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Centre wants to find honourable settlement to Naga problem: PM
Kohima, Feb 27 (PTI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the UPA government would succeed in its efforts to find an honourable settlement to the decades-old Naga problem.
Singh said his government had been engaged in purposeful dialogues with the "disaffected groups" in Nagaland to find a lasting solution to the problem of the northeastern state.
Addressing a well-attended election rally here, the Prime Minister said, "Development requires peace, stability and security and we alone are sincerely committed to bring a lasting peace to the region, in particular Nagaland".
"We have been open and liberal in our approach and are hopeful that we will succeed in our efforts towards finding an honourable solution," he said.
Singh said the people of Nagaland were fed up with violence and his government was willing to go the "extra mile" to find permanent peace in the state where people want to be the part of an overall process of development and change in the country. PTI
Discussions with IAEA progressing well: Kakodkar
Chennai, Feb 27 (PTI) Discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the Indo-US Nuclear deal were progressing well, Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Anil Kakodkar said today.
"Discussions are progressing...There are complex issues involved that have to be taken forward step by step," he told reporters on the sidelines of the inauguration of a three day international conference on Nano Science & Technology organised by the Department of Atomic Energy here.
Asked how soon the talks were expected to be finalised, he said "we would like to do it as fast as possible. But we have to see that India's requirements are properly met".
Kakodkar refused to comment on whether the elections in the US in November, which could signal a change in the White House, would put the deal on the back-burner. "I am a technical person... I do not want to comment on it," he said.
India resumed another round of talks with the IAEA on Monday at Vienna to negotiate the India-specific safeguards agreement which is crucial for the deal.
India and IAEA have held four rounds of talks since November last, apart from several informal consultations to work out a new template on safeguards specifically meant for India, a key requirement before the agreement comes into force. PTI
Budget not election express: Lalu
Patna, Feb 27: Slamming opposition NDA for its criticism, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad today said the 2008-09 Railway Budget should not be termed as election oriented but a "historic" one which resulted in buoyancy in the stock market.
"No, no it is not an election express. We have presented a budget which received widespread appreciation from the world and trade and industries' masters. It has led to buoyancy in the stock market and the sensex has risen further," Prasad told a press conference here.
Hitting back at the NDA leaders for criticising the budget, Prasad said "it has not disappointed the masses but my political opponents as they are jealous of my abilities".
To buttress his points against the budget being seen as an exercise keeping an eye on elections, the Railway Minister said this was for bettering the health of railways and the process has been continuing ever since he took over the charge of the Ministry.
"It was our -- all those working for railways -- sincere, collective and untiring effort which brought it out from the red," he claimed.
Had it been an exercise aimed at election, "this type of glorious history for railways would not have been scripted," Prasad said.
"I am a happy man now as I have proved to be a successful Minister of Railway the responsibility of which I was unwilling to take up initially," Prasad said. PTI
EC should hold elections in Karnataka early: Venkaiah Naidu
Bangalore, Feb 27: The BJP today accused the Congress of trying to delay holding of assembly elections in Karnataka fearing defeat and asked the Election Commission to take steps to conduct the polls at an early date.
"It is the constitutional and democratic duty of the Centre and Election Commission to conduct elections early in Karnataka, " Senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu said at a press conference here.
He alleged that the Congress was trying to delay the polls citing the exercise of delimitation of constituencies which can be redrawn either in a week or fortnight.
"Postponement of elections on the ground of delimitation is not justified. Karnataka is a test case for the Election Commission. All eyes are now on it. Election Commission should not fall prey to Congress designs," Naidu said. PTI
FIIs invest in shares worth Rs 350 cr on bourses
Mumbai, Feb 27: Foreign Institutional Investors were net investors in equities today as the Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark index, Sensex, ended 20 points up.
FIIs made gross sale of equities worth Rs 3,027.55 crore and gross purchase of Rs 3,378 crore, resulting in a net investment of Rs 350.45 crore.
Domestic institutional investors also were net investors in shares worth Rs 341.35 crore, provisional data available on the BSE show.
Among other categories, non-resident Indian entities and proprietors sold shares worth Rs 0.89 crore and Rs 39.61 crore respectively.
Brokers also sold shares worth Rs 96.84 crore for their clients or retail investors.
According to the information available on the SEBI website, FIIs invested in shares worth Rs 85.40 crore.
The Sensex ended the day at 17,825.99, a rise of 19.80 points or 0.11 per cent. PTI
Airport infrastructure policy by early April: Patel
Kolkata, Feb 27: The government is likely to erect a new airport infrastructure policy by the end of March or early April as it seeks to boost private investment in greenfield airports in the country.
"We are in the process of formulating a clear set of guidelines for attracting more investment in airport infrastructure. The policy notification will come by early April and is awaiting cabinet clearance," Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said today.
The ministry will come out with a list of closed airports which will be revived through joint venture route with the help of private investment.
The policy has been prepared by the Committee on Infrastructure headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. It also includes Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel.
The policy will have a set of guidelines that will facilitate easy clearances for airport investment in the country.
A provision would also be made for a single-window clearance for the greenfield airports, which would be done by involving the concerned ministries such as the Defence and Home ministries. PTI
Reliance Ind rises; Infosys, TCS dip on BSE
Mumbai, Feb 27 (PTI) Shares of Reliance Industries was marginally up today after the firm announced discovery of gas off the Orissa coast, whereas most of the IT stocks fell on concerns of rising rupee.
Mukesh Ambani-led RIL rose 0.46 per cent to Rs 2,587.55 after touching an intra-day high of Rs 2,624. The company said it has discovered gas in NEC-OSN 97/2 (NEC-25) block located in the NEC-Mahanadi offshore basin, off the Orissa coast in Bay of Bengal.
About 13.9 lakh shares of the firm changed hands during the day.
The scrip of Shasun Chemicals & Drugs shot up 10.09 per cent to Rs 62.20. Earlier in the day, the firm said it has entered into a licensing agreement with Merck & Co.
Under the pact, Shasun has granted Merck the use of its proprietary cross-coupling copper technology to manufacture and commercialise Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients.
Meanwhile, the 18-share IT index declined 89.55 points or 2.20 per cent to 3,973.12 points after the rupee rose.
Among the losers were Tata Consultancy Services, Satyam Computer and Infosys, whose shares fell more than two per cent.
The Indian rupee ended at Rs 39.78 against the dollar today extending its surge for the third day in a row.
Further, BGR Energy Systems slipped 1.32 per cent to Rs 563.15 even after the firm said it had bagged a contract worth Rs 793 crore from Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation.
FCI hopes to procure 135 lakh tons of wheat in 2008-09
Chandigarh, Feb 27 (PTI) Citing reports of higher wheat output this year, Food Corporation of India (FCI) today said it expects to lift at least 135 tons of wheat in 2008-09, up by 23 lakh tons over the current fiscal.
"This year (2008-09), the wheat procurement from across the country by FCI is expected to be between 135 and 150 lakh tons of wheat which is quite high as compared to procurement done in earlier years," FCI Chairman and Managing Director Alok Sinha told reporters here today.
He said, "The major factors behind increase in lifting would be higher MSP, good crop in Punjab, Haryana, Northern Rajasthan and Western Uttar Pradesh, and low interest of private buyers in buying the crop." FCI procured 92 lakh tons of wheat in 2006-07, followed by 112 lakh tons lifted in 2007-08.
With the procurement of 135 lakh tons of the crop, the wheat stock of the country would reach 188 lakh tons. "From April 1 this year, we will have a stock of 53 lakh tons of wheat and if we add the figure of expected lifting then it will reach 188 lakh tons," Sinha said.
From Punjab and Haryana alone, FCI expects to lift 85 lakh tons and 40 lakh tons of wheat respectively, he informed.
The agency predicts that the private buyers would not be aggressive this year for wheat buying due to stabilised domestic wheat prices. PTI
Hayden let off with only a reprimand
Sydney, Feb 27: Australian opener Matthew Hayden was today let off lightly by the Australian Cricket Board with only a reprimand for calling Harbhajan Singh an "obnoxious little weed", a remark which drew widespread ire in India.
The 36-year-old Hayden, who has been actively involved in the on-field altercations with the Indians during their ill-tempered tour, got away with a rather light punishment after being charged for breaching the CA's code of behaviour.
The ruling came after a two-and-a-half hour disciplinary hearing before a Code of Conduct Commissioner appointed by the CA from its panel.
Hayden had breached CA's Code of Behaviour by making offensive remarks against Harbhajan in a radio interview.
The burly Australian cricketer was charged under Rule 9 of the CA Code of Behaviour, which prohibits detrimental public comment.
"Rule guidelines prohibit public denigration of other players against whom they have or will play," according to the CA.
Hayden's radio interview evoked sharp reaction in India with fans and former officials expressing anger at the Australian opener uncharitable remarks.
Hayden had also challenged young paceman Ishant Sharma to a boxing bout during the interview to 'Brisbane Radio' yesterday.
The Cricket Board has the authority to stop its contracted player from commenting on television, radio or print if it feels that it is not in good taste about an opposition players or Board. PTI
Current tension can damage relation between two boards: BCCI
New Delhi, Feb 27: The BCCI today said the verbal duel between Indian and Australian cricketers has the potential to damage the "healthy" relationship shared by the two boards.
"We should think of the healthy relationship that exists between the two boards. We are happy that Cricket Australia immediately acted in this case of (Matthew) Hayden," BCCI Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty said.
He said the Board had earlier written to their Australian counterpart to reign in the "provocative behaviour" of their players even before the Hayden diatribe.
"We had written to CA even before Hayden spoke on the (Brisbane) radio. We have brought to the notice of the CA that they need to talk to their players because the way the Indians are being provoked is not good," he said.
Shetty also defended Harbhajan for speaking to the media after the Hayden remark.
"He has not retorted. He has just responded to a question from the media and I think he has not said anything which is disrespectful and deragatory.
"It is a natural reaction of a person who was humiliated by the remark from Hayden," Shetty said. PTI
Keppler Wessels to train Chennai Super Kings
Chennai, Feb 27 (PTI) South African Keppler Wessels, the lone international cricketer who has played for two countries, has been roped in to coach India Cement's Chennai Super Kings team, one of the eight IPL franchisees, for a one-year term.
The 50-year-old Wessels, a former captain of South Africa, who has also represented Australian team, would be joining the Kings on March 20, V B Chandrasekar, former national selection committee member and Head of Cricketing Matters of the Chennai outfit, told PTI.
Wessels had scored centuries in tests for both the countries. Former India spinner, L Sivaramakrishnan, presently a commentator, was instrumental in bringing in the South African to the team.
"We had been in touch with four internationals and today signed the contract with Wessels. He was one of the four candidates to coach our national team and we wanted someone who is focused on international cricket. Wessels has been coaching for years and his experience will help us win the IPL tournament," Chandrasekar said.
An elated Wessels, who had last year approached the BCCI to coach the Indian national team, told PTI over phone that the focus will be on the younger talent of Chennai team and it gives me an opportunity to work with seven or eight youmg talents in the team. I am happy to be heading the coaching team for India Cements.
Stating that the team is one of the best and a balanced one, Wessels said "I am happy to be working with Matthew Hayden with whom I had played cricket in Australia". PTI
Pak to host Asia Cup from June 26-July 6
Karachi, Feb 27 (PTI) Pakistan will host the Asia Cup cricket tournament from June 25 in Karachi and Lahore, it was decided at a meeting between Cricket Board Chairman Nasim Ashraf and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) officials in Kuala Lumpur today.
Ashraf, in Malaysia for the Under-19 World Cup semifinals and final which Pakistan is eyeing to complete its hat-trick of titles, held meetings with ACC officials yesterday and today to finalise the Asia Cup itinerary which is yet to be released officially.
A PCB official said it was confirmed the Asia Cup would continue till July 6 and on the same day the ACC annual general body meeting would also be held in Karachi to hand over the Presidentship and charge of the ACC to Pakistan for a two-year period as per the rotation policy adopted by the continental body.
"The good thing is that India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have all confirmed their participation in the Asia Cup and that it should not be derailed even if Australia's tour to Pakistan is affected due to security reasons," he said.
The ACC will also celebrate its 25th founding anniversary with Pakistan wanting to invite some two dozen delegates from the ICC and member boards for the celebrations.
The official confirmed that Australia's revised itinerary now included two Tests and five one-day internationals instead of the original schedule of three Tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 match.
"Obviously Australia have assured us they will compensate for the dropped matches later on." Australia is still to confirm its tour to Pakistan due to security concerns for its players. PTI
Pak govt terminates graft cases against Zardari,Mush asked to convene Assembly
Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Feb 26: The Pakistan government today closed corruption cases against Asif Ali Zardari whose PPP will head a new ministry in Pakistan even as the three coalition partners jointly demanded that President Pervez Musharraf immediately convene the National Assembly.
With Musharraf's fate hanging in balance, the graft cases were "terminated" shortly after the Supreme Court dismissed three petitions challenging Musharraf's controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) promulgated last October.
PPP leaders--late Benazir Bhutto and her husband Asif Ali Zardari, now the co-chairman of the single largest party, had got amnesty for the corruption cases dating back to the 1980s and 1990s following Musharraf's order. The cases were terminated by the National Accountability Bureau(NAB).
The action quickly triggered speculation of a possible understanding between Zardari and Musharraf.
As the new MPs from the planned coalition of PPP, PML-N and ANP met for the first time at a joint meeting in a show of strength against Musharraf, PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif upped the ante and appeared to suggest that the President could be impeached when he claimed that the three parties had the required two-thirds majority.
Sharif said the coalition partners would not wait "a single day more" for parliament to be convened.
"Please see the numbers Mr Musharraf. We already have a two-thirds majority (in the National Assembly) and I would like to inform Mr Musharraf we are not prepared to wait for a single more day for the assembly to be convened," he told the new MPs to a loud applause at a Islamabad hotel. In all 171 members from PPP,PML-N and Awami National Party attended the meeting. The strength of National Assembly is 272. PTI
MIC tries to woo ethnic Indian voters by saying it "cares"
Jaishree Balasubramanian
Kuala Lumpur, Feb 27: In the backdrop of unprecedented protests by ethnic Indians seeking racial equality, the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), a component of the ruling coalition, has taken out a full-page pre-poll advertisement in national dailies assuring the community that it "cares" for them.
"MIC Cares," says a slogan in the advertisement with the party pledging to be "the community's custodian" as the campaigning intensified for the March 8 general elections called by Premier Abdullah Badawi a year ahead of schedule.
The MIC says it is confident that it will win the seats but is also doing everything to woo the voters, not taking any constituency for granted.
According to observers, the November 25 rally of over 20,000 ethnic Indians last year against the alleged marginalisation of the community was directed at MIC chief and Works Minister Samy Vellu rather than the government.
72-year-old Vellu has been at the helm of the party for more than two decades and is again contesting from Sungai Siput parliamentary seat for the ninth term. Vellu is also the lone Indian minister in the Abdullah Cabinet.
Vellu said certain sections of the Indian community in the multi-ethnic, multi-religious country were angry and blamed it on their "inadequacy." PTI
32 LTTE rebels killed, 44 surrender in Sri Lanka
T V Sriram
Colombo, Feb 27: At least 32 LTTE rebels and four soldiers were killed in fierce clashes in Sri Lanka's embattled northern region as 44 suspected Tigers surrendered to the security forces, the army said here today.
The surrendered rebels have allegedly confessed they were either connected to LTTE or have directly or indirectly aided and abetted the LTTE's cause in the Jaffna peninsula, the Defence Ministry said.
Those who surrendered would have to be formally registered at the police station and then would be absorbed into a rehabilitation programme in the peninsula beginning today.
Meanwhile, in fierce clashes at Muhamalai in Jaffna peninsula, troops killed at least three militants while losing two of their personnel yesterday, the army said.
Separately, the security forces gunned down six LTTE cadres in Kallikulam in Vavuniya yesterday, the Defence Ministry said adding three rebels were killed in another confrontation at Parappakandal in Mannar. PTI
Robots set to battle for honours at University challenge
Annie Samson
New Delhi, Feb 27 (PTI) Come March and the capital is set to witness combat in a different form as budding geeks gear up to outwit one other and demonstrate how technology can be exhilarating too! Replicating manoeuvers in traditional 'kushti' matches, where professional wrestlers twist and turn their bodies to fall opponents, robots of all shapes and sizes will fight it out with each other at the Indian Institute of Technology here.
Hundreds of collegiate students from across India are expected to attend the Institute's annual science and tech festival where they will be provided with a platform to showcase custom-made robots, which will be tested for their agility plus how maneuverable they are in an activity say a fight! Under 'Robowars,'category of 'Tryst', each four-member team from various colleges will demonstrate the capabilities of robots, that they built according to specifications prescribed.
"Each team must build a robot that will participate in a simulated war game on a 3x3 metre field against another four member team. In the two-part game, the robots would be required to ferry balls to a bunker through a maze from a fixed position and later on fight the opponent's robot out of the field," says Shailesh Jain, a mechanical engineering student and one of the organisers of the event.
Judges say they would be looking for the ability of contestants to synthesize a task to get a best design, quality of assembly, and ability to integrate different components to make a robot functional with consistent performances. PTI
When it comes to homes, it is all about opulence this season
Annie Samson
New Delhi, Feb 26 (PTI) Minimalism is out. Interiors this year for the Indian market is expected to be more opulent and ostentatious with added emphasis on brighter and more vibrant colours, forecast industry experts.
"During the previous five years or so there was this minimalistic trend, people did up their interiors with fewer furniture and straighter lines. Now they are reverting to the earlier period of more furniture and bolder and stronger colours," says Padmini Sharma, chief designer with a leading furniture retail company in the capital.
Experts point out that from homes sporting simple surfaces that made unwanted edges in a structure disappear, along with natural textures and clean and fine finishes, interiors were now turning more flamboyant with rustic and earthy colours and oversized ethnic prints, in bright colours along with distressed and antiqued mirror work surfaces.
"The walls and ceilings are also reflecting the rustic look that is very contemporary and very in, says Sharma. Adds Deepa Sam, an achitect based in Chennai.
"I have noticed that a lot of clients are focusing attention on one single item in their rooms instead of refurnishing the entire room by changing everything in it. It could either be a very nice flower vase, a ceiling chandelier or an exquisite wall hanging, they are reworking the room based on that one piece.
"One client had a very nice floor tile which was very expensive. So he arranged other tiles around that one tile to create a glamorous look," she says. PTI
Season of toil and torture for jumbos
N Muraleedharan
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 26 (PTI) With the festival season getting under way, it is time for fun, frolic and family get-togethers in Kerala. However, it is also the season of toil and torture for elephants, essential adjunct of temple festivals in the state.
Though the government has laid down clear-cut norms on the upkeep of captive elephants and the owners and mahouts are repeatedly reminded of them, these rules are often flouted.
Jumbos shuffling along melting roads under the skin-tanning summer sun, provoked and prodded by the mahout's hook, is a usual sight in Kerala these days.
After the long day's walk, the poor creatures are paraded for hours on end on festival grounds in heavy decorative gear in full glare of high-voltage lights and suffering the clamour of blaring mikes and ear-dinning temple orchestra.
As the physical and mental trauma becomes unbearable, the animal would turn violent directing their ire at the mahout or the spectators.
According to Elephant Lovers Association in the state, 12 elephants have died in the last four months and most of them had been under severe physical strain and did not receive proper treatment or care. 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
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Sensex: 17825.99, +19.80
The sensex closed at 17825.99, up 19.80
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1 U.S. $ = 39.775 INR
1 Japanese Yen = 0.3741 INR
1 British Pound = 79.005 INR
1 Canadian $ = 40.529 INR
1 Singapore $ = 28.474 INR
1 UAE Dirham = 10.830 INR
1 Saudi Arabian Riyal = 10.621 INR
1 Euro = 59.865 INR
1 Qatar Rial = 10.934 INR
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