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Indo-US civil nuclear deal is for nuclear energy: Basu
Kolkata, Sep 21 (PTI) Days after West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee pitched for nuclear power, veteran CPI-M leader Jyoti Basu today echoed him by saying that the Indo-US nuclear deal was for atomic energy and hoped that the stand-off between the Left and the UPA government on the issue would ease.
"The Indo-US nuclear deal is for nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is necessary and there is a need for nuclear power plants. With new industries mushrooming, the demand for power will increase," Basu told reporters after the party's state secretariat meeting here.
He also expressed hope that the conflict between Left parties and the UPA government over the Indo-US nuclear deal would ease after the CPI-M's politburo and central committee meetings here.
"CPI-M's Politburo and Central Committee would meet in Kolkata from September 28 to October 1, which will be followed by a joint meeting of the UPA-Left committee on the nuclear deal. There could be some easing off of the situation," he said.
He said problems have developed between the CPI-M and the UPA because the Common Minimum Programme was not being adhered to.
Asked whether he was for indigenous reactors or for foreign ones, Basu replied, "I'm not a technical person. I don't know which technology is appropriate." He said during his tenure as chief minister there was a proposal for setting up a nuclear power plant at Sagar in South 24 Parganas district. "The Centre had told that nuclear power plants could not be set up at places where coal is available." PTI
Madhya Pradesh enters Limca Book of Records for max video conferencing
Bhopal, Sep 21 (PTI) Madhya Pradesh has entered the Limca Book of Records for maximum use of video conferencing facility and saving Rs 22 crore through it, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today said.
"The state government is making maximum use of information technology to tone up the administration and for redressal of public grievances. The 'Samadhan' online scheme for direct duologue with district officials has been a great success in terms of solving people's problems," he said.
The first Tuesday, every month has been fixed for video conferencing with district Collectors and other officers.
The National Informatics Centre of Government of India provides the video conference system which was first started at the Mantralaya and nine divisional headquarters in April, 2004. In the next phase it was connected to all the districts.
In last three years, video conferencing was held for about 22,230 hours and 1,031 meetings of departments were held through it, Chouhan said.
The video conferencing system has facilitated online review of various schemes and programmes at Mantralaya level. About three online meetings of different departments are held every month.
It has also improved the monitoring system, besides expediting disposal of complaints. PTI
BJP aggressive on Ram Setu issue
Sunil Gatade and Santosh K Joy Bhopal, Sep 21 (PTI) Apparently sensing mid-term elections, the BJP today turned aggressive on the Ram Setu issue demanding immediate dismissal of all DMK ministers at the Centre if Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi failed to withdraw "blasphemous" remarks on Lord Ram.
In the absence of an unwell Atal Bihari Vajpayee, there was talk of the leadership issue but there were no clear cut answers.
The party which gained power eleven years ago for the first time on the back of a 'Ram Lehar,' (wave) alleged that the affidavit in the Ram Setu case has "established the governments anti-Hindu mindset" while it dubbed the Sachar committee report on Muslims as one "sowing the seeds of communal divisions." Party chief Rajnath Singh in his presidential address at the party's National Executive which commenced here today expressed the party's commitment towards "further strengthening the NDA," even as party spokesman gave broad hints of the party-led alliance getting new allies from "down south", a clear indication to Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK.
But former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is not attending this meeting due to health reasons and the focus has automatically shifted to the issue of leadership of the NDA.
In a letter to party colleagues, the former Prime Minister said he was not able to attend due to ill health but was confident he would be "in the midst" of partymen soon.
He said the meeting is being held in an "era of transition" as there was political instability and uncertainty at the Centre. He underlined the need for unitedly facing the challenges ahead but steered clear of the leadership issue. PTI
Yechury accuses BJP of communalising Sethusamudram
New Delhi, Sep 21 (PTI) Maintaining that there was no scientific evidence of man-made structures in the Adam's Bridge area, a top Marxist leader has accused the BJP of taking recourse to faith to authenticate mythology as history and communalising Setusamudram and other issues to gain political advantage.
CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said the BJP, which had first sanctioned the Setusamudram project while in government, has been thoroughly exposed in its "diabolical opportunism" by opposing the same project for "political benefit through disastrous communal polarisation".
In an article in the latest issue of its party organ, 'People's Democracy', he said the Constitution, while protecting the right of the individual choice of faith, also seeks to encourage scientific enquiry and spirit. "These cannot be and should not be counterpoised." Giving a "materialistic" interpretation to the 'dasavataras', Yechury said this could be seen as "a remarkable recording of the evolution of human life and its civilisational advance." Referring to fish - the first 'avatara', he said science has now confirmed that the first life forms evolved under water. Then came the tortoise representing the amphibian, capable of living both on land and in water.
This was followed by the boar which lived only on land. The next avatara was the Narasimha reflecting transition from the animal to the human form. PTI
Yuvraj likely to be fit for semifinal against Australia
Durban, Sept 21 (PTI) The Indian team today heaved a sigh of relief with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni exuding confidence that Yuvraj Singh will be fit for tomorrow's semifinal against Australia in the Twenty20 World Championship.
Yuvraj missed the Super Eight encounter against South Africa yesterday due to an elbow injury, but Dhoni said that the left-hander would replace Dinesh Kaarthick tomorrow.
"Yuvraj had a problem with his elbow but he should be fit for the next match and is likely to replace Kaarthick," Dhoni said.
The Indian captain said the decision to leave out Yuvraj for yesterday's outing was taken just a few minutes before the match.
"We decided at the last moment that we wanted to save him for the matches ahead. We are a side with a positive frame of mind. For the sake of the team, considering the long season ahead, we thought it will be good not to play him in this game." Yuvraj, who hit a record six sixes in an over of Stuart Broad, was the architect of India's victory in their must-win game against England and his inclusion will boost Indian batting which struggled a bit against South Africa.
Dhoni also had a bit of injury scare as he suffered a back strain and even gave the wicketkeeping job to Kaarthick.
"It was just a strain in the lower back, on the right hand side. I had the luxury of having Kaarthick in the side, who is a specialist wicketkeeper. I didn't want to aggravate the injury. I am still smiling and hopefully it will be fine before the next match," he said. PTI
Anand regains sole lead in World Chess Championship
From our Chess Correspondent Mexico City, Sep 21 (PTI) Vishwanathan Anand regained sole lead in the World Chess Championship by outplaying Alexander Grischuk with the white pieces in the seventh round of the tournament here.
Boris Gelfand, who was sharing the lead with Anand after the sixth round, drew his game against defending champion Vladimir Kramnik and slipped to the second spot.
The seventh round brought the end of the first leg of the tournament. The players will now play each other once again in the second half of the tournament, but with colours reversed.
The other games in the seventh round were hard fought, but failed to produce decisive results. Peter Leko played solidly with black to draw against Alexander Morozevich while Svidler drew his game against Levon Aronian.
Anand makes winning with white in the Spanish opening look very easy. Today it was Grischuk's turn to be at the receiving end.
Anand decided to go for the Anti Marshall variation which avoids the Marshall attack. Anand gained an advantage in space and Grischuk had difficulty finding good squares for his pieces.
The exchange of queens brought Grischuk some relief, even as Anand kept up the pressure by advancing his kingside pawns.
For some time it looked as if Grishcuk may manage to draw the game, but Anand broke through the king side after Grischuk weakened his position on that part of the board.
The endgame was conducted with energy and precision by Anand and Grischuk threw in the towel after 50 moves when he could not stop Anand's passed queen pawn from promoting to a queen. PTI
Twenty20 more physically demanding than Tests, ODIs: Dhoni
Durban, Sep 21 (PTI) Twenty20 might be the shortest version of cricket but it is more demanding than Tests and one-dayers, says Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who feels the slam-bang version was taking a "toll" on the players' bodies.
"Twenty20 is a very demanding form. It is just 20 overs a side and three hour match, but the intensity and involvement is more than a 50-over match or even a Test match," Dhoni said.
The wicketkeeper-batsman said the format was especially punishing on the bowlers, who had little margin for error against batsmen ready to smack them out of the ground.
"The bowlers have to put in more than 100 per cent because even though they have only four overs, the batsmen are looking to go at them all the time," he said.
"The batsmen also love to challenge fielders, by looking to convert ones into twos. Twenty20 is very tiring and exhausting, it takes a good toll on the body," Dhoni said.
On playing back-to-back matches in the competition, Dhoni said although it was taxing, it helped the team getting acclimatised to conditions.
"It is international cricket and you always want to win whether you are playing back to back or matches after a gap. If you play back to back matches, you have the advantage of knowing the conditions," he said.
That knowledge would put the Indians at an advantage against the Australians in the semi-final here tomorrow.
"We definitely know the wicket, we know the conditions, we know how the pitch behaves when there is grass on it, so we won't really panic. We do have an advantage, but everything depends on how you play on that day," he added. PTI
Telecom user base grows to 241 mn, tele-density at 21 pc
New Delhi, Sep 21 (PTI) The growth story of the telecom sector continues with the total number of telephone subscribers reaching 241.02 million at the end of August and tele-density inching towards 21.2 per cent.
Of the total number of telecom users, wireless subscribers base has crossed the 200-million mark. In July, the total telecom subscriber base was 232.87 million, according to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.
Tele-density is the number of people owning a telephone out of every 100 people. By global standards, India's tele-density is low but it is improving. China has a 60.3 per cent tele-density and 550 million mobile users.
According to the telecom regulator, 8.31 million subscribers have been added to the wireless segment in August while 8.06 million had subscribers joined the bandwagon in the previous month.
By the end of August, the total wireless subscribers -- GSM, CDMA & WLL(F) -- base reached 201.29 million.
However, the wireline segment, which has the lowest tariff in the country, has been hit as the subscriber base in this segment has come down by 0.16 million to stand at 39.73 million by the end of August.
Broadband connections have reached 2.56 million with the addition of 0.09 million new subscribers in the said period.
Last month, GSM operators added 5.95 million subscribers, taking the total number to 147.7 million, as per the figures released by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI). PTI
Sensex closes at new peak of 16,564.23, RIL leads rally
Mumbai, Sep 21 (PTI) The benchmark Sensex today hit a new peak of 16,564.23 by gaining 216.28 points in scrip specific activities, propelled by a sharp rally in top heavyweight RIL and sustained fall in inflation rate.
Petrochem giant Reliance Industries (RIL) remained the favourite srip of institutional investors and touched a life-time high of Rs 2,294 on reports that the company has found oil in D4 block in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin.
Most of the other Reliance companies, both of Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani, were at the forefront, touching their all-time peaks during the trade.
The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) 30-share barometer initially touched a low of 15,308.09. But emergence of buying after mid-session pushed it to a new intra-day high of 16,616.84 before concluding the day at 16,564.23, a sharp rise of 1.32 per cent over yesterday's close of 15,347.95.
Similarly, the broad-based S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) crossed 4,800-mark for the first time to a high of 4,855.70. It ended at 4,837.55, a new closing peak, from previous close of 4,747.55, a net gain of 90.00 points or 1.90 per cent.
Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) once again turned out to be the main driving force behind the current rally as they picked up shares worth Rs 2,484.50 crore on September 19 and pumped in another Rs 1,627.44 crore (provisional) on Thursday.
The market also got support from fall in inflation to 3.32 per cent for the week ended September 8 from 3.52 per cent in the preceding week. PTI
Gold surges to six-month high on global cues
New Delhi, Sep 21 (PTI) Gold prices rose by Rs 100 to Rs 9,610 in the bullion market today to regain its six-month high peak, buoyed by a steep rise in prices of the precious metal in the global market.
In the global markets gold zoomed to over 27-year high, while in the domestic market weakening dollar mainly gave a push to the precious metal prices.
Rising crude oil prices, which touched around 84 dollar a barrel in the international market, also boosted the trading sentiment and turned the precious metal into a safe haven for investors to park their funds.
The dollar falling to nine-year low levels appreciated the value of dollar-priced gold which climbed in global markets to a level last seen some 27-years ago on January 22, 1980 when the US inflation rate rose to 12 per cent.
Any change in dollar in the forex market has immediate impact on the precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum to become more safe during such crisis.
Standard gold and ornaments rose by Rs 100 each at Rs 9,610 and Rs 9,460 per ten gram respectively. Sovereign remained unchanged at Rs 7,800 per piece of eight gram.
Silver ready also shot up by Rs 350 at Rs 17,900 per kilo and weekly-based delivery by Rs 320 at Rs 18,230 per kilo. Silver coins jumped up by Rs 200 at Rs 24,100 for buying and Rs.24,200 for selling of 100 pieces. PTI
Markets stabilise in two-way trades in morning deals
Mumbai, Sep 21 (PTI) The stock markets stabilised at higher levels with benchmark Sensex and Nifty showing hardly any change early this morning on alternate bouts of buying and selling amid mixed global cues.
Though the US interest rate cut has boosted the market sentiment here, operators are still wary of the spiralling global crude oil prices, resting above USD 84 a barrel, and impending nuclear issue between the UPA government and its key ally CPI-M.
The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) 30-share Sensex opened steady at 16,352.32 and moved erratically in a narrow range of 16,392.21 and 16,314.04 before being quoted barely steady at 16,345.08 at 10.30 am from yesterday's close of 16,347.95 (RPT) 16,347.95.
The broad-based S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also ruled steady at 4,746.80 from previous close of 4,747.55.
Realty counters remained at the forefront on sustained buying while cement counters attracted good buying support on news that some companies has raised prices of cement bags in Maharashtra.
Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) turned net buyers and picked up shares worth Rs 2,484.50 crore on September 19, pumping in another Rs 1,627.44 crore (provisional) on Thursday.
However, IT stocks continued to reel under heavy selling pressure on rising rupee. PTI
US "trying hard" to convince NSG: Stratford
Lalitha Vaidyanathan
Vienna, Sep 21 (PTI) The US, which has been seeking early conclusion of the Indo-US nuclear deal, today said it wanted to "speed up" the process and was "trying hard" to convince the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to allow nuclear commerce with India.
"What is required is to convince the NSG of the non-proliferation benefits of the deal," Richard J K Stratford, Director at the Office of Nuclear Energy Affairs in the US State Department, told PTI.
"We are also putting forth India's case for clean, unconditional exemption and we are trying hard on that," he said.
Asked whether there was a definite time-frame for getting the NSG to change its rules, Stratford, who led the US delegation at the NSG meet, said "yes, we have a time-frame and we have to focus on the non-proliferation benefits of the deal".
About yesterday's briefing by the US to the 45-member grouping on the deal, he said "it went off extremely well." There were 100 people from 33 countries who attended the two-and-a-half-hour-long interaction. PTI
India seeking Russian held to join ISS project
Moscow, Sep 21 (PTI) India has sought the help of Russia to join the orbital International Space Station (ISS) project in the face of "objection by some other project partners", a top Russian space agency official has said.
"India has approached us, this (India) is a serious space power and would like to join ISS project. However, objection by some other project partners has put a question mark on this issue," Russia's Federal Space Agency (RKA) Chief Anatoly Perminov said responding to a question about the expansion of the ISS project participants.
Besides Russian RKA, the ambitious ISS project includes the NASA of the USA, Canada, Japan and European Space Agency (ESA).
"I won't identify, who is concretely blocking India's entry, but they argue that the number of participants of the project is set by the international treaties and is enough to complete the construction of the orbital station," Perminov told reporters at a news conference here.
Lauding India's achievements in unmanned space flights, Perminov said that it was her natural desire to offer its contribution in the development of ISS.
"I am confident that sooner or later, in any case after 2010 this issue (India's accession) will again be raised," Perminov said. PTI
Debate in India over N-deal will have to play its course: US
Washington, Sep 21 (PTI) The debate and discussions in India over the civilian nuclear deal will have to play its course and it is best that this process takes place without the involvement of third parties, especially the US, a senior American official has said.
Emphasising that the Indo-US deal is in the interest of both the countries, Richard Boucher, the top official in charge of South and Central Asia, hoped that "they will go through this (debate) and continue towards implementation".
"The whole goal here is Indian kids can turn on the lights to do their homework... The sooner we get there, the sooner they are going to be able to turn on their lights." "The debate in Indian Parliament and between the Indian political parties is one that probably best proceeds without the involvement of outsiders and without comment from the American Assistant Secretary of State," he said in an interactive session at the Paul Nitze School of Advanced International Studies of the Johns Hopkins University here.
"The deal is a deal. We have been very public and transparent about how this was done and the understandings that have been reached. They are going to have this work this in the politics of India...We will see how this plays out." Boucher said there are a few more "hurdles down the road" and a key one is India's negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency on a safeguards agreement.
"But it is important to remember that India already has safeguard agreements with the IAEA on a number of its civilian nuclear facilities...There are examples and models. So we don't think that it is an enormously difficult negotiation for them," he maintained. (More) PTI
Orkut rules, followed by dating, matrimonial websites: survey
New Delhi, Sep 21 (PTI) Though Indians continue to use internet primarily for emailing, online dating, and matrimonials along with social networking are gaining prominence, says a survey.
"With almost half the online urban Indians (48 per cent) undertaking it, online matrimonial search has established itself as a 'mainline' online activity. Twelve million online urban Indians are using online matrimonial search, making it the 13th most popular online activity. It has also been one of the biggest 'gainers' in users among the online activities in last one year," says India Online 2007, a survey conducted by JuxtConsult, an online research solutions consultancy firm.
The survey conducted to understand the internet users in the country adds, " Almost 60 per cent of users of both the online activities are common, i.E. 37 per cent of all internet users undertake both online matrimony and online dating/friendship.
"This is significantly higher than last year when only 9 per cent of all internet users undertook both the activities. In comparison to matrimony, dating/friendship is a more popular online activity with 51 per cent net users undertaking it and it ranks 10th in terms of popularity." The latest entrant, social networking sites like Orkut, Facebook among others have already rallied up 44 per cent of the internet time with over 11 million Indians getting hooked to it.
Giving a demographic profile of internet users in the counrty, the survey points out that South India leads the online activity with 39 per cent of all net users coming from South. PTI
RTI, going rural
Bedika
New Delhi, Sep 20 (PTI) Having woven many a success story in cities, the Right to Information Act (RTI), which completes two years of coming in the statute books in October is reaching the rural areas too with villages using its provisions to redress their grievances.
Sidhakahna Jot Keshav village in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh is one such example. Five inspired residents of the village filed RTI applications and questioned the district administration about the conditions of the village roads and drains. They also raised questions as why there were no allotments under the 'Indira Awaas Yojna'.
The administration immediately acted and the construction of the roads and drains began in the village. Since then, 32 villagers have been allotted the houses under the 'Indira Awaas Yojna' and the administration has displayed a list on the village wall, containing the names of the villagers eligible for the allotments under the scheme.
RTI activist and Magsaysay award winner Arvind Kejriwal says that the RTI is the way to empowering villages, "The very movement started from the rural Rajasthan. RTI is like a life line to the rural India. The Act has shown a great potential to transform the life of rural society." He however admits that there are some hurdles, "The true potential of RTI is still to be explored, specially in the rural India where villagers find it very cumbersome to file RTI applications. The procedure should be simplified and made people friendly." Kejriwal cites the example of Bihar, "Bihar has set a great example by creating a dedicated phone line for RTI. Where RTI can be filed through a phone call. Even an illiterate villager can file his RTI application by a call." PTI
Tapping homegrown herbs, Unani is becoming popular in Kashmir
A M Sofi
Srinagar, Sep 19 (PTI) Despite medical science scaling new heights, the Unani system of medicine is trying to carve a niche for itself in Jammu and Kashmir. With its unique type of curing, the Unani is fast becoming a popular system of medicine here.
In Kashmir this system of medicine is seen as alternative to the allopathic system and people are preferring this system in order to get rid of the diseases which the allopathic system has so far not been able to diagnose.
A diabetic for the last ten years, Fazi of Chadoora village of Budgam district and teenage girl Saima who had a white scar on her face, are all praise to the system that they say worked well for them.
The Patients Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine (PRIUM) here provides free consultation to patients in the valley. People from different parts of Kashmir flock in thousands for check up. "We attend at least 500 patients daily in our Out Patients Departement (OPD), said doctor Rafiq at PRIUM.
He said the PRIUM was established in 1979 in order to cater the needs of the people of the valley and tap the traditional herbs available in abundance in the valley.
We have many indigenous herbs available in the valley which are very rare. For instance, Sussures Lappa and Aciontum, Rafiq said.
He said presently PRIUM is having four separate units which include survey of medicinal plants, drug standardisation, mobile clinical research and clinical research. All of these units are working seperately in order to explore every possibility to get a breakthrough in their research work. And that the people of the valley get benefited. PTI
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Sensex: 16564.23, +216.28
The sensex closed at 16564.23, up 216.28
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