VOL: 2 ISSUE 62
Sanjay Dutt barred from
contesting Lok Sabha polls
New Delhi, March 31: In a
landmark decision aimed
at preventing the
criminalisation of politics,
the Supreme Court on
Tuesday rejected the plea
moved by Bollywood actor
Sanjay Dutt seeking
suspension of his
conviction in the 1993
Mumbai serial blast case
for contesting Lok Sabha
polls.
While passing its
judgment, the apex court
bench said, “We are not
inclined to suspend his
conviction. It was not a fit
case to grant stay of
conviction.”
The Supreme
Court’s decision has come
as a major blow for the
Samajwadi Party, which
has announced to field the
actor from the prestigious
Lucknow Lok Sabha
constituency.
The decision has
also shattered Dutt’s plans
to enter politics. However,
the Congress party and
several eminent jurists
have welcomed the SC
decision to bar Sanjay Dutt
from contesting polls.
The Congress
party has said that it would
now field a candidate from
the Lucknow Lok Sabha
constituency even if Dutt’s
wife Manayata contests
elections.
Praising the SC
decision, eminent jurist
Soli Sorabji said, “Any
other verdict would have
sent a wrong signal. The
Supreme Court has done
well by not diluting the
law. It’s a victory for
constitutionalism.”
SC reserves order
The apex court
had on Monday reserved
its order on the actor’s
plea.
Dutt’s plea was
strongly opposed by the
CBI when it came up for
hearing yesterday.
T h e conspiracy with other
investigating agency,
which had not opposed
Dutt's bail when he was
sentenced to six years
imprisonment by a
Mumbai TADA court, said
a case cannot be made
out to stay his conviction
under the Arms Act to
enable him to contest
elections.
The actor has
raised legal points and
referred to his family
background to seek relief
from the apex court.
"No case can be
made out to stay his
conviction," Additional
Solicitor General Gopal
Subramanium asserted
before a three-judge
Bench headed by Chief
Justice KG Balakrishnan.
CBI contended that Dutt
would not suffer
irretrievable or
irreparable injury if his
plea was refused. The
actor had sought
suspension of conviction
in order to enter public life
by contesting the
upcoming Lok Sabha
polls.
The agency
countered the contention
of Dutt's counsel and
senior advocate Harish
Salve that he was only
convicted on the basis of
his confessional
statement, saying the
actor was held guilty not
only on the basis of his
confession but also that
the court's findings were
based on recoveries,
disclosures and
corroborative evidences.
"It is not a case entirely
based on confession but
s u p p o r t e d b y
disclosures, recoveries
and corroboration of
evidences," the ASG
said.
"The conviction
under Arms Act cannot be
o v e r s i g h t e d , "
Subramanium said
opposing Salve's
submission that the 50-
year-old actor was
absolved of serious
offences under TADA,
including entering into
accused in the March
1993 Mumbai blasts
case.
S a l v e
contended that there was
no reason to put up
hurdles for the actor, who
was convicted only once,
in entering public life and
his family antecedents
should be taken into
account to stay his
conviction.
He said Dutt
had possessed arms as
he feared a threat to the
life of his father late Sunil
Dutt and other members
of his family after the
January 1993 riots.
Dutt sought
suspension of the
conviction on the
grounds considered by
the apex court while
staying the conviction of
BJP leader Navjot Singh
Sidhu in a road rage
case.
However, CBI
opposed the contention,
saying the case of
cricketer-turned-
politician stood on a
March 31, 2009
different footing as he was exercised rarely. "If a person is
acquitted by the trial court CBI was joined convicted and not allowed
before it was overturned by several residents from to contest election there is
by the Punjab and Lucknow in opposing no violation of fundamental
Haryana High Court. Dutt's plea, with their right," Sorabjee said.
Subramanium said the lawyers contending that Tulsi said any
CBI was also opposing relief by the apex court relief in the case would
Dutt's plea on the would lead to the "whole lead to a rush of petitions
principle laid in the spectre" of criminals by criminals and the battle
Representation of getting into public office. to clean public office of
People's Act which under S e n i o r criminals would be
Section 8(3) prohibits a advocates Soli Sorabjee, defeated.
person sentenced to two KTS Tulsi and advocate Dutt in his petition
years imprisonment from Prashant Bhushan contended that his conduct
contesting the elections. appearing for the during the trial should be
"The statutory residents submitted that considered for granting
law (election law) strictly allowing convicted him relief like cricketer-
puts a bar on convicted persons to contest turned-politician Navjot
persons from contesting elections would Singh Sidhu.
elections," ASG said, strengthen criminalisation
adding that the power of of politics which the apex -Agencies
the court to stay the court itself had tried to
conviction has to be prevent.
14 new judges sworn in as
additional judges of Madras HC
Chennai, Mar 31 W i t h t h e High Court has gone up to
Fourteen newly addition to these judges, 58 against its total
appointed Judges to the the strength of Madras sanctioned strength of 60.
Madras High Court were
today sworn in as
additional judges.
Chief Justice H
L Gokhale administered
the oath of office and
secrecy to the new
judges.
M s R S
R a m a n a t h a n ,
B a l a s u n d a r a m
Rajendran, Raja Elango,
D u r a i s a m y
Hariparanthaman, Cyril
Thamarai Selvam,
C h i n n a s a m y
Swaminathan Karnan,
Nadesa Gounder
Kirubakaran, M M
Sundresh, Thirunelveli
Subbiah Sivagnanam, M
Duraiswamy, T Raja,
Kumari R Mala, Ms Aruna
Jagadeesan and C M
Akbar Ali, were sworn in
as additional judges.
After the
swearing in, a welcome
address was given by
Advocate General G
Masilamani. All the
advocates association
office-bearers and the
advocates participated in
the function.
Page 2 Times Chennai E-Paper
New Syndicate members elected
to the Madras University
Chennai, March 31: Six
professors were elected to
the Syndicate of the
University of Madras on
Saturday even as a section
of the professors raised
objections against the
validity of some professors
contesting for a place in the
Syndicate.
Prof H Devaraj,
head (in charge),
D e p a r t m e n t o f
biotechnology, was elected
to the Syndicate of the
University of Madras on
Saturday. But several
people have expressed
their surprise at his
candidature, as he is only a
head-in-charge.
“He is the head of
the department in place of
another professor, who is
on a sabbatical.
W h e n t h e
professor returns, then will
the University conduct the
elections again, as it is very
clear that only the head of
departments or institutions
can become Syndicate
members?’’ asks a
professor of the University,
who did not wish to be
named.
A term for a
Syndicate lasts for three
years, and those who have
been elected to the office
Youth duped of
Rs 30 lakh for govt jobs
Chennai, March 31 :
About 25 youth have filed
a complaint of cheating
with the suburban
commissioner S R Jangid
on Monday. They were
promised jobs with the
Airport Authority of India
(AAI).
A complaint filed
by Ezhumalai, who
represented the men, said
that he was working with
the municipal corporation
in the area for the last 20
years. He came in contact
with Manibharati alias K G
Laxmiswami through a
common friend, who had
told him that the latter had
helped him get a
government job for his wife
and could help his sons
too.
Manibharati
allegedly said that he knew
an employee with the AAI,
Gautam Singh, who said
he could help them get a
job for his sons and
nephews.
He wanted Rs
150,000 plus a commission
of Rs 1 lakh per candidate.
“About 25 of them came
forward for the job from my
side and coughed up close
to Rs 30 lakh.
I had many
interactions with
March 31, 2009
DK pledges support to DMK-led DPA front in LS polls
Chennai, Mar 31: The The meeting In the recent past,
rationalist Dravidar
Kazhagam (DK) today
also decided to release a
book, containing the
the DMK government had
exerted pressure on the
for two terms cannot Karunanidhi, head of pledged support to the achievements of the Centre to act on the issue,
DMK-led Democratic DMK government, after it besides ensuring
contest again. d e p a r t m e n t o f Progressive Alliance came to power in May distribution of relief
But the Vice- Psychology, S P Mohan, (DPA) in Tamil Nadu for 2006 and five-year materials, including food,
Chancellor of the head of department of the May 13 Lok Sabha achievements of clothes and medicine to the
University of Madras, Geology. polls in the state. C o n g r e s s - l e d U PA suffering Tamils.
Prof S Ramachandran, F a t h i m a Adopting a government at the By giving a total
refuted the charge of Vasanth, principal of resolution to this effect, Centre. victory to the DMK-led
breaking of rules to Madras School of Social the executive committee, Stating that the front, it would further exert
accommodate Prof H Work and P Prakasam, chaired by DK president people of the state were pressure on the Centre to
Devaraj. He said that he reader, department of K Veeramani, called very much worried about reddress the grievances of
upon Kazhagam activists the Lankan Tamils issue, the Lankan Tamils, it said.
is the head of the Tamil, Pachaiyappa’s to campaign for the the executive said, the The BJP-led
department of College. victory of candidates of DMK, which had been National Democratic
Biotehnology and the DMK, Congress, showing concern over Alliance (NDA) and parties
rules do not say that a -Agencies Viduthalai Chiruthaigal the issue, had twice lost in the Third front, had
head (in charge) cannot Katchi (VCK) and Indian its government for the contradictory views on the
participate in the Union Muslim League cause of the Lankan Lankan Tamils issue, it
elections. (IUML). Tamils. pointed out.
Also, another
professor pointed out that
if the majority had a
problem then it was a
democratic process and
professors could have
voted him out of the
process. So it is a non-
issue.
But the issue
shows that the University
is witnessing increasing
unrest among professors
and general unhappiness
over administrative
issues frequently
erupting in the University.
Other professors who
were elected to the
Syndicate are - M.
Kandaswamy, head of
department of Inorganic
C h e m i s t r y ; S
Manibharati, who also
went to the extent of
allotting the men their
jobs at the airport.”
Manibharati
also produced a
letterhead of AAI
addressed by the
General Manager of AAI
congratulating the youth
on their performance and
called them for a medical
examination as the next
step towards recruitment.
The youth then came
down to Chen nai.
“We realised
that it was a hoax when
we found out that there
was no one called
Gautam Singh at the
AAI,” the complaint said.
When Ezhumalai tried to
question Manibharati, he
was allegedly told he
(Manibharati) was a
close associate of a top
political leader.
Manibharati “threatened
our with dire straits if we
didn’t shut up,”
Ezhumalai said in his
complaint.
\ Jangid has
directed the Chrompet
police to investigate the
matter.
-Agencies
March 31, 2009 Times Chennai E-Paper
HC asks Govt to consider
institutions applications afresh
Chennai, Mar 31 : The
Madras High Court on
Monday directed the State
Government to consider
the applications afresh
from educational
institutions seeking land
ceiling exemptions.
S o o n ,
educational institutions
can first acquire tracts of
lands and then approach
the Government for
exemption from land
ceiling provisions.
According to the
Government, a state
amendment to the Tamil
Nadu Land Reforms
(Fixation of Ceiling of
Land) Act 1961 was
awaiting presidential
assent.
Recording this
development, a division
bench of the Madras High
Court comprising justice P
K Misra and justice A
Kulasekaran disposed of a
batch of about 30 writ
appeals and writ petitions,
and directed the State
Government and the Anna
University to consider
afresh applications from
educational institutions,
seeking land ceiling
exemptions.
‘Project Exhibition 2009’
Chennai, Mar 31: Sri Sai
Ram Engineering College
(SSEC) has conducted
‘Project Exhibition 2009’,
an exhibition of 146
projects done by students
from six departments.
The projects were
done by students of
Mechanical Engineering,
Electrical & Electronics
Engineering, Electronics &
C o m m u n i c a t i o n
Engineering, Computer
Science Engineering,
Information Technology,
Instrumentation & Control
Engineering departments,
a college release here said
yesterday.
Mr V Srinivas,
Assistant General
Manager R&D, Hyundai
Motors India Limited
inaugurated the function.
The exhibited projects
were judged by industry
professionals and three
prizes were awarded for
projects in each
department. A cash prize
and a citation were given to
winning groups.
A souvenir with
abstracts of all 146 projects
was released by Mr V
Srinivas, AGM (R&D)
Hyundai Motors India
Limited and received by Mr
M Vasu, Secretary, SSEC.
Hyundai Motors
India Foundation
sponsored a Sonata car
worth Rs 16 lakhs for the
Bio-fuel Research Centre
of the Mechanical
Engineering Department of
Page 3
In November into the issue, in view of
2002, the Government the latest development,
and the University and reminded the matter
declined to grant
affiliations to these
back to the Government
a n d t h e U n i v e r s i t y, The complete half yearly magazine
institutions, on the asking them to consider
ground that they did not
obtain permission under
the applications of the
institutions afresh. Till the
for professional Education
Section 37B, before
seeking affiliation. They
matter is decided one
way or the other, the
interim stay orders
for details call
must first obtain
permission and then granted by the Court
acquire lands, it said,
adding, ''there could not
be post-facto permission
or approval.'' During the
would be in force, the
bench said.
-Agencies
99400 24556
pendency of these
appeals and petitions,
the Government
amended the Act,
empowering itself to
grant approval to those
who seek approval after
the lands were acquired.
However, they must file
the applications within a
time limit, the
amendment said.
T h e
amendment has been
passed by the assembly
and it was awaiting
presidential assent.
After hearing
the Government and
senior advocate K
Duraisamy, the bench
said that it need not go
SSEC. The car key was
handed over by Mr
Srinivas and received by
Mr Sai Prakash Leo
Muthu, CEO & Managing
Trustee, SSEC.
Mr Leo Muthu,
Chairman, Mr M Vasu,
S e c r e t a r y, M r S a i
Prakash Leo Muthu,
CEO, Prof V R
Rajamanickam, Director,
Dr C V Jayakumar,
Principal and Dr A
Rajendra Prasad, HOD
(Mechanical) & Project
Exhibition Coordinator
supported their students
from the very beginning
of the project by providing
all facilities required to
carry out the projects.
Apart from
imparting academic
education, our college
aims at honing potential
skills of students that help
them face real-life
challenges in this
competitive world. We
have been conducting
project exhibitions over
the last 10 years at the
college campus.
In today’s
scenario, students need
more than just academics
to become industry ready.
This exhibition is an
initiative to provide
students with more skills
and give them holistic
growth, said Mr Leo
Muthu, Chairman, Sri Sai
Ram Engineering
College.
Page 4
Homi Bhabha's passion gave
way to India's nuclear programme
Mumbai, March 31:
Homi Jehangir Bhabha,
father of Indian nuclear
programme, was very fond
of physics and expressed
his desire to pursue his
carrier in it even though he
was a student of
engineering Tripos and
Mathematics Tripos in UK,
one of Bhabha's close
associate has said.
Bhabha, who
studied at Gonville and
Caius college at
Cambridge in UK during
late 1920s, wrote a letter to
his parents expressing his
passion for Physics, Prof B
V Sreekantan, also the
former director of Tata
Institute of Fundamental
Research (TIFR) said
while delivering a lecture
on 'Homi Bhabha as a
Physicist : Personal
Reminiscences' at BARC
on Monday.
The Research
Centre is celebrating the
centenary year of Bhabha
by conducting various
activities.
Bhabha, in his
letter which he wrote from
Cambridge in 1932 said, "I
seriously say to you that
business or job as an
engineer is not the thing for
me. It is totally foreign to
my nature and radically
o p p o s e d t o m y
temperament, and
opinions. Physics is my
line. I know I shall do great
things here."
"My success will
not depend on what A or B
thinks of me. My success
will be what I make of my
work. Besides India is not a
land where science cannot
be carried on," he said.
Bhabha further
wrote, "I am burning with a
desire to do physics. I will
and must do it some time. It
is my only ambition. I have
no desire to be a
successful man or the
World's largest laser
now ready for use
Washington, March 31:
After more than a decade
of work and $3.5 billion, US
engineers have completed
the world's most powerful
l a s e r, c a p a b l e o f
simulating the energy
force of a hydrogen bomb
and the sun itself.
The federal
Energy Department will
announced today that it
has officially certified the
National Ignition Facility at
the Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory in
California, clearing the
way for a series of
experiments over the next
year that eventually is
hoped will mimic the heat
Times Chennai E-Paper
head of a big firm. There
are intelligent people
who like that and let them
do it."
Mr. Sreekantan
said that Bhabha
specialised in Cosmic
Ray physics and even
published 64 scientific
papers in reputed
international journals
during his lifetime
besides establishing
Nuclear Power empire.
Talking about
how Bhabha came back
to India on a short holiday
after taking Physics as
his career in 1939 and
since the World War II
broke then, Mr.
Sreekantan said that he
could not return to UK to
pursue Physics but
instead joined the Indian
Institute of Science,
Bangalore at the
invitation of India's one of
the leading scientist late
Sir C V Raman.
But the Indian
experience at IISc had
made him write a letter to
Sir Dorabji Tata Trust to
make his for a world class
institute for Physics in
India for Indians.
After two year's
of experience in IISc,
Bhabha felt that with
enough financial support
India can have
institutions like those in
Cambridge and
Princeton. So, he wrote a
letter to Sir Doarab
Saklatvala, Chairman of
the trust on March 12,
1944.
The TIFR was
the result of the funds
received from the trust,
which became the cradle
of India's Cosmic Ray
programme as well
nuclear programme.
The subjects on
which research and
advanced teaching
would be done would be
and pressure found at the
center of the sun.
The facility, the
size of a football field,
comprises of 192
separate laser beams,
each traveling 1,000 feet
in a one-thousandth of a
second to converge
simultaneously on a
target the size of a pencil
eraser.
While the NIF
laser is expected to be
used for a wide range of
high-energy and high-
density physics
experiments, its primary
purpose is to help
government physicists
ensure the reliability of
News You Can Use
theoretical physics,
e s p e c i a l l y o n
fundamental problems
and with special
reference to Cosmic
Rays and Nuclear
P h y s i c s , a n d
Experimental research
on Cosmic Rays, the
letter stated.
Mr. Sreekantan
also told the BARC
scientists that although
there were rumours in
those days that C V
Raman and Bhabha
never had good relations,
it was Raman who
recommended and
nominated Bhabha for
the 'Fellow of Royal
Society'.
Mr. Sreekantan
also said that as a director
of TIFR he was delighted
to receive a gift - sketch of
beggar - done by Bhabha
from the Manhatten
Project famous Australian
scientist Mark Oliphant.
Oliphant asked
Bhabha to sketch a
beggar who was at
Gateway of India during
an evening walk when
both did not have a piece
of paper but Bhabha did
the sketch on an empty
envelope which he found
in his pocket and now it is
in the art collections at
TIFR, Mr. Sreekantan
said.
Mr. Sreekantan,
who is currently
associated with National
Institute of advanced
Sciences (NIAS) recalled
Bhabha's abilities to
select scientific talents
through personal
interaction sometimes
even in a casual manner
for the country's
ambitious nuclear
programme as well as for
the fundamental
research.
-Agencies
the nation's nuclear
weapons as they become
older.
The laser "will be
a cornerstone" of the
weapons stewardship
program, "ensuring the
continuing reliability of the
US nuclear stockpile
without underground
nuclear testing," Thomas
D'Agostino, head of the
National Nuclear Security
Administration, said in an
interview on Monday.
The NNSA, a
semi-independent arm of
the Energy Department,
oversees nuclear
weapons programs.
-Agencies
March 31, 2009
Scientists to assess psyche of
simulated flight to Mars team
Prague, March 31: Research ( IBMP). experiment but this is only
Czech scientists from The flight of a expected if their lives were
Tomas Bata University in real space ship to Mars in threatened, Tomas Srb
Zlin, south Moravia, will the future will last almost from the QED GROUP
assess the psychological two years, Sykora said. It said.
condition of the team of a will take 250 days after After the first 105-
simulated flight to Mars which the spaceship will day long part of the project
within the international be flying around Mars for is completed at the end of
Mars 500 project, about one month while this year the second stage
Jaroslav Sykora, part of the team will land lasting 520 days will start. A
International Academy of on Mars's surface in a team that will participate in
Astronautics member, module. it has not yet been chosen.
said on Monday. It will take It is expected to include a
The first part of another 240 days before woman and maybe a
the experiment as part of the astronauts return to Czech, Sykora said.
the prepared flight to the Earth. This is quite a Mars 500 is a joint
Mars will start in Moscow long time to provoke project of the IBMP and the
where a six-member unexpected stressful European Space Agency
team will close itself for situations and the team (ESA), in which
105 days in a 500 cubic should be prepared to researchers from dozens
meter space ship model face them and this is the of the member countries of
placed in the Earth goal of the experiment the ESA, Russia, Canada
Experimental Complex Czech scientists will work and the United States are
(NEK) at the Russian on, Sykora said. participating.
Academy of Sciences All members of -Agencies
Institute for Biomedical the team will be able to
and Pharmaceutical ask for the end of the
Action video games improve
eyesight: Study
San Francisco, March somehow changing the compared to those in the
31: A new study has optics of the eye," group that played non-
found that action video D a p h n e B a v e l i e r, action games such as Sims
games can improve professor of brain and 2, which doesn't require
players' eyesight, cognitive sciences at the precise visually guided
researchers said University of Rochester, aiming actions in high
Monday. said in a statement. "But stress situations.
T h e s t u d y, we've found that action "When people
which was published in video games train the play action games, they're
the journal Nature brain to process the changing the brain's
Neuroscience, found that existing visual pathway responsible for
the visual processes information more visual processing,"
needed to play games e ff i c i e n t l y, a n d t h e Bavelier said. "These
like Call of Duty 2 improvements last for games push the human
improved players' months after game play visual system to the limits
c o n t r a s t s e n s i t i v i t y. stopped." and the brain adapts to it,
Contrast sensitivity Bavelier and and we've seen the
allows people to notice other researchers positive effect remains
different shades and is studied two groups that even two years after the
particularly important for played video games for training was over."
such tasks as driving at 50 hours during over a This suggests
night and discerning nine-week period. The that the effect of the video
patterns and facial group that played game training could
expressions. shooting action games provide an alternative to
" N o r m a l l y, like Call of Duty 2 and eyeglasses or surgery for
improving contrast
sensitivity means getting
U n r e a l To u r n a m e n t
registered enhanced
those with diminished
contrast sensitivity.
glasses or eye surgery - contrast sensitivity -Agencies
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March 31, 2009 Times Chennai E-Paper
German rape case: Rohit
permitted to travel abroad
Panaji, March 31: Goa
Children's Court has
granted permission to state
Education Minister
Atanasio Monserratte's
son Rohit to travel abroad
for 45 days along with his
parents from April 20.
The state police
have filed a chargesheet
against Rohit (21) and is
currently out on bail.
The court had
Madhu Koda’s family
assets worth over 1 crore
Chaibasa, Jharkhand,
March 31: Former
Jharkhand Chief Minister
Madhu Koda's family is
worth over Rs 1.24 crore in
terms of moveable and
non-moveable property.
According to an
affidavit filed by Koda along
with his nomination paper
for Singhbhum Lok Sabha
seat as an independent,
the cash, fixed deposits,
insurance policies, shares,
Batla encounter: HC stays
disclosure of autopsy reports
New Delhi, March 31: The
Delhi High Court Tuesday
stayed the CIC's order
directing the police to
reveal post mortem reports
of two suspected Indian
Mujahideen terrorists and
a Delhi Police inspector
killed during the Batla
House encounter last year.
J u s t i c e S
Ravindra Bhat passed the
order on a plea of Delhi
Police which maintained
that the disclosure of post
mortem reports would
affect the ongoing
investigations into the
September 13 serial blasts
in the capital.
The court also
stayed the order in which
the Central Information
Show ‘visible results’ in 26/11 probe,
PM tells Pak
New Delhi, March 31:
Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh on Tuesday put the
onus of resumption of
composite dialogue
between India and
Pakistan on the latter,
saying Islamabad will have
to show "visible results" in
the Mumbai terror attacks
probe before the two
countries can sit together
again.
"Pakistan should
show visible results on the
26/11 probe," Dr Singh said
at the Rashtrapati Bhavan,
yesterday granted him
permission to travel
abroad for 45 days on a
holiday along with his
parents from April 20.
R o h i t , a
Management student,
was charged for sexually
abusing German minor
girl after her mother filed
a police complaint last
year.
J u n i o r
gold, vehicles and
paternal landed property
stood at Rs 50,41,284.
He showed his
wife's assets as Rs
53,15,692 and
daughter's as Rs
20,93,635, according to
the documents made
available by the returning
officer after Koda filed his
papers here yesterday.
A graduate from
Orissa's Utkal university,
Commission had
directed the police to
furnish copies of the FIR
against the accused of
serial blasts cases under
the RTI Act.
A d v o c a t e
Mukta Gupta, appearing
for the police, contended
that the investigations
were still on and the
disclosure of post
mortem reports, which
contained a number of
clues, would affect the
investigations.
"Two terrorists
died and two escaped in
the incident (encounter).
We are still trailing the
absconders. Disclosure
of post mortem reports
can reveal information
on the sidelines of the
civil investiture
ceremony.
"It has to prove
that the government is
doing all that is possible
(to bring the perpetrators
to book)," he said, adding
"it is the least they should
do to convince us of their
sincerity."
B o t h t h e
countries will have to
jointly face the scourge of
terrorism, the Prime
Minister stated further.
Regarding the
National
Monserratte had
surrendered before
police on November 4
last, a month after the
complaint was lodged.
On November
1 0 , l a s t y e a r, t h e
Children's Court had
directed Rohit to deposit
his passport while
granting him conditional
bail.
-Bureau Report
Koda had dethroned his
former party colleague
and ex-chief minister
Arjun Munda to take up
the reins of the state for
23 months before JMM
president Shibu Soren
dislodged him from the
chair.
This is for the
first time that Koda is
contesting Lok Sabha
elections.
-Bureau Report
regarding kind of
weapons used and other
things on the basis of
w h i c h m a n y
corroborative evidence
can be destroyed," Gupta
said while pleading to
stay the CIC order
passed on March nine.
A suspected
Indian Mujahideen
terrorist and the prime
accused of serial blasts
Atif Ameen and co-
accused Sajid were killed
during the Batla House
encounter at South Delhi
locality on September 19.
The gun-battle also
claimed life of inspector M
C Sharma.
-Agencies
accusations being
levelled on his UPA
government in
connection with the
imposition of the National
Security Act (NSA) on
B J P l e a d e r Va r u n
Gandhi, Dr Singh said
that the decision had
nothing to do with the
Centre. The decision to
impose NSA was taken
by the government of
Uttar Pradesh, he added.
-Agencies
UPA has fulfilled all promises: Rahul
Wardha (Maharashtra),
March 31: While
launching his poll
campaign in Wardha
district of Maharashtra,
AICC general secretary
Rahul Gandhi on
Tuesday presented the
UPA government’s report
card on its five-year-rule
and appealed the voters
to vote in favour of the
Congress party.
Praising the
C o n g r e s s – l e d U PA
government of Dr
Manmohan Singh, Rahul
said, “It has fulfilled most
of the promises it made to
you. The nation has
progressed immensely
and achieved a lot under
the Congress rule.”
The young
Congress leader also
extended his full support
to the Prime Minister by
s a y i n g , “ T h e U PA
There is no Third Front: Advani
New Delhi, March 31:
Arguing that the mere
presence of political
parties which are neither
with UPA nor NDA does
not mean there is a Third
Front, BJP's Prime
Ministerial candidate L K
Advani says many of
these regional parties
would join NDA if it is in a
position to form a
government.
"The mere
presence of political
parties other than those
which are with the
Congress or the BJP
does not mean there is a
Third Front. I don't think a
Third Front exists,"
Advani Said in an
interview.
Advani said for
most of these parties --
like the Left, TDP, TRS,
BJD and JD(S) which call
themselves the Third
Front -- Congress was
the main political
opponent in the states
where they had a strong
presence.
The former
Deputy Prime Minister
said some of the regional
parties did not want to ally
with BJP-led NDA before
the elections. "These
parties fear that if they
Attack on Kasab’s lawyer: 9 Shiv Sainiks held
Mumbai, March 31:
Anjali Waghmare,
appointed by a special
court to represent
arrested terrorist
Mohammed Ajmal Kasab
in the Mumbai terror
attacks trial, has pulled
out of the case following
an attack on her house
by Shiv Sena activists.
"Owing to
public sentiment, I
withdraw from the Kasab
case," Anjali said.
On Monday
night, over 100 activists
belonging to Shiv Sena
staged a protest and
pelted stones at
Waghmare’s residence
at Warli Camp area of the
city, police said.
Waghmare was
unhurt in the attack and
government has
launched several
schemes for the benefit
of the poor and the
downtrodden. It has
signed the crucial
nuclear deal for your own
benefit and secured your
future.”
Making his
point further, Rahul said,
“The downtrodden need
a government like the
one run by the Congress-
led UPA, which pays
heed to their concerns
and reaches the poor
unlike the others (BJP),
which talk the language
of rich.”
The Congress
leader also launched a
scathing attack on the
NDA led by the main
opposition BJP for
dividing the country on
communal lines.
“The Congress
join the BJP alliance
Muslims will not vote for
them. But JD(U) is one
example where it did not
lose Muslim votes," he
said.
A d v a n i
expressed confidence
that such parties would
join the NDA after the
elections but refused to
name them.
"The BJP has
made India a bi-polar
polity by ending
Congress monopoly.
Though I cannot say India
has a two-party system, it
is definitely not multi-
polar," Advani said.
On the Naveen
Patnaik-led BJD -- which
left the NDA a few weeks
ago and is now with the
Third Front -- Advani said,
"I regret the separation as
it was due to some
misunderstandings but I
am sure these will be
sorted out after the polls."
He said the BJD broke-off
from BJP thinking it could
come to power on its own.
Advani said TDP was
never a part of the NDA.
"In 2004, it gave outside
support to our
government after the
polls. Our only
understanding was that
police resorted to a mild
lathicharge to disperse
the mob. The situation
was brought under
control.
The police have
arrested nine Shiv
Sainiks, including a
Corporator, in
connection with the
incident.
"Nine Sena
workers were held last
night for unlawful
assembly and house
tresspass. They were
holding protest outside
Waghmare's residence
in Worli Police Camp,"
senior police inspector
BV Worlikar said.They
will be produced before a
magistrate in the
afternoon, he added.
"They seem to
Page 5
is a unifying force. It’s a
party for the poor and the
downtrodden. The UPA
has united the country
where as the BJP has
divided the nation,” Rahul
stated while addressing a
large gathering of
supporters.
Pitching high in
favour the Congress party,
Rahul said, “The NDA has
not introduced any scheme
for the benefit of the poor.
The Congress party is
guaranteeing jobs for at
least 100 days.”
Rahul concluded
by making an emotional
appeal to the voters to vote
the Congress party back to
power since “it was the only
party, which viewed the
country from a common
man’s point of view.”
-Agencies
the Lok Sabha Speaker
would be theirs," he said.
Advani said BJP supported
the TRS demand for
carving out a separate
state of Telengana from
Andhra Pradesh.
The veteran
leader said the formation of
an alliance by RJD, LJP
and SP in Uttar Pradesh
and Bihar would harm the
Congress.
When asked if he
felt that RJD and SP may
again join the Congress
after the elections, Advani
said even if this were to
happen the immediate
concern for the Congress
was the damage these two
would bring to it in the Lok
Sabha polls.
" T h e U PA i s
withering away," he said.
Asked if the BJP
would dilute its stand on
Hindutva to accomodate
more allies, Advani said,
"Hard-core Hindutva is a
catch-phrase. Nationalism
is our ideology. Even
Gandhi called for Ram
Rajya and said he was a
Sanatani Hindu. Muslim
League was opposed to
this saying why does he
sing Raghupati Ragho..."
-Agencies
be upset against
Waghmare, who is
representing Kasab. They
were shouting slogans
against her," Joint Police
Commissioner KL Prasad
(Law and Order) said.
On March 23,
Kasab, who had earlier
sought consular access
from Pakistan, had
requested the court to
provide a lawyer at the
expense of the state, in the
absence of a response
from Islamabad.
Following the
request, the court had
prepared a panel of 17
lawyers. Of the 17
advocates, Waghmare's
name was approved by the
judge to appear for Kasab,
a resident of Faridkot in
Pakistan.
 Page 6
At least 300 drown off Libyan
coast: Migration group
Tripoli, March 31: Vessels
carrying hundreds of
migrants capsized off the
coast of Libya in separate
incidents over the last two
days and more than 300
people were believed to
have drowned, an
international migration
group said on Tuesday.
The International
Organisation for Migration
s a i d L i b y a n o ff i c i a l s
reported between one and
three ships had sunk in
Libyan waters yesterday
and Sunday. The group
confirmed the information
with diplomatic sources,
Emergency declared on Philippine
hostage island
Manila, March 31: A "State
of Emergency" has been
imposed on the Philippines
island of Jolo following the
expiry of a deadline by
Islamic militants who
threatened to behead a
Red Cross worker, the
military said.
Jolo Governor
A b d u s a k u r Ta n ' s
proclamation authorises
police action against the
Abu Sayyaf militants,
restricts civilian
movements and imposes a
curfew on the island, the
military said.
"I am just
confirming that indeed
Governor Tan has declared
a State of Emergency,"
Lieutenant Colonel Edgard
Arevalo, spokesman for
the marines on Jolo, told
reporters.
Islamic militants
holding three Red Cross
workers said that they will
behead one hostage on
Tuesday afternoon if the
Philippine military does not
cede control of an entire
island, a government
official said.
Abu Sayyaf
Two militants killed by Israeli
fire in Gaza: Medics
Gaza City, March 31: Two
Palestinian militants were
killed and four others
wounded on Tuesday by
Israeli fire in the Hamas-
run Gaza Strip, medics
said.
The two were
killed in an air raid in the
Maghazi area in the centre
of the territory, a strike that
also wounded two others,
they said.
T h e r a i d ,
following exchanges of fire
between troops and
militants near the Kissufim
border crossing to the east
of Maghazi, wounded two
Palestinians.
Times Chennai E-Paper
spokesman Jean-
Philippe Chauzy said.
He said strong
winds could have caused
the vessels to capsize.
IOM believes
that the migrants were
trying to cross from North
Africa to Italy in search of
a better life in Europe.
According to
the group's figures, some
33,000 people crossed
from North Africa to the
Italian island of
Lampedusa alone in
2008. Many of the boats
are not seaworthy and
deadly accidents are
rebels told negotiators a
tactical retreat from parts
of Jolo island would not
be enough to save the
lives of the three
International Committee
of the Red Cross (ICRC)
captives.
The militants
seized ICRC staff Mary
Jean Lacaba of the
Philippines, Andreas
Notter of Switzerland and
Eugenio Vagni of Italy in
mid-January while they
were on a humanitarian
mission.
Pope Benedict
XVI later on Monday
urged the militants to free
the workers, the Vatican
said in a communique.
The pontiff
"wants to raise his voice
and urge that
humanitarian sensibility
and reason prevail over
v i o l e n c e a n d
intimidation," the
statement said.
"The Holy
Father... asks for their
release and calls on the
authorities to favour a
peaceful outcome to the
tragic situation," the
According to
witnesses, the exchange
of fire came after a blast
went off near an Israeli
military jeep that was
driving in the area.
The Army had
no immediate comment
on the reports, but a
military source said that
troops opened fire at
armed gunmen as the
latter were trying to place
explosives near the
border barrier between
the Jewish state and the
Palestinian territory.
Relative calm
has reigned in Gaza
since January 18, when
World
frequent.
Some of the
survivors managed to
reach the shores of Italy
while others have been
intercepted and returned
to Libya, said Laurence
Hart, an IOM official in the
northern African country.
" R e s c u e
operations are ongoing,"
Hart said. He said that the
number of missing
ranges between 300 to
500 people but that an
exact causality figure has
not been confirmed.
-Bureau Report
communique said.
The rebels’ new
demand was relayed late
Sunday, just hours after
the military and police
pulled back from a jungle
area where they had
cornered some 120
militants and their three
hostages, Interior
Secretary Ronaldo Puno
said.
The pull-back
left the rebels in control of
five towns and 140
square kilometres (54
square miles) of the
island, the government
said.
But, said Puno,
Abu Sayyaf's council of
leaders now wants all
security forces to
abandon existing bases,
leaving the province's
half a million residents
"completely unprotected"
from the rebels.
" T h e y
demanded new re-
positionings," Puno said,
adding that the military
camps have been in Jolo
for decades.
-Agencies
Israel and Hamas
declared mutual
ceasefires ending a 22-
day war that the Jewish
state waged on the
territory in response to
consistent rocket fire.
Egypt has been
brokering talks to turn the
ceasefires into a lasting
truce.
Tuesday's
incidents come ahead of
the swearing-in of a new
government in Israel later
in the day, led by hawkish
Benjamin Netanyahu.
-Bureau Report
Obama 'greatly values' Indo-US ties"
Washington, March 31:
Ahead of his meeting
with Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh, the
White House has said
President Barack
Obama greatly values
Indo-US relationship and
wants to "further
advance the impressive
partnership" the two
countries have
established in the last
one decade.
Obama leaves
today to attend the G-20
summit in London on the
sidelines of which he
would be meeting Singh
on April 2.
This would be
Obama's first meeting
with the Indian leader
after he was elected as
President last year, to
which he is eagerly
"looking forward to", the
White House said.
"The President
is looking forward to
meeting with Prime
Minister Singh in
London," Mike Hammer,
spokesman of National
Security Council, White
House, told a news
agency.
"He greatly
values the US-India
relationship and wants to
continue, build on, and
advance further the
impressive partnership
that has been
'N Korea has 2 nuclear warheads
for Rodong missiles'
Seoul, March 31: The
US and South Korean
i n t e l l i g e n c e
organisations have
obtained information that
North Korea has two
nuclear warheads that
could be mounted on
mid-range Rodong
missiles, a senior analyst
at an international
nongovernmental group
said on Tuesday.
D a n i e l
Pinkston, a senior
analyst at the
International Crisis
Group, said he got the
information from a
g o v e r n m e n t o ff i c i a l
Warships set sail ahead of
N Korean rocket launch
Seoul, March 31:
Japanese, South Korean
and US missile-
destroying ships set sail
to monitor North Korea's
imminent rocket launch,
as Pyongyang stoked
tensions on Monday by
detaining a South
Korean worker for
allegedly denouncing the
North's political system.
North Korea
says that it will send a
communications satellite
into orbit between April 4
and 8. The US, South
Korea and Japan
suspect the regime is
using the launch to test
long-range missile
technology, and warn it
would face UN sanctions
established," Hammer
said.
The President
recognises and
appreciates the
incredible contribution
made by Indian-
Americans to the US
economy and society
and also the vast
connections that are
developing between
Indian and American
investors, academics,
and families, he said.
Obama hopes
to foster and nurture
those relationships
through bilateral and
regional initiatives that
support strong ties, he
said.
"The President
also believes that the US
and India have common
interests and concerns
on many global issues
and he hopes to be able
to work with India to
address these
challenges together in a
spirit of mutual
cooperation," Hammer
said.
During the
meeting the two leaders
are expected to discuss a
wide range of issues,
prominent among them
being the current
situation in India's
i m m e d i a t e
neighbourhood,
Afghanistan and
whose country he
declined to specify.
The warheads
are said to have been
made from plutonium
extracted at North
K o r e a ' s Yo n g b y o n
nuclear complex.
R o d o n g
missiles are believed to
have a range of 1,300
kilometers, putting Japan
within its target range.
As to where the
warheads are stored,
Pinkston told Kyodo
News he is unsure, but
Rodong missiles may be
readied for a launch from
one of three missile
under a Security Council
resolution banning the
country from any ballistic
activity.
North Korea
has threatened to quit
international talks on its
nuclear disarmament if
punished with sanctions.
The communist regime's
m a i n n e w s p a p e r,
Rodong Sinmun,
reiterated that warning
on Sunday, saying the
talks will "completely
collapse" if taken to the
Security Council.
F u r t h e r
heightening tensions on
the divided peninsula,
North Korean authorities
detained a South Korean
worker at a joint industrial
March 31, 2009
Pakistan and Obama's
new Af-Pak policy, which
he unveiled last week.
The current
global economic crisis,
climate change and the
bilateral relationship too
would dominate the
meetings.
Speaking to a
group of select foreign
journalists, including PTI,
Treasury Secretary
Timothy Geithner
yesterday said the two
leaders would be taking
stock of the full range of
issues and interests
between the two countries.
"I think, we start with a very
good working relationship
with the economic
agencies involved. We are
trying to figure out how to
build on that. Obviously we
will listen to the ideas from
the Indian government. It is
important that we work out
something that both sides
believe would be practical
and effective," he said.
Meeting foreign
journalists along with him,
the Deputy National
Security Advisor, Michael B
G Froman, said the Obama
Administration is
discussing with Indian
counterparts how to make
the "most out of the" Indo-
US CEOs forum.
-Agencies
bases in North Pyongag,
Jagang and Yanggang
provinces.
He also said it
would take one or two days
to assemble the warheads
as the plutonium and the
detonating devices are
stored separately.
It is believed
North Korea has put the
o p e r a t i o n a n d
maintenance of nuclear
weapons under control of
an independent organ
directly run by North
Korean leader Kim Jong Il
separately from the Army.
-Agencies
zone in the North for
allegedly denouncing
Pyongyang's political
system and inciting female
northern workers to flee the
country.
North Korea
assured Seoul it would
guarantee the man's safety
during an investigation,
according to the South
Korean Unification
Ministry, which handles
relations with the North.
The detention
came as two American
journalists working for
former Vice President Al
Gore's Current TV media
venture remained in North
Korean custody after
allegedly crossing the
border illegally from China
on March 17.
March 31, 2009 Times Chennai E-Paper
Avoid taking protectionist
measures: PM to G-20
New Delhi, March 31:
Asking industrialised
nations to avoid
protectionism in the trade
of goods and services,
Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh on Tuesday said it
was important and
necessary for the G-20
Summit to take "credible
decisions" to help reverse
the current slowdown and
instil a confidence in the
global economy.
In a statement
before leaving for London
to participate in the
meeting of world leaders to
discuss the economic
meltdown, Singh also
focussed on the need to
ensure adequate flows of
finances to the developing
countries to overcome the
reversal of international
capital flows.
Singh, who will
have his maiden meeting
with US President Barack
Obama on Thursday, said
the time has come for the
international economic and
financial architecture to
reflect contemporary
economic strengths.
The Prime
Minister, who is
undertaking his first trip
abroad after the coronary
bypass surgery on January
24, said considerable
amount of preparation has
been done for the Summit.
T h e s e
preparations relate to
provision of coordinated
fiscal stimulus by major
economies to offset the
decline in private demand,
agreement on a set of
principles to plug loopholes
and weaknesses in the
supervisory and regulatory
'Both recovery and reform of global
economy critical to us'
Washington, March 31:
Tw i n o b j e c t i v e s o f
promoting recovery in the
global economy and to put
in place a set of reforms in
the international financial
system to help prevent
future crises of this type
taking place are crucial for
G20, said a top US
Treasury official.
"Both those key
objectives are critically
important to us – the broad
recovery agenda as well as
the reform agenda," US
Treasury Secretary
Timothy Geithner told a
group of select seven
foreign journalists,
including one from PTI, on
the eve of departure of the
US President Barack
Obama to participate in the
G20 Summit in London.
Geithner insisted
that the G20 countries
together must take
aggressive action on two
arrangements for the
financial institutions, he
said.
He underlined
the need to undertake
effective measures
designed to provide
emerging and developing
countries adequate
resources to offset the
effects of global
slowdown on their
economies.
"It is important
and necessary for the
Summit to take credible
decisions which will help
to halt and reverse the
current slowdown and to
instill a sense of
confidence in the global
economy," he stressed.
" I t i s a n
unfortunate reality that
the effects of the
slowdown have spread
across the world, and
developing countries,
particularly those in
Africa, are facing its worst
consequences," the
Prime Minister said.
He asked the
developed countries to
steer clear of
protectionism and work
towards restructuring
and reforming the
international financial
institutions.
"There are
some issues which
require particular focus
such as the need to
ensure the adequate flow
of finances to the
developing countries to
overcome the reversal of
international capital
flows, and not retard
progress towards the
attainment of the
Millennium Development
fronts -- first to ensure
economic recovery and
restart global growth and
second to reform the
supervisory and
regulatory framework to
prevent such economic
crises from occurring in
the future, while
encouraging innovation
and growth.
G20 is a group
of 20 leading and
emerging economies of
the world representing
Brazil cuts taxes in face of economic downturn
Brasilia, March 31: The
Brazilian government
enacted additional tax
cuts Monday in the face
of shrinking forecasts for
gross domestic product
(GDP) amid the global
economic downturn.
The move
came after the country's
Business
Goals, the need to avoid
protectionism in trade of
both goods and services,
and restructuring of
international financial
institutions.
India, Singh
said, has benefitted from
growing global
interdependence as
manifested in the high
growth rate that the
country has achieved
over the last five years.
"We would like
to ensure that our
economy continues to
expand at a healthy rate
to meet the principal
challenges of eradicating
poverty and ensuring
balanced and inclusive
socio-economic
development for our
people," he said.
"Our economic,
financial and banking
institutions have shown
great resilience and the
fundamentals of our
economy remain strong,"
he said.
Singh is l i k e l y
to press the developed
countries to desist from
trade barriers and ensure
that flow of funds for
development do not
suffer.
New Delhi
hopes that the London
Summit will come out with
clear and strong
guidelines on measures
for recovery of global
economy and reform of
the international financial
institutions.
-Agencies
more than 85 per cent of
the global economy. For
the second time in less
than six months, the
leaders of these countries
including India are
meeting in London on
April 2 to develop a
common approach to the
current global economic
crisis. The First G20
Summit was held in
Washington in
November.
-Agencies
central bank Monday
reduced its economic
outlook for GDP to 1.2
percent for the year from
3.2 percent.
F i n a n c e
Minister Guido Mantega
announced a reduction of
taxes on building
materials and an
India's growth to slip to
5% in 2009: ADB
Manila, March 31:
Economic growth in
developing Asia was
expected to slow to its
lowest rate in more than
a decade due to the
global economic crisis,
the Asian Development
Bank (ADB) said
Tuesday.
It predicted
India's economic growth
would be five percent in
2009.
The Asian
Development Outlook,
the annual report of the
Manila-based ADB,
forecasts economic
growth in Asia to slide to
3.4 percent, down from
6.3 percent last year and
9.5 percent in 2007.
The report said
that India's economic
growth will ease to 5
percent in 2009 from 7.1
percent in 2008, but was
expected to recover in
2010 as the global
'India should play greater role
in solving eco crisis'
Washington, March 31:
The US expects India to
play a greater role along
with China and other
major economies in
tackling the current
financial crisis and
supports bigger
responsibilities for it in the
international financial
institutions, Treasury
Secretary Timothy
Geithner has said.
"Just looking at
what is happening at the
w o r l d e c o n o m y, I
certainly expect India to
play a greater role," he
told a group of select
foreign journalists,
including a news agency,
on the eve of US
President Barack
Obama's departure for
London to participate in
the G20 Summit on April
2.
But what role
countries like India would
want to play, would
depend on the
governments, Geithner
said. "Those judgements,
those governments
would have to make," he
said in response to a
question.
extension of a tax break
on cars. The government
hopes to make up for the
expected tax shortfall by
increasing cigarette
taxes to 30 percent.
According to the
Banco Central, the
industrial sector has
been hardest hit by
economy recovers.
The report also
said China's economic
growth was expected to
slow to 7 percent in 2009,
but the quick response of
Beijing to minimise the
impact of the crisis could
result in 8 percent growth
in 2010.
The report said
that if the global economy
experiences a mild
recovery next year, the
economic growth for the
region could expand 6
percent in 2010.
"With the slow
growth, more than 60
million in 2009 and close
to 100 million in 2010 will
remain trapped in poverty
- living on less than $1.25
a day - than would have
been if growth had
continued at its earlier
pace," the report said.
But the ADB
report noted that Asian
economies were in much
G e i t h n e r
insisted that the US is
advocating for an
acceleration of the
completion of the next
review of the IMF quotas
to January 2011 in order
to see a further shift in
voice and vote to
emerging market and
developing countries.
T h e s e
institutions should be
better reflective of
realties of the present
time and have a more
balanced sets of
obligations and
responsibilities, he said.
"We are committed to
accelerate the quota
review, and to lay out a
clear roadmap to an
agreement on set of that
governance change;
changes in voting rights
and shares and
responsibilities that
come with change of that
review," he said in reply
to a question related to
India.
"In this context
we would be looking at a
whole range of options. I
am sure that the
countries of Europe and
declining demand - with
forecast growth of 0.1
percent instead of 3.4
percent. The bank also
predicted inflation of 4
percent, revised
downward from 4.7
percent.
"I would be
satisfied if we had growth
Page 7
better position to cope up
with the adverse impact of
the crisis than they were
during the Asian financial
crisis in 1997-98, when
economic growth
averaged 0.2 percent.
"Many Asian
governments have already
responded quickly to the
crisis with appropriate
financial, monetary and
fiscal policies and so far the
impact on financial stability
has been limited," it said.
The ADB said the
current crisis underlined
the risks of growth that is
excessively dependent on
export-driven expansion.
"Developing Asia
should rebalance growth to
endure the global crisis
and boost its resilience to
large external shocks in the
long run," it said.
-IANS
other countries would
come up with their own
view on how their interests
could best be represented
in that reformed
governance structure,"
Geithner said.
T h e Tr e a s u r y
Secretary argued that each
of the G20 countries need
to look carefully the
challenges they face and
make sure that "we are
doing what is necessary, in
our own country to help
recovery established. And
the power of each of our
individual actions would be
greater in moving
together."
Geithner said: "In
this basic framework of
strong support of recovery,
commemorative financial
repair, openness in trade
investment side, support
for the international
financial institutions, as
well on the reform agenda I
think, there is a very strong
basis of support
consensus among the
governments of the G-20;
more support, I think, you
have seen in decades."
-Agencies
this year of 1 or 2 percent,"
Mantega said in
announcing the tax moves
in Sao Paulo. As recently
a s D e c e m b e r, t h e
government said a growth
rate of 4 percent was
possible.
-Agencies
 Page 8 Times Chennai E-Paper
Harper replaces Doctrove
for third India-NZ Test
Wellington, March 31:
Australian Daryl Harper will
replace Billy Doctrove as
the on-field umpire for the
third and final cricket Test
between India and New
Zealand starting on April 6.
Doctrove was diagnosed
Smith likely to play in ODI series
against Australia
Melbourne, March 31:
Having recovered from his
finger injury, South Africa
skipper Graeme Smith is
likely to return to the squad
for the five-match ODI
cricket series against
Australia, beginning in
Durban on Friday.
S m i t h i s
recovering well from the
fractured right little finger
he suffered while facing
Australia paceman Mitchell
Johnson`s delivery in the
second Test in Durban
earlier this month.
"Graeme has
resumed batting. He has
had some throw-downs in
Laxman returns to top-20,
Ishant moves up too
Dubai, March 31: Riding
on the match-saving
hundred against New
Zealand in the second
c r i c k e t Te s t , I n d i a n
batsman VVS Laxman
today returned to the top-
20 of the ICC Rankings, up
six places to 15th in the
latest list.
In the rankings for
Test bowlers, Indian pacer
Ishant Sharma`s 3-95 in
the drawn match helped
him leapfrog Jacques
Kallis of South Africa,
Pakistan`s Danish Kaneria
and England`s Monty
Panesar to a career-best
17th spot.
Laxman struck a
fighting unconquered
century that helped India
salvage a draw in the
second Test against New
Zealand in Napier
yesterday.
The stylish right-
hander followed up his 76
in India`s 305 all out in the
first innings with an
unbeaten 124 as the
tourists finished 476-4 after
being forced to follow on.
After his excellent
performances with the bat,
Laxman jumped six places
to put himself in 15th
position, just behind
Sachin Tendulkar, who
contributed 49 and 64 in
the match, the ICC said in a
statement.
Opener Gautam
Gambhir was the highest-
ranked India batsman in
fifth place and his knock of
137 in the second innings
has not only strengthened
with chest infection
during the second Test in
Napier and had to be
replaced by stand-in
umpire Evan Watkins on
the third day.
India lead the
three-match series 1-0
the nets and he is
progressing," team
spokesman Michael
Owen-Smith was quoted
as saying.
The injury kept
Smith out of the third Test
in Cape Town and the two
Twenty20 internationals
which followed.
E a r l i e r, t h e
opening batsman broke
little finger on his left
hand while facing
Johnson in the Sydney
Test in January.
However, star
South Africa all-rounder
Jacques Kallis who
suffered a groin strain
his current position but
has put him within
striking distance of
fourth-placed Mahela
Jayawardene of Sri
Lanka.
While Laxman
is the only player in the
top 20 to make an
upward movement,
India`s stand-in captain
Virender Sehwag is the
only batsman in the top-
20 who has slipped down
the ladder. The opener
has dropped two places
to 17th position after
scores of 34 and 22.
The table is still
headed by Shivnarine
Chanderpaul of the West
Indies who leads
Pakistan captain Younis
Khan by a very small
margin while Sri Lanka
captain Kumar
Sangakkara is in third
position.
Sri Lanka`s
iconic spinner Muttiah
Muralitharan is the still
Van Persie pulls out of
Dutch squad with leg injury
Amsterdam, March 31: Netherlands striker Robin van
Persie pulled out of the Dutch squad preparing to play
Macedonia in a World Cup Group Nine qualifier on
Wednesday.
Van Persie has been troubled by a hamstring
injury he sustained during the 3-0 victory over Scotland
on Saturday, the Dutch federation (KNVB) said in a
statement on Monday.
The Dutch are top in Group Nine with 12
points after four matches, eight points ahead of
Scotland and Iceland, who will meet in Glasgow on
Wednesday. Macedonia have three points.
Sports
after winning the opening
game while managing to
snatch a draw in the
second despite being
asked to follow on.
-Agencies
while bowling in the Cape
Town Test, appears less
likely to return to the side
for first one-dayer, the
daily reported.
"We`ll just have
to assess him when he
gets to Durban early this
week," Owen-Smith said.
Meanwhile,
good show in second T20
match against Australia
has earned rookie all-
rounder Roelof van der
Merwe a berth in the
South Africa squad for
first two ODIs.
-Bureau Report
the number-one ranked
bowler with South
Africa`s Dale Steyn in
second spot and Mitchell
Johnson of Australia in
third place.
In the ICC Test
Championship table,
India will retain its third
position behind Australia
and South Africa
irrespective of how the
Wellington Test pans out.
If India wins the match
and the series 2-0, it will
stay on 118 Ratings
Points while New
Zealand will also stay on
81 Ratings Points.
However, if New
Zealand turns the tables
on India and wins the Test
to square the series, India
will slip to 115 Ratings
Points while New
Zealand will rise to 85
Ratings Points.
-Agencies
Dane Wozniacki upsets Dementieva
Florida, March 31:
Danish teenager
C a r o l i n e Wo z n i a c k i
upset Russian fourth
seed Elena Dementieva
7-5, 6-4 to reach the
Sony Ericsson Open
quarter-finals on
Monday.
The 18-year-
old from Odeanse came
back from a break down
in each set to reach her
sixth quarter-final of the
season.
The result
continued a poor
tournament for the top
East European women
with Russians Dinara
S a f i n a a n d Ve r a
Zvonareva and Serbians
Jelena Jankovic and Ana
Ivanovic, all top-10
players, failing to make
Nadal and Murray through in Miami
Miami, March 31: World
number one Rafael
Nadal held off a strong
challenge from
Portugal's Frederico Gil
to win 7-5, 6-3 and book a
place in the fourth round
of the Sony Ericsson
Open.
Spaniard Nadal
broke service twice in the
first set and, after the
determined and
aggressive Gil broke
early to go 2-0 up in the
second, regained control
to clinch victory.
the last 16.
Wozniacki,
n a m e d t h e W TA ' s
newcomer of the year for
2008, is enjoying a
breakthrough season
and has climbed to 12th
in the rankings.
" I ' m j u s t
enjoying every day and
every match that I'm
playing," said the Dane,
whose parents are
Polish.
"That I keep
winning is just great. I just
felt like I was playing
really well today. I just got
everything together," she
told reporters.
Wozniacki will
play Svetlana
Kuznetsova, who
comfortably won her all-
Russian fourth round tie
Nadal will face
the winner of the third-
round tie between
Russian Igor Andreev
and Switzerland's
Stanislas Wawrinka.
The Spaniard's
powerful serve was the
basis of his victory -- he
produced five aces and
won 76 percent of points
on first service.
N a d a l ,
h o w e v e r, w a s n o t
satisfied with his
performance.
"You can't play
March 31, 2009
with Alisa Kleybanova 6-2,
6-1.
Fifth-seed Venus
Williams came from a set
down to beat Poland's
Agnieszka Radwanska 4-
6, 6-1, 6-4 and her sister
Serena, the world number
one, faces China's Zheng
Jie later on Monday.
Hungarian Agnes
Szavay, who eliminated
Ivanovic, lost 6-2, 6-4 to
Belarussia's Victoria
Azarenka.
Azarenka's
quarter-final opponent will
be Australian Samantha
Stosur whose impressive
form continued with a 6-4,
6-4 win over France's
Amelie Mauresmo.
-Bureau Report
well every day, and today
was one of these days," he
told reporters.
"No opponent is
easy, especially if you are
not playing your best
tennis. So everything was
more difficult today."
Fourth seed Andy
Murray won 6-4, 6-4
against Chilean Nicolas
Massu although he
struggled at times against
his 29-year-old opponent.
-Agencies
March 31, 2009
Plzen, Czech Republic,
March 31: Order a beer at
a restaurant or bar, and
unless you've requested an
ale, porter or stout, you'll
probably be served the
clear, golden brew behind
our most familiar brands:
Pilsner.
And this is its
ancestral home.
Mugs of frothy
beer served in this
cobblestone-studded city
southwest of Prague may
resemble others the world
over, but a trip to the local
brewery confirms these are
no ordinary suds.
The faintly bitter
lager first produced in
Plzen more than a century
ago gave rise to a style of
beer that has since circled
the globe. Much of today's
lager-style beer, in fact,
owes its flaxen color and
crisp flavor to a brewing
process formulated in this
small metropolis in the
Czech Republic's Bohemia
region. Its name still
reflects its origins: Pilsner,
Pilsener, or sometimes just
Pils.
The beer's
precise birthplace, the
Pilsner Urquell brewery,
stands on the city's fringes,
enclosed by an ornate 19th
century double archway. Its
copper kettle-lined
confines have changed
with the times, but visitors
can still see hints of the
past, including a network of
underground tunnels once
used to store huge casks of
fermenting beer.
The plant's
distinctive heritage hasn't
been overlooked by its
current owner, London-
based SABMiller, which
has built a large diorama of
an old-time brewery inside
a sleek visitors' center also
furnished with a vending
machine that dispenses
beer.
The Pilsner
Urquell factory of today is a
marvel of modern brewing,
operating 24 hours a day
and churning out 120,000
bottles of beer per hour. But
it has its origins in a
brewing tradition that
stretches back to the late
1200s, when King
Wenceslaus II granted
brewing licenses to more
than 250 city residents. But
Times Chennai E-Paper
A pilgrimage to the birthplace of Pilsner beer
the quality of Plzen's beer
was poor, according to
the brewery, and in 1839
protesters dumped 36
barrels of the local brew
outside the town hall to
show their discontent.
That prompted
the citizen brewers of
Plzen to combine forces
and build a modern beer-
making facility, which
opened in 1842, the
same one that operates
to this day.
A y o u n g
brewmaster and reputed
ruffian, Josef Groll, took
the helm and began
making the beer that
became known as Pilsner
lager, fermenting barley
malt, hops and water at a
low temperature, and
adding yeast that
collected at the bottom of
the mixture.
Among the
beer's defining qualities
were its shimmering
appearance and subtle
bitterness from locally
grown hops — the dried
flowers of the hop plant.
Other ingredients specific
to the region included soft
water drawn from 328-
foot-deep wells and malt
made from barley grown
in the Czech regions of
Bohemia and Moravia.
The water used
in today's Pilsner Urquell,
the company says, is
from the same
u n d e rg ro u n d so u rce
used to make the original
in 1842. And the strain of
yeast used to convert
sugar into alcohol during
the fermentation process
reputedly is traceable to
that used in the original
recipe.
Plzen, Czech
Republic, March 31:
Order a beer at a
restaurant or bar, and
unless you've requested
an ale, porter or stout,
you'll probably be served
the clear, golden brew
behind our most familiar
brands: Pilsner.
And this is its
ancestral home.
Mugs of frothy
beer served in this
cobblestone-studded city
southwest of Prague may
resemble others the
world over, but a trip to
the local brewery
confirms these are no
ordinary suds.
The faintly bitter
lager first produced in
Plzen more than a
century ago gave rise to a
style of beer that has
since circled the globe.
Much of today's lager-
style beer, in fact, owes
its flaxen color and crisp
flavor to a brewing
process formulated in this
small metropolis in the
Czech Republic's
Bohemia region. Its name
still reflects its origins:
Pilsner, Pilsener, or
sometimes just Pils.
The beer's
precise birthplace, the
Pilsner Urquell brewery,
stands on the city's
fringes, enclosed by an
ornate 19th century
double archway. Its
copper kettle-lined
confines have changed
with the times, but
visitors can still see hints
of the past, including a
network of underground
tunnels once used to
store huge casks of
fermenting beer.
The plant's distinctive
heritage hasn't been
overlooked by its current
owner, London-based
SABMiller, which has
built a large diorama of
an old-time brewery
inside a sleek visitors'
center also furnished
with a vending machine
that dispenses beer.
The Pilsner
Urquell factory of today is
a marvel of modern
brewing, operating 24
hours a day and churning
out 120,000 bottles of
beer per hour. But it has
its origins in a brewing
tradition that stretches
back to the late 1200s,
when King Wenceslaus II
granted brewing licenses
to more than 250 city
residents. But the quality
of Plzen's beer was poor,
according to the brewery,
and in 1839 protesters
dumped 36 barrels of the
local brew outside the
town hall to show their
discontent.
That prompted
the citizen brewers of
Plzen to combine forces
and build a modern beer-
making facility, which
opened in 1842, the
same one that operates
to this day.
A y o u n g
brewmaster and reputed
ruffian, Josef Groll, took
the helm and began
making the beer that
became known as
Pilsner lager, fermenting
barley malt, hops and
water at a low
temperature, and adding
yeast that collected at the
bottom of the mixture.
Among the
beer's defining qualities
were its shimmering
appearance and subtle
bitterness from locally
grown hops — the dried
flowers of the hop plant.
Other ingredients
specific to the region
included soft water
drawn from 328-foot-
deep wells and malt
made from barley grown
in the Czech regions of
Bohemia and Moravia.
The water used
in today's Pilsner Urquell,
the company says, is
from the same
underground source
used to make the original
in 1842. And the strain of
yeast used to convert
sugar into alcohol during
Medley
the fermentation process
reputedly is traceable to
that used in the original
recipe.
The brewing of
Pilsner Urquell has
remained largely
unchanged since Groll's
time, according to a
video shown to tourists at
the brewery. Ground malt
and water are boiled
three times in copper
kettles, a procedure
carried out perhaps once
or twice in the making of
o t h e r b e e r s .
Carmelization occurs at
the bottom of the kettles,
producing flavorful
compounds.
The concoction
is boiled with hops before
being fermented at a low
t e m p e r a t u r e ,
pasteurized and
packaged in bottles,
cans, kegs and tanks.
The total brewing time
remains the same as in
the days of yore, about
five weeks.
Julie Johnson,
editor of All About Beer
magazine in Durham,
N.C., noted that the
beer's name, Urquell,
means "the original
source" in German.
"Pilsner beer is
the ancestor of the kind
of global international
lager style that makes up
90-something percent of
the beer we drink today,"
she said, pointing to
brands such as
Budweiser, Rolling Rock
and St. Pauli Girl. "Those
are all indebted to
Pilsner."
In a nod to the
beer born in Plzen,
American brewers of the
19th century created
"something that was
much softer for the
American palate," she
said. "That, in turn, has
swept the world."
P i l s n e r, a n d
pale ales that emerged
around the same time,
stood out because "they
were light, they were
beautiful to look at,"
Johnson said.
The beers
owed their attractive look
to malt made from barley
that had been heated
evenly using an indirect
source — then a
revolutionary technique.
Earlier malt may have
been partly burned,
producing beer with "a
darker and roastier
taste," she said.
The malt's
consistent quality yielded
exceptionally clear beer,
and its emergence
coincided with the
spread of glassware that
allowed drinkers to
admire its appearance.
"So you had a
beer that appealed to the
eye as well as the nose
and mouth," Johnson
said, "and people were
just struck dumb by how
lovely and beautiful it
was."
P i l s n e r
Urquell's flavor, which is
dry rather than fruity like
an ale, comes from local
ingredients such as the
locally grown hops,
known as Saaz hops, she
added.
Visitors to the
brewery can sample that
flavor at the end of a
guided tour that last
about an hour and-a-half
and ends in one of the
underground cellars used
to store barrels of
Playboy fears moral
policing in India
New York, March 31:
Adult entertainment
publisher Playboy, which
sees India among its
potential growth areas,
fears that government
restrictions on products
deemed to have "immoral
influence" in the country
could be a roadblock for
its business.
" T h e
governments of some
countries, such as China
and India, have sought to
limit the influence of other
cultures by restricting the
distribution of products
deemed to represent
foreign or immoral
influences," Playboy has
said.
The government
regulations on adult
content could negatively
affect the entity's
business and financial
conditions, New York
Stock Exchange-listed
Playboy Enterprises said
in its annual report filing
with the US market
regulator Securities and
Exchange Commission.
Interestingly, New York
Stock Exchange-listed
Playboy Enterprises has
identified India, along
with China and Latin
America, among target
regions for its
geographical expansion.
Besides its flagship
magazine, Playboy
distributes its
programming and
contents across the world
on TV networks,
websites, mobile
platforms and radio.
"Regulation of
adult content could
prevent us from making
our content available in
Page 9
fermenting beer in the days
before refrigeration.
One guide, Katerina
Sedlackova, attested to the
qualities of Plzen's
namesake beer, offering
cups of the drink — freshly
made, unpasteurized and
drawn from one of a few
remaining wooden barrels
kept in service.
"You should know that
Pilsner Urquell is very
healthy," she exhorts,
referring to nutrients such
as vitamin B. "If you drink a
cup of beer a day, you
should stay healthy."
Bureau Report
various jurisdictions or
otherwise have a material
adverse effect on our
business, financial
condition or results of
operations," the company
noted.
Playboy said in
an investor presentation
late last year that India has
been identified as a key
target region to expand its
presence, along with
China and Latin America.
However, a
number of global entities
such as Fashion TV (FTV)
and AXN, a TV channel
transmitted by Sony
Entertainment Television,
have faced the wrath of
moral policing in India in
the past.
The government
briefly banned FTV twice in
the past for nudity in its
content, while AXN was
also banned for a week in
January 2007 for airing a
programme titled 'The
World's Sexiest
Advertisements'.
FTV was first
banned in February 2002,
but the decision was
reversed in a week after
the channel promised to
adhere to the Indian
sensibilities. In 2007, the
Indian government again
banned FTV for a period of
two months beginning April
1, while taking exception to
a programme titled
'Midnight Hot.'
The ban was
lifted only after the channel
agreed to adhere strictly
with the local rules. FTV
now transmits a separate
India-focussed channel,
FTV India, which contains
no nudity, which is in sharp
contrast to its global
programming.
Wa y b a c k i n
2004, Hooters of America
Inc, a restaurant chain
known for its scantily-clad
and cheerleader-style
hostesses and present in
over a dozen countries,
had announced plans to
open shop in India, but is
yet to start operations
here.
Page 10 Times Chennai E-Paper March 31, 2009

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