Horses for courses

The Poonawalla Multimillion in its 23rd year this year and to be run on Sunday, traditionally, brought a big glamour quotient to racing. The action at Mahalaxmi on major race days now is a mix of leggy ladies, preening actors, goggle eyed first timers and seasoned punters

Picasso takes the 2011 edition

Glamour will keep pace with gallops this Sunday, February 26 at the Mahalaxami racecourse as The Poonawalla Breeders' Multimillion 2012 takes off. Punters have been told to come 'appropriately attired as per dress code to avoid embarrassment' the invitation says. Decoded, that means formals for men and ladies have to be dressed smartly with "hats encouraged."

The hats really, bring out the fact that it was this race, the Million that began stressing on glamour. The Poonawalla race run post the Derby (The Derby takes place on the first Sunday of February) was like a one-day blitz after a sedate five-day Test match. For years, The Derby was for purists, the Wimbledon if you could call it, of horse racing, where the accent would be on contenders. Punters were buried in race books and newspapers of old would give the mandatory headline on that Sunday, 'All roads lead to the Derby.'

Then came the Poonawalla Breeders Multimillion (earlier called the Million), a little glitzy, a little Kerry Packerish, a little candidly if-this-is-what-it-takes-to woo-the-non-regulars-to-the-racecourse-we-will-do-that and suddenly, the blinkers seemed off. The focus shifted from pure racing to a fusion where betting became less intimidating and more accessible. Racing seemed not just for those serious students of the sport who could tell you that this horse, "Is a good bet because he ran the same distance very well in Kolkata."

Genesis
The concept of 'The Breeders' Million Race' was evolved sometime in the 80s, when members of the National Horse Breeding Society of India came together under the aegis of the Council Members of the National Horse Breeding Society (NHBS). After some deliberation the first sponsored Million race was run on March 11, 1990. The race for three-year-olds is run over a distance of approximately 1400 meters and the winner is considered a leading juvenile in the country.

March was an interesting time to hold this race. It was a time when most of the major races had been done and dusted with, the Mumbai racing season was in wind down mode and the heat searing the lawns, made attendance fall.

This race, put a wag into the tail end of a season. The first ever Million had 19 runners facing the starter and a horse called Le Gris Cheval owned by one Mr Stock, trained by Ivor Fernandes and ridden by Bajrang Singh made it past the post. The lawns were dotted with people who might fumble when asked if they wanted to bet a treble or a tanala at the betting widows, but it set the wheels into motion for a cocktail of fashion and furlongs (a term for distance covered in racing).

Talking about wheels, the race also introduced something called a Contest of Skill, now a regular in other major races too. The Contest of Skill means that entrants to the racecourse can fill up a form, nominating winners in the correct order. The punter who nominates correctly is the winner.

Today, winners, many of them first-timers giving credence to something called Beginner's Luck, drive away in swish Mercedes cars as at the Derby this year that offered a Merc to the winner. In the first Poonawalla race, though, the winner did not drive, he flew.

The Contest of Skill winner got two air tickets to Bombay-London-Bombay. Some years ago, a race day had even offered a boat to a Contest of Skill winner! From planes, cars, and even a boat. What next? A train? Knowing the Royal Western India Turf Club's (RWITC) penchant for introducing something new, don't be surprised if a winner chugs away in a steam engine one of these days! Would you bet your last rupee on that?

Headgear
While the men togged out in their Armanis and Oakleys for the race, the women perched hats on coiffured heads as Poonawalla started bringing a topi-cal twist to racing. The Ascot anyone? Come to aamchi Mumbai. Some years ago, there was even a Best Hat contest on at this race, with several ladies painstakingly perching on the bold, to the beautiful and bizarre to win that one.

More than two decades have passed since that first race. The venue is now a place where in other races too, equines share space with leggy models, page 3 regulars, page 3 wannabes, actors, Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), singers, dancers, assorted entertainers, artists and other culture vultures. Die-hards are often heard muttering about all the "nonsense" going on in the paddock every now and then, (by which they mean some song 'n' dance and hoopla on the stage) but their dark rambles are usually drowned out by the hi-octane action off track. Now, it is Poonawalla time again with the Contest of Skill winner all set to net a Volkswagen Polo this time and a total stakes of Rs 10 million.

This edition should see a carry forward Second Jackpot of Rs 10 lakh, a Super Jackpot of Rs 5 lakh, one Tanala of Rs One lakh, one Treble of Rs One lakh and a Forecast Pool of Rs 50,000. There will be free entry for the first 5,000 entrants in the first enclosure Some of this year's likely contenders are expected to be Hachiko from M K Jadhav's yard, Shivalik (M Narredu), Sharaarat (Dallas Todywalla), Southern Opinion (S Ganapathy), Days Best (C D Katrak), Silver Birch (Pesi Shroff), Borak (M Narredu), Amazing Desire (S K Sunderjee) and others.

Even as this writer was mulling how to end this piece, came a letter from the Poonawallas informing one that in addition to all this, there will be Lisa Hayden (model and actress) seen on that day as an invitee. Simran Kaur Mundi (Miss India Universe 2009) and a Ms Yanita (second name unknown) who is described as a young model will be part of the curvy quotient on Sunday. Sigh. Now you know why horses wear blinkers.

Race winners
Names of the horses who have won this race since its inception
1990: Le Gris Cheval
1991: Ponta Delegado
1992: Flying Brave
1993: Red Buttons
1994: Brave Hunter
1995: Winning Pretty
1996: Lei
1997: Forest Fantasy
1998: Indiscretion
1999: Her Excellency
2000: Six Speed
2001: Noble Opinion
2002: Priceless
2003: Secret Romeo
2004: Blurr
2005: Fedora
2006: Haunting Memories
2007: Bourbon King
2008: Autonomy
2009: Versaki
2010: Beautiful Stranger
2011: Picasso

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'Best cancer doctor' treating Yuvraj in US

While the entire country hopes and prays for India cricket stalwart Yuvraj Singh's recovery, it is satisfying to hear from a reputed medical personality that the star cricketer is being treated by the best in business.Dr J G Lalmalani, considered one of India's leading urologists, said, "I have had some patients treated by Dr Lawrence Einhorn. The results of chemotherapy are excellent life long. The downside is the many side effects."

"Finally the hair has gone," Yuvraj Singh posted on his Twitter page yesterday. Hair loss (alopecia) due to chemotherapy is one of the most distressing side effects of chemo treatments. Hair loss happens because the chemotherapy affects all cells in the body, not just the cancer cells.

However, Dr Lalmalani said: "Usually the tumour starts from the testicles and spreads to the lymph nodes, lungs and needs removal of the testicle, chemotherapy and sometimes also surgery and radiation for the lymph nodes."

"If this is part of the testicular cancer causing metastasis in the lungs, Dr Einhorn is the best guy," Dr Lalmalani added. It can be noted that on October 2, 1996, then aged 25, Lance Armstrong, the former American professional road racing cyclist, who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, was diagnosed as having developed Stage Three testicular cancer (Embryonal carcinoma). The cancer spread to his lungs, abdomen and brain.

Interestingly, Dr Lalmalani's few patients have been cured by Dr Einhorn, who was in the medical team that successfully treated Armstrong. Dr Einhorn has created a major program in clinical investigation and is credited with major advances in the curative treatment of this cancer, most notably in the clinical use of platinum-based chemotherapy. "The drug is called cisplatinum and is very effective," Dr Lalmalani confirmed.

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Rahul Gandhi may have been projected as the Gandhi scion wanting to follow in his grandmother's footsteps to become the Prime Minister of India, but it's sister Priyanka Gandhi who's giving us the chills by looking eerily similar to Indira. Photo: PTI

Priyanka, who normally sports western styles while hobnobbing with socialities and the political class in Delhi, has been seen in only cotton or khadi saris all during Congress rallies across UP. Photo: PTI

 The similarities are uncanny. Both Indira and Priyanka seem to have a fondness for similar colours (vibrant hues like orange, purple and green), part their hair the same way and even Priyanka doesn't seem to mind that her gray hair is showing.

Priyanka, who has always maintained that her children are her priority, recently told reporters that she will do anything to help her big brother Rahul win the elections. In fact, the Uttar Pradesh campaigning even saw her husband Robert Vadra claiming that he was ready to join politics too. So will this be Priyanka first step into the political wilderness? Photo: PTI

 If Priyanka does join politics, comparisons between her and her grandmother are bound to crop up. She, like her grandmother, has the gift of the gab and has always been seen has the smarter of the two Gandhi siblings. Might Rahul just have to make way for India's second female prime minister? Photo: PTI

 

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Google, Microsoft, Yahoo! to fight email spam

Google, Microsoft, Yahoo!, AOL and Facebook are setting aside their online rivalry to fight a common enemy: email spam and "phishing" attacks. The Web giants said today they have teamed up with Bank of America, PayPal and others to combat spam and phishing, where emails seeking to obtain passwords or other information are sent to unsuspecting recipients.

Representative pic

Following 18 months of private collaboration, they announced the formation of a technical working group known as DMARC.org, drawn from the acronym for Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance.

"Email phishing defrauds millions of people and companies every year, resulting in a loss of consumer confidence in email and the Internet as a whole," Brett McDowell, the chair of DMARC.org, said in a statement.

"Industry cooperation -- combined with technology and consumer education -- is crucial to fight phishing," said McDowell, the senior manager of customer security initiatives at PayPal.

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2G case: SC accepts Swamy's petition

Setting aside the Delhi High Court judgement on sanction of prosecution in 2G case, the Supreme Court today held that filing of a complaint under the Prevention of Corruption Act is a constitutional right of a citizen and the competent authority should take a decision on giving the sanction within a time frame. If the sanction is not given within four months then it is deemed to have been granted, the two judge bench of the apex court held in a case filed by Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy seeking a direction to the Prime Minister for sanction to prosecute the then Telecom Minister A Raja.
 The bench comprising justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly held that Swamy had the locus standi to seek sanction for Raja's prosecution. It said sanction should be granted within a time frame and the competent authority shall take action in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the apex court in the Vineet Narain case of 1996.

Justice Ganguly, who wrote a separate judgement, agreed with Justice Singhvi and said sanction would be deemed to be granted if the competent authority fails to take a decision within a period of four months. The bench said that right to file a complaint against a public servant under the Prevention of Corruption Act is a constitutional right. The bench said it was not accepting certain submissions made by the Attorney General in defending the stand of Prime Minister's Office. The court said it was not declaring as ultra vires the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The apex court had reserved its judgement on November 24, 2010 on the petition filed by Swamy alleging that there was delay in taking action on his plea seeking sanction to prosecute Raja.

Swamy, who had made the Prime Minister a party in the case, had initially sought a direction to the Prime Minister to take decision on sanction to prosecute Raja but later on he sought framing of guidelines on the issue as his plea became infructuous with the resignation of the DMK leader as telecom minister on November 14, 2010. He had alleged that there was an "inordinate delay" on part of the prime minister in taking a decision on his plea for grant of sanction to prosecute Raja in the scam and his plea was neither allowed not rejected for over 16 months.

The PMO had, however, refuted all the allegations and filed an affidavit before the apex court maintaining that the request for sanction for prosecution of Raja was considered by the prime minister and that he was advised that evidence collected by CBI was necessary before taking a decision. The government said as the CBI probe was going on it was necessary to wait for its completion before taking any decision on granting sanction. Swamy had approached the apex court challenging the Delhi High Court judgement that had refused to pass any direction to the prime minister for taking decision on sanction.

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Arab Spring in the offing in Punjab: Manpreet Badal

Manpreet Badal, who till last year was with the ruling Akali Dal as its finance minister in the coalition government, feels an Arab Spring is in the offing in Punjab to unseat the government headed by his uncle Parkash Singh Badal.

Manpreet Badal

Spread the word

Citing the anti-government protests across the Arab world, Manpreet feels people in Punjab are also in mood for a change.

President of newly-formed Punjab People's Party, which is emerging as a third force in the state, Manpreet claims the results of Punjab elections would be quite different than expected.

"If in the Arab world, in Africa or in Islamic countries, the girls and women could bring about a revolution, it is a different ball game in Punjab. People are in a mood to script a new story this time. You see, the results are going to be a lot different than what you think. People were sick of this system and their patience is running out," he told PTI.

Manpreet claimed his PPP-led 'Sanjha Morcha', which comprises CPI and CPI-M [ Images ] also, said his combine would extend his support to "whichever party agrees to implement our agenda or our manifesto in toto".

He said this when asked what he would do if his party held the key to government-formation.

"Otherwise, we will ask the governor to order fresh elections," he added.

Manpreet, the estranged nephew of the chief minister, who resigned as finance minister when he did not agree with the state's fiscal policies, feels Punjab's problems cannot be solved with coalition governments and urged the people to vote decisively.

"Punjab's problems cannot be solved by a minority or a coalition government. The people of Punjab must give a very decisive verdict. We cannot afford a fractured verdict, even if it is against PPP.

"They (voters) must give a very decisive verdict and a decisive government can only take such decisions. Some very tough political decisions are to be taken and they can only be taken by someone who is very sure and confident. This system of coalition government is like throwing Punjab behind by another five years. Punjab does not have that luxury of time," he said.

On his party tying up with Team Anna, he said, "We have higher mountains to climb than just the Lokpal. Our agenda is much wider. We have drugs, unemployment, we have poverty, we have all sorts of things to tackle."

On Lokpal, Manpreet said, "We are going to be the first state where the Lokpal will not be a Punjabi. Not only will there be a Lokpal but he will be a non-Punjabi to avoid favouritism and nepotism. Ours will also be a first government where the vigilance department will not be under the CM or government. We are also planning to have a district Lokayukta so that people can complain."

On his party's poll plank, he said, "I think we are the only party probably in India [ Images ] which has come up with a 100-day agenda. The first thing we are going to do is to effect a 5 per cent cut in non-plan expenditure of every department. We have a non-plan expenditure of Rs 40,000 crores, we are going to take out 5 per cent of that and divert that into primary, secondary, technical, medical education.

Manpreet said his party wanted to reform the police set-up by depoliticising and delinking the men in uniform from politics. "That's a big impediment in the growth story of Punjab. Rule of law must prevail. The entire system of postings, transfers, promotions has to be out of the purview of politicians", he said.

On his contesting from two seats, he said, it is part of election strategy as he did not wish to be confined to Gidderbaha alone, the seat that he has been representing for the last four times.

Admitting that the Dera Sacha Sauda votes are quite crucial in Punjab assembly polls, he said, "I would respect them much more if they say they that the Dera is non-political."

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Bitter pill for liquor chocolate lovers

The Excise Department may stop issuing permits for the manufacture and sale of alcohol-based chocolates, rendering the confections illegal in the state
if your sweet tooth has a fondness for those delectable soft-centre chocolates that enclose smooth-as-honey alcohol delights in them, it may be time to start practising some abstinence. Not so you can preserve your waistline, but because being caught with one of the sinful delights may get you arrested.

The state's Excise Department is mulling the idea of erasing the clause from the Special Permits and Licenses Rules 1952, which permits the granting of licences for the manufacture, sale and purchase of liquor chocolates. This means that eating, buying, making and selling alcohol-based chocolates without possessing a liquor permit will be considered a cognisable and bailable offence.


On December 1, MiD DAY had reported that the excise authorities wanted all chocolatiers, shopkeepers and consumers of alcohol-based chocolates to produce liquor licences or permits before buying or selling them.

The department began re-thinking the feasibility of the clause last month, when the Vashi branch of the department apprehended a 25-year-old man from sector 15 of Vashi, for allegedly having alcohol-based chocolates in his possession and selling them to under-age college students. The man was booked under Section 65 (E) of the Bombay Prohibition Act and produced before the Thane court, to be released later on a bail of Rs 4,000.

"This case has opened the eyes of the department. We have not sold a single permit, and yet, these chocolates have flooded the market and are widely consumed by the masses, including children and college youths. The department is now thinking of ways to stop these practices. We are not earning any revenue from the sale and manufacture of liquor chocolates, and instead the law is being bent. This is why we are toying with the idea of erasing the clause from the SPLR, 1952," said a senior official of the excise department, on condition of anonymity.

Speaking to MiD DAY, A B Ghatol, joint commissioner of the department, said, "It is too early to say anything with certainty. We have collected a few liquor chocolate samples and have sent them for laboratory tests. We are waiting for the test reports to come in. The content of the liquor will be checked. We are still mulling over our decision."

Chocolate makers across the city are up in arms against the plan. "This is absurd. The government should think of a solution other than erasing the clause altogether. There must be better options. Limits need to be defined. Also, what about coffee shops and other eateries that sell these chocolates? Will they also have to acquire an alcohol permit simply to sell them? What about imported chocolates, which are sold in the shops? Do those shopkeepers also have to apply for liquor permits?" asked Andheri-based chocolate maker Alisha Fernandez.

Did you know?
Drinking alcohol without a permit is a cognisable and bailable offence. There are various penalties depending on different factors, like the quantity of liquor involved. The offence can attract a maximum fine of Rs 50,000, and imprisonment up to five years. The magnitude of the penalty puts drinking in the same category of crime as assault or rioting.

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Stick to a format: Pranab

In what could be construed as an affirmation of the Centre's response to the agitation by social activist Anna Hazare and his supporters for a strong Lokpal Bill to deal with corruption by August 30, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said near here on Sunday that a “larger section of the society” could engage in pre-legislation consultations but only in a “disciplined” and “well-established format.”

Without specifically referring to Mr. Hazare and his supporters, he said: “If a larger section of society wants to participate in a disciplined and in a well-established format, we can indulge in that.”

“Not necessarily does pre-legislation consultation have to be confined to civil servants and the political executive.”

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Submit original Radia tapes: SC directs Govt

Supreme Court on Wednesday directed that the original tapes containing the conversation between corporate lobbyist Nira Radia and others pertaining to the 2G spectrum allocation case be handed over to it in a sealed cover.
"We direct that the original records and tapes/ CDs be submitted in a sealed cover after preparing the copies. It will be kept in the lockers of the Supreme Court registry and if required, it will be considered for its use," the court said.

The direction came from a bench comprising justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly after government submitted that it has no objection in handing over the complete set of tapes in the wake of apprehensions that the tapes may be destroyed.
Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium said that he has got instructions that there was no objection in handing over the tapes and the court can give direction for preserving them in whatever way it thinks best.
The apex court had on Tuesday asked the government to respond to the plea for preserving the tapes containing conversation between Radia and others relating to the 2G spectrum scam.
The bench had asked the Solicitor General to take instructions from the authorities on the plea made by NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL). Advocate Prashant Bhushan, who had appeared for the NGO, had made the plea that the tapes prepared by the Director General of Income Tax containing conversation of Radia and others should be preserved while voicing apprehensions that the tapes may be tampered with.
While hearing the issue on Tuesday, the court had described the "pollution" as "mind-boggling".
Bhushan spoke about the nexus between politicians, bureaucrats, industrialists and journalists as "exposed" in the tapes.

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What is 2G spectrum scam?

New Delhi:  From the time allegations of misappropriation during the bidding for allocation of 2G spectrum surfaced, till Telecom Minister A Raja's ouster, high drama charged both politics in Delhi and Tamil Nadu. So what exactly is the Spectrum Scam that led to all this?


WHAT IS SPECTRUM SCAM?

• 2G licenses issued to private telecom players at throwaway prices in 2008
• CAG: Spectrum scam has cost the government Rs. 1.76 lakh crore
• CAG: Rules and procedures flouted while issuing licenses
• WHAT ARE THE CHARGES ON FORMER TELECOM MINISTER A RAJA?
  
  CHEAP TELECOM LICENSES
   
•  Entry fee for spectrum licenses in 2008 pegged at 2001 prices
•  Mobile subscriber base had shot up to 350 million in 2008 from 4 million in 2001

 NO PROCEDURES FOLLOWED

• Rules changed after the game had begun
• Cut-off date for applications advanced by a week
• Licenses issued on a first-come-first-served basis
• No proper auction process followed, no bids invited
• Raja ignored advice of TRAI, Law Ministry, Finance Ministry
• TRAI had recommended auctioning of spectrum at market rates

FAVOURITISM, CORPORATES ENCASH PREMIUM

• Unitech, Swan Telecom got licenses without any prior telecom experience
• Swan Telecom given license even though it did not meet eligibility criteria
• Swan got license for Rs. 1537 crore, sold 45% stake to Etisalat for Rs. 4200 crore
• Unitech Wireless got license for Rs. 1661 crore, sold 60% stake for Rs. 6200 crore
• All nine companies paid DoT only Rs. 10,772 crore for 2G licences

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Making sense of Google's seemingly whacky concepts

San Francisco: In its self-proclaimed drive to make the world a better place, Google has immersed itself in far more than Internet search and online ads. But driverless cars and a wind energy farm in the Atlantic Ocean?

It may not always be immediately apparent to frustrated investors - they wish management would be more frugal and focus more on the stock price - but there's usually some calculated logic underlying Google's unconventional strategy.

Google's brain trust - founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, along with CEO Eric Schmidt - clearly think differently than most corporate leaders, and may eventually encourage more companies to take risks that might not pay off for years, if ever.

The time is ripe for long-term thinking, with memories still fresh of the financial meltdown - a byproduct of Wall Street's demands for companies to deliver ever-higher profits every three months and meet earnings targets set by analysts.

"Everywhere you look in this country, it seems that we are suffering from the consequences of too much short-term thinking," said longtime Silicon Valley forecaster Paul Saffo, managing director of foresight for Discern Analytics.

"Google doesn't have this disease," he said. "It is one of the few lone bright spots we have in that regard."

Even so, it might be difficult to fathom how Google can justify paying for the development of robotic technology that has driven cars thousands of miles on California roads without a major accident and committing potentially hundreds of millions of dollars to help build a wind farm hundreds of miles from the Eastern Seaboard.

With a little imagination, it's easier to see how Google might benefit. For instance, Saffo surmises that the driverless technology eventually could be implanted into a fleet of vehicles used for car sharing.

Google then could use a camera to take new pictures of streets and highways that appear in its online maps, another example of a service that once seemed like a diversion from its Internet search engine but is now an indispensable tool that helps the company sell advertising.

The company announced Tuesday it would buy a 37.5 percent stake in the Atlantic Ocean wind energy project, investing in a network of deepwater transmission lines to bring power from still-to-be-built offshore wind farms.

That makes more sense when you realize Google already sucks up massive amounts of energy from the power grid and expects to consume even more in the next decade as it opens more data centers filled with row upon row of computers to run its Internet services.

And if the value of renewable energy rises, as many analysts expect, Google eventually could even sell its stake for a tidy profit.

Or it could turn out to be a total bust, something Page and Brin warned potential investors could happen in April 2004 when they laid out their iconoclastic approach to business before Google sold its stock in an initial public offering.

"Our long-term focus may simply be the wrong business strategy," they warned. "Competitors may be rewarded for short-term tactics and grow stronger as a result. As potential investors, you should consider the risks around our long-term focus."

The Google founders also told investors that the company would be willing to finance projects with just a 10 percent chance of yielding a return of at least $ 1 billion - bets that seem "very speculative or even strange."

Google's transparency about its unorthodox ways may be one reason the company hasn't been stung yet by an outcry from its shareholders, although most analysts agree the stock price probably would be higher if management were to use some of the company's $ 30 billion in cash to pay a quarterly dividend or buy back shares.

Google stock closed at $ 541.39 on Tuesday, down 13 percent for the year and far off its all-time high of nearly $ 750 three years ago.

The company's uninterrupted streak of prosperity since its August 2004 IPO hasn't hurt, either.

Google can afford to gamble more frequently than most companies because it dominates the Internet's most lucrative market, the ads running alongside search results. And Google has seized on that opportunity in a manner that would make Gordon Gekko proud, beating back its competitors to boost its annual revenue from just $ 86 million in 2001 to nearly $ 30 billion now.

The company, based in Mountain View, Calif., began branching out beyond search well before it went public.

It set up an online news section that compiles the day's top stories in 2002. Just a few months before its August 2004 IPO, Google unveiled a free e-mail service that boasted an unprecedented - and still expanding - amount of space per inbox.

In 2004, it bought an obscure digital mapping service called Keyhole that eventually turned Google into the place to go for directions. Even rival CEOs, such as Yahoo's Carol Bartz, say it's the best around.

More recently, Google created a free mobile operating system called Android that now powers millions of smart phones. This month, it's rolling out technology with Sony that weds traditional television viewing with Web surfing.

Google's expansion into mobile phones and television never seemed like quantum leaps for the company because they are little more than attempts to transplant its advertising model onto other Internet-connected screens that attract a lot of eyeballs.

The company also has poured money into building more widely available and faster ways for people to connect to the Internet, reasoning that it will make money if more Web surfers have the opportunity to use its ubiquitous services.

Schmidt, Google's CEO, frequently tries to defuse the perception that the company is frivolous. He contends the company's formula is disciplined: 70 percent of its resources go to the main search business, 20 percent to other projects connected to search, and 10 percent to initiatives that have nothing to do with search.

It's difficult to argue with the formula so far, said Colin Gillis of the stock market research firm BGC Financial.

"As an analyst, I do hammer them on their (rising) expenses and some of their questionable investments," he said. "But as a user of all their products, I love them. And from a purely personal perspective, I appreciate that Google is trying to use technology to solve the world's problems."

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1st Test: VVS, Ishant script heroic India win

Mohali: VVS Laxman battled severe back pain to register a gritty unbeaten half century and literally snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against Australia, beating the visitors in a nail-biting thriller at Mohali on Tuesday by one wicket.

Laxman (46 balls, 6x4), who has been the nemesis for the Australians for the past decade, played a gem of an innings but received very little support from the other end as the visitors remained favourites to win the Test.

Paceman Ishant Sharma, who put on 38 runs for the ninth-wicket partnership with Laxman, hit a few plucky fours to remain unbeaten on 14.

Earlier, Sachin Tendulkar (38) and Zaheer Khan (10) started in a positive manner.

Rather than trying to defend in the first hour, both were keen on playing their shots. While Tendulkar struck some well-timed boundaries off Nathan Hauritz, Zaheer ran a couple and a few singles to keep the scoreboard moving.

Zaheer hung around for half an hour before he was done in by a straighter from Hauritz as he tried to play for the turn.

Michael Clarke took an easy catch in the slip.

Then came Laxman and the manner in which he started, it never looked that he has been suffering from back spasms and was in unbearable pain for the last couple of days.

He announced his arrival with back-to-back boundaries off Hauritz. First a cover drive and then a back-foot punch through the extra cover.

The best one came with the back-foot punch off Bollinger which was hit with minimum fuss.

With Tendulkar for company, the duo added 43 runs in only 6.1 overs and it looked that hosts were taking control of the proceedings.

Tendulkar played 64 balls hitting five boundaries in the process. He was the man on whom the hopes of India's victory wrested.

It looked as if he would like to prove his critics, who have often spoken about his inability to win matches for India in the fourth innings.

But just before the first drinks break of the morning session, Tendulkar tried an ambitious upper-cut off Bollinger delivery that rose but didn't get required elevation and Mike Hussey took a smart catch at gully.

Tendulkar's wicket was exactly the shot in the arm the Aussies needed.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who played one of his most forgettable Test matches, was run out for two when he was late in responding to Laxman's runner Suresh Raina's call for a single.

Ben Hilfenhaus ran from mid-off to mid-on and threw down the stumps at the batsman's end with Dhoni couple of yards short of his ground.

Harbhajan Singh also didn't last long gloving a Bollinger short ball to Ricky Ponting at second slip.

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Miss World 2010 - Meet the contestants

Contestants from 120 countries have arrived at Sanya Island, China to take part in the 60th edition of the prestigious event to be held on 30 October.

Miss World contestants wave while posing for a group photo under a blessing tree during their visit to the Badachu Park Temple in Beijing.


Miss India World Manasvi Mamgai will be representing the country at this year's pageant.
 
Miss World contestant Sara Khouly of Egypt waves while visiting the Badachu Park Temple in Beijing.
 
Miss World contestant Czarina Gatbonton of the Philippines smiles while taking a picture with a Chinese visitor during her visit to the Badachu Park Temple.
 
Miss World contestants Kamilla Salgado of Brazil (left), Andrea Kkolou of Cyprus (centre) and Tang Xiao of China.
 
Miss World contestant Kimberly Kuiperi from Aruba shows her welcoming gift while at the Badachu Park Temple

Miss World contestants Alexandria Mills of the US (right) and Courtenay Hamilton of Wales pose for the cameras.
 
Miss World contestant Mariana Arambarry of Argentina smiles as she receives her gift.
Miss World contestants from left, Andrea Kkolou of Cyprus, Kamilla Salgado of Brazil, Tang Xiao of China, Sara Khouly of Egypt and Denise Garrido of Canada pose for a picture.

 
Miss World contestant Kamilla Salgado of Brazil (left) and Tang Xiao of China take a photo of themselves in the vicinity of the Badachu Park Temple in Beijing.
 
Miss World contestants watch a lion dance performance under a blessing tree while visiting the Badachu Park Temple.
 
Miss World contestants from left, Yara Santiago of Puerto Rico, Czarina Gatbonton of the Philippines and Odile Gertze of Namibia pose under the blessing tree.
 
Miss World contestants Tang Xiao of China and Kaiane Aldorino of Gibraltar at a press conference.
 
Miss China Tang Xiao and Miss Gibraltar Kaiane Aldorino are all smiles as they pose for a picture.
Source India Syndicate

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CL T20: Chennai tsunami awaits Wayamba

Centurion: The Indian cricket platter – which of late has been full of Sri Lankan cuisine – will be served a fresh island delicacy garnished with Twenty20 flavour on Wednesday, when the Chennai Super Kings take on the Wayamba Elevens at the SuperSport Park here on Wednesday.

The Asian neighbours' Champions League 2010 campaign has hit an altogether different roadmap. While Wayamba's graph failed to take off against the Warriors, Chennai's has gone through the roof with a 57-run humiliation handed out to the Central Stags from New Zealand.

The Indian avatar Chennai has very subtle wrinkles to iron out, but deep furrows could be witnessed in Wayamba's first game, which warrant immediate attention.

To start off Wayamba's list of woes, they can be grouped with Guyana as the least impressive team on show on all three fronts. Whether it's bowling, batting or fielding, their armour seems full of chinks and in need of a quick pit-stop to run repairs. The team would be praying for Mahela Jayawardene to come good, which, if he does, will provide even a bigger opportunity for the impressive Jeevantha Kulatunga and Kushal Perera to use the long handle. But what Mahela does upfront would undoubtedly decide where Wayamba's quest ends up.

In comparison, Chennai won impressively without contributions from their stars like Mathew Hayden and Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni who didn't bat and Michael Hussey who wasn't picked. And with the middle order well taken care of by S Badrinath and Anirudha Srikkanth, Wayamba may be seen hiding for cover if Hayden and Co. get their act together.

Both teams look spin-heavy but the telling contrast may lie among the faster-men. Chennai's trio of Doug Bollinger, L Balaji and Albie Morkel not only bowled with control but also chipped away at wickets to let two quality off-spinners – the legendary Muttiah Muralitharan and the exciting R Ashwin – to take control in the middle.

Wayamba clearly lag behind on that front. Chanaka Welegedara, Farveez Maharoof and Thisara Perera at best look a second-choice attack and they may leave Ajantha Mendis and Rangana Herath a lot of ground to cover, in a lost cause.

It won't be impractical to conclude that should Chennai send Wayamba packing, they will have one foot inside the door to semifinals. With a run-rate even better than group-toppers Warriors – who have played one match more than Chennai – a win is all that Dhoni be hoping for to cement a spot in the top-two.

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