An advertising blitz launched by a multinational drug firm to promote its high profile but controversial cancer vaccine has left
Indian households confused and health workers worried.
The 15-second commercials seen recently on Indian television urge parents to get their young girls inoculated with the vaccine Gardasil to protect against cervical cancer, the second commonest major cancer in women.
What the ad hides, of course, is that the vaccine is mired in a controversy in the United States over its safety and the ethics of administering it to girls as young as nine.
The vaccine manufactured by Merck & Co blocks two strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV 16 and 18) which are known to cause about 70% of cervical cancers.
The US Food and Drugs Administration authorised sale of the vaccine in that country in June 2006. The company launched it in India in October 2008 and followed it with television advertisements that tend to make the parents believe that their daughters risk dying of cervical cancer if not vaccinated.
Advertising prescription drugs on television is unethical enough, but using fear to sell them is worse, according to medical scientists aware of the controversy in the US.
Gardasil is an efficient vaccine but the safety and risk information about it has not been made available to parents to enable them make an informed decision about vaccinating their daughters, says Kumaravel Somasundaram, a cancer expert at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore. "We did not debate the issues even within the science community before the vaccine arrived in the market," he said.
Its exorbitant listed price - $120 (Rs 5,800) per dose and three shots are required - is the least of the concerns about the vaccines, says Jacob Puliyel, consultant paediatrician at the St. Stephens Hospital in Delhi. "What bothers me is the reported side effect." A Google search with just two key words 'gardasil+safety' lists 263,000 reports relating to side effects.
As of August 31, the US Centres of Disease Control (CDC) had received more than 10,000 adverse event reports, including 27 deaths following Gardasil vaccination. According to CDC, seizures, blood clots and paralysis accounted for six% of adverse events classified as "serious", while fainting, fever and headaches made up the rest. But the US health officials and Merck have dismissed the adverse events as "unrelated to the vaccine" and have claimed that the vaccine is safe.
Puliyel says the Gardasil vaccination raises an ethical issue as it can only prevent, but not treat HPV infection. Since HPV is sexually transmitted, the vaccine needs to be given before a girl becomes sexually active - ideally at the age of 11. "The underlying assumption here is that adolescent girls in India may all become promiscuous," says Puliyel.
An August 21 editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine noted that Gardasil's "long-term effectiveness is unclear" since no participants have been followed for more than five years while most cervical cancers take 10 years to develop.
"While it has been shown that the HPV vaccines prevent pre-cancerous lesions, we don't know if they will prevent cancer itself," the editorial said.
The journal also raised two other questions: One, most HPV infections clear on their own in 1-2 years through the body's natural immune response. Will the vaccine interfere with this natural process and, if so, in what ways? Two, since only two of the cancer causing strains of HPV are suppressed by Gardasil, will other strains take their place? More than 160 types of HPV are known to exist.
"With so many essential questions still unanswered, there is good reason to be cautious about introducing large-scale vaccination programmes (with Gardasil)," says Charlotte Haug, editor in chief of the Journal of the Norwegian Medical Association.
"There is too little long-term safety and efficacy data, especially in young girls," says Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, a public interest group in Washington. "It looks as if an unproven vaccine with dangerous side effects is being pushed as a miracle drug."
Merck spokesperson Vince Docherty however told IANS that the vaccine was tested in approximately 25,000 people in the United States and around the world, "and found to be safe and effective in preventing serious HPV-related diseases".
According to the company, the vaccine launched in India can be given to women from age 10 to 26. The office of the Drug Controller General of India did not reply to questions on how the vaccine was allowed to be sold without the mandatory clinical trial on local population. The trial in the 16-23 age group, originally proposed by the Indian Council of Medical Research in early 2008, has not started for reasons not known.
The Merck spokesperson however said that Indian regulators approved the sale of Gardasil in July 2008 on the basis of "clinical efficacy and safety data" generated worldwide and the results of a clinical trial carried out in India in 2007 in 110 healthy girls in the 9-15 age group. The company had outsourced the trial to unnamed contract research organisations and the results have not been published. The Merck official said the results are "in the process" of being published.
According to the American Cancer Society, virtually all cervical cancers can be prevented if any pre-cancerous cells detected during routine "Pap" test are treated immediately. The Pap test that costs about Rs 200 can detect changes on a woman's cervix even before cancer develops, when it is most curable. Between 1955 and 1992 the number of cervical cancer deaths in the United States dropped by 74% by the use of Pap test alone, without any vaccination.
The American vaccine watchdog, Virginia-based National Vaccine Information Center, has cautioned that Gardasil vaccine could lull people into a false sense of security. It says that since the vaccine protects only against a few strains of HPV responsible for 70% of cervical cancers, "it will be important for women to continue getting screened by regular Pap tests" to guard against the remaining 30% of cervical cancers caused by other dangerous strains of HPV.
Critics say that the Indian health ministry which acted so fast to put the controversial Merck vaccine on chemist shops ahead of the clinical trial (in the 16-23 age group) should have instead promoted the inexpensive Pap test across the nation if it was really serious about reducing cervical cancer deaths
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
On fourth day of Gaza battle, no end in sight
Israel launched air strikes against Hamas targets in Gaza for a fourth consecutive day on Tuesday as Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called the bombardment "the first of several stages," suggesting that the conflict was far from resolution.
Israeli aircraft bombed a government compound, buildings linked to the Islamic University and the home of a top Hamas commander on Tuesday in a continued onslaught that left Gaza without electric power, according residents of the beleaguered enclave.
Gaza residents said Israeli warships in increasing numbers were visible from the enclave's Mediterranean shoreline, while Israeli tanks and troops massed on its land border. But despite the encirclement, Hamas militants remained defiant, launching 10 rockets into southern Israel on Tuesday. One hit an apartment house in the town of Sderot, injuring one person, witnesses said.
So far, more than 350 Palestinians - about 60 of them civilians - have been killed, according to the United Nations. Four Israelis - three civilians and a soldier - have died.
Israeli says its offensive, which began Saturday, is designed to neutralize the threat posed to southern Israel by Hamas rockets. As the air strikes continued Tuesday, Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit told Israel Radio: "There is no room for a cease-fire.""The government is determined to remove the threat of fire on the south," he said, referring to rocket attacks on southern Israel by Hamas forces. "Therefore the Israeli army must not stop the operation before breaking the will of Palestinians, of Hamas, to continue to fire at Israel."
At a meeting with President Shimon Peres, Olmert, said the air attacks that began on Saturday were "the first of several stages approved by the security cabinet," according to Peres's office.
"The government is giving the military its full backing and the room for maneuver to achieve the goal set out by the government," Olmert said. But it remained uncertain whether Israel would follow the aerial attack with a ground offensive.
The military has created a two-mile war cordon along the Gaza border, with commanders saying that a ground force invasion was a distinct possibility but had not yet been decided upon.
The latest attacks came a day after Israeli jets struck Hamas's civic institutions - including the Islamic University, the Interior Ministry and a presidential guesthouse. Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Parliament on Monday that his country was waging an "all-out war with Hamas."
Israel has defined its aims relatively narrowly - the crippling of Hamas's ability to send rockets into Israel - but has not made clear if it means to topple the leadership of Hamas, which Israel and the United States brand as a terrorist organization.
Hamas sought to cast its fighters as martyrs in a continuing battle against Israel, the lone resisters in a Palestinian community divided between Gaza, where Hamas rules, and the West Bank, which is governed by the rival Fatah organization.
On Monday, Hamas fired more than 70 rockets, including a long-range one into the booming city of Ashdod some 18 miles, or 29 kilometers, from Gaza, where it hit a bus stop, killing a woman and injuring two other people. Earlier, a rocket hit nearby Ashkelon, killing an Israeli-Arab construction worker and wounding three others. The other dead Israelis, The Associated Press reported, were a civilian in the Negev desert and a soldier.
Thousands of Israelis huddled in shelters as the long-range rockets hit streets or open areas late in the night, the most serious display of Hamas's arsenal since the Israeli assault began.
Residents of Gaza pulled relatives from the rubble of prominent institutions leveled by waves of Israeli F-16 attacks, as hospitals struggled to keep up with the wounded and the dead and doctors scrambled for supplies. Hamas gunmen publicly shot suspected collaborators; families huddled around battery-powered radios, desperate for news.
Despite the hostilities, around 100 trucks laden with emergency food and medical supplies donated by international bodies awaited permission to enter Gaza to deliver their cargo. At sea, an Israeli naval vessel collided with a small boat carrying Palestinian sympathizers and medical supplies, forcing it to divert to Lebanon.
In Crawford, Texas, a spokesman for President Bush renewed calls on Monday for the parties to reach a cease-fire, but said Israel was justified in retaliating against Hamas's attacks. "Let's just take this one day at a time," said the spokesman, Gordon Johndroe.
Israel sent in some 40 trucks of humanitarian relief, including blood from Jordan and medicine. Egypt opened its border with Gaza to some similar aid and to allow some of the wounded through.
At Shifa Hospital in Gaza, the director, Dr. Hussein Ashour, said Monday that keeping his patients alive from their wounds was an enormous challenge. He said there were some 1,500 wounded people distributed among Gaza's nine hospitals with far too few intensive care units, equipped ambulances and other vital equipment.
NC-Cong. govt to bring in new era of development: Farooq
The National Conference- Congress government will usher in a new era of deveopment in Jammu and Kashmir and help better India-Pakistan relations, NC patron Farooq Abdullah said on Tuesday.
"It will be a new era in the development of the state as well as in the relationship of not only Abdullahs and Gandhis, but also better relationship between India and Pakistan", said the 72-year-old father of Chief Minister- designate Omar Abdullah here.
The senior Abdullah, who himself was a claimant to the top job, said India and Pakistan would have to try to get the separatists on the "main table" so that they do not feel alienated and were brought to the mainstream for talks "so that a final and durable solution to this (Kashmir) problem of 60 years can be achieved."
Voicing "delight" at the coming together of the NC and Congress to form a new government in the border state, he said, "National Conference and Congress have been partners for many decades right from (the time of) Sheikh Sahib (Sheikh Abdullah) and Jawaharlal Nehru.
"...today that relationship has been further strengthened by the reunion in trying to build this state again towards better development, towards better future for the people of the state, which I think is very good," he said
"It will be a new era in the development of the state as well as in the relationship of not only Abdullahs and Gandhis, but also better relationship between India and Pakistan", said the 72-year-old father of Chief Minister- designate Omar Abdullah here.
The senior Abdullah, who himself was a claimant to the top job, said India and Pakistan would have to try to get the separatists on the "main table" so that they do not feel alienated and were brought to the mainstream for talks "so that a final and durable solution to this (Kashmir) problem of 60 years can be achieved."
Voicing "delight" at the coming together of the NC and Congress to form a new government in the border state, he said, "National Conference and Congress have been partners for many decades right from (the time of) Sheikh Sahib (Sheikh Abdullah) and Jawaharlal Nehru.
"...today that relationship has been further strengthened by the reunion in trying to build this state again towards better development, towards better future for the people of the state, which I think is very good," he said
We will provide proof but Pakistan must act: Pranab
India on Tuesday accused Pakistan of creating war "hysteria" in a bid to divert attention from the Mumbai terror attacks and demanded that it should dismantle terrorist camps estimated to number over 30 along with handing over fugitives of Indian law.
Rejecting Islambad's contention that India had mobilised its army and air force, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in New Delhi that there was no no question of such mobilisation. Only normal winter exercises conducted every year had taken place.
Telling Pakistan that "there is no no need of creating an atmosphere or some sort of hysteria", the minister said that there was no no tension as was borne by the fact that India was releasing some 67 Pakistanis detained for visa violations.
Moreover, like in the past, India and Pakistan will be exchanging information on nuclear confidence building measures on the New Year's day, he told PTI in New Delhi.
Mukherjee was clear about what India wants from Pakistan--dismantling of terrorist camps, taking action against those involved in terror attacks and handing over of fugitives of Indian laws like the chief of the banned Jaish e Mohammed (JeM) Masood Azhar.
Disagreeing with suggestions that India should recall its High Commissioner from Pakistan and put economic squeeze on Pakistan, he said while it cannot be "business as usual" with Islamabad, "I do feel still we should continue to put pressure diplomatically through international community to achieve our objectives."
Rejecting Islambad's contention that India had mobilised its army and air force, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in New Delhi that there was no no question of such mobilisation. Only normal winter exercises conducted every year had taken place.
Telling Pakistan that "there is no no need of creating an atmosphere or some sort of hysteria", the minister said that there was no no tension as was borne by the fact that India was releasing some 67 Pakistanis detained for visa violations.
Moreover, like in the past, India and Pakistan will be exchanging information on nuclear confidence building measures on the New Year's day, he told PTI in New Delhi.
Mukherjee was clear about what India wants from Pakistan--dismantling of terrorist camps, taking action against those involved in terror attacks and handing over of fugitives of Indian laws like the chief of the banned Jaish e Mohammed (JeM) Masood Azhar.
Disagreeing with suggestions that India should recall its High Commissioner from Pakistan and put economic squeeze on Pakistan, he said while it cannot be "business as usual" with Islamabad, "I do feel still we should continue to put pressure diplomatically through international community to achieve our objectives."
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Pujara draws a blank
With Rahul Dravid’s failure, fans had pinned their hopes on Cheteshwar Pujara.
But the emerging talent, too, failed to shine, nicking an away going delivery from Sreesanth Aravind for 11. Saurashtra soon went into a shell and ended the day at a miserable 180 for nine in reply to Karnataka’s 305 on Day II of the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal match at the Brabourne Stadium on Saturday.
Resuming at 265 for eight, Karnataka tailenders did well to add another 40 runs in the morning session despite some lateral movement. R Vinay Kumar played a fluent innings of 48 before being shown the door by Jolly Jobanputra.
Saurashtra didn’t start too badly till Chirag Pathak was dismissed by Vinay Kumar for 24. Opening partner Bhushan Chauhan followed suit also at personal score of 24.
When much was expected of Pujara, seamers Vinay and Balchandra Akhil bowled an immaculate line outside the off-stump with a bit of lateral movement.
Pujara, who has scored three triple tons this season and has more than 750 runs under his belt already, disappointed with his over-cautious approach.
Soon an away going delivery from Aravind kissed his bat and landed into the gloves of diving Thilak Naidu. That wasn’t an unplayable delivery but it looked like one as Pujara had already committed to the shot and couldn’t withdraw at the last moment.
Another Saurashtra hope, southpaw Jaydev Shah, failed to rise to the occasion as he was castled by Akhil for one.
Ravindra Jadeja, however, took up the responsibility in the absence of his colleagues. He scored 38 off 98 balls which included six hits to the fences.
But the emerging talent, too, failed to shine, nicking an away going delivery from Sreesanth Aravind for 11. Saurashtra soon went into a shell and ended the day at a miserable 180 for nine in reply to Karnataka’s 305 on Day II of the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal match at the Brabourne Stadium on Saturday.
Resuming at 265 for eight, Karnataka tailenders did well to add another 40 runs in the morning session despite some lateral movement. R Vinay Kumar played a fluent innings of 48 before being shown the door by Jolly Jobanputra.
Saurashtra didn’t start too badly till Chirag Pathak was dismissed by Vinay Kumar for 24. Opening partner Bhushan Chauhan followed suit also at personal score of 24.
When much was expected of Pujara, seamers Vinay and Balchandra Akhil bowled an immaculate line outside the off-stump with a bit of lateral movement.
Pujara, who has scored three triple tons this season and has more than 750 runs under his belt already, disappointed with his over-cautious approach.
Soon an away going delivery from Aravind kissed his bat and landed into the gloves of diving Thilak Naidu. That wasn’t an unplayable delivery but it looked like one as Pujara had already committed to the shot and couldn’t withdraw at the last moment.
Another Saurashtra hope, southpaw Jaydev Shah, failed to rise to the occasion as he was castled by Akhil for one.
Ravindra Jadeja, however, took up the responsibility in the absence of his colleagues. He scored 38 off 98 balls which included six hits to the fences.
Diamond industry lays off 100,000 workers
The ongoing recession has taken the shine off the Surat diamond industry. Around 100,000 diamond cutting and polishing workers have so far been laid off in the wake of the global turmoil hitting the diamond industry hard.
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"The Rs 50,000 crore diamond industry in Surat is facing severe financial crunch and it has laid off 100,000 workers for the first time in the past 40 years," MD of Gitanjali Group Mehul Choksi said while speaking at the 'Sparkle International Gems and Jewellery' convention held today at Surat.
Nearly 13 lakh workers and their famalies are dependent on diamond, gems and jewellery industry in Surat, added Choksi, who is also the chairman of Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (FICCI) Gems and Jewellery Committee.
"Diamond cutting and polishing units owners and workers should work together at a time of global recession. The industry players should not leave the gems and jewellery workers in limbo when the enitre industry is passing through a tough phase," Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi said while inaugrating the the three-day conference-cut-exhibition at Surat.
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- India says not engaged in troop build-up along border with Pak
- Pak says doesn't want war with India
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- Fighting Inflation : Inflation at a 13-year high
- Your Money : Personal finance
- Credit Policy : RBI's monetary policy review
More
"The Rs 50,000 crore diamond industry in Surat is facing severe financial crunch and it has laid off 100,000 workers for the first time in the past 40 years," MD of Gitanjali Group Mehul Choksi said while speaking at the 'Sparkle International Gems and Jewellery' convention held today at Surat.
Nearly 13 lakh workers and their famalies are dependent on diamond, gems and jewellery industry in Surat, added Choksi, who is also the chairman of Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (FICCI) Gems and Jewellery Committee.
"Diamond cutting and polishing units owners and workers should work together at a time of global recession. The industry players should not leave the gems and jewellery workers in limbo when the enitre industry is passing through a tough phase," Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi said while inaugrating the the three-day conference-cut-exhibition at Surat.
Weekly wrap: Sensex, Nifty lose over 7%
The market ended the truncated week - it remained closed on Thursday for Christmas - on a highly negative note due to weak global sentiment and concerns over declining growth and fears of a marked fall in revenues of high profile Indian companies.
Recording losses on all the four sessions, the Sensex ended with a big loss of 770.99 points or 7.63% at 9328.92 last week (December 22 - 26). The market was closed on Thursday for Christmas. The Nifty ended the week at 2857.25 with a loss of 220.25 points or 7.16%.
Stockometer
The market opened on a subdued note on Monday and declined sharply into the red in mid afternoon trade. Despite managing a rally sometime later, the market faltered once again and slipped far deeper into the negative zone during the closing minutes and finally ended the session on a weak note.
Top gainers | Worst losers
Weak Asian and European markets and lower US index futures kept the mood negative in that session. Realty stocks had a good run in the positive territory on expectations of a surge in demand for new homes following recent rate cuts.
The Sensex, which rose to 10,173.34 in morning trade, ended the day at 9928.35, around 34 points off a low of 9894.01, with a loss of 171.56 points or 1.7%. The Nifty closed at 3039.30 with a loss of 38.20 points or 1.24%. In intra-day trades today, the Nifty touched a high of 3110.45 and a low of 3027.80.
Scrip Scan | Experts' Talk
Weak Asian markets triggered some strong selling on Tuesday. As stocks cutting across sectors took a trip down south, the Sensex ended with a huge loss of 242 points or 2.43% at 9686.75. The Nifty suffered a loss of around 70 points that day.
And it was a negative close for the market again on Wednesday. Despite some short covering ahead of derivatives expiry, the Sensex eased by over 100 points in that session. After a holiday on Thursday, the bears held sway once again when trading resumed on Friday.
This time, besides weak global sentiment, concerns over a sharp drop in revenues of top-notch Indian companies weighed in to a marked extent. According to reports, advance tax payments from Indian firms dropped down significantly this quarter.
Global meltdown and stock market
Selling was so broad-based last week that all the Sensex stocks ended on a negative note. Cairn India (up 4.4%) was the lone gainer in the Nifty pack.
Jaiprakash Associates (down 17.4%) was the biggest loser. Mahindra & Mahindra ended 17.3% down. Satyam Computer Services had another disastrous week and settled with a loss of 16.8%. Tata Motors lost 13.2%.
Reliance Infrastructure, ICICI Bank, Sterlite Industries, Hindalco, Reliance Industries and DLF went down by 10% - 12.5%. BHEL, ONGC, Larsen & Toubro, Wipro, Tata Consultancy Services, ACC, Tata Steel, HDFC Bank, Maruti Suzuki, Infosys Technologies, Reliance Communications, Bharti Airtel and Hindustan Unilever also ended the week on a negative note. HDFC, ITC, Grasim, SBI, NTPC and Tata Power also closed weak.
HCL Technologies was the most prominent loser in the Nifty. The stock slipped by as much as 19.3% to Rs 112.95. Unitech and SAIL went down by 18.4% and 17.6% respectively. Idea Cellular, Reliance Power, ABB, Ambuja Cements, GAIL India, Cipla and Siemens also finished on a highly negative note last week.
Among the sectoral indices, BSE Auto lost 7.72%. The Bankex fell 7.45%. The Consumer Durables and Capital Goods indices eased by 7.3% and 8.28% respectively. BSE IT declined 8.4%. The Oil & Gas and Metal barometers ended lower by 8.29% and 8.9% respectively. BSE FMCG (down 3.67%), HC (down 2.45%), Power (down 6.26%), PSU (down 4.55%), Realty (down 12.85%) and Teck (down 6.69%) also declined sharply last week.
Mirroring the sell-off at side counters, the Midcap and Smallcap indices slipped by 4.82% and 5.22% respectively.
Inflation climbed down and there were expectations of another round of rate cuts and a strong fiscal stimulus from the government. FIIs did pick up some blue chip stocks but then, amid concerns over a deep and prolonged recession, investors were least inclined to build up positions last week.
Was there a due diligence at all?
Refusing to confirm whether a due diligence report (DDR) was prepared and circulated to the board members well in advance of the
decision to acquire Maytas Infra and Maytas Properties by Satyam Computer Services, company director V S Raju said "sufficient information" was there for the board to give the nod for acquiring the two companies.
The DDR comprises a valuation of the companies that are proposed to be acquired, the legal risks and the long-term market profitability due to the acquisition. In normal practice, no acquisition takes place without the preparation of such a report.
When asked whether such a report was made available to them, Raju told TOI: "I cannot comment on that as it is confidential. But I can tell you that sufficient information was provided for us to okay the acquisition."
Raju is currently the chairman of the naval research board under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and is also member on various committees and task forces concerned with technical education and research. Amidst the resignation of senior board member Mangalam Srinivasan and calls for Satyam chairman B Ramalinga Raju and other members to quit, Raju defended the acquisition move and said there was nothing ethically or morally wrong in going for unrelated diversification.
"There was nothing wrong with the decision (to acquire Maytas). The reaction was unfortunate. Perhaps there was little time for us to communicate to the shareholders the acquisition move. Otherwise, the move was sound," Raju said.
Referring to the World Bank barring Satyam from bidding for direct contracts with the bank for the next eight years beginning September 2008 on bribery and other charges, Raju said: "What I was given to understand in an earlier board meeting was that the Bank does not do business with a vendor for more than 10 years and we have completed that period with the bank. Hence, there was nothing unusual or irregular in the WB decision."
decision to acquire Maytas Infra and Maytas Properties by Satyam Computer Services, company director V S Raju said "sufficient information" was there for the board to give the nod for acquiring the two companies.
The DDR comprises a valuation of the companies that are proposed to be acquired, the legal risks and the long-term market profitability due to the acquisition. In normal practice, no acquisition takes place without the preparation of such a report.
When asked whether such a report was made available to them, Raju told TOI: "I cannot comment on that as it is confidential. But I can tell you that sufficient information was provided for us to okay the acquisition."
Raju is currently the chairman of the naval research board under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and is also member on various committees and task forces concerned with technical education and research. Amidst the resignation of senior board member Mangalam Srinivasan and calls for Satyam chairman B Ramalinga Raju and other members to quit, Raju defended the acquisition move and said there was nothing ethically or morally wrong in going for unrelated diversification.
"There was nothing wrong with the decision (to acquire Maytas). The reaction was unfortunate. Perhaps there was little time for us to communicate to the shareholders the acquisition move. Otherwise, the move was sound," Raju said.
Referring to the World Bank barring Satyam from bidding for direct contracts with the bank for the next eight years beginning September 2008 on bribery and other charges, Raju said: "What I was given to understand in an earlier board meeting was that the Bank does not do business with a vendor for more than 10 years and we have completed that period with the bank. Hence, there was nothing unusual or irregular in the WB decision."
Santa gunman lost job, wife before gory attack
Bruce and Sylvia Pardo started the new year in 2006 with all signs pointing to a bright future — an upcoming marriage, a combined income of about $150,000, half-million-dollar home on a quiet cul-de-sac and a beloved dog, Saki.
But things quickly turned sour and divorce documents paint a bitter picture of Bruce Pardo's increasing desperation as he lost first his wife, then his job and finally the dog. By fall 2008, Pardo was asking a judge to have his ex-wife pay him support and cover his attorney's fees.
Pardo's downward slide ended Christmas Eve, when the 45-year-old electrical engineer donned a Santa suit and massacred nine people at his former in-laws' house in Covina, where a family Christmas party was under way. He then used a homemade device disguised as a present to spray racing fuel that quickly sent the home up in flames.
Pardo had planned to flee to Canada following the killing spree but suffered third-degree burns in the fire — which melted part of the Santa suit to him — and decided to kill himself instead, investigators said. His body, with a bullet wound to the head, was found at his brother's home about 40 miles away.
The slaughter came six days after Pardo and his ex-wife appeared in court to finalize their divorce. Police believe the dead included Sylvia Pardo, 43, and her parents, Joseph Ortega, 80, and his 70-year-old wife, Alicia. Other suspected victims were Sylvia Pardo's two brothers and their wives, her sister and a 17-year-old nephew.
Police listed the victims as unaccounted for because coroner's officials said the nine bodies were too badly charred for immediate identification.
Shocked friends said nothing indicated he was on the verge of a murderous rampage. Pardo had told one friend he planned to usher at the Christmas Eve midnight Mass at his church and told another to expect him for a visit in Iowa around the holidays. He had no previous criminal record.
"I can't believe I'm seeing my old boyfriend on TV and all the people he destroyed," said Carol Sanchez, who dated Pardo for four years, when both were 18-year-old high school students. "It's very heartbreaking."
"He was a very easygoing person, a very friendly guy," she said. "I would never in my right mind think that he would ever do anything like this."
Pardo had a 9-year-old son, Matthew, by another former girlfriend, Elena Lucano. He had not seen the child for years, but apparently was claiming him as a dependent for tax purposes. Lucano told the Los Angeles Times that she didn't know Pardo was claiming their son as a dependent.
The boy was left severely brain damaged as a toddler when he fell into a backyard swimming pool on Jan. 6, 2001 while Pardo was alone with him at his former home in Woodland Hills, according to attorney Jeffrey Alvirez, who represented Lucano in the resulting court case.
Medical costs reached $340,000. Lucano sued Pardo to obtain money from his $100,000 homeowner's insurance policy and about $36,000 was put into a trust fund for the boy, who requires constant care. Pardo never contributed any more money to the boy's care.
"He never spent a dime on his son," Alvirez said.
Alvirez said he would not be surprised if Pardo kept that part of his life a secret from his wife.
Court documents from the Pardos' nearly yearlong divorce proceeding reveal a marriage that faltered early and then descended into a bitter feud.
The couple married on Jan. 29, 2006, and moved into a home Pardo already owned in Montrose, about 15 miles north of Los Angeles. The house sits up the hill from the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, where he volunteered as an usher at the children's Mass.
Two days after the shootings, Christmas lights still twinkled from the fence and the roof line and blue-green lights sparkled in an orange tree as two police officers searched the house.
Sylvia Pardo didn't bring much money to the marriage — just $31,000 a year from a job at a flower-breeding company in El Monte — but she brought a 5-year-old daughter from a previous relationship and almost all the furniture. By all accounts, Pardo was close to his wife's daughter.
Sylvia Pardo also had two other children from a previous marriage.
Bruce Pardo was making $122,000 a year as an electrical engineer at ITT Electronic Systems Radar Systems in Van Nuys, and together the couple built a nest egg of $88,500 in two years. He often puttered around the house or walked Saki, the couple's big, brown Akita, in a local park.
But by December 2007, Sylvia Pardo was sleeping in another room and spending weekends with her parents, according to court papers. Two months later she told him she wanted a divorce.
She filed court papers asking for attorney's fees and $3,166 in monthly spousal support. She claimed her husband had drawn down their $88,500 savings to $17,000 in two months and was transferring funds to a private account.
"The situation has become untenable, and continuing the marriage was not an option," she said in court documents.
In July, Pardo lost his job at ITT and soon was drowning in debt while scrambling to find work. He begged the court to grant him spousal support until he could find employment. He complained in a filing that he had monthly expenses of $8,900 and ran a monthly deficit of $2,678. He also had $31,000 in credit card debt and a $2,700 monthly mortgage payment.
"I was not given a severance package from my last employer at termination and I am not receiving any other income," wrote Pardo, who also was denied unemployment benefits. "I am desperately seeking work."
Instead, the court ordered Pardo to pay his ex-wife $1,785 a month in spousal support, plus $3,570 for past payments. When the divorce was settled, the court waived those payments and Bruce Pardo got the house — but he also had to pay his ex-wife $10,000, return her valuable diamond wedding ring and give her custody of the dog.
Two days before the killings, he told his attorney he still was trying to come up with the money.
When Pardo's body was found, $17,000 was strapped to it, money he apparently planned to use to fund his escape to Canada. His mother, Nancy Windsor, told the Los Angeles Times that she wanted that money and any in her son's estate to be placed in a fund for the children of her former daughter-in-law.
"Anything that our family realized from Bruce's vehicle, from the money on him, whenever that's released, everything is going to my grandchildren," Windsor saidThis undated photograph provided by the Covina, Calif. Police Department shows a device that suspect Bruce Pardo brought with him to the Knollcrest house where he allegedly shot and killed at least nine people. This photograph shows the tank from a compressor, below, where the actual compressor mechanism has been removed and replaced with a smaller tank. Police believe the smaller tank held high octane racing fuel and the larger of the two tanks held compressed air. Pardo is suspected in a Christmas Eve massacre where the recently divorced man dressed as Santa allegedly shot indiscriminately at partygoers and destroyed his former in-laws' house with a homemade device that sprayed flammable liquid. (AP Photo/Covina Police Department)
Pakistan remembers Bhutto as tension with India mounts
Tens of thousands of ordinary Pakistanis paid their respects at the grave of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto yesterday, as reports of troop movements led to fears that India and Pakistan were making preparations for a military conflict.
In an attempt to defuse the growing tension between the two countries, Pakistani prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani gave a televised speech in which he said: "We don't want to fight, we don't want to have war, we don't want to have aggression with our neighbours." But he added that the country's military was "fully prepared" to respond to any Indian aggression.
The statement came after Pakistani intelligence officials announced on Friday that the army was redeploying thousands of troops from the country's fight against militants along the Afghan border to the Indian frontier. Islamabad also said it was cancelling all military leave, as relations continued to deteriorate between the nuclear-armed neighbours following last month's terror attack on the Indian financial capital of Mumbai.
India has blamed Pakistani militants for the three-day siege which left 164 people dead, after gunmen targeted 10 sites in the city, including two five-star hotels. In the wake of the troop movements, panic has reportedly gripped towns close to the Indian border, with residents convinced that war is about to break out. But the redeployments were generally seen as an indication that Pakistan will retaliate if India launches air or missile strikes against militant targets on its soil.
A senior Pakistan military official said: "We are only pulling out a limited number of troops, in view of the situation, from the areas that are not involved in the operation [against Islamic militants]. It is part of the necessary defensive measures."
The Indian foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee yesterday accused Pakistan of whipping up a "sort of war hysteria". Mukherjee said: "I appeal to Pakistan and Pakistani leaders: do not unnecessarily try to create tension. Do not try to deflect the issue. A problem has to be tackled face to face."
The United States has been trying to ease the burgeoning crisis while at the same time pressing Pakistan to crack down on militants Washington says are likely to be responsible for the Mumbai attacks. But the Indian position towards Pakistan has notably hardened over the last few days, with the air force refusing to rule out strikes inside its neighbour's borders.
Air Marshal PK Barbora, chief of India's western air command, said that the air force had identified 5,000 terrorist targets inside Pakistani territory. He said diplomacy should be given a chance, but added that if that failed, "war is the last resort". Pakistan and India have fought three wars since their independence from Britain in 1947 - two over Kashmir, a majority Muslim region in the Himalayan mountains that is claimed by both countries.
On Friday, India warned its citizens to stay away from Pakistan, claiming that they were in danger from agencies "that operate outside the law and civilian control". Yesterday's newspaper reports reflected increasingly frenzied war speculation. "Pak army on the march" was the headline in the Hindustan Times, while the Times of India - which led its Christmas Day edition with the headline "Pak whips itself into war frenzy" - reported that Pakistan had stepped up its "war moves". Claims by Pakistan that Indian nationals had been arrested in connection with a Christmas Eve car bombing in Lahore were also angrily dismissed. Anand Sharma, an Indian external affairs minister, called the reports "hogwash".
Although some in the Indian media have urged caution, there has been a spate of anti-Pakistan stories since the Mumbai attacks. Yesterday's Times of India carried a front-page report headlined "Pak textbooks foster hate against India" which claimed that "venom against India is officially promoted to infect young minds in Pakistani schools" and asserted that terrorism in Pakistan had its roots in a culture of hate.
Many in India appear ready to believe that the Mumbai bombings were sanctioned at the highest level in Pakistan, with newspapers citing unnamed sources within the Indian administration claiming that the attacks were part of a plan by the Pakistani military to reassert itself over the civilian government.
In a pointed reference to India, he warned that the whole region would suffer in the event of war and urged that dialogue was the only solution. He insisted that, despite its problems, "Pakistan is not a failed state".
Manmohan Singh, the Indian prime minister, has been briefed by his armed forces chiefs on the military situation. New Delhi has so far done little to play down talk of war, mobilising the country's network of civil defence volunteers and asking them to be ready to evacuate border villages if necessary.
Meanwhile, an estimated 150,000 made the pilgrimage to Benazir Bhutto's remote ancestral village, Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, in the southern Sindh province. Crying out "Bibi [Benazir Bhutto] is alive", a huge crowd, many in tears, beating their heads and chests, gathered to pray at her graveside, which lies close to that of her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, another former prime minister, in a marble mausoleum.
The main function at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, due to be addressed in person by Bhutto's widower, Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari, was abruptly cancelled, seemingly due to fears of a suicide bomb attack. Her three children remained in the nearby family home. About 6,000 police officers and paramilitary soldiers were deployed around the tomb.
"Pakistan asks sacrifices of us, and when it does, this party and the people of this country give them," Zardari said in a half-hour speech. "There are a lot of conspiracies and fears but today democracy has triumphed ... we ourselves have accepted we have a cancer."
Television channels played near-continuous coverage of the commemorations, footage of Bhutto's life, and repeated clips of her assassination.
In an attempt to defuse the growing tension between the two countries, Pakistani prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani gave a televised speech in which he said: "We don't want to fight, we don't want to have war, we don't want to have aggression with our neighbours." But he added that the country's military was "fully prepared" to respond to any Indian aggression.
The statement came after Pakistani intelligence officials announced on Friday that the army was redeploying thousands of troops from the country's fight against militants along the Afghan border to the Indian frontier. Islamabad also said it was cancelling all military leave, as relations continued to deteriorate between the nuclear-armed neighbours following last month's terror attack on the Indian financial capital of Mumbai.
India has blamed Pakistani militants for the three-day siege which left 164 people dead, after gunmen targeted 10 sites in the city, including two five-star hotels. In the wake of the troop movements, panic has reportedly gripped towns close to the Indian border, with residents convinced that war is about to break out. But the redeployments were generally seen as an indication that Pakistan will retaliate if India launches air or missile strikes against militant targets on its soil.
A senior Pakistan military official said: "We are only pulling out a limited number of troops, in view of the situation, from the areas that are not involved in the operation [against Islamic militants]. It is part of the necessary defensive measures."
The Indian foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee yesterday accused Pakistan of whipping up a "sort of war hysteria". Mukherjee said: "I appeal to Pakistan and Pakistani leaders: do not unnecessarily try to create tension. Do not try to deflect the issue. A problem has to be tackled face to face."
The United States has been trying to ease the burgeoning crisis while at the same time pressing Pakistan to crack down on militants Washington says are likely to be responsible for the Mumbai attacks. But the Indian position towards Pakistan has notably hardened over the last few days, with the air force refusing to rule out strikes inside its neighbour's borders.
Air Marshal PK Barbora, chief of India's western air command, said that the air force had identified 5,000 terrorist targets inside Pakistani territory. He said diplomacy should be given a chance, but added that if that failed, "war is the last resort". Pakistan and India have fought three wars since their independence from Britain in 1947 - two over Kashmir, a majority Muslim region in the Himalayan mountains that is claimed by both countries.
On Friday, India warned its citizens to stay away from Pakistan, claiming that they were in danger from agencies "that operate outside the law and civilian control". Yesterday's newspaper reports reflected increasingly frenzied war speculation. "Pak army on the march" was the headline in the Hindustan Times, while the Times of India - which led its Christmas Day edition with the headline "Pak whips itself into war frenzy" - reported that Pakistan had stepped up its "war moves". Claims by Pakistan that Indian nationals had been arrested in connection with a Christmas Eve car bombing in Lahore were also angrily dismissed. Anand Sharma, an Indian external affairs minister, called the reports "hogwash".
Although some in the Indian media have urged caution, there has been a spate of anti-Pakistan stories since the Mumbai attacks. Yesterday's Times of India carried a front-page report headlined "Pak textbooks foster hate against India" which claimed that "venom against India is officially promoted to infect young minds in Pakistani schools" and asserted that terrorism in Pakistan had its roots in a culture of hate.
Many in India appear ready to believe that the Mumbai bombings were sanctioned at the highest level in Pakistan, with newspapers citing unnamed sources within the Indian administration claiming that the attacks were part of a plan by the Pakistani military to reassert itself over the civilian government.
In a pointed reference to India, he warned that the whole region would suffer in the event of war and urged that dialogue was the only solution. He insisted that, despite its problems, "Pakistan is not a failed state".
Manmohan Singh, the Indian prime minister, has been briefed by his armed forces chiefs on the military situation. New Delhi has so far done little to play down talk of war, mobilising the country's network of civil defence volunteers and asking them to be ready to evacuate border villages if necessary.
Meanwhile, an estimated 150,000 made the pilgrimage to Benazir Bhutto's remote ancestral village, Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, in the southern Sindh province. Crying out "Bibi [Benazir Bhutto] is alive", a huge crowd, many in tears, beating their heads and chests, gathered to pray at her graveside, which lies close to that of her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, another former prime minister, in a marble mausoleum.
The main function at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, due to be addressed in person by Bhutto's widower, Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari, was abruptly cancelled, seemingly due to fears of a suicide bomb attack. Her three children remained in the nearby family home. About 6,000 police officers and paramilitary soldiers were deployed around the tomb.
"Pakistan asks sacrifices of us, and when it does, this party and the people of this country give them," Zardari said in a half-hour speech. "There are a lot of conspiracies and fears but today democracy has triumphed ... we ourselves have accepted we have a cancer."
Television channels played near-continuous coverage of the commemorations, footage of Bhutto's life, and repeated clips of her assassination.
White House Puts Onus on Hamas to End Escalation of Violence
As world leaders called on Saturday for an end to the Middle East violence, the Bush administration issued blistering criticism of Hamas, saying the group had provoked Israel’s airstrikes on Gaza by firing rockets into southern Israel. Gordon D. Johndroe, a White House spokesman, said that Hamas, the group that controls Gaza, was responsible for the outbreak of violence and called its rocket attacks ”completely unacceptable. These people are nothing but thugs,” he said. “Israel is going to defend its people against terrorists like Hamas.”
In Washington, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice issued a statement that said: “The United States strongly condemns the repeated rocket and mortar attacks against Israel and holds Hamas responsible for breaking the cease-fire and for the renewal of violence in Gaza. The cease-fire should be restored immediately. The United States calls on all concerned to address the urgent humanitarian needs of the innocent people of Gaza.”
An aide to President-elect Barack Obama, who is on vacation in Hawaii, said he had discussed events in Gaza with Ms. Rice in an eight-minute telephone call initiated by Mr. Obama.
Brooke Anderson, a spokeswoman for Mr. Obama, said that while Mr. Obama was monitoring global events, “There is one president at a time.”
In the campaign, Mr. Obama made statements that sounded similar to those issued by the Bush administration on Saturday.
“If somebody was sending rockets into my house where my two daughters sleep at night, I’m going to do everything in my power to stop that,” Mr. Obama said in July. “And I would expect Israelis to do the same thing.”
Mr. Johndroe said that King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia called Mr. Bush at his ranch in Crawford, Tex., on Saturday, and they discussed the situation.
Asked whether the United States had given any green light for the airstrikes by Israel, Mr. Johndroe said: “The Israeli cabinet authorized this a few days ago, as you’re all aware. So we were aware of that authorization by the Israeli cabinet.” He added: “Hamas has done nothing for the people of Gaza. They need to stop. They have a choice to make. You can’t have one foot in politics and one foot in terror.”
President Nicolas Sarkozy of France was one of many world leaders calling for an immediate halt to the rocket attacks on Israel and to the Israeli airstrikes.
He condemned “the irresponsible provocations that led to this situation, as well as the disproportionate use of force.”
In Washington, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice issued a statement that said: “The United States strongly condemns the repeated rocket and mortar attacks against Israel and holds Hamas responsible for breaking the cease-fire and for the renewal of violence in Gaza. The cease-fire should be restored immediately. The United States calls on all concerned to address the urgent humanitarian needs of the innocent people of Gaza.”
An aide to President-elect Barack Obama, who is on vacation in Hawaii, said he had discussed events in Gaza with Ms. Rice in an eight-minute telephone call initiated by Mr. Obama.
Brooke Anderson, a spokeswoman for Mr. Obama, said that while Mr. Obama was monitoring global events, “There is one president at a time.”
In the campaign, Mr. Obama made statements that sounded similar to those issued by the Bush administration on Saturday.
“If somebody was sending rockets into my house where my two daughters sleep at night, I’m going to do everything in my power to stop that,” Mr. Obama said in July. “And I would expect Israelis to do the same thing.”
Mr. Johndroe said that King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia called Mr. Bush at his ranch in Crawford, Tex., on Saturday, and they discussed the situation.
Asked whether the United States had given any green light for the airstrikes by Israel, Mr. Johndroe said: “The Israeli cabinet authorized this a few days ago, as you’re all aware. So we were aware of that authorization by the Israeli cabinet.” He added: “Hamas has done nothing for the people of Gaza. They need to stop. They have a choice to make. You can’t have one foot in politics and one foot in terror.”
President Nicolas Sarkozy of France was one of many world leaders calling for an immediate halt to the rocket attacks on Israel and to the Israeli airstrikes.
He condemned “the irresponsible provocations that led to this situation, as well as the disproportionate use of force.”
White House Puts Onus on Hamas to End Escalation of Violence
As world leaders called on Saturday for an end to the Middle East violence, the Bush administration issued blistering criticism of Hamas, saying the group had provoked Israel’s airstrikes on Gaza by firing rockets into southern Israel. Gordon D. Johndroe, a White House spokesman, said that Hamas, the group that controls Gaza, was responsible for the outbreak of violence and called its rocket attacks ”completely unacceptable. These people are nothing but thugs,” he said. “Israel is going to defend its people against terrorists like Hamas.”
In Washington, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice issued a statement that said: “The United States strongly condemns the repeated rocket and mortar attacks against Israel and holds Hamas responsible for breaking the cease-fire and for the renewal of violence in Gaza. The cease-fire should be restored immediately. The United States calls on all concerned to address the urgent humanitarian needs of the innocent people of Gaza.”
An aide to President-elect Barack Obama, who is on vacation in Hawaii, said he had discussed events in Gaza with Ms. Rice in an eight-minute telephone call initiated by Mr. Obama.
Brooke Anderson, a spokeswoman for Mr. Obama, said that while Mr. Obama was monitoring global events, “There is one president at a time.”
In the campaign, Mr. Obama made statements that sounded similar to those issued by the Bush administration on Saturday.
“If somebody was sending rockets into my house where my two daughters sleep at night, I’m going to do everything in my power to stop that,” Mr. Obama said in July. “And I would expect Israelis to do the same thing.”
Mr. Johndroe said that King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia called Mr. Bush at his ranch in Crawford, Tex., on Saturday, and they discussed the situation.
Asked whether the United States had given any green light for the airstrikes by Israel, Mr. Johndroe said: “The Israeli cabinet authorized this a few days ago, as you’re all aware. So we were aware of that authorization by the Israeli cabinet.” He added: “Hamas has done nothing for the people of Gaza. They need to stop. They have a choice to make. You can’t have one foot in politics and one foot in terror.”
President Nicolas Sarkozy of France was one of many world leaders calling for an immediate halt to the rocket attacks on Israel and to the Israeli airstrikes.
He condemned “the irresponsible provocations that led to this situation, as well as the disproportionate use of force.”
In Washington, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice issued a statement that said: “The United States strongly condemns the repeated rocket and mortar attacks against Israel and holds Hamas responsible for breaking the cease-fire and for the renewal of violence in Gaza. The cease-fire should be restored immediately. The United States calls on all concerned to address the urgent humanitarian needs of the innocent people of Gaza.”
An aide to President-elect Barack Obama, who is on vacation in Hawaii, said he had discussed events in Gaza with Ms. Rice in an eight-minute telephone call initiated by Mr. Obama.
Brooke Anderson, a spokeswoman for Mr. Obama, said that while Mr. Obama was monitoring global events, “There is one president at a time.”
In the campaign, Mr. Obama made statements that sounded similar to those issued by the Bush administration on Saturday.
“If somebody was sending rockets into my house where my two daughters sleep at night, I’m going to do everything in my power to stop that,” Mr. Obama said in July. “And I would expect Israelis to do the same thing.”
Mr. Johndroe said that King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia called Mr. Bush at his ranch in Crawford, Tex., on Saturday, and they discussed the situation.
Asked whether the United States had given any green light for the airstrikes by Israel, Mr. Johndroe said: “The Israeli cabinet authorized this a few days ago, as you’re all aware. So we were aware of that authorization by the Israeli cabinet.” He added: “Hamas has done nothing for the people of Gaza. They need to stop. They have a choice to make. You can’t have one foot in politics and one foot in terror.”
President Nicolas Sarkozy of France was one of many world leaders calling for an immediate halt to the rocket attacks on Israel and to the Israeli airstrikes.
He condemned “the irresponsible provocations that led to this situation, as well as the disproportionate use of force.”
Get ISI declared a terrorist outfit: BJP
It is becoming increasingly clear elements in Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence played an important role in the planning and facilitation of last month’s Mumbai attacks, the Bharatiya Janata Party said and demanded that India press for a declaration of the ISI as a terrorist organisation.
Party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad pointed out here on Saturday that media reports in Pakistan said some important ISI officers were present at the birthday celebrations of Dawood Ibrahim in Islamabad although Pakistan often denied that the man wanted in India for the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts of 1993 was living in the country.
While it was for the government to decide on the action against Pakistan, the BJP would suggest that the Indian High Commission in Islamabad be scaled down and the Indian High Commissioner recalled.
An advisory cautioning Indians against travelling to Pakistan was not good enough, Mr. Prasad said. All travel by Indians to Pakistan must come to a stop except in an emergency situation.
Mr. Prasad said that in all probability the 10 terrorists who made their way to Mumbai by the sea were trained commandos who were given training at PNS Iqbal, where Pakistani naval commandos are trained. He said the highly trained and well equipped terrorists would have been facilitated by “state actors” in Pakistan. Therefore, the government of India must stop using the phrase “non-state actors” to refer to the masterminds responsible for the planning and execution of the Mumbai attack.
As for Pakistan, its top leadership began by admitting that “non-state actors” could have been involved in the attack. Later, the leaders talked about “stateless persons” and still later about “freelance terrorists.” The fact was the terrorists who attacked Mumbai were well trained and used sophisticated weapons and a high quality GPS system, Mr. Prasad said.
Party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad pointed out here on Saturday that media reports in Pakistan said some important ISI officers were present at the birthday celebrations of Dawood Ibrahim in Islamabad although Pakistan often denied that the man wanted in India for the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts of 1993 was living in the country.
While it was for the government to decide on the action against Pakistan, the BJP would suggest that the Indian High Commission in Islamabad be scaled down and the Indian High Commissioner recalled.
An advisory cautioning Indians against travelling to Pakistan was not good enough, Mr. Prasad said. All travel by Indians to Pakistan must come to a stop except in an emergency situation.
Mr. Prasad said that in all probability the 10 terrorists who made their way to Mumbai by the sea were trained commandos who were given training at PNS Iqbal, where Pakistani naval commandos are trained. He said the highly trained and well equipped terrorists would have been facilitated by “state actors” in Pakistan. Therefore, the government of India must stop using the phrase “non-state actors” to refer to the masterminds responsible for the planning and execution of the Mumbai attack.
As for Pakistan, its top leadership began by admitting that “non-state actors” could have been involved in the attack. Later, the leaders talked about “stateless persons” and still later about “freelance terrorists.” The fact was the terrorists who attacked Mumbai were well trained and used sophisticated weapons and a high quality GPS system, Mr. Prasad said.
Israeli air strikes in Gaza Strip kill 155
Over 155 people are reported killed after Israel launched a series of air strikes against multiple targets in Gaza Strip.
Around 30 missiles destroyed security compounds run by the militant group Hamas in the centre of Gaza City, killing dozens and leaving many buried under the rubble.
More than 250 people have also been wounded in the attacks, said Gaza Health Ministry official Moawiya Hassanain.
The strikes came after the expiry of a truce with Hamas. Israel said they were launched in response to continued rocket fire by Palestinian militants against Israeli towns. An Israeli military statement claimed the operation targeted “Hamas terror operatives” as well as training camps and weaponry storage warehouses.
Hamas immediately vowed to carry out revenge attacks on Israel. “Hamas will continue the resistance until the last drop of blood,” said the group’s spokesman Fawzi Barhoum, speaking on a Gaza radio station.
Israel told its civilians near Gaza to take cover, and moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for restraint.
The first round of airstrikes came just before noon, followed by several more waves of missiles. Dozens of security compounds were destroyed, claiming the life of Gaza police chief Major General Tawfiq Jaber.
The missiles struck as children were leaving school, leading to widespread confusion and panic.
Plumes of black smoke rose above Gaza City, as sirens wailed and mothers ran through the rubble searching desperately for their children.
Television footage showed Gaza City hospitals crowded with people and civilians transporting the wounded in their cars.
“We are treating people on the floor, in the corridors. We have no more space,” said one doctor at Gaza’s main Shifa Hospital.
The air strikes, the most intense Israeli attacks on Gaza in recent times, come amid rumours that a ground offensive is imminent
Around 30 missiles destroyed security compounds run by the militant group Hamas in the centre of Gaza City, killing dozens and leaving many buried under the rubble.
More than 250 people have also been wounded in the attacks, said Gaza Health Ministry official Moawiya Hassanain.
The strikes came after the expiry of a truce with Hamas. Israel said they were launched in response to continued rocket fire by Palestinian militants against Israeli towns. An Israeli military statement claimed the operation targeted “Hamas terror operatives” as well as training camps and weaponry storage warehouses.
Hamas immediately vowed to carry out revenge attacks on Israel. “Hamas will continue the resistance until the last drop of blood,” said the group’s spokesman Fawzi Barhoum, speaking on a Gaza radio station.
Israel told its civilians near Gaza to take cover, and moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for restraint.
The first round of airstrikes came just before noon, followed by several more waves of missiles. Dozens of security compounds were destroyed, claiming the life of Gaza police chief Major General Tawfiq Jaber.
The missiles struck as children were leaving school, leading to widespread confusion and panic.
Plumes of black smoke rose above Gaza City, as sirens wailed and mothers ran through the rubble searching desperately for their children.
Television footage showed Gaza City hospitals crowded with people and civilians transporting the wounded in their cars.
“We are treating people on the floor, in the corridors. We have no more space,” said one doctor at Gaza’s main Shifa Hospital.
The air strikes, the most intense Israeli attacks on Gaza in recent times, come amid rumours that a ground offensive is imminent
Israeli air strikes in Gaza Strip kill 155
Over 155 people are reported killed after Israel launched a series of air strikes against multiple targets in Gaza Strip.
Around 30 missiles destroyed security compounds run by the militant group Hamas in the centre of Gaza City, killing dozens and leaving many buried under the rubble.
More than 250 people have also been wounded in the attacks, said Gaza Health Ministry official Moawiya Hassanain.
The strikes came after the expiry of a truce with Hamas. Israel said they were launched in response to continued rocket fire by Palestinian militants against Israeli towns. An Israeli military statement claimed the operation targeted “Hamas terror operatives” as well as training camps and weaponry storage warehouses.
Hamas immediately vowed to carry out revenge attacks on Israel. “Hamas will continue the resistance until the last drop of blood,” said the group’s spokesman Fawzi Barhoum, speaking on a Gaza radio station.
Israel told its civilians near Gaza to take cover, and moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for restraint.
The first round of airstrikes came just before noon, followed by several more waves of missiles. Dozens of security compounds were destroyed, claiming the life of Gaza police chief Major General Tawfiq Jaber.
The missiles struck as children were leaving school, leading to widespread confusion and panic.
Plumes of black smoke rose above Gaza City, as sirens wailed and mothers ran through the rubble searching desperately for their children.
Television footage showed Gaza City hospitals crowded with people and civilians transporting the wounded in their cars.
“We are treating people on the floor, in the corridors. We have no more space,” said one doctor at Gaza’s main Shifa Hospital.
The air strikes, the most intense Israeli attacks on Gaza in recent times, come amid rumours that a ground offensive is imminent
Around 30 missiles destroyed security compounds run by the militant group Hamas in the centre of Gaza City, killing dozens and leaving many buried under the rubble.
More than 250 people have also been wounded in the attacks, said Gaza Health Ministry official Moawiya Hassanain.
The strikes came after the expiry of a truce with Hamas. Israel said they were launched in response to continued rocket fire by Palestinian militants against Israeli towns. An Israeli military statement claimed the operation targeted “Hamas terror operatives” as well as training camps and weaponry storage warehouses.
Hamas immediately vowed to carry out revenge attacks on Israel. “Hamas will continue the resistance until the last drop of blood,” said the group’s spokesman Fawzi Barhoum, speaking on a Gaza radio station.
Israel told its civilians near Gaza to take cover, and moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for restraint.
The first round of airstrikes came just before noon, followed by several more waves of missiles. Dozens of security compounds were destroyed, claiming the life of Gaza police chief Major General Tawfiq Jaber.
The missiles struck as children were leaving school, leading to widespread confusion and panic.
Plumes of black smoke rose above Gaza City, as sirens wailed and mothers ran through the rubble searching desperately for their children.
Television footage showed Gaza City hospitals crowded with people and civilians transporting the wounded in their cars.
“We are treating people on the floor, in the corridors. We have no more space,” said one doctor at Gaza’s main Shifa Hospital.
The air strikes, the most intense Israeli attacks on Gaza in recent times, come amid rumours that a ground offensive is imminent
Stop war hysteria, act against terror: India to PaK
After war hysteria, de-escalation is the new mantra. According to sources, India
has told Pakistan it is not engaged in any troop build up along its border with Pakistan and has once again asked Islamabad to crack down on terrorists acting from its soil.
# The Indian High Commissioner Satyabrata Pal met Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir to say India has no plans for military action but wants Pakistan to act against militant groups on its soil.
# Pakistan cautioned India that any surgical strike by India in response to the Mumbai terror attacks would be seen as an "act of war".
# India has responded by saying there is no reason for the "war hysteria" being seen in Pakistan.
Under pressure, Pakistan has meanwhile, toned down its rhetoric. Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Reza Gilani has said that Pakistan would not take any unprovoked action against India.
But Anand Sharma, Minister of Sate for foreign Affairs said it's time for Pakistan to act. He has also urged Indians not to travel to Pakistan since India had issue an advisory after many years.
"There has been a disinformation campaign by Pakistan inventing incidents that never took place after Lahore blasts they made some claims Lahore police had no idea. We feel that Indians are unsafe there," he said
has told Pakistan it is not engaged in any troop build up along its border with Pakistan and has once again asked Islamabad to crack down on terrorists acting from its soil.
# The Indian High Commissioner Satyabrata Pal met Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir to say India has no plans for military action but wants Pakistan to act against militant groups on its soil.
# Pakistan cautioned India that any surgical strike by India in response to the Mumbai terror attacks would be seen as an "act of war".
# India has responded by saying there is no reason for the "war hysteria" being seen in Pakistan.
Under pressure, Pakistan has meanwhile, toned down its rhetoric. Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Reza Gilani has said that Pakistan would not take any unprovoked action against India.
But Anand Sharma, Minister of Sate for foreign Affairs said it's time for Pakistan to act. He has also urged Indians not to travel to Pakistan since India had issue an advisory after many years.
"There has been a disinformation campaign by Pakistan inventing incidents that never took place after Lahore blasts they made some claims Lahore police had no idea. We feel that Indians are unsafe there," he said
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
One killed 16 injured as bus falls into valley
One person killed and 16 others injured when a minibus (No MH04 4.32), in which they were travelling from Mumbai, fell into the valley near Parshuram, Chiplun, on Wednesday.
The deceased is identified as Raju Gajanan Darekar, 35, of Santacruz, Mumbai. He was killed on the spot.
The 16 injured persons were admitted in Gharda Hospital and two of them, who were seriously injured, are admitted to Dervan Hospital.
The two seriously injured are identified as Suryakant Gujrathi, Sumitra Kadam.
Remaining 14 injured were discharged after first aid. There were 21 persons in the mini bus of Man Mohan Travels, Mumbai
The deceased is identified as Raju Gajanan Darekar, 35, of Santacruz, Mumbai. He was killed on the spot.
The 16 injured persons were admitted in Gharda Hospital and two of them, who were seriously injured, are admitted to Dervan Hospital.
The two seriously injured are identified as Suryakant Gujrathi, Sumitra Kadam.
Remaining 14 injured were discharged after first aid. There were 21 persons in the mini bus of Man Mohan Travels, Mumbai
Geetanjali Express derails; no casualties
The Mumbai-Howrah Geetanjali Express derailed near Akola on Wednesday, disrupting traffic on the busy Badnera-Bhusawal section of Central Railways.
There were no casualties reported in the mishap, which took place nearly 20 km from Akola, a Central Railways spokesperson said.
The incident occurred at around 3.30 pm when S-7 coach of the Howrah-bound superfast train jumped off the track near Nagzari, throwing the traffic on Down line completely out of gear, the spokesperson said.
Work was on to put the derailed coach back on tracks and restore the traffic on the busy route, the spokesperson added.
There were no casualties reported in the mishap, which took place nearly 20 km from Akola, a Central Railways spokesperson said.
The incident occurred at around 3.30 pm when S-7 coach of the Howrah-bound superfast train jumped off the track near Nagzari, throwing the traffic on Down line completely out of gear, the spokesperson said.
Work was on to put the derailed coach back on tracks and restore the traffic on the busy route, the spokesperson added.
Israel cancels food supply to Gaza after bombardment
Israel's political-security cabinet on Wednesday canceled the planned supply of food and medicine to the poverty-stricken Gaza territory, in an urgent session, as Hamas militants bombarded southern Israel with mortars and rockets.
In the meeting the cabinet discussed about the future course of action after a barrage of rocket and mortar shells attack from Gaza and decided to seal thecrossings leading to the coastal area.
Amid hints of willingness to extend the truce agreement with Israel, Gaza-based Palestinian militants fired at least 21 rockets, including both Qassam and Grad varieties, and eight mortar shells at the western Negev territories of the Jewish state on Wednesday.
One of the rockets exploded next to a children's playground in the southern town of Netivot and a mortar struck a direct hit on a house in Kibbutz Sha'ar Hanegev, causing extensive damage.
A house in the community of Sdot Negev was also severely damaged after it absorbed a direct rocket hit.
Two threatening Grad-type missiles exploded inpublic areas of the southern city of Ashkelon, a major concern for Jerusalem as it demonstratesPalestinian militants enhanced ability to threaten major population centres some 20 kms away from the Gaza border.
The Home Front Command warned all Israelis living close to the border with Gaza to keep their children indoorsand the Sderot municipality told all of its residents not to leave their homes until the situation has stabilised
In the meeting the cabinet discussed about the future course of action after a barrage of rocket and mortar shells attack from Gaza and decided to seal thecrossings leading to the coastal area.
Amid hints of willingness to extend the truce agreement with Israel, Gaza-based Palestinian militants fired at least 21 rockets, including both Qassam and Grad varieties, and eight mortar shells at the western Negev territories of the Jewish state on Wednesday.
One of the rockets exploded next to a children's playground in the southern town of Netivot and a mortar struck a direct hit on a house in Kibbutz Sha'ar Hanegev, causing extensive damage.
A house in the community of Sdot Negev was also severely damaged after it absorbed a direct rocket hit.
Two threatening Grad-type missiles exploded inpublic areas of the southern city of Ashkelon, a major concern for Jerusalem as it demonstratesPalestinian militants enhanced ability to threaten major population centres some 20 kms away from the Gaza border.
The Home Front Command warned all Israelis living close to the border with Gaza to keep their children indoorsand the Sderot municipality told all of its residents not to leave their homes until the situation has stabilised
Mumbai terror strikes to feature in Queen's X-mas speech
Recent terror strikes in Mumbai will figure in the traditional Christmas day message of Queen Elizabeth II, besides those hit by the financial meltdown, according to extracts of her speech released on Wednesday.
Terming this year's festive celebrations as more "sombre occasions", Queen in her 10-minute address to be broadcast on Thursday, will pay homage to those, who have lost their lives to terrorism, including last month's Mumbai attack victims.
In her speech, Queen acknowledges that many of her subjects have been hit hard by the economic slump and the support she and the Duke of Edinburgh receive from their own children and grandchildren during the crisis.
Her speech, filmed in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace, laments "violence in distant lands", such as in Mumbai.
She says: "People are touched by events which have their roots far across the world, whether it is the global economy or violence in distant lands, the effects can be keenly felt at home.
"Some of those things which could once have been taken for granted suddenly seem less certain and, naturally, give rise to feelings of insecurity."
She says that although Christmas is a time for celebration, "this year it is a more sombre occasion for many".
The broadcast on Christmas afternoon, in which the Queen speaks about the recent 60th birthday of the Prince of Wales, will also for the first time contains private footage of Charles as a small child.
The Queen traditionally delivers her address from Buckingham Palace's Music Room.
The Queen's message produced by the BBC will be broadcast on both television and radio at 3pm GMT and will be available on the Royal Channel on the YouTube website.
Terming this year's festive celebrations as more "sombre occasions", Queen in her 10-minute address to be broadcast on Thursday, will pay homage to those, who have lost their lives to terrorism, including last month's Mumbai attack victims.
In her speech, Queen acknowledges that many of her subjects have been hit hard by the economic slump and the support she and the Duke of Edinburgh receive from their own children and grandchildren during the crisis.
Her speech, filmed in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace, laments "violence in distant lands", such as in Mumbai.
She says: "People are touched by events which have their roots far across the world, whether it is the global economy or violence in distant lands, the effects can be keenly felt at home.
"Some of those things which could once have been taken for granted suddenly seem less certain and, naturally, give rise to feelings of insecurity."
She says that although Christmas is a time for celebration, "this year it is a more sombre occasion for many".
The broadcast on Christmas afternoon, in which the Queen speaks about the recent 60th birthday of the Prince of Wales, will also for the first time contains private footage of Charles as a small child.
The Queen traditionally delivers her address from Buckingham Palace's Music Room.
The Queen's message produced by the BBC will be broadcast on both television and radio at 3pm GMT and will be available on the Royal Channel on the YouTube website.
UK union expects Brown govt to rescue JLR
Expressing satisfaction at Indian conglomerate Tatas' move to pump in money into Jaguar Land Rover, the head of the UK's biggest union Unite, Tony Woodley, has said he expects the Gordon Brown government to offer financial aid to the luxury car maker.
Tatas-owned Jaguar Land Rover has witnessed a sharp decline in sales and has asked for government assistance.
Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite, was quoted in The Times as saying there was little reason for the Government not to act, now that the "Jaguar Land Rovers owner, Tata Motors of India, had injected more cash".
According to reports, the car maker has received tens of millions of pounds from its Indian owner, which would help the company to stave off an immediate cash flow crisis.
"I am delighted that (the Tatas have) put more financing into the company. It is obviously right that they do so, having bought it only nine months ago.
I would now be extremely surprised if the Government did not give financial support to the company as well and I would be very surprised if it wasn't this side of Christmas. I would be disappointed if there was not confirmation of the availability of a loan or credit guarantees at least," the daily quoted Woodley in a report published online on Wednesday.
However, senior Whitehall sources say that a bailout is unlikely to come before Christmas, it added.
The Times noted that a sticking point is believed to be the willingness of the Tatas to open their books. "Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, was said to be 'playing hard-ball' with the company on this issue," it added.
"About 40 million pounds worth of bills are thought to have been due for payment yesterday and it is understood that this is why an immediate cash injection from (the Tatas) was required," the report pointed out.
Tatas-owned Jaguar Land Rover has witnessed a sharp decline in sales and has asked for government assistance.
Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite, was quoted in The Times as saying there was little reason for the Government not to act, now that the "Jaguar Land Rovers owner, Tata Motors of India, had injected more cash".
According to reports, the car maker has received tens of millions of pounds from its Indian owner, which would help the company to stave off an immediate cash flow crisis.
"I am delighted that (the Tatas have) put more financing into the company. It is obviously right that they do so, having bought it only nine months ago.
I would now be extremely surprised if the Government did not give financial support to the company as well and I would be very surprised if it wasn't this side of Christmas. I would be disappointed if there was not confirmation of the availability of a loan or credit guarantees at least," the daily quoted Woodley in a report published online on Wednesday.
However, senior Whitehall sources say that a bailout is unlikely to come before Christmas, it added.
The Times noted that a sticking point is believed to be the willingness of the Tatas to open their books. "Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, was said to be 'playing hard-ball' with the company on this issue," it added.
"About 40 million pounds worth of bills are thought to have been due for payment yesterday and it is understood that this is why an immediate cash injection from (the Tatas) was required," the report pointed out.
UK union expects Brown govt to rescue JLR
Expressing satisfaction at Indian conglomerate Tatas' move to pump in money into Jaguar Land Rover, the head of the UK's biggest union Unite, Tony Woodley, has said he expects the Gordon Brown government to offer financial aid to the luxury car maker.
Tatas-owned Jaguar Land Rover has witnessed a sharp decline in sales and has asked for government assistance.
Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite, was quoted in The Times as saying there was little reason for the Government not to act, now that the "Jaguar Land Rovers owner, Tata Motors of India, had injected more cash".
According to reports, the car maker has received tens of millions of pounds from its Indian owner, which would help the company to stave off an immediate cash flow crisis.
"I am delighted that (the Tatas have) put more financing into the company. It is obviously right that they do so, having bought it only nine months ago.
I would now be extremely surprised if the Government did not give financial support to the company as well and I would be very surprised if it wasn't this side of Christmas. I would be disappointed if there was not confirmation of the availability of a loan or credit guarantees at least," the daily quoted Woodley in a report published online on Wednesday.
However, senior Whitehall sources say that a bailout is unlikely to come before Christmas, it added.
The Times noted that a sticking point is believed to be the willingness of the Tatas to open their books. "Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, was said to be 'playing hard-ball' with the company on this issue," it added.
"About 40 million pounds worth of bills are thought to have been due for payment yesterday and it is understood that this is why an immediate cash injection from (the Tatas) was required," the report pointed out.
Tatas-owned Jaguar Land Rover has witnessed a sharp decline in sales and has asked for government assistance.
Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite, was quoted in The Times as saying there was little reason for the Government not to act, now that the "Jaguar Land Rovers owner, Tata Motors of India, had injected more cash".
According to reports, the car maker has received tens of millions of pounds from its Indian owner, which would help the company to stave off an immediate cash flow crisis.
"I am delighted that (the Tatas have) put more financing into the company. It is obviously right that they do so, having bought it only nine months ago.
I would now be extremely surprised if the Government did not give financial support to the company as well and I would be very surprised if it wasn't this side of Christmas. I would be disappointed if there was not confirmation of the availability of a loan or credit guarantees at least," the daily quoted Woodley in a report published online on Wednesday.
However, senior Whitehall sources say that a bailout is unlikely to come before Christmas, it added.
The Times noted that a sticking point is believed to be the willingness of the Tatas to open their books. "Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, was said to be 'playing hard-ball' with the company on this issue," it added.
"About 40 million pounds worth of bills are thought to have been due for payment yesterday and it is understood that this is why an immediate cash injection from (the Tatas) was required," the report pointed out.
Yuvi-Akshay to take on Aamir
Aamir Khan's 'Ghajini' will face some elephantine competition from none other than Akshay Kumar's first animation film 'Jumbo'.
Both films are releasing simultaneously on Christmas day. However, this is not the first time that the films of the two stars are pitched together.
Last year too Akshay's 'Welcome' and Aamir's directorial debut 'Taare Zameen Par' were competing for audience attention during the last part of the year. Interestingly both the films are remakes of previously made made films in other languages.
'Jumbo' is made from Thai film 'Khan Kluay' with Akshay and Lara Dutta's voice overs while 'Ghajini' was previously made in Tamil by AR Murugadoss with the same title. Both the films have been promoted and packaged informatively with the lead actors going the extra mile to make sure that their movies catch audience attention.
Aamir Khan took part in a fashion show to promote his upcoming action thriller where he modeled for a collection that was created exclusively for 'Ghajini.' He didn't stop at that and even turned barber for a day giving the 'Ghajini' hair cut to fans at promotional events.
The star has expressed his desire to see more and more youngsters sporting the hair do. Despite being an animation film 'Jumbo' is being pitched as an Akshay film and is banking on the actor's star power to attract audiences. Akshay who is reportedly being paid 9 crores for the film has also shot a separate video for promotional purposes.
But Akshay is not the only celebrity to market the film, cricketer Yuvraj Singh has also been roped in to promote the movie. Yuvraj was recently in Delhi to promote "Jumbo" and has also agreed to do the voice over in Punjabi for the movie.
Both films are releasing simultaneously on Christmas day. However, this is not the first time that the films of the two stars are pitched together.
Last year too Akshay's 'Welcome' and Aamir's directorial debut 'Taare Zameen Par' were competing for audience attention during the last part of the year. Interestingly both the films are remakes of previously made made films in other languages.
'Jumbo' is made from Thai film 'Khan Kluay' with Akshay and Lara Dutta's voice overs while 'Ghajini' was previously made in Tamil by AR Murugadoss with the same title. Both the films have been promoted and packaged informatively with the lead actors going the extra mile to make sure that their movies catch audience attention.
Aamir Khan took part in a fashion show to promote his upcoming action thriller where he modeled for a collection that was created exclusively for 'Ghajini.' He didn't stop at that and even turned barber for a day giving the 'Ghajini' hair cut to fans at promotional events.
The star has expressed his desire to see more and more youngsters sporting the hair do. Despite being an animation film 'Jumbo' is being pitched as an Akshay film and is banking on the actor's star power to attract audiences. Akshay who is reportedly being paid 9 crores for the film has also shot a separate video for promotional purposes.
But Akshay is not the only celebrity to market the film, cricketer Yuvraj Singh has also been roped in to promote the movie. Yuvraj was recently in Delhi to promote "Jumbo" and has also agreed to do the voice over in Punjabi for the movie.
SIT summons Gujarat minister, VHP leader in riots case
Gujarat minister for Women and Child Development, Maya Kodnani and VHP leader Jaydeep Patel have been summoned by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for questioning in the Naroda Gam case of 2002 riots.
"We have summoned Maya Kodnani and Jaydeep Patel as part of our investigation into some of the riot cases," P.L. Mal, Investigation Officer in the Naroda Gam case told PTI.
"Patel has been asked to come to SIT office in Gandhinagar for questioning on December 25, while Kodnani has been called on December 26," he said.
Many witnesses have named Kodnani and Patel in their statements in the Naroda Gam riot case as per the initial charge sheet filed in the case.
Eleven people belonging to the minority community were killed by a mob during communal riots in 2002.
SIT, constituted by the Supreme Court for re-investigating the Godhra train burning incident and some of the post-Godhra cases, has been proactive in conducting its investigation since early this months.
They have filed supplementary charge sheets in the Naroda Patiya, Naroda Gam and Gulburg society cases this month.
"We have summoned Maya Kodnani and Jaydeep Patel as part of our investigation into some of the riot cases," P.L. Mal, Investigation Officer in the Naroda Gam case told PTI.
"Patel has been asked to come to SIT office in Gandhinagar for questioning on December 25, while Kodnani has been called on December 26," he said.
Many witnesses have named Kodnani and Patel in their statements in the Naroda Gam riot case as per the initial charge sheet filed in the case.
Eleven people belonging to the minority community were killed by a mob during communal riots in 2002.
SIT, constituted by the Supreme Court for re-investigating the Godhra train burning incident and some of the post-Godhra cases, has been proactive in conducting its investigation since early this months.
They have filed supplementary charge sheets in the Naroda Patiya, Naroda Gam and Gulburg society cases this month.
Pak. warplanes conduct sorties amid mounting tensions
Pakistan on Wednesday put its air force on red alert and warplanes conducted "emergency scrambles" from four key airbases amidst escalating tensions with India in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks.
Soon after the Pakistan Air Force went on red alert, emergency scrambles were conducted at the Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sargodha and Mianwali airbases, sources were quoted as saying by the private NNI news agency.
F-16 and Mirage combat jets carried out aerial surveillance of the Chashma nuclear power plant complex and other sensitive sites, sources said.
Residents of Mianwali in Punjab province shouted slogans against "Indian aggression" as they watched the jets soaring through the skies over the city, the report said.
The Civil Defence Organisation informed people about safety measures to be observed in the event of air strikes.
Siren exercises will be conducted in the city for people to observe a black out, the sources said.
The PAF began conducting sorties over major cities, including the federal capital, on Monday in a show of enhanced vigilance following the escalation of regional tensions.
Soon after the Pakistan Air Force went on red alert, emergency scrambles were conducted at the Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sargodha and Mianwali airbases, sources were quoted as saying by the private NNI news agency.
F-16 and Mirage combat jets carried out aerial surveillance of the Chashma nuclear power plant complex and other sensitive sites, sources said.
Residents of Mianwali in Punjab province shouted slogans against "Indian aggression" as they watched the jets soaring through the skies over the city, the report said.
The Civil Defence Organisation informed people about safety measures to be observed in the event of air strikes.
Siren exercises will be conducted in the city for people to observe a black out, the sources said.
The PAF began conducting sorties over major cities, including the federal capital, on Monday in a show of enhanced vigilance following the escalation of regional tensions.
Gas tank explosion in S Africa: Indian among 4 killed
A 45-year-old Indian labourer from Kumbakonam was among four persons killed at Sisal in South Africa in an ammonia gas tank explosion during welding work on a ship on December 20, family sources said.
The man, K. Balu, leaves behind his wife and two daughters, aged 11 and one and a half years.
They said they had received information of Balu's death from the ship officials.
Balu sustained grievious injuries and was admitted to a hospital there. However he did not respond to treatment and died, they said.
His body will be flown from South Africa to Chennai on December 26.
The man, K. Balu, leaves behind his wife and two daughters, aged 11 and one and a half years.
They said they had received information of Balu's death from the ship officials.
Balu sustained grievious injuries and was admitted to a hospital there. However he did not respond to treatment and died, they said.
His body will be flown from South Africa to Chennai on December 26.
21 Indians deported from Malaysia
Twenty one Indians, deported from Malaysia for staying past their visa period, arrived in Chennai late Wednesday via Colombo, airport officials said.
After arriving in Chennai, they went to their respective destinations at their own expense, the officials said
After arriving in Chennai, they went to their respective destinations at their own expense, the officials said
Indian arrested for Lahore blast, claims Pak.
Pakistani intelligence agencies late Wednesday claimed to have arrested an Indian national in connection with the Lahore car bomb blast earlier in the day.
"The accused was identified as Munir alias Satish Anand Shukla, a resident of Kolkata," TV channels here quoted police sources as saying.
Some of the reports claimed that the arrested had earlier worked with the Indian High Commission in London.
A woman was killed and four persons were injured when a car bomb went off in a high-security residential complex for Government officials in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore.
The explosion occurred at 9.20 am within the Government Officers Residences complex, an area in the capital of Punjab province where senior Government officials and Judges reside
"The accused was identified as Munir alias Satish Anand Shukla, a resident of Kolkata," TV channels here quoted police sources as saying.
Some of the reports claimed that the arrested had earlier worked with the Indian High Commission in London.
A woman was killed and four persons were injured when a car bomb went off in a high-security residential complex for Government officials in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore.
The explosion occurred at 9.20 am within the Government Officers Residences complex, an area in the capital of Punjab province where senior Government officials and Judges reside
Indian arrested for Lahore blast, claims Pak.
Pakistani intelligence agencies late Wednesday claimed to have arrested an Indian national in connection with the Lahore car bomb blast earlier in the day.
"The accused was identified as Munir alias Satish Anand Shukla, a resident of Kolkata," TV channels here quoted police sources as saying.
Some of the reports claimed that the arrested had earlier worked with the Indian High Commission in London.
A woman was killed and four persons were injured when a car bomb went off in a high-security residential complex for Government officials in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore.
The explosion occurred at 9.20 am within the Government Officers Residences complex, an area in the capital of Punjab province where senior Government officials and Judges reside
"The accused was identified as Munir alias Satish Anand Shukla, a resident of Kolkata," TV channels here quoted police sources as saying.
Some of the reports claimed that the arrested had earlier worked with the Indian High Commission in London.
A woman was killed and four persons were injured when a car bomb went off in a high-security residential complex for Government officials in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore.
The explosion occurred at 9.20 am within the Government Officers Residences complex, an area in the capital of Punjab province where senior Government officials and Judges reside
Salman Khan gifts ‘Ghajini’ paintings to Aamir
Salman Khan being an avid painter is a fact that's now as old as the hills. The brawny actor is known to even gift his exquisite paintings to those whom he considers truly special. The latest person to benefit from Salman's generosity and love is none other than Aamir Khan.
Aamir and Salman have been good friends for a while now and the story goes that Sallu was so impressed by Aamir's performance in his latest flick ‘Ghajini’ that he decided to gift him two special paintings, done by Salman himself of course. The paintings, in keeping with the somewhat dark theme of the film, are in black and white and a noticeable aspect of both the paintings is the fact that both of them depict Aamir's by-now-famous ‘Ghajini’ hairstyle.
The paintings were unveiled at a special function at a Mumbai multiplex by ‘Ghajini's’ lead actress Asin. For those who came in late, Asin not only stars opposite Aamir in ‘Ghajini’ but also plays the romantic lead in the Salman Khan- Ajay Devgan starrer ‘London Dreams’.
India shouldn't underestimate Pakistan: Zardari
Amid a war of words with India over the Mumbai Terror attacks, Pakistan has said its armed forces were fully capable of "thwarting any aggression from the east" and New Delhi should not underestimate its military might.
India should not underestimate Pakistan's military power because it is "capable of thwarting any aggression from the east", President Asif Ali Zardari said at a meeting with Gen Tariq Majid, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, in Islamabad on Tuesday night.
Majid told the President that the armed forces were fully capable of meeting any eventuality on the eastern front, 'Dawn News' channel said.
Separately, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said while the operational preparedness of the armed forces was at an "optimal level," both Pakistan and India cannot afford tension along their border.
"Nobody wants tensions on the borders and we are moving responsibly and with caution," Gilani told reporters on the sidelines of an official ceremony.
India should not underestimate Pakistan's military power because it is "capable of thwarting any aggression from the east", President Asif Ali Zardari said at a meeting with Gen Tariq Majid, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, in Islamabad on Tuesday night.
Majid told the President that the armed forces were fully capable of meeting any eventuality on the eastern front, 'Dawn News' channel said.
Separately, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said while the operational preparedness of the armed forces was at an "optimal level," both Pakistan and India cannot afford tension along their border.
"Nobody wants tensions on the borders and we are moving responsibly and with caution," Gilani told reporters on the sidelines of an official ceremony.
India shouldn't underestimate Pakistan: Zardari
Amid a war of words with India over the Mumbai Terror attacks, Pakistan has said its armed forces were fully capable of "thwarting any aggression from the east" and New Delhi should not underestimate its military might.
India should not underestimate Pakistan's military power because it is "capable of thwarting any aggression from the east", President Asif Ali Zardari said at a meeting with Gen Tariq Majid, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, in Islamabad on Tuesday night.
Majid told the President that the armed forces were fully capable of meeting any eventuality on the eastern front, 'Dawn News' channel said.
Separately, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said while the operational preparedness of the armed forces was at an "optimal level," both Pakistan and India cannot afford tension along their border.
"Nobody wants tensions on the borders and we are moving responsibly and with caution," Gilani told reporters on the sidelines of an official ceremony.
India should not underestimate Pakistan's military power because it is "capable of thwarting any aggression from the east", President Asif Ali Zardari said at a meeting with Gen Tariq Majid, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, in Islamabad on Tuesday night.
Majid told the President that the armed forces were fully capable of meeting any eventuality on the eastern front, 'Dawn News' channel said.
Separately, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said while the operational preparedness of the armed forces was at an "optimal level," both Pakistan and India cannot afford tension along their border.
"Nobody wants tensions on the borders and we are moving responsibly and with caution," Gilani told reporters on the sidelines of an official ceremony.
Anti-Sikh riots: Witness to depose before CBI
Jasbir Singh, who claims that former Union Minister Jagdish Tytler played a key role in instigating the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, is to depose before a CBI team in San Francisco city in the US.
A two-member special CBI team arrived here en route to San Fransisco to record the statement of Singh, who is now based in California in the US west coast.
Though Singh has been making these allegations for the past three years, he has repeatedly refused to return to India to testify before the special courts hearing the 1984 riot cases, saying he feared for his life.
Singh has alleged that former Union Minister Jagdish Tytler played a key role in instigating anti-Sikh rioters in 1984.
He has filed several affidavits against Tytler, an influential Congress leader of Delhi, before various Commissions, saying he was willing to testify before the court provided his and his family's safety was guaranteed.
The CBI team was also expected to record the statement of another witness Jasbinder Singh, who is settled in New York, but officials were tightlipped about it.
A two-member special CBI team arrived here en route to San Fransisco to record the statement of Singh, who is now based in California in the US west coast.
Though Singh has been making these allegations for the past three years, he has repeatedly refused to return to India to testify before the special courts hearing the 1984 riot cases, saying he feared for his life.
Singh has alleged that former Union Minister Jagdish Tytler played a key role in instigating anti-Sikh rioters in 1984.
He has filed several affidavits against Tytler, an influential Congress leader of Delhi, before various Commissions, saying he was willing to testify before the court provided his and his family's safety was guaranteed.
The CBI team was also expected to record the statement of another witness Jasbinder Singh, who is settled in New York, but officials were tightlipped about it.
Hindus don’t have monopoly on the nation: RSS
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Wednesday called for unity among the different communities of the nation.
"The diversity of communities of the nation calls upon its people to realise the unity. Efforts should be made to root out the conflicts existing among the communities," RSS general secretary Mohanji Bhagwat said.
Stating that the word ‘Hindu’ is being 'misunderstood' and 'misinterpreted', Bhagwat said, “Hindu community is not the only community that has monopoly on the nation's culture.”
He said the people of the nation should recognise the glorious culture and tradition of the country.
RSS, he said, has been backing every effort intended to protect one's identity.
He called upon the people to respect every individual and every society.
"The diversity of communities of the nation calls upon its people to realise the unity. Efforts should be made to root out the conflicts existing among the communities," RSS general secretary Mohanji Bhagwat said.
Stating that the word ‘Hindu’ is being 'misunderstood' and 'misinterpreted', Bhagwat said, “Hindu community is not the only community that has monopoly on the nation's culture.”
He said the people of the nation should recognise the glorious culture and tradition of the country.
RSS, he said, has been backing every effort intended to protect one's identity.
He called upon the people to respect every individual and every society.
Hindus don’t have monopoly on the nation: RSS
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Wednesday called for unity among the different communities of the nation.
"The diversity of communities of the nation calls upon its people to realise the unity. Efforts should be made to root out the conflicts existing among the communities," RSS general secretary Mohanji Bhagwat said.
Stating that the word ‘Hindu’ is being 'misunderstood' and 'misinterpreted', Bhagwat said, “Hindu community is not the only community that has monopoly on the nation's culture.”
He said the people of the nation should recognise the glorious culture and tradition of the country.
RSS, he said, has been backing every effort intended to protect one's identity.
He called upon the people to respect every individual and every society.
"The diversity of communities of the nation calls upon its people to realise the unity. Efforts should be made to root out the conflicts existing among the communities," RSS general secretary Mohanji Bhagwat said.
Stating that the word ‘Hindu’ is being 'misunderstood' and 'misinterpreted', Bhagwat said, “Hindu community is not the only community that has monopoly on the nation's culture.”
He said the people of the nation should recognise the glorious culture and tradition of the country.
RSS, he said, has been backing every effort intended to protect one's identity.
He called upon the people to respect every individual and every society.
Collecting funds for Maya’s b’day, MLA kills engineer
An executive engineer of the Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department was beaten to death allegedly by a BSP MLA and his supporters after he is believed to have refused to pay them a huge sum for birthday celebrations of Chief Minister Mayawati next month.
BSP MLA Shekhar Tiwari and his two associates – Manoj Tyagi and another surnamed Bhatia -- forcibly entered the house of engineer M K Gupta at Gail Vihar Colony in Diviapur police circle here last night and started beating him up severely, according to a report lodged with the police by his wife Shashi Gupta.
It said they locked Shashi in a bathroom and continued beating her husband and later left the seriously injured engineer at Diviapur police station in the district, about 100 kms from Kanpur. Gupta was declared dead after being taken to a hospital.
"An FIR under various sections of the IPC, including 302 (murder), has been lodged against the MLA and his two associates at Diviapur police station," said Station House Officer Hoshiyar Singh.
Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Brijlal said in Lucknow that the MLA called up the police station at around 3 am saying a man was indulging in "hooliganism" and that action should be taken against him
BSP MLA Shekhar Tiwari and his two associates – Manoj Tyagi and another surnamed Bhatia -- forcibly entered the house of engineer M K Gupta at Gail Vihar Colony in Diviapur police circle here last night and started beating him up severely, according to a report lodged with the police by his wife Shashi Gupta.
It said they locked Shashi in a bathroom and continued beating her husband and later left the seriously injured engineer at Diviapur police station in the district, about 100 kms from Kanpur. Gupta was declared dead after being taken to a hospital.
"An FIR under various sections of the IPC, including 302 (murder), has been lodged against the MLA and his two associates at Diviapur police station," said Station House Officer Hoshiyar Singh.
Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Brijlal said in Lucknow that the MLA called up the police station at around 3 am saying a man was indulging in "hooliganism" and that action should be taken against him
Don’t make Pak ‘scapegoat’, we don’t want war: Gilani
Ruling out the possibility of a war with India in the wake of heightened tensions, Pakistan Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday alleged the Indian Government was trying to find a ‘scapegoat’ to cover up for the intelligence failure behind the Mumbai Terror attacks.
"My assessment is that there will not be a war," he said in Lahore.
However, he said the government and armed forces of Pakistan were prepared for all eventualities in the face of mounting tensions between the two countries.
"We are a responsible nation and we are assessing the situation. The armed forces of Pakistan are assessing the situation but I do not think there will be a war," he said.
"If they (India) try to indulge in any adventure of this kind, the people and institutions of Pakistan are united."
Gilani said there were indications that there was ‘great public pressure on the Indian government’ in the wake of the Mumbai attacks.
"My assessment is that there will not be a war," he said in Lahore.
However, he said the government and armed forces of Pakistan were prepared for all eventualities in the face of mounting tensions between the two countries.
"We are a responsible nation and we are assessing the situation. The armed forces of Pakistan are assessing the situation but I do not think there will be a war," he said.
"If they (India) try to indulge in any adventure of this kind, the people and institutions of Pakistan are united."
Gilani said there were indications that there was ‘great public pressure on the Indian government’ in the wake of the Mumbai attacks.
Sharif does U-turn, asks India to give proof on Kasab
In a U-turn, former Premier Nawaz Sharif, who last week indicated that the lone captured Mumbai attacker Ajmal Amir Iman was a Pakistani, has said India should provide evidence for Islamabad to take action or else it should avoid creating tensions through "fake allegations".
"Pakistan, as a state and as a government, is not at all involved in the incident. If India provides evidence to Pakistan, the country will look into them and take action," Sharif, the leader of the opposition PML-N, said.
He said he will request President Asif Ali Zardari to take stern action if India provides evidence of the involvement of the Pakistani elements in the Mumbai Terror attacks.
"If we get the evidence, I will personally go to President Zardari and ask him to take stern action against such people," Sharif said at a ceremony held ahead of Christmas at the Chief Minister's Secretariat in Lahore on Tuesday.
"Pakistan, as a state and as a government, is not at all involved in the incident. If India provides evidence to Pakistan, the country will look into them and take action," Sharif, the leader of the opposition PML-N, said.
He said he will request President Asif Ali Zardari to take stern action if India provides evidence of the involvement of the Pakistani elements in the Mumbai Terror attacks.
"If we get the evidence, I will personally go to President Zardari and ask him to take stern action against such people," Sharif said at a ceremony held ahead of Christmas at the Chief Minister's Secretariat in Lahore on Tuesday.
Anushka, too happy with her de-glam look
Even though the film got a good response from the audiences, the lass hasn't changed much. She is still content with the de-glam look that she has been sporting since the beginning. In fact, at the recently held event to meet and greet fans at Fame Malad, she had worn the same pair of sandals that she wore at her first interaction with the media.Seems kind of funny for a girl who has just made her debut with SRK in a YRF film to repeat her apparel. Further more, by the look of both the images, it seems like Anushka is pretty content with her current designer
, we wonder when will she actually get into the glam image that one associates with a typical Bollywood star
, we wonder when will she actually get into the glam image that one associates with a typical Bollywood star
Hayden ready to fight for place
Veteran Australia opener Matthew Hayden insists he is not ready to retire, despite his recent lack of form.
The 37-year-old averages 23.50 in his last seven Tests having not scored a century since January and could be dropped if his poor run continues.
But Hayden said he will assess his future after Australia's three-Test series against South Africa.
"I really want to play good Test match cricket for this next series and then see where we are at," said Hayden.
"You feel slightly uncomfortable, slightly uneasy about it (being dropped) but that's part of the great challenge of playing for your country and exactly why I want to play Test match cricket for Australia."
Hayden has an impressive Test average of 51.34 and has been a cornerstone of Australia's all-conquering side since making his debut in 1994, but the left-hander's form has dipped alarmingly in the past 12 months.
Scores of four and 12 in the first Test defeat by South Africa in Perth have seen his place at the top of the batting order come under scrutiny from Australia's unforgiving cricket pressBut Hayden insists he still has hunger and ability to add to his impressive tally of 30 Test centuries, especially with the 2009 Ashes series on the horizon.
"My expectation is that I'm performing every Test match and if that's not the case then I'm vulnerable like everyone else," said Hayden, who has played 101 Tests.
"I'm still enjoying it. I still feel like I'm hitting the ball well - a touch of luck would be nice.
"If I was out in the middle thinking 'gee, I'm really struggling with the bat and really not hitting the ball well, I'm not enjoying it'... I'm not anywhere near that right now."
Chief selector Andrew Hilditch admitted Hayden will need to step up his performances, along with a host of other senior players, if Australia are to draw level with a buoyant South Africa in Melbourne.
"All the indications from Matthew is it's just some time in the middle and the Boxing Day Test seems a pretty good time to do it," he said.
But if the selectors do lose patience with Hayden, the likes of Phil Jacques or Shaun Marsh are likely to be in the frame to replace him.
Nevertheless, Hayden can draw confidence from his previous nine matches at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the venue for the second Test against the buoyant Proteas.
The Queenslander averages 76.57 at the MCG, registering six centuries in his last seven Tests at the ground
The 37-year-old averages 23.50 in his last seven Tests having not scored a century since January and could be dropped if his poor run continues.
But Hayden said he will assess his future after Australia's three-Test series against South Africa.
"I really want to play good Test match cricket for this next series and then see where we are at," said Hayden.
"You feel slightly uncomfortable, slightly uneasy about it (being dropped) but that's part of the great challenge of playing for your country and exactly why I want to play Test match cricket for Australia."
Hayden has an impressive Test average of 51.34 and has been a cornerstone of Australia's all-conquering side since making his debut in 1994, but the left-hander's form has dipped alarmingly in the past 12 months.
Scores of four and 12 in the first Test defeat by South Africa in Perth have seen his place at the top of the batting order come under scrutiny from Australia's unforgiving cricket pressBut Hayden insists he still has hunger and ability to add to his impressive tally of 30 Test centuries, especially with the 2009 Ashes series on the horizon.
"My expectation is that I'm performing every Test match and if that's not the case then I'm vulnerable like everyone else," said Hayden, who has played 101 Tests.
"I'm still enjoying it. I still feel like I'm hitting the ball well - a touch of luck would be nice.
"If I was out in the middle thinking 'gee, I'm really struggling with the bat and really not hitting the ball well, I'm not enjoying it'... I'm not anywhere near that right now."
Chief selector Andrew Hilditch admitted Hayden will need to step up his performances, along with a host of other senior players, if Australia are to draw level with a buoyant South Africa in Melbourne.
"All the indications from Matthew is it's just some time in the middle and the Boxing Day Test seems a pretty good time to do it," he said.
But if the selectors do lose patience with Hayden, the likes of Phil Jacques or Shaun Marsh are likely to be in the frame to replace him.
Nevertheless, Hayden can draw confidence from his previous nine matches at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the venue for the second Test against the buoyant Proteas.
The Queenslander averages 76.57 at the MCG, registering six centuries in his last seven Tests at the ground
Satyam plunges 15% as WB declares it ineligible for 8 yrs
The World Bank on Wednesday said Satyam Computer Services was debarred from getting direct contracts from it under its corporate
procurement programme for eight years from September this year.
But it clarified there was no evidence of Satyam being involved in malacious attacks on the bank's information system. The company was declared ineliglible for contracts for providing improper benefits to bank staff and for failing to maintain documentation to support fees charged for its subcontractors, the bank said in a statement on Wednesday.
Satyam shares slid 15% to Rs 119 per share during the course of trading on Wednesday, the lowest since September 2003.
The World's Bank's disclosure has become an embarrassment for Satyam that is embroiled in an unrelated controversy after its aborted bid to buy two firms linked to its promoter B Ramalinga Raju.
The country's fourth largest software exporter faced a major shareholder rebellion last week after it announced plans to buy two firms linked to the promoter for $ 1.6 billion. The decision was endorsed by the Board. However, within a few hours Satyam called off the deal to buy Maytas Infra and Maytas Properties. It has, however, been tight-lipped on key questions on who did the valuation of the real estate firm
procurement programme for eight years from September this year.
But it clarified there was no evidence of Satyam being involved in malacious attacks on the bank's information system. The company was declared ineliglible for contracts for providing improper benefits to bank staff and for failing to maintain documentation to support fees charged for its subcontractors, the bank said in a statement on Wednesday.
Satyam shares slid 15% to Rs 119 per share during the course of trading on Wednesday, the lowest since September 2003.
The World's Bank's disclosure has become an embarrassment for Satyam that is embroiled in an unrelated controversy after its aborted bid to buy two firms linked to its promoter B Ramalinga Raju.
The country's fourth largest software exporter faced a major shareholder rebellion last week after it announced plans to buy two firms linked to the promoter for $ 1.6 billion. The decision was endorsed by the Board. However, within a few hours Satyam called off the deal to buy Maytas Infra and Maytas Properties. It has, however, been tight-lipped on key questions on who did the valuation of the real estate firm
Satyam plunges 15% as WB declares it ineligible for 8 yrs
The World Bank on Wednesday said Satyam Computer Services was debarred from getting direct contracts from it under its corporate
procurement programme for eight years from September this year.
But it clarified there was no evidence of Satyam being involved in malacious attacks on the bank's information system. The company was declared ineliglible for contracts for providing improper benefits to bank staff and for failing to maintain documentation to support fees charged for its subcontractors, the bank said in a statement on Wednesday.
Satyam shares slid 15% to Rs 119 per share during the course of trading on Wednesday, the lowest since September 2003.
The World's Bank's disclosure has become an embarrassment for Satyam that is embroiled in an unrelated controversy after its aborted bid to buy two firms linked to its promoter B Ramalinga Raju.
The country's fourth largest software exporter faced a major shareholder rebellion last week after it announced plans to buy two firms linked to the promoter for $ 1.6 billion. The decision was endorsed by the Board. However, within a few hours Satyam called off the deal to buy Maytas Infra and Maytas Properties. It has, however, been tight-lipped on key questions on who did the valuation of the real estate firm
procurement programme for eight years from September this year.
But it clarified there was no evidence of Satyam being involved in malacious attacks on the bank's information system. The company was declared ineliglible for contracts for providing improper benefits to bank staff and for failing to maintain documentation to support fees charged for its subcontractors, the bank said in a statement on Wednesday.
Satyam shares slid 15% to Rs 119 per share during the course of trading on Wednesday, the lowest since September 2003.
The World's Bank's disclosure has become an embarrassment for Satyam that is embroiled in an unrelated controversy after its aborted bid to buy two firms linked to its promoter B Ramalinga Raju.
The country's fourth largest software exporter faced a major shareholder rebellion last week after it announced plans to buy two firms linked to the promoter for $ 1.6 billion. The decision was endorsed by the Board. However, within a few hours Satyam called off the deal to buy Maytas Infra and Maytas Properties. It has, however, been tight-lipped on key questions on who did the valuation of the real estate firm
Government issues notices on illegal mobile handsets news
Addressing security concerns, the centre has notified the customs department to only allow imports of mobile handsets after the declaration of the 'international mobile equipment identity' (IMEI) numbers of each handset.
Separately has the department of telecommunications has also directed all the cellular mobile service providers to make the provision of authentications on mobile handsets with IMEI number for GSM networks and the 'electronic serial number' (ESN) for CDMA networks.
Following the recent terrorist strikes in Mumbai, minister of state for communications and information technology Jyotiraditya Scindia told the Lok Sabha this week that henceforth all mobile handsets available in the country wouldhave to carry the IEMI number, which can be identified on the operator's network whenever a call is made from that particular handset.
Some media reports suggest that there are over 25 million handsets originating from China and many of them do not carry the mandatory IEMI numbers.
The IMEI is a unique 15-digit code that identifies individual mobiles and is used in identifying stolen handsets from making unauthorised calls by legally blocking that particular IEMI code.
In many countries an IEMI code is mandatory for all purchases of mobile handsets, but the Indian government has dithered over making it mandatory for only IMEI-coded handsets into the country, despite the spate of terrorist strikes. Security agencies say terorists have been using cheap throwaway Chinese-made handsets that do not have an IEMI number, making the call to the originator untraceable for law enforcement agencies.
DoT said in a letter to operators on 6 October, "In the interest of national security, all cellular mobile service providers in unified access service licences (UASL) are hereby directed to make provisions for EIR so that calls without IMEI or with IMEI consisting of all zeroes are not processed, or rejected."
"If switches do not have such a facility, the necessary hardware and software should be put in place within three months of the issue date of this letter and compliance reported," it added.
The network operators have asked the government for time as they would have to make additional investments in their hardware as well as time to install software since the EIR equipment has to be imported.
They have also said that many genuine customers had to be enlightened that software costing a meagre Rs100 can be downloaded into the handset for an IEMI number to be added to the handset.
The Chinese make of handsets are popular with many people due to thei low cost as most of them are made in the factories near the Pearl Delta river where no R&D has gone into the making of these handsets as well as extremely low cost chips are used and are rolled out by the millions to be sold to third world countries.
Many official vendors in India like Nokia, Sony, Motorola and others have often asked the Indian government to regulate the Chinese imports of low-quality handsets in the past, that affect their own sales.
Separately has the department of telecommunications has also directed all the cellular mobile service providers to make the provision of authentications on mobile handsets with IMEI number for GSM networks and the 'electronic serial number' (ESN) for CDMA networks.
Following the recent terrorist strikes in Mumbai, minister of state for communications and information technology Jyotiraditya Scindia told the Lok Sabha this week that henceforth all mobile handsets available in the country wouldhave to carry the IEMI number, which can be identified on the operator's network whenever a call is made from that particular handset.
Some media reports suggest that there are over 25 million handsets originating from China and many of them do not carry the mandatory IEMI numbers.
The IMEI is a unique 15-digit code that identifies individual mobiles and is used in identifying stolen handsets from making unauthorised calls by legally blocking that particular IEMI code.
In many countries an IEMI code is mandatory for all purchases of mobile handsets, but the Indian government has dithered over making it mandatory for only IMEI-coded handsets into the country, despite the spate of terrorist strikes. Security agencies say terorists have been using cheap throwaway Chinese-made handsets that do not have an IEMI number, making the call to the originator untraceable for law enforcement agencies.
DoT said in a letter to operators on 6 October, "In the interest of national security, all cellular mobile service providers in unified access service licences (UASL) are hereby directed to make provisions for EIR so that calls without IMEI or with IMEI consisting of all zeroes are not processed, or rejected."
"If switches do not have such a facility, the necessary hardware and software should be put in place within three months of the issue date of this letter and compliance reported," it added.
The network operators have asked the government for time as they would have to make additional investments in their hardware as well as time to install software since the EIR equipment has to be imported.
They have also said that many genuine customers had to be enlightened that software costing a meagre Rs100 can be downloaded into the handset for an IEMI number to be added to the handset.
The Chinese make of handsets are popular with many people due to thei low cost as most of them are made in the factories near the Pearl Delta river where no R&D has gone into the making of these handsets as well as extremely low cost chips are used and are rolled out by the millions to be sold to third world countries.
Many official vendors in India like Nokia, Sony, Motorola and others have often asked the Indian government to regulate the Chinese imports of low-quality handsets in the past, that affect their own sales.
Parliament prorogued, new session in Feb
The government on Wednesday decided to get Parliament prorogued and to have a new brief session in the middle of February next year, scotching speculation about prolonging further the Monsoon session.
The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, chaired by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, met on Wednesday and decided to recommend to President that the session that concluded yesterday be prorogued.
Briefing reporters after the CCPA meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vyalar Ravi said the next session will be held sometime in the middle of February next year and added the CCPA would meet again to decide on the schedule.
Earlier at a press conference, Ravi dismissed reports that the government had decided to prorogue the session under pressure from Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee.
Ravi said it was not fair to drag the Speaker's name in the issue and added that he was "surprised" to see media reports in this regard.
"It was never the intention of the government to prolong the session," Minster of State for Parliamentary P K Bansal, who was also present, said.
Opposition parties charged the government with continuing the session till new year in order escape a no confidence motion because under rules a discussion on the same subject cannot be taken up twice in one session.
Government has already said that Parliament would be meeting in February ahead of the Lok Sabha polls to pass the vote on account
The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, chaired by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, met on Wednesday and decided to recommend to President that the session that concluded yesterday be prorogued.
Briefing reporters after the CCPA meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vyalar Ravi said the next session will be held sometime in the middle of February next year and added the CCPA would meet again to decide on the schedule.
Earlier at a press conference, Ravi dismissed reports that the government had decided to prorogue the session under pressure from Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee.
Ravi said it was not fair to drag the Speaker's name in the issue and added that he was "surprised" to see media reports in this regard.
"It was never the intention of the government to prolong the session," Minster of State for Parliamentary P K Bansal, who was also present, said.
Opposition parties charged the government with continuing the session till new year in order escape a no confidence motion because under rules a discussion on the same subject cannot be taken up twice in one session.
Government has already said that Parliament would be meeting in February ahead of the Lok Sabha polls to pass the vote on account
Militants barrage Israel with mortars, rockets
Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip bombarded southern Israel with mortars and rockets early Wednesday, burdening diplomatic efforts to revive a truce that expired over the weekend.
Separately, a civilian was badly wounded in an explosion at a house in Gaza City. Two other civilians were lightly wounded when a rocket failed to clear the border and landed on a house in the northern town of Beit Lahiya, Gaza health officials said.
Meanwhile, two militants were killed when an explosive they were preparing went off prematurely.
Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza, said the bombardment was in retaliation for the deaths of three of its fighters in a clash with Israeli troops late Tuesday. Israel said the militants were planting explosives in northern Gaza along the border fence.
About 40 rockets and mortars were fired at southern Israel by midday Wednesday, the military said. No injuries were reported, but a factory, a home and other structures were damaged.
One of the rockets struck outside the home of Benny Gueta of Ashkelon, 11 miles from the Gaza border.
"We heard the alarm and the whistling as it approached, and then we heard a big explosion," which destroyed a storage shed and shattered some of the house's windows, Gueta told Israel Radio.
"We can't live this way," Gueta added.
In Gaza, health officials said Iyad Dremly, a Palestinian attorney who works for a conflict resolution center, was badly wounded in an explosion that ripped through his two-story apartment building in Gaza City.
Militants were firing rockets and mortars from the area, and the military said it did not carry out any attacks on Gaza.
Two other civilians were hurt when a rocket landed on another house several miles to the north in Beit Lahiya. Before dawn, two militants were killed in southern Gaza when an explosive they were preparing went off prematurely.
Before the violence resumed, Israel had agreed to open cargo crossings with Gaza on Wednesday to allow in a limited amount of food, medicines and fuel, including supplies from Egypt. But military spokesman Peter Lerner said the passages would remain closed because of the militant barrages.
A truce that largely held for five months expired on Friday. Israel has maintained a strict blockade of Gaza since the cease-fire began unraveling six weeks ago, allowing in only small quantities of essential goods. Egypt has also sealed its border crossing with the territory.
The sanctions have deepened the destitution in Gaza, home to 1.4 million Palestinians who are confined to the tiny coastal strip. Gazans have worked around the blockade by bringing in some supplies through tunnels dug under the Gaza-Egypt border.
In Gaza, the head of the territory's tiny Roman Catholic community canceled Christmas eve's Midnight Mass celebration, to protest Israel's blockade. Father Manuel Musallem said the parish would instead hold an evening mass. About 4,000 Christians live in Gaza, a conservative Muslim society of roughly 1.4 million people. There are about 300 Roman Catholics in Gaza, and most of the remaining Christians are Greek Orthodox.
Amid the violence, both sides have expressed willingness to consider reviving the six-month truce, which lapsed on Friday. Egypt, which mediated the original cease-fire, is leading the diplomatic efforts to renew it, and on Thursday, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is to meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo.
Alongside talk of restoring the truce, Israel is preparing for an escalation of violence.
Israeli leaders have approved a large-scale military operation to stop the rocket fire, but are reluctant to press ahead with a campaign sure to exact heavy casualties on both sides. Past incursions have not halted the barrages, and defense and political officials fear anything short of a reoccupation of Gaza would fail to achieve the desired results
Separately, a civilian was badly wounded in an explosion at a house in Gaza City. Two other civilians were lightly wounded when a rocket failed to clear the border and landed on a house in the northern town of Beit Lahiya, Gaza health officials said.
Meanwhile, two militants were killed when an explosive they were preparing went off prematurely.
Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza, said the bombardment was in retaliation for the deaths of three of its fighters in a clash with Israeli troops late Tuesday. Israel said the militants were planting explosives in northern Gaza along the border fence.
About 40 rockets and mortars were fired at southern Israel by midday Wednesday, the military said. No injuries were reported, but a factory, a home and other structures were damaged.
One of the rockets struck outside the home of Benny Gueta of Ashkelon, 11 miles from the Gaza border.
"We heard the alarm and the whistling as it approached, and then we heard a big explosion," which destroyed a storage shed and shattered some of the house's windows, Gueta told Israel Radio.
"We can't live this way," Gueta added.
In Gaza, health officials said Iyad Dremly, a Palestinian attorney who works for a conflict resolution center, was badly wounded in an explosion that ripped through his two-story apartment building in Gaza City.
Militants were firing rockets and mortars from the area, and the military said it did not carry out any attacks on Gaza.
Two other civilians were hurt when a rocket landed on another house several miles to the north in Beit Lahiya. Before dawn, two militants were killed in southern Gaza when an explosive they were preparing went off prematurely.
Before the violence resumed, Israel had agreed to open cargo crossings with Gaza on Wednesday to allow in a limited amount of food, medicines and fuel, including supplies from Egypt. But military spokesman Peter Lerner said the passages would remain closed because of the militant barrages.
A truce that largely held for five months expired on Friday. Israel has maintained a strict blockade of Gaza since the cease-fire began unraveling six weeks ago, allowing in only small quantities of essential goods. Egypt has also sealed its border crossing with the territory.
The sanctions have deepened the destitution in Gaza, home to 1.4 million Palestinians who are confined to the tiny coastal strip. Gazans have worked around the blockade by bringing in some supplies through tunnels dug under the Gaza-Egypt border.
In Gaza, the head of the territory's tiny Roman Catholic community canceled Christmas eve's Midnight Mass celebration, to protest Israel's blockade. Father Manuel Musallem said the parish would instead hold an evening mass. About 4,000 Christians live in Gaza, a conservative Muslim society of roughly 1.4 million people. There are about 300 Roman Catholics in Gaza, and most of the remaining Christians are Greek Orthodox.
Amid the violence, both sides have expressed willingness to consider reviving the six-month truce, which lapsed on Friday. Egypt, which mediated the original cease-fire, is leading the diplomatic efforts to renew it, and on Thursday, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is to meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo.
Alongside talk of restoring the truce, Israel is preparing for an escalation of violence.
Israeli leaders have approved a large-scale military operation to stop the rocket fire, but are reluctant to press ahead with a campaign sure to exact heavy casualties on both sides. Past incursions have not halted the barrages, and defense and political officials fear anything short of a reoccupation of Gaza would fail to achieve the desired results
Guinea Coup Plotters Promise 2010 Elections
A military group claiming to have seized control of Guinea says it will hold elections in two years.
The group announced its election plan on state radio Wednesday, a day after declaring that a 32-member council had taken over the government. The military officials took action just hours after the death of longtime leader Lansana Conte.
The political situation in the mineral-rich country is still unclear, however.
Guinea's prime minister, army chief and speaker of the National Assembly say the civilian government is still in power.
The African Union is holding an emergency session on Guinea Wednesday.
A United Nations envoy to West Africa, Said Djinnit, told the meeting in Ethiopia that no particular group has been able to assert its position in Guinea and that there is some indication of possible discussions.
He described the situation as "calm" and "fluid." He also told the AU's Peace and Security Council that the Economic Community of West African States is considering sending a delegation to Guinea to influence the discussion there.
Guinea's coup plotters accused the embattled government Wednesday, of recruiting foreign mercenaries to support its cause. The government officials have not yet responded to the claim.
The military action in Guinea followed the announcement that President Conte died Monday after a long undisclosed illness. Believed to be in his 70s, Mr. Conte had ruled Guinea since a 1984 coup.
The group announced its election plan on state radio Wednesday, a day after declaring that a 32-member council had taken over the government. The military officials took action just hours after the death of longtime leader Lansana Conte.
The political situation in the mineral-rich country is still unclear, however.
Guinea's prime minister, army chief and speaker of the National Assembly say the civilian government is still in power.
The African Union is holding an emergency session on Guinea Wednesday.
A United Nations envoy to West Africa, Said Djinnit, told the meeting in Ethiopia that no particular group has been able to assert its position in Guinea and that there is some indication of possible discussions.
He described the situation as "calm" and "fluid." He also told the AU's Peace and Security Council that the Economic Community of West African States is considering sending a delegation to Guinea to influence the discussion there.
Guinea's coup plotters accused the embattled government Wednesday, of recruiting foreign mercenaries to support its cause. The government officials have not yet responded to the claim.
The military action in Guinea followed the announcement that President Conte died Monday after a long undisclosed illness. Believed to be in his 70s, Mr. Conte had ruled Guinea since a 1984 coup.
'Ghajini' wins round 1 in Mumbai court
The eagerly-awaited Aamir Khan-starrer "Ghajini", slated for release on Thursday, cleared one hurdle on Wednesday when the Bombay High Court gave it a green signal, but its producers are awaiting the ruling of the Madras High Court in another case.
Justice S.B. Karnik of the Bombay High Court said the film can be released as scheduled but also asked director A.R. Murugadoss to file an affidavit Friday clearing his stand.
Local firm KBC Pictures in its complaint said Murugadoss had entered into an agreement with it in 2004 for remaking the hit Tamil film in Hindi. Thus, the company claimed, the Hindi film was in violation of their contract.
The director's lawyer Venkatesh Dhond said: "The court has refused to stay the release of the film. The final hearing will be on Friday but for now the court has no objection to its release."
However, the Madras High Court was on Wednesday hearing another case, filed by A. Chandrasekaran, the producer of the original Tamil "Ghajini", who has alleged that the producers of the Hindi film had forged documents to claim the ownership over the remake rights.
"So far the Bombay High Court has given a go-ahead, but now everything depends on the Madras High Court. The film can be released only if it lifts its stay," Dhond told IANS.
Justice S.B. Karnik of the Bombay High Court said the film can be released as scheduled but also asked director A.R. Murugadoss to file an affidavit Friday clearing his stand.
Local firm KBC Pictures in its complaint said Murugadoss had entered into an agreement with it in 2004 for remaking the hit Tamil film in Hindi. Thus, the company claimed, the Hindi film was in violation of their contract.
The director's lawyer Venkatesh Dhond said: "The court has refused to stay the release of the film. The final hearing will be on Friday but for now the court has no objection to its release."
However, the Madras High Court was on Wednesday hearing another case, filed by A. Chandrasekaran, the producer of the original Tamil "Ghajini", who has alleged that the producers of the Hindi film had forged documents to claim the ownership over the remake rights.
"So far the Bombay High Court has given a go-ahead, but now everything depends on the Madras High Court. The film can be released only if it lifts its stay," Dhond told IANS.
Sensex ends 118 pts down on weak global sentiment
The market opened on a weak note this morning due to negative global cues and remained in the red right through the session as participants refrained from picking up stocks even at lower levels. There was some hectic short-covering in select bluechip stocks, but that was not sufficient to pull the market out of the red today.
Global meltdown and stock market
Realty, auto and metal stocks traded weak right through the session. IT, power, refinery, FMCG and capital goods stocks also closed on a weak note. Select PSU stocks edged higher while bank stocks outperformed the market.
Stockometer
The Sensex, which opened with a negative gap of around 60 points at 9626.07 and slipped to a low of 9502.53 in intra-day trades, closed at 9568.72 with a sharp loss of 118.03 points or 1.22%. The Nifty ended 1.74% or 51.80 points down at 2916.85. In intra-day trades today, the Nifty touched a low of 2900.45. The market remained volatile right through the session.
Top gainers
Though a few side counters attracted attention, it was not a good session for midcap and smallcap stocks as well. The market breadth remained weak. When trade ended, out of 2509 stocks seen in action on the BSE, 1502 stocks were down in the negative territory. 915 stocks closed with gains and 92 stocks ended flat.
Worst losers
Tata Motors went down by as much as 8.65% to Rs 159.65. Tata Consultancy Services (down 4.45%) and Wipro (down 4.3%) ended with sharp losses despite enjoying a bright spell in the positive territory earlier. ACC, Mahindra & Mahindra and Reliance Communications lost 4% - 4.25%.
Satyam Computer Services, which plunged to Rs 114.65 this morning as the ban imposed on the company by the World Bank triggered a massive sell-off, bounced back on short-covering and ended lower by just around 3.85% at Rs 134.95.
Bharti Airtel and ITC lost a little over 3%. Sterlite Industries, ONGC, DLF, Grasim Industries, Jaiprakash Associates, Maruti Suzuki, Reliance Infrastructure, Tata Steel, Hindalco, Reliance Industries and Larsen & Toubro lost 1% - 3%. BHEL, HDFC, Infosys Technologies, NTPC and Tata Power also ended weak.
ICICI Bank (3.3%), State Bank of India (1.8%), HDFC Bank (0.65%) and Ranbaxy Laboratories (1.25%) closed on a firm note. Hindustan Unilever finished with a small gain.
Unitech lost over 12% on sustained selling today. HCL Technologies ended lower by around 7%. Reliance Petroleum, SAIL, Reliance Power, Nalco, Idea Cellular, ABB, Ambuja Cements, Siemens, Zee Entertainment, Power Grid Corporation and GAIL India also closed with sharp losses.
BPCL moved up by over 5%. Suzlon Energy, Cairn India and Tata Communications also closed on a high note. Hero Honda and Punjab National Bank finished with notable gains.
KSK Energy, Jet Airways, IRB Infrastructure, OnMobile Global, United Spirits, Kotak Bank, Bajaj Financial Services, India Bulls Financial Services, Godrej Industries, RECL, Power Finance Corporation, Areva, Gujarat Minerals, Indian Bank, Renuka Sugars, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, Nagarjuna Construction Company and Bank of Baroda ended with impressive gains today.
HDIL, Lanco Infratech, GTL Infrastructure, Tech Mahindra, India Bulls Real Estate, Gujarat Petronet, Jai Corp, Chambal Fertilizers, Bajaj Holdings, Essar Oil, Omaxe, India Infoline, MphasiS and Shipping Corporation of India declined sharply.
Global meltdown and stock market
Realty, auto and metal stocks traded weak right through the session. IT, power, refinery, FMCG and capital goods stocks also closed on a weak note. Select PSU stocks edged higher while bank stocks outperformed the market.
Stockometer
The Sensex, which opened with a negative gap of around 60 points at 9626.07 and slipped to a low of 9502.53 in intra-day trades, closed at 9568.72 with a sharp loss of 118.03 points or 1.22%. The Nifty ended 1.74% or 51.80 points down at 2916.85. In intra-day trades today, the Nifty touched a low of 2900.45. The market remained volatile right through the session.
Top gainers
Though a few side counters attracted attention, it was not a good session for midcap and smallcap stocks as well. The market breadth remained weak. When trade ended, out of 2509 stocks seen in action on the BSE, 1502 stocks were down in the negative territory. 915 stocks closed with gains and 92 stocks ended flat.
Worst losers
Tata Motors went down by as much as 8.65% to Rs 159.65. Tata Consultancy Services (down 4.45%) and Wipro (down 4.3%) ended with sharp losses despite enjoying a bright spell in the positive territory earlier. ACC, Mahindra & Mahindra and Reliance Communications lost 4% - 4.25%.
Satyam Computer Services, which plunged to Rs 114.65 this morning as the ban imposed on the company by the World Bank triggered a massive sell-off, bounced back on short-covering and ended lower by just around 3.85% at Rs 134.95.
Bharti Airtel and ITC lost a little over 3%. Sterlite Industries, ONGC, DLF, Grasim Industries, Jaiprakash Associates, Maruti Suzuki, Reliance Infrastructure, Tata Steel, Hindalco, Reliance Industries and Larsen & Toubro lost 1% - 3%. BHEL, HDFC, Infosys Technologies, NTPC and Tata Power also ended weak.
ICICI Bank (3.3%), State Bank of India (1.8%), HDFC Bank (0.65%) and Ranbaxy Laboratories (1.25%) closed on a firm note. Hindustan Unilever finished with a small gain.
Unitech lost over 12% on sustained selling today. HCL Technologies ended lower by around 7%. Reliance Petroleum, SAIL, Reliance Power, Nalco, Idea Cellular, ABB, Ambuja Cements, Siemens, Zee Entertainment, Power Grid Corporation and GAIL India also closed with sharp losses.
BPCL moved up by over 5%. Suzlon Energy, Cairn India and Tata Communications also closed on a high note. Hero Honda and Punjab National Bank finished with notable gains.
KSK Energy, Jet Airways, IRB Infrastructure, OnMobile Global, United Spirits, Kotak Bank, Bajaj Financial Services, India Bulls Financial Services, Godrej Industries, RECL, Power Finance Corporation, Areva, Gujarat Minerals, Indian Bank, Renuka Sugars, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, Nagarjuna Construction Company and Bank of Baroda ended with impressive gains today.
HDIL, Lanco Infratech, GTL Infrastructure, Tech Mahindra, India Bulls Real Estate, Gujarat Petronet, Jai Corp, Chambal Fertilizers, Bajaj Holdings, Essar Oil, Omaxe, India Infoline, MphasiS and Shipping Corporation of India declined sharply.
Sensex ends 118 pts down on weak global sentiment
The market opened on a weak note this morning due to negative global cues and remained in the red right through the session as participants refrained from picking up stocks even at lower levels. There was some hectic short-covering in select bluechip stocks, but that was not sufficient to pull the market out of the red today.
Global meltdown and stock market
Realty, auto and metal stocks traded weak right through the session. IT, power, refinery, FMCG and capital goods stocks also closed on a weak note. Select PSU stocks edged higher while bank stocks outperformed the market.
Stockometer
The Sensex, which opened with a negative gap of around 60 points at 9626.07 and slipped to a low of 9502.53 in intra-day trades, closed at 9568.72 with a sharp loss of 118.03 points or 1.22%. The Nifty ended 1.74% or 51.80 points down at 2916.85. In intra-day trades today, the Nifty touched a low of 2900.45. The market remained volatile right through the session.
Top gainers
Though a few side counters attracted attention, it was not a good session for midcap and smallcap stocks as well. The market breadth remained weak. When trade ended, out of 2509 stocks seen in action on the BSE, 1502 stocks were down in the negative territory. 915 stocks closed with gains and 92 stocks ended flat.
Worst losers
Tata Motors went down by as much as 8.65% to Rs 159.65. Tata Consultancy Services (down 4.45%) and Wipro (down 4.3%) ended with sharp losses despite enjoying a bright spell in the positive territory earlier. ACC, Mahindra & Mahindra and Reliance Communications lost 4% - 4.25%.
Satyam Computer Services, which plunged to Rs 114.65 this morning as the ban imposed on the company by the World Bank triggered a massive sell-off, bounced back on short-covering and ended lower by just around 3.85% at Rs 134.95.
Bharti Airtel and ITC lost a little over 3%. Sterlite Industries, ONGC, DLF, Grasim Industries, Jaiprakash Associates, Maruti Suzuki, Reliance Infrastructure, Tata Steel, Hindalco, Reliance Industries and Larsen & Toubro lost 1% - 3%. BHEL, HDFC, Infosys Technologies, NTPC and Tata Power also ended weak.
ICICI Bank (3.3%), State Bank of India (1.8%), HDFC Bank (0.65%) and Ranbaxy Laboratories (1.25%) closed on a firm note. Hindustan Unilever finished with a small gain.
Unitech lost over 12% on sustained selling today. HCL Technologies ended lower by around 7%. Reliance Petroleum, SAIL, Reliance Power, Nalco, Idea Cellular, ABB, Ambuja Cements, Siemens, Zee Entertainment, Power Grid Corporation and GAIL India also closed with sharp losses.
BPCL moved up by over 5%. Suzlon Energy, Cairn India and Tata Communications also closed on a high note. Hero Honda and Punjab National Bank finished with notable gains.
KSK Energy, Jet Airways, IRB Infrastructure, OnMobile Global, United Spirits, Kotak Bank, Bajaj Financial Services, India Bulls Financial Services, Godrej Industries, RECL, Power Finance Corporation, Areva, Gujarat Minerals, Indian Bank, Renuka Sugars, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, Nagarjuna Construction Company and Bank of Baroda ended with impressive gains today.
HDIL, Lanco Infratech, GTL Infrastructure, Tech Mahindra, India Bulls Real Estate, Gujarat Petronet, Jai Corp, Chambal Fertilizers, Bajaj Holdings, Essar Oil, Omaxe, India Infoline, MphasiS and Shipping Corporation of India declined sharply.
Global meltdown and stock market
Realty, auto and metal stocks traded weak right through the session. IT, power, refinery, FMCG and capital goods stocks also closed on a weak note. Select PSU stocks edged higher while bank stocks outperformed the market.
Stockometer
The Sensex, which opened with a negative gap of around 60 points at 9626.07 and slipped to a low of 9502.53 in intra-day trades, closed at 9568.72 with a sharp loss of 118.03 points or 1.22%. The Nifty ended 1.74% or 51.80 points down at 2916.85. In intra-day trades today, the Nifty touched a low of 2900.45. The market remained volatile right through the session.
Top gainers
Though a few side counters attracted attention, it was not a good session for midcap and smallcap stocks as well. The market breadth remained weak. When trade ended, out of 2509 stocks seen in action on the BSE, 1502 stocks were down in the negative territory. 915 stocks closed with gains and 92 stocks ended flat.
Worst losers
Tata Motors went down by as much as 8.65% to Rs 159.65. Tata Consultancy Services (down 4.45%) and Wipro (down 4.3%) ended with sharp losses despite enjoying a bright spell in the positive territory earlier. ACC, Mahindra & Mahindra and Reliance Communications lost 4% - 4.25%.
Satyam Computer Services, which plunged to Rs 114.65 this morning as the ban imposed on the company by the World Bank triggered a massive sell-off, bounced back on short-covering and ended lower by just around 3.85% at Rs 134.95.
Bharti Airtel and ITC lost a little over 3%. Sterlite Industries, ONGC, DLF, Grasim Industries, Jaiprakash Associates, Maruti Suzuki, Reliance Infrastructure, Tata Steel, Hindalco, Reliance Industries and Larsen & Toubro lost 1% - 3%. BHEL, HDFC, Infosys Technologies, NTPC and Tata Power also ended weak.
ICICI Bank (3.3%), State Bank of India (1.8%), HDFC Bank (0.65%) and Ranbaxy Laboratories (1.25%) closed on a firm note. Hindustan Unilever finished with a small gain.
Unitech lost over 12% on sustained selling today. HCL Technologies ended lower by around 7%. Reliance Petroleum, SAIL, Reliance Power, Nalco, Idea Cellular, ABB, Ambuja Cements, Siemens, Zee Entertainment, Power Grid Corporation and GAIL India also closed with sharp losses.
BPCL moved up by over 5%. Suzlon Energy, Cairn India and Tata Communications also closed on a high note. Hero Honda and Punjab National Bank finished with notable gains.
KSK Energy, Jet Airways, IRB Infrastructure, OnMobile Global, United Spirits, Kotak Bank, Bajaj Financial Services, India Bulls Financial Services, Godrej Industries, RECL, Power Finance Corporation, Areva, Gujarat Minerals, Indian Bank, Renuka Sugars, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, Nagarjuna Construction Company and Bank of Baroda ended with impressive gains today.
HDIL, Lanco Infratech, GTL Infrastructure, Tech Mahindra, India Bulls Real Estate, Gujarat Petronet, Jai Corp, Chambal Fertilizers, Bajaj Holdings, Essar Oil, Omaxe, India Infoline, MphasiS and Shipping Corporation of India declined sharply.
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