Dell readying iPhone rival

LOS ANGELES: Dell Inc is plotting a foray into the cellphone arena as early as next month, making and selling smartphones to revitalise a busine
ss walloped by crumbling PC sales and pitting the firm against Apple, the Wall Street Journal reported.




The world's No. 2 maker of PCs, which has been designing prototypes for over a year, is focusing on smartphones -- the class of high-end devices that encompasses Apple's iPhone and Research in Motion's Blackberry, the newspaper cited people familiar with the matter as saying.

If launched, the phones will be based on Google's Android operating system and Microsoft's Windows Mobile software, it said. One model will even feature a touchscreen, not unlike the iPhone's, the Journal reported.

However, Dell has not finalised its plans and may still abandon them, the Journal added without elaborating.

Shares in Dell climbed 1.4 per cent in after-hours trade, barely denting an 8.6 per cent dive during the regular session to $9.95. Microsoft stock was up 1.3 per cent, and Google shares were holding steady.

Representatives for Dell and Microsoft declined to comment, and Google representatives were not available for comment.

Smartphones – high-end mobile devices that can assume many of the functions found traditionally on PCs, such as playing videos and music -- are the fastest growing segment of the cellphone industry.

IT consultancy IDC expects smartphone shipments to climb 8.9 per cent globally in 2009, far outstripping a decline in the overall worldwide cellphone market.

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Gaza militants launch rocket into Israel

JERUSALEM: The Israeli military says Gaza militants have launched a rocket into southern Israel.


There were no reports of damage or casualties in the Sunday morning attack. The rocket demonstrated the fragility of a cease-fire that ended Israel's devastating Gaza offensive on January 18.

Israel halted the operation after saying its goals had been achieved. But Hamas declared victory and militants have kept up sporadic attacks.

Since the ceasefire, militants have fired rockets into Israel and killed one soldier in a border attack. Israel has conducted retaliatory strikes and pounded border tunnels it says Hamas uses to smuggle in weapons from Egypt.

Israeli forces have also killed three men Palestinians identified as farmers in violence along the Gaza-Israel border.

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3 mobile technologies for 2009

Research firm Gartner has identified eight mobile technologies that will evolve significantly through 2009 and 2010, impacting short-term mobile strategies and policies. “All mobile strategies embed assumptions about technology evolution so it’s important to identify the technologies that will evolve quickly in the life span of each strategy,” said Nick Jones, vice president and analyst at Gartner. “The eight mobile technologies that we have pinpointed as ones to watch in 2009 and 2010 will have broad effects and, as such, are likely to pose issues to be addressed by short-term strategies and policies.” Here are the eight mobile technologies to watch for in future. Bluetooth 3.0 specification will be released in 2009 (at which point its feature set will be frozen), with devices starting to arrive around 2010. Bluetooth 3.0 will likely include features such as ultra-low-power mode that will enable new devices, such as peripherals and sensors, and new applications, such as health monitoring. Bluetooth originated as a set of protocols operating over a single wireless bearer technology. Bluetooth 3.0 is intended to support three bearers: ‘classic’ Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and ultrawideband (UWB). It's possible that more bearers will be supported in the future. Wi-Fi is likely to be a more important supplementary bearer than UWB in the short term, because of its broad availability. Wi-Fi will allow high-end phones to rapidly transfer large volumes of data. UIs have a major effect on device usability and supportability. They will also be an area of intense competition in 2009 and 2010, with manufacturers using UIs to differentiate their handsets and platforms. New and more-diverse UIs will complicate the development and support of business-to-employee (B2E) and business-to-consumer (B2C) applications. Organisations should expect more user demands for support of specific device models driven by interface preferences. Companies should also expect consumer interfaces to drive new expectations of application behavior and performance. Better interfaces will make the mobile Web more accessible on small devices, and will be a better channel to customers and employees.

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RIL regains Rs 2 trillion valuation turf

MUMBAI: The country's 10 most valued firms witnessed an addition of over Rs 66,000 crore in their market capitalisation last week, with Reliance
Industries regaining the Rs two trillion valuation turf.

Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries remained the numero-uno in the elite club of 10 most valued firms by adding Rs 27,077 crore to its market capitalisation.

Reliance Industries (RIL) regained the Rs two trillion mark after a gap of five weeks after its shares surged 15% on the Bombay Stock Exchange during the week.

At the end of trade on Friday, the market capitalisation of RIL stood at Rs 2,08,559.98 crore, while it was at Rs 1,81,483 crore in the week-ago period.

At the end of Friday's trade, the market-cap of top 10 firms, comprising six public sector units and four private sector companies, witnessed an addition of Rs 66,049.75 crore in their valuation to Rs 1,044,684 crore.

Last week, the market capitalisation of 10 elite companies was Rs 9,78,634 crore.

Mining giant NMDC was the second biggest gainer in the top 10 club. It climbed up to the ninth spot from earlier 10th after adding Rs 8,504 crore to its valuation.

Power utility NTPC remained the country's most valued PSU entity with a market capitalisation of Rs 1,56,251 crore. It had added Rs 8,328 crore to its valuation in a week.

Trading firm MMTC was the lone loser in terms of valuation in last week's market. The company, which saw its marketcap erode by Rs 309 crore in the week, slipped to the seventh spot from the last week's fifth rank.

IT bellwether Infosys Technologies moved up one place to the fifth spot after adding over Rs 5,800 crore to its valuation, and country's largest lender State Bank of India also moved up one notch to sixth place, adding Rs 7,012 crore in the week.

Similarly, state-run ONGC and Sunil Mittal-led Bharti Airtel added Rs 2,652 crore and Rs 3,455 crore respectively to their valuation. Also diversified conglomerate ITC jumped up to the eight position, from earlier 10th, after adding Rs 3,508 crore to its valuation.

In the coveted club of top 10, RIL is followed by NTPC (Rs 1,56,252 crore), ONGC (Rs 1,40,780 crore), Bharti Airtel (Rs 1,29,319 crore), Infosys (Rs 74,758 crore), SBI (Rs 73,151 crore), MMTC (Rs 72,412 crore), ITC (Rs 67,781 crore), NMDC (Rs 66,032 crore), BHEL (Rs 64,639 crore).

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh discharged from AIIMS

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who underwent a complex coronary 're-do' bypass surgery at AIIMS on January 24, was this morning
discharged from the hospital.

PM Manmohan Singh has been discharged from AIIMS after undergoing heart bypass surgery. (PTI)

The 76-year-old Prime Minister was discharged after the doctors completed the pre-discharge tests on Friday. The decision to discharge Singh from the hospital was taken by a team of doctors from Asian Heart Institute (AHI) led by surgeon Dr Ramakant Panda. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will have to follow a strict dietary regimen to keep his long-term diabetes under control. Doctors have projected a 6-week recuperation period before he can fully get back to his duties. "He is on a proper diet regime. He is being given proteins and essential food, which a diabetic should eat. He is having solid food, but his diet plan would return to normal in a week or two," said Dr K Srinath Reddy, head of medical advisory team monitoring the PM's health at AIIMS said on Friday. The Prime Minister underwent a complex coronary 're-do' bypass surgery at AIIMS on January 24 and was moved out of the ICU on January 28. PTI reports that Cardiac rehabilitation specialist Dr Ashish Contractor from AHI and Dr Vijay D'Silva besides three nurses from the Mumbai-based hospital will monitor the Prime Minister's condition at his residence. While Dr D'Silva will take care of the Prime Minister for a few days, Dr Contractor will stay back for a week and the nurses for about three weeks to monitor the Prime Minister's health.

Sania-Bhupathi win mixed doubles title

NEW DELHI: Indian pair of Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi won the mixed doubles title of the Australian Open, defeating Nathalie Dechy and Andy Ram on Sunday.

The Indian duo defeated Dechy and Ram in straight set of 6-3, 6-1.

Thus, Sania Mirza has become first Indian woman to win a senior grand slam tournament.

Mahesh Bhupathi has made his seventh mixed doubles Grand Slam titles under his belt with different partners.

His last mixed doubles Grand Slam was incidentally the Australian Open in 2006 when he had partnered Swiss Martina Hingis.

In the semi-final, Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi overcame a sluggish start to sail into the final for the second consecutive year as they beat Czechs Iveta Benesova and Lukas Dlouhy in straight sets on Friday.

Obama to be Dad for the 3rd time

US First Lady Michelle Obama is believed to be pregnant and expecting her third child, a media report in Britain said on Friday.

America is buzzing with hope that the 45-year-old wife of that country's first black President Barack Obama will soon give birth to a "White House baby", barely two weeks after his official inauguration, the 'Daily Star' reported.

Michelle and her 47-year-old husband already have two daughters, Malia (10), and Sasha (7).

Internet bloggers and journalists have in fact started the speculation as long ago as November.
And, now Los Angeles' celebrity blogger, Perez Hilton, has written: "This is completely unconfirmed and at this point just a 'rumour' but... we're hearing the talk in (Washington) DC is that Michelle Obama is pregnant. Could this be true????? It'd be happy news! Hopefully it's a boy!"

Though both Michelle and Barack have clearly stated in the past that they intended to have no more children, the White House has done nothing to quell the gossip, it said.

An insider was quoted as saying: "Anything can be done to hide these sorts of rumours, and Barack and Michelle would not have wanted anything to detract from the importance of the inauguration day.

"Their advisers will have been kept up to speed and it is very possible that there may be some announcement in the very near future."

In fact, British media have already nicknamed Michelle as "America's Lady Diana".

"Not since Princess of Wales has there been such a glamorous role model at the apex of society. The First Lady has excited the fashion world, but like Diana she would rather champion the less fortunate than be a clotheshorse," another newspaper had said just days back.

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It's a Nadal Vs Federer Final at the Aus Open

Rafael Nadal set up a showdown with Roger Federer in the Australian Open final after a thrilling victory over Fernando Verdasco.

The Spanish rivals battled it out in a nerve-wracking five-setter in Melbourne. World No1 Nadal nicked it in the end after five hours and 14 minutes of epic tennis.

It was the longest match in the history of the Australian Open - and Nadal now faces a fight to recover ahead of Sunday's final.

He eventually overcame Verdasco 6-7 6-4 7-6 6-7 6-4 at the Rod Laver Arena. But Federer will be thanking Verdasco for making Nadal work so hard for his win in a match that had everything.

The pair exchanged blistering ground strokes, delicate drop shots, smashes, bullet-like serving and even the odd volley.

In the end, Nadal prevailed but he will be aware of how close he came to crashing out in Melbourne.

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Delhi teenager wins Junior Aus Open

Delhi boy Yuki Bhambri on Saturday created history by becoming the first Indian to win the junior Australian Open title, beating Alexandros-Ferdinandos Georgoudas of Germany 6-3, 6-1 in the final.

Yuki follows in the footsteps of Indian tennis greats Ramanathan Krishnan, Ramesh Krishnan and Leander Paes to win a junior Grand Slam.

Ramanathan Krishnan won the Wimbledon junior title in 1954, the first Asian player to achieve the feat. His son Ramesh carried on the legacy to win the junior titles at French Open and Wimbledon in 1979.

Paes was the last Indian to win a junior Grand Slam when he won the Wimbledon Boy's title in 1990 and the US Open in 1991 as a 17-year-old.

Sixteen-year-old Yuki came into the Australian Open as the top seed, having reached the semi-final here last year.

Yuki has been performing exceptionally in the international circuit. His best show so far has been the title win at the Orange Bowl in Key Biscayne in the US, considered to be the fifth Grand Slam, besides the Osaka Mayor's Cup in October. It catapulted him to No. 2 in World junior rankings.

However, Yuki's doubles campaign ended in semi-final after he and his Taipei partner Liang Chi-Huang lost 3-6, 1-6 to Russia's Mikhal Biryukov and Japanese Yasutaka Uchiyama on Friday.

Yuki honed his skills at the famous Nick Bolletieri Tennis Academy in the USA. He is coached by Aditya Sachdeva, who accompanied him to Melbourne.

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Movie Review: 'Bedtime Stories'

After dozens of movies, Adam Sandler remains hard to figure out. Most of Sandler's films slavishly follow the mold of most film comedies of the last decade or so: a somewhat funny male star (Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Will Ferrell, Seth Rogen, Adam Sandler) is dropped into an unfunny premise with a lot of gross-out scenes and poop jokes to make up for the lack of laughs.

In BEDTIME STORIES Sandler is underachiever who grew up in a retro LA motel owned by his late father, an unsuccessful dreamer who sold out to hotel magnate Barry Nottingham (Richard Griffiths). His life is shaken up when his sister, uptight supermom (Courteney Cox, an obvious casting move), loses her job as a school principal when her school is closed. Sandler and a friend Keri Russell) babysit her two children for a week so she can look for a new job.

Like every nanny since Mary Poppins, Sandler wins over the suspicious, but adorable, children with his bedtime stories. At first, the stories seem like silly digressions in which Sandler imagines himself a medieval knight, western hero, etc. (brought to life with extravagant special effects) but soon he notices that episodes in the stories start coming true in his life. As the week progresses, his life becomes a chance at a real fairy tale as he gets a second chance to wrest the hotel from Nottingham and his sycophantic minion (Guy Pearce).

To say Bedtime Stories is uneven is the same as saying that it's an Adam Sandler movie. But it's not bad, and with a few changes it could have been a lot better. The filmmakers are obviously trying to make a sweet, uplifting movie, so there are only a couple of fart jokes, but why do there have to be any?

The happy ending is even sillier and more unrealistic than it ought to be, especially coming after an earlier false ending which is realistic and plausible. But Sandler's innocence about what goes on in the real world is sort of charming, and so is his willingness to make mainstream comedies that are slightly offbeat. Hopefully he'll make a complete movie one day, as well-meaning and well-acted as Bedtime Stories, but with the verisimilitude to make Sandler's fairy tales seem like they really could come true.

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Wishing Preity Zinta a very happy Birthday

In the year 1998, all the manufacturers of effervescent products went on a mass strike against Bollywood. The reason? It was because, it was discovered that Bollywood had got someone who could give the best of effervescent product a huge inferiority complex. She was none other than the super 'bubbly' Preity Zinta, who also happens to be today's Birthday girl and whose mere smile is reason enough for the sunflowers to bloom, fishes to swim and the breeze to blow!

Having made her debut with Mani Ratnam's Dil Se, Preity Zinta shook the entire cinegoer crowd with her on-screen question rendition of 'Are you a virgin?' to none other than the 'Baadshah' of Bollywood...Shahrukh Khan, no less! What followed after Dil Se were films that were no less than hits, super hits and smash hits! A few examples of the same read as Soldier, Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega, Mission Kashmir, Dil Chahta Hai, Koi Mil Gaya, Kal Ho Na Ho, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, Heroes etc...

You too can join www.newswala4u.blogspot.com as we wish this 'real-life' Barbie doll a very happy Birthday, simply by posting your wishes below in comments:

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Ramadoss doesn't like women in pubs being beaten

Closing ranks with leaders opposing pub culture in the aftermath of the Mangalore incident, Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss on Friday said it was against Indian ethos and asserted that the proposed National Alcohol Policy would help curb it.

"We definitely condemn the incident where women were attacked, but the pub culture must stop. It is because of this that youth in the country have taken to drinking in a big way," Ramadoss said at a press conference here.

Linking youngsters visiting pubs to increased rates of accidents due to drunken driving, he said, "In India, 40 per cent of road accidents are alcohol-related."

These young people not only jeopardise their lives but are also a danger to others on the roads.

"It is not our culture. If it goes this way I don't think India will progress," Ramadoss said adding, most of the people losing their lives due to such road accidents and alcoholism were in their early twenties, which are the most productive years.

Unfortunately over the recent years, there has been a huge percentage of people taking to alcohol.

There is also a study which says that in the last five to six years there is an increase of 60 per cent among the youth who have taken to drinking, he said.

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Spice Group to invest $408 Million in Satyam

Spice Group is ready to invest about 20 billion rupees (USD 408 million) in Satyam Computer Services and wants to buy a 51 percent stake in the fraud-scarred outsourcer, Spice chairman B K Modi said.

"That is our desire," Modi said on Friday. "We want the money to go inside the company. For that they will have to make a preferential issue. If I buy shares from the market, the money will not go into the company."

Modi said the group had submitted on Thursday its proposal to the government-appointed new board of Satyam. "We have also talked to two, three board members informally."

Spice Group has diversified operations including mobile handset manufacturing, mobile software development, back-office operations, entertainment and retail.

Last year, it sold its mobile telecoms services business to Idea Cellular for 21.76 billion rupees. "That is one of the sources (for funding). But we have other channels," Modi said, adding that the group was capable to fund a possible deal internally.

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Movie Review: 'Elegy'

Elegy is a gorgeously shot, classy drama with a terrific supporting cast, but Kingsley's curiously hollow performance means it doesn't quite deliver the required emotional punch.

Based on a novel by Philip Roth (The Dying Animal), Elegy stars Ben Kingsley as David Kepesh, an author and college professor who abandoned his wife and child many years ago, something his son (Peter Sarsgaard) has never forgiven him for. Since then, the closest thing David has had to a meaningful relationship is his monthly hook-up with self-made businesswoman Caroline (Patricia Clarkson), an arrangement that seems to suit them both perfectly.

However, when David falls head over heels for one of his students (Penelope Cruz as Consuela) and begins a relationship with her, his jealousy threatens to destroy everything because he's convinced she'll eventually leave him for someone younger.

Directed by Isabel Coixet, the film is beautifully shot throughout and frequently feels like a Woody Allen movie, not least because a) Coixet steals actual shots from Allen and b) Kingsley indulges in the kind of May-to-December relationships usually found in the Woodster's back catalogue. There's also terrific support from Clarkson, Sarsgard and Cruz, who looks sensational and reminds you of Sophia Loren.

However, the film is stolen by a superb supporting performance from Dennis Hopper as David's best friend and confidante, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet (stop laughing at the back there) who offers terrible relationship advice and still has affairs, even though he's married to Debbie freaking Harry.

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Sania-Bhupati reach Aus Open Final!

The Indian hopes at the Australian Open were given a boost as the dynamic pair of Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi stormed in the mixed doubles final.

Mirza and Bhupathi marched ahead with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Czechs Iveta Benesova and Lukas Dlouhy.

The Indians, who were the runner-up pair at the Melbourne Park last year, trailed 1-3 in the opening set before storming back to seal the issue in 54 minutes.

In the summit clash, they will take on the unseeded French-Israeli combine of Nathalie Dechy and Andy Ram, who stunned seventh seeded Spaniards Anabel Medina Garrigues and Tommy Robredo 7-6 (9/7) 6-4.

It was hardly the kind of start Sania and Bhupathi, who have dropped just one set en route to the semis, would have wanted as Benesova and Dlouhy broke them in the opening game to race to a 1-3 lead.

However, the Indians got their act together soon after and broke back twice to take the first set in 32 minutes.

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SA beat Aus, become World #1!

Australia were on Friday dethroned as the number one team in One-dayers by South Africa who demolished the hosts by 39 runs in the fifth and final match to clinch the ODI series with an emphatic 4-1 margin.

The ODI series triumph follows South Africa's 2-1 win in the Test series and though Australia remain the number one team in the longer version of the game, the Proteas return home with the new-found tag of being the top team in One-dayers.

Australia needed 289 runs for a win to remain the number one side but 249 was all they managed before folding in 49 overs with Michael Hussey (78) and Brad Haddin (63) making futile efforts with the bat.

Earlier, Hashim Amla (97) and AB de Villiers (60) steadied South Africa with a 118-run stand and then JP Duminy (60 not out off 42 balls) provided the late burst as South Africa posted 288 for six wickets.

Australia faltered early in the chase and could not really recover from the early setbacks.

The hosts needed a strong start from Shaun Marsh (5) and David Warner (22) but debutant South African Lonwabo Tsotsobe rocked the Australian boat with early double strikes and Ricky Ponting's men could never really recover from that.

Tsotsobe removed Marsh in the second over while Warner ran himself out in the 13th. In between, Tsotsobe returned Ponting (12) and then Michael Clarke (0) dragged a Morne Morkel onto the stumps as Australia slumped to 53 for four inside 13 overs

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Seven companies vying to take over Satyam

Scam-hit Satyam Computer has been approached by as many as seven possible suitors, including private equity players, even as the company's investment bankers are trying to find the best match.

"So far we are aware of four (companies that have approached Satyam Computer). But we have heard that another two or three firms are also interested," Satyam Computer board member Tarun Das, who is also the chief mentor of industry body CII told reporters.

Investment bankers are talking to everybody and finding out which firm is interested, what is the level of seriousness and are evaluating the proposal before getting back to the board. The process is likely to take six weeks, Das added.

Earlier this week, the board of Satyam Computer Services appointed Goldman Sachs and Avendus Capital as investment bankers and mandated Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to act as its management adviser.

Asked whether Satyam's founder Ramalinga Raju had inflated employee numbers as claimed by the Andhra Pradesh police, Das said: "We have done a head count using external agencies and we believe in the basis of investigation that we are well over 50,000 people in Satyam. So I do not think that there is any inflated numbers."

Earlier, Andhra Pradesh CID had claimed in a court that there were 13,000 ghost employees on the rolls of the IT firm, following which the human resources department of Satyam Computer Services conducted a verification of the head count.

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IPL Boss Lalit Modi accused of Forgery

Lalit Modi, the IPL chairman, has been accused of forgery in a complaint that has been lodged with local police in his home state, Rajasthan, according to Cricinfo.

The complaint has been lodged by a local administrator who has alleged that Modi forged residence documents that enabled him, in 2005, to contest elections for the state association which he now heads.

Police are conducting inquiries on the complaint, which is in the form of a First Information Report (FIR), the Hindustan Times has reported. This is the second complaint that has been lodged against Modi, who is facing increasing opposition from a rival group in his state association ahead of an election for new office-bearers that is scheduled to take place on February 21.

Modi had recently been accused by the rival group, headed by Kishore Rungta, the former BCCI treasurer and key member of the previous Jagmohan Dalmiya regime, of embezzling funds from the association.

While Rungta told reporters after an executive committee meeting of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) today that the elections would be held as scheduled, Modi was quoted by newspapers as saying that it would be held only after courts decide on a case related to the previous election.

Modi was elected RCA president in 2005 after his panel defeated candidates put up by the Rungta family, which had been controlling the association for over 30 years.

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Kevin Pietersen's IPL Fee: $1.35 MILLION!

This seems to be one business that's recession-proof. Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has been assured a minimum price of $1.35 million at the second IPL auction, on February 6.

This means that, at the very least, he will be the joint second-highest paid player in the IPL, along with Andrew Symonds.

If the bidding hots up - which is a very strong possibility - Pietersen could outstrip M S Dhoni's fee of $1.5 million and become the highest paid IPL star.

Apparently, Vijay Mallya's Royal Challengers Bangalore are very keen on acquiring Pietersen. The team, which finished seventh last year, lacks an explosive batsman. With his switch hitting and tactical inputs, Pietersen could play a major role for them.

Pietersen won't be the only one pulling in megabucks. Teammate Andrew Flintoff, one of the top all-rounders in the world, has a base price of $950,000. With squads like Mumbai Indians and Team Chennai eying Freddie, he too could join the million-dollar club. Australia's vice-captain Michael Clarke too is set to join the exclusive band.

Earlier, IPL had short listed 88 cricketers for the second auction, but 21 names have since been added to the list. Former England captain Paul Collingwood and Steve Harmison have base prices of $250,000 while James Anderson and Ian Bell have reserve prices of $200,000. England's spinner of Indian origin, Monty Panesar, has a base price of $100,000.

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Media gets pissed off with Obama

Has the backlash already begun? Reporters' growing frustrations with President Obama's press team reached a high on Thursday because the White House 'stifled' press access to his oath re-do.

TV reporters and photo agencies were not allowed into the oath 're-do'. Photo wire services AP, Reuters and AFP were so mad that they refused to distribute the White House's PR snapped pix of the 're-do'.

In a statement, the AP said it believes “access for news photographers has been a time-honored tradition at the White House through many administrations and needs to be continued. We are working diligently with the White House staff to ensure this access.”

Former Clinton press secretary Dee Dee Myers equated the oath re-do stumble as a rookie mistake.

But, experts say what remains to be seen is are these really 'rookie mistakes' or is Obama's press team asserting a new protocol, not bound to past traditions that White House reporters have grown accustomed to?

The press corps' privileges aren’t apparently written in stone and it’s the administration’s prerogative to change as they see fits. We assume this is change the press won't believe in.

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Here is Obama's Awesome Speech!

My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the

People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents. So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

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Will clean Bush's mess

Barack Obama has been sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America, at a historic ceremony in Washington DC.

Millions of people in the US and around the world watched as he pledged to "preserve, protect and defend" the US constitution.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

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President Barack Obama plunges on his first day in office into the task of governing a nation he vows to change, calling together US economic and military leaders on Wednesday to address America's daunting challenges.

A day after claiming his place in history as the first black US president, he is faced with pulling the US economy out of its nosedive even as he moves on his promise to withdraw American forces from Iraq while sending still more soldiers to America's other war in Afghanistan.

In addition to meeting with his advisers, Obama welcomes public visitors into the White House, as Congress scrutinizes his economic revival plan and takes up the nominations of Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state and Timothy Geithner for treasury secretary.

A new poll underscored the sense of anticipation that accompanied Obama into office.

The Associated Press-Knowledge Networks survey found that by a 3-1 margin, people feel more optimistic about the country's future now that Obama has been inaugurated, including 30 percent of Republicans.

"Tonight, we celebrate. Tomorrow, the work begins ... Together, I am confident we will write the next great chapter in America's story," Obama declared on Tuesday night at the Commander in Chief Ball, one of 10 official inaugural celebrations that kept him and first lady Michelle Obama up into the early morning hours.

Obama's Democratic Party now controls both chambers of Congress and the White House for the first time since 1994, providing a chance for the new administration to succeed if he can work in concert effectively with lawmakers.

The capstone to four days of inaugural festivities takes place at the Washington National Cathedral on Wednesday morning, with a national prayer service that is a tradition dating to the time of George Washington, the country's first president. Obama and his wife were to welcome hundreds of members of the public to a White House open house, part of his pledge to make government and those who govern more accessible for the governed.

A meeting with his economic team was planned to assess his approach and plot the way forward. Taking over the White House with 11 million Americans out of work and trillions of dollars in stock market savings lost, Obama said that turning around the limping economy is his first and greatest priority.

Congress already has given him a second installment of financial-industry bailout money, worth $350 billion, and is fast-tracking a massive economic stimulus bill of $825 billion or more.

"Fortunately we've seen Congress immediately start working on the economic recovery package, getting that passed and putting people back to work," he said in a television interview. "That's going to be the thing we'll be most focused on."

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World headlines today

Barack Obama was sworn into office for a second time on Wednesday amid legal concerns raised after he and US Chief Justice John Roberts erred on one word during Tuesday’s inaugural ceremony.

Washington Post: Obama’s Agenda: the Middle East, Economy and Ethics

President Obama launched immediately into the grim reality of his new job today, placing calls to the leaders of Middle Eastern countries and conducting his first presidential meetings on the economy and Iraq this afternoon.

Times of India: President Obama retakes oath of office

Barack Obama was sworn into office for a second time on Wednesday, amid legal concerns raised after he and US Chief Justice John Roberts erred on one word during Tuesday’s inaugural ceremony. Some constitutional scholars raised questions about whether Obama was technically the president after Roberts misplaced the word "faithfully" while administering the oath to Obama.

AUDIO: Listen to Obama take the oath of office

New York Times: Kennedy Is Said to Withdraw Senate Bid

Caroline Kennedy has withdrawn from consideration for the vacant Senate seat in New York. Ms. Kennedy on Wednesday called Governor David A. Paterson to inform him that she was no longer interested in the post due to concerns about the health of her uncle, Senator Edward M. Kennedy.

USA Today: Senate confirms Clinton as secretary of State

The Senate confirmed Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of State on Wednesday as President Obama moved to make his imprint on US foreign policy, mobilising a fresh team of veteran advisers and reaching out to world leaders.

Telegraph: Barack Obama vows to clean up US politics

President Obama calls a halt to officials profiteering from government and freezes the pay of his top staff with a view to "reinvigorating our democracy and remaking our country".

Guardian: Whirlwind hits Washington as President Obama starts work

President Barack Obama yesterday devoted his first full day in office to ditching one discredited Bush administration policy after another - proposing the closure of the Guantánamo Bay prison and offering a new relationship to Iran.

Times, London: Obama hits the phone in Middle East peace push

President Obama placed the Middle East at the forefront of his first hours in office yesterday as he sought to make good on his promise of “ushering in a new era of peace”. In a flurry of telephone calls from the Oval Office, he reached out to leaders in the region and vowed to engage immediately in pursuit of a permanent Arab-Israeli settlement.

Herald Sun: Rudd condemns ’rape’ cleric

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has demanded an apology from an Islamic cleric who declared marital rape "impossible". A Melbourne Islamic cleric has told his male followers they can force their wives to have sex and hit them if they are disobedient.

Straits Times: New year home rush for Chinese New Year

The world’s biggest annual human migration this year has started earlier than usual, brought forward by the financial crisis which has hit China’s southern manufacturing and export hub of Guangdong especially hard. Just once a year, before the Chinese New Year, China’s 130 million migrant labourers get a chance to rejoin their families in their hometowns.

South China Morning Post: Army admits funding round-up of refugees

A colonel in the Thai army has confirmed its involvement in a programme to round up boatpeople from Myanmar and Bangladesh and send them back out to sea, saying it was done to "protect Thailand from harm" - and to help the refugees.

Japan Times: Congratulatory Aso requests early meeting

The government congratulated new US President Barack Obama on Wednesday and was quick to request an early meeting with him. Japan is eager to become one of the first nations, or at least the first Asian country, to meet with the new US administration as a sign that Washington prioritises bilateral ties with Tokyo.

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Obama acts on Guantanamo trials-innogration ceramony-obama take oath

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President Obama on the need to 'remake America'

Barack Obama has taken the oath of office and been sworn in as America's 44th president - and the country's first African-American leader.

More than one million people gathered in the National Mall in a wintry Washington DC, to see Mr Obama take the oath shortly after 1200 (1700 GMT).

He used his inaugural address to vow to begin the work of "remaking America".

The new US leader said his country faced a number of challenges but was entering a "new era of responsibility".

But a shadow was cast over Mr Obama's celebrations in the hours after his swearing-in, as veteran Senator Ted Kennedy collapsed during the inaugural lunch.

Mr Kennedy, whose support was seen as influential in winning over Democratic voters for Mr Obama, has been seriously ill with a brain tumour and has previously undergone surgery.

Barack Obama is sworn in as America's 44th president

Earlier, in his inaugural address, Mr Obama made reference to the scale of his achievement at being the first black American elected to the White House, in a remark that gathered one of the biggest cheers of the speech.

"This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed... why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath."

The new president takes office amid a dismal economic climate and with the US still embroiled in two wars.

See map showing key sites of Inauguration Day

Speaking to the vast crowd, stretching as far back as the Washington Monument in the distance, he was quick to admit that the US is in the midst of a crisis - a fact now "well understood".

America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child... [and] we are ready to lead once more Barack Obama President of the United States

"Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened," he said, blaming the current situation both on the greed of a few and the "collective failure" of many.

He branded healthcare "too costly", said schools "fail too many" and charged that US energy policy both strengthens enemies and threatens the planet.

"The challenges we face are real," Mr Obama said. "They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time.

"But know this America - they will be met."

Invoking the memory of the US's Founding Fathers, Mr Obama said he would strive to rebuild his nation's standing in the world, saying: "We are ready to lead once more."

He addressed the foreign policy challenges facing the US, saying the US would "responsibly leave Iraq to its people and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan".

Crowds at the inauguration of Barack Obama describe their experiences

The new president also addressed the world's poor and the Muslim world, much of which angrily opposed the actions of the previous administration.

From now on, Mr Obama said, the US would seek "a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect".

The BBC's Kevin Connolly, in Washington, says Mr Obama delivered a difficult inaugural message.

Its task, our correspondent notes, is to lift hopes and hearts at a moment when every economic indicator is falling.

Solemn vows

On a day of unprecedented security in Washington DC, the inauguration ceremony began on the West Front Lawn of the US Capitol, where Congress sits, with an opening prayer asking for the protection and safety of the new president and vice-president.

US BLACK HISTORY MILESTONES 1861 - Civil war starts 1865 - Civil war ends, leading to abolition of slavery 1870 - Hiram Revels is first African-American senator. African-American men gain the vote, but face resistance and intimidation 1954 - Civil disobedience campaign starts 1963 - Martin Luther King: "I have a dream" speech 1964 - Civil Rights Act 1965 - Right to vote guaranteed

Mr Obama - introduced to the crowd as Barack H Obama - stood solemnly during the invocation by conservative Rick Warren, his eyes closed in the final moments before he took office.

Aretha Franklin then sang against a backdrop of clear blue skies and a light wind. Thousands waved flags as the soul legend sang to a rapturous reception.

Joseph Biden, a veteran senator, was then sworn in as vice-president by the longest-serving member of the US Supreme Court.

The focus then shifted to America's first black president.

Using his full name, Barack Hussein Obama, he placed his hand on a Bible used by Abraham Lincoln at his inauguration in 1861 and repeated the oath of office, promising to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States".

Hundreds of thousands of visitors had arrived in Washington in the days before the inauguration, and vast numbers braved early-morning cold to secure a vantage point for the midday ceremony.

Competition for tickets along the parade route was fierce, as was the scrum for standing room in the National Mall.

Officials in Washington reported record numbers of passengers on the city's subway network early on Tuesday, and police were forced to close a key entry point hours before event began because of overcrowding.

Before the ceremony began, Michelle and Barack Obama attended a private church service at St John's Episcopal Church alongside Joe Biden and his family.

They then headed to the White House for coffee with outgoing President George W Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney.

The group - including Mr Cheney in a wheelchair after pulling a back muscle - then left for the US Capitol.

Mr Bush has now left Washington by helicopter bound for Midland, Texas, before heading to the family ranch at Crawford.

Mr Obama and his wife, by contrast, have a series of lavish inaugural balls to attend.

INAUGURATION DAY

1. 1700GMT/1200EST Obama is inaugurated as US president on the West Front Lawn of the Capitol building
2. Obama escorts former President George W Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney on the presidential procession prior to their departure
3. 1920GMT/1420EST Parade starts along Pennsylvania Avenue
4. Obama will review troops from behind a bullet-proof screen in Lafayette Park, behind the White House
5. President Obama and the First Lady will attend a series of celebration balls, returning to the White House at 0725GMT/0225EST Wednesday

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More Love Bites on Kareena

With love from Saif

The forever in news couple Saifeena has hit the headlines yet again - the much in love duo has never bothered to confine their affection for each other inside the four walls and this time round it is their very love which is making heads turn.

Kareena recently made people drop their jaws when she made a stunning entry at a recent product launch. Dressed in a white backless gown, Bebo made sure that she left people playing Chinese whisper, as it wasn’t her sexy gown that made them mouth things - it was a scarlet coloured love bite that did the honours.

Yeah, Kareena walked into the venue with an élan and created frenzy by revealing this supposed little symbol of love from beau Saif Ali Khan (who else!).

Guess Bebo was too preoccupied in thinking about the event leaving her with very little time at hand to ponder about how a different silhouette (a silhouette gone wrong in this case) could give away all that she would’ve wanted to hide.

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Movie Review: 'Chandni Chowk to China'

Five simple steps to make a horrible piece of trash movie - ask your five year old son to write a screenplay, approach big stars, invest millions on sets and costumes, compose boring songs and extend the length of the movie to 3+ hours.

CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA succeeds in all the steps in amiable fashion, but goes one step further, and with a vengeance at that - it insults the audience's intelligence.

2009 has arrived and so have the barrage of hopelessly terrible pack of Bollywood flicks, and to inaugurate the sorry lineup is CC2C. The film bores, irritates and torturously frustrates you in ways you cannot imagine. Director Nikhil Advani (after Salaam-E-Ishq) has once again proved that he should never get behind the camera again. Akshay Kumar has proved that he can outdo an epic disaster called 'Tashan'. Deepika Padukone has proved that long legs and 127 layers of makeup will do no good for any actress.

Who would've thought that a Bollywood film financed by Warner Bros would be such atrocious tripe? What could've been a non stop roller coaster adventure filled with gags has been mercilessly raped by the screenwriters with a plot having more number of holes than a zillion pieces of swiss cheese. We expected a no-brainer time pass film, but CC2C neither entertains, nor does it make you laugh.

The 2 page plot is achingly cliche'd - Akshay Kumar is a vegetable chopper in Chandni Chowk, a couple of Chinese villagers suddenly pop up and claim that he is the reincarnation of a great warrior, Akshay goes to China with them to 'vanquish the villain', ends up being spat and peed upon, he meets two different Deepika Padukones and their father, trains under him...and watch the film to witness the exciting events that follow.

Akshay Kumar is hilarious as Sidhu, but that's about it. Apart from a couple of one liners and one (yeah, really one) funny scene in a plane, CC2C is tiresome from start to end. Deepika Padukone delivers her second straight stinker after 'Bachna Ae Haseeno'. Just looking overly made up and having multiple roles won't help her career, she needs to pick projects with better written characters. Mithun Da makes a fair cameo, but is stuck in this bad movie. Gordon Liu was clearly paid through the nose to appear in the film. Director Nikhil Advani and the screenwriters should go back to film school.

So does that mean 'masala' Bollywood films don't work? WRONG! 'GHAJINI' and 'RAB NE' were huge hits. CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA is a terrible film in all aspects, watch it only if you want to commit suicide with the maximum amount of pain.

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Bhajji out of Lanka tour

India’s star-off spinner Harbhajan Singh was left out from the 15-member touring party for Sri Lankan tour, owing to a hamstring injury when selectors, on Sunday, announced the squad for 5 ODI matches and a Twenty20 match.

Left handed all rounder from Saurashtra, Ravindra Jadeja, has been drafted into the side following a slew of prolific performances at domestic scene which saw his team reach Ranji Trophy semi-finals.

Jadeja, who bats in the lower middle order and bowls left-arm spin, accumulated 739 runs in nine ties at an average of 67.18, besides claiming 42 wickets, at 19.72 per scalp.

In Harbhajan's absence, Hyderabad left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha will lead the spin department, hoping to get adequate support from Jadeja at the other end.

On the other-hand, the five-member pace-attack looks quite formidable with Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma joined by Munaf Patel, Irfan Pathan and Praveen Kumar.

Kumar, who had hit a rough patch in the Ranji Trophy final against Mumbai, going wicketless, gets a surprise recall into the Mahendra Singh Dhoni led side, ahead of Laxmipathy Balaji and Sreesanth.

Barring the above mentioned two changes, rest of the team is same as one that had played the ODI series against England.

India toured Sri Lanka in July and August last year where the lost the Test series 2-1 but won the one-day series 3-2.

The squad is set to reach Lanka on January 26 to start the series of limited overs internationals arranged as a stand-in for the cancelled trip to Pakistan.

Team: MS Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag (vice-capt) Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Irfan Pathan, Yosuf Pathan, Suresh Raina, Praveen Kumar, Ravinder Jadeja, Pragyan Ojha, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma and Munaf Patel

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Satyam Faurd -Ramalinga Raju Profile

Born: September 16, 1954
Achievement: Founder and Chairman of Satyam Computer Services Ltd; Chosen as Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Services in 1999

Ramalinga Raju is one of the pioneers of the Information Technology industry in India. He is the founder and Chairman of Satyam Computer Services Ltd.

Ramalinga Raju was born on September 16, 1954 in a family of farmers. He did his B. Com from Andhra Loyola College at Vijayawada and subsequently did his MBA from Ohio University, USA. Ramalinga Raju had a stint at Harvard too. He attended the Owner / President course at Harvard.

After returning to India in 1977, Ramalinga Raju moved away from the traditional agriculture business and set up a spinning and weaving mill named Sri Satyam. . Thereafter he shifted to the real estate business and started a construction company called Satyam Constructions. In 1987, Ramalinga Raju founded Satyam Computer Services along with one of his brothers-in-law, DVS Raju. The company went public in 1992. With the launch of Satyam Infoway (Sify) Satyam became one of the first to enter Indian internet service market. Today, Satyam has a global presence and serves 44 Fortune 500 and over 390 multinational corporations.

Ramalinga Raju has won several awards and honors. These include Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Services in 1999, Dataquest IT Man of the Year in 2000, and CNBC's Asian Business Leader - Corporate Citizen of the Year award in 2002.

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Bush a good man but mistaken: Obama

Washington, Saturday 17 Jan 2009: President-elect Barack Obama said has said President George W Bush was a “good guy” who loved his country, but warned he would leave the United States struggling with the result of “bad choices.”

When he is sworn in on Tuesday, Obama will inherit two foreign wars and the worst economy since the 1930s Great Depression with the budget deficit forecast to hit more than a trillion dollars this year.

“If you look at my statements throughout the campaign, I always thought he was a good guy,”.

“I think personally he is a good man who loves his family and loves his country and I think he made the best decisions that he could at times under some very difficult circumstances.

“It does not detract from my assessment that over the last several years we have made a series of bad choices and we are now going to be inheriting the consequences of a lot of those bad choices.”

Obama however praised his predecessor and his White House staff for presiding over what many observers say is the smoothest transition of power in recent history.

On the campaign trail before his historic November election victory, Obama flayed Bush over the Iraq war, accused him of taking his eye off the ball in Afghanistan and accused him of favouring the rich and ruining the US economy.

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Aircraft engine catches fire in Kolkata

Guwahati, Saturday 17 Jan 2009: A Guwahati-bound plane carrying 46 on board landed under emergency conditions at the airport in Kolkata early on Saturday after one of its engines caught fire.

All 38 passengers and eight crew of the Jetlite flight from Kolkata to Guwahati were safe.

The pilot of S2-361 flight contacted Air Traffic Control (ATC) and sought to land minutes after taking off at 6.29 am after he noticed the portside engine emitting smoke and fire, airport sources said.

Fire brigade was on the stand by as the aircraft landed safely two minutes after take off.

Airline sources said a disaster was averted as the pilot seeing smoke and fire switched off the engine mid-air and the fire stopped.

However, the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, officials said.

The passengers would be sent to Guwahati around 10 am by another plane, airport sources said.

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Airbus crashes in New river

New York, Friday, January 16, 2009: A US Airways Airbus A320 passenger plane carrying 155 people has crashed into the freezing waters of the Hudson River in New York City. The plane, which the FAA said was flight 1549 from LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte, is partially submerged, apparently after striking a flock of birds shortly after take off. Passengers fled to safety onto the wings of the Airbus and it has been confirmed that everyone was rescued. (Agency)

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Special treatment in jail for Satyam's RamaLinga Raju

Satyam's tainted founder Ramalinga Raju on Friday asked the court for special treatment for him and his brother in jail, but the prosecution said those who made money at the cost of the poor don't deserve such privileges.

The Rajus' petition seeking special status in the Chanchalguda central prison, where they have been lodged till January 23, was filed before the sixth additional chief metropolitan magistrate's court.

The status was sought under rule 730 of AP Prisons Rules. Raju's lawyer Ravinder Reddy said they wanted a special cell for the Raju brothers as per the rules. The Raju brothers reportedly spent their time in jail since January 10 with dowry offenders.

After hearing the arguments of the public prosecutor as well as the defence lawyers, the magistrate posted the matter for further hearing on January 19.

The prosecution — Andhra Pradesh CID, which had arrested Ramalinga Raju on January 9 — said that Raju has become "unjustly rich at the cost of the poor."

Having committed such a "monumental fraud," Raju does not enjoy any status as such and the question of a special status does not arise, additional public prosecutor Ajay Kumar contended.

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