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ICICI refutes rumours

          Mumbai, Apr 12: The ICICI bank on Saturday dispelled rumours about its bankruptcy which hit major cities in Gujarat on Friday. Commenting on the issue, Kalpana Morpariya, the Executive Director of the bank, said, "This started day before yesterday in Balsar, which is a town in Gujarat, that there could be problems with ICICI bank. This kind of rumour in a state, where people could have lost a fair amount of money with co-operative banks, quickly caught fire. There were excessive withdrawals at some of our branches with ATMs." The rumour had sparked off apparently because of the huge sum the bank has lent to Daewoo Motor India, a company that has been declared sick. Kalpana said that as soon as the news reached the head office, ICICI took stock to ensure availability of adequate cash at all the ATMs.

Kurds start leaving Kirkuk

          Baghdad, Apr 12: Kurdish guerrillas began to pull back from the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk which they seized from Saddam Hussein's regime on Thursday. US forces were increasing their presence to establish control in the city which is a centre of the oil industry in the north. The moves were vital to pacify Turkey which borders northern Iraq and which opposes any move to create an independent Kurdish state in the area. The US-led coalition was also trying to restore calm in cities wracked by violence and looting since the regime lost power.

US to convene first meeting to set up interim Iraq govt (Go To Top)

          Washington, Apr 12: Despite an unresolved internal US split over the imposition of Iraq's interim post-war government, the United States said Friday it would convene the first in a series of meetings to decide on a new administration next week. US officials are to chair the meeting of once-exiled Iraqi opposition members and a variety of indigenous foes of Saddam Hussein on Tuesday near the southern city of Nasiriyah, the State Department said.

           "We expect this to be the first in a series of regional meetings that will provide a forum for Iraqis to discuss their vision of the future and their ideas regarding the Iraqi Interim Authority," spokesman Richard Boucher said. "We hope these meetings will culminate in a nationwide conference that can be held in Baghdad in order to form the Iraqi Interim Authority," he told reporters.

           The conference will be chaired by Zalmay Khalilzad, the White House special representative to the Iraqi opposition, and Ryan Crocker, the deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, who will travel to Nasiriyah at the weekend to prepare the meeting, Boucher said. Also participating will be representatives from the other active military members of the US-led coalition-Australia, Britain and Poland, he said. He stressed that the meeting was not aimed at choosing a new leader for Iraq but merely to explore ideas with various Iraqis on how to establish a responsible and representative self-government.

           The conference would be held at an airbase in Tallil just outside of Nasiriyah and that between 50 and 60 Iraqis would invited to attend. The invitees will represent exile groups, local communities in southern Iraq as well as a number from other areas of the country, the sources said. Earlier in London, a spokesman for one exile group, the Iraqi National Congress (INC), said that one representative from each opposition political movement would be allowed to attend.

Did you find any WMDs in Iraq, Fernandes to US (Go To Top)

          Kolkata, Apr. 12: Defence Minister George Fernandes said on Saturday that Washington's claims about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) had been proved wrong, because US forces had not found such weapons. "It is not proved that what America was saying was not right. In fact, America changed its position constantly ... starting from Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) it finally went to suggest that the President of the country should abdicate and go and seek exile somewhere," Fernandes told a news conference here.

           Fernandes is a former firebrand Socialist who has emerged as a key figure in the Bharatiya Janata Party coalition which rules India. New Delhi, an old friend of Saddam Hussein's Iraq and a Cold War ally of the Soviet Union, said the war on Iraq was avoidable and has called upon the international community to help rebuild the war-ravaged nation. But in recent years India's ties with Washington have warmed. Fernandes also said that India's dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir and the US action in Iraq could not be compared. Earlier this week, Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha said that there was a stronger case for military action against Pakistan than Iraq as nuclear-armed Pakistan had weapons of mass destruction and harboured terrorist groups.

          "Today the ground situation is that the biggest terrorist nation is Pakistan. Al-Qaeda and Taliban activists are there (in Pakistan), terrorists are being given training there ... All this information is being provided by America to the world," Fernandes said.

Germany, France, Russia seek UN role in post-war Iraq (Go To Top)

          Moscow, Apr 12: Germany, France and Russia urged the US- led coalition to allow the United Nations to play a central role in post-war Iraq. Russian President Vladimir Putin held one-hour talks with French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. He said the position of the anti-war trio on Iraq has not changed. "We believe that restoration of civilian life and resolving humanitarian problems should be under the aegis of the United Nations," Putin told journalists in Saint Petersburg. Schroeder also reiterated Berlin's insistence that the transition to a post-Saddam administration be overseen by the United Nations, and urged the US to accept that principle. Reconstruction of Iraq has to happen under the umbrella of the UN, he said, adding: "We need to work out the details with the coalition but first we need to agree on the concept."

           The three European powers had fiercely opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq without UN approval. They are on a fresh collision course with Washington over the best way to handle the aftermath of the war. Putin warned the US-led coalition not to attack other countries under the pretext of promoting capitalist and democratic values after having defeated Iraq's dictatorial regime. The Russian leader told reporters as rumours in Washington alleged that some elements of the US administration are mulling launching military operations against other Middle Eastern states.

           It will end up on a slippery slope to non-ending military conflicts, Putin said at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and French President Jacques Chirac after holding talks with them. Following the demise of the Iraqi regime, top US officials have issued a series of warnings to Syria, which now fears it might be next in line for a new US strike in the Middle East.

SARS fear in villages of Dadar-Nagar Haveli (Go To Top)

          Dadar-Nagar Haveli, Apr 12: Though India is still SARS-free, with most suspected cases turning out to be mere scares, the fear factor is turning out to be a bigger challenge with each passing day. Residents of remote villages in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, about 180 km off Surat city, are reportedly suffering from a mysterious disease which they fear could be severe acute respiratory syndrome that has killed 114 people and infected more than 3,000 people worldwide.

           The disease has mostly affected tribals in small villages like Khadpa, Mandoli and Mamuel. Almost every family in these villages, each consisting of 50 to 100 houses, has at least one person afflicted with the mysterious disease. Local health officials, however, are not taking chances and have rushed medical teams to the affected places. Doctors, however, said they are awaiting test reports before reaching any conclusion - whether the disease is viral at all, and if so, whether it is the deadly SARS virus?

           "At this moment we can't say anything. It is still not clear whether it's a viral fever or not. Tests have been taken and nothing is clear as yet," said Mahal Prakash, a local doctor. What caused panic among the villagers were symptoms quite similar to those of killer pneumonia According to local officials said only one person has died due to the mysterious disease. India has not reported any confirmed SARS patient so far.

SARS death toll 60 in China (Go To Top)

          Beijing, Apr 12: China put its death toll from a mysterious flu-like illness to 60 on Saturday, reporting the first two fatalities in its northern Inner Mongolia region. The two deaths on Friday were among 10 cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome in Inner Mongolia, the official Xinhua News Agency said. It said those infected were members of two families, plus one health care worker. The cases, all in the regional capital of Hohot, were "imported," Xinhua said, meaning the patients were believed to have been infected elsewhere.

          It didn't give any other details about those who died or where they might have contracted the disease. Elsewhere, China has reported 45 deaths in the southern province of Guangdong, where the disease is suspected to have begun. Fatalities also have been reported in the national capital of Beijing, the Guangxi region in the south and the provinces of Shanxi in the north, Sichuan in the west and Hunan in central China.

Prudential Bank director dies in custody (Go To Top)

          Hyderabad, Apr 12: Krishna Kumar, director of the scam- tainted Prudential Co-operative Urban Bank, died in judicial custody on Saturday morning. Just before he breathed his last he had reportedly complained of chest pain. It may be recalled that severe financial irregularities were made against the Bank last month. Following this, Kumar was arrested on April 7 and remanded to judicial custody. Police said 63- year-old Kumar was provided first-aid at Chanchalguda jail where he was lodged. When his condition deteriorated he was shifted to Osmania Government Hospital where he died.

          Bank chairman B. Muralidhar and three other directors were arrested on April 5 on similar charges even as six other directors were still at large. In order to nab the absconding directors, all airports in the country have been put on alert. The Andhra Pradesh unit of CID is investigating the scandal.

Two killed, 71 injured in Orissa clash (Go To Top)

          Rourkela, Apr 12: At least two persons were killed and 71, including 20 policemen, injured in police firing here on Friday night. The incident occurred in Rajgangpur town, near here, when hundreds of Hindus were carrying out a Ramnavami procession through a minority-dominated area. The processionists alleged that someone had thrown stones at them from a rooftop. They demanded immediate action from the police against the culprit. When the police tried to calm down the agitated people they reportedly started pelting stones at the people belonging to another community.

           According to the police, soon the situation turned violent as heavy brick-batting ensued between the two groups of people. Police had to fire 15 rounds to bring under control the agitated people. In the police firing while one person died instantly, the other succumbed to injuries at a local hospital on Saturday. Police said around 71 persons were also injured in the incident.

Donations, devotion and skill for Akal Takht renovation (Go To Top)

          Amritsar, Apr 12: Huge donations from Sikhs all over the world are pouring in to finance beautification and welfare activity around the gurudwara. A project has been initiated at the Akal Takht for renewal of the gold plating on the domes, a massive exercise involving voluntary service or kar sewa in the form of skilled craftsmanship and donations from devotees worth millions.

           The ceremonial gathering at the Takht in the Golden Temple complex will take place before the grand project gets under way. It is to be a near simultaneous beginning to gold laying on the exterior domes of the Akal Takht, and fresco paintings on inner walls of the adjacent Harmandir Sahib, the Golden Temple. Being carried out after 170 years to last for the next 200 and more, the exercise of laying of 24 layers of 24-carat gold leaves is being carried out through a mix of technological precision and skilled hand craftsmanship. Artisans have been invited specially from all parts of Punjab and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

          Copper sheets sprayed with mercury are rubbed with sub-micron thin gold leaves. After the mercury is removed, the final sheen is imparted through massaging with chemicals. Talking to ANI correspondent, Bhai Mohinder Singh, Kar Sewa Jatha leader from Birmingham (UK), says: "The biggest gold-plating project was the 'Dome of the Rock' (in Israel) wherein a proper feasibility report was made on objectives and facilities available before we got to work. For example, the lustre of the gold-plating is very rich. The colour has to be matched exactly. It requires not only tremendous skill but use of technology too."

          In the neigbouring Golden Temple, work is under way on renovation and revitalisation of the frescoes on the inner walls and ceilings, to be carried out in the Akal Takht also. Worn-out and damaged frescoes are being given a facelift with intricate artistry using gold work. Alongside traditional Islamic paintings, new paintings on Sikh history are to come up. Skilled painters using the latest in colour and paint technology have been employed.

           "It is very true that the dedication and skill in the craftsmen of the past is not to be found anymore," says Bhai Mohinder Singh. "Those artisans gave their entire lives doing just this. For example, the flooring directly below the central dome of the Akal Takht, which can't be seen because it is covered by the 'Prakash', is made of the highest quality marble embedded with rich design. Look at it even closely and you won't find a single joint. The colourful stones are so intricately set. A bird pattern has a different colour beak, different colour for the eyes and so on.

          The Golden Temple - Akal Takht complex in Amritsar is the most visited Sikh shrine in the world, over 10,000 devotees coming there everyday from all parts of the world. And each pools in a little bit towards building the whole.

Sikkim asks for more representation in parliament (Go To Top)

          Gangtok, Apr 12: The country's smallest state Sikkim has sought greater representaion in Parliament. At a meeting with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee late on Friday, State Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling sought to double the number of seats in Parliament, and increase the assesmbly seats by 25 percent. Vajpayee is here to spend his four-day summer vacation. Currently, the state is represented by only one seat in each of the two Houses of Parliament, while it has a total number of 32 assembly seats.

          At the meeting Chamling also sought increased Sikkimese participation in national bodies like National Security Advisory Board, Planning Commission, Sangeet and Lalit Kala Akademi and various other social and educational boards. He said to enable full and complete integration of Sikkim and to bring the north-east region into the mainstream Sikkim's role in national commissions including women, minorities, labour, natural resources and environment should be increased. Besides, the chief minister sought SC and OBC status for ethnic communities like Gurung, Mangar, Sunwar, Thami, Rai, Dewan, Jogi and Bhujal. XXXXXXX