2012, ഒക്‌ടോബർ 7, ഞായറാഴ്‌ച

 Indian Americans help raise millions for Romney Campaign
Tags: Mitt, Romney, obama, presidential campaign
 
WASHINGTON: Away from the public glare, prominent Indian Americans supporting Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney are believed to have raised between USD 15-20 million for his presidential campaign. While Romney campaign has not released any fundraising statistics from ethnic coalitions nor has it made public the list of its bundlers or exclusive Stars and Stripes members, the list of big donors include over 200 prominent Indian Americans.

The 'Indian American Coalition' was established in November 2011 by the Romney Campaign National Finance Committee Chairman Spencer Zwick to recognise not only the individual donor, but also the larger community under a group identity.

There have been other ethnic coalitions in the Romney campaign's Finance Committee such as Jewish American coalition, Women's coalition, Veteran's Coalition, etc.

By conservative estimates Indian Americans supporters of Romney believed to have collectively helped raise between USD 15-20 million for his Campaign, according to those familiar with the fundraising efforts.

"...An Indian American coalition in a Presidential Campaign's National Finance Committee is new and historic. Such a decision of the Romney Campaign has produced the desired results," Indian American supporters of 65-year-old former governor of Massachusetts say.

Some of the prominent Indian American bundlers/Star and Stripes members include Sampat Shivangi from Mississippi; Sudhakar Shenoy and Shreedhar Pottarazu from Virginia, Zach Zachariah, Akshay Desai and R Vijaynagar from Florida; Bharat Barai from Indiana, Rupesh Sreevastava and Raj Vatticutti from Michigan.

"Everyone has contributed funds, bundled money or held an event that has raised a minimum USD one million," Sue Ghosh Stricklett, Stars & Stripes Member, Romney Finance Committee, told reporters during a conference call with top Indian American donors.

"They are unanimously supporting Mitt Romney for President because they believe that the country is on the wrong track and that their children's economic future is at stake.

"They are also appalled by the incendiary anti-India rhetoric coming out of the Obama campaign with numerous ads attacking India for loss of American jobs due to outsourcing," Ghosh said.
 Indian Americans help raise millions for Romney Campaign
Tags: Mitt, Romney, obama, presidential campaign
 
WASHINGTON: Away from the public glare, prominent Indian Americans supporting Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney are believed to have raised between USD 15-20 million for his presidential campaign. While Romney campaign has not released any fundraising statistics from ethnic coalitions nor has it made public the list of its bundlers or exclusive Stars and Stripes members, the list of big donors include over 200 prominent Indian Americans.

The 'Indian American Coalition' was established in November 2011 by the Romney Campaign National Finance Committee Chairman Spencer Zwick to recognise not only the individual donor, but also the larger community under a group identity.

There have been other ethnic coalitions in the Romney campaign's Finance Committee such as Jewish American coalition, Women's coalition, Veteran's Coalition, etc.

By conservative estimates Indian Americans supporters of Romney believed to have collectively helped raise between USD 15-20 million for his Campaign, according to those familiar with the fundraising efforts.

"...An Indian American coalition in a Presidential Campaign's National Finance Committee is new and historic. Such a decision of the Romney Campaign has produced the desired results," Indian American supporters of 65-year-old former governor of Massachusetts say.

Some of the prominent Indian American bundlers/Star and Stripes members include Sampat Shivangi from Mississippi; Sudhakar Shenoy and Shreedhar Pottarazu from Virginia, Zach Zachariah, Akshay Desai and R Vijaynagar from Florida; Bharat Barai from Indiana, Rupesh Sreevastava and Raj Vatticutti from Michigan.

"Everyone has contributed funds, bundled money or held an event that has raised a minimum USD one million," Sue Ghosh Stricklett, Stars & Stripes Member, Romney Finance Committee, told reporters during a conference call with top Indian American donors.

"They are unanimously supporting Mitt Romney for President because they believe that the country is on the wrong track and that their children's economic future is at stake.

"They are also appalled by the incendiary anti-India rhetoric coming out of the Obama campaign with numerous ads attacking India for loss of American jobs due to outsourcing," Ghosh said.
  Auto attacked in Kannur

KANNUR:  The auto which carried Berlin Kunhananthan Nair to the Press Club was attacked last night. Miscreants barged into the house of Rameshan, the owner of the auto, and damaged the vehicle parked in the premises of his house.
  Auto attacked in Kannur

KANNUR:  The auto which carried Berlin Kunhananthan Nair to the Press Club was attacked last night. Miscreants barged into the house of Rameshan, the owner of the auto, and damaged the vehicle parked in the premises of his house.
ccused in Shukkoor murder case ends life in hospital

KANNUR: An accused in the sensational murder case of MSF leader Abdul Shukkoor of Pattuvam committed suicide in a private hospital here this morning.

According to police, A Sareesh (28) of Morazha and a CPI (M) worker, who was on bail, was found hanging from the ventilator of the common toilet in the hospital ward. He was admitted there in the wee hours of 0130 hrs due to insomnia.
Police said he had taken bed coffee around 0600 hrs and went into the bathroom around 0745 hrs. When he did not come out even after a long time, his brother and other bystanders opened it forcibly and found him hanging with his dhoti around the neck. Town police sent the body to Pariyaram medical college hospital for post-mortem at noon.
The accused obtained bail from Kerala High Court on September 13 after executing a bond of Rs 25,000 and presenting two solvent sureties for the like sum. A total of 33 are accused in the case, including CPI (M) Kannur District unit Secretary P Jayarajan.
ccused in Shukkoor murder case ends life in hospital

KANNUR: An accused in the sensational murder case of MSF leader Abdul Shukkoor of Pattuvam committed suicide in a private hospital here this morning.

According to police, A Sareesh (28) of Morazha and a CPI (M) worker, who was on bail, was found hanging from the ventilator of the common toilet in the hospital ward. He was admitted there in the wee hours of 0130 hrs due to insomnia.
Police said he had taken bed coffee around 0600 hrs and went into the bathroom around 0745 hrs. When he did not come out even after a long time, his brother and other bystanders opened it forcibly and found him hanging with his dhoti around the neck. Town police sent the body to Pariyaram medical college hospital for post-mortem at noon.
The accused obtained bail from Kerala High Court on September 13 after executing a bond of Rs 25,000 and presenting two solvent sureties for the like sum. A total of 33 are accused in the case, including CPI (M) Kannur District unit Secretary P Jayarajan.
 Terrorist held in Dubai aide of T Nazir
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Keralite Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist arrested by the secret investigating team in Dubai the other day is an aide of Thadiyantavide Nazir. He has been identified as Raiz (38) of Kannur. Raiz, handed over to the Kerala police has been remanded and sent to jail.

He is the third accused in the case for concealing ammonium nitrate in Kannur in 2009. There are five accused in the case including Nazir.

The trial in the case will begin in the chief judicial magistrate court in Thalassery tomorrow. Raiz and the others will be produced in the court tomorrow.
 Terrorist held in Dubai aide of T Nazir
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Keralite Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist arrested by the secret investigating team in Dubai the other day is an aide of Thadiyantavide Nazir. He has been identified as Raiz (38) of Kannur. Raiz, handed over to the Kerala police has been remanded and sent to jail.

He is the third accused in the case for concealing ammonium nitrate in Kannur in 2009. There are five accused in the case including Nazir.

The trial in the case will begin in the chief judicial magistrate court in Thalassery tomorrow. Raiz and the others will be produced in the court tomorrow.
 Muslim extremism on the rise in state, says Panniyan
    Tags: Muslim extremism, rise, state, Panniyan
 
THRISSUR: Muslim extremism is on the rise in state, said CPI state secretary Panniyan Raveendran. This will lead way to Hindu terrorism. The government should take all steps to prevent the growth of Muslim extremism in the state, he said.

A heavy price will have to be paid if the government is aiming to rule the state after bifurcating it, he said. 

Things claimed by the CPI in connection with the murder case of RMP leader T P Chandrasekharan has been proved right. A party has the right to point out the errors of another party.
 Muslim extremism on the rise in state, says Panniyan
    Tags: Muslim extremism, rise, state, Panniyan
 
THRISSUR: Muslim extremism is on the rise in state, said CPI state secretary Panniyan Raveendran. This will lead way to Hindu terrorism. The government should take all steps to prevent the growth of Muslim extremism in the state, he said.

A heavy price will have to be paid if the government is aiming to rule the state after bifurcating it, he said. 

Things claimed by the CPI in connection with the murder case of RMP leader T P Chandrasekharan has been proved right. A party has the right to point out the errors of another party.
 Bengal Congress to launch political attack against Mamata govt
KOLKATA: The Congress in West Bengal is set for an "all-out political attack" on the Trinamool Congress by launching a campaign focussed on the all-round benefits of foreign investment in multi-brand retail and was ready to play the role of an opposition against the Mamata Banerjee-led state government.

Terming the Trinamool chief's staunch opposition to foreign direct investment in retail as a customary practice of the West Bengal government, state Congress chief Pradip Bhattacharya said that "whenever something new is introduced then those in the government try to block it in Bengal".

"During the preceding Left Front regime when computer was introduced, the state government opposed it, while Karnataka gained from it. Later, the Left Front government tried to rope in IT investments. Trinamool will also one day support FDI," Bhattacharya told IANS in an interview.

"When foreign investment would start flowing in other states, the people would see its benefits and pitch for FDI in the retail sector."

Bhattacharya said that big players could capture hardly 40 percent of the retail market in India even if they gained access to all the states.

"Not a single small businessman will be eliminated from the market because of this. The economic situation of farmers will improve," he said.

"We will bring up these issues before the people and tell them what Mamata is saying is wrong."

Trinamool withdrew its support to the United Progressive Alliance government on issues like FDI in retail, diesel price hike and cap on number of subsidised cooking gas cylinders, saying the decisions would hurt the country. Bhattacharya, however, says that "people don't understand what FDI in multi-brand is".

"The retail trade in the state has gone up by 10 percent after big Indian companies like Spencer's and Reliance Fresh came to the market. How many people know that".

"How many people use cooking gas in villages or have an understanding of FDI?" he asked, saying Trinamool was misleading common people with their misinformed propaganda.

The state Congress chief said the party was ready to "play the role of an opposition".

"We will point out the mistakes of the ruling party and start a mass agitation. We will oppose the wrong bills brought by the government in the assembly," he said.
 Bengal Congress to launch political attack against Mamata govt
KOLKATA: The Congress in West Bengal is set for an "all-out political attack" on the Trinamool Congress by launching a campaign focussed on the all-round benefits of foreign investment in multi-brand retail and was ready to play the role of an opposition against the Mamata Banerjee-led state government.

Terming the Trinamool chief's staunch opposition to foreign direct investment in retail as a customary practice of the West Bengal government, state Congress chief Pradip Bhattacharya said that "whenever something new is introduced then those in the government try to block it in Bengal".

"During the preceding Left Front regime when computer was introduced, the state government opposed it, while Karnataka gained from it. Later, the Left Front government tried to rope in IT investments. Trinamool will also one day support FDI," Bhattacharya told IANS in an interview.

"When foreign investment would start flowing in other states, the people would see its benefits and pitch for FDI in the retail sector."

Bhattacharya said that big players could capture hardly 40 percent of the retail market in India even if they gained access to all the states.

"Not a single small businessman will be eliminated from the market because of this. The economic situation of farmers will improve," he said.

"We will bring up these issues before the people and tell them what Mamata is saying is wrong."

Trinamool withdrew its support to the United Progressive Alliance government on issues like FDI in retail, diesel price hike and cap on number of subsidised cooking gas cylinders, saying the decisions would hurt the country. Bhattacharya, however, says that "people don't understand what FDI in multi-brand is".

"The retail trade in the state has gone up by 10 percent after big Indian companies like Spencer's and Reliance Fresh came to the market. How many people know that".

"How many people use cooking gas in villages or have an understanding of FDI?" he asked, saying Trinamool was misleading common people with their misinformed propaganda.

The state Congress chief said the party was ready to "play the role of an opposition".

"We will point out the mistakes of the ruling party and start a mass agitation. We will oppose the wrong bills brought by the government in the assembly," he said.
  Army opposes reservation in its schools under RTE Act
NEW DELHI: The Army is opposing implementation of 25 per cent reservation for children of weaker and disadvantaged groups in its around 150 schools under the Right to Education Act, saying it will hamper the educational prospects of wards of its own personnel.

A letter in this regard has been sent to the Defence Ministry by the Army Headquarters, Army sources told reporters here.
The 1.3 million-strong force runs around 150 schools across the cantonments in the country.

The stand in this regard was taken some time back and the government has been apprised about the reasons behind it, they said.

This position has been taken in view of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 which makes it compulsory for every private unaided school to admit at least 25 per cent in its entry level class children belonging to weaker and disadvantaged groups.

Explaining the reasons for opposing the provision of reservation, Army sources said this would deprive "our own wards of quality education in our schools".

"Already, there is a lot of pressure on our schools and giving away 25 per cent seats to civilian children will deprive an equal number of wards of Army personnel of good education," they said.

As per a Supreme Court ruling, Army personnel are deemed to be disadvantaged group with regard to education of their children, the sources said.

Lack of proper educational facilities for their children is also considered to be one of the main reasons behind the increasing stress levels among Army personnel, they said.

In view of these considerations, a Parliamentary Standing Committee has recommended opening of additional schools for wards of Army personnel as due to their frequent postings, each child generally has school education in at least 5-6 institutions.

The Army runs these schools from its own welfare funds and doesn't use any kind of public money for doing so, the sources said.

The force is subsidising the education in these schools from its own welfare funds and they are run on a no-profit no-loss basis, they said.

On the issue of using Defence Ministry land for building these schools, the sources said the provision of schools on these plots is as per the Key Location Plan (KLP) or the Army Modernisation Works Plan (AMWP).
  Army opposes reservation in its schools under RTE Act
NEW DELHI: The Army is opposing implementation of 25 per cent reservation for children of weaker and disadvantaged groups in its around 150 schools under the Right to Education Act, saying it will hamper the educational prospects of wards of its own personnel.

A letter in this regard has been sent to the Defence Ministry by the Army Headquarters, Army sources told reporters here.
The 1.3 million-strong force runs around 150 schools across the cantonments in the country.

The stand in this regard was taken some time back and the government has been apprised about the reasons behind it, they said.

This position has been taken in view of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 which makes it compulsory for every private unaided school to admit at least 25 per cent in its entry level class children belonging to weaker and disadvantaged groups.

Explaining the reasons for opposing the provision of reservation, Army sources said this would deprive "our own wards of quality education in our schools".

"Already, there is a lot of pressure on our schools and giving away 25 per cent seats to civilian children will deprive an equal number of wards of Army personnel of good education," they said.

As per a Supreme Court ruling, Army personnel are deemed to be disadvantaged group with regard to education of their children, the sources said.

Lack of proper educational facilities for their children is also considered to be one of the main reasons behind the increasing stress levels among Army personnel, they said.

In view of these considerations, a Parliamentary Standing Committee has recommended opening of additional schools for wards of Army personnel as due to their frequent postings, each child generally has school education in at least 5-6 institutions.

The Army runs these schools from its own welfare funds and doesn't use any kind of public money for doing so, the sources said.

The force is subsidising the education in these schools from its own welfare funds and they are run on a no-profit no-loss basis, they said.

On the issue of using Defence Ministry land for building these schools, the sources said the provision of schools on these plots is as per the Key Location Plan (KLP) or the Army Modernisation Works Plan (AMWP).
  Three minor girls killed as mud caves in

ETAH (UP): Three minor girls were killed today when a mound of mud caved in Nayagaon area near here, police said.
The girls were digging mud when the accident occurred in Alipur village this afternoon, they said.

The victims were identified as Najnin (12), Momin (10) and Neha (12), they said.

Further probes are on, they added.
  Three minor girls killed as mud caves in

ETAH (UP): Three minor girls were killed today when a mound of mud caved in Nayagaon area near here, police said.
The girls were digging mud when the accident occurred in Alipur village this afternoon, they said.

The victims were identified as Najnin (12), Momin (10) and Neha (12), they said.

Further probes are on, they added.

Abducted Iranians released in Libya
P

Tripoli: Seven Iranian aid workers, who were abducted by unidentified people and detained for over two months in Libya, have been set free, Iran's Ambassador to Libya Hussein Akbari said.

The Iranians, who were freed Saturday, are from the Red Crescent Society of Iran, Xinhua reported.

They had been taken from their vehicle by unidentified kidnappers in Libya's eastern city of Benghazi, according to the Libyan branch of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The organisation had urged the kidnappers to release the workers, stressing that they were official guests to help the Libyan city in its relief efforts after the collapse of the Muammar Gaddafi regime.

The driver of the Iranian team, a Libyan volunteer, had not been kidnapped, the report said.
 

Abducted Iranians released in Libya
P

Tripoli: Seven Iranian aid workers, who were abducted by unidentified people and detained for over two months in Libya, have been set free, Iran's Ambassador to Libya Hussein Akbari said.

The Iranians, who were freed Saturday, are from the Red Crescent Society of Iran, Xinhua reported.

They had been taken from their vehicle by unidentified kidnappers in Libya's eastern city of Benghazi, according to the Libyan branch of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The organisation had urged the kidnappers to release the workers, stressing that they were official guests to help the Libyan city in its relief efforts after the collapse of the Muammar Gaddafi regime.

The driver of the Iranian team, a Libyan volunteer, had not been kidnapped, the report said.
 

CPI(M) demands rollback of petroleum prices

Thiruvananthapuram: CPI(M) in Kerala today warned of a state-wide stir if the Centre failed to rollback prices of petroleum products and fix the LPG cylinder quota at least to 12 per family in a year.

'The UPA at the Centre while doing away with subsidy on LPG and other goods, is sanctioning huge concessions to
corporates in the country,' CPI-M State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters here.

The lives of people have become miserable due to price rise of essential commodities as a consequence to the hike in
petroleum products and shortage of LPG cylinders, he said. As part of the agitation, CPI-M activists would hold a
protest march to LPG bottling plants in the state and to LPG cylinder distributing agencies on October 10.

He alleged that both the governments at the Centre and state were neglecting the problems of the people.

Stating that there was no jusitification for hike in price of petrol and diesel, Vijayan pointed out that all Oil Companies have registered huge profits last year.

Profit of ONGC was Rs 25,123 crore while IOC's was Rs 4,265 crores, HPCL's Rs 911 crore and Bharat Petroleum Rs 1,516
crore, he said. 'What is the need for price hike as the oil companies are making profit', he asked.

The total tax revenue from the petroleum sector to the government last year stood at Rs 2.25 lakh crore, he said.

'If government is getting a huge amount as tax from the sector, what prevents the government from providing a certain
subsidy to the common man?', he asked.

On the ongoing dharna by women members of Kudumabshree Protection Samithi in front of the secretariat, Vijayan said
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy should take the initiative to resolve the stir.

He demanded an imparitial probe into the financial dealings of Micro Fin Corporation formed by Janashree Mission,
a pro-congress Organisation.

An attempt was underway to throttle the functioning of Kudumashree, a women self-help group carrying out poverty
alliviation programmes, he said.

Janashree Mission is an organisation floated by the part of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

Vijayan also wanted government to withdraw sanction of Rs 114 crore to Janashree Mission, run by Congress spokesman M M
Hassan and alleged that the amount was sanctioned floating
norms. PTI

CPI(M) demands rollback of petroleum prices

Thiruvananthapuram: CPI(M) in Kerala today warned of a state-wide stir if the Centre failed to rollback prices of petroleum products and fix the LPG cylinder quota at least to 12 per family in a year.

'The UPA at the Centre while doing away with subsidy on LPG and other goods, is sanctioning huge concessions to
corporates in the country,' CPI-M State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters here.

The lives of people have become miserable due to price rise of essential commodities as a consequence to the hike in
petroleum products and shortage of LPG cylinders, he said. As part of the agitation, CPI-M activists would hold a
protest march to LPG bottling plants in the state and to LPG cylinder distributing agencies on October 10.

He alleged that both the governments at the Centre and state were neglecting the problems of the people.

Stating that there was no jusitification for hike in price of petrol and diesel, Vijayan pointed out that all Oil Companies have registered huge profits last year.

Profit of ONGC was Rs 25,123 crore while IOC's was Rs 4,265 crores, HPCL's Rs 911 crore and Bharat Petroleum Rs 1,516
crore, he said. 'What is the need for price hike as the oil companies are making profit', he asked.

The total tax revenue from the petroleum sector to the government last year stood at Rs 2.25 lakh crore, he said.

'If government is getting a huge amount as tax from the sector, what prevents the government from providing a certain
subsidy to the common man?', he asked.

On the ongoing dharna by women members of Kudumabshree Protection Samithi in front of the secretariat, Vijayan said
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy should take the initiative to resolve the stir.

He demanded an imparitial probe into the financial dealings of Micro Fin Corporation formed by Janashree Mission,
a pro-congress Organisation.

An attempt was underway to throttle the functioning of Kudumashree, a women self-help group carrying out poverty
alliviation programmes, he said.

Janashree Mission is an organisation floated by the part of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

Vijayan also wanted government to withdraw sanction of Rs 114 crore to Janashree Mission, run by Congress spokesman M M
Hassan and alleged that the amount was sanctioned floating
norms. PTI

Israeli jets shoot down unidentified drone


Jerusalem: The Israel Air Force intercepted and shot down a drone that had penetrated the country's airspace, the military said.

A military spokesman told Xinhua that two fighter jets were sent from a southern air base, after a ground control station identified the drone.

The drone was shot down over the Yatir forest in the Negev region.

Military spokesman Capt. Roni Kaplan said they could not tell from where the drone originated and what its objective was.

The military said the drone was initially spotted entering Israeli airspace from the Mediterranean Sea and heading south.

A report in the Jerusalem Post said the UAV flew over West Bank settlements and military bases before it was downed.

Troops were checking the area where the drone was shot down in a bid to locate debris that could shed light on its origin and objective, Kaplan said.

Media outlets speculated that the drone was sent to collect intelligence or crash into an Israeli town or military installation.

The Ha'aretz daily said the incident was the fourth of its kind in the past decade.

Small drones had previously crossed into Israel from its northern border with Lebanon, and were presumably operated by the Hezbollah, the report said.

The military did not rule out the possibility that militant groups in the Gaza Strip could be behind the incident.

Israeli jets shoot down unidentified drone


Jerusalem: The Israel Air Force intercepted and shot down a drone that had penetrated the country's airspace, the military said.

A military spokesman told Xinhua that two fighter jets were sent from a southern air base, after a ground control station identified the drone.

The drone was shot down over the Yatir forest in the Negev region.

Military spokesman Capt. Roni Kaplan said they could not tell from where the drone originated and what its objective was.

The military said the drone was initially spotted entering Israeli airspace from the Mediterranean Sea and heading south.

A report in the Jerusalem Post said the UAV flew over West Bank settlements and military bases before it was downed.

Troops were checking the area where the drone was shot down in a bid to locate debris that could shed light on its origin and objective, Kaplan said.

Media outlets speculated that the drone was sent to collect intelligence or crash into an Israeli town or military installation.

The Ha'aretz daily said the incident was the fourth of its kind in the past decade.

Small drones had previously crossed into Israel from its northern border with Lebanon, and were presumably operated by the Hezbollah, the report said.

The military did not rule out the possibility that militant groups in the Gaza Strip could be behind the incident.

50 dead as Syria rebels take border town

Damascus: Nearly 50 soldiers and rebels were killed today in clashes near Syria's northern border, as Turkey hit back against what it said was new mortar fire from inside Syria.

Damascus, for its part, said four Turks were among a convoy of 'terrorists' killed in the heart of Aleppo, just hours after UN condemnation of deadly jihadist bombings in the country's commercial capital.

Forty government soldiers and nine rebels were killed when rebels took a town in the northwestern province of Idlib near
the border, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

'The clashes at Khirbat al Joz ended when fighters of the rebel brigades took control of the area,' said the Britain
based watchdog.

'The fighting lasted more than 12 hours and resulted in at least 40 dead among the regular forces, including five
officers, and nine (rebel) fighters,' it added after earlier reporting 25 soldiers and three rebels dead.

Turkish officials said they were sure a mortar round that struck this morning was fired by pro government forces
in Syria, and not rebels who have been fighting for nearly 19 months to oust President Bashar al Assad.

It prompted fresh retaliatory fire after reprisals on Wednesday and Thursday for the previous shelling, the Hatay
provincial governor's office said.

'A mortar round struck today at 7:00 am about 50 metres (yards) inside Turkish territory in an open space about 700
metres from the village of Guvecci and about 300 metres from a police station.'

No casualties were reported.

The Turkish army responded with four mortar rounds, the governor's office said, adding that the Syrian fire had come
from loyalists who were firing at rebels near the border.
(AFP)

50 dead as Syria rebels take border town

Damascus: Nearly 50 soldiers and rebels were killed today in clashes near Syria's northern border, as Turkey hit back against what it said was new mortar fire from inside Syria.

Damascus, for its part, said four Turks were among a convoy of 'terrorists' killed in the heart of Aleppo, just hours after UN condemnation of deadly jihadist bombings in the country's commercial capital.

Forty government soldiers and nine rebels were killed when rebels took a town in the northwestern province of Idlib near
the border, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

'The clashes at Khirbat al Joz ended when fighters of the rebel brigades took control of the area,' said the Britain
based watchdog.

'The fighting lasted more than 12 hours and resulted in at least 40 dead among the regular forces, including five
officers, and nine (rebel) fighters,' it added after earlier reporting 25 soldiers and three rebels dead.

Turkish officials said they were sure a mortar round that struck this morning was fired by pro government forces
in Syria, and not rebels who have been fighting for nearly 19 months to oust President Bashar al Assad.

It prompted fresh retaliatory fire after reprisals on Wednesday and Thursday for the previous shelling, the Hatay
provincial governor's office said.

'A mortar round struck today at 7:00 am about 50 metres (yards) inside Turkish territory in an open space about 700
metres from the village of Guvecci and about 300 metres from a police station.'

No casualties were reported.

The Turkish army responded with four mortar rounds, the governor's office said, adding that the Syrian fire had come
from loyalists who were firing at rebels near the border.
(AFP)

2012, ഒക്‌ടോബർ 6, ശനിയാഴ്‌ച

Chavez’s socialist rule at risk as Venezuelans vote
Caracas: Venezuelans vote on Sunday with President Hugo Chavez facing the biggest electoral challenge yet to his socialist rule from a young rival tapping into discontent over crime and cronyism. 

Henrique Capriles, a centrist state governor, edged toward the still popular Chavez in final polls thanks to a vigorous campaign that united the opposition and made him its best chance of ending Chavez's 14-year rule. 
Chavez has used record oil revenue to support ideological allies around the world, while preaching a fiercely anti-U.S. 

line, so the election will be watched eagerly from the United States to Belarus and Iran.  
Across the poor neighborhoods where the flamboyant former soldier draws his most fervent following, loyalists prepared to blow bugles and trumpets in a predawn wake-up call for voters.  

Opposition sympathizers banged pots and pans in a protest against Chavez on Saturday night, creating a racket in the upscale neighborhoods of eastern Caracas. In the city center, which is more pro-government, the noise was drowned out by supporters playing his campaign music and shouting his name. 

"I ask political actors from the left, right and center to prepare emotionally to accept tomorrow's results. It 's not going to be the end of the world for anyone," Chavez said at a last- m i nute new s con ference at the presidential palace. 

The 58-year-old president staged a remarkable comeback from cancer this year. But he could not match the energy of past campaigns - or the pace set by his 40-year-old basketball-loving opponent.  
Most well-known pollsters put Chavez in front. But two have Capriles just ahead, and his numbers have crept up in others.  

There is a risk of violence if the result is contested.  

There will be no formal international observers, al though Venezuela invited a delegation of the UNASUR group of South American nations to "accompany" the vote. 

Local groups will be monitoring and both sides say they trust the electronic, fingerprint vote system. The opposition says it will have witnesses at all of the 13,810 polling centers from tiny Amazon villages to tough Caracas slums. 

Capriles geared up on Saturday for the vote by hiking a mountain trail at the edge of Caracas that is popular with athletic Venezuelans. He donned running clothes and mirrored sunglasses, and posed for pictures with supporters. 

Chavez spent about half an hour in the evening speaking to reporters alongside members of the UNASUR delegation, headed by an Argentine politician. Asked by one reporter if he wanted to stay in office beyond 2018, he glibly replied, " T wenty years is nothing," in reference to a popular Argentine tango song. 
Capriles shot back via Twitter. "Right now some people continue with the same n onsense and the same stories as always, the difference is this time they're on their way out!" In a politically polarized country where firearms are common and the murder rate is one of the highest in the world, tensions have risen alongside weeks of tough campaign rhetoric, and both camps are vowing to "defend" their votes.  

CAPRILES WOULD FACE BIG CHALLENGES Chavez accuses the opposition of plotting violence and planning to "reject the people's triumph" when he wins, but says that effort will be defeated. Some opposition activists fear he could refuse to step down if the result goes against him.  

Victory for Capriles would remove the most vocal critic of the United States in Latin America, and could lead to new deals for oil companies in an OPEC nation that pumps about 3 million barrels a day and boasts the world's biggest crude reserves.  

Capriles wants to copy Brazil's model of respect for private enterprise with strong social welfare programs if he is elected - but he would face enormous challenges from day one.  

For a start, he would not take office until January 2013, meaning Chavez loyalists might throw obstacles in the way of the transition.  

He also would have to develop a plan to tackle entrenched high inflation, price distortions and an over-valued currency, while surely butting heads with the National Assembly, judiciary and state oil company PDVSA - all dominated by Chavez loyalists. 

Another big task would be to figure out the real level of state finances. Last month, a Reuters investigation found that half of public investment went into a secretive off-budget fund controlled by Chavez and had no oversight by Congress.  

The president has denounced his foes as traitors and told voters they plan to cancel his signature social "missions," which range from subsidized food stores to programs that build houses and pay cash stipends to poor women with children.  

Tens of thousands of new homes have been handed over this year, often to tearful Chavez supporters at televised events.  

If Chavez wins, he can consolidate his control over Venezuela's economy and continue his support for leftist governments across Latin America, as well as allies farther afield such as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Syria's Bashar al-Assad, and Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus.  

Any recurrence of Chavez's cancer would be a big blow to his plan, however, and could give the opposition another chance.  

The election will be watched closely in more than a dozen countries, including communist-led Cuba, which benefit from discounted oil sales from Venezuela.  

Investors who have made Venezuela's bonds some of the most widely traded emerging market debt, are also on tenterhooks. 

"Many investors have in recent weeks taken a more cautious/defensive tone," Goldman Sachs said in a research note. 

"There is a perception that a tight electoral outcome may trigger social and political unrest and market volatility." Voting runs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (1030-2230 GMT), although polls will stay open later if there are lines. 

Results are due any time starting late on Sunday evening.  

The electoral authority says it will only announce the results once there is an "irreversible trend" and parties are barred from declaring victory in advance of that announcement.
Chavez’s socialist rule at risk as Venezuelans vote
Caracas: Venezuelans vote on Sunday with President Hugo Chavez facing the biggest electoral challenge yet to his socialist rule from a young rival tapping into discontent over crime and cronyism. 

Henrique Capriles, a centrist state governor, edged toward the still popular Chavez in final polls thanks to a vigorous campaign that united the opposition and made him its best chance of ending Chavez's 14-year rule. 
Chavez has used record oil revenue to support ideological allies around the world, while preaching a fiercely anti-U.S. 

line, so the election will be watched eagerly from the United States to Belarus and Iran.  
Across the poor neighborhoods where the flamboyant former soldier draws his most fervent following, loyalists prepared to blow bugles and trumpets in a predawn wake-up call for voters.  

Opposition sympathizers banged pots and pans in a protest against Chavez on Saturday night, creating a racket in the upscale neighborhoods of eastern Caracas. In the city center, which is more pro-government, the noise was drowned out by supporters playing his campaign music and shouting his name. 

"I ask political actors from the left, right and center to prepare emotionally to accept tomorrow's results. It 's not going to be the end of the world for anyone," Chavez said at a last- m i nute new s con ference at the presidential palace. 

The 58-year-old president staged a remarkable comeback from cancer this year. But he could not match the energy of past campaigns - or the pace set by his 40-year-old basketball-loving opponent.  
Most well-known pollsters put Chavez in front. But two have Capriles just ahead, and his numbers have crept up in others.  

There is a risk of violence if the result is contested.  

There will be no formal international observers, al though Venezuela invited a delegation of the UNASUR group of South American nations to "accompany" the vote. 

Local groups will be monitoring and both sides say they trust the electronic, fingerprint vote system. The opposition says it will have witnesses at all of the 13,810 polling centers from tiny Amazon villages to tough Caracas slums. 

Capriles geared up on Saturday for the vote by hiking a mountain trail at the edge of Caracas that is popular with athletic Venezuelans. He donned running clothes and mirrored sunglasses, and posed for pictures with supporters. 

Chavez spent about half an hour in the evening speaking to reporters alongside members of the UNASUR delegation, headed by an Argentine politician. Asked by one reporter if he wanted to stay in office beyond 2018, he glibly replied, " T wenty years is nothing," in reference to a popular Argentine tango song. 
Capriles shot back via Twitter. "Right now some people continue with the same n onsense and the same stories as always, the difference is this time they're on their way out!" In a politically polarized country where firearms are common and the murder rate is one of the highest in the world, tensions have risen alongside weeks of tough campaign rhetoric, and both camps are vowing to "defend" their votes.  

CAPRILES WOULD FACE BIG CHALLENGES Chavez accuses the opposition of plotting violence and planning to "reject the people's triumph" when he wins, but says that effort will be defeated. Some opposition activists fear he could refuse to step down if the result goes against him.  

Victory for Capriles would remove the most vocal critic of the United States in Latin America, and could lead to new deals for oil companies in an OPEC nation that pumps about 3 million barrels a day and boasts the world's biggest crude reserves.  

Capriles wants to copy Brazil's model of respect for private enterprise with strong social welfare programs if he is elected - but he would face enormous challenges from day one.  

For a start, he would not take office until January 2013, meaning Chavez loyalists might throw obstacles in the way of the transition.  

He also would have to develop a plan to tackle entrenched high inflation, price distortions and an over-valued currency, while surely butting heads with the National Assembly, judiciary and state oil company PDVSA - all dominated by Chavez loyalists. 

Another big task would be to figure out the real level of state finances. Last month, a Reuters investigation found that half of public investment went into a secretive off-budget fund controlled by Chavez and had no oversight by Congress.  

The president has denounced his foes as traitors and told voters they plan to cancel his signature social "missions," which range from subsidized food stores to programs that build houses and pay cash stipends to poor women with children.  

Tens of thousands of new homes have been handed over this year, often to tearful Chavez supporters at televised events.  

If Chavez wins, he can consolidate his control over Venezuela's economy and continue his support for leftist governments across Latin America, as well as allies farther afield such as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Syria's Bashar al-Assad, and Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus.  

Any recurrence of Chavez's cancer would be a big blow to his plan, however, and could give the opposition another chance.  

The election will be watched closely in more than a dozen countries, including communist-led Cuba, which benefit from discounted oil sales from Venezuela.  

Investors who have made Venezuela's bonds some of the most widely traded emerging market debt, are also on tenterhooks. 

"Many investors have in recent weeks taken a more cautious/defensive tone," Goldman Sachs said in a research note. 

"There is a perception that a tight electoral outcome may trigger social and political unrest and market volatility." Voting runs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (1030-2230 GMT), although polls will stay open later if there are lines. 

Results are due any time starting late on Sunday evening.  

The electoral authority says it will only announce the results once there is an "irreversible trend" and parties are barred from declaring victory in advance of that announcement.
FIIs pump over Rs 3,300 cr in stocks
New Delhi: Overseas investors poured in more than Rs 3,300 crore in the country's stock market last week as the government continued with its reforms to boost economic growth and investor sentiment.

During October 1-5, FIIs were gross buyers of shares worth Rs 13,094 crore, while they sold equities amounting to Rs 9,714 crore translating into net inflow of Rs 3,381 crore (USD 645 million), according to the data available with market regulator Sebi (Securities and Exchange Board of India). 

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) investment in the country's equity market has reached Rs 85,711 crore (USD 16.50 billion) so far this year. 

Market experts believe that FIIs continued their bullish stance on the equity market as the government progressed with its reform initiatives to boost economic growth and investor sentiment. They also expects FII inflows into the country to rise. 

"The Cabinet approval for 49 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in insurance and FDI in pension sector have further boosted overseas investors' sentiments last month have further pushed overseas investors to pour money in the equity market," CNI Research Head Kishor Ostwal said. 

Wellindia Vice President Research Vivek Negi said," the foreign fund inflows into domestic equity continued on the government's reform measures and I hope it will continue in the coming months as well." 
Apart from equity, FIIs also infused Rs 1,382 crore in the debt market so far this month. 

The huge foreign inflows have been pushing stock indices higher with the BSE's benchmark Sensex rising by 176 points last week to settle at 18,938.46 points on Friday. 

As on October 5, the number of registered FIIs in the country stood at 1,753 and total number of sub-accounts were 6,329 during the same period.  
FIIs pump over Rs 3,300 cr in stocks
New Delhi: Overseas investors poured in more than Rs 3,300 crore in the country's stock market last week as the government continued with its reforms to boost economic growth and investor sentiment.

During October 1-5, FIIs were gross buyers of shares worth Rs 13,094 crore, while they sold equities amounting to Rs 9,714 crore translating into net inflow of Rs 3,381 crore (USD 645 million), according to the data available with market regulator Sebi (Securities and Exchange Board of India). 

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) investment in the country's equity market has reached Rs 85,711 crore (USD 16.50 billion) so far this year. 

Market experts believe that FIIs continued their bullish stance on the equity market as the government progressed with its reform initiatives to boost economic growth and investor sentiment. They also expects FII inflows into the country to rise. 

"The Cabinet approval for 49 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in insurance and FDI in pension sector have further boosted overseas investors' sentiments last month have further pushed overseas investors to pour money in the equity market," CNI Research Head Kishor Ostwal said. 

Wellindia Vice President Research Vivek Negi said," the foreign fund inflows into domestic equity continued on the government's reform measures and I hope it will continue in the coming months as well." 
Apart from equity, FIIs also infused Rs 1,382 crore in the debt market so far this month. 

The huge foreign inflows have been pushing stock indices higher with the BSE's benchmark Sensex rising by 176 points last week to settle at 18,938.46 points on Friday. 

As on October 5, the number of registered FIIs in the country stood at 1,753 and total number of sub-accounts were 6,329 during the same period.