12 June 2006
Ahmedabad, June 12 (IANS) A theatre in Gujarat's Jamnagar Monday decided to withdraw the Aamir Khan-starrer "Fanaa" following a request by producers Yash Raj Films after a youth attempted self-immolation in the theatre a day ago to protest its screening.
Mansur Sheikh, the manager of Amber theatre where the film was being screened for a week despite protests, said the management had decided to withdraw it.
On Sunday evening, a youth from Rajkot suffered severe burns after he attempted to immolate himself.
The youth wing of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party had two months ago declared a boycott of the film in the state after Aamir spoke in favour of the Narmada Bachao Andolan that is fighting for the rights of the people displaced by the Sardar Sarovar dam in the state.
"Fanaa" was released amid protests last week in the Jamnagar theatre, owned by a relative of Congress parliamentarian Vikram Madam. Crowds poured in to see the film amid tight security even as the owner asked for police protection.
"For the first two days, the collection was not so good as people were a bit afraid. But later we had a good collection," said Sheikh.
When "Fanaa" was released last month, theatre owners and multiplex owners in Gujarat decided not to screen it in the state until the film star apologised for his comments, which Khan refused to do.
Jammu, June 12 (IANS) Suspected militants hurled three grenades in quick succession at a crowded bus stand in Jammu early Monday, killing one person and injuring 18 others.
The explosions took place at around 8.00 in the morning.
The injured have been taken to the Government Medical College here and three of them are reportedly critical.
According to police officials, the grenade was hurled near a ticket counter of the general bus stand. Pilgrims going to the holy shrine of Vaishno Devi buy tickets to Katra, the base camp of the pilgrimage, from here.
It was not known as to how many among the injured were pilgrims.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack till now.
Kabul, June 12 (Xinhua) Twenty-seven Taliban militants, probably including a brother-in-law of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar, were killed in two separate battles in south Afghanistan, a local officer said Monday.
Fifteen Taliban militants were killed in Dehrawood district of the southern Uruzgan province Sunday night by the Afghan National Army (ANA) and coalition forces, said Rahmatullah Raofi, the ANA regional commander in south Afghanistan.
Six Taliban were arrested during the operation in which the ANA and coalition forces suffered no casualties, he added.
Intelligence information said a group of Taliban militants were gathering in Syachawk region of Dehrawood district, preparing for attacks.
"The ANA and coalition forces surrounded the militants and killed 15 after a heavy fire exchange, among whom probably there was Mullah Amanullah, a brother of the wife of Mullah Omar.
Amanullah had been in charge of Omar's financial affairs," the commander said.
Also Sunday night, the ANA and coalition forces carried out an operation in Sayedan village in Panjwaye district of the southern Kandahar province after a tip.
Twelve Taliban rebels were hiding in a storehouse, he said, adding "air forces were called to bomb the storehouse, killing all the fighters.
No casualties happened to the ANA and coalition forces."
On Monday, two Afghan civilians were killed and six others injured including a woman and a child as a planted mine struck their two vehicles in the southeast Paktia province.
Unknown militants set on fire a US base-bound oil tanker in the southern Ghazni province Monday, leaving the driver dead and the conductor wounded.
Over 700 people have lost their lives in Taliban-linked insurgency over the past six months in Afghanistan.
--Xinhua
Kaiserslautern, June 12 (Xinhua) Australia staged a great comeback to score three late goals to beat Japan 3-1 in their opening first World Cup Group F tie Monday.
Tim Cahill who came on in the second half turned around the tables with two superb goals.
The Everton player scored Australia's first ever goal in the World Cup finals to level the scoreline in the 84th minute when he took advantage of a goalmouth scramble to shoot home.
In the 89th minute, he made it 2-1 as his shot from the edge of the box hit Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi's right-hand post and flew into the far corner.
Another second half substitute John Aloisi wrapped up the win, charging to the goal to bury the ball in its left-hand corner.
Berlin, June 12 (DPA) Brazil open their campaign to win a sixth World Cup against Croatia Tuesday with their Barcelona star Ronaldinho pleading for referees to protect them.
"All the teams are waiting for us," said the World Player of the Year. "It's vital the refereeing is rigorous because of the way we play."
Ronaldinho was, coincidentally, the last Brazilian to be shown a red card during a World Cup match, against England in 2002 after scoring what turned out to be the winning goal.
Brazil also face the ultra-competitive Australians and Japan in Group F.
Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has already said he will line up his "magic quartet" of Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Adriano and Kaka. If they beat Croatia they will improve the record for most consecutive wins in the finals.
Ronaldo, the 2002 top scorer with eight goals, needs two more to equal Gerd Muller's World Cup total of 14. He is currently tied in third place with Pele.
He also scored 10 goals in 15 qualifying matches, but has had a poor, injury-plagued season with his club Real Madrid.
But the phenomenal striker said he would be pleased when the action starts and he no longer has to answer questions about his weight.
Brazil equalled Italy's record of consecutive wins, set between 1934 and 1950, when they won all seven World Cup matches in 2002.
Brazil have also won their last six opening fixtures at World Cups and anything less than victory Tuesday appears inconceivable to the football-mad nation.
Parreira, criticised for his conservative tactics when he coached Brazil to their 1994 triumph in the US, is taking a gamble by relying on only hard-working Emerson and Ze Roberto to provide a midfield base for his attacking quartet.
Brazil could be exposed on the flanks where captain Cafu, looking for his third title at the age of 36, and 33-year-old Roberto Carlos might struggle.
Croatia have not been beaten in their last 10 matches, losing for the last time 4-2 to England in Euro 2004.
But they will be without striker Ivica Olic because of a thigh strain, with Ivan Klasnic coming into the side to join Dado Prso in attack.
When the sides met in their only other match, in a 2005 friendly in Split, it finished 1-1.
Brazil are the only country to have qualified for every World Cup.
They are taking part for the 18th time and triumphed in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002.
Croatia have qualified for the third time. After finishing third on their debut in 1998, they failed to get beyond the group phase in 2002.
Parreira is back at the World Cup for a fifth time, equalling Bora Milutinovic's record. He previously coached Kuwait (1982), United Arab Emirates (1990), Brazil (1994) and Saudi Arabia (1998).
He can become only the second coach to win the World Cup twice, following Vittorio Pozzo who led Italy in 1934 and 1938.
Beijing, June 12 (DPA) China is helping to fuel conflicts and human rights abuses by selling arms to some of the world's poorest and least democratic nations, Amnesty International said Monday.
Governments have used Chinese arms to kill civilians and commit other human rights abuses in countries including Sudan, Nepal and Liberia, the London-based rights group said in a special report on China titled, "Sustaining conflict and human rights abuses".
"China is the only major arms-exporting power that has not entered into any multilateral agreement which sets out criteria, including respect for human rights, to guide arms-export licensing decisions," it said.
Through state-run companies operating under its vast military and public-security organs, Chinese arms often reach "countries where there are real risks that the arms are used to commit serious abuses.
"For example, China has continued to allow military equipment to be sent to Sudan despite well-documented and widespread killings, rapes and abductions by government armed forces and allied military groups in Darfur," Amnesty said.
"In Nepal, China has supplied small arms to the armed forces, which have been responsible for much of the killings and torture, often of civilians, in the internal armed conflict."
The Chinese companies supply foreign police and military forces with major conventional weapons, small arms and light weapons, and police and security equipment.
Such sales "frequently violate human rights law and international humanitarian law," the report said.
In its 2005 report on the UN Programme of Action on small arms and light weapons, China said it took a "cautious and responsible" approach to exports of conventional arms.
"Yet, its record in supplying arms to countries such as Iran, Myanmar, Pakistan and Sudan suggests, by contrast, a dangerously permissive approach to licensing arms' exports, both of conventional weapons and of small arms and light weapons," Amnesty said.
In China's first official reaction to the report, Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui insisted that China was acting responsibly.
"I cannot agree with what you cited. China follows its international obligations," Li said when asked about the Amnesty report.
--DPA
Mumbai, June 12 (IANS) Global Internet networking major Cisco Systems will host an annual technology conference and exhibition here from Tuesday to Friday that will involve discussions on latest trends, architectures and solutions.
The four-day "Cisco Networkers Solutions Forum 2006" includes live demonstrations of the latest networking solutions, followed by full-day "techtorials" that will offer complete training on technologies, a company release said Monday.
Announcing the dates for the forum, Ranajoy Punja, vice president (marketing), Cisco Systems said: "Indian enterprises are in a phase of strong growth as a result of a buoyant economy and the advent of globalisation.
"These enterprises are increasingly leveraging an intelligent information network to be competitive on a global platform."
Punja added: "Networkers Solutions Forum 2006 will focus on the latest networking technology and solutions and demonstrate our breadth of offering to customers and partners across core and advanced technology solutions."
The forum will also provide intensive technical training on key networking technology areas through live and hands-on demonstrations to customers and partners.
New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) People in India can soon have access to "official secrets" if the central government implements the recommendations of the second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) that has suggested repeal of the Official Secrets Act, 1923.
"We have suggested that the Official Secrets Act be repealed and the oath of office and secrecy be substituted by an oath of transparency," Veerappa Moily, chairman of the commission, told reporters Monday.
The ARC submitted its first report Saturday to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh suggesting sweeping reforms in the existing Right to Information Act.
"We feel the right to information is the master key to good governance," Moily said.
The commission has suggested ways and means to bring legislature and judiciary under the purview of the existing legal framework - Right to Information (RTI) Act - providing right to information.
The armed forces should be exempted from these provisions, the commission suggested.
"The working of the legislative committees should be thrown open to public. The administrative processes in the district and subordinate courts should be totally in public domain," the panel recommended.
It has also suggested that half of the members of the state information commissions, which are to be constituted under the existing RTI Act, should be drawn from the non civil services background.
"The government of India should ensure constitution of state information commissions in all states within three months," the report suggested.
It has recommended bringing those non-government organisations under the purview of the RTI Act that received substantial funds during any one of the preceding three years.
Moily said: "We have decided to submit our reports in a phased manner so that the government gets enough time to implement them. The next report of the commission will be on rural employment guarantee scheme."
"In the next few months the commission will also submit reports on crisis management system, public order and conflict resolution mechanisms. We have already initiated work on the issue of civil services reforms also," he added.
Gelsenkirchen, June 12 (DPA) The Czech Republic got off to a winning 3-0 World Cup start Monday against the US with a fifth minute strike from record goal-scorer Jan Koller and a spectacular goal from Tomas Rosicky.
But Czech celebrations were muted because goal hero Koller was carried off just before half time with what looked like a hamstring pull and could miss the rest of the tournament.
The Czech threat was clear as early as the fourth minute when Oguchi Onyewu had to chop down Pavel Nedved and was booked for the foul.
A minute later and the US were behind. Ajax fullback Zdenek Grygera overlapped down the right and six foot seven inch Koller headed powerfully past a helpless Kasey Keller.
It was the giant forward's 43rd goal in 69 appearances for his country that stunned the Americans who have never won a World Cup match on European soil.
They were struggling to make any in-roads into the Czech defence but on the quarter-hour Landon Donovan ran at the Czech defence and was crudely brought down by David Rozenhal who was booked.
The Americans wasted the freekick and the Czechs maintained the upper hand, almost doubling their advantage when Nedved crossed from the left and Grygera headed over.
In the 27th minute, US were a post's width from drawing level when Claudio Reyna's fierce shot hit the woodwork with Petr Cech well beaten.
But they paid for the miss in the 36th minute with Rosicky's thunderbolt - an early contender for goal of the tournament - flew in from all of 30-yards.
Czech jubilation turned to misery minutes later, however, when Koller chased a through ball and collapsed in agony on the edge of the penalty area clutching his hamstring.
Karel Bruckner's side are already missing Milan Baros who failed a fitness test with a foot injury before the game and appeared to have a major striker crisis on their hands with Koller injured of late.
The US threatened more in the second half after the introduction of Eddie Johnson for Pablo Mastroeni at half time. And they went closest when Johnson was in a whisker of converting Bobby Convey's cross.
But the Czechs put the result beyond all doubt in the 76th minute when man-of-the match Rosicky ran onto a pass from Nedved and coolly beat US keeper Keller to make it 3-0.
New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) India hopes to complete digital mapping of around 70 percent of the country in a year, leading to leveraging data assets for multi-functions like traffic management and infrastructure development.
An example of its multi-dimensional use would be illustrated with the completion of a three-dimensional model of Chandni Chowk neighbourhood in the walled city area of the national capital by next month, Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal said here Monday.
The 3D model being developed with an investment of around Rs.100 million would enable civic authorities to not only chart the development that needs to be undertaken in one of the most densely populated parts of the capital but also monitor any violations of the city norms, Sibal said.
On the digital mapping of the country, he said with the approval of the ministry of defence, task is to be undertaken by an autonomous body, the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI), to be created under the ministry of science and technology.
The cabinet had approved June 2 a proposal to set up the NSDI, which is to be manned by a 10-member panel headed by a CEO.
"NSDI is a kind of soft infrastructure to be built at the national level for coordination, acquisition, processing, storage, distribution and improved utilisation of spatial (geographic location) data," said Sibal.
A liberalised National Map Policy, approved last year, has helped India emulate the success of several developed countries, many of which are helping create a Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI).
"Having got the go-ahead from the defence ministry about the areas that can be digitally mapped, the NSDI will utilise the data created by 15 national agencies like the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and the Forest Survey of India (FSI) for its gigantic task under a public-private initiative," the minister said.
T. Ramasami, the new secretary of Department of Science and Technology, explained that the digital mapping is to be achieved primarily by leveraging the data assets of major data generating agencies through the process of standardisation, creation of metadata and Internet-enabled access.
"We hope to complete mapping of 60-70 percent of India within a year. The ministry of defence has cleared most areas barring (a stretch of) 50 km along the international borders on the land surface in Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast region," said Brigadier R. Siva Kumar, director of NSDI.
The digital mapping would allow the user to click on any geographical location to get details like longitude and latitude, altitude, forest mapping and other vital up-to-date inputs that are critical to any investment decision.
The digital map has multiple uses including for navigational purpose.
New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) A nationwide protest, called by the Left parties and supported by several regional outfits, against the hike in petrol and diesel prices is likely to paralyse several states Tuesday.
Although the daylong protest has been called by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led Left Front and its affiliated trade unions, a number of regional parties including the Samajwadi Party, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) have supported the call.
Leaders of the Left parties said the mode of protests would be different from place to place.
"It will be a nationwide protest. But the central leadership has given directions about the approach and the campaign. We have left it to the state units to decide what methods they want to adopt to protest against the unprecedented hike," senior CPI-M leader Nilotpal Basu told IANS.
The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government increased the prices of the two fuels - Rs.4 for a litre of petrol and Rs.2 for a litre of diesel - last week to cut losses of the state-run oil marketing companies hit by soaring global crude oil prices. It, however, left prices of the domestic fuels, kerosene and cooking gas, unchanged.
Basu said the Left party workers and trade union activists would hold demonstrations across the country.
While Left parties in Kerala, where they won a landslide victory in the assembly polls this year, will go for a complete strike which is expected to cripple the state, in West Bengal that elected the communist government for the seventh consecutive time, normal life will not be affected at all.
"There is no chance of normal life getting affected," CPI-M senior leader and West Bengal Centre of Trade Unions (CITU) president Shyamal Chakraborty said, adding that the agitation programme will include some processions and demonstrations before the offices of the oil companies in the state.
CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat has proposed a series of agitation programmes - from demonstration to strike - leaving it to the state units to decide on the form of protest they consider best.
Party sources indicated both West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and Industries Minister Nirupam Sen had opposed the idea of bringing the entire state to a halt for protesting.
The four-party Left Front supports Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's multi-party government from outside.
The Left parties and the trade unions are expected to hold a strike in Tripura, the other communists-ruled state.
In Uttar Pradesh, the ruling Samajwadi Party, which also supports the UPA government from outside, has announced a "protest march and massive public rally" against the hike.
Samajwadi Party workers would march from the state assembly building to district headquarters in Lucknow at 11 a.m. Tuesday to hold a public rally, which would be addressed by party general secretary Amar Singh.
"We will burn the effigies of (Congress chief and UPA chairperson) Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh who are responsible for the price hike," said a local party leader in Lucknow.
However, the party leaders said there would not be any forcible closure of shops the public transport system would be allowed to run smoothly.
With the main opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh and Assam - the TDP and the AGP, respectively - supporting the strike, normal life in these states are likely to be badly affected.
New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) India is a favoured destination for Japanese investments with a whopping 71 percent of the Japanese companies surveyed saying they would increase their stakes in the country.
These companies include reputed brands like Suzuki, Honda, and Toyota, said an India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) report "Proven Strategies: Japanese Companies in India".
The report details the best practices adopted by 25 Japanese companies in the Indian market.
The report, which also includes profiles of 17 Japanese companies doing business in India, was released ahead of the World Economic Forum's East Asia Summit at Tokyo Thursday-Friday.
Commenting on the survey, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said: "This report should serve as a strong proof of Japanese companies looking at globally competitive investment destinations. I invite more Japanese companies to put their faith in the world's fastest growing free market democracy."
The Indian domestic market is one the key factors for driving Japanese investment into the country, the survey says.
Sectors like transportation, telecommunication, fuel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, health drinks, pulp and rice have attracted significant Japanese investments, it adds.
Indian companies, too, are exploring Japan as an investment opportunity, with around 70 IT companies having already established their offices in that country.
According to IBEF CEO Ajay Khanna, "there is an ideal match between the technology and finance of Japan and skilled and relatively inexpensive labour of India. This can be harnessed further to deliver quality products to the world at competitive costs."
The report reveals that a majority of Japanese companies are planning to expand their production capacity, increase their product portfolio, target new consumer segments and increase their market share in India.
India's strong position as a global outsourcing hub has facilitated the setting up of technical support centres in India - like Fujitsu Services has collaborated with Zensar technologies and Hitachi to establish a Global Service Centre in Bangalore.
The Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) had, in a 2005 report, stated that Japanese companies saw India as one of their top priorities for expansion.
Stockholm, June 12 (DPA) India remained the main military spender in South Asia according to a peace research institute that also said global military spending, fuelled mainly by the US and its war on terrorism, increased in 2005.
The US accounted for about 80 percent or $26 billion of the total $33 billion increase in world military expenditure in 2005, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said Monday.
Last year, nations around the world spent $1,118 billion on military expenditures, which equalled $173 per capita.
The increase was 3.4 percent in real terms in 2004, and "34 percent since 1998, when military expenditure was at its lowest level since the end of the Cold War", SIPRI said.
Five countries - the US, Britain, France, Japan and China - accounted for two-thirds of the world's military spending, of which the US share alone was 48 percent of the total. The other four top spenders accounted for four to five percent each, the institute said.
The five major spenders represented 29 percent of world population.
In East Asia, China and Japan accounted for roughly two-thirds of the expenditure in East Asia. SIPRI said China's spending in 2005 was almost at par with economic growth, and shows "little sign of slowing down".
The only region with a decrease in military expenditure in 2005 was Europe, mainly in Western Europe where Britain and Italy were among the major powers that cut defence budgets.
Meanwhile, the institute also noted that Asia was the region with most conflicts. Four of the seven conflicts have been "active" during 1990-2005 including "India (Kashmir), Myanmar (Karen), Sri Lanka (Eelam) and the Philippines."
Although arms expenditure increased, SIPRI registered only 17 active major conflicts (defined as at least 1,000 killed in battle) in 2005, "the lowest for the entire post-Cold War period 1990-2005".
No interstate conflicts were registered during 2005.
It also highlighted conflicts over nuclear arms control and attempts to contain the spread of non-proliferation, including Iran and North Korea.
--DPA
By Lola Nayar, New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) The Indian government has tightened the norms for announcing oil and gas discoveries to prevent exploration companies from over-reporting or drawing economic and political capital from new finds.
Exploration regulator Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) has been assured by the petroleum ministry and the bourses that companies engaged in drilling would adhere to the new disclosure norms.
In the past, companies like Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), Reliance Industries and Gujarat State Petroleum Corp (GSPC) have strived to make economic or political capital of oil and gas discoveries without informing DGH and getting a proper appraisal done of the discovery, official sources said.
"The new discovery disclosure norms were circulated to the oil exploration companies a fortnight back," petroleum ministry sources told IANS.
While it is up to the market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to take action against any commercially manipulative information, it has asked DGH to keep it informed of any violations.
The London Stock Exchange (LSE) too has been roped in.
In response to a DGH communication two months ago informing it of discovery disclosure violations by Britain's Cairn Energy, LSE stated: "It is forwarding the letter to appropriate authorities."
LSE "has also asked DGH to keep it informed of any further violations", the sources said.
Exploration companies can now make announcements of oil or gas discoveries only if after it is vetted either by the market regulator or other designated authority.
"The discovery has to be informed simultaneously to DGH and the market regulator. In effect, the exploration companies have to fulfil both obligations simultaneously," an official source said.
The penalty for violation could be a crackdown by the market regulator, or, in the case of the petroleum ministry, a cancellation of the exploration license, which would need extreme provocation, the sources said.
The disclosure norms are in tune with India's keenness to follow international practices that make it mandatory for proper appraisal and expert verifications before announcements are made of any new oil or gas discovery, the sources added.
Over the last one month, India has had two new promising gas discoveries. The first is in Rajasthan in an exploration block near the Pakistan border held by Focus Energy, and the second in the Krishna-Godavari block held by GSPC at a shallower sea level than the previous deep sea find.
"The new gas discovery by GSPC is a very promising one. The find is being appraised for assessing the reserves. It opens up new possibilities as the gas has been found in the upper cretaceous level," the source said.
By Lola Nayar,
New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) Aiming to bag a major oil field development project, state-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IndianOil) and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) have asked the government to seek the intervention of the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
The two Indian companies are part of an international consortium that also includes British Petroleum (BP) and Occidental Petroleum Corporation of the US. It has qualified to submit final bids for the development project. Two other consortiums led by ExxonMobil and ChevronTexco are also in the fray.
The Emir's visit to India during June 14-19 comes ahead of the final tender process for Project Kuwait under which four north Kuwaiti fields, Raudhatain, Sapriyah, Ratqa and Abdali, are to be developed to raise oil production from 500,000-550,000 barrels a day (bpd) to 900,000 bpd in 20 years.
The Emir, on a tour of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Thailand, will be leading a high-level delegation to discuss bilateral issues in New Delhi.
"We feel advocacy efforts by the government are likely to play a key role in clinching Project Kuwait," a senior petroleum ministry official told IANS.
In November 2000, IndianOil and ONGC along with consortium partners had technically qualified for participating in the tender process along with seven other international consortiums. Subsequently, the BP-led consortium had submitted the initial bidding document after signing the joint bidding agreement in July 2003.
IndianOil and ONGC are to hold five percent stake each in the consortium with BP holding 65 percent stake and operatiorship, and Occidental the remaining 25 percent stake.
In the case of the other two consortiums, Chevron Texaco is joined by Total Final Elf, Petreocanada, Sibneft and Sinopec, while ExxonMobil has Royal Dutch Shell, Connoco Philips and Maersk as partners.
Kuwait plans to issue the final tender protocol by June-end, after which the final bids will be submitted by the qualified consortium in the third quarter of 2006.
"Other consortiums are also strong contenders and may use their influence," feels the petroleum ministry that has requested the ministry of external affairs to take up the matter with the Kuwaiti Emir for providing necessary support in favour of BP-led consortium.
"Importing over 6 million tonnes of crude oil annually from Kuwait, IndianOil is looking to enhance the quantity through a term contract to 7.5 million tonnes this year," the official said.
"Last year IndianOil imported 7 million tonnes crude from Kuwait, with 6.5 million tonnes on the term basis and 0.5 million tonnes from the spot market. The estimated target for imports this year is 6.5 million which can be increased to 7.5 million tonnes," he said.
IndianOil is also looking at joint bidding with Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC) in India's latest round of exploration block for which bids have been invited.
In December last year, both sides had a meeting on collaboration in India and other countries, which was followed up by a meeting here to jointly study the data relating to block offered under the latest round by India.
IndianOil is also keen to take up gas-based petrochemical projects in Kuwait and third countries after a detailed study.
To achieve this objective, in January IndianOil had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with United Oil Projects company in Kuwait for oil and gas exploration, development and production, crude oil refining, downstream marketing including lubes, petrochemicals and manufacturing facility.
In March, IndianOil signed a similar MoU with Kuwait Petroleum Corporation in trade of hydrocarbons, oil and gas exploration, refinery, research and development and training in India, Kuwait and third countries.
Simultaneously, IndianOil is looking at Kuwaiti investment in-and-around its naphtha cracker and polymer project at Panipat in Haryana, and the refinery and petrochemical complex at Paradip in Orissa.
New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) India and the US began three days of talks here Monday to work out the operational modalities of a nuclear cooperation agreement based on drafts exchanged between the two countries last month, officials said.
One of the main points of discussion is a clause that the US wants inserted into the pact, also called the 123 Agreement, requiring a cap on future nuclear tests by India, which New Delhi feels should be voluntary and not imposed.
"We have made it clear that we already have a unilateral moratorium on nuclear tests. There is no need to make it legally binding by inserting a clause into the proposed Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation Agreement," an Indian official said.
Discussions will also be held on the draft agreements exchanged between the two countries in London last month when India's Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran met US Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns.
The Indian side at the three-day talks is headed by Joint Secretary (Americas) S. Jaishankar and includes officials from the atomic energy department. The US side comprises officials from the Department of Energy, the State Department and their agencies.
The agreement gets its name after Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act, 1954, of the US that first calls for a bilateral cooperation pact before a comprehensive nuclear deal with another country.
India and the US had pledged to cooperate in civilian nuclear energy in a joint statement after a meeting in Washington in July last year between US President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
This intent was formalised during Bush's visit to New Delhi in March, based on which plans were worked out for separating India's civil and military nuclear facilities.
The US Congress also needs to approve an amendment in its nuclear legislation, which prohibits nuclear trade with any country that is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty - an accord that New Delhi calls discriminatory.
The US Congress has to approve the amendment by the end of this month since it goes into recess in the first week of July after which preparations will start for mid-term elections in November, diplomatic sources said.
By Liz Mathew, New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) If things go according to plan, Indians will have e-passports by 2013 that will help strengthen safeguards against fraudulent applications.
"We will soon launch the process for introducing e-passports. It will be done stage by stage," Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed told IANS.
"It's a long process. In the first phase, we will introduce the electronic version for diplomats and officials. Our target is to provide e-passports to every citizens by 2013," the minister said.
"By 2013, all the passports - both existing and the fresh ones - should turn into electronic ones," he said.
According to the minister, the new system would bolster the issuing process by providing further safeguards against fraudulent applications.
"Almost all the developed countries have introduced e-passports. We will soon initiate the process," Ahamed said.
An e-passport has a microchip that contains the digitised facial image and personal details of the holder as it appears on the data page. The microchip can be read electronically.
"This will help in identity verification and security, providing a much stronger connection between the individual and his or her identity than the existing system which relies solely on visual identification," Ahamed pointed out.
The ministry of external affairs also wants to simplify the process of obtaining a passport. It has suggested that police verification could be done away with for some categories such as students and employees of reputed institutes or offices.
"A certification letter from such institutes or organisations should be able to identify the person," Ahamed said.
However, he added that the home ministry had expressed some reservations citing security concerns. "Although we understand their concern, police verification for all the categories creates unnecessary delay and complications. We are trying to convince the home ministry about exempting some categories."
Ahamed said his office had been receiving several complaints of harassment -especially from the minority and weaker communities - by police.
Ranchi, June 12 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Jharkhand will not cut the sales tax on petrol and diesel to reduce the impact of last week's unprecedented fuel price hike, Chief Minister Arjun Munda said Monday.
"The sales tax on petrol and diesel is already low in Jharkhand in comparison with other states, particularly the Congress-ruled states," Munda told reporters here.
Several Congress-ruled states have resorted to a cut in sales tax to lighten the burden on consumers.
"The sales tax reduced by the Congress-ruled states is just an eyewash and nothing else," said Munda.
The chief minister came down heavily on the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for increasing the fuel prices.
"Reducing sales tax rates will not solve the problem. Rather, it will give the central government a chance to further increase the prices," he said.
Patna, June 12 (IANS) Railway Minister Lalu Prasad celebrated his birthday in style with cakes and candles, but the mass leader in him did not forget to tell the millions of poor in the country that he was like one of them.
Lalu Prasad, one of the most colourful politicians in the country, turned 59 Sunday. He celebrated the day with usual fanfare here surrounded by his Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) party MPs, legislators and senior leaders.
He cut two cakes - one round cake and another designed like a train with engine and coaches - as he was cheered by hundreds of his supporters. He also lit candles like a birthday boy.
"Like millions of poor and illiterate people, I also do not know my exact birth date because poor people hardly keep any records like the rich," Lalu Prasad said in his usual style with a beaming smile. He recalled that his supporters had been organising and celebrating his birthday since the time he was Bihar chief minister in the early 1990s.
Interestingly, a few years ago when President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam asked Lalu Prasad about his date of birth he had said that he did not know.
But June 11 was mentioned as his official birthday in the school certificate. "The president told me that he too did not know his actual date of birth," he had said then.
"I don't remember my birth date and am not sure whether June 11 is the exact birth date, but as people celebrate the day, I too join them as a gesture of love," he had said.
Lalu Prasad chose the day on Sunday to make a point that he was from a poor background like other disadvantaged people in the country.
It was his first birthday after being ousted from power in Bihar last year. The celebration took place in the new official residence allotted to his wife Rabri Devi, former Bihar chief minister and leader of opposition in the state assembly.
Lalu Prasad's supporters and followers celebrated the day by distributing sweets.
When his party was in power his birthday had acquired political overtones with his supporters marking it as Communal Harmony Day. He used to cut a cake depicting a mosque, temple and church. But this year it was different.
The RJD observed the day as 'Urdu Diwas' and organised a seminar on "Contribution of Urdu in Development of Communal Harmony", which was opposed by a section of Urdu lovers.
The minister, who was born in Phulwaria village in Gopalganj district, spent his early childhood like that of any poor milkman's child. He belongs to the powerful agrarian caste of Yadavs. His parents, who did not own any land, lived in a thatched hut and struggled hard to earn their living.
New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) The country's manufacturing sector is expected to generate 25 million new jobs by 2010, said a new study by a industry body Monday.
The textiles sector alone will provide employment opportunities to about 10 million people by 2010, thereby enhancing its contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP), according to findings of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham).
The manufacturing exports will double by 2010, it is projected, from its current level of about $50 billion.
"Sectors which will have tremendous growth potential to accelerate manufacturing comprise machine tools, auto components, pharmaceuticals and engineering, besides textiles and therefore create ample opportunities for employment", said Assocham president Anil K. Agarwal.
The study said that in order to achieve the projected acceleration in manufacturing growth, the focus and efforts of the policy makers should be towards creating environment for higher investments and also induction of technologies in sectors such as textiles, engineering, auto components and machine tools.
It also emphasised the role played by the public sector manufacturing industries primarily in capital goods.
"India can witness the benefits of the removal of world textile quota restrictions that was implemented in January 2005, only if the pace of reform is accelerated and measures to improve competitiveness is adopted by the local manufacturers," the body held.
Luxembourg, June 12 (dpa) Indian-born Lakshmi Mittal is facing pressure to raise his bid again for European steel giant Arcelor SA after the latter announced Monday that it formally rejected his 25.8-billion-euro ($32.6 billion) offer for the company.
Instead, Arcelor is recommending that shareholders support its proposed 13-billion-euro merger with Russian steel magnate Alexei Mordashov's Severstal group.
An Arcelor statement released Monday following a six-and-half hour meeting of directors described Mittal Steel Co's current bid as "inadequate", adding that "it continues to undervalue Arcelor".
Arcelor went on to describe the Severstal merger as "the most attractive strategic alternative".
But the 18-strong Arcelor board appeared to leave the door open for further talks with Mittal, saying its management board would meet with Mittal "to review his proposals to further improve its offer". Mittal's offer expires July 5.
Apart from a formal response to Mittal's bid, the Arcelor board's also discussed how to deal with a revolt by a group of influential shareholders over the Severstal merger plan.
Arcelor, the world's second biggest steel maker after Mittal, said it would allow rebel shareholders to vote on the proposed Severstal merger at a stockholders' meeting set for June 30.
The move follows a letter written to the board by Arcelor stockholders representing about 30 percent of the company, demanding an extraordinary meeting to discuss the planned deal.
The revolting shareholders have been angered by Arcelor's plans for the company and Severstal to team up unless over 50 percent of shareholders vote down the merger plan.
In a detailed rebuttal of Mittal Steel's offer, Arcelor said the bid did not take proper account of Arcelor's operating and financial results for 2005, which it said exceeded market expectations. The offer also did not take into account Arcelor's results from the first quarter of 2006 nor its strategic plan.
As a result of diverging business models between the two companies, the board stated: "The synergies generated by the proposed combination of Mittal Steel and Arcelor are on the low side compared to those generated by recent large steel sector mergers and compared to those generated by the proposed merger of Arcelor and Severstal."
Arcelor said the Severstal transaction would create "the world's steel champion and the most profitable steel company", and was in line with Arcelor's strategic vision, business model and corporate values.
The Mittal bid has met with fierce opposition from Arcelor since it was launched in January, with the Luxembourg-based group eventually turning to Severstal as a white knight in the takeover battle.
Since then, Mittal has been forced to raise its offer by 34 percent to 25.8 billion euros. Mittal's offer is worth 34.4 euros a share, while Arcelor's self-tender offer values the company at 44 euros a share.
Arcelor's board also said it would buy back its shares at 44 euros each. However, it said this would not take place until after the publication of Mittal Steel's offer.
Mittal has already been given the green light by the European Commission's monopoly officials saying they "found that the proposed transaction would not give rise to competition concerns" in Europe.
Under the deal with Mordashov, Severstal is to emerge with an initial 32 percent stake in Arcelor. This will increase to 38.5 percent once the company buys back and annuls about 150 million shares.
--DPA
Mumbai,11 June,The quota issue is not going to die down soon. Now, the Muslim community in Maharashtra is demanding a share in power and jobs on the basis of their numbers in the total population.
A resolution to this effect was passed at the Maharashtra Muslim Convention held at Anjuman-e-Islam in Mumbai.The convention was jointly organized by the All India Ulema Council and Mumbai Aman Committee. Delegates from the 36 districts and scholars and intellectuals from across the state were present.
Saying that Indian Muslims lived in a “pitiable� condition, the delegates demanded representation in the police, the bureaucracy, local bodies and private in addition in Parliament and state assemblies. They said Muslims were under-represented and reservations were not sufficient.
Maulana Zahiruddin Khan president of All India Ulema Council, said since independence Muslim had not been given proper representation “because of bureaucrats and people’s representative and their share in different sectors is reducing day by day�
United Democratic Front leader Maulana Badruddin Kasmi said Muslims should be join hands with the downtrodden, farmers and other oppressed sections to demand representation.
Source: Hindustan Times
Thiruvananthapuram, June 12 (IANS) Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi Monday announced a grant of Rs.14.70 million for a research unit here to study migration by Indians and the Indian diaspora.
Ravi, who inaugurated the unit at the Centre for Development Studies (CDS), also signed an agreement with the institute.
Speaking on the occasion, Ravi said Kerala accounted for 55 percent of the total outflow of migrants from India to the Middle East.
"It is time our workers move up the wage chain and make India a provider of skilled manpower. Our technical institutes, hospitality and health care sectors are areas that hold potential for us. And for that my ministry would partner with the private sector for standardised testing, certification and quality assurance," he said.
The research unit would be headed by S. Irudayarajan, who along with the CDS has done pioneering work on the impact of migration from India.
More than two million Keralites currently work outside the country, close to 90 percent of them in the Gulf.
Annual remittances from non-resident Keralites have reached the Rs.200 billion ($4.3 billion) - close to 25 percent of the net domestic product of the state.
"In the next five years, the unit would conduct studies on migration, similar to what we did in Kerala, in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Punjab and Maharashtra - the states that send people abroad," said Irudayarajan.
The unit would do studies on recruitment agencies and the manner in which they function. It would prepare a manual on pre-departure training for all those going abroad in search of work.
"The unit would also plan a study on the impact of migration on health and a study on replacement migration," he added.
Cologne, June 12 (DPA) Portugal's record goalscorer Pauleta took just four minutes to break the resistance of Angola in their Group D opener, defeating them 1-0.
But his tap-in from a Figo cross was Phil Scolari's side's only goal against the African World Cup debutants.
Figo was the architect of the 4th-minute goal, beating Jamba for pace, and Paris St. Germain striker was on hand to convert his cross and put the favourites in-front with his 47th goal for his country.
It was a nightmare start for the Africans who had lost 6-0 and 5-1 in the two previous encounters with their former colonial powers.
In the last meeting in 2001, the game was abandoned with 10 minutes remaining because Angola had four players sent off and one carried off and couldn't finish the match.
But in their first ever appearance in the World Cup Finals, they kept their heads and star striker Akwas could have levelled with a spectacular bicycle kick from a Mateus cross on 25 minutes.
There were few signs of the anticipated needle between the two sides but Ronaldo was booked on 27 minutes for raised studs and Jamba followed him into the referee's book a minute later.
Ronaldo was almost on the score sheet on 35 minutes when he headed a Figo corner against the cross-bar as Portugal pressed to extend the lead before half-time.
Phil Scolari's side were not having things all their own way and two minutes before the break, Portuguese keeper Ricardo had to save well as Andre shot from distance.
But it was Portugal who had the last chance of the first half with the impressive Cristiano Ronaldo having his shot from a Miguel cross saved well by Joao Ricardo in the Angola goal.
Chances were few and far between in the early part of the second half and Scolari responded to the lull by taking off Ronaldo on the hour.
The Manchester United star, who had been Portugal's liveliest player in the first half, was visibly annoyed as he took his place on the bench. There was shock change from Angola too with captain Akwa replaced by Benfica striker Mantorras.
Tiago's shot was well saved by Joao Ricardo immediately after the changes as Portugal maintained the upper hand. Their fluid style unchanged by Ronaldo's exit, just as it had been unaffected by the absence of Deco who failed a fitness test on his injured foot before the game.
Joao Ricardo was called into action again in injury time when substitute Maniche tested him from the edge of the box as Portugal laboured in vain for the second, much to the frustration of their fans.
Goal hero Pauleta admitted afterwards that Portugal had not been at their best but the win was the most iimportant thing. He said: "The first match is always difficult. The important thing is to get the three points against an Angola side who played well.
"We didn't underestimate them - the conditions were difficult today, it was very warm. But there's plenty of room to improve."
New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) "Overwhelming", "Incredible India" were some of the words used by the 25 diaspora youth who participated in the Know India Programme (KIP) organised by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA).
Interacting with the media here Monday after the conclusion of the month-long programme, the participants summed up their experiences, which ranged from sheer incredulity to the emotional.
KIP, organised in coordination with the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), was the 2006 edition of the MOIA's annual Internship Programme for Diaspora Youth (IPDY). This year, IPDY underwent a change in its format and hence the change in name.
Unlike in previous years when the participants were attached to a particular institution, this year the programme was formatted as an orientation to enable the participants to get exposure to various facets of the Indian way of life and culture.
The participants were based in New Delhi and Himachal Pradesh through the entire period of the programme from May 15 to June 12.
Giving an overview, Malay Mishra, secretary, MOIA, said the participants were exposed to various aspects of Indian culture and life through a series of programmes like staying in rural areas in Himachal Pradesh, adventure sports and a national integration camp in which the participants met youth drawn from various parts of India.
The participants also met President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and a group of young Indian parliamentarians. In New Delhi, they visited places of tourist interest and a leading newspaper group's office.
Sudisha Naidu, a participant from South Africa, described the experience as the biggest learning curve in her life.
"The cultural experiences I gained while staying in the villages are what I am going to take back home," she said.
Describing her interaction with the local people of Himachal Pradesh as amazing, Krishna Maroo from Britain said it's an experience every non-resident Indian should have.
Kamala Guganeswaran from Malaysia said that as a follow-up to this programme he would initiate a youth exchange programme between his country and India.
Guganeswaran, who confessed to being a little confused about the Indian political system despite studying a lot about the subject, said India needs more educationists and social activists as political leaders.
Racheli Haligoa from Israel said she was simply overwhelmed meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
"You feel proud to know that India has such a man as prime minister," she said.
Haligoa, however, was frank enough to say that she was disappointed at the litter that she found in the beautiful Himalayan locales. She said Indians here should take more care about the incomparable environment they have been bestowed with.
All the participants were unanimous in their praise for MOIA and NYKS for the seamless coordination with which the programme was conducted. And they were also profuse in expressing their gratitude for the villagers in Himachal Pradesh with whom they stayed as guests.
While some participants will be leaving for their respective countries, others are planning to stay on to meet their relatives elsewhere in India.
New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) Rahul Mahajan, late Bharatiya Janata Party leader Pramod Mahajan's son charged with drug abuse, will be produced in the Tis Hazari court Monday for the hearing of his bail application and a production warrant by Delhi Police to take him for further questioning.
The police had moved an application in the court on Saturday after the investigation teams that visited Mumbai and Srinagar had gathered "vital clues" against Rahul.
"We have some vital clues against him and want to question him further," said a senior official Sunday.
In Mumbai, the police questioned some friends of Rahul and went to the places he frequented. They said Mumbai Police had provided more details linked to the case.
Rahul was arrested June 5 after he was taken seriously ill following a June 1 drug-laced drinks party at the official residence of the late Mahajan. He has been remanded in judicial custody till June 22.
Bibek Moitra, an aide to the senior Mahajan, died due to suspected drug overdose at the June 1 party.
Forensic reports of Rahul and Bibek Moitra have confirmed use of narcotics substances.
Police also said they had "vital clues" against Sahil Zarru, a Kashmiri youth suspected to have procured drugs for the party.
Lucknow, June 12 (IANS) Wearing black sunglasses, Samajwadi Party activists took to streets here Monday to protest an alleged notice by the income tax department to superstar Amitabh Bachchan over the purchase of a pair of shades.
Nearly 200 of them gathered outside the Uttar Pradesh assembly where they burnt effigies of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who they pointedly blamed for the "hounding of Amitabh by income tax officials".
Bachchan enjoys close proximity with Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav as well as party general secretary Amar Singh.
Reacting sharply to news reports about the income tax department serving him a notice for purchasing a pair of sunglasses worth Rs.270,000, Bachchan in a statement issued Sunday termed the story ridiculous.
The department has denied sending him any such notice.
However, what really provoked protests in certain parts of Uttar Pradesh was the rumour that the income tax authorities were after Bachchan simply because of his close association with Amar Singh and the ruling Samajwadi Party.
The demonstrators raised slogans of "Sonia Gandhi murdabad" (down with Sonia Gandhi) and "Manmohan Singh murdabad" (down with Manmohan Singh), and threatened to extend their protest to the entire state if authorities did not stop Bachchan's "harassment".
"Enough is enough and we will not tolerate any further harassment of our idol Amitabh Bachchan," said Samajwadi Party leader Mujibur Rehman 'Babloo', who led the demonstration.
Tehran, June 12, IRNA,Visiting Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal here Monday stressed Iran's inalienable right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
Al-Faisal, who arrived here Monday for an official day-long visit upon the invitation of his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki, made the remark while speaking to reporters upon his arrival.
The Islamic Republic of Iran is aware of its regional and international responsibilities and has made clear it is not after nuclear weapons, he said.
He said that his current visit was in the context of regular exchange of visits by officials of governments, saying these visits help expand ties between countries.
Mottaki, for his part, said that the Saudi foreign minister's current visit was agreed upon by Saudi King Abdullah and Iranian President Ahmadinejad during the latter's visit to Mecca, where the two heads of state agreed Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal would come to Tehran "promote Tehran-Riyadh cooperation on regional and international issues."
He added that Al-Faisal would hold talks with President Ahmadinejad after meeting with him.
Mottaki said the Saudi minister will also meet with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei to convey a message from the Saudi King for the ayatollah.
"The visit (by the Saudi minister) will be a good opportunity for the two sides to discuss bilateral, regional and international cooperation," he further said.
New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) Twenty-two years after its foundation was laid, the India Islamic Cultural Centre (IICC), aimed at promoting cultural and religious integration, was inaugurated by Congress president Sonia Gandhi here Monday.
Land for the two-and-a-half acre IICC campus was sanctioned in 1981 and the then prime minister Indira Gandhi had performed the groundbreaking ceremony on Aug 24, 1984.
A first of its kind institution in the country, IICC is a non-political institution with its aims and objectives for national integration through dialogues, debates, research, cultural programmes and welfare schemes.
"The main objective of the IICC is to remove misunderstandings about Islam and to promote an awareness of the ethos of Islamic culture and to create an ethical society based on tolerance, universal brotherhood, understanding, appreciation, amity, love and charity," said Sirajuddin Qureshi, the president of the centre.
"The institution is an embodiment of hope and aspiration and a symbol of India's historic legacy. The challenge is to generate enough awareness about the Islamic ethos and give equitable and cooperative solutions to many problems," said Gandhi after inaugurating the centre.
"IICC can also play the role of catalyst to explore several options to help the new emerging India develop further."
She said both the Congress party and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government are committed for the welfare of all minorities and a high-level committee set up by the government was studying various aspects of their development.
The beautiful sandstone structure in a total built-up area of 5,200 sq ft in Lodhi Road locality in the heart of the capital is a symbol of the Indo-Iranian architecture feted with fine brown tiles from Iran.
It has a 300-seat auditorium, two conference rooms, a library having books of all religions and cultures to facilitate research, 30 guest rooms, a cafeteria, a coffee bar, amphitheatre and space for cultural activities.
Funds have come from a variety of sources including from the United Arab Emirates, Oman, the department of culture of the central government and the state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana, apart from individual donors.
Iran has donated all tiles used in the building and art works.
The institution would be run by a trust headed by Qureshi. IICC has a board of trustees, an executive committee and over 1,800 life members around the world.
"IICC will prove to be a place of peace and tranquillity, where all people will share their thoughts and ideas with each other. Mutual understanding, trust and love will emerge out of it to make the country proud," said Anis Durani, a trustee of the centre.
Among others, several religious leaders, members of the embassy of Iran, Oman, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, governors of Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana, Congress leader Karan Singh, Union Law Minister H.R. Bhardwaj were present at the inaugural function.
New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) The Supreme Court Monday dismissed two petitions seeking a ban on the controversial movie and book "The Da Vinci Code".
While rejecting the plea, the court said the film carried a disclaimer making it clear that it was a work of fiction. Hence screening the film did not violate anyone's rights.
The petitions were filed by the All India Christians Welfare Association seeking a ban on the film's screening as well as the best-selling book by Dan Brown, saying both violated the fundamental rights of the community in India.
More than half a dozen states in India have already banned the screening of the film. Its release in Indian theatres was delayed following protests from Christian groups last month. The story promotes the theory that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and started a bloodline.
India is the only country in the world where the film is being released with a disclaimer at the beginning and the end clarifying it is a work of fiction.
New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) More than 100 MPs of the National Democratic Alliance including former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Monday courted arrest near parliament in protest against the rising prices of necessary commodities.
The police released the leaders immediately after their arrest.
Criticising the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for adopting anti-people policies, Vajpayee said: "The government is unable to control rising prices of necessary commodities. It has lost direction."
He said the government is playing a cruel joke on the common people by asking state governments to reduce duties and taxes to bring down fuel prices, which were recently hiked by it.
"This a strange phenomenon. While we have no objection over states reducing taxes, the centre should also cut down excise and customs duties to bring down prices of petrol and diesel," said the veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader.
BJP chief Rajnath Singh, while addressing the meeting, launched a scathing attack on the Left accusing it of adopting double standards.
"If the Left allies of the UPA are opposing the fuel price hike, why are they continuing to support the ruling coalition?" Singh asked.
Former deputy prime minister L.K. Advani said the letters written by UPA chairperson and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi over a "rethink on the price rise" issue smack of hypocrisy.
"These letters are a fraud on the public," Advani said.
Thiruvananthapuram, June 12 (IANS) Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi Monday said all Protector of Emigrants (PoE) offices would have a Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) official to help check immigration fraud.
"We have already asked the CVC to work on this in the wake of the increasing frauds taking place in various PoE offices," Ravi told reporters here.
Ravi said a computerisation process would soon be implemented at airports for proper screening of all Indians going abroad, especially to the Middle East.
"I and the home minister are meeting shortly to discuss this and we are also working on bringing amendments to the 1983 Emigration Act. The proposed Act would lay emphasis on transparency, regulation and deterrent punishment.
"It would also have interventions to prevent the exploitation of workers and to eliminate human trafficking and smuggling of people by unscrupulous middlemen," said Ravi.
He also said steps were being taken in consultation with Indian ambassadors in Gulf Cooperation Council states, Jordan and Yemen to see that every employee contract was vetted by the respective countries before being sent to the people going there.
The minister also pointed out that steps were being taken to set up a People of Indian Origin University in India.
He said discussions had reached a crucial juncture with regard to the issuing of the People of Indian Origin card and the Overseas Indian Citizen Card.
New York, June 12 (IANS) If you want to attract attention, get angry. Both men and women notice angry faces faster than other expressions, according to a study.
Matt Williams of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Jason Mattingley of the University of Melbourne, Australia, asked 78 men and 78 women to look at sets of four to eight faces showing a variety of expressions, reported the online edition of New Scientist.
The study that appeared in "Current Biology" found that both men and women not only noticed angry faces faster than other expressions but also found men reacted to angry male faces fastest of all.
For most facial expressions, adding more neutral faces to the array distracted the participants and their reaction times got slower.
But this was not the case for angry faces. Adding more "distraction" faces did not affect the response time for men or women when an angry male face was present, it said.