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Chennai’s No 1 English evening daily since 1982
www.newstodaynet.com
NATIONAL DAILY
VOL. XXXIII NO. 53
FOUNDER EDITOR: T.R.R
H CHENNAI H THURSDAY 29.1.2015 (EVENING) H OTHER STATIONS FRIDAY 30.1.2015 (MORNING) H 8 PAGES Rs. 4.00 H Regd. No., TN/CC(S) DN/223/15-17, RNI No: 33810 / 82
Jaishankar takes charge
as Foreign Secretary
New Delhi, Jan 29 (PTI):
S Jaishankar today took charge as
Foreign Secretary, replacing Sujatha
Singh whose tenure was abruptly
‘curtailed’ late last night.
‘Government’s priorities are my priorities,’ said Jaishankar, a 1977-batch
IFS officer, describing his new position as an ‘honour and a big responsibility.’ Sujatha Singh was not present
when Jaishankar took charge at the
S Jaishankar
Why was she axed?
Know about him
Here are a few reasons to know
about the move
l The announcement of Sujatha’s
removal as Foreign Secretary
came late in the evening in a
terse official statement. It said
that her tenure had been ‘curtailed’ with immediate effect.
Beyond that, no reason has
been given for her removal.
l Sujatha Singh was the third
woman Foreign Secretary and
had taken charge in August
2013. She still had eight months
to go before her tenure as Foreign Secretary got over. So far,
she has not been given any other
assignment by the government.
Jaishankar who took charge
as the new Foreign Secretary on
Thursday, is credited with turning
around India’s relationship with
the United States in the last one
year as Ambassador.
l Jaishankar is said to have
played a major role in making Prime Minister Narendra
Modi’s visit to the US a success and later floating the
idea of inviting US President
Barack Obama to India.
l Jaishankar was sent to the US
as envoy in 2013 after Nirupama
Rao’s tenure ended and as India
and the US fought over the
Devyani Khobragade case.
South Block office. He will have a twoyear tenure as per rules. Before his
sudden appointment as Foreign Secretary, the 60-year-old diplomat was
India’s Ambassador to the US. He had
also been posted as Ambassador to
China, Singapore and Czech Republic.
The decision to appoint Jaishankar,
who played a key role during Prime
Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the
US in September and US President Barack
Obama’s just concluded visit here, was
taken by the Appointments Committee
of the Cabinet chaired by Modi. Sujatha
Singh had taken over as the third woman
Foreign Secretary in August, 2013 and
had eight more months to serve.
Jaishankar, son of K Subrahmanyam, one of India’s leading strategic
analysts, was a key member of the
Indian team which negotiated the
landmark Indo-US nuclear deal.
the unconditional
support extended
by the TFPC has
brought cheer to
many producers as
they said there is
one more revenue
mode in front of
Cheran
their eyes.
According to them, ‘If properly
implemented, it could change how
business is done in the film industry.
It could alter the whole eco-system,
including theatrical rights and satellite rights’.
It may be recalled that in 2013,
Kamal Haasan’s move to release
Vishwaroopam on DTH platform was
fiercely resisted by theatre owners
associations, who argued that it would
further reduce their already depleting
revenues.
Now with TFPC’s support to C2H,
one has to wait and see how theatre
owners will react.
S Jaishankar today took charge as Foreign Secretary,
replacing Sujatha Singh whose tenure was abruptly
‘curtailed’ late last night.
‘Government’s priorities are my priorities,’ said Jaishankar, a 1977-batch IFS officer, describing his new
position as an ‘honour and a big responsibility.’
Sujatha Singh was not present when Jaishankar took
charge at the South Block office.
He will have a two-year tenure as per rules.
Before his sudden appointment as Foreign Secretary,
the 60-year-old diplomat was India’s Ambassador to the
US. He had also been posted as Ambassador to China,
Singapore and Czech Republic.
The decision to appoint Jaishankar, who played a key
role during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the
US in September and US President Barack Obama’s
just concluded visit here, was taken by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet chaired by Modi.
Meanwhile in Perth, an under-fire India will be hoping
to get their act together in the virtual semifinal against a
better-placed England in the final league match of the
cricket tri-series tomorrow.
Lucky to share two points with Australia, who are
awaiting their opponents in the final, in the washed off
game in Sydney, the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side
will not only try to address its bowling worries but also
try to pull up its batting socks.
Srirangam:
The heat is on
q 34 candidates in fray
q Campaigning gains momentum
NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 29:
The picture is clear now. As many
as 34 candidates are in the fray in
Srirangam, which is facing by-election
on 13 February.
There was plenty of drama on
Wednesday during scrutiny of nominations of 34 contestants, including
those from AIADMK, BJP, DMK and
CPI(M), were found valid.
There was some last-minute tension
during the scrutiny, as charges were
made against the BJP candidate M
Subramanyam, alleging that he had
at least three FIRs against him.
However, the officials later announced that his papers were accepted.
Sources close to Subramanyam
said that he could contest the elections since he was not found guilty
in any case.
Of the total 46 nominations filed, 12
were not eligible and rejected, Tamilnadu Chief Electoral Officer Sandeep
Saxena said in a press release in
Chennai later.
AIADMK has fielded C Valarmathi,
DMK N Anand and CPI(M) K Annadurai for the by-election.
Though there are 34 contestants,
some of them are expected to with-
Producers Council
backs Cheran’s ‘C2H’
NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 29:
In a shot in the arm for directorproducer-actor Cheran, the Tamil
Film Producers Council (TFPC) has
come forward to support his latest
initiative -- ‘Cinema 2 Home’ (C2H),
which aims to release DVDs officially,
simultaneously with the film’s release
in theatres.
According to Cheran, it would be
part of a new business model to
tackle piracy.
‘It is the only option available now
to check mounting losses because of
piracy’, Cheran said and added, ‘C2H
would take care of the non-theatrical
distribution business. It will sign a pact
with the producer to distribute film on
platforms such as satellite TV, cable
TV and home video.’
At a time when questions are raised
as to whether Tamil cinema would
warm up to the new distribution
system being initiated by Cheran,
Big push
Ajith’s next
from March
Asked to comment on the viability
(of C2H) as a business model, a
theatre-owner in suburban Chennai, said, ‘Though a producer can
release his fi lm in both DVD and
cinema halls on the same day, I am
scpetical about its success. Since
the film on DVD or DTH can be
watched by entire families, the revenue will be lower. Add to that the
marketing and production costs (of
the DVD), and it seems unviable.’
Meanwhile, addressing mediapersons here today, Cheran thanked
TFPC for their support. He said
the formal release of his movie JK
Ennum Nanbanin Vaazhkai to be
released simultaneously on multiple
platforms including DVDs and and
theatres for 30 January has been
pushed further following a request
from TFPC.
‘Since it is a novel idea, we are planning to hold a grand fete and release
the DVD in a big way’, he added.
Congress, PMK,
MDMK. TMC(M)
and Viduthalai
Chiruthaigal
Katchi have
announced they will
not neither enter
the fray nor
support any
other party
draw their nominations in the days to
come. And the main fight is between
the contestants of the AIADMK, BJP
and DMK.
Congress, PMK, MDMK. TMC(M)
and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi
have announced they would not neither enter the fray nor support any
other party.
Their decision came at a time when
DMK president M Karunanidhi batted
for a common opposition candidate
backed by all parties in the State,
barring the AIADMK.
AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa has formed an election
committe e , w h i c h i n c l u d e s a l l
No political
motive: BJP
New Delhi, Jan 29 (PTI):
Defending the move to replace
Sujatha Singh as Foreign Secretary,
BJP today ruled out any political motive and said the government had
acted well within its right to decide
on appointment of officers.
‘I don’t see any reason for hue and
cry. A government is within its rights
to decide how it would like to appoint
what officers and with what responsibilities. And this is not the first time.....
Preceding governments have taken
(such) decisions,’ BJP spokesperson
Nalin Kohli said.
‘I do not see any reason that anyone
can attribute any political motives.
This is the right of the government,’
Kohli said.
Taking on the Congress for raising
questions on the decision, the BJP
leader said, ‘The Congress party
spokesperson can try to do politics
or anything. In any case it does not
appear that they are inspired by their
leadership. That’s why their constant
method seems to be trying to raise a
hue and cry on issues also where there
is no scope to do so.’ Kohli said there
can’t be a political motive to everything.
Ministers, except Chief Minister
O Panneerselvam and Senthur
Pandian (who is unwell).
The AIADMK is betting big on the
various welfare measures it implemented during the last 3.5 years.
The by-election is viewed as
important in Tamilnadu political
arena, since it comes little more
than a year ahead of the Assembly
elections, scheduled for summer
2016.
This will be the fifth Assembly
by-election in the State since the
AIADMK came to power in 2011.
AIADMK had won the previous four
by-elections with huge margin.
Chain-snatching
gang busted in
Anna Nagar
NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 29:
A gang of five youngsters, who
carried out several robberies
in Anna Nagar was arrested by
police yesterday.
According to police, the men,
who are in their early twenties
indulging in chain snatching
and robberies at knife-point in
the recent past.
Police said, ‘a 35-year-old
woman who was at J J Nagar
yesterday was relieved off her
four sovereign gold chain by
two masked men on a bike.
Unfortunately, one of them
had dropped their identity card
on the ground with which the
woman filed a police complaint.
Investigations led the arrest
of Bharath Kumar (23) a native of Virudhunagar and his
accomplice Sathish (23) from
Pudhunagar in Padi. The duo
were working in a car servicing
showroom in Poonamalle.
After interrogating the men,
police realised that more
men were part of a bigger
gang and subsequently arrested three more - Appu
alias Tamizharasu (25) from
Eighth Street in Moagappair
West, Parthiban (22) from
Tenth Street in Mogappair
and Hariharan (22) from Padi.
Jewels worth 30 sovereigns
and two bikes where seized
form them.
The gang had cases against
them in Anna Nagar, Thirumangalam, J J Nagar and Nolambur.
Varun Manian denies
plans to buy CSK
NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 29:
Businessman and Tamil film producer Varun Manian, who was reportedly eyeing to buy IPL team, Chennai
Super Kings (CSK) has denied the
same.
After the Supreme Court made it
clear that N Srinivasan can be associated either with BCCI or CSK,
but not both at the same time, it was
speculated that Varun Manian, who
is close to N Srinivasan could buy
the team.
The young businessman was recently engaged to actress Trisha.
Clearing the reports on buying CSK,
Varun tweeted, ‘Just Engaged. No
plans to buy any Team. LEAVE ME
ALONE...’
With this year’s auction for IPL
scheduled for 16 February, N
Srinivasan is expected to make
arrangements for the expected
transfer of his CSK shares to another party.
Speculations of Varun being the
prospective buyer came after he was
spotted escorting N Srinivasan in one
of the footages shown on television
channels recently. Varun manian
successfully produced films including
Vayai Moodi Pesavum and Kaviya
Thalaivan.
‘Preacher’ Umashankar has no real case
NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 29:
Controversial IAS officer C
Umashankar may be brazening it out
that he will move the courts against
the Tamilnadu government’s written
directive to him from participating in
communal missionary meetings. But
legal circles here are of the opinion
that the State government is on a
strong footing in this case as the
meetings that Umashankar had addressed had led to communal unrest
in places like Kanyakumari and also
his own utterances, in media and
other places, have been bordering
on bizarre and rabid.
Umashankar is claiming that he is
at liberty to practice and propagate
his religion as guaranteed by Article nally offensive approach of his are
25 of the Constitution. But High Court straightaway law and order issues.
advocate R Rajesh points out that And the government has every right
Umashankar is also bound by his to move against him.’
service rules. Violation of
Prabhu also brings up
government directive would
Justice Venugopal’s report
invite disciplinary action
on Mandaikadu riots of
against him under relevant
1982. The report stated that
provisions of the All India
evangelical proselytization
Services (conduct) Rules,
activities in the district were
1968, and the All India Sermajor causes towards the
vices (Discipline & Appeal)
riots. He had recommended
Umashankar
Rules, 1969, Rajesh said.
complete cessation of evanFor another advocate
gelical activities and ban on
V S Prabhu, it is just not about forcible conversion not only in the
rules of the service or constitu- district but also in the state itself. ‘In
tional guarantees.’The fact that the light of that one would believe
Umashankar’s brand of religious that the Chief Secretary was right in
propagation and the openly commu- writing to Umashankar asking him
HIS GOSPEL
‘If they believe me because
I’m an IAS officer, it’s all for
the better. I have been specially
anointed by Jesus.’
‘Uttarakhand floods and disasters were a sign of wrath of
god on Hindu sinners’.
to cease from participating in such
programmes’.
It is a fact that Umashankar, a Dalit
who also has an upright reputation as
an officer, has been voicing rather
bizarre and contentious opinions. He
claimed premonition of Uttarakhand
disaster and said ‘floods and disas-
ters were a sign of wrath of god on
Hindu sinners’.
He added: ‘The countdown has
started for huge disasters in the
world. But of all nations India is
going to suffer the worst of divine
retribution for it is in India that idols
are worshipped.’
Also, while publicly propagating
Christianity, Umashankar has also
been guilty of denigrating other
religions. However, according to
him, he says ‘it only because it is
the truth’.
Advocate Rajesh says these are
loaded words and the fact that
Umashankar was also claiming that
he can cure many diseases and ailments, including cancer, makes his
case very tenuous. ‘The government
is on a very strong wicket here’.
‘Can an IAS officer go around instigating fear psychosis and murderous
hatred towards others (idol-worshippers)?,’ he adds.
Advocate Prabhu also doesn’t buy
into the allegation that Umashankar
is being ‘targetted’ by Hindutva
forces. ‘Be it Maran or him, they
think they can get away by attacking RSS or other such outfits. But
people are not fools. They can see
through this opportunistic but essentially lame tricks’.
Rajesh sums up, ‘if anything the
government has a bigger legal case
to actually suspend or even terminate
Umashankar from service’.
2 THURSDAY
29 JANUARY 2015
City
Centre
Standing the test of time
CHENNAI
SWITCH OFF
Street
lights
remains
turned on even
during mornings
on Mount
Poonamalee
Road in
Porur.
War Cemetry in Porur gets a makeover
Photo: K Vijay Anand
The Madras War Cemetery at Nandambakkam is getting renovated.
A
s partt off th
the G
Governmentt to
t St M
Mary’s
’ Church
Ch h in
i 2002 due
d
of India’s four-year-long to ooding.’
celebration of the centenary
‘Now that the drainage systems
of World War 1 (1914-1918), have been improved we plan to
the Madras War Cemetery in shift it here,’ said the ofcial.
Nandambakkam is undergoing a
The cemetery bears the names
makeover by the Commonwealth of more than 1,000 servicemen
War Graves Commission(CWGC). who died during the First World
The beautiful cemetery has often War who lie in many civil and
been hogged by photographers for cantonment cemeteries in various
its lawns and architecture,
parts of India where it
making it one of the
had
previously
structures that has
been considered
stood the test of
not
possible
time.
to
maintain
R
U
R
PO
The Madras War
their
graves in
Cemetery
which
perpetuity.
was set up in 1952
The Madras War Cemetery was
is the largest and
i
s created to receive Second World
part of the three sites i
n War graves from many civil and
Chennai which will be focused cantonment cemeteries in the
during the Rememberance Day south and east of India where their
celebrations.
permanent maintenance could not
There are no graves in the site be assured.
here for the Indian soldiers, who
The cemetery contains 856
died in the rst or second world Commonwealth burials of the
wars.
Second World War.
According to an ofcial with the
— NT Bureau
CWGC, ‘till 2002, we used to hold
the Remembrance Day ceremony
at Nandambakkam but shifted it
Pallikaranai wetland
to get walkers’ path
The
cemetery
bears the
names
of more
than 1,000
servicemen
who died
during the
First World
War
path around the
wetland.
Work
for constructing
a hundred metre
long
pathway
has already
begun.
According
to an ofcial,
this path is
done
on
a
trial basis and
Pallikaranai marsh is all set to a makeover.
once the work
is
completed
allikaranai
marsh
has
its utility will be
captured
the
attention analysed. If found to benet people
of authorities yet again. It is a a long term plan will be implemented
picturesque location with its vast after getting the approval of the
waterbody and greenery. It is also State government to cover the
the place for enthusiastic bird entire boundary of the wetland,
watchers.
which is around 25 kilometres.’
The good news is that authorities
The trial pathway is being done on
from the Forest department have the western boundary of the lake
decided to construct a walkers’ which is parallel to Velacheri Main
P
0
TV TODAY
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hal Varai
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Deivam Thandha Veedu
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Super Singer Junior
Uravugal Thodar Kadhai
En Kanavan En Thozhan
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Deivam Thandha Veedu
Saravanan Meenatchi
Mahabharatham
Super Singer Junior
Office
Kalyanam Mudhal Kaad-
2
2972
The object is to
insert the numbers
in the boxes to
satisfy only one
condition: each
row, column and
3x3 box must
contain the digits
1 through 9 exactly
once: Easy nah?
ANSWER TO
SUDOKU 2971
(28.1.2015)
Movie Munnottam
Nenjam Pesuthey
Moondru Muduchi
Madhubala
Thirai Kadhambam
Polimer News
Cinema Cinema
Music Express
5
1
5
6
S K Shoppe
Velli Thirai
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En Iniya Thozhiye
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Koppium-Crime Time
Ponmaanai Thedi
POLIMER TV
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8
4
1
5
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PM
PM
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PM
PM
PM
IN HOME
3
1
9
3
8
7
4
2
2
6
03:00 PM Hockey India League
2015 H/ls
03:30 PM Great Knocks
04:00 PM Turning Points
04:30 PM Aus Diaries
05:00 PM Carlton Mid ODI TriSeries 2015 H/ls : 5th
ODI: Australia vs. India
06:00 PM Jai Ho
06:30 PM Great Knocks
07:00 PM Aus Diaries
07:30 PM Cricket World Cup :
Tales
08:00 PM Epic Encounters : Final
1979
09:00 PM Cricket World Cup :
Tales
09:30 PM Jai Ho
10:00 PM Carlton Mid ODI TriSeries 2015 H/ls : 5th
ODI: Australia vs. India
11:00 PM Aus Diaries
11:30 PM Turning Points
9
5
2
7
6
8
7
1
3
5
3
6
4
8
1
7
3
5
6
9
1
2
6
4
7
4
8
9
1
2
5
1
7
9
8
2
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8
5
3
6
9
3
2
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4
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1
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9
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3
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1
7
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2
1
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PM
PM
PM
PM
07:30 PM
08:00 PM
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11:00 PM
Football Funnies
WWE Raw
WWE Main Event
Sporting Paradise 2014 :
Brisbane
ICC Cricket 360
West Indies Tour of South
Africa 2014/15 H/ls : 5th
ODI
Cricket Classics : New
Zealand vs. Sri Lanka:
November `96
WWE Main Event
Cricket Classics : India
vs. West Indies
TENCRICKET
03:00 PM Cricket Classics : India
vs. Pakistan: March `85
04:00 PM West Indies Tour of South
Africa 2014/15 H/ls : 5th
ODI
05:00 PM India Tour of Sri Lanka
I
Woodlands, Mayajaal, S2 Cinemas, AGS Cinemas,
Escape Cinema, Abirami Theatres, Devi Cineplex,
Kamala Theatre, PVR Cinemas, Sangam, Sri Ganga
Cinema, Luxe Cinemas, AGS, INOX National, Jothi
Cinema Hall, Rakki Multiplex, Sri Brinda, Sri Ganga
HBO
5
03:00
04:00
06:00
07:00
IN THEATRES
06:22 PM White House Down
09:00 PM Rocky III
11:17 PM Rocky IV
07:02 PM Step Up 2: The Streets
09:00 PM Real Steel
11:39 PM Step Up Revolution
— NT Bureau
TEN SPORTS
STARSPORTS1
SONY PIX
6
8
3
9
Road.
This recent development is a
result of the Forest department’s
eco-restoration project. It is also an
attempt to
bring to
light the
ERI rich and
H
C
A
VEL
unique
bio-diversity of the
wetland.
‘This path if constructed will give
a better and closer view of the
wetland. It will also grant easier
access for environmentalists and
researchers to study the water-body
thereby furthering conservation
efforts,’ says Durai, a resident.
Many residents believe that
this effort shall prove fruitful in
highlighting the uniqueness of the
wetland.
THOTTAL THODARUM
MOVIES NOW
06:05 PM Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows: Part 1
09:00 PM Death Race 3: Inferno
11:05 PM The Omen
S TAR MOVIES
07:00 PM Commando
09:00 PM The Amazing SpiderMan
11:30 PM Home Alone 2: Lost in
New York
Mayajaal, S2 Cinemas, AGS Cinemas, Escape
Cinema, Abirami Theatres, Devi Cineplex, PVR
Cinemas, , Sri Ganga Cinema, Luxe Cinemas,
AGS, INOX National, Woodlands, ,
DARLING
Mayajaal Cinema,Devi Cineplex,
Kamala Theatre, Udhayam Theatre, Rakki
Multiplex, Murugan Theater, Sangam Multiplex,
Escape Cinema
Around Town
CHENNAI
THURSDAY
29 JANUARY 2015
3
BUSTING MYTHS
ABOUT
LEPROSY
q The lot of those affected by the disease makes for a sad tale
Tamilnadu Governor K Rosaiah inaugurated the international
conference on ‘Agro Biodiversity and 20 Years of WTO’ and released
the conference abstract volume organised by The Tamilnadu Dr
Ambedkar Law University in Chennai yesterday.
‘Growth should not
affect bio-diversity’
NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 29:
Tamilnadu Governor K Rosaiah
said it was high time that the country
formulated plans to bring about a
harmonious change to ensure growth
and development while protecting
biodiversity and sought declaring
certain important sites as bioheritage sites.
‘The agricultural development
should not adversely affect agro
biodiversity of the nation. It is high
time that we formulate plans to bring
about a harmonious change so as
to ensure growth and development
and protect Biodiversity,’ Rosaiah
said, inaugurating a conference on
‘Agro Biodiversity and 20 years of
WTO’ organised by Tamilnadu Dr
Ambedkar University here yesterday.
‘It is high time that we come forward
with declaration of certain important
sites as bio-heritage sites so as to
promote agro biodiversity,’ he said.
Observing that biodiversity faced
threats at all levels, he said, ‘Genes
are lost within species; species
within echo systems and ecosystems
within regions. Destruction made by
man and degradation of nature and
depletion of ozone layer have led to
climate change causing threats to
biodiversity.’
Studies revealed that approximately 30 per cent of the Earth’s
vegetation would experience a shift
due to climate change, he said.
National conference on
‘Educators for Change’
NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 29:
Don Bosco School of Excellence is
hosting a national conference titled
‘Educators for Change’ for two-days
from 13 February.
The conference will spur thought
and discussion among educators by
addressing the key issues prevailing
in education in State and
Central levels.
Addressing mediapersons
here on Tuesday, Don Bosco
School rector Rev Fr John Alexander
said that the main objective behind
the conference is to monitor the educational mechanism thereby reducing
the gap between school and college
education. ‘Importance on research
and implementation of technological
aspects are being missed out and the
conference will integrate it for effective
learning for students,’ he added.
Throwing more light on the conference, Media Development Foundation
chairman Sashi Kumar said, ‘Many
shocking instances like students being
oblivious of basic knowledge, questions the loopholes in the educational
system. We would need an education
that would make a difference to the
lives of socially and economically
privileged.’
‘The conference will deliberate key
c h a n g e s i n curriculum, pedagogy
and monitoring
mechanisms that
schools in India require to bring out the
best in the present
generation and
equip them to be
leaders for the next,’
s a i d Kendriya Vidalaya, HVF Avadi
principal Manickasamy.
The conference will have eminent
personalities like MSSRF founderchairman M S Swaminathan, VIT
Chancellor G Viswanathan and Cognizant Technology Solutions vicechairman Lakshmi Narayanan.
Registrations are open till 3 February. For details visit : www.conference.
dbschoolofexcellence.org
LAASYA SHEKHAR
Chennai, Jan 29:
Statistics from the city’s Public
Health Department mentions that a
very minimal number of people have
been affected with Leprosy. Despite
years of awareness campaigns,
myths and stigma associated with
the disease continue to haunt those
affected.
When Chandra Sekhar was diagnosed with the disease in 1985, his
own neighbours pestered him to
vacate the house.
‘I spent my childhood in that locality,
but my good deeds over the years
never mattered to them. Had I not
received support from my family, the
situation would have been different
now’, he said.
He has since then fought the
disease and currently owns a cloth
store at Chemmenchery on the city’s
outskirts.
THE DAY
30 January
marks the
Martyrdom
Day of Mahatma Gandhi and the
service taken up by him
to clear the
myths about
the disease, resulted in the day
being observed as Leprosy
Day. Incidentally, Gandhi doing
service to a leprosy-affected
person at Sabarmathi Ashram
hit the headlines for the wrong
reasons then!
But 41-year-old Maria (name
changed) was not that lucky.
Abandoned by her family, she was
forced into begging to make ends
meet.
Dance programme
NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 29:
Sai Ganesh Kalalaya is conducting
its 16th annual dance programme at
TN Rajarathinam Pillai Muthamizh
Peravai Hall, Adyar Bridge, Anna
Sathya Nagar, R A Puram on 1 February, at 5 pm. According to a press
release, around 100 students are
participating in the cultural event. It
includes a variety programme by
students of SGK group - a mix of Bharathanatyam and Indian folk dances.
For details contact: 98404 37899.
‘TN requires around
1,000 liver transplants’
NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 29:
With a huge demand for liver transplants in the State and limited supply,
experts attribute it to lack of awareness
among people.
Tamilnadu requires around 1,000
liver transplants per annum but has
only around 100 donors. And across the
country, the requirement is around one
lakh per year, whereas only three centres across India - Chennai, Delhi and
Kochi perform more than hundred liver
transplants, says Professor Mohamed
Rela, director of the Institute of Liver
Disease and Transplantation, Global
Hospitals Group.
Addressing mediapersons here on
the sidelines of fifth edition of master
class in liver disease - 2015, he said
liver transplant is done either from
Painting
contest
NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 29:
Vasantha Memorial Cancer Centre will conduct a
painting contest
for students on the
theme ‘Ear right
and prevent cancer’ at Rosary Matriculation School, Santhome on 1
February, at 10 am.
According to a press release, children have to paint on the spot and
give a suitable caption.
The children will be divided into
three categories, class 1 - IV, V-VIII
and IX upwards. Each school can
send three entries in each catergory.
For details contact: 2471 7871/77
or 97910 48379.
cadaver or from live donors. However,
performing on a live donor the procedure is more complicated and involves
a lot of experience. ‘So far only 1,200
living donor transplants have been performed in the country which is expected
to double in three years’.
In Tamilnadu about 137 such transplants have been performed,’ he
claimed. He further said that around
65 per cent of the liver is taken when
a transplantation is
done from an adult
to another adult
and around 25 per
cent is taken when it has to be done
from an adult to a child.
While explaining about the eligibility
of the donor, Rela said that in cadaver
donor the liver can be taken from a
person right from six months to eighty
years. And in a live donor doctors
prefer liver from donor between the
age group of 18 years to 50 years.
However, there are certain criteria,
including the blood group match
and the donor should be a medically fi t person. Rela also pointed
out that patients with initial stage of liver
cancer can be treated with liver transplant but with advanced stage of cancer,
liver transplant doesn’t help as the tumor
grows back on the
transplanted liver.
Explaining the
major reason for
liver disease, the professor said that
Hepatitis B and C virus are the major
causes. But the second major reason
is change in lifestyle and fatty liver
where people have started leading a
sedentary life style.
HEALTH MATTERS
Applications invited
for IELTS awards
NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 29:
The British Council has announced
the launch of the British Council
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Awards for
2015.
To mark the milestone of the IELTS
25th anniversary, this year’s awards
is being extended to offer ten awards
to Indian students to help fund the
cost of studies abroad, a press release said.
The awards will give a total of INR
3.9 million in educational awards to
students from across South Asia- including for the first time, students in
Bhutan and Nepal.
‘The British Council IELTS Awards
aim to help Indian students pursue
the opportunity of a higher education
abroad, once they have taken the
initial step of proving their English
language ability with IELTS,’ said Sarah Deverall, Director Examinations
India & Customer Service South Asia,
British Council.
Applicants must have an accepted
place at an educational institution
abroad, and plan to enrol in the
course during the 2015-2016 academic year. Applications will be accepted until 30 June 2015.
For more information visit: http://
www.britishcouncil.in/exam/ielts/
awards
More than the disease,
the social stigma faced
by leprosy patients
results in them facing
depression in life
R Siva, a volunteer at R K Math serving a Leprosy afflicted person.
‘My presence used to upset my
‘Before 1998, health officers were
son-in-law which made my daughter
asked to inspect households to
desert me’, said Maria.
find out the patients. To meet the
According to Pammal-based so- instructions of WHO, the statiscial activist Andal Ramachandran, tics were tampered with to give
an impression that leprosy was
‘They are discriminated not just
socially but religiously and finan- eradicated,’ revealed sources in
the Health Department.
cially too. They are seldom allowed
How can it be
inside holy places
eradicated when
as people think
there is no vacthe disease afcine, he quesfects the cursed’.
tioned.
The other aspect
In collaboraof the issue is the l The incubation period of the
bacteria is difficult to predict tion with reputed
role of the NGOs
which
makes
the
possibility
of
institutions, the
in the society.
getting affected even 20 years RK Math has deOn this, R Siva,
after
the
bacteria’s
entry.
veloped a costwho has been
w o r k i n g i n t h e l There are no vaccines to pre- effective ointment
vent the disease as it doesn’t which is an amalfield by collaboaffect animals. Diagnosis at gamation of Colrating with the Raearly stages can curb the dis- logen and Kurkumakrishna Math
ease, though not end it.
nium (Turmeric)
said, ‘The Math
focuses on mo- l Rates of depression are high and Silica.
among leprosy patients.
When the Deptivating patients.
uty Director of
Many people like l It is mostly not contagious
Medical Services
Chandra Sekhar
(Leprosy), Public Health Department,
have received their monthly
Dr Yogalakshmi was contacted, she
pensions(of Rs 1000) with the
said, ‘The government hospital in
help of the Math’.
FACTS ABOUT
THE DISEASE
Sanatorium has been shifted to
Velachery and efforts have been
taking place to curb the prevailing
stigma. Free units termed ‘Urban
Primary Health Care Units’ combined with the occupation therapy
programmes have been included in
private hospitals’.
Apart from that, harsh laws make
it tough for those afflicted by the
disease. As many as 15 laws like
Indian Divorce Act, Licence Act,
An outline
l
l
Tamilnadu has done a lot in
bringing down the numbers.
Officials say that when 124
out of 10,000 are affected
in 1984, it is only 0.64 for
10,000 in 2014, which means
the disease is eradicated.
(WHO says any disease that
marks below one for 10,000
is eradicated)
The 314 cases detected in
Chennai as per current statistics through LDC methods
have been provided with
requisite facilities.
Industrial Disputes Act etc, deprive
them freedom. About this, Revathy,
a city-based lawyer, said, ‘It is very
easy to get divorced and the husband can abandon the wife without
providing maintenance amount too.’
The fact that 60 per cent of the
world’s leprosy cases are recorded
in India makes it imperative for
measures to remove against the
patients as it felt that it is near
impossible to eliminate the disease.
Blend
4 THURSDAY
29 JANUARY 2015
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Jaitley’s task
he budget is just a month away. The upswing in the Indian
economy has reason to make the Finance Minister upbeat.
India’s foreign exchange reserves have hit an all time high of
$322.14 billion. The current account balance is set to go positive
and the rupee is strengthening against the dollar. The last time India
registered a current account surplus was in January-March, 2007.
Consumer price inflation is slipping down to around 5%. Official
forex reserves shelter the rupee from speculative attack. The RBI is
in a comfort zone as regards cutting interest rates. The situation has
improved significantly with the rupee and deficits causing no alarm.
No doubt the turnaround in the Indian financial situation is
primarily due to the fall in global crude prices. There has been
about a 6% fall resulting in annual forex savings of over $80
billion for India. Low oil prices have triggered disinflation in the
country. The present government must make hay while the sun
shines on the hitherto languishing economy. US President Barack
Obama’s visit to India has been a plus factor. The IMF has forecast
that India’s growth rate will zoom past China’s in two years. If all
goes well, political stability in India is more or less assured for the
next few years. All this brightens India’s economic prospects. The
needs are commitment to growth, reforms, fiscal consolidation and
rationalization of the tax structure.
The experience of all developed and developing countries as well
as India shows that in order to achieve inclusive growth we need
to do five things. First is growth, which is very important. Second
is physical infrastructure such as power, roads and water. Third is
social infrastructure that includes education, health, skill building,
hygiene and sanitation. Fourth is governance, which means that
whatever policies you have, whatever laws you have, whatever funds
you spend, they must reach the people so that the effectiveness of
government could be judged by whether we are able to improve
governance or not. And the last is the attention to the disadvantaged
groups, which are not likely to benefit from growth and governance
alone, this could be migrants to cities, primitive tribal groups, could
be women, could be Dalits, could be disabled people, who would
need some special attention.
The focus to these five goals and the relative importance may vary;
some economists may say you give more importance to growth,
some may say governance is equally important. But by and large
people will agree that growth, physical and social infrastructure,
governance and attention to disadvantaged groups, all these need
to be done to the extent possible. The Union Budget must be an
exercise in this direction, Mr. Jaitleyji!
The next time someone
in J&K wants to question
the NIA’s objectivity please
remember how well they
handled the Liaquat case.
Omar Abdullah @
abdullah_omar
President of India @
RashtrapatiBhvn
Confident ongoing
cooperation between India &
Saudi Arabia will continue to
diversify & strengthen for mutual
benefit #PresidentMukherjee
Too much sitting may
be killing you: Study
TORONTO; effects of sitting time on health, howPeople who sit too much every day ever, are more pronounced among
are at an increased risk of diabetes, those who do little or no exercise
heart disease, cancer and
than among those who participate in
shorter life spans, even if
higher amounts of exercise.
they exercise, a new study
‘The findings suggest that
led by an Indian-origin rethe health risk of sitting too
HEALTH
searcher, has warned.
much is less pronounced
‘More than one half of
when physical activity
an average person’s day is spent
is increased,’ said lead
being sedentary - sitting, watching author Avi Biswas, PhD canditelevision, or working at a computer,’ date, Toronto Rehab, UHN and the
said Dr David Alter, Senior Scientist, Institute of Health Policy, ManageToronto Rehab, University Health ment and Evaluation, University of
Network (UHN) and Institute for Clini- Toronto.
cal Evaluative Sciences.
‘We need further research to better
‘Our study finds that despite the understand how much physical activhealth-enhancing benefits of physical ity is needed to offset the health risks
activity, this alone may not be enough associated with long sedentary time
to reduce the risk for disease,’ said and optimise our health,’ said Biswas.
Alter. The meta-analysis research
Future research will help determine
reviewed studies focused on seden- what interventions, in addition to
tary behaviour.
physical activity, are effective against
The authors found the negative the health risk of sedentary time.
Today
VOICE MAIL
Getting addicted
Sir,
Video game addiction is described as an impulse control disorder, which
does not involve use of an intoxicating drug and is very similar to pathological gambling.
Similar to other addictions, individuals suffering from video game addiction use the virtual fantasy world to connect with real people through the
Internet, as a substitution for real-life human connection, which they are
unable to achieve normally.
Those suffering from it may enjoy aspects of the on-line games that allow
them to meet, socialize, and exchange ideas through games. Because
some games requires a large number of players to log on simultaneously,
for long durations of time, to accomplish a game’s task, players may feel
an obligation and loyalty to other players.
KAMAL, By email
ADDRESS YOUR LETTERS TO :
The Editor, News Today, 85, Mount Road, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032.
or e-mail to : [email protected] / [email protected]
CHENNAI
Ukraine a battleground
for peace: US
Attempts at political reconciliation have failed
more damaging conflict for all sides,’
Sestanovich told VOA. ‘Putin has
convinced himself and now many
Western leaders are convincing
themselves that this is a kind of fundamental line of division in Europe and
it’s not possible to go back.’
Nuland noted that allied forces are
now deployed on land, sea and air
in Poland, Bulgaria and Romania,
and that for the first time NATO is
upgrading its rapid reinforcement
capability along its eastern edge.
‘We must install command and
Kiev and Moscow have accused each
other of repeatedly violating a cease-fire
signed September 2014. About 5,000 people have died in the conflict
Relatives of a victim of Saturday’s shelling, stand near a grave during
funerals in Mariupol, Ukraine.
WASH
WA
SHIN
SH
INGT
IN
GTON
GT
ON::
ON
WASHINGTON:
A top US official said that the conflict
in eastern Ukraine has become a
battleground for a peaceful and free
Europe.
‘We all know that today, a Europe
whole, free and at peace rises or falls
with Ukraine. Ukraine’s front line for
freedom is ours as well,’ Assistant
Secretary of State Victoria Nuland
told a gathering at the Washingtonbased Brookings Institution.
Washington and its European allies
are reassessing their options in dealing with Russia’s involvement in the
RIOT OF COLOURS
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viol
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a cease-fire. Nuland’s speech held a
clear defiant note.
Russian President Vladimir Putin
lashed out on Monday, blaming the
West for the recent increase in violence, and accusing Ukraine’s military
of acting as a foreign NATO legion.
Stephen Sestanovich, an ambassador-at-large for the former Soviet
Union, said overlaid onto a political
fight between Moscow and Kiev is
an increasing clash between Russia
and NATO.
‘That’s a longer and potentially
C
violating a cease-fire signed September 2014. That cease-fire has
all but collapsed.
According to Jeffrey Feltman,
the UN undersecretary general, in
the last week close to 50 civilians
have been killed in the conflict and
another 150 seriously injured. All
together, 5,000 people have died
in the conflict.
The US has accused Russianbacked separatists of trying to seize
more territory and move their line
of control deeper and deeper into
control centers in all six frontline
states,’ she continued. ‘NATO is
a defensive alliance. Our goal is
deterrence of aggression. But if that
fails, we have to be ready.’
The United States and Europe
have imposed a series of increasingly tough economic sanctions on
Russia for its support of separatist
rebels fighting in eastern Ukraine.
Both Kiev and Moscow have accused each other of repeatedly
eastern Ukraine. Sanctions and
attempts at political reconciliation
have so far failed. Sestanovich says
many experts, including himself,
consistently have underestimated
the dimensions of the conflict.
‘For me it made sense for Putin
to try to scale back the conflict and
the confrontation with the West.
How much could he really gain by
it? Again and again, he’s proved us
wrong,’ he said.
L ICK
PIC
German Chancellor Angela Merkel with dancers during a reception for carnival clubs from all over Germany at the chancellery in
Berlin. In the other photograph Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets the tableau artists during PMs Tea Party at Teen Murti
House in New Delhi.
Oldest star
with Earth-sized
planets found
LONDON:
Astronomers have discovered the
oldest known star with five Earthsized planets, signalling that such
planets have formed throughout the
history of the universe. The discovery
used observations made by NASA’s
Kepler satellite.
The star, named Kepler-444, hosts
five planets smaller than Earth, with
sizes varying between those of Mercury and Venus.
‘We’ve never seen anything like this
- it is such an old star and the large
number of small planets make it very
special,’ said Dr Daniel Huber from
the University of Sydney’s School of
Physics.
It is extraordinary that such an
ancient system of terrestrial-sized
planets formed when the universe
was just starting out, at a fifth its current age. Kepler-444 is two and a half
times older than our solar system,
which is only a youthful 4.5 billion
years old.
‘This tells us that planets this size
have formed for most of the history of
the universe and we are much better
placed to understand exactly when
this began happening,’ said Huber.
8-year-old questioned
over terrorism comments
NICE:
An eight-year-old boy in
France was questioned by
police for half after he allegedly made comments in
school in praise of terrorists,
police said.
The child triggered concern
when he refused to take part
in a minute’s silence at his
school in the southern city of
Nice after Islamist gunmen
shot dead 12 people at the Paris
offices of the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo on 7 January, according
to Marcel Authier, in charge of the
region’s public security.
The boy’s teacher said the child
also expressed ‘solidarity’ with the
gunmen. ‘In the current context,
the principal of the school decided
to report to police what had happened,’ said Authier, who stressed
no complaint had been filed against
the boy.
‘We summoned the child and his
father to try and comprehend how
an eight-year-old boy could hold
such radical ideas,’ he added. ‘Obviously, the child doesn’t understand
what he’s saying.’
The boy’s lawyer Sefen Guez
Guez was not immediately available for comment but on his Twitter
feed (@IbnSalah) he wrote that the
child admitted to police saying the
words: ‘I am with the terrorists’. Yet
when police asked what the word
‘terrorism’ meant, he replied: ‘I don’t
know’, according to the tweet.
‘Father and son are deeply
shocked by their treatment which
illustrates the collective hysteria
that has engulfed France since early
January,’ said the Collective Against
Islamophobia in France (CCIF) in a
statement.
The Charlie Hebdo murders kicked
off three days of Islamist attacks in
Paris that left 17 people dead and
traumatised the country.
Satyarthi to address
UK on anti-trafficking
LONDON:
Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash
Satyarthi will address the issue
of child trafficking at a gala event
organised by a charity backed by
Prince Charles.
The Nobel laureate will deliver the
keynote address at the British Asian
Trust Annual Dinner on 3 February
3, which is themed around ‘Unlocking potential in South Asia’ this year.
‘I welcome the British Asian Trust’s
focus on anti-trafficking initiatives.
I have been globally campaigning
against all forms of slavery and child
labour for decades and I strongly
believe that it perpetuates poverty,
NEWS MAKER
of the day
unemployment, illiteracy and population growth,’ the child rights activist
said in reference to the event.
‘We need to form and instill stronger legislations and all the countries
and their global heads need to come
together to make a commitment to
abolish child trafficking and slavery.
I am convinced that together we can
make an impact,’ he added.
The British Asian Trust, founded in
London in 2007 by a group of British
Asian businessmen at the suggestion of the Prince of Wales, has
been working to empower women
and girls in the region ever since its
inception.
IS militants alter
deadline for
hostage swap
TOKYO:
An audio message purportedly
from a Japanese journalist being
held by Islamic State militants
says a Jordanian air force pilot
also held by the group will be
killed unless Amman hands over
an Iraqi female prisoner by sunset
on Thursday.
The message appeared to postpone a previous deadline set on
Tuesday in which the journalist,
Kenji Goto, said he would be
killed within 24 hours if the Iraqi
was not freed.
The latest audio recording,
which could not be verified, was
posted on YouTube early on
Thursday.
‘I am Kenji Goto. This is a voice
message I’ve been told to send
to you,’ the voice in the recording
said. ‘If [Iraqi prisoner] Sajida alRishawi is not ready for exchange
for my life at the Turkish border
by Thursday sunset 29 January
Mosul [Iraq] time, the Jordanian
pilot Muath al-Kasaesbeh will be
killed immediately.’
The Japanese government is
analysing the recording, prime
minister Shinzo Abe told a panel
in parliament. Japanese chief
cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga
told a news conference that the
chances were high it was Goto’s
voice in the recording.
Enterprise
CHENNAI
Amazon to offer
business email,
taking on MS
Washington, Jan 29 (AFP):
US online giant Amazon has announced plans to offer a cloud-based
email and calendar service to directly
compete with Microsoft Outlook and
others. The service dubbed Amazon
WorkMail ‘enables users to send
and receive email, manage contacts,
share calendars, and book resources
using the same email applications
they use today’ including Outlook and
services like Google Apps.
The service appears aimed at corporate customers that currently pay for
Microsoft Outlook or other services.
Amazon, offering the service through
its cloud unit Amazon Web Services,
will charge $4 per user per month
and include 50 gigabytes of mailbox
storage for each user.
The service may also be bundled
with Amazon WorkDocs, a file storage
service previously known as Zocalo.
The service ‘is fully compatible with
Microsoft Outlook, and customers can
quickly integrate Amazon WorkMail
with their existing corporate directory,
choose encryption keys, select the
location where they want their data to
reside, and pay only for the mailboxes
they create’, Amazon said in a statement yesterday.
Chennai: Not
feeling at ‘home’
Realty biz facing slump, but hopes still alive
NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 29:
Chennai residential market witnessed significant fall in sales and
new launches during H2 2014, says
a latest report, adding: However, the
rate cut by the RBI has sent positive
sentiment to the market and uptick
in sales volume is expected during
H1 2015.
Property consultant Knight Frank
in its recent report ’India Real Estate
Outlook’ said due to a slowing demand environment, residential sales
across top six cities, including Delhi
NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru,
Hyderabad and Chennai, dropped
during 2014.
The office space segment, however, performed well during the year
on the back of recovery in the domestic market which fuelled higher
demand for commercial space.
The Moulivakkam building collapse
was an important reason for the
slodown in the construction industry
in the city, leading to a reduction
in the launch of new projects
‘C
C i
d fall
f ll in
i vacancy levels
l
l
‘Continued
in the office real estate bolstered by
good absorption levels, competitive
rentals and contraction of quality
space in the city. Given the current
scenario, rentals are expected to
move up and absorption momentum
is expected to continue,’ said Knight
Frank’s Chennai director Kanchana
Krishnan here Wednesday.
In Chennai, the Moulivakkam
building collapse was an important
reason for the slowdown in the
construction industry, leading to
a reduction in the launch of new
Apple up,
Samsung down
Seoul, Jan 29 (AFP):
Samsung Electronics, the world`s
largest smartphone maker, posted
its first drop in annual net profit in
three years on Thursday, days after
arch-rival Apple reported the biggest
corporate profit in history.
The South Korean firm, whose
key mobile phone operations have
struggled in the face of intense competition from cut-price Chinese rivals,
also warned that it expected 2015`s
‘business environment... to be as
challenging as 2014’.
The tech giant said Thursday it
recorded a net profit of 23.4 trillion
won ($21.45 billion) in 2014, down
23.2 per cent from a year ago and
the first decline since 2011.
Operating profit fell 11.7 per cent to
25 trillion won in the year and sales
also tumbled 10 per cent to 206 trillion won.
The fall was cushioned in the fourth
quarter by a boom in high-margin chip
sales that helped offset the downturn
in the key mobile sector, with operating profit in the semi-conductor division rising 35.7 per cent to 2.7 trillion
won in the October-December period
from a year earlier.
Apple`s performance was driven by the
sale of 74.5 million iPhones, which
included a doubling of sales volume in the
crucial Greater China region. Samsung`s
fourth quarter net profit, meanwhile, was
down 27 percent at 5.3 trillion won.
U d growing
i
Under
pressure to boost shareholder returns, however, the company still
managed to announce
an increased dividend of
19,500 won a share, up from
13,800 won a year earlier.
Samsung shares fell 0.36 percent,
or 5,000 won, to 1,374,000 won in
morning trading in Seoul. The annual profit figure marked a dramatic
reversal for the company, which is
also facing a once-in-a-generation
leadership change, after several
years of stellar growth, driven by the
once all-conquering mobile division.
And it contrasted sharply with the
triumphant surge in the fortunes of
California tech titan Apple, whose
f
h quarter net profi
fit
fourth
stood at $18 billion -the largest ever made
by a public company.
Apple`s performance
was driven by the sale of
74.5 million iPhones, which
included a doubling of sales
volume in the crucial Greater China
region. Samsung`s fourth quarter
net profit, meanwhile, was down 27
percent at 5.3 trillion won.
The company`s flagship Galaxy
phones have suffered in the highend market thanks to the popularity
of the iPhone 6, while its dominance
of the middle- and low-end handset
segment has been challenged by Chinese firms such as Huawei, Xiaomi
and Lenovo.
TaxiForSure
‘hired’, by Olacabs
NT Bureau
‘The term sheet has been signed and
Chennai, Jan 29: in the next 10 days the finer details will
Bengaluru-based Olacabs is close to be chalked out,’ one of the sources was
buying out cross-town rival TaxiForSure quoted as saying.
TaxiForSure, wh
which has raised
d $200-250 milfor an estimated
more tha
than $60 million
d, quoting
g
lion, reports said,
f om risk investors,
fr
from
o the
sources close to
This will be the
h d been scouting
ha
had
discussions.
second-largest buyout in
f fresh capital
fo
for
ix
The deal, a mix
the
consumer
internet
b opted for a
but
of cash and stock,,
market after Flipkart’s
c
complete
sale,
d
is already sealed
i is said.
it
acquisition of fashion
and a formal an-The existing
nouncement to
portal Myntra for an
investors also
ld
this effect could
estimated $370 million
pre
preferred
a conbe made in the next
last year
solida
solidation
deal in a
few weeks, the reports
cash-guzzl
cash-guzzling
sector with
at Olacabs,
said. It is learnt that
raging fare wars. TaxiForSure’s inbacked by Japan’s SoftBank, would pay
cash and offer stock in what will be the vestors, which include the likes of Silicon
second-largest buyout in the consumer Valley funds Accel Partners and BesseInternet market after Flipkart’s acquisi- mer Venture Partners, among others,
tion of fashion portal Myntra for an esti- may get Ola stocks post the acquisition,
reports added.
mated $370 million last year.
RBI asks banks
to ease norms
Mumbai, Jan 29 (PTI):
To ensure hassle free
credit to small borrowers,
the RBI on Wednesday directed banks to do away
with the practice of
obtaining ‘No Due
Certificate’ from
individual loan takers. The RBI said it
received complaints
from borrowers as
banks were refusing to grant
loans without ‘No Due Certificate’, specially in rural and
semi-urban areas. ‘In order
to ensure hassle free credit
to all borrowers, especially
in rural and semi-urban areas and keeping in view the
THURSDAY
29 JANUARY 2015
technological developments
and the different ways available with banks to avoid
multiple financing, banks
are advised to dispense
with obtaining ‘No Due
Certificate’ from the
individual borrowers’,
RBI said in a notification. The dispensation will include for Self
Help Groups (SHGs) as
well as Joint Liability Groups
(JLGs) in rural and semiurban areas for all types of
loans.
It will also cover loans under government sponsored
schemes, irrespective of
amount involved.
‘Natural gas
output to jump
81% by 2019’
New Delhi, Jan 29 (PTI):
State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC)
Wednesday said its natural
gas output will jump 81 percent to 116 million standard
cubic meters per day by
2019 after it bring newer
fields in western and eastern offshore into production.
‘Gas production will rise
from 64 mmscmd to 116
mmsmcd by 2019’, ONGC
Chairman and Managing Director Dinesh K Sarraf said
at the India Energy Congress here. The increased
production will come from
Krishna Godavari basin
gas block KG-DWN-98/2
as well as western offshore
discoveries.
!" # $
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SYSTEMS LIMITED
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8Shripet Cybertech Systems Limited
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Managing Director
BHARAT
BHAR
BH
ARAT
AT TTEXTILES
EXTI
EX
TILE
LES
S&
PROOFING INDUSTRIES LTD.
Regd. Off. : No.994, Sathyavedu Road,
Suravarikandigai, Sirupullaipet,
Gummidipoondi - 601 201.
CIN: L17111TN1990PLC020072
NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that
the Meeting of the Board of
Directors of the Company
is scheduled to be held on
Wednesday, 4th February,
2015 at the Board Room,
Old No. 43, New No. 64,
Sattana Naicken Street,
Choolai, Chennai - 600112,
Tamil Nadu, to consider
among other matters, Unaudited Financial Results
for the Quarter ended on
31st December, 2014.
By Order of the Board
For BHARAT TEXTILES &
PROOFING IND. LTD.
Sd/- AJEET KUMAR BHANDARI
Managing Director
Place : Chennai
Date : 29/01/2015
FRANK FACTS: Knight Frank’s
Chennai
director
Kanchana
Krishnan at a press meet in the
city Wednesday.
Guindy &
Velacheri
Absorption of office space
was the maximum in secondary
business districts — Guindy and
Velacheri — and surrounding
areas.
j
hi h at 25 per cent was
projects,
which
high, yet much lower than Mumbai
(43 per cent) and Hyderabad (30
per cent).
‘There were a combination of factors that led to reduction in sales
volume of completed projects and
new launches — the economy did
not revive and sand buyers were
waiting for the rates to come down,
which did not happen,’ said Kanchana.
‘Only 17% of Indian
netizens access Twitter’
New Delhi, Jan 29 (PTI):
As Twitter in India clocks a double
digit growth rate, the micro-blogging
site accounts for only 17 per cent
of the total social network users in
one of the world’s largest Internet
market.
According to a report by market
research firm eMarketer, Japan will
boast of the largest Twitter population in Asia Pacific at 26 million followed by India at 22.2 million users.
Last year, the research firm had
forecast that India will have 18.1
million Twitter users by 2014.
In India, growth
this year (2015)
is expected to be
more than twice as
fast at 30.4 per cent.
While it shows signs of
slowing, it will still climb by 16.5 per
cent in 2018, the report said.
‘But the Twitter population in India
represents a much smaller share of
social network users in the country,
at 17 per cent and just 8.8 per cent
of Internet users’, it added.
EMarketer said the the low Internet penetration rate in Asia-Pacific’s
second-largest country means that
overall, just 1.8 per cent of the
population uses Twitter, which will
MISSING
I Lost my Original Passport
bearing No. A-7474218 dates
on 26/01/2015. If anybody found
please call me M.Srimathisudar
W/o P.Murali, Hindu, aged 46,
residing at D-8, P&T Quarters,
V.M.
Street,
Royapettai,
Chennai-600 014.
Contact No. 9551710193
IND BANK HOUSING LTD
CORPORATE OFFICE: 480, ANNA
SALAI, III FLOOR, NANDANAM,
CHENNAI - 600 035 (Regd. Office.
No.66, Rajaji Salai, Chennai - 600 001)
GENERAL NOTICE
Pursuant to Clause No.41 of thee
Listing Agreement, notice is herebyy
given that a meeting of the Board off
Directors will be held on Saturdayy
7th February 2015, to consider and
adopt the unaudited operating resultss
for the quarter ended 31.12.2014.
For Ind Bank Housing Ltd.,
Place : Chennai. Banabihari Panda
a
Date : 29.01.2015 Managing Directorr
SRI MALINI SPINNING
MILLS LIMITED
Regd.Off: Sandhiyur Via,
Mallur Post, Trichy Main Road,
Salem - 636 203
CIN No:U17111TZ1990PLC008370
E-Mail: [email protected]
NOTICE
Notice is hereby given thatt
a Meeting of the Board off
Directors of the Companyy
is scheduled to be Held on
10.2.15 at the Registered
conider among other things
the
Unaudited
Financial
Results for the Quarter Ended
31.12.14.
Sd/- KSS PRAKKAASH
Executive Directorr
Place : Salem
Date : 19.01.15
Read
Every evening
barely budge reaching only 3 per
cent by 2018.
Twitter is also working towards
boosting its business and revenues
in India by partnering with India’s
largest private sector bank and accuiring a Bangalore-based mobile
marketing start up.
The efforts are part of its strategy
to strengthen its platform, especially
on mobile devices, and connect
brands with customers.
Earlier, the research firm projected
the micro-blogging site’s
rival, Facebook will have
more than 100 million users accessing its platform
using mobile phones.
India will surpass the US
to lead the global tally
of the largest Facebook
user base on mobile by 2017, it had
forecast.
Recently, Facebook announced
that the growing Internet penetration and a large youth population
has helped it expand its user base
in India to 112 million -- which is the
largest after the US.
Of the 112 million users in India,
more than 99 million utilise the
platform on their mobile phones at
least once a month.
5
SunEdison
boss joins
Obama, Modi
NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 29:
SunEdison, Inc, a solar technology manufacturer and provider of
solar energy services, announced
that its chief executive officer Ahmad Chatila joined US President
Barack Obama and Prime Minister
Narendra Modi in New Delhi, India,
to discuss the ways that renewable
energy can drive US-India trade,
provide American jobs, and curb
India’s greenhouse gas emissions.
‘It’s a great honour to be invited
to meet with Obama and Modi to
discuss how renewable energy can
benefit the people of both India and
America,’ Chatila said in a press
note.
‘We have recently signed agreements to develop 10 gigawatts of
solar energy in India within the
next five years. Solar is now a cost
effective source of energy in India,
and as it’s supported by the Indian
government’s strong leadership
in energy policy, I anticipate even
more rapid growth in the future.’
In September 2014, Modi announced that he is seeking to work
with the United States to develop
100 gigawatts of solar and wind energy over the next ten years. India
has supported this goal by setting
aggressive cost and implementation goals and providing regulatory
certainty for industry participants,
as well as by working to secure land
for utility scale projects throughout
India.
Emami profit
surges 22%
NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 29:
Robust volume growth, continued
traction in the international business
and margin gains helped Emami
post a good operational performance in the December quarter.
Emami on Wednesday reported
a 21.9 per cent year-on-year jump
in its consolidated net profit to Rs
183.69 crore for the third quarter
ended 31 December, 2014, from
Rs.150.68 crore in the same period
a year ago.
The company’s net sales grew
18.4 per cent y-o-y to Rs 692.26
crore for the quarter.
For the fi rst nine months of the
year, turnover at Rs 1,664 crores
grew by 21.0 per cent, EBIDTA at
Rs.400 crores grew by 23.6 per cent
and PAT at Rs 347 crores grew by
19.2 per cent respectively over the
corresponding period in previous
year.
6 THURSDAY
29 JANUARY 2015
Sports
CHENNAI
Sharapova in Serena’s path
Fognini-Bolleli duo continues dream run, enters summit clash
Maria Sharapova
Melbourne, Jan 29:
Top seed Serena Williams beat
fellow American Madison Keys
7-6(5) 6-2 to reach the Australian
Open final on Thursday.
Serena will now face
Maria Sharapova for the title
after the Russian second
seed beat compatriot Ekaterina Makarova earlier on Rod
Laver Arena. Russian no.2 seed
Sharapova stormed into Australian Open final, for the fourth time
with a 6-2, 6-3 win over compatriot
Ekaterina Makarova.
The second-ranked
Sharapova needed
10 minutes to hold
in her opening service game, fending
off two break points.
She responded to the
only service break against
her in the first set by winning six
straight games and seizing control
of the match from the 10th-seeded
Makarova, who had only taken one
set off her in five previous matches.
She will next meet the winner of
the all-American semifinal between
top-ranked Serena Williams and
19-year-old Madison Keys.
Sharapova won the Australia Open
title in 2008 but was comprehensively
beaten in the championship matches
in 2007, by then unseeded Serena
Williams, and in 2012 by Victoria
Azarenka.
The five-time major winner opened
the 2015 season in confident style
by winning the Brisbane International title but had a close call in the
second round here, having to save
match points against No. 150-ranked
Russian qualifier Alexandra Panova.
Since then, she hasn’t faced a set
point.
‘It’s been a strange road for me to
get to the finals, but I’m happy,’ said
Sharapova, who is now into her 10th
Grand Slam final.
It will be Italy vs France
The men’s doubles final will pit Italy
against France after two unseeded
duos came from behind to upset
their more fancied opponents on
Thursday. The matches - played
simultaneously at Rod Laver and
Margaret Court Arenas - both went
the distance.
Results:
‘Last year was the World Cup, I
was in Brazil and I saw the reaction
of all the fans regarding the image
of FIFA and I think something has to
be changed.
‘Change in leadership, governance,
transparency and solidarity, so I think
it’s the moment for that.’
As one of the most
famous footballers
of his generation,
Figo is the most
high-profile candidate to have
launched a bid
secured the necessary support from to succeed Blatter.
five national football assoT h e
ciations, but declined to
Former
78-yearidentify them.
Portugal capo l d
‘I’ve been talking
tain Figo is keen to
with so many impor- unseat Sepp Blatter, Swiss has been tarnished
by accusations of corruption
tant people in football
who is bidding for his
stemming from the bidding
-- players, managers,
fifth term as FIFA
process for the 2018 and
president of federations
president
2022 World Cups, which were
-- and they all think that
awarded to Russia and Qatar resomething has to be done,’
added Figo, who won the Ballon d’Or spectively.
Mourinho support
in 2000 and was voted FIFA World
Hailing from Lisbon, Figo played
Player of the Year in 2001.
Luis Figo
6-2, 6-3.
Men’s doubles semifinals: Nicholas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert
(Fra) bt 4-Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-6(5); Simone Bolelli
and Fabio Fognini bt 6-Juan-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
for Sporting Lisbon, Barcelona, Real
Madrid and Inter Milan during a glittering career.
A skilful, two-footed wide player,
he captained Portugal at the 2006
World Cup and won a total of 127
caps, making him his country’s mostcapped player.
As well as working as an ambassador at Inter, he has served
on European governing body
UEFA’s Football Committee since
2011.
‘I am convinced that FIFA’s position as the governing body of world
football is absolutely vital,’ Figo
added.
‘For this to
be preserved,
it is essential
that we see change at the top and we
set FIFA on a new course which is all
about football and less about politics.
‘Football runs through my veins. I
am a man of football, inside out and I
am ready to help bring about change.’
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho
backed his compatriot’s decision to
stand for the presidency.
City Sports
Jayaprakash is 'Steel Man'
Building Association in
association
with Tamilnadu Body
Building Association
here.
A press
note said the competition was held
for 10 weight categories from 55 kg.
to plus-90 kg including physically
challenged.
Winners of the nine weight categories competed for Champion of
Champion titled and Jayaprakash
won the title 'Steel Man of Tamilnadu-2015' and received a cash
award of Rs five lakh.
Actor Vikram, Commenwealth
gold medalist Sathish Sivalingam,
Tamilnadu Olympic Association vicepresident Isari Ganesh gave away
the prizes. Chairman of Chennai
District Body Building Association
Royapuram R Mano presided over
the function.
V Jayaprakash, who
won the 'Steel Man of
Tamilnadu' title with
actor Vikram and
Commonwealth Games
gold medalist Sathish
Sivalingam.
NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 29:
V Jayaprakash of ICF won the
'Steel Man of Tamilnadu' title in the
State-level bodybuilding competition
organised by Chennai District Body
Results (top 3): 55 kg: R
Gopalakrishnan (Kanchi), M Ramamurthy (Tiruvallur), R Ranjith (Chennai). 60 kg: Haribabu(ICF), P Krishnan
(Chennai), R Rajendran(Chennai).
65 kg: S Baskaran (ICF), A
Ahmed Shait (Vellore), M Arul
Gandhi(Tirupur). 70 kg: R Munusamy
(Chennai), G Harikrishnan (Kanchi),
K Jaishankar(Kanchi). 75 kg: M Kothandaraman (ICF), V Durai (Chennai),
R Aravind (Kanchi).
80 kg: V Jayaprakash (ICF),
M S Kandhan (Chennai), A
Bharanidharan(Pudukottai). 85 kg:
G Kumar (Chennai), S Mohan Subramaniam (Kanchi), M Mahendran
(Chennai). 90 kg: G Gopi (Krishnagiri), Murali Vijayakumar (Chennai),
C Ramesh(Thiruvallur). 90+: R Vimal
Anand(Salem), B Poorna Chandran
(ICF), V Sathish(Chennai).
Physically Challenged: M Raja
(Chennai), R Prashanth (Cuddalore),
R Mohanraj (Tiruvallur).
Shabbir bags silver
NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 29:
Shabbir Dhankot of India surprised
a strong field to bag a historic silver,
the country's first ever in the 23rd
Asian Tenpin Bowling Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, recently.
A press note said the event, played
on long oil, was won by Yusuke
Yamamoto of Japan (1401 pin-falls
in 6 games) clinching a nail biting
finish, beating Shabbir Dhankot of
India (1396 pinfall in six games). The
bronze medal was won by Mostafa
Al Mousawi of Kuwait (1395 pinfall
in 6 games).
The Japanese had scores of 242,
244, 216, 224, 229,246 in the block of
six games with Shabbir managing an
impressive 258, 195, 218, 278, 215,
232 to take the silver. After the Japanese went clear and was assured of
the gold, Shabbir and Mostafa fought
it out for the second slot. Mostafa had
the highest Score in the games with
a 279 to start his campaign.
Nicholas Mahut
and
Pierre-Hugues Herbert
Women’s singles semifinal: 2-Maria Sharapova bt Ekaterina Makarova
Figo announces bid
for FIFA presidency
London, Jan 29 (AFP):
Former Portugal and Real Madrid
winger Luis Figo announced on
Wednesday that he is to challenge
incumbent Sepp Blatter in this year’s
FIFA presidential election.
‘I care about football, so what I’m
seeing regarding the image of FIFA
-- not only now but in the past years
-- I don’t like it,’ the 42-year-old said
in an interview broadcast by CNN.
‘If you search FIFA on the internet
you see the first word that comes out:
scandal -- not positive words. It’s that
we have to change first and try to
improve the image of FIFA. Football
deserves much better than this.’
Figo joins Asian Football Confederation vice-president Prince Ali
bin Al Hussein, Dutch football chief
Michael van Praag, ex-FIFA executive Jerome Champagne and former
France winger David Ginola in the
running to unseat Blatter, who will
bid for a fifth term in office in the 29
May election.
The deadline for nominees to announce their candidature falls on
Thursday. Figo told CNN he had
At MCA, the French pairing of
Nicholas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues
Herbert, playing for the first time in
a Grand Slam doubles event, staged
a miraculous comeback from 2-5 in
the final set to post an unlikely victory
over highly experienced fourth seeds
Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo, 6-4,
6-7(5), 7-6(5).
At RLA, it was Simone Bolelli and
Fabio Fognini who also came from a
break down in the decider to topple
sixth seeds Juan-Julien Rojer and
Horia Tecau 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
Neymar brace sends
Barca into semis
Neymar
Barcelona, Jan 29:
Neymar struck twice as Barcelona
came from behind to seal a 3-2 victory over nine-man Atletico Madrid
and reach the King’s Cup semi-finals
4-2 on aggregate on Wednesday.
Fernando Torres put Atletico ahead
inside the first minute with a precise
strike from the edge of the area but
Barca have clicked into form recently
and hit back quickly through Neymar.
Atletico were awarded a penalty
when Javier Mascherano was adjudged to have fouled Juanfran
Torres on the half-hour mark, though
television replays appeared to show
the incident occurred outside the
area.
Raul Garcia made no mistake
from the spot to restore Atletico’s
advantage.
Miranda put the ball into his own
net as he attempted to clear a corner which had been flicked on by
Sergio Busquets and in a lightning
attack from Barca Jordi Alba found
Neymar in the area and the Brazilian
finished clinically. There were heated
exchanges throughout the match with
plenty at stake and it boiled over at
halftime with Atletico midfielder Gabi
Fernandez sent off following a confrontation in the tunnel.
Mario Suarez was also dismissed
six minutes from the end after receiving his second yellow card.
The Atletico players were angry
with the performance of the referee
but Busquets felt that neither side
benefited from his decisions.
‘I’ve also been told that the penalty
conceded by Mascherano shouldn’t
have been given. There were mistakes made against both teams,’ he
told reporters.
‘There was little control in the game
in the first half. It was a good half for
the fans and we took advantage of
the openings that we had.’
Despite the fact they were chasing the game, Atletico coach Diego
Simeone said he asked his players
to show more restraint at half time.
‘I told them not to take risks and
concentrate on not conceding goals,’
he told a news conference.
‘I thought it was the best decision for
the team and the club after the way
the first half went.’
Barca will face the winners of
Getafe and Villarreal who play on
Thursday with the latter leading 1-0
from the first leg.
Athletic Bilbao are at home to
Malaga having drawn 0-0 in the first
leg and Espanyol travel to Sevilla
leading 3-1.
Another big win for SA
They set the mark with
a first wicket stand in
the second match in Johannesburg when both
also hit hundreds and
provided a platform for
AB de Villiers to hit the
fastest century in one-day
international history.
De Villiers was rested
for Wednesday’s game,
Hashim Amla and Rilee Rossouw
along with all four of South
Africa’s first-choice speCenturion, Jan 29 (AFP):
Hashim Amla and Rilee Rossouw cialist bowlers.
‘While batting we were only trying
both hit centuries for the second time
in the series to set up a 131-run win to hit every ball for a boundary and it
for South Africa in the fifth and final turned out well,’ said Amla.
‘There was time in the series when
ODI against the West Indies at Superwe were under pressure but having
Sport Park on Wednesday.
Amla made 133 and Rossouw pow- everyone in good nick is good for our
chances in the World Cup.’
ered his way to 132 in a South
West Indian captain Jason Holder
African total of 361 for five in
sent South Africa in to bat and
an innings reduced to 42 overs
initially it seemed a good move as
because of rain.
the batsmen struggled to time the
West Indies were bowled out
ball on a pitch which
for 230 in reply with lefthad spent most of
arm pace bowler Wayne
the day under the
Parnell taking four for 42.
covers as steady
The win completed a
4-1 series victory for South Africa in drizzle delayed the start by two-andthe last match both teams will play a-half hours.
‘We just let it slip in the middle and
before travelling to Australia and New
we didn’t really bowl well,’ admitted
Zealand for the World Cup.
Amla and Rossouw punished a lack- Holder.
‘We were’t consistent and lost wicklustre West Indian bowling attack as
they equalled their own South African ets at regular intervals. Our batsmen
record for any wicket by putting on need to take responsibility and they
247 for the third wicket.
need to bat till the end.’
Cricket
Winners of various events in the T Nagar Badminton Club 4th
anniversary tournament held in Chennai recently.
Mixed Bag
CHENNAI
THURSDAY
29 JANUARY 2015
7
Amit Shah meets
top BJP leaders
q To chart out campaign strategy for Delhi Assembly polls
ISIS at it again
q Threatens to behead
Obama in White House
The terrorist group known as
Daesh, ‘Islamic State,’ ISIS or
ISIL has threatened to behead
US President Barack Obama
and turn the United States into
a Muslim province, installing
sharia law and incorporating America into its fledgling
caliphate.
‘Know, oh Obama, that we will
reach America. Know also that
we will cut off your head in the
White House and transform
America into a Muslim province,’
said an ISIS fighter in a video
obtained by MEMRI, before beheading a Kurdish soldier.
The statement was delivered
from a street in Mosul, Iraq,
which ISIS fighters have taken
and where US Marines formerly
battled Al Qaeda. The video accuses Kurdish peshmerga forces of using American bombs and
chemical weapons in combat.
— NT Bureau
Wealthiest
terror group
l
l
Warnings to
European nations
‘And this is my message to
France and to its sister, Belgium,’
said a fighters, clad in black and
wearing a balaclava, in a translation from Arabic provided by
MEMRI. ‘We advise you that we
will come to you with car bombs
and explosive charges, and will
cut off your heads.’
l
Islamic State militants are taking
in more than $3m (£1.8m) a day
through oil smuggling, extortion,
theft and human trafficking, say
intelligence officials and experts.
Another source of income
comes from kidnapping and
ransom. Earlier this year four
French and two Spanish journalists held hostage by Islamic
State extremists were freed after
their governments paid multimillion-dollar ransoms through
intermediaries.
The group were originally funded by wealthy donors in the
Gulf states but this stream of
funding has diminished since
the group’s violent tactics have
drawn worldwide attention.
New Delhi, Jan 29:
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
president Amit Shah today attended
a meeting with senior party leaders to deliberate on the campaign
strategy ahead of Delhi Assembly
elections.
Union Minister Arun Jaitley, Urban
Development Minister Venkaiah
Naidu and all the seven MPs from
Delhi met Shah.
The seven Delhi MPs include
Dr Harsh Vardhan, Maheish Girri,
Meenakshi Lekhi, Manoj Tiwari,
Udit Raj, Ramesh Bidhuri and
Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma.
The meet came after BJP on
Wednesday pushed some of its big
guns into Delhi’s electoral battle,
asking its Union Cabinet Ministers
and a Chief Minister to campaign for
the 7 February elections in which
it is involved in tough fight against
Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP.
As the countdown for the high-
Prince of Arcot
praises US Prez
NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 29;
Prince of Arcot Nawab Mohammed
Abdul Ali has hailed the US President
Barrack Obama’s parting advice to
India to uphold religious freedom
and made a strong statement against
fundamentalism and extremism, at
the end of his three-day visit to India.
In a statement here, Abdul Ali said
‘Unity in peace and freedom will go
a long way in the steady progress
and development of the nation, and
India will succeed so long as it is not
broken off on sectarian ground.’
‘India today is a diverse and pluralistic society, that is its great strength
and must be preserved at all times.
We are part of humanity with all its
rich diversity of religions, languages,
cultures, traditions and experience
and India forms a large microcosm of
the contemporary world,’ he pointed
out.
The Prince expressed the hope
that Narendra Modi, who is a vibrant
and effective Prime Minister will take
the country in a harmonious way by
keeping all religious communities of
India united in the interest of his good
governance and continue to promote
co-existence of all fellow citizens.
Reunion time for
Vidyodaya girls
NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 29:
It was reunion time for past students
of Vidyodaya Schools in Chennai as
over 300 attended the Vidyodaya
Schools Reunion Dinner on Republic
Day at the school premises here.
It was a trip dowm memory lane for
the old students, who visited all their
classrooms and playgrounds and
also met their teachers, who were
honoured on the occasion.
A press note said the Poorva Vidyarthini Samaj (Vidyodaya Alumni
Association) also gave away 12
scholarships to 12 students amounting to over Rs 1.2 lakh. The awardees
were students chosen through a process of merit and means.
Scholarships were presented to students during the Reunion of
Vidyodaya Schools held in Chennai recently.
The present students entertained
the gathering with a few dances and
this was followed by a grand dinner.
India in shootout
for final spot
Perth, Jan 29 (PTI):
An under-fire India will be hoping to get their
act together in the virtual semifinal against a
better-placed England in the final league match
of the cricket tri-series, here tomorrow.
Lucky to share two points with Australia, who
are awaiting their opponents in the final, in the
washed off game in Sydney, the Mahendra
Singh Dhoni-led side will not only try to address its bowling worries but also try to pull up
its batting socks.
Failing to register a win in the league stage
so far, the Indian bowlers were unable to defend their 267 runs in their first match, while
the team was shot out for 153 in the second
game against England. All eyes were on Rohit
Sharma’s fitness after the opener failed to take
part in the last two ODIs post a fluent 138 in the
team’s opener against the hosts but the team
management is not looking to risk his strained
hamstring so close to the World Cup.
After undergoing a fitness test at WACA
yesterday, Rohit batted in the nets for a while
today and did look comfortable. But surprisingly he is still unavailable for selection for this
upcoming match.
This being the 90th year of the
school, keychains were given away
as mementoes for the old students.
stakes poll battle
begins, Human
Resource Minister Smriti Irani
and External
Affairs Minister
Sushma Swaraj
hit the campaign
trail addressing several rallies in
South and North West Delhi to woo
the voters.
The party also roped in Haryana
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who held a public meeting in
Bijwasan area of South West Delhi
amid indications that more Union
ministers and central leaders will
hit the roads in the next few days.
Sources in the BJP said though
its chief ministerial candidate Kiran
Bedi has been addressing roadshows in various areas, the party
does not want to take any chances
and has decided to deploy its top
leaders to campaign in the city.
Kejriwal asks AAP
volunteers to take money
Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal today accused other political
parties in Delhi of trying to buy AAP volunteers ahead of the 7 February
Assembly Elections.
Writing on Twitter, Kejriwal said he has asked his party volunteers to accept the money being offered. However, the volunteers have been asked
to record the act in the form of a sting to expose the opponents.
It is not the first time that the former Delhi Chief Minister has raked the
bribe issue. He had earlier asked voters in Delhi to accept money from the
Congress and BJP but vote for the AAP in 7 February elections.
After his repeated remarks, the Election Commission had warned Kejriwal
of ‘stern action’.
‘...The Commission has taken serious note of the fact that you have been
indulging in the violations of the Model Code of Conduct repeatedly despite
the repeated notices to you... In view of the above statement and undertaking... and aforesaid violations of the Model Code of Conduct by you, the
Commission hereby directs you to desist from making these utterances in
all forms of election campaign,’ EC said in its order.
The poll watchdog ‘warned’ him that it will be ‘constrained to take stern
action against you in the event of any further violation’.
The steamy story
of ‘Neeravi’ Murugan
NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 29:
‘Neeravi’ Murugan who was arrested
by the city police for his ‘daring daylight robbery acts’, will be produced
in Alandur court tomorrow.
Murugan was arrested by the city
police from a hideout in Tuticorin on
Monday.
He is currently lodged in Puzhal
Prison. Police have sought his custody for seven more days to continue
interrogation for which Murugan is
scheduled to be produced in the court
tomorrow.
It is also reported that while Murugan was produced before Alandur
court yesterday, injuries were spotted on him.
Police said that he had sustained
injuries on his leg while he attempted
to escape at Muthuswamy bridge in
Broadway.
According to sources, he will be
handed over to the Tuticorin police
once the formalities are completed
here.
Police noted that, it took them nearly
one-and-a-half months to arrest the
history sheeter, wanted in several
cases across the State.
A Police Inspector said, ‘It is usually
difficult for the police to arrest a culprit
who escapes to another place’.
Murugan who is known as ‘Neeravi’
(one who disappears like vapour) was
wanted in about 50 cases including
two murders. He got the sobriquet
because of his escape acts and his
native place, Neeravi.
After his arrest on Monday, he admitted to his involvement in 28 cases
so far, said a police source.
He became much talked about,
after a video went viral on YouTube,
showing him relieving a visiblyscared woman, off her valuables at
knife-point in Thoraipakkam on 20
December.
Two days later, the victim, a school
teacher identified as S Velam of MCN
Nagar lodged a complaint.
She told police that on the day of
the robbery she was riding home on
a moped when two men on a bike hit
her vehicle, the impact of which flung
her to the ground.
The next moment, one of two men
threatened her with a knife and
demanded her gold chain, bangles,
earrings and watch. She was subsequently forced to part with them.
Tributes paid
to Colonel Rai
New Delhi, Jan 29: guerrillas of Hizbul Mujahideen outfi t
were killed.
Floral tributes were paid here today to
Colonel MN Rai who was killed in a gunThirty nine-year-old Colonel Rai was
battle with guerrillas in south Kashmir’s
the commanding officer of 42 Rashtriyta
Pulwama district Tuesday.
Rifles. He along with J&K Police constable Sanjeev Singh made the supreme
Officers and family members paid their
sacrifice after neutralising
last respects and laid wreaths
two terrorists in Tral area of
on the martyred officer’s body at
Pulwama.
a cremation ground in the Delhi
Cantt area.
Fellow Army men and his
friends remember Rai as a
Colonel Rai, 39, had been awarddaring officer. Rai’s last staed the Yudh Seva Medal for galtus on the mobile messaging
lantry in this year’s Republic Day.
service WhatsApp, posted
He is survived by his wife, two
two months ago, read: ‘Play
MN Rai
daughters and a five-year old son.
your role in life with such passion, that
Head Constable Sanjeevan Singh of
even after the curtains come down, the
the Jammu and Kashmir Police also
applause doesn’t stop.’
died in Tuesday’s gunfight in which two
VHP to organise
‘Ram Mahotsava’
q To ‘mobile Hindus’ to build temple in Ayodhya
Lucknow, Jan 29 (PTI):
Seeking to ‘mobilise Hindus’
and ‘remind them of their resolve’
for construction of a Ram temple,
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is
planning to organise ‘Ram Mahotsava’ for the first time on the lines
of Durga Puja aross the country.
‘We will celebrate Ram Mahotsava
from 21 March or 22 March and it
will continue till April 1. This will be
for the first time that such an event
is being organised by the organisation,’ VHP Media incharge Sharad
Sharma said today.
This programme would be organised in every village in the country,
he said.
On Tuesday, when Murugan was
taken to the scene to reconstruct the
story to the police, he fell at Velam’s
feet and apologised to her.
It is reported that Murugan was
thrown into the web of crimes, mainly
robbery at the age of ten. He idolised
his ring leader and mentor ‘Wines
Shankar’, a notorious rowdy in Tuticorin and had his name tattooed on
his chest.
Police observed that he used the
same modus operandi and kept
changing his accomplices.
Most of them did not know about his
whereabouts or location, making him
difficult to trace.
Sources said that regular arrests and
detentions did not halt his criminal activities and that years ago he had separated from his wife and two daughters.
A Sub-Inspector who had earlier
been part of a team which arrested
him said, ‘Murugan has a police case
even in Kerala. Many officials in the
Tamilnadu police department feel it is
a routine excercise for them to secure
an accused, recover property, but the
accused jumps parole in no time. It is
better not to let them go on bail without
completing their tenure’.
‘It will give strength to Ram Janmbhoomi movement. The programme
will not only be organised in villages
where temples are located, but at
those places also where there is
no such arrangement,’ Sharma told
PTI here.
‘During the Mahotsava, two to
two-and-a-half feet tall statues of
Lord Ram will be worshipped for 10
days as it is done during Navratras.
These statues will either be enshrined permanently or immersed,’
he said.
He said Hindus have already been
asked to take a pledge for construction of the temple.
‘But strengthen the resolve and
to ensure that it is fulfilled, people
will be asked to renew their pledge,’
Sharma said.
‘We plan to reach 1.5 lakh to 2
lakh villages across the country. In
Uttar Pradesh and Uttrakhand, we
will make efforts to reach each and
every village,’ he said.
The VHP media incharge said that
the organisation has planned 600
Hindu Sammelans or conclaves
across the country.
‘Such Sammelans will be held till
March. For instance one will be held
in Ayodhya on 6 February, then in
Prayag (Allahabad) on 6 February
and Varanasi on 8 February,’ Sharma
said.
Major heist in
Nanganallur
NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 29:
Burglars sprayed sedatives on
inmates who were fast asleep at a
house in MMTC Colony in Nangnallur
and decamped with 65 sovereigns
jewels and Rs one lakh cash in the
wee hours of today.
According to police, Raghavan (65)
was residing at the ground floor while
his son Krishna (30), a software engineer was staying on the first floor
following his marriage.
Last night when everyone was fast
asleep, burglars broke open the ventilator and gained entry into the house.
They sprayed sedatives on Krishna
and ransacked the almirah. Krishna
woke up late this morning and was
shocked to see everything in a mess.
Following information, police personnel from Pazhavanthangal rushed
to the spot. Sniffer dogs were pressed
into service and fingerprint experts
were rushed to the house.
Sunanda murder:
Cops grill son
New Delhi, Jan 29:
Delhi police has reportedly
said Shiv Menon, son of former
union minister and Congress
leader Shashi Tharoor, will be
questioned in connection with
murder of his mother Sunanda
Pushkar. Menon is Pushkar’s
son from an earlier marriage.
Sunanda was found dead in a
five-star hotel room in Delhi in
January 2014,
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8THURSDAY
29 JANUARY 2015
, CHENNAI
Licensed to post without prepayment under WPP. No. TN / PMG / (CCR) / WPP-470 / 15-17
READY, STEADY, GO
Remya Nambeesan
unplugged
film. A village look after Kullanari
Koottam’.
‘When director Srikrishna narrated the story to me I was very
much impressed with the role and
I agreed to play. I was waiting for
a role like this for a long time’,
she says.
She says,’both acting and singing
R
emya Nambeesan is not
just a talented actress but
a good singer too.
She has made a name for herself
in Tamil as well as in Telugu too.
The actress is all geared up for
the release of her next Naalu Policeum Nalla Irundha Oorum. She
plays the female lead in the film
which stars Arulndhi s hero.
Says Remya Nambeesan, ‘Naalu
Policeum Nalla Irundha Oorum
was a wonderful learning experience. I play a school teacher in this
‘Naalu Policeum
Nalla Irundha Oorum
was a wonderful
learning experience. I
play a school teacher
in this film. A village
look after
Kullanari Koottam’.
are my passionl. I want to carry on
with both simultaneously’.
The actress has her handsfull in
Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu now.
She says, ‘language is no barrier
for me. Quality matters the most’.
— NT Bureau
With just a few days left for the float festival and consecration, the tank at Karaneeswarar temple in Saidapet wears a new look.
Photo: K VIJAY ANAND
Rajkamal, Andrea in
Melanatu Marumagan
Karunaas
turns Lodukku
Pandi again
Ajith’s
next from
March
One more
from small
to big screen
Rajkamal is a popular television
actor and had been part of many
soap shows. Now he joins the likes of
Sivakarthikeyan, Santhanam among
others and forays to play the lead in
a movie titled Melnaatu Marumagan.
Produced by Bahadur Sha and
directed by MSS, the movie features
newcomer Andrea as the heroine.
Speaking about the film, the director, says,’my film is aimed at glorifyingthe culture of our land. We shot the
film in important tourist dstinations of
the State’.
Melnaatu Marumagan has music by
Kishore Kumar and cinematography
by Gautham Krishna. The shooting
for the fiolm is almost complete.
— NT Bureau
T
he shooting of Ajith 56 will go
on floors from March 2015.
The film will be directed by
Siva, who made Veeram with Ajith
in early 2014.
AM Rathnam will be producing
this film under his Sri Satya Sai
Movies. Says Rathnam, ‘We’re still
in the process of hammering out
the details of cast and crew for this
movie. We’re confident of beginning
it by early March.’
Rumours are abuzz that Samantha may be roped in as heroine
while Anirudh may score the
music.
In an earlier interview, Siva,
said, ‘the subject in Veeram
was set in a rural backdrop, this
K
arunaas shot to fame playing
Lodukku Pandi in director Bala’s
Nandha. It won him many awards
and accolades. He followed it up with
successful outings as comedian and
also played the lead role in few films.
Now Karunaas plays the hero in a
movie titled Lodukku Pandi. Written
and directed by Rajneesh, the film
features Neha Saxena as heroine.
film will be based in an urban
area. The film will have two
heroines’.
Sources close to the director,
said that Veeram will be remade
in Hindi. Siva will direct the Hindi
remake himself. He will take up that
project next year after he completes
Ajith’s film.
Meanwhile Ajith’s Yennai
Arindhaal is releasing on 5
February. Directed by Goutham
Menon, the movie stars Trisha
and Anushka opposite Ajith.
Music is by Harris Jeyaraj. The
movie will see a big release and
Ajith plays a cop Sathyadev in
Yennai Arindhaal.
— NT Bureau
Karunaas and Neha Saxena in Lodukku Pandi
Ajith
Yet another
first for
SRK
Actress
wields
the brush
Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez is treating her fans by giving
them an opportunity to win an autographed sketch done by her.
The 29-year-old Sri Lankan beauty
will be next seen in a double role in
upcoming film Roy alongside Ranbir
Kapoor and Arjun Rampal.
Jacqueline took to twitter to announce, ‘I will be sketching one of you
my lovely fans! If you want to be the
one to be sketched then go on and
visit my facebook page.
The model-turned-actress made her
Bollywood debut with Sujoy Ghosh’s
fantasy drama Aladin. She has since
starred in films like Murder 2, Housefull 2, Race 2 and the latest Kick.
Jacqueline’s next film Roy will hit
theatres on 13 February.
— PTI
Jacqueline Fernandez
Ilavarasu, Manobala and Senrayan
are also in the cast. M S Thyagarajan scores the music. The movie
produced by V Victory Creations
and G Pictures is nearing completion. Says the director, ‘It is a movie
that speaks about the value of hard
labour. Honesty is the best policy to
achieve success’.
— NT Bureau
Still from Iranian films
From Iran, with love
I
ndo Cine Appreciation
Foundation in association with Culture House
of the Islamic Republic of
Iran, Mumbai, are organising
an Iranian Film festival from
2 February to 5 February at
Russian Centre of Science &
Culture, Kasturi Ranga Road,
Chennai.
The movies to be screened
include The Maritime Silk
Road, Kissing the Moonlike Face, Scandle, I am a
mother, All Alone, The Fourth
Child and The Painting Pool.
The Maritime Silk Road by Muhammad Bozorgnia is a historical
drama about the fi rst crossing of
the Indian Ocean to China on a
route which came to be called the
Maritime Silk Road.
Two ships undertook the voyage through the Persian Gulf
from Iran, one under Captain
Soleiman and another under
Captain Idris.
Scandle (Ruswai) by Masud
Dehnamaki, tells the story
of Haji Yusef, a cleric living
among the ordinary people
in a poor district of Tehran.
He meets Afsaneh, an infamous woman, who is on the
verge of complete moral
corruption.
Haji Yusef decides to help
Afsaneh, but he faces some
problems.
For details, contact
28212652.
— NT Bureau
Shah Rukh Khan has become the
first Indian to use the mobile video
camera feature on micro-blogging site
Twitter. Twitter recently announced
that it will be introducing a new feature
which allows users to capture, edit
and share videos right from the site.
Twitter has always come up with
some very interesting features and I
am very glad that they look into the
suggestions made to them as well.
This mobile video camera of Twitter
is something I am definitely going to
enjoy using often, Shah Rukh, 49,
said in a statement.
Rishi Jaitly, market director, India
and South-East Asia said, ‘Shah Rukh
Khan was the first Indian to use Twitter
audio card to send voice messages and
is now the first Indian to use Twitter’s
mobile video camera to delight and
connect with his audience in a way
they’ve never experienced before.’
— NT Bureau
Shah Rukh Khan
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