend an election rally of the Third Front here on Friday, party president Sonia Gandhi today warned that creation of new groups and fronts is "not good for democracy".
Rounding off her electioneering in Orissa at a meeting held at Berhampur, Gandhi said such groups and fronts could not provide good governance to the people.
"Creation of new groups like the Third Front and so on ahead of elections is not good for democracy. They cannot provide good governance to the people," she said.
The UPA chairperson, who also addressed poll meetings at Bargarh and Lumburi village near Koraput, strongly criticised the concept of fronts, saying these groups coming into being on a daily basis would push the country towards "disaster" as they had no specific plan and programme.
Congress leader and Home Minister P Chidambaram has said it would be better if Pawar does not share the dais with the parties "opposed to Congress".
Tomorrow's rally is expected to have CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, CPI general secretary A B Bardhan and the NCP chief who would share the dias with BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik.
BJD, which snapped its 11-year-old alliance with BJP on March 7, has entered into seat-sharing arrangement with the two Left parties and the NCP for the ensuing Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in the state.
Varun harassed, tortured in jail: Venkaiah
Etah: The BJP on Thursday alleged that Varun Gandhi, booked under National Security Act (NSA), has been "harassed and tortured" in the jail and said he was implicated under a "conspiracy" of BSP and Congress.
"Varun Ganhi was kept in a small cell, where he could not see anyone. Inhuman treatment was meted out to him. He was harassed and tortured," party vice-president Venkaiah Naidu told reporters here.
"Gandhi has been implicated under NSA under a well-knit plan and conspiracy of BSP and Congress. It has been done to keep him out of elections," the saffron leader said after meeting him at Etah district jail.
Accusing the Uttar Pradesh Government of "misusing" law for vested interests, he said cases against Varun were concocted.
"The CD has been manipulated and his voice was not there in the CD. There was nothing objectionable in his speech," Naidu said seeking to defend the young leader who was arrested for alleged hate speech during electioneering.
He alleged that the district magistrate and the Election Commission had not ordered any enquiry to verify the genuineness of the CD.
Venkaiah alleged that Varun was shifted from Pilibhit jail to Etah jail without seeking court's permission.
On security risk for the young leader in the wake of reports that a gang of underworld don Chotta Shakkeel had planned to attack him Naidu said, "There was danger to Varun's life."
Nano to bring down price of used cars: Dealers
With the much awaited world's cheapest car 'Tata Nano' car launched, dealers of used cars forecast around 30-40 per cent dip in the sales of used small car in the country.
Due to its "low" price tag, many customers opting to buy a used car may plump for a new Nano, though it comes comparatively with lesser cubic capacity, R Srivatsan President of MyTVS, part of the TVS Group engaged in selling used cars said.
"It is because of this factor, we are expecting around 30-40 per cent drop in the market of A and B segment vehicles", he said. "However, once the car (Nano) hits the road, we will know the exact figure on that," he said.
Stating that the Nano design was very good and attracts more buyers, he said once the booking starts for Nano, there would be less number of people going for used small cars.
For the exact results, "we have to wait and see on how the market responds," he said.
Initially, there may be a slump in the sales of used cars especially Maruthi 800, Alto and Hyundai Santro range of vehicles, he said.
Srivatsan said a general trend was that instead of buying a used car for Rs one lakh, people would go in for a brand new Nano. However, if Nano performs well then the problem arises for these kind of cars.
"We have to stop procuring these cars or we need to purchase them at a very low price from buyers and that is the way I think we can manage the sales in future," he said.
Speaking in similar terms, Saravanan, an official of ToyotaFirst, engaged in selling used cars and a subsidiary of Lanson Toyota Group, said Nano might be a cost effective vehicle but we need to 'wait and watch' for its performance.
"When Maruti 800 was launched in the country, another vehicle Dolphin was also unveiled but we all know which has been successful, similarly, only after the Nano being formally unveiled we may come to a conclusion", he said.
The last two months registered a comparatively low sales for the company, he said. "Nano may be a top scorer on the cost but in the longer perspective, it is the performance that speaks. We have to wait and see."
Suresh, an executive of city based Jains Car Shoppee, did not expect any major impact on the sales of used cars with the launch of Nano. "Nano's engine capacity is very less as compared to other vehicles and I think that would be the deciding factor for purchase of the car," he said.
A Maruti 800 could touch at least 80 KM per hour and company officials of Nano said they could reach 60 KM per hour, he said.
Unemployment could cross 50 mn in '09: ILO
The ILO has forecast that global unemployment could increase by more than five crore this year unless policies are implemented which balance social and economic dimensions.
The global turmoil has also made casual workers four times more vulnerable in the job market than regular workers, it said.
"However, the trend can be reversed if the world acts together and implements policies which balance social and economic dimensions," ILO representative in India Leyla Tegmo Reddys said at a function in New Delhi.
"There should be convergence of policies to maintain and create jobs, get credit flown into enterprises, expand and deepen social protection and promote social dialogue to ensure workers rights are respected," she said quoting the ILO director general.
Reddy said ILO has clearly stated "the current crisis has its root in the past."
The economy was not creating enough descent work and that inequalities within and between countries were widening, she said referring to a study.
"The role of markets were over valued, the role of state was undervalued and dignity of work devalued. In other words there was already a crisis befor the current financial crisis," Reddys said.
"Therefore, ILO has forecast that unless policies are implemented that balance social and economic dimensions, global unemployment could increase by more than 50 million in 2009 from 2007," she said addressing the silver jubilee of Centre for Education and Communication.
India though showed more resilience during these hard times as it was partially integrated into the world market, she obselved.
Nonetheless, the export oriented industry and manufacturing sector saw significant job losses. A reduced demand and limited access to credit has also put pressure on micro and medium enterprises, she said.
According to the Labour Ministry report, the country has witnessed more than five lakh job losses between October and January.
G20 seals $1.1 trillion deal, markets rally
World leaders clinched a $1.1 trillion deal on Thursday to combat the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, and tightened the rules to stop it happening again.
U.S. President Barack Obama played down differences at the summit and declared it a "turning point" for the world economy. French President Nicolas Sarkozy celebrated the waning of the Anglo-Saxon model linked by many to the excess that triggered the crisis.
Stocks rallied but economists cautioned against euphoria.
"We have agreed on a series of unprecedented steps to restore growth and prevent a crisis like this from happening again," Obama told a news conference. "We've also rejected the protectionism that could deepen this crisis."
At the G20 summit, the leaders agreed to publish a blacklist of tax havens that could lead to sanctions -- something France and Germany had pushed hard for -- and to impose oversight on large hedge funds and credit rating agencies for the first time.
"Today's agreement begins to crack down on the cowboys in financial markets that have brought global markets undone," Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said.
Markets, desperate for good news when the global economy is shrinking for the first time since World War Two, reacted positively to the imposing headline numbers.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the summit host, said governments had committed $5 trillion to public stimulus of the economy this year and next, before even taking into account the extra commitments from the summit in London.
He did not say how that squared with the stimulus estimate he gave just a day earlier -- of about half that amount.
Either way, the index of top European shares was up 5 percent. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones was up 3.3 percent.
EMERGING MARKET BOOST
Brown said the G20 leaders had committed on the day to new resources of $1.1 trillion that would be made available to help the world economy through the International Monetary Fund and other institutions.
This included $250 billion of IMF reserve units called Special Drawing Rights. In addition, the IMF would see its own resources tripled, with up to $500 billion of new funds, of which $40 billion would come from China.
Much of that is likely to go to struggling poorer countries, notably in eastern Europe.
"It is going to be a help to poorer countries that have been hit by the sharp decline in trade flows, said Sarah Hewin, senior economist at Standard Chartered in London.
The summit also agreed a trade finance package worth $250 billion over two years to support global trade flows, which have shrunk under the impact of the credit crunch -- a boost to the world's major exporters.
"That should be good for the big exporters such as China and other emerging economies including Brazil. It should please the Germans as well," said Jim Rollo, European Economics Professor at Sussex University.
But some economists noted the new IMF funds masked the lack of agreement on further fiscal stimulus at national levels, something the United States, UK and Japan wanted but France and Germany strongly resisted.
Brown conceded that there were "no quick fixes" but said the decisions would shorten the recession and save jobs.
The G20 said in a communique the measures taken would raise world output by four percent by the end of next year.
FRANCE, GERMANY ON BOARD
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the results were beyond what could have been imagined and said the Anglo-Saxon model of lightly regulated markets was over.
Germany's finance minister welcomed the fact that no obligation was agreed for countries to adopt further stimulus packages. The issue had created tension in the summit build-up, with Washington favouring such packages and Paris and Berlin preferring to let earlier measures take their course.
Addressing a key demand from France and Germany, Brown said the leaders agreed "there will be an end to tax havens that do not transfer information on request. The banking secrecy of the past must come to an end."
Switzerland and a host of other financial centres under fire over bank secrecy have announced in recent weeks that they will shift towards international standards of information disclosure.
The tax haven issue had threatened to be a stumbling block to agreement, with France and Germany demanding a crackdown on jurisdictions whose bank secrecy laws they portrayed as enabling the rich to dodge taxes at a time of economic hardship.
"Since Bretton Woods, the world has been living on a financial model, the Anglo-Saxon model -- it's not my place to criticise it, it has its advantages -- clearly, today, a page has been turned," France's Sarkozy said, referring to the landmark conference that created the post-war economic order.
India, US to counter terror together: Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President Barack Obama Thursday held their first bilateral talks and agreed to intensify strategic partnership in all areas, including fighting terrorism.
Developments in Pakistan and Afghanistan figured prominently in the discussion between the two leaders.
During the talks, Manmohan Singh made clear that Pakistan must show absolute sincerity in bringing the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack to book before the talks can be resumed between the two countries.
'We discussed development in Afghanistan and Pakistan. We both agreed that our two countries must work together to counter the forces of terror,' Manmohan Singh replied when asked about his first meeting with President Obama on the sidelines of the G20 summit here.
'We have a global strategic partnership with the US. We both have agreed that there are enormous opportunities to strengthen this relationship and to make it more productive and durable.'
He described the discussion as 'useful and productive' that focused on development of bilateral relations and how problems of the region can be resolved by interaction between the two countries.
Apart from the global financial meltdown, the two leaders discussed the entire array of bilateral, regional and global issues, including terrorism, energy security, climate change and the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Varun faces attempt to murder charge
Pilibhit(Uttar Pradesh): The police Sunday filed a case against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Varun Gandhi and slapped on him several charges, including an attempt to murder, following the violence when he was arrested here for reported hate speeches Saturday.
His mother, former central minister Maneka Gandhi described the charges as frivolous.The cases were filed against Gandhi, senior BJP leader Kalraj Mishra and former legislator B.K. Gupta in the Kotwali police station of Pilibhit, around 350 km from Lucknow.
"While Varun Gandhi has been booked under Section 144 (unlawful assembly), Mishra and Gupta have been booked under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)," Superintendent of Police Prakash D. told reporters. What came as a shock to the BJP was that Gandhi was also charged for attempt to murder along with 13 of his supporters. "Besides Section 144, Gandhi and his 13 supporters have been booked under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 331 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt to extort confusion), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty) of the Indian Penal Code, Section 7 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act and also for destroying public property and rioting," Pilibhit District Magistrate Ajay Chauhan told reporters.
These sections are part of the same first information report (FIR) registered against Gandhi, he said. District authorities said the BJP leaders had provoked party workers to indulge in violence. The move provoked strong reaction from Maneka Gandhi, sitting MP from Pilibhit, as she visited her son in the Pilibhit district jail on the second consecutive day.
"It is a massive political conspiracy against him," she told mediapersons before entering the jail to meet Varun Gandhi, whom BJP has named as candidate for the Pilibhit seat. Slapping the young leader with the attempt-to-murder charge showed the administration was unfair, as how can a person, who came here to court arrest, attempt to kill any one, Maneka Gandhi asked.
"I am not disturbed because I am his mother, but I stand along all the youths who gathered here in his support. The party is with Varun and a large number of legislators and MPs are also visiting him in the jail to extend their support," she added.
She, however, declined to comment on the statements made by Varun Gandhi's cousins and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra on this episode. Pilibhit District Magistrate Chauhan, in a report sent to the Uttar Pradesh government Sunday, said the three leaders - Varun Gandhi, Mishra and Gupta - "provoked the workers who then took the law in their hands on their insistence", a home department source told IANS.
The police action came in retaliation only to control the agitating mob, the report added. A Pilibhit court Saturday sent Gandhi to jail until Monday for allegedly making hate speeches amid clashes between party workers and the police.
The court ruling came shortly after Varun Gandhi said he was "ready to go to jail" over his reported anti-Muslim speeches that he denies having made. Hundreds of BJP supporters followed the police vehicle in which he was driven away from the court.
A few of them were seen clinging to the vehicle and climbing onto its bonnet, making it difficult for the policemen to drive. The police then opened fire after lobbing teargas shells and resorting to cane-charge, injuring three people. Following media reports of his speeches, the Election Commission came down heavily on Varun and suggested that he should not be fielded as a candidate in the Lok Sabha elections.
The BJP has refused to comply and questioned the poll panel's jurisdiction to suggest so. Gandhi Friday decided to go to Pilibhit to be arrested Sunday after the Delhi High Court refused to extend his anticipatory bail and he withdrew his bail plea from the Supreme Court.
Due to security reasons, Gandhi has been kept in a separate cell but except homemade food no additional facilities are being provided to him, jail superintendent Mukesh Arora told IANS Sunday.
Over 100 countries hit by electronic spying operation
A spying operation that infiltrated computers - many of them belonging to governments - in 103 countries has been uncovered by a group of Canadian researchers, the New York Times reported Sunday.
Victims of the malicious software, or malware, include computers in the offices of the Dalai Lama, Tibetan exile centres around the world, NATO headquarters in Brussels, and the Indian embassy to the United States.
In all, 1,295 computers might have been accessed and had documents copied by the system, which the researchers dubbed GhostNet.
In addition, the malware could also be used to turn the computers' own camera and audio systems into observation devices for the malware's operators. The researchers, however, could not confirm if this application was put into practice.
The report, to be released this week by the Munk Center for International Studies at the University of Toronto, says the spying system was controlled by computers based almost entirely in China.
The researchers were careful not to accuse the Chinese government of being behind the security breach.
'We're a bit more careful about it, knowing the nuance of what happens in the subterranean realms,' researcher Ronald J. Deibert was quoted as saying. 'This could well be the CIA or the Russians. It's a murky realm that we are lifting the lid on.'
Gao Wenqi, spokesman for the Chinese Consulate in New York, gave an unequivocal denial of Chinese government involvement, saying: 'These are old stories and they are nonsense. The Chinese government is opposed to and strictly forbids any cyber crime.'
However, the New York Times reported several instances where Chinese officials reacted to data that was picked up by GhostNet.
In one case, a foreign diplomat was advised by the Chinese government not to meet with the Dalai Lama after the Tibetan leader's office emailed him an invitation.
The center began its investigation after a request from the Dalai Lama's office to check its computers for potentially damaging software.
ANIGovinda unwilling to contest general elections: Chavan
Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on Sunday said that the Bollywood actor-turned-politician Govinda has expressed unwillingness to contest the upcoming general elections.
"Govinda has declined the offer to contest the Lok Sabha elections again," Chavan told reporters at State Congress party office here.
Govinda is the Congress MP from Mumbai North parliamentary constituency. He won the 2004 Lok Sabha elections from the constituency after defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Ram Naik.
The Chief Minister informed that actress Nagma has shown keenness to contest from the seat.
"Nagma is one of the applicants from this constituency," he added
Free cash withdrawals from all ATMs from April 1
New Delhi: Come April 1 and you need not have to sweat it out looking for an ATM of your own bank as you can use ATMs of your choice without shelling out any extra money.
Thanks to an RBI directive, much to the relief of common man, banks have been prevented from charging any fee for cash withdrawals using ATM and debit cards issued by other banks from April 1 onwards.
However, banks can still charge extra for services like cash withdrawal with the use of credit cards and at ATMs located outside India.Last year on March 10, the RBI had come out with guidelines limiting the fee charged by banks for using their ATMs by clients of other lenders to Rs 20. I
t had also allowed the use of ATM for purposes like balance enquiry free of any charge.This was to ensure greater transparency and to facilitate usage of any ATM installed within the country by customers without shelling out more, the central bank had said.
At present, banks charge Rs 20 per transaction when a customer uses the cash machine of any bank other than the one in which he/she has an account with.At the end of December 2007, there were 32,342 ATMs in the country and various banks have entered into bilateral and multi-lateral arrangements with other banks to have inter-bank ATM networks.
Gambhir starts cautiously: Images
India opener Gautam Gambhir hits a boundary during day four of the second Test against New Zealand in Napier, on Sunday.
Forex reserves jump $5.1 bn
After plunging nearly $56 billion since March 2008, India's foreign exchange reserves got a big boost last week. The country's forex reserves rose by $5.1 billion in the week ended March 20 due to a weakening of non-dollar assets like the euro, yen and the British pound. These assets were revalued as the dollar gained sharply against these currencies.
According to the latest figures available with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), total foreign exchange reserves, including gold and SDR, rose by $5.1 billion to $253.8 billion. While foreign-currency assets swelled by $5,081 million, the value of gold and SDR (special drawing rights) - notional currency with the IMF pegged to the dollar, euro, pound and the yen - remained unchanged during the week. The reserves with the IMF increased by $21 million during the week.
In rupee terms, the reserves had fallen by Rs 10,983 crore during the same period.
"Forex reserves are likely to rise further as foreign investors (FIIs) have been pumping money into Indian markets of late," said a banking source. FIIs put around $350 million in Indian stocks last week.
The rise in dollar came amidst the campaign by China for an alternative to the US dollar as a global reserve currency. People's Bank of China's governor Zhou Xiaochuan had floated the idea of a new currency reserve system to replace the dollar. He identified the International Monetary Fund's Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), whose value is linked to a basket of currencies, as a possibility.
However, US treasury secretary Timothy Geithner said the dollar would still be the dominant reserve currency. The US just has to make sure the rest of the world is confident in its economic policy, he added.
BJP to launch Bhay Ho to counter Cong's Jai Ho
New Delhi: Seeking to counter the Jai Ho ad campaign of the Congress, the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) today unveiled a parody of the famous Slumdog Millionaire song saying Bhay Ho (let fear prevail).
“The video is not an official one. It is sent to us by a party sympathiser. This song depicts the real situation of the country. It says.... Bhay (fear) ho.... Bhookh (hunger) ho.... Atank (terror) ho.... Mahangayi (inflation) ho.... Phir bhi jai ho,” party spokesperson Sidhaarth Nath Singh said.
song features street children from Hyderabad, singing the song in the general compartment of a train and a stranger planting a bomb in the railway coach.
The BJP said the street singers are already taking the message against the ruling Congress by their performances.
“The artistes are street singers and they are into the job of taking the message to different areas with this song even before it is unveiled here,” Singh said.
Even as the saffron party opposed the idea of the Slumdog Millionaire child artists campaigning for the Congress, calling it a “mockery of poverty”, the short film features two street children Nagarjun and Durga singing the song.
On being asked if the party feared a copyright violation of the tune by launching the Bhay Ho song, Singh said, “we will respond to the notice if it is sent to us”.
Indian economy will recover quickly says Subbarao
Dr. Duvvuri Subbarao, Governor of Reserve Bank of India said that although it is uncertain as to when Indian economy will recover, when it does it will be sharper and quicker than other economies of the world.
He expressed these optimistic views in the course of his address at a seminar hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industries in New Delhi on Thursday.
ANIWhen Obama travels, White House travels with him
While U.S. President Barack Obama is gearing up for his first official overseas trips, it seems that the entire White House staff are preparing to fly with him.
Obama is all set to meet the Queen before joining 19 world leaders at the G20 summit on Thursday in London's Docklands. He and First Lady Michelle will later fly to France, Germany and the Czech Republic.
Accompanying them on these trips will be at least 500 officials, the back-up staff, and high-tech gadgetry.
Those flying with the President will include 200 or so Secret Service personnel.
Besides, there will be the Service's Counter-Assault Team, the White House Military Office, the White House Transportation Agency, the White House Medical Unit, the Marine Corps Helicopter Squadron, the State Department Presidential Travel Support Service, the US Information Agency, the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the Customs Service.
Even the chefs and ancillary staff who prepare the presidential nosh will also fly with Obama.
First Lady Michelle will be assisted by eight staff, including a secretary, press officer and her personal bodyguards.
"America is still the sole superpower. And the President must have the ability to handle any crisis, anywhere, anytime. When the President travels, the White House travels with him, right down to the car he drives, the water he drinks, the gasoline he uses, the food he eats," the Mirror quoted an official as saying, while justifying this vast production.
Also flying with Obama will be Reggie Love, whom the President describes as "the kid brother I never had".
The 27-year-old personal aide works out with Obama at the start of the day, and they often unwind at the end of the day by watching TV sports.
Love is also on hand if Obama needs pens, Nicorette gum, toothbrushes, breath freshners, throat lozenges, water, tea and aspirins.
Left will not support Congress-led alliance
The Communist Party of India (Marxist), which propped up the Congress-led coalition before the two groups parted ways last year, will not support it again after coming elections, party chief Prakash Karat said on Saturday.
The communists supported the Congress party government for four years after the last 2004 election, giving it a majority in parliament. A refusal to do so again could lessen the chances of Congress forming a government again.
The communists are spearheading a loose grouping of smaller regional parties popularly known as the "Third Front", which pitches itself as an alternative to Congress and an opposition Hindu nationalist-led alliance.
Karat, general secretary of the CPI(M), said he will not back a Congress-led coalition even if it emerges as the single largest grouping.
"In that situation we will sit in the opposition. We will not support them," Karat, sitting at a spartan desk in his party headquarters, told Reuters.
"In case there is no clear result -- which is also possible, it is a very complicated election -- the post-poll situation will show which combination has the capacity or the credibility to muster the larger number. Let the Congress try. We will try.
While the Congress-led alliance is still the frontrunner, polls say, the Third Front could hold the balance of power or even emerge as the single largest grouping in parliament.
Karat said the party was open to talking to the Congress about the formation of a government provided it was led by the Third Front.
No party or combination of parties has been ever been able to form a government without the support of either Congress or the opposition Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
But the communists are hoping several fence-sitting parties, who in the past have allied themselves either with the Congress or the BJP, will this time join the Third Front.
A strong showing by the Third Front would mean the communists would be able to negotiate with the Congress from a position of strength.
"I do foresee a realignment after the elections of the parties. Most of these parties have decided to fight the elections on their own and then say after the elections we will see what is to be done."
US DEFENCE DEAL
The CPI(M) and smaller left parties blocked many economic reforms such as privatisation after the 2004 election.
Their pact collapsed after the communists walked out angrily last year over a civilian nuclear deal with the United States.
Karat said the Third Front would push to "rework" the nuclear deal and abrogate defence agreements with Washington like one which allows U.S. ships and aircraft pitstops in India for refuelling and maintenance.
"Our platform would be we would like to rework the 123 agreement," Karat said, referring to the nuclear deal.
"We would be more stronger on the defence framework agreement which was signed with the United States in June, 2005. We would definitely like to rescind that agreement."
New Delhi negotiated the defence framework pact but has not signed it yet, primarily because of domestic opposition.
Karat said pacts like the logistics support agreement (LSA) would only further Washington's military campaign in Afghanistan and the Third Front would not allow it, potentially undermining President Barack Obama's new war strategy against al Qaeda.
"Take a situation where the Obama administration's increased military involvement, sending in 17,000 troops," Karat said.
"So under the LSA it would have meant probably U.S. naval ships coming to ports on the west coast of India for refuelling, maintenance, getting supplies and then going back for operations off the Pakistan coast from which they launch their cruise missiles or things like that."
India holds a general election from April 16 to May 13. Votes will be counted on May 16.
Gambhir grinds to century, India inch to safety
Gautam Gambhir ground his way to his fifth test century as India edged closer to saving the second test against New Zealand by the close of play on the fourth day on Sunday.
The tourists, who won the first match of the three-test series in Hamilton by 10 wickets, reached 252 for two at stumps, 62 runs behind New Zealand's 619 for nine declared after being dismissed for 305 in their first innings and forced to follow on.
Gambhir was on 102, while Sachin Tendulkar was on 58 -- his 52nd test half century -- and with a day still to play he is well placed to convert that into his 43rd test century on the benign McLean Park wicket on Monday.
Gambhir, who was on 14 when play began on Sunday, was watchful all day with few false strokes and only one nervous moment when a James Franklin outswinger squared him up while he was on 84.
Initial reactions from the New Zealand fielders were that wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum had dropped a sharp chance, though television replays showed Gambhir had been comprehensively beaten and the ball had brushed his back leg.
The 27-year-old, who had spent almost an hour stuck on 83 after tea finally brought up his milestone with an aggressive lofted shot over wide mid-on for his 14th boundary. He had taken 265 balls to achieve the mark.
Rahul Dravid (62) was the only wicket to fall on Sunday after he had shared in a four-hour, 133-run partnership with Gambhir, though his dismissal was controversial.
Dravid was given out caught in close by Jamie How off Daniel Vettori by umpire Ian Orchard, but the batsman was visibly upset with the decision and television replays showed the ball had ballooned off his front pad without touching his bat or gloves.
India lost Virender Sehwag for 22 late on Saturday when the stand-in captain attempted an outlandish slog sweep to a straight delivery from off-spinner Jeetan Patel and was trapped in front.
Supersonic BrahMos successfully tested in Pokhran
New Delhi: For the second time in a month, the Block II version of the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile with a striking range of 290 km, successfully hit its target during a test at the Pokhran firing range today, DRDO officials said.
"The missile was successfully launched at 1115 hours in the morning and in the next two-and-a-half minutes, it hit the bull's eye in the Pokhran firing range in Rajasthan," said the official.This was the third test-firing of the latest Block II version of the missile.
During the test, Army's Director General of Military Operations Lieutenant General A S Sekhon, Artillery School Commandant Lt Gen Rao and Additional Director General (Artillery) Major General V K Tiwari were present.The launch of the latest land attack version of the missile being developed for the Army was also witnessed by DRDO's Chief Controller and BrahMos Aerospace Chairman A Sivathanu Pillai and DRDL Director P Venugopalan.
After today's test, officials said the development phase of the Block II version of the missile was over and it was ready for induction in the Army. They said the mission objectives of the test were completely fulfilled.The third trial of the missile has come at a time when the Army has not yet come out with its findings about the analysis of the flight and the mission of the March 4 test, when the missile hit its target from a distance of around 90 kms at the Pokharan test-firing range.
In the first test on January 20, the missile failed to hit its target due to glitches in the homing device of the missile. The missile had taken off successfully but deviated from its path in mid-course and landed far away from its target. Sources said the defects were rectified at the time of the last test when it went on to hit the target.
They said that the "unique" technology in the Block II missiles made them "unparallelled" and would help the armed forces hit even "insignificant targets" hidden in cluster of buildings."The new seeker is unique and would help us to hit our targets, which are insignificant in terms of size, in a cluster of large buildings.
India is now the only nation in the world with this advanced technology," an official claimed.DRDO officials claimed that BrahMos would be able to start deliveries of the 240 missiles ordered by the Army in two years from now as per the original schedule.
The Army has already inducted one regiment of the Block I version of the missile. BrahMos is an Indo-Russian joint venture company with its headquarters in Delhi.