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India wishes to address all issues with Pakistan: Mukherjee
Ajay Kaul
Tehran, Nov 2 (PTI) Observing that it has been pursuing a policy of "positive and substantial" engagement with Pakistan, India today said it wishes to address all issues that have affected bilateral ties and make progress towards enhancing physical connectivity and upgradation of economic ties.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said here that New Delhi wanted to see peace, stability and development in Pakistan as it is in India's interest.
He, however, said terrorism is a major problem for the region as well as world and in this regard referred to the attack on Indian Embassy in Kabul in July in which five personnel of the mission, including two diplomats, lost their lives.
"In recent years, India has pursued a policy of positive and substantial engagement with Pakistan," Mukherjee said inaugurating a seminar on 'India and Iran: Ancient civilisations and modern nations' here.
"We wish to address issues that have affected our ties over the last several years," he said, adding, "we also wish to make progress in areas such as enhancement of physical connectivity and upgradation of economic ties." He said through the mechanism of the composite dialogue, the two countries have addressed a number of serious issues of bilateral interest.
On terrorism, Mukherjee said it constitutes one of the "most serious threats" to global peace.
Citing the case of Kabul Embassy attack in which 50 people, including several young Afghan girls, were also killed, he said "terrorists may claim to act on behalf of religion, but in truth they have no religion, because the essence of religions is peace and universal brotherhood, and not violence and the violation of human rights." PTI
Narrow escape for Buddha, Paswan; mine blast on convoy route
Salboni (WB), Nov 2 (PTI) Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today had a narrow escape when a landmine exploded within minutes of their convoy passing through Baroa near here in Maoist-infested West Midnapore district, leaving six policemen injured.
A 'directional landmine' blast took place at Baroa, 17 km from Salboni, from where the West Bengal Chief Minister, Paswan, state Industry Minister Nirupam Sen and industrialist Sajjan Jindal were returning after laying the foundation stone of Jindal Steel Works plant, police said.
The chief minister, the Union Minister and others were safe, Inspector General of Police (Western Range), Kuldeep Singh told PTI. But six policemen were injured in the blast and the condition of one of them was stated to be serious.
"It was a powerful blast and the overhead high tension line snapped and fell on one of the spare pilot cars and as a result the vehicle was partially burnt," Singh said.
Asked about who could be responsible for the blast, IG (Law and order) Raj Kanojia told PTI, "As the whole district is Maoist-dominated, we must zero in on them only".
The attack came despite massive deployment of security forces and the presence of a large number of CPI(M) and DYFI volunteers.
On whether there was a lapse in the security of the chief minister, Kanojia said, "the details are yet to come and I will be able to speak clearly after I get the whole details". PTI
Anil Kumble retires from international cricket
New Delhi, Nov 2 (PTI) Captain Anil Kumble, one of the greatest spinners to have played the game, today announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing the curtains down rather abruptly on India's most successful Test bowler ever.
Kumble announced the decision after the drawn third Test against Australia and said it was fitting to have called it a day at the Ferozeshah Kotla Ground where he took 10 wickets in an innings against Pakistan in 1999.
The surprise announcement means that Kumble will not be playing the fourth and final Test in Nagpur where India will have a new Test captain with Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the current vice-captain, expected to be handed the reins.
The 38-year-old leg spinner, who has captured 619 scalps in 132 Tests to be third in the list of highest wicket-takers after Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan, injured his little finger during the course of the third Test and was doubtful for the last Test in Nagpur.
"Delhi has been special for me and I thought it fitting to finish my career here," he said amid loud applause from the Kotla crowd.
Replying to critics' call of his retirement, Kumble had said that he would decide when to quit.
He said long years of international cricket has taken a toll and the injury on the little finger of his left hand in the third Test helped him take the decision.
"I was a very tough decision particularly after playing competitive cricket for the last 18 years. But the body gave the decision. This injury probably helped me take the decision," he said. PTI
Dhoni to lead India in Nagpur Test
New Delhi, Nov 2 (PTI) Mahendra Singh Dhoni will captain India in the fourth and final Test against Australia in Nagpur later this week and is therefore expected to be confirmed as the skipper in the longer version of the game besides being the one-day captain.
Chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth told journalists at the end of the drawn third Test match today that Dhoni will lead the Indian team in the next match starting on November 6.
He said Dhoni would also captain the team in seven ODIs against England later this month and a decision will be taken on the two-Test series against England before it starts. PTI
Bangla HC clears way for Dec 18 elections
Dhaka, Nov 2 (PTI) A Bangladesh High Court today cleared the way for the planned December 18 elections in the emergency-ruled country by dismissing writ petitions that challenged the Election Commission's gazette on delimitation of parliamentary constituencies.
"The court discharged the writ petition challenging the legality of the EC's gazette notification on delimitation of the parliamentary constituencies," election lawyer Swadhin Malik told newspersons after a High Court bench comprising judges Mir Hasmat Ali and Shamim Hasnain issued the order.
A former junior minister in the past coalition government of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and four others under ex-prime minister Khaleda Zia challenged the EC decision to re-demarcate constituencies citing constitutional obligations.
The pending case forced the EC to postpone its plan to announce the election schedule today (November 2), as the writ petitions had exposed December 18 polls to uncertainty while the court verdict prompted the commission to convene an urgent meeting to fix a fresh date for announcing the poll schedule.
"The schedule will be announced any day this week," Election commissioner Muhammed Sohul Hussain told newspersons as the ruling meant that "the EC has no impediment in declaring the election schedule".
Writ petitioner's lawyer Barrister Rafiqul islam Mian, however, said he could file a appeal against the verdict "if my clients want so".
On July 10 this year, the EC issued a gazette notification finalising a list of parliamentary seats with district-wise redrawn boundaries.
Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda earlier said the EC carried out the task of delimitation "excellently" as it was a constitutional obligation on its part following the publication of the census report. PTI
Suicide car bomber kills eight Pakistani soldiers
Islamabad, Nov 2 (PTI) At least eight Pakistani soldiers were killed and five others injured today when a suicide car bomber rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into a paramilitary camp in the troubled south Waziristan tribal region bordering Afghanistan.
The attacker struck at Zalai check post, located 20 km west of South Waziristan Agency's main town Wana, at 9.30 a.M., an official of the local political administration said.
Witnesses said the bomber drove his explosive-laden car into the heavily guarded check post, killing eight personnel instantly. Security personnel cordoned off the area after the explosion and rushed the injured to a hospital in Wana.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani strongly condemned the suicide attack and deplored the loss of innocent lives. He directed the hospital authorities to provide all possible medical facilities to the injured.
Meanwhile, reports from the adjoining Mohmand tribal region said some 200 militants had taken over a state-run school in the area.
However, a Taliban spokesman denied the militants were involved in the incident. Most schools in Mohmand Agency have been closed following the outbreak of violence in the area.
In yet another incident, a close aide of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Baitullah Mehsud was arrested along with a companion near Kohat in the North West Frontier Province. Top militant commander Qari Rehman was arrested while he was coming to the area from Hangu district, TV channels reported.
The security forces are also continuing their operations against the Taliban in the Bajaur tribal region, where six militants were killed yesterday during raids by gunship helicopters. A number of vehicles were also destroyed.
In the Aurakzai tribal area, militants yesterday kidnapped 10 people, including three government employees. PTI
Lakshmi Mittal loses $50-bn in five months
London, Nov 2 (PTI) After braving the global financial crisis for months, the creaks are getting wider in the market value of steel empire created by the world's richest Indian Lakshmi Mittal, with about USD 50 billion knocked off from the net worth of NRI business tycoon himself.
While the US and European markets started their downslide way back in August-September last year, ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steelmaker, continued to gain value till about five months ago and its share price scaled a life-time high of 104.77 dollars on June 5 at the US bourses.
However, the valuation has now dipped to below the one-fourth of its record high level and the company's shares, which are listed at NYSE as well as on some European bourses, are currently trading near 25 dollars level.
During these five months, the company's market capitalisation has also plummeted to 37.3 billion dollars, from a high of over 150 billion dollars. Accordingly, the net worth of Lakshmi Mittal, who along with his family members hold a 43.02 per cent equity, has also dipped to just about 16 billion dollars from as high as about 66 billion dollars on June 5.
According to the company's latest shareholding data, the Mittal family owns 623.285 million shares of the company, while the remaining holding is in the form of public holding and treasury shares.
The value of non-promoter shares has also plunged sharply from about 85 billion dollars to about 20 billion dollars and some analysts expect that Mittal and the company's top management team could have to brave queries from shareholders on this front when they meet next week after announcement of the company's third quarter results on November 5. MORE
Steel cos cut prices by up to Rs 6,000 per ton to keep afloat
New Delhi, Nov 2 (PTI) India's leading steel producers have slashed prices of their products by up to Rs 6,000 a tonne to ward off the threat of cheaper imports from countries like China and Ukraine amid a dip in demand.
State-run SAIL, along with private producers Essar Steel and JSW Steel, announced lowering of prices while the biggest private sector producer Tata Steel is still weighing its options.
The price cut comes even as Industry awaits a government decision on its demand for imposition of 15 per cent duty on steel imports among other fiscal measures.
The Steel Ministry is, however, believed to have asked the Finance Ministry for imposing a 10 per cent import tariff.
Leading the price cut, that comes within two days of Finance Ministry withdrawing a 15 per cent export duty on long steel products, SAIL slashed its product prices by Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000 per tonne.
Sajjan Jindal led JSW steel lowered prices of its HR Coil by Rs 5,500 a tonne, a third consecutive cut in as many months and Ruia's Essar Steel revised prices downwards. PTI
MNS fear: Bhojpuri film industry may shift out of Mumbai
Kamal Narayan
New Delhi, Nov 2 (PTI) Raj Thackeray's tirade against north Indians could end up hurting Maharashtrians working in the over Rs 200-crore Bhojpuri film industry as it considers moving out of Mumbai owing to increasing insecurity.
With an average output of 75 movies per annum and an over 250 million target audience, the Bhojpuri film industry employs hundreds of unskilled and semi-skilled people from the state in various stage of production and distribution.
The industry, which has around 50 registered production houses in Mumbai, has initiated talks with some state governments like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar for its set up.
"We have given a proposal to the Uttar Pradesh government through its Culture Minister Subhash Pandey for setting up the industry in Lucknow. Besides, we are also counting on some other options like Delhi, Noida and Patna," Bhojpuri superstar and producer Manoj Tiwari told PTI.
The actor was of the opinion that shifting the industry to Uttar Pradesh or Bihar would also lead to employment for speakers of the language.
Tiwari said that despite employing a large number of Maharashtrians, the Bhojpuri film industry was still being targeted for "our connection with north India, even though Bhojpuri films have their audiences across the country." "We are living under the shadow of fear in Mumbai. MNS goons even target us during outdoor shootings. We are not secure here," he said.
The actor said he had to stop shooting for one of his movies featuring Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff at Satara when some suspected MNS activists attacked the unit. The shooting was later completed in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. PTI
Safety of working women, never a priority
Archana Jyoti
New Delhi, Nov 2 (PTI) Not only have they stormed many a male bastion but also do not hesitate to undertake duties that require them work at late hours - an adventure indeed in the metros.
As periodic attacks on women employees hit the headlines, women activists and employees feel safety of women working late hours has never been priority of any government.
Be it Delhi where recently a television journalist was found murdered or Mumbai or Chennai or Bangalore - the story is the same - the safety index is going down.
The truth is that safety of women working for late hours has never been a priority for the concerned stakeholders including employers, feel working women.
Many feel that television journalist Soumya Vishwanathan could have been saved had a proper system in place to ensure that she and many like her those working till late hours reach safe and sound after on the job.
A recent study conducted by the ASSOCHAM Social Development Foundation (ASDF) in all the major metros says that about 53 per cent of working women feel insecure, especially during night shifts.
"Vishwanathan's murder by some unidentified assailants on a deserted roads has once again triggered a debate on the need for safety of the women," says a female journalist with a news channel.
Requesting not to be named she says many times she had driven on the desolate stretches and Soumya's murder comes haunting back as she drives out at late hours. At least what could have been assured was effective police petrolling, she feels. PTI
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