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CONG WILL WAIT TILL LAST MOMENT FOR PACT WITH SP: DIGVIJAY
By GLOBEGATHER.COM NATIONAL NEWS BUREAU,09 MARCH 2009
A day after the Samajwadi Party virtually ended the possibility of an alliance with Sonia Gandhi's party, the Congress today said it will wait till the last moment for an amicable seat sharing arrangement with the SP for the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh.
"Doors will remain open till the last moment though we are prepared to contest from all seats. Yet, we will think on how many seats we can allot them (SP) like they have decided to leave us 6," Congress General Secretary and UP in-charge Digvijay Singh said in a press conference here.
Yesterday, SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav had pulled the plug on any alliance by announcing that his party would contest all but six seats in UP.
However, the Congress general secretary today said that his party would make every effort to keep communal forces at bay in UP and elsewhere and for that it would again seek the SP's support to check the division of votes during the coming elections but it would not compromise on its self-respect.
He said his party was thankful to the SP for coming to its aid during the trust vote in the Lok Sabha after the Left withdrew support on the nuclear deal issue.
Maintaining that UP would decide who would come to power at the Centre after the elections, he said there was no alternative to the Congress if a secular government has to
be established.
NAVEEN KEEPS BJP GUESSING, KEEPS ALL OPTIONS OPEN
By
GLOBEGATHER.COM
NATIONAL
NEWS BUREAU,09 MARCH 2009
A day after snapping ties with the BJP at the state level, the BJD today sent mixed signals on its strategy for the Lok Sabha polls saying it is "still part of the NDA" while keeping open its option of joining a third front with Left parties.
"We are still part of the NDA. Therefore, it will be premature to say anything now on the role of the BJD in national politics," BJD's secretary general Damodar Rout told , adding things would be clear once the polls were over.
The BJD stand drew flak from the BJP. "The BJD is misleading all by saying it is part of the NDA. How can a party be a member of the NDA while forging pre-poll alliance with the Left parties and the NCP ? asked BJP's youth wing leader and MP, Dharmendra Pradhan.
On its part, the NCP is wooing BJD for a broader electoral tie-up. "I am personally in touch with Patnaik since the severence of the 11-year old ties between the BJP and the BJD two days ago," P A Sangma, who is the NCP National General Secretary, in-charge of North-East and Eastern states, told PTI on phone from Gangtok.
With BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik being non-committal on joining the third front, the indications are that the party would await the results of the Lok Sabha elections before deciding its future course of action.
'NEEDLE OF SUSPICION FOR ATTACK ON LANKAN CRICKETERS ON LTTE'
By GLOBEGATHER.COM NATIONAL NEWS BUREAU 09 MARCH2009
A top Sri Lankan official has said that the needle of suspicion for last Tuesday's attack on the country's cricketers in Lahore was also on the LTTE.
Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona said it was possible that the Tamil Tiger rebels were trying to distract the governments attention from the ongoing offensives against the guerrillas.
We have heard that Pakistani authorities are also concerned that an external element may have contributed to the attack on our cricketers in Lahore. We also have this suspicions from the beginning, Kohona said.
"We will recall that on the first day of the attack itself certain suggestions were made that the LTTE may have had a hand in it. It would be surprising if they had not been behind this, Kohona told reporters yesterday.
It may be recalled that the LTTE has distanced itself from the attack on the bus carrying
the cricketers in Lahore last week.
LTTE spokesman Thileepan in an interview to Australias Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) last week said that the outfit was in no way involved with the attack the island nations cricket team, which cancelled the visit due to returned home subsequently.
And he (Thileepan) said the LTTE rejected speculation that it could be linked to the attack in Pakistan on the Sri Lankan cricket team, the SBS reported.
PAK IDENTIFIES LITTLE-KNOWN MASTERMIND OF LAHORE ATTACK
By
GLOBEGATHER.COM
NATIONAL
NEWS BUREAU 09 MARCH2009
A little-known militant Muhammad Aqil has been identified by Pakistani security agencies as the mastermind of the audacious attack on Sri Lankan cricketers here, but raids across the city to nab him proved futile today as he managed to escape.
The security agencies conducted raids at several places after identifying Aqil, who has links to a banned militant group. However, the name of the group was not revealed.
Though Aqil, who hails from Kahuta, managed to escape, his accomplice Talat was captured, Geo News channel quoted sources as saying.
Talat and Aqil had been living a in flat near the Liberty traffic roundabout, where the Sri Lankan team was attacked on March 3 by a dozen gunmen who ambushed its luxury bus, leaving seven players and an assistant coach injured and eight people dead.
Talat purchased a mobile phone SIM that was used by the terrorists involved in the attack, Geo News reported. Aqil masterminded the attack and was also in-charge of its execution, it added
PRESIDENT GREETS NATION ON MILAD-UN-NABI AND HOLI
By GLOBEGATHER.COM NATIONAL NEWS BUREAU 09 MARCH2009
President Pratibha Patil on Monday greeted the nation on the occasion of Milad-un-Nabi and Holi.
Milad-un-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Muhammad, would be celebrated Tuesday, while Holi, the festival of colours, would be celebrated Wednesday.
“May the message of universal peace, compassion, tolerance and service to humanity preached by the holy prophet inspire us to live in fellowship, harmony and unity,” she said.
Noting that the festival of colours is the harbinger of joy, happiness and fulfilment, which is celebrated at the onset of spring, the president hoped the "joyous festivities would infuse a sense of compassion for fellow human beings”.
“Just like the myriad colours of Holi, our nation too is replete with diversity and let us learn to respect and protect the vibrant culture of our nation.
“Let the celebrations this year also bring the young and the old together and the joyous festivities infuse in us, a sense of compassion for our fellow human beings in our life,” she said.
FORMER BSP LEADERS JOIN HANDS AHEAD OF LS POLLS
By
GLOBEGATHER.COM
NATIONAL
NEWS BUREAU,09 MARCH2009
BSP supremo Mayawati's former lieutenants have joined hands to float a new alliance with the sole objective of challenging their former party.
The new alliance - Adhikar Manch - which has decided to contest all the 80 seats in the state, launched its poll campaign even before the dates of the Lok Sabha elections were announced. The group comprises leaders who were considered as trusted lieutenants of Mayawati and Kanshiram.
The campaign is being led by regional party Apna Dal headed by Sone Lal Patel, who was once a BSP rank holder.
In the last general election, the party forged an alliance with the BJP, but failed to open an account.This time the party has decided to align with the smaller regional parties, with a hope of making an impact.
Another alliance partner Bhartiya Samaj Party, too is an off shoot of the ruling BSP. Bhartiya Samaj Party is led by Om Prakash Rajbhar, who was once a trusted lieutenant of Mayawati.
Having influence in Rajbhar community, he made a foray in the electoral politics in last polls. The party which bagged 3.8 per cent votes in the last Assembly elections, will now contest 18 parliamentary seats in eastern UP.
"Though I was approached by the Samajwadi Party, which wanted me to contest from Ghosi, I declined the offer and decided to align with like-minded parties," Rajbhar said.
NAWAZ DEMANDS FIR AGAINST BENAZIR'S KILLERS
By
GLOBEGATHER.COM
NATIONAL NEWS
BUREAU09 MARCH2009
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif has demanded that the government should immediately register an FIR for the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and nab the culprits involved in the attack, a media report said on Sunday.
Addressing a public meeting in Pakistan's Faisalabad city on Saturday, Sharif said no FIR was lodged yet by the ruling party although more than a year has passed.
He announced that PML-N would stage rallies for the arrest of the killers of Benazir Bhutto.
Sharif called on the workers of all political parties, mainly the PPP (Pakistan Peoples Party) to participate in the Long March of lawyers. He said PML-N fully supports the just cause of lawyers for the restoration of deposed judges and Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
Sharif said he had signed an agreement with former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto for restoration of democracy in the country.
OVER 100 LTTE MEN KILLED: LANKA GOVT
By
GLOBEGATHER.COM NATIONAL
NEWS BUREAU, NEW DELHI 09 MARCH2009
More than 100 Tamil Tiger rebels have been killed in two days of fighting in Sri Lanka as they tried to break a military stranglehold, the defence ministry said on Sunday.
They died when the army beat back a series of counter-attacks on Friday and Saturday by the Tiger rebels against advancing government forces in the district of Mullaittivu in the northeast.
Fresh fighting erupted on Sunday with heavy casualties reported among the rebels, military officials said, without giving further details.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who were in control of large swathes of the north and east of Sri Lanka less than two years ago, have now been cornered in a small patch of jungle.
"As the Mullaittivu battle reached its last phase, the LTTE terrorists made several desperate attempts in vain to infiltrate the military forward defences," the defence ministry statement said.
"Over 100 terrorists were killed and as many injured since Friday."
The government accused the Tigers of deploying heavy mortars and artillery guns inside a designated security zone where large numbers of civilians have gathered to shelter from the fighting.
Concern over the danger to non-combatants has mounted as government troops fight to wipe out the remnant rebels, with the International Committee of the Red Cross saying hundreds of civilians have been killed in crossfire.
With the Tigers encircled Sri Lankan military leaders have said they hope to crush the guerrillas by next month - a victory that would end 37 years of armed conflict on the island.
Sri Lanka's top defence official, Gotabhaya Rajapakse, said recently that the offensive against the Tigers had been slowed in a bid to ensure the safety of civilians whom he said were being used by the rebels as human shields.
NCP EXTENDS SUPPORT TO PATNAIK GOVERNMENT IN ORISSA
By
GLOBEGATHER.COM
NATIONAL
NEWS BUREAU, NEW DELHI 08 MARCH2009
Sharad Pawar-led NCP today extended support of his party's two MLAs to the Naveen Patnaik ministry in Orissa, which was reduced to a minority after the BJP pulled out of the alliance.
"The MLAs of Nationalist Congress Party in Orissa will support the BJD Government headed by Patnaik," NCP spokesperson D P Tripathi said in a statement.
Patnaik has claimed in Bhubaneshwar that he has a majority in the 147-member assembly with the support of more than 74 MLAs.
SATYAM SCAM: RAJU BROTHERS SENT TO CBI CUSTODY
By
GLOBEGATHER.COM
NATIONAL NEWS BUREAU 09 MARCH2009
A local court on Monday sent Satyam's former chairman B Ramalinga Raju, his brother Rama Raju and three others to CBI custody for seven days from Tuesday.
Besides the Raju brothers, the CBI would be quizzing Satyam's former CFO Vadlamani Srinivas and audit house Price Waterhouse's partners S Gopalakrishnan and Talluri Srinivas in connection with the Rs 7,800 crore accounting fraud at Satyam Computer.
The court also dismissed the bail petitions of Gopalakrishnan and Srinivas.
21ST CENTURY WILL BE INDIA'S: MUKESH AMBANI
By
GLOBEGATHER.COM
NATIONAL
NEWS BUREAU ,09 MARCH2009
As India's growth story continues the 21st century will be India's and demographically as the world grows older, the country is becoming younger and that will be its strength, RIL Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani said.
"In this decade and coming decades, India is becoming younger as the world becomes older," Ambani said at the International Bar Association (IBA) Business Law Conference on India as an emerging economic giant here.
"Fundamentally, the world is becoming older and India is becoming younger and that is our strength," Ambani said.
Reeling out statistics, the Reliance Industries' Chairman said out of India's one billion people, 44 per cent are less than 19 years of age.
"In the next 20 years, we will have more than 400 million under the age of 35 and in a decade from now, only 10 per cent of Indians will be above 60 years of age," he said.
Ambani said there are four trends that would drive the world and India has a competitive advantage in them.
"The first driver is demographics," he said.
India today represents in demographic terms exactly what the United States was in the 1910-1920s, he said.
The second trend is democracy and its pluralism and the ability of Indians to believe in that democracy.
GOLD EXTENDS LOSSES ON WEAK GLOBAL CUES
By
GLOBEGATHER.COM
NATIONAL
NEWS BUREAU, 09 MARCH2009
Extending loses gold prices fell by another Rs 40 to close at Rs 15,375 per ten gram in the bullion market here on selling by stockists influenced by weakening global trend.
Silver followed suit and lost Rs 300 to settle the day at Rs 21,800 per kg as selling remained unabated as the metal prices continued to slide in overseas market.
Marketmen said stockists offloaded part of their holdings in line with weakening trend in overseas markets mainly pulled down the precious metal prices.
They said reduced offtake by retailers and stockists due to off-marriage season further fuelled the down-trend.
Standard gold and ornaments lost Rs 40 each to Rs 15,375 and Rs 15,225 per ten gram respectively. Sovereign, however, remained steady at Rs 12,400 per piece of eight gram.
In a similar fashion, silver ready dropped by Rs 300 to Rs 21,800 per kg on poor offtake by industrial units and weekly-based delivery by Rs 140 to Rs 22,460 per kg.
On the other hand, silver coins continued to be asked around previous level of Rs 28,400 for buying and Rs 28,500 for selling of 100 pieces on reduced offtake.
GOWDA LAUDS PATNAIK'S 'BOLD' DECISION TO END ALLIANCE WITH BJP
By
GLOBEGATHER.COM
NATIONAL NEWS BUREAU 09 MARCH2009
Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda today hailed Naveen Patnaik's "bold" decision to walk out of the alliance with the "communal and fascist BJP" and asked him to be part of the third Front.
In a letter to the Orissa Chief Minister, Gowda alleged that the BJP was "desperately trying to turn the peaceful state of Orissa into a communal laboratory, on the lines of Gujarat." "We were all eagerly looking forward to your breaking free from the communal forces and joining hands with the Third Front to provide a secular...Non-Congress and non-BJP national alternative to the people of this country," he said.
The JD(S) chief said he was happy that the BJD supremo was following the footsteps of his father Biju Patnaik.
"I am happy to note your good self following the footsteps of your illustrious father, the late Biju Patnaik, with whom I shared very close association.
"It is high time all like-minded secular forces sink their differences and work together for the toiling underprivileged, downtrodden, exploited and impoverished masses of India," Gowda said in his letter.
Remembering his party's association with BJP, Gowda said "my party legislators in Karnataka too were forced to enter into an alliance with the communal BJP as they became victim of a conspiracy to eliminate our political existence and identity".
BIG B REFUTES RUMOURS
By
GLOBEGATHER.COM HINDI FILM NEWS BUREAU09 MARCH2009
Amitabh Bachchan has clearly stated that he has absolutely no intentions of giving his support to any political party in the coming general elections. There were several abuzz suggesting that the actor will be lending his support to the Samajwadi Party in the coming general elections.
This might be due to the closeness the Bachchans share with the Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh as well as Jaya Bachchan being a member of the same party and an MP. Speaking to the media Mr.Bachchan crisply stated “I am not a politician. I will not campaign”.
Way back in 1984 the superstar had a tryst with politics when he ventured into the Lok Sabha as a member of the Congress Party. His association with the game of politics was very short-lived and afterwards the actor never showed any interest to be a member of any party.
The Bachchan Sr. has even said that politics is not ideally suited for his persona.
ADURS TO SPEAK MALAYALAM
By
GLOBEGATHER.COM TELUGU FILM NEWS BUREAU
, NEW
DELHI 09 MARCH2009
Adurs’ is the ongoing film directed by VV Vinayak with NTR and Nayanthara in the cast. Kodali Venkateswara Rao widely known as Nani produces it on Vaishnavi Arts banner and B. Vamsi Mohan presents the film.
Latest update is ‘Adurs’ will be dubbed in Malayalam and be released on the same date that of the Telugu version. The lead ladies Nayanthara and Sheela are native of Kerala which is strongly believed to be a highlight for the film’s market in the state.
VV Vinayak known for his mass commercial hits is churning out one more flick for Prabhas that has action, romance and stunts to appeal all classes of audience.
In the season of bikini bandwagon, Nayanthara was the first daring heroine to strip for the Tamil film ‘Billa’ which is reiterated by Priyamani and soon by Anushka. Due to tough contention, Nayan will once more walk elegantly in the revealing outfit for ‘Adurs’.
With most part of the film completed, post production work is now being carried out. Devi Sri Prasad has composed the music and the movie is slated for release on July 9.
ANGELINA’S DUAL LOOK IN SALT
By
GLOBEGATHER.COM
HOLLYWOOD NEWS BUREAU 09 MARCH 2009
Angelina plays the lead in Lorenzo di Bonaventura spy thriller Salt, for which shooting commenced just this week. Already, pictures of the actress' new looks have surfaced. The photos in circulation show her sporting two looks – one is the soft, straight-haired blonde look; the other has her in pitch-black hair, giving her the perfect vixen look. So it’s likely that the black-haired toughie is the rogue CIA operative trying to clear her name. Or is the soft look a camouflage?
"She's a character you never know," says Lorenzo di Bonaventura, who also produced Transformers. Adding, "People who think they know the real her may or may not. Those who think they can tell whether she's in a disguise also may or may not... She tells you her agenda, but are you supposed to believe it? Her pursuers have a ton of information to act on, but that's where they begin to question what's real and what isn't."
Also on board Salt is Liev Schreiber as Winter, her ally and supervisor in the CIA's Russia office.
