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Gates to seek bipartisan support in India for Nuke deal
New Delhi, Feb 25 (PTI) US Defence Secretary Robert Gates is likley to push for a bipartisan support for the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal during his crucial meeting with BJP strongman L K Advani here on Wednesday.
Advani, who is the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, is the only prominent opposition leader that the US Defence Secretary would be meeting during his two-day visit here begining tomorrow.
The one-on-one meeting is seen here as a fresh bid by Washington to shore up support for the civil nuclear agreement as Washington feels time is running out.
BJP is opposing the nuclear deal in its current form and has sought re-negotiations.
The renewed US efforts comes against the backdrop of New Delhi continuing its parleys with the IAEA in Vienna to tie up a safeguards agreement.
Gates, during his day-and-half busy schedule in the capital, is likely to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, his counterpart in India A K Antony and have a lengthy luncheon meeting with National Security Adviser M K Narayanan. PTI
PM hints at debt relief for farmers
New Delhi, Feb 25 (PTI) Ahead of the Budget, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today hinted at the possibility of some debt relief for farmers.
"The Budget is expected in another two-three days and it would be in appropriate for me to discuss these issues in detail.
"But I would like to assure you that under the leadership of Smt Sonia Gandhi, our Government would pay attention to the demands listed in the memorandum submitted," he said addressing farmers from Punjab at his residence.
Gandhi was also present on the occasion got up ahead of tomorrow's rally of Punjab farmers being organised by Akali Dal and BJP in the capital to highlight mainly the issues of farmers, farm labour and industry. Among other things, the farmers demanded waiving of small farm loans.
The Prime Minister said he understood the agony of Punjab, especially farmers and even last year the Government had waived loans of the Punjab Government.
He said Gandhi, Congress party and the UPA Government wanted that Punjab should progress and prosper. PTI
Dhoni breaks into top 10 of ICC ODI rankings
Dubai, Feb 25:India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni reaped benefits of his consistent form in the ongoing tri-series in Australia as he jumped four places to break into top ten in the latest ICC ODI batsmen rankings.
Dhoni shares ninth spot with Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara, who also gained seven places, while master batsman Sachin Tendulkar's poor form saw him drop out of top 10 to occupy 14th spot, a loss of seven places.
Struggling Yuvraj Singh improved three places to be at 16th position.
Other big movers among batsmen are Australian Michael Clarke, who jumped 10 places to rise to his career-best second spot behind his captain Ricky Ponting, his team-mate Mike Hussey, who improved three places to fifth, and England's Kevin Pietersen who gained two places to seventh.
Adam Gilchrist, who a couple of weeks back had climbed to second place, slipped four places to sixth spot while team-mates Andrew Symonds and Matthew Hayden dropped down to 11th and 12th respectively.
Among bowlers, New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori celebrated a 3-1 series victory over England by consolidating his top position in the rankings which does not have any Indian in the top 20. PTI
Pak beat Aussies in QF, India play NZ in U19 World Cup semis
Kuala Lumpur, Feb 25: Pakistani bowlers put up a stupendous show to clinch a six-wicket victory against Australia and storm into the semifinals of the Under-19 Cricket World Cup here today.
The win meant that Pakistan are on course of clinching a hat-trick of titles in the biennial tournament.
Pace spearhead Ail Raza took 3 for 26 while Azhar Attari, skipper Imad Wasim and Umar Akmal scalped two each to help Pakistan skittle out Australia for 129 in 47.2 overs after Wasim put them in to bat at the Kinrara Oval.
The subcontinent giants, who are top seeds and have won the 2004 and 2006 editions of the tournament, dominated the proceedings from the start and refused to relent and chased down the target in 27.5 overs for loss of four wickets.
In another last eight stage match of the day, New Zealand crushed Sri Lanka by 80 runs at Royal Selangor Club to set up the semifinal against India on Wednesday.
Pakistan will play South Africa in the other semifinal on Friday.
Pakistan wicket-keeper batsman Asad Ali top-scored with his unbeaten 63 off 70 balls after the top order batsmen struggled to be 32 for 3 at one stage.
Asad also established a 95-run partnership with Ahmed Shezad for the fourth wicket.
Earlier, fast-bowlers Adil Raza and Azhar Attari did not let the Australian batsmen settle, claiming wickets at regular intervals and allowing the highest partnership of only 31 runs. PTI
Jankovic confirms participation in Bangalore Open
Bangalore, Feb 25 (PTI) The Bangalore Open has received another boost with world number four Jelena Jankovic of Serbia confirming her participation in the tennis tournament to be held here from March 3-9.
Other top guns that this USD 600,000 Tier II WTA event has already attracted include Williams sisters -- Serena and Venus -- from (USA), Switzerland's Patty Schnyder and Agnes Szavay of Hungary.
An entertainer with a never-say-die spirit, 22-year-old Jankovic reached semi-finals of the US Open in 2006 and the same stage at both the 2007 French and 2008 Australian Opens.
"She (Jankovic) is considered one of the toughest players in the game and as the top-ranked player here, she will start as one of the favourites but with such strong opposition it will be a test of her character and skill to capture the title," Tournament Director and Secretary of Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association, Sunder Raju, told reporters.
Jankovic said she was looking forward to playing a tough tournament here.
"It is great to be part of India's first Tier II tennis extravaganza at Bangalore. I look forward to play some tough tennis in front of a passionate lovers of the sport," she said in a statement issued here.
Known for her defensive abilities and footwork, she won the first Grand Slam title of her career in mixed doubles at Wimbledon 2007.
The winner of the Bangalore Open, to be staged at the KSLTA Kingfisher Stadium, would take home USD 95,500 and 300 WTA points. PTI
Players need 10-day break before S Africa series: Pawar
Mumbai, Feb 25 (PTI) Cricket Board President Sharad Pawar said today the Indian players needed a break of at least 10 days between their current engagement in Australia and the next home series against South Africa to explain the reasons for the BCCI's inability to visit Pakistan next month.
Saying that the Indian Board would, in normal circumstances, have readily agreed to play three ODIs in March as per the request of its Pakistan counterpart PCB, Pawar said in a media statement that the BCCI had to turn down the latter's request because of the Indians' tight schedule.
"The BCCI, in normal circumstances, would have readily agreed to play these matches and help the cause of Pakistan Cricket Board.
"However, our players currently in Australia would be tired and exhausted after a long tour lasting almost three months and would need a break of at least ten days before they prepare for the three-Test series against South Africa at home," Pawar said.
"The BCCI, therefore, has conveyed its inability to undertake the short tour of Pakistan in March 2008." PCB wanted India to take up the short visit to make up for the international matches it has lost because of the decision of Cricket Australia to shorten its scheduled tour of Pakistan citing security concerns. PTI
Heavy fighting between rebels, troops in Sri Lanka, 31 killed
T V Sriram
Colombo, Feb 25: At least 26 Tamil Tigers and five soldiers were killed in a series of fierce clashes between the rebels and security forces in the embattled northern Sri Lanka, the army said here today.
At least five LTTE cadres were killed in Mankedi area in north-western district of Mannar yesterday in a battle with the government troops, it said.
Three rebels were also killed in fighting at Parappakandal area in Mannar, the government's Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said adding, three soldiers lost their lives and 11 others were injured in the incident.
In the same area, troops shot dead six Tiger rebels in another gun battle on Sunday morning, the Defence Ministry said adding, an army jawan was also killed in the clash.
In the third gunfight that took place in Parappakandal area between the Army and rebels, as many as eight Tamil Tigers were killed, the MCNS said.
One soldier was also killed in the incident.
Sri Lankan Air Force jets had bombed the LTTE's Mannar area leader's camp in Parappukkandantan in the region yesterday. PTI
Sharif wants Mush to quit soon, US senator sings same tune
Rezaul H Laskar Islamabad, Feb 25 (PTI) Embattled Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf today faced fresh pressure from home and abroad to step down with PML(N) chief Nawaz Sharif saying the sooner he quits it will be better while an influential U.S Senator adviced him to seek a "graceful exit".
Musharraf however rejected the calls after his political allies were routed in the parliamentary elections with his spokesman Major General Rashid Qureshi saying the president had been elected for a five-year period last year and his position should not be determined by poll results.
"The president has been elected for a period of five years by the assemblies of Pakistan, which have been elected by the Pakistani people and not by senators from the US," Qureshi said.
"So I don't think he needs to respond to anything that is said by these people in their capacity", Qureshi said, adding "Except for Nawaz Sharif it is clear that no one else is talking about the president leaving." After meeting hardline Jamaat-e-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed here, Sharif told reporters "Musharraf should quit as soon as possible. It would be better for him because the people have given their mandate." Though the US has publicly indicated that it wants Musharraf to continue, influential US Senator Joe Biden said Musharraf must make a graceful retreat from power.
"I firmly believe if they do not focus on old grudges - and there's plenty in Pakistan - and give him a graceful way to move" then Musharraf will leave office," Biden, who is the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told an American televison channel. PTI
Nepal govt, Madhesi groups closer to a deal
Shirish B Pradhan
Kathmandu, Feb 25 (PTI) The Nepal government and the agitating ethnic Indian Madhesi groups today inched closer to a deal on the community's key demand for an autonomous region of Terai, a key leader involved in the negotiations said.
A Madhesi negotiator said the ruling seven-party alliance has "in principle" agreed to the demand for autonomy, but differences remained on how to implement it.
The top leaders of the alliance, including Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, and the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) held a meeting at the premier's residence at Baluwatar here, which started last night and went on till early this morning.
The two sides came closer to an understanding that Terai be declared a single autonomous region subject to endorsement by the constituent assembly polls, a source close to Baluwatar said.
"We have agreed on most of the issues but we still need to negotiate before reaching a final agreement," said Hridayesh Tripathi, senior leader of Terai Madhes Democratic Party, one of the three constituents of the UDMF.
"The government side has in principle agreed on the 'one Madhes one pradesh,' (which refers to a single autonomous region of Terai) our major demand, but there are still differences within the seven-party alliance on how to implement it," he said.
"So we have agreed to sit together for further negotiations after the SPA discusses the matter internally and comes out with its views on that," Tripathi said. PTI
Hillary on slide, Bill says Mar 4 defeat will cost nomination
Sridhar Krishnaswami
Washington, Feb 25 (PTI) Hillary Clinton appeared to be losing turf to frontrunner Barack Obama in delegate-rich Ohio and Texas states where, her star campaigner and husband Bill Clinton said, a defeat would cost her the Democratic Presidential nomination.
As the March 4 showdown draws nearer, the one time formidable candidate Clinton is fighting an uphill battle with political pundits asserting that the New York Democrat must not only win but do so decisively.
Obama, the 46-year-old African American Senator, has not only fast caught up with Clinton in Texas but is inching his way forward in Ohio where Clinton is clinging to a precarious and slim lead. Both the states at one time were thought of as sure losses for him.
Obama is ahead in the delegate count by nearly 100 and there are 444 delegates up for grabs in Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island and Vermont next week.
Thee stakes for Clinton, 60, could not have been more dramatically described than by her husband, the former President Bill Clinton who has been campaigning quite feverishly for her in those two large states.
"If she wins Texas and Ohio, I think she will be the nominee. If you don't deliver for her, then I don't think she can be," he said while campaigning in Texas.
In the overall race, Obama leads with 1,362 delegates. Clinton has 1,266.5, getting the half-delegate from the Democrats Abroad primary. It will take 2,025 delegates to secure the Democratic nomination at the party's convention in late August in Denver. PTI
Board of Approval approves 10 more SEZs
New Delhi, Feb 25: The government today approved 10 more proposals for Special Economic Zones, including those by Videocon Realty and Mahindra Worldcity.
The Board of Approval, chaired by Commerce Secretary Gopal Pillai, met here and took up 14 SEZ proposals, including three in-principle conversions to formal approval.
Formal approval was granted to 103-hectare transport engineering goods zone by State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu Ltd (SIPCOT) in Tamil Nadu as well as to a mineral-based products SEZ in Madhya Pradesh by Madhya Pradesh Audyogik Kendra Vikas Ltd.
Wardha Power Company's 102-hectare SEZ in Maharashtra and Anant Raj Industries IT/ITES zone in Haryana was also given formal approval.
Mahindra Worldcity's (Jaipur) 103-hectare handicraft and 104-hectare light engineering zones in Rajasthan were also approved.
The in-principle nod to SIPCOT's 103-hectare automobile/automobile parts zone in Tamil Nadu and Videocon Realty and Infrastructures Ltd's 10-hectare IT/ITES SEZ proposal in West Bengal was converted to formal approval.
The government has so far given formal approval to 439 SEZs, of which 201 have been notified, with over Rs 67,347 crore invested in these tax-free zones.
Direct employment has been provided to 97,478 people in the SEZs. PTI
GSM operators, DoT once again at loggerheads over spectrum
New Delhi, Feb 25: After a brief lull, GSM operators are once again at loggerheads with the government over spectrum allocation saying new players should not be given frequency other than on first-come-first-serve basis decided by their application date.
The government is, however, in no mood to wait as neither the telecom tribunal TDSAT nor the Delhi High Court have stayed the process to issue telecom licenses to nine firms who have been given Letters of Intent last month or allocation of spectrum to start mobile services as soon as possible.
Spectrum is a radio frequency used by mobile operators to offer wireless communication services.
A senior official in the Department of Telecommunication said the process of issuing licenses has begun with the Telecom Secretary Siddhartha Behura giving his nod. The Communication and IT Minister A Raja is expected to sign the file any moment.
"We are extremely perturbed and concerned to read in media reports that the DoT is planning to go ahead and sign license agreements/amendments and finalise the allocation of start up GSM spectrum to LoI/in-principle approval holders in utter disregard of the pending adjudications in TDSAT/Delhi High Court," Cellular Operators Association of India said in a letter to Behura.
DoT had also recently said that first-come-first-serve policy would be followed for compliance with the terms and conditions of LoIs, which include depositing fees, performance bank guarantees and others. PTI
Strike called off; PSU banks function normally
New Delhi, Feb 25: Much to the relief of the consumers, the PSU bank unions decided to call off their strike that was to begin today, as the lenders carried on with their normal functioning.
However, "few" staffers who had already planned leave did not report to office.
"Almost all the branches of our bank functioned normally across the country as it is not difficult to inform staff about the decision over SMS these days," Oriental Bank of Commerce Executive Director Allen C A Pereira said.
However, some absentees were there in certain branches as they had already taken leave for today, he said.
United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) Convenor V K Gupta, who works with SBI, said normal functioning was reported in the offices of the country's largest lender.
Some staff members reached late, but they came for duty nonetheless, he said.
There were normal customers queues in personal banking department in SBI offices here, Gupta said.
A Punjab National Bank spokesperson said there was no impact of withdrawal of strike call on his bank's functioning.
A Bank of India employee here said there was no rush as the month nearing its end. The bank's branch in Delhi reported normal functioning, he said.
Early morning today, PSU bank unions called off strike, earlier called for two days from today, following talks with bankers body Indian Banks Association (IBA). PTI
Air India to reintroduce flights to Ahmedabad, Jaipur tomorrow
Kolkata, Feb 25: Air India would re-introduce flights to Ahmedabad via Jaipur from Kolkata four days a week and to Jaipur via Ahmedabad three days a week with an Airbus A-319 aircraft from tomorrow.
Air India sources said today that IC-269 would leave Kolkata on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 1545 hours to reach Ahmedabad at 1755 hours and Jaipur at 1930 hours.
The return flight from Jaipur would reach Kolkata at 2230 hours.
The IC-267 would leave from Kolkata on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 1545 hours to reach Jaipur at 1810 hours and touch down Ahmedabad at 1945 hours.
The return flight from Ahmedabad would land at Kolkata at 2230 hours, the sources added. PTI
Indian defence market, the new battleground for pvt players
Snehesh Alex Philip
New Delhi, Feb 25 (PTI) From traditional Indian auto makers to large constructions giants, Indian private companies are gearing up to tap into the multi billion dollar Indian defence market.
Even though, firms like Tata, Mahindra and Mahindra, Ashok Leyland, Larsen and Toubro (L&T) among others have been associated with the Indian military for some years, industry leaders point out that in the coming years, defence would turn out to be a huge market in which the private players will play a major role.
While the Union Budget 2007-2008 has earmarked Rs. 96,000 crore for national Defence, industry Chambers like CII, estimates that total defence spending over acquisition and purchases for the next five years would be approximately Rs 1,88,000 crores (USD 45.85 billion).
And, experts point out that this market potential is driving Indian firms to set up R&D and ink JVs with foreign defence players eager to offer their products to the Indian military.
"Though industry estimates have stated that in the next 3-5 years, Indian defence spending is likely to increase to around USD 40 billion, our analysis say that the market figures are underestimated," Mahindra and Mahindra, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Anand Mahindra told PTI.
He adds, "The market can anywhere be around USD 100 billion and this gives the private players like us a huge market to tap into." He says, at present Defence contributes to just about Rs 100 crore to the firm's annual income.
Not just the Mahindras, Tata, one of the largest private industrial group in India, is also keen to tap into the defence market. PTI
Ayurveda, finding favours from CEOs
Anurag Sharma
New Delhi, Feb 25 (PTI) With rise in demand for ayurvedic and homeopathic medicines, thanks to advertisement and marketing techniques, traditional ways of treatment systems are sought after by patients who are looking for ways for cure of various chronic and lifestyle induced ailments.
Anoop Misra, Director, Department of Diabetes and Metabolism, Fortis Group of Hospitals, says that the demand for Ayurvedic medicines has fast increased in the last five years to more than 3,000 crores, as they have started marketing their products in a better manner and also done scientific trials to prove the permanent cure of some diseases.
But as far as the emergency and cardiac medicines are concerned, there is no alternative to allopathy, he adds.
According to a survey by ASSOCHAM, of the 400 Indian CEOs surveyed, over 40 per cent of the CEOs are taking to ayurvedic treatments to handle stress like naturopathy, massage, acupuncture and acupressure. Metros and towns in the coming 5-6 years would have huge ayurvedic centres for treating stress related disorders, it said.
Amrit Kalsi, Senior Medical Officer, Delhi Government, says, "The demand for homeopathic and ayurvedic medicines has increased in the last few years and to cure chronic ailments such as respiratory diseases, fevers, skin diseases, viral infections, asthma and allergic disorders, people are choosing the traditional way of treatment before allopathic." There were 28 homoeopathic dispensaries in Delhi in 1978 and the number now has gone up to 78. The number of patients taking homeopathic medicines has increased from around 8 lakhs patients in 1997 to 13,62,174 patients in 2006, she adds. PTI
Bra as shopping bag! lingerie design turns funky
Annie Samson
New Delhi, Feb 24 (PTI) A bra that doubles up as a shopping bag and another that can store chopsticks. Having come out with these innovative ideas, a leading lingerie brand is now challenging designers to create innerwear that will both appeal to the fashion conscious and promote awareness on environmental issues as well.
Switzerland-based Triumph International which previously has brought out wacky brassiere collections such as 'the Eco-Globe','My chopsticks bra,' 'The Warm Biz' 'Recycle PET' and the 'No Shopping bag bra,'is now organising the contest for students from more than 40 countries including India to produce "inspiring designs" for lingerie.
The winning designer, judged by experts in the field of design, fashion and the media, at the final held in July next year at Bejing, would bag a cash prize of Euro 15,000 and get a chance to sell the product in select stores worldwide.
"The winning design will be adapted and interpreted by our design team for commercial production. Also, the winner would also get a chance to get the design to be adapted and produced commercially to be sold as a limited edition along with his or her name," says Thorsten Allenstein, Country Head of Triumph.
"My Hashi bra" (my chopsticsk bra), features a pair of foldable recycled chopsticks that can be stashed in the sides of the bra and removed to eat a meal of rice and soup or while eating out.
"The product comes with removable , traditional cases on the shoulder straps and a detachable 'chopstick rest at the centre of the bra that is made of paper recycled from wooden chopsticks," says a company official."The idea is to highlight the need to reduce waste and establish a recycling -based society, the official adds. PTI
Marriages are made in heaven, is it?
New Delhi, Feb 24 (PTI) Marriages are made in heaven. But a young author, who was subjected to "bride viewing" ceremony 30 times before getting married to an NRI, says before entering into wedlock, the bride is forced to travel in a torturous path marked by stars, astrologers and matchmakers.
Kausalya Saptharishi, a freelance journalist in the United States, in her debut novel 'The TamBrahm Bride' traces the matrimonial journey of protagonist Shalu, whose parents belonging to Tamil Brahmin community make it their full-time job to search a "perfect match" for their daughter.
The TamBrahm Bride, explores the dizzying world of South Indian arranged marriage market dominated by stars, astrologers, matchmakers and a variety of ego characteristic boys' families.
"I had never planned that my first fiction would be about the TamBrahm arranged marriage set-up. It just happened the way because, I guess, somewhere in my subconscious, my own experiences as a Tamil Brahmin bride was waiting to be told through fiction," Kausalya, who was born in erstwhile Madras and brought up in Delhi, told PTI.
Shalu's parents are passionate for an NRI groom, who carries more clout than his India-based counterparts.
During the course of the marriage, 23-year-old Shalu is forced to present herself in traditional attire (saree), and serve hot drinks and traditional snacks for the groom and his family members and sit modestly in front of them answering questions posed by the boy's parents.
Shalu, an obedient daughter of an orthodox Tamil Brahm parents, agrees to an arranged marriage, but stays stubborn on continuing her dreams, regardless of her matrimonial destiny.
"Ever since I experienced some of the aspects integral to the arranged marriage system such as bride-viewings, I got interested in this topic. PTI
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