19 September, 2013

BJP to win 3 of 4 states in upcoming polls, close call in Delhi: Survey

The BJP is set to retain power in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and unseat the Congress in Rajasthan. But in Delhi the party is locked in a neck-and-neck race with the Congress, which could end up in a hung assembly, according to a Times Now-CVoter poll.

If the projections hold, they would come as a massive psychological boost to Narendra Modi and the BJP just months ahead of the Lok Sabaha elections of 2014. They would also mean an impressive debut for the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party, which is estimated to win seven of Delhi's 70 assembly seats.

According to the poll, which surveyed close to 39,000 people across the four states, the BJP could end up with 30 seats in Delhi, six short of a majority. With the Congress estimated to win 29 and AAP seven, that could well end in a situation where no government can be formed as AAP is unlikely to support either Congress or BJP.

Bashar al-Assad: Chemical weapon disposal will take a year, cost $1 billion

President Bashar al-Assad said on Wednesday it would cost about $1 billion to get rid of Syria's chemical weapons under a plan agreed to by Russia and the United States last week.

In an interview on the Fox News television channel, Assad said his government would dispose of its chemical weapons arsenal but insisted that his forces were not responsible for a chemical weapons attack outside Damascus on August 21.

Getting rid of his chemical weapons stockpile would likely take about a year, Assad said.

"I think it is a very complicated technically and it needs a lot, a lot of money. Some estimated about a billion for the Syrian stockpile," he said.

Asked whether he would be willing to hand over chemical weapons to the US government, Assad said:

"As I said, it needs a lot of money. It needs about 1 billion. It is very detrimental to the environment. If the American administration is ready to pay this money and take the responsibility of bringing toxic materials to the United States, why don't they do it?"

Google to form new health company Calico led by Genentech chairman

Google said it plans to set up a new company called Calico, headed by Apple and Genentech chairman Art Levinson, to develop technologies to tackle health issues related to aging.

The new company will be run separately from Google, the world's largest internet search company, with a focus on issues including life-threatening diseases and problems affecting mental and physical agility due to aging.

"While this is clearly a longer-term bet, we believe we can make good progress within reasonable timescales with the right goals and the right people," Google chief executive Larry Page said in an online post.

Google did not provide any other details about the new company, including where it will be based, how many employees it will have or whether Page would have a direct role in its operations.

Google's investment in Calico is "significant" and designed to allow the organization to invest in different projects, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Asia calling dollar-shy Gujarati travellers

Globe-trotting Gujaratis have found a way out to beat the rising dollar. While vacations in the US and Europe have become dearer thanks to depreciating rupee, travellers have shifted focus to South-East Asia and other destinations where currencies have also slid against the dollar.

On the whole, fewer Gujaratis are going on vacation overseas this Diwali, with many choosing domestic locations to keep the budget in check. But, there are many who have found a smarter way. Bookings for destinations in Far Eastern countries like Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines have increased by about 25% as compared to last year as Baht, Ringgit and Peso too have depreciated against the dollar.

"If travellers wish to go to the US, they will have to pay 15-20% more this year, but in Asian destinations, the increase is barely 5% which does not pinch much," said Hitesh Kshatritya, COO, Panoramic group.

Ken Norton, who broke Muhammad Ali's jaw, dies

Former heavyweight champion Ken Norton, who beat Muhammad Ali and then lost a controversial decision to him in Yankee Stadium, died Wednesday at a local care facility, his son said. He was 70.

Norton had been in poor health for the last several years after suffering a series of strokes, a friend of the fighter said.

"He's been fighting the battle for two years," said Gene Kilroy, Ali's former business manager. "I'm sure he's in heaven now with all the great fighters. I'd like to hear that conversation."

Norton broke Ali's jaw in their first bout, beating him by split decision in 1973 in a non-title fight in San Diego. They fought six months later, and Ali narrowly won a split decision.

Sunrisers Hyderabad cruise to CLT20 main round

Faisalabad Wolves were out of their depth against the quality bowling attack of Hyderabad Sunrisers. In a must-win CLT20 qualifying match at the PCA stadium on Wednesday, Wolves were required to give their best but their batsmen, barring skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, just did not have enough class or experience to take the fight to the opposition. As a result, they could muster just 127/5, a target which hardly tested the batting might of Sunrisers.

Narsingh slips in bronze medal bout at World Wrestling Championships

The Indian freestyle wrestlers have already produced their best-ever show at the World Championship bagging a silver and bronze in a span of two days. On Wednesday, Narsingh Yadav's performance in the 74kg category added to the excitement after the Indian reached the final repechage round. However, Narsingh lost to Belarus' Ali Shabanau, missing the opportunity to bag India's third medal in freestyle category at the meet.

In the women's section, Nirmla Devi (49kg) and Vinesh (51kg) both failed to make a mark. Vinesh cleared the first hurdle by defeating Mexico's Wendy Martinez 7-0 in a one-sided contest but flopped against Senegal's Isabelle Sambou.