FBI to let India prosecute Mumbai attackers

Washington, Jan 08: Offering an unprecedented level of cooperation to Indian authorities probing the Mumbai terror case, the FBI has said it will not seek custody of the perpetrators of the ghastly attacks, that also killed six Americans, and will let India prosecute them. Under federal laws, FBI, the primary investigative arm of the US Government, needs to investigate, chargesheet and bring the perpetrators to justice whenever an American citizen is killed overseas. "This is the major tragedy in India, so it is fully appropriate that Indian authorities handle the investigation and prosecution," a FBI spokesperson said. "If at some point many many years down the road... there is an opportunity for the United States to prosecute them for the killing of Americans, our prosecutors would take a look at that point," he said. "There is no stature limitation on murders, so it does not matter when that time would be but absolutely the priority here is let India to handle the investigation and prosecution," he said.

Pak NSA sacked for admitting Kasab a Pakistani

Islamabad, Jan 08: Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday night sacked National Security Adviser Mahmud Ali Durani for saying that Kasab is a Pakistani national. Talking to Geo News here, Prime Minister Gilani said Durrani had given a statement to an Indian news channel regarding Ajmal Kasab without taking him into confidence. The prime minister said that Durrani’s statement had tarnished the country’s image. Talking to Geo news channel, Pakistan's National Security Adviser Mahmud Ali Durrani confirmed, unofficially, that Kasab hails from Pakistan and an official statement in this regard is expected from the Interior Ministry later in the day. He also conveyed the same to an Indian channel, adding that a report to the same effect was being submitted to Pakistan PM Yousaf Raza Gilani. Sherry Rehman, the Interior Minister of Pakistan, told a news agency in an SMS that Kasab is a Pakistani. Rehman also said Pakistan's investigation into the Mumbai attacks was continuing. Durrani was, later in the evening, sacked for making the 'revelation', Pakistan media said. Ordering his removal, Pakistan PM said that Durrani was sacked "for his irresponsible behaviour (of) not taking Prime Minister and other stakeholders into confidence and lack of coordination on matters of national security". Replying to the channel's claim that Pakistan National Security Adviser Mahmud Ali Durani had conveyed to it that Kasab is a Pakistan and that he would be giving a report to the Prime Minister's Office in this regard, Bashir had said he had just spoken to Durani, who told him that he had also heard some media report. Reports have suggested that Pakistan has virtually denied any legal aid to Ajmal Kasab, a resident of Faridkot. It has been confirmed that Ajmal Kasab is a Pakistani national following preliminary investigations by national security agencies, said Pakistani Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq. He was replying to questions by reporters who asked for confirmation of the report shortly after television channels broadcast the news that investigations have revealed that Kasab is a Pakistani. Pakistani sources, however, sought to suggest that Kasab had no links to official agencies. The significant admission which could reveal further Pakistani connections to the Mumbai terror attacks came a day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that some official agencies of Pakistan were involved in the strikes and two days after India gave evidence to Islamabad seeking handing over of the masterminds.

Satyam ADRs plunge 84% on NYSE

New York, Jan 08: Beleaguered Indian IT firm Satyam Computer Services on Wednesday plunged nearly 84 per cent in the pre-market trading on the US bourses after the disclosure of fudging of accounts by Satyam founder B Ramalinga Raju. At the New York Stock Exchange, Satyam' American Depository Receipts (ADRs) plunged to 1.53 dollars from 9.35 dollars in the pre-market trading. The company's ADRs plunged following the resignation of Raju as its Chairman after disclosing major financial wrong-doings and saying his last-ditch efforts to fill the "fictitious assets with real ones" through Maytas acquisition failed. "The ADRs took cues from the domestic market and when the US market opens it would plunge as much as 80 per cent, as the investors know that the company's fundamental have been shaken and their confidence has been shattered," Kejriwal Research and Investment Services Director Arun Kejriwal said. Satyam's ADRs had closed up four per cent at 9.35 dollars yesterday. On the Bombay Stock Exchange yesterday, Satyam shares nosedived 78 per cent to settle at Rs 39.95. During the day, the scrip had plunged 83 per cent to a low of Rs 30.70. "The Satyam case is entirely disastrous and the investors have been completely misguided and misled. People will not think more in the company as some more frauds may be revealed in the near future," Ashika Stock Brokers' Research head Paras Bothra said.

Satyam may be removed from Sensex, Nifty

Mumbai: Satyam Computers may be removed from the Sensex and Nifty following the revelation of manipulation in the company's accounts, analysts said. Rajiv Mehta, senior analyst with India Infoline, a large brokerage house said his firm has immediately stopped covering Satyam and many other brokerage houses are also expected to do the same. There will not be any investor interest in the company anyway. The company may be removed from Sensex and Nifty, he said. With the fall in its stock prices, Satyam has lost its weightage in the Sensex considerably over the recent past and currently has weightage of only 1.56 as of yesterday (Tuesday). While in nifty, the weightage is only 0.63 percent. NYSE has also halted trading in Satyam Computer in New York, Amsterdam.

PM condemns Gaza strikes, supports Palestinians

Chennai: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh voiced India's strong condemnation of the Israeli strikes in Gaza and expressed the hope that international community will get together to restore peace and normalcy in the region. In a first public statement on the ongoing strikes, he said India strongly condemned these incidents and regrets the loss of many innocent lives. "It is our hope that the international community will come together to restore peace and normalcy," he said inaugurating the seventh edition of the three-day Pravasi Bhartiya Divas in Chennai. He also declared India's "unstinted and unwavering support to the just cause of Palestinians".

Nepal's PM reinstates Indian priests after protests

KATHMANDU: Nepal's Maoist prime minister has temporarily reinstated a group of sacked Indian priests at the Himalayan nation's holiest Hindu shrine after protests forced riot police to intervene. The secular Maoists, who run the country after winning elections last year, ended centuries of tradition last week when they replaced the Indians with Nepalese priests. But Prime Minister Prachanda told the national assembly late Wednesday that he had ordered officials "to manage normal worship at the temple by the same Indian priests for the time being." Riot police were deployed at the temple on the banks of the Bagmati river in Kathmandu after local priests and their supporters launched heated protests against the Maoists. The move to reinstate the Indian priests was greeted with jubilation. "This decision is a victory for us," Om Shiva Raj Bhandari, one of the priests protesting against the changes, said. "The new appointments were made illegally and without consulting local priests."

Kankaria Lake Front entry fees announced

Ahmedabad: Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s Standing Committee today fixed entry fee rates for Kankaria Lake Front. The standing committee also decided fare for Kankaria Queen Mini Train ‘Atal Express’. Entry ticket for Kankaria Lake Front will cost Rs 5 for 5 to 12 year old children and Rs 10 for everybody above 12. Freedom fighters and senior citizens above 70 will get free entry. Students participating in educational/school tour in a group will have to pay only Re. 1 per head for entry. Morning walkers will be able to enter free of cost during 4:00 to 8:00 a.m. Evening walkers will have to spend Rs 100 for monthly pass. After 4:00 am to 8:00 am morning walk session the lake front will remain closed for an hour. Then after from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. the lake front will remain open for visitors. However after 10:00 p.m. new tickets will not be issued. From 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. the lake front will remain closed. Meanwhile Kankaria mini train’s rates are also fixed by the AMC. Each ticket would be at Rs. 10 for children, while Rs. 25 for elders. Students would get Rs. 5 discount on producing their Identity card.

Govt may cut fuel prices by about 10% by Jan-end

New Delhi: The government may cut prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas by around 10 per cent by the end of this month, the oil minister, Murli Deora, told reporters on Wednesday. "The price cut is under active consideration. In two to three weeks, a decision will be taken," he said. In December, the government cut gasoline prices by 10 per cent and diesel by about 6 per cent. "The cut may be as much as much last time, or may be even more," Deora said.

Govt gives nod to 34 FDI proposals worth Rs 1,615 cr

New Delhi: The government has cleared 34 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) proposals worth about Rs 1,615 crore of firms like Mahindra and Mahindra, Sumitomo Corporation, and Barwah International from Qatar.The largest investment proposals are in urban development, by HBS Realtors Mumbai, which intends to invest Rs 300 crore to convert the operating company into a operating-cum-holding company and Qatar-based Barwa International, which would invest Rs 400 crore.Besides, Sumitomo Corporation from Japan would invest Rs 160 crore, but its proposal would be subject to norms laid down in Press Note one, the government said.Meanwhile, another proposal from Universal Biofuels for an investment of Rs 200 crore was cleared, and it would incorporate and make downstream investment in subsidiaries and also issue and allot equity.

Hayden left out of Australian squad

Sydney: Embattled opener Matthew Hayden was on Thursday left out of Australia's 13-man squads for the upcoming Twenty20 Internationals and Commonwealth Bank ODI Series against South Africa even as speculation continues on his Test future. National Selection Panel Chairman Andrew Hilditch made it clear the teams were chosen with an eye on the Twenty20 World Cup later this year and 2011 ODI World Cup while hinting he could not see Hayden playing a role in the two major events. "The announcement of these squads for the KFC Twenty20 Internationals and the Commonwealth Bank Series is a clear indication we are now in full-scale planning for the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 and the 2011 ICC World Cup," Hilditch said. "Winning a fourth consecutive ICC World Cup and our first ICC Twenty20 title is an ambitious project. For this reason there will be very few players selected from this point that we cannot see playing a role in achieving this goal," he said. Hilditch, however, said it was not an end of the road for the 37-year-old Hayden and he might tour South Africa. "The omission of Matthew Hayden from the KFC Twenty20 and Commonwealth Bank Series squads is not a reflection on his performances in the recent Test series but rather a strategic decision made by the National Selection Panel as we plan for these signature events," he said. "His possible selection for the upcoming tour of South Africa will be discussed as with all players when we select a squad after the round of interstate matches at the beginning of February," he said in a statement. Australia will meet South Africa in Twenty20 clashes in Melbourne on Sunday and in Brisbane on January 13 while the five-match Commonwealth Bank Series will begin on January 16 at the MCG. Hayden's absence has made way for New South Wales opener David Warner.

Australia win Sydney Test by 103 runs despite gutsy Smith

Sydney: Australia has gained some much-needed momentum heading into its tour of South Africa, completing a nail-biting 103-run win over the Proteas with 10 balls to spare in the third Test at the SCG. The tourists were eventually bowled out for 272 chasing an unlikely 376 on the final day, but not before the tail wagged yet again. Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini caused sweaty palms by putting on an unlikely 50 in occupying the crease for over an hour. Proteas captain Graeme Smith added to the high drama when he batted last with a broken hand as he sought to deny Australia its consolation victory. He took off his plaster cast and strode onto the ground following the dismissal of Steyn with only 8.2 overs remaining in the game. Smith batted for almost half-an-hour and appeared set to deny Australia victory when Mitchell Johnson stepped up as he has done all summer and clean-bowled him in the dying moments for 3. Smith's efforts were typical of the guts and determination he has shown in leading the Proteas to their breakthrough series win and he was deservingly awarded man of the series. The result meant the three-Test series finished at 2-1 in South Africa's favour, allowing Australia to avoid its first home series whitewash and hold onto its number one ranking. Australia ultimately capitalised on a rapidly deteriorating SCG wicket with all of the rookie attack sharing in the spoils. Man-of-the-match Peter Siddle took 3 for 54 to go with his 5 for 59 in the first innings, while Johnson and debutants Doug Bollinger and Andrew McDonald shared two wickets each. Hashim Amla (59) and AB de Villiers (56) showed fight but Australia was always on top for the most part, save for the nervous final moments. Any thought the Proteas had of chasing down the target disappeared this morning when they lost 3 for 77 in the first session. Stand-in skipper Neil McKenzie (27), all-rounder Jacques Kallis (4) and Amla all went to leave South Africa struggling at 4 for 166. Kallis's indifferent series with the bat left him still 12 runs short of becoming the eighth Test batsman to make 10,000 runs. Three more wickets fell in the middle session with Johnson accounting for Melbourne centurion JP Duminy (16) and Siddle claiming Mark Boucher (4) and de Villiers. De Villiers's scalp five minutes before tea had Australia sniffing victory but the South Africans have made a habit of not lying down this summer. Australia compounded its woes late on by dropping Ntini twice when he was on 16, McDonald putting down a caught and bowled chance and Hayden grassing a sitter at first slip. The Proteas' veteran paceman went on to make an unbeaten 28 and almost deny Australia's charge.