Tendulkar's photo on Eden tickets?

This could be a prized memorabilia and one day will be worth a lot more than it cost. The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) plans to have a portrait sketch of Sachin Tendulkar on the tickets for the legend’s 199th and penultimate match of his career to be played at the Eden Gardens from November 6.

However, it will be confirmed after CAB gets permission from the Board of Control for Cricket in India to go ahead in their endeavour.

And this has struck the right chord with the Kolkatans, many of whom have a penchant for collecting stamps.

“After all, these two Tests are going to be exceptional and high on emotions. We want to take this match ticket to the level of being called a memorabilia,” said CAB treasurer Biswarup Dey.

“If this happens, it is going to be the first time in the history of Eden Gardens that a ticket will carry an image of a cricketer playing in the match,” he said adding, “We would have done the same for Sourav (Ganguly) but unfortunately his last match was not here.”

In the meanwhile, the sale of tickets has caused an uproar among the Kolkatans. The counters have been shut to avoid stampede and barely 5,000 tickets – out of the 68,000 capacity – will be made available and that too, online.

“Kolkata is not that tech-savvy. They are not too fond of buying tickets online as they enjoy waiting in the queue for long hours. This has been the culture but we couldn’t help this time,” he added.

Recently, commentator Harsha Bhogle had tweeted criticising the cricket administration’s policy of reserving tickets for members and patrons and said it was unfair to the general public.

Dey cleared the air by talking about the system at Eden. “We have 30,000 general members who pay a yearly fee. They are also public. There are categories – some pay Rs 75 a year, the others Rs 150. Everyone is public.”

“We also have affiliated units through which tickets are distributed- class, districts, universities and offices. Ultimately, the tickets reach the common people only.”

Among other plans, the CAB is discussing the guest list for the Test match. “Names like Brian Lara are being discussed but nothing will be final before next week,” said Dey.

However, CAB President Jagmohan Dalmiya is not to keen on discussing as to how he plans to make it memorable for Sachin Tendulkar. “You have to wait till Tuesday. If we make all our plans public, there will be no excitement later on,” he told dna.

About the idea of having Sachin’s image on the ticket, he said: “I will be in a position to comment once it is approved by the board.”

More: http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/1905591/report-tendulkar-s-photo-on-eden-tickets

Aditya still has some way to go

What does it mean for Indian snooker that Aditya Mehta has become the first Indian to make the final of a ranking tournament in the pro circuit?

Is it a premature to get excited, considering that the Indian Open isn't exactly the World Championship? Or could this be a potential watershed for the sport in the country, or at least the start of something big for Mehta?

There are a few factors about Mehta's run that make one optimistically inclined. The Indian Open is one of the season's 13 ranking tournaments, and has featured most of the top-ranked players. Mehta, ranked 71, did not have an easy draw. He had to knock out two World Champions (Peter Ebdon and Mark Williams), and a top-five player (Stephen Maguire, tipped by Ronnie O'Sullivan to be a future World Champion), to say nothing of Pankaj Advani, to make the final.

This may have been his best tour result, but there is reason to think that Mehta will get better. He has already spent a few seasons in the pro circuit and has, arguably, gotten the bedding-in period out of the way. At 28, he will be at his best in the the near future — he has at least three or four years in which he will be at his prime, according to Yasin Merchant, India's first professional snooker player.

Also, Mehta has also been a confidence player, and this performance is sure to have a positive effect on his game. That said, here are the sobering facts. Mehta was blanked in the final, and there was a clear gulf in class between him and World No. 4 Ding Junhui. Except for the final, all rounds of the Indian Open were contested over seven frames, making upsets likelier. Such a feat as Mehta's in the Indian Open will be difficult to replicate in a World Championship, where even the first round is contested over 19 frames.

It may be no coincidence that his best performance has come at home. Replicating it on the tour (if only to tell himself that this was no one-off performance), in an unfamiliar, alien environment, is always going to be tougher.

In just 10 days' time he will play the International Championships, and in a way Mehta will have to prove himself all over again.

More: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/aditya-still-has-some-way-to-go/1184556/2

Pradeep Sangwan slapped with 18-month ban for doping offence

Delhi pacer Pradeep Sangwan has been banned for 18 months for failing a random dope test during the Indian Premier League earlier this year. Sangwan, who plays for Kolkata Knight Riders, will not be able to play competitive cricket till November 5, 2014. According to a Board of Control for Cricket in India press release, the ban is effective May 6, 2013.

The ban was recommended by the BCCI's Anti-Doping Tribunal which concluded its deliberation on October 1. A written decision by the tribunal was received on Friday. The tribunal has found that Sangwan committed an anti-doping violation under Article 2.1 of the Code for the presence of the prohibited substance stanozolol, an anabolic steroid.

A promising left-arm seamer, 22-year-old Sangwan is only the second cricketer in the history of IPL after Pakistani speedster Mohammad Asif to have been found guilty of consuming banned drugs. Sangwan, who played a stellar role in India's victorious U-19 World Cup campaign in 2008, plays for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy and represented Kolkata Knight Riders during the last two editions of the IPL. He has taken 123 wickets in 38 first-class matches.

More: http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/news/215799-pradeep-sangwan-slapped-with-18-month-ban-for-doping-offence

Gopinath Munde seeks stay on MCA polls

Senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde on Friday approached the City civil court seeking a stay on the Mumbai Cricket Associations (MCA)’s elections held on Friday. According to Munde, the entire process of the polls was malafide, and was only to facilitate Sharad Pawar. The matter will come up for hearing on Saturday.

Munde’s lawyer Vivekanand Gupta said the contention to move the court was that the MCA had rejected Munde’s application on baseless grounds.

“ MCA while rejecting the application held that since Munde is a permanent resident of Beed and doesn’t belong to Mumbai, hence he cannot contest the MCA elections.

“It was shocking for us, as MCA had willingly allowed late Vilasrao Deshmukh to contest the same and preside as a president of MCA between 2011-2013. Even Vilasrao was not Mumbai based, and his permanent address was of Latur.

More: http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/1905597/report-gopinath-munde-seeks-stay-on-mca-polls

Saif, Jimmy bond over food and fitness on 'Bullett Raja' sets

Actors Saif Ali Khan and Jimmy Shergill, who will be seen together in 'Bullett Raja', bonded over gourmet food and gymming during their shoot for the film. The long shooting schedule in Lucknow and Kolkata which went on for a couple of months, gave both the actors quite a lot of time to spend on and off the sets.

 "Saif and Jimmy both are very passionate about working out. The team was asked to give them a break in the evening so that they could go to the gym. Apart from discussing about their daily regime in the gym the boys were seen discussing about their love for the Lucknowi food, films, gadgets and much more," a source said. Saif Ali Khan and Jimmy Shergill have earlier worked together on films like 'Eklavya' and 'Hum Tum'. 

Saif and Jimmy have earlier worked together on films like 'Eklavya' and 'Hum Tum'. Besides the two, the Tigmanshu Dhulia film also stars Sonakshi Sinha, Vidyut Jamwal, Gulshan Grover, Raj Babbar and Chunky Pandey in pivotal roles. The action drama is all set to release on November 29.

Read more at: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/saif-jimmy-bond-over-food-and-fitness-on-bullett-raja-sets/429241-8-66.html?utm_source=ref_article

L&T surprises positively despite 14% profit fall

Infrastructure behemoth Larsen & Toubro (L&T) on Friday reported a 14% degrowth in profit after tax (PAT) for the quarter ended September at Rs 978 crore.

The performance, which came despite a challenging domestic business environment, was higher than street estimates and lifted the company’s stock 4.19% to Rs 872.35 at close of trading.

Revenue from operations (net sales), though, was up 10% at Rs 14,510 crore – an improvement top company officials attributed to a pick-up in execution of projects.

“Upward trend in order inflow was sustained in the second consecutive quarter of the year,” K Venkataramanan, CEO, L&T, said.

Order inflow at Rs 26,533 crore was up 27%, translating into a cumulative order inflow of Rs 51,692 crore for first half of the fiscal. The order book, at Rs 176,036 crore at the end of September, was up 11% on-year, with the share of international orders at 15%.

“Revenues have improved as compared to first quarter and we have done better in the second quarter with 10% growth. Overall, for half year, the revenues have grown 8%, which is in line with our plans wherein the revenues will continue to gather momentum over the rest of the two quarters to reach the targeted levels of 15% this fiscal,” said R Shankar Raman, whole-time director and CFO, L&T.

Industry experts tracking the company said the numbers were better than expected.

While maintaining a buy on the stock, Rikesh Parikh VP - institution corporate broking, Motilal Oswal Securities, said, “While PAT was ahead of estimate, led by higher other income, Ebitda margin was marginally lower than our estimate of 10%. Order intake was also marginally lower than order intake announced and total first-half order intake stands at 49% of full-year guidance.”

More: http://www.dnaindia.com/money/1905574/report-l-and-t-surprises-positively-despite-14pct-profit-fall

RIL, BP commit $8-10 bn for more work on KG-D6

Reliance Industries (RIL)’s chairman Mukesh Ambani and British Petroleum (BP)’s CEO Bob Dudley, representing their joint venture (JV) that operates the KG-D6 gas and oil basin off the east coast, met the minister concerned, Veerappa Moily, on Friday to sort out matters relating to the delay in getting a higher price for gas produced from the basin.

Canada’s Niko Resources is the minority partner in the 60:30:10 JV with RIL and BP.

The two corporate luminaries promised investment worth $8-10 billion over the next four years in the country’s most prolific hydrocarbon block, production from which has declined drastically in recent times.

Moily appeared satisfied with the duo’s commitment conveyed during the meeting and said that the production from the KG-D6 basin will double in the same period.

“There is only one matter, which we are taking to the CCEA (Cabinet Committee on Economic Affaris). The proposal is being finalised. There is a contract between the government and the contractor (RIL-BP)and all will be done according to the contract,” said Moily.

This is the duo’s first meeting with Moily since February. Then, Ambani and Dudley had raised the issue of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India wanting to do a performance audit of the operators at the KG-D6 basin.

At the time of getting the government contract, it was projected that RIL with its joint venture partners BP and Niko, will reach the gas production level of 80 million metric standard cubic metres per day (mmscmd) by April 2012.

However, in July this year, the JV was producing less than 14 mmscmd of gas. This drastic fall in gas production has resulted in controversial shortfall of gas, affecting key sectors of the industry like power, steel and fertilisers.

Moily did not clarify whether the increase in production would be from the current level of less than 20 mmscmd or would double from the originally projected production of 80 mmscmd.

He did not also clarify whether the investment proposed in Friday’s meeting would be in addition to the current investments or if it would be part of the previous projections.

Even though the CCEA has approved a price of $8.4 million metric British thermal unit (mmBtu) for the operator from April 2014, there have been objections from all political quarters as well as from within the oil ministry against the decision.

The Standing Committee on Finance has reprimanded the government for proposing any hike in the price of gas for the operator before it meets its previous commitment of producing gas at the cost of $4.2 per mmbtu.

After the meeting, BP’s Dudley said that he met senior leaders in the government and discussed issues related to deep water exploration as well.

The gas opera
Oil minister Moily says gas output from the KG-D6 basin will double in the next four years

Ambani, Dudley and Moily met on Friday for the first time since February, following the controversial shortfall in gas supplies that was said to have violated contractual obligations of RIL-BP-Niko towards the government

Key sectors of the industry like power, steel and fertilisers suffered due to shortage of gas
RIL wants the government to accept proposed higher price of KG-D6 gas supplies, but the latter is reluctant to oblige

BP keen to consider deep water exploration as well

More: http://www.dnaindia.com/money/1905577/report-ril-bp-commit-8-10-bn-for-more-work-on-kg-d6

Kim Kardashian targeted for showing off body on Twitter

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian has been bombarded with online abuses after flaunting her post-baby body in a revealing photograph on Twitter. The 32-year-old reality TV star has been deemed a bad example for her three-month-old daughter North, whom she has with boyfriend Kanye West, after she shared a revealing snapshot, reported Contactmusic.

 A post on Twitter read, "What the hell Kim? You are an actual mother. Instead of posting pictures of your precious baby, you post pictures of your body. You should be ashamed of yourself posting this." Another said, "You're a mother, not a prostitute." The 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' star has been trying to shift her pregnancy pounds with the combination of a gruelling exercise regime and the Atkins diet. 

Kim is bombarded with online abuses after flaunting her post-baby body in a revealing photograph on Twitter. While some of her fans were quick to criticise the photograph, which saw her in a one-piece white swimsuit, her boyfriend West was delighted by what he saw. "Heading Home Now," he posted.

Read more at: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/kim-kardashian-targeted-for-showing-off-body-on-twitter/429232-8-67.html?utm_source=ref_article

Shooting History: Additions Required - ‘The Square’ Tries to Keep Up With Unrest in Egypt

“One of the hardest things to figure out is when you’ve really finished a film, when to say stop,” the director Jehane Noujaim said.

She thought she knew: When her latest, “The Square,” a documentary about the Egyptian revolution, played at the Sundance Film Festival in January, it ended with the election the previous June of the Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi as president, replacing Hosni Mubarak after 30 years of authoritarian rule. But history has no respect for filmmakers, and even before the first screening, Ms. Noujaim knew she needed to regroup.

She did, several times as events unfolded. There was a cut for Sundance; another one submitted in the summer to the Toronto International Film Festival; the version that actually played Toronto in September; and the final one opening Oct. 25 in New York (similar to the previous version, with technical tweaks).

“Until this last cut I was never completely satisfied,” Ms. Noujaim said.

In each case the story began in 2011 with anti-Mubarak protesters taking over Tahrir Square in Cairo. The locked version of the film continues through the 2012 election of Mr. Morsi and concludes with the military ousting him in July and the massacre of his supporters at sit-ins in August.

For Ms. Noujaim, an Egyptian-American, the impetus to remake her movie was less about the political process than the evolution of the film’s central characters: Magdy Ashour, a Muslim Brotherhood member, and Ahmed Hassan, a secularist. Originally united against Mr. Mubarak, they found themselves on opposing sides when Mr. Morsi and his pro-Islamist government took over.

“We just had to wait and film another year,” Ms. Noujaim said.

The movie, she said, is done. Here’s a look at its changes over the past two years:

Noujaim Films

The Original Ending

The Sundance version ended with the June 2012 election of Mr. Morsi. “Some people are afraid, but they should give Morsi a chance,” Magdy Ashour, a Muslim Brotherhood member, says in the film, in which he is seen with his son and wears a Morsi T-shirt. Tortured under the Mubarak regime, he was conflicted about the rise of Islamists in the Egyptian government. “If Morsi isn’t able to prove himself, he should leave power,” he says.

Noujaim Films

Debating the Fate of a Revolution

A scene between Mr. Ashour, left, and Ahmed Hassan, right, was dropped, then restored to emphasize their relationship: Mr. Hassan champions a new constitution and new elections and confronts Mr. Ashour over what he sees as a Morsi dictatorship. “Magdy, I love you,” Mr. Hassan says, “but I hate the Brotherhood.” They had been allies earlier in Tahrir Square, but by the winter of 2012 they have parted over Egypt’s direction. “You elected a president, you need to be patient,” Mr. Ashour says.

Noujaim Films

Egypt Aflame

By summer 2013 unrest has ratcheted up, and new footage reflecting the escalating violence is added for the version of the film submitted to the Toronto festival. Mr. Morsi says in a televised address that the time has come to punish his opponents, and another protester, the actor Khalid Abdalla (“The Kite Runner”), understands Mr. Morsi’s words to mean “he’s ordering his people to attack us.” Mr. Abdalla, a Cambridge-educated Egyptian who spent years outside the country, becomes a third main protagonist in “The Square.”

Noujaim Films

Women on the Ramparts

Among the millions who protested the Morsi government on June 30, 2013, a Christian opponent and her Islamic counterpart demonstrate together. Multiple issues are at stake, including the dire economy and the Brotherhood’s Islamist program. Ms. Noujaim said: “You saw that they would stand up against fascism and corruption whether the face of that fascism was Mubarak or the military or the Brotherhood.” The protests were too late to be included in the film submitted to Toronto, but did make the cut shown to festival audiences.

Noujaim Films

Phoning a Friend

Mr. Hassan, above, still unsure of his country’s direction and vowing to remain in the square until a constitutional democracy is established, speaks by phone this August to Mr. Ashour, whose Muslim Brotherhood was on the ropes. “Magdy, as much as I’ve been violent in words, that was just anger speaking. Honestly, I want to come to be with you. After all, this revolution was for a principle, not for blood.” For his part, Mr. Ashour calls the removal from office of Mr. Morsi an affront. “You’re putting our religion on the line,” he says. “You’re challenging our belief in an Islamic country.

Noujaim Films

En Route to a Massacre

In August Mr. Ashour takes part in the pro-Morsi sit-ins. “I’m not here to die or to kill,” he tells Mr. Hassan. But the protests end in bloodshed when army and police forces, at the behest of the military-appointed government, sweep in and kill hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood members. Mr. Ashour was “violently removed” from the scene, but reportedly survived. At the end of the film, Mr. Hassan says he and his fellow demonstrators are not looking for a leader. “Everyone who went to Tahrir is a leader,” he says. “We are looking for a conscience.”

More: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/20/movies/the-square-tries-to-keep-up-with-unrest-in-egypt.html

Kenya attack: Westgate bodies 'likely to be gunmen'

Two charred bodies found in Kenya's Westgate shopping centre are "highly likely" to be a pair of attackers, Kenyan authorities believe.

The BBC's Will Ross has spoken to Ndung'u Gethenji, chairman of the committee investigating the attack, who revealed a third body pulled from the rubble on Thursday was likely to be a soldier.

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24577876

Rashtriya Rifles jawan injured in militant attack

Militants opened fire on the road opening party of 30 Rashtriya Rifles of the army near Handwara town, 80 kms from here, resulting in injuries to one soldier, police said.

An army jawan was today injured when a road opening party of security forces came under attack from militants in Kupwara district of Kashmir.

Militants opened fire on the road opening party of 30 Rashtriya Rifles of the army near Handwara town, 80 kms from here, resulting in injuries to one soldier, police said.

They said the soldier was taken to a military hospital where his condition is stated to be stable.

Soon after the firing, army and police cordoned off the area and launched a manhunt for the assailants.

More: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/1905618/report-rashtriya-rifles-jawan-injured-in-militant-attack

ASI gold hunt: diggers reach 15-cm closer to ‘treasure’

The 12-member team from the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) and Geological Survey of India, digging for '1000-tonne gold’, on Saturday reached 15-cm closer to the 'treasure’ buried at a 19th century fort in an Uttar Pradesh village.

A photo of Raja Rao Ram Bux fort in Unnao district, where ASI will start excavation work to trace hidden treasure of gold. (PTI Photo)

The team comprising of archeologists, geologists and workers began digging a mound in the ruins of the fort built by Raja Rao Ram Baksh Singh, in Duandia Kheda village in Unnao district, 100km from Lucknow, after a meeting with local officials. A seer had dreamt last month about the buried gold and reportedly told union minister Charan Das Mahant about it.

The team of gold diggers is going ahead with its job without modern equipment at Duandia Kheda village in Unnao district. All they have are spades and pickaxes to go about their dream dig, which will take months to reach the estimated 20- metre spot where a “metal-like, non-rocky layup” had been identified during an earth drill on Friday.

Talking to Hindustan Times, ASI’s superintending archeologist PK Mishra said, “I am not sure whether we will find gold there. But, our findings have shown that there is something metallic down there. It could be anything. We will be able to predict it after testing the soil texture as we near the spot.”

Lucknow district magistrate Vijay Kiran Anand too said that the Geological Survey of India’s hand-drawn map did show that there was some valuable metal alloy lying underneath. “But, we are not sure whether it is gold, iron or any other metal,” he told HT.

At present, a joint team of 10 ASI and two GSI men have marked out three 10x10 metre pits around the spot where the drilling had revealed a non-rocky substance 20 metres beneath the surface.

The team has scooped 15 cm sand out of one of the pits, while the digging in other two pits of the same dimensions has yet to begin.

The entire area has been barricaded with bamboo staffs and the three pits have been marked out with ‘colour ropes’. ASI officials said the pit dimension and sand sample details would be notified every after two-metre digging.

The hunt has created curiosity after reports that highly-revered local seer Shobhan Sarkar told Union minister Charan Das Mahant that the country’s financial troubles will ease to a great extent if the gold was excavated and spent on public welfare.

But Unnao district magistrate Vijay Kiran Anand sought to downplay the seer’s prophesy angle, saying the excavation was planned after the Geological Survey of India had noted the presence of some valuable metals beneath the earth at the fort.

Superintending archeologist, Archeological Survey of India’s Lucknow circle, PK Mishra echoed Anand’s sentiment.

“For us even an earthen pot is of immense importance. We are least bothered about gold and we do not work on dreams. We are just following the orders from Delhi,” Mishra said.

He said the presence of a non-rocky substance at the depth of 20-metres noticed during the geological survey was the only “proof” that prompted the excavation.

But Swami Om, Sarkar’s disciple, said his guru has a handwritten map of the GSI, which clearly mentions the presence of a treasure.

And the man behind it all, Sarkar, feels he may have put himself in trouble by prophesying something many will find hard to digest.

“I have written more letters about the presence of gold in Kanpur and Fatehpur districts. But the one in the neighborhood (Unnao) is enough to save our economy,” said the seer.

“I have even asked them to send me behind bars if I am proven wrong,” he said. His followers are equally firm.

“We know that baba’s dream will come true. He has performed many such miracles before,” said Virendra Tiwari, one of the seer’s followers from Barabanki district.

The excavation, expected to take a month, will be filmed, the district magistrate said. Hundreds of local villagers and the seer’s followers in neighbouring districts thronged the site when the digging started.

More: http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Lucknow/ASI-gold-hunt-diggers-reach-15-cm-closer-to-treasure/Article1-1137143.aspx

Lalu in line of fire as AG bats for immediate disqualification of MPs

Putting an end to the uncertainty over the disqualification of MPs Lalu Prasad and Jagdish Sharma, both convicted in the fodder scam case, the law ministry has asked the Lok Sabha secretariat to immediately declare their seats vacant.

The ministry’s advice, based on the opinion of top law officer, attorney general GE Vahanvati, has come on queries posed by the Lok Sabha secretariat on whether MPs can be disqualified before their appeals are finally decided by higher courts.

In a related but separate development, the Rajya Sabha secretariat has set in motion the process to declare the seat of veteran Congress MP Rasheed Masood, who was convicted and sentenced to four years imprisonment in a 22 year-old graft case last month.

Vahanvati, whose opinion was sought twice within a week on the tricky subject, has made it clear that following the July 10 Supreme Court judgment, mandating immediate disqualification of MPs/MLAs convicted for offences punishable with more than two years in jail, there is no scope for any interpretation based on a hypothetical future scenario.

“The question of conviction and sentence being stayed by a higher court while hearing an appeal is not relevant at this juncture. It can be addressed separately as and when that stage arises, at the moment immediate disqualification is the law and it can’t be postponed for any reason,” the AG stated.

He has cautioned the Lok Sabha secretariat that any delay in disqualifying the convicted MPs could lead to “non-compliance of the Supreme Court judgment.” The respective House to which the concerned member belongs will notify the declaration of vacant seats.

More: http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/TheRiseAndRiseAndFallOfLaluPrasad/Lalu-in-line-of-fire-as-AG-bats-for-immediate-disqualification-of-MPs/Article1-1137016.aspx

Toll in Uttar Pradesh illicit liquor tragedy climbs to 37

With 15 more deaths reported early Saturday, the toll rose to 37 in the illicit liquor tragedy in Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh district, making it one of the worst hooch tragedies in the state, police said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadavsuspended 10 people, including the district excise inspector Om Prakash Singh. The state government also ordered a magisterial probe into the incident.

Vishvanath Yadav, the station house officer (SHO) of Mubarakpur, where the incidents took place, was suspended along with beat sub-inspector Rajdev Yadav, constables Pradeep Kumar Yadav, Ramesh Chandra Upadhyaya, Parmanand Yadav and Banke Lal.

Most of the deceased come from lower sections and labour class, officials said.

District Magistrate, Neena Sharma said prima facie the case appeared to be related to the consumption of rectified spirit.

Officials on condition of anonymity said at many local shops, rectified spirit mixed with water was being sold unchecked and at cheap rates.

While moonshine has 42 percent of alcohol, the rectified spirit has intensity varying between 90-95 per cent.

"This is a killer concoction," an official said.

A dozen people had died in Azamgarh in 2008 in a similar hooch tragedy while six people had died in Soyepur village in Varanasi in 2010.

More: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/toll-in-uttar-pradesh-illicit-liquor-tragedy-climbs-to-37/articleshow/24376372.cms

Maldives police stop presidential revote

Maldives sank further into political disarray on Saturday when police blocked officials from conducting a presidential revote, saying that holding the election would violate a Supreme Court order.

The Indian Ocean archipelago nation has only about three weeks before the end of the current president's term, and if his replacement is not elected by then it will spark a constitutional crisis. The high court annulled the results of the September 7 presidential election, agreeing with a losing candidate that the voters' registry included fictitious names and dead people, but it set conditions for a revote that officials appear to have been unable to meet.

Elections Commissioner Fuwad Thowfeek attempted to hold the election as scheduled, but on Saturday morning he said that the ground floor of his building was full of policemen stopping his staff from carrying election material outside. He then called the election off.

A police officer said the election was stopped because the commissioner has not complied with a court order to have the voters' list endorsed by the candidates. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to reporters.

Two candidates did not sign the voters list Friday, saying it needed to be verified for any irregularities, but Thowfeek had said their demands for double-checking the list were impossible to meet in time for the election.

The Supreme Court said in its ruling annulling the September election that a revote must take place before Sunday. It likely will need to issue a new ruling in order for an election to be held before President Mohamed Waheed Hassan's term ends on November 11.

Thowfeek had announced earlier Saturday that he would hold the election on the court's advice, despite the fact that not all candidates had endorsed the list of voters. However, he said later the court did not specifically advise that he conduct the election, but instead asked him to follow the original guidelines, which is open to interpretation.

The Maldives became a democracy five years ago after 30 years of autocratic rule and has had a difficult transition.

Its first democratically elected president, Mohamed Nasheed, was forced to resign last year midway through his term after he ordered the arrest of a senior judge he perceived as corrupt and partial. Nasheed says he was forced out of power by a coup, though an inquiry commission has dismissed his claim.

Nasheed, who finished first in the September balloting but did not win the majority of votes needed to avoid a runoff, had endorsed the voter list. The other candidates, Yaamin Abdul Gayoom, a brother of the country's longtime autocratic leader, and businessman Qasim Ibrahim, who challenged the first-round result in court, did not approve it.

More: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/Maldives-police-stop-presidential-revote/articleshow/24369832.cms

Australia in India Live Score: Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina steady hosts

Australia won the toss and elected to field first against India in the third ODI in Mohali today. Both sides unchanged for this fixture

Live Scorecard: India vs Australia

Pitch Report: Even spread of grass. It will be a better contest between bat and ball. Something in it for the spinners. Field first as the dew will play a part later in the day.

Playing XI

India: S Dhawan, RG Sharma, S Raina, V Kohli, Y Singh, MS Dhoni, R Jadeja, R Ashwin, B Kumar, V Kumar, I Sharma

Australia: A Finch, P Hughes, S Watson, G Bailey, A Voges, G Maxwell, B Haddin, J Faulkner, M Johnson, C McKay, X Doherty

Brief preview

Having made a mockery of the second highest run-chase in the history of limited overs cricket, the Indian team would not like to settle for anything less than an overwhelming win at the PCA Stadium on Saturday.

As for George Bailey and his bunch of committed warriors, the quicker they get over the disappointment of that defeat, better it will be as this Indian team under Mahendra Singh Dhoni's stewardship can decisively seize the momentum from the visitors.

To chase a target of 360 inside 44 overs requires a Herculean effort, and the trio of Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have now proved that no target in the world is safe when they come out all guns blazing at the opposition.

Three immensely talented batsmen have completely different areas of strength but what binds the troika together is their ability to give it back to the opposition as good as they get.

Veerappa Moily on Birla case: India should not become like Russia

As industry voiced concern over the CBI naming industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla in a case, Oil Minister M Veerappa Moily on Friday said investigating agencies and the judiciary must ensure that India does not become like Russia, where investors are not prepared to go and billionaires are put behind bars.

Moily said India is not under "Aurangzeb's rule" but under rule of law, where action has to be taken based on cogent evidence, not just on mere perception.

"I am not here to give a value judgement on that, but at the same time I think the time has come to ensure that whatever we do should be in accordance with strict rule of law. And ultimately, on mere perception you cannot proceed against anybody unless there is cogent evidence to proceed with," he said.

Moily was replying to a question about the CBI naming Hindalco Industries Chairman Birla in an FIR against the aluminium and copper maker as part of its probe into alleged irregularities in the allotment of coal-mining licenses.

Moily said the CBI has proceeded in the matter on certain lines, which, if based on evidence, "nobody can question" but if not, then "we should be careful."

"Because ultimately India cannot become just like Russia, where investors are not prepared to go and billionaires are put behind the bars. That should not happen here," he said.

The job of ensuring that India does not become like Russia rests not just with the government but also with the judiciary and the CBI, he said.

"After all, we are not in the regime of Aurangzeb. We are in the regime of rule of law. When rule of law is concerned it applies to government, it applies to Supreme Court, it applies to everybody.

"If all of us work in accordance with rule of law, if rule of law is implemented, we are all safe, investors are safe, people will be safe," he said.

A joint venture company of Hindalco had received mining licenses for two coal blocks in Odisha in 2005. The CBI on Tuesday said it plans to probe whether the company and its chairman were involved in a criminal conspiracy and irregularities.

Birla is the most prominent businessman to be named in the probe by CBI, which has triggered sharp reactions from the industry. With an estimated wealth of $7.9 billion, Birla was ranked 150 on the Forbes list of world billionaires.

More: http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/veerappa-moily-on-kumar-managalam-birla-in-coal-scam-case/1/199789.html

3-tier dais at Narendra Modi rally to reflect BJP hierarchy?

Buoyed by the recent poll surveys indicating an upsurge in its fortune, the BJP is all set to put its best foot forward when its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi launches his campaign in the Hindi heartland at his first rally here on Saturday.

As the party prepared for the event, what drew attention was the three-tier stage which, observers said, would be indicative of the standing of various leaders in the party's hierarchy. Some say the tiers were meant for the national, state and local leaders, an indication of the 'rift' plaguing the state unit .

While Team Modi had insisted on only a single dais with a handful of state leaders taking space, the unrelenting planners instead got erected three tiers with gap of over three feet between each other.

While the dais in the middle is meant for Modi, the party's guest Kalyan Singh and national BJP chief Rajnath Singh, the one on the left will have MPs, MLAs and former legislators. Similarly, the one on the right will have former office-bearers from the state and other local leaders.

UP's industrial capital has been carefully selected for the purpose as the saffron party is looking to regain its erstwhile bastion which has since been captured by the Congress.

More: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/3-tier-dais-at-Narendra-Modi-rally-to-reflect-BJP-hierarchy/articleshow/24361731.cms?

Ceasefire violations a matter of great concern: Khurshid

Terming the ceasefire violations on the LoC as a matter of serious concern, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Saturday said it is not just an issue of diplomacy but also of military relations and maintained that the government is giving it high priority.

“This is the very thing we want to address. This is not just an issue of diplomacy. This is an issue of military relations. The actual on the ground situation is known to the military on both sides,” Mr. Khurshid told reporters.

Expressing full confidence in the defence forces, the minister said, “We owe a tremendous gratitude to them, both for showing restraint, firmness, determination and for total preparedness to face any onslaught.”

Two BSF jawans were on Friday injured as Pakistani troops opened fire at ten border out posts and civilian areas along the International Border in Jammu and Samba districts.

“I think this is a serious matter -- a matter of great concern to India. We will handle it with the greatest sagacity and firmness to protect the safety and sovereignty of the citizens,” Mr. Khurshid said.

Maintaining that this issue is one of high-priority for the government, Mr. Khurshid said a meeting of the DGMOs of both the countries should be held soon.

Pakistan High Commissioner to India Salman Bashir said both sides should take steps to stabilise the situation on the LoC. “I think this is the understanding, this is the decision of the two Prime Ministers. Pakistan is prepared to do whatever it can to exercise utmost restraint and responsibility. I hope this happens sooner than later,” he said.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had requested the Government to take up this issue firmly with Pakistan.

“It is not clear who is behind this and with what motive this is being done. Some days back our Prime Minister met the Pakistani Prime Minister in New York. They talked about ceasefire violations and it was decided that the army DGMOs of both countries should talk and find a way out,” he had said.

More: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ceasefire-violations-a-matter-of-great-concern-khurshid/article5251111.ece