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Govt servants warned of punishment if found campaigning
Srinagar, Nov 5 (PTI) The election observer for Leh assembly constituency of Jammu and Kashmir today warned of severe punishment to government employees found campaigning for political parties.
"If any government employee is noticed involved in election campaigns, stern action would be taken against the defaulters," A K Kaluram Meena said addressing a meeting of different political parties of the district at Leh, an official release said.
He appealed to political parties to strictly adhere to the code of conduct and rules to ensure free and fair elections.
The District Election Officer A K Sahu briefed the observer and members of the political parties about poll and security arrangements made in the district to ensure free and fair elections.
The representatives of all political parties assured the observer of their full cooperation to the administration to maintain peace and ensure free and fair elections.
Later, the Election Observer also convened a separate meeting with the Zonal and Sectoral Magistrates and were acquainted with the guidelines and instructions issued by the Election Commission of India regarding the functioning of the Magistrates during the election.
The Election Observer for Nobra Assembly Constituency Dinesh Kumar also convened a meeting with the political parties and Returning Officer at Nobra and sought their help to ensure free and fair elections. He also inspected polling stations of Khardog, Diskit, Hundar and Skampuk.
Leh and Nobra along with eight other constituencies of the 87-member assembly goes to the polls in the first phase of the seven phase elections on November 17. PTI
Bill Gates meets PM, discusses health issues
New Delhi, Nov 5 (PTI) Microsoft founder and mentor Bill Gates today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and discussed the level of cooperation between his Foundation and the Health Ministry.
"Bill Gates met the PM and discussed areas of support between the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare," a statement from the Prime Minister's office said.
The Foundation has been providing grants for public health activities, notably in the areas of HIV/AIDS prevention and communication.
Gates is in India to launch a public healthcare initiative with special focus on polio eradication. The initiative is being funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Gates met Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss yesterday.
The Foundation has committed about 9.9 billion dollars in grants for global health as of October 2008, of which 400 million dollars are on account of polio eradication.
India, among the four countries where the disease is still endemic, has been among its recipients.
The other initiatives of the Foundation include 'Avahan', where 258 million dollars have so far been committed in the first phase of the project towards India's AIDS-control initiatives.
About 93 million dollars have also been set aside for the country's immunisation programme and 66 million dollars for introducing Hepatitis B vaccine in 15 cities and 33 districts. PTI
Hyderabad take first innings lead against Orissa
Cuttack, Nov 5 (PTI) Orissa squandered a great chance to take the first innings lead as a middle-order collapse saw Hyderabad bundle out the hosts for 269 and take a 27-run first innings lead on the penultimate day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A tie here today.
At stumps on Day III, Hyderabad were going strong on 56 for one, extending their lead to 83. D Ravi Teja (22) and D Rishi Raj (33) were at the crease.
With captain Shib Sundar Das leading from the front, Orissa resumed their first innings with the overnight score of 150 for three.
But SM Shoaib struck in the third over of the morning, taking the wicket of nightwatchman Pritamjeet Das (7) who could only add one run to his last night's total.
Pritamjeet's ouster triggered a batting collapse as Das followed soon after following a run out, adding just five runs to yesterday's score of 75.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Haladhar Das (8) was the next to go as Orissa were reduced to 168 for six before lunch.
The second session saw Pinninti Jayachandra and Rakesh Mohanty make a desperate bid to cross the magical figure of 296 to take the first innings lead.
They put on 41 runs for the seventh wicket before Rakesh (28) fell to MP Arjun with the scoreboard reading 209 in 90.2 overs.
Debashish Mohanty (0) was the next to go with medium-pacer Shoaib (three for 50) taking his third wicket of the day.
Jayachandra tried hard to steer his team ahead but ran out of partners. PTI
Reverse swing was like a curse on us: Gilchrist
Natasha Chaku
Sydney, Nov 5 (PTI) Despite managing to use reverse-swing to potent effect in their successful 2004 tour of India, Australian team felt "cursed" by the same technique in the lost 2005 Ashes against England, reveals former vice-captain Adam Gilchrist.
"The salient point in England is that not only could we not get it to reverse swing, we weren't game to try anything, we had this feeling of a curse on us," Gilchrist wrote in his autobiography 'True Colours'.
"Occasionally in a meeting someone would say, '... Let's just do it' but we'd say no: 'as soon as we start going down that line we'll get busted'," he said.
Gilchrist said he unravelled the mystery of England's reverse swing 18 months later during the 2006 Champions Trophy match in Jaipur when Troy Cooley, who assisted Michael Vaughan's men in the Ashes, was Australia's coach.
"We were playing England in Jaipur our first clash since the 2005 Ashes, and nervously saying: 'what are they going to do this time?' "Then, just before we warmed up, our bowling coach Troy Cooley said: 'Boys, today, eyes in the middle, no looking elsewhere. Just worry about us'.
"I'll never forget that. It was like a boxing glove came out and smacked me in the head and said : 'You idiot. That's what you were doing for the best part of three months in England -- worrying about what the opponent is going to do'.
"It's no coincidence that Troy, a Tasmanian, had been England's bowling coach during the 2005 Ashes. They knew they had us worrying about them." PTI
Americans vote black Obama to White House in historic election
Sridhar Krishnaswami
Washington, Nov 5 (PTI) In a watershed election, Americans today emphatically elected Barack Obama as their first black President who is committed to reshaping the US role on the world stage, including the Indo-Pak subcontinent.
Describing his election as a "defining moment" that will change America, the 47-year-old Democrat who vanquished his Republican rival John McCain pledged to address the challenges of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the century's worst financial crisis.
Son of a white mother and a black Kenyan father, Obama will take over as the 44th President on January 20 as the first African-American President of a nation long divided by race.
Obama sees ties with India as one of America's "most important relationships in an uncertain world" and has pledged to strengthen the Indo-US strategic partnership when he takes over as the President. After initial reservations he supported the Indo-US nuclear deal.
During his campaign for the White House, the President-elect has adopted a tough line on Pakistan and made it clear that he will launch military operations against terrorists in that country if the Pakistan government did not do so.
On Kashmir, he has indicated that his administration would facilitate a better understanding between Pakistan and India so that the former can stay focussed in dealing with terrorists. PTI
Obama scripts history; first Black to be elected US President
Sridhar Krishnaswami
Washington, Nov 5 (PTI) Democrat Barack Obama today wrote himself into history becoming the first Black US President in a landslide election win over Republican rival John McCain, engineering a huge political transformation four decades after the peak of civil rights movement for racial equality.
The 47-year-old Harvard-educated lawyer and Illinois Senator, born to a Kenyan father and White American mother, secured 338 electoral college votes against 159 of McCain out of a total 538 after an epic 21-month-long campaign in the most expensive-ever election.
"If there is anyone out there who still doubts America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of democracy, tonight is your answer," an overjoyed Obama told thousands of his cheering supporters in Chicago waving to them in the company of his wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha.
Both his defeated rival and the incumbent in the White House George W Bush called up Obama to congratulate him on his victory and offer him their support.
Obama will be sworn in as the 44th US President on January 20 next year, marking a new milestone in the history of the US where civil rights movement leader Martin Luther King had laid out the dream of racial equality.
The Illinois Senator, who was a non-entity in the national scene four years ago, defeated charismatic Hillary Clinton in party primaries to clinch the Democratic nomination. PTI
Indians will not pardon LTTE for killing Rajiv: Lankan PM
T V Sriram
Colombo, Nov 5 (PTI) Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake has said that no Indian citizen "with feelings" will pardon the LTTE for the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and is hopeful that India will extend its assistance to "defeat terrorism".
"The (Sri Lankan) Government is of the firm view that India will extend its fullest assistance to defeat terrorism and provide relief measures to the people in the North and the East," Wickramanayake told Parliament.
This is also due to the strong bonds of friendship that the Government of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has forged with the political leadership of India, he told the House yesterday.
The premier opening the Emergency debate said: "India is our longstanding friend. India and Sri Lanka have always acted with mutual trust and cooperation as a result of the longstanding historical ties between the two countries," the state run Daily News quoted him as saying.
"If the people of India remember their past, they would feel the pressure exerted by LTTE terrorism. The LTTE killed a great Indian leader. We believe any Indian citizen with feelings will not pardon the LTTE," he said.
"The Government is also of the view that the central Government of India is not ready to make any intervention in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka, other than extending it's support to its neighbouring country, Sri Lanka," he said.
"However, certain pro-LTTE elements in South India have engaged in various activities to boost the image of the LTTE. We think these are moves engaged in by certain elements due to a lack of understanding," the Prime Minister claimed. PTI
Sensex sheds 511 points; RIL closes lower by over 12 pc
Mumbai, Nov 5 (PTI) Snapping its five-day winning streak, the stock market benchmark Sensex today dropped by over 500 points, even as other Asian bourses gained on expectations that President-elect Barack Obama will bring about changes in the crisis-ridden US economy.
The 30-share Sensex closed the day at 10,120.01 points, lower by 511.11 points, or 4.81 per cent, mainly due to heavy selling in heavyweight Reliance Industries.
The broader 50-share Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also tumbled by 147.15 points, or 4.68 per cent, to close at 2,994.95 points.
Marketmen said strong gains in the past five consecutive sessions indicated a necessary downward correction as investors have created long positions in the futures.
They said sharp falls in the US futures and European stocks in early trade seem to be a sign of shift in investors' focus to slowing global economies, after Barack Obama's decisive win in the US Presidential election.
Initially, the market surged to the intra-day high of 10,945.41 in sync with strong Asian stocks but gradually moved downwards due to selling by funds and domestic funds, which earlier had built up long positions in the derivatives in the five-day long stocks rally.
European indices such as London's FTSE was down 2.76 per cent, France's CAC by 2.78 per cent and Germany's DAX by 2.17 per cent in their early trade.
Asian indices, however, ended higher by about 2.0 to 4.5 per cent except for Taiwan's weighted index which close flat. PTI
SBI expects 40 pc growth in net profit in H2
New Delhi, Nov 5 (PTI) The country's largest lender, State Bank of India, today said it expects 40 per cent growth in its net profit in the second half of this fiscal despite fears of an economic slowdown triggered by the global financial meltdown.
"Net profit growth should be around 40 per cent (in the next two quarters)," SBI Chairman O P Bhatt told PTI.
The bank has recorded a profit growth rate of over 40 per cent to Rs 2,260 crore for the July-September period. Its net profit during the first half was up by over 28 per cent to Rs 3,900 crore.
When asked whether the bank's good performance could be replicated in the second half amid forecasts of general economic slowdown, Bhatt said, "Performance could be ... should be (better)".
On credit expansion, Bhatt said the bank is expecting loan growth of 26 per cent in fiscal 2009 against 23 per cent recorded in the previous year.
The country's largest bank's advances for the year ended March 2008 stood at Rs 4,22,181 crore.
Beating business growth projections by research analysts, SBI posted 40 per cent growth in net profit for the second quarter of this fiscal on high interest income.
Crediting the good numbers to income from high interest rates and fee-based income, Bhatt had said the bank has been giving good returns consistently in the last 5-6 quarters.
During the second quarter, SBI's total income rose to Rs 17,909.64 crore as against Rs 13,658.22 crore a year ago, an increase of 31 per cent. PTI
India sees huge jump in FDI inflows despite global woes
New Delhi, Nov 5 (PTI) India received foreign direct investment of 2.56 billion dollars in September this year, showing an increase of 259 per cent over the FDI inflows in the same month in 2007-08, despite the global credit squeeze.
The cumulative FDI of 17.21 billion dollars during the April-September period also showed an impressive growth rate of 137 per cent against 7.25 billion dollars in the first half of the previous fiscal.
"Despite troubles in the world economy, India continued to attract FDIs and the target of 35 billion dollars for 2008-09 fiscal would be achieved," Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath said.
During the first five months of the current fiscal, the country received maximum FDI from Mauritius (5.27 billion dollars), followed by Singapore (1.72 billion dollars), the US (1.15 billion dollars) and the Netherlands (580 million dollars).
The manufacturing sector received 5 billion dollars during the April-August period, showing a rise of 41 per cent over inflows in the year-ago period.
The other sectors attracting FDI inflows during the period were services (2.34 billion dollars), followed by construction activities (1.64 billion dollars), housing and real estate (1.62 billion dollars) and computer hardware and software (1.36 billions). PTI
Comments on outsourcing need not bother us: Chidambaram
New Delhi, Nov 5 (PTI) Welcoming the election of Democrat Barack Obama as President of the United States, Finance Minister P Chidambaram today said that his comments on outsourcing of services should not bother India.
"A comment here and a comment there (on outsourcing of services to India) should not bother us... Once Obama is in office, he will realise that it is an interconnected world and countries have to work together", he told reporters today.
"The US as the world's largest economy and India as the world's largest free market democracy have to work together," he said, adding Indo-US relations would continue to improve under the new administration.
Commenting on Obama's election as President, Chidambaram said, "It is a transformational change in the US and many ghosts have been exorcised by this election." "I think this (election of Obama) is a tribute to the US democracy that a young, forward-looking ...Black has been elected," he added. PTI
B R made socially relevant films catering to popular sentiment
Mumbai, Nov 5 (PTI) Substance was the hallmark of B R Chopra's films but the legendary filmmaker who passed away here today at the age of 94 always felt that the rise of money and stardom have vitiated the image of Indian cinema.
The eminent producer-director was of the view that a film is not just about jugglery with money. He believed that a film addresses itself to the society and it is the duty of filmmakers to make healthy and wholesome films, preferably with good story and social significance.
Chopra practised what he preached. Whether it was adultery (Gumraah), the politics of rape (Insaaf Ka Tarazu), Muslim matrimony laws (Nikaah), rehabilitation of prostitutes (Sadhana), widow remarriage (Ek Hi Raasta), Chopra always had a sharp, clear and effective non-formula tale to tell.
Baldev Raj Chopra gave great importance to story because he himself had started his career as a writer.
An MA in English literature, he would have continued to work as a film journalist with the Cine Herald had it not been the partition of India. Post Independence, he came to Mumbai and after a stint in production, made his first directorial venture with 'Afsana' (1951).
The story was about good and evil featuring twin brothers, both played by Ashok Kumar in a double role. 'Afsana' was a success and Chopra's narrative cohesion was widely admired.
When Chopra entered the film business after coming from Lahore, he had no experience of filmmaking and did not know how to contact stars.
He wanted to sign Ashok Kumar for 'Afsana' and had to use the good offices of J P Tiwari, Chairman of Bombay Talkies. PTI
Black President -- From Hollywood to White House
Washington, Nov 5 (PTI) An African-American President of the US, a concept which was till now confined to the reel life in Hollywood turned real today with the election of Barack Obama, the first Black who will occupy the White House.
The concept of a black president started in Hollywood long back in 20th century with movies depicting an African-American as occupant of White House.
In 'The Man' released in 1972, when the President and Speaker of the House are killed in a building collapse and the Vice President declines the office due to ill-health, Senate President Douglas Dilman (played by James Earl Jones) suddenly becomes the first black man to occupy the Oval Office.
In the 1998 sci-fi-drama disaster film 'Deep Impact', the black US president Tom Beck -- played by Morgan Freeman -- prepares for and destroys a fictional comet (named "Wolf-Biederman"), which is expected to collide with the Earth and cause an Extinction Level Event.
Faced with a crisis, President Beck decides to make the knowledge of threat public and announces the grim facts: the comet, named "Wolf-Biederman," is seven miles wide, large enough to destroy civilisation if it strikes Earth. The US and Russia dispatch a crew of astronauts on the spaceship Messiah to destroy the comet, using nuclear weapons.
In order to prevent opportunism, Beck freezes all wages and prices. In the end, comet gets destroy and Beck wins the heart of the people of America.
In the 2003 comedy movie "Head of State", Mays Gilliam --played by Chris Rock -- surprisingly becomes candidate for the presidency after his party's original presidential and vice-presidential nominees die in a plane crash. PTI
Another comedy from Benegal stable
Sabi Hussain
New Delhi, Nov 4 (PTI) Shyam Benegal shifted from his 'kind of cinema' to come up with the successful comedy "Welcome to Sajjanpur" and the veteran director says he will stick to a satirical theme for his next venture too.
The prolific filmmaker, who is always ready to discover every facet of society with his visual medium, says he will soon finalise the script of his next comedy venture, the shooting for which will start next year.
"You will again see a comedy film from my side as entertaining as 'Welcome to Sajjanpur'. I will soon be finalising the script for it," he told PTI.
Benegal received rave reviews for "Welcome..." and that is what prompted him to go for another satire.
"Success is always welcome when you have put in so much effort. It always works as fresh air for you and provides confidence to meet other challenges," he says.
The national award-winning director, who made his debut with "Gher Betha Ganga" in 1962 and shot to fame with the Shabana Azmi-starrer "Ankur" in 1973, has also acted in the successful film "Nishant" in 1975.
Known for making serious movies like "Nishant", "Manthan" (1976) and "Bhumika" (1977), Benegal has no plans of quitting "his kind of cinema", but wants to give it a break.
"I am not quitting serious cinema as this is from where I have started my journey, but I just want to give it a break," he says. PTI
Delhi slum children keep puppetry alive
New Delhi, Nov 4 (PTI) Oversized stuffed dolls dressed in traditional Rajasthani garb come alive in the hands of 11-year-old Gopal, who is among slum children the capital, striving to keep the ancient art of puppetry alive.
Puppetry is suffering from erosion and we desperately need to hold on to what has been with us for centuries, according to Pavan K Varma, director general, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
This classical art form, however, has been kept alive by children of around 2,600 families from the slums of Delhi, who put up shows under the banner of Kalakar Vikas School.
Hailing from Rajasthan, Gopal, says he wants to show this art form to a much larger urban audience, who in his opinion, are not very much aware of puppetry.
"We have been performing shows since many generations. Now we want to carry this art forward to a global audience," he says.
Gopal's ambition is echoed by Lakshmi, a 14-year-old from a village near Delhi, who says the urban audience needs to know more about this almost-dying art form.
"Urban people are not very much aware that this art form is almost on its deathbed. We are struggling to keep it alive, but we are ready to do anything for it," Lakshmi says.
Both Lakshmi and Gopal had put up a performance of traditional puppetry in the capital recently on the occasion of the release of the ICCR's journal which is a special issue on puppetry.
The Union Internationale de la Marionette (UNIMA), an organisation dedicated to puppetry, has been working for the past 88 years for development of this art form all across the globe and even in India, says Dadi D Padamjee, the first non-European UNIMA president. PTI
Animated Chandamama story on big screen soon
New Delhi, Nov 3 (PTI) An adventure fable sourced from the vast collection of stories from popular children's magazine Chandamama would be out on big screen soon.
The monthly has tied up with Thiruvanthapuram-based Toonz Animation Ltd to produce a full length animated feature film based on a story from the vast library of Chandamama on an estimated budget of Rs 200 million.
"We have entered into a deal with Chandamama where we will go through their entire library of over 15000 stories and select a suitable one to be made into an a 90-minute animated flick," says Divas Sadasivan of Toonz Animation.
The move is part of the expansion plans of the children's monthly which has already ventured online with its website and runs a 4 hour radio programme broadcasting legendary stories from the magazine every Sunday on a private FM station in Chennai. Soon the stories would be also made available on mobile phones too.
"Creative teams from both companies would work jointly and select one story most probably bearing towards adventure which would be then scripted for the movie," J Subramanyam, CEO of Chandamama told PTI.
"The emphasis worldwide is on content that has local appeal. In animation most of the work has been on characters that are mythological. We wanted to do something different and since Chandamama is loved by children and adults alike we think this film would appeal to a wider audience and more people would be tempted to watch," says Sadasivan.
Toonz, which has previously worked on fully animated films such as 'Hanuman Returns' and a 2D animated television series 'The adventure of Tenali Raman' says it now wants to move away from mythology. PTI
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