Islamabad: Pakistan on Monday responded to India’s accusation that groups like Lashker-e-Toiba are planning attacks from across the border by saying that New Delhi should share actionable information to prevent such incidents.
"We have repeatedly requested the Indian government to share with us whatever information it has in this regard. Sharing of real-time, credible and actionable information on any future terrorist threats was deemed essential by the Prime Ministers of Pakistan and India at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit," said a statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman.
The spokesman was reacting to comments made earlier in the day by Home Minister P Chidambaram, who told a meeting of top police officials in New Delhi that Pakistan-based groups like Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) were continuing to plan terror strikes in India.
Chidambaram expressed deep concern over terrorism "emanating from across the border" and said it continues to remain a persistent threat to India’s security. He also said local support for Pakistan-based terror groups had not ended. The Mumbai terror attacks, which have been blamed on the LeT, were a "game changer", he added. Referring to Chidambaram’s remarks "expressing apprehensions on terror strikes being planned by certain groups in Pakistan", the Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman noted that the two Prime Ministers had also agreed during their meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh in July that "terrorism is the main threat to both countries".
"Both leaders also affirmed their resolve to fight terrorism and cooperate with each other to this end," the spokesman said. "Resumption of the composite dialogue and re-activation of the Joint Anti-Terrorism Mechanism offer avenues of pragmatic cooperation, inter alia, including on counter-terrorism," the spokesman said.
SC to Kerala: Pay teachers or will review ministers' expenses
NEW DELHI: Rejecting the argument that it was facing cash crunch, the Supreme Court on Monday warned the Kerala government that it would review
the expenses incurred on ministers and MLAs if the state failed to pay arrears for 17 years to part-time teachers.
In a lighter vein, a bench of Justices B N Aggrawal and G S Singhvi also asked the state government counsel "Your Chief Minister travels by which class, economy or business?"
The remarks come in the backdrop of the austerity measures suggested by the UPA government to all its ministers and government functionaries.
"We can't go by your claims. If you do not comply with the order by September 30, we will have to review the expenses incurred on your ministers and MLAs," the bench sternly told the counsel who agreed to abide by the direction.
The apex court made the remarks while dealing with a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the Aided Higher Secondary Teachers Association challenging the reluctance of the state to pay arrears to part-time teachers in state government and aided schools.
During the argument, the state government has taken the stance that due to financial crunch it was not able to implement a government order issued on August 19, 2008, relating to payment of arrears to part-time teachers with retrospective effect from 1992.
India should share actionable info to combat terror: Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday responded to India's accusation that groups like Lashker-e-Toiba are planning attacks from across the border by saying that New Delhi should share actionable information to prevent such incidents.
"We have repeatedly requested the Indian government to share with us whatever information it has in this regard. Sharing of real-time, credible and actionable information on any future terrorist threats was deemed essential by the Prime Ministers of Pakistan and India at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit," said a statement from Pakistan's foreign office spokesman.
The spokesman was reacting to comments made earlier in the day by home minister P Chidambaram, who told a meeting of top police officials in New Delhi that Pakistan-based groups like Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) were continuing to plan terror strikes in India.
Chidambaram expressed deep concern over terrorism "emanating from across the border" and said it continues to remain a persistent threat to India's security. He also said local support for Pakistan-based terror groups had not ended. The Mumbai terror attacks, which have been blamed on the LeT, were a "game changer", he added.
Referring to Chidambaram's remarks "expressing apprehensions on terror strikes being planned by certain groups in Pakistan", the Pakistan foreign office spokesman noted that the two prime ministers had also agreed during their meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh in July that "terrorism is the main threat to both countries".
"Both leaders also affirmed their resolve to fight terrorism and cooperate with each other to this end," the spokesman said.
"Resumption of the composite dialogue and re-activation of the Joint Anti-Terrorism Mechanism offer avenues of pragmatic cooperation, inter alia, including on counter-terrorism," the spokesman said.
Five LeT operatives and two other suspects arrested by Pakistani authorities for alleged involvement in the Mumbai attacks are currently facing trial in an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi.
However, Islamabad has ruled out arresting or prosecuting LeT founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, saying the evidence provided against him by New Delhi is inadequate.
Practising austerity: Sonia flies economy class
New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday flew economy class to Mumbai practising austerity the UPA government has sought to enforce while Nandan Nilekani is said to be planning to shift his address to Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi.
Gandhi, also UPA chairperson who was behind the decision to ask two ministers S M Krishna and Shashi Tharoor to move to modest accommodation from their five-star dwelling afer a media expose, today flew to Mumbai in a commercial flight in an ordinary class seat to Mumbai to participate in a party function.
Nilekani, a high networth individual estimated at about USD 1.3 billion, who quit his job as Infosys Chairman to take up as head of the Unique Identification Authority of India, is joining a host of politicians taking to austerity.
Sources close to him said he is likely to shift to the modest Karnataka Bhavan here from a five-star hotel. He is still waiting for his official accommodation, a bungalow in the capital's Lutyen's Zone, he is entitled to as a person with Cabinet status in the government.
Of the many options that his office is looking at, the modest Karnataka Bhavan is likely to be on the priority list, they said.
Meanwhile, Tharoor was seen enjoying a meal at a restaurant in Bengali market, a favourite of the middle class in the heart of the capital.
A couple of passengers, who travelled in the same flight, said it was a normal flight and there were no restrictions by security personnel.
Morale-boosting: BJP makes a comeback in Assembly by-polls
Ahmedabad: In a morale-boosting performance after the Lok Sabha defeat, the ruling BJP on Monday wrested five Assembly seats from Congress in Gujarat and won one each in Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand, where the party got a majority in the state Assembly.
In Gujarat, the BJP wrested Jasdan, Chotila, Dehgam, Danta and Sami-Hariz from Congress while it lost Kodinar to the main opposition party which retained Dhoraji.
Out of the seven Assembly seats in Gujarat where by-polls were held on September 10, six were held by the Congress while one was with BJP. With today's win, BJP's strength in the 182-member Assembly goes up to 122 while that of Congress 54. Others account for six.
The by-elections results will come as a great relief for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, after the unimpressive performance in the Lok Sabha polls and defeat to Congress in Junagadh Municipal Corporation body elections. In the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had won 15 of the 26 seats with the rest going to the Congress.
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The by-polls were considered to be test of popularity of Modi, who chose to abstain from campaigning. Party cadres and workers celebrated throughout the state.
BJP also secured a wafer-thin majority on its own in the Uttarakhand Assembly by winning the Vikasnagar seat, taking its tally to 36 in the 70-member House.
In Madhya Pradesh, the ruling BJP wrested Tendukheda from Congress which retained Gohad seat.
In Andhra Pradesh and Sikkim, ruling Congress and Sikkim Democratic Front respectively won Tekkali and Namchi-Singhithang seats.
Indian Business News
Yahoo! to sell stake in Alibaba.com: Report
Hong Kong: US internet giant Yahoo! Is seeking to sell up to USD 150 million worth of shares in Alibaba.com, Dow Jones Newswires reported.
Yahoo! is selling its direct stake in Alibaba.com, of 57.48 million shares acquired at its initial public offering, the Dow Jones Newswires said, citing a term sheet it had seen.
The stake amounted to about one per cent of shares in the Hong Kong-listed e-commerce firm.
Dow Jones Newswires said Yahoo! will sell the shares for 19.80-20.30 Hong Kong dollars (USD 2.54-2.60) each, representing a discount of 4.0 to 6.4 per cent on Alibaba.com's closing price of 21.15 Hong Kong dollars.
Even after the discount, Yahoo! will make a respectable profit of at least 47 per cent on the IPO price of USD 13.50 less than two years ago, Dow Jones Newswires said.
John Spelich, Hong Kong-based vice president for international corporate affairs at Alibaba Group, the parent company of Alibaba.com, said they welcomed the share sale.
"We are pleased to learn of the Yahoo! decision because having broader ownership of Alibaba.com with increased liquidity and support among institutional investors is what Alibaba.com hoped to achieve," he said in a statement sent to AFP.
Fortis' Rs 1,000-cr rights issue likely by Oct
New Delhi: Hospital chain Fortis Healthcare's Rs 1,000-crore rights issue is likely to hit the market by October, with the firm taking fresh steps to realise the plan.
"We will soon file a letter of offer (LOF) next week. The decision was taken at a board meeting held recently," Fortis Healthcare CEO & Managing Director Shivinder Mohan Singh said at the sidelines of a FICCI event in New Delhi.
It was decided that Fortis Healthcare would soon approach SEBI after finalising all details, he added.
Companies file LOF at the time of rights issue, which is the equivalent of the Draft Red Herring Prospectus filed at the time of initial public offer.
"We expect the rights issue by October," a source said.
Fortis Healthcare's Rs 1,000-crore rights issue has been on the anvil since last year but unfavourable market conditions have prevented the company from hitting the market.
At the time of getting approval from its board last December, the healthcare chain had said proceeds of the rights issue would be used primarily for funding greenfield projects including the upcoming Medi-City in Gurgaon, redemption of preference shares, and repayment of short term debt, besides upgrading existing facilities.
Company sources said the final LOF will include disclosures of the recent Rs 909-crore acquisition of 10 Wockhardt Hospitals.
Indian Sports News|Sports News
Sachin scores 44th ODI ton, Lanka faces tall order
Colombo: Sachin Tendulkar gave ample display of his class with a scintillating 133-ball 138 as India piled up an imposing 319 for five in the cricket tri-series final against Sri Lanka here today.
The 36-year-old Tendulkar seemed to be in imperious form as he notched up his 44th ODI century with a stunning display of strokeplay to provide the foundation for the Indian total at the Premadasa stadium. While the champion batsman anchored the innings brilliantly, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (56), Yuvraj Singh (56 not out) and Rahul Dravid (39) were the other notable scorers for the Indians.
The Lankans have now been left with a stiff asking rate of 6.40 runs per over to win the Compaq Cup while the Indians are determined to make amends for their embarassing defeat in the last match which saw them slip from the number one spot in the ODI rankings.
With Dinesh Karthik failing in both the matches, India opted for a new opening pair of Tendulkar and Dravid for the summit showdown and the experienced duo gave the team a flying start.
Both Tendulkar and Dravid scored the runs at a brisk pace with the Sri Lanka pacers Nuwan Kulasekara and Thilan Thushara not being able to make much of an impact in the early overs.
Dravid set the tempo by cracking Kulasekara to the point boundary in the very second ball of the innings while Tendulkar also picked up the bowler for some special treatment by smacking him to the cover boundary. Tendulkar showed his class when he despatched a slightly fuller length delivery off Kulasekara through the covers to the fence.
Dikshit, Kalmadi assure successful Games
New Delhi: Under attack for the capital's tardy preparation for 2010 Commonwealth Games, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi went into a damage control mode today, assuring every glitch would be ironed out to deliver a successful Games next year.
Commonwealth Games Federation President Michael Fennell's strongly-worded letter, in which he sought a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to avert a "partial failure" of the Games, clearly put the organisers in embarrassment.
Reacting to Fennell's outburst, Dikshit said she would use every means at her disposal to make it a success, while Kalmadi announced that he would facilitate the CGF chief's meeting with the Prime Minister. Exuding confidence that everything would fall in place, Dikshit said the Delhi Government would complete all work "well in time" although it was little "nervous" about the preparation.
"We are satisfied as well nervous about the preparation for the prestigious event," Dikshit said. "He (Fennel) met me one month ago and conveyed his concern about the power situation. I told him that the city will have adequate power during the event," Dikshit said after a Cabinet meeting which is understood to have discussed the issue.
On the recent criticism by the CAG about slow progress of the infrastructure projects, Dikshit said the audit body had prepared the report last month based on status of works six months back.
"They have the right to criticise. But we are working very hard. We are looking at all alternatives. Nation's pride is involved with the event and we will do everything possible to make it a success," she said.
Wasn't sure whether I would play in final: Paes
New York: Moments after winning the US Open men's doubles trophy as his 10th Grand Slam title, Indian ace Leander Paes said he wasn't sure if he would be able to play the final as he was carrying a sore shoulder.
Paes had injured his elbow ten days back while playing mixed doubles in the tournament but the ace Indian overcame the pain and combined with Czech Lukas Dlouhy to outlast Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles of Bahamas 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the men's doubles final on Monday.
"I'm a little numb at the moment, because it's just been a mammoth effort over the past two weeks. But when I woke up I didn't know if I could get through the match, there was so much pain. I've been carrying a really, really sore shoulder," said the Indian.
"Every time I touched the ball there was so much pain that I didn't believe that I could actually go through the match and finish. But I knew it was my job to endure the pain and be steady," he said.
With this year's French Open doubles crown, partnering with Dlouhy, already in his pocket, Paes felt the current season is the best in his 18 years of professional career.
"This is possibly the best year I've ever had on the tour," said Paes, who turned pro in 1991.
"Today's match was of real high quality. Well done," added Paes with the satisfaction that he and Dlouhy had erased memories of last year's final loss at the same Grand Slam.
Serena fined $10,000; new investigation opened
New York: Serena Williams' profanity-laced, finger-pointing tirade at a US Open linesperson drew a $10,000 fine on Sunday, and more punishment could follow from a broader investigation into what the head of the tournament called her "threatening manner."
The fine - not quite 3 percent of the $350,000 in prize money Williams earned by reaching the semifinals - is the maximum on-site penalty that can be issued for unsportsmanlike conduct at a Grand Slam tournament.
"The average individual would look at that and say, 'A $10,000 fine for what she did? What are you guys, crazy?' The answer is: the process isn't over," tournament director Jim Curley said.
Bill Babcock, the top administrator for Grand Slam tournaments, will review what happened Saturday night, when Williams yelled at a linesperson who called a foot fault with the defending champion two points away from losing to Kim Clijsters in the semifinals.
If Babcock determines Williams committed a "major offense," she could be fined all of her prize money from the tournament.
Williams also was docked $500 for smashing her racket after the first set of the match. Because she was issued a warning then, her later actions resulted in the loss of a point.
The foot fault resulted in a double-fault, which moved Clijsters one point from victory. Williams then was penalized a point for her outburst; because it happened to come on match point, it ended the semifinal with Clijsters ahead 6-4, 7-5.
Clijsters won the final Sunday by beating Caroline Wozniacki 7-5, 6-3.
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