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Indo-Pak talks: More cross-LoC bus services on agenda
New Delhi, May 4 (PTI) Keen to take the peace process with Pakistan forward, India is expected to press for launch of more cross-LoC bus services and propose some other confidence building measures during the upcoming visit of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to Islamabad.
In the first high-level contact with the new Pakistan government, Mukherjee will hold talks with his counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi on May 21 during which the Indian side is also expected to propose increasing the frequency of fortnightly Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot bus services to make these weekly.
During the much-delayed talks, the two sides will review the fourth round of Composite Dialogue and assess progress made on eight issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek and terrorism.
The talks between Mukherjee and Qureshi, which will also set the tone for the fifth round of composite dialogue, will be preceded by the Foreign Secretary-level discussions on May 20.
At the talks, the Indian side is expected to press for launch of Kargil-Skardu and Jammu-Sialkot bus services.
The two sides will also discuss operationalisation of the truck service on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route, sources said here. PTI
Talks between China and envoys of the Dalai Lama begin
Dharamsala, May 4 (PTI) Talks between envoys of the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and the Chinese authorities to seek a solution to the vexed Tibetan issue began in Shenzhen in China today.
"The talks between China and the Dalai Lama's envoys Lody Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen which started today will continue for the next two-three days", the Tibetan spiritual leader's secretary Tenzin Takhla told PTI on the phone.
"We hope China is serious about the talks" (for finding a solution to the vexed Tibetan issue), Takhla said.
The envoys are expected to come back to Dharamsala by Wednesday-Thursday next and brief the Dalai Lama on the talks, he said, adding, it is only after their return that the Tibetan temporal head would voice his reaction on the subject.
Under pressure from world leaders, China recently agreed to hold talks with envoys of the Dalai Lama on the Tibet issue following which the Tibetan spiritual leader deputed Gyari and Gyaltsen as his representatives for holding a dialogue with Chinese authorities.
While Lody Gyari is the Dalai Lama's special envoy in the US, Kelsang Gyaltsen officiates in the same capacity in Belgium.
The two had participated in the previous six rounds of talks between China and the representatives of the Tibetan leader in the past of which the last one was held in February last year. PTI
CPI(M)-Trinamool activists clash in Nandigram, 400 displaced
Nandigram (WB), May 4 (PTI) A fresh clash between supporters of the state's ruling CPI(M) and those of opposition Trinamool Congress erupted here today even as 4OO villagers were sheltered in releif camps following mounting violence in the run up to coming panchayat elections, Police said two groups of the rival political parties clashed with bombs at Sonachura this morning. No one was, however, injured.
Official sources said the displaced villagers had been sheltered in two relief camps near the BDO office in Nandigram and adjacent Maheshpur for the past few days. They have come from Sonachura and Garchakrabaria villages. PTI
Delhi Daredevils restrict Mumbai Indians to 162 for 8
Mumbai, May 4 (PTI) Mumbai Indians batting failed to prosper yet again and the home team were restricted to 162 for eight by the high-flying Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League match at the D Y Patil Stadium here today.
Put in to bat by Delhi captain Virender Sehwag, the home team - with only one victory in their first five matches - sparkled sporadically but with no batsman willing to bat till the end, finished up with a less-than-competitive score.
Veteran Sanath Jayasuriya (34), newcomer Yogesh Takawale (14), Dominic Thornely (30) and Robin Uthappa (22), in the top order, got starts but failed to make them count as Delhi Daredevils struck at regular intervals to stop their progress.
After a opening stand of 46 between their new pair of wicketkeeper Takawale and veteran Jayasuriya, who looked in supreme touch and struck one six and six fours in his 16-ball knock, the innings went into a decline before being propped up by Thornely and Uthappa.
The third wicket pair added 52 runs in 36 balls but once this stand between Thornely and Uthappa was broken, there was a steep slide.
From 102 for two, the home team slid to 112 for six and despite the best efforts of captain Shaun Pollock, who top-scored with 33 in 15 balls, with 3 sixes and 2 fours and was leading the team again after Sachin Tendulkar was declared unfit, the final tally did not assume a menacing proportion.
The start was brisk with Jayasuriya being the aggressor in the opening stand with league debutant Takawale.
The former Lanka skipper first turned his attention on Mohammad Asif and slammed him for two successive fours in his opening over to give the innings a kick-start. PTI
Ishant fined for kicking down stumps
Mumbai, May 4 (PTI) Kolkata Knight Riders spearhead Ishant Sharma was today fined 10 per cent of his match fees for kicking down the stumps in yesterday's Indian Premier League match against Punjab King's XI at Mohali.
IPL match referee Clive Lloyd found the speedster guilty of a Level 1 offence (clause 2) as per the International Cricket Council's Code of Conduct which has been adopted by the Twenty20 League authorities, a media release said today.
The offence relates to abusing ground equipment.
IPL had earlier booted out Mumbai Indians off-spinner Harbhajan Singh for slapping King's XI bowler S Sreesanth at the same venue.
It had also fined Shane Warne, captain of Rajasthan Royals, and Sourav Ganguly, skipper of Knight Riders, for different breaches of the Code at Jaipur on May 1 during the two teams' contest.
Former India skipper Ganguly was found guilty of showing dissent on the field and fined 10 per cent of his match fees.
The Match Referee in his recommendation to the IPL said that Ganguly's act of prevailing upon Pratap Kumar, the on-field umpire, to refer a decision to the TV umpire, constituted a Level I offence as per the ICC's Code of Conduct.
Spin legend Warne was found guilty of violating Section 1.7 of the ICC's Code of Conduct, which deals with 'public criticism of, or inappropriate comment on a match-related incident or official,' which constitutes a Level I offence.
Warne had publicly criticised his opposite number Ganguly for an on-field incident at the end of the game between the Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals. PTI
Shoaib free to play in IPL, ban suspended for a month
Karachi, May 4 (PTI) Beleaguered speedster Shoaib Akhtar heaved a huge sigh of relief as the appellate tribunal of the Pakistan Cricket Board today decided to suspend the five-year ban on him for a month, paving the way for his participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The Appellate tribunal granted the temporary relief after Shoaib and his lawyers moved an urgent application yesterday that the ban be suspended so that he can earn his livelihood in the IPL Shoaib argued before the three-member panel that it would take a long time for the tribunal to reach a verdict on his regular appeal against the ban and therefore he should not be made to suffer for that duration.
The tribunal had refused to stay the ban earlier this week but had allowed the fast bowler to play anywhere outside Pakistan.
But the governing council of the IPL barred him from the tournament saying he would not be allowed until the ban is lifted.
Shoaib was bought by the Shah Rukh Khan-owned Kolkata Knight Riders for USD 425,000 in the players' auction.
Justice (retd) Aftab Farrukh, who heads the tribunal, told reporters that the ban would remain suspended until the the regular hearing starts into the appeal filed by Shoaib from June 4.PTI
Kings XI take on struggling Bangalore
Sutram Suresh Bangalore, May 4 (PTI) On a roll after four back-to-back wins, Kings XI Punjab start overwhelming favourites against the beleaguered Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) here tomorrow.
Going into tomorrow's match, Yuvraj Singh's Kings XI Punjab seems to be the only team that has not been affected by the exit of its Australian imports -- Simon Katich and Brett Lee. In contrast, Bangalore lost their only consistent performer in Ross Taylor when the Kiwi opener had to leave for national duty against England.
Much is expected from Taylor's replacement Misbah-ul-Haq but the Pakistani right-hander has played only one game and that too without much success.
The Rahul Dravid-led outfit has managed just two wins in the high-profile Twenty20 tourney so far and they have come against teams that are not exactly in great touch either -- Mumbai Indians and Hyderabad Deccan Chargers.
King XI, on the other hand, lost their first two encounters but bounced back brilliantly to remain unbeaten thereafter, brushing aside controversies like the slap-gate involving its pacer S Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh.
Their last win came against the more-fancied Kolkata Knight Riders and they discovered a match-winner in Australian Shaun Marsh, son of Geoff Marsh, who became man of the match on debut against Deccan Chargers.
The bowling too has not been affected much by Lee's departure and Irfan Pathan has taken over as the pace spearhead with elan.
The only cause of concern remains Sreesanth's economy rate and aggression, none of which has not shown any signs of coming down. PTI
Atwal leaps to tied 27th South Georgia Classic
Valdosta (USA), May 4 (PTI) Arjun Atwal continued to be upwardly mobile in the South Georgia Classic Golf Tournament, turning in a three-under 69 in the penultimate round to leap to the tied 27th spot in the USD 625,000 Nationwide Tour event here.
The Orlando-based golfer, who barely made the cut at tied55th yesterday, has a three-day total of two-under 214.
The 10th tee starter picked up four birdies against a lone bogey in what turned out to be his best day at the Kinderlou Forest Golf Club so far.
Atwal's first birdie came on the 14th hole but he was back to par after dropping a stroke on the 17th. However, a birdie on the very next hole saw him make the turn one-under.
His front-nine went bogeyfree and was studded with birdies on the first and seventh holes.
At the top, Canadian Bryan DeCorso shot a blemishfree 68 to take his total to 11-under 205 and hold on to his overnight lead, which was cut to just one stroke by Englishman Greg Owen.
Owen fired a flawless seven-under 65 in the penultimate round to grab the sole second spot. PTI
North Bengal tea to be exported to Egypt, Iran, Pakistan
Jalpaiguri (WB), May 4 (PTI) Centre will take initiatives to export tea grown in the gardens of north Bengal to countries like Pakistan, Iran and Egypt.
In a press conference at Hasimara near here, Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said, "Demand for Indian tea is quite high in Pakistan, Iran and Egypt and tea of north Bengal will be exported to these countries." "Though north Bengal produces about 250 million kg tea every year, but the export volume is inadequate. Only nine per cent of Darjeeling tea is exported," he said.
Ramesh and other officials of Tea Board of India will visit the countries to promote the export market.
Centre has also promised to take special measures for the development of three hundred tea gardens in north Bengal.
The minister said the closed tea gardens of Kathalguri and Ramjhora will be opened in two-and-a-half month. PTI
Microsoft withdraws bid to acquire Yahoo
Dharam Shourie & Meenakshi Ganjoo
New York/Silicon Valley, May 4 (PTI) Software giant Microsoft has abandoned its three-month old bid to buy Yahoo after the two failed to agree on acceptable price.
Microsoft had offered USD 47.5 billion, which translated into USD 33 per share but Yahoo wanted USD 57 billion (USD 37 a share). Initially, the software giant in February had offered USD 44.6 billion or USD 31 a share but raised the offer as the negotiations proceeded.
Microsoft announced its decision to withdraw after talks between its Chief Executive Steven A Ballmer and Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang in Seattle failed to produce an agreement yesterday.
Microsoft had made an unsolicited bid to buy Yahoo so as to compete with Google search engine.
Ballmer, in a letter to Yang, pointed out that Microsoft had already raised its bid by about USD 5 billion and despite its best efforts, Yahoo has not "moved towards accepting our offer".
"After careful consideration, we believe the economics demanded by Yahoo! do not make sense for us, and it is in the best interests of Microsoft stockholders, employees and other stakeholders to withdraw our proposal," Ballmer said.
Meanwhile, Yahoo dismissed Microsoft's unsolicited bid as a "distraction".
"With the distraction of Microsoft's unsolicited proposal now behind us, we will be able to focus all of our energies on executing the most important transition in our history so that we can maximise our potential to the benefit of our shareholders, employees, partners and users," Yang said in a statement. PTI
Gold prices may drop further
Mumbai, May 4 (PTI) Gold prices may see some correction, a top industry official said here.
In line with the international market, gold price in local market are also expected to see some more correction in coming days, Bombay Bullion Association President Suresh Hundia told PTI here today.
In the local market, gold prices held above a psychological Rs 11,000 per 10 grams.
In the international market, the gold price slipped to 13 week low to trade at $862.40 per ounce as bond yields ticked higher following 0.25 per cent rate cut announced by the Federal Reserve last week.
The demand of gold is expected to rise due to fall in gold prices, during the current Akshaya Tritiya festival. Every year, gold coins worth three to four tonnes are sold during this auspicious Hindu festival, Hundia said.
"Gold imports are expected to improve in April and may be at around 40-50 tonnes as prices have declined and also physical buyers who were on the sidelines bought the yellow metal to stock it up before the wedding and festival season," Hundia added.
The benchmark June gold futures contract on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) fell 1.5 per cent to Rs 11,205 per 10 grams on Thursday, its lowest level since mid January.
"There is a fear that gold might go down if the dollar fails to weaken. Long term gold holders are exiting long positions," believes bullion analyst Ajit Zaveri. PTI
British Gas to invest USD one billion in oil exploration in country
Mumbai, May 4 (PTI) BG India, a part of the British Gas group, plans to invest USD one billion in exploration business in the next two to three year period, a top company official said.
"We have firm plans to invest USD one billion in exploration in India. We are into full gas chain, both upstream and downstream, and our intent would be to expand in India," BG India Managing Director Kapil Garg told PTI on the sidelines of a conference to inaugurate British Gas Petroleum Geosciences Lab at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), here.
British Gas has funded the geosciences lab at IIT in Mumbai to facilitate high quality research facility in the field of oil exploration.
India is one of BG Group's six core geographic areas of operation. BG India is responsible for managing and developing the upstream and downstream interests of the BG Group in India.
It is the largest investing foreign company in the Indian oil and gas sector, having invested approximately USD 900 million to date.
"We have a presence in the west and east coast in oil exploration activities," Garg said.
India needs nearly USD 300 billion investment for exploration of hydrocarbon. PTI
Credit card numbers up for grabs at Rs 16!
Piyali Mandal
New Delhi, May 4 (PTI) Now you can buy credit card numbers or bank account details of stolen credit card numbers for as low as Rs 16 through underground online markets.
The credit card numbers are selling for USD 0.40 (Rs 16) to USD 20 (Rs 811) while bank account details are up for grabs at USD 10 (Rs 405)-USD 1,000 (Rs 40,550 ) in such forums.
If you are lucky enough then you might get combo offers of 50 credit card numbers for USD 40 (Rs 1,622) and 500 credit card numbers for USD 200 (Rs 8,110 ).
If you are still wondering what we are talking about then read along.
In the cyberspace there are Underground Economy Servers, which are black market forums used by criminals and criminal organisations to advertise and trade stolen information and services, typically for use in identity theft.
This information can include government-issued identification numbers such as social security numbers, credit cards, credit verification values, debit cards, personel identification numbers (PIN), user accounts, email address lists and bank accounts.
The current rates for stolen credit card numbers range between 0.40 dollars (Rs 16) to USD 20 (Rs 811) while bank account details are available for USD 10 (Rs 405)-USD 1000 (Rs 40,550) per account.
E-mail passwords can cost as little as USD 4 (Rs 162) -USD30 (Rs 1,216). While full identities can be availed for $1 (Rs 40.5)-$15 (Rs 608.40), according to the data by the US-based IT security major Symantec Corporation.
"Everyone is aware of the existence of such servers but it is very difficult to track them or trace them in the cyberspace," says a security expert. PTI
Gilani pledges to work for the independence of judiciary
Islamabad, May 4 (PTI) Pakistan government will take along all political forces as it works to ensure independence of the judiciary and to strengthen national institutions like the parliament, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said today.
Addressing a function organised by an NGO in his hometown Multan, Gilani pledged to work for the independence of the judiciary but made no mention of reinstating dozens of judges sacked by President Pervez Musharraf last year.
Restoring the deposed judges is a key demand of former premier Nawaz Sharif's PML-N party, which backs the coalition government led by Gilani's Pakistan People's Party.
"I promise that the judiciary will be made independent so that the people can get cheap justice," Gilani told the gathering after disbursing financial aid to educated youths.
Gilani is on his first visit to Multan since he assumed the post of Prime Minister in March.
Noting that the February 18 general election had produced a split mandate that would not have allowed any single party to form government, he said the PPP had realised that Pakistan was at the crossroads and "thought of forming a broad-based government".
The government "includes all political forces so we can tackle the crisis facing the country", he said. "We have tried to take everyone along and I want to tell everyone that our objective is to serve the country," Gilani added.
The Prime Minister said the constitution of 1973 will be restored, national institutions will be strengthened and parliament will be made supreme. "We will not allow the National Assembly and Senate to become rubbers stamps," he said. PTI
Global warming leading to expansion of "underwater deserts"
New York, May 4 (PTI) Global warming has led to expansion of low-oxygen "underwater deserts" in the tropical oceans over the past five decades, which scientists view as a potential threat to marine ecosystems.
Climate models predict that the trend will continue, potentially threatening marine ecosystems, a report published in Nature magazine said.
The discovery, it said, concerns a layer of the ocean called the 'oxygen-minimum zone', where concentrations of dissolved oxygen are particularly low.
The new study shows that this zone has been expanding both upwards and downwards into the adjacent layers in tropical waters.
Climate models, according to the report, predict that warming of the sea surface as a result of human activity will hamper the mixing of oceanic waters, preventing dissolved oxygen from mixing evenly through the water column. The new results suggest that this process has already begun.
Researchers led by Lothar Stramma of the University of Kiel, Germany, measured the oxygenation of the oceans at depths of between 300 and 700 metres during a series of observation cruises in tropical regions of the world's three main oceans, Nature reported.
The scientists added their new data to previous oxygen measurements to build up a picture of the trend over the past 50 years. PTI
Mush agrees on package but wants to decide time of departure
Lahore, May 4 (PTI) Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has apparently agreed to a constitutional package to reinstate the judges sacked by him and dilute some of his powers provided he was allowed to stay on with "dignity" and to decide upon his time and method of departure.
Presidential aides were in contact with the government to work out a constitutional package acceptable to all "stakeholders" -- Asif Ali Zardari's PPP, Nawaz Sharif's PML-N, Supreme Court judges, President and the Army, highly-placed sources were quopted as saying by Daily Times.
The sources said the president was likely to agree to a proposal to dilute his discretionary powers to dissolve the assemblies.
"The president's powers to use Article 58 (2b) would be made stringently subject to the approval of the SC and some guidelines may also be recommended for the apex court in case such a situation develops," the sources said.
Apparently, the president is not ready to abolish the National Security Council but would agree to a proposal that the provincial governors be appointed on the advice of the prime minister rather than in consultation with him.
However, the sources said the president wanted to retain the powers to appoint the service chiefs.
"There is a disagreement on this issue. He wants the appointment of the services chiefs to the president's prerogative," the sources were quoted as saying by the daily.
Also, he wants to stay on with dignity and decide upon his time and method of departure in the medium term himself.
It is understood that there is a willingness on the part of all sides to fix the chief justice's tenure to a five-year term, the daily said. PTI
Film maker Prabodh Mukherji dies
Mumbai, May 4 (PTI) Noted film maker Prabodh Mukherji passed away at a private hospital here following a cardiac arrest.
He was 88.
Mukherji is survived by wife and two sons -Tapan and Basu, who are in the distribution business.
The end came at 2355 hrs last night at Nanavati Hospital where he was hospitalised for the last one week, his son Basu Mukherji told PTI.
Prabodh was younger brother of Sashdhar and Subodh Mukherji.
He produced several films like Shammi Kapoor starrer `Junglee', `April fool', `Sharmili', `Love Marriage', `Shagird', `Abhinetri', `Ladke Baap se badke' and `Mr Romeo'.
Prabodh was partner in the Subodh Mukherji Productions along with brother Subodh. He handled the finances while Subodh was the creative partner involved in producing, scripting, direction.
The funeral will take place at Santacruz crematorium today. PTI
Bhutanese film industry shrinking, say filmmakers
Thimphu, May 4 (PTI) Bhutan's fledgling film industry that has been able to thwart challenges from Bollywood and Hollywood thanks to the country's strict rules, is shrinking and the number of works is falling, producers say.
Lack of funds and shortage of movie theatres are hampering the growth of the Bhutanese film industry, they feel.
Within a short span of its existence, the Bhutanese film industry has been able to build a large clientele of diehard fans.
Bhutanese films have completely replaced Bollywood and Hollywood hits at the capital's only movie theatre -- Lugar Theatre.
Movie buffs said they do not miss any new release. But to their disappointment, new releases have been few and far between.
Films like "Sergyel" and "Chorten Kora" which were released a year ago are being re-screened at the movie theatre.
In 2006, about 22 films were released and the number dropped to 18 last year. This year the Motion Pictures Association of Bhutan (MPAB) expects only about seven films.
MPAB general secretary Sherub Gyeltshen said lack of funds and shortage of proper cinema halls are restraining the growth of local film industry.
He said it is difficult to procure loans for producing films.
Filmmakers say loans should be made available for producing films and building more cinema halls and tax exemption on film-making equipment can help revive the dying industry. PTI
Bachchan denies playing role of Bangladeshi leader
Mumbai, May 3 (PTI) Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan today denied he has given nod to play the role of Mujibur Rehman, the founding father of Bangladesh, in an English movie.
"Its the first time that I hear all this and obviously negate it, but they (media in London) were persistent. The media told me that the person producing it (the film) has confirmed your participation, Mr Bachchan! Well Mr Bachchan has not heard of it yet," he remarked here.
A report quoting a New York-based Bangladesh news agency had said Bachchan has agreed to play the role of Mujib in 'The Poet of politics' named after the title given to the Bangladeshi leader by the 'Time' magazine in the early 1970s on its cover story.
The agency said Big B's actor-son Abhishek would essay the role of a young Mujib while his daughter-in-law and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai and noted actress Shabana Azmi were also assigned key roles in the film.
According to the report, veteran director Shyam Benegal would direct the movie which is to be made in English and subsequently dubbed in Bengali, Hindi among other languages.
The Eastern News Agency (ENA) report said Bachchan recently gave his nod to the producer, expatriate Bangladeshi journalist Abdul Gaffar Chowdhary, who was trying to cast the megastar in the over Rs 11-crore budget film. PTI
Couples from UK, Afghanistan look to India for sperm donors
Kamal Narayan
New Delhi, May 4 (PTI) Unable to conceive but longing for their own baby, couples from Britain, Afghanistan and other countries are now turning to India, seeking a sperm donor.
India, being the only country in South Asia, with semen banks and a large number of willing donors, has become a hot spot for artificial insemination.
Experts feel that opposed to the adverse legal and social scenario in other countries, India where 'donor sperms' are easily available is growing as a prime destination for treating this condition.
"There has been an acute shortage of donor sperm of ethnic Indian origin in the United Kingdom and this has led to a dramatic jump in couples coming here from UK for artificial insemination," says Dr Shivani Sachdev Gour, consultant Fertility specialist in the capital's Fortis Hospital.
On an average 45-50 such couples from London visit her clinic annually to avail this service.
In UK, for example there is a shortage of semen donors, because it has become mandatory for donors to now disclose their identity, says Sachdev.
Similarly, many come to India from neighbouring countries in quest of semen donors.
Dr Iqbal Mehdi, Head of Department, Cryogene Lab Pvt Ltd, the oldest sperm bank in country, says, "A large number of couples from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka visit our lab seeking donated semen." According to Dr Mehdi, his bank get maximum clients from Afghanistan, which is almost 25 per cent of total visitors, followed by Dubai (10 per cent).
Besides, people from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Srilanka, Bangladesh and Nepal, also visit his lab, says Dr Mehdi. PTI
Iraq war behind US economic crisis: Book
New Delhi, May 4 (PTI) Are wars good for economy? The idea which gained prominence during the World War II has proved to be wrong in the case of US war in Iraq, says a new book.
Today, no serious economist holds the view that war is good for the economy. Since the Iraq war began, oil prices have gone from about $25 a barrel at the outset to more than $90 and are rising still higher.
In America, the war has hurt the economy in other ways, the question being not whether the economy has been weakened by the war. The question is only by how much, say Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel laureate and Linda Bilmes in their book 'The Three Trillion Dollar War'.
Stiglitz was Chief Economist at the World Bank until January 2000. Bilmes is a lecturer in Public Policy at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.
The authors say many people around the world, not just in the Middle East believe the US government went to war because it wanted to get its hands on Iraqi oil.
'We aren't going to discuss their arguments here. It is enough to say that if America went to war in the hope of securing cheap oil, we failed miserably. We did, however, succeed in making the oil companies richer. Exxon-Mobile and other oil companies have been among the few real beneficiaries of the war, as their profits and share prices have soared,' they say. Meanwhile, the economy as a whole has paid a high price, the book says.
Oil prices started to soar just as the war began and the longer it has dragged on, the higher prices have gone. "This certainly suggests that the war has something to do with the rising prices," the book says. (About the book: 'The Three Trillion Dollar War' by Joseph Stiglitz and Linda Bilmes, Penguin, Pages 300, Price Rs.595/- ) PTI
Small town chefs in demand
Anurag Sharma
New Delhi, May 4 (PTI) They do not hold degrees or diplomas, run their eateries in nondescript way. Quite a few of them however, finding their way to star hotels in big cities, thanks to the boom in the industry and growing demand for authentic, ethnic food.
These chefs who speak regional languages and struggle with their Hindi, are ushering into the unchartered territory of corporate chefdom and ready to enter the market with some 'original' food for the discerning clientele.
"Regional chefs add extra flavour and authenticity to the food. And with the boom in the hotel industry, the demand for these chefs is on all time high. They bring with them all the spices and don't use market products, which complements the purity and also the way of preparation is completely different," says Nita Nagraj, Executive Chef, Jaypee Hotel.
Bakshish Singh, Surinder Singh Kapoor and Sucha Singh, chefs and dhaba owners from Amritsar, don't know much about the nitty-gritty of market strategy but are happy to reach out to maximum food lovers through their dishes.
"We are the most sought after chefs in Amritsar but we want that our dishes should reach out to the people living in different parts of the country. Sarson da Saag, Tawa Meat, spicy magaz masala are our specialities. Slowly our demand in five star hotels is growing. And We are frequently getting invitations to participate in different foof festivals," says Surinder Singh. PTI
Video games can mislead young minds, say experts
Ashish Kumar Jha
New Delhi, May 4 (PTI) They have succeeded in getting the gen-X and the gen-Y hooked, spending hours at the gizmos, firing away laser guns or racing formula cars.
Targetting this huge market are software companies, who are now organising competitions for 'gamers', offering attractive prizes.
What is worrying psychologists and intellectuals, however, is a trend to politicise the video games by introducing themes that can mislead the new generation.
"Children are very much vulnerable as they easily start identifying themselves with the characters of these kind of video games. The games divert their delicate mindset in negative direction, which could be reflected in their emotional attitude and thought process in long run," says Roma Kumar, Psychiatrist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.
A video game 'Crysis', by a US software company, shows US army fighting against North Korean army in order to take control over a colossal asteroid on an island.
The story line of the video game 'Crysis', suggests the US army equipped with their futuristic and sophisticated weapons fight with the very low powered North Korean Army. However, later in the game, US and North Korean army unite to fight against the alien forces.
'Crysis' incidentally is one of the five games listed in a countrywide gaming championship organised later this month for the first time in India. The organisers claim the championship as a start of new era in Indian 'Gaming' scenario. PTI
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The sensex closed at 17600.12, up 312.81
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1 U.S. $ = 40.725 INR
1 Japanese Yen = 0.3866 INR
1 British Pound = 80.297 INR
1 Canadian $ = 40.009 INR
1 Singapore $ = 29.899 INR
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1 Euro = 62.814 INR
1 Qatar Rial = 11.190 INR
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