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The Voice of Goa — Since 1900 pAnjim, wednesdAY, june 23, 2010
Goa’s Heartbeat: Ali Zafar hopes to change image Pg 14
Business: Decision on petrol, diesel price on Friday Pg 12
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JD(U)-BJP ties on the rocks again PTI NEW DELHI/PATNA, JUNE 22
Today’s Matches SLOVENIA vs ENGLAND at 7.30 pm USA vs ALGERIA at 7.30 pm GHANA vs GERMANY at 00.00 Am AUSTRALIA vs SERBIA at 00.00 Am
Observe your enemies for they first find out your faults. –Antisthenes.
IN BRIEF CBI reward for info on accused CBI today announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh for providing information on each of the two accused, Sandeep Dange and Ramchandra Kalsangra, in the Mecca Masjid Blast in Hyderabad. “The Central Bureau of Investigation has announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh to any person providing information leading to the arrest of each of the two absconding accused,” CBI spokesperson Harsh Bhal said. —(PTI)
Suspension of principal sought A three-member team of a child rights body has sought suspension of the principal of Kolkata’s La Martinere School till the completion of a probe into the suicide of a student who committed suicide after being caned in school. While calling for action against principal Sunirmal Chakravarthy, NCPCR team has alleged that there were clear linkages of harrasment. —(PTI).
Reports that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar does not want Narendra Modi and Varun Gandhi to campaign in the State for assembly polls today created fresh strains in the Janatal Dal (United)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance with saffron party leaders asserting that they cannot be dictated to. On a day when leaders of the core group of BJP’s Bihar unit were meeting party president Nitin Gadkari, four ministers of the party attended a cabinet meeting chaired by Kumar in a sign that things have not reached a breaking point. The BJP top brass reviewed its ties with the JD(U) with party leaders from Bihar in the backdrop of senior leader L K Advani being not in favour of the alliance splitting. Bihar deputy chief minister and senior BJP leader Sushil Modi, who called off a joint appearance with Kumar for the ‘Biswas Yatra’ on Sunday, met Advani. He was accompanied by party chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad, who also hails from Bihar. Party sources said Gadkari’s meeting with the Bihar core group would be crucial as he will take a decision on the future of ties with JD(U) after listening to the views and advice of State leaders. Kumar, who triggered a row with BJP by returning to the Gu-
BONE OF CONTENTION
Sources in JD(U) said that any compromise over allowing Modi and Varun in Bihar during elections is “unlikely” and the party has no qualms in going it alone for the assembly elections if BJP remains adamant. jarat government its Rs 5 crore relief for the Kosi flood victims, is reported to have told the BJP that the alliance can continue only if BJP agrees not to field Narendra Modi and Varun Gandhi in the election campaign for the Bihar polls expected in October this year. There was no official word from the JD(U) but leaders speaking on condition of anonymity said there would be no compromise on this issue and that the party had no qualms in going it alone if the BJP remained adamant. BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain said the party had not received any such message and
“we haven’t asked for anyone’s suggestions.” “When the election campaign starts, BJP will make a list (of campaigners). BJP will decide as to which leader will campaign where,” he said. BJP State President C P Thakur and senior leader Giriraj Singh went a step further, saying there cannot be such pre-conditions in an alliance. While Thakur felt that Kumar has not put such a condition, Singh, a BJP minister in Bihar, said “I want to clarify that BJP will decide which minister will come for campaigning. If we need Modi he will definitely come.”
Bus owners postpone fare hike decision
Mickky may surrender by Thursday
Demand under perusal: ministry HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JUNE 22
Even as private bus owners have decided to postpone their bus fare hike demand due to reshuffle of the transport director, the state Transport Ministry said that it is scrutinizing the demand. “We have received a detail report from the director of transport over several demands of private bus owners. A decision will be taken only after scrutinizing the report,” Transport Minister Sudin Dhavalikar told Herald. He said that there is no specific recommendation on hike
in ticket fares. “Let us examine the report. If the ticket hike is necessary then directions will be issued for the same,” he added. Director of Transport Swapnil Naik, last week had submitted a detail report on the demands of bus operators. The report clearly said that an immediate ticket hike is not possible as the private bus operators earn much more then expected. The Transport Department says 80 per cent private bus operators are running in profit. However, bus operators claim that a rise in diesel prices is (Continued on page 2)
Dhavalikars at odds on KTC hike HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JUNE 22
It’s Dhavalikar versus Dhavalikar vis-à-vis ticket hike for Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL). While Transport Minister Sudin Dhavalikar has said that KTCL can also be included in the ticket hike, if given for private bus operators, KTCL Chairman Deepak Dhavalikar said that they would not like to hike the fares. “We won’t be considering any such directives from the government nor are we going to put forward any proposal for hike in ticket fares,” KTCL’s newly appointed chairman said. Dhavalikar feels that with an increase in ticket fares, Kadamba might loose their passengers thus affecting the revenue. (Continued on page 2)
HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JUNE 22
Sleuths of the Crime branch on Tuesday made their presence felt along the coastal belt in a bid to ascertain the whereabouts of the former tourism minister, even as reports did the rounds in his Benaulim constituency that Mickky Pacheco may surrender to the investigating agency in a day or two. There were reports that supporters of the former minister assembled at his residence this morning to take stock of the situation arising out of the rejection of his bail application by the High Court. However, when newsmen visited his Betalbatim residence around noon, not much activity was witnessed at his house. However, rumours were rife that the Benaulim legislator would finally surrender to the crime branch in a day or two, with sources saying that his supporters may accompany him to the Crime Branch headquarters during the surrender. Meanwhile, acting on information that the former minister is likely to surrender, the police made their presence felt along the coastal belt, especially in Benaulim constituency. (Continued on page 2)
South Africa's striker Katlego Mphela scores past France's goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and France's defender Gael Clichy during the Group A first round 2010 World Cup football match on Tuesday. Both France and hosts South Africa have been knocked out of the World Cup.
No immediate plans to join Cong: Vishwajit HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JUNE 22
Uncertainty over Valpoi’s independent legislator Vishwajit Rane entry into the Congress continued today as he denied any such moves even as the Congress maintained the decks have been cleared by the party high command. Soon after Taleigao legislator Babush Monseratte joined the Congress yesterday, the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Subash Shirodkar stated that Vishwajit would join the party in a few days time. Sources in the party today
Cong sources informed the health minister would resign his assembly seat before joining the Congress. said that the high command and the Congress President Sonia Gandhi had cleared his entry into the party. The sources also said that the health minister is in Delhi for crucial talks with the party high command. “Vishwajit’s entry is cleared though the date has not been
Seattle-based scientist Cliff Kushler who developed a mobile phone software called T9 in 1990s to guess the word being typed to reduce tapping every letter has come out with a new technology to glide a finger across the virtual keyboard to spell words, rather than tapping out each letter. He has named the solution Swype that he developed with a fellow research scientist, Randy Marsden. They noted that more phones are using virtual keyboards on a touch screen, replacing physical buttons, but pecking out a message on a small piece of glass is not so easy, and typos are common. While many smartphones have features that auto-complete words, correct typos on
the fly and add punctuation, Kushler is aiming for the next level. “We’ve squeezed the desktop computer, complete with keyboard and mouse, into something that fits in a pocket. The information bandwidth has become very constricted,” he said. “I thought, if we can find a better way to input that information, it could be something that would really take off.” He claims Swype is a big breakthrough that could reach billions of people. That’s not as ambitious as it sounds. To date, the T9 technology has been built into more than four billion devices worldwide. In 1999 its creators sold it to AOL for a reported $350 million; it is now owned by the speech-recognition company Nuance. Swype’s software detects
where a finger pauses and changes direction as it traces out the pattern of a word. The movements do not have to be precise because the software calculates which words a user is most likely trying to spell. Capitalization and double letters can be indicated with a pause or squiggle, while spacing and punctuation are automatic. Kushler, who is chief technology officer of Swype, estimates that the software can improve even the nimblest text-messager’s pace by 20 to 30 per cent. Swype is now being used on seven smartphones in the United States, including the HTC HD2 and the Samsung Omnia II. By the end of the year, the company says its software will be on more than 50 models worldwide. It does not have a deal with
finalized,” they informed. Sources also informed that the health minister would resign his assembly seat before joining the Congress. However, contrary to the Congress president’s claims, Vishwajit categorically denied he is scheduled to join the Congress party in the near future.
However, speaking to Herald today Vishwajit ruled out any such development in near future. “No, I am not joining Congress for now,” the minister told this reporter in a telephonic conversation. Though he admitted he was in Delhi, he refuted claims that he was having talks with party high command. “I am in Delhi for medical treatment and not for any talks,” he said. He also stated that whenever there is any such development he will speak to the media directly.
GIDC nod for water recharge plan HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JUNE 22
The Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) today gave its stamp of approval for funding the implementation of the rain water harvesting and the ground water recharge plan, at the Verna Industrial Estate. The decision was taken at the 318th meeting of the GIDC board, which was chaired by Quepem legislator Babu Kavlekar. The project, to be taken up at a cost of Rs 2,41,32,000 would be partially funded by the Department of Science Tech-
nology and Environment (DSTE) and the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB). The DSTE and the GSPCB will contribute Rs 15 lakh each for the project. GIDC Chairman Babu Kavlekar, speaking to Herald, said that the plan for the project was drawn by experts – Som Sundarama, Senior Hydrogeologist (Water Resources Department) and Goa University professor Dr A G Chachadi. “The plan and estimates for the project were ready for some time but was held up only due to finance,” Kavlekar said.
He further stated that the GIDC requested the industries to contribute for the project but since nothing came forward the corporation itself decided to go ahead with it. “The GIDC will now deposit the money with the WRD which will undertake the project,” he said. He said 14 sites have been identified for the project in different phases of the estate. Apart from 14 pits there would be one bandara. “Residents and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have made several complaints
against the bore wells being dug by the industries. This project will put an end to such complaints as it will increase the ground water table,” Kavlekar stated. The Quepem legislator said after the completion of the project the corporation will again request the entrepreneurs to contribute for the project as it will benefit them. Unused plots: Keeping up the assurance given by the Chief Minister Digamabar Kamat in the assembly, the GIDC has started taking possession of (Continued on page 2)
Alleged peddler Atala out on bail HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAPUSA, JUNE 22
The Special NDPS (narcotics, drugs and psychotropic substances) Court on Monday granted bail to alleged drug peddler Atala in the infamous police-drug peddler nexus case. Atala, who was released on furnishing a bail bond of Rs 50,000, has been asked not to leave the State without the permission of the court and to further co - operate with the investigating authorities. Opposing the bail, the State argued that the accused was in-
volved in a conspiracy to get drugs from the police and as such his custody was necessary for further investigations. Rejecting the contention of
Sending an SMS? Don’t tap, Swype it HERALD CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI, JUNE 22
Vishwajit Rane categorically denied he is scheduled to join the Congress party in the near future.
Apple, the king of touch-screen phones, but it is tinkering with software for the iPhone and the iPad and hopes to show it to Apple soon. To m a ke m o n e y, S w y p e charges phone makers a licensing fee for each device sold. It also sees opportunity in addons. “We could have custom dictionaries for doctors or lawyers,” said Mike McSherry, chief executive of the company. But Swype’s appeal goes beyond mobile phones, said Won Park, director of United States technology sourcing at Samsung. “It could become the de facto standard for tablets, nextgeneration TVs or next-generation remote controls,” Park said. Swype’s executives also see its reach extending into public kiosks, smart home appliances, video game consoles and in-car
navigation systems. Swype-like applications rely on a wellknown layout, the full qwerty keyboard. One simply needs to target a specific letter rather than relying on a memory of how to draw a letter. Kushler began experimenting with input methods in 2001, guided in part by his earlier work in helping people with disabilities use technology. He took note of the popularity of devices like those from Palm that used a stylus for input, but he saw room for improvement. He worked with Marsden to fine-tune the Swype software — which took a laborious seven years. “The most important thing was that it could accurately figure out which word you wanted to spell,” Kushler said. “It needed to work no matter what.”
the State, the court observed that despite the fact that the accused has been in custody for about three months, there has been no recovery of any drugs at his behest. Further the other cops, who were earlier arrested in connection with the case, are also out on bail and hence the accused Atala is entitled to be released on bail, the court held. The State was represented by Public Prosecutor Shiral Monteiro. Pernem police had arrested the alleged Israeli drug dealer (Continued on page 2)
That will be ‘Run Way’ if you wantto make all your relatives happy by buying their land..