Webinfosys's Local News : US believes nuclear deal can still be operationalised

Not with standing the current uncertainty over the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, Washington has asserted that the agreement is "not dead" and expressed confidence it could "still" be operationalised by the original timeframe of 2008.

The US will continue to work to meet its commitments under the agreement, State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said but left it to the Indian government to "describe their interaction with the IAEA".

There were some "internal discussions" on the deal in India, he noted, adding that "in terms of the timing of those discussions and the outcomes of them, frankly, we don't want to interfere in this internal matter for the Indian government and we'll leave it to them to comment on it".
"We would hope that India would be able to move forward with this agreement and that we would be able to complete it in 2008, which was in general keeping with the original timeframe we had outlined for it," Casey said at a briefing.

"It is an issue that we have talked about with the Indians...In addition to the conversation that the President and the Prime Minister had...Under-Secretary Burns has spoken with his counterparts over the weekend and continue to do so today. We've also had conversations between Ambassador Mulford and some officials in India as well about this. So this is something I expect is going to continue to be the subject of discussion," the official said.

Asked again if the agreement can be completed by 2008, he said, "We believe it's still possible for that to happen. Obviously, a number of things would have to occur for that to be ultimately implemented. But it's a long time between now and the end of 2008 and we'll see where we are".
Earlier, White House spokesman Tony Fratto said the nuclear deal is "not dead". "India is a thriving democracy and they have work to do and they may need some additional time on their end to get their part of this deal done," he said.

"The President is willing and is very understanding that the Indians may need more time for this. But no, it's not -- it's not dead," he said.

The US continues to believe that the agreement is "very important" and in the interest of both the countries, as well as in the interest of further cementing and strengthening international nonproliferation regimes, Casey said.

"And I'd also point out, too, that this is part of a much broader shift in the relations between India and the United States. We are really developing a broader strategic partnership with India.

"That's something that's unique and I think is very positive in the development of relations between the world's two largest democracies. I think it is really something that we are going to continue to work on and going to do so regardless of the timetable that gets followed for the implementation of this particular agreement," he added.

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Webinfosys;s Local News : Sensex recovers; FM says no plan to ban P-notes

Minutes after the carnage at the bourses, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said on Wednesday that there was no plan to ban participatory notes (PNs), which are used by foreign institutional investors (FIIs) to represent overseas investors who are not registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

Chidambaram was speaking to reporters a day after the SEBI proposed in a paper that financial instruments such as PNs would be phased out over a period of time.

The 30-share index, which reached a life-time high this week, crashed after the SEBI put up its suggestion late on Tuesday evening.

The PNs are said be behind the hugh surge in foreign inflows, which caused the latest market rally. "The steps taken by SEBI are in the right direction," the minister said.

Meanwhile, Sensex and Nifty recovered marginally, after it crashed to an unprecedented low by 1743 points forcing the BSE to halt trading, after Finance Minister P Chidambaram's statement.

The BSE Sensex recovered nearly 1,000 points around noon after trading resumed following an hour long suspension. The National Stock Exchange's wide-based Nifty also recovered but was down 4.70 per cent at 5,401.45 points in the reopened session.

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Webinfosys's Local News : Mumbai ODI: We owe it to ourselves

So far, the Future Cup has been appallingly one-sided. Australia have beaten India hollow in all departments of the game to lead 4-1. There has hardly been a note of skirmish to suggest an even contest. Sparks of brilliance have emanated from a couple of seasoned campaigners like Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly and a demonstration of the will to fight from an odd fresh face like Robin Uthappa.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has hit timely knocks, but he has been put through the wringer by an undisputed champion team. It would be harsh to comment on his first stint as captain for limited-over internationals. Dhoni, though, has shown that captaincy cares have not made him careworn. One can expect him to be full of vitality in the last match of the seven-match series that's in the firm grip of the visitor. As the cricketing adage goes, the captain is only as good as his team.

Dhoni will look back at the series loss with remorse, but he will learn to rise from the fall. The rest of the players should rally around and offer unstinted support. Ponting is the fulcrum around whom the other members of the team operate like a well-oiled machine.

No time to adjust

Scheduled on the heels of the ICC World T20 competition in South Africa, Dhoni's team did not find its feet swiftly enough against the mighty Australians in the more conventional and established short version of the game. Hampered by a niggle, Ricky Ponting did not take the field at Bangalore and Kochi, but his replacement Brad Haddin brought with him a 100-plus match experience for New South Wales and turned out to be a long thorn in India's flesh.

Not far removed from action was left-arm seamer Mitchell Johnson. He exposed the chinks in India's batting though swing and cut, rudimentary elements that make any new ball practitioner a force to reckon with. Australia had variety in bowling; most notable and visible has been the left-am unorthodox, Brad Hogg. Even India's accomplished batsmen have groped forward at him and failed to pick him off his hand and off the pitch. As usual Australia's fielding in the inner and outer ring has been close to the spectacular and they have reaped dividends.

Disappointing performance

India will get time to introspect once the formalities are completed at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. The selectors picked players on current form and perhaps anticipated better results than what the scoreline actually suggests. There is bound to be all-round disappointment, especially the way India's seam attack has operated in their opening bursts. They have been far too generous to a powerful opening pair in Mathew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist, who have pounced on the slightest margin of error in line and length and punished it for maximum compensation.

They have taken risks, but have not been reckless. Andrew Symonds and Haddin have played some smart cricket and made capital of some inept bowling.

Australia will not be lax and will strive to make it 5-1. It would be up to the Indians to find ways to bring a halt to the winnings ways of a competent and fierce rival. A victory will be like salve to the beaten and weary home team before the full series against Pakistan.

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