President Patil embarks on 10-day visit to Vietnam, Indonesia

Taking the “Look East”policy to new heights, President Pratibha Patil tomorrow embarks on a 10-day visit to Vietnam and Indonesia to further expand India’s bilateral ties with its ASEAN neighbours.

The high-level visit is expected to give a fresh impetus to bilateral relations encompassing political, economic and cultural ties with these economically and strategically important countries.

“This visit essentially reaffirms India’s commitment to enhance our engagement with these countries,our close friends within ASEAN fraternity. It is part of our ‘Look East’ policy initiative,”Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs N Ravi said.

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Gurgaon Collapsing

It was to be the signpost of the new, globalising India.

But the unedifying, unprecedented sight of CEOs protesting the dumping of garbage of Gurgaon’s streets is an indication that a shiny Indian dream is collapsing.

“Millennium City”, as its administrators and builders often call Gurgaon, where 2 million live and work, accounts for more than 10 per cent of India’s $40 billion (about Rs 18,400 crore) in annual software exports.

It is home to offices of some 200 Fortune 500 companies, from General Electric to Coca Cola.

Gurgaon was to do to Delhi what Pudong did to Shanghai — put it on the global business map.

Pudong made that jump into the first world. Gurgaon is sliding further and faster every day into the third world.

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Venezuelan Mendoza crowned Miss Universe

Miss Venezuela, Dayana Mendoza, was crowned Miss Universe 2008 in Vietnam's resort city of Nha Trang on Monday.

The 22-year-old brunette was given her crown, made of white and yellow gold and precious stones, by last year's winner, Riyo Mori of Japan, at the pageant finale watched by nearly a billion television viewers worldwide.

"I am excited. I cried a lot. I am really glad I made it," Mendoza, the 57th winner of the title, later told reporters.

The professional model has said her "express kidnapping" in Venezuela a year and a half ago taught her to remain calm in stressful situations.

"It is something that happens in my country and that's why I want to raise my voice and say violence is not the answer," she said when asked about the incident.

Mendoza, an aspiring interior designer, was among four finalists from Latin America, including first runner-up Taliana Vargas, 20, from Colombia.

The rest of the top five were from the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Russia.

This year's event went more smoothly than the 2007 pageant in Mexico, which was marked by protests, a banned dress and the withdrawal of Miss Sweden after critics at home complained the contest degraded women.

However, misfortune befell Miss USA for a second straight year. During the evening gown parade, Crystle Stewart of Texas slipped on the runway. She finished in the top 10.

A year ago in Mexico, Rachel Smith also lost her footing and landed on her bottom. She finished fifth.

The annual Miss Universe pageant -- which tries to present itself as something more meaningful than a swim wear parade -- was first held in Long Beach, California, in 1952.

The event was taken over in 1996 by U.S. real estate mogul Donald Trump.

Communist-led Vietnam spent nearly $20 million on the event, including $7 million on a new resort and convention centre to host the pageant, in a bid to promote tourism to the Southeast Asian nation.

After celebrating at home with her family, Mendoza will spend her year-long reign traveling the world to speak out on humanitarian issues.

"I think I will jump on my family and they will jump on me. I want to have my mum's food," she said.