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CPI insists on Left reviewing support to UPA govt
Amitabha Roychowdhury and V S Chandrasekar New Delhi, May 5 (PTI) A key Left party and an outside supporter of the UPA government says that the Left as a whole should review its backing to the central coalition, whose policies only seek to help the BJP and go against the common man.
Notwithstanding CPI(M)'s unenthusiastic response to its review proposal, the CPI says the Government should be given a message that the Left parties' support cannot be taken for granted any more.
In a wide-ranging interview to PTI, veteran communist and 81-year-old General Secretary of the party, A B Bardhan, feels that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has spoken the right thing about creeping 'crony capitalism' in the country but regrets that he has not done anything to set things right.
In the interview, he also spoke on the need for keeping BJP out of the government in Uttar Pradesh after the coming elections and to elect a "secular, progressive and democratic" person as the next President.
"My point is not that we should immediately withdraw support. I did say and I still say that it is time for the Left parties to review the whole thing. It is time for us at least to send a message to the government that they can't take our support for granted.
"It is time for the government to realise that the demands put forth and the issues that have been agreed upon in the Common Minimum Programme are implemented in letter and spirit. If we, the Left, can ensure that, there may be no need for it (review support). But that is what I am doubting, looking into what they are doing." PTI
Pollock gets 3 nominations in SA Cricket Awards
Durban, May 5 (PTI) Shaun Pollock continues to be one of South Africa's most favourite cricketers and the affable player has been nominated for top three honours of this year's South African Cricket Awards.
Pollock has been nominated for the Player of the Year for the season 2007, South African Players' Player of the Year award and the SuperSport Fans Cricketer of the Year award.
The former captain has been nominated along with opening batsman, AB de Villiers, all-rounders Andrew Hall and Jacques Kallis in the first category.
Mark Boucher and Ashwell Prince will give him competition for the votes of his peers in the second category, while Makhaya Ntini and de Villiers are Pollock's rivals for the fans award.
Commenting on the awards and the nominees, Cricket South Africa CEO Gerald Majola said, "The Mutual and Federal SA Cricket Awards are one of the most important events on Cricket South Africa's calendar.
"They showcase South African cricket by recognising the achievements of people at all levels of the game from grassroots to the international arena, including cricket for women and the disabled." The winners of the awards will be revealed in Johannesburg on May 9. PTI
Impressive India lack finishing touch against Australia
By Anand Philar
Ipoh, May 5 (PTI) A 50th minute goal by Edward Ockenden carried Australia to a 1-0 win against India in their opening Group A match of the eight-nation 16th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup men's hockey tournament here today.
Australia, pushed on the defensive in the first-half, showcased their bench strength after crossing-over with Ockenden, playing in only his ninth international, getting a deflection to a Robert Hammond pass.
Playing without seven of their World Cup stars, the Aussies nevertheless underlined the depth in talent to emerge winners.
But then, it was a match that India gifted to the 2006 World Cup runners-up, wasting at least half-a-dozen clear scoring chances.
Shivendra Singh, one of the better players in India's doomed World Cup campaign last year, repeatedly fumbled in front of the rival goal while Prabhjot Singh, Rajpal Singh and Tushar Khandkar were as guilty in blowing away scoring opportunities.
India played a pleasing game in the first-half as they contained the Australians with tight midfield marking. Even granting that the Aussies appeared listless, struggling to put together an effective move, the Indians still looked decidedly superior side.
There was purpose and method in the Indian moves that were noticeably without over-dribbling, a trait that has been so much part of their game in the past. PTI
Muralitharan wants no association with game after retirement
Colombo, May 5 (PTI) Sri lankan spin Wizard Muttiah Muralitharan has said he won't be associated with the game in any other form after leaving it as a player.
"I am not thinking about it (staying on) because I have played this game since I was six or seven so when I retire I will retire properly," Muralitharan said.
"There's more than cricket you can do, there are so many things in life. If you get bored you can play a club match on Sunday or something to keep my mind occupied on cricket," he was quoted as saying by the 'Bigstarcricket'.
The 35-year-old world's highest wicket-taker said he was not yet decided about retirement plans but would play till things work smoothly for him.
"It's difficult to say. I'm just turned 35, I can go to 37 and then I may think I'll push it for one more year. I'm not thinking far ahead, just about one or two years then if everything goes right I'll just keep on playing. If everything goes wrong I'll say 'Thank you very much'," Muralitharan said.
He also said the next World Cup in Asia was a distant dream for him.
"It depends on how the team does. It's a long time. This is 2007 and 2011 is too far away... I will play for another two or three years and see how things go," he said.
Murali said Australia did not have a quality spinner after the retirement of Shane Warne and were beatable.
"Australia are beatable now. They don't have a quality spinner," he said. PTI
Dravid injured on penultimate day of conditioning camp
Kolkata, May 5 (PTI) India's preparation for the upcoming tour of Bangladesh suffered a blow when skipper Rahul Dravid was hit on the face by a bouncer from R P Singh on the penultimate day of the conditioning camp here today.
When Dravid, who was having batting practice on a grassy centre wicket track, tried to hook a delivery, the ball came off his bat and hit his face.
Dravid, who was wearing a helmet, immediately collapsed and team physio John Gloster gave him treatment for a couple of minutes before the Indian captain left for the dressing room with a towel wrapped on his face. Dravid was profusely bleeding when he left the ground.
Team's Administrative Manager Surendra Bhave, however, said Dravid's injury was not serious and he was expected to start playing in 48 hours.
"Ball hit visor of helmet and impacted on the grill. It is nose trauma but no cut or injury. It is not serious," he told reporters.
"The X-ray showed bruises and 24-hour rest has been advised by the ENT speciallist. He is expected to play in 48 hours. He will be slowly brought into action," he added.
The team is scheduled to leave for its 23-day tour of Bangladesh on Monday and play its first one-dayer on May 10.
Earlier, Sachin Tendulkar had suffered a right ankle sprain on the opening day of the camp on Wednesday, but since then his condition has fast improved.
The master batsman sustained the injury when he ducked to a S Sreesanth bouncer on the same pitch.
The Indians also had to contain with the absence of V V S Laxman, who had not made it to the camp as he was down with gastroenteritis. PTI
Randhawa recovers grounds on resumption
Milan, May 5 (PTI) Jyoti Randhawa recovered some ground as the rain-hit second day saw him take advantage of the 'preferred lies rule' to shoot three-under 69 in the 10 holes in the second round play on Friday at the Telecom Italia Open golf tournament.
Randhawa, second in Madrid last week, was now four-under through 10 holes possible on the second day and lying 29th.
India's other challenger Jeev Milkha Singh, who had a 69 on first day, was yet to begin his second round.
Randhawa's playing partner Alvaro Quiros, who was seven-under in first round, added a few more as he fired a three-under from 10 holes to move into the lead at 10-under overall alongside Markus Brier (-1 after 8) and Joakim Backstrom who has not started his second round.
Backstrom was 10-under 62 on first day. Earlier, in an unprecedented decision the European Tour erased the scores of the 25 players who had begun playing their second round in the morning. There was 50 minutes of play before heavy rain forced a stoppage.
Randhawa, starting in the evening on resumption, opened with three pars and then bogeyed the 13th. But from 15th, he was on fire. He birdied the 15th, 17th and 18th and added a third successive birdie by slotting the par- first in four.
Randhawa is now six behind Quiros, Brier and Backstrom. When play resumed nine hours later, the players were permitted to lift, clean and place their balls on the waterlogged fairways.
In the morning, the organisers did not use preferred lies, and hence had to cancel the morning scores, forcing many to play a second time. It took almost nine hours before Tolcinasco course was deemed fit for resumption. PTI
No tax exemptions in non-processing zones of SEZs: states
New Delhi, May 6 (PTI) In a major move that will have revenue implications for Special Economic Zones, states today said they are not going to exempt non-processing areas in these zones from state taxes.
"Empowered Committee of state finance ministers on VAT unanimously feel that in non-processing zones of SEZs, no one should impose on states anything relating to states tax exemptions," VAT panel Chairman Asim Dasgupta told reporters.
"In other words, we are against any state tax exemption in any non-processing part of SEZs," he said after the VAT panel meeting.
When asked that many states have come out with SEZ policy giving exemptions on overall SEZs, he said, "What happened has happened. We are now of view that non-processing zones of SEZs, no one should impose on states that they have to give tax exemptions," he said.
The Union Commerce Ministry has written to states to provide tax exemptions to SEZs, officials in the VAT meeting said.
When asked whether the view of states are in conformity with the Centre's SEZ Act, Dasgupta said," Yes, it is, but if it is not, we are communicating our views to the Centre because it is unanimous views of all states." A union finance ministry official also said the views of states are in line with the SEZ Act. PTI
ICICI becomes first Indian bank to open office in Qatar
Dubai, May 5 (PTI) ICICI bank has inaugurated its branch in Doha, the first by an Indian bank in Qatar.
India's second largest bank and the country biggest private money lender opened its office at the Qatar Financial Centre yesterday.
The bank has a strong presence in the region. It had set up the Dubai representative office in October 2003. The bank enhanced its presence in Dubai by setting up a wealth management branch in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) in December 2005.
Operations at the Bahrain offshore banking unit commenced in October 2004 following the granting of license from the Bahrain Monetary Agency with a special permission to provide NRI banking services.
K V Kamath, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, told reporters that the Doha branch is the 18th outside India.
"This is a part of our focus to build up our international presence," he was quoted as saying in Peninsula newspaper.
The bank is targeting non-resident Indians (NRIs) and Indian businesses. The licence given by the QFC is a Category 4 one but allows for credit facilities and investments.
The bank's overseas operations now account for 18 per cent of its global balance sheet, a figure that should go up to 25 per cent over the next few years.
Kamath stated Bahrain is a money-spinner for ICICI Bank as far as revenues are concerned and accounts for 22 per cent of income from international operations. ICICI bank has USD four billion to USD4.5 billion in assets in Bahrain. PTI
SEZs creating wealth for farmers: Commerce Secy
Ludhiana, May 5 (PTI) Rubbishing claims that Special Economic Zones (SEZs) were hitting farmers hard, a top government official today said the zones were instead creating wealth for them.
"I could say with confidence that SEZs have created more wealth for farmers than any other activity carried out for them after independence," Commerce Secretary, G K Pillai said in a lecture here.
Pillai said, "as per my estimation, SEZs would have created between Rs 60,000 to Rs 100,000 crore as wealth for farmers who gave their land for setting up SEZs in the country." The Commerce Secretary added the development of SEZs had pushed up farmland prices to all-time high.
Citing an example, Pillai said that before the development of Mudra SEZ in Gujarat, the land prices stood at just Rs 30,000 per acre which has now shot up to Rs 1 crore per acre.
Replying to a query on food security, Pillai clarified that the government had approved 234 SEZ throughout the country which involved 34,000 hectares of land, a fraction of the total farmland.
SEZs would play a vital role in boosting exports, Pillai said, adding that the government was expecting exports of Rs 1,00,000 crore from SEZs by 2009.
"The total exports from SEZ recorded 52 per cent growth at Rs 34,787 crore in 2006-07, which would jump to Rs 67,000 crore in 2007-08," he asserted. PTI
Microsoft says Yahoo! to counter Google
New York, May 4 (PTI) Microsoft Corp, the world's largest software firm, is mulling a 50-billion dollar bid for Internet giant Yahoo! Inc in one of the biggest takeover deals in the technology space, US media reports said.
The deal, if successful, could leave a huge impact on the global IT space, including India where both Microsoft and Yahoo carry huge brand value and enjoy significant exposure.
According to Wall Street Journal and New York Post, Microsoft, which has a market cap of close to 300 billion dollars, has intensified its pursuit for Yahoo! after holding informal talks over the years.
The renewed talks come amid growing threat by search engine and online advertising giant Google Inc for both the companies. In fact, Google replaced Microsoft as the world's top brand only last month.
The new approach follows an offer Microsoft made to acquire Yahoo! a few months ago, the New York Post reported quoting unnamed sources. While Yahoo! had spurned the advances of the Redmond-based software giant in the past, Microsoft is now seeking to re-enter formal negotiations, it said.
The daily said that market sources are putting a roughly 50 billion dollar price tag on Yahoo!.
Shares of Yahoo jumped over 15 per cent in early morning trade in US bourses, taking its market value to about 44 billion dollars from 38.2 billion dollars yesterday.
Both Microsoft and Yahoo have significant exposure to India. The expanding number of Internet and mobile users in the country is attracting these two companies, who are eyeing businesses in this market to add to their future growth.
Microsoft's India presence is estimated at around 5,000 employees, which it plans to expand to 7,000 in next two years, while Yahoo's Bangalore Development Centre has just crossed the 1,000 employees mark. PTI
RBI not to impose charge on cheque payment
Mumbai, May 4 (PTI) Reserve Bank of India today said it has rejected the suggestion of its study group to impose charges on cheque payments for promoting paperless transactions.
RBI has decided not to accept the recommendation of the Internal Study Group on migration from paper-based funds movement to electronic funds transfer to levy a charge for the paper-based transactions, the central bank said in a release.
The study group's report, on which RBI had invited public comments, recommended levying a charge for paper-based transactions to be borne by bank customers in a bid to encourage them to move to electronic funds transfer.
The central bank had not accepted the similar suggestion received twice in the past, the press release said.
It also clarified that the recommendations of any study group - internal or external - constituted by the Reserve Bank are only recommendatory in nature and do not reflect the views of the central bank. PTI
US officials holding chickens fearing tainted feed consumption
New York, May 5 (PTI) American federal officials are holding 20 million chickens from market fearing that they might have eaten contaminated feed imported from China.
Several cats and dogs have died or become sick after eating food contaminated with melamine, an industrial chemical added to protein shipments from China.
The chickens are being held in several States and the United States Agriculture department has ordered that they be kept out of human food supply chain until test results come in.
Media reports said the investigators plan to work through the weekend and results might be available as early as Monday.
The department had previously announced a smaller number of hogs and chickens were suspected of having eaten the tainted feed before they were slaughtered, processed and sold but officials said they had no evidence that it would be harmful to humans.
The 20 million chickens are but a small fraction of 9 billion birds raised in the US farms but the report had the potential of raising fears among the consumers.
About 100 brands of pet food have been recalled since mid March when it became known that wheat gluten in the food imported from China was contaminated with melamine. PTI
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