SENAPATI, Nov 29: The Naga People’s Organization (NPO) has joined other Naga civil organizations in Manipur to voice against the Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) projected map.

The apex Naga body of Senapati district has termed the claim of the KSDC as 'unacceptable and fabricated'. The NPO has asked the Kuki organization to immediately withdraw the map to prevent confusing among the general public. "Defining and demarcating its boundary without any historical fact are disturbing and provoking. Moreover, claiming its rights over the land which are within the ownership of the Nagas is all the more resenting and immature from the part of the KSDC. Therefore, it is advised that, the KSDC ceases to project all artificial claims for public interest and communal harmony," the NPO advises. “The Nagas in Senapati district since time immemorial have been defending its ancestral identity, land and resources, it will continue to do so if asked for”, it asserted. While respecting the genuine aspirations and movement of KSDC for a separate administration, it should be clear to all, that the Nagas will not part any inch of its ancestral land. Making tall claims without any ownership and historical base will only hamper the pursue for peaceful co-existence of different communities. The NPO advised the KSDC to be instead aware of anti-tribal forces within the State government that seek to jeopardize the peaceful movement of resolving tribal issues in Manipur.

Hitting out at organisations based in the valley the NPO said that commenting on the Nagas and Kukis movements through ethnic lines and past records, such organizations have been instrumental only in inciting communal tension rather than bridging the gap between the difference of tribals and the State Government. The NPO endorses the decision of the UNC for Alternative Arrangement through a peaceful parting with the majority community. It has become inevitable and imminent, it added and said that harmony among the brothers can be achieved with.

"Moreover, the step-motherly attitude of the State Government towards the tribal movement is obvious and visible by past and recent policies in the form of endorsing the communal voice of the valley based organizations which claims to defend the integrity of the state while the  tribals are neglected, discriminated and repressed everyday," the NPO said.

IMPHAL, November 29: India team B (Manipur) lifted the trophy of the 6th Manipur Polo International today.

The 6th Manipur Polo International organized as a part of the Sangai Festival which began on November 24 here at Mapal Kangjaibung, with the participation of six teams, concluded today.

India team B (Manipur) defeated India team A (IPA) with a huge margin of 15-5 goals in the final.

The best pony prize was bagged by India team B player M Jawan’s pony named Chetak alias Kori, the second best pony prize goes to India team B player P Ojit’s pony named Arangba alias Mange Arangba and the third best pony prize goes to India team B player Saratkanta’s pony named Karu.

They were awarded cash prizes of rupees five, three and two thousands respectively.

India team B (Manipur) took the lead by 9-1 till the end of first chukker. In the second chukker, India team B added three more goals, while India team A only manage to score only one goal.

In the third chukker, India team B added another two goals, while India team A manages only one.

In the last and fourth chukker, India team A scored two goals, while India team B scored only one.

P Ojit (4 goals), S Bimol (6 goals), M Jawan (2 goals), T Pradipkumar (2 goals) and Th Kaoba (one goal) scored for India team B (Manipur), while all the five goals of India team A (IPA) were scored by Naveen Singh.

The closing function was attended by Governor Gurbachan Jagat, Social Welfare Minister Ak Mirabai Devi, Parliamentary Secretary, YAS, M Prithiviraj Singh, Agriculture Minister Md Abdul Nasir and Hurlingham Polo Association, England chairman Nicolas Colquhoun Denvers as chief guest, president and guests of honour respectively.

Nicolas Colquhoun Denvers donated rupees two lakh to the organizer, Manipur Horse riding and Polo Association at the function.        

Yangon, Nov 29: Myanmar police fired water cannon and tear gas at protesters against a Chinese-backed copper mine on Thursday, the government said, injuring dozens in a crackdown hours before Aung San Suu Kyi visited the area.

The demonstration was the latest example of long-oppressed Myanmar citizens testing the limits of their new freedoms after the end last year of decades of authoritarian junta rule that saw protests routinely stamped out.

Demonstrators, who say farmers have been evicted to make way for the mine near the town of Monywa in northern Myanmar, recounted being shaken from their sleep in the early hours of the morning as police moved in to disperse them.

Several monks were arrested and around 30 others "suffered burns to their body", a monk called Yaywata, who goes by one name, told the news agency.

It was unclear exactly what kind of device caused the burns.

President Thein Sein's office said in a statement that water cannon, tear gas and smoke bombs were used against the protesters, but a spokesman denied allegations by local media that a form of chemical weapon had been deployed.

"It's not true at all that chemical weapons were used in the crackdown," Nyan Tun, a director of the presidential office, told the news agency.

As criticism of the police mounted, opposition leader Suu Kyi arrived in the area where she met officials from the Chinese mine operator Wanbao near the scene of the crackdown and was later due to give a speech linked to the dispute.

"She said it was necessary to find a solution to the problem together," a Wanbao official who did not want to be named told the news agency.

Villagers, monks and students had been warned to vacate protest camps near the mine -a joint venture between Wanbao and military-owned Myanmar Economic Holdings by Tuesday, but had vowed to defy authorities.

The government is being closely watched, with activists warning that the use of junta-style security tactics could undermine Myanmar's reform process.

"These kind of old habit solutions should not happen," said Kyaw Min Yu, a member of the '88 Generation movement, born during huge student-led demonstrations in 1988.

"The government should be more patient in this transition period. If it (violence) is again used in the future, we cannot continue forward."

Protesters are demanding the company stops work until it releases environmental and social impact studies.

During a September protest activists said some 8,000 acres (3,200 hectares) of land had been confiscated from local farmers without consultation, and in some cases without compensation.

IMPHAL, November 29: The United People’s Front, UPF, Manipur has today claimed that there are certain reports that the Centre is tentatively planning for offering a pan Naga Council consisting of four branches and one apex body to bring a solution to the vexed Naga issue.

UPF general secretary Kh Suranjoy today claimed that certain international organizations supporting NSCN (IM) leader Th Muivah and some pro-India media-houses have secretly received the reports.

Further addressing his key-note at the Manipur Press Club today during a one day discussion on Human Rights and Conflict situation in Manipur, he said that the councils will have the authority on certain aspects including culture, customary laws and development issues in their concern areas.

He also elaborated that the report also said that the Centre’s plan is to set up two councils in Naga inhabited areas of Manipur, one each in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh with the apex council set up in Nagaland.

He also continued that though the planned solution will not disturb the present territorial boundaries of the states, the apex council at Nagaland will coordinate the other four councils.

He also added that the Manipur government will not be able to interfere in the financial issues of the councils.

Meanwhile, Life Watch chief administrator, Advocate Angomcha Araba urged all the communities to stop making demands based on a single community.

He elaborated that the real issue at the moment should be the influx of illegal immigrants into the state.

In case the indigenous communities stood up against this issue, the immigrants will soon occupy even the state Legislative Assembly, he said.

He further opined that the United Nations should also be included in finding a solution to the present conflict situation in the state.

North East Human Rights Defenders Committee, convenor, Jinine Laishramcha said there are three stakeholders when it comes to Manipur- the government, the armed groups and the general public.

The most ignored of the three is the general public, he continued.

The present conflict can never be solved without the participation of the general public

Though both the police force and the armed groups have been formed to safeguard the interest of the common people, both have failed miserably to earn the trust of the general public, he said.

He further opined that in order “to solve the NSCN (IM) and Meitei conflict”, the leaders of both sides need to dissect the issue without any partiality and inclination and see how far one can compromise to bring an amicable solution.

Human Rights Activist, Advocate Gunadhor in his speech lamented the need to corporate two separate investigative agencies in a single case in India.

Meanwhile, the deliberation recommended six confidence building measures. Firstly, Repeal Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, and bring an end to the other devices of legislation that would not help in process of conflict resolution and positive peace endeavor namely National Investigation Agency (NIA), National Security Act (NSA), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), etc.

Secondly, start the process of demilitarization in Manipur by withdrawing military forces. Thirdly, Extend proper and fair accomplishment of justice to the political prisoners by taking into account of the international legal instruments and undo the secret detention complication.

Fourthly, Encourage judicial activities and effective and independent inquiries for the human rights incidents in order to deliver justice to the victims and their families.

Fifthly, Exercise the favourable mechanisms and encourage the armed organizations, civil societies, the communities towards the maintenance of the communal harmony and a peaceful atmosphere of Manipur and Northeast.

Lastly, Alternative Political Arrangement for the Indo-Naga talk should be debated and consensus of the people in Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland should be consulted and respected.

Baghdad, Nov 29: Bombs mainly targeting Shiite Muslims and security forces in Iraq on Thursday killed 40 people and wounded 124 others in the deadliest day of violence to hit the country in more than two months.

The attacks, the worst since 76 people were killed on September 9, included the second series of bombings against Shiites this week, after three car bombs exploded near their places of worship in Baghdad on Tuesday, killing a dozen and wounding scores more.

The Thursday violence brings the number of people killed in attacks this month to at least 147 -11 more than in October, reversing a three-month trend of declining death tolls, according to an the news agency tally based on security and medical sources.

Two roadside bombs targeting a group of Shiite pilgrims in the city of Hilla killed 28 people and wounded 85 on Thursday, police and medical sources said.

Iraqi security forces cordoned off the area of the blasts and set up checkpoints in the city to search cars, an AFP correspondent said, adding that shops near the site were shuttered after the attacks.

Ali al-Khafaji, the owner of a mobile phone shop in the area of the blasts, said that there was a big explosion near a restaurant where a tent serving food to Shiite pilgrims was set up, followed by another blast when emergency personnel arrived at the scene.

In the shrine city of Karbala, a car bomb exploded under a bridge, killing five people and wounding 13, a police spokesman and a medical official said.

The spokesman said that security forces closed off all roads leading to the old city, where Imam Hussein, one of the most revered figures in Shiite Islam, is buried, and were searching for a second car bomb.

Security forces were also targeted on Thursday.

A suicide car bomb against an army patrol in Fallujah, west of Baghdad, killed three soldiers and wounded three others and four civilians, while a car bomb in Mosul in Iraq's north targeted a police patrol, killing a policeman and a civilian and wounding two more police, security and medical sources said.

A car bomb on the main road south of Baghdad killed one person and wounded 11, including three police, while two roadside bombs near a military base north of the city killed one person and wounded six others, an interior ministry official and medical sources said.

Members of Iraq's security forces and the country's Shiite majority are both frequently targeted by Sunni insurgents in bomb attacks.

IMPHAL, November 29: Surindra Rajabhat University, SRRU, Surin, Thailand and Manipur University (MU), Canchipur, have jointly organised an international conference on the topic “Thailand and North East India: Issues on Sustainable Development” today at the Lecture Hall 1 of MIMS, Manipur University.

Presided over by Vice Chancellor, MU Prof H Nandakumar Sarma the function was also attended by president PhD Programme and president Surin International Folklore Foundation, SRRU Dr Achara Phanurat, as chief guest.

During the first session of the conference, Dr Achara Phanurat presented her paper entitled “The report on the study of Monk-Doctor-Teacher: Cultural Dynamic for Peace on Border of Thailand-Cambodia”.

The crisis between the border of Thailand and Cambodia is a prolonged crisis and running for more than 200 years. The governments of the 2 countries could not arrive at a solution for the problem, she said.

She stressed that the research aimed to study about ideas and actions of monk, doctor and teacher. According to the study, giving importance to monk-doctor-teacher would help to narrow a gap between the 2 nation-states and help to decelerate conflicts on physical conditions, politics, and business. This will lead to a rehabilitation of peace along the border of Thailand and Cambodia finally.

Prof N Lokendra Singh gave his speech on the topic “Meitei-Tai linkages”. He said 98% of the state is linked to international boundaries. During 1935-36, a British, Pemberton translated the San chronicle with the help of local people under the title “military expedition to Manipur and going back to own kingdom”.

The language spoken by the people of Khurkhul during 1950s is the San language, which can be understood by Ahoms, he said.

“Now they have forgotten the language. As per the book written by Terwin, when a Meitei child is born the placenta is cut by the sharp edge of a bamboo. On the sixth day the child is kept in a covering made of bamboo to perform the ritual which resembles the present day Swasti Puja”, he said.

He further said in Willock’s book titled “Custom of Meiteis”, when a child falls down “thawai-mee kouba” practice is done.

In Cheitharol Kumbaba, Kiyamba was given some relic by a San King supposed to be a personal kind of a God. The photographs of the relic were very similar to Asian deities. There are number of evidences to show the resemblance between Meitei and Tai.

Prof Amar Yumnam and Prof Th Ratankumar Singh of MU also presented their respective papers. During the second session, Prof W Nabakumar Singh, MU; Prof Suwit Threerasasawat, Kon Kaen University, Thailand; Dr Chalong Suktong, SRRU; and Dr L Jibon Kumar Sharma, MU presented their respective papers.

Cairo, Nov 29: Faced with an unprecedented strike by the courts and massive opposition protests, Egypt's Islamist President is not backing down in the showdown over decrees granting him near-absolute powers.

Activists warn that his actions threaten a "second revolution," but Mohammed Morsi faces a different situation than his ousted predecessor, Hosni Mubarak.

He was democratically elected and enjoys the support of the nation's most powerful political movement.

Already, Morsi is rushing the work of an Islamist-dominated constitutional assembly at the heart of the power struggle, with a draft of the charter expected as early as Thursday, despite a walkout by liberal and Christian members that has raised questions about the panel's legitimacy.

The next step would be for Morsi to call a nationwide referendum on the document.

If adopted, parliamentary elections would be held by the spring.

Wednesday brought a last-minute scramble to seize the momentum over Egypt's political transition.

Morsi's camp announced that his Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists will stage a massive rally in Cairo's Tahrir Square, the plaza where more than 200,000 opposition supporters gathered a day earlier.

The Islamists' choice of the square for Saturday's rally raises the possibility of clashes.

Several hundred Morsi opponents are camped out there, and another group is fighting the police on a nearby street.

"It is tantamount to a declaration of war," said liberal politician Mustafa al-Naggar, speaking on the private Al-Tahrir TV station.

Morsi remains adamant that his decrees, which place him above oversight of any kind, including by the courts, are in the interest of the nation's transition to democratic rule.

Backing down may not be an option for the 60-year-old US-educated engineer.

Doing so would significantly weaken him and the Brotherhood at a time when their image has been battered by widespread charges that they are too preoccupied with tightening their grip on power to effectively tackle the country's many pressing problems.

Morsi's pride is also a key factor in a country where most people look to their leader as an invincible figure.

He may not be ready to stomach another public humiliation after backing down twice since taking office in June.

His attempt to reinstate parliament's Islamist-dominated lower chamber after it was disbanded in July by the Supreme Constitutional Court was overturned by that same court.

Last month, Morsi was forced to reinstate the country's top prosecutor just days after firing him when the judiciary ruled it was not within his powers to do so.

Among Morsi's first acts after seizing near-absolute powers last week was to fire the prosecutor again.

Unlike last year's anti-Mubarak uprising, calls for Morsi's ouster have so far been restricted to zealous chants by protesters, with the opposition focusing its campaign on demands that he rescind his decrees, disband the constitutional panel and replace it with a more inclusive one, and fire the Cabinet of Prime Minister Hesham Kandil.

"There is no practical means for Morsi's ouster short of a coup, which is very, very unlikely," said Augustus Richard Norton, a Middle East expert from Boston University.

Still, the opposition, whose main figures played a key role in the anti-Mubarak uprising, may be tempted to try to force Morsi from office if they continue to draw massive crowds like Tuesday's rally, which rivaled some of the biggest anti-Mubarak demonstrations.

They will also likely take advantage of the growing popular discontent with Morsi's government and the fragility of his mandate -he won just 51 percent of the vote in a presidential election fought against Mubarak's last Prime Minister.

TAMENGLONG, Nov 29 : After the United Naga Council (UNC)'s stand to oppose Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh gracing the forth coming Orange Festival in Tamenglong, the Zeliangrong Baudi, Manipur has appealed all the frontal organisations to abide the decision of the UNC.

The Zeliangrong Baudi while announcing to boycott Ibobi Singh's visit to Tamenglong for the Orange Festival, has given reasons why the Nagas are opposing the chief minister from gracing the festival.

According to the Zeliangrong Baudi, chief minister O Ibobi Singh is anti-Naga who spews venomous anti-Naga messages. "We are preventing further spreading of anti-Naga messages in Naga areas," said the Zeliangrong Baudi. It then said O Ibobi Singh promotes Orange Queens and while doing so the orange growers/farmers are at the receiving end. It should be the festival of requiem for orange growers, the Zeliangrong Baudi stated. It then alleged that Orange Festival is organised to spread the hegemony of anti-Naga and communal messages of the Manipur government.

"Now, the settlement of Naga political issue is going to be a reality soon and why should anti-Naga elements be allowed to derail the more-than-sixty years old struggle?" the Zeliangrong Baudi questioned while expressing, "We want solution and not the derailing of our cherished Naga goal."

The Zeliangrong Baudi said its move has been to keep the July 1, 2012 declaration of the Naga Peoples Convention which is to sever all political ties with the government of Manipur.

Mumbai, Nov 29: The BSE benchmark Sensex regained 19,000 level after nearly two months by surging 329 points on heavy buying over optimism that government will push through economic reform initiatives and Goldman Sachs' upgrade of Indian stocks further boosting sentiments.

After rising to a day's high of 19,205.33, Sensex closed with a gain of 328.83 points, or 1.75 per cent, at 19,170.91.

This is the third straight day the benchmark has gained. Brokers said investors appeared confident that the UPA government will excel in a trial of strength over FDI in retail issue to be witnessed in Parliament next week.

The Lok Sabha has decided to have a discussion on December 4 and 5 on the issue under a rule that entails voting.

In the 30-share Sensex, 26 stocks closed with gains led by Bajaj Auto, ICICI Bank, Tata Motors, Cipla and Sterlite.

L&T, HDFC, HDFC Bank, Reliance Industries and ITC also helped cement the index's gains.

Across the BSE, over 1680 stocks gained today, helping the market cap zoom to Rs 66.74 lakh crore, up Rs 80,000 crore in a single session.

"Markets rose sharply for the second successive day...we touched new calendar year highs during the day.Markets have started factoring in some further announcements on fiscal reforms with the deadlock on retail FDI issue being resolved and discussion expected to happen next week," said Dipen Shah, Head of PCG Research, Kotak Securities.

A smooth ending of the current month's settlement in the derivative segment and a higher global trend as optimism grew that US President Barack Obama will reach an agreement with Congress over a new budget, further influenced the sentiment.

The 50-share National Stock Exchange index Nifty closed 97.55 points, or 1.70 per cent, higher at 5,825. S&P CNX Nifty Index may rise 14 per cent by 2013-end, Goldman Sachs Group Inc said in a report today, upgrading its recommendation on India to overweight from market-weight. "

For India, upside drivers include a recovery in growth, a decline in inflation, and the potential for continued policy reforms," Goldman Sachs said adding that with structural issues being addressed and a cyclical recovery on the horizon, the market may bounce strongly next yea

IMPHAL, November 29: Manipur Peoples’Party advisor O Joy met the state Governor Gurbachan Jagat today urging him to drop state Fisheries and Agriculture Minister Md Abdul Nasir from the state cabinet.

Speaking to media persons in a press conference held at its office today O Joy said, it is derogatory that a state cabinet Minister was involved in the assault of an individual inside the Manipur Sangai Festival.

The MPP advisor said appropriate actions should be taken against the erring Minister Md Abdul Nasir for his action of allegedly assaulting a Youth Congress member Alam Azad inside the Manipur Sangai Festival on November 26.

He further lamented that the organizing committee of the festival has remained silent on the issue and failed to report the incident to the authorities against the Minister who was attending the festival as the chief guest of the day.

“Why the police department have remained silent when the Minister and his escort party were assaulting the victim? Such act is against the law. While one Bojo has been booked under Wildlife Protection Act for selling cooked wild animal meat, the Minister has not been booked under Indian Penal Court. Why such a discrimination? Is this what Article 14 said that everyone is equal, means?” the MPP advisor asked.

In the name of violation of the law, UGs are arrested, he continued to lament.

When the Minister is not arrested for violating the law, there is no meaning to arresting the UGs, he condemned before asking “If the police have any moral, ethical and legal authority?”

A lesson should be taught to the Minister that he is not the master but a trust worthy representative of the public. It is a shame that some of the Congress leaders led by the party’s president Gaikhangam have tried to subdue the issue, instead of correcting the fault.

Under Schedule 3 of the Indian Constitution the Minister has taken oath to respect the equality of the people, he continued.

There is no difference between a Minister and a citizen in the eyes of the law, he said.

His conduct was unbecoming of a cabinet Minister, he said.

He must be removed from the state cabinet, he said.

The Minister’s act is one of its kind and has only degraded the state, he said and added that the Governor has asked to submit a written report to initiate the matter, O Joy added.

Amsterdam, Nov 29: Dutch researchers have discovered that cabbage volatile odour released in response to white butterfly caterpillar attack can attract multiple parasites making the food chain unbeneficial to the plant. The study, published in journal PLOS Biology Tuesday, highlights the possible side effects of parasitoid use for pest control.

A second parasite, called hyperparasitoid, is attracted by the cabbage odour only after a first parasite infects the caterpillar. The researchers performed both laboratory and field experiments to verify the data.
As described by the study, the food chain starts when a white butterfly caterpillar, Pieris rapae, attacks a cabbage leaf. In response, the cabbage releases volatile odour to attract the caterpillar parasites. The odour attracts parasitical wasps, such as Cotesia glomerata, that infect the caterpillar with their eggs. Such behaviour is called parasitoid, when larvae lead a parasitical lifestyle and the adult individuals don't. Such reaction favours the plant.

However the odour also attracts a hyperparasitoid wasp, Lysibia nana, which infects the Cotesia glomerata's larvae and takes over the food chain. Field study confirmed the hyperparasitoid's behaviour is well tuned to the environment: it does not follow cabbages nearly as much until they are infected by the first parasite, too.
Dr Erik Poelman, the research leader, commented about the specifically well adapted behaviour of the parasitoids, "In controlled laboratory assays as well as under field conditions, hyperparasitoids were offered plant odours coming from two types of plant: ones damaged by healthy caterpillars, and ones damaged by parasitoid-infected caterpillars. We found that they preferentially detected odours of plants damaged by infected caterpillars. We were excited by these results as they indicate that hyperparasitoids rely on a network of interactions among plant, herbivore and parasitoids to locate their host".

The scientists hypothesised the saliva of infected caterpillars is different and affects the cabbage odour. The study involved collecting air around healthy, infected, and twice infected cabbage plants. Then the researchers checked the hyperparasitoid reaction to the collected odours. The hyperparasitoid attraction to the twice infected cabbage odour was nearly five times more compared to the odour of a cabbage infected only with caterpillars.

The researchers also carried out tests of hyperparasitoid attraction to the healthy and infected caterpillar saliva alone, without the cabbage. There was no such attraction, confirming the cabbage odours are affected by the saliva.

The scientists say, "Our results show that hyperparasitoids may parasitize up to 55% of the parasitoid offspring, therefore potentially playing a major role in parasitoid population dynamics. ... Overexpression of herbivore-induced plant volatiles [HIPVs] in crops or field application of synthetic parasitoid attractants may not benefit pest control in conditions where the responses of hyperparasitoids to HIPVs cause major mortality to parasitoids."

New Delhi, Nov 29: Indian economy is likely to grow by 6.5 per cent in 2013 driven by favourable external demand outlook and domestic structural reforms push, a Goldman Sachs report said on Thursday.

According to a research note by the investment banking major, growth is likely to pick up gradually to 6.5 per cent in 2013 and further to 7.2 per cent in 2014.

This is on the back of "easing financial conditions, in part driven by some reduction in policy rates, a continuation of reforms boosting confidence, and a normal agricultural crop," it said.

The report further noted India's GDP growth is likely to accelerate from 5.4 per cent in 2012 to 7.2 per cent in 2014, and remain high through 2015-2016, provided government continues with its reforms push.

A continuation of structural reforms is an important assumption underlying these views, it said.

"While allowing FDI in retail, the Goods and Services Tax, direct cash transfer of subsidies, and dedicated freight corridor will help, we believe further reforms on fiscal consolidation, financial liberalisation and infrastructure growth will be needed to sustain an improvement in trend growth," the report said.

The government's recent reforms include allowing FDI in multi-brand retail, aviation, hiking diesel price, capping the number of subsidised LPG cylinders, opening up pension sector to foreign investment and raising the FDI cap in insurance to 49 per cent.

The reforms "which have begun in earnest", and are likely to progress on a number of different fronts, should help in boosting trend growth.

However, the near-term outlook remains "difficult" due to still weak growth, high inflation, and the twin deficits, Goldman Sachs said and added that quick upturn in the investment cycle is "unlikely".

India had been growing around 8-9 per cent before the global financial meltdown of 2008.

The growth rate in 2011-12 slipped to a nine-year low of 6.5 per cent and in the quarter ended June 30, 2012, the economy grew by 5.5 per cent.

The government expects the economy to expand by 5.5-6 per cent this fiscal.

On Inflation, the report said headline inflation is likely to remain high through Q3 of 2013, before gradually coming off due to a waning of food and oil shocks.

The WPI Inflation declined marginally to 7.45 per cent in October, from 7.81 per cent in September but was way above the RBI's comfort zone of 5-5.5 per cent.

"We forecast the Reserve Bank of India to cut policy rates by 50 bp in each of 2013, 2014 and 2015," Goldman Sachs said adding that "elevated core inflation prevents a more aggressive near-term easing".

The next mid-quarter review of monetary policy for 2012-13 would take place on 18th December.

IMPHAL, November 29: Manipur AIDS Control Society, MACS today called a press conference today at its office in connection with the observation of the World AIDS Day on December 1.

Speaking at the press conference, spokesperson, MACS Project Director Dr Shailesh Kumar Chourasia said as observed every year, the day will also be observed this year at the MFDC auditorium with the state Governor Gurbachan Jagat as chief guest and Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh as the president.

He continued that the press conference has been called appealing to all sections of the society to work towards “Getting to Zero” which will be theme for this year’s World AIDS Day observation.

‘Getting to Zero’ is defined in terms of Zero Infection, Zero Discrimination and Zero Death, he continued.

Addressing the conference further, the Project Director also said that even though HIV/AIDS has been a prime concern for the state as all nine districts come under the high prevalence category, there has been improvement in the scene as compared to the other states.

He continued that out of 99 infants borne by mother living with HIV/AIDS, only three were found positive during checking after three months from their birth.

He also informed that ART drugs for the state are brought in from the West Bengal AIDS Control Society.

Meanwhile, coming back to the functioning of the MACS, he said it was converted into a full society in 1998 after it was started as a cell in 1990.

The press conference was also attended by MACS Deputy Director IEC, Dr RK Rosie and other officials of MACS.

New Delhi, Nov 29: The logjam in parliament over the issue of FDI in retail came to an end today as the presiding officers of both houses accepted the opposition's demand for a debate on the issue followed by voting.

In Lok Sabha, speaker Meira Kumar accepted the notice for a discussion on the issue under Rule 184.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Dr Hamid Ansari agreed to a discussion under Rule 167.

A trial of strength over FDI in retail issue will be witnessed in Parliament next week, with the Lok Sabha deciding to have a discussion on December 4 and 5 on the issue under a rule that entails voting, a strident demand of the Opposition.

While Rajya Sabha will also have a similar discussion, the date and timings for it will be decided after consultations with various political parties.

The decision led to an end to the logjam in Parliament today on the issue which had paralysed proceedings for four days with the Left and the Right making a common cause.

Following an all-party meeting and discussions with UPA leaders, the government signalled its readiness for such a debate after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath held consultations with Leaders of Opposition Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley yesterday which saw BJP sticking to its stand.

Four days after the Opposition paralysed the proceedings in both Houses of Parliament, the government relented on the issue by leaving the matter to be decided by the presiding officers.

This will be the first such trial of strength in the 15th Lok Sabha.

There have been very rare occasions that a discussion of this sort on executive decision has taken place.

"I have received 30 notices for discussion on FDI in multi-brand retail under Rule 184. I have admitted the motion to allow the discussion," the Speaker Meira Kumar said.

But in Rajya Sabha, in a discomforting news to the government, Samajwadi Party today said it will vote against FDI in the Upper House where UPA does not have majority on its own.

"We will vote against FDI in Rajya Sabha if the government brings it there," SP leader in the Upper House Ramgopal Yadav said.

SP has nine members in the 244-member House.

Mumbai, Nov 29: The sentencing of American-born Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist David Headley, accused of involvement in 26/11 Mumbai attacks, has been fixed for 17th January next year while that of his accomplice Tahawwur Rana has been rescheduled for 15th January from December four.

According to Chicago court spokesperson Randall Samborn, US District Judge Harry Leinenweber will announce the sentence of the two accused, who have been charged with conspiracy of 2008 Mumbai attack and plan to attack a Denmark newspaper.

"The sentencing date for Tahawwur Rana has been rescheduled from December 4, 2012, to January 15, 2013, and the sentencing of David Coleman Headley has been scheduled for January 17, 2013. Each sentencing hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:45 am on those dates before US District Judge Harry Leinenweber of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse," the spokesperson said.

The 52-year-old Healdey, who conducted reconnaissance of all the targets in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks for Lashker-e-Taiba, has pleaded guilty of all the charges framed by the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

Moscow, Nov 29: The shadow-boxing in the World Women's Chess Championship continued as the second game of the mini-match ended in a draw between Anna Ushenina of Ukraine and Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria in Russia.

While Antoaneta tried restrained aggression in the first game of the match, Ushenina was not quite up to it in her first final ever and signed truce in a mere 17 moves playing white in the second game.

The scores remain tied at 1-1 with just two games to go and experts are predicting 2004 champion Stefanova to come hard at the Ukrainian in the third game where the Bulgarian will play white.

While Stefanova is trying to win her second championship ever, it's a new playground for Ushenina who was at best a declared a wild hope at the start of the 64-players event.

Playing true to her style, Stefanova had obtained slight edge in the first game of the match but Ushenina neutralised following a series of exchanges in a Queen's gambit game.

In the second game, Stefanova played black and had little to worry as Ushenina did not try for any complications with her white pieces.

The second game is indication enough that the Ukrainian was trying to get in the groove of fighting her first world championship title and as things stand, the battle is level in the USD 4,50,000 prize money championship.

The Indian challenge had ended with the ouster of D Harika in the semifinals. Harika did well to beat Zhao Xue in the quarters but ran into a highly motivated Stefanova in the next round before signing her exit papers.

The champion this year will also get a match against Yifan Hou of China in 2013 for the world championship crown. Yifan had exited along with highest rated Indian Koneru Humpy in the second round of the championship.

New Delhi, Nov 28:Arjun Atwal paid the penalty of a poor finish with a bogey and a double in last three holes to return a card of two-over 74 which pushed him to tied 150th place after the first round of the six-round PGA Tour Qualifying School tournament.

Atwal, who came through as seventh in second stage, will now find things tough in the Final Stage as he tries to overcome his rough start at PGA West Stadium course.

IMPHAL, November 29: The Inner Manipur Member Parliament, Dr Thokchom Meinya took up the matter of Inner Line Permit introduction during the Zero Hour of the ongoing Winter session today.

Addressing the Zero Hour, the MP said there has been a strong demand for “Introduction of Inner Line Permit system in the Northeastern states of India, Manipur in particular”.

He said “On July 12, 2012, the Manipur State Cabinet resolved to urge the Government of India to extend the provisions of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873 to the state of Manipur”.

On July 13 2012, in consonance with the public demand for implementation of ILP system to regulate inflow of 'outsiders', the State Assembly unanimously passed a private member resolution, which read: "that the Manipur Legislative Assembly passes a resolution to extend and adopt the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873 with necessary changes in the point of details to the State of Manipur and to urge the Government of India to comply the same", he said.

“In this connection, I do seek the indulgence of this august House to the fact that the Inner Line Permit System indeed did actually exist in the erstwhile Manipur kingdom”, the MP said.

“Manipur lost her independence to the British in 1891. At that point of time, Manipur did have a permit system for entry into and exit from Manipur –Inner Line Permit (ILP) system.”

“On August 14 1947, when British paramountcy lapsed, Manipur had automatically regained her independence. Manipur did have a written constitution and an elected National Assembly. The state of Manipur remained a monarchy till October 15, 1949, when Manipur got merged into the Union of India.”

“On February 26, 1948, through a State Council (Cabinet) resolution, the then Government approved the retention of the above permit system in Manipur State. On November 18, 1950, the then Chief Commissioner of Manipur abolished that permit system. What a tragic incident!”

“Now, the People of Manipur want the re-introduction of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in the state to stop the otherwise alarming influx of illegal outsiders into the state.”

“Now, I strongly urge upon the Union Government, the Home Ministry, in particular, to immediately look into the matter of introducing the ILP System in Manipur”, he said.

Melbourne, Nov 29: Ricky Ponting, one of the finest batsmen in contemporary cricket and Australia's middle order bulwark for years, on Thursday announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing down the curtains on an illustrious career spanning 17 years.

Ponting, who will retire after the third Test against South Africa beginning in Perth on Friday, told a hastily-called press conference that he was calling it quits as he has not being performing for some time to the level he had desired.

The former Australian captain, who will turn 38 next month, has scored 13,336 Test runs from 158 matches at an average of 52.21, second only to India's Sachin Tendulkar (15562 from 192 matches). He made his Test debut in 1995 against Sri Lanka at the same venue where he will walk into Test sunset.

In the 375 ODIs he has played, Ponting accumulated 13,704 runs, scoring 30 centuries, with a highest score of 164 and an average of 42.03. He has, however, not played in the ODIs since being dropped from the team in February this year.

Ponting said he was retiring as his level of performance was not good enough to continue in the Australian team.

"It's a decision I thought long and hard about, put in long consideration about the decision. Over the last couple of weeks my level of performance hasn't been good enough. At the end of the day it was about my results and my output in this series so far," Ponting said.

"It hasn't been to the level required for batsmen and players in the Australian team. I've given cricket my all. I haven't been performing consistently over the last 12-18 months. I believe now is the right time to be making this decision," said an emotional Ponting with the entire Australian squad by his side at the press conference.

Nicknamed 'Punter' by Shane Warne for his penchant for a bet (punt) on the greyhounds, Ponting has scored 41 centuries, third in the all-time list behind Tendulkar (51) and South African Jacques Kallis (44).

Against India, he has scored 2555 Test runs from 29 matches and 51 innings at an average of 54.36 with the 257 in the first innings in the third Test in Melbourne in December 2003 being the highest.

He has three double tons, five centuries and 12 half centuries against India.

The right-handed batsman, however, has a poor record on Indian soil with just 662 runs from 14 matches and 25 innings spread over six tours with an ordinary average of 26.48. He has hit just a century in India -- the 123 in the first innings of the Bangalore Test in October 2008. He has five half centuries in India.

There were reports that Ponting met the selectors ahead of the third Test after failing to perform in the two games of the high-profile three-match series, but he said he was quitting on his own terms.

"I'm glad I have got the opportunity to finish on my terms. This is a decision not made by the selectors, it was made by me," he said.

Ponting's wife Rianna and two daughters Emmy and Mattise along with manager James Henderson were with him for the announcement. He said he would continue to play for Tasmania this season.

Ponting will equal former captain Steve Waugh's record of of 168 Tests when he retires, the most in the history of Australian cricket.

The Tasmanian is the highest Australian run-scorer of all time and has been described as the greatest Australian batsman after Sir Donald Bradman.

Following a poor start to the Test series with low scores in Brisbane and Adelaide, Ponting said he was troubled by the "tentative" manner of his dismissals.

Sarjubala (Blue) blocking a punch from Mamta (Red).

Guwahati, Nov 28: Day four of the 13th Senior National Boxing Championship presented by Monnet Ispat and Energy Limited and the Karambir Nabin Chandra Bardoloi Indoor Stadium in Guwahati witnessed the biggest upset of the championship in the very first weight division of the day. Youth World and reigning National Champion Sarjubala Devi (48kg) of Manipur went down against Mamta of Haryana in what was an enthralling contest.

Mamta, the Haryana state champion and the bronze medallist at the 2011 senior nationals entered the ring looking to avenge last year’s defeat against the 19 year old boxing sensation from Manipur, and her intent was clear with the beginning of the first round.  Taking full advantage of her height she overpowered Sarju with her long reaching arms and did not allow the multiple youth national champion to play her natural game; she lead 5-4 at the end of the first two minutes of play. Mamta continued with the similar tactics in the second round as well and it paid off.

Midway through the bout she had a three point advantage (5-3). In the third round Sarju upped the ante and was able to get the better of opponent after Mamta was given a warning for a foul punch. Things seem to be turning in favour of the Manipuri boxer, but drama unfolded in the fourth round when she got a caution herself, for intentionally putting her head down. In the end though, it was the Haryana boxer who triumphed by virtue of points (20-17) and advanced to the final round of the championship. After an intense eight minutes of play, that set the canvas ablaze, both the boxers retreated to their camps and broke down into tears. While one battling with the pangs of defeat, the other revelling in the satisfaction of a well deserved win. For the 23 year old Mamta, this victory meant a lot after having lost to Sarjubala in the semi-finals last year. She expressed, “It was difficult bout to win and it could have gone either way. We have practiced together at the national camps and I know her game, plus I had also done my home pretty well. I did not allow her that many attacking opportunities in the beginning and moved around the ring a lot and it worked like a charm. In the end she was under pressure and became over aggressive that played in my favour as well. Overall I am very happy with my performance. Mamta now takes on Rebecca Lalinmawii of Mizoram in the next round and will be aiming for her first senior national gold medal. Lalinmawii got the better of local girl Anita Kahar of Assam to set up the clash.

In the fly weight division, silver medal winner at the 2012 Asian Championships Pinky Jangra (51kg), displayed great determination and skill to get past some solid attacking from Basanti Chanu of All India Police. She led from the start to finish in the end winning on points 29-16. In the championship round she takes on Toniabala Chanu of Arunachal Pradesh, who beat Roshni Subba of Sikkim.

Baghdad, Nov 28: In Iraq, more than 30 people were killed and 64 injured in serial blasts by Islamist militants in central and northern parts of the country.

Shiite mosques in Baghdad and security personnel were the main targets.

The deadliest attack was in the capital Baghdad where car bombs exploded near three mosques after evening prayers.

21 people were killed in these attacks.

Attacks on police and security personnel and Shiite neighbourhoods have also been reported in northern Baghdad killing seven people.

The city of Kirkuk in the north was hit by three car bomb explosions in which five Kurdish people were killed.

Reports of attacks on security personnel and check points in Diyala, Mosul and Taji.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks but the security agencies said that the timing and the manner in which these attacks were carried, bore the stamp of Al Qaeda militants.

NASA, Nov 28: NASA and Roscosmos have chosen the crew for a year long stay at the International Space Station. Data collected may help in future manned exploration of the solar system.

Scott Kelly and Mikhail Korniyenko have been chosen by NASA and Roscosmos respectively. The two are veterans of ISS spaceflight and were chosen for their station experience and skill.

"Their skills and previous experience aboard the space station align with the mission's requirements. The one-year increment will expand the bounds of how we live and work in space and will increase our knowledge regarding the effects of microgravity on humans as we prepare for future missions beyond low-Earth orbit" said NASA administrator William Gerstenmaier.

The pair are to launch sometime in the spring of 2015 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and return in spring 2016. Possible NASA deep space mission destinations include near earth asteroids, the Moon, and Mars.

Tokyo, Nov 28 : Japanese multinational company Fujitsu launched a website for a dog pedometer which allows customers to monitor their dog's health online. The device measures data while attached to the dog's collar. Customers are also able to add more data to the website manually, then it displays the complete set of data graphically.

Fujitsu launched the website today (Tuesday) and plans to start the sales in Japan tomorrow (Wednesday).
The pedometer is called "Wandant", from Japanese "Wan" equivalent to "woof", and the "dant" of "pendant". The latter refers to the pedometer, because it is attached to a dog collar. The users can transfer data to an Android phone using a touch-card to make it available online.

Fujitsu said Wandant would be the first cloud-based dog health-care service.

The data include walking, temperature, and shaking motion statistics. The users can manually enter additional data such as food quantities, weight, custom notes, and photos.

Fujitsu said, "The data are presented graphically on a custom website that makes trends in the dog's activities easy to understand at a glance. This helps owners get a stronger sense of their dog's health, while enabling communication with the dog."

Dublin, Nov 28: Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny has promised swift action over the issue of abortion laws and sought a "calm, rational and sensitive discussion" on it, amid raging controversy over the death of an Indian dentist after she was refused termination of an unviable pregnancy.

However, there was adverse reaction within his own party, with a number of Fine Gael backbenchers complaining that they were being "press-ganged" into moving too rapidly to deal with the matter.

The development came as the report of an expert group, set up after the 2010 European Court of Human Rights judgement against Ireland on the issue of abortion, was discussed at Cabinet yesterday and subsequently published online.

The report contained four options for the government, but leaned heavily in favour of a flexible combination of legislation and regulations.

A Parliament debate on the report starts on Tuesday, and Kenny said he would "provide as much time as people desire."

According to The Irish Times, the Prime Minister said that prior to the Parliament going into recess for Christmas "the Government will make its view known, arising from those discussions and our own views, regarding which option it decides to pursue."

From January 8-10 and before the Parliament resumes, the Joint Committee on Health and Children will hold public hearings on whatever option is chosen. Kenny said "the legislative options will be followed through by the Government."

This appeared to rule out non-statutory guidelines, one of the options listed in the report.

However, when questioned further in the Parliament by Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, Kenny said: "We have not yet decided on an option."

Responding to suggestions that a legislation might not be ready until the second half of 2013, he said: "This is just not true."

Minister of State for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton was the most senior critic of the Fine Gael leadership to speak out when party lawmakers were briefed on the report.

Backbenchers John O'Mahony, Terence Flanagan, Billy Timmins and James Bannon were among 12 members who spoke critically.

In an "impassioned" contribution, Creighton insisted that Fine Gael did not have a mandate to legislate for abortion.

Other speakers complained that their votes were being taken for granted by the leadership. Many complained that the timeline was too tight.

IMPHAL, November 28: India team A (Manipur) will clash with India team B (IPA) for the final tomorrow at 1:30 pm, in the 6th Manipur Polo International 2012 at Mapal Kangjeibung.

India team B (Manipur) defeated Thailand by 9-1 goals in the first semi-final match today.

In the first chukker of the match, the India (B) scored 2 goals while the Thailand team failed to score any goal; in the second and third chukkers, India (B) added another two goals while the Thailand team scored nil.

In the last and fourth chukker of the match, the India team B scored 4 goals, while the Thailand team scored only one.

The India (B) scorers are S Bimol Singh (3 goals), M Jawan (2 goals), T Pradipkumar (3 goals) and P Ojit.

Meanwhile, India team A (IPA) defeated England by 5-3 goals in the second semi-final match.  

The Indian team A (IPA) ended the first chukker with only one goal and extended the goal line to 3-1 by the end of the second chukker.

In the third chukker, both the Indian and England teams scored one each.

In the last chukker, India manages to add 2 goals to its score line ending the match with a 5-3 scoreline.

The scorers for India (A) are Naveen Singh (3 goals), D Saha (one goal), Lt Colonel Prashant Thakur (one goal).

New Delhi, Nov 28: The 543rd anniversary of the founder of Sikh religion Guru Nanak Devji  is being celebrated on Wednesday with religious fervour and devotion.

On this day in 1469 Guru Nanak was born in Nankana Saheb.

Sikhs from India and abroad visited Nankana Saheb to pay tribute to the great Guru.

At home, devotees are pronging to Gurudwaras to listen to Sabd Kirtan and discourses on the life and works of Guru Nanak.

Free Community Kitchens have been arranged in various Gurudwaras.

Prez, VP, PM greet people on Guru Nanak Jayanti

The President and Vice President have greeted the nation on this occasion.

Prez Pranab Mukherjee, Vice Prez Hamid Ansari and PM Manmohan Singh wished the nation on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti and hoped the message of love and compassion will inspire everyone.

In his message, Mukherjee said "the life and teachings of Guru Nanak Devji are of profound significance to mankind. His message of love, harmony and brotherhood, his universal vision and compassion provide inspiration for all humanity."

"May each one of us imbibe his ideals and endeavour to apply his noble teachings in our daily lives," he added.

Ansari said Guru Nanak's message of devotion to God, excellence of conduct and tolerance, "which have timeless relevance, can help transform our society".

"Guru Nanak Devji, the founder of Sikhism, showed us the path of peace, harmony and righteousness. His message of devotion to God, excellence of conduct and tolerance has timeless relevance and can help in transforming our society," he said.

“Guru Nanak Devjis birthday offer us the opportunity to derive inspiration from his life and deeds by creating a just, peaceful and harmonious society,” Ansari added.

Prime Minister Singh said the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev's teachings of religious harmony and peace still inspire everyone.

"Guru Nanak Dev's life and message gives us the strength to face the challenges faced by our society even today", he said.

MPHAL, Nov 28: ISKCON devotees joined by artistes of various cultural troupes participated at a State level peace rally organised today to celebrate 75th birth anniversary of HHBS Damodara Swami.

The rally, flagged off by Commerce and Industries Minister Govindas konthoujam from Mani Mandir Temple complex proceeded along the Tiddim Road and diverted towards Khagempalli Road from Kwakeithel Bazar and after covering Yaiskul Ngakraba Leirak and Keishamgthong road returned to the starting point through the Tiddim Road.

apart from the rally, ISKCON will be celebrating the birth anniversary of Damodar Swami with international conferences on December 14 and 18.

Addressing the gathering at Mani Mandir, Govindas Konthoujam opined that the only path to true salvation and service to mankind is by paying obeisance to the almighty.

He expressed hope that today's peace rally will usher peace in Manipur.

 New Delhi, Nov 28: The International Olympic Committee on Wednesday made it clear that it will propose the suspension of IOA in its Executive Board Meeting early next month if the upcoming IOA elections are held under the government's Sports Code, a development which has put the controversial polls under a cloud.

The International Olympic Committee on Wednesday made it clear that it will propose the suspension of IOA in its Executive Board Meeting early next month if the upcoming IOA elections are held under the government's Sports Code, a development which has put the controversial polls under a cloud.

In a letter written by IOC Director General Christophe de Kepper to IOA acting chief V K Malhotra, the world body rejected IOA's request to send an international delegation to resolve the issue and threatened to intiate the process of suspending the Indian sports body.

The world body reiterated its directive to the IOA as expressed in its letter on 23rd November to present its position to the IOC by 30th November or face suspension.

IOC in its earlier letter that was signed by its chief Jacques Rogge and Olympic Council of Asia President Sheikh Ahmad Al Sabah had warned that India would be suspended if the 5th December elections are held under the government's Sports Code and not under the Olympic Charter.

Malhotra, in a reply to IOC's 23rd November letter, had requested the world body to send a delegation to India to resolve the issue.

"... the IOC and OCA will not send delegates to India at this stage. From your letter of 26 November, we came to the conclusion that the IOA and the Government authorities are unable to rectify the situation in order for the IOA elections to be conducted in line with the Olympic Charter and the IOA Constitution, as required by the IOC," the latest IOC letter said.

"In view of the above, it is hereby confirmed that a proposal for suspension of the IOA will be presented to the IOC Executive Board at its next meeting on 4-5 December 2012, based on Rules 27.9 and 59.1.4 of the Olympic Charter," the letter said.

"As mentioned in the IOC/OCA letter of 23 November, the IOA is invited to provide all necessary explanations and to present its position in writing to the IOC no later than 30 November 2012," it said.

Mumbai, Nov 28: The Indian Cricket Board on Wednesday claimed it was unaware of any talks between senior batsman Sachin Tendulkar and national selectors on his future in the wake of a prolonged form slump.

“I am not aware of it,” said BCCI secretary and senior selection panel convener Sanjay Jagdale when contacted in Indore for his reaction to media reports that Tendulkar spoke to chief selector Sandeep Patil before Tuesday's selection meeting at the Board headquarters in Mumbai.

Media reports claimed that Tendulkar was asked about his future plans, specifically about his retirement from the game which he has played for over two decades. The selectors were reportedly told by the record-setting batsman that it was their call to decide on his future.

The 39-year-old, who has completed 23 years in international cricket, is among those who are under the fire for the humiliating 10-wicket defeat in home conditions against England here two days ago that helped the visitors level the four—match series 1-1.

Tendulkar, who is the only batsman to score 100 international hundreds and holds the world record for the maximum number of runs in Tests and ODIs as well as the highest number of tons in these two formats, is going through a lean patch dating back the Sydney Test in January in Australia.

He has been bowled or fallen leg before five times in his last four home Tests, prompting experts to say his reflexes have slowed down because he’s pushing 40.

Tokyo, Nov 27: Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda promised on Tuesday to rid Japan of nuclear energy in coming decades as he set out his party's platform before next month's general election.

Noda also pledged to conduct "calm and realistic" diplomatic and defence policies, as he tried to counter claims by his opponents that his Democratic Party of Japan does not stand up to foreign powers.

"After the nuclear accident (in Fukushima), we believe the Japanese people wish for and are resolved to have a society that does not rely on nuclear power plants," Noda told reporters.

"We will put all available policy resources into building a path toward that goal," he said.

The pledge amounted to a slight hardening of announcements made earlier this year when his cabinet said it would work towards scrapping nuclear power by the end of the 2030s.

A vocal section of Japan's public has turned against atomic power in the aftermath of the disaster at Fukushima, where reactors were sent into meltdown after cooling systems were knocked out by a tsunami.

However, many in the business community say Japan needs nuclear to power its industries.

In a document that was short on specifics, the DPJ said it would also try to end deflation during fiscal 2014 by working with the Bank of Japan and promised a "large-scale" extra budget in early 2013.

It reiterated a desire to deepen Japan's alliance with the US, and promised to "promote" Japan's involvement in talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a wide-ranging free trade agreement that is anathema to the country's cosseted farmers.

The manifesto stands in sharp contrast with the party's 2009 campaign platform that offered a number of specific promises, many of which it failed to deliver on.

In 2009 the DPJ promised to build equal ties with the United States, to scrap highway fees and to stop the construction of a huge dam, among other pledges.

The party failed to make good on many of them and is expected to suffer as voters desert it in favour of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party or smaller, newly-formed groupings.

"Looking back at the past three years, there are promises that we were able to keep, and unfortunately there are things we could not deliver," Noda said.

"With deep apologies to the Japanese people, and lessons learned from our shortcomings, we drafted this," he said.

Cairo, Nov 27: Egyptian President Muhammed Mursi has made it clear to the judiciary that he did not infringe on its authority by assuming sweeping powers, as the opposition planned "million-man" marches to protest the "attack on democracy".

Presidential spokesman Yasser Ali late yesterday said that President Mursi's recent controversial decree would not be subject to modification, noting that the decree may have been "misunderstood" by the public.

The decree, issued by the presidency on Thursday night, was met with outrage by Egypt's political opposition, who described it as an "attack on democracy" and a "threat to judicial independence."

The decree stated that presidential decisions will enjoy temporary immunity from legal challenge.

The decree also protects Egypt's Islamist-led Constituent Assembly, tasked with drafting a new constitution, and the Shura Council (the upper house of parliament) from dissolution by court order.

"The decree will only immunise the President's sovereign decisions (from legal challenges)," asserted Ali, stressing the measure's temporary nature.

The statement was issued following the President's meeting with senior judicial figures.

The spokesman said Mursi told the judges that he acted within his right as the nation's sole source of legislation when he issued decrees putting himself above judicial oversight.

The members of the Supreme Judicial Council have said that the crisis between the judicial and executive branches is not over.

Mursi expressed his appreciation for the judiciary and his desire that it remain independent as it is "the last resort for the people to get their rights," Ali said.

Opposition parties and groups have called for mass rallies and "million-man" marches today to protest the decree.

A sit-in has been ongoing in the Tahrir Square since Friday.

The Muslim Brotherhood had called on its supporters to protest today in support of the declaration, however, late last night the Brotherhood cancelled all protests planned by their supporters.

Bagdad, Nov 27: Insurgents launched attacks against security forces and civilians in two parts of Iraq on Tuesday, including the oil-rich, disputed north, killing at least nine people and wounding dozens.

A main target was Kirkuk, the largest city in the area claimed by several ethnic groups in a dispute with the central government in Baghdad.

The conflict is one of several that threaten the stability of Iraq following the final pullout of US military forces nearly a year ago.

A police officer said three bombs in parked cars exploded simultaneously in two Kurdish residential areas in the center of the city.

One went off near a main Kurdish party headquarters.

Five people, including a Kurdish security guard, were killed and 58 others wounded, he said.

A few minutes later, two bombs went off in a market in the Sunni-dominated town of Hawija west of Kirkuk, killing two civilians and wounding five others, he said.

Also, five Iraqi army soldiers were wounded when militants detonated bombs near their houses in the nearby town of Tuz Khortmato.

Kirkuk, 290 kilometers north of Baghdad, is home to a mix of Arabs, Kurds and Turkomen, who all have competing claims to the oil-rich area.

The Kurds want to incorporate it into their self-ruled region in Iraq's north, but Arabs and Turkomen are opposed.

Violence has ebbed since the peak of insurgency several years ago, but lethal attacks still occur frequently.

No one claimed responsibility for today's attacks, but car bombs, shootings and roadside devices are the hallmark of al-Qaeda in Iraq.

In the northeastern province of Diyala, gunmen in speeding car showered a check point manned by Sahwa, an anti-al-Qaeda group, killing one and wounding two others, another police official said.

The Sahwa are Sunni Arabs who joined forces with US military to fight al-Qaeda at the height of Iraq's insurgency.

They have since been favorite targets for Sunni insurgents who consider them as traitors.

Also in Diyala, a roadside bomb targeted a passing police patrol in the town of Khan Bani Saad, killing a civilian bystander and wounding two policemen, the officer said.

The town is about 35 kilometers north of Baghdad.

In the northern city of Mosul, a parked car bomb went off near a house of a Sunni lawmaker, wounding five bystanders.

The lawmaker, a woman, was unharmed, another police officer said.

Mosul is 360 kilometers northwest of Baghdad.

Five other civilians were wounded when a roadside bomb exploded near an Iraqi military base in the town of Taji, 20 kilometers north of Baghdad, a police officer said.

Three health officials confirmed the causality figures.

Beirut, Nov 27: Eight years after the death of iconic Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, his remains were exhumed on Tuesday, with experts set to test for signs that the late President was poisoned.

The process was carried out in secrecy, with Arafat's grave carefully shielded from the public eye and media kept far away, but Palestinian sources confirmed the remains had been removed for testing this morning.

"At 5:00 am (0830 IST), experts began to remove the stones and began opening the grave in an orderly fashion. The remains were then transferred to a mosque adjacent to the grave for the removal of samples," a Palestinian source said on condition of anonymity.

The source said only a Palestinian doctor would be allowed to directly touch the remains and remove the samples, but that the process was being conducted in front of Swiss, Russian and French experts.

After the samples are removed, the remains are to be reburied in a military ceremony expected to be broadcast live on Palestinian television.

For weeks now, Arafat's grave in a mausoleum on the Muqataa presidential site from which he once governed has been hidden from view by blue tarpaulins.

The mufti of Jerusalem, Mohamed Hussein, arrived at the Muqataa on Tuesday morning and told he would be present at the opening of the tomb.

The samples being collected are to be tested for the radioactive substance polonium as part of a new investigation into whether Arafat was poisoned.

The probe was prompted by an investigation carried out by the Al-Jazeera news channel, which commissioned a Swiss lab to test personal effects belonging to the late leader that were given to them by his widow Suha.

The tests revealed the presence of the toxic substance polonium, and prompted calls for the exhumation of Arafat's remains for new testing.

Colombo, Nov 27: New Zealand's Tim Southee bagged two quick wickets to put Sri Lanka under pressure on the third day of the second and final Test at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo on Tuesday.

The paceman dismissed Angelo Mathews (47) and opener Tharanga Paranavitana (40) in successive overs before Sri Lanka reached 107-5 in their first innings at lunch in reply to New Zealand's 412.

The hosts, who added 64 to their overnight total of 43-3 in the morning session, now need 106 more runs to avoid a follow-on with five wickets in hand.

Prasanna Jayawardene was unbeaten on four at the break with Thilan Samaraweera yet to open his account. Vice-captain Mathews and Paranavitana added 90 for the fourth wicket after three wickets had fallen for 12 on Monday.

Paranavitana edged Southee to wicket-keeper Kruger van Wyk while Mathews fell to a superb one-handed catch by Martin Guptill, who held the ball low to his right in the slips.

New Zealand earlier had a chance to break the fourth-wicket stand but skipper Ross Taylor dropped Paranavitana at first slip off fast bowler Trent Boult when the batsman was on 32.

Paranavitana then failed to make the most of the opportunity, adding just eight more runs before he was caught behind to become Southee's third victim of the innings.

Southee, who also removed opener Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara on Monday, has so far taken four wickets for 35 runs off 14 overs.

Mathews, 20 overnight, played some aggressive shots in the morning as he lofted off-spinner Jeetan Patel over wide long-on for the first six of the innings and then cut the bowler past point for a four.

Skipper Ross Taylor (142), Kane Williamson (135) and Daniel Flynn (53) were the main scorers for New Zealand in the first innings, while left-arm spinner Rangana Herath grabbed six wickets for Sri Lanka.

The hosts lead the series 1-0 following their 10-wicket victory in the opening Test in Galle.

Kolkata, Nov 27: Unfazed by the humiliating defeat in the second cricket Test against England, national selectors on Tuesday persisted with the same squad giving under-fire star players another chance to prove their worth in the third match starting 5th December in Kolkata.

The selectors refrained from making major changes to the team barring the inclusion of paceman Ashok Dinda for an injured Umesh Yadav.

Dinda had been called as a cover for Ishant Sharma in the first Test and Yadav in the second Test though he did not get to play.

The selection panel headed by Sandeep Patil was to announce the team for the remaining two Test matches but did so only for the Kolkata match in a clear perform-or-perish message for some of the under-performing players.

"The teams for the fourth Test and the T20 Intl series will be picked later," BCCI Secretary Sanjay Jagdale said in a statement.

India lost the Mumbai Test by 10 wickets inside four days and there was intense speculation a leg-spinner would be drafted into the squad to bring more variety in the spin department.

But the selectors reposed faith on the spin trio of R Ashwin, Pragyan Ojha and Harbhajan Singh despite their failure to exploit the pitch in Mumbai which was tailormade to suit India's demands.

Harbhajan retained his place in the squad despite picking up two wickets in the Mumbai Test where he bowled just 23 overs unlike Ashwin and Ojha who sent down nearly 45 overs each.

Also retained was senior batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who has been going through a prolonged form slump, his last 10 innings yielding just 153 runs at an average of 15.3, the lowest by an Indian top-order batsman in the corresponding period.

In the current series he has scored merely 13, 8 and 8 and has looked clearly out of sorts.

Opener Gautam Gambhir, who has also been out of form, did well in the second innings of the Mumbai match to hang on to his spot in the side.

The third Test will be played at Eden Gardens, which has been the venue of some of India's historic triumph, while Nagpur will stage the fourth and final Test from 13th to 17th December.

The two Twenty20 Internationals after the Test series will be played in Pune and Mumbai on 20th and 22nd December respectively.

The Squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (c), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Cheteshwar Pujara, R Ashwin, Ashok Dinda, Pragyan Ojha, Ajinkya Rahane, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, M Vijay, Zaheer Khan.

IMPHAL, Nov  27: A delegate of the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit, led by convenor Sapamcha Jadumani called a press conference at Palace Compound office of HERICOUN this evening.

Spokesperson, Joy Chingakham said the Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has acknowledged the ILP implementation demand as genuine.

The delegate announced their arrival from a recent visit to the national capital where it submitted a memorandum to the Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, AICC president Sonia Gandhi, and other leaders of various political parties.

Speaking to media persons, spokesperson Joy Chingakham narrated that a sit in protest at Jantar Mantar, Delhi staged on November 25, demanding implementation of ILP in Manipur was also supported by certain Sikh supporters from the state, Delhi based Human Rights Groups, MSAD, Delhi Association of Manipur Muslims Students and several student body representatives from the state.

The sit in protest was also attended by MSCP MLA Tharmarjit and MPP secretary organization Mutum Maniton.

Meanwhile, elaborating on the meeting with the Union Home Minister, the spokesperson said that the Union Minister was not fully advised on the issue, and the delegate had to apprise him from the beginning on the need for implementation of ILP in the state.

He further lamented that even though the state government has already submitted its stand on the issue to the centre, it was not detailed on the issue and further blamed the state government of delaying tactics on the issue.

Mumbai, Nov 27: The BSE benchmark Sensex on Tuesday surged by 305 points - the biggest gain in over two months on across-the-board buying after Moody's said India's rating outlook is stable.

Stock brokers said investors were also optimistic that the government will be able to push through economic reforms.

The Sensex soared by 305.07 points, or 1.65 per cent, to 18,842.08, its biggest rally after September 21.

Reliance Industries shot up by 1.66 per cent to Rs 786.20 and software exporter Infosys by 2.17 per cent to Rs 2,469.15.

Export-driven technology shares such as Infosys rose, tracking the recent weakness in the rupee and better trend in its major markets like the U S and Europe.

In 30-BSE index components, 28 stocks were in positive zone led by realty, consumer durables, FMCG and banking sectors.

On similar lines, the broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty shot up by 91.55 points, or 1.62 per cent to 5,727.45.

Buying activity picked up as speculators indulged in covering their short positions created in recent past before the monthly settlement in the derivatives segment on Thursday.

The market will be closed on Wednesday for 'Gurunanak Jayanti.'

Moody's said India rating outlook is stable because of the country's strong economic growth along with high savings and investment rates.

"India's Baa3 rating and stable outlook are supported by credit strengths which include a large, diverse economy, strong GDP growth and savings, and investment rates that exceed emerging market averages," the global rating agency said in its 'Credit Analysis on India' report.

Brokers said trading sentiment improved on reports that the ruling UPA government may be able to win the voting test on economic reforms, including foreign direct investment in retail sector, in Parliament.