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Jaish investing in real estate, commodity market: US
New Delhi, May one (PTI) Lending weight to India's stand that terrorists are infiltrating into businesses, a US report on terrorism has said pro-Pakistan Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) was investing in commodity market and real estate to raise funds for its terrorist activities.
A report "Country Terrorism Report" prepared by the US State Department said the JeM, led by Maulana Masood Azhar, who was released by India in exchange of hijacked passengers in 1999, had withdrawn funds from bank accounts in anticipation of asset seizures by the Pakistan Government.
The funds were invested "in legal business such as commodity market, real estate and production of consumer goods," the report said.
National Security Advisor M K Narayanan, at a conference in Munich in February this year, had said the manipulation of stock exchanges was the new modus operandi used by terrorist groups to raise funds for their operations.
The terrorist groups are involved in legitimate business enterprises like restaurants, real estate agencies and shipping and use part of their proceeds to siphon off funds for their terrorist activities, he had said.
The US report also said that Al-Qaida was also suspected to be providing funds to Jaish. PTI
Independence for J-K not practicable: PoK leader
New Delhi, May 1 (PTI) Calling for realism in resolving the Kashmir issue, a senior Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) leader Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan today said independence for the state was not practicable.
Khan, who has held the offices of President and Prime Minister of PoK, said during an interaction with journalists here that the option of independence was not available to the people of the state nor was it possible to have one more partition.
Fully backing the ongoing dialogue process between India and Pakistan, he indicated that he favoured the proposal of Sheikh Mohd Abdullah over condominium involving India, Pakistan and Kashmir.
Khan, who has met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad during his stay here, emphasised that more than the final solution that would emerge, the process is more important.
At the media interaction organised by South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA), the Muslim Conference leader criticised Hurriyat conference for boycotting the recent Roundtable Conference, saying they were wrong in doing so.
Many proposals discussed at the Roundtable Conference will be beneficial to the people of the state, he said.
On existence of terror infrastructure in PoK, he said militant camps existed in Pakistan and PoK before September 11, 2001 but there was no trace of these now as far as he knew. PTI
PM concerned over crony capitalism; regional imbalance
New Delhi, May 1 (PTI) Raising questions about the creeping trend of "crony capitalism", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said industrialisation could not depend only on large corporate groups and the country needed small and medium units for both growth and employment.
"We cannot depend only on a few large industrial houses and capitalists for driving our industrialisation process. The employment intensive nature and the greater regional spread of SMEs makes them an attractive option for industrial growth," Singh said here.
Referring to media reports that India's top business leaders operate in "oligopolistic" market and in sectors where the government had conferred special privileges on a few, Singh said "this sounds like crony (monopolistic) capitalism".
"Are we encouraging crony capitalism? Is this a necessary but transient phase in the development of modern capitalism? Are we doing enough to protect consumers and small businesses from the consequences of crony capitalism," Singh asked.
Inaugurating the new campus of Institute for Studies in Industrial Development (ISID), Singh expressed concern over "persisting regional imbalance" in industrial development and urbanisation. He also said credible policy solutions were required to bring new regions under industrialisation process.
"I am puzzled by the persisting regional imbalance in industrial development and urbanisation in India," he said.
The Prime Minister also said he wondered whether labour laws were inhibiting the growth of new businesses.
"If so, where and how? How do we create not just skilled jobs but unskilled ones to help agricultural workers make the transition to industry," he said. PTI
American imperialism influencing Indian policies: Karat
New Delhi, May 1 (PTI) Pressures from "US imperialism" were influencing India's policies particularly in the economic sector and this "intrusion" was posing a big challenge to the working class of the country, the CPI(M) said today.
Addressing a May Day gathering at the CPI(M) headquarters here, party General Secretary Prakash Karat said the entry of foreign investment in the country was reflective of this US pressure.
"It is not about one government. It is about the policies of the ruling class. Whether it is the present Congress-led government or the previous BJP regime. This US intrusion is a big challenge to the trade union movement and should be fought unitedly," Karat added.
He said the penetration of US policies was evident in sectors like education and other key areas besides in the economic policies of the country.
Another major challenge was "communalism perpetrated by the BJP and the RSS" which is trying to divide the working class on the lines of caste and religion.
"You have seen the face of communalism as recently as in Gujarat in the form of the fake encounters. The BJP and the RSS are tyring to spread the poison of communalism and divide the working people," he added.
He also spoke about the US invasion of Iraq and the valiant struggle waged by the people of that country and referred to the anti-imperialist campaign by Latin American countries like Venezuela, Brazil, Cuba and Bolivia and the people of Palestine. PTI
India slips below Bangladesh in ODI rankings
New Delhi, May 1 (PTI) Indian team hit a new low by slipping below Bangladesh to be placed ninth in the latest Maruti Suzuki Cricket Ratings issued by ESPN STAR Sports.
India, who had lost to their subcontinental neighbours Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, in the preliminary rounds of the World Cup, were just ahead of Kenya who are placed 10th.
Giant killers Bangladesh, who advanced to the second round of the premier event and defeated top-ranked South Africa, have been positioned two places above at seventh in the list.
The four semifinalists -- Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand -- have secured the top positions in that order.
Australia leads ODI teams chart with 98 points and South Africa follows at number two with 92 points. World Cup finallists Sri Lanka are at number three with 82 points and the Kiwis with 73 points are at number four spot.
England is at number five with 62 points, West Indies (59 points) is at number six followed by Bangladesh (42 points), Pakistan (40 points) and India (38 points). Kenya with 14 points completes the top 10 ranking.
However, Zimbabwe dropped out of the top-10 list.
In in the individual rankings also, none of the Indians could make it to the top 10 in either bowling or batting which comprised players from the top four teams.
Hard hitting Aussie opener Matthew Hayden has secured the top spot in the ODI Batting list with 184 points. He is closely followed by South African mainstay Jacques Kallis (179 points). PTI
SAfrica hits back at FIFA
Durban, May 1 (PTI) Reacting angrily to FIFA's threat of taking away the hosting rights of 2010 soccer World Cup, South Africa has asserted that it is well ahead of schedule in its preparations for the mega-event.
FIFA Chief Sepp Blatter's comments that the governing body may award the rights to either Australia or Europe if South Africa failed to meet the deadlines miffed the local organisers but they said they remain undeterred by the criticism.
"As far as we are concerned we are well ahead of our plans for the construction and renovation of the stadiums for the 2010 tournament," Local Organising Committee spokesperson Tumi Makgabo said in an interview yesterday.
"Those making such negative statements should provide us with details as to how we will not be ready. We have the facilities at the moment to hold a highly successful tournament," she added.
Accusing the media of distorting Blatter's comments to present a negative picture of the African nation's preparations, Makgabo said a FIFA fact-finding mission had returned satisfied after inspecting the facilities some time ago.
"Even Mr Blatter has not said that we will not be ready but certain elements are reporting his comments in a negative manner," she said.
"The commission had not made any negative comments about the progress we are making," she added.
South Africa is currently constructing new stadiums in Durban, Cape Town and near Pretoria. Several other stadiums in Johannesburg and other cities of the country are also being renovated. PTI
Hayden in no hurry to quit
Melbourne, May 1 (PTI) Australian opener Matthew Hayden has ruled out retiring from international cricket for at least another year, saying he wants to help the team rebuild itself after the departure of legends like Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.
Hayden, who was in sensational form during the just concluded World Cup, topping the batsmen's chart scoring 659 runs at an average of 73.22, said he was keen to help the youngsters during Australian cricket's transition phase.
The Aussies, who won the World Cup for a record third time in a row, are preparing for life without McGrath and Warne and Hayden said he did not want to add to the void by retiring.
"This side wants to stay together for a little bit longer. I think we've got a job to do within cricket just to try and set it up for the next stage of Australian cricket," he was quoted as saying by 'The Herald Sun'.
Hayden said he was not expecting his opening partner Adam Gilchrist to call it quits anytime soon either.
"I don't think you'll see too many retirements, over the next 12 months anyway," he added.
The big-hitting batsman, whose place in the team was under scrutiny before the World Cup, struck three hundreds and a fifty to emerge as tournament's top-scorer, prompting skipper Ricky Ponting to say that the left-hander should not think of retirement for another two years.
Meanwhile, Hayden has reasons to rejoice on the personal front as well as he prepares to become father for a third time. He left his World Cup celebrations in the Caribbean midway to return for the child's birth. PTI
Govt makes seat allocation in airlines mandatory
New Delhi, May 1 (PTI) The government today made it mandatory for airlines to allocate seat numbers to passengers, a move that will particularly help people travelling from low-cost carriers such as Air Deccan.
A few low-cost carriers were so far not allotting specific seat numbers to passengers but giving them out on a first-come, first-served basis.
But aiming at doing away with such a practice, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) circular that seat numbers should be alloted to all passengers at all stations.
The boarding passes should indicate the row and seat numbers, the circular said, adding due care should be taken to allot specific, but convenient, seats to aged and infirm passengers who should not be seated near the emergency exits.
The new rule also made it clear that aged and infirm passengers should be loaded on to the aircraft before others and disembarked at the end.
It said personnel responsible for seat allocation must ensure that the weight and balance of the aircraft and its centre of gravity were "well within the limits for all phases of the flight, irrespective of the number of passengers".
A Civil Aviation Ministry spokesperson said the move would not only facilitate a quick head-count of passengers for tallying with the manifest entries, but also assist follow-up action during investigation of any mishap.
Almost all other airlines, including low-cost carriers like SpiceJet and IndiGo, follow the practice of allocating seats. PTI
SEBI imposes fine on CDSL, NSDL for negligence in IPOs
Mumbai, May 1 (PTI) Market regulator SEBI has imposed a fine of Rs 3 crore and Rs 5 crore on national depositories CDSL and NSDL respectively for negligence and lack of compliance in allotment of shares in the initial public offers of many companies between 2003-05.
Key operators opened thousands of fictitious accounts through their depository participants (DPs) with CDSL and NSDL which caused losses to retail investors who had applied for the IPOs of various companies.
"The manner and ease with which fictitious accounts were opened, that too in large numbers by a coterie of entities, should have ordinarily alerted anyone... And (it is) difficult to believe the same would have escaped the attention of CDSL," SEBI said in its order.
As many as 34,924 fictitious accounts were opened with DPs of NSDL and 21,698 with DPs of CDSL.
"Negligence on part of NSDL resulted in opening of large number of fictitious accounts by key operators which were used to corner the reserved portion for retail investors in IPOs of many companies," SEBI adjudicating officer Biju S said.
Had NSDL ensured compliance of the account opening norms by its depository participants, the key operators would not have been in a position to subvert IPO process, it said.
The market watchdog investigated the trading pattern in 21 IPOs, including Jet Airways, NTPC, IDFC, TCS, Yes Bank, Gokaldas Exports, ILFS Investsmart, Suzlon Energy and Shoppers' Stop, between 2003 and 2005. PTI
Indian mangoes to arrive in US today
Washington, May 1 (PTI) The United States India Business Council has called for a "Mango Celebration" to welcome the first consignment of Indian mangoes that will arrive here today, that are to be tasted and in style.
Senior American and Indian officials will be on hand at the US Chamber of Commerce Building for a taste of the Mango.
The special guests on the occasion will include Mike Johanns, the Agriculture Secretary, the USTR Ambassador Susan Schwab and the Indian Ambassador to the United States Ronen Sen.
"Press, Friends and Mango Lovers are Welcome" the USIBC has said in an urgent message asking people to come out and enjoy the first official tasting of the Indian mangoes in the United States after a gap of 18 years. PTI
Vodafone signs up with Bharti for services in Channel Island
New Delhi, May 1 (PTI) With an aim to offer global products like cheaper roaming, multimedia, as well as other high-end voice and data packages in the Channel Islands in Europe, Vodafone today signed an agreement with Bharti where the Sunil Mittal company is to start mobile service soon.
The services would be under the dual brand name of both the companies -- Airtel-Vodafone in Jersey and Guernsey Islands and would offer 2G (voice) and 3G (Advanced voice and data) services.
Jersey Airtel and Guernsey Airtel are subsidiaries of Bharti Enterprises and this agreement is a pre-launch pact.
Vodafone, which has also signed an MoU with Bharti Airtel on infrastructure sharing in India, this agreement will see the UK major's leading global products and services available on the island for the very first time.
Customers of Airtel-Vodafone will be able to benefit from a range of Vodafone services, tailored to the needs of Jersey customers, both at home and when travelling in the UK and across the world, including Vodafone Passport, a simple roaming price plan, a Vodafone release said.
Airtel-Vodafone services will also include a mobile multimedia service; Vodafone Simply, a straightforward voice and data package and the Vodafone Mobile Connect Card for laptops, which makes possible wireless Internet access.
"At Bharti it has always been our endeavour to bring world-class services to our customers. We are happy to partner with Vodafone to offer services tailored to the needs of customers in this region", Bharti Enterprises CMD Sunil Mittal said in a company release. PTI
Investigators suspect teenager carried out Pak suicide blast
Islamabad, May 1 (PTI) The suicide bomber who blew himself at a rally of Pakistan's Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao in North Western Frontier Province, is now believed to be a teenager, investigators have said.
The face of the teenager had been reconstructed with the help of a forensic laboratory.
"He is fair and has jet black hair," an official said, adding that the government might release an identity kit to the media today if police fail to establish his identity.
Earlier, the prime suspect was believed to be in his late thirties with pellets pierced into his body.
A senior police official said that the latest findings added to Saturday's bombing an element common to similar blasts in the past -- the young age of bombers.
One police official claimed that investigators had received "some important leads," but declined to elaborate.
"But all indications show that the modus operandi was similar to other suicide bombing cases, the trail of which led mostly to South Waziristan," he said.
Meanwhile, police recovered another severed head 40 meters away from the blast site which Sherpao said was one of his supporter's who had come to hear him at the meeting.
"It was now established that there was only one teenage suicide bomber whose identity is yet to be established," he told reporters here. PTI
Chinese military training personnel to fight IT-based war
Anil K Joseph
Beijing, May 1 (PTI) China's ambitious military modernisation not only includes augmenting its weaponry but also personnel, who are being trained to fight information technology-driven future war scenario, foreign military attaches here have been told.
In a rare briefing session on China's military modernisation for Beijing-based foreign military attaches, a senior officer of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) said the world's largest standing army force was currently implementing the Strategic Project of Personnel Development, a general plan for personnel development in the military by 2020.
The Chinese military officers of the future will be brighter tacticians, better educated and adept at commanding the high-tech weaponry under an innovative training plan to build a better armed forces in the information age, he said.
Five groups of talents are sought after by the PLA, namely, commanding officers capable of directing informationalised wars, staff officers proficient in planning armed forces building, scientists capable of exploration of key technologies, technicians with thorough understanding of high- tech weapons and non-commissioned officers proficient in using equipments at hand.
Recruiting high-calibre soldiers was also key to the training plan, deputy head of cadre branch of PLA General Political Department (GPD), Major General Shi Baohua told over 50 military attaches of some 40 countries yesterday. PTI
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