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Ford spurns BCCI offer to coach Team India
London, June 11 (PTI) In a surprise turn of events, South African Graham Ford today declined to accept the Cricket Board's offer to coach the Indian team for a year, saying he wanted to continue his job with Kent County Cricket Club.
"After careful consideration, I have decided to continue my work here at Kent. This has been a really difficult decision. I am honoured that India have shown such interest in my capabilities, but feel that this is the right decision for me and my family," Ford said in a statement posted on the Kent club website.
The 46-year-old former South Africa coach's decision came in less than 48 hours of the offer made to him in Chennai by a BCCI Special Committee that had rejected former England spinner John Emburey who also made a presentation.
The Working Committee of a stunned BCCI, which had asked Ford to say when he would be able to join the team, would now meet in Delhi tomorrow to consider the situation and look for a new coach.
The Committee was originally scheduled to ratify the selection of Ford. PTI
Court order asking drunk driver to help traffic cops stayed
New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) A sessions court today stayed a trial court's unprecedented order directing a youth, who was caught driving a car in an inebriated state, to assist policemen in traffic management.
Admitting a revision petition filed against the lower court order, Additional Sessions Judge S N Gupta put a stay on the verdict and summoned the trial court records related to the case.
The court fixed the next date of hearing on July 10 in the revision petition filed by the Delhi police.
Deepak Gupta, 18, who had pleaded guilty to driving a car in an intoxicated state, was on June five asked by Metropolitan Magistrate Gautam Manan to help traffic police at Kalkaji circle between 10 am to 1.30 pm daily for 10 days beginning yesterday.
The court had held Gupta, a resident of Ratia Marg, Sangam Vihar guilty under various provisions including Section 279 (rash driving on a public way) of the IPC and also imposed a fine of Rs 3,000 on him .
On receiving a PCR call on February 16 that a Santro car had been turned turtle at Mayapuri D Block, the police reached the spot to rescue the man trapped inside the vehicle.
After the police found that the man was driving the vehicle in a drunken state, they booked him under various provisions of the penal code.
Three months after the incident, the man pleaded guilty before the court, which awarded him with a kind of punishment, mostly common in Western countries.
Dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, Deepak was yesterday seen regulating the traffic at Paras Chowk in Kalkaji area with the help of two policemen. PTI
China behind India in software sector
Bangalore, Jun 11 (PTI) China was far behind India in the software sector and India should focus its efforts towards leveraging this lead in forging ahead in the global market, Chairman and Chief Mentor of Infosys Narayana Murthy said.
Addressing a group of 125 interns at the the Infosys global internship programme here today, he said China had done the best job in the world in manufacturing. However, it was far behind India in the area of IT softwares.
"India has had a lead of 20 years over China," he said, explaining the reasons, Moreover, India attracted the middle class professionals, who worked hard, understood customers and operations better and are fairly smart.
India also developed a fairly advanced system, processing and methodology for distribution development model, he said, adding Indian companies also took to quality in a big way.
However, Indian companies, he said, should not underestimate China which was an "extraordinary nation and if it decided to put its soul into something it did it well." China also had an excellent education system which it has been successfully focusing on, an example that could be emulated by other nations as well, he said.
Replying to a question posed by an intern on Infosys serving the Chinese market, he said Infosys currently was working with multinationals in China in phase one. In phase two, it would work with local Chinese company.
Every major player had "serious" operations in China, which was a very important market and is growing. It had a two trillion plus dollar economy with USD 950 billion exports. PTI
European Tour event to be played in India in February
New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) Indian golf is set to take another giant leap by hosting its first ever European Tour sanctioned event next year when the inaugural USD 2.5 million Indian Masters tees off here from February 7-10.
With a prize money of USD 2.5 million, the event promoted and organised by 'Golf in Dubai,' who are the promoters and organisers of world-class events like the Dubai Desert Classic and the Dubai Ladies Masters, will be the richest ever held in the country.
Chief Executive of the European Tour George O'Grady said the Indian Masters would help enhance the tournament portfolio.
"The growth of the Indian economy has coincided with the emergence of golf as a major sport in the country. We are always keen to expand our tournament portfolio into new territories and we believe that the Indian Masters offers huge potential on that front," he said in a statement issued today.
"Thanks to Indian pioneers such as Jeev Milkha Singh and Arjun Atwal both popular Champions on the European Tour international schedule along with Jyoti Randhawa and Shiv Kapur, professional golf in India has taken a massive step forward over the past decade," he added. PTI
Pak, Aussie tour venues to be finalised at BCCI meet
Bangalore, Jun 11 (PTI) Player contracts and Zee Group's proposed Indian Cricket League would be key items on the agenda of the Cricket Board's Working Committee meeting in Delhi tomorrow.
Other important issues to be taken up for discussion by Working Committee include the finalisation of itinerary of the upcoming series against Australia and Pakistan and the appointment of South African Graham Ford as the new India coach, BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah said here today.
Shah is here to have a parley with the senior players on the contracts issue along with senior Board members -- Vice President Shashank Manohar, Treasurer N Srinivasan and former president I S Bindra.
"The itineraries of the Australian and Pakistan tours, including dates and venues, will be discussed at tomorrow's Working Committee meeting in the afternoon," Shah told reporters.
"The letter of Zee group (on the ICL) is also an item on the meeting's agenda," he said.
But Shah refused to say whether the future of Kapil Dev, who's joined the ICL as head of its Board of directors, as chief of the BCCI's Bangalore-based National Cricket Academy woudl be discussed. PTI
Maninder says he was injured accidentally
New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) Former cricketer Maninder Singh today told police that the cuts on his wrists were sustained accidentally, seeking to end speculation that he had attempted suicide.
Singh, who was admitted to the hospital with mysterious injuries on his wrists on Friday night, explained the sequence of events that took place at his East Delhi residence in his statement to the police this morning.
"Maninder told us that he banged his hands on the glass window panes to wake up his family after coming home late on Friday night. The window broke and he sustained the injuries," a senior police official said.
Earlier, the 41-year-old cricketer-turned-commentator's wife Maili Singh had also made similar statements to the media but police officials said the type of injuries gave rise to suspicion that it was a suicide bid.
Police, however, is not ready yet to accept it as a case of accident. "We are examining his statement and are investigating into the matter," a senior police officer said. PTI
Sick Vijay bows out, wild card Tushar steals the show
New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) The debilitating heat took its toll on the USD 10,000 ITF Futures men's tennis with three withdrawals marking the opening day of the tournament here.
Seventh seed Vijay Kannan cited an upset stomach for conceding his match to Britain's Robert Searle, who was up 7-6 (6) 1-1, at the DLTA Complex.
Kannan struggled throughout the time he was on court and was having trouble with his movement on the baseline against an unrelenting Searle, who also had his share of problems with an erratic serve.
The searing heat in the capital, which had been experiencing temperatures around 45 degrees over the last one week, also accounted for Sarvar Ikramov of Uzbekistan.
Aditya Madkekar, who led 7-6 (4), was the beneficiary of Ikramov's withdrawal. He will next take on the winner of the contest between top seed Karan Rastogi and qualifier Kiran Nandkumar.
Chinese Taipei's Dai-Chiao Lin was another victim of the extreme conditions. His pull out in the final qualifying round paved the way for Gursharan Singh to enter the main draw.
Wild card Tushar Liberhan, however, revved up the proceedings on the court. Tushar stole the limelight with a 6-3, 7-6 (7) win over Vishal Punna. PTI
Zaheer available for Ireland, England tours: Shah
Bangalore, Jun 11 (PTI) Injured pace spearhead Zaheer Khan is available for selection for the tours of Ireland and England, the Cricket Board announced here today.
"The MRI scan taken of Zaheer Khan's groin is clear and he should be available for selection though a final report from team physio John Gloster is awaited," said BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah today.
Zaheer had picked up the injury during the second ODI of the Afro-Asian Cup tournament in Chennai on June 9 and did not complete his third over of the innings when Asia XI fielded. He did not play in the third and final tie yesterday.
The Indian squad for Ireland and England is to be chosen at Delhi tomorrow with all five selectors and captain Rahul Dravid in attendance.
Dravid is part of the four-day fitness-specific batsmen's camp in progress here from June 9 and is set to miss the last day's session tomorrow as he's leaving for Delhi in the morning.
Another pacer Munaf Patel has also been given the clean chit by Gloster after the fitness-specific bowlers' camp conducted in Mysore from June 4-8, Shah informed.
"Munaf has been declared fit by Gloster," the BCCI official said.
Patel broke down on the last tour of Bangaldesh citing lower back pain and returned home. He did not take part in the Twenty20 Cup tie for Asia XI against Africa XI held here on June 5. PTI
General Motors looking at SAARC nations for exports
Kochi, June 11 (PTI) Car maker General Motors India is planning to export its products to the SAARC countries, a top company official said today.
The company has already lined up dealers in Nepal and Bangladesh and would soon sign an agreement with one in Sri Lanka. However, its priority would be consolidating the domestic market, GM India President and Managing Dirctor Rajeev Chaba told a press meet here.
GM India also launched the Optra Diesel luxury Sedan and Chevrolet Spark Mini car in Kerala market.
Aveo Yuva and Spark have a waiting list of two months and 45 days repectively, he said.
GM India was targeting a 10 per cent market share by 2009 against its present market share of four per cent.
The company had sold 35,000 cars last year and was expecting to take it to 65,000 to 70,000 this year, depending on the plant capacity. The capacity of its Halol plant near Baroda would be raised from the present 65,000 units to 85,000 units.
The new plant at Pune, being built at an estimated cost of Rs 1400 crore, would be ready by the fourth quarter next year. Its capacity would be 1.4 lakh cars per annum.
About 20,000 Chevrolet spark units were expected to be sold this year.
On the Auto industry facing a downturn due to rising interst rates, he said it would be corrected in the next few months and market would pick up. In May the company sold 5400 cars in India, ahead of Honda and Toyota.
Kerala contributes about 6-7 per cent of the volumes and about 2000 GM vehicles were sold in the state last year. PTI
Jet Airways open to raise funds for expansion
Mumbai, June 11 (PTI) With plans to launch its low-cost arm in the next few months, Jet Airways intends to raise additional resources to fund its global and domestic expansion, a top official said here.
"We are open to raise additional resources," Jet Airways' Executive Director Saroj Dutta said on the sidelines of an aviation conference here.
Prior to this, Jet had launched an initial public offering of over 1.73 lakh shares in February 2005, which was over subscribed ten times.
He said the company was also considering launching cargo operations soon and has started the process of acquiring four additional Boeing 737s.
Replying to a spate of questions on the erstwhile Air Sahara which is now a wholly-owned subsidiary 'JetLite', Dutta said its branding would be completed in the next three to four months.
In a recent interview to PTI, Jet chief Naresh Goyal had said all necessary government clearances for JetLite had been received and the company was open to the idea of operating its low-cost arm on international sectors in the future.
He had said if low-cost airlines from the Gulf and Southeast Asia were allowed to operate in India, "we can ask the government" whether JetLite could fly abroad. PTI
New US airline plans to fly to India
Mumbai, June 11 (PTI) US carrier Sapphire Airways plans to launch its services to India from next year at competitive fares, which will be lower than those charged for direct flights.
The proposed carrier, which is yet to get its approvals from the US Federal Aviation Authority, plans to start its services from San Fransisco to Bangalore via Munich from June 2008, the company's Chairman and Founder Rahul S Puranik told PTI here.
He said the plans also included to launch a second flight on the Chicago-London-Mumbai sector at a later stage.
Observing that there was a great amount of traffic between the US and India, Puranik, a former pilot of American carrier Delta Airways, said "we will have competitive fares, which will even be lower than those being charged for the direct flights now".
Regarding his 130 million US dollar airline company, he said while 35 million was being put in by the promoters, 40 million would be sought from private enterprise and a debt of 45 million would be raised.
In the first phase, the company would acquire long-haul aircraft from the Airbus Industrie.
Puranik also projected a revenue of 40 million dollars in the first year of its operations, during which it would aim at cornering 25 per cent of the traffic on the Indo-US sector. PTI
India Inc mobilises Rs 92,355 cr via corporate bonds in FY07
New Delhi, June 11 (PTI) India Inc has mobilised a whopping Rs 92,355 crore through issue of corporate bonds in 2006-07, despite a major fall in the funds raised by state-run companies during the period, a latest report says.
The total funds mobilised through issue of corporate bonds on private placement basis in FY07 increased 13 per cent to Rs 92,355 crore as compared to Rs 81,847 crore in the previous fiscal, data complied by Prime Database shows.
"The major reason for this substantial increase was the continuing large mobilisation by all-India financial institutions and banks. Their raising went up by 13 per cent from Rs 61,614 crore to Rs 69,693 crore," the report by Prime Database said.
However, a major fall in mobilisation came from Public Sector Units (PSU), which declined by 43 per cent to Rs 6,178 crore from Rs 10,796 crore in the previous year.
Besides, state level undertakings also recorded a fall, down from Rs 889 crore to Rs 752 crore, a 15 per cent decline.
Interestingly, the private sector witnessed a significant growth as the mobilisation through corporate bonds on private placement basis, went up by 83 per cent from Rs 7,944 crore to Rs 14,540 crore.
Government organisations and financial institutions, put together, witnessed a decrease as it mobilised 84 per cent of the total amount, down from 90 per cent in the previous year.
Among government organisations, all-India financial institutions/banks led with a 75 per cent share, followed by a seven per cent share by PSUs, one per cent each by State Financial Institutions and State Level Undertakings, the report said. PTI
India Inc M&A deals show foreign flavour in May
New Delhi, June 11 (PTI) India Inc is showing a distinct foreign flavour in its M&A deals, with the cross-border deal value going up nearly 16 times at 4.11 billion dollars as compared to the value of domestic deals in May, a latest report shows.
According to data compiled by global consultancy firm Grant Thornton, 42 cross-border deals with an announced value of 4.11 billion dollars were carried out by Corporate India in May, while 32 domestic M&As garnered just 0.26 billion dollars to their kitty.
The total number of M&A deals announced in May was worth 4.37 billion dollar, with United Spirits buying out Whyte & Mackay for 1.11 billion dollars, and Suzlon Energy's controlling stake in REpower for 1.7 billion dollars, being the most significant deals of the month, Thorton said.
The M&A deals in the month totalled 74 with announced values of 4.37 billion dollars as against 57 deals worth 3.98 billion dollars in April, Thornton's Dealtracker report said.
Out of the total cross-border deals, 30 were outbound with Indian companies acquiring businesses outside the country for a value of 3.79 billion dollars. There were 12 inbound deals (international companies acquiring Indian businesses) with an announced value of close to 0.32 billion dollars.
Besides, the total number of private equity deals announced during the month stands at 24 with an announced value of 1.56 billion dollars as against 23 deals with a total announced value of 0.44 billion dollar in April. PTI
Sunita prepares to return home, Shuttle docks in Space
Seema Hakhu
Kachru Houston, Jun 11 (PTI) Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams prepared to return home after a record six month long space sojourn but there was some concern whether a damage caused to the Shuttle's body will pose problems when it comes back to earth next Tuesday.
The shuttle Atlantis succesfully docked with the International Space Station, where Sunita is one of the crew members, at 0108 IST today to bring back 41-year-old Williams, whose stay in space is the longest for any woman.
The shuttle, on its first mission of the year, suffered a 10-cm tear on its thermal blanket and a few pieces of foam fell off during launch on Friday, but NASA officials said the agency did not consider the damage significant. There is not a great deal of concern now, officials added.
Amidst greetings, hugs and handshakes with the 11-member Shuttle crew, who arrived at the orbiting outpost, Sunita wrapped up her duty as a station crew member by switching places with Mission Specialist Clayton Anderson.
Sunita will now start packing her stuff to return home on June 19.
However, amidst the smiles and salutations, questions remained unanswered about the section of peeled-back thermal blanket on the shuttle.
Engineers continued to review photographs of the affected area to determine whether it could pose a problem when Atlantis returns to Earth. The rest of the vehicle appeared to be in fine shape, NASA said.PTI
Migrants must learn English, says British Minister
London, June 11 (PTI) Migrants coming to Britain should be encouraged to learn English and it is a must for their integration into the society, a British Minister has said.
According to Community Secretary Ruth Kelly, local councils should motivate immigrants to learn English instead of routinely translating documents into foreign languages.
Stressing that translation could become a "crutch" that discouraged integration, she said, "The practice enables new immigrants to avoid learning English when they first arrive." However, Kelly said there were cases - such as in a casualty ward - in which translation was necessary, but that "learning and using the English language is key to helping migrants to integrate".
The Minister will receive a report this week from the Commission on Integration and Cohesion, which was set up by her department. The Commission focussed on concerns that segregated communities have acted as a spawning ground for extremism.
Kelly told the BBC here today that the Commission would issue guidance to local authorities, leading them away from "routine" translation. It would then be used only in appropriate situations, such as emergency services.
"I think speaking the language is absolutely key. Something the Commission looked at specifically is whether we should be translating from English into different languages as a matter of routine.
"They are going to put out guidance... Where local authorities can ask really hard questions about whether or not we are providing a crutch and supporting people in their difference, or whether translation is being used in the appropriate circumstances," she said.
Other ideas discussed by the Commission include some compulsory national or community service. PTI
Nepal declines to promulgate law to rehabilitate war-victims
Kathmandu, June 11 (PTI) Nepal's interim government has declined to promulgate a special Act sought by human rights groups and international bodies aimed at facilitating the rehabilitation of the victims of the decade-long Maoist insurgency in the Himalayan nation.
"Since the government promulgated a national policy on displaced people last year, there is no need to promulgate an Act in this regard," Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said, adding that the "government wants to implement the policy to address the problems of the conflict victims."
Replying to writ petitions against the Prime Minister's Office, the Home Ministry and the Parliament, Prime Minister Koirala told the Supreme Court in an affidavit that the "government has no plan to promulgate a separate Act in this regard" as it has adopted programmes to rehabilitate the conflict victims to their homes.
The Prime Minister, however, said the government is doing homework to form a Truth Commission and a Commission for Reconstruction of the State as per the peace agreement.
Seeking an apex court order on the rehabilitation of conflict victims, Bhoj Raj Timalsena, coordinator of the National Struggle Committee of the Victims of Maoist Atrocities, had filed the writ petitions.
Fed up with the response of the government, the victims of Maoist atrocities in Nepal had organised a sit-in in front of the American embassy in Kathmandu last month, urging the international community to take initiatives for their resettlement.
The government has identified 18,924 people of 6,923 families so far as internally displaced people. However, the victims association claims the number of the victims is around 200,000. PTI
Confucius family tree goes international for first time
Beijing, June 11 (PTI) For the first time in two millennia, the foreign descendants of the great ancient philosopher Confucius will be included in the sage's family tree.
More than 40,000 foreign descendants have been added to the Confucius Genealogy, which is now undergoing a fifth update and revision, Kong Dewei, a Confucius descendant who is directing the updating work, said.
Most of them -- 34,000 in all -- are from South Korea, Kong said.
The figure also includes 400 from Taiwan, 100 from Hong Kong and 50 from the United States, he said.
Family trees are an important part of traditional Chinese culture. They record priceless historical information and represent a precious legacy for Chinese people.
The four previous versions of Confucius' family tree only included his descendants on the Chinese mainland.
The new family tree will be published in 2009, on the 2560th birth anniversary of the philosopher (551-479 BC), and will include more than 1.2 million new entries.
Confucius was the founder of Confucianism, which advocates the building of a harmonious society through an individual's self-refinement in manners and taste. It was promulgated by Chinese rulers since the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 25 AD) and spread into east and south Asia. PTI
Cigars: the new style statement
Snehesh Alex Philip
New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) From being considered as 'niche' and hence available only in five star hotels and duty free shops, cigars seem to be slowly gaining popularity as they now adorn almost every neighbourhood pan shop.
"We have two different categories of cigars, the mass market and premium and hence have tied up with some of the best cigar makers to market their products in India" says Arun Joshi, Vice-President, Cigars, Godfrey Phillips, second largest tobacco player in the country.
The company has recently tied up with a major European cigar player, Davidoff to bring their cigars to India costing between Rs 150 to Rs 1400 a stick.
According to industry estimates, the total sale of cigars last year in India was three million units which is nearly worth Rs 20 crore. "People have just started trying cigars. It is still not a substitute for cigarettes and they prefer to smoke cigars during weekends," says Joshi pointing out that the company saw an increase of 48 per cent in sales last year.
Growing economy with higher purchasing power seems to the main reason for the growth of the cigar market. "Indian economy is growing and hence the demand for finer products would always be there," says Eric Piras, Vice-President, Altadis Cigars which makes some of the worlds famous cigars and now markets its cigars in India.
The market is flooded with low cost cigars (comparing to premium brands) offering flavours ranging from cognac to vanilla and chocolate. "My customers generally go by flavours. Women go in for strawberry or chocolate flavour while guys usually prefer cognac or even the coffee ones," says Pritam Das, a cigar seller in Connaught Place pointing out to his assortment of cigars costing anywhere between Rs 10 to Rs 150. PTI
Dera row: uncertainty looms over investments in Punjab
Vijay Dabur
Chandigarh, Jun 11 (PTI) Although the Sacha Sauda Dera crisis has been defused, an atmosphere of uncertainty looms over the industry amid fears that it may cause a setback to investments in land-locked Punjab.
The state is already grappling with the flight of industry to the neighbouring Himachal Pradesh in view of incentives offered to the entreprenuers by the hill-state to the investors.
Land-locked Punjab has no mines, minerals or other natural resources to boast of and with the surcharged atmosphere in the state after it was hit by a sectraian strife the situation has become more complicated for the investors who are giving a second thought before pumping money here.
"The Dera crisis has shaken the confidence of industrialists and investors and they are not comfortable and happy with the developments," PHDCCI Punjab Commitee Co-Chairman R S Sachdeva told PTI here.
"If the situation is not brought under control the new investments and further expansion of industry will suffer a severe set back," he allayed fears.
"The situation of unrest has created an atmosphere of uncertainty in the minds of entrepreneurs in the border state," he said.
While on the one hand the Parkash Singh Badal Government on is walking an extra mile to woo investors, the Dera crisis is sending wrong signals on the other.
Barely three months into power, the Dera controversy has dented Punjab's efforts at projecting an investor friendly image. PTI
By elections results make Manipur Chief Minister stronger
Imphal, Jun 10 (PTI) The success of Congress candidates in the by elections to two assembly constituencies in Manipur this week has not only helped Chief Minister O.Ibobi Singh boost his image but also put a stop to grumbling in the party.
Congress nominees--Th.Lokeshore Singh, a staunch loyalist of Ibobi Singh and chief minister's wife O.Landhoni,--were elected from Khundrakpam in Imphal east district and Khangabok in Thoubal district respectively on June 5.
With their victory, Congress, the major partner of the ruling Secular Progressive Front (SPF) ministry has secured simple majority with 31 MLAs in the 60-member house.
"We will not leave CPI and coalition SPF ministry will continue," said Ibobi Singh when asked whether Congress would form the government of its own since it had secured a simple majority.
He said it would be "unfair and unethical" to alone after getting majority in the house and added that there was no question of abandoning CPI.
Political observers said the success of the two Congress candidates had also strengthened the hands of the chief minister who was facing some problems over the non-inclusion of some senior Congress leaders in the two-month old Congress-led SPF ministry.
But, Ibobi Singh, party sources pointed out, can not be complacent because of a 'powerful section of Congress MLAs' was unhappy over the allocation of portfolios to ministers.
They said resignation by Manipur medical minister Gaikhangm, a senior leader and President of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee, from the council of ministers on June four was an indication that all was not well. Resignation of Gaikhangam has not been accepted so far. PTI
Digest of domestic news: June 2-June 8
Digest of domestic news for the week June 2-June 8, 2007 Saturday Jaipur: Talks between agitating Gurjars and Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje end inconclusively even as an ex-gratia of Rs five lakh to the next of the kin of the deceased in the violence over the quota issue is announced.
Dausa/Jaipur: The stringent National Security Act (NSA) is imposed by the Rajasthan government in 11 districts hit by Gurjar-Meena clashes and Gurjar violence over ST status issue as the Army conducted an aerial survey of the affected regions.
New Delhi: Heavy to moderate polling reported for bypolls to one Lok Sabha and seven assembly constituencies spread over six states, which were by and large peaceful.
Mumbai: Maharashtra Revenue Minister Narayan Rane says the farmland purchased by megastar Amitabh Bachchan in Pune district would be "seized" by the government if it was found that he had used fraudulent means to purchase the property.
Sunday Chennai: The DMK government in Tamil Nadu served a notice on its arch rival AIADMK asking it to demolish its party headquarters here, after which party supremo Jayalalithaa termed the action as vendetta politics, a charge denied by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.
Jaipur: The Rajasthan government extends the National Security Act, in force in 11 districts in the wake of Gurjars' stir, to three more trouble-torn areas.
New Delhi: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrives here on a three-day visit during which bilateral relations are expected to receive a major push. Monday New Delhi: India and Brazil decide to step up bilateral trade four-fold to 10 billion dollars by 2010 even as the Latin American nation's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva asserted a new world economic order cannot be negotiated without taking on board the two nations.
New Delhi: Noted cardiologist Naresh Trehan, who recently quit Escorts Heart Institute on a bitter note, joins the rival Apollo Hospital along with his core group that includes around 40 doctors.
New Delhi: Normal life was thrown out of gear in several parts of the national as agitating Gurjars laid siege to all entry points to Delhi and vent their anger at city buses causing traffic chaos.
Tuesday Panaji: Congress and its pre-poll ally NCP set to retain power in Goa winning 19 seats, just two short of a majority, in the elections to the 40-member Assembly that threw up a fractured verdict.
Lucknow:In a major relief for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, Governor T V Rajeswar refuses to grant sanction to prosecute her in the Rs 175 crore Taj Corridor scam holding there was no prima facie case and that corruption and forgery charges against the BSP supremo does "not stand scrutiny."
New Delhi: The BJP retains Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat and romped home in two assembly constituencies while Congress bagged four assembly seats including two in Manipur giving it a majority on its own in the North-Eastern state where it heads a coalition government. Jaipur: Army deployed in several areas of Rajasthan was called back today and highways opened as violence ceased allowing life to limp back to normal in the state that saw large-scale arson and clashes during the week-long stir by Gurjars demanding ST status.
Wednesday Jaipur: Gujjar leader Col (Retd) Kirori Singh Bainsala, who spearheaded a week-long violent agitation in Rajasthan to press the community's demand for ST status, is charged with murder and criminal conspiracy.
Bhubaneswar: Amidst high drama, the Orissa government today stopped the much-hyped walkathon by wonderkid Budhia Singh from Bhubaneswar to Kolkata after which the child runner began an indefinite sit-in protest here.
New Delhi: Preparing the defences against those raiding its indigenous wealth, India will translate ancient Sanskrit hymns describing yoga postures in 5 foreign languages to stop countries from handing out patents for things already known for centuries.
Hyderabad: Two years ahead of the general elections, a group of eight regional parties launch a new national front as an alternative to the Congress and BJP. PTI
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