LTTE CHIEF INJURED

Velupillai Prabakaran, leader of Sri Lanka's Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is reported to be suffering from a badly affected leg, which could be amputated. According to an Asian Tribune report, Prabhakaran is held in a highly secret location in Wanni that has been declared out of bounds for senior LTTE cadres, including Pottu Amman, the intelligence Chief and Sosai, the head of the Sea Tigers.

Prabakaran who is also critically diabetic and has an injured shoulder needs immediate hospitalization, said the report. The paper quoted reliable sources as saying that a specialist doctor and a medical team were flown into the Wanni region from Tamil Nadu to treat the Ailing Leader.

ABCL OFFICE ATTACKED IN JUHU

Some unidentified persons attacked the Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited (ABCL) office in Juhu on Friday night. They allegedly threw beer bottles at the actor"s office, which is situated behind his Juhu residence “Jalsa".

The incident came in the wake of reports about a similar incident at the Bachchans" residence “Pratikhshsa" during the Maharastra Navinirman Sena-led campaign against north Indians migrant workers, early last month. The actor confirmed that four people who came in a grey Santro attacked his office and threw bottles, and that he had reported the incident to the police. “We have received a call that a bottle was thrown at the Janak bungalow, which house is ABCL and police officers have been sent to the spot to verify the facts," said DCP Vinay Choubey. No arrest has made yet.

Jayalithaa thrash Budget

Terming the Union budget as "lacklustre and totally directionless," AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa on Friday said it was presented with an eye on the vote bank in view of the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.

In a statement, she said the budget relied on the recycling of phrases from the previous budgets and contained mostly ideas which had nothing to do with the actual revenue and expenditure position of the Government.

On waiver of farm loans, she said it was "highly disappointing" that the Centre had restricted the concession to only small and marginal farmers.

Stating that farmers who were driven to suicide were those in the clutches of unscrupulous money lenders, she said there was no constructive plan in the budget for protection of farmers.

Jayalalithaa said the decline in the growth of agriculture production from 3.8 per cent to 2.6per cent in 2007-08 showed the Centre's 'lack of concern' for the farm sector.

On the allocation of Rs 300 crore for the desalination project in Chennai, she said the amount had shrunk from the Finance Minister's initial offer of Rs 1,000 crore, made in 2004.

She also said there was no mention about formation of an IIM in Tamil Nadu, for which the Chief Minister had written a letter to the Prime Minister.

Expect LokSabha Election Before this Year End!!!!

The Congress might have scored a significant gain by presenting this Budget,but it remains to be seen how this be converted into a Decisive Votes.Perhaps P.Chidambaram has taken a leaf out of Karunanidhi's Book to give Sops to People and win Elections.
A populist budget providing for a massive farm loan waiver, income tax sops across the board and no additional burden on the corporate sector today prompted widespread specualtion that Lok Sabha polls may be held before the end of the year, probably by October or November.

Apparently the fast-tracking of the implementation of the debt waiver and relief scheme by June this year led to political parties, including those on the side of the government, and the industry predicting that elections are not not far away.

Short of announcing the date for elections, everything else has been announced, said leader of the CPI Parliamentary Party in Lok Sabha Gurudas Dasgupta, whose party supports the government.


Dubbing the budget as "election manifesto", BJP Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said "it is a clear signal that elcdetions are being held early. The nature of the budget is virutual declaration of mid-term elections."


Sharing this view, noted industrialist and Rajya Sabha member Rahul Bajaj said the budget has clear indicators for early elections.

In the central hall of Parliament, Congress MPs were discussing the possibility of early polls and joking with colleagues of other parties to get ready for the battle. However, CPI MP D Raja does not not feel it points to early elections, though he concedes that the budget does have a short-term perspective on several issues.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram, the hero of day, dismissed all talk of elections saying in India elections take place every year and the budgets can be described as election budgets.

"If you have nothing else to say about the budget, then you can call it election-budget," he said in a tone tinged with sarcasm at the customary post-budget briefing. PTI

Dayanidhi Maran Meets Sona Gandhi

Former Union Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran Met UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi after Budget was tabled.It is learnt that Dayanidhi Maran is trying to bring Vijakanth closer to Congress to check the raising Dominance of Secondary Leadership in the DMK.Is something cooking up??it remains to be seen.

Budget sulks Market sentiments sensex down

Who will bear the 60000 cr waiver to farmers Bank or the Tax Payers??
The Asian markets are taking a deep cut. Poor global cues and no positive surprises from the budget are seeing the Indian market hurt as well. Sensex is down 500 points and Nifty down over 170 points. Sensex is trading at 17277, down 547 points and Nifty is at 5105, down 179 points from the previous close
Secondly all homework has been done with election of seven states and the ensuing Loksabha election due in the course of the year.
Changes in IT slab. Threshold of exemption for all Income Tax assesses raised from from 1,10,000 to 1,50,000.
Every income tax assessees to get relief of minimum of Rs 4,000.
No change in rate of surcharge.
New tax slabs will be: 10 per cent for 150,000 to 300,000, 20 per cent for 300,000 to 500,000 and 30 per cent above 500,000.
For women, the income tax limit goes up from Rs 1.45 lakh to Rs 1.80 lakh. In case of senior women citizens, it increases from Rs 1.95 lakh to Rs 2.25 lakh.
Fresh facilities, encouragement to sports and guest houses exempted from Fringe Benefit Tax.
Five year tax holiday for setting up hospitals in tier II and tier III regions for providing healthcare in rural areas from April 1, 2008.
Five year tax holiday for promoting cultural tourism.
Short-term capital gains increases to 15 per cent.
Commodities Transaction Tax to be introduced on the lines of Securities Transaction Tax.

Banking cash transaction tax withdrawn from April one, 2009.
Direct tax proposals to be revenue neutral. Indirect tax proposals to result in loss of Rs 5,000 crore.
Rs 500 crore for corpus fund to subsidise all women Self Help Groups for LIC [Get Quote] cover for permanent disability.
Agricultural loans given by scheduled commercial banks, regional rural banks and cooperative credit institutions up to March 31, 2007 and due for December 31 that year will be covered under the waiver scheme to address the problem of indebtedness.
No change in corporate income tax.
To protect tigers, Rs 50 crore for National Tiger Conservation Programme. Bulk of it to be used to raise Tiger Protection Force.
Plan expenditure fixed at Rs 2,43,000 crore and non plan expenditure at 5,74,000 crore.
Fiscal deficit pegged at 3.1 per cent and revenue deficit at 1.4 per cent.
Tax to GDP ratio increased from 9.2 per cent in 2004-05 to 12.5 per cent 2007-08.
No change in peak rate of customs duty for non
Customs duty on specified life saving drugs reduced from ten per cent to five per cent.
Special Countervailing Duty on power imports.
Customs duty on specified sports goods machinery down from 7.5 per cent to five per cent.
Duty withdrawn on naptha for production of polymers.
Duty on crude and unrefined sulphur reduced from five to 2 per cent to help raise domestic fertiliser production.
General Centvat on all goods to be reduced from 16 per cent to 14 per cent. Excise duty reduced from 16 per cent to eight per cent on all pharmaceutical goods manufacture.
Excise duty on small cars reduced to 12 per cent from 16 per cent and hybrid cars to 14 per cent.
Excise duty reduced from 16 to 8 per cent on water purification items.
Duty on non filter cigarettes to be raised.
Asset management service under mutual funds, services by stock exchanges to be brought under Services Tax net.
Threshold for small service providers raised from Rs eight lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
Allocation for defence to be increased by 10 per cent from Rs 96,000 crore to Rs 1,05,600 crore.
75 lakh people to be covered by health insurance scheme.
Allocation for Textile Upgradation Fund to be more than doubled.
Micro, small and medium enterprises to continue to get special attention.
Risk Capital Fund to be set up in SIDBI.
PAN requirement to be extended to all transactions in capital market subject to a threshold.
Rs 750 crore for upgradation of 300 ITIs in 25 districts.
Rs 32,676 crore as subsidy to Public Distribution System.
PDS through smart cards in Haryana and Chandigarh on pilot basis.
Three schemes to be introduced for providing social security to unorganised sector workers.
Sixth central pay commission to submit report by March 31, 2008.
Rs 624 crore allocated for Commonwealth Games
Farmers' debt to be waived
Complete waiver of loans for marginal farmers owning land up to one hectare and small farmers owning land up to 1 and 2 hectares.
Agricultural loans given by scheduled commericial banks, regional rural banks and cooperative credit institutions up to March 31, 2007 and due for December 31 that year will be covered under the waiver scheme to address the problem of indebtedness.
One time settlement of loans for other farmers.
Agriculture loans restructured and rescheduled by banks from 2004-06 and other loans normally rescheduled under RBI guidelines will also be eligible under the waiver scheme.
Implementation of debt waiver and debt relief will be completed by June 30 this year.
Loan waiver scheme to involve loans liability of Rs 60,000 crore and to benefit four crore farmers.
By loan waiver scheme, the country is discharging a deep debt and sense of gratitude to farmers, says Chidambaram.
The corpus of rural infrastructure development fund to be raised to Rs 14,000 crore.
More reforms needed in coal and electricity sectors to ensure double digit growth in manufacturing sector.
Rs 800 crore for accelerated power reforms programme.
National Fund for Transmission and Distribution Reforms to be launched.
The loan waiver scheme will benefit three crore small and medium farmers and cover loans totalling Rs 50,000 crore.
One crore other farmers will benefit to the tune of Rs 10,000 crore in the waiver.
Foreign investment of 3.5 to 8 billion dollars expected for exploration and development of new oil blocks.
Rs 7,200 crore to be allocated to the Ministry of Women and Child Development, marking an increase of 24 per cent.
Rs 500 crore for corpus fund to subsidise all women Self Helf Groups for LIC cover for permanent disability.
A target of Rs 2.80 lakh crore for agriculture credit set for the coming year.
Rs 20,000 crore for irrigation projects under AIPB, showing an increase of Rs 9,000 crore over last year.
National Horticulture Mission to be given Rs 1,100 crore in 2008-09 with special focus on coconut cultivation.
Rs 75 crore to be given to Agriculture Ministry for providing mobile soil testing laboratories in 250 districts.
Rs 644 crore for National Agriculture Insurance Scheme, which will be continued pending evolving an alternative crop insurance scheme.
National Plant Protection Training Institute at Hyderabad to be made autonomous body and Rs.29 crore will be allocated to it.
A scheme of debt waiver and relief for small and marginal farmers announced.
NREGA scheme to be rolled out in all the 596 rural districts in the country in 2008-09.
Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission to get Rs 6,865 crore this year against Rs 5,482 crore past year.
Allocation for Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Water Mission to be increased to Rs 7,300 crore. Rs 200 crore for potable water in schools.
Rs 300 crore to be set aside for desalination plant in Chennai for drinking water.
Rs 500 crore for identifying urgent needs of development programmes of border areas like Arunachal Pradesh.
SC, ST and minority students to continue to get special attention.
Allocation for several schemes in North East raised from Rs 14,365 crore to Rs 16,400 crore.
Rs 75 crore sanctioned for Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship Programme for SC/ST students pursuing M.Phil.
Rs 230 crore will be extended as additional equity to developmental organisations looking after the welfare of SC,
ST, socially and economically backward classes and minorities.
Allocation for Minority Affairs Ministry to be doubled from Rs 500 crore to Rs 1,000 crore.
Rs 540 crore for multi-sectoral development plan for minority concentration districts.
288 public sector bank branches to be opened in districts having minority community concentration.
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan will be provided Rs 13,100 crore, Mid Day Meal scheme Rs 8,000 crore, Secondary education Scheme Rs 4,554 crore.
410 additional Kasturba Gandhi Vidyalaya to be set up in backward blocks.
Navodaya Vidyalayas to be opened in 20 districts with special focus on regions having SC/ST concentration.
Allocation of Rs 130 crore for this purpose. Rs.750 crore more to be given for merit scholarship to students up to 10th and 12th class.
Mid day Meal scheme extended to upper primary level in 3479 schools. 16 central universities to be opened in 2008-09.
Three IITs to be set up in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan.
Schools of architecture and planning in Bhopal and Vijaywada. More institutes of higher education to be opened.
Rs 100 crore to be given to Information Technology Ministry to set up national knowledge centres.
Allocation for NRHM increased to Rs 12,050 crore
Rs 992 crore for national AIDS programme.
A national programme for the elderly to be started at a cost of Rs. 400 crore.
Rashtra Swasthya Beema Yojana to start from April one in Delhi and Haryana. Rs 30,000 for each family belonging to unorganised sector.
Allocation for ICDS increased to Rs 6300 crore.
Rs 85 crore sanctioned for scholarships to students pursuing science education.
Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research to be set up at Bhopal and Thiruvananthapuram.
Agriculture credit doubled in the first two years of the government to reach Rs.2.40 lakh crore by March 2008.
Eleventh Plan started on a robust growth.
Gross budgetary support to be raised to Rs 2,43,386 crore, an increase of more than Rs 38,000 crore from the current level.
Allocation for Bharat Nirman to be raised to Rs 31,280 crore.
Twenty per cent hike in education budget this year from Rs 28,674 crore to Rs 34,400 crore.
GDP growth slows down to 8.4 per cent during quarter ended December 31, 2007 as compared to 9.1 per cent a year ago.
Economy grew over eight per cent over 12 successive quarters since 2005, says Finance Minister P Chidambaram.
Growth rate of agricultre extimated at 2.6 per cent during the current year.
Services and manufacturing sectors expected to grow by 10.7 per cent and 9.4 per cent, says Chidambaram.
Keeping inflation under check is one of the cornerstones of the Government's policy.
Rice production estimiated at 94.08 million tonnes, maize 16.78 mt, soyabean 9.45 mt and cotton 23.38 million bales.
rediff.com

Kapaleswarar Temple Rajagopuram consecrated

The kumbhabishekam of the rajagopuram of Sri Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore was performed on Thursday amidst chanting of vedic mantras.

Several thousands devotees witnessed the consecration of rajagopuram, which was renovated after a damage caused by lightning in February 2007. The temple tower was completely renovated at a cost of Rs 12 lakh.

The yagasala poojas for the consecration ceremony began on February 25 which came to a close in the early hours of Thursday. The pots containing holy water for abhishekam were taken in a procession. After the ceremony was over, holy water was sprinkled on the devotees through sprinklers.

Python swallows Pet Dog

A 16-foot python stalked a family dog for days before swallowing the pet whole in front of horrified children in the Australian tropics, animal experts said on Wednesday.
The boy and girl, ages 5 and 7, watched as the scrub python devoured their silky terrier-Chihuahua crossbreed at their home near Kuranda in Queensland state.
sify.com

Volatility Grips Market

With Economic Survey Tabled in Lok Sabha today and the Budget 2008 is all set to be tabled tomorrow,the stock market seems to be in no mood to receive this in Euphoria.
Market remained highly Volatile.With 1 hour to go Market Bse sensex was down 108 points.

It remains to be seen market will stablise after the Budget and the Investors can look for some recovery??

Highlights of Economic Survey 2007- 2008

P Chidambaram Union Finance Minister tabled the economic Survey for the year 2007-08


Following are the highlights:

* Economy slows down to 8.7% in 2007-08

* Inflation projected at 4.4 per cent in 2007-08.

* Holding 9% growth a challenge, two digit growth even greater

* Inflation and infrastructure biggest growth challenges

* Skill dearth causing attrition, wage hike; pushing inflation

* Farm growth in FY'08 seen at 2.6%, against 3.8% a year ago

* Foodgrain output seen at 219.3 MT against 217.3 MT in FY'07

* Acceleration in domestic investment, savings drove growth

* Macroeconomic fundamentals continue to inspire confidence

* Investment climate full of optimism

* Industrial growth slower at 9% in first 9 months of FY'08

* Costly rupee, sluggish consumer goods and infra a concern

* Rupee rose by 8.9% against USD during current fiscal

* Average credit growth slowed to 26.8% in FY'07, down in '08

* Forex reserves up by $91.6 bn to $290.8 bn on Feb 8, 2008

* GDP projected at Rs 46,93,602 crore (mkt price) in 2007-08

* Inflation reined despite higher commodity prices & surge in capital inflows

* Growth deceleration spread across most sectors, barring power, community services and composite category of trade, hotels, transport and communications

* Cumulative increase in non-food credit by Jan 4, 2008 was 11.8% as against 17.5% a year ago

* Capital inflows rise to 7.7% of GDP in first half of FY'08 as against 5.1% in FY'07

* FDI inflows reach $11.2 bn, outward investments surge to $7.3 bn in April-September

* Exports reach $111 bn in first 9 months of FY'08; Imports grow 25.9%

* Surge in capital inflows, including FDI, to continue in medium term

* Complete the process of selling 5-10% equity in previously identified profit making non-navratna PSUs

* Phase out control on sugar, fertiliser, drugs

* Sell old oil fields to private sector

* Allow a share for foreign equity in all retail trade

* Raise foreign equity in insurance to 49 per cent

* Allow 100 per cent FDI in greenfield private agri banks

* State Electricity Regulatory Commissions should notify rational, credible, cross subsidy to make open-access viable

* Increase work week to 60 hours from 48 hours and daily limit to 12 hours.
rediff.com

Sania goes down fighting

Sania Mirza squandered her one set advantage to go down fighting against fourth seed Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 6-4 3-6 4-6 to crash out of the USD 1,500,000 Dubai Tennis Championships here today.
Sania, who pulled off a 7-6(5) 6-2 win over Russian qualifier Vera Dushevina in the opening round, found her touch early in the second round match, sending down her trademark forehand volleys to unsettle her higher ranked rival to go one set up.
PTI

Great Britain Shaken

5.3-magnitude quake struck at about 1 am and was centred about 125 miles north of London, the British Geological Survey said.The epicentre was in Market Rasen in Lincolnshire, a small market town known for its race course.

The tremor is the biggest in Britain since 1984 when north Wales was hit by a quake which was registered at 5.4 on the Richter scale.The damage to homes and property is estimated to be in excess of 10 million pounds.

Musharaf refuses to Budge

President Pervez Musharraf said that his position is strong and he will not resign, in spite of the victory of opposition parties in Pakistan's.This he expressed when PML-Q members met him at his residence in Rawalpindi.

China Claim Illegal..Pranab Mukerjee

China illegally claims approximately 90,000 square kilometres of Indian territory including Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Wednesday.

"Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and the government has conveyed this fact to the Chinese side," Mukherjee told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.

In reply to another query, he said China disputes the international boundary with India.Since 1993, the two governments have agreed to maintain peace and tranquillity along the line of actual control (LAC) in the India-China and border areas, without prejudice to their respective positions on the alignment of the LAC as well as on the boundary question, he said.

Mukherjee said both sides have agreed to clarify the LAC and to take up perceived violations through established mechanisms including the Joint Working Group, the Expert Group, border personnel meetings, flag meetings and diplomatic channels.

Sujatha Passes Away

Novelist,Writer who won the hearts of many from late 70 by his thought provoking approach,Sujatha alais Rangarajan passed away.He penned the dialogues for Rajikanth Latest Sivaji.His loss is irreparable to the tamil society.

CBI TO QUESTION GEORGE FERNADES

The Central Bureau of Investigation will question former defence minister George Fernandes and former naval chief Admiral Sushil Kumar in connection with Barak missile deal.

The questioning will take place soon, CBI sources said.
Both Fernandes and Kumar have been named in the FIR filed by the agency for allegedly ignoring the Defence Research and Development Organisation's opinion on purchase of Barak missile from an Israeli company.
The deal had been struck during the previous National Democratic Alliance rule

Assam Bomb blast injures 14

At least 14 people were injured, five of them critically, in a bomb blast triggered by suspected ULFA militants at a market place near Tezpur police station in Assam's Sonitpur district on Wednesday afternoon.

Police said the bomb strapped to a bicycle, kept between a computer and a mobile shop at Bargolla Chariali, about 100 m from Tezpur police station, exploded at around 2.45 pm.The injured included three women and a 12-year-old boy.

Among the five critically injured, two of them -- a father and a son -- have been shifted to Guwahati Medical College Hospital, while the others were taken to Tezpur Civil Hospital.

A blast has occurred in this relatively militancy-free district after a gap of nearly three years. The last blast was triggered in 2005 near Ganesh Mandir here in which an army official was killed and three persons were injured.

sensex closes flat

It was a disappointing close for the market that lost most of the day's gains to close flat. Sensex closed at 17825, ended flat marginal gain of 19 points and Nifty at 5255, down 15 points from the previous close. The CNX Midcaps index was up 0.4% and BSE Smallcaps index was up 0.1%. The market breadth was positive with advances at 639 against declines of 579 on the NSE

Mathew Hayden Charged

Cricket Australia (CA) on Wednesday charged Australian opener Matthew Hayden with a breach of its code of behaviour for making offensive remarks against Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh in a radio interview.

The burly Australian cricketer was charged under rule 9 of the CA code of behaviour, which prohibits detrimental public comment, a CA release said. "Rule guidelines prohibit public denigration of other players against whom they have or will play," it said.
It's been a bit of a long battle with Harbhajan, the first time I ever met him he was the same little obnoxious weed that he is now",


Hayden said the decision was taken at an emergency meeting held by the CA in Melbourne on Wednesday morning to discuss if Hayden had breached rules.

The Cricket Board has the authority to stop its contracted player from commenting on television, radio or print if it feels that it is not in good taste about an opposition players or Board.

Union Minister Son Kidnapped

Union Minister Dasari Narayana Rao's son Hari Hara Prabhu was kidnapped by five armed men from a hotel room in Chitoor town in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday.

The armed men barged into the hotel room in Seshapuram area, where Prabhu had put up, and took him away at gunpoint at 7 pm, his wife Susheela said in a written complaint to the police.Prabhu, his wife and their 10-year-old son had checked into the hotel earlier in the day.

The police has launched a man hunt to nab the kidnappers.
sify

Punjab Policemen Arrested in Sex Scandal

Two senior Punjab police officials were Tuesday arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for allegedly colluding with politicians, businessmen and journalists to extort money from innocent people after threatening them of sexual abuse charges.

"Punjab's Assistant Inspector General (Security) Devendra Singh Garcha and Ropar's Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) Paramvir Singh Sandhu were detained for questioning in the case and were later put under arrest in connection with the Moga sex scandal," a CBI official said.

"Garcha, an IPS officer, was then senior superintendent of police (SSP) and Sandhu was then superintendent of police (SP) of Moga when the scandal took place," the official added.

The scandal was unearthed in November last year after the Moga police booked many people under the Immoral Trafficking Act and a rape case on the complaint of two girls.

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Find an Alternative

Left leaders today called upon the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) to work closely for a "third alternative" in the country and hold "joint struggles".
"It is time for us to work towards the formation of a third alternative in the country's polity. It is time that we hold joint struggles," CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said addressing a UNPA rally on farmer's issues.

The government's path to development is benefiting only the big industrialists, and in turn, these industrialists are influencing the economic and foreign policy of the country, he said.


Although Karat avoided any mention of the Indo-US nuclear deal, CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan said the current visit of the US Defence Secretary Robert Gates is aimed at concluding several vital agreements including in the field of military cooperation.
PTI

Sensex ends in Green

The market shed some gains in the last few minutes of trade. Sensex closed at 17743, up 93 points and Nifty at 5250, up 49 points from the previous close. The CNX Midcaps index was up 1.3% and BSE Smallcaps index was up 1.1%. The market breadth was positive with advances at 790 against declines of 431 on the NSE. Second consecutive day Market has ended in Green,is it a trap or bull on the Run??

Obama a clear choice of the Democrats

It is not a comfort news for Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama has for the first time emerged as the favorite among Democratic voters in the White House race while the vitriolic campaign intensified with a fresh slanging match on a photograph of Obama in a traditional African dress.


A CBS News/ New York Times Poll has found that Obama, who is leading in the delegate race, had 54 per cent backing of democratic primary voters as opposed to 38 per cent of Clinton, who faces a do-or-die battle in the the March 4 contests in Ohio and Texas.

The fresh setback came as polls indicated that the 60-year-old former first lady was fast losing her turf in the two states to the African American.

In January, the Clinton was leading by a 15 point margin nationally. Today/Gallup Poll released yesterday showed 51 per cent for Obama to 39 per cent for Clinton.

With a tough battle ahead, the vitriolic campaign was fueled again by a photograph of Obama wearing a white turban and a robe during a 2006 visit to Kenya which appeared on the internet.
PTI

Gold falls sharply

Gold prices resumed sharply lower by Rs 215 per 10 grams to Rs 12,050 on the bullion market here today due to fresh offerings by stockists on the back of fall in global markets.
In New York, gold prices declined on profit-taking on Monday following the support of US to International Monetary Fund for the sales of the precious metal.


Turning to the local market, standard gold (99.5 purity) fell to Rs 12,050 from the yesterday's closing level of Rs 12,265.

Pure gold (99.9 purity) also slipped to Rs 12,110 from Rs 12,320 yesterday.
PTI

Rail Budget on expected Lines

Lalu Prasad Yadav Rail Budget is on expected Lines here are few highlights

* Railway profit in 2007-08 at Rs 25,000 crore.
* Railway Minister Lalu Yadav announced that Indian Railways will introduce 15,000 ticketing counters in the next 2 years. The Railways plans to offer tickets through mobile phones.

* By 2009 call centre based inquiry services to be unveiled.
* Issuance of wait-listed e-tickets will also allowed
* Operating ratio of the Railways was at 76%.
* Rs 49,250 crore invested into new railway projects.
* Railway plan size increased from Rs 11,000 crore to Rs 30,000 crore in the last four years.
* Productivity of Railway assets has been constantly increasing.
* Railways attained 790 tonne payload target in the year 2007-08.
* E-ticket booking is likely to rise to 300,000 from 100,000 in a year.
* Freight traffic target of 785 million tonnes crossed to touch 790 million tones
* Railway plan size increased from Rs 11,000 crore to Rs 30,000 crore in the last four years.
* 560 railway station platforms to be lengthened to take long trains.
* Middle-level and low-level platforms to be upgraded to high-level platforms in several stations to help commuters.
* More facilities for women and old passengers.
source rediff.com

Sharad Pawar to Support Mallaya

India's Celebrated Business Tycoon Vijay Mallaya is likely to get re-elected to Rajya Sabha.According to sources Mallaya may not enter through Karnataka as the Assembly is likey to be dissolved.Mallya is likely to contest from Maharashtra this time as an Independent Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena are lending their Support to Mallaya.

Indian speedsters send Srilanka Crashing

India's fast bowlers Praveen Kumar and Ishant Sharma captured four wickets to send Sri Lanka crashing out for 179 in tri-series one-day international in Hobart.


Kumar took 4 for 31 and Ishant 4 for 41 as the Indians polished off the Sri Lankan innings in 47.1 overs.
In reply India Scored the required runs in 32.2 overs.Sachin scored a breezy 63 Gotham Gambir remained unbeaten on 63,thus India registered thier berth in the Finals with Australia.
Praveen Kumar won the man of the match award.
Photo:Uthappa Greeting Kumar on his splendid performance

UPA'S FINAL RAIL BUDGET

Lalu Prasad Yadav who has really turned the dogmatic Railways into a really comfort traveling outfit by his Pragmatic approach. Much to the appreciation of all walks of people Yadav has done fairly well as a Rail Minister then as Chief Minister Of Bihar.
With the D-Day on 26th,Much is expected of Lalu not only in terms of Sops for the 2nd class travellers,and also Lowering travel cost in super fast trains.Concession to students and farmers is also in the agenda of expectation from Laloo.

Reliance Power Bonus Spikes Market

With the Announcement of 3 shares to every 5 shares held and very Positive Global Clue in the late afternoon saw the sensex soared close to 500 points from days todays low to close 302 points up and the nifty up buy 90 points.

Reliance Power which had a lacklustre trading from its listing shone today by gaining Rs 33 closing at its listing price Rs 450.
With Budget in couple of days,lot of speculation on IT FRONT,SOPS FOR SUGAR,CEMENT and scapping of surcharges ....Sensex may see 19000??? keep yopur fingers crossed

Must win for both the teams

India and Srilanka will fight it out and go allout to win their match on 26th Feb to Ensure their place in the Finals in the ongoing CB Series.


India failed chasing a huge score yesterday and Skipper Dhoni rightly pointed out the failure of top order Batman.With the last chance in the offing for Sewag,Sachin,Rohit and Yuvraj,confidence level should be very high for the Indians.
If India play to their true potency there is every chance of even winning the cup.

Australia Pose Huge total

Facile century by skipper Ricky Pointing and a Breezy knock of 59 in 49 Balls by Andrew symonds helped Australia to pile up a commanding acore in the CB ODI TRINATION ASERIES.


AUSTRALIA WERE 308-5 with one over to go.