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Indian doc petrified, punished for "unfortunate acquaintance"
Natasha Chaku
Melbourne, Jul 5 (PTI) Life for Indian doctor Mohammed Asif Ali, who was released yesterday by the Australian Police after being held in connection with the failed UK terror attacks, will not be the same anymore.
Ali, according to police, made an "unfortunate acquaintance" in his friendship with his fellow doctor and compatriot Mohamed Haneef, also arrested in connection with the terror plot, and ended up almost being branded a terrorist by a section of the media.
The 26-year-old doctor, who arrived in Australia six months ago, has had his world turned upside down in the past 48 hours, simply because he agreed to mind some things for his friend, Haneef.
Ali was lying low yesterday, as media staked out his apartment just two blocks from the Gold Coast Hospital where he worked.
When reporters managed to get Ali on his mobile phone, he begged to be left alone, saying he was extremely tired and just wanted to sleep. "I don't know anything," he said. The manager of his apartment block said the doctor was "petrified" after his ordeal.
He was unwittingly caught up in a manhunt after police detained Haneef at Brisbane Airport late on Monday on suspicion of having been in contact with members of a group involved in a British car bomb plot.
Police kicked in Ali's door the next morning, and spent the next day rifling through his apartment, and combing Haneef's car.
It was almost last midnight before police finished questioning Ali. Police sources described him as a man who had simply made an unfortunate acquaintance. PTI
India to join ITER to boost nuclear fusion technology
New Delhi, Jul 5 (PTI) With an aim of boosting its capabilities in nuclear fusion technology, India today decided to join the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project at an estimated cost of Rs 2500 crore.
A meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh approved the country's participation in the project and decided to set up an empowered Board by the Governing Council of the Institute for Plasma Research for its effective implementation, Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi told reporters here.
The foreign exchange component of the project, to come up at Cadarache in southern France, is calculated at Rs 1129 crore.
"India's joining ITER is a recognition of its scientific and technical capability in fusion energy. Considering India's large energy needs in future, our gaining technological capability in fusion energy will be of considerable long term benefit", Dasmunsi said.
He said India's participation in ITER would allow the country to "leapfrog in terms of our national technological capability in fusion energy". PTI
Arrested Pak Cleric asks students to surrender
K J M Varma
Islamabad, Jul 5 (PTI) Amid mounting pressure from Pakistani security forces, the captured leader of the besieged Lal Masjid here today asked his followers to either surrender or escape as another 150 students of the madrassas run by the mosque gave themselves up after soldiers detonated a series of loud explosives.
Maulana Abdul Aziz, the head of the Lal Masjid who was arrested yesterday, asked the students inside the mosque and seminary complex either to surrender or escape under the given situation.
"It would be wrong to stay inside as I have seen massive deployment of security forces surrounding the mosque and seminary," Aziz said in an interview to the state-run TV.
Aziz's younger brother Abdul Rashid Ghazi, who is leading the remaining students inside the complex, has refused to surrender unconditionally.
A red alert has been sounded among security agencies in and around the Lal Masjid to look for Ghazi as, according to intelligence agencies, he may try to escape wearing a veil like his brother Aziz or by changing his looks.
Security forces made loudspeakers announcement to the students to lay arms and surrender before authorities to avoid bloodshed.
Meanwhile, Religious Affairs Minister Ijaz-ul Haq said that up to 30 "armed terrorists" were preventing students from surrendering. He said that these militants were bodyguards of the head cleric Aziz.
"There are up to 30 armed terrorists holed up inside the mosque who do not want to come out and are preventing others from leaving the premises," he told state television. PTI
Vice Presidential election on Aug 10
New Delhi, July 5 (PTI) The election for the post of Vice President will be held on August 10 to elect a successor to incumbent Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.
The election will be held close on the heels of the Presidential poll on July 19 in which Shekhawat is locked up in a straight fight with UPA-Left nominee Pratibha Patil.
According to the schedule announced by the Election Commission, the notification for the Vice Presidential poll would be issued on July nine.
The last date for filing nominations is July 23 and scrutiny will take place the next day. The last date for withdrawal is July 26.
Counting of votes would also take place on August 10 evening itself.
The Electoral College for the poll consists of a total of 790 Members of Parliament including 543 members of the Lok Sabha and 233 from the Rajya Sabha. Twelve nominated members from the Rajya Sabha and two from the Lok Sabha are also voters in the poll.
The Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha has been appointed as the Returning Officer for the poll.
Shekhawat's term ends on August 18.
The ruling UPA alliance along with the Left parties and the BSP have a comfortable majority to ensure the victory of its nominee. PTI
Parliament Monsoon session may be in August
New Delhi, Jul 5 (PTI) Monsoon session of Parliament is likely to be delayed this time and it may be convened only in August.
The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) will meet on July 11 to finalise the schedule for the Monsoon Session, Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi told reporters here today.
Normally the Monsoon Session begins around the third week of July but this time it is likely to commence in the first week of August to enable Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to address Parliament. PTI
Sensex drops marginally, snaps 4-day long rally
Mumbai, July 5 (PTI) The benchmark Sensex ended lower by 18 points today with a decline in blue-chip stocks led by the technology segment, snapping the four-day long rally.
The Sensex, which had been on an upward march, lost 18.35 points at 14,861.89, after touching an all-time intra-day peak at 14,963.26 with most of IT and tech stocks attracting profit selling at existing higher levels.
Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty lost 5.35 points at 4353.95, after setting an intra-day new peak of 4378.55 points.
Although selling pressure was seen in infrastructure and refining stocks such as ACC, Grasim and Reliance Industries, it was more confined to IT and technology stocks.
The IT index fell by 49.65 points at 4,791.99 while Tech index by 29.10 points at 3725.11.
ACC Ltd led cement makers to a fall after some investors judged recent gains excessive and the impact was felt in newly listed stocks of DLF Ltd, which moved between Rs 583.95 and Rs 526.60, before winding up at Rs 569.80 against the offered price of Rs 525. PTI
NASSCOM seeks opening up of education sector to corporates
Chennai,Jul5 (PTI) Seeking opening up of the education sector to the corporates, NASSCOM today said such a move would ensure better industry oriented graduates with specific skillsets.
"The education system should be liberalised and allowed to run like a corporate entity like the health sector...This will bring in more investments also," Kiran Karnik, President, NASSCOM told a press meet during a 'HR Summit' held here.
"We can become an international hub for education. Open up the system...Allow equivalents of IITs and IIMs to be set up.We will get international students here, instead of our students going abroad and spend USD three billion for education in foreign universities. In fact, we can generate USD 10 billion if such institutions are set up," he said.
He said long term changes in the education system were necessary- "Substantial reforms are necessary. We need a system by which curriculum can be periodically and regularly updated than updating it every three or five years." While availability of talent was not an issue at all, suitability to jobs was a problem with the industry, he said.
Lakshmi Narayanan, Chairman, NASSCOM said accounting and legal services outsourcing were emerging as good opportunities "The Indian talent pool can make a difference in these areas. We need managerial, base talent to help it grow." Karnik said NASSCOM has come out with a benchmark test like the GRE, which would help companies identify suitable talent to be recruited. The test, NASSCOM Assessment of Competence, has just been started and will be rolled out in five to six states very soon, he added. PTI
DLF lists on bourses; is 8th biggest firm in m-cap
Mumbai, July 5 (PTI) India's biggest realty firm DLF Ltd made a strong debut on the bourses today as its shares jumped 36 per cent over the issue price in intra-day trade, making it the eight most valued company on the Bombay Stock Exchange.
The scrip was listed at Rs 582 on BSE and rose to a high of Rs 714.25 as against an issue price of Rs 525, propelling its market value to over Rs 1,20,000 crore. But it settled with a modest 8.5 per cent gain at Rs 570.05, reflecting a market capitalisation of Rs 96,278 crore.
In terms of volume, the scrip witnessed huge trading activity. As many as 7.80 crore shares were traded on National Stock Exchange and over 3.42 crore shares changed hands on BSE. On NSE, the scrip closed at Rs 569.
DLF touched a low of Rs 505.60 on BSE, while on NSE it touched a high of Rs 583.95 and a low of Rs 526.60.
"The market capitalisation of DLF is right now between Rs 95,000 crore to Rs 1,00,000 crore," DLF Group's chief finance officer Ramesh Sanka told reporters in early trade.
Billionaire K P Singh-promoted DLF, which had delisted from BSE in 1982, was ahead of ICICI Bank and State Bank of India in terms of market cap. Only Reliance Industries, ONGC, Bharti Airtel, NTPC, Infosys, TCS and Reliance Communications has higher market capitalisation on BSE.
DLF also replaced Unitech as the country's biggest realty firm on the bourses. Unitech is placed at the 20th spot with a market value of Rs 42,378 crore on the BSE.
The company had offered 17.5 crore equity shares through 100 per cent book-building process. The proceeds of the issue, which was oversubscribed 3.5 times, would be deployed to meet costs of construction, land acquisition and repayment of debt. PTI
BAL rejigs organisational structure; increases bike prices
New Delhi, July 5 (PTI) Country's second largest two-wheeler maker Bajaj Auto Ltd (BAL) today announced a change in its organisational structure, while increasing prices of its 100 cc and 125 cc bikes Platina and Discover by Rs 500.
Under the new structure, the company will be having five broad strategic units -- R&D, engineering, two-wheeler business unit, commercial vehicles business unit and international business units.
Speaking on the restructuring, BAL Managing Director Rajiv Bajaj said: "The new structure would assist in aligning the vectors of the organisation and will enable the company to live its brand values and be distinctly ahead".
The company, in a statement, said as per the reorganised structure it will have three CEOs for the two-wheeler unit, commercial vehicles business unit and international business units respectively.
The three CEOs will be responsible for top line business growth and profitability of their respective businesses, it added.
As part of the rejig, BAL Vice-President Marketing and Sales (Two-wheelers) S Sridhar has been promoted as CEO of two-wheeler business unit while R C Maheshwari has joined the company as CEO of the commercial vehicles unit.
BAL's Vice-President (Engineering) Pradeep Srivastava has been promoted to head the engineering unit as its President while Abraham Joseph would continue to head R&D operations, the statement said. PTI
Unitech to pump in Rs 6,000 cr on luxury housing project
New Delhi, Jul 5 (PTI) Real estate major Unitech today announced an investment of Rs 6,000 crore in the next seven years to develop a high-end luxury residential project in Noida on a plot it had won in India's biggest land deal.
The company, India's second-biggest realty firm in market value, will develop 'Unitech Grande' in four phases and aims to generate a whopping Rs 15,000 crore revenue from it.
"Total investment will be about Rs 6,000 crore, including Rs 1,750 crore on land," Unitech Managing Director Sanjay Chandra told reporters after the project waas launched here.
He said the project cost would be funded through internal accruals and advances from customers. Unitech had purchased 340 acre in May last year, outbidding bigger rival DLF, for a record Rs 1,582 crore. Later, it acquired another seven acre.
"Revenue estimated from this project over the next seven years is about Rs 15,000 crore, which would start reflecting on the balance sheet from 2008-09 fiscal onward," he said.
The project would be the largest in the country in terms of number of apartments - 5,300 in all, built up area (15 million sq ft) and expected sales revenue, Chandra claimed.
"Unitech Grande is envisioned to be one of Asia's most luxurious residential projects. The lifestyle created here is unmatchable in the country and compares with best in the world," he said.
Giving deatils about the project, Chandra said the size of the apartment would be in the range of 2,200-5,500 sq ft.
"We will develop 670 units in the first phase, which will be sold to customers at Rs 7,750 per sq ft," he said, adding the project was priced "very fairly" for the customer. PTI
STAR Cricket to telecast India-England Test series
New Delhi, Jul 5 (PTI) ESPN-STAR Sports' new channel STAR Cricket will telecast live the three-Test cricket series between India and England starting July 19.
The channel will also broadcast India's warm-up matches against county side Sussex and England A, a statement said today.
India will play a four-day match against Sussex followed by a three-day match against England A before the start of the Test series.
Next month, India will play a one-dayer against England A.
Starting with India's tour of England, the three channels -- ESPN, STAR Sports, STAR Cricket -- will telecast more than 150 days of international cricket till September 2008. PTI
India eyeing rich haul in World Military Games
New Delhi, July 5 (PTI) With barely 100 days to go for the World Military Games in Hyderabad, the athletes of the Indian armed forces are eyeing a rich haul of medals despite tough competition from traditional powerhouses.
China and the United States are sending strong contingents of more than 200 athletes each for the multi-disciplinary event starting October 14 which will see participation of around 5,000 competitors from more than 80 countries.
India is targeting a major chunk of medals on offer in shooting, sailing and boxing among the 15 disciplines.
"The Games is being hosted in India and it is very important that our athletes do well. The Services Sports Control Board has been preparing the athletes for the event. We have sent our teams abroad for training and exposure trips," Vice Chief of Army Staff and the chairperson of the Games Lt Gen Deepak Kapoor said here today.
In the last edition of the Games, India had sent only 20 athletes and won only a bronze, but this time India is fielding a strong contingent and hoping for more medals.
"This is the first occasion when the Games are being held outside Europe. Last time we had sent a small number but we are fielding a large contingent and likely to do much better this time. We have done extensive preparation and have set a target. We keeping our fingers crossed," Kapoor said.
India had sent nine teams abroad for special training and exposure for this event. Volleyball, shooting, boxing, triathalon, military pentathlon and football were among the disciplines in which athletes got an opportunity to hone their skills. PTI
Windies cricket gets million-dollar boost
Melbourne, Jul 5 (PTI) The cash-strapped West Indies Cricket Board has received a boost with Texas billionaire Allen Stanford announcing a fresh 100-million dollar investment to revive the game's fortunes in the Caribbean.
"This won't be just cricket, this will be a life-changing experience," Stanford said.
"We can't wait two decades to regain the golden era of West Indies cricket. We are stuck in the 1950s and 60s. We can't allow ourselves to stay stuck forever. We have to come into the 21st century," he was quoted as saying by the 'Daily Telegraph'.
The money would be spent on developing cricket at the grassroots level and grooming youngsters for the second edition of Stanford twenty20 tournament early next year in which 21 teams will compete for USD one million.
Stanford had reportedly spent over USD 35 million on the first edition last year.
"I'm investing a lot of money in this thing and at some point I expect to make a profit - something that needs to happen for the longevity of the programme and will provide essential funding for West Indies Cricket," Stanford said.
"I have committed my resources and I believe that within those five years we'll have a world-beating West Indies team again," he added.
Stanford said the domestic twenty20 tourney would become the building ground for talented youngsters.
"The Stanford 20/20 programme we're creating is going to be the instrument that brings about that success," he said.
The Stanford Twenty20 project has former greats like Sir Garfield Sobers, Viv Richards, Curtly Ambrose and Michael Holding as its Board of Directors. PTI
India, Pakistan keen to reschedule charity tie: Talat Ali
Karachi, Jul 5 (PTI) India and Pakistan are keen to reschedule the charity cricket match for the Prince Charles Foundation, which was washed out earlier this week at Glasgow.
"Both the Boards are keen to have the match as it is for a noble cause," Pakistan team manager Talat Ali said.
Pakistan wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal said he felt sorry for the fans who came to watch the match but were left disappointed by the weather.
"It was very frustrating watching the rain. We were so keen to play the match against India but it was rained off. It was hugely disappointing because so many Pakistanis and Indians showed up for the match from all over England," Akmal said.
The two teams were scheduled to take on each other on July 3 in the tie, the proceeds of which would have gone to the Prince Charles Foundation.
However, the rain did not allow a single ball to be bowled.
The Pakistan team returned home early this morning from Glasgow and is scheduled to attend a training camp at Abbotabad from July 10 but Talat said the camp may have to be rescheduled due to the inclement weather.
"The players are scheduled to attend a training camp in Abbotabad from July 10 but because of rains and floods it could be rescheduled," he said. PTI
14 athletes to represent India at World Youth Athletics
New Delhi, July 5 (PTI) A total of 14 competitors will represent India at the fifth IAAF World Youth Athletics Championship to be held in Ostrava, Czech Republic from July 11-15.
The team comprising six boys and eight girls, consists of three athletes from Delhi. They are 800m runner Sahil Mahindra, shot putter Ajay Pal Singh and hammer thrower Ajaj Ahmed.
Kerala also contributes three members while there are two Orissa athletes for the girls' 4x400m relay.
Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab, Maharashtra and West Bengal have one representative each.
The team was selected on the basis of performance at the National Youth Athletics Championship held in Bangalore on June 1-2.
The team will be accompanied by 1978 Bangkok Asian Games gold medallist Suresh Babu as manager.
The team: Boys: Sahil Mahindra (800m-Delhi), Ajay Pal Singh (Shot Put-Delhi), Jithin Paul (400m hurdles-Kerala), Shivam Singh (Discus throw-Uttar Pradesh), Ajaj Ahmed (Hammer throw-Delhi), Virender Kumar (Javelin throw-Haryana); Girls: M R Poovamma (400m-Karnataka), Anu Mariam Jose (800m-Kerala), Neethu Mathew (Triple jump-Kerala), Manpreet Kaur (Shot Put-Punjab), Debashree Majumdar (4x400m relay-West Bengal), Jauna Marmu (4x400m relay-Orissa), Nanda Sarbani (4x400m relay-Orissa), Shriya Vidwans (4x400m relay-Maharashtra).
Team Manager- Suresh Babu. PTI
45 Muslim docs used chat site to plan US terror raids: reports
London, July 5 (PTI) A group of 45 Muslim doctors threatened to use car bombs and rocket grenades in terrorist attacks in the United States during discussions on an extremist Internet chat site, media reported today.
Police found details of the discussions on a site run by a three-strong "cyber-terrorist" gang at the home of Younis Tsouli, 23, Woolwich Crown Court in south-east London was told yesterday.
The three "cyber terrorists" - Tariq Daou, Tsouli and Waseem Mughal, are facing lengthy jail sentences after admitting using the Internet to spread al-Qaeda propaganda inciting Muslims to a violent holy war and to murder non-believers.
They are the first defendants in Britain to be convicted of inciting terrorist murder on the Internet.
One message read: "We are 45 doctors and we are determined to undertake jihad and take the battle inside America.
"The first target which will be penetrated by nine brothers is the naval base which gives shelter to the ship Kennedy," The Daily Telegraph reported.
This is thought to have been a reference to the USS John F Kennedy, which is often at Mayport Naval Base in Jacksonville, Florida.
The message discussed targets at the base, adding: "These are clubs for naked women which are opposite the First and Third units." It also referred to using six vehicles and three fishing boats and blowing up petrol tanks with rocket propelled grenades. PTI
Airport bomb suspects leave behind suicide note: media
London, Jul 5 (PTI) Two suspected al-Qaeda terrorists who crashed a jeep into Glasgow airport left behind a suicide note explaining their motives and grievances, the media reported today.
According to The Times, police did not say where the apparent suicide note was found but the language in it indicated that the men intended to blow up the vehicle while they were inside.
The suicide note reportedly explained their motives behind the attack as well as grievances.
Both men survived the attack although Khalid Ahmed, the driver, suffered 90 per cent burns and is in a critical condition.
The focus is now on the role of Bilal Abdulla, the Iraqi doctor who was a passenger in the jeep that rammed into the terminal at Glasgow airport. He was not badly injured.
There were claims last night that the Indian man arrested in Liverpool, Sabeel Ahmed, was seen in Cambridge with Abdulla.
Police sources claimed that three of the suspects were related and were raised in Bangalore. One of them, Mohammed Asif Ali was released without charge in Australia. The other five young medics under arrest are of Middle Eastern origin.
Officers suspect that some of the doctors arrested in connection with the failed car bombings in London and Glasgow planned their attacks in Britain. Detectives are also investigating whether the terrorist cell was assembled by radicalised junior doctors in this country. They may have met in Cambridge, CNN claimed.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Abdulla was also associated with members of the radical Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir in Cambridge. PTI
Pak Islamic scholars flay radical Lal Masjid clerics
Islamabad, July 5 (PTI) Islamic scholars in Pakistan have flayed the radical clerics of the Lal Masjid for using innocent students for their ulterior "objectives" and defaming Islam by trying to impose their own brand of religion.
The religious scholars rejected a claim made by Maulana Abdul Aziz, who was caught trying to sneak out wearing a burqa when hundreds of students holed up inside the radical Lal Masjid complex surrendered to the police yesterday, that he had an indication from God to launch jihad and impose Sharia in the country.
Such claims had no religious standings and they could not be used to legitimise "illegal and un-Islamic" actions, Maulana Javed Ahmad Ghamidi was quoted telling private channel Geo News.
"Only the Quran, Sunnah and Hadith are the sources to understand and interpret Islam," he said, adding that the Lal Masjid mullahs were misguiding people and using innocent students for their "objectives".
Maulana Rafi Usmai said the Lal Masjid clerics were not serving Islam and instead they were defaming it. He said Azizs claim had no importance, the Daily Times reported.
Majority of local clerics in Karachi were against the attitude and activities of the Jamia Hafsa and the Lal Masjid administration as they believed that their "unwise activities" were resulting in the defamation of Islam and madrassas in Pakistan.
"People like Ghazi have rendered irreparable loss to Madaris as their activities would not only put seminaries under more internal and external pressures but would also create dissent among common people," Mufti Abuzar of Karachi was quoted as saying by The News daily. PTI
US celebrates Independence-Day amidst rains
New York, Jul 5 (PTI) Scintillating fireworks display on the East River here marked the spectacular finale to the day-long celebration of the United States 231st birthday.
More than three million people watched the half-an-hour pyrotechnic display amidst heavy rain last night, an annual event sponsored by Macy's department store, which includes parades, concerts, and competitions like the traditional hotdog eating.
But this year's celebrations were held in a strong umbrella of security with hundreds of law enforcement officials and specialised team employed to tackle terrorist threat at all the major cities following terrorist incidents in London and Glasgow.
The fireworks were cancelled in some parts of the country reeling under drought for the fear that they might ignite bone dry grass.
A total of 40,000 shells were fired from eight barges which gives an average of 1,300 shells per minute. For the first time, the show featured fireworks which exploded on hitting the surface of water illuminating it for a while.
Weathermen had predicted rain and thunderstorms at the time of the event.
In Disney World, 1,000 people from several countries took oath to become the US citizens. Some 425 active duty personnel of the US armed forces are expected to take oath of citizenship in Iraq, Guam, Germany, Kuwait and South Korea during this week. PTI
Passion Quotient-makes all the difference, says a new book
New Delhi, Jul 5 (PTI) Ever wanted to know about your passion quotient (PQ)? Well if not, go for it as even as 20 per cent increase in PQ can act like virtual energy and work wonders for corporates, students and professionals alike, says a new book.
"IQ or intelligence quotient comes more like a hard wired DNA bonanza which you cannot really improve upon, whereas you can raise your PQ threshold and become more creative by making some conscious efforts," author Virender Kapoor writes in "The Greatest Secret of Success: Your Passion Quotient".
He says people with high IQ but low passion and drive have rarely made it to the top. "The fire in the belly ie., passion contributed more to Albert Einstein's success than his high IQ." Human emotions cannot be measured accurately. PQ cannot be assigned a number or figure as in the case of IQ. "But PQ is notional, indicative and representative in nature." Kapoor also relates passion with creativity. "In fact passion generates creativity and creativity needs passion. Passion can fire up that creative genius which all of us to some degree possess." Passion becomes the propelling force for professionals, entrepreneurs, musicians, actors, lawyers, pilots, writers, scientists, fashion designers and almost every conceivable human profession.
It gets linked directly to the inner motivation which is a guiding spirit for self-motivated successful people. It is also the most important ingredient for leadership.
(About the Book: "The Greatest Secret of Success: Your Passion Quotient"; Author: Virender Kapoor; Publishers: Macmillan India Ltd; Price: Rs 285; Pages: 258). PTI
The nutty industry takes another leap
Snehesh Alex Philip
New Delhi, Jul 04, (PTI) With fitness freaks stressing on fat-free healthy diet, dry fruits like cashews, almonds are in for stiff competition from the new variants popularly known as the 'healthy nuts' or 'healthy dry fruits'.
"Researchers and nutritionists across the world have proved that it is wrong to stay away from nuts because of the presumed fat and cholesterol. No, doubt, nuts indeed give you fat but then hazelnuts gives you good fat," says V N Dalmia of Dalmia Continental Private Ltd (DCPL) which is all set to market Leonardo Hazelnuts in India promoting it as a 'healthy nut'.
Exports and importers dealing with dry fruits agree that new varieties of 'healthy nuts' are giving a strong competition to what was traditionally dry fruits in India namely, cashews, almonds and raisins.
"The lifestyle trend is such that everyone wants to go in for healthy variants so why should dry fruits be any different. Now, we see that slowly traditional dry fruits like cashews are taking a backseat while new exotic dry fruits and nuts like macadamia from Australia and mulberries among other like dry cherries, dried plums and prunes gaining higher demand," says Sanjiv Obhrai, Director, Chocolatiers the Chocolate Boutique in the capital.
"The market is growing for such dry fruits," he adds. Even DCPL, which recently launched packed hazelnuts in the market is very bullish with market expectations.
"We expect sales of 60 tonnes which amounts to roughly Rs 3 crores in the first year and are looking at a compounded annual growth rate of 75 per cent per annum for the next five years," DCPL added. PTI
Pressure on Zoramthanga government mounting
H C Vanlalruata
Aizawl, Jul 04 (PTI) With the election to the 40-member Mizoram Assembly only a year away, pressure had mounted against the Mizo National Front (MNF) government led by Chief Minister Zoramthanga from many fronts.
Opposition parties are launching scathing attacks against the state government by repeatedly urging the centre to impose president's rule and end the 'misrule' of Zoramthanga regime.
The three opposition combine - the Congress, the Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) and the Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) are crying for the blood of the MNF government alleging nexus with insurgent groups, failure of law and order and rampant corruption.
Allegations of the government nexus with Chakma and Hmar insurgent groups had been thrown thick and fast inside the state legislature and outside while processions were taken out and bandhs imposed by the opposition combine.
The plethora of allegations leveled against the state government prompted state Home Minister Tawnluia to propose constitution of a House Inquiry Committee which was implemented by the Assembly Speaker Lalchamliana.
Saikapthianga of the Mizoram Congress Party (MCP) a breakaway group of the state PCC and junior partner of the ruling MNF was appointed as chairman of the seven-member Inquiry Committee.
Opposition parties, however, were not happy with the Speaker's decision and demanded that the Inquiry Committee should be headed by an opposition member, preferably former Chief Minister and Congress legislature party leader Lal Thanhawla. PTI
Looking through the glasses-the way the stars do
Annie Samson
New Delhi, Jul 3 (PTI) Rajnikant in his latest Tamil flick 'Sivaji' sports a stylish pair of sunglasses, Amitabh Bacchchan plays a bespectacled 64-year-old cook in 'Cheeni Kum', and the major cast of 'Metro' Irfaan Khan, Kangana Ranaut and Konkona SenSharma all sport zero power spectacles.
"No wonder seventy five per cent of the people do not follow the optical store salesman's suggestion. They are influenced by movies and various magazines, newspapers and printed matter. Market trends keep fluctuating and things are much different than a few years ago when where one particular trend used to dominate for years. Today fashion is changing very fast and the hot designs keep changing rapidly, says Tarun Sachdeva, of Eye Essentials, which deal in vision correcting aids, spectacle frames etc.
With more and more actors wearing glasses on screen, the common man is following suit and becoming choosy about the frames and quality of glasses.
Multicoloured and broad sized frames are 'hot.' "Sunglasses and frames are available for Rs 1,000 and Rs 60,000," says Lalit Kalra, Director, Dayal Opticals.
Also, with increasing brand consciousness people are aware of the varieties of frames and sunglasses available. "They have fixed ideas about the type of brand they want," says Manoj Soni, Laurence and Mayo, Connaught Place.
He says "Earlier people might have been vaguely aware of some sunglass brands but nowadays due to huge advertisments in the media there is a growing awareness in the market about the wide variety of choice available to them." Manoj Soni adds, "While customers may demand specific brands for frames awareness about lenses is still insufficient in the market." Vogue Prada, Versace, Bovigare, Gucci are the most popular brands. The latest trend is that of titanium metal because they are very flexible and strong and almost impossible to break," he says. PTI
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