21tober 2007

Courtey : NDTV
Ind brush aside Aus T20 challenge

Saturday, October 20, 2007 (Mumbai) India registered a commanding win against Australia in their one-off T-20 encounter at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.While the Indian bowlers restricted the Australians to 166 for 5, the Indian batsmen - led by opener Gautam Gambhir - knocked off the runs with ease in 18.1 overs for the loss of just three wickets.Gambhir, taking off from T20 World Championship finals against Pakistan, scored a brilliant 63 in 52 balls, including six boundaries and one six. He was well supported by the aggressive Robin Uthappa (35) and the classy Yuvraj Singh scoring an unbeaten 31 in 25 balls, which included three huge sixes and one boundary.Gambhir was awarded the Man of the Match award for his brilliant innings.With this win, India have maintained not only maintained their edge over the ODI champions in the shortest version of the game but also built much-needed momentum before heading down under later this year.India's shaky startEarlier, the Indian innings got off to a shaky start with openers Virender Sehwag and Gambhir being watchful against the Australian opening pace duo of Brett Lee and Nathan Bracken.The rusty Sehwag (5) didn't last long, edging a Lee delivery for a comfortable catch to wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist.But a quick-fire 82-run partnership between Uthappa and Gambhir threatened to take the game away from the Australians. Their charge was curtailed by part-time left-arm spinner Michael Clarke struck in the 11th over, as Uthappa was caught behind.Thereafter, while Gambhir fell post an exciting half-century, Yuvraj Singh tore into the Aussie bowlers and, along with skipper MS Dhoni, propelled India to a famous win, which was sealed with a trademark Dhoni six.Aus win tossThe day began with Australia winning the toss and electing to bat.The Australian innings got off to a shaky start with Adam Gilchrist falling in the very first over.Despite Gilchrist's (12) wicket - bowled by RP Singh - Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting led the assault against the Indian bowlers, smashing a blistering 76 off 53 balls, which included 13 boundaries.After Gilchrist's dismissal, Ponting shared a crucial 48-run partnership with Mathew Hayden (17).However, just when it seemed that things were getting out of hand, Hayden dragged a Harbhajan Singh delivery back onto his stumps.Hayden's fall brought the Andrew Symonds to the wicket, but the dangerous right-hander didn't last long, as he was run out by Harbhajan Singh after scoring 20 runs.Thereafter, Brad Hodge (2) joined Ponting, but failed to contribute significantly, as he was bowled by Irfan Pathan in the 15th over.Michael Clarke (24*) then joined Ponting as they looked to attack the Indian bowlers in the final few overs.Although they struggled to impose themselves on the Indian bowlers, the 18th over brought some respite as and undisciplined Sreesanth was taken for 22 runs.Ponting fell in the 19th over bowled by Irfan Pathan in a bid to further accelerate the scoring.For the Indians, spinners Harbhajan Singh and Murali Karthik were the key, as they strangled the Australian batsmen. Singh was especially economical, giving away just 17 runs in his four overs while picking up one wicket.India Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Irfan Pathan, Murali Kartik, Harbhajan Singh, RP Singh, S Sreesanth.Australia: Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting, Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke, Brad Hodge, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Brad Haddin, BW Hilfenhaus.


Courtey: NDTV
India be given augmented voice at the UN: Clinton
Frontrunner Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, in an article in the prestigious Foreign Affairs journal, has said that it is time India's emergence be recognized and the country be given suitable place at regional and international forums including the United Nations.A Senator from New York and Co-Chair of the Senate India Caucus, Clinton said: ''I recognize the tremendous opportunity presented by India's rise and the need to give the country an augmented voice in regional and international institutions, such as the UN.''India, which has been campaigning hard to get a place as Permanent Member of the UN Security Council, has not been able to get any endorsement or support from the Bush Administration, which otherwise has initiated several steps to strengthen Indo-US relationship.The US, has so far, endorsed the Permanent Membership of Japan only.This is the first indication of India being given appropriate place at the UN, coming from a top US leadership.Clinton, who is considered to be a friend of India in the Congress and has a large support base among the influential Indian-American community in the US, said in her foreign policy paper: ''In Asia, India has a special significance both as an emerging power and as the world's most populous democracy.''In the run-up to her election campaign, the Indian-American community has raised a few billion dollars for her in the past few months.''We must find additional ways for Australia, India, Japan, and the United States to cooperate on issues of mutual concern, including combating terrorism, cooperating on global climate control, protecting global energy supplies and deepening global economic development,'' she wrote in the November / December issue of Foreign Affairs.A vocal critic of the Bush's foreign policy, Clinton said: ''The tragedy of the last six years is that the Bush administration has squandered the respect, trust, and confidence of even our closest allies and friends.''In the paper, spread over 5,800 words, Clinton says the next US president will have a moment of opportunity to reintroduce America to the world and restore US leadership.''To build a world that is safe, prosperous, and just, we must get out of Iraq, rediscover the value of statesmanship, and live up to the democratic values that are the deepest source of our strength,'' she said, reiterating that she would pull out of Iraq if elected as President of the US.''Ending the war in Iraq is the first step toward restoring the United States' global leadership,'' she said.Observing that terrorists are increasingly finding safe havens in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan, Clinton wrote: ''Redoubling our efforts with Pakistan would not only help root out terrorist elements there; it would also signal to our NATO partners that the war in Afghanistan and the broader fight against extremism in South Asia are battles that we can and must win.''The former First Lady also called for having a global alliance involving India and China on the energy front.''We must create formal links between the International Energy Agency and China and India and create an ''E-8'' international forum modeled on the G-8,'' she said.This group would be comprised of the world's major carbon-emitting nations and hold an annual summit devoted to international ecological and resource issues, Clinton further said.


Courtey: The hindu
Urban waste ‘imported’ from U.S. to be shipped back
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Taking a strong view of what it considers an attempt to make India a waste dump of the developed world, the Kerala government has sought the immediate return to its port of origin three containers carrying urban waste, which arrived at the Kochi Port from the United States in the first week of October.
Addressing a news conference here on Friday, State Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy and Kerala State Pollution Control Board chairman G. Rajmohan said the government had asked the Customs authorities to return the containers and initiate legal proceedings against the Kochi-based company that had imported it.
"The government views the matter with utmost seriousness, especially against the backdrop of reports that waste, including biomedical waste, was being dumped in Third World countries such as India and of the outbreak of various epidemics in Kerala in recent times," the Health Minister said.
According to her, each of the three containers, imported by Kochi-based ‘Kochin Kadalas’ as brown paper mix, had around 30 to 33 tightly packed material. On preliminary examination, the Customs authorities found that around 10 per cent of the contents of each container comprised plastic, glass and other urban waste.
Following this, they decided to conduct a detailed examination of the consignment and sought the help of the State Pollution Control Board. Some 40 per cent of the 60-tonne consignment was found to contain plastic, glass, metal, cartridges of photocopying machines, food waste and gloves.
The consignment was shipped to Kochi by a New York-based firm at $130 a tonne.
A similar incident took place some four years ago when waste paper imported by the Kottayam-based Hindustan Newsprints Limited (HNL), a subsidiary of the Hindustan Paper Corporation (HPC), was found to contain urban waste.
The State government and the Pollution Control Board had been maintaining heightened vigilance following reports that urban waste, used oil and electronic waste from the developed world were being dumped in India, Ms. Sreemathy added.
The Minister said the State government would write to the Union Commerce Ministry regarding the incident and seek appropriate measures from its side to ensure that such incidents did not recur. "We must see this as an attempt to dump waste from the U.S. in India and not merely as something concerning the Kochi Port or Kerala," she said.
Kochi Staff Reporter writes:
PCB Member-Secretary S.D. Jeyaprasad said the board would provide the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests details of lightning raids carried out in Kochi and other places to seize illegal waste oil and hazardous materials.
During a recent surprise visit to an oil unit in Kochi, officials seized several drums of waste oil, imported through the Kochi Port in violation of provisions of the Hazardous Waste Rules.
Labels on some drums indicated the materials originated from the U.K., transited through Iran and Dubai, before reaching Kochi.
Official figures suggest that traders from Punjab, Gujarat, Kolkata, New Delhi and Tamil Nadu were importing such consignments.
N. S. Ramachandran, Deputy Commissioner (import), Cochin Customs, said that ‘suspicious’ consignments would be searched to ascertain whether it contained any illegal materials.


Courtey: The hindu
Mahesh-Girdharilal do India proud
MUMBAI: Commander R. Mahesh and Girdharilal Yadav (crew) became the pride of India by winning the first ever Military World Games sailing gold medal at the 4th CISM Military World Games on Friday. The experienced, talented Indian duo won the day’s only race, finishing the eight-race competition with 10.9 points, ahead of France (19) and Spain (25).
With wind conditions again tricky, only one of the scheduled three races was possible at Indian Navy Watermanship
Training Centre, Colaba.
Though we had a comfortable lead going into the final race, we did not want to leave anything to chance. We got off to a good start and managed to hold the edge throughout. Our eyes were on France, but by the second lap we had opened up a huge lead so were never really threatened," said Mahesh.
The MWG gold caps a successful international career, after medals at the Asian Games in Doha and Busan respectively.
He talked about the contribution from crew Yadav, "He was exceptional as a crew member, hardworking and completely dedicated to his job." The two Indian Enterprise class sailors have been together for the past two years.
French manager Benjamin Diovris expressed disappointment at his team not getting three races to sail on the concluding day.
He however acknowledged that the Indian team was the most consistent team in the fray.
Final positions (after 8 races with one discard): 1. India (R. Mahesh/Girdharilal Yadav) 10.9 points; 2. France (Nicolas Pauchet/Besson Billy) 19; 3. Spain (Jose Medina Ruiz/Francisco Soto Loureiro) 27.
4. Finland (Anttila Teemu/Tamminem Sami) 28; 5. Russia (Andrey Kiriljuk/Maksim Semerhanov) 52.
6. Germany (Lucas Zellmer/Heiko Seelig) 57, 7. Norway(Bratbak Pal/Johansen Anders) 58; 8. Greece (Vasilas Georgios/Mitakis Evangelos) 61.
9. Turkey (Selim Kakis/Koroglu Ahmet) 61; 10. Poland (Mysliweic Wojoceich/Kaminski Jremeusr) 65.


Courtesy : The hindu
Traffic studies for flyovers on IT Corridor
CHENNAI: Traffic studies on the need for flyovers at various junctions along Rajiv Gandhi Salai (IT Corridor) are being conducted.
The Tamil Nadu Road Development Corporation (TNRDC), the agency implementing the road project, has appointed consultants for the purpose taking into account the phenomenal increase in traffic over the past four years, its officials said.
Bus traffic increased by one-third annually, between 2003 and 2007. Overall, the traffic increased 40 per cent during the period.
Possible locations for the flyovers include one along the MRTS line from Tiruvanmiyur to the SRP Tools junction, another off Lifeline Hospitals at Perungudi and others at Thoraipakkam and Sholinganallur.
Flyovers will be necessary to handle peak-hour traffic, and calculation of average traffic will not give the full picture, says TNRDC Director-in-Charge K.R. Viswanathan. If the need for flyovers is reinforced by these studies, the project will be taken up separately.
The 20-km IT Corridor road laying work is being executed at an estimated cost of Rs. 290 crore. Foot over-bridges for pedestrians have been proposed at every one kilometre.
With the drastic increase in the number of buses, predominantly private transport, several such vehicles are now parked on the Corridor itself, points out Mr. Viswanathan.
TNRDC has proposed a bus parking lot between Karapakkam and Siruseri and sought 25 acres of Government land.
Amenities for the drivers such as refreshment kiosks and toilet facilities can also be provided.
Courtey : The hindu
Fake note racket busted, 3 held
NIZAMABAD: Town police at Vinayaknagar on Thursday arrested three persons and seized from them counterfeit currency amounting to Rs.3.15 lakh, two computers, two scanners, printers and accessories used for printing fake notes.
Briefing mediapersons the Deputy SP K. Anjaneyulu, said they found one person moving under suspicious circumstances near a toddy shop and trying to exchange a fake note. The SP’s ID party and Fourth town sub-inspector, Md. Javeed rushed there and apprehended one Mohammad Younus Khan. They recovered counterfeit currency worth Rs.3,500 from him.
On interrogation he disclosed that Ega Nagabhushanam, a photographer based at Armoor makes counterfeit notes and supplies to him and his accomplice Anwar of Dichpally. The notes were exchanged at toddy compounds, bars, busy vegetable markets, provisions stores and gambling places.
Nagabhushanam admitted that he was making fake notes in the denominations of Rs.500, Rs.100 and Rs.50 using computers and scanners at his residence in Armoor. He said he indulged in this practice as he incurred heavy losses in running the photo studio. The Deputy SP said he (Nagabhushanam) chose the practice of making the fake notes on the suggestion of his friend Gangadhar of Dichpally, who is absconding .