Latest News In India

Varun hate speech CD not doctored: Experts

NEW DELHI: In another setback to the BJP as the party meets for its crucial introspection on Lok Sabha poll debacle, forensic experts have saidthe hate speech CD of the BJP leader and MP from Pilibhit, Varun Gandhi, is not doctored.

Sources said the Forensic Science Laboratory in Hyderabad has submitted its report to the District Magistrate of Pilibhit.

Varun had alleged that the CDs were doctored, a line that was also the official BJP stand on the row. He had also refused to give his voice samples for examination.

Varun, who is currently out on bail, has six FIRs against him.

Don't make Varun scapegoat for poll debacle: Maneka Gandhi

NEW DELHI: Varun Gandhi, whose alleged hate speeches triggered a row during the elections, should not be made a scapegoat for the BJP's poll debacle, his mother Maneka Gandhi said at the party's national executive meet on Saturday.

Launching a strong defence of her son, Maneka alleged that those who lost the elections were wrongly blaming their defeat on Varun's speeches. In an apparent reference to chief poll strategist and in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Arun Jaitley, she alleged he was not accessible even on the phone and was mainly involved in planting stories in the media.

She sought to draw a contrast between his way of functioning to that of his predecessor late Pramod Mahajan, who she said enquired about the day-to-day progress of the candidates.

The MP from Aonla praised the Uttar Pradesh unit of the party but said it failed to produce results as the election in-charge "did not work at all".

She claimed the exit of Kalyan Singh from the party was a big loss and led to the defeat of leaders like Santosh Gangwar, who lost from Bareilly.

Maneka criticised the party's rigid stand on giving the ticket to Ashok Pradhan from Bulandshahr which had triggered Kalyan Singh's decision to quit.

Four-year-old girl rescued from borewell

Jaipur, June 21: A four-year-old girl, who on Saturday fell into a 50-feet deep open borewell at Moradi village in Rajasthan's Dausa district, has been rescued and is in stable condition, officials said.

The girl Anju was rescued after a 21 hour operation and has been taken to hospital. “She was breathing when she was taken out of the borewell. She was rushed to a hospital in Bandikui and then referred to Jaipur where she would be kept under observation,” a doctor said.

The rescue work was carried out with two JCB machines and tractor trolleys pressed into service to bring her out, SHO Bandikui Ramveer Singh said.

An oxygen pipe was also put into the eight inch wide borewell to help the girl breathe, he said.

The incident occured at around 1730 hrs IST yesterday while she was playing there.

Dausa is 57 kms from Jaipur while the scene of the incident is about 40 kms from the district headquarters.

In October last year a two-year-old boy named Sonu died after falling into a borewell in Agra.

Five-year-old Prince who fell into a 60-feet borewell in Hardaheri village near Kurukshetra in Haryana in July 2006, grabbed national attention by emerging alive out of the narrow borewell after struggling for 48 hours.

Troops advance from Lalgarh towards 17 Maoist-held villages

Lalgarh, West Bengal:After reclaiming control of key Lalgarh police station area, security forces on Sunday pushed deeper to break the Maoist siege of 17 villages considered strongholds of the ultras and tribals backed by them.

Security sources said the troops consisting of CRPF, BSF and West Bengal police started moving from Lalgarh to Ramgarh in an operation aimed at sanitising the main road and other connecting routes and wresting control of the 17 villages. But the 19-km journey from Lalgarh, which the troops reclaimed on Saturday, is likely to be one of the toughest as the road has been mined and the area heavily forested.

The strategy of the forces will focus on wresting control of Barapelia, Chotopelia and Dalilpurchak in West Midnapore district where top Maoist leaders were reportedly holed up, senior police officers engaged in the operation said. Barapelia is the home of Maoist-backed People's Committee against Police Atrocity (PCPA) convener Chatradhar Mahato and the PCPA headquarters.

After a night halt at a school premises in Lalgarh, the joint forces began a mine-clearing exercise on the Lalgarh-Ramgarh road, the sources said. Security forces had yesterday moved into Lalgarh and taken control of the police station even as ambushed a convoy en route to the area injuring six policemen.

Gandhi, Nehru letters in Sotheby's auction

London:A series of signed and autographed letters by Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru and some documents and postcards will figure in a Christie's sale here on July 14. Three of Gandhi's autographed letters to Islamic scholar and leading figure in the Khilafat movement, Maulana Abdul Bari, in Urdu have an estimated price of 2,500-3,000 pounds (Rs 1.99-2.38 lakh).

They refer to Hindu-Muslim relations, including communal tension in Lucknow and their personal friendship. Writing one letter from prison, Gandhi thanks Bari for gifting cotton for spinning. A khadi cloth signed by Gandhi and said to have been woven by him will go under the hammer at an estimated price of 2,000-2,500 pounds (Rs 1.59-1.99 lakh). The cloth was a gift from Gandhi to South African-born actress Moira Lister, who was a friend of Maharani of Jaipur Gayatri Devi.

Two autograph postcards (1,500-2,000 pounds or Rs 1.19-1.59 lakh) signed by Gandhi to Urdu poet Hamid Ullah Afsar also figure in the auction of 153 lots under the category of English Literature, History, Children's Books and Illustrations. A series of 29 letters signed and four autograph letters and notes signed by Nehru to friend Mridula Sarabhai, together with a signed document, a signed greeting card and 29 envelopes will have an estimated price of 4,000-5,000 pounds (Rs 3.17-3.97 lakh).

Nehru's letters discuss subjects including events in Kashmir, Sarabhai's political campaigns, rehabilitation of Muslims evicted from their homes at Partition and a humanitarian project for homeless children in Delhi. "I must act according to my own judgment. I know perhaps better than you do of the consequences of what is happening and what is likely to happen consequences not only in Kashmir but the whole of India and Pakistan," says one of the letter written on August 3, 1953, just before the dismissal of Sheikh Abdullah as Kashmiri prime minister.


Indian Business News

'Indian economy returning to growth path'

New Delhi:The Indian economy and the financial sector are returning to a ‘potential growth path’ after adjusting to intense dislocation in the global economic environment, financial services major Goldman Sachs said.

"We believe the Indian economy and the financial sector are returning back to a potential growth path, post a period of adjustment to the intense dislocation in the global economic environment," Goldman Sachs said in a report.

Goldman expects its net income growth for the financial sector to rebound to 32 percent in 2010, from one percent in 2009.

The firm further said it is turning constructive on the Indian financial sector due to improving outlook for the macroeconomic environment, positive impact of a decisive election outcome on potential policy action and Government agenda as well as on business confidence.

"Decisive election results likely to impact business confidence positively," it said.

Besides, other reasons for the constructive view is the change of outlook from negative to positive as well as upside potential to its growth expectations.

It is likely that the loan growth would be over 20 per cent by 2011, it said.

MasterCard appoints Citi's Ajay Banga as president and COO

NEW YORK: Global payment firm MasterCard has roped in Citigroup's Ajay Banga as its new president and chief operating officer (COO), while indicating that the Indian banker could be its next CEO in about a year.

Banga, currently Citi's Asia-Pacific CEO, will get an annual salary of $800,000 besides other benefits at MasterCard, while he has also been given a sign-in bonus of $4.2 million. As per his contract, Banga's upfront payments would remain intact even if he leaves the company after not being offered the position of CEO at MasterCard by June 30, 2010.

However, he would have to forefeit part of his package if he resigns under different circumstances, or cases like termination of his employment by the company. Banga would join MasterCard on August 31 and would report to Robert W Selander, CEO, MasterCard said in a statement.

Infy CEO on how to battle recession

NEW DELHI: There is lower tolerance for poor performance in a downturn, says Kris Gopalakrishnan, chief executive officer & managing director, Infosys Technologies. Here's his account on how to fight recession.

How is dealing with recessionary conditions different when you’re in a senior leadership position than when you’re actually leading as CEO?

The CEO has to take bottom line responsibility and has to be accountable to all stakeholders. A senior leader is responsible to only one department or business unit. In that sense, CEOs are different.

How was the IT sector affected last time -- the depression of 2001-03? And now?

The dot-com bubble was restricted to a few sectors. It did not impact financial services -- the backbone of any economy. The crisis is global and is impacting all industries and countries. The responses from governments around world have also been unprecedented taking into account the scale of the problem.

What is the most challenging part about being a recessionary CEO?

In a recession, growth is absent; sometimes, the business may even be shrinking. In this scenario, managing costs in order to protect margins become the immediate priority. Medium term, you have to continue to invest in the business selectively such that the business can emerge from the downturn stronger than competition. This is challenging. Even in good times, a CEO must be able to get to the details if needed. During a recession, this may increase due to the requirement for faster action.

What are some of the most difficult decisions you’ve had to take recently?

Clients are expecting greater flexibility in pricing and margins may get affected because of that. Utilisation levels are lower because of lower volumes of work. There is lower tolerance for poor performance since everyone has to perform better in a downturn.


Indian Sports News|Sports News

Saina stamps class at Indonesian Open; lifts trophy

Indonesia, June 21: World number 8 and Indian badminton ace Saina Nehwal beat world number 3 Ling Wan in a thrilling final of the Indonesia Open to become the first Indian to do so.

Nehwal beat Wan 12-21, 21-18, 21-9 to win the Super Series title.

Saina had conceded the first set meekly to the Chinese. Not willing to take it lying low, the Indian champ bounced back in style to hand defeat to the world number 3 winning two straight sets.

The Indonesia Open is Saina’s maiden Super Series title.

Sixth-seed Saina had overcome the seventh-seed Lu 25-23, 21-19 to set up a title clash against Chinese third-seed Lin Wang in the final.

On the other hand, world number three Lin had trounced eighth-seed Xingfang Xie 21-19, 21-13 in another semi-final.

Ronaldo says made up mind on Real transfer last year

London:Cristiano Ronaldo says he made up his mind last year to quit Manchester United for Real Madrid, whom he has agreed to join for a world record 93 million euros, the News of the World reports in today's edition. Madrid courted Ronaldo all through last summer but the 24-year-old decided to stay and try to help United defend their 2008 Champions League title, featuring in their final loss in May to Barcelona.

Although United retained their English Premier League title, Ronaldo told the paper he decided to leave after the May 2007 final win over Chelsea. "After we won the European Cup. I thought there is no more I can achieve here," said the Portuguese. "And when you have done all you can, you know it is time for a new challenge. I stayed one more season and it was nice to make it three titles in a row but it was my dream to play for Madrid."

Ronaldo is reportedly set to earn 13 million euros a year with Real to become the world's highest-paid footballer once the finishing touches are put to his move but he insisted: "Of course, I have not gone for the money. "To go down as the greatest. It will take lots of work but that is my target. If you go down as the greatest at Madrid it means you are one of the greatest of all time." Ronaldo also touched on his antics in the 2006 World Cup, when he greeted the sending off of United teammate Wayne Rooney during his country's quarter-final win over England with a sly wink.

Pakistan look to upset Lanka to win T20 World Cup

LONDON: An unpredictable Pakistan will be desperate to shed their runners-up tag by pulling off a win against a rampaging Sri Lanka when the two teams meet in the Twenty20 World Cup final at the Lord's on Sunday.

Pakistan, who lost the Cup by a whisker to India in the inaugural edition in South Africa, have played little international cricket since then because of political turmoil back home and would be eager to win the honour in a bid to bring the sport back on track in their country.

But captain Younis Khan is aware that the job at hand is not at all an easy one as primarily his team has not been a consistent side in the tournament so far and secondly Sri Lanka go into the final with a clean slate.

The ease with which Kumara Sangakkara's men thrashed the West Indies in Friday's semi-final at the Oval should also be a matter of concern for Younis Khan.

Pakistan have called up ex-ICL player Abdul Razzaq as a replacement for an injured Yasir Arafat and his presence, strengthens the side as the all rounder is a hard-hitting batsman and a bowler with decent pace.

Return of another all rounder Shahid Afridi to form just at the right time with a 34-ball 51 in their semi-final against South Africa is also a good news for Pakistan, who would not want to be on the losing side for third time in a World Cup.

Pakistan lost to Steve Waugh's Australia in the 1999 ODI World Cup final at the same venue while in 2007 they were deprived of the Cup by Mahendra Singh Dhoni's young India.

Revenge will also be on the mind of Younis on Sunday as they were handed a 19-run defeat by the islanders in their Super Eight match on June 12.

Pakistan will need to overcome their weak points such as poor starts and inability to finish off the close matches, apart from working on their pedestrian batting and focus on their fielding, to realise their dream.

Kamran Akmal at the top of the innings, Afridi and pacer Umar Gul could be the key players for Pakistan.

Sri Lanka after their comfortable victory over the West Indies would be looking to continue the momentum in the final.

Besides, it would be a good toss to win as teams would prefer to bat first at the Lord's.

Sri Lanka's chances will depend a lot on the opening pair of Sanath Jayasuriya and Tillakaratne Dilshan but unheralded pacer Angelo Mathews and mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis can also bamboozle Pakistan.

Sangakkara's strategy to deny his opponents a good start and tame them in the Powerplay may very well work in his team's favour.

Sangakkara has already made it clear that against Pakistan "the idea would be to concentrate on the role we have and the basics. This philosophy has taken us this far and we need to be responsible on Sunday too and execute our plans."

Sangakkara has also reminded his teammates that their job in the tournament is not over yet.

"Hopefully we can do one more step in the tournament. For the final against Pakistan, we can take a lot of self-belief and confidence from this game", he said.

Squads

Pakistan: Younis Khan (capt), Abdul Razzaq, Ahmed Shehzad, Fawad Alam, Iftikhar Anjum, Kamran Akmal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Aamer, Saeed Ajmal, Salman Butt, Shahid Afridi, Shahzaib Hasan, Shoaib Malik, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul.

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (Capt), Muttiah Muralitharan, Indika de Saram, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene, Nuwan Kulasekara, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis, Jehan Mubarak, Chamara Silva, Thilan Thushara, Isuru Udana.

Rafael Nadal pulls out of Wimbledon

London:Champion Rafael Nadal pulled out of Wimbledon on Friday after losing his battle to recover from a knee injury."Unfortunately this year I won't be able to play at Wimbledon," he told a news conference in Spanish.

The Spaniard, who has been struggling with tendinitis in his knees since being knocked out of the French Open last month, tested his fitness in two exhibition matches this week but after losing both decided not to defend his Wimbledon title just three days before the start of the major.

He will be the first man not to defend his All England Club crown since Croatia's Goran Ivanisevic skipped the grasscourt grand slam in 2002.

"Not to play Wimbledon is one of the toughest decisions in my career but the decision was made easier because I don't feel ready to compete at 100 percent for two weeks," said Nadal.

"I don't feel like I'm ready to play in a tournament that is as important as Wimbledon so I have decided I cannot play this year.

"I was making an effort to play week after week ... but I have two oedema (swelling of the knee joint), one in each knee... and now I'm going to be out.. I don't know what time, how long.

"I tried everything, I tried hard in the last week to get in the best condition and today was my last test," added the world number one, who tried to play through the pain in an exhibition match against Stanislas Wawrinka.

Today's Latest News of India

PM bluntly tells Pak not to allow terrorism against India

Yekaterinburg (Russia):"My mandate is to tell you that Pakistani territory should not be used for terrorism against India," was the blunt message Prime Minister Manmohan Singh conveyed to President Asif Ali Zardari here on Tuesday.

The message, conveyed in front of television cameras when the two leaders shook hands before their closed-door meeting on the sidelines of a multilateral-forum deliberation, was so sharp that the President was apparently embarrassed. "Please let them go," Zardari remarked to Singh, wanting the journalists to leave before they could carry on with their conversation in the first top-level contact between the two countries after the Mumbai terror attacks in November.

Noting that terrorism is haunting the Asian and Central Asian regions, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh underlined the need for "genuine" cooperation among countries on a global scale to resolutely defeat the menace.

Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Yekaterinburg on Tuesday, he said India is seeking a conducive external environment for its sustained high economic growth which is necessary to meet its developmental objectives.

"We wish to see peace, prosperity and stability in the region that the (SCO) Organisation represents. We have a lot to gain and learn from each other. It is in this spirit that we approach our engagement with the Organisation and its different organs and bodies," Singh said.

"We seek an external environment that is conducive to meeting the aspirations of our people," he said, marking the first address by an Indian Prime Minister at the six-nation grouping in which India is an Observer.


26/11 report slams Gafoor, state govt rejects findings

Mumbai:In a severe indictment of the then Mumbai Police Commissioner Hasan Gafoor, a government- appointed committee that probed the 26/11 terror strikes has held that he failed to lead the force from the front and that standard operating procedures were not followed during the crisis situation.

The two-member Ram Pradhan Committee in its report said there was "lack of coordinated and visible control" in the police force.

It also did not spare the the DGP A N Roy when it said he did not have any limitation in using his powers in Mumbai during the attacks that left over 180 dead.

The Maharashtra government, which came under attack from opposition in the assembly for not tabling the panel's report, rejected its findings on Gafoor when it placed only the Action Taken Report (ATR).

"During the whole operation, he was stationed at only one location near Hotel Trident. There was lack of co-ordinated and visible control due to which a message went to the public that police were ineffective in handling the situation," the Pradhan committee report said.

The ATR tabled in the state Legislature questioned how the committee called the head of Mumbai police a failure when it, in its report, had lauded the entire force for handling of the 26/11 attacks.

Gafoor, who was last week removed as the Police Commissioner, had "failed" to lead the force during the strikes last November, the report said. He has been shifted to a low profile post as Director General of Police (Housing).


Medical report confirms Shiney's maid raped

Mumbai, June 16: Medical reports of the 18-year-old girl, who was allegedly raped by Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja, have confirmed that she was sexually assaulted, police said.

"We have received the medical report of the victim and it has corroborated with what the victim has alleged against the actor in the FIR," deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Niket Kaushik said.

Ahuja's house, where the alleged offence was committed, was also sealed by the police after a special forensic team visited the house to obtain more evidence from the spot.

Rubbishing reports that the police is giving special treatment to Ahuja considering his social status, police sources said that the actor is being treated like any other accused in the lock-up and interrogation is on.

Meanwhile, around 200 domestic maids are likely to gather outside suburban Oshiwara police station to protest against Ahuja and adequate security measures have been taken, police said.

Ahuja was arrested on Monday for allegedly raping his domestic maid and was produced before a metropolitan magistrate which remanded him to police custody till June 18.

Arun Jaitley quits as BJP gen secy

New Delhi:Keeping with the party rule of 'one-man, one-post', Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley on Tuesday resigned from the post of party general secretary.

Sources close to Jaitley confirmed that he had sent in a 'one line resignation letter' to Rajnath Singh which said, following party's "one-man, one-post" rule, he's resigning from the post of general secretary after being chosen as the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha.

Jaitley, who was BJP's chief election strategist, received a lot of flak from senior BJP leaders like Jaswant Singh and Yashwant Sinha after party’s shocking performance in the just concluded Lok Sabha polls.

It was only yesterday that senior party leader Sushma Swaraj likened the situation within the party to a volcano, while Yashwant Sinha had called for all party office bearers to quit their position in the wake of party’s defeat in LS election on Monday.

Asked if the resignation has anything to do with the criticism levelled by other party leaders on the way people like Jaitley were being rewarded despite election defeat, BJP President Rajnath Singh said the resignation had nothing to do with the latest developments in the party.

Arun Jaitley is currently in London and could not be reached for comments.


Indian Business News


India key market for us: Yahoo!

Singapore:Internet search giant Yahoo! said India is a key market for the company and it will launch a host of new features for its mobile application to expand its userbase.

"India was one of the first markets where we launched our mobile application and is a key market for us given the huge mobile base...We plan to launch a series of products for such mobile users that will help us increase userbase," Yahoo! Mobile Senior Vice-president David Ko told reporters.

Yahoo! also launched a new homepage which can be customised by users who access the website through their mobile handsets. The new interface allows users to customize his/her landing page and provides localised content, he added.

Yahoo! Mobile is now available in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Mexico and Spain, along with United States, Canada, Britain, Germany, France, India, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Ko said the focus in India would be on presenting localised content that would help Yahoo! Mobile to build its user base in the country.

He, however, declined to comment on the number of Indian users who access Yahoo! through their mobile.

Govt won’t meddle in Satyam layoffs

NEW DELHI: The government virtually distanced itself from any controversy around layoffs or job losses at fraud-hit Satyam after its sale to Tech Mahindra, saying it was not ready to “meddle” into the affairs of the company.

“Are we going to give them jobs? We have no jobs to give. So why should we meddle,?” corporate affairs minister Salman Khursheed said when asked whether government would interfere in case of mass-scale layoffs initiated by the company’s new owner, a figure that is believed to be around 10,000 in number.

Khursheed’s statement is a volte face considering that he had earlier said that the government would not turn a “blind eye” to any such move initiated by Tech Mahindra “as we have a relevant presence in decision making.” He also said that post its sale to Tech Mahindra, government was now in an “active disengagement mode” from the affairs of the company.
“Our job has been well done... and now they are the ones who are going to find ways and means to revive the company entirely and be responsible for decisions. So we do not come in the picture at all,” he added.

He said the “adverse market conditions” were forcing all companies to take drastic measures. “Every company has got excess staff, every software company... but there is nothing that calls for a special government attention,” he said.

Indian Cricket News|Indian Sports News


BCCI hits out at Kirsten for IPL remarks

NEW DELHI: Reacting to coach Gary Kirsten's comments that the IPL was one of the reasons for India's early exit from the T20 World Cup, the BCCI,Rajiv Shukla on Tuesday, said it had not forced anyone to play in the IPL and players were free to ask for rest if they feel fatigued.

The BCCI said players could opt out of any tournament if they were tired or were not fit.

"BCCI has made it clear that whenever a player feels he is fatigued, he can always let it be known to the board and he will be given rest. After rest and if he is fit, he can be considered for selection again," BCCI Media and Finance committee chairman Rajiv Shukla said.

"We are not forcing any player to play any series or tournament," he added.

Asked pointedly on Kirsten's comments that the Indian players lacked intensity after playing in the IPL which could be a reason for their early ouster from the Twenty20 World Cup, Shukla said, "These are all suggestions made for the improvement of the game in the country. The president (Shashank Manohar) himself is now in London and he will look into it".


India lost in T20 WC due to bad luck, feels Vishy Anand

New Delhi:Three-time World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand made light of India's failure to defend their Twenty20 World Cup title, terming it as just "bad luck" along with the pressure to perform on cricketers.

"They (cricketers) just had a bad luck. I think they might have a good chance but you also need some good luck," Anand said when asked what according to him could have prevented Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men from emerging triumphant.

Sachin, Zaheer not to tour West Indies

NEW DELHI: Batting sensation Sachin Tendulkar has decided not to tour the West Indies for India's One-Day International series later this month.The batting maestro is hesitant to tour as he has not trained with the team for quite a while.

Tendulkar played his last ODI in Christchurch, New Zealand where he scored a match-winning 163 before retiring hurt.

The West Indies series begins with the first ODI on June 26 at Jamaica which hosts the second game too. While third and fourth matches will be played at St Lucia.

Meanwhile, India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan has been ruled out of the upcoming West Indies tour due to injury.

The pacer's injury was carried to the T20 World Cup from the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The Indian left-arm-seamer suffered a left shoulder injury while playing in the IPL in South Africa on May 3 and didn’t figure in any of the games for Mumbai Indians after that.

Anand, who has won the World Championship in almost all formats of the game -- round-robin, knock-out and matchplay, and also clinched back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008, said a lot is said and written before the tournament which can add pressure on a player.

"The main thing is pressure. So I block myself from many things and isolate myself with chess for a month and a half before the tournament," Anand said on the sidelines of a function in the capital.

"I was aware of the danger and my paranoia was justified. It's good that people follow you but at the end of the day you can't play for people.

The 39-year-old chess ace also felt one needs to concentrate on constantly learning new things in the competitive world to do the same thing differently.

"The basic focus should be on keep learning new things and I enjoy doing new things on the board. Because no matter what your last position was but you start with the same 16 pieces in the new game," he said.

Today's Latest News India

Seven students test positive for swine flu, total up to 30

New Delhi:Seven students in Jalandhar, who returned from the United States, tested positive for swine flu, taking the total number of people affected by the virus across the country to 30 even as Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad asked travellers to defer their plans of going abroad till the disease was globally under control.

A day after a boy tested positive in Jalandhar, seven out of the 10 students who had accompanied him to the US also developed flu symptoms and tested positive for the disease, a senior health ministry official said adding, however, all of them are stable and responding to treatment.

The remaining 24 children, their family and social contacts and those sitting in proximity to them in the flight have been identified and put on chemoprophylaxis.

A Central Rapid Response Team has been deployed in Jalandhar since last night.

Reacting to the increase in the number of cases, Azad told reporters that people, specially students, should defer travelling to flu-affected countries till the situation was under control.

"Till this disease is controlled globally, I would like to request young people from educational institutions going abroad that they can suspend their visits for the time being," he said adding "they can go after 2-3 months".

Maya slammed for calling Mahatma Gandhi 'natakbaaz'

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Maywati has come under severe criticism from opposition leaders for having made derogatory remarks about Mahatma Gandhi.

While addressing a meeting of MPs and legislators of her Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) here Saturday, Mayawati called the Father of the Nation a "natakbaaz" (fake). She also distributed pamphlets condemning both Mahatma Gandhi and Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi for being insincere about the improvement in socio-economic status of Dalits.

"Mayawati's attempt to run down the Father of the Nation will only prove counter-productive and she will have to pay for it," said state Congress spokesman Subodh Srivastava.

"This only reflects her frustration on account of her failure to keep her monopolistic control over Dalits. It is high time she realises that Dalits are not her private property and they are well aware to see and understand the difference between what Mahatma Gandhi did for them and what Mayawati was doing for them," he added.

Samajwadi Party state president Akhilesh Yadav said: "Mayawati's derogatory remarks against Mahatma Gandhi are clearly a reflection of her having not only lost ground but even her balance."

Calling Mayawati's rant against Mahatma Gandhi "a shameful act", BJP spokesman Hriday Narain Dikshit said: "By terming whatever he did against untouchability as a drama, Mayawati has shown utter disrespect to the Father of the Nation."

Srivastava also condemned Mayawati's move to hold protest demonstrations June 19, which is Rahul Gandhi's birthday.

"Maybe she does not like the idea of a birthday being observed without forced collection of funds since she is so used to celebrating her own birthday solely to collect money and jewellery," he said.

BJP's situation is now volcanic: Sushma Swaraj

Bhopal, June 15: Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj has said that she would not like to comment on the situation in her party following its defeat in the Lok Sabha elections.

Sushma, who arrived here on Sunday on a four-day visit to her Vidisha Parliamentary Constituency, told reporters at her residence that the situation in the party was now "volcanic".

"When a volcano is on even a small spark (chingari) can make it flare up further," she said without making any remark on the state of affairs in her party.

Sushma said that in her view there was nothing wrong in LK Advani continuing as the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha as he would have become the Prime Minister in case the NDA had won the Lok Sabha elections.

She said that as the party's election affairs in-charge for Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand has come to an end and now she was only the MP from Vidisha.

Photojournalist identifies Kasab, provides photos as evidence

MUMBAI: A photojournalist on Monday identified Pakistani gunman Mohammad Ajmal Kasab, before a special court hearing Mumbai attacks case, as one of the persons who opened fire at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus on November 26 and provided photographs to support his evidence.

Sebastian D'Souza placed before the court 100 photographs which he had shot on the night of November 26 capturing the gunmen who were firing indiscriminately at people at the rail terminus. Over 50 persons were killed in the attack.

The evidence of this witness is considered significant because he is not only an eyewitness but also is the first witness to provide documentary evidence of the terror attack.

The court has taken 20 of the 100 photographs on record, three of them showing Kasab holding a AK-47 assault rifle and also firing with it.

Four other photographs are of Kasab and fellow gunman Abu Ismail firing at people at the rail terminus.

When the photographs were being displayed in court, Kasab was seen curiously looking at them from the dock since he was unaware that they were taken at the time of the attack.

"The photographs are independent pieces of evidence and carry the value of an eyewitness and therefore is regarded as documentary evidence," special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said.

Ten other photographs are of the main waiting hall of CST during the time of the attack, while two others are of slain policemen Ambadas Pawar and Shashank Shinde taking positions to fire at the gunmen.

One photograph was of a bookseller at the terminus who was also killed in the attack.

D'souza said he was working in a newspaper whose head office is located just opposite to CST and on the night of November 26, he came down from the building to go to Hotel Taj, another site of the terror strikes.

However, as he reached the gate of his office, he heard explosions inside CST and ran to the suburban rail section of the terminus.

As he went towards main waiting area of CST, D'souza said he saw two gunmen shooting but did not take the photographs due to lack of light.

He backtracked to the suburban rail section and clicked photographs of the gunmen from two platforms where he took cover, D'souza said.

Two other eyewitnesses, both police personnel, also identified Kasab as one of the gunmen at CST.

Harshad Kunju Patil, a constable attached to Vashi police station, said he had come to CST from Vashi aboard a local train as he was deputed in a ladies compartment for security, when he heard explosions in the main waiting area of the terminus.

Shiney Ahuja remanded to three day police custody

Mumbai:Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja was arrested on the charge of allegedly raping his 18-year- old maid and remanded to police custody till June 18 after preliminary medical tests indicated she was sexually assaulted.

"The tests have indicated that the victim was sexually assaulted, although the final report is still awaited," Additional Police Commissioner Amitabh Gupta said.

She had been taken to Nagpada police hospital in South Mumbai where medical tests were conducted.

The 35-year-old actor allegedly raped his domestic help at his flat at suburban Oshiwara on Sunday when she was alone.

Ahuja, who was arrested early this morning, was produced before a local court which, after hearing arguments of public prosecutor and defence lawyer, sent him in police custody till June 18.

Ahuja's wife Anupama said he was innocent and she stands by him. "I love my husband. He is a wonderful father, a great partner and most importantly, he is an innocent man...I stand by him with all my soul, with all my heart, with all my love".

She denied reports that Ahuja has ‘confessed’ to raping his maid. "It is a lie. It is utter rubbish.

Clad in yellow T-shirt and blue jeans, the actor did not utter a word in the court and avoided eye contact with those present.

Indian Business News |Business News

Rising crude may lead to fuel price hike: Deora


New Delhi:Concerned at the rise in international crude oil prices, the Government is looking at solutions to tackle the widening revenue deficit and one of the options on the table could be raising petrol and diesel prices.

"We are seriously concerned about the rise in crude oil prices ... we have to look for solutions," Petroleum Minister Murli Deora told reporters after meeting Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee with his Budget wishlist.

Deregulating petrol and diesel prices has been on the cards since the crude oil prices came down by USD 100 from the historic high of USD 147 a barrel, a few weeks back. But with the rates climbing again, doubts are being cast if prices can actually be freed.

Crude oil prices are ruling at USD 71-72 a barrel, a seven-month high.

"We have to seriously look at solutions... the alternatives before us are raising petrol and diesel prices, asking the government to make up for revenue loss (of fuel retailers) through issuing oil bonds and upstream firms (like ONGC) chipping in," he said. "It could even be all of the three as had been the practice till now," he added. Deora, however, was not categoric in saying if raising petrol and diesel prices was on table. "I cannot say that," he said when asked if the Government was considering a fuel price hike.

State fuel retailers Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum may together lose close to Rs 60,000 crore in revenues if they are to sell petrol, diesel, domestic LPG and kerosene at current rates.


HC orders RIL to give gas to Anil's RNRL cheaper @ $2.34

Mumbai:In the bitter corporate battle with his elder brother, Anil Ambani got a major boost with the Bombay High Court ordering Mukesh-led RIL to supply gas to other's group firm at USD 2.34 per MBtu, 44 per cent lower than rates approved by the Government.

The High Court ordered that Reliance Industries honour a 2005 family agreement to supply 28 million cubic meters per day of gas from its Krishna-Godavari basin fields at USD 2.34 per mmBtu for 17 years to Reliance Natural Resources Ltd.

The final price would reduce the outgo for Anil's group firm by about 11.8 billion dollars during the period of the contract. As per USD 2.34 mBtu, the outgo for 17 years would work out to 14.79 billion dollars compared to 26.55 billion dollars on the basis of government-approved USD 4.2 mmBtu.

RNRL counsel Mahesh Jethmalani claimed victory. "Prima facie it looks like we have won." By this order, RNRL will have to pay USD 870.26 million for 28 mmcmd gas a year against USD 1.56 billion claimed by RIL.

A division bench of Justice J N Patel and K K Tated said the new pact should be as per the MoU signed between brothers.

The supply of gas has become a bone of contention between the brothers who had signed a family settlement agreement in June 2005 over the division of Reliance empire.

But the fight continued inside and outside the court on various issues.

Indian Sports News| Indian Sports News |T20 World Cup News

Dhoni apologises to nation, admits promoting Jadeja a mistake


London:Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni apologised to the nation for his champion team's early ouster from the T20 World Cup and admitted sending Ravindra Jadeja ahead of Yuvraj Singh in their Super 8 match against England was a mistake. "We are more disappointed (than you) and we respect the emotions of our fans and the country. We gave our best and we say that with an open heart, we have nothing to hide. But in the next Twenty20 world cup we would have an opportunity of proving ourselves," said a dejected Dhoni after India's heart-breaking three-run loss at Lord's last night.

Dhoni sent Jadeja ahead of Yuvraj and himself but the young all-rounder consumed 35 balls for his 25 in the middle overs to put pressure on his batting partners which ultimately led to India losing the match by three runs to crash out of the tournament. "Sometimes you don't know what would happen. We thought Jadeja could stabilise the innings as well as go after the bowling. He did try but somehow he always found the fielders. It was unfortunate it didn't work for us. We needed somebody to play percentage cricket at that stage."

Dhoni, however, defended his decision to include Jadeja in the playing eleven in place of Pragyan Ojha, as well as his opting to field after winning the toss. "We were looking at a combination in which our batting could be lengthened. We need lower order bats to contribute. Ojha may be a better bowler but Jadeja is an excellent fielder and both bat and bowl well. It also encourages us to include an extra fast bowler," he said. "As for fielding first, we realised that under lights the wicket became better for batting."

Pakistan end Ireland's T20 adventure

LONDON: Pakistan ended Ireland's slim hopes of qualifying for the World Twenty20 semi-finals with a 39-run victory at the Oval on Monday.

Pakistan made 159 for five and then held Ireland - the only non-Test side to have qualified for the second round Super Eights - to 120 for nine, with off-spinner Saeed Ajmal taking four wickets for 19 runs.

Victory all but assured Pakistan of a place in the last four with Tuesday's match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka set to decide which two teams qualify out of Group F.

Opener Kamran Akmal's 57 was the cornerstone of Pakistan's total in an innings where Ireland off-spinner Kyle McCallan again proved his worth with two wickets for 26 runs.

Meanwhile, pace bowler Boyd Rankin's four overs cost just 11 runs.

Akmal faced 51 balls with a six and five fours.

Ireland lost opener Niall O'Brien early in their chase when the wicket-keeper was caught and bowled off a miscued hook by 17-year-old paceman Mohammad Amir.

Paul Stirling, himself only 18, came in for his first match of the tournament with Ireland 13 for one but got off the mark first ball with a superb cover-driven four off left-armer Aamir.

But the teenager, on 16, became the latest batsman to be bowled playing across the line against leg-spinner Shahid Afridi, who struck with his sixth ball and Ireland were 42 for two off seven overs.

Ireland captain William Porterfield batted steadily for 40 off 36 balls but when he was caught by opposing skipper Younus Khan off the bowling of Ajmal, Ireland were 87 for three in the 14th over.

With six overs left Ireland needed 72 more runs to win.

John Mooney, trying to keep Ireland up with the rate, also fell to Ajmal after he was caught in the deep by Abdul Razzaq.

Then Umar Gul, who took a Twenty20 international record five wickets against New Zealand, got in on the act by bowling Trent Johnston for a duck.

At 99 for five in the 17th over the game was up for Ireland, who later saw four tail-end wickets tumble for three runs in six balls.

Both Akmal and fellow opener Shahzaib Hasan struck a six off Johnston, whose four overs went for an expensive 45.

The 19-year-old Shahzaib holed out off seamer Alex Cusack, who took four wickets in Ireland's narrow nine-run loss to Sri Lanka at Lord's on Sunday.

The hard-hitting Afridi showed glimpses of his talent while making 24 before striking McCallan's third ball straight to Mooney at long-on.

And 78 for two became 102 for three in the 13th over when Younus was bowled after an ugly slog sweep against New Zealand born left-arm spinner Regan West.

Akmal, looking to press on, was dismissed by a Johnston yorker as he went down the pitch.

Prakash advances, Somdev ousted from Wimbledon qualifiers

LONDON: Prakash Amritraj sealed a second round berth in the Wimbledon qualifying event but it was all over for Somdev Devvarman, who crashed out after losing his opening match on Monday.

Prakash, seeded 28 and ranked 161 beat Croatian world number 236 Antonio Veic 6-3, 6-4 in his first round match.

Somdev, seeded 14th, lost 3-6, 2-6 to Monaco's Jean-Rene Lisnard, who is placed 80 rungs below the Indian at 215.

Prakash broke his rival once each in both the sets, sixth in the first and third in the second, to advance.

Prakash played a flawless game as he faced just two breakpoints in the match and successfully saved both.

He will next face either Conor Niland of Ireland or Daniel Cox of Britain

Somdev, who has been struggling these days, had a disappointing day as despite putting up a tough fight he ended up on the wrong side.

Somdev began fantastically by breaking Lisnard in the very first game of the match but suffered two consecutive breaks, second and fourth games, to concede lead.

Somdev had his chance to come back in the set when he earned a breakpoint in the ninth game and also saved two set points but the Monaco player did not let the Indian comeback.

The second set too started on a disastrous note for Somdev as he dropped his serve. Lisnard broke him in the seventh game to create a 5-2 cushion and served out the match in the next game.

Latest News in India

8 killed, several injured in Pakistan blast.

Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan:

At least eight persons were killed and over 20 injured on Sunday when a bomb went off in a busy market in the restive northwestern Pakistani city of Dera Islamil Khan.

The blast occurred at Pir Market, which is located near a bus station. The bomb was planted in a rickshaw and went off at a time when a large number of people were present in the market, officials said. District Coordination Officer Mohsin Shah told reporters that eight persons were killed and over 20 injured in the blast. The injured were taken to a nearby hospital by people in private vehicles. Ambulances also rushed to the site. There were also reports of unidentified persons resorting to firing soon after the explosion.

According to officials, about five to six kgs of explosives were used in the bomb.

ARY news channel quoted an official as saying that a suspect was arrested from the blast site. No group claimed responsibility for the blast. Dera Ismail Khan has witnessed several bomb attacks on security forces and police. The city has also been hit by sectarian tensions between Sunnis and Shias in recent months.


Mahalingam's body identified; handed over to family

Kaiga, Karnataka:The body of Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant scientist Lokanath Mahalingam, which was recovered from the Kali river, was handed over to his family on Sunday after identification. Mahalingam's wife identified the body, which was recovered by Naval divers from the river flowing along the Kaiga township. A team of doctors conducted post-mortem of the body, they said.

Police had said on Saturday that they were investigating whether Mahalingam had drowned or there was any foul play. Intelligence officials were also involved in the search operations to locate Mahalingam, a scientific officer in the Kaiga generating station of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) associated with its training department.

Earlier six days after he went missing, Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant scientist N Mahalingam's body was fished out by naval divers from the Kali river late on Saturday night. Forty-seven-year-old Mahalingam, was reported missing by his wife on June 8 when he failed to return from his morning walk, police said.

Police said they are investigating whether Mahalingam had drowned or there was any foul play in his death. The Kaiga nuclear power plant authorities have identified the body of Mahalingam, police said adding that his family members have also confirmed that the body, recovered from the river flowing near the Kaiga township, belonged to the scientist.

As the disappearance of Mahalingam caused concern, authorities of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) had said the scientist, involved in training at one of the simulator training centres, did not have any access to sensitive documents. They had also dismissed fears that Mahalingam was involved in any strategic programme. The scientist had earlier worked with Madras Atomic Power Project (MAPP) in Kalpakkam near Chennai.

BJP wide open, eyes wide shut

New Delhi:Just a fortnight ago, they elected L K Advani to lead the party in the Lok Sabha and “authorised” him to appoint its new faces in both Houses. Now the top brass are openly questioning him and his decision in what has become a very public fight over the spoils of defeat.

So barely minutes before BJP president Rajnath Singh imposed a gag order on leaders from airing their views in public and warned of disciplinary action today, vice president Yashwant Sinha quit from all his posts in the party and urged others to do the same in a four-page letter marked to his chief and circulated among the party’s core group.

In that letter, Sinha hit out at what he called the “conspiracy of silence” in the party over the electoral debacle and the “rat race for posts” from “whatever goodies were available.”

“It appears as if some people in the party are determined to ensure that the principle of accountability does not prevail,” he wrote, “so that their own little perch is not disturbed.” While Sinha underlined that the party leadership’s “reluctance to introspect and introspect comprehensively” on the BJP’s second successive defeat in the Lok Sabha elections was the key reason behind his move, the subtext was clear.

After Jaswant Singh’s letter earlier this week, Sinha’s note that “BJP puts a premium on failure,” exposes the deep resentment in a section of the party over the appointment of Arun Jaitley as Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Sushma Swaraj as Advani’s deputy in the Lok Sabha.


Prabhakaran waited for Indian poll results

NEW DELHI: Velupillai Prabhakaran was waiting for the results of Indian elections to plan his next strategy in the 30-year-old civil war in SriLanka and was apparently hoping that either the NDA or the Third Front would come to power in New Delhi, but the army
there had different plans.

It has now emerged that the 54-year-old slain guerrilla leader was waiting till May 16, the day results of Lok Sabha elections were known, to decide on his and the outfit's future, but it was too late as the Sri Lankan Army had by then cut off all the escape routes.

"Till May 16, he (Prabhakaran) was hoping that someone will interfere and stop the army from entering the final 'No Fire Zone' where he was held up," Sri Lankan Army sources said.

On May 16th afternoon, LTTE announced that it would allow all civilians trapped in the area held by them to leave to safety, apparently after knowing that the Congress
, which it believed was hostile to him and the outfit, was set to return to power.

Sources in the Tamil polity in Sri Lanka said the LTTE was hoping that there would be a popular upsurge for it in Tamil Nadu, where the general elections were fought on the Eelam plank, and that the Third Front or the NDA could come to power.

"This (election results) might have upset Prabhakaran and other leaders of the outfit, but they did not have time to think or plan anything. They were boxed by the Army by that time," the Tamil sources said.

The LTTE chief would have thought that the Third Front and the NDA would not be so hostile as the Congress was, they said, adding that once the people started leaving the war zone, Sri Lankan Army swiftly rescued the civilians and took them to safe zones.

AIADMK's Jayalalithaa, who was part of the Third Front, expressed support to the Sri Lankan Tamils cause and had even promised to send Indian Army to carve out Tamil Eelam from Sri Lanka if a government of her choice came to power in New Delhi.

On May 16 afternoon, LTTE's International Relations head Selvarasa Pathmanathan issued a statement in which the outfit virtually accepted defeat and asked the "global community to save the people of Wanni."

They said Prabhakaran did not expect that the Sri Lankan forces would encircle him and his aides "so soon".

The army also got a tip off from LTTE Sea Tigers chief Soosai's wife, who was taken into custody while trying to flee the island, that Prabhakaran and the top brass were still inside the war zone.

"This emboldened the Army which went all out against the Tigers and virtually encircled them in a 2 sq. km area in the Wanni region on May 16. That gave no chance for any of the Tiger leaders to escape," the sources said.


Two more swine flu cases in India, total 19

NEW DELHI: Two more people - a 29-year-old woman and her three-year-old daughter who arrived from the US - have tested positive for swine flu,taking the total number of confirmed cases in India to 19 so far. ( Watch )

"The mother and child reached Bangalore on Friday from New Jersey. Tests confirmed Saturday night that they are infected with the influenza A (H1N1) virus," S. Buggi, director of the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases in Bangalore, said over phone on Sunday.

"We have notified the test results to Delhi (health
ministry). The mother and child are under medical treatment at our hospital," he added.

With the number of swine flu patients in the country on the rise, the health ministry is holding a monitoring committee meeting on Sunday along with experts from the World Health Organisation and National Institute of Communicable Diseases.

"We will discuss about various issues related to the disease at the meeting," said Shashi Khare, head of Virology, NICD.

On Saturday, a 20-month-old boy from Hyderabad tested positive for the influenza A (H1N1) virus, a day after his six-year-old sister was confirmed with the infection.

According to the WHO, which has declared swine flu a pandemic, 74 countries have officially reported 29,669 cases of the influenza A(H1N1) infection, including 145 deaths.

Indian Business News

Top 10 firms lose Rs 5,100cr last week, ONGC major loser


MUMBAI: The country's top 10 firms saw their total market capitalisation falling by Rs 5,168 crore last week, with Oil and Natural Gas Corporation losing the most among the pack.

The total market valuation of the elite club, comprising four private sector and six state-run companies
, stood at Rs 16,83,045 crore in the week ended June 12 against Rs 16,88,213 crore in the previous week.

ONGC's market cap fell by Rs 11,518 crore to Rs 2,41,008 crore as shares of the company slipped by 4.56 per cent to close at Rs 1,126.80 on the Bombay Stock Exchange on Friday last week.

Among the 10 most valued firms of BSE, five firms -- ONGC, Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation, National Mining Development Corporation, State Bank of India and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd -- witnessed a drop in their respective market caps last week.

Meanwhile, other five firms - Reliance Industries Ltd, National Thermal Power Corporation, Bharti Airtel, Infosys Technologies and Larsen & Toubro -- saw their valuations rising last week.

The country's most-valued firm, RIL, added Rs 22,812 crore to its market valuation of Rs 3,70,913 crore last week. The company had market valuation of Rs 3,48,101 crore in the previous week.

NTPC added Rs 1,113 crore to its market cap. On the other hand, ONGC lost Rs 11,518 from its market cap, which stood at Rs 2,41,008 crore this week.

NMDC slipped to the sixth position after losing Rs 12,528 crore from its amrket cap, while private telecom services provider Bharti Airtel jumped a place to fifth slot by adding Rs 1,073 crore to its valuation.

Power equipment supplier BHEL stood seventh as it lost Rs 3,500 crore from its market cap, while SBI slipped to the eighth slot losing Rs 11,485 crore from its market valuation.

While, IT bellwether Infosys Technologies added Rs 2,142 crore to its market valuation, L&T added Rs 3,702 crore to its market cap last week.

In the club, RIL is followed by ONGC (Rs 2,41,008 crore), NTPC (Rs 1,82,266 crore), MMTC (Rs 1,69,699 crore), Bharti Airtel (Rs 1,57,646 crore), NMDC (Rs 1,57,359 crore), Bhel (Rs 1,08,473 crore), SBI (Rs 1,03,930 crore), Infosys (Rs 98,980 crore) and L&T ( Rs 92,771 crore).

Satyam back in top 100 m-cap club; grows 13-times since nadir

NEW DELHI: Scam-hit Satyam Computer has entered again the elite club of the top 100 companies in terms of market valuation -- a status it had lost after being hit by the country's biggest corporate fraud.

Following a sharp rally seen in its share price last week on the back of disclosure about its profits, Satyam's market capitalisation has grown to about Rs 7,800 crore, placing it among the 100 most-valued firms in the country.

The company had moved out of this league soon after the disclosure about the fraud on January 7 -- the day when its founder and then Chairman B Ramalinga Raju admitted to multi- year financial fraud at the company.

Two days later on January 9 -- when the company's share price and market valuation hit their all-time lows at Rs 6.30 a share and about Rs 600 crore, respectively -- Satyam did not figure even among the 300 most-valued firms.

In contrast, Satyam was placed as the country's 34th most-valued firm with a market capitalisation of over Rs 15,000 crore on December 16 -- just before Raju unsuccessfully tried to acquire two firms promoted by his family in his bid to conceal the financial fraud at the company.

While it is still to recover about half of its lost value due to the scam, the shares have grown back to Rs 80-level -- representing a 13-times surged from its low.

Between the announcement of aborted attempt to acquire Maytas Infra and Maytas Properties and the disclosure letter about the fraud on January 7, the company lost more than 80 per cent in its market value, while its slide continued further till it reached an all-time low of about Rs 6.30 per share on January 9.

Prior to its fall, Satyam was the country's fourth most-valued IT firm after Infosys, TCS and Wipro, but had become one of the least valued on January 9.

Satyam now ranks at the seventh position among IT companies after TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL Tech, Oracle and Tech Mahindra and at the 97th spot among the top 100 companies.

Tech Mahindra's market valuation has also increased significantly to around Rs 8,799 crore since it won the bid for acquiring controlling stake in Satyam.

Tech Mahindra's market capitalisation has increased by as much as Rs 4,420 crore, since April 13, while its shares have more than doubled to Rs 722 on June 12 as compared to Rs 359.45 on April 13.

Last week, Satyam shares got a boost from its results for October-December 2008 with Rs 160 crore profit in the quarter which points to a promise of a strong comeback under new owner Mahindras.

Reeling under the about Rs 10,000-crore financial scam that necessitated restatement of accounts, Satyam was at its nadir in January with a measly profit of Rs four crore before showing signs of revival by recording a Rs 52 crore profit in February. This was despite losing about two dozen clients.

In October-December 2008 -- a period that saw the beginning of Satyam's fall from grace -- the IT firm posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 160.50 crore and a total income of Rs 2,327.21 crore. The announcement came within a month of Tech Mahindra, an IT arm of Mahindra & Mahindra, acquired controlling stake that valued Satyam at Rs 5,800 crore.

However, analysts believe entering into Satyam stock at this moment may be a high risk move as still uncertainties prevail on the future of the two entities.

"Uncertainty about their future make both Satyam and Tech Mahindra a high risk investment, though Tech Mahindra seems relatively better as it may gain considerably with its increased size," Bonanza Portfolio Assistant Vice-President Avinash Gupta said.

Sports News|T20 World Cup News

South Africa inch closer to T20 World Cup semi-finals

London:Strong contenders South Africa inched closer to a semi-final berth in the Twenty20 World Cup after a convincing 20-run victory over giant-killers West Indies in a Super Eight match.

The South Africans first compiled a competitive 183 for seven riding on Herschelle Gibbs' rollicking 55 and then restricted the Caribbean team to 163 for nine to create a record of sorts by registering their sixth consecutive T20 triumph.

The victory at the Kenington Oval not only brought an end to West Indies' giant-killing spree but almost assured the Proteas a berth in the semi-finals. They play their last Group-E Super Eight match against India on Tuesday.

Lendl Simmons very nearly took West Indies to the target with with a blistering 50-ball 77 but could not get any support from the other top order batsmen.

It was yet another convincing performance by the South Africans who outplayed the islanders in all departments of the game.

The 35-year-old Gibbs was the batting star for the Proteas with a 35-ball 55 which contained eight boundaries and a six. The seasoned Jacques Kallis (45) and captain Graeme Smith (31) were the other notable performers for the South Africans.

The South African innings began on a brisk note with the experienced duo of Smith and Kallis finding the boundaries easy to come by against the West Indies pacemen who were a trifle erratic in their opening spell.

Smith set the tempo by clobbering Fidel Edwards for two consecutive boundaries in the second over of the match while Kallis also showed his aggressive intent by hammering Jerome Taylor for 16 runs in the next over.


Gul leads Pakistan to 6 wicket win over Kiwis


London:Umar Gul bulldozed New Zealand with a sensational five-wicket haul as Pakistan defeated New Zealand by six-wicket to keep their semifinals hopes alive in the World Twenty20 here today.

Gul's incredible fast bowling spell resulted in Kiwi's complete demolition as they were all out for a paltry 99 in 18.3 overs after deciding to bat in this Super Eight match.

Gul, introduced as late as in the 13th over, wreaked havoc in his three-over spell and emerged as the first bowler to claim five wickets in T20 Internationals.

Abdul Razzaq (2/17), playing first match for his country after quitting ICL, celebrated his return by rocking the Kiwi top-order at the start.

Pakistan almost made a mess of an easy chase before scoring the required runs with 6.5 overs to spare at the Oval.

The victory has strengthened Pakistan's chances of making the finals stage as they next play minnows Ireland on Monday.

Shahzaib Hasan (35) Kamran Akmal (19) began the chase in right earnest, putting up 36 runs in 4.2 overs but departure of the latter triggered a mini collapse.

Kiwi skipper Daniel Vettori (2/20) dismissed Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Malik to jolt the Pakistani camp.

However, skipper Younus Khan and Sahid Afridi saw the team through with a 39-run partnership.

Kiwis had already lost four wickets when Gul came to bowl and heavily turned the match in favour of his side with his sparkling spell.

Gul first got rid of Scott Styris, who top scored for New Zealand with his 22, and just rolled over the rest of the batting line-up to complete his magical spell.

Today's Latest News India

Zardari vows to fight Taliban 'until the end'

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s president Asif Ali Zardari said on Saturday that Pakistan was battling for its "sovereignty" a day after scores of people were killed amid an escalating offensive against the Taliban.

Zardari said Pakistan would fight "until the end," as US defence officials in Washington confirmed that Islamabad plans to step up its offensive against militants in the country's troubled northwest.

"We are fighting a war for our sovereignty," Zardari said in a television address. "We will continue this war until the end, and we will win it at any cost.

"The Taliban are the enemies of innocent people. They want to terrorise the people and to take control of the country's institutions."

Zardari's pledge came after suicide bombings targeting Friday prayers at two mosques killed at least six people, including a prominent Muslim cleric, and wounded more than 100.

The bombings confirmed fears that Taliban militants are avenging an offensive against them in the northwest, where the military said Friday 39 insurgents and 10 soldiers had been killed in fresh fighting.

Religious scholar Sarfraz Naeemi, who had spoken out against Taliban suicide bombings, was among two people killed in one of the mosque attacks, in the eastern city of Lahore, police said.

Lahore police chief Pervez Rathore said a suicide bomber had entered the room where Naeemi was sitting with others after Friday prayers, and blew himself up.

Naeemi had issued a fatwa (edict) against suicide bombings carried out by Taliban militants.

In the other attack, four people died and at least 105 were wounded when an explosives-filled car ploughed into a mosque in the northwestern garrison town of Nowshera, police said.

The roof of the mosque caved in after the blast and a number of people were trapped under the rubble, police official Imran Kishwar said, adding that the death toll could rise.

A spokesman for militant leader Baitullah Mehsud's Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the mosque attacks, and Tuesday's bombing of Peshawar's Pearl Continental hotel that killed nine people.

"Anyone who will oppose us to please the Americans will face the same fate," Maulvi Omar said by telephone from an undisclosed location.

In Washington, senior defence officials, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, said Islamabad planned to step up its offensive against Taliban forces in the northwest tribal area of South Waziristan.

Confirming rumours so far denied by the Pakistani army, one of the officials said that, in addition to the major offensive in the northwest Swat valley, Pakistan is planning "a separate campaign in South Waziristan."

The region is a stronghold for the TTP, Pakistan's umbrella Taliban organisation, as well as for Al-Qaeda and other extremist groups.

The TTP will be the primary target for the increased operations, the defence official said, but the United States hopes the offensive will also put pressure on Al-Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban, who were driven out of Afghanistan and into the region after the 2001 US-led invasion.

These groups are clearly interconnected, the official said, so "an offensive certainly can play an important role," noting that the strategy is to "have pressure on both sides of the border."

A 90,000-strong US and international coalition is fighting the Afghan Taliban and other insurgents on the Afghanistan side.

A second US defence official told reporters the Pakistani army has been redeploying forces to areas surrounding South Waziristan: "We think the initial phase of the operation has already begun," the official said.


Ban on defence firms will delay artillery upgrade: Army Chief

New Delhi:Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor said today that the Defence Ministry’s ban on dealing with Singapore Technologies (ST), which is being investigated by the CBI in connection with the corruption charges against former Ordnance chief Sudipta Ghosh, will delay Indian plans to acquire light howitzers for the artillery.

“Till the time the CBI is able to carry out detailed investigation,” said Kapoor, “there will be a delay. To that extent, it will affect the acquisition of ultra light howitzers.” He was speaking on the sidelines of a defence function in the capital.

Interestingly, the Singapore-based firm is the only vendor offering its “Pegasus” gun to the Army for its requirement of ultra-light howitzers needed for deployment in mountainous regions. With the only other contender, BAE systems, backing out of the contract, the ST gun was the only one available that met the Army’s requirements.

ST was banned after its name figured along with six other firms in the CBI inquiry against former Director General of Ordnance Factory Board Sudipta Ghosh. The defence ministry has put all dealings with the seven firms on hold till the CBI completes its probe.

This is the second major blow for the Army’s artillery modernization plans after South African giant Denel was blacklisted in 2005 for allegedly paying kickbacks in a deal for anti-material rifles for the Army. General Kapoor also said today that the much-awaited comparative trials between the indigenous Arjun tanks and the Russian origin T 90 mainstay tanks of the Army will take place in October.


Six more bodies found in Air France jet crash: Brazil

Recife (Brazil), June 13: Six more bodies were recovered from the Atlantic Ocean where an Air France jet crashed, Brazilian officials has said, as the race to find the black boxes and gather key evidence from human remains and debris gained urgency.

On the coast, investigators examined corpses and received the first wreckage: two plane seats, oxygen masks, water bottles, and several structural pieces, some no bigger than a man's hand.

Almost two weeks after the crash, Brazil's military said the search is becoming increasingly difficult and a tentative June 25 date for halting efforts has been set. Beginning Monday, officials will meet every two days to evaluate when to stop the search, depending on whether they are still finding bodies or debris.

The black boxes - whose emergency locator beacons begin to fade after 30 days - along with debris and bodies from the jet, all contain crucial clues as to how and why Air France Flight 447 went down en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris.

Navy Vice Adm Edison Lawrence said the Brazilians "have information" that a French ship has found six more bodies - which would bring the total found to 50. It was not clear when these bodies were recovered, Lawrence said he thought it was either Thursday or yesterday.

Opposition disputes Ahmadinejad's claim to Iran presidency


Tehran:Hard-line incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was heading for a surprise landslide with nearly 80 per cent of votes counted in Iran's stormy presidential elections, the Interior Ministry said Saturday. But his pro-reform rival countered that he was the clear victor and accused authorities of fraud.

The dispute sharply boosted tensions, raising the possibility of a standoff after an intense month long race between the combative president and his main challenger, Mir Hossein Mousavi, who is backed by a growing youth-oriented movement. A large turnout at the polls had boosted victory hopes for Mousavi supporters.

At a press conference around midnight, Mousavi declared himself “definitely the winner'' based on “all indications from all over Iran.'' He accused the Islamic ruling establishment of “manipulating the people's vote'' to keep Ahmadinejad in power and suggested the reformist camp would stand up to challenge the results.

“It is our duty to defend people's votes. There is no turning back,'' Mousavi said, alleging widespread irregularities.

Before dawn Saturday, Tehran's streets were deserted, but there were worries of protests by Mousavi supporters if he is declared the loser. Bringing any showdown into the streets would certainly face a swift backlash from security forces. The political chief of the powerful Revolutionary Guard cautioned Wednesday it would crush any “revolution'' against the Islamic regime by Mousavi's “green movement.''

The Interior Ministry banned all rallies until after the formal announcement of results Saturday. A series of cyber-strikes - blackouts of text messaging, blocks on pro-Mousavi Web sites and widespread Internet disruptions - also raised worries that authorities were prepared to exert further pressures on the communications lifelines of the rejuvenated reformist movement.

Five quarantined for swine flu symptoms in Chennai

Chennai:A family of five, including a six-month-old infant, was quarantined at the airport in Chennai for suspected swine flu symptoms after they arrived from the US in the early hours on Saturday.

Airport officials said, Muralitharan (44), wife Sarika (35) and their three daughters, aged five and three and the baby were found to be suffering from cough, cold and fever, after they were examined by a special medical team stationed at the airport.

The doctors quarantined them immediately and sent them to the Communicable Diseases Hospital at Tondiarpet in Chennai for further medical attention, officials said.

The Coimbatore-based Muralitharan and his family had arrived at Chennai by a Lufthansa flight around 2.30 am.


Indian Business News|Business News


US protectionism: Infy hires Americans

BANGALORE: Infosys Technologies Ltd, India’s second-largest provider of software services, plans to boost hiring in the US if a proposal to restrict the country’s work visas becomes law, said B G Srinivas, a company executive.

The recruitment would be in addition to existing projects, Srinivas said in an interview from London, where the senior vice president heads the company’s operations in Europe and manufacturing-services unit worldwide. Bangalore-based Infosys has budgeted 1,000 new US employees by the end of 2010.

“We have already started the hiring engine, but we haven’t hired yet,” Srinivas said in the telephone interview. “All actions have been taken, including locations where this hiring will happen, what kind of profiles -- those plans are in place and we can execute at any time.”

Infosys, whose clients include General Electric Co and General Motors Corp, has about 10 per cent of its 104,900 employees in the US, mainly Indians on H-1B foreign work visas. The proposal by Senators Dick Durbin of the Democratic Party and Republican Charles Grassley would require the company to replace half of them with Americans. They submitted the bill in April as the US battles its highest unemployment rate since 1983.

“The first signs of protectionism are there,” Krishnakumar Natarajan, the chief executive officer of Infosys’s smaller rival MindTree Ltd, said in an interview this week in Bangalore. “The sentiment is clearly, ‘Hey, when there are job losses here, why should they go outside?’”

A possible US law limiting foreign visas comes as Armonk, New York-based International Business Machines Corp, the world’s largest provider of computer services, adds staff in India and challenges Infosys, larger rival Tata Consultancy Services Ltd and their peers in their home market.

Infosys has risen 57 per cent in Mumbai trading this year, compared with a 62 per cent gain at Tata Consultancy. The benchmark Bombay Sensitive Index has advanced 62 per cent.

The Durbin-Grassley bill “obviously is a concern if it gets implemented in full and with no time lag,” Srinivas said. “Over a period of two years, we can easily manage.”


1.3 mn may lose jobs in 2009-10: UNCTAD

New Delhi:About 1.3 million people are likely to lose jobs in the export units in the current financial year due to recession in the developed countries, an UNCTAD study said.

However, the net job loss in the export sector is estimated to be 7.48 lakh since some sectors like plantation may witness a positive growth.

The study said, during 2009-10, India's total exports are likely to dip by 2.2 per cent.

"Petroleum products will experience the maximum decline in export growth followed by gems and jewellery, ores and minerals and textiles and its products," it said.

However, the situation will improve in the next fiscal, when new jobs would be created in the sector, which employs about 50 million people.

"In 2010-11, about 5.22 million jobs could be created. "No job losses are expected as all sectors are expected to experience positive export growth," it said.

In 2008-09, about 1.16 million people lost their jobs due to negative export growth in sectors such as textiles.

With external shipments contracting for the sixth month in a row, the country's exports aggregated USD 168.70 billion in 2008-09, managing a paltry growth rate of 3.4 per cent.


Competition is catching up with India: Premji

Bangalore:IT major Wipro's chief Azim Premji cautioned the industry that competition globally is hotting up and warned the sector against falling into a mind trap of 'India Advantage'.

"We have talked a lot about India advantage. That makes me extremely worried. It's a huge amount of thumping on the back (by Indian IT industry)," Premji at the fifth India Innovation Summit 2009, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry.

He said BPO (business process outsourcing) exports from the Philippines this year would be "pretty close" to that of India's. Five years ago, BPO exports from the Philippines were probably 10 per cent of what India exported.

That shows that competition is universal and "we just cannot take success for granted", he said.

The growth of India's IT exports has come down to 12-14 per cent in 2008-09 from a compounded annual growth rate of 30 per cent-plus till the previous year. If one went by guidance of leading companies and less-leading ones, growth is going to be a huge challenge in 2009-10.

Echoing Premji, Infosys CEO S Gopalakrishnan said: "We have to be always on our toes. We cannot be complacent about the lead we have, we cannot be complacent about competition".

Indian Cricket News|Indian Sports News|T20 World Cup News

London:Let down by their much-vaunted top order, defending champions India flunked their first Super Eight test and sunk to a seven-wicket defeat against the West Indies in the Twenty20 World Cup.

Dwayne Bravo scalped four Indian wickets with the ball and then returned to hit an unbeaten 36-ball 66, studded with three sixes, to seal the match.

Earlier, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's decision to bat first boomeranged as the Indian top order crumbled and it required Yuvraj Singh's (67) 43-ball blitzkrieg and Yusuf Pathan's (31) cameo to reach a competitive 153 for seven.

Bravo (4/38) and Fidel Edwards (3/24) shared seven wickets between them while laying bare India's frailty against short-pitch bowling.

India play England in their next Super Eight match here on Sunday.

Leading West Indies' chase, Chris Gayle (22) hit Zaheer Khan for two fours in the first over but had to exercise some caution when Irfan Pathan claimed the scoreless Andrew Fletcher with his second delivery.

Harbhajan Singh began with a maiden over to further straitjacket Gayle and the left-hander decided to go after Yusuf Pathan, only to manage a top edge and Zaheer positioned him perfectly under the skier at short fine leg.

While Gayle featured prominently in India's scheme of things, few spared a thought about Bravo. But in the end, it was Bravo who hurt India most, adding 58 runs with Lendl Simmons (44) and then completing the formality in Shivnarine Chanderpaul's (18 not out) company.

Earlier, Yuvraj celebrated the news of his elevation as vice-captain with an electrifying innings to turn an utterly miserable Indian innings into a respectable score.

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 19 runs in Super 8 Match

London:Sri Lanka relied on a clinical bowling display to script a comfortable 19-run victory over Pakistan in their first Super Eight match of the Twenty20 World Cup.

After putting up a competitive 150 for seven largely bult around Tilakaratne Dilshan's 46, the islanders stopped Pakistan at 131 for nine to garner full points from the encounter at the historic Lord's.

Except for a 66-run run pertnership for the fourth wicket between captain captain Younis Khan, who top-scored with a 37-ball 50, and his deputy Misbah-ul Haq, Pakistan were never really in the run chase of 151.

They had a fumbling start with their opener Salman Butt out in the third ball and were in back foot losing two wickets in the sixth over before Younis and Misbah revived the innings.

But, once Younis was out in the 17th over wickets fell in a heap at the death and the last edition's runners-up side only tried to narrow down the margin of defeat.

For Sri Lanka, fast bowler Lasith Malinga was the wrecker in chief with a fine spell of 3 for 17 from his four overs.

Muttiah Muralitharan returned with 2/28 from his four overs while Angelo Mathew and Nuwan Kulasekara took a wicket apiece.

Earlier, electing to bat, Sri Lanka opening pair of Sanath Jayasuriya and Tillakaratne Dilshan took the opposition bowlers to the cleaners by sharing an 81-run stand from nine overs before slow bowlers Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal brought Pakistan back into the match.

Sri Lanka were threatening to post a huge total by scoring 86 for one at the half-way mark and 120 for four at the end of the 15th over largely due to the contributions of Jayasuriya (26 off 24 balls) and top scorer Dilshan (46 off 39 balls).

Ruthless South Africa enjoying Twenty20: Smith


NOTTINGHAM, England: South African captain Graeme Smith is ready for the challenges ahead in the World Twenty20 after a crushing seven-wicket win over hosts England.

The Proteas unleashed their firepower to bowl out England for a paltry 111 before coasting home in the 19th over in their first Super Eights match at Trent Bridge on Thursday.

Smith said he can't wait to face the West Indies at the Oval in London on Saturday before the final second round game against defending champions India at Trent Bridge next Tuesday.

"We are pretty excited about the prospect of playing the West Indies and the next challenge will be India," he said.

"We played with the same intensity that we have been doing in the past and our plan was to squeeze England.

"Twenty20 is a very unpredictable game, but we are well prepared. We are ready for it."

Smith said his team had a simple plan to overcome the fast and furious nature of the shortest version of the game.

"We try to keep the essentials correct and try our best all the time," he said. "It is important to enjoy our cricket, enjoy our success."

Smith praised young left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell, who picked up three wickets to wreck England's batting before Jacques Kallis hit a half-century to guide the Proteas home.

"We performed well with the ball and everyone in the field played their role well with intensity," he said.

"Parnell has been superb. He's just come in, he's very young and he's handled everything really well. He bowled with pace and control. The crowd was against us but he handled the situation very well."

Kallis, who also chipped in with two wickets, said he has been concentrating on improving his bowling.

"I've worked on it for the last two or three years. I discovered lots of variations in the IPL (Indian Premier League)," said the veteran all-rounder who played for the Bangalore Royal Challengers.

"We knew if someone stayed at the wicket and we got a run a ball, we'd be okay. I think this was a 140-wicket so our bowlers did really well to restrict them."

Owais Shah was the lone Englishman to withstand the Proteas' onslaught with 38 off 33 balls after four of the top seven batsmen managed only four runs between them.

All the six bowlers used by Smith were among the wickets, with Kallis and Roelof van der Merwe supporting Parnell with two scalps each.

Albie Morkel bowled the first maiden over of the tournament that also included the wicket of Kevin Pietersen, but was not called upon to bowl a second over as the others took care of the England batsmen.

South Africa have been in awesome form in the tournament so far, crushing minnows Scotland by 130 runs before defending their modest 128/7 against New Zealand by one run.