FRONTLINE PRINTERS PRIVATE LTD Complete Printing Facilities under One Roof 3 Rotary’s gesture to VHS 6 Federer overjoyed to be in home final again 7 LS seating plan to be finalised soon 8 Statue for Vijay M M-7, Thiru-Vi-Ka Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032. & 2250 0111, 4202 1111 Chennai’s No 1 English evening daily since 1982 www.newstodaynet.com NATIONAL DAILY VOL. XXXII NO. 318 FOUNDER EDITOR: T.R.R H CHENNAI H SUNDAY 26.10.2014 (EVENING) H OTHER STATIONS MONDAY 27.10.2014 (MORNING) H 8 PAGES Rs. 4.00 H Regd. No., TN/CC(S) Dn. / 223 / 12-14, RNI No: 33810 / 82 AIADMK to pay tributes to Thevar NT Bureau Chennai, Oct 26: Leaders and cadres of the AIADMK will pay floral tributes to the statue of Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar on Anna Salai here on 30 October as part of 107th Jayanthi festival of the leader. A press release from the AIADMK, said, ‘the party’s presidium chairman E Madhusoodhanan will garland the statue. It will be attended by MPs, MLAs, members of MGR Manram, Jayalalithaa Peravai, trade bodies and various units/wings of the party. Coal Ministry gears up for e-auction Kolkata, Oct 26 (PTI): The Coal Ministry is gearing up to prepare the modalities of the proposed e-auction of coal blocks that may take place in January next year. The coal ministry recently held a detailed discussion about it with mjunction Services Ltd, an e-commerce company promoted by Tata Steel and Steel Authority of India. Takes guard anohar Lal Khattar, a low-profile organisation man with active RSS background, was today sworn in as Chief Minister of Haryana, where BJP has formed government for the first time on its own. 60-year-old Khattar, a first-time MLA from Karnal and a non-Jat leader known to be close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was administered the oath along with nine ministers by Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki at a function here attended by a galaxy of BJP leaders including the PM, party chief Amit Shah, Union ministers, Chief Ministers of BJP ruled states and veterans L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi. Meanwhile, hopes for the release of four fishermen from this coastal town and one from Kerala detained in Iran have brightened with the intervention of Indian embassy officials and support of the fishing firm that employed them. “The senior officials in Indian embassies in Qatar and Iran have made good efforts for the release of Indian fishermen,’ president, Tamilnadu Fishermen Development Trust, P Justin Antony said. Food, clothes and medicine have been provided to the fishermen, he added. At least 20 militants were killed and several others injured early today when Pakistan’s fighter jets pounded their positions in the country’s tribal region. Khattar takes oath as Haryana CM q Modi attends swearing in ceremony Chandigarh, Oct 26: Manohar Lal Khattar took oath as the first BJP Chief Minister of Haryana today. The occasion was historic for the BJP as it is for the first time that the party has come to power in Haryana since the state’s inception in 1966. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, Chief Ministers of BJP ruled States, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Union Cabinet Ministers and other senior BJP leaders attended the ceremony. Outgoing Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda was also invited. In a departure from the past, the venue for the oath-taking function had been kept at Panchkula, which earlier used to be Chandigarh, the common capital of both Haryana and Punjab. Also, this is the first time that CIC makes RTI norms tougher New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI): Records cannot be destroyed even under weeding-out policy if a citizen has sought information related to them through the RTI route as doing it would be a violation of the transparency law, the Central Information Commission has held. The transparency panel passed this stricture while hearing the plea of Ashok Dixit who sought some information from Delhi Technological University here but was denied on the pretext that records carrying the information have been weeded out. Taking a stern view of the varsity’s explanation, Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu issued a show cause notice to the university asking why a maximum penalty of Rs 25,000 not be slapped on it for not providing information. The Commission does not accept the claim of the respondents that the record is weeded out without showing how and when they followed weeding out policy, especially when an RTI application is pending in respect of the record, Acharyulu said. He said the public authority has to explain the Commission whether they are following the provisions of the Public Records Act 1993 in destroying old records, made any rules for their offi ce, who is in-charge of implementation of those rules, when the particular information sought by the appellant was destroyed and what is the file noting about that file before it was weeded out. Record cannot be destroyed after RTI application is filed, even if it outlived the time prescribed under weeding out policy and if destroyed like that, it would invite the penalty under Section 20 of the RTI Act, he said. Massive arrangements were made at the Sector 5 HUDA ground in Panchkula for the swearing-in ceremony. Tight security measures had been put in place, with over 3,000 cops being deployed a Chief Minister was being sworn-in at a public ceremony instead of the event being held at the Haryana Raj Bhavan Massive arrangements were made at the Sector 5 HUDA ground in Panchkula for the swearing-in ceremony. Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki adminis- Mishap at tered the oath of office to Khattar. Tight security measures had been put in place, with over 3,000 cops being deployed. 60-year-old Khattar is known as as low-profile, ‘behind-the-scenes’ organisational man of the RSS and BJP. Those who known him describe him as a no-nonsense man and a tough task master. A former Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) pracharak, Khattar contested and won his first election from the Karnal Assembly seat. He was chosen as leader of the BJP legislative party on Tuesday. BJP created history by coming to power on its own for the first time in Haryana, since its inception in 1966. In the 90-member Haryana Assembly, BJP bagged 47 seats, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) won 19 seats and its ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) got 1, Congress won 15 seats, Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC BL) won 2 seats, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) managed 1 seat and five seats went to independent candidates. Nine killed in road accident Nagaon, Oct 26 (PTI): At least nine persons, including five women, were killed and 24 injured when a bus in which they were travelling fell into a roadside ditch at Uluani in Nagaon district today. The incident occurred when the bus ferrying passengers from Lakhimpur district to Guwahati for a train journey to Delhi hit the railing of a small bridge before rolling down into a ditch at around 1.30 AM, Superintendent of Police Arabinda Kalita said. Eight persons, including the bus driver, died on the spot, while a woman succumbed to her wounds in hospital, he said. The injured passengers were admitted to hospital. Five critically injured persons were referred to the Gauhati Medical College Hospital, Kalita said. The surviving passengers said the chartered bus was carrying 35 people from Lakhimpur district to Guwahati so that they could board a train this morning for their onward journey to Delhi. FATAL JOURNEY midnight: One dies, 21 injured NT Bureau Villupuram. Oct 26: A eight-year-old boy was killed when a State Transport Corporation bus hit a private bus near Ulundurpet. Twenty-one persons who were travelling in both the buses sustained injuries and were rushed to hospitals nearby. A private bus was proceeding from Madurai from Madurai to Chennai yesterday. When the vehicle reached Ulundurpet, one of the the tyres got punctured. Meanwhile, another private bus which was proceeding in the same direction stopped to help the driver and conductor of the bus that was strandd on the road. Unfortunately a State Transport Corporation bus which was coming behind rammed into the bus. In the melee, a boy was killed on the spot. The government bus suffered maximum damage. On hearing cries of the injured passengers, local residents rushed to their rescue. Those who sustained injuries were rushed to nearby government hospitals. Traffic came to a standstill on the road following the mishap. The skeletal remains of the bus that was involved in the mishap. EC for proxy voting, e-ballots for NRIs New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI): proxy voting, he said let the facility first Representation of the Peoples (RP) Act ‘After enrolment, an overseas elector begin for NRIs. which insists on the physical presence The Election Commission favours proxy an NRI in his local constituency at the voting and e-ballot for NRIs but not voting The committee is of the view that e-postal will be able to cast his or her vote in an ballot, where blank postal ballot is trans- of time of voting. in Indian embassies abroad. election in the constituency, in person, ferred electronically to NRIs and returned According to EC website, after enrolment, It says the Ministry of External Affairs by post, can be employed after validation an overseas elector will be able to cast his or (MEA) does not favour voting in missions at the polling station provided for of the process and pilot implementation her vote in an election in the constituency, in abroad. We are not opposed to anything. But will the part where he is registered as an in one or two constituencies and then be person, at the polling station provided for the scaled up for parliamentary elections if part where he is registered as an overseas do anything that can be feasible, Chief overseas elector’ found feasible, practicable and meeting elector. Election Commissioner V S Sampath told the objectives of free and According to the provisions of the RP PTI. fair elections,’ said the report given to Act, a person who is a citizen of India and He said a committee comprising officials who has not acquired the citizenship of any from the EC, Law Ministry and the MEA to apply their mind,’ he said. He said if the in some countries, the NRI population the SC. The 50-page report was prepared by a other country and is otherwise eligible to had gathered opinions from all sections proposal sails through, then NRIs will be could be equal to the local populace and before submitting a report to the apex sent ballot papers electronically and they it will be difficult to hold such an exercise 12-member committee led by Vinod Zutshi, be registered as a voter and who is absent Deputy Election Commissioner, for ‘Ex- from his place of ordinary residence in court. will have to return it to poll authorities at the embassy. Another problem is that some of the ploring Feasibility of Alternative Options India owing to employment, education or Sampath said any move to allow NRIs physically. otherwise is eligible to be registered as a use proxy voting on the lines of defence Explaining the feasibility aspect in not countries may not be democracies and for Voting by Overseas Electors’. voter in theconstituency in which his place they may object to NRIs exercising their The report is the result of a public interest personnel and e-ballot facility will require allowing NRIs to vote at embassies, he litigation filed in SC against the inherent of residence in India, as mentioned in his changes in the law. ‘It will require a legisla- said the MEA was of the view that it will be democratic rights. Asked how EC would check misuse on inequality created by Section 20(A) of the passport, is located. tive framework. The lawmakers will have difficult to allow such an exercise because, Published by K. Balakumar on behalf of News Today Media (P) Ltd., from 85, Mount Road (GST Road), Guindy, Chennai 600 032 and printed by him at Frontline Printers Private Ltd., M-7, Thiru-Vi-Ka Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai 600 032. Ph: 4202 1111. Editor: K. Balakumar. Phone: Editorial/Admn /Advt: 22504000, Fax: 2250 1800 (Editorial)/2250 1200/2250 0101 (Advt/Admn). e-mail: [email protected], Circulation: 4202 1111. Fax: 4212 0000. 2 SUNDAY 26 OCTOBER 2014 City TWIT PICK PMO India @PMOIndia Tele-medicine enables expert opinion even for people living far away. We need to integrate this and give good facilities to people: PM Centre CHENNAI Overgrown weeds choke Pallikaranai marsh FOOD FOR THOUGHT “Success in its highest and noblest form calls for peace of mind and enjoyment and happiness which come only to the man who has found the work that he likes best.” -Napoleon Hill Where to walk? from the surrounding areas has also let to the shrinking of this swamp. Dumping of waste has largely reduced the fauna in the wetland. The marsh, originally spread over 5,500 hector, is now reduced to less than 1,000 hector, it is alleged. Thick vegetation covering the In order to save the Pallikaranai wetland. Pallikaranai marshland, e n v i r o n m e n talists, allikaranai is one of the few ornithologists, wildlife researchers remaining natural wetlands and residents living around the in the city. This marsh is home to area urge the State government plenty of migratory birds and is a and the local body to periodically great retreat for bird-watchers and clean and maintain the place. nature enthusiasts. The wetland, ‘The presence of moss and situated in the backdrop of highweeds increases the rises, is picturesque. But this level of carbon scenic beauty has been dioxide in the deteriorating due to the I water thereby HER C A overgrowth of moss and VEL killing water weeds that has enveloped life,’ says Sriram a resident. the entire lake. ‘Decomposing water weeds also The wetland has shrunk to have the potential to deplete a large extent due to the several oxygen. overbearing need for development Although steps have been taken and construction of new buildings to remove encroachments, illegal in the area. The drawing of water dumping of garbage in the reserve P Drawing of water from the surrounding areas has also let to the shrinking of this swamp forest area and poaching of birds should be stopped. Violators should be penalised,’ says Sweetha, a bird watcher. It is important to preserve the rich fauna of the wetland and to maintain a natural balance in the eco-system by keeping it clean. It was previously stated by the authorities concerned that they will undertake cleaning once proper waste management facilities are installed. But that does not seem to happen in the near future is what many environmentalists say. — NT Bureau NEW IS NICE Pedestrians are left with no space to walk at Vadapalani pavements I t has become an ordeal for people using Vadapalani stretch of Arcot Road. During the peak hours, they are left with no space to walk as the vehicles ply very close to the footpaths. ‘Auto drivers and other vehicle owners park them on the sides which occupy most of the space. The stretch from Hotel Green Park to Saligramam is in a very pathetic condition. The footpath is cemented with slabs by the Corporation but many vehicles use the footpath to avoid the trafc. This threatens the safety of the pedestrians’. says Rajesh, a resident of Vadapalani. I N PALA VADA The bus stop on the Hundred Feet Road doesn’t have a proper shed and people have to expose themselves to the elements. Even government buses stop very close to the walker’s pavement, which is dangerous. IN THEATRES Chandrasekaran, a resident of Kumaran Colony says, ‘the pavement near Vijaya Hospital, is encroached by hawkers. We are forced to walk on the road and face the risk of getting hit by vrooming vehicles’. People are concerned that no action has been taken over this issue even though this is one of the arterial roads of the city. ‘I urge the Chennai Corporation to take up the matter seriously and resolve the problem’, signs off Raj, a student of a college in Vadapalani. — NT Bureau IN HOME SONY PIX 06:31 PM The Reader 09:00 PM The Last Stand 11:22 PM Hollow Man Mayajaal, Rakki, Escape , AGS Cinemas, Abirami, Kamala, Inox, Sathyam, Devi, Udhayam, Santham, Sangam, Fame, Woodlands, Kasi POOJAI HBO 04:59 PM Mortal Kombat 07:00 PM 21 Jump Street 09:00 PM Real Steel 11:31 PM The Hunger Games MOVIE NOW Mayajaal, Abirami, Kamala, Inox, Sathyam, Devi, Udhayam, Santham, Rakki,AGS Cinemas, Sangam, Fame,Kasi MADRAS Abirami,Kamala,Fame, Udhayam,PVR,Devi 04:10 PM X2: X-Men United 06:55 PM X-Men: The Last Stand 09:00 PM Taken 2 10:50 PM Final Destination 3 STARMOVIES 04:00 PM The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part 2 06:30 PM The Mummy Returns 09:00 PM Thor 2: The Dark World Photo: A R JAYAKUMAR TV TODAY STAR SPORTS 1 JAYA TV 04:00 PM West Indies Tour of India 2014 H/ls : Heroes 04:30 PM BWF French Open H/ls : Quarternals 05:30 PM BWF French Open : Finals 10:30 PM West Indies Tour of India 2014 H/ls : Review 11:00 PM Indian Super League 2014 H/ls 11:30 PM Liga Bbva 2014/15 : Sevilla FC vs. Villarreal 04:30 PM 07:30 PM 08:00 PM 09:00 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM 10:45 PM 11:00 PM KATHI A road at East Dhandeeswaram Nagar at Velacheri is spoting a fresh look. Paramasivan News Jaya Super Singer South India Hits Nermugam English News Tamil News Hits SUN TV 06:00 PM 06:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM 11:00 PM Kutty Chutties Movie Bhairavi Sivasankari Dhil Dhil Dhil - Fear Factor (Season 2) KALAIGNAR TV 04:00 PM 04:30 PM 05:00 PM 05:30 PM 06:00 PM 06:30 PM 07:00 PM 07:30 PM 08:00 PM 08:30 PM 09:00 PM 09:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:02 PM 10:30 PM 11:00 PM 11:30 PM Pudhu Paadal Sirippu Varudhu Endrum Super Kalai Koil Utchakattam Kurinji Malar News Vairakkiyam Mudhal Mariadhai Partha Gnabagam Illayo Romapuri Paandiyan Surya Puthiri News Headlines Madippakkam Madhavan Kaliyugam Sirippu Varudhu Telebuy VIJAY TV 04:00 AM 04:30 AM 05:00 AM 05:30 AM 06:00 AM Vijay Talkies Mettukkal Pudusu Thirupalli Ezhuchi Dharisanam Special Sanathana Dharmam 06:30 AM Best of Bakthi Thiruvizha 07:15 AM Green Monsoon 08:05 AM Iniya Illam CF RAJ TV TEN SPORTS 2 04:00 PM 08:00 PM 08:30 PM 09:00 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM 04:30 PM WTA 2014 : BNP Paribas WTA Finals SF 2 06:30 PM ICC Cricket 360 07:00 PM ATP World Tour 500 2014 : Swiss Indoors Duet Gunamakkum Anbu Jesus Calls Beach Girlz Thiraivimarsanam Alibabavum 40 Thirudarkalum Basel Final POLIMER TV 04:30 PM Movie Munnottam 05:00 PM Nenjam Pesuthey 06:00 PM Moondru Muduchi 08:00 PM Madhubala S U D O K U 2879 5 WWE NXT 11:00 PM UEFA Champions League 2014/15 H/ ls11:30PM Valencia Open 500 : Seminal 2 06:50 PM Indian Super League 2014 : Mumbai City FC vs. North East 8 ANSWER TO SUDOKU 2878 (25.10.2014) 7 7 1 4 8 9 10:00 PM 1 1 2 2 8 3 5 9 1 3 6 2 4 8 7 7 and 3x3 box must contain the digits 2 3 8 6 7 1 4 1 through 9 exactly once: Easy nah? 9 3 8 4 5 6 1 7 2 3 6 6 9 3 9 4 1 3 9 5 6 The object is to insert the numbers in the boxes to satisfy only one condition: each row, column 6 8 5 4 1 2 7 4 7 2 9 3 6 5 9 1 6 8 5 7 2 7 4 1 2 9 8 3 8 5 7 3 4 9 1 3 2 9 7 6 5 8 5 6 3 1 2 4 9 1 9 4 5 8 3 6 SUNDAY 26 OCTOBER 2014 Mixed Bag CHENNAI 3 Rotary’s gesture to VHS q Hospital gets new equipment for neurosurgery centre Professor T Nalini receiving the award at a function held in Chennai recently. Honour for professor NT Bureau Chennai, Oct 26: Dr T Nalini, a professor in the Computer Science Engineering department of Bharath University, Agaram Road, Selaiyur, has been conferred with a national-level gold medal recently by Global Economic Research and Progress Association in recognition of her services to the field. NT Bureau Chennai, Oct 26: The Voluntary Health Services (VHS) hospital located at Taramani here has got another new facility. The Rotary Club of Madras Metro donated a equipment used for the delicate brain surgery to VHS to be used by its neurosurgery centre. Dhilip Bajaj from Rotary Club of Madras Metro donated the instrument to VHS honorary secretary Dr Suresh. The total cost of the instrument is Rs 10 lakh, said a press note. Also, the Department of Paediatrics - Out-Patient services was inaugurated through a donation of Rs 10 lakh from the Rotary Club of Madras Metro. Starting with the out-patient services, it would be scaled into full-fledged child care services, including Paediatric ICU, ward with all specialists from the paediatric cardiology, surgery, Rotary District Governor ISAK Nazar donates the new equipment to VHS in the presence of managing trustee Sugual Chand Jain and VHS honorary secretary Dr Suresh. paediatric intensivist, etc in a span of one year. Rotary 3230 District Governor ISAK Sailor’s wife complains against Navy Kochi, Oct 26 (PTI): Wife of a Naval sailor belonging to the Eastern Naval Command, who had raised allegations of financial irregularities against his senior officers, has alleged her husband was being illegally kept in a hospital here and efforts were being made to establish that he was suffering from mental illness. Sunil Kumar Sahu, shipwright artificer at INS Kattabomman, Vijayanarayanam, in Tirunelveli, which comes under the Eastern Naval command, had allegedly raised allegations of corruption against his commanding officers. Sahu’s wife Aarti said he was locked up in a cell following this and brought to Kochi on 23 October from Kattabomman and admitted at the INS Sanjivini here for treatment. She alleged that efforts were being made by the Navy to portray Sahu as a mental patient. He has been kept at the psychiatry ward, she said. ‘I want my husband to be discharged from the hospital. He does not have any problem. I would like him to be shifted to a civil hospital if there is need. I do not have faith HC rejects petition of sacked MTC employee Chennai, Oct 26 (PTI): The Madras High Court rejected a petiton filed by a dismissed Metropolitan Transport Corporation employee, challenging his removal from service and said a dismissed employee cannot seek sympathy from the court on the grounds that his family would be in dire straits if action was taken against him. ‘The management decision that the employee had abandoned service was perfectly justified,’ Justice S Vaidyanathan said while rejecting the petition by M C Vijayakumar. The petitioner, who joined service in 1988, contended that he was on medical leave for some time and had submitted leave letters without fail. On one such occassion, he reported for duty in March 2008, and was told he had been dismissed from service in February itself. He claimed he had not received any communication in this regard from the management. The management contended he was under unauthorised absence since 2007 and a charge memo was served on him. Considering his reply, he was allowed to join duty. But he worked for just one day and then absented himself. A show-cause notice was issued to him, to which there was no reply. Hence, the decision to dismiss him from service. Justice Vaidyanathan said ‘it was an admitted case that the petitioner did not join duty. If any employee wanted to avail medical leave, he or she should inform the management by enclosing a medical certificate through registered post.’ in the doctors at the Naval hospital,’ she told PTI. ‘There is no problem with my husband. He was forcibly brought to Kochi,’ Aarti, who is in the city with her two-year old son, said, adding, she was told that he would be kept on observation for 10 days. Meanwhile, Defence spokesperson said Sahu was brought to Kochi from INS Kattabomman for ‘medical advice. That advice is being provided. No treatment was being given to him.’ The sailor was sent to Kochi for medical assessment. ‘He is only being assessed for any health re- quirement the doctor has asked,’ the spokesperson said. Aarti, who is presently staying with her husband’s friend, said she was asked to vacate the accommodation provided to the family at the Naval base here Friday. The spokesperson said though she was not required to accompany him, she insisted on coming and we allowed her to stay for the night on humanitarian grounds. There is no provision to permit Sahu’s family to stay at the naval base and the accommodation provided so far was on humanitarian grounds. Nazar inaugurated these services yesterday at a function at Voluntary Health Services premises. ‘Shutting down KNPP Unit-1 won’t benefit TN’ Madurai, Oct 26 (PTI): Anti-nuclear activist S P Udhayakumar said shutting down of the first unit of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project due to a problem had proved right his view that KNPP would not benefit Tamilnadu. Participating a demonstration organised by Social Democratic Party of India here, he said KNPP officials had claimed the plant was safe and had done trial runs after ‘thorough inspections’; but now a fault had been detected in the unit. ‘My view that the plant will not benefit Tamilnadu has been proved right after the first unit was shut down due to some problem,’ he said. Udhayakumar, convener of the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy, alleged that commercial generation of power from Unit 1 had not taken place even for a single day, but did not elaborate. On 20 October, the first unit was shut down due to a ‘minor problem’ in its turbine generator which had been in operation for just over 190 days, even as officials assured that the problem would be set right in six to eight weeks. Unit-1 of the Indo-Russian joint venture at Kudankulam in Tirunelveli district had attained criticality on 13 July, 2013, after much delay following protests against the poject by anti-nuclear activists, spearheaded by PMANE, in areas around the complex, citing safety reasons. Senior citizen held for giving false complaint GO GREEN Terrace farming is the latest trend, it seems. A house at Perambur has gone green with plants on top of the house. Photo: R THIYAGARAJAN Culprit in child sexual assault case held Managing trustee of the Central Committee Sugual Chand Jain and honorary secretary of Voluntary Health Services Prof Dr S Suresh were present. Nazar spoke about the long-term association of the Rotary movement with the Voluntary Health Services and outlined the future plans of Rotary. Voluntary Health Services was founded by Dr. Krishnaswami Srinivasa Sanjivi to meet the healthcare needs of the poor and middle-class based on their clinical needs and not based on their ability to pay for services. About 70 per cent of the patients (those with a monthly income below a certain limit) are treated free of cost. A non-commercial blood bank run purely on voluntary blood donation since 1962. ‘Educated girl contributes to nation’s growth’ Coimbatore, Oct 26 (PTI): Educating girls empowers them, uplifts their families and ultimately contributes to the development of the nation, Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia Central University, Delhi, Prof Talat Ahmad, has said. A clear indicator of their involvement in education was the fact that most of the top ranks in colleges were bagged by women, he said delivering his address on the 12th Convocation of Sri Krishna College of Arts and Science here yesterday. Ahmad urged men not to lag behind in education and to compete with women on equal terms in getting academic merit and excellence. Outlining the changing and dynamic role of teachers in shaping students’ lives and careers, he said, ‘A teacher gets long-lasting name and fame only in the classroom and becomes a personality among students through efficient teaching, interest, involvement and concern for students’ needs.’ Nearly 733 graduates were awarded graduation certificates, of whom 592 were undergraduates, 140 post graduates and a MPhil scholar. Sivaganga, Oct 26 (PTI): A farmer of Pilloor village in the district was arrested today by the police for giving a false complaint regarding the burglary of 65 sovereigns of gold jewellery and Rs.15 lakh cash from his house recently. The 58-year-old Krishnan claimed in his complaint that the burglars had stolen the cash and jewellery by jumping into his house after removing the tiles of the roof, police said. A police team led by Inspector, Pon Raghu began the investigation with the help of the forensic experts and sniffer dogs as the booty involved was very heavy. They suspected the involvement of the farmer as the dog did not go out of the house sniffing the scent and instead went around in the house itself and sat down. Krishnan, his wife and their son who was staying with them gave contradictory versions about the incident when they were questioned, police said, adding, the farmer on further enquiries, confessed to have acted as directed by his wife. Police also found the booty buried in a pot inside the house and arrested the farmer. Wall of temple tank collapses Tiruvarur, Oct 26 (PTI): The wall of the famous Kamalalaya Kulam (tank) of the 7th century Sri Thiagarajaswamy temple here collapsed yesterday due to incessant rains, officials said. No one was injured in the collapse of the wall on the western side extending to sixty metres, they said. In 2012, the north side wall of the tank also collapsed due to heavy rains. But the Hindu Regligious and Charitable Endowment Department did not take any step since then to renovate the temple. Bangalore, Oct 26 (PTI): The breakthrough came a day after Four days after the sexual assault of a three-and-aa functionary of the trust running half-year girl studying in nursery, an office assistant of the school here was arrested yesterday for the crime the school was arrested on charges that evoked public outrage and raised questions about of violation of norms in managing safety in schools. Gundappa, aged 42, working in the Orchids Inthe institution. ternational School, where the incident took place on 22 October, was arrested based on evidence, evidences collected so far we have arrested one including statement of the victim before the judicial individual today in the case.’ magistrate, city Police Commissioner M N Reddi Describing the case as ‘extremely sensitive’ as it intold reporters here. volved a child of a very tender age, Reddi said it was ‘We had registered a case under Sec 376 not easy to collect information from her given IPC (relating to rape) and Sections 4 and the age and the ‘trauma she underwent.’ 6 of POCSO Act. The investigation was The breakthrough comes a day after on. Today we have made an arrest in a functionary of the trust running the this case,’ he said. school was arrested on charges of The TNAU organised meeting was held at Agricultural Coimbatore, Oct 26 (PTI): Sections 4 and 6 of Protection of violation of norms in managing the Research Station in Bhavanisagar, a varsity release There was an urgent need for mechanisation from Children from Sexual Offences Act institution. said here yesterday. seeding to harvest in the agricultural sector consider2012 relate to punishment for penetraPolice had registered a criminal case The members of RREAC, comprising leading farmers, ing the reduction in cultivable land and depletion of tive sexual assault and punishment for invoking POSCO Act and IPC on a university officers, agricultural scientists, officials from water resources, Dr K Ramasamy, Vice-Chancellor aggravated penetrative sexual assault, complaint from the child’s father. Department of Agriculture held detailed discussion on of Tamilnadu Agricultural University (TNAU) has said. respectively. The girl was crying when her mother various research and extension needs pertaining to the Addressing a meeting of Western Zone Regional ‘....identification of the pictures of the accused picked her up from school on 22 October and Western Zone of Tamilnadu, it said. Research and Extension Advisory Council (RREAC), was conducted by an approved specialist agency, she was not behaving normally and had symptoms of It was proposed to exhibit traditional agricultural pracRamasamy, who is also the chairman of the Council, and also the statement was recorded from the victim fever. While she initially told her mother that someone tices and implements to encourage traditional agriculsaid there was also the need for agricultural scientists beat her up, she later said she was sexually assaulted, before the judicial magistrate under Sec 164 CrPC ture and importance will be given to value addition of to conduct based on the farmers’ needs to Private according the parents. yesterday. on these evidences alsoMedia Published by K.Based Balakumar on two behalf of Newsand Today (P) Ltd.,tofrom 85, Mount Road (GST Road), Guindy, Chennai 600 research 032 and printed by him at Frontline Printers Ltd., M-7, Thiru-Vi-Ka Industrial Estate, Guindy, marketing of agricultural commodities, the release said. increase the productivity and their income. Chennai 600 032. Ph: 4202 1111. Editor: K. Balakumar. Phone: Editorial/Admn /Advt: 22504000, Fax: 2250 1800 (Editorial)/2250 1200/2250 0101 (Advt/Admn). e-mail: [email protected], Circulation: 4202 1111. Fax: 4212 0000. VC’s plea to scientists Blend 4 SUNDAY 26 OCTOBER 2014 Student opens fire in US school Modify WTO rules, India tells UN T(H)ANK YOU RAIN In yet another tragic shooting in a US school, a student opened fire in a school cafeteria, killing one student and critically injuring four others before taking his own life, police said. The shooting occurred in the cafeteria of Marysville-Pilchuck High School, 55km north of Seattle in Washington State. The shooter was identified as Jaylen Fryberg, who was recently named the school’s homecoming prince. He shot himself and died, the police said. Eyewitness said the shooting began from cafeteria. Before turning the gun onto him, Fryberg killed one girl student. Two other girls and two boys were wounded. The injured were taken to a nearby hospital. In a stern message, India has told the UN General Assembly that developing countries must have the freedom to use food reserves to feed the poor ‘without the threat of sanctions’ and a permanent solution on food security with necessary changes in WTO rules is a must. ‘The issue of food security is central to the pursuit of poverty eradication and sustainable development in developing countries and must be treated with the same urgency as other issues, if not more’, Counsellor in the Indian Mission to the UN Amit Narang said in a UN General Assembly session on ‘Macroeconomic Policy Questions: International Trade and Development’. Over 1,700 bombs dropped on IS US and allied aircraft have flown nearly 6,600 sorties in the air war against the Islamic State group and dropped more than 1,700 bombs, the American military. The flights for ‘Operation Inherent Resolve’ include thousands of mid-air fuelling runs, surveillance sorties and 632 air strikes in Iraq and Syria, according to US Central Command. The latest tally was released one month since the US-led coalition extended its air campaign from Iraq into Syria, in a bid to counter the advance of the Islamic State jihadists. The effect of the open-ended air campaign remains the subject of debate, with the White House saying the militants have been damaged by the strikes and critics pointing to the group’s battlefield successes despite the raids. Coalition aircraft have targeted Islamic State militants with more than 1,700 bombs and missiles since August 8 in both Iraq and Syria, Central Command said in a statement. Modi meets media, lays stress on Clean India ‘It is not only the government but everyone together should take up the job of keeping India clean’, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing journalists during Diwali Mangal Milan at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, the Prime Minister praised the media for spreading awareness on Clean India campaign. Stating that the government is getting information and vision from media, Narendra Modi, said, ‘You have turned pen into broom’. He further said, ‘I see media playing a major role in changing the country, Many governments are being forced to wake up. Writing about the Clean India drive is a service to the nation.’ In a lighter vein, the Prime Minister, said, ‘I am looking the way to see how I can further deepen my old ties with you all ( media). Hopefully, I will find a way to improve my connection with the media.’ Blast: NIA chief monitors probe NIA Director General Sharad Kumar took stock of the progress in the investigation in the Burdwan blast case. Kumar met NIA investigators and assessed the progress in the probe into the blast at Khagragarh in Burdwan town on 2 October that claimed the lives of two suspected terroristsof Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh. Three persons, including two women - one of them the widow of a suspected terrorist who died in the blast, had been interrogated by NIA. CHENNAI Infra consulting firms for service tax exemption The tank of Vadapalani Murugan temple, which was empty for the past many months, is now brimming with water. Photo: R Thiyagarajan Jaya asks supporters not to take extreme steps Aavin price hiked by Rs 10 per litre The Tamilnadu government hiked the price of Aavin milk by Rs 10 per litre. It also decided to increase the procurement price of milk, which will come into effect from 1 November. In a statement here, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said the government was forced to increase the milk price from Rs 24 to Rs 34 (pasteurised milk for card holders), since it had to hike the procurement rates. He said it has been decided to increase the procurement price of cow milk from Rs 23 to Rs 28 and buffalo milk from Rs 31 to 35. Stating that the move would benefit more than 22.5 lakh milk producers, Panneerselvam pointed out that milk business plays a crucial role in the economic development of villages. He recalled that when milk producers placed a demand before the government to increase the procurement price last year, the rate was hiked by Rs three, however without increasing the selling price. AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa once again appealed to her supporters not to take extreme steps in the wake of her sentencing in a graft case, reassuring them that she will come out of all the challenges with divine help. Besides the 193 persons who had died of various reasons, including suicide, apparently upset over her jail term in an illegal assets case, 26 more had died since her last statement on October 19 after coming out on bail, she said and expressed concern over the deaths. I am confident that I will come out triumphant crossing all challenges with divine help, she said in a statement. Two killed in flash flood in Erode Two people have been killed in flash floods in Erode district. The tragedy occurred on Saturday morning when men were crossing a bridge on the bike. The water flow increased due to rains in Sathyamangalam forest. fondly addressed as ‘Latchiya Nadigar’ (Actor of Principles) by his fans. At a time when actors were choosy about their films and keen on doing solo hero roles, SSR set a new trend in Tamil cinema. In his heydays (1950s and 1960s), he had no hesitation in brushing shoulders with actors like MGR and Sivaji Ganesan. He acted with MGR in Raja Desingu as Mohamed Khan and in Kanchi Thalaivan as Paranjothi. He had worked in many films with Sivaji, including Manohara, Rangoon Radha, Raja Rani, Deiva Piravi, Aalayamani, Pachai Vilakku. S S Rajendran passes away Veteran actor-politician, SS Rajendran died following illness, his family said. Rajendran, popularly known as SSR, was admitted to a private hospital yesterday where he breathed his last. Rajendran (86), who started off his career as a theatre artiste, later ventured into Tamil cinema and carved a place for himself with his impeccable dialogue delivery. His notable films include Parasakthi, the debut movie of veteran actor Sivaji’ Ganesan, Poompuhar, Marakka Mudiuma, Kumudam, Naanum Oru Penn, and Raja Desingu, among others. He has acted in many family dramas and was Music therapy reduces depression Fire at Pondy Bazaar Fire broke out at a restaurant in Pondy Bazaar, however no one was injured in the accident. According to police sources, fire broke out at Geetha Cafe when one of the air conditioners on the first floor of the double-storied restaurant, had a short circuit. As a result of the fire, a portion of the first floor’s ceiling is reported to have caved in. Three fire tender vehicles from T Nagar fire station doused the flame in twenty minutes. Infrastructure consulting firms have requested the government to exempt them from service tax at par with contractors and concessionaires. ‘The government-funded infrastructure projects are impeded by discrimination against the consulting engineering companies by levy of service tax. This critical issue originated with the introduction of Point of Taxation Rules 2011 & subsequent amendment in Finance Act 2012’, infrastructure consultants said in a letter to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. They demanded a relook at the service tax introduced under the Finance Act 2012 and treatment at par with contractors and concessionaires as they are exempted from payment of service tax as per a June, 2012 notification. Flintoff joins Brisbane Heat Former England allrounder Andrew Flintoff has signed a shortterm contract as Brisbane Heat’s star recruit for Australia’s Twenty20 Big Bash cricket competition. The Heat confirmed that 36-yearold Flintoff, who played 79 tests and 141 limited-overs internationals, would arrive in December to play the last half of the tournament and also work as a television analyst. Flintoff came out of retirement in May, and helped Lancashire reach the English T20 Blast final in August. Heat coach Stuart Law said he wants Flintoff to be bowling fast, hitting sixes, and using his wealth of experience to help the squad. Law says, Brisbane fans will quickly discover he’s a champion fella and I’m sure they will love having him with the team. Pankaj Advani in ‘11th heaven’ India’s Pankaj Advani set a record of sorts when he defeated Peter Gilchrist 6-2 in the final of the World billiards championship (points format) at Leeds. It was Advani’s 11th individual World title and his third of the year in different formats of the game, having won the World 6-Red Snooker and the World Team Billiards titles earlier. ‘I’m in 11th heaven! I returned to India to focus on this very event and it has paid off. Gilchrist was the most dangerous competitor of the tournament and in a dream final. I am happy with the way I performed.’ Skydive from edge of space A Google executive has set a new record by jumping successfully from near the top of the stratosphere -- some 135,000 feet, or 41,000 metres high, his project usic therapy can reduce depression in children and adolescents with website said. behavioural and emotional problems, according to the largest ever study The record dive by 57-year-old Alan Eustace, who is of its kind. a senior vice president of knowledge at Google, was The researchers at Queen’s University Belfast in partnership with the Northern conducted as part of the Stratospheric Explorer project Ireland Music Therapy Trust, found that children who received music to allow manned exploration of the stratosphere above therapy had significantly improved self-esteem a n d 100,000 feet. significantly reduced depression compared According to a statement from the Paragon Space with those who received treatment without Development Corporation, Eustace completed the fourmusic therapy. hour mission over Roswell, New Mexico, using a specially The study also found that those who designed space suit and balloon module to carry him to received music therapy had improved the stratosphere. communicative and interactive skills, Ascending at about 1,000 feet per minute, Alan achieved compared to those who received usual his target altitude in about two and a half hours, the care options alone. statement said. In the study which took place between He spent a short time, around a half hour, experiencing March 2011 and May 2014, 251 children and the wonders of the stratosphere before being released young people were involved. from the balloon. In rapid free fall, Alan experienced a short They were divided into two groups - 128 period of near weightlessness and within underwent the usual care options, while 123 90 seconds exceeded the speed of were assigned to music therapy in addition sound. to usual care. The previous record was project, designed by the engineering fifirm rm ILC Dover project All were being treated for emotional, developmental or behavioural problems. set by Austrian skydiver Felix with assistance from several other consultants and Early findings suggest that the benefits are sustained in the long term. Baumgartner in 2012, jumping companies. from a height of nearly 128,000 This is the largest study ever to be carried out looking at music therapy’s The New York Times, which first reported the news, feet or 38,969 meters, also from ability to help this very vulnerable group, and is further evidence of how Queen’s quoted Eustace as saying, It was amazing. It was New Mexico. University is advancing knowledge and changing lives, said Dr Valerie Holmes, beautiful. You could see the darkness of space and you Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences Eustace’s free-fall into the could see the layers of atmosphere, which I had never and co-researcher. atmosphere lasted about five minutes, seen before. and he deployed his parachute at around Music therapy has often been used with children and young people with The Times said that Eustace was propelled from the 18,000 feet and floated gently to the ground, the statement particular mental health needs, but this is the first time its effectiveness has module with a small explosive charge, sending him said. been shown by a definitive randomised controlled trial in a clinical setting, said travelling briefly at supersonic speeds, creating a sonic Ciara Reilly, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust. Within four hours of launch, Alan arrived at the launch boom heard by observers on the ground. site where the team and guests toasted his achievement The findings are dramatic and underscore the need for music therapy to be According to Paragon, the system has wide-ranging and safe return. made available as a mainstream treatment option, Reilly said. applications for the study of the science of the stratosphere. Paragon the printed recovery systems for the PTIby K. Balakumar on behalf of News Today Media (P) Ltd., from 85, Mount Road (GST Road), Guindy, PTI Published Chennaiproduced 600 032 and by him at Frontline Printers Private Ltd., M-7, Thiru-Vi-Ka Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai 600 032. Ph: 4202 1111. Editor: K. Balakumar. Phone: Editorial/Admn /Advt: 22504000, Fax: 2250 1800 (Editorial)/2250 1200/2250 0101 (Advt/Admn). e-mail: [email protected], Circulation: 4202 1111. Fax: 4212 0000. M CHENNAI RINL to resume production in a week Visakhapatnam, Oct 26 (PTI): Almost two weeks after its operations were badly hit by cyclone Hudhud, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) is all set to resume production in all its units and scale up volumes close to normal levels in about a week’s time, a top company executive said here today. Critical units like Coke Ovens and Blast Furnaces have all been revived and production commenced from Sinter Plant and Steel Melt Shop (SMS) as well. To scale up the production and to start the Rolling Mills, RINL is in the process of strengthening the power supply line from State Grid, a company release quoted RINL chairman and managing director P Madhusudan as saying. He said the resumption of production at RINL, the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), is possible due to concerted efforts of employees. The VSP collective worked hard for the revival of production and greenery at Vizag Steel Plant which was badly hit by the cyclone on October 12, the release said. The CMD also lauded Vizag Steel fraternity for celebrating Diwali modestly in view of the devastation caused by the cyclone. New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI): Electrical goods and consumer electronics maker Arise India is looking to tap the fast growing mobile handset and smart TV segments as part of plans to grow revenue by over 20 per cent this fiscal to Rs 1,550 crore. We would now focus on LED and mobile handset business as it has a promising future. This fiscal, we would have over Rs 200 crore business from this segment by the end of this year, Arise India Managing Director Avinash Jain told PTI. The firm had a revenue of Rs 1,258 crore last fiscal and is setting up a mobile handset manufacturing unit. As part of strategy to expand in the two segments, Jain said: ‘We have set up LED TV manufacturing unit at Kala Amb in Himachal Pradesh with an investment of Rs 20 crore and are also in the process of setting up a unit for mobile handset manufacturing.’ The company sells low cost mobile handsets ranging between Rs 800 and Rs 5,550. Jain said Arise is also expecting robust growth in its LED TV business with Android Jellybean 4.2 operating system which allows consumers to surf Internet and use Android-based applications on the TV. Presently, the company imports panels assembles at Kala Amb plant. On retail network expansion, Jain Wendt India posts impressive numbers NT Bureau Chennai, Oct 26: Wend India, a joint venture between Went GmbH, Germany and Carborundum Universal Ltd of Murugappa Group, achieved sales of Rs 2716 lakh during the quarter ended 30 September, 2014 which is 8 per cent higher than the last year’s level. The domestic sales has been at Rs 2041 lakh, which is 6 per cent higher than the corresponding period of last year, due to increased sales to the user industry segments like auto, engineering, ceramics, steel, glass, refractory etc. A press note said the Board of Directors of Wendt (India) took on record the unaudited financial results as reviewed by the Board of Directors for the quarter (ended 30 September). The export sales demonstrated a growth of 15 per cent over the corresponding period of last year and was at Rs 675 lakh. This was due to higher sales to Germany, UK, Spain, Belgium, Austria, Australia, Korea, Thailand and middle-east. The Profit After Tax (PAT) for the current quarter has been higher by 52 per cent at Rs 458 lakh over the corresponding period of previous year. The good results in the form of revenue and net profit growth has been primarily on account of higher volumes, operational efficiencies, products development and other income. On a consolidated basis, the company’s sales stood at Rs 3233 lakh for the current quarter which is 11 per cent higher than the corresponding period of last year with the Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs 354 lakh, being down from last year mainly on account of higher rate of depreciation as per the revised Companies Act 2013. 5 Import duty exemption on potato sought Agriculture Ministry keen to curb price rise New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI): The Agriculture Ministry has demanded that potato be exempted from import duties to boost domestic supplies of the vegetable and curb rise in its prices. Potato prices have shown a rising trend and the commodity is being retailed at Rs 35-40 per kg in the National Capital, against 20-25 a kg till recently. The government had last week directed NAFED and the Small Farmers’ Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC) to import potatoes to improve Arise to focus on mobile handset India world’s 4th largest steel maker SUNDAY 26 OCTOBER 2014 Enterprise said the company plans to add 1,000 shop-in-shop outlets under its ‘Arise One’ concept by the end of this fiscal. The company has plans to increase the number of ‘Arise One’ outlets three-folds to 3,000 by March 31, 2016, focusing on tier III and IV places. We have presently 57 ‘Arise One’ running stores and have booked for over 300 and are in process,’ Jain said. Commenting on the company’s sales growth, he said: ‘This fiscal we would touch Rs 1,550 crore. We would have a production of around Rs 1,100 crore, which is around 70 per cent of our total revenue.’ The company manufactures a range of items, including pumps, inverters, batteries, LED TVs and home appliances such as geysers and mixer grinders. BOARD MEETING Mahaveer Finance India Ltd will be holding its board meeting on 8 November to consider the unaudited financial results of the company for quarter and half year that ended on 30 September, 2014. APAI questions ‘non-existent’ low airfares Mumbai, Oct 26 (PTI): Apex air travellers body, Air Passengers Association of India (APAI) today questioned the frequent ‘special fare’ offers by domestic carriers and termed them as ‘non-existent’, even as it urged the DGCA not to allow such schemes. The association, in a communication to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, also sought to know as to what action the regulator intends to take against the carriers on the issue. the domestic supply in the coming months. But the two organisations have raised concerns that import of potatoes will be unviable at high Ishi Maya to enter Bangladesh New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI): Women’s ethnic wear e-commerce portal Ishi Maya will enter Bangladesh through a partnership with a local company to sell its merchandise in the neighbouring nation. Vinayak Online Marketing Private Ltd, which sells merchandise from Gujarat, Rajasthan and West Bengal, through the Ishi Maya platform, will launch a dedicated portal for Bangladesh. It has tied up with Bangladeshi firm Karigari for the same. Bangladesh is a key market for Indian women ethnic wear. For this market, we have tied up with a Bangladeshi company. Through this tie-up, we will be able to offer services like Cash On Delivery, Same day delivery to customers in Bangladesh, Nitin Gupta, CEO of Vinayak Online Marketing Pvt Ltd told PTI. He, however, did not share financial details such as investments and revenue sharing for the company’s Bangladesh foray. import duty of 30 per cent. The issue has been taken up with the Commerce Ministry. We have suggested for complete exemption of import duty on potatoes to encourage shipments, a senior Agriculture Ministry official told PTI. Both NAFED and SFAC are gearing up to float tenders to import potatoes during the lean period up to Januaryend, he said. NAFED has decided to invite expression of interest from global suppliers for import of 25,000 tonnes of potatoes before issuing full-fledged tenders, he added. In June, the government had imposed a minimum export price (MEP) of USD 450 per tonne on potatoes to increase domestic availability and cool prices. The stock of stored potatoes is getting exhausted and therefore the government has decided to import to boost availability till the new crop arrives from January-end. India produced 44.3 million tonnes of potatoes in 2013-14 crop year, down 2.3 per cent from the previous year. Electrolux aims big New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI): Swedish consumer appliances firm Electrolux is targeting Rs 500 crore turnover from small appliances by fiscal 2017 as it expands products range in the country. We are a new entrant in the domestic market. We have spent last one year in understanding the market and developing products for India. We are looking at Rs 500 crore turnover by FY 2016-17, Electrolux Kelvinator Small Appliances CEO Pramod K Khosla told PTI. The company entered into small appliances category in India in October 2013 with the launch of select products under its powerbrand ‘Kelvinator’. In this financial year, our first year of operation, we are expecting Rs 100 crore turnover, he added. Electrolux, which started operation for its small appliances business in India with water heaters, air coolers and tower fans, is in process of expanding products range by launching kettles, toasters, food processors and rice cookers by end of this fiscal. By the end of this year our portfolio of appliances will be complete. But going forward, we will continue to add and refresh products in the market. ‘We also plan to introduce gas stoves and induction cook-tops by next year, he added. Currently, branded small domestic appliances market, which includes mixers, irons, air coolers, water heaters, tower fans among others, is estimated at around Rs 6,500 crore. After completing its product portfolio, the company will also go in mass media advertising, which includes advertisements on televisions, for its products. Next financial year, we will go in for mass media advertising. We will spend up to 10 per cent of turnover on mass media advertising, Khosla said. Electrolux also sells airconditioners, refrigerators, microwave ovens and washing machines in India under the Electrolux and Kelvinator labels. Oil Ministry to overhaul exploration policy: Pradhan New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI): After unveiling major reforms since BJP’s storming to power, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan plans to overhaul the exploration policy to attract investors, spur energy output and revive the economy. In parallel, the Ministry is setting stiff targets for state explorers like ONGC to reverse the declining trend in oil and gas output in recent years as it looks to cut on import dependence. Pradhan, 45, wants to replace the 15-year old production sharing regime, which has produced more controversies and less oil and gas. Only three out of the 252 blocks given out have come to production stage. The new regime aims to inspire confidence in investors and require minimal government intervention. We want to increase ease of doing business in India. Bottlenecks have to be removed, red-tapism cut and Govt aims to make $15 bn IoT industry in India by 2020 investors given confidence so that they can come and invest in oil and gas exploration and production, he told PTI here. The focus is on raising domestic oil and gas production beginning with state explorers ONGC and Oil India, who had in the immediate past not met their own stated targets. They have been given a 10 per cent improvement target so as to cut imports, he said. Top most on priority is monetisation of small and marginal fields lying with ONGC with help of private investment as well as technology, he said. Natural gas pipeline network in the country will be doubled to 30,000 kilometres by 2019 to expand the reach of environment-friendly fuel. Also, state refineries are being asked to improve efficiencies to become globally competitive even as fuel retailing is opened up for competition. We have set priorities and targets at every level - upstream, midstream and downstream. Efficiencies have to improve. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has showed how the same set of people under the same system can deliver better results,’ he said. Telcos may raise tariffs to pay for spectrum costs New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI): With 62.41 million tonnes output, New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI): India remains the world’s fourth largIndustry body COAI has said mobile tariffs may go up soon as telecom est steel producer in the first nine operators are expected to pass on to customers the burden of spectrum cost New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI): The number of internet-connectmonths of the current year, preceded they will incur in the upcoming auction. ed devices (12.5 billion) surpassed The government is working on an by China, Japan and the US. the number of human beings (7 bilThe auction of airwaves is likely to be conducted in February next year. ambitious plan to create $15 billion World Steel Association (WSA) data lion) on the planet in 2011, and by ‘Internet of Things’ industry in the Definitely there will be an upward pressure on tariffs as the debt burden of showed India’s steel production grew 2020, Internet-connected devices next six years. telecom players will increase post auctions, they have to pass on the cost to by 1.8 per cent, the second highest are expected to number between Internet of Things, or IoT, can be customers, COAI Director General Rajan S Mathews told PTI. among the top four steel producing 26 billion and 50 billion globally, the loosely described as a network of He said operators have to pay around Rs 40,000 crore for the spectrum even nations, during the January-Septemdraft policy document said. inter-connected devices that can if the airwaves would be sold at reserve price in 900MHz and 1800 MHz bands. ber period from 61.27 MT in the same The proposed policy is in line be accessed through the Internet. period last year. From where the money will come from? Banks are also unwilling to lend to of government’s plan to develop For instance, with IoT, street lights India has been the world’s fourth telecom operators due to high debt burden. Also the telcos have to spend on 100 smart cities in the country, for will automatically go off when they largest steel maker for the last four network infrastructure. So, after paying such huge amount for spectrum only, which Rs 7,060 crore has been sense no traffic on the roads and years. The order is likely to remain they have to pass the burden to customers, Mathews said. earmarked in the current year’s consequently save power. Another unchanged in current year too, an Telecom sector regulator TRAI had suggested a 10 per cent higher base Budget. application could be a smart band industry expert said. price for the next round of spectrum auction in the 1800 Mhz band. Devices or objects under IoT, will that will automatically alert physiDuring the first nine months, China The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had recommended a price be connected seamlessly on networks and communicate cian when body vitals go to abnormal levels. produced 618 MT steel which is a little of Rs 2,138 crore per Mhz for the 1800 Mhz band and Rs 3,004 crore per Mhz Among other things, IoT can help automate solutions with least human intervention. The IoT policy excludes more than half of world’s total producfor the premium 900 Mhz band. phones, tablets and personal computers. to problems faced by various industries like agriculture, tion at 1,231 MT. China logged 2.3 The Department of Telecom has already fl oated a draft The spectrum auction will be conducted for radiowaves in 900 Mhz held health services, energy, security, disaster management per cent growth during the period. But policy on technical communication among machines but etc. through remotely connected devices, the draft IoT by existing telecom operators Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular and Reliance its steel production remained static in is yet to finalise guidelines. policy document says. Communications through their licences that are expiring in 2015-16. September, as per data revealed by To boost IoT, the government has plans to fund creaSome of the proposed concepts under the policy inIn the 900 Mhz band, about 184 Mhz of spectrum is likely to be auctioned. In WSA, at 67.5 MT when compared tion of resource centres and test-beds as a common clude development of tools to monitor quality of water 1800 Mhz, government has proposed to auction 104 Mhz of spectrum which with the same month last year. flowing in taps and levels in reservoirs, smart environ- experimental facility to conduct experiments with an included spectrum held by licences that are expiring in 2015-16 and unsold Japan remained the remote second ment to monitor quality of air, technology to monitor allocation of Rs 18 crore as 100 per cent fund with Rs 1 airwaves in February auction. with 83.1 MT production during the crore for each partner and Rs 3 crore for nodal agency changes in body vitals and send alerts to hospitals. Telecom operators have been cutting back on freebies and discounted nine-month period clocking just 0.8 Human role will be limited to setting up parameters for over a period of five years. minutes to maintain profitability. Analysts say this trend may continue as they per cent growth over 82.4 MT proThe government will set up incubation centres that are alerts and other activities expected from the objects. have to pay for the fresh spectrum purchases. duction in the same period last year. The policy has the objective to create an IoT industry proposed to be called National Centre of Excellence in After the last auction held in February this year, Vodafone India CEO Marten The US stood at the third spot with in India of USD 15 billion by 2020. This will also lead partnership with IT industry body NASSCOM and other Pieters had said the telecom industry in India has reached a point where the 66.33 MT production compared to at an estimated Rs 35 by crore increase in Media the connected from around 200(GSTindustry Published by K. during Balakumar on behalf of to News Today (P) Ltd.,devices from 85, Mount Road Road),associations Guindy, Chennai 600 032 cost and of printed him at tariffs Frontline Printers Private Ltd., M-7, Thiru-Vi-Ka need to increase every year to sustain itself.Industrial Estate, Guindy, 65.3 MT output the Januaryfor 5 years to execute a centre with capacity of 40 people. million to overPhone: 2.7 billion by 2020. Chennai 600 032. Ph: 4202 1111. Editor: K. Balakumar. Editorial/Admn /Advt: 22504000, Fax: 2250 1800 (Editorial)/2250 1200/2250 0101 (Advt/Admn). e-mail: [email protected], Circulation: 1111. Fax: 4212 0000. September period of the last year. The February 2014 auctions fetched about Rs 4202 62,162 crore. 6 SUNDAY 26 OCTOBER 2014 Sports Federer overjoyed to be in home nal again No joy for Suarez as Real beats Barca Madrid, Oct 26: Real Madrid trimmed Barcelona’s lead at the top of La Liga to one point when they recovered from letting in an early goal to secure a stirring 3-1 comeback win in the ‘Clasico’ on Saturday. There was no dream return for Luis Suarez, making his Barca debut after a four-month ban for biting an opponent at the World Cup. The Uruguay forward looked reasonably sharp and had a hand in Neymar’s opening goal but did not come close to scoring himself before being replaced by Pedro midway through the second half. Neymar stunned a packed and hostile Bernabeu with a superb fourth-minute effort before Cristiano Ronaldo levelled with a penalty in the 35th, the rst goal the Catalan side had conceded in nine league outings this term. Pepe made it 2-1 to the European champions ve minutes into the second half and a misunderstanding between Andres Iniesta and Javier Mascherano led to Real’s third after the hour when Karim Benzema nished off a swift break with a clinical strike. Gofn’s dream run continues at Swiss Indoors Basel, Oct 26: Top-seeded Roger Federer beat big-serving Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (8), 3-6, 6-3 Saturday to reach a ninth consecutive Swiss Indoors nal and his 11th overall in his hometown of Basel. Federer, who is looking for his sixth Swiss Indoors title after nishing runner-up in the past two editions, will meet David Gofn after the Belgian kept up his remarkable form by defeating teenage wild card Borna Coric 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Federer racked up three match points in his nal service game but needed just one, winning with a backhand volley at the net to please the partisan crowd. Wozniacki eyes maiden Slam Caroline Wozniacki Singapore, Oct 26: Caroline Wozniacki set her sights on winning her rst Grand Slam title on Saturday as she expressed pride at emerging strongly from a difcult year including her break-up with golfer Rory McIlroy. Wozniacki’s narrow loss to Serena Williams in the WTA Finals semis did not stop her reecting with pleasure on a season which could have turned sour after her marriage plans fell apart in May. Instead, Wozniacki has returned to the top 10, won a title for the seventh year in a row and reached the US Open nal, before her run to the semi-nals of the season nale in Singapore. ‘I think I can be really proud of how I’ve handled everything this year, how I’ve fought back,’ the Danish world number eight told reporters. ‘You know, I think I’ve proved to myself that I’m a really strong person and that I can keep improving my game. You know, I’m just really happy that I’ve learned so much from this year. ‘It’s been a very, very meaningful year for me and very learningful. Can you say that?’ She added: ‘It’s denitely a year that I’m going to remember back on. You know, I’m still going to smile, because everything happens for a reason. It’s made me who I am today.’ CHENNAI Wozniacki beat French Open champion Maria Sharapova, Agnieszka Radwanska and Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova on her way to the seminals, one of the best runs of her career. Her streak came to an end with a narrow three-sets loss to Serena, who has now beaten her four times this year including in last month’s US Open nal. But Wozniacki said she now felt ready to take the last step by nally winning a Grand Slam tournament, an achievement that has eluded her despite nishing both 2010 and 2011 as world number one. ‘I denitely feel that way. I think I’ve been playing some great tennis, I’ve beaten some great players,’ she said, adding that her friend and 18-time Slamwinner Serena was still a major hurdle. ‘I told Serena, I said, ‘Can you just leave me alone. Like go away from the court. I don’t want to see you on the court. I love you, but stay away from the other side of the court. Quite frankly, I’m tired of losing to you.’ ‘But, again, she’s a great champion and probably my toughest opponent. I think I lost to her four times in the last three months. I was ready today to make that change, but I told her that I’m coming back next year and I’m going to try again.’ ‘I’m unbelievably happy,’ Federer said. ‘I never thought I would be this successful ever at this tournament. So clearly I’m overjoyed and I hope I can play another g o o d match Roger Federer tomorrow and enjoy the nal.’ Karlovic hit 33 aces but it was not enough to secure what would have been just his second victory over Federer in 12 meetings. ‘I think he served his best against me ever,’ Federer said. ‘It was very impressive for how long, how big he served. It was close, I didn’t expect to break anymore in the third set, so I was very happy to get that and then bring it home.’ Karlovic went close to breaking serve late in the rst set but sent a return into the net, and Federer took the lead after a closely-fought tiebreaker which he won with a crosscourt backhand that landed just inside the far corner. The players only lost a combined three points on their serve in the rst seven games of the second set before Karlovic earned a break. Federer upped his game in the nal set where a run of 12 consecutive points saw the 33-year-old Swiss break at love as well as winning two love service games. For Goffin, it was his 43rd victory in 45 matches since his straight-sets loss to Andy Murray at Wimbledon, and it sent the 23-year-old Belgian into his third Tour-level final. ‘It means a lot,’ Goffin said. ‘It wasn’t my best match today, but emotionally it was a tough one. I’m really happy. I have nothing to lose tomorrow.’ The seventh-seeded Goffin wasted three match points before converting his fourth attempt when his Croatian opponent returned a smash long. Coric had upset Rafael Nadal on Friday to announce himself as one of the rising stars of tennis, and the 17-year-old reafrmed that early in the match. He raced across from the other side of the court to return a shot which Gofn had seemingly perfectly placed over the net - and which appeared impossible to reach - before landing the ball just inside the baseline to the gasps of the crowd. Goffin made the decisive breakthrough in the fourth game of the nal set, sealing the break with a precise backhand down the line. Coric missed the chance to break straight back as Goffin thwarted him with an ace. The Belgian double-faulted twice on match point and sent a backhand volley long before nally grabbing his fourth opportunity. Torrid season over as Nadal opts for surgery London, Oct 26: Rafa Nadal’s announcement on Friday that he will miss the ATP World Tour Finals because of appendicitis ended a difcult year for the Spaniard during which he has endured injury, illness and worrying defeats. The 28-year-old’s ninth French Open crown in June stands out like a beacon in the gloom as for most of the season Nadal has looked like a mere mortal, far from the force of nature that collected 14 grand slam titles. On Friday he was crushed by Croatian teenager Borna Coric at the Swiss Indoor event in Basel, First goal made the difference, says Delhi coach Narrow win for SRM New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI): After tasting rst win of the Indian Super League, Delhi Dynamos head coach Harm Van Veldhoven said the rst goal of the 4-1 thrashing of Chennaiyin FC made all the difference. Wim Raymaekers struck in the second minute of the match and Dynamos maintained their attacking game to outclass their opponents. ‘We had a perfect start with Raymaekers getting the early goal. It’s always good to score early. Had we scored early against Pune City FC (in the opening match), we would have won that match like today’s,’ he said at the post-match press conference yesterday. ‘I have midelders of the calibre of Hans Mulder, Bruno Herrero and the Steven Dias and we did not give any chance to Chennai. The second, third and fourth goals came. I am proud of my players,’ said the Dutch with his trademark smiling face. Seeded players have it easy losing the first five games before offering some instinctive resistance in a 6-2 7-6 (4) reverse. Lacking power and timing, hardly surprising considering he has been on antibiotics in a forlorn bid to delay surgery until after the World Tour Finals next month, Nadal’s performance made uncomfortable viewing for his legion of fans. A few minutes later he made the decision most had been expecting by withdrawing from the seasonending showpiece in London having already pulled out of next week’s Paris Masters. Nadal said he would have his grumbling appendix removed on Nov. 3 before spending two months training hard for a return at the Qatar Open in Doha on 5 January -- a tournament he won this year before his body started creaking. After a career spent fighting ferocious oncourt battles against some of the best players ever to wield rackets, question marks will accompany the Rafa Nadal Mallorcan’s latest comeback mission, although at least this time it is not his suspect knees that are under the microscope. ATK skipper wants to forget controversy Kolkata, Oct 26 (PTI): Atletico de Kolkata captain Sanju Pradhan said they were determined to leave behind the controversy surrounding their players and also appealed to the media to focus more on the game as they prepare for the match against Kerala Blasters. ATK’s marquee manager Antonio Habas, their forward Fikru Teferra and goal keeper Predipkumar Bhaktawer were suspended for breaching disciplinary codes during their ISL outing in Margao. ‘Football is a physical game. It was their home ground and it got a bit intense. It keeps happening and did not happen for the rst time in football,’ Pradhan said on the eve of the match. ‘It would be a bad in uence on the team if you keep on rubbing the wrong way. It would really help us if you let us concentrate on the match S Rly edges out SRM tomorrow,’ he added. Pradhan also said that losing Fikru was not a big setback for them. ‘I don’t think it’s a disadvantage but whoever plays in Fikru’s position will give 100 per cent.’ Pointing at marquee player and former Liverpool star Luis Garcia’s absence in Goa, Sanju said, ‘Lobo gave us three points from an away match. Whoever gets to play will utilise the opportunity.’ On Habas absence, he said: ‘Coach always guides from the sidelines.’ Sanju said Kerala Blasters FC who are seeking their maiden will would look to pounce on them and he predicted a 50-50 game. ‘We have seen them on TV. They will give us fight as they have lost both their matches. It’s important match for them. I’m sure it would be 50-50, whoever gives them their best would win the match.’ The ATK management meanwhile has appealed against the ban and said they are concerned about the number of disciplinary actions against the team in such a short period. ‘We abide by the ISL rulebook and respect the disciplinary committee decisions but at the same time we have appealed at the AIFF against the ban,’ an ATK ofcial said. Besides being the top performer of the league ATK have also made headlines for all the wrong reasons in four outings. ‘We are concerned about this but at the same time we don’t have control on the players on the eld. Obviously we will take corrective steps and we are discussing with our team.’ Old Trafford is ‘Gold Trafford’ for Chelsea Results:Shyam Nikil bt C Lakshmi (TN); Ketan Patil (Maha) lost to VAV London, Oct 26: Chelsea squad, who have opened a Rajesh (TN); Navin Kanna T U bt A trip to Manchester United has in three-point lead over Southampton Umashankar (Pondy); Sonkalan the past struck fear into the heart of at the top of the table. Bharathy (WB) lost to S Nitin (TN); B ‘United are still a very good side with many an opposition team, but that Kumaran bt Poojakanth (TN). will not apply to Chelsea on Sunday world-class players,’ the defender told Chess tourneyVishy Anand because they know history is on the club’s website (www.chelseafc. Action from the Southern RailwayChess Foundation will be conducting com). their side. SRM match in the SRM UniversityInternational FIDE rating chess Chennai District ‘A’ Division ‘Results haven’t really gone their The Londoners seem to have tournament for players rated below Volleyball League Championship the Indian sign over United at Old way so far but we’re still aware at 2000 from 1 to 4 November at MR in Chennai yesterday. Trafford, having lost only nine of 39 Old Trafford it’s a hostile atmosphere Matriculation Higher Secondary NT Bureau and they’ve got great support behind league matches there since 1966. School, Nerkundram here under Chennai, Oct 26: them. We’ll go there expecting them A 2-1 victory in 2010 went a long the aegis of Tamilnadu State Chess Southern Railway rallied past SRM way to sealing a third domestic title to be very good.’ Association and All India Chess in a close contest in the ongoing Mourinho will certainly have Chelsea Federation. in six years for the Stamford Bridge SRM University-Chennai District ‘A’ A press note said the total prize pool outt. They again silenced a 75,000 in the right mood to take on United, Chairman of Dhanalakshmi College of Engineering V P is Rs 1.5 lakh and the rst prize is Rs Division Volleyball League Championship crowd in May 2013 with a 1-0 triumph, according to Spain midelder Cesc 25,000 and there are 55 prizes to be 2014 at SDAT Multipurpose Jawaharlal Ramamurthi inaugurating the National Under-25 chess while last season’s clash ended in a Fabregas who has been a revelation won. Entry fee: Unrated players Rs Nehru Indoor Stadium here yesterday. tournament at the college premises on Saturday. since joining from Barcelona in the goalless stalemate. 1500, Rated upto 1600 is Rs 1300 Chelsea have won 14 of their last close season. Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and above 1600 is Rs 1000. Last date Southern Railway lost the rst two sets NT Bureau before mounting a superb comeback ‘The difference with him, from 39 visits to Old Trafford, also drawing Chennai, Oct 26: Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala and of entry is 28 October. Seeded players had a good start, Tamilnadu are taking part in the event. Entries should be sent by DD to post a 19-25, 21-25, 25-19, 26-24, 16 times, and Jose Mourinho’s men what I have experienced in the three Four International Masters -- Shyam favouring Vishy Anand Chess 15-12 win with Piraisudan (attacker) winning their games in the rst round appear well-placed to continue their or four months I’ve been here, is of the Dhanalakshmi College of Nikil, V A V Rajesh, Navin Kanna and Foundation payable at Chennai and Manu Joseph leading the way. how competitive he is,’ explained proud record this weekend. Engineering 23rd National Chess Nithin (all from Tamilnadu) are seeded t o : S e c r e t a r y , V i s h y A n a n d In other matches, ICF beat Indian Seventh-placed United have Fabregas. ‘He just wants to win, he Championship for Youth (under-25) from one to four. Chess Foundation, No.24, Janani Bank 25-21, 28-26, 20-25, 26-24 struggled to find form under new doesn’t let you relax. organised by Tamilnadu State Chess The chairman of Dhanalakshmi Complex, IIIrd Floor, MTH Road, with ‘When we are having meetings manager Louis van Gaal and do Association at the college campus College of Engineering V P Ramamurthi Thirumullaivoyal, Chennai- 600 062. Anand (attacker) and Deepak before the games, halftime talks, not look strong enough to mount a yesterday. inaugrated the championship. He Further details call A Saravanan (setter) playing well for the winning challenge for a record-extending 21st even after the games, he always A press note said a total of 78 at 9952021133 or Subbalakshmi at side; Income brushed aside SDAT has the right things to say. Not just top-ight crown. Players from various States including announced free boarding and lodging 9962497277 or visit www.tamilchess. 25-19, 25-22, 25-15 and Customs Captain John Terry, however, has that, the way he says it he makes Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, for all the players, managers and those com and www.aicf.in. got past St Joseph’s 25-17, 25Published K. Balakumar on behalf of accompanying News Today Media 600 032 and printed by him at Frontline Printers Private Ltd., M-7, Thiru-Vi-Ka Industrial Estate, Guindy, players.(P) Ltd., from 85, Mount Road (GST Road), Guindy, Chennai Odisha, by West Bengal, Manipur, sounded a note of caution to the everyone focused straight away. 19, 25-19). Chennai 600 032. Ph: 4202 1111. Editor: K. Balakumar. Phone: Editorial/Admn /Advt: 22504000, Fax: 2250 1800 (Editorial)/2250 1200/2250 0101 (Advt/Admn). e-mail: [email protected], Circulation: 4202 1111. Fax: 4212 0000. SUNDAY 26 OCTOBER 2014 Mixed Bag CHENNAI Guidelines for privatising airport operations Hyderabad, Oct 26 (PTI): The Centre is in the process of finalising guidelines for bringing operations and management of some airports under the Public-Private-Partnership model, Civil Aviation Secretary V Somasundaram has said. These operations are currently under control of Airports Authority of India. Somasundaram also said that the five airports selected to be developed under ‘no-frills airports’ category would be operational in the next two years. ‘That model (under PPP) is mainly developed for the metro cities. The remaining airports are not in metro area. These are in medium cities. For these airports we may need a revised model because we will not have the kind of volume which Mumbai, Delhi or Bangalore have. So we are working on that,’ Somasundaram said. ‘May be within a month we will come out (with the guidelines). It is in advanced stage. We need to change the guidelines for PPP model. Within a month we expect these (guidelines) to be finalised. Then they will call for RFQ,’ he told PTI during his recent visit to cyclone-hit Visakhapatnam. Earlier, the Congress-led UPA government had in September last year decided to allow private parties to pick up 100 per cent equity stake in operation and management of the six airports - Chennai, Kolkata, Guwahati, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Lucknow - through the public-private partnership (PPP) mode. The move was vehemently opposed by the airports’ unions, alleging that it would reduce the already shrinking revenue of the AAI due to the privatisation of country’s two busiest airports - Mumbai and Delhi. A Parliamentary panel had last year also opposed privatisation of government airports in the country. However, the present government has reportedly decided to keep airports at Chennai and Kolkata out of the PPP model as of now. Somasundaram said the present PPP model, developed during 2005 and 2008, is suitable for airports in metro cities. ‘Make in India’ is the focus Sweden India Nobel Memorial Week begins today New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI): The eighth edition of the Sweden India Nobel Memorial Week, which begins today has a special focus on this year’s Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi. Held in homage of Swedish philanthropist and innovator Alfred Nobel, the week is set to place across ten cities - Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune till November 1. Themed on Sweden Made in India: Co-creating the Future- the week is organised by the Swedish Embassy in India. I believe that ‘co-creating the future’ fits very well with the idea of innovation and ideas for the future.This year of course am particularly happy that Kailash Satyarthi has received the Nobel Peace Prize. Protection of the world’s children is absolutely central to the world co-creating its future,’ Sweden’s Ambassador H E Harald Coal unions to meet on 31 October A series of events have been planned during the week like seminar with Swedish and Indian delegates, lectures by two former Nobel Laureates, a Nobel memorial quiz for youth, an India-Sweden Innovation Accelerator seminar Sandberg told PTI. Sweden is one of the countries, which participated in the launch of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make in India campaign. Swedish companies like Ericsson, SAAB, SCA, Scania, Tetrapak and Volvo India have been present in India since more than 10 years. Today there are around 135 Swedish companies who directly employ almost 150,000 people. Sweden is very happy to be a part of ‘Make in India’ initiative by Prime Minister Modi. It sends a strong signal to the world and gives an impetus to trade and investments between our two countries, Sandberg said. A series of events have been planned during the week like seminar with Swedish and Indian delegates, lectures by two former Nobel Laureates, a Nobel memorial quiz for youth, an India-Sweden Innovation Accelerator seminar and many more,’ Sandberg said. Nobel laureate George Smoot, who was awarded the Prize in 2006 for Physics and Finn Kydland who was awarded in 2004 for Economics are set to lecture and attend seminars in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Pune. The finale of the Nobel Memorial quiz, is scheduled here on November 1 after preliminaries in 10 cities. According to sources, government might conduct the interview on November 18. The last date for application is October 29 and so far three candidates have sent their applications. These include R Mohan Das, Director-Personnel and Industrial Relations and N Kumar, Director-Technical from CIL and Gopal Singh, CMD of CIL subsidiary Central Coalfields. There is no information about any private sector applicant for the post. The CIL chairman’s post has been lying vacant since the retirement of S Narsing Rao in May and is currently managed by the Additional Secretary in the coal ministry A K Dubey. The Prime Minister’s Office has directed the coal ministry to set up a search-cum-selection committee to choose the candidate and carry out the appointment process through the Public Enterprise Selection Board (PSEB). LS seating plan to be finalised soon New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI): The long wait for the finalisation of the seating arrangement in Lok Sabha is expected to be over next month, almost six months after the constitution of the new House. ‘We expect the arrangement to be in place before the winter session,’ said an official at Parliament over the exercise which has dragged on following the declaration of the results of the 16th Lok Sabha polls on 16 May. A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs is scheduled tomorrow amid talk that it could decide on a month-long winter session beginning 24 November. Winter sessions generally end on 23 December or before. The new Lok Sabha does not have a Leader of the Opposition as the largest group in the Opposition side is the Congress which, however, has only 44 seats, the lowest-ever tally for a House which has got 543 members. The most sought-after seats inside the House are the front row ones, which are seen as being something of a status symbol among parliamentarians. As the main Opposition party in the previous Lok Sabha, BJP had five front row seats. But its strength of 114 MPs was substantially higher than what Congress has managed this time. Ever since Speaker Sumitra Mahajan held a meeting on the issue, the last few months have witnessed pulls and pressures among various political parties over the matter. Much debate and dispute have held up the arrangements so far. The front row in the semi-circular hall can accommodate 20 members, including the Deputy Speaker. The BJP-led NDA, which has a strength of 334 members in Lok Sabha, is entitled to 12 seats. Prime Minister Narendra Modi occupies the corner-most seat to the right of the Speaker. One of the reasons cited for the delay was that AIADMK, Trinamool Congress and Biju Janata Dal appear to be unwilling to have seats along with Congress. AIADMK, TMC and BJD have a total of 90 members. AIADMK has 37 MPs while BJD has 20 legislators. TMC has 33 MPs after one of its legislators passed away earlier this month. Modi to attend Maha govt swearing-in Mumbai, Oct 26 (PTI): Officials of the Protocol department in Mantralaya here are in a quandary over seating arrangement for Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he attends the swearing-in of the BJP government here later this week. ‘It is not common for the Prime Minister to attend swearing-in ceremony of state government and Protocol department is trying to figure a way out regarding seating arrangement for him,’ a senior BJP leader told PTI. ‘We suggested them that they should watch where PM sits during the swearing-in ceremony of Haryana government today and accordingly make seating arrangements here,’ he said. Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled States are also expected to attend the oath-taking ceremony, planned at the sprawling Wankhede stadium in south Mumbai. Union Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP’s central observer for election of the Legislature party leader, is expected to arrive here tomorrow and the election is likely to take place the next day, a top BJP leader said yesterday. Back channel talks were said to be on between BJP and estranged former ally Shiv Sena for forming a coalition government. Winners get an all-expense paid trip to Sweden where they will visit headquarters of global Swedish companies, Swedish universities and the Nobel Museum among other things. The first and second runner-up will get a chance to visit Swedish Aerospace giant, Saab’s stand at Aero India 2015. The sponsored trip will included a one day visit to Bangalore, travel, entry fee, lunch and guided tour of the Saab stand, the ambassador said. The Swedish Embassy in collaboration with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has put up an exhibition on the various Indian Nobel Laureates at the Rajiv Chowk Metro Station. Last year the embassy was delighted to celebrate the centenary of Rabindranath Tagore’s Nobel Prize in Literature with the primary focus on works and life of Tagore. This year it is going to be Kailash Satyarthi’s life story and his activism, Sandberg said. Mamallan Software unveils new product FULL BLOOM To express opposition to de-nationalisation Kolkata, Oct 26 (PTI): Steering committees of five central coal sector trade unions are meeting on October 31 for next course of action for proposed de-nationalisation of the sector. The steering committee of 5 CTUs will meet on October 31 at Ranchi to decide future course of action to combat the proposed gradual de-nationalisation of coal mines by way of allowing commercial mining by private sector, Indian National Mine Workers’ Federation SecretaryGeneral S Q Zama told PTI. He said under no circumstances the unions will compromise on allowing commercial mining by private sector which is nothing but de-nationalisation of coal sector. We will put our all strength and do whatever is needed, including long-term strikes, Zama said. He said that along with other matters he will also try to build a consensus on not allowing private sector executives for the race for the post of chairman. 7 After the rain stopped for a brief while in city, this vendor was seen coming out selling flowers at East Mugappair. NT Bureau Chennai, Oct 26: Mamallan Software India Private Limited has launched ‘The Derivo Business Rules Management system’, a software that allows one to create and run declarative business rules of the if-then format. The launch event was graced by Bollywood actress Riya Sen, the company’s brand ambassador. Addressing mediapersons here recently, Om Visvanathan, founder and CEO of Mamallan Software, said with ‘Derivo’ the company is making its entry into the business process management space. Going forward, Mamallan would continue to focus on this segment and make available new products. The new and improved Derivo business rules management software will be available only for pre-order as it is still under construction. Poor health systems in Asia cause for Ebola alarm Singapore, Oct 26 (AP): outbreak of the disease with a rapidly rising death toll in Guinea, Liberia The longer the Ebola outbreak and Sierra Leone. There have also rages in West Africa, the greater been cases in three other West Africhance a traveler infected with the can countries, Spain and the United virus touches down in an Asian city. States. How quickly any case is detected, Early symptoms of Ebola include and the measures taken once it is, fever, headache, body aches, cough, will determine whether the virus takes stomach pain, vomiting, and dihold in a region where billions live in arrhea, and patients aren’t contapoverty and public health systems gious until those begin. are often very weak. The virus requires close contact Governments are ramping up ‘This is a non-treatable with body fluids to spread so health response plans, stepping up surdisease with a very high care workers and family members veillance at airports and considering quarantine measures. mortality rate. And even caring for loved ones are most at risk. Still, health experts in the region’s less developed countries fear any a country like the United Asia, home to 60 per cent of the outbreak would be deadly and hard States has not been able to world’s population, scores higher to contain. than West Africa on most developcompletely prevent it’ ment indexes and includes emergThis is a non-treatable disease with ing or developed countries like a very high mortality rate. And even a country like the United States has not been able to Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan. completely prevent it, said Yatin Mehta, a critical care speBut countries like India, China the Philippines and Incialist at the Medanta Medicity hospital near New Delhi. donesia have vast numbers of poor, many of whom live The government is trying. They are preparing and they in crowded slums, and underfunded health systems. are training, but our record of disaster management has Sujatha Rao, a former Indian health secretary, said been very poor in the past.’ India’s health system kicked into overdrive when More than 10,000 people have been infected with Ebola confronted with a health crisis, as was seen during and nearly half of them have died, according to the World the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. ‘In India we’re very good at crisis management, but we are hopeless at routine Health Organization. The Ebola epidemic in West Africa is the largest ever care,’ Rao said. ‘IRDA favours lifting cap on agent fees’ Hopes for release of TN fishermen brighten per cent of business to the life insurMumbai, Oct 26 (PTI): agents more producance industry. But they do not find Sectoral regulator Irda is expected to suggest tive and help deepen their job attractive now with the 40 to a high-level panel that the new Insurance Bill insurance penetration, Kanyakumari, Oct 26 (PTI): per cent of first year premium as their remove the existing 40 per cent cap on agency which is only 3.2 per Hopes for the release of four fishermen from this coastal town commission, Life Insurance Council commission and leave agent licensing process cent now. and one from Kerala detained in Iran have brightened with the insecretary general V Manickam said. There were 21.5 lakh to insurers themselves. tervention of Indian embassy officials and support of the fishing Hence, the industry has been firm that employed them. Insurance Regulatory and Development Au- life insurance agents at demanding that the provisions Sasi Louis, Arokiam, Anthonis, Antony (all from Tamilnadu) and thority (IRDA) chairman T S Vijayan is slated to the end of the Septemgoverning licensing and commisThadeuse (Thiruvananthapuram), employed with a Qatar fishing firm, meet members ofParliamentary panel on Insur- ber quarter. In FY11, were detained by Iranian authorities on 22 September for allegedly sion in the Act must be transferred ance Law (Amendment) Bill here on Monday, t h e r e w e r e 2 6 l a k h , fishing in their territory. Together, they were later fined Rs 5.5 lakh. to Irda so that the regulator has which has been steadsaid a source. The senior officials in Indian embassies in Qatar and Iran have the flexibility to allow insurers to The Bill is likely to be tabled in the winter ily declining ever since made good efforts for the release of Indian fishermen,’ president, fix remuneration to their session. The regulator is likely to suggest that the commission was Tamilnadu Fishermen Development Trust, P Justin Antony told agents of their own,’ he added. the agent licensing process, which is currently capped at 40 per cent. PTI today. Since an agent can sell policies handled by Irda, be handed over to insurers. Since the beginning of Food, clothes and medicine have been provided to the fishermen, Currently, after training and examination, the this fiscal alone, there was a decline of 40,000 of only one company that one is associated he added. ‘The Deputy Chief of Mission in Iran has written to me agents from 21.9 lakh at the end of the last fiscal. with, there is no sense in not allowing an Irda grants licence to an agent. in this regard,’ he said. The decline started after Sebi banned life insurance company to issue licence to them, Also, the regulator wants the new law to let Initially, the owner of the fishing firm that employed the five fishinsurers from selling unit-linked insurance he added. insurers fi x the agency commission on their ermen had shown indifference in getting them released. The source said all the three Irda members and own. Currently, the law does not allow an insurer products in June 2010. The insurance indus‘Now, the firm is understood to have come forward to consider to pay more than 40 per cent of the first-year try has been demanding hiking agency fees few other senior officials will be present during paying the fine and get them released,’ Antony said. for long as it would help them organise their the interaction with the MP. The meeting is likely premium to the agents as commission. The familes of the fishermen and the aid organisation had appealed agency force better. to be attended by the house panel chairman and Sources the regulator of theofview that Published bysaid K. Balakumar on is behalf News Today Media (P) Ltd., from 85, Mount Road (GST Road), Guindy, Chennai 600 032 and printed by him at Frontline Printers Private Ltd., M-7, Thiru-Vi-Ka Industrial Estate, Guindy, to authorities and later Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, Agents are responsible for bringing in over 90 BJP MP Chandan Mitra. a flexible commission framework will make Chennai 600 032. Ph: 4202 1111. Editor: K. Balakumar. Phone: Editorial/Admn /Advt: 22504000, Fax: 2250 1800 (Editorial)/2250 1200/2250 0101 (Advt/Admn). e-mail: [email protected], Circulation: 4202 1111. Fax: 4212 0000. requesting intervention to ensure their release. 26 OCTOBER 2014 8 SUNDAY , CHENNAI Licensed to post without prepayment under WPP. No. TN / PMG / (CCR) / 470 / 12-14 Vadivelu’s next is Eli Vadivelu V Statue of actor Vijay Statue for Vijay F ans of actor Vijay have erected a statue for their hero at a theatre in Chennai. A grand function was held in which the statue was unveiled this morning. The actor’s Kaththi, directed by A R Murugadoss, was released on Deepavali day. The movie is reportedly doing good business at the box-office. Fans of the actor in the suburb have come together to erect a statue and they are celebrating the success of the Kaththi. Fans gathered in large numbers at Vettri Theatre in Chrompet where the statue was erected. —NT Bureau adivelu is set to begin shooting for his next film, which is titled Eli (rat). The film will be directed by Yuvaraj Dayalan, who had earlier directed the comedian in Tenaliraman. The shoot for this period film will commence from September. Says Vadivelu, ‘I am doing my next film also with Yuvaraj and the shoot will begin next month. The film will be set in the 1970s, which is when western culture started to influence Indians.’ Meanwhile, sources says, ‘The film is titled Eli because Vadivelu’s character will have the funny characteristics of a rat in the film and hence the title. The other cast and crew are yet to be finalised.’ — NT Bureau Yuvaraj Get, set, go for Rajini Murugan floors on 30 Octoajini Murugan will go on ame directs the film, ber. Ponram of VVS-f and Keerthi Suresh yan ike which has Sivakarth l compose music. Thirin the lead. Imman wil producer, confirmed the rupathi Brothers, the news on Twitter. an and Imman were Ponram, Sivakarthikey eceived Varuthapadatha earlier part of the well-r Valibar Sangam. pleted the shoot for Sivakarthikeyan has com a ys police officer. Taana in which he pla —NT Bureau R Sivakarthikeyan P Journey around Madurai orkuthirai is yet another film that is centred around Madurai. A period movie set in 1980s in Usilampatti, the film has been shot in Madurai and its surroundings. It portrays how love was divine in the year 1980s and how the family consisting of a brother, sister, mother and father are bonded, says a press release. Costumes, locations, songs and scenes of this film would carry the audience to the year 1980’s, says director Sri Prawin. ‘It is a movie is a war between an innocent and criminals. Chaithanya Krishnan, Chandini Tamilarasan, Nagineedu, Kavitha Srinivasan, Pankaj and Sanjay in the cast.’ The movie has music by Bharath V M and Nandhan. — NT Bureau RK and Poonam Kaur in Enn Vazhi Thani Vazhi RK ready for the act R K of Ellam Avan Seyal and Azhagarmalai-fame is ready with his film titled Enn Vazhi Thani Vazhi. The movie has music by Srikanth Deva. It is directed by Shaji Kailash (who made Ellam Avan Seyal). RK plays an encounter specialist in it. It is an action-thriller with an important message to the society. Srikanth Deva has come up with racy songs and background score, sources say. Actress Roja is playing a negative role in this flick, which has Seetha, Poonam Kaur, Meenakshi Dikshit and Madhan Bob, Ilavarasu and Radharavi in key roles. — NT Bureau I ndo Cine Appreciation Foundation in association with the Embassy of Mexico in India are organising Mexican Film Festival from 28 to 30 October at Russian Centre of Science & Culture, Kasturi Ranga Road, Chennai. The movies to be screened at the festival includes The Desert Within, My Mexican Shivah, Otilia Rauda, Open Heaven and The Mayor. The Mayor tells the story of Mauricio Fernandez, Mayor of the wealthiest municipality in Latin America located in the North of Mexico. He presents himself as a polemical figure who takes justice by his own hand in order to ‘clean’ his municipality of the drug cartels presence. A millionaire with a fortune valued at 800 million USD. He constructed his own palace with ceilings that he bought from William Randolph Hearst, the original Citizen Kane, and plagued the place with his own eccentric collections. —NT Bureau A still from Porkuthirai Pencil crew goes to Japan K alsan Movie’s maiden venture Pencil is fast nearing completion. A crew of 25 members is leaving for Japan along with actor and music director G V Prakash and actress Sridivya. Sources say a couple of peppy numbers will be shot in the Land of the Rising Sun. The songs Kangalile Kangalile Kadugalavu Therigirathe and Yaarai polum illaa neeyum, Ellaar polum ulla naanum are penned by Thamarai. Sheriff will do the choreography for songs. Directed by Mani Nagaraj, the movie has cinematography by Gopi Amarnath. T P Gajendran, Urvashi and Thirumurgan are also in the cast. —NT Bureau A still from Pencil Movies from Mexico Published by K. Balakumar on behalf of News Today Media (P) Ltd., from 85, Mount Road (GST Road), Guindy, Chennai 600 032 and printed by him at Frontline Printers Private Ltd., M-7, Thiru-Vi-Ka Industrial Estate, Guindy, Published by K. Balakumar on behalf of News Today Media (P) Ltd., from 85, Mount Road (GST Road), Guindy, Chennai 600 032 and printed by him at Frontline Printers Private Ltd., M-7, Thiru-Vi-Ka Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai 032. Ph:Ph: 4202 1111. Editor: K. Balakumar. Phone: Editorial/Admn /Advt: 22504000, Fax: 2250 1800 (Editorial)/2250 1200/2250 0101 (Advt/Admn). Chennai600 600 032. 4202 1111. Editor: K. Balakumar. Phone: Editorial/Admn /Advt: 22504000, Fax: 2250 1800 (Editorial)/2250 1200/2250 0101 (Advt/Admn).e-mail: e-mail:[email protected], [email protected], Circulation: Circulation: 4202 4202 1111. 1111. Fax: Fax: 4212 4212 0000. 0000.
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