New poll gives boost to Republicans on economic front

WASHINGTON, Nov 1: Ahead of the US Congressional elections, Republicans have received a much-needed boost in a new survey for the way President George W Bush has handled the economy, but the overall prospect still favoured Democrats with the Iraq issue continuing to cast its shadow.

The latest Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll shows the President receiving improved marks for handling the economy, with 46 per cent of voters approving Bush's economic stewardship and 48 per cent disapproving. That is up from 39 per cent approval and 56 per cent disapproval in June.

But the escalating violence in Iraq has dampened voters' mood, the one issue now considered as most important. The survey shows voters want Democrats rather than Republicans to control Congress by a 15-point margin -- 52 per cent to 37 per cent.

"Iraq sits in the middle of this election," Bill McInturff, the Republican pollster who helps conduct the survey has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal.

While Republicans may welcome voters' improving attitudes toward the economy, Democratic counterpart Peter Hart is on record saying "they (Republicans) are getting swamped on the issue of Iraq."

The striking aspect of the Iraq issue is that 54 per cent of the electorate now say removing Saddam Hussein from power wasn't worth the human and financial costs -- the highest percentage in the Journal/NBC poll since the war began in March 2003.

Among those voters, fully eight in 10 want Democrats to control Congress after the elections, the Journal pointed out.

Among the 37 per cent who say the war has been worthwhile, seven in 10 want Republicans in charge on Capitol Hill. Among all voters, 61 per cent say they feel "less confident" the war will end successfully, while just 27 per cent feel "more confident" about the outcome.

Political strategists are making the point that the Democrats are poised strongly to take control of the House of Representatives; and the chances of getting the Senate is seen as "fair".

Democratic candidates appear to hold the upper hand for Republican Senate seats in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Montana and Rhode Island but tough battles remain for Missouri, Tennessee and Virginia where turnout could be a key factor.

Democrats need to hold their own and win an extra 15 seats in the House and six in the Senate to take control of Congress, a scenario that has frightening consequences for the White House not just on the policy fronts but also on the investigation of the administration on a number of critical matters like Iraq. (PTI)

Gold rises as dollar drops amid concern US economy is slowing

SINGAPORE, Nov 1: Gold prices rose for the seventh straight day today as concerns about a slowdown in the US economy led its currency to decline, prompting some investors to buy the precious metal as an alternative investment.

Gold for immediate delivery rose as much as 2.70 dollar to 609.30 dollar an ounce.

Bullion for December delivery gained 3.00 dollar to 609.80 an ounce in after-hours trading on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Gold for October 2007 delivery rose 13 yen to 2,308 yen a gram, or 71,779 yen (614 dollar) an ounce on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange.

Investors typically buy gold to hedge against a drop in the value of other dollar-denominated assets. The dollar declined to its weakest in five weeks against the yen yesterday as reports showed consumer confidence unexpectedly fell, and Chicago factory output slowed.

The dollar may weaken for the sixth day against the yen as U.S. Manufacturing and consumer sentiment reports provide more evidence the economy is slowing. A private industry report today may show manufacturing in the US grew the least since May 2005.

The dollar traded at 116.97 yen at mid-session in Tokyo from 116.98 yen in New York late yesterday, when it fell to 116.63, the lowest since Sept 26. (AGENCIES)

Clinton extends support to ‘Mangroves for Future’ project

NEW YORK, Nov 1: Former US President Bill Clinton has pledged his support to the conservation of mangrove forests along the coastline of Asian countries, including India, which were hit by the 2004 tsunami.

Clinton, who is acting as the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for tsunami recovery, pledged his support to The World Conservation Union’s ‘Mangroves for Future’ (MFF) project at a meeting here where donors pledged USD 10 million for the cause.

"I m very encouraged by the broad collaboration reflected in this initiative, and I hope and trust it will continue in the months and years to come," Clinton said at the meeting at the UNDP headquarters here yesterday which was attended by envoys from India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malidives and Seychelles.

"MFF is a clear example of building back the environmental sustainability of coastal development in the tsunami affected region, through a collaborative effort and to promote investment in coastal ecosystem management," he said.

Pledges totaling USD 10 million were received from Norway, Sweden, Germany, Australia, UNDP and UN Environment Programme.

MFF projects, ICUN said, will focus on building the knowledge base necessary for effective and informed planning and rehabilitation, environmental protection and livelihood generation in coastal areas.

The project will also try to enhance the ability of local governments to implement effective land use planning, environmental and socio-economic assessments, and other requirements related to environmental protection in coastal areas.

Healthy coastal ecosystems provide a range of goods and services, particularly to the poorest communities which are the most vulnerable.

While the central focus of the initiative is environmental preservation, ICUN said the project also places emphasis on environmental management as a means to promote employment and livelihoods, as well as disaster risk reduction.

"I also welcome the project’s focus on the role of coastal ecosystems in livelihoods and employment, as well as disaster prevention," Clinton said.

"It is a powerful concept - by protecting the environment, communities are able to promote economic well-being, secure their futures and protect themselves and their families," he added.

The initiative will integrate a number of existing and new coastal ecosystems projects, under the general guidance of a regional steering committee that IUCN is co-chairing with the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

IUCN said it had spent the last year in an extensive consultation process involving more than 200 institutions, organisations, and government representatives. (PTI)

Bahrain to witness launch of first Indian language FM channel

DUBAI, Nov 1: Indians in Bahrain are all set to get a new entertainment source with the launch of the fist-ever Indian language FM radio station in the Kingdom on Saturday.

The Information Ministry of Bahrain has granted a licence to Strategic Publicity & Advertising Company (SPAC) to run an Indian language FM channel in the kingdom.

Voice FM 104.2 will broadcast 60 per cent programmes in Malayalam, 30 per cent in Hindi and 10 per cent in Tamil, said SPAC chairman P Unnikrishnan.

"We will start with a two-hour show on Saturday, and Voice FM will become a 24-hour channel before November 15," he was quoted as saying in Gulf Daily News.

"This is the first time a private radio channel is being established in Bahrain," he said.

"Asianet’s Bcast Media will produce five hours of programmes from Kerala for the Bahrain channel. It will include an interactive show by popular radio star Sreekandan Nair, who will be in Bahrain for a live broadcast on Saturday," he said.

The promotion for the channel will be broadcast from today, marking the golden jubilee of the birth of the Kerala state, Unnikrishnan added.

In the UAE, there are 14 private radio channels in various Indian languages, mainly Malayalam. (PTI)

China's nine-month silver exports advance by 8.3 pc

SHANGHAI, Nov 1: China's silver exports in the first nine months of the year rose by 8.3 per cent to 3,184 tons compared with the same period last year, the Beijing-based customs office said today.

Imports of the precious metal more than tripled to 2,500 tons in the period, customs office said. About 46 per cent of the nation's silver imports came from Japan, it said. (AGENCIES)

'Developed nations must act as role models on climate change

LONDON, Nov 1: Developed countries should lead the way on the crucial climate change issue by cutting green house gases instead of blaming developing countries like India for carbon emissions, NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul today said.

Describing climate change as a "major issue", he said "we should not make it a rich versus poor country issue. Even now rich countries are the biggest contributors to the green house cases. They should consider how they could cut the emissions. They have to be a good role model."

"There is no point in putting the blame on developing countries like India and China for the greenhouse gases as growth is essential to solve poverty," he told PTI.

Lord Paul, British Ambassador for Overseas Business, said considering its population Britain emitted six times more carbon dioxide than India. (PTI)

Clinton wins award to have one wish granted

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 1: Former US President Bill Clinton, Harvard biologist E O Wilson and Time magazine photojournalist James Nachtwey were named as recipients of an award that grants them one wish to change the world.

The TED Prize provides USD 100,000 and access to some of the top thinkers in technology, entertainment and the arts to aid projects with global ambitions. Winners were announced Monday.

Clinton, Wilson and Nachtwey have several months to formulate their wishes, which come with no restrictions, before revealing them in March at the annual Technology, Entertainment, and Design Conference in Monterey.

The organisation, led by former publishing entrepreneur Chris Anderson, has a panel of judges who select the winners based on nominations from members of the nonpartisan group.

Judges awarded Clinton the prize "not for his political views, but on account of his astonishing achievements since leaving office," a spokesman for Anderson said.

Wilson is an evolutionary biologist at Harvard who has written extensively on humans' impact on the natural world and the importance of biodiversity. Nachtwey travels to the world's worst danger spots, photographing suffering during war and famine.

Anderson called Wilson "biology's most inspiring voice" and said that Nachtwey's "pictures are in a class of their own."

Last year's winners included Dr. Larry Brilliant, the head of Google Inc.'s philanthropic arm, who developed a bird-flu early warning system and Cameron Sinclair, co-founder of a nonprofit group that provides architectural solutions to humanitarian crises. (AP)

Indian project runners-up at Asian Innovation Awards '06

SINGAPORE, Nov 1: The global platform is recognising India's contribution in improving productivity and quality of life with four projects from the country receiving nominations at the Asian Innovation Awards 2006 here.

But only one project, the Gujarat Chiranjeevi Yojana, managed to receive an award, albeit runners up.

Gujarat Chiranjeevi Yojana, Webaroo Technologies, Intel Corp's initiative in India and a Haryana resident Prem Singh Saini's innovation were in race for the awards given every year to Asia's best and most far-reaching innovations.

Started in December 2005, Gujarat Chiranjeevi Yojana is a state government initiative in partnership with private gynaecologists to reduce maternal and infant deaths. The scheme was adjudged runners up at the event.

The scheme was started in five of the poorest districts in Gujarat and has already seen 73 per cent participation of private gynaecologists.

"It enables poor women receive qualified institutional care and the payment is borne by the state government," state Chief Secretary Sudhir Mankad said after the awards ceremony last night.

In its ninth year, the awards are aimed at highlighting Asia's best and most far-reaching innovations. Singapore's Veredus Laboratories, which produces bird-flu detection test kits, was the winner.

The awards, by Singapore National Research Foundation Board Chairman, Tony Tan, were presented in partnership with Singapore Economic Development Board and the Wall Street Journal as part of Global Entrepolis, Singapore 2006. (PTI)

Backers of Senator George Allen grab heckler

RICHMOND, US, Nov 1: A heckler who confronted Senator George Allen at a campaign appearance was put in a chokehold and slammed to the floor by three of the Republican's supporters in an incident captured on video.

Mike Stark, a liberal blogger and first-year University of Virginia law student, approached Allen at an event yesterday in Charlottesville, Virginia, loudly asking, "Why did you spit at your first wife, George?" according to witnesses.

Three men, all wearing blue Allen lapel stickers, immediately grabbed Stark, dragged him backward and slung him to the carpet outside a hotel meeting room, according to video captured by WVIR-TV in Charlottesville.

Allen's campaign said in a news release that Stark "aggressively went after Senator Allen ... Screaming that he answer inappropriate questions."

Meanwhile, Stark said in a telephone interview with The Asociated Press, "I am a constituent. I am allowed to ask my US senator questions."

Stark said he approached Allen at the same time as reporters after the senator's speech and first asked about two court summonses issued for Allen in Albemarle County, Virginia, in 1974.

Allen has said the two offenses were for fishing without a license and too many unpaid parking tickets.

Allen's former wife, Anne Waddell, issued a statement calling Stark's question "a baseless, cheap shot."

In August, Stark similarly approached Allen after a speech at a hotel near Staunton, Virginia, loudly asking if he had ever used a common six-letter epithet against blacks. (AP)

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