FOREX-U.S. dollar, yen gain on Europe debt woes

* Euro tumbles on Portugal, wider euro zone debt worries

Currencies

* Euro hits 8-1/2 mth low vs dollar

* Yen soars to near one-year highs vs euro

* US payrolls slip, but jobless rate falls, helping dollar (Updates, prices, adds comment)

By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss

NEW YORK, Feb 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar and yen gained on Friday as persistent worries about the euro zone's fiscal stability pushed investors further away from risky assets and sent the euro to an 8-1/2 month low against the greenback.

The cost of insuring the debt of Greece, Portugal and Spain against default hit record highs, according to CMA Data Vision, as Portugal backed a law that may further enlarge its swollen budget deficit. That caused further jitters and sent investors into traditional safe-haven assets, the euro hitting a near one-year trough against the yen.

"The market is nervous about contagion spreading in Southern Europe," said Dean Popplewell, chief currency strategist at FX brokerage firm OANDA in Toronto.

"You see that the sovereign debt of Greece, Spain and Portugal are all under threat and this is certainly weighing on the euro. So the directional trend in the dollar remains intact, with investors keen to take the dollar higher by default."

Fears about euro zone fiscal deficits overshadowed a key U.S. non-farm payrolls report for January, which showed job losses of 20,000, but a drop in the unemployment rate to 9.7 percent from 10 percent in December. See [ID:nN04115255].

Popplewell said investors seemed happy about the decline in the U.S. unemployment rate and that partly contributed to gains in the dollar.

In late afternoon trading, the euro EUR= fell 0.6 percent on the day to $1.3658 after falling as low as $1.3586, according to Reuters data, the lowest since May 2009.

For the week, the euro is on track to post a 1.4 percent fall at current prices, its fourth consecutive week of losses. The single European currency has tumbled around 10 percent from its December 2009 high around $1.5140.

The euro fell to 120.72 yen EURJPY=, the lowest since Feb. 24, 2009. It was last at 122.10, down 0.1 percent.

Investors tend to buy the yen and dollar in times of heightened risk aversion as they unwind trades in risky assets financed by both currencies' near zero interest rates.

"The dollar will benefit from the relative liquidity of the U.S. Treasury markets and the yen from Japan's low dependence on foreign financing," said Barclays Capital in a research note.

The ICE Futures' dollar index .DXY, a calculated measure which tracks the greenback's performance against a currency basket, climbed to 80.683, its strongest since July 2009. It last traded up 0.5 percent at 80.341.

Ongoing fiscal concerns in the euro zone cranked up implied volatility in the currency options market as one-week euro/dollar volumes EURSWO= traded as high 14.5 percent from 11.85 percent on Thursday.

Analysts said such a change on the day had not been seen since Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy in autumn 2008.

"The evolution of this (euro zone) crisis will have important bearing on the sustainability of the global recovery; a significant rise in general sovereign risk premium will constrain the ability of fiscal policy to respond aggressively to another downturn," Barclays said.

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Toyota Recall, Obama Budget: Week in Review

Feb. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp.’s recalls of vehicles that may cause sudden acceleration and President Barack Obama’s proposed $3.8 trillion budget lead a review of the week’s stories on Bloomberg.com.

Click here for a special report on Toyota’s recall crisis. The world’s largest automaker has lost almost $34 billion in market value after recalls approached 8 million vehicles worldwide. Select the VIDEO tab above for coverage and analysis on Bloomberg Television.

Obama offered a budget that calls for $1.9 trillion of increased taxes on businesses and the wealthiest Americans over the next decade. Read more on the fiscal 2011 budget.

The most-read story on Bloomberg.com was an interactive graphic analysis previewing the U.S. government’s annual revision to employment figures. The revisions increased the number of jobs lost in the recession to 8.4 million.

Bloomberg BusinessWeek’s cover story, AT&T’s iPhone Mess, examines the consumer rebellion at Ma Bell after Apple Inc.’s handset swamped the phone company’s data network.

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Mayank Shekhar's Review: Striker

Set in the 1980s in Malvani, a claustrophobic ghetto of suburban Mumbai, Striker, directed by Chandan Arora is a gritty slice-of-life movie that never achieves its full potential. Remarkably shot and competently performed, the film is let down by a confused script that can't decide what point to make.

Rang De Basanti's Siddharth stars as Surya, a poor boy who aspires for a better life than the one he's currently living in a dingy shack that he shares with five members of his family. When his efforts to make a passport and land a job in Dubai prove fruitless, Surya has no choice but to use his superb carrom-playing skills to make a living. His friend Zaid (played by Ankur Vikal) introduces him to the local goon Jaleel Bhai (played by Aditya Pancholi) who runs illegal gambling and betting dens in the neighborhood, where Surya must play for big money. Expectedly his involvement with Jaleel Bhai gets him into trouble with the cops, distances him from his family, and ends not very nicely at all.

Striker scores full marks for authenticity -- for its accurate portrayal of the city's dark underbelly, for its use of real locations and for its consistent colloquial dialogue.

Director Chandan Arora does a bang-up job of creating entirely believable characters who you will care for. Like Surya's earnest elder brother (played by Anoop Soni) who repeatedly urges him to pursue a real job, however low-paying. Or his sister (played by Vidya Malavade) who is sympathetic and supportive but ultimately a mute spectator when he's banished from the house by the eldest sibling. Or even Zaid, his best friend and an occasional drug-dealer who's living life on the edge but is eternally optimistic and blessed with infectious enthusiasm.

The film falters eventually because it can't find its feet. There's a side-track about the communal riots which is never fully developed. There are two romantic tracks, the first entirely dispensable, the second too convenient. Surya's journey too comes off as half-baked, and his final voice-over which is meant to put things into perspective, leaves you entirely underwhelmed.

And that's a pity. Because Striker has so much going for it. Aditya Pancholi is appropriately menacing as the scar-faced villain; and Siddharth delivers an excellent performance as Surya, displaying vulnerability when required, or chocolate-boy charm when that is needed. From the physicality of his part to the emotional mind-space he must inhabit, Sidharth creates a fully flesh-and-blood character out of Surya.

Stealing the show, however, is Ankur Vikal who is extraordinary as the free-spirited, hyperactive Zaid. It's among the finest acting pieces you will see this year.

Despite Arora's solid efforts, the film loses steam well before the end credits roll. Although only two hours in running time, the movie feels endlessly long, and fails to culminate satisfyingly. I'm going with two-and-a-half out of five for director Chandan Arora's Striker. It's not a bad film by any measure, but it most definitely could've been better. Watch it for some excellent acting and for its gritty realistic feel.

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Buyer interest in Prius grows. Say what?

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- By now, you've heard that some 2010 Toyota Priuses have a braking problem blamed for several crashes. That sounds scary, but to some it sounds like a deal.

A recent analysis of online car shopping shows that more people are seriously looking at a Toyota Prius than before the problematic brake news was uncovered.
"When a car or automaker receives bad press, people sense an opportunity to pick up a bargain," noted Edmunds.com CEO Jeremy Anwyl. "We saw the same reaction from consumers when Chrysler and General Motors declared bankruptcy last year."

These shoppers may not actually want to buy a car with a potentially hazardous defect, of course. Shortly after the problem came to light, Toyota revealed that it had instituted a "running fix" on the Prius production line in Japan, so cars produced beginning some time in January don't have the problem.

Besides that, shoppers may be putting their faith in an eventual recall, too, said Edmunds.com spokeswoman Jeannine Fallon.

"There's still trust the automaker will have it taken care of if there is a problem," she said.

In the week leading up to the first news reports of an apparent problem, about 7.4% of those researching compact cars were considering a Prius. As of Thursday, after the news broke, 8.7% did.

Among those who seemed seriously ready to buy a compact car, 10.1% were looking hard at the Prius before the news. By Thursday, 11.2% were.

Some Prius owners complained that the brakes hesitated to work when traveling over rough or potholed roads.

Edmunds.com's data trackers gauge purchase intent by noting a user's on-line behavior. Certain behaviors, like pricing research, has a strong correlation to actual intent to purchase a car, Edmunds.com analysts have found.

It was revealed late Tuesday that Prius owners had lodged more than 100 complaints of a problem in which the car's brakes briefly hesitated to work on bumpy or potholed roads. As of Wednesday, four crashes had been alleged as a result of the problem. To top of page

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BSNL to start wimax service in NCR this month

BSNL and MTNL will set-up 10 new exchanges by the end of this financial year in the Noida and Greater Noida
NOIDA, INDIA: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is all set to start its wimax service in the NCR this month and to begin with the service would be launched from Dhakor of Greater Noida, in Uttar Pradesh.

"BSNL will start wimax service in Dhankor by the end of this month. This would enable the subscribers to access high speed Internet access in the range of 15 kilometers from wimax tower," said Sachin Pilot, minister of state for IT and Communications at the review meeting of BSNL and Department of Post in Noida today.

Sachin Pilot added that the service would be extended to the other parts of the NCR such as Bisrakh, Dadri, Jewar and Jahangirpur in next financial year. All these places fall under UP (West) circle of BSNL.

BSNL and MTNL will set-up 10 new exchanges by the end of this financial year in the Noida and Greater Noida.

Pilot also mentioned that BSNL and MTNL will jointly set-up 25 new telecom towers in the next financial year to improve quality of service in Noida circle.

"With improved quality of service, I am expecting that both companies will add 25,000 new subscribers to their present subscriber base. BSNL at present has 75,000 subscribers and MTNL has 25,000 subscribers in Noida circle," said Pilot.

On the issue of telecom towers being sealed by Noida Authority, Pilot mentioned that authorities and companies should come up with solution to solve the issues faced by telecom consumers.

"Suffering of consumers is unacceptable. It should be the responsibility of everyone to take measures in order to reduce the problem of the common man. Since my ministry cannot directly intervene in to the matter, I would urge that Noida Authority and telecom companies should talk and come up with a reasonable solution that stops suffering of the consumers," said Pilot.

He mentioned that the Department of Telecom is waiting for TRAI's recommendation on telecom tower to form a national policy.

"At present, the issues related to telecom towers are under consideration at TRAI. Once TRAI completes its consultation and send us recommendation, then we will work out a national policy on telecom towers," said Pilot.

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DEEPIKA CALLING DEEPIKA

She has sacrificed her long, lustrous shampoo-ad locks for her new film Karthik Calling Karthik, releasing later this month. And it looks fab! Deepika Padukone tells t2 what it took to convince her to go under the scissors, how her character in the film is not like her at all and what it was like working with Farhan Akhtar.
What was your first reaction on learning that you needed to cut your hair for Karthik Calling Karthik?

Initially, I was nervous. I wasn’t very sure whether I wanted to cut my hair because I have always had long hair. I have always been associated with this simple girl next door. So, I did not know how this short hair would suit me. But I think it is the best decision that I ever made because on screen it looks great. I feel much better now.

What amount of convincing did it take to make you say yes?

Ah…it did take a lot of talking and convincing. After that we put on a wig to see how it would look. That’s when I was convinced that if I did cut my hair, it would suit me. Then we finally went on to cutting my hair.

Did you turn to anyone for advice?

Yeah, Mickey Contractor. He has done my make-up in the film. I have known Mickey ever since I have been a part of the industry. He knows my personality, the kind of face I have and my body type. So he had certain suggestions. Like I have a long neck, so the hair should not be too short.

Apart from that, I also trust Adhuna completely. I knew she would do it.

How did Adhuna Akhtar, the stylist, help?

She was very sweet. She got a wig first and cut it and then showed me how my hair would look.

Even through the process of cutting my hair, she was doing it as if she was doing a surgery. You know how they explain every step to you in a surgery…she made me very comfortable. She guided me through the whole thing.

Did the director (Vijay Lalwani) have a certain look in mind for the character? What is she like?

Sometimes there are certain characteristics that suit a person or their personality.

So, when I heard the narration, I pictured Sonali with short hair. I could not have imagined her with long hair. She is confident, ambitious, independent and focused. She speaks her mind. She is spontaneous.

After this, will you be open to more such experiments?

I already have short hair. I don’t know how much more I can experiment!

Who has styled you? What is your overall look in the film?

Niharika Khan has styled me. The look is very simple. The focus in the film is not the clothes. Although we have paid a lot of attention to what I am wearing, it is not the kind of film where one would come out and say, “Wow! I love what she is wearing!” If that happens, then somewhere we have gone wrong. It is not about the clothes and the make-up. It is about the performance. In a lot of the scenes, I showed up on the sets in the morning and my director would say, “I like what you are wearing today. Let’s shoot in this”.

Tell us about Karthik Calling Karthik…

It is a romantic thriller. It is about a boy called Karthik and how he goes about his daily life doing a regular nine-to-five job. Suddenly, he receives a phone call from someone who also claims to be Karthik. That one phone call changes his life.

Is it one of your most challenging roles so far?

In a way, yes. Sonali, in a lot of ways, is very unlike me. In the trailers, she is the one who always makes the first move and is more confident than the boy. In that respect I am very different from Sonali. I had to let go of a lot of my inhibitions.

What is Farhan Akhtar the co-star like?

It was a great learning experience. Bahut kuch seekhne ko mila. It was fun. He is a lot of fun on set. He is constantly cracking jokes and making people laugh.

Tell us something we don’t know about Farhan…

That he is extremely athletic!

Are you tired of answering questions about your personal life?

I don’t feel irritated. It’s just that I have reached a point in my career where my work should do the talking.

What’s next on the film front?

I have finished working on Housefull, a comedy directed by Sajid Khan. That will release in April. Then I have finished shooting for Ashutosh Gowariker’s Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey. I play a Bengali girl, Kolpona Dutta. See, I spelt it also like a Bengali, Kolpona! It is about the Chittagong uprising. I am styled like a Bengali, but not like the glamorous Bengalis usually portrayed in our films. It’s a very real Bengali look with a cotton khadi saris and three-fourth sleeve blouses. I am glad that I got the opportunity to work with someone like Ashutosh. I always wanted to do a period film. Who better to do a period film with than Ashutosh? It is a period thriller with Abhishek (Bachchan). That will come out in August. Now, I start shooting for Pradeep Sarkar’s next. It is a Yash Raj film and it is a love story. I am opposite Neil (Nitin Mukesh). Then I have a film called Break Ke Baad. That’s opposite Imran (Khan). That’s again a love story.

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Abhishek speaks on his 34th birthday

Abhishek who turns 34 on today doesn't feel his age at all. "Am I really 34? I feel I'm 23. That's the age that I came into movies. I feel the same anxiety and excitement facing the camera this birthday for Abhinay Deo's film as I did for J.P Dutta saab on my 23rd birthday." The year begins with the shooting of Abhinay Deo's film and ends with Prabhu Deva's film, a first for Abhishek since it would be his first full-fledged action flick.
Buzz up!
"I've done action films like Zameen, Dhoom and Run. But nothing like what Prabhu has planned for me," says Abhishek excitedly. "Yeah it's a wonderful year. And I better make sure I don't let my family myself and my audience down."


This has got to be Abhishek Bachchan's busiest year ever. He's just wrapped up Mani Ratnam
's Raavan and is in the process of wrapping up Ashutosh Gowariker's Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Se. He's now shooting for Abhinay Deo's film tentatively titled Crooked. Abhishek then jumps to Tarun Mansukhani's Dostana 2, followed by films with Rohan Sippy's, Abbas-Mustan, Anees Bazmee, Neeraj Pathak and Prabhu Deva…all to be released, shot or completed before the year is through.

Phew! So has Abhishek turned into a certifiable workaholic? Even on his birthday on Friday Abhishek was shooting. And his birthday was brought in on the sets of Crooked. "What to do? If I can't be with my immediately family for my birthday I can at least be with my extended family on the sets. I'm shooting round-the-clock. It's not a time when I can afford to be lackadaisical. Not when I've done television for the first time and discovered a terrific connectivity with the audience. The response to my TV show 'Bingo' has been overwhelming"

His television debut has boosted Abhishek's confidence. "I want to dedicate my 34th year to consolidating my career as an actor and building my rapport with the audience. I know I've the most exciting range of directors and assignments this year."

The last year Abhishek had a thinner work-load. He was shooting Raavan through most of the year. "And for a Mani Ratnam film giving up the experience of doing a variety of other roles is definitely worth the while. 2010 is relatively crowded with no space. And I'm enjoying every bit of it," says Abhishek emotionally.

Today Abhishek feels he is more equipped to face the camera than before. I remember shooting with J.P. Saab for my debut Refugee when I was 23. I was so raw and inexperienced. Today I'm in a position to contribute actively to the process of making the films that I am in. And I do. If I am not comfortable enough with a director to participate in the process of creating a film I'm working
in then I won't work with him."

After doing a serious bone-cruncher with Salman Khan, Prabhu Deva is all set to direct Abhishek Bachchan in an out-and-out action film. The film will have the kind of stunts that Abhishek or for that matter any other Bollywood actor, has never done.

The preparations are on. But Abhishek isn't talking about them. "Every year I try to make sure I'm working on my birthday. I don't know why. But to me shooting on my birthday is very comforting. Of course I love spending the day with my family. And as soon I pack up on Friday evening, I'm rushing home to be with my parents and wife. But it wouldn't be a happy birthday for me if I'm not working. Every year since I started my career in 1998, I've made sure that I'm shooting. Only last year I missed shooting on my birthday because I was in New York promoting Delhi 6. I hope to continue working on all my birthdays."


Abhishek Bachan

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Pawar under fire at CWC meeting

Pawar under fire at CWC meeting : NEW DELHI: The Congress Working Committee, which met in New Delhi on Friday to deliberate price rise, saw a sharp attack on NCP chief and
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar for failing to reign in the cost of essential items.

The development puts the government in a vulnerable position as it has given the Opposition an opportunity to attack the Centre at Saturday’s chief minister’s conference on the same issue. Blaming Mr Pawar for rising costs of essential items such as pulses, oil, vegetables, sugar and milk will see the focus of attack on the Centre.

Congress, which unofficially broadcast criticism of Mr Pawar’s handling of the agriculture ministry, employed the same tactic to hit out at its ally. "Work should be done a little more seriously...there should not be unnecessary warnings (about the scarcity of things)," a CWC leader said recalling the statements on price of sugar and milk made by Mr Pawar.

The source said Mr Pawar was not named but there was indirect criticism about his statement on the shortage of milk supplies. "If he speaks of it himself, then hoarding is bound to take place," a CWC member said. Congress sources indicated that Satyavrat Chaturvedi, who had earlier targeted Mr Pawar on sugarcane prices, was one of the leaders to have talked of Mr Pawar’s shortcomings.

Another leader speaking after the meeting was unsparing. "You know about the weather forecasts... we have a minister who adopts the same model. He talks of the rising milk prices and then they go up," the leader said, accusing Mr Pawar for having talked up prices.

The price rise issue dominated CWC proceedings, also attended by all chief ministers of the party. Congress president Sonia Gandhi opened the meeting by "expressing serious concern" about the issue. She raised issues such as the political situation in Telangana, celebrations for Congress' 125th anniversary, organisational polls and suggestions for the Budget 2010.

The PM who spoke at the end of the meeting 'painted an overall picture' according to one leader, and held the fact that India was doing "exceptionally well on the GDP front" as encouraging in the context of the impact of price rise on the poor.

Congress media department chairman Janardan Dwivedi said Mr Singh had talked of the various pro-poor schemes of the UPA government and their impact on the lives of the poor. "We are trying to control inflation...in keeping with the steps taken by the government in the last few years we were able to weather the global financial crisis and we will be able to progress in the same way," he said paraphrasing Mr Singh’s comments to CWC.

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India crashes out

India tasted its first setback of the 11th South Asian Games here on Friday. First the Indian football team bowed out in the semifinals losing to host Bangladesh 0-1 and later the men’s basketball team was beaten by Afghanistan in a rousing final 65-64.

At the end of the eighth day, India’s medal tally stood at 40 gold, 17 silver and 10 bronze medals. India earned eight gold, three silver and a bronze on Friday.

After stunning defending champion Pakistan 5-1 in the final group league match at Chittagong to qualify for the last four stage India’s elimination was an anti-climax. India will play for the bronze medal.

Egged on by vociferous spectators, the Bangladesh attacks came in waves but the inexperienced Indians held their ground for almost 85 minutes. When it seemed the match would go into extra time, Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu made a silly error by deflecting Abdul Baten Mojumder Komol’s low shot in the way of substitute Tawhidul Alam Sabuz who made no mistake.
Tragic

If the football team’s exit was sad, the defeat of the basketballers at the hands of Afghanistan in the final was tragic. Trailing 35-44 at half-time, the Indians made a remarkable recovery in the next two quarters to tie the score at 58-all. The Indians, 49th in the FIBA ranking, kept the pressure on and took the vital lead with four minutes to go.

Jagdeep Singh, who was the Indian playmaker, missed a couple of lay-up shots at the crucial minutes and this allowed the Afghanistan to sink in a two-pointer to regain the lead by one point.

Interestingly, Afghanistan had beaten India in the group league game and won its first gold medal of these Games. Bangladesh defeated Nepal 75-62 to take the bronze medal.

The Indian hockey team ensured its final entry with a 3-3 draw against Bangladesh. It will play Pakistan in Sunday’s final after the latter handed Sri Lanka a 2-0 defeat to qualify as the second team.

Kamaruzzaman (20th), Pushkor (30th) gave Bangladesh a 2-0 lead at half-time. V. Raghunath (52nd ) scored off a penalty corner, Mohammad Aamir Khan (59th) and Dharamveer Singh (67th) gave India the lead. But it was short-lived as Kamaruzzaman scored with 40 seconds to go to get the draw.

The host will take on Sri Lanka for the bronze medal.

Both the Indians, light-fly Amandeep Singh and fly weight Suranjoy Singh moved into the semifinals of the boxing event.

There will be another India-Pakistan final, this time in the squash team event on Saturday. Both India and Pakistan beat Nepal and Sri Lanka by 3-0 margins.

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Indian teams win badminton gold

Indian men and women bagged the team gold in badminton in the 11th South Asian Games at the Wooden Floor Gymnasium here on Monday.

With National champion Chetan Anand and Trupti Murgunde lending their experience to the side, their youthful teammates finished off both the finals against Sri Lanka in straight games.

The results: Men’s team final: India bt Sri Lanka 3-0 (Chetan Anand bt Niluka Karunaratne 21-12, 21-18; R.M.V. Gurusaidutt bt Dinuka Karunaratne 21-8, 21-18; Aditya Raviprakash bt Nuwan D.J. Hettiarachchi 21-10, 21-15).

Women’s team final: India bt Sri Lanka 3-0 (Sayali Gokhale bt Thilini S. Jayasinghe 21-4, 21-11; Trupti Murgunde bt Renu C.D. Hettiarachchige 21-9, 21-13; P.C. Thulasi bt Achini N. Rathnasiri 21-13, 21-17).

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Acer Liquid phone overview

Acer Liquid lands in India :

Acer Liquid is first android based mobile phone from Acer in India. Acer Liquid comes with interesting features notably 5 mega pixel camera with auto focus, video viewing resolution 640x480 pixel, battery with talk time of 5 hours. The new Acer Liquid is priced at Rs. 24,990 for Indian consumers.

Acer Liquid phone provides global roaming. The browser in Acer Liquid is Google Chrome. It is android 1.6 powered which can be increased to android 2. Acer Liquid was launched in white color and soon red abd black colored Acer Liquid will be there in the market.

Acer Liquid phone has the world’s first Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and is based on the first Android 1.6 high definition smart phone. It delivers real time com

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Terry stripped of England captaincy

John Terry was stripped of the England captaincy by coach Fabio Capello following a media storm over his private life, and will be replaced by Rio Ferdinand.

Capello told Terry of the decision in a brief meeting at Wembley Stadium, a week after the married Chelsea defender lost a High Court battle to ban publication of details of an alleged relationship with England teammate Wayne Bridge’s former girlfriend.

“After much thought, I have made the decision that it will be best for me to take the captaincy away from John Terry,” Capello said in a statement. “As a captain with the team, John Terry has displayed extremely positive behaviour.

“However, I have to take into account other considerations and what is best for all of the England squad. What is best for all of the England team has inspired my choice.”

The Football Association said vice-captain Rio Ferdinand would assume the captaincy. Ferdinand was overlooked for the job after Capello took charge in 2008, but the 31-year-old centre back has struggled for match action for Manchester United this season due to ongoing injury problems.

“When I chose John Terry as captain, I also selected a vice-captain and also named a third choice. There is no reason to change this decision,” Capello said. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the FA, particularly Lord David Triesman and Ian Watmore for allowing me to make this decision in my own time and in the best interest of the team.”

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JuD vows to take Kashmir by force

Organises public meeting in Islamabad, rally in Lahore :

This is the first time after 26/11 attack JuD has come out openly

A string of JuD speakers praise jihad

ISLAMABAD: A day after Islamabad said it was seeking a clarification from New Delhi on the agenda for the proposed Foreign Secretary-level talks, the Jamat-ud-Dawah, front organisation of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, the group blamed for the Mumbai attacks, held a public meeting here vowing to seize Kashmir by force and threatening “rivers of blood” in India.

In Lahore too, the JuD organised a public rally, led by Hafiz Saeed, alleged by India to have masterminded the Mumbai attacks.

The rally went from the JuD headquarters in Chauburji to the University Grounds, where Mr. Saeed led the participants in Friday prayers.

It proceeded to the famous Masjid-e-Shohada on Mall road, where the second tier leadership of the group made anti-India speeches. However, Mr. Saeed did not speak at the public meeting.

The meetings were held alongside other country-wide events to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day, annually observed in Pakistan on February 5. The JuD rally in the capital was held at Aabpara chowk in the heart of the city, a short walk from the barricaded headquarters of the Inter-Services Intelligence.

The JuD is on the United Nations terror list as a front of the LeT, but Pakistan has not banned the group. This is the first time after the Mumbai attacks that the group has come out openly, dropping last year’s cover of “Falah-i-Insaniyat”.

The government, which took some steps against the JuD and placed Hafiz Saeed under house arrest days after the Mumbai attacks, seems to have given it a long rope now.

Friday’s meetings in Islamabad and Lahore followed the one on Wednesday in Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

In the capital, it was not a crowded meeting, the cold and steady drizzle dampening enthusiasm for the event, but the speakers more than made up for this. Banners and posters with the JuD ensignia were found everywhere.

“Whenever our jihad in Kashmir nears success, India becomes ready for talks,” Abdur Rehman Makki, deputy to JuD leader Hafiz Saeed, told his audience, mostly traders from the local market, students from madrasas and JuD activists bussed in from Rawalpindi.

“But what is this dialogue all about? [Former President Pervez]Musharraf tried dialogue for eight years. What did he get? What did Pakistan get? A ban on Lashkar-e-Toiba, while Shiv Sena is allowed to go free,” he said.

India and the U.S. were trying to make the Kashmir cause a part of the “war on terror,” he said, but if India did not pull out its troops from there, “each one of the 17 crore Pakistanis would struggle step-for-step with the Kashmiris in the massacre of Indian soldiers until the last soldier is dead.”

The JuD, he said, “is a reality of Pakistan, and anyone who tries to finish it will not succeed.”

Mr. Makki also railed against the United Nations and the U.S. “Ban us all you like. It is meaningless. It is no more one Hafiz Saeed, every citizen of Pakistan will fight for Kashmir until the last drop of his blood,” he said.

He warned that jihadis were ready to fill the Ravi river with “blood on the water” to avenge what he alleged was India’s denial of river waters to Pakistan.

“Kashmir had become a cold issue. But by denying Pakistan water, India has ensured that every farmer in Punjab is lining up with his tractor and plough, ready to overrun India.”

At one time, jihadis were interested only in the liberation of Kashmir, but the water issue had ensured that “Delhi, Pune and Kanpur” were all fair targets, he said.

A string of other JuD speakers praised jihad, and urged Pakistanis to take to it in “Kashmir, Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine.” The Pakistan People’s Party came in for its share of criticism for straying from Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s promise of a “100-year war” for Kashmir.

The Pakistan Muslim League (N) spokesman Siddique-ul-Farooq, and Sardar Khalid Ibrahim of the “Azad Jammu and Kashmir” Pakistan People’s Party also spoke. at the meeting.

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Cong leadership keeps arm length from Pak talks

NEW DELHI: The government may have decided that it was time it went back to the negotiating table with Pakistan but Congress leadership seems to be keeping a safe distance of the exercise. The Congress Working Committee, which met here on Friday, refrained from discussing the initiative which is seen as the first step towards resumption of composite dialogue stalled in the wake of 26/11 attack on Mumbai.

Always a politically fraught issue, ties with Pakistan have become even more sensitive because of Islamabad's reluctance to crack down on jehadi groups targeting India. Yet, sources said the issue has not been discussed so far even once at the Core Group, the highest decision-making body of the party.

That would make the move for foreign secretary-talks seem purely a government business.

The party would like it that way because the strategic aloofness can firewall it against the adverse fallout of any terror attack -- a real possibility, according to Indian as well as international intelligence agencies -- when the government is talking peace with Pakistan.

That the party leadership will prefer caution to bold diplomatic manoeuvres with Pakistan is a known secret. Sources stress that for the restoration of normalcy in ties to happen, Pakistan ought to sincerely try to bring the 26/11 masterminds to book.

PMO, however, sees profit in re-engagement, and hopes that the dialogue, besides undercutting the perception of India being unreasonable, can be used to nudge Pakistan to act against terror groups.

The gap between the two sides was evident when the party washed its hands off the ill-fated Sharm el-Sheikh joint statement. The fiasco and the bedlam that it caused back home has enhanced the premium on prudence.

That is why the party is expected to keep an eye on happenings even as it stays aloof. As diplomats from the two countries prepare to get down to hammer out the agenda for the foreign secretary-level talks, the leadership's assessment will determine the length to which the government can go to meet Pakistan's insistence on having a full-scale composite dialogue.

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India face Laxman injury concern for South Africa Test

First Test: India v South Africa
Venue: Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground, Nagpur Date: 6-10 February Start time: 0400 GMT
India could be without batsman VVS Laxman for the first Test match against South Africa in Nagpur on Saturday.
The hosts are without the experience of Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh because of injuries, while Laxman has yet to recover from a finger problem.

Subramaniam Badrinath looks poised to start alongside Murali Vijay for the world's number one ranked side.

South Africa, with interim coach Corrie van Zyl at the helm, look set to name Paul Harris as their frontline spinner.

Harris was wicketless after 12 overs for 71 runs against the Indian Board President's XI in midweek, but captain Graeme Smith said the left-armer remains his team's number one spinner.

"Where we have turned in the world, they have written off our spin bowlers," Smith told reporters.


"Paul is the man, it will take a lot for us to change that."

India's main concern will be coping without Dravid, who fractured a cheekbone after being hit by a short delivery during the 10-wicket win in the second Test over Bangladesh last month.

The absence of the 37-year-old, who surpassed Allan Border to move into fourth in the all-time leading Test run scorers' list in November last year, will give Tamil Nadu duo Vijay and Bradrinath an opportunity to impress.

"We will miss Rahul but somebody has to step up and do the work for the team," said India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who stated the team were waiting on a prognosis of Laxman's injury before making a selection decision.

"I'm expecting some of the youngsters will get an opportunity to prove themselves and make runs for the side."

South Africa were ousted from their place at the top of International Cricket Council's world Test rankings in December following their innings and 98 run defeat by England in Durban.

That loss allowed Dhoni's side, fresh from a 2-0 series victory over Sri Lanka in December, to overtake South Africa and claim top spot for the first time since the rankings were devised.

However, the hosts will drop to second should the tourists win the series 1-0 or better, while a draw would consolidate India's position at the top of the standings.

"We came very close to beating them in 2008 (the series was drawn 1-1), when we won in England and Australia. We really wanted to win here," added Smith.

"It's a goal for us, it's an awesome challenge to win here, not many teams have done that."

South Africa arrived in India with Van Zyl as temporary coach for the two-Test, three one-day international tour following Mickey Arthur's resignation at the end of last month.

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Yusuf fights back for West

South Zone's grip over the Duleep Trophy final loosened somewhat as the Pathan brothers - Yusuf and Irfan - led West's challenge in a match that has swung one way and the other. The fall of Irfan's wicket late on the fourth day meant that South would fancy their chances of picking up the four wickets and sealing victory at some point on the final day.

When the penultimate day began West were 50 for no loss chasing an unlikely 536 for victory. Nuggety left-handed opener Chirag Pathak, whose style of play is similar to his Saurashtra statemate and Ranji stalwart Sitanshu Kotak, set the stage with an important century at the top of the order.

Rarely pleasing on the eye, batting with a bottom-hand dominated grip, Pathak was the constant in vital partnerships of 117 for the first wicket with Harshad Khadiwale and 107 with for the second wicket with skipper Wasim Jaffer. Pathak (130) was eventually dismissed by mediumpacer Alfred Absolem when an attempted drive to a ball outside the off resulted in a thick edge back onto the stumps.

South were made to work hard for their wickets, an no one bowler dominated. Instead, Dinesh Karthik had to constantly rotate the bowlers, giving some part-timers a go.

Jaffer (66) made an error of judgment, shouldering arms to a delivery from C Ganapathy that came back in just enough to win the lbw shout. One wicket brought another as Bhavin Thaker opened the face of the bat in an attempt to steer the ball to third man and feathered an edge to the keeper.

South's hopes of tying up the loose ends quickly were dashed by Irfan and Yusuf, whose fluent batting transferred the pressure back into the bowling side.

The left-and-right combination changed the complexion of play, scoring at a fast clip. They added 84 for the sixth wicket, pushing the score to 378 before Irfan fell. It was Absolem once more who broke through, slanting a ball back in to the left-hander, enticing an edge onto the stumps. Irfan's 42 had come off 47 balls and included as many as 8 fours.

The worry for South is that Yusuf (84 not out, 71 balls, 7 fours, 5 sixes) is still at the crease. His belligerent approach has meant that the 157 needed for victory on the final day could be achieved in a tearing hurry.

Free entry for fans

Hyderabad's fans were denied entry on the first two days of the Duleep final as the home association felt large numbers could pose a security threat. In January crowds had disrupted a Twenty20 match and the Hyderabad Cricket Association did not want to take any chances.

However, they have had a change of heart, and fans are now being allowed to watch the match, free of charge, for the remainder of the match. (News Courtesy by Hindustan టైమ్స్)

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Ex-MLA could face minimum 3 yrs in jail for giving shelter to IM terrorist

NEW DELHI: Indian Mujahideen terrorist Shahzad Alam's startling disclosure that he was sheltered by a former Delhi MLA after fleeing from the Batla House encounter scene in September 2008 could make the ex-legislator face a minimum sentence of thre years under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

For the IM terrorist had allegedly told the Delhi police that he was provided shelter and financial help by a former Delhi MLA after he escaped from the Batla House shootout on September 19, 2008, an incident which still evokes sharp reaction from political parties.

After the repeal of POTA to keep its election promise, UPA-I was in 2004 forced to make amendments to UAPA, 1967, and bring in specific provisions to deal with the growing shadow of terrorism on the country.

Section 19 of the amended UAPA provides for a minimum punishment of three years, which could in serious cases be extended to life term, for those who harbour or help conceal a terrorist, even after knowing that the person harboured is a subversive element.

The only loophole in the section, which the ex-MLA can exploit, is that the person giving shelter to the terrorist must have the knowledge about the activity of the guest.

Section 19 says: "Whoever voluntarily harbours or conceals, or attempts to harbour or conceal any person knowing that such person is a terrorist shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years but which may extend to imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine."

The stricter anti-terror laws enacted by the US and UK shortly after the 9/11 attack that snuffed out the existence of twin towers also have similar provisions to deter persons from extending help to terrorists.

Section 803 of Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act enacted a few weeks after 9/11 refers to a host of provisions in other laws against terrorism and says anyone who harbours a terrorist "shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both."

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Navy for partnership in Indian Ocean region

Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma on Friday said the Navy preferred to work together with other navies in the Indian Ocean region rather than assume leadership as envisaged by the U.S.

“We are talking about coming together on a constructive level… and [Indian Navy] not coming in as a headmaster,” Admiral Verma said on the sidelines of a seminar organised as part of the multi-lateral “Milan” exercise, in which 13 countries are participating here.

He was responding to a question on how the country visualised its role following the Pentagon’s latest assessment that the Indian Navy was acquiring the capability and could possibly assume a greater security role in the region.

Nine foreign ships and delegations from 12 countries including Australia, Brunei, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam arrived here on Wednesday for the 7th edition of the exercise.

The officers and personnel first held operational interaction and took part in a table-top exercise on Thursday aimed at enabling all participating ships to undertake joint planning towards building mutual confidence and improving inter-operability in dealing with problems like piracy, arms and drug running and illegal migration.

Admiral Verma said the theme of the seminar, “Navies in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Operations,” gave the flavour of cooperation being envisaged by the different navies in the South and South East Asian region.

“Our coming together is not a security bloc but to cooperate to tackle man-made and natural disasters,” he said when asked whether the multi-lateral exercise could raise Beijing’s suspicion considering that some participating countries had maritime disputes with China.

On the “Malabar” exercises with the U.S., he said, it will remain bilateral. A few years ago, the exercise included navies of the U.S., Singapore, Australia and Japan, a move that did not go down well with China. On China’s capability and Indian preparations, Admiral Verma said the Navy’s plans were made taking into account the region and were not country-specific. He said India had the deterrence of conventional capability.

Admiral Verma said creating awareness among the fishing community to threats from the sea, a task undertaken as part of the coastal security plan, has started yielding results. Earlier in his inaugural address at the seminar ‘Andaman & Nicobar Islands,’ Lt. Gov. Bhopinder Singh underscored the need for speed in reaching out to disaster-affected countries. (by The హిందూ)

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11 buried alive in building collapse

HYDERABAD: Ten labourers and a two-year-old boy were buried alive under the debris after a five-floor building under construction collapsed here on the bustling Narayanguda main road on Friday. Among the victims were four women.

Police, fire-service personnel and locals managed to rescue two labourers trapped under the debris using poclains and cranes, but the thousands of people thronging the area delayed rescue operations. Nearly 15 labourers were working on the fifth floor when the building caved in around 2.30 p.m.

Anxious parents of the students of Brilliant Grammar School, adjacent to the building, rushed to the spot. Fortunately, the school building developed only minor cracks on one side and no one was injured. Originally, it was a building of the erstwhile City Improvement Board Quarters. A builder had taken it for development and constructed five floors. “Having completed the slab work, walls were being constructed. It appears improper curing of walls weakened the structure leading to the building’s collapse,” Narayanguda Inspector G. Jogaiah said.

As the rubble fell on the road between the collapsed building and the abutting fly-over, manoeuvring of cranes and earthmovers became difficult. It took more than two hours to clear the huge concrete block that fell on top of the debris under which most of the labourers were trapped.

Home Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy instructed the police to arrest the builder immediately after inspecting the spot. Three GHMC officials were also suspended. (From హిందూ)

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Shiv Sena threat casts shadow over 'My Name is Khan'

MUMBAI: Bollywood is jittery over the fate of "My Name Is Khan", one of its biggest films of the year, with lead actor Shah Rukh Khan facing the
ire of the Shiv Sena.

The hardline Hindu group has threatened to disrupt Mumbai screenings of the film, which releases Feb. 12, if Khan does not apologise for backing the participation of Pakistani cricketers in the Indian Premier League.

Khan, who is on a promotional tour in New York and London, has said he stood by his statement even though Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has warned that "My Name Is Khan" would not be allowed to run in Mumbai.

"It is very important that this film releases, not only for Bollywood, because it is looking for a good start to the year, but also because this is being distributed by a Hollywood studio Fox Star," says trade analyst Vajir Singh.

"Everyone wants this to work."

Fox Star Studios bought the distribution rights for "My Name Is Khan", in what is said to be the biggest distribution deal in Bollywood, but neither filmmaker Karan Johar nor the studio have revealed any figures.

"This is a very important film for us, because it is our first big Bollywood release, and comes on the heels of the success of 'Avatar'," Fox Star Studios CEO Vijay Singh told Reuters earlier this week.

Trade analysts say there is at least 1.2 billion rupees riding on the film and if the Mumbai-Maharashtra circuit is affected, it would affect almost 25 percent of the film's cinema revenues.

"'My Name is Khan' is an A-list film and its success will mean a lot for the industry," Vajir Singh said.

"The stakes are high and that is why everyone is hopeful that the crisis will be resolved."

But no one's taking chances. Cinema owners are cagey about whether they will screen the film.

"We will not screen the film unless all issues connected with it are resolved," said Shunali Shroff of Fame Cinemas, which owns several properties in Mumbai.

In the film, Shah Rukh Khan plays a man with Asperger's Syndrome who is a victim of racial bias in the U.S. in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. (News Courtesy By Economics టైమ్స్)

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Cong gears up to join battle with the Thackerays

NEW DELHI: Congress is likely to round off its 125th foundation anniversary with a plenary session in Mumbai.The indication came as the party expressed serious concern over the Thackerays' call of `Mumbai for Marathis', reiterating that Maharashtra and the rest of the country shared not just "geographical" but an "emotional bond".

The Shiv Sena pitch on "outsiders" stayed unchallenged for two years despite a 10-year-old Congress regime in Mumbai. But a mention of the controversy in Congress Working Committee on Friday suggested that the party may be gearing up to tackle Sena far more seriously than before.

Defence minister A K Antony warned that the language being used by Thackeray cousins -- Uddhav and Raj -- was "dangerous". AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi summarised Antony by saying, "Congress and Maharashtra have a tradition of unity and they have never seen one part (of country) as separate from another. So, forces inimical to national unity have to be weakened."
Sources said Antony's warning was indicative as it came while briefing the CWC on the party's anniversary. Sources said Mumbai was likely to be the venue for the plenary late this year and the mood may reduce the room for local partymen to play soft on Sena factions. A section of Congress and ally NCP is against any harsh action.

The rare hardening of stance against Sena and the likely plenary may be a message to the state unit to stop accommodating the `Mumbaikar' campaign in any way. Sources said it marks a change because the party consciously stayed away from a confrontation in the run-up to Lok Sabha polls and afterwards when Sena and its splinter outfit raised the war cry.

Sena's abysmal show in assembly polls has forced Bal Thackeray to try matching the rabid pitch of MNS, and the competition seems to be compounding the problem.

The shift is dramatic -- from a hands off approach limited to statements from AICC to a confrontationist mood with a member of Gandhi family wading into the battle. Antony's remark disapproving Thackerays chose to hammer home the gravity of the issue when he said Uddhav even spoke of stopping Rahul Gandhi. "But he is in Mumbai today," he said, referring to Rahul's visit in the face of Sena's opposition. (News Courtsy By Times of ఇండియా)

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