No new taxes in Corpn budget

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VOL. XXXIII NO. 106
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H CHENNAI H MONDAY 23.3.2015 (EVENING) H OTHER STATIONS TUESDAY 24.3.2015 (MORNING) H 8 PAGES Rs. 4.00 H
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P
Tough day
ledging full protection to minorities, Home Minister
Rajnath Singh today questioned the practice of
conversions and advocated a debate on the need for an
anti-conversion law. He also wanted to know whether
people cannot be served without indulging in conversions.
There are sometimes rumours and controversies about
‘Ghar Wapsi’ and conversions. Why should there by any
conversion at all? We are only saying that there should be
an anti-conversion law. There should be debate over it. We
must think on bringing anti-conversion law. I humbly
request all of you to think over it,’ Rajnath Singh said.
Meanwhile, New Zealand great Martin Crowe today
praised Martin Guptill’s record-breaking World Cup
feats after helping the batsman reinvent himself late
in his career. Crowe, who is battling terminal cancer,
also tipped another of his proteges Ross Taylor to
come good for the Black Caps, who face South Africa
on Tuesday for a spot in the final.
It’s a courageous move to rebuild at 28,’ Crowe said.
Elsewhere, Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s founding father
who dominated the country’s politics for more than half
a century and transformed the former British colony
into a global trade and finance powerhouse, today died
aged 91. Lee, Singapore’s first Prime Minister, passed
away peacefully at the Singapore General Hospital, the
government said. He had been under intensive care
for pneumonia since early 5 February.
No new taxes in
Corpn budget
q City’s infrastructure to get boost
q DMK, Cong stage walkout from Council meet
The inside view of air-conditioned bus stop being set up at St Thomas
Mount in Chennai.
Photo: M SRINIVASAN
Worried police to keep
tab on WhatsApp groups
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 23:
Those using WhatsApp beware! Reports say that the city police is all set to
keep a tab on information exchanged
in all groups and those circulating
images and videos that defame
women may end up cooling
their heels in prison.
Much recently WhatsApp
assumed significance in
the social media networks
and is being widely used
by all. Reports of memes,
morphed images of actresses are doing the rounds and
many filed complaint in this regard.
Even the cadres of the DMDK filed
a complaint seeking to stop messages exchanged taking a dig at their
leader and popular actor Vijayakanth
through memes in Whatsapp groups
besides Twitter and Facebook.
A few days ago much recently, an
audio tape involving a senior police
officer and a woman constable
Lee Kuan Yew dead
Singapore, Mar 23 (PTI):
Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s founding
father who dominated the country’s
politics for more than half a century and
transformed the former British colony
into a global trade and finance powerhouse, today died aged 91.
Lee, Singapore’s first Prime Minister,
‘passed away peacefully at the Singapore General Hospital’, the government
said. He had been under intensive care
for pneumonia since early 5 February.
In an emotional televised address,
his son and current Prime Minister
Lee Hsien Loong paid tributes to him.
US president Barack Obama called
Lee a ‘true giant of history’ while UN
secretary-general Ban Ki-moon described him a ‘legendary figure in Asia’.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
tweeted: ‘A far-sighted statesman
&a lion among leaders, Mr Lee Kuan
Yew’s life teaches valuable lessons
to everyone. News of his demise is
saddening’.
(More on page 4)
spread like wildfire.
The woman, an Armed Reserve Police
constable, had recorded the voice of the
man, reportedly an assistant commissioner, making sexual advances.
Also a video of a transgender indulging in a wordy dual with a
traffic police spread fast.
Following a series of such
incidents, the police have
now jumped into action.
They will closely monitor
exchanges on Whatsapp,
especially pictures, videos and
audio messages involving women.
However a senior police officer said,
‘It has been proposed to monitor the
Whatsapp groups by the Central Crime
Branch only with a view to ensuring the
safety and diginity of women.’
It may be recalled that actress
Hansika, reacting to the morphed
images of her being circulated in
Whatsapp groups, said that posting
obscene and morphed photos of
women is worse than rape.
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 23:
As expected, no new taxes were
imposed in the Corporation budget,
which was tabled to the Council by
Mayor Saidai S Duraisamy today.
Delivering the budget address, the
Mayor said issues related to the public
were being looked into and the city’s
infrastructure will be given a boost.
‘Projects are under faster implementation during the present regime.
Chennai Corporation has implemented lot of welfare measures,’ he
said, while addressing Councillors at
the civic body’s headquarters, Ripon
Buildings.
‘Out of 419 proposals made, 219
had witnessed completion. About 165
welfare works are under the process
of completion’, he said.
He said the percentage of works
completed was 52.03, and percentage of jobs under the process of
implementation was 39.38. Speaking about road relay, he said about
16,057 projects were done from
25 October 2011 to till date. About
14,286 were tar roads and 1,771
were concrete roads, he said.
He further said they were registering
people’s grievances on computers
and subsequently taking redressal
measures. So far, they have taken
up 1,77,801 grievances through the
helpline 1913, and 1,73,970 issues
were resolved. The remaining are
being looked into.
CITY LIGHTS
Jaya asks cadres
to set up ‘thanneer
pandals’
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 23:
AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa today urged her party cadre to
start free distribution of drinking water
and buttermilk to help the people beat
the heat. She also
asked her party men to
ensure that the facilities
were hygienic.
‘A chance to serve
the people awaits us
this summer. I urge
our party brethren to
set up drinking water and buttermilk
stalls in their respective areas. This
should be done with no pomp or
fanfare, to help people quench their
thirst. AIADMK members should visit
the booth thrice a day to ensure that
the service is being done in a prompt
manner,’ she said.
CBI probe ordered
into death of
IAS officer Ravi
Chennai Mayor Saidai S Duraisamy presenting the Corporation budget.
Photo: A R JAYAKUMAR
He said proposals are there to
for students, women and general
establish 16 bio-toilets, 36 Namma
public are also being considered.
toilets and 64 E-toilets. The project toConstructing a convention centre at
tally aims to build 300 new toilets. He
Pallikaranai which can be put to
said about 13 new toilets are already
various uses including commercial
built and are in use. Work to construct
is also under consideration.
the rest of them is in progress.
Meanwhile, DMK and Congress
He reminded that proposals to
Councillors staged a walkout from
run Amma Vaara Santhais (weekly
the meeting. Speaking to reporters
markets) at various places to provide
later, DMK member Bose said a lot of
essential products at low costs is on
issues are yet to be taken up. Many
in all 200 wards of the civic body
of proposals made so far are yet to
Hostels and guest accommodation
witness completion.
Bengaluru, Mar 23:
Bowing to mounting public pressure,
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today decided to hand over to CBI the probe into
the mysterious death of an upright IAS
officer that had led to national outrage
and State-wide protests.
The Chief Minister made the announcement in the Assembly, saying
he was referring the case to CBI honouring the feelings of parents of officer D K Ravi and public sentiments.
I understand the feelings of Ravi’s parents.... We respect public sentiments..,’
Siddaramaiah said, adding, the government was keen that the truth should be
brought out and culprits punished.
He also asserted that the government never wanted to hush up the
case nor did it intend to protect anyone. ...We believe in people’s power.
We believe in respecting public
sentiments,’ said the Chief Minister
who was facing rising public anger
and growing clamour for a CBI probe.
Three more swine flu
cases in the city?
FARM, FORM
Leather products are being dried in an open ground (which was once a farmland) at Anakaputhur.
Photo: C SANTHOSH
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 23:
Three people in the city were reportedly tested positive for swine flu today
taking the toll to 521 across the State.
However, the officials at the Government Rajaji Hospital denied this by
saying only one person has been
tested positive on Monday. They also
admitted that another person who
had been tested positive, recovered
and was discharged today.
On Friday, two deaths and ten fresh
cases of the flu were reported in the
city. With tension building among the
public, health officials have begun orienting major private hospitals across
the State on protocols and guidelines
in dealing with H1N1.
The officials explain the Tamilnadu
Public Health Act,1939 which points
out treatment for certain diseases.
They further say that every doctor
has their own treatment plan, but
when it comes to such diseases they
are asked to follow the government
protocol.
It is also pointed out that there were
21 centres in India that conducted
test to check for swine flu, with 13
private centres and seven government centres in Tamilnadu for the
same purpose.
Apart from this, they have urged the
public to consult a doctor in case of
(any) fever and cold and avoid self
medication.
Officials also highlighted that Tamilnadu was the only State that has
already 50,000 vaccines in stock. He
also said that the people who deal
with infected patients like the doctors,
nurses, pharmacists were already
provided vaccines for free.
‘Seventh heaven’ or ‘third-time lucky’
q NZ, SA ready to enter the ‘unknown’ ahead of semifinal clash
Auckland, Mar 23 (PTI):
A pumped up New Zealand’s energy
will clash with the seemingly unmatched might of South Africa when
the two teams strive to shed the past
baggage of semifinal failures and seal
a historic place in the cricket
World Cup final, here tomorrow.
Both the teams are chasing history
for as neither hosts New Zealand nor
the Proteas have ever reached the
World Cup final.
The Kiwis have fallen at the semifinal stage six times in the past while
South Africa have made three exits
Head to head
6-2 South Africa’s head-to-head advantage over New Zealand since the
2011 World Cup, when they lost to them
b y
49 runs in Mirpur. Since then, New Zealand won
a three-match
series 2-1 in South Africa in 2013,
but South Africa
won two series in New Zealand - 3-0
in 2012, and
2-0 in 2014. South Africa have a 9-9
win-loss record
against New Zealand in New Zealand,
but have won
each of their last five ODIs there.
4 -2 New Zealand’s head-to-head
advantage in six
World Cup games between the two teams - they’ve won each of
the last three, in Mirpur in 2011, St George’s, Granada in 2007, and
Johannesburg in 2003.
from the same stage.
New Zealand were a dominant side
in the pool stage and the way they
annihilated the West Indies in the
quarterfinal, thanks to the batting pyrotechnics of Martin Guptill, the hosts
are bubbling with new-found energy.
They have looked unstoppable with
seven straight wins with every match
throwing up a new hero, the latest
being Guptill, who smashed his way
to history books with a scintillating
237 not out against the Caribbeans.
New Zealand have treated the rival
attacks with utter disdain so far but
Leave, please
As South Africa and New Zealand
geared up for the World Cup semifinal,
a mock letter went viral on social media
yesterday, using Black Caps skipper
Brendan McCullum’s signature, calling for leniency for workers who are
no-shows in the office tomorrow.
‘They may not be in the office but rest
assured they’ll be putting in the hard yards
at Eden Park, helping us get over the line
against South Africa,’ the letter, complete
with Black Caps letterhead, reads.
in the Proteas, they face the might of
Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, who
when in form can devastate any batting line-up in the world.
New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said past failures won’t matter
much since the two sides are playing
gloriously.
‘I don’t think there’s any baggage
with anyone. It’s a one-off game and
we are all desperate to be at the big
party and I’m sure we’ll both turn up.
Two sides are playing good cricket
and it’s going to be a heck of a show,’
he said.
2 MONDAY
23 MARCH 2015
City
SETTING IT
RIGHT
Centre
CHENNAI
Taste of waste
Tambaram Municipality to test new garbage disposal method
T
EB staff carry out repair work at a post at MGR Road in Nanganallur.
Photo: A R JAYAKUMAR
he adage, 'necessity is the
the day time but now they have
mother of invention', has been
are continuing in the nights. We
proved again, with the Tambaram
are forced to close windows at
Municipality, Chitlapakkam Pannight, thus our sleep is getting
chayat and Sembakkam Panchayat
disturbed without a proper venmulling the idea of disposing waste
tilation.'
using a scientific method. The VenAdding to it, Sarvamangala
gadamanglam Project which proposNagar Residents Welfare Assoes integrated scientific solid waste
ciation secretary Ravi said, 'My
management will be commissioned
wife worked with a school, which
within a couple of months, revealed
is located near the lake. She resources.
signed a few years back as she
The problem related to
was getting suffodumping of garbage
cated due to the
into and near water
constant burnM
bodies, especially
ing of garbage.
A
R
A
TAMB
Chitlapakkam lake
The strength
and Sembakkam lake,
of school has also de- Lakes in the neighbourhood will no longer face the threat of dumping
due to the steps taken by Tambaram Municipality.
seems to be edging close
creased significantly due to the
to a solution.
same issue. So far, the authoriin the month of June (tentatively) and
Residents of Chitlapakkam, RajaResidents in and around neighbourties have raised a compound wall in
would help finding a solution.
kilpakkam and East Tambaram are
ing areas are in the habit of dumping
an attempt to find a solution. But it
Further, Ravi, who aggressively
happy with the project, but sounded a
waste on the lakebed. Subsequently,
appears to be a never-ending issue'.
works to save water bodies, said
note of caution and said that a proper
it is being burnt, without taking into
He said State Minister and Tam'The Panchayat draws water from
drainage system will help in eliminataccount the ramifications.
baram MLA TKM Chinnayya has
Sembakkam lake and transports it
ing garbage-related problems here.
Further, the act of burning garbage
assured to resolve the issue with
in lorries. Instead, they can build an
About this, a resident said that there
is continued during nights, causing
the Vengadamangalam project. The
overhead tank here and residents
are times where sewage gets mixed
disturbance to residents here.
project was initiated by the Tamilnadu
can draw from the source. This will
with water in the lakes, thus causing
A resident, Kanthaswamy said,
government at a cost of Rs 100 crore.
not see a dip in the ground water
degradation.
It is said that the project will take off
'Previously, waste was burnt during
level'.
- NT Bureau
Lake cries for help
Litter dumped into Madipakkam water body
M
adipakkam lake was once the
cattle, say the residents of the area.
Says Thanikachalam, a longtime
pride of the neighbourhood.
But today it has lost all its charm. The
resident of Madipakkam, 'The discharge of sewage into the lake will
water body is badly maintained and
filled with garbage. The once
lead
to outbreak of dissprawling lake is shrunk today
eases. Instead of
thanks to rampant enrainwater, sewcroachments.
UR age is let into the
L
L
A
Dumping of garbage
lake'.
GAN
NAN
and plastic waste has
Ravichandran, a resident of Madipakkam, said, 'It was a
spoiled its beauty. The
ground water level in
the
pleasant sight to see the lake filled to
area has come down drast i the brim untill a few years ago. But
cally. The lake is now being used
today, it has gone dry.'
For Viswanathan, a resident of
for washing clothes and for bathing
Madipakkam, 'The authorities concerned should take steps to prevent
water in the lake getting contaminate'.
People should stop polluting the lake.
Awareness should be created on it.'
Sonal Kumari, a resident of Madipakkam said, 'Whenever I saw the
lake, I wanted to go for a swim or a
boat-ride. I thought that this place
would become a tourist attraction. It is
very sad to see the lake dying today.'
Efforts to contact the authorities
concerned went in vain.
- NT Bureau
Madipakkam lake that cries for attention.
05:00 PM Endrum Super
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JAYA TV
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Suvai
08:30 PM Romapuri Paandiyan
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07:00 PM Ramayanam
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08:00 PM Hits
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06:00 PM En Kanavan En Thozhan
06:00 PM Mundhanai Mudichu
09:30 PM Vani Rani
10:00 PM Kavidhaiyae Theriyuma
The water body is badly maintained and filled with
garbage. The once sprawling lake is shrunk today
thanks to rampant encroachments
10:30 PM Office
04:00 PM ICC Cricket World Cup
2015 H/ls : Quarter Final
3: Australia vs. Pakistan
05:00 PM ICC Cricket World Cup
2015 H/ls : Quarter Final
4: New Zealand vs. West
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06:00 PM ICC Cricket World Cup
2015 H/ls : Quarter Final
1: Sri Lanka vs. South
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09:00PM The Mindgame
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09:30PM Sports Week
09:30 PM ICC Cricket World Cup
2015 H/ls : The Countdown Show
10:00PM WWE Smackdown
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S
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05:55 PM Step Up
KADAVUL PAATHI
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MOVIES NOW
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KALAKATTAM
STAR MOVIES
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08:00PM French Ligue 1
2014/15 H/ls
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2015 H/ls : BNP Paribas Open
3
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1
5
1
1
9
8
9
6
2
1
6
1
6
9
8
9
8
The object is
to insert the
numbers in
the boxes to
satisfy only
one condition:
each row,
column and
3x3 box must
contain the
digits
1 through 9
exactly once:
Easy nah?
ANSWER TO
SUDOKU 3024
(22.3.2015)
9
2
3
7
1
6
5
2
4
3025
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2015 H/ls : Quarter Final
2: Bangladesh vs. India
04:00 PM Aandaal Azhagar
VETHU VETTU
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Sanya to Auckland
05:30 PM Vellithira
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IN THEATRES
TEN SPORTS
07:00PM Football League Show
04:00 PM Pudhu Paadal
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11:00 PM ICC Cricket World Cup
2015 H/ls : Quarter
Final 4: New Zealand
vs. West Indies
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10:30 PM Late Cut
03:00 PM ICC Cricket World Cup
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2: Bangladesh vs. India
05:00 PM S K Shoppe
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STAR SPORTS 1
1
4
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9
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2
9
6
8
4
1
9
5
8
6
6
7
4
9
1
2
2
1
5
8
3
4
7
3
2
8
3
9
4
1
6
3
8
4
5
7
7
6
1
5
9
2
7
6
3
4
2
1
9
5
8
8
1
2
6
7
5
3
4
9
1
3
4
2
9
7
5
8
6
Region
CHENNAI
Centre to help those with
multiple-disabilities
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 23:
To provide holistic rehabilitation
services to persons with disabilities especially Multiple Disabilities,
German Leprosy and TB Relief
Association India (GLRA India) has
partnered with National Institute for
Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities (NIEPMD) recently.
Speaking about the alarming rise
of multiple abled in India, CEO of
GLRA Germany, Burkard Koemm
said, ‘In India, owing to the rise in
the number of disabled people,
there is a growing need for many
more state- of-the-art institutions to
provide holistic rehabilitation services to enable people with disability
to live on their own. In what can
l The centre will cater to all types of persons with disability living in
the northern Chennai, especially the marginalised, underprivileged
like and people who live in slums. Among the disabled, the multipledisabled will be prioritised and served.
l More physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists,
psychologist and special educators are needed to deal with people
with disablities.
l According to 2011 census, in India the number of persons with disability increased by 22 per cent against those reported in 2001. India
accounts for 63 per cent of the global burden of disability-adjusted
life years (DALY) due to leprosy.
‘There is a severe disparity between the disabled and non-disabled in the public service access
including the rehabilitation service,
resulting in poor development of
the PWDs. The extension centre,
along with the Slum Clearance
Board brings NIEPMD’s holistic
rehabilitation services inside the
Chennai city and enables access
by more people living with multiple
disability for a sustainable future,’ said CEO of GLRA India
J Ravichandran.
What’s new at
Vandalur zoo
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 23:
Four female tiger cubs are the new
attraction at Arignar Anna Zoological
Park in Vandalur.
According to sources, the four
cubs were healthy and played with
each other, under the care of their
mother, 6-year-old white tigress
Akansha, in the moat inside their
special enclosure.
Akansha gave birth to the cubs
on 12 September last year and the
cubs were kept under the observation by the zoo veterinarians for the
past six months.
be called as inclusive community
development, a wider reach to the
multiple disabled living in the slums
is necessary.’
‘The slow progress in expanding opportunities for people with
disability in India results in substantial losses to the society
and economy (along with them)
in terms of under-developed human capital, loss of output from
productive persons with disability,’ said Director, NIEPMD Dr
Neeradha Chandramohan.
FLIGHT
OF FANCY
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 23:
The Grand Southern Trunk Road
(GST Road) at Tambaram is getting busier by the day. Despite the
efforts of the authorities to keep
mofussil buses away from the
arterial stretch, West Tambaram
is more often than not choc-ablock with traffic and pedestrian
movement.
It seems that better days are
ahead as the State Highways Department has
planned to construct
a skywalk
across
G r a n d
Southern
T r u n k
Road.
According to
sources, the skywalk will enable
people reaching
West Tambaram by
long distance and mofussil buses as well as
Metropolitan Transport
Corporation buses to
reach Tambaram Railway
station directly. The facility
will help commuters to get
past GST Road and also
facilitate free flow of traffic
Union S&T Minister to preside over SRM varsity convocation
Founder chancellor of SRM University T R Paarivendhar addressing mediapersons in Chennai
yesterday.
Pedestrians will have an easier time at GST Road in
West Tambaram once the skywalk comes up.
It must be said that despite the presence of a pedestrian subway, bus
commuters and people sought a pedestrian crossing closer to the West
Tambaram terminus. Subsequently,
the authorities created a gap in the
median and created a pedestrian
g
crossing with a signal some time ago.
Meanwhile, the
skywalk, which would
come up at an estimated cost of
Rs 12 crore, will have ramps and escalators on both sides, said sources.
What is a
skywalk?
Skywalk is a type of pedway consisting of an enclosed or covered
bridge between two structures
and protects pedestrians from
the weather.
According to residents in the Tambaram area since the facility will
connect both the Railway station and
MTC bus terminus and bays for State
Transport Corporation buses, it would
be helpful if
ticket counters are set up on the
skywalk..
Welcoming the plan, Rajesh Kumar,
a local resident said each time vehicles are stopped at the signal to allow
pedestrians walk across the road,
there is a traffic pile-up on the stretch.
Traffic is chaotic at that point, especially in the evenings when SETC and
TNSTC buses to various destinations
wait on the road and pedestrians run
helter-skelter. ‘The facility will hopefully reduce congestion and help in
better movement of vehicles.’
There have been calls to rid the
pedestrian subway of hawkers so
that pedestrians can walk freely and
residents want adequate lighting in
balam will organise Sri Sankara
ratha yathra on 24 March at 7 pm
from its premises.
A press release said, Regional
Meterological Centre (Nungambakkam), Director, Dr S R Ramanan will preside over the
function and flag off the
yathra.
Srimad, one of the
organisers said unc h a v r u t h i ,
g h o
pooja,ekadasa rudra
parayanam, aavahandi
homam and suvasini will
be performed on the day
between 8 am and 1 pm.
During the yatra at 7 pm,
the idols of Sri Sankara
and Sri Mahaperiyava will
be taken on procession
to various streets in West
Mambalam and Ashok
Nagar.
The trust can be reached
at 98415 07899.
FOB connecting East & West
Tambaram
A skywalk for benefit of pedestrians on the western side
the facility. Such a move could a long
way in reducing volume of pedestrians on GST Road near the bus stand
and Railway station. In this regard,
Janani, a resident of East Tambaram,
said if the skywalk becomes a reality,
people heading towards the western
side would be served better and there
would be less chaos at the pedestrian
crossing.
TASTE OF WASTE
gold medals for securing first rank. Noteworthy feature of this convocation is for
the first time as many as 46 students are
graduating with post graduate medical
degrees in MD, DM and MS.
About seven visually challenged
students are graduating from the
School of Teacher Education and Research with an M.Ed degree this time.
Paarivendhar said that Honorary
Degree of Science will be conferred on
ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar, University of California chancellor Pradeep
K Khosla and secretary to department
of science and technology (Government of India) Ashutosh Sharma.
Registrar of the university N Sethuraman was among others present.
Huge amount of garbage has been dumped at Sembakkam, with cattle feeding on it.
A ‘clean sweep’
in T Nagar
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 23:
A massive ‘Clean Chennai’ awareness programme and cleaning campaign was organised by Exnora
Greater Chennai and Nathella Jewellery in association with Corporation
of Chennai and Chennai City Police
at South Usman Road near T Nagar
bus terminus on Sunday. Members
environment-friendly messages were
carried around by Exnora volunteers
to draw the attention of residents and
passersby.
Corporation workers cleared the
entire South Usman Road by removing leftover garbage, debris etc and
made the area neat. It was decided
to sustain the activity with a mass
cleaning once in 15 days in various
Rama Navami fete
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 23:
Thambras, Thiruvanmiyur, will
organise a special function at Amarabarathy Kalyana Mandapam, West
Tank Street, Thiruvanmiyur, to mark
Sri Rama Navami festival on 28
March from 5 pm.
Followed by this, Nama
Samakeerthanam will also
be held. On the same
day monthly Thiruvathira
Abhishekam and chanting
of Mahanyasam, Rudram
will be held at Amarabarathy Kalyana Mandapam, West Tank Street,
Thiruvanmiyur.
For details contact: 04424412896
Ratha yathra
Jagadguru Sri Sankara
Bhagavath Padhal Panchami Seva Trust, 56/
B5, Postal Colony First
Street, West Mam-
What is
coming?
address at the fourth graduation day
of Rajalakshmi Institute of Technology held here recently.
Lucas TVS executive director Dr
N Ravichandan, who was the guest
of honour, emphasised the need for
discipline, determination and dedication to succeed in any activity more
so in education. According to a press
release, 273 students qualified to
become engineering graduates
Rajalakshmi Group of Institutions
chairperson Thangam Meganathan
delivered the presidential address.
ISRO chief to get
honorary doctorate
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 23:
The 10th convocation of SRM University here will be held tomororow
with Union Minister for Science and
Technology Harsh Vardhan participating as the chief guest. ISRO Chairman
A S Kiran Kumar will receive Honorary
Degree of Science at the event.
Speaking at a press meet here
yesterday, founder-chancellor of the
university T R Paarivendhar said over
14,000 students from faculties of engineering, science and technology,
science and humanities, medical and
health sciences receiving bachelor,
master and Ph.D degress.
About 165 students will be presented
3
Skywalk will facilitate
easier pedestrian movement
at West Tambaram
‘India on the verge
of a global makeover’
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 23:
Eminent scientist and founder of
BRAHMOS Aerospace Dr A Sivathanu Pillai has said that India is on
the verge of a global makeover and
there is no country where a qualified
and skilled Indian is not welcome.
‘Most global corporations like Microsoft, Apple, HCL, CISCO have realised that students from India are most
reliable and trustworthy which is the
hallmark of any good employee,’ he
said while delivering the convocation
MONDAY
23 MARCH 2015
Sri Annapurna
pooja
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 23:
Madras Kali Bari, Umapathy
Street Extension will organise Sri
Annapurna pooja on 27 March at
7 am in its premises. Sri Chandi
path will be held at 10 am followed by pushpanjali, bhog
arati, fruit prasad distribution.
Sri Annapurana homam will
be performed at 12.30 pm. For
details, contact 2483 7170.
About Bhakti
Yogam
Swami Buddhidananda will
give a discourse on Swami
Vivekanandarin. Bhakti Yogam
(Tamil) on 26 March at 5 30
pm at the Ramakrishna Math. For
details contact 24621110
Volunteers take part in the ‘Clean Chennai’ programme near T Nagar
bus terminus on Sunday.
of the Civic Exnora, elderly persons,
women and employees of Nathella
Jewellery employees in large numbers participated enthusiastically.
Corporation workers also took part
in the drive.
A press note said placards with
parts of Chennai.
Exnora Greater Chennai president
R Govindaraj, Exnora International
general secretary M Chidambaram
inaugurated the ‘Clean Chennai ‘ programme. Corporation Zone 10 AEE
Sampath was also present.
Fishermen arrest
may undermine
talks: CM
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 23:
Chief Minister O Paneerselvam
while terming as ‘shocking’ the arrest of 54 Tamilnadu fishermen by
Sri Lanka, wrote to Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, saying it could undermine the bilateral fishermen-level
talks to be held tomorrow between
the two countries.
Seeking Modi’s personal intervention for setting free the fishermen,
Panneerselvam said in a letter to him
that the talks would be meaningful
only if the fishermen and their boats
were released.
‘I wish to state that only when all the
fishermen in Sri Lankan custody and
their boats are released would the
talks be meaningful and conducted in
a conducive atmosphere,’ the Chief
Minister said.
Noting that the groundwork for
talks was complete and expectation
was high that the exercise could
lead to a breakthrough, he said the
arrest of the fishermen at such a
time in two separate incidents on
Saturday was most ‘disconcerting
and shocking.’
‘The steps taken to defuse the tense
situation in coastal districts and to create a conducive atmosphere for the
smooth conduct of bilateral fishermen
level talks could be undermined by
this action of the Sri Lankan authorities,’ he cautioned.
He said the incident ‘definitely
required’ Modi’s personal intervention, he said, ‘we exhort you to take
concrete and decisive action to
ensure the immediate release of the
54 apprehended fishermen and their
10 boats.’
Blend
4 MONDAY
23 MARCH 2015
WHAT
WH
AT NEWS
NEW
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TODA
TO
DAY
DA
Y PRINTS
PRIN
PR
INTS
IN
TS IS
IS NEWS
NEWS THAT
TTHA
HAT
HA
T COUNTS
COUN
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UN
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A
Good session
part from the Land Acquisition Bill, the government
accomplished a lot of its legislative work in the recently
recessed budget session of Parliament. Despite repeated attempts
by the Opposition to stall the proceedings in the two Houses, the
passage of important bills underlines the success of the government
in managing inherent contradictions on the Opposition benches. The
Insurance Bill, which seeks to raise foreign direct investment in the
sector from the existing 26 to 49 per cent, received the approval
of the two Houses without much difficulty. Notably, the Mines
and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill, and Coal Mines
(Special Provisions) Bill were passed on the last day of the session
before it adjourned for a monthlong recess on Friday. Though there
could have been no problem in the Lok Sabha, where the ruling NDA
Government enjoys a clear majority, the lack of numbers in the Rajya
Sabha could have posed problems in the Rajya Sabha.
Surprisingly, in spite of fears that the combined Opposition would
block official agenda, in the last days of the session, key bills had a
relatively smooth passage. Even the reference to the select committee
of a few bills did not prevent the government from ensuring that these
were passed in the session itself. Despite the resistance of Congress
members who did not want the select committee to go by the official
timeline, the Mines and Minerals Bill could pass muster in the Rajya
Sabha a day before it adjourned for the recess. These bills will allow
the government to allocate coal mines and other minerals as per the
Supreme Court verdict in the coal scam case through open auctions.
Also, contrary to the popular impression, the latest session of
Parliament has been one of the most productive in recent years.
As per the data prepared by the PRS Legislative Research, the Lok
Sabha registered a productivity of 121 per cent, despite frequent
disruptions and adjournments. Even the Rajya Sabha recorded the
highest productivity at 110 per cent. Question Hour in the Lok Sabha
went off smoothly for 88 per cent of the time, while the figure for
the Rajya Sabha was 98 per cent. The lowest productivity in the
last ten years was in 2010, when the Lok Sabha had worked for a
paltry six per cent of the time and the Rajya Sabha for two per cent.
That was the time when a resurgent Opposition, led by the BJP,
had sought to pin down the Congress-led UPA Government for its
various corruption scams.
Regardless of political differences, if the ruling and opposition
groups can evolve a close working relationship in the larger interests
of the people, much of the cynicism over the parliamentary system
of governance would stand dissipated. It is only when the Opposition
adopts a confrontationist attitude and the government retaliates with
intransigence that a needless logjam is created, causing people to
wonder about the efficacy of the governmental system. Now that
the Modi Government has had a successful parliamentary session,
it should reach out to the Opposition and seek a consensus on the
contentious changes in the Land Acquisition Bill.
Khushbu Sundar
@khushsundar
Any violence is not terrorism.
Clandestine violence against
innocent civilians to overawe
an elected government is terror.
What Pakis are.
Jump over d hurdles, climb d
terrain, swim against d currents..
let nothing stop u 2 win d game
of life..play wid honesty n
conviction..
Subramanian Swamy
@Swamy39
Blood test to
detect osteoarthritis
LONDON:
A simple blood test for the most
common form of arthritis that can
detect the condition several years
before the onset of physical symptoms may soon be available, UK
researchers say.
The research by the University
of Warwick identified a biomarker linked to osteoarthritis, the
most common form of arthritis,
and rheumatoid arthritis.
While there are established tests for rheumatoid arthritis
(RA), the newly identified biomarker
could lead to one which can diagnose both rheumatoid arthritis and
osteoarthritis (OA).
The research’s focus was citrullinated proteins (CPs), a biomarker
suspected to be present in blood of
people with early stage rheumatoid
arthritis.
It had previously been established
that patients with RA have antibodies
to CPs, but it was not thought that this
was the same for those with OA.
However, the Warwick researchers found for the first time
increased CPs levels in both
early-stage OA and RA. They
then produced an algorithm
of three biomarkers, CPs,
anti-CP antibodies along
with, the bone-derived substance,
hydroxyproline.
Using the algorithm the researchers
found that with a single test they could
potentially detect and discriminate
between the major types of arthritis at
the early stages, before joint damage
has occurred.
VOICE MAIL
Parking menace
Sir,
I have already submitted a grievance petition regarding the parking
of vehicles on both sides of Reddikupapam Road, especially in front
of Annmalayar Thirumana Maligai (now not used for marraige). At the
turning, there are cars, autos, mobile vendors and vans permanently
parked.
Only 10 feet is now available for the commuters though it originally has
a width of around 30 feet. I request the authorities to solve the issue and
provide adequate space for users.
R THANGAM, Mambalam
ADDRESS YOUR LETTERS TO :
The Editor, News Today, 85, Mount Road, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032.
or e-mail to : [email protected] / [email protected]
CHENNAI
Founder of modern
Singapore no more
World pays tribute to Lee Kuan Yew
L
ee Kuan Yew, the founding father and first Prime Minister of Singapore who transformed that tiny island
outpost into one of the wealthiest and least corrupt countries in Asia, died on Monday morning. He was
91. Several world leaders mourned his loss and send tributes to the grand master who reformed Singapore
and gave it a shape in the world map.
World leaders praised Lee Kuan Yew, who died Monday at the age of 91, as a visionary statesman whose
confidence and insight helped build Singapore into a prosperous and influential nation. Their tributes arrived
as Singapore declared a week of national mourning to mark the death of the city-state’s founding father.
Singapore’s former Prime
Minister Lee Kuan Yew
clicked on 2013
Factfile
Lee Kuan Yew was born on 16
September 1923 in Singapore
as a British subject.
1942-1945: Worked as
transcriber of Allied wire
reports under Japanese
occupation of Singapore.
Studied law at Cambridge
University, graduated with
double First Class Honours.
1949: Returned to Singapore
with firm belief in selfgovernance.
When the People’s Action
Party was formed in 1954,
he became its SecretaryGeneral.
He has been the head of
Singapore’s Government
since 1959, through three
general elections.
Yew had visited India three
times.
What made him
special?
Lee Kuan Yew, the first and longest serving
Prime Minister of Singapore, is credited with
transforming a tiny trading outpost into one
of Asia’s most prosperous societies
Lee was Prime Minister from 1959,
when Singapore gained full selfgovernment from the British, until
1990, when he stepped down. Late
into his life he remained the dominant
personality and driving force in what
he called a First World oasis in a Third
World region.
The nation, reflected the man: effi- Lee Kuan Yew addresses a
cient, unsentimental, incorrupt, inven- crowd in 1964.
tive, forward-looking and pragmatic.
His leadership was sometimes criticized for suppressing freedom, but
the formula succeeded. Singapore became an international business and
financial center admired for its efficiency and low level of corruption.
Since Singapore separated from Malaysia in 1965 - an event Lee called
his ‘moment of anguish’ - he had seen himself in a never-ending struggle to
overcome the nation’s lack of natural resources, a potentially hostile international environment and a volatile ethnic mix of Chinese, Malays and Indians.
Man behind
the mask
Lee Kuan Yew, who was sometimes
known by his English name, Harry
Lee, was born in Singapore on 16
September 1923, to a fourth-generation, middle-class Chinese family.
He worked as a translator and
engaged in black market trading
during the Japanese occupation in
World War II, then went to Britain,
where he earned a law degree in
1949 from Cambridge University.
In 1950 he married Kwa Geok
Choo, a fellow law student from
Singapore. She died in 2010.
After serving as prime minister
from 1959 to 1990, Lee was followed by two handpicked successors, Goh Chok Tong and Lee’s
eldest son, Lee Hsien Loong, who,
groomed for the job, has been
prime minister since 2004.
Besides the prime minister, Lee
is survived by his younger son,
Lee Hsien Yang, who is the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority
of Singapore; a daughter, Dr. Lee
Wei Ling, who runs the National
Neuroscience Institute; a younger
brother, Suan Yew; and a younger
sister, Monica.
His views of the world
Singapore’s founding father shared his opinions on everything from democracy and leadership to terrorism and his late wife. Lee Kuan Yew had a
strong opinion about most anything. As he once said, ‘I have been accused of many things in my life, but not even my worst enemy has ever accused
me of being afraid to speak my mind.’ Here’s a sampling of his other pronouncements over the decades:
The US
For the next two to three decades, America will remain the
sole superpower. The US is
the most militarily powerful and
economically dynamic country
in the world. It is the engine for
global growth through its innovation, productivity, and consumption. Today and for the next few
decades, it is the US that will be
preeminent in setting the rules of
the game.
What has made the US economy preeminent is its entrepreneurial culture - Entrepreneurs
and investors alike see risk and
failure as natural and necessary
for success. When they fail, they
pick themselves up and start
afresh.
On Singapore
We have created this out of nothingness, from 150 souls in a minor fishing
village into the biggest metropolis two
degrees north of the equator.
I have had to sing four national anthems: Britain’s ‘God Save the Queen’,
Japan’s ‘Kimigayo’, Malaysia’s ‘Negara
Ku’, and finally Singapore’s ‘Majulah
Singapura’; such were the political
upheavals of the last 60 years.
One arm of my strategy was to make
Lee Kuan Yew in 1969, a decade
into his tenure as Prime Minister Singapore into an oasis in Southeast
Asia, for if we had First World standof Singapore.
ards, then businessmen and tourists
would make us a base for their business and tours of the region. To succeed,
Singapore must be a cosmopolitan center, able to attract, retain, and absorb
talent from all over the world. Singapore is now a brand name.
My greatest satisfaction comes from - mustering the will to make this
place meritocratic, corruption-free and equal for all races and that it will
endure beyond me.
Leadership
Democracy
One person, one vote is a most difficult
form of government. From time to time,
the results can be erratic. People are
sometimes fickle. They get bored with
stable, steady improvements in life, and in
a reckless moment, they vote for a change
for change’s sake.
In new countries, democracy has
Chennai artist
worked and produced results only when
AP Sreethar pays
there is an honest and effective govtribute to Lee Kuan
ernment, which means a people smart
Yew through his work
enough to elect such a government.
‘Merlion -The symbol
Elected governments are only as good
of Singapore’.
as the people who choose them.
Contrary to what American political commentators say, I do not
believe that democracy necessarily leads to development. I believe that what a country needs to develop is discipline more than
democracy. The exuberance of democracy leads to undisciplined
and disorderly conditions which are inimical to development.
The weakness of democracy is that the assumption that all
men are equal and capable of equal contribution to the common
good is flawed.
I was never a prisoner of any theory.
What guided me were reason and reality.
The acid test I applied to every theory or
scheme was: Would it work?
The acid test is in performance, not
promises. It is not from weakness that
one commands respect. As long as the
leaders take care of their people, they will
obey the leaders.
Terrorism
Militant Islam feeds upon the insecurities and alienation that globalization
generates among the less successful.
And because globalization is largely
U.S.-led and driven, militant Islam identifies America and Americans as the
threat to Islam. That America steadfastly supports Israel aggravates their
sense of threat. The war against terrorism will be long and arduous.
On his wife,
life and death
She’s gone. All that is left behind
are her ashes. I will be gone and
all that will be left behind will be
ashes. For reasons of sentiment,
well, put them together. But to
meet in afterlife? Too good to
be true.
There is an end to everything
and I want mine to come as quickly and painlessly as possible, not
with me incapacitated, half in
coma in bed and with a tube going into my nostrils and down to
my stomach. In such cases, one
is little more than a body.
Do not intervene to save life.
Let me go naturally. I am not
given to making sense out of life,
or coming up with some grand
narrative of it. I have done what I
had wanted to, to the best of my
ability. I am satisfied.
China
China’s history of over 4,000
years was one of dynastic rulers,
interspersed with anarchy, foreign
conquerors, warlords and dictators. The Chinese people had
never experienced a government
based on counting heads instead
of chopping off heads. Any revolution toward representative government would be gradual.
China’s neighbors are unconvinced by China’s ritual phrases
that all countries big and small
are equal or that China will never
seek hegemony.
If the US tries to thwart China’s
growth, China will surely want
to return the compliment when
it can do so.
Windows 10 to change things
Makes other operating platforms unusable
BEJING:
Windows 10 makes Secure Boot
mandatory Microsoft unveiled new
information about Windows 10 at its
WinHEC conference in China, and
the news is deeply concerning to
anyone who values the ability to run
non-Microsoft operating systems on
their own hardware. Like Windows 8,
Windows 10 will ship with support for
the UEFI Secure Boot standard- but
this time, the off switch (previously
mandatory) is now optional.
Let’s back up and review what Secure Boot is. As the name implies,
Secure Boot is a security measure
that’s meant to protect PCs from certain types of malware that are typically
loaded before the OS boot process
has begun. With Secure Boot active,
the UEFI checks the cryptographic
signature of any program that it’s told
to load, including the OS bootloader.
The image above shows the conventional boot process compared with the
Secure Boot process. There’s nothing
intrinsically wrong with Secure Boot,
and multiple Linux distros support the
capability.
The problem is, Microsoft mandates
that Secure Boot ships enabled. This
caused panic in the open source
community back in 2011, since the
firmware is configured with a list of
signed, acceptable keys when the
user receives the system. If an alternative OS bootloader isn’t signed with
an appropriate key on a Secure Bootenabled system, the UEFI will refuse
to boot the drive.
Microsoft defused the situation back
then by mandating that all x86 systems ship with the ability to disable
Secure Boot, and by partnering with
VeriSign to create a method of signing third-party binaries in exchange
for a $99 fee. With Windows 10, the
situation is changing.OEMs are still
required to ship Secure Boot, but the
previously mandatory disable switch
is now optional, as Ars Technica reports. With Windows 8, MS had split
the feature by CPU architecture - x86
chips had to offer a disable switch, but
ARM chips didn’t.
Enterprise
CHENNAI
Bharti Airtel
partners Amazon
for cloud services
New Delhi, Mar 23 (PTI):
Telecom major Bharti Airtel on
Sunday announced partnership with
Amazon Web Services to offer its
cloud computing services to customers in India.
‘In line with this market adoption,
we are excited to strengthen Airtel’s
cloud services portfolio by adding
Amazon Web Services to our growing list of cloud services providers.
We are confident that this will help
our global customers truly leverage
the benefits of cloud’, Bharti Airtel’s
Global Business CEO Ajay Chitkara
said in a statement.
Cloud computing services offer software and other facility on pay as per
use basis without customers requiring
to buy entire product.
Amazon Web Services offers facility like website hosting, data storage
and other softwares required to run
or manage businesses.
An Airtel official explained that
under this partnership customer will
get commitment from the company
on dedicated connection between
their premise and AWS data centres
--the facility which was not available
earlier.
SEBI to tap social media
Plans crowdsourcing & start-up norms
New Delhi, Mar 23 (PTI):
Tasked with greater powers and
gearing up for a larger role, markets
regulator Securities and Exchange
Board of India (SEBI) on Sunday said
it is framing new norms to help young
entrepreneurs raise funds through
crowdsourcing and listing of start-ups,
while it plans to tap social media in a
big way to help investors.
Besides, the regulator would further
streamline its enforcement process
to ensure uniformity in its approach
and improve the efficiency of its enforcement proceedings across the
organisation.
The initiatives lined up for the next
fiscal also include an ‘extensive
and integrated use of technology to
facilitate and further ease the investing process in the securities markets
through measures like e-IPO and
Aadhar-based e-KYC’.
SEBI said it would take proactive
steps to meet the ‘aspirations of
young entrepreneurs and cater to
the financing and listing needs of
These are part of SEBI’s proposed policy
initiatives in the next fiscal 2015-16, which
were approved by the regulator’s board on
Sunday along with its budget for the year
start-ups with measures
like Institutional Trading
Platform (ITP), crowdfunding etc or a separate
carve out for them in the
ICDR (Issue of Capital
and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations’.
SEBI would also enhance significantly its investor education and awareness efforts through
collaboration with other agencies
and through empanelment of more
Resource Persons and would tap
the increasing stature of social media
for enhancing investor awareness an
education, the regulator said.
It would also enhance the experience and interface of investors and
India says ‘NO’ at WTO
Opposes US food security proposal
Geneva, Mar 23 (PTI):
India and other members of the
G-33 grouping have opposed a new
US proposal for a permanent solution
to the factious issue of food stockholding for food security in developing countries at the second informal
meeting at the WTO this year.
India said the US proposal may
result in an outcome where countries
are advised as to what kind of food
security programmes they should
adopt, which is not part of the existing
mandate.
In trying to address the food security
issue vis-a- vis the proposal, one of
the outcomes could be a decision
on public stockholding whereas the
mandate is the other way round, India
argued. The G-33 countries - led by
India said the US proposal may result in
an outcome where countries are advised
as to what kind of food security
programmes they should adopt, which
is not part of the existing mandate
India and including China and the
Philippines - want public stockholding
for food security purposes to come
under the ‘Green Box’ - subsidies that
cause no or minimum trade distortion.
The G-33 debated the US proposal
on Friday’s second dedicated session
this year on the issue at the Genevabased World Trade Organisation
(WTO). The proposal was among
many others to clinch a deal.
HDFC Bank MD in
best global CEOs list
Mumbai, Mar 23 (PTI):
HDFC Bank managing director Aditya Puri has featured in the list of 30
best CEOs, published by America’s
financial magazine Barron’s.
‘Of the 30 CEOs in our original
feature, seven have
kept their jobs and
only two remain on
our list -- Warren
Buffett of Berkshire
Hathaway and Michael O’Leary of
Ryanair Holdings’, Barron’s said in
its 11th edition of annual best CEOs,
2015.
This year seven other CEOs have
been added to the list are: Robert
Iger of Walt Disney, Joseph Jimenez
at Novartis, Macy’sTerry Lundgren,
Sergio Marchionne at Fiat Chrysler
Automobiles, Larry Merlo at CVS
Health, Kevin Plank at Under Armour
and Aditya Puri, managing director of
HDFC Bank.
Barron’s said Apple’s Steve Jobs
would surely have stayed on the list,
if he were still alive. Jobs made the
original list and remained there each
year until
his death in 2011.
Jobs’ successor Tim Cook
has joined
the group this
year.
All the 30 CEOs
hail from all parts of
the globe. While 20 of them are from
the companies based in US, five are
from Europe, and as many are Asian,
it said.
‘While we don’t have a precise
formula for constructing the list -- it
reflects the collective wisdom of our
editors and writers -- we target CEOs
with at least five years under their
belt’, Barron’s said.
The proposal comprises three main
elements - reviewing efficacy and
trade effects of existing food security
programmes and the extent to which
they meet their goals; evaluating the
real and potential problems encountered in implementing food security
programmes because of constraints
in the existing WTO rules; and drawing from the best practices and recommendations on food stockholding.
Govt’s fillip to
khadi industry
New Delhi, Mar 23 (PTI):
Government on Sunday said it will
set up 800 SFURTI clusters with an
investment of Rs 850 crore by March
2017 to boost khadi and village industries.
‘Modernisation of Khadi and village industries is the key to increase
more number of job opportunities
at the rural and grass root level
without affecting the environment’,
MSME Minister Kalraj Mishra said at
a workshop organised by the Khadi
and Village Industries Commission
(KVIC) here.
Mishra said that during the 12th Five
year plan (2012-17), 800 SFURTI
clusters will be set up which will a
great boost to the khadi and village
industries.
The Ministry of Small and Medium
Enterprises (MSME) had launched
the Scheme of Fund for Regeneration
of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) in
the year 2005 with a view to promote
cluster development.
MFs now on mobile
Investors can transact via apps
New Delhi, Mar 23 (PTI):
To attract retail investors, mutual fund houses
are tapping social media
platforms like WhatsApp
and a host of other calling
and messaging apps to
facilitate transactions in MF
products.
These new facilities will
help investors in buying or
selling mutual fund (MF)
products in a simpler and
faster manner, experts
said.
Mutual fund houses
that have adopted digital
modes such as Internet
and mobiles for increasing
distribution of MF products
include Axis MF, Reliance
MONDAY
23 MARCH 2015
MF, UTI MF, L&T MF,
Quantum MF and ICICI
Prudential MF. Besides,
several fund houses are allowing customers to invest,
redeem and switch funds
using their mobile phones
and a host of mutual funds
are gearing up to adopt
digital technology to tap
investors.
Quantum MF is offering WhatsApp facility to
either transact or see mu-
tual fund portfolios. L&T
MF has introduced a new
service--Goinvest--where
customers can track their
investments on Facebook.
Besides, Axis MF’s Easy
Services that includes
EasyCall, EasySms,
EasyApp provide customers an option to invest in
MF schemes through an
SMS, using a dedicated
application or by calling
up on a designated mobile
number.
‘Digitalisation adds a lot
of convenience and comfort for investors in today’s
world. With the increase
in the internet reach and
number of smartphones,
Sri Lanka to revive trade pact with India?
Colombo, Mar 23 (PTI):
In a surprise move, the new Sri Lankan
government is bringing back the longpending CEPA with India to the negotiating table after Prime Minister
Narendra Modi’s ‘gentle persuasion’,
a media report said on Sunday.
The Sri Lankan government’s move
comes despite President Maithripala
Sirisena’s assurance to entrepreneurs at
a recent meeting of Chamber of Young
Lankan Entrepreneurs that he will not go
ahead with the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
(CEPA) or any agreement that
is detrimental to the domestic
industry.
Sirisena had
earlier said he deliberately
dodged a move to include
CEPA on the agenda during his India tour
in February, his first foreign visit after taking charge as President.
digitalisation will always
be preferred by investors’.
Quantum AMC headCustomer Delight Harshad
Chetanwala said.
‘MF houses have been
focusing on the online platform for the investors to
transact. The idea is to
keep it as simple as possible for the investor to invest
with the AMCs’, he added.
At present, many fund
houses are offering facility
for online investment, but
industry insiders say that
there is a need to promote
and make it more user
friendly for investors by
improving the infrastructure
and efficiencies.
NAME CHANGE
I, JOB REGINALD, S/o
Devaraj, born on 10-051952, (native district:
Trichy), residing at
No.5/7, 2nd Street, Sri
Ram Nagar, Ramapuram.
Chennai-600 089, , shall
henceforth be known as
JOB DEVARAJ.
JOB REGINALD
other stakeholders through
upgradation of SEBI website.
These are part of SEBI’s
proposed policy initiatives
in the next fiscal 2015-16,
which were approved by the
regulator’s board on Sunday
along with its budget for the
year.
SEBI is working on a new roadmap
to attract larger number of retail
investors towards capital markets,
develop a vibrant bond market and
create a unified regulatory regime for
all segments of derivatives, including
commodities.
This assumes significance in the
backdrop of government setting an
ambitious $10 billion disinvestment
target for the next fiscal, beginning
next month, with plans to give a larger
pie of shares in state-run companies
to the public shareholders rather than
largely depending on institutions,
including from overseas and within
the country.
The new roadmap, to be framed
in consultation with the government
and other stakeholders, follows
proposals made by Finance Minister
Arun Jaitley in the Union Budget,
including those about the merger of
commodities market regulator FMC
(Forward Markets Commission) with
the SEBI to create a unified markets
regulator. Besides, Finance Bill 2015
has also proposed ‘securities’ to be
taken out of the regulatory ambit of
banking regulator RBI and the move
is being seen in line with an overall
thinking that SEBI should be made
the comprehensive regulator for all
kinds of securities without any regulatory overlaps.
Rajan wants independent
agency for govt debt
New Delhi, Mar 23 (PTI): ment and the RBI. Rajan said that
As a new agency takes shape for the ‘precise time, nature of retaking over public debt management sources it uses, how it works with
role from RBI, Governor Raghuram the central bank and government,
Rajan on Sunday favoured keeping these are all details that a panel is
working to fill it out’.
this entity independent of
the government as well as
‘These are things
the central bank to ensure
which are to be deterfiscal discipline.
mined. So I think as a
concept and enabling
‘Public Debt Managethat concept is a very
ment Agency as a proworthwhile move’.
fessional organisation,
independent of the cenThe government’s
tral bank and governnet borrowing through
ment, ... is something
long term bonds were
that is desirable’, he said
pegged at Rs 4.53
here.
Raghuram Rajan lakh crore in current
Speaking to media after Finance fiscal.
Minister Arun Jaitley’s post-Budget
For 2015-16, the budgeted target
address to the RBI board, Rajan for borrowing in current fiscal was
said such a structure ‘puts some Rs six lakh crore, but the governdiscipline on the government debt ment will raise only Rs 5.92 lakh
process and also frees regulation crore from the markets.
of the need to create some sort of
The Budget 2015-16 has profinancial impression’.
posed setting up of PDMA with the
Public debt management currently objective of minimising the cost of
comes under the purview of the raising and servicing public debt
Reserve Bank of India (RBI), while over the long term within an acthere have been reports that the RBI ceptable level of risk at all times,
was not happy with the proposal to under the general superintendstrip it off powers to manage the ence of the Central government.
public debt.
As per the proposal made in the
Jaitley, however, scotched these Budget, the new agency will have
murmurs and said there was no a CEO and members from the
‘disconnect’ between the govern- government and RBI.
5
AirAsia CEO
criticises domestic
5/20 rule
Hyderabad, Mar 23 (PTI):
AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes on
Saturday criticised the ‘5/20 rule’
in India that mandates a domestic
carrier to be five-year-old and have
a fleet of 20 aircraft being allowed to
fly on international routes.
Fernandes said that he has not
seen such a rule anywhere else in
the world.
‘It (the rule) would mean less economic activity as aviation has been
a key growth generator for other
countries like Singapore and Dubai’.
He said Indian aviation sector needs
much more investment and more
entrants.
‘Airlines have been inefficient in
India but I don’t think we should be
punished for 2-3 airlines making
losses. World over aviation profits
are on a high’.
Without referring to some domestic
airlines who are opposing the 5/20
restriction being lifted, Fernandes
said, ‘AirASia will fight those who try
to protect the status quo by lobbying
for antiquated rules. Indian people
must be put first before those who just
lobby to protect their own bottom line
as opposed to competing’.
‘Air Asia is all about daring to dream
and our dream is to further elevate
Indian aviation by introducing lower
fares, providing more choice and
creating jobs’, Fernandes added.
‘Country’s economy
likely to grow 8%’
Mumbai, Mar 23 (PTI):
The country’s economy is likely to
clock eight per cent growth in the
next financial year and 8.3 per cent
in 2016-17, says a report.
‘India is the only BRIC country,
where growth will accelerate, to eight
per cent in FY16 and 8.3 per cent in
FY17, based on revised data series’,
Fitch said in its report on Global Economic Outlook.
The forecast has been made taking
in reference the revised GDP data
series.
The agency’s earlier forecasts were
6.5 per cent for 2015-16 and 6.8 per
cent for 2016-17, based on the old
series. The Central Statistical Office
(CS0) has recently changed the base
year for calculation of GDP to 201112 from 2004-05 earlier.
This has resulted in an increase in
the official real GDP growth number
for FY14 to 6.9 per cent (at market
prices) from 4.7 per cent (at factor
costs). The CSO estimates the country’s real GDP growth at 7.4 per cent
in the current financial year.
Recently, International Monetary
Fund Managing Director Christine
Lagarde had said the country’s
economy is likely grow at 7.2 per cent
in FY15 and will exceed combined
total of Japan and Germany by 2019.
6 MONDAY
23 MARCH 2015
Sports
CHENNAI
Now or never for NZ, SA
q 2011 stoush is history: McCullum
McCullum
Auckland, Mar 23:
The ugly confrontation that marred New
Zealand and South Africa’s 2011 World
Cup quarter-final is unlikely to be repeated
in Tuesday’s clash at Eden Park because
the teams have ‘grown up’, New Zealand
captain Brendon McCullum believes.
The World Cup co-hosts play South Africa in the first semi-final in Auckland
on Tuesday, with the winner
advancing to their first final.
In the 2011 quarter-final at Dhaka, a verbal
altercation between
players from both
teams escalated to
an angry shoving
match before New
Zealand secured a
49-run victory.
‘We obviously had
a bit of a stoush (al-
tercation) with them four years
ago,’ McCullum, who played in that
game, told reporters at Eden Park on
Monday.
‘I think both teams have grown up immensely in that time and we’re different
teams and play the game in a different
spirit.
‘Verbals are not how we want to play
the game.
‘Other teams like that sort of thing but
for us we’re not good enough to have that
as our focus.
‘We have to make sure that we’re respectful of the game and go about our
work.’
McCullum’s side have gone through the
tournament unbeaten and have a strong
record against the Proteas in World Cup
matches, having won four of their six
games at the global showpiece, including
the last three in succession.
B’desh Sports Minister
joins ‘no-ball’ issue
Says country will win next World Cup
tain Shakib Al Hasan
Dhaka, Mar 23:
hails from.
Bangladesh Sports MinisJournalists had
ter Biren Sikder on Sunsought his reday said his country will
action to the
win the next cricket
outcome of
World Cup.
the quarterHe blamed ‘umpirfinal match
ing bias’ for the exit
against
of the Tigers from
defending
the quarter-finals of
champions
the 2015 World Cup
India.
at the hands of India
Cricket fans
on Thursday, reports
Biren Sikder
in Bangladesh
bdnews24.com.
have been protestHe made the remark at a
ing against alleged
college function in his constituumpiring errors in the
ency in Magura, the place vice-cap-
Moshin in running for
Pak chief selector post
Karachi, Mar 23 (PTI):
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)
has narrowed down its search for a
new chief selector to three former Test
players, Iqbal Qasim, Mohsin Hasan
Khan and Wasim Bari.
Reliable sources said that PCB has
conveyed to the sitting chief selector
Moin Khan that he would be released
from his position following the conclusion of the World Cup.
‘The search is now on for a new chief
selector and new selectors and so
far former Test spinner, Iqbal Qasim,
former Test captain, Wasim Bari and
former Test opener, Mohsin Khan are
the leading candidates,’ a source said.
A l l three have remained chief selectors in the past while
Mohsin has also
coached the national team in
2011/12.
The source
said that PCB
chairman Shaharyar Khan
would soon be
deliberating with the
Board of Governors to decide who
should be the new chief selector.
‘Shaharyar is satisfied that one of
these three former players should be
appointed chief selector,’ the source
said.
According to another source, Qasim
could also be given the responsibility
of heading the domestic cricket department.
Former Test captain Moin Khan has
remained underground since being
called back home from the World Cup
by the PCB for visiting a Casino in
Christchurch the night before the World
Cup game against West Indies.
The source said that when Moin met
with Shaharyar after returning to Pakistan he was told in clear terms that
his tenure as chief selector was over
and he would be informed of future
assignments.
Till recently Moin was holding dual
responsibility of the national team
manager and chief selector on a lucrative contract.
The source said the board would soon
be calling its governing board meeting to discuss the performance of the
national team in the World Cup and to
take decisions for the future.
Sohaib Maqsood and Fawad Alam
are also in line to be appointed as
captain of the one-day side.
match.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, too,
has said Bangladesh were made to
lose the match.
Sikder said Bangladesh would
complain to the International Cricket
Council (ICC) against what is being
perceived as flawed umpiring decisions.
‘There was bad umpiring, extreme
injustice,’ he said.
He urged cricketers to reply to this
‘injustice’ by winning the next World
Cup.
‘We want to show the world through
hard work that we can make history
as a strong team,’ Sikder said.
Suarez stunner hands
Barca win in ‘El Clasico’
Suarez
Barcelona, Mar 23 (AFP):
Barcelona moved four points clear at
the top of La Liga as Luis Suarez’s brilliant individual effort handed them a 2-1
win over Real Madrid. Jeremy Mathieu
headed Barca in front early on from Lionel
Messi’s free-kick, but Cristiano Ronaldo
hit back at his critics in recent weeks with
a deserved equaliser before the break.
Suarez was to have the final say, though,
as he registered his first goal in El Clasico
by controlling Dani Alves’s long ball before
turning to strike into the far corner. A third
defeat in four games for Madrid will see
coach Carlo Ancelotti come under increasing pressure to hold onto his job, but he
insisted he had been encouraged by his
side’s performance for the first hour.‘We
played a lot better until the second goal.
After that it was very difficult,’ said the Italian. ‘In the first-half we played very well,
we had control, were dangerous up front
and solid at the back. We lacked a bit of a
cool head to try and equalise rather than
playing long balls.’
q Players up for it, says AB
feelings are when we get to the
ground. You normally get an indication during the warmup.
‘It’s pretty easy to pick up when
you have spent a few years with the
guys. I know each player individually
pretty well.
‘I know what makes them
tick and what irritates them,
too. Sometimes it’s important to irritate them to get the
best out of them.
‘It’s really about just reading the situation and trust
your gut. But I don’t think I
will need to trust my gut too
AB de Villiers much tomorrow because the
guys are up for it.’
South Africa lost two of their
pool games, including a 29-run
defeat by Pakistan at Eden
Park.
Auckland, Mar 23:
South Africa captain AB de Villiers doubts he will need to
say too much to motivate
his team mates for their
cricket World Cup semifinal against New Zealand as he feels they are
already in a ‘good space’.
South Africa enter Tuesday’s clash at Eden Park
slight favourites after demolishing Sri Lanka by nine
wickets, their first World Cup
knockout win since their reintegration after apartheid.
‘I know the guys are up for it
... I feel the team is in a really
good space at a really good
time,’ de Villiers told reporters
at Eden Park on Monday.
‘I will have a look at how the
City Sports
Ashwath takes
top prize
The winner R
Ashwath receiving
the trophy from WIM Pon N
Krithikha. Organising secretary
V Ravichandran and Sathyabama
University physical director Ravikumar are
among those present.
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 23:
R Ashwath of Chennai won the
Sathyabama-Kanchi Open Chess
Championship for Tamilnadu players held at Sathyabama University here, with 8.5 points from nine
rounds and bagged Rs
7000 along with trophy.
Four players - S Prasanna of Velmmal, P
Lokesh of Anna University, Syed Anwar
Shazuli of ICF, Ram S
Krishnan of BSNL, IM
R Balasubramaniam of
Kanchi scored eight points each
and finished second to sixth respectively after the tie-break.
K Vekatsundaram of Kanchi, P
Balakannamma of MOP Vaishnav
College, R K Ranjith of Ford, WFM
P Uthra of Anna University and
Anand Subramaniam of Chennai
scored 7.5 points each and bagged
seventh to 11th prizes.
Women International Master
Pon N Krithikha was
the chief guest and
distributed prizes to
the winners.
This event was organized by Mount
Chess Academy
under the aegis of
Kanchi District Chess
Association.
The event attracted 570 players
from various parts of the State
including few International Masters
and 228 rated players.
Djokovic outduels
Federer for 50th title
Halep nails biggest crown of career
Indian Wells, Mar 23 (AFP):
Novak Djokovic defeated Roger
Federer 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 to successfully defend his Indian Wells
crown and claim his 50th career
ATP title on Sunday.
Simona Halep beat Jelena
Jankovic 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 in the
women’s final, giving the Romanian the biggest title of
her career and a WTA Tourleading third tournament victory of the year.
The 27-year-old world
number one from Serbia
also captured his fourth India n
Wells crown and is now tied with
world number two Federer for the
most men’s titles in the California
desert.
‘The trophy is very heavy,’ Djokovic told the crowd as he celebrated
adding to the titles he won in 2008
and 2011.
It was another epic struggle in a
long list of hardcourt battles between
the two top players in the world, who
have met 38 times with Swiss
great Federer still holding a
slight 20-18 edge.
Djokovic had lost his last
two matches to Federer in
straight sets after beating him in last
year’s Wimbledon final.
Djokovic also needed three sets
to beat Federer in the 2014 Indian Wells title match.
Federer insisted people
shouldn’t read too much into this
loss.
‘I have beat him the last couple
times. It is not like I lost 10 in a row,’
Federer said. ‘A lot depends on
how well he serves and returns. We
Novak Djokovic
usually play in finals so we are both
peaking at the same time.’
The two have combined to win eight
of the last 12 Indian Wells titles but
this is the first time they have met in
back-to-back finals.
Djokovic blasted eight aces, 26 winners and broke Federer five times in
the two hour, 17 minute battle in front
of a crowd of about 15,000 on inside
the Tennis Garden stadium.
On the upswing
Halep continues her rise in the
sport, having broken into the top
10 a year ago and being a finalist
at the French Open and semifinalist at Wimbledon last year. The
23-year-old Romanian reached the
quarterfinals at the Australian Open
in January.
‘I have another title, my biggest title
now, so it’s amazing,’ she said.
Chelsea look like
champs, says Mourinho
Kingston Upon Hull, Mar 23 (AFP):
Jose Mourinho believes Chelsea are
firmly on course to win the Premier
League after extending their lead at
the top to six points with a battling 3-2
victory at Hull.
The Blues, chasing their first English league crown since 2010, reestablished their stranglehold on the
title race thanks to Loic Remy’s late
winner at the KC Stadium on Sunday.
And with Chelsea holding a game in
hand on second placed Manchester
City, Mourinho says they are now firm
favourites to lift the trophy.
‘The title race should be over,’
Mourinho said. ‘The title race in
normal conditions, Chelsea should
have eight, 10, 12 points more than
we have - title race over.
‘But football is unpredictable and
tthe reality is we have a six-point lead
which is our best situation for the
w
whole season.
w
‘The maximum lead we had was
eight but when we had eight we had
e
more matches to go.
m
‘In this moment we have a six-point
llead, one match in hand, that can help
us have a bigger distance with eight
u
matches to go to our opponents.
m
‘They (City) can make 24 points, if
tthey can make 24 points for us it is a
question of mathematics to see how
q
much we need. I’m pretty confident.
I believe in my players, I believe that
we can do it.’
Chelsea had to work for their win
at Hull, despite making a flying start.
Goals from Eden Hazard and Diego
Costa put Mourinho’s team two goals
ahead in the first nine minutes, but
struggling Hull showed admirable
determination to draw level with
two goals in quick succession from
Ahmed Elmohamady and Abel Hernandez before half-time.
Sania climbs to
career-high No.3
New Delhi, Mar 23 (PTI):
Sania Mirza jumped to her
career-best rank of three in the
doubles, following her stupendous title win at the BNP Paribas
Open with Swiss great Martina
Hingis.
Sania now sits at number three
with 6885 points, behind Italians
Roberta Vinci and Sara Errani,
who share the top spot with 7640
points each.
Courtesy her win at the Indian
Wells, Sania earned 1000
points and
gained two
places on
the WTA
chart. She had
reached the final of
the same tournament
last year with Cara
Black.
‘It’s thrilling to achieve
my career-best rank. Being
the number one is a dream and
I hope I can get there some day,’
Sania told PTI from the US.
In the WTA singles chart,
Ankita Raina continues to be
numero uno player at number
253, up by two spots.
In the ATP rankings, Somdev
Devvarman maintained his
176th rank while Ramkumar Ramanathan was number two after
gaining 10 places to be at 247.
Yuki Bhambri was the next
best at 257 as he jumped 27
spots.
Mixed Bag
CHENNAI
Deepika, Depression,
Debate
Actress’s confession comes in for praise
In the open
Chennai, Mar 23:
Rather than keeping mum on her
Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone was in the news recently for mental status, the actress delibher statements about ‘being men- erately expressed the feeling that
tally depressed’, which sparked a the taboo surrounding depression
lot of discussion on the stress faced should be broken. ‘If I can impact
by celebrities. A few days ago, the one life in this entire process of
actress told a television channel that speaking up and letting people
she has realised her depression and know that it’s something I have been
decided to seek professional help. through and something that I could
Her mother Ujjala Padukone, and deal with because I had a fantastic support system,’
doctors Shyam Bhatt
she mentioned in
and Anna Chandy were
the interview.
great support, she said.
It is not the first instance of a celebrity
Going forward
facing such a problem
Deepika has deand they had found difcided to launch the
ferent ways to face the
‘Live Love Laugh
situation.
Foundation’ to proDeepika Padukone
Deepika also spoke about the mote mental healthcare in the
need for parental support in cases country.
of mental trauma.
According to reports, the actress
has been working closely with a
team of experts and psychiatrists
What stats say?
According to data from the World for months now, and the name has
Health Organisation (WHO), India also been registered. The actress
is the most depressed country in plans to dedicate 2015 to promoting
the world, with reportedly 36 per mental healthcare in the country and
cent of the population suffering discussing the issue more openly.
from the mental illness. Moreover,
the suicide rate, particularly in the
Who has faced it?
age group 15-29 years of age is
Several Bollywood celebrities
the highest in the world, with one including Rajesh Khanna and Amlakh people killing themselves itabh Bachchan have gone through
every year.
hard times and found ways to come
out of it. Here is a look at the list of
those who had to battle depression:
How depressed was Deepika?
Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan,
Deepika Padukone confessed that
she often cried ‘at the drop of a hat,’ who suffered with his company
be it in her vanity van during shoots ABCL and went bankrupt and got
(of Happy New Year) or at airports. ‘I into deep depression, Shah Rukh
was directionless and felt all empty,’ Khan, Sanjay Dutt and most recently actress Jiah Khan.
she said.
indulging in ragging and refused to
accept her nomination. We have solid
proof that our warden made a false
the complaint,’ said a student.
The students, around 50 of them,
sat outside the office room throughout
the night in protest against the warden
Participants at a mini marathon on Clean India Green India and Tidy
Kanchi organised by Rotary Club of Kanchipuram.
No sledging,
say NZ, SA
skippers
Auckland, Mar 23 (AFP):
Four years after New Zealand
beat South Africa in a spiteful World
Cup clash, rival captains Brendon
McCullum and AB de Villiers were
pledging nothing but niceness on
the eve of a crucial semi-final.
In the 2011 edition, their quarterfinal in Dhaka erupted as the
New Zealanders, who made 222,
sprayed the South Africans with a
verbal barrage as they lost five for
25 on their way to a 49-run defeat.
There were ugly scenes after de
Villiers was run out leading to Kyle
Mills, Dan Vettori and Faf du Plessis being fined for their roles in the
incident.
Ahead of this World Cup, du Plessis was quoted as saying if the two
teams met again in a knockout
match ‘this time it will be the other
way around. We’ll be the team that’s
on top, and we can do the same
to them.’
‘Indian Foreign Secretary’s visit, a way forward’
New Delhi, Mar 23:
Pakistan High Commissioner to
India Abdul Basit on Monday said
that the primary objective at present
is to achieve peace between India
and Pakistan and resolve issues.
‘Indian Foreign Secretary was in
Pakistan earlier this month. We are
looking forward to resumption of an
engagement process. Let’s hope
that the engagement will continue
which started with Jaishankar’s visit
to Pakistan,’ he told.
‘We are looking forward to more
meetings between our two countries
because the objective is to achieve
peace between two countries, resolve our problems and hope both
14.5 sovereign
gold stolen at
Tondiarpet
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 23:
Gold was found missing from a
house at Tondiarpet last night.
According to police sources, Harish
Khan (25), a resident of R K Nagar,
lodged a complaint with the police
that 14.5 sovereigns of gold was
missing from his house while he
was away.
Police said, yesterday, Harish had
gone to attend a wedding and returned at night to find the door of his
house and almirah broke open.
Police have registered a case.
who refused to discuss the issue.
It was learnt that students refused
to disperse and the warden came out
of the room only on Saturday morning
after the principal and other faculty
members intervened.
On Sunday, a large number of
students gathered to discuss their
demands with the college authorities.
‘Not all of our demands were met. But
we were assured that fresh and transparent elections without any restrictions (on students contesting) would
be conducted. They also said that
the complaints against the studentcandidate would be dropped,’ said
an inmate of Margaret Hall, without
disclosing her name.
Abdul Basit
‘We are looking forward
to more meetings between
our two countries because
the objective is to achieve
peace between two
countries’
countries will now move forward,’
he added. Earlier this month, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar was
in Islamabad as part of his ‘SAARC
yatra’ and had held extensive talks
with his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz
Chaudhary.
VIT alumnus memorises 70,000 digits for the value of 22/7
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 23:
The mathematical value of Pi can
only be approximately valued as
it’s decimal representation never
settles into a permanent repeating
pattern. In an attempt to memorise
its decimals and to get into the
Guinness Book of World Records, a
25-year-old alumnus of VIT University, Rajveer Meena learnt 70,000
digits of Pi. A press release stated
that the documented feat was
achieved on Saturday and would be
sent to the Guinness World Record
office in the UK.
Speaking on the occasion, VIT
University Chancellor Dr G Viswanathan said, ‘We always encourage
our students and alumnus to scale
the heights of perfection in the fields
of their choice. We indeed provide
constant support for those who are
interested in breaking the world
record.’ Rajveer Meena’s recorded
Girl electrocuted in
Washermenpet
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 23:
A seven-year-old was electrocuted
during a public meeting yesterday in
Washermenpet. The girl is undergoing treatment at a hospital, police
said. According to police sources,
Srimathi from C B Road, was at a
public meeting organised by a political party at Moolakothalam, when
she touched a tube light and got
electrocuted.
A garbage lorry got stuck on a hole at the roadside in Kundrathur Main
Road, near Porur signal. It resulted in choc-o-bloc traffic in the area,
untill authorities concerned came and cleared the vehicle.
jacent area outside Sydney Cricket
Ground (SCG) was Raina’s unique
practice method which also showed
his desperation to end what can at
best be termed as ‘bumper problem’.
While one batsman practised in the
net allocated for pacers, one for spinners and other for throwdowns, Raina
was at the extreme left net with coach
Fletcher in tow with a tennis racquet
and a ball in hand.
To everyone’s surprise, Raina batted against Fletcher’s service.
The concept for using a tennis
racquet and tennis serve is simple.
He also called on Prime Minister of
Pakistan Nawaz Sharif and his Advisor on Foreign Affairs and National
Security Sartaj Aziz.
The statements by Basit came even
as he was scheduled to meet with
leaders of the Hurriyat Conference
in New Delhi during which a host of
issues are expected to come up.
A seven-member delegation of the
separatist outfit, led by the Hurriyat
Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umer
Farooq, left Srinagar on Sunday for
the meeting at the invitation of the
Pakistan envoy. The Pakistan High
Commissioner, earlier on Monday,
also told the moderate separatist
amalgam Hurriyat Conference that
Islamabad was waiting for a visit by
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and
wanted to move forward on all outstanding issues before it took place.
This was conveyed to the Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq
when he met Basit in New Delhi.
The ‘Pi’ of life
Raina’s ‘tennis lesson’
to counter bounce
Sydney, Mar 23 (PTI):
Suresh Raina is pulling out all stops
to kill his inner demons by spending
a lengthy time at the nets, trying to
counter the rising deliveries by facing
powerful ‘tennis serves.’
Practising with wet tennis balls to
counter the pace is an age-old concept but the training module adopted
by the Indian team for Raina, who
nearly batted against tennis serves
for 45 minutes, is unique in its own
way.
While the ‘Two Tool Theory’ getting throwdowns from a height was
introduced by team’s support staff
Raghavendra before Pakistan match
in Adelaide, the current concept has
been introduced by coach Duncan
Fletcher to mentally prepare Raina
for facing the Aussie quicks Mitchell
Johnson and Mitchell Starc.
What caught the attention during
Team India’s net session at the ad-
7
Peace first, issues
later: Pak diplomat
MCC: Solution found to
students-warden row
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 23:
All is well that ends well, so to say.
After a prolonged protest by students
against the Warden of Margaret Hall
at Madras Christian College, Tambaram, an amicable solution was arrived at with the authorities assuring
to look into their demands.
It is alleged that the warden ‘foisted’
a complaint on a student to disqualify
her from contesting the election (for
the post of general secretary).
When students demanded an explanation with regard to the complaint
on Friday, the woman warden locked
herself in her office.
‘She accused the candidate for
MONDAY
23 MARCH 2015
Because tennis ball is very light in
weight and if
one uses the conventional throwdown stick
(instrument used for
leather balls), then
it’s difficult to get it
zoom off the deck.
While a tennis
serve on a grass
turf will just kick up
thereby ensuring that
the batsman gets good
practice against short
stuff. Fletcher was seen aiming at Raina’s body as the lefthander was trying to play the hook
shot. He connected a few, missed a
few and miscued some.
While Fletcher did this for 15 minutes, probably the Zimbabwean felt
the need for a more powerful and
younger arm, who could impart more
power on those tennis serves.
VIT alumnus Rajveer Meena during World Record attempt.
feat was documented in the presence of 13 witnesses (representatives from media, NGOs, social organisations, professionals), and 20
professors from the VIT University
and other colleges.
An earlier world record for the
same was held by Chao Lo of
Shaanxi province in China in 2005
for memorizing 67,890 digits of
value of Pi. While Lo recited the
digits in 24 hours and eight minutes, Rajveer Meena has attempted
to memorize 70,000 digits in just
nine hours, seven minutes. The
release said the 25-year-old has
already found a place in Limca
Book of Records when he was able
to memorise 1,125 random mobile
numbers in the year 2011.
80-year-old
rowdy held
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 23:
City police arrested an 80-year-old
who was a regular theft offender at Adambakkam yesterday.
According to
police sources,
Srinivasan alias
Silver Srinivasan,
a native of Andhra
Pradesh, had been
carrying out thefts
from the age of 16 and was arrested several times in the past.
Police said, he has over 100 cases
against him for thieving, particularly in and
around St Thomas Mount area.
Police said, his modus operandi was to
target houses occupied by senior citizens
or women and enter posing as a marriage
broker. He would ask for a glass of water
and in the meantime, break open almirahs
and slip away with valuables.
He was arrested from NGO Colony
yesterday, with the police recovering
30 sovereigns of gold and one kilogram
silver.
OMG! Crowe hails
‘courageous’ Guptill
Wellington, Mar 23 (AFP):
New Zealand great Martin Crowe today
praised Martin Guptill’s record-breaking
World
Cup feats after helping the batsman reinvent himself late in
his career.
Crowe, who is battling terminal
cancer, also tipped another of his proteges Ross Taylor to come good for
the Black Caps, who face South
Africa on Tuesday for a spot in
the final.
Guptill hit a World Cup-record
237 not out as New Zealand
crushed the West Indies by 143 runs
on Saturday, the second-highest individual score in one-day international
history.
After the 163-ball knock, the opener revealed that tips from Crowe had helped
improve his batting, particularly his footwork
and stance.
But Crowe said Guptill deserved the credit
for being prepared to ask for help, then going back to the basics to alter his technique.
‘It’s a courageous move to rebuild at 28,’
Crowe told Fairfax New Zealand.
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23 MARCH 2015
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‘India can’t do
a Riaz against
Aussies’
SYDNEY:
Indian pacers will struggle to
match Wahab Riaz-like domination against Australia in the World
Cup semifinal and the baggage of
a forgettable summer against the
hosts may also haunt the defendWahab Riaz
ing champions, says former India
bowling coach Joe Dawes.
Pakistan’s left-arm pacer Riaz bowled a hostile spell against
the hosts in the quarterfinal and had most of the Australian
batsmen, specially Shane Watson, struggling.
‘No doubt they’ll try that. (But) around the wicket is going to be a bit harder than just having a left-hander there,’
said Dawes, who was India’s bowling coach ahead of the
Australian tour last October.
‘They will have watched that and will give it a go, and
Umesh (Yadav) has definitely got the pace to do it but he’s
not an overly tall man so that sort of changes the trajectory
and the bounce. The left-armers are proving to be quite
difficult throughout the whole tournament, aren’t they?,’
Dawes was quoted as saying by Sydney Morning Herald.
The former India coach said since India do not have leftarm paceman, it may be a disadvantage.
‘They’ll be doing their homework and will give it a crack.
Fletch (India coach Duncan Fletcher) is a pretty astute
coach, he’ll be watching all of these things and he’ll look
to try and bring that in somewhere and give it a whirl. But
the left-hander is a big advantage and that’s where the
Indians don’t have anyone with real pace, or any left-hand
bowlers here at the moment.’
— PTI
Charuhaassan
on the
write lane
A
ctor and elder brother of Charuhaasan
has authored a book
titled Thinking on My
Feet. It was introduced
to readers at a function
held in Chennai recently.
Speaking on the occasion, Charuhaasan, said,
‘The book is a compilation of my experiences
when I practised law and
my days as actor’.
There was an interactive
session and he answered
questions of the readers.
His wife Komalam was also
present on the occasion.
— NT Bureau
IPY from
1 May
D
irector Seenu Ramasamy’s Idam Porul Yaeval
is ready for release and the makers have officially announced 1 May as the release date.
Seenu Ramasamy had earlier made criticallyacclaimed films like Neerparavai and Thenmerku
Parvakaatru.
The film has ensemble cast including Vijay
Sethupathi, Vishnu Vishal, Nandita Sweta, Ishwarya
Rajesh, Vadivukarasi. Idam Porul Yaeval’s story has
been written by famous Tamil writer S Ramakrishnan
while Seenu Ramasamy himself has written the
dialogues. The film also marks the first time Yuvan
Shankar Raja and Vairamuthu have worked together.
— NT Bureau
Srini to watch
semis;Dalmiya
stays away
‘There are rumours
that Dalmiya and
Srinivasan are not
on the same page
regarding some
board-related issues
and the Kolkatabased administrator
does not want to
meet the Tamilnadu
strongman’
N Srinivasan
SYDNEY:
ICC chairman and former
BCCI president N Srinivasan will watch India’s World
Cup semifinal against hosts
Australia along with BCCI
secretary Anurag Thakur
while current president Jagmohan Dalmiya will not be
in attendance due to health
reasons.
According to BCCI sources, Srinivasan, Thakur and
treasurer Aniruddh Chaudhary will arrive before the
match on Thursday but it is
highly unlikely that Dalmiya
would make it even if India
reaches the final.
‘Srinivasan, Thakur and
Chaudhary will be coming
either on 24 or 25 March.
Srinivasan in any case will
be staying till 29 March in
capacity of ICC chairman.
Chaudhary and Thakur
are the representatives of
BCCI,’ a senior BCCI official told PTI on Sunday.
However, Dalmiya’s case
is a bit interesting as it is believed that he cannot meet
the physically demanding
travel schedule of flying into
Australia. ‘Jaggu da is an
old man now. He is not fit
enough to travel 12 hours
from Kolkata to Melbourne
and back. It will be physically demanding and it won’t
be possible for him to attend
the World Cup matches. As
of now it’s more than 90 per
cent assured that he won’t
be travelling to Australia,’ a
Dalmiya confidant said.
However, there are rumours that Dalmiya and
Srinivasan are not on
the same page regarding
some board-related issues
and the Kolkata-based administrator does not want
to meet the Tamilnadu
strongman.
Meanwhile, another new
development happened
in BCCI since the change
of guard with Usha Nath
Banerjee being appointed
as the chief legal advisor
of the board. Usha, a legal
luminary from Kolkata has
been a Dalmiya loyalist
for long and used to fight
the BCCI cases during his
earlier stint in the board and
was replaced once Sharad
Pawar came into power.
With Dalmiya’s comeback, Banerjee also made
a comeback in BCCI.
TOMORROW’S
MATCH
1st
SEMI
FINAL
New Zealand vs
South Africa at
Auckland
(6.30 a.m IST)
Adam Miline
ICC president
rules out quitting
Milne out;
Henry in
AUCKLAND:
New Zealand fast bowler
Adam Milne has been ruled
out of the remainder of the
World Cup after suffering
a foot injury, New Zealand
Cricket announced Monday.
Matt Henry has been
rushed to Auckland ahead of
Tuesday’s semi-final against
South Africa and will join the
squad, subject to International Cricket Council approval.
Milne felt discomfort following
New Zealand`s comprehensive
quarter-final win against the
West Indies on Saturday and
a scan showed significant
swelling around the heel.
Dhanush is a
fine actor:
Sivakarthikeyan
S
ivakarthikeyan is
one of the very
few actors who
keeps in regular touch
with his fans through
social media. Known
for expressing his opinions on various subjects through his twitter
account, the actor gave
a pleasant surprise to
his fans on Sunday by
interacting with them on
twitter.
Taking time off from
the shooting of his
movie Rajini Murugan,
Sivakarthikeyan answered their questions
straight from his heart.
He put to rest speculations that he and Dhanush are in a tiff by
describing him one of
the finest actors in the
country.
EXCERPTS FROM
HIS INTERVIEW
‘Ajith’s
words gave
confidence to
me. He was
appreciative
of my efforts
DHAKA:
ICC president Mustafa Kamal has ruled
out resigning from his
post in protest against
what he had called ‘poor
umpiring’ in his country’s
defeat to India in the
cricket World Cup, terming reports of his possible quiting as ‘rumour.’
‘Anything regarding resignation is completely a rumour. All of it is the creation
by media. I had no such talk
with media,’ Kamal told a
local TV channel, according to Dhaka Tribune.
After India thrashed
Bangladesh by 109 runs
in the quarterfinal match
at the MCG on 19 March,
reports quoted Kamal
having said that he might
resign from the post of
ICC president if needed
in protest against ‘poor
umpiring’ in that game.
‘From what I have
seen, the umpiring was
very poor. There was
no quality in the umpiring. It seemed as if they
had gone into the match
with something in mind.
I am speaking as a fan,
not as the ICC president,’ Kamal, a former
president of Bangladesh
Cricket Board, had said.
The bone of contention
was was a close no-ball
reprieve that centurion
Rohit Sharma got during the game. The ICC,
however, had rejected
P Vasu’s assistant Moorthy
Kannan forays as independent filmmaker with a movie
titled Salaiyoram. It stars
newcomers Raj and Serena
in the lead roles. Actor-director Pandiarajan and Singam
Puli in key roles.
Sethuram, a resident of
Singapore is making his
debut as music composer.
Dinesh Srinivas has
cranked the camera. Interestingly, the shooting is
almost over and plans are
on for a release this April.
Produced by Smily Pictures,
Salaiyoram is about a young
girl and her romance.
— NT Bureau
About
romance
so far’
Sivakarthikeyan
Q: ON KAAKI SATTAI?
A: I am happy that audience accepted me in the role of a police man.
All credit should go to my director Durai Senthilkumar. The film was made
at a budget of Rs 14 cr and it has collected Rs 50 cr at the box office so far.
Q: ON YOUR RECENT MEETING
WITH AJTH?
A: It lasted for over five hours. From the
meeting, I understood that being top in Kollywood is tough but Ajith’s words gave confidence to me. He was appreciative of my efforts so far.
Q: ABOUT DHANUSH AND SURIYA...
A: Dhanush is the finest
actor in the country and
Suriya has taught everyone of us that hardwork can
change one’s life.
Q: YOUR FAVOURITE
DIRECTORS?
A: The list is big. But I love to
work with the likes of Shankar
and A R Murugadoss one day.
But to come up to that level, I should
work hard.
Q: DO YOU CONSIDER VIJAY
SETHUPATHI AS YOUR COMPETITOR?
A: I don’t believe in competitions. I am a
great fan of Vijay Sethupathi and liked his movie
Pizza very much.
— M BHARAT KUMAR
Still from Saalaiyoram
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