Times Chennai E-paper March 04, 2009

VOL: 2 ISSUE 49

March 04, 2009

MK accuses CEC

TN CEO bias against DMK Govt Chennai, Mar 4 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today accused the Chief E l e c t i o n Commissioner(CEC) and Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer(CEO) of being biased against the Dravida

M u n n e t r a Kazhagam(DMK) Government. In an epistle to partymen, Mr Karunanidhi explained in detail as how the Election Commission and CEO had shown undue interest in the shifting and appointment of three police officers during the Thirumangalam a sse m b l y b ye l e cti o n , hours after opposition AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa complained about the police officials. Making it clear that his intention was not to point an accusing finger against anyone, he was pointing out as how the Election Commission and CEO were acting, so that there could be a debate for

the benefit of those who believed in democracy. He said the Election Commission, being an autonomous body, enjoyed sky-high powers to appoint or remove any officers, and the same could not be questioned by the State

a n d C e n t r a l Governments. Apart from this, the Commission decides when the elections should be conducted. H o w e v e r, i t w a s unfortunate that the CEC N Gopalaswami had recommended to the President, the removal of Election Commissioner Navin Chawla, the Chief Minister said. He said when byelection was caused to the Lok Sabha or Assembly, it was held within six months, along with the General elections to avoid unncessary expenses. But in case of Thirumangalam assembly byelection in

Tamil Nadu, the EC conducted the by-poll in a hurried manner for the reasons best known to it. W h e n M s Jayalalithaa made a demand to transfer some police officials on December 31 last, the CEC and CEO Naresh

Gupta had vied with each other in conceding her demand, he charged. The same day, the Election Commission had directed the State Government to transfer the officials and even insisted that they should be replaced by officials suggested by the Commission, Mr Karunanidhi said and wanted to know, who had given the list of names of police officials to the Commission. The day when Ms Jayalalithaa made the demand, Mr Gupta, contrary to facts, had alleged that there was large-scale violence in the constituency and remarked that ''even in

Jammu and Kashmir, elections are held in a peaceful manner'', Mr Karunanidhi said. Legal experts and politicians should ponder whether the remarks made by Mr Gupta were biased or not and amounted to influencing the voters, the Chief Minister said. He said Mr Gupta was acting in such a manner as if ''no one can question his powers'', though he was appointed by the Tamil Nadu Government for a specific period. Ever since the DMK came to power in May 2006, Mr Gupta had

not called on him even once on courtesy, the Chief Minister further pointed out. But CECs and Election Commissioners do call on President and Prime Minister after their appointments and in Tamil Nadu also, CEOs l i k e O z a , Chandrachoodan, Sarangi and Mathew had called on Chief Ministers on many occasions, he said. Mr Karunanidhi said that well before the Election Commission announced the schedule for Lok Sabha elections and the model code of

conduct came into force, the State Government had m a d e s o m e announcements regarding the constitution of Vanniayar Welfare Board, but the CEO spoken to some newspaper offices and asked them not to publish the report. ''What is his interest in this,'' the Chief Minister asked. Though the acts of the Election Commission and officials were not questionable, there was no bar to explain them to the people, he added. -Agencies

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Times Chennai E-Paper

March 04, 2009

Two week ultimatum for T Nagar traders Chennai, March 04: The Madras High Court has granted two weeks to traders at Ranganathan Street, Madley Road and Natesan Road to remove the encroached portion of their buildings/structures on their own. If they failed to do so, the Chennai Corporation and the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) would demolish the encroached portions and collect the cost of demolition from the owners

of the buildings/ structures, the First Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice S J Mukhopadhaya and Justice V Dhanapalan said here on Tuesday. The Bench was passing an interim order on a public interest writ petition from ‘Traffic’ K R Ramaswamy, seeking to r e m o v e t h e encroachments on the three streets. After perusing a joint report submitted by the Chennai Corporation and the CMDA, the

More awareness needed on vascular disease

Bench said that it would allow encroachers to contact within a week, the Chief Planner (Enforcement) Cell of the CMDA, who would provide to the individual encroachers the details a b o u t t h e encroachments made by them. Thereafter, a period of two weeks would be given to the encroachers to remove the encroachments on their own. -Agencies

University asked to furnish appointment details Chennai March 04: University of Madras Chancellor and Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala has asked the University of Madras to furnish by Wednesday details of absorption of 13 temporary staff into the university rolls by the Syndicate of the University. This follows the report titled `Backdoor entry, courtesy VC’ published in an English Daily on February 19. Barnala asked the university to furnish remarks relating to the

appointment of the 13 temporary staff, including any other similar appointments, and their present position in the university. The university has also been asked to explain under whose authority the persons were initially appointed and how they were made permanent, along with supportive documentary evidence. Staff members had pointed out that 13 temporary office staff, some of them graduates

and post graduates, had been made permanent. Apparently, they were over qualified for the job. A look at the list of the absorbed staff also showed that nine of the 13 temporary staff had joined in 2006, after the Vice Chancellor of the U n i v e r s i t y, P r o f S Ramachandran, took charge. -Agencies

GPS in 600 MTC buses in Chennai soon Chennai, March 04 Buoyed by the success of the Global Positioning System (GPS) installed in few Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses, the corporation has

reduction in traffic congestion.” Moreover, he said, voice announcers would be introduced in buses, which were initially installed in 55 buses running in 21G and

decided to expand the facility in more number of buses plying on the arterial Anna Salai and Poonamallee High Roads in the city. B r i e f i n g newspersons at a press conference about the performance of MTC, Debendranath Sarangi, Secretary, Transport, said the GPS services would be made available in 600 buses by the end of April. He said: “This will enable more people to use public transport, and lead to a

70 routes, to meet the international standards, on par with the Intelligent Bus Transport Service. While noting that the MTC h as planned to operate 4,000 buses by next year, Sarangi said that all old buses would be replaced by March 2010. “About 1,100 new buses will be introduced in the next year, while 1,000 buses would be taken off the roads in a phased manner.” When asked

about the dilapidated condition of certain bus terminuses, the Secretary said that steps were being initiated to give a face-lift for five terminuses such as Ambattur, Foreshore Estate, Mogappair West, Tiruvamiyur and Vadapalani. Since most of the bus depots are running out of space, the Corporation has been engaged in identifying land for the new depots. R a m a Subramanian, Managing Director of MTC, said that the administration is in the process of identifying land at Chemmanchery, P a d a p a i a n d Medavakkam. Sarangi also said that the patronage of passengers to MTC has increased by 25 per cent, where the daily average of commuters using buses in Chennai stood at 50 lakh passengers per day. -Agencies

Chennai, March 04: Around seven percent of people with diabetes may potentially develop peripheral vascular diseases where arteries in their body are blocked leading to a constriction of blood flow. If this happens in an artery of the heart or brain, the person suffers a heart attack or a stroke. But there are chances of blockage in every artery of the body leaving people vulnerable and uninformed about the consequences. Awareness on the peripheral vascular diseases and regular check-ups, especially for those with diabetes and hypertension are essential, said Prof N Sekar, senior consultant vascular surgeon at the Apollo Hospital, while addressing a gathering

here on Tuesday. “A few decades ago there was no option for people who developed gangrene for instance, except amputation. E v e n t o d a y, between 10 and 20 per cent of cases we see cannot be helped because they come too late,’’ he said. However, with improvements in t e c h n o l o g y, o n c e diagnosed, the patient does not even need to have a surgery. “ W i t h e n d o v a s c u l a r procedures, the process is minimally invasive and does not require a long hospital stay,’’ he said, describing the case of a 50-year-old man with a block in an artery in his leg. After an angiogram, an endovascular

procedure opened out the block completely. Failure rates of these procedures, said Dr M i c h e l H e n r y, a n interventional vascular therapist is only about 5 to 10 percent. “Surgery should only be indicated for cases such as these when there is a failure of th e a n g i o p l a s t y. T h e problem is that there are often no symptoms of peripheral vascular disease, which is why it is essential to check those at a risk for it very regularly,’’ he said. Keep walking, stop smoking,’’ is the motto Dr Sekar advocates as stopping tobacco is the first step to both preventing and treating these diseases. The longer people have diabetes, the more at risk they are, he said. -Agencies

March 04, 2009 Times Chennai E-Paper

SRM University opens up new vistas in Hotel Management Chennai, March 04: Chennai based SRM University, will launch Under-Graduate and Post-Graduate courses in Hotel Management from the

students from the SRM University would take their first three semesters at home and attend their last semester at the Metropolitan

sent to Metropolitan University under the SRM's semester abroad programme, to provide international exposure to them.

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Tourism-harbinger of harmony, purveyor of peace: Tamil Nadu Tourism Chennai, Mar 4 : Tamil Nadu Tourism Secretary V Irai Anbu on Tuesday said tourism was a harbinger of harmony and

University campus in s u b u r b a n Kattankulathur, he said a person, who could travel more could develop

Photo S. Mohan

Photo S. Mohan

academic year 2009-10, its Vice-Chancellor P Sathyanarayanan said on Tuesday Ta l k i n g t o newspersons here, after the inauguration of 'Connoisseurs-2009', an International Workshop on To u r i s m a n d S w i s s Culinary Arts, jointly organised by the SRM Institute of Hotel Management and the Switzerland-based International Hotel Management Institute (IMI), he said the University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Swiss-based Metropolitan University for this purpose. Observing that Switzerland was known for culinary art skills and hospitality industry, Prof Sathyanarayanan said the three-year B.Sc course would be a dual-degree programme, under which

University. A f t e r completing the final semester, the students would be given dualdegree by the SRM University after a sixmonth internship p r o g r a m m e i n Switzerland. Students would also be given campus placement after completing their final semester in Metropolitan University, he added. On the contrary, under the two-year MBA course, students would study the first six-months at SRM and proceed to Switzerland to complete the rest of their course. The intake for the under-graduate course would be about 150 and 50 students for MBA, he said. P r o f Sathyanarayanan said students would also be

IMI VicePresident and ViceChairman of the Board of Directors Carmel Michael Fsadni, who was also present said IMI, which was recognised worldwide, was happy to be associated with the SRM University and said the MoU would be beneficial to both the students and the faculty. D r. A n t o n y Ashok Kumar Principal of the Institute of Hotel Management SRM University said that, the university will also offer Doctoral programmes in Hotel management in the next two years. E a r l i e r university registrar Prof Sethuraman welcomed the gathering and officials from the institute and other visiting faculty were present on the occasion. - Staff Reporter

Facial search on Bharatmatrimony.com Chennai, Mar 4 : BharatMatrimony. com, a matrimony portal, has launched 'Facial Search', a 'pathbreaking' feature based on state-ofthe-art face recognition technology. Members can now upload photos of their long awaited dream person and the ''Facial Search'' will lead them to profiles of members with resembling facial characteristics. The state-of-the-

art face recognition technology works on the dimensions of a face, measures distances between the features, and matches it with p h o t o s o n BharatMatrimony. I n t e r e s t i n g l y, one can search from the new and existing list of BharatMatrimony members for profiles with the most sought after celebrities facial features.

Mr Murugavel Janakiraman, Founder & CEO yesterday said ''now, our members can find a potential partner based on their preferences for facial appearance thus unlocking the wealth of information that is hidden away in photos. Not s u r p r i s i n g l y, m a n y members are using this to search for celebrity look-alikes''. -Agencies

purveyor of peace. Inaugurating 'Connoisseurs 09', a three-day International workshop on Tourism and Swiss culinary arts jointly organised by the SRM Institute of Hotel Management and the Switzerland-based International Hotel Management Institute (IMI) at the SRM

t o l e r a n c e , m a t u r i t y, compassion and understanding. In this context, the theme of the w o r k s h o p ' To u r i s m Brings Harmony and Peace' was quite appropriate in the current scenario. Mr Irai Anbu said ''A person should travel at least 15 years in

his life to understand the culture of other. Wide travelling will help the people know that all human beings are alike''. ''The human nature is same, whether you are an Indian or a foreigner. Only the language, complexion, customs and individual mannerisms change. The body language is the same,'' he added. Stating that tourism could act as a medium of enriching one's talent of the individual, Mr Irai Anbu said ''Tourism is a harbinger of harmony and purveyor of peace''. Noting that tourism has sparked off efforts in conservation of various species of birds and flora and fauna, the Tourism Secretary, citing various instances, said about 100 varieties of the total 908 bird species had become extinct. - Bureau Report

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National

Times Chennai E-Paper

Two-day media workshop of Congress ended on Tuesday

PM holds first official engagement after surgery New Delhi, Mar 04: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today held his first official engagement more than a month after he underwent a bypass surgery when he met President of the West African nation of Benin, Dr Boni Yayi, and discussed bilateral, regional and international situation. The Prime Minister met the Benin President, who arrived here last night on a fiveday State visit at his official 7 Race Course Road residence. D r S i n g h underwent a coronary bypass surgery on January 24 and has not had any official engagement since then, although he has been attending some urgent official work at home. Dr Yayi, who is visiting India at the invitation of President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, is accompanied by a 34member delegation which includes three Ministers, senior officials and representatives of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry. ''The visit, after a gap of more than 25 years, represents a significant landmark in India-Benin bilateral relations,'' an External Affairs Ministry

spokesman said. The Beninese President will also call on the President. Vice-President Hamid Ansari, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Leader of the Opposition L K Advani will also call on him. T h e Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) are jointly organising an interaction with the Indian business community for the visiting Beninese delegation. The delegation will also visit Agra, Mumbai and Bangalore. In Mumbai the IndoAfrican Chamber of Commerce and Industry is organising one-to-one business meetings. In Bangalore, the delegation will visit Infosys and Avasthagen (bio-tech company). A m u l t i religious, multi-ethnic society and a multi-party democracy, Benin, home to 9.3 million people is located in West Africa and borders Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso and

Niger. Members of NAM, India and Benin have traditionally enjoy friendly relations. Both countries share a commonality of views on major international issues such as UN Reforms and combating international terrorism. Benin has supported India's candidature for permanent membership on an expanded UNSC. India has in the past gifted 100 tractors and agricultural implements and extended a 18.8 million dollar Line of Credit for rural electrification to that country. Benin has also subscribed to the Duty Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) Scheme announced by India in April 2008. India's bilateral trade with Benin is currently 350 million dollars. Benin was included in the first group of countries in the Government of India's Pan-African e-network project, which was officially inaugurated by the External Affairs Minister last week. -Agencies

Kashmiri Pandits are integral part of J&K: Omar Jammu, March 04: Kashmiri Pandits, whose sense of security was snatched in the '90s, are an integral part of the state and their return to the valley would be possible only when they again begin to feel safe, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said. The sense of security was snatched from them in 90's and only "when this sense is restored, their return to the valley will start", Omar said yesterday during the motion of thanks on the governor's address in the legislative council. T h e C h i e f Minister said that although the Mumbai terror attacks have adversely affected Indo-Pak bilateral ties, good relations between the two neighbours are important for lasting peace in the region. The government is open to dialogue with all shades of opinion and ready to facilitate it at other forums, he said. Recalling the earlier initiatives by his father Farooq Abdullah to break the ice between the

two countries by facilitating talks and four months of truce during t h e V a j p a y e e government, Omar said they were a good beginning which needs to be taken to its logical conclusion.

March 04, 2009

T h e government would again work for restoring the dialogue process and initiate political measures to resolve all issues pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir, he said. -Agencies

World Conference on 'Tobacco or health' from March 8 Mumbai, March 04: The 14th World Conference on "Tobacco or Health" will be held in the city from March 8 to highlight the growing menace of tobacco use. The conference will showcase the problems caused due to tobacco use, P C Gupta, president of the conference, told reporters here. "This will give us an opportunity to focus on the complex tobacco problem in the country, which has the largest spectrum of tobacco products - from industrial ones like gutkha to custom-made products like betel quid," Gupta said. The event will discuss various policy aspects of tobacco control - economic, health and environment. Since its introduction in 1966, the conference is held every two-to-three years in different countries, Padmini Somani, Salaam Bombay Foundation, which will be hosting the event, said. "Eleven conferences have been held in developed countries and two in developing countries. Last year it was held in China," Somani said. The event will witness more than 600 participants, 250 international speakers and 2000 delegates from over 130 countries.

New Delhi, March 04: T He two-day media workshop of Congress concluded on Tuesday with senior party leaders giving media management tips to party spokespersons, CLP leaders and party presidents of various states. O n t h e concluding day, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister P Chidambaram and Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia among others addressed the delegates. "This is a n exchange of ideas with the spokespersons. This

is an interactive session with political, technical and economic issues," AICC spokesman Abhishek Singhvi had earlier told reporters here. It being a question and answer session, the delegates put many questions on how to respond to media queries, programmes and policies as well as the events related to the party. T h e spokespersons were asked to be crisp and short in their answers. They were also asked to remain informed of the latest issues so that they can answer the queries

instantly. Speakers also briefed the delegates on the differences between how to respond to a print media journalist and a television journalist. Ahluwalia briefed the delegates about the "achievements" of the government and its various schemes. Earlier on the first day, senior leaders Salman Khurshid, Abhishek Singhvi, Planning Commission member Balachandra Mungekar, Union Ministers Meira Kumar and Kapil Sibal along with former Home Minister Shivraj Patil spoke on different issues. -Agencies

Irretrievable breakdown of marriage no ground for divorce: SC New Delhi, March 04 : Irretrievable breakdown of marriage is no ground for divorce for those married under the Hindu Marriage Act because the law does not recognise it, the Supreme Court has ruled. Dismissing a Hindu husband's plea for divorce, a bench of Justices Markandey Katju and V S Sirpurkar stated that the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, did n o t r e c o g n i s e "irretrievable breakdown" as ground for the dissolution of marriage. The bench said no court, including the apex court, was empowered to issue a decree for divorce on the ground of "irretrievable breakdown" of marriage as it would amount to amending the Hindu Marriage Act by judicial verdict and adding "irretrievable breakdown" of marriage as a new ground for divorce. A law can be amended only by legislature and not by judicial verdict, the bench said in its ruling that was pronounced on February 27 but released on Tuesday.

"Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 provides for several grounds for granting divorce e.g. cruelty, adultery, desertion etc. but no such ground of irretrievable breakdown of the marriage has been mentioned for granting divorce," the bench noted. "On a bare reading of Section 13 of the Act, it is crystal clear that no such ground of irretrievable breakdown of the marriage is provided by the legislature for granting a decree of divorce," the bench said. If the apex court had in the past issued a decree for divorce on the ground of "irretrievable breakdown," it might have done so wrongly, the bench said. The bench made this observation as the counsel for the husband pleaded for divorce to his client, saying that the apex court had in several cases issued the decree of divorce on the ground of " i r r e t r i e v a b l e breakdown." It rejected the contention saying: "In our opinion, those cases have not taken into consideration

the legal position which we have mentioned above, and hence they are not precedents. A mere direction of the court without considering the legal position is not a precedent." "If we grant divorce on the ground of irretrievable breakdown, then we shall by judicial verdict be adding a clause to Section 13 of the act to the effect that irretrievable breakdown of the marriage is also a ground for divorce. In our opinion, this can only be done by the legislature and not by the court," the bench said. "It is for the parliament to enact or amend the law and not for the courts," it added. The court was adjudicating an appeal by a Delhi resident, who had first gone to the lower court for a divorce on the grounds of his wife's alleged cruel behaviour towards him. As the lower court and later the Delhi High Court dismissed his plea, finding that it was he who had been subjecting his wife to cruelty, he moved the apex court pleading irretrievable breakdown of his marriage and saying that his wife had not spent more than 25 days with him. -Agencies

Hotel booking facilities for Rajdhani passengers soon Kolkata March 04: Passengers travelling on HowrahNew Delhi Rajdhani Express would now have the option of booking a hotel along with their railway ticket with Eastern Railway tying up with a hotel in New Delhi. "Rajdhani passengers who want to stay in Delhi overnight can now get their hotel booking along with their railway ticket. We have tied up with Ginger Hotel in New Delhi," ER General Manager Deepak Krishan told reporters.

Talks were on for tie-ups with other economy hotels and retiring rooms at other destinations, Krishan said, adding similar tieups with luxury hotels could be considered if passengers so demanded. Asked whether the slashing of airfare following reduction in ATF prices would see a drop in Rajdhani fares to keep it competitive, Krishan said fares of the Rajdhani had not been hiked when there was a airfare rise in the past. "We, therefore

expect some loyalty from the passengers now." He said surveys were constantly been carried out to find out the demands of the passengers. “Some want Rajdhani to leave here at 7 pm to reach New Delhi at 8 am the next day. For that, we need to fence a large stretch of the route for high speed. This could be done at almost zero cost if the State governments come forward to help," Krishan said after flagging HowrahNew Delhi Rajdhani Express on its 40th anniversary run on Tuesday.

March 04, 2009 Times Chennai E-Paper

News You Can Use

TV soaps, coverage of news making children insensitive: Madhavan

Page 5

Tradition making comeback in Indian home decor

A cemetery that brought tourism to life

New Delhi, March 4: How about a slice of Lord Krishna's Vrindavan or a touch of the Buckingham Palace in your living room? The decor in high-end Indian homes across metros, especially in the capital, is going back to tradition after years of dabbling in the utility and Spartan chic of contemporary West. Two exclusive lifestyle retail spaces point to the trend. These are Good Earth in Delhi's Saket area which has adapted traditional designs from medieval India and Elitaire in Faridabad which has been inspired by the royal palaces of Europe. T h e y a r e targeting the high-end home market segment of the 'aesthetic elite' with a price sweep of Rs.500 to Rs.500,000. Good Earth, a national lifestyle accessory chain, has put together an exhibition of home accessories by five designers that combined Indian resonance with an international appeal. Titled 'India Modern', it is on display at the 18,000square foot Flagship, Good Earth's maiden store at Saket in the capital. 'In a resurgent India, the rich cultural heritage is getting layered with a contemporary global relevance. This duality has given rise to a new aesthetic that draws from history to create modern perspectives suitable for contemporary living. The highlight this year at the Delhi store is the Vrindavan collection,' Anita Lal, creative director of Good Earth, told news agencies She said the store picks up one collection every year, which is usually an 'interpretation of any part of history and culture from India. 'The Vrindavan

collection celebrates the harmony between man and nature - the story of Lord Krishna and his days in Vrindavan where he played with his consort Radha.' 'We have just taken the symbolic aspects of Vrindavan - like the motifs of the flora and fauna, the peacock, the cows, the lotus and the lamps - minus the gods and goddesses to give the collection an international look,' Lal said. The collection features 'kamalinis' or lotus showpieces, lotus stools in brass and beaten silver, ornate candle stands shaped like medieval wall panels from Vrindavan homes, peacock and cowherd wall hangings in brass, fluted flower pots, Mughal minarets and geometrical tables inlaid with mother of pearls, abalone and malachite. The Vrindavan furniture is complemented by Vrindavan Chenille cushions and the Neeltara cushions in silk and velvet, trimmed with satin 'mashru' weave and embroidery. Mashru is a traditional silk and cotton weave from Kutch, printed in the Ajrakh technique using natural dyes. A dining table laid with 'kansa' ware (an alloy of tin and copper) and collections of cutleries like the 'tia pakhi' (parrot) from Bengal, the Rasa or marigold range from central India, the Periyar Indus Rajah from Kerala and Baradari collection from the Mughal era add to the Brajbhumi look. Designer Vikram Goel, the man behind the Vrindavan collection, said the designs debuted at a Good Earth exhibition in Mumbai in 2008. 'I tried to recreate the motifs of peacocks, cows, lotuses and trees as depicted in the pichwais (traditional Vrindavan

paintings and texts) to suit new awareness. I love the diverse techniques of metals,' Goel told IANS. The collection is also a tribute to the dying art of metal crafting and a bid at revival. 'The clutter is going out of home decor and they are becoming more realistic,' artist Subodh Gupta told IANS at the opening of the store. 'Interiors are going back to roots and I just love the heritage look,' he explained. On the other hand, Faridabad-based Elitaire goes back to medieval Europe. The home decor retail store spread across 2,000 square metres at the Interiorz Mall has recreated replicas of six European palaces for Indian drawings rooms. 'Our collections combine opulence with contemporary convenience. The idea behind recreating the palace themes was to offer buyers something more than luxury - a slice of heritage, which they can p r e s e r v e , ' K . V. R a o , chairman of the Dolphin Group, which owns Elitaire, told news agencies According to him, the high-end retail space is commercially viable because the 'recession has not been able to dent the luxury lifestyle segment'. The home themes - featuring complete rooms with period furniture, accessories and lights include the 16th century Rosenberg Castle, Buckingham Palace, Castle of Prague, Castle of Sans Souci in Prussia, Palace of Wilanow of the Dutch royal family and the Palace of Versailles from the era of Louis XIV. The accessories drawn from 82 leading design houses from across Europe are a blend of the grand baroque, the romantic French Rococo and the austere neo-classicism of British royalty. -Agencies

Montevideo, March 04: As night falls in the Montevideo Central Cemetery, the city's oldest, dozens of expectant faces wait outside its gates, ready to enter this realm of death to see it in a new way: that of the necrotourist. Curiosity seekers of all types and ages were attracted by this project of the Montevideo city government, which launched this week the first of its guided tours that will periodically visit the oldest public necropolis of the Uruguayan capital. Built in 1835 and expanded between 1860 and 1868, the central cemetery was conceived as a garden promenade surrounded by trees and funerary monuments where "it was usual to see people out for

"It's a good idea to visit a cemetery this way," Marina said before photographing the steps on one of the granite tombs exemplifying the "new" funerary art, "with much cleaner, simpler lines" as Sirtori describes it. “Today's art is not overly ornate as it was in the 18th and 19th centuries," the expert said, for whom the value of the cemetery lies as m u c h i n " t h e personalities" buried here - such as Francisco Acuna de Figueroa, composer of the Uruguayan national anthem - as it does in the works of art it holds. American Edward Murray was the first to be buried with a tombstone

in the Montevideo C e n t r a l C e m e t e r y, whose memorials are basically of marble, granite and bronze. Now rich in monuments and sculptures, the graves in the central area were all the necropolis had until the installation of a Galician stone cross brought in the 19th century by Luis Fernandez, a one-time resident of Montevideo. Then came the 1863 work of Genoese artist Lavarello, which represents a recumbent dead wife looked upon by her handsome, elegantly dressed husband. Felix Morelli and Jose Livi are other Italian artists who left their mark on the central cemetery,

where there are also works by local artists like Jose Luis Zorrilla de San Martin and Jose Belloni. The speed with which the 100 tickets were sold out for this day of necrotourism in the central cemetery was much appreciated by Sirtori, who expected no such response for a project that is new to Montevideo but has been done for years in cities like Paris and Buenos Aires. On March 12 and 26, this tour of the dead will be repeated, something that the city government hopes to continue on two Thursdays out of every month, at least until May since - as a web site says "it provides a different approach to the nation's history and culture".

New Delhi, Mar 4 Television today may have brought an information revolution in the country but the fiction shows and the coverage of news on the small screen is increasingly making children insensitive, film actor Madhavan says. ‘’The satellite revolution in the country and the accompanying proliferation of TV channels has led to a lot of dissemination of knowledge. Infact, it is because of these TV channels that a lot of things have come to light as we saw in the film ‘Rang De Basanti’ and has led to a lot of corrective steps. At the same time, I feel that the coverage of news on television today leaves much to be desired,’’Madhavan said at a news conference in the Capital last evening. Madhavan, who was in the Capital to promote his new film ’13 B’, a supernatural thriller revolving around the harmful impact TV has on human life today, said unlike a few years ago, the TV channels’ coverage of news included the depiction of many graphic scenes from the site of accidents, fire or blasts. ‘’Unfortunately today, news channels are not just content with presenting news. They also want to show the close ups of the scene of the incident like bodies splattered in blood or gauging the reaction of members of the family involved in an accident. I do not understand this and do not see why we need to do this. I feel it is important to give news but at the same time the manner in which it is disemminated is also important. Today I cannot watch news on TV with my eight-year-old son as there are so many graphic scenes on news channels. In this

sense, I feel the news and its coverage on TV is making children insensitive,’’ Madhavan said. He said the onset of the satellite revolution had led to loss of childhood for kids. ’When I look back, I consider myself fortunate that I have had a lovely childhood - climbing on trees, stealing mangoes and many a time breaking my legs in the process. I feel sad that my son will never be able to enjoy all this. Infact, I wonder whether he is aware of all these pleasures that chiuldhood brings with it. Because of living in cities and ther onset of television, evenings of children are mostly spent watching on television. Consequently, even the habit of children going out to play in the evenings is fast dying out,’’the actor said. Talking about his latest film ’13 B’, Madhavan, who was accompanied by Neetu Chandra, his co-star in the film, said, ’’it is a supernatural thriller which deals with the relationship that viewers share with television today. It is about the change in the TV watching habits of people over the years wherein television, more than an electrical appliance, has become a companion, especially for the women in the house for whom the day starts with TV and ends with it. In fact, elders in the house are seen to develop a relationship with characters of the serials. What if the TV realises the power it wields over family members and begins to take control. What happens when instead of showing you the facts, the TV begins to show you what it wants you to see.

a stroll", said one of the guides of this odd itinerary, professor of art history Marta Sirtori. Almost 30 visitors were in the group that Sirtori led on this tour to the music of a women's quartet playing violin, cello, flute and oboe at different points around the cemetery. Together with religious objects like crosses or images of Jesus, the funerary symbolism of the place includes anchors, considered icons of salvation, poppies, narcotic flowers that "lead to eternal sleep", and figures representing "old age and the passing of time" such as hourglasses, Sirtori said. The angels, intermediaries between

That is what the film is all about.’’ Clarifying that it was not a horror film, Madhavan said, ’’when one thinks of the word thriller, one assumes the film will have scary faces and ghosts. However, there is nothing of this sort in ’13 B’. It is a supernatural thriller and not a horror film.’’ About his role in the film, Madhavan said, ’’I play a middle-class guy who is not the hero type. He has just entered an exciting phase of his life. He has just married and brought a house. The family is looking forward to an exciting life in a new building where they have a house on the 13th floor. Then something happens that threatenes his family. The film is about how he saves his family from the threat.’’ Talking about her role in ’13 B’, Neetu said, ’’I play a housewife. She is a very coy, shy kind of female who is stuck to television like any other female in the house and how she realises that the television set has become a danger to her family.’’ She said that though the role was closer to real life, it had elements of both glamour as well as real life. Directed by National award winning director Vikram K Kumar, a former assistant to South Indian filmmaker Priyadasrshan, ’13 B’ releases on March 6 in Hindi and Tamil versions. While the Hindi version is titled ’13 B’, the Tamil version is titled ‘Yaavarum Nalam’. The film also features Poonam Dhillon, Murali Sharma, Sachin K h e d e k a r, S a n j a i h Bokaria, Deepak Dobriyal, Amitha, Sharanya & Dhritiman Chaterjee. The music of the film has been s c o r e d b y S h a n k a r, Ehsaan and Loy. - Agencies

heaven and earth that "help man ascend", share the scene with Masonic symbols like the square and compass, and decorations of a military nature "in line with ancient Greece and Rome", the guide said. "Bringing attention to funerary art" is, according to Sirtori, the goal of this cultural project, on which "we're working with great respect and affection for the people buried here, our fellow citizens". Among the interested visitors, Marina, 13, took every possible chance to slip away from the crowd for a moment and take pictures with her digital camera of the sculptural forms that clothe the dead.

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March 04, 2009

Tata Chemicals honours J N Tata: commissioning of Babrala plant

Audi sales increase 95% for Feb; to introduce new modals

Times Chennai E-Paper

New Delhi, Mar 4 Tata Chemicals Ltd, a leading manufacturer of chemicals, fertilisers and food additives, announced the commissioning of the 'de-bottlenecking' of its Babrala facility in Uttar Pradesh with production capacity increase from 8,64,600 tonnes to 11,55,000 tonnes and plans to double this capacity in the near future. Executive Director Tata Chemicals Kapil Mehan told a press conference here that 'de-bottlenecking' meant that eliminating the cobwebs in setting up and operationalisation of the plant. Babrala is roughly four hours drive from the national capital. Mr Mehan said the total investment entailing the Babrala facility is of the order of Rs 208 crore. The project, completed in a record time of 18 months, was aimed at fine tuning and enhancing production capabilities, thereby expanding the existing production levels.

Mr Mehan said he was not in a position to set a timeline for doubling of the new capacity, but added that was the goal the company has set for itself. T h a announcement of the commissioning of the upgraded facility was done in the capital with the initiative being dedicated to the Group Founder J N Tata on the occasion of the Founders' Day. Mr Mehan said the increased growth of production ''draws impetus to the company's commitment of providing high quality products for its discerning customers''. Post the debottlenecking process, the new production capacity at the plant will be as follows: the Ammonia plant will produce 2,000 MTPD as compared to 1,520 MTPD; and the Urea plant will produce 3,500 MTPD as compared to 2,620 MTPD. Established in 1939 at Mithapur, TCL is

Assocham wants importers of fake products blacklisted New

Delhi, Mar 4: Claiming that only five per cent of fake imports are detected in India, an industry chamber today suggested a slew of measures to curb the menace, including blacklisting importers of counterfeit products. Assocham said fake and counterfeit imports comprise software, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), music, films, toys, cigarettes, textiles and life saving drugs. It identified Delhi downtown, Ghaziabad, M e e r u t , S a h a r a n p u r, Aligarh, Sonepat, Loni, Bulandshahar and Chandigarh in northern India where sale of fake products is reported to be higher. In a representation to the Finance Ministry and Customs department, the chamber suggested modifications to Border Measures and Regulations and Intellectual Property Rules to check import of fake and counterfeit products. This has become imperative as the current governmental tools are aimed more at intimidating such importers than to bring them to book, said Hemant Singh, chairman of the c h a m b e r ’s i n t e l l e c t u a l property rights committee. Importers of fake and counterfeit products avoid participating in proceedings against them w h e n e v e r t h e i r consignments are seized by customs because current rules help them do so, he added. For want of

adequate manpower and coordination with port authorities, customs are able to physically check only about 15 per cent of the country’s total imports, resulting in only five per cent detection of fake products, Assocham said. The industry chamber said importers of fake products are not only individuals or group of individuals margin but also well established companies who indulge in the malpractice to earn higher profits. Assocham suggested recruitment of competent and experienced people by Customs to increase surveillance to improve rate of detection of fake imports and punishment to those found guilty. C u s t o m s Commissioner should do away with the requirement of multiple filings for multiple IP even if it requires additional fee by importers, it said, adding National Academy of Customs should modify existing IP rights as well as trade marks and copyright. Importers found violating IP rules should be dealt with iron hands and should be forced to join proceedings in a manner that they can not abandon their consignments in the event of seizure. Punishment to those found guilty should be heavy to act as deterrent against the malpractice, it added. - Agencies

the second largest producer of soda ash in the world with manufacturing facilities across four continents. Mr Mehan said the company's overseas facilities relating to the production of soda ash have been impacted more than the Indian facility by the global turmoil. He said in terms of costs and profitability the Indian plant fares as well as the overseas ventures relating to soda ash production, largely because of the price of gas. In reply to a question, Mr Mehan

favoured continuing support to Indian farmers by way of subsidies and higher MSP in the wake of the slowdown, adding that this will also keep the sales of fertilisers going. In this regard, he said farmers from the United States and the European Union have been hit worse due to the global meltdown than the Indian farmer and it was likely that these countries may enhance the level of subsidy to their farmers. It was thus incumbent on the Indian government to continue support to the farming community. -Agencies

New Delhi, Mar 4 Audi India today said its sales for February has witnessed an increase of 95 per cent with sales of 113 units as compared to 58 units in the corresponding period last year. ' ' To g a i n additional market share we are looking forward to introducing new models and expanding our dealerships network to mini-metro cities this year,'' Company Managing Director Benoit Tiers said in a statement. In the year 2008 the company had a total

sale of 1,050 units, it added. The Audi model

range comprising the new Audi A4, Audi A6, Audi A8, Audi Q7, Audi TT and Audi R8 is available in the country across twelve dealerships . -Agencies

March 04, 2009

SL cricketers arrive home amid tight security Colombo, Mar 04: Sri Lanka's wounded and shaken cricketers flew into Colombo under tight

security early on Wednesday, less than a day after a deadly ambush targeting the team in Pakistan, an airport official said. Relieved relatives gave the tour party an emotional welcome as the 25-member contingent was led from a specially chartered Sri Lankan Airlines Airbus A320 by

team manager Brendon Kuruppu. Star batsman Thilan Samaraweera and

T h a r a n g a Paranavithana, who both received hospital treatment in Pakistan, were placed in an ambulance and taken to a private medical facility in Colombo, a senior official said. Spin bowler Ajantha Mendis was seen leaving the aircraft with a plaster behind his right ear. A

Factbox: Details of SL cricketers injured in attack

total of seven players and an assistant coach were hurt in the attack, which left eight people dead. Vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara, who was another wounded in Tu e s d a y ' s g u n a n d grenade assault, told reporters that the players had been asked by team management not to speak with reporters. Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge also met t h e t e a m a t B a n d a r a n a i k e International Airport, where security was tight, the official said. There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack, but some Sri Lankan officials fear a possible link with the military offensive against ethnic Tamil rebels in the island's north. Sri Lankan team was airlifted from Gaddafi Stadium by helicopter before flying out of Lahore late on Tuesday, abandoning a tour which was only arranged when India refused to visit. -Agencies

Not all host cities would have polls throughout: Modi Macau, March 04: Whilst exuding confidence over successfully holding the second installment of the Indian Premier League, league’s commissioner Lalit Modi said that they would certainly review the dates to ensure that there is at least a 48 hour cushion between the match-day and the election-day at any of the 8 host cities. “The general election is a six-week long affair lasting till May 16,” he told a newspaper. “That does not mean that all the cities hosting IPL matches will be busy with polling activities throughout this period.” The IPL has begun a security review meet in wake of the recent Lahore attacks. Citing a case study example, Modi said: “Let us consider the example of Mumbai, which goes to polls on April 30. So we will try and not have anything in Mumbai on the day before the polling date, on that day and if required even the day after.” Modi said that the IPL representatives would

hold talks with the government regarding the issue in the coming days. “We are sensitive to the fact when there is a need at a particular venue because of elections and we’ll ensure full cooperation.” “We will discuss t h i s w i t h t h e government,” he said. Modi said that such a scenario had been kept in mind while the itinerary for IPL Season 2 was being drawn. “We did see this coming. That is precisely why we had increased the number of kits and crews for this year’s tournament. During the player auctions, I had personally announced this and our plans to have matches in catchment areas also. We have a lot more to choose from in case any particular venue cannot host a match on a particular day.” In the aftermath of the terror attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore on Tuesday, Modi insisted that security would be paramount during the Twenty20

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Sports

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extravaganza and assured franchises that the BCCI and IPL would be solely responsible for it. “Franchisees need not bother about security, it’s a central issue and we’ll take all precautions. The government has been stringent about security.” Modi also refused to draw parallels between the security situations in India and Pakistan. “In Pakistan, the fear factor has been constant. In India, we took adequate measures to keep cricket away from it.” “ We h a v e a weekend security meeting with experts from South Africa,” he elaborated. Meanwhile in another interview to a TV channel, BCCI member IS Bindra said that while the board would try to c o n v i n c e t h e Government, latter ’s stand would be final. “If the Home Ministry says no, it just can’t happen.” -Agencies

Lahore, March 04: Five Sri Lankan cricketers plus the assistant coach were wounded when around a

dozen gunmen attacked their bus as it drove

under police escort on Tuesday to a stadium in the Pakistani city of Lahore. Following is a list of the injured players with brief details of their injuries according to vice captain K u m a r Sangakkara, who spoke to Reuters by telephone from Lahore. M a h e l a Jayawardena cut to ankle, minor K u m a r

Sangakkara - shrapnel cut to shoulder, minor Ajantha Mendis shrapnel wound to back, minor T h a r a n g a Paranavithana - shrapnel wound to his chest, minor, but went to hospital T h i l a n Samaraweera - worst injured with what appeared to be a shrapnel wound to his leg. Taken to hospital, but not seriously wounded. Paul Farbrace (assistant coach) shrapnel wound to his arm, minor. -Agencies

War exposure helped team react: Jayawardene Colombo, March 04: The Sri Lankan cricket team's exposure to the civil war back home helped them react swiftly when they were ambushed by gunmen in Pakistan, skipper Mahela Jayawardene said on Wednesday. S e v e n members of the team and their assistant coach were wounded in Tu e s d a y ' s g u n a n d grenade attack as they travelled by bus to the cricket stadium in Lahore. Eight people were killed in the assault. "We have been brought up in a background of terrorist activities," Jayawardene told reporters after returning home at the

international airport in Colombo. "We are used to hearing, seeing these things -- firing, bombings. So we ducked under our seats when the firing began. It was like natural instinct," he said. Sri Lanka has seen nearly four decades of ethnic civil war with Tamil Tiger rebels who are fighting for a separate homeland. Jayawardene said the players were "shocked" and "mentally down" after the horrifying i n c i d e n t , a n d acknowledged there was a moment when he did not think he would ever make it back home. " I a m a Buddhist, and I think we

have done some merit in our previous birth to escape with minor injuries. We want some time now to be with our families," he said. The skipper said it was too early to say if he or anyone else on the team would skip future tours of Pakistan. "We were not aware of security lapses. It's an unfortunate incident. In hindsight, this could have happened anywhere in the world," he said. "In the future, I think all of us will step back and look at the bigger picture besides just touring abroad, taking into account our families," he said. "That is something we will all do." -Agencies

Govt to review security for Indian Premier League New Delhi, March 04: T h e repercussion of the Lahore terror strikes on Sri Lankan cricket team, which left 5 players and a reserve umpire injured, seemed to have been felt across the border as well in India as well with clouds of uncertainty looming large over the second edition of the Indian Premier League. Minister of State for Home, Sri Prakash Jaiswal said that the Government would review the security measures to be deployed during the IPL and that a meeting with the BCCI would be held over possible postponement of the IPL. “We will review the security for IPL,” he said. “Government will hold a meeting with the BCCI.”

IPL’s Season Two, scheduled during the months of April-May, is set to clash with the Lok Sabha elections. In the aftermath of the Lahore attacks, the Home Ministry is in no mood to compromise on the issue of safety of plethora of international cricketers that would descend to India for the 2 month Twenty20 extravaganza. O n Tu e s d a y itself, Home Minister P Chidambram had raised concerns of a possible shortage of security personals that may occur in some centers if the two high-profile events are held simultaneously. I P L Commissioner Lalit Modi had sought to assuage Government’s concerns by agreeing to re-adjust IPL dates so as to provide a 48 hour

cushion between a matchday and a polling day. A n y postponement of the IPL would result in eventual cancellation of the show piece Twenty20 event as there is no 2-month window available on the Future Tours Program (FTP) formulated by the ICC, for rest of the year. The likely losses if IPL is postponed are Rs 300 cr: BCCI stands to lose from television sponsorship Rs 100 cr: BCCI stands to lose from onground sponsorship Rs 250 cr: Broadcasters stand to lose through ad revenues Rs 15-20 cr: Franchisees stand to lose from local sponsorship R s 5 c r : Franchisees stand to lose per venue through losses in gate money. -Agencies

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Attack on Lankans: 10 suspects arrested in Lahore Lahore, March 04: At least 10 suspects were arrested in Lahore on Wednesday in connection with the attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in the city on Tuesday, TV reports say. According to Times Now TV Channel , four of these suspects are Afghanis. The channel also quoted Pakistan interior minister as saying, "We will make sure these terrorists are punished." Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistan offered a reward of 125,000 dollars for information about the militants behind a deadly ambush directed against Sri Lanka's cricket team, AP reported. "The government of Punjab will give a cash prize of 10 million rupees (125,000 dollars) to

anyone providing authentic information about the accused persons or their accomplices," said the Punjab government in an advertisement. "Assist us in identifying the terrorists who fired at the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore," said the advertisement carried in the national press, according to AP. The AP report says the advertisement carries four photo grabs taken from CCTV footage, declaring that "the dignity of the country has been hurt" by the firing on the Sri Lankan national squad. T h e government said the identities of the people providing information

would be kept confidential. Pakistani forces were scouring the cosmopolitan eastern city for a second day — searching for up to 12 attackers behind the brazen assault that left eight dead and wounded eight of the touring party. The militants, who appeared young and well-trained, attacked the Sri Lankan convoy with rockets, grenades and automatic weapons on Tuesday, and then traded fire with security forces before fleeing in stolen cars. Six Pakistani policemen guarding the team and two civilians were killed. Pakistani officials said five people were being interrogated - TNN

'Failure not an option' in Pakistan's terror war: Zardari Washington, March 04: “Failure is not an option" in Pakistan's battle against terrorism, President Asif Ali Zardari said in an op-ed piece published in Wednesday's Wall Street Journal. "This is an existential battle. If we lose, so too will the world. Failure is not an option," the President said a day after a Mumbai-style attack on members of Sri Lanka's cricket team in Lahore killed eight people including six Pakistani policemen and two civilians. Tuesday's attack, said Zardari, "shows once again the evil we are confronting." Speaking for his government, Zardari also said "we have not and will not negotiate with extremist Taliban and terrorists," adding that the recently struck deal in the troubled Swat Valley was not with the Taliban. "The clerics with whom we have engaged are not Taliban," he said,

adding that Pakistan had made clear to the clerics "that it is their responsibility to rein in and neutralize Taliban and other insurgents" in their area. Zardari warned, h o w e v e r, t h a t " o u r security forces will act accordingly" if the Swat Valley authorities were unable to control the insurgents. He also said the government would not tolerate the closure of any girls' schools in Swat Valley, insisting that "the education of young women is mandatory. "This is not an example of the government condoning or capitulating to extremism -- quite the opposite," he said in response to international criticism that the women of Swat Valley were being sacrificed for the sake of regional security. The President praised the meeting last week in Washington of US, Pakistani and

Afghanistan top officials, calling it "a crucial step forward in the war on terrorism and fanaticism in South and Central Asia," and in relations between the two neighbours. "By reaching agreement, we have overcome the past legacy of distrust that has characterized PakistaniAfghan relations for decades and has complicated strategic planning and common goals." Zardari said such "straight talk" was essential if the three countries wanted to prevail against terrorism, "Pakistan's fight against terrorism is relentless," he said. He recalled that his wife and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto -"the greatest champion of democracy in my country" -- was assassinated in December 2007 while "fighting for the values of liberty." -Agencies

Pak frontier region safe haven for al-Qaida: Obama Washington, March 04: US President Barack Obama on We d n e s d a y s a i d t h e frontier regions of Pakistan were "safe havens" for the al-Qaida. "The safe havens for al-Qaida remain in the frontier regions of Pakistan," Obama told reporters in response to a question at the White House during a joint press conference with the visiting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

When asked about the attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore today, Obama said he was deeply concerned. "But, let me just make a general statement," he said. "Both Great Britain and the United States share a deep interest in ensuring that neither Afghanistan nor Pakistan are safe havens for terrorist activity. We have coordinated effectively in the past, but

March 04, 2009

World

the truth is that the situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated," Obama said. Referring to the ongoing comprehensive review of US policies with respect to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Obama said: "I will be making a series of announcements prior to the NATO summit that immediately follows the G-20 summit in terms of the direction that the United States would like to go."

Biden rushing to Brussels to consult NATO allies on Afghan-Pak Washington, March 04: U S V i c e President Joe Biden is travelling to Brussels next week to meet his NATO allies for holding consultation with them on Afghanistan and Pakistan, the White House announced on Wednesday. A White House statement in this regard was issued after the terror attack on the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore. However, it is unclear if both could be linked. "The purpose of his trip is to consult with allies on Afghanistan and Pakistan and to ensure

that their views help inform the strategic review ordered by President (Barack) Obama," the statement said. "The Vice President also will meet with NATO's Secretary General, with senior leaders of the European Union and with officials of the Belgian government," it said. Earlier, Obama expressed concern over the terror attack on Sri Lankan cricket team members in Lahore. "We're deeply concerned," Obama told reporters at joint media availability with British

Prime Minister Gordon Brown. "Both Great Britain and the United States share a deep interest in ensuring that neither Afghanistan, nor Pakistan are safe havens for terrorist activity," Obama said. Referring to his policy review on Afghanistan and Pakistan, Obama said: "I will be making a series of announcements prior to the NATO summit that immediately follows the G20 summit, in terms of the direction that the United States would like to go.” -Agencies

British PM to take stage in US Congress Washington, March 04: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown addresses a joint session of the US Congress W e d n e s d a y, a f t e r pushing his campaign for an overhaul of the global financial system in White House talks. Brown took a break from political problems back home and became the first European leader to meet President Barack Obama in the Oval Office, and won an assurance that USBritain ties were unbreakable. He will be the fifth British prime minister to make the ceremonial address to US lawmakers, and was expected to caution that developed nations should not take refuge in protectionism as they battle global economic turmoil. At the White House, Brown said global powers could agree a "new deal" within months on fundamental reforms of the world's crippled financial system. Obama agreed the world needed to work to head off future financial crises, but did not give a specific, public endorsement of Brown's calls for a sweeping new global regulatory framework. Brown laid the groundwork for G-20 talks on the global economic downturn which he will host in London in April. "Look, there is the possibility in the next few months of a global new deal that will involve all the countries of the world in sorting out and cleaning up the banking system," Brown told reporters in the Oval Office. "There is the possibility of all the different countries of the world coming together to

agree the expansion in the economy that is necessary to restore confidence and to give people jobs and growth and prosperity for the future," he said. "There is the possibility of the international institutions for the first time being reformed in such a way that they can do the job that people want them to do, and deal with some of the problems that exist in the poorest countries of the world." Earlier, in an interview with National Public Radio, Brown had called for the rest of the world to adopt the new s t a n d a r d s o f t r a n s p a r e n c y, accountability and regulation like Britain and the United States. "There is a global banking collapse that we're dealing with consequences of in every country," said Brown. "I think there is a general understanding, whether you talk to China, whether you talk to the European Union or you talk to our great friends here in America, that we need to show that the world can come together." Brown added that those that did not push through such measures on their banking systems should lose their prestige in the global financial community. Obama said he and Brown had talked about coordinating how G-20 nations could stimulate their economies and adopt a "common set of principles" in banking to stop crisis ripple effects impact "onto our shores." But the President did not specifically address Brown's "new deal" plan or offer indepth details of their talks. His spokesman

Robert Gibbs later said Obama believed it was important at the G-20 summit of developed and developing economies to establish "rules of the road" to head off future financial crisis. Obama sought to downplay reports he was interested in loosening historic ties with Britain, partly fanned in the British press by reports that he had removed a bust of Winston Churchill from the Oval Office. "The special relationship between the United States and Great Britain is one that is not just important to me, it's important to the American people," said the president. "Great Britain is one of our closest, strongest allies and there is a link, a bond there that will not break." O b a m a ' s vanquished 2008 election rival Republican Senator John McCain also had kind words for Brown, who heads a Labour Party government that is trailing t h e o p p o s i t i o n Conservative Party in opinion polls. "I'm a great admirer of Gordon Brown's," McCain said. "He has a vision on how to address the global economy and I think we ought to consider seriously his proposal." But Jon Kyl, like McCain a Republican senator from Arizona, accused Britain of failing to do enough to forestall Iran's drive for nuclear weapons. "Great Britain could be more helpful than it has been in support of US policies that would prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons," Kyl told. "I appreciate that this economic crisis is very much on the minds of people both in Great Britain and the US, but strategically there are things we need to do to work together and I don't like to see them ignored," he said.

March 04, 2009

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