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PM says G-20 wants IMF, WB to come out with new facilities
On Board PM's Special Aircraft, Nov 16 (PTI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the G-20 leaders agreed to shun protectionism to tide over the current economic crisis as they asked the multilateral institutions like IMF and World Bank to come out with new facilities to increase their assistance to developing countries.
There was a general agreement that protectionism would be a wrong response to the present situation which would only accentuate the crisis, Singh told reporters accompanying him in his special aircraft on way back from Washington, where he attended the G-20 summit.
It was also agreed that international financial institutions like the World Bank, IMF and regional development banks should come out with new facilities to increase their assistance to the developing countries, he said.
"I was very happy that in anticipation of the meeting both the IMF and the World Bank came out with schemes. Though there are doubts that resources available to these institutions are adequate to take care of all the demands that may be made." Singh said the meeting endorsed that more resources should be provided to the IMF and World Bank. The Japanese government announced a loan of USD 100 million to the IMF.
"I must say on the whole the climate in the developed world is to recognise that international financial institutions need external resources if they come to the rescue of emerging and other developing countries," he said.
Asked by what time the global crisis could be over, Singh said he was not not an astrologer and there were apprehensions that the worst has not not still been seen.
"Our effort will be to contain and roll back the crisis. I am afraid I can't pronounce on any sense of that (any time frame) with authority." PTI
Cong to crack whip on rebels, dissidents
New Delhi, Nov 16 (PTI) Fearing that dissidents could topple its apple-cart, Congress wants to send a message to the rank and file by taking "strong" action against rebels continuing in the fray in the Delhi Assembly elections despite "cajoling" by senior leaders.
Though leaders who are clandestinely playing the "spoiler" against candidates may escape the wrath of the party for the time being, Congress is adamant in sending the message that it will not entertain dissidence at a time when it is fighting anti-incumbency in the election.
"No one is bigger than party. Those who deviate from party discipline will have to pay the price. Strong action will be taken," DPCC president Jai Prakash Aggarwal told PTI.
Aggarwal and other senior leaders were flooded with complaints from candidates across the capital that some local leaders in their constituency were working against them.
At a function organised here yesterday by the DPCC, some of the candidates were seen complaining to Aggarwal about local leaders working against them or offering no help in their area.
Some sought Aggarwal's intervention, which was "promptly" assured, while others wanted strict action against the "spoiler" as one candidate put it. "Give it in writing and I know what to do" was the response from Aggarwal.
Congress is facing rebel candidates in Mehrauli and Sangam Vihar. Former Delhi Mayor Satbir Singh is still in the fray from Mehrauli, a Jat dominated seat, where state Health Minister Yoganand Shastri is contesting. PTI
Indian eves hold Russia, Men beat El Salvador
By Our Chess Correspondent
Dresden (Germany), Nov 16 (PTI) International Master Tania Sachdev guided India to a creditable draw against top seed Russia while her male compatriots thumped El Salvador to remain in joint lead after the third round of the 32nd Chess Olympiad here.
The Indian men's resounding 3.5-0.5 win against El Salvador in the open section kept them in joint lead on six match points along with Russia, Armenia, Germany '1', Spain, Ukraine, Norway, England and Romania.
The Indians will meet Russia in the next round.
In the women section, Tania was a class act with her white pieces even though top rated Indian D Harika and Nisha Mohota lost their games against world women's champion Alexandra Kosteniuk and Nadezhda Kosintseva, respectively.
On the fourth board the experience of Swati Ghate again came in handy as she defeated higher rated Ekaterina Korbut.
The Indian women slipped a bit in the standings after getting one point against the Russians but this result might go a long way in the overall standings of a depleted side without top player Koneru Humpy.
Tania stole the thunder against Tatiana in a Nimzo Indian defence game. Capitalising on a tactical error, Tania won an exchange on the 28th move and wrapped the issue in 42 moves.
Hungary, Armenia, China, Serbia, Poland and Georgia share the lead with six points apiece in the women's section while Indian eves are now placed joint seventh on five.
In the biggest upset of the Olympiad thus far, 19th seed Norway defeated third seed China 2.5-1.5 in the open section. PTI
Jeev lifts Singapore Open, assured of Order of Merit title
Sentosa, Nov 16 (PTI) Jeev Milkha Singh blasted a final round of two-under 69 to lift the USD five million Singapore Open which virtually assured him of the Asian Order of Merit title.
The in-form Indian aggregated seven-under 277 for a wafer-thin one-shot victory over Ernie Els (71) and Padraig Harrington (70).
Jeev pocketed a cool USD 792,500 cheque for his exploits. PTI
Israel to roll out red carpet for 200 Indian Jews
Harinder Mishra
Jerusalem, Nov 16 (PTI) Some 200 members of a north-eastern Indian community would be reuniting with their families in Israel soon where a red carpet welcome awaits them.
The members of Bnei Menashe community, which lives in Indian states of Manipur and Mizoram and claim to be one of the lost tribes of Judaism, will be immigrating to Israel after the government here has approved their request.
The members are drawn from fifteen extended families some of whose kins have immigrated to Israel in the past. The new immigrants will arrive in Israel from India in January by a special flight and will be received by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in a festive ceremony at Ben-Gurion Airport here, sources in the PM office said.
The Israeli government, especially Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit, had been opposing their immigration to Israel for last three years, saying their "Jewishness was not certain".
Sheetrit, however, relented following a request from Cabinet secretary Ovad Yehezkel and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and decided to allow the group to immigrate.
Arrangements for the immigration would be made by the Shavei Israel organisation.
Shavei Israel Chairman, Michael Freund, had recently approached the Prime Minister and requested for special permission to let 23 Bnei Menashe families to make 'aliyah' (immigration of Jews to Israel). PTI
Eleven killed, 39 injured as bus overturns in China
Beijing, Nov 16 (PTI) Eleven people were killed and 39 others injured when a speeding bus overturned on an expressway in China's northeast Heilongjiang province, local authorities said.
The incident took place yesterday at about 4:40 pm (local time) in Yilan County in the provincial capital Harbin where the vehicle was driving up a slope, Wang Wenbo of the provincial highway administration was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.
The bus, which was carrying 50 passengers, was travelling at a speed of 130 km per hour, the officials said adding, "patrolling traffic police and highway administration staff had asked the driver to slow down, but he didn't listen." All the injured are being treated at a local hospital, he said.
Initial investigation by Harbin police found slippery road and improper operation by the driver were to blame for the accident, a police spokesman said.
The driver was among the dead and the bus owner has been taken into custody, he added. PTI
Star India, Jupiter Entertainment enter into a joint venture
Mumbai, Nov 15 (PTI) Star India and Jupiter Entertainment have entered into a joint venture to bring more south Indian audiences in their net.
The joint venture will be called Star Jupiter. Jupiter Entertainment is owned by Rajiv Chandrashekar.
Under the agreement and subject to regulatory approvals, Star Jupiter will become majority shareholder of Asianet Communications Ltd which currently runs channels in Malyalam (Asianet and Asianet Plus), Kannada (Suvarna), Telugu (Sitara). Star's own Tamil channel "Vijay" will now be called Star Jupiter.
The joint venture is expected to make additional investments towards developing and launching new channels in south India in coming months. PTI
Daniel Craig says no to swimming trunks
London, Nov 15 (PTI) Daniel Craig, whose famous beach shot in Bond film 'Casino Royale' won him many fans across the globe, has no desire to repeat something similar in the upcoming Bond films.
In 'Casino Royale', his debut as Bond, Craig had sent female fans' hearts fluttering when he strode along a beach wearing a costume that showed off his muscular physique.
The actor says he is sick of talking about the shot and he is even more determined to avoid a repeat performance, Contactmusic reported.
Craig says, "I never want to put those things on again. There's an element of nudity in this one, but no swimming trunks." PTI
Russian designer keen to collaborate with Indian designers
Suktara Purkayastha
New Delhi, Nov 16 (PTI) Well-known Russian designer Vyacheslav Zaitsev is impressed by Indian fashion designers' ability to integrate global appeal with native culture in their creations.
"I am keenly looking forward to collaborate with them," he says.
Zaitsev, who was in India to promote his winter collection says Indian fashion designers are very popular in the West.
"Indian designers have successfully showcased their native culture through their dresses. The Indian women designers particularly are very talented," says Zaitsev.
The Russian designer says that in 2009 'Year 2009 India in Russia' he plans to collaborate with Indian designers and organise fashion shows in his country.
He is also keen to work with Indian models. "Models here are very beautiful I will surely work with them" he says.
Questioned about his favourite Indian attire, Zaitsev said he was captivated by the saree. "I saw some Indian women sitting outside Taj Mahal draped in sarees, they looked so beautiful." Though, the designer finds it difficult to drape a saree but has expressed a desire to create a fusion of Indian and Russian garments.
Zaitsev laments the fact that not many Russians are aware about the Indian fashion scene.
Interestingly, Zaitsev is against women wearing jeans or trousers.
"Women today have surpassed men in all spheres. So, they should atleast leave the trousers and jeans for men," Zaitsev says adding that women look good in their natural attires. PTI
Bangla film on Eklavya in fray for IFFI award
) Pallab Bhattacharya
New Delhi, Nov 16 (PTI) The Maharbharta story of expert archer Eklavya's sacrificing his thumb and gifting it to his guru Dronacharya is the story of a movie from Bangladesh which is a contender for an award at the International Film Festival of India starting next week.
Winning an award at the IFFI is nothing new for Abu Sayeed, director of "Rupantor" (Transformation) as he had won the special jury awarda silver peacockat the festival two years ago with his "Nirontor", the story of a call girl struggling to keep afloat her lower middle class family. The non-judgemental work also earned him the award for the best feature film a few months later at the Kerala International film festival.
And now, Sayeed, one of the most acclaimed directors of Bangladesh's art house film movement, is back with "Rupantor" that has entered into competitive sections of the both the Indian festivals.
And why did he choose the Eklavya story from the Mahabharata? Well, as the director says, it is a subject that has been haunting him since he was in school but could find time and money to reproduce it on the celluloid after having made two national award-winning short films and four feature films since beginning his journey in 1988.
"Rupantor", which will be world premiered at the IFFI in Goa, transports the story in the modern context and showing how it prods a young filmmaker into a "new quest". PTI
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