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India to support Pak efforts to overcome financial crisis: PM
New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) In what could be seen as a major confidence building measure, India has said it will support Pakistan government's efforts to tide over a serious financial crunch by backing Islamabad's plan to seek help from the IMF.
"I wish the new democratic government in Pakistan well. We would like them to succeed," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told reporters on board his special aircraft while returning home from a two-nation trip to Japan and China last evening.
"Pakistan is in serious difficulties and is going to the IMF. We will support Pakistan getting help from the IMF," said Singh, who met his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani in Beijing on the margins of the ASEM Summit on Friday.
Singh said he and Gilani discussed "all issues having a bearing on our bilateral relations and I would say that there was a near complete meeting of mind." The Prime Minister's remarks came as Pakistan is facing a major economic crisis with plunging foreign exchange reserves and high inflation. The rating agency Standard and Poor's downgraded the country's sovereign debt to level of 'CCC-plus', close to defaulting on its commitments of external loan repayment.
Islamabad is seeking loans from international donor funds and member states of 'Friends of Pakistan' group, which will convene a meeting next month in the UAE. PTI
Dalai Lama hints at retirement
Dharamsala (HP), Oct 26 (PTI) Hinting that he was planning to retire, the Dalai Lama has said he has "given up" on efforts to convince China to allow greater autonomy for Tibet after having led the Tibetans' struggle for half a century.
"I have been sincerely pursuing the middle way approach in dealing with China for a long time now but there hasn't been any positive response from the Chinese side," the Tibetan temporal head said at a function here yesterday ahead of the third round of talks between his envoys and Beijing.
"As far as I'm concerned I have given up," said the 73-year-old noble laureate, according to excerpts of the speech of the Tibetan monk provided by the office of Karma Cheophel, Speaker of Tibetan Parliament in-exile.
The Dalai Lama said he would now ask the Tibetan people to decide on how to take the dialogue forward.
Cheophel, who translated the speech of the Dalai Lama at the function, said "earlier he (the Dalai Lama) used to say that he is semi retired but now he says he is almost completely retired." The Dalai Lama recently underwent a gall bladder surgery in Delhi.
The spiritual leader's spokesman Tenzin Takhla told PTI today that the Dalai Lama has called a six-day special meeting of Tibetans at Macleodganj starting November 17 to discuss other options for resolving the vexed Tibetan issue.
The meeting is being attached great importance as this is for the third occasion after 1951 and 1959 that such a conclave has been organised.
After a failed uprising against Chinese, rule the Dalai Lama had fled to India in 1959. PTI
We want to remain numero uno in both Test and ODI: Ponting
New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) The aura of invincibility maybe wearing thin but Ricky Ponting vowed Australia would do whatever it takes to remain the number one team in both the Test and limited over formats of the game.
Ponting, who received the ICC One Day International Championship shield from ICC Principal Adviser IS Bindra here today, said Australia has set high standards and the challenge before his team was to maintain that and cement its place as the number one team in the world in both forms of the game.
"Great challenge lies ahead in Test and one day cricket ... We have set some great standards over the last couple of years and the target is to maintain the standard and to remain the number one team in both forms of the game," Ponting said.
The high expectations from the players and an excellent work ethic would help Australia retain its place at the top, said Ponting.
"We have certain expectations, we need to play that brand of cricket. We'll continue to challenge ourselves and test ourselves and find out how individual players can be better as can be the team. There is a good work ethics in the team and hope we can continue that in all series," Ponting said.
Having lost the shield to South Africa last year, the team under Ponting went on to win 25 of the 34 ODIs -- with three no-results -- since April 1, 2007 to win back the shield.
"It means a lot to the Australian cricket team. Last time, we stumbled on the last hurdle and actually relinquished the shield to the South Africans. PTI
Anand needs just one point to retain title
Bonn, Oct 25 (PTI) Indian Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand needs just one more point to retain the coveted World Chess Championship and will be looking to seal the fate of his opponent Vladimir Kramnik when the engrossing battle resumes tomorrow.
Anand is sitting pretty with a score of 5.5 points after the eighth game on Friday and the pressure will be on his Russian opponent who can hardly afford to commit any mistake at this stage.
Kramnik, who has 2.5 points to his credit, has been taken by surprise by the tactical moves by the Indian ace who appears to have done his home work well for the summit showdown which has generated considerable interest in the chess world.
What strategy Anand will adopt tomorrow remains to be seen but it should not come as a surprise if the Indian Grandmaster comes up with a new trick to unsettle his famed opponent and clinch the issue tomorrow itself in the 12-game world chess championship.
The onus will be on Kramnik to prevent Anand from taking the honour and he will have to come up with something different with black pieces to stay afloat in the championship.
The eighth game between the two stalwarts ended in a 39-move draw from Queen's gambit declined as Anand chose the sharp Vienna variation. PTI
BCCI puts on hold all future bilateral series against Lanka
Karachi, Oct 26 (PTI) Miffed at the "hostile" statements from Sri Lanka Cricket officials against Indian Premier League, the BCCI has decided to put on hold India's all future bilateral series against Sri Lanka.
According to confidential documents obtained by PTI relating to a recent meeting between officials of the two boards, the Indians have made it clear that until the SLC changes its present hostile attitude towards BCCI, all tours by the Indian team in the FTP till 2012 stand unconfirmed.
Documents show that IPL Chairman Lalit Modi and other BCCI officials were extremely unhappy with some of the statements made by the Sri Lankan board officials particularly president Arjuna Ranatunga about the BCCI and Indian Premier League.
"Mr Modi and Mr (Niranjan) Shah were very puzzled and shocked at the attitude of Sri Lankan cricket towards the BCCI and had serious concerns with regards to some of the press statements which had been released by some SLC officials," the document stated.
"Further they were very curious to find out the hostile manner in which the SLC mentioned BCCI/IPL." The meeting was attended by Modi and other Indian board officials with a delegation of the Sri Lankan cricket board including Siddath Wettimuny.
The documents state that the Indian board had also decided to withdraw the USD 40 million bailout package offer to Sri Lankan cricket as they are not happy that the SLC chairman had decided to make public what was a confidential offer.
The Indian officials mentioned a damaging comment from Ranatunga in Dubai stating BCCI was trying to buy Sri Lankan cricket with the bailout package proposal. PTI
India should lift ban on LTTE, says Prabhakaran
T V Sriram
Colombo, Oct 26 (PTI) LTTE supremo V Prabhakaran has asked India to lift the ban on his outfit in order to "fulfil the aspirations of Tamil people," while admitting that Lankan forces have made inroads into the Tiger areas and were at the doorstep of their key town Kilinochchi.
"We expect that it (India) would lift the ban on our organisation and support us to fulfil the long awaited aspirations of the Tamil people," the 53-year old leader of the LTTE said in an interview.
Conceding that security forces had closed in on the rebel strongholds and had even entered key areas, Vellupillai Prabhakaran, however, said capturing the Tigers administrative capital Kilinochchi was still a distant dream for them.
"The Sri Lankan forces have entered parts of our homeland and are stationed in close proximity to Kilinochchi town. But, capturing Kilinochchi is just a day dream of (Sri Lankan President Mahinda) Rajapaksa," he said.
In an e-mail interview to Chennai based Tamil Magazine Nakkeeran, Prabhakaran hailed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's stand of seeking quick relief measures for the displaced Tamils.
The LTTE leader also expressed dejection over AIADMK leader J Jayalalitha distancing herself from the Tamil problem, while praising other leaders of the state for taking up the ethnic issue in the island state.
"Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Kalaignar is a Tamil nationalist. He has not only voiced his concern against the Sinhala state terrorism in Tamil Eelam, but has also showed it in action. PTI
Zardari says there is no judicial crisis in Pak
Islamabad, Oct 26 (PTI) Asserting that there is no judicial crisis in Pakistan, President Asif Ali Zardari has said the deposed judges, including ex-Chief Justice Iftikhar M Chaudhry, should contest polls instead of issuing political statements.
Zardari said he saw "no judicial crisis in the country except a few deposed judges issuing political statements." "The way these former judges are delivering speeches similar to that of politicians, I would advise the Prime Minister to give them a party ticket for the Senate elections to be held next year," he said.
"I do not see even a minute (of) judicial crisis except a few judges delivering political speeches... Forty-two out of 62 (deposed) judges have taken a new oath and now it's a problem of only four-five people, as many of them have already retired," Zardari told 'The News' daily.
Despite repeated calls from the opposition PML-N for reinstating all the judges deposed by former President Pervez Musharraf during the emergency rule last year, Zardari's PPP has refrained from restoring Chaudhry and a handful of other judges who have refused to take fresh oath.
Senior PPP leaders have also said Chaudhry could be reinstated but would not get back his earlier post.
Asked whether the four-five judges who were "a problem" included Chaudhry, Zardari jokingly said he was so popular that he "might pose a threat to the government" as these judges had assumed the role of politicians.
The President has the power to lift the two-year ban on any judge or government employee contesting polls after retiring, Zardari said. PTI
India bound to feel the pain "sooner or later": PM
New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) After brainstorming with top world leaders in Beijing on the raging financial turmoil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has cautioned that India's economy was also bound to feel the pain "sooner or later" as "we are not in complete control."
"We are not in complete control. There are bigger players and we are victims of that. The crisis is not of our making," Singh said after participating at the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in Beijing, attended by 45 leaders.
"Well, it all depends on how long it takes the world community to restore confidence to the global financial markets," the economist-turned-politician, whose speeches were listened with rapt attention in Beijing, said.
Sooner or later, "the economy is bound to experience the pain," Singh warned during an interaction with reporters on board his special aircraft while returning home from his two-nation tour of Japan and China.
Tracing the origin of the current global financial crisis, Singh said it emerged in the US and Europe.
Singh said that despite strong corrective measures like injecting more liquidity and capitalising the banking system, he was still "worried." "The type of integrated world economy we live in we are not immune and I had mentioned in Parliament earlier this week on Monday and I repeated that same sentiment in Beijing (while attending the ASEM summit)," Singh said.
However, the Prime Minister said his government has had "a reasonably good term" in office till now. PTI
Liquor cos to attract consumers through attractive packaging
New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) Under pressure from higher input costs and squeezing margins, liquor makers are attempting to woo customers through attractive packagings rather than festive season discounts.
"While input costs have increased in the current year the company has undertaken cost mitigation measures including strategic buying, use of alternate packaging...To realise purchase efficiency," United Spirits President Vijay Rekhi told PTI.
Major players in the Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) segment such as United Spirits, Radico Khaitan and Diageo are staying away from any price cuts and discounts during this festive season but concentrating more on attractive packaging and premium brands.
"We have lined up several big ticket promotions this festive season across our brands. For example, Black Dog premium Scotch Whisky and McDowell's No 1 Whisky will be available in special commemorative packs for our customers (at existing prices)," Rekhi said.
According to experts, festive season which starts from Dusshera and continues till New Year, accounts for over one- third of the total spirit sales in the country and alcohol is also used during this period for gifting.
Radico Khaitan COO Raju Vaziraney said: "The festive season sees a growth of around 20-25 per cent in sales and this time also as we have brought some new offerings with Magic Moments Vodka and its flavours, we are expecting this growth to surge further." Festivals in India bring an entire new set of seasonal opportunities for marketers, Diageo Managing Director Asif Adil said.
"A festive gift hamper customised to suit an Indian consumer's tastes is always preferred for corporate as well as personal gifting," he said. PTI
Singer Kailash Kher gets inspired from his inner persona
Mumbai, Oct 26 (PTI) Noted singer Kailash Kher, who shot to fame with the sufi number 'Allah Ke Bande' along with a series of music albums, says that his inner persona and day-to-day experiences of life inspire him to write soulful lyrics.
Kher says that the success of music albums have boosted his confidence. "It is a proof that music lovers like my kind of songs as well," he told PTI.
The singer says he was signed to compose music for the film 'Dasvidaniya' after the producers listened to his music albums 'Kailasa' and 'Jhoomo Re'.
Talking about his experiences while composing music for a situational comedy like 'Dasvidaniya', Kher says music cannot be restricted to a particular genre.
"Though the film is a situational comedy, its songs have lyrics that convey emotion, pathos and need for positive outlook towards life," he says.
"I have sung two tracks while Sonu Nigam has sung one," he adds.
Kher along with his partners Paresh and Naresh is also composing music for the films such as 'Allah ke Bande', 'Rishton Ki Machine' and 'Chandni Chowk to China'.
"Singing, composing music and writing-lyrics are a journey towards the same goal. Hence working in all these spheres is extremely energetic," he says.
Kher, who is also judging contestants for 'Indian Idol 4', says he has been receiving a positive feedback for his role in the music show. PTI
Priyadarshan on a different track
M V Girish Kumar
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 26 (PTI) In a career spanning about two decades, noted film-maker Priyadarshan has made more than 70 films in Hindi and Malayamam. But now he has come out with his first venture in Tamil, which has attracted a worldwide audience.
'Kanchivaram,' his latest film in Tamil, which was premiered at the Toronto festival, is the analysis on the emergence, practice and failure of an ideology.
Sub-titled 'A Communist Confession,' the film tells the audience that every ideology in the world, whether it is democracy, capitalism or socialism, is a dream. No philosophy has been able to exist in its purest form.
Priyadarshan, who is more into comedies and thrillers, has for the first time tried a different track. "I have been making films for the audience. But this film I made it for myself," he told PTI here.
The film is set in an era where social structures were governed by religious demarcations and the divide between the higher and lower castes was very pronounced.
Priests were considered to be the higher caste only because their work kept them in close proximity to the Gods. The rest of the society was divided into different levels as per the work they did. Existence of the feudal system ensured that the lower castes were treated as slaves, he said.
The frustration of slavery is the primary cause for the emergence of communism in India and in the film, the protagonist Vengadam represents that frustration, the film-maker says. PTI
Fashion accessories generate more sales than designer clothes
Himanshu Vatsa
New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) A brightly lit Christmas tree among other imagination defying headgear showcased during the Fashion Week in Mumbai has pioneered a new trend of fashion shows exclusively for accessories like shoes, handbags, jewellery and other knick knacks.
Stepping beyond conventional boundaries of ramps designers are now increasingly holding sidewalk exhibitions of jewellery and other luxury accessories that complement an outfit and have been found to generate more sales in the global market.
At the Lakme Fashion Week, designer Shilpa Chavan's 'Littleshilpa' label showcased imagination defying headgear made from unconventional materials such as plastic, crochet, wire, paper, silk, feathers, net and organza.
Three other designers Abdul Tawwab, Malini Agarwala and the label 'Stoffa' by Priyanka Malini and Hersh displayed a complete accessory package of shoes, handbags, belts and shoes on the runway.
Also, the just concluded two parallel fashion weeks - Wills India Fashion Week and Delhi Fashion Week held in Delhi- along with the ongoing Lakme India Fashion Week in Mumbai witnessed a number of designers showcasing accessories.
"Accessories are very important for fashion. It has to go hand-in-hand with clothes. Apart from clothes we wear watch, spectacles, cap, necklaces and various other things. It defiantly an essential complement for clothes," said designer and documentary filmmaker Muzaffar Ali. PTI
Chetan Bhagat now in Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Malayalam...
New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) Bestseller Chetan Bhagat says he never misses an opportunity to be the first in line ahead of others.
The author who took the world of English publishing by storm in the country by creating a record with his debut book 'Five Point Someone' is now hoping to replicate his success in Hindi and other regional languages.
"People have called me a youth writer and the response to all my books have been very good. I feel that unless my books are read by more youngsters in the rural and other languages I cannot justify the tag," says Bhagat.
Bhagat who is currently not writing any book is busy cutting deals with publishers to get his works translated and sold in as many regional languages as possible. "My books have already had editions in Marathi and Gujarati and now in Hindi. We are looking at publishers for Bengali, Tamil and Malayalam which will also be out soon." The 35-year-old author has his priorities clear. While others like him might aspire for the Booker or other such coveted prizes, Bhagat, whose books are sold at Rs 95 per copy, says he writes for the common man with appeal to the college-going teenager.
"I am not that category of writer. Anyway I do not qualify for the Booker which rules that you must have published in UK. But I am sure if I want then I can get a Booker. It is just that my writing is not of that kind," Bhagat told PTI just before the launch of the translated versions of his two books 'Five Point Someone' and the more recent 'One night @ the Call Centre.' PTI
Digest of domestic news for the week Oct 18-Oct 24, 2008
Saturday Chennai/Bangalore: Indian Space Research Organisation (I.S.R.O.)scientists begin launch rehearsal exercises at the Sriharikota spaceport as part of preparatory drill for the blast off of Chandrayaan-I -- India's ambitious moon mission.
Lucknow: The Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh decides to return the land in Rae Bareli for construction of a rail coach factory, an issue on which she had a high-pitched spat with Congress President Sonia Gandhi during the week.
Sunday Chennai: Dayanidhi Maran, a former Union Minister and estranged grand-nephew of Chief Minister M Karunanidhi hands over his letter of resignation from the Lok Sabha to the DMK supremo in 'solidarity' with fellow Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MPs who resigned over the Sri Lankan issue.
New Delhi: To strengthen its air combat machinery along the borders with both Pakistan and China, India decides to deploy its air superiority Su-30MKI fighter aircraft in Jodhpur in Rajasthan and Chhabua in Assam.
Monday New Delhi: Putting behind differences within, the Election Commission announces an unprecedented seven-phase assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir beginning November 17 and spread over six weeks saying it has taken a "risk" in the backdrop of boycott calls in the Valley.
New Delhi: In a message from the top political leadership aimed at allaying fears, Prime Minister declares both the public and private sector banks to be financially sound and deposits to be safe but cautions the country to be prepared for a "temporary slowdown" in the economy.
Tuesday Mumbai: In a pre-dawn arrest, Raj Thackeray is picked up by police in connection with the attack on north Indian job aspirants and will spend the night in a lock-up despite getting bail in one case sparking sporadic violence in Mumbai and parts of Maharashtra.
Salamabad/Chakan-Da-Bagh(J-K): After a gap of over six decades, India and Pakistan restores cross-LoC trade by launching truck services on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalkote roads, scripting a new chapter in bilateral ties.
Wednesday Sriharikota (AP): India's maiden lunar mission Chandrayaan-I begins its historic journey to the moon when an indigenously developed rocket placed the spacecraft into the Transfer Orbit "perfectly".
Bharatpur (Rajasthan): At 18 people, including ten children, are killed and an equal number of people injured when five to six houses collapse following fire crackers explosions at Deegh, about 30km from here Thursday Chennai: The politics in Tamil Nadu over the Sri Lankan Tamils issue hotted up when firebrand MDMK leader Vaiko, a vocal supporter of LTTE, was arrested on the charge of publicly supporting the banned militant outfit.
New Delhi: Seeking to counter Pakistan's charge that it had blocked the flow of water of Chenab river,India furnishes data related to water level of the river as senior officials of the two sides met here to discuss the issue. Friday New Delhi: In a move aimed at increasing energy availability in the country, India and Russia decide to develop viable technology for exploring gas hydrates which is a potential source for petroleum and is found on the sea bed.
Mumbai: The Reserve Bank holds steady its key rates, surprising bankers who said that customers would have to wait awhile for any cut in lending rates, even as the decision sent the stock markets tumbling. PTI
Are Indians spending too much on laundry?
Aditya Rangroo
New Delhi, Oct 24 (PTI) It may not be laundering the way the taxman would salivate to read about increasing number of Indians are spending money on laundry but thanks to the hectic city life and efficient services offered by chains that are opening shops.
Laundry services across the country are becoming popular with working people and bachelors.
'Four Seasons,' a dry cleaning company in the capital says it continues to make profits despite charging high rates for its services.
Rates for shirts range between Rs 60 and Rs 80, trousers are charged Rs 110 per pair and charges for dry-cleaning one panel of curtain costs Rs 160.
"Many people come to our shop for laundry and dry cleaning and most of them are working couples. We also have home delivery facilities at nominal rates," says a staff member.
Market Research company A C Nielson pegs the country's dry-cleaning and laundry industry approximately between Rs 3,000 and Rs 3,500 crores.
The latest to open a chain in the capital is 'Wardrobe,' a chain in collaboration between Australian dry-cleaning and laundry major Brown Gouge and Delhi-based Diamond Fabcare.
According to B L Bajaj, Director of Wardrobe, the daily demand for laundry is expected to rise at 20-25 per cent annually.
Laundry care in India, he says has grown 8 per cent in current value terms in 2007 to reach Rs 84 billion.PTI
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