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Centre withdraws from SC two affidavits on Rama Setu
New Delhi, Sept 14 (PTI) In a damage control exercise, the Centre today withdrew from the Supreme Court its two affidavits, including the controversial one filed by the ASI claiming there was no historical or scientific evidence to establish existence of Lord Ram and Rama Setu as a man-made bridge.
The Centre's action came in the wake of controversy sparked by the ASI affidavit on Thursday that forced the government to backtrack on the issue.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balkrishnan, which allowed the Centre to withdraw the affidavits, said that the August 31 interim order putting on hold the construction in Rama Setu area will continue.
The Court in its interim order had allowed the dredging activity.
The government said it will examine the entire issue relating to the Sethusamudram project and sought three month's time from the Court.
The Court posted the matter for hearing in the first week of January, 2008. PTI
Left parties submit note on Indo-US deal to UPA-Left panel
New Delhi, Sep 14 (PTI) Left parties today submitted their views to the UPA-Left Committee on the implications of the US Hyde Act on India's foreign and security policies as well as self-reliance in the nuclear sector.
"We have submitted a joint note which details our apprehensions on the implications of the Indo-US nuclear deal to the committee," Left sources said.
The note covers various aspects of the issue, including the fears that the deal would not cover the entire nuclear fuel cycle and deny access to technologies relating to enrichment, reprocessing and heavy water production, they said.
The document is also understood to have highlighted the Left concerns relating to the pursuance of an independent foreign policy by the government and the US "designs" to bring India into a wide-ranging strategic alliance, they said.
Most of these concerns have already been made public by the Left parties in the past weeks at various fora.
The Left parties are also apprehensive on account of how India would guard against disruption of supplies and build a strategic fuel reserve covering the lifetime of the nuclear reactors, sources said.
The joint note of the Left is also understood to have raised the issue of annual certification clause under which India's role in international affairs would be tested to see whether it was congruent with the US policies or not. PTI
Bengal has to move with caution on agri-retail, says Buddhadeb
Kolkata, Sep 14 (PTI) Faced with strong resistance from Left Front partners like Forward Bloc to the entry of big capital into agri-retail business, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today said the state government would move with caution on the issue.
''I have to run a coalition government and I have to move forward in consultation with other Front partners. I have some problems. I am trying to solve it in my way,'' Bhattacharjee told the national executive meeting of FICCI here.
He said organised retailing in foodgrains should also be discouraged as this would lead to mass-scale unemployment. ''We have to move cautiously in this area.'' Opposing the entry of foreign firms into organised retailing, Bhattacharjee said only big Indian companies should be allowed to open outlets in the country with some regulations.
Bhattacharjee's statement assumed significance as the Forward Bloc had been vehemently protesting against the entry of Reliance in this sector.
One of the upcoming Reliance Fresh outlets in the city was vandalised by Forward Bloc recently after which the company had decided to go slow.
Spencer's of the RPG Group recently opened some retail outlets in the city. PTI
Poll consideration led to withdrawal of ASI affidavit: Basu
Kolkata, Sep 14 (PTI) Veteran CPI(M) leader Jyoti Basu today said the UPA government's withdrawal of affidavits filed by Archeological Survey of India in the Supreme Court on the Sethu Samudram project was prompted by electoral consideration.
"They (UPA government) did one thing in the court one day and just the opposite the next day. All these are being done with an eye on the elections," Basu told reporters after attending a meeting of the CPI(M) state secretariat here.
The Centre today withdrew from the Supreme Court its two affidavits, including the controversial one filed by the ASI claiming there was no historical or scientific evidence to establish existence of Lord Ram and Rama Setu as a man-made bridge. PTI
Sri Lanka set record T20 total to blow away Kenya
Johannesburg, Sep 14 (PTI) A ruthless Sri Lanka massacred the Kenyan bowling to post a record total of 260 and thrashed the minnows by 172 runs in the Group C match of the Twenty20 World Cup here today.
The margin of victory was also a new record, eclipsing England's 100-run win against Australia in 2005 at Southampton.
Sanath Jayasuriya's brute power-hitting enthralled the spectators as the veteran blasted 88 off 44 balls, while skipper Mahela Jayawardene hit 65 from just 27. And if that was not enough, Jehan Mubarak's 13-ball 46 came as a showstopper.
Having posted a record total of 260 which saw them going past the Australia's total of 221, the Lankan bowlers allowed the Kenyans to reach a meagre 88 for nine wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
The Sri Lankan batsmen peppered their innings with an astounding 30 boundaries and 11 sixes to sent shock waves for their opponents.
Kenya, who lost their first match to New Zealand and needed a victory here to stay in the tournament, is now out of the World Cup.
Despite losing Upul Tharanga (10) early in the innings to Thomas Odoyo, Jayasuriya and Sangakkara (30 off 18) began a run-riot.
The duo posted 75 for the second wicket and laid the foundation of a big total before Sangakkara fell sweeping to Jimmy Kamande (3-48). PTI
China lodges WTO complaint over US probes into Chinese paper
Beijing, Sept 14 (PTI) The simmering Sino-US trade war worsened today with China demanding consultations with the United States under the framework of the WTO over US anti-dumping investigations into the coated paper imported from China, the Ministry of Commerce said here.
In a brief news bulletin, the ministry said China's delegation to the World Trade Organisation asked for consultations in a letter delivered to the US delegation in Geneva on Friday.
China and the United States have seized a number of products deemed unsafe from each other this year. The United States has launched a number of anti-dumping investigations against Chinese products and banned other items citing health hazards, affecting Chinese exporters.
The US has launched five separate investigations into Chinese products, including art paper, steel pipe and tyres since last November, affecting 500 Chinese companies and costing 860 million US dollars in exports.
The US blamed melamine-tainted wheat protein from China on the deaths of cats and dogs in North America and claimed some Chinese toothpastes, tires and seafood were unsafe.
Earlier this month, China's quarantine administration said it has detected harmful pine wood nematodes in 13 batches of wooden packages of US-imported goods.
Prior to that the administration said it found a recent cargo of 21.6 tonnes of frozen potato slices imported from the United States which was not up to quality standard concerning carbonyl and acidity levels. PTI
SC to decide on discoms taking service line charges in tariff
New Delhi, Sep 14 (PTI) The Supreme Court will decide whether power distribution companies can recover through tariff the expenses made in creating infrastructure to carry electricity from transmission lines to electric poles.
The apex court today stayed an order of the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity that rejected Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company's plea to recover Service Line Charges through tariff.
A bench headed by Justice B N Agarwal also sought a response from Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission on the company's plea that alleged the Tribunal had denied SLC which it was recovering since 1991.
MSEDC counsels Arun Jaitley and Ragvendra Srivastava said the tribunal had refused to allow the utility to recover the expenses incurred by it in providing any electric line or electric plant used for the purpose of providing power supply.
According to them, MSEDC had proposed to recover two charges toward cost incurred in issuing new connections - service connection charges (SCC) and service line charges.
The SLC covers cost of infrastructure required to be installed from points of interconnections of transmission lines and distribution network up to the distributing mains (from transmission lines to electric poles). On the other hand, the SCC is intended to cover cost of electric line connection to the point of supply at consumers' premises (from electric poles to households), the petition stated.
The Tribunal had erred in holding that if SLC was allowed to be recovered through tariff, it would amount to doubling of the recovery of expenses from consumers, it added. PTI
7 Indian firms among top 250 global energy companies
New Delhi, Sep 14 (PTI) As many as seven Indian companies figure in the list of the world's 250 top performing energy firms, with Reliance Industries, ONGC and NTPC grabbing the top Asian ranks.
In the annual rankings of Platts Top 250 Global Energy, ONGC and Reliance Industries have made into the top 50 with rankings of 23 and 39 respectively. ONGC has also been named as the third best performing energy company in Asia.
The ranking is published every year by Platts, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies and a global energy and metals information provider.
Global oil and gas leaders have consolidated their energy businesses with the ranking led by Texas-based Exxon Mobil Corp, followed by the UK's BP Plc and Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Platts said.
Other Indian firms on the list include Indian Oil Corp (52), NTPC (103), GAIL (135), Bharat Petroleum Corp (203) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp (233).
According to Platts, China and India have dominated the sector leadership position. While ONGC has been named as the top Asian firm in the exploration and production (E&P), Mukesh Ambani-promoted Reliance Industries has topped the refining and marketing (R&M) list and NTPC has emerged as the top player in the independent power producers (IPP) category.
Both India and China have seven companies each on the list. However, China is represented by just Petrochina in the top 50 compared to two from India. PTI
Ties with China important determinant for global peace: Pranab
Ajay Kaul
Bangkok, Sep 14 (PTI) Describing its relationship with China as an "important determinant" for regional and global peace, India today said it seeks all-round development of ties with the neighbouring country without allowing the outstanding differences, including the boundary question, to define the agenda.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is on a three-day visit to Thailand, said China was a "foreign policy priority" for India and partnership between the two countries was crucial for Asia's emergence as the political and economic centre of the new international order.
He spelt out India's keen interest to develop ties with East Asian and South East Asian countries, with particular focus on strengthening trade, economic, defence and transport linkages.
"As India's largest neighbour and a key emerging player in the international arena, China remains an important priority of our foreign policy and a key component of our Look East Policy," he said delivering a lecture on 'India's Look East Policy: Implications for Thailand and South East Asia'.
Noting the rapidly growing trade and economic exchanges between India and China, he said this was a pointer to the fact that the two countries are constantly engaged in mutually rewarding pursuits on the basis of a wide array of complementarities.
"Frequent high level visits have further contributed to developing mutual trust and understanding," Mukherjee said. PTI
Musharraf denies acting under US pressure
Islamabad, Sep 14 (PTI) Rejecting criticism that he is toeing the US line in acting against Islamist militant groups, President Pervez Musharraf has said the fight against terrorism was in the interest of Pakistan and not to please the West.
"No one is dictating us ... (or) pressurizing us. We are taking (all) action in national interest," the General in an interactive programme on PTV last night.
Most of the participants in the programmed wanted to know whether Pakistan's foreign policy was influenced by the United States or the West.
Musharraf that such a misunderstanding was being created by certain "vested" interests. "There is no such thing." "We are not weak. We have a stature in the region, in the Ummah (Muslim world), we are a nuclear and a missile power of 160 million," he said.
Asked about the US pressure "to do more" to check Taliban and al Qaeda that have taken sanctuary in its tribal areas, he said "we are doing exactly as we please, as we think essential... Anyone who says we are not doing enough, I reject it, we are doing enough ... And we will continue doing as we are doing (it) in accordance with our strategy." Musharraf said Pakistan's fight against extremism and terrorism was in its own interest and not for the West or for the United States.
"If we do not confront this challenge, Pakistan's future will be very dark," he said.
Musharraf said Pakistan has often taken decisions at international fora that did not correspond to those of the US, as they were not in national interest. PTI
Sivamani all set to bring alive magic in US
Zafri Mudasser Nofil
New Delhi, Sept 14 (PTI) Star percussionist Anandan Sivamani is known to create music out of strange objects like spoons, brass boards and suitcases. And come September 23 and the artiste, billed by many as modern India's cultural ambassador, will recreate some of his magic in the US.
Sivamani, along with Remo Fernandes, Colonial Cousins, Louis Banks and Niladri will showcase India's rich diversity on the musical front at Incredible India @60 -- the September 23-26 festival in Manhattan organised to celebrate 60 years of the country's independence.
"I am looking forward to my performance in the US. It is a great platform to showcase India's music in the US," he says.
Life has been on a fast lane for Sivamani, who began drumming at the age of seven.
"When I am not touring I am busy with my albums and compositions," Sivamani, whose new album "Mahaleela" will be released in December, told PTI.
"'Mahaleela' is basically an instrumental album but it has vocal elements in it too," he says.
He is also working on his dream project - a gurukool.
"I want to name it as 'Siva of Rhythm' and it will including everything related to music, including yoga." Sivamani has played drums for music composers like A R Rahman and Ilayaraja and in films like "Rang De Basanti", "Taal", "Roja", "Dil Se", "Guru" and "Kabul Express".
However, he says its too early for him to venture into a solo score for Bollywood.PTI
Newsletter: Polls in view, slugfest between Modi, rivals at peak
Parag Dave
Ahmedabad, Sep 12 (PTI) Political parties are going full blast to use all the conventional modes and also the new media for campaign like internet, television, short message services (sms) etc to woo the voters ahead of the polls likely to be held by December-end.
Internet is widely being used by pro and hate Modi campaigners. Modi's supporters have put up blogs and messages and even his detractors too are into the same technology.
Ahmedabad BJP Corporator Mayur Dave in his blog has praised Modi as a visionary leader, who according to him was a boon to the state.
The BJP maintains that it is yet to officially start its E-campaign and would do it when the election draws near.
Television is being widely used by both the main political parties--the BJP and opposition Congress-- to reach out to the electorate in the state.
The state government has in the meanwhile distributed some compact discs to almost all the cable operators and told them to air the CDs during prime time.
Through the CDs an attempt has been made to how Modi has put Gujarat on the path of progress in the last five years.
Flaying the BJP for using the government machinery for the propaganda, the Congress too set off a splurge of advertisements with anti-Modi slants, both in some national and local television channels. PTI
Hotels hiring foreign chefs to attract discerning clientele
Anurag Sharma
New Delhi, Sep 11 (PTI) How Chinese is the 'Chinese' cuisine? Many may have often wondered over the genuineness of 'foreign food' dishes that are on offer in restaurants.
To bring about a sense of culinary veracity to their menus, restaurateurs are hiring chefs from the country of origin of the food to titillate taste buds.
"Foreign chefs are finding India a hot destination for their profession as Indian hotel industry is at boom. Occupancy levels at most hotels today average at around 80-85 per cent through the year, thanks to the host of conferences and trade shows beings hosted in the country. And the future only looks brighter," says Rajesh Mishra, Chairman, Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India (FHRAI).
"Indian chefs are incomparable but hiring a foreign chef adds glamour to the restaurant in attracting guests. In fact, many of Indian chefs are doing a great job in US and Europe and are in great demand overseas. Still, hiring authentic chefs, usually from the land from where the food originates, helps in the certification of food," he adds.
Shobha Mishra, Deputy director, FICCI, says the globalosation and easy visa rules have helped the Indian hospitality industry to add diversity in the chef profession.
She adds that it is worth noticing the demand of the Indian chefs is increasing by the day and the number of foreign chef in the country is still very small.
"They are more skillfull and efficient professionally and add more authenticity to the dish. In spite of the language and cultural barrier they understand the psyche of the customer better and if you are a connoisseur of good food and want to eat Chinese or Italian food the way Chinese or Italian do, a authentic chef is a must," says Ajit Sharma, Senior General Manger, Jaypee Siddharth. PTI
Indian handlooms, making inroads in world markets
New Delhi, Sep 10 (PTI) Indian handlooms are going global in a big way and have found support in the designer community, with ace labels like Manish Arora, Rohit Bal and Rajesh Pratap Singh figuring among 14 designers from the country, who are set to showcase their clothes and accessories, at the upcoming London Fashion Week beginning September 15.
The initiative is spearheaded by the UK based Conran Shop, which has picked up the 14 designers, including five who specialize in textiles, to travel to Conran Shops in London, Paris, New York and Tokyo.
"Handlooms represent not just an industry but the cultural heritage of India. It needs to chart out a road map for itself. Designers can play a major role in promoting handlooms. However, so far we have not been able to utilize our own resources to cope up with the changing lifestyles and aspirations. The handloom industry and the fashion designers should work in coordination to initiate yet another 'swadeshi' movement," Rathi Vinay Jha said at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week held in the capital recently.
Sunil Sethi, CEO Alliance Merchandising company says, "I see a lot of new designers following the trend of handlooms. Major international stores like UK -based Crate and Barrel, the Habitat all brand leaders abroad -are selling stuff by our designers.
"I have done atleast Rs 1,000 crore export in handlooms. This only goes on to prove that if we design our product right then the handloom industry has tremendous scope," he says. PTI
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