Sumana Mukherjee
Forty-eight weeks left in the year, and that includes at least three weeks of vacation. Where will you holiday? Exclusive Top 10 extracts from Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2009 (formerly Lonely Planet Bluelist)—which lists 850 trends, destinations, journeys and experiences—narrow it down for you and tell you why these 30 destinations are must-visits.
TOP 10 COUNTRIES
• Algeria
Peace. For most Algerians, the simple pleasures the rest of us take for granted…feel like being able to breathe again.
• Bangladesh
A revelation that actually leaves India looking a little worse for wear.
• Canada
Winter or summer, Canada is a land of action, with an insane amount of terrain to play on.
• Georgia
A fascinating culture, a realm where the welcome is spontaneous, where the landscape is breathtaking, and where travel is still a challenge…
• Greenland
Out-of-this-world scenery, iceberg-filled fjords and mesmerising pure light…the experience is worth every penny.
• Kyrgyzstan
The country that your inner nomad has secretly been dreaming about all these years.
• Oman
The difference here is that the words of welcome, the spirit of religious tolerance, the preservation of the past…are the real deal.
• Peru
(Try) falling asleep in a hammock as you float away down the Amazon, waking up just in time to catch (the) dawn over the world’s second-longest river.
• Rwanda
The tough terrain will be nothing more than a distant memory once you find yourself face to face with a 200kg silverback.
• Sierra Leone
We know what you’re thinking. Blood Diamonds. Child soldiers. Summary amputations. But that was then…
TOP 10 REGIONS
• Basque country, France and Spain
It’s a country that’s so complicated its borders are marked on no maps.
• Bay of Fires, Tasmania, Australia
The secret edge of Tasmania, laid out like a pirate’s treasure map.
• The islands of Chiloé, Chile
This misty archipelago with splendid emerald curves is the distilled, 80-proof version of traditional Chile.
• Hawai’i (The Big Island), Hawaii
This oversized, “hang loose, brah” place has all the necessary tropical delights (plus lava-spewing volcanoes!), and it’s less crowded and less expensive.
• Ko Tao, Thailand
…tiny Tao sure knows how to pack it in—there’s something for everyone, and nothing is in moderation.
• Languedoc, France
Spiky interior versus coastal plain; deep chestnut forests against vast rolling vineyards; fisherfolk and shepherds…
• Nam Ha National Protected Area, Laos
Die-hard adventurers can tackle leeches and thigh-destroying slopes on a true jungle trek.
• San Andrés and Providencia, Colombia
Clamber up to the hammock swaying over the sea and soak it all in.
• Svalbard, Norway
“Cold coast” in Norwegian, this is Europe’s most northerly landmass and the planet’s northernmost permanently inhabited spot.
• Yunnan, China
Yunnan is China distilled into one superlative province and offers more variety than any other place in China. Period.
TOP 10 CITIES
• Antwerp, Belgium
There’s much more to this city than the world’s best variety of beer.
• Beirut, Lebanon
Despite its weakness for all that’s new and swanky, Beirut’s not entirely about the hottest, priciest and glitziest.
• Chicago, USA
If you want your finger on America’s pulse, don’t head to New York or LA. The heart beats in Chicago.
• Glasgow, Scotland
Forget about castles, kilts, bagpipes and tartan—you come to Glasgow for the cocktails, cuisine and designer chic (plus the legendary native wit).
• Lisbon, Portugal
While a lesser girl would have developed bags under her eyes after all this partying, Lisbon has simply become better with age.
• Mexico City, Mexico
Crossing the street in Mexico City plays out like a scene from Death Race 2000. No kidding.
• São Paulo, Brazil
Once typecast as the bad-boy city of crime and pollution, São Paulo has reinvented itself in recent years, emerging as Brazil’s cultural behemoth.
• Shanghai, China
Racy architecture, charming side streets and European verve meet the clamour and energy of the Chinese.
• Warsaw, Poland
Warsaw still has its work cut out to become a world-class capital…but any visitor willing to spend some time here will find its energy and vibe infectious.
• Zürich, Switzerland
This is one city that definitely changes its face after dark. That’s when the pinstripe brigade yields the streets to glam bar-hoppers and clubbers…
Jan 31, 2009
Fashion - Playing the field
A velvet jacket with Swarovski detailing, a double-breasted denim jacket, a corduroy mini skirt, a trendy knit tie, a pinstriped shirt, a neon green belt studded with diamantés and pink ballerinas. It’s not just the high street that’s street-smart. You can now hit Adidas, Puma, Reebok, Lacoste and Nike stores for fashion apparel and accessories.
Lacoste has a range of formal shirts and jackets for men and women, besides trousers, jeans and ties. The Nike Sportswear (NSW) range consists of sports-inspired fashion products with prints, embroidery and more than a little bit of bling. Shelves at Puma are lined with sunglasses, belts in neon colours with chunky crystal buckles, gold clutches, comic strip-printed handbags, ballerinas and metallic sneakers. Their sports lifestyle collection is not to be worn on the field, of course.
In fact, the brand’s strategy for the Indian market is to concentrate on sports lifestyle rather than hard-core sporting equipment. “It gives us an edge over other sports brands,” says Rajiv Mehta, managing director, Puma Sports India Pvt. Ltd. Internationally, the brand has tied up with designer Alexander McQueen for a fashion line.
Sportswear has made its way out of the gym bag and into the wardrobe, and there seem to be quite a few takers for the collaboration between fashion and sports. Actor Amrita Arora’s wardrobe is dominated by brands such as Adidas, Reebok, Lululemon Athletica and Juicy Couture. She isn’t a sports enthusiast and these clothes don’t make her look like one either. It’s the “sporty chic” look that she loves. Arora wears workout tops with jeans and heels for outings with friends. “They’re made for workouts, so they hold the body together and give you a good shape,” she says. She loves the sporty, colourful apparel by Lululemon Athletica, a Canadian brand. At filmi events, she’s been seen in Juicy Couture tracksuits, sometimes even pairing black track pants with a shirt and boots. “It’s comfortable and so cool,” she says.
If hip hop stars are the penultimate in cool, then Adidas has got the formula right with its line of apparel and accessories in association with musician Missy Elliot, called “Respect M.E.”. It has Elliot’s trademark style, with rap star bling. The line sells in Adidas Originals stores worldwide and in cities such as New Delhi, Chandigarh and Bangalore. “We launched the Originals lifestyle brand at the Munich Olympics in 1972, inspired by the sports stars of the time. The line caught on so well that shoes and apparel which were seen on the field in the 1970s are now seen in music videos, movies and on celebrities at clubs and rock shows,” says Tushar Goculdas, director, marketing and sales, Adidas India.
Actor Deepika Padukone likes to wear short dresses with metallic sneakers and hoodies with three-fourth trousers, while actor Malaika Arora Khan shares her sister’s love for tracksuits. Model Nina Manuel slips on her black Puma dress with orange and white boots from the Missy Elliot line to party with friends. Or she pairs shorts and stockings with a purple halter top from Puma. “If I’m going to a bar and don’t want to dress formally, these clothes are perfect,” she says.
Fashion labels are getting sportier too. Boss Hugo Boss launched its brand Boss Green in India last year to complement its Boss Black range of formal wear. “It’s a collection for those who do business at the golf course. They wanted a choice of luxury sportswear, which wasn’t available at all,” says Harish Chandra, brand manager, Boss Hugo Boss, India. The look is simple and informal with golf T-shirts, trousers, jerseys, jackets and shoes. “Those who earlier would wear blazers to after-work parties have now switched to golf wear,” he says.
Designer Narendra Kumar’s collections for men have always had a sporty edge but his collection for Spring/Summer 2009 at Lakme Fashion Week in October 2008, took it a step further. The entire line was inspired by sportswear with formal track pants, cropped cabin jackets and denims.
India first saw a fashion-sport tie-up in 2005 when Reebok was given a psychedelic makeover by designer Manish Arora, with shoes in bright colours such as orange, pink, red, blue and silver, topped with Swarovski and sequins and also activewear under the label Fish Fry for Reebok. “The concept of high fashion meeting mainstream everyday clothing is very exciting. My experience has been fantastic and gives me the chance to explore a very different market segment,” he says. According to Arora, this trend is very big in the West and will go the same way in India. “There is a big workout culture developing all over the country and this trend is really thriving on that,” he adds.
Designer Gaurav Gupta suggests wearing Arora’s bright shoes with a short jersey dress or shorts and stockings. Gupta’s latest collection also has sporty undercurrents with jersey drapes, sweatshirts and sequinned hoodies. But he warns that it’s not a look everyone can carry and should definitely not be overdone. His tip: Accessorize sportswear with gold/silver costume jewellery. Opt for metallic and patent leather in sports shoes, but try to avoid those outdated Converse sneakers.
The next time you’re shopping for a night out, you know where to look
Lacoste has a range of formal shirts and jackets for men and women, besides trousers, jeans and ties. The Nike Sportswear (NSW) range consists of sports-inspired fashion products with prints, embroidery and more than a little bit of bling. Shelves at Puma are lined with sunglasses, belts in neon colours with chunky crystal buckles, gold clutches, comic strip-printed handbags, ballerinas and metallic sneakers. Their sports lifestyle collection is not to be worn on the field, of course.
In fact, the brand’s strategy for the Indian market is to concentrate on sports lifestyle rather than hard-core sporting equipment. “It gives us an edge over other sports brands,” says Rajiv Mehta, managing director, Puma Sports India Pvt. Ltd. Internationally, the brand has tied up with designer Alexander McQueen for a fashion line.
Sportswear has made its way out of the gym bag and into the wardrobe, and there seem to be quite a few takers for the collaboration between fashion and sports. Actor Amrita Arora’s wardrobe is dominated by brands such as Adidas, Reebok, Lululemon Athletica and Juicy Couture. She isn’t a sports enthusiast and these clothes don’t make her look like one either. It’s the “sporty chic” look that she loves. Arora wears workout tops with jeans and heels for outings with friends. “They’re made for workouts, so they hold the body together and give you a good shape,” she says. She loves the sporty, colourful apparel by Lululemon Athletica, a Canadian brand. At filmi events, she’s been seen in Juicy Couture tracksuits, sometimes even pairing black track pants with a shirt and boots. “It’s comfortable and so cool,” she says.
If hip hop stars are the penultimate in cool, then Adidas has got the formula right with its line of apparel and accessories in association with musician Missy Elliot, called “Respect M.E.”. It has Elliot’s trademark style, with rap star bling. The line sells in Adidas Originals stores worldwide and in cities such as New Delhi, Chandigarh and Bangalore. “We launched the Originals lifestyle brand at the Munich Olympics in 1972, inspired by the sports stars of the time. The line caught on so well that shoes and apparel which were seen on the field in the 1970s are now seen in music videos, movies and on celebrities at clubs and rock shows,” says Tushar Goculdas, director, marketing and sales, Adidas India.
Actor Deepika Padukone likes to wear short dresses with metallic sneakers and hoodies with three-fourth trousers, while actor Malaika Arora Khan shares her sister’s love for tracksuits. Model Nina Manuel slips on her black Puma dress with orange and white boots from the Missy Elliot line to party with friends. Or she pairs shorts and stockings with a purple halter top from Puma. “If I’m going to a bar and don’t want to dress formally, these clothes are perfect,” she says.
Fashion labels are getting sportier too. Boss Hugo Boss launched its brand Boss Green in India last year to complement its Boss Black range of formal wear. “It’s a collection for those who do business at the golf course. They wanted a choice of luxury sportswear, which wasn’t available at all,” says Harish Chandra, brand manager, Boss Hugo Boss, India. The look is simple and informal with golf T-shirts, trousers, jerseys, jackets and shoes. “Those who earlier would wear blazers to after-work parties have now switched to golf wear,” he says.
Designer Narendra Kumar’s collections for men have always had a sporty edge but his collection for Spring/Summer 2009 at Lakme Fashion Week in October 2008, took it a step further. The entire line was inspired by sportswear with formal track pants, cropped cabin jackets and denims.
India first saw a fashion-sport tie-up in 2005 when Reebok was given a psychedelic makeover by designer Manish Arora, with shoes in bright colours such as orange, pink, red, blue and silver, topped with Swarovski and sequins and also activewear under the label Fish Fry for Reebok. “The concept of high fashion meeting mainstream everyday clothing is very exciting. My experience has been fantastic and gives me the chance to explore a very different market segment,” he says. According to Arora, this trend is very big in the West and will go the same way in India. “There is a big workout culture developing all over the country and this trend is really thriving on that,” he adds.
Designer Gaurav Gupta suggests wearing Arora’s bright shoes with a short jersey dress or shorts and stockings. Gupta’s latest collection also has sporty undercurrents with jersey drapes, sweatshirts and sequinned hoodies. But he warns that it’s not a look everyone can carry and should definitely not be overdone. His tip: Accessorize sportswear with gold/silver costume jewellery. Opt for metallic and patent leather in sports shoes, but try to avoid those outdated Converse sneakers.
The next time you’re shopping for a night out, you know where to look
Columnists - Vir Sanghvi;Does life after death exist?
It is now clear that the terrorists involved in the Mumbai attacks were fidayeen or suicide soldiers. They came to Mumbai certain that they would not go back and were happy to give up their lives for their jehadi cause.
What makes a man set out on a suicide mission? In some cases, it is desperation. The kamikaze pilots of World War II flew to their deaths in a last ditch effort to prevent Japan’s humiliating defeat. The Sri Lankan Tamils have often lost everything and see no purpose in continuing to live.
But the jehadi suicide attackers—the ones who attacked the World Trade Center and those who stormed Mumbai—are often men who face no particular deprivation and who do not emerge from desperate circumstances.
They do it for religion. They are told that if they die in the service of Islam, they will go to paradise where they will enjoy the favours of innumerable virgins (one good reason for any woman not to die a virgin, I guess) and other pleasures of the flesh.
The key to their motivation is the belief that what happens in this brief life doesn’t really matter. It is the hereafter that counts. So one’s actions in this life must be geared towards ensuring happiness in the next one.
It sounds odd and bizarre when placed in this context—heaven must be a truly dreadful place if all these suicide bombers land up there for their orgies—but it is a concept that most religions share.
In Christianity, actions in this life decide whether you go to heaven or hell. In Hinduism, the soul survives and is reborn, till it is finally freed of the endless cycle of life and death. Buddhism is also big on reincarnation. And so on.
So, take away the concept of life after death—whether in heaven, hell or another body—and most religions collapse. Because prophets cannot ensure justice in this bitterly unfair world, they promise it in the next.
Except: Is there another world? Is there really life after death? And crucially, is there any such thing as the soul, which exists independently of the body?
These are questions that have bedevilled philosophy, science and theology for centuries. The hard, mechanistic scientific view of existence is that our consciousness is contained in the 1.3kg bag of tissue and water that we call the brain. When the brain dies, so do we. Nothing survives.
If you take this view to its logical conclusion then human beings are no more than machines. Advanced, remarkably sophisticated machines, perhaps. But machines, nevertheless. Every action is the result of how our programming reacts to various inputs. If we are programmed (genetically perhaps) to be emotional then we will cry in a given situation. Others who are programmed to be less emotional will not cry in the same situation.
This is the current scientific consensus and it has huge implications for society. The basis of all morality—and therefore, of law—is that human beings have free will. When confronted with a situation, we can choose how to react. If you do something bad to me, it is within my power to decide whether to assault you/kill you/ shout at you/forget about it/forgive you/etc.
But if my reactions have already been determined by my programming, then I really have no free will at all. I will do whatever I am programmed to do. Of course, the programming is a mixture of genetics and conditioning and experiences so it evolves over time.
But here’s the thing: I have no choice in the matter.
Once you take away my free will, I have no responsibility for my actions. And if that is true, then morality collapses. How can you blame somebody for something he has no control over?
The free will vs determinism debate is nearly as old as moral philosophy itself but it has been sharpened over the last decade by advances in science. Neuroscientists are now convinced that there is no evidence of the mind (a great philosophical construct of the last two centuries) or of any consciousness independent of the brain. When the brain dies, so do we. No soul survives. Nobody gets to deflower virgins in paradise.
Many scientists and doctors are religious people and are unwilling to accept the proposition that there is no soul and therefore no afterlife and probably no God. They fall back on what are known as near-death experiences (NDE).
NDEs began to be talked about after Raymond Moody published his book Life After Life in 1975. Moody reported that people who had been declared clinically dead but then revived and brought back to life all reported the same phenomenon: a feeling of floating in the air, looking down at their bodies and drifting towards a tunnel of light, sometimes with Jesus in attendance.
These days, hospitals revive something like 15% of all cardiac arrest victims who have flatlined so we have many accounts of NDEs. And they are all remarkably similar if you allow for cultural variations: Hindus may see Ram rather than Jesus near the tunnel of light.
If these are accurate, then there is indeed life after death. More crucially, a human being is not just a machine. There is a consciousness—a soul, even—that survives physical death.
Put it another way: The scientific survival of religion and morality may well depend on the validity of NDEs.
The trouble is that all the NDE accounts are anecdotes. And many scientists say the phenomenon is one that occurs naturally when the brain is shutting down—it is all inside the patient’s head, not near a tunnel of light.
According to Brian Appleyard in The Sunday Times (London), a research team is now placing pictures near ceilings at hospitals. If NDE accounts are accurate and souls do float upwards, then those who are revived should be able to recall what was on the pictures.
It doesn’t sound like a perfect study. But it represents one interesting attempt by science to take NDEs seriously.
And to tell us whether suicide bombers are wasting their time
What makes a man set out on a suicide mission? In some cases, it is desperation. The kamikaze pilots of World War II flew to their deaths in a last ditch effort to prevent Japan’s humiliating defeat. The Sri Lankan Tamils have often lost everything and see no purpose in continuing to live.
But the jehadi suicide attackers—the ones who attacked the World Trade Center and those who stormed Mumbai—are often men who face no particular deprivation and who do not emerge from desperate circumstances.
They do it for religion. They are told that if they die in the service of Islam, they will go to paradise where they will enjoy the favours of innumerable virgins (one good reason for any woman not to die a virgin, I guess) and other pleasures of the flesh.
The key to their motivation is the belief that what happens in this brief life doesn’t really matter. It is the hereafter that counts. So one’s actions in this life must be geared towards ensuring happiness in the next one.
It sounds odd and bizarre when placed in this context—heaven must be a truly dreadful place if all these suicide bombers land up there for their orgies—but it is a concept that most religions share.
In Christianity, actions in this life decide whether you go to heaven or hell. In Hinduism, the soul survives and is reborn, till it is finally freed of the endless cycle of life and death. Buddhism is also big on reincarnation. And so on.
So, take away the concept of life after death—whether in heaven, hell or another body—and most religions collapse. Because prophets cannot ensure justice in this bitterly unfair world, they promise it in the next.
Except: Is there another world? Is there really life after death? And crucially, is there any such thing as the soul, which exists independently of the body?
These are questions that have bedevilled philosophy, science and theology for centuries. The hard, mechanistic scientific view of existence is that our consciousness is contained in the 1.3kg bag of tissue and water that we call the brain. When the brain dies, so do we. Nothing survives.
If you take this view to its logical conclusion then human beings are no more than machines. Advanced, remarkably sophisticated machines, perhaps. But machines, nevertheless. Every action is the result of how our programming reacts to various inputs. If we are programmed (genetically perhaps) to be emotional then we will cry in a given situation. Others who are programmed to be less emotional will not cry in the same situation.
This is the current scientific consensus and it has huge implications for society. The basis of all morality—and therefore, of law—is that human beings have free will. When confronted with a situation, we can choose how to react. If you do something bad to me, it is within my power to decide whether to assault you/kill you/ shout at you/forget about it/forgive you/etc.
But if my reactions have already been determined by my programming, then I really have no free will at all. I will do whatever I am programmed to do. Of course, the programming is a mixture of genetics and conditioning and experiences so it evolves over time.
But here’s the thing: I have no choice in the matter.
Once you take away my free will, I have no responsibility for my actions. And if that is true, then morality collapses. How can you blame somebody for something he has no control over?
The free will vs determinism debate is nearly as old as moral philosophy itself but it has been sharpened over the last decade by advances in science. Neuroscientists are now convinced that there is no evidence of the mind (a great philosophical construct of the last two centuries) or of any consciousness independent of the brain. When the brain dies, so do we. No soul survives. Nobody gets to deflower virgins in paradise.
Many scientists and doctors are religious people and are unwilling to accept the proposition that there is no soul and therefore no afterlife and probably no God. They fall back on what are known as near-death experiences (NDE).
NDEs began to be talked about after Raymond Moody published his book Life After Life in 1975. Moody reported that people who had been declared clinically dead but then revived and brought back to life all reported the same phenomenon: a feeling of floating in the air, looking down at their bodies and drifting towards a tunnel of light, sometimes with Jesus in attendance.
These days, hospitals revive something like 15% of all cardiac arrest victims who have flatlined so we have many accounts of NDEs. And they are all remarkably similar if you allow for cultural variations: Hindus may see Ram rather than Jesus near the tunnel of light.
If these are accurate, then there is indeed life after death. More crucially, a human being is not just a machine. There is a consciousness—a soul, even—that survives physical death.
Put it another way: The scientific survival of religion and morality may well depend on the validity of NDEs.
The trouble is that all the NDE accounts are anecdotes. And many scientists say the phenomenon is one that occurs naturally when the brain is shutting down—it is all inside the patient’s head, not near a tunnel of light.
According to Brian Appleyard in The Sunday Times (London), a research team is now placing pictures near ceilings at hospitals. If NDE accounts are accurate and souls do float upwards, then those who are revived should be able to recall what was on the pictures.
It doesn’t sound like a perfect study. But it represents one interesting attempt by science to take NDEs seriously.
And to tell us whether suicide bombers are wasting their time
Columnists - Vir Sanghvi;Let's celebrate quality
Few terms are as misused—and therefore, as meaningless—as luxury. Ask anybody in the so-called luxury business for a definition of luxury and you will see them grope for answers. Each year, at the Hindustan Times (HT) Luxury Conference, I ask executives of so-called luxury brands what luxury means to them and the answers are so vague and confusing that the term seems nearly devoid of all meaning these days.
And yet, on the other hand, it is not. Everywhere you go, they talk about luxury. And if the term was so meaningless, why do we have so many conferences devoted to it? Why do so many magazines claim to cater to the “luxury” segment? And why, in this century more than any other, is the word used in so many different contexts?
The short answer to all of those questions is that luxury does have a specific meaning. But it is a commercial meaning and one that luxury marketers are reluctant to share with the general public.
In business terms, luxury means “brand value”. Let’s take a specific example. Make two identical handbags at a cost of say, $50 (around Rs2,500) each. Given how retail mark-ups work, you should be able to sell them in the shops at say, $200 each
Now, put a famous designer label on one and leave the other unbranded. The unbranded bag will still find buyers at $200 but the designer bag will fly off the shelves at $600 (most top designer labels have mark-ups that ensure that a bag’s cost is around one-twelfth or one-fifteenth of the selling price).
In the commercial world, that’s called luxury: when you can flog something for a price vastly in excess of its manufacturing cost only because it has been branded.
You could argue that this is a definition of branding, not of luxury, but the truth is that luxury has simply become a matter of branding. At the very first HT Luxury Conference, I chaired a session with the head of one of the world’s leading “luxury” conglomerates. One of his labels had recently lost a charismatic designer, a man whose creative vision had been credited with turning the company around.
I asked the conglomerate boss if he missed that creative fire in the company. Why was it, I asked, that relatively few people had heard of the designer’s successors or had been given a chance to understand their philosophies of design. The executive—who had previously worked in the ice-cream business with great distinction—was clear. It was about the label, not the designer or his or her creative vision. It was the brand that had to ensure the premium. So forget all that stuff about quality, design, passion etc. Modern luxury was about the premium.
This philosophy has emerged out of the global prosperity of the last decade. Suddenly, people had more money than ever before. They wanted to trade up in every area of their lives. Some shifts were easy; if you previously travelled by train, you now flew; if you flew economy, you now flew club; if you had a small flat, you moved to a bigger one; if you lived in Dadar, you moved to Malabar Hill, etc.
But others were more complicated. If you wore glasses, then how were you to trade up? Well, you bought more expensive frames. They might not actually look much better or cost much more to make but if they had a designer label attached to them, then they were premium products (ironically, no designer makes his own spectacle range: they all license their names to industrial conglomerates which turn out glasses by the millions and then slap designer names on them).
Take the most notorious instance of the boom in bogus luxury, the designer handbag. It has now reached a stage where it is almost unthinkable for a middle class (let alone upper middle class) woman in much of the world to carry a bag that does not have a designer label of some sort. At the top end, bags are hideously overpriced (Rs3 lakh or more is not uncommon) but even entry-level bags sell at a huge mark-up.
What is luxurious about these bags? They are made in vast quantities (hundreds of thousands) in factories all over the world. They are easy to buy (unless you are in Tokyo where Louis Vuitton makes hapless customers line up to enter their shops—but then, the Japanese love that!) and sold in hundreds of cities.
Yet, when people talk about the luxury market, bags are always an important component. Estimates of how the luxury business is faring usually make reference to Louis Vuitton. And when we look at the profits of the luxury fashion houses, we find that the largest contributor to the bottom line is the accessory (i.e. handbags) segment.
If the global recession continues—and it’s a terrible thing to say but I think it will—then the mass-market kind of luxury where insecure people are required to pay vast premiums for labels is almost certain to shrink. This is not to say that somebody who carries a Prada bag will suddenly go downmarket, only that somebody who used to buy three new bags a year may now be content with only one in the new circumstances.
Figures suggest that retail sales are down this autumn and most luxury houses are scaling their profit forecasts down. The years of unbridled growth are clearly over.
So, is this the end of the luxury boom? Well, actually no. I think that the downturn offers an opportunity to pause and to reassess our attitudes to luxury. Branded luxury has become a gigantic confidence trick. So it’s time to move away from it and look for genuine luxury.
How you define genuine luxury depends on you. But here’s my definition. Genuine luxury must be about craftsmanship, about quality and about personal choice. Why wear Calvin Klein’s name on your bum when you can go out and find a pair of jeans that really flatters your figure, even if nobody has heard of the manufacturer? Why pay Rs3 lakh for a mass-produced handbag when you can get a traditional craftsman to make you a nice piece of jewellery for less than that? And the jewellery is sustainable luxury. It won’t be overtaken next year by a new trend.
Once you move away from the tyranny of labels, you find that you actually have much more money to spend. Almost everything you buy will cost one-third its designer equivalent. The money you save can now be spent on genuine luxury. I’ve written before about how appalled I am by Indians who buy factory-made men’s shoes for Rs60,000 and more when it is possible to get a traditional cobbler to hand stitch a bespoke pair of shoes for you for Rs4,000.
In my definition of luxury—because personal choice is such an important component—anything that has become the rage or is currently at the height of fashion is automatically excluded. To wear the same clothes as everybody else because you are told they’re fashionable is neither luxury nor a style statement. The only statement it does make is that you have no style of your own.
I always think that genuine luxury hotels are a good example of how luxury works. In the hotel business, the super deluxe hotels—the Four Seasons, the Mandarin Orientals, the Ritz Carltons, etc.—do not necessarily look very different, at least on the outside, from the Hyatts and the Sheratons. But the luxury is reflected in the service, in the sense of being pampered, in the attention to detail, in the planning of the room and in the quality of every single element and ingredient used in the hotel.
Kurt Wachtveitl, the legendary general manager of Bangkok’s Oriental hotel always says that genuine luxury is about dreams and possibilities. When he sells the Oriental, he doesn’t just sell the location or the history. He sells the dream of a place that is so luxurious that all things are possible and nothing is ever considered impossible.
How different is that from the mad rush to buy the latest car or the newest It bag? True luxury must involve people, it must flow from a craftsman’s talents, from an artist’s imagination, from a chef’s passion or from a hotelier’s vision. These days, alas, luxury is about spending large amounts of money to promote industrial products, about hyping the new collections in fashion magazines that survive on advertising and about creating a bogus snob value.
If the recession helps draw that era to a close, I will celebrate by dancing in the streets. Let’s tell the marketers and the conglomerates where to get off. Let’s celebrate quality, instead. Because that’s real luxury. And it is sustainable.
And yet, on the other hand, it is not. Everywhere you go, they talk about luxury. And if the term was so meaningless, why do we have so many conferences devoted to it? Why do so many magazines claim to cater to the “luxury” segment? And why, in this century more than any other, is the word used in so many different contexts?
The short answer to all of those questions is that luxury does have a specific meaning. But it is a commercial meaning and one that luxury marketers are reluctant to share with the general public.
In business terms, luxury means “brand value”. Let’s take a specific example. Make two identical handbags at a cost of say, $50 (around Rs2,500) each. Given how retail mark-ups work, you should be able to sell them in the shops at say, $200 each
Now, put a famous designer label on one and leave the other unbranded. The unbranded bag will still find buyers at $200 but the designer bag will fly off the shelves at $600 (most top designer labels have mark-ups that ensure that a bag’s cost is around one-twelfth or one-fifteenth of the selling price).
In the commercial world, that’s called luxury: when you can flog something for a price vastly in excess of its manufacturing cost only because it has been branded.
You could argue that this is a definition of branding, not of luxury, but the truth is that luxury has simply become a matter of branding. At the very first HT Luxury Conference, I chaired a session with the head of one of the world’s leading “luxury” conglomerates. One of his labels had recently lost a charismatic designer, a man whose creative vision had been credited with turning the company around.
I asked the conglomerate boss if he missed that creative fire in the company. Why was it, I asked, that relatively few people had heard of the designer’s successors or had been given a chance to understand their philosophies of design. The executive—who had previously worked in the ice-cream business with great distinction—was clear. It was about the label, not the designer or his or her creative vision. It was the brand that had to ensure the premium. So forget all that stuff about quality, design, passion etc. Modern luxury was about the premium.
This philosophy has emerged out of the global prosperity of the last decade. Suddenly, people had more money than ever before. They wanted to trade up in every area of their lives. Some shifts were easy; if you previously travelled by train, you now flew; if you flew economy, you now flew club; if you had a small flat, you moved to a bigger one; if you lived in Dadar, you moved to Malabar Hill, etc.
But others were more complicated. If you wore glasses, then how were you to trade up? Well, you bought more expensive frames. They might not actually look much better or cost much more to make but if they had a designer label attached to them, then they were premium products (ironically, no designer makes his own spectacle range: they all license their names to industrial conglomerates which turn out glasses by the millions and then slap designer names on them).
Take the most notorious instance of the boom in bogus luxury, the designer handbag. It has now reached a stage where it is almost unthinkable for a middle class (let alone upper middle class) woman in much of the world to carry a bag that does not have a designer label of some sort. At the top end, bags are hideously overpriced (Rs3 lakh or more is not uncommon) but even entry-level bags sell at a huge mark-up.
What is luxurious about these bags? They are made in vast quantities (hundreds of thousands) in factories all over the world. They are easy to buy (unless you are in Tokyo where Louis Vuitton makes hapless customers line up to enter their shops—but then, the Japanese love that!) and sold in hundreds of cities.
Yet, when people talk about the luxury market, bags are always an important component. Estimates of how the luxury business is faring usually make reference to Louis Vuitton. And when we look at the profits of the luxury fashion houses, we find that the largest contributor to the bottom line is the accessory (i.e. handbags) segment.
If the global recession continues—and it’s a terrible thing to say but I think it will—then the mass-market kind of luxury where insecure people are required to pay vast premiums for labels is almost certain to shrink. This is not to say that somebody who carries a Prada bag will suddenly go downmarket, only that somebody who used to buy three new bags a year may now be content with only one in the new circumstances.
Figures suggest that retail sales are down this autumn and most luxury houses are scaling their profit forecasts down. The years of unbridled growth are clearly over.
So, is this the end of the luxury boom? Well, actually no. I think that the downturn offers an opportunity to pause and to reassess our attitudes to luxury. Branded luxury has become a gigantic confidence trick. So it’s time to move away from it and look for genuine luxury.
How you define genuine luxury depends on you. But here’s my definition. Genuine luxury must be about craftsmanship, about quality and about personal choice. Why wear Calvin Klein’s name on your bum when you can go out and find a pair of jeans that really flatters your figure, even if nobody has heard of the manufacturer? Why pay Rs3 lakh for a mass-produced handbag when you can get a traditional craftsman to make you a nice piece of jewellery for less than that? And the jewellery is sustainable luxury. It won’t be overtaken next year by a new trend.
Once you move away from the tyranny of labels, you find that you actually have much more money to spend. Almost everything you buy will cost one-third its designer equivalent. The money you save can now be spent on genuine luxury. I’ve written before about how appalled I am by Indians who buy factory-made men’s shoes for Rs60,000 and more when it is possible to get a traditional cobbler to hand stitch a bespoke pair of shoes for you for Rs4,000.
In my definition of luxury—because personal choice is such an important component—anything that has become the rage or is currently at the height of fashion is automatically excluded. To wear the same clothes as everybody else because you are told they’re fashionable is neither luxury nor a style statement. The only statement it does make is that you have no style of your own.
I always think that genuine luxury hotels are a good example of how luxury works. In the hotel business, the super deluxe hotels—the Four Seasons, the Mandarin Orientals, the Ritz Carltons, etc.—do not necessarily look very different, at least on the outside, from the Hyatts and the Sheratons. But the luxury is reflected in the service, in the sense of being pampered, in the attention to detail, in the planning of the room and in the quality of every single element and ingredient used in the hotel.
Kurt Wachtveitl, the legendary general manager of Bangkok’s Oriental hotel always says that genuine luxury is about dreams and possibilities. When he sells the Oriental, he doesn’t just sell the location or the history. He sells the dream of a place that is so luxurious that all things are possible and nothing is ever considered impossible.
How different is that from the mad rush to buy the latest car or the newest It bag? True luxury must involve people, it must flow from a craftsman’s talents, from an artist’s imagination, from a chef’s passion or from a hotelier’s vision. These days, alas, luxury is about spending large amounts of money to promote industrial products, about hyping the new collections in fashion magazines that survive on advertising and about creating a bogus snob value.
If the recession helps draw that era to a close, I will celebrate by dancing in the streets. Let’s tell the marketers and the conglomerates where to get off. Let’s celebrate quality, instead. Because that’s real luxury. And it is sustainable.
Columnists - Vir Sanghvi;When the movie script rewrote the book
Can anybody explain to me just what the hell is going on with the collected works of Robert Ludlum? You remember Ludlum, of course? He’s the guy who churned out those very thick airport best-sellers in the late 1970s and the 1980s.
The books were notable for their titles: each included a proper noun followed by a simple one. Thus we had The Chancellor Manuscript, The Matarese Circle, The Holcroft Covenant and more including, most famously, The Bourne Identity.
I used to read Ludlum in the 1980s. The books were page-turners. He had a certain flair for describing action. And the novels made long-haul flights more bearable.
But never did I think that Ludlum would be remembered. The basic problem was that all his plots were remarkably similar. It always came down to a shadowy secret group of villains who put our hero (and though the heroes changed with each book, they were all cut from the same cloth) in danger so grave that it took him 500 pages to escape.
And yet, seven years after Ludlum died, the industry lives on. There are faux-Ludlum novels, licensed by his estate, written by such authors as Erik Van Lustbader. There are new editions of the books that Ludlum did actually write himself. Two new movies, one starring Denzel Washington and the other with Leonardo DiCaprio, are under production.
And last month, the Ludlum estate sold the movie rights for the entire catalogue to Universal Pictures for a figure that is officially undisclosed but could work out to hundreds of millions of dollars over the years.
What is going on? How did this master of the chunky airport best-seller turn into such a hot property years after he died?
You probably know the answer.
Jason Bourne.
I remember The Bourne Identity when it first came out. Even Time magazine which, in common with the rest of the media, had been scornful of Ludlum’s output, had to concede that this was a better book than most.
The plot was inventive (by Ludlum standards, at least). A fishing vessel pulls a man out of the water. He is wounded and has lost his memory. All he has is a number tattooed on to his body.
The rest of the novel consisted of the wounded man’s efforts to find out his real identity (hence, the title) and to discover who had shot him. At first, it seems that he is called Jason Bourne. But this turns out to be an alias. He is actually an assassin assigned by the US government to find the terrorist known as Carlos the Jackal.
When the book was written, Carlos was still at large, so we knew that Bourne would not kill him in the end. But it was daring for somebody as firmly rooted in conspiracy fantasy as Ludlum to actually include a real-life character in one of his books. Being Ludlum, he turned this into a bit of a conspiracy as well. It is suggested that Carlos lives in Paris under a secret identity and Bourne tries to work out who he really is.
The Bourne Identity sold well and a few years later, Ludlum broke with precedent to use the character in a second novel. When that was also a best-seller, he wrote a third Bourne novel.
Hollywood had never been as keen on Ludlum as it was on say, Frederick Forsythe so The Bourne Identity did not became a movie. Instead, it became a TV mini-series with Richard Chamberlain (a journeyman actor whose finest moment came in the 1960s as Dr Kildare on TV) which met with some success at the time but which is largely forgotten now (I can’t even find it on DVD).
Then, for decades: nothing. Ludlum collaborated on a TV show and wrote a few more books but it was generally agreed that his moment had passed.
In 2000, I read that The Bourne Identity was being made into a movie. I was intrigued. Why would anybody dredge up that old novel? The world had changed immeasurably in the two decades since the book came out. For one, there was no Carlos any longer. A French undercover team had invaded his West Asian hideaway and captured him. He was now lodged in a Paris jail. And no, he had never had a secret identity and lived undercover as Ludlum had posited.
Then, the movie came out (Ludlum died while it was being filmed) and I was startled by how different it was from the book. Only the basic plot outline (the amnesia) remained and there was no mention of Carlos and there were no secret societies. Even Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne was nothing like the character Ludlum had described. In effect, they had reinvented the whole franchise while keeping its name.
The Bourne Identity did record business and Damon came on board for two more movies (there were three Ludlum Bourne books) though they switched directors to the edgier and more politically left-wing Paul Greengrass.
The second film (The Bourne Supremacy) had nothing to do with the book at all, and nor did the third (The Bourne Ultimatum). The details of Jason Bourne’s life (his wife, for instance, who appears in the books) were completely altered.
But it worked. It may not have been Ludlum’s Jason Bourne up there on the screen but the movie rewrote the rules for screen action. Even the producers of the James Bond series replaced the suave Pierce Brosnan with the edgier Daniel Craig in an effort to be more Bourne-like. It was not lost on them that the three Bourne films made over a billion dollars—much more than the last three Brosnan-Bond movies.
Which brings us back to the Robert Ludlum revival. Given the size of the deal that the estate has struck with Universal, we are going to be bombarded with Ludlum movies over the next few years.
But here’s my question: Will they really be based on the books? Because if they are, they’ll seem dated and flop. On the other hand, if they are completely rewritten (as the Bourne films were), then why bother to buy the books?
I guess we’ll find out.
The books were notable for their titles: each included a proper noun followed by a simple one. Thus we had The Chancellor Manuscript, The Matarese Circle, The Holcroft Covenant and more including, most famously, The Bourne Identity.
I used to read Ludlum in the 1980s. The books were page-turners. He had a certain flair for describing action. And the novels made long-haul flights more bearable.
But never did I think that Ludlum would be remembered. The basic problem was that all his plots were remarkably similar. It always came down to a shadowy secret group of villains who put our hero (and though the heroes changed with each book, they were all cut from the same cloth) in danger so grave that it took him 500 pages to escape.
And yet, seven years after Ludlum died, the industry lives on. There are faux-Ludlum novels, licensed by his estate, written by such authors as Erik Van Lustbader. There are new editions of the books that Ludlum did actually write himself. Two new movies, one starring Denzel Washington and the other with Leonardo DiCaprio, are under production.
And last month, the Ludlum estate sold the movie rights for the entire catalogue to Universal Pictures for a figure that is officially undisclosed but could work out to hundreds of millions of dollars over the years.
What is going on? How did this master of the chunky airport best-seller turn into such a hot property years after he died?
You probably know the answer.
Jason Bourne.
I remember The Bourne Identity when it first came out. Even Time magazine which, in common with the rest of the media, had been scornful of Ludlum’s output, had to concede that this was a better book than most.
The plot was inventive (by Ludlum standards, at least). A fishing vessel pulls a man out of the water. He is wounded and has lost his memory. All he has is a number tattooed on to his body.
The rest of the novel consisted of the wounded man’s efforts to find out his real identity (hence, the title) and to discover who had shot him. At first, it seems that he is called Jason Bourne. But this turns out to be an alias. He is actually an assassin assigned by the US government to find the terrorist known as Carlos the Jackal.
When the book was written, Carlos was still at large, so we knew that Bourne would not kill him in the end. But it was daring for somebody as firmly rooted in conspiracy fantasy as Ludlum to actually include a real-life character in one of his books. Being Ludlum, he turned this into a bit of a conspiracy as well. It is suggested that Carlos lives in Paris under a secret identity and Bourne tries to work out who he really is.
The Bourne Identity sold well and a few years later, Ludlum broke with precedent to use the character in a second novel. When that was also a best-seller, he wrote a third Bourne novel.
Hollywood had never been as keen on Ludlum as it was on say, Frederick Forsythe so The Bourne Identity did not became a movie. Instead, it became a TV mini-series with Richard Chamberlain (a journeyman actor whose finest moment came in the 1960s as Dr Kildare on TV) which met with some success at the time but which is largely forgotten now (I can’t even find it on DVD).
Then, for decades: nothing. Ludlum collaborated on a TV show and wrote a few more books but it was generally agreed that his moment had passed.
In 2000, I read that The Bourne Identity was being made into a movie. I was intrigued. Why would anybody dredge up that old novel? The world had changed immeasurably in the two decades since the book came out. For one, there was no Carlos any longer. A French undercover team had invaded his West Asian hideaway and captured him. He was now lodged in a Paris jail. And no, he had never had a secret identity and lived undercover as Ludlum had posited.
Then, the movie came out (Ludlum died while it was being filmed) and I was startled by how different it was from the book. Only the basic plot outline (the amnesia) remained and there was no mention of Carlos and there were no secret societies. Even Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne was nothing like the character Ludlum had described. In effect, they had reinvented the whole franchise while keeping its name.
The Bourne Identity did record business and Damon came on board for two more movies (there were three Ludlum Bourne books) though they switched directors to the edgier and more politically left-wing Paul Greengrass.
The second film (The Bourne Supremacy) had nothing to do with the book at all, and nor did the third (The Bourne Ultimatum). The details of Jason Bourne’s life (his wife, for instance, who appears in the books) were completely altered.
But it worked. It may not have been Ludlum’s Jason Bourne up there on the screen but the movie rewrote the rules for screen action. Even the producers of the James Bond series replaced the suave Pierce Brosnan with the edgier Daniel Craig in an effort to be more Bourne-like. It was not lost on them that the three Bourne films made over a billion dollars—much more than the last three Brosnan-Bond movies.
Which brings us back to the Robert Ludlum revival. Given the size of the deal that the estate has struck with Universal, we are going to be bombarded with Ludlum movies over the next few years.
But here’s my question: Will they really be based on the books? Because if they are, they’ll seem dated and flop. On the other hand, if they are completely rewritten (as the Bourne films were), then why bother to buy the books?
I guess we’ll find out.
Columnists - Vir Sanghvi;The elusive clout of media barons
I ran into Rajat Sharma, anchor and effective proprietor of India TV, the other night. Rajat is one of the pioneers of Hindi news journalism but when he started his own channel a few years ago, he found that the going was tough. At one stage, he said, the situation was so desperate that the channel had no money to pay salaries and he and his wife had to dispose of personal assets to pay his staff.
India TV is now doing well—it is currently the No. 1 Hindi news channel in the country—and the profits are rolling in. But Rajat says that he is astonished by the enthusiasm of some new entrants in an industry where it is so difficult to make any money at all—and so easy to go bust.
He says that he keeps running into people who say they want to enter the media or start a TV news channel because they believe it will give them clout and influence. He has told them that it is a hard, largely unprofitable grind and that all talk of media clout is rubbish. He runs a successful channel but he does not believe that his clout has increased because of India TV. Nor does he believe that anybody who owns a TV channel has gained in influence because of the channel.
I thought about what he had said and decided he was probably right. There has never been any shortage of rich people who are dying to enter the media because they believe that ownership of a newspaper or a channel gives them power and influence.
And yet, it is hard to think of anybody who has become powerful on the basis of media ownership. On the other hand, I can think of many rich people who have been burnt by their enthusiasm for the media. In the 1980s, Vijaypat Singhania started The Indian Post, a Bombay newspaper. Not only did it make no difference to the clout of the JK empire, but it actually backfired on Vijaypat. Satish Sharma, who was then a powerful man, blamed him for every negative article that appeared and forced him to sack his editor. Eventually, the newspaper closed down.
In the 1990s, the late L.M. Thapar’s passion for newspapers led him to make vast investments in The Pioneer, which launched a much-feted Delhi edition. Not only did the paper fail to make any money but it did nothing for Thapar’s clout. Eventually, the Thapars sold it to Chandan Mitra who is doing a much better job of running it.
Most celebrated of all is the case of Dhirubhai Ambani who bought the Sunday Observer from Ashwin Shah of Jaico and launched a daily paper called The Business and Political Observer. The Sunday Observer was successful in its Jaico avatar but it never worked as an Ambani operation. The daily paper was an embarrassment and far from adding to Reliance’s clout, it actually became a liability for the Ambanis.
In recent times, the focus has shifted to television. Many industrialists believe that ownership of a TV channel will ensure that ministers and bureaucrats will kowtow to them. In fact, not one businessman has been able to launch a top-class channel no matter how much money has been blown up. In the days when Subroto Roy was flush with funds he imagined that his Sahara TV empire would top the ratings because of the vast amounts he spent on programming. In fact, the channels never did particularly well. And when Sahara’s fortunes changed after the fall of the NDA government, the so-called clout of the TV empire was shown to be illusory as Roy struggled with adversity.
My sense is that ownership of a TV channel can actually be a problem, rather than an advantage. For many years, I was associated with the Star TV network. At the time, Star had a terrific news channel and for part of this period, the No. 1 entertainment channel. But I never had the sense that Star had any clout at all. Every minister and bureaucrat would push Star around. One chief executive was threatened with legal action and possible imprisonment. Licences were routinely denied. Uplinking was always a problem. And the government acted as though Star should be grateful for being allowed to exist at all.
Nothing has changed since those days. At the fringes of the Hindi news market are many small TV channels, some of them backed by medium-sized businessmen in search of influence. My guess is that most of these channels will not survive the current slowdown. But even while they exist, it is hard to see what they have done for the clout of their owners.
You could argue that this is only true of new entrants and that the existing media houses have vast influence. But even this is dubious. Everybody who is anybody in Delhi political circles reads The Indian Express. Nevertheless, the Express’ Delhi offices were sealed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for reasons that most people regarded as flimsy. The clout of the media made no difference.
Or take an even better example. The most important media house in the country today is Bennett, Coleman and Co., owner of The Times of India, Economic Times etc. But, in the mid to late 1990s, all of The Times of India’s influence could not prevent the needless harassment of Ashok Jain, head of the family that owned Bennett. We know now that at least one of the officials who persecuted Jain was a crook because he was later arrested on corruption charges. But no matter how much the Times protested, Enforcement Directorate officials hounded Jain almost to his death.
If the Times cannot use its own clout to defend its owner, then what sense does it make to talk of the power of media barons?
So why do rich people get attracted to the media? It’s the glamour, I think. It’s the same syndrome that causes businessmen to invest in Bollywood films. They think that some of the glamour will rub off on them. In fact, it is their wealth that rubs off on Bollywood’s glamorous people.
So it is with the media. Believe the hype about power and clout and you will end up poorer and still entirely without influence.
India TV is now doing well—it is currently the No. 1 Hindi news channel in the country—and the profits are rolling in. But Rajat says that he is astonished by the enthusiasm of some new entrants in an industry where it is so difficult to make any money at all—and so easy to go bust.
He says that he keeps running into people who say they want to enter the media or start a TV news channel because they believe it will give them clout and influence. He has told them that it is a hard, largely unprofitable grind and that all talk of media clout is rubbish. He runs a successful channel but he does not believe that his clout has increased because of India TV. Nor does he believe that anybody who owns a TV channel has gained in influence because of the channel.
I thought about what he had said and decided he was probably right. There has never been any shortage of rich people who are dying to enter the media because they believe that ownership of a newspaper or a channel gives them power and influence.
And yet, it is hard to think of anybody who has become powerful on the basis of media ownership. On the other hand, I can think of many rich people who have been burnt by their enthusiasm for the media. In the 1980s, Vijaypat Singhania started The Indian Post, a Bombay newspaper. Not only did it make no difference to the clout of the JK empire, but it actually backfired on Vijaypat. Satish Sharma, who was then a powerful man, blamed him for every negative article that appeared and forced him to sack his editor. Eventually, the newspaper closed down.
In the 1990s, the late L.M. Thapar’s passion for newspapers led him to make vast investments in The Pioneer, which launched a much-feted Delhi edition. Not only did the paper fail to make any money but it did nothing for Thapar’s clout. Eventually, the Thapars sold it to Chandan Mitra who is doing a much better job of running it.
Most celebrated of all is the case of Dhirubhai Ambani who bought the Sunday Observer from Ashwin Shah of Jaico and launched a daily paper called The Business and Political Observer. The Sunday Observer was successful in its Jaico avatar but it never worked as an Ambani operation. The daily paper was an embarrassment and far from adding to Reliance’s clout, it actually became a liability for the Ambanis.
In recent times, the focus has shifted to television. Many industrialists believe that ownership of a TV channel will ensure that ministers and bureaucrats will kowtow to them. In fact, not one businessman has been able to launch a top-class channel no matter how much money has been blown up. In the days when Subroto Roy was flush with funds he imagined that his Sahara TV empire would top the ratings because of the vast amounts he spent on programming. In fact, the channels never did particularly well. And when Sahara’s fortunes changed after the fall of the NDA government, the so-called clout of the TV empire was shown to be illusory as Roy struggled with adversity.
My sense is that ownership of a TV channel can actually be a problem, rather than an advantage. For many years, I was associated with the Star TV network. At the time, Star had a terrific news channel and for part of this period, the No. 1 entertainment channel. But I never had the sense that Star had any clout at all. Every minister and bureaucrat would push Star around. One chief executive was threatened with legal action and possible imprisonment. Licences were routinely denied. Uplinking was always a problem. And the government acted as though Star should be grateful for being allowed to exist at all.
Nothing has changed since those days. At the fringes of the Hindi news market are many small TV channels, some of them backed by medium-sized businessmen in search of influence. My guess is that most of these channels will not survive the current slowdown. But even while they exist, it is hard to see what they have done for the clout of their owners.
You could argue that this is only true of new entrants and that the existing media houses have vast influence. But even this is dubious. Everybody who is anybody in Delhi political circles reads The Indian Express. Nevertheless, the Express’ Delhi offices were sealed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for reasons that most people regarded as flimsy. The clout of the media made no difference.
Or take an even better example. The most important media house in the country today is Bennett, Coleman and Co., owner of The Times of India, Economic Times etc. But, in the mid to late 1990s, all of The Times of India’s influence could not prevent the needless harassment of Ashok Jain, head of the family that owned Bennett. We know now that at least one of the officials who persecuted Jain was a crook because he was later arrested on corruption charges. But no matter how much the Times protested, Enforcement Directorate officials hounded Jain almost to his death.
If the Times cannot use its own clout to defend its owner, then what sense does it make to talk of the power of media barons?
So why do rich people get attracted to the media? It’s the glamour, I think. It’s the same syndrome that causes businessmen to invest in Bollywood films. They think that some of the glamour will rub off on them. In fact, it is their wealth that rubs off on Bollywood’s glamorous people.
So it is with the media. Believe the hype about power and clout and you will end up poorer and still entirely without influence.
Columnists - Vir Sanghvi;In the spy hall of fame, who’s the master mole?
What is the most popular and often-used term in the English language to be invented by a popular novelist? You could go for Big Brother but I’m not sure we would call George Orwell a popular novelist.
My vote would go to “mole”, used not in the sense of “small animal” but as in a spy who buries himself deep within the bowels of a competing intelligence service, often rising to the top, all the while continuing to provide information to his own side.
The word is used so often now that we forget that it is of relatively recent vintage. It made its first appearance in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, a classic Cold War best-seller about treachery and double-dealing at Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service (SIS or MI6), that John le Carré published in the mid-1970s.
Tinker Tailor old the story of a hunt to find a mole within the SIS and was clearly inspired by the turmoil that accompanied the unmasking of Kim Philby as a Russian spy in the 1960s. But such was the appropriateness of the term “mole” that it is now regularly used in a variety of contexts (not all of them spying-related) by people who’ve never heard of Tinker Tailor or even, of John le Carré.
Le Carré is still around over three decades after Tinker Tailor (his new book, A Most Wanted Man, came out last year to rave reviews), while such best-selling contemporaries as Len Deighton have faded. But his real legacy to the world may not lie in his body of fiction but in his appropriation of “mole” from the animal kingdom for its current usage as “deeply-burrowed enemy operative”.
But of course, le Carré deserves to be remembered for more than that. When his first best-seller The Spy Who Came in from the Cold appeared in 1963, its tortured hero Alec Leamas was portrayed in the popular press as a counterpoint to Ian Fleming’s James Bond. While Bond was a hard-drinking, chain-smoking, womanizing action hero, Leamas was the cerebral, tortured spy.
In fact, the parallels were bogus. Leamas was not meant to be a hero or a recurring character, unlike Bond. Reviewers missed the real similarities between Fleming and le Carré. Both were upper middle class public school boys who had served in British intelligence and both took to writing as a sideline.
But there, the parallels ended. Fleming had only served with naval intelligence during World War II and Bond was a representation of his own high-living, womanizing fantasies. Le Carré, on the other hand, worked for SIS in the 1950s and early 1960s and was still a serving spy when he began writing thrillers. Consequently, he did not use his real name (David Cornwell) and had to submit manuscripts to SIS for vetting.
Fleming set out to create a franchise and looked for TV and movie deals right from the time that Casino Royale, the first Bond book, was published. Le Carré wrote novels, informed by his own experience (A Murder of Quality, about the death of a schoolboy, emerged from his brief stint as a teacher at Eton), and portrayed the real world as he saw it: dark, depressing and downright cynical. In Fleming’s books, the Brits and the Americans were the good guys and the Russians were the villains. In le Carré’s books, both sides were as cynical and ruthless.
Against the odds though and almost by accident, le Carré did create a franchise. George Smiley, the spymaster with a congenitally unfaithful wife, was the star of A Murder of Quality and made a brief appearance in The Spy Who Came in. In le Carré’s original description, he was a squat, toad-like man who rarely ventured into the action-packed frontline but served as a backroom boy.
Smiley should have remained a minor character but le Carré put him at the centre of Tinker Tailor. When that novel became his biggest best-seller, he brought Smiley back for The Honourable Schoolboy and then, for Smiley’s People. Even as these books began to reach a wider audience, British TV turned Tinker Tailor into a brilliant mini series with Alec Guinness as Smiley.
The series was such a hit and Guinness—who looked little like le Carré’s original unflattering description of Smiley—was so good in the role that George Smiley soon came to be regarded as one of the great creations of spy fiction.
I loved le Carré’s work till about the late 1980s, but then, perhaps because the Cold War was ending, began to lose interest in the books. Le Carré himself took the brave decision to leave Smiley alone (“He belonged to his time and his time is over”) at least partly because he said that each time he tried to visualize his best-known creation, he did not see his Smiley but Alec Guinness (surely the greatest compliment an actor can receive from an author!).
I have not kept up with the recent stuff though it has sold very well and many of the recent books have been turned into big-budget movies. I did feel I was on le Carré’s side though when he got into a public feud with Salman Rushdie, who sneered that le Carré’s books had no right to be regarded as serious fiction, the traditional lament of the celebrated author with poor sales when confronted with the best-selling status of another’s books.
More recently, I’ve admired le Carré for his political stands. He reckoned that America under George W. Bush had lost its way and that its military and intelligence services had run amok. He was not anti-American, he said, just as everybody who opposed the Nazis was not necessarily anti-German.
If you haven’t read le Carré, you should. All popular fiction of the second half of the 20th century—and especially the spy thriller genre—has been heavily influenced by his books and I would argue that his impact vastly exceeds Fleming’s. For American versions, try Charles McCarry or Robert Littell, both of whom inhabit a le Carré-like world in their books.
Start with Tinker Tailor, move on to The Honourable Schoolboy and then read Smiley’s People. That trilogy should be enough to get you hooked. Or if you want the easy way in, watch the DVD of Tinker Tailor.
My vote would go to “mole”, used not in the sense of “small animal” but as in a spy who buries himself deep within the bowels of a competing intelligence service, often rising to the top, all the while continuing to provide information to his own side.
The word is used so often now that we forget that it is of relatively recent vintage. It made its first appearance in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, a classic Cold War best-seller about treachery and double-dealing at Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service (SIS or MI6), that John le Carré published in the mid-1970s.
Tinker Tailor old the story of a hunt to find a mole within the SIS and was clearly inspired by the turmoil that accompanied the unmasking of Kim Philby as a Russian spy in the 1960s. But such was the appropriateness of the term “mole” that it is now regularly used in a variety of contexts (not all of them spying-related) by people who’ve never heard of Tinker Tailor or even, of John le Carré.
Le Carré is still around over three decades after Tinker Tailor (his new book, A Most Wanted Man, came out last year to rave reviews), while such best-selling contemporaries as Len Deighton have faded. But his real legacy to the world may not lie in his body of fiction but in his appropriation of “mole” from the animal kingdom for its current usage as “deeply-burrowed enemy operative”.
But of course, le Carré deserves to be remembered for more than that. When his first best-seller The Spy Who Came in from the Cold appeared in 1963, its tortured hero Alec Leamas was portrayed in the popular press as a counterpoint to Ian Fleming’s James Bond. While Bond was a hard-drinking, chain-smoking, womanizing action hero, Leamas was the cerebral, tortured spy.
In fact, the parallels were bogus. Leamas was not meant to be a hero or a recurring character, unlike Bond. Reviewers missed the real similarities between Fleming and le Carré. Both were upper middle class public school boys who had served in British intelligence and both took to writing as a sideline.
But there, the parallels ended. Fleming had only served with naval intelligence during World War II and Bond was a representation of his own high-living, womanizing fantasies. Le Carré, on the other hand, worked for SIS in the 1950s and early 1960s and was still a serving spy when he began writing thrillers. Consequently, he did not use his real name (David Cornwell) and had to submit manuscripts to SIS for vetting.
Fleming set out to create a franchise and looked for TV and movie deals right from the time that Casino Royale, the first Bond book, was published. Le Carré wrote novels, informed by his own experience (A Murder of Quality, about the death of a schoolboy, emerged from his brief stint as a teacher at Eton), and portrayed the real world as he saw it: dark, depressing and downright cynical. In Fleming’s books, the Brits and the Americans were the good guys and the Russians were the villains. In le Carré’s books, both sides were as cynical and ruthless.
Against the odds though and almost by accident, le Carré did create a franchise. George Smiley, the spymaster with a congenitally unfaithful wife, was the star of A Murder of Quality and made a brief appearance in The Spy Who Came in. In le Carré’s original description, he was a squat, toad-like man who rarely ventured into the action-packed frontline but served as a backroom boy.
Smiley should have remained a minor character but le Carré put him at the centre of Tinker Tailor. When that novel became his biggest best-seller, he brought Smiley back for The Honourable Schoolboy and then, for Smiley’s People. Even as these books began to reach a wider audience, British TV turned Tinker Tailor into a brilliant mini series with Alec Guinness as Smiley.
The series was such a hit and Guinness—who looked little like le Carré’s original unflattering description of Smiley—was so good in the role that George Smiley soon came to be regarded as one of the great creations of spy fiction.
I loved le Carré’s work till about the late 1980s, but then, perhaps because the Cold War was ending, began to lose interest in the books. Le Carré himself took the brave decision to leave Smiley alone (“He belonged to his time and his time is over”) at least partly because he said that each time he tried to visualize his best-known creation, he did not see his Smiley but Alec Guinness (surely the greatest compliment an actor can receive from an author!).
I have not kept up with the recent stuff though it has sold very well and many of the recent books have been turned into big-budget movies. I did feel I was on le Carré’s side though when he got into a public feud with Salman Rushdie, who sneered that le Carré’s books had no right to be regarded as serious fiction, the traditional lament of the celebrated author with poor sales when confronted with the best-selling status of another’s books.
More recently, I’ve admired le Carré for his political stands. He reckoned that America under George W. Bush had lost its way and that its military and intelligence services had run amok. He was not anti-American, he said, just as everybody who opposed the Nazis was not necessarily anti-German.
If you haven’t read le Carré, you should. All popular fiction of the second half of the 20th century—and especially the spy thriller genre—has been heavily influenced by his books and I would argue that his impact vastly exceeds Fleming’s. For American versions, try Charles McCarry or Robert Littell, both of whom inhabit a le Carré-like world in their books.
Start with Tinker Tailor, move on to The Honourable Schoolboy and then read Smiley’s People. That trilogy should be enough to get you hooked. Or if you want the easy way in, watch the DVD of Tinker Tailor.
Business - In Conversation with Marico's Saugata Gupta
Rachana Nakra
Saugata Gupta rushes into the Otters Club lobby looking every bit the man in a hurry. For a moment, I wonder if he has to get back to some urgent work. But, as I find out in the course of our conversation, that’s the way he is.
“I’m very impatient. I don’t like foreplay even in presentations. People make those 45-slide presentations and I’m thinking ‘Bugger come to the point,’” the chief executive officer, consumer products, Marico Ltd, says. So even as we settle down into plastic chairs under an umbrella by the club’s poolside, small talk has been made and the interview is under way
Dressed in a checked, short-sleeved shirt and trousers, Gupta is a small, smiling man. He thinks fast and talks faster, constantly digressing but making interesting points—a journalist’s dream—and helping me fill my notebook with ease. Even the Murgh Kali Mirch comes in his way when he tries to make a point. He impatiently gestures, swallows quickly and then speaks.
Forty-year-old Gupta’s stint at the consumer goods major, where he has household names such as Parachute and Saffola under his watch, began in 2004, when he moved from ICICI Prudential. He was the head of marketing there and remembers it as a great learning experience. “I took time to adjust because it was a start-up. I honed my skills of managing ambiguity, uncertainty, and working in an unstructured environment. First you struggle, and then learn.”
But when Gupta realized his start-up work was done and boredom could follow, he moved to Marico, looking for new challenges. “When I joined Marico, I realized it was a ‘brahmanical’ outfit, and my challenge was to infuse ‘kshatriya’ values without disturbing the fabric of it.”
So, Gupta pulled out his bag of marketing tricks. First, he tried to make oil healthy with Saffola and then, oiling cool with Parachute. The ubiquitous blue bottle of hair oil got a makeover and came with an electric bottle warmer. The brand ambassador was no longer a simple housewife with long, dark hair but a supermodel. Deepika Padukone asked with her dimpled smile, “One hour champi kiya?” (Did you have an hour-long head massage?) Gupta also launched Parachute Advansed Night Repair, Advansed Hot Oil and a new range of hair products for children called Advansed Starz.
As we continue our conversation—with kebabs and Diet Coke on the table, and swimmers splashing by in the pool—Gupta tells me that he is a Bandra resident and a regular at Otters Club on Saturdays. While he takes Sundays off, Saturdays are for both work and family—Gupta holds meetings and conducts appraisals by the poolside while his 10-year-old daughter takes a swim. His wife is a “busy banker” and committing time for their daughter is a top priority for the couple.
Gupta is just back from an extended four-day break, which he spent at home recuperating. “After a year like this, I needed the break,” he says, shaking his head with a sardonic smile. And that pretty much sets the tone for the rest of our conversation: the year gone by, what he learnt, and what he’ll do with those lessons in the near future. He lists them down for me.
First, Gupta says, it taught him the “resilience and tenacity” to handle any kind of stress. Secondly, it showed that “any plan can go wrong” and they always needed to have a Plan B. “Three, this kind of volatility stretches individuals. Now you stress-test all your systems and people. After this turnaround, whatever happens, both individuals and corporates will emerge far healthier,” he says.
His immediate plan, however, is to control the greed to regain margins. “Volumes could be under pressure because this year a lot of our value growth happened because of inflation.” According to Gupta, regaining volume growth is tougher than regaining margin growth: “Margin growth always happens in cost cycles, while volume growth lapses when consumers leave you.”
The catch, according to him, will be to pass on value to the consumer. Otherwise customers will reduce purchases or shift loyalties: “Those who’ll get this right will do well.”
Besides, Gupta is also sure that the consumer goods sector will emerge far stronger as people realize that it has been efficiently managed for a while. “There is pressure to cut flab, but the flab in FMCG is far less. We will continue to spend on innovation and brand building, and the next year will be very good for FMCG companies as far as the bottom line is concerned. We’ll also recover talent that left us in the boom period,” he says hopefully.
Gupta tells me later that he intends to write a book some day, “about corporate life and how to succeed”. The revelation does not surprise me. Our 2-hour conversation, in fact, could make a small, successful book in itself. Gupta’s stories are optimistic and peppered with analogies from daily life—“While jogging on Carter Road, when I see people going ahead of me, I go faster. It’s the same with people you work with. They inspire you to move ahead”; “In a queue you look at people ahead of you and get stressed. So it’s better to look at the queue behind you and feel grateful.”
Gupta also discloses a personal work ethic that sounds perfect for a business tome. He says he makes choices following the “concept of an obituary”: “Live your life the way you would want your obituary written. When someone writes your obituary, they’re not going to write ‘He did the numbers every quarter’ or that ‘He made so much money.’”
My next question is obvious and a little morbid: So what should his obituary say?
Gupta on Gupta: “Wherever he worked, he left a legacy or made a change or created something different. He was able to balance all his roles, as a professional, a husband and a father, and did a fair job of all.”
Curriculum Vitae | Saugata Gupta
Born: 10 August 1968
Education: BTech in chemical engineering, IIT Kharagpur; MBA, IIM Bangalore
Current designation: CEO, consumer products, Marico Ltd
Work profile: He started his career at Cadbury’s in 1991. From his first assignment in the North-East, he moved on to being brand manager and worked on Cadbury’s popular ‘Kuch khaas hai zindagi mein’ campaign. He then worked at ICICI Prudential as the marketing head for four years before moving to Marico in 2004
Stress busters: Relaxing on a beach with a glass of wine and a book, and spending time with his daughter. At work, he destresses by walking in to an empty office in the morning before everyone else comes in
Stay-sane strategy: A personal coach, without vested interests, who helps him resolve dilemmas and plan his career
Retirement plan: Gupta wants to open a spa
Saugata Gupta rushes into the Otters Club lobby looking every bit the man in a hurry. For a moment, I wonder if he has to get back to some urgent work. But, as I find out in the course of our conversation, that’s the way he is.
“I’m very impatient. I don’t like foreplay even in presentations. People make those 45-slide presentations and I’m thinking ‘Bugger come to the point,’” the chief executive officer, consumer products, Marico Ltd, says. So even as we settle down into plastic chairs under an umbrella by the club’s poolside, small talk has been made and the interview is under way
Dressed in a checked, short-sleeved shirt and trousers, Gupta is a small, smiling man. He thinks fast and talks faster, constantly digressing but making interesting points—a journalist’s dream—and helping me fill my notebook with ease. Even the Murgh Kali Mirch comes in his way when he tries to make a point. He impatiently gestures, swallows quickly and then speaks.
Forty-year-old Gupta’s stint at the consumer goods major, where he has household names such as Parachute and Saffola under his watch, began in 2004, when he moved from ICICI Prudential. He was the head of marketing there and remembers it as a great learning experience. “I took time to adjust because it was a start-up. I honed my skills of managing ambiguity, uncertainty, and working in an unstructured environment. First you struggle, and then learn.”
But when Gupta realized his start-up work was done and boredom could follow, he moved to Marico, looking for new challenges. “When I joined Marico, I realized it was a ‘brahmanical’ outfit, and my challenge was to infuse ‘kshatriya’ values without disturbing the fabric of it.”
So, Gupta pulled out his bag of marketing tricks. First, he tried to make oil healthy with Saffola and then, oiling cool with Parachute. The ubiquitous blue bottle of hair oil got a makeover and came with an electric bottle warmer. The brand ambassador was no longer a simple housewife with long, dark hair but a supermodel. Deepika Padukone asked with her dimpled smile, “One hour champi kiya?” (Did you have an hour-long head massage?) Gupta also launched Parachute Advansed Night Repair, Advansed Hot Oil and a new range of hair products for children called Advansed Starz.
As we continue our conversation—with kebabs and Diet Coke on the table, and swimmers splashing by in the pool—Gupta tells me that he is a Bandra resident and a regular at Otters Club on Saturdays. While he takes Sundays off, Saturdays are for both work and family—Gupta holds meetings and conducts appraisals by the poolside while his 10-year-old daughter takes a swim. His wife is a “busy banker” and committing time for their daughter is a top priority for the couple.
Gupta is just back from an extended four-day break, which he spent at home recuperating. “After a year like this, I needed the break,” he says, shaking his head with a sardonic smile. And that pretty much sets the tone for the rest of our conversation: the year gone by, what he learnt, and what he’ll do with those lessons in the near future. He lists them down for me.
First, Gupta says, it taught him the “resilience and tenacity” to handle any kind of stress. Secondly, it showed that “any plan can go wrong” and they always needed to have a Plan B. “Three, this kind of volatility stretches individuals. Now you stress-test all your systems and people. After this turnaround, whatever happens, both individuals and corporates will emerge far healthier,” he says.
His immediate plan, however, is to control the greed to regain margins. “Volumes could be under pressure because this year a lot of our value growth happened because of inflation.” According to Gupta, regaining volume growth is tougher than regaining margin growth: “Margin growth always happens in cost cycles, while volume growth lapses when consumers leave you.”
The catch, according to him, will be to pass on value to the consumer. Otherwise customers will reduce purchases or shift loyalties: “Those who’ll get this right will do well.”
Besides, Gupta is also sure that the consumer goods sector will emerge far stronger as people realize that it has been efficiently managed for a while. “There is pressure to cut flab, but the flab in FMCG is far less. We will continue to spend on innovation and brand building, and the next year will be very good for FMCG companies as far as the bottom line is concerned. We’ll also recover talent that left us in the boom period,” he says hopefully.
Gupta tells me later that he intends to write a book some day, “about corporate life and how to succeed”. The revelation does not surprise me. Our 2-hour conversation, in fact, could make a small, successful book in itself. Gupta’s stories are optimistic and peppered with analogies from daily life—“While jogging on Carter Road, when I see people going ahead of me, I go faster. It’s the same with people you work with. They inspire you to move ahead”; “In a queue you look at people ahead of you and get stressed. So it’s better to look at the queue behind you and feel grateful.”
Gupta also discloses a personal work ethic that sounds perfect for a business tome. He says he makes choices following the “concept of an obituary”: “Live your life the way you would want your obituary written. When someone writes your obituary, they’re not going to write ‘He did the numbers every quarter’ or that ‘He made so much money.’”
My next question is obvious and a little morbid: So what should his obituary say?
Gupta on Gupta: “Wherever he worked, he left a legacy or made a change or created something different. He was able to balance all his roles, as a professional, a husband and a father, and did a fair job of all.”
Curriculum Vitae | Saugata Gupta
Born: 10 August 1968
Education: BTech in chemical engineering, IIT Kharagpur; MBA, IIM Bangalore
Current designation: CEO, consumer products, Marico Ltd
Work profile: He started his career at Cadbury’s in 1991. From his first assignment in the North-East, he moved on to being brand manager and worked on Cadbury’s popular ‘Kuch khaas hai zindagi mein’ campaign. He then worked at ICICI Prudential as the marketing head for four years before moving to Marico in 2004
Stress busters: Relaxing on a beach with a glass of wine and a book, and spending time with his daughter. At work, he destresses by walking in to an empty office in the morning before everyone else comes in
Stay-sane strategy: A personal coach, without vested interests, who helps him resolve dilemmas and plan his career
Retirement plan: Gupta wants to open a spa
World - Why Gandhi still matters
Ramachandra Guha
Since independence and Partition, no event has so divided the Indian people as the demolition of a mosque in the northern town of Ayodhya in December 1992. Hindu radicals claimed that the mosque, known as the Babri Masjid, was built on the ruins of a temple, and that the site itself was the birthplace of god Ram. Through the late 1980s and early 1990s, bands of volunteers tried to storm the mosque, in the process provoking a series of bloody riots across northern India
Shortly before the Babri Masjid was destroyed, a group of Gandhians visited Ayodhya. They were led by a woman named Sushila Nayar, an 80-year-old physician who had worked closely with Mahatma Gandhi. A prayer meeting conducted by Nayar ended in the singing of Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram, a favourite hymn of the Mahatma. When they came to the line Ishwar Allah Tero Naam (God is named both Ishwar and Allah), the meeting was disrupted by shouts and slogans. A section of the crowd surged towards the stage. Nayar came down to explain to the protesters that the singers had come “on behalf” of Gandhi (“hum Gandhijiki taraf se aye hain”). “Aur hum Godse ki taraf se,” the disruptionists are said to have replied: we have come on behalf of (Gandhi’s assassin) Nathuram Godse, and like him, we think you Gandhians are too soft on the Muslims.
In contemporary India, it is not just the Hindu right that detests Gandhi. So does the Maoist left, which has recently been described by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as the “greatest internal security threat” facing the nation. As readers of this newspaper know, the Indian Maoists are known as Naxalites, after a village in north Bengal where their movement began in 1967. Two years after the birth of naxalism, the world celebrated the centenary of Gandhi’s birth. Through that year, 1969, the Naxalites brought down statues of the Mahatma in towns and villages across West Bengal. Occasionally, by way of variation, they entered a government office to vandalize his portrait.
The Maoists were vanquished in the 1970s by a combination of police action and killings by cadres of rival Communist groupings. But they later revived, and are especially powerful now in the states of central and eastern India. Now they have once more made their presence felt in West Bengal. They were blamed, probably accurately, for a recent attempt on the life of chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.
The rise of the Maoists in the 1980s and beyond owes much to the work of a former schoolteacher named Kondapalli Seetaramaiah. He was the head of the Peoples War Group which, especially in Andhra Pradesh, mounted a series of daring attacks on railway stations and police camps. The police finally arrested KS (as he was known); but then he feigned illness and was admitted to hospital, from where he escaped
It took the police two years to recapture Seetaramaiah. A journalist later asked him what he had done when on the run. KS replied that he went from the hospital in Hyderabad to Gandhi’s birthplace in Gujarat, some 900 miles (about 1448km) away. Here the revolutionary got off the train and took a rickshaw to the Mahatma’s parental home, now a museum dedicated to his memory. “I went there and spat on the maggu,” KS told the reporter, maggu being the Telugu word for the painted decorations placed outside most Indian shrines. Thus did this Maoist show his contempt for a man acknowledged to be the Father of the Indian Nation.
Extremists despise Gandhi— what, however, of the vital centre? For much of the time that India has been an independent nation, the government in New Delhi has been run by the Congress party, to which Gandhi himself belonged. On the day of independence, 15 August 1947, the Mahatma was striving for communal peace in Kolkata. When the new ministers of the Bengal government went to seek his blessings, Gandhi told them that they had been tested during the British regime: “But in a way it has been no test at all. But now there will be no end to your being tested. Do not fall a prey to the lure of wealth. May God help you! You are there to serve the villages and the poor.”
To say that Indian politicians have since dishonoured Gandhi’s advice would be a colossal understatement. The first betrayal, perhaps, was the abandonment of the villages and the poor. Through the 1950s and the 1960s, the economic policy of the state focused on the urban-industrial sector. Agriculture and crafts were neglected; so, even more grievously, was primary education.
There still remained something “Gandhian” about the men in power; they were, on the whole, not personally corrupt. However, from the 1970s, politicians began abusing their position to enrich themselves and their families. A global survey carried out by Gallup in 2004 found that the lack of confidence in politicians was highest in India. As many as 91% of those polled felt that their elected representatives were not honest.
What remains of Gandhi and Gandhism in India today? Before answering this question, let me note that like the Buddha, Gandhi was born in the Indian subcontinent but does not belong to this land alone. Just as the Buddha found his most devoted adherents elsewhere, the legacy of Gandhi has been admirably taken over by Martin Luther King, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama and Aung San Suu Kyi. It is a matter of shame that Gandhi was never awarded the Nobel Peace Prize; the shame is also felt by those who decide on the prize in Oslo, who have since made amends by awarding it to the four “Gandhians” mentioned above.
Within India, meanwhile, a Gandhian tradition exists outside politics. There is a vigorous environmental movement, which has campaigned against the excesses of industrial development and worked to promote renewable energy and small-scale irrigation systems. These Greens often begin or end their programmes on 2 October, Gandhi’s birthday. The Gandhian influence is also present in the feminist and human rights movements, where it co-exists with tendencies drawing inspiration from other, more conventionally left-wing political traditions. Doctors and teachers inspired by Gandhi leave their city homes to run clinics and schools in the countryside. And at least a handful of India’s many millionaires are influenced by Gandhi. Where the majority hoard their wealth or spend it on jewellery and foreign holidays, there are some titans who have given away vast amounts of money to promote primary education and transparency in governance.
What should remain of Gandhi and Gandhism in the world today? Sixty-one years after his death, some of his teachings are plainly irrelevant. For example, his ideas on food (his diet consisted chiefly of nuts and fruits and boiled vegetables) and sex (he imposed a strict celibacy on his followers) can hardly find favour with the majority of humans. That said, there are at least four areas in which Gandhi’s ideas remain of interest and importance.
The first is the environment. The economic rise of China and India has brought a long suppressed, and quintessentially Gandhian, question to the fore: How much should a person consume? So long as the West had a monopoly on modern lifestyles, the question simply did not arise. But if most Chinese and most Indians come, like most Americans and most Englishmen, to own and drive a car, this will place unbearable burdens on the earth. Back in 1928, Gandhi had warned about the unsustainability, on the global scale, of Western patterns of production and consumption. “God forbid that India should ever take to industrialization after the manner of the West,” he said. “The economic imperialism of a single tiny island kingdom (England) is today keeping the world in chains. If an entire nation of 300 million took to similar economic exploitation, it would strip the world bare like locusts.”
The second area is faith. Gandhi was at odds both with secularists who confidently looked forward to God’s funeral, and with monotheists who insisted that theirs was the one and true God. Gandhi believed that no religion had a monopoly on the truth. He argued that one should accept the faith into which one was born (hence his opposition to conversion), but seek always to interpret it in the most broad-minded and non-violent way. And he actively encouraged friendships across religions. His own best friend was a Christian priest, C.F. Andrews. In his ashram he held a daily prayer meeting at which texts from different religions were read or sung. At the time, his position appeared eccentric; in retrospect, it seems to be precocious. In a world driven by religious misunderstanding, it can help cultivate mutual respect and recognition.
The third (and perhaps most obvious) area is non-violent resistance. That social change is both less harmful and more sustainable when achieved by non-violent means is now widely recognized. A study of some 60 transitions to democratic rule since World War II, by the think tank Freedom House, found that “far more often than is generally understood, the change agent is broad-based, non-violent civic resistance—which employs tactics such as boycotts, mass protests, blockades, strikes and civil disobedience to de-legitimate authoritarian rulers and erode their sources of support, including the loyalty of their armed defenders.” These, of course, were all methods of protest pioneered by Gandhi.
The fourth area is public life. In his Reflections on Gandhi, George Orwell wrote that “regarded simply as a politician, and compared with the other leading political figures of our time, how clean a smell he has managed to leave behind!” In an age of terror, politicians may not be able to live as open a life as Gandhi. There were no security-men posted outside his ashram; visitors of any creed and nationality would walk in when they chose. Still, the politicians (and activists) of today might at least emulate his lack of dissembling and his utter lack of reliance on “spin”. His campaigns of civil disobedience were always announced in advance. His social experiments were minutely dissected in the pages of his newspapers, the comments of his critics placed alongside his own.
Gandhi was a Hindu; but his Hinduism was altogether less dogmatic than that of the fundamentalists of today. Gandhi fought against injustice; but without recourse to the gun and without demonizing his adversary. That, six decades after his death, the extremists of left and right still need to vilify him is in itself a considerable tribute to the relevance of his thought. So, in a somewhat different way, is the need for mainstream politicians to garland portraits of Gandhi even as their practice is at odds with the man they profess to honour.
Gandhi was a prophet of sorts, but by no means a joyless one. On a visit to London in 1931 he met a British monarch for the first and last time. When he came out of Buckingham Palace after speaking with George VI, a reporter asked whether he had not felt cold in his loin-cloth. Gandhi answered, “The King had enough on for both of us.” Another version has Gandhi saying, “The King wears plus-fours; I wear minus-fours.” In those self-deprecatory jokes lies a good deal of (still enduring) wisdom.
© Ramachandra Guha. A version of this piece first ran in The Guardian.
Ramachandra Guha is the author of India after Gandhi: The History of the World’s Largest Democracy.
Since independence and Partition, no event has so divided the Indian people as the demolition of a mosque in the northern town of Ayodhya in December 1992. Hindu radicals claimed that the mosque, known as the Babri Masjid, was built on the ruins of a temple, and that the site itself was the birthplace of god Ram. Through the late 1980s and early 1990s, bands of volunteers tried to storm the mosque, in the process provoking a series of bloody riots across northern India
Shortly before the Babri Masjid was destroyed, a group of Gandhians visited Ayodhya. They were led by a woman named Sushila Nayar, an 80-year-old physician who had worked closely with Mahatma Gandhi. A prayer meeting conducted by Nayar ended in the singing of Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram, a favourite hymn of the Mahatma. When they came to the line Ishwar Allah Tero Naam (God is named both Ishwar and Allah), the meeting was disrupted by shouts and slogans. A section of the crowd surged towards the stage. Nayar came down to explain to the protesters that the singers had come “on behalf” of Gandhi (“hum Gandhijiki taraf se aye hain”). “Aur hum Godse ki taraf se,” the disruptionists are said to have replied: we have come on behalf of (Gandhi’s assassin) Nathuram Godse, and like him, we think you Gandhians are too soft on the Muslims.
In contemporary India, it is not just the Hindu right that detests Gandhi. So does the Maoist left, which has recently been described by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as the “greatest internal security threat” facing the nation. As readers of this newspaper know, the Indian Maoists are known as Naxalites, after a village in north Bengal where their movement began in 1967. Two years after the birth of naxalism, the world celebrated the centenary of Gandhi’s birth. Through that year, 1969, the Naxalites brought down statues of the Mahatma in towns and villages across West Bengal. Occasionally, by way of variation, they entered a government office to vandalize his portrait.
The Maoists were vanquished in the 1970s by a combination of police action and killings by cadres of rival Communist groupings. But they later revived, and are especially powerful now in the states of central and eastern India. Now they have once more made their presence felt in West Bengal. They were blamed, probably accurately, for a recent attempt on the life of chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.
The rise of the Maoists in the 1980s and beyond owes much to the work of a former schoolteacher named Kondapalli Seetaramaiah. He was the head of the Peoples War Group which, especially in Andhra Pradesh, mounted a series of daring attacks on railway stations and police camps. The police finally arrested KS (as he was known); but then he feigned illness and was admitted to hospital, from where he escaped
It took the police two years to recapture Seetaramaiah. A journalist later asked him what he had done when on the run. KS replied that he went from the hospital in Hyderabad to Gandhi’s birthplace in Gujarat, some 900 miles (about 1448km) away. Here the revolutionary got off the train and took a rickshaw to the Mahatma’s parental home, now a museum dedicated to his memory. “I went there and spat on the maggu,” KS told the reporter, maggu being the Telugu word for the painted decorations placed outside most Indian shrines. Thus did this Maoist show his contempt for a man acknowledged to be the Father of the Indian Nation.
Extremists despise Gandhi— what, however, of the vital centre? For much of the time that India has been an independent nation, the government in New Delhi has been run by the Congress party, to which Gandhi himself belonged. On the day of independence, 15 August 1947, the Mahatma was striving for communal peace in Kolkata. When the new ministers of the Bengal government went to seek his blessings, Gandhi told them that they had been tested during the British regime: “But in a way it has been no test at all. But now there will be no end to your being tested. Do not fall a prey to the lure of wealth. May God help you! You are there to serve the villages and the poor.”
To say that Indian politicians have since dishonoured Gandhi’s advice would be a colossal understatement. The first betrayal, perhaps, was the abandonment of the villages and the poor. Through the 1950s and the 1960s, the economic policy of the state focused on the urban-industrial sector. Agriculture and crafts were neglected; so, even more grievously, was primary education.
There still remained something “Gandhian” about the men in power; they were, on the whole, not personally corrupt. However, from the 1970s, politicians began abusing their position to enrich themselves and their families. A global survey carried out by Gallup in 2004 found that the lack of confidence in politicians was highest in India. As many as 91% of those polled felt that their elected representatives were not honest.
What remains of Gandhi and Gandhism in India today? Before answering this question, let me note that like the Buddha, Gandhi was born in the Indian subcontinent but does not belong to this land alone. Just as the Buddha found his most devoted adherents elsewhere, the legacy of Gandhi has been admirably taken over by Martin Luther King, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama and Aung San Suu Kyi. It is a matter of shame that Gandhi was never awarded the Nobel Peace Prize; the shame is also felt by those who decide on the prize in Oslo, who have since made amends by awarding it to the four “Gandhians” mentioned above.
Within India, meanwhile, a Gandhian tradition exists outside politics. There is a vigorous environmental movement, which has campaigned against the excesses of industrial development and worked to promote renewable energy and small-scale irrigation systems. These Greens often begin or end their programmes on 2 October, Gandhi’s birthday. The Gandhian influence is also present in the feminist and human rights movements, where it co-exists with tendencies drawing inspiration from other, more conventionally left-wing political traditions. Doctors and teachers inspired by Gandhi leave their city homes to run clinics and schools in the countryside. And at least a handful of India’s many millionaires are influenced by Gandhi. Where the majority hoard their wealth or spend it on jewellery and foreign holidays, there are some titans who have given away vast amounts of money to promote primary education and transparency in governance.
What should remain of Gandhi and Gandhism in the world today? Sixty-one years after his death, some of his teachings are plainly irrelevant. For example, his ideas on food (his diet consisted chiefly of nuts and fruits and boiled vegetables) and sex (he imposed a strict celibacy on his followers) can hardly find favour with the majority of humans. That said, there are at least four areas in which Gandhi’s ideas remain of interest and importance.
The first is the environment. The economic rise of China and India has brought a long suppressed, and quintessentially Gandhian, question to the fore: How much should a person consume? So long as the West had a monopoly on modern lifestyles, the question simply did not arise. But if most Chinese and most Indians come, like most Americans and most Englishmen, to own and drive a car, this will place unbearable burdens on the earth. Back in 1928, Gandhi had warned about the unsustainability, on the global scale, of Western patterns of production and consumption. “God forbid that India should ever take to industrialization after the manner of the West,” he said. “The economic imperialism of a single tiny island kingdom (England) is today keeping the world in chains. If an entire nation of 300 million took to similar economic exploitation, it would strip the world bare like locusts.”
The second area is faith. Gandhi was at odds both with secularists who confidently looked forward to God’s funeral, and with monotheists who insisted that theirs was the one and true God. Gandhi believed that no religion had a monopoly on the truth. He argued that one should accept the faith into which one was born (hence his opposition to conversion), but seek always to interpret it in the most broad-minded and non-violent way. And he actively encouraged friendships across religions. His own best friend was a Christian priest, C.F. Andrews. In his ashram he held a daily prayer meeting at which texts from different religions were read or sung. At the time, his position appeared eccentric; in retrospect, it seems to be precocious. In a world driven by religious misunderstanding, it can help cultivate mutual respect and recognition.
The third (and perhaps most obvious) area is non-violent resistance. That social change is both less harmful and more sustainable when achieved by non-violent means is now widely recognized. A study of some 60 transitions to democratic rule since World War II, by the think tank Freedom House, found that “far more often than is generally understood, the change agent is broad-based, non-violent civic resistance—which employs tactics such as boycotts, mass protests, blockades, strikes and civil disobedience to de-legitimate authoritarian rulers and erode their sources of support, including the loyalty of their armed defenders.” These, of course, were all methods of protest pioneered by Gandhi.
The fourth area is public life. In his Reflections on Gandhi, George Orwell wrote that “regarded simply as a politician, and compared with the other leading political figures of our time, how clean a smell he has managed to leave behind!” In an age of terror, politicians may not be able to live as open a life as Gandhi. There were no security-men posted outside his ashram; visitors of any creed and nationality would walk in when they chose. Still, the politicians (and activists) of today might at least emulate his lack of dissembling and his utter lack of reliance on “spin”. His campaigns of civil disobedience were always announced in advance. His social experiments were minutely dissected in the pages of his newspapers, the comments of his critics placed alongside his own.
Gandhi was a Hindu; but his Hinduism was altogether less dogmatic than that of the fundamentalists of today. Gandhi fought against injustice; but without recourse to the gun and without demonizing his adversary. That, six decades after his death, the extremists of left and right still need to vilify him is in itself a considerable tribute to the relevance of his thought. So, in a somewhat different way, is the need for mainstream politicians to garland portraits of Gandhi even as their practice is at odds with the man they profess to honour.
Gandhi was a prophet of sorts, but by no means a joyless one. On a visit to London in 1931 he met a British monarch for the first and last time. When he came out of Buckingham Palace after speaking with George VI, a reporter asked whether he had not felt cold in his loin-cloth. Gandhi answered, “The King had enough on for both of us.” Another version has Gandhi saying, “The King wears plus-fours; I wear minus-fours.” In those self-deprecatory jokes lies a good deal of (still enduring) wisdom.
© Ramachandra Guha. A version of this piece first ran in The Guardian.
Ramachandra Guha is the author of India after Gandhi: The History of the World’s Largest Democracy.
Columnists - Barkha Dutt;Why isn't India saying,Jai Ho
I watched Slumdog Millionaire in the comfort of a mall where I spent more on the tickets and the popcorn and Pepsi than what a daily wage labourer makes in a week. With my evening set against the backdrop of glitzy brands and voracious shoppers, I walked into the hall anticipating that I would feel guilt and self-loathing that in turn, would make me lash out at the “exploitative depiction of poverty” in the film.
Having seen the most-talked about film of the year, I can argue that the controversy is just so much humbug. It’s a manufactured debate that reveals a petty, thin-skinned intolerance. And as liberal Indians, we need to ask ourselves what it is about Slumdog Millionaire that has got under our skins. Yes, maybe, had an Indian director made a movie about Bombay’s underbelly, it wouldn’t have got the same kind of global attention. I’m even willing to grant some points to the cynics who argue that the Bombay attacks have made the India story a top-of-the-menu item. And perhaps, the love thing between Jamal and Latika doesn’t capture everyone’s romantic imagination. But none of this explains the self-righteous hand-wringing over how India’s poor are portrayed.
Where were all the carpers when Vikas Swarup first wrote the book that gave birth to the movie? If the objection is to the gaze of the ‘outsider’ isn’t any Indian of a certain socio-economic milieu as much of an outsider? Are you and I, ensconced in the comfort of our urban, middle-class lives, better qualified to capture the essential truth of life in a slum? And are we now going to reduce the art of cinema to eyewitness chronicles?
The irony is that Slumdog Millionaire — more than many films I have seen in recent years — manages to capture poverty in a way that is neither patronising nor simplistic. It entirely escapes the clichés of charity that bleeding-heart politics can sometimes force on a narrative. Yes, it often makes you squirm in your seat. I had to look away when a young boy’s eyes were gouged out with burning oil by a beggars’ mafia. I laughed, but not entirely, when a young Jamal went wading through shit just to be able to get an autograph signed from Amitabh Bachchan. Both these moments were scathing signposts of how much we have come to not notice; of how we hide from the truths of inequities and neglect.
And yet, the movie is a masterpiece — because it is able to capture the horror of these moments without being pitiful or guilty. On the contrary, more than the poverty, it is really the energy, entrepreneurship and imagination of the slum kids that is the driving force of the story. To that extent, the primary emotional characteristic of the movie is the ‘jugadu’ spirit that is so typical of India. Jugadu, of course, was originally the word for a marvellous invention — a hybrid automotive that welds the body of a jeep with the engine of a water pump and looks like a tractor. Today it has come to be our shorthand for spunkiness — a, we-will-get-the-job done attitude no matter how bad the odds are. So, if Jamal wants Latika he will play at being a millionaire, though it isn't really the money he is after.
Even the game show operates, in a sense, as a metaphor not just for aspiration but for attainability. It is all about the New India where dreams can come true. We may be incredulous about the coincidence between Jamal’s life experiences and the questions he gets asked on the show (it’s a movie, for God’s sake) but think about it. Is it really so impossible that talent can catapult an ordinary life into extraordinary fame and wealth? You only have to think of Vaishali Bhaisni Made who just walked away with Rs 50 lakh by winning a TV music contest. Vaishali failed thrice at her auditions but just kept at it. Vaishali knows a thing or two about poverty. She grew up as a farmer’s daughter in a small village in Amravati not far from Maharashtra’s suicide country. Now, trophy in hand, she thanks the city of Bombay, for “allowing her to dream.” On his India trip, Danny Boyle, told me this fascinating story about his encounter with a vendor in the slums of Bombay while researching for his film. The man told Boyle irritably that he was sick of camera crews coming in and stereotyping his life as “poor.” He wanted Boyle to know that he worked hard to earn a respectable living and was sick of being labelled.
It is this voice that Boyle is able to cast in his characters — a voice of pride and self-respect — even when pitted against people with muscle and money. Think about how Jamal — accused of cheating his way through the show — gets beaten up at the local police station. He doesn’t bend; he doesn’t succumb — he answers back with the confidence of being on the side of the right. It’s the story of the underdog told without victimhood. We Indians used to love those stories (Think of any Bachchan film from the 1970s). So what’s our problem now? Is it that we think the world is watching? And we only want them to see those swanky malls? So, then why do we want to claim the film as our own, when it sweeps the Oscars and the Globes? If anything, the movie is blatant in its affection for India. We can have different views on whether it deserves all the fuss it’s getting. But, let us not hide from the bare truths of the film, just like we duck the beggars at the street light.
Having seen the most-talked about film of the year, I can argue that the controversy is just so much humbug. It’s a manufactured debate that reveals a petty, thin-skinned intolerance. And as liberal Indians, we need to ask ourselves what it is about Slumdog Millionaire that has got under our skins. Yes, maybe, had an Indian director made a movie about Bombay’s underbelly, it wouldn’t have got the same kind of global attention. I’m even willing to grant some points to the cynics who argue that the Bombay attacks have made the India story a top-of-the-menu item. And perhaps, the love thing between Jamal and Latika doesn’t capture everyone’s romantic imagination. But none of this explains the self-righteous hand-wringing over how India’s poor are portrayed.
Where were all the carpers when Vikas Swarup first wrote the book that gave birth to the movie? If the objection is to the gaze of the ‘outsider’ isn’t any Indian of a certain socio-economic milieu as much of an outsider? Are you and I, ensconced in the comfort of our urban, middle-class lives, better qualified to capture the essential truth of life in a slum? And are we now going to reduce the art of cinema to eyewitness chronicles?
The irony is that Slumdog Millionaire — more than many films I have seen in recent years — manages to capture poverty in a way that is neither patronising nor simplistic. It entirely escapes the clichés of charity that bleeding-heart politics can sometimes force on a narrative. Yes, it often makes you squirm in your seat. I had to look away when a young boy’s eyes were gouged out with burning oil by a beggars’ mafia. I laughed, but not entirely, when a young Jamal went wading through shit just to be able to get an autograph signed from Amitabh Bachchan. Both these moments were scathing signposts of how much we have come to not notice; of how we hide from the truths of inequities and neglect.
And yet, the movie is a masterpiece — because it is able to capture the horror of these moments without being pitiful or guilty. On the contrary, more than the poverty, it is really the energy, entrepreneurship and imagination of the slum kids that is the driving force of the story. To that extent, the primary emotional characteristic of the movie is the ‘jugadu’ spirit that is so typical of India. Jugadu, of course, was originally the word for a marvellous invention — a hybrid automotive that welds the body of a jeep with the engine of a water pump and looks like a tractor. Today it has come to be our shorthand for spunkiness — a, we-will-get-the-job done attitude no matter how bad the odds are. So, if Jamal wants Latika he will play at being a millionaire, though it isn't really the money he is after.
Even the game show operates, in a sense, as a metaphor not just for aspiration but for attainability. It is all about the New India where dreams can come true. We may be incredulous about the coincidence between Jamal’s life experiences and the questions he gets asked on the show (it’s a movie, for God’s sake) but think about it. Is it really so impossible that talent can catapult an ordinary life into extraordinary fame and wealth? You only have to think of Vaishali Bhaisni Made who just walked away with Rs 50 lakh by winning a TV music contest. Vaishali failed thrice at her auditions but just kept at it. Vaishali knows a thing or two about poverty. She grew up as a farmer’s daughter in a small village in Amravati not far from Maharashtra’s suicide country. Now, trophy in hand, she thanks the city of Bombay, for “allowing her to dream.” On his India trip, Danny Boyle, told me this fascinating story about his encounter with a vendor in the slums of Bombay while researching for his film. The man told Boyle irritably that he was sick of camera crews coming in and stereotyping his life as “poor.” He wanted Boyle to know that he worked hard to earn a respectable living and was sick of being labelled.
It is this voice that Boyle is able to cast in his characters — a voice of pride and self-respect — even when pitted against people with muscle and money. Think about how Jamal — accused of cheating his way through the show — gets beaten up at the local police station. He doesn’t bend; he doesn’t succumb — he answers back with the confidence of being on the side of the right. It’s the story of the underdog told without victimhood. We Indians used to love those stories (Think of any Bachchan film from the 1970s). So what’s our problem now? Is it that we think the world is watching? And we only want them to see those swanky malls? So, then why do we want to claim the film as our own, when it sweeps the Oscars and the Globes? If anything, the movie is blatant in its affection for India. We can have different views on whether it deserves all the fuss it’s getting. But, let us not hide from the bare truths of the film, just like we duck the beggars at the street light.
Columnists - Khushwant Singh;Sabre-rattlers,shut up
Let me repeat for the umpteenth time: there must never be another Indo-Pak war. If, god forbid, there is one, there will be no winners. Both India and Pakistan have long-range missiles that can ruin both countries. So let us tell the sabre-rattlers in clear terms, be they Pakistanis or Indians, that war is too serious a matter to be left to soldiers or politicians. Only common men, women and children who will be most affected by its impact have the right to take this decision.
If necessary, make human chains extending from Kashmir to the Arabian Sea, one on the Pakistani side, the other on the Indian. And let the tanks and armoured cars run over the chains before they start firing their guns. There are people of peace and goodwill who will gladly volunteer to stake their lives for their countries.
We have our Kuldip Nayyars and Swami Agniveshs to lead them; they have their Asma Jehangirs, Najam Sethis and Jugnu Mohsins to lead them. This is what Gandhi would have done. This is what Ghaffar Khan, the Frontier Gandhi, would have done. This is what you and I should be doing.
So what are the options when our relations come close to breaking point, as they did after the attack in Mumbai on 26/11?
We proved to the world that the perpetrators were Pakistanis. Since the crime was committed with military precision, we proved to the world that the criminals were trained by professionals on Pakistani soil. Pakistan’s rulers were reluctant to admit that because it would reflect on their inability to control subversive elements. I’m convinced that in their hearts
they know our charges to be true and in due course will concede it.
We have also proved to the world that Pakistan is ruled by important men whose writ does not run beyond a few miles around Islamabad, and that its social norms are dictated by demented mullahs who close down girls schools, force women to wear burqas and impose medieval codes of conduct on the masses. They also preach hatred against Indians. We have to jointly wage a relentless war against them till they are stamped out of existence. If we succeed, we can live in peace as good neighbours.
If necessary, make human chains extending from Kashmir to the Arabian Sea, one on the Pakistani side, the other on the Indian. And let the tanks and armoured cars run over the chains before they start firing their guns. There are people of peace and goodwill who will gladly volunteer to stake their lives for their countries.
We have our Kuldip Nayyars and Swami Agniveshs to lead them; they have their Asma Jehangirs, Najam Sethis and Jugnu Mohsins to lead them. This is what Gandhi would have done. This is what Ghaffar Khan, the Frontier Gandhi, would have done. This is what you and I should be doing.
So what are the options when our relations come close to breaking point, as they did after the attack in Mumbai on 26/11?
We proved to the world that the perpetrators were Pakistanis. Since the crime was committed with military precision, we proved to the world that the criminals were trained by professionals on Pakistani soil. Pakistan’s rulers were reluctant to admit that because it would reflect on their inability to control subversive elements. I’m convinced that in their hearts
they know our charges to be true and in due course will concede it.
We have also proved to the world that Pakistan is ruled by important men whose writ does not run beyond a few miles around Islamabad, and that its social norms are dictated by demented mullahs who close down girls schools, force women to wear burqas and impose medieval codes of conduct on the masses. They also preach hatred against Indians. We have to jointly wage a relentless war against them till they are stamped out of existence. If we succeed, we can live in peace as good neighbours.
Sport - Cricket;Australia no longer at par with India, SA in world cricket
Coming hard on Australian cricket team's 1-4 ODI series defeat at the hands of South Africa, the Australian media has said Ricky Ponting's side's aura of invincibility is over and the world champions are no longer among the elite league of the Proteas and Indians.
"Whether South Africa are ready for the No 1 ranking is irrelevant, because Australia is no longer on their level, nor India's. The crown is gone and Australia are languishing behind the other two nations in form and depth," said the Sydney Morning Herald.
"Gone too is the killer instinct and ability to forge back-breaking partnerships when it matters most. Having lost the tri-series to India last season, Australia have been humbled this time around by a youthful and developing South African team," the report added.
The Courier Mail added salt to the wound, saying, "Even the most optimistic now wouldn't expect Australia's ageing, sidelined stars to make a difference."
The 39-run victory in Perth on Friday saw South Africa dethrone Australia from the top of the ICC ODI championship table and the media here was of the view that ageing Ponting's team was no longer a formidable match for developing teams like India, South Africa and Sri Lanka.
"India and the Proteas will fight it out with Australia for the No 1 ranking in coming weeks but where the foreign teams are rising, Australia have clearly fallen."
'Aussies crumble', a report in The Australian read, "South Africa minus Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn were still too good for Australia."
The Daily Telegraph in its report headlined Humbled Aussies lose No 1 rank said the 4-1 series result was ample evidence of changing world order in the game.
"South Africa's fearless rookies have stolen Australia's No 1 one-day ranking, invincible aura and self-belief. There was ample evidence of the changing world order unfolding apart from the statistical fact that South Africa would take the No 1 one-day ranking," the newspaper wrote.
The report also mocked at Australia's loss to a rookie South African side sans heavyweights like Graeme Smith, Makhaya Ntini, Mark Boucher and Jacques Kallis.
"Australia was beaten by a side with 836 one-day games experience sidelined in the form of Graeme Smith, Makhaya Ntini, Mark Boucher and Jacques Kallis," it said.
"Depressed fans found solace in connecting a beer snake across the length of the John Inverarity Stand. Australia was unconvincing."
The Herald Sun, on the other hand, praised South Africa for outplaying Australia in their backyard in both the Test and ODI series.
Former Australian opener Justin Langer said the loss of the world No 1 mantle "would really hurt skipper Ricky Ponting" while Michael Slater said the loss of the No 1 ranking would be "absolutely crushing".
"Whether South Africa are ready for the No 1 ranking is irrelevant, because Australia is no longer on their level, nor India's. The crown is gone and Australia are languishing behind the other two nations in form and depth," said the Sydney Morning Herald.
"Gone too is the killer instinct and ability to forge back-breaking partnerships when it matters most. Having lost the tri-series to India last season, Australia have been humbled this time around by a youthful and developing South African team," the report added.
The Courier Mail added salt to the wound, saying, "Even the most optimistic now wouldn't expect Australia's ageing, sidelined stars to make a difference."
The 39-run victory in Perth on Friday saw South Africa dethrone Australia from the top of the ICC ODI championship table and the media here was of the view that ageing Ponting's team was no longer a formidable match for developing teams like India, South Africa and Sri Lanka.
"India and the Proteas will fight it out with Australia for the No 1 ranking in coming weeks but where the foreign teams are rising, Australia have clearly fallen."
'Aussies crumble', a report in The Australian read, "South Africa minus Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn were still too good for Australia."
The Daily Telegraph in its report headlined Humbled Aussies lose No 1 rank said the 4-1 series result was ample evidence of changing world order in the game.
"South Africa's fearless rookies have stolen Australia's No 1 one-day ranking, invincible aura and self-belief. There was ample evidence of the changing world order unfolding apart from the statistical fact that South Africa would take the No 1 one-day ranking," the newspaper wrote.
The report also mocked at Australia's loss to a rookie South African side sans heavyweights like Graeme Smith, Makhaya Ntini, Mark Boucher and Jacques Kallis.
"Australia was beaten by a side with 836 one-day games experience sidelined in the form of Graeme Smith, Makhaya Ntini, Mark Boucher and Jacques Kallis," it said.
"Depressed fans found solace in connecting a beer snake across the length of the John Inverarity Stand. Australia was unconvincing."
The Herald Sun, on the other hand, praised South Africa for outplaying Australia in their backyard in both the Test and ODI series.
Former Australian opener Justin Langer said the loss of the world No 1 mantle "would really hurt skipper Ricky Ponting" while Michael Slater said the loss of the No 1 ranking would be "absolutely crushing".
Entertainment - Jennifer Aniston splits from John Mayer
Marley and Me star Jennifer Aniston has split from rocker boyfriend John Mayer after an on and off relationship that did not even last a year.
The break up was confirmed by People magazine. A close friend of Aniston's told the publication, "They had a great time together but they are just in different places in their lives right now,".
The 39-year-old actress and the 30-year-old-singer have been at the centre of many speculative stories in recent weeks about the state of their relationship. However, a reconciliation might be on the cards as a friend of Mayer's said,"John never ends things with a clean slate. He likes to dwell on these relationships and sort everything out before saying goodbye for good." the magazine reported.
But with reports circulating about Mayer's outing with another blonde circulating on the internet, he might find it hard to convince Aniston to give the relationship another try. Aniston and Mayer parted ways in August last year after months of dating, but rekindled their affair in October, with the actress claiming that they were unable to stay away from each other after the break-up.
The break up was confirmed by People magazine. A close friend of Aniston's told the publication, "They had a great time together but they are just in different places in their lives right now,".
The 39-year-old actress and the 30-year-old-singer have been at the centre of many speculative stories in recent weeks about the state of their relationship. However, a reconciliation might be on the cards as a friend of Mayer's said,"John never ends things with a clean slate. He likes to dwell on these relationships and sort everything out before saying goodbye for good." the magazine reported.
But with reports circulating about Mayer's outing with another blonde circulating on the internet, he might find it hard to convince Aniston to give the relationship another try. Aniston and Mayer parted ways in August last year after months of dating, but rekindled their affair in October, with the actress claiming that they were unable to stay away from each other after the break-up.
Entertainment - SRK & Sallu on TV
The two super Khans of Bollywood are all set to come face to face yet again. As Shah Rukh annouced two new shows on television, Salman has also announced his second innings on TV.
SRK has his hands full with two shows and he will be playing judge on one of his own productions Knights and Angels, which will hunt for cheerleaders to bring up the spirits of his IPL team the Kolkata Knighter Riders. Ghar Ki Baat Hai on the other hand is a traditional sit-com, a story of the everyday lives of the Yagnik family and their neighbours.
On the other side, Salman has annouced the second season of Dus Ka Dum.
Who can forget their last season on television, where they critisesed each others shows and even got into an ugly spat.
God knows what will happen this time.
SRK has his hands full with two shows and he will be playing judge on one of his own productions Knights and Angels, which will hunt for cheerleaders to bring up the spirits of his IPL team the Kolkata Knighter Riders. Ghar Ki Baat Hai on the other hand is a traditional sit-com, a story of the everyday lives of the Yagnik family and their neighbours.
On the other side, Salman has annouced the second season of Dus Ka Dum.
Who can forget their last season on television, where they critisesed each others shows and even got into an ugly spat.
God knows what will happen this time.
Sport - Tennis;Yuki clinches boys singles title in Australian Open
Yuki Bhambri created history, becoming only the fourth Indian to win a junior Grand Slam singles title following his emphatic straight-set win over Alexandros-Ferdinandos Georgoudas of Germany in the boys final at the Melbourne Park in Melbourne on Saturday.
Top seed Yuki swept aside unseeded Georgousdas 6-3 6-1 in 57 minutes to pocket his first Grand Slam singles title.
The other Indians in the elite list are Ramanathan Krishnan (1954 Juniour Wimbledon champion), his son Ramesh Krishnan (1970 Wimbledon and French Open junior champion) and Leander Paes (1990 Junior Wimbledon and Junior US Open champion).
The Delhi boy, who lost in the semi-finals here last year, was at his dominant best from the start and seemed determined to lift the title this time as he broke his German opponent in the fourth game of the opening set to go up 3-1 and then maintained his composure to seal the first set in 31 minutes.
With his nose ahead with a set lead, Yuki didn't look back and demolished Georgousdas 6-1 in just 26 minutes in the second set to register his first Slam title.
Yuki's dominance in the match was visible from the fact that he hit 29 winners as compared to his opponent's 21. He also converted four out of the seven break points and didn't provide a single window of opportunity to the German to break his serve.
Yuki, partnering Chinese Taipei's Liang-Chi Huang, also made it to the semi-finals of the boys doubles event but were shocked yesterday by Russian-Japanese pair of Mikhal Biryukov and Yasutaka Uchiyama 3-6 1-6.
Top seed Yuki swept aside unseeded Georgousdas 6-3 6-1 in 57 minutes to pocket his first Grand Slam singles title.
The other Indians in the elite list are Ramanathan Krishnan (1954 Juniour Wimbledon champion), his son Ramesh Krishnan (1970 Wimbledon and French Open junior champion) and Leander Paes (1990 Junior Wimbledon and Junior US Open champion).
The Delhi boy, who lost in the semi-finals here last year, was at his dominant best from the start and seemed determined to lift the title this time as he broke his German opponent in the fourth game of the opening set to go up 3-1 and then maintained his composure to seal the first set in 31 minutes.
With his nose ahead with a set lead, Yuki didn't look back and demolished Georgousdas 6-1 in just 26 minutes in the second set to register his first Slam title.
Yuki's dominance in the match was visible from the fact that he hit 29 winners as compared to his opponent's 21. He also converted four out of the seven break points and didn't provide a single window of opportunity to the German to break his serve.
Yuki, partnering Chinese Taipei's Liang-Chi Huang, also made it to the semi-finals of the boys doubles event but were shocked yesterday by Russian-Japanese pair of Mikhal Biryukov and Yasutaka Uchiyama 3-6 1-6.
India - Clear confusion over marriageable age, court to government
New Delhi, Jan 30 (IANS) The government Friday had a tough time clarifying issues related to the definition of 'child' and 'marriageable age' in the Delhi High Court, which pulled it up for not amending old laws.
A full bench comprising of Justices Vikramjit Sen, Sanjiv Khanna and V.K. Shali slammed the central government for the confusion over the issue of marriageable age of girls and boys under various laws.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) P.P. Malhotra, who appeared for the government, failed to answer a series of queries raised by the bench about various provisions, which are contradictory to one another.
The court asked Malhotra as to why the government brings in such legislations that contradict the provisions of other laws. It was referring to the provisions of the new law - Prevention of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), which contradicts certain provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act (HMA).
Citing provisions of the PCMA while dealing with a petition of an eight-month pregnant teenager's father, the bench asked the government counsel what should the court do in such situations. The girl's father alleged that his daughter was kidnapped by a boy who was allegedly below the marriageable age of 21 and sought the marriage to be declared null and void.
The court granted further time to the government and fixed Feb 6 as the next date of hearing in the case.
A full bench comprising of Justices Vikramjit Sen, Sanjiv Khanna and V.K. Shali slammed the central government for the confusion over the issue of marriageable age of girls and boys under various laws.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) P.P. Malhotra, who appeared for the government, failed to answer a series of queries raised by the bench about various provisions, which are contradictory to one another.
The court asked Malhotra as to why the government brings in such legislations that contradict the provisions of other laws. It was referring to the provisions of the new law - Prevention of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), which contradicts certain provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act (HMA).
Citing provisions of the PCMA while dealing with a petition of an eight-month pregnant teenager's father, the bench asked the government counsel what should the court do in such situations. The girl's father alleged that his daughter was kidnapped by a boy who was allegedly below the marriageable age of 21 and sought the marriage to be declared null and void.
The court granted further time to the government and fixed Feb 6 as the next date of hearing in the case.
Science - Men's romantic intentions much easier to read than women's
Washington, Jan 30 (ANI): When it comes to the romantic field, women's 'playful' signals can actually be misleading, warns a new study.
The research found that men and women were equally good at gauging men's interest - and equally bad at judging women's interest.
The Indiana University study, which involved speed dating, expected ladies to have a leg up in judging romantic interest, because theoretically they have more to lose from a bad relationship, but no such edge was found.
"The hardest-to-read women were being misperceived at a much higher rate than the hardest-to-read men. Those women were being flirtatious, but it turned out they weren't interested at all," said lead author Skyler Place, a doctoral student in IU's Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences working with cognitive science Professor Peter Todd.
"Nobody could really read what these deceptive females were doing, including other women," the researcher revealed.
The study has been published in the January issue of the journal Psychological Science.
The research focused on the ability of observers to judge romantic interest between others because this ability has evolutionary benefits when it comes to finding a mate. Decisions that other people around us make, said Place, can influence or inform our own choices.
"So, if you walk into a room and there's 20 people you've never met before, being able to know which individuals might be available and which are clearly smitten by others can make you more efficient in finding your own romantic interest to pursue," he said.
To reach the conclusion, 28 women and 26 men of college age watched video clips of couples interacting on speed dates. Each participant observed 24 videos, all with different men and women, and after each rated whether the man seemed interested in the woman and the woman in the man.
The speed dating sessions were all conducted in Germany while the observer ratings were all made by students in Indiana. Despite the language difference, observers were still able to judge men's romantic interest accurately using body language, tone of voice, eye contact, how often each dater spoke and other non-verbal cues.
"How people talk might convey more than what they say," Place said.
Observers did not have to see much of this non-verbal behavior. They were just as good at predicting the speed-dating couple's interest if they saw only 10 seconds of the date as they were if they saw 30 seconds.
The researchers say this showed that observers, even with limited information, could make quick, accurate inferences using "thin slices" of behavior.
There was, however, great variability in how well observers could predict the interest of any particular speed-dater, ranging from 90 percent accuracy down to 10 percent. In five of the videos, 80 percent of the observers thought the women shown were interested when in fact they were not - they were acting friendly even though they had no interest in the men. (ANI)
The research found that men and women were equally good at gauging men's interest - and equally bad at judging women's interest.
The Indiana University study, which involved speed dating, expected ladies to have a leg up in judging romantic interest, because theoretically they have more to lose from a bad relationship, but no such edge was found.
"The hardest-to-read women were being misperceived at a much higher rate than the hardest-to-read men. Those women were being flirtatious, but it turned out they weren't interested at all," said lead author Skyler Place, a doctoral student in IU's Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences working with cognitive science Professor Peter Todd.
"Nobody could really read what these deceptive females were doing, including other women," the researcher revealed.
The study has been published in the January issue of the journal Psychological Science.
The research focused on the ability of observers to judge romantic interest between others because this ability has evolutionary benefits when it comes to finding a mate. Decisions that other people around us make, said Place, can influence or inform our own choices.
"So, if you walk into a room and there's 20 people you've never met before, being able to know which individuals might be available and which are clearly smitten by others can make you more efficient in finding your own romantic interest to pursue," he said.
To reach the conclusion, 28 women and 26 men of college age watched video clips of couples interacting on speed dates. Each participant observed 24 videos, all with different men and women, and after each rated whether the man seemed interested in the woman and the woman in the man.
The speed dating sessions were all conducted in Germany while the observer ratings were all made by students in Indiana. Despite the language difference, observers were still able to judge men's romantic interest accurately using body language, tone of voice, eye contact, how often each dater spoke and other non-verbal cues.
"How people talk might convey more than what they say," Place said.
Observers did not have to see much of this non-verbal behavior. They were just as good at predicting the speed-dating couple's interest if they saw only 10 seconds of the date as they were if they saw 30 seconds.
The researchers say this showed that observers, even with limited information, could make quick, accurate inferences using "thin slices" of behavior.
There was, however, great variability in how well observers could predict the interest of any particular speed-dater, ranging from 90 percent accuracy down to 10 percent. In five of the videos, 80 percent of the observers thought the women shown were interested when in fact they were not - they were acting friendly even though they had no interest in the men. (ANI)
World - U.S. will not renew Blackwater contract in Iraq
The U.S. State Department has told Blackwater Worldwide, the private security firm whose guards are accused of killing Iraqi civilians while protecting U.S. diplomats, that it will not renew its contract in Iraq.
The move was not a surprise following Iraq's decision to deny a license to Blackwater, which drew intense criticism after its guards opened fire in Baghdad traffic in 2007, killing at least 14 unarmed Iraqi civilians.
One Blackwater guard has pleaded guilty in U.S. court to voluntary manslaughter and attempt to commit manslaughter over that incident, while five others are awaiting trial next year on manslaughter and other charges. The firm denies wrongdoing.
"The department notified Blackwater in writing on Jan. 29 that we do not plan to renew the company's existing contract for protective security details in Iraq," said State Department spokesman Richard Aker.
Blackwater spokeswoman Anne Tyrrell was unable to confirm the State Department decision. "We understand that the State Department is exploring its options, and we are awaiting direction from our customer," she said.
It is unclear when the U.S. decision will take effect. A U.S. official who spoke on condition that he not be named said the U.S. and Iraqi governments were discussing a transition period during which Blackwater's work in Iraq will phase out.
The official said Blackwater will continue to work for the U.S. government elsewhere in the world.
Blackwater employs hundreds of heavily armed guards with a fleet of armored vehicles and helicopters to protect U.S. diplomats in Iraq under a State Department contract. It boasts that no American has been killed while under its protection.
The presence of security contractors, often as heavily armed as the military itself, has been a signature feature of the war in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003 ordered by then President George W. Bush, a Republican.
Before taking office as president on Jan. 20, Democrat Barack Obama said he wanted U.S. combat forces out of Iraq within 16 months of starting his term. Obama has advocated sending more American troops to Afghanistan, where U.S.-led forces are fighting a resurgent Taliban.
The U.S. occupation authorities had granted contractors immunity from Iraqi law, an edict that remained in place until the beginning of this year.
Blackwater was a target of Iraqi anger even before the 2007 shooting because of its size, high profile and aggressive posture on the streets.
Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki branded the 2007 shooting incident a "massacre" and complained when the State Department subsequently renewed Blackwater's contract.
The move was not a surprise following Iraq's decision to deny a license to Blackwater, which drew intense criticism after its guards opened fire in Baghdad traffic in 2007, killing at least 14 unarmed Iraqi civilians.
One Blackwater guard has pleaded guilty in U.S. court to voluntary manslaughter and attempt to commit manslaughter over that incident, while five others are awaiting trial next year on manslaughter and other charges. The firm denies wrongdoing.
"The department notified Blackwater in writing on Jan. 29 that we do not plan to renew the company's existing contract for protective security details in Iraq," said State Department spokesman Richard Aker.
Blackwater spokeswoman Anne Tyrrell was unable to confirm the State Department decision. "We understand that the State Department is exploring its options, and we are awaiting direction from our customer," she said.
It is unclear when the U.S. decision will take effect. A U.S. official who spoke on condition that he not be named said the U.S. and Iraqi governments were discussing a transition period during which Blackwater's work in Iraq will phase out.
The official said Blackwater will continue to work for the U.S. government elsewhere in the world.
Blackwater employs hundreds of heavily armed guards with a fleet of armored vehicles and helicopters to protect U.S. diplomats in Iraq under a State Department contract. It boasts that no American has been killed while under its protection.
The presence of security contractors, often as heavily armed as the military itself, has been a signature feature of the war in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003 ordered by then President George W. Bush, a Republican.
Before taking office as president on Jan. 20, Democrat Barack Obama said he wanted U.S. combat forces out of Iraq within 16 months of starting his term. Obama has advocated sending more American troops to Afghanistan, where U.S.-led forces are fighting a resurgent Taliban.
The U.S. occupation authorities had granted contractors immunity from Iraqi law, an edict that remained in place until the beginning of this year.
Blackwater was a target of Iraqi anger even before the 2007 shooting because of its size, high profile and aggressive posture on the streets.
Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki branded the 2007 shooting incident a "massacre" and complained when the State Department subsequently renewed Blackwater's contract.
Business - Tata Motors slips to loss; no date for Nano launch
Tata Motors Ltd, India's top truck and bus maker which last year bought the Jaguar and Land Rover brands, posted an unexpected loss in the December quarter but said on Friday the worst appeared to have passed.
The company had no definite timetable for the launch of the Nano, slated to be the world's cheapest car at around 100,000 rupees ($2,000), which had been expected in the current quarter after being delayed from last year.
Sales fell 32 percent from a year earlier in the company's fiscal third quarter. Tata Motors said auto demand in India had severely contracted as a result of financial market turmoil and weakening growth.
"I do believe we had the worst in the December quarter, and don't expect to see anything like that. We are on a positive trend, and on the ascendancy curve," managing director Ravi Kant told reporters.
Kant said he could not give a timeframe for the launch of the Nano, which debuted at the Delhi auto show in Jan 2008.
A launch had been scheduled for last year, but Tata Motors had to relocate its factory from West Bengal to Gujarat due to protests by farmers against the acquisition of their land.
It would take at least a year to rollout Nanos from the new plant because of the time involved in shifting the equipment from its original site to the new site.
"Its going to take time, it's a fairly complex project," Kant said.
Last year, Tata said it would make a small number of Nanos at its existing factories, and had planned to launch the car in the March quarter.
"We are looking at interim measures to produce the Nano in small numbers in one of the two (car) plants," Kant said, but said there was no date set for the launch.
Chief financial officer C. Ramakrishnan said the company was in discussions with banks to refinance $2 billion of bridge loans, having already paid back $1 billion.
The loans, used to fund the $2.3 billion acquisition last year of Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford Motor Co, need to be repaid by June.
FOREX LOSS
Tata Motors, which controls about 60 percent of the world's fifth-biggest truck and bus market and is also India's No.3 car maker, posted a loss of 2.63 billion rupees ($54 million) the December quarter, which included a foreign exchange loss of 2.27 billion, from a 4.99 billion profit a year earlier.
Net sales dropped to 47.59 billion rupees from 72.52 billion.
A Reuters poll had estimated net profit of 761.6 million rupees on sales of 51.2 billion rupees.
Tata Motors had shut some plants temporarily in the December quarter to prevent a build-up of stocks. Its Indian vehicle sales fell to 98,760 units from 144,608 a year earlier.
Sales at Jaguar Land Rover fell to 49,000 in the quarter from 76,000 year ago.
Tata said it had stepped up cost cutting, and Ramakrishnan said the company was looking for savings of 10 billion rupees over three years.
Kant said jobs were being cut both in India and at Jaguar Land Rover given falling demand. Earlier this month, Jaguar Land Rover said it was cutting 450 jobs.
Second-ranked Indian truck maker Ashok Leyland posted an 84 percent drop in quarterly profit, while leading car maker Maruti Suzuki India Ltd's profit more than halved as demand weakened sharply in Asia's third-largest economy.
Ahead of the results, shares in Tata Motors, worth nearly $1.2 billion, closed down 0.6 percent at 149.65 rupees in a Mumbai market that rose 2 percent.
The stock lost 54 percent in October-December, while the benchmark index shed about a quarter.
The company had no definite timetable for the launch of the Nano, slated to be the world's cheapest car at around 100,000 rupees ($2,000), which had been expected in the current quarter after being delayed from last year.
Sales fell 32 percent from a year earlier in the company's fiscal third quarter. Tata Motors said auto demand in India had severely contracted as a result of financial market turmoil and weakening growth.
"I do believe we had the worst in the December quarter, and don't expect to see anything like that. We are on a positive trend, and on the ascendancy curve," managing director Ravi Kant told reporters.
Kant said he could not give a timeframe for the launch of the Nano, which debuted at the Delhi auto show in Jan 2008.
A launch had been scheduled for last year, but Tata Motors had to relocate its factory from West Bengal to Gujarat due to protests by farmers against the acquisition of their land.
It would take at least a year to rollout Nanos from the new plant because of the time involved in shifting the equipment from its original site to the new site.
"Its going to take time, it's a fairly complex project," Kant said.
Last year, Tata said it would make a small number of Nanos at its existing factories, and had planned to launch the car in the March quarter.
"We are looking at interim measures to produce the Nano in small numbers in one of the two (car) plants," Kant said, but said there was no date set for the launch.
Chief financial officer C. Ramakrishnan said the company was in discussions with banks to refinance $2 billion of bridge loans, having already paid back $1 billion.
The loans, used to fund the $2.3 billion acquisition last year of Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford Motor Co, need to be repaid by June.
FOREX LOSS
Tata Motors, which controls about 60 percent of the world's fifth-biggest truck and bus market and is also India's No.3 car maker, posted a loss of 2.63 billion rupees ($54 million) the December quarter, which included a foreign exchange loss of 2.27 billion, from a 4.99 billion profit a year earlier.
Net sales dropped to 47.59 billion rupees from 72.52 billion.
A Reuters poll had estimated net profit of 761.6 million rupees on sales of 51.2 billion rupees.
Tata Motors had shut some plants temporarily in the December quarter to prevent a build-up of stocks. Its Indian vehicle sales fell to 98,760 units from 144,608 a year earlier.
Sales at Jaguar Land Rover fell to 49,000 in the quarter from 76,000 year ago.
Tata said it had stepped up cost cutting, and Ramakrishnan said the company was looking for savings of 10 billion rupees over three years.
Kant said jobs were being cut both in India and at Jaguar Land Rover given falling demand. Earlier this month, Jaguar Land Rover said it was cutting 450 jobs.
Second-ranked Indian truck maker Ashok Leyland posted an 84 percent drop in quarterly profit, while leading car maker Maruti Suzuki India Ltd's profit more than halved as demand weakened sharply in Asia's third-largest economy.
Ahead of the results, shares in Tata Motors, worth nearly $1.2 billion, closed down 0.6 percent at 149.65 rupees in a Mumbai market that rose 2 percent.
The stock lost 54 percent in October-December, while the benchmark index shed about a quarter.
Sport - Cricket;S Africa topples Australia to become new No. 1 side
Perth, Jan 30 (PTI) Australia were today dethroned as the number one team in one-dayers by South Africa who demolished the hosts by 39 runs in the fifth and final match to clinch the ODI series with an emphatic 4-1 margin. The ODI series triumph follows South Africa's 2-1 win in the Test series and though Australia remain the number one team in the longer version of the game, the Proteas return home with the new-found tag of being the top team in one dayers.
India remained the third-placed ODI team with 120 points while South Africans have five points more. Australia also have 125 points but were pushed to the number two slot as they were found fractionally behind the Proteas when decimal points were calculated.
Australia needed 289 runs for a win to remain the number one side but 249 was all they managed before folding in 49 overs with Michael Hussey (78) and Brad Haddin (63) making futile efforts with the bat. Earlier, Hashim Amla (97) and AB de Villiers (60) steadied South Africa with a 118-run stand and then JP Duminy (60 not out off 42 balls) provided the late burst as South Africa posted 288 for six wickets.
Australia faltered early in the chase and could not really recover from the early setbacks. The hosts needed a strong start from Shaun Marsh (5) and David Warner (22) but debutant South African Lonwabo Tsotsobe rocked the Australian boat with early double strikes and Ricky Ponting's men could never really recover from that
India remained the third-placed ODI team with 120 points while South Africans have five points more. Australia also have 125 points but were pushed to the number two slot as they were found fractionally behind the Proteas when decimal points were calculated.
Australia needed 289 runs for a win to remain the number one side but 249 was all they managed before folding in 49 overs with Michael Hussey (78) and Brad Haddin (63) making futile efforts with the bat. Earlier, Hashim Amla (97) and AB de Villiers (60) steadied South Africa with a 118-run stand and then JP Duminy (60 not out off 42 balls) provided the late burst as South Africa posted 288 for six wickets.
Australia faltered early in the chase and could not really recover from the early setbacks. The hosts needed a strong start from Shaun Marsh (5) and David Warner (22) but debutant South African Lonwabo Tsotsobe rocked the Australian boat with early double strikes and Ricky Ponting's men could never really recover from that
Business - US;Sparks fly over 'Buy American' provision in US stimulus plan
Washington, Jan 30 (IANS) A 'Buy American' provision in President Barack Obama's $819 billion stimulus plan that bans the purchase of foreign construction materials for public works projects has set off a heated debate about its efficacy.
The contentious provision in the bill as passed by the US House of Representatives Wednesday would, with some notable exceptions, ensure that only US-produced iron and steel be used for construction.
It expands on a 76-year-old federal law. The Senate, which is likely to take up stimulus next week, would go even further, effectively requiring that any products and equipment be American-made.
'The Buy American provision will help stimulate our own economy,' Democrat Byron Dorgan, who wrote the provision, told CNNMoney. 'When taxpayer dollars are used, we should urge that money to support the things be produced here at home.'
Critics argue the proposal appears to fly in the face of a G-20 agreement reached in November, when world leaders decided not to raise new trade barriers in 2009.
Many economists also argue that a Buy American provision could actually backfire, slowing economic growth instead of helping expand the American job market.
'It's not a good time to initiate protectionist measures in any shape or form,' Kurt Karl, head of economic research at Swiss Re was cited as saying.
'It hurts growth, because if you force one side to go with domestic production only, then that precludes them from getting less expensive materials from overseas.'
The economy is already reeling, and will soon enter the 15th month of a recession. A major drop in trade could cause a one percent drop in gross domestic product, according to Karl.
'We believe it invites reciprocal restrictions on US exports,' Peter O'Toole, a spokesman for General Electric, which gets half its of revenue from abroad was cited as saying.
'When you take competition out, it drives prices up. We're in a globalized world - we can't turn back the clock.'
But a host of politicians believe the Buy American provisions have appropriate safeguards to ensure stimulus spending is not wasted on expensive materials and the US economy does not suffer long-term consequences.
Dorgan for one said his support for the bill comes down to fulfilling President Obama's promise of creating up to 4 million American jobs.
The contentious provision in the bill as passed by the US House of Representatives Wednesday would, with some notable exceptions, ensure that only US-produced iron and steel be used for construction.
It expands on a 76-year-old federal law. The Senate, which is likely to take up stimulus next week, would go even further, effectively requiring that any products and equipment be American-made.
'The Buy American provision will help stimulate our own economy,' Democrat Byron Dorgan, who wrote the provision, told CNNMoney. 'When taxpayer dollars are used, we should urge that money to support the things be produced here at home.'
Critics argue the proposal appears to fly in the face of a G-20 agreement reached in November, when world leaders decided not to raise new trade barriers in 2009.
Many economists also argue that a Buy American provision could actually backfire, slowing economic growth instead of helping expand the American job market.
'It's not a good time to initiate protectionist measures in any shape or form,' Kurt Karl, head of economic research at Swiss Re was cited as saying.
'It hurts growth, because if you force one side to go with domestic production only, then that precludes them from getting less expensive materials from overseas.'
The economy is already reeling, and will soon enter the 15th month of a recession. A major drop in trade could cause a one percent drop in gross domestic product, according to Karl.
'We believe it invites reciprocal restrictions on US exports,' Peter O'Toole, a spokesman for General Electric, which gets half its of revenue from abroad was cited as saying.
'When you take competition out, it drives prices up. We're in a globalized world - we can't turn back the clock.'
But a host of politicians believe the Buy American provisions have appropriate safeguards to ensure stimulus spending is not wasted on expensive materials and the US economy does not suffer long-term consequences.
Dorgan for one said his support for the bill comes down to fulfilling President Obama's promise of creating up to 4 million American jobs.
Business - Toyota bullish on India despite global mess
Even as it has frozen expansion plans everywhere else due to the global recession, automobile giant Toyota is getting aggressive in India. Though the company expects flat sales in 2009, it continues to remain bullish on the overall economy and has kept its small car plans unchanged.
"It was said that we are aggressive elsewhere but slow in India but that is history. Now we are over aggressive here while treading with caution in other countries," said Vikram Kirloskar, Vice Chairman, Toyota Kirloskar Motor India (TKM).
The company will launch its small car by the end of next year from its under construction second plant near Bengaluru. It is also studying the possibility of launching another SUV Fortuner later this year.
"We are studying the segment and though there is no concrete decision yet, we want to be there and have the product with us," said Sandeep Singh, deputy Managing Director, TKM..
"It was said that we are aggressive elsewhere but slow in India but that is history. Now we are over aggressive here while treading with caution in other countries," said Vikram Kirloskar, Vice Chairman, Toyota Kirloskar Motor India (TKM).
The company will launch its small car by the end of next year from its under construction second plant near Bengaluru. It is also studying the possibility of launching another SUV Fortuner later this year.
"We are studying the segment and though there is no concrete decision yet, we want to be there and have the product with us," said Sandeep Singh, deputy Managing Director, TKM..
Business - Subhiksha on virtual collapse, needs Rs 300 cr
Stating that its operations are "near standstill", retail chain Subhiksha Trading Services on Friday said it needs liquidity injection of up to Rs 300 crore to get the company back on track as it had run out of cash in October last year.
"(The company is at) a stage where operations are at near standstill. We are working with the financial stakeholders - lenders and investors - to inject liquidity and get company back on track," a company spokesperson said.
"We need a liquidity injection of up to Rs 300 crore, while we argue on whether it is debt or equity that really does not matter, the business can get back to near peak levels once this cash is available," he added.
The company's lenders, while supportive, were also unable to extend further lines unless the equity was raised. Net net it became a chicken and egg story with the company running out of cash by October, he said.
"We never took serious credit from suppliers, most purchases were on limited or nil credit. When we could not pay for fresh buying, the trade cycle collapsed in October and that is what brought us to a standstill," the spokesperson added.
He, however, insisted that the company was not closing shop. "No, we are in pain but we are not shutting down." Despite the issues of large employment at risk and a sound business model it is taking time to get the pieces closed as all stakeholders have to come to agreement and it is stressed time for many of them as well, he said.
The company is now engaging in getting the restart plan approved by the financial stakeholders and then get the liquidity so that it can continue from where it left, he said.
"(The company is at) a stage where operations are at near standstill. We are working with the financial stakeholders - lenders and investors - to inject liquidity and get company back on track," a company spokesperson said.
"We need a liquidity injection of up to Rs 300 crore, while we argue on whether it is debt or equity that really does not matter, the business can get back to near peak levels once this cash is available," he added.
The company's lenders, while supportive, were also unable to extend further lines unless the equity was raised. Net net it became a chicken and egg story with the company running out of cash by October, he said.
"We never took serious credit from suppliers, most purchases were on limited or nil credit. When we could not pay for fresh buying, the trade cycle collapsed in October and that is what brought us to a standstill," the spokesperson added.
He, however, insisted that the company was not closing shop. "No, we are in pain but we are not shutting down." Despite the issues of large employment at risk and a sound business model it is taking time to get the pieces closed as all stakeholders have to come to agreement and it is stressed time for many of them as well, he said.
The company is now engaging in getting the restart plan approved by the financial stakeholders and then get the liquidity so that it can continue from where it left, he said.
Business - Honda profit dips 90 pct, first time in 3 yrs
Hit by sliding automobile sales, Japanese auto giant Honda Motor on Friday, for the first time in three years, reported a 90 per cent decline in profits for the December quarter.
For the financial year ending March 31, 2009, the auto maker now expects to post a decline in net sales and other operating revenues for the first time in nine years.
Honda has recorded a profit of 20.2 billion yen for the third quarter ended December last year, plunging 90 per cent as compared to the same period a year ago.
In a statement, the firm said the third quarter profit has declined for the first time in three years. Honda's bottomline stood at 200 billion yen in the year-ago period.
During the same period, net sales and other revenues tumbled nearly 17 per cent to 2,533.2 billion yen.
"Consolidated net sales and other operating revenue for the fiscal third quarter ended December 31, 2008 amounted to 2,533.2 billion yen, a decrease of 16.8 per cent compared to the same period a year ago, due to factors including the negative impact of currency translation and declined sales of automobile business," the statement said.
Further, the entity's operating income plunged 63 per cent to 102.4 billion yen mainly due to negative impact of currency effects and increased raw material costs.
On the other hand, Honda anticipates to post net sales and other operating revenue to the tune of 10,100 billion yen fiscal year ending March 31, 2009 and said it would be a "decrease for the first time in nine years".
The car maker's net sales and other operating revenue stood at 12,002.8 billion yen in the year-ago period.
For financial year 2009, the company has projected the profit to plummet about 87 per cent to 80 billion yen. It had a profit of 600 billion yen in the same period a year ago.
For the financial year ending March 31, 2009, the auto maker now expects to post a decline in net sales and other operating revenues for the first time in nine years.
Honda has recorded a profit of 20.2 billion yen for the third quarter ended December last year, plunging 90 per cent as compared to the same period a year ago.
In a statement, the firm said the third quarter profit has declined for the first time in three years. Honda's bottomline stood at 200 billion yen in the year-ago period.
During the same period, net sales and other revenues tumbled nearly 17 per cent to 2,533.2 billion yen.
"Consolidated net sales and other operating revenue for the fiscal third quarter ended December 31, 2008 amounted to 2,533.2 billion yen, a decrease of 16.8 per cent compared to the same period a year ago, due to factors including the negative impact of currency translation and declined sales of automobile business," the statement said.
Further, the entity's operating income plunged 63 per cent to 102.4 billion yen mainly due to negative impact of currency effects and increased raw material costs.
On the other hand, Honda anticipates to post net sales and other operating revenue to the tune of 10,100 billion yen fiscal year ending March 31, 2009 and said it would be a "decrease for the first time in nine years".
The car maker's net sales and other operating revenue stood at 12,002.8 billion yen in the year-ago period.
For financial year 2009, the company has projected the profit to plummet about 87 per cent to 80 billion yen. It had a profit of 600 billion yen in the same period a year ago.
Business - Spice ready to put Rs 20 bn for 51% Satyam stake
Spice Group is ready to invest about 20 billion rupees ($408 million) in Satyam Computer Services and wants to buy a 51 per cent stake in the fraud-scarred outsourcer, Spice Chairman B.K. Modi said.
"That is our desire," Modi said on Friday. "We want the money to go inside the company. For that they will have to make a preferential issue. If I buy shares from the market, the money will not go into the company."
Modi said the group had submitted on Thursday its proposal to the government-appointed new board of Satyam.
"We have also talked to two, three board members informally."
Spice Group has diversified operations including mobile handset manufacturing, mobile software development, back-office operations, entertainment and retail.
Last year, it sold its mobile telecoms services business to Idea Cellular for 21.76 billion rupees.
"That is one of the sources (for funding). But we have other channels," Modi said, adding that the group was capable to fund a possible deal internally
"That is our desire," Modi said on Friday. "We want the money to go inside the company. For that they will have to make a preferential issue. If I buy shares from the market, the money will not go into the company."
Modi said the group had submitted on Thursday its proposal to the government-appointed new board of Satyam.
"We have also talked to two, three board members informally."
Spice Group has diversified operations including mobile handset manufacturing, mobile software development, back-office operations, entertainment and retail.
Last year, it sold its mobile telecoms services business to Idea Cellular for 21.76 billion rupees.
"That is one of the sources (for funding). But we have other channels," Modi said, adding that the group was capable to fund a possible deal internally
Sport - Football;FIFA could reject joint World Cup bids - Blatter
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said that single bids are likely to get preference over joint ones when the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups are decided.
Speaking in Spanish at a meeting of the South American Football Confederation (CSF), Blatter said that if three or four suitable single bids were put forward, the joint ones would be rejected.
"In FIFA, there are decisions which have been taken by the executive committee in view of the organisation of the World Cup," he said.
"These decisions are the following: as soon as there is a candidacy or three or four relevant candidacies that only one country can organise it, we are directly going to reject the double candidacies.
"We have done this at the moment of the decision taken in May 2004 for the 2010 Cup at the moment that Tunisia and Libya put forward a double candidacy."
Spain and Portugal have formally put forward a joint bid to host one of the two tournaments and the Dutch and Belgian football associations, who co-hosted the 2000 European championship, have also submitted a joint bid.
England, Japan, Qatar, Russia and Indonesia have formally declared their interest and the U.S. has said it will also join the race.
The 2010 World Cup will be held in South Africa and the 2014 tournament will take place in Brazil.
Japan and South Korea co-hosted the 2002 World Cup
Speaking in Spanish at a meeting of the South American Football Confederation (CSF), Blatter said that if three or four suitable single bids were put forward, the joint ones would be rejected.
"In FIFA, there are decisions which have been taken by the executive committee in view of the organisation of the World Cup," he said.
"These decisions are the following: as soon as there is a candidacy or three or four relevant candidacies that only one country can organise it, we are directly going to reject the double candidacies.
"We have done this at the moment of the decision taken in May 2004 for the 2010 Cup at the moment that Tunisia and Libya put forward a double candidacy."
Spain and Portugal have formally put forward a joint bid to host one of the two tournaments and the Dutch and Belgian football associations, who co-hosted the 2000 European championship, have also submitted a joint bid.
England, Japan, Qatar, Russia and Indonesia have formally declared their interest and the U.S. has said it will also join the race.
The 2010 World Cup will be held in South Africa and the 2014 tournament will take place in Brazil.
Japan and South Korea co-hosted the 2002 World Cup
Sport - Football;Hamburg sink Bayern to top Bundesliga
Hamburg SV beat champions Bayern Munich 1-0 in the first game after the six-week winter break to go top of the Bundesliga on Friday.
Hosts Hamburg grabbed the winner a minute before halftime when Mladen Petric headed the ball over keeper Michael Rensing.
Hamburg have 36 points and Bayern are third on 35.
Second-placed Hoffenheim and Hertha Berlin, in fourth, play on Saturday against relegation-threatened Energie Cottbus and Eintracht Frankfurt respectively.
Hamburg coach Martin Jol used speedy midfielder Jonathan Pitroipa and a well organised defence to stifle playmaker Franck Ribery's creativity in the first half.
The hosts nearly scored after six minutes when Piotr Trochowski's fierce low drive rattled the post after Rensing stretched to get his fingers to the ball.
Hamburg were lucky, however, to have a Luca Toni goal disallowed for a foul by the Italian striker on defender Bastian Reinhardt.
Petric netted the winner in the 44th minute, heading Rensing's poor clearance of David Jarolim's shot over the keeper.
"We had a very compact team tonight," Petric told reporters. "We dominated the first half and were under greater pressure in the second but we held on. This win is a great boost for us but there are tough matches ahead."
A minute into the second half Petric could have added a second but his shot hit the post before Paolo Guererro fired over the crossbar.
Bayern went on the offensive and came close in the 48th when Miroslav Klose heading a Ribery cross towards the goal and keeper Frank Rost saved on the line.
Klose and Toni missed opportunities to equalise before Bayern coach Juergen Klinsmann threw on a third striker, Landon Donovan, on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy, to pile on the pressure.
Despite several more chances they failed to get the equaliser.
"It was a tough match," Jol said. "We had a bit of luck in the second half but overall, 1-0, I think is in order."
Hosts Hamburg grabbed the winner a minute before halftime when Mladen Petric headed the ball over keeper Michael Rensing.
Hamburg have 36 points and Bayern are third on 35.
Second-placed Hoffenheim and Hertha Berlin, in fourth, play on Saturday against relegation-threatened Energie Cottbus and Eintracht Frankfurt respectively.
Hamburg coach Martin Jol used speedy midfielder Jonathan Pitroipa and a well organised defence to stifle playmaker Franck Ribery's creativity in the first half.
The hosts nearly scored after six minutes when Piotr Trochowski's fierce low drive rattled the post after Rensing stretched to get his fingers to the ball.
Hamburg were lucky, however, to have a Luca Toni goal disallowed for a foul by the Italian striker on defender Bastian Reinhardt.
Petric netted the winner in the 44th minute, heading Rensing's poor clearance of David Jarolim's shot over the keeper.
"We had a very compact team tonight," Petric told reporters. "We dominated the first half and were under greater pressure in the second but we held on. This win is a great boost for us but there are tough matches ahead."
A minute into the second half Petric could have added a second but his shot hit the post before Paolo Guererro fired over the crossbar.
Bayern went on the offensive and came close in the 48th when Miroslav Klose heading a Ribery cross towards the goal and keeper Frank Rost saved on the line.
Klose and Toni missed opportunities to equalise before Bayern coach Juergen Klinsmann threw on a third striker, Landon Donovan, on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy, to pile on the pressure.
Despite several more chances they failed to get the equaliser.
"It was a tough match," Jol said. "We had a bit of luck in the second half but overall, 1-0, I think is in order."
Fun -Lewis Hamilton 'upstaged' by girlfriend's billionaire admirer
London, January 30 (ANI): Lewis Hamilton was reportedly left red-faced after being upstaged in front of his girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger by a Saudi Arabian royal.
The British F1 racing driver had apparently arrived at London's O2 to see his singer-love perform with her Pussycat Doll band - and unexpectedly received a big smacker for 50 red roses and a diamond necklace worth 100,000 pounds.
But it was a Sheikh who had sent the gifts to the lead singer of the American girl band.
"It was all a bit awkward for Lewis. He showed up and got an almighty embrace from Nicole to thank him for his gift," the Sun quoted a source as saying.
"He had got her a pressie but it was something pretty simple and he seemed a bit baffled by her overreaction.
"It soon became clear she thought the diamonds and the roses were from him, especially when she opened the card.
"They both saw the funny side - but Lewis will be upping his efforts next time," the source added. (ANI)
The British F1 racing driver had apparently arrived at London's O2 to see his singer-love perform with her Pussycat Doll band - and unexpectedly received a big smacker for 50 red roses and a diamond necklace worth 100,000 pounds.
But it was a Sheikh who had sent the gifts to the lead singer of the American girl band.
"It was all a bit awkward for Lewis. He showed up and got an almighty embrace from Nicole to thank him for his gift," the Sun quoted a source as saying.
"He had got her a pressie but it was something pretty simple and he seemed a bit baffled by her overreaction.
"It soon became clear she thought the diamonds and the roses were from him, especially when she opened the card.
"They both saw the funny side - but Lewis will be upping his efforts next time," the source added. (ANI)
Sport - Cricket;Few Pak players still keen to play in IPL
Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, who did not feature in the inaugural Indian Premier League, has fetched the highest base price among his compatriots for the IPL second edition players' auction to be held on February 6.
Kaneria has been given a base price of USD 100,000 in the players auction, the highest among the five Pakistani players who will feature in the auction in which 111 players from all over the world will be up for sale for the eight franchises that play in the IPL.
The leg spinner was not recommended by the Pakistan Cricket Board last year for the IPL auction. "I am happy to be on the auction list because I am hungry for success in one-day and Twenty20 formats," Kaneria said. He said he wants to prove that he could be as much a success in Twenty20 cricket as he was in Test matches.
"There can't be a bigger platform then the IPL to prove oneself against the best players in the world. Let us see what happens but right now at least I have been recommended by the IPL," he said.
Pakistan's other players in the IPL auction include batsmen Yasir Hameed and Asim Kamal and allrounders Yasir Arafat and Mohammad Hafeez.
Yasir has fetched a base price of USD 75,000 but the rest have been given a comparatively low base price not more then USD 30,000 for one year.
But with relations between Pakistan and India not very warm in the wake of last year's Mumbai terror strikes doubts remain whether any franchise would bid for Pakistan players.
Already, some of the Pakistani players signed up with the IPL, who were put up in the transfer window didn't invite new bids including fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar.
Kaneria has been given a base price of USD 100,000 in the players auction, the highest among the five Pakistani players who will feature in the auction in which 111 players from all over the world will be up for sale for the eight franchises that play in the IPL.
The leg spinner was not recommended by the Pakistan Cricket Board last year for the IPL auction. "I am happy to be on the auction list because I am hungry for success in one-day and Twenty20 formats," Kaneria said. He said he wants to prove that he could be as much a success in Twenty20 cricket as he was in Test matches.
"There can't be a bigger platform then the IPL to prove oneself against the best players in the world. Let us see what happens but right now at least I have been recommended by the IPL," he said.
Pakistan's other players in the IPL auction include batsmen Yasir Hameed and Asim Kamal and allrounders Yasir Arafat and Mohammad Hafeez.
Yasir has fetched a base price of USD 75,000 but the rest have been given a comparatively low base price not more then USD 30,000 for one year.
But with relations between Pakistan and India not very warm in the wake of last year's Mumbai terror strikes doubts remain whether any franchise would bid for Pakistan players.
Already, some of the Pakistani players signed up with the IPL, who were put up in the transfer window didn't invite new bids including fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar.
Sport - Telefonica Blue wins punishing Volvo Ocean leg
QINGDAO, China (AP) The skipper of Spain's Telefonica Blue was more relieved than triumphant after winning the fourth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race on Thursday, describing the stage from Singapore to China as the hardest sailing of his life. "I won't forget that in a hurry, but I'd like to," skipper Bouwe Bekking said after sailing into the Yellow Sea port of Qingdao.
"We won the leg and that is great we are right back in this yacht race but getting home in one piece was more important." Telefonica Blue finished ahead of Puma Ocean Racing, which overtook overall race leader Ericsson Four on the final night of the 2,500 nautical mile (4,630-kilometer, 2,877-mile) stage.
The result closed the gap at the top of the standings to just 3.5 points approaching the halfway mark of the round-the-world event, with Ericcson Four leading on 45 points, Telefonica Blue with 41.5, and Puma Ocean Racing third on 38 points. The fleet had to contend with dangerous, uncharted reefs at the beginning of the stage and then was struck by severe storms in the South China Sea, with winds reaching 55 knots (102 kph, 63 mph) and waves of 14 meters.
It was too much for several entries. Telefonica Black sustained a hole in its hull and retired, while Delta Lloyd and Ericsson Three also had to suspend racing with similar damage.
Bekking injured his back while stacking sails and was confined to his bunk for much of the leg. "(We) easily could have picked up more injuries in those conditions," navigator Simon Fisher said.
"It was pretty brutal out there." There will be an in-port race at Fushan Bay on Feb.
7 before the fleet sets off on Feb. 14 for the fifth leg across the Pacific Ocean from Qingdao to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
"I always said that if we reach Rio and are in contention, we have a great chance," Bekking said. "There are so many points available after that stage and anything could happen.
As it is, we are close to them and I know we will continue getting better." Puma Ocean Racing had a setback when it broke its boom in half during the stage, and was forced to shelter from a storm in a bay off the Philippines, but American skipper Ken Read was glad to finish second.
"We always knew this leg was going to be tough, but I don't think any of us ever dreamt of this," Read said. "There were times when I was sitting down below just looking to see where the next safe port would be, where we could stop if we needed to.
" The Volvo Ocean race started in Alicante, Spain and ends in June in St. Petersburg, Russia, after 10 legs and six in-port regattas.
___ On the Net: www.volvooceanrace.
org.
"We won the leg and that is great we are right back in this yacht race but getting home in one piece was more important." Telefonica Blue finished ahead of Puma Ocean Racing, which overtook overall race leader Ericsson Four on the final night of the 2,500 nautical mile (4,630-kilometer, 2,877-mile) stage.
The result closed the gap at the top of the standings to just 3.5 points approaching the halfway mark of the round-the-world event, with Ericcson Four leading on 45 points, Telefonica Blue with 41.5, and Puma Ocean Racing third on 38 points. The fleet had to contend with dangerous, uncharted reefs at the beginning of the stage and then was struck by severe storms in the South China Sea, with winds reaching 55 knots (102 kph, 63 mph) and waves of 14 meters.
It was too much for several entries. Telefonica Black sustained a hole in its hull and retired, while Delta Lloyd and Ericsson Three also had to suspend racing with similar damage.
Bekking injured his back while stacking sails and was confined to his bunk for much of the leg. "(We) easily could have picked up more injuries in those conditions," navigator Simon Fisher said.
"It was pretty brutal out there." There will be an in-port race at Fushan Bay on Feb.
7 before the fleet sets off on Feb. 14 for the fifth leg across the Pacific Ocean from Qingdao to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
"I always said that if we reach Rio and are in contention, we have a great chance," Bekking said. "There are so many points available after that stage and anything could happen.
As it is, we are close to them and I know we will continue getting better." Puma Ocean Racing had a setback when it broke its boom in half during the stage, and was forced to shelter from a storm in a bay off the Philippines, but American skipper Ken Read was glad to finish second.
"We always knew this leg was going to be tough, but I don't think any of us ever dreamt of this," Read said. "There were times when I was sitting down below just looking to see where the next safe port would be, where we could stop if we needed to.
" The Volvo Ocean race started in Alicante, Spain and ends in June in St. Petersburg, Russia, after 10 legs and six in-port regattas.
___ On the Net: www.volvooceanrace.
org.
Tech - Soon, detectors to identify sick travelers
London, Jan 30 (ANI): Worried about catching an infection while on flight with a sick person? Well, Belgium researchers seem to have put an end to your agony.
The team from Biorics, a spinout company from the University of Leuven in Belgium has come up with a novel way to identify passengers who may be infected with a pandemic virus - only from the sound of their coughing.
They revealed that installing microphones in areas like a departure lounge would help detect and diagnose different kinds of coughs, reports New Scientist.
The microphone output would be constantly processed to eradicate background hubbub to reveal the sound spikes of coughs, or "bioresponses".
Later the sound classification algorithms would help identify whether the noise is a harmless throat clearing or a "productive" cough that may signal infection.
Moreover, the loudness of a cough in different microphones would also make it spot the location of the infected person.
Previous studies have revealed that it is possible to develop a software that can discriminate between different kinds of cough or to spot illness.
"Governments and national or private health agencies can use this information from several users to gain information about the spread of respiratory disease," the patent claims. (ANI
The team from Biorics, a spinout company from the University of Leuven in Belgium has come up with a novel way to identify passengers who may be infected with a pandemic virus - only from the sound of their coughing.
They revealed that installing microphones in areas like a departure lounge would help detect and diagnose different kinds of coughs, reports New Scientist.
The microphone output would be constantly processed to eradicate background hubbub to reveal the sound spikes of coughs, or "bioresponses".
Later the sound classification algorithms would help identify whether the noise is a harmless throat clearing or a "productive" cough that may signal infection.
Moreover, the loudness of a cough in different microphones would also make it spot the location of the infected person.
Previous studies have revealed that it is possible to develop a software that can discriminate between different kinds of cough or to spot illness.
"Governments and national or private health agencies can use this information from several users to gain information about the spread of respiratory disease," the patent claims. (ANI
Entertainment - Has Akshay Kumar lost his comic touch?
Mumbai, Jan 31 (IANS) The failure of Nikhil Advani's 'Chandni Chowk To China' has put a question mark on Akshay Kumar's comic journey. While some filmmakers say he tends to interfere in the director's job, his staunch supporters in Bollywood feel he should not be written off because of one flop.
There were reports that the comic element in his next big release 'Kambakht Ishq' were revamped after the disastrous results of 'Chandni Chowk...' at the box office. But 'Kambakht Ishq' producer Sajid Nadiadwala shoots down the reports.
'Why would I do that? The film is what it is. I don't work with my actors based on how their last film did. 'Kambakht Ishq' will have a lot to offer,' Nadiadwala told IANS.
In 'Kambakht Ishq', Akshay is paired with Kareena Kapoor. Some parts of the film were shot in Hollywood and stars like Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Brandon Routh feature in the movie.
'It's an out-and-out romantic comedy with stunts of an international order. And why are we jumping the gun just because one of his films hasn't lived up to expectations? There could be so many reasons for it. Why should Akshay be blamed for it? Why so much negativity about him? Is he the first superstar to disappoint audiences?'
On the downside, Akshay's pairing with Kareena has hardly ever worked at the box office. Suneel Darshan's 'Talaash', Dharmesh Darshan's 'Bewafaa' and Yash Raj Films' 'Tashan' are a few examples.
Some filmmakers would like him to end his protracted attempts at comedy.
'Akshay has become progressively active in the process of writing scripts and shooting films. He freely makes suggestions some of which, I've to admit, are good. But quite often he wants to take over the project. When I went to him with another project, he offered to co-produce it and get someone to re-write portions. It's obvious a lot of scenes in 'Chandni Chowk...' were re-written. The result shows,' a director said on condition of anonymity.
'It's the Govinda factor at work again,' said another director who preferred to remain anonymous. 'He did so much buffoonery on screen that Govinda made people forget there was more to him than meets the eye.'
However, Akshay's staunch producer-director friends are more than happy to stand by him.
Said Vipul Shah, who will launch his next with Akshay and Aishwarya Rai in March: 'I don't think the failure of 'Chandni Chowk To China' means that audiences have rejected him in the comic avatar. The backlash is totally uncalled for. And it looks motivated by reasons other than the box office. Many people have been waiting to pounce on Akshay. This is their opportunity.'
But Shah, whose last two films with Akshay - 'Singh Is Kinng' and 'Namastey London' - were romantic comedies, has decided to keep away from the genre in the next venture.
It is believed that apart from Priyadarshan's 'De Dana Dan', which is an out-and-out comedy, the comic element is being cut down or dowplayed in Akshay's forthcoming projects
There were reports that the comic element in his next big release 'Kambakht Ishq' were revamped after the disastrous results of 'Chandni Chowk...' at the box office. But 'Kambakht Ishq' producer Sajid Nadiadwala shoots down the reports.
'Why would I do that? The film is what it is. I don't work with my actors based on how their last film did. 'Kambakht Ishq' will have a lot to offer,' Nadiadwala told IANS.
In 'Kambakht Ishq', Akshay is paired with Kareena Kapoor. Some parts of the film were shot in Hollywood and stars like Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Brandon Routh feature in the movie.
'It's an out-and-out romantic comedy with stunts of an international order. And why are we jumping the gun just because one of his films hasn't lived up to expectations? There could be so many reasons for it. Why should Akshay be blamed for it? Why so much negativity about him? Is he the first superstar to disappoint audiences?'
On the downside, Akshay's pairing with Kareena has hardly ever worked at the box office. Suneel Darshan's 'Talaash', Dharmesh Darshan's 'Bewafaa' and Yash Raj Films' 'Tashan' are a few examples.
Some filmmakers would like him to end his protracted attempts at comedy.
'Akshay has become progressively active in the process of writing scripts and shooting films. He freely makes suggestions some of which, I've to admit, are good. But quite often he wants to take over the project. When I went to him with another project, he offered to co-produce it and get someone to re-write portions. It's obvious a lot of scenes in 'Chandni Chowk...' were re-written. The result shows,' a director said on condition of anonymity.
'It's the Govinda factor at work again,' said another director who preferred to remain anonymous. 'He did so much buffoonery on screen that Govinda made people forget there was more to him than meets the eye.'
However, Akshay's staunch producer-director friends are more than happy to stand by him.
Said Vipul Shah, who will launch his next with Akshay and Aishwarya Rai in March: 'I don't think the failure of 'Chandni Chowk To China' means that audiences have rejected him in the comic avatar. The backlash is totally uncalled for. And it looks motivated by reasons other than the box office. Many people have been waiting to pounce on Akshay. This is their opportunity.'
But Shah, whose last two films with Akshay - 'Singh Is Kinng' and 'Namastey London' - were romantic comedies, has decided to keep away from the genre in the next venture.
It is believed that apart from Priyadarshan's 'De Dana Dan', which is an out-and-out comedy, the comic element is being cut down or dowplayed in Akshay's forthcoming projects
Entertainment - 'Kung Fu Panda' co-director to helm live-action 'He-Man' movie
London, Jan 30 (IANS) John Stevenson, co-director of 'Kung Fu Panda', is to make his live-action debut with an adaptation of cartoon series 'He-Man and the Masters of the Universe'.
Contactmusic.com reports, Stevenson will direct a 'gritty fantasy' version for Warner Bros and Silver Pictures, from a script written by Justin Marks.
The 80s fantasy show told of Prince Adam's transformation into the heroic He-Man thanks to the magical powers of the fortress Castle of Gray Skull.
Owned by toy maker Mattel, 'He-Man and the Masters of the Universe' was a hugely successful animated series but became a flop film in 1987, in a version starring Dolph Lundgren and 'Frost/Nixon' star Frank Langella.
Contactmusic.com reports, Stevenson will direct a 'gritty fantasy' version for Warner Bros and Silver Pictures, from a script written by Justin Marks.
The 80s fantasy show told of Prince Adam's transformation into the heroic He-Man thanks to the magical powers of the fortress Castle of Gray Skull.
Owned by toy maker Mattel, 'He-Man and the Masters of the Universe' was a hugely successful animated series but became a flop film in 1987, in a version starring Dolph Lundgren and 'Frost/Nixon' star Frank Langella.
Lifestyle - January 31 is due to be the year's biggest night for first dates
London, Jan 30 (ANI): Going for your first date on January 31? Well, in that case, you're not alone to embark on a new romance, for a new survey has revealed that the last day of this month is the year's biggest day for first dates.
While January bears the reputation of being the peak month for break ups, new figures have shown that 31st of this month is due to be the year's biggest night for first dates.
In fact, according to estimates, a big 70,000 of these dates will culminate into a new romance by February.
PARSHIP.co.uk, Europe's largest scientifically based online dating service, conducted the survey of 5,000 singles.
And the research revealed that Britain's singles would go on 2.5 million first dates this January,
And the figure is almost three times more than in December and twice as many as any other single month of the year.
"These findings are consistent with previous surveys. We know that more people join internet dating services in January than any other time of year," The Telegraph quoted Dr Victoria Lukats, psychiatrist and PARSHIP.co.uk's dating expert, as saying.
She added: "We also know that internet dating has now become the single most common way of finding a partner.
"The explanation could be down to the post-Christmas malaise, pressure from well-meaning friends and relatives or New Year's resolutions." (ANI)
While January bears the reputation of being the peak month for break ups, new figures have shown that 31st of this month is due to be the year's biggest night for first dates.
In fact, according to estimates, a big 70,000 of these dates will culminate into a new romance by February.
PARSHIP.co.uk, Europe's largest scientifically based online dating service, conducted the survey of 5,000 singles.
And the research revealed that Britain's singles would go on 2.5 million first dates this January,
And the figure is almost three times more than in December and twice as many as any other single month of the year.
"These findings are consistent with previous surveys. We know that more people join internet dating services in January than any other time of year," The Telegraph quoted Dr Victoria Lukats, psychiatrist and PARSHIP.co.uk's dating expert, as saying.
She added: "We also know that internet dating has now become the single most common way of finding a partner.
"The explanation could be down to the post-Christmas malaise, pressure from well-meaning friends and relatives or New Year's resolutions." (ANI)
Jan 30, 2009
World - Urgent action needed as Zimbabwe cholera hits 60,000: WHO
GENEVA: The World Health Organization on Friday called for drastic national and international action to tackle Zimbabwe's cholera outbreak, after
the number of victims soared past the worst case threshold of 60,000.
The death toll in the outbreak since August 2008 reached 3,161, out of 60,401 recorded cases, according to the WHO's most recent update released here on Friday.
Eric Laroche, a WHO assistant director-general, said the WHO and other international and local partners were supporting Zimbabwe's health ministry in tackling the disease.
"But unless drastic action is taken by all players in this crisis, more Zimbabweans will succumb to the outbreak, and other countries in the southern African region will face the continued threat of spill over epidemics," he added in a statement.
Laroche said the outbreak could easily run into spring unless "political differences are put aside," impoverished Zimbabwean health workers are paid adequately and the country's health system is bolstered.
Zimbabwe has been paralysed politically since disputed elections last March, with President Robert Mugabe and the opposition failing to implement a power-sharing deal amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.
"We are dealing with an extraordinary public health crisis that requires from us all an extraordinary public health emergency response, and this must happen now before the outbreak causes more needless suffering and death," Laroche said.
Impoverished Zimbabwe's rainy season is expected to help nurture the waterborne disease, which is already thriving on the country's poor sanitation and broken sewage and water systems, according to health officials.
The UN's health agency estimates that about half of Zimbabwe's population of about 12 million are at risk from cholera because of poor living conditions.
When one percent of that vulnerable population is infected, the outbreak reaches the WHO's "worst case scenario."
Another fear has been the growing proportion of people falling ill and dying out of reach of health care in rural areas.
Three times more deaths are being recorded in their communities rather than within health facilities, according to the WHO.
Meanwhile, the overall fatality rate is about five percent instead of the one percent the agency regards as "acceptable."
the number of victims soared past the worst case threshold of 60,000.
The death toll in the outbreak since August 2008 reached 3,161, out of 60,401 recorded cases, according to the WHO's most recent update released here on Friday.
Eric Laroche, a WHO assistant director-general, said the WHO and other international and local partners were supporting Zimbabwe's health ministry in tackling the disease.
"But unless drastic action is taken by all players in this crisis, more Zimbabweans will succumb to the outbreak, and other countries in the southern African region will face the continued threat of spill over epidemics," he added in a statement.
Laroche said the outbreak could easily run into spring unless "political differences are put aside," impoverished Zimbabwean health workers are paid adequately and the country's health system is bolstered.
Zimbabwe has been paralysed politically since disputed elections last March, with President Robert Mugabe and the opposition failing to implement a power-sharing deal amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.
"We are dealing with an extraordinary public health crisis that requires from us all an extraordinary public health emergency response, and this must happen now before the outbreak causes more needless suffering and death," Laroche said.
Impoverished Zimbabwe's rainy season is expected to help nurture the waterborne disease, which is already thriving on the country's poor sanitation and broken sewage and water systems, according to health officials.
The UN's health agency estimates that about half of Zimbabwe's population of about 12 million are at risk from cholera because of poor living conditions.
When one percent of that vulnerable population is infected, the outbreak reaches the WHO's "worst case scenario."
Another fear has been the growing proportion of people falling ill and dying out of reach of health care in rural areas.
Three times more deaths are being recorded in their communities rather than within health facilities, according to the WHO.
Meanwhile, the overall fatality rate is about five percent instead of the one percent the agency regards as "acceptable."
Science - Tadpoles could prevent skin cancer
LONDON: Tadpoles could hold the key to developing skin cancer drugs, according to scientists.
A team at the University of East Anglia has identified a compound which blocks the movement of the pigment cells that give the tadpoles their distinctive markings.
It is the uncontrolled movement and growth of pigment cells that causes skin cancer in both humans and frogs.
And by blocking their migration, the development and spread of cancerous tumours can potentially be prevented, the scientists have claimed.
Dr Grant Wheeler, who led the team, was quoted by the British media as saying: "This is an exciting advance with implications in the fight against cancer.
"The next step is to test the compound in other species and, in the longer term, embark on the development of new drugs to fight skin cancer in humans."
The scientists have based their findings on years of work on tadpoles in the university laboratory- the results of which are published in the latest edition of the Cell Press journal 'Chemistry and Biology'.
In fact, the team, working in partnership with the John Innes Centre (JIC) and Pfizer, claims that South African clawed frog tadpoles- Latin name Xenopus Laevis-have the same organs, molecules and physiology as humans.
The close comparison means the same mechanisms are involved in causing cancer in both Xenopus tadpoles and humans. Until the 1960s, Xenopus Laevis frogs were used as the main human pregnancy test.
Ed Yong of Cancer Research UK welcomed the findings. But he said: "There is still a lot of work to do before these interesting but preliminary results can be used to benefit people affected by cancer. It shows that studying animals like tadpoles could lead to potential cancer drugs."
A team at the University of East Anglia has identified a compound which blocks the movement of the pigment cells that give the tadpoles their distinctive markings.
It is the uncontrolled movement and growth of pigment cells that causes skin cancer in both humans and frogs.
And by blocking their migration, the development and spread of cancerous tumours can potentially be prevented, the scientists have claimed.
Dr Grant Wheeler, who led the team, was quoted by the British media as saying: "This is an exciting advance with implications in the fight against cancer.
"The next step is to test the compound in other species and, in the longer term, embark on the development of new drugs to fight skin cancer in humans."
The scientists have based their findings on years of work on tadpoles in the university laboratory- the results of which are published in the latest edition of the Cell Press journal 'Chemistry and Biology'.
In fact, the team, working in partnership with the John Innes Centre (JIC) and Pfizer, claims that South African clawed frog tadpoles- Latin name Xenopus Laevis-have the same organs, molecules and physiology as humans.
The close comparison means the same mechanisms are involved in causing cancer in both Xenopus tadpoles and humans. Until the 1960s, Xenopus Laevis frogs were used as the main human pregnancy test.
Ed Yong of Cancer Research UK welcomed the findings. But he said: "There is still a lot of work to do before these interesting but preliminary results can be used to benefit people affected by cancer. It shows that studying animals like tadpoles could lead to potential cancer drugs."
India - India's per capita income increases to Rs 33,283: CSO
NEW DELHI: Backed by robust economic growth, India's per capita income has increased to Rs 33,283 in 2007-08 indicating an overall improvement in
the living standards of the people.
Rising by almost 60 per cent since 2003-04, India's per capita income, which indicates what an average person earns, has increased to Rs 33,283 in 2007-08, reveals the quick estimates of national income released by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) on Friday.
The country's per capita income, has been growing at an annual rate of over 10 per cent since 2003-04, it said.
According to the data, the per capita income, after taking into account population growth, increased to Rs 33,283 during 2007-08 from Rs 29,524 in the previous fiscal.
The per capita income, increased by 12.7 per cent (at current prices) during 2007-08, while country's population inched up by 1.4 per cent to 1.38 billion by the end of the fiscal.
The double-digit growth in the per capita income during the five successive years comes in the backdrop of impressive economic growth recorded by the country during that period.
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate, which was 8.5 per cent in 2003-04, dipped to 7.5 per cent in the next year. However, since 2005-06, India has been recording an economic growth rate of nine per cent or more.
Economy grew by 9.5 per cent in 2005-06 followed by an even higher rate of 9.7 per cent during the next fiscal. Even during 2007-08, which witnessed a deceleration in the growth rate, economy expanded by 9 per cent.
The growth rate, however, is expected to decline to 7 per cent during the current fiscal primarily on account of the impact of the global financial meltdown on the country.
As per the recent projections of the Reserve Bank of India and the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council, the growth rate was likely to dip to 7 per cent and 7.1 per cent respectively, during the current fiscal.
the living standards of the people.
Rising by almost 60 per cent since 2003-04, India's per capita income, which indicates what an average person earns, has increased to Rs 33,283 in 2007-08, reveals the quick estimates of national income released by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) on Friday.
The country's per capita income, has been growing at an annual rate of over 10 per cent since 2003-04, it said.
According to the data, the per capita income, after taking into account population growth, increased to Rs 33,283 during 2007-08 from Rs 29,524 in the previous fiscal.
The per capita income, increased by 12.7 per cent (at current prices) during 2007-08, while country's population inched up by 1.4 per cent to 1.38 billion by the end of the fiscal.
The double-digit growth in the per capita income during the five successive years comes in the backdrop of impressive economic growth recorded by the country during that period.
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate, which was 8.5 per cent in 2003-04, dipped to 7.5 per cent in the next year. However, since 2005-06, India has been recording an economic growth rate of nine per cent or more.
Economy grew by 9.5 per cent in 2005-06 followed by an even higher rate of 9.7 per cent during the next fiscal. Even during 2007-08, which witnessed a deceleration in the growth rate, economy expanded by 9 per cent.
The growth rate, however, is expected to decline to 7 per cent during the current fiscal primarily on account of the impact of the global financial meltdown on the country.
As per the recent projections of the Reserve Bank of India and the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council, the growth rate was likely to dip to 7 per cent and 7.1 per cent respectively, during the current fiscal.
India - Rentals fall by 30% in Bangalore
Anshul Dhamija
BANGALORE: Residential rentals in Bangalore have fallen by close to 30% in the last six months alone.
So, if you are looking to rent a house or ink an extension in your contract, make sure that the owner drops the rental in line with the current market rates. The economic turmoil, which has led to job cuts and lower pay hikes, has forced many to either vacate their homes or go in for more affordable rentals. This, combined with an increase in brand new flats, has created a huge supply in the market and left landlords with no choice but to drop prices.
Three days ago, a two-bedroom flat in an apartment in Kodihalli 1st Main, near Indiranagar 2nd stage, went for a sweet Rs 12,000 a month as rent inclusive of maintenance. Barely four months ago, the same area commanded a rental of Rs 18,000 exclusive of maintenance per month for a two-bedroom apartment.
In Whitefield, a two-bedroom flat is going for just Rs 12,000, and there are still no takers. Just eight months ago it would have fetched a price anywhere between Rs 25,000 and Rs 35,000.
Even villas in Adarsh Palm Meadows in Whitefield at Rs 75,000 a month have no takers. And this was a project where monthly rentals started at Rs 2 lakh onwards just a year ago.
“The market has dropped by a minimum of 25% due to the overall economic gloom. People are not able to pay those exorbitant rentals with no pay hikes happening and the constant fear of being asked to leave their job,” says Feroze Abdulla, MD, Feroze’s Estate Agency.
According to Farook Mahmood of Silverline Realty, one of the city’s leading real estate agents, “many people in the city have already started serving their notice period to home owners. This has forced owners to renegotiate the contracts and lower prices.” In the last one month, Silverline Realty has closed about five deals, all of which saw owners dropping their rentals by 20%. “We have told our clients that if they want takers they have to drop prices,” says Mahmood.
BANGALORE: Residential rentals in Bangalore have fallen by close to 30% in the last six months alone.
So, if you are looking to rent a house or ink an extension in your contract, make sure that the owner drops the rental in line with the current market rates. The economic turmoil, which has led to job cuts and lower pay hikes, has forced many to either vacate their homes or go in for more affordable rentals. This, combined with an increase in brand new flats, has created a huge supply in the market and left landlords with no choice but to drop prices.
Three days ago, a two-bedroom flat in an apartment in Kodihalli 1st Main, near Indiranagar 2nd stage, went for a sweet Rs 12,000 a month as rent inclusive of maintenance. Barely four months ago, the same area commanded a rental of Rs 18,000 exclusive of maintenance per month for a two-bedroom apartment.
In Whitefield, a two-bedroom flat is going for just Rs 12,000, and there are still no takers. Just eight months ago it would have fetched a price anywhere between Rs 25,000 and Rs 35,000.
Even villas in Adarsh Palm Meadows in Whitefield at Rs 75,000 a month have no takers. And this was a project where monthly rentals started at Rs 2 lakh onwards just a year ago.
“The market has dropped by a minimum of 25% due to the overall economic gloom. People are not able to pay those exorbitant rentals with no pay hikes happening and the constant fear of being asked to leave their job,” says Feroze Abdulla, MD, Feroze’s Estate Agency.
According to Farook Mahmood of Silverline Realty, one of the city’s leading real estate agents, “many people in the city have already started serving their notice period to home owners. This has forced owners to renegotiate the contracts and lower prices.” In the last one month, Silverline Realty has closed about five deals, all of which saw owners dropping their rentals by 20%. “We have told our clients that if they want takers they have to drop prices,” says Mahmood.
World - Ailing Castro criticises Obama over Guantanamo Bay
HAVANA: Fidel Castro threw his first punch at President Barack Obama after several weeks of praise for the new leader, demanding the US return
Guantanamo Bay military base to Cuba and criticizing the US defence of Israel.
Castro's latest essay, published on an official Web site on Thursday, came one week after he called Obama "intelligent and noble" and said he would cut back on his writings to prevent interfering with Cuban government decisions.
The missive raised new questions about what role he maintains in policy-making, especially coming while his brother, President Raul Castro, was in Moscow on an official visit.
The ailing 82-year-old former president wrote that if the US doesn't give the US base at Guantanamo back to Cuba, it will be a violation of international law and an abuse of American power against a small country.
The US president must "respect this norm without any condition," Castro wrote.
Obama has ordered the prison for terror suspects on the US base to be closed within a year, but Cuba also demands the return of the 45-square-mile territory the base occupies in the island's east.
Raul Castro and other government officials have called for the return of the base, but with less critical words and tone.
The US, which acquired Guantanamo more than 100 years ago, considers it strategically important to maintain. The treaty granting its use remains in effect unless both Cuba and the US abrogate it or the US abandons the base.
Guantanamo Bay military base to Cuba and criticizing the US defence of Israel.
Castro's latest essay, published on an official Web site on Thursday, came one week after he called Obama "intelligent and noble" and said he would cut back on his writings to prevent interfering with Cuban government decisions.
The missive raised new questions about what role he maintains in policy-making, especially coming while his brother, President Raul Castro, was in Moscow on an official visit.
The ailing 82-year-old former president wrote that if the US doesn't give the US base at Guantanamo back to Cuba, it will be a violation of international law and an abuse of American power against a small country.
The US president must "respect this norm without any condition," Castro wrote.
Obama has ordered the prison for terror suspects on the US base to be closed within a year, but Cuba also demands the return of the 45-square-mile territory the base occupies in the island's east.
Raul Castro and other government officials have called for the return of the base, but with less critical words and tone.
The US, which acquired Guantanamo more than 100 years ago, considers it strategically important to maintain. The treaty granting its use remains in effect unless both Cuba and the US abrogate it or the US abandons the base.
Lifestyle - Watching movies helps children exercise mind
SYDNEY: Parents need not overly worry about kids spending most of their time indoors. They could be watching their favourite movies and exercising
their minds.
This perception is borne out by a study conducted by Massey University School of Educational Studies, which suggests that repeatedly watching favourite films helps children learn.
Massey lecturer Brian Finch used the second film in the popular Harry Potter series, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets", to focus on children's behaviour and depth of understanding when viewing a film repeatedly.
Finch said while it is encouraging that J.K. Rowling's fictional boy wizard series of books has made reading a valued activity by children, watching films also has educational benefits.
A school-based survey of favourite films produced 17 children who nominated the film as a favourite that they had already viewed at least 10 times.
"Kids identify with Harry. He is not a superhero and like us, he's not top of the class or the best at ordinary things but he has these unusual talents we would like to have."
Pairs of children were videoed while re-watching the 90-minute film in one child's home. Viewing practices varied, with some pairs talking and gesturing to the screen and each other and other pairs moving and saying little throughout, said a Massey release.
"Gestures were not only at the literal level of mimicking characters' on-screen actions but also at the personalised engagement level where they physically elaborated on characters' emotional states which were not being overtly expressed on screen."
their minds.
This perception is borne out by a study conducted by Massey University School of Educational Studies, which suggests that repeatedly watching favourite films helps children learn.
Massey lecturer Brian Finch used the second film in the popular Harry Potter series, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets", to focus on children's behaviour and depth of understanding when viewing a film repeatedly.
Finch said while it is encouraging that J.K. Rowling's fictional boy wizard series of books has made reading a valued activity by children, watching films also has educational benefits.
A school-based survey of favourite films produced 17 children who nominated the film as a favourite that they had already viewed at least 10 times.
"Kids identify with Harry. He is not a superhero and like us, he's not top of the class or the best at ordinary things but he has these unusual talents we would like to have."
Pairs of children were videoed while re-watching the 90-minute film in one child's home. Viewing practices varied, with some pairs talking and gesturing to the screen and each other and other pairs moving and saying little throughout, said a Massey release.
"Gestures were not only at the literal level of mimicking characters' on-screen actions but also at the personalised engagement level where they physically elaborated on characters' emotional states which were not being overtly expressed on screen."
India - After pay sorrow, booze cuts hit armed forces
Rajat Pandit
NEW DELHI: A double whammy has hit the armed forces in the New Year. And it's hurting. First, the government took piecemeal, confusing decisions on
their pay hike demands. And now, officers and jawans cannot even drown their salary sorrows in adequate quantities of booze.
As per instructions issued by Army HQ's Quarter-Master General branch, the liquor quota of officers and jawans has been further slashed from January 1.
All officers up to Colonels and their equivalents in Navy and IAF, for instance, will now be permitted to draw only 10 liquor bottles per month from CSD canteens. The earlier limit was 16 bottles, which was reduced to 12 a couple of years ago.
Coming as it does after state governments began levying hefty excise duties on liquor sold through military canteens, which left officers and jawans shelling out much more for their daily ``chota'' and ``bada'' pegs, it has left the armed forces seething with anger.
``The price differential with the open market for most CSD goods, including liquor, is already quite less now. Our pay hike issues have been left largely unresolved. Now, to top it all, our liquor quota has been further curtailed,'' said a furious Lt-Col.
There is, of course, a pecking order even for liquor quotas in the rank-conscious environs of armed forces. The top-rung of Field Marshals and equivalents, serving and retired Service chiefs, can draw all the liquor they want since they have ``no limit''.
Serving and retired Lt-Generals, Vice-Admirals and Air Marshals have a limit of 14 bottles, while Major-Generals and Brigadiers can take 12 bottles home every month.
Serving JCOs (junior commissioned officers) like Subedar Majors, Subedars and Naib Subedars are entitled to seven bottles, while retired ones get six. All other ranks have to make do with five bottles. ``We were getting only six bottles till last month. Now, we will get even less,'' said a Corporal.
The new order says the quotas have been ``reviewed'' due to ``various representations received from the environment (Army lingo for its formations spread across the country)'', without elaborating any further.
But the fact that ``alcohol dependency'' is a growing malaise in armed forces could be one of the reasons for slashing the quotas. In fact, it has also been identified as one of the triggering factors towards stress-related problems like suicides and fraggings.
Incidentally, over 120 soldiers, airmen and sailors commit suicide every year. Moreover, figures show over 500 armed forces personnel are being ``boarded-out'' every year due to mental disorders and alcohol-dependency.
NEW DELHI: A double whammy has hit the armed forces in the New Year. And it's hurting. First, the government took piecemeal, confusing decisions on
their pay hike demands. And now, officers and jawans cannot even drown their salary sorrows in adequate quantities of booze.
As per instructions issued by Army HQ's Quarter-Master General branch, the liquor quota of officers and jawans has been further slashed from January 1.
All officers up to Colonels and their equivalents in Navy and IAF, for instance, will now be permitted to draw only 10 liquor bottles per month from CSD canteens. The earlier limit was 16 bottles, which was reduced to 12 a couple of years ago.
Coming as it does after state governments began levying hefty excise duties on liquor sold through military canteens, which left officers and jawans shelling out much more for their daily ``chota'' and ``bada'' pegs, it has left the armed forces seething with anger.
``The price differential with the open market for most CSD goods, including liquor, is already quite less now. Our pay hike issues have been left largely unresolved. Now, to top it all, our liquor quota has been further curtailed,'' said a furious Lt-Col.
There is, of course, a pecking order even for liquor quotas in the rank-conscious environs of armed forces. The top-rung of Field Marshals and equivalents, serving and retired Service chiefs, can draw all the liquor they want since they have ``no limit''.
Serving and retired Lt-Generals, Vice-Admirals and Air Marshals have a limit of 14 bottles, while Major-Generals and Brigadiers can take 12 bottles home every month.
Serving JCOs (junior commissioned officers) like Subedar Majors, Subedars and Naib Subedars are entitled to seven bottles, while retired ones get six. All other ranks have to make do with five bottles. ``We were getting only six bottles till last month. Now, we will get even less,'' said a Corporal.
The new order says the quotas have been ``reviewed'' due to ``various representations received from the environment (Army lingo for its formations spread across the country)'', without elaborating any further.
But the fact that ``alcohol dependency'' is a growing malaise in armed forces could be one of the reasons for slashing the quotas. In fact, it has also been identified as one of the triggering factors towards stress-related problems like suicides and fraggings.
Incidentally, over 120 soldiers, airmen and sailors commit suicide every year. Moreover, figures show over 500 armed forces personnel are being ``boarded-out'' every year due to mental disorders and alcohol-dependency.
India - Gold adulteration with iridium rampant in India
Hemali Chhapia
Your wedding jewellery may not be as pure or as precious as you think it is. Goldsmiths across India have taken to adulterating the precious metal
with iridium and ruthenium, and are getting away with it, as until recently the metals failed to show up on all purity checks. It's an alchemist's dream, and the practice is becoming increasingly commonplace if you go by the stocks of the 'duplicate' metals at even the smallest of karigar workshops.
Both iridium and ruthenium belong to the platinum family of metals, and when mixed with gold, do not form an alloy but sit tight in the yellow metal. What makes the adulteration even more alarming is that the metals do not replace silver and copper, which are added to the gold during the jewellery-making process to harden the soft, malleable yellow metal. As Saumen Bhaumik, general manager (Retailing) at Tanishq put it, ''The two metals manage to camouflage as gold.''
TOI tested three pieces of jewellery, and all had some amount of either iridium or ruthenium lurking inconspicuously with the gold. A 22-carat gold bangle bought in 2003 from a century-and-a-half-old jeweller—who has since then expanded from Mumbai to other parts of the country—when tested at the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay, had 3% iridium in it. A gold chain bought from a shop in Bangalore in 2002 when tested at another city-based centre had 2.39% ruthenium, while a pair of earrings from Kerala was found to be adulterated with 4.65% of iridium.
On an average, a piece of jewellery or a bar of gold contains nearly 5-6% of the adulterant, and manufacturers—wholesalers and retailers across India—are aware of how rampant this notorious practice is. Consumers, however, are the biggest losers as they have been kept in the dark. ''Most machine-made jewellery contain these adulterants. Overnight, these manufacturers hit the jackpot,'' said Suresh Hundia, president of The Bombay Bullion Association (BBA).
The situation came to head when several refineries across India noticed that the gold bought from the market, which when melted, contained a high percentage of adulterants. ''Some refineries complained that a blackish substance kept floating in the aqua regia (mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid, which can dissolve gold). Moreover, if they bought 1kg of gold, they were losing 50-60gm after refinement. At the time, they didn't know where the rest of the gold was getting lost,'' said a Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) official.
The practice was especially rampant between 2004 and 2006, when there were few checks and balances. Traditional jewellers who checked the purity of gold by rubbing it on a touch-stone, said Bhavesh Sonawala from National Refineries Private Limited, ''had no clue about either iridium or ruthenium''. There was also very little awareness on hallmarking. (Hallmark is a purity certification of gold articles in accordance with Indian Standard specifications.) To add to the problem, XRF machines that are used to test the purity of gold were not calibrated to identify iridium and ruthenium. It was only after an alert from the trading community that BIS conducted a survey in markets across the country and found an extensive use of iridium and ruthenium in gold. ''In 2006, we issued a circular to all hallmarking centres to re-calibrate their XRF machines to look for iridium and ruthenium,'' said the BIS official. The results of this survey were never made public. That is when the BBA also started checking for iridium and ruthenium ''So, even hallmarked gold sold between 2001 and 2006 could be of dodgy quality,'' said a member of city-based hallmarking centre.
Several jewellers believe that the damage has already been done. During this period, tonnes of gold had already exchanged hands and consumers were unknowingly investing in 'spurious' jewellery.
By then, the word had spread, and the demand for iridium and ruthenium began to climb. When plotted on a graph, prices of gold, iridium and ruthenium could be seen moving along the same path. For instance, on January 12, 2004, international rate for gold stood at $142.56 for 10gm; the same quantity of iridium was priced at $27.97 and ruthenium at $13.83. In two months, iridium shot up to $73.95 and ruthenium was selling at $21.86—both for 10gm each. All the three metals touched their all time high in February-March 2007; gold was priced at $311.44, iridium was $144.69 and ruthenium was being sold at $273.3.
''This was largely because there was an unprecedented demand for both iridium and ruthenium from all kinds of people dealing in gold across India,'' explained B H Mehta, proprietor of Varsha Bullion and Elemental Analab Hallmarking centre, a Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)-approved hallmarking centre.
Even now, as per data from the BBA, only 46% of gold sold in India is hallmarked; the percentage is even lower in tier two cities and villages, which make up close to 70% of India's gold consumption. It is paradoxical, but both iridium and ruthenium have now become such high-priced substances that buyers get both these adulterants tested too, just to ensure that the metals are not adulterated with another cheaper substance.
Your wedding jewellery may not be as pure or as precious as you think it is. Goldsmiths across India have taken to adulterating the precious metal
with iridium and ruthenium, and are getting away with it, as until recently the metals failed to show up on all purity checks. It's an alchemist's dream, and the practice is becoming increasingly commonplace if you go by the stocks of the 'duplicate' metals at even the smallest of karigar workshops.
Both iridium and ruthenium belong to the platinum family of metals, and when mixed with gold, do not form an alloy but sit tight in the yellow metal. What makes the adulteration even more alarming is that the metals do not replace silver and copper, which are added to the gold during the jewellery-making process to harden the soft, malleable yellow metal. As Saumen Bhaumik, general manager (Retailing) at Tanishq put it, ''The two metals manage to camouflage as gold.''
TOI tested three pieces of jewellery, and all had some amount of either iridium or ruthenium lurking inconspicuously with the gold. A 22-carat gold bangle bought in 2003 from a century-and-a-half-old jeweller—who has since then expanded from Mumbai to other parts of the country—when tested at the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay, had 3% iridium in it. A gold chain bought from a shop in Bangalore in 2002 when tested at another city-based centre had 2.39% ruthenium, while a pair of earrings from Kerala was found to be adulterated with 4.65% of iridium.
On an average, a piece of jewellery or a bar of gold contains nearly 5-6% of the adulterant, and manufacturers—wholesalers and retailers across India—are aware of how rampant this notorious practice is. Consumers, however, are the biggest losers as they have been kept in the dark. ''Most machine-made jewellery contain these adulterants. Overnight, these manufacturers hit the jackpot,'' said Suresh Hundia, president of The Bombay Bullion Association (BBA).
The situation came to head when several refineries across India noticed that the gold bought from the market, which when melted, contained a high percentage of adulterants. ''Some refineries complained that a blackish substance kept floating in the aqua regia (mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid, which can dissolve gold). Moreover, if they bought 1kg of gold, they were losing 50-60gm after refinement. At the time, they didn't know where the rest of the gold was getting lost,'' said a Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) official.
The practice was especially rampant between 2004 and 2006, when there were few checks and balances. Traditional jewellers who checked the purity of gold by rubbing it on a touch-stone, said Bhavesh Sonawala from National Refineries Private Limited, ''had no clue about either iridium or ruthenium''. There was also very little awareness on hallmarking. (Hallmark is a purity certification of gold articles in accordance with Indian Standard specifications.) To add to the problem, XRF machines that are used to test the purity of gold were not calibrated to identify iridium and ruthenium. It was only after an alert from the trading community that BIS conducted a survey in markets across the country and found an extensive use of iridium and ruthenium in gold. ''In 2006, we issued a circular to all hallmarking centres to re-calibrate their XRF machines to look for iridium and ruthenium,'' said the BIS official. The results of this survey were never made public. That is when the BBA also started checking for iridium and ruthenium ''So, even hallmarked gold sold between 2001 and 2006 could be of dodgy quality,'' said a member of city-based hallmarking centre.
Several jewellers believe that the damage has already been done. During this period, tonnes of gold had already exchanged hands and consumers were unknowingly investing in 'spurious' jewellery.
By then, the word had spread, and the demand for iridium and ruthenium began to climb. When plotted on a graph, prices of gold, iridium and ruthenium could be seen moving along the same path. For instance, on January 12, 2004, international rate for gold stood at $142.56 for 10gm; the same quantity of iridium was priced at $27.97 and ruthenium at $13.83. In two months, iridium shot up to $73.95 and ruthenium was selling at $21.86—both for 10gm each. All the three metals touched their all time high in February-March 2007; gold was priced at $311.44, iridium was $144.69 and ruthenium was being sold at $273.3.
''This was largely because there was an unprecedented demand for both iridium and ruthenium from all kinds of people dealing in gold across India,'' explained B H Mehta, proprietor of Varsha Bullion and Elemental Analab Hallmarking centre, a Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)-approved hallmarking centre.
Even now, as per data from the BBA, only 46% of gold sold in India is hallmarked; the percentage is even lower in tier two cities and villages, which make up close to 70% of India's gold consumption. It is paradoxical, but both iridium and ruthenium have now become such high-priced substances that buyers get both these adulterants tested too, just to ensure that the metals are not adulterated with another cheaper substance.
India - Air India slashes fares on key domestic routes
NEW DELHI: With declining jet fuel prices, Air India has once again taken the lead in introducing further cuts in its fares on key domestic routes,
which may lead to another round of 'fare war' among domestic carriers, including the no-frill ones.
Under the new APEX-21 scheme, the passenger can avail of a basic fare of Rs 99. Coupled with this, he or she would have to pay Rs 225 as Passenger Service Fee of the government and a fuel surcharge of Rs 2,700. However, the travel has to be undertaken on or before February 28, an Air India spokesman said.
The scheme is effective on most of the state-owned carrier's domestic route network.
The last round of fare reduction was on December 30, when the state-owned airline had substantially slashed basic fares on 20 major sectors, averaging a reduction of over 50 per cent. Thus, on most of the Air India (Domestic) network, an air traveller can avail of a fare of Rs 3,024 inclusive of taxes.
Since October last year, fares have come down considerably and domestic carriers have again started competing with one another despite their financial health and the global meltdown.
The competitive fares and several other schemes like advance purchase (APEX) and companion-free travel on business class, which were put on hold, have been re-introduced.
The price of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) has come down by over 50 per cent to July 2005 levels, which has given the domestic aviation industry the much-needed relief to go in for fare cuts to boost the sagging passenger traffic.
which may lead to another round of 'fare war' among domestic carriers, including the no-frill ones.
Under the new APEX-21 scheme, the passenger can avail of a basic fare of Rs 99. Coupled with this, he or she would have to pay Rs 225 as Passenger Service Fee of the government and a fuel surcharge of Rs 2,700. However, the travel has to be undertaken on or before February 28, an Air India spokesman said.
The scheme is effective on most of the state-owned carrier's domestic route network.
The last round of fare reduction was on December 30, when the state-owned airline had substantially slashed basic fares on 20 major sectors, averaging a reduction of over 50 per cent. Thus, on most of the Air India (Domestic) network, an air traveller can avail of a fare of Rs 3,024 inclusive of taxes.
Since October last year, fares have come down considerably and domestic carriers have again started competing with one another despite their financial health and the global meltdown.
The competitive fares and several other schemes like advance purchase (APEX) and companion-free travel on business class, which were put on hold, have been re-introduced.
The price of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) has come down by over 50 per cent to July 2005 levels, which has given the domestic aviation industry the much-needed relief to go in for fare cuts to boost the sagging passenger traffic.
Lifestyle - Don't take flirtatious women for granted
WASHINGTON: Don't take flirtatious women for granted. They may not be interested in you at all but are just being friendly, says a new study.
People of both sexes looking for romance are quite good at reading the male's interest, but equally bad at misjudging the female's interest.
"The hardest-to-read women were being misperceived at a much higher rate than the hardest-to-read men. Those women were being flirtatious, but it turned out they weren't interested at all," said study co-author Skyler Place.
Place is a doctoral student in psychological sciences at the Indiana University (IU) working with cognitive science professor Peter Todd. "Nobody could really read what these deceptive females were doing, including other women," he added.
"So, if you walk into a room and there's 20 people you've never met before, being able to know which individuals might be available and which are clearly smitten by others can make you more efficient in finding your own romantic interest to pursue," he said.
Place's study focussed on the ability of observers to judge romantic interest between others because this ability has evolutionary benefits when it comes to finding a mate. "Decisions that other people around us make can influence or inform our own choices," said Place.
The speed dating sessions were all conducted in Germany while the observer ratings were all made by students in Indiana. Despite the language difference, observers were still able to judge men's romantic interest accurately using body language, tone of voice, eye contact, how often each dater spoke and other non-verbal cues.
Speed dating is a popular commercial method for singles to meet a large number of individuals in one evening of successive brief one-on-one conversations.
For the study, 28 women and 26 men of college age watched video clips of couples interacting on speed dates. Each participant observed 24 videos, all with different men and women, and after each rated whether the man seemed interested in the woman and the woman in the man.
Observers did not have to see much of this non-verbal behaviour. They were just as good at predicting the speed-dating couple's interest if they saw only 10 seconds of the date as they were if they saw 30 seconds.
There was, however, great variability in how well observers could predict the interest of any particular speed-dater,
ranging from 90 percent accuracy down to 10 percent.
In five of the videos, 80 percent of the observers thought the women shown were interested when in fact they were not - they were acting friendly even though they had no interest in the men.
Evolutionary theory, said Place, predicts a certain level of coyness or even deceptiveness in women because if a relationship is abandoned they may face greater costs, including pregnancy and child rearing, said an IU release.
"In a speed dating environment, you would expect to see these effects dramatically, with the women trying to get the men to be more straightforward, while they themselves remain more coy," Place said. "Though the pace is faster than a typical first date, the strategy remains the same."
These findings were published in the January issue of Psychological Science.
People of both sexes looking for romance are quite good at reading the male's interest, but equally bad at misjudging the female's interest.
"The hardest-to-read women were being misperceived at a much higher rate than the hardest-to-read men. Those women were being flirtatious, but it turned out they weren't interested at all," said study co-author Skyler Place.
Place is a doctoral student in psychological sciences at the Indiana University (IU) working with cognitive science professor Peter Todd. "Nobody could really read what these deceptive females were doing, including other women," he added.
"So, if you walk into a room and there's 20 people you've never met before, being able to know which individuals might be available and which are clearly smitten by others can make you more efficient in finding your own romantic interest to pursue," he said.
Place's study focussed on the ability of observers to judge romantic interest between others because this ability has evolutionary benefits when it comes to finding a mate. "Decisions that other people around us make can influence or inform our own choices," said Place.
The speed dating sessions were all conducted in Germany while the observer ratings were all made by students in Indiana. Despite the language difference, observers were still able to judge men's romantic interest accurately using body language, tone of voice, eye contact, how often each dater spoke and other non-verbal cues.
Speed dating is a popular commercial method for singles to meet a large number of individuals in one evening of successive brief one-on-one conversations.
For the study, 28 women and 26 men of college age watched video clips of couples interacting on speed dates. Each participant observed 24 videos, all with different men and women, and after each rated whether the man seemed interested in the woman and the woman in the man.
Observers did not have to see much of this non-verbal behaviour. They were just as good at predicting the speed-dating couple's interest if they saw only 10 seconds of the date as they were if they saw 30 seconds.
There was, however, great variability in how well observers could predict the interest of any particular speed-dater,
ranging from 90 percent accuracy down to 10 percent.
In five of the videos, 80 percent of the observers thought the women shown were interested when in fact they were not - they were acting friendly even though they had no interest in the men.
Evolutionary theory, said Place, predicts a certain level of coyness or even deceptiveness in women because if a relationship is abandoned they may face greater costs, including pregnancy and child rearing, said an IU release.
"In a speed dating environment, you would expect to see these effects dramatically, with the women trying to get the men to be more straightforward, while they themselves remain more coy," Place said. "Though the pace is faster than a typical first date, the strategy remains the same."
These findings were published in the January issue of Psychological Science.
World - Pak might prosecute some terrorists for Mumbai attacks: Report
ISLAMABAD: Some of the terrorists detained by Pakistan in connection with the Mumbai attacks are likely to be prosecuted with the completion of the
country's probe into the terrorist incident, a media report has said.
Pakistani investigators have completed their probe into the alleged links between some of the 124 terrorists detained in the country and the Mumbai attacks, a senior unnamed Pakistani government official told CBS News.
The official said it was likely that some of those detained in Pakistan "will be prosecuted on charges that have yet to be spelled out". He did not elaborate.
Western diplomats responding to the news said a prosecution of this kind would be the first ever undertaken by Pakistan.
A senior Western diplomat said Pakistan is considering trying some of the suspects under its cyber crime laws, based on evidence that the Internet and other communication technology were used between the attackers and their backers in Pakistan.
"This is a way to put these people behind bars," said a diplomat who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity.
India has blamed Pakistan-based elements, including members of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group, for masterminding and coordinating the Mumbai attacks. It has asked Pakistan to hand over these elements.
A media report earlier said that a preliminary probe into the Indian dossier on the Mumbai attacks had established that the terrorist strike was not planned within Pakistan.
Pakistan has banned the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, a front for the LeT, after the Mumbai attacks and sealed dozens of its offices. Over 120 members of both groups have also been detained, interior ministry chief Rehman Malik has said.
country's probe into the terrorist incident, a media report has said.
Pakistani investigators have completed their probe into the alleged links between some of the 124 terrorists detained in the country and the Mumbai attacks, a senior unnamed Pakistani government official told CBS News.
The official said it was likely that some of those detained in Pakistan "will be prosecuted on charges that have yet to be spelled out". He did not elaborate.
Western diplomats responding to the news said a prosecution of this kind would be the first ever undertaken by Pakistan.
A senior Western diplomat said Pakistan is considering trying some of the suspects under its cyber crime laws, based on evidence that the Internet and other communication technology were used between the attackers and their backers in Pakistan.
"This is a way to put these people behind bars," said a diplomat who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity.
India has blamed Pakistan-based elements, including members of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group, for masterminding and coordinating the Mumbai attacks. It has asked Pakistan to hand over these elements.
A media report earlier said that a preliminary probe into the Indian dossier on the Mumbai attacks had established that the terrorist strike was not planned within Pakistan.
Pakistan has banned the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, a front for the LeT, after the Mumbai attacks and sealed dozens of its offices. Over 120 members of both groups have also been detained, interior ministry chief Rehman Malik has said.
Business - Spice Group ready to invest $408m in Satyam
NEW DELHI: Spice Group is ready to invest about 20 billion rupees ($408 million) in Satyam Computer Services and wants to buy a 51% stake in the
fraud-scarred outsourcer, Spice chairman B K Modi said.
"That is our desire," Modi said on Friday. "We want the money to go inside the company. For that they will have to make a preferential issue. If I buy shares from the market, the money will not go into the company."
Modi said the group had submitted on Thursday its proposal to the government-appointed new board of Satyam.
"We have also talked to two, three board members informally."
Spice Group has diversified operations including mobile handset manufacturing, mobile software development, back-office operations, entertainment and retail.
Last year, it sold its mobile telecoms services business to Idea Cellular for 21.76 billion rupees.
"That is one of the sources (for funding). But we have other channels," Modi said, adding that the group was capable to fund a possible deal internally.
fraud-scarred outsourcer, Spice chairman B K Modi said.
"That is our desire," Modi said on Friday. "We want the money to go inside the company. For that they will have to make a preferential issue. If I buy shares from the market, the money will not go into the company."
Modi said the group had submitted on Thursday its proposal to the government-appointed new board of Satyam.
"We have also talked to two, three board members informally."
Spice Group has diversified operations including mobile handset manufacturing, mobile software development, back-office operations, entertainment and retail.
Last year, it sold its mobile telecoms services business to Idea Cellular for 21.76 billion rupees.
"That is one of the sources (for funding). But we have other channels," Modi said, adding that the group was capable to fund a possible deal internally.
Sport - Cricket;Asif banned for one year from IPL
KARACHI: Pakistani pacer Mohammad Asif was on Friday banned for one year by the Indian Premier League (IPL) for a positive dope test.
Asif's agent Salman Ahmed confirmed the ban and said Asif will now concentrate on his training in a bid to play for Pakistan later this year.
Asif has been banned for a year, starting Sept 15, 2008, which means he would be eligible to play international cricket ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy which is scheduled in Pakistan from September 24.
Asif, 26, tested positive for banned anabolic steroid nandrolone in the inaugural season of the IPL last May. He had attended a hearing conducted in Mumbai Saturday by the IPL drugs tribunal wherein the player claimed that a new eyedrop he used was the reason for the rise in the nandrolone level.
He blamed Keratyl eyedrop medication for the positive test and hoped that the verdict will go his way.
"The tribunal has accepted that it was the eye drops which I used which contained nandrolone," he had said on his return to Karachi earlier this week.
However, the IPL tribunal was apparently not convinced. Asif also tested positive for nandrolone during the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy in India.
His agent said Asif remains focused in spite of the ban and will be training in the coming months to get fit for national duty.
However, Asif has another hurdle in the way of his comeback. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is probing Asif's 19-day detention in Dubai in June. The player was caught at the Dubai airport with a small quantity of opium and was detained there before being deported to Pakistan.
He appeared before a three-man inquiry committee formed by the PCB to probe the Dubai detention case. The probe committee, headed by former Pakistan Test wicketkeeper Waseem Bari, heard Asif's side of the story during its first meeting at the PCB headquarters in Lahore Thursday.
The committee will meet again on February 6 before submitting its recommendations to PCB chairman Ijaz Butt. Meanwhile, newspaper reports on Thursday suggested that Asif is free to enter UAE contrary to earlier reports which said that the player has been barred from entering the country because of the opium episode.
Saleem Altaf, PCB's chief operating officer, was quoted as saying that according to an independent report received by the Board from Dubai, Asif is not banned from entering UAE as no criminal charges were filed against him.
The news report said a Dubai-based law firm hired by PCB to re-examine Asif's case has given him an all-clear as far as the Dubai detention case is concerned.
Asif's agent Salman Ahmed confirmed the ban and said Asif will now concentrate on his training in a bid to play for Pakistan later this year.
Asif has been banned for a year, starting Sept 15, 2008, which means he would be eligible to play international cricket ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy which is scheduled in Pakistan from September 24.
Asif, 26, tested positive for banned anabolic steroid nandrolone in the inaugural season of the IPL last May. He had attended a hearing conducted in Mumbai Saturday by the IPL drugs tribunal wherein the player claimed that a new eyedrop he used was the reason for the rise in the nandrolone level.
He blamed Keratyl eyedrop medication for the positive test and hoped that the verdict will go his way.
"The tribunal has accepted that it was the eye drops which I used which contained nandrolone," he had said on his return to Karachi earlier this week.
However, the IPL tribunal was apparently not convinced. Asif also tested positive for nandrolone during the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy in India.
His agent said Asif remains focused in spite of the ban and will be training in the coming months to get fit for national duty.
However, Asif has another hurdle in the way of his comeback. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is probing Asif's 19-day detention in Dubai in June. The player was caught at the Dubai airport with a small quantity of opium and was detained there before being deported to Pakistan.
He appeared before a three-man inquiry committee formed by the PCB to probe the Dubai detention case. The probe committee, headed by former Pakistan Test wicketkeeper Waseem Bari, heard Asif's side of the story during its first meeting at the PCB headquarters in Lahore Thursday.
The committee will meet again on February 6 before submitting its recommendations to PCB chairman Ijaz Butt. Meanwhile, newspaper reports on Thursday suggested that Asif is free to enter UAE contrary to earlier reports which said that the player has been barred from entering the country because of the opium episode.
Saleem Altaf, PCB's chief operating officer, was quoted as saying that according to an independent report received by the Board from Dubai, Asif is not banned from entering UAE as no criminal charges were filed against him.
The news report said a Dubai-based law firm hired by PCB to re-examine Asif's case has given him an all-clear as far as the Dubai detention case is concerned.
Business - Bucking the trend: Print players surge ahead, slowdown or not
Swapna Rahul Shah
While a lot has been written about how the slowdown is adversely impacting different sectors, the situation is not without some positive developments taking place along side. Print players, too, have had to bear the burden of the slowdown coupled with hike in newsprint costs. There have been job cuts, pay cuts, launch and expansion plans put on hold.
However, the focus of this report is on bringing out some of the strongest positive aspects of this slowdown for the print industry. Some media experts believe that this is the time when the best managed companies would get an opportunity to emerge as the strongest company from among the lot.
Slowdown is also an opportunity
Giving his perspective, Rahul Kansal, Chief Marketing Officer, BCCL, said, “At the time of slowdown, various sectors end up cutting costs. But in actuality, for any industry, slowdown is also an opportunity for the best managed companies/ brands to emerge strongest from the rest. It is also a time to see how individuals are performing. Then hopefully, companies will emerge stronger after shaving some inefficiency from their system.”
According to KU Rao, Chief Executive officer, DNA, said, “The first positive aspect of the slowdown is sensible pagination by newspapers. Many newspapers were going on increasing the pages than what was required. But the slowdown has made everyone focus heavily on the cost side. And therefore, pagination reduction has been one of the positive outcomes of the slowdown that, in turn, has reduced the production cost in a big way.”
He continued, “The second positive aspect of the slowdown is wages/salaries, which were literally getting out of control. It was becoming a high wages island in the industry. But now, the situation has changed and the wages/salaries have come down to a reasonable level. The third aspect is that there was excessive hiring of employees by many print companies, but now that is also getting corrected.”
“Lastly, the slowdown has also helped us in increasing cover prices. The print industry was totally advertising led, but now, print companies are improving by increasing cover prices and covering some more cost. Accountability and transparency have also improved in the organisation due to the economic slowdown,” he added.
Manajit Ghoshal, CEO, Mid-Day Infomedia, noted, “Some concrete advantages have happened because of the economic slowdown. The biggest one of course is that newsprint prices, which were touching around $1,000 (they reached around $980), are now quoting at $700. There has been a huge drop in newsprint prices, which is almost 50 per cent of the total cost structure of any newspaper companies. That has substantially helped us in terms of saving money. The prices of ink and plates have also come down. In fact, the price of ink this year is now quoting at lower than what it was last year.”
He further said, “The other thing is concerning fixed cost, that is, real estate cost (rent of premises) and salaries. Earlier, the salaries of individuals were shooting up and it was very difficult to retain people in the organisation. We had to increase salaries of individuals by 20 per cent year on year basis. But now, this kind of pressure is no more there, we can get good quality talent at reasonable cost. At an individual point of view, it may sound as disaster, but from the business point of view, it’s a great positive side. Real estate price has also come down, so in that way we are saving significant amount there as well.”
Ghoshal noted, “The major impact of the slowdown has been in the big metros in India. For Tier II cities, for example, Pune is not that greatly impacted due to the slowdown as compared to Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi. So, the print industry in the second rung cities is doing reasonably well, there is no issue there.”
Giving his point of view, Sandeep Bhushan, COO, Mint, said, “As advertising revenue comes under pressure in the downturn, the shakeout will be in favour of media vehicles that meet the two critical criteria – one, tightly defined editorial that genuinely offers readers a reason to stick with a product, and two, an effective solution delivery to advertisers, who will look to make their reduced moneys work harder. This is clearly healthy from a long term view of the industry, since this will focus on editorial and put pressure on creating appropriate solutions for advertisers.”
He added, “From a Mint perspective, we are well placed as a differentiated editorial offering that has relevant content, which creates stickiness in readers, Four out of five of our readers do not need another business paper as per IRS. And this is the best reader profile in the category. From the advertiser perspective, Mint offers advertisers the ability to target the top end professional and decision maker with no wastage in duplication or profile – through not just print and livemint.com, but top end events as well. This is a unique and relevant benefit and we are seeing advertisers reacting extremely positively to our capability to reach a precious TG through a range of complementary solutions.”
Thus, while for employees it might not be a good time with job cuts and pay cuts, for print players, this slowdown has perhaps given the best opportunity to take corrective measures to cut the flab and improve efficiencies.
While a lot has been written about how the slowdown is adversely impacting different sectors, the situation is not without some positive developments taking place along side. Print players, too, have had to bear the burden of the slowdown coupled with hike in newsprint costs. There have been job cuts, pay cuts, launch and expansion plans put on hold.
However, the focus of this report is on bringing out some of the strongest positive aspects of this slowdown for the print industry. Some media experts believe that this is the time when the best managed companies would get an opportunity to emerge as the strongest company from among the lot.
Slowdown is also an opportunity
Giving his perspective, Rahul Kansal, Chief Marketing Officer, BCCL, said, “At the time of slowdown, various sectors end up cutting costs. But in actuality, for any industry, slowdown is also an opportunity for the best managed companies/ brands to emerge strongest from the rest. It is also a time to see how individuals are performing. Then hopefully, companies will emerge stronger after shaving some inefficiency from their system.”
According to KU Rao, Chief Executive officer, DNA, said, “The first positive aspect of the slowdown is sensible pagination by newspapers. Many newspapers were going on increasing the pages than what was required. But the slowdown has made everyone focus heavily on the cost side. And therefore, pagination reduction has been one of the positive outcomes of the slowdown that, in turn, has reduced the production cost in a big way.”
He continued, “The second positive aspect of the slowdown is wages/salaries, which were literally getting out of control. It was becoming a high wages island in the industry. But now, the situation has changed and the wages/salaries have come down to a reasonable level. The third aspect is that there was excessive hiring of employees by many print companies, but now that is also getting corrected.”
“Lastly, the slowdown has also helped us in increasing cover prices. The print industry was totally advertising led, but now, print companies are improving by increasing cover prices and covering some more cost. Accountability and transparency have also improved in the organisation due to the economic slowdown,” he added.
Manajit Ghoshal, CEO, Mid-Day Infomedia, noted, “Some concrete advantages have happened because of the economic slowdown. The biggest one of course is that newsprint prices, which were touching around $1,000 (they reached around $980), are now quoting at $700. There has been a huge drop in newsprint prices, which is almost 50 per cent of the total cost structure of any newspaper companies. That has substantially helped us in terms of saving money. The prices of ink and plates have also come down. In fact, the price of ink this year is now quoting at lower than what it was last year.”
He further said, “The other thing is concerning fixed cost, that is, real estate cost (rent of premises) and salaries. Earlier, the salaries of individuals were shooting up and it was very difficult to retain people in the organisation. We had to increase salaries of individuals by 20 per cent year on year basis. But now, this kind of pressure is no more there, we can get good quality talent at reasonable cost. At an individual point of view, it may sound as disaster, but from the business point of view, it’s a great positive side. Real estate price has also come down, so in that way we are saving significant amount there as well.”
Ghoshal noted, “The major impact of the slowdown has been in the big metros in India. For Tier II cities, for example, Pune is not that greatly impacted due to the slowdown as compared to Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi. So, the print industry in the second rung cities is doing reasonably well, there is no issue there.”
Giving his point of view, Sandeep Bhushan, COO, Mint, said, “As advertising revenue comes under pressure in the downturn, the shakeout will be in favour of media vehicles that meet the two critical criteria – one, tightly defined editorial that genuinely offers readers a reason to stick with a product, and two, an effective solution delivery to advertisers, who will look to make their reduced moneys work harder. This is clearly healthy from a long term view of the industry, since this will focus on editorial and put pressure on creating appropriate solutions for advertisers.”
He added, “From a Mint perspective, we are well placed as a differentiated editorial offering that has relevant content, which creates stickiness in readers, Four out of five of our readers do not need another business paper as per IRS. And this is the best reader profile in the category. From the advertiser perspective, Mint offers advertisers the ability to target the top end professional and decision maker with no wastage in duplication or profile – through not just print and livemint.com, but top end events as well. This is a unique and relevant benefit and we are seeing advertisers reacting extremely positively to our capability to reach a precious TG through a range of complementary solutions.”
Thus, while for employees it might not be a good time with job cuts and pay cuts, for print players, this slowdown has perhaps given the best opportunity to take corrective measures to cut the flab and improve efficiencies.
Entertainment - India;Star Plus to play matchmaker with new reality show
Sangeeta Tanwar
STAR Plus is all set to play Cupid. A new reality show, based on matchmaking between eligible couples, will soon be aired in a primetime slot on the channel. The promotions being aired on the general entertainment channel are urging people to register on Shaadi.com to realise their dream of getting married, courtesy reality TV.
Executives at STAR Plus say that it is too early to talk about the show as auditions for it have just begun and the channel is still finalising its details.
However, informed sources share that the new show, based on matrimony, aims to bring together eligible men and women, along with their families, for a real-time matchmaking session on the small screen. The show will capture and showcase the entire process of matchmaking – the meeting of the couple, the selection/rejection process, and the heartbreaks and joys along the way to marriage.
Viewers will get to see the matches arranged on the show culminate in marriage. People interested in participating in the show can do so by registering on the matrimonial website, www.shaadi.com. People who are not members of Shaadi.com can also sign up for an audition for the show.
Speaking to afaqs!, Vibhas Mehta, business head, Shaadi.com, says, “We are the sole partner for the matrimony show and STAR Plus chose us as its exclusive partner because of our sheer expertise in the domain. We have a huge base of some of India's most eligible youth. We will promote the show on our website and by sending emailers to our entire database.”
The registration for the show began on January 15 and will continue till January 30. The show is open for single (male and female) Indian residents conversant in Hindi. Males in the age group of 22-30 years and females in the age group of 22-25 years are eligible to participate in the show.
Auditions and selection of participants for the new show will commence soon. Mehta says that Shaadi.com will conduct the initial screening of the participants and manage the backend operations for the show on behalf of STAR Plus. The reality show is expected to go on air in a month or two.
Interestingly, Sony had made an attempt at real-time matchmaking with its show, Shubh Vivaah, in 2002. The show was hosted by actor Madhuri Dixit and marked her TV debut. It was dubbed as a show for real people, their dreams and their aspirations. However, it did not receive a very enthusiastic response from the viewers.
It is believed that Shubh Vivaah fell flat because it was launched at a time when Indians were not ready for reality shows. Today, going by the increasing number of such shows on television, it would seem that viewers are lapping up reality. With a combination of matrimony and reality providing dynamic and compelling content, STAR Plus hopes to hit the bull’s eye with the audience.
STAR Plus is all set to play Cupid. A new reality show, based on matchmaking between eligible couples, will soon be aired in a primetime slot on the channel. The promotions being aired on the general entertainment channel are urging people to register on Shaadi.com to realise their dream of getting married, courtesy reality TV.
Executives at STAR Plus say that it is too early to talk about the show as auditions for it have just begun and the channel is still finalising its details.
However, informed sources share that the new show, based on matrimony, aims to bring together eligible men and women, along with their families, for a real-time matchmaking session on the small screen. The show will capture and showcase the entire process of matchmaking – the meeting of the couple, the selection/rejection process, and the heartbreaks and joys along the way to marriage.
Viewers will get to see the matches arranged on the show culminate in marriage. People interested in participating in the show can do so by registering on the matrimonial website, www.shaadi.com. People who are not members of Shaadi.com can also sign up for an audition for the show.
Speaking to afaqs!, Vibhas Mehta, business head, Shaadi.com, says, “We are the sole partner for the matrimony show and STAR Plus chose us as its exclusive partner because of our sheer expertise in the domain. We have a huge base of some of India's most eligible youth. We will promote the show on our website and by sending emailers to our entire database.”
The registration for the show began on January 15 and will continue till January 30. The show is open for single (male and female) Indian residents conversant in Hindi. Males in the age group of 22-30 years and females in the age group of 22-25 years are eligible to participate in the show.
Auditions and selection of participants for the new show will commence soon. Mehta says that Shaadi.com will conduct the initial screening of the participants and manage the backend operations for the show on behalf of STAR Plus. The reality show is expected to go on air in a month or two.
Interestingly, Sony had made an attempt at real-time matchmaking with its show, Shubh Vivaah, in 2002. The show was hosted by actor Madhuri Dixit and marked her TV debut. It was dubbed as a show for real people, their dreams and their aspirations. However, it did not receive a very enthusiastic response from the viewers.
It is believed that Shubh Vivaah fell flat because it was launched at a time when Indians were not ready for reality shows. Today, going by the increasing number of such shows on television, it would seem that viewers are lapping up reality. With a combination of matrimony and reality providing dynamic and compelling content, STAR Plus hopes to hit the bull’s eye with the audience.
Entertainment - GEC Watch: STAR Plus continues to be No. 1; Colors 7 GRP away
According
Advertisement
to Week 4 data from TAM for C&S 4+ homes in Hindi speaking markets, STAR Plus and Colors have grabbed a 24 per cent share each in the overall general entertainment channel pie. STAR Plus has increased its GRP from 271 in Week 3 to 293 in Week 4. Colors has increased its GRP from 263 in Week 3 to 286 in Week 4. The two channels have just seven GRP between them.
Zee TV, at No. 3, has increased its relative share to 18 per cent and its GRP have gone up from 195 to 221. The channel beamed live the grand finale of its popular singing reality show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, on January 24, which got a TVR of 4.9.
At No. 4 are Sony and NDTV Imagine. From a relative share of 8 per cent in Week 3, Sony has witnessed a decline to 6 per cent in Week 4. Its GRP have fallen from 93 to 74. NDTV Imagine has remained steady with a 6 per cent share and its GRP have increased from 65 to 73.
STAR One has lost a 1 per cent share, thus slipping a bit. It now shares the No. 5 rank with Sahara One. Both have a 5 per cent share each. In terms of GRP, STAR One has lost four points, while Sahara One has gained eight points. SAB, with a 4 per cent share, has seen its GRP fall from 52 in Week 3 to 47 in Week 4. 9X and STAR Utsav, with a 3 per cent share each, have garnered 33 GRP each.
Balika Vadhu, with a TVR of 8.7, has raced ahead of Bidaai, which managed a TVR of only 7.7 in Week 4. Some of the most watched programmes on Hindi GECs in Week 4 were Jai Shri Krishna, Uttaran and Jeevan Saathi on Colors, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil and Aap Ki Kachehri on STAR Plus and Chhoti Bahu on Zee.
Advertisement
to Week 4 data from TAM for C&S 4+ homes in Hindi speaking markets, STAR Plus and Colors have grabbed a 24 per cent share each in the overall general entertainment channel pie. STAR Plus has increased its GRP from 271 in Week 3 to 293 in Week 4. Colors has increased its GRP from 263 in Week 3 to 286 in Week 4. The two channels have just seven GRP between them.
Zee TV, at No. 3, has increased its relative share to 18 per cent and its GRP have gone up from 195 to 221. The channel beamed live the grand finale of its popular singing reality show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, on January 24, which got a TVR of 4.9.
At No. 4 are Sony and NDTV Imagine. From a relative share of 8 per cent in Week 3, Sony has witnessed a decline to 6 per cent in Week 4. Its GRP have fallen from 93 to 74. NDTV Imagine has remained steady with a 6 per cent share and its GRP have increased from 65 to 73.
STAR One has lost a 1 per cent share, thus slipping a bit. It now shares the No. 5 rank with Sahara One. Both have a 5 per cent share each. In terms of GRP, STAR One has lost four points, while Sahara One has gained eight points. SAB, with a 4 per cent share, has seen its GRP fall from 52 in Week 3 to 47 in Week 4. 9X and STAR Utsav, with a 3 per cent share each, have garnered 33 GRP each.
Balika Vadhu, with a TVR of 8.7, has raced ahead of Bidaai, which managed a TVR of only 7.7 in Week 4. Some of the most watched programmes on Hindi GECs in Week 4 were Jai Shri Krishna, Uttaran and Jeevan Saathi on Colors, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil and Aap Ki Kachehri on STAR Plus and Chhoti Bahu on Zee.
Entertainment - NDTV to launch and distribute Trace in India
NDTV
Advertisement
will launch and distribute the high-end urban music and lifestyle channel, Trace, in India. The channel, which is active in as many as 130 countries, is owned by the Trace Group.
In an email interview with afaqs!, Rahul Sood, head, network distribution, NDTV Group, says, "Trace is a channel that we have seen grow exponentially in the last couple of years in countries all over the world. It is a thematic channel and the digital growth in India is something they want to be a part of. As we are in the space of aggregating quality channels for distribution, it proves to be a good fit for us."
NDTV already has an agreement with the UK’s commercial broadcaster, ITV Global Entertainment, to distribute Granada TV in India and South Asia. The new deal for distributing Trace adds to the channel's international offerings that are in the pipeline.
The association between NDTV and the Trace Group is a pure distribution deal. However, Sood is hopeful that as the channel gets more traction, both parties will work together in other areas as well.
NDTV and Trace will also launch the channel in countries such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Bangladesh and Bhutan.
The channel is targeted at urban audiences in the age group of 15-39 years. Trace is perceived as a media brand that unites the urban youth, regardless of race, class or origin.
Sharing details of the content on the channel, Sood says, "The channel defines urban music and culture very broadly. It includes reggae, hip-hop, reggaeton, salsa, world music, techno, Bhangra pop, electro, urban fashion, clothing, games, movies and other content. Around 80-85 per cent of the channel's time and content will be devoted to an exclusive mix of urban music, encompassing playlists, countdowns, concerts and other shows. The remaining 15 per cent will comprise features, interviews, news and documentaries related to urban culture."
In an official communiqué, Olivier Laouchez, chairman and chief executive officer, Trace, Asia, reiterates, "The association combines NDTV's strength in India with Trace's brand and expertise in urban content and culture. The association will expand Trace's digital distribution to a growing number of viewers in India. The country shows a huge appetite from Trace's core target group – the young, urban generation – to get the best urban entertainment from India and the rest of the world."
Advertisement
will launch and distribute the high-end urban music and lifestyle channel, Trace, in India. The channel, which is active in as many as 130 countries, is owned by the Trace Group.
In an email interview with afaqs!, Rahul Sood, head, network distribution, NDTV Group, says, "Trace is a channel that we have seen grow exponentially in the last couple of years in countries all over the world. It is a thematic channel and the digital growth in India is something they want to be a part of. As we are in the space of aggregating quality channels for distribution, it proves to be a good fit for us."
NDTV already has an agreement with the UK’s commercial broadcaster, ITV Global Entertainment, to distribute Granada TV in India and South Asia. The new deal for distributing Trace adds to the channel's international offerings that are in the pipeline.
The association between NDTV and the Trace Group is a pure distribution deal. However, Sood is hopeful that as the channel gets more traction, both parties will work together in other areas as well.
NDTV and Trace will also launch the channel in countries such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Bangladesh and Bhutan.
The channel is targeted at urban audiences in the age group of 15-39 years. Trace is perceived as a media brand that unites the urban youth, regardless of race, class or origin.
Sharing details of the content on the channel, Sood says, "The channel defines urban music and culture very broadly. It includes reggae, hip-hop, reggaeton, salsa, world music, techno, Bhangra pop, electro, urban fashion, clothing, games, movies and other content. Around 80-85 per cent of the channel's time and content will be devoted to an exclusive mix of urban music, encompassing playlists, countdowns, concerts and other shows. The remaining 15 per cent will comprise features, interviews, news and documentaries related to urban culture."
In an official communiqué, Olivier Laouchez, chairman and chief executive officer, Trace, Asia, reiterates, "The association combines NDTV's strength in India with Trace's brand and expertise in urban content and culture. The association will expand Trace's digital distribution to a growing number of viewers in India. The country shows a huge appetite from Trace's core target group – the young, urban generation – to get the best urban entertainment from India and the rest of the world."
Business - Technology Review to hit the stands in India in March
Sangeeta Tanwar
In July 2008, Cyber Media announced a tieup with MIT's Technology Review Inc. to launch the Indian edition of one of the oldest technology magazines in the world, Technology Review. The magazine is set to hit the newsstands in India in March.
For the record, Technology Review Inc. is an independent media company owned by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It launched the Technology Review magazine in 1899.
Speaking to afaqs!, Jason Pontin, editor in chief and publisher, Technology Review, says, “In partnership with the Cyber Media Group, we are set to launch a thought leading magazine, which will spot and promote trends in technology for senior executives, venture capitalists and senior bankers, academicians and university students.”
Pontin says that he is wiser for having worked in India in the mid-1990s as editor of Red Herring magazine and realises that to survive in this market, any American publication must have a good amount of India-centric content.
Pontin claims that the multiple editions of Technology Review in different countries, coupled with the large number of readers accessing the magazine on the website, add up to more than two million readers. The tagline for the magazine reads, ‘The Authority on the Future of Technology’, emphasising that the content is not only interesting, but also impactful.
According to Pradeep Gupta, chairperson, Cyber Media, the monthly magazine will have an initial print run of 15,000 copies. The 60 page magazine is priced at Rs 100. Gupta says, “We will depend on both subscriptions and newsstand sales to reach out to readers. The magazine will attract leaders from diverse fields such as technology, pharmaceuticals and energy. IBM, Google, Cisco, DuPont and Tata Motors could be the potential advertisers.”
David Rotman, editor, Technology Review, elaborates on the content of the magazine, saying, “The magazine attempts to unearth new technology developing in labs, which is ready to be commercialised. The content is not only about science out in the open. Technology for us is a wider term covering biotechnology, computers, the web, life sciences and nanotechnology.”
The Indian edition of Technology Review will be released at the Emerging Technologies conference to be held on March 2-3 in New Delhi.
In July 2008, Cyber Media announced a tieup with MIT's Technology Review Inc. to launch the Indian edition of one of the oldest technology magazines in the world, Technology Review. The magazine is set to hit the newsstands in India in March.
For the record, Technology Review Inc. is an independent media company owned by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It launched the Technology Review magazine in 1899.
Speaking to afaqs!, Jason Pontin, editor in chief and publisher, Technology Review, says, “In partnership with the Cyber Media Group, we are set to launch a thought leading magazine, which will spot and promote trends in technology for senior executives, venture capitalists and senior bankers, academicians and university students.”
Pontin says that he is wiser for having worked in India in the mid-1990s as editor of Red Herring magazine and realises that to survive in this market, any American publication must have a good amount of India-centric content.
Pontin claims that the multiple editions of Technology Review in different countries, coupled with the large number of readers accessing the magazine on the website, add up to more than two million readers. The tagline for the magazine reads, ‘The Authority on the Future of Technology’, emphasising that the content is not only interesting, but also impactful.
According to Pradeep Gupta, chairperson, Cyber Media, the monthly magazine will have an initial print run of 15,000 copies. The 60 page magazine is priced at Rs 100. Gupta says, “We will depend on both subscriptions and newsstand sales to reach out to readers. The magazine will attract leaders from diverse fields such as technology, pharmaceuticals and energy. IBM, Google, Cisco, DuPont and Tata Motors could be the potential advertisers.”
David Rotman, editor, Technology Review, elaborates on the content of the magazine, saying, “The magazine attempts to unearth new technology developing in labs, which is ready to be commercialised. The content is not only about science out in the open. Technology for us is a wider term covering biotechnology, computers, the web, life sciences and nanotechnology.”
The Indian edition of Technology Review will be released at the Emerging Technologies conference to be held on March 2-3 in New Delhi.
Mktg - Net gets a matrimony channel
Pravda Godbole
Consim Info Private Ltd, earlier known as the BharatMatrimony Group, recently announced the launch of the first of its kind matrimony channel on the internet, BharatMatrimony.tv.
“Our customers have responded very well to the idea. We have lots of interesting things that people can enjoy. Our target is not only people who want to get married but also anyone and everyone,” Murugavel Janakiraman, founder & CEO, Consim Info, said.
BharatMatrimony.tv features informative and engaging videos. Tips on what should be worn for weddings, what’s in and what’s not, information about honeymoon destinations, celebrity wedding shots, video polls, success stories of married couples, trends and other other wedding-related information is put up on the channel.
In the video space, we see an opportunity to engage our audience and extend our leadership in the matrimony business. Video is a developing medium and it is as good as meeting someone face-to-face or watching something happening live in front of your eyes. Plus, there is no location barrier when it comes to a television channel hence we thought of coming up with something like this,” added Janakiraman.
It took the company close to two years and an investment of over Rs 30 lakh to launch this free service.
There are multiple advertising opportunities and Consim is still exploring them. Currently they have some graphic banners as commercials appearing in between clippings on the TV. The firm is waiting for the site to register more number of hits before they sell more ad space.
Apparently, the world’s first matrimony channel on the internet will be producing capsules covering news, events and developments in the world of marriages and, newer video clips in multiple categories will be added to the site on a regular basis.
Consim Info Private Ltd, earlier known as the BharatMatrimony Group, recently announced the launch of the first of its kind matrimony channel on the internet, BharatMatrimony.tv.
“Our customers have responded very well to the idea. We have lots of interesting things that people can enjoy. Our target is not only people who want to get married but also anyone and everyone,” Murugavel Janakiraman, founder & CEO, Consim Info, said.
BharatMatrimony.tv features informative and engaging videos. Tips on what should be worn for weddings, what’s in and what’s not, information about honeymoon destinations, celebrity wedding shots, video polls, success stories of married couples, trends and other other wedding-related information is put up on the channel.
In the video space, we see an opportunity to engage our audience and extend our leadership in the matrimony business. Video is a developing medium and it is as good as meeting someone face-to-face or watching something happening live in front of your eyes. Plus, there is no location barrier when it comes to a television channel hence we thought of coming up with something like this,” added Janakiraman.
It took the company close to two years and an investment of over Rs 30 lakh to launch this free service.
There are multiple advertising opportunities and Consim is still exploring them. Currently they have some graphic banners as commercials appearing in between clippings on the TV. The firm is waiting for the site to register more number of hits before they sell more ad space.
Apparently, the world’s first matrimony channel on the internet will be producing capsules covering news, events and developments in the world of marriages and, newer video clips in multiple categories will be added to the site on a regular basis.
World - Will Obama support Karzai's re-election in Afghanistan?
Jonathan S. Landay
WASHINGTON — The announcement on Thursday that Afghanistan's second presidential election since the Taliban regime was ousted in 2001 will be held on Aug. 20 poses a critical question for the Obama administration: Should it favor a second term for President Hamid Karzai ?
Relations between Karzai and the U.S. are worse than at any time in the past eight years. Each side accuses the other of conduct that has enabled the revival of the Taliban and soured many ordinary Afghans on the Kabul government and its international backers.
U.S. and European officials say they've grown frustrated by Karzai's failure to curb corruption, cronyism and incompetence, and they say he's refused to crack down on powerful officials, allegedly including one of his brothers, who are involved in the world's largest opium trade.
Karzai has grown increasingly angry at the mounting civilian casualties in U.S.-led military operations and has long complained that Washington has failed to push Pakistan to halt secret support for the Taliban . He said that his policies have been undermined by warlords the U.S. paid to keep order while U.S. troops were diverted to Iraq .
Yet close cooperation between the Afghan government and the U.S.-led coalition will be vital if a new strategy the Obama administration is developing, including sending another 30,000 U.S. troops, is to succeed in ending the insurgency, experts said.
"What we have seen is a fraying of the relationship and mounting distrust on both sides," said Daniel Markey , a Council on Foreign Affairs fellow who worked on Afghanistan policy at the State Department .
Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission announced in Kabul that the elections would be held on Aug. 20 , three months later than set by the Afghan constitution, to allow more time for preparation.
Some experts think that Obama should favor an Afghan leader who's better able than Karzai to extend his writ beyond Kabul by building a government that can provide police protection, job-training, education, healthcare to some of the world's most destitute people.
Karzai "has forfeited the legitimacy that he had and the mandate that he received in 2004 (when he was elected)," said Marvin Weinbaum , a former State Department intelligence analyst now with the Middle East Institute . "He personifies for most Afghans all that has been going wrong."
Some top aides to Obama, who last summer criticized Karzai's government for not getting "out of the bunker," may share that view — among them Vice President Joe Biden .
Biden's frustration with the worsening situation in Afghanistan emerged during a meeting he held earlier this month with Karzai in Kabul before he resigned his Senate seat.
"It was a terse exchange," said a State Department official, who requested anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak publicly. "Biden came on strong, talking a lot about the failures of the Afghan government to extend its authority."
Afghan news reports said that five potential Karzai rivals attended Obama's inauguration in apparent bids to win support from the new administration. State Department officials, however, said they came as private citizens, and there were no private meetings.
One of the five, Ali Jalali , an Afghan-American who served as Karzai's first interior minister and now teaches at the National Defense University in Washington , called the reports "baseless rumors."
Jalali acknowledged, however, that he's "seriously considering" opposing Karzai for "failing to deliver" and because "people have lost trust in the government."
Yet Obama would find himself in an awkward position if he abandoned Karzai.
U.S. officials and other experts acknowledged that Karzai is the only prominent Afghan who commands enough support among the country's divergent ethnic groups, especially the Pashtun tribes in the Taliban heartlands in the east and south, to win a national election.
Public opinion surveys conducted for the State Department make it "very clear that while Karzai has lost quite a bit of support, he's still liked," the State Department official said. "He is still the leading candidate."
Moreover, the U.S. has no choice but to ensure — in the words of several U.S. officials — a "level playing field" for the election. That means that all major candidates, including Karzai, have to be assured access to news media and the security and helicopters they need to campaign in a violence-wracked country with few roads.
WASHINGTON — The announcement on Thursday that Afghanistan's second presidential election since the Taliban regime was ousted in 2001 will be held on Aug. 20 poses a critical question for the Obama administration: Should it favor a second term for President Hamid Karzai ?
Relations between Karzai and the U.S. are worse than at any time in the past eight years. Each side accuses the other of conduct that has enabled the revival of the Taliban and soured many ordinary Afghans on the Kabul government and its international backers.
U.S. and European officials say they've grown frustrated by Karzai's failure to curb corruption, cronyism and incompetence, and they say he's refused to crack down on powerful officials, allegedly including one of his brothers, who are involved in the world's largest opium trade.
Karzai has grown increasingly angry at the mounting civilian casualties in U.S.-led military operations and has long complained that Washington has failed to push Pakistan to halt secret support for the Taliban . He said that his policies have been undermined by warlords the U.S. paid to keep order while U.S. troops were diverted to Iraq .
Yet close cooperation between the Afghan government and the U.S.-led coalition will be vital if a new strategy the Obama administration is developing, including sending another 30,000 U.S. troops, is to succeed in ending the insurgency, experts said.
"What we have seen is a fraying of the relationship and mounting distrust on both sides," said Daniel Markey , a Council on Foreign Affairs fellow who worked on Afghanistan policy at the State Department .
Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission announced in Kabul that the elections would be held on Aug. 20 , three months later than set by the Afghan constitution, to allow more time for preparation.
Some experts think that Obama should favor an Afghan leader who's better able than Karzai to extend his writ beyond Kabul by building a government that can provide police protection, job-training, education, healthcare to some of the world's most destitute people.
Karzai "has forfeited the legitimacy that he had and the mandate that he received in 2004 (when he was elected)," said Marvin Weinbaum , a former State Department intelligence analyst now with the Middle East Institute . "He personifies for most Afghans all that has been going wrong."
Some top aides to Obama, who last summer criticized Karzai's government for not getting "out of the bunker," may share that view — among them Vice President Joe Biden .
Biden's frustration with the worsening situation in Afghanistan emerged during a meeting he held earlier this month with Karzai in Kabul before he resigned his Senate seat.
"It was a terse exchange," said a State Department official, who requested anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak publicly. "Biden came on strong, talking a lot about the failures of the Afghan government to extend its authority."
Afghan news reports said that five potential Karzai rivals attended Obama's inauguration in apparent bids to win support from the new administration. State Department officials, however, said they came as private citizens, and there were no private meetings.
One of the five, Ali Jalali , an Afghan-American who served as Karzai's first interior minister and now teaches at the National Defense University in Washington , called the reports "baseless rumors."
Jalali acknowledged, however, that he's "seriously considering" opposing Karzai for "failing to deliver" and because "people have lost trust in the government."
Yet Obama would find himself in an awkward position if he abandoned Karzai.
U.S. officials and other experts acknowledged that Karzai is the only prominent Afghan who commands enough support among the country's divergent ethnic groups, especially the Pashtun tribes in the Taliban heartlands in the east and south, to win a national election.
Public opinion surveys conducted for the State Department make it "very clear that while Karzai has lost quite a bit of support, he's still liked," the State Department official said. "He is still the leading candidate."
Moreover, the U.S. has no choice but to ensure — in the words of several U.S. officials — a "level playing field" for the election. That means that all major candidates, including Karzai, have to be assured access to news media and the security and helicopters they need to campaign in a violence-wracked country with few roads.
Business - Roche cuts Genentech bid to $42 billion
Sam Cage
ZURICH (Reuters) – Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG (ROG.VX) cut the price of its bid for outstanding shares in Genentech (DNA.N) on Friday, confounding investor hopes of a sweetened offer for the 44 percent of the U.S. biotech company Roche does not already own.
Roche is now making a public tender offer at $86.50 per share in cash, valuing the deal at $42 billion, replacing its initial bid that totaled $44 billion.
"The fact that we are launching a tender offer does not change any of the parameters," Roche Chairman Franz Humer told reporters.
Roche had initially aimed to acquire the remaining shares through a negotiated settlement -- an offer rejected by Genentech -- and decided to appeal directly to shareholders after further talks failed to reach an agreement, Humer said.
Buying Genentech would give Roche control of all revenues for big-selling cancer drugs Avastin and Herceptin, as well as absorbing an attractive portfolio of new medicines.
Roche's new offer comes as a surprise as investors had initially expected the Swiss group to sweeten its bid for Genentech after it rebuffed Roche's initial offer, saying it undervalued the company but it would consider a higher offer that reflected the benefits of an acquisition.
PFIZER RAISES THE STAKES
Initially, shares in Genentech rose to a high of $99.05, but the credit crisis has since raised doubts about Roche's ability to secure the necessary financing to conclude the deal.
And this week Pfizer Inc's (PFE.N) $68 billion bid for Wyeth (WYE.N) (WYE.N), which was backed by a new $22.5 billion loan in addition to cash and stock, upped the stakes further.
Roche made a fresh round of calls to banks after news of that deal emerged, bankers close to the deal told Reuters.
The new offer is at a premium of nearly 3 percent over the Genentech's closing price of $84.09 on Thursday and Roche plans to finance the deal through a combination of its own funds, commercial paper, bonds and bank loans.
Humer said Roche would tap bond markets first, but declined to comment on how the planned financing will break down.
Roche, which currently owns 56 percent of the Genentech outstanding shares, expects to commence the tender offer within approximately two weeks.
Greenhill & Co is financial advisor to Roche and Davis Polk & Wardell is legal counsel for the tender offer.
(Additional reporting by Katie Reid, Sven Egenter and Paul Arnold; Editing by Mike Nesbit and Hans Peters)
ZURICH (Reuters) – Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG (ROG.VX) cut the price of its bid for outstanding shares in Genentech (DNA.N) on Friday, confounding investor hopes of a sweetened offer for the 44 percent of the U.S. biotech company Roche does not already own.
Roche is now making a public tender offer at $86.50 per share in cash, valuing the deal at $42 billion, replacing its initial bid that totaled $44 billion.
"The fact that we are launching a tender offer does not change any of the parameters," Roche Chairman Franz Humer told reporters.
Roche had initially aimed to acquire the remaining shares through a negotiated settlement -- an offer rejected by Genentech -- and decided to appeal directly to shareholders after further talks failed to reach an agreement, Humer said.
Buying Genentech would give Roche control of all revenues for big-selling cancer drugs Avastin and Herceptin, as well as absorbing an attractive portfolio of new medicines.
Roche's new offer comes as a surprise as investors had initially expected the Swiss group to sweeten its bid for Genentech after it rebuffed Roche's initial offer, saying it undervalued the company but it would consider a higher offer that reflected the benefits of an acquisition.
PFIZER RAISES THE STAKES
Initially, shares in Genentech rose to a high of $99.05, but the credit crisis has since raised doubts about Roche's ability to secure the necessary financing to conclude the deal.
And this week Pfizer Inc's (PFE.N) $68 billion bid for Wyeth (WYE.N) (WYE.N), which was backed by a new $22.5 billion loan in addition to cash and stock, upped the stakes further.
Roche made a fresh round of calls to banks after news of that deal emerged, bankers close to the deal told Reuters.
The new offer is at a premium of nearly 3 percent over the Genentech's closing price of $84.09 on Thursday and Roche plans to finance the deal through a combination of its own funds, commercial paper, bonds and bank loans.
Humer said Roche would tap bond markets first, but declined to comment on how the planned financing will break down.
Roche, which currently owns 56 percent of the Genentech outstanding shares, expects to commence the tender offer within approximately two weeks.
Greenhill & Co is financial advisor to Roche and Davis Polk & Wardell is legal counsel for the tender offer.
(Additional reporting by Katie Reid, Sven Egenter and Paul Arnold; Editing by Mike Nesbit and Hans Peters)
Business - Streaming Energizes Growth at Netflix
Mark Long
Confounding its own outlook for slowing growth in the fourth quarter, Netflix said its subscriber base grew by a robust 26 percent year over year to about 9,390,000 subscribers at the close of 2008.
"In hindsight, we underestimated the positive impact of the introduction of the multifunction consumer electronics devices from LG Electronics, Samsung, Microsoft and TiVo that promote Netflix streaming," said Reed Hastings, Netflix cofounder and CEO. "The precise impact of the recession is unclear, but it is very clear that streaming is energizing our growth."
Increased Investments
Netflix substantially increased its investment in streaming content over the Internet during the fourth quarter and plans to do the same this year. "Most of our streaming content spending is directly with TV networks and studios," Hastings told investors. "We now have over 12,000 movie and TV choices, up from 2,000 two years ago, and we are already one of the studios' largest revenue sources."
Netflix is also beefing up its content-streaming capabilities on the hardware side. Earlier this month, the company expanded its partnership agreement with LG Electronics and inked a new agreement with HDTV vendor Vizio.
LG Electronics has agreed to embed Netflix streaming software directly into its new line of broadband-enabled HDTVs, eliminating the need for an external device. Additionally, Vizio's new deal with Netflix means consumers will be able to stream high-definition video content from Netflix to TV sets based on Vizio's new Connected HDTV platform, which will begin shipping nationwide later this year.
Hastings told investors he fully supports Roku's recent decision to add functionality to its Netflix-enabled set-top box that would enable consumers to stream pay-per-view content from Amazon.com. Hastings said any increased competition would mostly be indirect because it would come in the form of "big new releases," which Netflix does not offer as part of its streaming subscription service. The upside is that Amazon will also be promoting streaming devices, "which provides us with more households to stream our service to," he explained.
Yankee Group analyst Josh Martin agrees. Adding utility to the box "increases the value proposition for consumers, and I don't think it hurts Netflix," Martin said.
Mail Delivery
About 700,000 of the company's subscribers were renting Blu-ray disks from Netflix at the end of the fourth quarter. "Adoption is growing nicely," Hastings said. "We expect our DVD and Blu-ray shipments to continue to grow in 2009 as they did in 2008."
Hastings also told investors that Netflix plans to expand its mail-delivery program this year. "This quarter, we will begin testing weekend shipping in parts of the country, which will provide even faster service."
However, U.S. Postmaster General John E. Potter told Congress Wednesday that the recession has caused the postal service to lose so much money that he sees the need for cutting mail deliveries from six days a week to five. "I do not make this request lightly, but I am forced to consider every option, given the severity of our challenge on Saturdays," Potter told members of a Senate subcommittee, according to The Washington Post.
Martin said he does not think Netflix would be hurt "in any significant way" by a mail-delivery cutback, should one materialize.
"This is one of the areas in which digital distribution will really help," Martin explained. "And any cut is so far away from passage that I don't think consumers should be too concerned."
Confounding its own outlook for slowing growth in the fourth quarter, Netflix said its subscriber base grew by a robust 26 percent year over year to about 9,390,000 subscribers at the close of 2008.
"In hindsight, we underestimated the positive impact of the introduction of the multifunction consumer electronics devices from LG Electronics, Samsung, Microsoft and TiVo that promote Netflix streaming," said Reed Hastings, Netflix cofounder and CEO. "The precise impact of the recession is unclear, but it is very clear that streaming is energizing our growth."
Increased Investments
Netflix substantially increased its investment in streaming content over the Internet during the fourth quarter and plans to do the same this year. "Most of our streaming content spending is directly with TV networks and studios," Hastings told investors. "We now have over 12,000 movie and TV choices, up from 2,000 two years ago, and we are already one of the studios' largest revenue sources."
Netflix is also beefing up its content-streaming capabilities on the hardware side. Earlier this month, the company expanded its partnership agreement with LG Electronics and inked a new agreement with HDTV vendor Vizio.
LG Electronics has agreed to embed Netflix streaming software directly into its new line of broadband-enabled HDTVs, eliminating the need for an external device. Additionally, Vizio's new deal with Netflix means consumers will be able to stream high-definition video content from Netflix to TV sets based on Vizio's new Connected HDTV platform, which will begin shipping nationwide later this year.
Hastings told investors he fully supports Roku's recent decision to add functionality to its Netflix-enabled set-top box that would enable consumers to stream pay-per-view content from Amazon.com. Hastings said any increased competition would mostly be indirect because it would come in the form of "big new releases," which Netflix does not offer as part of its streaming subscription service. The upside is that Amazon will also be promoting streaming devices, "which provides us with more households to stream our service to," he explained.
Yankee Group analyst Josh Martin agrees. Adding utility to the box "increases the value proposition for consumers, and I don't think it hurts Netflix," Martin said.
Mail Delivery
About 700,000 of the company's subscribers were renting Blu-ray disks from Netflix at the end of the fourth quarter. "Adoption is growing nicely," Hastings said. "We expect our DVD and Blu-ray shipments to continue to grow in 2009 as they did in 2008."
Hastings also told investors that Netflix plans to expand its mail-delivery program this year. "This quarter, we will begin testing weekend shipping in parts of the country, which will provide even faster service."
However, U.S. Postmaster General John E. Potter told Congress Wednesday that the recession has caused the postal service to lose so much money that he sees the need for cutting mail deliveries from six days a week to five. "I do not make this request lightly, but I am forced to consider every option, given the severity of our challenge on Saturdays," Potter told members of a Senate subcommittee, according to The Washington Post.
Martin said he does not think Netflix would be hurt "in any significant way" by a mail-delivery cutback, should one materialize.
"This is one of the areas in which digital distribution will really help," Martin explained. "And any cut is so far away from passage that I don't think consumers should be too concerned."
World - NKorea scraps all accords with SKorea, raising tensions
Park Chan-Kyong
SEOUL (AFP) – North Korea announced Friday it is scrapping agreements with South Korea on easing military tensions, accusing Seoul of pushing relations to the brink of war.
The communist state said all political and military agreements would be nullified, including one covering their Yellow Sea border -- the scene of bloody naval clashes in 1999 and 2002.
The statement from the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, a state body, heightened tensions after the North's army this month threatened an "all-out confrontational posture" against Seoul.
South Korea stepped up border monitoring and vowed to respond firmly to any violation, but said no unusual activities have been detected.
Seoul's unification ministry, which handles cross-border ties, expressed "deep regret."
Raising tension between the two Koreas "is not desirable for settling peace on the Korean peninsula and in Northeast Asia as well as throughout the world," it said, renewing an offer of dialogue.
"The confrontation between the north and the south in the political and military fields has been put to such extremes that inter-Korean relations have reached the brink of a war," the North's statement said.
It blasted the conservative South Korean government of President Lee Myung-Bak for "ruthlessly scrapping" pacts reached at summits in 2000 and 2007.
Lee, who took office a year ago, rolled back the "sunshine" engagement policy of his liberal predecessors and said he would review the summit pacts.
"The group of traitors has already reduced all the agreements reached between the north and the south in the past to dead documents," the committee said in its statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.
"Under such situation it is self-evident that there is no need for the DPRK (North Korea) to remain bound to those north-south agreements."
The North has also staked out a tough position in stalled nuclear disarmament negotiations with the United States and four regional partners.
Pyongyang, which staged a nuclear test in 2006, has said it may keep its atomic weapons even after ties are established with Washington, as long as any US nuclear threat remains.
Some analysts believe the North is trying to ensure it remains a diplomatic priority for the new administration of Barack Obama, and is also pressuring Seoul to reverse its tough stance.
But others, like Paik Hak-Soon of the Sejong Institute think-tank, said armed clashes may break out soon.
"This is something bad. The North is apparently paving the way for military provocations," Yoo Ho-Yeol, a professor at Korea University, told AFP.
"It is also seeking to shift responsibility for a possible military clash to the South."
However, Baek Seung-Joo of the Korea Institute for Defence Analyses told AFP the statement aims at "heaping pressure on Lee Myung-Bak" and does not mean clashes are more likely.
The North refuses to recognise the Northern Limit Line, a sea border drawn unilaterally by US-led United Nations forces after the 1950-1953 war.
The two sides have remained technically at war since 1953 because the conflict ended without a peace treaty. But a 1991 reconciliation pact which the North has now nullified recognised the line as an interim border.
After a naval clash in June 1999 which killed dozens of North Korean sailors, the North demanded the border be redrawn.
Six South Koreans were killed in another sea clash in June 2002, while the North's casualties were believed to be heavier.
Since Lee took office the North has cut all official contacts with the South. Last December Pyongyang expelled hundreds of South Koreans from a joint industrial estate and tightened border controls.
On January 17 its army General Staff warned it would not allow South Korean intrusions into the disputed Yellow Sea waters.
However, leader Kim Jong-Il was quoted last week as saying he hopes to push ahead with disarmament talks and does not want to raise tensions with the South.
SEOUL (AFP) – North Korea announced Friday it is scrapping agreements with South Korea on easing military tensions, accusing Seoul of pushing relations to the brink of war.
The communist state said all political and military agreements would be nullified, including one covering their Yellow Sea border -- the scene of bloody naval clashes in 1999 and 2002.
The statement from the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, a state body, heightened tensions after the North's army this month threatened an "all-out confrontational posture" against Seoul.
South Korea stepped up border monitoring and vowed to respond firmly to any violation, but said no unusual activities have been detected.
Seoul's unification ministry, which handles cross-border ties, expressed "deep regret."
Raising tension between the two Koreas "is not desirable for settling peace on the Korean peninsula and in Northeast Asia as well as throughout the world," it said, renewing an offer of dialogue.
"The confrontation between the north and the south in the political and military fields has been put to such extremes that inter-Korean relations have reached the brink of a war," the North's statement said.
It blasted the conservative South Korean government of President Lee Myung-Bak for "ruthlessly scrapping" pacts reached at summits in 2000 and 2007.
Lee, who took office a year ago, rolled back the "sunshine" engagement policy of his liberal predecessors and said he would review the summit pacts.
"The group of traitors has already reduced all the agreements reached between the north and the south in the past to dead documents," the committee said in its statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.
"Under such situation it is self-evident that there is no need for the DPRK (North Korea) to remain bound to those north-south agreements."
The North has also staked out a tough position in stalled nuclear disarmament negotiations with the United States and four regional partners.
Pyongyang, which staged a nuclear test in 2006, has said it may keep its atomic weapons even after ties are established with Washington, as long as any US nuclear threat remains.
Some analysts believe the North is trying to ensure it remains a diplomatic priority for the new administration of Barack Obama, and is also pressuring Seoul to reverse its tough stance.
But others, like Paik Hak-Soon of the Sejong Institute think-tank, said armed clashes may break out soon.
"This is something bad. The North is apparently paving the way for military provocations," Yoo Ho-Yeol, a professor at Korea University, told AFP.
"It is also seeking to shift responsibility for a possible military clash to the South."
However, Baek Seung-Joo of the Korea Institute for Defence Analyses told AFP the statement aims at "heaping pressure on Lee Myung-Bak" and does not mean clashes are more likely.
The North refuses to recognise the Northern Limit Line, a sea border drawn unilaterally by US-led United Nations forces after the 1950-1953 war.
The two sides have remained technically at war since 1953 because the conflict ended without a peace treaty. But a 1991 reconciliation pact which the North has now nullified recognised the line as an interim border.
After a naval clash in June 1999 which killed dozens of North Korean sailors, the North demanded the border be redrawn.
Six South Koreans were killed in another sea clash in June 2002, while the North's casualties were believed to be heavier.
Since Lee took office the North has cut all official contacts with the South. Last December Pyongyang expelled hundreds of South Koreans from a joint industrial estate and tightened border controls.
On January 17 its army General Staff warned it would not allow South Korean intrusions into the disputed Yellow Sea waters.
However, leader Kim Jong-Il was quoted last week as saying he hopes to push ahead with disarmament talks and does not want to raise tensions with the South.
Business - Mitsubishi, GE Considering Power-turbine Business Tie-up
Chris Oliver
HONG KONG -- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and General Electric Co. will work together in the power-plant turbine business, according to news reports Friday, which cited a Mitsubishi statement. The plans currently being discussed are for a joint venture that would handle design and development of a "next generation" steam turbine for combined-cycle power plants. The collaboration could also see development of turbines for use in nuclear power plants and green technologies such as wind-power generation.
HONG KONG -- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and General Electric Co. will work together in the power-plant turbine business, according to news reports Friday, which cited a Mitsubishi statement. The plans currently being discussed are for a joint venture that would handle design and development of a "next generation" steam turbine for combined-cycle power plants. The collaboration could also see development of turbines for use in nuclear power plants and green technologies such as wind-power generation.
Science - Women Have Nightmares, Men Dream of Sex
Women have more nightmares than men, a British researcher says, but men are more likely to dream about sex.
Psychologist Jennie Parker of the University of the West of England asked 100 women and 93 men between the ages of 18 and 25 to fill out dream diaries, priming participants before dreams occurred to record them. The research was part of her doctoral dissertation.
"My most significant finding is that women in general do experience more nightmares than men," she said. "An early study into dreams led to my discovering that normative research procedures into dream research often considered the structure of dreams, but that there is a gaping hole in terms of academic study that investigates emotional significance in the analysis of dreams."
Women's nightmares can be broadly divided into three categories: fearful dreams (being chased or life threatened), losing a loved one or confused dreams, Parker said.
Parker corroborated participants' dreams with actual life experiences and found that the anxieties about past occurrences reoccur many times as "emblem" dreams.
"It is these emblem dreams that are particularly significant," Parker said. "If women are asked to report the most significant dream they ever had, they are more likely than men to report a very disturbing nightmare. Women reported more nightmares and their nightmares were more emotionally intense than men's."
Sex dreams
Men's dreams contained more references to sexual activity, Parker said, and men reported more actual intercourse, while women reported more kissing and sexual fantasies about other dream characters.
Women's dreams also were found to contain more family members, more negative emotion, more indoor settings and less physical aggression than men's dreams, Parker said.
Men made more references to attacks, or serious threat, but reported fewer verbally aggressive or covert acts of aggression. Men's and women's friendly behavior in dreams was the same; most often they reported helping other dream characters.
Recurring themes
In a comparison of pleasant versus unpleasant dreams among men and women, Parker found that men and women were more likely to be victims of aggressive interactions in unpleasant dreams than they were in unpleasant dreams.
"In pleasant dreams the dreamer was more often the aggressor," Parker said. "Women had more unpleasant dreams than men and unpleasant dreams contained more misfortune, self-negativity and failures."
A lecture by former UWE researcher Susan Blackmore gave Parker a moment of epiphany that inspired her to examine more closely the stuff that dreams are made of, she said.
"My own nightmares had two reoccurring themes, one concerned standing on the beach at Weston Super Mare, my home town, when the tide suddenly goes out very fast and returns as a huge tidal wave that is about to engulf me," Parker said. "The other dream includes a dinosaur roaming the streets at night and looking in at my window. I wondered if my experience was common amongst women."
Psychologist Jennie Parker of the University of the West of England asked 100 women and 93 men between the ages of 18 and 25 to fill out dream diaries, priming participants before dreams occurred to record them. The research was part of her doctoral dissertation.
"My most significant finding is that women in general do experience more nightmares than men," she said. "An early study into dreams led to my discovering that normative research procedures into dream research often considered the structure of dreams, but that there is a gaping hole in terms of academic study that investigates emotional significance in the analysis of dreams."
Women's nightmares can be broadly divided into three categories: fearful dreams (being chased or life threatened), losing a loved one or confused dreams, Parker said.
Parker corroborated participants' dreams with actual life experiences and found that the anxieties about past occurrences reoccur many times as "emblem" dreams.
"It is these emblem dreams that are particularly significant," Parker said. "If women are asked to report the most significant dream they ever had, they are more likely than men to report a very disturbing nightmare. Women reported more nightmares and their nightmares were more emotionally intense than men's."
Sex dreams
Men's dreams contained more references to sexual activity, Parker said, and men reported more actual intercourse, while women reported more kissing and sexual fantasies about other dream characters.
Women's dreams also were found to contain more family members, more negative emotion, more indoor settings and less physical aggression than men's dreams, Parker said.
Men made more references to attacks, or serious threat, but reported fewer verbally aggressive or covert acts of aggression. Men's and women's friendly behavior in dreams was the same; most often they reported helping other dream characters.
Recurring themes
In a comparison of pleasant versus unpleasant dreams among men and women, Parker found that men and women were more likely to be victims of aggressive interactions in unpleasant dreams than they were in unpleasant dreams.
"In pleasant dreams the dreamer was more often the aggressor," Parker said. "Women had more unpleasant dreams than men and unpleasant dreams contained more misfortune, self-negativity and failures."
A lecture by former UWE researcher Susan Blackmore gave Parker a moment of epiphany that inspired her to examine more closely the stuff that dreams are made of, she said.
"My own nightmares had two reoccurring themes, one concerned standing on the beach at Weston Super Mare, my home town, when the tide suddenly goes out very fast and returns as a huge tidal wave that is about to engulf me," Parker said. "The other dream includes a dinosaur roaming the streets at night and looking in at my window. I wondered if my experience was common amongst women."
Science - Ancient Lefties: The History of Obama's Handedness
Heather Whipps
Something sinister is going on, and newly-inaugurated President Obama is behind it.
From the Latin for left, "sinistra," southpaw Obama is another notch for the column of left-handed presidents, now totaling eight - a proportion (out of all 43 men who have been POTUS) that is well above their representation in the total population, which hovers around 10 percent.
(Let's count James A. Garfield as a lefty, although some say he was ambidextrous and others say he was a lefty; many ambis are lefties who learn to do some tasks with their right hands.)
In fact, every president since 1974 with the exception of Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush has been left-handed, as is Obama's former Republican opponent Sen. John McCain. Al Gore is too.
Is it just a coincidence, or is there something about being left-handed that can make for a more presidential demeanor?
Some evolutionary advantage, whether overall greater intelligence or language skills, has kept a stable group of lefties for at least the past 200,000 years, said Chris McManus, professor of psychology and medical education at University College London.
Left-handed tools chipped 500,000 years ago
There have been lefties for as long as there have humans, historians agree.
Some of the oldest evidence of left-handedness comes from Kenya, where of a 500,000 year-old cache of 54 stone tools made by one of our pre-human ancestors, six (or about 11 percent) were chipped using the left hand. Similarly, Neanderthals working with meat and stone tools more than 150,000 years ago left marks on their teeth at left and right angles - indicating opposite hand use - in almost perfect proportion with today's 9:1 ratio.
Paleolithic cave paintings from France and Spain also hint that lefties walked among our ancestors about 30,000 years ago. Studying a collection of so-called negative hand drawings on the cave walls - similar to tracing one hand with the other - scientists found that individuals drew their left hand much more frequently than the right.
The laundry list of lefties goes on through history, with records telling us that a number of famous ancient figures probably favored their southpaw as well, from Alexander the Great to Charlemagne, Holy Roman emperor.
Though ancient sample sizes are small and poor estimates of the exact proportion of lefties, the existence of left-handedness is clear even hundreds of thousands of years ago, McManus said.
Left tied to language
Despite its long history, left-handedness is a uniquely human trait. Chimpanzees and gorillas, with whom we share an ancestor and a number of common physical attributes, don't seem to favor one hand over the other.
Instead, left-handedness may have developed along with another characteristic known just to humans - language.
Most people process language in the left side of their brain, the hemisphere that also controls the right side of the body, and have done so presumably since humans started chatting a few hundred thousand years ago. Whichever gene made the left side of our brains responsible for language also played a role in making our right side dominant, experts such as McManus believe.
Though a specific left-handed gene has yet to be found, the trait to choose one hand over the other is likely inherited, agree scientists. Left-handed parents are far more likely to produce left-handed children, and those children appear to begin favoring that hand in the womb, according to a 2004 study on 10-week-old fetuses.
More recent research suggests that, while developing, the two sides of the brain actually "fight" for specialized control of certain functions, such as handedness, with the left side (which controls the right - are you following?) more often coming out on top.
Interestingly, even when the right side wins, the left brain often shares some of the duties, studies have shown. So while right-handed people usually process language exclusively in the left side of their brain, lefties process language mostly in the right but partly on the left as well.
That preferential wiring may make lefties more adept at certain skills required for leadership according to McManus, who wrote about his theories in his book "Right Hand, Left Hand" (Harvard University Press; 2002).
Something sinister is going on, and newly-inaugurated President Obama is behind it.
From the Latin for left, "sinistra," southpaw Obama is another notch for the column of left-handed presidents, now totaling eight - a proportion (out of all 43 men who have been POTUS) that is well above their representation in the total population, which hovers around 10 percent.
(Let's count James A. Garfield as a lefty, although some say he was ambidextrous and others say he was a lefty; many ambis are lefties who learn to do some tasks with their right hands.)
In fact, every president since 1974 with the exception of Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush has been left-handed, as is Obama's former Republican opponent Sen. John McCain. Al Gore is too.
Is it just a coincidence, or is there something about being left-handed that can make for a more presidential demeanor?
Some evolutionary advantage, whether overall greater intelligence or language skills, has kept a stable group of lefties for at least the past 200,000 years, said Chris McManus, professor of psychology and medical education at University College London.
Left-handed tools chipped 500,000 years ago
There have been lefties for as long as there have humans, historians agree.
Some of the oldest evidence of left-handedness comes from Kenya, where of a 500,000 year-old cache of 54 stone tools made by one of our pre-human ancestors, six (or about 11 percent) were chipped using the left hand. Similarly, Neanderthals working with meat and stone tools more than 150,000 years ago left marks on their teeth at left and right angles - indicating opposite hand use - in almost perfect proportion with today's 9:1 ratio.
Paleolithic cave paintings from France and Spain also hint that lefties walked among our ancestors about 30,000 years ago. Studying a collection of so-called negative hand drawings on the cave walls - similar to tracing one hand with the other - scientists found that individuals drew their left hand much more frequently than the right.
The laundry list of lefties goes on through history, with records telling us that a number of famous ancient figures probably favored their southpaw as well, from Alexander the Great to Charlemagne, Holy Roman emperor.
Though ancient sample sizes are small and poor estimates of the exact proportion of lefties, the existence of left-handedness is clear even hundreds of thousands of years ago, McManus said.
Left tied to language
Despite its long history, left-handedness is a uniquely human trait. Chimpanzees and gorillas, with whom we share an ancestor and a number of common physical attributes, don't seem to favor one hand over the other.
Instead, left-handedness may have developed along with another characteristic known just to humans - language.
Most people process language in the left side of their brain, the hemisphere that also controls the right side of the body, and have done so presumably since humans started chatting a few hundred thousand years ago. Whichever gene made the left side of our brains responsible for language also played a role in making our right side dominant, experts such as McManus believe.
Though a specific left-handed gene has yet to be found, the trait to choose one hand over the other is likely inherited, agree scientists. Left-handed parents are far more likely to produce left-handed children, and those children appear to begin favoring that hand in the womb, according to a 2004 study on 10-week-old fetuses.
More recent research suggests that, while developing, the two sides of the brain actually "fight" for specialized control of certain functions, such as handedness, with the left side (which controls the right - are you following?) more often coming out on top.
Interestingly, even when the right side wins, the left brain often shares some of the duties, studies have shown. So while right-handed people usually process language exclusively in the left side of their brain, lefties process language mostly in the right but partly on the left as well.
That preferential wiring may make lefties more adept at certain skills required for leadership according to McManus, who wrote about his theories in his book "Right Hand, Left Hand" (Harvard University Press; 2002).
World - Australia cracks down on Great Barrier Reef pollution
SYDNEY (AFP) – Australia announced a crackdown on pollution of the Great Barrier Reef Thursday as the World Heritage-listed site comes under increasing threat from toxic chemicals and climate change.
Farmers who allow pesticides and fertilisers to run off into the seas around the reef -- described as the world's largest living organism -- will be fined under new conservation laws, officials said.
"I want my grandchildren to see this natural wonder, and I want to be able to say to them that we did everything we possibly could to protect it," said Queensland state Premier Anna Bligh.
Under a voluntary plan adopted five years ago, farmers in the northern state which borders the reef said they had reduced fertiliser use by 20 percent.
But Bligh said the voluntary measures had not gone far enough, and legislation was required.
"An 80 percent reduction in run off of fertiliser nitrogen would buy the Great Barrier Reef as much as 65 to 70 years before catastrophic bleaching becomes a regular event," she told reporters.
The 345,000 square kilometre (133,000 square mile) tourist attraction, off Australia's northeast coast, was suffering "long-term decline" from soil, fertilisers and pesticides, Bligh said.
Laws would be introduced by June restricting the level and type of damaging chemicals allowed to run into waterways that flowed into the reef.
Farm practices such as over-grazing and tree-clearing would also be regulated, and water monitoring would take place to ensure compliance.
Any breach would be met with a fine, she said.
Conservation group WWF last week estimated that up to a million megalitres of pollution had flowed into the reef following a recent cyclone, equivalent to 400,000 Olympic-size swimming pools.
Coral growth has slowed markedly on the reef since 1990, believed to be caused by warmer seas and higher acidity -- the result of global warming.
Farmers who allow pesticides and fertilisers to run off into the seas around the reef -- described as the world's largest living organism -- will be fined under new conservation laws, officials said.
"I want my grandchildren to see this natural wonder, and I want to be able to say to them that we did everything we possibly could to protect it," said Queensland state Premier Anna Bligh.
Under a voluntary plan adopted five years ago, farmers in the northern state which borders the reef said they had reduced fertiliser use by 20 percent.
But Bligh said the voluntary measures had not gone far enough, and legislation was required.
"An 80 percent reduction in run off of fertiliser nitrogen would buy the Great Barrier Reef as much as 65 to 70 years before catastrophic bleaching becomes a regular event," she told reporters.
The 345,000 square kilometre (133,000 square mile) tourist attraction, off Australia's northeast coast, was suffering "long-term decline" from soil, fertilisers and pesticides, Bligh said.
Laws would be introduced by June restricting the level and type of damaging chemicals allowed to run into waterways that flowed into the reef.
Farm practices such as over-grazing and tree-clearing would also be regulated, and water monitoring would take place to ensure compliance.
Any breach would be met with a fine, she said.
Conservation group WWF last week estimated that up to a million megalitres of pollution had flowed into the reef following a recent cyclone, equivalent to 400,000 Olympic-size swimming pools.
Coral growth has slowed markedly on the reef since 1990, believed to be caused by warmer seas and higher acidity -- the result of global warming.
World - US;Obama puts his beloved BlackBerry to work
WASHINGTON – He won the fight to keep it. Now, Barack Obama is putting his beloved BlackBerry to work. Upon returning to the White House on Thursday morning after a trip to his younger daughter's school for a class presentation, the president walked along the West Wing Colonnade toward the Oval Office while looking down at the electronic communicating device he held in both hands.
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said last week that a compromise had been reached to allow the president to use the BlackBerry to keep in touch with senior staff and some personal friends. He did not say with whom the compromise had been struck.
Gibbs said Obama will limit its use, and that security has been enhanced to protect his communications.
Previous presidents chose not to use e-mail because it can be subpoenaed by Congress and the courts, and may be subject to public records laws.
Gibbs said the presumption from the White House counsel's office is that the e-mails will be subject to the Presidential Records Act, which requires the National Archives to preserve presidential records. But he also said some exemptions in the law allow for "strictly personal communications." He did not say how that classification would be determined, but made clear that the device could be used for both business and personal exchanges.
Obama's BlackBerry has been a constant companion, and he had noted publicly that he was negotiating to find a way to keep it despite security concerns and records-keeping issues.
Gibbs said that Obama believes using the device will help him escape the "bubble" that surrounds the president.
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said last week that a compromise had been reached to allow the president to use the BlackBerry to keep in touch with senior staff and some personal friends. He did not say with whom the compromise had been struck.
Gibbs said Obama will limit its use, and that security has been enhanced to protect his communications.
Previous presidents chose not to use e-mail because it can be subpoenaed by Congress and the courts, and may be subject to public records laws.
Gibbs said the presumption from the White House counsel's office is that the e-mails will be subject to the Presidential Records Act, which requires the National Archives to preserve presidential records. But he also said some exemptions in the law allow for "strictly personal communications." He did not say how that classification would be determined, but made clear that the device could be used for both business and personal exchanges.
Obama's BlackBerry has been a constant companion, and he had noted publicly that he was negotiating to find a way to keep it despite security concerns and records-keeping issues.
Gibbs said that Obama believes using the device will help him escape the "bubble" that surrounds the president.
World - British govt promises broadband access for all
LONDON (AFP) - Every home in Britain will be guaranteed access to broadband Internet under plans unveiled by the government on Thursday, which put the technology on a par with telephones as an essential service.
"We are developing plans to move towards an historic universal service commitment for broadband and digital services," Culture Secretary Andy Burnham told lawmakers in the House of Commons.
Universal service obligations (USOs) were used in 1840 to guarantee postal services across Britain, and in 1984 to ensure everyone had access to a phone.
The plan to give every household broadband access by the 2012 Olympic Games in London is part of a new strategy, which includes upgrading radio from analogue to digital, to ensure Britain's future in a digital age.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said digital technology would be as important to Britain's prosperity in the 21st economy as "roads, bridges, trains and electricity were in the 20th century."
However, the main opposition Conservatives criticised the lack of detail and plans for action in the strategy and asked who would pay for the new services.
"Expressing a sentiment is fine, but without a road map for delivery it is surely a totally empty promise," said their culture spokesman, Jeremy Hunt.
A final report outlining the strategy in more detail is due later this year.
"We are developing plans to move towards an historic universal service commitment for broadband and digital services," Culture Secretary Andy Burnham told lawmakers in the House of Commons.
Universal service obligations (USOs) were used in 1840 to guarantee postal services across Britain, and in 1984 to ensure everyone had access to a phone.
The plan to give every household broadband access by the 2012 Olympic Games in London is part of a new strategy, which includes upgrading radio from analogue to digital, to ensure Britain's future in a digital age.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said digital technology would be as important to Britain's prosperity in the 21st economy as "roads, bridges, trains and electricity were in the 20th century."
However, the main opposition Conservatives criticised the lack of detail and plans for action in the strategy and asked who would pay for the new services.
"Expressing a sentiment is fine, but without a road map for delivery it is surely a totally empty promise," said their culture spokesman, Jeremy Hunt.
A final report outlining the strategy in more detail is due later this year.
Science - Teleportation Is Real - But Don't Try It at Home
Physics and magic aren't often mistaken, but increasingly, physicists themselves seem to be trying to change that. Last year, a team at the University of California, Berkeley, announced that it had developed materials that could lead to an invisibility cloak. Last month, a group of researchers at Harvard University and the National Institutes of Health reported that it had accomplished something not unlike levitation, causing a microscopic sphere of gold to rise above a glass surface. Now, according to a paper published in the Jan. 23 issue of Science, a team of scientists from the Joint Quantum Institute (JQI) at the University of Maryland and the University of Michigan has joined the fun. The current bit of legerdemain? Teleportation.
Depending on your favorite sci-fi yarns, teleportation is either a very, very bad idea (see: The Fly) or a very, very cool one (see: Star Trek). For scientists, it's just very, very complex, so much so that at this point, teleportation is not a matter of moving matter but one of transporting information. Already, physicists have been able to exchange information between light particles - or photons - or between atoms, so long as they were right next to each other. The current experiment marks the first in which information has traveled a significant distance - 1 m, or a little more than 3 ft. - between two isolated atoms. It's also the first time the powers of a photon, which is good at traveling over long distances, and an atom, which is prized for its ability to retain information, have been jointly exploited. (See the top 10 scientific discoveries of 2008.)
Using a pair of ions, or charged particles, group leader Christopher Monroe and his team place each in a vacuum and keep them in position with electric fields. An ultra-fast laser pulse triggers the atoms to emit photons simultaneously. If the photons interact in just the right way, their parent atoms enter a quantum state known as entanglement, in which atom B adopts the properties of atom A even though they're in separate chambers a meter apart. When A is measured, the information that had been previously encoded on it disappears in accordance with the quirky rules of the quantum world. But all is not lost: because B is entangled with A, B now contains the information that was once carried on A. That information, in a very real sense, has been teleported.
O.K., so parents might not be inviting the JQI team to perform at their kids' birthday parties anytime soon, but what the quantum trick lacks in showmanship, it makes up for in practical applications for future computers. In 1965, Intel co-founder Gordon Moore predicted that the number of transistors that could be placed on a computer chip would double every two years - which is precisely what has happened. He was rewarded for his prescience with a sort of immortality: the famed "Moore's Law" is one of the venerable truths of the computer world. The rest of us were rewarded with ever faster and ever smaller computers. At some point soon, however, miniaturization will reach a point that's too tiny to be practical. It's then, many hope, that what's known as quantum computing - based on information-sharing particles - will take over.
Quantum-computing technology is currently being used to encrypt data, but it holds a lot more potential than that, if only because of its massive information-storage capacity. One of the marvelous little wrinkles of the quantum world is a condition known as superposition, in which a particle can occupy two states at the same time. (Don't ask; it just can.) For this reason, a quantum bit, or qubit, can store two numbers at once. Each qubit added to a quantum computer doubles the size of the system, so if you want to know the capacity of a computer that contains 300 qubits, take the number 2 and multiply it by itself 300 times. "That's more than the number of particles in the universe," Monroe says. (See the best inventions of 2008.)
The next step for the JQI team is to improve the photons' precision and the rate of communication between the particles. What we won't see soon - or ever, according to Monroe - is a contraption that can teleport humans from one point to another. Sorry, Captain Kirk, but beaming up is a pleasure strictly reserved for atoms. "There's way too many atoms," says Monroe. "At the other end of the transporter, you need to have some blob of atoms that represents Captain Kirk but has no information in it. I mean, what would that look like?"
Depending on your favorite sci-fi yarns, teleportation is either a very, very bad idea (see: The Fly) or a very, very cool one (see: Star Trek). For scientists, it's just very, very complex, so much so that at this point, teleportation is not a matter of moving matter but one of transporting information. Already, physicists have been able to exchange information between light particles - or photons - or between atoms, so long as they were right next to each other. The current experiment marks the first in which information has traveled a significant distance - 1 m, or a little more than 3 ft. - between two isolated atoms. It's also the first time the powers of a photon, which is good at traveling over long distances, and an atom, which is prized for its ability to retain information, have been jointly exploited. (See the top 10 scientific discoveries of 2008.)
Using a pair of ions, or charged particles, group leader Christopher Monroe and his team place each in a vacuum and keep them in position with electric fields. An ultra-fast laser pulse triggers the atoms to emit photons simultaneously. If the photons interact in just the right way, their parent atoms enter a quantum state known as entanglement, in which atom B adopts the properties of atom A even though they're in separate chambers a meter apart. When A is measured, the information that had been previously encoded on it disappears in accordance with the quirky rules of the quantum world. But all is not lost: because B is entangled with A, B now contains the information that was once carried on A. That information, in a very real sense, has been teleported.
O.K., so parents might not be inviting the JQI team to perform at their kids' birthday parties anytime soon, but what the quantum trick lacks in showmanship, it makes up for in practical applications for future computers. In 1965, Intel co-founder Gordon Moore predicted that the number of transistors that could be placed on a computer chip would double every two years - which is precisely what has happened. He was rewarded for his prescience with a sort of immortality: the famed "Moore's Law" is one of the venerable truths of the computer world. The rest of us were rewarded with ever faster and ever smaller computers. At some point soon, however, miniaturization will reach a point that's too tiny to be practical. It's then, many hope, that what's known as quantum computing - based on information-sharing particles - will take over.
Quantum-computing technology is currently being used to encrypt data, but it holds a lot more potential than that, if only because of its massive information-storage capacity. One of the marvelous little wrinkles of the quantum world is a condition known as superposition, in which a particle can occupy two states at the same time. (Don't ask; it just can.) For this reason, a quantum bit, or qubit, can store two numbers at once. Each qubit added to a quantum computer doubles the size of the system, so if you want to know the capacity of a computer that contains 300 qubits, take the number 2 and multiply it by itself 300 times. "That's more than the number of particles in the universe," Monroe says. (See the best inventions of 2008.)
The next step for the JQI team is to improve the photons' precision and the rate of communication between the particles. What we won't see soon - or ever, according to Monroe - is a contraption that can teleport humans from one point to another. Sorry, Captain Kirk, but beaming up is a pleasure strictly reserved for atoms. "There's way too many atoms," says Monroe. "At the other end of the transporter, you need to have some blob of atoms that represents Captain Kirk but has no information in it. I mean, what would that look like?"
Entertainment - 'Idol': Judges misconstrued 'Be careful' remark
LOS ANGELES – Be careful not to read too much into what someone from Louisville says while heading out the door — like the "American Idol" judges did.
The producers of "Idol" apologized Thursday on behalf of its judges, who apparently misinterpreted what a contestant in Louisville, Ky., said after a failed audition. On his way out, Mark Mudd said: "Take care and be careful."
Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell took that as a threat. Abdul scolded Mudd, telling him, "You don't say that to people, 'Be careful.' That's just not a normal thing to say."
It turns out that "Be careful" is a regional parting expression.
The show's producers say they had not heard that from any other contestants, so it took everyone by surprise.
A statement from "Idol" producers said: "We now know better and look forward to visiting Louisville again someday."
The producers of "Idol" apologized Thursday on behalf of its judges, who apparently misinterpreted what a contestant in Louisville, Ky., said after a failed audition. On his way out, Mark Mudd said: "Take care and be careful."
Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell took that as a threat. Abdul scolded Mudd, telling him, "You don't say that to people, 'Be careful.' That's just not a normal thing to say."
It turns out that "Be careful" is a regional parting expression.
The show's producers say they had not heard that from any other contestants, so it took everyone by surprise.
A statement from "Idol" producers said: "We now know better and look forward to visiting Louisville again someday."
Entertainment - Action pic "Taken" primed to take box-office crown
Carl DiOrio
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Even a preschooler could tell you where his dad and older brothers will be Sunday -- on the living-room couch watching the Super Bowl. Where they won't be is the neighborhood multiplex.
As a result, studios tend to schedule movies to open over Super Bowl weekend that appeal primarily to women.
Last year, the tactic saw 3-D "Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert" break big with teens, tweens and moms. Yet this time around, only one of three films opening wide Friday is a clear chick flick: Lionsgate's romantic comedy "New in Town."
But that film, starring Renee Zellweger and Harry Connick Jr., looks like the weakest debutant in the bunch, according to prerelease surveys of prospective moviegoers. The strongest new pic: Fox's "Taken," an action thriller about an ex-spy out to rescue his daughter from the slave trade.
20th Century Fox hopes to attract ample female interest with a star stint by Liam Neeson in the PG-13 film. But executives admitted that they also are gunning for the guys despite the obvious preoccupation with the Super Bowl this weekend.
"It may not be the obvious move, but there is really nothing for males on Friday and Saturday," Fox distribution president Bruce Snyder said. "So we may lose them on Sunday, but I think we'll have a pretty clear field for the movie on Friday and Saturday."
The other wide release is Paramount's ghost-filled "The Uninvited," which also totes a PG-13. Such a rating often is key to tapping into female support for horror pics.
Tracking indicates that "Taken" could take in something in the mid- to high-teen millions through Sunday. "Uninvited" might creep into low-double-digit millions, and "Town" should settle in the middle- to upper-single-digit millions range.
Elsewhere this weekend, Focus Features pours "Milk" into 882 venues as the Sean Penn-starring feature finally hits wide release, expanding from 250 screens. The Oscar-nominated Harvey Milk biopic's highest previous theater count was 356 locations just before Christmas.
The Weinstein Co. plans an important expansion into wide release for its Nazi-themed drama "The Reader." A surprise inclusion in the Oscars' best picture nominees, "Reader" will reach north of 1,000 theaters after playing in 367 locations last weekend.
And Sony Pictures Classics returns Oscar-nominated French film "The Class" -- Palme d'Or winner at the 2008 Cannes festival -- to six locations. "Class" has been absent from theaters since a brief Academy-qualifying run in December.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Even a preschooler could tell you where his dad and older brothers will be Sunday -- on the living-room couch watching the Super Bowl. Where they won't be is the neighborhood multiplex.
As a result, studios tend to schedule movies to open over Super Bowl weekend that appeal primarily to women.
Last year, the tactic saw 3-D "Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert" break big with teens, tweens and moms. Yet this time around, only one of three films opening wide Friday is a clear chick flick: Lionsgate's romantic comedy "New in Town."
But that film, starring Renee Zellweger and Harry Connick Jr., looks like the weakest debutant in the bunch, according to prerelease surveys of prospective moviegoers. The strongest new pic: Fox's "Taken," an action thriller about an ex-spy out to rescue his daughter from the slave trade.
20th Century Fox hopes to attract ample female interest with a star stint by Liam Neeson in the PG-13 film. But executives admitted that they also are gunning for the guys despite the obvious preoccupation with the Super Bowl this weekend.
"It may not be the obvious move, but there is really nothing for males on Friday and Saturday," Fox distribution president Bruce Snyder said. "So we may lose them on Sunday, but I think we'll have a pretty clear field for the movie on Friday and Saturday."
The other wide release is Paramount's ghost-filled "The Uninvited," which also totes a PG-13. Such a rating often is key to tapping into female support for horror pics.
Tracking indicates that "Taken" could take in something in the mid- to high-teen millions through Sunday. "Uninvited" might creep into low-double-digit millions, and "Town" should settle in the middle- to upper-single-digit millions range.
Elsewhere this weekend, Focus Features pours "Milk" into 882 venues as the Sean Penn-starring feature finally hits wide release, expanding from 250 screens. The Oscar-nominated Harvey Milk biopic's highest previous theater count was 356 locations just before Christmas.
The Weinstein Co. plans an important expansion into wide release for its Nazi-themed drama "The Reader." A surprise inclusion in the Oscars' best picture nominees, "Reader" will reach north of 1,000 theaters after playing in 367 locations last weekend.
And Sony Pictures Classics returns Oscar-nominated French film "The Class" -- Palme d'Or winner at the 2008 Cannes festival -- to six locations. "Class" has been absent from theaters since a brief Academy-qualifying run in December.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
Entertainment - Settlement reached on Heath Ledger's life insurance
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Heath Ledger's insurance company and lawyers for his young daughter have reached an out of court settlement over a $10 million policy claim on behalf of the girl, an attorney said on Thursday.
Ledger, 28, died a year ago in his New York apartment in what officials ruled an accidental prescription-drug overdose.
But lawyers for ReliaStar Life Insurance Co said they wanted to investigate further before paying out because his death might have been suicide, which would nullify the policy.
Attorney William Shernoff filed a lawsuit in July 2008 on behalf of Ledger's 3-year-old daughter, Matilda Rose, over the $10 million he argued was due to her as the beneficiary. After the lawsuit was filed, the two sides negotiated.
"The parties are pleased that they were able to reach an amicable settlement and solve the dispute," Shernoff said.
No details were released on terms of the agreement.
Ledger, who had his daughter with actress Michelle Williams, is Oscar-nominated for playing Batman's enemy the Joker in "The Dark Knight." He was nominated for an Oscar for playing a gay cowboy in the 2005 movie "Brokeback Mountain."
(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Jill Serjeant)
Ledger, 28, died a year ago in his New York apartment in what officials ruled an accidental prescription-drug overdose.
But lawyers for ReliaStar Life Insurance Co said they wanted to investigate further before paying out because his death might have been suicide, which would nullify the policy.
Attorney William Shernoff filed a lawsuit in July 2008 on behalf of Ledger's 3-year-old daughter, Matilda Rose, over the $10 million he argued was due to her as the beneficiary. After the lawsuit was filed, the two sides negotiated.
"The parties are pleased that they were able to reach an amicable settlement and solve the dispute," Shernoff said.
No details were released on terms of the agreement.
Ledger, who had his daughter with actress Michelle Williams, is Oscar-nominated for playing Batman's enemy the Joker in "The Dark Knight." He was nominated for an Oscar for playing a gay cowboy in the 2005 movie "Brokeback Mountain."
(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Jill Serjeant)
Lifestyle - Free online computer games win US fans in dismal economy
Glen Chapman
SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) – US videogame lovers seeking fun during tough economic times are turning increasingly to free-to-play online games supported by advertising.
The number of visitors to online computer game websites grew 27 percent in the United States in 2008, reaching 86 million by the end of December, according to comScore figures released Wednesday.
The total amount of time people spent playing games online leapt 42 percent, with 4.9 percent of Internet activities devoted to play.
"It appears that online, ad-supported gaming is one of the activities that has benefited during this economic downturn," said comScore director of gaming solutions Edward Hunter.
"Not only have consumers turned to outlets such as gaming to take their minds off the economy, but as they curtail their discretionary gaming-related purchases they are turning to free alternatives."
Yahoo! Games was the most popular website in the category with visits climbing 20 percent to 19.5 million year-over-year. Videogame giant Electronic Arts ranked second with visits rising 21 percent to 15.4 million.
Disney Games was in third place with visits growing 13 percent to 13.4 million.
"Casual games are providing a really good alternative source of entertainment that is fun and free for people in a tough economic environment," said Michelle Weaver, chief operating officer of EA's POGO game website.
"We are seeing really strong growth. This was a pretty significant jump for the business."
Approximately 37 percent of the time spent on US online play was spent at POGO, which offers more than 100 puzzle, word, board and other games in a social-networking community setting.
The display advertising market at game websites is a bright spot in a dark economy, with a 29 percent surge in the number of times ads are viewed, according to comScore.
"The growth in display ads in the online gaming category not only underscores the assertion that gamers are increasingly accepting of ad-supported games, but also that the advertising community is recognizing the value of this highly engaged audience," said Hunter.
Free computer game play that is all the rage in South Korea has been taking hold in a US market dominated by videogames sold on packaged disks or by online subscriptions.
Seoul-based "free-to-play" computer game titan Nexon last year blasted into the US videogame arena with a "Combat Arms" online first-person shooter title. More than a million people registered to play in the first five months.
The game makes its money from players that buy animated helmets, outfits, emblems or other virtual items to customize in-game characters, and Nexon plans to begin exploring incorporating advertising.
"Free-to-play is starting to catch on fast," said Nexon America spokesman Min Kim. "As more people get into it, word of mouth is spreading. We are carving a space out for ourselves."
California-based Electronic Arts has been investing in free play and is putting finishing touches on a "Battlefield Heroes" war game supported by in-game transactions instead of up-front purchase prices.
Personal computers have become a natural gaming forum as people spend massive amounts of time online at social websites such as Facebook, MySpace and YouTube.
Analysts say that startups and established game makers, including Japanese goliath Sony, are increasingly venturing into the free computer game market.
The free play model is tempting in a US market where packaged video games typically sell for 60 dollars each but has to compete with gamers devoted to consoles.
SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) – US videogame lovers seeking fun during tough economic times are turning increasingly to free-to-play online games supported by advertising.
The number of visitors to online computer game websites grew 27 percent in the United States in 2008, reaching 86 million by the end of December, according to comScore figures released Wednesday.
The total amount of time people spent playing games online leapt 42 percent, with 4.9 percent of Internet activities devoted to play.
"It appears that online, ad-supported gaming is one of the activities that has benefited during this economic downturn," said comScore director of gaming solutions Edward Hunter.
"Not only have consumers turned to outlets such as gaming to take their minds off the economy, but as they curtail their discretionary gaming-related purchases they are turning to free alternatives."
Yahoo! Games was the most popular website in the category with visits climbing 20 percent to 19.5 million year-over-year. Videogame giant Electronic Arts ranked second with visits rising 21 percent to 15.4 million.
Disney Games was in third place with visits growing 13 percent to 13.4 million.
"Casual games are providing a really good alternative source of entertainment that is fun and free for people in a tough economic environment," said Michelle Weaver, chief operating officer of EA's POGO game website.
"We are seeing really strong growth. This was a pretty significant jump for the business."
Approximately 37 percent of the time spent on US online play was spent at POGO, which offers more than 100 puzzle, word, board and other games in a social-networking community setting.
The display advertising market at game websites is a bright spot in a dark economy, with a 29 percent surge in the number of times ads are viewed, according to comScore.
"The growth in display ads in the online gaming category not only underscores the assertion that gamers are increasingly accepting of ad-supported games, but also that the advertising community is recognizing the value of this highly engaged audience," said Hunter.
Free computer game play that is all the rage in South Korea has been taking hold in a US market dominated by videogames sold on packaged disks or by online subscriptions.
Seoul-based "free-to-play" computer game titan Nexon last year blasted into the US videogame arena with a "Combat Arms" online first-person shooter title. More than a million people registered to play in the first five months.
The game makes its money from players that buy animated helmets, outfits, emblems or other virtual items to customize in-game characters, and Nexon plans to begin exploring incorporating advertising.
"Free-to-play is starting to catch on fast," said Nexon America spokesman Min Kim. "As more people get into it, word of mouth is spreading. We are carving a space out for ourselves."
California-based Electronic Arts has been investing in free play and is putting finishing touches on a "Battlefield Heroes" war game supported by in-game transactions instead of up-front purchase prices.
Personal computers have become a natural gaming forum as people spend massive amounts of time online at social websites such as Facebook, MySpace and YouTube.
Analysts say that startups and established game makers, including Japanese goliath Sony, are increasingly venturing into the free computer game market.
The free play model is tempting in a US market where packaged video games typically sell for 60 dollars each but has to compete with gamers devoted to consoles.
Entertainment - Hollywood actors, producers union to meet next week
LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Hollywood's warring producers and actors unions said Wednesday they plan to meet for the first time in more than two months next week, signalling a possible breakthrough in their contract feud.
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) issued a terse joint statement saying representatives of the two bodies would meet for two days from Tuesday.
"We will have no further comment about the meeting," the statement said.
News of the meeting comes after SAG's hardline negotiator Doug Allen was forced to step down as executive director on Monday.
Allen's departure came amid a revolt from moderate members of the actors union who have reacted angrily to the possibility of union leaders calling a potentially devastating strike in the midst of a recession.
The actors union has been in a standoff with AMPTP since a previous contract expired in June. Fresh attempts to broker a deal foundered in November.
SAG is holding out for a greater share of royalties from sales and showings of work screened on the Internet.
The AMPTP said the actors' demands were unreasonable and have refused to improve a final offer made in June, similar to other agreements reached with writers, directors and a smaller actors union
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) issued a terse joint statement saying representatives of the two bodies would meet for two days from Tuesday.
"We will have no further comment about the meeting," the statement said.
News of the meeting comes after SAG's hardline negotiator Doug Allen was forced to step down as executive director on Monday.
Allen's departure came amid a revolt from moderate members of the actors union who have reacted angrily to the possibility of union leaders calling a potentially devastating strike in the midst of a recession.
The actors union has been in a standoff with AMPTP since a previous contract expired in June. Fresh attempts to broker a deal foundered in November.
SAG is holding out for a greater share of royalties from sales and showings of work screened on the Internet.
The AMPTP said the actors' demands were unreasonable and have refused to improve a final offer made in June, similar to other agreements reached with writers, directors and a smaller actors union
World - How to feed the hungry billion
Before the global economic crisis, there was the global food crisis. Last year, soaring prices for basic foods sparked riots in about 30 countries. In June, the UN held a summit to tackle it. In July, the G-8 pledged to act. But in the fall, the floor fell out from the financial markets. Now, like a mountain of maize, countries' economic worries threaten to bury their concerns about rising world hunger.
Food prices have eased on global markets, but they remain high in many countries. Price volatility, the credit crunch, and shrinking coffers (both private and government) are making it harder for farmers to get loans to invest and plant.
At a follow-up conference on hunger this week, the United Nations announced that 40 million people joined the ranks of the "undernourished" in 2008, bringing the number of hungry people to nearly 1 billion – or roughly 1 in 7. Yet donor nations have delivered only a trickle of the $22 billion they pledged last year.
Meanwhile, food production must double by 2050 to head off mass hunger amid a global population surge from 6.5 billion to 9 billion, the UN said.
The world can solve this problem. In the 1960s, a technological "green revolution" in grain yields, irrigation, and fertilizers greatly increased food production, especially in Asia. Allowing communal farmers to earn and trade privately went a long way to alleviate hunger in post-Mao China. And economic growth and social programs have helped in Latin America.
But Africa stands stubbornly off the track of agricultural progress, and hunger still plagues many countries in South Asia. Climate change is expected to exacerbate production problems in these places, and once the world economy begins to recover, expect food prices to rise again as demand increases and more food is diverted to bio-fuels.
Once again, the world knows how to respond, but will it?
Tackling climate change, ending wars, and reducing agricultural subsidies that clog trade channels are three overarching needs. But they are also difficult to achieve.
Relatively quick and substantial progress can be made if nations rededicate themselves to international aid for agriculture, which has dropped from 13 percent of all development aid in the early 1980s to only 3 percent now. They must also better coordinate among themselves and with nonprofits.
Simply improving food storage could increase production by 30 to 40 percent in many poor countries, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Building roads could get more goods to market. In sub-Saharan Africa, just 4 percent of arable land is irrigated, compared with 38 percent in Asia.
Research needs a boost, too, as adapting pests, for instance, erode yields over time.
The FAO estimates that only $30 billion per year, invested in farm infrastructure and production, could eradicate the root causes of world hunger by 2025. That compares with the $825 billion stimulus package that the US Congress is debating.
Last summer, political momentum was building behind a UN effort to increase agri-aid, focus on small farmers, and better coordinate antihunger efforts. The momentum must be maintained.
Food prices have eased on global markets, but they remain high in many countries. Price volatility, the credit crunch, and shrinking coffers (both private and government) are making it harder for farmers to get loans to invest and plant.
At a follow-up conference on hunger this week, the United Nations announced that 40 million people joined the ranks of the "undernourished" in 2008, bringing the number of hungry people to nearly 1 billion – or roughly 1 in 7. Yet donor nations have delivered only a trickle of the $22 billion they pledged last year.
Meanwhile, food production must double by 2050 to head off mass hunger amid a global population surge from 6.5 billion to 9 billion, the UN said.
The world can solve this problem. In the 1960s, a technological "green revolution" in grain yields, irrigation, and fertilizers greatly increased food production, especially in Asia. Allowing communal farmers to earn and trade privately went a long way to alleviate hunger in post-Mao China. And economic growth and social programs have helped in Latin America.
But Africa stands stubbornly off the track of agricultural progress, and hunger still plagues many countries in South Asia. Climate change is expected to exacerbate production problems in these places, and once the world economy begins to recover, expect food prices to rise again as demand increases and more food is diverted to bio-fuels.
Once again, the world knows how to respond, but will it?
Tackling climate change, ending wars, and reducing agricultural subsidies that clog trade channels are three overarching needs. But they are also difficult to achieve.
Relatively quick and substantial progress can be made if nations rededicate themselves to international aid for agriculture, which has dropped from 13 percent of all development aid in the early 1980s to only 3 percent now. They must also better coordinate among themselves and with nonprofits.
Simply improving food storage could increase production by 30 to 40 percent in many poor countries, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Building roads could get more goods to market. In sub-Saharan Africa, just 4 percent of arable land is irrigated, compared with 38 percent in Asia.
Research needs a boost, too, as adapting pests, for instance, erode yields over time.
The FAO estimates that only $30 billion per year, invested in farm infrastructure and production, could eradicate the root causes of world hunger by 2025. That compares with the $825 billion stimulus package that the US Congress is debating.
Last summer, political momentum was building behind a UN effort to increase agri-aid, focus on small farmers, and better coordinate antihunger efforts. The momentum must be maintained.
Entertainment - Do Big Stars Have to Audition for Movies?
Leslie Gornstein
Los Angeles (E! Online) – Do all celebs have to audition for a role? Do big-time stars even have to do that? Or are they just handed to them?
—Joan G, via Twitter
Most of the time, A-list gods and goddesses don't have to read for anything.
In fact, even B-plus talent often joins a project before a casting director is even hired. That's what happened with the movie Soul Men. Samuel L. Jackson and the late Bernie Mac were both attached before casting director LaTanya Potts came on board to flesh out the rest of the cast.
As for Mickey Rourke and his gritty leotard picture The Wrestler, that's an interesting story. It highlights a muddy netherworld between auditioning for a part and getting it sight-unseen...
According to several interviews, Rourke did not have to read for his role in The Wrestler. That's because he wasn't really as down and out as his comeback story might have you believe. In fact, he'd been working his way back, slowly but steadily, for years—enough so that, when it came time to cast The Wrestler, Rourke was able to use past directors as references.
Another key point: Rourke may not have had to audition—director Darren Aronofsky was a fan of his work in, of all things, Angel Heart—but he did meet with Aronofsky before shooting.
And that's what happens with many famous actors: a meeting, usually a lunch, where the director or producers can size up an actor without making the talent feel like they're under evaluation.
"The producers will say, 'Let's have a lunch and make it informal,' " Bonnie Gillespie of Cricket Feet Casting explains to me. "They often don't want to insult someone by asking them to read."
Los Angeles (E! Online) – Do all celebs have to audition for a role? Do big-time stars even have to do that? Or are they just handed to them?
—Joan G, via Twitter
Most of the time, A-list gods and goddesses don't have to read for anything.
In fact, even B-plus talent often joins a project before a casting director is even hired. That's what happened with the movie Soul Men. Samuel L. Jackson and the late Bernie Mac were both attached before casting director LaTanya Potts came on board to flesh out the rest of the cast.
As for Mickey Rourke and his gritty leotard picture The Wrestler, that's an interesting story. It highlights a muddy netherworld between auditioning for a part and getting it sight-unseen...
According to several interviews, Rourke did not have to read for his role in The Wrestler. That's because he wasn't really as down and out as his comeback story might have you believe. In fact, he'd been working his way back, slowly but steadily, for years—enough so that, when it came time to cast The Wrestler, Rourke was able to use past directors as references.
Another key point: Rourke may not have had to audition—director Darren Aronofsky was a fan of his work in, of all things, Angel Heart—but he did meet with Aronofsky before shooting.
And that's what happens with many famous actors: a meeting, usually a lunch, where the director or producers can size up an actor without making the talent feel like they're under evaluation.
"The producers will say, 'Let's have a lunch and make it informal,' " Bonnie Gillespie of Cricket Feet Casting explains to me. "They often don't want to insult someone by asking them to read."
Science - Common chemical causes locusts to swarm
RANDOLPH E. SCHMID
WASHINGTON – A chemical that affects people's moods also can transform easygoing desert locusts into terrifying swarms that ravage the countryside, scientists report. "Here we have a solitary and lonely creature, the desert locust. But just give them a little serotonin, and they go and join a gang," observed Malcolm Burrows of the University of Cambridge in England.
The brain chemical serotonin has been linked to mood in people. It plays a role in sexual desire, appetite, sleep, memory and learning, too.
Under certain conditions, locusts triple the amount of serotonin in their systems, changing the insects from loners to pack animals, Burrows and his co-authors report in Friday's edition of the journal Science.
These packs can be devastating. They affect 20 percent of the Earth's land. Last year a swarm nearly four miles long plagued Australia. They also occur in Africa and Asia and have affected the western U.S.
"Serotonin profoundly influences how we humans behave and interact, said co-author Swidbert Ott of Cambridge, "so to find that the same chemical in the brain is what causes a normally shy anti-social insect to gang up in huge groups is amazing."
Now that they know what causes the swarming behavior, scientists can begin looking for ways to prevent it.
"It opens up a whole line of inquiry into what we could to break apart these swarms before they develop," said co-author Stephen M. Rogers, who is affiliated both with Cambridge and the University of Oxford in England.
But, he added, "you need to get it at an early stage. Once you have several million or billion locusts, there is a limit to what you can do."
Calling the report a "breakthrough," Paul Anthony Stevenson of Leipzig University in Germany said it "harbors considerable potential" for finding ways to block swarming. But that will require a lot more research, said Stevenson, who was not part of the research team.
Researchers led by Michael L. Anstey of Oxford were studying the changes in locust behavior and tested them for a variety of chemicals. The only change they found was that when the insects were swarming, they had about three times more serotonin in their systems than when they were living as solitary creatures.
So the scientists took some solitary locusts and injected serotonin into them. Sure enough they changed in appearance and flocked together.
The Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde transformation took only a few hours.
It turns out that locusts produce more serotonin when circumstances force them together and they are stimulated by the sight, smell and touch of many other locusts. This can happen, for example, when drought reduces their food supply and causes locusts to gather at a few remaining sources of food.
Indeed, the scientists found that tickling the insects' back legs for a couple hours could induce the locusts to make more serotonin.
Once researchers determined that serotonin causes the change, they gave locusts drugs that blocked serotonin and then exposed them to situations that normally cause swarming. But the change didn't occur.
"To actually be able to stop it from happening, that was very exciting," Anstey said.
Now the question is how to target locusts without affecting humans or other animals.
Also part of the research team was Stephen J. Simpson of Oxford and the University of Sydney in Australia.
The research was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council of England, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, England's Royal Society and the Australian Research Council Federation.
WASHINGTON – A chemical that affects people's moods also can transform easygoing desert locusts into terrifying swarms that ravage the countryside, scientists report. "Here we have a solitary and lonely creature, the desert locust. But just give them a little serotonin, and they go and join a gang," observed Malcolm Burrows of the University of Cambridge in England.
The brain chemical serotonin has been linked to mood in people. It plays a role in sexual desire, appetite, sleep, memory and learning, too.
Under certain conditions, locusts triple the amount of serotonin in their systems, changing the insects from loners to pack animals, Burrows and his co-authors report in Friday's edition of the journal Science.
These packs can be devastating. They affect 20 percent of the Earth's land. Last year a swarm nearly four miles long plagued Australia. They also occur in Africa and Asia and have affected the western U.S.
"Serotonin profoundly influences how we humans behave and interact, said co-author Swidbert Ott of Cambridge, "so to find that the same chemical in the brain is what causes a normally shy anti-social insect to gang up in huge groups is amazing."
Now that they know what causes the swarming behavior, scientists can begin looking for ways to prevent it.
"It opens up a whole line of inquiry into what we could to break apart these swarms before they develop," said co-author Stephen M. Rogers, who is affiliated both with Cambridge and the University of Oxford in England.
But, he added, "you need to get it at an early stage. Once you have several million or billion locusts, there is a limit to what you can do."
Calling the report a "breakthrough," Paul Anthony Stevenson of Leipzig University in Germany said it "harbors considerable potential" for finding ways to block swarming. But that will require a lot more research, said Stevenson, who was not part of the research team.
Researchers led by Michael L. Anstey of Oxford were studying the changes in locust behavior and tested them for a variety of chemicals. The only change they found was that when the insects were swarming, they had about three times more serotonin in their systems than when they were living as solitary creatures.
So the scientists took some solitary locusts and injected serotonin into them. Sure enough they changed in appearance and flocked together.
The Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde transformation took only a few hours.
It turns out that locusts produce more serotonin when circumstances force them together and they are stimulated by the sight, smell and touch of many other locusts. This can happen, for example, when drought reduces their food supply and causes locusts to gather at a few remaining sources of food.
Indeed, the scientists found that tickling the insects' back legs for a couple hours could induce the locusts to make more serotonin.
Once researchers determined that serotonin causes the change, they gave locusts drugs that blocked serotonin and then exposed them to situations that normally cause swarming. But the change didn't occur.
"To actually be able to stop it from happening, that was very exciting," Anstey said.
Now the question is how to target locusts without affecting humans or other animals.
Also part of the research team was Stephen J. Simpson of Oxford and the University of Sydney in Australia.
The research was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council of England, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, England's Royal Society and the Australian Research Council Federation.
World - US;Obama calls $18B in Wall St. bonuses 'shameful'
Ben Feller
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama issued a withering critique Thursday of Wall Street corporate behavior, calling it "the height of irresponsibility" for employees to be paid more than $18 billion in bonuses last year while their crumbling financial sector received a bailout from taxpayers. "It is shameful," Obama said from the Oval Office. "And part of what we're going to need is for the folks on Wall Street who are asking for help to show some restraint, and show some discipline, and show some sense of responsibility."
The president's comments, made with new Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner at his side, came in swift response to a report that employees of the New York financial world garnered an estimated $18.4 billion in bonuses last year. The figure, from the New York state comptroller, drew prominent news coverage.
Yet Obama's stand also came just one day after he surrounded himself with well-paid chief executives at the White House. He had pulled in those business leaders and hailed them for being on the "front lines in seeing the enormous problems in our economy right now."
The executives who appeared with Obama are not leaders of the Wall Street financial companies that the president targeted, but rather heads of such well-known manufacturing and technology giants as IBM, Motorola, Xerox and Corning. Still, they get paid handsomely.
Most of those who stood with Obama earned a total 2007 compensation package of between $8 million and $21 million, according to a review by The Associated Press. Those calculations include the executives' salary, bonus pay, incentives, perks, the estimated value of stock holdings and other compensation.
Lashing out at Wall Street bonuses, Obama said the public dislikes the idea of helping the financial sector dig out of a hole, only to see it get bigger because of lavish spending. The comptroller's report found such bonuses were down 44 percent, but at about the same level they were during the boom time of 2004.
Vice President Joe Biden also chimed in, saying the level of bonuses "offends the sensibilities."
"I mean, I'd like to throw these guys in the brig," Biden said in an interview with CNBC.
Obama said he and Geithner will speak directly to Wall Street leaders about the bonuses, which threaten to undermine public support for more government intervention as the economy keeps reeling.
The House just approved an economic stimulus plan that would cost taxpayers more than $800 billion; the Senate is considering its own version.
Separately, Congress passed a $700 billion plan last year to shore up the financial sector, one that drew howls of criticism about a lack of transparency.
Said Obama about Wall Street leaders: "There will be time for them to make profits, and there will be time for them to get bonuses. Now is not that time."
Obama said Geithner has already had to step in to stop one company from taking delivery of a new corporate jet it planned to buy even after receiving billions of dollars of support from the government. That bank, Citigroup, canceled the deal earlier this week.
Obama's strong words overshadowed the other part of his message, that he wants to roll out, in the coming weeks, new plans to regulate Wall Street and get more credit flowing to consumers again. The president considers such steps to work in tandem with the economic stimulus measures unfolding in Congress.
One idea under consideration by the Obama administration is the creation of a "bad bank" that could take over soured debt, like defaulting mortgages, that have corroded the balance sheets of banks and helped choke off lending. The president did not discuss that proposal or any others.
The administration may seek approval from Congress for another round of money, perhaps hundreds of billions of dollars, to help banks get out of trouble and get credit flowing again. But in his CNBC interview, Biden said any moves depend first on how the remaining $350 billion in financial-sector bailout money is spent.
"It's got to be transparent, it's got to be accountable," Biden said. "Once we do that and see whether or not we can get this system kick-started, the credit system flowing more, that's when we'll make the judgment whether or not anything else is necessary."
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama issued a withering critique Thursday of Wall Street corporate behavior, calling it "the height of irresponsibility" for employees to be paid more than $18 billion in bonuses last year while their crumbling financial sector received a bailout from taxpayers. "It is shameful," Obama said from the Oval Office. "And part of what we're going to need is for the folks on Wall Street who are asking for help to show some restraint, and show some discipline, and show some sense of responsibility."
The president's comments, made with new Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner at his side, came in swift response to a report that employees of the New York financial world garnered an estimated $18.4 billion in bonuses last year. The figure, from the New York state comptroller, drew prominent news coverage.
Yet Obama's stand also came just one day after he surrounded himself with well-paid chief executives at the White House. He had pulled in those business leaders and hailed them for being on the "front lines in seeing the enormous problems in our economy right now."
The executives who appeared with Obama are not leaders of the Wall Street financial companies that the president targeted, but rather heads of such well-known manufacturing and technology giants as IBM, Motorola, Xerox and Corning. Still, they get paid handsomely.
Most of those who stood with Obama earned a total 2007 compensation package of between $8 million and $21 million, according to a review by The Associated Press. Those calculations include the executives' salary, bonus pay, incentives, perks, the estimated value of stock holdings and other compensation.
Lashing out at Wall Street bonuses, Obama said the public dislikes the idea of helping the financial sector dig out of a hole, only to see it get bigger because of lavish spending. The comptroller's report found such bonuses were down 44 percent, but at about the same level they were during the boom time of 2004.
Vice President Joe Biden also chimed in, saying the level of bonuses "offends the sensibilities."
"I mean, I'd like to throw these guys in the brig," Biden said in an interview with CNBC.
Obama said he and Geithner will speak directly to Wall Street leaders about the bonuses, which threaten to undermine public support for more government intervention as the economy keeps reeling.
The House just approved an economic stimulus plan that would cost taxpayers more than $800 billion; the Senate is considering its own version.
Separately, Congress passed a $700 billion plan last year to shore up the financial sector, one that drew howls of criticism about a lack of transparency.
Said Obama about Wall Street leaders: "There will be time for them to make profits, and there will be time for them to get bonuses. Now is not that time."
Obama said Geithner has already had to step in to stop one company from taking delivery of a new corporate jet it planned to buy even after receiving billions of dollars of support from the government. That bank, Citigroup, canceled the deal earlier this week.
Obama's strong words overshadowed the other part of his message, that he wants to roll out, in the coming weeks, new plans to regulate Wall Street and get more credit flowing to consumers again. The president considers such steps to work in tandem with the economic stimulus measures unfolding in Congress.
One idea under consideration by the Obama administration is the creation of a "bad bank" that could take over soured debt, like defaulting mortgages, that have corroded the balance sheets of banks and helped choke off lending. The president did not discuss that proposal or any others.
The administration may seek approval from Congress for another round of money, perhaps hundreds of billions of dollars, to help banks get out of trouble and get credit flowing again. But in his CNBC interview, Biden said any moves depend first on how the remaining $350 billion in financial-sector bailout money is spent.
"It's got to be transparent, it's got to be accountable," Biden said. "Once we do that and see whether or not we can get this system kick-started, the credit system flowing more, that's when we'll make the judgment whether or not anything else is necessary."
World - US;Obama signs first bill into law, on equal pay
DARLENE SUPERVILLE
WASHINGTON – Declaring that ending pay disparity is not just a women's issue, President Barack Obama signed legislation Thursday that gives workers more time to take their pay discrimination cases to court.
Lilly Ledbetter, the Alabama woman whose story was the impetus behind the new law, stood alongside Obama as he signed the first bill of his presidency. Also in the East Room of the White House were labor, women's, civil rights advocates and members of Congress for whom the bill was a priority.
"Equal pay is by no means just a women's issue, it's a family issue," Obama said. "And in this economy, when so many folks are already working harder for less and struggling to get by, the last thing they can afford is losing part of each month's paycheck to simple and plain discrimination."
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act effectively nullifies a 2007 Supreme Court decision that denied Ledbetter an opportunity for redress.
Ledbetter, 70, has said she did not learn about the sizable discrepancy in pay between her and her male co-workers until near the end of her 19-year career at a Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. plant in Gadsden, Ala. She sued, but the high court said in a 5-4 decision that she missed her chance to bring the action.
The court said a person must file a discrimination claim within 180 days of a company's initial decision to pay a worker less than another doing the same job.
Under the new law, each new discriminatory paycheck would extend the statute of limitations for an additional 180 days. That was the interpretation before the Supreme Court was asked to step in.
First lady Michelle Obama held a separate reception with Ledbetter in the State Dining Room just down the red-carpeted hallway from the earlier event. "She knew unfairness when she saw it, and was willing to do something about it because it was the right thing to do — plain and simple," Mrs. Obama said.
Ledbetter, who won't benefit from the legislation, said the richest reward is that the nation's daughters and granddaughters will have a better deal.
"That's what makes this fight worth fighting," Ledbetter said. "That's what made this fight one we had to win."
The Bush White House and Senate Republicans blocked the bill in the last session of Congress. But Obama strongly supported it — he talked often about Ledbetter during the presidential campaign — and the Democratic-controlled Congress made it a priority in its opening weeks.
Opponents contended the bill would gut the statute of limitations and benefit trial lawyers by encouraging lawsuits. They also argued that employees could wait to file claims in hopes of reaping larger damage awards.
Supporters said the bill does not change current law limiting back-pay awards to two years, so there would be no incentive to wait to file a claim.
Obama cited Census Bureau figures that show women still earn about 78 cents for every dollar men get for doing equivalent jobs, and it's even less for women of color. He said Ledbetter lost more than $200,000 in salary, and even more in pension and Social Security benefits.
The bill, which amends the 1964 Civil Rights Act, also applies to discrimination based on factors such as race, religion, national origin, disability or age.
WASHINGTON – Declaring that ending pay disparity is not just a women's issue, President Barack Obama signed legislation Thursday that gives workers more time to take their pay discrimination cases to court.
Lilly Ledbetter, the Alabama woman whose story was the impetus behind the new law, stood alongside Obama as he signed the first bill of his presidency. Also in the East Room of the White House were labor, women's, civil rights advocates and members of Congress for whom the bill was a priority.
"Equal pay is by no means just a women's issue, it's a family issue," Obama said. "And in this economy, when so many folks are already working harder for less and struggling to get by, the last thing they can afford is losing part of each month's paycheck to simple and plain discrimination."
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act effectively nullifies a 2007 Supreme Court decision that denied Ledbetter an opportunity for redress.
Ledbetter, 70, has said she did not learn about the sizable discrepancy in pay between her and her male co-workers until near the end of her 19-year career at a Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. plant in Gadsden, Ala. She sued, but the high court said in a 5-4 decision that she missed her chance to bring the action.
The court said a person must file a discrimination claim within 180 days of a company's initial decision to pay a worker less than another doing the same job.
Under the new law, each new discriminatory paycheck would extend the statute of limitations for an additional 180 days. That was the interpretation before the Supreme Court was asked to step in.
First lady Michelle Obama held a separate reception with Ledbetter in the State Dining Room just down the red-carpeted hallway from the earlier event. "She knew unfairness when she saw it, and was willing to do something about it because it was the right thing to do — plain and simple," Mrs. Obama said.
Ledbetter, who won't benefit from the legislation, said the richest reward is that the nation's daughters and granddaughters will have a better deal.
"That's what makes this fight worth fighting," Ledbetter said. "That's what made this fight one we had to win."
The Bush White House and Senate Republicans blocked the bill in the last session of Congress. But Obama strongly supported it — he talked often about Ledbetter during the presidential campaign — and the Democratic-controlled Congress made it a priority in its opening weeks.
Opponents contended the bill would gut the statute of limitations and benefit trial lawyers by encouraging lawsuits. They also argued that employees could wait to file claims in hopes of reaping larger damage awards.
Supporters said the bill does not change current law limiting back-pay awards to two years, so there would be no incentive to wait to file a claim.
Obama cited Census Bureau figures that show women still earn about 78 cents for every dollar men get for doing equivalent jobs, and it's even less for women of color. He said Ledbetter lost more than $200,000 in salary, and even more in pension and Social Security benefits.
The bill, which amends the 1964 Civil Rights Act, also applies to discrimination based on factors such as race, religion, national origin, disability or age.
Entertainment - Springsteen promises high-energy halftime show
Jenna Fryer
TAMPA, Fla. – Anybody who thinks it's tough playing the halftime show at the Super Bowl with 150 million people watching should try serenading Barack Obama with the majestic granite visage of Abraham Lincoln staring over your shoulder.
Bruce Springsteen did.
"It kind of was a good warm-up for this," Springsteen joked Thursday after arriving in Tampa with the E Street Band. "That takes some of the pressure off, you know."
In his first news conference in more than 20 years, The Boss was as cool as ever.
Wearing black jeans, a black crewneck sweater and black boots, Springsteen and his band charmed a standing-room-only crowd by joking about his lack of football knowledge, that the group is still together — and its members still alive — and the tremendous year he's having personally and professionally.
"Is there anybody from New Jersey? Don't give them the microphone!" the Garden State native called out before taking questions in his first large forum since a 1987 news conference for Amnesty International.
But Springsteen has reason to celebrate.
His song, "The Wrestler," from the movie of the same name, won a Golden Globe earlier this month, and he followed it with a performance at the National Mall to honor Obama two days before the inauguration. Springsteen was a huge Obama booster during the campaign.
His latest CD, "Working on a Dream," was released Tuesday, and he'll kick off a world tour in San Jose, Calif., on April 1.
"Good times," the 59-year-old rocker smiled. "You just have years where things happen, or years where it's quieter. But what's special for me right now is I really believe our band is going through sort of a golden age. We've made three of what I think are some of our best records in a row, which is really one of the reasons we're here. And the band, on the last tour, played the best it's ever played.
"We've been on the road awhile. We're some old soldiers. But the band is still really burning, and I really want people to know about the record. Good year, you know? It's been great."
So now the band plays Sunday's halftime show of the Super Bowl, which is enjoying a run of booking major talent for the roughly 15-minute slot before the largest television event in the nation. Acts have recently included the Rolling Stones, U2, Paul McCartney, Prince and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
The NFL said last year's halftime show with Petty was watched by more than 148 million viewers in the U.S.
Springsteen, for years, had turned down invitations to play the Super Bowl, unsure of the legitimacy of such a performance. After all, for many years the halftime show was made up of local and college marching bands and drill teams.
But Springsteen said the opportunity to promote the album, and the upgraded production team that has given the invitation a prestige factor, changed his mind.
"Initially, it was sort of a novelty and so it didn't quite feel right," he explained. "But it was just like, this is the year. ... Bands of our generation, you can sort of be seen on a stage like this or, like, not seen. There's not a lot of middle places. It is a tremendous venue."
The performance is expected to be a teaser for the upcoming tour, and scores of Las Vegas sports books are taking bets on the set list. Asked who ultimately decides what songs will be played, Springsteen staked his claim as leader of the band.
"I'm the Boss! The Boss decides what we play!" he yelled. "Nobody else decides. People suggest. Hint. Beg. Cajole. But I decide."
Pittsburgh receiver Hines Ward said he was looking forward to the performance, and even had a song request.
"I love Bruce. I hope he plays 'Born in the USA.' He has a great voice when he says, 'Boorrrn,' " Ward said. "He has a lot of swagger about himself. He's very confident. When he's up there performing, it's all about him."
Springsteen only offered one slight teaser, vowing to pack the bands' usual emotion and energy into their brief performance.
"We want it to be a 12-minute party," he said. "The idea of the show is, you are going to the Meadowlands, you get lost on the way. You are watching your clock, `Damn, the show is starting right now.' You stop at a bar to get some directions, and the bar gets held up while you are there. So that takes another 45 minutes to get out of there.
"You come back and you miss your exit on the turnpike, and you are driving to get back around. And so you make it into the stadium 2 hours and 48 minutes into the show — that's what you are going to see: the last 12 minutes."
TAMPA, Fla. – Anybody who thinks it's tough playing the halftime show at the Super Bowl with 150 million people watching should try serenading Barack Obama with the majestic granite visage of Abraham Lincoln staring over your shoulder.
Bruce Springsteen did.
"It kind of was a good warm-up for this," Springsteen joked Thursday after arriving in Tampa with the E Street Band. "That takes some of the pressure off, you know."
In his first news conference in more than 20 years, The Boss was as cool as ever.
Wearing black jeans, a black crewneck sweater and black boots, Springsteen and his band charmed a standing-room-only crowd by joking about his lack of football knowledge, that the group is still together — and its members still alive — and the tremendous year he's having personally and professionally.
"Is there anybody from New Jersey? Don't give them the microphone!" the Garden State native called out before taking questions in his first large forum since a 1987 news conference for Amnesty International.
But Springsteen has reason to celebrate.
His song, "The Wrestler," from the movie of the same name, won a Golden Globe earlier this month, and he followed it with a performance at the National Mall to honor Obama two days before the inauguration. Springsteen was a huge Obama booster during the campaign.
His latest CD, "Working on a Dream," was released Tuesday, and he'll kick off a world tour in San Jose, Calif., on April 1.
"Good times," the 59-year-old rocker smiled. "You just have years where things happen, or years where it's quieter. But what's special for me right now is I really believe our band is going through sort of a golden age. We've made three of what I think are some of our best records in a row, which is really one of the reasons we're here. And the band, on the last tour, played the best it's ever played.
"We've been on the road awhile. We're some old soldiers. But the band is still really burning, and I really want people to know about the record. Good year, you know? It's been great."
So now the band plays Sunday's halftime show of the Super Bowl, which is enjoying a run of booking major talent for the roughly 15-minute slot before the largest television event in the nation. Acts have recently included the Rolling Stones, U2, Paul McCartney, Prince and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
The NFL said last year's halftime show with Petty was watched by more than 148 million viewers in the U.S.
Springsteen, for years, had turned down invitations to play the Super Bowl, unsure of the legitimacy of such a performance. After all, for many years the halftime show was made up of local and college marching bands and drill teams.
But Springsteen said the opportunity to promote the album, and the upgraded production team that has given the invitation a prestige factor, changed his mind.
"Initially, it was sort of a novelty and so it didn't quite feel right," he explained. "But it was just like, this is the year. ... Bands of our generation, you can sort of be seen on a stage like this or, like, not seen. There's not a lot of middle places. It is a tremendous venue."
The performance is expected to be a teaser for the upcoming tour, and scores of Las Vegas sports books are taking bets on the set list. Asked who ultimately decides what songs will be played, Springsteen staked his claim as leader of the band.
"I'm the Boss! The Boss decides what we play!" he yelled. "Nobody else decides. People suggest. Hint. Beg. Cajole. But I decide."
Pittsburgh receiver Hines Ward said he was looking forward to the performance, and even had a song request.
"I love Bruce. I hope he plays 'Born in the USA.' He has a great voice when he says, 'Boorrrn,' " Ward said. "He has a lot of swagger about himself. He's very confident. When he's up there performing, it's all about him."
Springsteen only offered one slight teaser, vowing to pack the bands' usual emotion and energy into their brief performance.
"We want it to be a 12-minute party," he said. "The idea of the show is, you are going to the Meadowlands, you get lost on the way. You are watching your clock, `Damn, the show is starting right now.' You stop at a bar to get some directions, and the bar gets held up while you are there. So that takes another 45 minutes to get out of there.
"You come back and you miss your exit on the turnpike, and you are driving to get back around. And so you make it into the stadium 2 hours and 48 minutes into the show — that's what you are going to see: the last 12 minutes."
Sport - Tennis;Sania-Bhupathi enter final of Australian Open
MELBOURNE: Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi overcame a sluggish start to sail into the Australian Open mixed doubles final for the second consecutive
year as they beat Czechs Iveta Benesova and Lukas Dlouhy in straight sets on Friday
The Indians, who were runner-up at the Melbourne Park last year, trailed 1-3 in the opening set before storming back to seal the issue in 54 minutes.
In the summit clash, they will take on the unseeded French-Israeli combine of Nathalie Dechy and Andy Ram, who stunned seventh seeded Spaniards Anabel Medina Garrigues and Tommy Robredo 7-6 (9/7) 6-4.
It was hardly the kind of start Sania and Bhupathi, who have dropped just one set en route to the semis, would have wanted as Benesova and Dlouhy broke them in the opening game to race to a 1-3 lead.
However, the Indians got their act together soon after and broke back twice to take the first set in 32 minutes.
Sania and Bhupathi continued their dominance in the second set and broke their rivals thrice.
Such was their hold over the proceedings that the Indians did not face a single break point in the second set, which they wrapped up in a mere 22 minutes.
The win makes it a double delight for Bhupathi, who along with Bahamas' Mark Knowles, has also made the men's doubles finals to be played tomorrow.
Bhupathi has six mixed doubles Grand Slam titles under his belt with different partners.
His last mixed doubles Grand Slam was incidentally the Australian Open in 2006 when he had partnered Swiss Martina Hingis. Sania, however, would be aiming for her maiden Slam title.
year as they beat Czechs Iveta Benesova and Lukas Dlouhy in straight sets on Friday
The Indians, who were runner-up at the Melbourne Park last year, trailed 1-3 in the opening set before storming back to seal the issue in 54 minutes.
In the summit clash, they will take on the unseeded French-Israeli combine of Nathalie Dechy and Andy Ram, who stunned seventh seeded Spaniards Anabel Medina Garrigues and Tommy Robredo 7-6 (9/7) 6-4.
It was hardly the kind of start Sania and Bhupathi, who have dropped just one set en route to the semis, would have wanted as Benesova and Dlouhy broke them in the opening game to race to a 1-3 lead.
However, the Indians got their act together soon after and broke back twice to take the first set in 32 minutes.
Sania and Bhupathi continued their dominance in the second set and broke their rivals thrice.
Such was their hold over the proceedings that the Indians did not face a single break point in the second set, which they wrapped up in a mere 22 minutes.
The win makes it a double delight for Bhupathi, who along with Bahamas' Mark Knowles, has also made the men's doubles finals to be played tomorrow.
Bhupathi has six mixed doubles Grand Slam titles under his belt with different partners.
His last mixed doubles Grand Slam was incidentally the Australian Open in 2006 when he had partnered Swiss Martina Hingis. Sania, however, would be aiming for her maiden Slam title.
Sport - Tennis;Bhupathi on brink of career Slam
Prajwal Hegde
BANGALORE: Ten years after he made the Australian Open men's doubles final for the first time, partnering countryman Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi is
back in the title round.
The Bangalorean, playing with Mark Knowles of the Bahamas this time around, will take on the Bryan twins - Bob and Mike - in the final on Saturday. Bhupathi, on the brink of a career Grand Slam, going for his 11th major crown, could well have had Paes on the other side of the net.
In the first of the men's doubles semi-finals in Melbourne on Thursday, third seeds Bhupathi and Knowles scored a 58-minute 6-3, 6-1 win over the Polish-Austrian duo of Lukasz Kubot and Oliver Marach. Later, second-seeded Californians Bob and Mike Bryan dismissed Paes and Lukas Dlouhy 6-3, 6-3 in 54 minutes.
Bhupathi and Knowles, who came together as a team last year, will be contesting their first Grand Slam final as a pair. "Mark and I have played some big finals like the Super 9s, but of course a Grand Slam final is different," Bhupathi told TOI. "It would've been a factor if neither of us had played a Grand Slam final before, but we have, several times individually and we've been playing together for sometime now."
Bhupathi, however, is particularly pleased with the quality of the opposition in the final, given that the Bryan twins have been the most dominant force in the doubles game for the last several years. "It would be especially satisfying to beat a top team in a Grand Slam final," he said.
Bhupathi and Knowles beat the Bryans in a fiercely-contested quarterfinal at the Australian Open last year, but have lost to them four times since. Three of those matches, the last earlier this month in Sydney, were closely fought contests.
"It'll boil down to which team handles the pressure of playing a Grand Slam final better," Bhupathi said. "We know each others' games very well. I think I've played them with seven or eight different partners, so I don't think there'll be any surprises out there."
Bhupathi, who will be contesting his second final in Melbourne, having finished runner-up in 1999, said he is better equipped. "It feels good to be in the final after 10 years. It'll be special to win it. It's a trophy I've always wanted to have in my cabinet."
Bhupathi has a 4-3 win-loss record in Grand Slam finals. Knowles has a 3-6 record.
Bhupathi and Knowles won three titles in seven finals, in 2008. They made their Grand Slam debut as a pair last year at the Australian Open and reached the semi-finals.
Knowles won the Australian Open in 2002 with Daniel Nestor. He reached finals with Nestor in 1995 and 2003.
Bob and Mike Bryan will contest their fifth Australian Open final. They were runners-up in 2004 & 2005 and won titles in 2006 and 2007.
BANGALORE: Ten years after he made the Australian Open men's doubles final for the first time, partnering countryman Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi is
back in the title round.
The Bangalorean, playing with Mark Knowles of the Bahamas this time around, will take on the Bryan twins - Bob and Mike - in the final on Saturday. Bhupathi, on the brink of a career Grand Slam, going for his 11th major crown, could well have had Paes on the other side of the net.
In the first of the men's doubles semi-finals in Melbourne on Thursday, third seeds Bhupathi and Knowles scored a 58-minute 6-3, 6-1 win over the Polish-Austrian duo of Lukasz Kubot and Oliver Marach. Later, second-seeded Californians Bob and Mike Bryan dismissed Paes and Lukas Dlouhy 6-3, 6-3 in 54 minutes.
Bhupathi and Knowles, who came together as a team last year, will be contesting their first Grand Slam final as a pair. "Mark and I have played some big finals like the Super 9s, but of course a Grand Slam final is different," Bhupathi told TOI. "It would've been a factor if neither of us had played a Grand Slam final before, but we have, several times individually and we've been playing together for sometime now."
Bhupathi, however, is particularly pleased with the quality of the opposition in the final, given that the Bryan twins have been the most dominant force in the doubles game for the last several years. "It would be especially satisfying to beat a top team in a Grand Slam final," he said.
Bhupathi and Knowles beat the Bryans in a fiercely-contested quarterfinal at the Australian Open last year, but have lost to them four times since. Three of those matches, the last earlier this month in Sydney, were closely fought contests.
"It'll boil down to which team handles the pressure of playing a Grand Slam final better," Bhupathi said. "We know each others' games very well. I think I've played them with seven or eight different partners, so I don't think there'll be any surprises out there."
Bhupathi, who will be contesting his second final in Melbourne, having finished runner-up in 1999, said he is better equipped. "It feels good to be in the final after 10 years. It'll be special to win it. It's a trophy I've always wanted to have in my cabinet."
Bhupathi has a 4-3 win-loss record in Grand Slam finals. Knowles has a 3-6 record.
Bhupathi and Knowles won three titles in seven finals, in 2008. They made their Grand Slam debut as a pair last year at the Australian Open and reached the semi-finals.
Knowles won the Australian Open in 2002 with Daniel Nestor. He reached finals with Nestor in 1995 and 2003.
Bob and Mike Bryan will contest their fifth Australian Open final. They were runners-up in 2004 & 2005 and won titles in 2006 and 2007.
Sport - Tennis;Williams sisters win women's doubles title
MELBOURNE, Australia – Serena and Venus Williams won their eighth Grand Slam women's doubles title Friday with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia and Japan's Ai Sugiyama.
The Williams sisters, seeded 10th, looked unflustered as they served out the first set in 38 minutes under a closed roof on center court.
After exchanging breaks in the second set, the Williams sisters powerful returns and superior movement around the court proved to be the deciding factor.
The sisters held up their rackets before hugging each other after sealing the win.
Serena was to return Saturday for the singles final against Dinara Safina of Russia. She is seeking a 10th Grand Slam singles title.
The Williams sisters, seeded 10th, looked unflustered as they served out the first set in 38 minutes under a closed roof on center court.
After exchanging breaks in the second set, the Williams sisters powerful returns and superior movement around the court proved to be the deciding factor.
The sisters held up their rackets before hugging each other after sealing the win.
Serena was to return Saturday for the singles final against Dinara Safina of Russia. She is seeking a 10th Grand Slam singles title.
World - Sudan's president calls ICC 'a mosquito in the ear of elephant'
Cairo, Jan 30 (DPA) Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir likened the International Criminal Court (ICC) to 'a mosquito in the ear of an elephant' in an interview published Thursday in London's pan-Arab daily al-Sharq al-Awsat.
'We have dismissed the claims of the court,' President Bashir told the daily. 'These charges and this court can best be described as a mosquito in the ear of an elephant.'
Luis Moreno-Ocampo, chief prosecutor for the international court, has accused President Bashir of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes committed in Darfur.
Three weeks ago, Ibrahim Gandour, a leading figure in Sudan's ruling party, told al-Sharq al-Awsat that he believed the court's judges would issue an arrest warrant soon.
'This is not a judicial case, but a political one,' Bashir told al-Sharq al-Awsat. 'Sudan refuses this court warrant? The International Criminal Court has no authority over Sudan. This court, by nature, is a supplement to our judicial system and does not substitute it.'
The Sudanese president also lashed out at the court for not taking action on allegations of war crimes committed by Israeli soldiers in Gaza.
'What about the international cases such as Gaza?' Bashir asked. 'The whole world witnessed what happened in Gaza, then the criminal court said it has no role because Israel is not one of its members.'
Bashir also denied that there were any attempts to overthrow him or drive him from his position as head of the ruling National Congress Party.
'Talk of a coup or divisions inside the National Congress Party is just wishful thinking and rumours spread by the opposition. The reaction of the Sudanese people and their support are clear. This is 100 percent certain,' Bashir told the daily.
International monitors say fighting in Darfur has killed some 200,000 people and has forced 2.5 million people from their homes since rebels launched their campaign against the government in 2003.
'We have dismissed the claims of the court,' President Bashir told the daily. 'These charges and this court can best be described as a mosquito in the ear of an elephant.'
Luis Moreno-Ocampo, chief prosecutor for the international court, has accused President Bashir of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes committed in Darfur.
Three weeks ago, Ibrahim Gandour, a leading figure in Sudan's ruling party, told al-Sharq al-Awsat that he believed the court's judges would issue an arrest warrant soon.
'This is not a judicial case, but a political one,' Bashir told al-Sharq al-Awsat. 'Sudan refuses this court warrant? The International Criminal Court has no authority over Sudan. This court, by nature, is a supplement to our judicial system and does not substitute it.'
The Sudanese president also lashed out at the court for not taking action on allegations of war crimes committed by Israeli soldiers in Gaza.
'What about the international cases such as Gaza?' Bashir asked. 'The whole world witnessed what happened in Gaza, then the criminal court said it has no role because Israel is not one of its members.'
Bashir also denied that there were any attempts to overthrow him or drive him from his position as head of the ruling National Congress Party.
'Talk of a coup or divisions inside the National Congress Party is just wishful thinking and rumours spread by the opposition. The reaction of the Sudanese people and their support are clear. This is 100 percent certain,' Bashir told the daily.
International monitors say fighting in Darfur has killed some 200,000 people and has forced 2.5 million people from their homes since rebels launched their campaign against the government in 2003.
Sport - Football;U.S. to bid for 2018 and 2022 World Cups
U.S. Soccer will join the race to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, federation president Sunil Gulati said on Thursday.
U.S. soccer will unveil its plans on Monday, the deadline for associations to submit official paperwork expressing an intention to bid.
FIFA said this week it already had six proposals on the table -- Indonesia, England, Japan, Qatar, Russia and a joint application from Spain and Portugal -- and several other association have said they will join the process.
The 2010 World Cup will be held in South Africa while Brazil will host the 2014 tournament.
FIFA is due to announce the hosts of both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments in December 2010.
U.S. soccer will unveil its plans on Monday, the deadline for associations to submit official paperwork expressing an intention to bid.
FIFA said this week it already had six proposals on the table -- Indonesia, England, Japan, Qatar, Russia and a joint application from Spain and Portugal -- and several other association have said they will join the process.
The 2010 World Cup will be held in South Africa while Brazil will host the 2014 tournament.
FIFA is due to announce the hosts of both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments in December 2010.
Sport - Cricket;Eighty-seven overseas players for IPL auction
Mumbai, Jan 29 (IANS) Twenty-seven Australian players and 21 Englishmen will be among 87 overseas players to go under the hammer in Goa Feb 6 for the second edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) starting April 10.
The list also has 13 South Africans, 15 Sri Lankans and players from West Indies, Bangladesh, New Zealand and Zimbabwe.
England players Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff are likely to be the topmost catch for the eight city-based franchise.
Steve Harmison, James Anderson, Monty Panesar, Ravi Bopara, Matt Prior, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Shaun Udal, Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swann and Owais Shah are the other England players who have signed up after IPL and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) reached an agreement for a three-week window for them.
The strong Australian contingent include vice-captain Michael Clarke, Bradd Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Stuart Clark, Bradd Hogg, Shaun Tait and Jason Krejza.
The IPL guidelines stipulate that each franchisee will have a maximum purse of US $ 2 million, less any amount spent on signing temporary replacements from last year to select the cricketers, an IPL statement said.
'The interest displayed by players from all around the world to participate in the second season of the league has been truly overwhelming,' said IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi.
List:
Australia: Brad Haddin, Michael Clarke, Nathan Hauritz, Stuart Clark, Brad Hogg, Beau Casson, Mark Cameron, Peter Forrest, Lee Carseldine, Doug Bowler, Michael Dighton, Jason Krejza, Nathan Reardon, Chris Hartley, Shaun Tait, Ashley Noffke, Bryce McGain, George Bailey, Michael Hill, Travis Birt, Chris Swan, Michael Klinger, Ben Edmondson, Aiden Blizzard, Mark Cosgrove, Adam Voges, Shane Harwood
Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Junaid Siddique, Rajin Saleh, Mehrab Hossain Jr, Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Ashraful, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. Tamim Iqbal Khan, Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Junaid Siddique, Ziaur Rahman, Mahumudullah Riyad, Nadif Chowdhury, Mohammad Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Raqibul Hasan
England: Ravi Bopara, Monty Panesar, Robert Key, James Foster, Tyron Henderson, Sajid Mahmood, Matt Prior, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Owais Shah, Shaun Udal, Darren Gough, Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swan, Luke Wright, Kevin Pieterson, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, James Anderson, Ed Joyce, Dominic Cork
New Zealand: Mark Gillespie, Tim Southee, Jesse Ryder, Jeetan Patel, Kyle Mills, Chris Martin, Jamie How, Peter Fulton, James Franklin
Pakistan: Asim Kamal, Yasir Hameed, Danish Kaneria, Mohammed. Hafeez, Yasir Arafat
South Africa: Gulam Bodi, Rory Kleinveld, Charles Langeveldt, Ashwell Prince, Jean Paul Duminy, Martin Van Jaarsveld, Roelof Van der Merwe, Andre Nel, Neil McKenzie, Yusuf Abdullah
The list also has 13 South Africans, 15 Sri Lankans and players from West Indies, Bangladesh, New Zealand and Zimbabwe.
England players Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff are likely to be the topmost catch for the eight city-based franchise.
Steve Harmison, James Anderson, Monty Panesar, Ravi Bopara, Matt Prior, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Shaun Udal, Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swann and Owais Shah are the other England players who have signed up after IPL and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) reached an agreement for a three-week window for them.
The strong Australian contingent include vice-captain Michael Clarke, Bradd Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Stuart Clark, Bradd Hogg, Shaun Tait and Jason Krejza.
The IPL guidelines stipulate that each franchisee will have a maximum purse of US $ 2 million, less any amount spent on signing temporary replacements from last year to select the cricketers, an IPL statement said.
'The interest displayed by players from all around the world to participate in the second season of the league has been truly overwhelming,' said IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi.
List:
Australia: Brad Haddin, Michael Clarke, Nathan Hauritz, Stuart Clark, Brad Hogg, Beau Casson, Mark Cameron, Peter Forrest, Lee Carseldine, Doug Bowler, Michael Dighton, Jason Krejza, Nathan Reardon, Chris Hartley, Shaun Tait, Ashley Noffke, Bryce McGain, George Bailey, Michael Hill, Travis Birt, Chris Swan, Michael Klinger, Ben Edmondson, Aiden Blizzard, Mark Cosgrove, Adam Voges, Shane Harwood
Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Junaid Siddique, Rajin Saleh, Mehrab Hossain Jr, Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Ashraful, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. Tamim Iqbal Khan, Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Junaid Siddique, Ziaur Rahman, Mahumudullah Riyad, Nadif Chowdhury, Mohammad Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Raqibul Hasan
England: Ravi Bopara, Monty Panesar, Robert Key, James Foster, Tyron Henderson, Sajid Mahmood, Matt Prior, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Owais Shah, Shaun Udal, Darren Gough, Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swan, Luke Wright, Kevin Pieterson, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, James Anderson, Ed Joyce, Dominic Cork
New Zealand: Mark Gillespie, Tim Southee, Jesse Ryder, Jeetan Patel, Kyle Mills, Chris Martin, Jamie How, Peter Fulton, James Franklin
Pakistan: Asim Kamal, Yasir Hameed, Danish Kaneria, Mohammed. Hafeez, Yasir Arafat
South Africa: Gulam Bodi, Rory Kleinveld, Charles Langeveldt, Ashwell Prince, Jean Paul Duminy, Martin Van Jaarsveld, Roelof Van der Merwe, Andre Nel, Neil McKenzie, Yusuf Abdullah
Sport - Football;Beckham reproduces his stunning free kick to woo Capello
London, Jan 29 (ANI): English midfielder David Beckham produced his greatest game in years to wow coach Fabio Capello in order to earn a recall to the national side.
Beckham, 33, swung home a sensational free kick in the San Siro to cap an all-action display reminiscent of the heroic performance against Greece back in 2001.
England boss Capello must have been impressed in the stands and will surely recall Beckham for next month's friendly with Spain.
Afterwards, Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti revealed it is entirely down to Beckham over where his future lies.
Ancelotti said: "At this moment he's a Milan player. But we don't know if David wants to stay at AC Milan. It's not a case of Milan or LA Galaxy. It depends entirely on what David wants to do."
"Beckham must have convinced Capello not only tonight but in all four games he has played. He's been really good," he added.
Becks opened the scoring on 33 minutes, with a stunning free-kick from a tight angle.
Having pulled the strings in midfield, he limped off on 70 minutes to a standing ovation.
Genoa's Diego Milito levelled late to dampen Beckham's night.
Beckham said: "To score a goal for Milan at the San Siro made me very happy. But it was more important that we win." (ANI)
Beckham, 33, swung home a sensational free kick in the San Siro to cap an all-action display reminiscent of the heroic performance against Greece back in 2001.
England boss Capello must have been impressed in the stands and will surely recall Beckham for next month's friendly with Spain.
Afterwards, Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti revealed it is entirely down to Beckham over where his future lies.
Ancelotti said: "At this moment he's a Milan player. But we don't know if David wants to stay at AC Milan. It's not a case of Milan or LA Galaxy. It depends entirely on what David wants to do."
"Beckham must have convinced Capello not only tonight but in all four games he has played. He's been really good," he added.
Becks opened the scoring on 33 minutes, with a stunning free-kick from a tight angle.
Having pulled the strings in midfield, he limped off on 70 minutes to a standing ovation.
Genoa's Diego Milito levelled late to dampen Beckham's night.
Beckham said: "To score a goal for Milan at the San Siro made me very happy. But it was more important that we win." (ANI)
Science - Bottlenose dolphins 'have amazing butchery and culinary skills'
London, Jan 29 (ANI): Bottlenose dolphins make for impressive butchers, say Australian researchers, who have observed how the playful sea-mammals use precise series of drills to kill, gut and bone a cuttlefish.
The dolphins make use of a six-step procedure to get rid of the invertebrate's unappetising ink and hard-to-swallow cuttlebone.
"The behaviour seems so obviously related to making the item more palatable," New Scientist quoted Tom Tregenza, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Exeter, UK, as saying.
It was Tregenza's colleague Julian Finn, a marine biologist at Museum Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, who observed a single female dolphin performing the underwater move in 2003 and again in 2007, while he was studying mating in cuttlefish.
The dolphin begins her feat by shooing a cuttlefish out of an algal forest into an open patch of the seabed before pinning it down and ramming it into the ground.
For getting rid of the ink, she uses her snout to pick up the cuttlefish, and then shakes it several times until a black cloud streams out
Finally, the dolphin grinds the cuttlefish along the sea floor to break and release its bone.
"There's an interesting cracking noise which you can hear. The cuttlefish bone pops out like a bar of soap," and dinner is served, said Tregenza, who has only seen the performance on video.
He added: "My guess would be that if we spent more time under water with dolphins and cuttlefish, we'd see other dolphins doing it."
It was shown that female dolphins teach their offspring to wield sea sponges like a shield when they are hunting fish, and usually it's the daughters who are more eager to learn the skill than sons.
The researchers also speculated that the first dolphin might have acquired its skills while playing.
"Play is a way of trying things out, and if they work, they do them again," said Tregenza. (ANI)
The dolphins make use of a six-step procedure to get rid of the invertebrate's unappetising ink and hard-to-swallow cuttlebone.
"The behaviour seems so obviously related to making the item more palatable," New Scientist quoted Tom Tregenza, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Exeter, UK, as saying.
It was Tregenza's colleague Julian Finn, a marine biologist at Museum Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, who observed a single female dolphin performing the underwater move in 2003 and again in 2007, while he was studying mating in cuttlefish.
The dolphin begins her feat by shooing a cuttlefish out of an algal forest into an open patch of the seabed before pinning it down and ramming it into the ground.
For getting rid of the ink, she uses her snout to pick up the cuttlefish, and then shakes it several times until a black cloud streams out
Finally, the dolphin grinds the cuttlefish along the sea floor to break and release its bone.
"There's an interesting cracking noise which you can hear. The cuttlefish bone pops out like a bar of soap," and dinner is served, said Tregenza, who has only seen the performance on video.
He added: "My guess would be that if we spent more time under water with dolphins and cuttlefish, we'd see other dolphins doing it."
It was shown that female dolphins teach their offspring to wield sea sponges like a shield when they are hunting fish, and usually it's the daughters who are more eager to learn the skill than sons.
The researchers also speculated that the first dolphin might have acquired its skills while playing.
"Play is a way of trying things out, and if they work, they do them again," said Tregenza. (ANI)
Sport - Tennis;Federer into Australian Open final
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Roger Federer has advanced to the Australian Open final and could have his record-equaling 14th Grand Slam wrapped up by Sunday. The Swiss star overpowered American Andy Roddick 6-2, 7-5, 7-5 Thursday in the semifinals.
He'll play either top-seeded Rafael Nadal or Fernando Verdasco in the final the two Spaniards will play their semifinal on Friday. Federer, who lost the French Open and Wimbledon finals to Nadal last year before beating Andy Murray for the U.S. Open title, will attempt to equal Pete Sampras' career Grand Slam mark of 14 with a win Sunday
He'll play either top-seeded Rafael Nadal or Fernando Verdasco in the final the two Spaniards will play their semifinal on Friday. Federer, who lost the French Open and Wimbledon finals to Nadal last year before beating Andy Murray for the U.S. Open title, will attempt to equal Pete Sampras' career Grand Slam mark of 14 with a win Sunday
Business - www.planforme.com offers search engine based virtual food zone
New Delhi, Jan 29 (ANI/Business Wire India): Katyani E-Commerce limited's (KatyaniGroup venture) launched a unique website www.PlanForMe.com. Offering patrons a complete one stop solution to plan their dinning according to their specifications to make their special occasion a memorable one
Speaking on the occasion, Sumit Goyal Vice President Katyani E-commerce LTD said "we have grown with an ever-increasing encouraging support from 3,000 restaurants, bars and clubs in Delhi and NCR listed with us. PlanForMe.com benefits both the user and the subscriber. While a restaurant, bar and club owner gets the desired exposure by registering with PlanForMe.com for free of cost, the user who orders food from using the website avails the discount ranging from 15 per cent to 30 per cent and a lot more. All these services are available online and offline".
In another 6 months we are planning to expand our network to the other regions all across. As Indian economy is booming and with sudden splurge of palatial hotels with world class ambience, it is quite essential to have a platform through which the costumers and hotels can coordinate. Keeping in mind the dynamics of increasing subscriber base we have kept Registration with PlanForMe.com free, to ensure each individual take the benefits from it.
PlanForMe.com is a virtual food zone where people can choose their favorite delicacies from a myriad of delectable cuisines. The website is easy to navigate which allows a user to select a restaurant, order a meal or reserve a table. Offer menus, reviews, ratings and contact details of your favorite restaurants or clubs and also facilitate prior reservations for the place of your choice.
Apart from dining, PlanForMe.com also plans parties for all occasions such as weddings, birthdays, corporate parties and more. One of the most common problems that are faced is the lack of space for organizing parties.
PlanForMe.com provides the solution by putting a comprehensive list of party halls, party lawns, farm houses, community halls and marriage halls. The user can browse through this extensive list, mark the desired location and enter into negotiation.
The website has proven to be an online travel guide for visitors, they can extricate information about different cities capturing the fun and spirit like never before. The website provides all the information that you would like to know about your city, keeping you abreast with all the latest happenings in town. So if you are wondering what to do with your weekends, allow us to plan an unforgettable time for you. (ANI)
Speaking on the occasion, Sumit Goyal Vice President Katyani E-commerce LTD said "we have grown with an ever-increasing encouraging support from 3,000 restaurants, bars and clubs in Delhi and NCR listed with us. PlanForMe.com benefits both the user and the subscriber. While a restaurant, bar and club owner gets the desired exposure by registering with PlanForMe.com for free of cost, the user who orders food from using the website avails the discount ranging from 15 per cent to 30 per cent and a lot more. All these services are available online and offline".
In another 6 months we are planning to expand our network to the other regions all across. As Indian economy is booming and with sudden splurge of palatial hotels with world class ambience, it is quite essential to have a platform through which the costumers and hotels can coordinate. Keeping in mind the dynamics of increasing subscriber base we have kept Registration with PlanForMe.com free, to ensure each individual take the benefits from it.
PlanForMe.com is a virtual food zone where people can choose their favorite delicacies from a myriad of delectable cuisines. The website is easy to navigate which allows a user to select a restaurant, order a meal or reserve a table. Offer menus, reviews, ratings and contact details of your favorite restaurants or clubs and also facilitate prior reservations for the place of your choice.
Apart from dining, PlanForMe.com also plans parties for all occasions such as weddings, birthdays, corporate parties and more. One of the most common problems that are faced is the lack of space for organizing parties.
PlanForMe.com provides the solution by putting a comprehensive list of party halls, party lawns, farm houses, community halls and marriage halls. The user can browse through this extensive list, mark the desired location and enter into negotiation.
The website has proven to be an online travel guide for visitors, they can extricate information about different cities capturing the fun and spirit like never before. The website provides all the information that you would like to know about your city, keeping you abreast with all the latest happenings in town. So if you are wondering what to do with your weekends, allow us to plan an unforgettable time for you. (ANI)
World - LeT has gone intl, can strike anywhere: US expert
The Obama administration has been urged to adopt a "carrot and stick" policy to induce Pakistan to comprehensively eliminate LeT and to keep Islamabad's "feet to the fire" so that it makes good on its promises to rein in terror groups.
"The Obama Administration, should, using both carrots and sticks, induce Pakistan to comprehensively eliminate the LeT," said Ashley Tellis, a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International peace.
He was testifying before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the second such hearing in less than a month.
Lashkar-e-Toiba today is not only active in India, Pakistan and the region, it also has developed a global reach and it should not be a surprise if the terrorist outfit strikes in other parts of the world as well, said Tellis.
"Dealing with this emerging LeT threat will require a mixture of unilateral actions an international cooperation," he said.
"...Washington should also demand more of Islamabad: Precisely because LeT threatens to become a significant global terrorist threat, the United States should insist that Islamabad should roll up and eliminate the entire LeT infrastructure that currently exists in Pakistan," Tellis said.
The Obama Administration should keep Pakistan's feet to the fire to ensure that Islamabad makes good on its promises, he said.
Such an action not only hold the best promise of arresting the current Indo-Pakistani relations, but it also remains the only guarantee of decisively eliminating LeT as a serious potential threat to US homeland, Tellis said.
He said the experience of various Pakistani detentions demonstrates that terrorists, even when in custody, can mount very effective cross-border operations with the aid of collaborations still at large.
"Given the ISI's long history of support for LeT, the Pakistani state will require all the assistance it can get if it is to genuinely eradicate the diverse infrastructure of terrorism maintained by LeT's current front organisations, the Jamat-ud-Dawa," he said.
"The US should not stint in providing Pakistan with this aid, if Islamabad is judged to be serious about confronting LeT and other terrorists groups," he said, adding that Washington should no longer compromise on its objectives. It becomes very important for the US to ensure that not only the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack are brought to justice, but also the entire organisation and its infrastructure is eliminated as well, Tellis said.
"The Obama Administration, should, using both carrots and sticks, induce Pakistan to comprehensively eliminate the LeT," said Ashley Tellis, a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International peace.
He was testifying before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the second such hearing in less than a month.
Lashkar-e-Toiba today is not only active in India, Pakistan and the region, it also has developed a global reach and it should not be a surprise if the terrorist outfit strikes in other parts of the world as well, said Tellis.
"Dealing with this emerging LeT threat will require a mixture of unilateral actions an international cooperation," he said.
"...Washington should also demand more of Islamabad: Precisely because LeT threatens to become a significant global terrorist threat, the United States should insist that Islamabad should roll up and eliminate the entire LeT infrastructure that currently exists in Pakistan," Tellis said.
The Obama Administration should keep Pakistan's feet to the fire to ensure that Islamabad makes good on its promises, he said.
Such an action not only hold the best promise of arresting the current Indo-Pakistani relations, but it also remains the only guarantee of decisively eliminating LeT as a serious potential threat to US homeland, Tellis said.
He said the experience of various Pakistani detentions demonstrates that terrorists, even when in custody, can mount very effective cross-border operations with the aid of collaborations still at large.
"Given the ISI's long history of support for LeT, the Pakistani state will require all the assistance it can get if it is to genuinely eradicate the diverse infrastructure of terrorism maintained by LeT's current front organisations, the Jamat-ud-Dawa," he said.
"The US should not stint in providing Pakistan with this aid, if Islamabad is judged to be serious about confronting LeT and other terrorists groups," he said, adding that Washington should no longer compromise on its objectives. It becomes very important for the US to ensure that not only the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack are brought to justice, but also the entire organisation and its infrastructure is eliminated as well, Tellis said.
Entertainment - Lewis Hamilton was grilled by the Pussycat Dolls
Formula 1 champion and sports heartthrob Lewis Hamilton was thoroughly grilled by the members of the girls group 'Pussycat Dolls' before they finally let him date their lead singer Nicole Scherzinger.
The glamorous American singer began dating the British sportsman after they met in 2007, but Scherzinger's bandmates had to make sure that Hamilton was good enough for their friend, before they gave him the go ahead, 'Contactmusic' reported.
Melody Thornton, a part of the 5 member group said, "When we found out Lewis was a racing driver, we were like, 'Hold on a minute, he'd better not be a playboy',".
"So we asked him all sorts. What were his intentions, if he was a nice guy, did he know how to treat her right, did he bring her flowers and pull out chairs on dates? We didn't mess about and gave him a tough time as we do with all new boyfriends. We are very protective of each other especially when a new guy comes into the fold."
The group released their second studio album 'Doll Domination' in 2008 and have sold millions of copies worldwide.
The glamorous American singer began dating the British sportsman after they met in 2007, but Scherzinger's bandmates had to make sure that Hamilton was good enough for their friend, before they gave him the go ahead, 'Contactmusic' reported.
Melody Thornton, a part of the 5 member group said, "When we found out Lewis was a racing driver, we were like, 'Hold on a minute, he'd better not be a playboy',".
"So we asked him all sorts. What were his intentions, if he was a nice guy, did he know how to treat her right, did he bring her flowers and pull out chairs on dates? We didn't mess about and gave him a tough time as we do with all new boyfriends. We are very protective of each other especially when a new guy comes into the fold."
The group released their second studio album 'Doll Domination' in 2008 and have sold millions of copies worldwide.
Entertainment - Intimate scenes with Jennifer Aniston were great: Owen Wilson
New York, Jan 29 (IANS) Seems like John Mayer has competition. His girlfriend Jennifer Aniston's co-star Owen Wilson has recently admitted that he enjoyed the steamy scenes with her in 'Marley & Me'.
The actor apparently got a huge crush on Aniston and didn't have a problem stripping down for a steamy scene with her.
'Getting naked with Jennifer Aniston was great. We got pretty naked. That was kind of a good day of filming. That's where I got to say: 'It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it',' the actor said in a press statement.
And it wasn't only Wilson who enjoyed an eyeful of Aniston's marvellous body. Apparently the cast reportedly kept the cameras rolling for Aniston too.
'Seems like they spent more time with her nakedness than mine,' said Wilson.
The actor apparently got a huge crush on Aniston and didn't have a problem stripping down for a steamy scene with her.
'Getting naked with Jennifer Aniston was great. We got pretty naked. That was kind of a good day of filming. That's where I got to say: 'It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it',' the actor said in a press statement.
And it wasn't only Wilson who enjoyed an eyeful of Aniston's marvellous body. Apparently the cast reportedly kept the cameras rolling for Aniston too.
'Seems like they spent more time with her nakedness than mine,' said Wilson.
India - India to sign IAEA deal on Monday - ambassador
India is set to sign an inspection agreement with the United Nations' nuclear watchdog on Monday, India's ambassador to the agency said.
The inspection deal with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is a precondition of a United States-led agreement allowing nuclear nations to supply India with nuclear material and technology for its domestic power sector.
"We have set some time aside for this on Monday," Saurabh Kumar, India's ambassador to the Vienna-based IAEA said on Thursday, referring to the signing of the pact.
He declined to give further details of the agreement, which must be ratified by Delhi before it can come into effect.
The draft agreement in July said India would be required to make its declared civilian reactors -- 14 out of 22 -- subject to regular IAEA non-proliferation inspections. The agency hopes to have the reactors under inspection by 2014.
In August, IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei hailed the draft as a positive step after it was approved by the agency's board of governors.
"I believe the agreement is good for India, is good for the world, is good for non-proliferation, is good for our collective effort to move towards a world free from nuclear weapons," he said.
The 45 nations which make up the Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG) agreed in September to lift a three-decade global ban on nuclear trade with India, paving the way for the fuel and technology deal. The ban had been in place since 1974, when India carried out its first nuclear test explosion.
Washington said in September the deal would forge a strategic partnership with the world's largest democracy, help India meet rising energy demand and open up a nuclear market worth billions of dollars.
The Bush administration pushed hard to get required approvals for the controversial pact from the NSG, IAEA and the U.S. Congress, which gave the deal the thumbs up in October.
Some nations criticised the deal because India has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty which is meant to stop the spread and production of nuclear weapons and mandate gradual disarmament, and a companion test ban pact.
The inspection deal with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is a precondition of a United States-led agreement allowing nuclear nations to supply India with nuclear material and technology for its domestic power sector.
"We have set some time aside for this on Monday," Saurabh Kumar, India's ambassador to the Vienna-based IAEA said on Thursday, referring to the signing of the pact.
He declined to give further details of the agreement, which must be ratified by Delhi before it can come into effect.
The draft agreement in July said India would be required to make its declared civilian reactors -- 14 out of 22 -- subject to regular IAEA non-proliferation inspections. The agency hopes to have the reactors under inspection by 2014.
In August, IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei hailed the draft as a positive step after it was approved by the agency's board of governors.
"I believe the agreement is good for India, is good for the world, is good for non-proliferation, is good for our collective effort to move towards a world free from nuclear weapons," he said.
The 45 nations which make up the Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG) agreed in September to lift a three-decade global ban on nuclear trade with India, paving the way for the fuel and technology deal. The ban had been in place since 1974, when India carried out its first nuclear test explosion.
Washington said in September the deal would forge a strategic partnership with the world's largest democracy, help India meet rising energy demand and open up a nuclear market worth billions of dollars.
The Bush administration pushed hard to get required approvals for the controversial pact from the NSG, IAEA and the U.S. Congress, which gave the deal the thumbs up in October.
Some nations criticised the deal because India has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty which is meant to stop the spread and production of nuclear weapons and mandate gradual disarmament, and a companion test ban pact.
Business - Ford loses $5.9 bn in last quarter of 2008
New York, Jan 30 (DPA) US automotive concern Ford reported Thursday that it lost $5.9 billion in the final quarter of 2008, boosting the full-year losses to $14.6 billion.
The quarterly loss amounts to $2.46 per share, and is nearly double the net loss of $2.8 billion in the year-earlier period. Excluding one-time costs, the loss for the fourth quarter was $3.3 billion, or $1.37 per share.
Ford again insisted it would not need the billions of dollars' worth of emergency federal assistance for the car industry, in contrast to General Motors and Chrysler which took the emergency support earlier this month.
Still, the auto giant was burning through its cash reserves. It used $5.5 billion of reserves in the final quarter, leaving it with $13.4 billion on hand.
The carmaker said it would cut another 1,200 jobs in its finance unit, as it trims thousands of positions amid declining sales.
Sales plunged by one-third to $29.2 billion in the quarter, the company said. Full-year sales in 2008 came to $146.3 billion, down 15 percent. The carmaker sold 1.14 million vehicles worldwide in the quarter and 5.4 million for the year, down 18 percent from 2007 as buyers who had long been turning to foreign carmakers stayed away altogether amid a weaker economy that made it more difficult to secure loans.
Ford said it expects to return its operating results to the black by the year 2011, in keeping with its previous projections.
The quarterly loss amounts to $2.46 per share, and is nearly double the net loss of $2.8 billion in the year-earlier period. Excluding one-time costs, the loss for the fourth quarter was $3.3 billion, or $1.37 per share.
Ford again insisted it would not need the billions of dollars' worth of emergency federal assistance for the car industry, in contrast to General Motors and Chrysler which took the emergency support earlier this month.
Still, the auto giant was burning through its cash reserves. It used $5.5 billion of reserves in the final quarter, leaving it with $13.4 billion on hand.
The carmaker said it would cut another 1,200 jobs in its finance unit, as it trims thousands of positions amid declining sales.
Sales plunged by one-third to $29.2 billion in the quarter, the company said. Full-year sales in 2008 came to $146.3 billion, down 15 percent. The carmaker sold 1.14 million vehicles worldwide in the quarter and 5.4 million for the year, down 18 percent from 2007 as buyers who had long been turning to foreign carmakers stayed away altogether amid a weaker economy that made it more difficult to secure loans.
Ford said it expects to return its operating results to the black by the year 2011, in keeping with its previous projections.
Business - DreamWorks says it gets financing in tough market
Cameras should start rolling soon at DreamWorks SKG as the new Hollywood-Bollywood joint venture with India's Reliance ADA continues to win financing even under challenging market conditions, a spokesman said on Thursday.
"These bank commitments show a huge vote of confidence for the new studio and that the financing will soon be completed," said a spokesman for the studio, headed by DreamWorks partners Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider.
A person familiar with the studio said DreamWorks recently won lending commitments for $150 million, which is just under half the $325 million it expects to raise in its first stage of financing. India's Reliance has said it will match up to $550 million in financing the company raises.
If all goes as planned, DreamWorks should start shooting films by the summer, the person said.
The Hollywood Reporter reported on Wednesday that the $150 million in commitments included some from bankers at City National Bank and Comerica, who will provide a combined $75 million or more. JPMorgan leads the financing syndication, and is expected to be on board for at least $75 million.
Earlier this month, DreamWorks paid $26.5 million to Paramount for rights to 17 projects developed by DreamWorks executives while the studio was owned by Paramount, according to a person familiar with the studio.
In September, the principals behind DreamWorks signed a long-expected deal with Reliance to start a new company, enabling DreamWorks, Spielberg and Snider to part ways with Viacom Inc's Paramount Pictures.
The Hollywood-Bollywood linkup of DreamWorks and Reliance, a Mumbai-based entertainment, financial and telecommunications giant, capped two years of speculation and feuding between Paramount and Viacom on one side and Spielberg and DreamWorks co-founder David Geffen on the other.
In October, DreamWorks reached a deal with General Electric Co's Universal Studios to distribute films made by the new DreamWorks. Universal will take an 8 percent distribution fee on a slate of roughly six films per year over the 7-year life of the contract, which began in 2009, the company said.
Spielberg had a two-decade career with Universal as a director until he formed DreamWorks with music mogul David Geffen and ex-Disney Studios chief Jeffrey Katzenberg in 1994.
Katzenberg went on to lead his own publicly traded DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc, while Viacom Inc's Paramount Pictures acquired DreamWorks in 2006.
"These bank commitments show a huge vote of confidence for the new studio and that the financing will soon be completed," said a spokesman for the studio, headed by DreamWorks partners Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider.
A person familiar with the studio said DreamWorks recently won lending commitments for $150 million, which is just under half the $325 million it expects to raise in its first stage of financing. India's Reliance has said it will match up to $550 million in financing the company raises.
If all goes as planned, DreamWorks should start shooting films by the summer, the person said.
The Hollywood Reporter reported on Wednesday that the $150 million in commitments included some from bankers at City National Bank and Comerica, who will provide a combined $75 million or more. JPMorgan leads the financing syndication, and is expected to be on board for at least $75 million.
Earlier this month, DreamWorks paid $26.5 million to Paramount for rights to 17 projects developed by DreamWorks executives while the studio was owned by Paramount, according to a person familiar with the studio.
In September, the principals behind DreamWorks signed a long-expected deal with Reliance to start a new company, enabling DreamWorks, Spielberg and Snider to part ways with Viacom Inc's Paramount Pictures.
The Hollywood-Bollywood linkup of DreamWorks and Reliance, a Mumbai-based entertainment, financial and telecommunications giant, capped two years of speculation and feuding between Paramount and Viacom on one side and Spielberg and DreamWorks co-founder David Geffen on the other.
In October, DreamWorks reached a deal with General Electric Co's Universal Studios to distribute films made by the new DreamWorks. Universal will take an 8 percent distribution fee on a slate of roughly six films per year over the 7-year life of the contract, which began in 2009, the company said.
Spielberg had a two-decade career with Universal as a director until he formed DreamWorks with music mogul David Geffen and ex-Disney Studios chief Jeffrey Katzenberg in 1994.
Katzenberg went on to lead his own publicly traded DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc, while Viacom Inc's Paramount Pictures acquired DreamWorks in 2006.
Jan 29, 2009
India - Parliament to have 300 hi-tech cameras
NEW DELHI: Surveillance in the Parliament will be upgraded with the installation of 300 hi-tech cameras in the high security zone.
"We are procuring about 300 hi-tech cameras to be installed in the Parliament complex as part of the security upgradation drive," said a senior Lok Sabha secretariat official.
There are currently about 265 cameras installed in the complex.
"These cameras were installed in 1980s. So it was decided to replace them with the latest ones," the official said, adding that more cameras would be installed to meet the present requirement.
Three PSUs involved in installing the cameras had made a presentation on the functioning of the equipment for members of the Parliament committee on security.
Senior officials handling Parliament security were also present at the demonstration which was held this week.
The command and control room set up to monitor the CCTV network is also being upgraded.
Lok Sabha secretary general PDT Achary said, "upgradation of CCTV system is very essential and also urgent. We are trying to upgrade the system as far as possible to meet the security needs of Parliament."
"We are procuring about 300 hi-tech cameras to be installed in the Parliament complex as part of the security upgradation drive," said a senior Lok Sabha secretariat official.
There are currently about 265 cameras installed in the complex.
"These cameras were installed in 1980s. So it was decided to replace them with the latest ones," the official said, adding that more cameras would be installed to meet the present requirement.
Three PSUs involved in installing the cameras had made a presentation on the functioning of the equipment for members of the Parliament committee on security.
Senior officials handling Parliament security were also present at the demonstration which was held this week.
The command and control room set up to monitor the CCTV network is also being upgraded.
Lok Sabha secretary general PDT Achary said, "upgradation of CCTV system is very essential and also urgent. We are trying to upgrade the system as far as possible to meet the security needs of Parliament."
World - Japanese boys bring WWII bomb to school
TOKYO: Two Japanese boys brought a World War II bomb to class, flustering teachers on the island of Okinawa which was the scene of the Pacific
conflict's bloodiest battle, the school said on Thursday.
The two 12-year-old boys said they found the bomb last week in a yard near the school in Okinawa, where residents still unearth hundreds of dud explosives six decades after the war.
"We immediately realised the blasting fuse had come off the bombshell," said Yoshiyasu Henzan, vice principal of Shonan elementary school. "We reported it to police through the local education board."
"The children apparently thought the bomb would be good study material at school," he said, adding that the school has given a special class in peace studies for students.
The US-made bombshell of about 30 cm in length was swiftly taken away by the Japanese bomb-disposal squad, the teacher said.
Okinawa was the bloodiest battle of the Pacific war, with US forces unleashing an 83-day air and amphibious assault dubbed the "Typhoon of Steel" by locals. Some 190,000 Japanese died, half of them Okinawan civilians.
Earlier this month, an Okinawan resident working on an underground water pipe was severely injured in the face when another World War II bomb went off.
The bomb-disposal squad of the Japanese military unearthed 445 bombs in Okinawa in just two weeks after the explosion, the local Ryukyu Shimpo daily reported.
conflict's bloodiest battle, the school said on Thursday.
The two 12-year-old boys said they found the bomb last week in a yard near the school in Okinawa, where residents still unearth hundreds of dud explosives six decades after the war.
"We immediately realised the blasting fuse had come off the bombshell," said Yoshiyasu Henzan, vice principal of Shonan elementary school. "We reported it to police through the local education board."
"The children apparently thought the bomb would be good study material at school," he said, adding that the school has given a special class in peace studies for students.
The US-made bombshell of about 30 cm in length was swiftly taken away by the Japanese bomb-disposal squad, the teacher said.
Okinawa was the bloodiest battle of the Pacific war, with US forces unleashing an 83-day air and amphibious assault dubbed the "Typhoon of Steel" by locals. Some 190,000 Japanese died, half of them Okinawan civilians.
Earlier this month, an Okinawan resident working on an underground water pipe was severely injured in the face when another World War II bomb went off.
The bomb-disposal squad of the Japanese military unearthed 445 bombs in Okinawa in just two weeks after the explosion, the local Ryukyu Shimpo daily reported.
Sport - Tendulkar key to India's number 1 dream: Warne
NEW DELHI: Legendary Australian spinner Shane Warne is surely impressed by Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led team's surge in international cricket but
believes India could realise their number one dream only if Sachin Tendulkar keeps himself fit.
Warne also refused to believe that it was the best-ever Indian team so far despite its recent victories against Australia and England.
"I think the best Indian team that I played against was my first one way back in 1991. But this current team is a bit tougher... and I think they can challenge for the number one title in the world, only if Sachin remains fit," he said in reply to an e-mailed questionnaire.
Asked what set Tendulkar apart from all other cricketers of his era, Warne said he had perfect judgement of a bowler.
"Sachin is just a class above everybody else because of the way he judges the line length of a bowler and the way he conducts himself on the pitch," he pointed out.
Warne, however, avoided commenting on how long the Indian batting maestro should go on to play cricket.
The former leg-spin wizard defended Australia's loss to India in the sub-continent, saying Ricky Ponting's men were not on decline but other team's were catching up with them.
"I think they're playing excellent cricket, other sides are just catching up," Warne said.
"I think Australia is going through a change in period and India is always hard to beat in India... I thought it was a wonderful series and India just outplayed Australia and were a better team, there is no disgrace in that.
"Australia were in a position to win 3-nil against South Africa recently, but lost the series. But there are signs early in 2009 that Australia will be a very strong team," he added.
Recalling the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League, which he won captaining and coaching an underdog Rajasthan Royals team, Warne said it was a memorable experience.
"My experience was full of wonderful memories; I thoroughly enjoyed the team spirit that we created amongst our group. It was something I will always remember."
Warne justified his comments that Rajasthan Royals got him in cheap, saying it was indeed a lot less price paid by the franchise owner considering he led the team to title win.
"In the context of everything to have the captain and the coach as one person and looking back in hindsight, I'm sure Emerging Media would be very happy with the price they paid for me considering we won the whole competition. If I went on the market now I'm sure I'd get a lot more," he said, adding, "I'm very happy to be in Rajasthan Royal."
But Warne said he remained a die-hard Test fan and enjoyed the format the most and did not feel that Twenty20 was a threat to its future.
"No, I think Test cricket is always the number 1 version of the game, because that is the true test of a cricketer. T20 is also a great format of the game and will ultimately help Test cricket by the way the game is played."
Warne believed fitness was key to success of his team. "Fitness is a very important aspect of the game; you have to be fit for your role, whatever your role in the team is," he said.
Asked about his plans to make the team ready for IPL season 2, Warne said, "We'll have an open, honest and frank conversation about how we will go about winning in April."
He, however, refused to divulge the details, saying, "We cannot win it in January."
Warne also did not seem much interested in roping in any additional players to the Rajasthan Royals squad in the upcoming auction in Goa.
"I'm very happy with our squad, we'll only add players if they can make a difference," he said.
Asked who was his favourite batsman to bowl at in international cricket, Warne replied, "Darryl Cullinan (of South Africa). I would like to bowl to him for a living."
On recent terror attacks in Mumbai, Warne felt it did not affect the game but wished it had never happened.
"Obviously there is a bit of a concern when something like that happens and - I really felt for the people of India, it was horrific and something I wish never happened. All we can do is rely on the information given to us by security...
"No, I don't (think it was harming the game), but obviously any terror attack is something we all wish would never happen and that would stop," he added.
believes India could realise their number one dream only if Sachin Tendulkar keeps himself fit.
Warne also refused to believe that it was the best-ever Indian team so far despite its recent victories against Australia and England.
"I think the best Indian team that I played against was my first one way back in 1991. But this current team is a bit tougher... and I think they can challenge for the number one title in the world, only if Sachin remains fit," he said in reply to an e-mailed questionnaire.
Asked what set Tendulkar apart from all other cricketers of his era, Warne said he had perfect judgement of a bowler.
"Sachin is just a class above everybody else because of the way he judges the line length of a bowler and the way he conducts himself on the pitch," he pointed out.
Warne, however, avoided commenting on how long the Indian batting maestro should go on to play cricket.
The former leg-spin wizard defended Australia's loss to India in the sub-continent, saying Ricky Ponting's men were not on decline but other team's were catching up with them.
"I think they're playing excellent cricket, other sides are just catching up," Warne said.
"I think Australia is going through a change in period and India is always hard to beat in India... I thought it was a wonderful series and India just outplayed Australia and were a better team, there is no disgrace in that.
"Australia were in a position to win 3-nil against South Africa recently, but lost the series. But there are signs early in 2009 that Australia will be a very strong team," he added.
Recalling the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League, which he won captaining and coaching an underdog Rajasthan Royals team, Warne said it was a memorable experience.
"My experience was full of wonderful memories; I thoroughly enjoyed the team spirit that we created amongst our group. It was something I will always remember."
Warne justified his comments that Rajasthan Royals got him in cheap, saying it was indeed a lot less price paid by the franchise owner considering he led the team to title win.
"In the context of everything to have the captain and the coach as one person and looking back in hindsight, I'm sure Emerging Media would be very happy with the price they paid for me considering we won the whole competition. If I went on the market now I'm sure I'd get a lot more," he said, adding, "I'm very happy to be in Rajasthan Royal."
But Warne said he remained a die-hard Test fan and enjoyed the format the most and did not feel that Twenty20 was a threat to its future.
"No, I think Test cricket is always the number 1 version of the game, because that is the true test of a cricketer. T20 is also a great format of the game and will ultimately help Test cricket by the way the game is played."
Warne believed fitness was key to success of his team. "Fitness is a very important aspect of the game; you have to be fit for your role, whatever your role in the team is," he said.
Asked about his plans to make the team ready for IPL season 2, Warne said, "We'll have an open, honest and frank conversation about how we will go about winning in April."
He, however, refused to divulge the details, saying, "We cannot win it in January."
Warne also did not seem much interested in roping in any additional players to the Rajasthan Royals squad in the upcoming auction in Goa.
"I'm very happy with our squad, we'll only add players if they can make a difference," he said.
Asked who was his favourite batsman to bowl at in international cricket, Warne replied, "Darryl Cullinan (of South Africa). I would like to bowl to him for a living."
On recent terror attacks in Mumbai, Warne felt it did not affect the game but wished it had never happened.
"Obviously there is a bit of a concern when something like that happens and - I really felt for the people of India, it was horrific and something I wish never happened. All we can do is rely on the information given to us by security...
"No, I don't (think it was harming the game), but obviously any terror attack is something we all wish would never happen and that would stop," he added.
India - IIT faculty likely to be exempt from quota
Akshaya Mukul & Hemali Chappia
NEW DELHI: After resisting reservation in faculty for more than a year, IITs are likely to be exempted from it.
At the meeting of Council of IITs on Wednesday, IIT directors were informed that the `SCs and STs (Reservation in Posts and Services) Bill, 2008' had been passed in Lok Sabha and was awaiting the upper House's nod.
The legislation exempts 47 institutions, including IITs/IIMs and other institutes of excellence, from giving reservation in faculty.
While the directors are yet to examine this bill, IIT-Delhi director Surendra Prasad said it "reduces our concern quite a bit".
Last year, the HRD ministry had sent out a circular to all IITs asking them to implement reservation in faculty appointments, following which the directors took up the matter with the Prime Minister's Office.
Five years ago, at a meeting of the last council, members had altered the faculty to student ratio in tech colleges to 1:10. On Wednesday, directors suggested that the council revert to the old ratio of 1:9 to ensure academic excellence. While it may seem like a very small difference, a director said, "It does matter in various ways. It is something we want to strive for."
In the council meeting held after five years, HRD ministry dusted off a 1974 resolution of Council of IITs to justify appointing directors in the last five years without seeking the panel's approval.
The council said the 1974 resolution had empowered the panel's chairman, i.e. HRD minister, to make appointments on behalf of the council. Strangely, the IIT directors whose appointments were ratified were also part of the ratification process on Wednesday. In the process, the council had to ratify appointment of someone like Ashok Misra, former director of IIT-Bombay, who was appointed in 2005 and resigned last year.
Using the opportunity of the council meeting, appointment of directors in new IITs was also approved. Subject to presidential clearance, those appointed include U B Desai, IIT-Hyderabad; M K Surappa, IIT-Ropar; Sudhir Kumar Jain, IIT-Gandhinagar; Prem Kumar Kalra, IIT-Rajasthan; Madhusudan Chakraborty, IIT-Bhubaneswar and Anil K Bhowmick, IIT-Patna. However, the issue of setting up IIT in J&K didn't come up.
The meeting was held after five years and in the backdrop of Madras High Court terming the appointment of M S Ananth as director of IIT-Madras illegal.
The council also discussed dropouts in IITs. In three years (2005-08), in IIT-Delhi, 19 general, 21 SCs and five ST students have dropped out. In IIT-Madras, there were no dropouts. In IIT-Bombay, 27 general, 30 SCs and 13 ST students dropped out. In IIT-Kanpur, 14 general, 21 SCs and six ST students had to leave. In IIT-Kharagpur, two general and nine SC students dropped out.
The council decided that some sort of parity would have to be established to ensure that one IIT is not tougher than another. As of now, every IIT has different norms on which students are asked to leave or continue. "The directors have been asked to work out a common model that can be followed in all IITs," said a director.
Known to be against accreditation of their courses by National Bureau of Accreditation so that India gets full membership of Washington Accord, IIT directors have devised another method. A director said, "IIT Council will come up with a process that will be followed for accrediting their courses and suggest the same to the NBA."
There was a lot of discussion on converting IT-BHU into a fully fledged IIT but no decision was taken. "IT-BHU is an important part of the BHU system. There was discussion on how to empower IT-BHU without taking it out of the BHU system. But there is no clarity on that front yet," an official said.
NEW DELHI: After resisting reservation in faculty for more than a year, IITs are likely to be exempted from it.
At the meeting of Council of IITs on Wednesday, IIT directors were informed that the `SCs and STs (Reservation in Posts and Services) Bill, 2008' had been passed in Lok Sabha and was awaiting the upper House's nod.
The legislation exempts 47 institutions, including IITs/IIMs and other institutes of excellence, from giving reservation in faculty.
While the directors are yet to examine this bill, IIT-Delhi director Surendra Prasad said it "reduces our concern quite a bit".
Last year, the HRD ministry had sent out a circular to all IITs asking them to implement reservation in faculty appointments, following which the directors took up the matter with the Prime Minister's Office.
Five years ago, at a meeting of the last council, members had altered the faculty to student ratio in tech colleges to 1:10. On Wednesday, directors suggested that the council revert to the old ratio of 1:9 to ensure academic excellence. While it may seem like a very small difference, a director said, "It does matter in various ways. It is something we want to strive for."
In the council meeting held after five years, HRD ministry dusted off a 1974 resolution of Council of IITs to justify appointing directors in the last five years without seeking the panel's approval.
The council said the 1974 resolution had empowered the panel's chairman, i.e. HRD minister, to make appointments on behalf of the council. Strangely, the IIT directors whose appointments were ratified were also part of the ratification process on Wednesday. In the process, the council had to ratify appointment of someone like Ashok Misra, former director of IIT-Bombay, who was appointed in 2005 and resigned last year.
Using the opportunity of the council meeting, appointment of directors in new IITs was also approved. Subject to presidential clearance, those appointed include U B Desai, IIT-Hyderabad; M K Surappa, IIT-Ropar; Sudhir Kumar Jain, IIT-Gandhinagar; Prem Kumar Kalra, IIT-Rajasthan; Madhusudan Chakraborty, IIT-Bhubaneswar and Anil K Bhowmick, IIT-Patna. However, the issue of setting up IIT in J&K didn't come up.
The meeting was held after five years and in the backdrop of Madras High Court terming the appointment of M S Ananth as director of IIT-Madras illegal.
The council also discussed dropouts in IITs. In three years (2005-08), in IIT-Delhi, 19 general, 21 SCs and five ST students have dropped out. In IIT-Madras, there were no dropouts. In IIT-Bombay, 27 general, 30 SCs and 13 ST students dropped out. In IIT-Kanpur, 14 general, 21 SCs and six ST students had to leave. In IIT-Kharagpur, two general and nine SC students dropped out.
The council decided that some sort of parity would have to be established to ensure that one IIT is not tougher than another. As of now, every IIT has different norms on which students are asked to leave or continue. "The directors have been asked to work out a common model that can be followed in all IITs," said a director.
Known to be against accreditation of their courses by National Bureau of Accreditation so that India gets full membership of Washington Accord, IIT directors have devised another method. A director said, "IIT Council will come up with a process that will be followed for accrediting their courses and suggest the same to the NBA."
There was a lot of discussion on converting IT-BHU into a fully fledged IIT but no decision was taken. "IT-BHU is an important part of the BHU system. There was discussion on how to empower IT-BHU without taking it out of the BHU system. But there is no clarity on that front yet," an official said.
India - Slum not the other India (G.ReaD)
Santosh Desai
Nobody complained when Vikas Swaroop wrote it, nobody batted an eyelid when the film was shot and released internationally. After all, so many films
— both features and documentaries — have been made around the subject of poverty in India. The protests started only when Slumdog Millionaire started winning international awards. The unkind way of looking at this is to argue that there is no value in complaining about the obscure — only protests about the famous can become famous. But then, it is equally true that only popular films actually do impact the way people see things and hence Slumdog Millionaire is worth complaining only now, that it is an Oscar nominated film. The celebration of the film is an implicit certification of its authenticity and this raises questions if indeed this is so.
Does the West have a vested interest in pinning India to its poverty by refusing to acknowledge the progress it has undoubtedly made in the last few years? Is India interesting only because it is poor? Is the gratuitous use of poverty nothing but an exploitative use of someone else's misery for one's diversion?
Of course, India is stereotyped by the West. Take away spirituality and poverty, and India to the outside eye is just a large country with an unnervingly diverse topography and poor sanitation. India's progress is in some ways an act of poor sportsmanship; it was always believed that India would be timeless and enigmatic in a deep spiritual kind of way. The New India story is thus disruptive and disturbing for it changes the accepted order of the world.
But if cinematic representations about India are stereotyped, so are those for all countries. Popular cinema uses the currency of stereotypes because it is accessible to all, most particularly to the American audience whose capacity for cultural nuance is limited. So you cannot show Brazil without the carnival (or its slums), Russia without the KGB and/or the mafia and England without Hugh Grant. Equally, when an Indian film shows New York, it does not focus on the homeless there, for our dominant perception about the city does not include poverty, however real it might be.
The question to ask is if our dominant perception about this New India is in fact the reality. Does the Westerner have to dig out poverty and then amplify it for audiences abroad? In the India of today, any mention of poverty is seen as being faintly treacherous; there exists a tacit conspiracy of silence about the state of the urban majority. By shrivelling the misery of millions into a single word, we banish the slum by giving it a name. We don't make movies about it anymore, except as a prop in a crime thriller. We don't cover it on TV; airport delays attract breathless outrage while nobody would look twice at a story about water scarcity in the slums. More importantly, it as if we have stopped noticing the vast numbers of the urban poor who surround us. We genuinely believe that Mumbai can be summed up by the Taj. So when someone from outside smells Mumbai in all its fetid rottenness, we are appalled. So what if the story told is one of a New Indian, corkscrewing his way out of his circumstances?
It was perhaps more understandable why we were touchy about the representation of Indian poverty 20 years ago. At that time, we feared that to be our unchanging reality and it made us deeply ashamed. Today, when we believe that India is on its way up, why do we still respond negatively?
Perhaps it is time to take all the blathering we do about Brand India more seriously. India is unique because it can potentially show the world a new way. In the slums of Dharavi, we find ambition that doesn't lose its way and joy that comes from knowing what is truly precious about life. We can see more clearly why material growth is not the same as progress and how meaning in life is independent of one's means. India will not become valuable to the world by becoming a pale shadow of someone else's ideas, but by asserting the power of its own distinctive take on the world.
The slum is not the other India and Dharavi is not an aberration. It is both a condemnation and a celebration of who we are. We need to own it, change it, admire it and hate it. We don't need to ignore it. And if some Western director makes a film about it, we don't need to fear it.
Nobody complained when Vikas Swaroop wrote it, nobody batted an eyelid when the film was shot and released internationally. After all, so many films
— both features and documentaries — have been made around the subject of poverty in India. The protests started only when Slumdog Millionaire started winning international awards. The unkind way of looking at this is to argue that there is no value in complaining about the obscure — only protests about the famous can become famous. But then, it is equally true that only popular films actually do impact the way people see things and hence Slumdog Millionaire is worth complaining only now, that it is an Oscar nominated film. The celebration of the film is an implicit certification of its authenticity and this raises questions if indeed this is so.
Does the West have a vested interest in pinning India to its poverty by refusing to acknowledge the progress it has undoubtedly made in the last few years? Is India interesting only because it is poor? Is the gratuitous use of poverty nothing but an exploitative use of someone else's misery for one's diversion?
Of course, India is stereotyped by the West. Take away spirituality and poverty, and India to the outside eye is just a large country with an unnervingly diverse topography and poor sanitation. India's progress is in some ways an act of poor sportsmanship; it was always believed that India would be timeless and enigmatic in a deep spiritual kind of way. The New India story is thus disruptive and disturbing for it changes the accepted order of the world.
But if cinematic representations about India are stereotyped, so are those for all countries. Popular cinema uses the currency of stereotypes because it is accessible to all, most particularly to the American audience whose capacity for cultural nuance is limited. So you cannot show Brazil without the carnival (or its slums), Russia without the KGB and/or the mafia and England without Hugh Grant. Equally, when an Indian film shows New York, it does not focus on the homeless there, for our dominant perception about the city does not include poverty, however real it might be.
The question to ask is if our dominant perception about this New India is in fact the reality. Does the Westerner have to dig out poverty and then amplify it for audiences abroad? In the India of today, any mention of poverty is seen as being faintly treacherous; there exists a tacit conspiracy of silence about the state of the urban majority. By shrivelling the misery of millions into a single word, we banish the slum by giving it a name. We don't make movies about it anymore, except as a prop in a crime thriller. We don't cover it on TV; airport delays attract breathless outrage while nobody would look twice at a story about water scarcity in the slums. More importantly, it as if we have stopped noticing the vast numbers of the urban poor who surround us. We genuinely believe that Mumbai can be summed up by the Taj. So when someone from outside smells Mumbai in all its fetid rottenness, we are appalled. So what if the story told is one of a New Indian, corkscrewing his way out of his circumstances?
It was perhaps more understandable why we were touchy about the representation of Indian poverty 20 years ago. At that time, we feared that to be our unchanging reality and it made us deeply ashamed. Today, when we believe that India is on its way up, why do we still respond negatively?
Perhaps it is time to take all the blathering we do about Brand India more seriously. India is unique because it can potentially show the world a new way. In the slums of Dharavi, we find ambition that doesn't lose its way and joy that comes from knowing what is truly precious about life. We can see more clearly why material growth is not the same as progress and how meaning in life is independent of one's means. India will not become valuable to the world by becoming a pale shadow of someone else's ideas, but by asserting the power of its own distinctive take on the world.
The slum is not the other India and Dharavi is not an aberration. It is both a condemnation and a celebration of who we are. We need to own it, change it, admire it and hate it. We don't need to ignore it. And if some Western director makes a film about it, we don't need to fear it.
Sport - Football;Arshavin Arsenal deal close, admits Wenger
Arsene Wenger believes that Arsenal are on the verge of finally sealing a deal to sign Andrei Arshavn from Zenit St Petersburg.
The Gunners' pursuit of the Russia playmaker, who is valued at around 15 million pounds, has been one of the most protracted deals of the current transfer window.
Arshavin's Russian club have claimed that a fee has been agreed and although Wenger remains cautious, he admitted following the 1-1 draw at Everton on Wednesday that he is on the verge of making his first signing of the month.
"I have been focused on the Everton game and didn't pick up any phone-calls so nothing has happened," he said.
"It is 90 percent (finished) and I don't know what happened today (Wednesday). In this kind of job sometimes the 10 percent is more important than the 90 percent because people can change their minds quickly."
Wenger could do with Arshavin as, following Aston Villa's 1-0 win at Portsmouth and Arsenal's point at Goodison Park - earned by Robin van Persie's injury-time equaliser of Tim Cahill's opening goal - the Gunners are struggling in the race for fourth place.
And Wenger, whose team are five points behind Villa, stands by his claim that David Moyes' Blues are as much of a competitor for their Champions League place as Martin O'Neill's men.
He added: "A point is never enough because you always play for three but it was a difficult game and I maintain that Everton are as big a threat for us as Aston Villa.
"Everton are a good side and they will be a threat for a top four place.
"We're on a good run so it was very important not to lose once we were 1-0 down and to keep Everton at a distance. To keep our run going was vital."
Wenger admits he is full of admiration for Australia midfielder Cahill, who has scored four goals in nine games.
He said: "He's a fantastic player. Tactically very good, very intelligent and if you look at all the defenders in the league, they're all a head higher than he is but he always pops up with a header.
"He has something that you can't give to anybody. He knows where to be on a football pitch."
Moyes revealed that he has been thwarted in his attempts to bring two un-named loan targets to Goodison Park.
The Blues have no money available to make new signings and Moyes has conceded that loan players were his only chance of adding to his squad this month.
But he said: "We were in for two loan signings and they won't come off.
"They were the two we were after so unless something comes out of the blue.
"They were the two we were interested in and they don't look like they're going to come off."
Moyes believes that his Everton side, who are now unbeaten in nine matches, can sustain a challenge for the top four.
He added: "We lost a late goal against Aston Villa and now against Arsenal and those points are vital but it's amazing how far you've come when you're disappointed to only take a point at home against Arsenal.
"Those two points would have been crucial because we're still just outside it and those two points would have got us much closer to the teams above us.
"It's a long way to go to catch them but if we keep playing the way we're playing there will be a chance we can get the teams above. We're playing well enough to try to do that."
Cahill limped off with a foot injury but Moyes revealed it was only a minor knock and the Australian will be in contention for Saturday's trip to Manchester United.
The Gunners' pursuit of the Russia playmaker, who is valued at around 15 million pounds, has been one of the most protracted deals of the current transfer window.
Arshavin's Russian club have claimed that a fee has been agreed and although Wenger remains cautious, he admitted following the 1-1 draw at Everton on Wednesday that he is on the verge of making his first signing of the month.
"I have been focused on the Everton game and didn't pick up any phone-calls so nothing has happened," he said.
"It is 90 percent (finished) and I don't know what happened today (Wednesday). In this kind of job sometimes the 10 percent is more important than the 90 percent because people can change their minds quickly."
Wenger could do with Arshavin as, following Aston Villa's 1-0 win at Portsmouth and Arsenal's point at Goodison Park - earned by Robin van Persie's injury-time equaliser of Tim Cahill's opening goal - the Gunners are struggling in the race for fourth place.
And Wenger, whose team are five points behind Villa, stands by his claim that David Moyes' Blues are as much of a competitor for their Champions League place as Martin O'Neill's men.
He added: "A point is never enough because you always play for three but it was a difficult game and I maintain that Everton are as big a threat for us as Aston Villa.
"Everton are a good side and they will be a threat for a top four place.
"We're on a good run so it was very important not to lose once we were 1-0 down and to keep Everton at a distance. To keep our run going was vital."
Wenger admits he is full of admiration for Australia midfielder Cahill, who has scored four goals in nine games.
He said: "He's a fantastic player. Tactically very good, very intelligent and if you look at all the defenders in the league, they're all a head higher than he is but he always pops up with a header.
"He has something that you can't give to anybody. He knows where to be on a football pitch."
Moyes revealed that he has been thwarted in his attempts to bring two un-named loan targets to Goodison Park.
The Blues have no money available to make new signings and Moyes has conceded that loan players were his only chance of adding to his squad this month.
But he said: "We were in for two loan signings and they won't come off.
"They were the two we were after so unless something comes out of the blue.
"They were the two we were interested in and they don't look like they're going to come off."
Moyes believes that his Everton side, who are now unbeaten in nine matches, can sustain a challenge for the top four.
He added: "We lost a late goal against Aston Villa and now against Arsenal and those points are vital but it's amazing how far you've come when you're disappointed to only take a point at home against Arsenal.
"Those two points would have been crucial because we're still just outside it and those two points would have got us much closer to the teams above us.
"It's a long way to go to catch them but if we keep playing the way we're playing there will be a chance we can get the teams above. We're playing well enough to try to do that."
Cahill limped off with a foot injury but Moyes revealed it was only a minor knock and the Australian will be in contention for Saturday's trip to Manchester United.
Lifestyle - Women think more about food than sex
British women spend more time thinking about food than sex, a new report has revealed.
According to a study, which was commissioned by Weight Watchers, 58 per cent of women surveyed thought about sex at least ten times a day – while 70 per cent admitted to having far more regular fantasies about food.
Researchers also found that when not thinking about food, the vast majority of women in the UK were likely to be pondering their poor body image.
Of the 932 women interviewed, two-thirds said they were actively dissatisfied with their size, reports the Scotsman.
Zoe Hellman, a dietician with Weight Watchers, said: "Many weight-loss methods ignore the overwhelming effect of over-eating because of emotional reasons.
"Comfort eating because of emotional triggers, such as depression, stress or boredom, coupled with a lack of willpower, was identified by 64 per cent of women in the study as the main cause of their weight problems."
The report also found that 11am on Tuesday mornings is the time women feel is the best time to launch a healthy eating programme.
Three out of four – 75 per cent – of those questioned thought they would be in the right frame of mind to kick-start a healthy eating plan at that time.
According to a study, which was commissioned by Weight Watchers, 58 per cent of women surveyed thought about sex at least ten times a day – while 70 per cent admitted to having far more regular fantasies about food.
Researchers also found that when not thinking about food, the vast majority of women in the UK were likely to be pondering their poor body image.
Of the 932 women interviewed, two-thirds said they were actively dissatisfied with their size, reports the Scotsman.
Zoe Hellman, a dietician with Weight Watchers, said: "Many weight-loss methods ignore the overwhelming effect of over-eating because of emotional reasons.
"Comfort eating because of emotional triggers, such as depression, stress or boredom, coupled with a lack of willpower, was identified by 64 per cent of women in the study as the main cause of their weight problems."
The report also found that 11am on Tuesday mornings is the time women feel is the best time to launch a healthy eating programme.
Three out of four – 75 per cent – of those questioned thought they would be in the right frame of mind to kick-start a healthy eating plan at that time.
Sport - Cricket;ICC reduces referrals in umpiring trial
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has trimmed its umpiring referral system to avoid frivolous appeals in the final trial phase.
Following feedback from players and officials, teams will now get two instead of three unsuccessful attempts per innings to have decisions by on-field officials reviewed by the television umpire, an ICC statement said.
The system, which allows unlimited successful referrals, received mixed reviews when it was introduced in India's 2-1 Test series defeat in Sri Lanka last July.
"The fact that each side is now allowed only two unsuccessful requests ... should mean that players will not make frivolous challenges and, instead, only seek a referral to decisions that, it is quickly clear, are highly likely to be incorrect," ICC cricket general manager Dave Richardson said.
"By seeking to reduce these potentially contentious decisions we believe we can help remove a source of tension and frustration among players and spectators as well as any resultant pressure on umpires."
The trimmed version will be used in England's four-Test series in West Indies starting on February 4. If feedback from the first two games is positive, it will be used in Australia's series in South Africa starting on February 26.
Following feedback from players and officials, teams will now get two instead of three unsuccessful attempts per innings to have decisions by on-field officials reviewed by the television umpire, an ICC statement said.
The system, which allows unlimited successful referrals, received mixed reviews when it was introduced in India's 2-1 Test series defeat in Sri Lanka last July.
"The fact that each side is now allowed only two unsuccessful requests ... should mean that players will not make frivolous challenges and, instead, only seek a referral to decisions that, it is quickly clear, are highly likely to be incorrect," ICC cricket general manager Dave Richardson said.
"By seeking to reduce these potentially contentious decisions we believe we can help remove a source of tension and frustration among players and spectators as well as any resultant pressure on umpires."
The trimmed version will be used in England's four-Test series in West Indies starting on February 4. If feedback from the first two games is positive, it will be used in Australia's series in South Africa starting on February 26.
Sport - Tennis;Bhupathi-Knowles enter doubles final; Paes-Dlouhy lose in semis
MELBOURNE: Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles thrashed Lukasz Kubot and Oliver Marach 6-3, 6-1 to reach the final of the men's doubles event of the Aus
tralian Open on Thursday. ( Watch )
The third seed Indo-Bahamian pair proved too good for their unseeded Polish-Austrian opponents as it took them just 58 minutes to win the semi-final encounter.
However, the Indian fans' dream final between Paes and Bhupathi were thrashed, when fourth seeded pair of Leander Paes and Lukas Dlouhy were outplayed by the American second seed pair of Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan in the other semi-final match.
Bryan brothers took just 53 minutes to cruise into the final as they dispatched the Indo-Czech pair 6-3, 6-3 .
Bhupathi now has a chance to grab his fifth men's doubles Grand Slam title, first Australian Open title and 11th overall as he and his partner take on second seed Americans Bob and Mike Brayan in the final.
It's been a long time that he won a men's doubles title at a Grand Slam event. It was way back in 2002 that he annexed the title at the US Open with Max Mirnyi.
Bhupathi-Knowles broke their rivals once in the first set to take a 1-0 lead and then outplayed them in the second to clinch the issue.
They break them thrice - first, fifth and seventh games - in the second set to race away with the match. The winners put up a sterling show at the net, stood like a wall and defended their post with elan.
Knowles hit a stunning forehand winner to earn a match point which got converted when Marach's attempted winner flew over the baseline.
Among the juniors, top seed Yuki Bhambri quelled a late challenge from Germany's Becker 6-1, 7-5 to reach the boys singles semi-finals.
The teen sensation had reached the semi-finals last year as well.
tralian Open on Thursday. ( Watch )
The third seed Indo-Bahamian pair proved too good for their unseeded Polish-Austrian opponents as it took them just 58 minutes to win the semi-final encounter.
However, the Indian fans' dream final between Paes and Bhupathi were thrashed, when fourth seeded pair of Leander Paes and Lukas Dlouhy were outplayed by the American second seed pair of Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan in the other semi-final match.
Bryan brothers took just 53 minutes to cruise into the final as they dispatched the Indo-Czech pair 6-3, 6-3 .
Bhupathi now has a chance to grab his fifth men's doubles Grand Slam title, first Australian Open title and 11th overall as he and his partner take on second seed Americans Bob and Mike Brayan in the final.
It's been a long time that he won a men's doubles title at a Grand Slam event. It was way back in 2002 that he annexed the title at the US Open with Max Mirnyi.
Bhupathi-Knowles broke their rivals once in the first set to take a 1-0 lead and then outplayed them in the second to clinch the issue.
They break them thrice - first, fifth and seventh games - in the second set to race away with the match. The winners put up a sterling show at the net, stood like a wall and defended their post with elan.
Knowles hit a stunning forehand winner to earn a match point which got converted when Marach's attempted winner flew over the baseline.
Among the juniors, top seed Yuki Bhambri quelled a late challenge from Germany's Becker 6-1, 7-5 to reach the boys singles semi-finals.
The teen sensation had reached the semi-finals last year as well.
Mktg - Too good a crisis to waste
Ramanujam Sridhar
What are the learnings for the country from the Satyam crisis? Can the Indian economy handle such crises in the future?.
A few weeks ago I was doing an appraisal of my career thus far, with an academic with a difference. He was not only a teacher but also my friend, philosopher and guide who had the admirable quality of not mincing his words. It always amazed me as tohow clients would pay him to get abused by him! However, he was not abusing me (this time at least).
“You have done reasonably well for yourself. You are an entrepreneur with a lot of freedom. You have written a book, you teach and have some good clients,” he said. Before I could start preening, he quickly brought me down to earth. “Yet there is a gap in your achievements,” he said, “you are not on the board of any companies other than your own.” I nodded in agreement. He was right, although he did not say that he was always right like the grandmother in the Asian Paints commercial! Yet, when I saw the fate of the directors of Satyam, I heaved an enormous sigh of relief that I was not on any company’s board. Let me quickly reassure you, dear reader, that this is not about my non-achievements as much as it is about what learnings we can get out of this financial carnage which is still unfolding in front of our very eyes!
Each day a new speculation or news item rocks us. As my favourite writer would say one’s imagination boggles at the scale and the deviousness of the operations! Yet, it is perhaps worthwhile to remember what the RBI Governor D. Subba Rao had to say to the employees of the bank: “Don’t waste this crisis. Learn from it.” And while my tryst with banking ended a small matter of 28 years ago I still believe that one should listen to good advice and that is really what I shall attempt to list here, the learnings for us as professionals, brands and businesses from this enormous crisis.
A brand is more than meets the eye
It is often said that appearances can be deceptive and indeed; they often are. My first impression of Ramalinga Raju was formed more than a decade ago. I was the Executive Director of a large advertising agency and he listened to my presentation on corporate branding patiently and politely. As my favourite author would say “he could not say boo to a goose”. And yet if he has done the things that he has done then appearances are truly deceptive. Then last year I went to Satyam’s Leadership Centre at Hyderabad to deliver the keynote address at the graduation ceremony of one of their batches and was completely impressed by the facilities, the people and the training imparted to managers. This leads me to the first learning. A brand can profess to be anything and even get away with it on occasion. But the key will have to be its basic DNA and the very reason for its being not merely the cosmetic things that one notices on the outside or what is projected. What is the essence of the Satyam brand? Were the people guiding its destiny aware of it?
Passion or conflict of interest?
If you look at successful companies they are passionate. Passionate about what they do, to the extent of boring their audience and the media! Apple and Steve Jobs are passionate about technology and what it can deliver and now when Jobs is ill, shareholders and analysts are getting the shivers. Amazon is passionate about customercentricity and it shows. Toyota is passionate about quality and profits also, it seems, if the current change in management is any indication. But this, to my mind, is one of Satyam’s main problems. Was it passionate about software services or was it more concerned about land and real estate? Of course, many of us are familiar with C. K. Prahalad’s theory of core competence. What was Satyam’s core competence and were the owners being tugged in different directions by conflicting interests? This leads me to a question that is easy to ask and difficult to answer … “How passionate are you about your brand and business?” Think about it.
Tough to build, easy to lose
I spent a lot of time on the Marina beach building sand castles. In those days there were no other places of entertainment. It was a slow process but extremely rewarding till some clown would come running to take a catch and knock it over. Needless to say, he would drop the ball! While it seems quite apparent to everyone that Satyam has dropped the ball, the bigger learning is that the entrepreneurs have quickly thrown away the efforts of over two decades in a mere fortnight. Brands take time and effort to build. In a sense a brand is like crystal, it is carefully crafted and shined painstakingly over the years by the owner and yet some insensitive person could send it crashing down. Sadly in this case it is the owner who is to blame for the current catastrophe. So what is the learning? A brand is an asset. It has the capability to be at least long-term if not timeless if properly managed. Who is managing your brand? Who is its champion? Is it being delegated to people who do not care or value it? Or is it under the custody of someone who is competent?
Talk is cheaper, action is key
While the troubled organisation has multiple challenges perhaps the biggest one concerns its employees facing uncertain futures. Technology companies are perhaps more dependent for their very survival on their teams and Satyam’s entire focus has to be on keeping the teams intact if such a task is possible. Clearly, there is a need for the company to talk constantly to its employees. Yet, I remember what one of the employees said: “We want action, not feel-good mails.” In a sense this reminds me of what retail does. They do not believe in the Intranet, or have fancy posters plastered over the walls but rely on the store manager who is the friend, philosopher and guide of every employee in the store. That is what Satyam needs.
Several empowered team leaders in development centres must take control of the problem — reassure, hold hands, lead and see this crisis through. In that rests the future revival of Satyam and hopefully they get a CEO soon though a new Board has already been reconstituted. Perhaps it might be worthwhile for Satyam’s team to follow the advice given to cricket teams that tour Australia: “Do not read the papers or watch TV”, and maybe we could add one additional instruction for Satyam’s employees: “Do not surf the Net, particularly job sites!” Yes, action-oriented leadership is the key to tide over the crisis.
New company, old thinking
In the Seventies and Eighties India had its fair share of companies which had a single-point agenda and that was the “maximisation of the promoter’s personal wealth.” Of course, promoters included the families of the promoter. So brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law held board positions, ancillaries were supplied by family members. They were fiefdoms. Then in the Eighties a new generation of companies was formed with no legacies of the past. They spoke about meritocracy and professional management. Some of them, such as Infosys, spoke and worked towards “maximisation of shareholder wealth.” Others, like Satyam, were only making the right noises despite it being run on shareholder money. The 3-per cent owner of stock was running the company to maximise the wealth of his immediate family jeopardising the interests of 97-per cent owners! Clearly a throwback to the deplorable past. So the question to be asked to other companies is: “How committed are you and your company to the maximisation of the shareholder? Are you really concerned about the poor retail investor or are you betraying his confidence? Now more than ever is the time for companies to ask basic questions, however searching they may be, and try to find honest answers lest it become too late.
I am reconciled to having the ambition of directorship remaining unfulfilled in my life. But I do know that several of my friends and acquaintances hold these positions that were coveted earlier. Please revisit these positions and if you must continue, I think it makes sense to review your compensations as clearly you cannot fly in and out of board meetings and need to do your homework which will certainly make a demand on your time. Yes, a crisis is all fine to talk about, read and even learn from, but I do hope the world and the Indian economy is spared any more in the near future at least. I am not sure we can handle any more!
(Ramanujam Sridhar is CEO, brand-comm, and the author of One Land, One Billion Minds.)
What are the learnings for the country from the Satyam crisis? Can the Indian economy handle such crises in the future?.
A few weeks ago I was doing an appraisal of my career thus far, with an academic with a difference. He was not only a teacher but also my friend, philosopher and guide who had the admirable quality of not mincing his words. It always amazed me as tohow clients would pay him to get abused by him! However, he was not abusing me (this time at least).
“You have done reasonably well for yourself. You are an entrepreneur with a lot of freedom. You have written a book, you teach and have some good clients,” he said. Before I could start preening, he quickly brought me down to earth. “Yet there is a gap in your achievements,” he said, “you are not on the board of any companies other than your own.” I nodded in agreement. He was right, although he did not say that he was always right like the grandmother in the Asian Paints commercial! Yet, when I saw the fate of the directors of Satyam, I heaved an enormous sigh of relief that I was not on any company’s board. Let me quickly reassure you, dear reader, that this is not about my non-achievements as much as it is about what learnings we can get out of this financial carnage which is still unfolding in front of our very eyes!
Each day a new speculation or news item rocks us. As my favourite writer would say one’s imagination boggles at the scale and the deviousness of the operations! Yet, it is perhaps worthwhile to remember what the RBI Governor D. Subba Rao had to say to the employees of the bank: “Don’t waste this crisis. Learn from it.” And while my tryst with banking ended a small matter of 28 years ago I still believe that one should listen to good advice and that is really what I shall attempt to list here, the learnings for us as professionals, brands and businesses from this enormous crisis.
A brand is more than meets the eye
It is often said that appearances can be deceptive and indeed; they often are. My first impression of Ramalinga Raju was formed more than a decade ago. I was the Executive Director of a large advertising agency and he listened to my presentation on corporate branding patiently and politely. As my favourite author would say “he could not say boo to a goose”. And yet if he has done the things that he has done then appearances are truly deceptive. Then last year I went to Satyam’s Leadership Centre at Hyderabad to deliver the keynote address at the graduation ceremony of one of their batches and was completely impressed by the facilities, the people and the training imparted to managers. This leads me to the first learning. A brand can profess to be anything and even get away with it on occasion. But the key will have to be its basic DNA and the very reason for its being not merely the cosmetic things that one notices on the outside or what is projected. What is the essence of the Satyam brand? Were the people guiding its destiny aware of it?
Passion or conflict of interest?
If you look at successful companies they are passionate. Passionate about what they do, to the extent of boring their audience and the media! Apple and Steve Jobs are passionate about technology and what it can deliver and now when Jobs is ill, shareholders and analysts are getting the shivers. Amazon is passionate about customercentricity and it shows. Toyota is passionate about quality and profits also, it seems, if the current change in management is any indication. But this, to my mind, is one of Satyam’s main problems. Was it passionate about software services or was it more concerned about land and real estate? Of course, many of us are familiar with C. K. Prahalad’s theory of core competence. What was Satyam’s core competence and were the owners being tugged in different directions by conflicting interests? This leads me to a question that is easy to ask and difficult to answer … “How passionate are you about your brand and business?” Think about it.
Tough to build, easy to lose
I spent a lot of time on the Marina beach building sand castles. In those days there were no other places of entertainment. It was a slow process but extremely rewarding till some clown would come running to take a catch and knock it over. Needless to say, he would drop the ball! While it seems quite apparent to everyone that Satyam has dropped the ball, the bigger learning is that the entrepreneurs have quickly thrown away the efforts of over two decades in a mere fortnight. Brands take time and effort to build. In a sense a brand is like crystal, it is carefully crafted and shined painstakingly over the years by the owner and yet some insensitive person could send it crashing down. Sadly in this case it is the owner who is to blame for the current catastrophe. So what is the learning? A brand is an asset. It has the capability to be at least long-term if not timeless if properly managed. Who is managing your brand? Who is its champion? Is it being delegated to people who do not care or value it? Or is it under the custody of someone who is competent?
Talk is cheaper, action is key
While the troubled organisation has multiple challenges perhaps the biggest one concerns its employees facing uncertain futures. Technology companies are perhaps more dependent for their very survival on their teams and Satyam’s entire focus has to be on keeping the teams intact if such a task is possible. Clearly, there is a need for the company to talk constantly to its employees. Yet, I remember what one of the employees said: “We want action, not feel-good mails.” In a sense this reminds me of what retail does. They do not believe in the Intranet, or have fancy posters plastered over the walls but rely on the store manager who is the friend, philosopher and guide of every employee in the store. That is what Satyam needs.
Several empowered team leaders in development centres must take control of the problem — reassure, hold hands, lead and see this crisis through. In that rests the future revival of Satyam and hopefully they get a CEO soon though a new Board has already been reconstituted. Perhaps it might be worthwhile for Satyam’s team to follow the advice given to cricket teams that tour Australia: “Do not read the papers or watch TV”, and maybe we could add one additional instruction for Satyam’s employees: “Do not surf the Net, particularly job sites!” Yes, action-oriented leadership is the key to tide over the crisis.
New company, old thinking
In the Seventies and Eighties India had its fair share of companies which had a single-point agenda and that was the “maximisation of the promoter’s personal wealth.” Of course, promoters included the families of the promoter. So brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law held board positions, ancillaries were supplied by family members. They were fiefdoms. Then in the Eighties a new generation of companies was formed with no legacies of the past. They spoke about meritocracy and professional management. Some of them, such as Infosys, spoke and worked towards “maximisation of shareholder wealth.” Others, like Satyam, were only making the right noises despite it being run on shareholder money. The 3-per cent owner of stock was running the company to maximise the wealth of his immediate family jeopardising the interests of 97-per cent owners! Clearly a throwback to the deplorable past. So the question to be asked to other companies is: “How committed are you and your company to the maximisation of the shareholder? Are you really concerned about the poor retail investor or are you betraying his confidence? Now more than ever is the time for companies to ask basic questions, however searching they may be, and try to find honest answers lest it become too late.
I am reconciled to having the ambition of directorship remaining unfulfilled in my life. But I do know that several of my friends and acquaintances hold these positions that were coveted earlier. Please revisit these positions and if you must continue, I think it makes sense to review your compensations as clearly you cannot fly in and out of board meetings and need to do your homework which will certainly make a demand on your time. Yes, a crisis is all fine to talk about, read and even learn from, but I do hope the world and the Indian economy is spared any more in the near future at least. I am not sure we can handle any more!
(Ramanujam Sridhar is CEO, brand-comm, and the author of One Land, One Billion Minds.)
Business - U.K. media — the reality behind all that jazz out of london
Hasan Suroor
Like the middle classes, that they mostly cater to, British newspapers are pretty good at keeping up appearances. So, we have ultra-glossy weekend supplements that run into hundreds of pages, an ever-expanding line-up of fat-cat columnists (never mind if what they write seldom rises above the level of Westminster Village chatter), and expensive design “revamps” every few months, the latest being a “new-look” Saturday Times. It follows a revamped Independent and The Independent on Sunday which, in turn, followed a revamped Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph. (Or was it the other way round?)
Looking at Britain’s leading newspapers you’d think they’re having a ball while everyone is moaning about recession and job losses. But, in effect, it is more like the apocryphal story of a broke nawab who famously wore specially — polished shoes to conceal their real condition: under those shining uppers there were no soles! The grim reality behind all that jazz — glossy supplements, star columnists and lavish revamps — is that British newspapers are in deep crisis with threat of closures and redundancies looming across the industry. And the bad news is that things are set to get worse with one leading media pundit — Roy Greenslade, professor of journalism at London’s City University — predicting the collapse of at least “one major newspaper company” this year.
Even before the current recession, the British newspaper industry — like its counterparts in mainland Europe and America — had been struggling mainly because of increased competition from the internet and television. Plunging revenues and readership forced newspapers to innovate and diversify into other media-related activities, including slick online editions, to recoup some of the losses and keep their brand visibility alive. The collapse of the economy, however, has made things more difficult and any hope they may have had of a recovery appears to have vanished.
Last week, the crisis claimed its first casualty as one of Britain’s oldest newspapers , beset with mounting losses, was sold to a Russian billionaire by its owners (the influential right-wing Mail Group of newspapers) for what was described as a “very nominal sum” of one pound.
The 181-year-old London Evening Standard, which was reported to be losing at least £10 million a year, is now the property of Alexander Lebedev, a former KGB agent, who says he “fell in love” with the paper when he was posted in London in the eighties as Economic Attaché in what was then the Soviet embassy. Mr. Lebedev, who made his fortune in the financial sector in the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union and co-owns the pro-democracy Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, has not ruled out further acquisitions in Britain amid speculation that he has the loss-making Independent and its sister publication Independent on Sunday in his sights.
Meanwhile, “substantial” redundancies are expected at the Standard with at least ten per cent of its staff likely to be laid off. Questions are being asked whether Mr. Lebedev is a “fit person to own an influential newspaper,” as The Guardian wondered, but the fact is that given the scale of its losses and the dire state of the industry there were no other takers for it. The alternative was worse: cl
Like the middle classes, that they mostly cater to, British newspapers are pretty good at keeping up appearances. So, we have ultra-glossy weekend supplements that run into hundreds of pages, an ever-expanding line-up of fat-cat columnists (never mind if what they write seldom rises above the level of Westminster Village chatter), and expensive design “revamps” every few months, the latest being a “new-look” Saturday Times. It follows a revamped Independent and The Independent on Sunday which, in turn, followed a revamped Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph. (Or was it the other way round?)
Looking at Britain’s leading newspapers you’d think they’re having a ball while everyone is moaning about recession and job losses. But, in effect, it is more like the apocryphal story of a broke nawab who famously wore specially — polished shoes to conceal their real condition: under those shining uppers there were no soles! The grim reality behind all that jazz — glossy supplements, star columnists and lavish revamps — is that British newspapers are in deep crisis with threat of closures and redundancies looming across the industry. And the bad news is that things are set to get worse with one leading media pundit — Roy Greenslade, professor of journalism at London’s City University — predicting the collapse of at least “one major newspaper company” this year.
Even before the current recession, the British newspaper industry — like its counterparts in mainland Europe and America — had been struggling mainly because of increased competition from the internet and television. Plunging revenues and readership forced newspapers to innovate and diversify into other media-related activities, including slick online editions, to recoup some of the losses and keep their brand visibility alive. The collapse of the economy, however, has made things more difficult and any hope they may have had of a recovery appears to have vanished.
Last week, the crisis claimed its first casualty as one of Britain’s oldest newspapers , beset with mounting losses, was sold to a Russian billionaire by its owners (the influential right-wing Mail Group of newspapers) for what was described as a “very nominal sum” of one pound.
The 181-year-old London Evening Standard, which was reported to be losing at least £10 million a year, is now the property of Alexander Lebedev, a former KGB agent, who says he “fell in love” with the paper when he was posted in London in the eighties as Economic Attaché in what was then the Soviet embassy. Mr. Lebedev, who made his fortune in the financial sector in the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union and co-owns the pro-democracy Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, has not ruled out further acquisitions in Britain amid speculation that he has the loss-making Independent and its sister publication Independent on Sunday in his sights.
Meanwhile, “substantial” redundancies are expected at the Standard with at least ten per cent of its staff likely to be laid off. Questions are being asked whether Mr. Lebedev is a “fit person to own an influential newspaper,” as The Guardian wondered, but the fact is that given the scale of its losses and the dire state of the industry there were no other takers for it. The alternative was worse: cl