Times Chennai, E Paper 05 August 2009

VOL: 3 ISSUE 12

Chennai, August 05, 2009

Thiruvalluvar statue unveiling: The imbroglio continues Bangalore Aug. 05: Despite the Election Commission giving

Thiruvalluvar’s statue, Kannada Chaluvali Vatal

clearance to the unveiling o f s a i n t - p o e t

Paksha and other Kannada organisations

have once again s u b m i t t e d a memorandum to the commission asking that the event on Sunday be stopped as they claim it amounts to violation of the election model code of conduct. Speaking at a meeting of Kannada organisations here on W e d n e s d a y, V a t a l Nagaraj, President of the Paksha, said an event of this kind could not be held in the light of the Assembly by-elections on August 18 at Govindarajanagar in the c i t y. E a r l i e r, t h e commission had given clearance on condition that no political speech or activity that would violate the model code of conduct, should be carried out at the time of unveiling of the statue. M r. N a g a r a j said that the primary motive behind Chief M i n i s t e r B . S . Yeddyurappa’s decision was the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara

Jaya cites EVMs as reason for bypoll boycott Chennai, Aug 5: AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa, who has been strongly critical of electronic voting machines,

today cited the issue of reliability of the EVMs, a reason for boycotting the August 18 assembly bypolls in five seats inTamil Nadu. Noting the recent demonstration by an NGO

that EVMs can be tampered with, she said, "This should come as an eye-opener not only to the E l e c t i o n Commission, but also to the voting public," and added,"In a democracy, every voter should know whether the vote cast has gone to the candidate or party it was meant for." In the absence of such certainty, t h e e n t i r e democratic process would be rendered a "mockery", she said in a statement here. "It is to ensure that democracy in its true sense is brought back that AIADMK decided to boycott the bypolls."

The party had announced earlier that it was boycotting the elections as it did not believe it would be free and fair with the DMK ruling in the state and UPA at the Centre. The AIADMK and its ally PMK have been crying hoarse over the reliability of EVMS since the Lok Sabha elections in which their front put up a poor show bagging only 12 seats of the 39in Tamil Nadu. PMK had lost all the seven seats it contested. She had first raised the issue of possibility of the EVMs being tampered with in 2000, Jayalalithaa said, adding that many countries in the world "have given up the EVMs as anunreliable system.

Palike (BBMP) elections to be held later this month, as the Tamil vote bank in the city is a sizeable one. M r. N a g a r a j reiterated the bandh call given by Kannada organisations for S u n d a y, b e s i d e s announcing a rally from Kempe Gowda statue to Rajbhavan on August 7 as a pre-cursor to the event. More than 10,000 people, he said, were expected to participate in

the rally. He said that all essential services will be spared on the day of the bandh, which will be enforced from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. He warned the Government not to allow public buses to ply on Sunday. S e v e r a l Kannada leaders who participated in the meeting said that statue unveiling should have been done only after the appeal against giving

classical language status in Kannada, pending before Tamil Nadu High Court, was withdrawn and the Hogenakkal issue was resolved. " I f t h e governments are so concerned about the two Tamil and Kannada saintpoets, Thiruvalluvar and Sarvajna, let them publish their books in translation and distribute them," said Kodihosalli Ramanna, one of the activists.

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Times Chennai E-Paper

Tamil Nadu

India needs to stress on creativity in workforce: Survey Chennai, Aug. 05: India should lay greater emphasis on creativity and innovation, which was in extremely short supply in its knowledge workers, to maintain the current levels of economic growth, according to a global survey. While the need to develop such skills was clear, what was less clear was the extent to which these skills were successfully being taught through education, it said. The survey said it was generally accepted that India needs more knowledge workers and that, for economic growth to continue at current

levels, there should be a greater emphasis on creativity and innovation. "India needs to equip itself more effectively to develop and exploit this new emphasis on 'cognitive capital, the survey by Effective Education for Employment (EEE), a global research firm commissioned by Edexcel, UK's largest body for primary and secondary education and Pearson, an international media company doing business in education, said. It spoke of education emerging as a vast and expanding

market in India due to current economic and demographic trends and significant increase in government spending. The current education market is estimated at around USD 46 billion. The specific market for vocational education and training is currently estimated at USD billion, it said. The study in 25 countries with special focus on five emerging economies, including India, showcases issues being faced across the world in educating children for the 21st century.

Truck gutted in fire Virudhunagar, Aug. 05 : A truck, laden with colour matches, caught fire while being transported to a godown at Nagalapuram village near Sivakasi here. Police said due to friction, 500 bundles of colour matches caught fire in the incident yesterday, leading to anxious

moments for the public. However, the truck driver jumped out of the vehicle for safety on being alerted by the passerby and informed the fire service personnel, who rushed to t h e s p o t a n d extinguished the flame. Vehicular traffic

on the road was halted for a couple of hours to prevent any untoward incident. The loss in the fire was estimated at Rs 2.5 lakh. F u r t h e r investigations were on, police added.

HC issues direction to Centre, UPSC Chennai, Aug. 05: The Madras High Court has directed the Union government and the Union P u b l i c S e r v i c e Commission (UPSC) to induct a person into the Indian Police Service (IPS) in the Tamil Nadu cadre or in another all India service, on the basis of his selection in Civil Services Examination 2001, with all consequential benefits. Chastising the authorities for their slumberous attiude, the court ordered that the petitioner should be treated as an OBC candidate for the process. For the allotment of the cadre, the authorities could even create a supernumerary post, since all these years the petitioner had been deprived of his due, a Division Bench of Justices Elipe Dharma Rao and T S Sivagnanam said while allowing a writ petition. The petitioner, J Loganathan, submitted that he belonged to the Kannadiyar community, declared OBC in Tamil Nadu. He cleared the Civil Services Examination 2001, but his claim that he belonged to OBC category was not accepted by the Union government. It did so

on the ground that as per the notification, the community had been declared OBC only in Coimbatore, Periyar and the Nilgiris districts. The petitioner belonged to Cuddalore district. The Bench said the petitioner’s contention that his caste had been declared OBC throughout the State was not in dispute. The State government, realising the errors in the Union government’s OBC list, had addressed the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) in March 1994 pointing out the discrepancies. But, no action had been taken by the Commission. The officials of the Commission and the Union Ministry of Social J u s t i c e a n d Empowerment at the relevant point of time slept over the matter for

years together, waiting for somebody to 'bell the cat again.' The Bench said ''the case would narrate as to how the slumberous attitude exhibited on the part of the governmental authorities in rectifying the mistakes committed by them dig a deep pit in the career of an individual and spoil his prospects and opportunities.'' Referring to the authorities’ stand that no retrospective effect could be given to the amended list published by the NCBC in January 2004, the Bench said an extraordinary situation like the present one would call for an extraordinary remedy. Courts were not handcuffed from dealing with such situations in an appropriate manner to cure an illegality perpetrated on a citizen it said.

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August 05, 2009

Two suspected flu cases in TN Chennai, Aug. 05 : Two passengers have been quarantined on their arrival from Singapore following suspected symptoms of swine flu.

Rajan Sekhar (25) and Simon Michael Joseph (35), both natives of Chennai, who arrived this morning, were referred to the

G o v e r n m e n t Communicable Diseases Hospital at Tondiarpet near here, airport sources said.

Disqualification order of PMK leader set aside by Madras HC Chennai, Aug. 05 : The Madras High Court has set aside an order of the Principal District Judge (PDJ), Cuddalore, issued in March this year, disqualifying V K Murugan of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) from the post of Chairman of the Vriddhachalam Municipality. Justice S Palanivelu set aside the order while allowing a petition from Mr Murugan

challenging the lower court order. Mr Murugan was disqualified under the District Municipalities Act on the ground that while he was holding the post of Chairman of the local body, his wife and father held subsisting contracts in the municipality. J u s t i c e Palanivelu observed that the wife and father of the petitioner were issued letters of termination of

contracts much before the petitioner became the Chairman. The letters were accepted and cancellation orders had been passed by the municipality. Thus, the contract had come to an end. Just because they received cheques for the works done during the previous terms after he became Chairman, the same could not be held against the p e t i t i o n e r, t h e j u d g e observed.

HC grants interim stay on charge memo Chennai, Aug. 05 : The Madras High Court has granted interim stay on further proceedings on a charge memo issued by the Deputy InspectorGeneral of Police, Salem Range, to a head constable. M Ravi, counsel for the petitioner R Sengodan, submitting that the charge memo contained vague and flimsy allegations, contended that the only charge against the head constable was that he had not arrested the accused after registering a case under sections 341, 323 and 324 of the IPC. Further, he had

not registered the case under the proper penal provision. Counsel said in each and every case, the accused need not be arrested. The concerned Police Inspector had obtained further material for altering the offence to one under section 307 of the IPC. So, the petitioner was not at fault. Government advocate P Muthukumar, sought time to file a counter. Justice K N Basha said it was needless to state that it was not necessary for the police to arrest the accused in every case. It all depended

on the facts and circumstances of the case. The investigating officer, after completion of the probe and on the basis of the collection of evidence, ought to have added another section, that is, 307 IPC. On that ground, the petitioner could not be found fault with. Since the order of interim stay had been passed, the case of the petitioner should be considered for promotion in accordance with the law. The pendency of any departmental proceedings should not be considered as a ground for denying the petitioner a promotion, the court said.

August 05, 2009

Times Chennai E-Paper

Final hearing on classical status to Kannada on Aug 17 Chennai, Aug. 05: Madras High Court has fixed August 17 for the final hearing on a petition challenging the Classical Language status accorded to Kannada language. Though Kannada was accorded the classical language tag nine months ago, the official recognition of the status would take a while as this was subject to a writ petition filed by advocate R Gandhi in the Madras High Court. The Public Interest Litigation (PIL), which challenged the very legality of the Constitution of the committee that recommended the classical language status to Kannada and Telugu languages, would come up for final hearing before first bench of the High Court. Last week, the Centre filed an affidavit, providing a weak defence of its decision to accord classical status to Kannada and Telugu. K V Dhananjay, advocate for TV anchor Deepak Thimmaiah, who has been impleaded in the case, said the affidavit was weak as it had failed to lay out the grounds on which Kannada was deservingly granted the classical language status. Instead, the emphasis was on arguing

that the PIL was not maintainable, he said. When the matter came up for hearing on June 22, which lasted for four days, the Under Secretary in the Union Ministry of Culture argued in the affidavit that after going through the petitioner's objections, it was evident that he was not qualified to question the legality of the move as he himself was not sufficiently literate. B e s i d e s , notifications to the effect that the classical status has been accorded to the two languages were still be to issued, he contended. The affidavit said the petitioner had filed the petition based on an apprehension that the committee constituted for the purpose might have recommended the granting of classical status to Kannada and Telugu. A writ petition filed on the basis of an apprehension could not be maintainable in law, it said. ''Unless it's shown that the decision of constituting the committee, as it now stands, is illegal or suffers from any

procedural improprieties, the decision of constituting the committee cannot be faulted,'' it said. If the court allows the petition, the state government won't be able to challenge it in the Supreme Court, as it is not a party in the case. As the PIL challenging the classical tag to Kannada had been pending in the Madras High Court, the Centre had not yet released the annaual grant of Rs 150 crore that was made towards promoting a classical language. A division bench comprising Chief Justice H L Gokhale and Justice Jyothimani took up the matter for hearing on June 22. The hearing continued for four days at a stretch and was adjourned without fixing a date. Today, the High Court registry listed the matter for August 17 for final hearing. R Gandhi had filed the writ petition even before the notification to accord classical status to Kannada and Telugu was issued. When the Centre pointed out, Mr Gandhi filed another petition.

TN govt asked to remove AIDS poster Chennai, Aug. 05: The Madras High Court on Wednesday ruled in support of a housewife, Thilakavathi over the incorrect usage of photographs of here and her child. Thilakavathi approached the Madras high court claiming the photos of her with her baby girl was used without her consent. The Madras HC today ordered the removal of all banners across Tamil Nadu in one week's time. The Chennai High court judge said that the posters around the state of the mother and daughter must be removed or else it will affect the social status of the family. The High Court said, " The poster has created serious problems for Thilakavathi and her family. The poster has made it difficult for the family to be part of society." Taking a strong stance against the Tamil Nadu Health Department, the court added, "The Health department must evolve rules for using pics from the web. The health

department must remove all poster of Thilakavathi in a week." O n Tu e s d a y TIMES NOW had brought to light the incident, after which the High court has ordered the removal of the posters. The petition filed by Thilakamathi and her husband Magesh speaks of the mental trauma caused when the entire neighbourhood avoided them due to a poster put up that caused Thilakavathi's neighbours to ostracize her and her family, on the suspicion that she suffers from AIDS. "We are unable to step out of the house without any comments by the people around us. My 4-year-old daughter is

kept away even from playing or talking with other children fearing infection. Even our family began to desert us, thinking that we had the disease after the poster showed up.I even decided to end our lives at one point because of the shame even my character was under d o u b t , " s a i d Thilakamathi. In fact, this poster has the message that an HIV+ve woman does not necessarily infect her child with AIDS. Now Thilakavathi and her husband has sued TANSAC or the AIDS awareness department for one crore rupees for causing irreparable mental harassment.

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Infidelity turns fatal; wife pushes husband to death Chennai, Aug. 05: A woman, who was mother of two children, fatally pushed her husband alleging that he had an illicit affair with another woman at Nolambur area near Ambattur this morning. Police sources

said the woman Deeva (38) picked up a quarrel with her better half Vijayakumar (42) over his alleged affair. In the mid of the quarrel, Deeva Pushed her husband, who fainted after the back of his head hit a wooden shelf.

As he failed to regain consciousness, she came to know that he suffered injuries on the head. He was later pronounced dead. Police have registered a case of murder and arrested the woman.

10 gm bible is star attraction Chennai, Aug. 05: A miniature Bible, weighing just ten gm and printed in Scotland, is the star attraction at the Chennai International Christian Book Fair being held here from August three to 16. ''The miniature Bible weighs about 10 gms and one needs a magnifier to read it.

''But the front size in the slide Bible is so tiny that it can be read only through a microscope,'' Mr Jose Thomas, Regional Manager, STL OM Books India, which organised the book fair, said. Perched on a small wooden lectern and locked in a glass box, the

miniature Bible was printed in 1901 in Scotland, he said. The slide Bible was made by the Research and Development Staff of the NCR Corporation at Dayton in the US and contained all 66 books of the Old and New Testament.

A faint lunar eclipse to occur tomorrow Chennai: The penumbral lunar eclipse that will occur on Thursday will complete the interesting lunar-solar-lunar triple eclipse series this year. But astronomers say that despite this, the event would not be anything spectacular. A penumbral lunar eclipse happens when the lighter part of t h e e a r t h ’s s h a d o w (penumbra) falls on the moon. This will be similar to the one that occurred on July 7, during which no change in the

appearance of the moon was seen. “This eclipse will not be spectacular because it will only be visible at the edge of the moon. In Chennai, it will happen early in the morning, and is not likely to be as visually appealing as an umbral eclipse. It will not be detectable to the naked eye,” said Dr P Iyamperumal, executive director of Birla Science Planetarium. A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes behind the earth

such that the earth blocks the sun’s rays from falling on the moon. This can occur when the sun, earth and moon come in a straight line, with the earth in the middle. The August 6 event will be the faintest penumbral eclipse of the year with a penumbral magnitude of 0.899. The eclipse will begin at 4.34 am and end at 7.44 am, and the greatest eclipse will be at 6.10 am. The next lunar eclipse, which will be a partial eclipse, will occur on December 31.

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Times Chennai E-Paper

National

Indefinite curfew in force, security tightened in Manipur Imphal, Aug. 05: Indefinite curfew remained in force in Manipur capital with tight security measures in place as a leading Manipuri social organisation planned to take out a torch rally tonight in protest against the death of a youth in an alleged police encounter. Official sources said police personnel and commandos were deployed at various parts of the capital complex to prevent any untoward

incident. Police have appealed to the citizens to remain indoors during the curfew imposed in Imphal East and Imphal West districts, which is in force since 10 pm last night, following widespread protest by public against the killing of Chungkham Sanjit (28) in an alleged police encounter on July 23 at Imphal market complex. Major social organisation Apunba Lup

(AL), which had called a 48-hour general strike, concluded last midnight. The organisation would take out a torch rally tonight protesting the killing. In a statement, AL demanded immediate resignation of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and termination of services of the commandos involved in the July 23 incident.

Then I tied a Rakhi on his hand in turn he pledged to protect me from all adversities," says Riti, a student of Jawaharlal Nehru University. People from South India are celebrating the Avaniatam festival today in which brahmins go to temples to perform puja and change their holy threads. "We went to the nearby temple for the puja to change our poonal (sacred thread). The rituals went on for around two hours. A lot of delicacies are being prepared at home and I am waiting to feast upon them", said G. Arvind, an engineering student, who

participated in the festival here. Delhi Metro has decided to run 60 extra trips today to cater to the extra rush of people. The DMRC will also deploy additional personnel to cater to the extra rush of commuters. The Delhi Government has offered free travel for women in DTC buses as well lowfloor buses today to facilitate their journey to the houses of their brothers. Security has been tightened on streets and crowded places like markets and popular hangouts like India Gate to avoid any untoward incident.

Army foils major infiltration bid in J&K, guns down 7 militants Poonch, Aug. 05: The security forces on Tuesday foiled a major infiltration bid near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district and killed at least 7 militants in different antiinsurgency operations across the Jammu and Kashmir. According to reports, a group of militants tried to enter the state from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and were intercepted by troops of Raj rifles at Chhamb Kinari forward post in Pathri Gali area of Mandi in the district. An encounter took place after militants fired on the troops, who had asked them to surrender. A militant was killed in the ensuing encounter. Meanwhile, four ultras were shot dead in two separate encounters with security forces in K a s h m i r Va l l e y t h i s morning. A group of heavily-armed militants

from across the border sneaked into Tangdhar, 130 kms from here, in the wee hours, but Army troops confronted them and in the ensuing gunbattle two militants were killed, according to a defence spokesman. The Army operation in the area is still on. The army last evening shot dead two infiltrators in Keran sector, 140 kms from here, also in Kupwara district. That operation is also continuing, the spokesman said. He said two more militants were killed in an ongoing gunbattle between ultras and security forces at Furkhan near Trehgam, 150 kms from here this morning. Security forces have also launched a search operation in Didan Gali in Pirpanjal sector of South Kashmir this morning.

'Kicking daughter-in-law or divorce threat not cruelty' New Delhi, Aug. 05: A husband and his relatives cannot be prosecuted for “cruelty” towards wife merely because the mother-in-law or other family members had kicked her or for that matter threatened her with divorce, the Supreme Court has held. Similarly, if a mother-inlaw gives constant sermons to the daughterin-law or allegedly treats

her shabbily by giving her used dress suits, it does not invite prosecution under Section 498A of the IPC, a bench of Justices S B Sinha and Cyriac Joseph said. However, if the mother-in-law takes away the gifts given to the couple at the time of the marriage, it amounts to “breach of trust” as specified under Section 406 IPC, the SC said

while dealing with an appeal filed by South Africa-based NRI husband and in-laws in a matrimonial dispute case. “Allegations that appellant No 2 (mother-inlaw) kicked the respondent (daughter-in-law) with her leg and told her that her mother is a liar may make out some other offences but not the one punishable under Section 498A.

Manmohan joins rakhi celebrations

Capital celebrates Rakshabandhan New Delhi, Aug.05 : Rakshabandhan, symbolising the eternal bond of love between brother and sister, was on Wednesday celebrated with traditional fervour in the national capital with people visiting their siblings with gifts and sweets. Dressed in their fineries, sisters daubed foreheads of their brothers with vermilion and tied colourful Rakhis on their wrists and prayed for their happiness. Youngsters also visited temples in various areas of the capital. "It is a festival which is so close to my heart.I woke up early in the morning and offered puja for my elder brother.

August 05, 2009

He said army troops launched a search operation in Didan Gali in Pirpanjal sector of South Kashmir this morning. In a separate incident, a top Hizbul Mujahideen militant was shot dead by security forces during an encounter in Doda district. On a tip off, a joint search party of army and police launched a cordon and search operation in BehotaMarmat area of the district, about 170 kms from here. In the gunbattle that followed, the selfstyled section commander of Hizbul Mujahideen identified as Noor Mohammed alias Mansoor was killed, official sources said. An AK rifle and three magazines were recovered from the slain militant.

New Delhi, Aug. 05 : Prime Minister

wife Gursharan Kaur on

Manmohan Singh and his

Wednesday joined

school children in celebrating Raksha Bandhan. Children from various schools and NGOs tied Rakhi on the wrist of Singh who offered them sweets, PMO sources said. In a message on the occasion, the Prime Minister said the festival reinforces the sanctity of our traditional familial ties. "It provides an opportunity to bridge differences and strengthen the bonds of fraternity and brotherhood," he said.

Buta’s son in judicial custody till Aug 12 Mumbai, Aug. 05: A c o u r t h e r e o n Wednesday remanded Sarabjyot Singh, son of chairman of SC/ST commission Buta Singh, to judicial custody till August 12 in connection with the Rs 1 crore bribery case. Sarabjyot alias Sweety Singh has been accused of taking a bribe of Rs 1 crore from a Nashik-based contractor on July 30 in New Delhi in return of withdrawal of a case against him pending i n t h e S C / S T commission. He was formally arrested the next day in Mumbai on corruption charges. Meanwhile, S i n g h ’s l a w y e r h a s accused the CBI of using force to get his client confess to his involvement. The court will hear his bail plea tomorrow. R e p o r t s claimed that CBI officers, on condition of anonymity, said that Sweety Singh has told them that Buta Singh was aware that he was to accept bribe from the contractor.

But once in court, Sweety Singh insisted that it was under pressure that he implicated his father Buta Singh, chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes /Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST). CBI director Ashwini Kumar had said that his men would question Buta Singh if needed. Buta Singh has repeatedly denied his

involvement in the corruption deal under which Sweety Singh allegedly took Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million) as bribe from Patil to ensure the withdrawal of a case against him being probed by the SC/ST commission that Buta Singh heads. Buta Singh had said he would cooperate with the CBI but accused the agency of plotting a "political conspiracy" against him by "framing" his son.

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August 05, 2009

Times Chennai E-Paper

World

Drone strikes house of Mehsud's father-in-law Islamabad, Aug. 05: A US missile strike destroyed the house of Pakistan Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud's father-in-law in the lawless South Waziristan tribal region on Wednesday, killing four people, including a woman. O ff i c i a l s w e r e quoted by TV news channels as saying that the drone struck the house of Malik Ikramuddin, located near Makeen in South Waziristan Agency, at 12.45 am. A woman and three men related to Ikramuddin were killed in the attack, officials said.

H o w e v e r, m i l i t a n t spokesmen told reporters that a woman and two children were among the dead. Taliban fighters prevented local people from approaching Ikramuddin's house after the missile strike, residents said. Ikramuddin, the father of Mehsud's second wife, escaped unhurt, they said. There had been a lull in US missile strikes in Pakistan's tribal belt in the past few weeks. P a k i s t a n publicly opposes these

attacks, describing them as counter-productive for the war on terror and a violation of its sovereignty. However, analysts believe there is a tacit understanding between the US and Pakistan on the attacks. Mehsud carries a USD five million bounty on his head offered by the US and USD 615,000 in Pakistan. He is wanted for masterminding several terror attacks, including the killing of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

'Militants planned raid on Australian Army base' Melbourne, Aug. 05: A handful of extremists with ties to an al-Qaida-linked group in Somalia planned to storm one of Australia's largest military bases and launch a fight to the death with troops, police said on Tuesday. Police revealed details of the alleged plot after arresting four suspects, Australian citizens aged between 22 and 26 with Somali and Lebanese origins, in predawn raids on Tuesday on 19 houses in the southern city of Melbourne, the culmination of a sevenmonth intelligence operation. A fifth man already in custody on an unrelated assault charge was also being questioned about the plot, police said. ``Potentially this would have been, if it had been able to be carried out, the most serious terrorist attack on Australian soil,'' acting Australian Federal Police chief Tony Negus

told reporters. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the plot underscored that Australia is still under threat from extremist groups at home and abroad. ``Australians will be concerned to hear about arrests of this nature in our midst,'' Mr. Rudd told reporters in the northern city of Cairns. ``This is a sober reminder that the threat of terrorism to Australia continues.'' One of the four suspects charged, Nayef El Sayad, appeared briefly in court on Tuesday on a count of conspiring with four others to plan a terrorist attack. He did not enter a plea or seek bail. He faces life in prison if convicted. The three other suspects arrested were charged on Wednesday morning with the same offense. The fifth man

already in custody was also expected to be charged later in the day, police said. Police allege the cell's plan was to send a team of gunmen with automatic rifles on a suicide attack against Holsworthy Barracks, an Army base on the outskirts of Australia's largest city, Sydney, that houses commandos t r a i n e d i n counterterrorism, a Black Hawk helicopter squadron and thousands of regular troops. ``Details of the planning indicated the alleged offenders were prepared to inflict a sustained attack on military personnel until they themselves were killed,'' Negus said. Police said extensive electronic surveillance and phone intercepts of the cell revealed details of the plot.

Islamic terror group commander held in Iraq Baghdad, Aug. 05: US and Iraqi forces have captured a senior commander of terrorist organisation Ansar alIslam in Iraq, the US military command in Baghdad said Tuesday. A statement said the outfit's second-incommand, Fakri Hadi Gari, was seized in a combined operation carried out in the northern city of Mosul July 24. Nine other leading members of the group were captured along with Hadi Gari, who was believed responsible for

recruitment and finance as well as operational activities, the statement said. Ansar al-Islam was founded at the end of 2001 in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq while Saddam Hussein was still president. Ansar al-Islam has an extensive network

in Europe, organising funding and support for armed attacks within Iraq. S p a n i s h authorities blame the European wing of the group for the Madrid train bombings that killed more than 190 people in March 2004.

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N.Korea sets journalists free after Clinton's visit Washington, Aug. 05: Former US President Bill Clinton left Pyongyang on Wednesday after securing the release of two female American journalists, who were arrested by North Korean o ff i c i a l s , s o m e f i v e months ago. "President Clinton has safely left North Korea with Laura Ling and Euna Lee," said Matt McKenna, spokesman for Bill Clinton. Ms. Clinton apologised to Kim Jong-Il for the behaviour of the

two women journalists after which they were released, North Korea media reported. "They are en route to Los Angeles where Laura and Euna will be reunited with their families," Mr. McKenna said in a statement. Reporters of the California-based Current TV, a media venture launched by US former Vice-President Al Gore, Laura and Euna were serving 12 years of hard labour imprisonment for allegedly crossing the

China-North Korea border illegally. In a surprise and unannounced move, Mr. Clinton reached Pyongyang on Tuesday to hold talks with the North Korean authorities and seek the release of the two journalists. Mr. Clinton also met the North Korean leader Kim Jong II. He was received at the airport by Kim Kye Gwan, North Korea's chief nuclear negotiator.

Indian Americans to celebrate Independence Day Washington, Aug. 05 : Thousands of Indian Americans are expected to participate in the India Day Parade in Edison also called Little India - in New Jersey this weekend, organisers said on Wednesday. Celebrated Bollywood actor, model and television presenter, Mandira Bedi, would lead the mile-long parade along the Oak Tree Road, which over the past one decade has emerged as the hub of Indian American community in New Jersey. N o w a permanent feature of New Jersey cultural milieu, the parade is held

every year by Indian Business Association in association with scores of other Indian American organisations, to celebrate India's Independence Day. Normally it is held over the weekend around August 15 so as to facilitate maximum attendance. B e i n g a n election year in New J e r s e y, t h e S t a t e Governor Jon Corzine and his Republican challenger Chris Christie are also expected to make an appearance during the parade in an effort to woo the Indian American community in their favour.

The Indian American community in New Jersey has been a traditional supporter of the D e m o c r a t i c P a r t y. Founded in 1990s, the Indian Business Association is the oldest and largest Indo-American Association serving the Edison and Woodbridge area of New Jersey. The Association hosts the annual Official New Jersey India Day Parade each August. The association is also responsible for public projects and credited with major political reforms in Edison and Woodbridge areas.

UNSC adopts resolution to protect children in armed conflict New York, Aug. 05: The UN Security Council has stepped up its efforts to protect children affected by armed conflict by adopting a resolution expanding a list of offenders who are subject to possible sanctions. Resolution 1882, which was adopted Tuesday by the 15m e m b e r b o d y unanimously, strongly condemned "all violations of applicable international law involving the recruitment and use of children by parties to armed conflict". It requested UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon to include in his list submitted to the Council those who kill, maim, rape or commit other forms of sexual violence against children in wartime. Past lists mainly included those who were accused of recruiting child soldiers. The resolution called on those parties on the secretary-general's so-called "list of shame"

to prepare "concrete and time-bound action plans to halt those violations and abuses". In addition, the resolution "calls upon concerned member states to take decisive and immediate action against persistent perpetrators of violations and abuses committed against children in situations of armed conflict", and to bring them to justice. An important aspect of the expanded listing criteria is the Council's empowerment of the UN on the ground to enter into dialogue with armed forces and groups on action plans to halt these violations and to bring perpetrators to account. The Council first e s t a b l i s h e d a mechanism for monitoring, reporting on and punishing those responsible for the recruitment of child soldiers in resolution 1612, adopted in 2005. "The resolution

sends a clear political message to stress that the "obligations imposed by international law to all parties to armed conflict related to children's safety and well-being must be complied with, allowing for no exceptions," said Claude Heller, the Mexican envoy to the UN and chair of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict. "It represents a fundamental progress in the child protection agenda as it expands the criteria by which parties in conflict can be included in annual reports that secretarygeneral produces on this topic," Heller said. "Therefore, the responsibility of the parties to armed conflict who violate international legislation by engaging in killing and maiming, as well as rape and other forms of sexual violence against children could be a matter under scrutiny by the Security Council," the Mexican envoy said.

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Times Chennai E-Paper

Business

Airtel plans bid for Millicom Sri Lanka network: Report Mumbai, Aug. 05: India's Bharti Airtel plans to bid for telecom operator Millicom's Sri Lankan mobile network, the Economic Times said on Wednesday, citing two executives familiar with developments. The move would make it the second largest mobile phone operator in the island nation, trebling its user base from one million now, the paper said. A spokesman for Bharti told Reuters he

would not comment on market speculation. Bharti will have to compete with an array of suitors such as Malaysia's Axiata Group, R u s s i a ' s Vimpelcom and United Arab Emirates Etisalat, which are reportedly interested in Millicom's Asian assets, including Tigo network in Sri Lanka, the report said. M i l l i c o m International had put its operations across

Cambodia, Laos and Sri Lanka on the block in July, the report said. Bharti's Sri Lankan arm has already invested $125 million in the country against a commitment of $250 million, the paper said. Bharti is in exclusive talks with South Africa's MTN aimed at a merger to create the world's thirdbiggest telecoms firm.

L&T seeks regulatory nod to sell Satyam stake Bangalore, Aug. 05: Larsen & Toubro Ltd has sought permission from market regulators to sell its stake in outsourcer Mahindra Satyam Ltd, a spokesman for the engineering and construction major said. L & T, w h i c h operates in industries as diverse as engineering, shipbuilding and software, has sought the permission as an "enabling arrangement" and has not set a timeframe for selling its holding, the spokesman told Reuters on Wednesday. Mumbai-based L&T had built up a 12 percent stake in Mahindra Satyam, earlier known as Satyam Computer Services Ltd, before the sale of the company, which was rattled by India's biggest corporate fraud. In April, L&T lost out in the race for a controlling stake in the fraud-hit outsourcer, which was eventually bought by smaller rival Tech Mahindra

Ltd -- a unit of India's Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. Based on the expanded share capital after Satyam's takeover, L&T's stake in the company is at 6.9 percent, according to Thomson Reuters data. At the current Satyam share price, the holding is worth nearly 9 billion rupees ($190 million). Under the conditions of the Satyam sale, bidders for the company are barred from selling their stakes, acquired prior to the bid, for six months as they were given access to Satyam's financial information that was not public at that time. Satyam, which was once India's No. 4 outsourcing firm, had not reported audited results beyond the September quarter after founder Ramalinga Raju shocked investors in January by saying the company's profits had been

overstated for years. I n J u n e , Satyam released financial figures for the first time since the revelation of the fraud, ahead of the launch of an open offer by Tech Mahindra. "We are asking for a concession since the information that were made available to us as a bidder is public now," the L&T spokesman said. He, however, said that L&T was not planning to sell the stake immediately if the restriction was lifted, but would consider various issues including market conditions before deciding. At 0657 GMT, shares in Mahindra Satyam was up 4.4 percent at 111.85 rupees and L&T was down 1.5 percent at 1,497.25 rupees in the main Mumbai market that was down 0.6 percent.

Samsung launches LED 8000 series Kolkata, Aug. 05: Samsung India has raised the bar for flat-panel TVs with the launch of its revolutionary 8000 series of LED HDTV in the Indian market. Samsung which has met with tremendous success for its LED TVs in the US Market, held the India launch for its 8000 series of LED TVs at the Samsung Experience Store in New York . The company launched its 8000 series of LED TVs in 55' screen size and added 32' screen size to its 6000 Series and 55' screen size to its 7000 Series lineup, thereby strengthening its LED TV

offerings for the Indian market. JungSoo Shin, President & CEO, Samsung South West Asia HQ said, 'Based on the strong initial acceptance that we have received for our 6000 and 7000 Series in LED TVs, we are now going in for range enhancements for the existing series and introducing our advanced 8000 Series of

LED TVs with 200 Hz Motion Plus technology.' These cutting edge TVs use LEDs as their primary light source, rather than traditional C o l d C a t h o d e Fluorescent Lamps (CCFL). Benefits of using LEDs include ultra-high contrast ratios, slim depths that allow for more artful designs, plus increased energy savings.

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August 05, 2009

Allied Digital launches cloud computing management Mumbai, Aug. 05 : Allied Digital Services Ltd today announced the launch of Cloud Computing Management and Security Services for large enterprises and hosting service providers globally. Allied Digital in a release here said its Cloud Management services would help large

enterprises and hosting service providers to easily deploy and manage business-critical applications on the cloud with new levels of automation, control, portability and security. Built over the existing Enterprise Vi r t u a l i s a t i o n Management platform, Allied Digital’s Cloud

Computing Management platform would help enterprises tap the power of cloud computing for scalable, cost-effective IT infrastructure on demand, while maintaining complete control and flexibility. These services will be delivered from Allied Digital’s state-of-the-art network operations centre here.

Japan's Nikkei down on Toyota TOKYO, Aug. 05: Japan's Nikkei stock index fell Wednesday on profit-taking after hitting a 10-month high as investors sold auto shares on Toyota Motor Corp.'s report of a third consecutive quarterly loss. The benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average lost 122.48 points, or 1.2 percent, to 10,252.53. The key stock index on Tuesday hit the highest closing level since October 6 on growing optimism about a global economic recovery. The broader Topix declined 1 percent to 949.58, snapping a 13day gaining streak. ``Investors locked in profits following recent gains. They also dumped auto stocks due to Toyota's poor earnings results,'' said Masatoshi

Sato, market analyst at Mizuho Investors Securities Co. Ltd. The world's biggest automaker said Tuesday its net loss for the April-June quarter stood at 77.8 billion yen ($819 million), plunging into the red for the third consecutive quarters. ``Investors were downbeat about Toyota's loss given that its rival Honda reported a profit during the quarter,'' said Sato. Toyota trimmed its forecast of red ink for the full year through March 2010 but in a sharp contrast Honda Motor Co. has raised its forecast for the full year to a 55 billion yen profit from 40 billion yen. Apart from profit-taking and the Toyota factor, Sato said investors were reluctant

to buy shares ahead of Friday's release of a U.S. employment report for July. Economists expect the Labor Department report will show the U.S. jobless rate rose to 9.6 percent in July, up from 9.5 percent in June, the highest level in 26 years. Toyota fell 1.2 percent to 3,980 yen. Honda declined 1.3 percent to 3,000 yen. Nissan Motor Co. was down 1.9 percent at 681 yen. Sony Corp. edged up 0.2 percent to 2,655 yen. Panasonic Corp. lost 2.6 percent to 1,468 yen. In currencies, the dollar was trading at 94.98 yen in Tokyo Wednesday afternoon trade from 95.23 yen in New York late Tuesday. The euro stood at $1.4377 from $1.4390.

FMC rejects USE's 10% stake buy in Indiabulls-MMTC bourse New Delhi, Aug. 05 : Indiabulls-MMTC promoted International Multi-Commodities Exchange is looking for another investor after the markets regulator FMC rejected the United Stock Exchange of India's (USE's) 10 per cent stake buy in the bourse, sources said. While Forward Markets Commission (FMC) Chairman B C Khatua confirmed the rejection, officials at the International MultiCommodities Exchange (IMCE) could not be contacted. A top MMTC official refused to comment on the issue. "We have not accepted the 10 per cent equity to be held by USE in IMCE," Khatua told P T I . H e , h o w e v e r, declined to elaborate. Sources said that the FMC has rejected the USE's application to buy a 10 per cent stake in IMCE on the grounds that the stock exchange is yet to

be fully recognised. It has got only 'in-principle approval' from SEBI, sources added. Khatua said that IMCE will get the clearance to commence trading in the commodity exchange after it meets the shareholding guidelines. "IMCE has taken two months (till September-end) to achieve a closure of its entire Rs 100 crore capital structure," he said. Initially IMCE was floated as a joint venture between Indiabulls and MMTC, holding 74 per cent and

26 per cent, respectively. Indiabulls had to look for partners to dilute its stake after the FMC issued guidelines that did not allow a single shareholder to hold more than 40 per cent in a commodity exchange. So far, Indiabulls has diluted 24 per cent to HDFC Bank, Yes Bank and Indian Potash Ltd, sources said, adding that it is looking for investors to sell the remaining 10 per cent, which was to be sold to the USE. Indiabulls shares were trading down by 0.45 per cent at Rs 210.95 at 1300 hours on the BSE.

Canara Bank reduces interest rate on vehicle loans Bangalore, Aug. 05 : Canara Bank has slashed the interest rate on vehicle loans sanctioned on or after August 1, 2009. The revised rate would be 8.50 per cent for vehicle loans during first 12 months, 9.50 per cent during the next 24 months, 10 per cent for period above 36 months to 60 months, a release said. For a period of above 60 months, it is 10.50 per cent, it added.

August 05, 2009 Times Chennai E-Paper

SPORTS

Cricketers getting no backing on WADA issue New Delhi, Aug. 05: Two days after rejecting WA D A ` s a n t i - d o p i n g clause, India`s top cricketers are getting increasingly isolated with star tennis players and sports medicine experts today deploring their stance and saying there could not be separate rules for them. After Sports Minister MS Gill opposed the BCCI stand on the clause which makes it m a n d a t o r y f o r sportspersons to make themselves available for out-of-competition testing, the cricketers found the heat intensifying with more sportspersons and administrators criticising them. While sports medicine experts termed the decision as "silly and absurd", India`s leading tennis players Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza sought to dispel their apprehensions and asked them to sign the document. Bhupathi and Sania stressed on the point that the WADA initiative was about weeding out drug cheats from the world of sports and both felt it was d u t y o f e v e r y sportspersons to cooperate and contribute to create a dope-free world. "I have been doing the `whereabouts` this entire year. I think if the system allows for those who abuse it to be caught we should go with it," Bhupathi said. "Lots of the tennis players had apprehensions early but we are all doing it," Bhupathi said. Echoing his view, India`s first female Grand Slam title winner Sania Mirza said rules should be same for everyone. "It would not be fair to all the other sports and sportsmen of the world to make exceptions to WADA`s rules and I`m sure any doubts that the cricketers have can be sorted out amicably through consensus before they sign on the dotted line," Sania said. Reminding that every sportsperson has a duty to support the antidoping agency in its bid for a dope-free world, Sania said, "We all share the same goals as WADA, being a part of the world sports fraternity." The sports medicine experts were more scathing in their criticism and said there was no justification for the BCCI and the players to reject the code which has been accepted by international sports bodies. "It is ignorance of the WADA system which probably has led to such a decision. The BCCI and the cricketers have no idea about the rules and regulations and that is why they have created such a situation," Dr Manish Chand, the Director of Dope Control for the 2010 Commonwealth Games

said.

risks.

Other sports medicines experts also ridiculed the BCCI for putting up "absolutely silly reasons" for not s i g n i n g t h e `whereabouts` clause which makes it mandatory for sportspersons to disclose their location three months in advance for out of competition dope tests. While Dr P S N Chandran, a leading sports medicine expert who has been involved with the Sports Authority of India`s anti-doping programme, termed the cricketers` decision as a "virtual revolt", another expert Jaspal S Sandhu said the BCCI reasoning is absurd. " A r e o u r cricketers bigger than so m a n y g r e a t sportspersons the world over who have signed this code? I think it is just an issue of ignorance on part of the players," Chandran said. Chandran said it was "surprising and strange" that the BCCI was encouraging its players to revolt against the code after having allowed the ICC to sign it. "This is absurd. Whatever they share will remain strictly confidential and beyond the reach of people other than who are concerned with it. Where does this question of security risk come from?" said Sandhu, also the Dean, Faculty of Sports Medicine at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. Wrestling Federation of India President G S Mander also criticised the cricketers and dismissed claims that sharing whereabout details in advance posed security

"Security threat i s f o r e v e r y sportspersons and cricketers are no exception. There cannot be different rules for sports bodies all over the world on one hand and for Indian cricketers on the other," he said. However, some former cricketers supported the defiant players with Sandeep Patil and former captain Ajit Wadekar backing B C C I a n d e x - Te s t batsman Chandu Borde finding merit in the WADA code. "If I`m in the boots of Yuvraj Singh or (MS) Dhoni I would certainly not like to be disturbed when I`m on a h o l i d a y. L i k e e v e r y individual, the cricketers too need to have their privacy respected", Patil said. "It seems both have valid arguments to support their respective views. It is advisable for the anti-doping authorities to talk to the cricketers and remove whatever apprehensions they are having. They need to be convinced it`s for the betterment of the game," Borde said. The Indian cricketers on Sunday refused to sign the clause claiming it infringes on their privacy and puts their security at risk. The BCCI backed the players at an e m e r g e n c y Wo r k i n g Committee meeting in Mumbai and asked the ICC to renegotiate the clause with WADA. Despite its criticism, the BCCI has said it will stick to its stand on the vexed issue and the matter will now be discussed at the ICC`s Executive Board meeting, the date of which is still not known.

Flintoff or no Flintoff, England can win Ashes: Strauss London, Aug. 05: Captain Andrew Strauss said that England can win the Ashes series without

their maverick all-rounder Andrew Flintoff. Flintoff, who will retire after the series, has been on pain killers to ease the inflammation on his troublesome right knee. Flintoff was clearly struggling during the third Test at Edgbaston and is now facing a race against time to prove his fitness before the fourth Test begins at Headingley on Friday. Asked whether

England could win the series without Flintoff, Strauss said: “Yes, I think we can - we`ve had to (go without Flintoff) plenty of times over the last two years, so it wouldn`t be anything new to us.” “Generally, the bowlers have stepped up when he hasn`t played but at the moment he`s in great nick with both ball and bat so we don`t want to play without him if we can help it. We will have to swing with the punches we get and if that is the case then I think we`ve got a good enough squad to be able to deal with that,` Strauss was quoted as saying. Strauss said that Flintoff has been honest about his body, but is desperate to play the last two games. But I think he realises that if he`s not fit, then he won`t help us,” Strauss said.

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Somdev stuns Cilic, avenges Chennai Open defeat Washington, Aug. 05: Somdev Devvarman registered the biggest win of his fledgling career when the wiry Indian upstaged sixth seeded Marin Cilic in straight sets in the second round of the USD 1.4 million Legg Mason Tennis Classic here. The Indian qualifier, who lost to Cilic in his maiden ATP final in the Chennai Open earlier this year, took one hour and 42 minutes to sent the Croatian packing 7-5, 6-4 to reach the third round where he would meet either the big-hitting Croatian Ivo Karlovic or Ge r m a n R a i n e Scheuttler. "It's definitely the biggest win of my career. He's a great player. He's in top 15 already and on his way to the top 10," Somdev gushed after the win. "All along I played well. My plan was to compete as hard as possible. I took my chance and I'm proud of the result," said Somdev

who saved five of the seven break points that his opponent had. Cilic had ended Somdev's dream run in January in Chennai, where the 24-year-old had reached his first ATP final with wins over players like Carlos Moya and Ivo Karlovic. Somdev said he did not have any butterflies in the stomach in the second round match and neither was he out to settle an old score. "It wasn't my first Tour final tonight so I wasn't as nervous going out," said the 153rdranked Indian. "But there was no (revenge factor) for my loss to him in Chennai. There's no ill feelings. We were just two competitors out there today," Somdev added. Somdev, who won the NCAA singles titles in 2007-08 while playing collegiate tennis at nearby University of Virginia, said competing in the qualifying rounds gave him an advantage

against Cilic. "I already had three matches under my belt and this was his first match of the tournament. I just wanted to go out there and play my game, compete as hard as I could and let the chips fall where t h e y m a y, " s a i d t h e youngster. Having played a lot of tennis at the University of Virginia, Somdev had enough support from the stands and if he can pull off a couple of more surprises, he might run into top seed Andy Roddick in the quarter-finals of the hardcourt event. "Andy who?" quipped Somdev. "I'm aware of where I am but I have to take it one match at a time," he said. On a more serious note, he said, "I've put in a lot of work. I'm doing things the right way.” ""I'll take a deep breath when I have some breathing space," said Somdev who played four matches in as many days.

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Times Chennai E-Paper

August 05, 2009

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