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India scraps integrated guided missile programme
New Delhi, Jan 8 (PTI) India today announced scrapping of the country's strategic integrated guided missile programme, and said the development and production of most of futuristic weapons systems would henceforth be undertaken with foreign collobration.
However, longer range missiles, under-sea launched missiles and furturistic weapons systems like electronic counter-warfare measures would be "undertaken in-house", said one of the country's top defence scientists Dr S Prahlada.
He said "closure" of the Integrated Development of Guided Missile Programme(IDGMP) had been done as manufacture of the most of the missiles to be developed under the project had been almost completed and inducted into the armed forces.
"Unlike post-Pokhran, when doors to technology transfers were closed on us", now doors of frontline armament technology transfer are now open", he said.
"New missile and weapons systems will be developed within a five-year time frame at low costs, with foreign partners and private industries" Prahalda, Chief Controller at DRDO headquarters, said.
The first of such ventures, Prahalda said, would be development of quick reaction missiles to counter threats from low-flying missiles and fighters and Astra, India first bid to develop a beyond-visual range air-to-air missile.
While India would be collobrating with Israel for development of surface-to-air upgraded spyder missiles, for Astra, New Delhi has roped in French and Russian collobrators. PTI
India, IAEA failed to finalize draft text
Mumbai, Jan 8 (PTI) India and IAEA have failed to finalise an agreed text for India-specific safeguards during the talks last week, particularly on the issue of New Delhi's right to hold its strategic reserve to meet lifetime supply for its civilian nuclear plants, The four-day talks that concluded on Saturday were orignially considered to be a final round but the draft text could not be completed, IAEA sources said.
There was also no meeting point on the issue of corrective measures to be undertaken in the event of stoppage of fuel to power plants, sources said.
Therefore, there will be yet another round of talks in Vienna, probably next week to finalise the agreed text. Otherwise, India would not be able to meet the deadline, they said.
India has to finalise the text and only after that the US will be able to negotiate with the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group to allow New Delhi to integrate with international nuclear commerce. This negotiation has to be completed before March to take forward the Indo-US atomic deal.
The talks, a follow up to the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, is one of the pre-requisites for operationalisation of the deal, first mooted in July 2005.
Once the text on safeguards agreement is finalised, it has to be approved by the UPA-Left committee.
It is expected that the text, drafted by the IAEA, would be brought back before the 15-member political committee for deliberations after the next round of talks, the sources said.
The Indian team, headed by Ravi B Grover, Director, Strategic Planning of DAE, declined to go on record on the issue. PTI
CPI-M vows to oppose any strategic alliance with the US
Madurai, Jan 8 (PTI) Sharpening its attack on Indo-US nuclear deal, CPI-M today charged the United States with trying to make India a 'junior parter' through strategic alliances and vowed to oppose any tie-ups with Washington in nuclear and defence areas.
"Strategic alliance with the US and independent foreign policy cannot go hand in hand. We will oppose every joint strategy with the US whether it is civilian nuclear or defence agreements," CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat told the party's state-level conference here.
He said the policy of economic liberalisation in the eight South American countries had failed, prompting them to oppose the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund and turn to Left ideologies.
India, which had been a "traditionally anti-imperialist country", should not fall a prey to "pro-American" financing bodies like World bank.
Washington turned to India after failing to bring West Asia under its control, he said ading any strategic alliance with the USA would facilitate the entry of capitalists and multi-national companies into India.
He alleged the ruling Left front in Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura was being "targetted' by a section of the media and some vested interests because Left parties were opposed to strategic alliance with the US and economic liberalisation. PTI
Tour is on, BCCI tells Cricket Australia
Ashish Shukla
Sydney, Jan 8 (PTI) Indian cricket board, before it began its' emergency meeting in New Delhi, informed Cricket Australia (CA) that the tour would go ahead, according to team sources.
The Indian Board softened its stance once controversial umpire Steve Bucknor was replaced by Billy Bowden and chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle was sent an SOS by the ICC to head for Australia and plaster over the cracks between the two sides.
The two opposing captains, Ricky Ponting and Anil Kumble, would be told in no uncertain terms that intemperate behaviour on the pitch or outside would not be tolerated from now on.
The BCCI has now agreed to fulfil its commitment and told CA that the meeting in New Delhi is only a formality, the sources said.
Accordingly, the visitors would now move to Canberra tomorrow where a three-day game against ACT XI will begin from Thursday.
Meanwhile, Indians have pressed forward their complaint against left-arm spinner Brad Hogg for abusing Kumble during the final hours of the second Test.
ICC's chief executive Malcolm Speed has confirmed that Hogg would face a code of conduct charge in Perth.
The Indians have spent the last two days at their hotel in Sydney, refusing to leave for Canberra, till the issue of Harbhajan and Bucknor was dealt with quickly and firmly. PTI
Brad Hogg charged with offence under ICC Code of Conduct
Dubai, Jan 8 (PTI) Australia spinner Brad Hogg was today charged under Level 3 of the International Cricket Council's Code of Conduct following allegations that he verbally abused Indian skipper Anil Kumble and Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Hogg is accused of making the remarks during the final day of the controversial second Test in Sydney.
Under the terms of the Code, ICC Match Referee Mike Procter will hold a hearing as soon as reasonably practicable. The preliminary date for the hearing is set for 14 January in Perth, an ICC press release said.
The alleged offence has been reported under paragraph 3.3 of the ICC Code of Conduct which refers to players or team officials "using language or gestures that offends, insults, humiliates, intimidates, threatens, disparages or vilifies another person on the basis of that person's race, religion, gender, colour, descent, or national or ethic origin." Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was also reported under the same clause and later found guilty of racially abusing Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds.
The penalty is a ban of between two and four Test matches or between four and eight one-day internationals, the release said. PTI
Brad Hogg hearing before Perth Test
Melbourne, Jan 8 (PTI) The Indian complaint against Australian spinner Brad Hogg for allegedly abusing Anil Kumble and Mahendra Singh Dhoni during the Sydney cricket Test will come up for hearing before match referee Mike Procter prior to the third match in Perth.
International Cricket Council CEO Malcolm Speed today said the chinaman bowler will appear before Procter ahead of the Perth match which starts January 16.
Hogg was accused by the Indians of abusing skipper Kumble and Dhoni during the final day of the second Test against Australia.
The accusation came after the Australians lodged a racial abuse complaint against Harbhajan Singh, which led to a three-match ban on the off-spinner.
Indian media manager M V Sridhar had said that the word used by Hogg to abuse Kumble and Dhoni was deeply offensive to Indian sensibilities.
Hogg was reportedly miffed with the two batsmen taking time between overs during the tense last session of the match, in which Australia was pushing for, and ultimately got, a record-equalling 16th straight Test win. PTI
Australian team rallies behind Ponting
Sydney, Jan 8 (PTI) The Australian team has rallied behind skipper Ricky Ponting who is facing attacks from the local media and whose removal has been demanded.
"Ricky has got the full support of everyone in our team and probably every cricketer around Australia," leading batsman Michael Hussey told reporters even as a well-known cricket columnist Peter Roebuck demanded that be be sacked as captain.
"I think he is the best captain I have played under. We go out to play the game as hard as we can but also as fairly as we can, and Ricky is very big on that," he said.
Hussey also said the Australian team had nothing to apologise for, maintaining the now-threatened series had been played in a hard but fair spirit.
The batsman, whose second Test century in Sydney has been almost forgotten amid the controversy, said he was "shocked" by Indian captain Anil Kumble's assertion that only one team was playing in the spirit of cricket.
"That was a surprising comment and a little disappointing," Hussey told reporters yesterday at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where he was filming a cricket-based Bollywood movie.
"The spirit has been fantastic for the first two Tests, and not just that, for the 60 years we have been playing Test cricket against India. The two teams actually get on very well; it has been absolutely brilliant.
"That's why I've been shocked (by Kumble's remarks). There have been a lot of contentious decisions, but you've got to accept the umpire's decision. It takes discipline to do that without showing any dissent," he said. PTI
Maldives President survives bid on life, thanks to 15-year-old
T V Sriram
Colombo, Jan 8 (PTI) Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom today survived an attempt on his life when a teenage boy scout stopped a youth from stabbing him as he was mingling with a crowd in the north of the Indian Ocean archipelago.
The attacker, a 20-year-old wielding a knife, jumped out of a crowd that gathered to welcome the President on his arrival at North Thiladhunmathi atoll in Hoarafushi islet and tried to stab Gayoom in his stomach.
However, a 15-year-old boy scout, Mohamed Jaisham, grabbed the youth and wrestled with him before the attacker was captured, officials said.
"An unidentified man attempted to attack the President with a knife today," a statement from the President's Office in the capital Male said.
"The President escaped this serious attack without any harm. However, a boy scout was injured in the incident," the statement said.
According to Maldivian Information Minister Mohamed Nasheed, Gayoom was greeting people when the youth pulled out the knife.
"The attacker had hidden the knife wrapped in a national flag," a spokesman for Gayoom's office said, adding that he was now in police custody.
The motive for the attack was not known, police said adding, investigations were being conducted. PTI
Mush says govt committed to finding facts about Bhutto killing
Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Jan 8 (PTI) Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf today said his government was committed to finding out the facts regarding the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto as he met Scotland Yard sleuths probing the killing.
During the meeting with investigators from Britain's Scotland Yard, Musharraf assured them that they would be extended "full cooperation" by all Pakistani investigating agencies.
Musharraf hoped that the technical and forensic expertise of the Scotland Yard would supplement the efforts of their Pakistani counterparts. The government is committed to finding the facts and unearthing the evidence so that those responsible for killing Bhutto can be brought to justice, he said.
The five-member team from Metropolitan Police's Counter-Terrorism Command, which arrived here on Friday last, met Musharraf at his camp office in Rawalpindi. The team was accompanied by Britain's High Commissioner Robert Brinkley.
Musharraf also thanked the British government for its "prompt response to Pakistan's request for assistance" to probe the assassination.
The British investigators said they were "thoroughly investigating the evidence to ascertain the facts regarding" the incident. They appreciated the assistance and cooperation extended to them by Pakistani agencies.
Bhutto died after being attacked by a gunman and a suicide bomber while leaving the venue of an election rally in Rawalpindi on December 27. PTI
Malaysia freezes recruitment of Indian workers
Kuala Lumpur, Jan 8 (PTI) Malaysia has frozen the recruitment of Indian workers, including temple priests, sculptors and musicians, a move apparently linked to the recent mass protests by the ethnic Indians here against their alleged marginalisation.
Workers from India will not be recruited, according to an official circular. But, it is not clear if the ban applies to professionals as well.
The decision was taken by the Malaysian government on December 18 but made public today when Defence Minister A K Antony ended his three-day visit to Malaysia. It follows mass protests by the ethnic Indians, led by non-governmental Hindu Rights Action Forum (Hindraf), against the alleged marginalisation of the community.
The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) said it is shocked that the Immigration Department has suddenly ceased to issue work permits to new applications for foreign priests, temple musicians and sculptors.
The department has extended the visa by only six months for priests, three months only for temple musicians and one week only for sculptors.
In a statement, MCCBCHST said the Immigration Department had stated that after this period there would be no further renewal. PTI
Bajaj-TVS fight on patent reaches SC
New Delhi, Jan 8(PTI) Auto major Bajaj today took its patent war against rival TVS Motor to the Supreme Court and sought a restrain on manufacturing and selling of two-wheeler 'TVS Flame'.
Bajaj Auto has sought vacation of the Madras High Court order allowing TVS Motor to go ahead with its manufacture and sale of TVS Flame.
However, when the petition was mentioned before a Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, it said it cannot pass any direction without hearing the TVS Motor.
The bench, however, preponed the date of hearing from January 21 to January 18.
Bajaj Auto had accused TVS Motor of infringing its patent on DTS-i (accronym for digital Twin Spark Plug ignition) in TVS Flame.
TVS, in its latest 125 cc motorcycle Flame, uses CCVTi technology which Bajaj claims to be a copy of its DTS-i technology. The Pune-based two-wheeler maker uses DTS-i technology in various products including the Pulsar series of bikes.
TVS, however, has denied BAL's allegations and has slapped a Rs 250-crore defamation suit against the Pune-based company.
A single Bench of the High Court on December 19 last in an interim order had restrained the TVS Motor from taking fresh order for the 125 cc bike. It had, however, allowed it to deliver the bike which was already booked.
TVS then approached a Division Bench against the order on the very next day on December 20 and the interim order was suspended. PTI
Sensex achieves 21K milestone, small & mid-caps lose
Mumbai, Jan 8 (PTI) On hopes of corporates posting good results for the third quarter, the Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex today surpassed a new milestone of 21,000 points during the intra-day but ended the day below the peak level in volatile trade amid mixed global cues.
The Sensex hit an all-time trading peak of 21,077.53 points but rolled back to 20,873.33 points, a gain of 60.68 points compared to its yesterday's close.
The index fluctuated widely in more than 600 points.
The small-cap and the mid-cap shares, however, were hit as investors heavily booked profits in the segments as their stocks had reached dizzy heights.
Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also edged up by 8.75 points to close at 6,287.85 points from its previous close of 6,279.10. Points. It scaled a new peak of 6,357.10 during trading.
Investors were believed to be accumulating funds for the forthcoming mega IPO of Reliance Power by selling off small and mid-cap holdings.
The mid-cap and small-cap indices were down 2.82 per cent and 3.28 per cent at close.
The mega issue of the 50 per cent subsidiary of Reliance Energy is scheduled to open for subscription next week.
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were buying in Reliange Group shares at the day's lower levels, market players said.
Investors are still bullish on the market on back of expectations of encouraging corporate results and increased inflows after fresh fund allocations by FIIs for the new calendar year, they added. PTI
Gold hits new peak of Rs 11,150 per 10 gram
New Delhi, Jan 8 (PTI) Gold prices today pierced through the ceiling to reach its new peak of Rs 11,150 per ten gram on the bullion market here due to aggressive buying by jewellers in line with a firming global trend.
Gold added Rs 175 to Rs 11,150 per ten gram on emergence of buying by jewellers and stockists, enlarging their positions to meet ensuing marriage season.
Marketmen said the buying was more of a speculative nature as some of the stockists enlarged their positions in future trading, while some purchases by jewellery fabricators also supported the trend.
A steep rise today surpassed the previous record of Rs 11,025 set on January 4 when crude oil prices reached to record 100 dollar a barrel and dollar fell against 13 currencies in the forex market, making the metal more attractive for investment purposes.
Standard gold and ornaments flared up by Rs 175 each at Rs 11,150 and Rs 11,000 per ten gram respectively. Sovereign also rose by Rs 50 at Rs 8950 per piece of eight gram.
The market received cues from international front. Gold rose by 15.90 dollars to 877.90 dollars an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange, breaking its 28-year record levels.
A similar trend was noticed in white metal as silver ready found fresh buying support from industrial units and registered a smart rise of Rs 190 at Rs 19,560 per kilo. Weekly-based delivery rose by Rs 150 at Rs 19,900 per kilo.
Silver coins, however, remained around previous level at Rs 25,300 for buying and Rs 25,400 for selling of 100 coins. PTI
Ford to invest 500 million dollars to expand India operations
Chennai, Jan 8 (PTI) With plans to produce a small car in the next two years, global automobile giant Ford Motors today announced that it would invest 500 million US dollars in the next three years to expand its Indian operations.
Ford Motors executive Vice President (Asia Pacific and Africa) John Parket told a press conference that the investment had already been put in place and would be completed in the next three years.
The company would also come up with a state-of-the art fully integrated engine manufacutring plant, capable of manufacturing next generation diesel engines and petrol engines, with an installed capacity of 2.5 lakh units. "The facility will be commissioned by 2010," he said.
The diesel engine assembly plant manufacturing unit would be commissioned in April and would be used in the 'Fiesta' and 'Fusion' variants, he said.
The investment would help the company expand manufacturing capacity to 2.5 lakh cars from the present two lakh cars, he said.
Ford India's Managing Director Aravind Mathew said the company had added 20 new authorised dealers in 2007, bringing the total to 130. PTI
Fighting HIV, Andhra takes up the challenge
Rajeev Ranjan Dwivedi
Hyderabad, Jan 8 (PTI) Many call them 'homosexuals', some term them as 'Gay', but they euphemistically express themselves as MSM, or plainly men who have sex with men.
An official figure from Andhra Pradesh AIDS Control Society (APSACS) put their number in the state at 45,000, while community members claim their numbers to be around 1.4 lakhs.
"The increasing number of MSMs has put a challenge for Andhra Government in fighting AIDS as Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) and HIV prevalence remains high among this community," says G Ashok Kumar, the Project Director of APSACS.
According to reports, MSMs face the highest possible risk of contracting HIV as most of them try to hide their sex life, which is considered to be responsible for high prevalence rate of HIV among the group.
"As far as MSM is concerned, I must admit that this is a very weak area for us and we need to work on this more," adds Kumar.
An estimate puts the HIV prevalence rate in MSM community at around five per cent.
"But still there is a ray of hope, as examples of people braving up ridicule and ostracization keep propping up from within the community," he adds.
"In fact, there is an elected Councilor in Narsaraopet Municipality (Guntur District), who is a self confessed MSM and during elections his status was disclosed. His opponents ridiculed him during the campaigns but he had the last laugh!" reveals the project director. PTI
After vibrating condoms, cheaper female condoms are the next
Snehesh Alex Philip
New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) With newer studies revealing that Indian youngsters are experimenting with their sex life more than ever before, condom manufacturers too are now experimenting with their products to give 'absolute pleasure' and safety.
So, if it was the vibrating condoms that created controversy last year, 2008 promises to be even more exciting with the introduction of new female condoms which though were available in India before, stayed out of reach for common woman due to its high price and lack of publicity.
Hindustan Latex Ltd (HLL), a state-run condom manufacturer which markets the popular 'Moods condom' has just launched, Velvet female condoms.
"Female condom is the only power that a women has in her hands to protect herself from both pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases at the same time. Till now, this power rested with men. It is only now that women are getting to know about such a condom being available in the market," Rajeev Kumar, Product Manager, Consumer Business Division, HLL told PTI.
While HLL is optimistic about the potential growth of this particular segment, its rival firm TTK-LIG Ltd which markets the international brand, Durex condoms in India is keenly watching Velvet's performance before it takes any decision.
Velvet, a more cost effective product than its predecessor Confidom, which is for the premium segment is priced at Rs 100 for a pack of three whereas Confidom is priced at Rs 250 for a pack of two pieces. PTI
Bikramganj bypolls a trust vote for Nitish
Ajay Kumar
Patna, Jan 7 (PTI) The result of bypoll to Bikramganj Lok Sabha Constituency has proved to be a trust vote in favour of Bihar's NDA Government led by Nitish Kumar and signalled "a warning" to the Opposition RJD led by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, political analysts say.
The JD(U) continued its winning streak in Bihar with its candidate Meena Singh retaining the Bikramganj seat by a comfortable margin of 31,258 votes, humbling her nearest RJD rival Ashok Kumar Kushwaha on January two.
The JD(U) victory demolished the opposition claim that the JD(U)-BJP coalition was tottering under the weight of its own alleged non-performance that had caused a dip in its popularity.
"This is a mandate for good governance and politics of development. The JD (U) victory is a reply to those who had been claiming that Nitish Kumar's hold on the electorate has weakened. It also shows Lalu Yadav has to worry about his grip over his traditional support base," political observers say.
The opposition, particularly RJD, had projected the by-poll as a referendum on the Nitish government.
Not given to accept his defeat the RJD boss and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad had said that the poor margin of victory of Meena Singh in the bypoll reflected that Nitish Kumar was losing people's support.
Prasad said "We knew we will be losing the seat because of the sympathy vote Meena Singh, widow of Ajit Kumar who lost his life in a road accident six months ago in Bihar, was getting." PTI
Proper nurturing tool vital to curb violence in kids: Experts
Durga Prasad Mishra
New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) The Satna incident of a school boy killing another in the school premises has again brought to the fore the debate on youngsters becoming more aggressive with both psychologists as well as educationists blaming overexposure to violence as the main cause.
The primary reason for children turning violent and aggressive, is that they are continually exposed to violence "by everybody, everywhere," says Vasantha R Pathri, a psychologist and communication expert.
"Children see violence in their homes, on TV channels, in their schools, everywhere and therefore want to act like that," Patri points out.
Aggressive characters potrayed in movies and certain TV shows also make a negative impact on the minds of children. "Cinema is also increasingly providing aggressive role models that children emulate," she adds.
"The root of the problem lies in improper upbringing. Children are innocent and they become what we make them," Patri says.
Improper parenting is also responsible for the aggression and violence seen in the children. "They are not given proper training to delay their gratification. Immediate gratification is lowering their tolerance level, an important reason for aggression and violence," says Patri. "Teach your children to learn patience, don't satiate. For example, put your children on wait for sometime, before giving them icecream and chocolate," Patri adds. PTI
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The sensex closed at 20873.33, up 60.68
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1 U.S. $ = 39.275 INR
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1 Euro = 57.819 INR
1 Qatar Rial = 10.788 INR
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