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Corruption has reached its highest limit in MP: Manmohan Singh
Badwani (MP), Nov 23 (PTI) Charging the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh with not properly utilising funds sent to it by the Centre for various schemes, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said that during the BJP rule corruption had reached the highest limit in the name of development.
Addressing an election meeting here, the Prime Minister said that the Centre had sent money for various schemes but most of it was either not used or improperly utilised.
He said that because of the lax attitude of the state government, the development that could have taken place in Madhya Pradesh failed to occur.
Singh charged the BJP with trying to divide the country and asserted that the Congress was fighting terrorism to the best of it availability.
He said that the Congress did not believe in associating terrorism with any religion as all terrorists indulge in anti-national activities.
The PM described the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government as inactive and appealed to the people to vote for the Congress to help bring in a government which will ensure better law and order situation in the state. PTI
Impartiality, capabilities of police being questioned: PM
New Delhi, Nov 23 (PTI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today did some plain-speaking before the heads of the country's police forces telling them that the impartiality, capabilities and fairness of the police are being questioned.
"Today, aspersions are being made regarding police's impartiality and capabilities and while I recognise that much of this is motivated, you must face up to the reality that many are convinced that the police is less than fair. This is so even when policemen die in the line of duty," he said in an apparent reference to an encounter between Delhi Police and suspected terrorists here.
The Prime Minister's remarks at the annual meeting of Director Generals and Inspector Generals of Police here assume significance in the context of questions raised by political parties, UPA ally Samajwadi Party, over the genuineness of the Batla House encounter in the national capital in which two alleged terrorists and an Inspector were killed.
Singh said "whatever the circumstances, the police must not remain passive spectators when deliberate efforts are made by communal elements and others to disturb the peace".
Asking the police to create an image as "a fair and impartial entity", he said a major challenge before them will be to restore the faith of the people - especially those belonging to religious and ethnic minorities and weaker sections - in their impartiality and effectiveness. PTI
NACO pulled up for substandard HIV kits in country
New Delhi, Nov 23 (PTI) Ten months after the World Bank published a report alleging rampant fraud and corruption in Indian healthcare projects including supply of sub-standard HIV testing kits, the Central Information Commission (CIC) has pulled up the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) in connection with the charges.
NACO will now have to explain the "factual position" with regards to the allegations of sub-standard HIV diagnostic kits supplied by a private player and documents related to investigations by World Bank in the matter.
The CIC issued a show cause notice to NACO, the nodal agency handling HIV control strategies and their implementation in the country, asking it to explain why the maximum fine of Rs 25,000 should not be slapped on the organisation for withholding requisite information when demanded.
Hearing the petition of R Venkataraman, who sought all the documents of related investigations in the matter from NACO, the CIC directed the organisation "to provide the appellant with the DIR report of the World Bank along with the factual position with regard to HIV Kits in India and NACO's recommendations based on the World Bank report".
In January 2008, the World Bank published a report showing rampant fraud and corruption in Indian healthcare projects including supply of sub-standard HIV testing kits.
Appellant Venkataraman stated before commission that both World Bank and NACO were involved with the investigation of complaints against the sub-standard kits and pleaded to provide him the same.
Information Commissioner Annapurna Dixit observed, "This information is being sought very clearly in public interest as cited by the appellant and therefore believes that it has every reason for overriding any apprehension which the Public Authority may have on its disclosure." PTI
Shoaib to play a crucial role against India: Intikhab
Karachi, Nov 23 (PTI) Pakistan cricket coach Intikhab Alam feels controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar still has a lot to offer and could play a crucial role when they take on arch-rival India early next year.
"He can play a very important role against India and we will be relying on him to deliver the goods with experience and pace. I don't think he is finished. If nursed properly and he takes care of himself, Shoaib can do more for Pakistan than he has done in recent times," Intikhab, who guided the team to a clean sweep in ODI series against West Indies in Abu Dhabi recently, said today.
"Shoaib is certainly not finished as an international player as yet and he still has a few years to give to Pakistan cricket," he added.
The former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Lt Gen (retd) Tauqir Zia recently advised the PCB to tell the fast bowler to go home and retire as he was finished as an international cricketer.
Intikhab, a former international cricketer, said that Shoaib had been told to follow a rigorous rehabilitation and training programme under the supervision of the team's Australian trainer David Dwyer.
Shoaib regained his berth in the national team recently and went to Abu Dhabi with the squad but didn't play in the series due to a calf strain. PTI
Ten Sports bags TV rights of Pakistan cricket for next 5 years
Karachi, Nov 23 (PTI) Dubai-based Taj entertainment network (Ten sports) has bagged the television rights of Pakistan cricket for the next five years for a whopping USD 145.5 million.
The Pakistan Cricket Board announced today that Ten sports had been given the television rights as they submitted the highest bid for the series to be played in Pakistan for next five years, starting with the scheduled tour by India from first week of January.
But the PCB chief operating officer, Saleem Altaf made it clear that if Pakistan was forced to shift its home series to offshore or neutral venues then terms would have to be revised with the broadcaster.
"There is no doubt we are not in an exactly ideal situation and we are doing our best to convince India to play in Pakistan but we have to be prepared for everything," Altaf told PTI.
Four other broadcasters had also bid for the rights but sources said after a stringent bidding process monitored by former ICC President, Ehsan Mani and legal and financial experts, the rights were awarded to Ten sports as they had given the highest bid.
Ten sports had the Pakistan cricket rights for the last four years for a total sum of USD 45 million, majority of which they recovered from India's historic tour in 2004.
Altaf said Pakistan was banking on a busy international home season next year to generate enough revenues, starting with India's tour to play three Tests, five ODIs and a twenty20 match. Pakistan is also due to host Sri Lanka, Australia and the Champions Trophy later in the year.
Sources confirmed if teams avoided touring Pakistan for security reasons then Pakistan would play the series at other venues but not cancel or postpone them. PTI
ONGC beat President XI, enters Nehru hockey semi-final
Gurgaon, Nov 23 (PTI) South Central Railway defeated Bharat Petroleum, while ONGC XI pipped President XI Bangaldesh in the last stages of the quarter-final league of the 45th Jindal Steel Nehru Hockey tournament here today.
India Colts will take on ONGC XI while Bharat Petroleum will lock horns with Punjab and Sind Bank in the semi-finals tomorrow.
In the inconsequential first Pool 'B' match of the day, the Railwaymen were undoubtedly the better team on display, beating Bharat Petroleum 3-1, while K H Jayanta Singh's field goal in the seventh minute ensured ONGC the last four berth, pipping the Bangladeshi side 1-0 in the last match of the group.
In the customary match between SCR and Bharat Petrolem, Mohammad Ali opened the scoring as early as in the eighth minute, sounding the board through a field goal to hand the Railwaymen 1-0 lead.
However, Har Prasad equalised for Bharat Petroleum in the 33rd minute of the match.
Ashish Minz regained the lead for SCR in the 58th minute from a field goal and then five minutes later Mayank James hit the last nail in Bharat Petroleum's coffin, making the scoreline 3-1.
However, the victory was not enough for the Railwayside to progress to the semi-finals as Bharat Petroleum had already booked their berth from the pool and later President XI's loss at the hands of ONGC did no good to their chances. PTI
Obama names Robert Gibbs among key communication officials
Sridhar Krishnaswami Washington, Nov 23 (PTI) Rounding out his new communication team, US President-elect Barack Obama has appointed longtime associate Robert Gibbs, who was a key campaign official during the presidential campaign as the White House press secretary.
Obama also named Dan Pfeiffer, communications director of his transition team, to be the new White House deputy director of communications.
"These individuals will fill essential roles, and bring a breadth and depth of experience that can help our administration advance prosperity and security for the American people," Obama said in a statement yesterday.
"This dedicated and impressive group of public servants includes longtime advisers and a talented new addition to our team, and together we will work to serve our country and meet the challenges of this defining moment in history," he added.
Gibbs style of interaction with the media is seen as an asset to his new position. He will be the chief representative of the President and his domestic and foreign policies in the White House to the outside world.
The new press secretary had worked with Obama in top positions when he was Senator has also had a stint with Massachusetts Senator John Kerry and is known to have played an effective role in the Communications wing of the Obama campaign.
Pfeiffer was a travelling press secretary in Obama's campaign before becoming communications director and overseeing the campaign's media operation.
Speculations are rife that former first lady Hillary Clinton has accepted the offer of Barack Obama to be the new Secretary of State but a formal approval is yet awaited. PTI
Zardari takes Pak establishment by surprise with N-remarks
Rezaul H Laskar Islamabad, Nov 23 (PTI) Asif Ali Zardari's promise of a "no-first use" of nuclear weapons against India has taken the establishment here by surprise, with analysts and politicians saying the "un-informed" Pakistan President may have made the bold remarks "off-the-cuff".
Zardari stunned the Pakistani political and military establishment yesterday when he announced that Islamabad would "most definitely" not be the first to use atomic weapons in a possible conflict, addressing the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit via video-conference in New Delhi.
However, strategic experts and politicians in Pakistan told PTI that Zardari will face difficulties in delivering on his promise as many thorny issues remain unresolved between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Lt Gen (retired) Kamal Matinuddin, a leading defence analyst and close watcher of the country's nuclear programme, said Zardari's remarks appeared to have been made in an "off the cuff" manner and he was apparently "not fully informed or completely aware of" Pakistan's stated nuclear doctrine.
The opposition PML-N said the PPP-led government appeared to be indulging in "public relations" exercises instead of focussing on resolving "real issues" like the dragging Kashmir issue.
Matinuddin, who authored the book "Nuclearisation of South Asia" that charts Pakistan's nuclear programme, admitted that Zardari's remarks marked a significant shift from the country's established nuclear doctrine.
Matinuddin said Pakistan had retained the option in view of its "open borders" and status as a smaller nuclear power.
"Deterrence works only when the enemy knows Pakistan will use its nuclear weapons," he told PTI.
Zardari's comments, he pointed out, would "reduce the effect of deterrence". PTI
Sri Lankan army marching towards Kilinochchi: officials
T V Sriram
Colombo, Nov 23 (PTI) Advancing Sri Lankan troops have intensified the battle near the LTTE-controlled headquarters of Kilinochchi amidst fierce resistance by the Tamil Tigers and are now consolidating their position near Mannar, officials said today.
Sri Lanka army offensive divisions in the Wanni theatre of operations are now marching towards the Kilinochchi built up in three frontiers, defence sources said. They said Army Task Force 1 and 57 Division have launched attacks at the LTTE held earth bund on the outskirts of Kilinochchi.
According to the latest reports, pitched battles are going on in the north of Adampan, South of Adampan and Therumurikandi areas near Mannar since early this morning.
Army Task Force 1 launched a predawn offensive targeting LTTE defence in the North of Adampan area.
Infantrymen of 17 Gamunu Watch, 12 Gajaba Regiment, and 8 Sinha Regiment have captured LTTE strongholds on the earth bund at three locations after crushing stiff resistance.
"Troops are now consolidating their positions," the defence ministry said, adding intercepted radio transmissions have confirmed heavy damages to the rebels during the clashes.
Meanwhile, Army's 57 division troops are now fighting the LTTE in the vicinity of the rebel held earth bund in the Adampan area.
According to the sources, LTTE defence in the area "are fast falling apart" as Troops of 12 SR, and 9 GR engage in operations in the region.
In the North of Kokavil area in Kilinochchi, troops of 8 Sri Lanka Light Infantry, and 10 SLLI are now advancing towards the A-9 road. PTI
Citigroup still has job vacancies!
New York, Nov 23 (PTI) It may come as a surprise, but the US banking behemoth Citigroup is still looking out for new employees and has posted more than 100 job vacancies over last week -- that is, since announcing the corporate America's second largest single-day layoff of over 50,000 employees.
It seems the bank is not just facilitating the out-bound traffic on its payrolls since November 17, the day when Pandit announced over 50,000 job cuts, it has also posted at least 109 new job vacancies -- all full-time positions and mostly at manager or executive levels -- on its website for positions across the world.
"We are always looking for talented people to join us," Citigroup says alongside these job postings, while exhorting the potential candidates whether they are "ready for a career with endless possibilities?" Out of the total postings, the maximum 81 vacancies have been posted for North America, which is said to account for the highest number of job cuts announced in recent months.
Once the world's most valued bank, headed by NRI banker Vikram Pandit whose own job is reportedly under attack, Citigroup had over 3,75,000 employees at the end of last year and it aims to trim it down to below three lakh.
While close to 25,000 jobs have already been axed so far this year, Pandit announced on Monday that rest of the layoffs would be effected in coming weeks as part of efforts to cut costs and help the crisis-ridden bank return to normalcy.
The decision to pare its workforce by 50,000 people has given Citi the dubious distinction of announcing the second- biggest ever layoff in the history of corporate America, a position it shares with retail firm Sears Roebuck, which had announced a similar number of job cuts in January 1993. 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
No politics for Sanjay Dutt for 10 years
New Delhi, Nov 22 (PTI) Bollywood's 'Munnabhai' Sanjay Dutt has put his plans to join politics on hold as the actor still wants to pursue his film career for at least another 10 years.
"No politics for me till the next 10 years. I think I have another 10 years to go in acting and I have to pursue that. Maybe later, I may take to politics," said Dutt who had previously expressed his desire to join politics to complete the unfinished work of his late father actor-politician Sunil Dutt.
Dutt made these remarks while speaking at the second day of the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit here.
The actor was accompanied by wife Manyata at the Summit where Samajwadi General Secretary Amar Singh was also present. Singh, who is associated closely with superstar Amitabh Bachchan and his family, had met Dutt immediately after his release from jail early this year triggering speculation that he may join politics.
Responding to a query about his father's legacy, the actor said, "I would love to serve my country but it is not necessary to do that by being associated with any kind of political party.
"I can do so without that and I have been doing it-- like I do a lot for cancer patients and street children who are on drugs and other things." Manyata however disagreed with her husband and expressed her wish to see him in politics.
The actor also clarified that as reported in the media there was no rivalry with sister Priya Dutt on the issue of taking over their legacy after he passed away in 2005. 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
I want to retain my individuality as an actor: Abhay Deol
Bedika
New Delhi, Nov 23 (PTI) Coming from the Deol 'khandaan' known for flexing muscles on-screen, Abhay Deol did find breaking the cliches difficult but the talented star who is all excited about his role in the upcoming flick 'Oye lucky Oye', says he wants to retain his individuality as an actor.
"I knew that I would be compared to Uncle (Dharmendra), Bhai (Sunny Deol) and Bobby. But it is important to have some sort of individuality," says the actor, who got rave reviews for this acting prowess in films like 'Socha Naa Tha' and 'Manorama-Six Feet Under'.
"When I look back to the kind of work I have done, I find some similarities with uncle's earlier films like 'Bandini', 'Satyakam' and 'Chupke-Chupke', he adds.
Oye Lucky... That is slated for release on November 28 is directed by Dibakar Banerjee, who won accolades for his debut film, 'Khosla Ka Ghosla'.
The film is loosely based on the true life of Devender 'Bunty' Singh, who was responsible for over 500 burglaries in Delhi.
Talking about the film, Abhay says, "People will relate to 'Oye Lucky Lucky Oye' and to my character in the film, who comes from a lower middle class background and chases money and fame through dubious means.
"In the film, the protagonist Lucky wants to become rich and famous by crooked means," he says.
When questioned whether he had done any special preparations to portray the role, Abhay says, "I participated in a workshop which I normally do before the start of my films. It helps you to prepare the background of a character." PTI
Poll time bonanza for TV stars
Anurag Sharma
New Delhi, Nov 23 (PTI) In demand off and on from producers, elections in Delhi and other states has, however, led to spurt in demand for television and Bollywood B-grade actors by political parties.
"Television reality show stars are in more demand than others. Some of the the actors are charging between 3-5 lakhs for a day of campaigning," says Mukesh Jain, director, Rashi Entertainment, an event management company in the capital.
"TV stars are very popular in small cities. Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan are some states from where various parties have approached us. In a happening state like Delhi, there isn't much demand of these stars. Chunky Pandey, Abhijeet Sawant, Kahmeera shah, Tanaaz, Bakhtiar and others TV actors are busy doing campaigning," he adds.
Big names like Shatrughan Sinha, Vinod Khanna, Smriti Irani, Govinda, Hema Malini and Dharmendra are campaigning for their party but political parties are taking no chances in wooing voters by inviting other celebrities too, sometimes on payment.
However, political parties have refuted these reports and say that they are not paying money to stars to come to election rallies.
"We are doing so much 'padyatra' that we don't need filmstars. But some actors who are from the party will be in the city soon. Vinod Khanna will be coming on November 25th," says Surendra Aggrawal of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC).
But a senior official of a celebrity management company says, "We have got many requests from these parties, from their MLAs to arrange for stars. Its true that they are more active in other states than Delhi. But soon you will see some Bhojpuri actors campaigning in the 'Poorvanchali' populous constituencies." PTI
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