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Police, Sikhs clash at two places in Ambala, over 10 hurt
Ambala, May 22 (PTI) Police clashed with Sikh protestors outside the main Gurdwara here today, after they lathicharged stone-pelting agitators in another area who tried to take out a procession, defying prohibitory orders, to protest the Dera Sacha Sauda chief's alleged blasphemous act.
More than 10 persons were injured in the two incidents.
Sikh youths and Akali Dal workers threw stones at police from inside the Manji Sahab Gurdwara, leading to minor injuries to some persons.
Haryana Akali Dal spokesman Sant Singh Kandhari told reporters on the spot that the police personnel had first attacked the peacefully protesting Sikhs by throwing stones.
The Sikhs only retaliated, he said adding, they had wanted to take out a peaceful protest march against the head of Dera Sacha Sauda Sant Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.
Earlier in the day, police lathicharged Sikh protestors who wanted to take out a procession from Badshah Bagh Gurdwara in violation of prohibitory orders.
Around 10 people, including Superintendent of Police Amitabh Dhillon and two constables, were injured in the stone-throwing from both the sides after about 500 Sikhs, most of them youths, and the policemen came face to face at the cordon set up by the security personnel.
Sikhs under the banner of Haryana Akali Dal submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner R P Bhardwaj demanding a ban on Deras in the state, including the Dera Sacha Sauda at Sirsa, arrest of Sant Gurmeet and registration of a case against him for his alleged blasphemous act. PTI
Mumbai serial blasts: Six sentenced for arms training in Pak
Mumbai, May 22 (PTI) Five persons convicted on the charge of having undergone arms training in Pakistan prior to the 1993 serial blasts here were sentenced to six years rigorous imprisonment, while another was given seven years rigorous imprisonment by a special TADA court today.
The six persons convicted by the court have been ordered to pay a fine of Rs 15,000 each failing which they would have to undergo three months rigorous imprisonment.
Usman Man Khan Shaikh, Shaikh Ibrahim Shaikh Hussain, Mohammed Hanif Usman Shaikh, Mohammed Sayeed Mohammed Ishaq, Gul Mohammed Noor Mohd were sentenced to a six year prison term by the court.
Special TADA judge P D Kode sentenced another person convicted on the same charge Mohammed Rafiq Usman Shaikh to seven years imprisonment.
The court had convicted the group of five persons on charge of being part of the group which had gone to Pakistan via Dubai for arms training at the instance of absconding prime accused Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger Memon in February-March 1993, where they learnt how to operate arms and use explosives.
They were also found guilty of attending conspiracy meetings in Dubai and Pakistan called by Tiger Memon and his associates but were found not to have attended any of the meetings following their return to the country.
Mohammed Rafiq Usman Shaikh was also found guilty of obtaining arms training in Pakistan and attending a conspiracy meeting in the country upon returning to the city. PTI
India-Bangladesh Test ends in a draw
Chittagong, May 22 (PTI) The first cricket Test between India and Bangladesh ended in a draw here today.
Brief Scores: India: 387 for eight decl. And 100 for 6 decl in 24 overs (S Tendulkar 31, D Kaarthick 22, M Dhoni 17) Bangladesh 1st innings: 238 all out and 104 for 2 in 28 overs (J Omar 52 not out, H Bashar 37). PTI
Oval controversy made me a better umpire: Doctrove
Sirshendu Panth
Chittagong, May 22 (PTI) After going through the ordeal of the Oval Test controversy, umpire Billy Doctrove thinks the adversity has made him a better professional and a better human being.
Doctrove, who was at the centre of the imbroglio along with Australian Darrel Hair during the forfeited Oval Test in August last year, said it was a learning experience for him.
"It was part of my learning experience. It is now behind me. It has helped me become a better umpire and a better human being," he said.
Doctrove now says better man management can result in smooth conduct of a match.
"I don't think there are bad boys in the game. If one can use man management skills well, then things become easy," he said.
In the Oval Test, Pakistan were charged with ball tampering and forfeited the match when they were docked five runs.
Later after an inquiry, Hair was removed from the Elite panel while Doctrove emerged unscathed.
Now Doctrove, who is in the port city to stand in the first cricket Test between India and Bangladesh, does not like to dwell upon the controversy or talk about who was right and who was wrong. But, he plans to pen a book on the controversy. PTI
PCB to start coach selection process this week
Karachi, May 22 (PTI) After receiving applications from as far as the West Indies and England, Pakistan Cricket Board will start the process of selecting a new coach for the national team this week.
"A committee has been appointed to scrutinise the list of candidates who have applied for this position until May 15 and it will start its work later this week," PCB Director of Operations Zakir Khan told PTI today.
The PCB had set May 15 as the deadline for candidates, both foreign and local, to apply for the position which the late Bob Woolmer occupied from mid 2004 till the World Cup.
Zakir revealed that applications have come from countries like West Indies, England and Australia but refused to give any names.
He also disclosed that negotiations with Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore, who is also in the running for the post of India coach, had been held but nothing concrete had come out of it.
"Yes, we were interested in Whatmore because of his vast experience," he admitted.
Sources said that besides foreigners, a number of local coaches have also applied for the position barring former captains like Javed Miandad, Intikhab Alam and Zaheer Abbas, who criticised the concept of advertising for the job.
Former pacer Aaqib Javed was pushing hard for his candidature by lobbying within the Board but PCB, at the most, was likely to make him assistant coach while opting for a foreigner for the main job, they said.
The PCB is also said to be keen on two English county coaches, one of whom is Leicestershire coach Tim Boon. PTI
World Cup should last no longer than a month: MCC
London, May 22 (PTI) The seven-week long World Cup in the West Indies courted sharp criticism from the Marylebone Cricket Club, which said that the quadrennial event should be played within a month's time.
Offering several recommendations for better conduct of the show-piece event, MCC World Cricket Committee, the framer and copyright holder of laws of the game, said the length of the prestigious tournament must be curtailed.
"The committee recommends that the Cricket World Cup should last no longer than one month. The format of the tournament, which finished in the Caribbean last month after almost seven weeks, should be urgently reviewed with the intention of reducing the length of the next tournament, due to take place in 2011," it said in a statement issued yesterday.
In order to limit the number of one-sided matches, the panel advocated participation of fewer teams in the event.
"The number of participating nations should be reduced and the competition restructured to ensure fewer one-sided matches," it said.
Taking note of the farcical final match of the tournament played in the Caribbean, the MCC body said: "Every effort should be made to ensure that the World Cup final be played over 50 overs, even if this means going into a second or third day." PTI
Wright to be head coach of Australian CoE: Reports
Melbourne, May 22 (PTI) Former India cricket coach John Wright is all set to take over as the head coach of Australia's Centre of Excellence.
According to a report in the 'Sydney Morning Herald', Wright is set to fill the post left vacant by Tim Nielson, who took over as Australia's coach after the World Cup.
The Christchurch-based Wright will now be required to move to Brisbane, where the Centre of Excellence is located, and will be in charge of Australia's A team, the newspaper reported.
Wright, who was India's coach before Greg Chappell, was earlier tipped to take over as Pakistan's coach and had even travelled there to meet PCB officials before the World Cup.
The 52-year-old played 82 Tests for New Zealand before starting his coaching career. PTI
Unfit Shoaib dropped from Asia XI
Karachi, May 22 (PTI) Dope-tainted Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar was today dropped from the Asian XI team for the Afro-Asia Cricket Cup due to lack of fitness.
Asian Cricket Council selection committee member Mohsin Khan said the express bowler was dropped as he had not recovered from his knee injury.
"The Pakistan Cricket Board does not want to take a risk with his fitness as we are going to play some very crucial Test series this season against South Africa, India and Australia," Mohsin said.
"I am disappointed that he cannot play because he is still not 100 percent fit," he added.
The three-match Afro-Asia Cup is scheduled from June 6 to 10 in India.
Earlier, Shoaib was picked for the Asia XI after he declared himself fit. The mercurial bowler has played just one Test and four one-dayers since February last year due to fitness problems.
Shoaib, later, stated that he might not play in the series due to family commitments but again did a volte face and made himself available.
The tearaway pacer said he changed his mind after speaking to former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram, who felt the series would be a good opportunity to get back his fitness.
Meanwhile, Mohsin disclosed that selectors from India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka had opposed Shoaib's inclusion in the squad on fitness grounds.
A PCB official supported the decision and said it was sensible to drop Shoaib instead of putting him in risk of another injury layoff. PTI
Tata Tea shares surge 4.4 pc on BSE
Mumbai, May 22 (PTI) Shares of Tata Tea surged 4.4 per cent or over Rs 37 on the bourses today on reports beverages giant Coca-Cola has approached US anti-trust regulators regarding a possible acquisition of energy drink maker Glaceau, in which Tata Group holds a 30 per cent stake.
After opening at Rs 848.75, Tata Tea rose to Rs 877.55 gaining 4.43 per cent on the Bombay Stock Exchange over yesterday's closing price of Rs 840.30.
Similarly on the National Stock Exchange, Tata Tea rose to Rs 878.85, gaining around Rs 37.45 or 4.45 per cent higher than yesterday's close of Rs 841.40.
According to media reports, Coca-Cola has filed a pre-merger Hart-Scott-Rodino Act (HSR) notification with the Federal Trade Commission.
The filing is necessary for big deals under anti-trust regulatory framework, which seeks to prevent merger and acquisitions that could reduce competition, increase prices, lower quality of goods or services or decreases innovation.
Glaceau, in which Tata Tea had acquired a 30 per cent stake for 677 million dollars in August last year, was reported to be on Coke's takeover radar earlier last month.
Based on the price of Tata's acquisition, New York-based Glaceau could be valued at close to 2.25 billion dollars.
However, market speculations have put the deal value between 3-4 billion dollars.
Earlier reports had sent shares of Tata Tea soaring by close to 15 per cent on the Indian bourses on April 25. PTI
Nifty at new peak of 4281.60, Sensex follows suit
Mumbai, May 22 (PTI) The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty scaled a new peak of over 4,278 points as buying interest from funds cheered it higher for the second straight day.
The Nifty, which touched an intra-day peak of 4,281.60 points, ended the day at a new closing high of 4278.10, 17.20 points up from the previous close.
It also touched the day's low of 4,234.10 points.
The benchmark Sensex also remained in positive zone and gained 35.12 points at 14,453.72, after touching an intra-day high of 14,483.59 and a low of 14,348.26.
The rally in the market was led by index-heaviest Reliance Industries, which also touched a record high close of Rs 1,775.25 by gaining Rs 13.70, after touching an intra-day high of Rs 1,780. PTI
UTI-MNC Fund declares 30 pc dividend
New Delhi, May 22 (PTI) Mutual fund house UTIMF has declared a 30 per cent tax-free dividend of Rs 3 per unit on having a face value of Rs 10, for its UTI-MNC Fund scheme.
The record date for the dividend is May 25, UTI Mutual Fund (UTIMF) said in a release here today.
The fund house invests the assets from the UTI-MNC scheme mainly in multinational companies (MNCs). Investors who join the dividend option of the scheme on or before the record date, apart from the existing ones, would be eligible for the dividend, it said. PTI
Raj TV touches all-time high; Sun TV plunges
Mumbai, May 22 (PTI) Shares of broadcaster Raj TV today touched an all-time high of Rs 288.30 per share on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) after announcement of the launch of a new Tamil entertainment channel.
M Rajendran-promoted Raj Television Network's scrip after opening at Rs 264.95, shot up to its intra-day high of Rs 288.30 as it hit the upper circuit limit -- gaining Rs 26.10 or 10 per cent on the exchange.
The counter witnessed heavy volumes as over 12 lakh shares exchanging hands, latest data on the BSE show.
The company's shares earlier went up by 10 per cent on May 16, after hitting the 20 per cent circuit filter on May 15 when it gained Rs 37.40 per share.
The new channel has been named as Kalaignar, as DMK patriarch and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi is popularly called. DMK's party symbol 'rising sun' is expected to be the logo of the soon-to-be-launched channel.
Meanwhile, shares of Kalanidhi Maran's Sun TV fell seven per cent or over Rs 101 to touch an intra-day low of Rs 1,370, post a rift between the Maran family and Karunanidhi.
The company has witnessed a steady erosion of its market capitalisation which stood at Rs 9,506 crore as per its current price of Rs 1,379.95 per share today. The scrip closed at Rs 1,603.65 on May 11.
This represents a 16 per cent loss, nearly Rs 1,857 crore, in market capitalisation since the scrip closed at Rs 1649.55 on April 23. PTI
TV18, Viacom to launch Hindi entertainment channel
Mumbai, May 21 (PTI) Media conglomerate TV18 Group today entered into an agreement with US major Viacom to float a general entertainment joint venture in India.
The joint venture, named Viacom-18, will have presence in television, film and digital media content across numerous brands to build India's leading multi-platform company, TV18 said in a statement.
As part of the agreement, Viacom-18 will launch a Hindi general entertainment cable and satellite channel in India within one year, it said, adding it would also syndicate MTV Networks (MTVN) programming and newly-produced content.
"The entertainment space offers significant opportunities and this partnership gives us the scale to compete and the edge to achieve leadership position," TV18 Group CEO Harish Chawla said.
While the company did not disclose the planned investment in Viacom-18, industry sources had said the two partners were may pump in about Rs 500 crore initially.
The JV will also launch a suite of targeted channels in future from MTVN's portfolio, as well as new brands, it added.
Commenting on the partnership, Viacom CEO and President Phillipe P Dauman said India was one of its "priority markets for expansion internationally".
As per the agreement, TV18 Group would contribute its motion pictures division operation to the joint venture, which produces, acquires and distributes Hindi films.
"Additional cooperation in the Indian market beyond this alliance includes joint ownership of the management company for the Indian Film Company, which is in the process of being listed on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange," it added. PTI
Pak SC refuses to admit MMA petition against Musharraf
Islamabad, May 22 (PTI) The Pakistan Supreme Court has declined to admit a Constitutional petition filed by Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal President Qazi Hussain Ahmed questioning the continuation of President Pervez Musharraf as Chief of Army despite crossing the age of superannuation.
Hussain challenged Musharraf's continuation in uniform, saying the General has crossed the retirement age of 60 years.
Musharraf passed the superannuation age in 2003 but continued by extending his tenure as chief of army with a Presidential notification issued by himself.
The court registrar returned Hussains petition on the ground that the president enjoyed immunity under Article 248 of the Constitution and, therefore, could not be nominated as a respondent in any case.
The registrar also objected to the petitioner making multiple prayers in his petition, which were technically not related to the subject and contents of the petition.
Hussain had maintained that "General Pervez Musharraf is continuously violating the Constitution, law and service rules" by addressing public rallies.
He sought a court directive against Musharrafs tenure as chief of army staff. PTI
Mighty Heart Irrfan walks red carpet, earns applause
Cannes, May 22 (PTI) Mumbai actor Irrfan Khan became the first Indian movie star to walk the hallowed red carpet here since Shahrukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai went up the steps of the Grand Theatre Lumiere for a special screening of Sanjay Leela Bhansalis "Devdas" in 2002.
Irrfan, who plays a key role in Michael Winterbottoms docu-drama style recreation of the abduction and killing of journalist Daniel Pearl, "A Mighty Heart," was alongside lead actress Angelina Jolie, producer Brad Pitt, director Winterbottom, actress Archie Panjabi and Mariane Pearl, on whose harrowing memoir the film is based.
The cast and crew of "A Mighty Heart" addressed a well-attended press conference here yesterday after a photo call at the 60th Cannes Film Festival.
Irrfan was on the Croisette four years ago representing an Indian film (Ashvin Kumars Road to Ladakh) that was screened in the market. But this is the first time that he is in Cannes with a film in the official selection.
"A Mighty Heart" drew positive reviews after its special Out of Competition screening. "In his first studio venture. Michael Winterbottom coaxes forth a staggering wealth of detail from this terse, methodical account," a magazine wrote.
According to the critic of Screen International, the director "brings typical intelligence and urgency to A Mighty Heart." PTI
Beijing to limit visitors at heritage sites during Olympics
Beijing, May 22 (PTI) China will restrict the number of visitors at heritage sites during the 2008 Olympic Games to protect vulnerable ancient buildings.
"Heritage departments would monitor visitor numbers at ancient buildings during the Games, and plan in advance to protect the sites," Director of the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau, Shu Xiaofeng said.
But bureau officials did not say how many visitors are expected to visit sites such as the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and the Summer Palace during the Olympic Games which will commence on August 8, 2008.
Experts have calculated the appropriate daily number of visitors for the Forbidden City at 30,000 and the maximum number at around 50,000.
But more than 114,800 tourists visited the Forbidden City on May 1, the first day of China's week-long Labour Day holiday.
Shu said no major maintenance project would be started at heritage sites in Beijing's urban area next year to avoid inconvenience for tourists.
Beijing plans to invest 600 million yuan (USD 77.92 million USD) in repairing and protecting ancient buildings in the next five years, but there will be no major maintenance projects in the urban areas next year. PTI
UN help sought to quell violence in Somalia
United Nations, May 22 (PTI) Painting a grim picture of the situation in conflict-ridden Somalia, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator has appealed to the Security Council to step up its efforts to quell the violence in Somalia.
"Otherwise, I fear the worst," John Holmes, Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, said in his briefing to the 15-member body yesterday on his recent visit to Somalia and Northern Uganda.
Affirming that the UN has a responsibility "not to turn its back on Somalis in their latest hour of desperate need," Holmes said there has been recent massive displacement following the worst fighting in the 16 years the East-African country has gone without a functioning government.
This has compounded the miseries of chronic food insecurity, alternating droughts and floods and endemic disease, he said.
As the highest-ranking UN official to visit the country since the early 1990's, Holmes said his discussions with leaders of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) - notably President Abdullahi Yusuf and Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedhi -- were complicated by disagreement on the severity of the crisis.
According to UN figures, 340,000 people, roughly one-third of the capital's population, have fled the hostilities in Mogadishu since the start of February. The TGF officials claimed that only 30,000 to 40,000 had been displaced and most had already returned.
At the same time, Holmes said President Yusuf had accepted his proposal of a visit to Somalia by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to look into reports of indiscriminate use of force in civilian areas, arbitrary detentions and disappearances, and other human rights violations. PTI
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