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Pak will not use nuclear weapons against India first: Zardari
New Delhi, Nov 22 (PTI) Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari today declared that his country will not be the first to use nuclear weapons against India and would work towards opening trade, besides underscoring that Kashmir belonged to the Kashmiri people.
He also said that Pakistan does not feel threatened by India and New Delhi should also not feel threatened by Islamabad.
Addressing the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit via satellite, Zardari said that he was against nuclear warfare altogether.
"We do not hope to even get to that position when we have to use (nuclear weapons)," he said and proposed a South Asia free of nuclear weapons.
Seeking to reach out to people across the border, he recalled his late wife Benazir Bhutto's lines -- "there is little of Indian in every Pakistani and a little of Pakistani in every Indian." Zardari also favoured India and Pakistan rising as an "economic block" like greater Europe. PTI
Released ship with Indians on board reaches Muscat
Mumbai, Nov 22 (PTI) The merchant ship released by Somali pirates after being held hostage with 18 Indians on board for two months in the Gulf of Aden today dropped anchor at the Omani capital Muscat and is expected to reach Mumbai in the next two to three days.
"We docked in Muscat at 1030 IST. All crew members are safe and healthy," M T Stolt Valor's Captain Prabhat Goel said.
Goel said it will take two to three days for the crew to sign off.
Asked about the two-month long ordeal after the ship was hijacked, he said everybody was "nervous".
"After September 15, I am wearing my stripes today which I had taken out in front of the hijackers," Goel told 'Times Now' channel.
The hijacked merchant ship which also had five foreign sailors on board was freed on November 16 after a ransom amount between one to 2.5 million dollars was paid by the Japanese owners.
Captain Anshul of Ebony Ship Management (ESM), which is in charge of crew management for M T Stolt Valor, said the members in the ship would undergo medical examination.
"We will be on the ship along with doctors and senior technical managers. Whatever necessary help required will be provided to them," he said.
"We have spoken to the members and apparently everyone is in sound health," he said. PTI
Govt rules out POTA-like law
New Delhi, Nov 22 (PTI) The Centre today ruled out a POTA-like law as demanded by opposition BJP, with Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil asserting that relevant portions of the repealed Act had been incorporated in the existing anti-terror measures.
"We have laws, which have provisions to deal with terrorism. They should be used properly," Patil said despite persistent demands by the saffron party for a tough anti-terror law like POTA and a suggestion by the second Administrative Reforms Commission to have a new and comprehensive law to tackle terror.
The Home Minister said this while inaugurating the two-day annual conference of police DGs and IGs here.
Patil said when POTA was repealed, some relevant chapters in it were transferred into the Unlawful Activities Prevention Law "lock, stock and barrel".
The chapters have provisions useful to control terrorist activities, free flow of funds to terrorist groups and relating to the admissibility of certain kinds of evidence collected with the help of electronic equipment, the Home Minister said.
He said there were provisions in POTA which went against the basic principles of criminal jurisprudence relating to the onus of proof and admissibility of the confessions, not made according to the principles adopted in the Criminal Procedure Code.
"It is not possible to have a law like POTA on the statute book. The relevant provisions in POTA, needed to control terrorism, have been introduced and retained in the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act," he added. PTI
Govt cannot be put at fault for not doing enough: Bhupathi
Chandigarh, Nov 22 (PTI) Veteran tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi today said Government cannot be faulted for not putting enough money into sports as it had other priorities and corporates and private bodies should fill in the gap.
"Government has different priorities and sports definitely does not come on top. The Government still has to worry about large percentage of villages that are without electricity. We cannot really put them to fault for not putting too much money," Bhupathi told reporters here.
He felt corporates could promote and support budding talent in various sports disciplines including tennis.
Bhupathi was here to search for young talent for the second batch of Mission 2018 Challenge which is a quest by a corporate to develop Indian Singles Grand Slam champion by that year promising to pump in Rs 100 crore over the next ten years for this. The tennis player is the consultant of the project.
Asked if certain concerns of the All India Tennis Association (AITA), the apex organisation of the game, with regards to the project in the past had been settled, Bhupathi said, "we had a joint meeting with AITA officials at Bangalore yesterday. We told them that we are here to spot talent and create depth in the Indian tennis over the years to come." "They are the Federation. We are not here to bully them or get bullied," he said in response to a question.
He, however, did not disclose how much was being spent on the development of tennis by the corporate. Bhupathi's tennis village in Bangalore is where the company has arranged for the training of budding tennis players.
The AITA had earlier requested the corporate to make public their spending on the development of tennis excluding money spent on the advertisements. PTI
Obama plans to create 2.5 million jobs
Washington, Nov 22 (PTI) In an effort to give a push to the sagging US economy, President-elect Barack Obama has instructed his key advisers to prepare a plan to create 2.5 million jobs in the next two years.
Addressing the nation in his weekly Democratic address, Obama advocated "swift and bold" action to revive the US economy and prevent it from further collapse.
"These aren't just steps to pull ourselves out of this immediate crisis; these are the long-term investments in our economic future that have been ignored for far too long," Obama said.
He termed the economic recovery plan, being developed by his staff, as "big enough to meet the challenges we face" and "lay the foundation for a strong and growing economy".
The two-year stimulus plan aims to create 2.5 million jobs by January 2011, with Obama looking to get it through the US Congress as quickly as posible.
Admitting that a Congressional approval for his broad economic plan will not be easy, he sought the support of lawmakers irrespective of their parties to get it through.
"I will need and seek support from Republicans and Democrats, and I'll be welcome to ideas and suggestions from both sides of the aisle," he said.
"But what is not negotiable is the need for immediate action," he maintained. PTI
Islamic body bans Yoga for Malaysian Muslims
Jaishree Balasubramanian Kuala Lumpur, Nov 22 (PTI) A top Islamic body in Malaysia today barred Muslims from practicing Yoga, saying the ancient physical exercise was "haram" and prohibited in Islam.
Apprehensive that Muslims could be swayed by Yoga's elements of Hinduism, National Fatwa Council (NFC) issued a religious decree telling the community, who comprise two-thirds of Malaysia's 27 million population, that practising Yoga was "haram" and prohibited in the religion.
Abdul Shukor Husin, chairman of the government-backed NFC, opined that practicing Yoga will erode the faith of Muslims in Islam and does not conform with the religion.
"Yoga will erode their (Muslims) faith. We advice Muslims not to practice it," the senior Islamic cleric said.
Apart from the physical movements, the yoga practices contain worshipping and chanting, which were prohibited for Muslims, the NFC said.
The globally popular practice of yoga, which originated in India, is a popular stress-buster in Kuala Lumpur.
The ruling came after an Islamic studies lecturer recently advised Muslims, who had taken up yoga, to stop practising it as they could deviate from the teachings of Islam.
Senior Islamic cleric, Zakaria Stapa, a professor at the National University of Malaysia, had asked Muslims to stop practicing yoga as it could cause them to "deviate from their faith".
The Council's decisions are not legally binding on Muslims unless they are enshrined in national or Shariah laws. However, many Muslims abide by the edicts out of deference. PTI
Lankan army captures key LTTE training camp
T V Sriram
Colombo, Nov 22 (PTI) Advancing Sri Lankan troops today captured a key LTTE training camp at Adankulam in the tiger stronghold of Mullaittivu even as more civilians left their homes in the rebel-controlled areas of Wanni to seek protection under security personnel in the embattled north.
Government troops seized the training camp yesterday, which consists of four bunkers and eight tents at Adankulam in Mullaittivu.
Helicopters successfully targeted two groups of LTTE cadres at Akkaryankulam in Kilinochchi yesterday while troops inflicted heavy damages on the tigers during intense battle in the region, the defence ministry said.
At least two tiger cadres were killed and five T-56 assault rifles were recovered by the army after fierce encounter at Adampan in Kilinochchi. The rebels also suffered damages during a confrontation in Thivil area in the region, the military said.
At Jaffna too, the troops recovered a highly decomposed body of an LTTE cadre along with some arms and ammunitions from the Muhamalai area, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said.
Some soldiers were also reported to have sustained injuries following the explosion of antipersonnel mines and Improvised Explosive Devices(IEDs) in the region, it said.
Meanwhile, as many as 41 civilians from 20 families from Semamadu in north of Wanni arrived in the Omanthe entry/exit point, that divides the government and the LTTE area in two batches. PTI
Patel asks airlines to cut fares;Jet says only when profitable
New Delhi, Nov 22 (PTI) Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel today asked air carriers including, Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines, to cut fares in response to the government's support to the industry, though Jet said it would do so only after becoming profitable.
"Perceptionally, the government is trying to help you (aviation industry) to tide over the situation...It has taken the onus to help you. Now with the fuel prices coming down, you must match the perception that fares are coming down," Patel said while addressing the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit.
He said the government also has a responsibility towards people and if there were no reciprocal gestures from the airlines to the steps taken by it to support them, it would fail in the public eyes.
Responding to the call by the minister, Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal said: "We have a responsibility to our shareholders, we need to protect our bottomline. I certainly would not like to close down the company.
"We will do whatever the government wants us to do, provided we are profitable." The Ministry had brokered a deal in October between carriers, who were reeling under heavy aviation turbine fuel costs, and oil marketing PSUs to extend credit period and clear dues amounting about Rs 3,000 crore by March next year.
Patel, when queried if he would ask state-owned carrier Air India to cut prices, said: "We have never dictated what Air India (AI) should do in terms of pricing or routes or capacity, but AI as a responsible government carrier will also understand that if the oil prices are coming down so should the fares." PTI
Gold touches 13k level again on higher global cues
Mumbai, Nov 22 (PTI) Gold prices touched the Rs 13,000 level again after a gap of more than one month on the bullion market here today on heavy stockists buying, triggered by smart rise in global market.
Silver prices recovered on renewed industrial demand.
Gold prices rallied in New York above USD 800 an ounce on strong physical demand due to economic uncertainties.
Spot gold rose to USD 800.70 an ounce, its highest since October 21. It ended at USD 798.15 up 7.2 per cent from Thursday's close.
Gold futures for December delivery jumped by USD 43.10 an ounce to USD 791.80 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Silver futures for March delivery also rose by 45.6 cents to USD 9.505 an ounce on Comex.
In the local market, standard gold (99.5 purity) shot up by Rs 665 per 10 grams to end at Rs 12,995 as against the yesterday's closing level of Rs 12,330, after crossing a 13k level at the opening session.
Pure gold (99.9 purity) also rose to Rs 13,060 from Rs 12,385 yesterday.
Silver ready (.999 fineness) firmed up by Rs 295 per kilo to Rs 16,775 from Rs 16,480 yesterday. PTI
Jet chief likely to meet pilots, engineers on salary cuts
Mumbai, Nov 22 (PTI) With recession eating into its bottom line, private air-carrier Jet Airways is likely to announce a 20 per cent cut in the salaries of its pilots, engineers and some other staff.
"Chairman Naresh Goyal has convened a meeting of airline officials, pilots and engineers here tomorrow, to discuss the issue of salary cuts. An announcement to this effect is also likely," a source close to the development told PTI today.
The meeting is to be held at a five-star hotel in the metropolis, the source added.
Pilots and engineers to be affected by this move are understood to have expressed their opposition to it and are considering their response, the source said.
The airline employs around 13,200 personnel with around 2,000 of them drawing a salary of more than Rs 1 lakh a month. These officials comprise mainly pilots and maintenance engineers.
Despite repeated attempts, Jet Airways officials were not available for comment on the likely meeting tomorrow.
The air-carrier's move comes in the wake of steep losses and rising operation costs coupled with falling passenger demand.
According to aviation analysts, Jet Airways, which posted losses to the tune of Rs 384 crore in Q2 of the current financial year, is likely to post a net loss of Rs 1,890 crore in 2008-09.
In October, the airline had announced a lay-off of 1,900 employees as part of its drive to prune costs but had to retract, following political pressure. PTI
McCartney became Gladys Jenkins for new album
London, Nov 22 (PTI) The Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney underwent an extraordinary transformation for his new album 'Electric Arguments' and pretended to be Gladys Jenkins during the recordings.
"We decided to go undercover, to do whatever we wanted. That way, when you go to the microphone, I don't think of it as going as Paul McCartney and it frees you up," he told In an interview to T4's Miquita Oliver.
"I'd say, 'Right, you're going to become Gladys Jenkins," he said.
"It was quite thrilling, that's how we approached Sgt. Pepper's. "It's like you're playing instead of working," the legendary singer was quoted as saying by Sun. PTI
Amy Winehouse angers family members
London, Nov 22 (PTI) Troubled singer Amy Winehouse has angered her family members by paying up for husband Blake's rehab treatment.
Winehouse's family considers her association with jailbird husband a destructive influence on singer's life.
The singer, famous for her addiction and erratic behaviour, has paid USD 44,438 for Blake's stay at the Life Works centre in Woking, Surrey. He went there nearly three weeks ago after serving a year in jail, the Sun reported.
"Amy's nearest and dearest are exasperated by her decision. While Blake was inside it finally looked like she was getting her life back on track," the paper quoted a source as saying.
"A crisis meeting has been held and a number of options have been discussed to sever contact for good," the source added. PTI
Mohanlal selected for Samsakara Sahithi award
Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 21 (PTI) Malayalam superstar Mohanlal has been selected for this year's KPCC sponsored Samsakara Sahithi Panambilli award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the language cinema.
Announcing the award here today at a press conference, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala said the award in the name of late Congress leader Panambilli Govinda Menon would be presented to Mohanlal at a function here by Defence Minister A K Antony on November 26.
'Samsakara Sahithi' is the cultural wing of the KPCC. The award consists of Rs 50,000 and citation. PTI
Digest of domestic news for the week Nov 15-21, 2008
Saturday
Nashik: Lt Col S P Purohit allegedly procured 60 kgs of RDX from Jammu and Kashmir in 2006, a part of which is suspected to have been used in the Malegaon blast and also in the Samjhauta Express train explosions, the prosecution told a court here, giving a new dimension to the ongoing ATS probe.
Mumbai: MNS chief Raj Thackeray gets arrested and released on bail by a court here in connection with a case registered in a Jamshedpur court accusing him of inciting violence against north Indians.
Sunday New Delhi: After two months in captivity, 18 Indian sailors are freed when Somali pirates release their hijacked merchant ship M T Stolt in the Gulf of Aden after a ransom amount of up to 2.5 million dollars was paid.
New Delhi: About 2.6 lakh IIM aspirants appear for the Common Admission Test (CAT) which many candidates described as "tougher" and longer than that of last year.
New Delhi: Puran Chand Yogi, a sitting BJP MLA from Rajinder Nagar and the party's candidate from the constituency for the Delhi assembly polls, allegedly committed suicide at his residence here.
Monday Srinagar/Leh: Braving freezing temperatures and ignoring separatists' boycott call, voters came out in large numbers in some towns with an estimated 55 per cent turnout recorded in the first phase of the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir held amid unprecedented security.
Coimbatore: Even as India's maiden lunar probe circles the moon, the Centre gives its approval for Chandrayaan-II and it would be in orbit by 2012. Tuesday Nashik: Fresh charges are slapped on Malegaon blast prime accused Lt Col S P Purohit who was taken into custody by the Pune Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) for cheating and submitting fake documents.
Midnapore (WB): Even though five major tribal organisations have withdrawn their agitation against alleged "police excesses", blockade in the West Midnapore district continues as the Trinamool Congress also launched an indefinite stir in support of the tribal cause.
Wednesday New Delhi: In a first major offensive to neutralise the threat of sea piracy off Somalia coast, the Indian Navy sinks a 'mother ship' of a group of pirates during a fierce battle in the Gulf of Aden.
Kochi: The 16-year-old case of Sister Abhaya's death under mysterious circumstances in Kerala takes a new turn with the CBI making the first arrests when it took two Christian priests and a nun into custody on charges of murder.
New Delhi: Mohammad ElBaradei, Director General of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is chosen for the 2008 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development.
Thursday New Delhi: In a bonanza to officers of Central Public Sector Undertakings, the government announces a hefty 50 to 300 per cent increase in pay-packages with effect from January 1, 2007.
New Delhi: Buoyed by a rare victory for its Navy in the sea war against Somali pirates, India mulls deploying up to four more warships in the Gulf of Aden to secure the sea lanes following a surge in piracy that has threatened commercial shipping in the region.
Friday New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says the economy will grow by eight per cent and government will resort to fiscal, monetary, exchange rate and public spending instruments to neutralise the impact of the global meltdown and recession in the West.
Attari: Pakistani teenager Nasir Sultan, whose craze for a career in Bollywood landed him in a jail in Punjab, reunited with his father after being handed over to Pakistani authorities here sans a dream of meeting his idol Shah Rukh Khan.
Coimbatore: Even as India's maiden lunar probe circles the moon, the Centre gives its approval for Chandrayaan-II and it would be in orbit by 2012. Tuesday Nashik: Fresh charges are slapped on Malegaon blast prime accused Lt Col S P Purohit who was taken into custody by the Pune Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) for cheating and submitting fake documents.
Midnapore (WB): Even though five major tribal organisations have withdrawn their agitation against alleged "police excesses", blockade in the West Midnapore district continues as the Trinamool Congress also launched an indefinite stir in support of the tribal cause.
Wednesday New Delhi: In a first major offensive to neutralise the threat of sea piracy off Somalia coast, the Indian Navy sinks a 'mother ship' of a group of pirates during a fierce battle in the Gulf of Aden.
Kochi: The 16-year-old case of Sister Abhaya's death under mysterious circumstances in Kerala takes a new turn with the CBI making the first arrests when it took two Christian priests and a nun into custody on charges of murder.
New Delhi: Mohammad ElBaradei, Director General of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is chosen for the 2008 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development.
Thursday New Delhi: In a bonanza to officers of Central Public Sector Undertakings, the government announces a hefty 50 to 300 per cent increase in pay-packages with effect from January 1, 2007.
New Delhi: Buoyed by a rare victory for its Navy in the sea war against Somali pirates, India mulls deploying up to four more warships in the Gulf of Aden to secure the sea lanes following a surge in piracy that has threatened commercial shipping in the region.
Friday New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says the economy will grow by eight per cent and government will resort to fiscal, monetary, exchange rate and public spending instruments to neutralise the impact of the global meltdown and recession in the West.
Attari: Pakistani teenager Nasir Sultan, whose craze for a career in Bollywood landed him in a jail in Punjab, reunited with his father after being handed over to Pakistani authorities here sans a dream of meeting his idol Shah Rukh Khan. PTI
Kashmiri poetry is about suffering of its people: Rahi
New Delhi, Nov 20 (PTI) Jnanpith award winning Kashmiri poet Rahman Rahi says contemporary poets of the valley have tried to bring out the suffering of people through their poetry.
"The contemporary poetry is all about the pain and sufferings of the Kashmiri people, specially about Kashmiri pandits, who are scatered in the different parts of the country," Rahi told PTI.
The renowned Kashmiri poet said that regional languages in the country were doing good but their readership was limited due to poor translation facilities.
Talking about the creativity and the language,the noted poet said, "Creativity has always flourished in most adverse situations. Kashmiri poetry is one such example." Rahi said that the poetry from the valley has witnessed an increase in the number of women poets.
Talking about the contribution of women in Kashmiri literature, he said women have always played an integral role in the development of Kashmiri literature. Lalla was the first major poet in the language.
The poet said the younger generation was more interested in short poetry as they want more freedom with the form of the poetry.
Rahi expressed hope that the future of Kashmiri poetry was bright with the younger generation taking an interest in one of the oldest languages in India. PTI
High EQ key to handle tough work conditions: Survey
New Delhi, Nov 19 (PTI) Employees with higher emotional intelligence are better equipped to handle internal changes in companies especially in the times of recession where various cost-cutting measures such as job slashes and layoffs are becoming the norm, according to a new survey.
Findings of the survey which analysed over 1,000 mid-senior level IT professionals in the age group 30-45 years said that women participants were found to fall in the 'High Alert' area with respect to self appraisal.
"Women in the IT area were found deficient in self awareness. They need to build better up their emotional quotient and develop self awareness so that they can be more confident and better about themselves and thus excel in whatever they do," says Neeta Mohla, Director, InspireOne a leading people and leadership development firm, which conducted the survey.
Emotional Intelligence (EI) describes an ability, capacity, skill or a self-perceived ability, to identify, assess, and manage the emotions of one's self, of others, and of groups.
The results indicate that Self Appraisal for Women in IT is a High Alert Area as 38 per cent of them fall in the 'Alarm' category. Another 38 per cent of women in IT fall in the category of 'Concern' which adds up to 76 per cent of them being in 'High Alert' area. While only 11 per cent and 13 per cent women in IT fall in the category of 'Acceptable' and 'Strength' respectively adding up to only 24 per cent of them being in 'Adequate' area. PTI
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